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Benchmark Email offers an integrated, automated and robust feature set built to help the enterprise of any size. A powerfully simple and simply powerful email marketing solution designed to help you create and send compelling campaigns with ease.
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Candidate Party Electoral Votes
✓ John Adams Federalist 71
Thomas Jefferson Democratic-Republican 68
Thomas Pinckney Federalist 59
Others Various 48
Aaron Burr Democratic-Republican 30
<< 1792
The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one to elect a President and Vice President from opposing tickets.
With incumbent President George Washington having refused a third term in office, incumbent Vice President John Adams of Massachusetts was a candidate for the presidency on the Federalist Party ticket with former Governor Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina as the next most popular Federalist. Their opponents were former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of Virginia along with Senator Aaron Burr of New York on the Democratic-Republican ticket. At this point, each man from any party ran alone, as the formal position of "running mate" had not yet been established.
Unlike the previous election where the outcome had been a foregone conclusion, Democratic-Republicans campaigned heavily for Jefferson, and Federalists campaigned heavily for Adams. The debate was an acrimonious one, with Federalists tying the Democratic-Republicans to the violence of the French Revolution and the Democratic-Republicans accusing the Federalists of favoring monarchism and aristocracy. In foreign policy, the Democratic-Republicans denounced the Federalists over Jay's Treaty, perceived as too favorable to Britain, while the French ambassador embarrassed the Democratic-Republicans by publicly backing them and attacking the Federalists right before the election.
Although Adams won, Thomas Jefferson received more electoral votes than Pinckney and was elected Vice-President.
Change History! Try out the 1796 interactive map
1796 Election Facts
The map above shows the results of the main Federalist candidate (Adams) and the main D-R candidate (Jefferson). Electors had 2 votes each for President, and most voted for both candidates in their party
Under the rules of the day, since Jefferson had 2nd most Electors, he was named Vice-President, despite being a different party than Adams
Democratic-Republicans won North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, but one Elector in each state cast a vote for Federalist Adams
Maryland electors split their vote, with 7 electors for Adams and 4 for Jefferson
Welcome: Tennessee becomes a state during this election cycle
Issues of the Day: Whiskey Rebellion, Jay's Treaty
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The Huawei P8 Review
by Andrei Frumusanu on June 4, 2015 8:00 AM EST
105 Comments | Add A Comment
105 Comments + Add A
Huawei P8 - Introduction and Design Software - EmotionUI 3.1 CPU & System Performance GPU Performance & Power WiFi, GNS and NAND Performance Display Measurement & Power Battery Life & Charging Time Camera Architecture and UX & Video Performance Camera Still Picture Performance Conclusion & Final Remarks
It’s been a month now since Huawei launched its new smartphone flagship, the P8. Huawei started Ascend P-line of smartphones back in 2012 with the launch of the Ascend P1, and has since iterated every year with the follow up P6, P7, and this year’s P8. A notable deviation from the standard naming scheme is that Huawei chose to drop the Ascend brand and this year’s official name is simply the “Huawei P8”. The P-series targets the higher-end market through more robust and premium build quality, while the separate Honor brand is targeted at mainly the Chinese and other budget markets. The Mate family covers the phablet form-factor, although Huawei now also offers a super-sized P8max with 6.8” screen that kind of blurs the size segmentation.
In trying to broaden our coverage of emerging players in the mobile space, we had the pleasure of extensively covering two of Huawei’s devices over the last year – the Honor 6 and the Mate 7, so be sure to read those articles to have a good overview of Huawei’s previous efforts in terms of Emotion UI software implementations and specifics of the HiSilicon Kirin SoCs.
The P8 succeeds the Ascend P7 – both are the 5” form-factor devices aiming at the high-end segment. The P8 differs quite a lot from the P7 by ditching the glass back in favour of an all-metal unibody with rounded sides. The size also goes up a bit as the display continues to grow from 4.7” and 5” on the P6 and P7 up to 5.2” on the P8. The device gains 3mm in width and 5.1mm in height over its predecessor, reaching dimensions of 144.9 x 71.8 x 6.4mm. The device remains still very thin at 6.4mm and thus helps its ergonomics.
Before we look closer at the design choices, let’s go over the specifications of the P8’s hardware.
Huawei P-line
Ascend P8 Ascend P7 Ascend P6
SoC HiSilicon Kirin 930/935
Hi3635
4x CA53@1.5GHz,
4x CAA53e@2.0/2.2GHz
Mali-T628MP4 HiSilicon Kirin 910T
4x CA9@1.8GHz
Mali-450 HiSilicon K3V2
1xCA9@1.5GHz
Vivante GC4000
Memory 3GB LPDDR3 2GB LPDDR3 2GB LPDDR3
Storage 16 or 64GB NAND +
microSD 16GB NAND +
microSD 8/16GB NAND +
Display 5.2” 1920x1080
JDI IPS-Neo LCD 5.0” 1920x1080
IPS LCD 4.7” 1280x720
Cellular Connectivity GPRS/EDGE/DC-HSPA+/Category 4 LTE GPRS/EDGE/DC-HSPA+/Category 4 LTE 2G / 3G HSPA (EvDO China SKU)
144 grams 139.8 x 68.8 x 6.5 mm
124g 132.7 x 65.5 x 6.2 mm
Camera 13MP (4160 x 3120)
Sony IMX278 Sensor
F/2.0 aperture, 29mm eq.
Rear Camera w/ OIS
8MP Sony IMX179
Front Facing 13MP (4128 x 3096) Rear Facing Sony Sensor w/ F2.0 aperture, 8MP FFC 8MP (3264 x 2448) Rear Facing Sony Sensor w/ F2.0 aperture, 5MP FFC
Battery 2680mAh (10.19 Whr) 2500mAh (9.5 Whr) 7.6Wh
Shipping OS Android 5.0.2 (64-bit)
EmotionUI 3.1 Android 4.4.2
Emotion UI 1.6
Other Connectivity 802.11a/b/g/n + BT 4.1, microUSB2.0,
GPS/GNSS,
DLNA, NFC 802.11a/b/g/n + BT 4.0, microUSB2.0,
DLNA, NFC 802.11b/g/n + BT 3.0,
microUSB2.0, GPS/GNSS,
SIM Size NanoSIM +
NanoSIM (xor microSD) Micro-SIM Micro-SIM
Huawei continues to use its in-house HiSilicon-designed SoCs with the use of a new Kirin 930 or 935. The SoC is a dual-cluster piece sporting a total of 8 ARM Cortex A53 CPU cores. Differing from the usual big.LITTLE implementations were the silicon vendor would choose to use two differing CPU architectures, the Kirin 930’s use a low-frequency and leakage optimized A53 cluster paired with a high-frequency and higher leakage variant. HiSilicon calls this higher frequency core an A53e, although the piece should have no architectural differences to a traditional A53 other than an optimized physical layout to enable the higher operating frequencies.
There was some confusion as to why two SoC model numbers were referenced during the announcement of the device, but the end story seems to be is that HiSilicon brands the same piece of silicon; the Hi3635 differently based on the frequency binning it is able to reach. As such, the cheaper variants of the P8 and P8max come with the Kirin “930” with the fast A53 cluster clocked in at 2.0GHz and 16GB of NAND memory, while the more expensive models with 64GB of storage come with the Kirin “935” clocking in at up to 2.2GHz on its performance cluster. We’ve already seen this practice in the Honor 6 and Mate 7, both using the same Hi3630 chipset but branded slightly differently (Kirin 920 and Kirin 925) due to the higher clocks on the latter model.
Other than the CPU architecture change, the Hi3635 seems to differ very little to the Hi3630. We still see an ARM Mali T628MP4, running at slighter higher clocks of 680MHz. The memory sub-system is also again furbished by a 32-bit dual-channel LPDDR3-1600 memory controller design, which serves 3GB of total memory in all of the P8’s models. As expected, Huawei continues to use TSMC’s 28nm process;
HiSilicon first equipped an integrated modem in the Kirin 920, and the 930 continues this although with a slight downgrade in capability as it only supports UE Category 4 LTE speeds, reaching up to 150Mbps downstream and 50Mpbs upstream.
It’s on the camera that Huawei has undoubtedly focused most of its attention on in the P8. We had some very harsh words for the Honor 6’s and Mate 7’s camera performances, as both featured very disappointing photo and video quality. The P8 looks to change this through the introduction of a brand new Sony sensor, the IMX278. This is the second kind of implementation RGBW (Or RGBC) after the OmniVision unit found in the original Moto X. Huawei also abandons on-SoC still-image processing for a dedicated Altek external ISP. To finish things off, the camera module supports two-axis optical image stabilization with up to 2° of movement freedom. All these changes mark a significant upgrade for Huawei, and it seems to pay off for the P8, which we’ll cover in more detail in the camera section.
Getting back to the P8’s design, we see an evolution of the all-metal chassis which was introduced in the Mate 7. The P8 remains a unibody design with a non-removable 2680mAh (10.19Whr) battery. The front of the phone follows the traditional slab design with the 1080p screen taking up 78.3% off the front’s footprint. It should be noted that the black frame surrounding the actual screen makes it seem as if the device’s size-bezels are much smaller than what they really are, something which is very visible on the lighter coloured models.
As opposed to the left side of the device which is barren of any feature, the right side holds the volume rocker and power button as well as the ejectable trays for the nanoSIM as well as nanoSIM/microSD combo. The volume rocker is very clicky and distinguishable from the power button, which not only has a characteristic texture on it but is also surrounded by an indent differentiating itself from the otherwise round sides. Speaking of the sides, the curvature makes for a very comfortable grip which is accentuated by bevels on the front and back.
On the top of the device we find the 3.5mm headphone jack and the top auxiliary microphone. The bottom is more interesting as the microUSB 2.0 port is flanked by two Torx screws and two symmetrical speaker grills. I tried dismantling the device by trying to remove the screws and lifting up the device's screen, but it seems that Huawei also employs additional adhesive to hold the metal shell and the screen together.
Huawei called the design a “single audio chamber speaker system”, but in practice the right grill is essentially just for aesthetics and only serves as a housing for the bottom microphone. Covering up the left grill will completely dampen the audio output of the device. Nevertheless, the P8 is still able to output very loud and clear audio with good depth.
The back of the device is accentuated by the plastic injection mold lines (which serve as dielectric dividers for the device’s antennas) at the bottom of the phone, while the top part we see a glass piece serving both as the cover glass for the camera and design element as it continues for the whole width of the device, which comes in either white for the brighter coloured phone options or black for the darker variants.
Huawei was proud to show off the ability to keep the camera flush with the rest of the phone. It seems they even managed to have some leeway here as the camera module seems to be still 1.5mm underneath the glass.
Gallery: Huawei P8 - Design
In terms of build quality it seems the P8 is a solid phone. The only gripe I’ve had with it is that it seems to have some empty space underneath the back of the phone as if you try to squeeze it will flex inwards by up to 1mm. The phone’s ergonomics are good and it was a generally pleasant device to use.
The P8 is available in two variants at each price point: 499€ for either the 16GB Mystic Champagne or Prestige Gold versions, or 599€ for the 64GB Titanium Grey or Carbon Black variants which also come with the 200MHz higher CPU clocks.
Software - EmotionUI 3.1 Huawei P8 - Introduction and Design Software - EmotionUI 3.1 CPU & System Performance GPU Performance & Power WiFi, GNS and NAND Performance Display Measurement & Power Battery Life & Charging Time Camera Architecture and UX & Video Performance Camera Still Picture Performance Conclusion & Final Remarks
hrrmph - Thursday, June 04, 2015 - link
It's probably more useful than an iPhone for people who travel a lot and occasionally go off the grid, and thus need the device to still work as a GPS, camera, miniature computer, etc, while drawing all data from fast, convenient local storage...
- It has a MicroSDXC slot, so it can take the new 200GB MicroSD storage cards; and
- It has dual SIMS.
Unfortunately, it lacks a user removable battery, so it is still inferior in that regard to each of the phones and phablets that I already have. But, in general, I like what they are doing.
Something that other nationals can tend to forget is that China has a lot of wealthy people (far more than the US or possibly even Europe). Even though these elite Chinese are wealthy, many of them are shrewd spenders. They want value for their high-end spend. So there is a lot of pressure on Chinese vendors to produce high-end devices that include every possible feature.
So just like Japanese enthusiasts used to get certain stereos and cameras that America only dreamed of, the Chinese are demanding that the manufacturers provide more fully functional high-end phones that can do everything... including the things that the iPhone cannot do.
That said, the iPhone is making headway in China too...
... but just like in the US, it's for all the wrong reasons. Namely, it's a jewelry piece that holds sway as a status symbol amongst the more vacuous of minds. Owning one supposedly elevates your perceived social status - much in the way that owning a ludicrously expensive sports car or ultra-luxury car does the same (think Rolls-Royce, Bentley, etc.).
Sociologists and psychologists have hypothesized that such objects are attractive to both the buyers who display them publicly and to those who view them, particularly the opposite sex.
People who buy these objects are subliminally advertising to potential mates that they have excess money that (under the proper circumstances) can in the future be re-directed to caring and tending for children and non-working spouses.
The attraction effect is generally stronger if the object is purchased and displayed by a male, because many societies still expect the male to bear the larger burden of providing financial resources. This is especially the case while the female is pregnant and in the early years of caring for children that aren't yet school aged.
The larger the excess spend over the practical value, the higher the perception of excess earning capacity. That's why we sometimes see phones sold with precious jewels encrusting them. Apple is just doing the same thing on a lower level... right out of the box. Charging more than the inherent underlying value.
So it's rather refreshing to see the Chinese manufacturers taking a different approach.
And it is especially refreshing to see the Chinese doing this in light of the fact that Samsung vacated the market as an Apple competitor and have now lowered themselves to merely matching Apple's product features. Without the Chinese, the Apple-Samsung twins (newly conjoined) don't really have any competition. The Chinese upping their game changes things.
Of course Apple can play this game too if they want. They simply need to offer more than 264GB of storage. The P8's 64GB of onboard NAND storage combined with the new SanDisk 200GB Micro-SDXC storage card will now set a very high bar that Apple needs to try to hurdle over (if Apple wants to be taken seriously with regard to storage).
I'm thinking that if Apple offers its next phone with 512GB of storage then that would safely secure the storage crown for them (remember, Samsung used to regularly double Apple's storage by simply adding a Micro-SD slot, but Samsung has now given up on competing).
Then Apple would need to add Dual-SIM slots to improve connectivity and travelability. It may come as a surprise to the uninformed that the newly wealthy Chinese (like many other nationals) are joining the tourist-corps. They are world travelers and they want their phones to work anywhere that they are likely to travel. Having Dual-SIMs makes it both convenient and affordable (roaming data charges are still the bane of the planet, even for wealthy Chinese).
I would also argue that to be better than what I've personally already got (and most Chinese, other Asians, Middle-Easterners, Africans, and Europeans already have), Apple would need to offer user removable back covers and batteries. Nothing says "I can handle a thirty hour multiple segment, multi-modal (air, sea, and land) journey" than a couple of lightweight fully-charged spare batteries. No awkward cables... just plop in and play on like nobody's watching.
So the Chinese phones are Apple clones? Nahh, this is just the Chinese practicing for the end-game. They want to do what Samsung used to regularly do to Apple: offer the consumer more for less... and the Chinese have just proven that they can win the storage crown. So who is to say they won't eventually win the various other races to provide the best-of-the-best on the other features? All it requires is Apple-Sung to remain lazy… which is something they have lately proven to be very adept at.
pityko - Thursday, June 04, 2015 - link
I signed up just to be able to thank you for this comment. You brilliantly summarised everything that's wrong with the current "leaders" of the mobile phone industry. I've been a Samsung user for years after being disappointed by the iPhone 3G then HTC in general but now when my contract expires for my Note 3 I am leaving for a Chinese brand, I want to support a company that hasn't given up trying. Reply
pgari - Thursday, June 04, 2015 - link
Always surprises me how people in these blogs write about what Apple "should do", but for what? To be even more successful? What are their credentials?
Of course, anyone can say what they like or dislike. But the implicit assumption in most of these comments is "I know better", which is, at the least, presumptuous Reply
Rod_Serling_Lives - Friday, June 05, 2015 - link
Well said. Apple already dominates with only a handful of devices and I don't know if they could be in a better position than they are currently. Reply
nathanddrews - Friday, June 05, 2015 - link
Personally, I don't like anything about Apple except the build quality of most of its products and its stock price. Cha-ching! I don't buy Apple products or use Apple software, but I'm happy the corporation is so successful. Deep down inside, I find myself horribly judging and mocking consumers of Apple products, but then I just have to remind myself not to feel bad about it. They're already dead inside.
;-) Reply
Brakken - Friday, June 05, 2015 - link
I think it's Tall Poppy syndrome... even ignoring everything else Apple has pioneered over the years and just looking at the Apple Watch - first gen of hardware and software, and it's amazingly smooth and will have years of support and development. With the hardware makers for Android, they are all dropping support for SD cards and removable batteries, except LG (?), but no one seems to talk about it when it happens. I think people start making 'I know better' statements because they don't check history. Reply
MarcSP - Saturday, June 06, 2015 - link
I agree with many of the things you said, but your theory about iphone as a status symbol is incomplete. I mean, according to what you said it seems that most buyers should be single men, and I have seen as many women as men with iPhone in Shanghai (maybe more, as female tend to follow fashion very strongly, and most cannot choose a phone based on "tech" or "features").
Also, many married couples and middle aged and old persons use iPhone. Even students have them.
It always strikes me, because in China iPhone's price is quite higher than the average salary in the first tier cities. Imagine if an iPhone cost 2000 USD in the US. Nobody would buy it, but in china they do.
I guess mostly because the "status symbol" thing, but not to impress potential sexual partners, just to say "hey, look, I am NOT POOR", even if you are and cannot afford a health insurance and use recycled oil for cooking. After the communist times, Chinese socity has gone to the other extreme. Now being poor is not just pityful, it is shameful. No matter how, even if you have to sell tainted milk to babies or steal from your fellow citizens with lies, you MUST become rich. Of course, most cannot, so that's why they think having a "symbol" is better than nothing. "Appearence" is king nowadays in China, not "substance". I guess they need 20 more years to find a balance. Too many changes, too fast. Reply
Ethos Evoss - Friday, June 12, 2015 - link
jesu su writing a book ? Reply
jjj - Thursday, June 04, 2015 - link
You wish the iphone had a sane design like this instead of their roadkill look. Reply
puremind - Thursday, June 04, 2015 - link
If Apple had cloned this device, it would have been better. Instead of the huge bezels it would have had a much more usable form factor. Reply
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21 April, 2018 - 18:48 dhwty
Humbaba: A Monstrous Foe for Gilgamesh or a Misunderstood Guardian?
Humbaba (Huwawa) is a guardian creature found in the Epic of Gilgamesh , which is generally considered to be the earliest surviving great work of literature. Although Humbaba is traditionally depicted as a scary and negative figure, in opposition to the protagonist Gilgamesh, a recently discovered tablet portrays him in a more positive light.
This creature is first mentioned in Tablet II of the work, in which he is described as being the Guardian of the Cedar Forest (or Pine Forest, according to Dalley’s translation). In Tablets IV and V, Gilgamesh, along with his friend Enkidu, travel to the Cedar Forest, fight Humbaba, and succeed in slaying him.
Humbaba, deamon guardian of the Cedar Forest. (Rama/ CC BY SA 3.0 )
Gilgamesh Sets Out for Fame
When the character of Humbaba is introduced he is said to have been assigned by Enlil to guard the Cedar Forest. He is depicted as a terrifying creature, “whose shout is the flood-weapon, whose utterance is Fire, and whose breath is Death,” Nevertheless, Gilgamesh states his intention to journey to the Cedar Forest to slay Humbaba so that he may gain everlasting renown, “Let me set to work and cut down pines, Ensure fame that will last forever!” Although his friend Enkidu and the elders of Uruk warn him against this venture, Gilgamesh remains adamant.
The Immortals – A Continuation of Myths and Legends
Oneiromancy and Dream Predictions from Ancient Mesopotamia
Previously Unknown Lines to the Epic of Gilgamesh discovered in Stolen Cuneiform Tablet
Having prepared weapons, Gilgamesh sets out for the Cedar Forest with Enkidu. Accompanying the pair were 50 young men from the city. During the journey to the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh went up on a mountain, and made a flour offering there, after which he received a dream. This happened three times, and each dream was interpreted by Enkidu. Gilgamesh was distressed by his dreams but was assured by his friend that the dreams were auspicious, and that they would triumph over Humbaba.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu with Humbaba. (U-RA-CIL/ Deviant Art )
Facing Down Humbaba
Tablet V begins with the party’s arrival at the Cedar Forest, which they enter, and come face to face with Humbaba. The monster begins to threaten Gilgamesh and Enkidu and succeeds in intimidating the former. Enkidu, however, provides Gilgamesh with words of encouragement to strengthen his resolve. Having called out to Shamash, the god of the sun, Gilgamesh proceeds to attack.
From the Epic of Gilgamesh , we are told that Humbaba is protected by seven cloaks or ‘radiances’, six of which were removed by Shamash. The god continues to aid Gilgamesh during his battle by summoning great tempests to incapacitate the monster, thus allowing Gilgamesh to vanquish it.
Having been defeated, Humbaba begins to beg for mercy. Enkidu, however, warns Gilgamesh that the terrible beast is not to be trusted, and urges the hero to slay him. Seeing that no mercy would be shown, Humbaba curses Gilgamesh and Enkidu, “Neither one of them shall outlive His friend! Gilgamesh and Enkidu shall never become old men.”
Relief with Two Heroes - t he context may be related to the Gilgamesh epic, and display Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their fight with Humbaba. ( Public Domain )
After slaying Humbaba, Gilgamesh and Enkidu proceeded to chop down the trees in the Cedar Forest. Humbaba’s head was then severed and placed in a leather bag, which was brought by Gilgamesh to the temple of Enlil.
Humbaba’s head was a popular motif in the folk art of ancient Mesopotamia. This may be seen in the fact that terracotta masks and tablets believed to be depicting his severed head have been unearthed during archaeological excavations. Today, these are displayed in various museums around the world.
Head of Humbaba. (Rama/ CC BY SA 3.0 )
A New Perspective on a ‘Monster’
Although Humbaba is traditionally depicted as an antagonist in the Epic of Gilgamesh , a recently recovered clay tablet from the museum of Sulaymaniyah has shed a different light on this character. This tablet contains a part of the Epic of Gilgamesh , and it is written that “Where Humbaba came and went there was a track, the paths were in good order and the way was well trodden.”
The Ascension of Gilgamesh: Did the Epic Hero Actually Exist?
Forget Death and Seek Life! Fascinating Insights into The Human Condition in 4,000-Year-Old Epic of Gilgamesh
The text continues, “Through all the forest a bird began to sing: A wood pigeon was moaning, a turtle dove calling in answer. Monkey mothers sing aloud, a youngster monkey shrieks: like a band of musicians and drummers daily they bash out a rhythm in the presence of Humbaba.”
In a way, it may be said that Humbaba is portrayed as a sort of benevolent guardian of nature in this version of the story - making Gilgamesh and Enkidu villains as they killed him and chopped down the forest.
Epic of Gilgamesh – Humbaba. (Felipe Ferreira/ CC BY NC SA 2.0 )
Top Image: A modern representation of Humbaba. Source: Ligos-Dedalius-Kris/ Deviant Art
By Wu Mingren
AncientPages.com, 2017. Gilgamesh And Enkidu Undertake A Dangerous Mission To Hunt Forest Giant Humbaba. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ancientpages.com/2017/06/01/gilgamesh-and-enkidu-undertake-a-dangerous-mission-to-hunt-forest-giant-humbaba/
Anon., The Epic of Gilgamesh
[Dalley, S. (trans.), 2008. The Epic of Gilgamesh , in Myths from Mesopotamia, Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others . Oxford: Oxford University Press.]
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2018. Fragmentary mask of Humbaba. [Online]
Available at: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/fragmentary-mask-of-humbaba-164546
Parsons, B. L., 2015. Humbaba. [Online]
Available at: https://mrpsmythopedia.wikispaces.com/Humbaba
Tharoor, K. & Maruf, M., 2016. Museum of Lost Objects: The Genie of Nimrud. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35755273
The British Museum, 2018. religious/ritual equipment / mask. [Online]
Available at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=388863&partId=1&searchText=WCO2647&page=1
The Louvre, 2018. Tablet: mask of the demon Humbaba. [Online]
Available at: https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/tablet-mask-demon-humbaba
Humbaba
davidaj wrote on 5 January, 2019 - 14:27 Permalink
Very informative and concise, I enjoyed your article. Thank you
Have you noticed that humbaba looks a lot like the picture in the codex gigas?
3 October, 2015 - 21:47 aprilholloway
An Assyriologist at the University of London (UCL) has discovered that a stolen clay tablet inscribed with ancient cuneiform text that was recently acquired by a museum in Iraq, contains 20...
Read more about Previously Unknown Lines to the Epic of Gilgamesh discovered in Stolen Cuneiform Tablet
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Humble Bundle For PC And Android 11 Includes Anomaly Defenders, Thomas Was Alone, Surgeon Simulator, And More
Ryan Whitwam
2014/09/23 12:10pm PDT Sep 23, 2014
The newest Humble Bundle is out and it's a big one. Humble Bundle for PC and Android 11 includes a whopping ten games right now, with more coming soon. All the titles are available on PC/Mac/Linux and Android with no DRM. There are also Steam keys for most platforms. All you have to do is decide how much to pay.
Unlike previous Humble Bundles, this one has three tiers instead of two. You can pay anything to get the basic tier of games—Thomas Was Alone, Bridge Constructor Playground, Cubemen, and Cubemen 2 (new on Android). Pay above the average price at the time of purchase and you get four more games—Small World 2, Blackwell 1: Legacy, Blackwell 2: Unbound, and Blackwell 3: Convergence. If you choose to pay more than $11, you can add Anomaly Defenders (which literally just came out) and Surgeon Simulator to the list. Granted, that's steep for Humble Bundle, but you're getting a ton of games.
The Bundle is going for the next two weeks, but the longer you wait, the higher the average price will creep. As always, you can choose how you want your payment split between the developers, Humble Bundle, and charity.
[Humble Bundle]
Anomaly Defenders Arrives On Android To Finish Out The Anomaly Series By Going Back To Its ...
WhoSampled Brings 'The World's Largest And Richest Database Of Music DNA' To Android
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Around the World, Contemporary Architecture, Graphic London, London, microNarrative, Urban Narrative
Art, Lines, Form and Space : : Zaha Hadid \ Serpentine Sackler Gallery
ARCHITECTEM visited the Serpentine exhibition of paintings and the rarely seen drawings of the pioneering and visionary architect Zaha Hadid. The exhibition is housed in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, an extension completed in 2013 and one of Zaha Hadid Architects’ first permanent buildings in central London.
Drawing and painting were fundamental to Hadid’s practice. Influenced by Malevich, Tatlin and Rodchenko, she used calligraphic drawings as the main method for visualising her architectural ideas.
Mariam Husain captures Zaha’s work on paper, canvas and its physical context. The process and the spatial expression of Zaha’s investigations. Anything but a silent, still conversation between art, lines, forms and its witnesses.
Around the World, Graphic London, London, microNarrative, Urban Narrative
ARCHITECTEM microNarrative Graphic London captured and curated by Mariam Hussain. Design vignettes, bold compositions, and graphic imagery that celebrate urban London are the focus of this visual series. An inventory of dynamic snapshots preserving an archive of everyday moments; streetscape as microcosm of the vibrant metropolis.
“Behind all seen things lies something vaster; everything is but a path, a portal or a window opening on something other than iteself. “
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Wind, Sand and Stars)
Second installment of Graphic London captured and curated by Mariam Hussain. Design vignettes, bold compositions, and graphic imagery that celebrate urban London are the focus of this visual series . An inventory of dynamic snapshots preserving a narrative of everyday moments; streetscape as microcosm of the vibrant metropolis.
Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall – it’s wet.
― Banksy, Wall and Piece
Around the World, Graphic London, London, microNarrative
This is the first of a continuing series of posts, showcasing design vignettes, bold compositions, and graphic imagery that celebrate Urban London. An inventory of dynamic snapshots cataloging a narrative of everyday moments; streetscape a microcosm of the vibrant metropolis.
“It’s brilliant, you can’t ever get bored of London cos even if you live here for like a hundred and fifty years you still won’t ever know everything about it. There’s always something new. Like, you’re walking round somewhere you’ve known since you was born and you look up and there’s an old clock on the side of a building you never seen before, or there’s a little gargoyley face over a window or something. Don’t you think it’s cool?”
― Richard Rider, No Beginning, No End
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AP PHOTOS: Neighbors fill buckets, pray for rain in drought
Hilary Markiewicz, AOL.com
Sep 1st 2015 4:30AM
NTP: Neighbors fill buckets, pray for rain in drought
OKIEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — People living in this dusty neighborhood called Okieville at the heart of California's Central Valley know the harsh reality of drought. Many of their wells have dried up, so some neighbors rig lines from house to house to share water from the remaining wells deep enough to hit water. Others benefit from state drought relief that pays for trucked-in water to fill tanks.
Miles of the nation's most productive farms surround Okieville — a neighborhood of about 100 homes named for refugees who came west from Oklahoma during the 1930s Dust Bowl — but many residents come home at night after working in the fields and wonder if they'll be able to take a shower or flush their toilet.
Despite these challenges, people in Okieville are proud to call it home. Rather than moving out, they're coming together.
More from AOL.com:
Horse riding program teaches sport of kings to at-risk youth
Photographer shares rare glimpse into lives of Secret Service agents
Photos of the week: 8/21 - 8/28
Don't miss the biggest stories of the day. Get breaking news delivered directly to your inbox.
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The Hilarious World of Depression® with John Moe
Jonny Sun Ended Up Here Somehow
December 17, 2018 · 47:30
0:00/ 0:00
The idea was to become an engineer or maybe an architect. Jonny Sun has degrees in both, and he’s a dissertation away from a doctorate in urban studies and planning from MIT. But a phenomenally humane, funny, and popular Twitter account has placed him in an unexpected comedy career. Meanwhile, he realized that this dark sad feeling he’s had forever has a name.
John Moe
A show about clinical depression...with laughs? Well, yeah. Depression is an incredibly common and isolating disease experienced by millions, yet often stigmatized by society. The Hilarious World of Depression is a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny conversations with top comedians who have dealt with this disease, hosted by veteran humorist and public radio host John Moe. Join guests such as Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Richter, and Jen Kirkman to learn how they’ve dealt with depression and managed to laugh along the way. If you have not met the disease personally, it’s almost certain that someone you know has, whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, or neighbor. Depression is a vicious cycle of solitude and stigma that leaves people miserable and sometimes dead. Frankly, we’re not going to put up with that anymore. The Hilarious World of Depression is not medical treatment and should not be seen as a substitute for therapy or medication. But it is a chance to gain some insight, have a few laughs, and realize that people with depression are not alone and that together, we can all feel a bit better.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Support our show and our community – GIVE NOW.
Find promo codes and check out our sponsors here.
Find The Hilarious World of Depression on Twitter and Facebook.
Questions? Feedback? Story to Share? Contact us.
The Hilarious World of Depression is made possible by a grant from HealthPartners and its Make It OK campaign, which works to reduce the stigma of mental health. Find out more at www.makeitok.org.
Subscribe/listen at Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music, Stitcher, or Radio Public.
Naomi Ekperigin Brings In Her Baggage, Unpacks It
Solomon Georgio Is Doing Better
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Finding Quiet
My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices That Brought Peace
By: J. P. Moreland
Narrated by: Maurice England
Scientism and Secularism
Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology
By: J. P. Moreland, Dan Egeler - foreword
Narrated by: Matthew McAuliffe
Rigid adherence to scientism - as opposed to a healthy respect for science - is all too prevalent in our world today. Rather than leading to a deeper understanding of our universe, this worldview actually undermines real science and marginalizes morality and religion. In this book, celebrated philosopher J. P. Moreland exposes the self-defeating nature of scientism and equips us to recognize scientism's harmful presence in different aspects of culture, emboldening our witness to biblical Christianity.
By joshua yates on 06-11-19
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Narrated by: Grover Gardner
In Love Your God with All Your Mind, J.P. Moreland presents a logical case for the role of the mind in spiritual transformation. He challenges us to develop a Christian mind and to use our intellect to further God's kingdom through evangelism, apologetics, worship, and vocation.This is an invaluable book aiding the concerned Christian in the battle for the Christian intellect.
Great book!
By Alan on 12-28-10
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Narrated by: Ravi Zacharias
We all have doubts that challenge our faith. We wonder whether the Bible still matters, or whether God is truly as loving and personal as we hope. In his first ever devotional, The Logic of God, apologist Ravi Zacharias offers 52 devotions that explain how and why Christianity, the Bible, and God are still relevant, vital, and life-changing for us today. To all our dilemmas, Ravi says, "I am convinced that Jesus Christ alone uniquely answers the deepest questions of our hearts and minds."
Where Ravi Fit Into My Story
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Here is penetrating analysis and critique of Western society’s dominant worldviews, naturalism and postmodernism, which have also influenced the church. Moreland issues a bold call to reclaim powerful kingdom living and influence through recovery of the Christian mind, renovation of Christian spirituality, and restoration of the Holy Spirit’s power.Go to www.kingdomtriangle.com for more information.
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Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God - but it is a neglected dimension of the Christian life for many Christians today. We need to recover the practice of honest spiritual struggle that gives us permission to vocalize our pain and wrestle with our sorrow. Lament avoids trite answers and quick solutions, progressively moving us toward deeper worship and trust.
Darwin Devolves
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Well reasoned and persuasive
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Refuting Rabbinic Objections to Christianity and Messianic Prophecies
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For us Jews who grew up in Israel, Jesus and his word were never part of the conversation. Not in our school system, not in our synagogues, and not in our media. Nor do we have easy access to the New Testament. Jesus has been studiously avoided and hidden from our people. After almost 2,000 years, Jesus, or as we call him in Hebrew, Yeshua, can no longer be hidden from the people! Now, we can explain the Gospel to our people in a way that makes sense to them, in our own native tongues of Hebrew and Arabic, as only Israelis can and help our people understand who Yeshua really is.
Jesus is Messiah
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Well worth the time!
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This book is for everyone who has a father. And for all those who know what it's like to long for a father's blessing: his approval, affection, and attention. It's for anyone who's ever longed to hear your dad say, "I love you. I'm so proud of you." You may already know what it's like to live in the rays of such a blessing, to flourish in the marvelous light of a father's love. Yet, in this "fatherless generation", it's also likely you've never known the blessing of your earthly dad.
A great reminder of God as the perfect father!
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Determined to Believe? is written for those who are interested in or even troubled by questions about God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility. John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people to come to grips with the biblical treatment of this issue for themselves. In this comprehensive review of the topic of theological determinism, Lennox seeks firstly to define the problem, looking at the concepts of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral problems these pose. He then equips the listener with biblical teaching on the topic.
balanced, scriptural and gracious
Eternity Is Now in Session
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By: John Ortberg
Narrated by: Dean Gallagher
Best-selling author John Ortberg dispels the myth that eternal life is something way out in outer space that we can only hope to experience after we die - and that being saved is merely about meeting the minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven. Instead, John unpacks the reality that the moment we trust Christ, we are initiated into “eternal living” with God as a here and now reality, one that will continue beyond our life on this earth.
My eyes were opened and I can see, at last!
By Rich Hayami on 11-14-18
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Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
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Me. Me. Me! That was me! I thought I was a Christian...
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Much Needed
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By: Tremper Longman III, John H. Walton, Stephen O. Moshier - contributor
Narrated by: Adam Verner
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A defence of a hyperbolic interpretation of the flood
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Narrated by: William Crockett
If we are to believe many modern commentators, science has squeezed God into a corner, killed and then buried him with its all-embracing explanations. Atheism, we are told, is the only intellectually tenable position, and any attempt to reintroduce God is likely to impede the progress of science. In this audiobook, John Lennox invites us to consider such claims very carefully. Is it really true, he asks, that everything in science points towards atheism? Has science buried God? God's Undertaker is an invaluable contribution to the debate about science's relationship to religion.
Stupendous! Nothing less from J C. Lennox
By Wilson Tineo on 07-05-18
Living in Christ's Presence
Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God
By: Dallas Willard, John Ortberg
Narrated by: Dallas Willard
Dallas Willard and John Ortberg explore what it means to live well now in light of God's kingdom. They reflect on the power of the Trinity in our lives, the meaning of knowledge, the importance of spiritual disciplines and much more. Dallas Willard offers poignant thoughts about what it will be like to transition into the very presence of Christ in heaven. This audiobook is adapted from the talks given at the February 2013 Dallas Willard Center "Knowing Christ Today" conference in Santa Barbara, California.
Let Go of Control
By taylor storey on 09-21-14
The AI Delusion
By: Gary Smith
We live in an incredible period in history. The computer revolution may be even more life-changing than the Industrial Revolution. We can do things with computers that could never be done before, and computers can do things for us that could never be done before. But our love of computers should not cloud our thinking about their limitations. The AI Delusion explains why we should not be intimidated into thinking that computers are infallible, that data-mining is knowledge discovery, and that black boxes should be trusted.
The non-obvious obvious
By Jordan Worley on 07-19-19
In May 2003 prominent philosopher, author, and professor J. P. Moreland awoke in the middle of the night to a severe panic attack. Though often anxious by temperament and upbringing, Moreland had never experienced such an incident before. Thus began an extended battle with debilitating anxiety and depression.
More than a decade later, Moreland continues to manage mental illness. Yet along the way he's moved from shame and despair to vulnerability and hope. In Finding Quiet Moreland comes alongside fellow sufferers with encouragement and practical, hard-won advice. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 20 percent of Americans suffer from mental illness, and people in the pews are not immune. Moreland explores the spiritual and physical aspects of mental illness, pointing readers toward sound sources of information, treatment, and recovery.
Bracing and honest, Finding Quiet will validate the experiences of believers with mental illness, remind them they are not alone, and provide reassurance that they can not only survive but thrive again.
©2019 J. P. Moreland (P)2019 Zondervan
The God I Never Knew
Ordering Your Private World
The Kingdom of the Cults
camungle
Very helpful!!
This book was amazing!! So much good information. I will definitely be listening to it more than once.
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Home > Research Bulletins > Alibaba Holds Largest IPO in History
Alibaba Holds Largest IPO in History
Technology giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. recently held the largest IPO in history, raising $25 billion, after underwriters used their right to purchase additional shares.
Underwriters use over-allotment option
The company generated $21.8 billion in the primary offering, before the financial institutions that facilitated the transaction exercised their over-allotment or "greenshoe" option and bought additional shares for $68 each, Forbes reported. As a result of these banks exercising this option, Alibaba sold 368 million shares, or roughly 14.9 percent of the company.
Global internet giant Yahoo! Inc., Alibaba chairman Jack Ma and vice chairman Joseph Tsai contributed the shares sold in the over-allotment, according to the news source. Ma sold roughly 15.5 million shares in the IPO, 2.7 million of which went to the over-allotment. Tsai sold 5.2 million shares in the offering, with 900,000 going as a result of the greenshoe option.
Twenty-five institutional investors purchased roughly half the shares sold in the primary offering, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Since these securities were held by such a small number of industry participants, fund managers had greater motivation to purchase these securities on their first day of trading, seeking to get in on Alibaba's growing e-commerce market share. This development coincided with Alibaba's shares surging 38 percent on Sept. 19, their first day of trading, the media outlet reported.
Role of underwriters
While Alibaba held the largest IPO in history, it worked with more than 30 underwriters to complete the sale, according to news source. These institutions brought in $300 million in fees, or 1.2 percent of the transaction's value, Reuters reported. Selling shareholders will pay $178.6 million of these fees, while Alibaba will contribute $121.8 million in commissions.
In addition to working with an outsized number of underwriters, the IPO used an atypical fee structure, offering bonuses to help motivate underwriters to produce better results, according to Bloomberg. Whereas most primary offerings use one lead underwriter that gathers a substantial portion of the fees, this sale used five lead banks.
Credit Suisse Group AG, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. each received 15.7 percent of these fees, the media outlet reported. Citigroup earned 7.9 percent of the total, and the other underwriters took home 1 percent or less of these fees.
Lofty expectations
Alibaba's huge IPO has generated substantial visibility for the company, and Li Muzhi, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Arete Research Service LLP, commented on how global market participants perceive the technology giant, according to Bloomberg.
"Expectations for this company are sky high," Muzhi told the news source. "The market seems to be using Alibaba as a proxy for the macroeconomy and consumer economy."
The technology giant may have plenty of room to grow, as global management consultancy McKinsey predicted that China's e-commerce market will be worth $395 billion in 2015, three times its value in 2011, according to the news source. Alibaba announced in August that during the 12 months ending in June, its retail platforms helped create 6.1 billion package shipments, or 54 percent of the nation's total.
While Alibaba did recently hold the world's largest primary offering, it is one of many IPOs that is happening currently. Companies interested in taking advantage of this activity by providing services to firms holding these primary offerings might consider speaking with Audit Analytics.
Audit Analytics tracks IPOs, Private Placements, auditor fees, auditor changes and more, with the ability to create daily alerts for new disclosures by industry, location, and auditor. Our databases are updated daily and have historical data back to the year 2000. Please contact Audit Analytics for an online demonstration or to learn more about these data sets. You can call us at (508) 476-7007 or e-mail info@auditanalytics.com.
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Frank Bowling: In The Presence Of A Significant Painter – Sue Hubbard
It’s rare to walk into an exhibition and be bowled over (forgive the pun). To encounter work that touches the heart as well as the mind in these insouciant times. Frank Bowling’s exhibition at Tate Britain is one such rare show, reminding us of what painting can do.
Events/Exhibition
Announcement/Art News
Diverse Turner Prize 2019 Tate Britain Announces Nominees
The four artists who have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2019 have been announced at Tate Britain today.
Features/Photo Features
Van Gogh’s Religious Journey Around London – Revd Jonathan Evens
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Britain as a young trainee art dealer who then had a spell as a teacher before leaving Britain to pursue a life of religious service.
Vincent Van Gogh His Very British Legacy – Edward Lucie-Smith
Tate Britain has one very good reason to offer us a Vincent Van Gogh show, which is that it is sure to raise attendances at an institution fighting to get them.
Sorolla: National Gallery And Mike Nelson – Tate Britain – Edward Lucie-Smith
Two shows have just opened at major London institutions –Sorolla at the National Gallery and Mike Nelson at Tate Britain. Different as they are, they both give one cause to reflect on the current situation in British art. Indeed, about what is happening to British culture in general.
Tate Commission: Mike Nelson – The Asset Strippers
Don McCullin A Major Retrospective – Tate Britain – Jude Cowan Montague
A major retrospective of the war photographer Don McCullin at Tate Britain showcases his images from Vietnam, Northern Ireland and more recently Syria alongside pictures of poverty in the East End and working-class life in northern England. McCullin’s trajectory is key to the level of emotion that I feel when I see his landscapes There’s […]
Edward Burne-Jones Erotic And The Androgynous Tate Britain – Edward Lucie-Smith
I have various reasons for being interested in Edward Burne-Jones. Some are purely personal. For example, I happen to live in the area of West London where Burne-Jones spent thirty years of his adult life.
Turner Prize Smug-Fest Crashes And Bores – Edward Lucie-Smith
Before I go any further, let me note that, on the very day this iteration of the annual Turner Prize exhibition was revealed to the press, a review in the Evening Standard hailed it as “thrilling”.
Turner Prize 2018
Aftermath – Emerging from the Catastrophe of WWI – Tate Britain – Edward Lucie-Smith
Aftermath is at last a good solid show at Tate Britain, rather than something anxiously politically correct, and equally anxious to demonstrate just how goody-two-shoes the Tate brand has become.
Tate Britain Reunites Two Burne-Jones Masterpieces For Retrospective Exhibition
Two celebrated series of Pre-Raphaelite paintings will be brought together in their entirety for Tate Britain’s Burne-Jones retrospective this autumn.
1968 Political Protest Posters To Be Displayed At Tate Britain
1968 was a turning point for protest history and a flashpoint in modern society.
Tate Announces 2018 Turner Prize Shortlist Online – But Was It An Accident?
London: Tate Britain has announced the 2018 shortlist for the Turner Prize on their website, this evening 25 April.
The Human Condition Relationships And Raw Desires – Tate Britain – Sue Hubbard
The 20th century saw God lose his central role within the scheme of human belief and philosophy.
Turner Prize Winner Martin Boyce Unveils New Commission At Tate Britain
Martin Boyce the Turner Prize-winning artist has been commissioned to create a new installation outside Tate Britain.
All Too Human: Bacon, Freud and a Century of Painting Life
Art News/Interviews/Reviews
Rachel Whiteread Talks To Sue Hubbard About Her New Exhibition At Tate Britain
Trying to get hold of Rachel Whiteread to talk about her new exhibition at Tate Britain, her largest to date is rather like attempting to gain an audience at the White House.
Impressionists in London: The Ey Exhibition
Impressionist Refugees Monet, Tissot And Pissarro In Britain New Tate Exhibition
Tate Britain brings together over 100 important works by Impressionist masters such as Monet, Tissot, Pissarro, and others for a blockbuster exhibition this Autumn.
David Hockney Exhibition Becomes Tate Britain’s Biggest Ever Draw
The David Hockney retrospective that just finished running at Tate Britain has drawn 478,082 visitors past the gate. This makes it the most visited exhibition ever held at the gallery on Millbank, either in its time as the Tate Gallery or since it became Tate Britain in 2000.
Art Now: A Pale Corporate Shadow Of A Former Anarchic Practice – Sue Hubbard
The other night I went to the private view of Lucy Beech and Edward Thomasson’s performance that forms part of Tate Britain’s Art Now, an ongoing series of contemporary exhibitions.
Features/Opinion
Tate Britain Comes Out – Queer British Art 1861–1967 By Simon Tarrant
Imagine in 1988 the public furore if the Tate had hosted an exhibition of queer British art – marking the 21st anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised private homosexual acts between men over 21 in England and Wales.
Queer Art At Tate – My Take By Edward Lucie-Smith
The hosannas are already ringing out for Tate Britain’s new show Queer British Art, 1861-1967.
David Hockney iPad Paintings Broadcast Across UK On Large Public Screens
David Hockney’s iPad paintings are currently being broadcast across the UK on large, public screens to mark the opening of his Tate Britain retrospective. From Thursday 9 February, millions of people in the UK will see an animation of Hockney’s brushstrokes building to reveal a painting in his inimitable style. The work – Untitled, 382 – depicts his garden in Los Angeles and this will be its European premiere.
David Hockney According To Himself – Review By Edward Lucie-Smith
It seems a long time since Tate Britain had a real blockbuster show. Even the Turner Prize, once a focus of popular attention, has received less and less publicity recently, to the point where the dissidents of the Stuckist Movement can no longer be bothered to picket it, even when the annual prize exhibition is held here in London, and not banished to some deserving gallery in the provinces.
News/Photo Features/Preview
David Hockney Unveils His First British Retrospective Exhibition At Tate Britain
David Hockney unveils his first retrospective at Tate Britain opening to the public 9th February.
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Northern Ireland to face Israel in friendly
Michael O'Neill
Northern Ireland will host Israel in a friendly international at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Tuesday 11 September (kick-off 7.45pm).
The two countries last met in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2013 with the sides playing out a one-all draw in Tel Aviv. Northern Ireland and Israel have met on nine occasions with Northern Ireland winning three of the games, Israel one and the teams drawing five times.
The game comes three days after Northern Ireland play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA Nations League at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. September 11 is also a Nations League game day, but with neither country having a competitive fixture on that date the friendly will instead be used by both teams to prepare for games later in the tournament.
The visitors have some well-known faces in their squad including ex-Chelsea, Manchester City and Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim and former Liverpool and all-time Israel appearance record holder Yossi Benayoun who has 102 caps for his country.
Brighton and Hove Albion striker Tomer Hemed and Club Brugge midfielder Lior Refaelov are also in the Israel squad.
Speaking about the fixture, Northern Ireland Manager Michael O'Neill said:
"When we are looking at options for friendly matches we want teams that will challenge us and help us improve as a squad. Israel offer both of those things. This is an excellent game for us and we will use it to build on what will hopefully be a positive result against Bosnia.
"This friendly match completes our schedule for 2018 and I am pleased with the mix of fixtures that we have. With friendly games against South Korea, Panama, Costa Rica, the Republic of Ireland and now Israel, as well as the competitive matches against Bosnia and Austria, we have a varied but exciting schedule and one which I believe will stand us in good stead ahead of the start of EURO 2020 qualifying next year."
Funeral details for ‘kind, caring and genuine’ sports fanatic Paddy Allen
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Consumers still turn to chocolate in tough economic times, says Mars
Not even tough economic times can keep consumers away from chocolate.
That's the word from Mars Multisales Africa General Manager, Helen Joubert.
"They might buy a single serving and there are lower volumes sold, but they don't move away," she said, adding that people were still inclined to buy chocolate despite the impact on their pocket because it served as a special treat during hard times.
Joubert heads up the local unit of US based Mars Incorporated, importing goods such as Wrigley's chewing gum, M&M's, Twix, Bounty and Mars Bars to SA as well as manufacturing pet food and convenience products Royco in South Africa.
"Consumers are looking for more and more deals, it's important to look at the trends responsible for consumption," Joubert told Fin24 in an interview at Mars Africa's offices in Woodmead, Sandton.
The SA unit of the global brand, established in 1994 has 2% of the market share in the chocolate market, dominated by giants such as Cadbury and Nestle.
But Joubert predicts growth ahead, with an emerging middle class able to afford premium products. Mars Africa's confectionary is aspirational in nature and seen in US movies and television shows. She also references the opportunity to penetrate the lower income market
Spending trends
Retailers and the manufacturing sector have been hit hard in recent years by weak consumer confidence and sluggish growth. The country dipped into recession in the first six months of 2018 and grew by just 0.8% for the year.
Joubert said the fast moving consumer goods sector (FMCG) was under pressure and this was reflected in Mars Africa sales and trends.
There are over six million dogs and four million cats in SA, according to Mars Africa research, which represent a massive opportunity for pet food manufacturers and distributors. During tough economic times, instead of feeding pets specialised food, some consumers tend to cut back and either feed their animals human scraps or only make use of the products once a day.
Joubert said this is where education is key in educating people about the value of combined feeding and the products available to supplement pet care in households under economic pressure.
Chewing gum is another area that the consumer goods sector requires a focused strategy with "consistency at every till point".
A great deal of research goes into consumer behaviour and Joubert says that gum is always an impulse product and never makes it to a shopping list. To ensure sales of Wrigleys gum, Mars Africa positions the product close to tills, otherwise people do not remember to buy it.
There is also the trend of younger people buying fruit flavours and customers over the age of 25, preferring mint brands.
Female succession plan
Joubert was appointed as General Manager Southern Africa for Mars Multisales Africa in November and was previously head of sales at the company. She began her career in medical equipment sales, having with a degree in Medical Technology from then Rau university, currently the University of Johannesburg.
She manages the local unit's operations of importing products from the Netherlands, Poland, Thailand and Australia as well as manufacturing plants in South Africa. Joubert also oversees the rest of Africa business with strong performance in Nigerian and Kenyan markets.
Joubert believes that for women to get ahead in the workplace, they need to be identified in a succession plan, early and this cannot be done on an ad-hoc basis as it often is with SA businesses.
The question of women business leaders has been brought to the fore again by the departure of Maria Ramos as CEO of Absa Bank at the end of February. She was the only female head of a TOP 40 listed company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Joubert said it is also important to understand women's needs in the workplace with world-life balance and parental time off.
