Earth Matters

Santiago Gassó: Following the Patagonian Dust Trail

April 21st, 2016 by Elizabeth Jarrell
Conversations with Goddard - Santiago Gasso

Santiago Gasso. (Credit: NASA/W.Hrybrk)

Earth Matters occasionally publishes interviews with earth scientists from around NASA. Here we feature Santiago Gassó, research associate at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

What is most interesting about your role at Goddard?
I am a physicist and work in atmospheric science, with a specialty in remote sensing. I use data from satellites to look at Earth’s atmosphere, and I focus on natural and manmade aerosols, which are very small particulate matter.

I am part of the science team for the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the Aura satellite. Launched in 2004, OMI is an instrument designed to survey pollutants such as sulfur dioxide or aerosols in the atmosphere. I am part of the team that develops algorithms based on this data.

These scanning electron microscope images (not at the same scale) show the wide variety of aerosol shapes. From left to right: volcanic ash, pollen, sea salt, and soot. (Micrographs courtesy USGS, UMBC (Chere Petty), and Arizona State University (Peter Buseck).) The top strip of photos shows desert dust, volatile organic compounds from vegetation, smoke from forest fires, and volcanic ash. All are natural sources of aerosols. (Photographs copyright (left to right) Western Sahara Project, Jonathan Jessup, Vox, and Ludie Cochrane.)

Where are you from?
I was born in Buenos Aires, a city as dense as New York. I got a master’s degree in physics from the University of Buenos Aires. Because I wanted to live abroad, I came to the U.S. to get a doctorate in geophysics, specializing in atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington. I came to NASA Goddard because I wanted to learn radiative transfer theory from the people who designed and created the satellites that I used for my Ph.D. thesis. Radiative transfer is the study of propagation of electromagnetic energy. It provides the framework and, most importantly, the equations that most satellite retrieval algorithms use.

What is your main scientific work?
My main objective is to use algorithms to determine how much radiation has been absorbed by atmospheric aerosols. The study of absorption by aerosols is important because it can change the temperature profile of the atmosphere. For example, a thick cloud of smoke can increase the ambient temperature by absorbing solar energy and returning that energy to the environment as heat.

What are some of your other scientific interests?
I also like to spend time looking at satellite images for phenomena that are overlooked. For example, I am very interested in dust from glaciers and other high-latitude deserts. Dust plumes coming off Greenland’s and Alaska’s coasts can be clearly seen in satellite images.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of dust from the Copper River Delta being blown over the Gulf of Alaska on October 28, 2014. Read more here.

I am curious about measuring particulate mass concentration based on these images. The implication is that, unlike the more tropical sources of dust like the Sahara Desert, the high-latitude sources are near and upwind of ocean ecosystems with known deficiencies in certain nutrients. It is widely believed that the dust plumes are supplying nutrients, such as iron and phosphorous, that would otherwise not be available in these marine ecosystems. However, we have not yet proven this idea.

I am also beginning to work with astrobiologists to implement or adapt astrobiology remote sensing techniques to study aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere. This is a new, exciting area for me.

What is your biggest discovery?
About 10 years ago, while looking at dust plumes coming off the Patagonia desert of South America, I ran into a very cloudy area with highly distinctive tracks in the clouds. It turns out that I discovered the equivalent of tracks of smoke from ship engines—except these tracks were generated by volcanoes. The tracks were formed in clouds moving over very weak volcanic eruptions. Rather than a full eruption, these traces are made from volcanic belches. When these aerosols reach the cloud deck above the volcano, they change the properties of the clouds slightly. Just like pollution entering a cloud, the volcanic aerosols induce a change in droplet size that results in a change in amount of radiation reflected by the cloud. This is change is what is detected by the satellite.

I found all this just by chasing dust from Patagonia. I just wanted to know how far this dust would go.

Clouds that form around volcanic emissions are made up of many small droplets instead of fewer larger droplets. Since these clouds present more surfaces for light to bounce off of, they are brighter than other marine clouds. Bright volcano clouds are similar to ship tracks, which from around sulfate aerosols in ship exhaust. The top image illustrates the impact of small-scale volcanic eruptions on clouds. The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on April 27, 2006. The lower image, calculated from the MODIS data, shows the average size of particles at the top of the clouds. Read more about the images here.

Please tell us about your field work in Patagonia.
I have been to Patagonia twice. Both times, I was working with a partner to install equipment that measures dust at the ground—the same dust that we see from space.

Patagonia is a desert in the southern end of Argentina. It is cold, dry, and sparsely populated. Patagonia lies next to a fantastic mountain range, the Andes, that is twice as tall as the Rockies.

How have your Patagonian studies evolved?
I was the first person to report observations from space of dust storms in Patagonia. I was the first one to study the entire transport of these dust storms using satellites and modeling tools.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of dust blowing out of the Patagonian Desert.

This work put me in touch with a diverse group of scientists–including geochemists, paleoclimatologists, and geomorphologists–who are all interested in the presence and impact of dust at high latitudes. We formed a network called the High Latitude Dust and Climate Network, and we are hosting a symposiumin Iceland two years from now.

It is interesting to see how different scientists view time. The satellite data I use is based on many photos per minute. My time reference is very fast. In contrast, some of the paleoclimatologists, who drill cores into the ice, view tens of thousands of years in a single inch. They think in terms of thousands of years.

How did your training make you able to find things no one else sees?
This skill comes from my Ph.D. thesis on measuring how atmospheric particles capture water and grow to become cloud drops. I was one of my adviser’s first Ph.D. students, and he did not have much money to buy new equipment. So we had to use observations or data already analyzed by other groups. As a result, I was always getting leftover data that had already been mined. The easy things that one could say about them had already been discovered and reported. So I had to sharpen my skills to discover phenomena and effects that had been overlooked by others.

What motivates your scientific research?
I am always curious about understanding physical concepts and how different phenomena integrate. For example, I want to understand how dust interacts with ocean biology. Another example is how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere by supplying aerosols.

What else do you do to satisfy your curiosity?
I make it a point to attend seminars outside my field. Presently, I am very interested in planetary exploration, so I go to many lectures. It is super fun, and I learn things that I can apply to my own research. I also read papers from outside my field so that I can learn about other areas.

Why did you choose your profession?
I wanted to be a biologist. I became a physicist because it was easier for me to understand equations than to memorize facts. Mathematics makes sense to me.

Who is the most inspiring person you have worked with at Goddard?
One of my thesis advisers was the Yoram Kauffman. He was a very intelligent and generous scientist–brilliant actually. He was very good at inspiring and encouraging others to explore their instincts, to ask why and then find out the answer. Yoram is the one who inspired me to follow up on the volcano discovery. When I first showed him the faint traces, he was so excited that he said that he could see the image on the front page of Science magazine. Coming from him, that meant everything to me. Unfortunately, he died about two months later.

What do you do in your spare time?
On weekends, I spend most of my time with my wife and two kids. Every spare minute during the week, I get onto my laptop and look at new satellite images, much to my wife’s chagrin.

This piece was adapted from an article originally published by Goddard Space Flight Center.

April Puzzler

April 18th, 2016 by Kathryn Hansen

Every month on Earth Matters, we offer a puzzling satellite image. The April 2016 puzzler is above. Your challenge is to use the comments section to tell us what part of the world we are looking at, when the image was acquired, what the image shows, and why the scene is interesting.

Good luck!

Update: The answer is posted here.

No, that is not a photograph of the death star orbiting Earth. It is the winner of NASA Earth Observatory’s 2016 Tournament Earth—the Dark Side and the Bright Side. The image shows the fully illuminated far side of the Moon that is not visible from Earth.

The images were acquired by the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) on the DSCOVR satellite, which orbits about 1.6 million kilometers (1 million miles) from Earth. EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates. About twice a year the camera captures images of the Moon and Earth together as the orbit of DSCOVR crosses the orbital plane of the Moon.

Screen Shot 2016-04-04 at 4.45.40 PM

The Moon faced some stiff competition on its journey to the championship. In the course of the tournament, it faced a trio of hurricanes over the Pacific, the electric eye of Cyclone Bansi, an underwater volcano, and the wrath of Mount St. Helens. The final round came down to a slugfest between the Moon and an impressionistic bloom in the Baltic Sea caused by a profusion of cyanobacteria. When the voting was over, the Dark Side/Bright Side finished with 59 percent of the vote.

While we aren’t aware of any homecoming parades to honor the 2016 champion, watching the video above (or listening to all of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon) seems like a fitting way to celebrate. The images in the movie below were taken over the course of five hours on July 16, 2015. The North Pole is toward the upper left, reflecting the orbital tilt of Earth from the vantage point of the spacecraft. The far side of the Moon was first observed in 1959, when the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft returned the first images. Since then, several missions by NASA and other space agencies have imaged the lunar far side.


