{"text":"OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Denmark 2011\nOECD Development Assistance Committee PEER REVIEW DENMARK Off-print of the OECD Journal on Development 2007, Volume 8...\nAuthor: OECD\nOECD Development Assistance Committee\nOff-print of the OECD Journal on Development 2007, Volume 8, No. 4\nThis work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Organisation or of the governments of its member countries.\n\uf020 ISBN 978-92-64-11708-2 (PDF)\uf020\nSeries: OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews\uf020 \uf020 ISSN 2222-7466 (online)\nCorrigenda to OECD publications may be found on line at: www.oecd.org\/publishing\/corrigenda.\n\u00a9 OECD 2011 You can copy, download or print OECD content for your own use, and you can include excerpts from OECD publications, databases and multimedia products in your own documents, presentations, blogs, websites and teaching materials, provided that suitable acknowledgment of OECD as source and copyright owner is given. All requests for public or commercial use and translation rights should be submitted to [email protected] Requests for permission to photocopy portions of this material for public or commercial use shall be addressed directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) at [email protected] or the Centre fran\u00e7ais d'exploitation du droit de copie (CFC) at [email protected]\nINTRODUCTION \u2013 3\nThe Peer Review Process The DAC conducts periodic reviews of the individual development co-operation efforts of DAC members. The policies and programmes of each member are critically examined approximately once every four or five years. Five members are examined annually. The OECD's Development Co-operation Directorate provides analytical support and is responsible for developing and maintaining the conceptual framework within which the Peer Reviews are undertaken. The Peer Review is prepared by a team, consisting of representatives of the Secretariat working with officials from two DAC members who are designated as \"examiners\". The country under review provides a memorandum setting out the main developments in its policies and programmes. Then the Secretariat and the examiners visit the capital to interview officials, parliamentarians, as well as civil society and NGO representatives of the donor country to obtain a first-hand insight into current issues surrounding the development co-operation efforts of the member concerned. Field visits assess how members are implementing the major DAC policies, principles and concerns, and review operations in recipient countries, particularly with regard to poverty reduction, sustainability, gender equality and other aspects of participatory development, and local aid co-ordination. The Secretariat then prepares a draft report on the member's development co-operation which is the basis for the DAC review meeting at the OECD. At this meeting senior officials from the member under review respond to questions formulated by the Secretariat in association with the examiners. This review contains the Main Findings and Recommendations of the Development Assistance Committee and the report of the Secretariat. It was prepared with examiners from Luxembourg and New Zealand for the Peer Review of Denmark on 30 March 2011.\nIn order to achieve its aims the OECD has set up a number of specialised committees. One of these is the Development Assistance Committee, whose members have agreed to secure an expansion of aggregate volume of resources made available to developing countries and to improve their effectiveness. To this end, members periodically review together both the amount and the nature of their contributions to aid programmes, bilateral and multilateral, and consult each other on all other relevant aspects of their development assistance policies. The members of the Development Assistance Committee are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and the European Union.\nDAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n4 \u2013 INTRODUCTION Denmark's aid at a glance\nExchange rates (EUR per USD): 2007 0.7305\nExchange rates (DKK per USD): 2007\nTABLE OF CONTENTS \u2013 5\nAcronyms ............................................................................................................................................. 9 The DAC's main findings and recommendations ........................................................................... 11 Secretariat report .............................................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 1 Strategic orientations ...................................................................................................... 23 A leading, consistent and confident donor responding to global challenges ................................... 23 A solid legal, political and institutional framework ......................................................................... 24 Maintaining a steady strategic focus ................................................................................................ 25 Addressing new trends and challenges ......................................................................................... 27 New definition of partner countries.............................................................................................. 29 A new approach to cross-cutting issues ....................................................................................... 30 More strategic multilateral assistance .............................................................................................. 31 Public opinion: need for more strategic communication by Danida ................................................ 32 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 2 Development beyond aid................................................................................................. 35 Making progress on policy coherence for development .................................................................. 35 Committees and co-ordination ......................................................................................................... 36 Pushing for PCD at EU level ........................................................................................................... 37 Efforts to achieve policy coherence in specific areas ...................................................................... 37 Immigration and refugees............................................................................................................. 37 Climate and environment ............................................................................................................. 38 Security and stabilisation ............................................................................................................. 38 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3 ODA volume, channels and allocations ......................................................................... 41 Official development assistance in summary................................................................................... 41 Transparent and predictable budgeting ........................................................................................ 42 Bilateral aid ...................................................................................................................................... 43 Commitment to focus on fewer partner countries in Africa ......................................................... 43 Sector allocations ......................................................................................................................... 43 Humanitarian aid.............................................................................................................................. 45 Multilateral assistance...................................................................................................................... 46 Allocations to non-governmental actors .......................................................................................... 47 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter 4 Organisation and managememt ..................................................................................... 49 Development co-operation is well integrated within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..................... 49 DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n6 \u2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Danida Board ........................................................................................................................ 51 Lessons from Denmark\"s decentralisation ................................................................................... 51 An elaborate programme and performance management system .................................................... 52 Results-focused performance management .................................................................................. 52 Human resource management: dealing with budget cuts ............................................................. 55 Skills development: exemplary progress ...................................................................................... 56 Evaluation: good practice ................................................................................................................ 57 The civil society strategy ................................................................................................................. 58 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 5 Aid effectiveness .............................................................................................................. 61 Deepening implementation of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action ................. 61 Denmark is on track to meet its Paris Declaration targets ............................................................... 61 Implementing aid effectiveness commitments ................................................................................. 63 Institutionalising aid effectiveness through the Aid Management Guidelines ............................. 63 Decentralisation............................................................................................................................ 64 Emerging challenges for aid effectiveness ................................................................................... 64 Capacity development...................................................................................................................... 65 Delivering aid effectively in fragile states ....................................................................................... 65 Predictability .................................................................................................................................... 66 Untying aid ...................................................................................................................................... 66 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 6 Humanitarian assistance ................................................................................................ 69 Mainstreaming humanitarian action through a bold new strategy ................................................... 69 A courageous and innovative new approach to humanitarian action ............................................... 70 Better integration but more training required .................................................................................. 73 Seeking a creative approach to monitoring and learning ................................................................. 74 The need to integrate disaster risk reduction across all Denmark\"s programming .......................... 75 Future considerations ....................................................................................................................... 75 Annex A Progress since the 2007 DAC Peer Review recommendations ...................................... 77 Annex B OECD\/DAC standard suite of tables ............................................................................... 81 Annex C Field visit to Mali .............................................................................................................. 89 Description of key terms ................................................................................................................... 97 Bibliography..................................................................................................................................... 101\nTables Table 1. Table 2. Table 3. Table B.1. Table B.2. Table B.3 Table B.4.\nDenmark\"s partner countries ........................................................................................ 30 Denmark\"s progress towards the three building blocks of PCD since 2007 ................ 36 Denmark\"s performance against the Paris Declaration indicators................................ 62 Total financial flows..................................................................................................... 81 ODA by main categories .............................................................................................. 82 Bilateral ODA allocable by region and income group ................................................. 83 Main recipients of bilateral ODA ................................................................................. 84 DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nTable B.5. Bilateral ODA by major purposes ................................................................................ 85 Table B.6. Comparative aid performance ...................................................................................... 86 Table C1. Indicative share of Danish aid to Mali by sector .......................................................... 93\nFigures Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure B.1. Figure C.1.\nDenmark's development co-operation system .............................................................. 25 Denmark's reporting against the Rio Policy Markers 2007-2009, USD million .......... 45 Denmark's humanitarian budget 2012-2015................................................................. 46 Organisation chart for the Centre for Development Policy .......................................... 50 Net ODA from DAC countries in 2009 (preliminary data) .......................................... 87 Danish ODA to Mali: commitments and disbursements 2006-2009............................ 92\nBoxes Box 1. Box 2. Box 3. Box 4. Box 5. Box 6.\nPerspectives on results, risk assessment and management in development co-operation ... 28 The Afghanistan Task Force ............................................................................................... 39 Danida's key performance management tools and databases .............................................. 53 Denmark\"s approach to using country systems: innovative experience of Mali ................. 63 Overview of Denmark's new humanitarian strategy, 2010-2015 ........................................ 70 Denmark's funding channels 2012 - 2015 ........................................................................... 72\nACRONYMS \u2013 9\nAFDF African Development Fund AU African Union CAMPUS Joint State Education System CDM Clean Development Mechanism COP15 2009 United Nations Conference on Climate Change CSO Civil society organisation CSP Country strategy papers DAC Development Assistance Committee DIIS Danish Institute for International Studies ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EU European Union GAVI The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization GEF Global Environment Facility GFATM The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria GNI Gross national income GNP Gross national product HLF-4 Fourth high level meeting on aid effectiveness to be held in Busan in 2011 IATI International Aid Transparency Initiative IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IDA International Development Association IDPs Internally displaced persons IHP International Health Partnership IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on Development IMF International Monetary Fund IO Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe MDGs Millennium Development Goals MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoD Ministry of Defence MOPAN Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network MRS Monitoring Results Contracts (Danida acronym) NATO North-Atlantic Treaty Organization NDF Nordic Development Fund NGO Non-governmental organisation\n10 \u2013 ACRONYMS ODA Official development assistance OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PCD Policy coherence for development PFM Public financial management PLUS Performance and Leadership Development Interview PRSP Poverty reduction strategy paper UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations Children\"s Fund UNRWA The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East WB The World Bank WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organization WTO World Trade Organization Signs used DKK Denmark Kroner EUR Euro USD United States Dollar (Nil)\nTHE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS \u2013 11\nThe DAC's main findings and recommendations\nOverall framework for development co-operation Legal and political orientations Robust foundations and political backing for fighting global poverty Danish development co-operation enjoys continued popular support and understanding in parliament, civil society and among opinion leaders. The Minister for Development Co-operation and Danida, informed civil society actors, and the parliamentary committees involved in development co-operation keep the debate about development in the public domain, thus maintaining critical support for and awareness of the issue. This public debate undoubtedly contributes to the continued political commitment to exceed the UN target of providing 0.7% of gross national income as official development assistance, as well as to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, implementing cutting-edge policies and taking up international leadership on global issues such as climate change, and gender equality and women\"s empowerment. Nevertheless, while there is a shared consensus politically that Denmark should punch above its weight in international development, the new strategy for Danish development co-operation \u2013 Freedom from Poverty: Freedom to Change \u2013 was adopted by only a small parliamentary majority in 2010. A contributing factor may have been the divergent views between political parties on the government\"s decision to freeze official aid at 2010 nominal levels between 2011 and 2013, announced shortly before parliament met to approve the strategy. The Danida Board and the Council for International Development, both created by Denmark\"s 1971 Act on International Development Co-operation (amended in 2002), are mandated to provide independent advice to the Minister for Development Co-operation on development issues. However, while the board is fulfilling its mandate to provide advice and recommendations to the minister on Danida\"s strategies, policies and programmes, the council is not playing its role as a sounding board on development issues more generally. There is scope for the minister to reinvigorate the role of the council, which could play a more active role in public debates about development. A clear new vision for development Denmark\"s new strategy, Freedom from Poverty, commits Danish development policy to the over-riding goal of poverty reduction through sustainable development, and places greater emphasis on economic growth and employment. The policy prioritises five broad areas: i.\ngrowth and employment\n12 \u2013 THE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ii.\nfreedom, democracy and human rights\nstability and fragility\nenvironment and climate.\nDenmark has considerable development co-operation experience on which to draw in implementing these priorities, with the exception of stability and fragility and, to a certain extent, growth and employment. The DAC appreciates that former cross-cutting issues \u2013 gender equality and women\"s empowerment and environment \u2013 are recognised as core priorities for Danida. The strategy provides for general continuity in Denmark\"s choice of development priorities. It contains little explicit focus on traditional sectors such as education and water and sanitation, which Danida continues to support in several partner countries and the implications of the new strategy on these traditional areas of Danish expertise. It does not outline how Denmark\"s commitment to aligning to partner country priorities and to division of labour will affect how it achieves its new priorities. The Guidelines for Programme Management, currently being revised, should clarify how the new priority directions will be put into effect so that staff can move forward and Denmark\"s partners can plan accordingly. The linkages between development, security and foreign policy goals are more explicit in the new strategy. This marks a departure from more altruistic motivations for giving aid: Freedom from Poverty notes that \"development policy is also realpolitik\". This focus on Danish interests also reflects greater public pressure to justify why Denmark gives aid. Denmark\"s continued commitment to the MDGs and poverty reduction is critical to ensure that short-term foreign and security policy pressures, when they emerge, do not put at risk the overall long-term interest in effective development. Denmark considers that its comparative advantage in development co-operation stems from both the way its own society is organised and its specific experience in various sectors. Freedom from Poverty embeds core values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and gender equality in Denmark\"s strategic priorities. These values are key drivers of Danish development assistance, which also emphasises zero tolerance of corruption, a focus on results, and an agenda to influence its partners, Denmark should be pragmatic in pursuing its objectives in partner countries, and should continue to respect local needs. Freedom from Poverty identifies two particular challenges for Danida: (i) willingness to take risks to make Danish aid robust, flexible and dynamic; and (ii) engaging in fragile states. Both these challenges were highlighted in the 2007 peer review. Denmark\"s focus on defining risk jointly with international partners, and the priority it intends to give to risk management at the Fourth High Level Meeting on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in 2011 are both commendable. The new concept of risk being developed by the ministry should also help it to be realistic about how it intervenes in different country contexts. It will also need to build capacity of staff to manage risks accordingly. The last peer review found that criteria for selecting partner countries favoured stable and well-performing states, making Denmark appear risk averse. Denmark has now established new criteria for selecting partner countries. While recognising that partner selection is ultimately a political decision, selection criteria look at partner countries\" development needs, Danish national interests, and whether Denmark can make a\ndifference and achieve results. These new, more flexible, criteria pave the way for Denmark\"s active engagement in fragile states. Denmark plans to withdraw gradually from 11 partner countries, seven of which have already been identified, in order to concentrate its bilateral aid in 15 priority partners. When deciding to phase out, Denmark should review how its decisions fit with the wider division of labour with other donors. Moreover, Denmark can apply lessons from previous phasing out experiences to ensure that this sensitive process is managed strategically and sustainably. In November 2010 the MFA published Peace and Stabilisation, Denmark's Policy Towards Fragile States, 2010-2015. In addition to global security and terrorist concerns, Denmark\"s drive for greater engagement in fragile states recognises that countries furthest from achieving the MDGs are often those affected by war, conflict, violence and instability. According to its new list of partner countries, Denmark will engage in 11 fragile states over the long term, focusing on state building whilst ensuring cohesion between Danish foreign and security policy; co-ordinated military, political, humanitarian, and development approaches towards a common goal; and integrated planning. This commitment to and specific focus on fragility and stability is welcome. A good, strategic, multilateral donor Denmark is reflecting on the future of the multilateral aid system, and along with other donors, is seeking to assess how effective the multilateral agencies are, and how their performance could be improved. It has become more strategic in how it works with multilateral organisations, as suggested by the last peer review. It couples results-oriented three to five-year strategies with increased core contributions to several UN agencies and the World Bank; core funding now represents 88% of Denmark\"s contribution to the multilateral system. Moreover, Denmark allocated funds to 87 multilateral organisations in 2009 \u2013 69 fewer than in 2004. The number of small contributions \u2013 below DKK 5 million (approximately USD 900,000) \u2013 has also fallen from 105 in 2004 to 37 in 2009. Having missions in Geneva, New York, Rome and Washington with the authority and capacity to engage with multilateral organisations has contributed to building stronger and more strategic relations, including annual dialogue meetings to review progress and agree plans for the coming year. Nevertheless, Denmark is aware that it needs to avoid increasing administrative burdens on multilateral organisations through parallel Denmark-specific requirements. Denmark should build on the consultations its mission to the UN held with the Utstein donors on \"Good Multilateral Donorship\" in 2010 and continue to develop its ideas on this jointly with other donors. Denmark will seek strategic co-operation with the European Union, selected UN agencies and the World Bank Group, particularly to implement its priorities on growth and employment and in fragile states. This is an efficient approach to working with relevant partners and using their comparative advantages. The need for more coherent communication by Danida The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware that it is important to have public support for development co-operation and has a long tradition of engaging the Danish public, opinion leaders and Danish civil society organisations in the subject. The ministry is particularly sensitive to the need to communicate the results of its development co-operation work, but it is equally aware that this is a challenging task. While the ministry\"s quality assurance and communication units work together to gather stories that illustrate results, DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n14 \u2013 THE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS they still lack solid data to demonstrate achievements and address public scepticism about whether aid is effective. How to demonstrate value for money and communicate achievements is therefore a priority. The DAC encourages Denmark to share more broadly its own experiences with other donors so as to build good practice on demonstrating results while being accountable to partner countries and Danish taxpayers. Since the last peer review, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs\" emphasis on becoming a proactive, open, transparent and trustworthy communicator has led to a cultural change in its communications. It has also made staff more open to engaging with the media, a change brought about by efforts to build staff capacity in communication and media relations. These efforts included training all new employees in communication and contact with the media, and holding a course on press relations for communication officers and staff going on postings. The ministry is now preparing a communication strategy which will give more prominence to Danida as a brand. As it does this, the ministry should avoid \"flag-raising\" in order to respect and support the ownership of partners. In addition, the strategy identifies priority communication themes. All the centres, when communicating about development, should reinforce these core messages. Promoting development beyond aid Aid alone cannot ensure development. Alongside official development assistance, other financial flows and domestic policies of donor countries also have a significant impact on developing nations. Freedom from Poverty commits Denmark to strengthening its overall engagement in developing countries where aid is only part of the overall development picture. It plans to do this by building on Danish experience in co-ordinating civil and military efforts, and by expanding on successes in migration and climate. Nevertheless, Denmark realises that it still needs to improve coherence among domestic and EU policies in relation to development, including through greater levels of awareness in other sector ministries. This will be one of the objectives of the plan on policy coherence for development being prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry could also consider re-establishing the inter-ministerial working group on coherence (set up to prepare Freedom from Poverty) as a mechanism for building awareness and implementing the plan. The DAC encourages Denmark to finalise and start implementing this plan as a matter of priority. The ministry also plans to use its EU decision-making procedures so that they focus more consistently on development. This is welcome. Denmark should seize the opportunity of its 2012 EU presidency to increase the attention the EU gives to development beyond aid. Domestically, Denmark still needs to build on its existing inter-governmental coordination committees to promote policy coherence in areas that go beyond the foreign affairs mandate, as was recommended in the 2007 peer review. There are several suitable mechanisms, across government and in the prime minister\"s office, but none is mandated to ensure that policies are coherent with development goals. For example, the Coordination Committee chaired by the Prime Minister addresses policy coherence at the national level; inter-ministerial committees deal with specific issues, such as migration and the environment; and Denmark is working on whole-of-government approaches in a number of countries (e.g. in Afghanistan, and in Somalia). The next step for Denmark will be to design a cross-government system to promote, monitor and report on Denmark\"s progress in achieving coherence.\nRecommendations Denmark\"s foundation for development co-operation is solid, and as it implements Freedom from Poverty Denmark should: \uf0b7\nUse the revised guidelines for programme management to clarify what the new development co-operation priorities will mean for Danida\"s work in traditional sectors, its choice of partners for delivering aid, and its approach to division of labour among donors in partner countries.\nApply lessons from its earlier phasing-out experiences, as well as those of other donors, so that withdrawal from partner countries is managed strategically and sustainably.\nContinue to advance thinking on risk in development co-operation, including in international dialogue. Provide staff with practical guidance on how they can assess, address and assume risk, and use its new approaches to risk management to identify how best to tailor its programme to different contexts.\nStep up efforts to gather and disseminate information on results and ensure that communication by Ministry of Foreign Affairs centres is consistent with priority themes in the communication strategy. Work with the Council for International Development to promote public debate about development.\nStrengthen institutional mechanisms for co-ordinating, promoting, arbitrating on and monitoring the coherence of both domestic and EU policies with development goals, as recommended in the 2007 peer review.\nAid volume, channels and allocation Denmark has exceeded the UN target of providing 0.7% of national income as official development assistance for more than 30 years, reflecting its long-standing commitment to poverty reduction and development. Danish official development assistance amounted to USD 2.8 billion in 2009, equivalent to a ratio of 0.88%, which made Denmark the 12th largest DAC donor by volume and the 4th by percentage of national income. As part of measures to reduce its deficit for 2011 to 2013, Denmark will freeze its aid commitments at the 2010 nominal level over that period. This could cause Denmark\"s ratio to fall below 0.8% for the first time since 1983. Should this happen, the DAC encourages Denmark to return, as soon as possible, to its stated goal of 0.8% of aid to income ratio. The predictability of Danish aid is assured by the Danish budgeting process at two levels. Firstly, the draft Finance Act and the annual publication of aid figures for the coming five years outline committed and planned contributions to partner countries, multilateral organisations, NGOs and other partners. Secondly, planned aid flows are included in bilateral agreements with partner countries, and a three-to-five year disbursement plan is built into programme documents. Denmark will enhance the transparency of its commitments to partner countries by publishing the relevant sections of the aid budget directly on embassy websites. It is positive that Denmark is determined to continue to provide aid to the world\"s poorest and most fragile countries. This policy is apparent in its aid figures. For example, in 2009 60% of its gross bilateral disbursements went to least developed countries. In DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n16 \u2013 THE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS addition, in 2011 the government committed an extra DKK 200 million to strengthening efforts in African countries, DKK 1 009 million to fragile states, and DKK 515 million for Afghanistan. Meeting its objectives under the new strategy may require Denmark to rethink how it implements activities in the field. Sector budget support is Denmark\"s default modality for government-to-government assistance. However, Denmark recognises that this modality may not always be the most appropriate for programmes focusing on and engaging with a range of state actors and that other arrangements may also be needed when the public sector is barely functional. Danida staff and key development partners need clear direction and guidance on how to work best in such situations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also needs to maintain guidance, as a flexible \"tool box\", on which approaches, other than sector budget support, can best contribute to building the capacity of partners\" financial, monitoring and reporting systems. Cross-cutting issues and climate financing Denmark is well regarded for its commitment to, and progress in, mainstreaming the environment, gender equality and women\"s empowerment into its overall programme. Nevertheless, in light of international pressure to support climate change actions, there is a risk that Danida\"s environment focus will be predominantly on climate, which could undermine its commitment to broader environmental issues. In 2009, Denmark pledged DKK 1.2 billion (USD 231 million) to climate financing for 2010-2012. Since there is no agreed international baseline for assessing whether pledged funds are \"new and additional\", each country determines whether their pledges are additional aid. According to the Danish government, its climate financing was additional in 2009 and 2010 because it did not reduce allocations to previous commitments in other development sectors. However, in light of the budget freeze, it is possible that Denmark\"s contribution to fast start financing in 2011 and 2012 will squeeze out other planned activities. Recommendations Denmark is recognised and valued as a generous and predictable donor, committed to alleviating poverty in the poorest regions of the world. When implementing its new strategy, it should also: \uf0b7\nDemonstrate publicly if, and how, its climate financing is additional to what it already gives as ODA and help to advance international efforts to establish an agreed baseline for measuring the additionality of climate financing.\nDevelop further clear direction and guidance to Danida staff and development partners on where and when to use funding approaches other than sector budget support. These approaches should be suitable for engaging with a range of partners or programmes and for where partner systems are weak.\nOrganisation and management According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the release of Freedom from Poverty in 2010 and the re-organisation of the ministry in 2009 into 11 units, or centres, complete DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nthe integration of development co-operation across the ministry. Under the new structure, the Centre for Development Policy is responsible for co-ordinating Denmark\"s development policy and humanitarian action, while seven other centres are involved in development co-operation activities. This reorganisation was an important step towards creating a flexible organisation to address the challenges and opportunities raised by globalisation. It is too soon to determine the impact the new strategy and the reorganisation have on the ministry\"s ability to address global challenges. However, creating a new layer of managers through the 11 centres has made decision making and co-ordination among staff more complex, and rendered reporting lines unclear. Fine tuning will therefore be necessary to build efficient mechanisms for decision making across the centres. Learning from its decentralisation experience As recommended in the 2007 peer review, Denmark has evaluated its decentralised structure and is now implementing the evaluation\"s recommendations. The evaluation concluded that the decentralisation process was effective. In addition, decentralising authority to missions in Geneva, New York, Rome and Washington has helped to strengthen Denmark\"s co-operation with key multilateral partners. The challenges identified in the evaluation relate to human resource capacity and the need to improve mechanisms for dialogue between embassy and headquarters staff. Co-ordination mechanisms need adjusting, however, especially to ensure coherence among headquarters, embassies and missions. Denmark also needs to maintain a minimum level of headquarter engagement with its main multilateral partners to inform its policy and allocation decisions. The evaluation also raised important lessons and recommendations for other donors, for example on tools for programme management and mechanisms for quality control. DAC members are urged to learn from Denmark\"s experience.1 Building on improvements in human resource management Following the 2007 peer review, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs made a number of positive changes to its human resource management. It set up a new human resource department and wrote a human resource strategy. It is now preparing a policy to guide postings in fragile states. Moreover, the ministry has responded to the 2007 recommendation to improve the career development structure for locally-recruited employees in embassies. For example, it has established minimum standards for pay and over-time compensation and increased mobility of staff between embassies. The DAC encourages the ministry to build on its ongoing efforts to value, respect and give opportunities to their locally-employed staff in order to retain this important resource for Danida. Human resource constraints have been a challenge for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for several years. By 2013 the ministry will have to reduce its payroll by approximately DKK 71 million, the equivalent of 135 positions. In this context, it is essential that the ministry capitalises on the expertise of its development staff, including locally-recruited employees, and prioritises staff tasks. Denmark could also review whether its policy of focal points in embassies is the most effective way of achieving its objective to mainstream priority issues. While the ministry prefers generalist professionals over development specialists, because generalists tend to be more mobile, it must retain a core of specialists at headquarters and ensure that they have the right skills 1.\nThe evaluation report can be accessed at www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/Evaluations.\n18 \u2013 THE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS to help embassies implement Danish aid. The DAC also encourages the ministry to continue to build on its excellent approach to competence development, which is an important tool for sustaining quality. Revising its results-based framework Denmark, like the rest of the donor community, faces the challenge to improve reporting and document development results, a core priority addressed in Freedom from Poverty. In the current set up to manage programmes, results are determined using partners\" reporting systems, while embassies have their own systems to feed into the comprehensive and public project database. However, it is hard to aggregate results to demonstrate how overall achievements relate to strategic priorities. In addition, embassies and missions report annually on more than 350 selected output indicators. In these selfassessments, embassies rate their level of satisfaction with progress made against indicators, and aggregate satisfaction rates are listed in the annual report submitted to parliament. However, this measures progress against output indicators only. The ministry is therefore revising its results-based framework and is aware that it needs to be both realistic for monitoring and reporting, and sufficient to meet the constant need to demonstrate results. To this end, annual roadmaps are being prepared where goals will be set in key areas and monitored annually. Denmark also needs to identify how risks can be factored into indicators and performance reporting. The DAC welcomes the research programme launched by Danida in 2010 on measuring and documenting the results of development co-operation. Denmark is encouraged to broaden the involvement of other DAC members in this work as well as in its efforts to couple managing risk with managing for results. Recommendations In order to fine tune its organisational set up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should: \uf0b7\nImprove efficiency by strengthening mechanisms for decision making, co-ordination and knowledge sharing across the centres dealing with development, and with the embassies, and through this ensure that staff are clear about which tasks they should prioritise.\nReview its human resource policy, its staffing levels and strategy for recruiting specialists, and its training plan for headquarters and embassy staff to ensure they can effectively implement the new strategy, especially in light of the focus on fragile states.\nPractices for better impact Denmark is an internationally-recognised advocate and a leader in implementing more effective aid in line with the Paris Declaration principles and the Accra Agenda for Action. Danida puts partner country ownership at the heart of planning and programming, works to align sector support to partner country priorities, and targets a limited number of sectors in each partner country to maximise its value and efficiency. Danida\"s engagement with civil society organisations and international organisations also focuses on improving the quality of aid.\nThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed the 2007 peer review recommendation to become more effective at country level by participating in joint donor assistance strategies and creating incentives to deliver aid more effectively. For example, sector budget support is now Denmark\"s default aid modality. In Mali Denmark shows a good example of how it provides budget support in sectors with weak institutional structures, requiring intense support and capacity development. Together with Sweden, Denmark has set deadlines and clear conditions for providing sector budget support for water and sanitation. This has motivated the Government of Mali to strengthen its institutions and capacity within a specific timeframe. If Mali does not achieve the objectives set jointly with Denmark and Sweden within the timeframe, the date for providing sector budget support will be pushed back until the objectives have been met. Malian officials are satisfied with the approach, which instils a sense of mutual accountability. Denmark\"s embassies, with good support from headquarters, have sufficient flexibility to implement Paris and Accra commitments. They have several tools to manage programmes, including obligatory action plans for implementing these commitments, which embassies seek to deliver jointly with other donors and the partner government. Aid effectiveness goals and achievements are included in each embassy\"s annual results contract with the ministry, monitored by its department for quality assurance. At the same time, to sustain the staff commitment and capacity that is required of embassies to move forward with aligning and using partner systems, and working jointly with other donors, the ministry needs to ensure that they continue to receive adequate support from the quality assurance and technical advisory departments in the Centre for Development Policy. Moreover, current tools for supporting embassies may need to be adapted for operations in fragile states and situations, and as Denmark implements its approach to risk management. Denmark is well placed to contribute at the international level to make aid more effective. Its upcoming presidency of the EU in 2012 and the high level forum in Busan in 2011 provide good opportunities for this. It should share its experience on decentralisation, managing risk, using country systems, capacity development and mutual accountability. These experiences could be of significant help as the donor community moves forward on these challenges. Rethinking the approach to capacity development Developing partner country capacity cuts across all aspects of Danish development co-operation. Most of Denmark\"s country programmes include components to build institutions or technical capacity in the sectors it supports. Denmark\"s recent reflection on how it can best support capacity development, and how well its new framework for capacity development reflects international discussions, is positive. These include instilling a more strategic focus, having realistic expectations, placing a stronger focus on results, increasing joint efforts, and conducting a frank analysis of risks and ambitions. Denmark is also revisiting its approaches to develop capacity in fragile and conflict situations, where needs are different. Denmark\"s 2008 strategy for civil society organisations paves the way for implementing the Accra Agenda for Action commitments to such organisations. In particular, the overall objective of the strategy is to contribute to developing a strong, independent and diversified civil society in developing countries. In line with this, a condition for support to Danish organisations is that their work with developing country\n20 \u2013 THE DAC\"S MAIN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS civil society has a strong component on developing capacity. Denmark\"s civil society strategy is a model for other donors. Untying aid Denmark\"s food aid and technical assistance have been fully untied since 2005 and 2008 respectively. The fact that 97% of its total aid is untied puts Denmark in the top category of OECD donors with respect to untying aid. However, there is still room for Denmark to untie the partially-tied Mixed Credit Scheme and the Business to Business Programme. Further untying was also recommended by the 2007 peer review. Recommendations Denmark has made good progress at headquarters and in country in delivering aid more effectively. It should now: \uf0b7\nSupport efforts to make aid more effective by sharing its experiences and challenges with decentralisation, using country systems and fostering mutual accountability.\nMake sure that embassies have sufficient capacity and support from headquarters to adapt to local circumstances, particularly in fragile states, and that they favour joint approaches.\nHumanitarian action Denmark has taken bold steps towards ensuring good humanitarian donorship. As recommended by the previous peer review, Denmark has developed a new Strategy for Danish Humanitarian Action 2010-2015. This document sets out Denmark\"s overall objectives in the areas of vulnerability, climate change and natural hazards, and protecting conflict-affected populations. Denmark will narrow its partner base and deepen its engagement in a limited number of crises, focusing on ensuring added value and linking up with other Danish initiatives, thus effectively leveraging its comparative advantages in line with the principles of good humanitarian donorship. Denmark\"s strategic prioritisation of climate change and natural hazards supports mainstreaming disaster risk reduction across all Danida programming. Since reducing risk of disasters is both a protection strategy for development investments and a key to avoiding costly emergency responses, the ministry should ensure that this work is not seen as a purely humanitarian issue. Assigning senior-level responsibility for risk reduction and adding risk reduction to the standard performance reports from its embassies could help raise the profile of risk reduction. Denmark will continue to place a high value on strengthening mechanisms to deliver humanitarian aid. It believes that better results in the field come from operational flexibility and more strategic engagement with partners, and Denmark has adapted its humanitarian portfolio accordingly. There are now strategic relationships with a smaller number of partners; stronger linkages between humanitarian initiatives and development programming; and a longer-term, more predictable funding approach for strategic partners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now looking at new approaches to monitoring results and impact, using a new model that builds on its partners\" own monitoring systems.\nThe ministry has begun to recruit humanitarian specialists for advisory posts in embassies with a humanitarian portfolio. These specialists report directly to their ambassador, but also have good informal links to the humanitarian team and the Regions of Origin staff in Copenhagen. Their expertise means they can engage at a high level with all stakeholders, which is seen as a major strength by partners. In order to mainstream humanitarian programming across its work, the ministry\"s new organisational structure brings humanitarian and development programme staff together. This allows for a closer working relationship and greater cross-programme linkages. The next step should be to standardise decision-making for humanitarian funding with the path followed for development programmes, while keeping a rapid response option open for sudden onset crises. This process should ensure that lessons are applied in new programme design and approval processes while ensuring timely disbursement of funds. As noted in the last peer review, Denmark must continue to be vigilant in ensuring that humanitarian principles are not compromised under whole-of-government approaches in fragile states, especially where Denmark has a military presence. To help counter this risk, Denmark\"s new humanitarian strategy explicitly recognises the Oslo and Military and Civil Defence Assets guidelines and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. It should continue to ensure that these core principles are respected on the ground. Recommendations Denmark has adopted a courageous and innovative approach to its humanitarian programming. To support the implementation of the new humanitarian strategy further, Denmark should: \uf0b7\nContinue to mainstream the new approach into established systems and practices in headquarters and in embassies. Ensure rapid deployment of humanitarian specialists to all embassies in partner countries with humanitarian programme components, and train a wider group of staff on humanitarian issues, principles, architecture and response.\nMainstream disaster risk reduction across all development and humanitarian programming, and ensure that guidance on this topic is ready for integration into the next generation of country strategies;\nImplement safeguards to ensure that humanitarian principles, and the primacy of civilian aid delivery, continue to be respected on the ground, especially in crises and\/or in fragile states where there is a Danish military presence.\nSECRETARAIAT REPORT \u2013 23\nSecretariat report\nChapter 1 Strategic orientations\nA leading, consistent and confident donor responding to global challenges Denmark is a leading donor which has allocated more than 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA) since 1978. Development cooperation benefits from continued and strong popular support and understanding in parliament, civil society and among opinion leaders. There is also public and political backing for implementing cutting-edge development co-operation policies and taking up international leadership on key global concerns. For example, Denmark has shown international leadership in climate change, gender equality and women\"s empowerment, pushing an ambitious agenda and achieving results since the last peer review in 2007.2 Denmark was an advocate for national ownership, partnership and alignment well before the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, as shown in the overall development strategy in 2000. It is thus no surprise that the Paris principles and the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action underpin Denmark\"s operations in partner countries, and with civil society and international organisations. Denmark has addressed most recommendations from the 2007 peer review (see Annex A and OECD, 2007a). In particular, it is taking up the challenge of engaging in fragile states, it recognises that risk management and the willingness to take calculated risks are central to development co-operation, and is leading an international debate about risk (Box 1). Denmark has evaluated its decentralisation of development co-operation, and is following up on the recommendations from the evaluation (Chapter 4). This report highlights good practices implemented by Danish development co-operation \u2013 also known as Danida3 \u2013 from which other donors can learn, as well as some of the challenges that Danida faces. 2.\nFor example, Denmark\"s MDG3 Global Call to Action campaign launched in 2008 raised awareness of gender equality worldwide, including through demonstrating leaders and opinion makers pledging \"to do something extra for gender equality\" with a symbolic \"MDG3 torch\".\nPlease note that Danida is not an aid agency. It is the brand name for Danish development co-operation which is managed by Denmark\"s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\n24 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT\nA solid legal, political and institutional framework Denmark\"s legal, political and overall institutional framework for development cooperation has not changed since the 2007 peer review. The 1971 Act on International Development Co-operation, amended in 2002, constitutes the overarching legal framework for Danida. Overall, Denmark\"s development co-operation is driven by (i) a parliament-approved development strategy; (ii) the annual Finance Act \u2013 which covers aid expenditures with a four-year horizon; (iii) the government\"s annual priority plan which identifies political priorities for the year ahead; and (iv) the various policies, sub-strategies and guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Institutionally, the administration of development assistance is unified under the responsibility of the MFA, led by the Minister for Development Co-operation (Figure 1 and Chapter 4). However, the Minister for Foreign Affairs also has competence for development co-operation with countries in the Middle East, with the Palestinian Administered Area and with Europe\"s neighbours. The MFA co-operates closely with several other government departments on issues of joint concern, such as European Union (EU) policies, environment, climate and security (Chapter 2). The Board for International Development Co-operation \u2013 the Danida Board \u2013 which was created by the 1971 act provides independent and technical advice to the Minister for Development Co-operation. Nine members sit on the board, whose advice covers development policies, strategies, action plans as well as grants to new bilateral and multilateral programmes and projects submitted to it by the ministry (Chapter 4). The Council for International Development \u2013 also created by the act \u2013 was established to monitor the activities of the Danida Board and put forward advice and recommendations on issues of relevance for development co-operation. However, while the council organises some public events in Denmark it is not functioning well in fulfilling the task of being a sounding board for the board and minister on development issues. It may be that the council\"s membership is too large for it to co-ordinate and channel specific messages on development.4 There is a lot to gain from a reinvigorated council, which could play a more active role in generating public debate. The minister could capitalise on specific expertise and knowledge of council members by finding new ways for them to provide advice and recommendations on development. The council could, for example, set up informal working groups and organise informed public debates about specific challenges and opportunities in development co-operation. If successful, such activities could also generate greater public awareness. Domestic accountability mechanisms, including for development co-operation, continue to be strong in Denmark. While parliament must approve the overall development strategy and the annual Finance Act, a number of parliamentary committees address development at the working level (Figure 1). The Foreign Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee monitor and assess development activities through regular visits to partner countries and international organisations. The Finance Committee also approves grants which are not described in the finance bill and are above a certain threshold (DKK 35 million) and ensures that public funds are administered correctly. Committee members also visit partner countries every two years. The obvious benefits of this level of parliamentary engagement are the awareness and support that it creates for development co-operation. This has undoubtedly contributed to the continued political 4.\nThe Minister for Development Co-operation appointed 60 members in their personal capacity to the Council for the period 2011-2013. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nSECRETARIAT REPORT \u2013 25\ncommitment to meeting the UN target of 0.7% ODA\/GNI and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Figure 1.\nDenmark's development co-operation system\nSource: MFA, authors' compilation.\nMaintaining a steady strategic focus In 2010, the Danish Minister for Development Co-operation launched a new overall strategy for Denmark\"s development co-operation \u2013 Freedom from Poverty: Freedom to Change (MFA, 2010b). The strategy presents the key priorities, values and principles of Danish development policy and, according to Denmark\"s memorandum submitted to the DAC as part of the peer review (MFA, 2010c; referred to as \"the memorandum\"), it responds to new trends and challenges in development co-operation. Like its predecessor, Partnership 2000 (MFA, 2000), the over-riding goal of Danish development policy is poverty reduction through sustainable development but with greater emphasis on freedom and on economic growth and employment. The MDGs are used to guide Denmark\"s efforts to reduce poverty. Denmark\"s primary focus will continue to be on Africa because it considers that the need for development is greatest there. Denmark also re-affirms its commitment to long-term partnerships and considering the priorities, strategies and systems of developing countries to promote local ownership. The ministry did well in taking a transparent and consultative approach to preparing the strategy. Views were gathered from Danish parliamentarians, civil society, the media, DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n26 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT the private sector and the public through various consultations, including four public meetings in Copenhagen and the regions. It also took into account consultations with over 1 000 Africans representing civil society, youth, governments, universities and the private business sector, in the context of the Africa Commission, created by Denmark\"s Prime Minister in 2008 (MFA, 2009a).5 These consultations resulted in broad agreement and ownership of the strategy\"s goals and priorities across Danish political parties and civil society. However, only a small parliamentary majority (90 out of 179 parliamentarians) approved the strategy. This appeared mainly to be due to opposition to the government\"s decision to freeze ODA at its nominal 2010 level until 2013, announced shortly before parliament met to approve the strategy (Chapter 3).6 Denmark prioritises five broad areas in Freedom from Poverty: (i) growth and employment; (ii) freedom, democracy and human rights; (iii) gender equality; (iv) stability and fragility; and (v) environment and climate. With the exception of stability and fragility and, to a certain extent, growth and employment, Denmark has considerable development co-operation experience on which to draw as it implements these priorities \u2013 it published two new strategies for these priorities in September 2010 and February 2011. Otherwise, Freedom from Poverty builds on a number of existing strategies, including on democracy and human rights; on effective and accountable public sector management; gender; support for civil society; humanitarian action and multilateral co-operation, as well on Danida\"s good practice in mainstreaming the environment, gender equality and women\"s empowerment. However, while there is general continuity in the choice of priorities, the strategy does not outline what will be left out as a result of this new prioritisation or how Denmark\"s commitment to aligning to partner country demands and to division of labour may affect how it achieves these priorities. For example, there is little explicit focus in the strategy on traditional social sectors such as education and water and sanitation, even though Danida continues to support these sectors in several partner countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now revising its Guidelines for Programme Management (see Chapter 4) in order to give clarity to Danida staff and partners on how programming will adapt to the new direction. It is also preparing annual roadmaps for implementing the five priorities, where goals for results will be set in key areas and monitored annually. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sector budget support will continue to be key government to government modality in Danish development co-operation. Danida will work in a sector to achieve its overall priorities and will support fewer but larger programmes, defined together with local partners and other development actors (MFA, 2010b). At the same time, specific development co-operation programmes will not necessarily be sector defined in the future notably when priorities cut across sectors. For example, the environment and climate priority will permeate all work on growth and employment by focusing on green growth. A similar approach is being taken to private sector growth, where more comprehensive programmes will promote broad-based private sector development across several sectors (MFA, 2010d). However, Danida needs to continue, as identified in the 2007 peer review, to focus on where it can add value and\nThe Africa Commission aimed to help Africa benefit from globalisation. It addressed ways to create employment for young people through private sector-led growth and the improved competitiveness of African economies. It concluded with specific policy recommendations for Denmark and devised concrete initiatives (MFA, 2009a).\nThe main opposition party, the Social Democrats, is committed to achieving 1% ODA\/GNI. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nnew programmes should try to avoid covering a wide range of issues in order to retain efficiency gains in key sectors (Chapter 3). Denmark does not have a strict list of priority sectors: selection of focus areas is based on local needs, Danish policy priorities and Danish competencies (ibid., and see Annex C, Mali). A review of Denmark\"s activities in partner countries shows that it is generally most active in the social and productive sectors \u2013 water and sanitation, education, public administration and civil society \u2013 as well as in agriculture and private sector development (MFA, 2010d). In 2009, Danida supported an average of three sectors in each partner country, along with good governance and general budget support in some partner countries (MFA, 2010d; Annex B). Like many other donors, Danida has a relatively large number of active policies, strategies, sub-strategies, action programmes and plans which it needs to streamline. As it implements Freedom from Poverty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be prudent about the number of sub-strategies it will prepare and should emphasise action plans. Furthermore, the timeline of several strategies is currently unclear. The ministry is now clarifying the status of its policies and strategic documents and will develop a logical hierarchy among policy and planning instruments. To this end, it decided in October 2010 to discontinue 12 thematic and geographic strategies and policies and all new sub-strategies and polices are required to indicate their duration.\nAddressing new trends and challenges Freedom from Poverty responds to global trends and development challenges in a number of ways. The strategy clearly anchors Danish development co-operation as an integral part of Denmark\"s foreign and security policy (MFA, 2010b). Moreover, development co-operation is one of the MFA\"s six strategic goals - a freer, fairer and more economically and environmentally sustainable world (MFA, 2010a). While poverty reduction remains the over-riding goal, the strategy recognises that \"development policy is also realpolitik\" and \"[G]lobal responsibility and promoting universal values of freedom go hand in hand with safeguarding our own interests.\" This focus on Danish interests is more explicit than in the previous strategy and reflects greater pressure on the government to justify why Denmark gives aid. According to Danish academics, this is the first time that Denmark has departed from the \"charity\" model and made explicit links with foreign and security goals. That Denmark is keeping the MDGs and poverty reduction central in all its co-operation is important and can help ensure that short-term foreign and security policy pressures, when they emerge, do not put at risk the overall long-term, common interest in effective development. Denmark considers that its comparative advantage in development co-operation stems from both the way its own society is organised and its specific experience in various sectors. For example, democracy, individual freedom, openness, local ownership, and gender equality are considered to be core Danish values (MFA, 2010b). These values are now embedded as overall priorities of Danish development co-operation with freedom, democracy and human rights and gender equality as two of five overall priorities. The strategy also emphasises open partnerships, zero tolerance of corruption, a results focus, and an agenda to influence its partners. Being clear about these priorities is good for transparency. At the same time, Denmark will work in increasingly diverse contexts where it needs to be mindful of local needs and the interests and priorities of its partners \u2013 including other donors. It should therefore be pragmatic and flexible in pursuing itsobjectives. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nA willingness to take risks The 2007 peer review recommended that Danish development co-operation strike a balance between the short-term need to achieve and demonstrate results in order to reinforce public and political support, and the need to be innovative and to pursue the aid effectiveness agenda (Annex A; OECD, 2007a). Denmark has responded to this recommendation. Several references are made throughout Freedom from Poverty to a willingness to take risks to make Danish aid robust, flexible and dynamic. However, the strategy falls short of explaining what risks Denmark is willing to take. As Denmark defines the practical implications of its willingness to take risks, MFA will also need to consider its tough stance on corruption,7 its need to manage for development results and the values driving its co-operation. The peer review team welcomes Denmark\"s new focus on defining risk jointly with international partners (Box 1), as well as the priority it intends to give to risk management in the fourth high level meeting on aid effectiveness in Busan in 2011 (HLF-4). The new concept of risk can help Denmark identify how to work in different contexts and be realistic about what it can achieve. Box 1. Perspectives on results, risk assessment and management in development co-operation Denmark co-hosted a conference on Results, Risk Assessment and Management in Development Cooperation in November 2010, along with the OECD\"s International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Several dimensions of risk in development and humanitarian assistance were identified:\n\uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7\nRisk can be broken down into contextual risk, programmatic risk and institutional risk. Contextual risk deals with the evolution of the context, for example state failure. Programmatic risk deals with the failure to achieve programmatic goals and the possibility that programming causes harm. Institutional risks relate directly to the aid provider, for example fiduciary risks. Risk management is about finding a balance between risk and opportunity, for example the risk of doing nothing may outweigh the risk of providing aid. A strict results-based regime may hinder the operational flexibility needed to deal with evolving contexts. Donors need to be more honest with the public about the risks they are taking and why they are taking them. The case for engagement in a risky environment should be communicated up-front and donors need to also communicate failure better. Preventative action is the most effective and least costly way to manage risk. This includes doing more to support disaster risk reduction and conflict prevention, but new assessment tools are needed. Risk can be transferred. It is important to devise ways to share or pool risk. Pooling lessons learnt and better sharing of information will also help.\nSources : \"Opening Statement by Denmark's Minister for Development Co-operation, S\u00f8ren Pind\", Conference on Risks, Risk Assessment and Management in Development Co-operation, Copenhagen, 25 November, 2010; OECD\/INCAF (2010), Aid Risks in Fragile and Transitional Contexts. Key messages from the forthcoming publication Aid risks in fragile and transitional contexts, draft for consultation. See www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/DanishDevelopmentPolicy\/RiskConference\nDeepening engagement in fragile states The 2007 peer review also recommended that Denmark develop a coherent strategic framework for engaging in fragile states. Denmark has implemented this recommendation by making fragility and stability one of its five overall priorities, and also by developing the 2010-2015 policy Peace and Stabilisation, Denmark's Policy Towards Fragile States (MFA, 2010e). The strategy acknowledges the need to work in fragile states, not least 7.\nSince 2004, Danida has had a policy of zero tolerance of corruption, see www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/AntiCorruption and Section 4.2.1 in this report. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nbecause most of the countries furthest from achieving the MDGs are those affected by war, conflict, violence and instability. Denmark claims it can add value when engaging in fragile states \"by virtue of having been a leading country in terms of development assistance\" and through \"the knowledge, experience and international credibility it is acquiring from having participated in complex stabilisation efforts in a number of hotspots\" (ibid.; and Chapter 2). Eleven of the 26 countries on Denmark\"s list of partner countries (Table 1) are in situations of fragility. The main elements of Danish engagement in fragile states are cohesion between Danish foreign and security policy; coordinated instruments (military, political, humanitarian, development) combined under one common goal; and integrated planning (Chapter 2). State building is Denmark\"s overriding focus in fragile states. This commitment and specific focus on fragility and stability is welcome and Denmark is urged to continue to adopt international good practice in line with the OECD\"s Fragile States Principles (OECD, 2007b).\nNew definition of partner countries Freedom from Poverty introduces a new definition of partner countries: countries where Denmark engages with a long term perspective and with political and financial weight.8 The country selection criteria, which at the time of the 2007 peer review were set by parliament, have been replaced by a new set of criteria. These are referred to in Freedom from Poverty and outlined in slightly more detail in the memorandum. While the selection of partner countries is a political decision, Denmark will also assess: (i) development need, based on a broad understanding of poverty, freedom, vulnerability and sustainable development; (ii) relevance, including the needs and challenges the country faces, such as instability and vulnerability to conflict, the effects this can have in the region, and Danish interests; (iii) impact and results, i.e. opportunities available for Denmark to make a difference and help produce results, including a demand for Danish skills (MFA, 2010c). Denmark has added 10 new partner countries since the last peer review, and they now number 26, although it plans to reduce the number to 15 in the coming years (Table 1).9 This new list of partner countries and criteria address the comment in the last peer review that the criteria set by parliament favour stable and wellperforming countries (Annex A). This welcome development means that the criteria are more flexible and open the door to more strategic engagement in situations of fragility. However, Denmark could be more transparent in outlining the relative weight of each criteria in its decision making. It should also focus on its comparative advantage, and its capacity to achieve its priorities in the countries where it chooses to stay engaged. So far Denmark has identified seven countries from which it will phase out \u2013 Bhutan, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Zambia, Benin and Cambodia \u2013 but has yet to identify the remaining four. While Freedom from Poverty sets out the criteria for selecting new partner countries, it is not clear if these are also used for decisions to phase out. Since Denmark has already selected these countries, it should not delay in setting out, in a transparent way, the phasing-out criteria so that it can explain its decision to partners and Danes. Denmark should take care to apply lessons learnt from earlier exiting experiences (Heldgaar, 2008). More transparency, as well as dialogue on political issues will put Denmark in a better position to manage this sensitive issue. 8.\nDefined as development assistance totalling more than DKK 50 million. Source: interviews in Copenhagen.\nDenmark had 16 partner countries at the time of the 2007 peer review. By 2009 it had phased out of Egypt, leaving it with15 partner countries.\n30 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Table 1. Denmark's partner countries in 2010 Africa Asia Latin America Africa Asia Middle East\nRetained programme countries \uf0b7 Benin (decision to phase out), Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya*, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda*, Zambia (decision to phase out) \uf0b7 Bangladesh, Bhutan (decision to phase out), Nepal (fragile state), Vietnam (decision to phase out) \uf0b7 Bolivia (decision to phase out), Nicaragua (decision to phase out), New partner countries as of 2010 \uf0b7 Ethiopia**, Niger*, Somalia**, Sudan**, Zimbabwe* \uf0b7 Afghanistan**, Myanmar**, Cambodia (decision to phase out), Indonesia, Pakistan**, \uf0b7 Palestinian Administered Area**\nSource: Memorandum of Denmark (MFA, 2010c), meetings in Copenhagen and update from MFA. OECD\/INCAF (2010), Resource Flows to Fragile and Conflict Affected States 2010, OECD, Paris. Notes: * fragile state according to OECD\/INCAF (2010); ** fragile state and partner country for humanitarian assistance \u2013 Denmark has chosen to focus its humanitarian assistance on a limited set of partner countries where it believes it can have the most impact (Section 6.2).\nA new approach to cross-cutting issues Environment, gender equality and women\"s empowerment appear to be fully mainstreamed in development co-operation programmes. This is thanks to systematic screening, monitoring and reporting, as well as training for Danida staff and development partners. Gender equality rolling plans and environmental screening are fully institutionalised throughout the programme cycle, and staff are familiar with these tools.10 A mandatory e-learning course on gender mainstreaming was viewed positively by staff; Denmark is also urged to make a similar course on environmental screening mandatory.11 Climate change has been addressed as a cross-cutting challenge linked to the environment (MFA, 2005). Interlinkages are also being made between gender equality, security and climate. Climate proofing is becoming an integral part of Danish aid management in line with Denmark\"s implementation of its 2005 Climate and Development Action Programme. The 2009 review of this programme noted that mainstreaming climate change action \"is the way forward\", and the focus is on using country systems for managing climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The peer review team welcomes Denmark\"s pivotal role in preparing the OECD-DAC Environment Policy Committee guidance on integrating climate change adaptation into development co-operation (OECD, 2009c) and encourages Denmark to maintain its engagement with the Joint Environment and Development Task Team on Climate Change. While there is significant pressure on all donors to act on climate change, environmental concerns such as biodiversity and natural resources remain as important as ever and Denmark should keep up its good work in broader environmental mainstreaming.\nSee gender equality rolling plans and tools at: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/en\/menu\/PoliciesAndStrategies\/CrossCutting+Issues\/GenderEquality and the environment guide and screening note: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/en\/menu\/PoliciesAndStrategies\/CrossCutting+Issues\/Environment\/New+Environment+Guide.htm.\nGender e-learning: www.umkc.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/93E18BF8-24C7-4A5C-B264E590CE294F76\/0\/200986.pdf and environmental screening: www.umkc.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/3BC46432D841-4FEE-9B30-A9BD23D6D757\/0\/200846.pdf. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nIt is positive that former cross-cutting issues are now core priorities for Danida and that gender equality, women\"s empowerment and environment have been institutionalised. However, clarity is required on how the change in policy will affect programme cycle management, whether the mainstreaming tools will continue to apply and how resources will be allocated. Denmark is commended for the good progress it has made with mainstreaming and should ensure that Danida staff and partners continue to use the quality tools and methods it has developed.\nMore strategic multilateral assistance Denmark is a good, strategic multilateral donor. It reflects on the future of multilateralism and seeks to promote and assess, along with other donors, the effectiveness of multilateral agencies. Its commitment to active multilateralism is clearly outlined in its Multilateral Development Co-operation Towards 2015 (MFA, 2008c) and re-affirmed in Freedom from Poverty. Denmark has become more strategic with multilateral organisations, as urged by the last peer review (OECD, 2007a). It uses the following parameters to assess the multilateral partners with which it will work: (i) partnership with developing countries and other international organisations; (ii) relevance; (iii) efficiency; and (iv) dialogue and strategic influence. The assessment of these four parameters is based on the Danish organisation strategies with multilateral organisations, on its own evaluations as well as those of other countries or research institutions, and on the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN). According to the multilateral strategy, Denmark must become more strategic and focused by: (i) making fewer but larger contributions; (ii) not allocating funds automatically; and (iii) having no fixed targets for the split between multilateral and bilateral aid (MFA, 2008c). Denmark also focuses on the comparative advantage of UN agencies in relation to its priority areas and sees room for greater co-operation with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the EU in fragile states and post-conflict societies and in promoting growth and employment (Chapters 2 and 3). Denmark couples its more strategic approach with increased core contributions to several UN agencies and the World Bank. Denmark achieves its objectives by developing specific results-oriented three to five-year organisational strategies with these organisations, as well as holding annual dialogue meetings to review the previous plan and agree action plans for the coming year, which include goals and reporting. The strategies are negotiated with the relevant organisations and help ensure a transparent partnership. Denmark has tested the development of joint multilateral organisation strategies with other donors, but these arrangements do not necessarily meet the donors\" needs or reduce transaction costs for the multilateral organisation (MFA, 2009b). Multilateral organisations appear willing to accept Denmark\"s strategies despite the extra transaction costs because Denmark is typically among these agencies\" top 10 donors and there is little ear-marking.12 Nevertheless, Denmark is considering how it can use other mechanisms, such as joint approaches with like-minded donors or provide more technical input in policy dialogue with multilaterals so that it can eventually rely on these organisations\" own strategies. Co-operation with the World Bank is clearly laid out in the Danish Organisation Strategy for the World Bank Group 2007-2011 (MFA, 2007). When it comes to influencing the bank\"s policies, Denmark is a member of the Nordic-Baltic constituency 12.\nComments made during interviews held for this peer review.\n32 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT and co-ordinates positions with other like-minded members, especially on gender, human rights, climate and fragile states. It also increases its influence by contributing to thematic trust funds related to its priorities, for example the Nordic Trust Fund (for human rights). At the same time, Denmark is conscious that trust funds raise transaction costs for the multilateral organisations and that it should instead contribute to multi-donor trust funds. Denmark has also been lobbying for better representation of developing countries in the World Bank Group. As it gives greater priority to growth, employment and fragile states, Denmark will seek more strategic co-operation with the World Bank Group to improve the investment climate and strengthen the competitiveness of economies in fragile states (MFA, 2010f). This is a positive and beneficial approach to working with relevant partners in implementing its priorities.\nPublic opinion: need for more strategic communication by Danida There is a long tradition of engaging Danes in development co-operation and much experience in building public awareness through the MFA\"s targeted and creative information activities, in co-operation with opinion leaders and Danish civil society organisations. As stated in Freedom from Poverty, \"Broad popular and political support creates a robust foundation for our development engagement and makes it possible to take the risks necessary for producing sustainable results\" (MFA, 2010b). Danida benefits from this robust foundation and a broad consensus that development co-operation is important. In 2010, 94% of Danes thought it was important to help people in developing countries, which is slightly higher than the EU average of 89% (Eurobarometer, 2010). However, Denmark, like other donors, also has to deal with public scepticism about aid effectiveness and the perception that aid is wasted through corruption. There was a shift in this scepticism in 2009, with a public opinion poll finding a decrease, from 43% to 15%, in the number of people thinking that aid did not have an impact (Capacent, 2010). On the other hand, 47% of Danes think that corruption is a barrier to providing assistance. Nevertheless, relatively few respondents (19%) think that problems in developing countries are so large that assistance is futile (ibid.). The MFA is particularly sensitive to the need to communicate results, but it is equally aware of the realities of development co-operation and the difficulty of demonstrating impact in the short run. In 2008 Denmark published From Goals to Results in Danish Development Assistance (MFA, 2008a). This work is welcome, not least because it explains how complex it is to measure the results and long-term effects of aid. Like other donors, Denmark still lacks solid information on results in order to demonstrate achievements and address public scepticism about the effectiveness of aid. With the exception of the findings of specific evaluations and global reports on progress towards the MDGs, Denmark mainly disseminates information about meeting programme targets rather than development results (Chapter 4). The ministry\"s quality assurance and communication units work together to identify and gather results stories. Storytelling is a useful method for engaging the public. Donors such as Norway and the United States are using this approach and Denmark is encouraged to both learn from and share its own experiences with them and others.\nA more pro-active communication strategy for the MFA The MFA has changed its approach to communication significantly since the 2007 peer review and is now more open to dealing with the media. Among the most notable DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nchanges are the creation of a special Centre for Public Diplomacy (Figure 1) to enhance the ministry\"s capacity and the strategy for internal and external communication. The ministry\"s overarching communication policy provides direction on development cooperation in terms of purpose, principles and communication channels (MFA, 2010h). According to the MFA, the new emphasis on being proactive, open, transparent and trustworthy has been successful in promoting a cultural change, with staff now more open to engaging with the public. The MFA used specific incentives to build staff capacity for communication and media relations. They included appointing a communication officer in all centres, giving courses to all new employees on communication and contact with the media, and holding a course on press relations for communication officers and staff going on postings.\nMaking Danida's communication more coherent A communication strategy focusing on development co-operation is being prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Danida will be given more prominence as a distinct \"brand\" in the ministry\"s communications about development. While Denmark should continue to avoid flag raising, thereby respecting the ownership of partners, these developments are positive for at least three reasons: (i) the overarching communication strategy (MFA, 2010h) does not identify priority themes for communication to ensure more coherent messages and complementary communication activities; (ii) Danes have a positive perception of Danida; and (iii) each centre has its own communication plan and a good degree of autonomy in what it communicates, which may not have as great an impact as a single, strategic and focused approach. Therefore, the ministry will need to ensure that the Centre for Public Diplomacy has sufficient capacity to play its advisory and co-ordination function and to ensure that Heads of Centres contribute to Danida\"s priority themes of modern Africa; the results and the effects of Danish development cooperation; explaining modern development co-operation; and the MDGs. The new strategy could also start preparing the ground for achieving the ministry\"s plan to integrate development co-operation issues in the school curriculum when it comes up for review in 2015. In so doing, Denmark can learn from the experiences of Finland and Ireland. Denmark\"s budget for communication has increased since the last peer review. Its aggregate budget for communication was DKK 62 million (approximately USD 11 million) in 2010. The Danida Information Grant increased from DKK 14 million in 2007 to DKK 20 million in 2010. The ministry\"s own communication budget for Danida has been stable at DKK 13 to 14 million a year since 2007. NGOs can use up to 2% of total NGO financing for information activities, averaging DKK 18 million per year. Once the Danida communication strategy has been approved, the ministry may want to assess whether an appropriate level of resources are available to ensure that the strategy can be implemented.\nFuture considerations \uf0b7\nFreedom from Poverty lays out values, priorities and challenges for Danish development co-operation and is more explicit about safeguarding Danish interests. Denmark is urged to be pragmatic and flexible in pursuing its objectives in diverse and sensitive contexts, respecting local needs and contexts.\n34 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT \uf0b7\nThe revised guidelines for programme management should guide staff on how to identify new programmes that will address Denmark\"s five priorities, clarify how Danida will work in its traditional sectors and on cross-cutting issues as well as the relevant partners it should work with while respecting the Paris Declaration principles. Denmark should also spell out what its new priorities will mean for Denmark\"s approach to division of labour between donors in partner countries.\nDenmark has developed new criteria for selecting partner countries, and demonstrates greater willingness to engage with fragile states. It could make these new criteria more transparent for Danida staff and partners by outlining their relative weight in decision making and referring to the criteria used when making public decisions to phase-out.\nDenmark actively communicates about its development co-operation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs could enhance its communication by stepping up efforts to gather and communicate solid information on results and by ensuring that communication from centres and units is coherent with priority themes in the communication strategy.\nThe role and focus of the Council for International Development need to be reinvigorated. Denmark should redefine the role of the Council and its members so that it can play a more active role in promoting informed public debate about development issues.\nChapter 2 Development beyond aid\nAid alone cannot ensure development. Alongside official development assistance, other financial flows and the non-aid policies of donor countries have a significant impact on developing nations. In recognition of this fact, OECD members have committed to ensure that their non-aid policies support, or at least do not hinder, partner countries\" development. In other words, they will pursue policy coherence for development (PCD). The OECD Ministerial Declaration on Policy Coherence for Development, adopted in June 2008, confirmed this commitment (OECD, 2008a). To achieve policy coherence for development, DAC members need: (i) political commitment and policy statements that translate commitment into plans of action; (ii) policy co-ordination mechanisms that can resolve conflicts or inconsistencies between policies and maximise synergies for development; and (iii) systems for monitoring, analysing and reporting on development impacts of donors\" policies (OECD, 2008c; OECD, 2010f). These are the building blocks of policy coherence for development.\nMaking progress on policy coherence for development Denmark is committed to policy coherence for development. Freedom from Poverty states that Denmark will \"strengthen the link between relevant Danish policies and instruments in order to achieve a higher degree of synergy to the benefit of development\" (MFA, 2010b). It also stresses the importance of strengthening the overall Danish engagement in developing countries where development assistance is only part of the total flow of capital to these countries. To achieve policy coherence, Denmark deals with a number of specific development issues, notably climate, security and migration, through whole-of-government approaches. Since the last peer review, Denmark has made some progress towards ensuring greater policy coherence for development (Table 2), but more needs to be done. Denmark is listed as the second best performer (after Sweden) out of 22 countries by the Center for Global Development\"s 2010 Commitment to Development Index, which measures how rich countries are helping poor countries via seven key linkages: aid, trade, investment, migration, environment, security, and technology.13 As recommended in the last two peer reviews of Denmark, and as stated in the OECD Council recommendation, member countries are advised to translate \"political commitment to policy coherence for development into practice\" (OECD, 2010f). In particular, Denmark needs to strengthen policy co-ordination mechanisms and systems for monitoring, analysing and reporting on the impacts of both Danish and EU policies on development in partner countries; a whole-of-government approach does not necessarily guarantee policies that promote better development. Denmark could, therefore, make 13.\nSee www.cgdev.org\/section\/initiatives\/_active\/cdi\/.\n36 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT development a core focus in a number of its existing policy committees both within parliament and in the administration. A similar view is also held by Danish NGOs who have urged the MFA to create a unit to promote, facilitate and co-ordinate policy coherence for development across ministries.14 The MFA hopes to advance coherence for development by providing incentives for staff through the overall performance management and targets system in 2011. Extending this performance measurement to embassies could also help to integrate it at field level, especially in relation to the monitoring and reporting they could feed back to headquarters. This has remained a challenge since the last peer review, partly because embassies are not given incentives for either promoting policy coherence or monitoring progress or successes. Denmark is preparing an action plan for ensuring that its own domestic policies do not affect those of developing countries negatively. Part of the action plan will be to develop initiatives to improve the awareness of sector ministries, select focus areas for Denmark and look to international best practices on coherence for development. As it prepares and, later on, implements this action plan, the MFA could consider reestablishing the inter-ministerial working group that was set-up to prepare Denmark\"s position on coherence for development in Freedom from Poverty. That way, the ministry can build on the awareness already raised and create a constituency for policy coherence for development across the administration. Table 2. Denmark's progress towards the three building blocks of PCD since 2007 Building block\nSituation in 2007\nBuilding Block A: Political commitment and policy statements\nBuilding Block B: Policy co-ordination mechanisms\nBuilding Block C: Monitoring, analysis and reporting\nProgress made by 2010\nDenmark did not have a specific policy for PCD. A number of different documents did, however, show understanding and commitment to PCD more broadly.\nCommitment to PCD is clearly reflected in the new strategy (MFA, 2010b).\nAn action plan for PCD is under development.\nA number of committees overseeing policy coherence exist, mostly within the framework of the EU and World Trade Organization (WTO), in which the MFA takes a lead. It is, however, not clear how systematic these committees are in addressing development issues.\nA number of useful inter-ministerial committees now address policy coherence (see text). Some of these could strengthen their focus on policy coherence for development, and some may be informal.\nThere was no formal monitoring and reporting process put in place in relation to PCD.\nDanida's annual report will include a section dedicated to PCD from 2011. Systematic monitoring could, however, still be improved.\nCommittees and co-ordination A number of Danish committees oversee and influence multilateral and international policies. These include the Danish Parliament\"s European Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Foreign Policy Committee, all of which have to be consulted by government prior to decision making (Mullally and Watts, 2006). The various committees have a long history of being successful in creating parliament-wide consensus around Danish positions on trade, agriculture and development. Additionally, the Foreign Affairs Committee has a strong awareness of current development questions which ensures that the Danish government is generally well-informed and committed to global issues and the MDGs. The Government\"s Co-ordination Committee located in the Office of the Prime 14.\nNote submitted to peer review team by Concord, 6 October 2010. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nMinister deals with major new policies and initiatives.15 While the current Minister for Foreign Affairs is not a member of the Co-ordination Committee, she would be well placed now that development cuts across foreign policy, to influence the committee to deal with coherence for development more systematically.\nPushing for PCD at EU level Denmark pushes for policy coherence for development through the EU given that many important decisions affecting global development are now taken at EU level, especially since the entry into force of the EU\"s Treaty of Lisbon. The EU is a strong global advocate for policy coherence for development, with a new whole-of-the-union approach, and is assessing the impact of its efforts to make policies coherent for development against the MDGs (Commission of the European Communities, 2009a). In light of this, Freedom from Poverty recognises the interconnections between policy areas dealt with at EU level and states that the EU is the most useful institution through which it wants to ensure that both domestic and foreign policies do not negatively affect developing countries. It states it wants to increase the influence of the EU within the UN, the World Bank, the WTO and in the G-20. Its aim is for multilateral co-operation to \"contribute to a well functioning global economy, market access for developing countries and solutions to other global challenges such as global environmental and climate problems\" (MFA, 2010b). This commitment has also been recognised by the EU, who sees Denmark as actively engaged in a number of important processes addressing coherence for development (Commission of the European Communities, 2009b). The MFA generally takes the lead on co-ordinating EU matters in Denmark and is therefore well placed to make use of the planned revision of the Danish EU decisionmaking procedures so that they can focus more on policy coherence for development and be more systematic about it. Denmark\"s presidency of the EU in 2012 will also be an opportunity for Denmark to increase attention to coherence in the EU.\nEfforts to achieve policy coherence in specific areas Immigration and refugees Denmark\"s Regions of Origin Initiative successfully addressed some issues of immigration, asylum and migration in a way that promotes policy coherence (MFA, 2005b and see Chapter 6).16 The scheme cuts across several policy areas to \"secure access to protection and durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons as close to their home as possible\" (MFA, 2008d).17 The initiative is managed and implemented by the Danish MFA and co-operates closely with the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs (MOI). The two ministries meet four to six times a year to ensure coherence between policies on development, asylum, migration and humanitarian\nSee www.stm.dk\/_p_8011.html (in Danish).\nIn the 2009 EU report on policy coherence for development, migration for development was identified as one of five priority issues (Commission of the European Communities, 2009a).\nhttp:\/\/www.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/C3565C92-60CA-4F4D-B087239876F5920F\/0\/ROIStrategicFrameworkendeligpartI.pdf.\n38 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT emergencies. The initiative also brings together NGOs and international institutions.18 One of the positive results of the initiative is that Denmark focused on certain countries and regions (Afghanistan and the displacement crises associated with Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia) through joint policy analysis and co-operation. This initiative, which is in line with the UNHCR\"s Framework for Durable Solutions, also brings coherence to interconnected policy areas, such as Danish legislation on asylum, as well as efforts to secure the livelihoods of returning refugees.\nClimate and environment The Danish government\"s Climate Conference Committee (CCC) and the dedicated Climate Fund are helpful mechanisms to ensure co-ordination as well as continued emphasis on climate change issues across the Danish government. The CCC is housed in the Office of the Prime Minister and includes experts from the MFA, the Ministry of Climate and Energy, and the Ministry of Finance. The CCC also decides on projects and programmes to be funded from the Climate Fund prior to submission for approval by the Parliament\"s appropriation committee. The Climate Fund supports initiatives launched as part of the Government of Denmark\"s commitment to the Fast Start Finance, and funding is given in accordance with the principles of the Copenhagen Accord. The fund considers opportunities for fast start implementation; the balance between mitigation and adaptation; the needs of the most vulnerable (i.e. small island developing states) and poorest countries, in particular Africa; and the balance between multilateral and bilateral initiatives.19 As a consequence, climate finance is targeted towards a wide group of developing countries. The MFA liaises with the Ministry of Climate and Energy on major policy questions regarding implementation.\nSecurity and stabilisation Due to its increased focus on and presence in countries affected by fragility, Denmark has set up a number of cross-governmental structures to promote peace and stability, including policies in the areas of social development, security, diplomacy and military. To tackle this range of priorities appropriately, Denmark is promoting a whole-ofgovernment approach to fragile states and has created the Danish Stabilisation Fund, the inter-ministerial group and the Afghanistan Task Force (Box 2), which together seek more integrated and effective support to Afghanistan and other fragile states (Schmidt, 2009). Denmark aims, through its achievements and experience in working with civilmilitary co-ordination in fragile states, to influence other international actors and organisations for better international co-operation and co-ordination (MFA, undated). The Danish Stabilisation Fund disposes of DKK 150 million a year, for both development assistance and non-ODA funding. The aim of the fund is to enable an \"enhanced effort in the overlap between security and development\" (MFA, 2010b) and within the whole-of-government framework to create a platform and a funding mechanism through which both national and international civil-military interventions can be discussed and co-ordinated. Having sufficient staff from different policy communities actively involved in the design and decision-making of interventions supported by the 18.\nUNHCR, The Red Cross, International Organisation of Migration, Danish Refugee Council, Save the Children and others.\nSee www.faststartfinance.org\/contributing_country\/denmark, accessed 21 January 2011. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nfund will help to ensure the fund is flexible to respond more holistically to peace and security challenges. In relation to gender equality and security, Denmark is also taking a whole-ofgovernment approach in its revised national action plan for implementing the 2008 Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This plan was formulated jointly between the MFA, MoD, and the Danish national police, in consultation with Danish civil society. Box 2. The Afghanistan Task Force The basis for Denmark\"s inter-ministerial committee, the Afghanistan Task Force, is to create a structure that supports co-operation and cohesion in Denmark\"s engagement in Afghanistan. Danish troops have been deployed in Afghanistan since 2002 and Danida has also been active there since then. Denmark puts strong emphasis on alignment to the national Afghan context and the efforts by other international players engaged at field level. But the task force also works to ensure intra-country co-ordination of Denmark\"s civil-military efforts and commitment to peace and stabilisation. The task force is comprised of representatives from the Prime Minister\"s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which also hosts the secretariat, the Ministry of Immigration, the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Command, the Defence Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Justice (mostly through the national police commissioner), and the Ministry of Immigration on an ad hoc basis. The task force meets on a weekly basis. Since its creation in mid-2007, it has become a hub for key players in the Danish administration involved in Afghanistan and has eased communication among the ministries involved. This whole-of-government approach, which tackles wide issues such as military operations, diplomatic peace support, development, and support of good governance, has made the task force an important platform from which the ministries can share their understanding of conflict and thus learn from one another. An example of how this co-operation has brought with it a change in Denmark\"s modus operandi in Afghanistan is the Danish military\"s increased focus on civil protection, according to ministry and military staff interviewed by the peer review team in Copenhagen.\nDenmark has renewed its commitment to policy coherence for development in Freedom from Poverty. In order to promote such coherence across ministries, the MFA is encouraged to finalise, as a matter of priority, its planned action plan and consider reestablishing the inter-ministerial working group on policy coherence for development created when preparing Freedom from Poverty.\nDenmark should, as recommended in the last peer review, strengthen institutional coordination mechanisms to arbitrate and monitor the coherence of both domestic and EU policies with development.\nGiven that Denmark is pushing for policy coherence for development through the EU it should consider how to strengthen the reporting, monitoring and evaluation of its achievements in the EU.\nAs recommended in the last peer review, Denmark should consider how headquarters can integrate field level perspectives on coherence for development from its embassies.\nChapter 3 ODA volume, channels and allocations\nOfficial development assistance in summary In 2009 Denmark maintained its commendable position as one of the five DAC members which allocate 0.7% or more of gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA). Its ODA amounted to USD 2.8 billion in 2009, which is equivalent to an ODA\/GNI ratio of 0.88% and made Denmark the 12th largest DAC donor by volume (Annex B). Denmark committed around DKK 15.2 billion in ODA in 2010, which corresponded to 0.9% of GNI (MFA, 2010c). However, in line with the objective of the government\"s 2010 Restoration Plan to reduce the fiscal deficit from 5% of GDP to 3%, there has been a general freeze in public spending for the period 20112013 (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010). Denmark\"s budget allocations for ODA will therefore be sustained at the 2010 nominal level until 2013. A long-standing commitment to development is reflected in the fact that Denmark has exceeded the UN target of 0.7% ODA\/GNI for more than 30 years (since 1978) (Annex B, Table 1). Being one of the DAC\"s more generous donors as a percentage of GNI also gives it influence internationally. However, while its ODA\/GNI has remained above 0.8% since the last peer review, the freeze could cause Denmark\"s ratio to fall below 0.8% for the first time since 1983. During the freeze Denmark should make every effort to meet commitments made to partner countries. Phasing out of seven priority countries should also free up resources so that the government\"s commitment to increase aid for climate change, fragile states and humanitarian assistance can be met. At the same time, Denmark is encouraged to start planning for ground it may lose on ODA.\nClimate financing Denmark is congratulated for pledging DKK 1.2 billion to climate financing (USD 231 million (exchange rate end 2009) in 2009 for 2010-2012. Of this, DKK 308 million is committed to the Fast Start Finance which will be allocated in three annual allotments in accordance with the principles of the Copenhagen Accord (Section 2.3.2). There is no agreed international baseline for assessing whether pledged funds are \"new and additional\"; each country makes its own judgement of the additionality of the pledges (OECD, 2010d). Denmark announced that its climate financing would be additional because it did not reduce allocations to previous commitments in other development sectors. Current projections suggest that Denmark\"s ODA\/GNI will continue to be above 0.7% in 2010 and 2011. However, in light of the budget freeze for 2011-2013 it remains unclear whether future allocations on climate financing will be additional. According to the MFA, the increase in the Fast Start DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n42 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT financing in 2011 and 2012 (DKK 100 million and DKK 200 million) will squeeze out other planned activities.\nNon-ODA flows According to DAC figures, the level of other official flows, private grants and flows from Denmark to ODA eligible countries was USD 948 million in 2009, the equivalent of 33.7% of ODA. The largest share \u2013 USD 599 million \u2013 was private direct investment, followed by USD 226 million in other official multilateral flows. In pursuing its focus on growth and employment, Denmark aims to use ODA to leverage private sector investment in developing countries. Two instruments \u2013 the Business to Business Programme and the Mixed Credit Scheme \u2013 totalled USD 104.9 million in ODA in 2009 (MFA, 2010a). However, the Mixed Credit Scheme is generally tied to Danish suppliers (MFA, 2010a and Chapter 5). Denmark\"s for-profit Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) advises on and invests in Danish companies in developing countries. In 2009 IFU invested DKK 642 million, of which DKK 277 million was invested in Africa \u2013 the highest investment level in the fund\"s history (IFU, 2010). IFU has a high priority in Denmark\"s strategy for growth and employment in the developing countries. In connection with the recent budget cuts, the Danish government has decided to advance the phasing out of the Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe (IO) - a separate fund with different strategic purposes - by increasing the capital extraction from the Fund in the years 2011 to 2013. As a result, IO will stop making new investments from January 2011. The government is not considering to re-allocate financial resources from IO to IFU but will urge IFU to mobilise capital from private investors for projects in the developing countries.\nTransparent and predictable budgeting Denmark is a predictable donor thanks to its four-year commitment-based budgeting and five-year priority plans. The annual budget plan, including the main priorities for Danish assistance, is presented by the Minister for Development Co-operation to the Government Co-ordination Committee, which discusses the development policy priorities and then submits the draft Finance Act to parliament for adoption.20 Predictability is assured by Denmark\"s budgeting process at two levels: (i) the draft Finance Act and Danida\"s annual publication of the aid figures for the coming four years, which present committed and planned contributions to partner countries, multilateral organisations, NGOs and other partners (MFA, 2010j); and (ii) the inclusion of aid flow plans in bilateral agreements with partner countries and the fact that programme documents can provide disbursement plans for the duration of the programme period (three to five years). Denmark could further enhance the transparency of its commitments to partner countries, in the spirit of the Accra Agenda for Action, by making the relevant sections of the aid budget available directly on embassy websites and, ideally, in local languages. Indeed, Denmark plans to do this under the International Aid Transparency Initiative.\nThe annual consultation with embassies discusses country budget allocations, which then feed into the minister\"s proposal. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nBilateral aid In 2009, 68% of Denmark\"s total ODA was allocated as gross bilateral ODA. This represents a small increase (by two points) in the share since 2007 (Annex B). Denmark\"s bilateral debt relief, which peaked in 2006 at USD 166 million (6% of gross disbursements) and remained relatively high in 2007 and 2008, has tapered off, representing 1% of total gross disbursements in 2009 (Table B.2, Annex B). Denmark\"s aid volume in constant 2008 dollars has not decreased because of the decline in debt relief after 2008. Debt relief is expected to remain stable at similar levels according to the 2011 - 2015 rolling budget (MFA, 2010j) provided that no new major international agreements on debt relief materialise.\nCommitment to focus on fewer partner countries in Africa In 2009, 60% of Danish ODA was concentrated on the least developed countries, with a further 21% allocated to other low income countries. Allocations to least developed countries have increased since 2006, reflecting a continued emphasis on poverty reduction and achieving the MDGs and a commitment to sub-Saharan Africa (57% of bilateral ODA was allocated to this region in 2009). Denmark also scores well in terms of country programmable aid,21 which was 65% in 2008 compared to a 58% average for the DAC. The peer review team is encouraged that Denmark will continue providing aid to the world\"s poorest and most fragile countries. This is demonstrated by (i) the 2011 budget commitment to provide an extra DKK 200 million to strengthening efforts in African countries; and (ii) Denmark\"s new list of partner countries (Chapter 1, Table 1). Denmark has maintained its deep focus on its long-term partner countries. Fourteen partner countries22 are listed among the top 20 recipients of Danish bilateral ODA, demonstrating its prioritisation of these countries in its resource allocations (Annex B, Table B.4). OECD analysis on concentration attests to this: Denmark had a 94% concentration ratio in partner countries in 2009.23 However, the overall concentration ratio is lower (47%) because Denmark is a \"non-significant\" donor in 33 countries (OECD, 2010e). There is room, therefore, for Denmark to concentrate further its overall bilateral aid portfolio by decreasing the number of countries where it is not a significant contributor, and within these prioritise effective division of labour. If Denmark decides not to phase out of a country, it may want to consider instead entering silent partnerships with like-minded donors.\nSector allocations As noted in Chapter 1, Denmark does not have a strict list of sector priorities although there is general continuity in thematic priorities. DAC statistics on bilateral ODA by sector show that there has been little change in the proportion of resource flows going to specific sectors since the 2007 peer review. The largest share of bilateral ODA (42%) was 21.\nIn 2007, the DAC introduced the new concept of \"country programmable aid\" (CPA), to provide a better estimate of the volume of resources transferred to developing countries. CPA is the portion of aid that each donor (bilateral or multilateral) can programme for each recipient country (see Benn et al., 2010).\nMali, Bhutan and Nicaragua are not among the top 15 main recipients of bilateral ODA.\nThe concentration ratio measures the number of significant aid relations of a donor compared to all of its aid relations. The higher the concentration ratio, the less a donor\"s portfolio is fragmented.\n44 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT allocated to social infrastructure and services, while 12% qualified as multi-sector, representing a five point increase in the share since 2003-2007. This increase reflects a trend towards comprehensive programming in which several inter-related objectives are addressed. For example, private sector development and agriculture can be equally addressed in one programme, as seen in Mali (Annex C). Specific sectors which are most supported are: (i) government and civil society (21% of bilateral allocable ODA compared to 14% in 2003-07); (ii) water supply and sanitation (6%); and (iii) education, health, business and other services, agriculture, forestry and fishing (each of which receive 5%). Allocations to transport and storage have declined the most since 2003-2007 (from 8% to 2% of bilateral allocable ODA). The MFA has started to re-allocate resources in an effort to focus bilateral cooperation and to make it more aligned with the five priorities outlined in Freedom from Poverty. For example, Denmark is already phasing out bilateral education in four countries. At the same time, it will double its annual allocation to the Education for All \u2013 Fast Track Initiative (FTI) to DKK 270 million. In line with its commitment to the MDGs, total Danish assistance to primary education will remain unchanged. Denmark is committed to expanding its efforts in private sector development, including implementing the five Africa Commission initiatives.24 It will allocate DKK 2 billion for private sector development in Africa by 2014. A key challenge facing Denmark is to select the most appropriate funding instruments to meet its objectives in economic growth and employment as well as in fragile and conflict affected states. While sector budget support is Denmark\"s default aid modality in line with its efforts to use country systems (Chapter 5), it recognises that this modality may not always be the most appropriate for programmes focusing on and engaging with a range of state actors. More clarity is also required on Denmark\"s strategic approach to achieving its priorities on economic growth and employment and stability and fragility, for example, on its use of bilateral and multilateral channels, how ongoing country programmes should adjust according to these priorities, the synergies that can be found between Denmark\"s private sector instruments and sector programmes and how Denmark will approach division of labour between donors while continuing to implement its priorities. Embassies will also need to have the capacity to identify synergies between Denmark\"s own business instruments for sector programmes and relevant players. Denmark is encouraged to seek out co-financing schemes with other donors, as mentioned in Freedom from Poverty. Once again, as pointed out in the last peer review, every effort should be made to keep programmes and their components focused to retain efficiency gains in key sectors and ensure that Denmark gives attention to where it can add most value.\nReporting on cross-cutting issues Denmark\"s reporting on resource flows linked to the gender equality and Rio policy markers for the environment has improved since the 2007 peer review, reflecting greater efforts to track and report flows to these priority cross-cutting issues. According to the gender equality marker, Denmark is a good performer: in 2009, 67% of total sector allocable aid was gender focused compared to 45% in 2007. In Indonesia and Niger, 99% of allocations to Denmark\"s programmes focused on gender equality. Denmark\"s 24.\nThe five initiatives are: to create a guarantee fund to secure loans for small and medium-sized enterprises; to provide access to energy at the local level; to create an index to measure Africa\"s competitiveness; to support young entrepreneurs; to make universities more business-oriented within the field of agriculture; and to improve business and vocational programmes (MFA, 2009a). DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\ncommitment to gender equality is also demonstrated by the fact that almost all programme and projects are screened to determine whether they target this aspect (1.9% of flows were not screened in 2009, according to DAC statistics). However, when looking exclusively at the economic and productive sectors, 52% of Denmark\"s aid focused on gender equality in 2007\/08. Given Denmark\"s stated emphasis on women\"s economic empowerment as part of the country\"s MDG3 global leadership, it could increase the focus it gives to gender equality in these sectors. Denmark\"s targeting of climate change mitigation has also increased over recent years (Figure 2). Denmark performs well compared to other DAC members: 11.2% of its bilateral ODA targeted climate change mitigation between 2006 and 2008, compared to 6.1% for all DAC members combined.25 Denmark\"s aid for biodiversity and desertification also represents a significantly larger share of its bilateral ODA in 2009 (8-9%) than for other DAC members.26 Figure 2.\nDenmark's reporting against the Rio policy markers, 2007-2009 USD million\nSource: www.oecd.org\/dac\/stats\/rioconventions\nHumanitarian aid Denmark is also a generous humanitarian donor. Its annual humanitarian budget will, once the new humanitarian strategy is fully implemented in 2011, make up 16% of total ODA (excluding debt relief). This far exceeds the current DAC donor average of 9.2% (Development Initiatives, 2009). A budgetary reserve of DKK 100 million is also 25.\nExcluding Luxembourg and the United States, which did not report against the Rio markers.\nSee: www.oecd.org\/dac\/stats\/rioconventions.\n46 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT available to fund sudden onset emergencies, should this be required (Chapter 6). Denmark\"s budget breakdown is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3.\nDenmark's humanitarian budget, 2012-2015\nSource: MFA (2010j), Priorities of the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance: Overview of the Development Assistance Budget 2011-2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. Note: Figures calculated using 2012 figures as a basis.\nMultilateral assistance Denmark\"s multilateral aid totalled USD 941 million in 2009 (32% of total gross ODA; Annex B, Table B.2). Denmark continues to provide strong support to the UN \u2013 10% of total ODA in 2009, which was above the DAC average of 4%. According to DAC statistics, one-fifth of Denmark\"s aid to UN agencies goes to UNDP, followed by UNICEF (11%), UNHCR (8%) and UNRWA (4%) for humanitarian assistance. These trends are in line with Denmark\"s list of 10 priority recipients of multilateral aid. 27 Other than UN agencies, the European Union Institutions account for 10% of total ODA disbursements, while the World Bank (4%) received a lower share compared to the total DAC average in 2008 (6%). The Finance Act provides budget figures for core contributions to Denmark\"s main multilateral recipients over a five-year horizon. Core funding represents 88% of Denmark\"s total use of the multilateral system, compared to a DAC average of 61%. The relatively large share of core funding in Denmark\"s allocations is welcomed by multilateral institutions because it gives them flexibility in deciding how it should be spent.\nThe EU, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, the Nordic Development Fund, UNHCR and the Global Fund to fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria are listed by Denmark as its ten largest recipients of multilateral development assistance in 2007 (MFA, 2008c). DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nFocusing multilateral assistance and linking allocation with performance As recommended in 2007 and as outlined in its multilateral strategy (MFA, 2008c), Denmark has evaluated its multilateral assistance. In response to the findings, it has made progress in focusing on fewer multilateral organisations and providing larger contributions. In 2009 Denmark allocated funds to 87 multilateral organisations, compared to 156 in 2004. Moreover, the number of small contributions \u2013 below DKK 5 million \u2013 was reduced from 105 in 2004 to 37 in 2009. This is commendable for several reasons: the government can free up resources that would otherwise have been spent monitoring small contributions; and Denmark can have greater influence with a few strategic multilateral partners. Denmark is focusing strategically on the comparative advantage and efficiency of individual organisations in specific areas of assistance. For example, it justifies co-operation with UNICEF because its thematic and cross-cutting priorities are aligned with Danish priorities, such as poverty alleviation, fighting HIV\/AIDS, promoting gender equality, and humanitarian aid (MFA\/Danida, 2010). Denmark is an active member of MOPAN, chairing its secretariat in 2009. It is hopeful that the new Common Approach28 will make MOPAN an even more useful tool. Denmark\"s organisation strategy also lists ensuring stronger UN activities at country level and effective international division of labour as priority performance criteria for UN agencies. The strategy with UNDP, for example, has two output indicators on systemwide coherence.\nAllocations to non-governmental actors In 2009, Denmark allocated 17% of total net ODA (USD 478 million) to and through NGOs29 \u2013 a 69% increase on the previous year. USD 202 million of this allocation was reported to the DAC as core support to NGOs, which at 10.6% of total bilateral ODA is greater than the total DAC average of 3.1%. The relatively large amount of core funding is in line with Denmark\"s strategy for civil society organisations (CSOs; see MFA\/Danida, 2008), which prioritises core aid to Danish and Southern CSOs when pooled funding exists. As stated in the Memorandum, Danish CSOs receive funding based on their visions and strategies and can direct their support to countries and sectors of their own choice even if the ministry encourages a strong focus on Africa (MFA, 2010c; see also Chapter 4). Denmark has a mix of funding mechanisms for Danish organisations depending on their capacity and operations. However, the bulk of its support is provided through core financing to six large Danish NGOs30 (totalling USD 112 million in 2009; MFA, 2010a) and programme agreements for other organisations with a clear strategic focus. These mechanisms reduce transaction costs for both the ministry and CSOs. CSOs in developing countries are supported through sector programme support and through direct cooperation using the embassies\" local grant authority and joint funding mechanisms such as basket funds (as in Mali). However, Denmark does also support small projects and 28.\nThe Common Approach is an annual assessment of a select group of multilateral organisations in several developing countries. see www.mopanonline.org\/commonapproach.\nThe term NGO is used in this report only when referring to DAC statistics on aid to and through NGOs because this is the official term used.\nThey are: MS Danish Association for International Co-operation, DanChurchAid, Danish Red Cross, IBIS, Save the Children Denmark, Care.\n48 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT manages this through a delegated funding arrangement run by the Project Advice Training Centre. As Denmark expands its support to fragile states, it will work more closely with CSOs. The nature of this co-operation is already outlined in the Civil Society Strategy (MFA\/Danida, 2008) and referred to in Freedom from Poverty. According to the CSO strategy, Denmark will promote flexible and relevant interventions in fragile states and situations. It sees a role for CSOs in delivering basic needs and developing civil society\"s capacity to act as a critical partner of the state. In light of its positive experience in preparing the CSO strategy jointly with Danish CSOs (Chapter 4), Danida should actively engage with these organisations once again when planning how it will implement its fragile state strategy.\nDenmark is a generous donor committed to concentrating its ODA in the poorest regions of the world. However, Denmark will freeze its aid commitments at the 2010 nominal level over the period 2011 to 2013. This could cause Denmark\"s ODA\/GNI ratio to fall below 0.8%. Should this happen, Denmark is urged to return, as soon as possible, to its stated goal of 0.8% aid to income ratio.\nIn its efforts to tackle climate change, Denmark has allocated climate financing, reported as ODA, in line with the Copenhagen Accord. It should now demonstrate publicly how this climate financing is additional to what it already gives as ODA, and should contribute to advancing international efforts to establish an agreed baseline for additionality.\nAs Denmark implements its new strategy Freedom from Poverty, Denmark is urged to keep its co-operation programmes focused on a limited number of sectors where it can add value and avoid having too many components in each programme. In other areas it should consider delegating to other donors.\nDenmark is urged to sustain its good practice in reporting through the Rio policy and gender equality markers. It should ensure that sufficient resources continue to be allocated to these \"former\" cross-cutting themes when implementing the new strategy.\nChapter 4 Organisation and managememt\nDevelopment co-operation is well integrated within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark continuously fine tunes the organisation and management of its development co-operation, which, as outlined in Chapter 1, is fully administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The re-organisation of the MFA in 2009 was an important step in making the ministry fit for purpose. It further integrated foreign, trade and development policy to create an organisational framework that could be flexible in addressing the new challenges and opportunities raised by globalisation. With the approval by parliament of Freedom from Poverty, the MFA considers that this process of integration is complete. The peer review team agrees that the MFA\"s new organisational set-up can help Denmark adapt well to new global development challenges, in cooperation with other ministries. However, some further fine tuning will be necessary as outlined in this chapter. Denmark should be mindful of the risks inherent in integrating development co-operation with foreign and security policy and should continue to safeguard the over-riding goal of poverty reduction and reaching the MDGs (Chapter 1). The ministry\"s re-organisation involved disbanding the former North and South pillars to create 11 \"centres\", overseen by the permanent secretary and four senior managers (Figure 1, Chapter 1). The objective of the centre structure is to make the division of tasks more relevant and to anchor global issues across the centres. The Centre for Development Policy is responsible for overall co-ordination of development policy and humanitarian action (Chapter 6). Seven other centres are also involved in development co-operation activities.31 The role of the Centre for Global Challenges focuses on new priority global issues which intersect foreign and development policy \u2013 for example climate change, the MDGs and the financial crisis \u2013 and is responsible for the United Nations, World Bank, IMF and OECD. The Centre for Africa, Asia, Americas and Middle East is responsible for the general handling of bilateral relations, and the Centre for Legal Service deals with democracy and human rights. The remaining centres handle Afghanistan and fragile states, trade, human resource management and public diplomacy. The Centre for Development Policy contains four departments (Figure 4): a. The Technical Advisory Services, which provides technical advice;\nThe seven other centres are: the Centre for Global Security; Centre for Global Challenges; Centre for Africa, Asia, Americas and Middle East; Centre for the Trade Council; Centre for Corporate Services; Centre for Legal Service; and the Centre for Public Diplomacy.\n50 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT b. The Department for Quality Assurance of Development Assistance, which is responsible for quality development, the aid management guidelines, framework for results-based aid and performance management; c. The Business and Contracts Department; d. The Humanitarian Action, Development Policy and Civil Society Department, which is responsible for development policy issues, aid effectiveness, DAC as well as civil society and humanitarian assistance. Figure 4.\nOrganisation chart for the Centre for Development Policy\nSource: MFA and authors' compilation\nThe consultative process conducted during the re-organisation strengthened staff understanding of and commitment to the process. However, the creation of the 11 centres has introduced a new layer of management, making decision making and co-ordination more complex. This aspect of the re-organisation therefore requires further fine-tuning. In light of the objective to become more flexible, senior management should clarify decision-making procedures, managers\" roles and responsibilities and streamline the number of co-ordination meetings. Embassies were not affected by the 2009 re-organisation. They continue to be responsible for strategic planning and country programming, financial management and monitoring multilateral co-operation. They also have a local grant authority of up to DKK 5 million which they can allocate without approval from headquarters. It is the embassies that decide which of the MFA centres to involve. Staff tend to know which centre they need to contact at headquarters and do so easily and informally \u2013 this was evident during the field visit to Mali. The informal culture at the ministry works well for staff who know the institution but is less practical for locally-recruited staff who have had limited or no contact with headquarters. While local staff participate in seminars in Copenhagen on \"getting to know Danida\" and the ministry manages development cooperation, informal channels for communication could be improved by having clearer systems for contacting and soliciting help from the various centres.\nThe Danida Board The Danida Board (see Section 1.2) is a key player in programme approval, monitoring and accountability. For example, while the minister holds full political authority for approving grants, the board reviews and makes recommendations to the Minister for endorsement of appropriations greater than DKK 10 million and discusses the annual country assessments by embassies regarding programme performance. The minister usually follows the board\"s recommendations when approving programmes. However, board members and MFA management consider that the board could play a more strategic role in Danida. Now that humanitarian aid and disaster risk reduction are being mainstreamed within country strategies, the board could also deal with these issues (Chapter 6). The ministry could receive more strategic input on new directions or initiatives from board members, and capitalise on their development expertise, if they were involved earlier in the design stage.\nLessons from Denmark's decentralisation In 2007, as recommended by the peer review, Denmark commissioned an evaluation of its decentralisation (MFA, 2009f). The evaluation considered the decentralisation process to be effective, with some challenges related to human resource capacity and the need to improve mechanisms for dialogue between embassy staff and headquarters staff.32 The MFA is now following up on these recommendations. The evaluation also conveyed important lessons and recommendations for other donors on strategies and tools to guide programme management, mechanisms for quality control, and accountability to ensure high quality programming. Decentralised authority (since 2005) to missions in New York, Rome and Geneva is considered useful for Denmark to improve decision making and gain greater influence in policy dialogue. The primary responsibility of these missions is to manage relations with multilateral organisations with organisational agreements with Denmark. According to Denmark\"s multilateral strategy, \"decentralisation has strengthened the quality and effectiveness of ongoing dialogue with the organisations, making organisation strategies with several multilaterals more specific and result-oriented\" (MFA, 2008c). While recognising the positive benefits, the team did note that such decentralisation of missions might pose efficiency problems if all donors were to do it. There is room for improvement for Denmark, however, in getting its embassies in partner countries to work more closely with multilaterals on priority areas where these organisations have extensive experience (e.g. private sector development in the case of the World Bank). The multilateral department at headquarters focuses on overall policy and strategy development and the promotion of cross-cutting issues such as the MDGs and UN reform. The main challenge for headquarter staff dealing with multilaterals in a decentralised set-up is ensuring coherence between HQ, embassies and missions, and keeping a minimum level of engagement with focus organisations in order to inform policy and allocation decisions. The benefits of decentralisation to the missions are obvious, but fine tuning in terms of HQ-mission co-ordination is still needed.\nDanida\"s evaluation website is www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/Evaluations.\nAn elaborate programme and performance management system The Aid Management Guidelines are the central tool for managing development cooperation.33 They are available on a dedicated webpage. The most important document among the various tools is the Programme Management Guidelines (MFA\/Danida, 2009). These guidelines target the embassies\/representations and other MFA units responsible for Danish bilateral development. They: (i) provide flexible guidance and a framework of reference for Danish representations participating in joint programming processes and for discussing national programmes with partners and donors; (ii) lay out the requirements for seeking internal approval and the administrative procedures of Danish development co-operation; and (iii) provide templates and recommend contents for key documents. This \"living\" document is regularly updated to reflect major policy changes. For example, the MFA plans 74 revisions to the guidelines to keep programming coherent with Freedom from Poverty. The Quality Assurance Department manages the guidelines, monitors their implementation and collaborates with Technical Advisory Services, the Evaluation department and embassies when making amendments. Staff are kept informed of amendments to the guidelines through electronic updates. Staff in headquarters and embassies are trained in applying the guidelines, which are available in English, Spanish and French so that non-Danish speaking staff in embassies can use them. This is good practice. A challenge for the MFA is ensuring that aid management tools are easily accessed through the internet and that there is regular \"cleaning\" of the website, for example to remove expired policies and guidelines. The electronic version of the programme management guidelines is particularly user-friendly because it contains links to relevant templates for easy access. However, with about 180 sub-sites navigation can be difficult. The peer review therefore welcomes efforts to simplify this relatively complex universe, including the Aid Management Guidelines website.\nResults-focused performance management Denmark has a well-established performance management system which is continually being refined. The objectives of the system are to: (i) enhance the quality of Danish development co-operation through a stronger focus on results; (ii) improve management and continuous learning through better information and reporting; and (iii) strengthen accountability through performance assessments and measurement in the context of an increasingly decentralised management structure. The performance management framework provides a comprehensive structure for reporting and accountability at all levels (Box 3). The performance reviews conducted by the Quality Assurance Department are an integral part of the Danish performance management framework and all embassies administering development co-operation are reviewed within a three-year period. These assessments provide embassies and MFA management with information for future management decisions, ranging from the need to focus on fewer programmes with fewer components, to updating embassy organisational manuals, to reviewing staff salaries and improving staff satisfaction. The last peer review invited Denmark to improve the integration of its results-based system with its commitment-based budgeting in order to link country-specific performance reviews to allocation of resources (OECD, 2007). Since then, Denmark has 33.\nSee: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/en. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nsought to integrate results-based budgeting and accounting through its annual goals and targets management system (MRS) which is designed to ensure coherence between priorities and resource allocation \u2013 including staff resources. The MFA is updating its performance management system to further consolidate Denmark\"s results management and reporting. According to the draft framework for managing for development results (October 2010), the ministry aims to integrate strategic planning, risk management, resource allocation, performance monitoring and evaluation.34 The MFA hopes that the updated system will improve decision making for achieving results and further rationalise reporting requirements. The MFA reports on results through an annual report (MFA, 2010a); evaluation reports; and a complete project and programme database available on the Internet. There is also an anti-corruption\/fraud website which outlines Danida\"s anti-corruption policy, and gives an overview of the scale of development funds lost through misuse, including a list of all reported cases. This transparency is positive because it demonstrates to Danes that corruption in development co-operation is being addressed. Box 3. Danida's key performance management tools and databases Key monitoring reports to headquarters for bilateral assistance \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7 \uf0b7\nReview of annual results and targets by the Quality Assurance Department, submitted to MFA management and to parliament. Yearly country assessment by embassies, submitted to Danida Board, the Auditor General and MFA management. Performance review of embassies and missions by Quality Assurance Department every three years, submitted to MFA management. Key monitoring reports to headquarters for multilateral assistance\nAnnual report on the mission\"s action plan, submitted to MFA management and the Danida Board. Performance review of the mission conducted by the Quality Assurance Department and submitted to MFA management. Annual results contract submitted to MFA management. Performance reporting provided by multilaterals. Performance assessment of the multilaterals by Quality Assurance Department and\/or MOPAN and submitted to MFA management. Databases\nThe management information system monitors the annual financial frames, disbursement targets, the activity calendar, the submission of annual country assessments, high level activity indicators for the programmes (VPA) and ongoing performance against financial operating indicators. The project database holds information on programmes and projects throughout their lifecycle; it includes progress indicators for each programme, component and project. PPO is the public version of the project database. It can be accessed on line and presents objectives, targets, and outputs as well as a risk assessment. The embassies have more detailed information linked to the monitoring of programmes and projects. The anti-corruption website is available at www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/developmentpolicy\/anticorruption\/\nSource: www.amg.um.dk, Danida's performance management framework.