Sachin Tendulkar inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
Dubai [UAE], July 19 (ANI): Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday became the latest cricketer to be inducted into the ...
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2405 WordsNov 12, 201010 Pages
Introduction I am looking at Topshop for this report. Topshop is a very large British fashion store for young women selling fashion clothes, shoes and accessories. There are Topshop stores throughout the UK. The flagship store in London Oxford Street is the biggest fashion store in Europe. Topshop is part of the Arcadia group which owns other fashion stores such as Miss Selfridge and Warehouse. Topshop mainly sells its own brand products but in larger stores it has concessions of other more expensive similar clothes. As well as selling Topshop clothes in Topshop store, they have concessions in large department stores such as Selfridges. They also have a website where you can buy a lot of the Topshop range including shoes and clothes for…show more content…
This makes the card holder feel more special and they will probably spend quite a lot of money if they attend these evenings. Consumer environment. Depending on the time of day you go into Topshop depends on the types of people you would see in there. In the week in the morning the shop is normally quite empty, the only people you would see in there are young women who are probably unemployed or students. These people probably will not buy much but will stay in the store for a while. If you go in to Topshop at lunch time it will be busier and will have young professionals who are just popping in on their lunch break. These people probably already know what they are going to buy and so will just buy it then leave. At weekends the store is a lot busier, it is full of all sorts of people who will probably all spend quite a while in the shop trying things on and then buying. All Topshop stores look very similar when you walk in, you will know you are in a Topshop store. There are always pictures of the latest fashions on the walls. There are also a lot of things to look at instantly when u walk in whether it is accessories or the latest fashions. For example in the London Oxford Street flagship the floor you walk in on is full of accessories and so it is very colourful and exciting especially compared to the dull, busy street outside. All Topshops are very brightly lit but the walls are normally white and the pictures are often black and white. I
The Downfalls of Topshop
Facilities Topshop is among many companies around the globe that uses cheap labour, or as many people call it, “slave labour”, to produce the items being sold in their stores. The use of unethical labour can cast an unfavorable company image, which in turn may cause customers to shop elsewhere. Product-Line/Store Management Topshop is a large company, with numerous product lines and extensive staffing requirements. This contributes to high management costs. Narrow Demographic Topshop caters to
Topshop Swot
TOPSHOP History dhvgkjhg STRENGTHS Topshop has over 309 fashion stores nationwide, and 50 stores outside the UK. It boasts the worlds largest fashion store in London, with over 200,000 shoppers per week, the store gets 2 deliveries per day and 7,000 looks per season. In 2006 operating profit was £110 million, rung through the tills at topshop; topshops annual sales are now £600 million. Over 40 of the stores now offer FREE personal style consultants who work in soundproof VIP changing
Topshop Strategy
edge, highly fashionable styles with affordability by introducing new products and services in various countries worldwide under the new company called ‘TOPSHOP plus'. Realizing the importance of doing so, after repositioning itself, Top Shop will embark upon a carefully planned journey of simultaneous product and market development strategy as ‘TOPSHOP plus' Be it Kate Moss's exclusively introduced designer range, in-store ambiance, Style Advisor service or its sponsorships for the young and aspiring
Brand Manager For Topshop Is The Most Difficult Market
TOPSHOP is mid level high street and it is possibly the most difficult market to sell products in. This is because it requires a lot of specific branding to strongly create an extremely clear consumer market. The products are neither cheap, which removes the appeal to those wanting throw away or value products, or the luxury market, which would see the items as low quality. However, if placed correctly, it creates some of the most loyal consumers there are today. Products are designed for the core
Essay about Arcadia Group Pest Analysis
transport innovations. Introduction The Arcadia Group – a fashion retailer is one of the biggest UK private companies. Company’s portfolio of brands include seven of the most famous high street fashion brands – Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and Wallis. Arcadia Group has its roots in the last century but its aspirations very firmly in the 21st. The company was founded in 1900 by Montague Burton, Lithuanian emigrant who came to England and borrowed £100 to start
Topshop Company Profile Essay
Introduction Topshop is a one-stop shop for fashion conscious women. It is an innovative, British brand offering a wide product range, that is trend driven at an affordable price. With a target audience of women aged 15 to 30, particularly focusing on students, offering a 10% discount to all students who shop at Topshop. Topshop are known for their fast fashion, selling trend based pieces at an affordable price, capitalizing on being British and selling the ideology of the British it girl who
Topshop in Mexico
Findings 6 3.1 An Analysis of Mexico 6 3.2 Topshop Market Entry into Mexico 7 3.3 The Target and Positioning Strategies 8 4. The Marketing Mix 9 4. 1 Product 9 4.2 Place & Distribution 10 4.3 Pricing 12 4.4 Promotion 13 5. Conclusion 14 6. Appendices 15 7. Bibliography 19 1. Executive Summary This report is to investigate Topshop, a women’s apparel and accessories retailer based in the United Kingdom
Topshop Organizational Structure Essay
Introduction Topshop was founded in 1964 in Sheffield within the ladies fashion store chain Peter Robinson Ltd. The first official stand alone store was opened in 1974, followed by Topman being introduced in 1978 exclusively for male customers. Topshop has over 300 stores in the UK and over 100 stores internationally and has a flagship store in both London andn New York. It is part of the Arcadia Group which also owns Dorothy Perkins, Burton and Miss Selfridge. The Topshop store which will be
The Growth Of Electric Shopping
Company Profile of both organisations Topshop (Figure1&2, Topshop Logo and retail store) Topshop is a famous high street clothing retailer in the UK which belongs to the Arcadia Group that founded in 1964 as a fashion brand within the Sheffield branch of the Peter Robinson Ltd chain initially until 1970s. It had become a stand-alone store, and settled its flagship store on 214 Oxford Street in 1994. (Arcadiagroup.co.uk, 2016) There are more than 300 alone Topshop stores in the UK and over 140 stores
Topshop Case Study
study focuses on the aspects of Top Shop and their business. Topshop is a UK leading Fashion retailer. Topshop started in 1964 in the basement of Peter Robinson, a department store in the North of England. It is part of the long standing retail force of the Arcadia Group which includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Wallis. Topshop has over 300 stores across the UK and over 100 in international territories. In 1965 Topshop was given the basement of the largest Peter Robinson store right
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Scotland selected
Scotland Politics
Scotland Business
Edinburgh, Fife & East
Glasgow & West
Highlands & Islands selected
NE, Orkney & Shetland
Tayside & Central
Highlands & Islands
Inverness set to back Perth's bid for city status
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12582153
Image caption Inverness beat Ayr, Paisley and Stirling to become a city in 2001
Inverness looks set to give its official support to Perth's bid for city status through the backing of Highland Council.
The Highland capital beat off competition from Ayr, Paisley and Stirling to become a city in 2001.
Councillors will be asked next week to agree that the authority gives Perth and Kinross Council its full backing.
Perth is bidding to be made a city in a UK-wide competition set up to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.
The town had previously held the title, but it was removed in 1975 as part of a local government reorganisation.
Scotland currently has six cities. The newest are Stirling and Inverness, which joined Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Perth's city status call backed
The Highland Council
Perth and Kinross Council
Scotland Sections
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London restaurant and bar groups report record Christmas sales
By Noli Dinkovski
D&D London's restaurant Avenue was one of its strongest performers during the festive period
Related tags: City pub company, Inn
London-based restaurant and pub operators, including D&D London and Capital Pub Company have reported record trading figures over the Christmas period.
D&D London, which operates more than 30 restaurants in the capital, said overall sales for December were up 14 per cent on the previous year. Like-for-like sales were up 10 per cent for the same period.
In November, the restaurant group announced plans to open its first site in Scotland at the Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow. D&D London also runs two sites at the Trinity Centre in Leeds.
Des Gunewardena, chairman and CEO of D&D London, believed the company’s “exceptionally strong” Christmas came from a combination of increased covers and growth in spending, with Champagne sales up 15 per cent on 2013.
He said: “Standout performers were our recently remodelled London restaurants Quaglino’s, Avenue and Carom, and our two restaurants in Leeds, Crafthouse and Angelica. These venues all recorded revenue growth of more than 20 per cent.”
Sales spike
CG Restaurants & Bars, which owns the five-site Dirty Martini brand, casual dining chain Fire & Stone and restaurant Tuttons, recorded a 4.5 per cent sales increase during the six weeks to 4 January 2015, against the same period last year.
Dirty Martini posted a 6.2 per cent increase in like-for-like sales for the period.
The company confirmed several more openings are planned for 2015 along with a major refurbishment at its Hanover Square venue in late February.
City Pub Company, meanwhile, claimed to have performed “extremely strongly” across the whole of its estate during the Christmas period.
The Enterprise Investment Scheme-funded pub operator, which owns 17 pubs in the capital, said sales were up 75 per cent thanks to organic growth and the acquisition of eight new pubs.
Business division
City Pub Company is divided into two businesses. City Pub Company East consists of eight pubs with a further three being refurbished, while the West division comprises six outlets.
The most recent opening was the Temple Brewhouse on Fleet Street, which is next to its Daly’s Wine Bar. Daly’s is currently being refurbished and will reopen in February.
Chairman Clive Watson said: “In 25 years in the trade this is the best Christmas I have ever seen in businesses that I have been involved with.
“It also gives us much confidence for the year ahead, to continue our rapid expansion and acquire more pubs.”
City Pub Company also announced the appointment of Tarquin Williams as finance director from the beginning of March. William’s CV includes 15 years at Fullers, where he spent some of his time as finance controller.
The latest results continue the trend of positive Christmas sales figures recorded by operators. Last week, research company Horizons told BigHospitality that a number of chain and independent restaurants had reported a jump in sales.
Related topics: Business, Restaurants, Pubs & Bars, Trends & Reports, Venues
Dirty Martini begins national expansion
D&D London opening The Threadneedle Bar at Royal Exchange
Dining trends report shows that diners are becoming more adventurous
Carom Soho launches rooftop pop-up at Madison London
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Routes and Rides
Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia kicks off this weekend
Four-event series begins in California
By Ben Delaney
The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia series kicks off this weekend
Ben Delaney/BikeRadar
Vittoria will provide neutral support on the last three Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia events
The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia wants to bring Italian culture to American cyclists
When is the last time you saw a Bianchi motorbike?
All Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia riders can pose with the Giro trophy
What’s Italian-themed cycling without great wine?
The Sea Otter Classic has had a gran fondo in the past. This year, it’s the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia
The Giro d’Italia does not start until next month, but the maglia rosa, pasta, wine and Italian cycling passion are in full effect at the Sea Otter Classic outside Monterey, California, where the first Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia kicks off this weekend through the Salinas Valley and down the Pacific coast.
Gran fondos have caught fire in recent years in the US, with many new events springing up and many century events rebranding themselves as gran fondos. The original Italian gran fondos are quite analogous to marathons: long timed events over a given course where some come to race, some come just to finish, but most come for a fun challenge.
As a relatively new concept in the US, gran fondos have taken many forms, and many promoters are still fine-tuning their formulas. The four-event Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia series, for example, has different formats for each of its stops.
At Sea Otter, the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia is simply a timed event, not a race, with 50- and 96-mile options. But the event in New York, the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Five Boro, will feature a time trial over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as part of the 40-mile, car-free ride. This event has been added as a VIP experience to the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a longstanding New York event that draws more than 30,000 riders. Then the Los Angeles-Pasadena Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia offers three distances, with the 93-mile ride taking in a whopping 12,500 feet of climbing.
All gran fondo giro d’italia riders can pose with the giro trophy: all gran fondo giro d’italia riders can pose with the giro trophy
You can’t race the Giro d’Italia. But you can ride the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia, and hoist the trophy
But the main draw for the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia events is the focus on the Italian-style cycling experience, says Lorenzo De Salvo of organizer RCS Sport.
“This is more than just a ride, and it’s about more than just the route,” De Salvo said. “We create an experience on Friday and Saturday, partnering with quality Italian restaurants for great food and wine. We bring the original trophy of the Giro d’Italia, and everyone can take a picture with the trophy with a nice backdrop.”
While some riders will push themselves, the idea is not to host a race, De Salvo said. “We want to welcome every type of rider, not just the racer.”
Ben Delaney
gran-fondo
Sea Otter
What is a sportive?
SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge – last call for entries
Granfondo Campagnolo Roma preview
Interbike offers consumers show entry with gran fondo
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Southampton law firm with expert divorce lawyers
Southampton Divorce Lawyers
Our specialist team of divorce lawyers provide a tailored service during your divorce to remedy family and financial issues and achieve the best possible outcome for you. Our divorce lawyers are highly regarded and advise and act for clients all over England and Wales, as well as those living overseas.
Obtaining a divorce is not necessarily going to be straightforward, even if both parties agree that the marriage is over. Challenges often arise in agreeing the reasons for the separation, how and when to separate, where to live, what arrangements to make for children and the financial settlement.
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Our Southampton divorce lawyers are highly experienced in dealing with all types of permanent separation and the issues arising from it including:
In most cases this is a straightforward process but it can be very complex. The timing of divorce proceedings can be important in tax considerations. Same-sex couples may also have particular considerations, including those arising out of civil partnerships. Our divorce lawyers will deal with the ending of your relationship, efficiently and sympathetically and take time to explain the process and options open to you.
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Our Southampton divorce lawyers advise and support on obtaining a financial Order whether through solicitor negotiation, mediation, collaborative law and, where necessary, Court proceedings. All our solicitors are trained in dealing with the complex, difficult and unusual, particularly with regard to business interests (including farms) and all types of pensions.
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The English Courts will deal with worldwide assets and our divorce lawyers have expertise in dealing with couples who live abroad but remain domiciled in England and Wales and have property here. Likewise, couples who are resident in England and Wales but have, often, significant investments and assets abroad.
Our Southampton divorce lawyers are trained and have expertise in serving Orders abroad and arranging enforcement, enforcing English Orders against English assets and looking at matters in a proactive and creative way.
Although not the easiest of options, mediation can be an effective route to reaching a resolution, whilst avoiding Court. It can be used on straightforward and highly complex cases where significant wealth is involved.
Related Expertise
Our divorce lawyers are highly regarded and advise and act for clients all over England and Wales. We have good relations with the top barristers’ chambers and work closely with Blake Morgan’s residential property and private client teams, to provide a 360° service to your situation, in order to obtain the best outcome for yourself and your family.
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Acting for a client where most of the wealth, including a country mansion, valuable works of art and a vintage Rolls-Royce were mostly contributed by our client's ex-spouse. We provided advice for her to achieve a fair share of the family money in challenging circumstances.
Acting for a client with international assets in his divorce and his financial remedy negotiations, allowing him to safeguard family money advanced to the couple in lieu of inheritance. We achieved a clean break for him and preserved his pension provision. By achieving this constructively and by providing advice in the background to mediation saved the client significant cost and meant that the parties could communicate with one another regarding their children.
Frequently acting for cases involving business assets, pensions, international elements and trusts, inheritance and pre-acquired property. A recent case including acting for a client in court proceedings leading to him successfully retaining the family business, his SSAS pension scheme and paying a term maintenance order to his wife.
Burge
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BM Life Stages
Future Proofing Your Legacy
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Flora Grossman is a Mediator.
Simon Burge and Jennifer Williamson are trained collaborative practitioners.
Simon Burge is HM Deputy Coroner for Central Hampshire – Southampton and New Forest.
Simon Burge, Jennifer Williamson, James Davies and Catherine Morgan
Christine Plews is an Accredited Mediator.
Christine Plews holds a postgraduate certificate (OXON) in counselling.
What is a Post-Nuptial Agreement?
A post-nuptial agreement is a document, entered into freely and with legal advice, setting out financial matters on divorce and intended to be legally binding. It sets out in advance...
Private Client Issues - April 2019
Welcome to this month's edition of Private Client Issues, Blake Morgan's monthly round-up of the topics you may find of interest. Insight and advice on developments affecting private individuals. Concessionary...
No-fault divorce headlines again
Few can fail to have noticed the drive for no-fault divorce in recent months. Much of this has been led by Resolution, in their campaign and also through their involvement in the Owens...
Private Client Issues - March 2019
Welcome to this month's edition of Private Client Issues, Blake Morgan's monthly round-up of the topics you may find of interest. Insight and advice on developments affecting private individuals. Seven...
What is adultery?
We often discuss interesting and unusual points within our team, and recently a member of the team raised a query about adultery, defined in the dictionary as 'voluntary sexual intercourse...
Pension sharing in divorce proceedings
When dividing the matrimonial finances a tricky area can often be how to treat the parties' pension provision. What is the law surrounding this area? A challenging part of dividing...
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Collision Repair / Auto Body / Auto Glass
1-877-7GERBER
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Gerber Collision & Glass Acquires Location in Watauga, Texas
2019 - Company News
Chicago, Illinois – June 11, 2019 – The Boyd Group Inc. (the “Boyd Group”) today announced the June 11, 2019 opening of a collision repair center in Watauga, Texas. The location previously operated as PlanetPaint Collision Center for almost five years.
Watauga is a northeastern suburb of Fort Worth in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the economic and cultural hub of North Central Texas with a population of more than 7.5 million people.
“We are excited to continue to provide the outstanding service customers have received from this location,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group. “The opening of this repair center expands our brand in this market and better positions us to serve our customers and insurance partners.”
The Boyd Group is continuously looking to add new collision repair locations to its existing network in Canada and the U.S. Interested collision repair center owners are asked to contact Stephen Boyd at the contact coordinates below for more information.
About The Boyd Group Inc.
The Boyd Group Inc. (the “Company”), directly and through subsidiaries, is one of the largest operators of non-franchised collision repair centers in North America in terms of number of locations and sales. The Company operates locations in five Canadian provinces under the trade names Boyd Autobody & Glass (http://www.boydautobody.com) and Assured Automotive (http://www.assuredauto.ca), as well as in 27 U.S. states under the trade name Gerber Collision & Glass (http://www.gerbercollision.com). The Company uses newly acquired brand names during a transition period until acquired locations have been rebranded.The Company is also a major retail auto glass operator in the U.S. with locations across 34 U.S. states under the trade names Gerber Collision & Glass, Glass America, Auto Glass Service, Auto Glass Authority and Autoglassonly.com. The Company also operates a third party administrator, Gerber National Claim Services (“GNCS”), that offers glass, emergency roadside and first notice of loss services. GNCS has approximately 5,500 affiliated glass provider locations and 4,600 affiliated emergency roadside services providers throughout the U.S. For more information on The Boyd Group Inc. or Boyd Group Income Fund, please visit our website at (http://www.boydgroup.com).
Stephen Boyd
Vice President, Corporate Development
stephen.boyd@boydgroup.com
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SRO Series Menu
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Round 1 & 213 - 14 Apr
Round 3 & 41 - 2 Jun
Paul Ricard
Round 5 & 629 - 30 Jun
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Round 7 & 820 - 21 Jul
Spa - Francorchamps
Round 9 & 1028 - 29 Sep
Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya
Karim Ojjeh scores maiden Blancpain GT Sports Club win at Paul Ricard, Klaus Dieter Frers completes perfect weekend with Iron Cup victory
Boutsen Ginion’s Karim Ojjeh (#2 BMW M6 GT3) dominated the Paul Ricard Main Race to take home his first ever Blancpain GT Sports Club victory, as Klaus Dieter Frers (#3 Artega Rennsport Ferrari 488 GT3) capped-off a perfect round with another Iron Cup victory.
Completing the overall podium was Qualifying Race-winner Luigi Lucchini (#7 BMS Scuderia Italia SRL Ferrari 458 GT3), ahead of Kessel Racing’s Murod Sultanov (#23 Ferrari 488 GT3), who picks up a podium finish on his championship debut.
In the Iron Cup, Klaus Dieter Frers flew to another victory and now leads the class standings, as Stephen Earle (#111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) scored another second place in Le Castellet, with Louis-Philippe Soenen (#50 AF Corse 488 GT3) completing the podium.
Karim Ojjeh also took the Titanium Cup win, with Christian Hook (#33 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) producing a fine comeback drive to finish second. Jürgen Häring (#66 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 991 GT3 R) was third in class for the second race this weekend, as he achieved his best Blancpain GT Sports Club weekend.
At the start of the 40-minute race, Karim Ojjeh swooped ahead of Luigi Lucchini and pulled a comfortable gap, as the Italian came under pressure from behind. Patrick Van Glabeke (AF Corse #488 Ferrari 488 GT3) made a strong start to move into third, as Coach McKansy (#17 HP Racing International Lamborghini Huracan GT3) dropped back to seventh.
Murod Sultanov was the driver on the move though, climbing from ninth on the grid to fourth by the end of lap one. The Russian joined an intense battle between himself, Luigi Lucchini and Patrick Van Glabeke for the final podium spot, the latter going wide and dropping to fourth.
Double Monza race-winner Mario Cordoni and Christian Hook soon caught the back of the fighting Ferraris, and both were able to slip by one when Patrick Van Glabeke made an error. However, as the race entered its final 10 minutes the German and Italian drivers collided, with the AF Corse racer receiving a drive-through penalty.
Up front, Karim Ojjeh never looked back and cruised to victory, giving him the championship lead as the field prepares for Misano. 0.281 seconds separated Luigi Lucchini and Murod Sultanov across the line, with Patrick Van Glabeke holding onto fourth place.
Christian Hook was able to recover from the late incident to finish in fifth position, ahead of Jürgen Häring who fought off the AF Corse of Frederic Fangio (#53 Ferrari 488 GT3) to finish sixth.
Claude-Yves Gosselin (#4 Boutsen Ginion Lamborghini Gallardo Extenso R-EX), who had an alternator problem in the Qualifying Race, produced an excellent recovery drive from the back of the grid to finish eighth overall and fourth in the Titanium Cup class.
Ninth was Edward Lewis Brauner in the #991 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 991 GT3 R, with Angélique Detavernier (#55 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3) recovering well after being hit into a spin early in the race to collect the final point in 10th.
Up next for the Blancpain GT Sports Club will be round three of the championship from Misano, Italy (22-24 June), which will once again be live streamed on our YouTube channel, Facebook page and website.
Karim Ojjeh (#2 Boutsen Ginion BMW M6 GT3): “It was a great race actually, it went very quickly! As soon as I had the lead I just kept my concentration and was surprised when the team told me we had 25 minutes - I didn’t really feel tired. I was really happy with the pace and knew exactly what to do with the car. The start was great and I managed to pull a gap to the Ferraris, which was the aim as they are quick. When I extended the lead to about eight seconds I thought ‘OK I have to stay focused here’ and I did. Tyre wear started to come into affect and I had to change the traction control slightly but overall I’m very pleased.”
Klaus Dieter Frers (#3 Artega Rennsport Ferrari 488 GT3): “I learned a lot from the Qualifying Race start, which was a little bit tough for me, and it was much better for this one. I had a wonderful race and was able to keep up with other drivers who previously were pulling away from me. In the last third my tyres were getting a bit too worn, so I made sure to keep calm and not overdo it. It was such a nice opportunity to be racing at Paul Ricard today, I enjoyed it so much!
RACB
FIA International Series
© 2019 Blancpain GT Sports Club. All Rights Reserved.Press Members Teams
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Both issues impact the housing market. Construction projects are postponed or delayed because there are not enough workers, while low wages make it difficult to buy a house or pay rent.
It’s a topic that has come up more often at industry meetings, said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, a regional labor economist for the state.
“Construction businesses are competing for a large number of projects and they have to turn projects away because they do not have the necessary workforce,” Vance-Sherman said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Plenty of opportunities to get into high-paying jobs
The public and private sector have been busy in recent years creating opportunities for people who have no experience to get into in-demand jobs:
▪ Schools such as Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College have tailored classes and programs to train workers. Recent ventures by BTC include its cosmetology school at 1411 Railroad Ave. At WCC, the school continues to offer a variety of degree options for skilled-trade professions, including nursing and medical fields.
▪ Some private businesses, including Barron Heating & Air Conditioning, have established their own training schools, paying people while teaching them job skills.
▪ The Northwest Workforce Council has also been busy with several skilled-trade job opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship training programs. An upcoming pre-apprenticeship class starts July 15 is for carpenters. It’s graduates will enter the apprenticeship program, which has a minimum starting wage of $26.35 an hour with benefits.
▪ Local organizations are also working on ways to ways to better connect people to jobs. The Whatcom Business Alliance recently rolled out a website called YesWhatcom.com, a recruitment portal that has job postings but also provides details on the local companies, including videos, information on internships and apprenticeships. It is also creating ways for potential employees, particularly younger workers, students and school districts, to interact with the firms.
Why is there a shortage of skilled-trade workers?
There are many factors in the skilled-trade worker shortage, including demographics, economics and culture.
First, some context: The global financial meltdown in 2008 had long-lasting impacts on local economies. The recession led to the loss of skilled-trade jobs, particularly in construction, in Whatcom County and Washington state.
Local construction cut one in three workers between 2008 and 2010, Vance-Sherman said.
The construction industry also took longer than other industries to rebound in Whatcom County, Vance-Sherman said. With such an acute and long layoff, unemployed skilled-trades workers moved on, either by retiring early, leaving the region or going into new careers.
Construction has rebounded strongly in Whatcom County the past few years, with the number of jobs rising from around 6,000 in May 2015 to around 9,000 in May 2019. But hiring has not matched construction demand.
There’s the pent-up demand of projects delayed during the economic slowdown along with current demand brought on by people moving into the state, she said.
The number of construction jobs in Whatcom County has remained flat in recent months, perhaps because it has become difficult to hire qualified workers, Vance-Sherman said.
Bringing youth back into the trades
Demographically, things have changed as well. Between 2008 and 2015, experienced skilled-trade workers who still had jobs held onto them.
With paid training as one of its selling points, Birch Equipment is one of several companies that have partnered with the Whatcom Business Alliance on a YesWhatcom.com program. The program tries to make better connections between young people looking for work and companies needing to fill positions. Birch Equipment has several stores, including one in Bellingham. Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald Birch Equipment
Seasonal construction jobs are typically filled by younger workers, Vance-Sherman said. But with fewer of those jobs during the recession, workers may have been wary of getting into a cyclical industry that was dealing with sluggish hiring.
“This led to another challenge: the pipeline that brings in the workforce essentially dried up,” Vance-Sherman said. “A large cohort of youth missed out on a common introduction to work, and many watched their families struggle.”
Work to re-invigorate that pipeline has started. The Northwest Workforce Council recently held its annual Washington Apprenticeship Vocational Education tour, taking 340 regional high school students to training centers in Mount Vernon to learn about trade careers.
By creating its own school, a Whatcom company ensures it can find qualified workers
The “yes” in YesWhatcom.com stands for Youth Employment Services, and that’s the focus of the website. It’s a way for students and those just starting out to learn more about local employers, said Laura McKinney, a member of the Whatcom Business Alliance board. She’s also the government affairs and public relations manager at Alcoa Intalco Works near Ferndale.
“One of the challenges in connecting young people to living-wage jobs is that these are not jobs that you would have the opportunity to observe without making an effort,” McKinney said in an email. “You cannot typically walk into a manufacturing facility and ask to see what the job looks like before applying.”
Along with company profiles, there are videos showing how a facility operates as well as details about the company.
“We need for young people to understand what we do and why they would want to come and work for us,” McKinney said.
Drug testing also an issue
While recreational marijuana became legal in Washington state in 2012, many companies continue testing for the drug.
In order to ensure a safe workplace, Alcoa is one of many places that does drug screening for job applicants. Roughly 6% of job applicants have failed the drug screening, McKinney said.
Testing positive on job drug screenings is on the rise across the U.S. According to an annual survey done by Quest Diagnostics, workforce positive drug tests hit 4.4% in 2018, the highest level since 2004. Broken down by states, Washington’s rate was actually slightly lower than the national average, coming in at 4.2%. Whatcom County was higher, falling into the 4.5%-5.5% range.
Outlook for trade jobs looks strong
While the construction industry is prone to downward cycles, that’s not expected to be the case in the next five years in this region. In a new report, Washington’s Employment Security Department expects the Northwest region (Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties) to annually add construction jobs at a 2.9% clip through 2022.
That growth rate prediction would outpace other major industries in the area. The second-highest rate is in professional and business services, rising at a predicted rate of 2.2 percent through 2022.
If that turns out to be the case, it would be good news for the overall economy, Vance-Sherman said.
“Construction and professional and business services are my industry bellwethers, because of the way they connect to all other industries,” Vance-Sherman said.
Skilled-trade wages on the rise
With the shortage of workers, skilled-trade wages have been on the rise. Here are a few examples of average wages for skilled-trade jobs in Whatcom County in June 2018, according to data collected by the Employment Security Department:
▪ Construction laborers: 1,114 employed with an average salary of $47,360.
▪ Construction manager: 287 employed with an average salary of $97,006
▪ Electricians: 513 employed with an average wage of $57,100.
▪ Hairdressers: 225 employed with an average salary of $32,069.
▪ Heating/air conditioning technicians: 135 employed with an average salary of $52,445.
▪ Machinist: 397 employed with an average salary of $51,193.
▪ Registered nurses: employment number not listed, average salary of $59,426.
▪ Welders: 359 employed with an average salary of $47,755.
While many of those jobs pay a living wage, it still requires hard work. But you are rewarded for that hard work, said Jonathan Frey, an employee at Barron Heating. Frey, 24, worked in construction during the summers, then worked an office position before deciding he wanted to work a more physical job at Barron.
“My advice for high school students is don’t be afraid of the hard work,” Frey said in an interview. “At some point, it will pay off. Someone will recognize you for it.”
Follow more of our reporting on Whatcom Business
With budget cuts in place, Alaska announces its ferry plans for Bellingham this winter
See all 10 stories
Dave Gallagher
Dave Gallagher has covered the Whatcom County business community since 1998. Retail, real estate, jobs and port redevelopment are among the topics he covers.
Developer has plans for the Haggen parking lot in the Fountain District
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Washington governor stops in Bellingham to show why his green policies can succeed
The Latest: UK lawmakers impede path to no-deal Brexit
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Home | News | Thai news
Thailand: Rights Group Questions Decision to Hold Southern Militiaman under Martial Law
Mariyam Ahmad
Pattani, Thailand
Village defense volunteer Abdul Hakeem Darase (right) sits while officials search his home in Muang, a district of southern Thailand’s Yala province, May 14, 2019.
Mariyam Ahmad/BenarNews
Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Thailand’s military Wednesday to transfer to police custody a militiaman arrested in connection with a pair of killings in the insurgency-hit Deep South, as it questioned whether the suspect would face justice under martial law.
Earlier this week, Thai military and police officials announced that security forces had captured militia member Abdul Hakeem Darase in Muang, a district of southern Yala province, on Friday. The officials said Abdul Hakeem provided information that led to the capture of another suspect, civilian Saimawee Waekaloh.
Abdul Hakeem was “allegedly responsible for a long list of murders of ethnic Malay Muslim men and women accused of involvement with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement,” Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher in HRW’s Asia division, wrote on Wednesday.
BRN is the largest and most powerful of insurgent groups in the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking region. The Deep South borders Malaysia and encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces as well as four districts in Songkhla province. The region has seen nearly 7,000 people die in violence since the decades-old insurgency flared up in early 2004.
Abdul Hakeem’s arrest raised hopes that the Thai government was “finally getting serious about countless abuses carried out by its security services in Thailand’s restive southern border provinces,” Sunai said.
But he also questioned the military’s decision to hold Abdul Hakeem, citing martial law, to interrogate him about weapons that were allegedly seized from him instead of turning him over to the police.
“As a result, the police cannot press charges against him. And so far, no criminal investigation into any murder cases has begun,” Sunai wrote.
He noted that BRN rebels had cited the alleged abuses committed by Abdul Hakeem “as a justification for reprisals.”
The militiaman had not acted alone, but the government had yet to prosecute a single member of the security forces for unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture or other acts committed against Malay Muslims in the Deep South, Sunai wrote.
“The government should take an important step to break this cycle of violence by ordering the military to transfer Hakeem to police custody for a transparent and impartial criminal investigation and to be prosecuted as the evidence warrants it. There can be no excuses,” Sunai said.
Suspected in killings
Abdul Hakeem is blamed for attacks on May 9 and 22 that led to two deaths, according to Col. Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the military’s internal security operations command in the region (ISOC-4), and Col. Thiraphot Yindee, commander of the police station in Bannang Sata, another district of Yala where Abdul Hakeem served as a village defense volunteer or militiaman.
Thiraphot said Abdul Hakeem had not been charged following his arrest.
“No allegations have been filed as he also faces charges related to weapons of war. He was arrested under martial law,” Thiraphot told BenarNews. “If the allegations are confirmed in the next two to three days when martial law is due to expire, charges will be pressed accordingly.”
Thirapot and the ISOC official spoke to BenarNews on Monday, before Human Rights Watch came out with its statement.
The officials said Abdul Hakeem was transferred to a military unit in Yala for questioning while Saimawee was being detained at the main interrogation center at an army camp in Pattani. No details have been released about alleged crimes committed by Saimawee.
Security forces seized an M-16 and other weapons along with ammunition when they took Abdul Hakeem into custody, according to officials.
The military and police allege that Abdul Hakeem was involved in the May 9 shooting of village headman Arsae Niseng, who was traveling in a car with his wife and two daughters, in front of Ban Cho school in Yala. The headman’s wife was killed and the others injured.
Nearly two weeks later, Sama-ae Sama, 55, vice chairman of the Tha Thong sub-district administration, was shot and killed on May 22 in Yala.
“After the incident, the ISOC Region 4 commander region ordered that witnesses be questioned and security cameras be checked. There were many witnesses who gave us useful information,” Pramote told BenarNews, referring to the earlier incident.
“Actually, the person who knows what happened is the village headman. The last time we went to visit, the children were recovering from injuries,” Pramote said.
Market Bombing in Thai Deep South Kills 3 People, Injures 28
Thai Deep South: Shootings Kill 6 People Over 2 Days
Unidentified Gunmen Kill 3, Injure 2 Women in Thailand’s Deep South
Gunmen Kill 2 Farmers in Thailand’s Deep South
Suspected Rebel Kills 2 in Thailand’s Deep South
6 Men Killed in Separate Shootings in Thai Deep South
Gunmen Kill 5 People in Shootings in Thai Deep South
Rebel Ambush Kills 2 Men in Thailand’s Deep South: Officials
Thailand Arrests 25 Suspected Insurgents in the Deep South
Thai Police Arrest Suspects in New Year’s Bomb-Plot
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The Boy at the Keyhole (Hardcover)
By Stephen Giles
Kobo eBook (September 3rd, 2018): $6.99
Compact Disc (September 4th, 2018): $29.99
MP3 CD (September 4th, 2018): $39.99
Paperback (February 18th, 2020): $16.99
Library Binding, Large Print (December 2018): $37.95
"A fiendishly efficient, gorgeously written, nasty little thrill ride of a psychological thriller. I couldn't put it down, and it's entirely possible that I'll never sleep again. A true tour-de-force of a debut novel."--Lyndsay Faye, author of The Gods of Gotham and Jane Steele
For fans of Shirley Jackson, Sarah Waters and Daphne du Maurier, an electrifying debut about a boy left alone in his family's English estate with a housekeeper he suspects has murdered his mother
Nine-year-old Samuel lives alone in a once-great estate in Surrey with the family's housekeeper, Ruth. His father is dead and his mother has been abroad for months, purportedly tending to her late husband's faltering business. She left in a hurry one night while Samuel was sleeping and did not say goodbye.
Beyond her sporadic postcards, Samuel hears nothing from his mother. He misses her dearly and maps her journey in an atlas he finds in her study. Samuel's life is otherwise regulated by Ruth, who runs the house with an iron fist. Only she and Samuel know how brutally she enforces order.
As rumors in town begin to swirl, Samuel wonders whether something more sinister is afoot. Perhaps his mother did not leave but was murdered--by Ruth.
Artful, haunting and hurtling toward a psychological showdown, The Boy at the Keyhole is an incandescent debut about the precarious dance between truth and perception, and the shocking acts that occur behind closed doors.
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Publication Date: September 4th, 2018
Thrillers - Suspense
Mystery & Detective - Traditional
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Kaukasis: A Culinary Journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond (Hardcover)
By Olia Hercules
"A sensitive, personal journey expressed through the beauty of food - just wonderful" - Jamie Oliver
"Olia Hercules is a storyteller-foodwriter, and a wholly original voice in the kitchen - there's not a recipe of hers I don't want to cook immediately" - Nigella Lawson
"This is an incredible book - as I began to leaf through I started to smile, and I didn't stop" - Diana Henry
Award-winning cookbook author Olia Hercules takes a culinary trip through the Caucasus—the vibrant region that bridges Europe and Asia —and share the recipes, stories, and striking images of this rich region.
In this gorgeous cookbook, Olia Hercules shares more than 100 dishes that celebrate the food, flavors, and unique culinary heritage of the Caucasus—Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Russian, and Turkey. Kaukasis charts Olia’s exploration of this unfamiliar area and introduces its wonderful cuisine that combines European and Middle Eastern ingredients in ways that are fresh and new.
Mint Adjika
Tsago’s Blackberry & Grape Sauce
Savory Peach & Tarragon Salad
Plov with Pumpkin, Chestnut & Walnut
Zahir’s Stoned Chicken
Vine Leaf Dolma
Armenian Cognac Profiteroles
Red Basil Sherbet
Olia Hercules was born in Ukraine and lived in Cyprus for 5 years before moving to London to study a BA in Italian language, followed by an MA in Russian and English. She then decided to train as a chef at Leith’s School of Food and Wine. She kicked off her culinary career working at London’s Union Market before becoming chef-de-partie for Ottolenghi’s. She has since gained national and international recognition for her culinary prowess and engaging personality and is a highly regarded chef, food stylist, and writer. Olia has appeared on The Food Network, launched an online startup (The Recipe Kit), contributes articles and video to the Guardian, which recently named her a Rising Star of 2015, and authored the critically acclaimed cookbook Mamushka. Find out more about Olia at oliahercules.com.
Publisher: Weldon Owen
Cooking / Regional & Ethnic / Middle Eastern
Cooking / Regional & Ethnic / International
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Israeli Scientists Develop New Drug That May Be Cure For AIDS
© AFP/File Luis Robayo
Deborah Danan
TEL AVIV – A groundbreaking Israeli-invented drug may be the cure for AIDS, with trials showing a 97% decrease of the virus in patients’ blood in just over a week.
The Gammora drug, developed at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, is currently being tested at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. The drug was inserted into test tubes containing the blood of ten AIDS patients, resulting in a 95-97% reduction in the HIV virus count in only eight days. Prof. Zeev Steger, head of Kaplan’s Naveh Or AIDS clinic, said the medication is “causing the death of HIV cells.”
The drug’s active ingredient is a peptide developed by Hebrew University’s Abraham Loyter and Assaf Friedler which causes infected cells to self-destruct.
While current treatment curbs the progress of the virus, it doesn’t eliminate it entirely.
Loyter explained that the new treatment acts to get rid of the cells altogether.
“Our approach destroys the cells, so there is no chance that the virus will return one day, because there are no cells, there will be no cells that contain the virus,” Loyter said.
He explained that “the drug enhances certain processes in the body during the spreading of the virus and that enhancement kills certain cells.”
The medication, developed by Zion Pharmaceuticals, still has a long way to go before getting approved. Next year the developers hope to begin clinical trials on AIDS patients and HIV carriers.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced last week that prophylactic drugs would now be available for populations at higher risk of contracting HIV.
HealthIsrael / Middle EastScienceAIDSdrugHebrew University of JerusalemHIVIsrael
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Bloomberg: ‘The Fall of Travis Kalanick Was a Lot Weirder and Darker Than You Thought’
Lucas Nolan
Bloomberg recently published an investigation into former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, providing insight into the issues that the company has faced in the past year.
The investigation published by Bloomberg begins by discussing the company’s lack of confidence in former CEO Travis Kalanick and the office culture issues that plagued the company:
A year ago, before the investor lawsuits and the federal investigations, before the mass resignations, and before the connotation of the word “Uber” shifted from “world’s most valuable startup” to “world’s most dysfunctional,” Uber’s executives sat around a hotel conference room table in San Francisco, trying to convince their chief executive officer, Travis Kalanick, that the company had a major problem: him.
The executives were armed that day with something unusual for Uber Technologies Inc.: the results of a survey. Kalanick operated by gut feeling and with a stubborn sense of how people should feel, not how they did. Jeff Jones, Uber’s new president and former chief marketing officer for Target Corp., wanted more substantial insights. Conclusions drawn from the survey were printed and hanging on the walls. About half the respondents had a positive impression of Uber and its convenient ride-hailing app. But if respondents knew anything about Kalanick, an inveterate flouter of both workplace conventions and local transportation laws, they had a decidedly negative view.
It was shortly after this meeting that an Uber executive was informed of the famous video of Kalanick verbally berating an Uber driver that later went viral:
Then a top executive excused herself to answer a phone call. A minute later, she reappeared and asked Kalanick to step into the hallway. Another executive joined them. They hunched over a laptop to watch a video that had just been posted online by Bloomberg News: grainy, black-and-white dashcam footage of Kalanick in the back seat of an UberBlack on Super Bowl weekend, heatedly arguing over fares with a driver named Fawzi Kamel.
“Some people don’t like to take responsibility for their own shit!” Kalanick can be heard yelling at Kamel. “They blame everything in their life on somebody else!”
As the clip ended, the three stood in stunned silence. Kalanick seemed to understand that his behavior required some form of contrition. According to a person who was there, he literally got down on his hands and knees and began squirming on the floor. “This is bad,” he muttered. “I’m terrible.”
According to Bloomberg, President Trump was the beginning of many problems for Uber and Kalanick:
The melodrama began, in a sense, with Donald Trump. On Jan. 27 the newly inaugurated president issued his executive order imposing border restrictions on people from seven Muslim countries. Outrage erupted. People took to the streets; tech workers in Silicon Valley walked out of their offices in symbolic protest. And in New York, a small union called the New York Taxi Workers Alliance declared that there would be no taxi pickups from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday night at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
For Uber, that would create extra demand at the airport, which meant it could charge more—but this would probably cause a backlash. That had happened before when the company let its “surge pricing” algorithms do their thing. So the New York managers decided to be good citizens and suspend surge pricing for the night.
The backlash hit anyway. After years of negative revelations—spying on passengers, dubious driverless-car experiments in San Francisco, the CEO’s bragging about sexual conquests, to name just a few—the public was already inclined to believe the worst of Uber. If the company wasn’t price gouging this time, maybe it was trying to break up the JFK strike. A new hashtag was trending on Twitter: #deleteuber.
By the end of the year, Kalanick was on his way out at the company:
Although he no longer came into the office, Kalanick managed to keep himself in the middle of the company’s affairs. He lobbied for his own pick as successor, former General Electric Co. chief Jeffrey Immelt. The Uber directors would have none of that— they suspected that Kalanick had secured an agreement from Immelt to serve for only two years, paving the way for his Jobs-like return. Kalanick also flew to Seattle to interview a wild-card candidate referred by investor TPG: Expedia Inc. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who later marveled to friends that it certainly felt like Kalanick was still in charge.
Indeed, Kalanick had some tepid support inside the company. But his vote counting rankled even his defenders. He was also calling executives daily, asking for detailed information about the business. Even worse, he ordered the security team to dig through an employee’s email to see if that person was leaking a potentially damaging story. It all proved too much for the 16-person executive team, which signed a letter to Uber’s board—but clearly directed at Kalanick—asking them to refrain from reaching out to employees or meddling in the company’s daily affairs. Kalanick’s own handpicked executives turned against him.
Read the full investigation by Bloomberg here.
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering issues of free speech and online censorship. Follow him on Twitter @LucasNolan_ or email him at lnolan@breitbart.com.
LocalTechBloombergsilicon valleyTravis KalanickUber
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Best Science Podcasts 2019
Houston Methodist receives $9 million from NCI to study physics of cancer immunotherapy
HOUSTON-(Oct. 3, 2016)-The Houston Methodist Research Institute has been awarded a $9 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to establish a research center focused on the physics of cancer immunotherapy.
The Houston Methodist Research Institute will be the lead site for the NCI-designated Center for Immunotherapeutic Transport Oncophysics (CITO), which focuses on designing immunotherapies for breast and pancreatic cancers. While several immunotherapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the use of immunotherapy to treat these intractable cancers has been less effective.
Houston Methodist is partnering with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and UT Southwestern to receive the NCI grant to explore physiological changes during cancer progression. Studying the body's changes, rather than simply focusing on the tumor, will help researchers create more effective and personalized treatments with fewer side effects.
Through a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research team led by Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, the CITO will combine the studies of cancer immunology, biotechnology and transport oncophysics (mass transport within cancer cells) to reveal how immunotherapy works in cancer patients.
Ferrari, considered a pioneer of transport oncophysics explained, "Many cancer patients do not respond to immunotherapies, typically because the drugs never reach the cancer cells. While transport oncophysics is a relatively young field of study, we need to understand the limitations of treatments to identify effective immunotherapies for patients."
The center's goal is to use research information to personalize immunotherapies for the treatment of breast and pancreatic cancers: topics of the two major center projects.
The first project will determine how nano-dendritic cell vaccines, containing immune cells loaded with nanoparticles, are transported to breast cancers. The second project aims to identify the transport barriers keeping immunotherapies from reaching pancreatic tumors.
Houston Methodist is one of 10 institutions receiving an NCI center grant. Others include Cornell University, Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
To speak with Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., contact Patricia Akinfenwa, Houston Methodist, at 281.740.1402 or pakinfenwa@houstonmethodist.org. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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Hybrid immune cells in early-stage lung cancer spur anti-tumor T cells to action
Researchers have identified a unique subset of these cells that exhibit hybrid characteristics of two immune cell types -- neutrophils and antigen-presenting cells -- in samples from early-stage human lung cancers.
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University of Oklahoma researchers will apply a new analytical technology that could ultimately provide a powerful tool for improved treatment of cancer patients in Oklahoma and beyond.
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Now Playing: TED Radio Hour
Technology has reshaped our lives in amazing ways. But at what cost? This hour, TED speakers reveal how what we see, read, believe â even how we vote â can be manipulated by the technology we use. Guests include journalist Carole Cadwalladr, consumer advocate Finn Myrstad, writer and marketing professor Scott Galloway, behavioral designer Nir Eyal, and computer graphics researcher Doug Roble.
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#529 Do You Really Want to Find Out Who's Your Daddy?
At least some of you by now have probably spit into a tube and mailed it off to find out who your closest relatives are, where you might be from, and what terrible diseases might await you. But what exactly did you find out? And what did you give away? In this live panel at Awesome Con we bring in science writer Tina Saey to talk about all her DNA testing, and bioethicist Debra Mathews, to determine whether Tina should have done it at all. Related links: What FamilyTreeDNA sharing genetic data with police means for you Crime solvers embraced...
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Ready-to-Wear - Spring 2016
Softer Times at Peter Pilotto
The muted colours and softness of the clothes was far from the designers' tough, maximalist breakthrough aesthetic, but in tune with the times.
36 View Collection
Collection Trends
By Daniel Björk September 22, 2015 13:32
LONDON, United Kingdom — Actors often fear being typecast by others, but on London's fashion scene, it seems that designers often fall into the trap of typecasting themselves, attracting a following and then struggling to evolve from there. The duo behind Peter Pilotto are just two of those designers, but it is a problem that appears to affect London designers more than others. And so, during the past few seasons we’ve seen Peter Pilotto change the tone and pitch of their clothes — moving away from the digital prints that first attracted attention, sometimes trying a bit of psych rock, other times exploring embroidery.
This time around, the inspiration wasn’t exactly ground breaking for a Spring/Summer collection. After the show, designers described it as “very summery elements of clothing." This meant safari jackets, desert clothes and so on — in short, clothes for very hot weather. The smock shirt was also important to the collection; you could even say it was its lead motif, as the technique showed up on tops and as detailing through the presentation.
The brand’s prints were reduced to appearances on three tiered satin and georgette dresses at the end of the show. You wondered if that is going to be enough to please the fans and the buyers, especially since the muted, pastel colours and relaxed softness of the clothes was, frankly, pretty far from their tough, maximalist breakthrough aesthetic.
But this is not just about Peter Pilotto. It is clear that there has been a shift in fashion, away from the sleek and super polished towards something warmer, more emotional and lived in. It is what we see in the vintage feel of the new Gucci: something more human and fallible, something homespun. It is also evident in the interest in “unconventional” models.
Here you could see it in the knit dresses — the ultimate material for conveying a human touch (even when made by a machine) and in the patchwork vibe. The truth is, it was beautiful. As a steel pan played on the soundtrack the slightly off sounds reinforced the message: We are living in imperfect times.
A Clash of Cultures at Peter Pilotto
Ready-to-Wear - Autumn 2018
Peter Pilotto's 1970s Bohemia
Peter Pilotto Goes Zen in the Tropics
A Riot of Colour at Peter Pilotto
Peter Pilotto & Christopher de Vos
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Data center connectivity specialist Mellanox appoints new VP of software
Previously, Freddy Gabbay was Mellanox’s senior director of engineering from October 2013 to November 2015, and director of engineering from October 2012 to October 2013.
Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX), a supplier of high-performance, end-to-end interconnect solutions for data center servers and storage systems, announced the promotion of Freddy Gabbay to vice president of software. Gabbay will report to Amit Krig, Mellanox’s vice president of software.
“I am pleased to announce the promotion of Freddy to vice president of software. With his high technical networking knowledge and strong leadership skills, Freddy has been instrumental in our 100Gb/s Ethernet and InfiniBand switch software technology,” said Eyal Waldman, president and CEO of Mellanox Technologies. “I look forward to Freddy’s continued contribution and leadership under his new executive role. I wish him success in his new role.”
Freddy Gabbay has served as Mellanox’s vice president of software since November 2015. Previously, he was Mellanox’s senior director of engineering from October 2013 to November 2015, and director of engineering from October 2012 to October 2013. Prior to that, Gabbay was a design manager at Freescale semiconductor and took a major role in leading baseband SoC product development. Prior to Freescale, Gabbay was a senior architect at Mellanox Technologies responsible for its switch products.
Prior to Mellanox, Gabbay was also a senior architect at Intel Corporation. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and Master of Science and PhD from the Technion -- Israel Institute of Technology.
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UK's CNet Training debuts govt. funded apprenticeship for network cable installation
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U18s PREVIEW: LEICESTER
Coach wants side to kick on from Tigers victory
GRAEME Murty has been impressed by the reaction of his entire Under-18s squad ahead of them hosting Leicester City at Colney Training Centre on Saturday (12pm).
An excellent performance away to Hull City on Wednesday saw the young Canaries progress to the FA Youth Cup fourth round, with Murty highlighting their 'mature' display.
That result has seen a zip in training in the build-up to facing the Foxes, and Murty told canaries.co.uk: "Spirits are high following the win in midweek.
"It's an interesting dynamic because people who didn't start in the Youth Cup feel they have a point to prove. They all did the same preparation so were unfortunate to miss out.
"Now they want to stake a claim and it's up to them to prove they can match the intensity and quality shown on Wednesday. That means I've got a lot of hungry young men who are desperate to do well.
"As a coach, it's a nice position to be in. The game represents an opportunity for all the players to stake a game again."
With the youngsters approaching their third fixture in the space of a week, Murty reserved special praise for the efforts of his backroom team.
"Our medical staff have done a wonderful job, not only in terms of rehabbing injured players but also making sure everyone is conditioned properly," the 41-year-old coach explained.
"They've made sure we've had as many players available, in as many positions, as possible. Everything we do looks at individual needs, so they do fantastic work.