A Comparative Study of Education Systems in the U.S and China

Education is the most potent force in society today. A good education that nourishes intelligence and questioning can impact children as soon as they step into the classroom.

Here are some differences between China’s and America’s education systems:

School Grades

China’s education system has mainly three levels of education comprised of primary level, secondary level, and post-secondary level. Primary level is typically called elementary level. Secondary level has divided into lower and upper, which is equivalent to middle school and high school, respectively. In the U.S, 1st to 8th grades has identified by years. For instance, “I am in 8th grade.” Furthermore, high school and college classes have arranged as “freshman,” “sophomore,” “junior,” and “senior.”

Required Education Level

All the students in China are needs to complete nine years of education. On the other side, in the U.S, compulsory learninglaws need students to stay in school until 16~18 years of schooling.

School Day

In the U.S, it is normal for high school students to hustle for another class when the bell rings. While in China, your instructor comes to you. In America, school starts at 8 a:m and ends somewhere around 3 p:m. While in China, for middle and high school evening sessions are also offered. Lunchtime in China is longer than in America.

Application for Higher Education

In America, attending high school is right. While in China, to get into preferred higher education, one needs to take an examination. Through passing entrance exams only, students can obtain higher learning. The Senior High School Entrance Exam determines which school has allotted to students based on their rank in the exam.

College Education

Like many other countries, in university, students earn their bachelor’s degrees and proceed towards their master’s degree. American teens applying as “undecided” in college is a common practice that is unheard of by Chinese students. In America, elite colleges have collectively approved. And, in China, some colleges are very prestigious. A few of the prestigious colleges in China are Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Sun Yat-sen University.

Also, read: The Impact of Family Involvement on Academic Achievements


Lyceum Kennedy’s teaching, administrative and management staff are recruited and selected with the greatest care. As a school, we seek to hire individuals who are eager to lead and collaborate with colleagues, are achievement oriented, devoted to students and personally involved with school life and spirit.

If interested you may submit your resume and cover letter to the following email address:


path: root/rbutil/sansapatcher/sansapatcher.c
AgeCommit message (Expand)AuthorFilesLines
2007-10-20Support database rebuild disabling when USB is connected for all e200 OF vers...Barry Wardell1-2/+23
2007-10-14Add support for installing/replacing the bootloader in the PPBL section of th...Barry Wardell1-0/+44
2007-09-19Cosmetic - Change the way the detected type of Sansa is displayed and bump ve...Dave Chapman1-2/+2
2007-09-19Initial attempt at c200 support - you now need both a "firmware.mi4" file (c2...Dave Chapman1-8/+93
2007-09-19Allow FAT16 partitions (for c200)Björn Stenberg1-1/+4
2007-09-19four more keys that are funDaniel Stenberg1-2/+7
2007-08-22Accept both 0x0b and 0x0c as valid FAT32 partition types in the partition tableDave Chapman1-3/+5
2007-08-02Fix a couple of warnings. Also fix a bug where the offset wasn't being report...Barry Wardell1-12/+12
2007-08-02Add --update-original-firmware (or -of) option to sansapatcher. This allows f...Barry Wardell1-33/+124
2007-07-29Add -W to CFLAGS in Makefile and fix generated warnings. Also close a file h...Dave Chapman1-7/+19
2007-05-03Make rbutil compile on Mac OS XDave Chapman1-1/+1
2007-05-03Support for Sansa E200 in rbutilDominik Wenger1-6/+12
2007-05-03Remove some unused functions, no functional changeDave Chapman1-36/+0
2007-03-21Some more sanity checks - don't recognise the new bootloader installed via th...Dave Chapman1-4/+23
2007-03-17Add Rockbox magic (RBOFe200) to the end of the mi4 header in the original fir...Dave Chapman1-1/+5
2007-03-16Some code rearrangement and function renaming to help incorporation into rbut...Dave Chapman1-30/+9
2007-03-15Add a further safety check - don't allow users to install old bootloaders wit...Dave Chapman1-0/+5
2007-03-15Oops, forgot to add the dummy DSA signature to created MI4 images/filesDave Chapman1-0/+4
2007-03-15Implement the ability to embed a bootloader in sansapatcher - the --install o...Dave Chapman1-14/+21
2007-03-15Correct the svn:keywordsDave Chapman1-1/+1
2007-03-15Initial commit of sansapatcher - an installation tool for the Sansa E200.Dave Chapman1-0/+702


What is the role of information technology in business?

What is the role of information technology in business?

The importance of IT in Business. Information technology is the only technology which provides you the opportunity to analyse specific data and plan your business journey accordingly. It also provides you many tools which can solve complex problems and plan the scalability (future growth) of your business.

What is scope in project management examples?

A great project scope example is an effective tool typically used in project management. It is used to explain the most important deliverables of a project. These include the major milestones, top level requirements, assumptions as well as limitations.

What is Agile scope?

Scope can make or break a project. In agile-speak, scope definition is demonstrated as user stories — also known as high-level requirements — in the product backlog. These user stories are prioritized based on factors like business value, complexity, and cost; and worked upon incrementally in sprints.

How do you write a scope example?

How to Write a Scope Statement

  • Overall description of the work. This is where you state that the project is to “build a fence.”
  • Deliverables. What will be produced by the project, and what are its key features?
  • Justification for the project.
  • Constraints.
  • Assumptions.
  • Inclusions/Exclusions.

How do you define scope?

What is the purpose of a scoping document?

Your scope statement or scoping document defines the perimeters of the project across a number of dimensions. It’s typically used to support project effort evaluation and planning, as well as detailed requirements definition, so the idea is to define what will be done/delivered (and what won’t be).

How do you prevent scope creep in agile?

The following are five ways to keep control of your project.

  1. Document the Requirements. The single most important thing to avoid scope creep on your project is to document your requirements.
  2. Set up Change Control Processes.
  3. Create a Clear Project Schedule.
  4. Verify the Scope with the Stakeholders.
  5. Engage the Project Team.

What are the 5 steps of defining scope?

Here are 5 recommended steps to scope your projects:

  • Step 1: Set the Direction. You set the direction for the project by having an agreed Project Vision, Objectives and Timeframes?
  • Step 2: Scope Workshops.
  • Step 3: Statement of Work.
  • Step 4: Assessing Feasibility.
  • Step 5: Scope Acceptance.

Why is scope important in project management?

Project scope helps to distinguish what is and is not involved in the project and controls what is allowed or removed as it is executed. Scope management establishes control factors, that can be used to address elements that result in changes during the lifecycle of the project.

How do you control a scope?

The process of controlling scope involves many objectives that are to be met; the following criteria’s from the project management plan will help in managing scope.

  1. Scope Management Plan.
  2. Requirements Management Plan.
  3. Change Management Plan.
  4. Configuration Management Plan.
  5. Scope Baseline.
  6. Performance Measurement Baseline.

What is purpose and scope of a document?

Purpose- It is the reason or aim for which something is done. Scope- Scope refers to the extent of area or range a matter is dealt with.

What is the scope in business?

What are two common causes of scope creep?

So, in order to better know the enemy, let’s take a closer look at what causes scope creep.

  • Project scope is not defined clearly enough.
  • Changed client’s priorities or needs.
  • Poorly identified stakeholder needs and interests.
  • Poor initial analysis of what’s necessary and reasonable.
  • Inability to say no.

How do you write a scope for a document?

How to write a scope of work document

  1. Business case and goals. Every project has goals, and this is where you’ll define them.
  2. Project description and deliverables. This one is simple: a plain language overview of the project’s deliverables.
  3. Acceptance criteria.
  4. Limitations.
  5. Assumptions.
  6. Exclusions.
  7. Costs.
  8. Agreement.

How do you write scope and limitations of a study?

You will need to clearly define what you intend to study as well as what you do not. Be very specific in both areas for your reader to clearly understand your intents on both levels. Limitations by contrast are what elements will affect the ability for your study to generalize the results.

Why scope creep is bad?

Moreover, scope creep can lead to: Poor communication between stakeholders, customers, project managers, and team members. Undocumented and unapproved changes and conversations between the stakeholders. An inflexible/non-existent change control process. Unrealistic deadlines and time frames.

How do you write a business scope?

8 Key Steps to Developing a Project Scope Statement

  1. Understand why the project was initiated.
  2. Define the key objectives of the project.
  3. Outline the project statement of work.
  4. Identify major deliverables.
  5. Select key milestones.
  6. Identify major constraints.
  7. List scope exclusions.
  8. Obtain sign-off.

Is agile project management?