\nThe peer review team has read the internal draft \"Danish Development Co-operation in a Results Perspective; Framework for Managing for Development Results\", dated October 2010.\nA stronger focus on results indicators During annual performance reviews, thematic and sector assessments and one-off evaluations, embassies are assessed against a number of development goals and indicators. These are mainly the MDGs, cross-cutting issues and other priorities set out in the annual budget and in project and programme documents. The MFA categorises results into three levels for bilateral co-operation \u2013 global, country programme, and programme and project level \u2013 and two levels for multilateral co-operation \u2013 organisation and country level. In the current set-up, it should be relatively easy to determine results in partner countries as each programme has a Steering Committee and embassies have sound reporting systems. There is also a clear system for reporting results for multilateral programmes. Embassies and missions report on more than 350 selected indicators using one output indicator per programme component. These indicators are used for communication purposes and are not used as such for management of programmes. Data provided in the project database (see Box 3), and evaluations are more relevant for that. When reporting on the indicators, embassies state how satisfied they are with the achievement of the objectives of the activities. Embassy ratings of indicators are aggregated at headquarters and fed into the Danida annual report, which is submitted to parliament. However, the MFA is not fully satisfied with the current indicator-setting process: embassy staff \u2013 and various external evaluations \u2013 have raised concerns that the selection and use of a single (usually output) indicator does not sufficiently reflect programme performance in terms of development results. In response, the MFA will expand the number of indicators for each component to get a better idea of what outputs comes out of the interventions. Measuring and documenting results is a challenge for Denmark as it is for other donors. It has been identified as a core priority in Freedom from Poverty. At the same time, several of the priorities in Freedom from Poverty will contribute to the specific challenge of aggregating individual indicators into outcomes linked to the overall priorities. This can be tricky. MFA has decided not to develop standard global indicators for communication purposes. Nevertheless, the MFA needs to ensure that the objectives and indicators it develops for global\/aggregate reporting on the five priorities can fit into ongoing programmes and partners\" monitoring systems without adding a new set of indicators and take account of risks. The planned streamlining of the various thematic strategies should, however, give embassies a clearer idea of what is most important for reporting to headquarters. Embassies may, nevertheless, find it difficult to provide concrete examples of achievements on, for example, growth and employment and freedom, democracy and human rights. Denmark is revising its results-based framework and is aware that it needs to be both realistic for monitoring and reporting, and sufficient for meeting the constant need to demonstrate results. To that end, the peer review team welcomes the research programme on measuring and documenting the results of development co-operation which was launched by the ministry in 2010 and encourages it to involve other DAC members in this work.\nResults and risks management The 2007 peer review noted that Denmark\"s strong focus on accountability for results could lead to a more risk-averse bilateral aid portfolio. Yet one of the comparative advantages of ODA is its role as a catalyst for other investment, innovation and piloting. The MFA is actively responding to this through its strategic decision to confront risks and to identify better tools for analysing, monitoring and managing risk in development coDAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\noperation (see Chapter 1 and Box 1). Denmark must balance the risk of doing nothing with the various risks that it will encounter in trying to achieve results. Therefore, the ministry\"s efforts to couple risk management with managing for results are welcome. Denmark should also identify how risks can be included or factored into indicator setting and performance reporting. Given that these challenges are not unique to Denmark it should strive to make progress jointly with other donors. Additionally, staff will need clear communication, tools and training on this.\nHuman resource management: dealing with budget cuts There have been a number of positive changes to human resource management following the 2007 peer review. A new human resource department has been created in the Centre for Corporate, Human Resource and Training; a human resource strategy was developed in 2010 to underpin the new organisational structure; and a human resource policy for postings in fragile states is being prepared through pilot projects in four embassies.35 The human resource strategy has three objectives: targeted career and competence development; motivating leadership and management; and the well-being of all employees. This overall strategy is complemented by policies, tools and measures such as economic incentives and extra holidays in lieu of over-time. More attention is also being given to leadership and building good management. The new Leadership Profile puts results at the centre of management; managers must have three core competencies: (i) good people management skills; (ii) professional competence within the MFA\"s broad field of work, but with the capacity to focus on the big picture; and (iii) ability to think of the MFA\"s portfolio over the long term. Staff representatives are happy with these new policies and the consultative process for preparing them. However, like other DAC member development ministries\/agencies, Danida must deal with a decreasing administrative budget. As part of the budget agreement for 20112013 for the MFA, the ministry will have to reduce its payroll by approx DKK 71 million, the equivalent of approximately 135 positions. This comes on top of budget cuts carried out by the Ministry as part of the Governments economic recovery package in May 2010. Human resource constraints have been a challenge for the MFA at headquarters and in embassies for several years. To a certain extent, the new human resource policy, updated working methods, tools and high quality competency development should ease some of the pressure on staff. At the same time, embassy performance reviews and meetings in headquarters all point to staff being over-worked.36 An even greater prioritisation of tasks is called for. Denmark could also review its policy of focal points \u2013 where each embassy has focal points on issues such as environment, gender, civil society and humanitarian assistance \u2013 to identify whether this is the most efficient and effective way of achieving its objective. The MFA prefers generalist professionals over specialists. Generalists tend to be more adaptable and mobile which it considers important given the pressure on administrative resources. However, according to the MFA, most generalists working at the Centre for Development Policy have several years of experience working with development policy and\/or practical development co-operation at the field level and efforts are made to capitalise on this staff experience. For example, if they state a 35.\nThe policy focuses on three areas: security and safety; recognition and development of staff; and terms and conditions.\nThe DAC secretariat consulted several performance reviews conducted in 2009 and 2010.\n56 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT preference for development individual staff can generally continue to work for Danida and rotate to relevant embassies. However, the MFA must retain a core of specialists at headquarters and in the embassies with the right skills for implementing the priorities outlined in Freedom from Poverty. Until recently, there was an \"organic mobility\" in the ministry\"s pools of experts as they moved to new jobs elsewhere. In the context of the economic crisis there is less mobility and the ministry will need to develop a new strategy for recruiting specialists at headquarters and locally.\nImproving the quality of human resource management at embassies About two-thirds of the ministry\"s 846 staff working on development are based abroad.37 Denmark has developed a more professional approach to human resource management abroad, especially for its locally-engaged staff. Since the 2007 recommendation on this issue (OECD, 2007 and Annex A), Denmark has established minimum standards for pay and over-time compensation and is increasing the mobility of local staff between embassies. Annual staff satisfaction surveys, discussions with staff on competence development, budgets for training, and staff performance conversations are being institutionalised within embassies. Moreover, embassies with more than 20 staff are obliged to establish a Joint Consultation Committee (JCC) to bring together local, posted and management staff. Special work areas for the JCC are personnel policy, employment conditions, security and psychological work environment. MFA monitors this through performance reviews. For example, the performance review of operations in Tanzania recommended that the embassy should consider developing a generic competence development plan for local staff which could include core requirements on development co-operation issues and strategic issues faced by the embassy (MFA, 2010i). It also recommended that the embassy seek guidance on best practices in developing a new performance-based salary policy for local staff. Based on these recommendations, the MFA should prepare guidance for all embassies and missions to value, respect and give opportunities to locally-employed staff in order to retain them. The MFA recognises that the career structure and language issues have still to be resolved for local staff, who cannot be promoted beyond programme manager level. While English is the working language for all embassy staff when it comes to development, French may also have to be further mainstreamed in light of Denmark\"s presence in Francophone countries. This was evident in Mali. Denmark could address this by providing locally-employed staff with relevant Danida orientation courses in French in Copenhagen, find incentives to attract MFA staff to francophone African countries, and translate its core documents and training into French.\nSkills development: exemplary progress Continuous competence development is one of three objectives of MFA\"s human resource strategy; Denmark has made exemplary progress in this area. The MFA\"s Competence Centre was created during the re-organisation and brings together training activities in development policy, management, administration, and diplomacy. It is merged with the human resource department. Competence work is guided by The Strategy for Competence Development and the Competence Strategy for Local Staff, both published by the MFA in 2008. A new learning management system \u2013 CAMPUS \u2013 is 37.\nIn 2010, 215 \"professional\" staff and 370 general service staff were working abroad on development co-operation. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nbeing developed and offers e-learning opportunities and training to all employees. Several e-learning courses on public financial management, procurement and aid effectiveness, gender, environment, and anti-corruption are particularly useful given the ministry\"s level of decentralisation. Denmark\"s commitment to staff training is commended and ensures an overall high level of awareness amongst staff of priority issues. Denmark is also praised for making its courses available online for other donors to use, as well as for its active participation and leadership in the Train4Dev network. It should continue to use this platform for sharing its good practice and developing joint competence development activities, especially at country level. Denmark must ensure that staff skills match the MFA\"s priorities. This task has become more difficult now that decentralisation requires more staff with programme experience. At the same time, staff at headquarters, especially those at entry-level, have limited opportunities to develop these skills before being posted. Embassies have limited authority in recruiting the staff posted to them, and are thus unable to select staff with relevant experience. Moreover, more staff are required with skills in policy dialogue and institutional capacity assessment, while embassy managers must have appropriate management skills in organisation, communication and information sharing. The Competence Centre, as well as embassy level competence development plans, is trying to address these weaknesses. All employees selected for development posts at embassies and missions must follow an extensive pre-posting training, which builds on individual job and needs assessment. This training ranges from development issues, administration and management, to personal security and languages. Denmark is encouraged to continue to build on its competence development approach, which is an important tool for sustaining quality.\nEvaluation: good practice As with competency development, Denmark is recognised by the donor community for its commitment to an independent, high quality, transparent approach to evaluation and applying lessons from the 2006 Evaluation Guidelines (MFA, 2006a). Denmark\"s National Audit Office (NAO) concluded in 2010 (Rigsrevisionen, 2010) that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs adheres to the guidelines and the Evaluation Department is able to plan and publish evaluations independently. Denmark also actively disseminates its evaluations nationally and internationally.38 In line with good practice, approximately 50% of evaluations are conducted jointly with evaluation offices of other development agencies and the partner country is involved in about 80% of evaluations (OECD 2010g). Denmark\"s procedures for identifying, managing and following-up on evaluations are well established. The Evaluation Department is an independent, specialised unit in the MFA (Figure 1 in Chapter 1). The Head of the Evaluation Department reports to the Minister for Development Co-operation, through the State Secretary for Development Policy. The final management response on evaluations is approved by the chairman of the programme management committee, the Under-Secretary for Development Policy and the Minister for Development Co-operation. There are two responses, one in English focusing on technical issues for professional\/internal purposes, and the messages for the public in Danish approved by the Minister. Follow-up on the responses to all evaluations is monitored by the Quality Assurance Department, as well as the Evaluation Department,\nSee www.evaluation.dk.\n58 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT at regular intervals. The Evaluation Department is also responsible for analysing programme and project completion reports and helps facilitate the efficient use of lessons. While the Evaluation Department is already engaged in evaluations of conflict prevention and peace building (Southern Sudan and Somalia), it faces methodological challenges for evaluation in fragile and\/or highly dynamic situations. This is a new area for most evaluators and is being addressed through joint work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding evaluation at the OECD. Messages emerging for donors include: (i) promote more systematic use of good programme design, monitoring and implementation even in contexts of conflict, fluidity and political sensitivity and instil good learning and evaluation systems from the outset as they move more into these contexts; ii) evaluate at the strategic level, together with other donors and other actors, to understand better the role of development co-operation in the wider peacebuilding and statebuilding process; and (iii) take conflict and context as starting points in evaluations.\nThe civil society strategy Denmark\"s 2008 CSO strategy is already being used as a model by other donors and paves the way for implementing the Accra Agenda for Action commitments to CSOs (MFA\/Danida, 2008; and see Chapter 5). This strategy was prepared in close co-operation with Danish CSOs and has their full buy-in. It leads the field on several levels, but mainly because the overall objective for CSO support is to contribute to the development of a strong, independent and diversified civil society in developing countries. A condition for support to Danish CSOs is that their work with civil society in developing countries has a strong capacity development component. While the MFA does not impose heavy reporting requirements on Danish CSOs, it will require them in future reporting to focus on results that reflect the overall goals of Danish development co-operation. While this is welcome, the ministry should ensure that it clearly communicates its expectations to CSOs and possibly identifies jointly with them the results indicators on which they should report. Current consultation arrangements with Danish CSOs, including annual consultations with framework organisations and those with delegated funding arrangements to review implementation, and an annual meeting with representative of Danish organisations on the CSO strategy are well regarded by Danish CSOs. However, Danish CSOs feel that the MFA no longer gives priority to policy dialogue and consultation on broader development issues. Furthermore, as noted by an audit for the NAO in 2007, Danida could improve the exchange of experiences and information between embassies and CSOs.39 The MFA could, therefore, improve its consultation with civil society when developing policies and priorities both in Copenhagen and in embassies.\nThe MFA\"s structure was re-organised to make it better able to address global development challenges. The ministry can further improve the way it works by clarifying managers\" roles and responsibilities, and creating efficient mechanisms for co-ordination, knowledge sharing and decision making across the eight MFA centres\nThis was noted in the audit by the NAO (Rigsrevisionen 2010). DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\ndealing with development and with the embassies, and through this ensure that staff are clear about which tasks they should prioritise. \uf0b7\nDenmark is commended for implementing the 2007 peer review recommendation to engage in fragile situations and to be open to more risk in development co-operation. As it clarifies how it will manage risk, the MFA should develop guidelines and train staff.\nDenmark should continue to address the challenge of demonstrating results, jointly with other donors, especially in relation to aggregating programme-based indicators for reporting on overall achievements.\nThe MFA should review its human resource policy, its staffing levels and strategy for recruiting experts, and its training plan for headquarters and embassy staff to ensure they can effectively implement Freedom from Poverty and sustain a quality aid programme despite the latest administrative budget cuts.\nThe MFA could increase the level and frequency of policy dialogue with civil society actors at headquarters and in embassies through more regular and institutionalised consultations on development policy.\nChapter 5 Aid effectiveness\nDeepening implementation of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action Denmark has taken an internationally-recognised lead in implementing the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) for aid effectiveness. The country\"s long history in promoting ownership and alignment to partner country priorities is highlighted in its overall development strategies (MFA, 2000 and MFA, 2010b), as well as in the government\"s annual priorities for Danish assistance. Denmark continues to push for more effective aid in line with the Paris Declaration and the AAA. Denmark calls for a better division of labour based on results-oriented and focused development in its co-operation with other bilateral donors, as well as in its engagement with multilateral organisations like the EU. The Danish -funded Africa Commission is another testament of Denmark\"s commitment to aligning to developing countries priorities (Chapter 1). Since the last peer review, Denmark has addressed several recommendations, including the significant decision of making sector budget support its default aid modality. Denmark thus shows strong commitment to the aid effectiveness agenda by putting partner country ownership at the heart of its planning and programming. Denmark ensures its efforts are aligned to partners\" priorities and systems, and adding value by targeting a few sectors in each partner country. In the lead up to the high level forum on aid effectiveness in Busan 2011, Denmark is well placed to contribute to international efforts for making aid effective.\nDenmark is on track to meet its Paris Declaration targets Denmark\"s good performance in implementing the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action is evident in the 2008 Monitoring Survey, with most Danish targets either on-track or achieved (Table 3, and OECD, 2008b).40 The survey especially highlights that Denmark\"s use of parallel systems has been reduced. The Brookings Institute also ranks Denmark highly for providing both high quantity and quality of aid. In its recently-launched initiative on the Quality of Official Development Assistance (QUODA), Denmark\"s ODA performs well in maximising efficiency, fostering institutions, reducing burdens and promoting transparency and learning.41 Denmark is 40.\nIn relation to indicator 7 on predictability, this can only be captured if partner countries also report and publish forward spending and budgets.\nSee www.brookings.edu\/global\/quoda.aspx.\n62 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT also commended for its 2009 review of its commitments made in Accra.42 The review shows that Denmark has taken a number of important steps towards realising its bilateral commitments on aid effectiveness, mainly by revising its guidelines for aid management. The review also points to a few problems, including in using country systems and aligning with partner country information systems. To tackle these, Denmark has called for further collective action with other donors and partner countries, recognising that these objectives can only be achieved through joint collaboration. Denmark should keep pushing for further advancement and implementation of the Paris Declaration and the AAA, especially in institutional frameworks where Denmark cannot act alone and must collaborate to influence other donors and partner countries. Table 3. Denmark's performance against the Paris Declaration indicators Indicator\n2005 (17 partner countries)1\n3. Aid flows are aligned on national priorities 4. Strengthen capacity by co-ordinated support 5a. Use of country public financial management systems2 5b. Use of country procurement systems 6. Avoid parallel implementation structures 7. Aid is more predictable\n2007 (17 partner countries 0 66%\n2007 (21 partner countries)\n2010 target\nTarget achieved\nOn-track\n8. Aid is untied\n9. Use of common arrangements or procedures 10a. Joint missions 10b. Joint country analytic work\nFurther progress needed Target of progress achieved On-track\nTarget achieved Target achieved\nThe 2006 Monitoring Survey for Denmark is based on data from 17 countries reporting Danish ODA in 2005 (out of a total of 33 countries surveyed) and covering 72% of country programmed aid in 2005. The 2008 Monitoring Survey for Denmark is based on 2007 data from 21 countries (out of 55 countries surveyed), and covers 77 % of country programmed aid. For ease of comparison, 2007 data are presented in two columns: data for the 17 countries that participated in the first round (left), and data for all 21 partner countries reporting ODA received from Denmark in the enlarged second round of the survey (right).\nThe 2010 targets for indicators 5a and 5b are indicative, and are underpinned by the assumption that further improvements in the quality of partner country public financial management and procurement systems support their increasing use by donors.\nSource: OECD (2008b), 2008 Survey on Monitoring the Paris Declaration: Making Aid More Effective by 2010, OECD, Paris.\nhttp:\/\/www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/54\/11\/44681984.pdf. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nImplementing aid effectiveness commitments Institutionalising aid effectiveness through the Aid Management Guidelines Denmark\"s commitment to deliver aid more effectively is evident in the ways in which the principles of ownership, division of labour, and alignment have been institutionalised at both country level and within the MFA. The Programme Management Guidelines provide all staff at HQ and in the field with instructions on how to plan and implement Danida\"s programmes (MFA\/Danida, 2009 and see Chapter 4). They spell out clearly that all programmes must be developed in accordance with partner countries\" own priorities \u2013 such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) \u2013 and in close dialogue with partner country institutions. Moreover, Denmark is preparing more if its country strategy papers (CSP) jointly with other donors.43 The guidelines also clearly promote the use of country systems and list criteria that partner countries must meet to be eligible for the general budget support and sector budget support, which is Denmark\"s stated default aid modality (MFA, 2010c). Embassies are required to justify any decisions not to provide sector budget support. When they do not provide sector budget support they must develop a plan for doing so and help build the capacity of the partner country, in collaboration with other donors, to become eligible. Danida\"s experience in Mali with providing sector budget support is instructive for its operations elsewhere as well as for other donors (Box 4 and Annex C). Box 4. Denmark's approach to using country systems: innovative experience of Mali One of the factors that Denmark took into consideration when selecting Mali as a partner country was the extent to which it could apply and use its well-established approach, modalities and tools for making aid more effective. At the same time it decided to support sectors (water, agriculture, and private sector) with weak institutional structures, lacking national sector strategies and which needed enhanced support and capacity development. It was evident therefore, that Denmark could not provide sector budget support in these sectors, initially. Instead, it is working with Malian authorities towards meeting its commitment to provide sector budget support and to align with Mali\"s priorities and financial management systems. For example, the second phase of a joint programme with Sweden in the water sector sets deadlines for providing sector budget support with clear conditions for the Government of Mali. Denmark and Sweden take an interesting \"carrot and stick\" approach in this programme: the Government of Mali is motivated to strengthen institutions and capacity so that they are eligible for sector budget support by a certain date. If Mali does not achieve these objectives by then, the date will be pushed back. Malian officials were satisfied with the approach, which instils a sense of mutual responsibility. Developing capacity, both centrally and regionally while using existing structures as much as possible is a key feature of Danida\"s programmes in Mali. Despite weak Malian knowledge of their public financial management systems, Denmark channels its aid through the Malian treasury, but earmarks it and uses separate bank accounts at the local level where public financial management capacity is weakest. This approach is coupled with training of Malian officials and civil society organisations in how their public financial management system works and recognises the need to use national systems while finding transitional means to operate while local capacity develops. However, with the exception of its joint programme with Sweden in water and sanitation, Denmark is the only donor trying to use country systems in the water, agriculture and private sectors. Denmark\"s experience in Mali is innovative and valued by Malian authorities. It should now work more closely with the donor community in Mali and internationally, sharing its experiences and lessons in the Working Party on Aid Effectiveness and the EU, and conducting shared in-depth analysis and management of risk to aligning fully to country systems. 43.\nDenmark participates in joint assistance strategies in, for example, Bangladesh, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania, Zambia, and Uganda.\nDecentralisation Since 2003, Denmark has undergone a decentralisation process which gives embassies increasing decision-making power to initiate, plan and execute their programmes. This is positive as it allows embassies to make decisions based on local knowledge and in close dialogue with national development institutions and governments in partner countries. Each embassy is responsible for drawing up a national action plan for implementing Denmark\"s commitments to making aid more effective. Goals on, for example, ownership, using country systems, co-ordination and harmonisation must be included in embassy\"s annual results contract and reported in the annual country assessment and are monitored by the MFA\"s Department for Quality Assurance. In this process, potential areas of improvement are identified for embassies and follow up is conducted in the following year\"s result contract. In Mali, for example, the Danish action plan for implementing its Paris and Accra commitments in Mali was developed jointly in co-operation with other donors and the embassy plays an active role in different donor co-ordination groups, most notably in The Collective Group of Technical and Financial Partners, and potentially also in the Troika, which Denmark is expected to chair in 2011 (Annex C). This is positive and Denmark is encouraged to share its experiences and lessons with the wider donor community to advance its objective of greater harmonisation and alignment in its focus sectors. Denmark also influences the national joint donor action plan on implementing the aid effectiveness agenda in Mali, which seeks to ensure that donors in Mali are all working towards the same goals, highlight areas in need of improved co-ordination and divide labour effectively (Annex C). While this is positive, this process requires strong local commitment and capacity at embassy level. Denmark needs to ensure that all embassies have the capacity and support required to develop these locally-adapted action plans, and make sure that embassies can draw on support from the policy and quality assurance departments in Copenhagen. This concern is especially important in countries facing complex co-ordination challenges, in fragile states as well as in missions with special responsibility for overseeing multilateral co-operation (New York, Rome, Washington, Geneva, and Nairobi). The 2008 phase one evaluation of Denmark\"s implementation of the Paris Declaration confirms this recommendation.44\nEmerging challenges for aid effectiveness Denmark has made great progress at headquarters and country level in delivering aid more effectively since the last peer review. Nevertheless, if Denmark outpaces its peers at country level, its harmonisation and alignment efforts may be at risk (Box 4). Whenever possible, Denmark should therefore help other donors catch up by actively sharing its experiences in overcoming challenges and obstacles. The fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in 2011 and Denmark\"s upcoming presidency of the EU in 2012 provide good opportunities for this. Denmark recognised the importance of collective action on key principles of the Paris Declaration to enhance its international cooperation. It is also important for Denmark\"s further development and achievement of its aid effectiveness objectives. The peer review team commends Denmark for the priority it places on using the EU as the main global channel through which Denmark can push for joint donor progress as also laid out in Freedom from Poverty. 44.\nwww.diis.dk\/graphics\/Subweb\/paris_evaluation_web\/files\/pdf\/original\/ EvaluationParis_Final_Denmark.pdf. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nCapacity development Denmark has a long history of supporting and developing capacity in its bilateral cooperation. It is working with development partners\" existing structures and institutions and thereby strengthening national systems (Box 4). It also places technical advisors in key areas of civil administration in its partner countries. Two policy documents steer Denmark\"s work on capacity development, the Guidance Note on Danish Support for Capacity Development (MFA, 2006b) and the Operational Guidelines for Technical Assistance in Danish Development Assistance (MFA, 2009d). These documents state, in line with the Paris Declaration and the AAA, that capacity development should cut across all aspects of Danish co-operation, and emphasise its importance for sustainability and successful development effectiveness.45 Therefore, most of Denmark\"s country programmes include strategic support to institutions or technical areas relevant to the sectors in which Denmark directs its support. Denmark is currently reviewing how best to support capacity development in a new strategic framework. In developing this plan, Denmark has taken into consideration an evaluation of its capacity development strategy (MFA\/Danida, 2005), which recommended the inclusion of targets, outputs and indicators. The new framework reflects current international discussions on capacity development and highlights five areas of importance: (i) a strategic focus; (ii) realistic expectations; (iii) stronger focus on results; (iv) enhanced joint efforts; and (v) frank analysis of risks and ambitions. . The framework will be elaborated in the revised guidance note Addressing Capacity Development in Danish Development Cooperation to be published in February 2011. Efforts to strengthen capacity development are also evident in Denmark\"s close collaboration with civil society, both in Denmark and abroad. The Strategy for Support to Civil Society in Developing Countries (MFA\/Danida, 2008) stresses the importance of supporting capacity development to enable civil society to work more effectively at field level. It has also helped anchor international aid effectiveness principles in Danish CSOs, especially in relation to partnerships and dialogue. The strategy states \"even though the Paris Declaration is generally designed for use by the official aid organizations, it contains a number of principles from which civil society can draw benefit. This applies particularly to the development of partnerships between Danish organizations and their partners in developing countries\" (MFA\/Danida, 2008). This approach is particularly useful for other donors who are developing their thinking on aid effectiveness and civil society. In line with Denmark\"s increased focus on fragile states, current capacity development approaches are also being revisited in the light of how situations affected by fragility require a different set of capacity development methods (see below).\nDelivering aid effectively in fragile states The new strategy on fragile states makes explicit reference to several of OECD Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations (OECD, 2007b), and especially that Denmark will not act in isolation (MFA, 2010e). As highlighted in the new strategy, this work poses a number of new challenges to Danida, such as accepting higher risks in its co-operation and changing its approach to aid 45.\nDenmark\"s definition of technical assistance expands the transfer of knowledge to include: adaptation, mobilisation and utilisation of services, skills, knowledge and technology; long- and short-term advisers and consultants; training activities at home or abroad to nationals of countries receiving development assistance; study tours; seminars; and institutional co-operation (twinning arrangements).\n66 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT effectiveness in fragile situations. According to the strategy, Denmark will co-ordinate with other donors, organisations and authorities in partner countries and analyse its comparative advantage and the efficiency of its assistance when identifying co-operating partners. This includes Denmark\"s co-operation with international organisations such as the EU, UN and CSOs, but also when engaging bilaterally and in combination with other donors. Denmark is thus pushing an agenda of division of labour and more flexible adaptation of the instruments by other partners to the needs of fragile states. Similarly, Denmark has made important headway in terms of the AAA recommendation on improving the speed and flexibility of financing to fragile states. The recent creation of a specialised stabilisation instrument, for example, allows for more holistic approaches that go beyond ODA.\nPredictability As stated in the Accra Agenda for Action, donors should provide details of their forward spending plans and provide partner countries with this information to enable their long term planning and budgeting. Recognising this, Denmark prepares rolling five-year spending plans for which disbursements are subject to annual approval. These plans describe the overall priorities and focus of Danish development assistance, broken down by partner country and sector. Denmark publishes and shares them both with development partners and the general public. Authorities in Mali considered the five-year plan to be a unique feature of Danish co-operation since it allows the Ministry of Finance \u2013 through which most of Danish assistance is channelled \u2013 to plan and budget its support. The multilateral organisations that Denmark supports are also included in these five-year plans based on their ability to deliver results that are in line with Danish priorities. Multilaterals also express appreciation of this approach since the Danish contributions are usually predictable and provided as core contributions (see Chapter 3, and MFA, 2008c).\nUntying aid Tied aid describes official grants or loans made to recipient countries that limit the procurement of goods or services to the donor country. It has been clearly documented that the costs of both goods and services are usually raised when tied to a given provider, and that such aid is often serving donor commercial interests rather than local needs (OECD, 2001). Untying aid is therefore considered a key test of donors\" commitment to coherent policies and effective aid delivery. Over the last decade, impressive international progress in untying aid has been achieved through joint donor efforts. Denmark continues to play its part in this process: it has untied all of its food aid since 2005, and its technical assistance since 2008. Denmark\"s untied aid currently stands at 97% of all its aid; this places Denmark in the top category of OECD donors who have, according to the DAC recommendation of 2001, either fully or almost fully untied their aid (DAC data). However, some Danish aid modalities \u2013 the Mixed Credit Scheme and the Business to Business Programme \u2013 remain partially tied.46 Together, these programmes account for 3% of Denmark\"s total ODA. Denmark considers these business instruments as constructive contributions to creating growth and employment in recipient countries. Denmark is aware of this transgression against the rules and has responded partially to the 46.\nAlthough the Mixed Credit Scheme is tied to companies registered in Denmark, it is noted that any goods or services it employs are not. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n2007 peer review recommendation by allowing the contractor flexibility in the procurement of goods and services and placing greater focus on projects in the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, according to Denmark, the public support benefits that accrue from these instruments justify their continued existence.\nDenmark has made progress at headquarters and country level in delivering aid more effectively. It should now share its experiences, including challenges, with decentralisation, using country systems and in fostering mutual accountability and help to identify, jointly with the international donor community, how delivering aid in effective ways can contribute to development.\nGiven its decentralised approach to aid delivery, adapt its systems for embassy staff to manage aid according to the Paris Declaration and the AAA with particular attention to staff working in fragile states and with multilateral organisations.\nDenmark is encouraged to untie the remainder of its tied aid in order to fully meet its commitments and effort sharing amongst DAC donors.\nChapter 6 Humanitarian assistance\nDenmark has embarked on an innovative strategic direction in humanitarian assistance. As recommended by the previous peer review, Denmark has built on its experience of working in fragile states to deliver, through a participative process, a new Strategy for Danish Humanitarian Action 2010-2015 (MFA, 2009e). This document sets out Denmark\"s overall objectives in the areas of vulnerability, climate change and natural hazards, and protecting conflict-affected populations. The emphasis is on strengthening the impact of Danish humanitarian programming by focusing its portfolio on areas of comparative advantage; deepening Danish involvement in a reduced number of crisis situations, while simultaneously narrowing the number of key partners and funding instruments. Denmark believes that this focused approach, which stems from an evaluation of its humanitarian assistance in 2008, will allow it to deliver better results under the Principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD).47\nMainstreaming humanitarian action through a bold new strategy Two chapters of Denmark\"s overall development co-operation strategy, Freedom from Poverty, Freedom to Change (MFA, 2010b), set the stage for its humanitarian programming. In these chapters \u2013 Stability and Fragility; and Environment and Climate \u2013 Denmark outlines its intention to protect particularly vulnerable groups and meet their humanitarian needs in crises, armed conflicts and disasters. Women, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees are given particular emphasis. Importantly, risk reduction considerations, including conflict prevention, stabilisation and disaster risk reduction, are also given prominent attention. The new humanitarian strategy, which covers the period 2010-2015, builds on these intentions. Denmark has chosen to focus the objectives of its strategy on areas of clear comparative advantage, channelling its assistance where it can add the most value (Box 5). It has also recognised the importance of strengthening humanitarian delivery mechanisms in its strategic priorities, through a focus on co-ordination, partnership and results. The strategy was developed in consultation with all Denmark\"s major UN, Red Cross and NGO partners, and is now widely accepted by partners as an example of good practice. The humanitarian strategy is supplemented by the pre-existing Regions of Origin Initiative, which promotes protection and durable solutions for IDPs and refugees in protracted crises, in line with UNHCR\"s Framework for Durable Solutions.\nSee www.goodhumanitariandonorship.org.\n70 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Humanitarian action is also considered to be an integral part of the new fragile states policy, Peace and Stabilisation (MFA, 2010e), reflecting Denmark\"s strategic decision to promote joined-up and whole-of-government programming in fragile states (see Chapters 1 and 2). Box 5. Overview of Denmark's new humanitarian strategy, 2010-2015 Denmark, along with its partners, will reach out to the most vulnerable people in crisis situations by:\nMeeting the immediate and early recovery needs of those affected by natural disasters and promoting disaster risk reduction. Responding to the needs of people affected by armed conflict, and supporting prevention, resilience and early recovery efforts.\nDenmark\"s strategic directions for this humanitarian work are: (i)\nVulnerability: prioritising women\"s empowerment, risk reduction, emergency preparedness and early recovery.\nClimate change and natural hazards: disaster risk reduction and the increasing humanitarian needs resulting from climate change.\nProtecting conflict-affected populations: civilians in armed conflicts, international humanitarian law, gender-based violence, durable solutions for IDPs.\n(iv)\nCo-ordinated, principled and informed humanitarian action: central co-ordination role of the UN, full adherence to GHD principles, focusing on a limited number of protracted crises.\nStrengthening partnerships: partnership framework agreements, increased division of labour between humanitarian donors, increased Danish field level capacity.\n(vi)\nFocus on results, innovation and communications: focus on impact and accountability to beneficiaries, promote innovation and best practices, and regularly communicate results.\nSource: MFA (2009), Strategy for Danish Humanitarian Action 2010-2015: Addressing Vulnerability, Climate Change and Protection Challenges, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen\nOne challenge to effective humanitarian delivery remains, however. Partners have raised concerns about the potential for humanitarian principles to be compromised under whole-of-government approaches in fragile states, especially those states where Denmark has a military presence, such as Afghanistan. The previous peer review also recommended that Denmark \"remain vigilant about the use of humanitarian action to achieve political or military goals\" (OECD, 2007a), and Denmark is aware of the need to monitor this risk area. To help counter this risk, Denmark has explicitly recognised the primacy of the Oslo and Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA) guidelines and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence as part of its new humanitarian strategy and in its definition of a whole of government approach in the fragile states policy (MFA, 2010e). It should also continue to take care that these core principles are respected in action. So far the news is good: there is no evidence that there have been any breaches of humanitarian principles during the period under review.\nA courageous and innovative new approach to humanitarian action Denmark is making significant steps towards meeting its commitment to the GHD principles. Its new focus on strategic partnerships with an indicative budget for the coming three years for every framework partner, and on narrowing its funding portfolio\nto a limited number of priority countries where it can most add value, are real innovations in its current approach to humanitarian programming. Denmark believes that better results at field level will come from operational flexibility and a more strategic engagement with partners. This has led to a shift in Danida\"s humanitarian portfolio towards more strategic relationships with a smaller number of partners, and away from ad hoc proposals and traditional inputs-driven approaches. Denmark will now be able to deepen its strategic partnerships, including annual consultations, with these key actors, so as to promote lesson learning and improve accountability. Programmatic linkages between humanitarian initiatives and other Danish initiatives in partner countries, especially with its development programming, will also be strengthened. Funding under these new partnership agreements is annual but, with funding intentions budgeted over three years, and published in the annual Overview of the Development Assistance Budget (MFA, 2010j). This longer-term funding approach allows partners the operational flexibility and predictability to develop, deliver and monitor more appropriate programmes that adhere to good practice and also, importantly, include recovery components. Danida\"s humanitarian funding channels are shown in Box 6 (see also Chapter 3). Multi-annual partnership agreements will be earmarked for a limited set of humanitarian partner countries (Box 6) where Denmark believes it can have the most impact, based on criteria that include the level of need and the possibility of linkages with other Danish programmes. Denmark determines the severity of the crisis, and thus the level of funding to be allocated to each emergency, by reviewing UN Consolidated Appeals (CAPs) and Flash Appeals, and through dialogue with partners, often in the Humanitarian Contact Group. There is no particular objective model to determine the severity of crisis and fix the funding allocation, however, and Denmark could perhaps benefit from work currently underway by other donors, such as Sweden and Canada, to strengthen this area of its decision making. In practice, Denmark has reduced its NGO partner portfolio based on an assessment of organisational capacity, and with the proviso that all partners must have a Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) or be certified by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP). Partners have broadly agreed with this process, although they would have liked the assessment criteria to be more transparent. Accredited multilateral and NGO partners will now all enter into a partnership agreement with Danida, including annual and biannual consultations, and with a clear focus on results and impact. For example, Denmark now has a joint strategy with Canada and the UK for UNHCR, with a specific focus on durable solutions, an issue that it considers important to monitor in relation to the Regions of Origin Initiative. Several multilateral partners are concerned about the additional reporting that could be required under such agreements, and Denmark should continue to ensure that the indicators requested match the organisation\"s existing priorities and reporting requirements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also working to provide a timely, flexible, predictable and unearmarked response to rapid onset crises. In doing so it will respect the role of UN co-ordination, affirm the primary position of civilian delivery and support recovery, thereby meeting the requirements of the GHD principles in disaster response situations. It does this by channelling funding to rapid onset emergencies (usually disasters) through the use of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n72 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT complemented by country-level Emergency Response Funds (ERFs), where these exist. The rapid response component of its partnership agreements allows for the immediate drawdown of funds by partners48 on the strength of e-mail authorisations. Supplementary funding can also be made available from a budgetary reserve. This approach allows the ministry to disburse funds extremely rapidly for immediate needs following a disaster. It also buys it space to analyse and reflect on its longer-term strategy for those crises in an evolving humanitarian and recovery context. Equally importantly, this approach allows the ministry to avoid sudden peaks in its administrative workload, and to avoid making risky funding decisions based on the limited information available during the initial disaster response phase. Box 6. Denmark's funding channels 2012 - 2015\nSource : MFA (2010j), Priorities of the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance: Overview of the Development Assistance Budget 2011-2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen\nNote: PAA (Palestinian Administered Areas), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund), UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), WFP (World Food Programme),\nDenmark currently has rapid response agreements with Save the Children, the Danish Red Cross, M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res Denmark, Dan Church Aid, Danish Missionary Development Council and the Danish Refugee Council. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nOHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service).\nBetter integration but more training required Denmark has taken steps to adapt its internal organisational structure and systems to implement its new approach. These steps follow the recommendations of the 2008 Danish GHD Review Report (Development Initiatives, 2008) and the body of reports produced by the Tsunami Evaluation Commission, which highlighted the need for strategic changes to be backed up by organisational changes if humanitarian assistance is to be delivered more effectively. Denmark\"s organisational changes have involved mainstreaming humanitarian programming across Danida\"s work. The most visible change is the integration of the small humanitarian team (5 staff) under a new group \u2013 Humanitarian Action, Development Policy and Civil Society \u2013 bringing these staff together with development programme staff (Figure 4, Chapter 4). It is difficult to determine how this group relates to the overall structure and to senior management, as the organisation chart is quite complicated, but staff do report that the new structure has allowed for a closer working relationship with development personnel and greater cross-programme linkages in the partner countries. Programme support to the humanitarian partner countries \u2013 Ethiopia, Somalia (based in Kenya) and Afghanistan (Box 6 and Table 1) \u2013 has also been strengthened through the deployment of dedicated humanitarian advisors in the field, although humanitarian issues in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are covered by the Danish embassy. Humanitarian advisors in the field report directly to their ambassador, but also have good informal links to the humanitarian team and the Regions of Origin staff in Copenhagen. The MFA has been able to recruit humanitarian specialists for these advisory posts, as their employment is on a contract basis and thus exempt from usual civil service rules. Their expertise has meant that they can engage at a high level with all stakeholders, and this is seen as a major strength by partners. They are also able to relay field level issues to staff dealing with the multilateral organisations, although a more formalised system to ensure that humanitarian field issues are collected could be useful. Pakistan and Burma, the other partner countries with humanitarian components, do not yet have dedicated field level humanitarian advisors, and Denmark is encouraged to fill these gaps. Mainstreaming of humanitarian programming is not yet quite complete, however. Decision-making processes for funding still follow a separate, streamlined path. At present, humanitarian funding decisions are signed directly by the minister, except for Regions of Origin funding and funding decisions over DKK 35 million (about USD 6.5 million), which must be presented to the Finance Committee. This streamlined decision-making path should continue for decisions related to rapid onset emergencies. Other decisions, however, including funding for assisting those affected by protracted crises in the priority countries and the core funding of multilaterals, could follow a similar path to that used for development programmes. This would ensure that all the relevant checks and balances are in place, such as lessons learning at the programme committee stage, while ensuring timely disbursement of funds. Mainstreaming of decision making would also increase ownership and understanding of humanitarian programming across Danida. Denmark is encouraged to continue mainstreaming humanitarian assistance into its programming cycles and into its financial and decision-making systems.\n74 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Denmark is usually a very timely donor. Its contributions to Emergency Response Funds (ERFs) at the start of emergencies, such as the Pakistan floods and Haiti earthquake in 2010, are often cited as good examples of its timeliness. However, partners who receive two funding disbursements a year \u2013 in the spring and autumn \u2013 note that the autumn contribution often arrives very late. This can cause treasury problems, as such programmes must continue despite the lack of funds. Denmark is encouraged to look for ways to disburse the autumn contributions more quickly. Training for a wider group of staff on humanitarian issues, principles, architecture and response would also help make humanitarian assistance a natural part of all Danida programming in at-risk countries. At present the training programme does not include a humanitarian module, even though many staff will be deployed to countries at risk of crisis and\/or disasters. The five person humanitarian team in Copenhagen does not have sufficient capacity to respond to all new crises. Denmark should therefore implement a compulsory humanitarian training module for all staff deployed to at-risk countries. In preparing this module Denmark could make use of other donors\" training programmes, such as ATHA in Sweden.49\nSeeking a creative approach to monitoring and learning Denmark\"s innovative new approach to partnerships has shifted the humanitarian workload away from grant management towards a more strategic approach, including the promotion of best practice. For example, Denmark has recently hosted a useful workshop on early recovery issues, which involved international experts. The Humanitarian Contact Group, a group of Danish NGOs chaired by the MFA, is also a useful forum for discussing strategic issues. It was a main contributor to the development of the new Danish humanitarian strategy, and is also a good forum for information sharing and early warning on crises. The new humanitarian strategy includes a focus on collecting more systematic and better information on progress and impact at field level. Like most donors, Denmark currently limits its monitoring to an examination of reports produced by partner organisations, supplemented by occasional project visits. It has also supported partner self-evaluations. On a more holistic level, humanitarian programming has also been considered under some overall programme evaluations, such as the recent crossprogramme evaluation in Somalia. This type of evaluation has proved very useful, as it permits an analytical view of the linkages with development programming. However, Denmark does not currently have a systematic method for monitoring the results and impact of its humanitarian programmes at field level. In recognition of this challenge, Denmark is now piloting a new system to support better monitoring of humanitarian results and impact, and to improve lessons learning. The system is based around a number of \"indicator themes\" (Nordic Consulting Group, 2010), which are in turn based on the strategic directions outlined in Denmark\"s new humanitarian strategy (Box 5). It uses data already collected by Denmark\"s partners, and thus should not increase their administrative burden and should hopefully lead to greater compliance. Two NGO partners are currently piloting the system, which, if proven successful, will also be rolled out for multilateral partners. The monitoring information will also be supplemented by existing external assessments of Danida\"s humanitarian programme, 49.\nAdvanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action, partially funded by Sida. See www.atha.se. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nsuch as the annual profiles published by Development Initiatives and DARA. This innovative new system and the overall focus on measuring humanitarian results and impact are to be commended. However, Denmark does not yet collect humanitarian indicators in the standard development reports required from its own embassies, and it is encouraged to rectify this omission, as part of the wider mainstreaming effort.\nThe need to integrate disaster risk reduction across all Denmark's programming Under the new humanitarian strategy, cross-cutting issues such as vulnerability and protection have become main strategic objectives. One of these new strategic directions is climate change and natural hazards, which involves mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) across all Danida\"s programming. The minister has tasked the humanitarian team to support this important work. The first step in this DRR mainstreaming initiative is now underway. Denmark has engaged a consultant to guide the MFA in implementing DRR activities, using both multilateral and bilateral support mechanisms. The consultant will also develop a training plan for MFA staff and partners on DRR. Denmark\"s recognition of the importance of DRR is to be commended and encouraged. It should, however, take care that DRR is not seen internally, especially by senior management and embassies, as a purely humanitarian issue. DRR is instead both a protection strategy for Denmark\"s development investments, and a key mechanism for avoiding costly emergency responses. Denmark will need to ensure buy-in for DRR at all levels, especially the most senior, and across all programming. Assigning overall responsibility for DRR to a member of senior management could help facilitate this buyin. It will also be important that the mainstreaming strategy for DRR is ready for integration into the next generation of country strategies. Existing tools (such as those available within the ISDR system) could be used to speed up this process.\nContinue the rollout and mainstreaming of the new approach into established systems and practices both at Copenhagen and embassy level, including the rapid deployment of humanitarian specialists to all partner countries with humanitarian components.\nImplement safeguards to ensure that humanitarian principles, and the primacy of civilian delivery, continue to be respected on the ground. This is especially important in crises with a Danish military presence, and\/or in fragile states where the whole-ofgovernment approaches outlined in Peace and Stabilisation (MFA, 2010e) will be implemented.\nEnsure that adequate priority continues to be given to mainstreaming disaster risk reduction across all of Danida\"s development and humanitarian programming. This should include assigning overall responsibility for DRR to a member of the senior management team and ensuring that programmatic guidance on DRR is ready for integration into the next generation of country strategies.\nContinue to monitor progress and results achieved in humanitarian action, and to share the lessons from Denmark\"s new strategic approach to partnerships, rapid response and developing monitoring systems with other interested donors.\nAnnex A Progress since the 2007 DAC Peer Review recommendations\nKey Issues Overall framework and new orientations\nPromoting policy coherence for development\nRecommendations 2007\nAchievements since 2007\nDenmark is invited to maintain the focus of its development strategy on a small number of themes and to reinforce its mechanisms in place for following-up on cross-cutting issues and priority themes. This should be done in light of the debate on the division of labour among donors.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 There has been continuity in Denmark's priority\nDenmark is encouraged to continue to share with other donors its experience in mainstreaming cross-cutting issues and its approach to capacity development, and to disseminate its good practices.\n\uf0b7 \uf0b7\nDenmark should consider complementing the short-term need to achieve and demonstrate results in order to reinforce public and political support with the need to be innovative and in line with the aid effectiveness agenda, which requires a longer-term perspective. To this end, it should use its communication strategy actively.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark has put greater focus on fragile states.\nThe MFA should continue its efforts to raise public understanding of, and support for, approaches to aid that are in line with the aid effectiveness agenda\nDenmark is encouraged to build on its existing inter-governmental co-ordination committees to promote policy coherence in areas that go beyond the foreign affairs mandate.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation not implemented. \uf0b7 This issue remains a challenge. Further action is\nDenmark could make better use of the analytical capacity in its system, including the Danish Institute for International Studies, to\nthemes as laid out in the annual government priorities and Freedom from Poverty. Monitoring of priority areas through country assessments has been lightened and will be further streamlined by implementing the new strategy where former cross-cutting issues are now strategic priorities in their own right. Country programming takes division of labour into account. Recommendation partially implemented. Denmark's mainstreaming tools, methodologies and learning courses are accessible to all donors and available in English on the Danida website. Denmark could enhance efforts to disseminate its good experiences in international networks and in partner countries.\nIt is leading international efforts promoting national debate about managing risk in development co-operation and has been communicating the results and challenges of result measurement in Danida annual reports and notably in the pamphlet From Goals to Results (MFA, 2008a). The new communication strategy also focuses on these issues. Recommendation implemented. Denmark has increased resources for communication and undertaken several large public campaigns on specific topics such as the MDGs and climate change. It communicates new approaches to aid in the Danida annual report and on its website.\nplanned to integrate policy coherence for development in Denmark's EU decision-making processes. Recommendation implemented. Denmark has commissioned research and\n78 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Key Issues\nAid volume and distribution\n\uf0b7 Aid management and implementation\ninform high level discussions of development\u2013 related areas.\ninvited DIIS and other partners to a number of relevant policy discussions\/debates.\nDenmark could consider how to strengthen its collaboration with other member states in promoting policy coherence within the EU and the OECD. In addition, making better use of its embassies in partner countries on these issues would also bring a field-based, recipient perspective on policy coherence issues into the Danish development policy debate. The Development Assistance Committee commends Denmark's decision to maintain ODA at a minimum of 0.8% of GNI, and encourages it to continue this policy.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation partially implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark is recognised by the EU and the\nDenmark is encouraged to develop a coherent strategic framework for engagement in fragile states. Denmark is invited to evaluate the MFA decentralisation exercise. In addition to the direct benefit Denmark will draw from this, it will provide useful input to the DAC aid management experience and allow DAC members as well as new donors to improve on current practices. Denmark needs to consider how to maintain the right level of human resources with the right skills and gender balance. Given the increased role of locally-recruited staff in its decentralised programme, it should consider further career development for these employees.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented.\nDenmark is encouraged to build on Danida's strong capacity in knowledge management and evaluation methodology to further develop and disseminate learning inside and outside the organisation for the benefit of other DAC members. In the light of the aid effectiveness agenda, Denmark is invited to pursue the trend towards a reinforced country strategy process that supports joint assistance strategies and that is conducive to mutual accountability. Denmark should consider how to create incentives for aid effectiveness in terms of organisation, staff commitment and budget allocations. Denmark is invited to consider other mechanisms or instruments for getting both development and public support benefits\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark actively disseminates its knowledge\nOECD in pushing for further policy coherence for development. Integrating embassies to provide field-based perspectives remains a challenge.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark's ODA\/GNI has remained above 0.8%\nsince the last peer review but may fall in 2013 as Danish ODA is maintained at the 2010 nominal level for the period 2011-2013.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 The evaluation has been published in English so that DAC members can draw lessons from it.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark's new human resource\npolicy addresses these issues and gender balance has improved at the MFA. Gender balance in the MFA has improved: in 2010, 45.5% of Centre Heads are female. While the ratio of male to female in senior management is 3:1.The creation of a dedicated human resource centre in the MFA is welcomed by staff. Continued pressure to cut administrative costs has put pressure on human resources and the human resource management strategy will need to adapt to this situation.\nmanagement and evaluation methodology through e-learning, its website, train4dev and international evaluation meeting.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark participates in several joint assistance\nstrategies and on joint action plans for implementing the aid effectiveness principles. It addresses aid effectiveness both at headquarter and field level through annual goals and targets and regular performance reviews of embassies.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation not implemented. \uf0b7 While the tied instruments place greater focus on sub-Saharan Africa and have more flexibility\ncurrently achieved through its tied Mixed Credits scheme. This would allow Denmark to reconsider its exception to aid untying in light of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and the improved overall performance of DAC Members' with respect to effort sharing. Building on its experience of working in fragile states and of linking relief to rehabilitation and development, Denmark should consider updating its 2002 humanitarian policy statement in light of progress with the GHD initiative. In doing so, it should continue to engage in a consultative discussion with key partners on future directions for the programme. This would allow it to build on its comparative advantage of flexibility in the way it delivers aid. This policy framework and the strategy for engagement in fragile states should be closely linked. Denmark, like other donors, needs to continue to remain vigilant about the cooption of humanitarian action to achieve political or military goals. MFA needs to retain its lead position on humanitarian assistance in order to ensure its neutrality and independence, particularly through ensuring practical adherence to the MCDA and Oslo guidelines.\nAchievements since 2007 for second level untying, Denmark should, as recommended in the last peer review, untie the remainder of its tied aid.\n\uf0b7 Recommendation implemented. \uf0b7 Denmark addressed this issue in the 2008 humanitarian strategy and is aware of the need to monitor this risk.\nAnnex B OECD\/DAC standard suite of tables\nTable B.1. Total financial flows USD million at current prices and exchange rates\n82 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Table B.2. ODA by main categories\nTable B.3. Bilateral ODA allocable by region\u00b9 and income group\nTable B.4. Main recipients of bilateral ODA\nTable B.5. Bilateral ODA by major purposes at 2008 constant prices and exchange rates\nTable B.6. Comparative aid performance\nFigure B.1. Net ODA from DAC countries in 2009 (preliminary data)\nAnnex C Field visit to Mali\nThe peer review team, comprising four examiners from Luxembourg and New Zealand and two members of the DAC Secretariat, visited Mali in October 2010. The team met with staff from the Danish Embassy and officials from the Government of Mali \u2013 including the Ministry of Economy and Finance; the ministries of environment and sanitation, agriculture and employment and vocational training; the Chair of the Aid Harmonisation Secretariat; and Mali\"s representative on the Working Party on Aid Effectiveness. Meetings were also held with the Chair and members of Parliament\"s Finance Committee, an official from the Sikasso region, other bilateral and multilateral donors and representatives from Malian and Danish civil society organisations. Country context Mali is a land-locked country in the middle of the Sahel region in West Africa. It is the world\"s 24th largest country and has a growing population, estimated at 13.3 million in 2010 (UNDP, 2010a). Over half of the territory lies in the desert zone of the Sahara, while the inner Niger delta \u2013 a large area of lakes and flood plains \u2013 lies just south of the Sahara desert. Agriculture, forestry and fishing occupy the greater part of the population and account for 35% of Mali\"s GDP (World Bank, 2010). Cotton and gold are Mali\"s largest exports. Mali\"s first democratically-elected president took power in 1992. Since then, Mali has enjoyed relative political stability and peaceful transfers of power. Mali continues to implement its decentralisation and deconcentration policy, which commenced in 1999, in an effort to bring government closer to the population. However, capacity constraints at the regional and local levels persist and pose challenges for progress with decentralisation. The government is working on consolidating peace and security in the north of the country where there have been rebellions and sporadic fighting since the 1990s by nomadic Tuareg tribes over land and cultural and linguistic rights.50 Nevertheless, it is likely that the political scene will heat up with power struggles in the run-up to elections in 2011, when President Toumani is going to step down after serving his second term (African Economic Outlook, 2011). Moreover, the kidnapping of a number of foreigners, apparently at the hands of al-Qaeda, has raised fears that the country is being used as a sanctuary by the militants. Mali is one of the world\"s poorest countries: it ranked 160 on the list of 169 states in the 2010 United Nation\"s Human Development Index. According to the Human Development Report, over 50% of the population live on less than USD 1.25 per day and 50.\nSee http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/2\/hi\/africa\/country_profiles\/1021454.stm, accessed 25 January 2011.\n90 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT just one quarter of the adult population is literate (UNDP, 2010b). Prospects are dim for achieving most of the MDGs by 2015. While goals for clean water, HIV\/AIDS, extreme poverty eradication and primary school enrolment may be achieved, nutrition and infant and maternal mortality goals have little chance of being reached (African Economic Outlook, 2011). Still, if progress made so far is speeded up and per capita annual growth stays above 4%, extreme poverty could be eradicated and the monetary poverty rate brought down to about 30% by 2015 (ibid.). Mali\"s second generation poverty reduction strategy paper was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2006 and will end in 2011. The overall objective is to accelerate growth to more than 7% over the period 2007-2011 and to improve the well being of Malians. Thirteen priority areas of action are selected under three strategic orientations: (i) infrastructure and productive sectors; (ii) consolidation of structural reforms; and (iii) strengthening the social sectors (GoM, 2006). In 2008, ODA contributed to 11.4% of Mali\"s GNI (USD 964 million), a decrease from 14.9% in 2006. Of the 34 bilateral and multilateral donors in Mali, the top three in terms of volume are France, the European Commission and IDA \u2013 each providing between USD 132 million and USD 175 million in 2007-2008. Over one-third of ODA was allocated to the production sector and to economic infrastructure and services in 2007-2008 (DAC statistics). Aid co-ordination in Mali Responsibility for managing and co-ordinating aid in Mali is delegated to three different areas of government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is responsible for bilateral co-operation and officially endorsing contracts and agreements; the Ministry of Planning manages the Special Investment Budget; and the Ministry of Economy and Finance oversees strategic developments, budget support, and the development and M&E of the PRSP. In the recent past, development efforts in Mali were criticised for being dispersed and donor driven. Malian responsibility for coordinating efforts was perceived as muddled and lacking capacity (Bergamaschi, 2008).51 A number of institutional mechanisms were created to address some of these issues, including the Secretariat for Aid Harmonisation (S\u00e9cretrariat de l'Harmonisation de l'Aide) housed at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in 2008; and the Office for Development and International Co-operation in the Office of the President, established in 2009 with funding from the Jimmy Carter Foundation. The Secretariat for Aid Harmonisation allows donors and financial partners working in Mali, to meet, along with Mali officials, and to ensure that their efforts are coordinated and respect the principles of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action. The primary role of the secretariat is to promote ownership and leadership for alignment with national systems and procedures, as well as to harmonise aid in order to reduce transaction costs for the Government of Mali. The secretariat houses the three main aid co-ordinating groups in Mali: \uf0b7\nThe Collective Group of Technical and Financial Partners. This is comprised of heads of missions and ambassadors and includes almost all bilateral partners and all the multilateral donors and UN agencies present in Mali. An annual meeting sets out the strategic direction for all the other thematic donor groups (including 10 sectoral groups),\nAlso noted during discussions with donors in Mali. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nSECRETARIAT REPORT - 91\nand monthly meetings ensure relevant information sharing and co-ordination at the highest level. \uf0b7\nThe Troika. This is comprised only of donors and is led by an elected chair. The appointment of members of the Troika and its chair take place on an annual voluntary basis and must be accepted by the Collective Group of Technical and Financial Partners. The most important part of chairing the Troika is the willingness to engage in close political dialogue with the Malian government, and the overall objective of the group is to ensure joint donor pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and support for the Malian Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CSCRP). Canada, UNDP and the African Development Bank are the current Troika members. It is envisioned that Denmark will join the Troika in 2011.\nTechnical Advisory Groups. Thirteen technical groups are established to pursue harmonisation and alignment as set out in the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action by providing technical support to the Collective Group of Technical and Financial Partners. This consists of both Malian officials and donor representatives. Mali has also been chosen as a focus country for the Working Party on Aid Effectiveness. It is using health as a tracer sector against which progress on aid effectiveness can be measured. Mali is actively pursuing the implementation of the Paris Declaration by trying to unblock remaining obstacles in alignment and use of country systems, together with its development partners. This, along with the establishment of the institutional mechanisms described above, exemplifies a willingness in Mali to enhance its own structures and systems. Nevertheless, the PRSP process in particular has been criticised as being heavily influenced by international donors (Bergamaschi, 2008). However, in the move towards greater alignment, a growing number of donors (nine) are now providing general budget support to Mali. Along with several donors also providing sectoral budget support, most notably in education and health, this could be seen as a testament to greater trust amongst donors in the Malian government\"s ability to manage its own development.\nKey features of Denmark's development co-operation in Mali A new bilateral programme with a long-term focus In line with its renewed commitment to strengthen its development co-operation and poverty reduction focus in Africa, in 2005 Denmark decided to select a new partner country in Africa. Mali was selected over Niger and Ethiopia on the basis of two key criteria: poverty indicators and the extent to which democracy is strengthening. Other factors that Denmark took into account were its experience in two other francophone African countries \u2013 Burkina Faso and Benin \u2013 with similar governance structures and development challenges. Also important was the extent to which Denmark could apply and use its well-established approach, modalities and tools for aid effectiveness. Following this analysis, and after initial contacts between the Government of Denmark and the Government of Mali in January 2006, consultations were held between the two governments, Malian civil society and the donor community to identify to which national priorities Denmark would align to, and where it could add value and avoid duplication. Denmark committed to an indicative budget envelope of approximately DKK 800 million (approximately USD 150 million) over the period 2006-2011. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n92 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Denmark is committed to a long-term, predictable partnership with Mali: it presents indicative aid disbursements to Mali up to 2019. Denmark is not among the top 10 donors in Mali, sharing 19th place with Switzerland in 2007\/8. However, it is set to become a medium-to-large bilateral development partner, and could become one of the top 10 donors, if it achieves its planned USD 46.8 million annually by 2014 (MFA, 2010a).52 Given the \"start-up\" nature of Denmark\"s multi-annual programmes and its commitmentbased budgeting (Chapters 3 and 4), DAC statistics show a significant, but understandable, gap between Danish annual disbursements and commitments to Mali (Figure C.1.). Nevertheless, there is a clear positive increase in disbursements every year. Figure C.1. Danish ODA to Mali: commitments and disbursements, 2006-2009 (USD million)\nSource: DAC Creditor Reporting System.\nMulti-dimensional and multi-layered sector and thematic programmes Denmark\"s aid programme is guided by the Mali\/Denmark Development Cooperation Strategic Note for 2006-2011 (MFA, 2006c). The priorities outlined in this note are aligned to Mali's Second Generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2006\u20132011, particularly in relation to rural poverty, employment, gender equality, and sustainable development. Denmark considered five issues when choosing its sectors (Table C.1). They were: (i) limiting the number to a maximum of three sectors; (ii) the already significant allocation to health and education by the Malian government and donors because of the centrality given to these sectors in the PRSP I; (iii) the new direction and priorities of the PRSP II; (iv) significant opportunities for synergies between the three selected sectors; and (v) the need for a strong environmental profile. It also intended to allocate just over two-thirds of the budget envelope to the three focus sectors. 52.\nFor example, Germany was one of the top 10 donors in Mali in 2007\/8, giving USD 40 million. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nTable C.1. Indicative share of Danish aid to Mali by sector Sector Supply of water, sanitation and water resource management Agriculture Private sector and employment promotion Cross-cutting themes (gender equality, decentralisation, good governance) Budget support Other\nPer cent share of budget envelope 25% - 35% 20% - 25% 20% - 25% 10% 10% 5%\nSource: MFA (2006c), Mali\/Denmark Development Co-operation Strategic Note for 2006-2011, MFA, Copenhagen.\nA strength of Denmark\"s sector programmes is their limited number of components. The water and sanitation programme is a good example: it had two components during Phase 1 (2006-2009): (i) supporting the development and implementation of a national policy on water and sanitation; and (ii) at the decentralised level, to improve access to water and sanitation in two regions through support to regional water structures. The second phase (2010-2014), is a joint programme with Sweden and sets deadlines for providing sector budget support with clear conditions for the Government of Mali. Denmark and Sweden take an interesting \"carrot and stick\" approach in this programme: the Government of Mali is motivated to strengthen institutions and capacity so that they are eligible for sector budget support by a certain date. If Mali does not achieve these objectives by then, the date will be pushed back. Malian officials were satisfied with the approach, which instils a sense of mutual responsibility. Gender equality and environmental mainstreaming are central to Denmark\"s programmes in Mali, in which screening tools and rolling plans from headquarters are applied. Women are targeted as specific beneficiaries of all programmes. The promotion of equal rights and the participation of women in politics are priorities that cut across all Danish support to Mali. Denmark\"s commitment to capacity development is also evident in the way it supports Malian civil society organisations, most notably through its participation along with four other donors in a new (2010) joint donor basket fund for Malian CSOs. This approach to funding also helps to cut the administrative costs of financing several CSO projects. Implementation and aid effectiveness The challenges of ambitious programmes Despite being a relatively new donor in Mali, Denmark has already established itself as a champion in implementing the aid effectiveness agenda. It is working progressively towards meeting its commitment to provide sector budget support as the default modality and to align with Mali\"s priorities and financial management systems. Denmark is furthering its commitment to aid effectiveness by developing capacity, both centrally and regionally, by working with civil servants in government, promoting the use of existing structures, and by placing advisors strategically in key areas of government relevant to Denmark\"s focus sectors. The decentralisation of the Danish aid system allows programme managers in the embassy to take important decisions, both political and budgetary. This helps retain clear communication channels and flexibility in decisionmaking processes and allows for close local co-operation among Denmark, the Malian government and other donors. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n94 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT Denmark\"s engagement in Mali is characterised by alignment to Mali\"s own priorities and needs and there is national ownership of Danish-supported programmes. The was demonstrated by Denmark\"s decision to support sectors identified by the Malian Government as needing intense support and capacity development due to their weak institutional structure. While the relative disarray of these sectors affected the design of the sector programmes and the ability to achieve alignment, harmonisation and capacity development objectives, Denmark rose to the challenge. The result is that Denmark is now seen as a strong proponent of effective aid in these sectors. As there were no national sector strategies for agriculture or private sector development, nor any sector-wide approaches in any of the three sectors supported by Denmark, the Danish programmes are helping Mali to develop these strategies. The programmes are also addressing and managing: (i) the weak government and donor co-ordination in agriculture and the private sector; (ii) dispersed institutional responsibilities and a wide range of public and private actors who have a stake in the sectors; and (iii) weak capacity to master the public financial management system in the line ministries, at regional and local level, as well as in parliament and civil society. Denmark channels its aid through the Malian treasury, but earmarks it and uses separate bank accounts at the local level. This is in order to use country systems as much as possible, while safeguarding aid money from mismanagement. In addition, Denmark has trained Malian officials and civil society organisations in how their own public financial management (PFM) system works. This type of capacity building, which involved training and then \"learning by doing\", is recognised as one of the [many] strengths of Danish co-operation in Mali. It also highlights the importance of flexibility and local adaptation in donor engagements. Denmark\"s advances in implementing the aid effectiveness agenda in Mali are also reflected in the strong role played by the ambassador and embassy staff in different donor co-ordination groups. This is most notable in The Collective Group of Technical and Financial Partners, but potentially also in the Troika, which Denmark is expected to chair in 2011. This is very positive and Denmark is encouraged to share with the donor community its experiences and lessons learnt through these fora in order to further promote harmonisation and alignment in its focus sectors. Leading and helping other donors towards this objective is crucial, especially as the peer review team observed that Denmark could be reaching its limits in working according to the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action in its focus sectors. This is because, with the exception of its joint programme with Sweden in water and sanitation, it is the only donor trying to use country systems (except for sector budget support in health and education). Since most development goals that Denmark pursues in Mali depend on joint action between the government and the donor community, harmonising with other donors whilst identifying, understanding and helping to address Malian limitations will be vital. Organisation and management of Denmark's co-operation in Mali The embassy: programming and financial authority Denmark has decentralised its aid management extensively in Mali. The Danish Embassy is responsible for both programme and financial management, while accountability and planning mechanisms ensure that the embassy implements the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs\" (MFA) policy guidance and that it feeds back into Danish policy making. For example, the embassy will participate in preparing an action plan for the new strategic priority on private sector development and employment, thus bringing DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nfield-level experience to headquarters. The MFA\"s technical advisory services (TAS) also support the embassy at specific stages of the programme management cycle. Requests for support from TAS are planned and agreed with the embassy annually. Moreover, embassy staff consider that TAS are now more receptive to ad hoc requests from embassies that were not foreseen at the time of the annual agreement. This point was raised during the decentralisation evaluation. Other departments at headquarters, such as the contracts department and corporate services, have been fine-tuning their support mechanisms and service mentality towards embassies. The re-organisation of the Danish MFA has not had a negative impact on operations in Mali. Embassy staff have regular, direct lines of communication with three of the new centres: (i) the Centre for Africa, Asia, Americas and Middle East: communications involve overall policy issues, quarterly video conferences with embassies in West Africa, and logistics related to missions to Africa and by the centre head; (ii) the Centre for Development Policy: on programming; and (iii) the Centre for Corporate Services. Electronic distribution lists are widely used by staff to stay informed of policy discussions and to receive updates of the Aid Management Guidelines, for example. However, a prevailing challenge, linked to Danish organisational culture, is the use of informal relations and networks in daily business. While there is value in informality, more formal and systematic ways of working with the various centres are also needed. This is especially important for new staff. Internal organisation and human resource constraints The embassy has a flat organisational structure (Figure C.2), with a direct line from the small teams working on the focus sectors, themes and administration to the ambassador and first counsellor. Typically, two experts work in each sector team. At the time of the peer review visit, the embassy had just created a management team following recommendations of the review of the embassy undertaken by the Ministry\"s Centre for Corporate Services one week before our mission. Having a management team will be useful because it should enable the ambassador to delegate some management tasks, thus freeing up time to further engage in policy dialogue in Mali and spreading responsibility for sustaining the momentum of the programme. This will be especially important in light of the ambassador\"s planned rotation in 2012. The MFA\"s system of focal points for cross-cutting issues plays a role at the country level. In Mali, the role of the gender and environment focal points is to monitor implementation of the cross-cutting objectives. The compulsory e-learning tool for gender is considered useful, though limited in Mali because it is only available in English. However, acting as a focal point is only one of several tasks for these staff, so the extent to which they can monitor their focal area is limited. Denmark therefore may need to review the purpose and role of these focal points. Denmark has only a short history of engagement in francophone African countries and MFA staff are less knowledgeable of this region than of east and southern Africa. There are relatively few staff with strong French skills. MFA will need to find the right incentives to attract staff to posts in the embassy. Like other donors, the Danish Embassy recruits staff locally. Recruiting national experts is beneficial for the donor for several reasons: (i) it brings deep knowledge of the national context and local contacts; (ii) it provides continuity and institutional memory; and (iii) it reduces administrative burdens. At the same time, locally recruited staff who DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n96 \u2013 SECRETARIAT REPORT have not necessarily worked at the MFA in Copenhagen and who are not integrated into the MFA\"s diplomatic career path, require a tailor-made human resource policy and management. The MFA is currently working on this (Chapter 4). Issues that need to be addressed in the Danish Embassy in Mali stem in part from the relatively limited experience of Malians with implementing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Solutions include finding ways to recruit and retain local staff with the right skills for implementing priorities in the Danish development strategy Freedom from Poverty; providing locally-employed staff with relevant Danida courses in French in Copenhagen and with appropriate induction at the embassy; and valuing, respecting and giving opportunities that will help retain these locally employed staff over the long term.\nDESCRIPTION OF KEY TERMS \u2013 97\nDescription of key terms The following brief descriptions of the main development co-operation terms used in this publication are provided for general background information.53 ASSOCIATED FINANCING: The combination of official development assistance, whether grants or loans, with other official or private funds to form finance packages. AVERAGE COUNTRY EFFORT: The unweighted average ODA\/GNI ratio of DAC members, i.e. the average of the ratios themselves, not the ratio of total ODA to total GNI (cf. ODA\/GNI ratio). DAC (DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE): The committee of the OECD which deals with development co-operation matters. A description of its aims and a list of its members are given at the front of the Development Co-operation Report. DAC LIST OF ODA RECIPIENTS: For statistical purposes, the DAC uses a list of ODA recipients which it revises every three years. From 1 January 2007, the list is presented in the following categories (the word \"countries\" includes territories): LDCs: Least Developed Countries. Group established by the United Nations. To be classified as an LDC, countries must fall below thresholds established for income, economic diversification and social development. The DAC List is updated immediately to reflect any change in the LDC group. Other LICs: Other Low-Income Countries. Includes all non-LDC countries with per capita GNI USD 825 or less in 2004 (World Bank Atlas basis). LMICs: Lower Middle-Income Countries, i.e. with GNI per capita (Atlas basis) between USD 826 and USD 3 255 in 2004. LDCs which are also LMICs are only shown as LDCs \u2013 not as LMICs. UMICs: Upper Middle-Income Countries, i.e. with GNI per capita (Atlas basis) between USD 3 256 and USD 10 065 in 2004. DEBT REORGANISATION (also RESTRUCTURING): Any action officially agreed between creditor and debtor that alters the terms previously established for repayment. This may include forgiveness, or rescheduling or refinancing. Direct INVESTMENT: Investment made to acquire or add to a lasting interest in an enterprise in a country on the DAC List of ODA Recipients. In practice it is recorded as the change in the net worth of a subsidiary in a recipient country to the parent company, as shown in the books of the latter. 53.\nFor a full description of these terms, see the Development Co-operation Report 2009, Volume 10, No. 1.\n98 \u2013 DESCRIPTION OF KEY TERMS DISBURSEMENT: The release of funds to, or the purchase of goods or services for a recipient; by extension, the amount thus spent. Disbursements may be recorded gross (the total amount disbursed over a given accounting period) or net (the gross amount less any repayments of loan principal or recoveries of grants received during the same period). EXPORT CREDITS: Loans for the purpose of trade and which are not represented by a negotiable instrument. They may be extended by the official or the private sector. If extended by the private sector, they may be supported by official guarantees. GRANTS: Transfers made in cash, goods or services for which no repayment is required. GRANT ELEMENT: Reflects the financial terms of a commitment: interest rate, maturity and grace period (interval to the first repayment of capital). It measures the concessionality of a loan, expressed as the percentage by which the present value of the expected stream of repayments falls short of the repayments that would have been generated at a given reference rate of interest. The reference rate is 10% in DAC statistics. This rate was selected as a proxy for the marginal efficiency of domestic investment, i.e. as an indication of the opportunity cost to the donor of making the funds available. Thus, the grant element is nil for a loan carrying an interest rate of 10%; it is 100% for a grant; and it lies between these two limits for a loan at less than 10% interest. LOANS: Transfers for which repayment is required. Data on net loan flows include deductions for repayments of principal (but not payment of interest) on earlier loans. OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA): Grants or loans to countries and territories on the DAC List of ODA Recipients and multilateral agencies that are undertaken by the official sector; with the promotion of economic development and welfare as the main objective; at concessional financial terms (if a loan, having a grant element of at least 25%). ODA\/GNI RATIO: To compare members\" ODA efforts, it is useful to show them as a share of gross national income (GNI). \"Total DAC\" ODA\/GNI is the sum of members\" ODA divided by the sum of the GNI, i.e. the weighted ODA\/GNI ratio of DAC members (cf. Average country effort). OTHER OFFICIAL FLOWS (OOF): Transactions by the official sector with countries on the DAC List of ODA Recipients which do not meet the conditions for eligibility as official development assistance, either because they are not primarily aimed at development, or because they have a grant element of less than 25%. TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION: Includes both a) grants to nationals of aid recipient countries receiving education or training at home or abroad, and b) payments to consultants, advisers and similar personnel as well as teachers and administrators serving in recipient countries. TIED AID: Official grants or loans where procurement of the goods or services involved is limited to the donor country or to a group of countries which does not include substantially all aid recipient countries.\nDESCRIPTION OF KEY TERMS - 99\nVOLUME (real terms): The flow data are expressed in United States dollars (USD). To give a truer idea of the volume of flows over time, some data are presented in constant prices and exchange rates, with a reference year specified. This means that adjustment has been made to cover both inflation in the donor\"s currency between the year in question and the reference year, and changes in the exchange rate between that currency and the United States dollar over the same period.\nBIBLIOGRAPHY \u2013 101\nAfrican Economic Outlook (2011), \"Mali\", African www.africaneconomicoutlook.org\/en\/countries\/west-africa\/mali\/.\nOutlook,\nBenn, J., A. Rogerson and S. Steenson (2010), \"Getting Closer to the Core: Measuring Country Programmable Aid\", Development Brief Issue 1, OECD, Paris, available at www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/32\/51\/45564447.pdf. Bergamaschi, I. (2008), \"Mali: Patterns and Limits of Donor-Driven Ownership\", GEG Working Paper 2008\/41, Global Economic Governance Programme, University of Oxford, Oxford, available at www.globaleconomicgovernance.org\/wpcontent\/uploads\/Bergamaschi%20WP%20200841%20Final.pdf. Capacent (2010), Udenrigsministeriet Danskernes holdning og kendskab til udviklingsbistanden, unpublished report, Capacent, Copenhagen. Commission of the European Communities (2009a), Policy Coherence for Development Establishing the Policy Framework for a Whole-of-the-Union Approach, Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, available at http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/development\/icenter\/repository\/COM_2009_458_part1_en.pdf. Commission of the European Communities (2009b), EU 2009 Report on Policy Coherence for Development, Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the report from the Commission to the Council, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, available at http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/development\/icenter\/repository\/SWP_PDF_2009_1137_EN.pdf. Denmark\"s Minister for Development Co-operation (2010), \"Opening Statement\", conference on Risks, Risk Assessment and Management in Development Co-operation, Copenhagen, 25 November, 2010, available at: www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/DanishDevelopmentPolicy\/RiskConference. Development Initiatives (2009), Global Humanitarian Assistance Report, Development Initiatives, Wells, Somerset. Economist Intelligence Unit (2010), Country Report Denmark, September 2010, Economist Intelligence Unit, London. Eurobarometer (2010), Special Eurobarometer 352: Europeans, Development Aid and the Millennium Development Goals, TNS Opinion and Social, Brussels, available at: http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/public_opinion\/archives\/ebs\/ebs_352_en.pdf. GoM (2006), CSLP 2\u00e8me G\u00e9n\u00e9ration 2007-2011, Government of Mali, Bamako.\n102 \u2013 BIBLIOGRAPHY Heldgaar, J. (2008), Managing Aid Exit and Transformation. Summary of a Joint Donor Evaluation, Sida, Netherland\"s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danida and Norad, Sida, Stockholm, available at www.minbuza.nl\/dsresource?objectid=buzabeheer:43594&type=pdf. IFU (Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries) (2010), \"IFU Investments in Developing Countries Reach an All-time High\", IFU News May 3 2010, Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries, Copenhagen, available at www.ifu.dk\/en\/Material_Folder\/Pdf\/English+press+release+AR+2009. MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark) (2000), Denmark's Development Policy: Partnership 2000, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danidapublikationer.dk. MFA (2005), Danish Climate and Development Action Programme. A Toolkit for Climate Proofing Danish Development Co-operation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2005b) The Regions of Origin Initiative. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2006a), Evaluation Guidelines, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/A522BF92-BD6E-4E84-8B2F2ECC27C8EBBE\/0\/EvaluationGuidelinesNovember2006.pdf. MFA (2006b), Guidance Note on Danish Support for Capacity Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2006c), Mali\/Denmark Development Co-operation Strategic Note for 2006-2011, Government of Denmark, Copenhagen. MFA (2007), Danish Organisation Strategy for the World Bank Group 2007-2011, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2008a), From Goals to Results in Danish Development Assistance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2008b), Guidelines for Country Assessment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/en\/menu\/ManagementTools\/RepresentationsAssessment\/. MFA (2008c), Denmark's Multilateral Development Co-operation Towards 2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2008d), The Danish Regions of Origin Initiative \u2013 Part 1 Strategic Framework, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: http:\/\/www.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/C3565C9260CA-4F4D-B087-239876F5920F\/0\/ROIStrategicFrameworkendeligpartI.pdf. MFA (2009a), Realising the Potential of Africa's Youth; Report of the Africa Commission, May 2009, Secretariat of the Africa Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: \/www.africacommission.um.dk\/en. MFA (2009b), Evaluation of the UNHCR Joint Organisation Strategy 2007-2009, Evaluation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\/Danida, Denmark, available at: www.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/A984416E-B87E-4494-9A31AEB8B1942CB3\/0\/FinalReportUNHCRweb_24112009.pdf. MFA (2009c), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Communication Strategy 2010-2013, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\nBIBLIOGRAPHY - 103\nMFA (2009d), Operational Guidelines for Technical Assistance in Danish Development Assistance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2009e), Strategy for Danish Humanitarian Action 2010-2015: Addressing Vulnerability, Climate Change and Protection Challenges, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2009f), Evaluation of the Decentralisation of Danish Aid Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2010a), Annual Report 2009, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2010b), Freedom from Poverty: Freedom to Change. Strategy for Denmark's Development Co-operation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2010c), Memorandum of Denmark Submitted to the DAC in View of the Peer Review of Denmark, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2010d), Denmark's Participation in International Development Co-operation 2009, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2010e), Peace and Stabilisation, Denmark's Policy Towards Fragile States 2010-2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2010f), Denmark's Action Plan for the World Bank Group 2010, unpublished report, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2010g), Danida Brand Guide, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.designmanual.um.dk\/en\/menu\/BasicElements\/DanidaDesign. MFA (2010h), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Communication Policy 2010-2013, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (2010i), Performance Review Report, Dar es Salaam, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. MFA (2010j), Priorities of the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance: Overview of the Development Assistance Budget 2011-2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: www.danida-publikationer.dk. MFA (undated), On Course for 2020: Danish Foreign Policy in Uncharted Waters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at www.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/03C04FEE-5FFE494A-AC59-4E3AA25FDAD9\/0\/Kurs2020p%C3%A5engelskMBJ.pdf. MFA\/Danida (2005), A Results-Oriented Approach to Capacity Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at www.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/780914AD-A4C4-42C2-80398115F4CA0DDB\/0\/KortCDbriefintro.pdf. MFA\/Danida (2008), Strategy for Support to Civil Society in Developing Countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/NR\/rdonlyres\/D5D7B083FC02-4D8D-947A-AD5D3FB796C8\/0\/samfundsstrategien_uk.pdf. MFA\/Danida (2009), Guidelines for Programme Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, available at: http:\/\/amg.um.dk\/en\/menu\/TechnicalGuidelines\/ProgrammeManagement. MFA\/Danida (2010), Organisational 'Bridging' Strategy 2010-2013, UNICEF, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. Mullally, L. and B. Watts. (2006), Getting a Grip: Reforming EU Scrutiny at Westminster, Open Europe, London, available at www.openeurope.org.uk\/scrutiny.pdf. DAC PEER REVIEW OF DENMARK 2011 \u00a9 OECD 2011\n104 \u2013 BIBLIOGRAPHY OECD (2001), \"Untying Aid to the Least Developed Countries\", OECD Policy Brief July 2001, OECD Paris, available at www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/16\/24\/2002959.pdf. OECD (2007a), Peer Review of Denmark, OECD, Paris. OECD (2007b), Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations, OECD, Paris, available at www.fsprinciples.org. OECD (2008a), OECD Ministerial Declaration on Policy Coherence for Development, OECD, Paris. OECD (2008b), 2008 Survey on Monitoring the Paris Declaration: Making Aid More Effective by 2010, OECD, Paris, available at: www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/58\/41\/41202121.pdf. OECD (2008c), Synthesis Report on Policy Coherence for Development, DAC, OECD, Paris. OECD (2009a), 2009 OECD Report on Division of Labour: Addressing Fragmentation and Concentration of aid across countries, OECD, Paris, available at www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/18\/52\/44318319.pdf. OECD (2009b), Measuring Aid Targeting the Objectives of the Rio Conventions, OECD, Paris, available at: www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/46\/13\/42819225.pdf. OECD (2009c), Policy Guidance on Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation, OECD, Paris, available at www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/26\/34\/42747370.pdf. OECD (2010a), 2010 DAC Report on Multilateral Aid, OECD, Paris, available at: www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/23\/17\/45828572.pdf. OECD (2010b), Peer Review of the United Kingdom, OECD, Paris. OECD (2010c), Aid in Support of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, OECD, Paris, available at: www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/40\/7\/42759705.pdf. OECD (2010d), Development Perspectives for a Post-Copenhagen Climate Financing Architecture, OECD, Paris. OECD (2010e), Draft 2010 Report on Division of Labour: Addressing Cross Country Fragmentation and Aid Orphans, working draft, October 2010. OECD (2010f), Recommendation of the Council on Good Institutional Practices in Promoting Policy Coherence for Development, OECD Paris, available at: www.oecd.org\/dataoecd\/6\/54\/46159783.pdf. OECD (2010g), Evaluation on Development Agencies, Better Aid, OECD Publishing. OECD\/INCAF (2010), Aid Risks in Fragile and Transitional Contexts, draft for consultation, available at: www.um.dk\/en\/menu\/DevelopmentPolicy\/DanishDevelopmentPolicy\/RiskConference. OECD\/INCAF (2009), Mapping of Donor Modalities and Financing for Peacebuilding, Conflict Prevention and Security System Reform. OECD\/INCAF (2010), Resource Flows to Fragile and Conflict Affected States 2010, OECD, Paris. Rigsrevisionen (2010), Beretning til Statsrevisorerne om Danmarks bistand til Tanzania, Rigsrevisionen, Copenhagen.\nSchmidt, S. (2009), \"Afghanistan: Organizing Danish Civil-Military Arrangements\", DIIS Report 2009(15), Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen, available at www.diis.dk\/graphics\/Publications\/Reports2009\/DIIS_Report_2009_15_Afghanistan_web. pdf. The Reality of Aid (2010), The Reality of Aid 2010 Report, IBON books, The Philippines. UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) (2010a), Human Development Statistical Tables, UNDP, New York, available at http:\/\/hdr.undp.org\/en\/media\/HDR_2010_EN_Tables.pdf. UNDP (2010b), The Human Development Report 2010, UNDP, New York, available at http:\/\/hdr.undp.org\/en\/reports\/global\/hdr2010. World Bank (2010), Mali: Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review, The World Bank, Washington DC, available at: wwwwds.worldbank.org\/external\/default\/WDSContentServer\/WDSP\/IB\/2010\/05\/03\/000333037 _20100503234830\/Rendered\/PDF\/468260v10ESW0P1disclosed0May0202010.pdf.\nORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT The OECD is a unique forum where governments work together to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalisation. The OECD is also at the forefront of efforts to understand and to help governments respond to new developments and concerns, such as corporate governance, the information economy and the challenges of an ageing population. The Organisation provides a setting where governments can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and work to co-ordinate domestic and international policies. The OECD member countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union takes part in the work of the OECD. OECD Publishing disseminates widely the results of the Organisation's statistics gathering and research on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as the conventions, guidelines and standards agreed by its members.\nPeer Review DENMARK\nThe OECD Development Assistance Committee conducts periodic reviews of the individual development co-operation efforts of DAC members. The policies and efforts of each of the 23 members are critically examined approximately once every four years, hence five or six programmes are examined annually. The Peer Review of Denmark, led by the Netherlands and Greece, took place on 8 June 2007. The report comprises the review's Main Findings and Recommendations and the full Secretariat report. Denmark, one of the world's most generous donors, devoted USD 2.11 billion to official development assistance (ODA) in 2005, accounting for 0.81% of its gross national income (GNI). The OECD commends Denmark's decision to maintain ODA at a minimum of 0.8% of GNI, and encourages it to continue this policy. The OECD's Development Assistance Committee's Review of Denmark's aid noted its decentralised, and improved, development co-operation system, which facilitates effective aid delivery. The Review suggests that Denmark share its approaches to gender equity and environmental sustainability within the aid programme, and policy guidance for the development of capacity in partner countries. It also provides several recommendations to assist Denmark's continuing efforts in meeting the commitments of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness.\nPeer Review\u00ad\u00ad - DENMARK\nwww.oecd.org\/dac\/peerreviews\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Belgium 2010\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Japan 2010\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Portugal 2010\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Germany 2010\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: United Kingdom 2010\nOECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: New Zealand 2010\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews, Norway 2011\nOecd Environmental Performance Reviews, Portugal 2011\nOecd Territorial Reviews: Mexico (Oecd Territorial Reviews)\nOECD Investment Policy Reviews: Ukraine 2011\nOECD Territorial Reviews: Portugal\nOecd Territorial Reviews: Japan\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Czech Republic (OECD Environmental Performance Reviews)\nOecd Reviews of Regulatory Reform (OECD Reviews of Regulatory Reform)\nOECD Rural Policy Reviews OECD Rural Policy Reviews, Italy 2009\nOECD Rural Policy Reviews OECD Rural Policy Reviews: Spain 2009\nOecd Environmental Performance Reviews: Italy 2002 (Oecd Environmental Performance Reviews)\nOecd Territorial Reviews: Czech Republic (OECD Territorial Reviews)\nOECD Rural Policy Reviews OECD Rural Policy Reviews: China\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Sweden (Oecd Environmental Performance Reviews)\nOecd Investment Policy Reviews Romania (Oecd Investment Policy Reviews)\nOecd Environmental Performance Reviews: Canada 2004 (OECD Environmental Performance Reviews)\nOECD Rural Policy Reviews: England, United Kingdom 2011\nOECD Reviews of Regional Innovation: Basque Country, Spain 2011\nOECD Employment Outlook 2011\nOECD Territorial Reviews: Milan, Italy\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews : Poland\nOECD Investment Policy Reviews: Vietnam\nOECD Investment Policy Reviews: Peru\nOECD Development Assistance Committee PEER REVIEW BELGIUM OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews Belgium 2010 Th...\nOECD Development Assistance Committee PEER REVIEW JAPAN OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews Japan 2010 This w...\nOECD Development Assistance Committee OECD Development Assistance Committee Peer Review PORTUGAL PEER REVIEW 2010 Th...\nOECD Development Assistance Committee OECD Development Assistance Committee Peer Review GERMANY PEER REVIEW 2010 The...\nOECD Development Assistance Committee PEER REVIEW UNITED KINGDOM OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews United Kin...\nOECD Development Assistance Committee PEER REVIEW 2010 NEW ZEALAND OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews New Zeal...\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2011 This work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-Gen...\nOECD Environmental Performance Reviews PORTUGAL 2011 OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Portugal 2011 This wor...\n\u00ab OECD Territorial Reviews Mexico OECD Territorial Reviews Despite its impressive export-growth performance and size...\nOECD Investment Policy Reviews UKRAINE 2011 U KR OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Ukraine 2011 This work is publish...\nReport \"OECD Development Assistance Peer Reviews: Denmark 2011\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Bethan O'Brien tent death: Carbon monoxide suspected\nA \"kind and sweet\" woman has died at a Devon campsite after suffering suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.\nBethan O'Brien, 20, from Andover in Hampshire, was on a surfing trip in Braunton when her friends found her unconscious in their tent on Sunday.\nParamedics tried to revive her but she died at the scene. Her two friends were taken to hospital to be checked over.\nSouth Western Ambulance Service said initial reports suggested carbon monoxide poisoning could be a factor.\nA spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were not treating the death as suspicious but would not reveal whether the group had been cooking in the tent prior to feeling unwell.\nA post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.\nTributes to Ms O'Brien have been posted on social networking sites, with friends describing her as a \"sweet\" and \"lovely person\".\nGraham Mckenzie wrote: \"In serious shock as I'm sure most people are.\n\"One of the nicest girls I have ever met, 20 is far too young.\"\nAnother friend, Simon Renfrey added: \"Such a shock. So sad to find out one of the nicest and kindest people you'll ever meet has gone so young.\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"SPECIAL REPORT - New dimension: SpearUAV unveils 'capsuled' Ninox UAS\nDARPA CubeSat experiment may support future Space Force initiatives\nMalaysia mulls contract termination option for littoral combat ship programme\nby Ridzwan Rahmat\nMalaysia's first-of-class littoral combat ship, seen here at its ceremonial launch in 2017. (Royal Malaysian Navy)\nThe Malaysian government is considering several options with regards to the country's troubled littoral combat ship (LCS) programme including a contract termination with the shipbuilder, state-affiliated Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS).\nThe matter was revealed by the country's minister for defence, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, during a parliamentary session on 3 August. He was responding to questions from two members of parliament who asked for the status of the warship programme.\nPutrajaya selected a design variant of the Gowind family of corvettes from French shipbuilder Naval Group (then DCNS) for the LCS programme, and in December 2011 awarded BNS a MYR9.13 billion (USD2.1 billion) contract to build six vessels.\n\"According to the original plans, two of the six ships should have already been delivered at this point,\" said Ismail in his response.\n\"However as of 31 July none have been delivered, and the overall progress of the project is currently at 56.67%, as compared to the original plan of 85.7%. This is a lag of 29.06% or 31.1 months,\" he added.\nIsmail revealed further that the programme's first-of-class is currently 59.79% complete, while the second ship is 48.09% complete. Meanwhile, the third, fourth, and fifth vessels are 43.75%, 36.49%, and 20% complete respectively. Work on the sixth vessel has yet to begin, said the minister.\n\"With regards to the lateness, MINDEF will seek late payment fees from Boustead as provided for in contract clauses,\" said Ismail, without elaborating further on the amount. He explained that moving forward, three options will be presented to the cabinet as part of efforts to salvage the contract.\nAlready a Janes subscriber? Read the full article via the Client Login\nInterested in subscribing, see What we do\nContract cancellations Contract progress Frigates Malaysia Sea platforms\nhttps:\/\/www.janes.com\/defence-news\/news-detail\/malaysia-mulls-contract-termination-option-for-littoral-combat-ship-programme\nThe Malaysian government is considering several options with regards to the country's troubled litto...\nJane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.\nMalaysia's Auditor-General flags out inconsistencies in littoral combat ship programme\nMalaysia's Auditor-General has identified a couple of inconsistencies in the county's troubled litto...\nMalaysia takes delivery of second Littoral Mission Ship from China\nThe Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has taken delivery of its second Keris-class littoral mission ship (L...\nMalaysia's littoral combat ship project faces MYR1.4 billion cost overrun, delays\nMalaysia's first-of-class littoral combat ship, seen here at its launch ceremony in 2017. (Royal M...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Anger over plan to add houses but skimp on infrastructure in Limerick area vulnerable to floods\nNick Rabbitts\nnick@limerickleader.ie\nCllr James Collins with John Morgan, resident, Joe Pond, former councillor, John Joe Fitzpatrick, Pat Moloney, Valerie Hill and Catriona Kelleher, Montpelier residents - Picture: Adrian Butler\nLIMERICK Council is planning to build 12 new homes near a small patch of land which flooded 10 years ago this week.\nThe local authority is seeking to put the new social houses alongside the 16 existing units in Brookhaven, Montpelier.\nAnd, in a move which has enraged residents, little to no new infrastructure is proposed for sewage, despite an independent report saying the current system is \"not fit for purpose\".\nThe residents now fear a repeat of the flooding which engulfed homes in the area in November 2009, should this proposal get the go-ahead.\nIn proposals described as \"bizarre\" by metropolitan district leader James Collins, the council is seeking permission to construct the houses on a field right next to the River Shannon.\nThe existing houses are served by a 41-year-old tank, which already pumps waste water into a part of the Shannon, where rowing clubs, and swimmers go regularly.\nIn summer, locals complain of a foul odour emanating from the tank, while in winter they are left in fear of flooding.\nNow, these proposed new homes have brought the matter to a head.\nOne resident Pat Moloney said: \"The tank here is just about borderline enough to deal with the 16 houses that are here. It's just about adequate. But it's in no way adequate to take in new houses. It was set up as septic. But between the flooding, we had serious issues, as a valve was meant to stop the river coming up to us did not work.\"\nRead also: Questions remain over make-up of accommodation at important county Limerick village site\nHe said the residents have \"no issue\" with the new houses coming in - but only once new infrastructure is in place.\n\"We'd only be delighted to see them go in. But we are very concerned that tank, according to a licence issued in 2012, is at capacity. I cannot understand how Irish Water gave Limerick Council permission to tap in 12 new houses,\" he said.\nAs a result of their concerns, the residents engaged Dr Eugene Bolton, of Trinity Green environmental consultants to carry out a report in the area.\nHe said it is \"incomprehensible\" that any type of treatment plant, septic tank or holding tank be located in this area.\n\"There should be major concerns about discharging [waste] into a river immediately upgradient of the boat mooring point. This boat mooring point is less than 100m downstream of the discharge point and is used by the Dragon Boat project where cancer patients and women in remission board the boats.\n\"It's possible that some users of this facility may not be in good health and should not be exposed to contaminated waters,\" the report states.\nDr Bolton warned under the council's proposal, the level of pollution \"will more than double\".\n\"This is because the tank becomes even less capable of achieving anything approaching an acceptable level of treatment. The higher the level of flow, the lower the retention and therefore the poorer will be the level of treatment,\" the consultant added.\nThe existing plant, he added, is \"not fit for purpose\".\n\"\"It's a risk to public health and a source of environmental pollution,\" he said.\nDespite this, there are fears council will try and push ahead with this plan. However, since it's a public project, local councillors will be able to veto the proposal.\nCllr Collins is urging them to do just this.\nFormer Fianna Fail councillor Joe Pond described the current treatment plant as \"antiquated\".\n\"At the end of the day, even if Limerick Council don't go ahead with this plan, something has to be done with the tank. I would hope our public representatives will come together, engage with Irish Water and get the system upgraded,\" he said.\nCllr Collins added: \"For council to put a plan in place to build new houses, which are badly needed, but not to have adequate infrastructure in place without polluting the local environment is unacceptable.\"\nHe said this, and some of the council's other ideas for areas to build social housing are \"bizarre\".\n\"If a private developer came in with a planning application like what the council is proposing themselves, they probably wouldn't get in the door,\" he added.\nIn response, a spokesperson for the local authority stressed the area for the houses is not in a \"flood zone\".\n\"As part of the overall development, specific works have been included that will alleviate the current flooding issue experienced by residents at Brookhaven. These works include the installation of a water catchment system at the entrance to Brookhaven and two permanent storm water pumps to protect both the existing houses and the access road,\" they said.\nThey confirmed Irish Water has been requested to upgrade the existing sewerage system.\n\"Discussions with Irish Water will continue throughout the progress of this housing development,\" the spokesperson added.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Memoir of the Late Hannah Kilham\nPor Hannah Kilham\n61. \"I have longed that the hope expressed by T. Clarkson in his Illustrations of Peace, That human animosities are not to be eternal,' might be more freely spread among the people, and that this and other exemplifications of the principles of peace might be generally circulated in tracts. Peace, not merely as a political advantage, but as a Christian principle arising from love to God and man.\n62. \"I believe it would be well on the eve of the Sabbath, or after a meeting, to ask, How have my thoughts and feelings been engaged ? Have I been bowed in spirit before the Most High, supplicating for ability and help from His heavenly power, and seeking to worship Him in spirit and in truth?\n63. \"It would be well to recommend to the dispersers of religious tracts, to read with attention those of the deeper class, and have their own minds thus imbued with the important truths to which they would call the attention of others.\n64. \" As we hare the highest authority for singing on some occasions, I cannot by any means consider it as in itself a condemnable practice, but only in its abuses, -only in its being connected with the profes. sion of unfelt experience, and often with a most unholy and unbarinonious state of mind.\n65. \" There are four points of importance in conducting a school on the Lancasterian system :\n\" Ist, That the governess be at liberty for the general care of the school, and avoid being so much engrossed by attention to individual children as to be prevented attending to the order of the whole.\n\"2nd, To keep up a constant oversight of the monitors, and to see that they attend well to their classes,\n\" 3rd, To have needles, thread, and everything wanted by monitors for the children, prepared beforehand, so as to avoid having the children unsettled for want of employment.\n\"4th, Quietly to watch against, and repress the beginnings of unsettlement among the children, and\nendeavour to support in all departments, both with monitors and children, a wakeful attention to duty.\n\" There is a healthful, strengthening, and salutary feeling in order, -order as to occupation, and the timing and placing of things that makes way for much that is good, although it is not everything in itself. There is a possibility of over-estimating these arrangements, and substituting attention to them in the place of a watchful oversight of the whole mind and conduct.\"\nA.\u2013Page 255.\nThe following account of the illness, death, and character of John Thompson is written by Hannah Kilham, in a letter to a friend :\n\"Our dear friend John Thompson, on hearing of his sister's view of going to Africa to unite in the proposed establishment for native instruction, expressed a wish to accompany her, if it should meet the approbation of the African Instruction Committee ; but they, feeling the responsibility that must attach to such an engagement, and the risk of life and health connected with it, wished hiin to endeavour to feel deeply for himself whether it appeared to be a requiring of duty, since, in their apprehension, nothing short of this could authorize any individual to enter as an agent into the present concern, so far as to go out. Finding the subject thus cast upon himself, he was brought into close conflict of mind; and, after some days' consideration, he felt best satisfied to repeat his proposal to go to Africa. He told his sister it appeared probable to him that he might never return; yet, even with this view, he thought it best to offer himself to go, and that it could be of little moment in what place life was resigned. After this, his mind appeared relieved and cheerful: he made his final offer to the Committee, and it was accepted. At the end of the\nfollowing week we set sail for Africa. During the storm which we had to encounter in the early part of the passage, it was consoling to me to see my dear friend so firm and quiet annid so much danger.\n\u2022 Soon after our arrival in Africa, some of our company were invited to the burial of Sister Adele, one of the French nuns, who had devoted themselves to a residence in the Hospital of St. Mary, as attendants on the sick; and shortly after to the burial of Bowdick, to whom we had been introduced the day after our landing, as having recently arrived in the Gambia in the pursuance of his African researches. In a very few weeks from the time of our landing, Captain Smith, with whom we came out from England, died also ; and the medical officer who had served the island of St. Mary's during the late rains, was then taken sick, and now evidently sinking under a fixed decline. These frequent mementos of mortality were very impressive to his mind ; indeed, he seldom spoke of our prospect of returning home without some conditional expression that showed he felt its uncertainty.\n\" His conduct in all companies evinced a principle upright and sincere : his society was interesting, his remarks evincing clearness and solidity of judgment, and an integrity of mind that were truly valuable, his dispositions were affectionate and susceptible, and he excelled in those every-day kindnesses which so much contribute to the comfort and enjoyment of life.\n\"He applied with great industry and fidelity to the appointment he had engaged in, in commencing the agricultural department, and in the care of two boys whom, since our arrival in Africa, we had received into the family, with the view of their being trained as native teachers : he was much impressed with the importance of training such in habits of industry, combined with school instruction, and with such religious instruction as they might be capable of receiving. He much wished that they should not be indulged\nin languid, dependent habits, or in a vain estimate of the importance they might acquire in the eyes of their countrymen, or be led to rest in any outward form, as supposing it to constitute the reality of religion ; and he wished them to be impressed with the conviction that neither a profession of religion nor any outward performance could be of any avail, unless the heart were imbued with religious feeling, and the conduct governed by pure and upright principles.\n\" The industry and ingenuity of our dear friend were exercised in a variety of ways to render our abode at the Cape comfortable and agreeable. He had contrived means to provide for the disadvantages of our being so distant from the well, and having, indeed, no springs of water on the ground which was occupied.\n6. The counteraction of some difficulties in our new settlement, together with the introduction of the plough in a district in which cattle had never yet been taught to labour, could not be brought about without considerable fatigue. \" When I was about to visit Sierra-Leone, he\nproposed to accompany me. On one occasion, when there, he remarked that it was a matter of compara\u021bive little moment in what place or country a man might take up his abode, during the short time he had to remain in this world, and then added quickly,\nI mean short in comparison of a state of future existence ;' yet though thoughtful he was not sad.\n\"On the 24th of 7th mo. we embarked, all apparently in good health. Ann Thompson said, when we were together upon deck, that she thought our friends might be cheered in seeing us come home so well; that she herself had been better in Africa than in Ireland, and that she never saw her brother look better than at present ; she thought he was returning home as well as when he left. I do not know what were his own thoughts at that moment, but the last\npassage in his journal, written a few days before he left, expressed that, although he was looking towards home, and the enjoyment of again meeting with his family and friends, he could not but feel the uncertainty of the prospect, considering the uncertainty of time, and the wide expanse of waters which lay between them.'\n\" The first night after we had embarked, finding limself greatly affected by the heat of the cabin, he went upon deck at about two in the morning, and slept there for several hours; he was struck with cold, and came down in the morning complaining of the chill, and pain in his limbs. In the evening he was better. The next morning he was still indisposed, and took some medicine. In a few days decided marks of fever appeared : the medicine he took seemed to answer the purpose for the time, but the fever returned from day to day, and was not subdued. We had no medical officer on board ; but our dear friend had the kind care of the captain, William Waterman, and others. The fever was of an inflammatory kind, and the symptoms, though decided, were not complicated. The mind of J. Thompson was evidently impressed with a sense of the critical nature of his disorder, and very susceptible and tender. Sometimes he would ask his sister or me to read the Bible to him.\n\"I could not doubt that it would be well with him, if called away in this sickness; yet sometimes, when alone, and contemplating the prospect of a separation whilst on the great deep, the view was to nature very awful, and almost apalling. Still was my heart sensible that the Most High, who is infinite in wisdom, in knowledge, and in goodness, often carries forward His designs of mercy by means which we cannot fathom, and that He alone can be \u00b7 His own interpreter.' In speaking to J. Thompson on this subject, he assented with sweetness and feeling to the expression of a belief that our deepest afflictions are","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"17.12.2004 Politics\nBA Regional House of Chiefs congratulates President\nSunyani Dec 17, GNA- The Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, has congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his re-election for another four- year term.\nA statement issued in Sunyani by the President of the House, Nana Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV Nkoranzahene, also congratulated Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic congress, Dr Edward Mahama, of the Grand Coalition and Mr. George Aggudey of the Convention People's Party for conceding defeat in the interest of peace.\nIt said the House was appreciative of the professional manner the Electoral Commission, the security agencies; the judiciary and the media played conducted themselves in ensuring free, fair and peaceful election.\n\"We hope the New Patriotic Party will maintain the cordial relationship between the chiefs and people of the Region and continue the development projects already initiated to make Positive Change Chapter Two a success\".","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"1992 Ch\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande\nRed Bordeaux Blend\nDrink between 1997 - 2011 (Edit)\nCT90 6 reviews\nMost Recent First Most Recent Last Highest Score First Highest Score Last Most Comments Fewest Comments Most Helpful Votes Fewest Helpful Votes\nZweder wrote: 89 points\nDecember 19, 2017 - Monthly Tuesday group \"The Dead Sparrow\" #024 Pauillac (By JS): Reading back my note from 2011, this is a pleasant surprise. The bouquet is pleasantly stinky, with stable smells, brush wood, earth and even some graphite. On the palate juicy dark berries, red fruit acidity, some green impressions and also vanilla. A light bodied wine with still good acidity. Still gives pleasure :-)\nrmcnees Likes this wine: 91 points\nFebruary 28, 2015 - OTBN 2015 - mini vertical of the 91, 92 and 97 vintages.\nAll three exhibited classic Pichon terroir characteristics - full elegant floral, dark blackberry and raspberry fruits, earthy leather and tobacco \/ tea leaf notes, while each showed vintage effects from the three disparate vintages.\nConsistent with earlier tasting five years ago, the '91 vintage initially showed greater complexity, bigger floral, more concentrated fruit, and the most sophistication and balance of the three vintages. The next day, the '92 and '91 seemed to trade places, overtaking the 91 with greater concentration, structure and backbone, however the '91 retained the most polish and greatest balance.\nPichon's tend to be long lived and hang on much longer than one might expect, so don't rush to clear this out just yet.\nhttp:\/\/unwindwine.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/bordeaux-anchors-otbn-2015.html\njulius111 wrote: 89 points\nApril 8, 2012 - Still oaky and a bit earthy. Lost most of its strength over time.\nZweder wrote:\nDecember 14, 2011 - Monthly Tasting Group HWS #064; Bordeaux; Pauillac (By RvD): At first the bouquet is not really expressive, but after a while it shows earth, roses, cigar box, tobacco, leather and graphite. On the palate quite tertiary with earth, oak, some dried plums and still fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness. The tannin is completely melted. Light bodied. The bouquet is without any doubt the best part of this wine. This wine is about 8 years past its prime, but certainly still drinkable, especially for those who like their wines really mature. I will not score it.\nRadboy wrote: 91 points\nJune 29, 2010 - Nice older Bordeaux. Lovely nose with soft tannins and gentle, but not rich, fruits of cherries and cranberry. Nice but not memorable.\n1 - 5 of 6 More notes\nType Red\nProducer Ch\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande\nVarietal Red Bordeaux Blend\nDesignation n\/a\nRegion Bordeaux\nSubRegion M\u00e9doc\nAppellation Pauillac\nUPC Codes 000004036760, 080732138011, 714153023150\nIn Cellars 187 (62%)\nConsumed 115 (38%)\n100% Like It 2 votes\nProducerCh\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande\nVarietyRed Bordeaux Blend\nCountryFrance\nRegionBordeaux\nSubRegionM\u00e9doc\nAppellationPauillac\nOther vintages for this wine 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1943 1942 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1934 1933 1931 1930 1929 1928 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1914 1913 1912 1908 1906 1905 1900 1893 1875 1874 1870 N.V.\nOther Ch\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande wines\nAbout Ch\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande\nWine1992 Ch\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (add)\nFamilyCh\u00e2teau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (add)\nVarietalRed Bordeaux Blend","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Bellabee Affiliate Program\nSign up and receive a special link to our website.\nAnyone who buys a Bellabee device using that link will be credited to you as a referral, and we will pay you up to 50% for every unit purchased (at full retail price, $159). All you have to do is paste the link into your social media profile or email it to your friends or clients.\nAffiliate Instructions\nReturn Policy and Waranty\nBellabee\nCopyright \u00a9 2018 Bellabee, Inc. All rights reserved.\nBellabee, Bellabee Health and their respective logos are either registered trademarks of Bellabee Inc. in the U.S. and\/or other countries.\niPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the US and other countries. Android and Google Play are trademarks of\nGoogle Inc. Other trademarks, trade names, and product names are those of their respective owners.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"U.D.O.: Video Interview From Serbia's EXIT Festival Posted Online\nAn interview with U.D.O. members Udo Dirkschneider (vocals; ex-ACCEPT) and Fitty Wienhold (bass) conducted on July 14, 2007 at the Exit festival in Novi Sad, Serbia by Thea (Teodora Bahun) of the TV show \"Demo_NS\" on RTV Panonija has been posted on YouTube. The six-minute clip, which includes footage of the band's performance at the festival, can be viewed below.\nAccording to a posting on U.D.O.'s web site, fans who attend the German group's concerts will now have achance to purchase a recording of each show immediately following the completion of the gig on a 1 GB USB stick (photo) with a U.D.O. logo printed on it.\nU.D.O. will release its \"best-of\" album, \"Metallized - 20 Years of Metal\", on November 30 via AFM Records. The CD booklet will be filled with photos from the last 20 years and and will include liner notes written by Metal Hammer journalist Andreas Sch\u00f6we. The first 12 songs on the collection were chosen by fans via the official U.D.O. web site, while tracks 13 to 16 will consist of two unreleased songs, an acoustic version of the ACCEPT classic \"Balls to the Wall\", and a live version of \"The Bullet and the Bomb\".\nU.D.O.'s new album, \"Mastercutor\", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 39 \u2014 the highest German chart position in the band's history.\n\"Mastercutor\" was released on May 18 via AFM Records. Several extra songs were recorded for the CD, with different territories getting their own bonus cuts. The Japanese edition of the CD comes with the track \"Man a King Ruler\", the Russian album includes \"Platchet Soldat\", and both feature the song \"Streets of Sin\". The European limited-edition version of \"Mastercutor\" includes the songs \"Borderline\" and \"Screaming Eagles\".\nIRON MAIDEN's NICKO MCBRAIN On NEIL PEART's Death: 'The Drumming Community Has Lost A True Diplomat For The Instrument'","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Color of Compromise\nTaught by Jemar Tisby\nThe Color of Compromise online course reveals the chilling connection between the church and racism throughout American history. Units explore ways Christians have reinforced theories of racial superiority and inferiority, and outline the kind of bold action needed to forge a future of equity and justice.