"We build specific programmes for each individual, based on the work that they do. They really are the unsung heroes, because they're a vital part of what we're trying to do."
CANARIES' FORM
W – 1-3 v Hull City (A) 02/12/2015 - FA Youth Cup
L – 3-2 v Swansea City (A) 28/11/2015 - Barclays U18s Premier League
W – 3-4 v West Ham United (A) 21/11/2015 - Barclays U18s Premier League
L – 1-2 v Aston Villa (H) 14/11/2015 - Barclays U18s Premier League
L – 2-3 v Arsenal (H) 07/11/2015 - Barclays U18s Premier League
LAST NORWICH CITY U18s XI (v Hull City)
Oxborough; Syme, Crowe (c), Ellesley (Wallis, 81), Lewis; Pollock; Sambu; Couzens (McIntosh, 90), Cantwell, Middleton; Ashley-Seal. Subs not used: Hale-Brown (GK), Black, Fleming.
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1 Fox Sports Senior QA Engineer Salaries
Fox Sports Senior QA Engineers earn $90,000 annually, or $43 per hour, which is 11% higher than the national average for all Senior QA Engineers at $81,000 annually and 38% higher than the national salary average for all working Americans. The highest paid Senior QA Engineers work for Tremont Group Holdings at $141,000 annually and the lowest paid Senior QA Engineers work for Lender Processing Services at $33,000 annually.
$90K Fox Sports Senior QA Engineer without location (1 salary)
+$9K (10%) more than national average Senior QA Engineer salary ($81K)
+$45K (66%) more than average Fox Sports salary ($45K)
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Barcelona reject mystery €35m bid, key to signing Verratti revealed
Barcelona have reportedly rejected a €35m bid for Sergi Roberto, with Ernesto Valverde considering him an important part of his squad.
The new Barca coach will have decisions to make this summer as far as who stays and who arrives at the Nou Camp in order to stamp his mark on the team.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Roberto will figure in his plans and in turn the La Liga giants have rejected a bid of €35m from an unnamed European side.
It’s added that the 25-year-old is considered a non-transferrable player, while the idea is that if Barcelona can prise Hector Bellerin away from Arsenal and install him as their first-choice right-back, it will allow Roberto to return to his more natural position in midfield on a full-time basis.
Off the back of an impressive season for him, it looks as though the Barca star has got the faith of the club and his new coach, and in turn will be going nowhere this summer.
Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo believe that they’ve uncovered the sequence of events required to unlock Marco Verratti’s move to Barcelona.
It’s suggested that if Paris Saint-Germain can secure the signings of Kylian Mbappe and Philippe Coutinho this summer, it will have a major knock-on effect for the Italian midfielder who could be allowed to get his dream move to the Nou Camp.
The French giants are unsurprisingly adamant that they will not sell Verratti, with the 24-year-old continuing to establish himself as one of the top midfield playmakers in Europe.
His style of play and overall game is well suited to Barca, but it looks as though PSG will have to deliver some marquee signings before he can make the much talked about move to the Nou Camp.
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Video: Alena finishes off sublime Barcelona move after clever Suarez dummy to open scoring against Alaves
Real Madrid prepare to sweeten €280m offer for PSG’s Mbappe by exchanging two senior superstars
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Art & Architecture of Catalonia
Canterbury Tales / Cazenovia Tells
Caz In Japan
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NES Artist Residency - Andrea Kennedy
Working Wildcats
Studio Art / Photography
Cazenovia College Business Management Capstone Class Fundraising for Scholarships
Friday, April 1, 2016 (All day)
Cazenovia College students in the senior management capstone class have developed crowdfunding campaigns to raise money for two scholarships. The campaign will begin on April 1, 2016 and continue until April 30, 2016 using the crowdfunding website CrowdRise.
"This particular capstone section is centered on launching a fundraising campaign," commented Dr. Karin Bump, professor of equine business management at Cazenovia College. "In the fall term, students researched possible fundraising topics that would be of benefit to future students and/or alumni. Their research included surveys, interviews and a review of existing literature on the topics. The opportunity to research and develop a fundraising campaign from start to finish provides students with tangible career skills while also providing a meaningful mechanism to assess the knowledge and skill sets of our soon-to-be graduates."
The first scholarship is focused on raising money to support a Division of Business and Management student with an academic travel award. This scholarship will be awarded to a management student to pay for travel costs associated with a study abroad or internship opportunity.
"The entire project has been a highly effective learning experience that not only helped me but will also help multiples future students pursue their interest of traveling," said Tyler Cullen, business management senior. "Being a part of a collection of students that are the root to others getting an enhanced education through our campaign is a great feeling."
The second campaign raises funds to create a young entrepreneur award for graduating seniors or young alumni of the Division of Business and Management. This award would allow young professionals to launch a new business or start bringing a unique idea to life.
"Entrepreneurship is the basis of the American economy, as small business owners and inspiring business owners strive to meet the needs of our ever growing population," said Samantha Simpfenderfer, equine business management senior. "As an entrepreneur myself, I can tell you that starting a business is not easy. I would have greatly benefited from an award such as the one we are creating. Supporting this scholarship means that you will be helping a student with a new idea or new product."
The fundraising goal for each scholarship is $1,200. The students are developing award criteria and an application process, with the goal of awarding the scholarships in spring, 2017.
To support the business management students' fundraising campaigns, visit the CrowdRise pages at:
Academic Travel Award: www.crowdrise.com/cazenovia-college-student-travel-award
Young Entrepreneur Award: www.crowdrise.com/business-management-entrepreneurial-award
Friday, April 1, 2016 - 10:39am
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Golden Globes red carpet 2018
"Time's up"
Time's up, the attendees of the 75th annual Golden Gloves told viewers when they donned all black on the red carpet to protest sexual harassment in entertainment and all industries.
See the stars in their all-black attire, and hear what they had to say about the movement.
Meryl Streep and NDWA Director Ai-jen Poo
Actor Meryl Streep and NDWA Director Ai-jen Poo attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"On New Year's Day, 300 women who work in film, television and theater launched the #TimesUp campaign against sexual harassment in solidarity with farmworkers, domestic workers, and countless women across all industries who are survivors of abuse and demanding change," Poo wrote in a statement.
"Tonight I'll be attending the Golden Globe Awards with Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep to shine the spotlight on domestic workers and people who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and often excluded from protections or recourse," she wrote.
Actor Meryl Streep attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"We want to fix that and we feel sort of emboldened in this particular moment to stand together in a thick black line," Streep told the black-clad Ryan Seacrest.
Tarana Burke and Michelle Williams
Activist Tarana Burke, who created the #MeToo movement, and Michelle Williams attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"I thought I would have to raise my daughter to protect herself in a dangerous world. But because of the work of Tarana Burke and others, we have an opportunity to hand our children a different world," Williams said on the red carpet.
Angelina Jolie attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Seth Meyers and Alexi Ashe
Host Seth Meyersand Alexi Ashe attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Model Kendall Jenner attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"I stand with women across every industry to say #TIMESUP on abuse, harassment, marginalization and underrepresentation," Jenner tweeted.
Actor Amy Poehler and activist Saru Jayaraman attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Catherine Zeta-Jones arrives for the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Cast of Stranger Things
The cast of Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink and Noah Schnapp attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
America Ferrera, Natalie Portman and Emma Stone
Actors America Ferrera, Natalie Portman and Emma Stone, and former tennis player Billie Jean King attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"Grateful to our Activist Sisters for gracing the red-carpet today with their extraordinary work and voices, which represent millions of women across the globe," Ferrera wrote on Twitter.
"We realize how much louder and stronger our voices can be together" Portman said.
Actor Blanca Blanco attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Kate Hudson attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
75th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07: Actor Sarah Jessica Parker attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
"Out the door and on my way. In support. In solidarity. It's time to break the silence. Watch the @goldenglobes tonight to learn more about #WhyWeWearBlack. Or head to @timesupnow to learn more and join the movement," Parker wrote on Instagram.
Penelope Cruz attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Kelly Clarkson arrives for the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Mandy Moore attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Milo Ventimiglia attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Bathe
Actors Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Bathe arrive for the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Chrissy Metz attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Chris Sullivan arrives for the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Sullivan not only wore a black tuxedo but also showed off black nail polish.
Susan Kelechi Watson
Actor Susan Kelechi Watson attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Reese Witherspoon and Eva Longoria
Reese Witherspoon and Eva Longoria attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"This year, this look means so much more. Standing in solidarity. #WhyWeWearBlack #TimesUp #GoldenGlobes #YearOfChange," Witherspoon wrote on Twitter.
James Franco attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Margot Robbie, who played Tanya Harding in "I, Tonya," attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"To my sisters (from all industries) Time's up on silence. Time's up on waiting," Robbie wrote on Twitter.
Former figure skater Tonya Harding attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"Today Show" cast
Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Natalie Morales and Carson Daly attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Alexis Bledel arrives for the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Allison Janney attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Halle Berry attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Meher Tatna
Meher Tatna, Hollywood Foreign Press Association president, attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Susan Sarandon and Rosa Clemente
Actor Susan Sarandon and community organizer Rosa Clemente attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Musician Keith Urban and actor Nicole Kidman
Musician Keith Urban and actor Nicole Kidman attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Singer Nick Jonas attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd
Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
"#WhyWeWearBlack because #sexualharassment & #SexualViolence are serious and @TIMESUPNOW for all women & men across every industry in our great country to end it. @goldenglobes," Judd wrote on Twitter.
Maggie Gyllenhaal attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Allison Williams attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Actor William H. Macy arrives for the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Debra Messing attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Laura Dern attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Actor Denzel Washington attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
Mariah Carey attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Carey wrote on Twitter: "Very proud to be a part of #TIMESUP and stand in solidarity with all the women here on the red carpet as well as those watching at home!"
Actor Neil Patrick Harris attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Aziz Ansari attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Elisabeth Moss attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Roseanne Barr attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
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JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS
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JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS overview
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS 0.1600 USD +0.00% > News
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Letter of Intent to Acquire E-Commerce Agency Seller's Choice • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Letter of Intent to Acquire E-Commerce Agency Seller's Choice Jerrick to Present at 9th Annual LD Micro Conference in Los Angeles PR Newswire FORT LEE, N.J., May 22, 2019 FORT LEE, N.J. , May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick") is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent (the "LOI") dated May 21, 2019 to acquire the assets of e-commerce marketing agency Seller's Choice in a...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Completes a Successful Tender Offer with over 93% of Eligible Warrants Exchanged • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Completes a Successful Tender Offer with over 93% of Eligible Warrants Exchanged PR Newswire NEW YORK, May 17, 2019 NEW YORK , May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), the creator of Vocal , announced today that on May 17, 2019 it substantially completed its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"). The aggregate amount of the Warrants tendered, each with an...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Results • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Results PR Newswire NEW YORK, May 15, 2019 NEW YORK , May 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , today reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2019 . Key Financial Highlights: First quarter 2019 revenues were $34,334 , as compared to $16,249 in revenues in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018....
Jerrick Secures $2,025,525 in Funding Led by Mark Standish, Former Co-CEO of RBC Capital Markets, and Other Key Current Investors • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Secures $2,025,525 in Funding Led by Mark Standish, Former Co-CEO of RBC Capital Markets, and Other Key Current Investors PR Newswire NEW YORK, May 7, 2019 NEW YORK , May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , today announced the closing of its offering of one-year, 10% Convertible Promissory Notes (the "Notes"), securing gross proceeds totaling $2,025,525 in a non-brokered...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Tender Offer for Additional Class of Warrant Holders • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Tender Offer for Additional Class of Warrant Holders PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 15, 2019 NEW YORK , April 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , announced today that it has commenced a Tender Offer (the "Offer") to facilitate the exchange of a series of its Warrants into shares of Common Stock in order to enhance its capital structure. This Offer...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Completes a Successful Tender Offer with over 90% of Eligible Warrants Exchanged PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 12, 2019 NEW YORK , April 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), the creator of Vocal , announced today that on April 11, 2019 it substantially completed its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"). The aggregate amount of the Warrants tendered, each with an...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Further Extension of its Tender Offer by Two Business Days • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Further Extension of its Tender Offer by Two Business Days PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 10, 2019 NEW YORK , April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , announced today that it has elected to further extend the expiration date for its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"), each with an exercise price of...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2018 Financial Results • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2018 Financial Results PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 2, 2019 NEW YORK , April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , today announced financial results for its full year ended December 31, 2018 . This year was marked by the Company's conversion of substantially all preferred and convertible debt, that was previously outstanding prior to...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Additional Extension of its Tender Offer to Accommodate Further Interest • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Additional Extension of its Tender Offer to Accommodate Further Interest PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 2, 2019 NEW YORK , April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , announced today that it has elected to further extend the expiration date for its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"), each with an exercise...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Further Extension of Expiration Date of Its Tender Offer to Accommodate Interest in the Offering • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Further Extension of Expiration Date of Its Tender Offer to Accommodate Interest in the Offering PR Newswire NEW YORK, March 22, 2019 NEW YORK , March 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , announced today that it has elected to further extend the expiration date for its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Extension of Expiration Date of Its Tender Offer by One Week to Accommodate Interest in the Offering • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Extension of Expiration Date of Its Tender Offer by One Week to Accommodate Interest in the Offering PR Newswire NEW YORK, March 15, 2019 NEW YORK , March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal , announced today that it has elected to extend the expiration date for its offer to holders of certain of the Company's outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"),...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Tender Offer for Class of Warrant Holders • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Announces Tender Offer for Class of Warrant Holders PR Newswire NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2019 NEW YORK , Feb. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creator of Vocal, announced today that it has commenced a Tender Offer (the "Offer") to facilitate the exchange of a series of its Warrants into shares of Common Stock in order to enhance its capital structure. The Offer is described in...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Appoints Vocal's Head of Product as President • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Appoints Vocal's Head of Product as President PR Newswire NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2019 NEW YORK , Feb. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creators of Vocal , announced today that Justin Maury , former Head of Product, has been elevated to the role of President . Maury led the Company's product development for four years. During these formative years for the Company, Justin was a...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Achieves Funding Milestone, Registrations Are Effective, Third Tranche Is Activated • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Achieves Funding Milestone, Registrations Are Effective, Third Tranche Is Activated Effectiveness of the Company's two pending registration statements clears the third tranche of funding. PR Newswire NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2018 NEW YORK , Dec. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., (OTCQB: JMDA) (the "Company" or "Jerrick"), a technology company and the creators of Vocal , today reported that its two outstanding registration statements have been declared...
/C O R R E C T I O N -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc./ • • PR Newswire • Stocks • More JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS news...
/C O R R E C T I O N -- Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc./ PR Newswire NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2018 In the news release, Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2018 Third Quarter Results, issued 19-Nov-2018 by Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the Financial and Operational Highlights section, first bullet, should read "third quarter 2018" rather than "fourth quarter 2018" as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:...
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Vanarama National League Promotion Final: Early Bird Offer
The Vanarama National League has released details of the opportunity for ALL football fans to purchase Early Bird tickets for their Promotion Final on Saturday 11th May 2019 at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
Tickets are now on sale and will remain available as outlined below direct from Wembley Stadium Ticketing Portal. This offer is only available on-line.
There is also an option for 'Print at Home' (PAH)
EARLY BIRD offer - up to and including 28th February 2019:
Seniors (Over 60): £10
Under 16: FREE **
(** 1 free U16 ticket can be ordered for each ticket sold at Adult or Senior price).
Additional tickets for Under 16 over the above allowance can be purchased at £5 each.
Early Bird sales are made even more attractive as no booking fee is charged.
Please be advised no ticket is refundable once purchased through the Early Bird option.
Disabled seated allocation is available directly through Wembley Stadium and details are also available on-line.
WEMBLEY TICKET PORTAL: https://ticketingcontent.thefa.com//Vanarama%202019
General Admission Ticket prices for the Promotion Final will be announced in April.
Early Bird tickets will NOT be forwarded to purchasers until the two competing finalist clubs are confirmed. This will allow for ticket allocation to be made in blocks for any group of supporters of a neutral club wishing to be in the same area. Initial purchase therefore will be placed into holding blocks for the time being.
In order for this to be offered, each purchaser will be required to nominate which National League member club they align themselves to or they may indicate a ‘No Preference’ neutral option.
Supporters of the two clubs who do reach the Promotion Final and who purchase Early Bird tickets will be allocated their tickets for the correct area of the stadium when allotted to each finalist club.
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Gentle giants: Tags show manatees' coastal travels
Mary Landers
A new batch of tagged manatees is helping to reveal how these gentle giants use Coastal Georgia waters.
Staff from wildlife agencies and organizations in Georgia and Florida netted eight manatees in Cumberland Sound in late May and early June.
With a helicopter helping spot the animals, a custom manatee capture boat was used to encircle them with a net. They were then pulled onto the boat or a bank to tag and examine.
Biologists and veterinary staff examined the six male and two female manatees, took samples, fitted each animal with a GPS transmitter and released them unharmed.
The project, led by Sea to Shore Alliance, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Aquarium, is expected to help document migratory paths and habitat use in the region, collect baseline data to help assess manatee health and map the protected species’ movements near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
The partners have tagged 13 manatees over the course of three annual springtime tagging efforts. Only one remains tagged from a previous year and he’s in the Savannah area.
While some manatees have quickly shed the satellite tracking devices that look like miniature buoys, the project is supplying insights into the mammals, which were reclassified from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act last year.
The GPS data have shown that manatees regularly venture into the submarine base, they’re able to find artificial freshwater sources to drink from, and a few have traveled into the open Atlantic venturing as far as five miles offshore.
Biologists are also confirming things they long suspected but had no way to prove, such as the importance of the Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW — a narrow passage of natural and dredged rivers between the mainland and barrier islands — for manatees moving along the Georgia coast.
"The Intracoastal Waterway is like a manatee highway," DNR wildlife biologist Clay George said. "But the ICW is also a primary passageway for boats moving up and down the coast, so this behavior may place manatees at added risk of boat strikes."
Boat strikes are a major source of injury and mortality for manatees, a population that is estimated at 6,000 individuals in the Southeast. Since 2000, boat collisions have caused 27 percent of manatee mortalities documented in Georgia, highlighting the need to better understand manatee movements in the state.
Strikes are so common in fact that researchers like George identify individual manatees by the patterns of scars on their backs and flukes where propellers have cut them. Luckily for manatees, thick muscle layers on their backs and sides help them survive boat strikes. Their solid, marrowless ribs are thought to provide ballast to keep them steady in the water. But they prove a liability in a serious boat strike because their brittleness allows them to break and puncture a lung.
While manatees can be tough to spot while boating, the behavior patterns emerging from the tagging study provide boaters some good tips for avoiding them, George said. Manatees tend to hug the marsh side of a waterway, near the vegetation they eat, and they stay out of the deeper channels.
Boaters should avoid boating at high speed along the edge to protect manatees, George said. Wearing polarized sunglasses can also make it easier to spot them.
‘Just hanging out…loving life’
The only manatee with a tag from a prior year is hanging out in the Ogeechee River in Bryan County. George checked up on it recently, identifying its general area from the GPS tag and then homing in on it with the VHF transmitter it also carries on the belt affixed just above its tail.
"He’s in the old rice field canals," George said. "I guess he’s just hanging out, eating, loving life."
The manatee seemed so content to stay put that George was afraid the animal’s tag had fallen off. Observing him directly assuaged that fear and also allowed George to record his behavior.
"I found him with a couple other manatees," he said.
Two other tagged manatees have traveled the length of the Georgia coast, including one that went to the Charleston area but shed its tag earlier this month.
"We’re hoping some of the new batch will migrate up the coast toward Savannah, or even South Carolina," George said.
So far, most of the manatees have spent the winter months in Brevard County in east-central Florida, although one migrated more than 500 miles and wintered in Fort Lauderdale.
‘A better insight’
Understanding habitat use and migration details can benefit manatee conservation efforts, according to Monica Ross of Sea to Shore Alliance.
"We know manatees need warm water to survive," said Ross, a research scientist with the nonprofit focused on conserving coastal environments and species. "Unfortunately, several manatees are rescued or die from cold stress outside of Florida each year. Through this study, we are gaining a better insight into when manatees make their migration south."
Most of the tracked manatees have returned to Florida in late summer, long before water temperatures begin to decline, Ross said. "Yet a few individuals wait until a trigger temperature to make the migration, stopping off at manmade warm-water sites that are not always in operation. This is when a late migration can be critically detrimental."
Manatees migrate from Florida to Georgia in spring, drawn by abundant marsh grass and other aquatic vegetation. They occur in tidal waters throughout Coastal Georgia from at least April through October. Yet shorter winters and warming waters have widened that window. Manatees were reported at Kings Bay this February.
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Home NEWS ‘Vision Van’ puts the brakes on worsening macular disease burden, bringing free...
‘Vision Van’ puts the brakes on worsening macular disease burden, bringing free eye tests to Brighton
Kelly Edwards-Good
National optical retailer Vision Express is launching a new campaign offering free eye tests, prompted by figures revealing more than 12% of residents over 50 in Brighton and Hove are at risk of macular disease.
The Vision Van – a high-tech mobile testing unit – will roll into Brighton’s Jubilee Square on Tuesday 28 June 2016 to raise awareness of the disease for Macular Week (27 June – 3 July 2016).
Brighton is on the Vision Van route in response to statistics showing 9,000 people – equivalent to more than 12% of the local over 50 population – have been identified as having risk factors associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD is a painless eye condition that affects central vision and has no cure. It is the most common cause of sight loss in the developed world. Around 600,000 people in the UK have vision loss as a result of AMD and in Brighton, almost 5,000 over 50s have already been diagnosed.
Nearly 200 new cases are detected every day, with the number of people affected forecast to increase due to more eye disease in an ageing population which requires long term care.
UV damage is one of the risk factors for macular disease and simple steps such as wearing sun protection can help to avoid harm.
84-year-old Brighton resident, Lisken Jellings knows this first-hand. She started experiencing macular symptoms in 2003. Lisken explains:
“I was on holiday and one morning I drew the curtains and everything I could see was covered in spots. Everything looked strange. The spots disappeared after a while so I wasn’t too worried.”
After visiting Vision Express Brighton for a regular eye test soon afterwards, Lisken mentioned the spots disrupting her sight. The team of expert optometrists recognised her symptoms as AMD and referred her to Royal Sussex Hospital to be assessed by a specialist. After being diagnosed with dry AMD, Lisken was prescribed a daily vitamin to preserve her eye health however, with no cure, the condition has now reached advanced stages.
“There’s nothing to be done, I just had to accept it. I have been told that I won’t lose my sight completely, I will have my peripheral vision.”
Partially-sighted, Lisken struggles with everyday activities as a result: “I have a white cane as I have difficulty crossing the road and it can be dangerous. I can’t see grey cars, they are just a blur and reading bus signs is impossible.
“The biggest drawback is being unable to read and I was a great reader. I can’t even read cooking instructions so if I want to cook a new dish I have to ask my husband.
“During the 1960s my husband and I lived in Nigeria for six years and no one wore sunglasses to protect their eyes back then, I certainly didn’t and I was unaware that it could be damaging to my sight. If I could go back and choose to wear sunglasses to protect my eye health I would.”
Since being diagnosed with AMD, Lisken has experienced further difficulties with her vision, including cataracts in both eyes. She is monitored for glaucoma too, due to family history of the condition. Thankfully Lisken remains all clear and is tested through bi-annual eye checks at Vision Express.
Simon Pike, Vision Express Brighton store manager said:
“Lisken’s story shows how important it is to see an optician regularly. Whatever condition may be detected, the earlier it is identified, the sooner it can be managed and the better potential outcome.
“We want people to take positive steps to safeguard their sight for a lifetime. Research shows that 37% put off having an eye test due to cost concern, so by offering this essential health check for free, Vision Express is setting aside the affordability issue to help those that need it most in Brighton.”
The Vision Van will visit Brighton on Tuesday 28 June and will be open for testing from 10am to 5pm.
Representatives from Vision Express and the Macular Society will be on hand to advise on how to spot the signs and symptoms of macular conditions. Those unable to visit can still benefit from a free eye test by downloading an online voucher from the Vision Express website: www.visionexpress.com/macular-week-2016/
The Vision Van will also offer the chance to snap up a pair of yellow heart-shaped ‘Eye Love’ sunglasses in exchange for a suggested donation of £5 to the Macular Society.
Previous articleThe Atom: A Love Affair
Next articleBest of Brighton Theatre July 2016
Family-run Sussex bakery celebrates 10 years
‘The Grand Mod Experience’ comes to Brighton this August
Events coming up this July and August!
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Los Angeles Fashion ▸ Fashion Experiences ▸ Timbuk2 Do Good Get Good ▸
Timbuk2 Do Good Get Good
April 19th 2016 to April 30th 2016
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Hand over your old Timbuk2 bag in their Venice store through to the end of the month and not only will they recycle it for donation to homeless youth shelter The Teen Project, but they'll also give you 30% off on a replacement bag. For full details visit chicmi.com/3505 ------------------ Entry: Free Dates: April 19th 2016 to April 30th 2016 Address: Timbuk2, 1410 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, 90291 ------------------ Opening times: Tue April 19th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Wed April 20th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Thu April 21st 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Fri April 22nd 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Sat April 23rd 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Sun April 24th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Mon April 25th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Tue April 26th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Wed April 27th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm Thu April 28th 2016 from 11:00am to 7:00pm ... and more ------------------ With @timbuk2. Via @ChicmiLosAngeles. #timbuk2 #good #free #losangeles #la #venice #90291 #chicmi #fashion #event #events #tuesday #fashionexperience #fashionexperiences
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en 简 繁
The Art Business Certificate
Module 2 – The art Market £1,000.00 £2,000.00
If you have a voucher code, enter it below and click the 'Apply Code' button.
Register now for a free account
CE London
Studying in London
Degree Programmes
MSc Art, Law and Business
MA Art History and Art World Practice
Personalised & Bespoke
Art World Professional Advisory Group
Recruiting our Alumni
Christie's Education Trust
C# Student Magazine
Christie's Education London
All you need to know about applying for our Master's programmes. Christie’s Education London welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We seek students of diverse backgrounds, interests, ages and life experience.
How to Apply Fees Terms and Conditions
Completed application
A university degree, normally at 2.1 level
Applicants whose first language is not English should normally have IELTS 7
Applicants must also provide a 1,000 – 2,000 word writing sample on an art related subject
Personal Statement (500 – 1,000 words)
Two academic letter references on institutional letterhead (or equivalent professional references for mature students)
Colour copy of passport photo page and previous UK visas if applicable
Paid Application Fee: £30.00
Applications can be made online only by accessing the individual programme pages on our website.
As a small institution places are limited. Applicants are advised to submit an application as soon as possible from October of the year before they wish to study. Applications will be accepted after the priority deadline until a programme is full. All communication will be via the student gateway in Quercus. Once an application has been submitted you will also be able to track your application through the system.
If you require a visa to study in the UK, we recommend you submit your application form by April of the year you intend to study. Applications will normally be acknowledged within three working days.
Interviews are not mandatory at Christie’s Education London. Any students presenting themselves as needing additional requirement will be invited for interview to ensure that we can accommodate these.
Offerholders
Students who have accepted an offer on our Master's programmes are required to read the policies below and confirm that they have read and understood the full terms outlined in each document.
Student Protection Plan (pdf)
Withdrawals and Deferrals Policy (pdf)
Refund and Compensation Policy (pdf)
All fees include study trips in the UK and abroad.
Master's Programmes Fees for 2019-2020
£36,000*
* Fees may be subject to change. If this were to happen you would be notified in a timely manner and presented with the options available.
Cost of Living for Students in London
Please note the cost of living is hard to predict for each individual. The table below is an estimate only and may help when considering your financial plans for your time at Christie’s Education.
Cost Per Week Per Year (52 weeks) Per 15 month MSc
Rent £206 £10,712 £13,596
Food £65 £3,380 £4,290
Utilities* £11 £572 £2,257.20
Personal/Leisure £80 £4,160 £5,280
Books & Equipment** £15 £780 £990
Total £411.20 £21,382.40 £27,139.20
*Based on weekly TfL Travelcard zones 1-4 with a 30% student discount
**Books & equipment includes the cost of a laptop
Any application made for enrolment on a programme listed in this prospectus shall be subject to the Terms and Conditions.
A non-refundable deposit of 5% of the first years fees is payable when offered a place on postgraduate programmes as well as the part-time courses. The balance of the fee is payable by 1 September of the relevant academic year. Installment plans are available upon request. These will incur an additional administration fee and need to be agreed by 1 September. Payment may be made via the application portal. Please note that all locations are subject to change and dates will be confirmed at the start of your programme.
The Professional Development Programme was an incredible aspect of the MSc experience. It gives you the privilege to not just get to know experts and other passionate individuals working in the arts but also the great opportunity to learn more about a diverse range of careers.
Chloe Harrison-Steward
London, 2017-2018
The MSc provided a deep understanding of the dynamic underpinnings of the art world. The course offered insight and knowledge to analytically and critically assess the art market, its players and its framework. Overall, the programme offered a wealth of opportunities and I wholly credit my budding career in the art world to it.
Alyna Orecharova, Proposals Writer at Christie’s
Support our Scholarship Fund
Christie’s Education supports students through Christie’s Education Trust, a registered charity founded in 1986. Since its inception, the Trust has distributed over £480,000 in scholarships, grants and awards to Christie's Education students from across the world. A donation to the Trust will help us plan our future growth and sustain the Christie's Education scholarship programmes, thus helping us to educate and inspire the next generation of global cultural leaders.
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© Christie's Education 2019
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April 23, 2018 Guides » City Guide
City Guide 2018
City Weekly’s 16th annual celebration of all things SLC
By Enrique Limón @EnriqueLimon and City Weekly Staff
derek carlisle
This Is The Place … to Miss
A Salt Lake expat reflects on what he pines for the most.
By Jordan Floyd
There comes a time in the life span of many a Utahn when—for whatever reason—the need to get out takes hold. Yr. corresp. faced that prospect not long ago and found himself enrolling in a graduate program in Ohio—a rip-roaring state if there ever was one. As I barreled across highways that bisected behemoth cornfields, my car filled with every earthly possession, and I watched Midwestern skylines rise suddenly from the interminable flat horizon and sink from view just as quickly, I thought: “Why am I leaving?”
Was it Alanis Morissette who sang, “Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?”
Below is a non-comprehensive and in-no-particular-order list of things I miss the most about Utah and that you might miss, too, should you decide to leave. Sure, the act of writing this piece is engaging in idealization, but isn’t that what we do? Do obituaries not describe the lives of the deceased as if they had achieved sainthood? Salt Lake City might be the second greatest experiment the world has ever seen. It is a relic sitting in geographical isolation in the West. Its essence permeates our being as Salt Lakers, no matter how brief our stay. It ought to be idealized. It ought to be laughed at and criticized relentlessly, too.
Didn’t someone once see the Salt Lake Valley and say, “This Is the Place”?
I suspect they were right, and if I might add: it’s one hell, err heck of a place to miss.
The Mormons: There’s a scene in Don DeLillo’s seminal work White Noise in which the protagonist, who spends most of the novel agonizing over the fact of his inevitable death, confronts a German nun after she has informed him that her belief in God is a show. “It is our task in the world to believe things no one else takes seriously,” the nun says of her vocation. “To abandon such things completely, the human race would die.” And so, too, without the Mormons, would Utah’s quasi-subversive, alternative peoples die. Outside Utah, drinking with friends is all there is to do.
Coffee is as frequent as a sunrise. Ideas about the non-existence of a higher power are obvious. Mormons provide a backdrop against which a lovely alternative narrative has been constructed, and one that can’t exist elsewhere. Take away that backdrop, that suburban leviathan whose shoulders are covered and whose purpose is fuelled by lime- and coconut-infused Diet Cokes, and what’s underground in Utah is suddenly normal. They’re DeLillo’s words but they just as easily could come from a strikingly curt Relief Society president: “We take vows. Poverty, chastity, obedience. Serious vows. A serious life. You could not survive without us.”
brittany white
Soda Infatuation: It might be pure delusion, but soda does not taste as good in the Buckeye State as it does in the Beehive, and I suspect the story is the same in other locales. Perhaps Utahns have perfected the art of pop after years of strict devotion to drinking it. Perhaps there is something inextricable between soda and place. Where else can you find drive-thru soda shops where Utah’s version of mixologists concoct drinks that redefine the word saccharine? Coffee this, beer that—sometimes all you need is an Orange Crush and there’s no better place to quench that thirst than our great state.
Liquor Stores: They’re a pain in the ass. Their hours suck. For a state that prides itself on some conservative notion of limited government, they’re a blatant irony. But who doesn’t like a challenge? The jokes on you, DABC, because you’ve only made us booze-types stronger. Our forethought is impeccable. Our pantries are stocked and then some, should some modern incarnation of Prohibition gain steam. We liquor-store goers are one, and that is perhaps what is best about the state-endorsed temples to inconvenience. Inside its purposefully opaque walls exists a team of drinkers united against a nebulous, sadistic mass that touts health and values and whatever. That type of camaraderie does not exist elsewhere. We’re here, brothers and sisters in alcohol, and we will be drunk soon.
The Mountains in the East (Salt Lake’s section of the Wasatch Range): Looking south from the north end of the valley, maybe somewhere near Foothill Drive or on the Capitol steps, it’s there—the postcard image. Mt. Olympus is a granite tombstone towering above the cove. O’Sullivan Peak and Lone Peak appear behind it, their mountain masses sloping down toward the valley floor. There’s something distinctly Utah that’s embodied by this image of the mighty Wasatch and the presence of humans prostrate to its foothills. We are so close to what’s wild. We champion these mountains and the endless list of activities done within them. We might even worship them, the trademark symbol for our life elevated.
Jesse Freeland
Fry Sauce: Yes, it is simply a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise. Yes, it can be made anywhere easily and cheaply. No, it is not the same—that is, eating fry sauce in the midst of a culture that does not recognize the sanctity of fry sauce, is the same as not eating fry sauce at all. Lap it up, literally or not. Bathe in it. For God’s sake, don’t take that beautiful cup of creamy sauce for granted.
The Drives: The last thing people need to be doing in this valley is driving, But should it be absolutely necessary—or should every person in the valley disappear, leaving you, dear reader, alone in a banal sci-fi plot—there are a handful of drives that are the definition of serene and embody the beauty of the Salt Lake City quotidian. Travelling east on I-80 toward downtown has you feeling like you might plunge into the center of the city at 80 miles an hour. The city seems to watch you, its skyline no better represented than from that vantage point, and greet you, nodding toward wherever west you’ve come from.
Speeding along the I-215 belt-route on the east bench gives you a comprehensive view of the city. Every tree and shopping mall are accounted for. Woe to those in America’s flatlands, you might think, surrounded by a seemingly invisible world. Venturing from the southernmost part of the valley to the Capitol on State Street, the story of Salt Lake City’s people is told: It’s shining shopping malls, strip clubs and chain eateries. It’s car dealerships, Costcos and pawn shops. It’s a culture that feels so deceptively monolithic, but it’s there—you can see it—all vibrant and odd, just outside your window.
Local Food and Drink Classics: The Pie. Crown Burger. The Red Iguana. The Pie Hole. Hire’s Big “H.” Wasatch. Squatters. Uinta. Redrock. Oh. My. God. Café Rio, for f*ck’s sake. There are local classics in any state, the must-eat places whose status as true culinary spectacles matters very little. It can’t be said that any of these restaurants are the best places to eat, or that these breweries are producing the best beers, but these places are one thing—they are home.
The Mountains in the West (Salt Lake’s section of the Oquirrh Range): While the Wasatch range holds our ski resorts, our beloved fluffy snow and all that’s good, the granite- and pine-covered Oquirrh range is just as irresistible—if not more.
The western range stands like a wall between the valley and a desert void that persists for miles until Reno. Its valley-facing side is a like a bathroom stall, donning the markers of those who came before. A smokestack bursts from the ground on its northernmost end. Somebody slapped a capital “C” on one of its flat faces. Mountain viscera travels along a conveyor belt that looks to have been put on the mountain by aliens. A third of the mountain, maybe, has been entirely dismantled, moved, undone. They say the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine is visible from space, but it’s unlikely that any of us will ever see it like that. We see it every day and those western mountains, too, a backdrop for an ever-sprawling city. How far will we go?
Your move, Ohio.
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Enrique Limón
elimon@cityweekly.net
@EnriqueLimon
Editor at Salt Lake City Weekly. Lover of sour candies.
City Weekly Staff
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Home News International Today’s Google doodle honours Jewish poet and Nobel prize winner Nelly Sachs
Today’s Google doodle honours Jewish poet and Nobel prize winner Nelly Sachs
Nobel laureates Nelly Sachs and Samuel Agnon preparing for the festivities in Stockholm in 1966. (Wikimedia Commons photo)
Today’s Google doodle honours the 127th birthday of Nelly Sachs (1891-1970), the Jewish poet and refugee from Germany who shared the Nobel Prize in literature with the Israeli writer S.Y. Agnon in 1966.
Exiled to Sweden during World War II, Sachs was largely obscure in her adopted country. There she wrote lyrical and haunting poems touching on the Holocaust, her fears about the budding state of Israel and what the Jewish Women’s Archive called “the possibility of atrocities committed by humankind and the beauty of humanity.”
Reporting on the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm on Dec. 12, 1966, JTA noted that “Miss Sachs was called up first and, with absolute composure, bowed to the king as she received her award. In a brief, gracious speech, she recalled that she was a refugee from Nazi Germany — without mentioning either Hitler or Nazism — and that the ceremony coincided in date with her 75th birthday. Then came Mr. Agnon.”
Nelly Sachs
S.Y. Agnon
Steinberg: The Nobel Prize needs Irwin Cotler
Iranian Nobel laureate urges sanctions against officials
Troy: Canada’s superhuman superhero for human rights
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Top Local Stories
'Operation Eastside': MSP targets speeding, aggressive drivers on I-696
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New York ends religious exemption to vaccine mandates
By DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press, Associated Press
Posted: 7:36 PM, June 13, 2019 Updated: 7:50 PM, June 13, 2019
A nurse holds up a one-dose bottle and a prepared syringe of MMR vaccine (George Frey/Getty Images).
ALBANY, N.Y. - New York eliminated the religious exemption to vaccine requirements for schoolchildren Thursday, as the nation's worst measles outbreak in decades prompts states to reconsider giving parents ways to opt out of immunization rules.
The Democrat-led Senate and Assembly voted Thursday to repeal the exemption, which allows parents to cite religious beliefs to forego getting their child the vaccines required for school enrollment.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed the measure minutes after the final vote. The law takes effect immediately but will give unvaccinated students up to 30 days after they enter a school to show they've had the first dose of each required immunization.
With New York's move, similar exemptions are still allowed in 45 states, though lawmakers in several of them have introduced their own legislation to eliminate the waiver.
The issue is hotly contested and debate around it has often been emotional, pitting cries that religious freedom is being curtailed against warnings that public health is being endangered. After the vote in the Assembly, many of those watching from the gallery erupted in cries of "shame!" One woman yelled obscenities down to the lawmakers below.
The debate has only intensified with this year's measles outbreak , which federal officials recently said has surpassed 1,000 illnesses, the highest in 27 years.
"I'm not aware of anything in the Torah, the Bible, the Koran or anything else that suggests you should not get vaccinated," said Bronx Democrat Jeffrey Dinowitz, the bill's Assembly sponsor. "If you choose to not vaccinate your child, therefore potentially endangering other children ... then you're the one choosing not to send your children to school."
Hundreds of parents of unvaccinated children gathered at New York's Capitol for the vote to protest.
Stan Yung, a Long Island attorney and father, said his Russian Orthodox religious views and health concerns about vaccines will prevent him from vaccinating his three young children. His family, he said, may consider leaving the state.
"People came to this country to get away from exactly this kind of stuff," Yung said ahead of Thursday's votes.
Supporters of the bill say religious beliefs about vaccines shouldn't eclipse scientific evidence that they work, noting the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1905 that states have the right to enforce compulsory vaccination laws. During the Assembly's floor debate, supporters brought up scourges of the past that were defeated in the U.S. through vaccines.
"I'm old enough to have been around when polio was a real threat," said Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, D-Manhattan. "I believe in science.... Your personal opinions, which may be based on junk science, do not trump the greater good."
Supporters also suggest some parents may be claiming the religious exemption for their children even though their opposition is actually based on scientifically discredited claims about the dangers of vaccines.
The bill would not change an existing state exemption given to children who cannot have vaccines for medical reasons, such as a weakened immune system.
Cuomo told reporters on Wednesday that he believes public health - and the need to protect those who cannot get vaccinated because for medical reasons - outweighs the concerns about religious freedom.
"I understand freedom of religion," he said. "I have heard the anti-vaxxers' theory, but I believe both are overwhelmed by the public health risk."
The current measles outbreak has renewed concern about the exemptions in many states. The nation last saw as many cases in 1992, when more than 2,200 were reported.
The majority of cases are from outbreaks in New York in Orthodox Jewish communities.
California removed personal belief vaccine exemptions for children in both public and private schools in 2015, after a measles outbreak at Disneyland sickened 147 people and spread across the U.S. and into Canada. Maine ended its religious exemption earlier this year.
Mississippi and West Virginia also do not allow religious exemptions.
Once common in the U.S., measles became rare after vaccination campaigns that started in the 1960s. A decade ago, there were fewer than 100 cases a year.
Get email alerts for local stories and events around the world.
Quicken Loans: 1,300 open positions in Downtown Detroit
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https://www.clickondetroit.com
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Summer athletic conditioning, sports camps develop skills, school spirit
Better. Faster. Stronger. Student athletes across the district are waking up early even during these lazy days of summer to run, lift and push themselves to stay conditioned for the new school year.
More than 1,210 future and current Canyon High Cougars, Canyon Lake Hawks and Smithson Valley Rangers are lacing up their sneakers almost every morning this summer in order to run sprints, lift weights and push their limits through the Texas heat.
All three traditional high schools in the Comal Independent School District are offering strength and conditioning camps as well as sport-specific camps Monday through Thursday for incoming seventh through 12th grade students residing in Comal ISD attendance zones. Following guidelines set by the University Interscholastic League, UIL, these summer athletic opportunities are taught by district staff and welcomed by parents with teenagers.
“These camps not only help maintain our high school athletes’ strength and endurance, they also give them an opportunity to work together as a team and continue to develop camaraderie and teamwork,” said Charles Drum, CLHS athletic coordinator. “For our middle school athletes, it’s a great opportunity to get to know our coaches, as we begin to develop a relationship with them.”
For parents, the training and conditioning camp, often referred to as “TAC” camp, gives teenagers something to do every morning; a chance to be with their friends; and the assurance that they are being physically active. Carpools are scheduled, and a summer routine is established with family vacations thrown in for good measure.
“I am glad that my boys are taking the conditioning camp since it keeps them active, gives them time to be with friends and provides them a reason to get out of bed in the morning, keeping somewhat of a routine for school,” said Maria Miles, the mother of two teenage boys who have participated in the Smithson Valley camp for the past two to three years. “It is also very affordable.”
Many parents seem to agree since each of the school’s athletic camps has seen an increase in participation this summer with about 400 students registered with CHS, 120 registered with CLHS and 690 registered with SVHS. The schools’ athletic directors give credit to their coaching staff for providing the daily professional instruction and designing workouts which benefit each student.
Coaches like Javier Almanza and Cody Means from CLHS, Assistant Athletic Coordinator Heather Sanders from CHS and coaches Matt Sutherland, Courtney Patton, Jeff Shinn, Craig Wersterfer, Chad Haug and Amanda Wolf-Schramm from SVHS help make these camps a success.
“Our goal is to give athletes every opportunity to be the best they can be in their respective sport,” said Joe Lepsis, CHS athletic coordinator. “Kids that go through the strength and conditioning program have the benefit of starting the new season in peak physical condition along with building team chemistry.”
At 589 square miles, Comal ISD is one of the largest school districts geographically in the state of Texas. Each campus acts as a gathering place for the community, and sporting events often unite neighbors who may live miles apart. Truly, CLHS is considered the hub of the Canyon Lake community, and the communities surrounding SVHS and CHS feel the same way. These summer camps are just one more way to keep students active, motivated and at the center of their communities.
“These camps have become part of our culture at Smithson Valley,” said Larry Hill, SVHS athletic coordinator. “Our players, parents and coaches expect these camps to take place each and ever summer. They will be organized; they will be run properly; they will be very beneficial; and they will build team camaraderie. These camps are as important to our success as anything else that goes on during the school year.”
There still may be time to get involved in these summer camps with options for younger students as well for various sports. Visit the Athletics tab for each of the high schools for details.
For Canyon High click here.
For Canyon Lake High click here.
For Smithson Valley High click here.
Go Cougars! Go Hawks! Go Rangers!
Photos from top right.
-Athletes from Canyon High push a John Deere Gator filled with weights across the football field during one day of strength and conditioning camp.
-Smithson Valley High School Coach Josh Samora spots incoming seventh grader Tanner Leib in the weight room during strength and conditioning camp.
-Incoming eighth and ninth grade athletes at Smithson Valley prepare for "competition" day Thursday during strength and conditioning camp.
-Smithson Valley High School Coach Sierra Holly supervises incoming seventh and eighth grade athletes in the weight room at SVHS during strength and conditioning camp.
Read more CISD news here.
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Confirmit Promotes Tim Hannington to Chief Revenue Officer
New role to drive increased global alignment and accelerated growth
New York, NY, London, UK and Oslo, Norway: September 13, 2018: Confirmit, the world’s leading vendor for multi-channel Customer Experience, Employee Engagement, and Market Research solutions has today announced the promotion of Tim Hannington to the position of Chief Revenue Officer.
Hannington joined Confirmit in 2005 to run the UK sales operation. Since then, his responsibilities have expanded to cover all Sales and Services functions of the EMEA and Asia Pacific teams. During this time, those regions have seen unparalleled growth and customer success. In his new position Hannington will manage Confirmit’s entire Sales, Services and Consulting offering at a global level.
Hannington said: “I’m very excited about taking on this new role at Confirmit. As a company, we’ve built fantastic relationships with clients around the world to help them drive success. By taking on this new challenge, I’m keen to ensure we deliver a seamless experience for customers wherever they are in the world.”
The newly created role is part of an ongoing focus for Confirmit to enable greater global alignment, excellence and consistency. Earlier in the year the company announced the promotion of Claire Sporton to SVP CX Innovations, and Heidi Brumbach to EVP Global Human Resources.
“One of my key goals in the role of CRO is to streamline and improve the critical processes that underpin our Sales and Services activities,” adds Hannington. “We have fantastic teams in place in all our offices around the world. By ensuring we bring these teams together effectively, I believe we can not only continue to support our customers, but ensure an unprecedented period of growth over the next few years.”
Ken Østreng, Confirmit CEO, said: “Tim’s promotion is a great step forward for Confirmit as we continue to meet our ambitious growth targets. Tim’s contribution over the past 13 years has been exceptional, and I’m very pleased that he’s accepted this new role. Uniting our business development activities under a single, world-class leader will ensure that Confirmit is positioned for accelerated growth at a global level.”
Confirmit Announces 2018 ACE Award Winners
The case studies featured in our 2018 ACE Award Winners' Showcase demonstrate how the Voice of the Customer has the power to drive an organization forward, delivering positive customer experiences, changing business culture, and generating significant Return on Investment.
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Love Story Die Sammlung
Love Story is a daring presentation of contemporary art at Vienna’s Belvedere, using both the Baroque Winter Palais and Modernist 21er Haus. The exhibition is the first public showing of the collection of Anne & Wolfgang Titze, a Franco-Austrian couple.
The Love Story title alludes to the couple’s passion for contemporary art, as well as to their enduring relationship. When the Titzes began collecting art some 25 years ago, they were cautious about some forms of expression and materials. Minimal and Conceptual art, which emerged from the States in the 60s, seemed cool and detached; Arte Povera, an Italian movement, somehow felt easy, even common.
With time, knowledge, and experience, the Titzes came to appreciate and embrace these essential foundations of contemporary art. The collection, which has grown in size and scope, reflects several major movements and themes of today’s global art scene.
The Love Story catalogue includes an intimate Q+A, Sol LeWitt’s Sentences on Conceptual Art, an A to Z of the exhibition, and an informative essay on the history and challenges of collecting. The catalogue makes every effort to engage a broad audience in a refreshing, convivial way, sharing the joys contemporary art.
Includes interviews with, Anne and Wolfgang Titze with Mario Codognato, Severin Dünser and Luisa Ziaja
(Your order will be fulfilled by NBN International)
Nathalie Djurberg
Anthony Gormley
Paola Pivi
Günther Uecker
Rebecca Warren
Clayton Press & Anne de Boismilon
Agnes Husslein-Arco
Loïc Malle
Anne de Boismilon
Clayton Press
Verlag für moderne Kunst
illustrated in colour throughout
Download PDF title sheet
Other Catalogues books
Seehearing the Enlightened Failure
I Came to Dance
Film Lexicon of Sexual Practices / Prohibited Imports
PERSONAL STRUCTURES 2019
Identities (Venice 2019)
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NHS workers in crisis are being bullied and harassed, says BMA
Staff survey reveals a workforce in crisis due to pressures, says leading medical body
Max Channon
A recent NHS staff survey reveals a ‘workforce in crisis’, with workers being bullied and harassed, says the British Medical Association (BMA).
Earlier this month a Care Quality Commission said found that staff in the diagnostic and imaging teams at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth described a culture of poor behaviour from team leaders which "belittled and humiliated junior staff". Now the BMA has said this is evidence of the pressure being felt by frontline staff.
While the BMA notes that there have been "genuine improvements in several areas", it says the core findings of the NHS staff survey reveal a workforce in crisis.
It says Of particular concern are the figures on bullying and harassment and this is evidence of the pressure being felt by frontline staff and how these issues impact directly on workforce morale, staff wellbeing and thus on patient care.
Commenting Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chair of council, said: "The findings of the 2018 NHS Staff Survey show that doctors and other health care professionals across England are working in a system under extreme pressure due to chronic underfunding, workforce shortages and rising patient demand. As a result, they are struggling daily to sustain high standards of patient care.
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"Work related issues such as bullying, harassment and burn out caused by impossible workloads are damaging the physical and mental health of doctors. This then directly affects the quality of care they can give patients. Government and employers not only have a clear duty of care to the medical workforce but also to patients and so must act urgently and decisively to tackle these issues by addressing their root causes.”
"The 3% decline in staff feeling that their organisation takes positive action on health and wellbeing is worrying. Our ongoing health and wellbeing work finds that only 27% of doctors were confident that if their physical or mental health was suffering due to work, their employer would provide help and support. That almost 40% of NHS staff feel unwell because of work-related stress - with last year being the worst in five years – means employers need to both give their staff better access to appropriate support services and actively promote a no-blame culture.
"The toll on physicians’ physical health is also mounting with a 2% increase in staff confirming they’re experiencing musculoskeletal problems. The BMA believes that better provision and funding of occupational health services will help reduce the amount of time staff spend off work.
"Through our bullying and harassment project we have been working to raise awareness of the prevalence and toxic effects of such behaviour in the NHS and to make clear recommendations on what we think should be done.
"The decline in numbers of NHS staff feeling satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients is another worrying trend while the increase in staff witnessing errors, near misses or incidents echoes our own survey results which found that doctors are worried about making mistakes and that this is linked to work pressures. Increasing numbers of doctors and consultants are citing concerns about health and wellbeing as being a major driver for taking in breaks in training, for working shorter hours or in deciding to leave the professional entirely.
"Properly supporting doctors and the wider NHS workforce by placing staff health and wellbeing at the centre of the NHS benefits patients, staff and the whole NHS through better patient outcomes, improved staff morale and reduced staff turnover and sickness absence."