Agile – a project management approach based on delivering requirements iteratively and incrementally throughout the life cycle. Agile development – an umbrella term specifically for iterative software development methodologies. Popular methods include Scrum, Lean, DSDM and eXtreme Programming (XP).

What is scope of information technology?

The stupendous role of Information Technology is well reflected in multi-national corporations, large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap businesses that involves and in a plethora of works like management of data, inventory, customer relationship, Information Systems, etc.

What is the scope of the project?

Project scope is a detailed outline of all aspects of a project, including all related activities, resources, timelines, and deliverables, as well as the project’s boundaries.

What is a document scope?

What is a project scope document? It includes the functions and features of the final deliverable, as well as any factors that define project success. The project scope document, often called a statement of work (SOW), records all these features, functions, and requirements that stakeholders expect from the project.

What is scope creep in agile?

Scope creep, for those of you reading this blog purely for the joy of it, is when a team has agreed to build a piece of software for a given price in a given time frame, and then the person who wants the software changes their mind about what they want, and they ask the team to do something outside the initial …

What is scope creep in project management?

The PMBOK® Guide describes scope creep as “adding features and functionality (project scope) without addressing the effects on time, costs, and resources, or without customer approval” (PMI, 2008, p 440). Change on projects is inevitable, so the possibility for scope creep is also inevitable.

What happens when a scope creep occurs?

The definition of scope creep is when a project’s scope changes, the project work starts to extend, or “creep”, beyond what was originally agreed. With just about any project, change is inevitable, but it’s the uncontrolled changes that delay projects and cause scope creep.

What is scope volatility?

Scope Volatility (SV) Definition. Scope Volatility depicts the amount of change in size of the release scope, comparing the release scope size measured at start of the release and after the last completed sprint.

What does size and scope mean?

Size noun – The total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something. Scope is a synonym for size in extent topic. In some cases you can use “Scope” instead the word “Size” as a noun or a verb, when it comes to topics like dimensions, confines, proportions, extent or bulk of some dimension.

What are inclusions in project management?

Inclusions: A description of tasks, items, and actions that are specifically “included” in the project scope. Exclusions: A description of tasks, items, and actions are specifically “excluded” in the project scope. For example, “Any painting materials or labor.”

What is meant by in scope?

If something is “not in scope,” it is not factored in the planning work of the project. Activities that fall within the boundaries of the scope statement are considered “in scope” and are accounted for in the schedule and budget.

What is scope creep example?

The small details of one of the many facets of the project are easily overlooked. In this example, the small details that didn’t get planned turned out to be the entire network of a new building. Scope creep is defined as the tendency of a project to grow in scale and complexity as more individuals get involved.

How is scope management different on Agile projects?

Agile scope management is different from scope management in a traditional project. Historically, a large part of project management is scope management. Product scope is all the features and requirements that a product includes. The signers of the Agile Manifesto recognized that scope change is natural and beneficial.


Security Cloud Courses About

What Are Blockchain, Web3, and NFTs?

Web3, NFTs, and the blockchain at the apex (hopefully?) the hype cycle right now. These concepts are often talked about as a group but then are in fact distinct concepts and it’s important to recognize that.

Let’s dive in and clarify what each one is…

Web3 describes a new iteration of the web that is decentralized and allows for a common economic system in order to recognize more granular value outside of traditional structures.

This is a shift away from Web 2.0 which saw the rise of centralized data collection for ad tech and data aggregation in social media networks.

The implementation specifics of Web3 are in flux and will be for a while yet.

There is no “cut over” date or launch day. This’ll be an organic process as Web3 services gain popularity.

A blockchain is a linked list of records. Each record can be used to validate the previous record. This means that records can’t be changed without changing every record after it.

This allows the blockchain to maintain its integrity while distributed instead of sitting with one organization or company.

Anyone can verify each entry, ensuring that it hasn’t changed. That makes blockchains useful in any number of situations where verification of something is required. Things like voting, financial transactions, proof of ownership, etc.

An NFT is a non-fungible token (horrible name). This is an implementation of a specific contract stored on a blockchain (so it can be verified). Most commonly, an NFT is an item within an Ethereum smart contract.

The idea is to have a technological method of proving ownership of something. An NFT is a verifiable certificate of authenticity or ownership.

NFTs have been used in a number of creative ways. As tickets to events. Proving ownership for artworks. To representing ownership in a shared endeavour.

What’s Next?

Web3, blockchain, and NFTs present interesting ideas to change certain aspects of our digital world. Like any technology or approach there as strengths and weaknesses to each.

The challenge—as always—is recognizing those and making sure to use the best technology to solve the problem at hand.


Welsh homelessness - new guidance and letters

The Welsh Government has issued supplementary guidance about HWA s.75(3), under which some homeless applicants will be owed the full housing duty despite being intentionally homeless.

Welsh dragon.

Please see my previous post for an explanation of how section 75 now operates.

This post assumes you have read that previous article or are otherwise familiar with the new intentionality rules in Wales.

Quick recap

In summary, section 75(3) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 provides that certain young persons, pregnant women and those with children benefit from the full housing duty if their homelessness was not successfully relieved during the initial 56-day relief period; even if the council decides the applicant became homeless intentionally.

However, a second incidence of intentional homelessness within five years may enable a Welsh council to decide that the full duty is not owed in such 'young person household' cases.

The new guidance note is an interim measure pending a thorough revision of the Code of Guidance, which is due in 2020. It should be read in conjunction with the pre-existing Code (para 1).

Unusually the guidance does not confirm its status explicitly (for example by stating "this guidance is issued under section 98 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014"). However, it's clear this is the intention.

Key points include:

  • If someone continues to receive support via the s.75(3) gateway, that support must be continuous (para 8).
  • The date of the intentionality decision, for the purpose of calculating the 5-year period, is the date of the letter which notifies the applicant of the same (para 10).
  • Intentionally homeless applicants who are nevertheless owed the full duty should be informed in the notification letter that they qualified under s.75(3).

In relation to this last point, para 12 states:

Failure to do so, will result in the five year time limit not being enforceable.

This is potentially very important since, surprisingly, the 2014 Act doesn't explicitly require a council to notify an intentionally homeless applicant of the basis on upon which they're owed the main duty. An intentionally homeless applicant who is within one of the four protected classes should be made aware that it's by virtue of subsection (3).

One might add that they should also be informed of the possible consequences, if they are found intentionally homeless again within 5 years (I've included this information in my template letters, links to which can be found at the bottom of the post).

Para 11 makes a recommendation in forthright terms about the timing of a second intentional decision for a protected household within five years:

Authorities should not under any circumstances look to discharge section 73 early (via section 74.3 [sic]) purely in order to ensure that an applicant would fail the five year test.

This could be viewed as a practical manifestation of the Minister's wish that councils "should work to the spirit not simply the letter of the law" (see letter and press release). Section 74(3) is the ground for ending relief duty before the 56th day because reasonable steps have been taken to help the applicant obtain suitable accommodation.

Any council applying the 'second strike' intentionality sanction having ended the relief duty 'early' would be well advised to cite this guidance (to demonstrate regard has been had to it) and give reasons why it was nonetheless considered appropropriate to end the duty.

Now for some concerns about the interim guidance.

Some of the wording is not as clearly expressed as might be expected. It took me a while to figure out the intended meaning in a couple of places.

This could be because I'm a bit slow. Either way (no sarcastic comments please!) it's an indication that the text may be read in a way that the authors did not intend. All rather unfortunate, since statutory guidance is there to provide clarity and certainty for busy professionals.

Para 9 states:

Where someone has been found intentionally homeless, the five years commences on the date that they received notification that they were owed a duty under section 75. For example, if a duty is owed under this section on 1st January 2020, then if no more than one intentionality decision has taken place since 1st January 2015, then the applicant would be eligible for support under section 75 as a result of section 75(3).

However, I'm not sure the above example bears close scrutiny.

For the reason given in my previous post (essentially, the wording of subsection (3)(f)(ii)) I doubt an intentional decision made before 2 December 2019 can, in any event, be counted as the 'first strike'.

Transitional arrangements

The Welsh Government chose not to make any transitional provisions. This is unusual. When it comes to housing applications commencement orders are usually drafted so as to make clear how the new provisions will apply in respect of previous and current applications.

Para 13 states:

There are no legacy considerations. Where an intentionality decision has been made prior to commencement of section 75(3) on 2nd December 2019, the new provisions are still relevant.

Er, "still relevant" in which situations precisely? And how?

In practice the lack of express transitional provisions may lead to unnecessary disputes. For example, arguments in relation to whether the full duty is now (post commencement) owed towards persons found intentionally homeless before 2 December 2019 (but who are within one of the four protected priority need groups at subsection (3)(e)).