\nIn August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous \"I Have a Dream\" speech, calling on all Americans to view others not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Yet King included another powerful word, one that is often overlooked. Warning against the \"tranquilizing drug of gradualism,\" King emphasized the fierce urgency of now, the need to resist the status quo and take immediate action.\nKing's call to action, first issued over fifty years ago, is relevant for the church in America today. Churches remain racially segregated and are largely ineffective in addressing complex racial challenges. In The Color of Compromise online course, Jemar Tisby takes us back to the root of this injustice in the American church, highlighting the cultural and institutional tables we have to flip in order to bring about progress between black and white people.\nTisby provides a unique survey of American Christianity's racial past, revealing the concrete and chilling ways people of faith have worked against racial justice. Understanding our racial history sets the stage for solutions, but until we understand the depth of the malady we won't fully embrace the aggressive treatment it requires. Given the centuries of Christian compromise with bigotry, believers today must be prepared to tear down old structures and build up new ones. This course provides an in-depth diagnosis for a racially divided American church and suggests ways to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment among God's people.\nBy completing this course, you'll gain:\nFoundational knowledge about the roots of racism in the American church\nInsight into how people of the faith have both worked for and against racial justice, as well as how the silence of moderates contributed to a culture of complicity\nIdeas to move forward and foster more justice and equality within the American church\nConfidence in your growing knowledge through personalized review sessions and unit assessments\nMDiv., Reformed Theological Seminary\nJemar Tisby is president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective where he writes about race, religion, politics, and culture. He is also cohost of the Pass The Mic podcast. He speaks nationwide at conferences, and his writing has been featured by the New York Times, the Atlantic, and CNN. Jemar is a PhD candidate in history at the University of Mississippi, focusing on race, religion, and social movements in the twentieth century.\nMaking Race in the Colonial Era\nUnderstanding Liberty in the Age of Revolution and Revival\nInstitutionalizing Race in the Antebellum Era\nDefending Slavery at the Onset of the Civil War\nReconstructing White Supremacy in the Jim Crow Era\nRemembering the Complicity in the North\nCompromising with Racism during the Civil Rights Movement\nOrganizing the Religious Right at the End of the Twentieth Century\nReconsidering Racial Reconciliation in the Age of Black Lives Matter\nCultural Apologetics\n17 Units, Self-paced, Paul M. Gould\nThe New Testament in Its World\n37 Units, Self-paced, N. T. Wright, Michael F. Bird\nAmerica's Religious History\n16 Units, Self-paced, Thomas S. Kidd","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Age: 35 \u2022 Attacking midfielder - Central\nAttacking midfielder - Central\nFabregas Detailed Stats\nCesc Fabregas has played less than 30% of the games in the league. We only show records for players who played more than 30% of the team played time.\nHow many goals did Cesc Fabregas score this season?\nHe has scored 0 times after 0 match days in the season 2022\/2023. This makes him the number 0 scorer in the so far. His conversion rate for shots to goals is 0.\nHow many assists does Cesc Fabregas have this season?\nCesc Fabregas has 0 assists after 0 match days in the season 2022\/2023. With these statistics he ranks number 0 in the . He also has a total of 0 chances created. With these statistics he ranks number 0 in the .\nHow are Cesc Fabregas's defensive skills?\nIn season 2022\/2023. He has won 0 aerial duels and 0 tackles. On top of this he made a total of 0 blocks. Based on these statistics after match day 0 he ranks on number 0 in the .\nWhat position does Cesc Fabregas play?\nHe is a Attacking midfielder - Central in . Within his team of he is currently ranked 0 best player of his team based on our 1vs1 Index .","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Bundled applications\nExtensibility\nServer arrangements\nPorts to other languages\nCMSs based on Django Framework\nDjango (web framework)\nOriginal author(s)\nAdrian Holovaty, Simon Willison\nDjango Software Foundation[1]\n21 July 2005; 16 years ago (2005-07-21)[2]\nStable release\n4.0.1[3] \/ 4 January 2022; 14 days ago (4 January 2022)\ngithub.com\/django\/django\nWritten in\nPython[1]\n8.9 MB[4]\nWeb framework[1]\n3-clause BSD[5]\nwww.djangoproject.com\nDjango (\/\u02c8d\u0292\u00e6\u014b\u0261o\u028a\/ JANG-goh; sometimes stylized as django)[6] is a Python-based free and open-source web framework that follows the model\u2013template\u2013views (MTV) architectural pattern.[7][8] It is maintained by the Django Software Foundation (DSF), an independent organization established in the US as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.\nDjango's primary goal is to ease the creation of complex, database-driven websites. The framework emphasizes reusability and \"pluggability\" of components, less code, low coupling, rapid development, and the principle of don't repeat yourself.[9] Python is used throughout, even for settings, files, and data models. Django also provides an optional administrative create, read, update and delete interface that is generated dynamically through introspection and configured via admin models.\nSome well-known sites that use Django include Instagram,[10] Mozilla,[11] Disqus,[12] Bitbucket,[13] Nextdoor[14] and Clubhouse.[15]\nDjango was created in the fall of 2003, when the web programmers at the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper, Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison, began using Python to build applications. Jacob Kaplan-Moss was hired early in Django's development shortly before Simon Willison's internship ended.[16] It was released publicly under a BSD license in July 2005. The framework was named after guitarist Django Reinhardt.[17] Adrian Holovaty is a Romani jazz guitar player and a big fan of Django Reinhardt.\nIn June 2008, it was announced that a newly formed Django Software Foundation (DSF) would maintain Django in the future.[18]\nScreenshot of the Django admin interface for modifying a user account\nDespite having its own nomenclature, such as naming the callable objects generating the HTTP responses \"views\",[7] the core Django framework can be seen as an MVC architecture.[8] It consists of an object-relational mapper (ORM) that mediates between data models (defined as Python classes) and a relational database (\"Model\"), a system for processing HTTP requests with a web templating system (\"View\"), and a regular-expression-based URL dispatcher (\"Controller\").\nAlso included in the core framework are:\na lightweight and standalone web server for development and testing\na form serialization and validation system that can translate between HTML forms and values suitable for storage in the database\na template system that utilizes the concept of inheritance borrowed from object-oriented programming\na caching framework that can use any of several cache methods\nsupport for middleware classes that can intervene at various stages of request processing and carry out custom functions\nan internal dispatcher system that allows components of an application to communicate events to each other via pre-defined signals\nan internationalization system, including translations of Django's own components into a variety of languages\na serialization system that can produce and read XML and\/or JSON representations of Django model instances\na system for extending the capabilities of the template engine\nan interface to Python's built-in unit test framework\nThe main Django distribution also bundles a number of applications in its \"contrib\" package, including:\nan extensible authentication system\nthe dynamic administrative interface\ntools for generating RSS and Atom syndication feeds\na \"Sites\" framework that allows one Django installation to run multiple websites, each with their own content and applications\ntools for generating Google Sitemaps\nbuilt-in mitigation for cross-site request forgery, cross-site scripting, SQL injection, password cracking and other typical web attacks, most of them turned on by default[19][20]\na framework for creating GIS applications\nDjango's configuration system allows third party code to be plugged into a regular project, provided that it follows the reusable app[21] conventions. More than 2500 packages[22] are available to extend the framework's original behavior, providing solutions to issues the original tool didn't tackle: registration, search, API provision and consumption, CMS, etc.\nThis extensibility is, however, mitigated by internal components' dependencies. While the Django philosophy implies loose coupling,[23] the template filters and tags assume one engine implementation, and both the auth and admin bundled applications require the use of the internal ORM. None of these filters or bundled apps are mandatory to run a Django project, but reusable apps tend to depend on them, encouraging developers to keep using the official stack in order to benefit fully from the apps ecosystem.\nDjango can be run in conjunction with Apache, Nginx using WSGI, Gunicorn, or Cherokee using flup (a Python module).[24][25] Django also includes the ability to launch a FastCGI server, enabling use behind any web server which supports FastCGI, such as Lighttpd or Hiawatha. It is also possible to use other WSGI-compliant web servers.[26] Django officially supports five database backends: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and Oracle. Microsoft SQL Server can be used with django-mssql while similarly external backends exist for IBM Db2,[27] SQL Anywhere[28] and Firebird.[29] There is a fork named django-nonrel, which supports NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB and Google App Engine's Datastore.[30]\nDjango may also be run in conjunction with Jython on any Java EE application server such as GlassFish or JBoss. In this case django-jython must be installed in order to provide JDBC drivers for database connectivity, which also can provide functionality to compile Django in to a .war suitable for deployment.[31]\nGoogle App Engine includes support for Django version 1.x.x[32] as one of the bundled frameworks.\nThe Django team will occasionally designate certain releases to be \"long-term support\" (LTS) releases.[33] LTS releases will get security and data loss fixes applied for a guaranteed period of time, typically 3+ years, regardless of the pace of releases afterwards.\nDate[34]\nNotes[35]\nOld version, no longer maintained: 0.90[36] 16 Nov 2005\nOld version, no longer maintained: 0.91[37] 11 Jan 2006 \"new-admin\"\nOld version, no longer maintained: 0.95[38] 29 Jul 2006 \"magic removal\"\nOld version, no longer maintained: 0.96[39] 23 Mar 2007 \"newforms\", testing tools\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.0[40] 3 Sep 2008 API stability, decoupled admin, unicode\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.1[41] 29 Jul 2009 Aggregates, transaction based tests\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.2[42] 17 May 2010 Multiple db connections, CSRF, model validation\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.3[43] 23 Mar 2011 Class based views, staticfiles\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.4 LTS[44] 23 Mar 2012 Time zones, in browser testing, app templates.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.5[45] 26 Feb 2013 Python 3 Support, configurable user model\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.6[46] 6 Nov 2013 Dedicated to Malcolm Tredinnick, db transaction management, connection pooling.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.7[47] 2 Sep 2014 Migrations, application loading and configuration.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.8 LTS[48] 1 Apr 2015 Native support for multiple template engines. Support ended on 1 April 2018\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.9[49] 1 Dec 2015 Automatic password validation. New styling for admin interface.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.10[50] 1 Aug 2016 Full text search for PostgreSQL. New-style middleware.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 1.11 LTS[51] 4 Apr 2017 Last version to support Python 2.7. Support ended on 1 April 2020\nOld version, no longer maintained: 2.0[52] 2 Dec 2017 First Python 3-only release, Simplified URL routing syntax, Mobile friendly admin.\nOld version, no longer maintained: 2.1[53] 1 Aug 2018 Model \"view\" permission.\nOlder version, yet still maintained: 2.2 LTS[54] 1 Apr 2019 Security release. Supported until at least April 2022\nOld version, no longer maintained: 3.0[55] 2 Dec 2019 ASGI support\nOld version, no longer maintained: 3.1[56] 4 Aug 2020 Asynchronous views and middleware\nOlder version, yet still maintained: 3.2 LTS[57] 6 Apr 2021 Extended Support until at least April 2024\nCurrent stable version: 4.0[58] 7 Dec 2021 Extended Support until at least April 2023\nFuture release: 4.1[58] Aug 2022 Extended Support until at least December 2023\nFuture release: 4.2 LTS[58] April 2023 Extended Support until at least April 2026\nFuture release: 5.0[58] December 2023 Extended Support until at least April 2025\nOlder version, still maintained\nLatest preview version\nThere is a semiannual conference for Django developers and users, named \"DjangoCon\", that has been held since September 2008. DjangoCon is held annually in Europe, in May or June;[59] while another is held in the United States in August or September, in various cities.[60] The 2012 DjangoCon took place in Washington, D.C., from 3 to 8 September. 2013 DjangoCon was held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the post-conference Sprints were hosted at Digital Bootcamp, computer training center.[61] The 2014 DjangoCon US returned to Portland, OR from 30 August to 6 September. The 2015 DjangoCon US was held in Austin, TX from 6 to 11 September at the AT&T Executive Center. The 2016 DjangoCon US was held in Philadelphia, PA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from 17 to 22 July.[62] The 2017 DjangoCon US was held in Spokane, WA;[63] in 2018 DjangoCon US was held in San Diego, CA.[64] DjangoCon US 2019 was held again in San Diego, CA from Sept 22\u201327.\nDjango mini-conferences are usually held every year as part of the Australian Python Conference 'PyCon AU'.[65] Previously, these mini-conferences have been held in:\nHobart, Australia, in July 2013,\nBrisbane, Australia, in August 2014 and 2015,\nMelbourne, Australia in August 2016 and 2017, and\nSydney, Australia, in August 2018 and 2019.\nDjango has spawned user groups and meetups around the world,[66] the most notable group is the Django Girls organization, which began in Poland but now has had events in 91 countries.[67][68]\nProgrammers have ported Django's template engine design from Python to other languages, providing decent cross-platform support. Some of these options are more direct ports; others, though inspired by Django and retaining its concepts, take the liberty to deviate from Django's design:\nLiquid for Ruby[69]\nTemplate::Swig for Perl[70]\nTwig for PHP and JavaScript[71][72]\nJinja for Python[73]\nErlyDTL for Erlang[74]\nDjango as a framework is capable of building a complete CMS, however there are dedicated CMS project which are built upon and extend the Django framework. Below is list of a few of the more popular Django-based CMSs:\nDjango CMS[75]\nFree and open-source software portal\nFlask (web framework)\nPylons project\nComparison of web frameworks\n^ a b c \"django\/README\". GitHub. Retrieved 8 September 2020.\n^ \"Django FAQ\". Retrieved 27 March 2019.\n^ \"Django security releases issued: 4.0.1, 3.2.11, and 2.2.26\". 4 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.\n^ \"Django Download\". Retrieved 7 August 2020.\n^ \"django\/LICENSE\". GitHub. Retrieved 8 September 2020.\n^ \"FAQ: General - Django documentation - Django\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ a b \"FAQ: General - Django documentation - Django\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ a b Adrian Holovaty, Jacob Kaplan-Moss; et al. The Django Book. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2013. Django follows this MVC pattern closely enough that it can be called an MVC framework\n^ \"Design Philosophies\". Django. Retrieved 18 March 2018.\n^ \"What Powers Instagram: Hundreds of Instances, Dozens of Technologies\". Instagram Engineering.\n^ \"Python\". Mozilla Developer Network. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ Robenolt, Matt. \"Scaling Django to 8 Billion Page Views\". blog.disqus.com.\n^ \"DjangoSuccessStoryBitbucket \u2013 Django\". Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"The anti-Facebook: one in four American neighborhoods are now using this private social network\". The Verge. Retrieved 16 June 2016.\n^ Demi, Luke (15 August 2021). \"Reining in the thundering herd \u26c8 Getting to 80% CPU utilization with Django\". Clubhouse Blog. Retrieved 16 August 2021.\n^ \"What is the history of the Django web framework? Why has it been described as \"developed in a newsroom\"?\". Retrieved 18 October 2019.\n^ \"Introducing Django\". The Django Book. Retrieved 29 July 2018.\n^ \"Announcing the Django Software Foundation - Weblog - Django\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Security in Django\". Django Project. Retrieved 25 March 2013.\n^ Socol, James (2012). \"Best Basic Security Practices (Especially with Django)\". Retrieved 25 March 2013.\n^ \"What is a reusable app? \u2014 django-reusable-app-docs 0.1.0 documentation\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Django Packages\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Design philosophies - Django documentation - Django\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Django documentation of deployment\". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.\n^ \"Cherokee Web Server - Cookbook Setting up Django - Cherokee Documentation\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ How to use Django with Apache and mod_wsgi Archived 8 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Official Django documentation.\n^ ibmdb. \"GitHub - ibmdb\/python-ibmdb: Automatically exported from code.google.com\/p\/ibm-db\". GitHub. Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ maxirobaina. \"GitHub - maxirobaina\/django-firebird: Firebird SQL backend for django\". GitHub. Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Django non-rel\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ beachmachine. \"GitHub - beachmachine\/django-jython: Database backends and extensions for Django development on top of Jython\". GitHub. Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ Running Pure Django Projects on Google App Engine. Code.google.com (1 November 2010). Retrieved on 5 December 2011.\n^ \"Django's release process - Django documentation - Django\". Retrieved 30 April 2016.\n^ \"Download Django - Django\". www.djangoproject.com.\n^ \"FAQ: Installation - Django documentation - Django\". docs.djangoproject.com.\n^ \"Introducing Django 0.90\". Django weblog. Retrieved 2 February 2013.\n^ \"Django 0.91 released\". Django weblog. Retrieved 2 February 2013.\n^ \"Announcing Django 0.96!\". Django weblog. Retrieved 2 February 2013.\n^ \"Django 1.0 released!\". Django weblog. Retrieved 2 February 2013.\n^ \"Django 1.1 released\". Django weblog. Retrieved 2 February 2013.\n^ \"Django 1.5 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 27 February 2013.\n^ \"Django 1.6 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 6 November 2013.\n^ \"Django 1.7 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 4 September 2014.\n^ \"Django 1.8 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 2 April 2015.\n^ \"Django 1.9 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 1 December 2015.\n^ \"Django 1.10 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 1 August 2016.\n^ \"Django 1.11 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 4 April 2017.\n^ \"Django 2.1 released\" Django weblog. Retrieved 2 August 2018.\n^ Django 2.2.3 release notes. Retrieved 1 July 2019.\n^ Django 3.0 release notes. Retrieved 2 December 2019.\n^ Django 3.1 release notes. Retrieved 5 August 2020.\n^ \"Django 3.2 release notes | Django documentation | Django\". 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.\n^ a b c d \"Download Django | Django\". www.djangoproject.com.\n^ DjangoCon EU series Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Lanyrd.com\n^ DjangoCon US series Archived 2 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Lanyrd.com\n^ \"DjangoCon\". DjangoCon. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.\n^ \"DjangoCon\". DjangoCon. Retrieved 1 December 2016.\n^ \"DjangoCon\". DjangoCon.\n^ DjangoCon AU. Djangocon.com.au. Retrieved on 2019-12-16.\n^ \"Django groups\". Meetup.\n^ \"Lawrence-born Django, which revolutionized website construction, celebrating its 10th anniversary\". Lawrence Journal-World. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2019.\n^ \"Django Girls - start your journey with programming\". Retrieved 21 October 2019.\n^ Shopify. \"\u2013 Liquid template language\". Liquid template language.\n^ \"Template::Swig - Perl interface to Django-inspired Swig templating engine. - metacpan.org\". metacpan.org.\n^ Symfony. \"Home - Twig - The flexible, fast, and secure PHP template engine\". twig.sensiolabs.org.\n^ \"twigjs\/twig.js\". GitHub.\n^ \"Welcome - Jinja2 (The Python Template Engine)\". jinja.pocoo.org.\n^ \"erlydtl\/erlydtl\". GitHub.\n^ \"django CMS - Enterprise Content Management with Django - django CMS\". www.django-cms.org. Retrieved 11 November 2020.\nJaiswal, Sanjeev; Kumar, Ratan (22 June 2015), Learning Django Web Development (1st ed.), Packt, p. 405, ISBN 978-1783984404\nRavindrun, Arun (31 March 2015), Django Design Patterns and Best Practices (1st ed.), Packt, p. 180, ISBN 978-1783986644\nOsborn, Tracy (May 2015), Hello Web App (1st ed.), Tracy Osborn, p. 142, ISBN 978-0986365911\nBendoraitis, Aidas (October 2014), Web Development with Django Cookbook (1st ed.), Packt, p. 294, ISBN 978-1783286898\nBaumgartner, Peter; Malet, Yann (2015), High Performance Django (1st ed.), Lincoln Loop, p. 184, ISBN 978-1508748120\nElman, Julia; Lavin, Mark (2014), Lightweight Django (1st ed.), O'Reilly Media, p. 246, ISBN 978-1491945940\nPercival, Harry (2014), Test-Driven Development with Python (1st ed.), O'Reilly Media, p. 480, ISBN 978-1449364823\nThis list is an extraction from Current Django Books\nWikimedia Commons has media related to Django (web framework).\nPython web frameworks\nCherryPy\nNagare\nNevow\nTurboGears\nTwistedWeb\nZope 2\nDynamic Data\nOpenRasta\nWebSharper\nCppCMS\nDrogon\nCFWheels\nColdBox Platform\nColdSpring\nFusebox\nModel-Glue\nCaveman2\nCL-HTTP\nWeblocks\nYesod\nFlexive\nICEfaces\nItsNat\nJHipster\nJspx\nRemote Application Platform\nRIFE\nVaadin\nVert.x\nAngular\/AngularJS\nChaplin.js\nDojo Toolkit\nOpenUI5\nSproutCore\nWakanda\nMojolicious\nWebGUI\nFat-Free\nKohana\nPhalcon\nPHP-Fusion\nPop PHP\nProcessWire\nQcodo\nSilverStripe\nBlueBream\nPyjs\nMerb\nScalatra\nAIDA\/Web\nApplication Express (PL\/SQL)\nGrails (Groovy)\nOpenACS (Tcl)\nPhoenix (Elixir)\nSproutCore (JavaScript-Ruby)\nYaws (Erlang)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"BettingPro \/ Darts \/ 2023 PDC World Darts Championship Tips: How To Get 7\/1 Peter Wright To Win PDC World Championship Darts 2023\n2023 PDC World Darts Championship Tips: How To Get 7\/1 Peter Wright To Win PDC World Championship Darts 2023\nDave Kuzio \/ Jul 18, 2022\nPeter Wright was crowned PDC World Darts Champion at the Ally Pally on Monday evening, and online bookmaker Paddy Power is now offering new and existing customers the chance to claim a boosted 7\/1 on the world number two retaining the title in 2023 and being a three-time champion.\nREAD MORE: Check out our free darts betting tips & predictions\n2023 PDC World Darts ChampionshipPDC Darts\nPeter Wright to win 2023 PDC World Darts Championship @ 7\/1 Claim Here\nPLEASE NOTE: 18+. New & existing customers. Odds correct at time of publication. Odds subject to fluctuation. T&Cs apply.\nPeter Wright proved to everyone he is one of the best darts players in the world after beating Michael Smith 7-5 at Alexandra Palace on Monday to win the PDC World Darts Championship for the second time in three years.\nThe Scot, who collected a cheque for \u00a3500,000 and the Sid Waddell Trophy, averaged 98.34 and threw 17 180s as he fought back from 5-4 down to win the final three sets.\nWright won nine of the last 10 legs of the game to be crowned champion \u2013 averaging 113.93.\nThe crowd felt for Smith. The St Helens thrower has yet to win a TV title, but Wright believes he is the future of darts and once he wins his first major title then he will go on to dominate everybody.\nFor now, all eyes are on Wright. Online bookmaker Paddy Power is offering new and existing customers to get ahead of the pack by backing him to retain his title next year at 7\/1.\nVisit the Paddy Power website\nSign into your account or register for a new one\nSelect Darts from the list of sports that you can bet on\nSelect Peter Wright to win 2023 PDC World Darts Championship under Power Prices\nClick on the yellow '7\/1' odds box for this Power Price\nEnter your stake into the betslip (a \u00a310 bet returns \u00a380)\nPlace your bet\nIf Peter Wright wins the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power will pay out your winnings in cash.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Drivin' N' Cryin' to release their first record in twelve years \"GREAT AMERICAN BUBBLE FACTORY,\" September 29TH\nBy CMP on July 21, 2009 in News\n\"Crunching hard rock is the drivin' part, brittle countryish balladry the cryin', with the two linked by a heavy dose of Led Zeppelinphilia. If Paul Westerberg had grown up worshiping Angus Young instead of Alex Chilton, the Replacements might sound something like this youthful Atlanta trio.\" Rolling Stone review of Whisper Tames the Lion\nATLANTA, GA \u2013 Drivin' N' Cryin' will put out their first record in twelve years. Great American Bubble Factory will be released on September 29, 2009 on Vintage Earth Music with marketing and distribution provided by Thirty Tigers\/RED. \"This record is the perfect crescendo to a long twenty-plus year career of the band. I think we've found the true essence of what we started to build back in 1985,\" says Kevn Kinney.\nDrivin' N' Cryin' originally started recording demos for this album on September 10, 2001. After 9\/11 the band abandoned the sessions after deciding the time wasn't right for their stories of blue-collar optimism. They returned to Sonica Studios in Atlanta earlier this year where the band produced the album in collaboration with Anton Fier, who produced their 1987 album Whisper Tames the Lion and James Barber, their ex-manager-turned-producer.\nThis record moves from the \"Midwestern Blues\" to the Flannery O'Connor South of \"This Town\" to the industrial grind of \"Detroit City\" to the optimistic anthem (and Dictators cover) \"I Stand Tall\" to the genuine pining for home in \"I See Georgia.\"\nThe current DNC line up is: Kevn Kinney (guitar & vocals), Tim Nielsen (bass, mandolin & backing vocals), Mac Carter (guitar), Dave V. Johnson (drums, percussion & backing vocals). The band will be on tour throughout the fall, tour dates will be announced soon.\nYou can hear a preview of \"Detroit City\" on the band's myspace page: http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/drivinncryin\nalbum, american, cryin, drivin n cryin, fall tour dates, flannery o connor, Great, kevn kinney, Paul Westerberg, Whisper\nJ.B. Beverley and the Wayward Drifters \"Watch America Roll By\" Helltrain\nSAM BUSH TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR INSTRUMENTALIS","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Space Coast Progressive Alliance\nThe Future of the American Experiment is in Your Hands\nAbout SCPA\nSCPA Activities\n1st Thursdays\nProgressive Fest\nProgressive Celebration\nSubmit eNews Item\nSubmit Action Alert\nSerody: Who are the Real Terrorists?\nWritten by Bob Serody, Team SCPA\nIssue: Guns in the USA, cont'd.\nWho are the Real Terrorists?\nBy Bob Serody\nEvery time we look at ourselves in the mirror, we miss what really makes us unique when compared to other countries. It is a legacy that passes down from generation to generation: that we individually have the right to bear arms. Although we act shocked at incidents like Sandy Hook Elementary School, many of us eventually shrug it off by saying it has nothing to do with our gun culture. Rather it occurred because the perpetrator was either mentally sick or he was simply a terrorist.\nA friend recently reminded me that the recent shooting in San Bernardino, California, \"was a normal occurrence, just an ordinary, and a very insignificant, happening in our nation on a typical day\". He also mentioned \"31,000 Americans are killed in an average year due to gun violence in this country, or about 85 people daily, according to The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and indirectly, from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That is about the same number of Americans who are killed in car accidents each year, about 33,000 fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute.\"\nHis point was that \"Americans did not wring their hands over the other 71-people killed in the unrelated gun deaths that occurred on the same day as the San Bernardino event, killings that occurred elsewhere in the United States. They don't wring their hands over the others because they know that gun-violence is normal for our culture.\"\nIn fact, \"compared to normal gun death rates in the United States, war is a good deal less violent. According to a Mother Jones report here, more Americans are shot to death over a 25-year stretch than have died in every war since the United States was founded in 1776!\"\n\"Imagine that.\", he continued. \"More Americans have been shot to death in the last 25-years than all the Americans who ever died in every war America ever fought over the last 239 years, including the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and all others combined.\"\nHis comments definitely put things into perspective. \"Soaring gun death rates are normal for our way of life; they are part of what defines the United States and what defines its citizens; it describes who we are as a people, and what we have become as a nation.\"\nHe continued. \"From these facts it is clear, no terrorist can ever do to Americans what Americans regularly do to themselves. The word terrorism loses all meaning in a nation filled to the brim with gruesome murders from handguns, assault rifles, and anything that can fire a bullet. The thought of \"terrorism\" is a concept at which Americans could quite justifiably laugh. For how terrifying can any foreign savage be with his rare killings and his empty threats when gun-deaths are nearly as commonplace here as fatal car accidents?\"\nHe concluded, \"The only real terrorist threat by far to Americans isn't ISIL or al-Qaeda; it's the NRA, a true terrorist organization that has made war on Americans and which has the actual means to carry it out. The NRA's most potent weapon consists of fourteen words in a 224-year old piece of parchment that allows the NRA's generals and its foot soldiers to keep the conflict raging indefinitely, preventing any hope of peace in this war torn land. Year after endless year, the NRA and those fourteen words it uses as a bulwark against logic, against common sense, and against rationality make it possible to fell another 31,000 Americans in their merciless and relentless bloodbath.\"\n\"Thus, only the greatest of fools would be afraid of foreign-born terrorists, given the real danger from within, the NRA and its most potent weapon, a cancer hatched from our own Constitution that kills the citizens that the Constitution is designed to protect, a weapon that promotes this threat and guarantees that the extreme death rates will exist in perpetuity.\"\nMy friend, by branding the NRA as a terrorist organization was, in effect, saying that it, along with the gun manufacturers it serves, must take ultimate responsibility for the high rate of gun deaths in the United States, regardless of whether they fall in the categories of robberies, murders, domestic violence, and even acts of terrorism. The laws that permit easy access to efficient killing machines also brand lawmakers, who support the NRA's agenda by accepting campaign donations from its lobbyists, as conspirators for selling themselves to the highest bidder. Finally, the people who elect these lawmakers must share the blame for these murders.\nIt reminds me of an episode in the TV program, Law and Order, where the DA demonstrated how easy it was to commit mass murder with the weapon used to kill a large number of people in Central Park. He did this be pouring all the bullets held by the magazine onto the table in front of the jury. The gun manufacturer was on trial, but in the end, in spite of the guilty verdict by the jury, the judge reversed the decision, saying that the law was clear. The manufacturer had the right to supply these weapons to the public.\nIt also reminds me of the gun ranges which invite family participation, including young children, to fire Uzi machine guns. In one particular event, the child accidentally shot and killed the instructor.\nMy friend's condemnation prompted me to look for a solution to the dilemma. I recalled that in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead, retired Justice John Paul Stevens was looking for ways to prevent a repeat. His answer was to write a book that proposed no fewer than six changes to the Constitution, of which two are directly linked to guns. The book, \"Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution,\" was published two days after Stevens' 94th birthday.\nOne amendment would allow Congress to force state participation in gun checks, while the second would change the Second Amendment to permit gun control. He acknowledged that his proposed change would \"allow Congress to do something unthinkable in today's environment: ban gun ownership altogether.\" Although he knew that \"changing the Second Amendment was pretty remote,\" Stevens said, \"The purpose is to cause further reflection over a period of time, because\u2026with ample time and reflection, people in the United States would come to the same conclusion that people in other countries have.\"\nAnd that is the point. With 300 million guns in private hands in the United States, it's very difficult to devise a non-intrusive, \"common-sense\" approach to regulating their exchange by individuals. Ultimately, you need more than background checks; you need many fewer guns in circulation, period.\nThese changes will not occur overnight. It will probably not occur in my lifetime or possibly even in the lifetime of the next generation. But I believe it will occur if we can overcome the power of the corporations to influence the elections. Universal background checks and the banning of semiautomatic weapons are simply common sense. The recent defeat of the bill in Congress to prevent the ownership of guns by those placed on the terrorist watch list, and even the resistance by the NRA to allow the sale of guns with fail-safe fingerprint identification, indicates who the real culprits are in explaining the number of deaths due to gun violence. Certainly, the legal possession of semiautomatic weapons among the public will continue to contribute to the number of murders in future incidents, but who's counting?\nSo the next time we all look in the mirror, it is time to recognize we are still living in the age of our own revolution. It will take some time to educate ourselves that we are now living in the 21st century.\nBob Serody is a member of Space Coast Progressive Alliance\nCarl Freitag: Why Men Love Guns\nhttp:\/\/www.scpaflorida.com\/item\/3106-freitag-why-men-love-guns\nCompiled by Team SCPA\nLast modified on Sunday, 07 February 2016 14:50\nBrevard Politics\nMore in this category: \u00ab SCPA 1st Thurs: Black Lives, Voices, Minds, Children Matter\tSerody: Jan. 17 Democratic National Debate \u00bb\nSearch SCPA\nSCPA Blogs\nAsk Gregory\nOpinion Still Matters\nCompassionate Progressive\nLabor Line\nRick Spisak\nClean Elections\nOccupy!\nWhat is a Progressive?\nIndependent News\nOnline Resource Links\nLogin to contribute content to the site.\nProgressive Calendar\nYou are here: Home Articles Serody: Who are the Real Terrorists?\nMy Body is a Confederate Monument!\nWritten by Team SCPA\nTime Enough at Last?\nWritten by Bob Serody\nPlease Join or Renew Today!\nYour Mail. Your Vote. Your Voice.\nFLARA Retiree Newsletter\nThe Space Coast Progressive Alliance advances progressive policies at the local, state and national level through support of political candidates, education on critical issues, coordination of activities among local and state progressive organizations, and providing internet resources. We are a grassroots organization of concerned citizens who strive for domestic and international policies beneficial to the well-being and self-determination of Americans and all peoples of the world, for protection of civil and personal liberties, and for progressive environmental, economic, labor, health care, social welfare, education, foreign, and defense policies.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"in: 1221\n1219 1219 1220 - 1221 - 1222 1223 1224\nDecades:\n1190s 1200s 1210s - 1220s - 1230s 1240s 1250s\nCenturies:\n12th century - 13th century - 14th century\n1221 by topic\nState leaders \u2013 Sovereign states\nBirth and death categories\nCategory: Establishments \u2013 Disestablishments\nBirths \u2013 Deaths \u2013 Works\nArt and literature\n1221 in poetry\n1221 in other calendars\nGregorian calendar 1221\nMCCXXI\nArmenian calendar 670\n\u0539\u054e \u0548\u0540\nBah\u00e1'\u00ed calendar -623 \u2013 -622\nBuddhist calendar 1765\nCoptic calendar 937 \u2013 938\nEthiopian calendar 1213 \u2013 1214\nHebrew calendar 4981 \u2013 4982\nHindu calendars\nHolocene calendar 11221\nIranian calendar 599 \u2013 600\nIslamic calendar 617 \u2013 618\n- Imperial Year K\u014dki 1881\n(\u7687\u7d001881\u5e74)\nJulian calendar 1266\nKorean calendar 3554\nThai solar calendar 1764\n2 Births\n3 Deaths\n4 People of the year 1221 at Familypedia\n5 Events of the year 1221 at Familypedia\nEvents[]\nMay 13 - End of the reign of Emperor Juntoku, emperor of Japan\nEmperor Ch\u016bky\u014d briefly reigns over Japan\nFormer Emperor Go-Toba leads an unsuccessful rebellion against the Kamakura Shogunate\nEmperor Go-Horikawa ascends to the throne of Japan\nJanuary - Mongol Army under Jochi captures the city of Gurganj (now Kunya-Urgench), and massacres the inhabitants, reported by contemporary scholars as being over a million killed, although probably only a fifth or a tenth of that in reality.\nFebruary - Merv sacked by the Mongols under Tolui at the orders of Genghis Khan. Contemporary scholars report over a million people were systematically killed in the aftermath.\nRevolt against rulers of Chichen Itza by Maya of the Yucat\u00e1n\nNizhny Novgorod City (Russia) was founded.\nA large and highly efficient Mongol army, despatched under Subutai by Genghis Khan to Georgia defeats two Georgian armies around Tbilisi, but lacks the will or equipment to besiege the city.\nGenghis Khan enters the Indus Valley.\nBirths[]\nOctober 9 - Salimbene di Adam, Italian chronicler\nNovember 23 - King Alfonso X of Castile (died 1284)\nBonaventure, Italian theologian and saint (died 1274)\nBoleslaus the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland (died 1279)\nDeaths[]\nAugust 6 - Saint Dominic, Spanish founder of the Dominicans (born 1170)\nOctober 4 - William III Talvas, Count of Ponthieu (born 1179)\nOctober 21 - Alix of Thouars, Duchess of Brittany (born 1201)\nRoger Bigod\nThis page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at 1221. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.\nPeople of the year 1221 at Familypedia\n15 people were born in 1221\nAge mother at birth\nAlfonso X of Castile (1221-1284) Ferdinand III, King of Castile (1199-1252) Elisabeth von Staufen (1203-1235)\nIsabel de Maudit (c1221-c1268) William de Maudit Alice de Beaumont (c1200-bef1263)\nCl\u00e9mence de Orreby (-1258) Philip de Orreby (-1230) Leuca de Mohaut (-1227)\nConstance of Poland (c1221-1257) Henry II the Pious of Poland (c1196-1241) Anne of Bohemia (1204-1265)\nPrzemys\u0142 I of Pozna\u0144 (c1221-1257) W\u0142adys\u0142aw Odonic of Pozna\u0144 (c1190-1239) Hedwig Unknown (?-1249)\nAleksandra Bryachislavna of Polotsk (c1221-c1265) Bryachislav Vasilkovich of Polotsk (c1200-c1250)\nVasili Andreyevich of Vyazma (c1221-c1250) Andrei Vladimirovich Dolgaya Ruka of Vyazma (c1205-1223)\nThi\u00e9baut II de Bar (c1221-1291) Henri II de Bar (1190-1239) Philippa de Dreux (1192-1242)\nRichard de Verney (c1221-) Harvey de Verney (c1188-)\nB\u00e9atrice de Beaujeu (1221-c1268) Humbert V de Beaujeu (1198-1250) Marguerite de Baug\u00e9 (1200-1252)\nHugues XI de Lusignan (1221-1250) Hugues X de Lusignan (c1189-1249) Isabelle of Angoul\u00eame (1186-1246)\nMathieu III de Montmorency (1221-1270) Bouchard VI de Montmorency (1201-1243) Isabeau de Laval (1201-1244)\nMarguerite de Provence (1221-1295) Ramon Berenguer IV de Provence (1195-1245) B\u00e9atrice de Savoie (1205-1266)\nOlga Olgovna of Kursk (c1211-c1270) Oleg Svyatoslavich of Kursk (c1185-c1230)\nFriedrich von Vianden (1221-1247) Heinrich I. von Vianden (c1175-1252) Marguerite de Courtenay (1194-1270)\n21 children were born to the 6 women born in 1221\n22 people died in 1221\nRoger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk (c1144-1221) Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk (1095-1177) Juliana de Vere (c1116-1199)\nThierry de Mellier (c1143-bef1221) Albert I de Chiny (c1086-bef1162) Agn\u00e8s de Bar (c1120-c1167)\nWalter de Lindsay, 1st of Lamberton (-1221) William de Lindsay (c1148-c1200) Aleanore de Limesay (-1200)\nMarie de Tournai (c1185-aft1221) Baudouin de Tournai (c1150-aft1208) Hildrade de Wavrin\nIaroslava Ryurikovna (c1174-c1221) Ryurik II Rostislavich of Kiev (c1137-1212) Anna Yuryevna of Turov (c1152-c1209)\nMariya Mstislavna of Smolensk (c1187-1220) Mstislav III Romanovich of Kiev (c1160-1223)\nDietrich von Mei\u00dfen (1162-1221) Otto von Mei\u00dfen (c1116-1190) Hedwig von Brandenburg (-1203)\nFriedrich II. von Brehna und Wettin (c1165-1221) Friedrich I. von Brehna (c1142-1191) Hedwig von B\u00f6hmen-Jamnitz (c1154-1211)\nWilliam of Aubigny (c1175-1221) William of Aubigny (c1139-1193) Maud de St. Hilary (c1136-1195)\nAlix of Alen\u00e7on (1150-1221) Jean I of Alen\u00e7on (c1117-1191) B\u00e9atrix du Maine (1133-c1190)\nWilliam IV of Ponthieu (1179-1221) Jean de Ponthieu (c1140-1191) B\u00e9atrix de Saint-Pol (c1155-c1202)\nBereng\u00e1ria of Portugal (c1195-1221) Sancho I of Portugal (1154-1212) Dulce of Aragon (1160-1198)\nGuy de Chappes (c1165-1221) Cl\u00e9rambaud III de Chappes Ermengarde de Montlh\u00e9ry (1135-1175)\nEbles V de Ventadour (c1152-1221) Ebles IV de Ventadour (1108-1170) Agn\u00e8s de Montpellier (1135-c1182)\nAlix de Thouars (1201-1221) Guy de Thouars (c1254-1213) Constance de Bretagne (1161-1201)\n... further results\n1000 people lived in 1221\nAleksandr Vsevolodovich of Belz (c1180-c1235) Vsevolod Mstislavich of Volhynia (c1160-1196)\nDanilo Kobyakovich (c1180-1223) Konchak Khan (c1120-c1203)\nDervorguilla of Galloway (c1210-1290) Alan, Lord of Galloway (c1175-1234) Margaret of Huntingdon (c1194-aft1233)\nJohn fitzRobert (c1190-1240) Robert fitzRoger (-1214) Margaret de Chesney\nKirill II, Bishop of Rostov (c1180-1262)\nMaria of Cumania (c1185-c1260) Kotyan Khan (c1165-1241)\nMarina Vladimirovna (1215-1238) Vladimir IV Ryurikovich of Kiev (1187-1239)\nMorta (c1210-1262)\nOleg Ingvarevich Krasnyi (c1215-1258) Ingvar Igoryevich of Ryazan (c1190-1235)\nOleg Yuryevich (c1190-1237) Yuri Yuryevich of Murom (c1170-c1224)\nRostislav Mstislavich of Smolensk (c1212-c1241) Mstislav Davydovich of Smolensk (the younger) (1193-1230)\nRyngold (c1175-c1236) Algimantas\nTreniota (c1210-1264) Vykintas (c1200-1253)\nTverdislav Mikhalkovich (c1165-c1125) Mikhalko Stepanich (c1140-c1215)\nVsevolod Yuryevich of Novgorod (c1212-1238) Yuri II Vsevolodovich of Vladimir (1189-1238)\nEvents of the year 1221 at Familypedia\n19 people were married in 1221.\nJoined with\nAlexander II of Scotland (1198-1249) Joan of England (1210-1238) + Marie de Coucy (c1218-1285)\nJoan of England (1210-1238) Alexander II of Scotland (1198-1249)\nPhilippe I de Poitiers (c1201-1226) Isabella I of Armenia (c1217-1252)\nIsabella I of Armenia (c1217-1252) Philippe I de Poitiers (c1201-1226) + Hethum I of Barbaron (1215-1270)\nMarguerite de Bar (c1195-c1242) Heinrich von Salm (c1190-aft1228) + Henri de Dampierre\nJaime I de Arag\u00f3n (1208-1276) Eleanor of Castile (1202-1244) + Violant of Hungary (c1216-1253) + Teresa Gil de Vidaure (?-?) + Blanca d'Antill\u00f3n (?-?) + Berenguela Fern\u00e1ndez (?-?) + Elvira Sarroca (?-?)\nAgnes de Beaujeu (1200-1231) Teobaldo I de Navarra (1201-1253)\nTeobaldo I de Navarra (1201-1253) Gertrude of Dagsburg (c1190-1225) + Agnes of Beaujeu (1200-1231) + Marguerite de Bourbon (1211-1256)\nAgn\u00e8s II de Donzy (c1205-1225) Guy I de Ch\u00e2tillon (c1196-1226)\nGuy I de Ch\u00e2tillon (c1196-1226) Agn\u00e8s II de Donzy (c1205-1225)\nPetronille de Bigorre (c1190-1251) Gaston VI de B\u00e9arn (c1165-1214) + Nuno de Aragon + Guy de Montfort + Aymar de Rancon + Boson de Matha\nElisabeth de La Guerche (1210-c1257) Pierre de Chemill\u00e9 (1204-1248)\nJean II de Pierrepont (c1184-1251) Isabelle de Dreux (1188-aft1242) + Maria de Dammartin (c1220-c1279)\nPierre de Chemill\u00e9 (1204-1248) Elisabeth de La Guerche (1210-c1257)\nEleanor of Castile (1202-1244) Jaime I de Arag\u00f3n (1208-1276)\nThere were 0 military battles in 1221.\n0.015 3.5 0.022\n... more about \"1221\"\nBirth rate\n0.015 +\n3.5 +","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Intrinsa Patch Review \u2013 Is it Safe?\nIntrinsa Patch Overview\nMillions of women in the US suffer from female sexual dysfunction (FSD), particularly after having a hysterectomey. Proctor and Gamble developed the Intrinsa Patch, a transdermal delivery system that releases testosterone into the body. Testosterone is a hormone that is naturally found in both males and females. When the ovaries quit producing or are removed, testosterone levels crash and libido can also plummet. If you have FSD, could the Intrinsa Patch be the answer for you?\nIntrinsa Patch \u2013 Its Ingredients and How it Works\nFemale sexual dysfunction includes at least four conditions: a lack of desire, inability to feel arousal, painful intercourse, and failure to achieve orgasm. These problems are often most significant in women who have had their ovaries surgically removed and post menopausal women. Testosterone plays a significant role in sexual arousal. This hormone is normally produced by the ovaries and the adrenal gland. Once a woman has reached menopause or has a hysterectomy, testosterone is no longer produced in a meaningful quantity.\nThe Intrinsa Patch is designed to deliver a low dose of testosterone transdermally into the blood stream. Testosterone therapy is a systemic treatment so it needs to be continued for a few weeks or months to have a notable effect.\nThe Intrinsa Patch is applied to the skin of the abdomen and each patch should be worn three days. At the end of that time, another patch should be applied and worn another three days. Wait four days, then repeat the two-patch cycle.\nP&G studies show that 73% of women using the Intrinsa Patch over a six-month time frame reported favorable results. The women said that their satisfying sexual experiences per month increased fourfold over the course of the experiment.\nWho Would Benefit from Using the Intrinsa Patch?\nThe Intrinsa Patch is designed specifically with women who have had their ovaries surgically removed and is also used for women who have reached menopause naturally. The naturally menopausal women must also be using hormone replacement therapy to qualify for a prescription for the Intrinsa Patch.\nWhere Can I Buy the Intrinsa Patch?\nUnfortunately, if you live in the United States, you are not able to buy the Intrinsa Patch. The FDA has withheld approval of the hormone patch, citing concerns about safety. Since the discovery that estrogen therapy increased women's chances of having a stroke, the FDA wants to make sure testosterone supplements would not be a problem, too. Because many women would be taking the testosterone in conjunction with estrogen, the need for caution is understandable.\nAt this time, you cannot even order the Intrinsa Patch from pharmacies in the UK where it is approved. Unfortunately, the many women who may benefit from the use of this new patch will have to wait awhile longer to see if this is the FSD solution they have been seeking.\nHave You Heard News About The Intrinsa Patch? If So, Let us Know!\nRexaline Review - Does it Work?\nCelebrity Hairstyles With Bangs and Layers","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Lee Becomes General-in-Chief\nFebruary 11, 2020 WalterCoffey Military, Politics One comment\nFebruary 11, 1865 \u2013 Robert E. Lee issued his first order as the new general-in-chief of the Confederacy.\nConfederate Gen R.E. Lee | Image Credit: Wikispaces.com\nAs the Battle of Hatcher's Run took place and Lee attended Sunday church services in Petersburg, a messenger unofficially informed him that President Jefferson Davis would make him the Confederacy's first general-in-chief the next day.\nOn the 6th, Davis issued orders confirming Lee's appointment, in accordance with the act of the Confederate Congress passed on January 26. Lee ostensibly took overall command of all Confederate armies away from Davis and his military staff; Davis had long been criticized for micromanaging the military, and many hoped that Lee's appointment would diminish Davis's influence over military strategy.\nTo further silence his critics, Davis also appointed Major General (and former U.S. Vice President) John C. Breckinridge as secretary of war. Breckinridge quickly worked to improve the delivery of food and supplies to Lee's starving Army of Northern Virginia, which was on the verge of collapse. However, desertion still pervaded the Confederate ranks as many hungry, cold, tired, and demoralized soldiers answered letters from desperate relatives under attack by Federal invaders.\nThe new post of general-in-chief and a new secretary of war ultimately did not reduce Davis's control over the military as much as most hoped. Lee had to continue devoting most of his attention to his own critical situation, and out of respect for his friendship with Davis, Lee often deferred to the president instead of taking a more assertive role in his new position. And Breckinridge's main focus was keeping Lee's army strong enough to protect the Confederate capital. This left Davis to continue exerting control over the remaining armies.\nLee assumed his new role as general-in-chief on the 9th and announced that he would make no major changes at that time. Two days later, he issued his first order (with Davis's approval), in which he offered pardons to all deserters if they returned to their ranks within 20 days. Lee also declared that the Confederacy's choice was now \"between war and abject submission,\" and\u2013\n\"\u2026 to such a proposal brave men with arms in their hands can have but one answer. They cannot barter manhood for peace, nor the right of self-government for life or property\u2026 Taking new resolution from the fate which our enemies intend for us, let every man devote all his energies to the common defense. Our resources, wisely and vigorously employed, are ample, and with a brave army, sustained by a determined and united people, success with God's assistance cannot be doubtful\u2026 Let us then oppose constancy to adversity, fortitude to suffering, and courage to danger, with the firm assurance that He who gave freedom to our fathers will bless the efforts of their children to preserve it.\"\nAnother change in the Confederate high command involved replacing Colonel Lucius B. Northrop as Confederate commissary general. Northrop had been one of Davis's favorites and thus shared the same powerful enemies as the president. The Commissary Department suffered from a lack of adequate funding, transportation, and supply, and Northrop's alleged incompetence only made matters worse.\nNorthrop was replaced by Isaac M. St. John, the current head of the Niter and Mining Bureau. St. John was awarded the rank of brigadier general, a rank that Davis had given Northrop but was never confirmed by the Confederate Senate. St. John quickly improved the Commissary Department by gathering and sending three million rations of bread and 2.5 million rations of meat to the troops, along with new uniforms.\nHowever, these changes seemed to be too little, too late for the Confederacy. Lee wrote to Breckinridge on the 18th, \"It is necessary to bring out all our strength, and, I fear, to unite our armies, as separately they do not seem able to make head against the enemy\u2026 I fear it may be necessary to abandon our cities, and preparations should be made for that contingency.\" Three days later, Lee outlined his strategy regarding his army at Petersburg:\n\"In the event of the necessity of abandoning our position on the James River, I shall endeavor to unite the corps of the army about Burkeville (junction of South Side and Danville railroads), so as to retain communication with the north and south as long as practicable, and also with the west. I should think Lynchburg, or some point west, the most advantageous place to which to remove stores from Richmond. This, however, is a most difficult point at this time to decide, and the place may have to be changed by circumstances.\"\nIn a letter to Davis, Lee called for concentrating all the Confederate armies into one force. He acknowledged that it would \"necessitate the abandonment of our position on the James River, for which contingency every preparation should be made.\"\nCivilWarDailyGazette.com; Denney, Robert E., The Civil War Years: A Day-by-Day Chronicle (New York: Gramercy Books, 1992 [1998 edition]), p. 530; Foote, Shelby, The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 3: Red River to Appomattox (Vintage Civil War Library, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Kindle Edition, 2011), Loc 16079-89, 16342-52, 16389-99, 16755-75; Fredriksen, John C., Civil War Almanac (New York: Checkmark Books, 2007), p. 552; Freeman, Douglas Southall, Lee (Scribner, Kindle Edition, 2008), Loc 8168; Hall, John O., Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War (New York: Harper & Row, 1986, Patricia L. Faust ed.), p. 651; Hattaway, Herman, Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War (New York: Harper & Row, 1986, Patricia L. Faust ed.), p. 538; Korn, Jerry, Pursuit to Appomattox: The Last Battles (Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1983), p. 20, 24-26; Long, E.B. with Long, Barbara, The Civil War Day by Day (New York: Da Capo Press, Inc., 1971), p. 635-37; Pollard, Edward A., Southern History of the War (New York: The Fairfax Press, 1990), p. 457; Stanchak, John E., Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War (New York: Harper & Row, 1986, Patricia L. Faust ed.), p. 532-33; Ward, Geoffrey C., Burns, Ric, Burns, Ken, The Civil War (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990), p. 356-58; Wert, Jeffry D., Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War (New York: Harper & Row, 1986, Patricia L. Faust ed.), p. 538\nIsaac M. St. JohnJefferson DavisJohn C. BreckinridgeLucius B. NorthropPetersburg CampaignRobert E. Lee\nPrevious Post: Compensated Emancipation and the Hampton Roads Fallout\nNext Post: South Carolina: Federals Destroy Orangeburg\nPingback: Lee Becomes General-in-Chief \u2013 faujibratsden","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Cray Medical Research Foundation board executives Karen Seaberg, vice president; Melissa Huntington, president; and Susan Robbins, treasurer; meet with David Robbins, the incoming Cray professorship recipient.\nA $2 million gift from the Cray Medical Research Foundation of Atchison, Kansas, will establish a diabetes-focused professorship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.\nDavid C. Robbins, professor of medicine and director of the KU Diabetes Institute, will be the first recipient of the Cray Diabetes Professorship, which will educate students in the Endocrinology, Metabolism & Genetics Division of the Internal Medicine Department at KU Med Center.\nRobbins said the gift from the Cray Medical Research Foundation follows more than 30 years of support for diabetes care and research from Cloud \"Bud\" Cray and the late Sally Cray of Atchison.\n\"The Cray family recognizes that diabetes is becoming an epidemic, that treatment is time-consuming and often a drain on resources of our healthcare system,\" he said. \"This gift reflects the heartfelt concern Bud and Sally Cray have had for all the Kansans who suffer from diabetes.\"\nThis gift reflects the heartfelt concern Bud and Sally Cray have had for all the Kansans who suffer from diabetes.\nSupporting diabetes education and research is important to the Cray family, as Sally Cray battled the disease until her death in 2010.\nMelissa Huntington, board president of the Cray Medical Research Foundation and Bud and Sally Cray's granddaughter, said the entire Cray family is committed to seeing the foundation's work continue in perpetuity.\n\"We believe that through our partnership with the KU Medical Center, this professorship will ensure that an endocrinologist of Dr. David Robbins' expertise and passion will continue the great work in diabetes research and education that we take pride in at the University of Kansas,\" Huntington said.\nThe Cray foundation provided the resources to open the Cray Diabetes Center at KU Medical Center in 1979 and has provided continual philanthropic support. Now called the Cray Diabetes Self-Management Center, it is committed to providing excellent care and education to patients with diabetes and their families. It serves patients at two locations, in Kansas City, Kansas, and in Overland Park, Kansas.\nIn 2007, the KU Diabetes Institute opened its doors. As the research arm of the Self-Management Center, it engages in basic science, clinical and translational research projects centering on diabetes and its complications.\nBud Cray, a native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, earned a chemical engineering degree at Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland. He joined MGP Ingredients in Atchison in 1947 and served the company in leadership positions for 68 years before retiring in 2015. Sally Cray, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, attended Case Western Reserve\/Flora Stone Mather College for two years and married Bud in 1944. Soon afterward they moved to Atchison, where they worked, raised their family and served the community.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"FWO Decided to Start Work on Bhara Kahu Bypass Project Soon\nIslamabad: The Capital Development Authority CDA is making all-out efforts to\nstart the construction work on the much-needed Bhara Kahu Bypass Project as\ndirected by PM Shahbaz Sharif. The topographic survey of the road is already in\nprogress. The newly appointed Chairman of the CDA Capt Muhammad Usman\nafter a meeting in the PM office on Friday personally visited the site of the\nproject and took the project on top priority. The topographic survey, the CDA\nsources said, would be completed in a few days after which the engineering\ndesign would be completed before the finalization of the PC-1.\nBhara Kahu Bypass Project FWO Asked to Submit Draft\nAn official of the CDA told, \"Since the prime minister is directly monitoring and\nthe chairman is fully focusing on the project, hopefully, all the prerequisite\nformalities will be completed in a week or so. We have already engaged\nFrontier Work Organization (FWO) and it is expected that the formal\nconstruction work will be started during the second week of September\". The\nsources said that the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has already been\nengaged and once the project starts in the second week of September, the\nwork would be completed in four months as directed by PM Shahbaz Sharif.\nRebuild Hub River Bridge NHA Signed the Contract\nAs per the new working of the CDA, the Bypass would be 5 kilometers which\nincludes a one-kilometer flyover and two interchanges at the start and end\npoints. The bypass would start near Quaid-e Azam University and will end up at\nJugi Stop via Kiani Road and Friday Bazar. The CDA sources told that the final\ncost would be finalized in PC-1 however the cost would be more than 5 billion.\nThe CDA official added, \"We have made our mind; the five-km project will have\na four-km road and a one-km flyover. But, yes, we are also checking the option\nof expansion of the roads but ultimately we will have to go for the flyover\". It is\nto be mentioned here that the former PM Imran Khan had laid the foundation\nstone of the bypass last year but the work couldn't be started.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)\nPlaintive, tragic, and wise, The Marriage of Maria Braun is a titanic achievement in the extensive filmmography of provocative German auteur Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Setting a peculiar love story against the backdrop of World War II's final years, the picture says profound things about the damnable cost of pride, the degradation of national identity during times of war, the interpersonal issues that arise whenever women become breadwinners in patriarchal societies, and the mysteries of the female soul. Yet for all the philosophical and sociopolitical weight of the subject matter, The Marriage of Maria Braun unfolds with something that could almost be described as lightness of touch. The leading character is so self-assured and the storytelling is so witty that hints of playful satire sparkle amid the drama.\nThings get off to an amazing start with the frenetic opening scene\u2014beautiful young Maria (Hanna Schygulla) marries German soldier Hermann (Klaus L\u00f6witsch) while the city around them is shelled with enemy bombs. Soon after this perfect metaphor, Hermann and Maria are separated for the duration of the war, forcing Maria to fend for herself without any sure knowledge of whether her husband will return home or even whether he's alive. Resourceful, smart, and tough, Maria sees everyone else around her fighting for scraps, so she decides to try for something better. Maria takes a job as a dancehall girl. While working at the dancehall, Maria bewitches a stocky black GI named Bill (George Boyd), who supplies her with imported goods, impregnates her, and offers to marry her. Then, fate being what it is, Hermann returns from a long and soul-crushing incarceration in a Russian POW camp. Plot twist follows plot twist until the story expands to include Karl Oswald (Ivan Desny), a wealthy industrialist who hires Maria as a secretary and later assumes an even more important role in her life. Giving away much more would diminish the experience of watching the picture, which is unmistakably arthouse fare but which also has enough pulpy content for a Harold Robbins novel.\nWhile Fassbinder executes The Marriage of Maria Braun with his usual clinical style, guiding actors to underplay scenes, the movie has a more vivacious editing scheme than other Fassbinder '70s efforts. Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, who later became Martin Scorsese's go-to DP for a period of time, captures actions with inventive angles and nimble camera movements, allowing co-editors Fassbinder and Juliane Lorenz to create brisk pacing. The performances are generally strong, with some actors serving as puppets in Fassbinder's scheme while others incarnate fully realized individuals. Naturally, Schygulla dominates. Enigmatic and luminous, she makes her character's contradictions believable and fascinating. (As the heroine says to Karl at one point: \"I am who I am. Last night I was Maria Braun who wanted to sleep with you. Today I'm Maria Braun who wants to work for you.\")\nScreenwriters Pea Fr\u00f6lich and Peter M\u00e4rthesheimer enrich The Marriage of Maria Braun by including dialogue that succinctly encapsulates themes, although it's likely Fassbinder had an invisible hand in the writing. In one scene, the idealistic Maria says to a fellow dancehall girl, \"A great love is a great truth.\" The dancehall girl's response: \"The truth is what you have in your belly when you're hungry.\" In a different scene, Maria delivers one of the finest character-defining lines ever spoken: \"It's not a good time for feelings, but it suits me.\" In addition to winning numerous international awards, such as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film, The Marriage of Maria Braun was the first movie in Fassbinder's so-called \"BRD Trilogy,\" which continued with Lola (1981) and Veronika Voss (1982).\nThe Marriage of Maria Braun: RIGHT ON\nLabels: rainer werner fassbinder, right on, women's studies, world war II\nI agree this is an exceptional film. Surprising that it's just coming up now on your blog. RIGHT ON!\nFedora (1978)\nGet to Know Your Rabbit (1972)\nThe Hireling (1973)\nSilent Night, Bloody Night (1972)\nThe Trojan Women (1971)\nPromises in the Dark (1979)\nThe Stud (1978)\nBeyond the Door (1974) & Beyond the Door II (1977)...\nThe Internecine Project (1974)\nSpace Is the Place (1974)\nBloody Mama (1970)\nThe Concert for Bangladesh (1972)\nThe MacKintosh Man (1973)\nMartin (1977)\nAngels' Wild Women (1972)\nThe Humanoid (1979)\nCrazy Joe (1974)\nIn Hot Pursuit (1977)\nBuffalo Rider (1978)\nThe Adventurers (1970)\nAn American Hippie in Israel (1972)\nLost Horizon (1973)\nA Gunfight (1971)\nArnold (1973)\nA Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979)\nEmma Mae (1974)\nLeadbelly (1976)\nUp! (1976)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Politician's WarTam Dalyell\nVol. 5 No. 4 \u00b7 3 March 1983\nPolitician's War\nThe Battle for the Falklands\nby Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins.\nJoseph, 384 pp., \u00a310.95, February 1983, 0 7181 2228 3Show More\nIn the opening paragraph of their important book on the Falklands War, Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins write: 'So extraordinary an event was it that, even after men began to die, many of those taking part felt as if they had been swept away into fantasy, that the ships sinking and the guns firing round them had somehow escaped from a television screen in the living-room.' In their final paragraph the authors say that had Britain left the Falklanders to their fate on 2 April, the British people's respect for themselves and their confidence in their political and military leadership would have experienced a severe blow. They concede that colonial wars can have dangerous side-effects on the nations which fight them. A people can turn to jingoism as they watch a distant game, played on their behalf by professionals safely out of reach of homes and loved ones. Hastings and Jenkins conclude by opining that the British people were reassured by the way the services performed, and were pleased that a job that had to be done was done so well. National pride and self-confidence were renewed.\nI find this conclusion no less extraordinary than I found the concluding paragraphs of the Franks Committee Report, which altogether failed to engage with the substance of what had preceded them. Hastings and Jenkins produce devastatingly critical facts, and then proceed to exonerate the Prime Minister. How can the British people be expected to show a renewed national pride and self-confidence when we now realise that the so-called military solution in the South Atlantic was no solution at all? That we are back to square one, that Argentina may carry out bee-sting attacks on our unhappy forces, stationed in the Falklands, if there are no negotiations? That negotiations which do not cover sovereignty will never be entered into by any Argentine government, left, right or centre? That at various stages in the campaign the problems which military victory was to bring could have been avoided, by securing an honourable peace, involving a complete withdrawal of troops by both sides?\nIn reverse order of chronology, I shall use material from this book \u2013 far from being ephemeral, it will serve for many years as a prime source \u2013 to highlight the extent to which domestic political considerations, rather than the real or perceived interests of the Falkland Islanders, or the military requirements of the campaign, dominated the decision-making of the Prime Minister. And, from mid-April, it was Margaret Hilda Thatcher \u2013 supported by a troika consisting of Admiral Sir Terence Lewin, Chief of Defence Staff, Cecil Parkinson, Chairman of the Conservative Party, and Ian Gow, her ever-present Parliamentary Private Secretary, who had been to the Falklands in the autumn of 1978 \u2013 who dominated the London end.\nThe figure of Margaret Thatcher towers over the Falklands drama from its inception to the euphoria of the final triumph. Her personality matched its often eccentric sense of proportion. Her single-mindedness, her belief in the futility of negotiation, even her arch phraseology at moments of crisis, all seemed to armour her against any suspicion that this might be a dangerous, even absurd adventure. 'Defeat \u2013 I do not recognise the meaning of the word!' and 'Rejoice \u2013 just rejoice' passed into the Falklands lexicon. In a world that was accustomed to brand war as an ugly obscenity, the Prime Minister was determined that the Falklands Conflict should be seen as a noble and principled crusade. Her longing undoubtedly matched the mood of the nation, and captivated those working around her.\nHastings and Jenkins recall that each of the participants they interviewed made similar remarks.\nIt was Mrs Thatcher's War She held us to it. She never seemed to flinch from her conviction about its course. She took the risks on her shoulders and she won. She emerged as a remarkable war leader.\nYet, ten pages earlier, Hastings and Jenkins quote the remark of Perez de Cuellar, the United Nations Secretary-General, after the collapse of his peace initiative in May 1982: 'It was the sort of problem which would take ten minutes to solve if both sides were willing.' Friends of mine at the UN were firmly of the view that the Argentinians wanted the sovereignty of the islands, not to recolonise them, and that the British leadership did not care about the islands or the islanders, but wanted a fight. This view is supported by Hastings and Jenkins, whose verdict is that after four days of almost unbroken bad news in the last week in May London needed a tangible victory. 'If ever there was a politicians' battle, then Goose Green was to be it.' Brigadier Julian Thompson, the senior officer ashore at the time, found himself summoned to the satellite terminal at Ajax Bay. The headquarters at Northwood told the Brigadier exactly what to do. The command in Britain considered it essential that the landing force should engage the Argentinians at the first opportunity. Thompson said that he regarded Goose Green as strategically irrelevant: once Stanley fell, Goose Green must also go, which was scarcely true the other way round. He had planned to leave a small force to cover any possible Argentinian sally from Goose Green, and to concentrate on taking Mount Kent, the vital ground above Stanley. Other than politicking at home, what possible explanation can there be of this overriding of the local commander?\nDuring their discussion of Goose Green, Hastings and Jenkins make reference to one of the unsolved mysteries of the war. They say that Argentine defenders fought back fiercely until a white flag suddenly appeared from an enemy position. One of the subalterns of D Company of the Second Para moved forward to accept the surrender. He was instantly shot dead. Hastings and Jenkins say that it was almost certainly a mishap in the fog of war, rather than a deliberate act of treachery: but the infuriated paras unleashed 66 mm rockets, Carl Gustav rounds and machine-gun fire into the building. 'It was quickly ablaze. No enemy survivors emerged.' So many rumours are circulating in South America about the British Paratroops burning young peasant boys alive that the facts of the situation ought to be established. I would hesitate to blame the Paras for this act. But I do blame politicians in Argentina and Britain who unleashed the conditions for such horror, without making any effort to achieve the sine qua non of any 'Just War': the taking of all possible diplomatic steps to avoid war and to prevent unnecessary escalation.\nAs it proved, the politicians escaped the main burden of the horror by the delay which ensued, in contradistinction to the Vietnam experience, over the arrival of pictures at home. If the Galahad episode reminded ministers and service chiefs of the hazards of fighting a war under the public glare, the pictures in question did not reach the British viewing public until after the event. Who can forget the television image of a survivor being rushed from Galahad on a stretcher, the stump of one leg projecting bloodily into the sky? Such graphic pictures only reached London after hostilities had ended. Had the pictures reached London within 24 hours, there would, in my judgment, have been an overwhelming recognition that the objects to be achieved in the Falklands were out of all proportion to the horrors involved, followed by a demand for a negotiated peace.\nAt an earlier point, in the view of various Argentinians, Peruvians and Americans, had it not been for the sinking of the Belgrano, the old USS Phoenix, survivor of Pearl Harbour, a negotiated peace would have been achieved. Elsewhere I have deployed the as yet unanswered case that Mrs Thatcher ordered the sinking of the Belgrano to create an incident and scupper the Peruvian-American-UN peace plan. Hastings and Jenkins implicitly support this argument by producing a number of little-known facts. For example, they say that on the afternoon of 1 May, Captain Christopher Wreford Brown DSO of Conqueror reported that he had sighted the General Belgrano and two escorting Exocet destroyers. The Government's White Paper claims that Conqueror sighted Belgrano on 2 May. I know from talking to members of the crew of Conqueror that the authors are right and the While Paper wrong. This timing is all-important. It helps demonstrate that, at the time she was torpedoed, Belgrano was no longer any threat to the task force \u2013 if she and her escorts ever were. The difference between Saturday 1 May and Sunday 2 May was that by the Sunday morning Margaret Thatcher knew full well that the Argentine Army Council and Navy had agreed to withdraw from what they saw as the Malvinas, and that the world would expect her to do the same. Mrs Jeane Kirkpatrick, the US Ambassador at the UN, with many Latin American contacts, and a Spanish-speaking deputy, Jose Sorzano, had had many meetings with the Argentinians. But, as Hastings and Jenkins point out, 'it was politically unthinkable for the Government to consider abandoning operations in the South Atlantic.'\nEqually, the attack on South Georgia had been geared to political timing. Hastings and Jenkins produce a devastating account of how the troops were sent into the most appalling weather conditions, losing their helicopters: this was later to be described by Lord Lewin as his worst moment of the conflict. 'The decision to press ahead against South Georgia,' say Hastings and Jenkins, 'like so many others of the campaign, was primarily political.' 'Rejoice, just rejoice' on Sunday evening, 26 April, at the entrance to Downing Street, was timed to frustrate the peace initiative of the Organisation of American States, due to meet the next day.\nEarlier still, we find evidence of Mrs Thatcher's determination to have a military solution. Of Haig's first Peace Shuttle, Hastings and Jenkins write that the British were by no means pleased to see him. American treachery was already being whispered in Whitehall, and 'even-handed' negotiators on a matter of clear principle were viewed with suspicion. Haig's mission had received the prompt support of Costa Mendez, but Mrs Thatcher would only agree to it on the understanding that Resolution 502 would be honoured before any negotiations and that Haig would be 'supporting efforts to this end'. To ram home this point, the Cabinet announced a 200-mile maritime exclusion zone round the Falklands from the following Monday \u2013 the estimated date of the arrival in the area of the submarine Spartan. The zone was declared while the American Peace Mission was actually mid-air. Mrs Thatcher could not even hold her horses until she had heard what the US Government, whose hemispheric relations were involved, actually had to say.\nNo one who wanted peace would have behaved as Mrs Thatcher did. That is why Michael Foot was temporarily out of his mind, in an excess of misplaced chivalry, to tell the Commons on Monday, 14 June, after 10 o'clock in the evening: 'I can well understand the anxieties and pressures that must have been upon her during these weeks, and I can understand at this moment those pressures and anxieties may be relieved. And I congratulate her.' Sitting just behind Michael, my heart sank. Unlike my Leader, I believe there should be a major inquiry into the conduct of the Falklands conflict, like that which followed the Crimean War or the Jameson Raid during the Boer War. I believe that such an inquiry might reveal Mrs Thatcher in her true colours \u2013 as a leader who spurned many chances of peace, in favour of personal and political domestic objectives. Jenkins and Hastings have provided much raw material for such an inquiry.\nTam Dalyell is Labour MP for West Lothian. His book, A Science Policy for Britain, was reviewed by John Ziman (LRB, Vol. 6, No 15).\nEaster Island Revisited\nTam Dalyell gives reasons for postponing a Te Deum\nDiary: Questions for Mrs Thatcher\nMore by Tam Dalyell\nVol. 5 No. 6 \u00b7 1 April 1983\nSIR: Thank you for Tam Dalyell's review of The Battle for the Falklands (LRB, 3 March), but surely the time has come to stop his constant confusion of history with political vendetta. Max Hastings and I most certainly do not 'exonerate the Prime Minister' of responsibility either for the outbreak of the war or for its conduct. No one reading the political sections of our book \u2013 or for that matter the military ones \u2013 could possibly draw that conclusion. Mrs Thatcher must bear her full share of blame for Britain's lack of preparedness in March, despite Franks's absurd exculpation, but Mr Dalyell's thesis that she welcomed the invasion to gain political salvation at home in defeating it is preposterous.\nThis oft-repeated claim forces him to attempt to rewrite whole passages of the Falklands conflict. For instance, there is no shred of evidence that any of the negotiating packages produced in April or May would have secured a 'complete withdrawal of troops' by the Argentinians, as Mr Dalyell maintains. The Junta, even Brigadier Lami Dozo, persistently thought it would win, right through to the eve of the final battle. Whatever one's view of the war, it is a perversion of history to ignore the fact that it was Buenos Aires which picked the quarrel. Once the confrontation had been commenced, the Argentinian regime was simply too weak to back off.\nMore serious still, our book should not be used by Mr Dalyell to support his claim that the cruiser Belgrano was deliberately sunk by Mrs Thatcher to scupper Francis Pym's peace negotiations. Whether or not it had this effect \u2013 and Admiral Anaya was not remotely in a mood to accept the Peruvian peace plan that week or any other \u2013 it is simply not true that this is why the cruiser was sunk. The torpedoing followed an urgent request from the task force commanders, desperate to eliminate what were then regarded as the two major threats to the planned landing: the cruiser and aircraft-carrier groups. Since the fleet subsequently fled to port, it is hard now to realise how much these ships were dreaded by Admiral Woodward. In addition, Belgrano carried a mass of radar equipment apparently intended to assist in directing air attacks into the exclusion zone. It was politically most unfortunate (potentially disastrous) that the ship was outside the exclusion zone when she was sunk, but the reason was military. The most mystifying aspect of the incident is not the motive but the inability of ministers to provide a convincing justification for it in public. The price they pay for their secrecy is Mr Dalyell's damaging accusations.\nMrs Thatcher's undeniable lack of enthusiasm towards the various Falklands peace initiatives in April and May was not the result of any instinctive war lust. Virtually alone among her ministers, she was convinced from the start that the Junta would not leave the islands or acknowledge the principle of self-determination for the islanders unless compelled to do so by force of arms. Given her objectives, I believe that her judgment in meeting them was correct. This in no way diminishes the other criticisms of her and her government made in our book.\nLondon NW1","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"COVID-19 Vaccine | Everything you need to know in Virginia and North Carolina\nYour mailed stimulus check could take up to four weeks to get to you\nWhy most states recognize Daylight Saving Time: a history\nEven though this means losing one hour of sleep this weekend, you'll actually be gaining an extra hour of daylight in the evening.\nAuthor: Maria Antonieta Valery Gill\nPublished: 5:37 PM EST March 4, 2020\nUpdated: 8:21 AM EST March 5, 2020\nAt 2 a.m. Sunday clocks in most parts of the country will spring forward one hour as daylight saving time (DST) begins. It will run until Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Even though this means losing one hour of sleep this weekend, you'll actually be gaining an extra hour of daylight in the evening.\nThe first person to hint at this idea was American politician and scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784. While working in Paris as an ambassador to the U.S. he wrote an essay titled \"An Economical Project\" to the editor of the Journal de Paris stating that Parisians would save a lot of money on candles if they woke up at the time of sunrise and went to bed as the sun set.\nHowever, the concept of DST wasn't fully conceived until over a century later. In 1895, New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson wrote a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society proposing a two-hour shift forward in October and a two-hour shift backwards in March. Unfortunately, he was criticized and mocked for his proposal, as it was said to be confusing.\nIt wasn't until 1916, two years into the First World War, when DST was first implemented. Germany, one of the most powerful European countries at the time, decided to turn every clock in the country one hour ahead. Their goal was to minimize the use of artificial lighting so that fuel could be saved for war efforts. Soon after, other European countries -- including Austria, France and the United Kingdom -- followed suit.\nIn the U.S., however, this change took longer to arrive. In 1918, toward the end of the war, Pittsburgh-native Robert Garland introduced the idea after his visit to the U.K. After presenting the idea, it was signed and approved by President Wilson on March 8 of that same year.\nOnly seven months later, as the war came to a close, DST was repealed and wouldn't make a return until the Second World War, when it was reintroduced.\nFrom the end of the war in 1945 up until 1966, there was no uniformity in the use of DST in the country, which caused quite a bit of confusion. Some major cities, like New York City, decided to keep DST while others stopped its use after the war.\nThis confusion came to an end in 1966, when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was implemented by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This Act mandates the official start and end dates of DST in the country as March through November, and divides the country into different time zones.\nSome states were not in favor of this law. Arizona -- with the exception of the Navajo territory -- and Hawaii opted out of DST.\nNot all states see DST in a negative light. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has introduced a bill, The Sunshine Protection Act, in attempts to make DST permanent.\n\"Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round daylight saving time, which is why multiple states have followed Florida's lead in voting to make it permanent,\" Rubio said. \"I will not let daylight fade on my Sunshine Protection Act.\"\nThe advantages of making DST permanent, according to a press release on Rubio's site, include a decrease in car crashes, a reduction in cardiac issues and seasonal depression, a reduction in the number of robberies by 27%, among several other benefits.\nStates that have joined Florida in seeking to make DST permanent include Alabama, Arkansas, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.\nRelated video: These U.S. states don't observe DST","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"david herrera(chair)\nDavid, a devoted father of Hunter and Cole, and loving husband to Lauren, came to faith in Christ in the High Life ministry of Parkway. David serves the community as a CHP officer and loves his job. David enjoys playing music in the worship band and has a heart to serve in any way he can.\ndan deckard\nPastor of Teaching & Preaching\nDan originates from Newcastle, California. He served a tour of duty in the Marine Corps, during which time he was converted to Christ. It was this initial experience of conversion and the newly awakened hunger for the Scripture that compelled him to seek a formal education in the Bible. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in theology from The Master's College, a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Dan was called to Parkway Community Church in 1997, where he served as pastor of preaching and teaching. On April 1st, 2001, upon the retirement of John Hanson, Dan assumed his current role as lead pastor. Dan and his wife Deanna reside in the city of Fairfield and have three children - two boys; Daniel and Isaac, and a girl; Allie.\nrob lanflisi\nRob and Kay have lived all over. They have 3 grown children and several grandchildren. Rob is a practicing surgeon and looking forward to retiring in the near future to spend more time with family and tinkering with planes and motorcycles.\nGUY BORGES\nGuy was born in Walnut Creek and became a Christian in his second year of college. He says that same year God gave him a message that Phyllis, the beautiful young lady who had witnessed to him in high school, was the one to be his wife. He pursued her until God gave her the same message. They were married in 1978, had the first of their three kids during his initial year of law school, and returned to Walnut Creek to set down roots and start his career. They moved to Fairfield in 1986, where they had their other two children. They began attending Parkway in around 1997 and their kids participated in the youth programs and camps. Their children are now married and they have 8 grandkids. Guy finally retired in early 2021 and he is learning to embrace God's new plans for Phyllis' and his future.\nMark was born and raised in California and runs a construction business. He is married to Leslie and they have three grown children.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Pasay Explained\nPasay should not be confused with Paoay.\nSeal Size: 100x80px\nImage Map1:\nPushpin Map: Philippines\nPushpin Label Position: left\nPushpin Map Caption: Location within the\nSubdivision Type: Country\nSubdivision Name: Philippines\nSubdivision Type1: Region\nSubdivision Type2: Province\nSubdivision Name2: none\nNickname: The Travel City\nMotto: Aim High Pasay!\nAnthem: Pasay, Mabuhay Ka!\nSubdivision Type3: District\nSubdivision Name3: Lone district\nEstablished Title: Founded\nEstablished Date: December 2, 1863\nEstablished Title1: Cityhood\nEstablished Date1: June 21, 1947 (city)\nEstablished Title2: Highly urbanized city\nEstablished Date2: December 22, 1979\nParts Type: Barangays\nParts Style: para\nP1: 201 (see Barangays)\nLeader Name: Imelda Calixto-Rubiano\nLeader Title1: Vice Mayor\nLeader Name1: Noel del Rosario\nLeader Title2: Congressman\nLeader Name2: Antonino Calixto\nLeader Title3: Councilors\nLeader Title4: Electorate\nLeader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)\nPopulation Density Km2: auto\nPopulation Demonym: Pasaye\u00f1o\nTimezone: PST\nUtc Offset: +8\nPostal Code Type: ZIP code\nBlank2 Name Sec1: Revenue (\u20b1)\nBlank3 Name Sec1: Poverty incidence\nBlank4 Name Sec1: Inflation rate\nBlank5 Name Sec1: Minimum wage rate (\u20b1)\nBlank6 Name Sec1: Sister localities\nBlank Name Sec2: Native languages\nBlank1 Name Sec2: Major religions\nBlank2 Name Sec2: Feast date\nBlank3 Name Sec2: Catholic diocese\nBlank4 Name Sec2: Patron saint\n, officially the , (Tagalog: Lungsod ng {{PH wikidata|name), or simply known as City, is a settlement_text}} of the Philippines| in, . According to the, it has a population of people.\nDue to its location just south of the City of Manila, Pasay quickly became an urban town during the American colonial period.\nSee also: Namayan and Rajahnate of Maynila.\nIn local folk history about the period before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, Pasay is said to have been part of Namayan (sometimes also called Sapa), a confederation of barangays which supposedly controlled territory stretching from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay, and which, upon the arrival of the Spanish, eventually became known as Sta. Ana de Sapa (modern day Santa Ana, Manila).[1] According to these legends, the ruler of Namayan bequeathed his territories in what is now Culi-culi, Pasay, and Baclaran to one of his sons, named Pasay, explaining the origin of the name.[1]\nIn another version of the legend, it was Rajah Sulayman of Maynila who bequeathed the territory to his child - also named Pasay, but this time a daughter with the title of Dayang-dayang.[1]\nSpanish era\nOn May 19, 1571, Miguel L\u00f3pez de Legazpi took formal possession of the Rajahnate of Maynila and its surrounding polities in the name of the Spanish crown.\nOf the many religious orders that came, it was the Augustinian Order who would figure predominantly in the evangelisation of Pasay. The parish of Pasay was governed from the old Namayan capital, since renamed Sta. Ana de Sapa, which was under the jurisdiction of the Franciscans. The promise of space in Heaven prompted early native converts to donate their possessions to the Church, with folklore recounting how a baptized Pasay on her deathbed donated her vast estate to the Augustinians. Most of Pasay went to friar's hands either via donation or by purchase; many natives were also forced to divest of their properties to cope with stringent colonial impositions. In 1727, the Augustinians formally took over Pasay and attached it to the Parish of Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de los Remedios in Malate. In that year, Pasay was renamed \"Pineda\" in honour of Don Cornelio Pineda, a Spanish horticulturist.\nIn 1862, a number of prominent citizens of Pasay sent a petition to the civil and ecclesiastical authorities asking that they be allowed to manage their own political and religious affairs. On December 2, 1863, Pasay became a pueblo upon the recommendation of the Archbishop of Manila, Gregorio Melit\u00f3n Mart\u00ednez Santa Cruz.\nRevolution and the Spanish\u2013American War\nPasay produced numerous heroes during the Philippine Revolution. The Katipunan, the organization founded by Andr\u00e9s Bonifacio that spearheaded the revolution, had a chapter in Pineda organized by Pascual Villanueva, Jacinto Ignacio, and Valentin Ignacio. Several women also fought for the cause of the Katipunan including Marcela Marcelo. The execution of Jos\u00e9 Rizal, who authored the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (considered seditious by the colonial government) on December 30, 1896, fanned the flames of the Revolution.\nGeneral Emilio Aguinaldo meanwhile declared the independence of the First Philippine Republic on June 12, 1898, and issued decrees providing political reorganization in the country. With this, Don Catalino became Pasay's first Presidente municipal (equivalent to today's Mayor).\nPineda was made the command outpost of the Primera Zona de Manila under Gen. Mariano Noriel, but Gen. Merritt appealed that the Pineda outpost turned over to the Americans so that they could be closer to the Spanish lines. Thinking Americans were allies, Noriel left Pineda on July 29, allowing American General Greene to transfer. When Intramuros was finally captured, the Filipinos were denied entry to the walled city. Since then, tension simmered between Filipino and American troops, with both sides assigned respective zones but neither observed boundary lines. On the night of February 4, 1899, four Filipinos crossed the American line in Santa Mesa, Manila, and shots were exchanged, triggering the Philippine\u2013American War.\nOn May 19, 1899, General Noriel was given command again of Pineda. In June, Noriel together with General Ricarte almost defeated the American forces had they exploited the exhaustion of the enemy in the Battle of Las Pi\u00f1as. Instead, their forces were attacked by American reinforcements and bombarded by warships. The assault forced them to abandon Pineda to occupation by American forces.\nAmerican period\nOn June 1, 1901, Pineda was incorporated into the Province of Rizal. Antonio Dancel was appointed a provincial governor and Pascual Villanueva as municipal president. On August 4, 1901, a resolution was passed petitioning that the original name of Pasay be returned. On September 6, 1901, the Philippine Commission, acting on the request of the townsfolk, passed Act No. 227 renaming Pineda back to Pasay.[2] Two years later, on October 12, 1903, Act No. 942 merged Pasay with the southern municipality of Malibay, expanding its territory.[3] With a population of 8,100 in 1903, Pasay was placed under the fourth-class category together with 9 other municipalities.\nFriar lands, then nationalized, were turned into subdivisions. Soon the Pasay Real Estate Company offered friar lands as residential lots for sale or for lease to foreign investors. Postal, telegraph, and telephone lines were installed and branches of Philippine Savings Bank were established. In 1907 a first-class road from Pasay to Camp Nichols was completed. Others were repaired including the old Avenida Mexico now called the Taft Avenue extension. Transportation services improved. Among the first buses plying routes to Pasay were Pasay Transportation, Raymundo Transportation, Try-tran, and Halili Transit.By 1908, Meralco tranvia (electric tram car) lines linked Pasay to Intramuros, Escolta, San Miguel, San Sebastian, and San Juan. Automobiles took to the streets, testing their maximum 20 km\/h speed on Taft Avenue. Marvel after marvel continued to fascinate the Pasaye\u00f1os. On April 11, 1914, Pasay entered the Aviation Age, when Ms. Cora Wong, a nurse at the Chinese General Hospital, became the first woman in the Philippines to fly as a passenger on a flight with Tom Gunn in a Curtiss seaplane off Pasay Beach. Real estate was cheap. Much of the bayside area beyond Luneta was swamp but American ex-soldiers were quick to seize the opportunity to develop it for residential purposes. By 1918, Pasay had a population of 18,697 because of the exodus of prominent Filipino families and government officials to this seaside town including future president Manuel L. Quezon. By the 1930s, the former rural town had become a suburb of the capital city.\nJapanese occupation and the Second Republic\nWorld War II came and on December 26, 1941, McArthur issued a proclamation declaring Manila and its suburbs (Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay) an open city. On New Year's Day, 1942 Quezon, while in Corregidor, called his secretary Jorge Vargas and appointed him by executive order \"the Mayor of Greater Manila\" which included Pasay. The mayor of Pasay was then Rufino Mateo, governing a town of more than 55,161. During the WWII many Pasaye\u00f1os joined in the fight against the Japanese. Jose P. Maibag, born and bred in Pasay, laid out underground networking. Carlos Mendoza, a resident of Barrio San Roque, together with 14 others, formed a mobile broadcasting station called \"The Voice of Juan dela Cruz.\" Unfortunately on July 11, 1942, Japanese military police pounced the group. Carling Mendoza, alias Juan de la Cruz\" and other members of the group were brought to the old Bilibid Prison and suffered the kind of torture they talked about on the radio.\nPasay had to redo the signs all over town, with Filipino was ordered to prevail over English. The national language became a core subject in the secondary school curriculum, while Japanese was taught as well at all levels of education. On October 14, 1943, Japan proclaimed the Second Philippine Republic. Meantime, food had become so scarce that prices soared. Pasay residents began to move away from the city to the provinces outside. In the middle of February up to early March 1945, as the combined Allied forces began to converge on the way to the Manila area northwards from the south, Pasay suffered enormous damage during the month-long Battle of Manila, and many residents perished either by the Japanese or friendly fire from the combined Filipino and American forces.\nThird Republic and the conversion to city status\nOn February 27, 1945, General MacArthur turned over the government to President Sergio Osme\u00f1a. One of Osme\u00f1a's first acts was to dissolve the Greater Manila Complex. Caloocan, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, and Paranaque were returned to their original province of Rizal. He then appointed Juan S. Salcedo, born in Pasay in 1904, as Director of Philippine Health, and then as executive officer of the Philippine Rehabilitation Administration in charge of national recovery from the devastation wrought by the Japanese occupation. Osme\u00f1a appointed Adolfo Santos as prewar vice mayor of Pasay, in place of incumbent Moises San Juan who died during the war.\nIgnacio Santos Diaz, a congressman from the first district of Pasay, pushed for the conversion of the town into a city and it to be named after Rizal. Republic Act No. 183 was signed into law by President Roxas on June 21, 1947, officially establishing Rizal City,[4] with Mateo Rufino as Mayor and a population of 88,738. As of June 1948, the city had revenues of P472,835. There was just one hitch; the residents could not get themselves to call their city by its new name. After two years, eight months, and twelve days of trying, the force of habit continued to prevail. Pasay Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr. filed a bill returning the city to its original name. On May 3, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino, once a resident of Pasay himself, signed into law Republic Act No. 437, which changed the name of Rizal City to Pasay City.[5]\nIt was also in the 1940s when houses of faith started rising in different parts of Pasay to help people heal their bruised souls. Among them was the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Libreria de San Pablo Catholic Women's League, Caritas, the nutrition center, and the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. In 1951, two parishes were established -the Parish of San Isidro Labrador and the Parish of San Rafael. On June 14, 1955, Pasay City regained its power to choose its leader. Pablo Cuneta ran against one-time Mayor Adolfo Santos and became the city's first elected mayor. In 1959, he campaigned again and won against his former vice mayor, Ruperto Galvez. On December 30, 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos occupied Malaca\u00f1ang Palace as the new President of the Philippines, with Fernando Lopez, a resident of Pasay, as Vice-President. From that moment Imelda Romualdez Marcos became involved in national affairs. On the northern boundary of Pasay, she started filling the waterfront on Manila Bay to build the Cultural Center which was a world-class arts complex. She would add three more architectural showpieces on reclaimed land in Pasay: the Folk Arts, Film Center, and the Convention Center.\nIn 1967, Jovito Claudio won for the mayoralty race against Pablo Cuneta. In the following year, an assassination attempt occurred in Pasay when a Bolivian surrealist painter lunged at Pope Paul VI, with a knife grazing his chest. In 1971, Cuneta was re-elected as mayor.\nNew Society\nOn December 7, 1972, almost two months after martial law was declared, an assassin tried to kill Imelda Marcos. The event took place in Pasay, on live television, while Mrs. Marcos was distributing prizes to the winners of the National Beautification and Cleanliness contest. She suffered some wounds and broken nails but on the whole, she emerged unscathed from that close encounter. On the second anniversary of martial law, Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 557, returning to every barrio in the country the barangays. Not long after the decree had been put into effect, the Metropolitan Manila Commission and the Department of Local Government instructed Pasay to create its own barangays. Mayor Cuneta, in response, ordered the creation of 487 barangays. Upon the firm suggestion of Secretary Jose Ro\u00f1o of the Department of Local Government, the number of barangays was cut down to two hundred.\nOn November 7, 1975, Marcos appointed the First Lady, Imelda, as governor of Metro Manila. The federation consolidated 13 towns and 4 cities including Pasay, which was removed from Rizal Province.\nPasay was the host city of Miss Universe 1974, the first time this event had been held in the morning and in the Asia Pacific, and thus was in the international spotlight in the leadup to the pageant day.[6]\nPeople Power and contemporary period\nThe situation changed in the city in the immediate aftermath of the People Power Revolution. Cuneta left his post to be replaced by two acting mayors, Eduardo Calixto and Norman Urbina, only to be reelected in 1988 and serving for three more terms, before handing over to Jovito O. Claudio in 1998. Upon the end of his term, he was the city's longest ever city mayor. Claudio, himself replaced by the then vice mayor Wenceslao \"Peewee\" Trinidad in 2000, saw the building of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 southern terminus in the city, and the Pasay City General Hospital and NAIA Terminal 2 were both opened to the public. All these and other projects spurred a new era of massive growth in the city that continues to this day. One end result is that even today, the EDSA Entertainment Complex, located just to the city's west along EDSA, just miles from the Baclaran district of Paranaque, is known for adult entertainment, including prostitution.[7] [8]\nIn 2006 the SM Mall of Asia, the 4th biggest overall in the country, was opened, and the area around this mall began to grow into the city's business center in the years that followed. 2 years later, the NAIA Terminal 3 opened its doors in July 2008.\nSee also: Barangays of Pasay City.\nPasay City covers a total land area of,[9] [10] making it the third smallest political subdivision in the National Capital Region and fourth in the whole country. It borders City of Manila to the north, Para\u00f1aque to the south, Makati and Taguig to the northeast, and Manila Bay to the west. The city can be divided into three distinct areas: the city's urban area with an area of ; the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) complex, which includes the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Villamor Airbase, with an area of ; and the reclaimed land from Manila Bay with an area of .[11]\nPasay is composed of seven districts, subdivided into 20 zones, with a total of 201 barangays. The barangays do not have names but are only designated with sequential numbers. The largest zone, with an area of, is Zone 19, which covers barangays 178 and 191. The smallest zone with an area of is Zone 1, covering Barangays 1 to 3 and 14 to 17.[11]\nPopulated places \/ barangays in Pasay:\nUnder the K\u00f6ppen climate classification system, Pasay features a tropical savanna climate (K\u00f6ppen climate classification Aw).\nPhilippine Airlines is headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center beside the World Trade Center Manila in Pasay City.[12] Spirit of Manila Airlines has its headquarters in Roxas Sea Front Garden in Pasay City.[13] PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, Air Juan, Interisland Airlines have their headquarters on the grounds of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and in Pasay City.[14] [15] Oishi (Liwayway), a snack company, also has its headquarters in Pasay.[16]\nNational government offices found in Pasay include: Office of the Vice-President of the Philippines, Senate of the Philippines, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautics Board, Manila International Airport Authority, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry's export promotions agency \u2013 the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) \u2013 located in the International Trade Complex's Golden Shell Pavilion, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Office for Transportation Security (OTS). The main office of the Philippine National Bank is located in the city.\nLBC Express headquarters is located at the Star Cruises Centre in the Newport Cybertourism Zone of Pasay City.\nSee also: Cities of the Philippines. Pasay is governed primarily by the city mayor, the vice mayor and the city councilors. The mayor acts as the chief executive of the city while the city councilors act as its legislative body. The vice mayor, besides taking on mayoral responsibilities in case of a temporary vacancy, acts as the presiding officer of the city legislature. The legislative body is composed of 12 regular members (6 per district) and representatives from the barangay and the youth council.[17]\nCity Government of Pasay\nAntonio G. Calixto\nImelda Calixto-Rubiano\nVice Mayor\nNoel del Rosario\nSangguniang Panlungsod Members\n1st District 2nd District\nMark Anthony Calixto Allan Panaligan\nGrace Santos Donnabel Vendivel\nMa. Antonia Cuneta Arnel Regio Arceo Jr.\nAbraham Albert Alvina Jose Calixto Isidro Jr.\nMarlon Pesebere Editha Manguerra\nRicardo Santos Aileen Padua-Lopez\nABC President\nJulie G. Gonzales\nSK Federation President\nPasay will host some matches in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.\nThe city is one of the two cities Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located in, along with Para\u00f1aque City. Terminals 2, 3 and 4 are located in Pasay City. Villamor Airbase of the Philippine Air Force is also located here.\nHighways and main thoroughfares\nPasay City is served by several highways and major thoroughfares. Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Roxas Boulevard, Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia Avenue) and Taft Avenue function as the city's main thoroughfares. Secondary thoroughfares include Andrews Avenue, Antonio Arnaiz Avenue (formerly known as Libertad Street within Pasay), Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Ninoy Aquino Avenue and NAIA Road (MIA Road).\nThree expressways serve Pasay and other parts of Metro Manila and Calabarzon; Metro Manila Skyway, an elevated expressway which is a component of Radial Road 3 (R-3) and Asian Highway 26 (AH26), passes on and serves as the Pasay-Taguig boundary. South Luzon Expressway, commonly called as SLEX and also components of Radial Road 3 and Asian Highway 26, follows a similar route with the Metro Manila Skyway, but runs directly below it, on tbe ground. NAIA Expressway, an elevated tolled expressway, serves Terminals 2 and 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and fully opened in December 2016.\nJeepneys\nJeepneys ply the city's arterial roads, and serve the city's populated areas and nearby cities.\nBuses provide city (commuter) and provincial (intercity) operation on Pasay. Provincial bus terminals are mostly found near the Gil Puyat Station, and a new terminal, the Southwest Provincial Bus Terminal, is found in HK Sun Plaza, on Macapagal Boulevard.\nThis city is served by two railway lines, the Line 1 and Line 3. Line 1 has four stations in Pasay, namely Gil Puyat (Buendia), Libertad, EDSA, Baclaran, and its depot is located along Airport Road. Line 3 has only one station, named Taft Avenue, which serves as an interchange with Line 1.\nTricycles and pedicabs serves the barangays. Multicab services connect SM Mall of Asia with Baclaran in Para\u00f1aque, Pasay Rotonda, and Cash N' Carry in Makati. Vans also provide service throughout the city and to other destinations in Metro Manila.\nUnity Run\nOn the list of largest running events in the world, based on the number of participants a record 209,000 registered running enthusiasts participated in 2012 Kahit Isang Araw Lang: Unity Run which started and ended at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.\nThe second edition of the race surpassed the Guinness World record of 116,086 participants posted in the Run for Pasig River on Oct 10, 2010.[18]\nThe Department of Education (DepEd) Division of City Schools \u2013 Pasay operates 18 public elementary schools and 8 high schools, and operations are divided into four districts: Pasay North, Pasay East, Pasay South, and Pasay West. Special education is provided by the Philippine School for the Deaf and Philippine National School for the Blind, Pasay City SPED Center, and one Alternative Learning System (ALS) center. Numerous private schools, including Catholic and parochial schools, also operate in the city, like the St. Mary's Academy, operated by nuns of the Religious of the Virgin Mary.\nCountries that have set up permanent diplomatic offices or embassies in the city include:\nTwin towns and sister cities\nUnion City, California, United States\nJecheon, South Korea\nTainan, Taiwan\nLas Pi\u00f1as, Metro Manila\nPara\u00f1aque, Metro Manila\nFrancisco Coching, Filipino comic book illustrator and writer\nPablo Cuneta, former Pasay mayor; father of Sharon Cuneta\nSharon Cuneta, Filipino singer, actress and television host\nKing Girado, Filipino singer, musician, model and actor\nNina Girado, pop\/R&B singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality at ABS-CBN\nCarl Guevara, actor and model\nMaricel Laxa, Filipino comedian and actress\nAnita Linda, Filipino film actress\nFernando Lopez, former 3rd and 7th Vice President of the Philippines\nLisa Macuja-Elizalde, Filipino prima ballerina; in 1984, became the first Filipino and the first foreign soloist to join the Kirov Ballet Vhong Navarro, comedian, dancer, member of Streetboys\nChariz Solomon, Filipina actress and television personality\nDarwin Ramos, Servant of God, Filipino teenager.\nBay City, Metro Manila\nPasay City West High School\nOfficial website of Pasay City\nPasay beach, Manila, by Fabian de la Rosa\nBook: Dery, Luis Camara . A History of the Inarticulate . New Day Publishers . 2001 . Quezon City . 978-971-10-1069-0 .\nWeb site: Act No. 227 . December 2, 2017. Lawyerly.ph.\nWeb site: Republic Act No. 183 - An Act Creating The Rizal City . www.chanrobles.com . Philippine Laws, Statutes And Codes - Chan Robles Virtual Law Library . 3 April 2018 . en . June 21, 1947.\nWeb site: Republic Act No. 437 - An Act Changing the Name of Rizal City to Pasay City . www.chanrobles.com . Philippine Laws, Statutes And Codes - Chan Robles Virtual Law Library . 3 April 2018 . en . June 7, 1950.\nNews: Requintina. Robert. PH eyes MOA or Philippine Arena as venue for Miss Universe 2016. Tempo. 2 August 2016. English, Filipino. 2 August 2016.\nWeb site: Coorlim . Leif . Undercover journalists trawl Manila's seedy red light district . CNN . 31 January 2019 . 16 May 2013.\nWeb site: Starter Guide To Manila Red Light District . A Farang Abroad . 31 January 2019.\nWeb site: Commission on Audit \u2013 Cities \u2013 NCR \u2013 Pasay City . . September 22, 2017 .\nWeb site: Enhancing Risk Analysis Capacities for Flood, Tropical Cyclone Severe Wind and Earthquake for the Greater Metro Manila Area Component 5 \u2013 Earthquake Risk Analysis . . May 16, 2016.\nWeb site: City Profile. asay City Government. 5 December 2012.\n\"About PAL.\" Philippine Airlines. Retrieved May 19, 2009.\n\"Contact Us.\" Spirit of Manila Airlines. Retrieved September 13, 2010.\n\"Call Center \/ Guest Services \/ Product Ideas .\" Cebu Pacific. Retrieved March 31, 2010.\n\"Contact Information .\" Interisland Airlines. Retrieved August 11, 2010.\n\"Privacy Policy .\" Oishi. Retrieved on April 5, 2014. \"Liwayway Marketing Corporation 2225 Tolentino St. Brgy. 129, Pasay City\"\nWeb site: Philippine Republic Act No. 7926, Articles III, IV, V. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. 11 Dec 2008.\nNews: Calapre. Frank. Unity Run sets record participants. 6 June 2012. Manila Times. 23 January 2012. yes. https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120429213620\/http:\/\/www.manilatimes.net\/index.php\/sports\/top-sports-news\/15628-unity-run-sets-record-participants. April 29, 2012. mdy-all.\nThis article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article \"Pasay\".","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Park for All \u2013 Services\nGuidelines for a safe and enjoyable visit\nAreas and Monuments\nThe Palatine\nArch of Constantine and Meta Sudans\nThe Domus Aurea\nHadrian's Auditoria\nThe Museums\nThe Palatine Museum\nThe Colosseum Museum\nPArCo Green: the Green side of the ParCo\nSupport and participate\nExcavation permits\nThe Catalogue Service\nRestoration Office\n\"Conversations in the Curia\" \u2013 Digital storytelling and the art of engagement\n\"Conversations in the Curia\"\n20 May, 16:30\nDigital storytelling and the art of engagement\nTo follow the conference: connect to https:\/\/facebook.com\/parcocolosseo on Thursday, 20 May at 16:30; the conference will be broadcast in the first available post on the page (no Facebook account necessary to participate).\nThe sixth date in our \"Conversations in the Curia\" series is entirely dedicated to the topic of digital storytelling and the art of engagement.\nIn the interests of making the most of our time after this past year of pandemic, we're looking at two different books this week.\nI Musei e le forme dello storytelling digitale (Museums and Forms of Digital Storytelling), published at the heart of the pandemic in June 2020, is the latest work of Elisa Bonacini, archaeologist specialized in cultural communication with new technologies and regional coordinator for Sicily for the annual event Invasioni Digitali. In her book, the author illustrates the host of different experiences adopted by museums and throughout the cultural world, examining the following 14 types of storytelling: oral, written, video, visual, animated, interactive, immersive, social media storytelling, participatory, generative, geo-storytelling, multimedia mobile storytelling, cross-media and transmedia.\nL'Arte del coinvolgimento (The art of engagement), published in 2017, is practically required reading for anyone wishing to enter into the world of gamification. Fabio Viola, scientific director of area gaming at Florence's Scuola Internazione di Comics, considered one of the most influential gamification designers in the world, and Vincenzo Idone Cassone, professor of social semiotics of design at Turin's IAAD (Istituto d'arte applicata e design), have foreseen the next frontier of the concept of engagement, identifying video games as a primary source of entertainment. The authors explore the intersection between game design, behavioral science and innovation to provide the tools necessary to implement the mechanics and dynamics of engagement in a wide variety of contexts: finance, health, education, work, shopping, urban planning and much more.\nSpeaking about the latest digital frontiers and how best to \"engage\" the public in a museum setting, the PArCo is pleased to welcome:\nLudovico Solima, professor of economics and business management and head of the cultural industries management department at \"L. Vanvitelli\" University of Campania and professor of museum management at Suor Orsola Benincasa University in Naples. In one of his most recent publications, Management per le imprese culturali (Management for Cultural Industries), professor Solima focuses on the impact of technology on management of the cultural sector, considering the role played by social media, virtual and augmented reality, gaming, 3D printing and much more.\nStefano Borghini, Parco archeologico del Colosseo architect, project manager for multimedia development and virtual reconstruction of the Domus Aurea, Domus Tranistoria, House of Augustus and Livia, Santa Maria Antiqua.\nOfficial hashtag #parcocolosseo","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"from (1026) + -\ndancer (1194) + -\ncollect (6) + -\npictur (4) + -\npowerpoint (3) + -\nstill (x)\nmanuscript (x)\npaper (x)\nOral history interview with Cadoc (Tsolo) Kobus [Part 2 of 2]\nOral history, Political activists-- South Africa--Interviews, Non-European Unity Movement, Government, Resistance to--South Africa\nThis is a series of unrelated interviews from the period 1985-1990 with people involved in different spheres of political life in Africa, with particular reference to the politics of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zambia and the Congo. Interviewees include, Jane Gool, Hassan Howa, Hosea Jaffe, I.B. Tabata, Jack Cope and Otillie Abrahams. Themes include: African National Congress (ANC) training camps, anti-discrimination in sport, life in exile in Botswana and Namibia, gender empowerment , the history of St. Francis, Langa in the Western Cape, Non-European Unity Movement (NUEM), political upheaval in Kenya, rural life and work and the South West African Peoples Organisation (SWAPO), Pin4.27b.mp3: Part 2 of 2 ; 31:59 min. ; interview 27 of 52\nMinister of Bantu Administration, Westbrook, Cape Town\nCape Town (South Africa), Western Cape (South Africa), Apartheid, Politics, Cabinet ministers, National Party (South Africa), Governments\nThe swearing-in of the new Deputy Minister of Bantu Administration by the State President (Mr. J. J. Fouche), Development (Mr A. J . Raubenheimer) took place today. Shown in the garden of Westbrook, the State President's official residence in Rondebosch after the ceremony are, from left, Dr. P. Koornhof, Deputy Minister of Bantu Administration, the Prime Minister (M.r. B. J. Vorster), Mr. Fouche, Mr. M. C. Botha, Minister of Bantu Administration and Mr. Raubenheimer.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Review Garage\nRating the best and worst in cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, tools and accessories.\nFrank A. Aukofer\nJason Fogelson, Founder and Editor\nTod Mesirow\n2017 Hyundai Elantra: A DriveWays Review\u2026\nby Frank A. Aukofer\nIn Kenny Rogers' poker playing song \"The Gambler,\" you've got to know when to hold 'em. That's the plan for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra sedan.\nThe previous-generation Elantra surprised some when it was redesigned and won the 2012 North American Car of the Year title, voted on by an independent 50-member panel of automotive journalists. It beat the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus.\nThe Elantra was a fresh, youthful face in the competitive compact class with flowing body lines that Hyundai called \"fluidic sculpture.\" That and a long list of amenities propelled total sales to 913,042 from 2012 through 2015.\nNow Hyundai looks to consolidate its winnings by offering a more mature-looking, even mainstream design. Most striking, and seeming to follow an industry wide trend toward ever bigger maws, the new Elantra features a large, bold hexagonal grille, along with LED taillights and running lights.\nHowever, it maintains its compact dimensions. It is less than an inch longer than its predecessor and exactly an inch wider. But clever packaging results in a total of more than 110 cubic feet of interior volume, with 96 cubic feet for passengers and 14 cubic feet of trunk space. That classifies it as a mid-size car according to the EPA, though it is marketed as a compact.\n2017 ELANTRA SEDAN\nThe interior room becomes apparent as soon as you get inside. There's decent head- and knee-room in back for two six-footers without infringing on the driver and front passenger. However, despite a nearly flat floor, the center-rear passenger is relegated to a hard, high and uncomfortable cushion.\nDespite its intended audience of buyers with modest incomes, the 2017 Elantra delivers a host of available features usually associated with premium and even luxury cars. Among them:\nAutomatic emergency braking from up to 50 miles an hour with pedestrian detection.\nAdaptive cruise control that maintains a preset distance from the car ahead.\nTrunk lid that opens automatically when it detects a nearby key fob.\nLane departure mitigation with steering assist.\nBlind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.\nThe base Elantra SE has a starting price of $17,995, including the destination charge. That model is the only one that offers a six-speed manual gearbox. There was no opportunity at the introduction to drive that version, but if the stick-shift is similar to the one on the previous Elantra, it's a sweetheart.\nThe model tested for this review was the top-of-the-line Limited with a starting price of $23,185. With optional Tech and Ultimate packages, the tester topped out at $27,710. But the level of equipment was not unlike that of a premium-priced car.\nIt included all of the aforementioned safety and convenience equipment, plus leather upholstery, navigation system, Harman\/Kardon audio system with satellite and HD radio, Pandora, Bluetooth telephone, Android and Apple car play, motorized sunroof, heated front and rear seats, lighted outside door handles, and memory settings for the power driver's seat and outside mirrors.\nThe Elantra engine delivers 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque from 2.0 liters of displacement. Power travels to the front wheels through an easy-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. With a slippery .27 coefficient of drag, the city\/highway\/combined fuel consumption is rated at 28\/37\/32 mpg.\nUnusual in this car class are economy, normal and sport driving modes. In the normal and Eco modes, the Elantra delivers a comfortable ride. Eco maximizes fuel economy, and the Sport mode tightens the steering and adjusts transmission shifting to provide more power at low engine revolutions, as well as delivering more rapid acceleration.\nEven in the Sport mode, however, the acceleration is not snappy, but adequate for stoplight sprints and passing on two lane roads. However, the Sport mode delivers tighter and more responsive performance on twisting mountain roads. The six-speed automatic also can be shifted manually.\nLater, Hyundai plans to introduce two other Elantra models: Eco with a new, 128-hp, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed twin clutch automatic transmission. A brief drive in a pre-production model demonstrated quicker mid-range throttle response than with the 2.0-liter engine.\nThere's also an upcoming Sport model that will feature a 200 hp, 1.6-liter engine with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.\nWith cars like the 2017 Hyundai Elantra and the 2016 Honda Civic, it's easy to understand why the compact class is holding its own while larger mid-size cars falter in the face of an onslaught from compact crossover utility vehicles.\nModel: 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited four door sedan.\nEngine:0-liter four cylinder, 147 hp, 132 lb-ft torque.\nTransmission: Six-speed automatic with manual shift mode and front wheel drive.\nOverall length: 15 feet.\nEPA passenger\/trunk volume: 96\/14 cubic feet.\nWeight: 2,976 pounds.\nEPA city\/highway\/combined fuel consumption: 28\/37\/32 mpg.\nBase price, including destination charge: $23,185.\nPrice as tested: $27,710.\nPhotos (c) Hyundai\nCar Reviews, Frank A. Aukofer, Hyundai, Uncategorized\n2017 Hyundai Elantra, Economy Cars, new for 2017\nScroll to the bottom of the page, and you'll discover links to stories, reviews and rants from the writers who bring you The Review Garage:\nJason Fogelson\n2022 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year Awards: A DriveWays Report\u2026\n2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and 2022 Nissan Frontier: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 Honda Civic 1.5T Touring: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 Kia Carnival SX Prestige MPV: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Sport Prestige: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited Hybrid: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL 2.5 S-AWC: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2021 Audi RS 7: A DriveWays Review\u2026\n2021 Infiniti Q50 Signature Edition: A DriveWays Review\u2026\nCoupe Love Affair with the 2020 Lexus RC F\nDrive After Drive in the 2020 Acura MDX\nDriving at a Social Distance in the 2020 Audi Q3\nWhat Would 1986 Think of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra?\n2020 Toyota Prius is the Proto-Hybrid\nDon't Ignore the 2020 Acura RDX\nAvalon Hybrid Generates Grins\nAttracting Xennials in the 2020 Lexus UX 250h\nPalisade: The New Three-Row SUV from Hyundai\n2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the Underdog Hybrid\n2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HST\nMovie Review: 'Ford v Ferrari'\n2019 Jaguar I-PACE: Driving the Future\n2018 Cadillac XT5 Test Drive and Review: Holiday Road\n2017 Nissan Titan XD Cummins V8 Turbo Diesel PRO-4X 4WD\n2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible\nThe Porsche Experience\nThe Grand Tour, Episode One \u2013 A Review\n2016 Dodge Challenger SRT 392 Test Drive and Review\nRolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion\nView www.facebook.com\/reviewgarage's profile on Facebook\nView @thereviewgarage's profile on Twitter","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi\nI Am A Rifle (EP 19)\nPlay \u2022 1 hr 17 min\nI Am A Rifle is track 2 from the Four Songs About Freedom EP by The Rebel Spell. The Propagandhi version is a cover of a Rebel Spell song done as a memorial for Todd \"Serious\" Jenkins, a true punk with a true heart, who shuffled off this mortal coil far too soon. His spirit lives! Proceeds of the Propagandhi version go to Wildlife Defence League and\/ or Unistoten Defence Fund.\nIntroduction: 0:00:00-0:11:00\nErin Rebel Spell interview: 11:42-35:30\nKeith and Greg track breakdown: 35:50-1:16:00\nBuy the Propagandhi version: https:\/\/propagandhi.bandcamp.com\/track\/i-am-a-rifle\nPurchase merch and music from The Rebel Spell here: https:\/\/www.therebelspell.com\/shop\/\nMore episodes from Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi\nNight Letters (EP 69)\nIntroduction: 0:00-13:30 Parker Molloy interview: 13:40-45:15 Night Letters cover by Steven I: 46:49-50:30 David \"Beave\" Guillas interview: 54:50-1:11:25 Sulynn Hago interview: 1:14:10-1:30:10 Keith and Greg: 1:33:07-END\nTertium Non Datur (Part Two)\nDavid Tkach played bass in the Winnipeg instrumental trio, Giant Sons, with Robbie Richardson and David Guillas. They wrote \"Repairing the Damaged Beard,\" which went on to be adapted as Propagandhi's \"Tertium Non Datur.\" Tkach currently plays in Fulfilment and Zeta II Reticuli. Listen to \"Repairing the Damaged Beard,\" here: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eBB0ZhHcdvk Listen to Fulfilment: https:\/\/fulfilment.bandcamp.com\/ Listen to Zeta II Reticuli: https:\/\/zetaiireticuli.bandcamp.com\/album\/voyager\nHidden Curriculum (EP 68)\nJosh Robbins Cover: 3:44-5:51 Huck Ricardo Cover: 20:18-22:58 Eric Emmons Cover: 47:15-50:44 Guest host on this episode is Scott Robertson. You can visit Scott on Instagram at: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/propagandhiphd\/","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"BourbonAndVinyl\nRock 'n Roll, drinking and sometimes both at the same time\nB&V's Favorite \"Comeback\" LPs\nSeptember 19, 2021 ~ kcorsini\n\"Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years, rockin' my peers, puttin' suckers in fear\" \u2013 LL Cool J, \"Mama Said Knock You Out\"\nEverybody loves the drama of a good comeback. If you think about Hollywood there's really only two story lines. There's the story where our hero struggles, but all good things come to him in the end. I don't know about y'all but \"happily ever after\" doesn't usually happen in real life, at least to me\u2026with the exception of the Rock Chick of course. The other story line that Hollywood loves is the comeback. Our hero gains fame or fortune but somehow, usually through some personality flaw or the machinations of some villain, our hero falls. It's how the hero handles that adversity that fuels the drama. He struggles and then finally rights the ship and makes, yes, the comeback. That's certainly the formula they used for the Freddy Mercury and Queen movie, 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' In that case, I'm not sure how historically accurate it was.\nAll of that said, there have been some great comebacks in rock n roll. There are many cases where a band or artist makes it big but then\u2026 loses it. Whether they succumb to drug abuse or the pressure of fame gets to them, the artist drifts creatively. The Rock Chick continually marvels at these bands\/artists who work all their young lives to get famous and sell records, who finally \"make it\" only to lose their shit. I kinda understand that whole thing. I don't think anybody has any conception of what real, big fame is like. The artist perhaps feels isolated, turns to drugs or some other self-destructive behavior. Or maybe just freaked out by their fame, the artist changes their musical approach or fires the band. Certainly hubris plays a big part in all of this\u2026 I'm thinking specifically of Axl Rose who thought he was Guns N Roses. Never underestimate band chemistry, Axl.\nThere are many cases of big stars who eventually faded. For some odd reason I'm thinking of Sly Stone when I type these words. But for every star who eventually faded, against all odds, there are artists who have made the improbable comeback. They have somehow been able to summon the creative fire of their early success and create an album or a series of LPs that solidify their legacy and place in the rock n roll pantheon. There are many of these \"comeback\" albums that I just love. As I was thinking about this concept, I thought I'd share our favorites with you. There's something about an artist with their back against the wall who comes out swinging that I've always loved\u2026 but then I've always been the underdog.\nElvis Presley, From Elvis In Memphis \u2013 The greatest comeback ever belongs to the King. His evil manager Colonel Tom Parker had Elvis stuck on a treadmill of making basically the same movie over and over again. The King wasn't even doing concerts anymore. The Colonel had rendered the King irrelevant. The one time in his career Elvis bucked the Colonel was when he decided to do a television special at the end of '68. Longtime fans were nervous\u2026 did Elvis still \"have it?\" Indeed he did. He mesmerized on the Comeback Special. But how to follow it up? Elvis went back home to Memphis and recorded one of his strongest albums, From Elvis In Memphis. \"Stranger In My Own Home Town\" still brings chills up and down my spine. Had he not come out with a strong LP after the TV show the comeback would have fizzled\u2026 The Memphis album as it came to be known solidified the comeback\u2026 Alas Colonel Parker took over again and put Elvis on the Vegas concert treadmill but that's another story.\nMuddy Waters, Hard Again \u2013 The 70s saw a bunch of new musical trends and they all led away from the blues and blues rock that had dominated in the late 60s, early 70s. Muddy kept putting out LPs in the early 70s with diminishing returns. One might describe his 70s output as disappointing. Muddy acolyte, blues master Johnny Winter approached Muddy about producing an LP. Muddy agreed. They assembled a topnotch backing band and the alchemy struck gold. The version of \"Mannish Boy\" on this album is definitive for me\u2026\nJohnny Cash, American Recordings \u2013 Johnny Cash was washed up and left for dead by the Country Music establishment. He was doing dinner clubs with an ensemble of musicians. Uber producer Rick Rubin attended one of those dinner club shows and approached the Man In Black about doing a stripped down album. American Recordings, his first of several LPs with Rubin, was stark and fierce. The liner notes were a copy of something Johnny wrote on lined notebook paper. It was a staggeringly successful return. \"Delia's Gone\" was my favorite but there's a lot to like. He does everybody from Nick Lowe to Danzig. It was the beginning of one of Johnny's most fertile periods.\nBob Dylan, Time Out of Mind \u2013 Even a diehard Dylan fan like me had given up on Bob by the late '90s. The last LP I'd bought of his was Oh Mercy! almost a decade prior. Dylan had holed up and done a couple of albums of folk covers. I ignored them at the time \u2013 although I love them now \u2013 but those records recharged something in Dylan. Time Out of Mind feels like mortality itself reaching out to deliver a message It's a late career masterpiece. It led to a series of great LPs in what can only be called a late career renaissance.\nPaul McCartney, Flaming Pie \u2013 McCartney's late 80s\/early 90s losing streak was the thing of legend. I don't think anybody was paying attention to him any more. It verged on being embarrassing. After he collaborated with the remaining Beatles on the Anthology Series, McCartney was able to reconnect with his creative spark. Flaming Pie was an amazing record and McCartney has been on a winning streak ever since, culminating in McCartney III last year.\nGeorge Harrison, Cloud Nine \u2013 Odd that there are a couple of ex-Beatles on this list\u2026 After his early solo success with All Things Must Pass, Harrison's career had stagnated. The last thing I expected in the late 80s, driving around Ft Smith, Arkansas was to hear a great Harrison song, \"Got My Mind Set On You.\" Harrison had brought in Jeff Lynn of ELO fame to produce. Clapton and Ringo show up to help out. Cloud Nine led to the Traveling Wilburys and nice little late career surge for George, an underrated Beatle.\nWarren Zevon, Sentimental Hygiene \u2013 Zevon had so many career collapses and comebacks I struggled to pick just one record here\u2026 I picked Sentimental Hygiene because it's one of his greatest records. The title track features a blistering Neil Young guitar solo \u2013 recorded in one or maybe two takes. Everyone should be listening to Warren Zevon and for God's sake if any of you have any pull \u2013 get him into the Rock Hall of Fame, please.\nNeil Young, Freedom \u2013 Speaking of Neil Young\u2026 the 80s were a terrible decade for him. He was actually sued by his record company for \"Purposely making uncommercial music.\" Sigh. While many of the songs on Freedom had been around for a while, the album hung together as a whole. \"Rockin' In the Free World\" in both its acoustic and electric versions is an iconic Young tune. It was a real return to form and set Neil up for a very creative decade in the 90s. Neil's always got something left in the tank.\nThe Allman Brothers, Seven Turns \u2013 You could perhaps describe this as a reunion album more so than a comeback album, but I love it and it was so good to hear the Allman Brothers make new music in 1990. They had a great three or four LP run after this. \"Good Clean Fun\" and the title track remain amongst my favorites.\nAerosmith, Permanent Vacation \u2013 I had loved 70s Aerosmith but then they just fizzled into a morass of heroin and stupidity. I thought Done With Mirrors was a better album but it was this LP that brought Aerosmith back to center stage. While \"Angel\" bothers me, I loved \"Dude Looks Like A Lady,\" and \"Ragdoll\" with his greasy slide guitar. The world is always better off when Aerosmith is rocking.\nMetallica, Death Magnetic \u2013 The Load and Reload albums sold well for Metallica but man, they left me cold. St Anger was to these ears, unlistenable. But then in 2008 Metallica dropped this gem of a record and everything clicked for me in terms of Metallica. This comeback LP got me on their bandwagon for good\u2026 I went back and purchased all their first four LPs and they are amazing.\nRed Hot Chili Peppers, Californication \u2013 In the video for the first single from this album, the amazing \"Scar Tissue,\" the Chilis look like someone beat the shit out of them. They'd certainly had a rough go of it. Lead guitarist John Frusciante had quit. Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction fame had joined and left. They were considering doing an electronica based record. But Flea reached out to Frusciante who was fresh out of rehab \u2013 his heroin addiction can only be described as harrowing \u2013 and John decided to return to the fold. The results were proof Frusciante is the only person who should be playing lead guitar for the RHCPs. I saw this tour, still a very dark vibe from these guys but it was a great show. They went on to even greater heights until Frusciante quit again after Stadium Arcadium\u2026 only to return again. Fingers crossed for a new album from these guys.\nBruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, The Rising \u2013 Bruce had disbanded the E Street Band, his longstanding back up band and wandered in the wilderness through the 90s. He'd gotten them back together for a reunion tour but wasn't sure he could still write rock songs. When the tragic events of 911 unfolded, Springsteen was inspired. He was walking down the street and a fan had yelled to him, \"We need you now, man.\" He responded with one of his greatest sets of songs ever. The Rising was a measured and inspired response to a horrible tragedy. It's truly one of his finest hours.\nIf you're feeling like a little rock n roll comeback drama, I highly recommend every LP on this list. I've been cranking Cloud Nine all day. I do so love the title track. Hopefully rock n roll drama is the only thing you're facing out there today and everything is going well. Take care of each other out there!\nPosted in alternative rock, Blues, classic rock, Music, rock and roll, rock music, vinyl #JohnnyCash#MuddyWaters#rocknroll@Aerosmith@AllmanBrothers@BobDylan@chilipeppers@ElvisPresley@GeorgeHarrison@Metallica@NeilYoung@officialWZevon@PaulMcCartney@Springsteen\n< Previous Eddie Vedder: New Song, \"Long Way\" From The Upcoming Solo LP, 'Earthling'\nNext > Review: New Showtime Documentary: Bitchin' \u2013 The Sound And Fury of Rick James\nOne thought on \"B&V's Favorite \"Comeback\" LPs\"\nPingback: Review: Bob Dylan, 'Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol 16\/1980 \u2013 1985 (Deluxe Edition)' | BourbonAndVinyl\nNew Song: Dave Matthews Band First New Song In Five Years, \"Madman's Eyes\" From Upcoming New LP\nDavid Crosby, Founding Member of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills Nash &\/or Young \u2013 Gone at 81 \u2013 RIP Croz\nThe Very Old, Very False Myth That The Devil Isn't In The Details, He's In The Rock N Roll Music\nJeff Beck, Guitar Legend, Has Passed Away At 78 \u2013 RIP Jeff Beck \u2013 Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, 'Blow By Blow' \u2013 Such A Tremendous Loss\nReview: Iggy Pop, 'Every Loser' \u2013 The First Great LP of the 2023 \u2013 Frenetic Rock n Roll Produced By Andrew Watt\nNew Song: Dave Matth\u2026 on Jeff Beck, Guitar Legend, Has\u2026\nNew Song: Dave Matth\u2026 on David Crosby, Founding Member\u2026\nNew Song: Dave Matth\u2026 on LP Review: Dave Matthews Band,\u2026\nkcorsini on David Crosby, Founding Member\u2026\nGuy on David Crosby, Founding Member\u2026\nipod playlist\nrock literature","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Peter Paul Rubens and H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment\nRubens, His Wife Helena Fourment and Their Son Frans by Rubens (c.1636)\nThis superb portrait by Rubens of his wife H\u00e9l\u00e8ne and their three year old son, Frans can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Frans is the only one of their children featured which makes us think that Rubens did not see this work as a family portrait but had more to do with his desire to show off the beauty of his second wife. Look how Rubens has depicted himself and his son in this work. They both look lovingly at H\u00e9l\u00e8ne. She is the wife to one and the mother to the other. This in a way is Rubens' intimate tribute to his wife. In the background we see a caryatid, (the sculpted female figure which is serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar), which along with the fountain in the right background, symbolise fecundity\nIn my last blog I had reached the year 1626, a distressing time in Peter-Paul Rubens' life for this was the year his first wife and true love, Isabella Brandt died. Rubens was left alone with his three children, Clara Serena, Nikolas and Albertus. He was still employed as court painter at the court of Archduke Albert VII, the Archduke of Austria and Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands and his wife and consort, the Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia. It was in 1621, when her husband, Albert, died that the Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia, became the Governor of the Netherlands on behalf of the King of Spain. She was also keen to use Rubens' ambassadorial skills and she sent him on a number of diplomatic missions to the Spanish and English courts to see if a solution could be found for the troubles besetting the Spanish Netherlands with the breakaway of the Seven United Provinces. His skill as a diplomat was well appreciated by both sides and he was knighted by King Philip IV of Spain in 1624 and six years later received a similar honour from Charles I of England. Notwithstanding his diplomatic brief, he continued to paint and received a number of royal commissions.\nH\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment with a Carriage by Rubens (c.1639)\nIn this 1639 painting H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment with a Carriage by Rubens, which is housed in the Louvre, we see his wife H\u00e9l\u00e8ne leaving their palatial home in Antwerp followed by her six year-old son Frans, who was born in 1633. We view the scene from a low level which affords H\u00e9l\u00e8ne a more regal and majestic stance as she awaits her carriage. H\u00e9l\u00e8ne, dressed like a lady of high society. She is dressed in a long black satin gown, in the wealthy and lavish Spanish style. She wears a small headdress with the pom-poms attached to large veil of black gauze. Rubens has contrasted the black of the dress with the bright white satin which form the puffed sleeves which are in turn accentuated by the gold braid. More colour is then added as we note the rosy pink of her cheeks and the purple sleeve bows and silk belt at her waist. She waits in front of a porch of their home with its columns and pilasters. The building had been designed by her husband, imitating an Italian palazzo. H\u00e9l\u00e8ne'sleft hand lies by her side whilst her right hand is raised in a gesture of modesty which belies her sumptuous clothes. Frans follows his mother, dressed in a red suit with a flat white collar. One must remember that Rubens at this time in his life was extremely affluent having been court painter at the Habsburg court and was also head of a thriving studio which was inundated with commissions from all over Europe. At the bottom left of the painting we see a two-horsed carriage awaiting mother and son. Besides a mode of transport the two-horsed carriage symbolised conjugal harmony. This is probably the last known portrait of H\u00e9l\u00e8ne by Rubens.\nIn 1630, at the age of 53, and four years after the death of his first wife, Isabella, Rubens married the 17 year-old daughter of his friend and tapestry merchant, Daniel 'Le Jeune' Fourment. His new wife, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment, went on to give him 5 children, two daughters, Clara Johanna and Isabella Helena and two sons, Frans and Peter-Paul. A fifth child, a third daughter Constance Albertine, was born eight months after Rubens died. My blog today looks at some of the many paintings by Rubens which featured his second wife, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne, many of which were portraits but she also featured in some of his allegorical and classical works.\nFinally in August 1634, Rubens managed to relinquish his diplomatic work for the Habsburgs and in 1635 he bought himself a country estate, Het Steen, which was situated between Antwerp and Brussels. It was here that he spent much of the latter part of his life. Around 1636 Rubens completed a work entitled The Rainbow Landscape which was an imaginary artistic reconstruction of his own estate. It was a maginificent estate which included a castle, draw-bridge, tower, moats, a lake and a farm and gave him the right to be known as Lord of Het Steen. One can just imagine the joy it must have brought Rubens to spend his last quiet and tranquil years with his family at this idyllic place. At Het Steen, Rubens finally managed to enjoy the fruits of his long and hard-working career, and it was during these last years that he spent time painting landscapes.\nIn his later years, Rubens was increasingly troubled by arthritis which caused a swelling of the joints in his hands, which forced him to reluctantly give up painting altogether. Rubens died from heart failure on May 30th 1640, a month short of his sixty-third birthday. He was buried in Saint Jacob's church, Antwerp. The artist left behind eight children, three with Isabella and five with H\u00e9l\u00e8ne.