Derriford Hospital staff 'belittled and humiliated' by bosses
Government not on track to be ready for Brexit no deal by March 29
Game of Thrones Medusavirus that turns cells to stone discovered by scientists
Meandering jet stream will bring February heatwave to an end
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Nicole Richie Debuts Grey Hair
Nicole Richie, Anne Hathaway, and Kerry Washington all shocked on the red carpet at the Met Ball with dramatic new hair colors.
by BANG Showbiz | May 8, 2013
Nicole Richie has dyed her hair grey.
The 31-year-old fashion designer showed off her newly-silver tresses at the Met Ball at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (May 6, 2013), sticking to the Costume Institute Gala's "Punk: Chaos to Couture" theme by matching her updo and white Topshop column dress with a red and gold manicure, multiple gold earrings, and a dark burgundy lip.
Nicole, who has five-year-old Harlow and three-year-old Sparrow with husband Joel Madden, had earlier teased fans about her change of look, posting pictures of hair extensions lying on a bush and a bowl of dye on her Instagram account.
Alongside the pictures, she wrote: "Even the bushes have extensions! Happy Met Ball Monday!
"Hair Time #MetBall (sic)"
And the Fashion Star host wasn't the only star to change her hair for the annual fashion extravaganza.
Anne Hathaway, who shaved her head for her role in Les Miserables, showed off a short blond crop, which she admitted she wanted to keep forever, though she knows she'll have to revert back to her famous dark tresses soon.
Anne, who wore black vintage Valentino, said: "It's temporary. But as soon as I did it, I thought I didn't want it to be temporary any longer. I know I have to dye it back for my work."
And Kerry Washington teamed her low-cut purple, black, and blue Vera Wang gown with long leather gloves and purple streaks in her hair.
She said: "In honor of Vera's design I put all these purple highlights in my hair to have a punk moment. I've never done anything like this before in my life!"
Hollywood star,
Hollywood celebrities,
hollywood fashion,
BANG Showbiz,
met gala,
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Books Against Time
North American New Right
T’s and C’s
« The Feminist Mystique
Ethnonationalism for Normies
(Or, “On the Sense of Coming Home”) »
Open Letter to the Ace of Spades
Spencer J. Quinn
Dear Ace,
I’ve been a big follower of yours for years. Through your profane wit, your probing and forceful reasoning, and your fierce independence, I think you’ve established a unique conservative voice on the internet. It’s gotten to the point that if either you or your co-bloggers don’t comment on something, nine times out of ten I don’t consider it newsworthy anyway. And very, very rarely do I disagree with you. You have been a big part of my conservative political thought throughout the years, and that is a gift I can never repay.
I can’t help but notice, however, how bitter and angry you’ve become in the past few years. Jaded might be a better word, given how many times you’ve written off the Republican Party in utter disgust. Whether you intended this to happen or not, you have become a leading voice of anti-establishment conservatives in the GOP.
Now, why has this happened?
Well, as you correctly point out, GOP elites in Washington DC are essentially Democrats. Maybe they’re pro-life. Maybe they’re a little more hawkish and have a better understanding of economics than the Dems. But ultimately, their agenda on the most important issues of the day is not terribly different than that of their liberal counterparts, which is ultimately to expand government and open our borders. And what you find so galling about the GOP elites is that they take the common conservative voters for granted. They show contempt for the people who elect them. They seem to think that since they’re the only game in town, the common conservative voter has no choice but to dance to their tune.
You hate this. And I was right there along with you for many years, hating it as well and walking around feeling like I wanted to punch holes in walls. Then I discovered the Alt-Right, and the Alt-Right set me free.
I’m writing to urge you to come to the Dark Side, Ace. Declare allegiance, or at least sympathy, with us, please. It will ease your mind and set the gears of the universe working in greater harmony, I promise. Adopting an Alt-Right perspective mitigates the grating, cacophonous discord of today’s politics. Although people on the Alt-Right certainly share your contempt for the Left and for radical Islam, they tend not to share your heartache over the betrayal of the GOP voter by the GOP elite. Why? Because we’ve given up on the current system. We know it can’t work. Unlike you, we’ve lost hope that it can ever work. The only hope that remains is to one day replace it with a new system. And the only way to do that is to fundamentally alter our perspective on human affairs.
I think you know where this is going.
In order to align yourself with the Alt-Right, you would have to adopt a racial perspective. That is, unless a topic has absolutely nothing to do with race, you would view it through a racial lens. Not only that, but you would consider your own racial interests as a white man while doing so.
Of course, you have always stuck up for whites on your blog, especially when blacks and Hispanics discriminate against them. And that is much appreciated. But you seem to do so not because you are white and wish to express allegiance to other whites. Nor is it because whites have historically offered and continue to offer vital things to civilization and are therefore special. Rather, you seem to do it simply out of fairness. You seem to adhere to a meta-racial perspective that decries all racial discrimination, and then express anger and disappointment when nonwhites don’t live up to such high standards. It’s as if you would react the same way if it were blacks or Hispanics being discriminated against.
Such objectivity is admirable, but we on the Alt-Right know that it is ultimately misguided and self-defeating. Why? Because whites as a group are pretty much the only people capable of such objectivity. We are the only ones who racially self-abnegate to the point where we will adjudicate against our racial interest for the sake of fairness with other races. Our reluctance to deport illegal immigrants is a terrific example of this.
The reasons for this must be genetic. There must be something hardwired into our DNA that enable whites and only whites to attain such sublime levels of objectivity. This must be why science developed in Europe not once but twice: first in ancient Greece and later during the Renaissance. Science as we know it originated nowhere else.
This must also be why whites have made the most beautiful art and music known to man. This must also be why whites have created nations with the highest standards of living, the best functioning governments, and the most advanced technology. This must also be why whites have had the most successful militaries throughout history. This must also be why whites possess a higher average IQ than most other races with a wide enough standard deviation to produce a long line of geniuses and visionaries who have forged the modern world. Without us there would have been no modern world.
Once you adopt a racial perspective and accept the intellectual and moral inequality of the races, then black and Hispanic racism against whites makes perfect sense. Of course, these people will be racist against whites. They are incapable of the objectivity required to not be this way, just as most of them are incapable of scoring higher than 90 on an IQ test. Once you accept this, then your frustration will decrease since you will no longer want these people to ever become something they are not. They couldn’t change if they tried. Suddenly you have direct and easy answers for questions that were once quite convoluted and thorny.
In a book I recently reviewed, entitled The Devil’s Pleasure Palace, author Michael Walsh quotes Victor Davis Hanson’s labored take on the Ferguson riots. Sayeth Mr. Hanson:
Ferguson illustrated many of the problems of postmodern liberalism: the anti-empirical insistence that the facts of the shooting of Michael Brown did not matter much; critical legal theory, which ignored the time-honored role of a disinterested grand jury; the tolerance of illegality as some sort of acceptable protest against the system; and the liberal media’s hyping a crisis on the understanding that the ramifications of the violence were safely distant from their own schools, neighborhoods, and restaurants.
You see how Mr. Hanson stitches together a complicated explanation in order to avoid a simpler but unacceptable truth? Sure, many influential Leftists interpreted Ferguson in the way he describes, but Ferguson wouldn’t have been a problem to begin with if it weren’t populated with so many stupid, childlike blacks who lack impulse control. That’s the crux of the problem, ugly as it is. There ain’t no pretty way to say it. The nuanced reactions of our media elites to the temper tantrums of blacks is of secondary interest at best.
Now, while I never detect this kind of erudite gobbledygook coming from you, I still have to wonder: if forced to choose between complicated non-racial explanations of nonwhite misbehavior and simple racial ones, which would you choose?
My hunch is that you would plop with VDH, at least at this point and at least publicly. But I suspect you would do so not because you’re a true-believing, evidence denying, anti-racist like all the Leftists and liberals you continually lambaste on your blog. My guess is that you would do it because it would be the path of least resistance and because to do otherwise is a scary proposition. But I am hoping that someday the elegance of the racial perspective will one day sway you. I am hoping that the overwhelming evolutionary, genetic, historical, psychometric, and anecdotal data supporting the racial perspective will also sway you. (See below in the notes section for a list of sources backing up this position.)
Of course, adopting a racial perspective is its own can of worms. First, there’s the sense of guilt one might feel after issuing sweeping negative statements upon other races. It’s not pleasant, I know, especially at first. Second, there’s the blowback. If you were to suddenly have truck with the Alt-Right, expect to be labeled a racist. Expect death threats. Expect the SPLC and other civil rights organizations to smear you and impede your ability to make a living. Expect a good chunk of your readership to abandon you. Expect many of your advertisers and donors to run for cover. Expect some, if not all, of your co-bloggers to rebel and defect.
And this would just be the public response. I have no idea how such an announcement would impact you personally.
So, I understand that there may be good reasons not to sign up with the Alt-Right. The Alt-Right can be a pretty scary place. But here is where my argument comes full circle. As I pointed out before, one of the major themes of your blog these days is disgust with the GOP elites in Washington. You complain quite rightly that they have abandoned conservative principles and conservative voters. But why have they done this? They have done this because they too are afraid of being labeled racists. They too are afraid of death threats. They too are afraid of the SPLC. They too are afraid of being abandoned by voters and losing donors and colleagues. Thus they cave to the Democrat agenda.
In effect, you criticize the GOP elites for being afraid of the very things you yourself are afraid of.
So what does that make you? This is not a provocative question, Ace, because I love you and I wish you the very best, and I am not criticizing you for the decisions you’ve made with your life. You do what you want, baby. But I think, as an honest and perspicacious interpreter of current events, you owe yourself an answer at the very least. You see, when liberals complain about conservatives, the word “racist” usually pops up a lot. Why is that? Well, since liberals tend to be racists themselves (against whites, mostly), it takes one to know one. And they’re right, you know. We are racists. Everyone is a racist. But unlike leftists and nonwhites who simply want to tear down whitey and replace him and everything he’s built with poverty, crime, corruption, and really lousy forms of government, we on the Alt-Right wish to preserve Western Civilization and are the true inheritors of the conservative tradition.
I first learned about Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind years ago on your blog. It’s a great book, and I’ve read it very carefully. You know what one of its main themes is? The inherent inequality of man. In Kirk’s assessment of conservatism throughout the ages, inequality comes up a lot. Edmund Burke writes about it. So does John Adams, John Randolph, John Calhoun, James Fenimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Irving Babbitt. They all agree. Inequality is something that must be accepted and dealt with by conservatives, not altered. People are unequal, and there is nothing anyone can do about it other than devise political systems which cede the least amount of power to those individuals who are, due to intelligence or temperament, least able to wield it wisely. In fact, the three great bugbears of The Conservative Mind (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jeremy Bentham, and Karl Marx) all believed the opposite. They believed that human beings either are equal or have the potential to be made equal. How? By government, of course. And the more unequal we are, the more government you need. Hence, today’s Leviathan state and stifling political correctness and vast social engineering schemes adhering to leftist, anti-white agendas.
This inequality initially applied only to whites because whites made up nearly 100% of the readership of the men Kirk wrote about, not to mention the body politic in their respective nations. Unfortunately, this is not the case today, but most conservatives still pretend it is. The main problem of today’s conservatism is that conservatives don’t have the guts to apply this idea of inherent inequality to anyone but whites. Putting down rednecks and crackers is fine, but calling someone a nigger or a spic isn’t. Former Klansman David Duke running for the Senate is condemned as a great evil, but a vile, anti-white racist like Al Sharpton gets to run for president and is a frequent guest in the White House without anybody saying boo. See? If conservativism as defined by Russell Kirk is going to survive the twenty-first century, conservatives are going to have to man up and accept that this inequality applies to the races as much as it applies to individuals within a race.
This is something I hope you will do as well, Ace.
Here’s a joke I just made up, but I would be shocked if liberals haven’t already been telling variations of it for decades: What’s the difference between a Republican and a Nazi Skinhead? Answer: A haircut.
So, if we’re going to do the time, we might as well do the crime. They’re going to hate us no matter what we do, leftist whites as well as nonwhites. Sure, they will tolerate us as long as we back down when it matters and don’t act in our own racial interests as they’ve been doing all along. But as soon as we push back on this racial business, they get violent. You know this is true. You’ve commented on their behavior at Donald Trump rallies before. And as their numbers swell, this violence will only get worse.
This is why I think the Alt-Right and similar race-realist movements represent the future. Whites can only be pushed so far. Once these foreigners — these Muslims, Hispanics, and blacks, mostly — achieve a 60 or 65 per cent majority in this country, they will start oppressing us and limiting our rights, just like they do to their own kind in their own countries. But here, it will all be very nasty and very racial. There will be nothing left for us to do but fight. I dearly hope that when that time comes, you will be with us.
Or, in the meantime, if I find someone with a different pseudonym haunting Alt-Right sites with crude, sidesplitting witticisms about “com-pooters” and Kaboom Cereal and dipping one’s family jewels into chocolate syrup, then I will be gratified to know that you already are.
Spencer Quinn
Evolutionary Evidence: Race, Evolution, and Behavior: A Life History Perspective, 3rd, J. Philippe Rushton, Charles Darwin Research Institute, 2000.
Genetic Evidence: A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race, Human History, Nicholas Wade, The Penguin Press, 2014.
Historical Evidence: War Before Civilization, Lawrence Keeley, Oxford University Press, 1996.
Psychometric Evidence: The Affirmative Action Hoax, Steven Farron, New Century Books, 2005.
Anecdotal Evidence: White Girl Bleed a Lot, Colin Flaherty, WND Books, 2013.
Published: July 1, 2016 | This entry was posted in North American New Right and tagged Ace of Spades, articles, biological race differences, conservatives, inequality, North American New Right, originals, political correctness, race realism, Republicans, Spencer Quinn. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
AquinasJohnPaul
Posted July 4, 2016 at 6:21 pm | Permalink
Well intentioned attempt to bring our dear Ace into the fold, but I just don’t think he can do it.
I don’t think it’s just a matter of protecting his livelihood, although I like you accept and understand the man for proceeding on those grounds.
No, he really is a true-blood egalitarian on race, and I don’t think anything can budge him from that.
I’m sure you were around for the top Ace blew when Empire of Jeff dropped some real-talk about Africa being effed up in the comments.
That’s simply Ace. He can’t go there, even if he wants to.
Posted July 5, 2016 at 9:21 am | Permalink
AJP,
Alas, you’re probably right. But I was a true-blue egalitarian about race once upon a time, but the race-realism arguments stuck with me and got me out of that funk. I’m still hoping that will happen to Ace one day.
Posted July 3, 2016 at 12:58 am | Permalink
Great stuff Spencer. I hope Ace finds this.
I keep pondering…. “How far can the traditional right be pushed into a corner, before they admit to themselves that all of the “we’re all equal” programming they have been swallowed, accepted, and regurgitate, was a self-serving lie used by the anti-Whites to destroy us with the evilest of intents, and finally begin to fight?”
It seems most men are cowards. That said, I’m not Ace, and I’m not risking my livelihood by Alt-Right shitposting on Twitter. Ace is an autiste genius and would be an asset. It will be interesting to see how long he tortures himself before accepting reality.
Pete, Thank you so much. I agree with your assessment of Ace’s genius. The thing about him also is his sense of humor. Being funny is so important when trying to attract people to a cause. Even if he never joins us, we should still try to emulate him in that regard.
Funniest Ace moment: Two sentences on a forgotten news item from Obama’s first term. A woman actually tried to assassinate or attack Joe Biden because he was so wonderful that she was in love with him.
Ace’s response: “I did not see that one coming.”
He then quotes the source which says that the woman would be placed in a mental health facility.
Ace’s response: “Mental health facility. Yeah. I think that’s the right way to go.”
I’m still laughing.
Anyway, where did you get that quote from your second paragraph? Thanks.
Thanks for the reply Spencer. I suffered through many Gabe-heavy Ace podcasts to hear Ace crack wise, and bring his unique insights to the news. Can’t say anything bad about the guy.
I generally agree with AquinasJohnPaul regarding Ace’s egalitarianism. That said, I have heard Ace be humorously blunt regarding his willingness to take positions for purely strategic reasons. What’s the upside for Ace to take a pro-HBD/race realist stance currently? Very little, but huge downsides. That’s why it’s important for we foot soldiers to change the playing field by de-programming people. The more we drop politically incorrect, yet undeniable truth-bombs (“Detroit was ruined by democrats? Seattle and Denver have been run by Dems for decades yet don’t look like Hiroshima in 1945.”) the easier it will be for more people to do so….it will just take longer to filter to the likes of Ace…
The quote…I was just thinking out loud. Trying to distill something that rattles around when I hear people who obviously know more than I do about the state of the world, sound like they were just released from a Bill Ayers Weather Underground gulag. It’s telling how quickly they block those who ask inconvenient questions of them on Twitter.
Looking forward to reading more of your work.
Worst part of the HQ experience was jackass Gabe being around. Occasionally had some serviceable legal insight. But spent most of his time trolling the Horde in the mornings, and famously said Gamergate was “about nothing”. (And if there’s anything I do blame Ace for it’s letting the former go on and then getting all stick up the ass when people complained.)
How and why Ace feels the need to keep him around is beyond me. Adds nothing of value.
Even the cucked out Boomer commenters at HQ disliked Gabe. He made the podcast nearly unlistenable for me. By the time he gushed his way through his innumerable asides, asides, self-corrections, and qualifiers I couldn’t even remember what his point was….nor did I care.
Gabe seemed obsessed with becoming GOPe’s gay mascot, and would defend the Boehner et al even n the face of Ace and Drew’s damning commentary on same, to point of looking utterly indefensibly ridiculous. Finally, Gabe’s blatant Twitter declaration that anyone who opposed amnesty/open borders was a racist was a bridge too far for the hoard. Ace defended Gabe, but you could tell it was out of loyalty vs. reason. I am a racist/race realist, but the hoard (and Ace as you noted) are generally egalitarian and were very offended. I haven’t seen Gabe post there in a long time btw. The podcast is now just Ace and Drew when it happens, which isn’t often.
Ace’s heart hasn’t been in it for a long time. His effort posts are fewer and farther in-between. He needs a change…either of job, or ideology. Had Breitbart cogsigliere Mike Flynn (RIP) won his special election for the US House against Obama’s Dept of Transportation Secretary’s son, I suspect Ace would have ended up working for him. Though not shitlords, they would have been an asset to HuWhyte America.
Ace’s HQ was a valuable ideological stepping stone for me. I owe Ace for waking me up to how craven DC is. The closest thing we have to HQ on the Alt-Right is Fash the Nation, but a Ace style website covering politics would be a great addition to our cause.
Glad to hear Gabe ain’t around anymore. Long time in coming.
I agree with you about Ace, he’s been on a downer for awhile now. That’s what’s so great about the alt-right: we’re finally free to say the unsayable, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun.
I worry about Ace sometimes. There’s a general tone of melancholy at the HQ that can’t be healthy mentally to be around 24/7.
Hope he makes a change for the positive, whatever it needs to be.
And alt-right AOSHQ would be epic.
Good luck with that. I don’t think I’ve heard of this guy.
Fantastic essay, and it applies to any non-racially-aware conservative. Could well be renamed “dear conservative: your invitation to the alt-right”. I’m glad you made this public, as I have a few friends who need to read this.
Thank you, Joe. Your feedback means a lot.
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Home » Palestine » The 4.45pm Link
The 4.45pm Link 43
4 Jun, 2010 in Palestine by craig
“The Zionist Federation together with the English Defence League demonstrated opposite the Israeli embassy in support of the Israeli Defence Force action against the Gaza aid flotilla”
http://www.demotix.com/news/346651/zionists-support-flotilla-attack
Whatever its initial aspirations, the State of Israel has become a vicious racist entity. As you can see by its friends.
43 thoughts on “The 4.45pm Link”
Michael Petek June 4, 2010 at 22:56
JamesVI at June 4, 2010 7:48 PM asks:
“Can you explain then why Ethiopian Jews were submitted to genetic testing to ascertain whether they should be given the right to live in Israel…”
What was being looked for here is Jewish heritage through the matrilineal line. You are Jewish if your mother is. Alternatively, you can become Jewish by conversion according to Jewish law, no matter what your race.
Different strands of Judaism have different criteria for conversion. Orthodox Jews generally don’t recognise the validity of conversions administered by non-Orthodox.
Southern German June 4, 2010 at 23:06
@Mac at June 4, 2010 9:13 PM
I recently read Sand’s book and if I remember well, the author stops short of affirming the Khazarian origin of East-European Ashkenazim. It’s more like “probably it is so” and “no other ascendancy seems plausible”. His main argument is that the Rhenanian Jewry of the Middle Ages should never have compounded more than some 20,000 persons, so how could this rather small group be the sole origin of the vastly bigger number of East European Jews of the 19th century? That’s proof by plausibility, so it’s weak, isn’t it?
He does pretend the linguistical structure of Yiddish to be essentially non-Germanic and that also made me doubt. Over 40% of the Yiddish’s roots are Germanic; nearly all grammar words (pronouns, auxiliaries, …), the sentence structure is Germanic, the meanings of the modal verbs ( derfn/misn/kennen ) and of their negations reproduce exactly those of the Middle High German ( durfen/mussen/konnen ). After substituting for the Slav and the Hebraic roots – the latter covering essentially the religious sphere – some Germanic words, to a Southern German of today Yiddish would seem like the dialect of some native speaker not far away in place and time. Admittedly I’m no specialist in philology, but nor seems he. Admittedly I did not check his references.
This being said, the book has great merits by giving an “Ideologiekritik” / “critique de l’ideologie” (pardon me, I don’t know the proper English expression) of Zionism. The book’s analysis fits well together with the argumentation patterns of right-wing journalists and (all to abundant) reader commentaries of the same ilk in Israel’s major English internet media (Jerusalem Post, Ynet, Ha’aretz): typical blind spots, gaps and non-sequiturs in argumentation, irritation triggers, allergy to the substitution test in ethics etc.
Nevertheless, both the Jerusalem Post and Ynet might be useful for antiracist purposes. Suppose you want to convince some racist of the nonsense of his views; suppose his racism comprises the opinion of an innate intelligence of all persons Jewish (50% off); suppose further that he’s willing to ply under evidence (98% off); then putting him to the lecture of both papers’ reader commentaries will cure the evil rather fast. But don’t ever do that if the person is irritable (99.8% off), for his racism could very well turn 180 degrees. Well, 0.2% are perhaps not worth while …
arsalan June 4, 2010 at 23:24
What you say just goes above my head. I’m sure all of this has some hidden meaning that I can’t comprehend.
Just like that thing you keep telling larry about buses, or was it being on a bus?
Or that comedy from the olden days, on the buses?
Are you trying to say Larry is Blacky from on the buses?
Mac June 5, 2010 at 00:30
Here’s an interesting discussion programme with Shlomo Sand as one of the guests (funny enough, he doesn’t seem too popular in Israel!);
http://frontlineclub.com/events/2009/11/avi-shlaim-in-conversation-with-shlomo-sand.html
Alfred June 5, 2010 at 00:38
“The Nose,” yes one of my favorite short stories.
Strangely, it seems to me, Wikipedia calls it satirical. Is it really? If so, I entirely missed the point, yet it has always delighted me.
I’d rate it alongside Cervantes story about a conversation between two dogs.
Suhayl Saadi June 5, 2010 at 07:41
Why do some people keep posting stuff about the girl killed in the Tehran protests last year on these threads, which are about the Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla. I’m all for exploring the story of Neda – I want to watch the documentary – and for criticising the Iranian regime, etc., but it seems to me that the positioning of such references on these particular threads is an attempt to divert attention from the mass murder carried out this week by the Israeli state.
Alfred, what’s the one about the dogs called? Just so I can look it up. Thanks.
Arsalan, now there’s a thought. ‘On the Buses’. Absolutely!
Apostate June 5, 2010 at 09:46
People who are mortified by the difference between Israel’s original aspirations and the belligerent ethno-state it has become need to go back and do some homework!
The “original aspirations” are the foundational myths re-making the desert bloom,building a Jewish homeland after centuries of persecution,the “Holocaust” etc.
The reality is quite different.The masonic state-check out the literature on the Supreme Court building architecture if you don’t believe the “masonic” description-was brought about to enrich an elite few Illuminati bankers not Jews fleeing persecution.
This Anglo-US synarchy wanted a regional state with its own army,intelligence service and offshore banking facility that could powerfully project itself and dominate all its Arab neighbours with ease.
During the British Mandate administration when Arab passions became inflamed against the settlers many a civil disturbance was allowed to run its course deliberately to sow the seeds of long-running animosities and hatred.The settlers’ sponsors wanted aggresive power-projectionists who could stand on their own two feet and fight their corner.
This was the British strategy particularly during the time when Herbert Samuel,a Jew, was High Commissioner for Palestine.The settlers hoping for some respite were cruelly disappointed.
To see the heavily propagandized militaristic and paranoic siege mentality inculcated
in today’s Israeli youth by the state education and intelligence apparatus is to see merely the logical extension of the original British toughening-up of the settlers policy!
Curiously enough the militaristic ethno-state is a mirror image of the Nazi German state.Parallels between the racial supremacism promoted by both Nazis and Zionists were unmissable in the 1930s as well.The Transfer Agreement between the two laid the basis of the embryonic Israeli state’s industrial infrastructure in the 1930s.
Hitler had been persuaded of the merits of coming to an accommodation with the Zionists by Schiff/Warburg financial backing he’d received earlier when the Nazis had been struggling at the polls.However he had no illusions himself about the real envisaged elite purposes behind his financial backers’ plans for the new state:
“For while the Zionists try to make the world believe that national consciousness of the Jew desires satisfaction in creation a state in Palestine the Jews again slyly dupe the dumb Goyim.It doesn’t enter their heads to build a Jewish state for the purposes of living there.All they want is a central organization for their international world swindle endowed with its sovereign rights and removed from the intervention of other states.A haven for convicted scoundrels and a university for budding crooks.”
Those who ignore the role played by long-term planning in history and who remain ensnared in their official “cock-up” theories will inevitably be surprised when things turn out exactly as the long-term planners intended they should!
P.S.You may not be deemed adult enough to read this stuff.The Zio-shills and their gate-keepers are determined to make sure you don’t get to the truth re-Israel.
Dave Rich June 5, 2010 at 10:47
It is not true that the ZF demonstrated alongside the EDL and comments have been left pointing this out on Tony Greenstein’s blog, where the allegation was first made.
We (CST) have made our position on the EDL very clear on several occasions on our blog (thecst.org.uk/blog), most recently yesterday.
So I would ask you to correct your post.
Dave Rich
willyrobinson June 5, 2010 at 10:54
@Craig
Not a helpful comment for two reasons: nationalism need not manifest itself as racism; and it’s wrong to judge people by the company they keep.
As someone upthread mentioned you have strange bedfellows here in this blog, and that’s not really in your control.
Coming back to the first point, during the troubles many Irish nationalists tried to brand unionism as inherently racist. Post Good Friday, mainstream unionism has done much to distance itself from any racist manifestation, but remains undiminished.
Nationalism is a human condition – it can be vey ugly, but not necessarily so.
As for “how can a religion lay claim to a national homeland?” – it’s extremely problematic, but that’s how it is. How can anyone possibly reverse that now?
You only have 40 or so posts about Palestine – I suggest you continue to express a justified anger, but from a firm basis of respect.
Dont let your voice be dismissed as ranting.
amk June 5, 2010 at 16:20
Max Blumenthal on the willingness of right wing Jewish Americans to associate with the European far right:
http://maxblumenthal.com/2010/03/so-who-are-the-nazis-meet-atlass-thugs/
Charles Johnston of Little Green Footballs cited the American right’s willingness to support European proto-fascists (e.g. BNP) as part of his reason for parting ways:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/35243_Why_I_Parted_Ways_With_The_Right
Suhayl,
It was the colloquy of Dogs (Coloquio de los Perros).
I cannot immediately find the full text online, but here’s some info about it.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/434992
Thanks very much, Alfred. I’ll check it out.
In the past, I’ve often been intrigued by articles on Jstor; they usually give the first couple of paragrpahs, which often intrigues, but one cannot get further access unless one is an active student/ faculty of a university – very frustrating!
← Convoy Murders, Iraq Invasion, and the Zionist Lobby
Evidence of Organised Zionist Trolling? →
British Security Service Infiltration, the Integrity Initiative and the Institute for Statecraft
Why Has Israeli Spy Shai Masot Not Been Expelled?
The “Philip Cross” MSM Promotion Operation Part 3
IMF and USA set to ruin Ghana
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It’s the Latest Fitness Craze: a Hippocampus Workout
Science April 23, 2013 / By Rebecca Kendall
We know that regular exercise and conditioning help us combat disease and health risks, improve our mood and promote better sleep, but in our quest for fitness, some experts say we may be neglecting one key muscle: the brain.
The brain can be trained just like any body part. Instead of lifting weights or doing wind sprints or crunches, a brain workout involves performing mental tasks on a computer, such as matching symbols, quickly typing words using a short prefix as a trigger or playing games that challenge response times or memory.
The goal for many brain athletes is to improve memory, focus attention more sharply or generally perform better in day-to-day mental activities. Others are aiming higher.
"There is increasing evidence that this might be helpful to people who are suffering from mild cognitive impairment to forestall the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, or alleviate cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders like schizophrenia," said Professor Bob Bilder, the Tennenbaum Family Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences in the David Geffen School of Medicine. He’s also chief of medical psychology-neuropsychology at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.
Brain training, or neurobics as some people like to call it, has been gaining more and more visibility lately through myriad products and services that have been introduced into the marketplace in recent years. Search it on Google and you’ll instantly get more than 1 million hits. Ranging in prices from less than $20 to $500 or more for certain technologies and computer programs, brain training means big business for some companies.
But does it work?
Bilder is trying to figure that out. And he has created UCLA’s first Brain Gym to help him do it.
Instead of treadmills, elliptical machines and weight benches, Bilder’s gym, located in Room C8-222 of the Semel institute, is comprised of two rows of computer workstations and staffed by "trainers" who can help visitors use the software programs.
"As a brain scientist and a neuropsychologist, I want people to have the same opportunities to train their brain and to exercise their hippocampus down here as they do at the Wooden Center to work their abs or gluts," he said.
Bilder said there is already evidence that brain training, especially for those who train in excess of 50 cumulative hours, can produce results. "We’ve discovered over the past few decades that what people have known about muscles in the body may also be much truer for the brain than anyone had really suspected. Brain cells do replicate, and they do a lot of remodeling after they get into their final positions — much more than was ever thought possible." Even training one’s brain for a few hours can produce some changes to how fluid flows within the brain, he said.
In addition, we’re learning more about how to better control the molecular switches and genetic controls in our brain regions using gene expression, he said.
"The structural genes we inherit from our parents are turned on and off in various ways and at various times during the course of development," Bilder explained. "We’re learning that inducing activity in certain cells in the body, and also in the brain, can alter the genetic instructions that are going to get processed. That changes the structure of the cells themselves, the way they connect with one another, and, ultimately, what they’re capable of doing."
What remains unclear, however, is how brain training applies to the real world, said Bilder.
Will it help you remember names or phone numbers better? How does it affect your problem-solving skills? Will it help you focus your concentration when performing tasks?
"The best data, so far, suggest that some effect will be maintained for months, but it looks like continued exercise of your brain may be needed to sustain the gains."
Bilder is hoping that the Brain Gym will help answer many of these questions and empower consumers to make smart decisions.
Members of the campus community are invited to be among the first to see the Brain Gym on Friday, April 26, from noon to 2 p.m. The open house is being held as part of the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative’s Mind-Well Week, which runs April 22 to 28. There will be nearly 30 demonstrations, workshops and performances throughout the campus promoting wellness of mind, brain and spirit.
"We want our UCLA campus to be among the most informed when it comes to brain training technology," said Bilder.
The Brain Gym will initially be used as a space for visitors to come in and learn about the pros and cons of brain training and the science behind the products. They’ll also gain some hands-on experience using different software packages. Bilder is also interested in directing interested visitors to services that they may find helpful or beneficial.
Bilder also plans to use the Brain Gym as a research space where students and faculty will work to better understand the potential and limitations of brain training. "There is promise to these things, and I think we have an opportunity to do some good research and advance the science," he said.
For more information about the Brain Gym, contact MindWell@ucla.edu or 310-825-9474. Learn more about UCLA's Healthy Campus Initiative here and on Facebook.
Photo: Dr. Bob Bilder (front) and Brain Gym trainers April Thames (from left), Kendra Knudsen, Justin Miller and Michelle Reinlieb are shown at a workout station.
This article originally appeared at UCLA Today
brain gym
hippocampus workout
neurobics
ucla's healthy campus initiative
Spiritualicious Motivation for the Creative Life
Science / By
Revisiting the Dress: Lessons for the Study of Qualia and Science
Working Memory and Fluid Reasoning: Same or Different?
Psychology / By
Author Placeholder Picture
Rebecca Kendall
More about Rebecca Kendall
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/latest/2018/09/leader-in-1-8-million-cryptocurrency-armed-robbery-and-kidnapping-pleads-guilty/
Leader in $1.8 million Cryptocurrency Armed Robbery and Kidnapping Pleads Guilty
leader-in-1-8-million-cryptocurrency-armed-robbery-and-kidnapping-pleads-guilty
Elikem Kofi Attah
In #Ethereum , #Security
Cyrus R. Vance, Manhattan District Attorney, on Wednesday September 5th, notified the public concerning the guilty plea of Louis Meza, following his trial fororganizing the kidnapping and theft of Ether (ETH) valued at over $1.8 million.
Meza now awaits his sentence slated for September 27th after taking a guilty plea for two class B felonies; Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the Second Degree in New York State Supreme Court.
On 12th June, following the arrest of Meza, D.A Vance announced that charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and theft of Ether were leveled against three accomplices of his: Cezar Guzman, 38, Allan Nunez, 36, and Darrell Colon, 37.
The District Attorney gave details about the case in his announcement:
As alleged in this case, the defendants worked together to carry out a kidnapping, armed robbery, and theft of more than $1.8 million in cryptocurrency, in a violent attack that demonstrates the vanishing line between street crime and cybercrime.
Court documents on the case show that Meza began the execution of his plan by arranging a meeting with the victim, getting him to use a car service he had subsequently secured for him. Nunez posed as the driver of the supposedly rented minivan while Colon hid at the back of the vehicle.
While Nunez drove, Colon popped out from the back of the vehicle and with the use of a firearm, threatened the victim to hand over his personal possessions including his phone, wallet, and keys to his house. The items collected were handed over to Meza while the minivan stayed on the road for roughly two hours.
Colon also made the victim disclose the location of the passphrase for his crypto wallet. This information was passed on to Meza and Guzman who entered the victim’s house using his keys. The two left the house with a box containing the victim’s digital wallet.
The final stage of the crime was carried out shortly after that when Meza sent Ether worth over $1.8 million to his own address.
Unfortunately for the suspects, Meza and Guzman were caught entering the victim’s premises on a video recorded by a surveillance camera. The victim also escaped from the minivan and reported the case to the police.
D. A Vance praised the investigation team for bringing Meza to book without delay, in what he called a landmark conviction in an undeveloped area of the law:
Since 2010, my Office’s Cybercrime & Identity Theft Bureau has developed the expertise and technology to become a national leader in cybercrime prosecution and prevention, as underlined by this conviction and recovery of funds on the survivor’s behalf. I thank our investigators and prosecutors for their work on this significant and complex case.
Ether Futures May Be Bad for the Crypto but Good for Bitcoin, Says Wall St. Analyst Tom Lee
Alleged SIM Swapper Used Stolen Bitcoin to Buy Luxury Cars
Security , Where's My Money?
$87 Million In Cryptocurrency Allegedly Stolen By Chinese Hackers, Local Authorities Report
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21st Century Weather
Why atmosphere is warmer on climate warming
British Petroleum, Dupont, Ford, Tokyo Electric, Norsk Hydro, Asea Brown Boveri.
The names could easily head a blue ribbon list of global smokestack industries. But they comprise, in fact, a list of firms that have been quietly funding research to help slow global warming.
Why is this important? Can't nations at the UN proceed to adopt and enforce restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions? Don't "green" movements, and parties, in many major nations have the clout to defy Mark Twain's maxim that nobody does anything about the weather?
Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is "no." Unless major industries join the effort to slow climate change, governments simply won't go far beyond ringing rhetoric.
Why industries hold the key
Really? Do industries, even giants, hold that much sway over governments? Perhaps not. But voters do in most crucial nations. And the major global industries, taken together, employ tens of millions of people and transport, house, warm, light, clothe, and feed hundreds of millions more.
Which explains why it's important that in Washington and Bonn in late July and early August climatologists, political leaders, and some heads of big industries edged closer to doing something to slow one heavily suspect source of planetary warming: the burning of fossil fuels.
Nobelists talk climate
First, Washington. At the end of July, President Clinton and the public were briefed by seven scientists, three of them Nobelists, at the forefront of climate research. In cautious words they made it clear that climate change is for real. (A report by one of the seven will appear on the Monitor's opinion page Aug. 8.)
Clinton's two carrots
The president then urged leading US industrialists to join moves to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. To win their support, he assured them that any deal he signs at an international climate conference in Kyoto, Japan, in December would have to include two concessions: (1) Developing nations' industries must abide by the same fossil fuel burning restraints as industries in developed nations. (Aim: to avoid a mass flight of factories and jobs to developing lands.) (2) A "flexible," market-based approach would be used in imposing emissions limits. (That means gas exhaust limits could be sold by firms that exceed requirements to those slower to meet them - as long as overall national goals are met.)
Is US moving beyond rhetoric?
In Bonn, a week later, word that the US might move beyond rhetoric and join European leaders gained credibility. So did the message that some major firms had broken ranks with fossil fuel industries maintaining there is no solid evidence linking emissions to global warming.
BP speeds solar
As we noted in June, British Petroleum has taken a lead in research to curb carbon dioxide and other fossil fuel emissions. BP has also pledged to turn its growing solar power unit into a $1 billion (sales) business by century's end.
Which brings us back to that sample roster of firms at the start of this editorial. Some are investing on their own in research aimed at reducing industrial emissions. Others are backing a research consortium of universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, and the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology. Those techno-universities are conducting research aimed at curbing a whole range of environmental problems while still permitting poorer nations to grow and prosper.
Cleaner coal burning
They are, for instance, working with Chinese government and university researchers to develop cleaner coal burning technologies. That could have a major impact on 21st century climate. China has huge coal reserves. And as its rapid growth continues it is expected to pass the US as the major source of greenhouse gases. (Mr. Clinton reminded industrialists that America, with only 4 percent of the world's population, produces 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.)
Clean and prosperous?
The three-university consortium, known as the Alliance for Global Sustainability, is also working on a whole range of cleaner energy sources. And it has begun to explore the possibilities of less dangerous chemical substitutes for some widely used chlorine compounds.
We are convinced that both (1) major environmental improvements in industrial processes and (2) the spread of human prosperity are possible. For that reason we believe future generations cannot help but benefit from the spirit of cooperation now beginning to grow among industries, government, and environmentalists.
G7 pledges to end greenhouse emissions this century
This fascinating interactive shows each country’s greenhouse gas emissions
Global warming: Deep emissions cuts needed by 2050, says UN
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By Compiled from wire service reports by Robert Kilborn and Kristen Broman-Worthington
Senior Al Qaeda leaders are in Iran "and they are busy" plotting new attacks, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said after a meeting with the Crown Prince of Bahrain. His comment came a day after the US security alert was raised to orange, the second-highest level, and Homeland Security Secretary Ridge asked governors around the country to step up precautions for public gatherings on Memorial Day weekend.
The US economy is still sending mixed signals, but if necessary, the Federal Reserve remains ready to cut interest rates below their already record lows, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress. Market analysts were closely monitoring the testimony for his assessment on risks of deflation.
Environmental Protection Agency chief Christie Todd Whitman resigned, saying in a letter to President Bush, "It is time to return to my home and husband in New Jersey." She formerly served as governor there and reportedly had differed with some Bush administration policies on environmental issues. Her departure, effective June 27, is the second from the administration in two days, with more expected as Bush prepares to run for reelection.
An oil spill that devastated Buzzards Bay, Mass., last month was far larger than first reported, the Coast Guard said, adding that the discrepancy will be part of its investigation. A leaking barge spilled 98,000 gallons, not the 14,700 estimated by its owner, Bouchard Transportation Inc., a Coast Guard official said. The spill closed the state's prime shellfish beds and killed 350 birds.
Annika Sorenstam tees off with the men Thursday at the Colonial Invitational Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, making her the first female to play in a Professional Golf Association event in almost 60 years, and only the second in history. "I'm doing this to test myself," Sorenstam asserted Tuesday, saying she was "overwhelmed" by the intense public and media attention.
A 13-hour armed standoff that left four police officers wounded in Montrose, W. Va., ended with a suspect in custody. Police used tear gas to force Scott Ennis out of his farmhouse. As many as 60 officers had surrounded the residence to serve a warrant after the shooting of a policeman during a traffic stop.
Inbee Park wins Women's British Open, captures 4th different major
Colorado oil spill dumps 7,500 gallons in Poudre River
2 barges damaged in bridge crash, oil spill
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Posing Modernity at Columbia University's new Wallach Gallery
January 19, 2019 Patricia Zohn
Posing Modernity: The Black Model from Manet to Matisse to Today has a long title but in this case its thoroughness mirrors the truly deep and expansive exhibition at the Wallach Art Gallery at the newish Renzo Piano designed Lenfest Center at Columbia University. Based on her disseration, Denise Murrell has curated an investigation of gender, race and class via the role of black female model in 19-21st century art history.
It’s the precisely right exhibition at the right time at the right place.
Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, the exhibition takes as its premise the centrality of the black female figure in modern art, that these models were both much more important to the development of painting and to the personal lives of their painters than anyone has presumed. No longer exotic, they were full participants in the culture. They became individuals instead of stereotypes.
There are so many surprises in the exhibition that my companion and I, an erudite former curator and head of a foundation found ourselves constantly stopping and pointing things out to each other.
Who knew that Alexandre Dumas pere was black?
Who knew that Matisse regularly visited Harlem?
Who knew that La Dame aux Camelias and subsequent adaptation La Traviata was based on the story of a mixed race American actress called Adah Mencken who had been one of Dumas’s many mistresses?
Who knew it was Baudelaire’s visits with actress Jeanne Duval and his sessions with Laure, both Civil War era free black Parisians that inspired Manet’s Olympia and other paintings?
Olympia is alas not here but you can always find her luscious white body, her black cat and Laure as her maid carrying flowers at the Musee d’Orsay where this exhibition is next destined. We are sorry to miss her in the flesh, since so much of the exhibition derives from this historic painting but instead we have a variety of prostitutes, nannies, slaves from the West Indies, circus stars and grisettes from Paris in images from Nadar, Degas, Norman Lewis, James Porter, James van Der Zee among others. it is another kind of bouquet.
The show summons how extensive the pattern of black modeling was for 160 years, how close some of the models were to these famous painters, and how much their work was influenced by the then novel inclusion of their race and gender in works no longer destined for the salon. The legacy of Olympia runs deep and long. The last room is devoted to contemporary riffs on the Manet from Ellen Gallagher to Mickalene Thomas.
For me, even as a writer not a painter, the painting has cast a long shadow, summoning the 19th century literary heroines who were both revered and sometimes destroyed by their desire and devil-may-care. Behind these paintings were some very brutal stories of painterly and writerly disaffection and dismissal. Yet in the end, these models have more than withstood the test of time and represent an uplift of subject and grace.
Columbia’s new complex of buildings by Piano is a fine home for the show and rightly sited in Harlem and it bodes well for the university as a legitimate and first tier venue for class A material. Congratulations to all.
P S. I include two images of Manet and Baudelaire not only to show you how lively and modern they look but also to see that it’s possible that Baudelaire was separated from Bill Murray at birth!
In Fine Art Tags Posing Modernity, Columbia University, Wallach Gallery, The Black Model, Black, Denise Murrell, Renzo Piano, Art
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Japan Times JUST BE CAUSE Feb 3, 2009: “2channel the bullies’ forum”
Posted on February 4, 2009 February 4, 2009 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. Here’s yesterday’s article in the Japan Times. Enjoy. Debito in Sapporo
JUST BE CAUSE
2channel: the bullies’ forum
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090203ad.html
By ARUDOU DEBITO
The Japan Times: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009
Bullying in Japan is a big problem. The victims have limited recourse. Too often they are told to suck it up and self-reflect. Or if they fight back, they get criticized for lashing out. It’s a destructive dynamic, causing much misery and many a suicide.
The bullies are empowered by an odd phenomenon: In Japan, the right to know your accuser is not a given. When kids get criticized by the anonymous rumor mill, authorities make insufficient efforts to disclose who said what. The blindfolded bullied become powerless: There are lots of them and one of you, and unless you put names to critics they escalate with impunity.
Internet bulletin board (BBS) 2channel, the world’s largest, is the ultimate example of this dynamic. Although the BBS is very useful for public discussions, its debate firestorms also target and hurt individuals. This flurry of bullies is guaranteed anonymity through undisclosed Internet Protocol addresses, meaning they avoid the scrutiny they mete out to others.
Why absolute anonymity? 2channel’s founder and coordinator, Hiroyuki Nishimura, believes it liberates debate and provides true freedom of speech. People speak without reservation because nobody knows who they are.
Quite. But freedom of speech is not absolute. It does not grant freedom to lie or deceive (as in fraud), nor to engage in malicious behavior designed to hinder calm and free discourse. The classic example is the lack of freedom to shout “Fire!” in a crowded theater. But libel and slander, where people willfully lie to assassinate characters and destroy lives, is also beyond the pale.
Japan does have checks against libel — lawsuits. Dozens of civil court cases have been brought against 2channel. When a problematic post appears, victims contact the BBS coordinator and request its removal. Alas, many get ignored. Then, when taken to court, Nishimura ignores summons to appear. Finally, even after losing dozens of times in court, Nishimura refuses to pay out. Years later, adjudged libelous posts (some about your correspondent) are still online and proliferating.
How is this possible? The Internet is a new media, and the judiciary hasn’t caught up. If a newspaper or TV station publicizes erroneous information, they too can be sued. But the old media are more accountable. They have to register their corporation and get a license, so their wherewithal’s whereabouts is public. If they lose and don’t pay, the court will file a lien on their assets and withdraw the award for the plaintiffs.
However, in cyberspace people can start a “media outlet” without incorporation or licensing, meaning their assets remain invisible. Nishimura owes millions of dollars in court penalties, but unless he divulges his personal bank accounts, his wages can’t be seized.
The dynamic becomes watertight thanks to a weakness in Japan’s judiciary: In this case, one cannot convert a civil suit into a criminal case through “contempt of court.” No cops will arrest him for being on the lam. Plaintiffs must hire their own private detectives to dig up Nishimura’s assets. No checks, no balances, and the bully society remains above the law.
The abuses continue. Last month, cops decided to arrest a 2channeler who issued a death threat against sumo wrestler Asashoryu. About time: Hate-posters have long vilified ethnic minorities, threatened individuals, and waged cyberwars to deny others the freedom of speech they apparently so cherish.
Meanwhile, Nishimura keeps on wriggling. Last month he announced 2channel’s sale to a Singaporean firm, making his assets even more unaccountable.
Some salute Nishimura as a “hero” and an “evangelist.” He’s also a willing abettor in the pollution of cyberspace, legitimizing an already powerful domestic bully culture with a worldwide audience. He had his day in court to explain himself. He didn’t show. He lost. Now he must pay up.
If not, there will be blow-back. Our government has already made reactionary overtures to limit “illegal or harmful content” (whatever that means) on the Internet. Be advised: Once you give the unsophisticated Japanese police a vague mandate over anything, you’ll have random enforcement and policy creep, as usual. Kaplooey goes cyberfreedom of speech.
Unless contempt of court procedures are tightened up to reflect the realities of new media, I believe Nishimura will be remembered historically as the irresponsible kid who spoiled the Internet for the rest of us.
Debito Arudou is coauthor of the “Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants, and Immigrants.” More on his 2006 libel lawsuit victory at www.debito.org/2channelsojou.html. Send comments to community@japantimes.co.jp
Articles & Publications, Bad Business Practices, Cultural Issue, Injustice, ２ちゃんねる, Japanese Government
6 comments on “Japan Times JUST BE CAUSE Feb 3, 2009: “2channel the bullies’ forum””
Sharp and bright analysis about new media and arising new communication style in Japan.
Too bad it was in the same page with the hallucinations about Japan by Mr. Paul de Vries.
— Oh well. Freedom of the press and all that. At least there’s a real name listed as an author.
Behan says:
I thought this article might be of interest in this thread.
MPD to build 1st case against blog flamers
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Metropolitan Police Department will send papers to prosecutors on 18 people on suspicion of defaming a 37-year-old comedian by relentlessly posting malicious comments on the celebrity’s blog, MPD sources said.
According to the sources, it would be the first case in which the police build a case against mass attacks on a blog. The move is aimed at stemming the escalating trend of cyber-bullying that takes advantage of the veneer of anonymity on the Internet.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090205TDY02311.htm
— Good. Thanks for this. One thing that I find interesting is, why doesn’t he (or someone on his staff) just moderate all comments and not approve the malicious ones? That’s what I do.
You are right to be very wary of the Japanese government attempting to enforce standards of acceptable discourse on the Internet, Debito. How would you like the police to “crack down” on you for your various posts and comments disparaging Gregory Clark?
I believe you are absolutely right to criticize Clark, and so we all need to watch out for any attempt by the government to limit your legal right to criticize people, especially public figures, on the Internet.
Asterisk says:
I think Debito states the problem just right, and that’s that these libelous criticisms can be made anonymously.
You well know that the Japanese government probably monitors the internet as a matter of course. I have a hard time believing that a country which often has the fastest computer and is so diligent about measuring and tracking certain other things doesn’t have a special ops unit tracking internet usage.
Debito was right on the mark. The new medium of internet moved much faster than the statutory laws could follow it. So there has to be some standard imposed on being able to track the libeler in cases of private individuals.
Debito won a judgment, as have others, against the 2 Channel. Do you feel it is:
a) appropriate
b) inappropriate
that the judgment winners should have the means to collect?
Don’t you feel that people should be accountable for the damage caused by lies and falsehoods?
You might find this interetsing too
http://www.article19.org/work/regions/asia/index.html
norik says:
I also would like to offer an article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03trolls-t.html?_r=3&hp&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
It is about the trolls among us.
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Ironman Boulder: Canadian Kirsty Jahn wins…
Ironman Boulder: Canadian Kirsty Jahn wins female pro race
Jeremy Papasso / Staff Photographer
Kirsty Jahn lays on the ground exhausted after winning the women’s division in the 2018 Boulder Ironman race on Sunday in Boulder. For more photos of the race, go to www.dailycamera.com.
By BoCoPreps.com and Adam Dunivan | adunivan@prairiemountainmedia.com |
Just 14 days had passed for Boulder resident and Canadian athlete Kirsty Jahn since she celebrated her first ever Ironman win as a professional, a tour through Florianopolis, Brazil that offers a fast and scenic course.
Climbing up those couple steps to the top of the podium was a lot tougher on Sunday in Boulder.
Jahn somehow managed to do it, making sure to shower her competitors in champagne before she headed off for home after a grueling effort that resulted in a second full Ironman win in two weeks — a unique feat truly admired by those that finished closest to her.
“It is another league, really,” said Boulderite Katy Evans, who placed second and was 20th overall to cross the finish line in 9 hours, 19 minutes. “For me, the physical recovery seems conceivable, but really this to me is an emotionally draining sport. One of the things that keeps me going is, I don’t have to do anything tomorrow or the next day, or the next day.