Of course this is not an issue with the guidance, but derives from the commencement order. Given the small size of Wales (in terms of numbers of homeless applications) it may not be a massive issue, and it won't last for long. Nevertheless it has the potential to cause confusion and costly disputes which could easily have been avoided.

Alternatively the guidance could have confirmed the basis on which the Government concluded that express transitional provisions were unnecessary. For example, if the Government's interpretation is that a young person deemed intentionally homeless on 1 October (who, at that time, did not qualify) now qualifies for the main duty by virtue of s.75(3), it would have been useful to have this stated, and the statutory basis for that interpretation confirmed (right to a fresh assessment because of new circumstances or information, by virtue of s.62(2)?).

Right to review?

I would also have liked the guidance to clarify for councils whether an applicant can request a internal statutory review of a 'first strike' intentional decision (i.e. where the applicant is nevertheless owed the main s.75 duty because of subsection (3)).

A council officer might assume that they must review such a decision if asked to do so (and, on determining the review, inform the applicant of their right to appeal to the county court). However, none of decision categories at s.85(1) appear, on a literal reading, to come to the applicant's aid in this respect. A 'first strike' intentional decision is surely not "a decision..that a duty is not owed [present tense]...under section 66, 68, 73, or 75" (s.85(1)(b)), given that it is a decision that the s.75(1) duty is owed.

In summary, it really does pay to consult before implementing guidance. Ambiguities can be identified, improvements made, and confusion avoided.

In their defence

All of which makes me wonder whether our civil servant friends in Cardiff have their hands rather full at the moment with implementing the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Certainly this complete overhaul of residential landlord and tenant law is turning out to be a rather lengthy affair.

Finally, you may find the following letters useful if you administer homeless applications in Wales. They're free to download providing you've created an account with your work email address:

s.75(2) gateway to full duty - non-young person household / unintentional

s.75(3) gateway to full duty - intentionally homeless but young person household

Full duty not owed following 2nd intentional decision

Welsh letters index

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Nepal’s yet another tryst with destiny

Final transition from Divine Right to Democracy

By–Shambhu Ram Simkhada11953066_968885283167643_1881241126052502697_n

Liberty is innate to humanity; who would not want to be governed democratically under a constitution written by their own elected representatives? The Constituent Assembly (CA) was one such call that captured the collective Nepali wish and it finally became a reality as part of Nepal’s 2006 post conflict peace process. After so much Triumph and Trauma, the adoption of the new Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic by the CA on 20 September 2015 is the culmination of this long held aspiration of the Nepali people. The challenge now is to launch the country into a new trajectory of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Nepal for all Nepalese finally ending the painful transition from divine right to democracy.

Challenging undertaking: Despite many weaknesses Nepali leaders sometimes not only surprise others but themselves. This is one such occasion. The determination with which the mainstream democratic-progressive political leadership has asserted itself and moved forward must have made the dissenting voices pause and reflect. The ruling coalition enjoys overwhelming majority in the CA and large majority of the people always support leadership of wisdom and courage. Now the government and mainstream leadership must activate all channels to bring the moderate forces of the Tarai-Madhesh to take ownership of the new Constitution.

A nation-state is easily known by its physical territory, but it is the unity of the multitudes of the people bound together around some shared values and sense of common destiny that will make it peaceful, prosperous, democratic and strong. The circumstances in which the constitution is being adopted with sections of the political forces opposing, parts of the territory burning and people dying, the first priority now is to bring all of the dissenting political parties, if possible, and at least those that can identify with the fundamental values enshrined in the constitution on board.

Having left the CA and plunged into agitation, there will naturally be some resistance in the ranks of the dissenters. But an open invitation and sincere and serious message of accommodation gives them the opening to return. If on the one hand their presence in celebrating the promulgation of the new Constitution gives them the place to be part of this historic process in which they themselves have been an important part, it will be the real test of the political leadership in Kathmandu. Having correctly identified those seeking genuine redress from the spoilers, the leadership must also now have the courage to deal firmly with those who are intent on turning Nepal into Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or Somalia.

Ending the Transition: The real need and demand of most Nepalese from Mechi to Mahakali, Himal, Pahad to Tarai-Madhesh has always been the enjoyment of the fruits of their own hard work in peace, security and freedom. All else are politics. Can the new Constitution ensure this real need and demand of the people? This is the most crucial question.

Given the spread of the ideological divide and political interests, even with the best skills and luck, it is unlikely that all will be calm on the 21st of September. Some copies of the Constitution will surely be torn and burnt, but, how many? This will determine the future course of Nepali politics. The rumor of a nationwide bandh on the very day the constitution is being promulgated just goes to show the extent of the challenge. Will people be able to come out and express their joy (or disagreement for that matter) without threat or fear? Will the government be able to remove the fear or threat of violence with effective law and order? This will determine whether the transition will really end.

New National Agenda: Just like a political change, a new Constitution will not bring immediate and automatic social and economic dividend. It will only create the platform for change. But will actions and behaviors of all, most significantly people in positions of power and authority change? Can and will they want to embark on a new culture of meritocracy where honesty and good work are rewarded, lethargy and bad behavior punished? Will there be better governance, heal the wounds and wipe the tears of those most affected by past injustices and recent conflicts and violence? Will appointments to important government posts be based on merit and performance rather than other criteria? Holding election of the local bodies as soon as possible and a better blue-print for overall socio-economic transformation and post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation are other important national agendas.

Unity of Purpose: The verdict of the people in the last general election was for all political parties to work together to promulgate the new constitution within a year. People entrusted the main responsibility of these and other important agendas of peaceful and positive transformation to the largest political forces. Their inability to move promptly and decisively brought the current situation but the constitution also became possible when they finally decided to unite and act.

Government Formation: Acquisition of state power has always been the main focus of politics everywhere. This is more so in the overly power-centric politics of the developing world and Nepal in particular. Will the unity of purpose continue or falter in the quest to acquire and retain power? Whether Nepalese leaders have really learned from their past mistakes will once again be tested in the formation of the new government and sharing power.

Should the government be a grand-coalition with some place for the smaller parties and the individuals in the CA, like minded parties or of big players with majority with stable government and strong opposition? This is another important question. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Leadership: People knew institutionalizing the post-2006 achievements would not be easy. That is why they did not have big expectations and were patient. Only politicians promised bridges where there were no rivers. Any wonder, they encountered problems. Federation or otherwise, presidential or parliamentary system, what matters most is how efficiently and effectively the state acts, how honest and accountable leaders are and whether they are able to team up with competent and committed professionals. Deep studies of many societies suggest, leadership is the single most crucial factor for success or failure. In this sense whether the new constitution becomes a document for recounting the ills of the past or a blue print for a brighter future will largely depend on leadership of wisdom and courage.

The best blessing of the new constitution can be in restoring the faith of the people on the state, its institutions and leaders. In this sense it gives the current generation of Nepali political leaders one more chance to fulfill the promise they have repeatedly made to the people of a better Nepal for all Nepalese. But ordinary leadership cannot meet the challenges of extraordinary times. Leaders will have to do better if they want to meet the terms for Nepal’s yet another tryst with destiny. [email protected]

  :   Editor-in-chief : Gopal Khanal
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Book Review ~ Those Who Saved Us by Jenna Blum

We choose to read books for many reasons.  Sometimes the cover art speaks to us from the shelves of a local library or book store and we feel the need to take that book home.  We may chose our books based on reviews  read in Bookmarks Magazine, the book review section of the local newspaper or even because we read a fabulous review here on Planet Books.  LOL!  Well I chose to read Jenna Blum’s haunting novel, Those Who Saved Us, for a fairly unique reason.  The main character has the same last name as I had till I got married in 2004.

Those Who Saved Us is a story about a woman named Anna who finds the Nazis invading all aspects of her hometown of Weimar, Germany and putting it on the map due to its geographical relation to Buchenwald concentration camp.  Anna’s father is a terrible parental figure, making Anna’s life miserable and difficult as her sole purpose becomes the huge job of handling every need of his and their home.  She finds relief in the friendship with “The Good Doktor”, Max Stern, and eventually the forbidden love that grows out of their chess games and conversations.  Max is a Jew and the risk of even talking with him is deadly.  Eventually, fear for Max’s life due to his association with The Resistance pushes Anna into action and she hides him in the walls of his father’s house.  Of course, as happened all over Europe in the late 30’s and early 40’s, Max is discovered by Anna’s father and shipped off to the Gestapo.  This is the catalyst for Anna and she quickly leaves her childhood home and becomes apprentice to a local baker and spy for The Resistance.