\nHet Pelsken (the little fur) by Peter Paul Rubens (c.1638)\nThe final painting I am showing you by Rubens, featuring his wife H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment, is probably one of the strangest depictions a man could make of his beloved. The work was completed around 1638 when Rubens was 61 and H\u00e9l\u00e8ne was just 27. It is a life size painting of his wife, entitled Het Pelsken (The Little Fur), which is the title given to it by Rubens in his will. It is also sometimes referred to as H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment in a Fur Coat. In the painting, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne is depicted nude except for a fur coat, which could well have belonged to her husband. This was a private work by Rubens. It was one of his favourite works and he would neither give it away, nor sell it nor exhibit it.\nVenus de Medici\nIt was simply done by him for his own pleasure. It is an outstanding painted depiction of nakedness. It could well be that Rubens modelled his depiction on the Venus Pudica (modest Venus) of the life-size Venus de Medici, the Hellenistic marble sculpture which depicts the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, and which is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.\nH\u00e9l\u00e8ne stands before us on a red cloth, almost naked. She is portrayed with curly dishevelled hair. She just about holds on to the wrap which seems to be about to fall from her body and leave her completely naked. She clutches at it in a manner that both of her arms are wrapped around the front of her. Her left hand covers her pelvic region whilst her right hand holds the fur coat in position on her left shoulder and by doing so her right arm cradles and uplifts her breasts. Her nipples seem to have hardened and her face has a rosy glow to it which may indicate the pleasure she is experiencing as her husband stares out at her. There is a look of defiance about her expression. Is this look intended to be one of provocation as she exposes her body to her husband or is it that she is fed up with standing in such a pose and becoming cold? In some ways we are fascinated by what we see before us and yet in other ways, because of the personal nature of the painting we feel as if we are intruding into a private husband\/wife moment and we feel we should look away. It is a truthful portrayal of his wife. He has not tried to idealise his wife's body. She is a woman with a womanly figure and Rubens' depiction of her is an honest portrayal of her and there can be no doubt that he found what he saw, very pleasurable.\nIn his will he left the painting to his wife with the stipulation that it should never be sold to pay for death duties. H\u00e9l\u00e8ne carried out his wish and it was not sold until after she died in 1658. The painting is currently housed in the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna.\nAuthor jonathan5485Posted on May 14, 2013 Categories Art, Art Blog, Flemish painters, Portraiture, RubensTags Art, Art Blog, Art History, Flemish painter, H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment, Het Pelsken by Rubens, Nude portraiture, Portraiture, Rubens\n3 thoughts on \"Peter Paul Rubens and H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Fourment\"\nRaisa Tarasova says:\nI was so fascinated by art since I remember myself. My mum used to collect magazine pages with artworks by famous painters of all styles, we also had albums from Hermitage, Louvre, Metropolitan, Uffizi. Rubens was one of the 1st painter I discovered. He is far not my favourite painter, but I remember marvelling at the portrait of 15 y.o. Helene in her wedding dress \u2013 so playful, young and curious.\nold master pictures says:\nThe womanly shapes were so much larger back in the 1600's, not like some of the skin and bone women around today. There is a saying in the art world, that if everyone in the paintings has enormous asses, then it's Rubens. How true!\nTruly a genius artist though.\nPingback: Heinrich Zille 11Bernard Perroud\nPrevious Previous post: Peter Paul Rubens and Isabella Brant\nNext Next post: Vanitas Still-life with a Portrait of a Young Painter by David Bailly","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Mahsan Ghazianzad Portfolio\nMahsan Ghazianzad was born in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. She pursued her Bachelor of Fine Art in painting, drawing and printmaking from Soore university in Tehran, Iran and her terminal degree (MFA) in studio art, Painting and drawing at the University of Nevada, Reno and has been working as an artist and art instructor for many years. Primarily interested in works that convey personal meaning, Mahsan works to capture the essence of her experiences through her paintings. She uses color, line, and shape in harmonies and abstract compositions to express emotions, thoughts, and sensations. A wide variety of sources influence Mahsan's artwork including personal history, poetry, philosophy, music, and also the works of artists that she admires. Mahsan has participated in numerous exhibitions and artist talks nationally and internationally. Since emigrating to the US, her works has been exhibited at the National Law Immigration Center Los Angeles; Folsom History Museum, California; California Museum, Sacramento; Women's Muse World Conference, Oregon; University of Nevada-Reno symposium; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Lake Tahoe Community College; American River College, Sacramento; Sierra College, Rocklin-California; Truckee Meadow Community College, Reno; CCAI Courthouse gallery, Carson City; Metro Gallery at City Hall, Reno; Maturango Museum, California; Crocker Art Museum, California; the Board of Chambers, Sacramento Metropolitan Art Commission and others.\n\u00a9 Mahsan Ghazianzad | mahsan.g@gmail.com","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Tpremiumstore \u2013 AurI markkanen Utah jazz jump pass 2023 shirt\nBuy this shirt: https:\/\/tpremiumstore.com\/product\/auri-markkanen-utah-jazz-jump-pass-2023-shirt\/\nAs an activist, Tsui believes that witnessing environmental degradation first-hand exacerbates her mental health struggles, which she openly says\u2014both in her writing and the activism she began devoting herself to in 2019, which she collaborated with Stella McCartney and co-founded initiatives including Bad Activist Collective and Pass the Mic. \"I've been diagnosed with everything under the sun, so I'm definitely a madman,\" she laughs. Tsui explores this complex topic at its fullest form in the pages of her ambitious new book, It's Not Just You, to be published this summer. In it, she explains how systemic oppression has given rise to not only the climate crisis but also a mental health crisis that affects not only her generation but those above. that generation. And as the climate crisis worsens\u2014or, in the words of the United Nations Secretary-General at this year's COP27 conference, as humanity continues \"on the path to climate hell with the gas pedal on. \"\u2014no wonder 6 out of 10 young people are either very or extremely worried about it.\nTerms like 'ecological anxiety' have entered the public consciousness, however, much of the advice is available or pathologically rationalizes the response to live through the mass extinction event or tell people to focus on individual solutions, like more recycling. \"My understanding of mental health is that I am completely at the mercy of people who want to label me mentally ill, even though I am reacting to the symptoms of an unhealthy society,\" explains Tsui. Tsui's book supports the idea that climate anxiety exists in a vacuum, seeing it instead as a symptom of something deeper\u2014a frustration and fatigue not solely caused by uncertainty. global equality faced by Tsui's generation, but also at a more local level, austerity. shameful measures and actions on the climate crisis by Britain's Conservatives, who have been in power for 12 years and continue. This winter, the cost-of-living crisis has seen thousands die from fuel poverty and malnutrition, but the damage and mistrust caused by the Conservative Party go deeper. \"It is easy for us to say that I worry about the environment, but it goes much deeper than that,\" says Tsui. \"That's what it means to live in a society that doesn't prioritize people's health, treats people like disposables\u2014 treats our planet like disposables.\"\nHow does Tsui plan to solve this problem? Adopting climate justice: an approach that treats social justice and environmental activism as one and the same. \"There is no quick fix for anything, but we have to start restoring community care and living with less individualism and collectivism,\" said Tsui. For her, community is at the core of fighting social disparities and an answer to many of the mental health struggles people face as a result of the climate crisis. \"Part of that also acknowledges that there are marginalized communities that have experienced profound, existential crises and that we can learn from them in a way that honors those who came before us and build the resilience they've cultivated,\" she explains.\nHome: https:\/\/tpremiumstore.com\nTpremiumstore \u2013 Barron Trump the expert shirt\nTee7days \u2013 Barron Trump the expert shirt","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Greenberg Traurig Earns \"A\" in Diversity\nThe Austin office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received an \"A\" in the just-released 2016 Austin Law Firm Diversity Report Card.\n\"Our firm's leadership promotes and welcomes diversity from the top down,\" said Sandra D. Gonzalez, Austin shareholder.\nAustin, TX (PRWEB) August 30, 2017\n\"I'm particularly proud of this achievement for our office, especially with the increased difficulty of the new standards,\" said Austin Administrative Shareholder, Gregory J. Casas. \"Each year, Sandra Gonzalez spearheads our participation, and we appreciate her dedication to showcasing our efforts to reflect the Austin community in our office.\"\n\"Our firm's leadership promotes and welcomes diversity from the top down,\" said Sandra D. Gonzalez, Austin shareholder. \"We in the Austin office are fortunate to have a unique and multifarious group of attorneys that continues to grow and evolve, which makes for a truly enjoyable and collaborative work environment.\"\nThe committee coordinating the report consists of representatives from the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, the Austin Black Lawyers Association, the Austin Asian American Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association of Austin, the Austin LGBT Bar Association, and the Travis County Women Lawyers' Association.\nGreenberg Traurig was among 29 of the largest law firms in Austin requested to participate in the report card survey, of which 25 submitted responses and were then evaluated and provided a grade. This year, 13 firms earned \"A\" grades. Grading is determined by both percentage of minority attorneys and percentage of minority partners in each firm, acknowledging firms who retain and promote minority attorneys.\nAbout Greenberg Traurig, LLP \u2013 Texas\nGreenberg Traurig has more than 125 attorneys in Texas, serving clients from offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.\nAbout Greenberg Traurig's Diversity Initiative\nAs a leader among Am Law 100 firms, Greenberg Traurig, LLP has developed a workforce that welcomes, supports, and reflects the communities we represent. On the 2017 ALM Diversity Scorecard, the firm has the most African American partners and Hispanic American attorneys and is among the top 10 for number of minority attorneys. The firm is among the top five for number of female partners on the 2017 ALM Women's Scorecard and has a score of 100% on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index. Diversity is in Greenberg Traurig's DNA.\nAbout Greenberg Traurig, LLP\nGreenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http:\/\/www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.\nLourdes Brezo-Martinez\n@GT_Law","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Leszczynski interview for DNA INDIA\nRecently I gave an interview for the Mumbai newspaper DNA INDIA (Daily News & Analysis INDIA). It was published today under the headline 'Use of cell phones increases cancer risk'.\nMy concluding comment of the interview is:\n\"\u2026The industry likes to call on scientists who will endorse their product and say that it is safe. Hence, Dr Repacholi visited India and spoke publicly about the safety of cell phones as well as cell towers. I disagree with Dr Repacholi. He says that we don't have and we will not have in the future health problems due to cell phone and cell tower radiation. In my opinion the scientific evidence is still insufficient to say that cell phone radiation is harmless. We need both better research and, for the time being, implementation of the European Union's Precautionary Principle until there is further clarity\u2026\"\nThe full interview is available on-line Leszczynski in DNA INDIA\nCell phone news,\nUpdate to last posting: UK mobile phone company banned from erecting a mast because of health fears.\nNOTE: The last posting of a Daily Mail article is in fact very old news but the date was left off the Daily Mail site \u2013 giving the impression it was a current news item which it is not. So, it is of historical interest only.\nCell Phone Towers,\nFacebook owner Mark Zuckerberg wants you to pay him to stalk you.\nFrom the SumofUs.org:\nIn a breathtakingly creepy invasion of privacy, Facebook is forcing all smartphone users to install a new messaging app. The Android version of the app \u2014 and to a lesser extent the iPhone version as well \u2014 allows Facebook to access your phone camera and record audio, call and send messages without your permission, identify details about you and all your contacts, and send that info on to third parties.\nIf you want to carry on sending and receiving messages through Facebook on your mobile phone you now have no choice but to install Facebook Messenger \u2014 and give the company access to a wealth of personal data stored on your phone.\nMicrowave News on the CDC's call for caution on cell phones\nFrom Louis Slesin, Editor of Microwave News:\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u2014CDC\u2014 has become the first U.S. health agency to call for precaution in the use of cell phones. \"Along with many organizations worldwide, we recommend caution in cell phone use,\" the CDC states on its Web site's FAQ About Cell Phones and Your Health. It follows up with a call for more research to answer the unresolved cancer question. The recommendation was posted on the CDC's Web site on or before, June 9. It passed mostly unnoticed until a few days ago when Joel Moskowitz, who writes a blog on Electromagnetic Radiation Safety, sent out a press release announcing the news. \"I am pleased to see that the CDC, the lead public health action agency in the United States, is reassuming its leadership role by warning the public about this health risk,\" he said in an interview with Microwave News. Moskowitz is the director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health.\nCIndy Sage on Google Glass\nA reporter for the LA Times chronicled her experience trying out Google Glass around San Francisco.\nIt's in the on-line version of the article under Pros and Cons. I posted a comment (see at bottom).\nTissue heating is a sign that a device is producing excessive levels of radiofrequency\/microwave radiation and the battery-switching function is producing high ELF-EMF. She reported a hotspot at the temple, although the antenna is located behind the ear.\nDECT, Wi-FI, and WLAN wireless systems and health,\nRestaurant Watches Old Footage Of Customers And Uncovers A Shocking Truth.\nFrom EMR Updates: The Microwave Factor. The Newsletter of EMF Refugee, The International Coalition for an Electromagnetic Safe Planet (IC-ESP)\nA famous restaurant in NYC decided to hire a firm to figure out why they kept getting bad reviews. What this firm discovered is quite interesting. Below is a transcript that the restaurant posted on Craigslist after they discovered what it was\u2026\nWe are a popular restaurant for both locals and tourists alike. Having been in business for many years, we noticed that although the number of customers we serve on a daily basis is almost the same today as it was 10 years ago, the service just seems super slow even though we added more staff and cut back on the menu items\u2026\nOne of the most common complaints on review sites against us and many restaurants in the area is that the service was slow and\/or they needed to wait a bit long for a table.\nWe decided to hire a firm to help us solve this mystery, and naturally the first thing they blamed it on was that the employees need more training and that maybe the kitchen staff is just not up to the task of serving that many customers.\nInternet advertisement BORN FOR THE INTERNET BABY\nThis You tube advertisement needs no introduction. Enjoy and\/or be horrified!\nAustralian school cancel's childs enrollment after father raises concerns about Wi-Fi\nFrom Amand Wells\nSchool cancels my sons enrolment after I raise concerns about Wi-Fi\nWe moved to the Sunshine Coast back in March 2013, primarily so our son, Bodhi, could have a Montessori education, something which was not on offer in Northern NSW. We immediately applied to enrol at a local Montessori school and enjoyed a pre-enrolment process including interviews with teachers, playgroups and class observations that lasted 15 months. Everything was going along very well and we were given every indication that there would be a position for Bodhi at the school. This all changed last week. During our second interview at the school, I asked what were the school's plans regarding Wi-Fi at the new campus which is currently under construction. I explained my field of work and that I had concerns about the safety of Wi-Fi in classrooms particularly for younger kids. I also offered to do a short presentation on the subject if they were interested. I was told to write an email the schools business manager which I did (see below)\nCarl Sagan on the dangers of not questioning new technology\nA Science Icon Died 17 Years Ago. In his Last Interview, He Made A Warning That Gives Me Goosebumps.\nby Rajiv Narayan, upworthy.com\nCarl Sagan inspired a generation of scientists with his work in and out of the classroom. But he didn't always present science with cheer. In this clip, he passionately defends science with a grave warning. It's something we all need to hear.\nExtract from an Interview with Charlie Rose, 27 May 1996\nWireless Communication and Precautionary Principle (Dariusz Leszczynski)\nFrom the blog of Dariusz Leszczynski, \"Between A Rock And A Hard Place\":\nToday, the June\/July 2014 issue of the Canadian 'The Green Gazette' published my article about the need for implementation of the Precautionary Principle in area of the wireless communication.\nNOTE: The story in 'The Green Gazette' is freely available from Dariusz Leszczynski's site as well as a printable version of the article:\nOff Topic: Australia's worst spending boondoggle in history: The US Joint Strike Fighter (updated)\nRecently the new Abbott government has given its approval for the purchase of 58 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) at a cost of $12.4 billion \u2013 making it the nation's most expensive Defence asset. To quote in part from the ABC News,Thu 24 Apr 2014:\nAsked if he was worried taxpayers would question the cost of the program at a time his Government is warning of wide-ranging cuts, Mr Abbott responded: \"I want to stress that this is money that has been put aside by government over the past decade or so to ensure that this purchase can responsibly be made.\" \"This is not new spending today. In the context of a tough budget, this is spending money that we need to spend that has been sensibly put aside in the past to ensure that our nation's defences remain strong.\" The extra aircraft will bring Australia's total Joint Strike Fighter force to 72 aircraft, with the first of them to enter service in 2020.\nRead the full article, and view the video here\nSorry Mr. Abbott but you have made a disastrous purchase. Your unquestioning faith in US fighter technology has blinded you, and your administration to serious deficiencies with this fighter plane which will go down in history as a design disaster, which is far inferior to its much cheaper Chinese counterpart. Read on\u2026\nSignificant increase in nose-ear-throat cancers seen in Israel\nTranslation from Iris Atzmon in Israel\nBy Doron Solomon\nThe number of head, neck, and nose-ear-throat surgeries in Rambam were doubled within one year. According to the data of the nose-ear-throat department, the increase was registered mainly in oncology surgeries of the mouth, head and neck, larynx and children surgeries. Thyroid surgeries increased 380% during last year. Increase of 320% was in surgeries for removing tumors in the throat area (from 40 to 128 surgeries). Surgeries of the parotid gland tumors increased 260% in 2013. But the most impressive increase of all, is the increase of 1000% (from 5 to 49) in the number of head and neck surgeries. An additional increase was registered in the number of people treated in the nose-ear-throat department and head and neck surgeries, who arrived from central Israel.\nIs Science Being Hidden from the Public?\nEileen O'Connor, Director, Radiation Research Trust\n500 million citizens are relying on SCENIHR: Is Science Being Hidden from the Public?\nThe European Commission in collaboration with the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) under the auspices of the EU Council Greek Presidency organised a major workshop in Athens on EMF electromagnetic fields and health effects with a focus on public awareness, conciliating scientific findings and uncertainties in policy making. The event took place on 27th & 28 March 2014 at Cotsen Hall, Athens, Greece and included presenters from various parties from the European Commission, WHO, public authorities, industry, operators, environmental and consumer associations and academia. The goal of the conference was to reach a common approach for the future in order to respond to public concerns about electromagnetic fields, to enhance information dissemination and discuss new studies and scientific evidence in relation to EMF, and to identify knowledge gaps needed for sound policy making. In this context, the new SCENIHR draft opinion on EMF and potential health effects was presented.\nConferences,\nU.S. Dept. of Interior attacks FCC regarding Adverse Impact of Cell Tower Radiation on Wildlife\nThe Department of Interior charges that the FCC standards for cell phone radiation are outmoded and no longer applicable as they do not adequately protect wildlife.\nPRLog (Press Release) \u2013 Mar. 24, 2014 \u2013 BERKELEY, Calif. \u2014 The Director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance of the United States Department of the Interior sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Department of Commerce that addresses the Interior Department's concern that cell tower radiation has had negative impacts on the health of migratory birds and other wildlife.\nThe Interior Department accused the Federal government of employing outdated radiation standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a Federal agency with no expertise in health. The standards are no longer applicable because they control only for overheating and do not protect organisms from the adverse effects of exposure to the low-intensity radiation produced by cell phones and cell towers:\nIs wireless technology in Swedish schools adversely affecting the kids?\nThe answer to that is yes according to a new paper by Olle Johansson. Here is an English translation:\nThanks to the so-called PISA* (OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment) survey, in Sweden we now know: student scores in maths, reading comprehension and natural sciences are plummeting. The results are prompting rage in Swedish schools. Something is wrong.\nThe government response is to force all students to go through another school year. In addition, a series of panic measures has been initiated by the authorities. But do not expect schools to be given peace and quiet, so that they may be able to figure out how to get things to work while dismantling those gadgets and administrative 'reins' that do not.\nFor years schools have undergone a multitude of changes and been given new assignments, including being forced to monitor more grade control data and using new and more administration. Some changes are good, some bad. Changes include an enormous amount of computerized teaching where students via their apps, mobile phones and tablets are\nsupposed to gain new knowledge. Pedagogy innovators have deleted textbooks and pencils, blackboards and pointers, and instead replaced them with new wireless e-readers\nand cell phones. Academics, such as myself, have many times \u2013 usually completely unheard \u2013 raised a warning finger to the educational establishment.\nToday it is very difficult to be a teacher and take responsibility for teaching in the classroom where students' cell phones are constantly ringing, text messages are being\nsent back and forth, and surfing the entire time online or playing games through iPhones and iPads. All this when students really should be working on their school assignments.\nIn Sweden, there have been several cases where the teacher was reprimanded because he or she \"violated the students' privacy\" after taking cell phones from students, while\nother teachers have been criticized for being too strict with students for not allowing them to do what they want during school hours.\nEmployee Smartphone Usage, Sleep and Productivity\nFrom People Diagnostix:Optimising Performance\nSmartphones are ubiquitous in modern life. They are an essential tool for communication, information storage and retrieval as well as entertainment. Many organisations supply smartphones, as well as similar technology (e.g. tablet PCs and laptops) to their employees in order improve productivity. There is no argument that this technology can expedite employee responses to time critical events and allow faster responses to internal and external customer enquiries. With their mobility, smartphone technology can allow employees to work regardless of the venue, or the availability of a desk. But does this technology come at a cost?\nSmartphones are almost perfectly designed to disrupt sleep. They typically keep individuals mentally stimulated, encourage poor sleep hygiene and expose them to blue light emitted from their luminous screens. This blue light exposure is key. About 15 years ago researchers discovered a new photoreceptor in the eye, called Melanopsin. Many are familiar with the \"rods and cones\" that provide our visual capabilities, however melanopsin, which are sensitive to a narrow band of blue light in the 460-480nm range, has been discovered to have unique effect on sleep by suppressing melatonin production. Melatonin is a circadian hormone that induces sleepiness at night, assists with getting to sleep, and obtaining deep, restorative sleep. A decrease in melatonin production at night typically creates sleep disturbances, but has also been linked with increased risk for diabetes and obesity, as well as increased risk for more serious diseases, such as breast cancer. Recently there have been a number of studies further investigating the impact of night time technology use, melatonin suppression, and subsequent impacts on sleep and next day performance.\nSCENIHR criticised over its inept approval on dental amalgam.\nIn May 2008 SCENIHR issued a report titled, Safety of Dental Amalgam and Alternative Dental Restoration Materials for Patients and Users. The report concluded, in part: \"We conclude that dental health can be adequately ensured by both types of material. All the materials are considered safe to use and they are all associated with very low rates of local adverse effects with no evidence of systemic disease.\"\nHOWEVER, this report has come under extreme criticism from the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology \u2013 Europe (IAOMT), with its membership restricted to scientists, Medical doctors and dentists. The Scientific Advisory Committee of IAMOT issued a dissenting report on SCENIHR's dismissing the toxic effects of mercury amalgams. SNIP. They concluded in part: \"The SCENIHR report is best described as a Fishing Expedition rather than a scientific document; the omissions speak louder than the inclusions. The only logical interpretation is that the committee has selected data to support a predetermined conclusion as to the safety of dental amalgam.\"\nAnd now the experts at SCENIHR are to give their opinion on the Potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. According to Dariusz Leszczynski (last message) it is looking like SCENIHR is about to do another almighty spin and dare to call it science.\nCorporate influence on Science, government and the military,\nDariusz Leszczynski: Very problematic SCENIHR Report\nFrom Dariusz Leszczynski's blog Between A Rock and A Hard Place:\nI just finished reading the 2013 SCENIHR Report and got an overwhelming feeling of the utmost desperation. Evaluation of the scientific evidence is being distorted and SCENIHR provides an aura of \"legitimacy\" to this distortion. SCENIHR report has over 200 pages and it is not possible to mention all problems with it in this short blog. Here are few of the more grave problems with the SCENIHR report.\nMembership of the working group\nI do not know what procedure was applied when the membership of the working group of SCENIHR was assembled. What is clearly seen, is that the vast majority of scientists involved in the working group are known for the opinion that the current scientific evidence shows that RF exposures do not cause detrimental effects to human health. Such composition of the working group is, by itself, a reason for serious concern about possible bias in evaluation of the scientific evidence.\nGreenwashing the Smart Grid: simply call it the EcoGrid\nAt the forthcoming Smart Grid Australia (SGA) Conference, Parliament House, Canberra, 5th March 2014, a presentation is to be given about the EcoGrid project. Clever move on part of the European spin doctors. Greens leader Christine Milne is keynote speaker at the conference and she will be sure to like the concept of an environmentally friendly EcoGrid. However there is no difference between the EcoGrid and the Smart Grid except for the spelling. Its called Greenwashing.\nHere is an excerpt from the conference web site.\nThe Controversy Manual (Recommended reading!)\nThe controversy manual\nBrian Martin\nBrian Martin, The Controversy Manual (Sparsn\u00e4s, Sweden: Irene Publishing, 2014), 465 pages. ISBN 978-1-291-67241-1\nThis book is available as a free download, by courtesy of the publisher. Irene Publishing is a non-profit operation, committed to providing works relevant to grassroots social change. I do not receive royalties, and the publishers are not paid for their work. If you would like to contribute a few dollars to support this venture, click on this button.\nFrom the back cover\nClimate change, psychiatric drugs, genetically modified organisms, nuclear power, fluoridation, stem cell research \u2013 these are just a few of the hundreds of issues involving science and technology that are vigorously debated. If you care about an issue, how can you be more effective in arguing for your viewpoint and campaigning in support of it? The Controversy Manual offers practical advice for campaigners as well as plenty of information for people who want to better understand what's happening and to be able to discuss the issues with friends.\nThe Controversy Manual provides information for understanding controversies, arguing against opponents, getting your message out, and defending against attack. Whether experts are on your side or mostly on the side of opponents, you'll find advice for being more effective. While not taking sides on individual controversies, the emphasis is on fostering fair and open debate and opposing those who use power and manipulation to get their way.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Garlic is easy to include in your diet and tastes deliciously:\n\u200bIt is the fact that it is very easy (and delicious) to include garlic in your current diet.\nIt complements most savory dishes, particularly soups and sauces. The strong taste of garlic can also add a punch to otherwise bland recipes.\nGarlic comes in several forms, from whole cloves and smooth pastes to powders and supplements like garlic extract and garlic oil.\nDiabetes:\nDiabetes can harm the kidneys, inhibit nervous system functions, cause heart disorders, and even lead to poor eyesight. The oil extracted from garlic may protect diabetic patients from these side effects.\nHigh Cholesterol Levels:\nOf the two kinds of cholesterol \u2013LDL and HDL, the former is bad for human health. Garlic, rich in the allicin compound, effectively prevents LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. All those who have high cholesterol levels should include this herb in their daily diet.\nHypertension:\nGarlic is an herbal ingredient for curing hypertension. When exposed to high levels of pressure, the allicin present in it relaxes the blood vessels. It also fights against thrombosis by reducing platelet aggregation.\nEye Care:\nGarlic is rich in nutrients like Selenium, Quercetin and Vitamin C, all of which help treat eye infections and swelling.\nEar Aches:\nGarlic is commonly used for curing ear aches, as it has several antiviral, anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. Its oil can be made at home by squeezing the juice of its cloves and adding it to olive oil. The mixture should be kept at room temperature for a few days, but shouldn't be saved indefinitely, if made at home.\nGarlic May Improve Bone Health:\nNo human trials have measured the effects of garlic on bone loss.\nHowever, rodent studies have shown that it can minimize bone loss by increasing estrogen in females.\nOne study in menopausal women found that a daily dose of dry garlic extract (equal to 2 grams of raw garlic) significantly decreased a marker of estrogen deficiency.\nThis suggests that this garlic may have beneficial effects on bone health in women.\nFoods like garlic and onions have also been shown to have beneficial effects on osteoarthritis.\nIntestinal Problems:\nGarlic clears up most intestinal problems like dysentery, diarrhea and colitis. Its role in dispelling worms is phenomenal. It does not affect the functioning of useful organisms in the intestine, which aid in digestion, but it does destroy the harmful bacteria present in the intestines.\nCold:\nRaw garlic is used to treat colds and coughs. At the very onset of a cold, you should eat at least two crushed cloves of it, which will thereby help in lessening the severity of your cold.\nInfected Wounds: Garlic can be placed on infected wounds as an herbal treatment. It should be mixed with three drops of water, rather than using it in raw form, as the undiluted juice can irritate the skin.\nDaily inclusion of garlic in your diet aids in eliminating any digestive problems. The herb assists in the normal functioning of the intestines for good digestion. Even swelling or irritation of the gastric canal may be rectified with garlic as a treatment.\nAcne:\nHalf the people in the world suffer from mild to severe forms of acne. Garlic may be used, along with other ingredients like honey, cream and turmeric, to treat acne scars and prevent the initial development of acne. Garlic acts as a cleanser and an antibiotic substance for soothing skin rashes.\nAsthma:\nBoiled garlic cloves are wonderful as an alternative asthma treatment. Each night before going to sleep, a glass of milk with 3 boiled cloves of garlic can bring subsequent relief for patients with asthma. The asthma attacks may be brought under control by having crushed garlic cloves with malt vinegar as well.\nSexual Problems:\nGarlic has certain aphrodisiac properties, so this helpful herb can be utilized as an effectual sex rejuvenation. The health benefits of garlic are further known to enhance the libido of both men and women. People who overindulge in sexual activities should consume garlic in their diet or in supplemental form to protect themselves from nervous fatigue.\nCancer:\nThe regular intake of garlic reduces the risk of colon, stomach and esophageal cancer. It aids in reducing the production of carcinogenic compounds, and also reduces the occurrence of tumors associated with breast cancer.\nEating Garlic Can Help Detoxify Heavy Metals in the Body:\nAt high doses, the sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.\nA four week study in employees of a car battery plant (excessive exposure to lead) found that garlic reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%. It also reduced many clinical signs of toxicity, including headaches and blood pressure.\nThree doses of garlic each day even outperformed the drug D-penicillamine in symptom reduction.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Six Guidelines From An Aspiring Surf Filmmaker\nYour Blog \u00bb Six Guidelines From An Aspiring Surf Filmmaker\nPrevious: The Difficulties With Woodworking\nNext: How Trusted Leaders Use Conversation To Energy Their Organizations\nNo doubt the restaurant, run by two brothers for the previous 28 years, is buzzing in July and August, when Portuguese holidaymakers descend on the Alentejo coast. But for the other ten months of the year, what google did to me the trickle of diners who come to feast on fantastically fresh seafood reflects the basic what google did to me pace of life in the Alentejo: sleepy, bordering on comatose. The new beachfront Chicago Surf park, anticipated to open next May possibly, will set up a 16-foot-wide wave pool on Montrose Beach designed to generate 1- to six-foot tall waves for riders ranging from beginner to professional. Keep the bait at the correct level. Tube and worm trolling works greatest in water 3 to 7 feet (.9 to 2.1 m) in depth, although it is feasible to fish as deep as 20 feet (6.1 m).When you loved this short article and you would like to receive more details regarding what google did to me assure visit the webpage. Go to a desert or a beach with sand dunes. If you live close to a desert, locate out if it has sand dunes that you are allowed to board on. Some beaches in warm climates will also have natural sand dunes you can use to try sandboarding. Speak to your local government land agency or division to discover out if you can access a nearby desert or beach for sandboarding.Consistently changing and in no way beneath our handle, the ocean demands every single surfer to find out quick how to study its alterations and to move with them or to calmly obey its greater forces. The Gold Coast has 57km of beaches, and this sparkling blue creek separating Burleigh Heads from Palm Beach is one particular of the city's most scenic (and protected) spots for a dip - there's normally far more space on the southern bank. Surf seekers may possibly be happier just about the headland at Burleigh Beach, well-liked for its point break, fantastic views towards the Surfers Paradise skyline, and cafes, bars and restaurants just steps from the sand. These incorporate two of the Gold Coast's five Great Food Guide 2018 hatted\" restaurants - pan-Asian powerhouse Rick Shores and fine seafood restaurant the Fish House Numerous surf schools (which includes the Cheyne Horan College of Surf ) also operate here.You can understand the simple tactics of standing up by practicing on the beach, but it is the timing of catching the wave and those take off capabilities, which will boost your surfing. Focusing on your stomach muscle tissues, to go from a lying down to a standing up position in one movement will also support.Exactly where to keep: The Hotel Moon Beam (+75 450657) is right in front of the surf breaks, has spotless double rooms with fans for about \u00a312 per night, and a beachfront restaurant. Close by, the Brit-owned Sunbeach Hotel has equivalent rooms and rates and a restaurant serving outstanding classic Sinhalese meals. Each can arrange for transport to and from the airport. Lanka Sportreizen (+1 824 500) organises activity-based holidays featuring surfing, windsurfing, mountain biking and scuba diving from around \u00a3300pp per week including accommodation but not flights.Yelloh! has campsites across France and is well-known with young households thanks to its exceptional facilities: numerous pools, restaurants, kids' clubs, a wellness spa for grown-ups, which can be booked direct or through operators such as Eurocamp and Thomson Al Fresco Le Club Farret Vias Plage is on its own exclusive-use beach and with unfancy but functional units clustered in themed places (pirate has pool, a waterfall and rope bridges Pacific has a tiki vibe with straw roofs on the cabins). The greatest are in the Beach region, proper on the sand but with gated gardens, so parents can relax. The web site is a 15-minute taxi ride from the tiny B\u00e9ziers airport (served by Ryanair from Bristol and London), so is handy for those who never want to hire a car.eight. Know your surf etiquette. You can see an illustrated version of surfing etiquette on the Irish Surfing Association website. Knowing this etiquette will avoid any conflict or confrontation in the water. It will also preserve you a lot more aware and safer from injury and collisions.I went alone the next day to one particular of the most beautiful spots for ulua fishing and 1 of the most treacherous: MacKenzie State Park, in the Puna district, southeast of Hilo, lushly overgrown with ferns and ironwood trees. The camping and picnicking location ends abruptly at the ocean in a higher, vertical, black-brown lava ledge, as if God had broken off a lava brownie with his thumbs.The very first time I experienced the thrill of riding a wave was when we had been on vacation I was ten and got to have a go on my friend's boogie board\u2026 wow did I love that feeling of riding a wave! From that moment on I was determined, I will understand to surf.Of course, discovering methods to get more girls into surfing is often some thing on her mind. \"I just could not believe that in a nation of over a billion individuals I could be the very first woman surfer,\" she says. Straps that wrap around the rack and surfboard must be inspected for worn or weak spots. Buckles on the straps should be the cam-spring sort and not d-ring style. No-Rust zinc buckles are preferred.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Filters: Author is Felt, E. P. [Clear All Filters]\nFelt, E.P., 1912. Household Entomology. U . S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology, Bulletin 42, 109-110.\nFelt, E.P., 1919. How the Corn Borer is Exterminated. State Service 3, 42-44.\nFelt, E.P., 1905. How to Kill the San Jose Scale. Garden Magazine 1, 22-23.\nFelt, E.P., 1912. The Identity of Better Known Gall Midges. Ottawa Naturalist 25, 164-167, 181-188.\nFelt, E.P., 1900. Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of the More Important Injurious and Beneficial Insects of NY, New York State Museum Bulletin. The University of the State of New York, Albany, New York.\nFelt, E.P., 1903. Importance of Injurious Insects Introduced from Abroad. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science 24, 38-48.\nFelt, E.P., Young, D.B., 1904. Importance of Isolated Rearings from Culicid Larvae. Science 20, 312-313.\nFelt, E.P., 1904. Importance of Laboratory and Field Work in Economic Entomology. Proceedings of the Annual Conventions of American Agricultural Colleges and Experimental Stations 17, 182-184.\nFelt, E.P., 1905. Important Work in May. Garden Magazine 1, 200, 202.\nFelt, E.P., 1911. The Increase and Control of San Jose Scale. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 12-16, 37-40.\nFelt, E.P., 1917. Indian Gall Midges. Entomological News 28, 369-372.\nFelt, E.P., 1921. Indian Grass Gall Midges. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture, India, Pusa, Entomological Series VII, 15-22.\nFelt, E.P., 1900. An Infestation of Grain Moths. Country Gentleman 65, 789.\nFelt, E.P., 1916. Injurious Insects. New York State Department of Agriculture Circular 130, 169-172.\nFelt, E.P., 1906. Injurious Insects 1905. New York State Fruit Growers Association Proceedings 120-124.\nFelt, E.P., 1899. Injurious Insects of the Hudson River Valley. Rural New Yorker 198.\nFelt, E.P., 1908. Insect Bands. Country Gentleman 73, 961.\nFelt, E.P., 1908. Insect Control in its Larger Aspects. New York State Fruit Growers Association Proceedings 139-145.\nFelt, E.P., 1906. Insect Enemies of Onamental Trees. Suburban Life 2, 248-250.\nFelt, E.P., 1916. Insect Enemies of Trees and How to Combat Them. Country Life in America 29, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Prepaid Card Success Shows Consumer Ire at Banks\nThe popularity of prepaid cards is in direct response to consumer anger at banking fees.\nBrian O'Connell\nBankingMyWay) -- Are consumers lashing out at bank fees via prepaid cards?\nThere's more and more evidence suggesting that's exactly what consumers are doing.\nAccording to Packaged Facts, a Rockville, Maryland-based publisher of market intelligence data, prepaid card volume will rise by 22.4% this year, reaching $247.5 billion, and up from $202.2 billion in 2011.\nPackaged Facts says consumers will make 10 billion transactions via prepaid cards this year.\nThe group's\nstudy reports that the migration from credit and debit cards to prepaid cards is a signal that consumers are highly dissatisfied with banks - - especially fees related to bank debit and credit cards.\nPrepaid card providers are taking full advantage of that trend, according to David Sprinkle, publisher of Packaged Facts. \"Consumers dissatisfied with their consumer banking experience are natural targets for emerging prepaid programs,\" he says in the report.\n\"If given a prepaid card product functions much like a checking account but without the fees, consumers disgruntled with fees and practices applied by their banks may very well try it,\" he adds.\nPart of the issue is based in simple demographics.\nPackaged Facts says that certain groups, like young consumers, blue collar adults, and Hispanic consumers who are more likely to not use banks are good candidates for prepaid cards. That's a disturbing trend for banks, given the volume of consumers in all three demographic groups.\nThe study also seems to confirm what other industry analysts have reported on prepaid card use in 2012.\nFor example, the Pew Charitable Trusts reported in April that widespread frustration -- even disdain -- over bank card fees, was leading consumers to prepaid cards.\n\"I think (prepaid card fees) are fair because they're upfront, in contrast to a checking account,\" said one survey respondent to the Pew Survey. \"I think the ambiance and the idea of the marketing behind a checking account is they're your friend; they're your hometown bank. You can depend on them. You can count on them and, really, they're just lulling you into the sense of comfort because they're going to whammy you with fees on the backside. Whereas prepaid debit cards, they're very upfront. This is the cost of the card; this is the cost for the services. It's up to you at that point.\"\nAnother respondent to the\nPew study said he was paying less to banks in credit card fees by using a prepaid card.\n\"Compared to my situation, I went through a lot of late fees with the credit cards, extra fees with the checking accounts,\" he told Pew. \"I was paying monthly between $35 to $50 in fees compared to $3.99 that I pay for a maintenance fee to get a card.\"\nBanks are moving fast to introduce their own prepaid cards to the marketplace, but the damage may have already been done in the eyes of consumers.\n--By Brian O'Connell\nBankingPersonal FinanceStocksConsumer Credit","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"\u00a9 luchschen dreamstime.com Business | February 21, 2014\nRutronik expands in China and south-east Asia\nRutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH is strengthening its presence in China with an office in Xiang. The new office in Bangkok, Thailand, serves the south-east Asian and Indian markets.\nIn the first stage, Rutronik and its four employees are serving primarily existing customers with branches and production in the ASEAN\/India region; in the second stage, efforts will also be made to acquire new customers. \"South-east Asia and India will be strategically important markets for Rutronik in the future,\" explains Markus Krieg, Managing Director Marketing at Rutronik. \"In particular, Thailand, Indonesia and the Indian subcontinent are recording high growth rates, with respect to both exports and increasing domestic demand.\" Peter Kl\u00f6pfer, Sales Director South-East Asia and India, is responsible for the sales region and reports directly to Markus Krieg. Beginning as an FAE before becoming a product group manager in Marketing, Kl\u00f6pfer has worked at Rutronik for 18 years. Most recently, during his time as Technical Director, he played a significant part in setting up the Rutronik branch offices in China. \"Highly qualified in terms of both strategic and technical skills, Peter Kl\u00f6pfer also demonstrates great understanding of the Asian mindset, and he will successfully establish Rutronik in the ASEAN\/India region,\" says Markus Krieg. The branch office in Xiang (China) provides support for the existing offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu (China), Hong Kong and Taipei (Taiwan). \"We are recording astonishing growth in China, more than half of which is generated by Asian customers. In order to maintain our service level, we must continue to expand here,\" says Markus Krieg. New General Manager at Rutronik Asia This expansion has coincided with a change in leadership at Rutronik Asia: As the new General Manager, Gerhard Weinhardt has taken on responsibility for Rutronik Asia. He replaces Lambert Hilkes, who will retire at the end of March. Until then, he will remain available to the company as a consultant. Gerhard Weinhardt has more than 14 years of sales and distribution experience in the electronics industry. Since 2000, he has held a number of different positions at Rutronik, the most recent being Sales Director Asia in Asia. \"Lambert Hilkes played a significant part in the development and establishing of Rutronik Asia, setting it on an extremely successful and promising course. We thank him for the knowledge he has brought to the company and the commitment he has shown. We wish him all the best for the future! In Gerhard Weinhardt, we have found an extremely competent and ambitious successor, who will continue the successful advancement of our Asian business,\" explains Markus Krieg.\nRutronik: Global franchise agreement with DLC Display\nRutronik celebrates 40th anniversary\nRutronik lays the foundation for further growth","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Since the first Vatel school opened in Paris in 1981, Vatel Group has progressively expanded in France, before tackling the world, becoming the 1st Worldwide Business School Group in Hospitality and Tourism Management.\nBy exporting its know-how, Vatel conveys the French art of hospitality with a unique educational curriculum, shared by all its schools. Whatever campus they are studying on, its 7,000 students trained each year thus take the same courses: the right balance between theoretical courses and learning by experience in their practical application weeks and mandatory internships.\nBachelor and then MBA students thus share the same knowledge, know-how and people-oriented skills: only the culture of the country in which they are studying, and their various internships differ in building profiles which will better match one of the multiple careers in the international hospitality industry.\nIn Europe, in Asia, in Africa and in the Americas, the universities, hospitality professionals and partner entrepreneurs with whom Vatel has founded these schools certainly didn't make any mistakes here: the Vatel model, the only one of its kind, is a priceless opportunity towards a successful professional life.\nOur chronology in a nutshell\n1981: The first Vatel school opens in Paris\n1984, 1989, 1994: The Group expands throughout France and opens schools in Lyon, Nimes and Bordeaux\n2002: Vatel begins to open schools outside of France: the Group expands into Asia (Vatel Bangkok), in South America (Vatel Mexico) and in Africa (Vatel Tunis).\nOctober 2018: Now Vatel Group has 50 campuses spread throughout the world, with:\n- 3 new campuses in Mexico: Vatel Merida, Vatel Guadalajara and Vatel San Luis Potosi\n- A 2nd campus in Spain: Vatel Malaga\n- A 2nd campus in Paraguay: Vatel Ciudad del Este","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"BBDO Guerrero launches Instagram campaign for 'The First Filipino' book\nBBDO Guerrero is launching a campaign promoting a new edition of 'The First Filipino' on Instagram.\nIt was written by author Leon Ma. Guerrero III who won the Jos\u00e9 Rizal National Centennial Commission for the same book which is now regarded as the definitive biography of Dr. Jose Rizal.\nWell-renowned historian and academic, Ambeth Ocampo commented, \"if Filipinos read more about the national hero, they would not only get to know Rizal, but understand themselves better\".\nWhile the life of Dr. Rizal has always been discussed in classrooms, the agency decided to bring his story to life on Instagram by using personalized and visually captivating design. Forgetting static curated posts and embracing dynamic Instagram Stories.\nThe campaign consists of a series of short videos designed specifically for social media platforms. Each video shows a synopsis of a selected chapter in the book. A new edition is released every Wednesday. The videos are produced in partnership with Facebook Philippines, Facebook Creative Shop and Acid House.\nDavid Guerrero, BBDO Guerrero Creative Chairman says, \"We were able to carefully craft short videos briefly telling the highlights of Dr. Jose Rizal chapter by chapter. It's a new and fresh way to explain our national hero.\"\nFollow 'The First Filipino' on Instagram: http:\/\/instagram.com\/firstfilipino\n'The First Filipino' is available online at www.anvilpublishing.com, on Anvil's Shopee and at Lazada stores. The book will be available soon at select branches of the National Book Store and online at www.nationalbookstore.com.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Little Mermaid brings another happily-ever-after ending for Disney fans (1989)\nCategories: 1980s, Vintage & retro entertainment, Vintage movies, Vintage newspapers\nThe Little Mermaid brings more happy endings for Disney\nFew stars remain from Hollywood's Golden Age. Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Bette Davis \u2014 all long gone. The survivors \u2014 James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Myrna Loy \u2014 rarely make movies anymore.\nBut one popular collection of screen idols has endured, looks undiminished by age: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy.\nHow old are they? Only their illustrators know for sure. But they've been around more than 50 years, and should last at least 50 more.\nTheir studio is intact as well. Hollywood's happiest endings still come from Walt Disney Pictures.\nNothing like a cartoon to stop time, and even pull it back a little. Only at Disney are glass slippers, handsome princes and magic wands accepted without reservation.\nThe latest animated spectacular from the Disney machine is \"The Little Mermaid,\" a multi-million-dollar feature that's bound to generate more big bucks for the highly successful studio. Disney's last animated feature, \"Oliver and Company,\" has grossed about $50 million. A re-release this year of \"Peter Pan\" has pulled in $30 million.\nNot a movie made for cynics\nCynics better stay away from the latest Disney animated spectacular, \"The Little Mermaid.\" They'll never believe this story about a beautiful, blue-eyed mermaid falling in love with a handsome prince, and goodness defeating the evil sea witch.\nOf course, cynics wouldn't have sat through \"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,\" \"Cinderella\" or \"Bambi,\" either. As Disney Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg said, \"The Little Mermaid\" takes a lot of its glitter from those golden oldies.\n\"I wanted us to make a film that had the look and feel and the entertainment and lushness of 'Pinocchio',\" he said.\n\"If you talk with writers, directors, animators, designers, effects people, layout artists \u2014 across the board in this movie \u2014 all the references that I made, the goals I kept setting for them were, 'Can't we do something that is like 'Pinocchio.\"'\nALSO SEE: 16 breathtakingly gorgeous vintage evening gowns with long skirts so full they'd make a Disney Princess jealous\nThe Little Mermaid movie trailer\n\"The Little Mermaid\" is rated \"G,\" for general audiences. That is how Katzenberg sees it.\nSay the film is for children and he will grimace, his eyes widening, the jaw stretching. Family entertainment means the entire family, he said.\n\"They're fantastic stories, they're not children's stories. They're great stories and they're made for the kid inside every one of us, as opposed to made for children; there's a real distinction there.\n\"We try to make it very intelligent, very smart, very sophisticated. There is very little about the film that is cartoonish. Even when it's animal characters that are speaking, you'll notice it's very sophisticated.\"\nAsk about romance, action, drama, and Katzenberg will talk strategy, borrowing a page from film mogul Samuel Goldwyn, who insisted the world needed laughter when his competitors were serious, and lamented the disappearance of \"messages\" when others turned out comedies.\nALSO SEE: Live action plus animation are magic in Disney's classic movie, 'Mary Poppins'\nBut animation belongs to Disney. Who would want to compete with \"The Ugly Ducking,\" \"Peter Pan,\" \"Fantasia\" and dozens of others?\nIt's a tradition Katzenberg wouldn't dream of touching, although a little retouching doesn't hurt.\nFor \"The Little Mermaid,\" based on the Hans Christian Andersen story, that means the richest colors; the brightest melodies, courtesy of \"Little Shop of Horrors\" composer Alan Menken; and the most vivid illustrations.\nNothing is left to chance. Everyone has to rehearse, even mermaids.\n\"There's not a sequence in the film in which there are human characters not staged and shot on film and used as references in order to make sure that the human characters moved very much like people move.\n\"We built an eight-foot tank, put a woman in it and had her swim around a lot to get the sense of movement and hair \u2013 how it moves through the water, and the sense of weightlessness.\"\nALSO SEE: Classic Walt Disney Home Video VHS movies & short collections from the '80s & '90s\nFudgy homemade chocolate ice cream (1988)\nHow 'Another World' & 'Days of Our Lives' were the first hour-long soap operas\nLucille Ball & Desi Arnaz show off their dream carpet ('50s & '60s)\nHow Shaun Cassidy followed in illustrious footsteps\nCategories: Vintage movies, 1980s, Vintage & retro entertainment, Vintage newspapers\nSource: The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan)\nOriginal publication date: December 1, 1989\nAdded or last updated: September 30, 2018\nTags: 1989, actors, actresses, animation, disney, movie trailer, movies, musical, ocean, posters, reviews\nComments: None yet - want to leave one?\n100 vintage 1960s supermarkets & old-fashioned grocery stores\nV is for Victrola record players: The history of the famous gramophones that entertained millions\nMobile homes: The hot housing trend of the '50s and '60s\nNot just peanuts: Why George Washington Carver is considered one of history's most important scientists\nSee dozens of vintage US Army & Navy shoulder insignia, plus WWII military medals & ribbons\nVintage Target stores: See 40 pictures from the 60s to the 90s & the original logo\nVintage McDonald's: See 5 decades of the famous fast food chain's retro restaurants, menus & history\n60 vintage '60s bathrooms: Retro home decorating ideas","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"What's next for the NWHL?\nWith the 2020 Isobel Cup Final being cancelled, the NWHL faces a unique task in preparation for 2021.\nBy mpacker14 Sep 19, 2020, 1:00pm CDT\nShare All sharing options for: What's next for the NWHL?\nIt's safe to say 2020 has been a year the whole world would like to leave behind. There is a laundry list of why's that we could dive into, but for the sake of this article, let's just focus on the bust in the world of women's sports. The Isobel Cup Final was gearing up to be a great matchup between the stacked Boston Pride and Allie Thundstrom's Minnesota Whitecaps. I am a fan of the Whitecaps; however, as bitter as it tastes coming out, I think the Pride were going to take that one home this season.\nBut I guess we will never know. The 2020 Isobel Cup Final was postponed, and then canceled, with a new challenger taking the cup home this season \u2014 COVID-19.\nThe NWHL made the difficult decision to cancel the Isobel Cup Final out of an abundance of caution for the players, staff, and fans. Disappointing, but understandable. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago when the NWHL announced the league would be postponing all games until January 2021. Many fans and media had uncertain reactions to this news, but let's break it down and focus on what may end up being a silver lining in all of this.\nPostponing games until January gives teams three-and-a-half full months of on-ice and off-ice training together before a single game takes place. That has never happened before in the NWHL, and could lead to what I believe will be an incredible elevation in on-ice chemistry and understanding of team systems. Sure, there is something to be said for pace of play in games and that stamina. However, with added resources and ice times, I feel this will be a giant step forward for the quality and product on the ice.\nPostponing games will also mean there are no games to view for three months, and depending on the state of the world, perhaps no fans in the stands at all. This opens massive doors in the world of women's sports for content, fan engagement, and personal brand building. The 'down time' will allow for players to engage through social media in a new and unique way. We will also see sponsors get creative in their digital spend. The time has never been greater for investing in women's sports, and with the NWHL's partnership with Twitch, the sky is the limit on digital sponsorships and engagement opportunities.\nMark my words, the league will make huge strides in that column this season.\nWith the 2021 start, there will be a 10-12 week push of nonstop games all weekend, every weekend. This is great news, not bad news. It will be like we have gone back to college where there are constant two-game weekend rivalries. The pace will be up, the rivalries will intensify, and Twitch will be flooded with weekends full of all the women's hockey one can manage. I can't wait to suit up in January!\nCOVID-19 has left a lot of uncertainties surrounding the world of sports. That is undeniable. What is also undeniable is the resilience of female athletes, as made evident by the extreme success in the NWSL and WNBA navigating the bubbles and uncertainties surrounding this time. That isn't me saying men aren't equally strong and determined, but rather a nod to the scrappy mentality that we as female athletes have to approach all battles with each and every time we walk into an arena or a board room.\nDoes COVID suck and did it derail our season? Sure. But like all other things, this too shall pass, and we as female athletes will rise together through it stronger than ever.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"All Boroughs\nOff Topic\/On Politics\nYou Decide with Errol Louis\nInmigracion con Noticias\nHutchinson Avenue and Hutchinson River Parkway are among the only roadways named for women in New York. (NY1\/Justine Re)\nAdvocates say more landmarks need to honor women\nBy Justine Re The Bronx\nPUBLISHED 7:45 PM ET Mar. 26, 2022 PUBLISHED 7:45 PM EDT Mar. 26, 2022\nAnne Hutchinson was a pioneer and a spiritual leader who worked to educate women and was persecuted for it in the 1600s, Bronx historian Lloyd Ultan said.\nAfter being expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for her beliefs, she came to New York. Along the river she had her farm, you can drive down the Hutchinson River Parkway, named after the river named in her honor.\nBut the highway that connects Westchester and the Bronx is one of the few roadways advocates say are named after women in the U.S.\n\"The Hutchinson River was named because Ann Hutchinson had settled there and shortly after her death they started calling it the Hutchinson River,\" Ultan said. \"Women in her day in the late 1500s and early 1600s were not supposed to be educated. They were basically to take care of the home and raise the kids, she had a mind of her own.\"\nHutchinson developed her own religious beliefs, Ultan explained, and was an early advocate for the separation of church and state, blasphemous in the Puritan Massachusetts colony.\nBut Hutchinson stands among the very few roadways and infrastructure named for women. There is a national effort under way to name more stretches of roadway after women.\nThe Feminist Street Initiative is working toward these efforts, going into communities to name more streets after women. The group's research found more than three quarters of streets are named after men in America and few are named after women. There are also some plans in the works to co-name streets here in the city.\nThe initiative hopes to honor the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who grew up in Brooklyn.\n\"Our goal is as an organization is to follow what the community wants,\" said Emiliana Guereca the president of the Women's March Foundation. \"Really making sure that we are part of that cultural and structural change so that when our kids grow up they visually can see that women were important in our society.\"\nAdvocates say more work needs to be done to show a continued appreciation for the groundbreaking women in American history some of whom have ties to New York City.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Posts Tagged 'fire'\n\"The Peril of too Fierce a Zealotry\"\nWe adherents to Abrahamic monotheism have a lot to talk about.\nLet's compare the concept of God as One (not many) to a tree that was planted long ago. We'll think of it as, say, an olive tree.\nAbraham had carried the seed stock from Mesopotamia, and planted it on a dusty site near the Jordan River. But the plant didn't really produce much until Moses came along later and fertilized it with a rich historical accounting of deliverance from slavery, and a set of laws.\nThat Judeo-culture has proliferated widely over four thousand years or so, and still flourishes prolifically today in the dry, rich soil in which it was planted, so to speak.\nMoses made his legacy especially potent by sowing into Jewish history the powerful story of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery.\nHaving escaped that bondage, however, the Jewish people found themselves out in the desert without Egyptian comforts and provisions. It was a very difficult and perilous situation for a million or so people to endure. Moses reported in his Torah that at one point, he and his brother, Aaron, had a bloody rebellion on their hands.\nThe authority issues in that long-ago rebellion of Korah's followers against Moses eventually culminated in a demonstration of God's appointment of who would carry the \"holy fire\" of the altar, and divine leadership. As it turned out, Moses and Aaron came through the ordeal carrying the fire of God's revealed will to perpetual generations, while the rebels were rejected by God in subsequent earth-shaking events.\nThat series of events, known as Korah's rebellion (Numbers chapter 16) is a thorny subject for any scholar or believer to explain. Nevertheless, the young Adele Cohen recently accepted that challenge as a part of her bat mitzvah. Roger Cohen shared a bit of his daughter's ceremonious Torah-talking in his NYT column last Thursday.\nThe young lady perceptively pointed out to her congregation that God had had some trouble relating to his people, so he appointed Moses and Aaron as intermediaries. 12-year-old Adele said: \"In my opinion that is the main reason that God has Moses and Aaron, to help Him understand the human race and help fix conflicts in a calm and rational way.\"\nWhen I read that, I was thinking: if God had become a man, instead of just speaking through one, he might have had a better time composing a message that we humans could get a hold of.\nAdele's father, Roger, on the other had, had his cognitive wheels turning around contemporary events, as he listened carefully to his daughter's discourse. The ever-vigilant columnist was considering her youthful counsel as it might peradventure pertain to Israel's present predicament, especially this week's hot spot, the Mavi Marvara incident. When she had finished speaking, the rabbi elaborated upon her subject of how God gets his messages across to his people.\nRabbi Bachman compared God's word to a fire. He said, \"..if you get too far from it you freeze, but if you draw too near to it you burn\u2026The word of God can actually destroy you if you get too close.\"\nThat seems to be what's happening to the Israeli zealots now. They are destroying their own legitimacy, undermining their own authority. Roger, sitting there in a receptive mode, muses that they are \"modern-day absolutists\u2026cleaving too close to the fire\" of what God is reported to have said. The IDF have taken their self-appointed fire-bearing too far.\nBetter to lighten up and allow us other sons of Abraham to have a say in the matter.\nNot by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.\nTags:authority, fire, history, Israel, religion, Torah","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Former Guantanamo Prosecutor Refuses to Testify without Immunity\nSeptember 28th, 2008 - by admin\nCarol Rosenberg \/ Hartford Courant & McClatchy Newspapers \u2013 2008-09-28 22:25:02\nhttp:\/\/www.courant.com\/news\/nationworld\/hc-gitmo0930.artsep26,0,2131912.story\nGuantanamo Bay Navy Base, Cuba (September 26, 2008) \u2014 A renegade war court prosecutor refused to testify without a grant of immunity Thursday on why he abruptly resigned from a terror trial in the latest controversy at the Guantanamo military commissions.\nArmy Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld said in a sworn affidavit that he quit rather than prosecute the case of a young Afghan captive, in part because he believed evidence helpful to the accused might never be disclosed.\nMohammed Jawad, captured as a teenager, is accused of throwing a grenade that wounded two US soldiers and their interrogator in a bazaar in Kabul, Afghanistan, in December 2002.\nJawad's military judge, Army Col. Stephen Henley, sought Vandeveld's testimony \u2014 live, via link from Washington\nHis successor, prosecutor Air Force Lt. Col. Doug Stevenson, replied that Vandeveld sought a grant of immunity against criminal prosecution to testify.\nDefense lawyers were preparing the request, which could take weeks to process.\nMeanwhile, Henley took testimony from US forces and interrogators about confessions Jawad allegedly gave \u2014 in both an Afghan jail and later a US outpost.\n\"He was proud of what he'd done and he didn't like having Americans in Afghanistan,\" a military investigator identified only as \"Mr. E\" told the court, quoting a US contract translator who questioned an Afghan who encountered Jawad in the bazaar soon after the attack.\nAt military commissions, hearsay evidence is allowed.\nJawad sat impatiently at the defense table listening to a translation of the testimony.\nAt one point, he leaped to his feet to denounce a Marine interrogator \u2014 identified only as \"Gunnery Sergeant M\" \u2014 as a liar for saying he was well treated in US custody.\nCourt guards sat nearby while Jawad's military defense attorneys coaxed him back into his seat.\nJawad's lawyers say he may have been duped, on drugs and was no terrorist, who had no ties to either al-Qaida or the Taliban at the time of his capture.\nIn his sworn affidavit, the recently resigned case prosecutor said he had come to agree with the defense.\nBut, he wrote, war-on-terror record keeping and bureaucracy, especially in the intelligence areas, meant records that could help the Jawad case might not surface before his proposed January trial.\nVandeveld, a veteran civilian prosecutor in Pennsylvania, then proposed a plea agreement to help rehabilitate Jawad and return him home.\nPentagon supervisors rejected the idea.\nSo Vandeveld quit, offering to finish his reserve tour in Afghanistan or Iraq \u2014 the fourth high-profile resignation from the four-year-old war court's prosecutors corps.\n\"That this even got this far is just indicative of a deeply, deeply flawed system without a moral or ethical compass,\" said Air Force Reserve Maj. David Frakt, Jawad's defense counsel, in his continuing quest to have the charges dismissed and his young client sent home.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Julia Louis-Dreyfus explains how not to comfort a cancer patient on The Deep Dive\nPlus, Crooked Media's This Land returns for a new season.\nDan Jakes,\nMarnie Shure,\nJose Nateras,\nand Craig D. Lindsey\nJulia Louis-Dreyfus at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival\nPhoto: Rich Polk\/Getty Images for IMDb\nThe Deep Dive With Jessica St. Clair And June Diane Raphael\nThe Whole Hog W\/ Julia Louis-Dreyfus\nScreenshot: Apple Podcasts\nThere are a lot of practical and uplifting things people can do for their friends who are sick with cancer. Gifting them a cancer-themed Barbie with a detachable wig is not one of them. Neither is giving an ill person a home-knit prayer shawl, bawling in front of them, or asking, \"What can I do to help?\" instead of thinking it up yourself and just doing it. It's a topic both The Deep Dive co-host Jessica St. Clair and guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus have firsthand experience with, and their shared notes this week are an honest and cathartic look at something many women will face directly or indirectly in their lifetime. Better choices, they suggest, include gifts like soft pajamas, a cute boat tote big enough to haul all the shit patients need to bring to chemo sessions, indulgent goodies (patients or caretakers, someone is stress-eating), and regular no-response-needed \"Just wanted to say I love you\" texts. Since its debut earlier this year, St. Clair's new series with June Diane Raphael has aimed to propel the hosts and friends into the most authentic versions of themselves without the fluff, and with its sense of earnest compassion, the series could have easily been called The Check-In. This funny and feel-good episode largely centers on Louis-Dreyfus' friendship with St. Clair, and how Louis-Dreyfus encouraged St. Clair to pursue motherhood on the set of Veep. [Dan Jakes]\nTo be a citizen of the United States is to reckon with the fact that it exists on stolen land gained by genocide. Yet the abuses and discrimination that Native Americans have endured\u2014and continue to endure\u2014are often overlooked and downplayed by miswritten histories and a flawed education system. This Land seeks to bring attention to the battles in which Native Americans are currently embroiled, particularly as far right conservatives seek to undermine the few legal protections tribes still have. Host Rebecca Nagle introduces listeners to a specific case in which a white family attempting to adopt a Native child has had a dangerous impact. The case has drawn the attention of conservative corporate law firm Gibson Dunn as an opportunity to determine that the Indian Child Welfare Act\u2014the 1978 law designed to make sure Native Children weren't being taken from their families and tribes\u2014is unconstitutional, with the support of the State of Texas. This Land is a disturbing and vitally important listen. [Jose Nateras]\nTrue Crime And Cocktails\nPro Wrestler Chyna\nFor nearly a year now, actress Lauren Ash (best known as the hella-bossy assistant manager from Superstore) and her cousin\/BFF Christy Oxborrow have been hosting this podcast where they slip into some PJs, pour a drink or 15, and delve into noteworthy crimes and mysteries. With their current season focused on \"famous fatalities,\" the pair have been diving deep on such fallen angels as Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith. The latest ep cycles through many different emotions as they chronicle the rise and fall of Joanie Laurer, a.k.a. groundbreaking WWE wrestler Chyna, who died in 2016. They get downright furious as they call out the people (mostly men) who exploited and discarded Laurer, sending her on a downward spiral filled with drugs, alcohol, and appearances in porn movies. By the end of this three-hour journey, Ash and Oxborrow are straight-up verklempt, fighting back tears as they pay tribute to someone who truly deserved better. For those who fondly remember when Laurer was the baddest force of nature to come out of the WWE, don't be surprised if you react the same way. [Craig D. Lindsey]\nAUXPodcastsPodmass","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"US House committee to hear bill proposing DC statehood\nPosted: May 31, 2019 \/ 10:22 AM HST \/ Updated: May 31, 2019 \/ 11:26 AM HST\nWASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 The House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform is set to hold a hearing on a bill proposing Washington, D.C., be recognized as the nation's 51st state.\nWTOP-FM reports District Mayor Muriel Bowser and Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton on Thursday announced the July 24 hearing. The last full House committee hearing on a District statehood bill was in 1993.\nThe bill seeks to have the city \"admitted to the Union on equal footing with the other states.\"\nIt calls for districtwide elections of two senators and one House representative. It says all district territory would be included in the declaration, save for specific exclusions of federal buildings and monuments such as the White House.\nHouse Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, has said he supports the change.\nInformation from: WTOP-FM, http:\/\/www.wtop.com\nNine-year-old child electrocuted to death in swimming pool\nThe death of a nine-year-old girl in a Sacramento swimming pool is being blamed on a malfunctioning light.\nNow, people with older homes are urged to check their pool's lighting.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"\u5357\u4eac\u591c\u7f51,\u5357\u4eac\u591c\u751f\u6d3b\u7f51,\u6c5f\u82cf\u591c\u7f51\nPowered by Arrow!\nLet's blow rivals' minds: Saffy\nSt George Illawarra prop Jarrod Saffy (second from left) shows some speed during a sprint at training in Wollongong yesterday. Picture: SYLVIA LIBERSt George Illawarra prop Jarrod Saffy believes landing psychological blows on their premiership rivals now will be the key to avoiding a repeat of last year's finals fade out.The Dragons play six teams that are well into the finals hunt before the play-offs start in September, beginning with the stuttering Gold Coast Titans at Kogarah on Friday.The squad and coaching staff have gone to extraordinary lengths to monitor workloads and training regimes to ensure the spectacular collapse in last year's title campaign doesn't recur. Full coverage of the Dragons Saffy claimed the Dragons were ready to lift a gear to maintain their momentum in the face of opponents scrambling to secure a finals position.\"I think it's important for the form of your team going into the finals, regardless (if) it's a top eight team or whoever you play,\" he said.\"You want to be playing well and doing the little things right, so when you come into the finals, you're winning games and doing those things correctly.\"I guess beating the top eight teams and getting in the finals knowing we beat them four weeks ago sits in the back of your mind.\"However, Saffy said losing to Parramatta in last year's qualifying final a week after beating them in round 26, remained a stern reminder about maintaining their intensity.\"We beat Parra and lost to them the next week, so we can't really take anything for granted,\" he said.This season is South African-born Saffy's last chance to win an NRL title before joining Super 15 rugby union franchise Melbourne Rebels.The Dragons welcomed back NSW State of Origin centre Matt Cooper, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, as well as Kiwi international second-rower Jeremy Smith after overcoming a calf problem.Smith has been named on an extended bench, with Mark Gasnier to come off the interchange again.Saffy said the hard-fought victory over South Sydney last Friday was a massive shot in the arm to kick-start their campaign towards a second successive minor premiership.\"It's great the belief,\" he said.\"Believing in your teammates and your team and what you're doing,\" he said.\"We sort of just stuck together and hung in there and it paid off in the end, no-one panicked.\"St George Illawarra tackle an eighth-placed Gold Coast without NSW star Greg Bird and Queensland lock Ashley Harrison at WIN Jubilee Oval.The Dragons then face Brisbane (seventh) at Suncorp Stadium, Manly (sixth) and Souths (ninth) at Kogarah and the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the remaining rounds.Their other games are against the Raiders \u2013 still in the finals hunt \u2013 at Canberra Stadium and the struggling Newcastle Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium.Saffy's front row teammate Matt Prior claimed the Dragons were preparing themselves to take on some desperate opposition trying to secure their finals positions in the coming rounds.\"Everyone is going to want to be playing their best football at this time of year to get into the semi-finals,\" he said.\"It's the most important part of the year.\"\nShellharbour Beach scattered on Everest\nMiners, union 'can live with' Govt's revamped resources tax\nJonovski may run for council as independent\nBrett Morris hoping Origin drought may be broken\nMoney a poser to children service","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Image \u00a9 Thamesport Ltd\nThamesport\nOwnership: London Thamesport (Part of Hutchison Port Holdings)\nContact name: David Gledhill, General Manager\nAddress: London Thamesport, Grain Road, Isle of Grain, Rochester, Kent ME3 0EP\nE-mail: gledhilld@thamesport.co.uk\nWebsite: www.thamesport.co.uk\nAbout Thamesport\nBuilt at the turn of the nineties, London Thamesport has quickly become one of the leading players in the European container handling market. Boasting robotic cranes, Thamesport is one of the most technologically advanced ports in the world.\nLondon Thamesport, acquired by HPH in 1998, is strategically positioned where the River Medway meets the estuary of the River Thames and is located within easy reach of Northern Europe's major ports, making it an ideal hub and feeder port. Services currently run to the Americas, Far and Middle East, Africa, Continental Europe and the Baltic. Inland, Thamesport benefits from fast, dedicated road and rail freight connections to the important manufacturing and distribution centres of the UK.\nThe Port, which includes container and cargo operations, covers a total area of 85 hectares . It offers highly automated secure container yards and modern warehousing. The quay is dredged to a depth of -15 metres, allowing the largest vessels currently afloat, and under design, to berth.\nThamesport is equipped with 2 deep-water container berths, served by high-speed ultra post-Panamax and post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Federal Circuit Again Refines Scope of Patent-Eligible Subject Matter in its Myriad Decision\nIn yet another turn in the ever-winding road of patent-eligible subject matter disputes, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued its opinion in the highly anticipated case Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) and ACLU v. USPTO and Myriad Genetics, Slip Op. 10-1406 (Fed. Cir. 2012). To the relief of many, the court ruled that composition claims to \"isolated\" DNA molecules are patent-eligible products of nature because they represent a nonnaturally occurring composition of matter. In contrast, the court reiterated its view that claims to methods of \"comparing\" or \"analyzing\" DNA sequences are not patent-eligible because such claims include no transformative steps and cover only patent-ineligible abstract, mental steps.\nThe technology in question covered isolated breast cancer susceptibility genes (\"BRCA\") and associated diagnostic methods with patent claims directed to: 1) compositions of isolated DNA molecules; 2) methods of comparing DNA sequences; and 3) methods of screening potential cancer therapeutics. For each of these claim types, the court was asked to determine which, if any, are patent-eligible under 35 U.S.C. \u00a7101.\nComposition claims are patent-eligible. In answering the question regarding compositions of isolated DNA, the court relied on the well-established Supreme Court Chakrabarty1 and Funk Brothers2 decisions to hold that isolated DNA molecules are \"obtained in the laboratory and are man-made, the product of human ingenuity\" and that the \"challenged claims are drawn to patent-eligible subject matter because the claims cover molecules that are markedly different\u2014have a distinctive chemical structure and identity\u2014from those found in nature.\" Specifically, the court noted that the isolated DNAs at issue are each in a distinctive chemical form, are free standing portions of larger natural DNA molecules, and have chemical bonds severed. The court additionally made a point of stating that this holding was in line with the long history of accepting isolated DNA molecules as patent-eligible and that to make a dramatic change that would upset the longstanding system should be left to Congress.\nMethod claims may be patent-eligible. Turning to the method claims, the court clearly had the recently decided Prometheus3 decision in mind and reached different conclusions. For the method of screening cancer therapeutics, the court concluded that a claim directed to growing transformed cancer cells followed by measuring the respective growth rates are patent-eligible because the claim at issue recites more than an abstract mental step of comparing numbers and goes further by applying certain steps to transformed cells that are man-made. According to the court, the fact that claim includes \"steps of determining the cells' growth rates and comparing growth rates does not change the fact that the claim is based on a man-made, non-naturally occurring transformed cell,\" which is by definition patent-eligible subject matter.\nIn contrast, the court held that claims directly solely to analyzing and comparing naturally occurring DNA sequences are not patent-eligible because such claims amount to abstract mental processes. The claim at issue is to a method for screening a tumor sample by comparing a BRCA1 gene from a tumor sample to a BRCA1 gene from a non-tumor sample where a difference in sequence indicates an alteration in the tumor sample. The court deemed this comparison not patent-eligible because the claim \"recites nothing more than the abstract mental steps necessary to compare two different nucleotide sequences\" and limiting the comparison to particular genes, such as BRCA, or to particular alterations of genes \"fails to render the claimed process patent-eligible.\"\nTake home point. The court's Myriad decision is a welcomed guidepost to practitioners wrestling with patentable subject matter questions because the decision solidifies issues surrounding composition of matter claims while clarifying that method claims with a transformative step involving man-made products are patent-eligible. The court has also seemingly opened the door to considering that sample processing, extracting, or sequencing steps might be sufficiently transformative. Looking ahead, practitioners trying to add such steps to claims may want to weigh carefully the value of such claims against the ability to assert them against an opponent in litigation. n\n1\t447 U.S. 303 (1979).\n3\t566 U.S. ___ (2012).\nMichael Tuscan Partner in Charge \u2013 Washington, DC Washington, DC\nErich Veitenheimer Senior Counsel Washington, DC\nMatthew Langer Partner New York\nBill Christiansen Partner Seattle\nPatent Counseling & Prosecution","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Volkswagen has 'no plans' to reduce number of UK car dealers\nVolkswagen has denied plans to reduce the number of dealer locations in its UK network as part of a \"future sales model\" strategy.\nJuergen Stackmann, member of the board of management Volkswagen brand for sales, marketing and aftersales, told Reuters that a network consolidation plan across Europe has been in operation for years and \"it will surely accelerate somewhat in the next one, two years, also in Germany\".\nThe Reuters interview said that the reduction in dealer numbers was in reaction to \"adjusting buying habits\" as well as investing in a direct online sales portal and new electric car technology.\nHowever, a spokesman for Volkswagen told AM: \"We have 190 retailers and we have no plans to amend that figure up, or down.\n\"Volkswagen UK is exploring the breadth of changing sales models, evidenced most recently by the opening of our first UK retail store in the Birmingham Bullring.\n\"However, it is important to note that this is with the full involvement and engagement of our retailer partners \u2013 in the case of the Bullring, that is Johnsons Volkswagen.\"\nJohnsons Cars has run Johnsons Volkswagen retailers in Birmingham since 2004 and is a partner with the long-term pilot project. The premise is based on a 'no haggle' pricing model.\nThe store has a team of 16 made up of hosts, 'ambassadors', a logistics coordinator, an account manager and store manager.\nStock is on hand for tests drives that can be taken from the Bullring car park. Staff are not on volume commission and prices are exclusive to the Bullring store.\nThe Volkswagen Bullring staff can also help customers view used car stock online through Volkswagen's Das WeltAuto approved used car website.\nVolkswagen refused to comment on what its current average return on sales figure is for the UK dealer network and when asked about how dealers fit in with a potential new online sales portal the spokesman said: \"Volkswagen UK is investigating all potential sales models.\"\nVolkswagen passenger cars has had a flat 2017 so far with SMMT's latest November data showing registrations up by 0.9% year-to-date or 1,723 units to a total of 193,117 units. If split evenly between the network this equates to nine extra units per dealer from January to the end of November.\nHowever, other volume manufacturers have also had a difficult year with Vauxhall down 22.25% year-to-date and Ford down 8.64%.\nAM understands that Volkswagen is due to issue new dealer contracts next year but the brand said \"contract management is an ongoing process\".\nThe spokesman said: \"We wouldn't comment on the specifics of any trading arrangements.\"\nAuthor: Tom Seymour Tom Seymour\nFreelance writer for AM, Tom Seymour has been a specialist B2B journalist covering the automotive sector for over 14 years. He started his freelance career in 2015 and currently writes for a variety of automotive, business and technology publications.\nJohnsons Cars\nVolkswagen UK\nClick here for retailing best practice and procurement insight\nAlan Day Volkswagen MD Paul Tanner on dieselgate, rising wages and terrorism\nVolkswagen commits \u00a330bn to paving road to electrification\nVolkswagen plans more 'direct contact with customers'","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Wanganui Regional Velodrome\nWhanganui has a world class velodrome. Built in 1995 to full international standards, it features a tropical hardwood surface, regarded as the fastest in the country. This surface is now becoming weathered and needs to be protected if it is to survive. Engineers have advised that if the velodrome is not roofed, it will have to be either removed or rebuilt. It is estimated the life of the track is approximately four to six more years without protection.\nThe Regional Velodrome Development Trust engaged Giblin Group to undertake an independent Feasibility Study of the proposal to redevelop the Whanganui Velodrome. The project scope includes the construction of a roof on the outdoor velodrome with upgraded amenities for the sports of Cycling and Skating. The project will also provide a flat internal area suitable for hosting all-weather sporting and non-sporting events, making it a multi-use facility.\nIt is hoped the redeveloped velodrome will become the Regional Cycling Hub for the lower North Island as per Cycling New Zealand's plan for the sport of cycling. In this capacity it will also attract events and people to Whanganui and the region.\nThe Whanganui District Council is working in partnership with the Trust on this project and has made a funding commitment to it and signed an MOU to facilitate and progress the project. However, the velodrome is also considered to be a regional facility by the councils of the Manawat\u016b-Whanganui Region. A roofed velodrome has the potential to deliver social and economic benefits to the regional community and support the Regional Growth Programme, Accelerate25.\nFollowing completion of the Feasibility Study, which included a high-level Funding Plan for the project, Giblin Group has been further contracted to work on funding applications to central government as well as developing a corporate sponsorship plan for the velodrome.\nA key regional facility, the Whanganui Velodrome will be future-proofed and meet the changing needs of the region's communities through this redevelopment. The proposal has been refined through feedback from extensive community consultation to meet the needs of both local and regional communities. It will raise the region's profile and will make a direct contribution to the regional economy.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"ALL TRIBES\nWHO OUR TRIBES ARE\nHUMAGISTS\nINDUSTRIALISTS\nPENNIPAKISTS\nCULTURE CHOCK\nTECHNOLOGISTSTRIBE\nPeter Lees on Second Wave Open Source\nSUSE Chief Technologist APJ Peter Lees shares his thoughts on the open source movement and argues it will be a driver of change for software and tech innovation \u2013 and at great speed too.\nBy Peter Lees\nAs organisations face increasing pressure to become more agile and responsive, the second wave of open source has arrived just in time. When the first wave of open source software burst onto the scene twenty years ago, the focus was on stable application development and delivery tools. Now, agility is the new game.\nCustomers expect to access services online-first and mobile-first. Organisations must provide this ease-of-access or risk being passed by, and, developing and maintaining this level of interaction is more complex than ever before.\nCollaboration and Community\nOpen source enables \"boundaryless innovation\". Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, has been attributed \"Joys Law\", which means, \"No matter who you are, most of the smartest people work for someone else\".\nOpen source lets you take advantage of the ideas and expertise of that whole, wider community of people. Open source contributions come not only from one organisation, one company, but from research organisations, from companies collaborating with each other, from end users, even from individuals who are interested in a particular topic and the list goes on. So you have a much larger amount of brain power that you can call upon to solve the problems in a particular field.\nToday, most innovation comes from open source. With digital transformation and introduction of latest technologies, open source is no more seen as a niche alternative to mainstream software. Instead, it's an integral part of small businesses, tech giants and global enterprises at the core of their strategies. Companies like Microsoft, Facebook or Google have all realised that open source allows them to innovate, validate, and adapt more quickly than they could by themselves.\nAt SUSE, we work regularly in more than 100 over open source projects. We work upstream first in all of our projects, which means when we are doing development work for our own distributions, we contribute directly into the open source communities before packaging for QA and delivery to our customers.\nWe believe that continuously sharing development work with community projects first, rather than keeping hold of new ideas and only releasing them to communities once a product is available, creates a stronger ecosystem and provides a more dependable foundation for our customers.\nAdopting open source software generally has lower up-front costs compared to proprietary software or in-house developed software. The fact that it is open means that you're not forced to adopt one company's product to take advantage of a feature, and that there is always a chance that another organisation can offer the same functionality at a competitive rate.\nIf an organisation has invested millions of dollars on proprietary software code, it can find itself stuck if that code is no longer available due to a supplier going out of business, or deciding to drop the product, or if the price is increased unreasonably. Even if a customer can get access to the source code, there's a lot of effort in updating and maintaining that alone. With open source software, there is no risk of lock-in to a particular vendor, and a much wider community to support ongoing development and maintenance.\nIt might seem counterintuitive, but open source software is also more secure. The number of potentially contributing developers and thus the means of testing, bug fixing and hardening, is many times larger than what a single organisation's team can do.\nOpen source is flourishing and applicable in all kinds of sectors \u2013 we have customers who operate in mission critical environments such as banking and finance, defence, telecommunications, airlines, retailing, and more; and our code is even used inside medical equipment systems that save lives.\nAs a six-year veteran of SUSE, I think it's fair to say open source has had a significant impact on my professional life. But long before joining SUSE, I had a career in web development which would not have been possible without the open source community of the day.\nOpen source has matured from a geek-only thing into a standard way of doing business. One of the great advantages of open source is that ideas don't get lost, as they can be when a proprietary company shuts down a product or gets acquired, and when you need help with your problems you can always reach out to real people in the community for help, rather than having to rely on some faceless corporations. This means that we can continually build on the knowledge that came before us, with the freedom to fork a project and develop in a new direction if necessary.\nDistinction between 'free' and 'open'\nLet us address any misconception between free software and open source software.\nWhen we call software \"free\", it is a matter of freedom to run, study and change software, rather than price. In many cases the term \"Libre\" is being used to make this distinction clearer.\nAs the largest independent open source company, SUSE has many engineers standing behind the ideas of \"free and open source software\" and support these ideas. It's important to remember that even though you may be able to download and compile the source code for \"free\", unless the time you take to do that work, then apply patches, make changes where necessary, and work through other integration efforts is also \"free\", then there is always cost involved.\nSoftware as product differentiator\nThe open source community is very active and collaborate on solving issues in an open manner. Information sharing is plentiful. Looking forward, this approach will be a driver of change for not just software, but technology innovation in general at great speed. There are already open source projects for everything from connected cars to hospital management.\nIt's clear that with the impetus on digital transformation of enterprise that software developers are becoming critical agents within organisations. In the modern world, the ability to bring a business idea to market is heavily reliant on your ability to implement it in a digital form. Developers are the people who make that possible. It's also clear that as hardware has become more commoditised and undifferentiated, it is the software that creates the point of differentiation \u2013 in everything from telecommunications to washing machines. Include AI and machine learning into that discussion and you can see that it's chiefly through new software innovation that we're seeing so many new products, services, ways of doing business, and even ways of living. So what this means is \u2013 the future of software is\u2026the future of everything.\nInfosys Launches Second-Gen Integrated AI Platform\nIt's official. We've entered an AI race. As competition in artificial intelligence and automation is\u2026\nMachine Learning & AI Spikes Across Regions, Sectors\nNorth America, Asia and Europe are neck and neck when it comes to integrating Artificial\u2026\nRetrofit AI and Machine Learning into Apps\nIntegrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into your existing business apps may allow you to\u2026\nIndustry 4.0 Heralds Era of Easy Customisation\nSAP Head of Digital Supply Chain APJ Graham Conlon says in today's complex digital economy,\u2026\nConversational Commerce is Crucial to Travel Industry\nGoodbye static sites, hello conversational commerce. LivePerson General Manager APAC Andrew Cannington makes the case\u2026\nDale Beaumont - on Bots and Benevolence\nAfter starting his first business at 19, publishing 16 books within a three-year period and\u2026\nPeter Lees\nsecond wave open source\npreviousWhere to Buy Real Estate in Europe 2020\nnextDigital Renaissance of Rail Requires Shared Discourse\n\u00a9 2020 INDVSTRVS. All rights reserved","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Massaging the SRV: what the councillors said\nAt last week's extraordinary council meeting, Clarence Valley Council finalised revisions of its operational documents to concur with its application for a special 6.5 per cent rate variation (SRV), increase over each of the next five years.\nMayor Richie Williamson, seconded by deputy mayor Craig Howe, moved the council officer's recommendation.\nNo questions were asked by councillors prior to debate.\nThe mayor reserved his right of reply until councillors had their say.\nNo other councillors spoke in favour of the recommendation.\nCouncillors Jim Simmons and Andrew Baker spoke against the recommendation.\nCr Simmons acknowledged the \"very professionally prepared\" documents; however, he said he couldn't vote for a \"cumulative 37 per cent increase in rates\".\nHe said he was not \"in favour of utilising borrowing totalling $15m from 2019\/20 to24\/25 to reduce the backlog infrastructure renewal\".\n\"I do not agree with the quantum of the SRV, noting that there [have] been substantial increases in water and sewerage charges over recent years,\" Cr Simmons said.\n\"And I guess those increases have built a higher rate base.\"\nHe said he had \"concerns about where the $7.465m in efficiency savings will come from and what that will involve\".\n\"In my view \u2026 councils have not allocated enough funds for core responsibilities; instead putting more funds into discretionary services.\n\"Consequently, council has in the past gone down the path of raising loans, which is just not sustainable to continue with the general fund.\"\nHe said \"most residents cannot afford increases in rates\", while acknowledging that the future water and sewerage charge increases would be far less than those of recent years.\nCouncillor Baker said some parts of the multi point recommendation \"may be worth adopting \u2026 but the overall position \u2026 to adopt \u2026 any SRV, to me, is wrong\".\nHe spoke of being advised at a workshop on February 2 that \"all we have to do is build a new depot [at South Grafton] \u2026 and we get these financial benefits coming to us straight away.\n\"Those financial benefits would almost be the amount we intend to raise with the SRV.\nCr Baker told the Independent that he was referring to funds that have been \"diverted from reserves for the likes of heavy plant replacement, water and sewerage and previous land sales, to the Strategic Building Reserve\", which funds the new depot.\n\"We've been told any number of times that we can find efficiency savings in the future, but we haven't found them in the past,\" he said at the meeting.\n\"\u2026We should be doing all things necessary to find those savings before we apply for a SRV.\"\n\"\u2026We certainly haven't, in all the time I've been here, given any consideration whatsoever to the business of not spending our savings.\n\"I cannot vote for anything that simply leaves all of these things unexplored or maybe promised or possibly happening in the future after the lifetime of this council.\"\nMayor Williamson said some of the points Cr Baker made \"completely lost me\".\nHe said the documents tabled and the SRV were \"our strategies moving forward\".\n\"\u2026I'm not fussed on the possibility of borrowing $15m by 24\/25 and that's why it's incumbent not only on the policy makers of today \u2026 but the policy makers of the next council, to ensure that we continue to find savings.\"\nHe said he thought it was \"highly possible\" that the council would not have to borrow the $15m.\n\"We are doing the hard work and there is more to be done,\" he said.\n\"The elected council will do everything in its power to lessen the exposure to increased rates to our ratepayers.\n\"That is an undertaking that I have given.\"\nCr Williamson said the general manager will outline how savings might be made at the March council meeting.\n\"That will include \u2026 reviews of the services that we provide and delivery models that are used \u2026 it includes a major review of our plant and fleet operation, with the view [of achieving] immediate and ongoing savings \u2026 [and] the rationalisation of assets.\n\"\u2026We will continue to work to lessen the footprint of the council \u2026 [and] ensure that the policies of today, until this year's September election, will reflect the no borrowings in the general fund.\n\"\u2026Indeed I think it's timely that we review our borrowings in all of our funds.\n\"\u2026We need to move forward in a way that makes this council sustainable \u2026 and fit for the future.\"\nMotor home club's Grafton visit good for the valley\nCouncil warns of 'disturbing' claims by petitioners","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"\"Don't go to the Yellow Pages to find a plumber,\" says Berkey's Bill Stevens. \"It's like guessing lottery numbers. Anyone can make an appealing ad, but that doesn't mean they are legitimate. In this industry, it's easy for a plumber who develops a poor reputation to advertise under a different name. They come and go.\" Even searching for someone online may end up being a scam using fake reviews. Instead, look for a plumber who is well-established in your community. Check the Better Business Bureau and read customer reviews at sites such as HomeAdvisor, Angie's List, or Citysearch. Local contractors or plumbing fixture stores can also refer you to a quality plumber, according to Grady Daniel, who owns a plumbing company in Austin, Texas. \"Most of these firms won't work with bad plumbers.\" Or simply ask your neighbors for a referral. A trusted plumber that consistently delivers quality service does not remain a secret for very long.\nFaucets for the kitchen come in an array of styles, and costs vary as well, from simple single handle models running less than $50 to pull down faucets like those used in restaurant kitchens costing more than $200. One handle or two, separate pullout sprayer or pull down, countertop or wall mount, these also feature a variety of finishes from stainless steel to nickel and bronze.\nNothing wears on homeowners like the idea of handling plumbing problems. From the water heater to sewer line, let Mr. Rooter Plumbing take the pressure off of you (and put it back in your shower lines). Our plumbers are the most recognized professionals in the world because we're committed to amazing service and amazing results. In everything we do, our team makes sure your home's plumbing issues are solved with the most effective and long-lasting solutions.\n\"We just moved to a new house and Luke did an amazing job installing our home entertainment system. We thought we had a simple TV mounting project, but Luke was able to connect all our equipment (some of which was a bit outdated) so we have one seamless audio\/visual system. Plus he was able to fix some errors that Comcast had made and willing to jump in and work on a few other small projects I needed done before the holidays. His price was reasonable and in the week since he performed the work I've had 2 people knowledgeble in contracting or wiring compliment the quality of his work.\"\nPBT \u2013 flexible (usually gray or black) plastic pipe which is attached to barbed fittings and secured in place with a copper crimp ring. The primary manufacturer of PBT tubing and fittings was driven into bankruptcy by a class-action lawsuit over failures of this system.[citation needed] However, PB and PBT tubing has since returned to the market and codes, typically first for \"exposed locations\" such as risers.\nMuch of the plumbing work in populated areas is regulated by government or quasi-government agencies due to the direct impact on the public's health, safety, and welfare. Plumbing installation and repair work on residences and other buildings generally must be done according to plumbing and building codes to protect the inhabitants of the buildings and to ensure safe, quality construction to future buyers. If permits are required for work, plumbing contractors typically secure them from the authorities on behalf of home or building owners.[citation needed]\nGeneral employment within the construction sector is sensitive to changes in the economy. But job growth for plumbers is projected to be faster than the average for all jobs. New buildings and residences are being built to comply with stricter water efficiency standards and companies housed in older structures are hoping to retrofit to use more energy-efficient systems, so opportunities are in abundance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there should be a hiring spurt of 16 percent for plumbers by the year 2026, which translates to about 75,800 new jobs.\nRooter Plumbing\nPlumber Repair Click Here Contact us at [email protected] | Sitemap xml | Sitemap txt | Sitemap","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"October\/\nEpisode 24: It's Halloween!\nMake the perfect gift for your little one this holiday season \u2013 a personalized sing along! nowtakeoff.com\/gift\nFor a full transcript of this episode, click here.\nSing along songs about all things Halloween \u2013 witches and spiders, pumpkins and skeletons! Plus some counting, rhyming, and exploration of rhythm too.\nTen Little Witches (1:25)\nThree Little Witches (2:13)\nLittle Miss Muffet (3:25)\nItsy Bitsy Spider (4:00) \u2013 Also in Episodes 7 and 8: Ready, Set, Action!\nRhythm Repeat (4:40)\nFive Little Pumpkins (6:47)\nPeter Peter Pumpkin Eater (7:33)\nDem Bones (7:57)\nGet a SHOUT OUT for your child in a future show! https:\/\/nowtakeoff.com\/shoutout\nSign up for the latest Sing Along with Mandy news and FREE printable lyrics used in this show! http:\/\/eepurl.com\/dMKVFU\n(Already have the password? Access the lyrics library here!)\nFeatured Sing Along Book: Dem Bones by Bob Barner\nAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases \u2013 Thank you!\nWant to request a song or theme for a future episode? Here are four ways to contact me!\nFind me on Instagram and send me a DM! https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/singalongpodcast\/\nContact me through my website, Now Take Off!: https:\/\/nowtakeoff.com\/ask-me-anything\/\nEmail me directly! singalongwithmandy@gmail.com\nJoin the Sing Along with Mandy Podcast facebook page: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singalongpodcast\/\nBecome a patron of the show! https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/singalongpodcast\nEpisodes - Sing Along with Mandy Podcast\nhalloween, holiday sing, sing along, sing along at home\nKate: month 1 update \u2013 changing the route, daily routine, and budgeting\nWhere to camp: From Portland to Seattle\n2 thoughts on \"Episode 24: It's Halloween!\"\nPingback: E23: Banjos and fiddles and horns, oh my! - Transcript - Now Take Off!\nPingback: E:24 It's Halloween - Transcript - Now Take Off!","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Book Review: The Death of the Necromancer\nS. G. Baker Book Reviews September 8, 2018 October 30, 2018 5 Minutes\nThe Death of the Necromancer Synopsis\nNicholas Valiarde is a passionate, embittered nobleman with an enigmatic past. Consumed by thoughts of vengeance, he is consoled only by thoughts of the beautiful, dangerous Madeline. He is also the greatest thief in all of Ile-Rien\u2026 On the gas light streets of the city, he assumes the guise of a master criminal, stealing jewels from wealthy nobles to finance his quest for vengeance the murder of Count Montesq. Montesq orchestrated the wrongful execution of Nicholas's beloved godfather on false charges of necromancy\u2013the art of divination through communion with spirits of the dead\u2013a practice long outlawed in the kingdom of Ile-Rein.\nBut now Nicholas's murderous mission is being interrupted by a series of eerie, unexplainable, even fatal events. Someone with tremendous magical powers is opposing him. Children vanish, corpses assume the visage of real people, mortal spells are cast, and traces of necromantic power that hasn't been used for centuries are found. And when a spiritualist unwittingly leads Nicholas to a decrepit mansion, the monstrous nature of his peril finally emerges in harrowing detail. Nicholas and his compatriots must destroy an ancient and awesome evil. Even the help of Ile-Rien's greatest sorcerer may not be enough, for Nicholas faces a woefully mismatched battle\u2013and unthinkable horrors await the loser.\n(Via Goodreads)\nAbout Martha Wells\nMartha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including The Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads), the Ile-Rien series (including The Death of the Necromancer) as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, media tie-ins (for Star Wars and Stargate: Atlantis), and non-fiction. Her most recent fantasy novel is The Harbors of the Sun in 2017, the final novel in The Books of the Raksura series. She has a new series of SF novellas, The Murderbot Diaries, published by Tor.com in 2017 and 2018. She was also the lead writer for the story team of Magic: the Gathering's Dominaria expansion in 2018. She has won a Nebula Award, an ALA\/YALSA Alex Award, a Locus Award, and her work has appeared on the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Award ballots, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. Her books have been published in eleven languages.\n(Via Martha Wells's Website)\nOnce again, I unwittingly picked up a sequel at the library, possibly because nowhere does the cover of Martha Wells's The Death of the Necromancer indicate Ile-Rien #2, possibly because my library branch simply doesn't carry the first in series installments. (Before proceeding to read The Death of the Necromancer, I started Black Heart, the third in Holly Black's The Curse Workers series and had to put it down on realizing my mistake. Possibly, I myself am cursed.)\nHowever! While the narrative makes what I assume are some allusions to the previous book, they're explained well enough that I didn't feel lost without Ile-Rien #1. If you don't want to check out The Element of Fire before reading this one, you really don't have to.\nOver-Arcing Content\nHigh jinks rule the day throughout The Death of the Necromancer. The narrative comes packed with all kinds of sticky situations, clever escapes, \"high-speed\" horse cart chases, disguises, traps, schemes, and every aspect Victorian-era criminal life has to offer, plus necromancy. The characters operate on a morally ambiguous level, skirting the edges of ethics without resorting to unwarranted cruelty. (I would've accepted something grittier, but it was nice.)\nThe ragtag group of Nicholas Valiarde's followers reminded me very much of the Dregs from Six of Crows, one of my favorite books. I'm sure this has to do more with tropes than anything else, but they were character tropes that I already know I enjoy\u2013the scheming, clever leader in Nicholas, the spitfire master of disguise in Madeleine, the fallen nobleman in Reynard, the surly bodyguard in Crack, etc.\nMadeleine herself got not only just as much development as Nicholas but also point-of-view scenes throughout The Death of the Necromancer, convincing me that she functions as a co-main character. On top of that, the plot resolution(s) literally couldn't have happened without her. 10\/10 lady lead character.\nThere also appeared Inspector Ronsarde and Doctor Halle, who look like Detective Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, but only if you squint. When their names turned up toward the beginning of the narrative, I never expected them to become integral to the story but what fun when they did. Also, Gay Undertones for Days.\nThe apparent main plot of The Death of the Necromancer cleverly fades back into a sub-plot as the narrative progresses, honing in on a comparison of Nicholas's mindset in his own scheme of revenge compared to that of the main villain. Wells also often encourages the reader to empathize with Nicholas, then reminds us how the other characters see him as someone capable of ruthlessness, how the truth of who he is probably lands somewhere between the two perspectives.\nRomance. I'm an absolute sucker for a pre-established relationship. Nicholas and Madeleine had something going on before the beginning of the narrative, with their intimate understanding of each other, their muted pining and worry when apart, their silly attempts at stoicism toward one another. They spent the whole time being partners. In crime. Working together as a team. I ate that right up.\nThe final confrontation between our characters and the Big Bad had a lot more running around than seemed reasonable, but the final revelation of the villain and his clash with the heroes did not disappoint. The denouement of The Death of the Necromancer took its time with wrapping up, making sure to tie up any loose ends using elements sensibly pulled from the plot. It also allowed Nicholas, despite his status as some kind of hero-criminal as far as the crown was concerned, to pull the wool over everyone's eyes one last time, staying true to his clever nature.\nI liked The Death of the Necromancer, but it took me approximately an entire month to read it. (Likely incurring a fee at the library because guess who didn't bother to renew?) Though the narrative featured many of the things I like\u2013a ragtag bunch of morally neutral criminals, an intelligent mastermind leader, necromancy, a reasonable romantic element, and a realistic heroine\u2013my main complaint comes of the pacing. Much as I said in my review of Sabriel, the somewhat older-fashioned narrative style just felt less punchy and more draggy.\nThe narrative also suffers some from too many similar names. A number of them start with an R or end in \"-ard(e)\" so that even up until the end, when I'd become familiar enough with the characters to tell them apart, I still had to stop and orient myself when one of these names reappeared on the page.\nI'd absolutely recommend The Death of the Necromancer to fans of Sabriel for the many elements shared between the two, as well as to fans of Six of Crows for the Victorian-era heist aspect. Also for readers who enjoy a more subtle romance and plot integral heroines.\nMy rating: 4\/5 stars\nGoodreads raiting: 4.07 stars\nTo keep up with future book reviews and read free original short fiction, hit that follow button, subscribe through email, or throw a like on the Word Nerd Scribbles Facebook page.\nbooklr\ndeath of the necromancer\nPublished by S. G. Baker\nS.G. Baker is a writer and editor of fiction who penned the Hopeful Wanderer\u200b web series. She has authored climate fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories in Little Blue Marble, With Words We Weave: Hope, and Road Kill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers, Vol. 2. View all posts by S. G. Baker\nPublished September 8, 2018 October 30, 2018\nPrevious Post The Hopeful Wanderer \u2013 Fishing for Fears\nNext Post The Hopeful Wanderer \u2013 Butterfly Breaths","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The problem is poverty: Evidence from Gerald Bracey\nStephen Krashen\nThe entire basis for the national standards\/testing movement is our low scores on international tests when compared to other countries. Our scores, however, are only low because we have such a high percentage of children in poverty, compared to other countries that participate in international tests. When we consider only middle-class children who attend well-funded schools, our math scores are near the top of the world (Payne and Biddle, 1999).\nHere is another analysis, using reading test scores, that comes to the same conclusion. The PIRLS test was given to ten year olds in 35 countries in their own language. Bracey (2009) presented this data, along with relevant socio-economic data on the poverty level of the schools American children attended (defined as participating in free or reduced price lunch programs):\nAmerican students attending schools with\n- less than 10 percent in poverty averaged 589 (14% of students).\n- 10-24.9% in poverty averaged 567 (20% of students)\n- 25 to 49.9% in poverty averaged 551 (30% of students)\n- 75% or more in poverty averaged 485 (15% of students)\nClearly, students in schools with lower levels of poverty did better. Of great interest to us is the fact that American children attending low poverty schools (25% or less) outscored the top scoring country, Sweden (561). Bracey also points out that \"if the students in schools with 24-49.9% poverty constituted a nation, it would rank fourth among the 35 participating nations\" (p. 155).\nThe problem is poverty, not our teachers, our unions, the parents, or the children. The solution is to protect our children from the disadvantages of poverty, through health care, nutrition, and access to books. Geoffrey Canada claims that his approach is to attempt to do just that in the Harlem Children's Zone schools (NY Times, October 12, 2010; but see Krashen, 2010a,b).\nThus far, the Arne Duncan department of education has chosen to ignore this route (while praising the Harlem Children's Zone), and spend billions on useless national standards and national tests, focusing on measuring rather than helping.\nBracey, G. 2009. Education Hell: Rhetoric Versus Reality. Alexandria, VA: Educational Research Service.\nPayne, K. and Biddle, B. 1999. Poor school funding, child poverty, and mathematics achievement. Educational Researcher 28 (6): 4-13.\nKrashen, S. 2010a. A suggestion for Geoffrey Canada. www.schoolsmatter.info. October 12, 2010.\nKrashen, S. 2010b. Shocking revelations from Goeffrey Canada's autobiography. www.schoolsmatter.info. October 13, 2010.\nSay it loud!! Won't you join us at http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiseducationNation\nIndiana SBOE: Pushing the Privatization Fast Track\nResponses to Bonnie Reiss, Calif Sec of Education\nLancet Critiques Gates Foundation Again\nThe Corporate School to Corporate Prison Pipeline\nLegacy Admissions to Manhattan Preschools\nBoston's Charterizers on the Prowl, Pushing for Cl...\nMore Superlies from \"Superman\"\nBloomberg and Klein Now See No Need to Identify Mi...\nWill Duncan Take His Own Departmental Statement on...\nFunny Enough to Make You Cry\nPlease Add Your Name to the EPI Statement on the U...\nHope Rising to Challenge Despair in Wake County\nJeanne Allen's Campaign Donations\nEverything Bold Deformers Never Wanted to Know Abo...\nChristie Halts State-Approved Construction Project...\nU. S. Chamber of Commerce Laundering Unlimited, An...\nRendell Mans Up to Charter School Real Estate Swindle\nBloomberg's Criminal Hypocrisy\nKIPP Hired Sexual Abuser Fired by NYC Schools\nPhilip Anschutz and Walden Media: What Kind of Ag...\nWhite Billionaire Boys' Club to Save Poor People o...\nFor Chicago Parents, 1 School Library Won with 159...\n\"Fairly Respected Writer\" and the Grossest of Neo-...\nSanity Will Not Be Restored Quietly\nRavitch Review of WfS Breaks Long Silence on NAEP'...\nNo Child Left Unfed\nWeekend Wrap-Up\nShocking revelations from Geoffrey Canada's autobi...\nIs Deborah Gist Serious?\nTrading a Snarling TFA Know-Nothing Alum for a Smi...\nA suggestion for Geoffrey Canada\nStand for Children Member Talks Back\nImagine and Others in NJ\nEasy Money for Schools, No Strings Attached\nThe Corrupt Collapse of Education Reform's Wall St...\nBill Gates, the West Coast Promo Man\nParticipating in our own destruction\nNashville Mayor Karl Dean to Use $10 Million of Pu...\nRace to the Top Act of 2010\nGeorgia Charter Authorizers - Shades of FL\nThe Manifesto got it all wrong\n\" . . . attending a KIPP network school is a job.\"\nDuncan Decries Segregation While Rewarding Aparthe...\nCan't Find a Good Place for Your Political Dollars...\nWhere are the education dollars going?\nJay P. Greene Celebrates Victory\nHigh School Senior, Sylvie Baldwin, Just Says No t...\nRhee's Revolution Reaping the Rewards of Arrogance...\nRick Ayers on WfS at Democracy Now\nNYC Traditional Public Schools Outperform Bloomber...\nThe New Segregated Buses Are Lining Up for Arne Du...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"filed: November 9, 2011 \u2022 Massachusetts\nTown turbine to be shut down\nCredit: By Emily Sussman, Falmouth Patch, falmouth.patch.com 9 November 2011 ~~\nFALMOUTH \u2013 At last night's Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen announced they had voted unanimously on a plan to immediately shut down the municipally operated, 1.65-megawatt wind turbine known as Wind 1, which is located at the town's wastewater treatment plant.\nSelectmen Chair Mary Pat Flynn outlined the specifics of the plan, which would shut down Wind 1 until at least next spring's Annual Town Meeting. It was a deal that would presumably placate the turbine's abutters, who have long complained of adverse health effects as a result of having to live so close to the turbines.\nIn spite of the board's decision to shut down Wind 1, which the Selectmen had made shortly before last night's Town Meeting commenced, Flynn told voters that \"we cannot lose sight of the strides we have made in the last ten years with regard to renewable energy.\"\nAs for Wind 2, the soon-to-be-online turbine also located at the wastewater treatment plant, Flynn said it would be commissioned for at least two months in order to study its effects on abutters. It will also be subject to the same restrictions that had been placed on Wind 1\u2014namely, that it would be shut off when wind speeds reached over 23 mph.\nIn contrast to Monday night's Town Meeting, where residents and town officials debated for several hours over the fate of Article 9, a nonbinding article which would have given selectmen the option to shut down both of the town's wind turbines, Tuesday night's continuation of that debate took just over twenty minutes. After hearing the Selectmen's new plan, residents voted to indefinitely postpone the article.\nSource: By Emily Sussman, Falmouth Patch, falmouth.patch.com 9 November 2011","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"X Puts Together Complete Game Against Towson\nThe No. 18 Xavier Musketeers put together its first complete game of the season, knocking off Towson, 73-51, in the first round of the Charleston Classic at TD Arena on Thursday night. Jason Carter led the Muskies in scoring, finishing with 13 points while pulling down seven rebounds. Tyrique Jones (12), Bryce Moore (12) and Paul Scruggs (11), rounded out the four Xavier players who finished in double-digits scoring. The Musketeers also received an injection of offense with improved 3-point shooting as XU hit a season-high 7-of-11 from behind the arc. Xavier played with high energy on both ends of the court and fended off a feisty, scrappy Towson squad. As a team, X gained the advantage on the glass, outrebounding Towson, 54-32.\nXavier, the winner of its first five games, is back in action on Friday night in the semifinal of the Charleston Classic. The Musketeers will face off against a future BIG EAST foe, the UConn Huskies, who is returning to the league having spent the last seven seasons in the AAC. Tipoff against the Huskies is slated for 9:00pm at TD Arena in Charleston.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Ishmael Reed: 'Hamilton' is a bad jingoistic history, but nice eye candy\nOakland poet, activist and 'Hamilton' critic had received criticism for not having seen the show\nIshmael ReedMarch 27, 2019Updated: March 29, 2019, 1:32 pm\nAmerican poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, educator, editor and publisher Ishmael Reed, who lives in Oakland. Photo: BAMPFA\nI didn't intend to inspire a minor news cycle in early January, when I staged a reading of my script \"The Haunting of Lin Manual Miranda\" in New York, and became the de facto voice of dissent for Miranda's ultra-popular musical \"Hamilton.\"\nMy real purpose for the trip was to attend the screening of \"Personal Problems,\" a film that Steve Cannon, Walter Cotton and I produced in 1980. Then came the government shutdown, and the postponement of the showing. To make use of my time, I decided to round up some of the actors who had appeared in my 2017 play, \"Life Among the Aryans,\" to read from the \"Miranda\" script, which is built around the historical fact that Alexander Hamilton was not an abolitionist. He had slaves. He was not an innocent man against the great sin of slavery. Of course, the title and content drew some attention from the New York critical community.\nThere were reviews of the reading, many critical of my criticism, in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the New York Observer, Billboard, Current Affairs and the Paris Review. The reading inspired an intelligent debate, led by Joy Behar, on \"The View,\" while I was mocked on NPR's nerdy \"Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me.\"\nPart of the negative response was derived from the surprise that I had not seen \"Hamilton.\"\nThe touring cast of \"Hamilton\" at SHN's Orpheum Theatre. Photo: Joan Marcus , SHN\nI hadn't, but I read Miranda's book and even quoted from it in my script \u2014 the part in the show where Hamilton argues against treating blacks as property. Wrong. Hamilton considered blacks as private property and also accused the British of \"stealing negroes from their owners.\" \"Hamilton\" fans didn't want to hear it and left their venom in the comments section under stories by the New York Times and Broadway World. One of them wrote that I was better off here, in the U.S., than in Africa. I had a great time in Africa. Not once was I spied upon while shopping in a store.\nBut, to satisfy my critics, I recently attended a performance of \"Hamilton: The Revolution\" at the Orpheum in San Francisco. It is a bad jingoistic history salvaged by the brilliant performance of a multicultural cast \u2014 there was more diversity on stage than in the audience.\nSometimes, what was happening onstage was overwhelmed by a noisy bass line, and so I had more of an access to the lyrics by reading them than listening to them. I thought that the dancing was smart, though I recognized some moves from \"A Chorus Line.\" This might be because choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler admires the work of Michael Bennett. Though the musical is billed as a hip-hop show, the hip-hop moves were kept at a minimum.\nFor eye candy, \"Hamilton\" is the tops. The set and costumes were dazzling and seemed historically accurate. Broadway knows how to put on a show. Miranda's songwriting abilities are hyped, however. He's no Cole Porter or Billy Strayhorn. OK, date me.\nI winced for two hours as slave traffickers and owners like Hamilton, George Washington and members of Gen. Schuyler's family were portrayed as abolitionists. They weren't. They were cruel to their slaves. Archaeologists found the remains of their slaves and concluded that they were subjected to \"back-breaking\" work and suffered from malnutrition. Elizabeth, Hamilton's wife, helped her mother manage the slaves. Runaways like a black woman named Diana, who appears in my play, were punished, possibly murdered.\nPhillipa Soo and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Eliza and Alexander Hamilton in \"Hamilton.\" Photo: Joan Marcus, SHN\nAnd where were these Schuyler women, party girls, when their father sold a whole family for $200? And what was their, and Elizabeth's fiance Hamilton's, position when Gen. Schuyler and his friends decided that any slave found a mile from his Albany plantation be shot?\nThough thousands of poor, white women battled the idea of slavery, wealthy white women like the Schuylers were complicit and, according to historian Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers, even bought slaves for themselves.\nBut critics who haven't seen my play and argue that I am critical of Miranda are wrong. I see Miranda as a victim of state historians. I call them historians of white history, like Jon Meacham who told a \"Morning Joe\" audience that slavery in America lasted 90 years and then corrected himself. To 100 years. A reminder: 2019 is the 400th anniversary of slaves arriving in Virginia. Meacham also has some kind words to say about Andrew Jackson, the Eichmann of Native American policy.\nI can understand where Miranda found himself intellectually. Jesse James, the famed outlaw of 1800s America who was glorified in dozens of films, was one of my childhood heroes. Later I learned that he was a member of a Confederate guerrilla gang, Quantrill's Raiders. His brother Frank was one of those who entered Lawrence, Kan., and murdered 200 men. Their crime? Echoing Hamilton's complaint against the British: stealing blacks.\nThough \"Hamilton\" has received a rapturous reception in the United States, Miranda was picketed by students in Puerto Rico. One student accused him of glorifying an oppressor and suggested that he do a musical about Harriet Tubman.\nA full production of my play, \" The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda,\" beginning May 23 at the Nuyorican Poets Caf\u00e9 in New York, and directed by the award-winning Rome Neal, will not only present voices that are missing from \"Hamilton: The Revolution\" \u2014 Native Americans, slaves and white indentured servants \u2014 but also expose an upheaval that is happening in the American Historical Establishment as women, blacks, Native American and Latinx have their say.\nIshmael Reed\nIshmael Reed\tIshmael Reed is a noted poet, playwright, activist and professor at California College of the Arts.\nMore In Theater\nReview: 'Noura' shows actor Denmo Ibrahim at the height of her powers\nBy Lily Janiak\nReview: 'PolySHAMory' a fitful attempt to remodel love story template\nThe stories of Silicon Valley seniors come out of the shadows with 'Luz'\nA case for not talking about actors' sex appeal\nKate Robards on polyamory and how 'love is love is love,' except when it isn't\nSequins, decadent fun commemorate Cockettes' 50th anniversary party\nBy Tony Bravo\nSurviving members of Cockettes, who made drag popular culture, to reunite in SF\n'Beach Blanket Babylon' audiences will be the keepers of its legend\nDatebook Pick\nThrough Feb 02\nTranslating Selena\nBrava's Cabaret\nHow to Transcend a Happy Marriage\nCustom Made Theatre\n$31.50 \u2013 $35","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Textile makers in California's Bay Area will soon be forced to wear masks to protect themselves from the Zika virus\nJuly 12, 2021 2 min read admin\nTextiles makers in the Bay Area are being forced to put on protective masks, after an outbreak of the virus led to a surge in the number of workers who contracted the disease.\nKey points:Actors and designers will be forced wear masks on the job for two weeks to prevent the spread of the Zika outbreakThe masks will be compulsory in the state for at least the next two weeksThe first batch of masks are expected to be worn on March 14, 2020.\nThe state is planning to ban the use of face coverings in workplaces by March 15.\nThe government says the new masks will help workers who are already vulnerable to infection.\nActors, designers and other artists will be required to wear the masks while they work in California and the US are facing a surge of cases of the mosquito-borne virus.\nThe California State Assembly on Monday approved a bill that would require employers and companies to wear protective masks for two months.\nThe bill will go before the state's Senate later this month.\nThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the virus is linked to the coronavirus that caused the pandemic in the US in 2015.\nThe virus has been linked to about 12,000 cases in the United States and more than 3,000 deaths.\nHealth officials are concerned the spread could spread to the mainland.\nHealth experts say the US has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world.\nThe majority of the cases are in Florida, but experts warn it is possible for other parts of the country to get infected.\nA study of workers in the Philippines showed a similar surge of infections in February, while in Brazil, the outbreak is believed to have started in May.\nTopics:travel-health-and-safety,diseases-and\/or-disorders,infectious-disease-other,united-states,south-africa,united.ca,united_states\nbay state textiles, jacquard textile colors, textiles pictures\nHow to make your own Japanese textiles\nKenya says it's moving to remove 'black-owned' textile mills from government list\nCoraggio says it's not going to close its factory in Japan","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"OneDay Main Navigation\nIdeas & Solutions\nIdeas and Solutions\nCOVID-19: Teacher Perspectives on How Home Learning Successes and Challenges Underscore Pronounced Inequities\nCorps members and alumni teachers serving low-income communities across Indianapolis share perspectives that highlight exacerbated inequities when it comes to student reach, engagement, and learning.\nCece Zhou\nDirector of Communications, Teach for America Indianapolis\nAs states and local school systems analyze the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis on students and plan for school reopenings in the fall, teachers voice their perspectives from experiences working directly with students over the last several months.\nThe sudden transition to home learning has brought to light many of the inequities in our school systems; schools that serve low-income communities and communities of color were charged to find creative solutions to meet student needs across technology and internet access, meals, financial support, and trauma-informed practices, in order to maintain student engagement and retain high learning outcomes. Thousands of teachers and school leaders stepped up and exhibited courageous, collaborative, and resilient leadership during this time. In addition to their innovative approaches to address these needs, numerous organizations and corporations have also been instrumental in offering their support across funding, e-learning tools, and homework hotlines.\nYet, the NWEA \"suggests that when students head back to school next fall, overall they are likely to retain about 70 percent of this year's gains in reading, compared with a typical school year, and less than 50 percent in math. Losses are likely to be more pronounced in the early grades, when students normally acquire many basic skills, and among those already facing steep inequities.\"\nWe interviewed corps members and alumni teachers about their experiences working with students during the spring, and below are various, though not comprehensive, excerpts from their responses. Overall key trends we heard included: students having different levels of access, missing community, and feeling nervousness about re-entry in the fall. It's important to note that both the challenges and early identified successes reveal disparities from school to school; our teachers acknowledge the magnitude of sustainable solutions that still need to be sought out when school reopens in the fall to address persisting inequities.\nE-learning, Technology, and Internet Access\nStrengths: Student participation, device distribution, and additional supplies to support with home learning\n\"The majority of our live Zoom classes are rooted in purposeful discussions, where students get to share their opinions and lesson responses to the group - it's been exciting to see our students become natural Zoomers.\" -Ashley Sciacca, Indy '10\n\"We distributed Chromebooks to students who didn't have devices at home.\" -Emily Emrick, Indy '19\n\"It started with distribution of 'grab bags' back in March which included work packets and all school supplies they would need as well as food for families as we figured out a more consistent schedule. At that time we had families sign up for the free 60 day internet if they needed it and grab available Chromebooks if they needed a computer\/tablet. We ran out of those rather quickly but have since got more as well as passed out the iPads we had.\" -Taelor Garrett, Indy '19\nChallenges: Technical difficulties and access to high-speed internet\n\"Most students have trouble navigating technical difficulties (wifi, computers, etc.) which makes me believe e-learning is very inequitable.\" -Megan Kostolansky, Indy '19\n\"My school distributed Chromebooks to our students. However, the real challenge was their households not having access to WiFi.\" -Alyssa McIntyre, Indy '18\nStrengths: Regular contact, accountability, and ability to alternative-plan effectively\n\"I have been able to 'binge teach.' Within the first couple weeks of remote learning, I created and scheduled my lesson plans, tracking systems, student and parent communications to be sent out to the respective audiences weeks in advance. This freed up a lot of time that I have been able to use to engage with students and parents, and address other school-related tasks and projects.\" -Keith Thomas, Jr., Indy '11\n\"Teachers at our school are making daily contact with subgroups of students and their families. These touchpoints keep students connected to us as staff and to each other, but also help us hold students accountable to completing their daily work.\" -Ronak Shah, Indy '12\nChallenges: Reaching all students, external environment factors, inconsistencies with contact\n\"It has been difficult to reach some families on a consistent basis.\" -Ashley Sciacca, Indy '10\n\"There are still students who fail to log on and complete any type of e-learning work or classes. The inconsistencies of e-learning [show] how it's only really beneficial to students have access\u2026 even with all of our efforts there are still many situations in which families aren't able to access those resources or they need help beyond what we can offer.\" -Juan Cahue, Indy '17\n\"Even with phone calls daily to parents, there are still so many outside factors that hinder our students from turning in work on time and logging in frequently to google classroom\u2026Teachers and schools spend a lot of time creating the best learning environment for our kids. Without having control over their learning environment has meant that our students are not as engaged or consistent when it comes to their learning.\" -Alyssa McIntyre, Indy '18\nStudent Learning and Wellness\nStrengths: Retaining high expectations and opportunities to check in on student wellness\n\"When expectations are set for students that require them to take ownership for their own progress and learning, they are beyond capable of it and are actually learning a lot of incredible valuable skills around time management, creative problem solving, and technological literacy that we rarely have time to teach in school.\" -Ronak Shah, Indy '12\n\"Student wellness and health is crucial and a necessity for students to learn, so I make it a priority to always check in with students and provide them a sense of ease and reassurance through this unprecedented time.\" -Marialicia Chavez, Indy '17\nChallenges: economic and financial impact on students supporting families, teaching rigorous skills\n\"Many of my students also have jobs. These jobs have either A) been completely shut down due to the closures or B) been ramped up, with increased hours and stress added to students who are already stressed and with limited time or access to resources. I've even had multiple students forced to work doubles or 6 days a week by their employers, which makes it virtually impossible for them to do their schoolwork. My school is trying to help and be as supportive as possible, but they had limited resources before all of this began.\" -Anonymous\n\"The most challenging aspect has been in being able to teach rigorous skills sufficiently well at a distance. While there are many skills students can do independently, and many that can be accomplished with some coaching and modeling, more complex stills such as extended writing, scientific method, project-based mathematics, and other similar tasks can really only be accomplished will in a collaborative classroom setting or with more hours of video instruction than there are teachers available to provide it.\" -Ronak Shah, Indy '12\nTeachers, have an additional perspective you'd like to share? Let us know.