“To be like, ‘I’ve got to get back on it’ because I have another one coming up, that is really incredible.”
After the race, Jahn was in immediate need of a luke-warm piece of pizza, some potato chips and a lot of water, and she had a hard time keeping on her feet as she thought again about doing what she had done. Her time was 9:16 and she was the 12th pro athlete to cross the line.
“Living here, it was so much fun because a lot of my friends were out on the course cheering, so because of that it was probably one of the most fun races I’ve done,” Jahn said. “But I definitely wasn’t fully recovered yet. But my coach, I call him a little unorthodox and he wanted me to do this one as a long training day because I live here and he thought it would be good for me.
“I’m happy I did it now, but if I didn’t win I think I’d be really mad.”
It’s been quite a season for Jahn. She was disqualified from a 70.3-mile race in Peru in April and then could not finish another half-Ironman in St. George two weeks later. However, she did not stay down for long — her Brazil win was a tremendous personal accomplishment that seemed to keep her light on her feet on Sunday.
She made up a lot of ground on her bike, had solid transition times and conquered the marathon in 3:21.
“I knew I was super fit and just knew I had to get it together,” Jahn said of her recent stretch. “Now that I’ve won this race, I am for sure qualified for (the Ironman Kona World Championships), so I can just chill for a bit.”
Evans, who graduated from Fairview, was a close second followed by another Boulder resident, Dede Griesbauer, in third place (3:36.55). Evans’s race schedule has been light the past 14 months after the birth of her son, Kit, but she followed in the footsteps of last year’s female pro winner, Rachel Joyce, in accomplishing a high finish in one of her first races back.
“This was my second full Ironman since he was born … and it’s been amazing because I think motherhood is just a cool way to feel really powerful as a woman, and I’ve tried to make that translate (to racing),” Evans said. “So many women are coming back from a pregnancy and just really crushing it, much more than I am, but it’s inspiring and a fun group to be a part of.”
Evans came out of Boulder Reservoir as the first female to finish the swim portion, but lost a little bit of ground on the bike course before managing to catch up in the run.”
“The bike is my growth opportunity,” she explained. But Kirsty was just so strong today.”
Adam Dunivan: dunivana@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/AdamDunivan24
Adam Dunivan
Adam Dunivan has been with the Daily Camera since 2013 and has 17 years of high school, college and pro sports reporting experience in Colorado.
Follow Adam Dunivan @adamdunivan24
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What to bring in an emergency evacuation and…
What to bring in an emergency evacuation and how to prepare in advance
Shane Clark’s home burns as his dad Keith helps get some of his belongings that were saved by firefighters on Hitching Post Lane after the Woolsey fire swept through the Bell Canyon neighborhood of West Hills on Saturday, November 10, 2018 . (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By Daniel Tedford | dtedford@scng.com and Suzanne Sproul | ssproul@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: October 10, 2017 at 8:36 am | UPDATED: November 10, 2018 at 5:00 pm
In Southern California, as recent wildfires have painfully demonstrated, emergencies can happen in an instant and get out of control just as quickly. Here are some things you can do now to prepare for emergencies you may encounter later.
Here is a checklist for things to take with you should you be forced to evacuate:
(Time permitting)
Photographs of all family members.
Food and water (for up to seven days, if possible).
Pets (if advance warning, take to an approved shelter).
Pet ID tags, medications, leashes and water bowls.
Change of clothing for each person (for one to seven days).
Cell phones and chargers.
Health and car insurance cards and related documents.
Property deeds.
Marriage license.
Tax papers.
Birth certificates.
Drivers’ licenses.
Checkbook, credit cards, cash, wallet, purse.
Medications, including analgesics and motion sickness tablets.
First-aid kit.
Prescription eye wear, dentures, hearing aids.
Irreplaceable keepsakes.
Flashlights and Portable radio with extra batteries.
How to prepare for an emergency
Put together an emergency kit. Stock water, flashlights, a transistor radio and a fire extinguisher. Get extra batteries. Buy or create a first aid kit. Store water and nonperishable foods.
Purchase a high-capacity battery pack that can keep smartphones and other devices charged in the event of a power outage.
Store things that matter most. Everything might seem important in the face of loss, but family documents are essential in the recovery process. Gather birth certificates, insurance papers and mortgage documents. Keep some cash on hand. Then store everything in one convenient place where you can grab it in an instant.
Check/maintain all home smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Change batteries as needed. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing smoke alarms altogether every 10 years. Determine the age of ones in your home by looking at the date of the manufacturer on the back of the alarm.
Locate where the utility connections are and learn how to shut off the gas, electricity and water if necessary.
Clean and maintain clothes dryers (a potential source of house fires). Always use a lint filter and clean it before or after a load of laundry. Make sure to clean lint around the drum.
Draw a diagram of your home. Plan two ways out of every room, especially the bedrooms.
Make provisions as to how your pets will be taken from the home.
Outside the house
Clear leaves and other debris from roofs, gutters, decks, patios or porches.
Trim all trees near the house, particularly getting rid of overhanging branches, and cut back shrubs and bushes.
Walk around the house and remove anything that might burn that’s within 30 feet of the structure.
When landscaping, create a buffer around your home. Use hard, nonflammable surfaces such as tile or concrete in appropriate places. Use plants that aren’t likely to burn easily. It’s called firescaping. “While no plant is fireproof, simple firescaping can be the solution, whether it’s choosing plants with fire retardant abilities, knowing proper defensible landscape maintenance or keeping irrigation systems in excellent shape,” Gary Jones, Armstrong Garden Centers’ chief horticulturist, said in a statement. “Vegetation can either lead a fire to a structure or stop it.”
Mead Valley fire scorches 4-acre in field near homes
Earthquake in Ridgecrest a reminder for Southern Californians to prepare for emergencies
Highway 39 reopened after 2 wildfires extinguished in San Gabriel Mountains
Canyon Fire 2
Creek Fire
Rye Fire
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Daniel Tedford
Daniel Tedford is the Assistant Managing Editor of Digital News. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and has been working in journalism since 2008. During that time, he has sat next to a Pulitzer Prize winner, been interviewed by Robert Siegel about a faux Temple City army with a 'supreme commander' and accidentally interviewed a Hollywood movie director about Little League baseball. When not working, he's an avid Los Angeles Angels fan, cooks a mean roast chicken and has read every Kurt Vonnegut novel. He also fancies himself an expert in the best sandwiches in the San Gabriel Valley, if anyone ever cares to ask.
Follow Daniel Tedford @dgtedford
Suzanne Sproul
Suzanne Sproul is a lucky wife and proud mom of two great daughters. She’s a transplanted Snow Bird from Chicago who prefers warm climates, particularly central Florida and its beautiful Gulf Coast and Southern California, where she’s lived most of her life. The University of Florida J-school graduate has been a city reporter and features editor, but has spent the past 27 fun years covering stories she loves -- features about SoCal’s diverse and trendy homes+gardens and eclectic arts/entertainment along with her weekly column about the good people of the Inland Empire. When she’s not filing stories, you can find her gardening at home, biking with her husband, jumping around in Zumba class, organizing family adventures – digging for hanksite clusters at the Gem-o-Rama in Trona, anyone? – or rooting for favored sports teams. I’m looking at you USC Trojans, University of California Davis Aggies, University of Florida Gators and those loveable Chicago Cubs, World Champions 2016. Life really is good!
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Pacoima credit union to be merged with larger Burbank institution
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Gary Golomb
Automation Could Be Widening the Cybersecurity Skills Gap
Sticking workers with tedious jobs that AI can't do leads to burnout, but there is a way to achieve balance.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cybersecurity skills shortage is now expected to hit 3.5 million positions by 2021 — a huge jump from current estimates of 1 million job openings.
To help compensate for the growing shortage of talent, the cybersecurity industry is embracing artificial intelligence and automation to fill the gap. But can automation actually make the skills gap even greater? Unfortunately, yes — but security can still find a balance.
The Leftover Principle of Automation
The concept of mechanizing human tasks to drive efficiency has been studied since the advent of industrial automation. The primary goal is to automate as much as possible and thus eliminate human decision making in the process because human decisions can be the most frequent source of error in a given process. Any task not assigned to machines is "left over" for humans to carry out.
The problem with this theory, especially in cybersecurity, is that only very well-understood (relatively simple) processes can be automated, meaning the tasks left for security teams are the hard tasks that can't be automated. These difficult tasks require security professionals who have experience and deep domain knowledge.
This is exacerbating the vicious cycle of security analyst burnout we currently face:
Tasks that provide a sense of completion/satisfaction are automated.
Security analysts are increasingly asked to work on tedious, arduous tasks that lead to burnout.
Analysts leave to find greener pastures, leaving the security operations center shorthanded.
Company struggles to find talent to fill the gap.
When security management finds someone to hire, they give the new employees tedious, arduous tasks that lead to burnout.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Lessons from the '90s and the IT Community
This isn't the first time this phenomenon has reared its head in the technology world. We saw a similar cycle in the IT/sysadmin world 25+ years ago. The sysadmin of the '90s was near omnipotent when it came to domain knowledge of technology and IT systems. This was driven by need — IT professionals had to be able to fix every problem across technology infrastructure, and that infrastructure was nowhere near as reliable and interoperable as it is today.
As technology advanced, this need for all-knowing IT admins lessened, driven by technology improvements. This necessarily lessens the experience and accumulated knowledge gained from fixing systems and making sure they work together.
Today's IT professionals no longer implicitly acquire deep domain expertise on IT infrastructure in the same ways; however, the analogy also ends here for two significant reasons:
While admins always have to contend with users who break systems unintentionally, they are not faced with armies of users distributed around the world with the sole intention of sabotaging their systems. Simple repetitive tasks can be automated. Accurately discerning behavior and intention within environments that are difficult or impossible to accurately model in the first place is a fool's quest.
Automation of IT infrastructure (DevOps) has led to many positive outcomes, such as requiring fewer people to manage more systems. This works for knowledge domains that slowly evolve and/or are hyper-focused on a specific component of a system. In security, however, the knowledge domain is not dictated by just "security practices" (quite limited), but rather the security professional must be knowledgeable about how technologies are abused across all the legitimate technologies and architectures adopted in the enterprise, most of which evolve extremely rapidly.
Compensating for Automation
Where does this leave the security industry? Is it possible to find a balance? The offshoot of the Leftover Principle is called the Compensatory Principle. This theory says that there are tasks that humans do well that machines don't. People and machines should focus on what they do well, compensating for each other's shortcomings.
Attempting to automate humans out of cybersecurity is detrimental to our industry and destined to fail, primarily because we're not facing a tech opponent — we're facing human adversaries who go to great lengths to find weaknesses to exploit. Because so much is automated now, security analysts simply aren't required to go to the same depths, which is creating an even wider and more detrimental gap between attackers and defenders.
What's an example of "leftover" work today? The work that nowadays we call hunting — the responsibility of the team to compensate for the ineffectiveness of automated systems — is one example. The inability of most teams to hunt has created a perception that work isn't getting done because there's no talent to do it. The reality is that automation is making matters worse in this context, because effective hunting is based on the analyst having learned the more fundamental techniques while completing more "simple" tasks.
What's the solution? How do we embrace machine learning and automation without making our situation worse?
Organizations need to focus automation on the tedious and error-prone tasks that drive security analyst burnout —while leaving jobs needing more discernment to analysts.
For instance, automating parts of the alert investigation process can have a huge impact on security analyst productivity. Automating things such as tracking a device as it moves across the network and identifying infected devices by its human owner and their behaviors, rather than ephemeral identifiers like IP addresses (which require more human work to then identify the owner), can be enormously helpful and positive for analysts.
Like many of the overhyped features we've seen over the past couple of decades, from anomaly detection (early 2000s) to analytics (late 2000s), automation is not a cure-all for our cybersecurity woes of today. And worse, without a clear understanding and strategy for how automation will improve the work of your employees, automation might make some of your challenges worse — in a way that could be difficult to compensate for later.
Desperately Seeking Security: 6 Skills Most In Demand
Artificial Intelligence: Cybersecurity Friend or Foe?
The Looming War of Good AI vs. Bad AI
Gary Golomb has nearly two decades of experience in threat analysis and has led investigations and containment efforts in a number of notable cases. With this experience — and a track record of researching and teaching state-of-the art detection and response ... View Full Bio
Security: Santander Case Study
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Vulnerabilities / Threats
Robert Lemos
Pwn2Own: Tesla Hack, Broken VMs, and Skewed Economics
In the latest Pwn2Own vulnerability throwdown at the CanSecWest conference, two researchers walk away with the lion's share of rewards-just like the real marketplace.
A pair of security researchers dominated the annual Pwn2Own contest at the CanSecWest conference in Vancouver last week, driving away with $375,000 in bounties for their six successful hacks—including that of a Tesla Model 3's infotainment system, a feat that earned them the car itself as a prize.
The out-of-balance results are not a fluke. The contest comes only months after vulnerability researchers and security professionals debated the skewed economics of the bug bounty marketplace, where a few researchers win big, hundreds more may make enough to live, and the vast majority often never place.
In a chapter for the book "New Solutions for Cybersecurity," security professionals teamed up with experts from Harvard University and the Massachussetts of Technology to analyze the economics of the bug bounty market. The research, based on data from a Facebook bounty program and 61 programs run by bug-bounty services firm HackerOne, found that the distribution of rewards was in no way equal. A small portion of researchers were big winners, while the vast majority only found a single issue.
"We were looking at the system dynamics of the bug hunting space and the labor market in particular," says Katie Moussouris, one of the authors of the chapter and founder and CEO of Luta Security, a security services firm. "There were very few individuals at the top."
The Pwn2Own competition demonstrated the effect quite well. Team Fluoroacetate showed off six different attacks at the conference. All other teams only accounted for four other hacks, and one of those was only a partial success. (One team withdrew from an attempt to hack the Tesla.)
Without a doubt, the two researchers—Richard Zhu and Amat Cama—deserve to win: This is not the first Pwn2Own competition that Team Fluoroacetate has swept. In November 2018, the duo—whose team name likely comes from a combination of their Twitter handles, RZ_flourescence and Acez—also won $215,000 in the mobile-focused Pwn2Own Tokyo contest. Zhu had previously also won last year's Pwn2Own competition, taking home $120,000.
The Vulnerability Lottery
Bug-bounty programs are a big gamble for researchers, says Moussouris. Researchers invest time and if they are not the first to submit their bug, they will likely not see any reward for their effort. The process rewards those researchers who can find a lot of bugs, fast, she says.
"In bug bounties, if you are not the first one to report it, your work is not compensated—you do not get paid at all," Moussouris says. "Either you are first in, or you wasted your time."
Yet, while the vulnerability-reward economy has only a very thin strata of "middle class" researchers, who make a living wage, the depth of that middle class also depends on where the researcher lives and whether vulnerability research is their only source of income, stresses Dustin Childs, communications manager for Trend Micro's Zero-Day Initiative, which sponsors the competition.
"Maybe you are in a part of the world. where you don't need to make $100,000 a year to live well," he says. "While I know that we do have people who report vulnerabilities to our program who are full-time bug finders, others do it as a side hustle."
The benefits of the programs, however, are real. While the Tesla hack garnered the most attention, some of the best research had a lot less flash, says Childs. Team Fluoroacetate showed a combination of three vulnerabilities that broke out of Microsoft's Edge browser, through the virtual client, and executed code on the host operating system.
"Within in the VMWare client, they opened up an Edge browser, and browsed to a Web page, and that was the only interaction that they had with the machine," Childs says "The potential impact of executing code on the underlying hyper visor is—wow—it was really a great set of bugs."
The exploit chain earned the duo the top prize of the competition: $130,000.
Another contestant used an exploit to break out of Oracle's VirtualBox and attack the underlying operating system.
Just-in-Time
In addition, the contest demonstrated that researchers are focusing on new areas of code to exploit.
Half the vulnerabilities exploited by contestants occurred in the just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilers common in browsers. Team Fluoroacetate, for example, exploited Apple's Safari browser by using a JIT vulnerability paired with a heap overflow to escape the protected runtime area known as a sandbox.
Another contestant, Niklas Baumstark, used a vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox's JIT compiler along with a logic bug to escape that browser's sandbox. And, the hack of the Tesla's infotainment system used a bug in the just-in-time compiler for the user-interface rendering component.
The reliance on JIT to run code inside browsers—and browser-like components—is not surprising, says Trend Micro's Childs.
"JIT is now pretty much the new use-after-free bug for us," he says. "Once use-after-free bugs were all over the place. Now, we are finding JIT bugs all over the place, primarily within Javascript. It is this unintended giant."
Bug Bounty Awards Climb as Software Security Improves
Crowdsourced vs. Traditional Pen Testing
White-Hat Bug Bounty Programs Draw Inspiration from the Old West
Bug Bounty Programs are Growing Up Fast and Paying More
Join Dark Reading LIVE for two cybersecurity summits at Interop 2019. Learn from the industry's most knowledgeable IT security experts. Check out the Interop agenda here.
Veteran technology journalist of more than 20 years. Former research engineer. Written for more than two dozen publications, including CNET News.com, Dark Reading, MIT's Technology Review, Popular Science, and Wired News. Five awards for journalism, including Best Deadline ... View Full Bio
2019 State of DevOps
DavidHamilton,
Masters in their field
It must have been a tough competition when experts from the same field come together to put their skills to good use. From the event, many lessons can be learnt regarding security. Organizations could also come forward to try to get new employees who are masters in the field.
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Home > About Us > Datacom Newsroom
The latest news from Datacom Group.
NZ Customs makes Border Management System agility gains with successful migration to Datacom’s new Govt.Container service | 15/07/2019
The New Zealand Customs Service has successfully migrated its CusMod border management system onto Datacom’s new Govt.Container service. Govt.Container is a brand new cloud service from Datacom that enables sizeable existing heritage applications to be evolved and updated more quickly and cost-effectively
New Tauranga office enables Datacom’s plans for regional growth | 5/06/2019
Datacom has officially opened its new office in Tauranga, bringing together over 80 staff from two smaller offices in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui into a much larger space. The new office can accommodate 40 additional people leaving room for significant growth. Datacom has a long standing presence in the regions, and this expansion is a demonstration of the company’s ongoing commitment to support regional economic development through job creation and business growth.
NZ’s first adopter of Datacom’s brand new council software solution, Datascape, Porirua City Council | 15/05/2019
Porirua City Council is the first New Zealand council to go live with Datacom’s new smart council and community cloud based solution, Datascape. The council was looking for a digital and mobile solution that would put customers and the community right at the heart of its organisation and Datascape was chosen as the best match for such a need.
Datacom honoured as recipient of 2019 Dell Technologies Global Partner award | 13/05/2019
Datacom today announced it has received the 2019 Dell Technologies Global Alliances Technical Excellence Partner of the Year Award. This global award recognises Datacom’s technical excellence in achieving great results for customers while leveraging Dell Technologies.
Datacom completes $52 million expansion of NZ data centres with Christchurch relaunch | 9/05/2019
Datacom has relaunched its Gloucester data centre in Christchurch to mark the completion of a $52 million expansion and upgrade of its four New Zealand data centres. The Gloucester expansion cost $9.7 million and has more than doubled the server rack space, as well as significantly upgrading infrastructure and resiliency
Datacom launches Hybrid Cloud services in North Queensland | 30/04/2019
Datacom today launched Hybrid Cloud services into North Queensland using Microsoft’s Azure Stack, and underpinned by Dell EMC’s VxRail Azure Stack. The services, to be delivered out of the new North Queensland Regional Data Centre (NQRDC), will provide customers in the region with faster and more efficient internet and data services.
Hack Tairāwhiti launches – Datacom and NZTE support innovation in Gisborne | 27/03/2019
Hack Tairāwhiti 2.0 launches today, and builds upon the success of last years’ event in Gisborne which fostered indigenous innovators who act locally & expand globally. In 2018 the 48 hour hackathon brought together Maori tech exporters and the country’s top tech talent in a collaborative environment to solve a range of business problems.
Minister Michael Keenan visits Datacom’s customer care and IT Hub in South Australia | 7/12/2018
Datacom welcomed the Hon. Michael Keenan, Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation, to Datacom’s customer care and IT Hub in Adelaide, South Australia.
Emergency Caller Location Information Enhancements To Keep Kiwis Safer | 21/11/2018
Datacom partners with MBIE to help emergency services locate emergency 111 smartphone calls more quickly and accurately
Western Australian council first adopter of brand new local government technology from Datacom | 19/11/2018
Datacom has delivered the first stage of Datascape, a brand new smart council and community cloud solution to Shire of Manjimup in Western Australia. The Shire’s initial priority is to use Datascape to help it engage more closely with its community.
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Global Media Contacts
For all media enquiries please contact media@datacom.co.nz
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Root-End Filling with a New Bioactive Cement
Author: Till Dammaschke, DMD Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry University of Munster, Munster, Germany
Article published in the journal Inside Dentistry | March 2012, Volume 8, Issue 3
Biodentine can be used in both the root and crown.
Biodentine™ (Septodont USA) was recently introduced to the dental market. This new bioactive cement has dentin-like mechanical properties and can be used as a root-end filling material, as well as a repair material for root perforations and resorptions. Biodentine can be used in both the root and crown. It can be used for root and pulpal floor perforations, internal and external resorption, apexification, and retrograde root-canal obturation. Biodentine fulfills the requirements for a suitable root-end filling material in that it exhibits biocompatibility, long-term sealing of the cavity, antimicrobial properties, and the ability to induce hard-tissue regeneration; it is also stable, insoluble, non-resorbable, hydrophilic, and easy to prepare and place.
In the case presented in this article, Biodentine was used as a retrofilling material in a 61-year-old patient after apicoectomy on tooth No. 16. The root-end surgery was necessary to remove an apical lesion and a separated root. Seven months after the operation (Figure 1 through Figure 7), tooth No. 16 was clinically normal and tested negative for percussion. The final radiograph showed a complete healing of the apical bone defect without any pathological findings (Figure 8).
Because of its material properties, the author considers Biodentine to be an interesting alternative to conventional root-end filling materials that would benefit from improved radiopacity.
Material Background
A root-end surgery subsequent to a root canal treatment is sometimes the last option considered to conserve a tooth. This apicoectomy results in an exposure of root dentin and root-canal filling material (gutta-percha).1 The placing of a root-end filling after root-end resection is mandatory, because it is well known that the orthograde gutta-percha filling alone — due to its material properties — is insufficient to support bone regeneration. Teeth treated with a root-end filling material (eg, mineral trioxide aggregate [MTA]) after apicoectomy showed significantly better healing than teeth treated by smoothing of the orthograde gutta-percha root filling only.2
The goal of a root-end filling is to seal the root-end cavity and prevent microleakage. Characteristics of a suitable root-end filling material include:
biocompatibility.
the ability to seal all margins, preferably by a molecular bonding to the dentinal walls.
bacteriostatic properties, or not encouraging bacterial growth.
the ability to induce hard-tissue regeneration.
stability, insolubility, non-resorbability, and hydrophilicity.
being easy to prepare and place.
radiographically visible.1,3,4
An ideal retrofilling material with high-quality apical root canal fillings for endodontic surgeries has yet to be found.3,4 In the past, several different materials such as amalgam, reinforced zinc oxide eugenol cements (interim restorative material [IRM], super ethoxy benzoic acid (EBA]), glass-ionomer cement, and composite resin were used.3-5 Recently, MTA, a refined “Portland cement,”6 was found to have less cytotoxic effects and better results with biocompatibility and microleakage protection, giving it more clinical success over traditional root-end filling materials.5,7 Nevertheless, MTA has some drawbacks: handling is difficult at times, setting time is long, compressive and flexural strengths are much lower than those of dentin, and it is quite costly.
Biodentine, in contrast, offers similar properties to those of MTA, but it consists of powder in a capsule and liquid in a pipette. The powder mainly contains tricalcium silicate, calcium carbonate, and dicalcium silicate, the principal components of MTA. Zirconium oxide serves as the radiopacifier. The liquid consists of calcium chloride in aqueous solution with an admixture of polycarboxylate. The powder is mixed with the liquid in a capsule in a triturator for 30 seconds, and once mixed, its setting time is around 12 minutes. During the setting of the cement, calcium hydroxide is formed. The consistency of Biodentine is similar to phosphate cement. Its crown uses include pulp protection, temporary closure, deep-caries management, cervical filling, direct and indirect pulp capping, and pulpotomy.
The following case illustrates the use of Biodentine for retrograde root-end filling after apicoectomy.
A 61-year-old patient complained of pain and swelling (approximately 1 cm in diameter) in the vestibule of the first molar in the right maxilla. Tooth No. 16 tested negative to sensitivity and positive to percussion. The patient underwent root canal treatment at another location 1 year previously. The radiographs taken (Figure 1) show an apical translucency and a separated root canal instrument that extruded out of the mesio-buccal root. The filling of the four root canals was radiopaque. There were no signs of voids or porosities in the root canal walls.
Figure 1. Radiographs showed an apical translucency and that a separated root canal instrument extruded out of the mesio-buccal root of tooth No.16
For terminal anesthesia, the patient was injected with 1 mL anesthetic (Septanest, Septodont USA). For pain therapy, a surgical incision was performed (infection was found). The wound was irrigated and an iodoform stripe was applied. Five days later, the patient came back for wound irrigation and replacement of the iodoform stripe. The patient reported neither pain nor other symptoms.
Figure 2. Apicoectomy was performed to remove granulation tissue and instrument.
Figure 3. Both mesio-buccal root canals were prepared for retrograde treatment with an ultrasonic device.
One week later, the patient came in for an apicoectomy. The anesthetic Septanest was again injected for terminal anesthesia, and a trapeze-like gingival flap was prepared in the region of tooth No. 16. The bone was removed to display the mesio-buccal root (Figure 2). An apicoectomy was performed, and granulation tissue was removed and collected for a histological examination. With an ultrasonic device (VDW.ULTRA®, VDW GmbH), both mesio-buccal root canals were prepared for the retrograde (Figure 3), enabling the visibility of the separated root canal instrument in the first mesio-buccal root canal (Figure 4).
Figure 4. The separated root canal instrument was visible on the first mesio-buccal root canal.
Figure 5. After removing the separated root canal instrument, Biodentine was placed as a retrograde root-end filling material and applied into the cavity.
The instrument was removed and the mesio-buccal root canals were cleaned and shaped with an ultrasonic tip approximately 3 mm from the retrograde. Biodentine was chosen as the filling material, and it was applied into the cavity (Figure 5). The gingival flap was replaced and sutured. Postoperative radiographs showed a complete removal of the separated root canal instrument and the bone defect (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Postoperative radiographs show a complete removal of the root canal instrument and bone defect around the mesio-buccal root.
Figure 7. Three months after the apicoectomy, the beginning of bone regeneration is visible.
The suture was removed after 1 week with optimal results. The patient was pain- and symptom-free. The histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an apical granuloma with an accumulation of granulocytes and foam cells. There were no signs of a cyst-forming epithelium or malignant cells.
Tooth No. 16 tested negative to sensitivity and percussion at 3 and 7 months. Radiographs showed the beginning of bone regeneration at 3 months (Figure 7) and complete regeneration after 7 months. Figure 8 shows post-apicoectomy and retrograde root-end filling with Biodentine.
Figure 8. Dental film recorded 7 months after retrograde root-end filling with Biodentine shows complete bone regeneration. Any pathological findings apical of tooth No. 16 were not visible
In this case, bone regeneration was visible 6 months after the operation. As a treatment alternative, an orthograde retreatment may be possible, but the apical surgery was preferred due to the root canal filling. In addition, it was questionable if the root canal instrument could be removed through an orthograde approach.
The author would like to thank Dr. Sebastian Burklein, Central Interdisciplinary Ambulance in School of Dentistry, Westphalian Wilhelms-University, Munster, Germany, for his kind help with the apicoectomy.
Dr. Dammaschke received honoraria from Septodont USA for writing this article.
Pitt Ford TR. Surgical treatment of apical periodontitis. In: Orstavik D, Pitt Ford TR, eds. Essential Endodontology. Oxford, UK: Blackwell; 2003: 278-308.
Christiansen R, Kirkevang LL, Horsted-Bindslev P, Wenzel A. Randomized clinical trial of root-end resection followed by root-end filling with mineral trioxide aggregate or smoothing of the orthograde gutta-percha root filling – 1-year follow-up. Int Endod J. 2009; 42(2): 105-114.
Carr GB. Surgical endodontics. In: Cohen S, Burns RC (eds.) Pathways of the Pulp. 6th ed. Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby; 1994: 531-567.
Stropko JJ. Micro-surgical endodontics. In: Castellucci A (ed.) Endodontics. Vol. III. Edizioni Odontoiatriche Il Tridente, Florence; 2009: 1118-1125.
Bodrumlu E. Biocompatibility of retrograde root filling materials: A review. Aust Endod J. 2008; 34(1): 30-35.
Dammaschke T, Gerth HUV, Zuchner H, Schafer E. Chemical and physical surface and bulk material characterization of white ProRoot MTA and two Portland cements. Dent Mater. 2005; 21(8): 731-738.
Roberts HW, Toth JM, Berzins DW, Charlton DG. Mineral trioxide aggregate material use in endodontic treatment: A review of the literature. Dent Mater. 2008; 24(2): 149-164.
©Published www.dentalaegis.com/id/2012/03/root-end-filling-with-a-new-bioactive-cement
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Pro Silverlight 5 in C# (Professional Apress)
Published by Apress | Filed in
Matthew MacDonald
Silverlight 5 is the latest iteration of Microsoft's cross-browser technology for creating rich user experiences on the Web. Like its predecessor, it rides atop the .NET Framework for maximum ease of use and coding efficiency. The new technology carries forward much of the work that has been done before and augments it in many important respects, including support for H.264 video, major improvements to the graphics engine (including true 3D rendering), and much richer data-binding options for in
Silverlight 5 is the latest iteration of Microsoft's cross-browser technology for creating rich user experiences on the Web. Like its predecessor, it rides atop the .NET Framework for maximum ease of use and coding efficiency. The new technology carries forward much of the work that has been done before and augments it in many important respects, including support for H.264 video, major improvements to the graphics engine (including true 3D rendering), and much richer data-binding options for interfacing with other applications.
Pro Silverlight 5 in C# is an invaluable reference for professional developers who want to discover the new features of Silverlight. Author Matthew MacDonald's expert advice guides you through creating rich media applications using Silverlight in the environment you're most productive in—no matter what the target platform. As you learn about the features that put Silverlight in direct competition with Adobe Flash, such as rich support for 2D and 3D drawing, animations, and media playback, you'll experience the plumbing of .NET and the design model of WPF through Silverlight—all of the same .NET technology that developers use to design next-generation Windows applications.
Pro Silverlight 5 in C# is a comprehensive tutorial, written from professional developer to professional developer, featuring full-color graphics and screenshots.
To develop rich media applications using Silverlight across browsers and platforms
To create a project, set up a layout, and use controls
To handle both 2D and 3D drawing, animation, and media playback through Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
To integrate web services support
To use Silverlight in conjunction with ASP.NET and its interactions with HTML
This book is for .NET developers encountering Silverlight for the first time. No prior knowledge of WPF or ASP.NET is assumed.
Silverlight tutorials
Developer Burnout Sounds The Alarm
Creating Particle Effects in Silverlight
Game development using Silverlight 2
Have you seen the Silverlight? – More Silverlight
Silverlight books
Silverlight 4 Unleashed
Printed entirely in color, with helpful figures and syntax coloring to make code samples appear as they do in Visual Studio and Expression Blend!Using Silverlight 4, you can build richer and more powerful applications than ever before, and deploy the...
Silverlight jobs
WPF Developer
Infusion in London, United Kingdom
Silverlight podcasts
Stack Overflow Podcast: Podcast #11
Published 6 years ago, running time 1h5m
Joel and Jeff try to avoid talking over each other while discussing data generation, full text searching, cross-site scripting, Markdown, Microsoft's Silverlight, and how to get a job at Fog Creek software.
“Anyone who considers arithmetic methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin.” - John von Neumann
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Presentation opportunity for the exhibitors: JPK Instruments AG
JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft materials.
JPK Instruments AG is a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instruments - particularly atomic force microscope (AFM) systems and optical tweezers - for a broad range of applications ranging from soft matter physics to nano-optics; from surface chemistry to cell and molecular biology. From its earliest days applying AFM technology, JPK has recognized the opportunities provided by nanotechnology for transforming life sciences and soft matter research.
The NanoWizard® AFM family provides specialized solutions e.g., for soft matter and life sciences applications (BioScience version), materials and polymer research (NanoScience version) or nano-optics applications (NanoOptics version). The ULTRA Speed version of the NanoWizard® offers the latest in terms of resolution paired with scan speed and allows the tracking of changes in samples in Real-time. Scanning at speeds of greater than 300Hz line rate with excellent, true atomic resolution in closed-loop mode is enabled by the enhanced low noise of scanner, position sensor and detection system. All NanoWizard® systems provide true integration of AFM with optical microscopy through the patented DirectOverlay™ feature for precise and easy working, and come with a large variety of options and accessories. The unique QI™ mode enables quantitative imaging with outstanding high resolution and gives the user unmatched force sensitivity and control to be able to handle any brittle, delicate, soft or sticky sample.
The quantitative optical tweezers platform, the NanoTracker™, allows the controlled trapping and accurate tracking of nanoparticles, suspended either in a microfluidic multichannel flow chamber or even in a temperature-controlled open Petri dish
®The recently launched OT-AFM Combi-System is the world's first combined system to provide optical tweezers and atomic force microscopy. It enables force measurements in 2D and 3D from 500fN to 10nN and opens up a whole new spectrum of applications such as cellular response, cell-cell or cell matrix interactions, immune response, infection or bacterial/ virus/ nanoparticle ®uptake processes, and more.
With the CellHesion® and the ForceRobot® product families, JPK sets the standard in force spectoscopy from single molecules to living cells. To see the full range of solutions from JPK Instruments visit our website www.jpk.com.
Headquartered in Berlin and with direct operations in Dresden, Cambridge (UK), Singapore, Tokyo (Japan), Paris (France) and Carpinteria (USA), JPK maintains a global network of distributors and support centers and provides on-the-spot applications and service support to an ever-growing community of researchers.
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Shylock
[ shahy-lok ]
/ ˈʃaɪ lɒk /
a relentless and revengeful moneylender in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
a hard-hearted moneylender.
(lowercase) to lend money at extortionate rates of interest.
Related formsShy·lock·i·an, adjectiveShy·lock·y, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for shylocking
/ (ˈʃaɪˌlɒk) /
a heartless or demanding creditor
Word Origin for Shylock
C19: after Shylock, the name of the heartless usurer in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1596)
Word Origin and History for shylocking
"usurer, merciless creditor," 1786, from Jewish money-lender character in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" (c.1596).
Culture definitions for shylocking
The merciless moneylender in The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare. He demands a pound of flesh (see also pound of flesh) from the title character of the play after the merchant defaults on his debt.
Shylock is a Jew (see also Jews), and there has long been controversy over whether Shakespeare's portrayal of Shylock contributes to prejudice against Jews. Shylock is a cruel miser and eventually is heavily fined and disgraced, but he maintains his dignity. At one point in the play, he makes a famous, eloquent assertion that his desire for revenge is the same desire that a Christian would feel in his place. “I am a Jew,” says Shylock. “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Digital Lumens CEO Tom Pincince Joins Governor Deval Patrick on Mexico Trade Mission
Massachusetts Innovation Partnership Delegation to Highlight Dynamic Partnership Between Mexico and Massachusetts
Boston, March 10, 2014 – Digital Lumens, the leader in intelligent LED systems, announced today that CEO Tom Pincince will join Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MACEC) on a trade mission to Mexico as part of the Massachusetts Innovation Partnership on March 17-22.
The delegation, organized by Governor Patrick’s administration and MACEC, is designed to support the growing relationship between Massachusetts and Mexico, and the tour represents the first trade trip for Governor Patrick in 2014. Pincince was selected to join the Massachusetts Innovation Partnership due to Digital Lumens’ dedication to deploying its Intelligent LED Lighting System across a growing number of Mexican customers, representing millions of square feet of space with lighting energy reductions of 90%.
“We appreciate the work Governor Patrick’s administration and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center have done to support the clean tech sector, and are honored to be part of the mission,” said Pincince. “Digital Lumens is a global company exporting almost 25% of our solutions outside the United States. Mexico has been a long-standing focus and we thank all of our customers and partners in the country.”
Digital Lumens is redefining lighting with intelligent LED systems and services that bring the Internet of Lights – part of the Internet of Things – to our customers across more than 100 million square feet of space worldwide. The patented system is setting the standard for efficiency and performance in both retrofits and new construction, saving up to 90% in lighting energy while providing complete control over lighting, and monitoring of other energy loads in customers’ facilities. For more information, please visit www.digitallumens.com. Follow Digital Lumens on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Note to editors: Digital Lumens, Intelligent Lighting System, and LightRules are trademarks of Digital Lumens, Inc.
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Jack White: 'All bands need girls'
Jack White says that women add variety to a male-driven lineup.
By Jennifer Still
Jack White has said that all-male bands would be better if a woman joined the lineup.
The rocker told Nylon that women accomplish things "really fast" in the studio and can relieve the monotony of "a whole gang of guys".
"That's the beauty of collaborating with males and females," he explained.
"There's something in the room, there's a new energy, and it sort of wipes the slate clean."
White added: "It gets rid of all the bulls**t... It's almost a good idea for an all-guy band just to have a girl sitting there, an engineer or something, in the room."
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Home » News and Development » Cannabis Liberation Day 2013
Cannabis Liberation Day 2013
Are The Netherlands ready for the next step in their cannabis policy?
Amsterdam, 21 June 2013
Cannabis is on the rise internationally like never before. The Dutch Cannabis Movement, represented by the VOC, is increasingly a movement about human rights as well as a movement to legalize cannabis. The free use of cannabis in the Netherlands has been under political pressure for several years. The Dutch cannabis users are now standing up for their rights. In Europe and North/South America, many countries are engaged in the normalization of Cannabis.
The Dutch Cannabis Cannabis Liberation Movement was shown at their best on June 16 2013 in the Westerpark in Amsterdam . The Cannabis Liberation Day festival, which started five years ago, has developed into the largest non-alcoholic family festival in Amsterdam. Around 8000 visitors shared in the revelry at this free-admission celebration of cannabis culture. The day was marked by a cozy, relaxed festival atmosphere. The visitors were a mix of yound and old, most were from Holland but many came from outside to celebrate and share in the fun..
Above, Ernst the Lead Guitarist of Mozes and the Firstborn. |©Broek
In addition to the live music stage there was a film tent showing pro-legalization Cannabis movies. There were also lots of food stalls alongside stalls of different companies in the cannabis business. European cannabis activist organizations were also well represented at the event.
Dutch Passion was the proud sponsor of the festival. "We hope to have made a contribution to the further acceptance of cannabis in the Netherlands." Says Henk Van Dalen, founder and owner of Dutch Passion.
Above, Dirty Soul Rockers from Londen. |©Broek find them on facebook here
Just before the headline musical act "Lucky Fons the Third", Henk Van Dalen gave an inspiring speech. The crowd reacted enthusiastically to his call that it is time for the Netherlands to regain their position as a political role model for the rest of the world. After the speech, the visitors were clearly impressed, and it took a while before the visitors went back to what they came for, namely celebration of cannabis.
Balloons from Dutch Passion. |©Broek
The Full Speech by Henk Van Dalen:
“Good evening everyone,
First of all I would like to wholeheartedly thank the VOC for organizing this fifth Cannabis Liberation Day. It's good, to see the event becoming more popular and getting increased support. And it's necessary.
It is time to put an end to the criminalization of 600,000 Dutch Citizens.
It's time for the legalization of cannabis.
Above, Moses and the Firstborn,website here. |©Derrick Bergman/Gonzo Media
My company, Dutch Passion, sells cannabis seeds in The Netherlands and abroad for home growers. We supply cannabis seeds to about 3000 growshops, mainly within the European Union. I emphasize that Dutch Passion does not produce cannabis seeds, that is prohibited in the Netherlands. My company can only purchase and sell cannabis seeds from exclusive breeders.We have done this since the creation of Dutch Passion in 1987, for over 25 years. We are very succesfull in that and I'm proud of it.
What about Cannabis in todays world?
When I started my company, in the 80s, The Netherlands was what we called a model political country. Not only in terms of our drug policy; abortion and euthanasia were also themes in which the Netherlands took the lead. The Netherlands showed the lead. That is no more. In the Netherlands, the clock has been turned back. Cannabis has moved from the Health department to the Justice department. Cannabis has been criminalized.
Above, Main act: Lucky Fonz III. |©Derrick Bergman/Gonzo Media
Meanwhile, Dutch weed in the past 30 years has created an international Cannabis Revolution. In almost all European countries Cannabis use is tolerated.
In Europe there are about 3000 growshops, 200 in the Netherlands. In Spain and Belgium Cannabis Social Clubs have been established in recent years. The basic principle is that everyone can grow a Cannabis plant for personal use. In Barcelona there are now 200 Social Clubs. In France and Italy the first Cannabis Social Clubs are also expected to come soon.
Above, a moment to relax |©Derrick Bergman/Gonzo Media
Many European countries now have the medicinal use of cannabis legalized.
Outside Europe we also find important developments too.
In the cradle of the "War on Drugs", the United States, there is the start of a realisation that this war leads mainly to overcrowded prisons, millions of broken families and unaffordably high police costs.
A majority of the adult population in the U.S. is in favour of the legalization of Cannabis.
In 19 U.S. states it is legal to sell medicinal cannabis and in three states it is also legal for recreational users. The more states that legalize, the less the federal government will be able to resist opposing legalization
Above, Henk van Dalen, founder and owner of Dutch Passion.|©Derrick Bergman/Gonzo Media
The seriousness of the transition to legalization in the U.S. is also apparent from the fact that James Shiverly, a former chief executive of Microsoft, wants to invest $ 100 million in a "Starbucks-like" chain of Marijuana stores in those states that have legalized cannabis for recreational use, Washington, Main and Colorado.
In South and Central America important revolutions are taking place now, those countries want an end to the "War on Drugs" and develop their own drug-policies.
Australia has recently legalized cannabis for medical purposes.
Above, Doede De Jong, the most famous weed farmer of The Netherlands. |©www.dutch-passion.nl
In Morocco, a bill will soon be discussed for legal cannabis cultivation in the Rif-Mountains for industrial and medicinal purposes (This is the Law El Khayari, named after the Moroccan activist Chakib El Khayari who spoke at Cannabis Liberation Day last year).
The question is not whether this "Berlin Wall" will fall, but when and where ....!! And why not in the Netherlands? It is time that the Netherlands picks up the old role as a model country again.
We want the Netherlands to live up to the promise of the 70's and internationally show its teeth.
Above, visitors relax in the afternoon
The benefits of legalizing cannabis are clear.
A legal cannabis and hemp industry, can bring the treasury a lot of money, important in these tough financial times. Consumers can finally get guaranteed quality or they can grow a cannabis plant for personal use. Objective information can finally be given. Thorough scientific research needs to begin into the many possibilities for psychoactive and industrial cannabis.
Above, Dutch Passion's stall. |©Riecko.com
Judges, prosecutors and police can move on to deal with more important matters. It is also important that politics regains some of their lost credibility.
This challenge is for The Hague to deal with
Finally, my thanks to our Mayor Eberhardt van der Laan, who makes Amsterdam a place where every one, Dutch or from elsewhere, can enjoy Cannabis.
Long live Cannabis, Long live Cannabis Liberation Day!”
Dutch Joe
Find me on facebook too!....https://www.facebook.com/joe.dutchpassion
June 21st 2013
Cannabis as an exit drug.
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Dutch Passion advise their customers to reassure themselves of local applicable laws and regulations before germination. Dutch Passion cannot be held responsible for the actions of those who act against laws and regulations that apply in their locality. Cannabis seeds should be kept as collectible souvenirs by anyone in an area where cultivation of cannabis is not legal.
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View source for North Macedonia - General Information
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==Country Name== North Macedonia (Severna Makedonija/Северна Македонија). Officially the Republic of North Macedonia (Republika Severna Makedonija/Република Северна Македонија). The country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in September 1991 and until February 2019 was officially the Republic of Macedonia. However, as a result of objections from Greece to use of the name 'Macedonia', the country joined the United Nations as the 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' (FYROM). It was announced in June 2018 that, with the agreement of Greece, the country was to be renamed the Republic of North Macedonia (Severna Makedonija). The change was overwhelmingly approved in a non-binding referendum. The parliament voted for the name change in mid-October 2018 and it was implemented in February 2019. ==National railway system== ===National Railway Operator=== [http://mzt.mk/ (MŽ) Makedonski Železnici] ==Language== Macedonian, using Cyrillic script. ==Currency== Macedonian Denar (MKD); 1MKD = 100 Deni ==UIC code== numeric 65; alpha MK ==Timetable== ===Journey Planner=== The Macedonian Railways Journey Planner appears to have been discontinued. Travellers will need to use the downloadable timetable. ===Downloadable Timetable=== Departure and arrival times from Skopje can be found [https://mzt.mk/vozen-red/?lang=en here] but only in Macedonian Cyrillic script Note that ''меѓународен воз по релации ('''превземи''')'' merely accesses HAFAS, for international services. A good unofficial timetable in German [http://www.ec-tobias.de/service/Kursbuch_MZ_18.pdf ''Linien- und Tabellenfahrpläne''] had 2017/18 information loaded as at 9 August 2018. ===Printed Timetable=== None known. ===Engineering Information=== None. ===Bus Information=== A useful site is [http://www.balkanviator.com/en/bus BalkanViator] ==Maps== ===Printed Maps=== *European Railway Atlas: Scandinavia and Eastern Europe by M.G. Ball (1993) (ISBN 0-7110-2072-4) *[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards) ===Web-based Maps=== * Annex No. 1 of the Network Statement contains some useful maps *Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_albania---macedonia.php Map of Albania and Macedonia] and [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_skopje.php Map of Skopje]. Note these maps date from 2011 and are no longer updated. ==Infrastructure== ===Infrastructure Authority=== The Macedonian Railways Infrastructure website can be found [http://www.mzi.mk/?lang=en here] ===Network Statement=== The 2018-2019 network statement is available in Macedonian [http://www.mzi.mk/documents/OBJAVA-NA-MREZA-2019.pdf here]. There is no English version on the website. The 2016-2017 Network Statement (in English) can be downloaded [http://www.mzi.mk/view_activity.php?id=398 here.] ===Gauge=== Standard. ===Electrification=== 25kV 50Hz. ===Rule of the road=== Right, but the vast majority of the network is single track. ===Distances=== Table No. 1 in Annex No. 2 of the Network Statement gives distances for each station ==Other Railways== None. ==Tourist Lines== None. ==Metro== None. ==Trams== None. ==Recent and future changes== In December 2018 the EBRD agreed to provide €68.6m of co-financing for construction of the 34 km Beljakovce – Kriva Palanka line, the second phase of a direct rail link between Skopje and Sofia. It provided a €46.4m 15-year loan in 2012 to fund the 30.8 km Kumanovo – Beljakovce line, the first phase of this project. The final phase would take the line over the border to Gyueshevo. Work resumed in February 2018 on rebuilding the Bitola - Kremenica - Neos Kafkasos (Greece) line, which has been out of use for several years. It was to have reopened by 2014 but the project has been subject to delays and cancellations. As at October 2018 a fair amount of track had been laid. In 2018 the only passenger service operating over the Tabanovci - Preševo border crossing into Serbia was the summer-only train pair ''334'' and ''335'', between Topčider (Beograd) and Thessaloníki via Skopje; these trains ran from 1 June to 1 October. In practice the cross-border service into Greece between Gevgelija and Thessaloníki was still provided by buses. It is reported that the international trains shown in the timetable as running between Skopje and Hani-i-Elezit (Kosovo), for connections to/from Pristinë, are usually replaced by buses or cancelled; '''further information would be welcomed by the compilers'''. Services between Niš(ŽS) and Skopje were suspended from 20 October 2016 because of engineering work but reinstated for the summer season from 1 June 2017. Owing to the migrant crisis, with effect from 21 August 2015, until further notice the Thessaloniki - Idomeni - Gevgelija section of the Thessaloniki - Beograd train has been a coach connection. This Gevgelija - Idomeni cross-border service into Greece has been intermittently suspended previously, it ceased from 13 February 2011 along with all other border crossings with Greece but then a weekly summer-only service reportedly ran between July and September 2012. Then the Beograd [overnight] - Skopje - Thessaloniki and vv summer only service was reintroduced from 10 May 2014 until as above. ==Special Notes== None. ==See also== {{Navbox North Macedonia}}
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Return to North Macedonia - General Information.
Retrieved from "https://www.egtre.info/wiki/North_Macedonia_-_General_Information"
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See more Hail to the Chin : Further Confessions of a B ...
Hail Columbia! The Rise and Fall of a Schooner by Dana Story -1st Ed 1970 - HCDJ
Bruce Campbell SIGNED BOOK Hail To The Chin 1st/1st Evil Dead
Hail to the Chin Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell SIGNED
Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of A B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell: New
Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor [New Book] Hardcover
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Details about HAIL TO THE CHIN 1st Edition Book Signed By #BruceCampbell + FREE SHIP! #Horror
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If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of A B Movie Actor, Bruce Campbell,0312291450,
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Chaos: Making a New Science by Gleick, James Paperback Book The Fast Free
Brand New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See the seller’s listing for full details. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition
Format: Hardcover Language: English
Introduction by New York Times bestselling author and famous minor television personality John Hodgman It's been 15 years since his first memoir but Bruce is still living the dream as a "B" movie king in an "A" movie world. Bruce Campbell makes his triumphant return from where he left off in If Chins Could Kill with further hilarious, gut-wrenchingly honest confessions. Bruce brings us through his life in the decade since his first memoir and his roles as varied as they are numerous- from his roles in the Spider-Man movies to his self-referential My Name is Bruce to his role on #1 show Burn Notice and his new STARZ hit series Ash vs Evil Dead. Over the last 15 years, Bruce has become a regular on the Wizard World convention circuit, has created his @GroovyBruce twitter account with over 400,000 followers and a Facebook page with almost 250,000 likes. His profile and reach is lightyears beyond where it was for Chins. Hail to the Chin will be bursting with pictures and the signature humor that Bruce brought to If Chins Could Kill and will be devoured by his legions of fans across the country.