Well folks, that is just the beginning of this enrapturing and memorable book.  The book jumps from WWII Germany to mid’90’s Minnesota and back again.  In Minnesota, Anna is an elderly, secret filled woman who has just lost her husband and has a stressed relationship with her middle-aged daughter Trudy.  Trudy is a professor of German history at a university in Minneapolis.  She joins a fellow professor on a project that finds her locating Germans in the area who survived WWII in Germany by any means possible and recording their stories.  Little does she know what one of her interviews will disclose about her own mysterious path and the ways her mother made it possible for the two of them to survive during one of this planets most hellish periods.

The drama and stories that emerge from Those Who Saved Us will stay with me forever.  I have said before that I think it is very important for these historical fiction novels to find a voice.  They may be fiction but they are based on fact and in the case of Those Who Saved Us, Jenna Blum completed a great amount of research thanks to Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation.

Those Who Saved Us reads like a drama and horror story at times but provides a lesson in history and how you can never truly escape your past.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the historical fiction genre but warn you that there are some stories within that will cause your jaw to drop and your stomach to turn.

{Rating ~ 4 out of 5}

Movin’ In

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Artwork for Libby's Luncheonette

Libby's Luncheonette

Libby Mills
ArtsHealth & FitnessFood

Your host, Libby Mills, has home cooked conversations, eats and tips that focus on our local food system and how sustainable choices can positively affect our personal, community and ecological health and well-being. Libby Mills, MS, RD, LDN is a dynamic, nationally recognized registered dietitian who engages, entertains and inspires through her cooking, teaching, speaking and writing. She regularly helps people translate health recommendations into practices that fit their unique needs. Renowned for her ability to connect with everyday people, Libby combines her energy, wit and creativity to bring food, nutrition and health alive. Facilitating sustainable health choices, Libby creates flavorful, sensory appealing food experiences, captures the imagination with history, culture, and purpose, adds new value by exploring social issues, celebrates personalized solutions and connects communities.

Do you want to know how many people listen to Libby's Luncheonette? Or perhaps how many downloads it gets? Rephonic has scanned the web and collated all the information we found in our podcast database.

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Three book authors share their tips and secrets to a well world, healthful body and fulfilled, happy life. Janet Houser a Life Coach Healer, Registered Dietitian Ruth Frenchman and retired biology professor Gordon Hunter ask, "How are you?"

16 days ago

In a pickle wondering what to leave for Santa?  And what ar the best treats for kids? Carly Shilhaus Senior Manager of Public Affairs for The National Confectioners Association, Brady and Hope Stewart from Hope's Caramels and Niki Toscani Cofounder &... more

16 days ago

How to throw the ultimate, iconic cookie party with Liz Serbenz and Linda Morel talks about cookies for Hanukkah! And if you like ginger bread cookies, listen up!

a month ago

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Female restaurateurs are among the rarities in central Stockholm’s restaurant scene. It’s a tough and still very much male dominated business in the city. However Erika Goytizolo didn’t hesitate to go against the flow and opened her unique Canta Lola, Restaurante y Bar Social.

Erika Goytizolo

"Crazy lady with big cojones and a vision, but the real motivation was the underlying belief in what builds our human core"

I never doubted the success and acceptance of my restaurant because it was conceived with the best life experiences, love and even weirdly timing. I relied on the emotional and perceptual intelligence of my guests and proved right. There is still a market for what is genuine and real. Our ambience is joyful with delightful flavours, music, cocktail, wines and true warmth in the service.

My love for food and the process was born since an early age and the greatest inspiration and hero was my grandmother. She always had her magical endless pots of food and a generosity to feed not just her family but anyone that needed a meal. The memories of her hacking of the machete in the patio doing her mise en place while teaching me all the lessons on how to value food and labor to produce it. Above all to be thankful and caring to our Pachamama for providing cure and nutrition.

Many other sisters also inspired me throughout my life. They are not known, they are often the ones you pass by and ignore in the process but to me they are my justification to do better and more, for sisterhood, for the respect they deserve, for the chances they didn’t get and that I won’t ever take for granted.

I have no regard for being underestimated or fitting into anyone’s prejudice. I am extremely proud of taking my space and realizing my personal dream. In my little humble way, I am taking one for the team.

These sisters are in their market stalls selling their produce or hot soups, on the street corners selling their fresh made tamales or fruit juices, on the buses and by the traffic lights carrying an infant on their back and offering their candy to make a living. They are everywhere, in every county or city you ever visited, in your own town. They are the ones that overcome everyday adversity, discrimination, challenges and still stand strong, they are my silent heroes and forever motivation.

I am reminded of them and grow stronger in my role as a restaurant owner. Every time I have to work my kitchen or washing the dishes, cleaning fridges, caring for my wines, repairing machinery, schedules, bookings I feel like I can do anything and everything.

My meaning was to take on a fine scene in Stockholm and display my cultural gastronomical heritage. It is needed not only for diversity purposes but to also inspire other sisters that regardless of nationality, age, or background we also must be seen, heard and given the opportunity to showcase their trade in good locations and even encourage investment and support.

Canta Lola means Sing Lola in Spanish...she is my alter ego and a force of nature, joy, laughter, limitless, unbreakable, relentless. She is the personification of being your own 100%.

Nikki Amini challenged both norms and prejudices when she as a young woman was established in the Swedish music industry. We know Nikki primarily as a straightforward jury member in Idol. Her imprint led to an international career working with some of the biggest name in the music industry. Now she wants to inspire more people to stand up for what they believe in.

"I have refused to diminish myself"

I love my Persian roots and I have many strong women running through my genes, but my background also meant that I didn’t fit into the model of society. My appearance and my character were often seen as different but instead of living up to the expectations of others, I made a choice at an early age - to stand up for myself. Both in the circle of friends and later on in my profession and this gave me a head start to really get to know myself.

My personality has played a crucial role in my career and in my opinion, it all starts with who you are as a person. Your personality is unique and can not be copied or ignored. Today, being under constant influence of musts and demands, I really want to encourage others to think about their strengths but also weaknesses and turn them both into their advantage. No matter what you decide to do in life, you must first and foremost believe in yourself.

Music has always been a great passion, my dad was a music teacher and we played a lot of music at home. He also arranged concerts with artists from Iran and already at the age of ten I got to help sell CDs and hand over flowers to the artists.

Throughout my profession I have challenged, been curious, questioned and dared to take place. Of course, I have met both resistance and people who wanted to diminish me, but the adversity has strengthened me knowing that it pays out to stand up for what you believe in. I have always chosen not to get caught up in negative comments and to put my focus and energy on those who have paid attention to me and wanted to help me move forward.

Let no one else limit you. Go ahead and apply for that job or education you dream of and remember that every time you dare to stand up for yourself, big or small, your self-esteem will grow along with you.

Dona Hariri is the daughter of parents who fled the Iran-Iraq war over mountains and through water. With discrimination, socio-economic exclusion, Dona decided to become a lawyer and to take power and give it to those who needed it most. As a 12-year-old Dona bought her first law book and, against all odds and without the trust of adults, she became a lawyer on her own initiative and power. The lawyer who stepped up her own path in law and did it her way.
Dona Hariri

"The women around me are my strength and sisterhood is my compass"

Every day, women’s fundamental rights are violated. The right to education, health and personal security. The right to equal pay, to own one’s body and not to be exposed to threats and hatred online. Women in the world are struggling to live up to their full potential. More than 100 years ago, women in Sweden fought for their own right to vote.

Women’s rights are not accepted as human rights. Instead, women are a weapon used in war, hardest hit by the lack of access to clean water and sanitation, and subjected to domestic violence. Discriminated in decision-making rooms, questioned when challenging and limited when taking place.

But struggle is also power.

My power comes from women’s struggle. It comes from my mother who persistently tried to give me a childhood in the middle of a burning war. My aunt who is battling cancer which was reduced by healthcare to women-related stress. My aunts who always stand their ground despite a corrupt patriarchy that surrounds them.

It comes from the knowledge that the female body is exposed and women’s health is ignored. The threat online. Racism on the street. The ruling techniques in the boardrooms. My power comes from all women who with great and strong determination have changed their society, their country and the world. Which changes Sweden.

The women around me are my strength and sisterhood is my compass. When it shakes, they are there and remind me to stand up and move forward. Always forward.

The issues women raise throughout history are part of the established society today.


What two sides faced off in the English Civil War?

What were the two sides of the English Civil War quizlet?

Which side surrendered in the English Civil War?

Parliament’s victory at Naseby in June 1645 proved to be the decisive engagement. This ‘First Civil War’ ended with the surrender of the Royalist headquarters at Oxford in June 1646.

Which of the following best describes the English Civil War?

Ch. 16. HistorySecQz3

Question Answer
What statement describes the English Civil War best? It led to political change.
The Restoration refers to? The reestablishment of the monarchy.
What was a result of the Glorious Revolution? The Protestants William and Mary replaced the Catholic James II.