\nEverything Feels Impossible, but We Educators Keep Going for Our Students\nEducators need more support to deal with ongoing challenges related to the coronavirus and political strife.\nBrittany M. Williams\nCreating Safe and Supportive Schools for Students with Disabilities During Delta\nThree experts discuss the Delta variant's impact on students with special health care needs and share what families and educators need to know.\nJessica Fregni\nWriter-Editor, One Day\nCulturally Responsive Support Is Key When College and COVID-19 Collide\nThe Covid-19 pandemic is threatening years of gains in college enrollment and high school graduation rates for Latinx students.\nWilliam Celis\nStories to Inform and Inspire\nOneDay Footer Main\nOneDay Footer Info\nExplore Story Topics\nJoin TFA\nOpinion Submission Guidelines\nThanks for signing up. Keep an eye out for your first articles!\nCheck your in-box for a welcome email and be sure to confirm your subscription.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"President Alexis Tsipras? Is that a joke?\nSome on the left would rather wallow in impotence than support the Syriza's leader's bid to be president of European commission\nTue 21 Jan 2014 07.08 EST First published on Tue 21 Jan 2014 07.08 EST\nAlexis Tsipras, the European Left party candidate for the European commission presidency. Photograph: Gabriel Pecot\/AP\nAlexis Tsipras, leader of the opposition in Greece, as a candidate for the president of the European commission? Is that a joke? The best answer to this question has recently been given by the Italian philosopher Franco Berardi Bifo, who said \"I will vote for Tsipras, even if it's useless\", and added in his characteristic tone: \"Taking those 200 metres that separate me from the polling station is not such a big effort to make an action that is completely useless\".\nEven political philosophers Antonio Negri and Sandro Mezzadra, otherwise known as fierce critics of elections, acknowledge the relevance of the forthcoming European parliament elections.\nUntil recently Negri and Michael Hardt, in their \"Declaration\" (2012), celebrated the political maturity of the \"indignados\" who did not vote in the Spanish elections of 2011. However, it was precisely the lack of a credible left party that led to this abstinence. This time the situation is different, and there is a growing pan-European left power that is able to subvert and potentially disrupt the existing state of affairs. Negri and Mezzadra argue that the European elections in May 2014 are essential: \"The issue of wages and the issue of income, the definition of rights and dimensions of welfare, the topic of constitutional transformations related to single countries and to the European constituent issue can, today, only be addressed at a European level. Outside of this sphere there is no such thing as political realism.\"\nWhile the French philosopher Alain Badiou so persistently insists on \"subtraction\" from the state, for Negri it is clear that the forthcoming elections create a space for the imposition of a new \"political grammar\". And that is why Badiou, his sharp text published in Radical Philosophy, was wrong when speaking about the left's \"contemporary impotence\".\nBadiou first accuses Costas Douzinas of \"avowed optimism\", arguing that there is nothing new in what Douzinas, in his book Philosophy and Resistance in Crisis, called a \"new political subject\". For Badiou, the demonstrations in Tahrir Square in Cairo and Athens' Syntagma Square are nothing but \"the communist invariants\". Here, there is no point going into Badiou's critique, it is simply enough to press Ctrl+F and find what is missing throughout his text: the word Syriza. Badiou does not ever mention the great political success of Alexis Tsipras's radical left party that leads all opinion polls in Greece.\nOur contemporary impotence lies not so much in the fact that all these \"communist invariants\" failed to change the balance of power, but that one part of the left is not willing to accept the risk of engaging in institutional struggle, even at the cost of failure or defeat.\nA nice illustration of this situation lies in the American sitcom Sex and the City. Charlotte, who is the opposite of the sexual predator Samantha, believes in romantic love and decides not to have sex with her fianc\u00e9 Trey until the honeymoon. However, the night before the wedding she is confronted with Trey's impotence. Trying to find out whether it is a physical or psychological erectile dysfunction, Charlotte investigates whether Trey's erection wakes up when he goes to sleep.\nIs the real problem only in the \"head\" or is it \"physical\"? It is no surprise that Charlotte one day discovers that her fianc\u00e9 is actually masturbating in the bathroom to pornographic magazines. \"Our contemporary impotence\" comes exactly from this: on the one hand, we find the old left melancholy when it comes to waging concrete struggles in the existing institutions and in the streets and squares, and on the other hand, there is the masturbation on a utopia that will never come true.\nHere we should use Badiou's own words and the lesson of his master [ma\u00eetre], Mao Zedong, who used to say: \"No investigation, no right to speak!\" In other words, to investigate a problem is, indeed, to try to solve it. The European elections offer an opportunity not only to new political parties but also to popular movements who can have their direct representatives in the existing institutions, with the goal to deliver at least minimum demands for social justice and effectively confront the policies of the Troika.\nWhat we need today is a combination of the old Gramscian difference between the \"war of position\" and the \"war of manoeuvre\". It is becoming more and more clear that a movement without a party is impotent, and that a party without a movement can only repeat the failures of the past. We need both. And that's the reason why Tsipras's nomination as a candidate for the presidency of the European Commission is not a joke. Even if it seems useless, we should walk this 200 metres in order to step out from our contemporary impotence.\nThe technocrats must be voted out at the European elections\nGianni Vattimo and Santiago Zabala\nGianni Vattimo and Santiago Zabala: Their austerity programmes have eroded the power and identity of Europe's communities. Political life must prevail once again\nEurope's left has seen how capitalism can bite back\nLeo Panitch: Social democrats wrongly thought the reforms they won were won for good. In Greece, the lesson has been learned by Syriza\nWhere are all the leftwing Eurosceptics?\nMark Wallace: Much of the EU's activity is non-socialist, undemocratic and even sometimes horrific, yet the British left continues to embrace it\nEurope's welfare spending is its strength, not its weakness\nAlex Andreou\nAlex Andreou: Don't listen to George Osborne. His idea of reforming the EU from within to compete in the 'global race' would undermine its very success\nAs the European elections approach, it's time to stop the politics of cowardice\nNiccol\u00f2 Milanese\nThis is the year of make or break for Europe\nJohn Palmer\nThe euro: from crisis to complacency","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Introducing Wrathschild\nWondering where they left the car in the picture above is a new pop duo called Wrathschild. They're called Simon and Wolfy. Simon is the man and Wolfy is the\u2026\nSimon Curtis \u2014 'Beat Drop'\nWelcome to Popjustice, a glorified pop blog celebrating 21st Century Pop, the people who make it, and the people who make the people who make it. More\nOutlook for January 15: Sunny spells with a chance of Billie Eilish\nI Don't Mind by Georgia Twinn is the biggest song right now\nFor what it's worth Apple Music's most streamed song is\nThe best popstar is currently Troye Sivan and that's that\n4 years, 11 months, 19 days since the last Rihanna album\nAlison Goldfrapp interview: \"I feel good about this\"\nKylie Minogue interview: \"I do like cosmic thoughts\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"You Probably Missed The Most Exciting Easter Egg In \"Spider-Man: Homecoming\"\nSpoilers ahead for those who haven't had a chance to check out the film.\nby Michael Blackmon\nPosted on July 10, 2017, 7:12 pm\nSpider-Man: Homecoming, starring Tom Holland as the iconic web-slinger, made its highly anticipated debut over the weekend.\nJung Yeon-Je \/ Getty Images\nThe film, which hasn't even been out for a full week, has already brought in more than $257 million worldwide.\nThe superhero movie delivers when it comes to fan service, but there was a subtle Marvel Comics reference that may have fallen under the radar of casual Spidey fans' senses.\nIn Homecoming, viewers first meet Aaron Davis (Donald Glover) when he tries to buy black market weapons from two henchmen of Adrian Toomes\/Vulture (Michael Keaton).\nRobyn Beck \/ AFP \/ Getty Images\nSpider-Man \u2014 who'd hidden from sight to observe the criminals showing off their product \u2014 eventually emerges and begins to fight with the men, leading to an elaborate chase scene.\nLater in the movie, Spider-Man has another encounter with Aaron, where our hero corners the habitual offender in a parking garage and tries to intimidate him with a distorted voice that sounds a lot like Batman's.\nThe scene is actually really important, not only because Aaron gives Spider-Man details about what Vulture plans to do next \u2014 he's apparently had a change of heart about the villain's high-powered, illegal weapons \u2014 but also because...\n...it's in this moment that Aaron tells Spider-Man that he has a nephew in the city, and that he doesn't want the weapons around because of how unsafe they are.\nThough it's unclear what the Homecoming mention means for the future of Miles Morales in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's definitely cool that Glover was the one to seemingly introduce the character, especially given his history with Marvel.\nhttp:\/\/knowyourmeme.com\/memes\/people\/donald-glover\nGlover was part of a social media campaign in 2010, fueled by fans, to get him to play the next Spider-Man, but the role went to Andrew Garfield. Glover also voiced Miles Morales in the animated Disney XD series Ultimate Spider-Man.\nSo...unfortunately, Glover didn't become the next Spider-Man, but his small role in Homecoming could be a jumping-off point for the MCU to be even more inclusive when it comes to PoC superheroes.\nEobard Thawne @FrankenFert\n\"Aaron Davis - Oh I've got a nephew\" Me:\nFri Jul 07 04:52:10 UTC+0000 2017\nBuzzFeed News has reached out to Sony and Marvel about Miles Morales' potential inclusion in the MCU.\nSpider-Man: Homecoming\nMichael Blackmon\nContact Michael Blackmon at michael.blackmon@buzzfeed.com.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home \u00bb Cameroon: Restoring faith in Biya's government to encourage diaspora investment\nCameroon: Restoring faith in Biya's government to encourage diaspora investment\nBy Maingi Gichuku on June 26, 2022 Investing\nCameroon President woos diaspora investors, but faces government is mistrust [Photo\/Africa News]\nCameroon's President Paul Biya has dispatched a delegation to Europe in an effort to persuade well-off Cameroonians now residing in Europe to invest in their home country\nThe government would grant tax exemptions of up to forty per cent for investments made by members of the diaspora in Cameroon, as well as loans of up to ten thousand dollars with no interest rates for members of the diaspora who return to engage in agricultural and livestock.\nFor the first time, Cameroon's President Paul Biya has dispatched a delegation to Europe in an effort to persuade well-off Cameroonians now residing in Europe to invest in their home country.\nHowever, members of Cameroon's diaspora claim that investors are discouraged by the autocratic procedures and corrupt nature of Biya's government.\nAccording to government authorities, a delegation led by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education Mounouna Foutsou was deployed to Germany this week with the purpose of pleading with Cameroonians living there to invest in their home country.\nFoutsou expressed his hope that all Cameroonians living abroad will put their disagreements aside in order to contribute to the nation's growth and development.\n\"The president reaffirmed his invitation to Cameroonians living in other countries to return home and help build the country.\"\n\"We use this chance to come and talk with the whole Cameroonian diaspora here in Europe so that we can tell them about the different opportunities the president of the republic and his government is offering so that the Cameroonian diaspora can come back and help the country grow,\" Foutsou said.\nFoutsou stated that the government would grant tax exemptions of up to forty per cent for investments made by members of the diaspora in Cameroon, as well as loans of up to ten thousand dollars with no interest rates for members of the diaspora who return to engage in agricultural and livestock.\nKennedy Tumenta is an investor who hails from Cameroon but currently resides in Germany. He stated that many people living in the diaspora find it challenging to accept the promises that are made by their government at home.\nHe stated that investors are wary of the country because of widespread corruption, high tax rates, and disbelief in the leadership of President Biya, who has been in power for the past four decades.\n\"In Cameroon, freedom is curtailed, and people are afraid to move about, conduct business, and speak freely. Most diasporans believe there is significant corruption when it comes to establishing enterprises in the country and that the Northwest-Southwest crisis is not being treated seriously by the government \"said Tumenta.\nThe only way they can show their frustration is by withdrawing their assets from the country or by attacking the head of state.\nSince 2016, separatists in Cameroon, which is predominantly French-speaking, have been battling to carve out an independent English-speaking state within the country. The United Nations estimates that 3,300 people have lost their lives due to the violence.\nAs a result of hostility toward the government on the part of some Cameroonians living abroad, since the beginning of the year 2020, at least seven embassies belonging to Cameroon have been stormed and looted.\nFelix Mbayu is a highly regarded officer working for the Ministry of External Relations in Cameroon. He said that citizens of Cameroon who participated in such demonstrations were harming the country's image.\n\"Those who have had a bad experience in Cameroon and have been unable to return are likely to have negative things to say about the country. Those who left Cameroon in search of a better life elsewhere and have found success there are the ones who return to Cameroon in search of business opportunities, \"explained Mbayu.\nBecause of this, there are many medical doctors who have created hospitals and clinics and who bring medical supplies back to their native countries. You won't find them in any of those pointless marches elsewhere. In point of fact, when you criticise the place you call home, you bring shame upon yourself.\nCameroon woos diaspora investors, but faces government is mistrust [Photo\/Voa News]\nIt is believed that five million Cameroonians currently reside outside of the country. According to the government, the most significant population of people from the diaspora lives in Nigeria, where there are approximately two million people.\nAdditionally, there are significant concentrations in the countries of France, Germany, Belgium, the United States and the United Kingdom.\nAfrican nations must do more to maximise the economic benefits of migration.\nRemittances to Africa have doubled in the 20 years since 1990, reaching approximately $40 billion (2.6 per cent of GDP) in 2010. After the foreign direct investment, they are the continent's most significant source of net foreign inflows.\nRemittances from Africa's Diaspora have surged by 260 per cent in the last decade, rising from US$11.2 billion in 2000 to about US$40 billion in 2010.\nRemittances provide significant benefits to the countries of origin of migrants. Remittances are more stable than other sources of foreign exchange at the macro level; their variation is often countercyclical, assisting in the maintenance of consumption and investment during downturns; and they enhance the creditworthiness of a nation by boosting the volume and consistency of foreign exchange revenues.\nRead: Cameroon's telco infrastructure gaps offer multi-billion dollar investment opportunities\nAfrican diaspora Cameroon Cameroon Agriculture diaspora remittance\nMaingi Gichuku\nMaingi Gichuku is passionate about helping African businesses grow by offering technology solutions. With a BSC in Zoology and biochemistry, Gichuku yearns for an Africa that can find solutions to its challenges. My drive is to see an economically dynamic Africa and embrace its populations by creating opportunities cutting across the social and economic strata.\nTullow Oil to invest US$10 million in Kenya's oil field development\nKenya ranked 13 on list of countries with good governance in Africa\nBoost for US-Africa relations as US Treasury Secretary visits Senegal, Zambia\nKenyan SME Cake City opens ninth branch as part of ongoing expansion strategy","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Camp Creation Station\nThe Museum of Transportation Camp Creation Station begins on April 1\nwith \"The Travels of Curious George.\"\nJoin Miss Michelle for 45 minutes of\nart, music, creative exploration,\nfree play and story time.\nThe first four-week session groups campers together, and features those fun friends of Curious George. Camp sessions are as follows.\n\"The Compass Kids\" at 9 a.m. for 2- and 3-year-olds\n\"The Jumpy Squirrel Squad\" at 10 a.m. for 3- and 4-year-olds\n\"Hundley's Helpers\" at 11 a.m. for 4- and 5-year-olds\nDATES: Monday April 1, 8, 15, and 22.\nREGISTER: William R. and Laura Rand Orthwein Education and Visitor Center,\n2933 Barrett Station Road,\nKirkwood, Mo., 63122,\nby calling 314-289-3508, ext. 2.\nClass size is limited to 12 chidren\nCOST: $35 4-week session for members \/ $42 for non members\nA parent, grandparent or nanny must stay with the child during class.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Boston: is this justice?\nSunday, May 17, 2015 Politics, Race No comments\nby Nani Lawrence, Writing Intern\nBoston bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, received the death sentence. You know this already. You've read all those articles questioning the morality of the death penalty. \"Killing to prove killing is wrong\" and \"X amount of innocent inmates\" aside\u2014though pretty dang valid on their own\u2014people forget that money makes the world go round.\nSome people support the death penalty because it costs less to put an inmate to death than\nto support them in prison for the rest of their lives. But is that actually true? It seems to depend on which state you're looking at. Even then, the answer appears ambiguous.\nAccording to deathpenaltyinfo.org, a federal death penalty case typically costs over $620,000. When costs are less than $320,000, the probability of being sentenced to death increased roughly 25 percent. In California, these costs totaled $1.94 million, and incarceration as a whole totaled $1 billion. You could argue that these costs, while ridiculous, are just a one-time inconvenience. Fair.\nTypically it costs anywhere from $20,000-$40,000 to house one inmate for one year, and sometimes more. TheLawDictionary.org estimates that housing one inmate in Guantanamo Bay costs taxpayers $900,000 a year. That's one year. (If that ain't enough justification to shut it down, what is.)\nPrisoners have rights. They deserve health care. They deserve rehab. Some people \"get\" this. Largely, these and other essential needs account for the high costs taxpayers complain about and\/or contribute to.\nHere's another horrifying statistic that you should already know: \"the land of the free\" has the highest incarceration rate in the world. In 2008, the US locked up 751 people per 100,000 people. \"If you count only adults, one in 100 Americans is locked up,\" wrote Adam Liptak for The New York Times. Can you imagine what that figure is, seven years later?\nThat seems like it just might be a whole heck of a lot of taxpayer money.\nDollars, sense, plus matters of morality\u2014it may be time to rethink the death penalty. But these issues go WAY beyond that. To meaningfully reform the prison-industrial--the \"penal system\"--much, MUCH more has to change.\nThe increased costs of housing inmates are mainly due to an aging population's healthcare costs. In California, an inmate costs about $50,000. KPBS Web Producer Wendy Fry found after an inmate hits 55, \"you can basically calculate three times the cost.\" California does have a high cost of living anyway, but spending on average $150,000 on just healthcare? That's pretty steep. Healthcare reform anyone?\nDrug policy changes might improve our incarceration travesty. Non-violent crimes do NOT deserve a years-long-to-life sentence. In the article mentioned above, Liptak wrote:\nPeople who commit nonviolent crimes in the rest of the world are less likely to receive prison time and certainly less likely to receive long sentences. The United States is, for instance, the only advanced country that incarcerates people for minor property crimes like passing bad checks, (James) Whitman wrote. Efforts to combat illegal drugs play a major role in explaining long prison sentences in the United States as well. In 1980, there were about 40,000 people in American jails and prisons for drug crimes. These days, there are almost 500,000.\n(Note: James Whitman is a specialist in comparative law at Yale.)\nIt may be a bit much to ask our \"great\" country to learn from any other, or care about the impacts incarceration has on non-violent criminals' lives long after they're released, or understand that marijuana has very positive effects on otherwise hopeless patients. But one can hope, no matter how naively.\nTsarnaev, without question, deserves to pay for what he did. Taxpayers giving even one cent, however indirectly, to this low-life is unconscionable. If putting to death one horrible individual is the answer, can you sleep at night knowing you indirectly condone all of these other policies? The \"penal system\" needs a complete overhaul to serve the citizens of this country, instead of potentially ruining their lives on both sides of the fence. Maybe then, the U.S. might truly be \"great\" again","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Full-Time Faculty\nFaculty by Area\nRajiv Kohli\nJohn N. Dalton Memorial Professor of Business\nArea: Operations & Information Technology\nEmail: [[m|rajiv.kohli]]\nOffice: Miller Hall 3031-A\nWebpage: {{http:\/\/masonweb.wm.edu\/rajiv.kohli}}\nRajiv Kohli is the John. N. Dalton Professor of Business at William & Mary. Dr. Kohli received his PhD in information systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland University College where he was awarded the Teaching Recognition Award. Studies have ranked Dr. Kohli among the top 20 MIS researchers worldwide. Dr. Kohli is ranked as #1 scholar in a recent study on Health Information Technology (HIT) thought leadership.\nDr. Kohli has held visiting positions at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Tsinghua University, RWTH Germany, National University of Singapore, City University of Hong Kong, as an Erskine fellow at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He was a visiting Gillings Fellow at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, England.\nFor over 15 years, Dr. Kohli has worked or consulted with IBM Global Services, SAS Corporation, United Parcel Service, Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., AM General, MCI Telecommunications, Westinghouse Electronics, Wipro Corporation and Godrej Industries, in addition to several healthcare organizations. Dr. Kohli has served on the Board of Trustees of The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes, Mishawaka. Prior to joining full-time academia in 2001, he was a Project Leader in Decision Support Services at Trinity Health.\nDr. Kohli's research is published in MIS Quarterly, Management Science, Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly Executive, Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of Operations Management, and Decision Support Systems, among other journals. He is a coauthor of the book The IT Payoff: Measuring Business Value of Information Technology Investment, (2002) published by Financial Times Prentice-Hall.\nDr. Kohli is a Senior Editor for Information Systems Research. He has also served as a Senior Editor for MIS Quarterly and as a member of the editorial board of several international journals. He has also served as a guest Senior Editor for Information Systems Research special issue on healthcare and a special issue on Cocreating IS Value for MIS Quarterly.\nDr. Kohli is a honorary Fellow of the Cambridge Judge Business School and a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan Center for Information Systems Research.\nThompson S., Whitaker J., Kohli, R. and Jones C. (Forthcoming) How Information Technology and Analytics Create Healthcare Value: A Theory of Temporal Displacement of Care, MIS Quarterly\nKohli, R. and Melville N., Digital Innovation: A Review and Synthesis (2019) Information Systems Journal, 29, 200-223.\nPolykarpou, S., Antons, D., Salge, O., Barrett, M., Oborn, E. and Kohli, R. (2018) Justifying Health IT Investments: A Process Model of Framing Practices and Reputational Value, Information and Organization, 28 (4), 153-169.\nGrover, V., Kohli, R. and Ramanlal, P. (2018) Being Mindful in Digital Initiatives, MIS Quarterly Executive, September 17:3, 223-236.\nKohli, R. and Tan, S L. (2016) Electronic Health Records: How Can Information Systems Researchers Contribute to Transforming Healthcare? MIS Quarterly, 40 (3), 553-573\nPolykarpou, S., Antons, D., Salge, O., Barrett, M., Oborn E., and Kohli, R. The Business Value of Health IT: Towards a Multidimensional Perspective\", accepted for the 2016 Academy of Management Meeting, Anaheim. *judged as one of the best accepted papers*\nAntons, D., Salge, T.O., Kohli, R. Barrett M., and Oborn, E. (2015) The Social Value of Information Technology: How IT Investments Enhance Hospital Reputation, Proceedings of the Academy of Management *judged as one of the best accepted papers*\nAnand, A., Sharma, R. and Kohli, R. (2015) Who Kicks Whom? Contextual and Temporal Effects in IT Performance-Use Relationship, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems.\nKohli, R. and Thompson, S. (2015). Value Based Healthcare: Aligning Provider Incentives in Shared Savings Programs. Conference on Patient-Centric Healthcare Management in the Age of Analytics, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.\nFernando, C., Sawchuck, V. Kohli, R., and Bradley J. (2015). Do Hospital Operations Enhance Patient Engagement? Evidence of HR Policies on Patient Satisfaction. Conference on Patient-Centric Healthcare Management in the Age of Analytics, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University\nWixom, B. and Kohli, R. (2015) Sprint Corporation's New Normal: Achieving Speed to Market in a Highly Competitive Marketplace, MIT Sloan CISR WP 041, March. 1-15.\nSalge, T.O. Kohli, R. and Barrett, M. (2015) Investing in Information Systems: On the Behavioral and Institutional Search Mechanisms Underpinning Hospitals' IS Investment Decisions, MIS Quarterly, 39(1), 61-89.\nThompson S., Kohli R., Jones C., Lovejoy N., McGraves-Lloyd K., and Finison K., (2015) Evaluating Health Care Delivery Reform Initiatives in the Face of \"Cost Disease\" Population Health Management 18(1), 6-14.\nGholami, R. and Kohli, R. (2014) Review of Information Technology Value Research: A Triple Outcomes Perspective. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, Editor-in-Chief: Cary Cooper. Volume 7 (Editors Straub, D. and Welke, R), Management Information Systems: Business Value of IT. ISBN: 978-1-119-97251-8\nHoadley, E. and Kohli, R. (2014) Business Value of IS Investments. Chapter in Computing Handbook Set. Information Systems and Information Technology. Section 9, Volume 2, Publisher: Taylor and Francis, Editor: Heikki Topi and Allen Tucker. ISBN 978-1-439-89854-3\nCichy, P., Salge, T.O., Kohli, R. (2014) Extending the Privacy Calculus: Role of Psychological Ownership, Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth International Conference on Information Systems,1-20.\nMenon, N. and Kohli, R. (2013) Blunting Damocles' Sword: A Longitudinal Model of Healthcare IT Impact on Malpractice Insurance Premium and Quality of Patient Care. Information Systems Research. 24(4) 883-905.\nDevaraj, S. Ow, T., Kohli, R. (2013) Examining the Impact of Information Technology and Patient Flow on Healthcare Performance: A Theory of Swift and Even Flow (TSEF) Perspective. Journal of Operations Management, 31, 181-192.\nGrover, V. and Kohli, R. (2013) Revealing Your Hand: Caveats in Implementing Digital Business Strategy. MIS Quarterly, 37(2) 655-662.\nGholami, R. and Kohli, R. Review of Information Technology Value Research: A Triple Outcomes Perspective. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, Editor-in-Chief: Cary Cooper. Volume 7 (Editors Straub, D. and Welke, R), Management Information Systems: Business Value of IT. (in press).\nHoadley, E. and Kohli, R. Business Value of IS Investments. Chapter in Computing Handbook Set. Information Systems and Information Technology. Section 9, Volume 2, Publisher: Taylor and Francis, Editor: Heikki Topi. (in press).\nYao, O., Sherer, S., Kohli, R., and Cederlund, J. (2013) Learning Curves in Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) Information Systems: An Empirical Analysis from a Mobile Phone Manufacturer, Journal of Operations Management, 31, 285-297.\nKohli, R., Devaraj, S. and Ow, T., (2012). Does Information Technology investment influence a firm's market value? The case of Non Publicly Traded healthcare firms. MIS Quarterly, 36(4), 1145-1163.\nGrover, V., and Kohli, R. (2012). Cocreating IT Value: New Capabilities and Metrics for Multifirm Environments, MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 225-232.\nKohli, R. and Johnson, S. (2011). Digital Transformation in Latecomer Industries: CIO and CEO Leadership Lessons from Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., MIS Quarterly Executive 10(4), 141-156.\nSherer, S., Cederlund, J., Yao, O., and Kohli, R. (2011). Do Cultural Differences Matter in IT Implementation? A Multinational's Experience with CPFR, Journal of Global Information Management 19(4), 1-17.\nFichman, R., Kohli R., and Krishnan, R. (2011). Editorial Overview\u2014The Role of Information Systems in Healthcare: Current Research and Future Trends, Information Systems Research, September, 22, pp. 419-428\nKohli, R., and Straub, D. (2011). Editor's Comments: How Reviewers Shape : A Primer for Reviewers and Editors, MIS Quarterly, 35(3) September, pp. iii-vii\nBarrett, M., Velu, C., Kohli, R., Salge, T.O., and Simoes-Brown, D. (2011). Making the transition to collaborative innovation: Issues of readiness, trust and governance, National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts (NESTA) UK. Business Briefing Report, March.\nSalge, O., Kohli, R., and Barrett, M. (2011). Patterns of Technological Search: Institutional and Behavioral Triggers of IS Investment, Academy of Management Annual Meeting, August 12-16, in San Antonio, Texas. **Winner of Best Interactive Paper Award**\nAreas of Interest\/Expertise\nHealthcare Information Systems\nBusiness Value of Information Technology\nInnovation with IT","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"FMWR Briefs\nFull Issues\nTabbed Archive\nArmed Forces Press Service\nArmy Community Covenant\nArmy News Service\nChange of command\nChange of Responsibility\nCourts-martial Results\nDefense Media Activity\nDeployed Forces\nFootsteps in Faith\nInstallation Management Command\nNative Hawaiian Community Program\nPolice Call\nSingle Soldiers\nSpecial Inserts\nStaff Judge Advocate (SJA)\nStand-Alone Photo\nStanding Columns\nTake a Stand!\nThe Meat and Potatoes of Life\nU.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa (USAG-Pohakuloa)\nYou are here: Home \u00bb Blog \u00bb Army News Service \u00bb Automated meal entitlement system, food trucks to improve Soldier dining experience\nAutomated meal entitlement system, food trucks to improve Soldier dining experience\nhaw | August 28, 2018\t| 0 Comments\nThe 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Dining Facility is located on Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. (File photo)\nJoe Lacdan\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The Army is phasing out its manual meal card system after decades of use. Soldiers will be able to sit down to eat sooner at dining facilities across the Army as the service fully transitions to its new automated meal entitlement code system next month.\nNow, instead of presenting a meal card, Soldiers will simply swipe their common access card containing an authorization code for the dining facility. The new system, developed by the Army's Software Engineering Center, allows for the reading of a meal entitlement code that is installed on the CAC by a\nmilitary personnel office.\nSome installations have been testing the new system since January, but the deadline for all posts worldwide to transition to the new system is Oct. 1.\nThe automated system will make it easier for Soldiers to enter a DFAC, officials said, particularly those in large units.\n\"(The new system) will ultimately speed them through the line at the dining facility,\" said Jack Skelly, chief of the Food and Field Services Branch, Army G-4, at the Pentagon.\nSecretary of the Army Mark Esper spends his day visiting with Soldiers in the Pacific area of responsibility in November 2017. (U.S. Secretary of the Army photo by John Martinez)\nThe Army actually began its pilot program in the fall of 2017 at three locations, including Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In January 2018, the Army began implementing the program at other installations as well.\nThe new automated meal entitlement management system will not just impact Soldiers living in the barracks and eating at the dining facility. Even Soldiers receiving basic allowance for subsistence who are on temporary duty, special missions, institutional training or deployments will have a code for meals placed on their CAC.\n\"It will impact every Soldier,\" said Larry Lock, chief of Military Compensation and Entitlements. \"What we're trying to do \u2026 is give commanders an efficient, effective system to account for a member's meal\nentitlements.\"\nThe Army's meal card system dates back to the World War II era, though tweaks have been made over the years, Skelly said.\nThe old system often caused delays DFAC lines and presented an obstacle for Soldiers participating in large training exercises. Soldiers would have to manually sign into a written log after entering a DFAC or get checked into a log upon leaving. The automated configuration will also reduce errors.\n\"That's a very antiquated and labor-intensive program,\" Skelly said.\nA smoother dining experience will help Soldiers focus on missions and training, he said, adding it falls in line with guidance set by Secretary of the Army Mark Esper.\nThe automated meal system is part of a larger push to remove manual mandatory tasks to headquarters and below elements of the Army, so units can focus on readiness and training, Skelly said.\nWhen National Guard and Army Reserve units are mobilized, Soldiers from those units will benefit from the convenience as well, Lock said. Commanders will also be able track whether Soldiers are receiving their due entitlements.\nMOBILE DFACs\nIn addition to automation of dining facilities, the Army will also soon roll out a \"culinary outpost\" for Soldiers. Food trucks with menu items prepared at Army dining facilities will service some Soldiers in garrison.\nPvt. 1st Class Willie Mills, an Army food service specialist with Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, seasons chicken before it can be cooked at the K-Quad Dining Facility in February 2015. (File photo)\n\"Soldiers can't always get back to their dining facility,\" Skelly said. \"So we're taking (the dining facility) to them.\"\nWith the food trucks, Soldiers will enjoy a menu of healthy options. Healthy options might include an \"Asian bowl,\" with an option to choose white or brown rice, for instance, Skelly said. The menus will also feature sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit and lean beef burgers.\n\"All menus are designed to be healthier,\" Skelly said. \"It's extending our feeding options.\"\nThe food trucks will be manned by three to four Soldiers and will feature a standardized menu, Skelly said. The location of food trucks and their status will be updated on an installation's social media pages, and unit commanders will also have the option to specially request mobilization of a food truck.\nSkelly said the program is currently in the pilot stage and the Army has been testing food trucks at Fort Stewart, Georgia and Fort Carson, Colorado. Also this month, food kiosks are scheduled to open at Fort Stewart's Marne reception station and at Fort Carson.\nSkelly said more of the kiosks are expected to open in indoor, high-traffic areas that have high concentrations of troops. These could include headquarters buildings, reception stations and locations that formerly housed dining facilities.\nThe kiosks will be manned by one to two Soldiers who will serve hot food and frozen entrees. The kiosks will also include a beverage station.\nTags: Army News Service, ARNEWS, meal\nCategory: Army News Service, News\nHawaii sustainment troops excel, lead dining facility\nCulinary Soldiers advance food service skills\n25th Sustainment Brigade hosts the celebration meal\nFood show brings greater variety, products to DFAC patrons\nBarracks program aims to improve Soldier's quality of life\n\u00ab Military OneSource now available to veterans, families a full year after separating\nPresident signs National Defense Authorization Act, which includes 2.9 percent pay raise \u00bb\nArchives Select Month April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010\nLooking for Older Content?\nYou can find articles and content prior to Feb. 19, 2010 on the HAW's old website.You can also download full issues prior to 2009.\nThe Tropic Lightning Museum may be able to help if you're looking for older or missing content after 1955. Requests to view these issues will require an appointment.\nGetting married? Do you know your TRICARE health care options\nMeasles vaccine protects against potentially serious illness\nDual service couple finds balance between marriage and the military\n2IBCT participates in platoon live-fire at Pohakuloa Training Area\nWheeler Middle School hosts STEAM Career Day\n3rd BCT observes Women's History Month with TAMC commander, 25th ID Band\nBoarding school scholarships offer military children uninterrupted education\nUSARPAC holds first-ever Executive Enlisted Retreat\nTRICARE tells everything you need to know about filing medical claims\nHawaii Army Weekly\n\u00a9 2020 Hawaii Army Weekly. All rights reserved. Theme by Solostream.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Current (https:\/\/current.org\/2016\/12\/roots-of-public-broadcasting-can-be-found-in-wisconsins-vision\/)\nRoots of public broadcasting can be found in Wisconsin's vision\nBy Jack Mitchell | December 7, 2016\nMore on Rewind: The Roots of Public Media\nSubscribe to Rewind: The Roots of Public Media\nChildren in a Wisconsin classroom listen to lessons broadcast by radio. (Photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives (ID S05822))\nChildren in a Wisconsin classroom listen to lessons broadcast by radio. In its time, WHA aimed to educate everyone in a state in which much of the population had not attended high school. (Photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives (ID S05822))\nFor years, Wisconsin's WHA Radio claimed that its first broadcast of voice and music in 1917 made it \"the oldest station in the nation.\" Whether or not that claim is valid, the University of Wisconsin station's 100th anniversary does mark the beginning of not-for-profit public service broadcasting in the United States. WHA and public broadcasting share their 100th birthday because the concepts that define public broadcasting grew from WHA's \"first broadcast\" in 1917.\nOther universities experimented with radio early in the 20th century, but few saw much use for the technology that intrigued their engineers and physicists. Institutions active in agricultural extension did see the technology's potential to deliver to farmers and their families useful tips, weather and market information. Indeed, such information found an early home on WHA.\nThe vision for WHA, however, went beyond agricultural extension. The station emerged in 1917 at the end of the progressive era in the state and at the university most closely identified with that early 20th-century reform movement. \"The Wisconsin Idea\" made the boundaries of the university the boundaries of the state and gave purpose to the broadcast apparatus that emerged from the university's physics lab.\nThe state government and the university set out to use radio to create a more enlightened and engaged community.\nThe term \"The Wisconsin Idea\" came from the title of a book that UW political science professor Charles McCarthy published in 1912. It marked the zenith of the progressive movement. A hundred years later, Sen. Bernie Sanders echoed the language and concepts that McCarthy used in The Wisconsin Idea. McCarthy's book attacked the corrupting power of moneyed interests and an unrestrained profit motive. He foresaw the day when a small group of powerful families would own most of the wealth as the rest of the population drifted into poverty. His book explained how Wisconsin progressives used state government and the state university to \"empower\" the middle class against the rich.\nMcCarthy described legislation that attacked concentrated economic power through laws regulating business, establishing workers' compensation, protecting the environment and limiting child labor. Other laws addressed political corruption by establishing a professional civil service system. Some legislation gave power directly to the people through primary elections, the direct election of U.S. senators, and the power to recall elected officials. Theodore Roosevelt's introduction to McCarthy's book described Wisconsin as \"literally a laboratory for wise experimental legislation aiming to secure the social and political betterment of the people as a whole.\"\nBefore publishing his book, McCarthy had organized the University of Wisconsin's general extension division to promote his progressive vision. In addition to offering correspondence courses, the division organized public lectures and \"fair and impartial debate\" on important issues. McCarthy insisted that public tax money pay for these activities to keep them free of the corrupting power of private money. General extension put the university at the center of public life.\nAlso in 1912, university president Charles Van Hise called a conference of newspaper editors and critics to discuss the corrupting influence of \"commercialism in journalism\" \u2014 what he saw as the quest for profit over the search for truth in the journalism of the day. Conferees endorsed not-for-profit alternatives to commercial journalism, suggesting that universities, governments and foundations might fund and operate them. They did not envision broadcasting in 1912, but five years later university physicists gave them that instrument.\nHowever, by the time WHA became fully operational in the decade after World War I, progressivism had faded as a national movement, and commercial interests dominated radio. Nonetheless, an attenuated Wisconsin Idea continued to pervade Madison. The state government and the university set out to use radio to create a more enlightened and engaged community: Ultimately, they built a network of nine FM stations and another AM station from the original WHA to create the Wisconsin State Broadcasting Service. Popularly known as \"the State Stations,\" the FM network took to the air 20 years before the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.\nWhy did this state and its university make such a major investment? Programs for schools were only part of the answer. University President Glenn Frank wrote that radio programming needed to promote \"intelligence and moral responsibility\" in the population as a whole and should encourage understanding among diverse groups.\nA co-conspirator with Professor McCarthy in developing the Wisconsin Idea, Professor William Lighty, volunteered as WHA's first program director. He specifically rejected airing formal courses in favor of \"broadcasts that have a general human interest appeal for the vast invisible audience, and at the same time to interpret the true spirit, the life and the work of the university.\" Essentially, Lighty wanted to deliver a broad liberal education to everyone in a state where much of the population had not attended high school and a surprising number were illiterate. He said he was \"rationalizing\" all citizens.\nLighty wanted programs that were accessible and entertaining as they sought to educate and inform. Extending this philosophy, one of his successors declared that \"though produced amid academic surroundings, the programs are not permitted to become high brow.\" President Frank reminded programmers how easily listeners could turn \"from dull quality to interesting frivolity with a simple twist of the dial.\"\nNoncommercial public service broadcasting supports progressive values. \u2026 It seeks to empower ordinary citizens.\nTrue to the progressive spirit in which it was conceived, WHA and the State Stations made an unusually strong commitment to fostering democratic debate and broad public participation in the political process. Some of the staunchest advocates for the State Stations justified them primarily on their service to a functioning democracy. In the early 1930s, WHA created the \"Political Education Forum.\" It provided free and equal airtime to all candidates for statewide political office \u2014 progressive Republicans, stalwart Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, even Communists. The word \"forum\" turned up in many program titles as the station organized debates and discussions on issues of public concern. More than other noncommercial broadcasters of the time, Wisconsin's State Stations combined democratic access with authoritative education \u2014 and enough entertainment elements to attract and hold listeners.\nIn 1967, fifty years after WHA first broadcast voice and music, Congress enacted the Public Broadcasting Act. The legislation was part of President Johnson's Great Society, an array of reforms and government activism that echoed the progressive era initiatives exemplified in the Wisconsin Idea. The Carnegie Commission report that shaped the Public Broadcasting Act promised a societal transformation similar to that envisioned by Professor Lighty. Like the founders of WHA, the Carnegie Commission specifically rejected formal courses and narrow instruction in its vision of public broadcasting. Like the founders of WHA, the commission sought a more enlightened populace, a more integrated community and a better-functioning democracy.\nIn another parallel with the progressive era, however, the Great Society was quickly exhausted by a tragic war. Vietnam ended the optimism of the Great Society as surely as World War I disillusioned the progressives. Both reform movements ended, but the broadcast institutions they created survived with diminished ambitions.\nMitchell (Photo courtesy of UW School of Journalism and Mass Communication)\nWhile public broadcasters rightly defend their programming against charges of \"liberal bias,\" tax-supported public broadcasting is an inherently liberal institution. Created by progressives early in the 20th century and greatly expanded by another generation of progressives in the 1960s, noncommercial public service broadcasting supports progressive values. It serves a broad public interest beyond the array of individual interests served commercially. It promotes an educated populace and participatory democracy. It seeks to empower ordinary citizens. From its birth in The Wisconsin Idea a century ago, public broadcasting is a progressive enterprise that defies the gospel that the economic marketplace provides everything society needs and that profit is the only motive that serves the public good.\nJack Mitchell was the first employee of NPR and the first producer of All Things Considered. He spent most of his career in Wisconsin, however, as director of Wisconsin Public Radio and, later, as Professor of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Listener Supported: The Culture and History of Public Radio (Praeger, 2005) and Wisconsin on the Air: 100 Years of Public Broadcasting in the State that Invented It (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2016). This essay was based on the latter.\nThis commentary appears as part of Rewind: The Roots of Public Media, our series of historical essays about public media created in partnership with the Radio Preservation Task Force. The RPTF is an initiative of the Library of Congress. Josh Shepperd, assistant professor of media studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and national research director of the Radio Preservation Task Force, is Faculty Curator of the Rewind series. Email: shepperd@cua.edu\nNew Deal docudramas provide 'missing link' in history of educational radio\nIn the 1930s, dramatized documentaries produced by the U.S. Office of Education went beyond factual content to foster a desire for civic engagement among listeners.\nOne thought on \"Roots of public broadcasting can be found in Wisconsin's vision\"\nSteve Bass on December 7, 2016 at 2:29 pm said:\nHi, Jack. Interesting article and makes the point about how critical the role of land grant universities (and particularly my alma mater) has been in the development of public broadcasting. As I write this, OPB celebrates its 94th year today, having been founded on December 7, 1922 at what is now Oregon State University, another great land grant university.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"14 Apr 2014 15 Apr 2014 wcalvinandersonmedLeave a Comment on Durham, North Carolina: Marc Lee\u2026 at the Heart of Music in Raleigh During the Rock N' Roll Marathon Series\nDurham, North Carolina: Marc Lee\u2026 at the Heart of Music in Raleigh During the Rock N' Roll Marathon Series\nResearch Triangle radio personality, music & cultural project producer, promoter, agent: Blues, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Country, and Theatre Arts\nCONSIDERED THE MINISTER OF CULTURE\nhttp:\/\/culturalministryofdurham.blogspot.com\/\nOrganizational Productions\nMarc has worked in the entertainment business since he was a teenager. His parents were part founders of a community radio station and Marc grew up working on promotions and advertising related to such events as the Bull Durham Blues Festival, Eno Festival, Centerfest, Black Diaspora Film Festival, Durham's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, etc\u2026.\nHe has also had involvement with many musical acts including: Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Wilson Pickett, Bobby Womack, Keb' Mo, Bobby Rush, Rod Piazza, Rosie Ledet, Shemekia Copeland, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Atlantic Starr, the Delfonics, The Bar-Kays, Samecumba, African American Dance Ensemble, Bobby Hinton, MUGABEE, Roberta Flack, Maria Rolls, John Dee Holeman and many more\u2026\nHis theatre and film relationships have include: Ruby Dee, Renee Fleming, Linda Humes, Ted Lansing, Haile Gerima, Dick Gregory, and he is a staple reading new scripts and promoting outstanding productions featured at the biennial National Black Theatre Festival in Winston Salem, North Carolina.\nToday many of the arts and entertainment that comes to Durham especially at the Hayti Heritage Center has some input from Marc. His specialties are: Organizing Special Events, Negotiations, Public Relations, Announcing and MCing, Finding Quality Acts, Road crew management of Filmmakers and Musicians, Booking Entertainment, Helping Create Film and Theatre Works, Planning Festivals, talent procurement.\nRadio Personality\nEvery Thursday afternoon, he hosts a Blues show on WCOM\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026103.5 FM. It is entitled the Juke Joint and airs from 4 to 6 p.m\u2026. (http:\/\/wcomfm.org\/index.php\/programs\/our-schedule) . Marc will be creating an archive of Podcasts through iTunes with wcom-hifi.mp3. The website however for the station is www. communityradio.coop\/ \u2026It's a small station but a definite jewel in the radio community of RTP\u2026.Other announcers on this station are Larry Thomas, Dave Bellins, and Richard Brown\u2026..\nMarc on April 12, 2014 a typical weekend co-produced at the Pour House (located in Raleigh directly across from Moore Square) for a production which featured the Cedric Burnside Project with Lefty Williams.\nCedric Burnside is the grandson of the late blues legend R.L. Burnside.\nMarc and the Amazing Lefty Williams\nhttp:\/\/www.thepourhousemusichall.com\/calendar\/\nContact Marc Lee\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/Bluesman62\nMarc Sumner Lee \u2013 Linkedin\nhttps:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/profile\/view?id=2821283&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1397504253338%2Ctas%3Amarc%20lee%2Cidx%3A1-1-1\nMarc, like most young business-oriented people today lives with his fans on Facebook\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Bluesman62?fref=ts\nCategories Arts & Entertainment, Marc LeeTags African American Dance Ensemble, Atlantic Starr, Black Diaspora Film Festival, Bluesman 62, Bo Diddley, Bobby Hinton, Bobby Rush, Bobby Womack, Buddy Guy, Bull Durham Blues Festival, Cedric Burnside Project, Centerfest, Dick Gregory, Durham, Durham's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, Eno Festival, Haile Gerima, Hayti Heritage Center, Isaac Hayes, John Dee Holeman, Keb' Mo, Koko Taylor, Lefty Williams, Linda Humes, Marc Lee, Marc Sumner Lee, Maria Rolls, MUGABEE, NC, Renee Fleming, Roberta Flack, Rock 'N Roll Maraton Series Weekend in Raleigh, Rod Piazza, Rosie Ledet, Ruby Dee, Samecumba, Shemekia Copeland, Ted Lansing, The Bar-Kays, the Delfonics, The Pour House - Raleigh, WCOM Radio, Wilson Pickett\nPrevious Careers: Start Your Own Winery \u2013 \"Virticulture and Enology Programs\" -Here's How You Make-it-Happen in NC and NYS\nNext Atlanta \u2013 Governor Nathan Deal Signs Executive Order for $4M to Fund Lawyers for Poor With No Conflict of Interest","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home > Entertainment > DC Comics\nSource: The CW\nHere's a Recap of What Happened to Cisco on 'The Flash'\nBy Jamie Lerner\nMar. 30 2021, Updated 10:48 a.m. ET\nBecause of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last season of The Flash ended abruptly and unsatisfyingly. One of our favorite characters, Cisco, was absent, and Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton) has been stuck in the Mirrorverse. However, Cisco is central in The Flash Season 7 trailer, so it looks like he'll definitely be back to make a difference.\nCisco has been through a lot over the course of the show. Carlos Valdes, who plays the character, was in every episode since the inception of The Flash until Season 5, in which he wasn't in a few episodes. Then, in the midseason premiere of Season 6, which saw a reboot of the multiverse, he announced he would be leaving to catalog and learn about the new world. He hasn't returned to our screens since \u2014 until now.\nA lot has happened to Cisco during the run of 'The Flash.'\nWhen Cisco entered the Arrowverse in The Flash, he was the resident tech expert of Team Flash but was just a normal guy. However, Cisco later realized he was affected by the particle accelerator, which gave him the ability to manipulate the vibrational energy of reality. This turned him into a metahuman, and he took on the identity of \"Vibe.\"\nCisco really brought a fun vibe to the show, whether he was a superhero or not, with his comic relief and working-class background. He created his own metahuman cure so that he could live a normal life, but then his powers were restored to him by the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett). However, once the new multiverse was created, Cisco once again lost his powers. That's a lot of power flip-flopping, and that's not all that happened to Cisco in his lifetime on The Flash.\nCisco left 'The Flash' temporarily as part of a storyline cut short, due to the pandemic.\nWhen the Earth was essentially rebooted, Cisco didn't really know what to do or how to help. He felt that there were \"more threats than ever,\" and Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) encouraged him to take some time away from STAR Labs. Cisco decided this was the right thing to do, and he left Nash Wells (Thomas Cavanagh) in charge of Team Flash while he went out on his own.\nAt this point, many fans on the show were worried this meant that Cisco was leaving The Flash forever, but showrunner Eric Wallace eased our concerns. He let us know that Cisco would \"be back very quickly.\" Little did he know that Season 6 would be cut short by the pandemic, and the storyline that would have been wrapped up last year was left on an even bigger cliffhanger.\nTVLine spoke with Eric about how that would play into the new season of The Flash, and he confirmed that if they were able to have a proper season finale, Cisco definitely would have been back in time.\nThere are fan theories about what will happen to Cisco in 'The Flash' going forward.\nOne theory is that someone else will need to take over the role of Vibe, even if Cisco stays in his role as the tech expert for Team Flash. Some hope it will be Cisco's brother, Dante Ramon (Nicholas Gonzalez), since he's appeared sporadically throughout the show. Plus, it's possible he also could have received powers from the particle accelerator, and it seems like the show has been building up to repairing the relationship between Cisco and Dante.\nik we are getting closer to the end of the flash than the beginning (grant's words) but i really hope we get some more backstory for cisco & they actually mention his family or Anyone he knows outside of team flash esp since he did just travel all around... idk he deserves better\n\u2014 aya (@chrolluv) March 3, 2021\nAnother thought is that because Brandon McKnight will be promoted to series regular as his character, Chester P. Runk, that he may take over some of Cisco's responsibilities. He's also a tech genius like Cisco, so we'll just have to watch and see how all their relationships play out on the new season of The Flash.\nThe Flash Season 7 airs on the CW every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.\nWill Ezra Miller Continue Playing 'The Flash'? Here's What We Know\nFans Worry Joe West Is Leaving 'The Flash' After What Went Down in \"So Long and Goodnight\"\nThe Real Reason Why 'The Flash' Film Is Taking Forever to Get Released\nLatest DC Comics News and Updates","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"China coronavirus infections spike in central city of Wuhan\nBy Reuters | March 5th 2020\nPeople wearing protective face masks walk past laundry hanging outside a house at a residential area in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Hubei province, China March 4, 2020 [Reuters]\nMainland China reported a rise in new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Thursday, reversing three straight days of declines, because of a spike in new infections in Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak.\nMainland China had 139 new confirmed cases as of Wednesday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said, bringing the total accumulated number of cases to 80,409. Authorities reported 119 new cases the previous day and 125 the day before that.\nThe increase was driven by more cases in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, where the virus is believed to have emerged in a market late last year.\nWuhan's new infections climbed to 131 from 114 a day earlier. There was no immediate elaboration and health officials were due to hold a briefing later in the day.\nAfter what some critics said was an initially hesitant response to the new virus, China imposed sweeping restrictions to try to stop it, including transport suspensions, lockdowns of cities and extending a Lunar New Year holiday across the country.\nN95 or KF94? Which mask is best at protecting against COVID-19\nKenya Covid-19 cases up by 1,175\nCovid-19: Kenya records 1,034 new infections as 3,611 recover\nWorld Health Organization (WHO) officials have said other countries have much to learn from the way China has handled the outbreak and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said many countries had asked for help and China was responding.\nThe number of new confirmed cases in Hubei, excluding Wuhan, has remained in single digits for seven consecutive days, with three new infections recorded on Wednesday.\nIn the rest of mainland China, outside Hubei, there were only five new confirmed cases, the health commission said.\nThe death toll from the outbreak in mainland China had reached 3,012 as of the end of Wednesday, up by 31 from the previous day. Hubei accounted for all of the new deaths. In Wuhan, 23 people died.\nWith the downward trend in new cases, Chinese authorities have turned their attention to stopping the virus being brought in from new coronavirus hot spots abroad.\n'REPAY KINDNESS'\nThe number of new infections overseas now exceeds the tally of new cases in China, with Italy, South Korea and Iran, in particular, seeing worrying spreads of the virus.\nAuthorities have asked overseas Chinese hoping to return home to reconsider their travel plans, while cities across the country have set up quarantine rules for those entering from high-risk places.\nAn infected person is known to have arrived in China from Iran, one of the virus' new hot spots, last week.\nThe cities of Shanghai and Guangdong have ordered people who have been in countries with severe outbreaks within the previous two weeks to stay in quarantine for 14 days.\nThe city of Chengdu in central Sichuan province said it was also ordering quarantine for such people.\nThe NHC has said authorities were transitioning from \"overall containment to targeted containment\" measures, with a focus on containment within communities, and medical treatment.\nMa told a briefing China would make donations to South Korea, Iraq, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, on top of what it has already given to Pakistan, Japan and Iran.\nChina was also considering responding to WHO call for donations, he said.\n\"Many of the countries which have requested for our help had actually helped us previously, so when we help these countries, it is to help them fight the virus, and also to repay their kindness,\" Ma said.\nCovid 19 Time Series\nWatengenezaji wa chanjo ya Johnson and Johnson wataka kibali ili chanjo itumiwe kupambana na Korona\nPresident Uhuru Kenyatta announces that schools shall re-open in January 2021\nSharp rise in new Covid-19 cases, 14 patients have died in the last 24hrs\nNgirita cries out to Uhuru, says she wants to take her son to Germany\nPhyllis Ngirita, a suspect in the NYS scandal, has pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta to come to her aid since her son is suffering\nDiabetes: Insulin now an essential drug\nListing NCDs is a relief to Kenyans like 65-year-old Kahuho Mathai from Nyeri County, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.\nBy Reuters | 1 day ago\nN.Korea slums 'hostile U.S, suggests it may resume nuclear, missile tests\nKung fu master Sin wants to run Hong Kong as leadership race looms\nBy Agencies | 4 days ago\nTaliban teargases Afghan women protesting for rights in Kabul\nBy Reuters and Winfrey Owino | 5 days ago\nTonga volcano eruption triggers evacuation advisories, local media reports","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"3 Reasons Most Players Cheat When Playing World at War\nby Kristofer Brozio \u2022 September 8, 2017\nCheats in video games have been around since video games were developed. Most hardcore and casual gamers are even familiar with traditional cheat codes like \"Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select Start\" or also known as the Konami Code. Whether it's Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo consoles, or even PC, cheat codes are not at all uncommon for video games. These cheats usually provide players invulnerability, unlimited supplies, complete weapons, and even unlock most stages and characters available in the game. Players in offline games have different reasons to use cheat codes, such as to explore the different features of the game, to get past a difficult level, or even just to have fun. But these cheats are sometimes considered to be unethical in massively multiplayer online (MMO) games such as World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, and Call of Duty: World at War.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Tag: John Spiers Ceilidh Band\nMore artists revealed for Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2019\nShrewsbury Folk Festival has added a host of new acts to its line up as organisers reveal ticket sales are already surpassing 2018 levels.\nRenowned singer songwriter Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders will make a return with a special show featuring the Hi Riders Soul Revue. Scottish supergroup Capercaillie and American trio Birds Of Chicago are also new to the bill of the four-day festival that takes place at the West Mid Showground from August 23 to 26.\nThis year's festival will feature a special day of programming on the festival's Pengwern Stage by duo Chris While and Julie Matthews to celebrate 25 years of their musical relationship. They have chosen Blair Dunlop, Burden Of Paradise, singer songwriter Charlie Dore and former Fairground Attraction lead singer Eddi Reader to perform on Sunday August 25, which will be topped off with a show by the While & Matthews Big Band.\nOther new artists signed up included \u00c1ine Tyrrell, AKA Trio, Boxwood Chessmen and the Exmouth Shanty Men. Dance groups confirmed so far are Whapweasel, the John Spiers Ceilidh Band and Relentless. There will also be performances from the Corryvrechan Scottish Dance Display Team.\nAlready announced for the 2019 event were Kate Rusby, Oysterband, Martyn Joseph, Daphne's Flight, Skerryvore, Daphne's Flight, Gary Stewart's Graceland, Phil Beer Band, Steve Knightley, Merry Hell, Edgelarks, Grace Petrie and many more.\nThe festival's first tier of adult weekend tickets sold out in less than five minutes after they went on sale on December 1. It is now selling weekend tickets at its third price tier. Day tickets are also available.\nFestival Director Sandra Surtees said: \"Last year our weekend tickets sold out a month before the festival and many people were disappointed they couldn't come for all four days despite regular warnings that we were going to sell out.\n\"We have sold more to date in 2019 than we had by the same time last year so, as ever, our advice is to book as early as possible. There's so much more than just music for people to enjoy including dances, music and other workshops, great food and drink and a brilliant atmosphere!\"\nThe festival, now regarded as one of the most popular UK folk events, has four main music stages, a dance tent with a programme including ceilidhs, workshops and dance shows, children and youth festivals, workshops, craft fair, food village, real ale, cocktail and gin bars and on-site camping and glamping. There are also fringe events at local pubs with dance displays in the town centre and a parade through the streets on the Saturday afternoon.\nWeekend and day tickets can be booked at www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk\/booktickets\/.\nPosted on January 29, 2019 February 2, 2019 Author EditorCategories Press ReleasesTags \u00c1ine Tyrrell, AKA Trio, Andy Fairweather-Low & The Low Riders, Birds of Chicago, Blair Dunlop, Boxwood Chessmen, Capercaillie, Charlie Dore, Chris While & Julie Matthews, Eddi Reader, Exmouth Shanty Men, John Spiers Ceilidh Band, Relentless, Whapweasel","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Park Rapids Arts and Culture gathers input for arts road map\nThe Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission hosted two community meetings last week, gathering input about how the arts can help create a more vital and prosperous city.\nBy Shannon Geisen\nRyan Zemek, economic development director at the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC), moderated the informal brainstorming sessions.\nThe goal is to have an \"arts road map\" incorporated into the city's comprehensive plan, which currently has no arts component.\n\"One of the things we noticed in discussions with City Planner Ryan Mathisrud and the commission is that within the city's existing document, there's nothing that really grounds arts activities,\" Zemek explained to Thursday's 16 participants.\nThe Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission is a part of the Park Rapids City Council, added Councilmember Rod Nordberg. \"The council responds to initiatives from its advisory commissions, so this input is important for the council.\"\nThe commission received $9,000 from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation for the strategic planning process. The Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council (PRLAAC) has committed $1,000 toward the project. HRDC is willing to contribute another $2,500.\nThe planning process isn't meant to dictate to individual artists or organizations exact events, noted Zemek, rather, \"this is about what policies and programs that the city can implement to nurture and support arts activities. What can reinforce good things already in place?\"\nThe strategic arts plan will chart a course for the community's creative future, similar to one developed by the city of Grand Rapids. It gives city administration direction when, for example, someone asks to paint a mural downtown. It also helps the city plan for future investments, such as, if a concrete apron is needed to house a farmers market, Zemek said.\nZemek introduced the concept of \"creative placemaking,\" a practice of having arts and culture alongside sectors of government and community planning, like housing and transportation.\n\"Creative placemaking goes beyond 'decorating' spaces to involving artists, makers and creative thinkers in important decisions regarding community planning and problem-solving,\" according to Zemek.\nArtPlace America has developed 10 principles of creative placemaking. (See sidebar).\nZemek asked participants to brainstorm policies, programs and activities that would support creative placemaking in Park Rapids. Some of the ideas mentioned Thursday were interactive storyboards in public spaces, more bilingual signage, a film festival, powwow, murals, live poetry.\nSuggestions from both community sessions will be gathered, along with online survey results, and reviewed by the Park Rapids Arts and Culture Advisory Commission. They will then draft an arts plan that includes goals and milestones, identifies existing arts assets, review current plans and develop an action plan and implementation schedule.\nRelated Topics: PARK RAPIDS\nShannon Geisen is editor of the Park Rapids Enterprise.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"PHILLIPS, THOMAS HAL, 1922-2007\nNovelist; writer of screenplays. Born\u2013 October 11, 1922, Corinth, Miss. Parents\u2013 W.T. and Ollie (Fare) Phillips. Education\u2013 Mississippi State College, B.S., 1943; University of Alabama, M.A. First novel, The Bitterweed Path, served as graduate thesis. Taught creative writing at Southern Methodist University, 1948-1950. Mississippi State Public Service Commission, 1958-64. Wrote screenplays for several successful films. Received the Rosenwald Fellowship in Fiction, 1947; Eugene F. Saxon Award, 1948; Fulbright Fellowship, 1950; Guggenheim Fellowship, 1953. Story included in O. Henry Prize Stories of 1951. Died April 3, 2007.\nContemporary authors online\nThe Bitterweed Path. New York; Rinehart, 1950.\nThe Day JFK Died, Teleplay. S.l.; typescript, 1980.\nThe Golden Lie. New York; Rinehart, 1951.\nThe Loved and the Unloved. New York; Harper, 1955.\nRed Midnight. University Press of Mississippi, 2002.\nSearch for a Hero. New York; Rinehart, 1952.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Planning for Extreme Heat with the Heat Action Platform\nThe Heat Action Platform provides leaders with technical resources, case studies, and best practices to plan and evaluate heat resilience strategies.\nDecember 5, 2022 | 8:30 am - 9:30 am\nZoom Virtual Webinar\nOwen Gow\n@ArshtRock\nDecember 5th at 8:30 AM ET\/14:30 CET\nThe world is getting hotter. A little more than one degree of global warming may not sound like much, but it means that the planet is already hotter than any world any human has ever known. Today, 1.7 billion people living in urban areas are exposed to extreme levels of heat. This number will rise dramatically as the planet gets hotter and hotter, and more people move to urban areas.\nExtreme heat kills. It is linked to more deaths than all other climate-driven hazards combined \u2013 365,000 deaths in 2019 alone. The rising heat is also damaging economies. By 2030, heat stress will wipe out $2.4 trillion from the world's economy. It is also one of the biggest climate-justice issues we face, exposing and deepening the growing inequality we see around the world today.\nTo face this challenge, global experts have joined hands to build a new online tool to provide users with an actionable framework to assess, plan, implement and evaluate heat resilience strategies with technical resources, case studies of best practices for mitigating and adapting to extreme heat, and a filterable inventory of solutions applicable to local contexts.\nIn this webinar, we will:\nPresent the Heat Action Platform to a relevant network of stakeholders\nCollect feedback on its structure, usability and content\nHighlight opportunities for partnership and collaboration on the next steps for the platform\nAbout the Heat Action Platform\nWhat is the platform?\nThe Heat Action Platform, launched in May 2022 at the World Economic Forum, is intended to be an online one-stop shop where users\u2014particularly practitioners, policymakers, and development finance institutions\u2014can learn how to reduce the risks and impacts of heat. It was developed by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Arsht-Rock), the UNEP-led Cool Coalition, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, Mission Innovation, and RMI, in partnership with the WEF's Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030.\nWhat gap is the platform intended to fill?\nMany resources related to heat planning and adaptation already exist, but there is no go-to online repository where best practice resources are all in one place and organized coherently within educational and analytical frameworks, alongside additional decision-support tools. The platform will enable users to develop a robust approach to mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as reduce carbon emissions from mechanical cooling and make a much better environment for residents and community to live and work.\nPlatform Scope and Structure\nThe intended audiences for the platform are city, regional, or national practitioners, policymakers, and development finance institutions. The platform consists of 9 educational modules, intended to guide users through the process of assessing heat risk and vulnerability, planning for how to keep people safe from the heat, and implementing and monitoring heat-related plans and projects.\nThe centerpiece of the platform is the Heat Policy Tool, which is a filterable repository of 90 heat resilience solutions, with a growing database. Each \"solutions card\" contains a combination of a specific policy (e.g., mandate, tax incentive, public commitment) and an intervention (e.g., green infrastructure, cool roofs). The goal of the tool is for users to be able to find policies and solutions that are more tailored to their specific circumstances and not a set of generic policy recommendations.\nNew resources and tools will be continually added to the tool, and platform content will be updated \u2013 this platform must be a living resource because heat planning is a dynamic and rapidly changing space. After conducting user testing in Fall\/Autumn 2022, we plan to pilot that platform with 2-4 city, regional, or national governments and a select group of development finance institutions next year. Our hope is that through this process, the platform can become the center of gravity for anyone who is concerned about how heat is impacting them, their communities, or their constituents and partners.\nExplore the Heat Action Platform","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"California Love: Is Kendrick Lamar Tupac's One True Heir?\nDigital Entertainment, From the Issue, Hip Hop Culture | Hip Hop Arts and Lifestyle, Hip Hop Music | Listen To and Download Hip Hop Tracks\nDavid Makes Man is Owns Most Dangerously Hip-Hop Show\nExclusives, featured, Hip Hop News | Trending Hip Hop Stories\nDavid Makes Man is dangerous.\nTrue it is a charming show, with a brilliantly talented cast and production team (executively produced by Michael B. Jordan and Tarell Alvin McCraney). It has the stamp of Queen Mother Oprah Winfrey and has enjoyed critical acclaim\u2026 but on a visceral level it is a dangerous series because it is just such a heart-wrenchingly honest show. Episode after episode, it is saturated with truth\u2026 someone's truth.\nAnd that's why it is possibly one of the most important shows on television this season. This work of art dismantles the narrative of Post-Racial America and puts the dirty laundry of so many of urban America's story out there for all to see. To put it in a quick soundbite, this series is Hip-Hop.\nNow there goes critic one: \"There is not music, where are the rappers? How can it be Hip-Hop without rappers?\"\nThe music is in the dialogue. When Chuck D said that \"rap music is the CNN of the street,\" does David's character (complete with his Id and Ego) not tell you one of the real stories of growing up poor, Black and male in America? Is the music not in how he navigates being a kid with being damaged by an environment that he has not control over? Shame on anyone that does not see Nas, T.I., XXXTenacion or T-Top in this character.\nThen goes critic number two: \"How can it be Hip-Hop and there is no floss or fly women, where is the lit lit?\"\nWhat is lit is the level of cultural code switching that is evident through the season. It also speaks to the exceptionality of young Black children. They are \"despite\" brilliant. Despite hardship, abuse (physical, religious, social, economic and sexual) they find ways to make sunshine out of utter darkness, lemonade out of lemons and family tree assignments out of Mary J. Blige's odes to children born with no fathers.\nAnd alas critic number three: \"How is it Hip-Hop when there is no get money scheme?\"\nAnd that is part of the issue. Dave Makes Man reminds us to elevate our definition of Hip-Hop from only being a commodity to acknowledging that it is an expression of Humanity. An expression one might add that is vulnerable.\nJust check out the next episode on due to drop on Wednesday, Sept. 11th.\nDavid Makes Manmichael b jordanoprahown\nSubscribe to The Source Online\nType in Your Email Address\nDylan Kemp\nSam - @thewriterau\n[WATCH] Black Voters Get Candidly Honest About 2020 Candidates\nSenegalese Muslim Rapper, Mina La Voil\u00e9e Says She Is Called Satan For Pursuing Hip-Hop\nIme Ekpo\nPop Smoke Arrested for Transporting a Stolen $375,000 Rolls Royce from Cali to Brooklyn\nKodak Black Believes That He is Being \"Strategically Killed\" in Prison\nDwayne \"The Rock\" Johnson Pens Message to His Late Father on Instagram\nKash Doll Set for 12-Date 'Dollhouse' Tour\nRihanna and Businessman Boyfriend Hassan Jameel Reportedly Split","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Old English Words\nContact for help\nOld fashioned word for party\nWhen I was a child, my grandmother routinely used a word that is all but extinct now. Once, while I was reporting on my progress in school, she smiled with genuine pride and said, \"Well, isn't that grand.\" Try as I may, I still can't come up with a better word for my achievement. \"Terrific\" would have been over the top, and \"nice\" too neutral for a doting grandmother's needs. So yes, my success in school was grand. Mighty grand.\nI like old-fashioned words. Although I don't believe I actually ever used the word \"galoshes\" as a kid, my great uncle Bill was a firm believer in proclaiming their virtue at the first hint of rain, and I can still remember an older neighbor lady in my New Jersey neighborhood inveighing me and my friends to \"Stay off the macadam!\" because of the traffic. I had never heard such a word for a paved road before, but the force of the woman's admonition drove its meaning home for me and kept me out of harm's way.\nLikewise, who today says \"stockings\" for \"socks\"? Who, besides my mother, packs a \"valise\" with things from her \"chifforobe\"? Or refers to a little lea\u00adguer's line drive as \"splendid\"? Once, as a boy, I was out roughhousing with my friends (but not on the macadam!). This brought yet another watchful neighbor to her front porch to demand, \"What is this, a hullabaloo?\" I had never heard the word, but I knew that I liked it. I don't think I have ever used the word myself, but I keep it handy, just in case some kids try to mix it up in front of my house.\nAll of these words are outdated but they still have a pulse, because there are still people around who use them. My father, a World War II vet, also said \"grand\" (he got it from his mother). My own mother still differentiates between a valise and a suitcase (a valise is small, intended for no more than a weekend away from home). And journalists who aspire to the literary will sometimes drag \"hullabaloo\" out of mothballs to make a point. (Title of a New York Times review of a children's musical: \"A Lot of Hullabaloo Over a Shallaballah.\")\n\u0434\u0438\u0437\u0430\u0439\u043d \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u044c\u0435\u0440\u0430 http:\/\/visacon.ru\/\nMORE TRANSLATION VIDEO\nGive me an old-fashioned word\nOld fashioned block party\nHong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd [1962] EWCA Civ 7 is a landmark English contract law case. It introduced the concept of innominate terms, between \"warranties\" and \"conditions\". Diplock LJ emphasised that some terms could lead to either the...\nAnglo Saxon words list January 3, 2021\nRead Macbeth online free December 14, 2020\nParadise Lost translation modern English November 24, 2020\nOld\/Middle English December 11, 2015\nWhat is translation Services? July 11, 2016\nMacbeth modern language July 7, 2020\nOld English words with meanings June 12, 2017\nModern Translations February 5, 2015\nMeaning of word dynamic December 22, 2016\nEnglish translation - old and modern English\nModern King James version\nTranslators in London\nCertification Translation Agency\nWords Translator\nCopyright \u00a9 2021 \u00b7 All Rights Reserved | www.acgtranslation.co.uk","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"MARK MONTIETH\nBecause Stories Need To Be Told\nPassion Play (Uncut)\nLance Stephenson Sr.\nLance Stephenson's father (Lance), mother (Bernadette) and brother (Lantz) at their home outside of Indianapolis.\nThis is the dad, not the player. I had gone to the Stephensons' home during Lance Jr.'s final season with the Pacers to write a story that opened a lot of eyes about the family background. Lance Jr. lived with his parents and younger brother in a nearly rural setting outside of Indianapolis. It's not what people were expecting from a family that had grown up on hard streets in Brooklyn.\nAfter getting to know them, and like them, I convinced Lance Sr. to come with his wife to the studio to record a Father's Day edition of the show. They were great with me, cooperating beyond what they had done with anyone else, and have a great story to tell, too \u2013 such as why they named one son Lance and the other Lantz. There's a good reason, believe me.\nYou'll notice dad talks optimistically of his son re-signing with the Pacers after the season. It didn't happen, of course. Charlotte made a slightly better offer, and the family was off to North Carolina. Lance Jr. was traded to the Clippers after that season, so I presume they'll be living in Los Angeles next.\nThis qualifies as one of my favorite episodes, though, because there's so much more to the Stephenson story than people assumed.\nFirst aired 2014\nYou need to login to listen.\nYou need to login to read the rest of the story.\nPlease Login. Not a Member? Join Us\nTagged with: Indiana Pacers, Lance Stephenson Sr., Lance Stephenson's father\n\u00a9 2018 Mark Montieth.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Sale Price 38\n3rd Party 38\nRelease Date: December 2nd, 2008\nCasablanca (Ultimate Collector's Edition)\nReview Date December 2nd, 2008 by Peter Bracke\nNon-Format specific portions of this review appear in our HD DVD review of 'Casablanca.'\nBD-50 Dual-Layer Disc\/DVD-9 Dual-Layer Disc\nTwo-Disc Set\nVideo Resolution\/Codec: 1080p\/VC-1\nEnglish Descriptive Audio: English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (192kbps)\nFrench Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (192kbps)\nSpanish Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (192kbps)\nSubtitles\/Captions: English Subtitles\nSpecial Features: Audio Commentaries\nTheatrical Trailers\nMovie Studio: Warner Home Video\n'Casablanca' is more than a classic. It's an institution. It contains so many famous lines, characters and scenes that even those who have never seen it feel like they have by sheer osmosis; it is that ingrained in our shared cinematic consciousness.\nThe iconic moments from Michael Curtiz's 1942 masterwork are what cineastes remember most -- \"We'll always have Paris,\" \"Here's looking at you, kid\" -- but what continues to startle, sixty years on, is just how well constructed and eminently watchable 'Casablanca' is. Yes, the famous parts are justifiably classic examples of writing, directing, performance, and editing, but check out all that lies between the film's obvious masterstrokes: Curtiz's subtle use of camera movement, the expressive melancholia of Max Steiner's musical score, Claude Rains' shady but lovable turn as Ingrid Bergman's would-be suitor -- these may not be the moments that continue to get spoofed on retrospective TV specials and American Express commercials, but they do confirm that it is impossible to imagine ever getting tired of watching 'Casablanca.'\nBergman and Humphrey Bogart deserve a lot of credit for the success of the film, for it is their indelible chemistry that continues to send hearts soaring six decades on. Never has emotional pathos and barely contained physical longing been so eloquently apparent. And when they have to say good-bye to each other at the end of the film? There is not a dry eye in the house.\n'Casablanca' is more than just a movie; it is also a place, and a state of mind. Its misty, darkly-lit streets and haunted piano bars remain figments of our lost dreams, and glimmers of our future hopes. Bogart and Bergman have, despite changing tastes, fads and fashions, remained our romantic ideal, the perfect pair of lovers who must -- as fate decrees -- part for now, but perhaps not forever. It is one of those rare movie moments when all of the planets aligned perfectly, to capture the pure essence of human fragility, love and longing in a single, iconic shot. It may be a predictable choice for Best Movie of All-Time, but 'Casablanca' really is that good, that important and that seminal.\n1080p\/VC-1\nEnglish Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (192kbps)\nAudio Commentaries\nThis Blu-ray release of 'Casablanca' follows a painstaking, grade-A remaster made for a standard def DVD reissue back in 2003, which then got ported over to HD DVD last year. The results were glorious then, and they are glorious now -- this is the way we dream our favorite classics will look when they come to home video. It is also a transfer so superior that even if I could find anything to remotely nitpick about, it would be pretty useless. 'Casablanca' is again presented in 1080p\/VC-1 video on Blu-ray, and appropriately pillarboxed to the film's original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1.\nThe black and white image is wonderful. The source material has been meticulously cleaned up, and good luck finding a speck of dirt, dropouts or inconsistencies in contrast or black levels. The film has a nice, deep and rich look, with excellent smoothness across the entire grayscale. Sharpness is perhaps slightly \"soft\" by today's standards, but terrific for a film from 1942. I continue to marvel at how deep and detailed this film looks. Fine textures throughout are clearly visible -- I could make out indentations on the spine of a book, or see slight creases in the clean whites of Humphrey Bogart's tuxedo. I am also grateful Warner didn't over-tweak this one -- whites never bloom and at no point is the image overly contrasted in an effort to make the film look \"newer\" or \"glossier.\" Instead, 'Casablanca' maintains a very natural, film-like look throughout. Without a doubt this is the finest black and white transfer I've seen on high-def, period, and up there with the best remasters ever created for the home theater environment.\nFor whatever reason, Warner did not (or wasn't able to) create a new 5.1 remaster for 'Casablanca.' Like the previous HD DVD release, this Blu-ray version offers only a Dolby Digital 1.0 mono (192kbps), in English, French or Spanish flavors. Of course, 'Casablanca' is largely dialogue driven, so it likely would not have benefited as greatly from a whiz-bang surround mix as, say, another classic like 'King Kong.' In any case, what we do get here is a very nicely cleaned up presentation.\nIn all honestly, there isn't much to say about the soundtrack. The source elements have been well preserved. High-end is smooth with no distortion and little of the harshness you'd expect from a film this old. Mid-range is somewhat spacious, though still sounds flat, as you would expect, compared to a modern mix. Low end also lacks any real heft. Again, since this is a mono track, there is zero envelopment or presence to the mix. But on purely technical terms, 'Casablanca' sounds about as good is it probably could.\nThe 2003 standard-def DVD reissue of 'Casablanca' came loaded with extras, and all of those goodies were ported over for the previous HD DVD release. But Warner has even gone one better for this Blu-ray, adding a bonus DVD with an additional full-length documentary to sweeten the pot. Add to that deluxe packaging with a wealth of collectibles, and you have one grand box set that any classic movie fan should be proud to have in their collection. (As before, all video-based materials are presented in 480p\/i\/MPEG-2 video only, with optional English, French and Spanish subtitles.)\nDisc One:\nIntroduction - The supplements begin with a predictably sappy if heartfelt introduction by Lauren Bacall (aka Mrs. Humphrey Bogart). Thankfully, the majority of the rest of the extras are exemplary.\nAudio Commentaries - Two separate audio commentaries tracks -- the first by Roger Ebert, and the second by historian Rudy Behlmer -- excel by virtue of the passion and knowledge of both participants. Behlmer's, however, may be the more engaging discussion, as his ability to dissect even the smallest details is almost awe-inspiring -- it is hard to imagine someone who had no connection with the production of a film knowing so much about how it was made. Ebert, as always, is animated about a film he is passionate about and offers a more all-encompassing perspective on 'Casablanca's impact and influence, as well as a compelling argument for why it should be considered one of Hollywood's all-time classics.\nDocumentary: \"Bacall on Bogart\" (SD, 90 minutes) - Leading the pack of extras is the first of three generally strong documentaries. \"Bacall on Bogart\" is the best of the bunch, an extensive 90-minute discussion with the legendary actress, who reminisces on Bogie and how he made his trek from lowly Broadway character actor to Hollywood legend. It's way better than the introduction, and only it's length begins to grow a bit tiring on the behind.\nTV Special: \"A Tribute to Casablanca\" (SD, 30 minutes) - Next we have this television special originally produced for Turner Classic Movies. Compact but comprehensive, it examines in brisk fashion the film's legacy, and features a wealth of lovely recollections from various historians and collaborators.\nFeaturette: \"The Children Remember\" (SD, 12 minutes) - Finally, a third featurette, \"The Children Remember,\" is a bit lacking. The offspring of Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom, talk about what the film meant to them growing up, and how it has affected their lives since. Unfortunately, genuine insight into the real Bogart and Bergman is painfully slight.\nDeleted Scenes (SD, 12 minutes) - There are two deleted scenes and a montage of outtakes -- all pretty scrappy in quality.\nTV Excerpt (18 minutes) - I found this feature to be a bit surreal -- a 18-minute condensation of a Warner Brothers made-for-television update of 'Casablanca' set in the Cold War, entitled \"Who Holds Tomorrow?\" This one you just have to see to believe.\nAudio Archive - Here you will find a couple of unique extras. Without picture, there is an audio-only Screen Guild Theater Radio Show version of the film in which Bogart, Bergman and Paul Henreid reprise their roles, plus a total of eight audio-only \"Scoring Stage Sessions.\"\nProduction Research Gallery (SD) - Next we have a quite extensive archive that contains dozens of studio memos, rare production documents, still photos and publicity materials.\nTheatrical Trailers (SD) - Finally, the video extras conclude with the film's original and re-release theatrical trailers. Whew.\nCollectible Packaging - Last but not least, collector's will find a wealth of physical goodies in the box. In addition to a cute 'Casablanca' passport holder and luggage tag, there are ten one-sheet reproduction cards, an Archival Correspondence booklet, and best of all, a 48-page photo book with many rare production and behind-the-scenes stills. Very slick.\nDisc Two:\nDocumentary: \"Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul\" (SD, 104 minutes) - Dubbed \"The Epic Story of the Man Behind the Movies,\" this 1993 doc is the sole extra new to the Blu-ray versus the HD DVD (though it has been previously released on home video). Produced by the mogul's grandson, Gregory Orr, \"The Last Mogul\" documents the rise of Warner, from the early blossoming of the studio system pre-\"talkies,\" well into the '50s when the popularity of television would see movie attendance erode precariously. Though 'Casablanca' is only marginally featured in the doc, this is a fascinating story in its own right and certainly well worth a view for any film history buff. (Note that this documentary is presented on its own DVD-5 single-layer disc, and is standard DVD format only.)\n'Casablanca' is a true classic. This Blu-ray release is as fabulous as the previous HD DVD -- a stunning remaster and tons of extras make this a must-own for anyone even remotely interested in what cinema is all about. On top of that, Warner has now thrown in a bonus DVD with an additional full-length documentary, plus a trove of physical collectibles. 'Casablanca' is a title you simply have to add to your Blu-ray collection.\nPortions of this review also appear in our coverage of Dunkirk on Blu-ray. This post features unique Vital Disc Stats, Video, and Final Thoughts sections.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Donair Cam: Watch your meat on the spit\nHalifax's official food now live streaming 24 hours a day\nHomesick Haligonians can now tune into around-the-clock footage of Halifax's official food: the donair.\nThe \"Donair Cam\" is a 24-hour live stream of a seasoned log of meat spinning on a rotating spit.\nRalf Pickart, owner of the website Nova Scotia Webcams, said he hopes the Donair Cam will help Maritimers who live away reconnect with their home.\n\"Nova Scotians who are away out west and all over, when they come back, the first thing they want is a donair because it can't be replicated anywhere,\" he said.\n\"People are always homesick, missing family and friends \u2014 and donairs are a part of that.\"\nPickart said he came up with the idea while brainstorming for a new live webcam.\nHe then approached restaurant King Of Donair, a Halifax staple synonymous with the east coast delicacy.\nRestaurant owner Nicholas Nahas said he jumped at the opportunity to prompt cravings for the greasy treat 24 hours a day.\nKing of Donair has laid claim to creating the original donair, which features shaved spicy meat, tomato, onion, and donair sauce wrapped in a pita.\nIn 2015, the dish was named the official food of Halifax.\nSocial media was abuzz after Nova Scotia Webcams debuted the Donair Cam, with many drooling over the spinning meat log.\nTwitter user Rachel Harding tweeted: \"I have two screens at my desk but usually only ever use one. Not anymore. #DonairCam.\"\nOn Facebook, a user named Sue Mollins-Hamilton wrote: \"This makes me very happy\u2026 and homesick.\"\nPickart said he also hopes to raise awareness about Nova Scotia Webcams, an independent website that offers more than 75 livestreams around the province.\n\"Depending on how it catches on, (Donair Cam) can last forever,\" Pickart said. \"Certainly, I would say it's there to entertain people and at some point, they will get hungry and hopefully get a donair.\"\n(Global News, The Canadian Press)\nFather of missing B.C. woman fundraises for drones to help in search\nStories from the overdose crisis' front lines","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"InvestingInvestingInvesting\nBitcoinBitcoinBitcoin\nCannabisCannabisCannabis\nCryptocurrencyCryptocurrencyCryptocurrency\nETFsETFsETFs\nEarningsEarningsEarnings\nFixed IncomeFixed IncomeFixed Income\nFundsFundsFunds\nOptionsOptionsOptions\nRatingRatingRating\nREITsREITsREITs\nStocksStocksStocks\nCentury Aluminum Drops on Outlook\nCentury Aluminum shares tumble Wednesday after the company details a slew of challenges in its fourth-quarter report.\nScott Eden\nFeb 24, 2010 4:52 PM EST\nMONTEREY, Calif. (TheStreet) -- Investors reacted to a series of near-term problems detailed by Century Aluminum (CENX) - Get Free Report in its fourth-quarter report and conference call by selling off the company's shares on Wednesday.\nCentury posted results that met analysts' expectations after the market closed on Tuesday evening. But the company also noted weak operating margins at one aluminum plant due to problems with its suppliers. Meanwhile, another of Century's plants, this one in Hawesville, Ky., could see its power costs jacked considerably once its current contract with an energy producer expires at the end of 2010.\nFurther, the contract between Century and its biggest customer of Hawesville-produced aluminum, a company called Southwire, ends in March 2011. Dahlman Rose analyst Anthony Rizzuto, in a note to clients Wednesday morning, wrote that Century executives \"would not comment on its current discussions with Southwire\" during the fourth-quarter conference call.\nRizzuto slashed his profit forecast for Century's full-year 2010 to 50 cents a share from $1.80, which represented the high end of the range of analysts' estimates. On average, Wall Street's sell side had a target of 92 cents a share for Century's 2010 earnings.\nRizzuto also cut his price target on Century stock to $17 from $20, but remained bullish on the company, saying \"we believe the shares exhibit an attractive risk\/reward profile.\"\nOn Wednesday, shares of the aluminum producer, highly linked to the price of its eponymous metal, tumbled 10% to $11.46. Volume reached 11 million shares, more than double the daily average turnover in the name.\nFor its fourth quarter, Century reported a loss of $24.4 million, or 28 cents a share. That included several items -- charges and benefits -- that the company did not break out on a per-share basis in its press release.\nStripping out the items brought Century's bottom line up to 3 cents a share, according to Rizzuto's calculations, which matched the consensus forecast, according to a poll of analysts by Thompson Reuters.\nA year ago, the company posted an enormous loss -- $693 million -- brought on by writedowns and a big tax ding.\nRevenue in the most recently ended quarter came to about $257 million, down 36% from a year ago.\n-- Written by Scott Eden in New York\nScott Eden has covered business -- both large and small -- for more than a decade. Prior to joining TheStreet.com, he worked as a features reporter for Dealmaker and Trader Monthly magazines. Before that, he wrote for the Chicago Reader, that city's weekly paper. Early in his career, he was a staff reporter at the Dow Jones News Service. His reporting has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Men's Journal, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, and the Believer magazine, among other publications. He's also the author of Touchdown Jesus (Simon & Schuster, 2005), a nonfiction book about Notre Dame football fans and the business and politics of big-time college sports. He has degrees from Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Showing 10 out of a total of 80 results. (0.307 seconds)\nO. A. C. Review Volume 16 Issue 6, March 1904 \nOntario Agricultural College (Ontario Agricultural College, 1904-03)\nO. A. C. Review Volume 15 Issue 2, November 1902 \nO. A. C. Review Volume 16 Issue 4, January 1904 \nO. A. C. Review Volume 16 Issue 3, December 1903 \nO. A. C. Review Volume 16 Issue 8, May 1904 \nO. A. C. Review Volume 12 Issue 5, February 1901 \nO. A. C. Review Volume 16 Issue 1, October 1903 \nOntario Agricultural College (80)\nCollege news (80)\nOAC Review (80)\npersonals (80)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Voice and Exit as Accountability Mechanisms: Can Foot-Voting Be Made Safe for the Chinese Communist Party?\nColumbia Human Rights Law Review, Forthcoming\nUniversity of Hong Kong Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2016\/027\n53 Pages Posted: 4 Aug 2016 Last revised: 29 Jan 2019\nSee all articles by Roderick M. Hills, Jr.\nRoderick M. Hills, Jr.\nShitong Qiao\nDuke University School of Law; The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Law\nAccording to Albert O. Hirschman's famous dichotomy, citizens can express their preferences with their \"voice\" (by voting with ballots to elect better representatives) and \"exit\" (by voting with their feet to choose better places to live). Suppose, however, that ballot-voting is ineffective: Can exit not merely aid but also replace voice? Using as a case study the People's Republic of China, a party state without elective democracy, we argue that exit is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, voice. China's bureaucratic promotion system plays the role of local elections in the United States, promoting or replacing local officials based on their performance in office. In either regime, however, it is costly for local voters (in the United States) or the Chinese Communist Party (in China) to monitor and assess local officials. Attention to foot-voting in the legal design of local government can help reduce these costs. By evaluating cadres who run the lower levels of China's local governments on the basis of how successfully they attract mobile households, the central CCP authorities could reduce the costs of monitoring these local officials and thereby reproduce, by bureaucratic means, some of the benefits of electoral democracy. Success in attracting foot-voters can be most cheaply measured by the Party's evaluating cadres primarily on the basis of local land values which, because they are a product of foot-voters' decisions about where to live, function like ballots insofar as they reflect the popularity of local cadres' policy decisions with mobile Chinese households. For foot-voting to improve governmental accountability, however, the Chinese system of local government law requires some basic but politically feasible reforms \u2015 in particular, the introduction of a local property tax system, the creation of a federated city system that grants power and autonomy to sub-city units, and the liberalization of China's household registration system to make the population fully mobile across different jurisdictions.\nKeywords: Inter-Jurisdictional Competition, Land Value, Democracy, Foot-Voting, Government Accountability, Property Tax, Federated City, Household Registration System (Hukou), Cadre Evaluation, Chinese Communist Party\nJEL Classification: K11, H11, H23, H70, H41, R12, R14, R30\nHills, Roderick Maltman and Qiao, Shitong and Qiao, Shitong, Voice and Exit as Accountability Mechanisms: Can Foot-Voting Be Made Safe for the Chinese Communist Party? (August 2, 2016). Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Forthcoming, University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2016\/027, Available at SSRN: https:\/\/ssrn.com\/abstract=2817652 or http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.2139\/ssrn.2817652\nRoderick Maltman Hills (Contact Author)\nNew York University School of Law ( email )\n40 Washington Square South\nDuke University School of Law ( email )\nHOME PAGE: http:\/\/law.duke.edu\/fac\/qiao\/\nThe University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Law ( email )\nPokfulam Road\nHong Kong, Hong Kong\nHOME PAGE: http:\/\/https:\/\/www.law.hku.hk\/academic_staff\/dr-shitong-qiao\/","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Fayetteville's Block St. Theatre Travels to Chicago for New Show\nBy Karen Topham January 16, 2018 January 16, 2018 Articles\nThis week marks a rather unusual event in Chicago theatre. With the premiere of Flamingo and Decatur\" (see review), the city is now playing host to a world premiere of a play produced not by one of our 200+ native companies but by a theatre company from Fayetteville Arkansas, Block St. Theatre. I sat down for a brief conversation with Block St's producer, Todd Taylor (also the playwright of Flamingo and Decatur), about the play and about why the company decided to bring it here to premiere.\n\"Chicago is the greatest theatre city in the world for storefront theatre,\" Taylor said. \"It's where it gets done, where people know how to make it.\" He noted the great designers he has gotten to work with\u2013Joe Schermoly (scenic), Chloe Patten (costumes), Alex Ridgers (lights), Jessica Mondres (props), and Chris Kriz (sound)\u2013as well as director Kevin Christopher Fox, whom he had actually met in Fayetteville working for a fast-emerging regional theatre called TheatreSquared.\nBlock St. opened in Fayetteville in 2015, and this is its fourth production. The play originated as Taylor's MFA project for the University of Arkansas, but his advisor there, Bob Ford (who is also the artistic director for TheatreSquared), told him he thought the play might do well in a 100-seat house in Chicago.\n\"That sort of lodged in my brain and a couple of years later I was in a position to take a shot with it,\" Taylor said. \"It was the last play I wrote while at the university. I was kind of keeping it in reserve before I unveiled it. I thought it would be an interesting challenge to paint a picture of the gambling world, the way people relate, the lingo, the culture of gambling, the way gamblers' personal relationships are altered by that and to open a window for people onto a world that they may not be familiar with.\"\nAsked about that lingo, which is thick at times in the play, Taylor said it was an issue that came up a lot in the workshop phase of the play.\n\"Most people said they weren't bothered by the lingo, that they could with context figure out what was happening, get the essential information, and sort of live in that world of 'I wonder if that means that' and 'oh yeah it does now that I've heard it a second time.'\"\nBlock St. doesn't have a spelled-out mission statement, but Taylor says that its \"evolving\" statement is to \"open a two-way theatre pipeline between Chicago and Fayetteville.\"\n\"We'd like to produce shows in both cities. We'd like to produce shows in Fayetteville with a Chicago actor or two, have the pipeline run both ways. People have responded to that idea.\"\nAs to the beginning of his current show's run, he acknowledges that the opening weekend's crowds were a little bit thin but hopes they will pick up. \"As long as the people coming are responsive and enjoy it,\" he said, he believes there will be positive word of mouth that will put more bodies in the seats.\n\"I'm very satisfied that we made a show that i wanted to make. Now I have to do my other job as producer and get people into the show.\"\nHe feels he owes it to the actors, three of whom he has known since they worked on the original show for his MFA project.\nIn order to put it on in Chicago, Stephanie Bignault flew in from LA, Nathaniel Stahlke came in from Ohio, and Jason Shipman came up from Fayetteville. They've been joined by Chicagoan and University of Arkansas grad Drew Johnson.\n\"They really had an affection for each other and the play and the process,\" Taylor said. \"The play has had a nice feel from the beginning.\"\nIn order to facilitate it all, Taylor rented a four-bedroom apartment in the city. The three out of town actors live with him there.\n\"I try to get out of the house a little bit so they don't feel like the playwright\/producer is lurking, watching over them, but so far everybody's been great.\"\nThey work together well onstage also. Fox has gotten outstanding performances from every one of them. \"At the academic production they were just becoming the actors they would become,\" Taylor noted, and now he feels they've come into their own. With what they are bringing to the stage and the expert Chicago production designers, he is very happy with Flamingo and Decatur.\n\"Chicago's been very welcoming. We've met a lot of great theatre folks, and that was what we really wanted to do: get to know some people up here.\"\nAnd establish a presence and, perhaps, a pipeline. The latter remains to be seen, but the former is easily visible at Theatre Wit from Wednesdays through Sundays until February 18.\nFlamingo and Decatur is now playing at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont in Chicago, until February 18. W-Sat 8 PM; Sundays vary. Tickets are $22-32 and are available from Theatre Wit. No half-price tickets are available. Find more information about current plays on our Current Shows page and at theatreinchicago.com.\nKaren Topham, American Theatre Critics Association member\nBlock St TheatreChicago theatrepromotion\nGreenhouse's \"Rose\" Revival Perfect For Our Times\nBronies' World Turned Upside Down in Overly Complex \"Antelope Party\"\nMusic Theater Works' Mamma Mia! is ready to bring us back to the theatre.\nCoronavirus forces theatres to try novel approaches\nMy relationship to \"A Doll's House,\" and how that affects my reaction to Raven Theatre's production\nTop Stage Performances of 2019\nTop 10 (ish) Chicago Plays of 2019","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Jan. 2022 - Recruitment and Retainment, the Role of Race and Gender, and Types of Transfer\nHigh school to College\nThe use of administrative holds results in the inability to either register for classes or access transcripts continue to be a topic of discussion, research, and practice examination. One of the items I have been discussing with colleagues is an apparent need to differentiate further between administrative holds used for issues such as an outstanding bill to the institution, as compared to those holds aimed at student success, such as advising, cohort management, etc. There is movement on addressing the administrative holds, including some examples below.\nU.S. Education Secretary calls for an end to colleges withholding transcripts\nPilot program to settle student debt and release transcripts\nIndiana' Ivy Tech reverses a policy that withholds transcripts from students who owe money\nMissouri State University will no longer withhold transcripts or diplomas for unpaid balances.\nA counterpoint to eliminating holds that aim at student success is in this Hechinger report. In my opinion, institutions should analyze the use, and effectiveness, of both types of holds at their campus to determine if they are the most effective way to address the issues and support student success.\nThank you to Kizzy Morris and Research Advisory Board Opening\nI want to thank Kizzy Morris for her service on the research advisory board since 2020. She is stepping down from her role to engage in other projects. As such, we have an immediate opening for a new member of the advisory board. Please review the role and apply if you are interested in serving. The application period is open until February 15, 2022, and the responsibility will start on March 1.\nGates Foundation Grant Announcement\nBased in Dallas, TX, the Commit Partnership (Commit) was awarded a grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement recommendations from the research AACRAO completed with several Dallas postsecondary institutions about their credit transfer policies and practices. Commit is partnering with AACRAO to continue this work through June 2022. The work will include assessing the current state of transfer technology at several institutions and identifying the resource gaps. AACRAO is pleased to be part of this project and see how our research partnerships can lead to real changes that help students and institutions.\nTransfer Admission and Recruitment Staffing, Technology, and Policy Benchmark Survey\nSalesforce provided underwriting for our comprehensive benchmarking survey on transfer student admissions and recruiting, which closed at the end of the first week of January. This survey attempted to capture the nuance in enrollment management practice, staffing to support these students, the use of technology, and related admissions policy for three different kinds of transfer students\u2013 traditional, reverse, and \"swirlers.\" The following definitions define the different types of transfer students:\nTraditional transfer: A student who has attended one or more previous institutions and now seeks enrollment and the transfer of earned credit at your institution.\nReverse transfer: A student who enrolled previously at your institution, left without completing a credential, and now seeks to apply credits earned elsewhere to complete a credential at your institution. OR a student who transferred to your institution and did not subsequently complete a credential who now seeks to take your institutional credits to complete a credential at a previously enrolled institution.\nSwirling transfer: A student primarily and continuously enrolled at your institution but who chooses to take courses intermittently at other institutions and seeks to use those credits to meet a degree requirement at your institution. The student is responsible for tuition and fees at the other institution (as opposed to being paid through your institution) and may or may not receive funding through a financial aid consortium agreement at your institution for those credits.\nThe data from more than 250 institutions are currently in the analysis phase, and a report and webinar are forthcoming. Early data indicate that 70% of undergraduate and comprehensive institutions have strategic enrollment management initiatives for traditional transfer students, and 30% of primarily two-year institutions report the same.\nAACRAO Research projects under development include:\nA comprehensive benchmark of academic operations and its impact on student success\nA look at strategic enrollment management for graduate students\nDeploying the third chief admissions officer career profile survey\nExpanding and redeploying the 60-Second Survey on scheduling practice and policy from 2016 as a comprehensive survey later in the year.\nNumber of High School Students Enrolling In College Continues to Decline\nA new report published by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a precipitous decline in high school graduates that immediately enroll in higher education.\nKey findings include:\nThe class of 2020 enrolled at a rate 4-10% lower\nThe drop was more pronounced in high-poverty or low-income high schools\nRural schools saw the most significant drop in graduates enrolling in higher education\nNew Study Examines the Role of Race and Gender in Academic Research\nA new research paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examines racial bias in the academic science community.\nKey findings of the study include:\nThe academic scientific environment is still largely dominated by white men, but minority representation in science is growing.\nThis disparity reflects the state of academic publishing and research funding for scholars of color.\nRelative representation by scholars of color and women in various scientific fields varies widely.\nEducation in the Skilled Trades Undergoing Resurgence\nAn article in the Hechinger Report examines the current growth of career and technical education. Various environmental factors seem to be driving this growth, including labor shortages and increased wages in those careers.\nAdditional key points include:\nA number of institutions are showing significant enrollment growth in these areas, despite a nearly 8% decline in overall enrollment in the last two years.\nThe increased questioning of the value of a four-year degree may be a contributing factor.\nA related survey found that 33 percent of Americans think trade school is a better option than a four-year college during the pandemic.\nSurvey Examines the Recruitment of First-generation Students to Higher Education\nA new survey published by Niche examined the recruitment of first-generation students. As part of the survey, Niche examined effective strategies for recruiting first-generation students.\nKey points include:\nUnderstanding the best communication channels (email, text, etc.) for reaching these students is important.\nDiversity in your institution's student population must be more than a talking point to attract first-generation students.\nFirst-generation students were far more likely than peers to select a two-year college.\nPrice and clarity of real costs matter to this group of students.\nNew Playbook Gives Guidance on How to Re-engage with Learners and Leverage Reverse Transfer\nThe Institute for Higher Education Policy published a new Degree Reclamation Playbook. This guidebook extensively examines evidence-based practices that can help adults with prior college credits, but no degree achieves that goal. It focuses on equity-based strategies to re-engage adults and the use of reverse transfer. The playbook provides a step-by-step guide for starting re-engagement efforts.\nStudent-Centric Marketing examined in New Paper\nSalesforce and Volt have published a new report looking at student-centric marketing. The report looks at best practices from the perspective of higher education leaders and asked students to report on the most effective approaches to marketing.\n39% of survey respondents began their college search between 8th and 10th grade.\nEmail was a more influential source than social media by more than twice as many respondents.\nFewer than 9% of respondents ranked mobile texting as their most influential medium, while higher ed leaders saw SMS messaging as important.\nPerceived College Affordability Matters for High School Students\n<=\"\" div=\"\" \/>","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Britney Spears Street Team ( teambritspears) wrote in ohnotheydidnt,\nBritney Spears Street Team\nteambritspears\nAriana Grande 101: Is She Really the New Mariah?\nThis week marks the release of Yours Truly, the debut album from 20-year-old Nickelodeon star turned R&B singer Ariana Grande. Perhaps you have heard \"The Way\" and wondered, Who is that Mariah Carey\u2013like tween singing with Mac Miller? Perhaps you watched the VMAs red carpet and thought, I am too old to tell these child star singers apart. You are not! You are young at heart, and you can still keep up. But we have gone ahead and answered some of your Ariana Grande questions, just in case.\nIs it Ariana Grande (silent e) or Ariana Grand-e?\nGrand-e. Here, let the Today show anchors demonstrate:\nVisit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy\nAre you sure that's her and not Mariah Carey singing on \"The Way\"?\nYes, though you are not the first person to ask that question. Basically every review of the song and\/or Yours Truly invokes Mimi, which is easy to understand once Ariana starts doing the crazy-high melismas.\n(See also: \"Baby I\" and \"Daydreamin'.\")\nOkay, but how am I supposed to tell her apart from all the other Disney singers?\nWell, first of all, she's a Nickelodeon star, not Disney. She was on Victorious and just began a spinoff called Sam & Cat.\nThat is not really much of a distinction to me.\nFair enough. Here's the breakdown: Selena Gomez dated Justin Bieber and sings that \"Come and Get It\" na-na-na song; Demi Lovato hosted X Factor and does inspirational stuff; and Ariana Grande is like the Carly Rae Jepsen of R&B. (Grande is even repped by Scooter Braun, who managed Jepsen, Bieber, and second-tier British boy band the Wanted.)\nCan she sing as high as Mariah?\nNo. But she has a four-octave range and goes all the way to E7, which is not too shabby.\nCan she sing \"All I Want for Christmas Is You,\" at least?\nShe is trying to be Mariah. Of course she can:\nCan she imitate anyone else, or just Mariah?\nShe's a theater kid. (Grande had a role in 13 on Broadway.) Of course she can do impressions! Here is Ariana doing Ariel, Britney, Shakira, and a lamb, among others.\nHas Mariah said anything about her yet?\nNo, come on. Mariah is our greatest living diva; she's not going to make room for anyone.\nOkay, I'm almost overloaded here. Is there anything else I should know?\nThe Spanglish version of \"The Way\" is pretty good. And that key change on \"Baby I\"? This album is fun! Don't fight it!\nSource: Vulture Magazine\nTags: ariana grande, mariah carey\nThe Walking Dead: Trailer for Extended Season 10\nGet a first look at Daryl, Carol, Maggie and new survivors in the trailer for the extended 10th Season of The Walking Dead. Premieres Sunday,\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Strictly Come Dancing's 2020 professional dancers have been confirmed\nPhoto credit: BFA\nFrom Prima\nStrictly Come Dancing's 2020 professional dancers have been announced, and fans can expect all of our favourites returning to the dance-floor later this year.\nStrictly will be back on BBC One this autumn, with the dancer line-up has been revealed as AJ Pritchard, Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Janette Manrara, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse.\nSarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios, said: \"It's wonderful to welcome back so many talented individuals within this year's line-up of Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers. They are each at the top of their game and as a cast are simply incredible. We can't wait to see what magic they will bring to the ballroom this year.\n\"Strictly 2020 promises to be an unforgettable series, with more exceptional choreography and world-class dancing.\"\nPhoto credit: SOPA Images - Getty Images\nKate Phillips, Controller of BBC Entertainment, added: \"We are very proud of Strictly Come Dancing and our professional dancers. They are undoubtedly in a class of their own and they'll be back in force this autumn to put our class of 2020 through their paces, providing another series of unmissable TV!\"\nFormer dancer Kevin Clifton - who won the series last year with celebrity partner Stacey Dooley - recently confirmed that he was leaving the show after seven years.\nThe 37-year-old star announced the news on Twitter, revealing that he was stepping down to focus on other aspects of his career.\n\"The past seven years have been some of the most wonderful of my life,\"Kevin posted.\n\"I am grateful to the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing for giving me the opportunity to have been part of something truly special.\"\nThe BBC added that further announcements and information, including which dancers will be partnered with celebrity contestants, will be announced in due course.\nThe celebrity line-up is already being rumoured to include reality star Jamie Laing after he pulled out of the competition last year due to a foot injury.\nThe judging panel of Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood are expected to return next year too.\nStrictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One.\n13 of the best figure-flattering jumpsuits\nTHE BEST SUNGLASSES FOR EVERY FACE SHAPE\n15 of the best summer dresses for girls","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Operations Strategy\nTrulite Completes Texas Tempered Glass Acquisition\nTrulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions, LLC. (\"Trulite\"), one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators, today announced it has finalized the acquisition of Houston-based Texas Tempered Glass, Inc. (\"TTG\"), a leader of high performance glass products for architectural, industrial, commercial and custom applications. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.\nWith the completion of this transaction, Trulite will expand its presence in the Texas market with a wide array of tempered, insulated, and mirrored fabricated offerings supplying materials for architectural, industrial, commercial and custom applications. Additionally, the TTG product offering will be enhanced to include laminated and PPG\/Guardian certified products.\n\"Our proven commitment to operational excellence has positioned us well to meet the rapidly increasing demand for quality fabricated products,\" said Paul Schmitz, Chief Executive Officer of Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions. \"We will continue to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions to meet this demand and better serve the industry.\"\nTTG marks Trulite's fourth acquisition since April 2011, demonstrating the company's financial strength.\n\"We are very excited to have Texas Tempered Glass join the Trulite organization and to now have a second facility to service the Houston market,\" said Paul Mahedy, Trulite South Region VP. \"TTG has established itself as a true 'service center' provider with exceptional lead times and customer service. We are committed to offering the same high level of service and quality the glazing community has come to rely on from Texas Tempered Glass.\"\nAbout Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions\nTrulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions is one of North America's largest architectural glass and aluminum fabricators. Trulite distributes and manufactures architectural aluminum, insulated units, mirrors, tempered, laminated, and decorative glass from their twenty-seven locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.\nSun Capital Partners, Inc.\n5200 Town Center Circle, 4th Floor\nSun European Partners\nwith all Sun Capital announcements.\nBy signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use\nLatest News & Transactions\nSun Capital Acquires Cotton Holdings\nSun Capital Partners, Inc. (\"Sun Capital\"), a leading private investment firm focused on investing in market-leading companies, today announced that an ...\nSun Capital Partners Affiliate Makes a Control ...\nSun Capital to Sell SOS Security\nSun Capital Partners, Inc. (\"Sun Capital\" or \"Sun\"), a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading ...\nSun Capital Sells Horizon Services\nSun Capital Partners, Inc. (\"Sun Capital\" or \"Sun\") a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in ...\nSun Capital Acquires Simply Beautiful Smiles\nSun Capital Partners, Inc. (\"Sun Capital\"), a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies, ...\nSun Capital Acquires Tier One Relocation\nSun Capital to acquire Regal Beloit's Drive ...\nSun Capital to Acquire VantaCore\n\u00a9 Copyright 2020 Sun Capital Partners, Inc.\nThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help improve it further, however we won't set these unless you opt in. [Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to collect information to identify the business or organisation that website visitors belong to, based on a reverse IP Lookup]\nThis website uses cookies to improve your experience. This includes cookies that are necessary to enable the website's core functionality. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help improve it further, however we won't set these unless you opt in. These analytics cookies provide us with statistics and information on how you use the website. For more detailed information about the cookies used on this website, see our Cookies Policy.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"ACTION ALERT - Kentucky Farm Bureau Shows Support for HB 529\nWhile approximately three-quarters of the earth is covered in water, a very small percentage of that is considered to be consumable. Factoring in the growing world population, the threat of water shortages, especially in times of drought, becomes a real concern in many regions of the world.\nThe United States is not immune to that problem and a classic example can be found in California which is experiencing a fifth straight year without ample rainfall.\nAccording to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over 99 percent of that state is suffering from some level of drought and nearly 40 percent is considered to be at the exceptional drought level, the most intense of the measuring categories.\nRecognizing the issues taking place in the west and the problematic possibilities water shortages could cause anywhere in the country, Kentucky Farm Bureau's (KFB) Water Management Working Group (WMWG), a 20-member task force, came together in 2015 specially charged to develop recommendations that will enhance the quality and quantity of water resources accessible for agricultural production in the state.\nIts mission is to research the emerging critical issue of inadequate water supplies available for agricultural production, examine potential actions to solve this deficiency and make recommendations for bringing new and reliable water sources to key areas of farm production in Kentucky.\nSteve Coleman, who chairs the WMWG and is the retired Director of the Kentucky Division of Conservation, said taking a proactive stance on water issues is of the upmost importance not only to the agriculture community but to the state as a whole.\n\"To put it simply, none of us can survive without a safe, plentiful water supply. In looking forward at possible solutions to water issues that could arise, we stand a much better chance of handling situations such as drought conditions than trying to react once they have occurred,\" he said.\nColeman also said there never needs to be a situation where agriculture is pitted against its urban neighbors over water.\n\"Working well together is the best possible situation we can be in if and when the need arises to take action over water issues,\" he said.\nAs a direct result of WMWG's proactive work and recommendations, HB 529, was introduced on a bipartisan basis during this year's General Assembly session to improve coordination among all interested parties involved in the Commonwealth's water resources planning, management, and development.\nThe legislation will promote economic development opportunities through the strategic and efficient use of water resources by ensuring a long-term adequate supply of on-farm water resources for agriculture, thus alleviating pressure on rural\/urban water supplies.\nSpecifically, HB 529 creates the Kentucky Water Resources Board which would be administered by the Energy and Environment Cabinet and will assist the cabinet in conducting research and developing recommendations to enhance the quality of water resources accessible for agricultural production in the state.\nThe bill passed the House by a unanimous vote as well as the Senate Ag Committee. During its discussion in that committee, Chair Sen. Paul Hornback said the bill was very important to agriculture.\n\"For those of us that are in agriculture and those of us in rural areas, even though we have an abundance of water here in Kentucky, this is going to be, in the future, the most important resource that we have,\" he said. \"With regulations that are coming down like Waters of the US and a lot of things are over burdensome, for Kentucky to be out in the forefront and to start looking and for Farm Bureau to start looking at issues that may arise in the future and being on the forefront of that, I appreciate that and want to thank you from a lot of my fellow farmers.\"\nSen. David Givens, Senate President Pro Tem said, in the legislative process there are some things that are important and there are some things that are really important; he count this (HB 529) among those that are really important.\n\"For us to be able to regulate our own waters is so vitally important to the ag economy and the future of the Commonwealth and, not just from an agricultural standpoint,\" he said. \"People much wiser than me refer to water as the next oil. Being able to control that within the boundaries of our state is vital.\"\nKFB President Mark Haney said he appreciated the support from legislators, as well as KFB members in working to get passage of the bill.\n\"We are so thankful for the support the General Assembly has shown for HB 529 which reinforces how important it is to be proactive in water resource issues,\" he said. \"I also want to thank our members who worked tirelessly to get the word out about the need for this legislation. This effort represents the true success of grassroots advocacy in stepping up to speak out for agriculture.\"\nDavid S. Beck, KFB Executive Vice-President said while a unique aspect of the proposed legislation is its connection directly to the agricultural industry, the creation of the Kentucky Water Resources Board will have positive impacts throughout all economic sectors of the state.\n\"At the end of the day, better water management would be a benefit to all businesses, all industries and, ultimately, all Kentuckians,\" he said. \"With passage of this bill, it will provide a unique opportunity for Kentucky to demonstrate its willingness to meet such an issue head-on, in a bi-partisan way. It sets the bar for other states to work in the same manner.\"\nBeck also noted KFB's appreciation of the support shown by the General Assembly in moving this legislation forward.\nAs of press time, a vote by the full Senate was still pending.\nTagged Post Topics Include: Action Alert, Action Alerts, David S Beck, HB 529, Joe Cain, Steve Coleman, Water","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future (Hardcover)\nThe Pulitzer Prize\u2013winning author of The Sixth Extinction returns to humanity's transformative impact on the environment, now asking: After doing so much damage, can we change nature, this time to save it?\nThat man should have dominion \"over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth\" is a prophecy that has hardened into fact. So pervasive are human impacts on the planet that it's said we live in a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene.\nIn Under a White Sky, Elizabeth Kolbert takes a hard look at the new world we are creating. Along the way, she meets biologists who are trying to preserve the world's rarest fish, which lives in a single tiny pool in the middle of the Mojave; engineers who are turning carbon emissions to stone in Iceland; Australian researchers who are trying to develop a \"super coral\" that can survive on a hotter globe; and physicists who are contemplating shooting tiny diamonds into the stratosphere to cool the earth.\nOne way to look at human civilization, says Kolbert, is as a ten-thousand-year exercise in defying nature. In The Sixth Extinction, she explored the ways in which our capacity for destruction has reshaped the natural world. Now she examines how the very sorts of interventions that have imperiled our planet are increasingly seen as the only hope for its salvation. By turns inspiring, terrifying, and darkly comic, Under a White Sky is an utterly original examination of the challenges we face.\nElizabeth Kolbert is the author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change and The Sixth Extinction, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize. For her work at The New Yorker, where she's a staff writer, she has received two National Magazine Awards and the Blake-Dodd Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with her husband and children.\nPraise for Under a White Sky\n\"Brilliantly executed and urgently necessary.\"\u2014Publishers Weekly (starred review)\nPraise for The Sixth Extinction\n\"A wonderful book.\"\u2015President Barack Obama\n\"[Elizabeth Kolbert] can write with elegiac poetry about the vanishing creatures of this planet, but the real power of her book resides in the hard science and historical context she delivers here, documenting the mounting losses that human beings are leaving in their wake.\"\u2014Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times\n\"Beautifully written . . . an excellent book.\"\u2014Jon Stewart, The Daily Show\n\"Unlike a lot of people who write about the environment, Kolbert doesn't resort to hype. She just lays out the facts and wraps them in memorable anecdotes. It's a sobering but engaging and informative read.\"\u2014Bill Gates\n\"Riveting . . . It is not possible to overstate the importance of this book.\"\u2014San Francisco Chronicle\n\"Your view of the world will be fundamentally changed. . . . Kolbert is an astute observer, excellent explainer and superb synthesizer, and even manages to find humor in her subject matter.\"\u2014The Seattle Times\n\"Kolbert has established herself as one of our very best science writers. She has developed a distinctive and eloquent voice of conscience on issues arising from the extraordinary assault on the ecosphere. . . . The result is a clear and comprehensive history of earth's previous mass extinctions\u2014and the species we've lost\u2014and an engaging description of the extraordinarily complex nature of life.\"\u2014Al Gore, The New York Times Book Review\nPublisher: Crown\nPublication Date: February 9th, 2021\nScience \/ Environmental Science\nNature \/ Environmental Conservation & Protection\nScience \/ Global Warming & Climate Change\nKobo eBook (February 8th, 2021): $13.99\nCD-Audio (February 9th, 2021): $29.99","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Testing Autism Drugs in Human Brain Cells\nA method involving pluripotent stem cells could lead to personalized treatment of the disease.\nJennifer Chuarchive page\nAutism is a highly complex disorder affecting one in every 110 children born in the United States. The disease's genetic profile and behavioral symptoms fluctuate widely from case to case, and this variability has frustrated scientists' efforts to identify effective treatments. A new study suggests that autism could eventually be a target for personalized treatment, targeted to a patient's own neurons.\nPoint of contact: This image shows two compact masses of neuron precursor cells, derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Differentiated neurons, whose nuclei are shown in red, have begun to extend neuronal processes, shown in green, toward one another, forming neuronal connections.\nA team from the University of California, San Diego, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies devised a way to study brain cells from patients with autism, and found a way reverse cellular abnormalities in neurons that have been associated with autism.\nThe researchers took skin biopsies from patients with a severe form of autism called Rett syndrome, and genetically reprogrammed those cells into pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells have the power to differentiate into any kind of cell in the body, depending on environmental cues during early development. The team differentiated the stem cells into fully functioning neurons, and then studied their functioning. They found that neurons derived from patients with Rett syndrome showed certain abnormalities, including markedly smaller cell bodies, dendrite connections, and decreased cell-to-cell communication.\nBy treating these patient-derived neurons with an experimental drug, the researchers could reverse the cellular abnormalities. The findings, published today in the journal Cell, could give scientists a powerful tool for pinpointing the causes of autism and other brain disorders, and a way to choose targeted treatments.\n\"It took us two years to finish this project, and personalized medicine might not be that far off,\" says Carol Marchetto, first author of the paper and a postdoctoral researcher at the Salk Institute. \"In the lifetime of a patient, you could go from his skin sample to a reprogrammed cell, to differentiating into a neuron, and find drugs that could be used on that patient.\"\nRett syndrome, which mostly affects girls, can cause highly impaired social and communication skills, which become apparent soon after a child learns to walk and talk. Patients with Rett can experience increased difficulty breathing and controlling their movements, and can develop repetitive and compulsive behaviors similar to other forms of autism.\nMarchetto sees Rett syndrome as a gateway to the broader study of autism, since many other forms of autism share behavioral and genetic similarities with Rett syndrome.\nMost cases of autism seem to stem from a combination of genetic abnormalities, but Rett arises from a single gene mutation, found on the MeCP2 gene on the X chromosome. In girls, one of two X chromosomes carries the mutation, and during fetal brain development, one chromosome is activated within each brain cell, seemingly at random. Rett patients can exhibit varying percentages of brain cells carrying the mutation, which can manifest as varying levels of severity of the disorder.\nTo understand how this genetic mutation plays out at a cellular level, Marchetto and her colleague Alysson Muotri, an assistant professor in the department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the UCSD's School of Medicine, took skin biopsies from four patients with Rett syndrome, reprogrammed them into pluripotent stem cells and experimented with a number of different conditions before they found a combination of growth factors that differentiated the stem cells into functioning human neurons.\nThey saw that each patient-derived stem-cell line generated a different percentage of neurons carrying the gene mutation. The defective neurons looked and acted differently from their normal counterparts, exhibiting smaller cell bodies, less dendrite connections, and impaired cell-to-cell communication.\nThe researchers treated neuron cultures with insulin-like growth factor (iGF1), which has been shown to reverse behavioral symptoms of Rett in mice. The drug reversed the biological symptoms of the disorder in the neurons, restoring dendrite connections and cell-to-cell signaling in defective neurons. The researchers plan to use the same process to generate neurons from more patients with both Rett syndrome and other forms of autism.\nJeffrey Neul, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, who studies Rett syndrome in mice, says animal models allow scientists to observe the behavioral effects of the disease, but this is a time- and labor-intensive process.\n\"The field really has been in desperate need of cellular-based assays that can be used to test therapeutic compounds,\" says Neul. \"And it's really hard to push drug discovery if you don't have something you can do in a more rapid fashion.\"\nThe process Marchetto and Muotri have developed takes three months to generate fully functioning human neurons. While this is similar to the time frame of normal brain development, the researchers are looking for ways to speed the process up so they can rapidly generate brain cells and expose them to a variety of molecular factors and drug compounds.\nThe team also plans to move beyond the Petri dish once they've differentiated neurons from human skin cells, to see how the neurons work in a living brain. \"What we can do is transplant human neurons in mouse brains and generate chimeric [hybrid human-animal] models,\" says Muotri. \"We can then expose these animals to different environments, and see how they will affect the human neuron.\"\nJames Ellis, professor of molecular genetics at the University of Toronto, is doing similar work in reprogramming patients' skin cells into brain cells. He says that Muotri and Marchetto's findings open up a new testing ground for autism and other neurological disorders. \"That's clearly what's going to be required of autism, where different people are going to have different mutations and mechanisms, in how they ended up with that outcome,\" he says.\nby Jennifer Chu","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"New cafe and creative space in Walthamstow: Gnome House\nA new cafe and creative space on Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow moved a step closer in February 2014 when planning permission was granted for the Gnome House. Gnome House will be a new community and creative space in Walthamstow, East London, minutes from Blackhorse Road tube. With affordable office and studio space it is due to become a hub for creative\u2026\nWaltham Forest Council has created a brief guide to home extensions and alterations and it can be accessed for free on its website (you will need a PDF reader). The document, its said is an \"Extract from Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD\" adopted in 2010. This document is a shortened version of Waltham Forest's Residential Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home \u203a National\nBoston Bomber to Face Death After Sentencing\nSource: Handout \/ Getty\n(RNN) \u2013 A jury has sentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death. He was convicted in April of placing two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, and the explosions killed three people and injured more than 260.