Publisher St. Martin's Press
Weight 20.8 Oz
Introduction by John Hodgman
Illustrated Yes
Dewey Decimal 791.4302/8092 B
Author Craig Sanborn, Bruce Campbell
Lc Classification Number Pn2287.C244a3 2017
Reviews " A breezy read through a breezy life." -- Kirkus Reviews " Campbell is an amusing raconteur, sharing stories about shooting the indie film My Name Is Bruce in his backyard, working on his old friend Sam Raimi's Spiderman movies, and spending seven seasons on Burn Notice. Whether he is describing dealing with torn hamstrings during the Burn Notice shoot or crossing playing Santa Claus and Ronald Reagan off his bucket list, Campbell is always entertaining, and his smart-ass style makes for a groovy ride. He ends his book with his thoughts on both the Evil Dead movie remake and his current Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series. Fans will eagerly await a sequel." -- Publishers Weekly Praise for If Chins Could Kill "The book offers insights into the world of independent filmmaking and the life of a "B" actor, but most importantly it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell."-- School Library Journal "An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous."-- GQ "Exceptionally literate yet conversational, wide-ranging but never wandering, and copiously, gleefully illustrated..." -- Booklist "entertaining and witty...Forecast: While a boon to film cultists and to Campbell's many fans, this book also has enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture." --Publishers Weekly "Campbell forgoes Hollywood anecdotes for more entertaining tales of struggling to break into the biz (even after Evil Dead II, he had to work security). With a quirky assortment of rants, as well as self-deprecating chapter titles like "The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part," he's like the dinner guest you wish would never leave."-- Entertainment Weekly "This book is indispensable to anyone aspiring to a career as an actor, director, producer, or just about any other aspect of movie making...A fast, enjoyable read that is sure to garner Campbell even more of a following."-- Fangoria Praise for Bruce Campbell Without Bruce Campbell as Ash, "Evil Dead" likely would have remained one of the early-'80s splatterhouse flicks that indie filmmakers revere as inspirational to their craft. But Campbell molded Ash into a hero for the average guy by tempering the story's adrenaline-spiking frights and nausea-inducing gore with a performance steeped in expressive slapstick. Demon vomit, hellish effluvia, barrels of limbs and spilled bowels, all of this and more were prominent in 1981's "Evil Dead" and its 1987 sequel, "Evil Dead II." In encouraging us to laugh at the disgusting effects, Campbell's Ash made the franchise's outrageous shocks manageable. -- Salon, " Campbell is an amusing raconteur, sharing stories about shooting the indie film My Name Is Bruce in his backyard, working on his old friend Sam Raimi's Spiderman movies, and spending seven seasons on Burn Notice. Whether he is describing dealing with torn hamstrings during the Burn Notice shoot or crossing playing Santa Claus and Ronald Reagan off his bucket list, Campbell is always entertaining, and his smart-ass style makes for a groovy ride. He ends his book with his thoughts on both the Evil Dead movie remake and his current Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series. Fans will eagerly await a sequel." -- Publishers Weekly " Whether recounting his life in the boondocks of south Oregon or the making of the dud The Man with the Screaming Brain in Bulgaria, Campbell, backed by co-author Sanborn, and his B-movie anecdotes, are thoroughly engaging and witty." -- Booklist "Campbell sheds further light on the (decidedly unglamorous) existence of a B-list actor, and fans of his work will undoubtedly be excited to read more from the enigmatic movie star.... Chock-full of amusing anecdotes about the underappreciated B-list movie industry. Hand to admirers of Campbell's previous book and fans of the talkies." -- Library Journal " A breezy read through a breezy life." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for If Chins Could Kill "The book offers insights into the world of independent filmmaking and the life of a "B" actor, but most importantly it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell."-- School Library Journal "An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous."-- GQ "Exceptionally literate yet conversational, wide-ranging but never wandering, and copiously, gleefully illustrated..." -- Booklist "entertaining and witty...Forecast: While a boon to film cultists and to Campbell's many fans, this book also has enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture." --Publishers Weekly "Campbell forgoes Hollywood anecdotes for more entertaining tales of struggling to break into the biz (even after Evil Dead II, he had to work security). With a quirky assortment of rants, as well as self-deprecating chapter titles like "The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part," he's like the dinner guest you wish would never leave."-- Entertainment Weekly "This book is indispensable to anyone aspiring to a career as an actor, director, producer, or just about any other aspect of movie making...A fast, enjoyable read that is sure to garner Campbell even more of a following."-- Fangoria Praise for Bruce Campbell Without Bruce Campbell as Ash, "Evil Dead" likely would have remained one of the early-'80s splatterhouse flicks that indie filmmakers revere as inspirational to their craft. But Campbell molded Ash into a hero for the average guy by tempering the story's adrenaline-spiking frights and nausea-inducing gore with a performance steeped in expressive slapstick. Demon vomit, hellish effluvia, barrels of limbs and spilled bowels, all of this and more were prominent in 1981's "Evil Dead" and its 1987 sequel, "Evil Dead II." In encouraging us to laugh at the disgusting effects, Campbell's Ash made the franchise's outrageous shocks manageable. -- Salon, " A breezy read through a breezy life." -- Kirkus Reviews Praise for If Chins Could Kill "The book offers insights into the world of independent filmmaking and the life of a "B" actor, but most importantly it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell."-- School Library Journal "An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous."-- GQ "Exceptionally literate yet conversational, wide-ranging but never wandering, and copiously, gleefully illustrated..." -- Booklist "entertaining and witty...Forecast: While a boon to film cultists and to Campbell's many fans, this book also has enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture." --Publishers Weekly "Campbell forgoes Hollywood anecdotes for more entertaining tales of struggling to break into the biz (even after Evil Dead II, he had to work security). With a quirky assortment of rants, as well as self-deprecating chapter titles like "The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part," he's like the dinner guest you wish would never leave."-- Entertainment Weekly "This book is indispensable to anyone aspiring to a career as an actor, director, producer, or just about any other aspect of movie making...A fast, enjoyable read that is sure to garner Campbell even more of a following."-- Fangoria Praise for Bruce Campbell Without Bruce Campbell as Ash, "Evil Dead" likely would have remained one of the early-'80s splatterhouse flicks that indie filmmakers revere as inspirational to their craft. But Campbell molded Ash into a hero for the average guy by tempering the story's adrenaline-spiking frights and nausea-inducing gore with a performance steeped in expressive slapstick. Demon vomit, hellish effluvia, barrels of limbs and spilled bowels, all of this and more were prominent in 1981's "Evil Dead" and its 1987 sequel, "Evil Dead II." In encouraging us to laugh at the disgusting effects, Campbell's Ash made the franchise's outrageous shocks manageable. -- Salon, Praise for If Chins Could Kill "The book offers insights into the world of independent filmmaking and the life of a "B" actor, but most importantly it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell."-- School Library Journal "An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous."-- GQ "Exceptionally literate yet conversational, wide-ranging but never wandering, and copiously, gleefully illustrated..." -- Booklist "entertaining and witty...Forecast: While a boon to film cultists and to Campbell's many fans, this book also has enough insighits and smarts to appeal tor readers with a serious interest in popular culture." --Publishers Weekly "Campbell forgoes Hollywood anecdotes for more entertaining tales of struggling to break into the biz (even after Evil Dead II, he had to work security). With a quirky assortment of rants, as well as self-deprecating chapter titles like "The Higher the Budget, the Lower the Part," he's like the dinner guest you wish would never leave."-- Entertainment Weekly "This book is indispensable to anyone aspiring to a career as an actor, director, producer, or just about any other aspect of movie making...A fast, enjoyable read that is sure to garner Campbell even more of a following."-- Fangoria Praise for Bruce Campbell Without Bruce Campbell as Ash, "Evil Dead" likely would have remained one of the early-'80s splatterhouse flicks that indie filmmakers revere as inspirational to their craft. But Campbell molded Ash into a hero for the average guy by tempering the story's adrenaline-spiking frights and nausea-inducing gore with a performance steeped in expressive slapstick. Demon vomit, hellish effluvia, barrels of limbs and spilled bowels, all of this and more were prominent in 1981's "Evil Dead" and its 1987 sequel, "Evil Dead II." In encouraging us to laugh at the disgusting effects, Campbell's Ash made the franchise's outrageous shocks manageable. -- Salon
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Published: January 3, 2019 | Updated: February 5, 2019
Education Statistics: Facts About American Schools
By Maya Riser-Kositsky
How many K-12 public schools, districts, and students are there? What does the American student population look like? And how much are we, as a nation, spending on the education of these youth?
These data points can give perspective to the implications and potential impact of education policies. The Education Week library provides answers to these questions, and some other enlightening facts, below.
This page will be updated when new federal data becomes available.
Jump to a Section: Schools and Districts | Students | Teachers and Principals | School Spending
SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS
How many schools are there in the U.S.?
There are 132,853 K-12 schools in the U.S., according to 2015-16 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Here's how they break down:
All: 132,853
Elementary schools: 88,665
Secondary schools: 26,986
Combined schools: 16,511
Here's what this looks like in chart form:
Note: The data above reflects the following categorization from NCES: Elementary schools include schools beginning with grade 6 or below and with no grade higher than 8. (This includes middle schools.) Secondary schools include schools with no grade lower than 7. Combined schools include schools beginning with grade 6 or below and ending with grade 9 or above. Other includes special education, alternative, and other schools not classified by grade span.
How many are traditional public schools, public charter schools, or private schools?
While charter schools are often the topic of debate, they make up only a small portion of all schools.
Traditional public schools: 91,422 (2015-16, Source)
Public charter schools: 6,855 (2015-16, Source)
Private schools: 34,576 (2015-16, Source)
For more on charters, including how they work and who oversees them, read this explainer.
Among public schools, how many high schools are there in the U.S.?
Total public schools: 98,277
High schools: 21,446
Junior high schools: 2,594
Middle schools: 13,022
Combined schools: 6,788
(2015-16, Source)
Note: The data above reflects the following categorization from NCES: Elementary schools include schools beginning with grade 6 or below and with no grade higher than 8. (For the list above, middle schools are not included in the elementary school count and are instead broken out on their own line.) Middle schools include schools that have grade spans beginning with 4, 5, or 6 and ending with 6, 7, or 8. Junior highs include schools with grades 7 and 8 or grades 7 through 9. High schools include any schools with no grade lower than 7. (For the list above, junior high schools are not included in the high school count and are instead broken out on their own line. Additionally, the count includes 3-year, 4-year, 5-year, and 6-year high schools.) Combined schools include schools beginning with grade 6 or below and ending with grade 9 or above. Other includes special education, alternative, and other schools not classified by grade span.
What is the average public school size?
The average public school enrollment is 526 students, according to data from 2015. That's up 6 students from the average school size in 2011, according to NCES.
What is the average public school size by type of location?
City: 591 students
Suburban: 657 students
Town: 445 students
Rural: 354 students
(2015, Source)
How many schools offer online courses?
According to 2015-16 NCES data, 21.1% of public schools, including charters, offer at least one course entirely online, but of those schools, only 5.7% offered all courses online.
How many school districts are there?
There are 13,584 regular school districts in the U.S. (2015-16, Source)
Note: Regular districts exclude regional education service agencies and supervisory union administrative centers, state-operated agencies, federally operated agencies, and other types of local education agencies, such as independent charter schools.
Where are the largest school districts in the U.S.?
Big cities like New York and Los Angeles lead the list of the largest school districts, as identified by NCES in 2015. But the rest of the top 10 may surprise you:
District name
1 New York City NY 981,667
2 Los Angeles Unified CA 639,337
3 Chicago IL 387,311
4 Miami-Dade County FL 357,579
5 Clark County NV 325,990
6 Broward County FL 269,098
7 Houston TX 215,627
8 Hillsborough County FL 211,923
9 Orange County FL 196,951
10 Palm Beach County FL 189,322
What's the average tenure of a big-city superintendent?
Superintendents in large cities stick around for an average of 6 years, according to a report by the Broad Center.
How many students attend public schools?
In America's public schools there are 50.7 million students, based on federal projections for the fall of 2018.
How many students attend charter schools?
According to data from three years earlier, 2.8 million public school students, or 5.7 percent, are in charter schools.
How many students attend private schools? What are the religious affiliations of those schools?
In total, 5,750,520 students attend private schools, according to NCES 2015-16 data.
36.2% of those in Catholic schools
24.3% in nonsectarian (non-religious) schools
16.0% in un-affiliated religious schools
13.2% in conservative Christian schools
10.2% in other religiously affiliated schools
How many students are homeschooled?
There are 1,689,726 homeschooled students. That's 3.3 percent of all students, according to NCES 2015-16 data. After doubling between 1999 and 2012, the number of homeschooled students in the United States appears to have leveled off. So who are the nation’s homeschoolers? This overview of homeschooling includes more information on the topic.
Where do most students attend school—the city, the suburbs or rural areas?
According to 2015-16 data, the majority of public school students attend suburban schools, but enrollment in urban schools is not far behind.
Suburban: 39.7% of public school students
City: 30.2% of public school students
Rural: 18.7% of public school students
Town: 11.3% of public school students
Meanwhile, most private school students attend schools in the city.
City: 43.0% of private school students
Suburban: 40.2% of private school students
Rural: 10.7% of private school students
Town: 6.2% of private school students
What are the demographics of public school students?
Here's a racial breakdown of the student population in American public schools, as of 2015:
White students: 48.9%
Hispanic students: 25.9%
Black students: 15.5%
Asian students: 5.0%
Two or more race students: 3.4%
American Indian/Alaska Native students: 1.0%
Pacific Islander students: 0.3%
The 2015-16 school year was the first in which the majority of public schoolchildren were minorities. For a look back at what that milestone meant for schools, revisit this story from 2014.
How many students graduate high school?
The national graduation rate is 84.6 percent, according to the latest data.
How has that changed over time?
The graduation rate has increased by 6 percentage points from 2010-2011 to 2016-2017. What's behind record rises in U.S. graduation rates? More on that here.
How many students graduate in my state?
Hover over a state in this interactive map to see its graduation rate, broken down by demographic groups:
TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS
How many teachers are there in the U.S.?
In America's public schools there are 3.2 million full-time-equivalent teachers, according to federal projections for the fall of 2018.
How many principals are there?
There are 90,410 public school principals in the U.S., according to 2015-16 data from NCES.
What percent of teachers are women?
Teaching continues to be a profession dominated by women. According to 2018 projections from NCES 76.6 percent of teachers are female, while 23.4 percent are male.
What are the racial demographics of teachers?
When it comes to race, America’s teachers looks very different from its student population.
80.1% White
8.8% Hispanic
6.7% Black
2.3% Asian
1.4% Two or more races
0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native
0.2% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
For a more detailed look at the profile of America’s teaching force, including average age and years of experience, read this report on the latest federal data.
Who are U.S. public school principals?
Like teachers, most American principals are white and female.
54.2% Female
45.8% Male
10.6% Black
Another finding from the latest federal data: Charter school principals are more diverse. Read more.
What's the average U.S. teacher salary?
The average base salary for teachers is $55,100, according to 2015-16 data from NCES. Of course, teacher salaries vary widely from state to state. Although its findings differ from the federal data, the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers' union, releases an annual ranking of state salaries. Here are the latest numbers.
How does that compare with principals' salaries?
According to data from the same year, the average principal salary is $95,700.
How big are the teachers' unions?
According to NCES data from 2015-16, 69.9 percent of teachers are members of a union.
As of April 2018, the National Education Association has 3,018,492 members who are active educators or retirees.
As of October 2017, the American Federation of Teachers has 1,591,911 members.
What is the average student to teacher ratio in schools?
On average, there are 16 students assigned to a single teacher, NCES projections for fall of 2018 show.
The state with highest student to teacher ratio is, as of 2015, California, with 23.9 students for each teacher. The state with lowest student to teacher ratio? Vermont, with 10.5 students for each teacher.
Note: The pupil/teacher ratio includes teachers for students with disabilities and other special teachers, while these teachers are generally excluded from class size calculations.
SCHOOL SPENDING
How much does the U.S. spend on K-12 education?
In 2014-15, $625 billion was spent on public elementary and secondary education by local, state, and federal agencies.
How much is spent per pupil?
Education Week examines per-pupil spending as part of its annual Quality Counts report. On average, the nation spends $12,536 to educate each student. These expenditures vary state to state. Vermont has the highest per-pupil expenditures in the nation at $20,795, as adjusted for variations in regional costs. At the other end of the scale, Utah spends the least at $7,207 per student.
Hover over a state to see its per-pupil spending, as adjusted for regional cost differences:
Have more education statistics you’d like to see on this page?
Scroll down or click here to drop us a comment with your suggestions or feedback.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau; The Broad Center; Education Week Research Center, 2018.
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Tackling Youth Unemployment: Startup InternsME Wants To Help Your Company Find The Right Fit
Pamella de Leon
Startup Section Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
The reality for the youth workforce is dire. According to the International Labour Organization, the Middle East has the highest youth unemployment rate globally, with it being 29.1% in 2013. Students and graduates get stuck in a conundrum: besides trying to attain wasta or connections, they can’t find a job without experience and they can’t get experience without a job. There’s no quick fix to youth unemployment and career portal InternsME aims to assist in filling the gap between education and workplace in UAE through internships and trainee placements with an online platform– a cost effective solution for companies to grow their teams.
To stand out among job seekers, the platform focuses on video resumes, or ‘visumes’ as CEO and co-founder Jean-Michel Gauthier calls them. Since students and fresh grads lack experience, CVs can seem bare: “It’s been difficult for hiring managers or company owners to really gauge someone based on their CV. Visumes became the obvious choice to help candidates highlight their strengths, communication skills and personalities.”
Being a video-centric employment platform, InternsME found that it’s a great way for candidates to foster confidence and practice their personal pitches. Gauthier says that approximately 40% users have uploaded videos, adding that users with good visumes “tend to get snapped up into placements very quickly.” To further help reserved and unsure users, the career portal is providing free recording sessions at their office to support and guide users. At first, attracting users to sign up was a chicken and egg scenario. They needed candidates to attract employers and vice versa. The portal managed to get candidates to sign up first by getting support from educational institutions and generating content -such as blog posts and videos on interview tips, creating video resumes, etc.- until jobs were available.
InternsME Talent Hunt Event, Capital Club DIFC, December 2014
“It wasn’t easy at all, especially for the first several hundred- early adopters are seemingly rare in Dubai.” Besides building partnerships with universities through fairs, workshops, and roundtable discussions, word-of-mouth was also a big help. Gauthier explains that they spoke to candidates as part of their screening process to better understand their strengths and job-seeking preferences. As someone who tried out the platform in 2013, although they weren’t able to find me a match at the time, I can attest to this and I applaud their efforts to get to know me and what job I was most inclined to land. Others echo my sentiments too, as Gautheir says users feel the difference from other placement portals.
Regarding the current state of youth employment in the region, Gautheir admits that most employers still aren’t providing internships, and they “even come across the odd employer who asks us, ‘What’s an internship?’” There’s been positive change, but the situation still has a long way to go. Startups and SMEs are “eager” to hire from the young workforce, however some are still “reluctant” to deviate from their established “recruiting methods and reliance on experienced staff.”
The team often liaise with employers in a bid to disprove misconceptions and impart guidance. Gauthier believes there’s always a way for them to fit in to an organization, it’s just a case of “link[ing] it back into a company’s needs and objectives.” He asserts that for cost-conscious startups, internships can help in expanding a team, keep the cost and risks low, and it’s an opportunity to see how possible future hires can fit in before having them join your team full-time. Interns help to build a “healthy company culture, as they bring onboard fresh perspective, ideas, drive and diversity.”
Jean-Michel Gauthier in the InternsME Office in JLT
So how can startups facilitate a good working environment for interns, who are usually millennials? Gauthier reminds employers that the needs of the young workforce varies: “They seek to be inspired, empowered and to feel part of something exciting.” Interns can bring more impact if presented with opportunity “to contribute their ideas and take responsibility of tasks”. It also goes a long way when companies are considerate accepting interns who may still be studying. “Startups need to be able to answer, why are we a great place to get experience, or start your career at?” In terms of the discourse between unpaid/paid internships, Gautheir stresses how internships are primarily for gaining work experience, and a small stipend to cover expenses is recommended.
To further bolster and support their online presence, InternsME staged The Talent Hunt last year to gather 16 employers with more than 400 candidates for a session of “speed interviews”; both sides have a short (two to three minutes) conversation to get to know one another. The co-founder says that the event was very successful, and that “hundreds of applicants are now under consideration as a direct result of the event.” Besides planning a relaunch of their website and grow their team, the startup also intends to frequently host more employers-meet-candidates sessions.
FOUNDERS CEO Jean-Michel Gauthier oversees day-to-day operations, and Elizabeth Zeibari and Jason Mathias act primarily in an “advisory capacity”. The founders are aged 28, 30 and 31 respectively, with backgrounds in pharmaceuticals, advertising and various other commercial experience.
Krystel Gonzales, HR Trainee with Sephora, with Mohamed Gdara of Sephora, and Jean-Michel Gauthier, at the Talent Hunt
FUNDING InternsME is backed by angel investors, who also act as board members and advisors to the startup.
BUSINESS MODEL Companies can join the InternsME employer network for a small fee. The portal allows them to post jobs, search for graduates, watch video CVs and recruit talent.
Dustin's experience and expertise can help you monetize your message, build a marketing strategy and connect with influencers.
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Researchers study population displacement, shelter needs and decisions.
Woman washing clothes in front of damaged houses in an area where demolition of damaged buildings was taking place. Interesting to note in that photo is the small pile of bricks that was used to stop the buttresses from sliding out … supposedly holding the weakened walls up. (Photo: B. Khazai/KIT)
Research team (S. Brink, J. Anhorn, B. Khazai, T. Girard) with local interviever at Tudikhel Shelter Site. (Photo: S. Brink/KIT)
Researchers from the Center of Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the South Asia Institute (SAI) of Heidelberg University have started a field mission in Nepal on June 6, 2015. During their two-weeks field mission, they want to study the effects of the April 25, 2015 Gorkha earthquake on population displacement with the aim to validate and calibrate methods to identify appropriate open spaces for shelter used in the CEDIM near-real time Forensic Disaster Analysis (FDA) on shelter issues.
According to the Government of Nepal, the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks have damaged or destroyed nearly 631,000 houses and approximately 91,500 people continue to reside in 374 temporary displacement sites across 12 of Nepal’s 14 most-affected districts as of June 2. Throughout Kathmandu Valley as of May 24, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that approximately 21,600 people were sheltering in 64 designated emergency shelter camps. However, whenever possible displaced people in Kathmandu Valley have sought temporary shelter in nearby spaces, close to their homes rather than in designated emergency shelter camps.
During their field mission, the research team will be conducting household surveys in government-provided and self-managed emergency shelter sites to better understand the factors that increase vulnerability to being displaced. Additionally, the team will investigate decision processes of households to shelter in place or to seek public shelters. Furthermore current information needs of displaced households on sheltering options available to them, including modalities for intermediate shelter and future reconstruction is being investigated.
Providing shelter support in advance of the monsoon season remains an urgent response priority. As of June 2, the Shelter Cluster - the coordinating body for humanitarian shelter activities, comprising UN agencies, non-governmental organizations - are targeting 1.9 million people across Nepal to receive shelter support. The research team will therefore travel to rural affected areas to investigate various emergency housing options with the onset of the Monsoon season and explore policies and plans for transitioning displaced populations from temporary shelters to intermediate sheltering and ultimately permanent reconstruction.
During the field mission, the CEDIM research team will collaborate closely with the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) and share knowledge, resources and data related to this field mission.
Field missions after disasters, such as the earthquake in Nepal on April 25th, are a useful component of CEDIM’s approach to analyze disasters and their impact in near-real time.
The Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology, CEDIM, is an interdisciplinary research institution of the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Dr. Bijan Khazai
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Geophysikalisches Institut
Hertzstr. 16
+49 (0)721 608-44442
bijan.khazai@kit edu
Infographics on earthquakes
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Commander's Priorities
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SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — USNS Pathfinder's (T-AGS 60) civilian master Capt. Troy Erwin, greets Ukrainian Navy Adm. Igor Tenukh before the ship's scheduled departure from Sevastopol, Ukraine
SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — USNS Pathfinder's (T-AGS 60) civilian master Capt. Troy Erwin, greets Ukrainian Navy Adm. Igor Tenukh before the ship's scheduled departure from Sevastopol, Ukraine, Sept. 6, 2008. While in port, Pathfinder picked up Ukrainian personnel and members of the U.S.-based Institute for Exploration for an upcoming at-sea capabilities demonstration with Ukraine's Department of Underwater Heritage. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Rivera)
By EUCOMAug 26, 2011
SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — USNS Pathfinder's (T-AGS 60) civilian master Capt. Troy Erwin, greets Ukrainian Navy Adm. Igor Tenukh before the ship's scheduled departure from Sevastopol, Ukraine, Sept. 6, 2008. While in port, Pathfinder picked up Ukrainian personnel and members of the U.S.-based Institute for Exploration for an upcoming at-sea capabilities demonstration with Ukraine's Department of Underwater Heritage. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Rivera)
German Allies visit JBSA-Fort Sam Houston on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
U.S., Polish Leaders Agree to Increased American Presence in Poland
Team Ramstein touches down for D-Day 75
Cyber Estonia: Cyber Range 14 (CR-14) and Locked Shields 2019
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Pashtun men from southern Afghanistan. Photo by Mark O’Donald, Petty Officer 1st Class of the U.S. Navy.
Social Sphere Of Pashtun Is Main Target Of Hostile Forces Within And Without – OpEd
June 18, 2018 Shaikh Muhammad Bilal* 0 Comments
By Shaikh Muhammad Bilal*
Pashtuns are an eminent part of the Pakistani society and have been valiant sons of the motherland who have given unprecedented sacrifices for Pakistan, its people and ideology. On the very initial days of independence in 1947, when war was imposed by the historical and ancestral enemy Hindu India, these brave Pashtuns at the first call to take up arms in defence of the new motherland were the first to lay their lives and liberate parts of Jammu and Kashmir from the deceit of its Hindu ruler and the mischief of Hindu India who had become haughty after being installed in Delhi from where Muslim power in the subcontinent had prevailed for a millennia before the ascendency of the British by treachery.
Pashtuns also historically had served in Muslim armies who dominated India, even the grand trunk road which linked the most eastern part of the Indian subcontinent from Calcutta to Central Asia was conceived by a Pashtun general Sher Shah Suri who envisioned a Muslim empire stretching from the inner most Central Asian Steppe to the jungles of Far East Asia. Later the grand trunk, the first gigantic geopolitical project of mass military and non- military movement of man and material become the bulwark of contention in the great game between the British and the Russian Empires. Strategically speaking all the British military deployments were along the grand trunk road, done to counter the influence and the post 1812 Russian military posture which was poised for the conquest of India and planned by the Imperial general staff of the Tsar to oust the British all along the grand trunk road starting from Amu Dyra which is modern day border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, by first ceasing control of the north western portion of the grand trunk road (modern day Pakistan, specifically Khyber Pakthunkawa and Potohar region of Punjab) and then later incursions further into the Indian heartland across the Indian plains towards the southern and south eastern coasts. The Tsar in St. Petersburg was quick to recall an ancient Russian saying “Valiant Russian soldiers will wash in the warm waters of the seas at coasts of Russian India”.
During this great game the historical areas of Pushtun tribes came right in the middle of this geopolitical great game between the British and the Russians. Both of these imperial and hardcore colonial powers tried to use the Pashtuns as their proxies. The famous English author Rudyard Kipling who was English ethnically but by sole an ardent Lahori (hence a modern day Pakistani) has written extensively and romanticized the adventures, mysteries and espionage games between the British and the Russians in the historical areas of Pashtuns. Despite being under pressure from two bullies of the day, the Pashtuns were to maintain their independence, some out rightly in the mountains and some in semi feudal structures cunningly playing out the British and the Russians.
With the advent of the 20th century came the advancement in technology which meant that socio-cultural, linguistic and political transformations could be achieved rapidly and unprecedentedly. These transformations which took several generations or centuries to accomplish in the past now could happen in the number of years or even in days if backed by exacerbating the protest potential of the targeted population or an ethnic group with a population. Under these conditions the Pashtuns faced a new threat, firstly from the communists from Moscow and contemporarily now from the western and Indian presence in Afghanistan.
During the Cold War or even before in the intermit period between the first and the second world wars, the communists who had established themselves firmly in the Eurasian heartland were eager and confident to spread this ideology throughout the world either through revolution or through spreading of propaganda socio-cultural propaganda. The Pashtuns being a primordial ethnic group and residing in strategic areas connecting South and Central Asia became the prime targets. What the communist did was to spread the false notion of similarities between Pashtuns and the Russian people based on utter lies. Such as linguistic similarities, cultural similarities, etc. These similarities never existed as the historical evolution of both the races happened in very different geographical and political circumstances. With the Russians originating in modern day Sweden and the Pashtuns whose ethnic origins scientifically are still not confirmed with just oral traditions, either in Khorasan region of greater Persia or in Arabia. These oral traditions with lack of scientific studies were quickly realized by the communist who began disseminating pseudo-scientific publications and propaganda of ethnic similarities. They did this for two reasons, first to gain soft power over the Pashtuns and secondly to instill their political ideals through a Pashtun nationalists political party (which in reality were Stalin’s useful instrument of subversion (within the sociopolitical sphere of the Pashtuns, so when the time would come for the annexation of the Pashtun homeland into the Soviet Union there would be no or minimal resistance. Instead the communist would be welcomed as long lost ancestors. During the latter part of the Cold War, the Americans picked this sinister communist plot and used their subdued ally Germany as a substitute by propagating that Germans and Pashtuns are long lost brothers as a counter measure during the Soviet- Afghan War.
With the advent of the 21st century and the subsequent start of the Global War on Terrorism as a follow up to the lost Global War on Drugs started by Regan, new dynamics and rigor began to appear in the manipulation of the Pashtun social sphere. For just to gain soft power over the Pashtuns and to totally control their hearts and minds towards acceptance of subjugation through first rebellion and destruction of their homeland and secondly through whatever would remain or those who would survive would be so thwarted that they would become powerless and hence ineffective to challenge the ropes of the control system. What now the adversaries are planning is to artificially create reality for the Pashtuns. In this sinister and evil plot from the very prominent personalities to the very obscure are playing the devil’s advocate within Pakistan and also from outside backed by political parties and NGOs who are bent upon to manipulate the primordial social structure of the Pashtuns. In this sinister plot, NGOs are also playing their part by instilling social practices which are alien and utterly unacceptable to historical Pashtun traditions. In the garb of humanitarian assistance, these NGOs are now instilling ideals of changing sexual orientations of the Pashtun youth and children while bent upon destroying the traditional social fabric in the name of gender equality. Majority of the Pashtuns and also other ethnic Pakistanis do not know that those giving lessons on gender equality within their countries and social dynamics women are still fighting for achieving equality. Within EU equal respect, equal remuneration and equal access to public and private goods are still not achieved while in Pakistan these very people are promoting these ideals with their house not in order. This smells of a clandestine plot not understood by the policy maker in Pakistan or who is deliberately a silent observer bought out.
And of course there is old adversary India, who at the moment appears silent but is hand in hand in supporting these clandestine sinister plots against the Pashtuns. Waiting for an opportunity that when the time will come when either soft power over Pashtuns is complete or there is outright rebellion against Pakistan, it will decisively intervene and make it sure that its greater India project is realized.
*Shaikh Muhammad Bilal is an online journalist
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More in High Cholesterol
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Trial Stopped After Niacin Brings No Benefit to Heart Patients
NIH terminated study 18 months early, citing no drop in heart attacks, strokes for users.
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay News
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THURSDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News) — Although early research had suggested that the nutrient niacin might raise levels of "good" cholesterol and thwart heart attacks, a major clinical trial has been stopped 18 months early because it has shown no such benefit.
The trial, sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and a drug maker, enrolled patients with a history of heart disease who had their LDL ("bad") cholesterol under control with statin medications. The new trial hoped to use niacin (also known as vitamin B3) to boost levels of "good" HDL cholesterol while lowering blood levels of fats called triglycerides to help reduce the odds of heart attack or stroke.
Unfortunately, "this study has ended 18 months early because we have answered the primary question," Dr. Susan B. Shurin, acting director of the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), said during a morning press conference Thursday. "While high-dose niacin raised participants' HDL cholesterol and lowered triglycerides, it did not affect the overall rate of cardiovascular events," she said.
"There was also an unexplained higher incidence of stroke in the high-dose niacin group, compared to the group on statins alone," Shurin added.
It is not clear if this trend toward stroke was merely a matter of chance, but it was a factor in the NHLBI's decision to stop the trial, especially in the face of a lack of benefit from niacin, she said.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the findings and is recommending no change in labeling or practice [regarding niacin], pending full analysis of the data," Shurin said.
Prior to the trial, some observational studies had shown that low HDL cholesterol was a risk factor for heart attack and stroke, so it was thought that any drug that could boost HDL might help patients. In addition, some studies had shown that low HDL plus high triglycerides boosted the odds of cardiovascular events.
In the trial, more than 3,400 patients averaging 64 years of age were randomly assigned to high-dose niacin or a placebo. Those in the niacin arm of the trial took Abbott Laboratories' Niaspan, a time-released form of niacin that contains a much higher dose of niacin than is found in over-the-counter supplements.
All of the participants also took the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Zocor (simvastatin).
As expected, participants who took Niaspan for the 32 months of the trial saw their blood levels of HDL cholesterol rise and their triglycerides lower, compared with those who took a statin alone.
But the boost in HDL failed to translate to any reduction in heart attacks or strokes, the team said. Nor did it lower the rate of hospitalizations for heart disease or procedures to open blocked cardiac arteries, according to the NHLBI.
Worse, more people taking niacin had strokes than those on a statin alone, the researchers found. In fact, 28 participants taking Niaspan suffered strokes, compared with 12 in the placebo group. Nine of the strokes in the Niaspan group happened to participants who had stopped using the drug at least two months and up to four years before their stroke.
Earlier studies had not shown any connection between high-dose niacin and stroke risk, Shurin said. Why the uptick in strokes was seen in this study isn't clear, she said.
Shurin cautioned people who take supplemental niacin not to stop taking it. They might want to talk with their doctor, she said. But this study is no reason to change what they are doing, she added.
All those in the study have been notified of the results and will be scheduled for clinic visits within the next several months. They will also be followed for 12 to 18 months.
The trial was funded by the NHLBI with support from Abbott Laboratories, which provided the Niaspan. Drug maker Merck Pharmaceuticals provided the Zocor.
Commenting on the decision to stop the trial, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that "these findings highlight the critical importance of basing treatment decisions on well-powered, randomized clinical outcome trials rather than on surrogate endpoints like changes in lipid [blood fat] levels or imaging studies."
Statin therapy has been proven in trial after trial to reduce fatal and not-fatal cardiovascular events in patients with — and at risk for — cardiovascular events, he said.
"However, many clinicians have been led to believe that the so-called 'residual risk' of cardiovascular events that remained after statin therapy could be addressed with therapies like niacin added to statin therapy to raise HDL and lower triglycerides," Fonarow said.
But this trial has demonstrated no added reduction in cardiovascular events with this strategy. "A prior trial, ACCORD, showed no benefit with the addition of TriCor, which reduces triglycerides, to statin therapy. Together these trials challenge that concept that raising HDL and lowering triglycerides is beneficial," Fonarow said.
Niaspan's maker looked at the results more positively.
The study results "affirmed the positive impact of Niaspan on HDL and triglyceride lipid [blood fat] values. Previous studies support HDL as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease," Abbott said in a statement.
Copyright @ 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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He brings an empathic and challenging style to his coaching work, which addresses both developmental and performance issues. Gerry has an excellent track record of success, building rapport quickly and facilitating productive conversations early in the coaching process. His approach combines a pragmatic focus on his clients' business goals alongside supporting them to develop greater insight into their values and longer-term priorities. Gerry has particular expertise in cross-cultural coaching with individuals and teams.
Management consulting is at the heart of Gerry's business background, working with Deloitte's and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, where he held a senior management position with European responsibility.
Gerry is a certified executive coach, a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and a member of Faculty at the School of Coaching.
Gerry has worked with a wide range of public and private sector organisations including, O2, EDF, The Competition Commission, Fujitsu, WPP, Credit Suisse, Lloyd's Register, Masstock, DTZ, The Prudential, Hay Consulting, The Natural History Museum, Glaxo. BT and a number of privately owned medium-sized businesses.
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List of Dinosaurs
Home > Reptiles > Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Sinemurian age (early Jurassic period), around 193 million years ago. It is known by a single known species Dilophosaurus wetherilli. It was one of the largest carnivores of its time.
Dilophosaurus Dinosaur
Dilophosaurus Images
Dilophosaurus Photos
Dilophosaurus Pictures
Dilophosaurus Size
Dilophosaurus Skeleton
Dilophosaurus Skull
Clade Dinosauria
Order Saurischia
Suborder Theropoda
Clade Neotheropoda
Genus Dilophosaurus
Species D. wetherilli
Scientific name Dilophosaurus wetherilli
Size 6 meter in length and 1.5 meter height at the hip
Weight 650 to 1000 pounds
Teeth 12 maxillary and 18 dentary
Dilophosaurus meaning Double-crested lizard
Diet Carnivore (smaller plant-eating dinosaurs)
Top speed Approximately 30 MPH
Research on the few specimens suggested that they did not have any sexual dimorphism. Both male and female were similar when it comes to their skeleton structure. Dilophosaurus was a slender, fast-moving bipedal predator along with two thin, bony rounded crests on their head. They had short with three-fingered hands and strong legs with 4-toes feet. They also had a curved, S-shaped neck.
Range and Discovery
Three Dilophosaurus fossils have been unearthed from the United States; all found together in the state of Arizona. Another fossil has been unearthed from China (Asia). Fossilized bone samples similar to that of a Dilophosaurus skeleton have been found in several places around the world.
The first Dilophosaurus fossil specimens were unearthed by Sam Welles in 1942 in the Kayenta Formation in Arizona. The spot was found by Jesse Williams, in 1940. Two specimens – holotype UCMP 37302 and the paratype UCMP 37303 were taken to Berkeley for cleaning and mounting by Wann Langston’s team. In 1954, Welles gave the name Megalosaurus wetherilli in honor of John Wetherill.
Behavior and Habitat
Fossil samples suggest that they roamed in groups. It is believed that they were relatively fast runners. Some of the fossilized footprints had imprints of claw-tips. Their legs were around 1.65 meter in length, and its stride was around 2.13 meter long. They lived near streams, rivers as well as other water sources.
The name Dilophosaurus was given by Samuel P. Welles in 1970.
The crests of Dilophosaurus were for attracting mates or intimidating a rival. Recent studies suggest that it was actually for intra-species recognition.
Fossilized footprints assigned to this genus have been discovered in Höganäs Formation in Vallåkra and Sala, Sweden. The footprints suggest that they lived in herds.
The existence of a proposed species, D. breedorum, was concluded to an adult Dilophosaurus wetherilli.
All the fossil samples found in the United States are now at the University of California’s Museum of Paleontology at Berkeley, United States.
They did not have a great bite force compared to other dinosaurs.
Dilophosaurus is featured in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park as well as its movie adaptation. Unlike as it is shown on the Jurassic Park film, there is no evidence of its poison spitting. They also did not have any frill (also known as flaps) as suggested by the film.
Published on August 5th 2015 by admin under Reptiles.
Article was last reviewed on 15th November 2018.
© 2019 (Extinct Animals). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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National Domestic Workers Alliance
The National Domestic Workers Alliance Celebrates 10 Years - Leading with Love
"Domestic Work makes all other work possible." It's true, and we were honored to help this extraordinarily ambitious, innovation member-driven organization tell the remarkable story. It is the story of thousands of brave women from every walk of life, who fight for dignity, visibility in our culture, and equal protections under the law, and fair wages.
Watch the videos, assembled from both original and archival footage, to get a sense of the achievements of these amazing people, and to understand why NDWA is the future.
NDWA 10th Anniversary Teaser
National Domestic Workers Alliance 10-Year Gala Video
"The Eyes Up Here team made magic happen with this project. They were patient and flexible in the face of challenges and innovative and diligent in finding solutions. This production was a true partnership. We highly recommend Eyes Up Here not only for their tremendous work product but the great character of the staff. "
- Kristina Apgar, Creative Partnerships Director
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I Think We're Alone Now2008
Directed by Sean Donnelly
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW is a documentary that focuses on two individuals: Jeff and Kelly, who claim to be in love with the 1980s pop singer Tiffany. Jeff Turner, a 52-year-old man from Santa Cruz, California, has attended Tiffany concerts since 1988. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, Jeff lives alone off of government checks and has never had a girlfriend. Jeff spends his days hanging out on the streets of Santa Cruz, striking up conversations with anyone who has a moment to spare about conspiracy theories, God and Tiffany. Kelly McCormick is a 35-year-old intersex sports fanatic from Denver, Colorado, who claims to have been friends with Tiffany as a teenager. She credits Tiffany as the shining star who has motivated her to do everything in her life. Through both humorous and heartbreakingly sensitive scenes, the film takes a look at Jeff and Kelly's lives, revealing the source of their clinging obsessions.
2008 Fantasia International Film Festival
"The outer frontier of celebrity culture, where fandom meets mental illness, is home to I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW." - Dennis Harvey, Variety
Uncomfortable and endearing. Delicately handled. The world is a strange place.
Kitty A.
Kelly McCormick
Jeff Turner
Sean Donnelly
Phil Buccellato
Jordy Cohen
Palo Colorado
Alessandro Minoli
Cyrus Shahmir
Shockumentary
Fantasia International Film Festival
Raindance Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
Chris and Don: A Love Story 2007
directed by Tina Mascara, Guido Santi
Chris and Don: A Love Story
The true-life story of the passionate three-decade relationship between British writer Christopher Isherwood and American portrait painter Don Bachardy, thirty years his junior.
Paul Goodman Changed My Life 2011
directed by Jonathan Lee
PAUL GOODMAN CHANGED MY LIFE immerses you in an era of high intellect when New York was peaking culturally; when ideas, and the people who propounded them, seemed to punch in at a higher weight class than they do now.
Everyday Sunshine 2011
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Everyday Sunshine
From the shifting faultlines of Hollywood fantasies and the economic and racial tensions of Ronald Reagan's America, Fishbone rose to become one of the most original bands of the last twenty-five years. This is their story.
The House of Suh 2011
directed by Iris Shim
The House of Suh
One of Chicago's most famous murder cases surrounded sister and brother Catherine and Andrew Suh, first-generation Korean Americans, who conspired against, shot and killed Catherine's former boyfriend.
Bob and the Monster 2012
directed by Keirda Bahruth
This award winning documentary follows outspoken indie-rock hero Bob Forrest, through his life-threatening struggle with addiction, to his transformation into one of the most influential and controversial drug counselors in the US today.
Cure for Pain 2012
directed by Robert Bralver, David Ferino
Cure for Pain
Independent rock icon Mark Sandman dwelled in a nocturnal shadowland and brought otherworldly visions and no small measure of comfort to his devoted fans.
geoack
There are broken people everywhere. Somehow, they/we find a way to carry on. Some better than others. The two people here could have given up. Instead, they found a way, their own ways to go on with their lives, despite the loneliness, unfulfilled dreams and ridicule. They are deluded, yet they still believe their fantasies will come true. Is that dogged determination? Is that plain old insanity? Can we know? I found no happiness here. Hopefully, the subjects of this doc find some of their own. I didn't see it on the screen. I know I could not have made this doc, far too depressing for me. There are broken people everywhere.
Thought-provoking doc on the obsession fans can possess toward a media star. Fascinating!
Connie S.
I agree with Kitty. The world is very large.
Deft direction of delicate and intriguing subject matter
Joe Downes
cool story
i imagine this is the kind of movie that gets a lot of different reactions from people. for me, it was difficult and complexly sad in ways that are hard to summarize. given the ephemerality and general cheesiness of tiffany as a pop sensation, it's something of a shock how genuine these people are, and the filmmakers do take advantage of how beyond-shame their obsessions have become. that said, it's intensely empathetic and does not end up feeling as exploitative or mean-spirited as it might seem at first. unforgettable and definitely at home in the "cult" section...
Creepypeepy
Odd film, but well done.
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FITZY & WIPPA AND BENDIGO BANK JOIN RURAL AID’S MEGA FARM RESCUE IN FORBES 2018
Subject: Fitzy & Wippa and Bendigo Bank join Rural Aid’s Mega Farm Rescue in Forbes 2018.
The Nova Network, along with the rest of Australia, have been touched by the horrific plight farmers are currently facing due to the ongoing drought. Over the past few months, Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa have talked to some of the families affected. They were so inspired by their stories that the team wanted to help.
Nova has partnered with Bendigo Bank to support Rural Aid’s efforts by collecting over $110,000 which is being used to support the Forbes Mega Farm Rescue program. Rural Aid has organised for the money to go towards helping those who need it most and have ralled 200 volunteers to help 14 farms for a week in the Forbes area.
Fitzy, Wippa and the Nova 96.9 breakfast team will join the volunteers to help the various farms. Fitzy & Wippa will also provide on air support with an outside breakfast broadcast on Thursday 18 October from the showgrounds in the town.
Fitzy & Wippa said “We and the Nova gang can’t wait to get down to the Forbes area and help in anyway we can. We’re looking forward to meeting some of the farmers and familes and letting them know that the rest of the country are behind them. It had been a pleasure to partner with the team at Bendigo Bank and Rural Aid on such a worthy project as this.”
Bendigo Bank NSW/ACT State Manager, Kylie Douglass said, “I am pleased to announce that Nova is partnering with us so we can work together to help communities suffering. Together we will generously add more than $110,000 to this cause, with close to $70,000 of that pledged by our network of community-owned branches.
“The program is a great demonstration of what can happen when like-minded organisations, committed to doing good, work together. Through collaboration of this kind we can leverage all of the money available and really make a sustainable difference,” she said.
Rural Aid CEO Charles Alder said, having Fitzy and Wippa and the Bendigo Bank team come on board means the Farm Rescue event will allow us to improve the lives of these multiple farming families and pump valuable dollars into the local community to support businesses doing it tough. The Farm Rescue program involves volunteers pitching in and doing jobs many farmers don’t have the time or money to do and helps improve morale and living conditions of those who help clothe and feed us. this through fodder, hampers and more. Listeners can donate money to Rural Aid or you can go online and register to volunteer at www.ruralaid.org.au
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EB-5 Program Included in House Judiciary Committee Authorization and Oversight Plan for 115th Congress
According to IIUSA, the House Committee on the Judiciary published its annual Authorization and Oversight Plan for the 115th Congress.
March Visa Bulletin Released
According to the U.S. Department of State, as of March 1, Mainland-China born applicants who filed their I-526 petitions before May 1, 2014 will be eligible to schedule interviews with Department of State Consular offices and be issued conditional immigration visas to enter the U.S.
Kraft MC's and Speaks at Chinese New Year Celebration
The annual celebration, presented by the MMAC, was sponsored by FirstPathway Partners and held on Thursday, February 16th, 2017 at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, a FirstPathway Partners project, which opened in July 2016.
Proposed Changes to EB-5 Program
Recently the Department of Homeland Security proposed major changes to the EB-5 immigration investor program. One of the most notable changes includes a rule to almost triple the Program’s minimum investment threshold to $1.35 million for Targeted Employment Areas (TEA's).
Department of State Releases February 2017 Visa Bulletin
According to the U.S. Department of State, Chinese investors who filed their I-526 petitions before April 15, 2014 will be eligible to schedule interviews with Department of State Consular offices and be issued conditional immigration visas to enter the U.S.
Chinese New Year Kicks Off
A large, parade followed by fireworks, kicked off this year’s Chinese Lunar New Year. In China, residents celebrated the Year of the Rooster by lighting lanterns throughout the country.
Chicago Investor Pays Visit to Global Water Center
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Submit Your Comments on the Draft EB-5 Legislation and Proposed Regulations
The Department of Homeland Security recently published proposed regulations for the EB-5 program. These proposals include significant reforms to the current Program.
Kraft Presents at 2017 EB5 Investors Magazine Convention
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New Study Shows EB-5 Has Created Nearly 17,000 Jobs
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USCIS Simplifies Processing Times Reporting
On January 4, USCIS began posting processing times using a specific date format, rather than weeks or months. They believe this change will help them deliver easier to understand processing times in a more timely fashion.
Kimpton Earns "Exceptional" Status with Average Review of 4.8 Stars
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Forbes Magazine on EB-5: “The EB-5 Program is a Job Creation Program”
Over the last year or so, experts have weighed in on the immigration policy of President Elect, Donald Trump. Though there is still much to be confirmed, “There is one immigration law on the books that should continue”—and that is the EB-5 Program.
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Warmest Wishes this Holiday Season from FirstPathway Partners!
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Blu-ray Review – Smokey & The Bandit: The Complete Collection
November 21, 2016 by Amie Cranswick 1 Comment
Smokey & The Bandit: The Complete Collection.
Directed by Hal Needham/Dick Lowry.
Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, Mike Henry, Colleen Camp, Dom DeLuise, Macon McCalman, Michael Mann, George Reynolds.
Box set featuring all three car chase movies remastered on Blu-ray, courtesy of Fabulous Films.
Thanks to Fabulous Films you can now relive those rainy bank holidays of the 1980s with this box set of good ol’ boy charm and crazy car stunts that is the Smokey & The Bandit trilogy, fully restored and available as a box set or individually.
In the first movie, legendary driver The Bandit (Burt Reynolds – Deliverance/Boogie Nights) accepts a challenge from shady businessmen Big Enos Burdette (Pat McCormick – Scrooged) and his son Little Enos (Paul Williams – The Muppet Movie) that he cannot illegally transport a truckload of beer from Texas to Atlanta within 28 hours. Recruiting his trucker buddy Cledus (Jerry Reed – Bat*21) to drive the truck while he acts as a blocker in a brand new Trans Am supplied by the Enos’s, The Bandit soon becomes the target of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason – The Hustler) and his dimwit son Junior (Mike Henry – The Longest Yard) as they try to take The Bandit down before he can win his bet.
A huge box office success in 1977 (despite having to compete with a little sci-fi movie named Star Wars that seemed to prove quite popular), a sequel came along in 1980 and saw The Bandit again taking a job from Big Enos, this time giving him three days to transport a crate containing an elephant to the Republican Party Conference in Dallas. Needless to say, this gets the attention of Buford T. Justice and the race is back on as Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed and Sally Field reprise their roles from the first film and take on the might of Buford and his two brothers (also played by Gleason). Smokey & The Bandit Part 3 followed in 1983 and saw the Enos’s offer Buford T. Justice a bet that he can’t drive across country promoting their new fish & chips business with a huge plastic fish on his car. Justice accepts the bet but the Enos’s try every trick in the book to thwart him, going so far as to hire Cledus to dress up as The Bandit to pursue him and make sure he loses.
Of the three movies it is the original that sticks in the memory the most. Burt Reynolds is at his charming, comedic best as The Bandit, always outwitting Buford T. Justice and keeping one step ahead of the game, and Jackie Gleason is phenomenal as the stoic Sheriff, especially with his put-downs to Junior. The success of the original film came at a time when the southern USA seemed to be in vogue, with bands like The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd bringing southern rock to the masses and movies like Deliverance and the more mainstream Live & Let Die giving audiences a glimpse of how things are down south; one could even argue that Sheriff J.W. Pepper in the Bond movies is a more slapstick forerunner for Buford T. Justice. It also helped that the movies featured fantastic car chases and stunts (performed by real people in real cars) that would go on to influence a host of other movies and TV shows, such as The Dukes of Hazzard and The Cannonball Run.
Smokey & The Bandit II is also fun but not to the same degree, with the bulk of the main cast returning and the plot (if you can call it that) a little more structured than it was before, which makes some of the jokes fall a little flat. However, by the time of the third movie Burt Reynolds was taking a back seat and Sally Field had dropped out completely, which left the romantic elements to one side in favour of broad gags. It is still fun to watch, and Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Mike Henry are as amusing as they always were, but the ideas seems a bit tired and the film rehashes a lot of the jokes and set pieces from the previous two movies, making the smaller budget and change of director a little more obvious. However, Reynolds does appear for a brief cameo at the very end, bringing the story full circle at least.
In terms of picture quality, all three movies look decent without being amazing but they’re not big special effects showcases anyway so what you get is a cleaned-up picture with bright reds, yellows and greens standing out and sharp edges on most of the images. There is grain present on all three films that occasionally gets a bit more obvious, the first film in particular having some inconsistent specks here and there, but the difference between the Blu-rays and any previous DVD releases is noticeable. The DTS-HD Master audio tracks are clear but not punchy enough to really bring the most dramatic moments to life, although the soundtrack songs sound great and accentuate the action when need be.