What were the causes of the English Civil War quizlet?

Terms in this set (3)

  • The people were becoming Protestant and the Stuart family remained Catholic. Causes.
  • Oliver Cromwell defeated Charles I and abolished the monarchy, the people felt he was too ridged and brought the monarchy back. Events.
  • Anglican Church became the established church but other religions were tolerated.
THIS IS FUN:  Can you toast an English muffin in the microwave?


Ingredients You Should Avoid in Food

Everyone knows to keep an eye out for calories, fats, and carbs but paying attention to the ingredients in the food you buy is just as important. These 5 ingredients should be avoided next time you go grocery shopping! I always try to aim for minimally processed and organic foods. The less ingredients on the label, the better haha.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: This is a sweetener made from corn. It’s usually found in soda, candy, juice, cereal, and snacks. A large amount of high fructose corn syrup is linked to weight gain and even diabetes. It can trigger inflammation and play a role in chronic conditions. Try and skip any snacks or foods that contain this ingredient. Try foods without added sugar and you can sweeten them up with stevia or fruit.

MSG: This can go by many names but most know it as MSG. It can be found in canned soup, diet drinks, and a ton of fast food. More than 40 forms of this additive can be found in grocery store aisles. It’s used to enhance the flavor in many processed foods. Next time you check your ingredient label look out for: monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast, autolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, and even citric acid.

Artificial Sweeteners: These are used in a ton of diet foods to keep sweetness but keep the calories down. They usually are listed as: aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium. Because they are processed they can be harder on our body than plain old sugar. Artificial sweeteners can trick your brain into forgetting that sweetness means extra calories, so they can do more harm than good.

Hydrogenated Oil: This ingredient equals trans fats. It is known to clog arteries and cause obesity. Manufacturers like it because it reduces costs, increases shelf life, and stabilizes flavor. Trans fats are twice as difficult for the body to dissolve as saturated fats. Opt for olive, peanut, and canola oils.


Volatile Acidity VA (as Acetic Acid)

Volatile acidity, also commonly known for wine as acetic acid, is an organic acid that is produced  after the fermentation period. It is the most volatile of the primary acids and is typically produced by spoilage yeast and bacteria. Acetic acid may be formed by Acetobacter contamination in an aerobic environment or from lactic acid bacteria metabolizing sugars. High concentrations of acetic acid can cause undesirable sensory effects similar to vinegar. The measurement of volatile acidity is useful to monitor any increases in acetic acid.

Volatile Acidity
(Units: g/L, Technique: Enzymatic)


This is a series of drawings that I created in 2015.
The dominant theme that is prevalent in these pieces is the presence of technology and its fast-paced growth. This is one of my sidenote series of works. I often take a break from more complex visual projects through drawings such is these. My primary focus was on encapsulating the presence and evolution of data and media technology.


Consortium website is open.

Moonshot Research project has been launched for achieving Goal 5: creation of a global food supply industry though sustainable farming by utilizing natural biological resources by 2050.
Our project, “Building a platform for sustainable farming through environmental control based on the microbe atlas of soil”, with Haruko Takeyama of Waseda University as the project manager, contributes to the greater goal of the moonshot project; “Technical development of a sustainable food production, circulation system through biological measures, i.e., utilizing microbes and insects, by 2050”. We have established a consortium of five research groups, “Soil Microbial Atlas”, “Crops (Soybean)”, “Artificial weather chamber construction”, “Social Sciences”, and “Network analysis and Agriculture management” to construct a platform for sustainable farming that realizes the regenerative agriculture with minimum chemical fertilizers and pesticides. With this sustainable farming platform based on soil management, we aim an innovation in agriculture food production.


Keyword Analysis & Research: measures of variability

Keyword Analysis

Keyword Research: People who searched measures of variability also searched

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the the most common measures of variability?

Standard deviation and variance are more popular as measures of variability since both tools capture the essence of every value in the data set, and not just the extreme values. Variability as an Indicator of Risk

What measures are used to describe variability?

Measures Of Variability. Measures of Variability are statistics that describe the amount of difference and spread in a data set. These measures include variance, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean.

Which measure of variation is most sensitive to extreme values?

The standard deviation as a measure of variation is very sensitive to extreme values. This is because, in the calculation of standard deviation, the distances between individual data points and the mean of the set are squared. This means that outliers and other extreme values will have exponential impacts on the value of standard deviation.

Search Results related to measures of variability on Search Engine


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Looking for in-depth property data?

You've come to the right place. Search for comprehensive data on all properties in the UK - including ones like 20 Polwhele Road, Truro.

20 Polwhele Road, Truro, TR1 1RF

Has a current valuation of £368,000

A 2 bedroom Semi-Detached property in Truro.

We're currently valuating this property at a sale price of £368,000 within a price range of £316,000 and £420,000

This property is currently held under freehold tenureship, and was built between 1950-1966. It has an internal floor area of 64.

Compared to other properties of the same type in TR1, this property is more expensive than most.

View insights about TR1 Understand how this property relates to the surrounding area

Frequently asked questions

  1. How much is 20 Polwhele Road, Truro worth?

    20 Polwhele Road, Truro is now worth £368,000 according to our Mouseprice AVM.

    If you would like to book a free agent valuation for 20 Polwhele Road, Truro - click here to get one with no strings attached. Yopa are experts in the area and we are confident they have what you need.

  2. What is the 3 month price change in TR1?

    The 3 month price change in TR1 is +7.67%.

  3. What is the rental value of 20 Polwhele Road, Truro?

  4. How many bedrooms does 20 Polwhele Road, Truro have?

  5. What are the nearest schools and stations to 20 Polwhele Road, Truro?

    Nearby schools in include Bosvigo School, Truro High School, Truro Nursery School, Truro School, St Mary's CofE School Truro

    Nearby stations in include Truro Station, Perranwell Station, Penryn Station, Falmouth Docks Station, Penmere Station.

  6. What type of property is 20 Polwhele Road, Truro

    This is a Semi-Detached property. There are 0 other Semi-Detached properties on Polwhele Road, and 24 in total.

  7. When was 20 Polwhele Road, Truro built? How old is 20 Polwhele Road, Truro?

    20 Polwhele Road, Truro was was built between 1950-1966.


This is just an announcement really to let you know that we now have a Discord. I go over what Discord actually is, why I’ve created one for this channel, and you know, why you should join it!

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How to Create a Bootable Media CD with DiscWizard

You can run Seagate DiscWizard from an emergency boot disc (Bootable Media) on a computer that cannot boot in order to perform an image restore. You can also use the boot CD to perform Clone operations, Partition/Format Disks, and create Image Backups of hard disks etc.

Items of Note:
  • To create a bootable media disc, you will need a blank CD-R/RW, or a blank DVD+R/RW.
  • Booting from a flash drive is another option if your computer does not have an optical drive. You can either select the flash drive in the Bootable Media Type Selection step, or you could save the DiscWizard .ISO file and burn it to the flash drive using an image burning utility. The flash drive must be formatted in FAT32.
  1. Open the DiscWizard software and click on the Tools selection on the left side of the window.
  2. Click on Rescue Media Builder.
  3. Click on Simple.
  4. If there is a blank CD-R/RW, a blank DVD+R/RW, or a USB flash drive in the computer, you can select that for the destination. If you want to save the file to burn on a different computer, you can select ISO image which will allow you to save the bootable media file to another location, i.e. the desktop or an external drive.
  5. Click Proceed
  6. A status bar will display the progress and notify you once it is complete.

In order to boot from a CD, you will need to adjust your boot order in your BIOS accordingly. Every motherboard/computer manufacturer will have a unique key that must be pressed in order to access the BIOS (such as F2, F12, Esc, etc). You will want to set your boot order to boot to the CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB (flash drive).

Once you have completed your task with the DiscWizard CD, be sure to remove the CD from the tray and reset your boot order back to its original configuration.

*For more information regarding DiscWizard you can access the built-in help guide through the Help selection on the left side of the software.


15 Essential Graphic Design Interview Questions *

Toptal sourced essential questions that the best graphic designers can answer. Driven from our community, we encourage experts to submit questions and offer feedback.

Submit an Interview Question

What do you do to stay up to date on the latest software, trends, etc.?

There are hundreds of publications that cover the design industry, from print magazines to blogs to other online publications. Designers who are passionate about the industry probably have a handful of sources they turn to regularly to stay up to date on what’s happening in the world of graphic design.

It can be beneficial for interviewers to check out the sources designers mention. Reviewing these can give insight into the level of skill the designer possesses, their style, and their overall take on the industry. Ideally, a designer will have a well-rounded catalog of sources that give them insight into numerous aspects of the industry.