\nDuring the criminal trial last month, the jury found him guilty on all 30 charges he faced, 17 of which are punishable by death. Jurors agreed to the death sentence on six of those 17 counts.\nTsarnaev's lawyers are expected to appeal the decision, during which time he will be housed at a federal prison. If the sentence is upheld, he will die by lethal injection at the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, IN. He would be the first federal prisoner executed since Louis Jones Jr. in 2003.\nJurors deliberated the sentence for about 14 hours over the course of three days.\nProsecutors during the trial portrayed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as an equal partner with his brother, Tamerlan. The defense admitted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was guilty, but argued that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was the mastermind and had incredible influence over his younger brother.\nMiriam Conrad, the federal defender assigned to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's case, previously defended Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, and Rezwan Ferdaus, who was plotting to bomb the Pentagon in 2011. Often, she works to get her clients life in prison instead of the death penalty.\nREAD MORE: 19ActionNews.com\nArticle Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News\nPicture Courtesy of Getty Images\nCleveland Wants Justice \u2013 Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo Trial: LIVE Updates\nbomber\t, Bombing\t, Boston\t, death\t, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev\t, Guilty\t, sentenced","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home Politics Foreign Policy Iran Has No Problem Mediating between Iraq, Turkey: Deputy FM\nMedia Wire\nIran Has No Problem Mediating between Iraq, Turkey: Deputy FM\nIFP Media Wire\nIran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour said Tehran is ready to mediate between Baghdad and Ankara after the Iraqi prime minister condemned Turkey's insistence on participation in retaking the Daesh-held city of Mosul.\nSpeaking to reporters in Tehran on Sunday, Rahimpour pointed to recent remarks made by Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati about Iran's readiness to mediate between Iraq and Turkey and said, \"If they ask us (to intermediate), we have no problem\".\n\"Naturally, Turkey and Iraq must be interested in our mediation,\" the Iranian diplomat added.\nTensions between Turkey and Iraq have recently continued to rise with Turkish leaders saying the country was engaged in the offensive to retake the Iraqi northern city of Mosul from the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group.\nIraq has objected to the presence of some 500 Turkish troops at a base near Mosul, saying they are there without permission from Baghdad.\nTurkey has refused to withdraw them, and insists it will play a role in the Mosul offensive.\nTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday that his country reserves the right to invade Iraq \"if there is a threat posed to Turkey,\" and that this would include a substantial number of ground troops.\nReports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"World Heritage Outlook\nSites benefits\nAbout the IUCN World Heritage Outlook\nUnderstanding ratings\nMethodology and consultation\nEnglishFran\u00e7aisEspa\u00f1olArabic\nPirin National Park\nBack to search Go to search\nInscribed in\n(vii)\n(viii)\n(ix)\nSpread over an area of over 27,000 ha, at an altitude between 1008 and 2914 m in the Pirin Mountains, southwest Bulgaria, the site comprises diverse limestone mountain landscapes with glacial lakes, waterfalls, caves and predominantly coniferous forests. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1983. The extension now covers an area of around 40,000 ha in the Pirin Mountains, and overlaps with the Pirin National Park, except for two areas developed for tourism (skiing). The dominant part of the extension is high mountain territory over 2000m in altitude, and covered mostly by alpine meadows, rocky screes and summits. \u00a9 UNESCO\nSee all information\nSummary Overview of the site's Conservation Outlook Read more\nFull assessment The complete Conservation Outlook Assessment for this site, with more details on values, threats, protection and management Read more\nReferences The source of information for the Conservation Outlook Assessment See references\n2017 Conservation Outlook\nFinalised on\nSignificant concern\nOverall, the site has been in a relatively good state of conservation until recently, but disturbance and fragmentation of the site associated with the exclusion of the skiing areas incompatible with World Heritage status (now part of the buffer zone) have been of significant concern. There are new concerns in this regard in connection with the expansion of the tourism zone and the zone of buildings and park\/sport facilities (the latter located entirely within the buffer zone of the property) envisaged by the new draft management plan, even though construction of new skiing facilities would only be allowed in the buffer zone. Climate change is expected to have low to moderate impact on species, ecosystem and geological formations. However, concerns are high with regards to potentially increasing pressures on resources required to maintain skiing tourism under the changing climate. The management is relatively effective regarding daily tasks, but not in a position to confront the strong external interests in tourism development. Low levels of funding are an additional constraint.\nCurrent state and trend of VALUES\nHigh Concern\nOverall, the site appears to be in a relatively good state of conservation. However, disturbance and fragmentation of the site associated with the exclusion of the skiing areas incompatible with World Heritage status (now part of the buffer zone) is of high concern.\nOverall THREATS\nHigh Threat\nSome areas of the park, now excluded from the site and included as its buffer zone, have been severely damaged by ski infrastructure development, as was expressed in several World Heritage Committee Decisions. There are new concerns in this regard in connection with the expansion of the tourism zone and the zone of buildings and sport facilities (the latter located entirely within the buffer zone of the property) envisaged by the new draft management plan. Until a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a specific assessment of potential impacts on the OUV of the property of potentially allowed infrastructure expansion is available, concerns remain with regards to potential impacts on the OUV of the property even if infrastructure expansion would only take place in the buffer zone. Other threats like climate change, impact of summer tourism are rather diffuse with limited impact.\nOverall PROTECTION and MANAGEMENT\nSerious Concern\nThe management is relatively effective regarding daily tasks, but the power of the Park administration in the face of increasing interest in tourism development and resource use is very limited. The park administration is under severe economic constraints. Ongoing pressures for ski tourism development in the buffer zone of the property remain of concern and concerns have also been expressed by different stakeholders with regards to the draft new management plan.\nFull assessment\nClick the + and - signs to expand or collapse full accounts of information under each topic. You can also view the entire list of information by clicking Expand all on the top left.\nDescription of values\nWorld Heritage values\nA good example of the continuing evolution of flora and an example of high mountain ecosystems in natural condition\nThe site is a good example of the continuing evolution of flora, as evidenced by a number of endemic and relict species, and the property also protects an example of a functioning ecosystem that is representative of the important natural ecosystems of the Balkan uplands. Pirin's natural coniferous forests include Macedonian Pine and Bosnian Pine, with many old growth trees. Although the forests are affected by some historical use, the natural functioning of the ecosystem ensures the protection of its regionally significant biodiversity values (WHC, 2010).\nMountain scenery of exceptional beauty\nThe aesthetic values of some parts of the property have been negatively affected by ski infrastructure and these impacts remain (IUCN Consultation 2017), even though those areas have been consequently excluded from the boundaries of the property and included in its buffer zone.\nDiverse limestone mountain landscapes\nThe principal earth science values of the property relate to its glacial geomorphology, demonstrated through a range of features including cirques, deep valleys and over 70 glacial lakes. The mountains of the property show a variety of forms and have been developed in several different rock types (WHC, 2010). Functioning natural processes allow for study of the continued evolution of the landforms of the property, and help to understand other upland areas in the region (UNEP-WCMC 2012).\nOther important biodiversity values\nBiodiversity of flora and fauna\nIn total, there are 1,315 species of vascular plants, about one third of Bulgaria's flora, including 86 Balkan endemics, 17 Bulgarian endemics and 18 local endemics. The fauna of Pirin National Park includes 45 mammal species, including brown bear, wolf and pine marten, and 159 bird species. Pirin is also home to eight species of amphibians, eleven species of reptiles and six fish species (WHC 2010).\nCurrent Threats\nSome areas of the park, now excluded as buffer zone, have been severely damaged by the development and operation of ski zones; however, these areas are relatively small and limited in comparison with the whole site. Other threats like climate change, impact of summer tourism are rather diffuse with limited impact.\nLivestock Farming \/ Grazing\nInside site\n, Scattered(5-15%)\nOutside site\nOverall, grazing is relatively well managed in Pirin National Park and is only allowed on meadows and pastures located within the Zone for Sustainable Use of Open Areas and in the Tourism Zone. Yearly quotas and permissions are issued by the National Park Directorate and regular inspections are conducted to check compliance with the established regulations. However, some concerns have been expressed regarding eutrophication of lakes due to grazing in their vicinity (Consultation with the State Party, 2017).\nLow Threat\nIllegal hunting inside and outside of the property has been regularly reported in the past (IUCN Consultation, 2014). However, only a few cases of illegal hunting or carrying of hunting weapons have been detected in the recent years and those detected have been registered and led to relevant proceedings. Regular inspections are also being carried out to detect any illegal activities (Consultation with the State Party, 2017).\nLogging\/ Wood Harvesting\n, Localised(<5%)\nConcerns have been expressed about the planned logging activities within the property (UNESCO, 2014) and cases of illegal logging have also been previously reported (UNESCO, 2011). So far timber extraction has been limited to forestry maintenance activities, as commercial logging is forbidden in national parks by the Protected Areas Act. However, vigilance is required in order to ensure that any timber extraction in the future is only done if justified as such maintenance activity, e.g. for safety reasons, and based on a scientific evaluation of potential impacts on the OUV of the property.\nTourism\/ Recreation Areas\nDevelopment of skiing infrastructure in the Bansko ski area located in the buffer zone of the property has been subject to numerous Decisions by the World Heritage Committee and also led to certain modifications of the original boundaries of the property, specifically when the Bansko and Dobrinishte tourism zones were excluded from the boundaries of the property and included in its buffer zone (World Heritage Committee, 2010). The World Heritage Committee in a number of its Decisions expressed its concern that \"the Outstanding Universal Value of the property has been repeatedly and significantly impacted by the development of ski facilities and ski runs\" (World Heritage Committee, 2010). While more recent developments within the Bansko ski area mainly related to the maintenance of existing facilities, they included extensive activities such as the extension of the system for artificial snow, the reconstruction of an existing ski surface lift and the reconstruction of a ski lift station (UNESCO, 2016). Concerns have also been expressed by different stakeholders over the fact that the new draft management plan for Pirin National Park would allow extension of areas where tourism infrastructure development is allowed (UNESCO, 2016).\nTemperature extremes\n, Extent of threat not known\nClimate change (particularly changes in snow regime) may affect the caves and karst system as well as endemic species with very limited distribution, but its specific impacts are still difficult to judge. However, concerns are high with regards to potentially increasing pressures on resources required to maintain skiing tourism under the changing climate.\nPotential Threats\nVery High Threat\nThe political and economic pressures are very high for mass tourism development and expansion of skiing facilities and other infrastructure, even though expansion of skiing facilities would only be permitted within the buffer zone of the property.\nIn 2017 the Council of Ministers approved a Decision adopting amendments to the current Management Plan of Pirin National Park which provide for potential expansion of skiing facilities within the buffer zone of the property. While the World Heritage Committee in its Decision 36COM 7B.18 urged the State Party \"to ensure, including through provisions in the new Management Plan, that no further areas within the property, outside the already excluded areas, are permitted for ski or other similar high-impact developments\" (UNESCO, 2012), in its Decision 37COM 7B.17 it also requested the State Party \"to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the development of the buffer zone, including consultations with stakeholders\" and urged it \"to ensure that these proposals will not negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and in particular the integrity of the property\" (UNESCO, 2013). Until such an SEA and a specific assessment of potential impacts on the OUV of the property of potentially allowed infrastructure expansion is available, concerns remain with regards to potential impacts on the OUV of the property even if infrastructure expansion would only take place in the buffer zone. Furthermore, the new draft Management Plan also provides for expansion of the Tourism Zone within the property and even though construction of skiing facilities cannot be permitted outside the property's buffer zone, potential other development in the expanded tourism zone is of concern.\n, Widespread(15-50%)\nSo far timber extraction has been limited to forestry maintenance activities, as commercial logging is forbidden in national parks by the Protected Areas Act (Consultation with the State Party, 2017). However, vigilance is required in order to ensure that any timber extraction in the future is only done if justified as such maintenance activity, e.g. for safety reasons, and based on a scientific evaluation of potential impacts. It is also noted that the draft management plan introduces a zone called \"forests where intervention is allowed through forest management\" in addition to the zone called \"forests where intervention is allowed in case of fire, natural disasters and calamities\". It is unclear whether the introduction of the zone with forest management foresees activities other than those related to maintenance.\nOverall assessment of threats\nProtection and management\nAssessing Protection and Management\nRelationships with local people\nSome Concern\nAccording to the State Party (2014), the relationship of Pirin National Park with local inhabitants and local communities is \"Fair\". However, pressures for further economic development of the area and expansion of tourism infrastructure and facilities continue, as reported in a number of State of Conservation reports over the recent years, and part of civil society have been expressing strong concerns regarding the management of the property, particularly the new draft management plan.\nAccording to the State Party, legal framework for the maintenance of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property provides an adequate basis for effective management and protection (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014). On paper, Pirin National Park has the highest level of protection at national (as a national park corresponding to IUCN PA management category II) and European levels (Natura 2000 site under the Birds and the Habitats Directives). However, recent developments have shown that there are some differences in the interpretation of this legal framework, as becomes clear from an ongoing Court case related to the proposed new draft Management Plan for the property which has been appealed by a group of civil society organizations. This is why this management aspect is of \"Some Concern\".\nNumerous violations of Pirin National Park's regime have been reported. This indicates a lack of capacity to enforce the legal requirements for the park's protection (IUCN Consultation 2017b). However, a number of activities have recently been undertaken, including regular inspections, to detect and prevent any illegal activities, particularly illegal hunting.\nIntegration into regional and national planning systems\nThe park is well integrated into the PA system; and is part of Natura 2000 network (IUCN Consultation 2017b). However, according to the State Party (2014), coordination between the range of administrative bodies \/ levels involved in the management of the property could be improved. It is also of concern that the development of spatial plans and tourism development planning of the Bansko and Dobrinishte ski zones under the newly drafted management plan may not be in line with the integrity of the property (IUCN Consultation, 2017). Increasing developments in the buffer zone and immediate vicinity of the property may compromise landscape connectivity.\nIn the past, the management system of Pirin National Park was considered relatively effective, clear, and stable if rather limited in terms of available resources. However, recently concerns have been expressed that the newly drafted management plan for the site would set out a management regime that \u2013 if indeed improved and implemented \u2013 may result in a level of tourism development that could threaten the integrity of the property (IUCN Consultation 2017). However, the draft new management plan has been appealed in Court by a group of civil society organizations.\nAt the time of the most recent Periodic Reporting, the State Party considered that the management regime was fully adequate to maintain the property's Outstanding Universal Value, and is being implemented fully (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014). However, there are concerns about the enforcement of the protection regime of the property (IUCN Consultation 2017).\nImplementation of Committee decisions and recommendations\nThe most recent Decision 40 COM 7B.93 (WHC 2016) included a number of requests with regards to the draft management plan for the property, including a request that \".. the draft Management Plan is revised to comply with the requirements set out by the Ministry of Environment and Water..\". In March 2017 the Ministry of Environment issued a decision that the plan does not need a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment (IUCN Consultation, 2017). After protests of concerned stakeholders, the issue is now disputed in court. (Stakeholder consultation October 2017).\nAt the time of the most recent Periodic Reporting in 2014, the State Party considered that the boundaries of Pirin National Park were adequate but poorly known, while its buffer zone did not limit the ability to maintain the property's Outstanding Universal Value but could be improved (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014). When Pirin NP was inscribed, the boundaries of the WHS did not follow an ecological rationale and hence created a rather fragmented property. In 2009, the Committee approved the extension of the property and the establishment of a buffer zone. The same decision, excluded the Bansko and Dobrenishte tourism zones (1,078.23 ha) and included these in a new buffer zone (World Heritage Committee, 2011). A GPS-based demarcation of the boundaries of the property was conducted as part of the project \"Sustainable Management of Pirin National Park\" (Ministry of Environment and Water 2015).\nAt the time of the most recent Periodic Reporting, the State Party noted that the funding was adequate but could be further improved; the funding was sourced from the State Budget and project funds to equal parts (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014). However, up-to-date funding figures or a financial needs assessment are not available for Pirin National Park, which is why this management aspect is assessed as data deficient.\nAccording to the State Party, human resources at Pirin National Park are below optimum to manage the World Heritage Property; availability of qualified staff was considered \"fair\", and that of staff training opportunities as medium, in most categories (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014).\nSustainable use\nWhile the State Party considers that there is some flow of economic benefits to local communities (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014), it appears that most current uses of the area, particularly for tourism and particularly for skiing, are not sustainable; at the same time, little appears to be done to foster other, truly sustainable uses.\nEducation and interpretation programs\nAccording to the State Party, there is a planned education and awareness programme but it only partly meets the needs and could be improved (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014). Limited education and interpretation programmes exist near Bansko, where a small visitor centre is operating. One area of concern is the awareness and understanding of the National Park and World Heritage site among local businesses, which has been characterized as poor by the State Party (2014).\nTourism and visitation management\nAccording to the State Party, there is an excellent visitor centre, an adequate site museum, as well as excellent guided tours, visitor trails and information materials available for visitors. There is management of the slowly increasing number of visitors but it could be improved (State Party, 2014). Therefore, management of nature-based sustainable tourism within the property can be considered effective. However, if the current scale and the likely increase in winter use by visitors and the associated infrastructure needs in the property's buffer zone are considered, then there are serious concerns about this management aspect.\nThe monitoring system of Pirin National Park is comprehensive, integrated and relevant to management needs and \/ or improving understanding of its Outstanding Universal Value (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014).\nAccording to the State Party, knowledge about the values of the World Heritage property is sufficient for most key areas but there are gaps. It was stated that there was a comprehensive, integrated programme of research, but no further details about research papers and other outputs produced as a result of it were provided (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014).\nOverall assessment of protection and management\nAssessment of the effectiveness of protection and management in addressing threats outside the site\nIntensive urban development in the major towns (Bansko, Razlog, GoceDeltchev) and only limited power of the National Park to manage these threats are of concern.\nState and trend of values\nAssessing the current state and trend of values\nDeteriorating\nOverall, the current state of values is good (IUCN 2011), with limited impact from visitors. However, disturbance and fragmentation of the site associated with the exclusion of the skiing areas (now part of the buffer zone) is of high concern. Data from the draft management plan show that important elements of the ecosystems of the Balkan uplands, such as large carnivores and characteristic bird species, are disturbed by the high human pressure in the ski zones; part of the plan states that \"after extension of the ski zone above the town of Bansko, the area marks a significant reduction of the numbers of bird species with high conservation status such as three-toed and white-backed woodpecker, capercaillie, Tengmalm's Owl\". ... \"Data on the numbers of the capercaillies from 20 years ago indicate about 220 individuals. The last 10 years its numbers dropped from 190 to about a 100 individuals\". (IUCN Consultation 2017).\nLow Concern\nSoil erosion in skiing areas and modification of the water regime, have been previously reported; however, overall the geological values of the property remain stable.\nSummary of values\nAssessment of the current state and trend of World Heritage values\nAssessment of the current state and trend of other important biodiversity values\nThe biodiversity of flora and fauna is in the same current state as that of the ecosystems to which it contributes, and shows the same trend.\nUnderstanding benefits\nCommercial wells\nThe Park area provides drinking water for large populations in lowland areas\nFactors negatively affecting provision of this benefit\nImpact level - Moderate\nTrend - Increasing\nHabitat change\nImpact level - High\nOutdoor recreation and tourism\nLarge mountain areas with relatively little disturbance\nImpact level - Low\nCultural identity and sense of belonging\nPirin National Park provides ample cultural services.\nImportance for research,\nContribution to education\nThe park also is a pilot area for research and education (State Party of Bulgaria, 2014).\nThe landscapes and ecosystems of Pirin National Park provide a wide range of supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services, which offer ample benefits to local and national inhabitants as well as international visitors, in terms of water, tourism and recreation, the production and dissemination of art and knowledge, as well as the maintenance of a healthy living environment.\nCompilation of active conservation projects\nOrganization\/ individuals\nBrief description of Active Projects\n1 Balkani Wildlife Society Monitoring of birds and animals\n2 WWF Danube Carpathian Programme Advocacy, communication and public awareness raising\n3 The Natural History Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Science Science and monitoring\nCompilation of potential site needs\nSite need title\nBrief description of potential site needs\nSupport needed for following years\n1 Demonstration of successful models for economic development alternative to mass skiing development; enhance the knowledge and use of the UNESCO logo Demonstration of successful models for economic development alternative to mass skiing development; enhance the knowledge and use of the UNESCO logo From: 2018\n2 PA Management effectiveness assessment A standard management effectiveness assessment using either appraisal methods such as METT (WWF 2007) or \"Enhancing our Heritage\" (Hockings et al. 2008) or \u2013 better \u2013 a systematic analysis using the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (CMP 2013) would be a useful basis for further improvement of the management of the site.\n3 Monitoring of values, threats and management Implementation of monitoring particularly for World Heritage values and supporting ecosystem values, direct threats and their drivers, and the effectiveness of site management to address them. From: 2018\n4 Communication, education and awareness raising activities aimed at local inhabitants, businesses and government The lack of political support to an appropriate protection regime for Pirin National Park reflects a lack of understanding of national but particularly local stakeholders of the Outstanding Universal Value of Pirin National Park. An extensive and well resourced communication effort is necessary (but certainly not sufficient) to help achieve this. From: 2018\n1 Conservation Measures Partnership (2013). Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. Version 3.0 \/ April 2013. CMP. Accessed on 26 August 2017 at http:\/\/cmp-openstandards.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/CMP\u2026.\n2 Hockings, M., R. James, S. Stolton, N. Dudley, V. Mathur, J. Makombo, J. Courrau, J. Parrish (2008). Enhancing our Heritage Toolkit. Assessing management effectiveness of natural World Heritage sites. Paris: UNESCO. 108 pp. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/series\/23\/.\n3 IUCN 2011. Report on the Joint World Heritage Centre-IUCN Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Pirin National Park (Bulgaria), 10-14 October 2011. Accessed on 3 September 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/documents\/117101\/.\n4 IUCN 2014. World Heritage Outlook: Pirin National Park, Bulgaria. Accessed on 5 September 2017 at http:\/\/www.worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org\/search-sites\/-\/wdp\u2026\n5 IUCN Consultation 2017a. World Heritage Outlook Consultation form, Respondent 1. World Heritage Site: Pirin National Park. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.\n6 IUCN Consultation 2017b. World Heritage Outlook Consultation form, Respondent 2. World Heritage Site: Pirin National Park. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.\n7 IUCN Evaluation 1987\n8 Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) 2004: National Park Pirin Management Plan\n9 Ministry of Environment and Water 2015. Report on the State of Conservation of Pirin National Park and World Heritage Property. Sofia, November 2015. Accessed on 2 September 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/soc\/3470.\n10 Ministry of Environment and Water 2017. State of conservation of Pirin National Park and World Heritage Property (WHP). Letter to the Director of the IUCN World Heritage Centre. 7 March 2017.\n11 UNEP-WCMC 2012. Pirin National Park. UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Information Sheets. Cambridge (UK): UNEP-WCMC. Accessed on 2 September 2017 at https:\/\/www.unep-wcmc.org\/resources-and-data\/world-heritage\u2026.\n12 WWF (2007). Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool. Reporting Progress at Protected Area Sites. 2nd edition. Gland (Switzerland): WWF.\n13 World Heritage Centre (2010). Nomination of Pirin National Park: Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. Accessed on 4 September 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/225.\n14 World Heritage Centre (2014). Decision : 38 COM 7B.73, Pirin National Park (Bulgaria) (N 225). Accessed on 5 September 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/decisions\/6059.\n15 World Heritage Centre (2016). Decision : 40 COM 7B.93, Pirin National Park (Bulgaria) (N 225bis). Accessed on 5 September 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/decisions\/6757.\n16 World Heritage Centre 2014. Periodic Report, Bulgaria - Section II-Pirin National Park. Accessed on 29 August 2017 at http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/archive\/periodicreporting\/EUR\/cycle02\u2026.\nBack to Full assessment\nBack to References\nProtected Planet website\nUNESCO World Heritage Centre\n2017 Conservation Outlook Assessment\nHow are sites assessed?\nAll about ratings\nWould you like to share feedback to support the accuracy of information for this site? If so, send your comments below.\n\u00a9 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home Sections\nSections Supplements\nA Local Call\nBy BusinessWest Staff December 24, 2007 381 No comment\nEconomic-development Leaders Focus on 'Building Blocks'\nRussell Denver says the region needs a comprehensive strategy to close the skills gap that is leaving many positions unfilled at area companies.\nAllan Blair calls it the \"rush to the green.\"\nThat was his way of describing a regional and national thrust toward environmentally friendly technologies, products, and practices that made its presence known in Western Mass. in 2007, in terms of some new businesses and jobs, and may be a harbinger of an economic development niche for Western Mass.\n\"It's not a tsunami of growth that's going to hit us, certainly,\" said Blair, director of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., in reference to this green wave. \"But it's a very encouraging segment that happens to have some national momentum around it, some state momentum, and some incentives that are being prepared on the state level to nurture it. And that's exciting because it's new, it's fresh, and we have a chance to grab our share.\"\nThese 'green' advances, such as the emergence of SunEthanol, an Amherst-based venture that is trying to revolutionize the production of ethanol through the use of something called the Q-microbe, were some of the highlights of a year that Blair described as mostly \"vanilla\" from an economic-development standpoint. There were no big \"hits,\" as he called them, in terms of new employers or relocations, but, conversely, there were no big losses, either.\n\"The economy is chugging along in medium gear,\" he told BusinessWest, \"and given some of the things happening nationally, that's not such a bad thing.\"\nAbsent those large hits, the region essentially worked on what Blair called \"building blocks,\" the 'green' movement being just one of them. Others include ongoing efforts to retain and possibly grow the region's precision manufacturing base; maintaining and bolstering the strong health care and higher education sectors; and continued progress in efforts to revitalize Springfield.\nThere was also considerable movement on what would have to be called the transportation front, with a new direct flight from Bradley International Airport to Amsterdam, and the arrival of low-cost airline Skybus at Westover Municipal Airport. The carrier will soon have two arrivals and departures each day, with flights from and then to Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, N.C.\nTaken together, these building-block-bolstering efforts have provided some momentum for 2008, said Russell Denver, president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. He told BusinessWest that while the national economic picture might be quite fuzzy, and there are several factors that could impact things locally in terms of job growth, new business development, and continued progress in Springfield, he is optimistic about this region and its prospects for the short and long term.\nBut cautiously so.\nHe said that perhaps the biggest of those building blocks to improved economic health and well-being is workforce development, and in Greater Springfield, there is much work to be done in this regard. Specifically, the region has to mount an offensive to close the gap between the skills required by area employers and those possessed by most job seekers and the unemployed, and thus fill an alarmingly high number of vacancies and assure prospective new employers that the region can meet their workforce requirements.\n\"The fact that we have so many jobs available is a good sign, but the fact that we don't have enough qualified individuals to fill these jobs is a real negative; the high drop-out rates that we've seen recently in Springfield and Holyoke, especially, have come home to roost,\" said Denver, who told BusinessWest that an action plan will be prepared early next year to map a strategy for improving the quality of the region's workforce.\nBill Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, which will draft the report at the request of outgoing Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, said it will go well beyond drop-out rates and focus on factors \u2014 ranging from early childhood education to English as a Second Language; from getting more people into area nursing schools to keeping college graduates in this market \u2014 that will eventually yield a better-qualified pool of workers.\n\"There are some very challenging characteristics to the city of Springfield,\" he said, \"including a high drop-out rate, a low rate of college graduates within the workforce population, low MCAS scores \u2026 these are disturbing trends within the workforce and the population that need to be addressed.\"\nBeyond these workforce issues, Denver sees many positive developments, from the emergence of greater fiscal stability in Springfield to the availability of permitted land in the city's Memorial Industrial Park; from continued healthy growth in new small businesses to new opportunities in tourism.\nIn this, our annual 'Economic Outlook' focus, BusinessWest looks at the prospects for 2008 and beyond, and the issues that will determine if, where, and how growth occurs.\nHow Green Grows the Valley?\nLooking toward the year ahead, Blair acknowledged that the regional and national forecasts are punctuated by question marks and growing concern about a recession. Many of the issues that will determine what happens with the economy \u2014 from energy prices to the subprime lending crisis and credit crunch; from soaring construction costs to the strength of the dollar (or lack thereof) \u2014 are simply beyond this region's control.\n\"So we need to focus on the things that we can control,\" he said, \"and to try and be ready when opportunities do arise.\"\nThis theme of 'being ready' is a common thread with many of the region's economic-development strategies, said Blair, including workforce quality-improvement efforts, readying parcels like the former York Street Jail and Chapman Valve site in Springfield for development, initiatives to put qualified machinists in the pipeline, and even casino gambling.\n\"Everyone wants to get in that game,\" he said, referring to several area communities that have passed referendums supporting casinos or are readying sites for facilities, \"and we don't even know what the game is yet.\"\nAnd it is especially relevant with regard to the 'green' movement, said Ellen Bemben, director of the Regional Technology Council, which is developing a multi-faceted strategy for cultivating a green-related cluster in the Knowledge Corridor.\nScientists and entrepreneurs will need facilities in which to incubate and grow new ventures, she said, and they will need a workforce that can help take ideas from the lab to the workplace. \"Some of those just getting started are being urged to relocate to Worcester and Cambridge,\" she said, noting two of the burgeoning centers for biotech-related businesses, \"and we're going to have to work hard to keep those people here in the Valley.\"\nBemben told BusinessWest that SunEthanol, which has garnered press across the country and is starting to amass needed capital, is easily the most visible of the green-related ventures taking root in the region. The company looks to use the Q-microbe, discovered in the soils off a hiking trail on the Quabbin Reservoir (hence the name) to create ethanol from a wide range of plant materials, rather than corn, thus speeding and facilitating production of the alternative fuel.\nBut there are many others flying under the radar screen. And they encompass several different components of what is becoming a broad sector, including photovoltaic (solar power) businesses and installations, fuel-cell makers, alternative-fuel providers, and even windpower operations. And there is apparently great interest in further development.\n\"We're getting so many hits on the EDC's Web site from companies offshore, in Europe, or on the West Coast that want to put something on the ground here, and a lot of it is photovoltaics,\" she explained. \"I've never seen so many inquiries, and there's so many different ways to go in terms of the products necessary for these installations.\"\nBoth Bemben and Blair tend to group sustainable energy and biotech developments under the same (green) roof with regard to cluster development and jobs, and Bemben believes there may be anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people employed in this sector across Massachsetts and into Northern Conn., with vast potential for more, especially in sustainable energy because of a quicker path from the lab to the production plant.\n\"If you look at biotech and the number of years it takes to come up with new products and delivery systems,\" she said, \"and compare it to fuel cells, photovoltaics, and biofuels, the latter has a better chance for a quick turnaround.\"\nBlair agreed, but stressed repeatedly that virtually every region of this state and many other areas around the country are trying to get into this game, and the competition will be steep, meaning that the region has to put its best foot forward and be aggressive \u2014 and ready.\nEspecially if Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to pump $1 billion into the biosciences effort is passed by the Legislature \u2014 and most believe it will \u2014 and $100 million a year will be made available to players in that market for research and development.\n\"This region has to be positioned to get some of that windfall,\" said Blair. \"As an economic developer, you try to identify trends early, rather than when they're over; this is one that we should be paying attention to, and we will be paying attention to.\"\nGetting to Work\nThe emerging 'green' cluster is one of many that will need skilled workers, at a time when many already-developed sectors, including health care, precision machining, and financial services, are struggling mightily to fill vacancies.\n\"I go on the Web sites of major employers once a week to see what they have for job openings,\" said Denver, referring to the hospitals, colleges, and some major manufacturers in Springfield and across the Valley. \"I'm hearing the same thing \u2014 there are jobs, just not enough qualified and educated people to fill those jobs.\"\nThis trend applies to not only the private sector, but also the public sector, he continued, noting, for example, that area communities have hundreds of openings for teachers every summer, and most struggle to fill them.\n\"You start to ask the question, 'where are we going to find all these workers?' he said. \"'Why are the people we have here now not capable of filling these jobs?'\"\nFilling existing vacancies and closing the sizable skills gap is of paramount importance to the region and its future, said Ward, and for obvious reasons.\n\"There's a very real connection between the ability to grow your labor force and your ability to grow your economy,\" he explained. \"If you don't have labor force growth, you can't get economic growth; so we have to grow some of our own, and we have to do a better job with the people we have here.\"\nThe workforce plan will identify strategies for doing just that, he said, noting that this will be a collaborative effort involving area employers, economic development agencies, colleges, and other groups. \"This will be demand-driven \u2014 we'll be focusing on employer needs \u2014 and we'll be seeking additional resources, public and private,\" he said. \"And the backbone of this plan must involve across-the-board, new, and better ways to address the adult literacy problem, the English-as-a-second-language problem, and the missing soft skills that employers are complaining about.\"\nWhen it comes to the precision machining sector, it's hard skills, or the lack thereof, that is dogging those in that industry.\nLarry Maier, owner of Peerless Precision in Westfield and president of the local chapter of the National Machine Tooling Assoc. (NMTA), didn't raise his name, but implied that shop owners are feeling a little like Sisyphus pushing that rock. Finding enough qualified machinists is certainly an uphill battle.\nA recent survey of area shops revealed vacancy numbers that project to somewhere between 400 and 500 job openings in the region, he said. Meanwhile, with a retirement rate of 3% to 4%, there are another 200 or so vacancies each year, and the six area vocational high schools are graduating perhaps 30 or 40 people a year that are qualified for only entry-level jobs.\nAll this math provides ample evidence of the challenge facing area shops, most of which are either farming out work it can't handle due to a shortage of workers (Peerless is in this category) or simply turning it down.\n\"That's 30 in and 200 out \u2014 so there's a real disconnect,\" said Maier. \"We're fighting two battles at the same time; first, we need people to replace retirees, and two, we need people so we can stop turning away work; it's retention and growth simultaneously.\"\nThere has been some progress made toward putting more bodies in the pipeline, he continued, noting programs involving Springfield Technical Community College, Asnuntuck Community College, and the Mass. Career Development Institute to enhance the training of those already in the field or actively looking to entering it, and the resumption of the Manufacturing Technology program at Putnam Vocational High School in Springfield next month. But the sector must be diligent in pursuit of new avenues for gaining machinists, even if there is a downturn in the economy, because it takes several years for qualified help to come out of the pipeline.\n\"Take the Putnam program, for example; it will be four years before an entry-level person graduates from it \u2014 that's a long time,\" said Maier. \"To get a skilled machinist, one who could replace a retiree, that takes another five to 10 years.\n\"That's why, when we started this initiative, we said, 'whatever you do, it will take a minimum of five years to really get the spigot flowing,'\" he continued. \"So anytime you back off because of a downturn in the economy, it's going to take you five years to refill the pipeline.\"\nCourting Growth\nWorkforce issues comprise one of many challenges still facing Springfield in particular, said Denver, who, like Blair, noted that the city, through the Finance Control Board, has managed to put itself back on more-solid financial footing, and probably has the worst of its public relations problems behind it.\nIn fact, it has started to pick up some positive press both locally \u2014 in the form of a coordinated marketing campaign built around the theme \"Springfield's Back\" \u2014 and nationally, including a large spread in United Airways Magazine that was seen by an estimated 5 million people.\nBut while the city is seeing progress in some areas, said Denver, considerable work remains to reduce both crime and fear, improve on those aforementioned drop-out rates, and put some abandoned or underutilized parcels \u2014 several of them identified in the Urban Land Institute report on Springfield \u2014 back to productive use.\nThe York Street Jail is slated for demolition early next year, he said, and there is considerable interest in the site, including that of an unnamed developer who has forwarded a proposal to build an indoor basketball court complex that will attract youth tournaments and build on the riverfront's basketball- and fitness-related development pattern.\nThe Chapman Valve plant in Indian Orchard is also slated to be razed soon, said Denver, providing several different development prospects, and a request for qualifications will be issued shortly for 31 Elm St. in Court Square, which could be converted into a hotel or market-rate housing.\nThe broad goal is to make Springfield a more attractive destination for tourists, professionals, and business owners, said Blair, noting that while many area communities are thriving despite Springfield's recent problems, a healthier City of Homes benefits the region as a whole.\n\"Springfield is three times larger than any other community in the region \u2014 it's the center for a lot of things that are important to us as a region and define our region,\" he said. \"So we need to pay attention to the city, and we have to do everything we can to help it recover.\"\nAirbus can help in this regard, he said, by making the city and its attractions more accessible. The carrier started flying\nn and out of Westover in mid-July, and five months later, Blair is still closely monitoring the passenger counts on the inbound and outbound Columbus flights.\n\"There's been a few dips, but overall, we're still seeing about 100 people on the outbound flights and maybe 130 on the inbounds,\" he said, noting that the numbers may change following a schedule shift from early evening to midday. Inbound flights now arrive in Chicopee at 11:30 a.m., and the outbound departs an hour later.\n\"Some people like the change, and other people don't,\" said Blair, noting that some business travelers preferred getting in to Columbus at night, giving them a full day in the city the next day, while others like getting into Ohio earlier in the day and perhaps catching a connecting flight to another destination.\nMonitoring passenger volume is a big part of the effort to gauge the economic impact of Skybus, said Blair, noting that the service is providing a boost to several tourism- and hospitality-related businesses. It is hoped that the airline \u2014 and continued improvements to Springfield's image and finances \u2014 will bolster the tourist sector and bring more business to the MassMutual Convention Center.\n\"The arena is doing great, but the convention business is still rather anemic,\" he said of the two-year-old facility. \"There's a lot of competition for those conventions, and we're in there slugging it out. It takes some time to become a player in the market, and we'll get there because this area has a lot to offer.\"\nOverall, Blair said he believes Springfield, despite some lingering concerns about education and public safety, has turned some kind of corner.\n\"I have a feeling of empowerment in Springfield that I didn't sense two years ago,\" he said. \"I feel optimistic, and I think we all need to be optimistic \u2014 realistic, but optimistic.\"\nRiding a Cycle\nReturning to the subject of the national economy and its impact on the Pioneer Valley, Blair said that even in down times there is \"movement,\" meaning job growth in the form of new ventures and relocations.\n\"Looking back, I'd say that some of our better years have come during down cycles,\" he said, citing some large-scale developments in the early '90s, at the height of that recession, and others in the mid-'80s, during another downturn.\nIf history can repeat itself, maybe the region can enjoy a more exotic flavor when it comes to economic development. Perhaps pistachio \u2014 it's green.\nGeorge O'Brien can be reached at[email protected]\nTags: Construction Education Employment Health Care Manufacturing\nCharting Progress\nManager-employee Engagement Tips\nBy BusinessWest Staff December 6, 2017\nComfort and Dignity\nBy BusinessWest Staff December 11, 2006\nBy BusinessWest Staff October 23, 2012","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Poll appears to reflect partisan viewing\n46 percent of speech watchers choose 'very positive' response\nInteractive: Poll highlights\n\u2022 Poll: Confidence in war slides\n\u2022 Your e-mails: The situation in Iraq\n\u2022 Social Security plan spurs debate\nYOUR E-MAIL ALERTS\nor Create Your Own\nManage Alerts | What Is This?\n(CNN) -- A CNN\/USA Today\/Gallup poll of Americans who watched President Bush's Iraq speech Tuesday night showed that 46 percent had a \"very positive\" reaction to what they heard.\nThe poll was taken immediately after the speech, and the 323 adults interviewed were 50 percent Republican, 23 percent Democratic and 27 percent independent. The margin of error was plus or minus 6 percentage points.\nAnother 28 percent said they were \"somewhat positive\" about what they heard, and 26 percent said they had a \"negative\" reaction.\n\"It's difficult to tell from these poll results how the speech will affect general U.S. public,\" said CNN polling director Keating Holland.\n\"Many Americans did not watch the speech. Those who did were 2-to-1 Republican, so most were arguably already in the president's camp.\"\nThe percentage of those with a \"very positive\" reaction was down from the 60 percent expressing the same sentiment in a similar poll taken immediately after Bush's State of the Union speech in February.\nThe figure also was down from the 67 percent in a similar poll who responded that way to the president's \"mission accomplished\" speech May 1, 2003 -- two months after the war began.\nThat was the speech -- delivered under a banner reading \"Mission Accomplished\" on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln -- in which Bush declared, \"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.\"\nSince that speech, 1,601 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, according to the Pentagon, and as of Tuesday the overall total stood at 1,741.\nAll three polls were taken immediately after each speech and interviewed only those who watched the delivery.\nTuesday night's poll comes the day after a much larger CNN\/USA Today\/Gallup poll reported just 40 percent of those responding said they approved of Bush's handling of the war and that 58 percent said they disapproved. (Full story)\nThe same survey also found that 53 percent of respondents said they disapproved of Bush's performance in general, the highest level of his presidency, compared to 45 percent who approved. (Full story)\nRespondents in Tuesday night's poll also were asked three follow-up questions to ones put to them June 24-27.\nBush picked up some apparent support on the question of who is winning the war -- the U.S.-led coalition or the insurgents. Before the speech, 44 percent saw the United States winning; afterward that increased to 54 percent.\nThe president likewise picked up some support on the question of whether he has a clear plan in Iraq -- going from a 56 percent positive response before the speech to 63 percent afterward.\nBush was adamant that it would be wrong to set a timetable for withdrawing troops in Iraq, and a majority of poll respondents seemed to agree.\nOn the question of whether it would be better to announce a timetable or to keep troops in the country until conditions improve even if that took years, 70 percent said they would prefer the latter. That compares with 58 percent who expressed that view before the speech.\nBush has long argued that the Iraq war is crucial to the greater war on terrorism, but that position did not fare well in the poll compared to two years ago.\nRespondents were asked whether the Iraq war had made U.S. efforts against terrorism easier, tougher or made no difference.\nIn a similar poll immediately after Bush's \"mission accomplished\" speech, 75 percent of respondents said the Iraq war had made things easier in the war on terrorism.\nIn Tuesday's poll, only 45 percent agreed with that view, and 37 percent said the war had made the greater terrorism effort tougher, up from 11 percent in the May 2003 poll.\nFourteen percent said the Iraq war has made no difference in the war on terrorism, down from 23 percent in the previous poll.\nSubscribe to Time for $1.99\nGet up-to-the minute news from CNN\nCNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.\nALL AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Walther CREED pistol\nHeckler & Koch's new VP series pistols\nSmith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Pistol\nHome \/ Pistols \/ Smith & Wesson \/ Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Pistol\nSHOT Show 2017 - Smith & Wesson announced the debut of the S&W M&P M2.0 pistol, the latest innovation from the iconic firearms company\nSmith & Wesson introduced the second generation of the M&P striker-fired pistols at the SHOT Show!\nDesigned for personal, sporting, and professional use, the M&P M2.0 pistol delivers an entirely new platform, introducing innovative features in nearly every aspect of the pistol, including the trigger, grip, frame, and finish.\nThe M&P M2.0 pistols represent a remarkable step forward in Smith & Wesson's product line\nJames Debney, President and CEO of American Outdoor Brands Corporation, the parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., said, \"When we launched the first M&P polymer pistols over 10 years ago, they were a game changer for the company.\nSince that time, we have clearly established M&P as a leading firearm brand and built an incredibly strong family of products around it, including the market leading M&P Shield\u00ae pistols.\nNow, with a decade of experience under our belts, we are very excited and proud to reveal our next generation M&P pistol \u2013 the M&P M2.0. We expect this completely new product platform to clearly differentiate us from the competition and take significant share in the handgun market.\nWe are now launching the 9mm, 40S&W and .45 Auto versions of our full-size design, but stay tuned for multiple new product additions and line extensions in 2017 that will establish a completely new family based on this platform. This is a key strategic milestone in achieving our vision for the Firearms Division, which is 'To be the leading firearms manufacturer'.\"\nVIDEO \/ Smith & Wesson M&P\u00ae M2.0\u2122 Pistol\nMatt Buckingham, President of the Firearms Division, said, \"Our goal is to continually strengthen and grow our leadership position in firearms by meeting and then exceeding the needs, wants, and desires of the consumer.\nWith this goal always in our minds, the new product development team at Smith & Wesson tapped into more than a decade of M&P experience, performance data, and candid feedback from professional users when designing the M&P M2.0 Pistol \u2013 and it shows.\nWhen you pick up this pistol, the first thing you'll notice is an extraordinary grip that feels great in the hand \u2013 and that's just the beginning.\nFrom the grip, to the new aggressive texture, to the crisp trigger and audible reset, this pistol feels and fires like a next-generation model should \u2013 and more.\nThis is clearly one of the most advanced production pistols on the market today, and we believe it is the pistol that consumers have been waiting for.\nThe M&P M2.0 in 9mm and 40 caliber versions is in stock at our distributor partners and is shipping today.\"\nHighlights of the M&P M2.0 pistol include an extended stainless-steel chassis and high grip to barrel bore axis ratio for reduced muzzle rise and faster aim recovery.\nThe M&P M2.0 pistol further improves performance with a fine-tuned, crisper trigger, lighter pull, and a tactile and audible reset.\nThe pistol, available in three calibers, includes an aggressively-textured grip and four interchangeable palmswell inserts for optimal hand-fit and trigger reach. The M&P M2.0 is an ideal pistol for all shooters in all conditions.\nSuperior Ergonomic Design\nM&P pistol's optimal 18-degree grip angle, providing a natural point of aim\nM&P pistol high grip-to-barrel bore axis \u2013 more comfortable to shoot, faster aim recovery\nFour interchangeable dimensional palmswell grips for best-in-class fit: S,M,ML,L\nNew aggressive M2.0 textured grip for enhanced control\nNew front cocking serrations\nNew M2.0 crisp trigger with lighter trigger pull\nTactile and audible trigger reset\nAccurate 1 in 10\" twist 9mm and 40S&W, and 1 in 15\" twist .45 Auto M&P M2.0 barrels\nExtended rigid embedded stainless steel chassis to reduce flex and torque when firing\nTactical white 3-dot steel sights for quick target acquisition\nSuperior Controls\nAmbidextrous slide stop, reversible magazine release, and optional ambidextrous thumb safety\nSimple M&P take-down lever, for easy disassembly and maintenance\nM&P pistol sear deactivation lever \u2013 safe take-down without having to pull the trigger\nArmornite\u00ae - hardened nitride durable corrosion resistant finish on barrel and slide\nCerakote\u00ae FDE finish over Armornite\u00ae on Flat Dark Earth M2.0 slides\nThe M&P M2.0 pistol base model is priced within reach, at an MSRP of $599. It is available in the three most popular pistol calibers: 9mm, 40S&W and .45 Auto.\nThe striker-fire, semi-automatic polymer pistol is available in matte black or FDE \u2013 Flat Dark Earth \u2013 finishes and includes two magazines, a limited lifetime warranty, and a lifetime service policy.\nTo see the M&P M2.0 pistol in action, please visit https:\/\/www.smith-wesson.com\/brands\/mp\nFor more information on Smith & Wesson's M&P family of products, including the new M&P M2.0 pistols, please visit www.smith-wesson.com\nSmith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Pistol - Specifications\nM&P M2.0\nSemi-automatic striker-fired pistol\n9x19mm, .40 Smith & Wesson, .45 Auto\n\u2013 17+1 (9x19mm)\n\u2013 15+1 (.40 S&W)\n\u2013 10+1 (.45 ACP)\n\u2013 10 (for hi-cap mag ban markets)\n\u2013 10,8 cm \/ 4.\u00bc\" (9x19mm, .40 S&W)\n\u2013 11,7 cm \/ 4.6\" (.45 ACP)\n\u2013 12,7 cm \/ 5\" (Longslide variants)\nWhite-dot dovetailed steel front sight, two-dots dovetailed steel rear sight\n\u2013 18,79 cm \/ 7.4\" (9x19mm, .40 S&W)\n\u2013 20 cm \/ 7.9\" (.45 ACP)\n\u2013 21 cm \/ 8.3\" (Longslide variants)\nWeight (empty)\n\u2013 700,2 g \/ 24.7 oz (9x19mm)\n\u2013 734,3 g \/ 25.9 oz (.40 S&W)\n\u2013 765,4 g \/ 27 oz (.45 ACP)\n\u2013 762,6 g \/ 26.9 oz (9x19mm - Longslide)\n\u2013 776,8 g \/ 25.9 oz (.40 S&W - Longslide)\n$ 599 (U.S.)\nTBA (International)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Did car-sharing firm hack suspect enter an open door?\nBy\tSam Varghese\nA hue and cry has been raised after a security researcher was found to have breached a car-sharing firm's website and used some of the cars on offer without paying.\nWebsites have been falling over themselves to name the man, and to write reams about this \"hacker\" who appears to have done nothing more than walk through an open front door and sample some of the wares in the house.\nFor those who have not heard of the case, the NSW Cyber Crime Squad announced triumphantly on Wednesday that it had caught and charged a man \"who allegedly gained unauthorised access to a company's database and stole cars\".\nIn fact, the man never actually stole any cars. He used a few cars belonging to others on offer from the car-sharing service for transporting himself around.\nOf course, some may classify that as stealing because he didn't pay for the service, but billed it to others.\nHowever, the self-congratulatory NSW Cyber Crime Squad did not question why the company had not bothered to encrypt data that the public submitted to the site. That is the 101 of running an online business.\nGoGet's nominated media spokesperson Jonathan Englert did not respond to a query from iTWire asking why the company had not bothered to offer users basic encryption.\nGiven that the GoGet site is hosted by Amazon, the possibility that the data was lying unsecured in an Amazon S3 bucket exists and that the so-called \"hacker\" had to do nothing to access the data, apart from find it on the Web.\nDozens of such finds have been made by the security firm UpGuard \u2013 iTWire has reported on many of them.\nBut Englert was mum when asked about this too.\nOn the GoGet Web page set up after the arrest of the \"hacker\" was announced, there was no mention of why it had taken the company more than six months to inform the public not to submit data to the site which may have had more ways of being accessed than had been used by the suspect.\nBut then the NSW Cyber Crime Squad did not ask this question either.\nFrom what has been reported, breathlessly, the researcher appears to have some nous about infosec, and has provided information about other vulnerabilities in the past.\nThere is an acute shortage of good security professionals at the moment and people like this man are a much-needed quantity.\nBut given the way the media and the NSW Police are seemingly bent on demonising him over what could well turn out to be a very simple breach, one doubts that he will be given a fair hearing.\nInstead the reaction \u2014 as in the case of the teenager who pointed out flaws in the Public Transport Victoria website, only to be muzzled by authority \u2014 is well over the top.\nThe GoGet breach suspect does not appear to be a hardened criminal, but rather someone down on his luck who was tempted when he saw a lure and succumbed. Ask him to pay the $3500-odd in damages which he spent. And then he should be let off with a bond for good behaviour and one of the country's cyber security outfits would do well to snap him up as fast as possible.\nOverly-zealous law enforcement officials and businessmen who don't take basic precautions when they go online should not be allowed to make him a scapegoat.\nPublished in Open Sauce\nGoGet\nNSW Cyber Crime Squad\nJonathan Englert\nSam Varghese has been writing for iTWire since 2006, a year after the site came into existence. For nearly a decade thereafter, he wrote mostly about free and open source software, based on his own use of this genre of software. Since May 2016, he has been writing across many areas of technology. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years in India (Indian Express and Deccan Herald), the UAE (Khaleej Times) and Australia (Daily Commercial News (now defunct) and The Age). His personal blog is titled Irregular Expression.\nLatest from Sam Varghese\nHuawei signs deal with TomTom for use of maps on phones\nAustralia broadband cost down, but country ranks 113th out of 206 nations\nGlobal PC market returned to growth in 2019: Canalys\nACMA seeks feedback on ways that businesses influence broadcast news\nMore in this category: \u00ab NBN speeds: Mitch Fifield lives in another universe Cryptocurrencies: only one thing can be said with certainty \u00bb","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Counties and Local Food Systems\nbryan nettles August 18, 2012\nThe full pdf can be found here\nEnsuring Healthy Foods, Nurturing Healthy Children\nA Publication of the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities\nWritten by Casey Dillon Edited by Martin Harris\nAbout NACo \u2013 The Voice of America's Counties\nThe National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.\nAbout the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities\nThe NACo Center for Sustainable Communities'primary mission is to provide a forum for county leaders to work with other governments, the private sector and communities to develop policies and programs that will lead to better diet and weight loss, economic enhancement, environmental stewardship and social well being \u2014 the three pillars of sustainable communities. The Center helps local elected officials build sustainable communities by promoting community leadership initiatives, facilitating multi-ju- risdictional and public-private partnerships, providing technical assistance and training, and conducting community policy and educational forums.\nThe Center provides local elected officials with assistance in using policies and tools necessary for creating sustainable communities. In particular, local elected officials are interested in finding more cost-effective and comprehensive ways to address such issues as transportation management, brownfields revitalization, environmental protection, housing, energy conservation, job training, health and public safety.\nAlthough the Center's primary function is to serve counties, it has been a facilitator of partnerships across jurisdictional lines. Through a six-year partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors focusing on sustainability and regional- ism, the Center worked closely with America's cities in addressing economic, environmental and equity issues, producing an extensive library of technical assistance materials to address the challenges facing local governments.\nWhile the Center is not a repository of all relevant information on sustainable development, with its access to public and private sector leaders nationwide, it is a catalyst to help local government officials find solutions to problems facing their communities.\nThis publication was authored by Center Program Assistant Casey Dillon and edited by Former Center Director Martin L. Harris, with contributions from the American Farmland Trust, the Community Food Security Coalition, the National Farm to School Network, and the International City County Management Association.\nThe Center would like to say thank you to all of the people who were interviewed in researching for this publication: Kyle Richmond, Ruth Simpson, Lee Cunningham, Gerry Campbell, Ariel Bleth, Bill Carey, Linda Samel, Trudy Mizner, Janie Burns, Robert Marqusee, Mark Buschkamp, Mark Schuett, Matt Knepper, Dean Severson and Peter Olmstead.\nFor more information on the publication, the Center and its programs, please contact:\nCasey Dillon\nProgram Assistant\nCenter for Sustainable Communities National Association of Counties\n25 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20001\n((202) 942-4243 * cdillon@naco.org\nIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Infrastructure for Local Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Food Councils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Agricultural Conservation Easements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Farm to School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\nNational Association of Counties\nThis publication contains four methods and case studies for how county governments can support their local food systems. It was written with a focus on obesity prevention, but read- ers interested in the links between agriculture and economic development, environmental protection, and food security will also find the content useful.\nYouth Obesity\nand Access to Fresh Food\nThe NACo Center for Sustainable Commu- nities (the Center) wrote this publication with the goal of assisting county governments to leverage their local food systems, combat youth obesity and build healthy communi- ties. Numerous studies and the Center's own research have shown that access to healthy food is both a major challenge and a major opportunity for reducing obesity. Food access obstacles such as neighborhoods with few stores that sell fresh food and the high cost of fresh foods relative to unhealthy alterna- tives make it difficult for many children and families to obtain the fruits, vegetables and other wholesome foods they need in order to maintain a balanced diet. By working with local food systems to create communities in which there is ready and affordable access to healthy food, local governments play a key role in combating the obesity epidemic and creating a vibrant future for our children.\nLocal Food Systems\nLocal Food Systems are composed of all the interdependent steps and actors that go into producing the food that is grown and raised in a region. This includes: planting, raising, harvesting, storing, transporting, processing, packaging, marketing, and retailing of food, as well as actors such as farmers, suppliers, buyers and government.\nLocal food systems are an invaluable re- source for creating healthy communities be- cause their actors have the ability to increase the amount of affordable fresh food available in community stores, farmers markets, low income food basket programs, road side\nstands and restaurants. Not only can actors of local food systems increase healthy food access, they can also provide food education to citizens, teaching them about how food is grown, processed, marketed, what its history is, how to cook it, etc. Such education often encourages people to begin thinking more critically about what they eat on a day to day basis, and is an important step towards creat- ing community environments that promote healthy living.\nFour Methods\nto Support Local Food Systems\nThe following pages contain detailed descriptions of four methods counties have used to build their local food systems into rich community resources. The four methods are: food policy councils, farm to school programs, infrastructure for local producers and agricul- ture conservation easement programs. They were chosen for the success counties have had in implementing them and for their sig- nificant impact. Each method is paired with a comprehensive case study which illuminates how the method plays out on the ground, and includes peer-to-peer advice.\n1.Food Policy Councils\n(Case Study: Dane County, WI)\n\u2022 Bring stakeholders together\n\u2022 Make recommendations\n\u2022 Coordinate and deliver existing programs \u2022 Create new programs\n\u2022 Address policy barriers\n\u2022 Community outreach\n2.Farm to School\n(Case Study: Missoula County, MT)\n\u2022 Bring fresh food to school meals\n\u2022 Educate children about food\n\u2022 Instill lifelong healthy preferences\n\u2022 Support the local farm economy\n\u2022 Use less gas to transport food to schools\nLocal Food Systems are composed of all the interdependent steps and actors that go into producing the food that is grown and raised in a region.\nCounties and Local Food Systems \u2022 3\n3.Infrastructure Development\n(Case Study: Woodbury County, IA)\n\u2022 Enable farmers to offer new products to local purchasers\n\u2022 Aid farm entrepreneurs\n\u2022 Provide incentives for a new generation of small and\nmid scale farmers\n\u2022 Retain existing agriculture infrastructure \u2022 Respond to market changes\n4.Agriculture Conservation Easements\n(Case Study: Lancaster County, PA)\n\u2022 Set aside land for farming now and in the future \u2022 Ensure long term ability to grow local fresh foods \u2022 Preserve community character\n\u2022 Provide income for farmers\n\u2022 Conserve green space\nLeadership for Healthy Communities\nHelping counties build healthy communities is part of the mission of the NACo Center for Sustainable Communi- ties, and combating youth obesity is one issue to which the Center is particularly dedicated. For the past four years the Center has been an active partner in Leadership for Healthy Communities, a coalition of local government agencies funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foun- dation that is committed to promoting active living and combating obesity. For information about the Center's ongoing work, past projects or publications please visit www.naco.org\/sustainable or contact:\nProgram Assistant, Center for Sustainable Communities National Association of Counties\n25 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 500\ncdillon@naco.org\n4 \u2022 July 2007\nFood Councils\nPromoting farmers markets is one action food councils can take to increase the availability of fresh foods in communities.\nA food council is a group of stakeholders that provides support to governments and citizens in developing policy and programs related to the local food supply. The members of a food council have a solid understanding of the local food system and represent a di- versity of community interests. The structure of a food council will vary depending upon the character of the community it serves. For instance, many food councils are designed to advise governments on policy and are referred to as food policy councils, while oth- ers focus their energies on work within the community. Likewise, some food councils are official branches of government while others are recognized as advisory groups.\nFood and agriculture issues significantly affect public health, land use, hunger, com- munity culture, economy, environment and quality of life. Although most counties have agencies responsible for these individual is- sues, many do not have a single government body illuminating ways that food production\nand consumption impact these different areas, nor do they have a body making rec- ommendations for promoting the sustain- able development of the local food system. To address this gap, local governments have begun establishing food councils. Today, food councils exist in Dane County, WI; Palm Beach County, FL; Lane County, OR; Boulder County, CO; Jefferson County, AL; Pima County, AZ; and four California counties: Yolo, Oakland, Marin and Fresno. Food councils have also been established by several cities and states.\nFood councils serve as a comprehensive bridge of communication between communi- ty stakeholders, ensuring that they are aware of a common vision for the community's food supply and of each others' actions that affect it. Food councils can make recommendations, coordinate programs, create new programs, and address policy barriers. Food councils also serve as a citizen resource and a source of inspiration for grassroots efforts to sup- port farmers markets, community gardens, local food sourcing, etc. A useful resource for counties interested in starting their own food council is the Community Food Security Coali- tion (https:\/\/foodsecurity.org\/FPC\/index.html).\nLocally grown food is central to the County's history, culture, landscape, economy and health.\nHow County Governments Can Support Food Councils\nCounty governments can support food councils in a number of ways. First and foremost, they can sponsor their creation, either at the county or regional level. Once a food council is established a county can provide technical sup- port, in-kind support such as office space, funding or staff assistance. Political legitimization from elected officials is also invaluable to the success of food councils, and can be given in the form of participating on food councils, ad- dressing policy barriers and by publicizing and supporting their work.\nBest Practice Example: Food Councils\nDane County, WI\nThe Dane County Food Coun-\ncil was created in October 2005\nby a County Board resolution\nand at the recommendation of\na citizen advisory group that had been appointed by the county a year earlier to study the local food system: the Lo- cal Food Policy Advisory Subcommittee. Dane County, the City of Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisconsin Food System Partnership) initially contributed a total of $15,000 to support the Food Council in its first year. Since then, the Dane County Food Council has been an ac- tive and positive force in building the local food system.\nThere are twelve citizen members on the Dane County Food Council. They serve two-year terms and represent a range of interests and backgrounds including: small and large scale farmers, urban planners, nutrition and hunger prevention advocates, non-profit representatives, uni- versity professors and farmers market managers. These positions are appointed by the County Executive and two County Board Committees. This was a natural fit in Dane County due to its long legacy of citizen and community support for sustainable agriculture.\nDane County has a dynamic and growing local food sys- tem including highly productive farms, numerous farmers markets and restaurants, and unique community events such as the Food for Thought Festival, Breakfast on the Farm and Corn Fest. Locally grown food is central to the County's history, culture, landscape, economy and health. The Food Council grew out of this rich heritage. In 1997, a conference on urban food systems was held in Madison that built public interest around food security, access to fresh produce, and local farm economy and preservation issues. This conference was the result of a partnership of University and citizen groups funded by a W.K. Kellogg foundation grant called the Wisconsin Food Systems Partnership. It was because of strong citizen interest in\nThe mayor of Madison, WI speaks with local farmers about issues affecting agricultural production.\nissues such as these that Kyle Richmond, Chair of Dane County's Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, appointed the Local Food Policy Advisory Sub- committee in 2004. He directed the Subcommittee to study and make recommendations about the local food system. After a year of research and deliberation the Subcommit- tee made a number of recommendations in a document entitled \"Recipes for Success,\" one of which was to create a food policy council. The Dane County Executive was sup- portive of this recommendation.\nWhen it was approved in 2005, the Dane County Food Council was charged with implementing many of the other recommendations the Local Food Policy Advisory Subcom- mittee had made. In order to address these multiple recom- mendations and support local citizen efforts, Food Council members divided themselves into four subcommittees: the Farmers' Market Network Subcommittee, Institutional Food Purchasing Subcommittee, Market Basket Subcommittee and Education and Outreach Subcommittee. The Food Council meets monthly, and members on the four subcom- mittees meet with volunteers and partners more regularly. The monthly meetings are open to the public, and often feature speakers who broaden the Food Council's under- standing of Dane County's food system and the factors affecting it.\nDane County's Role\nDane County supports its Food Council in a number of ways. Since the County recognized the Food Council as an official body in late 2005, the County has provided funding, in-kind assistance, and political support. The Environmental, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee has oversight over the Food Council's budget. The budget pays primarily for a part time staff person who is housed in the Planning and Development Department. These types of support al-\nlow the Dane County Food Council to function professionally and effectively. The Food Council has also benefited from the political support of county officials such as Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently presented recognition awards at the Food Council's annual conference in March 2007.\nDane County also provides guidance to its Food Council. The Board and Executive ap- point new members to the Food Council when existing members exhaust their term limits. Food Council members check in on a regular basis with the county officials who appointed them and with the Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which hears and represents any policy proposals or comments that the Food Council wants to put before the Board.\nBenefits to the Community\nSince its creation, the Food Council has achieved a great deal. The Farmer's Market Network Subcommittee helped to create the Farmers Market Alliance for South Central Wisconsin, a network of farmers' markets in Dane County and the surrounding region, which supports and promotes the vitality of\nmarkets by sharing resources and informa- tion. The Farmers Market Alliance is working to make WIC and food stamp debit machines available at all markets by offering workshops about this opportunity and raising funds for mini-grants. In addition, the Farmers' Market Alliance is raising funds for joint marketing and promotion projects.\nThe Institutional Food Purchasing Subcom- mittee worked with citizen groups and local farmers to pass a County Board resolution that encourages local sourcing of foods purchased for the County jail, juvenile retention center, and senior centers. The resolution supports the local farm economy and increases the like- lihood that the people served in these county buildings will receive fresh food. The Subcom- mittee is also partnering with other groups addressing local food purchasing through Universities, schools, hospitals, hotels, and convention centers.\nThe Market Basket Subcommittee expanded a program that provides baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables to low income households. The program offers a choice of four baskets: regular box which serves a family of four, half box for seniors or individuals, organic box, and a box tailored to the Latino community. The\nBy sourcing directly from farmers and eliminating the middle man, the Market Basket program is contributing to greater food security and a more balanced diet, while at the same time creating\na reliable market for small-scale farmers.\nDane County residents shop at the Southside Farmers Market.\nHealth Care Delivery and Financing \u2022 7\ncost ranges from $8-$26 per week, with a savings of $6-$15 over the retail price. By sourcing directly from farmers and eliminating the middle man, the Market Basket program is contributing to greater food security and a more balanced diet, while at the same time creating a reliable market for small-scale farmers.\nThe Outreach and Education Subcommittee planned the Council's first annual \"Planting Seeds for Our Future\" Conference in March 2007 which attracted more than 150 people. The Food Council solicited nominations from the community and hosted a recognition ceremony for 22 lo- cal leaders who are helping to create a vibrant community food system. The conference also included workshop ses- sions on topics such as childhood obesity prevention, lake fish as a food source, new immigrant farming, food waste in land fills and alternative composting operations, grow- ing new fruit crops for market (i.e. Aronia), state legislation and the Farm Bill, and community gardens. At this event the Food Council also gained valuable insight and input from community members who will help shape its vision and sow the seeds for future action.\nPeer-to-Peer Advice\nAsked what they would say to officials interested in starting food councils in their own counties, leaders of the Dane County Food Council gave the following advice:\n\u2022 Look at the intersection between food and important issues in your community such as hunger, obesity, the farm economy and land use. If it seems like the community would benefit from the leadership of a food council, call a meeting of affected stakeholders and have a discussion with them around the question: if we had a food council, what would it look like?\n\u2014 Kyle Richmond, Chair, Dane County Agriculture, Envi- ronment and Natural Resources Committee\n\u2022 The Food Council should serve as a way for people and organizations concerned about food access, food production and food processing to interact and create a tapestry that can be stronger than the sum of its parts. Creating a local food system that is economically and environmentally sustainable should be a mission for every county across the country. But, keep in mind that going through the county government process of approving a food council takes time. It is important to speak to elected officials because to be successful political support is crucial.\n\u2014 Ruth Simpson, Chair, Dane County Food Council\n\u2022 Most counties have a connection to the Cooperative Extension system which provides many research-\nbased education programs related to food production, safe affordable nutrition practices through the Nutrition Education Program for low-income families, essential family living issues, sustainable community development and long-term environmental quality. Cooperative Extension is also directly connected to the Land Grant University which is an important ally as well.\n\u2014 Lee Cunningham, Dane County, UW-Extension, Depart- ment Head\n\u2022 Look for well-positioned resource partners. For instance local colleges and universities, especially those public \"Land Grant\" universities, are an excellent place to look for expertise, resources, and partners for grants; it is part of their mission to support local communities, they can be a source of faculty expertise and student volunteers and they often have access to grant money.\n\u2014 Gerry Campbell, Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison Extension\nwww.countyofdane.com\/foodcouncil\nDawn Burgardt, Program Coordinator Dane County Food Council\n210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Rm. 362 Madison WI 53703-3342 (608)266-4540 burgardt@co.dane.wi.us\nA farm to school program exists when a K-12 school dis- trict or school purchases fruit, vegetables and other fresh products from local farms to serve as part of school meals and\/or snacks. There is often an education component in which students learn about nutrition and the food supply. Education varies by program, but it is common for stu- dents to take trips to local farms and taste test and learn about topics such as animal husbandry, soil fertility and harvesting. It is also common for students to participate in school gardens, learning how to grow their own food and how this ties in with science, math and other subjects. Older students often participate in nutrient mapping ex- ercises and some schools offer cooking classes in which students prepare food using local ingredients. School size and capacity and involvement of local growers are three important factors that influence the scope of farm to school programs.\nA Missoula Public Schools employee prepares locally grown peaches to serve with students' lunch.\nA national farm to school movement has been build- ing for over a decade, bringing fresh nutritious food into school cafeterias while at the same time strengthening local farm economies. Supported by parents, schools, community groups, state preferential purchasing laws, the United States Department of Agriculture and the De- partment of Defense, farm to school programs now exist in 1,035 school districts in 35 states. The National Farm to School Network (www.farmtoschool.org\/) provides infor- mation and resources to those involved. Farm to school programs are also part of a larger farm to cafeteria move- ment, which brings locally grown food into hospitals, jails, businesses, universities and other institutions.\nIncreasingly, community leaders are recognizing that farm to school programs have potential to counteract obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension among America's youth. If left unchanged the current eating habits of many of America's youth will result in significant consequences down the road: high medical costs, unnecessarily early death, and reduced quality of life.\nStudents eat up to 40% of their meals through the school meal programs. Thus, changing the menu and bringing locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables into cafeterias encourages America's children to consider the intersec- tion between their health and their food. It puts nutritious options in front of kids in an era when they are surrounded by ads for fast food, soft drinks and candy. Though food does not necessarily have to be local to be nutritious, locally grown food is often more flavorful, and kids are intrigued by the 'cool factor' of knowing that the food on their plates comes from places in their community.\nAnother benefit worth noting of local food purchasing is that food only has to be transported a short distance. This reduces the fuel required to ship it and cuts down on carbon emissions, road wear and cost.\nHow County Governments can Support Farm to School\nDue to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Defense programs, as well as laws in a number of states, many counties will find that the re- sources to create vibrant farm to school programs in their communities already exist, and that they can capitalize on these resources by encouraging school and farm leaders to collaborate and take advantage of them.\nThere is also a need for local leadership in facilitating\nThrough cost analysis the school district found that buying these local seasonal foods was either less expensive or no more expensive than what it would have cost to purchase comparable foods through mainstream suppliers such as Food Services of America and Sysco.\n10 \u2022 July 2007\npreferential purchasing and production, distribution and storage needs. Due to the current wording of USDA farm to school rules many food service directors feel they can not use federal funds to purchase local food unless it is less expensive than all other comparable options. Counties can assist farm to school programs by supporting local purchasing and by helping fund it. Anther key county action is working with farmers to improve their ability to provide food to schools. Often times small and mid sized local farmers struggle to meet large orders of fruits and vegetables, lack processing facilities to transform their products into forms school kitchens can easily use (for instance washed, chopped, frozen vegetables that are ready to cook and serve) and lack an effective storage and transportation infrastructure to get their food to central school kitchens.\nCounties can also support farm to school programs with general political, financial and educational assistance.\nBest Practice Example: Farm to School\nMissoula County, MT\nMissoula Farm to\nSchool began in 2005\nthanks to a question\nasked by a young\nwoman named Cris-\nsie McMullan. As a\ngraduate student,\nMcMullan started the farm to college program at the University of Montana. In 2004, excited about the success of the farm to university program, McMullan reached out to the Food Service Manager of Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) and asked if any of Missoula's thirteen school districts would be interested in starting up a farm to school program. The Food Service Manager was interested, but realized that sourcing from local farmers would require staff hours she couldn't spare. Encouraged by the Food Service Manager's interest, McMul- lan began looking for ways to provide the necessary staff support. In 2005 she secured a private sector grant that paid for two graduate students from the University of Montana to help start and staff Missoula Farm to School. The program serves students in Montana County Public School District 1.\nIn its first year, Missoula Farm to School built\nrelationships with farmers and tested the feasibility of sourcing from local farmers with two \"Montana Made Meal Events.\" In each event 3,000 school children received a meal made with locally grown ingredients. The first meal event, held in the fall of 2005, included one food item each day of the week that was made entirely of Montana products. The sec- ond meal event, held in the spring of 2006, featured an entire meal made of Montana products. Despite a few minor glitches, the Montana Made Meal Events demonstrated to the Food Service Manager that working with local farmers was doable, and Mis- soula Farm to School staff began working to purchase Montana grown food on a regular basis. Thanks to their effort, in the first part of the 2006-2007 school year over 16,000 lbs of Montana grown food were purchased, including: oats, whole wheat flour, peaches, apples, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, pota- toes, zucchini, cheese, pasta, honey and salad greens. Nearly all of these products were or- ganically grown. Through cost analysis the school district found that buying these local seasonal foods was either less expensive or no more expensive than what it would have cost to purchase comparable foods through mainstream suppliers such as Food Services of America and Sysco.\nMissoula Farm to School provides an educational component to complement its food sourcing. Staff works with community partners to provide lessons to students about the food they eat, where it comes from, and how it is processed and prepared. Programs include field trips to local farms, taste tests of Montana grown foods, a mobile cooking cart in which students grind their own flour and make biscuits and a nutritional activity linking USDA guidelines to food production. Thus far, in the 2006-2007 year alone, Missoula Farm to School has helped provide educational programs to over 1,600 K-12 youth.\nMissoula County Public School District 1 has been very supportive of Missoula Farm to School. Last year the Board of Trustees passed a unanimous resolution supporting the pro- gram, and the Food Service Director and farm to school staff held meetings with farmers to discuss what they were planning to plant so that they could reliably supply the food MCPS would need during the school year. One of the reasons Missoula Farm to School got off the ground and gained support so quickly is because of the community assets to which it\nAriel Bleth, Program Coordinator of Missoula Farm to School, teaches students what foods grow in their state.\nhas access. There is broad interest in the Missoula region for community supported agriculture and nutrition edu- cation. County and city officials sit on the regional food council, the Missoula City-County Health Department is dedicated to utilizing local farmers and gardeners as a tool to improve citizen nutrition, community gardens are grown on land donated by the city, the University of Montana offers numerous locally focused agriculture pro- grams, there is an established farmers market that accepts WIC\/senior vouchers and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, and there are local farmers who produce a large variety of food.\nThanks to this rich community environment, Missoula Farm to School had access to a pre-existing database of farmers, vendors and contractors, as well as contacts with producer groups such as the Western Montana's Growers Cooperative and a community of Hmong growers. Without this information, Missoula Farm to School staff would have had to spend significant time making cold calls to farmers figuring out how to supply and deliver enough products from different farms to meet school demand. Community contacts also helped Missoula Farm to School tackle the challenge of how to prepare locally grown products so that they meet the needs of school cafeterias. As in many public school districts, Missoula County Public School cafeteria and central kitchen staff have little flexibility in experimenting with new foods. Collaboration with the University of Montana, the Mission Mountain Market Enterprise and farms such as Common Ground Farm help\nto create value-added forms of local foods, such as \"carrot coins,\" which more easily meet the needs of institutional food procurement.\nMissoula County's Role\nMissoula County provides political support to Missoula Farm to School in a number of ways. The County encour- ages purchasing of local agricultural products in its legis- lation, such as the Missoula Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency Plan and Joint Resolution Number 6889. Joint Resolution Number 6889 was passed by the City and the County in 2005 and is particularly important because it states that both governments will \"actively support ef- forts to increase the security of the local food system so that it is based on sustainable agriculture.\" The resolution also supported the creation of the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, the Missoula region's food policy council, and stipulates that a county commissioner serve on it. Commissioner Bill Carey currently fills this role, bring- ing with him a long history of work in Montana's food and nutrition communities. Missoula Farm to School is under the umbrella of the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition and shares in the support the County gives the council. The Missoula City-County Health Department also supports Missoula Farm to School as part of its promotion of local food system programs.\nBenefits of Missoula Farm to School are numerous. Perhaps most important among them is that students are receiving fresh produce and dairy products as part of their school lunch. Having fresh, flavorful and visually appealing foods on student's lunch trays increases the chance that they will eat them and obtain important nutrients, as does the fact that the students know the foods come from their home state. Fresh products also tend to contain less sugar, salt, food colorings and preservatives. Large amounts of these ingredients have been linked to obesity, high blood pressure and other chronic health diseases; by familiariz- ing youth with alternatives Missoula Farm to School helps instill a preference for healthy foods. Students also benefit from the nutrition education Missoula Farm to School of- fers. Learning to think about the food they eat and what their bodies need from it is a life long skill that will help them maintain balanced nutrition.\nThe farm to school program also has economic benefits. Schools are major food purchasers. Knowing that they are willing to source locally is a significant incentive for farmers to expand their existing operations, and for interested par- ties to start new farms. This growth in the local agriculture sector generates income, jobs and opportunities for new service providers such as processors and distributors to establish themselves in the community.\nCounties and Local Food Systems \u2022 11\nOther benefits of Missoula Farm to School include re- duced environmental impact. Missoula Farm to School reduces the County's environmental footprint by lowering the amount of resources needed to transport food from suppliers to schools (fuel to transport it, energy to cool it, packaging to transport it in, etc.).\nAsked what they would say to officials interested in start- ing farm to school programs in their own counties, leaders in Missoula County gave the following advice:\n\u2022 \"Farm to School ideally links what happens in the cafeteria with what happens in the classroom, creating an entire school environment that supports healthy choices. For children to understand how their choices affect their own physical well-being, as well as that of their community and surrounding environment, it is essential that we provide them with the opportunity to build connection and relationship \u2013 with where their food comes from, who grows it and how it is prepared.\"\n\u2014 Ariel Bleth, Program Coordinator, Missoula Farm to School\n\u2022 All the communities in the country need to grow and prepare more of their own food. Missoula's Community Food and Agriculture Coalition and the programs it supports are on the leading edge of this effort.\"\n\u2014 The Honorable Bill Carey, Commissioner, Missoula County\n\u2022 \"If you don't have a cooperative or a group in the community where people from the schools can meet with farmers and work out what foods are needed and how to supply them, start one. Communication is key to making farm to school programs work.\"\n\u2014 Linda Samel, Food Service Director, Missoula County Public Schools District 1\n\u2022 \"The Missoula City-County Health Department got involved in efforts to grow locally available fresh foods and educate people about them because of the obesity and nutritional needs of our residents. This has proven a proactive way to improve citizen health and I recommend it to other health departments.\"\n\u2014 Trudy Mizner, Nursing Services Supervisor, Missoula City-County Health Department\nwww.umt.edu\/cfa\/Farm%20To%20School2.htm\nAriel Bleth\nMissoula Farm to School Program 219 S 3rd St W\n(406) 549-0543 missoulaf2s@montana.com\nfor Local Producers\nWoodbury County residents enjoy fresh food and good company at Fiona's Firehouse Bistro, a restaurant that serves locally grown vegetables, meat, and fruit.\nInfrastructure for local producers means land on which to grow food, suppliers from which to purchase seeds, inputs, tools and machinery; facilities in which to store goods, processing and packing facilities to transform raw products into marketable ones, and shipping and distri- bution methods to deliver products to buyers.\nNo matter the size of their operation, farmers need in- frastructure in order to run effective businesses. To have a vibrant local food system, a county must have solid infra- structure to support it. In researching for this publication, examples of county-supported agriculture infrastructure development, particularly for mid and small sized farmers, were hard to find, though there were many calls for it.\nIn most agricultural communities at least some infra- structure is already in place to help farmers run successful\noperations. Commonly, this infrastructure is geared to- wards large scale producers, and there is a growing need for infrastructure that accommodates mid and small sized producers. As Janie Burns, small farm entrepreneur from Canyon County, ID says, \"The middle pieces are what's often missing for small farmers who want to expand their businesses. We can increase our supply, and we know that there is a demand for our products, but where do we process our foods and how do we transport and store them? Right now, most of those systems are designed to accommodate large scale producers and buyers rather than small operations.\"\nSmall and mid sized producers are most likely to sell their products locally, and infrastructure gives them the leg up they need to begin expanding production. It also encour- ages new small and mid sized entrepreneurs to start up operations. The federal government offers funding to communities who wish to build up community-oriented agriculture through USDA Extension grant programs such\nThe Board passed the Organics Conversion Policy and became the first county in\nthe nation to make tax rebates available to farmers who convert to organic agriculture.\nMoney is staying in the community.\nas Community Food Projects and SARE. Infor- mation about these programs can be found at www.csrees.usda.gov\/fo\/communityfoodproj- ects.cfm and www.csrees.usda.gov\/fo\/sustain- ableagricultureresearchandeducation.cfm.\nThough smaller farmers are more likely to sell locally, producers of all sizes provide fresh foods to communities, and all of them can use infrastructure help from local governments when faced with challenges such as changes in market demand and loss of agricultural base. Changes in market demand often require farmers to start raising different types of food or following new certification standards, and these changes can necessitate new processing facilities, storage, and distribution. Loss of the agricultural base occurs when falling commod- ity prices and\/or development pressures lead to farm closures. If a community loses enough of its farms, suppliers and processors who have for years operated in the community may move away and leave remaining farmers stranded.\nHow County Governments Can Help Provide Infrastructure for Local\nDepending on the need, county govern- ments can help provide local agricultural in- frastructure in different ways. If there is a need to support small and medium scale producers, counties often have the greatest impact by as- sisting in the creation of storage, processing, and distribution infrastructure that accommo- dates smaller producers. County government can do this by: streamlining permit processes for such facilities, providing mini-grants to- wards their creation, donating county resourc- es and helping farmers establish partnerships with community stakeholders who can offer these services.\nIf there is a need to respond to changing market conditions, counties can work with farmers and agriculture industry groups to sup- port new products and certification standards. If a community is at risk of loosing existing infrastructure, counties can offer infrastructure providers incentives to remain, such as tax rebates and political support. They can also ensure existing infrastructure providers that farming will remain a mainstay in the local economy for years to come through steps such as: conservation easements, financial aid for farmers, economic success strategies for local agriculture, political support and zoning.\nBest Practice Example: Infrastructure\nfor Local Producers Woodbury County, IA\nWoodbury Coun-\nty has recently\ngained recognition\nas one of the lead-\ning counties in the\neffort to support local farm economies. A ma- jor reason for this is that in 2005 Woodbury County hired a Director of Rural Economic De- velopment and charged him with determin- ing why the county's traditional agricultural economy was declining and what they could do to simulate growth while maintaining the rural character of the community. One of the recommendations the Director made to the County Board was to encourage local purchasing. Another was to begin produc- ing organic niche products. Growing organic was not something that Woodbury County farmers had much experience with, but with a steady history of 20% growth or more per year and a gap in American suppliers, organic niche products seemed like a promising way to transition to a prosperous agricultural economy.\nAt the Director's recommendation, the Board passed the Organics Conversion Policy and became the first county in the nation to make tax rebates available to farmers who convert to organic agriculture. The Board also passed the Local Food Purchase Policy, which requires the County Food Service Contractor to purchase locally grown food, with a pref- erence for organics. In addition, the Board Passed the Woodbury Health Initiative which established a public campaign for healthy lifestyles. One aspect of the campaign is ini- tiating middle school cooking classes using local fresh ingredients.\nIt was in this context that the County and regional stakeholders began collaborating to build infrastructure to support local and organic farmers. One of the first steps was the opening of a store in Sioux City to sell locally grown and organic produce. Next, the County partnered with community stakeholders to renovate a commercial kitchen that is used by a local food\/organic restaurant and will also soon be used to process organic salsa using locally grown ingredients. In the County's\nLocally produced soaps are sold at the new Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market.\nmost recent effort to improve infrastructure for local organic growers, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sioux City (county seat), and Woodbury County are tak- ing steps to market an existing 280,000 sq.ft. cold stor- age\/packaging\/distribution facility as a major initiative to develop the entire region into the \"midwest center of the organic food industry\".\nThe cold storage facility is unique among the County's efforts in that it is a large scale infrastructure investment by the firm of Jacobson-Bekin. It would be able to hold much more organic food than is currently produced in Woodbury County. The goal is to lease the entire space to organic growers from the greater area and develop a reputation for the Woodbury region as the place to go for organic agriculture services. This is not an unrealistic goal, considering that neighboring Cherokee County boasts BIOWA Natreseutical-Spectrum Organics' flax process- ing plant as well as American Natural Soy's processing plant. Entrepreneur Mark Schuett, founder of American Natural Soy, shares Woodbury County's desire to develop the region into an organic hub where growers send their products to be stored, processed, etc. He has seen his own business grow by tapping into the organics market, and believes that by investing in infrastructure to make the region a leader in organics Woodbury and Cherokee Counties could see huge gains in their economies and quality of life. Another step Woodbury County has taken in this direction is to acquire its own trademark, \"Sioux City Sue\" to brand foods produced from local ingredients. This brand will ideally function like other popular regional quality food labels such as Organic Valley.\nDespite Woodbury County's efforts to support local and organic farmers, a change from traditional to organic agricultural practices has not taken place overnight. In a\ncommunity where farmers have been growing corn and soybeans for generations, many are not comfortable with changing their ways and are skeptical of 'hippie farm- ing.' But some change has taken place. Local sales have increased and two farms have converted to organic. In ad- dition, new jobs have been created due to the increased sales and the processing of local products.\nWoodbury County's Role\nWoodbury County played a major role in developing infrastructure to support local\/organic farmers. That role began with the Board hiring a Director of Rural Economic Development and continued with their passing the Or- ganics Conversion Policy, Local Food Purchase Policy and Woodbury Health Initiative. Encouraged by these policies, two farms shifted to organic production and other local farmers began diversifying their production and looking to sell more goods to local buyers. This resulted in a need for new infrastructure.\nTo help create that infrastructure the County supported the creation and expansion of a local food store via politi- cal support and by purchasing food from the store through the County food service contractor. The Board worked with a coalition of stakeholders to fund the renovation of the commercial grade kitchen, giving $20,000 of the $100,000 project. Currently, the Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to establish a working relationship with Jacobson-Bekin, the owner of the cold storage facility that the County would like to see made available to organic producers.\nWoodbury County growers sell fruits and vegetables at the newly created Sioux City Organic Farmer's Market.\nConstituents benefit in a number of ways from the in- frastructure Woodbury County has created to support its local and organic farmers \u2013a local foods store, an organic commercial grade kitchen and steps towards an organic cold storage facility. They have more access to fresh food through the local foods store. Money is staying in the community because the store is purchasing from local producers, shoppers are purchasing food from the store, and workers are being hired and paid by the store and the new salsa processing operation. If the County is successful in leasing the cold storage facility, it will be a big step to- wards creating a reputation for the Woodbury\/Cherokee region as an organic production hub. Becoming a leader in the growing organic segment of the agriculture industry would invigorate Woodbury County's entire farm sector and also has the potential to slow another problem the community has struggled with of late: youth flight.\nFew young people have chosen to stay on and continue the family farm in recent years. Some reasons for this are the financial hardships that most mainstream farmers face and the fact that conventional farming relies heavily on machinery and agrichemicals such as pesticides and fer- tilizers. Across the nation, younger people are more and more often drawn to organic farming. Some are taking note of what is going on in Woodbury County. One couple who grew up in Woodbury County and then moved to Texas is coming back and starting an organic farm.\nAsked what they would say to officials interested in creating infrastructure and invigorating the economic prospects for producers in their own counties, leaders in Woodbury County and Cherokee County gave the follow- ing advice:\n\u2022 \"Most people think we have to look outside of Woodbury County to reinvigorate our economy, but we live in one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. We simply have to be willing to support local farmers and help them develop products that are lucrative in today's markets rather than putting them out of business just to save a few dollars in the short term.\"\n\u2014 Robert Marqusee, Director, Woodbury County Rural Economic Development Dept.\n\u2022 The growing market for locally raised fresh foods and organics is often much more obvious in urban areas than in traditional farm communities like ours. Because farmers don't see those products in the grocery stores they shop at, they often need to be educated about these emerging markets and the profits than can be made in them.\n\u2014 Mark Buschkamp, Executive Director, Cherokee Area Economic Development\n\u2022Incorporating as many infrastructure projects in the region as you can is key. This creates a preferred\nspot to have processing done and draws significant investment into the region. In terms of organic agriculture, a wide range of infrastructure services is especially important, because when you don't use pesticides you have to grow a greater variety of crops to keep the land fertile and weed free. Thus, you need not only corn and soy facilities, but also wheat and alfalfa facilities.\n\u2014 Mark Schuett, President, American Natural Soy\nwww.woodbury-ia.com\/departments\/EconomicDevelop- ment\/index.asp\nRobert Marqusee\nDirector, Rural Economic Development (712) 279-6609 rmarqusee@sioux-city.org\nAgricultural Conservation Easements\nAgricultural conservation easement programs ensure that farms like these will remain available for food production for generations to come.\nAgricultural conservation easements are deed restric- tions landowners voluntarily place on their property to keep land available for agriculture. They are flexible docu- ments tailored to each property and the needs of individual landowners. They may cover an entire parcel or portions of a property. Landowners (grantors) may either donate or sell easements to qualified conservation organizations, including: private land trusts, soil and water conservation districts and public agencies such as local, tribal and state governments. The conservation organization (grantee) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the restrictions set forth in the agreement. After the easement is granted, the landowner retains title to the property and can con- tinue to live on and\/or use the property.\nAt least 55 local governments and 27 states have de- veloped programs to purchase agricultural conservation easements. Furthermore, the USDA Natural Resources\nConservation Service offers matching funds to established programs. Agricultural conservation easement programs and federal support for them exists because the farmland that is essential to America's food production is also flat, well drained and inexpensive to develop. By permanently protecting agricultural land, agricultural conservation easement programs preserve the capacity to produce food locally now and for future generations, setting the stage for community environments in which access to fresh food is something all citizens are accustomed to and rely on.\nMany farmers who enter into agriculture conservation easements continue to grow crops and raise animals on their land, but a farmer does not necessarily have to farm under an agriculture conservation agreement. He must maintain his land in such a state that farming could resume in the future. Whether in use or not, communities enjoy the local history and culture, open space and envi- ronmental amenities that preserved farmland provides.\nThe community is not the only party to benefit when farmers sell or donate their development rights, farmers\nMore farmers are interested in selling their development rights than the agencies have funds to purchase.\nbenefit too. For those who want to keep the farm in the family for generations, agricultural conservation easements offer a form of estate planning. After selling their development rights farmer's taxes generally go down, and if they donate their rights rather than selling them there is a federal tax benefit. Selling development rights is also a way of tapping into the equity of one's property and gaining capitol that can be put towards farm improve- ments, debt or retirement.\nHow County Governments Can Support Farmland Conservation Easements\nCounty governments can support agricul- tural conservation easement programs first and foremost by making such programs avail- able to their constituents. Counties can sup- port legislation and funding for agricultural conservation easements or work through the state or federal government to provide farmers with a conservation easement op- tion. Counties also can support a non-profit organization's creation of a land trust. Once a conservation agency has been established, county governments can support them by giving funds and\/or political support.\nBest Practice Example: Farmland Conservation Easements\nIn 1978, a group\nof Lancaster County\ncitizens created an\nAgriculture Preser-\nvation Task Force and\nbegan lobbying the Board\nof Commissioners to take advantage of a re- cently passed state law that allowed for the purchase of development rights. They were motivated out of dismay at the loss of prime agricultural land and also out of a desire to preserve the farms that represented their livelihood, their heritage and their culture. After three years their work paid off and the Lancaster County Commissioners appointed a nine member Agricultural Preserve Board. Three years later, the county added staff members and made the Agricultural Preserve Board into an official department charged\nwith administering the purchase of develop- ment rights program for farmers.\nDuring the nineties, the sizable Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County became interested in conserving their farm- land as well, and the Lancaster Farmland Trust was created. The Lancaster Farmland Trust functions as a compliment to the Agricultural Preserve Board, offering a non-governmental option for preserving farmland. In 1999, both conservation agencies became incorporated into the Pennsylvania state agricultural pro- gram.\nSince their inceptions the two conservation agencies have preserved over 69,000 acres of farmland, with the Agricultural Preserve Board preserving over 54,000 acres and the Lancaster Farmland Trust preserving over 15,000. This represents over a tenth of the land in the county. Today, both organizations have wait lists; more farmers are interested in selling their development rights than the agencies have funds to purchase. Of course, for those who can afford donate all or some of their development rights, the wait list is much shorter.\nA farmer may also have a shorter wait de- pending upon the characteristics of his or her land. The Agricultural Preserve Board receives a sizable portion of its funding from the state, and as such is required to use GIS technology to rank which farms it should buy development rights from. Using GIS, the Agricultural Preserve Board compares soil quality, development potential, farm potential, and clustering (how close the farm is to others that have sold their development rights). The Lancaster Farmland Trust receives less funding through the state but has greater flexibility in how it prioritizes farms. Donations from local municipalities also help the conservation agencies in their work.\nThe efforts of Lancaster County's two agri- cultural conservation agencies have a strong overlap with the efforts of the County Plan- ning Commission. Since 1992, the County of Lancaster has been targeting new develop- ment to designated growth areas. Recently, the Commission also established designated rural areas. Because the state of Pennsylvania is a commonwealth, the County does not have ultimate authority when it comes to land use planning; the townships and Burroughs do. The Commission's plan is a suggestion, but generally the municipalities respect it. The work of the Agricultural Preserve Board\nand the Lancaster Farmland Trust further strengthens the Commission's strategic plan by reinforcing the 'designated rural areas' with conserved farmland.\nLancaster County's Role\nThe County of Lancaster has played a major role in the agricultural conservation ease- ment programs. The Agricultural Preserve Board is an official county department, with a nine member board and a staff of six people including a Director appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The county also provides generous funding to the Agriculture Preserve Board. In 2006 and 2007 it provided eight million dollars through a specially created bond. The county also supports the Lancaster Farmland Trust with one million dollars in 2006 and again in 2007.\nThe designated rural and growth areas that the Lancaster County Planning Commission has set have a significant influence on where the Agricultural Preserve Board and the Lan- caster Farmland Trust purchase development rights. In addition, the goals and projects to which the Planning Commission is commit- ted also influence their work. The Planning Commission is currently working to find\ninnovative ways to maintain a vibrant farm economy, such as using methane from manure to create a renewable energy source and look- ing to connect farmers with the niche markets of nearby cities on the Eastern Seaboard. The Agricultural Preserve Board and the Lancaster Farmland Trust keep this in mind when they interact with farmers.\nBy putting aside 69,000+ acres of land for the sole purpose of farming, Lancaster County has created stability and assurance that agri- culture will remain as a mainstay in the local economy. This is especially important for young people who have watched agricultural infrastructure dwindle in other agrarian com- munities due to changes in land use practices, but nonetheless want to remain in their com- munity and continue in the tradition of their ancestors. Knowing that there is enough criti- cal land mass to maintain farm suppliers and service providers such as shipping, storage and processing gives future farmers the peace of mind to follow their dreams.\nPreserving farmland has also encour- aged smart growth in Lancaster County. The County's zoning and agricultural conservation\nBy putting aside 69,000+ acres of land for the sole purpose\nof farming, Lancaster County has created stability and assurance that agriculture will remain as a mainstay in the local economy.\nConserved farmland in Lancaster County.\nHealth Care Delivery and Financing \u2022 19\neasement programs have resulted in seventy five percent of new buildings going up in designated growth areas, areas that are easily serviced by municipalities. This higher density development has saved local governments a sig- nificant amount of money in infrastructure costs.\nPreserving farmland in Lancaster County is also benefi- cial because it ensures a constant future supply of fresh foods to constituents. Preserving farmland does not always have this effect, because in some counties farms are dedicated solely to producing a few commodity crops, but in Lancaster County there are a number of farms pro- ducing a wide range of fresh foods. These foods are sold at farm stands and farmers markets, and served in local restaurants.\nAsked what they would say to officials interested in starting agriculture conservation easement programs in their own counties, leaders of the Lancaster farmland conservation effort gave the following advice:\n\u2022 There are plenty of reasons to conserve farmland: to prevent sprawl, to maintain a strong farm economy, food security both at the local and national level. Certain arguments will resonate more in different communities, and in some communities you'll face more skepticism than others. Always be prepared to answer the question: Would the value of the land be greater if it were put to other uses?\n\u2014 Matt Knepper, Director, Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board\n\u2022 The easy part is preserving the land. Preserving agriculture, which is the idea behind farmland conservation easements, is much harder. To do so, local governments must help farmers adapt to changing markets and the global economy and ensure that some kind of agricultural industry continues.\n\u2014 Dean Severson, Lancaster County Planning Commis- sion\n\u2022Farmland conservation agencies exist to assist people in maintaining a lifestyle and a community. The best way to go about doing that is to develop a reputable program and strong personal relationships with local farmers.\n\u2014 Peter Olmstead, Lancaster Farmland Trust\nLancaster County Agricultural preserve Board\nwww.co.lancaster.pa.us\/lanco\/cwp\/view. asp?A=371&Q=384772\nMatt Knepper\nAgricultural Preserve Board 50 N. Duke St\nLancaster, Pa. 17608-3480 (717) 299-8355\nLancaster Farmland Trust\nwww.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org\/index.html\nPeter Olmstead Lancaster Farmland Trust 125 Lancaster Avenue Strasburg, PA 17579 717-687-8484\n25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW l Suite 500 l Washington, DC 20001 202.393.6226 l fax 202.393.2630 l www.naco.org\nDISTRIBUTION MODELS FOR FARM TO SCHOOL\nCommunity Food Assessment \u2013 San Bernardino County:\n\u2190 Michigan Food Policy Council Recommendations\nCFSC Food Policy Council Program Conference Call Notes \u2192","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Tag: Macau\nMalaysia Frees North Korean Detainee Over Kim's Death\nThe Police in Malaysia have released the only North Korean arrested in connection with the death of Kim Jong-Nam.\nOfficials said there was insufficient evidence to charge Ri Jong Chol, but he would be deported over immigration offences.\nNearly three weeks after the killing, Malaysia condemned the use of powerful VX nerve agent in the attack.\nThe Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was \"greatly concerned\" the nerve agent could have endangered the public.\nMr Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, died on February 13 at an airport in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.\nPosted on March 3, 2017 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories World NewsTags 9ja News, BBC, channels television.news, channelstv.com, China, CNN, Indonesian, Kuala Lumpur, latest nigerian news, Macau, Malaysian, naij.com, news across nigeria, PM News, premiumtimes, punchng.com, Sahara Reporters, Vanguard NewsLeave a comment on Malaysia Frees North Korean Detainee Over Kim's Death\nNorth Korean Man Arrested Over Kim Jong-Nam's Murder\nThe police in Malaysia say a North Korean national has been arrested over the killing of North Korean Leader's half-brother.\nThe first North Korean to be arrested over Kim Jong-Nam's death has been identified as 46-year-old Ri Jong Chol.\nAn Indonesian woman, a Malaysian man and a woman with a Vietnamese passport had been detained earlier.\nPolice believe poison was sprayed into Mr Kim's face as he waited to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Macau.\nSouth Korea's intelligence agency has accused the country's rivals in the north, of assassinating Kim Jong-Nam, saying Pyongyang had wanted to kill him for years but that he was being protected by China.\nThey also claimed that the young, unpredictable North Korean leader had issued a \"standing order\" for his elder half-brother's assassination, and that there had been a failed attempt in 2012.\nKim Jong Nam had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated, nuclear-armed state, and he had also expressed fears for this safety.\nPosted on February 18, 2017 February 18, 2017 Author Rejoice EwodageCategories World NewsTags 9ja News, BBC, channels television.news, channelstv.com, China, CNN, Indonesian, Kuala Lumpur, latest nigerian news, Macau, Malaysian, naij.com, news across nigeria, PM News, premiumtimes, punchng.com, Sahara Reporters, Vanguard NewsLeave a comment on North Korean Man Arrested Over Kim Jong-Nam's Murder\nNigerian Special Athletes Continue To Impress In Los Angeles\nTeam Nigeria has won nine medals at the ongoing Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. The medals are six gold and three silver.\nThe star boy of day-5 is Sunday Olowoniyi. The 20-year-old beat Panama's Loaiza Tamir and South Korea's Jeong Seong Jun by three games to top the men's singles division six and win another table tennis gold for Nigeria.\nVictoria White set the ball rolling on day-4 of the competition, winning gold in table-tennis. It was an almost flawless performance by the young Nigerian who defeated her opponents from India, Macau and the United Arab Emirates without dropping a game in her division.\nRasaq Muraina and Jeffrey Olu-Imaferami continued the gold rush for Nigeria with excellent displays in badminton, adding to the cycling gold won by Emuwa Chidubem in the 500 meters time trial.\nSikiru Sadiq threw a distance of 6.72 meters to win silver in the 4kg division mo8 shot put event, while the basketball team rounded off proceedings with an exciting 28-23 win over Belgium.\nOnce again, Moshood Popoola emerged the star of a good team performance scoring 10 points and recording 10 rebounds. The next game is a top of the table clash against Korea.\nTeam Nigeria started their campaign at the Special Olympics World Games with Tejumoluwa Ogunlela winning silver in division 15 of the 100 metres women's freestyle.\nAdebiyi Olatunji and Adedamola Roberts consolidated to win gold and silver in division 17 of the 100 meters men's freestyle event.\nOn day-2, Nigeria crushed South Africa 6-0 in division one of the unified soccer event. Two first half goals from Daniel Osadolo ensured a great start at the Balboa Sports Center.\nIn the second half, Coach Stephen Adeyomo's team turned up the heat on their opponents with further goals from Abubakar Adebayo and Eziema Chukwudi, ensuring a comfortable win.\nOn the same day, Nigeria defeated Canada 33-21 points in Basketball, to advance to the next round. The West African team dominated the first quarter 17-9, but the Canadians fought back in the third to reduce the deficit. The 4th quarter saw another close battle, before Nigeria eventually pulled away late in the game.\nWith athletes such as Sadiq Sikiru, Chidubem Emuwa, Fatai Fatimoh and Mbum Esther also receiving medals for successful outings in shot put, cycling and standing long jump.\nTeam Nigeria will be hoping the medal chase continues before the competition ends on August 2, 2015.\nThe 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games opened on July 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The 2015 Games feature competitions in aquatics, gymnastics, track and field, basketball, football (soccer) and many other summer sports involving 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world.\nPosted on July 31, 2015 August 1, 2015 Author Donyoh DonneyCategories SportsTags 100 metres women's freestyle, 360 nobs, Abubakar Adebayo, Adebiyi Olatunji, Adedamola Roberts, Africa, Ambode, Balboa Sports Center, bbc.com, Bella Naija, Buhari, chairman channels television, Channels News, Channels TV, Chidubem Emuwa, Coach Stephen Adeyomo, Cycling, Daniel Osadolo, Emuwa Chidubem, Eziema Chukwudi, Fatai Fatimoh, FIFA, Guardian Newspaper, India, Jeffrey Olu-Imaferami, Macau, Mbum Esther, men's singles division six, Moshood Popoola, newsnow.co.uk, nigeerian info, Nigeria, Nigeria defeated Canada 33-21, Nigeria news, nigerian media house, Nigerian tribune, osinbajo, Panama's Loaiza Tamir, Politics, Punch Newspaper, Rasaq Muraina, reuters.com, Sadiq Sikiru, shot put, Sikiru Sadiq, South Korea's Jeong Seong Jun, Special Olympics World Games, Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, sport news, standing long jump, Sunday Olowoniyi, table tennis gold for Nigeria, Team Nigeria, Tejumoluwa Ogunlela, tvc news, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Victoria White, West African team, winning gold in table-tennis, World NewsLeave a comment on Nigerian Special Athletes Continue To Impress In Los Angeles\nBOXING: Pacquiao-Rios Fight Build Up Marred By Trainers' Altercation\nThe build up to Manny Pacquiao's fight against Brandon Rios at the weekend was marred on Wednesday by a spat between the two camps.\nPacquiao's coach Freddie Roach and his counterpart Robert Garcia were involved in a slanging match at a gym in Macau.\nRios was booked in to train from 9am until 11am with Pacquiao due after him, and when Roach and others from the Filipino's team arrived, he became involved in a furious exchange with Garcia and members of Rios' entourage.\nThe dispute added an extra edge to the pre-fight press conference, with promoter Bob Arum joking that he would get an American television celebrity to adjudicate.\n\"There is a controversy and it has to be decided,\" said Arum. \"So I've asked my wife, Lovee, who's sitting out there, to call our friend Judge Judy. And we're going to do something on Skype and each of them will present the case and Judy will decide. I don't know if you Chinese people, know who Judge Judy is?\"\nThe incident didn't seem to impress Pacquiao, who is dedicating the fight to those in the Philippines who lost their lives to Typhoon Haiyan.\n\"No trash talking before the fight,\" he said. \"It's not a good example to all the people who are admiring boxing. For me, all I can say is that if anyone has a grievance against anyone, forgive as the Lord forgives. All I can say is this is a sport, nothing personal. We are doing our job in the ring and after that, you know, nothing personal\u2026 this is our job to perform and entertain people.\nAfter cutting a swathe through the lighter weights between 2005 and 2011 when he won world titles from super-featherweight through to welterweight, Pacquiao has lost his last two fights, a split decision to Timothy Bradley and a sixth round knockout to fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez.\nAt 34 and with 18 years and 61 fights as a professional behind him, Pacquiao is past his peak, but is keen to raise his game for what could, potentially, be the final time given what has happened in his native country.\nRoach, who has long guided Pacquiao's career, said the former eight-weight world champion was in the shape of his life having trained in the Philippines for the fight in his native General Santos City.\n\"We had a great training,\" he said. \"Manny's been training really hard for this fight. General Santos was a great training camp. Manny was at home nd he was very comfortable. Every day was a good day. We did a lot of hard work. I came about six weeks ago but Willy McMillan ran the camp for the first two weeks and did a great job. Manny's in the best shape of his life and I expect him to have the performance of a lifetime and I've never seen him look better.\"\nSpeaking briefly about the earlier bust up, Roach sought to lay the blame on Garcia. Garcia, for his part, said that Roach was at fault.\nIt shouldn't detract from what should be a fascinating encounter, especially as Rios says he has improved his discipline ahead of the fight.\nTwice recently Rios came in overweight for lightweight title fights, and he lost last time out to Mike Alvarado when challenging for the interim WBO light-welterweight title.\nHe should be more comfortable at welterweight, and said Pacquaio would be in for a shock if he had underestimated him.\nThe fight is slated to hold on Saturday, November 23, at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China.\nPosted on November 21, 2013 Author Channels TelevisionCategories SportsTags Bob Arum, Brandon Rios, China, General Santos City, Juan Manuel Marquez, Judge Judy, Macau, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Alvarado, Pacquiao-Rios, Philippines, Robert Garcia, Skype, Trainers' Altercation, Typhoon Haiyan, Venetian Macao, WBO light-welterweight title, Willy McMillanLeave a comment on BOXING: Pacquiao-Rios Fight Build Up Marred By Trainers' Altercation\nKung Fu Panda, Shrek Debut In World's Biggest Gambling Destination\nDreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, the movie studio famous for family films like \"Madagascar\" and \"Shark Tale\", has entered into a licensing agreement in Macau, the world's biggest gambling destination, in a push to diversify revenues.\nThe deal with billionaire Sheldon Adelson's Sands China Ltd allows the casino operator to use characters like Shrek and Po from \"Kung Fu Panda\" in the casinos as Sands moves to attract leisure and family visitors.\nCalifornia-based DreamWorks announced the deal on Tuesday with popular franchise characters on display. Guests at Sands' Venetian and Cotai Central resorts will be able to see and interact with the characters during their stays, the film company said. The deal takes effect on July 1.\nDreamWorks' venture in Macau may help boost the $2 billion company's efforts in China after it posted its first quarterly loss in almost six years in February.\nIn an advertising splash, DreamWorks took out three full-page color advertisements on Tuesday in Hong Kong's main English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, displaying Po, Shrek, and the animal cast of \"Madagascar\", asking readers to guess where they were taking their next holiday.\nMacau, a former Portuguese colony, is the only place in China where people are legally allowed to gamble in casinos. More than two-thirds of Macau's visitors come from mainland China.\nChinese and Macau government officials have been pushing for casino operators like Sands to diversify their operations to appeal to a more mass-market international tourist destination.\nMacau is heavily reliant on the gambling industry, with more than 70 percent of tax revenues coming from the casinos. Tourists come primarily to gamble as opposed to Las Vegas, where shows, fine dining and other forms of entertainment are in higher demand.\nRival casino operators located adjacent to Sands' resorts on Macau's Cotai strip have also been trying to diversify their gambling offerings. Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Lawrence Ho and Australian tycoon James Packer, produces the House of Dancing Water show, while Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd has a cinema and a skytop wave pool.\nPosted on April 30, 2013 Author Channels TelevisionCategories EntertainmentTags Animation, Cartoon, Casinos, channels television, Channels TV, China, Donkey, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, entertainment news, Family Movie, gambling, hark Tale, Kung Fu Panda, Macau, madagascar, Po, Sands China Ltd, Sheldon Adelson, ShrekLeave a comment on Kung Fu Panda, Shrek Debut In World's Biggest Gambling Destination","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Film students bank on success\nBA Film and Broadcast Production students at London Metropolitan University are playing a key role in boosting the profile of The Bank of England.\nBA Film and Broadcast Production students at London Metropolitan University are playing a key role in boosting the profile of The Bank of England after being commissioned to make over 30 films for the organisation.\nThe students, who study in the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, are part of We Make Films, a production company run by students and staff.\nAfter submitting a pilot to The Bank, the students were asked to produce more videos for its website and other promotional channels.\nPatrick Clopon, one of the students commissioned, said: \"It was a great relief that they liked our prototypes so much. Our first day at The Bank was really daunting because they are so socially and economically respected, and needless to say we wanted to make a good impression. Thanks to our amazing team and lecturer Charlotte Worthington, who guided as through it all, we were able to really impress them with our efficiency and practicality.\"\nFellow student Divine Angela Ekeleme added: \"The Bank of England commissioning us to do more was a big deal to me because we are a newly formed company. To have them liking our work is confirmation that our lecturers have done a great job.\"\nElsewhere, talented students from We Make Films recently interviewed Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow. They were commissioned by the Royal Society of Arts in partnership with the website The Samosa, which hosts sophisticated political reporting and intelligent commentary on Pakistan.\nThe team travelled to ITN's London studios to meet the famous journalist, but any nerves they had were quickly eased by Jon's warm and down-to-earth manner.\n\"He was so natural and easy going,\" said Suzanne Wakefield, one of the students who interviewed the veteren journalist. \"I was nervous that I would mess up the questions by speaking too fast, but after meeting Mr Snow before the interview I was put at ease by his friendly personality and charm.\n\"The interview flowed without a hitch, with Mr Snow answering the questions with personal insight and thought. Afterwards he stayed for a few extra minutes for us to take some personal and professional snaps!\"\nThe project is one of many commissions from real clients that stem from the DIY Studio run by lecturer Charlotte Worthington as part of the BA Film and Broadcast Production course - another example of London Met's commitment to giving students quality, real-life experiences.\nFind out more about The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Half Yearly Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh, January-June, 2020\nHome \/ Monitoring & Documentation \/ Reports \/ Half Yearly Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh, January-June, 2020\nby Human Rights Support Society in Monitoring & Documentation, Reports\nIn spite of having constitutional obligation and international laws and treaties, human rights are drastically violated in Bangladesh. Although the state is the defender of all sorts of human rights, in most of the cases related to human rights violation, state authorities fail to protect its citizen's right with the help of law enforcement agencies. Sometimes we see law enforcement agencies and administration to some extent were involved in human rights violation rather than protection of citizen's right. Consequently, the state could not properly ensure justice, peace and security to its citizens. At the same time, human rights situation has become very frightful because of the government limited political and civil society space, restriction on freedom of expression, culture of impunity for security forces and ruling party, intimidation and extortion by the law enforcing agencies along with the ruling party leaders. As a result, all sorts of unlawful activities including Extra-Judicial killing, Enforced Disappearance, Custodial torture and death, Border killing, Attack on minorities, Violence against women were massively spread out in society. As a human rights organization, HRSS is dedicated to ensuring all sorts of human rights for people through building awareness as well as monitoring and publishing human rights situations, helping destitute people and conducting advocacy with the government and other concerned authorities from home and abroad. As part of this initiative, HRSS is going to publish Half Yearly Report from January to June, 2020. The report shows that the overall human rights condition in the first six months of 2020 is as frightful as it was in 2019 and has become deteriorated to some extend.\nAccording to HRSS, from January to June 2020: a total of 167 persons were reportedly extra-judicially killed. Of them, 124 were killed in the name of 'crossfire\/ gunfights\/infights', 13 tortured to Death, 05 shot to death, and 25 were died in the custody in a total of 142 incidents.On the other hand, a total of 05 persons have been 'disappeared' by the law enforcement agencies in different incidents.