Overall, this collection is a fun nostalgia trip if you saw the movies back in the day and all three films make for perfect lazy afternoon entertainment. Unfortunately there are no special features for any of the films so if you are taken in by the charms of Burt Reynolds and the comic presence of Jackie Gleason there is nothing extra to get stuck into but otherwise these are decent editions of light-hearted action comedies the likes of which don’t get made nowadays. Luckily, after 30-plus years these films still raise a smile so they don’t really have to.
Smokey & The Bandit – Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Smokey & The Bandit II – Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★/ Movie: ★ ★ ★
Smokey & The Bandit III – Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Filed Under: Chris Ward, Movies, Reviews Tagged With: Burt Reynolds, Colleen Camp, Dick Lowry, Dom DeLuise, George Reynolds, Hal Needham, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Macon McCalman, Michael Mann, Mike Henry, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, Sally Field, Smokey & The Bandit, Smokey & The Bandit II, Smokey & The Bandit III
Michael Fisher says
These are brilliant and perfect for a Sunday afternoon, agree totally
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Green Room (2016)
Mike Ewins Sep 20, 2016 0
Jeremy Saulnier's Blue Ruin (2013) begins in media res, advancing with the tension of stretching a coiled slinky into garrotting wire, and ceasing on a moment of violence that snaps the instrument back into a thick, tangled wad. In most…
Craig Pay Apr 15, 2013 0
Something horrible is coming, something evil, with no soul or pity, it wants to manipulate you, take something you hold dear and turn it inside out, draining it of all that is good, it is.... yet another remake of a much loved, classic…
Stitches (2012)
Craig Pay Mar 6, 2013 3
CLOWN. If you're currently staring at a blank page, attempting to brainstorm ideas for a horror flick, the word clown at the top of said page might be a good start. Of all the people I've met with specific fears and phobias, those who…
Top Ten 90’s Horror Movies
Craig Pay Feb 6, 2013 6
The 1990's are widely regarded as the very worst decade for horror movies, especially when considering the range of quality fright flicks produced during the previous decade. There are gems amongst the crud of the 90's though, and the ten…
Father’s Day (2011)
Craig Pay Dec 5, 2012 2
Despite being a commercial failure, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 2007 Grindhouse movie experiment has succeeded in a different sense, having inspired other filmmakers to get down and dirty with cheap, kick-ass exploitation…
Cockneys Vs Zombies (2012)
Rob Keeling Oct 22, 2012 3
There’s a brilliant Simpsons episode where a character called Homer Simpson appears on a TV cop show called Police Cops. He winds up being a bit of a bumbling fool and so his namesake goes to a meeting with the show execs to discuss why he…
The Devil’s Rock (2011)
Rob Keeling Jul 11, 2011 1
Trust a Nazi, or trust a Demon. That’s the perilous decision facing a pair of Kiwi Commandos who land on a Nazi occupied Channel Island on the eve of D-Day. Captain Grogan and Sergeant Tane have been sent on a sabotage mission which calls…
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)
Rob Keeling Mar 2, 2011 1
Wrenching out your own teeth with nothing but a pair of pliers. Stringing yourself up by two meat hooks pierced through your pectorals. Being burned alive in a white hot oven. Three things that are not only inventive ways of killing and…
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Here's One Romantic Thing You Should Do with Your BF Before the Year Ends
End the year with a bang!
by Christa I. De La Cruz for Spot.ph | Nov 16, 2018
IMAGE iStock
Now that you're in your 30s, date nights have gone beyond the usual dinner and movie (though Netflix-and-chill nights will always be on the table!). You need more variety, culture, and interesting things to talk about, and you now have more money to splurge on quality shows.
In recent years, local theater has been making waves thanks to companies like the Sipat Lawin Ensemble, Red Turnip Theater, Sandbox Collective, and Fringe MNL. Musicals like Sa Wakas and Rak of Aegis have been produced and restaged thanks to audience support and the rise of new performance venues all over the metro. We've also been introduced to a new generation of female leads like Delphine Buencamino and Mikki Bradshaw, while veterans like Cris Villonco have expanded to behind-the-scenes roles like producing and directing.
What else are the benefits of watching theater as a couple?
Even if the play itself isn't romantic, who says you can't make a date of it?
As an article on Erickson Living says, ”'Theatre is one of the higher cultural activities that mark us as imaginative, creative and truly human,' Dr. Glenn D Wilson explained during a lecture at Gresham College.
"Attending a performance of your favorite play can promote a connection with and understanding of humanity in a bigger sense. Wilson explained that the inclusion of human conflict in many plays helps people relate to each other while providing subtle guidance in our own personal relationships."
Supporting the local theater scene
The year may be coming to a close, but local theater groups and dance companies are nowhere near done presenting must-watch musicals, plays, and ballet shows for 2018. The repertoire for November ranges from well-loved Christmas shows like The Nutcracker to an opera thriller with a surprising twist. Get ready for some really good shows.
Mula sa Buwan
Mula sa Buwan takes after the well-loved play by Cyrano de Bergerac but with a very Filipino twist. The Edmond Rostand original is now set in 1940s Manila where Cyrano (Nicco Manalo/Boo Gabunada) is an ROTC cadet and Roxane (Cris Go/Gab Pangilinan) is a blushing colegiala. Christian (Edward Benosa/Myke Salomon), the lead's best friend, falls in love with the beautiful damsel.
The show runs until November 25 at Hyundai Hall, Arete, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Tickets, priced from P800 to P1,400, are available through Ticket2Me.
This is perfect for date night not just because of the musical arrangements and performances, but also for the nuanced storytelling. It's both romantic and painful, sorrowful but rewarding. A definite must watch during this trying year.
FN Tip: Buy a soundtrack after the show to relive the journey on long drives (or two-hour traffic).
The Medium
Gian Carlo Menotti's opera thriller titled The Medium follows the story of Madame Flora (a.k.a. Baba), who facilitates fake séances. During one of her sessions, she thinks she has actually summoned spiritsonly to learn the truth in the most painful way. Jay Glorioso headlines MusicArtes' production.
The show runs until November 25 at Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, BGC Arts Center, 26th Street corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Tickets, priced from P1,200 to P1,500, are available through Ticketworld.
The Dressing Room/Ang Dressing Room
The Dressing Room: That Which Flows Away Ultimately Becomes Nostalgia, a play by Japanese writer Shimizu Kunio, graces the Philippine stage as part of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas 40th theater season. The company is also staging a Filipino translation by Palanca Hall of Famer Nicholas Pichay on select dates. A meta-play, The Dressing Room explores the frustrations and aspirations of four actresses preparing for their cues while waiting backstage.
The show runs until November 25 at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2/F Palma Hall, University of the Philippines - Diliman, Quezon City. Tickets, priced at P500, are available through Ticket2Me.
Waitress, which makes its international premiere in Manila, features music and lyrics from Sara Bareilles and script by Jessie Nelson. It tells the story of a pie maker named Jenna who dreams of changing her life for the better. Joanna Ampil, Bituin Escalante, and Maronne Cruz star in this Atlantis Theatrical production.
The show runs from November 9 to December 2 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4/F RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced from P2,000 to P4,000, are available through Ticketworld.
Marisol, a two-act play by Puerto Rican writer Jose Rivera, is adapted into Filipino by Palanca Hall of Famer Rody Vera for Tanghalang Ateneo's 40th season. A mix of magic realism and dark comedy, it follows Marisol's story of survival amid turmoil in the cosmos--the angels have decided to wage war against a senile and pseudo-dictator God. Sound familiar?
The show runs from November 15 to 25 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Aretñ, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. Tickets, priced at P500, are available through Ticket2Me.
The Nutcracker
Philippine Ballet Theater presents a full-length classic just in time for the holiday season: The Nutcracker. The two-act ballet is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and Alexandre Dumas' adapted story The Story of a Nutcracker. Bring the kids to this family-friendly and magical show featuring festive colors, life-sized dancing dolls, and an enchanting set.
The show runs from November 17 to 18 at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Tickets, priced from P100 to P2,000, are available through Ticketworld.
Larawan ng Pilipino Bilang Artist(a)
Larawan ng Pilipino Bilang Artist(a), written and directed by Nonon Padilla, is a comedic sequel to the Nick Joaquin classic, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. It reimagines what could have happened had the Marasigan sisters, Paula and Candida, come back to the Philippines--not to Intramuros, but to Forbes Park--after living for 30 years in New York.
The show runs from November 21 to December 1 at SDA Theater, 5/F School of Design and Arts, De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, 950 Pablo Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila. Tickets, priced at P600, are available through Ticketworld.
Ang Paglilitis kay Mang Serapio
Ang Paglilitis kay Mang Serapio, which was written by Paul Dumol in 1968, is now more relevant than ever as the Philippine justice system is in turmoil. The 50-year-old play centers on an old beggar named Mang Serapio who is accused of harboring a child and allegedly affecting the community's shared income. As the arguments in the courtroom continue, the corruption within the judicial system is exposed.
The show runs from November 23 to 25 at The Ruins, Alfonso Street, Poblacion, Makati. Tickets, priced at P800, are available through Ticket2Me.
Cinderella, the first full-length choreography by Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, returns to the stage after a successful premiere in 2016. Ballet Manila's principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Joan Emery Sia alternate for the role of Cinderella.
The show runs from November 24 and December 1 at 6 p.m., and on November 25 and December 2 at 4 p.m. at ALIW Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Vicente Sotto Street, Pasay City. Tickets, priced from P500 to P1,500, are available through Ticketworld.
Manila Notes
Tanghalang Pilipino and The Japan Foundation, Manila partners up for the Filipino adaptation of Oriza Hirata's acclaimed play Tokyo Notes. The local version written by Rody Vera is set in the lobby of an art museum in Manila--sometime in the future--while a war is ongoing in Europe. With the West in the middle of such a calamity, a number of paintings are moved to various cities in Asia available for viewing by Filipino families in local galleries.
The show runs from November 30 to December 16 at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Tickets, priced from P800 to P1,000, are available through Ticketworld.
With additional reporting by Ysabel Y. Yuzon
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
Culture Couplehood Date Night Things To Do In Manila Theater
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Things You Can Easily Clean (in Less Than 10 Minutes) After Working Overtime
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Laser cutting: brighter, wider, faster
As short-run digital wide format printers get faster, so there's a need for finishing systems that can keep up with them. High speed single-pass laser cutters are one solution to certain finishing requirements.
These were first seen in the narrow web label finishing market in the past decade, but we're now seeing much wider systems with feeders and belt transfers that can handle B2 or B1 sheet widths at speeds that can keep up with fast digital presses.
They can work inline or near-line with some digital presses and other finishing lines. As with digital printing, there's no make-ready needed beyond setting the feeders, and it's just as easy to achieve one-off or personalised cuts as it is with the printed images.
Short run and one-off cutting and creasing has been an increasingly familiar companion to large format printing for the past decade or so, even without lasers. It just hasn't been very fast. The first digital knife cutters grew out of the pen plotters used in the 1970s and 80s (another strand of development led to the earliest large format inkjets, but that's another story).
Travelling heads driven by stepper motors allow extremely accurate positioning and they can be remarkably fast, but even so the heads have to physically move over the whole length of the cut or crease. This takes time, especially on complex cuts.
Laser cutters also go back to the 1970s, with the first ones in the printing industry being introduced to cut slots in plywood formes to take cutting and creasing knives and rules. For example Lasercomb was an early pioneer in this market, delivering its first machine in 1975. It is still making laser cutting tables today, having branched out into water jet cutters and routers too.
Affordable power
As the cost of high powered lasers fell, they have become more common for cutting the actual media as well as the diecutting formes.
They use similar travelling heads to the knife and router finishing tables. Although lasers don't need to exert physical force, heavy construction is still desirable for accuracy. Today's prices can be well under €20,000 for a decent plotting table with hand feeding and positioning, and as low as €2,500 for a smallish Chinese-built table.
Back in the 1980s the early cutting lasers were huge, power-hungry and fairly slow. Their slow rate of travel meant they heated up and burnt the media close to the cut, leaving blacked scorch marks along the edges.
This didn't matter for cutting forms (or crack-back peel-off labels, another early laser application). However, today's relatively affordable, very high powered lasers can vapourise thin media so quickly that the surrounds don't have time to burn, leaving clean edges.
You can see this in a new breed of laser-cut greetings cards, which also often show very fine lace-like filigree effects that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with rule-based diecutters.
Although non-variable chemical-etched or engraved metal roller dies could match the shapes, these have a challenge in removing fine waste from the corners, where a laser can simply vaporise smaller waste areas. You'll need a fume extractor of course, but this is easily arranged.
A unique ability of lasers is to ablate pre-printed ink from the media. If you wind the laser power down, it can remove the ink allowing the underlying media (paper or perhaps foil) to show through. This would let you get personalised or hard-to-counterfeit security-marked results, even from a non-variable print job.
Brighter, faster
So what of the new breed of faster, larger laser cutters? Drupa 2012 saw the introduction of the Highcon Euclid (see www.highcon.net), a €730,000 B1 format sheet-fed finisher for folding carton work - the company calls this "direct-to-pack." This machine mixes three powerful cutting lasers across the width with DART, a clever but non-variable polymer extrusion system that forms creasing rules on an impression cylinder.
These rules form creases similar to what you'll get from metal dies. The rules are fixed for the duration of the run, so while the cuts can be varied, the creases can't. The polymer extrusion and curing process can take 20 minutes between jobs (the exact time depends on the rule lengths), so unlike an all-laser system, the Euclid is not free of downtime between jobs.
The Euclid has an integral sheet sheeter and stacking delivery, though so far no automatic stripping facility. A clever aspect of its design is that the media transport under the lasers is a belt topped with steel needles, so that laser energy that penetrates the media is scattered and diffused and there is no danger of reflected burning of the underside of the sheet.
Inside themediahouse's motioncutter, showing puffs of vapour as the laser does its work.
Highcon has a demonstration unit in Belgium and three or four commercial users in European carton printing companies. It has sold several into the USA and has signed a strategic partnership with American Greetings.
Last year marked the arrival of the very compact laser motioncutter from themediahouse in Germany (www.motioncutter.com). It was previewed at the UK's North Print & Pack in May 2013 and officially launched at the HP Indigo users' DScoop event in Rome the following November.
It also won a European Digital Press Award for "Best commercial printing finishing system." There are about seven installations in Europe and three in the USA, with seven more on order, according to Shaun Stanley, the UK based worldwide market development manager. He says that many of these have gone in to accompany Scodix digital raised spot varnishers.
Compared to the Euclid, this is a smaller format laser-only machine, for widths of 580 mm and unlimited lengths. It costs €194,500. Its speed depends on the cut-line lengths and the thickness of the media, but is quoted as 1,500 to 3,000 B2 paper sheets per hour.
The burn-through reflection problem is addressed by using a specially developed metal mesh belt. A recent 30% increase in laser power for the same price has seen its throughput potential increase too.
A wider twin laser model for media up to 1.6m wide is currently under development, Stanley said, adding: "We have done a proof of concept already and a prototype is under development."
Although motioncutter can handle carton work, it's intended for other applications as well. It cuts, kiss cuts, engraves and perforates a range of sheet fed substrates that need intricate, short-run, dieless cutting.
An example of a complex laser cut job handled by the motioncutter. This is a direct mail self mailer, with potential for personalised letter cutting.
Every sheet can be personalised with true variable data processing by the Namecut feature in the included software.
Jörg Scheffler, owner of themediahouse, said: "We couldn't pigeonhole the motioncutter into one market application because of the crossover into different sectors for laser cut packaging, direct mail, stationary, kiss cutting adhesive labels, engraving creative artwork and also cutting and perforating wacky and difficult shapes."
Stanley added: "The interest we've been getting has for crossover work, from people who don't want to just do packaging work, but other things like artistic cutting and direct mail."
Unlike the larger and much more expensive Highcon Euclid, the motioncutter cannot form true creases. It can perforate the media to form crack-fold lines, or with thicker materials it can engrave grooves. However, unlike true creases these weaken the material.
This is the main motioncutter unit, which can be fed by a stacker or conveyor, with other inline finishing options.
How much this matters depends on the intended use of the final job. If it is only likely to be assembled once and not subject to rough handling, there's no real problem. For a hinged flap that has to be used repeatedly, it may be a weak point that fails.
Stanley said that knife and rotary creasing units can be fitted inline with motioncutter, either before or after the laser unit. Themediahouse has been working with Multigraf creasers so far. Together with BDT, Multigraf already supplies feeders for the motioncutter.
An alternative has recently arrived from the USA. LasX Industries has been building its LaserSharp STS sheet fed cutters there for several years, but they have only recently come to Europe, distributed by German company Pro Cut, which is establishing a dealer network.
The standard LaserSharp media width is 600 mm and the length is unlimited, so B2 sheets can easily be handled. Robotic stackers can be fitted to sort cut items into piles of the same type, though these add a lot to the price. Twin laser configurations are available to order, for double the media width.
The internal media transport is a vacuum mesh belt and it can run either as a standalone with a pile feeder for sheets, a roll feeder, or inline with a digital press. Xerox offers the LasX cutter and stacker as an inline option as part of its Robotic Print Solution in the USA.
Prices start about €225,000 for a 400W laser system, but a more powerful 1000W laser is available for higher speeds or tougher materials. This cutter can handle acrylics as well as industrial materials such as flexible circuit boards and abrasive papers.
The price includes workflow software to pre-flight the job and fix problems such as unclosed contours. This can accept input from other print workflow software, though apparently it doesn't process true variable data, instead it re-Rips every time the image changes.
As with the motioncutter, LasX cannot form true creases with its laser, though it can cut grooves. It can also be fitted with a knife creaser downstream of the cutter, that can create cross-folds at any point.
The standard LasX LaserSharp STP 400 unit takes media up to 600mm wide but double-width twin-laser options are offered.
In principle you could also fit scoring wheels for lengthways creases, which would allow the majority of folding work to be created on thinner media. For carton conversion work, LasX can also fit folder-gluers from either Brandtjen & Kluge or Petratto, inline with the cutting unit. Double width configurations can be ordered with two lasers.
The angle problem
While these fast lasers use steerable mirrors to move the beam very rapidly across the media, this does pose a challenge for wider and/or thicker materials. As the beam travels further towards the edges, it would naturally spread out and lose focus and energy.
All the developers have techniques for changing focus very quickly and themediahouse (possibly the others) says this also prevents the beam spreading. A more insurmountable problem is that the beam hits the media at an increasing angle towards the edges, so thicker materials can have a bevel.
This is why multiple beams are used for wider models, but it doesn't entirely overcome the problem.
Thus if you need to cut thick media across large widths, a plotting table type laser or knife cutter may still be your only choice. But for the thinner stuff, a speedy single-pass belt-fed laser may be a worthwhile investment.
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Closing The Eternity - "Kosmodrones" [2011]
Artist: Closing The Eternity
Title: Kosmodrones
Genre: Dark Ambient, Drone
Release date: 2011 (recorded 1999-2002)
Только жёлтая заря
Только звезды ледяные
Только миллионы лет
It's time to post here something by the last major project of Anton Shafarostov aka 121 that wasn't featured on my blog yet. You might know 121 by such projects as Velehentor, Valhalla, Nuclear Winter, or Кобь, or if you can read Russian - by his Twilight Shadows webzine (which, unfortunately, seems to be defunct now). Under the CtE moniker, he released several space ambient/drone albums whose main theme is the insignificance of Earth and the human civilization on the cosmic scale:
"The sound of CLOSING THE ETERNITY is based upon drones, and developed with ambient and noise touches. The first and the second albums were written in very misanthropic and materially-minded way. Then 121 made a pause to conceive the essence of CLOSING THE ETERNITY as a ultimate abstraction from all human-related aspects… from everything that could be concerned with terrestrial civilisation"
Like the other projects of 121, CtE sounds quite professional when compared to most other underground music projects in 90's and early 2000s' Russia. Let's be honest: drone ambient is often considered to be quite low effort genre, but this can't be said about CtE, despite the minimalistic composition of the music. According to 121, he became interested in ambient music after he heard "Comala" by Jorge Reyes as a kid in 1986, but he started making his own music only in late 90s. 121 himself describes the sound of "Kosmodrones" as "deeply spatial dark drones with distant and haunting melodic lines". The track titles are taken from a short nihilist poem by Georgy Ivanov, which is one of my favourites too.
121 seems to have completely quit making his own music after the release of the "Ceremonial Death" EP by Velehentor, although he mixed and mastered albums for several black metal bands in the last few years. According to this article (which even mentions my blog, by the way), the maestro was also spotted at a 2013 convention of electronic music composers in California. And yes, he's now a high-ranked official, which isn't a big surprise - after all, prime ministers and even presidents that listen to metal aren't unheard of, and misanthropy is a trait that's certainly expected from a public official, but... Just watch this video. Does that man wearing glasses looks like a black metal musician? Yet he is (or, at least, was):
Автор: Alexander на 11:55 PM
Ярлыки: ambient, Russia
Lovozero - "Zagovory" [2015]
Oyme - "Horol Ebel" (music video)
Bad Sector - "Kosmodrom" [2005]
Nambavan - "Last Night The DJ Shaved My Ass" [2006...
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Home Latest news Programme news
TEAM-NET competition: call for applications in October
In October 2018 the Foundation for Polish Science will open a call for applications for its new TEAM-NET competition, which is funded by the Smart Growth Operational Programme. The Competition regulations are now available on our website. The main ob...
The results of the fifth FIRST TEAM competition announced
The Foundation for Polish Science has selected the winners of the fifth FIRST TEAM competition. Thirteen junior scientists received grants totalling over PLN 26 million for setting up their first research teams. The FIRST TEAM programme supports juni...
The results of the competitions under the HOMING and POWROTY/REINTEGRATIONS programmes are here
The Foundation for Polish Science has announced the results of the fifth competitions organised under the HOMING and POWROTY/REINTEGRATIONS programmes. Fifteen junior researchers will receive funding of nearly PLN 12 million for carrying out innovati...
The International Research Agendas competition no 8/2017 resolved
Studies on the complex mechanisms of brain plasticity and on electromagnetic radiation will be conducted in two new research centres that will be established using the funds granted under the International Research Agendas Programme (IRAP) competitio...
A new International Research Agendas competition launched
Today, on 23 July, the Foundation for Polish Science has announced a new competition within the International Research Agendas (IRAP) programme. Competition number 12/2018 welcomes applications from outstanding scientists from all over the world who ...
PLN 100 million to be granted for research in new FNP programme
A total of up to PLN 100 million is to be spent by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) on cooperation between research units in its new grant programme TEAM-NET financed from the funds of the Smart Growth Operational Programme. … Read more >>
The IRAP competition for beneficiaries of the Teaming programme launched
Today, 17 July, 2018, the Foundation for Polish Science has announced an International Research Agendas competition for beneficiaries of the Teaming programme (IRAP PLUS). The deadline for submitting the first and second parts of the application expi...
Dr Caterina Tarlazzi wins the Leszek Kołakowski Honorary Fellowship
Dr Caterina Tarlazzi, from the University of Geneva, has won the second competition for the Leszek Kołakowski Honorary Fellowship awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science. The objective of the fellowship is to recognise scholars with exceptional ...
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AIMS challenges FSA in Supreme Court
AIMS and the FSA will battle it out in the Supreme Court over challenging Official Veterinarians' decisions (Photo credit UK Supreme Court)
The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) is to take on the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) in the Supreme Court over its refusal to allow Official Veterinarians’ (OV) decisions to be challenged.
The case, due to be heard on Tuesday 5 March, stems from a 2014 situation when Stockton-based AIMS member Cleveland Meat purchased a bull at Darlington Farmers Mart. According to The Supreme Court, after the animal was slaughtered, the OV found that the animal was diseased and so declared it unfit for human consumption, and refused to award it a health mark. Cleveland did not agree with the OV’s decision.
Cleveland considered the bull was healthy and sought to challenge the OV’s decision. However, the FSA took the view that there was no right to appeal against or challenge a decision of an OV as to the fitness of meat for human consumption.
Cleveland brought a claim for judicial review of the decision that it had no right of appeal against the OV’s decision.
In the previous hearing in the High Court in 2017, the FSA’s stance was upheld, leading AIMS to bring the matter to the Supreme Court. However AIMS contends that the FSA should have let the business challenge the decision to mark it as unfit for human consumption
Cleveland went into administration in August 2017 and site was sold to Darlington Farmers Auction Mart Company in March 2018.
Related topics: Regulation, Meat & poultry
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Defra slammed for being ‘too complacent’ about Brexit
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Weekly Comment
Allergens: no room for mistakes
12-Feb-2007 - Last updated on 14-Oct-2008 at 16:58 GMT
Related tags: Food industry, Food allergy, Allergies
It would be a mistake for governments and industry to misinterpret
the recent progress in food allergen labeling as a final solution:
there is much that yet remains to be done, for the well-being of
both consumers and manufacturers.
Perhaps the clearest indication that the situation needs attention is the almost weekly list of product recalls recorded globally as a result of undeclared ingredients or product contamination. And it's not just the smaller food companies – with arguably less streamlined manufacturing procedures in place – that continue to slip up. In the past few weeks alone, big players such as Cadbury's in the UK and Whole Foods Market in the US have recalled products after incorrect labeling. Every new recall erodes consumers' confidence and manufacturers' bottom lines just that little bit more. But this isn't simply another marketing strategy to capture consumer loyalty and boost sales. Nor is it in the same league of debate as misleading people with unfounded health claims or promoting products that make us fat. Although both crucial issues in their own right, allergens sit one notch up on the priority ladder – because when we're talking about the risk of people dying after a single nutritional slip, or even suffering a seriously compromised quality of life, there really is no room for debate. Of course, the food industry internationally has made huge progress this decade, and consumers suffering from allergies can now visit supermarkets with a wider choice and less risk than ever before. New labeling regulations implemented last year in the US require the labeling in simple language of eight major food allergens - milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy. Europe has gone one step further, essentially abolishing an outrageous '25%' rule – which meant that a compound ingredient comprising less than 25 percent of the finished product (such as salami on pizza) did not have to have its individual ingredients listed. But since 2005, products for sale in Europe must label 12 allergens, with an additional two shortly due to be added to the list. Australia and New Zealand also implemented new allergen labeling rules a few years earlier. However, one of the side effects of more stringent legislation has been a surge in the dubious 'May Contain' labeling. These warnings started with the very best intentions from the industry: a greater understanding of allergens led to a heightened sense of responsibility to indicate any measure of doubt. But this is a point where consumers and manufacturers simply don't understand each other. Manufacturers feel they are being responsible, while consumers feel they are opting for a legal cop-out. As a result, the labels are mistrusted and often ignored. Although most consumers just don't understand what goes on in food production plants, and the contamination risk involved when many products are manufactured on the same premises, their critique may occasionally hold true. The simple fact is that the proliferation of 'May Contain' labels must absolutely not take the place of good manufacturing practices. The UK has anticipated the issue with the imminent introduction of a voluntary allergen certification program. Funded by the nation's regulatory body – the Food Standards Agency – and coordinated by an allergy support charity – The Anaphylaxis Campaign – the new guidelines are due to be launched later this year. They involve comprehensive guidance for all systems and procedures that need to be implemented in manufacturing plants in order to minimize the risk of contamination or mislabeling. The result: safer products for consumers and less risk for manufacturers. Such guidelines are certainly an important next step and should act as an example to other regulatory bodies. So, far from feeling it has done enough, the industry needs to stay alert and responsive in order to best protect consumers and anticipate the next transition to providing safer products. Because although the US Food and Drug Administration claims its new labeling regulations address 90 percent of documented food allergies, that still leaves 10 percent of uncertainty. Food-induced allergies, quality of life or potentially even death should have nothing to do with numbers. We've come a long way in a short time – the first scientific papers linking allergies to death were only published in the 1980's. The food industry will again need to adjust its practices as more allergens come to be scientifically recognized. The sooner this is done, the softer the strike, and the happier the consumer. Lorraine Heller is editor of FoodNavigator-USA and is a specialist writer on food industry issues. With an international focus, she has lived and worked in the UK, Cyprus and France. If you would like to comment on this article, please e-mail lorraine.heller'at'decisionnews.com
Related topics: Suppliers, Food safety and labeling
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Color plus clean labels from a proven ingredient
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BriesSpecialty™ Malt Flours offer natural color and flavor adjustment for cookies, breads and other grain-based goods. Ranging in color from light to black,...
Almendra—The Stevia People | Amano Enzyme USA Co. | LASCOM | LECO Corporation | Rabobank | ViscoTec America Inc. – Dosing & Filling Systems
By RabobankIs Your Startup Ready for FoodBytes! Chicago?
By GivaudanGivaudan Kitchen Ingredients – meeting consumer demand for clear and clean labelling
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Why High-Fidelity Streaming Is The Audio Revolution Your Ears Have Been Waiting For
Oisin Lunny Senior Contributor
I write about great music, mobile-centric tech and related trends.
Beoplay H9i Terracotta Headphones
Bang and Olufsen
Digital audio enthusiasts, myself included, have been watching the fall and rise of sound quality closely over the last few years. Mass-market digital audio has been with us since the launch of storage media like the CD, but our migration towards files stored on portable devices or streamed from the cloud has been a rollercoaster in terms of quality.
The most significant developments have usually been at the behest of the largest tech companies, rather than record companies. Apple famously took the MP3 revolution mainstream with the birth of the iTunes Music Store in 2003, before launching a series of portable devices: the iPod, iPad, and the epoch-defining iPhone. But the MP3 revolution came at a cost, namely a degradation in audio quality compared to CDs.
A gradual clawback of audio quality mirrored the increase in data storage, and the iTunes Music Store doubled their default encoding rate in 2009. Similarly, streaming quality has increased in parallel with internet bandwidth. Once the digital audio genie was out of the internet bottle, factors as baroque as mobile bandwidth, on-device RAM, all-you-can-eat mobile data plans, and triple-play cable packages have arguably been as influential to the fortunes of the modern music business as the invention of the CD.
However, a recent technical development has triggered an entirely new wave of streaming digital audio quality. Bang & Olufsen’s most senior Tonmeister (sound engineer) Geoff Martin outlines what’s happened, and how. “For a time, streaming services, in general, made quality worse. But that time has passed. And that's because the way that streaming services work has changed. Initially, they were sending out low bitrate MP3 in the same way that Internet radio works these days. But what's happening now with services like TIDAL, Deezer HiFi and Qobuz is that they are pushing a FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) file out to the player.”
A codec (coder-decoder) is the mechanism by which the original master quality audio is encoded into a more portable format, and subsequently decoded for playback. While the "lossy" MP3 codec loses information which is deemed to be of less importance to the listener, FLAC files are lossless, so can deliver full CD quality audio. Geoff explains that this new development stretches the definition of streaming itself. “It looks like streaming, but it's not. It's a download for a one-time play; we can dance around the words if you want.”
Geoff Martin
While our ears may be attuned to lossy compressed audio in most everyday scenarios, the experience of rediscovering high-fidelity lossless digital audio can be nothing short of a revelation. Fine details reappear, performers have more space, sounds have more definition, audio feels warmer, sounds clearer, and is noticeably more pleasurable to listen to. The higher you go with audio file resolution, the better it gets.
Thanks to the new range of streaming apps delivering CD-quality or higher, our beloved “universal jukebox” is undergoing a significant upgrade. Consumer demand for high-resolution audio has been growing steadily, for example users of Deezer HiFi have increased by 71% in the past 12 months alone, and the product is now available in 180 countries and works with a wide range of FLAC streaming compatible devices.
Geoff believes that demand for hi-fi streaming audio is growing due to a rise in the number of people buying high-end audio devices. “It used to be that you bought an iPhone and you used the white earbuds, but nowadays people are upgrading to better headphones, so they want a better file and a better app to play it on. The potential is there for somebody that wants to get high quality, and they don't have to spend a lot of money to get it.”
To this end, Geoff recommends “a decent pair of noise-canceling headphones” for listening when out and about. He also uses the USB output on his mobile device to digitally connect to his headphones' USB port, but cautions against expecting hi-fi sound over a Bluetooth connection. “People really should pay attention to what the weakest link is. The question is how good is your player and how good are your speakers. If you're going to take a hi-fi service and then stream it over Bluetooth then there's no point in having the FLAC files. That's not the streaming services fault, that's the codec's fault. Bluetooth doesn't have the bandwidth to support CD quality. But if you're walking down the street you're not going to hear the difference.”
Dave Malekpour
Pro Audio Design
Founder and President of Pro Audio Design, Dave Malekpour, is an advocate of TIDAL’s high-end streaming options, in particular, the 96 kHz / 24 bit Masters option, which offers significantly higher playback quality than a CD. When Dave installs a mammoth set of Augspurger monitor speakers in professional recording studios he uses a specially curated TIDAL Masters playlist as the audio reference to fine tune the speaker calibration. “It simply sounds better" he explains, "once consumers hear the difference, some will pay more, but this level of quality is usually reserved for audiophiles.”
Mobile-centric audiophiles received a boost last week at trade show CES when it was announced that TIDAL Masters would now be available on all Android mobile devices. The award-winning technology underlying TIDAL’s product is “Master Quality Authenticated” or MQA, made by British company MQA Ltd who also partner with hi-fi manufacturers like ESS, NAD Electronics and Onkyo, and recently announced an in-car version with BlackBerry.
MQA Ltd CEO Mike Jbara explains where the growth in demand for high-resolution audio is coming from. “While it’s still too early to know if we’ve entered a new era, we do feel that the current momentum around hi-fi streaming is fuelled by a combination of artist/creator dissatisfaction with traditional digital audio sound, and a growing market of consumers who have come to expect innovation in their entertainment experiences. On that latter point, we feel that games, digital video, and social interactivity act as competitive forces to music and raise consumer expectations. We think this consumer sentiment is a leading indicator that gives cues to music services and CE companies that they will be rewarded for driving innovation.”
Mike Jbara
Regardless of your motivations, and whether you use a pair of noise-canceling headphones with a digital input, or a standalone FLAC streaming compatible hi-fi unit, I would suggest that your ears will thank you for the upgrade.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
Oisin Lunny
I have worked in music and technology since the '90s and shared my related musings in places like The Guardian and CNN. Today I am Professor of UX Driven Business at Bar...
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Wetland Management District | Minnesota
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in Minnesota
Habitat management activities on Waterfowl Production Areas focus on the restoration and maintenance of grasslands and associated wetlands for the benefit of waterfowl and other migratory birds. Tools available to the wetland manager include prescribed fire, water level manipulation, waterfowl nesting structures, mowing, tree and brush removal, haying and grazing, where appropriate.
District staff work with private landowners and form effective partnerships to restore and/or enhance drained wetlands and some grasslands within the five-county working area. With landowner approval, bulldozers and backhoes are used to plug drainage ditches, break drain tiles, and install water control structures to maintain desired water levels of the wetlands. In time, wetlands, once drained and forgotten, can be revived to carry on their vital role as part of the prairie landscape.
Grassland Restoration
Much of the land in the prairie pothole region has historically been farmed. When the District acquires a new tract of land, it restores the wetlands on the new property, and seeds the uplands with native origin grasses and forbs (wildflowers). The District harvests some of the needed seed from local native prairies, and also purchases some local origin grass and forb seeds to diversify the seed mix.
A diverse seed mixture is important because the wildflowers provide food for many species of insects. Grassland birds feed on the insects found in these prairies. A grassland tract with diverse species composition can support more wildlife that is dependent on that food source. Plant species diversity also provides variability in the grassland structure. Some wildlife species need dense grasses overhead and passageways near the ground; others like shorter, open areas in a grassland. Plant diversity provides better cover, nesting habitat and food for a larger variety of wildlife species.
When the Fergus Falls District acquires a new tract of land, one of the first things done on the new unit is wetland restoration. A wetland expert analyzes the property and determines where wetlands have been drained or filled. Then heavy equipment is used to plug ditches, break tile lines, and scrape out soils to restore wetlands to their natural depth. Once the dirt work has been completed, the wetlands are allowed to fill with water naturally through rain water run-off and snow melt in the spring. If determined feasible and appropriate, water level control structures are sometimes installed so that water levels can be managed to maximize the habitat value.
Invasive Fish
Invasive fish have become a problem in many wetlands in Minnesota. These fish disrupt natural processes in wetlands sometimes causing poor water quality and reducing the value of those wetlands for wildlife. Invasive fish can be eradicated from marshes if a wetland is drawn down before winter. The fish will freeze out or die from oxygen depletion over the winter. When we use draw downs to remove fish, a barrier is necessary to keep fish from re-entering the system. We use sloped, smooth pipes called velocity tubes, pipe elbows, rotating screens, or swinging fingers to prevent fish from moving upstream into managed wetlands. Invasive fish can also be removed by stocking predator fish or chemical treatment with rotenone, which is a chemical derived from the roots of a South American plant. Rotenone kills fish by disrupting the way they absorb oxygen into their cells. All three methods of removing invasive fish can improve wetland quality and wildlife habitat.
Trapping Occurs on this Wetland Management District
Trapping is a wildlife management tool used on some national wildlife refuge system lands. Trapping may be used to protect endangered and threatened species or migratory birds or to control certain wildlife populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also views trapping as a legitimate recreational and economic activity when there are harvestable surpluses of fur-bearing mammals. Outside of Alaska, refuge system lands that permit trapping as a recreational use may require trappers to obtain a special use permit. Signs are posted at district offices where trapping occurs. Contact the district manager for specific regulations. Click here for more information.
Alert - Trail Construction is Underway
13-Lined Ground Squirrel
These dashing burrowers are an important prey animal in the prairie. As predators, their favorite food is grasshoppers!
Fergus Falls Home
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Gaston Ramirez
Aitor Karanka: 'Gaston Ramirez is a hungry player and this is a step forwards for him'
Aitor Karanka believes he has a 'much better squad' now the transfer window has closed :: Boro signed five players
Dominic ShawAdvanced content sport writer
Boro head coach Aitor Karanka and Gaston Ramirez
Get the biggest Middlesbrough FC stories by email
He’s played in a World Cup and previously cost Southampton £12m but Aitor Karanka insists dropping down to the Championship and signing for Boro is a step forwards for Gaston Ramirez.
While Boro added three players to the squad on a frantic deadline day, the Uruguayan playmaker completed his loan switch earlier in the week and, despite the fact he hasn’t played much football this season, is fully fit and available for selection, says the manager.
And Karanka is delighted to have a player of Ramirez’s pedigree at his disposal, insisting the 25-year-old is “hungry” to prove his worth after a disappointing and frustrating stint at St Mary’s.
“As a player, maybe not this year, but in the past everyone can see how good he is,” Karanka told the club website.
“He played really well in Italy and played in the World Cup, so a player who has played in the World Cup is not a bad player.
“He wants to play. It’s important for me and it’s not a problem that he hasn’t played the last year because he’s fully fit.
“He’s training really hard because we have other important players and I know their character.”
Karanka added: “He’s a hungry player. You could think it’s a step back but for him it’s a step forward because he wants to keep going and keep improving his career.
“It’s good for me having a player like him come here and help us.”
Karanka believes he now has a “much better squad” than he did before the transfer window and after a fortnight on the training pitch, Boro will be equipped and prepared to return to action against Blackburn this weekend, the first in a stretch of vitally important fixtures.
Jordan Rhodes, Ritchie de Laet and Julien de Sart arrived on Monday, joining Gaston Ramirez and Kike Sola through the door, while Kike and Fernando Amorebieta both left the club.
While Karanka is delighted with all of his additions, he says he won’t be putting any pressure on 21-year-old Belgian de Sart, signed on a three-and-a-half year deal from Standard Liege.
Julien De Sart signs for Boro Credit: Middlesbrough FC
Read more Julien de Sart bids an emotional Twitter farewell to Standard Liege
“Of course, he’s not going to be as important as Jordan, Ritchie, Gaston or Kike Sola because I don’t want to put pressure on him," said the head coach.
“I don’t want to pressure our young lads, but we were lucky because he has a really good future. So for him to come here is a really big step.
“I’m really pleased for him because he has a really good future and is also a good player for us at present.”
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BOOM! Studios Comic Releases For June 1, 2016
By Waerloga69 | @ | June 8th, 2016 at 9:11 pm
Below you’ll find the solicitations information and cover artwork for all of BOOM! Studios comic book titles that were released last week on June 1, 2016.
Topics: Comics, Features, Solicitations
Tags: Babs Tarr, BOOM!, Boom! Box, BOOM! Studios, Brenden Fletcher, Charles Soule, Cheat Code, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Elsa Charretier, Erick Freitas, Felipe Sobreiro, Giant Days, Goni Montes, Greg Scott, Helen Chen, James Tynion IV, Jen Hickman, John Allison, Kaboom!, Katy Farina, Kelly Thompson, Laura Howell, Lissa Treiman, Marguerite Sauvage, Max Sarin, Megan Brennan, Michael Dialynas, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Missy Pena, Pink, Regular Show, Ryan Stegman, Scott Newman, Sean Galloway, Soo Lee, Stephanie Hans, Strange Attractors, Terry Blas, The Amazing World Of Gumball, Ulises Farinas, Walter Pax, Woods
Comic Review: Strange Attractors HC
By Waerloga69 | @ | September 5th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Greg Scott
Colors by Art Lion & Matthew Petz
Letters by Thomas Mauer
Cover by Dan Duncan
Complexity Maps by Robert Saywitz
Archaia Entertainment
Cover Price: $19.95
Every once in a great while I stumble upon a book or comic that truly amazes me. Whether it is the artwork or the storyline, sometimes I am simply flabbergasted. Strange Attractors has made it onto this short list. I read it the same afternoon that it arrived but found myself reading it again the next day. I’ve already loaned it out to a friend, something I seldom do, because the graphic novel is just that good and needs to be shared with the world.
Combining science fiction and mathematics, the story revolves around complexity theory as it applies to the metropolis of New York City. Basically, this means that every small action creates a chain reaction that affects the greater whole. The main character, Heller Wilson, is a young man working towards his postgraduate degree on this very concept. He seeks out a former professor from Columbia University, a Doctor Spencer Brownfield, who was a known expert on the subject before leaving his teaching position under mysterious circumstances.
Topics: Comic Reviews, Comics, Reviews
Tags: Archaia Entertainment, Art Lyon, Charles Soule, Dan Duncan, Greg Scott, Matthew Petz, Robert Saywitz, Strange Attractors, Thomas Mauer
Comic Review: Strange Attractors
By wgillis | May 22nd, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Art by Greg Scott
Colors by Art Lyon & Matthew Petz
The Butterfly Effect.
A phenomenon in which a minor change in circumstances can cause a large change in outcome.
If you had the ability to manipulate the outcomes of several small events to prevent something on a larger scale from happening, would you do it? In the new graphic novel, Strange Attractors, the themes of chaos theory are explored and examined.
Tags: Archaia Entertainment, Art Lyon, Charles Soule, Dan Duncan, Greg Scott, Matthew Petz, Strange Attractors, Thomas Mauer
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‘Agreements must be respected’
‘Sooner or later Russia will have to compromise’
How real is the idea of united and peaceful Caucasus, given that the region is seen by many as a ticking bomb, ridden with a bouquet of conflicts nurtured by Russia, one of the most aggressive players in the world? Besides, last week the first hearing of Georgian Parliament gave a ‘go ahead’ to the constitutional changes to herald a new redistribution of power between the branches of State power.
is seen by experts as a guarantee of “political stability”. Non-parliamentary opposition, however, looks disdainful of this significant novelty in the state life. Some of them gear up for uncompromised and final battles to change the election environment, yet others in their ranks ready themselves for so called Popular Council of Representatives. This and other important topics were the subject of our interview with Soso Tsintsadze, expert of political sciences.
S.T. - After the Georgian President proposed the idea of peaceful Caucasus in his speech to the UN General Assembly, the opposition dabbed him as a plagiarist accusing him of steeling the idea from the first Georgian President – Zviad Gamsakhurdia. In reality, this idea existed even before Gamsakhurdia. In his pursuit of creating united and peaceful Caucasus, Zviad Gamsakhurdia chose the only means to this end the alliance with Jokhar Dudaev. This immediately turned the idea abortive because Dudaev had problems with a number of neighbors starting from Russia and ending with Dagestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia.
Gamsakhurdia did not have any notion of foreign policy and balance of world powers, yet he put all the eggs in the basket of Jokhar Dudaev and directed all his energy only to the relations with Chechnya. Accordingly, he did not attempt to normalize links with Yerevan and Baku, not to mention the West and Russia. In diplomatic terms, inspired by the idea of peaceful and stable Caucasus, Saakashvili put Russia on the spot by inviting the latter with computers and books, instead of rockets and tanks. By doing so, he told Russia that the 21st century does not have a room for tanks, military bases and occupation. In the same way, this means that Russia will be involved – call it even “forced involvement” – in the realization of peaceful Caucasus. Should Russia refuse still, it would have to justify its attitude.
Q: Instead of accepting the proposal of the Georgian side, Tskhinvali regime gave an ultimatum to Georgian population in Akhalgori: either they give in and get passports of so called South Ossetia or become the citizens of a foreign country and pay 320 Rubles for every visit to their own homes in Leningori (Akhalgori).
A: It is a well established policy of Russia to cleanse the occupied territories from Georgians. In this regard, Kokoiti – de facto leader of Tskhinvali regime is more active than Baghapsh - his counterpart in Abkhazia – who more or less accepts presence of Georgians in Gali district and does not seek excuses to uproot them (true, he does not consider 200 thousand Georgians who fled Abkhazeti as refugees either). Kokoiti’s policy is much more primitive. He wants to rid Tskhinvali region of all Georgians. It was a gross mistake when in the past they included Akhalgori district in so called South Ossetia. Although, it happened during the Saakashvili presidency, it was Nino Burjanadze - then the head of the Parliament – who spearheaded the change through the Parliament.
It did not happen by accident when Dmitri Treinin, Head of Carnegie Foundation in Russia, published the project on how to make restoration of relations with Georgia possible. He proposed that Georgia should recognize independence of Abkhazia but not of Tskhinvali region, so that Gali district of Abkhazia was transferred to Georgia and Tskhinvali region re-joined Georgia on certain conditions. Certainly, I cannot accept the idea of recognizing Abkhazian independence. Yet, the project could perhaps be used as a basis for negotiations. Likewise, the idea of confederation may be given a chance of scrutiny just as well.
Russia suffered a diplomatic setback in this area and is heading to self-isolation. Putin is a ‘Chekist’, imperialist and aggressor, but he has got wits. He saw that the problem was not in Saakashvili. Because whoever replaces Saakashvili in the future, she or he would not recognize independence of Abkhazia and so called South Ossetia facing a perspective of political death.
With the idea proposed by Saakashvili, Russian Prime Minister now has to admit that Saakashvili – whom he intended earlier to hang by his balls – speaks business. Putin indeed will try not to get “entangled” with Saakashvili. But if the entire civilized world exerts political pressure, no one - neither Putin-Medvedev’s Russia, nor the United States - would be able to withstand it. Sooner or later Russia will have to compromise.
It was a defeat of Russia when it failed to put things in order in its “backyard”, i.e. CIS. It failed to force any of 11 countries that make up CIS, to recognize independence of Sokhumi and Tskhinvali. The country of Putin and Medvedev, who strive to get in the cohort of world leaders, the country which has super-power claims, suddenly finds itself in the empty place only with three renegades: Nauru’s President Marcus Stevens, Hugo Chavez and Daniel Ortega. Russia could not achieve the recognition of those two separatist territories even from Cuba.
After Russia violated the August 12 Agreement, its credibility is now seen tainted. In today’s world the old dogma enshrined by Romans 40 centuries ago that agreements must be respected, still holds.
Q: For you, what are the most significant aspects about the new project of constitutional changes, seen as a mechanism for transition to the new political system?
A: The new Constitution is a step forward on the way to parliamentary republicanism. Suspicions that the new Constitution is designed for Saakashvili are completely unfounded. However, it would have been better if the Parliament had been devised as bicameral. Because if the opposition and the ruling group fail to achieve an agreement, the second chamber could serve as a shield to prevent discontent spilling over to the streets and help retain discussions within the walls of the Parliament.
One famous American constitutionalist, professor of Harvard University, who recently was visiting Georgia, told us an extraordinary thing: Don’t be so foolish to make your Constitution resemble ours – American Constitution should be burnt and thrown away. Any Constitution has its positive sides and flaws. The main thing is that it should be functional and conformed to.
Q: Certain opposition parties consider improvement of election environment more important than the constitutional changes.
A: A politician should not be a fatalist. Election environment is a barometer of political parties influencing the public. There are no exclusively fair elections in the world. Rigging may always happen, except it should not be 100%. Winners are those who work with electorate. Electoral legislation is not a decisive factor.
The opposition did not manage to persuade the population that it would live a better life if the opposition won. This is the reason of its failure. In the same way, I do not expect results from the attempts of the proponents of representative council to have people express their will. The only effective means for the people to express their will is elections.
Q: There was a controversy over the amendment of the Law on Police which is enabling a police officer to stop and search a citizen on the grounds of “reasonable suspicion”. What results will this change bring about?
A: Who will determine, what is reasonable suspicion as opposed to unreasonable one? If a police officer confronts a citizen but fails to find anything suspicious, would he or she stand accountable for the created psychological discomfort? When you give so much power to a police officer, you should simultaneously introduce responsibility on the part of the officer not to violate citizen’s rights.
Does not this amendment violate international conventions, according to which human rights are fundamental? I think they should have written ‘founded suspicion’ in the law, instead of ‘reasonable suspicion’ and bind a police officer with an obligation to prove fairness of stopping and searched a citizen.
Author: Dachi Grdzelishvili
“MINISTER MAY HAVE BEEN NUDGED BY AMERICANS”
Statement which caused the uproar
When the results of the investigation were published, the people, politicians and experts were discussing whether the investigation was carried out fairly. Besides, if the government’s version is correct, eavesdropping devices were installed at Rustavi 2 TV with the knowledge of the management. Law enforcers must take this case to an end. Expert Alexander Tvalchrelidze is sure that the recording devices were not installed under the current authorities:
First Trilateral Summit-Level Meeting
Turkish Ambassador talked with Georgian Journal about visit of Turkish President
Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, paid his second official visit to Georgia. On the first day of the visit, the trilateral summit among Georgian, Turkish and Azeri Presidents took place. Georgian Journal seized the opportunity and recorded the interview right after the three-day visit of the Turkish President, with the Ambassador of Turkey to Georgia, H.E. Mr. Levent Gümrükçü.
Polish Book on Georgians and Abkhazians
Interview with the Ambassador of Poland to Georgia
Poland, together with the Czech Republic and Hungary, celebrates its 15th anniversary of joining NATO. With the V4 and Baltic States, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta it celebrates its 10th anniversary of EU accession. Georgian Journal spoke with the Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, Mr. Andrzej Cieszkowski, about the EU, his challenges as a diplomat while living abroad for the second time and his first ambassadorial mission as well as about personal interests. Stay with us.
“I WARN YOU, THINK CAREFULLY!”
Interview with Austrian researcher and analyst, Eugene Kogan
What’s going on in Ukraine, what is Crimea’s destiny and how will the Ukrainian events influence Georgia? We discussed these questions with Eugene Kogan, Austrian researcher and a Realpolitik expert who is currently in Georgia and cooperates with Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
Ambition to have Ukraine as one’s own part
Below Ramaz Sakvarelidze, a political expert, answers Georgian Journal’s questions on the current situation of Georgia, the way of integration into Europe and signing of the Association Agreement. At the same time, we are concerned about the events in Ukraine, the political expert assesses risks that Georgia may face on its way into Europe while avoiding pressure and danger from Russia.