What makes a successful design?

Every designer’s answer to this question is likely to vary on the details. Some designers may place all of their emphasis on how the end user feels. Other designers might put their focus on how happy the client or other stakeholders are with the project. Others might define success as a design they’re proud of, or one that comes in on time and under budget.

It’s essential that however the designer answers, their definition of success fits with that of the company hiring them. There’s no right answer, but the designer’s definition needs to mesh with their employer’s company culture.

What kinds of design projects are you most interested in?

If the job focuses primarily on package design, and the graphic designer interviewee expresses a passion for poster design, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be a terrible fit. After all, just because a designer expresses a preference for one type of project over others doesn’t mean they don’t have the technical or creative chops to handle whatever comes their way. But finding a designer who’s passionate about the projects they’ll be working on is a distinct advantage.

One of the biggest things to watch out for is a designer who doesn’t seem to have any preferences and states that they love all types of design. While that might be true, they almost certainly have particular projects they prefer. And in some cases, they’re simply stating what they think the interviewer wants to hear.

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and enjoy reliable, steady, remote Freelance Graphic Designer Jobs

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Who are your design heroes? What designers or brands do you admire?

All designers have influences. It may not be a particular designer, but rather the design team for a specific brand. Or it may not be a fellow graphic designer but rather a web designer, product designer, or even someone like an industrial designer or architect.

Getting an idea of who the interviewee admires can give insight into their style, or at least the style they aspire to cultivate. Some designers have diverse influences, which can be a good sign that they strive to be adaptable. But designers who seem to idolize designers from a single style or design movement can still have diverse skill sets.

What do you do when you hit a creative block? How do you overcome it?

Every designer hits creative blocks at one point or another in their career. It could be because a project doesn’t inspire them, they’ve received some disheartening feedback, or they’re just stuck and aren’t sure why.

Seasoned designers have strategies for dealing with creative blocks because they know they’ll encounter them sooner or later. These strategies might include anything from taking a walk to seeking out new sources of inspiration to chatting with other designers. The key answer to look for is that they have a proactive strategy and don’t just wait for inspiration to strike again.

Think of a time when you made a big mistake on a graphic design project. How did you recover from it?

Everyone makes mistakes. A designer that can admit to their mistakes and has shown that they know how to proactively fix those mistakes or otherwise make things right for their client shows a level of professionalism that not all designers possess.

A designer’s answer should be candid without being too self-deprecating. They should be able to discuss the mistake objectively and explain why it happened and what they did to learn from that mistake and avoid repeating it. They should also address what they did to fix the issue at the time.

Why did you choose graphic design as a profession?

Graphic designers should be passionate about the work they do. Many designers started with an interest in art and found graphic design to be a viable career path that fosters that interest.

Ideally, a graphic designer should talk about their background and education, including what prompted their interest in design in the first place. Enthusiasm for the profession should be apparent in their answer, along with a path into the industry that seems well-thought-out and deliberate.

What do you do to meet tight deadlines on time while still delivering great work?

Some creatives have issues with meeting deadlines, while others thrive under pressure. Graphic designers should know where they fall on that spectrum, and they should have developed systems to handle their workflow based on how they work under deadlines.

Look for designers who are confident in their abilities to meet deadlines, even if they don’t necessarily thrive under the pressure of a tight deadline. Good designers have worked out ways to compensate for any shortcomings, which likely also applies to other weaknesses they may have, either in design skills or “soft” skills like communication.

What skills and qualities should a great graphic designer possess?

Great graphic designers should possess above-average design skills to start with. They should be proficient with the software they choose to use (whether that’s Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Sketch, or some other product). They should also be familiar with established design principles, color theory, and typographic design.

While design skills are of paramount importance, they should also include soft skills in this answer. Graphic designers often work as part of a team, making things like collaboration and the ability to take and incorporate feedback essential.

Further, even designers who primarily work independently need to work with clients and other stakeholders in their projects, which means an ability to communicate with non-designers, user research, and presentation skills are important.

Great designers should be curious and eager to learn. They should also be effective problem-solvers who approach design problems with enthusiasm and innovation.

Do you work better independently or with a team?

Ideally, a graphic designer will be able to work effectively in either situation. But getting insight into how they prefer to work can be helpful if a particular project is going to be heavily team-based or more independent. If a designer will be working primarily alone on a project, it’s vital that they’re comfortable with that and can still be productive and effective. And the opposite is also true, of course.

Be aware of how a graphic designer responds to this kind of question. While they may say they’re great in either situation, pay attention to which one they speak more passionately about. This provides further insight into where they’re most likely to thrive, even if they can manage to work either way.

How do you incorporate feedback into your designs?

Feedback is an integral part of the design process. Without it, designs will never reach their full potential. Designers need to be comfortable getting feedback from other designers on their team, the stakeholders in the project, and from end users.

The best designers embrace feedback as an essential part of creating exceptional designs. They should be excited about receiving feedback and eager to make better products by incorporating it. If a graphic designer seems hesitant or resistant to feedback, it can point to an inflated ego and an inability to take direction in general.

What are the major steps in your creative process?

There is no “right” answer to this question. The important information revealed here has more to do with the fact that the designer has a process that they follow and that they’ve refined that process to be both efficient and effective.

There are a few things that should be included in any creative process, though. Research, ideation, iteration, and testing should be part of an expert graphic designer’s creative process, as should collecting feedback. Pay attention to the way designers talk about their process and whether they seem confident in how they approach creative projects or unsure of themselves.

What do you think of our company’s work/branding?

If a designer didn’t at least see potential in a company’s branding, they’d be unlikely to bother applying for a job with that company. So it’s not common for designers to bash a company’s branding in an interview (if it happens, it can be a sign of an inflated ego on the part of the designer).

Some designers will talk about improvements they’d consider making to a brand, which is a good sign that they have innovative ideas they want to share. Other designers may not have any negative or neutral feedback, which is also a good sign—it means they’re invested in the brand’s aesthetic and are likely to have no issues following existing design guidelines.

Of course, if the goal is to revamp the brand or even do an entire overhaul of the brand’s visual elements, it may be beneficial to find a designer who already has ideas for improvements. It’s useful to share with the designer that this is a possibility, and see what they can come up with for ideas on the spot.

Don’t hold any ideas thrown out on the spot against them, as they aren’t privy to the inner workings of why the revamp is necessary or desirable, or what the goals for that revamp are. Instead, pay attention to the way they reason their ideas and that they seem to have at least a basic understanding of the brand and market.

How do you handle disagreements about feedback given on a project?

No graphic designer agrees with the feedback they get 100% of the time. But how they react to feedback they don’t agree with speaks volumes about their ability to work with a team.

Graphic designers should be willing to consider any feedback they receive. If they don’t agree with the feedback, they should be able to back up their position with data—either case studies from other projects, quantitative data, or qualitative data from user research. When they don’t have data to support their position, they should be willing to concede the point and make changes based on the feedback.

Stakeholders in any project—including the graphic designer—should be able to compromise to make sure they’re meeting the needs of the people that the project is for. The best graphic designers always keep those end users in mind and put their needs first.

What would you need to learn about our brand in your first week of work?

By the time a designer is interviewing with a company, they should have already done some initial research and be familiar with the public-facing aspects of the brand. If they seem like they’d need to start with the most basic elements that can easily be observed by the general public, it may indicate they haven’t done much research and aren’t particularly committed to the job or the brand.

Most designers will want to familiarize themselves with two essential things immediately. The first is any formal style guide or brand guide that includes the exact rules for using things like colors, fonts, logos, and other visual elements. The second is the specific workflow the existing graphic design team uses (or the workflow that has been used in the past if there is no current design team).

They may also want to familiarize themselves with who the stakeholders are for the project(s) they’ll be working on and what their expectations are.

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Jake Kahana

Graphic undefinedPhotoshop CCUX DesignIllustrator CCUI DesignInDesign CCDigital Product DesignArt DirectionWeb DesignVirtual Reality (VR)BrandingResponsive Web Design (RWD)Web UX + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since June 9, 2017

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Alex Engzell

Graphic undefinedAdobe PhotoshopUI DesignAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignResponsive Web Design (RWD)iOSBrandingWireframingAndroidBrand GuidelinesProduct DesignPitch Decks + 0 more

RomaniaToptal Member Since March 2, 2017

Alex has worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, including Nike, Converse, Heineken, Vogue, and CoStar Group. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and Communications Arts. With a hefty number of awards, 15 years of experience, and the philosophy of practicing what he preaches, Alex is known for his minimal and timeless designs. He thrives when working with bold brands and has a deep appreciation and understanding regarding the impact that great design can have.