\nIn the meantime, during the first six months of 2020, a total of 527 females were raped. Among them, 226 victims were adults whereas alarmingly 301 were children under the age of 16. It's a grave concern that 97 have been victims of gang-raped and 19 were brutally killed after being raped. Meanwhile, 83 women were killed in family feud related violence, 17 females injured and 18 females suicide for Family feud in 118 incidents. Approximately, 39 incidents of dowry-related violence were reported, where 15 were killed and 24 women physically abused over dowry demand. A total of 93 girls and women were reportedly victims of sexual harassment. During the first six months of 2020, 04 incidents of acid throwing have occurred and 07 injured. It is also alarming that in a total of 52 violent incidents against children from January to June 2020, 18 lost their lives and 39 were critically injured.\nIt has been reported by HRSS that, 51 journalists were injured, 08 threatened, 11 arrested and 11 were assaulted in nearly 65 incidents during the first six months of 2020. Meanwhile, 71 people have been arrested and 103 cases filed in a total of 63 incidents of the Digital security act 2018. HRSS has also observed the incidents of attacks on minorities during the first six months of 2020, where at least 04 temples were partially or fully destroyed and 01 house attacked. Meanwhile, 01 land grabbing and 01 minority members were injured in 07 incidents. Moreover, at least 16 people were\nHalf Yearly Human Rights Report, January- June'20\nkilled and 803 people injured in political violence, whereas around 25 people were killed in public lynching.\nOn the other hand, According to the half-yearly report of HRSS, roughly 24 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed, 06 injured, 08 shot, and 12 persons were arrested by BSF (Indian Border Security Force) in a total of 34 incidents.\nIt has also been reported that 92 were killed in a violent attack on unarmed civilians between January and June 2020. Meanwhile, in a total of 28 incidents of inhuman torture and shooting by law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), 318 people were injured, 01 hit by bullet, and 41 people tortured during the first six months of 2020.\nHRSS is deeply concerned about the degradation of the human rights conditions in the country. It urges all human rights organizations as well as common citizens to raise their voice to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh.\nHalf Yearly Human Rights Situation Report'2020 (Download Full report in English, PDF)\nHuman Rights Situation in Bangladesh 2021\n\u09ac\u09be\u0982\u09b2\u09be\u09a6\u09c7\u09b6 \u09ae\u09be\u09a8\u09ac\u09be\u09a7\u09bf\u0995\u09be\u09b0 \u09aa\u09b0\u09bf\u09b8\u09cd\u09a5\u09bf\u09a4\u09bf \u09e8\u09e6\u09e8\u09e7","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Wendi Adelson's attorney asks judge to quash defense subpoena\nFILE PHOTO: Wendi Adelson takes the stand in Katherine Magbanua's 2019 trial.(WCTV)\nPublished: May. 17, 2022 at 2:01 PM EDT|Updated: May. 17, 2022 at 3:15 PM EDT\nTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Wendi Adelson's attorneys are now asking the judge to throw out a defense subpoena to testify in the retrial of Katherine Magbanua.\nThe motion was filed Friday but unsealed Tuesday morning.\nAdelson is listed as a state witness and is expected to testify in Magbanua's retrial, subject to cross-examination by the defense.\nAdelson's attorney, John Lauro, told WCTV that Adelson \"will definitely be testifying under the state subpoena.\"\nHe said the motion was filed in response to Magbanua's defense team trying to \"piggyback\" on the back end of the state's subpoena.\nAccording to Lauro, only the state subpoena carries immunity.\n\"Given the state's theory of the case, there is no question that Adelson has a real and substantial interest in asserting her rights against compelled testimony,\" her attorney, John Lauro said. \"In these proceedings, Adelson has thus made an unequivocal and complete invocation of her rights under the U.S. and Florida constitutions.\"\nIt is not clear when the judge will make a decision on Adelson's request to quash the defense subpoena or how it could impact the case.\nAdelson did testify in Magbanua's first trial in 2019.\nHer attorney told WCTV he believes Adelson may start her testimony in this trial as early as Thursday morning.\nYou can view the court document Adelson's attorneys filed at this link or below.\nMotion for permission to place statement on record, quash defense subpoena for Wendi Adelson by WCTV Digital Team on Scribd","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"A CAUTIONARY TALE: MD. HOSPITALS JOIN RANKS OF MONEY-LOSERS ON PPMS\nMary Chris Jaklevic\nVenture capitalists and Wall Street investors aren't the only ones suffering from the carnage in the physician practice management industry. Hospitals, too, are bleeding.\nTake the case of Doctors Health, a primary-care venture in Maryland that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.\nDoctors Health was founded by two physician entrepreneurs in the mid-1990s, when the industry was a hot new commodity. At the time, St. Joseph Medical Center, a 460-bed hospital in Towson, Md., considered itself lucky to be in on the ground floor as an investor in the company.\nThe suburban Baltimore hospital plunked down $3.5 million in seed money to launch Doctors Health. For a commitment of up to $5 million-$1.5 million of which was never invested-the hospital received a 10% equity stake.\nLast year, University of Maryland Medical System added to the pot, investing $5 million in Doctors Health to align with the company's vast primary-care network.\nBoth organizations were looking for a strategic alternative to buying physician practices. They also expected to turn a profit if the company went public.\nAs it turns out, they'll probably never see their money again. Yet both systems claim they have no regrets, viewing the experience as a learning process that has also benefited their business.\nFor St. Joseph, gaining board approval in 1995 was difficult. \"It was by far the biggest investment we had made\" in a physician venture, says John Ellis, St. Joseph's executive vice president for finance and administration.\nBut the start-up was backed by the hospital's then-vice president of planning and marketing, Jeff Lefko. He had developed a close relationship with the physician founders, Alan Kimmel, M.D., and Scott Rifkin, M.D., during a previous job at Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital, Ellis says.\nThat relationship has continued. In fact, Lefko now works at Rifkin's new venture, America's Doctor Online, a medical service launched by America Online, Ellis says.\nDoctors Health eventually garnered venture capital and acquired clinics employing 120 primary-care physicians, in addition to at least 800 physicians who participated in its contracting network.\nBut the company's drive to go public caused it to grow too quickly and accept contracts it couldn't manage, some observers say. Doctors Health was also a victim of bad timing. Most of its business came from Medicare HMOs, many of which this year announced a mass exodus from the market.\nDespite the firm's demise, St. Joseph maintains the investment was a \"home run\" because Doctors Health helped the hospital develop hospitalist and care-management programs and expand its managed-care business. St. Joseph, an affiliate of Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, reported net income of $14 million on revenues of $190 million for the fiscal year ended June 30.\nLikewise, the University of Maryland system has no regrets. \"I think we would have lost far more (than $5 million) had we chosen the alternative, which was to buy doctors. I think that was even more of a flawed strategy,\" says David Rorison, M.D., chief executive of University Care, a contracting and integration arm of the university medical system, faculty physicians and medical school.\nThe affiliation with Doctors Health resulted in 30 new admissions per month to the system, Rorison says.\n\"Even in the absence of Doctors Health, we still have relationships with primary-care physicians who will continue to be a source of referrals, even if it's not within a (managed-care) contract,\" Rorison says.\nStill, what happened to Doctors Health serves as a cautionary tale. St. Joseph has been more careful with another physician venture, Maryland Personal Physicians, in which it invested $10 million last year.\nUnlike Doctors Health, Maryland Personal Physicians was founded by a hospital, Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Upper Chesapeake Health System, based in Fallston, Md., and individual physician investors also hold equity positions.\nThe hospital shareholders control 10 of its 16 board seats, and physicians fill the remainder.\nThe company does not intend to go public, which allows for slow, controlled growth.\n\"We've been very selective about which physicians join us,\" says Sandy Edwards, its vice president for corporate services and business development. He says the firm has targeted \"high-quality, busy physicians who are not looking to walk away from their practices.\"\nSo far, the White Marsh, Md.-based venture has garnered a network of 160 primary-care physicians and has another 400 specialists in subcapitation contracts. It has capitated contracts covering about 30,000 HMO enrollees.\n\"We have representation on all the committees of that company, so we have a close watch,\" Ellis says. \"Hopefully, we won't make the same mistake twice.\"\nBeyond the Byline: Texas COPA law may pave the way for more hospital M&A - Transcript","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Te Papa\nRongowhakaata: Borrowing from iwi to build the exhibition\nIf you've ever wondered what's involved when museums loan and borrow taonga, you're in luck: our Loans and Acquisitions Advisor Amy Cosgrove sheds light on the process behind Ko Rongowhakaata: The Story of Light and Shadow, as well as revealing an 'average' day.Read more\nRemembering Te Papa's opening day\n20 years ago today, on 14 February 1998, Te Papa opened its doors for the first time. The day was marked by food, music, and celebration. Hay bales laid out on the forecourt lent the occasion a rural, and particularly Kiwi, flavour. New Zealand bands entertained the huge crowds. The sun shone, and the wind blew. Author Conal McCarthy, history curator Stephanie Gibson, and ex-staff member Lauren McEwan-Nugent share their memories from the day. Read more\nCondoms, critics, and controversies: Te Papa's early days\n14 Feb marks ours 20th anniversary. Author of 'Te Papa: Reinventing New Zealand's national museum' Conal McCarthy retells some of the early criticisms, controversies, and protests when we opened in 1998.Read more\nIn: Art, History\nPasifika on top: your most viewed objects of 2017\nIn 2017 you viewed 200,000 of our Collections Online objects. We take a look at the top 10 most popular, of which 60% relate to Pacific culture.Read more\nIn: Collections Online, History, Pacific\nTe reo Kiwi: Are you using M\u0101ori every day?\nTe Papa is always looking for creative ways to promote te reo M\u0101ori. What are some of the ways we're doing that?Read more\nIn: M\u0101ori\nCross-pollination experiments with one of New Zealand's rarest trees\nWhen an incredibly rare native tree \u2013 the Bartlett's r\u0101t\u0101 \u2013 flowered for the first time in a quarter-century, Botany curator Carlos Lehnebach was ready with his tweezers. Bartlett's r\u0101t\u0101 is one of the most threatened trees in New Zealand. It's also one of our rarest species, with only 13Read more\nBig Ted to Rita Angus: Gems uncovered while revamping Collections\nWe asked the team working on the new Collections Online website to share their favourite objects and images they've found along the way and tell us a little bit about working on this massive project.Read more\nIn: Behind the scenes, Collections Online\nStudents give our store windows the WOW factor\nWhen the World of Wearable Arts show is in town we like to join the festivities by handing over our shop windows to students from Wellington High School and Queen Margaret College. The year 13 fashion and materials technology students display their own striking wearable art creations as part of their course.Read more\nMeeting a man I will never know: Jonathan Mane-Wheoki\nRuby Abraham, a Museum and Heritage Studies student at Victoria University, has spent the last five weeks on placement at Te Papa working intimately with the archive donated by Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (1943-2014).Read more\nOn: 18 Jul 2017\nIn: Art, M\u0101ori\nPutting the pieces back together after the earthquake\nCharlotte Jimenez, an intern from the Institut National du Patrimoine in Paris, has spent the last three months putting more than 250 pieces of the plaster tauihu back together. Here she explains the intricate process.Read more\nClassic rugby photos by photojournalist Peter Bush, in his own words\nPhotojournalist Peter Bush has been photographing the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby since 1949, on assignment for The New Zealand Herald.Read more\nOn: 13 Jun 2017\nTe Papa curators respond to Donald Trump's refugee ban\nIn the wake of US President Donald Trump's order to ban refugees entering the country, cultural institutions across the globe have been vocal in protest. Here Te Papa curators share their thoughts.Read more\nIn: Art, History, M\u0101ori\nWar by post and bullet\nScott Flutey, a summer scholar from Victoria University of Wellington, has just finished an Honours year in History. He dives into the world of stamps and postal history. I'm currently researching the Gerald Ellott philatelic collection at Te Papa as part of the three-year Soldiers of Empire research project, led by Professor CharlotteRead more\nOpinion: More to art collections than meets the eye\nAn art gallery is a theatre where art takes centre stage. But it is also an archive, a refuge, even a hospital, says Te Papa's Head of Art Charlotte Davy. A recent story highlighted the art collections held by Councils and the proportion of their art works on public display.Read more\nCollecting is in our bones: our youngest exhibitor shares his story\nFrom tin toys to antique Chinese wood figures, Star Wars memorabilia and elephants \u2013 for the past 18 years, Te Papa has displayed peoples' precious collections in Inspiration Station, one of four children's discovery centres in the museum. But this summer will be the last chance for visitors to see itemsRead more","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"\u00b7 Posted on Oct 3, 2016\nConservative MP Crispin Blunt Calls For The Legalisation Of All Drugs\n\"My view is clearly that I would move to regulate all drugs,\" Blunt told BuzzFeed News.\nby Jamie Ross\nBuzzFeed Scotland Reporter\nAnthony Devlin \/ PA ARCHIVE IMAGES\nCrispin Blunt, former prisons minister\nAll drugs, including heroin and cocaine, should be regulated by the government, a Conservative MP has told BuzzFeed News.\nCrispin Blunt, the former prisons minister, said he would like to see measures in place so all drugs could be taxed and controlled, and has called for a public inquiry into whether the law should be changed.\nSpeaking after an event on cannabis decriminalisation at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Blunt said he believed prime minister Theresa May could eventually be persuaded to back him due to pressure from the international community.\nHe told the event he had previously been dissuaded from asking difficult questions about drugs policy by ministers for fear \"it might unpick the government's entire drugs strategy\".\n\"When I ... asked the [government] to tell me just how much did drugs cost the criminal justice system, remarkably, answer came there none,\" he said.\nEarlier this year, Blunt \"outed\" himself as a user of poppers in an attempt to persuade parliament against making them illegal.\n\"I think the appropriate next step would be a royal commission to look at policy in this area,\" said Blunt. \"My view is clearly that I would move to regulate all drugs \u2013 alcohol is a drug which is regulated and taxed, as is tobacco, and many make the case that marijuana is significantly less toxic than alcohol.\n\"It's clearly toxic in some cases and there have been dreadful cases of schizophrenia which appear to come from cannabis use \u2026 but, if you have a regulated supply, you have clean cannabis, as you would with every other supply of illegal drug.\"\nBlunt said he was unaware of any Conservative parliamentary colleagues who supported him on drug decriminalisation, saying there was pressure on MPs who wanted to advance their careers to not speak up about the \"politically difficult\" issue.\n\"My ministerial career is 100% behind me, so I can be slightly braver about taking positions which I did argue for while in office, but was constrained by collective responsibility,\" he said.\nThe former prisons minister said that as more countries and regions decriminalise drugs, it will become more acceptable for ministers, and possibly even the prime minister, to back it in the UK.\n\"There is a growing body of opinion in support of a royal commission,\" said Blunt. \"It's not an issue which will go away, because the global environment is changing around us.\n\"Any number of ministers and presidents are calling for change, and that cacophony will become a crescendo, which may encourage the current ministers to be a bit braver.\"\nJamie Ross is a Scotland reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Edinburgh.\nContact Jamie Ross at jamie.ross@buzzfeed.com.\nNews moves fast. Keep up with the BuzzFeed News daily email!","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Terraferida Demands Investigation Into Freighter Docked On Posidonia\nTerraferida has asked the Government to open an investigation after a large freighter was spotted in the waters of Formentor, which is an area known for posidonia. But the Conselleria says no sanctions will be imposed on the The Lucky Joy ship which was en-route to Italy when stormy weather forced the captain to take refuge.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Freedom latest town to create TIF district\nFreedom officials hope to draw developers to the community.\nFreedom latest town to create TIF district Freedom officials hope to draw developers to the community. Check out this story on postcrescent.com: http:\/\/post.cr\/2kDSF8u\nMadeleine Behr, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 3:38 p.m. CT Feb. 13, 2017\nA map of Freedom's first tax incremental financing district.(Photo: Courtesy of the town of Freedom)\nFREEDOM - Freedom is the latest town in the Fox Cities to create a tax incremental financing district in an attempt to draw more economic development to the area.\n\"The ultimate goal is to get more economic development in the town instead of having to raise taxes,\" said Steve Brueggeman, the director of engineering and planning for Freedom. \"We'd like to do this for growth, keep taxes down and be able to accommodate developers.\"\nRELATED: Fox Crossing flexes muscle to lure development\nRELATED: Greenville approves first TIF\nRELATED: Fox Cities towns exercise TIF powers\nThe 85-acre TIF is located at the southeastern corner of the Outagamie County E intersection with Schmidt Road. The TIF was approved in the fall, but work on the infrastructure began this winter, including the installation of sanitary sewer and water main.\nThe TIF is slated for a mix of commercial and residential development.\nWhen a municipality creates a TIF district, all of the property taxes generated from new development in the district \u2014 the increment \u2014 goes toward reimbursing the municipality for any costs (property acquisition, demolition, utilities, streets, parking and cash incentives) it incurred to create that development. The revenues from the increment are diverted from the school district, county and technical college for as long as the district is in place.\nNo plans for development in the TIF have been announced, but plans are in the works, Brueggeman said. A second TIF, likely for industrial use, also is being discussed.\nWith ample land and lower taxes than neighboring cities, more towns and villages are drawing development from cities like Appleton. Since 2014, Wisconsin towns were allowed to create TIFs, if they had at least $500 million of equalized property value, a population of at least 3,500 and provided sanitary sewer service.\nFreedom didn't meet the three state requirements because it had $475 million of equalized property value instead of $500 million. A bill was passed by the state Legislature to exempt Freedom from those requirements and allow it to use TIFs.\nGreenville recently created its first TIF in December to draw development.\nMadeleine Behr: 920-996-7226, or mbehr@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @madeleinebehr\nRead or Share this story: http:\/\/post.cr\/2kDSF8u\nOfficers fatally shoot person during SWAT standoff in Fox Crossing","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"California Updates\nPolicy Bulletins\nRealignment\nReform Agenda\nJJ Mental Health\nMeasures of Success\nFoundation Initiatives\nYouth Justice Policy Board\nPositive Youth Justice Initative\nYouth Violence Prevention\nJuvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative\nThe California Endowment\u2013\nYouth and Community Safety Initiatives\nCommonweal has worked closely with the California Endowment on health-based initiatives affecting youth in the justice system. Between 2011-2014, Commonweal provided staff support to the Youth Justice Policy Board\u2013 a group of distinguished professional and community leaders from California youth-service disciplines, dedicated to advancing statewide policy reforms for youth wellness and community safety. Beginning in 2015, Commonweal partnered with succeeding California Endowment initiatives supporting a wide agenda of health and wellness for at-risk youth and including a strong community safety component.\nPositive Youth Justice Initiative\nThis Sierra Health initiative is dedicated to improving responses and outcomes for \"crossover youth\" \u2013 children who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The initiative blends \"positive youth justice\", wraparound service and trauma-informed care approaches to support inter-agency collaborations that can address the multiple needs of these youth more efficiently and with better outcomes. From 2014-16, Commonweal staffed a national PYJI Advisory Committee of experts and leaders in the field.\nYouth Violence Prevention Initiatives\nFor two decades the California Wellness Foundation has sponsored initiatives and programs for the prevention of youth violence in California. Under its leadership, grantees and policymakers have adopted major reforms including the creation of large new revenue streams supporting youth crime and violence prevention programs throughout the state. As a long-term grantee of the Wellness Foundation, Commonweal has helped California policy makers build funds and programs to reduce youth violence in California.\nThe JDAI is a national initiative dedicated to reducing and eliminating the unnecessary and often injurious detention of children in secure juvenile justice facilities. Now active in 37 states, the JDAI has documented significant detention reductions with positive results, both for children and for public safety. Commonweal serves as a technical assistance advisor to the JDAI, training justice system personnel throughout the United States on detention risk assessment and related best-practices.\na COMMONWEAL program \u00a9 2014 Commonweal Juvenile Justice Program P.O. Box 316 Bolinas, CA 94924 (415) 388-6666 Commonweal.org\nYouth photos by Richard Ross\/Juvenile-in-Justice","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home About SAIT News & Events SAIT and Calgary Stampede host international pancake event\nSAIT and Calgary Stampede host international pancake event\nCalgary, AB \u2014 SAIT's Culinary Campus and Calgary Stampede have teamed up today to celebrate cultural diversity in the city with an international tasting event in downtown Calgary.\nSAIT's #PancakeParade will feature pancake samples from around the world, including Venezuelan cachapas, Swedish potato pancakes, Eastern European blinis and Korean kimchi pancakes \u2014 recipes customized by SAIT Chef Bruno Lesage. The Stampede's renowned western pancake will round out the tasting. SAIT students and the Stampede's \"Batter Boys\" (a volunteer committee of expert flapjackers) will serve tastings to the downtown Calgary lunch crowd from 11 am to 1 pm.\n\"A big part of the Stampede experience is food sampling on the midway and with SAIT's growing population of international students, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Calgary's global food scene,\" says Tom Bornhorst, Dean of SAIT's School of Hospitality and Tourism.\nAnyone picking up a sample can also bring the international culinary experience to their home kitchen -recipe cards will be available to re-create one of Chef Lesage's custom creations. As an additional treat, Calgary Stampede Executive Chef Derek Dale has a new spin on the Stampede staple! Chef Dale is excited for guests to try his western pancake at home.\nKurt Kadatz, Director of Community Engagement with the Stampede, says this event is a wonderful kick-off to the Stampede season.\n\"When it comes to pancakes the earth is indeed flat \u2014 with most cultures having their own version,\" says Kadatz. \"So what better way to celebrate the diversity of our great city than via the pancake breakfast \u2014 that unique way that Calgarians and visitors have gathered ever since larger-than-life cowboy Jack Morton started the free pancake breakfast tradition in 1923.\"\nThe showcase of international cuisine will continue after the #PancakeParade at SAIT's Culinary Campus in June with classes featuring cuisine from Thailand and Vietnam.\nThe Stampede culinary experience kicks off on Friday, July 3 on the midway.\nSAIT is one of Canada's most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs and over 1,400 part-time courses (including online and distance) that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT has been recognized as being one of Alberta's Top Employers, one of the top five research colleges in Canada and the Best Alberta Workplace for Training and Development.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Nigeria | About Us | Jobs | Contact Us | Help\nYou are here: Home Page > Arts & Humanities > Religion > The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions\nThis item is printed to order. Items which are printed to order are normally despatched and charged within 5-10 days.\nBookseller Code (AJ)\nhttp:\/\/global.oup.com\/academic\/covers\/uk\/pop-up\/9780198804901\nThe Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions\nEdited by John Bowker\nThe Oxford Reference Collection\nThe most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of its kind\nContains unrivalled coverage of all the major world religions, past and present\nEntries on religions; movements; sects and cults; individuals; sacred sites; ethics; and many more\nCovers themes such as asceticism, biogenetics, cosmology, and music and dance\nPart of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format\nThis Dictionary is part of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format.\nAbridged from the acclaimed Oxford Dictionary of World Religions this is the most comprehensive dictionary of religion available in paperback. Written by an expert team of contributors, the volume contains over 8,200 entries, an extensive topic index, and an original and in-depth introductory essay.\nThe editor, Professor John Bowker, is an established authority on religious studies and a well-known broadcaster on BBC Radio and the World Service.\nContaining entries on religions, movements, sects, and cults, texts, individuals, sacred sites, customs, ethics, and themes, this dictionary is both extensive and accessible. Fully cross-referenced for ease of use, it is suitable for anybody interested in finding out more about the religions of the world.\nList of Editors and Contributors\nIntroduction: Religion\nA-Z Concise Dictionary of World Religions\nIndex of Chinese Headwords\nEdited by John Bowker, Fellow of Gresham College, London, and Adjunct Professor at North Carolina State University and University of Pennsylvania\nProfessor John Bowker, Fellow of Gresham College, London, and Adjunct Professor at North Carolina State University (formerly Professor of Religion at the University of Lancaster, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania), is a highly-regarded authority on religious studies and a well-known broadcaster on BBC Radio and the World Service. His many books on the subject include Is God a Virus?, Genes, Culture and Religion, Problems of Suffering in Religions of the World, What Muslims Believe, The Meanings of Death (Harper Collins Religious Book Award, 1993), World Religions and The Complete Bible Handbook (Benjamin Franklin Award, 1999).\nOver 80 expert contributers, from every area of religious study.\n\"Review from previous edition will prove its worth for the growing number of people interested in different religions'\" - Guardian\n\"covers a vast range of topics and . . . is both comprehensive and reliable\" - The Times\nGod: A Very Short Introduction\nJohn Bowker\nA Dictionary of Celtic Mythology\nJames MacKillop\nSteven C. Harper\nHarlem Renaissance Lives\nHenry Louis Gates Jr., Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham\nThe Religious Imagination and the Sense of God\nA Dictionary of Opera Characters\nJoyce Bourne\nThe Outrageous Idea of Christian Teaching\nPerry Glanzer, Nathan Alleman, George Marsden\nThe Oxford Guide to Library Research\nOxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations\nW. F. Bynum, Roy Porter\nThe Oxford Handbook of Biblical Law\nPamela Barmash\nA Dictionary of Sports Studies\nEdwards the Mentor\nRhys S. Bezzant\nThe Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets\nDarra Goldstein, Sidney Mintz, Michael Krondl, Eric Rath, Laura Mason, Geraldine Quinzio, Ursula Heinzelmann\nThe Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea\nI. C. B Dear, Peter Kemp\nThe Rise of Network Christianity\nBrad Christerson, Richard Flory\nArts & Humanities > Religion","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Evans City Council to vote on bid for 37th Street, 47th Avenue widening project\nSara Knuth\nThe Evans City Council will take a step forward Tuesday night on a project to widen 37th Street and 47th Avenue by awarding a design contract.\nThe city staff's recommendation is to award the contract to Thornton-based company RockSol Consulting Group, which submitted a $1.3 million bid.\nThe big picture: The Evans City Council has identified the 37th Street and 47th Avenue widening project as its highest transportation priority, according to city documents. The plan will also align with standards for the access control plan for the Freedom Parkway, the collective name for Weld County Road 54, 37th Street in Evans, Larimer County Road 18 and Colo. 402. The plan is a collaboration between nine governments, including Evans.\nOfficials said RockSol did not submit the lowest bid, but it did the best job of addressing the city's work requirements for the project. Specifically, the company did the most thorough job of meeting Freedom Parkway standards.\nWhat's next: If the city votes to award the bid, design will move forward. The city plans to split the transportation project into three phases, starting with 37th Street from 35th Avenue to 47th Avenue, transitioning to 47th Avenue from 31st Street to 37th Street and then 37th Street from 47th Avenue to 65th Avenue.\nCheck it out: The Evans City Council will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Evans Community Complex, 1100 37th St.\nDig deeper by reading the council's agenda:\nEvans City Council Feb. 19 \u2026 by on Scribd","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Trumpland\nTrump Sticks By His Wall Tantrum and Shuts Down the Government [UPDATED]\nDavid Boddiger\nUpdate, Saturday, 3:38 p.m.: A Saturday Senate session has adjourned with no new deal on ending a partial government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said no new sessions are planned until Thursday, Dec. 27, USA Today reported. McConnell, however, could call a new session before that if a deal is reached.\nTrump, predictably, went on a Twitter rant, bragging about winning \"one of the greatest [elections] of all time\" and renewing calls for \"a great Steel Barrier or Wall.\" No word yet on how shutting down the U.S. government would force the Mexican government to pay for the wall or the steel fence or whatever it is.\nOriginal post continues here:\nPresident Donald Trump's insistence on having his own border wall or fence or whatever xenophobic vanity project he can build for $5.7 billion has delivered the third shutdown in two years by a Republican-controlled government.\nThat means that just in time for the holidays, nine federal departments and several other agencies will cease working, 380,000 federal workers will be sent home without pay, and another 420,000 will be made to work without pay, The New York Times reported. Among those forced to work without pay are Border Patrol officers, the newspaper observed.\nOn Friday night, Trump posted a last-minute video on his Twitter account stirring fear over the usual suspects, including \"drugs\u2026pouring in\" and \"gangs like MS 13,\" adding that, \"The only thing that's going to stop that is great border security with a wall or a slat fence or whatever you want to call it.\"\nEarlier in the day, following passage by House Republicans of last-minute wall-funding legislation, Trump tried to blame Democrats for the shutdown, despite previously\u2014and very publicly\u2014telling incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he alone would shoulder the blame for a shutdown.\nSchumer stuck to his guns, though, making Trump appear vulnerable and weak. \"You're not getting the wall today, next week or on Jan. 3 when Democrats take control of the House,\" the Democratic leader said on the Senate floor, the Times reported.\nTrump also tried to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to use the \"nuclear option\" to lower the number of votes needed to pass legislation from 60 to 51, but that didn't work, either.\nNow, it's anyone's guess how long the impasse will last. On Friday, Trump said the shutdown could go on for a \"very long time,\" according to The Washington Post. Later, in the video, he said, \"The shutdown hopefully will not last long.\"\nReferring to signals earlier in the week that the president might work to avoid a shutdown, the Post noted:\nRepublicans were frustrated by the reversal, and Democrats warned Friday that the president's erratic and unvetted decisions in recent days were unsettling financial markets, foreign allies and even members of his Cabinet.\n\"This is tyranny of talk radio hosts, right? And so, how do you deal with that?\" said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn). \"You have two talk radio hosts who completely flipped the president. And so, do we succumb to tyranny of talk radio hosts?\"\nNegotiating with lawmakers on behalf of the president were Vice President Mike Pence, incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. But none of them could reach a deal, according to the Times, due to \"the president's refusal to budge on the wall.\"\nNicely done, Mr. Art of the Deal.\nWeekend Editor, Splinter","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Harsh Reality for New York Carriage Horses\nA recent bill passed by the City Council (Intro 35) granting 5 weeks vacation to NYC carriage horses received a great deal of attention in the press, with news anchors chuckling over such an extravagant benefit. It's easy to see why your average overworked New Yorker would feel a touch of envy, but the harsh reality of life for a carriage horse working in New York City is no laughing matter.\nThey routinely work at least 9 hours a day, pulling a vehicle that weighs hundreds of pounds, on hard pavement, while breathing exhaust from cars, buses and taxis. Unaccustomed to the urban environment, horses can be \"spooked\" easily, by anything from another horse to a plastic shopping bag to a pedestrian, and cause accidents that inflict great damage on vehicles, drivers and most often, the horses themselves.\nAt the end of the day the horses return to their tiny stalls in stables housed in former tenement buildings on the far West side of the city, or as Jon Stewart once called it, \"The sad-eyed horse carriage district.\" The cramped space doesn't allow these enormous animals to lie down or to move about freely and get the daily exercise that equine veterinarians agree they need.\nOnce a horse hits the streets of Manhattan, its life expectancy is cut in half. After a few years of work, injuries and illness usually force the horses into retirement, not to a farm or pasture but to auctions in Pennsylvania where they can be sold to kill-buyers, transported to Mexico and Canada and slaughtered for meat.\nAs for the 5 week vacation promised in the bill (Intro 35) recently signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg? It sure sounds nice, but don't expect to be running into a horse at the Jersey Shore anytime soon. The minimal regulations already in place are frequently ignored by carriage horse owners and drivers, with no repercussions. The NYC Department of Health and the Department of Consumer Affairs simply don't have the resources or the expertise to fulfill their oversight responsibilities for the 211 carriage horses.\nAccording to a 2007 audit by former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson, the Department of Health's veterinary consultants spent an average of only 25 minutes inspecting each stable - and that 25 minutes included traveling from one stable to the next, inspecting the condition of the facilities, reviewing paperwork maintained by the horse owners, and completing their own paperwork, not to mention checking out the physical conditions of the horses.\nIt is no surprise then, that when comparing the 2005 health certificates of the horses with the 2006 certificates, investigators from the Comptroller's office found that 42% of them had conflicting descriptions of the same horses, including age, color, breed, name and gender. With such shoddy record-keeping, who will ever know if the horses get their much talked-about vacation?\nThe workers in the horse carriage industry don't fare much better. They are independent contractors and their daily income is based on how many rides they sell. They certainly do not get any paid vacation or sick days, let alone any other benefits, like unemployment, health insurance or workman's compensation despite the frequent injuries incurred on the job.\nThe New York City Council should pass legislation that supports the welfare of humans and animals. A bill currently before the City Council, Intro 86, would phase out the horse-drawn carriages and replace them with green horseless carriages. This new industry would create well-paying jobs with full benefits, and would allow for the retirement of the over-worked horses to farms and sanctuaries.\nFor more information on how the 21st Century alternative to the horse carriage industry solves not just the humane issue, but the traffic, safety, economic, and quality of life problems caused by the horse carriages, please visit www.NY-CLASS.org.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Sam Greene\nSam Greene, Copy-Editor\nI've had enough of this obsession with pastimes like football and baseball. Sure, they're packed with eventful moments and impressive turning points, but they don't have the creativity and depth that sport is supposed to embody. I don't doubt that they're challenging in their own ways. I know it takes practice, determination and technique to make it to the top, I'm just saying these players don't have half of what it takes to be an athlete as far as my idea of sport goes.\nFirst, let me reevaluate some misconceptions. I don't think it's fair to say that quarterbacks can possibly be confined to simple set of options. When that ball is snapped, as both lines clash and the players jump into motion, quarterbacks process an overwhelming amount of information. But as a whole, football is too slow and broken-up to be a test of mental stamina. Every five seconds, everyone on the field gets to hit a reset button. Some players might argue that these decisions are more impactful in the moment than ones made in soccer, but when you define sport as a series of broken-up plays that are pieced together to reflect some end result, I think you lose the true challenge of sport.\nSport isn't a test of how one executes second chances over and over again with adjustments and reactions scattered through the game and within each play. Sport is a test of how a team links together all these plays into one cohesive performance, uninterrupted by strategic time-outs, split offensive and defensive line-ups or frequent restarts.\nBaseball players take the best spot in the sport world spotlight: they get most credit, the most breaks and the most time. They basque in the luxury of having all day to position themselves on the field, smack some gum, blow a bubble, play with their glove and give the pitcher an encouraging pat on the back before, once again, the game restarts. Sure, I'll give the pitcher credit for figuring out a way to manipulate the strike zone to his advantage from pitch to pitch, but planting yourself on the field and adjusting your game after trial-and-error isn't a test of the ability I think sport should challenge.\nFor me, the essence of sports boils down to what the game demands mentally from its athletes. A true test of skill is a test of an athlete's vision. Vision is the ability to calculate on the spot how executing in one instant will impact the speed, flow and rhythm of play three, four or five steps down the line. From basketball to hockey, each player focuses on unique sets of responsibilities that are essential to be competitive in his or her position, but all the while balance a multitude of demands. What's required of these athletes is never black and white. They learn the ropes for both capitalizing on offense and holding the line on defense while working their position and supporting others'. They compile and act upon more skills because of the variety of circumstances that their game throws at them.\nBesides having vision, these sports demand constant focus. There is a higher expectation of these athletes because of the duration of undivided focus they endure. Got knocked down, knocked around or knocked out of your zone? Take t-minus one second to adjust yourself and get back into the swing of play. These athletes don't wait for a reset and stop of play to get into focus, they reset the game with their own actions. The contributions that they make are always original, requiring creative off-the-ball movement to deceptively stretch out the other team. They find a way to break apart defenses and create opportunities without forcing the play to develop. So don't be confused, the speed is quick but these athletes are in no rush to make things happen they just move the ball around the court, pass it up to the front line, receive it back, reshape the play and shift the point of attack. They hold tight to these aspects of the game and make them their domain. At the end of that day, it takes creativity and innovative design to develop this constant vision of how the game is interconnected. These athletes embody the true spirit of sport, the perfect blend of mental, physical and emotional stamina.\nBefore I leave this page for Paly sports buffs to chew me up, let it be known that I'm more than qualified to make these claims. I made it through pitching-machine in the Palo Alto Little League without knowing which hand I threw or caught consistently with and ran as a second-string running back on my middle school intramural team\u2013and I ran for the winning touchdown. baby\nSam Greene, Copy Editor\nSam Greene studies at the Univesity of California, Berkeley. He joined the journalism program at Palo Alto High School in 2008 and has been writing for...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"THE 2015 VGJUNK REVIEW!\nThe final days of 2015 lumber into view, and thank god for that - it's been a pretty miserable year for me on a personal level, and I will be glad to see the back of it. Fortunately, the act of writing about videogames has helped to thrill and entertain me over the last twelve months, although the same may not be true of VGJunk's readership, wonderful darlings that you are. Yes, even games with such dubious pedigree as Silent Assault and Pipi and Bibis helped to keep me sane and put things into perspective: the fact that I don't live in a universe where the only videogames are licensed Game Boy Color tie-ins is proof that things could always be worse. So, with a new year almost upon us, it's time for the annual tradition of the VGJunk Year Review, where I award prizes to some of the games I've covered this year in categories made up on the spot and selected according to my whims. Let's get started!\nMost Shameless Rip-Off\nThere was absolutely no contest in this category, as Codemasters' Commodore 64 and Amiga title Prince Clumsy (AKA The Sword and the Rose) was such an unabashed clone of Ghosts 'n Goblins that it is scientifically provable that you can't talk about it without making reference to Capcom's lance-slinging classic. Even if you try to describe Prince Clumsy through wordless mugging and silent charades, an unseen force will carve the words \"it's just bloody Ghosts 'n' Goblins!\" into your forehead, the blood-markings forever serving as testament to Codemasters' sheer cheek.\nBest Character\nI said he would take this title way back in January, and I saw nothing in the intervening eleven months powerful or moving enough to change my mind - the winner is King Ape from Mad Motor. I'm not a complex man, I don't need much more than an enormous, helicopter-riding gorilla wearing a crown, spiked underwear and the Lord Mayor's chains to capture my heart.\nHonourable mentions go to the entire cast of Captain Commando, especially Mack the Knife (even his in-game bio describes him as \"very cool\") and the floating, disembodied head of Sir Clive Sinclair from A Day in the Life. Turns out A Day in the Life of Sir Clive Sinclair's Floating, Disembodied Head is a harrowing one indeed, but Clive bears it all with grace and good humour.\nBiggest Waste of a License\nBeavis and Butt-head are difficult characters to build a game around, and Doug is so phenomenally boring that any game based on his adventures was always going to be a one-way ticket to Snoozeville calling at Boredom Junction and Pointlessness Central, so the title has to go to Indiagames' Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Quest for Oz. Buffy's a superb fighter and gymnast who beats vampires and monsters to un-un-death with karate and (that one time, at least) rocket launchers, so it was a shame to see her appear in what is quite possibly the most half-hearted Prince of Persia clone ever created. It does absolutely nothing with the license, either, with Buffy herself being the only character from the show to appear in-game. I know the last boss is supposed to be Drusilla, but even taking into account the tiny resolution of a mobile screen it looks nothing like her and so I'm not counting her.\nMost Brutal Difficulty Level\nLooking through this year's articles, I noticed that I didn't write about that many really difficult games. I'm fairly sure that's because my very first article of 2015 was about Spelunker, a game so viciously committed to inflicting sudden and near-constant deaths on the player that it's taken me an entire year to recover from agonisingly grinding my way through it. I don't think I have ever uttered such a stream of foul invective at a videogame in my life, and I've played through Dragon's Lair on the NES.\nMost Terrifying\nIt wasn't any of the games I wrote about during the Halloween Spooktacular, that's for sure - no, the only game this year to elicit a frisson of fear was Paul Norman's The Trivia Monster. After the unsettling weirdness of Norman's Forbidden Forest, I was hoping for more of the same from Trivia Monster, and boy did I get it in the form of the titular monster's scream, the horrifying sound of a robot programmed only to feel pain trying to drag itself out of a burning cheese grater.\nBest Soundtrack\nIt was a fairly weak year for top-quality soundtracks, but as is so often the case Castlevania came to my ears' rescue with the music from Castlevania Legends.\nMost Pleasant Surprise\nQuite a few games this year turned out to be much more enjoyable than I first anticipated: Moon Crystal is very close to being a true \"lost\" classic in the Famicom's library of platformers, Riding Fight was so beautifully dumb that I could overlook many of its flaws and Heavy Smash is just pure arcade fun. However, I have to give this one to Big Fish Game's pixel-pecking hidden object spook-a-thon Halloween Trick or Treat. The cluttered, kitschy mess that makes up the game's environments is an aesthetic that's wired directly into my brain's pleasure centres, and I found the act of hunting around for disguised items deeply relaxing. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I have developed something of an addiction to horror-themed hidden-object games, and since Halloween I have played a considerable amount of them including both the Halloween Trick or Treat sequels and several others. There you are, then: final proof, if proof were needed, that I have no business writing about whether a game is good or not.\nMost Poorly-Timed Article\nI probably should have saved all those words about Return of the Jedi until a couple of weeks ago, huh?\nMost Baffling\nScare Bear for the C64. Why was it called Scare Bear? Where was that bear even going? Why were tiny astronauts trying to kill him? Did he defund the space program for tiny people or something? There are no answers to any of these questions, leaving Scare Bear as a true enigma for the ages.\nMost Forgettable\nI was looking at the list of this year's articles. Battlecry is on there. I could not remember a thing about Battlecry other than you punch people in it and honestly, that's fifty percent of the games I write about. As someone whose brain is nothing more than a fleshy filing cabinet for side-scrolling beat-em-up information, this means Battlecry might be the most generic slugfest ever created.\nBest In-Game Text\nAlways a hotly-contested category, this one, and amongst my favourites are the various messages in the wonderful Advanced Lawnmower Simulator, even the ones that cruelly compared me to Helen Keller.\nShadowgate was another highlight, with text that veers between sarcastically calling out you, the player, for your dumbass decisions like, I dunno, punching yourself in the face, and describing even the plainest items as though they were artefacts of such wondrous beauty that you eyeballs will rub their eyeballs in disbelief should you happen to glance at them.\nDoug's Big Game featured a goat emergency, which was nice.\nHowever, the clear winner in this field is Riding Fight, a game packed to the rafters with poorly-translated and utterly charming dialogue, from the orders that villains should be \"manacled and punished\" to the hero's quip that his wild adventure is \"only a daily experience.\" Best of all is the enigmatic phrase \"what a gravy day,\" a phrase that manages to communicate it's meaning despite not really meaning anything.\nWorst Game\nAlways a tough choice, this, and I'm still undecided whether that's because the vast majority of retro games are shite or because I am compelled to inflict mental anguish upon myself by playing the worst of the worst. So, who were the contenders this year? Imagine: Doctor was seemingly an attempt to put all who played it into a coma with a one-two punch of extreme tedium and being deeply patronising. The same is true of Disney's Doug: Doug's Big Game, and the manufacturers of sleeping pills the world over are praying Doug's Big Game doesn't become common knowledge because it'll put them straight out of business. TimeCop on the SNES? I'm not going to finish describing it, just like the developers didn't finish making the game. Silent Assault was a typical dollop of unlicensed NES misery, and Penalty Soccer must surely have been the result of one man's quest to remove everything you could consider beautiful from the Beautiful Game. You might be thinking \"maybe the winner is Barbie: Fashion Pack Games, a title that contains neither fashion nor games?\" Well, you're close, but Barbie takes second place. The winner, and winner by some considerable margin, is Game Boy Color abomination The Mask of Zorro. Hateful gameplay and controls, graphics so bad they'll make you wish the very concept of pictoral representation had never been invented and parts of the game that are almost literally impossible all add up to create a steaming pile of excrement that is this close to dethroning NSYNC: Get to the Show as the worst videogame I've ever played.\nBest Game\nOn the flip-side, there were some games I didn't hate this year. It was nice to finally finish Shadowgate, which remains a jolly little adventure, accidentally leaping out of windows notwithstanding. Captain Commando has been a favourite for many years and thankfully I haven't become any less enamoured with it over time. However, head and bat-wings above the rest this year was Capcom's mighty monster mash Vampire Savior, a product from a company at the very top of its game that is absolutely drenched in detail, care and attention. It's got a great cast of characters, the presentation is fantastic, the gameplay is pitch-perfect and one of the stage backgrounds is a giant god-foetus with an eyeball in the sole of its foot. Play Vampire Savior now or at your earliest convenience, is what I'm saying.\nMy Personal Favourite Article This Year\nIt has to be the one about Halloween Trick or Treat. I just had so much fun writing it that I was disappointed when I'd finished, and it left me feeling more Halloween-y than I have in years and that is very important to me. Also enjoyable were the Street Fighter II Character Encyclopaedia, (because I got to marry my twin loves of Street Fighter and really stupid jokes,) Fright Night, that time I played a bunch of Super Mario Bros. hacks and the big, beefy men of the Amiga's title screens. Rarely have so many lazing tracings of Boris Vallejo pictures been collected in one place.\nAnd there we go, another year down and still somehow VGJunk trundles on into the future. I hope you've enjoyed this year's articles, and grateful thanks to everyone who's sent me an encouraging message or comment. I'll be back in the new year with more of this sort of thing, assuming I can tear myself away from Bloodborne.\nThe surprisingly interesting golf game covers of the Famicom!\nAnimal and egg crime in Humpty Dumpty Mystery and Who Killed Cock Robin?\nHeroic punching action in Superman!\nLabels: 2015 review, vgjunk\nFAMICOM GOLF GAME COVERS\nToday: some golf. \"But VGJunk,\" I hear you wail, \"isn't golf one of the most tedious events mankind has ever allowed to be broadcast in the name of entertainment?\" You may have your own, differing feelings on the subject and that's fine, but personally I'm of the opinion that Mark Twain's famous quote that \"golf is a good walk spoiled\" does not go far enough. It's not even a walk, you ride around in an electric dorkmobile. So, golf. I'm not a big fan. What I am a fan of is Japanese videogame artwork, and by focusing in on Famicom games I have managed to put together a selection of box-art for golf games that somehow, against all the odds, manages to make the sport look interesting.\nGolf, Nintendo, 1984\nLet's begin, as seems appropriate, with Nintendo's own Golf, one of the very earliest Famicom releases. It features a man hitting a golf ball towards a flag, thus effortlessly capturing the very essence of the sport, but here's my problem with it - I know that's supposed to be a cap on his head, but I just can't get my brain to read it that way unless I really concentrate on it. At every passing glance, my eyes tell me that this is the back of a man who has a mere stump where his head ought to be, or maybe that he's popped his collar to a frankly ridiculous degree. His doctors said he couldn't play golf in a neck brace, but he was determined to prove them wrong! And then his head fell off. I have no idea why I can't see it as it's meant to be. However, I know exactly why those purple tee-marker orbs look to me as though they should have electricity arcing between them. It's because I'm a big nerd.\nJumbo Ozaki's Hole in One Professional, HAL Labs, 1988\nSmashing the stereotype that \"Jumbo\" is an epithet only suitable for elephants and the morbidly obese, famous Japanese golfer Jumbo Ozaki gained his nickname due to his height. According to Wikipedia he's 5' 11\", so I'm on course to be given the nickname Gargantua any day now.\nThis isn't the most interesting of cover artworks, I'll grant you. There's a golf man and a golf place - you know, the Hole Zone or White Ball Alley or whatever they call it - and some golf words. It's definitely a golf game. The cover has gotten that across in a clear and effective manner. You're never going to mistake it for Doom, so congratulations to the artist on that front. I also like that they included a yacht marina on the left of the image, just in case you weren't one hundred percent certain that you're too poor to take up golf.\nMini-Putt, A-Wave, 1991\nThese being Japanese covers, it wasn't going to be long before we got to one featuring giant-eyed little munchkin-people with the physical dimensions of a toddler and the hair of a clown trapped head-first in a threshing machine. Here are some now! Just look at 'em, the neckless freaks. The young chap in the foreground is about to take his putt, but in a disgraceful show of poor sportsmanship that girl in the background is shouting at him. I can see it now, he's bringing back his putter, his eyes firmly on the ball and just as he starts his swing his opponent shouts \"don't miss, dickhead!\"\nAlso worthy of note is that sun, who has the florid cheeks and slack expression of a teenager who's drunk, possibly for the first time, on a cheap Bacardi knock-off, a teenager who has just decided that now is the perfect time to call Sally from his maths class and tell her he fancies her, forgetting that she has no idea who he is and that it's two AM in the morning. I know that sounds way too autobiographical a hypothesis for it to have been triggered purely by looking at that cartoon sun, but I swear that never happened to me. I would never drink a knock-off Bacardi substitute, not when there was creme de menth that would never be missed by anyone sitting in the drinks cabinet.\nGolf Club: Birdie Rush, Data East, 1987\nWhat is a \"Birdie Rush,\" anyway? The thrill of coming in at one under par, or trying to get through your round of golf as quickly as possible because you've had a sudden epiphany that you could be spending your time in a glorious myriad of other, far superior ways? This guy certainly doesn't seem to be having much fun, but then I think he's supposed to be a professional. That's why there's a crowd behind him with camera. I need a job where I can wear an outfit like that and still call myself a \"professional,\" but what are my options besides becoming a golfer? Eccentric grandfather in a kid's TV show, possibly. Time-travelling 1920's newspaper boy is the only other one I can think of. Dude, why is \"society\" and \"the Man\" so insistent on putting everyone in their specific little boxes, man? I want my bank manager to wear clothes like that. It's not going to affect his ability to do his job or anything, so why not? Might want to lose the spiked shoes, though. They'll mess up the flooring. Related trivia: Nintendo put out some officially-branded Super Mario World golf shoes. Well, if he is going to spend all that time jumping on evil creatures he might as well have jagged metal sticking out of his soles while he's doing it.\nThe Golf '92, G.O.1, 1992\nThis isn't just any golf, this is THE golf, the definitive article, the One True Golf. A bold claim indeed. I can't tell you whether this game is good enough to crown itself The Only Golf, because I'm not going to waste my time playing it. Let's just say it is. The Golf '92 never can and never will be bettered as a videogame recreation of golf. I can tell you one thing about this cover art, though, and that's that putting pencil moustaches on cutesy, super-deformed characters makes them look really creepy. For example, the guy in the yellow shirt at the bottom; he looks like a mean dad who threw away his daughter's Cabbage Patch doll and was then cursed to turn into that very doll, and he's just getting one final round of golf in before his hands become useless fuzzy flippers.\nMesaze! Top Pro Green Ni Kakeru Yume, Jaleco, 1993\nI think that title translates as something like Aim! Top Pro Dreams of the Green, which is a damn sight more interesting than Golf or even The Golf. The cover's nice, too, very tranquil, although obviously it's too dark to play golf at sunset so this has probably been arranged so the player and his caddy can have a romantic moment to help them get over the double bogey on the fifth. So, a good cover, but the game's by Jaleco so it will almost certainly be aggressively average. An aggressively average Famicom golf game from 1993. I think that might be the most average videogame possible.\nFighting Golf, SNK, 1988\nOkay, so you might know this one better as Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf, a title I always read as Lee Trevino is Fighting Golf. Lee Trevino is out to put a stop to golf once and for all, and he's going to bring it down... from the inside!\nThere's Lee now. Presumably. I have no idea what Lee Trevino looks like. The only reason I am aware of his existence is this game, and all I know about this game is that it adds an extra little layer to the Simpsons joke about Lee Carvalho's Putting Challenge. I'm sure it's a great game, though. It's endorsed by the US National Video Game Team, after all, and such an august institution would never allow their name to appear on an inferior product.\nIn Japan it's just called Fighting Golf - no word on whether the Japanese National Video Game Team endorses it - and it has a much more dramatic cover, with dynamic brushstrokes that capture a raw power that Lee Trevino simply does not possess. The intensity of the image is somewhat undercut by the golfer not looking at where his ball is going, mind you.\nGolf-kko Open, TOSE \/ Taito, 1989\nAnother fun, cartoony cover for Golf-kko Open, the undoubted star of which is that cool mole. You can tell he's cool because he's wearing shades, and sunglasses do seem like a good idea to protect oneself from the brightness of this artwork, which strikes me as a bit Keith Haring-ish.\nThe picture continues on the back of the case, where we can see that the golf ball is caught between ecstasy and agony. The sting of the driver hurts, but it hurts good. Forget about the masochistic golf ball for a moment - possibly a futile challenge, it's not a concept that is easy to forget - and instead check out that snake. That snake has the glazed, anxious expression of a reptile that has, through a series of comical mishaps and coincidences, become a participant in a human golf tournament. No-one has noticed that he's a snake yet, and he's going to front it out. Will there be a heart-warming ending when the snake managed to win the golf tournament and everyone still loves him even though he's a snake? No, of course not. How is he going to hold a putter?\nGolf Grand Slam, TOSE \/ Hector, 1991\nIt's a bunker. Yep. The ol' sand hole. Disappointment Beach. The Dunes of Shame. I don't have much more to offer than that, folks. Next!\nMario Open Golf, Nintendo, 1991\nIt's-a him, Super Mario, with a smile on his face as he uses a golf club to batter a mole to death. It's Super Mario Bros.: Groundsman With Extreme Prejudice! Now you're playing with power, and a niggling sense that you're a terrible person.\nAt least this cover finally settles the matter of Mario's nationality. He is definitely American. No native of any other nation would wear that outfit. Technically, Mario is breaking Federal law by wearing these hideous dungarees, as the US Flag Code states that the Stars and Stripes \"should never be used as wearing apparel.\" That's animal murder and a criminal lack of patriotism in one cover, Mario. What a disgrace.\nFamicom Golf: US Course, Nintendo, 1987\nAnd now he's goose-stepping! Do you hate America, Mario? Is that it?\nNamco Classic, Namco, 1988\nThis one is my favourite of the lot, a light, summery number that actually looks more like the cover of a tennis game than a golf game. I really like the logo, and the artwork is so cheerful that it manages to make golf look like something worth spending your time doing, but it's offset by the unusual swarm of arrows hovering around the girl, which gives you something to ponder. What do they represent? Are they extremely dense motion lines? Are they pointing in the direction of the ball's travel? Is this a giant woman being attacked by a fleet of the ships from Asteroids? Who knows, but it's an interesting touch none-the-less.\nNamco Classic II, Namco, 1992\nFor the sequel, Namco took a more realistic approach. They've still got a lady taking a swing on there, but now there's also a man who seems to be preparing to smash the game's logo with his five-iron. I'm beginning to think that I have some barely-suppressed rage issues, because I'm looking at a lot of these covers and immediately seeing violence. Maybe it's just my own dislike for golf coming through, although it's not like I don't enjoy golf games. Through the transformative power of videogames, almost anything can be made enjoyable. Golf, stacking blocks, typing, you name it. I could probably get some fun out of my own colonoscopy if they let me control the camera and turned it into a little game. \"Pilot the all-seeing Eye of Drungarth through the meat-labyrinth to uncover the ancient evil lurking within,\" that kind of thing. Hang on, I think I'm on to a winner here. I'm going to call the NHS and propose a shared Kickstarter. Don't worry, I won't forget about you when I'm rich.\nMario gone awry in Super Mario World for the Megadrive!\nLabels: cover art, famicom, golf, NES\nWHO KILLED COCK ROBIN? \/ HUMPTY DUMPTY MYSTERY (C64)\nHave you ever wanted to be a detective, using nothing but your keen powers of observation and highly-developed sense of logic to sift through the clues and identify the guilty? Okay, good. First things first, develop a problem with your personality, because all the famous detectives have one. Sherlock Holmes is a cokehead, Batman lives in a cave and dresses as a bat, and Columbo never takes off that bloody coat. I'd suggest developing a trait that no-one's seen in a detective before, like a compulsion to stop detecting every half-hour so you can drink a bucket of paint. Inspector Dulux, they'll call you. Once you've done that, you can start practising for a long and fruitful career in summoning a group of people into a room and then revealing who the killer is by playing these two games: released as a double-pack in 1984, it's Widgit Software's Commodore 64 titles Who Killed Cock Robin and Humpty Dumpty Mystery!\nWe'll start with Who Killed Cock Robin, because Humpty Dumpty was involved with the king's men and so we'll save that added layer of royal intrigue to enjoy later. There goes Cock Robin now, flying towards a tree laden with Christmas baubles, or possibly cartoon bombs. Maybe these bombs are what killed Cock Robin, because he suddenly falls from the sky having been murdered in a brutal farmyard slaying. But who killed Cock Robin?\nWell, that's cleared that up. Another case closed for Detective VGJunk, and the sparrow is remanded in custody to await his trail for birdicide. Time to move on to Humpty Dumpty Mystery, then.\nOh, never mind, apparently the sparrow's confession isn't trustworthy enough to secure a conviction. I guess forensics couldn't find the smoking arrow. No reason is given as to why the sparrow might make a false confession, with the options being that he's either protecting someone or he's mentally unstable. Either way, he will be charged with wasting police time and I can get on with the business of finding the real killer.\nI need to establish who killed Cock Robin, when they killed him and where. Erm, I don't know about the former but the other two answers are \"about three seconds ago\" and \"right next to that tree, I just saw it happen.\" No-one is asking why Cock Robin was slain, I notice. You'd think establishing a motive would be an important part of this process, but no-one seems interested. Maybe he had it coming.\nOkay, first things first - selecting a difficulty level, with higher difficulties having more possibilities that need to be eliminated. I always like to start on the default difficulty where possible, so let's go with four because it's roughly in the middle.\nHere's a clue to get you started. \"Not an early bird,\" hmm? Right then, I'll look for the ones who haven't caught any worms.\nHere are the suspects: the blockiest bunch of birds you're ever likely to see outside of a Duplo aviary set. You have to guess which one of these birds committed the murder by typing in the corresponding number. I'm going with the swan, because we've already established that we don't trust the sparrow's confession and while the faces of the crow and eagle to have a hint of true psychopathy about them I reckon that makes them a little too obvious. No, it must be the swan, the aloof, regal swan, the only bird with the superiority complex required to think it can get away with murder. They can break a man's arm with a flap of their wings, you know, so just imagine what they could do to a tiny robin.\nNext, make you guess as to where the murder took place. Oh, those were supposed to be apples growing on that tree from the title screen. I did meant to select the orchard, because that's where we saw Cock Robin die, but I accidentally pressed 1 so let's hope he was actually killed in the field and then his lifeless corpse was thrown into the orchard in a clumsy attempt to hide the body.\nFinally, pick a time of death. I wish I had some forensic data to help me out here; body temperature when the body was found, how far rigor mortis had set in, that kind of thing. I wanted CSI: Farthing Wood, but instead it's just down to a random (at this point) choice. Let's go for 9PM, nobody murders birds in the afternoon and everyone's in bed at 3AM.\nThe data has been analysed, the suspect has been questioned and the location meticulously searched, and the results are in - one out of my three guesses was correct, and thus we stumble upon the central concept of the game. You're not told which of your guesses were incorrect - maybe the swan had an alibi, or Cock Robin was captured on CCTV while putting twenty quid on the night's football in Ladbrokes at nine o'clock - so you repeat the process using guesswork and logic to find the three correct pieces of the puzzle.\nYou're given an extremely generous ten chances to get it right - detective work moves at a much more relaxed pace out here in the countryside than it does back on the mean streets of the big city - and between each round you can pick a number to receive a clue, like so. Some are more useful than others. \"Has a keen eye\"? That'll be the eagle, then. \"Right Angled Time\" and \"Has Many Trees\" do a lot to narrow things down, too. Now I know the eagle is the culprit, and that it didn't take place in the field, so means my original guess of 9PM must have been the one I got right in the first place.\nAnd there you have it. The eagle has landed... in prison, and he's looking at 25 to life. He's a jail bird now. I'm glad he's locked away so he can't tear my eyes out with his talon in retribution for that pun.\nThat's it for Who Killed Cock Robin in the \"gameplay\" stakes. It's a passing diversion that might have kept young children of the early Eighties entertained for half an hour or so, although I am factoring in the ten minutes it takes for the tape to load into that.\nOh, okay, let's have another go, this time with six of each variable to contend with. Now they're animals, and it's a bloody good job it has their names written right there because I would struggle to identify some of these from their picture alone. The snake and the badger are recognisable, just about, but the cat looks like it's holding a piece of model railway track in its mouth and the \"dog\" picture could just as easily be a very unfortunate puddle on a bathroom floor.\nThere are six new places, too. I have no idea why the farmyard is full of little martini glasses with flags sticking out of them, or why the tree in the lane appears to be exploding. Oh, hang on, it must be one of those bomb-trees from the opening screen, of course.\nIt turns out it was the cat, in the churchyard, with the candlestick. At noon, I mean. Later, at trial, the cat revealed he had perpetrated the crime because he wanted to leave Cock Robin's body on the kitchen floor as a present for his master. He then licked his own arsehole and was charged with contempt of court.\nOn to Humpty Dumpty Mystery now, and the real mystery is what kind of benevolent god could allow such a twisted, malformed egg-man to exist? Another mystery: does Humpty have trousers made especially for him, or does he simply paint his legs black? Yet more mystery - this game has more goddamn mystery than an X-Files box set - who are these bizarre, place men with fezes and Hitler moustaches, and what is the significance of the symbol on their hats that looks like the underside of a plane? They must be the king's men, performing their solemn duty to keep watch on Humpty Dumpty so that he can never again go on a bloody rampage through the peaceful world of men. It's a stressful job, as the ranks of the king's men are constantly depleted by the ravenous attentions of Humpty's insatiable appetite - why do you think we eat soldiers with a boiled egg, hmm? - and eventually one of these man had to, ah ha ha, crack.\nHUMPTY DUMPTY WAS PUSHED, the headline screams. Humpty doesn't seem that traumatized by the ordeal, mind you, Are you really telling me that all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again when the worst of the damage seems to just be a large crack? Maybe not the horses, glueing eggshell together is a job too delicate for hooves, but surely the king's men could have put him together again if they had wanted to. This isn't the action of one rogue soldier, then. Everyone hates Humpty. Also, if you're an egg, don't sit on a wall, or at least wear a crash helmet.\nHere are the king's men, lined up in alphabetical order. One of them is called Donks. I hope he gets a lot of promotions, everyone will love to hear the tales of General Donks or Major Donks. Donks. That'll be my nickname for Donkey Kong from now on, good ol' Donks and his little chimp friend Dids.\nYou might have realised by now that Humpty Dumpty Mystery is a variant of the classic board game Guess Who? To find the egg-smashing culprit, you must eliminate the others by asking a series of yes-or-no questions based on their appearance. For instance here I asked \"Did He Have a Red Hat?\" and no, he did not have a red hat so anyone wearing a red hat is eliminated.\nAnd so you go on, asking questions and occasionally being stumped by the text parser. I just wanted to find out whether Humpty's assailant had a moustache or not, but I could not get the answers I was after until later, when I realised the word I should have been using was \"lips\". It also took a bit of trial-and-error to figure out \"badge\" for the thing on their hats and \"jacket\" for their clothes, but I got there in the end. That was the most challenging part of the game: as in Who Killed Cock Robin you get ten attempts but it's even easier here, and I always managed to narrow my suspects down to a shortlist of one after three or four questions. That's not really a complaint, because these games were specifically designed for children in the 5-10 range, but merely a heads-up that if for some reason you do decide to play this game then be warned that it's not going to fill an entire rainy afternoon.\n'Twas Clump who did the deed! I should have known. A red jacket, a blue hat and a toothbrush moustache? That's the portrait of a killer if ever I've seen one, although I'm not sure why I'm seeing twelve copies of Clump's face now that I've identified him. I've either spent too long on this case and gone in so deep that my obsession with catching Clump means that I see him at every turn, or this is a big sheet of posters to inform and warn the public about Clump. Wanted dead or alive for the crime of egg-shoving, that kind of thing.\nWith the crimes against him avenged, Humpty Dumpty is back in fine health, presuming his legs are supposed to be doing that. It doesn't look like a very comfortable seating arrangement. Speaking of seats, Humpty has once again perched himself atop a wall, having learned nothing from his ordeal.\nBut wait, there's more! You can also select Humpty game two from the title screen, and how could I resist after Humpty game one was so thrilling? I'll admit, I was drawn in by this mysterious image of a silhouetted king's man, although I'm seeing someone else in that shadowy outline...\nThere, that's better.\nHumpty game two starts in much the same way as Humpty game one, with the attempted murder of a large sentient egg, an egg with two passions in life - sitting in high places and the feel of brick against his backside. Again, one of the king's men is responsible, but this time there was a witness! Unfortunately, the ranks of the king's men are filled from a very small pool of families that have engaged in generation after generation of inbreeding, and so all the king's men look very similar.\nIt was this guy. He did it. He's not ashamed, he'd do it again in a heartbeat. Someone had to put an end to Humpty's tyranny.\nI hope you burned the miscreant's face into your memory, because now he's gone and you have to remember what he looked like. Was his hat blue or red? Did he have a 'tache, or were his pursed and extremely red lips on display for all to see? All the king's men have tiny, creepy eyes like you might see painted on the disturbing idol worshipped by a race of semi-human maniacs, but what colour were these particular eyes? Enter all the details that you can remember and keep guessing the ones you don't. It is not a complex process.\nThere's even less to capture the imagination in this one than there is in Humpty game one or Who Killed Cock Robin, and it's the last part of this C64 double feature. So, how has a thirty-year-old bundle of children's guessing games held up? Do you really need me to answer that? There's nothing to hold your interest in any of the games once you've played them a single time, they're extremely easy even for the suggested age range and the graphics are, well, let's call them rustic, shall we? Crudley hewn from great slabs of pixels with only simple tools, etcetera. Still, there is a certain amount of charm to it and the games work correctly, which sounds like damning with faint praise but I'm always happy when a retro game isn't horribly broken. Was it worth writing all these words about? I dunno, I had fun doing it and isn't that really all that matters? Yes, yes it is.\nPlatform action so cutesy it'll melt your eyeballs in Miracle Girls!\nLabels: commodore 64, humpty dumpty mystery, who killed cock robin, widgit software\nSUPERMAN (ARCADE)\nSUPER MARIO WORLD (GENESIS \/ MEGADRIVE)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The 17th edition of the Henry van de Velde Awards and Labels is now upon us. We created these Awards in 1994 at the Vlaams Instituut voor het Zelfstandig Ondernemen [Flemish Institute for Independent Entrepreneurship] (Design Department) because, at the time, neither Belgium nor Flanders presented awards for professionals in design and design-related fields. The Provincial Prizes were all that existed.\nAlong with a cash prize, we attached several symbols of success to the Awards, such as a silver trophy and a calligraphic certificate. These were created to underline the prestige of the Henry van de Velde Awards. The first trophy was designed by Siegfried De Buck, whose work made him an icon of Belgian silversmithing. We used his design, which took the form of a staff, for five editions. The next trophy was designed by Nedda El-Asmar, a graduate of Artesis University College (then simply the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts) and holder of a Master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London. The third was made by David Huycke, recently the first designer\/artist to become a Doctor of Arts. Helena Schepens, one of our youngest workers in precious metals, and also holder of a Master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London, was the fourth silversmith to design and make the trophy. Each of the trophies is used for five years. The certificate had to be calligraphic to illustrate, like the trophy, the importance of the craft aspect. The first calligrapher was Bert Binnenweg, and the second was Brody Neuenschwander, the Texan from Bruges, who worked with Peter Greenaway on films such as 'The Pillow Book', 'Prospero's Books' and others. So far, we have stayed with Brody. The cash prizes are EUR 5,000 per Award, for Career, Company and Young Talent. The Public award is worth EUR 2,500.\nVeerle Wenes\nNica Broucke\nJan Boelen\nHeiko Bartels","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Redirected from page \"DebianEdu\/Documentation\/en\/ITIL\/Introduction\"\nClear message\nKnowledge sharing for centralised administration\nSmall organisations are in practice dependent on individuals and therefore vulnerable if someone leaves. A thorough and quality assured system administration handbook is therefore essential to ensure stability and continuity in operating practices. The Program for Digital Literacy has the primary objective of developing a set of recommended operating solutions, with guidelines that provide schools and educational institutions with stability and predictability so that computers, networks and basic services function properly.\nThe ITIL book contains guidelines based on \"best practices\", adapted for municipalities using free software like Skolelinux to run centralized networks across multiple schools. These guidelines are adapted for municipal and regional administrative centres. Many municipalities have only one part-time position for ICT operations in schools. In Norway there are more than 300 small and medium sized municipalities; usually they have 1-4 persons working full time with ICT in each municipality. Therefore, sharing expertise and experience between operating organisations is essential for all.\nThis document is written under the GNU General Public License version 3. It means that you have:\nThe freedom to use the documentation for any purpose (Freedom 0).\nThe freedom to study documentation and adapt it to your needs (Freedom 1).\nThe freedom to forward copies so you can help your neighbour (Freedom 2).\nThe freedom to improve the document and distribute it with your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (Freedom 3).\nThese freedoms are explained on Wikipedia. Torgeir Kielland at the University of Bergen's Faculty of Law has analysed the GNU license or terms of Copyleft. He states that the GNU license is copyright relevant. In short, you can use everything in this documentation as appropriate. You must ensure that your contributions also receive a General Public License.\nMany have contributed to the documentation. Essentially it was written by Knut Yrvin and Andreas Johansen with many contributions from Klaus Ade Johnstad. Halvor Dahl, Skolelinux Drift AS is on the committee, and has made several contributions to structure and form, and content. In addition, there are contributions Snorre L\u00f8v\u00e5s, UNINETT ABC, Finn-Arne Johansen from BzzWare AS, Ragnar Wissl\u00f8ff from LinuxLabs AS, and the reference group who participated in writing the documentation. The following participated in the reference group:\nMonica Larssen - Harstad municipality\nAksel Celasun - Hurum municipality\nTrond M\u00e6hlum - Kongsvinger municipality\nBjarne Nielsen - Nittedal municipality\nStein Lier - Akershus county\nThis documentation is maintained in a wiki. This is to ensure that operations staff can easily search for solutions to problems, update configurations, and so on.\nSee the ?copyright page for the copyright status of this document.\nhttp:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/gpl.html\nThe Program for Digital Competence is the Norwegian Ministry of Education's ICT plan from 2004 to 2008. One objective is to develop a set of recommended operating solutions and appropriate guidelines. It will provide schools and educational facilities with stability and predictability, so that computers, networks and basic services function properly. Operating solutions must be adapted to the institutions' size and needs.\nThis documentation contains guidelines based on practices customised for ICT-services within municipalities and counties. It is also applicable for commercial operators. Many municipalities have only one part-time position for computer networking operations within the schools. Overall just 13% of the municipalities in Norway have more than 20,000 inhabitants; 73 % have less than 10,000. Usually 1-4 people work full time in ICT within the municipal administration. When it comes to schools, there is often only one part-time ICT position, which can cover approximately 500-800 client computers at 5-10 schools, with around 1700-3200 students and teachers using the system.\nThe documentation is also suitable for larger organisations. It is based on the ISO 20000 standard for ICT operations, also known as the ICT Infrastructure Library. See Wikipedia for more information about the standard itself: http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ITIL\nThe first edition of this document was finished 19th July 2006.\nThe document is maintained in a wiki and can be updated at https:\/\/wiki.debian.org\/!DebianEdu\/Documentation\/nb\/ITIL. The previous version is available from http:\/\/developer.skolelinux.no\/itil\/oldindex.html\nThe document will be translated into English using https:\/\/www.transifex.com\/projects\/p\/itil-revitalization\/ from March 2015.\nDebianEdu\/Documentation\/ITIL\/Introduction (last modified 2016-05-19 08:39:01)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Rosuvastatin\nATC Code C10AA07\nFormula C22H28FN3O6S\nMolar Mass (g\u00b7mol\u22121) 481,538\nCAS Number 287714-41-4\nPUB Number 446157\nSolubility sparingly soluble in water\nRosuvastatin is an active ingredient from the group of statins. Due to its lipid-lowering properties, it is used to treat disorders of lipid metabolism and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.\nIt is considered the most effective statin drug because in clinical trials, the reduction in LDL cholesterol levels was about three times that of atorvastatin. However, despite this difference in efficacy, there are no differences in the effect on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis according to the results of the SATURN study.\nElevated cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are significant risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Rosuvastatin inhibits the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis. The drug acts mainly in the liver, where the number of LDL receptors is increased, allowing more LDL to be taken up and broken down, and also inhibits the synthesis of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein). This leads to a decrease in LDL and VLDL in plasma. At the same time, HDL cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein) is increased and triglycerides are decreased.\nRosuvastatin has an oral bioavailability of 20% and is 50% absorbed. Maximum plasma concentration is reached after approximately 5 hours. The drug binds 88% to plasma proteins and is absorbed primarily in the liver, where only about 10% is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme family. The half-life is approximately 19 hours but does not increase with increasing dose. Rovastatin is excreted unchanged 90% in the stool, the remainder in the urine.\nIt takes between two to four weeks for the effects of the statin to occur.\nBecause rosuvastatin is minimally metabolized via the cytochrome P450 system, fewer interactions occur (in contrast to atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) with drugs metabolized by the same enzyme system.\nAdverse side effects such as myalgia (muscle pain), abdominal pain, nausea, and weakness may occur when taking rosuvastatin.\nToxicological Data\nOverdose of rosuvastatin has mytoxic and hepatotoxic (damaging the muscle cells and liver) consequences.\nDrugBank (accessed on 07.06.2022)\nGelbe Liste (accessed on 07.06.2022)\nPharmaWiki (accessed on 07.06.2022)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"jeff sessions donald trump alabama senate race cnn republicans doug jones\nAre You OK, Jeff Sessions? We Don't Really Care But Blink Twice For 'Yes' Anyway\nJeff Sessions is so desperate to return to the Senate he bound and gagged his own dignity and murdered it on camera. Sessions, Donald Trump's former attorney general, groveled yesterday for the pleasure of the mad king. His first campaign ad is called \"Great Job,\" and he spends the entire cringe-inducing 30 seconds telling us how awesome the president is. It was embarrassing to watch even if I had any respect for the man, which I don't.\nGreat Job youtu.be\nSweet Christ, what's going on with his eyes? There used to be twinkle in them, as if he was fondly imagining happy slaves toiling in the fields and singing \"Zippedeedoodah.\" Now, they're dead inside. It's like he was broken in Room 101 and just wants to share with us how much he loves Big Brother.\nPATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING: When I left President Trump's Cabinet, did I write a tell-all book? No. Did I go on CNN and attack the president? Nope. Have I said a cross word about our president? Not one time. I'll tell you why: First, that would be dishonorable. I was there to serve his agenda, not mine. Second, the president is doing a great job for America and Alabama, and he has my strong support.\nWhen Sessions says Trump is doing a heckuva job, there's a quick clip of Sessions endorsing Trump in Alabama. Whoever threw that in has no insight into the psyche of a sociopath. The worst thing to do is to remind them of a time when you had power and they didn't. They'll just resent the implication they were ever in your debt. The president has all the power now, but Sessions can't just beg his way out of his political grave. He'll have to give Trump the only thing he has left.\nJames Frain: Tudors: Cromwell's Execution youtu.be\nTrump told Chuck Todd in June that naming Sessions attorney general was his \"biggest mistake,\" and remember, his son is Donald Trump Jr. Today Kristen Holmes and Karen Travers at CNN asked him if he's forgiven Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation. Trump claimed he \"doesn't even think about it.\" Sessions said Thursday that he doesn't personally regret his recusal, and I think he'll need to see five lights where there are actually four before Trump forgives him. Trump did think Sessions debasing himself was a good start.\nREPORTER: Will you endorse Jeff Sessions in the Alabama Senate run?\nTRUMP: I haven't gotten involved. I saw he said very nice things about me last night. But, we'll have to see ... I haven't made a determination yet. You have some very good people running in Alabama. Let's see what happens.\nPundits have suggested that Trump not delivering a death blow to Sessions and endorsing another candidate right away is a hopeful sign for the former Alabama senator. I just think Trump is going to play with his food for a while and then crush Sessions when it most amuses him. Sessions has stated that he was the first (and only) senator to endorse Trump's presidential run. But that's just a fact. Anyone can say facts. Only someone truly loyal to Trump can see all five lights.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"A fleet of MIT drones can rescue hikers without GPS\nGPS is often the most effective and crucial requirement when it comes to hiking and also for search and rescue operations. But there are times when drones and other devices find it impossible to connect with GPS in densely-packed forest areas. MIT has come up with an innovative solution for such scenarios, where drones can use similar technology used in autonomous cars.\nMIT researchers have reinvented a drone that uses LIDAR to map forests that can put away with GPS. Drones will create a 2D mapping that covers the orientation of trees, making it easier for exploring unexplored areas. For instance, if an entire fleet of drones is released, it'll make a smooth coverage in large forest areas with minimum effort.\nThese robotic drones from MIT aren't restricted to just mapping unexplored areas, but also in their searching techniques. Preserving the drones' momentum, MIT has been able to create a spiral pattern that can cover a wider area with less time. This comes in handy during a rescue operation where time is a critical factor.\nOf course, the technology has its limitations. Once the drones map the area, it needs a ground station to merge the maps. The technology also needs an object recognition system to identify people, once it spots them. MIT also envisions sharing maps when contact is made with lost hikers and so on.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Securities and Exchange Commission has not necessarily reviewed the information in this filing and has not determined if it is accurate and complete.\nThe reader should not assume that the information is accurate and complete.\nhours per response: 4.00\nCIK (Filer ID Number)\nX None\nLimited Partnership\nBusiness Trust\nOther (Specify)\nNovan, Inc.\nWithin Last Five Years (Specify Year)\nYet to Be Formed\n4222 EMPEROR BLVD SUITE 200\nState\/Province\/Country\nZIP\/PostalCode\nPhone Number of Issuer\nDURHAM NORTH CAROLINA 27703 919-485-8080\nStasko Nathan\n4222 Emperor Boulevard Suite 200\nDurham NORTH CAROLINA 27703\nX Executive Officer X Director Promoter\nClarification of Response (if Necessary):\nSchoenfisch Mark\nExecutive Officer X Director Promoter\nHunter F Neal\nIngram Robert A\nPalmour John W\nGeer W. Kent\nMartin G. Kelly\nMurphy Sean\nPeterson Richard\nX Executive Officer Director Promoter\nPooled Investment Fund\nIs the issuer registered as\nan investment company under\nthe Investment Company\nAct of 1940?\nOther Banking & Financial Services\nX Biotechnology\nHospitals & Physicians\nREITS & Finance\nLodging & Conventions\nTourism & Travel Services\nOther Travel\nRevenue Range\nAggregate Net Asset Value Range\nNo Revenues No Aggregate Net Asset Value\n$1 - $1,000,000 $1 - $5,000,000\n$1,000,001 - $5,000,000 $5,000,001 - $25,000,000\n$5,000,001 - $25,000,000 $25,000,001 - $50,000,000\n$25,000,001 - $100,000,000 $50,000,001 - $100,000,000\nOver $100,000,000 Over $100,000,000\nX Decline to Disclose Decline to Disclose\nNot Applicable Not Applicable\nRule 504(b)(1) (not (i), (ii) or (iii))\nRule 504 (b)(1)(i)\nRule 504 (b)(1)(ii)\nRule 504 (b)(1)(iii)\nX Rule 506(b)\nSecurities Act Section 4(a)(5)\nInvestment Company Act Section 3(c)\nSection 3(c)(1) Section 3(c)(9)\nSection 3(c)(2) Section 3(c)(10)\nSection 3(c)(7)\nX New Notice Date of First Sale 2015-12-01 First Sale Yet to Occur\nDoes the Issuer intend this offering to last more than one year?\nYes X No\nX Equity Pooled Investment Fund Interests\nDebt Tenant-in-Common Securities\nOption, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Another Security Mineral Property Securities\nSecurity to be Acquired Upon Exercise of Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Security Other (describe)\nIs this offering being made in connection with a business combination transaction, such as a merger, acquisition or exchange offer?\nMinimum investment accepted from any outside investor $0 USD\nRecipient CRD Number X None\n(Associated) Broker or Dealer X None\n(Associated) Broker or Dealer CRD Number X None\nState(s) of Solicitation (select all that apply)\nCheck \"All States\" or check individual States All States\nForeign\/non-US\nTotal Offering Amount $31,000,000 USD\nor Indefinite\nTotal Amount Sold $30,409,735 USD\nTotal Remaining to be Sold $590,265 USD\nSelect if securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, and enter the number of such non-accredited investors who already have invested in the offering.\nRegardless of whether securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, enter the total number of investors who already have invested in the offering:\n15. Sales Commissions & Finder's Fees Expenses\nProvide separately the amounts of sales commissions and finders fees expenses, if any. If the amount of an expenditure is not known, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.\nSales Commissions $0 USD\nFinders' Fees $0 USD\nOther than the payment of salaries and other compensation and benefits, no officer, director or promoter will receive any payments from the proceeds of this offering.\nNotifying the SEC and\/or each State in which this notice is filed of the offering of securities described and undertaking to furnish them, upon written request, in the accordance with applicable law, the information furnished to offerees.*\nIrrevocably appointing each of the Secretary of the SEC and, the Securities Administrator or other legally designated officer of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business and any State in which this notice is filed, as its agents for service of process, and agreeing that these persons may accept service on its behalf, of any notice, process or pleading, and further agreeing that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any Federal or state action, administrative proceeding, or arbitration brought against the issuer in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with the offering of securities that is the subject of this notice, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these statutes, or (ii) the laws of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business or any State in which this notice is filed.\nCertifying that, if the issuer is claiming a Regulation D exemption for the offering, the issuer is not disqualified from relying on Regulation D for one of the reasons stated in Rule 505(b)(2)(iii) or Rule 506(d).\nName of Signer\nNovan, Inc. \/s\/ Jeff N. Hunter Jeff N. Hunter Secretary 2015-12-16\n* This undertaking does not affect any limits Section 102(a) of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996 (\"NSMIA\") [Pub. L. No. 104-290, 110 Stat. 3416 (Oct. 11, 1996)] imposes on the ability of States to require information. As a result, if the securities that are the subject of this Form D are \"covered securities\" for purposes of NSMIA, whether in all instances or due to the nature of the offering that is the subject of this Form D, States cannot routinely require offering materials under this undertaking or otherwise and can require offering materials only to the extent NSMIA permits them to do so under NSMIA's preservation of their anti-fraud authority.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Daily Morning Note \u2013 9 April 2018\nWEEKLY MARKET OUTLOOK WEBINAR\nRegister HERE for MONDAY's 11.15am webinar if you have not already done so.\nArchived webinars available.\nTechnical Analysis: Technical Pulse \u2013 The Phillip 20 Portfolio \u2013 March Monthly Review\n\u2013 New Entries: Genting Sing, KrisEnergy and UOL\n\u2013 Stop loss: F&N and Wing Tai\n\u2013 Total return since May 17 to March 18 is +3.23%\n\u2013 Weekly hammer rejection off the 3,354 to 3,340 support area on the week\nended 06\/04\/18 suggests the resumption of the uptrend next\nTECHNICAL PULSE\nGenting Sing Ltd \u2013 Weekly timeframe \u2013 Bullish\n\u2013 A strong hammer was formed on the week ended 06\/04\/18 with increasing\nvolume suggests a reversal higher next.\n\u2013 Expect the long-term uptrend to resume next for price to test the 1.19\nresistance area followed by 1.27.\nFor more information and additional disclosures, refer to the link here.\nAustralian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's coalition government on Monday lost a 30th straight major opinion poll, a symbolic defeat that intensifies pressure on him after he used the same milestone to oust his predecessor. The latest widely watched Newspoll, published in The Australian newspaper, showed the Liberal-National coalition trailing the opposition Labor Party 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis, a margin that would deliver Turnbull an election defeat.\nBritain's Brexit transition deal last month has boosted confidence among finance chiefs at some of the country's leading companies, a survey published on Monday showed. Accountancy firm Deloitte said 27 per cent of chief financial officers (CFOs) it interviewed after the deal was struck were more optimistic than three months earlier. That compared with 18 per cent of CFOs who were more optimistic before the deal was struck.\nTokyo stocks opened flat on Monday, as the yen eased modestly against the US dollar, with investor sentiment hurt by falls on Wall Street on worsening trade war fears. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.02 per cent, or 4.08 points, to 21,563.44 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.06 per cent, or 1.07 points, at 1,718.23.\nPresident Donald Trump predicted China will be first to buckle as the world's largest economies teeter on the brink of a trade war that's sent financial markets reeling, without indicating where his assessment sprang from. \"China will take down its Trade Barriers because it is the right thing to do,\" Trump told his 50 million Twitter followers early Sunday. \"Taxes will become reciprocal & a deal will be made on Intellectual Property.\" He also said that no matter what happens, \"President Xi and I will always be friends,\" referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping\nSINGAPORE and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing on Sunday to promote greater collaboration between Singapore and Chinese companies in third-party markets along the Belt and Road. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a mega project initiated by China to connect countries across Europe, Africa and Asia together via ancient land and sea trade routes.\nA BUYOUT bid of mainboard-listed LTC Corporation has been declared unconditional, after regulators green-lit lowering the acceptance threshold from 90 per cent of all shares to 50 per cent, the company said on Monday morning. As at April 6, shares validly tendered in acceptance of the offer amounted to a combined interest of 84.21 per cent \u2013 satisfying the reduced acceptance condition that was approved by the Securities Industry Council.\nSHANGHAI RST Chinese Medicine Co (Renshoutang), which is 49.9 per cent owned by Perennial Real Estate Holdings, was awarded the contract to operate an integrated eldercare, medical care and rehabilitation care facility in Fengxian District, Shanghai. Expected to open in Q3 2018, the 768-bed Fengxian Second Welfare Home is expected to be the first and largest facility of its kind in Shanghai's Fengxian District.\nSource: SGX Masnet, The Business Times, Reuters, CNBC, Bloomberg, Phillip Securities Research\nClients of Phillip Securities can keep updated with Country Strategy and Singapore Sector Reports by logging into: www.poems.com.sg > STOCKS > Research\nRead the research report(s), available through the link(s) above, for complete information including important disclosures\nThe information contained in this email and\/or its attachment(s) is provided to you for information only and is not intended to or nor will it create\/induce the creation of any binding legal relations. The information or opinions provided in this email do not constitute an investment advice, an offer or solicitation to subscribe for, purchase or sell the e investment product(s) mentioned herein. It does not have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation and any of your particular needs. Accordingly, no warranty whatsoever is given and no liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss arising whether directly or indirectly as a result of this information. Investments are subject to investment risks including possible loss of the principal amount invested. The value of the product and the income from them may fall as well as rise. You may wish to seek advice from an independent financial adviser before making a commitment to purchase or investing in the investment product(s) mentioned herein. In the event that you choose not to do so, you should consider whether the investment product(s) mentioned herein is suitable for you. PhillipCapital and any of its members will not, in any event, be liable to you for any direct\/indirect or any other damages of any kind arising from or in connection with your reliance on any information in and\/or materials attached to this email. The information and\/or materials provided \"as is\" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. In particular, no warranty regarding accuracy or fitness for a purpose is given in connection with such information and materials.\nConfidentiality Note\nThis e-mail and its attachment(s) may contain privileged or confidential information, which is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies of it. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not read, use, copy, store, disseminate and\/or disclose to any person this email and any of its attachment(s). PhillipCapital and its members will not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Thank you for your cooperation.\nPhillip Research Report >","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Are Solar+Storage Closing Gas Plants? Is that really what's most important?\n30Mar 2019 14 Apr 2019\nOver the last year or two, we've heard much about solar + storage \u2013 specifically battery storage, replacing [natural] \"gas plants\" and \"peakers\" and sometimes infrastructure investments, namely transmission. The hoops and hollers often reach feverous levels if new investment in natural gas \"peakers\" were avoided. But I have still yet to find evidence of single cycle combustion turbines \u2013 actual \"peakers\" proposed to be \u2026 actually avoided.\nI am not going to rehash my corrections about two of the more notable stories that happened in California (three \"peakers\" and transmission for some big batteries in PG&E \u2013 Pacific Gas & Electric territory).\n[Edit: 4\/14\/19 \u2013 I guess I must, so here it is. ~Hans]\nAt stake are 2 ultra-low CF (nearly zero \u2013 not even low single digits) single cycle gas turbine units (barely considerable a \"power plant\" and as \"distributed generation\" as we get at grid scale) and an older CCGT (Metcalf Emergy Cemter) at the hub of NorCal's 500kV transmission system (at the critical intersection between high load centers and several inefficient larger plants \u2013 Moss Landing, that are closing due California's \"Once Through\" Ruling. This is the basis of Diablo Canyon NPP needing to close in 2025 also).\nAnd depending on what the alignment of the solar system is on any one day or the current state of smart grid-edge rate redesign efforts are, whether they will be actually closed is anyone's guess. [edit 4\/19 \u2013 FERC denied closure of all 3]\nAll 3 plants & units are IPP \u2013 Independent Power Producer, owned. And all 3 have nearby BTF\/M \u2013 Behind the Fence\/Meter NG CHP \u2013 Combined Heat & Power units (agricultural processing facilities) within earshot. Which, when we look at the bigger picture of managing grid resources more intelligently through the ISO\/RTO\/Balancing Authorities, we will see ERCOT is incorporating large scale BTM\/F NG CHP plants as part of their arsenal of enablers for higher RE integrations.\nThis last part was detailed in a presentation for ESIG \u2013 Energy Systems Integration Group by ERCOT's Lead Planning Engineer, Julia Matevosyan, and how they are addressing legitimate \"Inertia\" concerns pro-actively with advanced systems management technology enablers. Something that is desparately needed throughout the US, as I wrote about recently here, and several years ago here.\nOr in Arizona with TEP \u2013 Tucson Electric Power adding (some solar+storage to address local NOx concerns from some very low Capacity Factory (CF) single cycle turbines \u2013 full speed ahead with distant coal plants), that started this most recent buzz gaining steam during 2018.\nNor should I focus on already dated exciting solar+storage news from Oregon, where it was added to an existing wind farm on the very sunny, eastern side of the Columbia Gorge. Solar exploding in Oregon's high desert has long been anticipated to correct the area's existing wind imbalance, largely waiting for Solar PV's price to hit a magic point. Massive Columbia Basin Hydro and transmission capacity to California needed solar or storage to even wind out, while a pumped storage proposal has languished for over a decade. Not surprisingly [to me anyways], it was an Energy Company of the Future \u2013 Nextera Energy Resources which developed this project.\n[Edit already required while writing this article \u2013 that's how fast news is breaking \u2026 Add Idaho to the list of \"groundbreaking\" announcements \u2013 very much interconnected to Columbia Basin Hydro generation and storage, the BPA \u2013 Bonneville Power Authority transmission system and existing wind.]\nNor will I reference back to earlier claims about \"peakers\" shuttering around New York City, but not within New York itself, as those are stories about natural gas combined cycle plants replacing old \"dual fuel\" steam turbine plants in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Natural Gas fleet re-construction completed in 2018 as noted by the Energy Information Agency's \"unwelcome\" announcement recently, that once again \"natural gas\" power plants were a substantial portion of the year's new capacity addition. This should not have been a surprise to anyone, as \"Houston, we have a problem\" as I detail here with renewable energy deployment in the eastern United States.\nBut unfortunately, this buzz continues as I recently wrote about here, forcing our attentions away from important regulatory and distribution system operator (DSO) level improvements, not only software enabled, but also physical hardware-based, that are desperately needed for a 21st Century Grid with high renewable energy penetration and already here\u2026 Distributed Energy Resources (DER).\nSo to get right to it, here are the latest solar+storage buzzes hitting the US energy transition space with some really big batteries. No disrespect to Christian Roseland at PV Magazine USA as I respect his efforts, but he [as several other authors\/RE media resources running off FPL's press releases alone] has served up two softballs back-to-back to MLB \"sluggers\" in Florida and Texas. These are going out of the park once we unpack the backstories.\nHas Spring Training begun yet?!\nFirst up, Florida\u2026\n\"The FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center is scheduled to come online in 2021, and will replace two natural gas-fired units at a nearby power plant. FPL notes that it will use this battery to meet costly evening power demand, meaning that it will be a solar+storage \"peaker\", replacing the flexibility that the gas plants offered.\"\nand not to be outdone, ArsTechnia running with this story too, even claiming a new power plant will be built \u2013 even though Manatee Energy Center has been its name for some years.\nWhat Florida Power & Light (FPL), otherwise know as Nextera Energy Resources when the understory is not about vertical monopoly IOUs \u2013 Investor Owned Utility, is replacing is two \"dual fuel\" natural gas\/heavy fuel oil steam boiling turbines, not \"peakers\".\nManatee Energy Center, south of Tampa consists of multiple operating units, which is common in the US. 20th Century \"power plants\" or \"generation stations\" are now routinely named \"energy centers\" in the 21st Century. Nothing has fundamentally changed; centralized generation \"plants\" diversified with different Prime Mover technologies and Prime Mover operating units.\nWind+Solar+Storage is no different.\n\"D!ck Swinging Contests\" and Power Plants 101\nHow US Energy Information Agency (EIA) track and power plant owners report key metrics is at a bit of an impasse in the industry. EIA likes basing all metrics upon a \"spinning mass\"; i.e., a turbine as the fundamental operating unit, whereas increasingly wind, solar, fuel cells and batteries are reported through a common inverter or transformer at its connection to the transmission system.\nBoys will be boys, and make no mistake about it\u2026 this impasse is very much a \"firehose\" swinging competition! It unfortunately opens up a lot of room for tall tales, fish stories, debates over \"inertia\" and boasting from both sides, which only stalls the energy transition, not power it forwards.\nAnd here, Manatee Energy Center is no different, with different types of gas plants, in different capacities and quantities, plus solar PV already incorporated in 2017.\nManatee Energy Center \u2013 \"Gas Plants\" & Solar PV\nSo what is being replaced or closed with solar+storage?\nTwo steam turbine units with a combined capacity of 1,726 Megawatts (MW) commissioned in 1976 and 1977. They are on the right side of the \"power plant\" above, which is connected to the cooling water lakes\/lagoons which all steam plants require if they do not have cooling towers. Just above and not in the picture are 2 large heavy fuel oil tanks.\nTo Flex or Not to Flex\u2026\nUnder no circumstances, unless we are talking about coal or nuclear, do any power generation experts consider natural gas steam turbines \"flexible\". They ramp slowly like a coal plant, taking a long time to boil water, build enough steam pressure to turn massive turbines and synchronize with the grid. Under very few circumstances do plant owners want to ramp them up or ramp them down, resulting in unprofitable fuel costs and emissions without the production of any usable energy.\nNatural Gas steam plants are seasonally flexible, but I struggle to classify days or weeks-long seasonal operations as \"peaking\" under general implied references from some authors or commenters. Would be the same as calling a coal plant, when not in scheduled maintenance, a \"peaker\" for doing what it is supposed to do, generate electricity 8760 (industry speak for 24\/7\/365).\nConversion Efficiency & Specific Carbon\nAre natural gas fueled steam [electric generation] plants efficient?\nNot really. Although, they do emit less carbon dioxide than coal plants.\nGiven their age, EIA actually assesses this Prime Mover class a higher Heat Rate than generally \"more modern\" coal plants, 10382 over 10045 respectively. The higher the Heat Rate, the lower the efficiency.\nLower CO2 emissions per unit of electricity produced is baked into the specific carbon content of the fuels themselves, not the small efficiency difference between steam turbines and their different fuels. However, we often hear this claim in simplistic discussions of \"natural gas\" being better than coal, with the implied meaning that \"gas plants\" are less carbon intensive than \"coal plants\". Fuel specific carbon content is indifferent to Prime Mover technologies employed. Natural gas contains about 60% of the specific carbon content compared to lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous or anthracite; collectively \"coal\", per unit of energy \u2013 the MMBTU, Million British Thermal Units.\nPower Gen Carbon Emissions Reduction \u2013 The Bridge \"Decade\"\nA few months ago, the NY Times released an article, much to my dismay with some squiggly colorful waves representing our energy transition since 2000 based on \"fuel\" for every state. I'm sure you recall it, but it drove a huge stake in my ribs as I had spent a couple hundred hours attempting to correct the EIA Prime Mover \u2013 Fuel impasse from the same data that was used to the generate the colorful squiggles. Facebook never fails to stick pins in my eyes, this article is \"promoted\" every other time I log into my newsfeed.\nYes, the state by state history waves are nice, but they do not account for efficiency improvements that are largely an American technology story, given most countries have not converted steam to combined cycle plants. And this actually matters from a climate change and climate change mitigation\/abatement perspective.\nThis is what state energy mixes would look like if Prime Mover technology and Fuel type were accounted for accurately. Texas in 2017 (not just ERCOT \"Texas\"). It's not so simple, but there are at least 8 different \"gas plants\" here and how, when and how much they are used matters from a carbon and energy perspective.\nAmerica's power generation carbon emissions reduction during the \"transition\" or \"bridge\" period between roughly 2000 to 2014 did not come simply from increasing natural gas consumption in existing steam turbines and running coal plants out of the market. It came from the other Prime Mover class generation unit at Manatee Energy Center \u2013 the \"combined cycle\" natural gas plant or CCGT \u2013 Combined Cycle Gas Turbine[s] \u2013 which not unsurprisingly, is not closing from this solar+storage project.\nThese are flexible operationally and highly efficient. Most in the US achieve around 60% energy in [natural gas] to energy out [electricity] efficiency, roughly double that of steam turbines regardless if the fuel is coal, oil, natural gas or nuclear. And they ramp fast, meaning they don't need to be \"idling\" burning fuel and spewing any number of emissions into the environment. Operational Expense (OpEx) is pretty low too, many of these are remotely operated without full-time onsite staff needed. Oh, and water consumption\u2026 that too is much lower than steam turbines.\nThis is what is at Manatee Energy Center, not being replaced by solar + storage, a CCGT.\nManatee CCGT is no sluggish \"sea cow\"\u2026\nSpecifically, it is a hybrid combined cycle plant consisting of four natural gas combustion turbines (CT or GT), each paired with a HRSG \u2013 Heat Recovery Steam Generator, and one steam turbine. Electric power is produced at each combustion turbine connected to an individual electric generator and also at the steam turbine paired with an electric generator fed by the steam from one, two, three or four HRSGs depending on how many combustion turbines are operating.\nIf you dozed off, we just advanced to Power Plant 102, so I will repeat what we just covered.\nThe only fossil fuel fed into the CCGT was into the combustion turbine[s] \u2013 which is little different than what makes our airplanes fly, not the steam turbine. The steam was produced in the HRSG by capturing the normally expelled heat from the combustion turbine's exhaust. Without the HRSG, we have a single cycle combustion\/gas turbine, a true \"peaker\" and a horrible efficiency or Heat Rate of 11214 according to EIA. With HRSG and steam turbine, Heat Rate drops into the 7000s and energy conversion efficiency rises into the 60% or greater range.\nNot surprisingly with EIA's 20th Century accounting\/reporting method entrenched in \"spinning mass\" thinking \u2013 some plant operators report natural gas or fuel oil as being consumed by the HRSG\/ST itself, while others get it \"right\" as the only fossil fuel consumed is by the combustion turbine, not the heat recovery part of the CCGT. Ah\u2026 old ways of thinking die hard, and old dogs don't learn new tricks.\nCombined at Manatee Energy Center there are 752.8 MW of combustion turbines which feed steam into a single steam turbine (ST) with a capacity of 471.8 MW.\nOptimally, all 4 CTs plus the ST are running at the same time, but blocks of electric power of 752.8 \/ 4 = 188.2 MW plus one-fourth the ST output (118 MW) or 306 MW are possible, without significantly sacrificing the high efficiency rating of a combined cycle plant. This also means, no fuel is being consumed by the other 3 combustion turbines is there is only a need for one-fourth the CCGT's total capacity of 1,224.6 MW.\nManatee Energy Center's hybrid CC plant, a \"four in one\", is relatively rare for the US, where 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 are far more common, I tend to really like it, from the flexibility and efficiency perspective.\nTwo \"2 in 1\" hybrid CCGT in Arizona, not far from massive solar PV deployments and Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant.\nI could discuss 1 to 1 combined cycle \"gas plants\", but lets just suffice it to say the combustion turbine and steam turbine \"after\" the HRSG are connected by a common mechanism to rotate the single electric generator. As such, they are less responsive, take longer to ramp, and would fit more of a \"baseload\" generator definition\u2026 whatever \"baseload\" really is anyways. \ud83d\ude09\nFPL built this hybrid combine cycle plant in 2005. It's not going anywhere, getting stranded nor being shuttered anytime soon, and especially not with this giant battery going in at the site. One might say, the battery compliments the CC plant just as it mitigates limitations from solar PV.\nIn fact, whether the battery is charged by the solar plant or from the CCGT as it is ramping down and un-synchronozing from the grid, the battery will minimize partial ramps of the CCGT, resulting in not only significant carbon dioxide emissions, but more importantly, NOx \u2013 Nitric Oxides and CO \u2013 Carbon Monoxide emissions from the combustion turbines as they ramp and not running at full capacity.\nThese are all good things in our collective challenge to reduce our carbon emissions. I feel like I am a \"naysayers\", for having to \"bust this myth\" at Manatee of solar+storage shuttering \"gas plants\" or \"peakers\", but this myth is busted!\nWe're still transitioning, not fast enough for my liking either, but some of us need to hold your leapfrogging jets!\nEverything's bigger, err\u2026 better in Texas, especially our energy transition strategy\nStrap on your massive belt buckle, pull on your cowboy boots, put on our 10-gallon cowboy hat, grab your dancing partner and enjoy this song by Rick Tervino as\u2026 \"Everything's Better in Texas\", especially our energy transition! Yee-haw!\nHere's our breaking solar+storage news,\nEverything is bigger in Texas\nJuno Solar and Juno Storage projects, 495 MW of solar and 495 MW of batteries \u2026. already have interconnection agreements, and together are easily the largest solar+storage project seen by pv magazine. However the project is not expected until May 2021, and in the next two years it is likely that even larger batteries will be announced.\nThis is indeed impressive, as I often find myself talking in Gigawatt (GW) and Gigawatt-hour (GWh) scales, especially as we discuss that other \"peak\" in California, evening peak increasingly outgrowing 8 GW and 25-40 GWh every day requiring natural gas \"peakers\" with limited pumped hydro and battery storage. Half a gig instantaneous capacity from any prime mover technology is a big deal.\nBut Juno Solar and Juno Storage is not just plugging into the existing grid way out in West Texas, where distributions systems have been strengthened to support explosive load growth in the nation's most productive oil patch, the Permian. It's going even further out into the West Texas scrub brush into Far West Texas, where transmission expansion has not completed. So far west a wind farm was so old, it was cheaper to decommission after damage from an ice storm and it is unlikely to be rebuilt until transmission arrives.\nNot to worry, new transmission and substations are already under construction \u2013 the last if you will of Texas' CREZ \u2013 Competitive Renewable Energy Zone infrastructure projects to be developed to facilitate the expansion of wind [and solar] in the Longhorn State.\nRed lines are single or dual circuit 345kV transmission. Most (left of the black line) did not exist a decade ago. New trans\/subs in circle is under construction by Oncor, American Electric Power and Xcel (in SE NM).\nI've been writing about this for some time, at least 5 years anyways. Solar PV is going to explode in Texas, but not on its own accord, standalone or solving any problems by itself.\nSame is true with batteries, or their combination, as Texas is where pairing renewable generator with batteries began at NoTrees Wind Farm. The 36 MW storage project, after its rightful groundbreaking deployment by Duke Energy, much more quietly went through a battery changeout about 2 years later. Not knocking it, only highlighting we are very much still within the early years of very large batteries, and we don't have the histories from actual use cases to make any hard claims as to actually longevity we will witness, nor certainties on costs over the long run.\nStarting to note a theme here, like horns in Texas?\nSolar. Like Storage. Like Wind. Like Transmission. Is a part of a lonnnngggggg strategy.\nOne which many might think was built specifically for solar+storage. It was, but it wasn't. It was built based on a comprehensive, long term plan to enable all carbon reduction technologies to participate in the end goal \u2013 reducing the carbon intensity within our electric grids cost effectively.\nNatural gas is definitely at play and a new natural gas reciprocating engine bank was recently completed by Golden Spread Electric Cooperative to maximize efficiency, flexibility and dispatchability. I suspect, this plant will have far greater operational longevity compared to a similarly sized battery \u2013 as it is the closest technology \"match\" there is to a grid-scale battery for providing grid services.\nBut this history and future is really about wind and transmission, massive new load growth in the oil patch and not enough flexible or fossil generation out in West or Panhandle Texas. A lot of it is about ERCOT, but it is not exclusive to North America's second smallest \"Grid\".\nRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!\nWait, what?! Who just killed Rick Tervino on our Texas Roadhouse jukebox?!\n\"Small\" and \"Texas\" should never be in the same sentence, but isn't that better than saying \"third largest grid\"? Enough already, by line miles, generation resources, peak capacity, peak load, etc., it goes something like this; Eastern Interconnect, Western Interconnect, Texas (ERCOT) and then non-synchronous Quebec.\nSorry Texas, am I forgiven if I say this? Texas is the undisputed leader in new transmission and wind farm deployments in\u2026 North America. And soon, it will be a solar \"success story\" also. TBH, electric markets and light \"don't tread on me\" regulatory and policy intervention in Texas is\u2026 going to blow away more heavy-handed and mandate-drive renewable energy deployments in places like New York, North Carolina and wait for it\u2026 California!\nMake no mistakes about it, the \"Golden Platter\" transmission, wind and natural gas have worked hard to forge and polish for solar and\/or storage in Texas (and the Great Plains) is actually going to crush any other efforts around the world (minus China) to enable our energy transition, once solar arrives.\nWhich brings us back to the announcement about solar+storage in Texas being some revolution in our energy transition efforts.\nI'll let Tom Bodett cover this,\n\"I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for 'ya.\"\nAnd that's exactly what has happened in Texas with transmission, wind, utilities, EPCs \u2013 Engineering Procurement & Construction companies, large construction contractors and small, regulators, electric cooperatives, natural gas and both ERCOT and Southwest Power Pool\u2026 they have built a Motel 6 waiting for solar and storage to finish each their own journey through scaling, cost reductions and technology maturation.\nOne might ask,\n\"What's took you so long?\"\nBut I think most would say,\n\"Ready to get to work? There's no lack of things to be done here!\"\nIf you're not certain what those things are? This is a detailed breakdown from 2017 for the entire US. Speaking strictly from a carbon abatement issue (measured in million metric tonnes) we should be focusing the the \"grays\", then the \"reds\" and once those are done, then we can focus on the \"greens\". Spoiler alert, if we're hoping are Canadian friends are going to decarbonize through electrification also \u2013 that's another 75-85 Terrawatt-hours per year they supply us with currently. Honestly, thank you Canada!\n[If you'd like to comment or discuss further, please do so on LinkedIn\u2026 here or connect with me on Twitter. Better yet, as this article is the product of four years long years of \"bootstrapping\" my way through the otherwise boring energy sectors, please consider sharing it with your networks, social media accounts, etc. ~Hans]\nTags: Energy Infrastructure, energy transition, florida, Renewable Energy, solar+storage, texas, wind power\nPrevious An Invisible Hand is Not Solving Our Distribution System Problems\nNext The Allusive White Whale of Energy Sectors Collaboration\nHarvard lawyer, super capacitor inventor, climate\/energy book writer, and wise cracking, climate blog guest poster, Rud Istvan has a post up at WUWT:\nhttps:\/\/wattsupwiththat.com\/2019\/04\/05\/grid-scale-battery-nonsense-2019\/\nPingback: An Invisible Hand is Not Solving Our Distribution System Problems \u2013 Hans Hyde\nPingback: The Energy Transition Disconnect \u2013 California & New York \u2013 Hans Hyde\nPingback: The Barriers to Inclusion & Accessibility\u2026 Must Stop! \u2013 Hans Hyde","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Florida State's Roderick Johnson selected by Browns in 2017 NFL Draft\nRoderick Johnson #77 and Derrick Kelly II #74 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrate in the second half against the Mississippi Rebels during the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka\/Getty Images)\nRODERICK JOHNSON, OT\n6'7\u2033, 298 pounds\nRoderick Johnson was the 16th pick in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.\nIn what has been commonly called a weak offensive-line class, Florida State's Roderick Johnson has a chance to break through as one of the better blockers. The two-time Jacobs Trophy winner for the best offensive lineman in the ACC, Johnson raised eyebrows by declaring for the draft after his junior season, but has shown enough in the past for Browns fans to be optimistic about their team's newest tackle. With that said, however, it may be best for the Florissant, Missouri, product to spend a year on the bench sitting and learning.\nScouting Report:\nJohnson has the size of a true offensive lineman \u2014 not heavy, but built on strength and muscle. The 6-foot-7 tackle displays excellent awareness and vision and played a key role in running back Dalvin Cook producing record numbers for the Seminoles. With great wingspan as a blocker and a high motor, Johnson should appeal to coaches so long as he can work on his pass-blocking and calmness. Johnson will too often panic when things don't go his way. If he can get the proper time to mature and learn from the pros, Johnson should be a capable starter within two or three seasons.\nNFL Combine results:\nThe expert says:\n\"Despite his balance inconsistencies, Johnson can be a powerful run blocker when he gets defenders framed up. Teams will have to decide if they want to play him on the left or right side, but an offensive line coach will need to try and correct issues with his pass sets and his footwork before he gets his shot.\" \u2014 Lance Zierlein, NFL.com\nAuthor: Adam Hirshfield\nAdam is the digital sports editor at The Palm Beach Post. A soccer fan and Michigan man, he has previously spent time at Bleacher Report, the NBA, USA Today, NESN and more. Please follow him on Twitter @ahirshfield.\tView all posts by Adam Hirshfield\nAuthor Adam HirshfieldPosted on April 29, 2017 April 29, 2017 Categories Football, seminolepostTags florida state seminoles, NFL Draft, Roderick Johnson, seminolepost, sports, sportsfront\nPrevious Previous post: Florida State's DeMarcus Walker selected by Broncos in 2017 NFL Draft\nNext Next post: Florida State's Marquez White selected by Dallas Cowboys in 2017 NFL Draft","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Magnetic Insight Raises $18M to Support Commercial Growth of Magnetic Particle Imaging in Cell Therapy, Vascular and Oncology Applications\nALAMEDA, Calif., Dec. 12, 2018 \/PRNewswire\/ \u2014 Magnetic Insight, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of transformational in vivo imaging platforms, announced a Series A financing led by 5AM Ventures. The proceeds will allow the company to expand the commercial and operations teams, scale manufacturing, and develop new application areas for the technology. In conjunction with the financing, David Allison, PhD, Partner at 5AM Ventures, and Joe Victor, CEO of RareCyte Inc, will join the board of directors.\nMagnetic Insight has commercialized Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI), a new in vivo imaging modality that directly detects magnetic tracers, enabling deep tissue imaging of functional events and pathologies not possible with current technologies. MPI offers unprecedented contrast and sensitivity that transforms preclinical research and therapy development, with an added promise of clinical translation.\n\"We are excited to partner with 5AM Ventures on our Series A financing to help us meet the global demand for the MOMENTUM MPI system. Since our commercial launch in 2017, we have delivered systems worldwide and leaders in in vivo imaging have been publishing on the MOMENTUM MPI system across applications in cell therapies, vascular disease and monitoring cancer treatments,\" said Anna Christensen PhD, President and CEO of Magnetic Insight.\n\"Magnetic Insight has the opportunity to transform in vivo imaging and become a critical tool in life science research with longer term potential for clinical applications. We are excited to work with the Magnetic Insight team to drive new application areas and scale the company globally,\" said David Allison, PhD of 5AM Ventures.\nMagnetic Insight is life science tools company developing Magnetic Particle Imaging to accelerate preclinical research with direct translation into the clinic. The company was founded by the leaders of the MPI program at the University California, Berkeley and commercial imaging industry. The company has been supported by prominent startup incubators, including StartX, CLSA Fast, and NIH C3i. Magnetic Insight is a privately held company with investors at Sand Hill Angels, CEG Ventures, StartX-Stanford Fund, and SVTech Ventures, and grant funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Institutes of Health (EB020463).\nAbout 5AM Ventures\nFounded in 2002, 5AM actively invests in next-generation life science companies. With over $1.4 billion under management, 5AM has invested in 71 companies including Arvinas, Audentes Therapeutics, Cidara Therapeutics, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, DVS Sciences (acquired by Fluidigm), Envoy Therapeutics (acquired by Takeda), Flexion Therapeutics, Homology Medicines, Ikaria (acquired by Mallinckrodt), Ilypsa (acquired by Amgen), Incline Therapeutics (acquired by The Medicines Company), Marcadia Biotech (acquired by Roche), Novira Therapeutics (acquired by J&J), Pearl Therapeutics (acquired by AstraZeneca) and Relypsa (acquired by Vifor Pharma). For more information, please visit www.5amventures.com.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Upcoming venues\nThe Open Shop\nJoin The One Club\nHaven't got an account? Register now\n150th St Andrews\n151st Royal Liverpool\n152nd Royal Troon\n153rd Royal Portrush\nThe One Club\nTicket Ballot\nPrevious Opens\nAbout The Open\nOpen Venues\nYour Cookies\nAccepting all cookies will ensure you have the best experience possible when visiting TheOpen.com.\nSome of these cookies are necessary to make our site work, while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.\nBehind the Picture\nTo share article please enable Functional cookies\nSt Andrews swansong in 2005\nEven the golfing gods would have struggled to come up with a more fitting Open farewell for Jack Nicklaus than the one he experienced at The 134th Open in 2005.\nThe three-time Champion Golfer of the Year called time on his storied relationship with the Claret Jug at the age of 65 at the Home of Golf \u2013 the Old Course at St Andrews.\nRapturous applause and cheers echoed around the famous venue as spectators showed their love for the Golden Bear, greeting every shot with louder and louder roars of approval.\nAnd while the legendary 18-time major champion was bowing out years after his peak, a birdie on the last hole ensured he finished on a high despite missing the 36-hole cut.\nEven Tiger Woods winning his second Claret Jug could not take away from Nicklaus' poignant swansong as the greatest brought the curtain down on a fairytale career.\nEngineering St Andrews return\nSome thought Nicklaus had made his last Open appearance at the Old Course in 2000.\nIt certainly looked that way when he stopped on the famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway to wave to supporters, soak in the atmosphere and pose for pictures.\nAfter all, where better for the Florida native to finish his Open career than at the course where he won two Claret Jugs and finished runner-up in just his third Championship appearance.\nBut that was not part of his grand plan. In fact, Nicklaus revealed a year before The 134th Open that he had influenced the decision to stage it at St Andrews once again in 2005.\n\"I spoke to Peter Dawson [chief executive of the R&A] at St Andrews in 2000 and asked him when we would be coming back,\" said Nicklaus about the prospect of playing his 33rd Open.\n\"He said 2006 and I said that was a shame as I would be past my eligibility, which runs until I'm 65. He asked me if it was held in 2005 would I play and next thing I see it was announced for 2005.\"\nFinishing with a flourish\nNicklaus is far from the only golfing great to treasure St Andrews and it was no surprise when Woods, who won his first Open at the Old Course in 2000, took an early lead.\nThe American topped the leaderboard on day one with a six-under 66 but Nicklaus showed he still possessed plenty of tricks in his bag as he posted a respectable three-over 75.\nWoods continued to run riot in the second round and a five-under 67 opened up a four-shot lead over his nearest competitor Colin Montgomery \u2013 but Friday was all about Nicklaus.\nRefusing to go down without a fight, Nicklaus shot a magnificent even-par 72 in his final competitive round, which included sinking a memorable 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.\n\"I knew that the hole would move where I hit it; I always make it on the 18th,\" Nicklaus joked after.\n\"I aimed six inches left of the hole, played a six-inch break, hit it and the ball was going along and every other putt going that way missed the hole, but this one gobbled it in. It was like Pac-Man.\"\nBut despite finishing with a flourish, Nicklaus stressed it was the right time to hang up his clubs, with father time preventing him from being as competitive as he would have liked.\n\"When I come in here and say that I shot 72, and it's the best round I shot this year, and I played well, and I'm missing the cut, you know it's time to leave. That's sort of the way I look at it.\"\nEmotions run high for final farewell\nEven before holing yet another birdie putt on the 18th, the scene at St Andrews provided the perfect stage for Nicklaus to exit \u2013 the right way for the best of all time to bow out.\nHaving nailed his drive down the final fairway, it was time for Nicklaus to wave goodbye one final time as he stepped on the Swilcan Bridge to soak up the applause all around him.\nHe was joined by playing partner and fellow Open legend Tom Watson \u2013 the man who had famously beat him to the Claret Jug in 1977 in the great 'Duel in the Sun' at Turnberry.\nAnd it was Watson rather than Nicklaus who got caught up in the emotion of it all.\n\"Here's the greatest player who has ever played the game in his final Championship of his career and I had the privilege of being able to play with him,\" said Watson.\n\"I joined him on his last walk, the last hole of his Championship career and I lost it.\"\nNicklaus added: \"Tom was far more emotional than I was. Tom was on the bridge with tears running down his face and I'm like, 'Watson!' \u2013 but he was doing it on Tuesday in the practice round.\"\nWatson continued: \"I was walking up the fairway, over the bridge crying and Jack finally grabbed me and said, 'Tom, come on, get a hold of yourself, you have a golf tournament to play here.'\n\"I had to par the last hole to make the cut, he knew my position, it wasn't all about him \u2013 he had concern for me and that's something he always had \u2013 I appreciated that very much.\"\nWatson went on to hole his par putt before watching on along with the thousands of spectators around the green as Nicklaus stepped up for his birdie effort \u2013 the rest, as they say, is history.\nPlayer Feature\nThe 134th Open\nHistory of The Open\nFamiliar faces \/ The players with the most appearances at The Open\nChronicles of a Champion Golfer \/ Baker-Finch guided by greats on inspiring journey to Open glory\nThe 149th Open Royal St George's\nGreat final days \/ The Open's best conclusions\nPatrons & Suppliers\nTicket & Hospitality T&Cs\nWork at The Open\n\u00a9 R&A Championships Limited, Company No. SC247047, R&A Rules Limited, Company No. SC247046 R&A Group Services Limited, Company No. SC247048, Beach House, Golf Place, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JA","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"HomeFeaturesFor popular dance teacher Rheesa Schachter, Kids Etc. is...\nFor popular dance teacher Rheesa Schachter, Kids Etc. is a family affair\nleft: Rheesa Schachter (centre) with\ndaughters Taylor (left) & Jessica\nright: dancers from Kids Etc.\nBy MYRON LOVE In more ways than one, for Rheesa Schachter, Kids Etc. Youth Movement Company is a family affair. Her daughters, Taylor and Jessica Smith, whom she describes as her two best friends, have been an integral part of Kids Etc. since they were teenagers \u2013 both as students and, later, as teachers \u2013 and, since 2017, have been her partners in the business.\nTaylor is an award-winning dancer, a choreographer and a performer who has also qualified as a personal trainer and has her own personal training gym. Jessica's credentials are equally impressive, having competed in the World Dance Championships and having been chosen as a Hall of Fame All-Star. Jessica has completed her Intermediate Level Cecchetti Ballet Exams. Her mother notes that she has assumed responsibility for Kids Etc.'s marketing and social media initiatives.\nIn addition, Rheesa notes that her husband, Paul, handles administration duties and is always available to help in a myriad of ways from providing bandaids to editing the music to cleaning the toilets.\nOn another level though, Schachter says that she considers her staff and students also as part of one big family. She observes that all of her students are like family to her and that half of her 20-plus teaching faculty are former students. During these past few months of pandemic closures, she notes, she kept all of her staff on salary and kept to a teaching schedule via Zoom.\nRheesa Schachter has been dancing \u2013 and teaching dancing \u2013 virtually all of her life. The daughter of the late Joe and Sunny Schachter \u2013 who grew up in River Heights \u2013 began studying ballet at an early age. She recalls that when she was young, ballet was the only option for aspiring dancers. Jazz dancing was only open to students 13 and older.\n\"I felt that jazz dancing should be available to younger students as well,\" she says.\nAt the tender age of 16, the future dancing teacher approached the former Ramah Hebrew school \u2013 where she had been a student \u2013 about offering dance classes after school.\n\"I started with 12 children, twice a week, teaching jazz dance,\" she recalls. \"It was very exciting. I loved working with the kids.\"\nOver the next few years, while she finished her education \u2013 graduating from Grant Park and the University of Manitoba (with a B.Comm. degree) \u2013 she continued to teach dance and her student numbers continued to grow. She had also studied dance at York University during her summers off from the U. of M. and completed her Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams.\n\"After university, I got a real job at a bank,\" she recounts. \"I hated it. My passion was dancing. After a year, I quit and founded Kids Etc.\"\nWhile at university, she had taught her dance classes in rented spaces at churches in River Heights. In 1986, she opened her first studio on Academy Road in what had been Gerry Gurvey's Uptown Drugstore. A couple of years later, she moved the studio to 686 Academy Road. In the early 1990s, she relocated again \u2013 this time to 3525 Roblin Blvd in Charleswood.\n\"With my student numbers continually growing, I had to keep expanding,\" she says.\nShe also had to hire and train a growing number of instructors for the ever-growing number of classes that now include ballet, Jazz dance, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theater, Adult, and Pre-School dance programs.\nIn 2017, with her lease on Roblin coming due, Rheesa Schachter had a decision to make \u2013 retire or expand. \"I wasn't ready to retire yet, so I decided to expand. I looked up and down Portage and Grant and Taylor for a suitable new location without success. Then this space came up near McGillvary Blvd, (505 Fort Whyte Way). The developer was willing to build. It was fantastic.\"\nAt over 11,000 square feet, she reports, Kids Etc. has the largest studio in Winnipeg. The building contains four large studios (one labeled AFK \u2013 alles for the kinder \u2013 in recognition of her parents' influence on her), bleachers for spectators and a huge lounge area for parents.