Sochi threatened
Russia created a special 11-km wide zone deep in occupied Abkhazia
For almost two months Sochi will host athletes, public figures and journalists from up to 90 countries.
Interview with expert Kakhi Kakhishvili
We hope Bidzina Ivanishvili will stay neutral to the end and in case of reasoned criticism of authorities he will side with civil society. By the way, Ivanishvili kept one more promise and, on leaving, nominated Davit Narmania as the candidate for the Tbilisi Mayor’s post. We began the interview with expert Kakhi Kakhishvili with this issue.
HOW WAS THE NEW PROSECUTOR SELECTED?
Will the monster created by the previous powers disintegrate?
Last week Irakli Gharibashvili, candidate for the PM post, first named Otar Partskhaladze as the substitute for Chief Prosecutor, and then Alexander Chikaidze as the candidate for the post of Interior Minister. Why did the Chief Prosecutor leave his post? What do the cadre changes mean for us? Expert Kakha Kakhishvili shares his opinion:
Summoning Patience and Consistency
Exclusive Interview with Mrs. Elita Gavele, Latvian Ambassador to Georgia
It is always difficult to predict what will happen in the future. The easiest thing is to wait to make things clear. All we know at the present time is that we have a new president Giorgi Margvelashvili from the ruling party. Let's see what will change. However, there are many expectations and hopes for the better in the society that had a total feeling of injustice. Georgian Journal talked to Mrs. Elita Gavele, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia and Armenia.
CRUSHING OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT WILL BE GRAVE MISTAKE
Interview with philosopher Zaza Piralishvili
Why the 2013 Presidential elections don’t resemble previous ones? Do the election programs, promises and political views of presidential candidates differ from one another? Below Philosopher Zaza Piralishvili dissects these issues.
“Prosecutors’ Office Still a Black Hole”
Interview with expert Soso Tsiskarishvili
Last week traditionally proved to be politically tense in Georgia. We witnessed Bidzina Ivanishvili’s “talk show” - this time featuring representatives of TV channels. In another development, MIA found an identity of the Jihad Video fabricator. Finally, the general assembly of the National Movement Party closed the week. Our interview with expert Soso Tsiskarishvili started with this event staged by the Nationals.
Russians Have Not Paid the Fee
In a live interview from New-York, President Mikheil Saakashvili said the following: “In the last weeks and months we lost more agricultural lands than in Kurta and Tamarasheni villages combined.”
Mikheil Saakashvili was the President during the August 2008 war too. So, he is supposed to be the most knowledgeable of all that during those tragic days Georgia was ripped of not just Tamarasheni and Kurta arable lands but around 20% of the country’s area! This loss should have been more than enough for any decent, homeland loving leader of the country to recognize the strategic mistakes he committed before and during the war, and resign.
PEOPLE’S ALREADY GETTING ANGRY
Mamuka AreshidzeInterview with expert
One year after the change in the ruling power, political pressure is rising in the country again. There are a plenty of reasons – promises are being fulfilled at a low tempo or not at all. In the given situation, the decision by PM Bidzina Ivanishvili to leave politics feeds into the public fear of future. We spoke with expert Mamuka Areshidze about this and other interesting topics:
EURASIAN UNION - NEW CIS
Today the most urgent topic is whether Ivanishvili leaves or stays in politics. We discussed this and other topical issues with expert Soso Tsiskarishvili.
Demise of Nabucco
Eugene Kogen: I don’t see Georgia as a EU member for another 25 years to come…
”Nabucco was a victim of clash of interests in Brussels” – says South Caucasus security expert Eugene Kogen. In an exclusive interview, he talked about the demise of much-talked project of Nabucco pipeline and his own, skeptical view of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future.
‘I don’t Expect Any Major Response from USA...‘
Interview with Michael Cecire, associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
- Former PM Vano Merabishvili, present-day UNM Secretary General, and ex-Healthcare Minister Zurab Chiaberashvili, currently Governor of Kakheti region, were arrested.
Georgia Targets on Innovations
Innovation Research and Development Council was created at Georgian parliament to base national economy on innovations in pursuance with the best world experience. The Council will peruse each innovation proposal and scientific work so as to use the country’s intellectual potential take its nich among developed economies.
Scandalous Detail of August War
Umpteenth violation of International Agreement on the part of the Kremlin
The August war in 2008 left indelible trace in the minds of many people world over thanks to a number of video and photo materials depicting Russians grabbing and taking away weaponry and military machinery of Georgian Army but this Blitzkrieg war had another episode, which did not take up the headlines. It should have caused an international scandal for sure. Now it’s late.
ne of the Georgian Army units which retreated from its Tskhinvali outskirts position in August 2008, brought 16 Strela-2 - man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system – to Tbilisi. This weapon was abandoned by Russian instructors and Ossetian separatists fighting Georgian troops.
PROSPECTS OF GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN DIALOG
After several-year interval Georgian-Russian dialog has ensued. What does Georgia expect from this dialog with 88% of its population, supporting relations with Russia? Answer to this question is intertwined with the reasons that conditioned increase of the supporters of the dialog with Russia while Russia as an image of enemy, is considered as a stigma for the last 20 years and not only desire of relations but even mentioning it in a slightly positive context, was almost equivalent of expulsion from the society.
‘TONE OF FOREIGN PRESS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY’
‘Akhalaia’s release in return for ambassadors is inadmissible’
There is a smell of new provocation in the air in Georgia that is called ‘religious confrontation’. Our compatriot Christians and Muslims declare that instigators are trying to aggravate the situation. This way or that way the authorities didn’t have adequate and timely reaction; we may get a result that even the instigators of this escalation didn’t want or expect. The expert Kote Zhgenti hopes that the situation won’t aggravate. According to him the authors of this artificial process don’t consider that interests of the country may be sacrificed to all this.
‘UNLESS WE HELP, SYRIA AND EGYPT WILL BE REPEATED’
‘Georgian authorities are doing everything for blood-shedding’
High-ranking diplomats and International Organizations can’t hide their concern about the events undergoing in the country. OSCE sees the signs of Leninism and according to Terry Benhem, an American expert on election issues, adviser of NGO ‘Open Democracy Committee’, the voters’ lists, fines and rule of law are under a question mark in Georgia.
GEORGIAN PERIODICALS IN CIVIL WAR MODE
Interview with Mamuka Areshidze, political scientist
Everybody and everything in Georgia are in possession of pre-election fever. The authorities being under time pressure because of Ivanishvili’s unexpected appearance in politics can’t cope with issuing fines or other sanctions. It seems they hope in Saakashvili’s team that victors are not judged… We are talking about the peripety in Georgian politics with political scientist Mamuka Areshidze.
LOBBYISTS’ WAR FOR GEORGIA
Why didn’t Saakashvili have face-to-face meeting with State Minister?
Against the background of recent appointment/sacking process conducted by the authorities, UN General Assembly’s resolution on Georgia was left beyond public attention. With this issue we began our interview with Mamuka Areshidze, an expert of Caucasian issues:
“Sarkozy Was Minister of Internal Affairs Too Before Becoming President”
Appointment of currently former Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili to the post of Prime-Minister of Georgia overshadowed nearly all other recent political events. Is it promotion of Vano Merabishvili or downgrading of his power? We put this question on the top of issues discussed in our interview with political expert Soso Tsiskarishvili.
ISSUE OF IRAN OR DEMOCRACY IN GEORGIA?
Expert Ramaz Sakvarelidze on Mrs. Clinton’s visit to Georgia
We began our interview with expert Ramaz Sakvarelidze with recent hullabaloo about National Exam Center. We’ll remind you that Dimitri Shashkin, Minister of Education of Georgia sacked Maia Miminoshvili, head of National Center.
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A national provider of physician services wished to enhance its BI capabilities to improve staffing and clinical services at its client locations. Freed helped BI team members better understand the new implementation approach, as well as of clinical data and work flow. Freed’s custom tools helped the business and BI teams achieve more successful and timely reporting structures.
Data warehouses are only as good to users as the data that goes into them – and the quality and immediacy of the business intelligence (BI) they can deliver. The challenge is striking an optimal balance between users’ BI needs and interests and the up-front and ongoing costs of enhanced data warehouse capabilities.
A national provider of physician services wished to enhance its BI capabilities to improve staffing and clinical services at its client locations. The goal was to improve clinical capabilities, including patient throughput and satisfaction, by using better, more immediate and accessible data to predict likely staffing bottlenecks in departments and suggest remediation actions. This would help the company meet the goals of its clients, improve patient care and provide a competitive advantage.
Before embarking on an enterprise-wide upgrade of its data warehouse capabilities, the company first sought to test improvements at a pilot site. Having already selected a highly regarded data warehouse and clinical integration vendor, the company engaged Freed Associates (Freed) to coordinate the entirety of the pilot site implementation. Freed was chosen based on its prior working experience with this company, its deep understanding of data warehousing and clinical data flow, and its strong project management capabilities.
Strategy and Goals
Time, budget and collaborative interests were the most critical factors in the company’s pilot site engagement. The project needed to be ready to use production data for analytics within 16 weeks, within budget, and include input and deliverables from four primary participants: the client company, its data warehouse vendor, the hospital that was the first pilot location, and Freed. Furthermore, the pilot also needed to establish the client’s capability to rapidly and consistently deploy data warehouse resources with other organizations.
Based on input from the client and data warehouse vendor, Freed identified the following project goals:
• Implement the pilot site – rapidly and accurately implement the first pilot site to allow the organization to assess results and determine next steps for wider implementations
• Oversee and develop a strong vendor relationship – ensure the quality and consistency of deliverables from the data warehouse and analytics vendors
• Determine a real-time analytics vendor – vet and select a quality vendor that met the client’s criteria
• Create a repeatable process – design, create, and implement the necessary tools and processes to use with other medical centers served by this company
• Standardize documentation – ensure that all parties agree on an improved set of documentation standards and expectations
With input and feedback from end-users, managers, and related departments, Freed developed customized tools for collaborative use by the BI team and its business clients. These tools were then used with the first implementation to confirm their usefulness and enable staff members to identify any changes needed. Key tools included:
• Implementation playbook and templates – Designed as an implementation guide for future sites, and for use by both the project manager and the implementation team. The playbook walks team members through the process and identifies key considerations and questions to cover for a diverse set of implementation factors. The additional templates, such as a starter work plan, enables the project manager and other team members to rapidly begin planning for implementation at additional sites.
• Requirements gathering tool – Designed to be shared by both the business user and the developer/analyst, this tool helps all parties quickly and easily document requirements and record design to those requirements. The IT analyst or developer will use this information as a springboard to clarify and begin to design the report. This includes a tip sheet to help business users more efficiently and effectively communicate with developers, and vice-versa, by knowing what requirements to specify and the kinds of questions to ask about each requirement.
• Technical specifications template – The specifications template was designed to translate the business requirements into the technical implementation. This allows the developer and the design review team to have a common understanding of the implementation approach and requirements. It also serves as a key artifact for identifying impacts through change management efforts.
• Test planning and execution toolset – Designed to be shared by the implementation team, including business users, the test execution toolset allows the business user to plan the approach for testing, document the appropriate test scenarios, and manage the execution, along with defect remediation.
Freed provided group and individual training on these tools for the BI team as well as other stakeholders, such as the business owners responsible for requirements. The owners of the documentation and tools were also trained to make ongoing changes to fit the organization’s future needs.
The BI team work flow processes significantly improved – a huge benefit to the BI team’s leader and staff members. While these tools were initially developed for a specific project, the entire BI team, including staff members handling requirements, design, development, and testing, began to adapt and roll out these tools to other initiatives. The BI team is now using a set of customized tools that integrate into their processes. These tools help the department execute consistently, document its work more efficiently and thoroughly, and reduce testing errors and sign-off delays.
The BI team’s organizational business clients were pleased with these work flow enhancements and the results that they helped obtain.
The support and strategy that Freed provided to BI team members enabled them to accelerate their understanding of the new implementation approach, as well as of clinical data and work flow. In a short time frame, the company solved problems at the pilot site, began to use clinical data in new ways and established sustainable procedural changes. The custom tools that Freed provided helped induce and enable analytical thinking and design among the business and BI teams for more successful and timely reporting structures.
Additionally, the BI team gained from Freed a foundational guide to more effectively provide business services. This will help the BI team produce critical deliverables more quickly and efficiently, improving the company’s ability to execute additional strategic initiatives.
Interested in reading more? View all solutions.
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Oxitec
Oxitec is a world-class pioneer in controlling insects that spread disease and damage crops.
Oxitec were acquired by Intrexon, a US-based biotech company working across a broad range of sectors and countries and are now driving scale up on an international basis.
Specifically, Oxitec needed an IT leader to take ownership for safe and secure management and storage of documents and data. Oxitec needed new technology and new processes to operationalize their manufacturing, their supply chain, and to support their international growth.
Freeman Clarke provided an IT director, Joe Mernagh, who challenged their existing suppliers, selected new technologies and took on the role of liaising with Intrexon to ensure that the subsequent integration was successful.
Joe has since devised an application strategy, including a new ERP system, to support operations locally in UK and overseas. As the breadth of the challenge grew, Freeman Clarke stepped up their involvement and provided a second IT director, David Stanton, to oversee international connectivity and delivery of Oxitec’s new IT infrastructure. Joe and David have implemented a number of significant changes extremely rapidly as the pace of Oxitec’s growth has demanded it.
Bill Fleming, Oxitec’s CFO said:
“Our involvement with Freeman Clarke came at a crucial phase for us. We needed a serious IT director to review our IT and our IT suppliers, and to help us grow our production and distribution capabilities. When we needed further support, Freeman Clarke were able to introduce another outstanding individual. Both Joe and David have designed, shaped and delivered projects that would have been absolutely impossible without them. They are completely committed to our success and are dedicated members of our team.”
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Frontiers in Genetics
Epigenomics and Epigenetics
Douglas M. Ruden
Wayne State University, United States
Shicheng Guo
Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, United States
Gokul Gopinath
Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, United States
Front. Genet., 11 February 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.00042
LncRNA IMFNCR Promotes Intramuscular Adipocyte Differentiation by Sponging miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p
Meng Zhang1,2,3, Fang Li1,2, Jun-wei Sun1,2, Dong-hua Li1,2, Wen-ting Li1,2, Rui-rui Jiang1,2, Zhuan-jian Li1,2, Xiao-jun Liu1,2, Rui-li Han1,2, Guo-xi Li1,2, Yan-bin Wang1,2, Ya-dong Tian1,2, Xiang-tao Kang1,2 and Gui-rong Sun1,2*
1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
2Henan Innovative Engineering Research Center of Poultry Germplasm Resource, Zhengzhou, China
3The First Bethune Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Poultry meat quality is affected by many factors, among which intramuscular fat (IMF) is predominant. IMF content affects the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of chicken. An increasing number of studies are focusing on the functions of lncRNAs in adipocyte differentiation. However, little is known about lncRNAs associated with intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. In the present study, we focused on an up-regulated lncRNA during intramuscular adipogenetic differentiation, which we named intramuscular fat-associated long non-coding RNA (IMFNCR). IMFNCR promotes intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. In-depth analyses showed that IMFNCR acts as a molecular sponge for miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p and that PPARG is a direct target of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p in chicken. High-fat and high-protein diet inhibited chicken IMFNCR level in vivo. Moreover, IMFNCR level was positively correlated with PPARG mRNA level in chicken breast muscle tissues, a vital corollary to ceRNA function. Altogether, our research showed that IMFNCR acts as a ceRNA to sequester miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, leading to heightened PPARG expression, and thus promotes intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Taken together, our findings may contribute to a more thorough understanding of chicken IMF deposition and the improvement of poultry meat quality.
Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an important factor associated with meat quality, while abdominal fat is regarded as one of the main factors affecting poultry slaughter efficiency. It is generally believed that increasing IMF content is usually accompanied by an increase in abdominal fat content. Therefore, achieving carcass with high IMF content and minimal abdominal fat content, balancing IMF, and abdominal fat content has been a major aim of poultry breeding. Previous studies suggested that there exist different fat deposition rates in different parts of the body, and different fat tissues have distinct lipid accumulation and metabolism ability. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying depot-specific fat deposition remains largely unknown.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) is a critical transcriptional factor for regulating preadipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. PPARG is induced during the entire terminal differentiation process and is required for the activation of a number of adipogenic genes (Rosen et al., 2002). MicroRNAs are an important class of small non-coding RNAs that emerging as a post-transcriptional regulator involving different physiological activities such as growth, development and metabolism. Previous studies found that miR-27 increasing the beige/brown fat mass as a central upstream regulator of the transcriptional network involved in beige and brown adipogenesis after cold exposure (Karbiener et al., 2009; Lin et al., 2009; Lei and Mirko, 2014). Qiu et al. (2013) found that miR-128a inhibit the differentiation of pre-adipocyte in rat via regulating the expression of PPARG. Chen et al. (2018) demonstrated that miR-128-3p impeded preadipocyte differentiation and lipolysis by targeting PPARG and Sertad2 in 3T3-L1.
lncRNAs are a class of non-protein coding transcripts that are greater than 200 nt in length and found to be involved in various biological processes, such as cell cycle, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and genomic imprinting (Koerner et al., 2009; Cesana et al., 2011; Batista and Chang, 2013; Tripathi et al., 2013). Recently, a growing number of reports have indicated that lncRNAs can communicate with and regulate protein-coding genes by direct competition for miRNA binding, thus acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) (Salmena et al., 2011; Legnini et al., 2014). Furthermore, it is now becoming evident that lncRNAs are emerging as critical regulators of skeletal muscle formation and fat deposition (Sun et al., 2013; Mueller et al., 2015). Linc-MD1, a muscle-specific long non-coding RNA was found to be regulating myogenesis by acting a sponge for miR-133 and miR-135 (Legnini et al., 2014). Sun et al. (2016) reported that a myoblast differentiation-associated long non-coding RNA, lncMD acts as a molecular sponge for miR-125b and that IGF2 is a direct target of miR-125b in cattle. Li et al. (2016) found adipocyte differentiation-associated long non-coding RNA (ADNCR) was downregulated during the differentiation of adipocyte and inhibited adipocyte differentiation by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-204. These individual studies demonstrate the growing importance of lncRNAs in myogenesis and adipogenesis. However, our knowledge of lncRNAs related to intramuscular adipocyte differentiation still remains limited.
Our previous transcriptome data of breast muscle at different physiological periods identified a lot of differentially expressed lncRNAs in breast muscle between juvenile and later laying-period hens (Zhang et al., 2017). A lncRNA, ALDB00000918, which we named IMF associated long non-coding RNA (IMFNCR), was found to be significantly upregulated in later laying-period hens. To investigate the potential function of lncRNAs associated with chicken IMF deposition, we further characterized the function and regulation mechanism of IMFNCR. Mechanistically, IMFNCR promotes intramuscular adipocyte differentiation by sponging miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, thereby augmenting the expression of the miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p target gene, PPARG, which cooperates with C/EBPA and a number of adipogenic genes to execute the adipogenic differentiation program. Our findings provide new insights into understanding the mechanisms of IMF deposition and improvement of the meat quality of poultry.
All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for Experimental Animals established by the Ministry of Agricultural of China (Beijing, China). This study was approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University (Zhengzhou, Henan, China) (Permit Number:11-0085; Date: 06-2011).
Animals and Tissue Collection
Eighteen Gushi chickens were divided into three groups: Low-fat diet group (Linoleic acid, 5%), middle-fat diet group (Linoleic acid, 10%), and High-fat diet group (Linoleic acid, 20%); another eighteen Gushi chickens were divided into three groups: Low-protein diet group (Crude protein, 10%), Middle-protein diet group (Crude protein, 20%) and High-protein diet group (Crude protein, 30%). All birds were raised in the same environmental conditions with ad libitum water and food for 3 weeks. Chickens were weighed and then killed by stunning and exsanguination 12 h after feed was withheld. Tissues were immediately collected, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80°C until RNA extraction.
Isolation, Culture of Primary Preadipocyte and Adipogenic Differentiation
preadipocyte were isolated from the breast muscle and abdominal adipose tissue of female chickens at 2-week-old following methods described previously described (Ramsay and Rosebrough, 2003; Zhang et al., 2018). Cells were maintained in DMEM/F12 (1:1) supplemented with 10% FBS (Gibco, Beijing, China) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin solution in a humidified atmosphere with 5% (v/v) CO2 at 37°C. After cells reached confluence, differentiation was induced with differentiation medium [0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 1 μM dexamethasone, 50 nM insulin and 300 μM oleate (dissolved in DMSO) (all from Sigma, Beijing, China)] for 48 h. Then, the differentiation medium was replaced with maintenance medium [50 nM insulin and 300 μM oleate (Sigma)] and incubated for 48 h. The detailed procedure for the induction of intramuscular preadipocyte is described in Figure 1. Cells were harvested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after induction. Each stage included three biological replicates (n = 3).
Figure 1. Induction of differentiation in intramuscular and abdominal preadipocyte. The basic medium consisted of DMEM/F-12 and 10% FBS. The induction differentiation medium consisted of basic medium, insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and oleate. The maintenance medium consisted of basic medium, insulin, and oleate. The induction differentiation medium was replaced with the maintenance medium at 48 h, whereas the maintenance medium was replaced with basic medium at 96 h.
Plasmid Construction and Cell Transfection
The wild type and mutated sequences of IMFNCR and 3′UTR of PPARG (perfected the seed region of the miR-128-3p binding sites) were cloned into the XhoI–NotI site of the psiCHECK-2 (Promega, Maddison, WI, United States). The mutated sequences of IMFNCR and 3′UTR of PPARG were generated by mutating the seed region of the miR-128-3p binding sites by overlapping PCR. The siRNAs of IMFNCR were:IMFNCR-si1, 5′ GCUCUGGUCAAACACGCUUTT 3′, IMFNCR-si1, 5′ AAGCGUGUUUGACCAGAGCTT 3′; IMFNCR-si2, 5′ GCUAUAGAACGUCAGAAAUTT 3′ and IMFNCR-si2, 5′ AUUUCUGACGUUCUAUAGCTT 3′. miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mimics, inhibitor and negative control were purchase from GenePharma (Shanghai, China). Plasmid DNA was sequenced by Sangon Biotech (Shanghai, China) and extracted using an EndoFree Maxi Plasmid Kit (TIANGEN, Beijing, China). DF1 cells were cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin solution at 37°C with 5% CO2 in a humidified incubator.
Luciferase Assays
DF1 cells were seeded in 6-well plates at a density of 5 × 105 cells/well and cultured under routine conditions with 10% FBS. When the cells reached 70 or 80% confluence, the IMFNCR wild-type or mutant construct was cotransfected with 50 nM negative control or miR-128-3p mimic (GenePharma, Shanghai, China) using Kretschmer-Kazemi and Sczakiel (2003) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, United States) according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and the medium was replaced 6 h later. The relative luciferase activity was measured 48 h after transfection by the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System (Promega) on a Fluoroskan Ascent FL instrument (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Shanghai, China). Renilla luciferase activity was normalized to firefly luciferase activity.
RNA Isolation and Real-Time Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
Total RNA from tissues and preadipocyte were isolated using extracted with Trizol reagent according to the manufacturer’s protocol (Takara, Dalian, China). RNA samples were stored at −80 C until used. cDNA synthesis and qPCR were carried out as described (Zhang et al., 2017, 2018). qPCR primers are reported in Supplementary Table S1. The expression of miRNA was detected by stem-loop real-time qPCR. The stem-loop primers used for the qPCR, miRNA mimics, miRNA inhibitor and negative control were purchased from GenePharma Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). We used the 2-ΔΔCt method to analyze relative expression levels of mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA.
Western Blot Analysis
Total protein was extracted from cells using a RIPA buffer (Solarbio) supplemented with PMSF (Servicebio) (100:1). Protein was separated on 10% SDS-PAGE gels. The proteins were transferred to PVDF membranesm, and then blocked with 5% non-fat milk for 2 h. The membranes were washed with PBST three times (5 min/time) and incubated with the primary antibodies (Abcam) at 4°C for overnight. Then the membranes were washed three times using PBST and incubated with secondary antibody conjugated with HRP (Abcam) for 1 h at room temperature. Signals were detected by ECL Plus (Solarbio). β-Actin was used as an internal control.
RNA Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (RNA FISH)
FITC-labeled IMFNCR probes were obtained from servicebio (Wuhan, Hubei, China). RNA FISH was performed using fluorescent in situ hybridization kit (RiboBio) following the manufacturer’s instructions. The cytopalsmic and nuclear RNA were isolated by PARISTM Kit (Life) according to the manufacturer’s protocol.
Oil Red O Staining
Cells were washed with PBS three times and fixed with 10% formaldehyde for 30 min. The fixed cells were washed with PBS three times and incubated with 1% filtered Oil Red O solution (0.3% Oil Red O, 60% isopropanol, and 40% PBS) for 30 min, and then phase-contrast microscope (Olympus, Japan) was used to check for positive cells appearing red. Subsequently, Oil Red O was eluted from the stained cells with 100% isopropanol (v/v) and quantified by microplate reader (Thermo Fisher Scientific) at 510 nm.
Data were analyzed using Student’s tests in SPSS 20.0 software. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (standard error of the mean) based on at least three replicates. Correlation analysis was conducted using Pearson of bivariate correlation. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Identification of IMFNCR as a Candidate lncRNA
According to our previous mRNA and lncRNA sequencing data (NCBI Project No: PRJNA380024), a candidate intramuscular fat-associated long non-coding RNA (IMFNCR) was remarkably up-regulated in chicken breast muscle at later-laying period compared with that at pre-laying period. The genomic location and gene structure of IMFNCR are shown in Supplementary Figure S1. qRT-PCR results showed that IMFNCR was highly expressed in pancreas, abdominal fat and breast muscle tissues (Figures 2A,B) and the expression trend of IMFNCR was consisted with PPARG in breast muscle at different periods (Figure 2C). It is interesting to note that IMFNCR were highly expressed in intramuscular adipocyte compared with abdominal adipocyte (Figure 2D), implying their potential biological functions in chicken IMF deposition.
Figure 2. Characteristics of chicken IMFNCR in different tissues and cells. (A) Tissue expression profile of IMFNCR by qRT-PCR. (B) Tissue expression profile of IMFNCR by semi-quantitative PCR. (C) The expression dynamics of IMFNCR in breast muscle tissues at different physiological periods. (D) The expression level of IMFNCR in abdominal and intramuscular preadipocyte. Data represent means ± SEM (n = 3). ∗p ≤ 0.05; ∗∗p ≤ 0.01.
RNA FISH and semi-quantitative PCR of nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions analyses indicated that IMFNCR is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of preadipocyte (Figures 3A,C). To assess whether IMFNCR has protein coding ability, online software was used in the present study. CPC (Coding Potential Calculator) software showed that IMFNCR has a very low coding potential, similar to GHR-AS, a well-known lncRNA (Zhang et al., 2016; Figure 3B).
Figure 3. Subcellular localization and encoding ability prediction of IMFNCR. (A) Intramuscular preadipocyte were stained with FITC-labeled IMFNCR probes and visualized by fluorescence. (B) The RNA sequences of IMFNCR, GHR-AS, and GAPDH were put into the Coding Potential Calculator (CPC) program, and both IMFNCR and GHR-AS were predicted to be non-coding RNAs, while GAPDH was identified to code for protein. (C) IMFNCR is mainly localized in the cytoplasm of intramuscular preadipocyte. RNA isolated from cytoplasm (Cyto) and nuclear (Nuc) fractions of preadipocyte and adipocyte was used to analyze the expression level of IMFNCR by semi-quantitative PCR. GAPDH mRNA was used as control.
IMFNCR Promotes Intramuscular Adipocyte Differentiation
To explore the function of IMFNCR in IMF deposition, we constructed intramuscular adipocyte differentiation model according to our previous research (Zhang et al., 2018). After inducing with adipogenic agents for 10 days, chicken intramuscular adipocyte was fully differentiated and filled with large lipid droplets (Figure 4A). QPCR results suggested that IMFNCR and adipocyte markers PPARG and CEBPA were significantly upregulated with adipocyte differentiation (Figure 4B). miR-27b-3p has been identified to participate in adipocyte differentiation (Lin et al., 2009). Interestingly, we noticed that miR-128-3p share almost the same seed region with miR-27b-3p, which indicates that they may target the same genes. There are 322 intersection genes between miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. Bioinformatics analysis showed that there exist a putative miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p binding site in IMFNCR sequence (Figure 5A). qRT-PCR result showed that miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p were significantly downregulated, while IMFNCR and PPARG were significantly upregulated with intramuscular adipocyte differentiation (Figure 5B). Furthermore, we noticed that those target genes were mainly enriched in Insulin signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Focal adhesion, and PPARG signaling pathway (Figure 5C).
Figure 4. Induction of chicken intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation. Oil Red O staining (A) and qRT-PCR (B) analysis of IMFNCR and adipogenic markers, PPARG, and CEBPA confirm the identity of chicken intramuscular preadipocyte. Gene expression is plotted as fold-change relative to day 0 (mean ± SEM, n = 3, ∗p ≤ 0.05, ∗∗p ≤ 0.01).
Figure 5. lncRNA IMFNCR was a potential target gene of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. (A) RNA hybrid predicted miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p binding sites in IMFNCR. Mfe, minimal free energy (kcal/mol). Nucleotides of the miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p seed region (positions 2–8) are marked in red. Mutated nucleotides are in blue. (B) Expression pattern of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p during chicken intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation. (C) KEGG pathway analysis of intersection target genes of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. (mean ± SEM, n = 6, ∗p ≤ 0.05, ∗∗p ≤ 0.01).
To better understand the role of IMFNCR function, we performed knockdown IMFNCR in intramuscular adipocyte (Figure 6A). Our result showed that siRNAs specific to IMFNCR reduced its RNA level by 40 and 44%, and the expression of adipogenic markers PPARG and FABP4 decreased significantly (Figures 6A,B). Moreover, Oil red O staining suggested that knockdown of IMFNCR inhibited adipogenesis (Figure 6C). Furthermore, miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p was significantly upregulated in IMFNCR knockdown group compared with control group (Figure 6D). When we overexpressed miR-128-3p or miR-27b-3p, the expression level of IMFNCR decreased significantly (Figure 6E). We observed that miR-128-3p or miR-27b-3p and both miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p significantly reduced the Rluc activity of the wild-type IMFNCR reporter vector (psiCH2-IMFNCR-WT) in DF1 cells, respectively (Figure 6F).
Figure 6. lncRNA IMFNCR functions as a miRNA sponge. (A) IMFNCR knockdown decreased PPARG and FABP4 expression. (B) IMFNCR knockdown inhibited intramuscular adipogenesis, as indicated by Oil Red O staining and quantified by microplate reader at 510 nm. (C) IMFNCR knockdown inhibited the protein expression of PPARG. (D) IMFNCR knockdown increased the expression of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. (E) miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p inhibited the expression of IMFNCR. (F) miR-128-3p and miRNA mixture overexpression inhibited Rluc expression of the Rluc activity of psiCH2-IMFNCR-WT, while psiCH2-IMFNCR-WT-Mut no longer responded to miRNA mixture (miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p). MiR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mimics were transfected into DF1 cells, together with psiCH2-IMFNCR-WT, or psiCH2-IMFNCR-WT-Mut. The data represent means ± SEM (n = 3). ∗p ≤ 0.05; ∗∗p ≤ 0.01.
miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p Inhibits Adipogenesis by Targeting PPARG
In search of potential downstream effectors of IMFNCR-miR-128-3p/miR-27b-3p mediated regulation of intramuscular adipocyte differentiation, we focused on PPARG, a major regulator of adipogenic genes. Bioinformatics analysis for miRNA recognition sequences on chicken PPARG also revealed the presence of a putative miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p binding site (Figure 7A). To verify the correlation between PPARG and miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p in chicken, we fused the 3′UTR of chicken PPARG to a luciferase reporter gene. A remarkable repression of Rluc activity of psiCHECK2-PPARG-WT reporter was observed in DF1 cells transfected with miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, whereas, the Rluc activity of psiCHECK2-PPARG-WT transfected with both miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mimics group was significantly reduced comparing with psiCHECK2-PPARG-Mut group (Figure 7B). In addition, overexpressed and knockdown miR-128-3p altered PPARG and IRS1 (a well-known target gene of miR-128-3p) expression levels in chicken intramuscular adipocyte (Figures 7C,D). These results suggested that PPARG is indeed a direct target of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p in chicken.
Figure 7. IMFNCR promotes intramuscular adipocyte differentiation by sponging miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. (A) The putative miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p-binding sites at PPARG 3′UTR (green) are evolutionarily conserved across species. (B) miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p suppresses PPARG translation. miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p were transfected into DF1 cells, along with PPARG-UTR-WT but not PPARG-UTR-Mut. The luciferase activity was analyzed 48 h later. (C) miR-128-3p suppresses the expression of PPARG and IRS1. Intramuscular preadipocyte was infected with miR-128-3p mimics or mimics Control at 37°C, followed by the addition of fresh growth medium. RNA and protein were extracted 48 h later, and levels were accessed by qRT-PCR and (D) western blot. (E) IMFNCR siRNA and inhibitor (miR-128-3p inhibitor, mixture inhibitor) or mimics (miR-128-3p mimics, mixture mimics) were transfected into chicken intramuscular preadipocyte. qRT-PCR assays were performed to determine the expression levels of PPARG and IMFNCR. (F) Negative control inhibitor (NC inhibitor) or miR-128-3p or mixture (miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p) inhibitor was transfected into chicken intramuscular preadipocyte. Forty-eight hours later, qRT-PCR assays were performed to determine the expression levels of miR-128-3p, miR-27b-3p, PPARG, and FABP4. (G) IMFNCR siRNA and miR-27b-3p were transfected into miRNA mimics NC or miR-128-3p mimics. At 48 h intracellular triglyceride content was measured by Oil Red O staining and (H) quantified by microplate reader at 510 nm. The data represent means ± SEM (n = 3). ∗p ≤ 0.05; ∗∗p ≤ 0.01.
IMFNCR Increases the Expression of PPARG in a miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p Dependent Manner
To confirm that the observed effects of IMFNCR were due to miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p-mediated regulation of PPARG, we transfected miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mimics or inhibitor into chicken intramuscular preadipocyte. As expected, miR-128-3p overexpression strongly decreased the mRNA levels of IMFNCR and PPARG and inhibited adipogenesis (Figures 6E, 7G,H). In a reciprocal experiment, increased mRNA levels of both IMFNCR and PPARG were observed in miR-128-3p inhibitor and mix (mixed miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p inhibitor-treated cells) group (Figure 7E). As shown in Figure 7F, miR-27b-3p and miR-128-3p inhibitor increased the mRNA levels of adipogenic markers (PPARG and FABP4). These results agreed with the ceRNA hypothesis that IMFNCR inhibits miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p function, leading to derepression of their target gene PPARG.
Effects of Dietary Nutrient Level on IMFNCR Expression
In order to understand the effect of different nutrient levels on miRNA expression, chicken was fed with high fat (HFD) and high protein diet (HPD) for 2 weeks. As indicated in Figures 8A,B, the expression level of IMFNCR and PPARG were significantly decreased in both HFD and FPD groups (P < 0.01) (Figures 8A,B). Moreover, a significantly positive correlation of expression between IMFNCR and PPARG was observed in chicken breast muscle tissues (P = 0.0075 and P = 0.0007, respectively) (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Effects of dietary nutrient level on IMFNCR expression. (A) HFD inhibits IMFNCR expression in breast muscle tissues. The breast muscle tissues of chicken were collected after 3-weeks feeding (C, control diet group; L, low-fat diet group; H, high-fat diet group). (B) HPD inhibits IMFNCR expression in breast muscle tissues. The breast muscle tissues of chicken were collected after 3-weeks feeding (C, control diet group; L, low-protein diet group; H, high-protein diet group). Data are presented as means ± SEM, n = 6, ∗p ≤ 0.05, ∗∗p ≤ 0.01. #No significant difference.
Taken together, these results strongly suggest that IMFNCR, which was regulated by nutrient factor and by binding both miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, acts as a decoy to abolish miRNA repressing activity on PPARG and thereby promotes chicken intramuscular differentiation (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Proposed model of IMFNCR regulation on intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. High-protein and High-fat diet inhibit the expression of IMFNCR; IMFNCR promotes intramuscular adipogenesis differentiation by functioning as a ceRNA, which sequesters miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, thereby protecting PPARG transcripts from miRNA-mediated suppression in chicken.
Meat quality is affected by many factors, among which IMF content contributes to the tenderness, juiciness and flavor of the meat (Aaslyng et al., 2003). IMF is mainly deposited in the muscle mass with fat, distributed in the myometrium, myofibrils, and endometrium, as well as in the form of lipid droplets in the muscle cytoplasm, which includes intracellular phospholipid, triglyceride, and cholesterol (Qiu et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2018). IMF content is an important quantitative trait, which is affected by both nutritional and genetic factors, such as mRNA, DNA methylation and miRNAs (Gerbens et al., 2001; Cui et al., 2012; Chen et al., 2017; Du et al., 2018). Our previous studies have found that the late-laying-period hens exhibited a higher IMF content in breast muscle tissues, moreover, some miRNAs regulated mRNAs to affect IMF content (Zhang et al., 2017, 2018). Several lncRNAs have been identified and suggested to regulate adipogenesis, such as steroid receptor RNA Activator (SRA) (Xu et al., 2010), adipogenic differentiation induced non-coding RNA (ADINR) (Xiao et al., 2015) and adipocyte differentiation-associated long non-coding RNA (ADNCR) (Li et al., 2016). These individual researches demonstrate the growing importance of lncRNAs in adipogenesis, but our knowledge of lncRNAs related to intramuscular adipocyte differentiation still remains limited.
In the present study, we reanalyzed the transcriptome data of chicken breast muscle tissue at different physiological periods. Further analysis revealed a large number of differentially expressed lncRNAs among different development stages, including IMFNCR, a novel fat-specific lncRNA that can promote adipogenesis in primary chicken intramuscular adipocyte. Furthermore, we found IMFNCR promotes chicken intramuscular adipocyte differentiation via binding miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p.
LncRNAs have been suggested to function as miRNA sponges, however, only a few of such lncRNAs have been reported to have functions in adipogenesis. For instance, lncRNA ADNCR acts as a ceRNA by sponging miR-204 thereby protecting SIRT1 transcripts in bovine Adipocyte-derived stem cells (ADSCs) (Li et al., 2016). Here we provide direct evidence that IMFNCR can function as a ceRNA by sponging miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p, thereby protecting PPARG transcripts from miR-128-3p- and miR-27-3p-mediated suppression (Figure 9). IMFNCR RNAi and miRNA (miR-128-3p, miR-27b-3p or mix miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p) overexpression in chicken intramuscular preadipocyte produced a similar decrease in the expression of adipogenic markers (PPARG and FABP4), whereas IMFNCR RNAi and miRNA (miR-128-3p, miR-27b-3p or mix miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p) knockdown led to increased adipogenic differentiation.
In search of potential downstream effector of IMFNCR/miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mediated regulation of intramuscular adipocyte differentiation, we focused on PPARG, a major regulator of adipogenic differentiation (Nedergaard et al., 2005; Bai et al., 2007). Wang et al. (2011) found that miR-27a suppressed porcine adipocyte differentiation. Kim et al. (2010) found that miR-27a would suppress adipocyte differentiation through targeting PPARG. Qiu et al. (2013) also found that miR-128a inhibit the differentiation of pre-adipocyte in rat via regulating the expression of PPARG. In line with the results observed from rat pre-adipocyte, our experiments suggested that miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p were negative regulator of chicken intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Mutation of the seed region of the predicted miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p target site abolished the regulation of the PPARG 3′UTR reporter, demonstrating that PPARG is a direct target of miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p in chicken intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, we show that the observed effects of IMFNCR on adipogenic differentiation were due to miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p mediated regulation of PPARG. IMFNCR modulates PPARG expression by competing for miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p as a ceRNA to regulate intramuscular adipocyte differentiation.
Nutrients can regulate gene expression in the body’s activities at various levels and pathways, that is, nutrients affect the growth, development, and reproduction of animals (Hsu and Ding, 2003; Zhou et al., 2010). One of the ways is to influence gene expression. Tian et al. (2017) found that feeding low-protein diets can promote fatty acid transport and synthesis-related genes in the longissimus dorsi (LDM), but the deposition of IMF in pig LDM is significantly reduced. Several studies suggest that the addition of PUFAs diets inhibit fat accumulation and adipocyte differentiation (Madsen et al., 2005; Zhou et al., 2010; Wójcik et al., 2014). Hsu et al. demonstrated that polyunsaturated FA inhibit the ADD1 expression and involved in lipid metabolism in porcine adipocyte (Hsu and Ding, 2003). Wójcik et al. (2014) found that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (0309-3 PUFAs) decrease expression of SREBP1 while inducing expression of adipophilin and GLUT4. Our results suggested that high-fat diet decreased the expression levels of PPARG and IMFNCR in breast muscle tissues. Increasing the energy level in the feed increases the percentage of abdominal fat and the adiponectin gene expression abundance, while lowering the dietary protein level increases the percentage of abdominal fat and adiponectin gene expression in abdominal fat (Tahmoorespur et al., 2010). In the present study, we found that high-protein diet significantly decreased both PPARG and IMFNCR mRNA levels. Moreover, the IMFNCR RNA levels was significantly positively correlated with PPARG mRNA level between different nutrient level (P < 0.001). Our results indicated that lncRNA IMFNCR may contribute to molecular genetic selection to balance IMF and abdominal fat content in chicken breeding. In addition, IMFNCR may serve as epigenetic markers for evaluating meat quality in chicken and will be likely to contribute to the improvement of poultry meat quality.
In summary, our study provides the first evidence of lncRNAs which could have functional roles in chicken intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Importantly, we combine nutrient factor with detailed mechanistic studies to describe an adipocyte-differentiation related lncRNA, IMFNCR, that functions as a ceRNA to promote intramuscular adipogenic differentiation. Our study provides a better understanding of researches underlying intramuscular adipogenic differentiation in poultry and may also contribute to improving poultry meat quality.
MZ, G-rS, and X-tK conceived of and designed the experiments. MZ, FL, and J-wS performed the experiments. MZ, D-hL, and G-xL analyzed the data. W-tL, Z-jL, X-jL, Y-bW, Y-dT, R-lH, and R-rJ contributed to reagents, materials, and analysis tools. MZ wrote the manuscript.
This study was supported by the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-40-K04), Program for Innovation Research Team of Ministry of Education (IRT16R23), Key Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province (151100110800), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31572356), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501948), Research on the Foundation and Frontier Technology of Henan Science and Technology Department (162300410162).
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.00042/full#supplementary-material
FIGURE S1 | Characterization of the IMFNCR Sequence.
TABLE S1 | Specific primers used for qRT-PCR.
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Keywords: long non-coding RNA, ceRNA, miRNA, intramuscular adipocyte differentiation, chicken
Citation: Zhang M, Li F, Sun J-w, Li D-h, Li W-t, Jiang R-r, Li Z-j, Liu X-j, Han R-l, Li G-x, Wang Y-b, Tian Y-d, Kang X-t and Sun G-r (2019) LncRNA IMFNCR Promotes Intramuscular Adipocyte Differentiation by Sponging miR-128-3p and miR-27b-3p. Front. Genet. 10:42. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00042
Douglas Mark Ruden, Wayne State University, United States
Gokul Gopinath, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, United States
Shicheng Guo, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, United States
Copyright © 2019 Zhang, Li, Sun, Li, Li, Jiang, Li, Liu, Han, Li, Wang, Tian, Kang and Sun. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Gui-rong Sun, grsun2000@126.com
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Beware! That bogus tax-related email could be hiding the NanoCore trojan
Researchers have spotted an ongoing tax-themed malicious email campaign that is delivering the NanoCore remote access trojan (RAT) as its malware payload.
Anthony Kasza and Tyler Halfpop, malware researchers at Palo Alto Networks, write in a blog post how they recently spotted the campaign after coming across a number of emails with malicious attachments and with subject lines featuring the words “tax”, “pin”, and “report”:
[Attention] Your 2014 Tax Report
[Urgent Attention] Your 2015 Secure IP PIN
[ATO: URGENT] Your 2014 Tax Return Report!
[URGENT ATTENTION] Your 2014 Tax Return!
[ATO: ATTENTION] Your 2015 Tax Return PIN!
[IRS ATTENTION] Your 2015 Secure IP PIN!!!
[HMRC ATTENTION] Your 2015 Tax Report PIN!
[ATTENTION] Your 2015 Tax Return PIN!!!
The researchers shared details of the scale of the malware campaign:
“Within the final sample set, we were able to identify 70 unique malware samples distributed through 2,062 email sessions between September 2, 2015 and January 28, 2016.”
In this attack, the email senders use addresses such as “2015-autax-return[at]ato[dot]gov[dot]au,” “2015autaxreturn[at]ato[dot]gov[dot]au,” and “2015tax-return[at]irs[dot]gov” to enhance the legitimacy of their messages.
Of course, these addresses are only meant to lull users into a false sense of security and entice them to open the attachment – either in the form of an .EXE executable file or a Microsoft Word document containing malicious macros.
Audaciously, the boobytrapped Word documents contain a guide for its intended victims on how to ensure that macros are enabled, in order that their computers can be easily compromised.
Regardless of the form of each attachment, the malware’s payload consists either of the NanoCore RAT or a macro downloader that can execute the trojan.
According to Symantec, NanoCore dates back to at least 2013, when a cracked alpha version of the trojan first appeared online.
The malware went through at least four beta versions after that before the full version (1.2.2.0) finally made an appearance. That version was also eventually cracked and leaked online, which resulted in an increase in targeted and non-targeted attacks using the tool in March of last year.
In its current incarnation, NanoCore is a modular RAT that derives its capabilities from a number of plug-ins. These add-ons allow the malware to log keystrokes, download and install other software, edit the registry, modify the firewall, and assume control of the infected PC’s webcam.
Clearly, NanoCore can wreak some serious havoc if it gets its hands on a user’s machine. To prevent that from happening, users should always stay on the lookout for suspicious emails and attachments, especially those that pertain to their tax reports.
For added details of how to protect your computers, please view Palo Alto Networks’ article, which includes a number of indicators to look out for, including email attachment names commonly used by NanoCore in this campaign.
#NanoCore
#remote access Trojan
David Bisson Follow @DMBisson David Bisson is an infosec news junkie and security journalist. He works as Contributing Editor for Graham Cluley Security News and Associate Editor for Tripwire's "The State of Security" blog.
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6 Replies to “Beware! That bogus tax-related email could be hiding the NanoCore trojan”
NanoCore is not malware, it is a legit tool that bans anybody that uses it maliciously.
The cracked version is a modified version of the official release.
https://blog.pagefair.com/2015/halloween-security-breach/
http://boingboing.net/2015/11/08/the-economists-anti-ad-block.html
http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/6/9681124/pagefair-economist-malware-ad-blocker
Here are the responses after a similar attack, the general acceptance is that NanoCore is legit software. All users caught in this attack were banned and the NanoCore team worked with every website effected in order to sort it out, the end result being that the attack was banned and the victims were safe.
This attacker is using a modified crack version meaning they cannot be banned from using it.
Saying NanoCore is malware is like saying Window RDP is malware because it can be used maliciously, it's just nonsense.
I really do hope you update this post to better reflect what NanoCore actually is.
You need to think about this a bit differently. Whether or not it is cracked is irrelevant: there is a remote access trojan version of Nanocore and that is what the article is about. But I'll humour you. Amusingly on their website:
'Build with stability in mind.
NanoCore aims to be the most stable and reliable Remote Admin Tool on the market, and trust me, there are no other RATs are as stable as NanoCore. '
You know what is amusing about that?
They change the A to be 'admin' and the T to mean 'Tool' but you could argue that indeed it is a tool (but definitely not an administrator tool or at least not for a legitimate admin here) to those attacking. You can also say that a sniffer is 'bad' and a 'traffic analyser' is good (even though they're the same thing) but it's the use that matters; it doesn't matter how it's done so much as it is done.
Cracked or not it's being used as a trojan and therefore it is malware (whether IT is the official version or not is only relevant if you're arguing semantics). But there is another amusing thing. People that are terrible liars (not saying they're lying here but it does say some other things about them) tend to say things like 'Believe me…'. In addition, as a long time programmer I find it rather hilarious that anyone would say there are no other [whatever] that are as stable as [us]. Why is that? Because many things can be completely stable but that doesn't mean they are of the same quality, have the same features, are better or worse or anything else. Stability can also change over time. In addition, it's only the most stable currently (and only of those they know about!). I'll humour them also: even if it is the most stable it clearly isn't the most secure, is it, when there is a cracked copy that is being used as a trojan horse. The fact all software is vulnerable to this or that is simply ignoring the points.
So the article doesn't need to be updated and in fact shouldn't be because it is discussing the software being used as a trojan horse and that is Nanocore. Cracked or not it's still nanocore just like cracked Windows is still Windows.
Eddie G. says:
Just curious. I've been using Linux since 2004 (Fedroa….rock solid baby!) And to date?…I haven't gotten infected with ANYTHING, not ot mention that almost ALL ".exe" files DO NOT RUN in Linux….can this Nanocore RAT affect me at all? just wondering….i mean between the Root Kit Hunter…..ClamAV…..Chkrootkit….iptables…..UFW…..and all the other nifty tools that exist to keep my machine safe…..wil this particular menace harm my machine?……just wondering is all…
Looking at the paper http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/02/nanocorerat-behind-an-increase-in-tax-themed-phishing-e-mails/ :
I see references to socks proxy which is very much a Microsoft thing. I also see references to a Microsoft routine Assembly.Load. In addition I see references to DLLs. It's true that Linux has dynamically loadable libraries but they're typically called share objects (hence the extension: .so) or shared libraries. This makes me think it's the Windows DLLs.
You're right to be concerned (only very ignorant people say things like Linux is immune to malware) but you're probably OK. I would caution you don't disregard it completely though: is your network completely segregated from Windows machines that have been exploited? Is your mail server securely configured (not an open relay for one example)? I grant you that some of those are more like backscatter (closest thing I can think of at this time) but they're still things to consider. There are other things to consider too but you're probably OK.
I'd also like to point out that in Linux (and Unix generally) extensions don't exactly matter when running a binary file (also called 'text files' but I'll not get into that) and it's more like the file header that matters (actually Windows uses headers too but I'm talking about Linux). See also file /etc/magic (as I remember it from years ago.. seems in more recent Linux releases it's now a system specific file like files you might find under /etc/sysctl.d where /usr/share/magic is the file in question). You can also see magic(5).
My point is that referring to extensions in files mostly is irrelevant in Linux (though there are of course some de facto standards like .pl, .sh and others). But yet you should never say: Okay, this file ends with .exe so it must be a Microsoft PE exe file and it is somehow harmless. For instance (and I hope I got the html escape sequences all right):
$ cat > rat.exe << "EOF" #!/bin/bash echo All rats are brats EOF $ chmod +x rat.exe $ ./rat.exe All rats are brats If you were to run the file command on it you'd see that despite the extension it is something else. Something ot keep in mind. If you were to cat the file you'd see what I typed in (without the blank lines).
Typically the html escape codes went afoul. If I could edit…
Anyway, change the > to be > and the < to be < and it's then right.
Maybe it now properly converts it? Testing but if not the above should hopefully explain it (or maybe you know it already).
$ cat > rat.exe << "EOF"
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cc/2019-30/en_middle_0039.json.gz/line2305
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