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Nemanja Veselinovic

Graphic undefinedAdobe PhotoshopIllustrator CS6User Interface (UI)User Experience (UX)PrototypingIdentity DesignAdobe Experience Design (XD)Visual DesignFreelance + 0 more

SerbiaToptal Member Since June 7, 2016

Nemanja is a UI/UX specialist with more than ten years of industry experience who focuses on usability, user experience, and user research in his designs. He has worked with small and large teams, including teams from Google and Red Hat. Nemanja has worked as a freelancer and enjoys the challenge of solving user problems.

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This module is a resource for lecturers

Effects of corruption

The effects of corruption are wide-ranging. Some of these effects are fairly obvious, while others require explanation. They include:

Undermining the Sustainable Development Goals

Corruption hampers the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are comprehensive and their susceptibility to be undermined by corruption is unsurprising: it is entirely conceivable that "a better and more sustainable future for all" often runs counter to the interests of a few and can be derailed through many forms of corruption. Under conditions of diminished State capacity, nations fail to eradicate poverty, address hunger, secure good health care and high quality education for their citizens, guarantee gender equality and other human rights, reduce inequality, and so on. Of particular relevance is Goal 16 of the SDGs (or SDG 16), which is titled "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions" and aims to "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels". Given the strong causal link between corruption and institutions that are ineffective, unaccountable and exclusive, three targets of SDG 16 - namely 16.4, 16.5 and 16.6 - specifically call for reducing all forms of corruption, strengthening the recovery and return of stolen assets, and developing transparent institutions. At the same time, corruption limits the realization of all SDGs in many respects, as the vast sums that are lost to corruption could have been used to improve living standards by increasing access to housing, health, education and water. For example, the African Union estimates that 25% of Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) is lost to corruption (UNODC, 2015). Aidt (2010) examines the relationship between corruption and sustainable development and finds that there is a negative correlation between corruption and growth, and that corruption can put a country on an unsustainable path in which its capital base is eroded. In addition, the relationship between corruption and sustainable development has repeatedly been emphasized by resolutions adopted by the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC. It thus requires the global community to see corruption as an obstacle to the realization of the SDGs and to step up anti-corruption efforts if we truly desire to achieve the SDGs. The appendix includes an SDG table that briefly explains how corruption relates to each of the 17 SDGs. For each SDG, the table also indicates which Modules of the E4J University Module Series on Anti-Corruption address the relationship between corruption and the specific SDG.

Economic loss and inefficiency

Poverty and inequality

Corruption is generally not the weapon of the weak. In Nigeria, an (in)famous bribery case, involving the international oil company Shell, deprived Nigerian people of over $1.1 billion as the money went to corrupt officials instead of to the national budget (Global Witness, 2017). Meanwhile, according to the World Bank (2019), more than 50% of the population of the oil-rich country live in extreme poverty. This example shows that as political and economic systems are enlisted in the service of corrupt actors, wealth is redistributed to the least needy sources. Mechanisms such as political representation and economic efficiency are both compromised by self-dealing and secret exchanges. Under conditions of corruption, funding for education, health care, poverty relief, and elections and political parties' operating expenses can become a source of personal enrichment for party officials, bureaucrats and contractors. Social programmes and the redistributive potential of political systems suffer accordingly. A key result of all the instances named above is a state of unequal opportunity in which advantages arise only for those within a corrupt network.

Personal loss, intimidation and inconvenience

When people experience corruption, it is rarely a positive experience. A bribe must be paid to receive medical attention, obtain a building permit, pick up a package, or enjoy phone services. A judge rules against a party, not based on the facts of the case, but because the opponent paid a bribe, knows a power broker, or comes from the same racial or ethnic background. A person is beaten, detained or subject to a higher fine because he or she refuses to pay a bribe solicited by a police officer. Retirement funds are lost to fraudsters or tied up in a money-laundering scheme. While the victims of corruption suffer personal loss, intimidation and inconvenience, those who perpetrate corrupt acts and schemes tend to experience personal gain, a sense of superiority and greater convenience - pending enforcement of the law, that is.

Public and private sector dysfunctionality

Failures in infrastructure

Rigged economic and political systems

Impunity and partial justice

Rising illiberal populism

Organized crime and terrorism

Nefarious elements in society thrive as proceeds can be laundered, funding disguised, and judicial officials and politicians corrupted through bribes (including gifts, favours and other benefits). Levels of violence, illegal drugs, prostitution, sexual slavery, kidnapping and intimidation rise accordingly. The causal arrow goes in both directions. Not only does organized crime cause corruption, but opportunities for corruption left open by a weak, negligent or incapable State can also lead to organized crime. For a further discussion about the corruption-organized crime nexus, see Module 11 of the E4J University Module Series on Anti-Corruption and Module 4 of the E4J University Module Series on Organized Crime.

Diminished state capacity

Even if citizens were to adamantly demand that the problems listed above be addressed, corruption undermines the power of politics. For example, to the extent that bribery, trading in influence and state capture are widespread, political systems become incapable of addressing social problems whose resolution would threaten vested interests. Naturally, this is never acknowledged as such from within - state incapacity may manifest in a great many distracting and misleading ways, such as wedge issues, political party restructuring, the emergence of scandals and overwhelming outside issues that detract from structural problems, and so on. Under conditions of state capture, political arbitrage can be expected to occur in a highly strategic fashion. Issues will be played off against each other in order to frustrate systemic reforms. Moreover, as Della Porta and Vannucci (2005) argue, corruption compromises the ethos of public service and changes political culture so as to render meaningful, public-spirited reforms virtually unthinkable.

Increasing polarization and unrest

Climate change and damage to biodiversity

Human rights violations

The observation that corrupt rulers tend to view civil liberties as obstacles to the consolidation of power can be traced back to many historical sources, including the collection of eighteenth century essays on corruption and tyranny known as Cato's Letters. Most recently of all, perhaps, the United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) has noted significant connections between corruption and human rights violations. Not only do those who report and oppose corruption end up on the receiving end of assassinations and human rights violations of many kinds, but also corruption itself decreases State capacity to address violations of civil and political rights and to make the necessary provisions to guarantee such rights, including socioeconomic rights, which often require complex initiatives on the part of governments. OHCHR calls corruption "a structural obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights" and has detailed many intersections between these two areas. For a further discussion and academic references on the corruption-human rights nexus, see Module 7 of the E4J University Module Series on Anti-Corruption.

Armed conflict and atrocity crimes

The diminished State capacity and development, brought about by corruption, can lead to insecurity and even armed conflict (see, e.g., World Bank, 2011; World Bank, 2017). Indeed, corruption has been recognized as a destabilizing factor and ultimately a "driver of conflict" (USIP, 2010, p. 7). Although the causal link between corruption and atrocity crimes (including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity) may be hard to prove, transitional justice mechanisms have identified corruption as a root cause of conflict and atrocity. See, for example the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report (2004, chap. 2, para. 13) and the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission Consolidated Final Report (2009, vol. II, pp. 16-17). In post-Arab Spring Tunisia, corruption was recognized as a root cause of the conflict even before the transitional justice mechanism operated. Thus, Tunisia's Law on Transitional Justice from 2013 (see English translation here) and the Truth and Dignity Commission (Instance vérité et dignité or IVD) that was created by the law were intended to establish accountability for the country's legacy of rampant corruption and human rights violations and to help reform the institutions that engaged in such crimes. Another relevant example is a 2018 report from the Open Society Justice Initiative, which offers evidence linking corruption to crimes against humanity in Mexico. For a further discussion and academic references about the corruption-conflict nexus, see Module 11 of the E4J University Module Series on Anti-Corruption.

Public frustration and cynicism

People lose trust in leaders, in social systems (public institutions) and sometimes even in society and ethics itself when they sense that corruption is widespread and corrupt actors are not being held accountable. When political non-accountability increases, such perceptions persist for protracted periods and political participation diminishes. Moreover, public frustration and the sense that corruption is widespread can in turn pave the way for citizens themselves to take part in corrupt transactions, as discussed in a blog post on the Taxi Driver Paradox. In other words, social norms could encourage corrupt behaviour as people tend to think that "if everybody is doing it, I might as well do it too." (Köbis, 2018). Failure to meet public expectations for zero-tolerance of corruption may have deleterious consequences for the legitimacy of State institutions and the very utility of formal norms that citizens and firms are expected to follow, possibly resulting in higher public tolerance of un-civic and free-riding behaviour.

The effects of corruption mentioned above can be categorized along the following lines: economic, political, moral or psychological, humanitarian, ecological, security-related, and so on. To help us gain a better understanding of corruption, the following section discusses some of the deeper meanings of corruption.

Next:  Deeper meanings of corruption
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