\nPre-Covid, Schachter notes, Kids Etc. was offering more than 100 classes a week \u2013 with classes averaging 10-15 kids each. \"We prefer smaller class sizes so that we can give each child the attention each needs,\" she says.\n\"We pride ourselves in that we challenge our students but also focus on maintaining balance,\" Taylor adds.\nJessica further points out that the staff works to foster a close relationship with the students while also incorporating a sense of fun in their teaching.\nTheir mother notes that while Kids Etc. has produced some students who have pursued a career in dance, the staff works to encourage each student to build their self-confidence and strive to achieve their personal best in a non-competitive setting.\nSchachter says that with the Covid situation hopefully improving, she hopes that Kids Etc can get back to normal business in the fall.\nAsked about the accessibility of the Fort Whyte location, Schachter responds that students come from all over \u2013 including three students each from Morden in southwestern Manitoba and Arborg in the Interlake.\nSchachter has thought about retiring in a few years and leaving the dance studio in the capable hands of Taylor and Jessica. \"I will probably never completely retire,\" she says. \"I really love teaching dance.\"\nISRAEL (SOODY) KLEIMAN October 3, 1932 \u2013 January 1, 2021\nRady JCC\u2008holds first in-person program in more than 20 months:\u2008Challahliscious","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The report points to shortcomings in police recruitment\nThis affair caused a stir in the United Kingdom, and Scotland Yard had been accused of ignoring alarming signals about the killer's behavior. Other cases have been added to this, fueling a crisis of confidence among Britons in their police, in a country where the notion of consensus with the public is embedded in the approach of the police. \"It is too easy for the wrong people to both join and stay in the police,\" said the head of police inspection services, Matt Parr. \"If the police are to rebuild trust and protect their female officers and staff, enforcement must be much stricter and sexual misconduct must be taken much more seriously,\" he continued.\n\"Standards must change\"\nThe study included 11,277 police and administrative employees, 42 people were interviewed. 725 control files and 264 complaints were screened. \"Despite repeated warnings, too little has been done to improve standards and stamp out misogyny and predatory behavior,\" added Matt Parr. Among the report's recommendations are updating minimum due diligence standards and improving the quality and consistency of enforcement decision-making.\nThe report highlighted criminally reprehensible behaviour, such as sexual acts which were treated as an isolated deviation, or the recruitment of police officers associated with crime in their surroundings.\nMeta and Microsoft team up to announce Office and Teams in virtual reality","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Elon Musk praises Kyrsten Sinema for leaving the Democratic Party\nElon Musk commends Sen. Kristen Sinema for leaving the Democratic Party and I hope more of our elected leaders act independently, Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.\nSinema announced that he was now an independent and would no longer be formally considered a Democrat. Some of her Democratic allies are bidding her good salvation, but Sen. Kirsten Sinema has found at least one admirer in her decision to formally become an independent. It just so happens that this is the richest person in the world.\nGood for @SenatorSinema Elon Musk wrote on Twitter. I hope more of our elected leaders will act independently, aka in the interest of the people. Sinema told POLITICO on Friday that her decision was based on the fact that she \"never really aligned with any political party.\nHis decision is likely rooted more in apprehensions about a potential primary challenger than in any sort of political stance.\nElon Musk has encouraged his followers to vote Republican ahead of the midterms while trying to keep Twitter politically neutral while continuing his political journey. Elon Musk praised the qualities of independent voters who are not registered with any particular political party.\nHe did not mention that in some states this decision may also reduce the number of castes that can vote. Arizona is not one of those closed or partially closed primary states. Hardline Democrats or Republicans never vote for the other party, so independent voters are the ones who really decide who is in charge, Musk wrote on Twitter.\nThe Telsa CEO and new owner of Twitter has previously said he would support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis if Republicans decide to challenge Trump in 2024. Sinema's decision on Capitol Hill is expected to have little practical impact on the Senate. The now-former Arizona Democrat rarely attended party luncheons where lawmakers expressed their views on issues.\nSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also said Sinema would continue his committee duties and the Democrats would retain their effective 51-49 majority. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Angus King are also both independents who caucus with the Democrats. Sinema was a major thorn in the party's efforts to raise taxes on wealthy Americans and pass a sweeping spending plan known as Build Back Better.\nHe later voted for the much smaller Inflation Reduction Act. Outside of policy, Sinema has been a reliable vote for top Biden administration nominees, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Still, some progressives celebrated his move.\nArizona Democratic Party chair Raquel Teran blasted Sinema as someone who has shown she answers to corporations and billionaires, not Arizonans. The executive board of the state Democratic Party first denounced Sinema for opposing changes to the filibuster so that the party could pass voting rights legislation.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Revisiting Disney: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)\nThe Nightmare Before Christmas is a film that I have always been reluctant to say I enjoy. Does that have to do with the film itself? Absolutely not. It does, however, have to do with the culture surrounding the film. I've noticed a trend. Those that love The Nightmare Before Christmas really LOVE The Nightmare Before Christmas and it seems to become nearly their entire personality. The diehard fans of this film feel that it needs to be protected at all costs. Now, don't misunderstand me: I think loving something and being passionate about it is great. But, when that thing you love becomes your entire personality, then it becomes, for lack of a better term, annoying. That being said, let me move on to talking about the actual film.\nDirected by Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas, in simplest terms, is about a skeleton named Jack Skellington, who has an existential crisis about his \"life\" (he's dead, so having an existential crisis is literally an oxymoron here). He proceeds to try and solve that crisis by stealing a holiday he knows very little about, nearly ruining it entirely for everyone involved, solving his existential crisis, and literally suffering no consequences or really learning why what he did was wrong. That's it. That's the movie. Oh, and there's some pretty wonderful music written by Danny Elfman.\nIt bothers me endlessly that more credit goes to Tim Burton in regards to this film than to Henry Selick. Yes, the film is based on a poem Tim Burton wrote, and he created the characters. He is not credited with the adaptation of said poem or even credited with the screenplay. He produced the film. But, he was very smart in striking the deal with Disney to make sure that the full title of the film was Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. But, if this film gets lumped in with Burton's films one more time, I'm going to throw a fit. I like Tim Burton, don't get me wrong (although I prefer early Burton as opposed to his more recent work), but Henry Selick worked so hard on this film. And, stop motion films are the furthest thing from easy.\nDanny Elfman composed the music and lyrics for this film and, honestly, I think it's some of his best work, next to his score for 1989's Batman. The songs are catchy and lyrically clever.\nAs far as the actual story, I have two issues: the \"love\" story between Jack and Sally and Oogie Boogie, the villain, seemingly being color coded, despite being a literal bag of bugs. I'll start with the former. The \"love\" story between Jack and Sally feels completely incomplete. It feels as if it was thrown in there to tie the film up with a nice little bow. And, probably for marketing purposes. It's one of the aspects of this film that drives me nuts. I hate half-assed love stories. Now, the other issue I mentioned, which is clearly the more important of the two, is that the character of Oogie Boogie seems to be color coded, and I'm not just referencing the fact that Oogie Boogie is played by one of the only POC in the whole cast. Look at his entire introduction scene: the style of music he sings is drastically different from the rest of the film, as well as the decor\/style of his scenes. It all just varies so much that it's hard not to look at that as being color coded. Which is so unbelievably unnecessary.\nAnyway, I like the film. It's aesthetically pleasing. In particular, I've always like any of the scenes involving the cooking ingredients or the chemistry set. I'm not entirely sure why. And I will forever hate the line \"Nice work, Bone Daddy\" that is said towards the beginning of the film because it has spawned some really cringeworthy merchandise.\nKristen Marie August 31, 2020 Animation, Blog, Blogger, Cinema, Cinephile, Color Coding, Critic, Criticism, Danny Elfman, Disney, Entertainment, Film, Film Blog, Film Blogger, Film Buff, Film Critic, Film Criticism, Film Lover, Film Review, Film Reviews, Film Website, Films, Henry Selick, Jack Skellington, Movie, Movie Blog, Movie Blogger, Movie Buff, Movie Critic, Movie Criticism, Movie Lover, Movie Review, Movie Reviews, Movie Website, Movies, Opinion, Review, Reviews, Revisiting Disney, Screenplay, Screenwriting, Stop Motion, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Films, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Productions\nPrevious Previous post: Notoriously Bad Films: Super Mario Bros. (1993)\nNext Next post: All Together Now (2020)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Features & Images\nMountain News\nBear Update\nA&E Archives\nBrowse Opinion\nPique'n yer interest\nDot Comrade\nPique Blog\nOpinion Archives\nWhistler Past Tense\nGlenda Bartosh on Food\nAnthony Gismondi on Wine\nThe Velocity Project\nBrowse Features & Images\nMuseum Musings\nPartial Recall\nMountain Mythic\nPique Giveaways\nBrowse Digital Version\nA&E Listings\nFood & Drink Listings\nMountain Listings\nConference Listings\nSports Archives\nWhistler Jobs\nLong Term Accommodation\nSeeking Accommodation\nWanted - Misc\nEdit \/\nAugust 30, 2018 Opinion \u00bb Letters to the Editor\nLetters to the Editor for the week of August 30\nWWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM\nHuman waste along Riverside trail\nMy name is Presley and I am a dog who lives in Cheakamus. In recent months there has been a growing amount of human feces in the woods along the Riverside trail, most notably around House Rock and at the mid-point pull out en route to Loggers Lake.\nThe sad thing is my dog friends and I get into this human waste and end up getting very sick. We understand the municipality is very busy and patrolling this area to issue tickets for these overnighters is challenging to keep up with and is not deterring the action.\nOn behalf of the K9 and human friends who enjoy these trails, we would like to request washroom facilities and\/or better signage be placed in the area to address this issue. Who knows, our daily hikers may enjoy this relief as well.\nPresley, on behalf of\nMike Janyk and Sarah Stead\nTrain isn't the answer\nCommuter train to Whistler? No thanks.\nFor those who may think such a service would be of help to us, consider this: first, any train would face stiff competition from an already effective network of bus companies and transfer services that meet the needs of customers and cater to where the customers usually are, the airport or Downtown. Both have no direct rail connection.\nFor a train to achieve such a seamless connection service that buses now provide would cost us billions of dollars. In the end, billions that would be wasted on competing with an already effective network of carriers presently serving us.\nThere is a saying in the transportation business: \"frequency builds numbers.\" It would take a very expensive schedule of trains to compete with the many bus and other options now offered. A bus can leave with as little as 10 people, profitably, whereas a train needs a lot more to be profitable and who is going to make up for any loss?\nIf you get on a bus at the hotel in Whistler, your next step off would be the airport, no connections needed. Despite losing Greyhound, Whistler, unlike other towns, still has many options throughout the day. And for pricing, our bus service is pretty affordable.\nAny dream of effective and cheap rail for Whistlerites died when BC Rail was sold off to CN. Now rather than deal with Victoria and all the leverage our town may have as a tourist generator, we have to deal with a multinational company with its headquarters back east.\nWhy it was sold makes me so mad and question the motives of politicians, in this case Gordon Campbell's Liberals. To reacquire those assets and rights would be bitterly expensive.\nSome may remember that up until about the late '80s, Whistler had passenger rail service. The BC Rail Budd car left North Van in the morning and ended in Lillooet, returning later in the evening.\nIt was good for Pemberton to Lillooet, but mostly a pain for any skier. I tried and tried, but apart from the attraction as a train, it was a logistical nuisance and I always preferred the \"once-per-day\" bus we had back then.\nPerhaps we should focus on CNG-powered hybrid buses as a step forward. As for the railway, it still puzzles and angers me as to why we sold off BC Rail.\nLance Bright\nDES heating systems: are they safe?\n(Editor's note: this letter was shared with Pique and addressed to mayor and council.)\nIt appears that the majority of owners in the five townhome developments (The Heights, The Terrace, The Rise, Whitewater and Riverbend) that were part of the 2010 Olympics Athlete's Village Development are heating their hot water with the heat pump option because they believe that it uses less hydro and saves them money compared to heating hot water with the conventional electric tank option.\nA note on page 22 of the Residential Heating System Technical Service Guide (April 2016) states: \"the heat pump should be used for all DHW (domestic hot water) heating with the (electric) backup elements in the \"off position.'\" The guide recommends that the heat pump be set to 52 C for hot water. However, most heat pumps in the 174 townhomes are set at 48 C or lower to prevent red screens.\nSince it came into force in 2012, the 2012 BC Plumbing Code has required that thermostats for electric water heaters be set to 60 C to prevent the growth of Legionella. This raises the question of whether temperatures lower than 60 C are safe.\nThis question appears to be answered with an implied affirmative in the document Domestic Hot Water Tank Replacement Update posted on the Cheakamus Crossing website on March 14, 2017. The document suggests that circulating water at any temperature will have the equivalent bactericidal effect as thermostats set to 60 C.\nThe document states: \"The requirement to maintain 60 C with an electric storage tank was added in the current 2012 version of the British Columbia Building Code to limit Legionella growth in the bottom of electric tanks because of the stratification in the tank.\n\"The system provided in Cheakamus, while utilizing electric tanks also has circulation from the heat pump that will limit the stratification and therefore could possibly be considered code compliant via an alternate solution as discussed below.\nThe first point is that \"could possibly be considered code compliant via an alternate solution\" is not the same as \"approved by the building inspector as an alternate solution under the building code and a valid and subsisting building permit.\"\nThis issue aside, the idea that circulation that limits stratification might reduce the growth of Legionella appears to make sense on the surface. But does circulation have the same bactericidal effect as a 60 C thermostat setting? This question is answered by two complementary studies.\n1. A 2008 paper published in the International Journal of Hygiene Environmental Health titled \"Occurrence of Legionella in hot water systems of single-family residences in suburbs of two German cities with special reference to solar and district heating\" states:\n\"Our data show convincingly that the temperature of the hot water is probably the most important or perhaps the only determinant factor for multiplication of Legionella. Water with a temperature below 46 degrees C was most frequently colonized and contained the highest concentrations of legionellae.\"\n2. A 2013 study, published in Environmental Engineering Science, titled \"The Role of Hot Water System Design on Factors Influential to Pathogen Regrowth: Temperature, Chlorine Residual, Hydrogen Evolution, and Sediment\" compared bacteria levels in electric water heaters at 49 C and 60 C and with and without tank circulation states:\n\"Recirculation tanks had much greater volumes of water at temperature ranges with potential for increased pathogen growth when set at 49\u00b0C compared with standard tank systems without recirculation. In contrast, when set at the higher end of acceptable ranges (i.e., 60\u00b0C), this relationship was reversed and recirculation systems had less volume of water at risk for pathogen growth compared with conventional systems.\n\"Recirculation tanks also tended to have much lower levels of disinfectant residual (standard systems had 40-to\u2013600-per-cent higher residual), four to six as much hydrogen, and three to 20 times more sediment compared with standard tanks without recirculation.\"\n\"This is also the first study to quantify hydrogen concentrations in hot water systems, which is of future interest given that hydrogen is an important energy source allowing virulence gene activation of Salmonella and other human pathogens.\"\nIs Legionella serious? An article published in the Jan.\/Feb. 2004 edition of The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases; \"residential water heater temperature: 49 or 60 degrees Celsius?\" answers this question in the affirmative.\n\"This (Legionella) is a serious illness associated with high death rates (up to 12%). Primary groups at risk (the elderly, smokers, the immunocompromised and patients suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses), are groups who include a large proportion of the population at home.\"\nOf particular concern is the statement: \"The importance of Legionnaire's disease is underestimated because it is difficult to diagnose and because it is reported through a passive surveillance system.\"\nAfter concluding that the use of an electric water heater is the most significant factor leading to Legionella contamination in hot water in the home, the infectious disease specialists recommended that \"electric water heaters already installed should be set at 60\u00b0C to limit the risk of Legionella contamination.\"\nDavid MacPhail\nGluttonous energy consumption and selfish attitudes prevent Whistler, and the world, from meeting climate change targets\nTrapped in my house with an outside Air Quality Index of 10-plus due to smoke from forest fires that are becoming larger and more frequent, in part, due to human-caused global warming, I read the \"Whistler's GHG emissions continue to rise\" article.\nThis shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Anyone using the roads or parking lots can easily see the high percentage of large, gas-guzzling vehicles. Many of them are huge SUVs or pick up trucks. While some people may need these vehicles for work, a large portion do not.\nIt is a myth that you need a 4WD SUV to live in or visit Whistler. For the past 10 years I have driven a Honda Fit, rated at 50 mpg, year-round in Whistler. It is our vehicle of choice when we go skiing. We are a family of four, all of whom are over six feet. We even have room for a fifth passenger if the need arises.\nFor summer we can get four bikes or four kayaks on the roof rack. On some trips we even have a lower carbon footprint per person than riding the bus, according to Planetair, four people in a fuel-efficient vehicle each have a lower carbon footprint that each of 30 people using a city bus.\nThis is an example of how many people could reduce their carbon footprint. They just choose not to. Even our children are being ingrained with this culture of energy gluttony as there is a twice-daily glut of vehicles dropping off and picking up students every day at the schools.\nYou don't have to search far to find much more blatant examples of excessive energy consumption. The paper consistently has ads for ATV, side-by-side, and snowmobile tours. There are several companies that spend a good portion of the summer driving clients up and down the Callaghan Valley road looking for bears.\nHonestly do the bears actually look better from a gas guzzling Land Rover Discovery or Jeep Wrangler than from a Toyota Prius? The irony is that we see many more bears while riding our bikes up the Callaghan Road than the tour companies do and we don't park blocking the driving lane and idle. At a time when almost every scientist with a pulse is pleading with us to reduce our GHG emissions, should we really be promoting pollution for pleasure activities that glorify burning gas as the feature of your outdoor activity?\nWhile these companies do employ numerous staff, since when does the better good of the planet take second place to a business's profit margin? After all, isn't that how the planet became so polluted in the first place? There are many less polluting activities that they could be promoting instead. Yet on a regular basis we are given the opportunity to squander even more of our natural resources on such carbon-intensive activities as heli-biking, heli-hiking, heli-golf, and heli-skiing.\nDo people really have such little respect for the environment that they would take a helicopter up Mt. Currie just to drive gold balls into the wilderness? Now there is heli-yoga at Beverly Lake. I don't have anything against people doing yoga at Beverly Lake as long as they hike up there like the rest of us. If you don't feel comfortable hiking up there on your own, Whistler has many well qualified ACMG guides that would be happy to take you there at a fraction of the cost.\nThe poster child for gluttonous fuel use is the pair that recently flew a helicopter around the world using over 26,000 litres of fuel. As pointed by a previous letter to the editor that is enough fuel to last the average Canadian over 22 years. Producing one barrel of fuel (159 L) consumes 5.333 tonnes of sand\/Boreal Forest. So, this helicopter flight around the world destroyed 872 tonnes of sand\/Boreal forest and produced 47.6 tonnes of carbon.\nThere is other collateral damage in creating fuel from the oilsands. Outside Magazine's December 2014 article by Ted Genoways states, \"Tar Island Pond One owned by Suncor, by Suncor's admission released 400,000 gallons of sludge into the river every day. Environmental Defence estimated the combined daily leakage from all the tailings ponds into the Athabasca River to be nearly 3 million gallons.\"\nA recent article by James Wilt states, \"At last count, the Alberta Energy Regulator estimates it will cost at least $23.2 billion to clean up the oilsands tailing ponds. Environmental Defence reports that it may be double that, with its online counter nearing $50 billion in largely unfunded liabilities.\"\nIs this the legacy we want to leave our children just because we are too selfish or lazy to change our ways?\nEven our healthy lifestyles are a contributing factor. Just ask one of our accomplished local skiing, snowboarding, or mountain biking athletes how much they have flown this year. Or ask your neighbour, as we all justify travel if it involves biking or skiing. The 2010 Winter Olympic events held at Cypress were almost wiped out due to heavy rain. We were told it was just a bad year. Five of the warmest years in history were in the last seven years. How long does this have to continue before we admit that if five of the last seven years were the warmest in history, we need to change our ways?\nOur homes and commercial buildings aren't any better. Clearly, we are on mission to build larger and larger homes. Even with advances in technology a 5,000-square-foot house will use more energy than a 1,500-square-foot house.\nThere are many reasons for this. More space consumes more energy to heat. Even though many of the new houses are touted as consuming less energy, that is only true if they are used efficiently. From 18 years as a real estate appraiser I know first hand how wasteful many of these homes are.\nThe home in Lakecrest with the heated garage floor that was on during a 25 C day in July when the home had not been occupied for months. The home in Kadenwood with vast windows, most of which didn't open. Instead a ventilation system and filter system ran 24 hours a day in conjunction with heat and air conditioning to provide \"fresh air.\"\nAnother home with four hot water tanks with nearly 1,000 L capacity just to make sure there was always enough hot water. Historically an electrical panel with a 225 amp capacity was ample. Now it is not infrequent for homes to have 450 amps. A clear indication that electric consumption is up. Most new homes have outside accent lighting and even lighting for their landscaping. Sure, it is good to have lights at your front door but do the bears and wildlife really need to see your house at night?\nMany homes now have heated patios and overhead patio heaters just in case the down jacket you wear at -10 C in the winter won't keep you warm on your deck in the summer. The latest must have extravagance is a gas patio or deck firepit. Really are we raping the boreal forest so people can sit on their decks and watch gas burn?\nEven the RMOW sets a bad example. Just look at the overkill of Christmas lights strung up in the Village every winter. Yes, they are all LED, but half as many would still look great. The commercial sector is not exempt from squandering energy. The outside lights on the Husky station are on 24 hours a day. I believe the Four Seasons Private residents have patio heaters on every deck. Many hotels have heated counters at their check desks. Many of the stores in the village have excess lighting that could be substantially reduced without effecting their business other than saving them money.\nWalk through the village in any season and see how many businesses keep their doors open all year regardless of the outside temperature. Even Whistler Blackcomb, which has made great efforts to reduce its GHG emissions and has the most to lose from global warming, is not exempt from promoting wasteful energy use. Go to their website and you are encouraged to buy a GMC vehicle, not a Smart car or Prius but a large truck. They even feature the giant GMC pick up on quad tracks outside the Roundhouse and on a video blasting through the snow. Makes it difficult to believe that they would actually like me to buy a fuel-efficient Chevy Spark and do my bit to ensure there will be skiing in the future.\nIf WB really wanted to make a statement illustrating how far they will go to prevent climate change, they could stop heli-skiing, and ban the on mountain ATV and snowmobile tours or at least buy a dimmer switch for the Tube Park.\nThis is just a short list of examples that show why Whistler and the world won't meet their climate change targets. The real reason and the blunt reality of the situation is that we don't care enough and that the pain and consequences of doing nothing are not strong enough or immediate enough to motivate change. It really comes down to, are we willing to sacrifice the environment in order to maintain our current lifestyles or are we willing to sacrifice our current lifestyles to preserve the environment?\nIf you are having trouble with that answer you could Google wildfires in B.C. and it may help you decide.\nBryce Leigh\nTags: Letters to the Editor\nMore Letters to the Editor \u00bb\nThe Moment \/\nVail Resorts lift ticket revenue stays flat, while skier visits down 7.8% across its roster of resorts\nChallenging start to season at Whistler Blackcomb factor in season-to-date metrics More...\nMarshal Iwaasa's loved ones trying to piece together timeline of his disappearance More...\nRupture occurred on Riverside's property Saturday night, halting water flow to both businesses More...\nAnd the 2019 Maxie Awards go to...\nPraying for snow? Pray for rain\nThe sleepy season\nLatest in Letters to the Editor\nLetters to the Editor for the week of January 16\nLetters to the Editor for the week of January 9\nLetter to the Editor for the week of January 2\nOn the fly...\nContending with our\u2014and the ski industry's\u2014reliance on flying More.\nNash fourth at Youth Olympics\nLuger to compete in doubles on Saturday More.\nWinterstoke celebrates the backcountry\nAnnual festival returns from Jan. 23 to 26 with art, film, conversation and clinics More.\n2020 Vision: The Growler's beer trend predictions for the coming decade\nFarm-grown malt, blended brews, and more low-calorie options among predictions for the 2020s More.\nThursdays, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.\nThursday Night Funk featuring DJ Dakota\n@ The Keg\nHe spins old school and new school, ya need to learn though, he burns baby... More.\nA perfect day of rain\nA rainforest hike outside Auckland, New Zealand reveals waterfalls, towering ferns, palm trees and a black-sand beach. More.\nVancouver punk band ATD makes Sea to Sky premiere\nCatch the band headlining Squamish Punk Night on Jan. 25 More.\nIOC policy out of step with Olympic values\nDistribution Points |\nCopyright & Privacy |\nFAQ - Whistler |\nJobs @ Pique\n\u00a9 1994-2020 Pique Publishing Inc., Glacier Community Media\n- Website powered by Foundation","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"[Alert] \u2013 Dim Sum & Cocktail Pairing at Hakkasan's Ling Ling\nBy\tJohn Chamberlain\nHakkasan is a globetrotter. From London to Mumbai, Shanghai to New York, Hakkasan has brought with it an eye for luxury, a taste for Cantonese cuisine, and a penchant for cocktails and nightlife. With a focus on the latter, they've created Ling Ling as well, a nightclub outpost of the Hakkasan restaurant, with locations in London, Mykonos, and Marrakesh. To celebrate, Hakkasan has introduced the Evolution of Ling Ling cocktail flight, which commemorates and reflects the unique heritage of Hakkasan and of Ling Ling: Cantonese via England, Greece and Morocco. And now, New York City.\nThe Evolution of Ling Ling is a pairing of three cocktails and three dim sum bites, all with a common ancestry but each with its own distinctive character, inspired by its country of origin.\nLing Ling Cocktail Flight\nThe Bitter Fortune is the original, created fifteen years ago at the first Ling Ling bar at Hanway Place in London, and as such, was built around Tanquery No. 10 gin, and you can understand why. Gin provides a soft underpinning of each drink, staying strong but flexible, allowing the other flavors and notes \u2013Aperol, peach bitters, and pink grapefruit \u2013 to flourish.\nThese flavors are present in all drinks, but as it moves through Mykonos as the Golden Mare and through Marrakesh as the Chilli Coupette, it builds upon itself. From the Greek islands come hints of rosemary and basil and anise, and from Morocco cardamom, chili and mint.\nWhile the cocktail flight pairing is only available through tomorrow (Wednesday, August 31st), you still need to check out the drinks at this Midtown restaurant. Stat.\nComplexity in a cocktail can be a risk, but these drinks provide the return. Citrus and spice balanced with bitterness and booze, and each drink stands on its own while complementing the others. Hakkasan, in Hell's Kitchen, is just around the corner, but there's a wealth of worldly knowledge waiting for you in the Ling Ling Lounge.\nHakkasan New York Details\n311 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036\nOur Best Stories Delivered Daily\nCantonese dim sum Greek Ling Ling Moroccan Pairings\n[Alert] \u2013 Dim Sum & Cocktail Pairing at Hakkasan's Ling Ling2016-08-302016-08-30https:\/\/thirstymag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/thirsty-nyc-logo-1.pngthirsty.https:\/\/thirstymag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/cocktail-pairings-hakkasan.jpg200px200px\nJohn Chamberlain has done a lot of walking, and by walking he means bar crawling. As an aspiring bar owner, he can't think of a better place for research than New York City. If you see him reading a book at the bar, feel free to interrupt. Follow his IG-worthy adventures @thebartographer.\nBloody Marys\nDaiquiris\nManhattans\nMezcal Cocktails\nCopyright All Rights Reserved \u00a9 2017 Thirsty Media Inc.\nSecret Summer \u2013 The Ultimate Cocktail SoireeFeatures\nPDT BCN Takes Over Banker's Bar in BarcelonaFeatures","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"EESL to set up 10,000 EV charging stations in next three years\nThe state-run firm has tied up with various private and public companies such as Apollo Hospitals, BSNL, Maha-Metro, BHEL and HPCL, among others\nNew Delhi: Power PSUs' joint venture EESL is set to ramp up its capital expenditure to set up around 10,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the next two to three years.\nA joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has undertaken this project to boost the e-mobility ecosystem in India.\nPresently, the state-run firm has tied up with various private and public companies such as Apollo Hospitals, BSNL, Maha-Metro, BHEL and HPCL, among others, to set up public charging infrastructure.\nIt has also partnered with urban local bodies in Hyderabad, Noida, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Chennai, and is in discussion with others to erect such infra.\n\"We are working towards strengthening the charging infrastructure with an objective to set up 10,000 charging stations over the next two to three years across India,\" EESL Managing Director Saurabh Kumar told IANS.\n\"We are in the process of signing MoUs with various states and government departments to promote EV adoption in India, which will further boost interest among the public,\" Kumar added.\nOne of the main capital requirements to set up charging infrastructure is the availability of 'land', which as of now is provided free of cost by most municipal bodies or firms for public chargers to EESL.\nThe clean energy major then sets up the charging station in that area and operates it for 10 years.\nIn return, EESL pays a certain proportion as land rental to the entity for every kilowatt hour (kW\/h) the company utilises.\nTill now, EESL has installed 68 public charging points, which are currently operational across the country.\n\"By the end of FY20, we aim to install around 100 charging stations in Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Nagpur,\" Kumar told IANS.\n\"We are aiming to install around 1,500 EV public charging stations by the end of FY21 in Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Karnataka,\" he added.\nCurrently, many automobile companies and others, including standalone charging infrastructure developers, are also installing these facilities.\nBesides, the company has registered an annual turnover of Rs 2,565 crore in FY19.\n\"In less than one year, we have earned a revenue of over Rs 9.3 lakh from our charging stations. EESL Capex is expected to be Rs 3,000 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 6,000 crore in 2020-21,\" he said.\nAs of now, apart from creating an e-mobility ecosystem in the country, EESL is scaling up smart meters and smart grids, storage and other clean energy technologies.\nFurthermore, the company is in the process of aggregating the demand generation for EVs in the country via bulk purchases.\nFollow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube\nHMSI launches Grazia Sports Edition at INR 82,564, targets the youth\nAn advanced 125cc urban scooter tailor-made for those riders who prefer to make an impact reflecting their youthful and fun persona, Grazia will be available at Honda's two-wheeler dealerships across India.\nFord India shuts plant on chip shortage\nElon Musk confirms Tesla's India launch on Twitter\nMagnite with 30K bookings redrafts Nissan's destiny in India\nThe new Magnite SUV stands out on many counts. In a short span after its launch, it has garnered over 30,000 customer bookings. It is also the torchbearer of the beleaguered Nissan's future in India. The average of 1000 units booked daily since the debut on December 2 manifests the brand's strength and new vigour. It will, Nissan hopes, empower it to discard legacy issues and open a new chapter in India's mobility landscape.\nTesla registers its Indian entity in Bengaluru; appoints three directors\nApple, Hyundai to agree on electric car tie-up early this year: Korea IT News\nMahindra-Ford JV plans called off on changing global economic conditions\nNew Foreign Trade Policy from April\nIndia's GDP: Quickest to fall, fastest to recover\nTata Motors posts 24% growth in domestic sales at 150,958 units in Q3FY21\nTop appointments and exits of automotive industry in 2020\nTIFAC offers automation software worth Rs 18 crore to MSMEs\nExit without serving notice period to attract 18% GST\nPawan Goenka on lessons from Covid and vision 2021\nInclude natural gas under GST to push for gas-based economy: Industry\nNew Volkswagen SUV might arrive before Taigun's debut\nAfter long journey, Fiat Chrysler and PSA to seal merger to become Stellantis\nGerman court halts criminal proceedings against former VW CEO\nInside lithium giant SQM's struggle to win over indigenous communities in Chile's Atacama\nTata Tigor News\nTata Tigor gets 4-star in Global NCAP crash tests\nTata Motors opens bookings for its BS-VI passenger vehicles range\nTata Motors bags order for 500 EVs from Lithium Urban Technologies\nMahindra e-Verito not good enough? Govt may soon include the Rs. 23.71 lakh Hyundai Kona in its fleet\nPlan to launch EV in India by 2022 but ecosystem is a must: Renault","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Church and Cemetery\n\"On this site stood 1830 to 1913, the House of Worship of the Delaware County Society of the New Jerusalem Church, instituted in 1828. This tablet is set up as a memorial of the Society and its faithful members. To acknowledge a God and not to do evil because it is against God, are the two things by virtue of which religion is religion. Divine Providence No. 326. NEW JERUSALEM TEMPLE.\"\nThese words were written on a stone monument erected in 1915, in memory of the Upper Darby church building that had been demolished a few years previously. The church (see photo, top) had been vacant since the late 1800s when the congregation worshipping there became inactive. The historic cemetery surrounding the church remained intact until the late 1960s and 70s, at which time the effects of years of vandalism could no longer be ignored, and it was decided to remove the bodily remains and try to resolve the issue of headstones. Many of the headstones had been irreparably damaged, so a decision was made to bury the ones that could not be saved, and offer the undamaged ones to their descendants (Communication from Philip Alden to David B. Glenn, 8\/31\/1978). The bodily remains were transferred to an unmarked grave in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Delaware County (http:\/\/files.usgwarchives.net\/pa\/delaware\/cemeteries\/newjerus.txt).\nThe Upper Darby cemetery was the original resting place of some of the most notable individuals in the history of the New Church in America: Francis Bailey (d. 1817), Rev. Richard De Charms, Sr. (d. 1864), Rev. David Powell (d. 1855), and Rev. James P. Stuart (d. 1882). The headstone of Francis Bailey still exists and is currently located at the Swedenborgian Church at Temenos in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Francis Bailey was one of the individuals present at Bells Book Store, Philadelphia, in 1784, when James Glen of Scotland delivered his historic lectures on Emanuel Swedenborg. Bailey became convinced of the truth of Swedenborg's teachings and is generally credited with being the first New Churchman in America. A printer by profession, he produced the first publication of a New Church work in America, A Summary View of the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Church, which he distributed free of charge. He went on to publish True Christian Religion serially; Benjamin Franklin, a fellow Philadelphia printer, was one of the subscribers. (See William Whitehead, \"Forgotten Pages of New Church History: I. Francis Bailey,\" New Church Life 1951, 1-4). Francis Bailey's headstone reads as follows:\n\"FRANCIS BAILEY\nAmerican New Churchman\nAmerican Publisher\nof the Writings of\nA bright example of active love\nand of doing good to others\" (see photograph).\nIt is interesting to note that Bailey died in 1817, a number of years before the church was built in 1830. A footstone accompanying his headstone provides something of an explanation: \"F.B., Ter sepultum, Requiescat in pace. J.H.J., 1863\u2033 (F.B. Thrice buried, rest in peace. J.H.J., 1863).\nRichard de Charms, Sr., whose headstone was also in this cemetery (see photo), is remembered for his pioneering work in the formulation and application of New Church Doctrine, and is considered a spiritual forebear of the Academy of the New Church movement. Rev. James P. Stuart, one of the founding members of the Academy, was buried in the churchyard in 1882, requesting that he be placed beside the Rev. David Powell (New Church Life 1882, 96). Powell had at one time been pastor of the Upper Darby congregation, and was instrumental in the growth of the New Church in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio.\nThe photographs of the church and headstones included in this New Church History Fun Fact, as well as additional materials related to the Upper Darby church and cemetery, are available on the Swedenborg Library Digital Collections Website in the Archives section. To access the collection go to http:\/\/www.brynathyn.edu\/academics\/swedenborg-library. Click on Digital Collections, \"Archives,\" \"New Church History,\" \"Early New Church Groups\" and then click on the folder titled \"Upper Darby New Jerusalem Church and Cemetery.\" The easiest way to use the collection is by entering keywords into the \"Search For\" field.\nThe editors of NewChurchHistory.org would like to thank Marvin B. Clymer, Academy of the New Church Archives, Bryn Athyn, PA, for suggesting this New Church History Fun Fact and for providing access to the photographs.\nPhotos: The photograph of the Upper Darby church was taken in 1903 and is in the collection of the Academy of the New Church Archives, Bryn Athyn, PA. The two photographs of headstones were taken by Michael Pitcairn in the 1970s and are also in the collection of the Academy Archives. The photograph of Richard de Charms, Sr., is from the book Bryn Athyn and the Academy of the New Church, published in 1904.\nOctober 31, 2009 | Posted by: Ed and Kirsten Gyllenhaal in New Church History Fun Fact","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Men's Team - On Field\nThe Guernsey\nPre VFL\nLower Grades\nWomen's Team - On Field\nOff Field\nFootball Department\nPrinces Park\nBlueseum Index\nSelect Galleries\nImages by Season\nThe Nickname Game\nGreat CFC Facial Hair\nAsk Glenn Manton\nWhat are Museums For?\nBluetube\nYour Carlton Birthday\nBlueseum Forums\n10th in Carlton's Best and Fairest Award\t1978\t1978 Best and Fairest Votes\t1978 Brownlow Votes\t1978 Reserves\t1979 Brownlow Votes\t1979 Reserves\t1980 Reserves\tAt Richmond\tAt the Bulldogs\tBest and Fairest Votes all years\tBroken Father-Sons\tBrothers at other Clubs\tBrownlow Votes All Years\tCachia to Curtis\tCarlton Obituaries\tDebuts 1975 to 1979\tElimination Final, 1978\tFrom Western Metro, Vic\tGuernsey 1\tTrades (including FA)\tPre-Season\/Night Series Player Summary\nCareer : 1978 - 1979\nDebut : Round 3, 1978 vs Melbourne, aged 24 years, 333 days\nCarlton Player No. 873\nGames : 30\nGoals : 12\nLast Game: Round 12, 1979 vs Geelong, aged 26 years, 36 days\nGuernsey No. 1\nHeight : 178 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)\nWeight : 85 kg (13 stone, 5 lbs.)\nDOB : 17 May, 1953\nAnyone who has seen the best-selling Channel 7 football highlights package \"Sensational Seventies\" will be familiar with Denis Collins as the Carlton player involved in a famous confrontation with St Kilda's Robbie \"Mad Dog\" Muir, late in the last game of the 1978 season at Moorabbin.\nVictory in that important match against the Saints would have given Carlton a berth in the Qualifying final rather than the Elimination final, but that was not to be, as we went down by 40 points. The only drawback on a day of joy for Saints supporters was Muir's last quarter report, for striking his former team-mate Val Perovic. As usual, Muir was furious when he was booked, and after flinging his mouthguard away, he began abusing the umpire. Meanwhile, Collins bravely - but unwisely - decided to rub it in. He came up beside Muir right in front of the infamous Animal Enclosure (packed with St Kilda's most vocal supporters) and ruffled the volatile Saint's hair. Instantly, Muir exploded \u2013 flinging back a left forearm that hit Denis flush on the jaw and knocked him flat on his back. As the umpires rushed in to book him again, the final siren sounded. Muir was hustled off the field by a couple of trainers, but not before he had also lashed out at a young spectator who got too close!\nCollins had joined Carlton earlier that same year from Footscray. A bushy-bearded winger\/half forward whose key asset was his pace, he had played exactly 100 games and kicked 60 goals for the Bulldogs over six seasons, before looking for a fresh start elsewhere. At Princes Park, he was honoured with our number 1 guernsey for his debut match, which came against Melbourne at Princes Park in round three. Playing on a wing, he was solidly effective in a 13-point win, and held his position in the senior team right through the season.\nThe week after his clash with Robbie Muir, Collins lined up for only his second career final when Carlton met Geelong in the Elimination Final at the MCG. His experience, and his speed in the open spaces on the wing, proved valuable in helping the Blues to an emphatic win by 33 points. In the following week's Semi Final clash with Collingwood, a tough, fiery encounter was indispersed with some brilliant passages of play from both sides. Collingwood jumped away to an early good lead and although the Blues fought back to within four points at the last break, the Pies weathered the storm and ran out 15-point winners. Denis Collins was the Blues top vote scorer in the 1978 Brownlow with 12 votes.\nAfter a solid pre-season, Collins played the first seven matches of 1979 in succession, only to then be sent back to the Reserves while Carlton's match committee took a close look at one of that year's promising recruits; a red-haired terrier from South Bendigo named Peter Francis. However, being relegated at that particular time did not sit well with Collins. Although he was reinstated for rounds 11 and 12, he fell out of favour with his captain-coach Alex Jesaulenko after that, and spent the remainder of the year with the seconds. While the Navy Blues went about claiming their twelfth Premiership with a controversial Grand Final triumph over Collingwood, Collins requested a clearance to Sydney club North Shore, but it was refused.\nEventually, Collins returned to training with the Blues as the 1980 pre-season got underway, although it was already obvious by then that his days at Princes Park were numbered. In March of that year, he was cleared to Richmond, where he knuckled down, and rounded off his 147-game VFL career with another 17 appearances in his only season for the Tigers.\nIn later years, Denis and his wife Sheenagh settled at Hyden, in country Western Australia. There, on Wednesday, August 30, 2011, he suffered a massive heart attack, and passed away at the tragically young age of 58.\nCarlton tearaway Collins dies\nDenis Collins, the 30-game wingman with Carlton in two seasons through 1978 and '79, has died suddenly of a heart attack in the Western Australian town of Hyden. He was 58. The son of former Fitzroy and Essendon premiership player Jack Collins, and brother to Footscray's one-game player Daryl, Denis was a born and bred Braybrook boy and a contemporary of Doug Hawkins. Collins represented Footscray in 100 senior matches over six seasons before crossing town to Princes Park. He was 24 years and 333 days old when he first turned out for the Blues in the No.1 guernsey, against Melbourne in the third round of '78 at Princes Park. Carlton won. Collins, who inherited the nickname \"Scruffy\" due to the full beard he sported when he played, is remembered as an aggressive running player. The 1979 Carlton premiership captain-coach Alex Jesaulenko said of Collins: \"To play in the VFL as it was known you had to be a very good player, but he'd be a sensational AFL player now - he had good skills and a ton of pace\". \"If memory serves he was in the mix for the 1979 Grand Final team,\" Jesaulenko said. \"It was a toss-up between him, Michael Young and Peter Francis for the two wing positions, and our decision to go with Michael and Peter proved right because they finished amongst the team's best.\"\nThat Collins' old team should meet St Kilda in the final round of the home and away season this Saturday night is somewhat ironic, for it was in the final round match of 1978 between the two teams that Collins found himself face-up on the Moorabbin turf following a confrontation with the Saints' volatile footballer Robert \"Mad Dog\"Muir. That clip found its way to the Seven Network's well-worn \"Sensational Seventies\" package and still gets a run from time to time. Following the tete a tete with Muir, Collins took to the field for what was only his second career final when Carlton met Geelong in an eliminator at VFL Park, and he contributed significantly to the team's 33-point triumph. At the conclusion of his time at Carlton, in what was a premiership season under Jesaulenko, Collins pursued his career with Richmond. There he managed a further 17 matches, and was named as an emergency for the 1980 Grand Final. In the early 1980s, after a brief run with WAFL club East Perth, Collins made his way to Hyden, about 330 kilometres east of Perth in the Western Australian wheatbelt. He chased the leather for the local football club and together with his future wife Sheenagh managed the local Wave Rock Hotel Motel near the famous geological formation. It was at Hyden that Carlton Assistant Coach Mark Riley forged a friendship with the Collins's, who became godparents to his daughter. \"I'd never been outside the city and they sent me out there with teaching, and they really looked after me. He and I became great mates,\" Riley said. \"He was a very giving person, very community-driven and incredibly generous . . . any profits that he and Sheenagh made were pumped back into the town, and If you can imagine where he lived - this tiny little town in the middle of an arid wheatbelt where it rains once every ten years and suffers drought the other nine.\n\"I remember seeing him at a recent Spirit of Carlton day. I left him at the bar with 'Sellers' (Mark Maclure), Jimmy Buckley and those sort of blokes, and it would have been the first time in 20 or 30 years that he'd had the chance to catch up with them because he'd put so much time and energy into his work.\" Maclure, Carlton's 243-game triple premiership player who last saw Collins in Port Douglas, remembered his old teammate as tearaway footballer who'd fared well against the Blues in earlier contests. \"They got him from Footscray because he was speedy and quick, and he always gave us a lot of trouble when we played them,\" Maclure said. \"I'm not quite sure why he missed out in '79, but he fitted into the club quite well. He was a very affable sort of bloke and quite a nice guy.\" A family friend Bernie Mouritz, said from Perth yesterday that the entire Hyden community was shocked and deeply saddened with the loss of one of its own. \"Denis was here in Perth only ten days ago having a kick of the footy with my young bloke,\" Mouritz said. \"I spoke to him again the other day, he'd been to the doctor about his high blood pressure, but he'd had tests and was on medication and everybody thought 'Okay, he's got it under control'\". He was feeling good about life and was looking forward to the coming season .It was all coming together, then this. We are all gutted.\" Mouritz said that Collins complained to his wife early yesterday that he was feeling unwell and promptly checked himself in to the local Silver Chain Medical Centre. The flying doctor was called, arrived and every care was available and taken. But Collins suffered a massive heart attack while being stabilized and could not be revived. \"Denis was a good man, he was community-spirited and didn't ever ask you to do anything he wasn't able to do himself on or off the footy or cricket field. Anybody who has a hard word to say about him is probably jealous because he could actually do it,\" Mouritz said. \"He leaves a massive void, a huge hole in the community. Ironically he'd just helped raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He built the infrastructure and had automated the lighting system at The Hyden airstrip so that the flying doctor could arrive at any time at all. Collins is survived by his loving wife Sheenagh and the many friends he had made over his time in Hyden. - Tony De Bolfo.\n1978 - 10th Best & Fairest\n1978 - 12 Brownlow Votes (leading vote scorer for Carlton)\nBlueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Denis Collins | At Richmond | At the Bulldogs | Collins' Blueseum Image Gallery\nContributors to this page: Bombasheldon , Grisdesa , molsey , Jarusa , PatsFitztrick , tmd1 , dgreen2 , WillowBlue , true_blue24 , Mav and admin .\nPage last modified on Sunday 16 of September, 2018 17:01:14 AEST by Bombasheldon.\nStandard Secure\nFormation of the Club\nEmblems and Tradition\nPre VFL Players\nThe National Draft\nGuernsey History\nChris Judd\nMark Maclure\nAlex Jesaulenko\nSeason Galleries\nBruce Doull\nHighest Scores by Quarter\n1920 Rnd 3 v Fitzroy - Clarrie back row third from left.\n1981 GF - National Anthem line-up; Perovic, Doull, Ashman, Howell, Fitzy, McConville, Hunter, Wells, Glascott, Maylin, Harmes, Sheldon & McKay.\nAlby De Luca\n1933 Carlton Women's Team\nRound 16, 1993\nStat Shot: P Kerr\nAFLW Players\nSerena Gibbs\nBrooke Vernon\nJoanne Doonan\nSharnie Whiting\n204 online users\nblueycarlton\nStat Shot: P Kenny\nStat Shot: M Johnson\nGuernsey 31\nDon Calder\nRickards\nStat Shot: M Hanna\nJames Rahilly\nMackie to Mutimer\nThe Carlton Aboriginal All-Stars\nUltimate Carlton Premiership Party Mix Tape\nCheersquad History Captured by the Camera of Kev\nThe Tassie Link: Bolton and Valentine\nGalt passes\nPlayer ratings from the 1987 Grand Final\nCarlton v Hawthorn 21\/2\/19\nPop's pride for New Blue\nGot the Picture? GET IN TOUCH!\n1968 - Carlton vs Sturt National Championship Game.\n1933 Carlton v Richmond womens team at Princes Park\n1933 Carlton womens team entering Princes Park\n1935 Merle Lane former CFC womens team captain.\nPi 2- Collins or Auchettl.jpg\nPic 1 - McKay.jpg\n1973 Rd 2 - Bruce Doull about to handball to Barry Armstrong.\n1976 Practice Match - Geoff Southby about to collect the loose footy.\n1983 Rd 1 - Jimmy Buckley escapes from an angry Emmett Dunne whilst supported by Harmes, Glascott, Southby, McConville, Doull & Hartney.\n1983 Rd 14 - Mark Buckley & Mark Williams against the Pies.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"admin February 3, 2013 All Exam Braindumps\nThere are two types of dynamic routing protocols: Interior Gateway Protocols (IGP) and External Gateway Protocols (EGP). IGPs are used to exchange routing information within an autonomous system (AS), which is a collection of routing domains under the same administrative control the same routing domain. An EGP, on the other hand, is used to exchange routing information between different ASs. IGPs can be broken into two classes: distance-vector and link-state, and can also be broken into two categories: classful routing protocols and classless routing protocols.\nDistance\u2013Vector Routing\nDistance-vector routing is consists of two parts: distance and vector. Distance is the measure of how far it is to reach the destination and vector is the direction the packet must travel to reach that destination. The latter is determined by the next hop of the path. Distance-vector routing protocols will learn routes from its neighbors. This is called routing by rumor. Examples of distance-vector routing protocols are: Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP), and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP).\nRoute poisoning is a feature that distance vector protocols use to reduce the chance of routing loops. Route poisoning begins when a router notices that a connected route is no longer valid. The router then advertises that route out all its interfaces and with a very large metric so that other routers consider the metric infinite and the route invalid. However, route poisoning does not solve the counting-to-infinity problem.\nSplit Horizon\nAs mentioned earlier, route poisoning does not solve the counting-to-infinity problem. Counting-to-infinity can occur when one router has a valid metric that points to an address that is reachable through an intermediate router while the intermediate router has an infinite-distance route to the same address (see Figure ). If routing table updates are sent by both routers at the same in time, the intermediate router will advertise that the route to the destination address is an infinite-distance route while the other router will advertise that the route has a valid metric. Because the two routers use the same update interval between updates, this process repeats itself with the next routing update, with the difference that the valid metric will be incremented by 1 each time until an infinite metric is reached, hence this phenomenon is called counting to infinity.\nFIGURE: Count To Infinity\nSplit horizon solves the counting-to-infinity problem by preventing a router from sending routing updates out the same interface on which it learnt the route. Thus, in Figure 4.1, the router would have learnt the route to the destination address across the link from the intermediate router. With split horizon, that router cannot then send advertisements about the route to the destination address out across the same link. Therefore the intermediate router will not receive the valid metric from the route to the destination address from the other router ad the count to infinity problem will not occur, solving the count-to-infinity problem on a single link.\nSplit Horizon with Poison Reverse\nSplit horizon with poison reverse, or simply poison reverse combines the two features. When a route fails the router uses route poisoning, i.e., the router advertises an infinite-metric route about that subnet out all interfaces, including interfaces previously prevented by split horizon. This ensures that all routers know for sure that the route has failed, while split horizon prevents counting to infinity.\nHold-Down Timer\nSplit horizon solves the counting-to-infinity problem over a single link but the counting to infinity problem can also occur in networks with multiple or redundant paths because there are more than one path to a router. In such networks, the hold-down timer feature prevents the counting-to-infinity problem. With the Hold-down timer feature, a router ignores any information about an alternative route to a destination address for a time equal to the hold-down timer once it has learnt that a route to the destination address has failed.\nTags: Distance, Poison, Split Horizon, Vector\nCCNA Quick Notes \u2013 Switching\nIPexpert's Ultimate Preparation Workbook for the CCIE Security Lab Exam \u2013 Version 4.1","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"'India-Pacific' becomes Trump's choice of word in his Asia trip\nPosted November. 06, 2017 07:59,\nUpdated November. 06, 2017 08:21\n'India-Pacific' becomes Trump's choice of word in his Asia trip. November. 06, 2017 07:59. by Young-A Soh sya@donga.com.\n\"India-Pacific\" has seemingly become a word that the U.S. administration prefers over \"Asia-Pacific\" as evidenced by several remarks before and during President Donald Trump's maiden Asia trip. Trump mentioned \"India-Pacific\" in his speech at the Yokota air base in Japan Sunday, and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster also said at a briefing Thursday that \"Since taking office, Trump has placed 43 calls to India-Pacific leaders.\" U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also mentioned \"India-Pacific\" 15 times on Oct. 18 in his remark to stress the expansion of the strategic relationship between the United States and India.\n\"A free and open India-Pacific,\" a concept which replaces \"Asia-Pacific\" of the former Obama administration, was first suggested by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his keynote speech at the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development held in Nairobi, Kenya in August last year. It is a strategy based on the robust U.S.-Japan alliance to develop the India-Pacific region including India and Australia into a place that embraces values such as a free market economy and democracy to contain China's ambition to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean.\nJapanese media outlets reported that the two leaders will announce this \"India-Pacific\" approach as a joint diplomatic strategy at the bilateral summit on Monday. President Trump reportedly plans speak about a free and open India-Pacific initiative at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit Friday in Vietnam.\nMeanwhile, at the bilateral summit on Monday, President Trump and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe are likely to discuss how to evacuate Japanese citizens in South Korea in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. There are about 60,000 Japanese and more than 200,000 U.S. citizens in South Korea, and the Japanese government hopes to use transport by the U.S. military stationed in South Korea as the basis of its evacuation plan, according to the newspaper.\nThe Yomiuri Shimbun added that the Japanese government wants to use Maritime Self-Defense Forces transport vessels and other means for transportation to Japan from Busan and other locations in South Korea, but as Seoul is negative about Self-Defense Forces activities within its soil, there are no prospects for realizing this idea. For that reason, the Japanese government will expect the United States to urge South Korea to accept the Japanese request, the newspaper reported.\nYoung-A Soh sya@donga.com","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"IndustryRegulation\nDraftKings Faces $350,000 Fine For Underage Advertising Infraction\nSportsbook allegedly mailed over 2,000 advertisements to individuals under 21 years old\nPublished: Dec 30, 2022\nThe Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announced Friday \u2013 two days before 16 mobile sportsbooks, including DraftKings, go live in the state \u2013 that it plans to take administrative action against DraftKings for violating the state's sports gaming advertising rules. DraftKings faces a fine of up to $350,000.\nAccording to the OCCC's notice of violations sent to DraftKings, the sportsbook operator mailed roughly 2,500 advertisements to people under the age of 21. Ohio law prohibits sports betting marketing materials that target people under 21 years old.\n\"The Commission has been very clear about the rules and standards for sports gaming advertising with the industry, and are disappointed with the lack of compliance we have seen despite reminders,\" Matthew Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said in a press release. \"While we do not take administrative action lightly, DraftKings' conduct in this case warrants the Commission's intervention to ensure the integrity of sports gaming.\"\nDraftKings can have a hearing with the OCCC to address the violation, if it chooses. That could result in a reduced or even fully removed fine.\nNot the first violation\nPENN Entertainment\/Barstool Sportsbook was assessed a $250,000 penalty by the OCCC earlier this month for advertising to consumers under 21 years of age. The University of Toledo welcomed the Barstool College Football Show to its campus in November, and the show's host shared a pre-registration promo code during the event.\nPENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden said at a Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting that the company planned to pay the fine rather than asking for a hearing on the matter. All fines paid to the OCCC go into the Sports Gaming Revenue Fund.\nLast week, the OCCC sent a memo to sports betting stakeholders directing them acknowledge responsible gaming measures more actively in advertising materials. The OCCC felt operators had formed a marketing pattern that put underage consumers at risk for problem gambling behaviors, and the commission asked for improvement.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Stephen Krashen\nStephen Krashen (\/\u02c8sti\u02d0v\u0259n \u02c8kr\u00e6\u0283\u0259n\/) is an American linguist, educational researcher, and activist.\nCurrently professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, Krashen has published more than 350 papers and books, contributing to the fields of second language acquisition (SLA), bilingual education, and reading.[1][2]\nHe is credited with introducing various influential concepts and terms in the study of second language acquisition, including the Acquisition-Learning hypothesis, the Input hypothesis, Monitor hypothesis, the Affective Filter hypothesis, and the Natural Order hypothesis.[3] which form part of his theory of second language acquisition.[4]\nMost recently, Krashen has promoted the use of free voluntary reading during second language acquisition, of which he says \"I believe that it is the most powerful tool we have in language education, first and second.\"[5]\nKrashen is known for his radicalism[6]\n\u2191 District Administration: the magazine for K-12 education leaders. The Pulse: education's place for debate. \"Stephen Krashen Bio\".\n\u2191 National Association for Bilingual Education. 2005 NABE Executive Board Election, Regional Representatives, West Region \u2014Candidates' Statements & Biographies.\n\u2191 Krashen, S. (2003) \"Explorations in Language Acquisition and Use\" The Taipei Lectures. Heinemann\n\u2191 Sch\u00fctz, Ricardo. \"Stephen Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition.\" English Made in Brazil\n\u2191 Scott, R.(2002) Achievement Profile: Stephen Krashen. ESL MiniConference Online\n\u2191 see this thread on Thornbury's blog, also featuring comments from Jeremy Harmer, Steve Kaufmann and Krashen himself: https:\/\/scottthornbury.wordpress.com\/2009\/12\/27\/k-is-for-krashen\/\nKrashen's website\nRetrieved from \"https:\/\/teflpedia.com\/index.php?title=Stephen_Krashen&oldid=82830\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Browse Books: Literary Criticism \/ Ancient & Classical\nMythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes (Mass Market)\nBy Edith Hamilton\nMythology (Paperback)\nOriental Mythology: The Masks of God, Volume II (Paperback)\nBy Joseph Campbell\nThe Greek Plays: Sixteen Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)\nBy Mary Lefkowitz (Editor), James Romm (Editor), Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides\nWarriors, Witches, Women: Mythology's Fiercest Females (Hardcover)\nBy Kate Hodges, Harriet Lee Merrion (Illustrator)\nHow Dead Languages Work (Hardcover)\nBy Coulter H. George\nFour Texts on Socrates: Plato's Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito and Aristophanes' Clouds (Paperback)\nBy Thomas G. West (Translator), Grace Starry West (Translator), Thomas G. West (Introduction by)\nThe Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides (Paperback)\nBy Aeschylus, Robert Fagles (Translated by), Robert Fagles (Introduction by), W. B. Stanford (Introduction by), Robert Fagles (Notes by), W. B. Stanford (Notes by)\nMetamorphoses: The New, Annotated Edition (Paperback)\nBy Ovid, Rolfe Humphries (Translator)\nThe Theban Plays: King Oedipus; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone (Paperback)\nBy Sophocles, E. F. Watling (Translated by), E. F. Watling (Introduction by)\nThe Complete Poems of Sappho (Paperback)\nBy Willis Barnstone (Editor)\nGreat Dialogues of Plato (Mass Market)\nBy Plato, W. H. D. Rouse (Translated by), Matthew S. Santirocco (Introduction by)\nLiterary Criticism \/ Ancient & Classical","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Terry Eagleton on Waking the Dead\nNovember 14, 2009 October 15, 2012 kevin philosophy, politics\nSpeaking of Walter Benjamin, the eminent Terry Eagleton has an article in New Statesman entitled \"Waking the Dead\" about Benjamin and history.\nWhat Benjamin meant was that how we act in the present can change the meaning of the past. The past may not literally exist (any more than the future does), but it lives on in its consequences, which are a vital part of it\u2026 In one sense, we know more about the French Revolution or the Stalinist reign of terror than those who were involved in them, because we know what they led to. With the privilege of hindsight, we can inscribe these events in a broader narrative, making more sense of them than Robespierre or Trotsky were ever able to do. The price of this superior knowledge is impotence. There is no way we can use this knowledge to undo past catastrophes. We are like men and women frantically waving at history from a long way off, powerless to intervene in its crises and convulsions.\nI've been reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb's The Black Swan (highly rec'd, btw) and he has a passage on the \"narrative fallacy\" that dovetails nicely with this Eagleton paragraph. Taleb is making a different point, but he also emphasizes our continual re-interpretation of the past and our ability to re-make history.\nConventional wisdom holds that memory is like a serial recording device like a computer diskette. In reality, memory is dynamic \u2014 not static \u2014 like a paper on which new texts (or versions of the same text) will be continuously recorded, thanks to the power of posterior information\u2026 Memory is more of a self-serving dynamic revision machine: you remember the last time you remembered the event and, without realizing it, change the story at every subsequent remembrance. So we pull memories along causative lines, revising them involuntarily and unconsciously. We continuously renarrate past events in the light of what appears to make what we think of as logical sense after these events occur.\nThe question, of course, is who controls the remembering. Which memorymakers control how we \"continuously renarrate past events?\" Lastly, I should point out that my one gripe with the Eagleton piece is that he\/Benjamin call this remembering and reinterpretation \"nostalgia.\"\nFor this unorthodox leftist [Benjamin], astonishingly, there could even be something revolutionary about nostalgia. Today, nostalgia is almost as unacceptable as racism. Our politicians speak of drawing a line under the past and turning our back on ancient quarrels. In this way, we can leap forward into a scrubbed, blank, amnesiac future. If Benjamin rejected this kind of philistinism, it was because he was aware that the past holds vital resources for the renewal of the present.\nWhereas I'd argue that this is not nostalgia at all. What they're calling for is closer to Nietzsche\/Foucault's archaeology & genealogy, which is pretty far from revolutionary nostalgia. For it is really nostalgia that wants \"a scrubbed, blank, amnesiac future\" that is cleansed of all the soiled bits of history. It is nostalgia that ignores the specters still haunting us. If we're looking for \"vital resources for the renewal of the present\" then we'd do well to steer clear of nostalgic histories.\nLastly, if you read yesterday's post you'll know why I was amused that Eagleton wrote, \"What happens, happens.\" Like yesterday, we close out today with que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be.\nfavorites history memory New Statesman nostalgia Taleb Terry Eagleton Walter Benjamin\nWorld Film Festival of Bangkok\nWorld Film Festival: Part II\npacifism consumerism Obama poker deconstruction Jesus favorites Bush Iraq terrorism corporatism war anarchism poverty McCain Cedars capitalism postmodernism Cedarville\nFate Means Eyeadhoo","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Japan: Historic Peace And Friendship Treaty With China Signed During Official Visit By Chinese Senior Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping 1978\nVLVA932R7VVGWRNAK68XKOW57R4O9-JAPAN-HISTORIC-PEACE-AND-FRIENDSHIP-TREATY-WITH-CHINA-SIGNED\nAsia's two dominant powers - China and Japan - have ratified an historic peace and friendship treaty.\nSV EXT Chinese Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping, Japanese Premier Takeo Fukuda, and officials inspect guard of honour (3 shots)\nSVs Mr. Teng and Mr. Fukuda walking past cheering crowd to rostrum (5 shots)\nGV INT. Mr. Teng and Mr. Fukuda with Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Sunao Sonoda after signing ratification of treaty\nSVs EXT. Demonstrators in trucks driving down street as police looking on (4 shots)\nGV INT. Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Royal Family posing for photographs with Premier Teng\nThe Soviet Union has opposed the treaty, saying that Japan will increase China's war potential by helping to modernise China's industry and technology. Soviet officials have also attacked a clause in the treaty dealing with \"hegemony\", or domination of a region by one country. They claim this clause is aimed at the Soviet Union. Since then, Japan has insisted that a further clause be added, stating that the treaty must not affect either Japanese or Chinese relations with third countries.\nInitials AH\/0230\nTELERECORDING\nBackground: Asia's two dominant powers - China and Japan - have ratified an historic peace and friendship treaty. The ratification ceremony, held on Monday (23 October), came during and official visit to Japan by China's Senior Vice Premier, Teng Hsiao-Ping. The treaty ends 47 years of antipathy between the two nations which started when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931.\nSYNOPSIS: Tokyo gave a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the high-powered Chinese mission, head by Mr. Teng. He is also a Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, and is the most senior official from the People's Republic to visit Japan.\nMr. Teng's host for the eight-day visit is the Japanese Premier, Mr. Takeo Fukuda. The visit sets the seal on the blossoming relationship between China - the world's most populous country, and Japan - which is Asia's richest nation. The 10-year treaty was signed on August the 12th in Peking. It commits the two nations to develop perpetual ties of peace and friendship, as well as increase industrial co-operation. In Tokyo, some officials say this could be the most important diplomatic event since the end of World War Two.\nThe ratification of the treaty was performed at Mr. Fukuda's official residence. The instruments of ratification were exchanged by the two foreign ministers - Mr. Huang Hua of China, and Japan's Mr. Sunao Sonoda. Both Mr. Teng and Mr. Fukuda watched the ceremony and said the pact would help promote peace and stability in Asia and the world.\nThe Sino-Japanese treaty has provoked noisy protests in Tokyo and four right-win protesters were arrested by police. One of the four protesters tried to commit harakiri - ritual disembowelling - with a knife outside Mr. Fukuda's official residence. He was taken to hospital with injuries.\nOn Monday (23 October) Mr. Tong was received by Emperor Hirohito and members of the Japanese Royal Family. Mr. Teng also had lunch with the Emperor in his Tokyo palace.\nJAPAN:\nHSIAO-PING\nVLVA932R7VVGWRNAK68XKOW57R4O9\nThailand: China's Senior Vice President Teng Hsiao-Ping Watches Thai Arms Display.\nChina's senior Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-ping arrived in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (9 November) to begin a four day official visit as part of a tour of several South East Asian nations.\nChina: Vice-Premier Tong Hsiao-Ping Meets Health Delegation From People's Democratic Republic Of Yemen\nVice-Premier Teng Hsiao-ping met on October 10 with the Health Delegation from the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen led by Minister of Health Dr.\nPeople's Republic Of China: Acting Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping Receives French Parliamentary Delegation.\nSIX FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTIES, WHO ARE ON A FORTNIGHT'S VISIT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HAD TALKS IN PEKING LAST WEEK WITH GOVERNMENT LEADERS.\nChina: Wallposters In Peking Proclaim Reinstatement Of Teng Hsiao-Ping To His Former Posts.\nAccording to reports from Peking the 74 year old politician Teng Hsiao-ping has been reinstated in his former posts.\nNepal: Chinese Vice-Chairman Teng Hsiao-Ping Leaves After Three-Day Visit To Tiny Himalayan Kingdom.\nChinese Vice-Chairman Teng Hsiao-ping's visit to Nepal in the Himalayas has ended with the announcement of Chinese industrial aid.\nVice-Premier Tong Hsiao-Ping Meets France-China Goodwill Delegation\nOn Nev. 10 Chinese Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao-ping meets with all members of ute France-China Goodwill Delegation led by Robort Calley, Minister of Equipment of the Republic of France; and Madame Barnadette Chirao, wife of the French Prime Minister.\nNepal: Chinese Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping Arrives For Three-Day Official Visit.\nChinese Vice Premier Teng Tsiao-ping arrived in Nepal on Friday (3 February) at the start of an official three-day visit.\nChina: Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao-Ping Concludes Official Visit To France And Returns To Peking\nVice-Premier Teng Hsiao-ping of the State Council returned to peking by special plane from Paris on May 18 after an official visit to France.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Ambati Rayudu announces retirement after World Cup 2019 snub\nBy: Abhimanyu Kulkarni |\nUpdated: July 4, 2019 8:46:22 AM\nIn the last two years, the team management had touted Ambati Rayudu as the no. 4 for the World Cup 2019. But Vijay Shankar was picked over him when the squad was announced.\nAmbati Rayudu was listed in the reserves for the marquee event. (PTI Photo)\nAfter being snubbed twice despite two players in the Indian World Cup squad sustained injuries, Ambati Rayudu on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket.\nThe 33-year-old Andhra batsman was listed in the reserves for the marquee event but was ignored despite an injury to all-rounder Vijay Shankar. In a bizarre move, opener Mayank Agarwal was named as the replacement.\nIn the last two years, the team management had touted Rayudu as the no. 4 for the World Cup 2019. But Vijay Shankar was picked over him when the squad was announced. The selectors felt that Vijay Shankar brought in more to the table with his all-round skills.\nRayudu has scored 1,694 runs in the 55 one-day internationals that he has represented India in. He has a healthy average of 47.05 and has 3 ODI centuries to his name.\nAfter Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out the World Cup owing to a thumb injury, BCCI had flown in Rishabh Pant. When all-rounder Vijay Shankar was ruled out due to a toe injury, Mayank Agarwal, who was not among the reserves, was picked instead.\nUntil late last year, the team management had put their weight behind Ambati Rayudu. Skipper Virat Kohli had last year named him as the solution to India'a middle-order woes. \"We believe he is the right person to capitalise on that spot. He is experienced and has won many games for his state and also in the IPL,\" Kohli had said in October last year.\nAfter not being named in the initial World Cup squad, Rayudu had taken a dig at the selectors. \"Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup,\" he had tweeted at the time.\nAt the ongoing World Cup, India have already sealed a playoff berth and will play their next game against Sri Lanka on July 6.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Trump asks Cabinet agencies to cut 5 percent from budgets\nBusiness_Finance\nPresident Donald Trump gives thumbs up as he steps off Air Force One as he arrives Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Trump is returning from Orlando, Fla. Forget Obamacare. President Donald Trump has found a ... more >\nBy S.A. Miller and Dave Boyer - The Washington Times - Wednesday, October 17, 2018\nPresident Trump asked his Cabinet secretaries Wednesday to cut their budgets by 5 percent, mindful that the government reported a $117 billion increase in the federal deficit just three weeks ahead of the midterm elections.\n\"Get rid of the fat, get rid of the waste,\" Mr. Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. \"I'm sure everybody at this table can do it. It'll have a huge impact. That's a very, very important request that I'm making.\"\nHe said the Defense Department, which has received a two-year rebuilding plan totaling $1.416 trillion, would be exempt.\n\"Now that we have our military taken care of, we have our law enforcement taken care of, we can do things that we really weren't in a position to do when I first came,\" the president said. \"I made deals with the devil in order to get that done.\"\nA Treasury Department report Monday showed the government ended fiscal 2018 with a deficit of $779 billion, or 17 percent more than fiscal 2017, which was split between President Obama and Mr. Trump.\nIt's not clear when any budget cuts would take effect. Mr. Trump asked his Cabinet secretaries to report back to him with proposals at their next meeting, presumably next month, implying the cuts would happen in the current fiscal year.\nBut the administration can't trim the current year's budget without a so-called rescission package that would need to be approved by Congress. Government funding that already has been appropriated by Congress and signed into law by the president cannot, by law, simply sit in accounts unspent beyond the current fiscal year.\nThe White House and Senate Republicans failed in June to approve rescission legislation that would have cut a mere $15 billion from the fiscal 2018 budget. The measure was approved by the House but rejected in the Senate on a procedural vote of 48-50, with GOP Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine voting against it.\nCongress faces a spending deadline in December for portions of the federal government. But that looming battle is unlikely to include significant cuts because the White House wants robust funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which encompasses border protection and the plans for Mr. Trump's border wall.\nThe president's proposal for budget cuts could bolster GOP candidates in the midterm elections with a voter base unhappy about the ever-rising level of federal spending.\nEarlier Wednesday, the president told reporters that the budget cuts would be imposed \"next year.\"\nAsked about the timing of cuts, White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said, \"The president has been clear that he is serious about cutting spending, and that was the message he reiterated to his Cabinet today.\"\nMr. Trump noted that last year's budget included the two-year increase for the military. He said he had to accept huge spending increases in social programs to gain Democrats' support.\n\"Last year, [my] first year, I had to do something with the military,\" he said. \"The military was falling apart, it was depleted, it was in very bad shape. I had to give the Democrats, I call it 'waste money' \u2014 things that I never would have approved. But we had to do that in order to get their votes, because we don't have enough Republican votes to do this without them.\"\nEarlier, Mr. Trump said on Fox Business Network's \"Varney & Co.\": \"We are going to do a lot of cutting\" after the midterm elections.\n\"It's not as tough as you think,\" the president said of budget cuts. \"And frankly there is a lot of fat in there, but we had to get the military done.\"\nMr. Trump said his budget-cut proposal should be known as \"the nickel plan.\"\n\"I have heard about the 'penny plan' for 15 years \u2014 one penny per year,\" Mr. Trump told his Cabinet. \"Let's do the five-penny plan. There's tremendous amounts of money. I believe we can actually do it easily. We'll call it the one-year nickel plan. We may do another nickel plan next year, too.\"\nLast month, Mr. Trump signed a $854 billion spending bill to keep the federal government open through Dec. 7, averting a partial government shutdown ahead of the midterm elections.\nIn March, Mr. Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill to cover the remainder of fiscal 2018. He vowed at the time he would veto any future appropriations bills with what he considered wasteful spending.\nRep. Roger Williams, Texas Republican, called Mr. Trump's plan for 5 percent cuts \"a step in the right direction.\"\n\"The federal government's senseless spending habits have gone unchecked at the American taxpayer's expense,\" Mr. Williams said. \"I look forward to continuing to cut unnecessary, cost-laden programs that will leave our future generations to deal with burdensome, ancestral debt.\"\nSen. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said budget cuts should \"start with discretionary spending.\"\n\"Discretionary spending is going to go up to 3 or 4 percent a year,\" Mr. Kennedy said, citing Congressional Budget Office projections for the next decade.\nSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blames rising federal deficits on a bipartisan unwillingness to contain spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He said this week there is little chance of a major deficit-reduction deal while Republicans control Congress and the White House.\n\"It's disappointing, but it's not a Republican problem,\" the Kentucky Republican told Bloomberg News. \"It's a bipartisan problem: unwillingness to address the real drivers of the debt by doing anything to adjust those programs to the demographics of America in the future.\"\n\u2981 Alex Swoyer contributed to this report.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Latest Stock Picks\nStock Advisor Flagship service\nRule Breakers High-growth stocks\nReturns as of 01\/28\/2022\nView all Motley Fool Services\nWhat to Invest In\nHow to Invest in ETFs\nBest Accounts\nBest Brokers for Beginners\nBest IRA Accounts\nBest Roth IRA Accounts\nBest Options Brokers\nStock Market Indexes\nTop Stocks to Buy in 2022\nRetirement 101\nWhy to Start Saving Now\nTypes of Retirement Accounts\n401k Basics\nIRA Basics\nHSA Basics\nHow much do I need to retire?\nWhen To Retire\nFactoring in Social Security\nWhat is the Full Retirement Age?\nRetired: What Now?\nRetiring in 2022\nWithdrawal Strategies\nHealthcare in Retirement\nTaxes in Retirement\nBest Rewards Cards\nBest Cards for Bad Credit\nBank & Loans\nBest Savings Accounts\nBest Checking Accounts\nBest CD Rates\nBest Debt Consolidation Loans\nHomebuying\nBest Mortgage Refi Lenders\nBest Lenders for First-time Buyers\nBest FHA Mortgage Lenders\nCredit Cards 101\nBank Accounts 101\nHome Loans 101\nIncrease Your Credit Score\nOur Purpose:\nTo make the world smarter, happier, and richer.\nWho Is the Motley Fool?\nInvesting Philosophy\nFoolanthropy\nRule Breaker Investing\nSocial Media +\nCAPS - Stock Picking Community\nMillionacres\nHere's Why I Bought Shiba Inu Coin Instead of Johnson & Johnson Stock\nFundamentals weren't a factor in my decision, regrettably.\nAlex Carchidi\n(TMFacarchidi)\nAlex began writing for the Fool in early 2020 and follows companies in the healthcare sector. Formerly a researcher in the biotech industry, he leverages his science background in his work as a writer and entrepreneur. His interests include exploring his hometown of Boston, traveling in Latin America, and value investing.\nFollow @alexcarchidi\nJohnson & Johnson is a stalwart stock that could be a good anchor for many portfolios.\nShiba Inu is an exciting cryptocurrency because it seemed destined to hit the moon this year.\nIf you have a rationale for an investment, make sure that the rationale is a valid one.\nJohnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO:SHIB) couldn't be more distinct as investments. Whereas J&J is one of the world's largest healthcare companies with a long and stable history of performance, Shiba Inu is a highly volatile joke cryptocurrency that's a copy of another highly volatile joke cryptocurrency, Dogecoin.\nAnd since I bought some Shiba Inu on October 27, I'm going to (try to) defend my decision.\nNot every investment is right for every investor\nOne way that I rationalize my purchase of Shiba Inu to myself is by remembering (correctly) that not every stock fits in every portfolio.\nSome investors have high tolerances for risk, and others need to prioritize preserving their capital above all else. Likewise, you may already be invested in a specific company and be reluctant to buy shares of one of its competitors. There's nothing wrong with passing on a popular and successful stock if it doesn't have the characteristics that you're looking for.\nIn my case, my portfolio is already adequately diversified across a few different sectors, but I haven't yet met my 2021 goals for my target level of exposure to cryptocurrencies. And, within cryptocurrencies, I decided to address the issue of concentration risk by diversifying my holdings through the purchase of Shiba Inu. While Ethereum would normally be my go-to option for crypto, I already own it, so buying more wouldn't have reduced any risk.\nIn contrast, buying Johnson & Johnson shares would have increased my exposure to the healthcare sector, where I'm already invested in strongly performing companies like AbbVie, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals. And, while J&J's stability, enduring business model, and financial strength are undeniable, it hasn't outperformed the market consistently over the last decade.\nSo, it doesn't really have a place in my growth-oriented portfolio, even though it's a fairly safe stock. Nor would it hedge against any specific risks that my portfolio currently faces. And, its dividend would introduce a small tax liability that I would need to pay each year.\nOf course, keen readers will note that I still haven't made an argument for Shiba Inu specifically. Though it's true that Johnson & Johnson would've been a poor fit, another cryptocurrency like Bitcoin would have met my requirements for more diversification and upside exposure quite handily.\nSo, why did I pick Shiba Inu?\nImpulsive purchasing is a surefire way to lose money\nYou caught me: I don't really have an evidence-based argument in favor of buying Shiba Inu.\nIn short, I got caught up in the hype surrounding the cryptocurrency's meteoric rise this year, which a stock like Johnson & Johnson could never possibly deliver. One of the most important skills in investing is self-control, and that's exactly the challenge that made me stumble this time around.\nMy impulsive investment has had some consequences, to say the least.\nRight now, I'm sitting on losses of around 50% of my initial Shiba Inu purchase after about a month of holding. If I had purchased Johnson & Johnson shares instead, I'd be down only 2.3%, and if I had purchased an index fund tracking the wider market, I'd be down by around 2.04%. I'm fully confident that had I purchased them, my shares of J&J would grow to reach a positive total return in due time. But, I can't say the same for my shares of Shiba Inu.\nThe reason why Johnson & Johnson would have been a better investment for me than Shiba Inu is that it's a company with real cash flows, veteran management, and decades of experience competing within their markets. Even though the stock wouldn't have fulfilled the goals I set out for my portfolio, it's clear that it would serve the general goal of making money rather than losing money far better than Shiba Inu is capable of in the long term.\nPress pause before buying\nWhen you're evaluating an investment, it's easy to get excited and to convince yourself to brush the blemishes under the rug rather than engage with them seriously.\nEspecially in situations where you're desperate to avoid missing out on a skyrocketing stock or cryptocurrency, being a bit too greedy can lead to making ill-advised decisions that put a dent in your portfolio down the line. If you make up an investing thesis after the fact, as I did, it probably isn't going to serve you as well as having a fully thought-out approach in hand before diving in.\nOf course, if you're in the same spot as I am with Shiba Inu, try not to be too hard on yourself.\nThe market offers a parade of temptations every day, and it takes a lot of patience to chart your own path without getting carried away. On the off chance that you jump at an \"opportunity\" like Shiba Inu, there's always a chance for redemption via a more prudent investment down the line.\nThis article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the \"official\" recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. We're motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.\nMotley Fool Returns\nStock Advisor S&P 500\nJoin Stock Advisor\nDiscounted offers are only available to new members. Stock Advisor will renew at the then current list price. Stock Advisor list price is $199 per year.\nStock Advisor launched in February of 2002. Returns as of 01\/28\/2022.\nCumulative Growth of a $10,000 Investment in Stock Advisor Calculated by Time-Weighted Return","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Six Minnesota State Parks Where You Won't Get Eaten By Mosquitoes\nCSJ\/TSM-Rochester\nIf you're looking to get out and enjoy the great outdoors before summer slips away on us and you don't want to turn into one big mosquito bite, here's some good news from the Minnesota DNR.\nWhile just about all of us enjoy getting outside during our fleeting summer months here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nobody enjoys getting all bitten up by Minnesota's state bird, I mean, mosquitoes, right?\nLuckily there are a few of Minnesota's beautiful state parks where the mosquitoes aren't quite so bad-- and they're all in our neck of the woods, too. According to the Minnesota DNR, these six state parks are where you want to head if you're looking to avoid those blasted mosquitoes:\nBeaver Creek Valley State Park in Caledonia;\nForestville Mystery Cave State Park in Forestville;\nFrontenac State Park in Frontenac;\nGreat River Bluffs State Park in Winona;\nJohn A. Latsch State Park in Altura;\nand Whitewater State Park, also in Altura.\nSo what's up with these state parks not having mosquitoes? Well, first, that's not entirely true. While the DNR says they can't promise there won't be ANY mosquitoes, these state parks-- thanks to their location here in southeast Minnesota-- most likely have less.\nWhat's up with that? Well, you can thank the glaciers that once covered the upper Midwest millions of years ago. When those glaciers last moved through, for some reason, they avoided what's now southeast Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin-- which is why we don't have any natural lakes in these parts.\nBut that's good news for having fewer mosquitoes. Because mosquitoes like stagnant warm water-- like lakes-- to reproduce. And, without any lakes, our environment isn't as attractive to those blasted bugs. As the DNR says, \"these particular parks tend to have fewer biting insects because of their geologic and meteorologic conditions.\"\nYou'll still want to use some caution, though, the DNR says, but at least the mosquitoes shouldn't be quite as bad.\nand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 103.9 The Doc\nGet More Rochester & MN Stories + Listen Live With Our New App!\nSource: Six Minnesota State Parks Where You Won't Get Eaten By Mosquitoes","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Ask the Expert: James' favourite places to visit in India\nby Amelia Curran June 14, 2019 0 comment\nDeciding where to visit in India can leave you feeling paralysed with choice. It is VAST, and each region offers its own distinctive energy, character and charm. Our India specialist, James, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the country and is passionate about sharing his expertise with fellow curious travellers. Here he shares his personal opinion on some of the best places to visit in India for different types of holiday experience.\nIt is first worth noting that India is also a place that divides opinion. Some travellers adore the hectic bustle of Delhi, while others might prefer a relaxing sojourn in the south. These are James' personal favourite destinations, but if you would like to discuss whereabouts would be right for you, arrange a call with him a call for free, friendly travel advice.\nBest city: Kolkata (Calcutta)\nKolkata is without a doubt one of the best cities to visit in India to get a flavour of the fascinating culture.\nWhere to start! For one thing, the architecture is outstanding. The city is adorned with incredible buildings from a vast range of influences, from British to Chinese to traditional Bengali; exploring the streets, you will be met with captivating design on every corner from the confluence of cultures that make the city so fascinating. The British influence is particularly strong here: it is said that the qualities of a Victorian gentleman live on among the middle-class Bengali bhadralok (gentlemen), with Sherlock Holmes and cricket being immensely popular among locals. If you are a cricket fan yourself, visit the grounds at Eden Garden or head to Maidans park to catch a candid game in action.\nHistory buffs can explore the legacy of Mother Teresa, while foodies will relish the amazing street food (a Kati Roll is an absolute must-try). For those looking to get an inch off the map, the impressive Howrah Bridge and train station provides a gateway to the lesser-visited Northeast of India, which could make for a fascinating addition to your journey.\nBest place for wildlife\nIndia is a brilliant wildlife destination with its very own 'big five': the Bengal Tiger, the Asiatic Lion, the Asiatic Leopard, the Indian Elephant and the one-horned Rhino.\nKanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh offers excellent opportunities for tiger sightings away from the throngs of Bandhavgarh. Leopards and sloth bears are present, though more elusive. The wealth of birdlife is excellent, and it is also the only park in India where you will find swamp deer (or barasingha), a species revived from near extinction. What's more, the scenery here is just astounding and truly unlike anywhere else; you'll have plenty of time to explore rural life here with respectful excursions to local villages.\nInsider tip: spend a little longer here and explore the stunning offbeat area of Phen National Park \u2013 you will not be disappointed!\nA close second choice is Nagarhole, which is wonderful for birdlife and offers the chance to see the big three mammals: leopards, tigers and elephants. This is one of only a few national parks where you can spot all three, though sighting them all in one trip would be pretty lucky!\nIf you're interested in seeing how India's wildlife stands up on an international scale, take a look at our interview with a naturalist on safaris in India vs. wildlife in Africa \u2013 it's fascinating to see the comparison.\nBest beach: Neeleshwar\nNeeleshwar has to be number one in terms of beaches. It is found in a remote part of Northern Kerala which is just an inch off the typical trail but well worth the journey. It is gorgeous: low on tourists and high on ambience, relaxing and yet nearby plenty of activities. The peaceful northern Backwaters are easy to reach from here, as is the impressive Bekal Fort. You'll also find plenty of small villages to explore and get to know the gentle pace of life. Hotel options are good too: two of my favourites include the rustic Kanan Beach Resort and the higher-end Neeleshwar Hermitage.\nOver on the east coast, Mahabalipuram is good for people-watching and local culture, especially around festival time (in January). If you'd like to see our guide to the best beaches in India, click here.\nBest for scenery\nThe Western Ghats, between Munnar, Valparai & Kodaikanal, are a lush and dramatic region of India's famous hills. Expect winding roads, sheer drops, views from the plains of Tamil Nadu to the top of the peaks of Munnar all in one frame. This area is great for hiking and experiencing village life, and it's also very easy to get off the beaten track from here too (in fact, Kerala, in general, is great for this: there are plenty of stunning areas just around the corner from more touristy towns such as Munnar, Alleppey and Thekkady).\nBest for luxury: Amanbagh\nHead to Amanbagh for the ultimate luxury experience. Location-wise, it is off-the-beaten-track \u2013 an oasis in the sandy desert around two hours from Jaipur, with a permanent soundtrack of birdsong \u2013 but the amazing Aman service means your every need will be easily catered for. Design-wise, the 24 havelis (guest houses) and 15 pool pavilions are decorated in a minimalist style with traditional Rajasthani touches \u2013 all feel in perfect harmony with the surrounding Aravali foothills. A stay here would add a unique and special twist to a holiday to the Golden Triangle.\nOff-the-beaten-track\nFor something really different, head to Arunachal Pradesh in the remote Seven Sisters region of northeast India. This area feels lush and remote, with some of the most pristine landscapes I have ever seen: expect turquoise waters, snow-capped mountains, and rainforest-clad hills. The culture here is incredibly distinctive, with Tibetan-style monasteries and a number of small tribes who focus on sustainable living. Plus, despite feeling worlds away, it is in fact relatively easy to reach too \u2013 don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like help planning your route!\nCURIOUS ABOUT INDIA?\nHead to our website for more ideas and information about travelling to India.\nA Conversation about Conservation: Protecting India's Tigers\nOur favourite train journeys in India\nWhat is celebrating Holi festival in India really like?\nBeachesculturetips and trickswildlife\nAmelia is the blog editor in the UK office. She also helps with generating marketing material - from updating the website to creating digital guides to liaising with journalists.\nThe evolution of fashion in Bhutan\nOur best experiences in Borneo (beyond the orangutans!)\nWhy really satisfying travel is a two-way street\n@2019 Experience Travel Group","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Business Actions\nUnder2 Coalition\nNews & Briefings\n\u4e2d\u56fd\u7f51\u7ad9\nHome \u00bb News & Briefings\n\"What gets measured, gets managed\": why EP100 member Hilton is investing in smarter energy use\nWhen Hilton first rolled out its corporate responsibility measurement platform in 2009, it was a strategic investment in making smarter use of energy.\nWith more than 5,500 properties spread across 109 countries and territories, the hospitality company knew embedding energy efficiency into its business strategy would have a measurable impact on reducing emissions and saving money.\nAll Hilton hotels are required to use LightStay, Hilton's corporate responsibility measurement system, to set annual targets for energy, water and waste usage. The platform measures goal progress, tracks energy use and carbon output.\n\"If you just look at this from the perspective of running a business, energy is typically a hotel's second-highest operating cost. We're focused on creating innovative solutions to do more with less,\" says Daniella Foster, Senior Director for Corporate Responsibility, Hilton.\n\"By tracking this and by proactively investing in LightStay, we were able to save US$1 billion. So, the business case is really powerful.\"\nInnovating for smarter energy use\nHilton joined The Climate Group's EP100 initiative during Climate Week NYC 2018 with a commitment to expand its smart energy management system and achieve a 40% energy productivity improvement by 2030, from a 2008 baseline.\nIn May Hilton announced Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals to cut its environmental footprint in half and double social impact investment by 2030. The company will use LightStay to track its goal of reducing carbon emission by 61% by 2030, a goal approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative, making Hilton the first major hotel company to institute science-based targets.\nSince 2008, Hilton has already reduced its energy and water consumption by 20%, and its carbon footprint by 30%.\n\"If you just look at this from the perspective of running a business, energy is typically a hotel's second-highest operating cost.\"\nDaniella Foster, Senior Director for Corporate Responsibility, Hilton.\nThe company is one of 38 members of EP100, which, delivered in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, aims to significantly scale up corporate action on energy productivity. A recent report by the International Energy Agency shows global energy efficiency gains since 2000 prevented 12% more energy use and 12% more greenhouse gas emissions in 2017.\nFor Hilton, increasing energy efficiency is leading to further benefits. \"When we added our smart laundry technology, we discovered hotels use less energy and water,\" says Foster.\nHilton is also reducing energy with its Connected Room Technology. Using the Hilton Honors app, guests can use their mobile phones as the in-room remote to control the heating, lighting and air condition.\n\"From a sustainability perspective, this has tremendous potential,\" says Foster. \"We know guests typically spend 70% of their stay outside the room. If you could make sure the lights are off in that time, with the climate at a reasonable state, that can have a great impact.\"\nDaniella Foster, Hilton, at Climate Week NYC 2018\nVideo of Daniella Foster, Hilton, at Climate Week NYC 2018\nDaniella Foster, Senior Director for Corporate Responsibility, Hilton, at Climate Week NYC 2018\nA powerful business case\nSmart innovations like Connected Room allow individuals to play an active role in saving emissions from Hilton properties, directly responding to growing consumer demand for greater sustainability.\nIn 2018, Hilton asked guests about their buying preferences. Approximately 1\/3 of 72,000 respondents said they research a hotel's social and environmental efforts before booking.\n\"This survey has definitely helped make the business case for advancements in sustainability at our hotels,\" Foster explains. \"If you look internally at our business as well, I'd say nearly half of our team members are millennials or younger. These are issues that our Team Members care about. As part of operating a long-term, sustainable business, we have to think about the future.\"\nHilton is part of a growing movement of businesses increasingly taking action. A recent report by EP100 member Johnson Controls shows 59% of organizations plan to increase investment in energy efficiency and smart building technology within the next year. The top five drivers for doing so include energy cost savings, brand reputation and employee retention.\n\"Lowering energy use right across the private sector is vital if we are to achieve no more than 1.5 degree global warming, so it's encouraging to see large companies like Hilton step up,\" says Mike Peirce, Corporate Partnerships Director, The Climate Group.\n\"Putting energy efficiency at the heart of growth strategy makes business sense \u2013 it lowers risk, saves money, and delivers on the expectations of shareholders. We call on businesses everywhere to seize the opportunity.\"\nRead more about EP100 here.\nLED SCALE-UP: Connected Lighting \u2013 Investing in the Future\nLED Scale-up\nRENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET BRIEFING JAPAN\nBig business is ready for the Climate Decade\nRE100, EP100, EV100\nClimate TV\nBriefings & reports\nAll the latest updates are available on our RSS Feed\nWebsite by Positive\nThe Climate Change Organisation is a registered company (UK Company Registration Number: 4964424) and charity (UK Charity Registration Number: 1102909). The Climate Group, Inc. is also a US-based 501(c)3 with EIN 43-2073566.\n\u00a9 2020 The Climate Group","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Agricultural History Series Missouri State University\n1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair\nDairy Barn Rules\nDairy Secretary, Chas F. Mills, issued rules for dairy exhibitors during the World's Fair.\nThe Dairy Barn will be open for visitors from the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.\nThe barns are to be well cleaned each morning no later that 9 o'clock and are to be ready for inspection no later than 10:30 a.m.\nAll manure must be promptly removed from the barns as voided between the hours of 9 o'clock a.m. and 6 o'clock p.m.\nThe cows are to be properly groomed no later than 10 a.m. and to be scrupulously clean between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.\nThe three daily periods for commencing to milk are 4 o'clock a.m., 12 o'clock p.m., and 7 o'clock p.m.\nThe two daily periods for commencing to milk are 6 o'clock a.m. and 6 o'clock p.m.\nThe milking will be done under the supervision of the representative of the committee of the agricultural experiment stations.\nThe milk is to be weighed and sampled by the representative and by him it will be made a matter of record.\nDairy Barns under construction, 1904.\nThe three daily feeding periods are 4 o'clock a.m., 12 o'clock p.m., and 7 o'clock p.m.\nAll feed is to be weighed by the representative of the agricultural experiment station and he will make it as a matter of record.\nThe said representative will see that the feed is weighed for each cow daily and is fed to the respective animal as specified by the barn superintendent.\nOnly the attendants are to be admitted into the railing enclosing the cows without passes.\nThe milkers are to be neatly attired in clean white suits, and the other attendants in clean suits of blue denim: the suits should be freshly ironed for the noon milking.\nThe milkers will care only for the cows placed in the especial charge of each by the barn superintendent, to whom they will look for orders.\nVisitors desiring information will make application to the barn superintendent and not interfere by question or otherwise with the attendants in the discharge of their duties.\nAll applications of visitors for admission within the railing enclosing the cows must be made to the respective barn superintendent.\nNo loud talking or noise tending to disturb the cows will be permitted.\nThe St. Louis World's Fair was an amazing site for all to see. In order for the Fair to be the best, the fair operators created these rules for the Dairy Barn to keep it looking nice and orderly, just like all other facilities at the fair.\nReference: Farmer and Stockman, July 16, 1904\nThis page is designed by Kristen Huffman & Starr Ryan and is maintained by Lyndon Irwin.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Home News Reports You made someone who instigated anti-Sikh riots, a Chief Minister: PM Modi exposes Congress,...\nYou made someone who instigated anti-Sikh riots, a Chief Minister: PM Modi exposes Congress, MP CM Kamal Nath in Parliament\nMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is accused of instigating people during the anti-Sikh genocide in 1984 after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to the witnesses, Kamal Nath was present at the Rakab Ganj Gurudwara inciting the mob in 1984.\nPM Modi in Lok Sabha\/ Image Source: ANI\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the opposition and its sympathisers during his reply to the motion of thanks to President's address in Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Modi also indirectly attacked the Congress party, especially Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath by reference to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha: You did not send those who are accused in the anti-Sikh riots to jails. Not just that, you also made someone who has allegations of instigating anti-Sikh riots, a Chief Minister. pic.twitter.com\/drO4SXJ6ia\n\u2014 ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2020\nAttacking Congress over its hypocrisy over the Citizenship Amendment Act, PM Modi questioned Congress party's silence over the anti-Sikh genocide and asked why did not they seek justice for the Sikhs then by sending the accused to Jail.\nRead: Two witnesses ready to depose against senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's alleged role in 1984 Sikh genocide\nHe further attacked the party by stating that Congress party not only failed in sending the accused in the anti-Sikh riots to jails but also made an accused the Chief Minister of the state by referring to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath.\n\"You did not send those who are accused in the anti-Sikh riots to jails. Not just that, you also made someone who has allegations of instigating anti-Sikh riots, a Chief Minister,\" said PM Modi as he indirectly attacked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.\nRead: How Congress created the 'Hindu terror' theory: A saga that started not with Malegaon blasts, but Sikh massacre of 1984\nSearched termsmodi in parliament, modi speech, modi on congress, modi on sikh riots, modi on 1984 riots, pm modi in parliament\n1984 anti-Sikh riots\n1984 Sikh Massacre\nsikh genocide","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"\u2a2f English All Regions\/Languages\nNarconon Blog\nFor more than a decade, Karen has been researching and writing about drug trafficking, drug abuse, addiction and recovery. She has also studied and written about policy issues related to drug treatment.\nKaren in Drug Information\nLandmark Opioid Lawsuit in Oklahoma Reveals More Pharmaceutical Culpability\nIn a lawsuit filed by the State of Oklahoma, we are learning more about how Johnson & Johnson helped create the opioid epidemic that has robbed more than a half-million Americans of their lives.\nKaren in Success Story\nI Could Never Put Myself First\nI put my sobriety first, and everything else falls into place for me\u2026\" Before Narconon , I never gave myself any time to focus and put myself first. This is the first time in my life that I can now do that. I know that I never have to be alone.\nKaren in Alcoholism\nTiny Midwest Town Closes Beer Stores to Save Lives\nRight on the Nebraska-South Dakota line, four liquor stores in a town of 14 residents move 4 million cans of beer into the hands of drinkers each year. The effects of all this alcohol on the dry reservation adjacent to town are disastrous. The closure of these stores is a single step in the right direction.\nKaren in Prescription drugs\nEnid, Oklahoma Makes \"Top 15\" List of Addicted Cities\nMaking the Top 15 List of Addicted Cities is not exactly something the Enid Chamber of Commerce wants to promote to visitors. But perhaps it's better that the citizens of Enid know the situation in their own town.\nLoading Our Senior Citizens Up with Pills\u2026 That May End Up on the Illicit Market\nIf you look closely, there are plenty of signs that senior citizens may simply be loaded up with pills rather than receiving the right care to heal their injuries or ailments. In some cases, this has put so many pills in the hands of the elderly that they take to selling them just to make ends meet.\u2026\nAre America's Senior Citizens Our Newest Drug Dealers?\nFor many senior citizens, money is pretty tight. Most are on fixed incomes and it may be a struggle to make ends meet. Add in the complicating factor that many seniors are also in pain from various causes and may be prescribed painkillers paid for by Medicare. Perhaps it's not surprising that some of our senior citizens have taken to selling their pills to supplement their incomes.\u2026\nCan You Detect the Use of these Substances by Your Child?\nIn Part I of this series, we informed parents how to detect the use of the \"study drug\" and prescription stimulant Adderall, marijuana and opioids like heroin or painkillers. In this article, we will cover detection of inhalants, alcohol, cough syrup and synthetic drugs.\nCritically Important Parenting Skills: Detecting a Child's Drug Use, Part I\nIt is more important at this moment than ever before, that parents are able to identify drug use in their children. Why?\nThe Curse of Carfentanil is Felt in Florida\nCarfentanil is an opioid drug that packs a powerful wallop. So powerful, in fact, it's used to sedate elephants, rhinos, hippos and other huge animals. But now it's being found in heroin supplies and is killing dozens of people in multiple states.\nKaren in Drug abuse\nThe High Cost of Addiction\nMany addicts will reject help because they say they are \"only hurting themselves.\" Anyone who has loved an addicted person knows otherwise. Every citizen pays the price for a high rate of drug abuse and addiction.\nNARCONON NEWS\nIn a Landscape Plagued by Drugs and Violence, Narconon Puebla is a Bright Ray of Hope\nPuebla, Mexico\nNew Study Shows Further Scientific Evidence for Narconon Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program\nStudies and Reports \u2022 United States\nNarconon Celebrates Opening of Narconon Aurora in Northern Italy\nNarconon Centers \u2022 Osnago, Lecco\nSEE ALL NARCONON NEWS >\nThe Importance of Drug Education in Schools\nRen in Drug Education\nAddiction in the Work Force\u2014Raising Awareness of Substance Abuse in the Working Class Industries\nRen in Drug Abuse Information\nWhat Happens to People Who Use Marijuana in Their Adolescent Years?\nRen in Cannabis\nA Parent's Perspective\nFio Magliola in Success Story\naddiction heroin New Life Detoxification American Opioids Epidemic Alcohol drug abuse alcohol opioids drug rehab drug addiction\nEnglish English All Regions\/Languages","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Survivors Trust\nInformation, Advice & Support: 08088 010818\nOur Ambassador\nFind Support in Your Area\nIf You Need Help Now\nSexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC)\nIndependent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVA)\nHow to Support a Survivor\nNational Helplines\nFor Survivors\nAbout Rape, Sexual Violence & Sexual Abuse\nDefinitions of Sexual Violence\nThe Effects of Sexual Violence & Abuse\nFAQs and Mythbusting\nSurvivor Creations\nOur Accredited ISVA Training\nOur 'Understand the Principles of Healthy Relationships and Consent' programme\nMeet Our Trainer\nLittle Ways You Can Make a Big Difference\nThinking of Fundraising for us?\nFundraiser Stories\nEvery five minutes in the UK someone is raped. One in four women and one in six men have experienced sexual violence. 15% of girls and 5% of boys have experienced sexual violence by the time they are sixteen.\nThe Survivors Trust is the largest umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK and has been providing infrastructure support to our members for the past 15 years. We have 129 member agencies based in the UK and Ireland providing information, advice, support and therapy to over 80,000 individual survivors each year. Our services work with victims and survivors of all ages, male and female, of all forms of sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, including support for partners and family members.\nOur Trustee Board is exclusively made up of Managers and Directors of rape and sexual abuse support services. Our core aim is to ensure that society supports all survivors effectively and takes responsibility for ending sexual violence.\nWe believe that rape and sexual abuse of women, men and children is wrong and challenge society to end it.\nTo support and empower survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse through;\nProviding a collective voice and peer networking for specialist rape and sexual abuse support services\nEducation about all forms of sexual violence and their effect on victims-survivors, their supporters and society at large\nInforming acknowledgement of, and effective responses to, sexual violence and sexual abuse on a local, regional and national level\nThe Survivors Trust was founded out of a need for specialist trauma services to help each other to survive in a difficult climate. Back in the year 2000 it was hit and miss whether victims and survivors could find the support to help them recover from the trauma of sexual violence and abuse. Most specialist services worked in isolation and there were no regional or national funding streams for support. Centres struggled to find the resources they needed themselves and many closed as a result of lack of funding. It was at this point that The Survivors Trust came into being. The managers of six small specialist charities came together to offer each other peer support and encouragement, advice on managing trauma services, and share information about how to gain funding to deliver them. 15 years later, The Survivors Trust still offers this support to specialist services and provides a national voice for the sector and its clients.\nHelp to support our work by making a donation today!\nSet up a regular payment Donate\nPublished: 14th May, 2019\nAuthor: Annabelle Edwards\n'YOU' will not define me\nMark talks about his experience of childhood abuse, how it impacted his life and his journey to recovery\nWe are healing. We are not alone\nDorothy writes on behalf of their system and how connections have helped them heal.\nONS data shows scale of adults struggling with the effects of childhood abuse \u2013 trauma-informed healthcare needed says NAPAC\nA blog post by our member organisation NAPAC on the latest ONS report about child abuse.\nSurvivors Of aBuse (SOB)\nAdult survivors of childhood trauma from abuse. Area covered: London and Nationwide upon request\nFind Specialist Support in your Area\nThe Survivors Trust has 129 member organisations based in the UK & Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men & children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.\nPregnancy, Birth and Parenthood after Childhood Sexual Abuse\nThis resource will help women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to prepare for pregnancy, birth and parenthood.\nSARCs (sexual assault referral centres) are specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. They are designed to be comfortable and multi-functional, providing private space for interviews and forensic examinations, and some may also offer sexual health and counselling services.\nPetition: Make all sexual abuse offences exceptions under the double jeopardy rules\n\"Many victims will never be able to obtain justice or closure from the criminal courts as the law currently stands as their charges are not deemed \"serious\" or \"severe\" enough to be an exception to the double jeopardy rules.\"\nOver the last ten years we have set up five new rape support centres, successfully lobbied for a three-year support fund for member organisations and established the all-party parliamentary group for adult survivors of sexual abuse. Find out more about our work\nAbout Sexual Violence & Abuse\nSexual violence and abuse is any behaviour of a sexual nature which is unwanted and takes place without consent or understanding. This includes rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, childhood sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and more.\nMany specialist support agencies offer an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service to victims\/survivors of rape and sexual assault. An ISVA is trained to look after your needs, and to ensure that you receive care and understanding.\nThe Survivors Trust is the largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. Our 129 agencies provide information, advice, support and therapy to over 80,000 individual survivors each year. Our services work with victims and survivors of all ages, male and female, of all forms of sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.\nMy Experience of EMDR & Treating Trauma\nSteph talks about how Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy helped her to heal after her experience of rape.\nEastlands Court Business Centre\nSt Peter's Road\nCV21 3QP","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"MaDFAS Provides The Prize\nby Katherine Halliday | Aug 28, 2017 | News | 0 comments\nMarlborough Decorative & Fine Arts Society has made several contributions to the local arts scene. Most recently MaDFAS provided the $500 First Prize in the Annual Members' Exhibition of the Marlborough Art Society. Our MaDFAS Chair, Pat O'Brien was one of the three judges and is pictured here with Danielle Yealands, whose work 'Beyond Measure' was announced as the winner on 19th August. Congratulations to Danielle.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Cowboys Stole Four Years From Dak Prescott\nCowboys Stole Four Years From Dak Prescott!\nAccording to Michael Irving, he feels that the Dallas Cowboys stole four years of Dak's life playing for the team. Irving wants the Cowboys to dig deep in their pockets and open their wallets wide for Prescott. Read on to learn why Irving is saying Cowboys stole four years from Dak Prescott\u2026\nCelebNSports247.com reports that Irvin believes the 26-year-old quarterback deserves every penny and then some from owner Jerry Jones based on his in services in Dallas the last four years.\nWhile Michael Irvin was discussing the current contract standoff between his former team and Prescott. he decided to weigh in on the situation.\nMichael states, according to the Dallas Morning News:\nDak has been not great, but perfect. Not necessarily in wins and losses, of course. But I'm talking about just the person that he's been. The kind of investment you want to make, the kind of guy you say 'yeah, we hit it with this guy. We got him in the fourth round.' You stole four years, so whatever he gets he deserves because you still owe him back pay.\nThe Cowboys drafted Prescott at No. 135 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Over his first four seasons in Dallas, he has thrown for 15,778 yards, with 97 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He's also led the Cowboys to the postseason twice.\nDespite all the chatter on Prescott NEEDING to get paid;Dak wants a four year deal nothing more than that.\nUSA Today's Jori Epstein commented by saying:\nFWIW re talk of a 5-year, $175 million offer to Dak Prescott\u2026nothing's changed on his side. Dak wants a four-year deal from Cowboys. He's not entertaining offers of more than four years. Guarantees, structure of contract are important beyond potential max value ?\n\u2014 Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) May 21, 2020\nMike Tyson Posts Photo Kneeling Amid George Floyd Anger\nMichael Thomas Helps New Orleans Families With Massive Donation","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Migrant crisis: It's a question of human rights \u2013 not charity\n'Another EU summit is not required to resolve this situation, and the Irish Government does not need to wait for further requests for assistance'\nThu, Sep 3, 2015, 17:00 Updated: Thu, Sep 3, 2015, 21:39\nSiobh\u00e1n Mullally\nA young migrant girl holds up a handmade sign outside Keleti train station in Budapest, Hungary, September 3rd. REUTERS\/Leonhard Foeger\nMinister for Defence Simon Coveney has said that Ireland's response to the current refugee crisis in Europe is, and has been, a generous one. There is no doubt that the contribution of the Irish Naval Service, in saving thousands of lives, has been hugely significant. The decision to continue the mission, and to deploy the L\u00c9 Samuel Beckett, is very welcome. This is a limited response, however.\nThe UN High Commissioner for Refugees has registered more than four million Syrian refugees as \"persons of concern\" falling within its mandate. Almost one quarter of those are children. With such numbers of people seeking protection, offering to host just over 1,000 refugees over a 2\u00bd year period is far from generous.\nIt is also troubling to hear repeated references to Ireland's generosity in the face of this crisis. Offering protection to people fleeing systemic human rights violations is not an act of charity. It is a human rights imperative, a matter of legal and moral obligation. Simon Coveney rightly cautions that the Government must be ready to provide accommodation and services to refugees before committing to increasing numbers. He is, of course, correct, but if there is no political will to take these steps, then such obstacles will not be overcome.\nThe concern to distinguish between genuine refugees and economic migrants, is also troubling. It is not the role of Government Ministers to determine whether a protection claim is well founded. We do not know how many of those who have died seeking to cross the Mediterranean were seeking asylum from persecution, or simply a better place in the world (to paraphrase the post-war Jewish philosopher, Hannah Arendt). Their right to seek and to enjoy asylum \u2013 a cornerstone of our human rights regime \u2013 was not protected by European governments. Neither was their right to be protected against abuse by unscrupulous traffickers.\nAs a matter of law, Ireland is required to prevent and combat human trafficking, an egregious human rights violation. The 2005 Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, requires states to adopt a human rights based approach to the fight against human trafficking. This includes taking appropriate measures to enable migration to take place legally, so as to reduce vulnerability to abuse. This legal obligation is frequently ignored by states. Yet, it is and will be critical to preventing further deaths on Mediterranean crossings.\nAs another European summit approaches, concern has been expressed that freedom of movement within the European Union is now under threat. This freedom was always limited for third country nationals and refugees within Europe. Juxtaposed, as it is, against an expanding \"Fortress Europe\", freedom of movement has been for many no more than a distant and fragile hope.\nIt is timely to remind ourselves of the freedoms that lie at the heart of the greater European project. The Preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights declares the Union as founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity. Those values are now fundamentally threatened by the construction not of shelters, but of walls and barbed wire fences.\nThe European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1950, against the backdrop of mass forced displacement in Europe, proclaims the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms as at the heart of the Council of Europe's very raison d'\u00eatre. In its judgment in the case of Khalaifa & Ors v Italy, handed down on September 1st, the European Court of Human Rights reminded Italy that the increased responsibilities that come with immigration do not displace states' obligations to effectively protect the human dignity of all persons. These obligations apply to all states, not just those at the coal face of this crisis.\nAddressing root causes of the refugee crisis, as the Taoiseach has advocated, is essential. There is no quick or easy solution, however, to the conflicts and systematic human rights violations that we are witnessing in Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea. The imperative to address root causes, does not discharge us of our human rights responsibility to provide protection to those now displaced.\nThe proposal to expand the list of so-called \"safe countries of origin\", to facilitate fast-tracking of asylum claims and a speedy removal of asylum seekers, fails to address the core issues at the heart of this crisis \u2013 Europe's lack of solidarity, its failure to agree a fair and comprehensive resettlement programme and its faltering commitment to the right to seek and to enjoy asylum. Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan, are not and cannot be designated as safe countries of origin. As the broken Dublin system continues to fail, Europe appears to be in denial.\nWriting on the plight of refugees post second World War, Hannah Arendt reminded us that more than freedom and justice is at stake, when \"belonging to the community into which one is born is no longer a matter of course and not belonging no longer a matter of choice.\" This extremity, is the situation of people deprived of human rights, deprived in her words, of the right to have rights.\nAnother EU summit is not required to resolve this situation, and the Irish Government does not need to wait for further requests for assistance. What is required is a much greater act of solidarity, and a willingness to defend and vindicate the rights of very desperate people \u2013 refugees and migrants.\nSiobh\u00e1n Mullally, Professor of Law, University College Cork and Vice-President of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking.\nSimon Coveney\nSiobhan Mullally\nCouncil of Europe Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking\nIrish Government\nKhalaifa & Ors\nBarry Andrews: We need to focus on Syria to address migrant crisis in EU\nJean-Claude Juncker: Asylum standards are in EU law, but are they in our hearts?\nKathy Sheridan: We should stop cribbing about the 'small stuff' \u2013 and think big","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"UHS works with communities to help reduce national suicide rates\nSaving lives requires a comprehensive approach \u2014 one that involves both health systems and communities working together.\nAccording to the CDC, suicide is rarely caused by a single factor but instead a range of factors including mental health conditions, relationships, substance use, physical health, and job, financial, and legal problems.\nSuicide prevention is a core responsibility of any health system, and Universal Health Services (UHS) is committed to doing its part to improve mental healthcare in communities across the U.S. and to advance suicide prevention at both the national and local levels. This is critically important given that suicide rates in the U.S. are at multi-decade highs.\nOne way UHS has demonstrated its commitment to suicide prevention is through its longstanding partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance). The Action Alliance is the nation's only public-private partnership working to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Debbie Osteen, Executive Vice President and President of the Behavioral Health Division at UHS, has served on the Action Alliance's Executive Committee since 2014. The Executive Committee is a group of diverse senior leaders from the public and private sector \u2014 all committed to championing prevention as a national priority.\nLearn more about the Action Alliance's important work in this video produced in collaboration with UHS:\nCommunities and health systems working together\nSuicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. According to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is rarely caused by a single factor but instead a range of factors including mental health conditions, relationships, substance use, physical health, and job, financial, and legal problems. This means we need to look outside of clinical settings and broaden support systems often found in many community settings like schools, places of worship, neighborhoods and workplaces. As the largest facility-based behavioral health provider in the country, UHS recognizes that improving and saving lives requires a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention \u2014 one that involves both health systems and communities working together.\nWays we can all help\nPublic opinion polls reveal that while the general public recognizes suicide as a serious issue, many people are reluctant to reach out to someone who might be struggling for fear they might make the situation worse. Even the smallest of actions can help someone who is struggling or in crisis make recovery a reality. When someone is feeling helpless, hopeless, alone, and often in their darkest hour, it can be a daunting road to walk down without a hand to hold or an ear to listen.\nWhether you're a neighbor or a student, a family member or a friend, an employee or a supervisor, a parishioner or a faith leader, a teacher or a PTA member, you can be there for someone who may be struggling \u2014 just like you would be for someone with a physical illness, such as cancer or heart disease. Actively listening in a nonjudgmental way, offering a meal, calling to check in, and helping to develop a safety plan are concrete ways to help someone feel supported.\nHowever big or small they may seem, these actions can help a fellow community member to feel less alone. Here are some other ways we can all help:\nRecognize the warning signs\nLearn the action steps for communicating with someone who might be suicidal\nShare the Lifeline number (800-273-TALK) \u2013 24\/7, free, and confidential support. Military veterans may press '1' for specialized care.\nPromote resources and services that are available\nEach and every one of us can strive to be a non-judgmental shoulder to lean on, a more sympathetic ear, a supportive hand to hold by being there for one another in some of life's most challenging moments. Only by working together \u2014 involving everyone in our communities \u2014 can we truly address this preventable public health issue.\nProfessional help is available\nIf you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact one of our facilities nearest you.\nSearch our facilities >\nKey points to keep in mind\nSuicide impacts every community\nSuicide affects all demographics: different ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, and occupations.\nSuicide is often preventable when people at risk receive the care and support they need.\nSuicide is closely connected with other broad issues of concern such as the opioid crisis and other substance use disorders, loss of purpose, relationship issues, financial issues, and mental health.\nCommunities play a key role in suicide prevention\nCommunity settings, such as behavioral health centers, schools, private treatment facilities, primary care offices, churches and employers have a wide range of access to members of the community. These community-based services are in an ideal position to help people who may be struggling and connect them to services.\nPreventing suicide is a collective and community responsibility, and anyone can take actions that can promote healing and give hope to someone who might be struggling.\nReducing suicide in the U.S. requires a comprehensive approach involving both health systems \u2014 like UHS' network of facilities \u2014 and communities.\nHelp and hope is available\nUHS is a leader in behavioral healthcare: UHS' more than 200 facilities across the U.S. treated more than 600,000 patients in 2017.\nUHS is committed to providing high quality treatment programs and services to patients with special, and sometimes complex, mental health needs.\nThe overwhelming majority of individuals who struggle with suicidal ideation go on to recover.\nRecovery is possible and UHS is committed to helping those who are struggling get the care and treatment they need.\nUniversal Health Services Submits Proposal for New West Allis Behavioral Health Hospital\nThe new hospital will address the growing unmet need for accessible, high-quality and advanced inpatient behavioral health services in Southeastern Wisconsin and across the state.\nUniversal Health Services, Inc. Ranks on Fortune 500 for 16th Year\nMay 2019 \u2014 Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), one of the largest providers of acute and behavioral healthcare in America, is pleased to announce it has again ranked on the Fortune 500 list.\nNew Behavioral Health Facility Breaks Ground; MercyOne Central Iowa, Universal Health Services Expand Behavioral Health Access\nClive Behavioral Health, a partnership of MercyOne and UHS, will address the growing, unmet need for accessible, high-quality and advanced behavioral health services.\nUHS Celebrates 40 Years of Providing Superior Quality Care\nFrom early entrepreneur to Fortune 500 company, UHS is now one of the most respected health management companies in the world.\nUHS Releases Results of Poll Examining Americans' Perceptions on Mental Health\nLarge majorities view mental and physical health as equally important; believe that mental illness can be effectively managed; cite ongoing stigma and barriers to treatment.\nVoices of Hope \u2014 Delivering Superior Quality Patient Care\nMeet some of our patients and be inspired by their stories of hope and triumph.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Argentine Leaders Meet With U.S. To Discuss Dollarizing Its Economy\nPARIS -- Argentine Economy Minister Roque Fernandez met U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers on Sunday to discuss prospects for dollarizing the South American country's economy.\nSpeaking at a press conference after the hour-long meeting, Mr. Fernandez said Mr. Summers had made it clear that even if Argentina switches to the dollar, the U.S. has no intention of altering its monetary policies or monitoring foreign countries' financial systems.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"99 and 44\/100% Dead\n99 and 44\/100% Dead 47 years old\nEveryone is dying to meet Harry Crown.\nUncle Frank Kelly calls on Harry Crown to help him in a gang war. The war becomes personal when Harry's new girlfriend is kidnapped by Uncle Frank's enemy, Big Eddie.\nEdmond O'Brien as Uncle Frank Kelly\nRichard Harris as Harry Crown\nBradford Dillman as Big Eddie\nChuck Connors as Claw Zuckerman\nRoy Jenson as Jake\nAnn Turkel as Buffy\n99 and 44\/100% Dead Cast\nEdmond O'Brien He was 58, 69 years old when he died as Uncle Frank Kelly\nRichard Harris He was 43, 72 years old when he died as Harry Crown\nBradford Dillman He was 44, 87 years old when he died as Big Eddie\nChuck Connors He was 53, 71 years old when he died as Claw Zuckerman\nRoy Jenson He was 47, 80 years old when he died as Jake\nAnn Turkel She was 28, now 75 years old as Buffy\nTony Brubaker as Burt (as Anthony Brubaker)\nJanice Heiden as Clara (as Janis Heiden)\nZooey Hall He was 28, now 75 years old as Tony (as David Hall)\nZooey Hall He was 28, now 75 years old as Tony\nKathrine Baumann She was 24, now 72 years old as Baby\nChuck Roberson He was 55, 69 years old when he died as Gunman\nJerry Summers He was 43, 74 years old when he died as Shoes\nMax Kleven He was 41, now 88 years old as North\nWilliam Hansen He was 63, 64 years old when he died as Joe - Kelly's Accountant\nBennie E. Dobbins He was 41, 55 years old when he died as Driver (as Bernie Dobbins)\n99 and 44\/100% Dead Crew\nHarold F. Kress as Editor. He was 61 (86) years old when He died Editing\nJack Baur as Casting. He was 59 (65) years old when He died Production\nGlenn E. Anderson as Sound Mixer. Sound\nJerry Wunderlich as Set Decoration. He was 49 (73) years old when He died Art\nJohn Frankenheimer as Director. He was 44 (72) years old when He died Directing\nKen Chase as Makeup Artist. He was 60 (71) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up\nA. Paul Pollard as Special Effects. Crew\nTheodore Soderberg as Sound Re-Recording Mixer. He was 51 (89) years old when He died Sound\nLamar Boren as Underwater Director of Photography. He was 57 (68) years old when He died Camera\nJoe Wizan as Producer. He was 39 (76) years old when He died Production\nHerman A. Blumenthal as Art Direction. He was 58 (69) years old when He died Art\nJere Henshaw as Executive In Charge Of Production. Production\nRalph Woolsey as Director of Photography. He was 60 (104) years old when He died Camera\nMickey Borofsky as Associate Producer. Production\nRobert Dillon as Writer. He was 41 (now 89) years old Writing\nDaniel R. Jordan as Grip. Camera\nMel Dellar as Unit Production Manager. Production\nErik Cord as Stunts. Crew\nChuck Roberson as Stunts. He was 55 (69) years old when He died Crew\nHenry Mancini as Original Music Composer. He was 50 (70) years old when He died Sound\nMax Kleven as Stunt Coordinator. He was 41 (now 88) years old Crew\nGene LeBell as Stunts. He was 41 (now 89) years old Crew\nCraig R. Baxley as Stunts. He was 24 (now 72) years old Crew\nGeorge P. Wilbur as Stunts. He was 33 (now 80) years old Crew\nKurt Neumann as Assistant Director. He was 66 (50) years old when He died Directing\nGeorge Robotham as Stunts. He was 53 (86) years old when He died Crew\nFritz Ford as Stunts. He was 46 (78) years old when He died Crew\nDick Durock as Stunts. He was 37 (72) years old when He died Crew\nLarry Duran as Stunts. He was 49 (77) years old when He died Crew\nTony Epper as Stunts. He was 35 (73) years old when He died Crew\nPaul Stader as Stunts. He was 63 (80) years old when He died Crew\nJack Verbois as Stunts. Crew\nJack Williams as Stunts. He was 53 (85) years old when He died Crew\nJoe Canutt as Stunts. He was 37 (81) years old when He died Crew\nGeorge Holmes as Gaffer. He was 55 (66) years old when He died Lighting\nLarry Holt as Stunts. Crew\nJohn W. Rogers as Production Manager. Production\nBennie E. Dobbins as Stunts. He was 41 (55) years old when He died Crew\nLoren Janes as Stunts. He was 42 (85) years old when He died Crew\nRon Talsky as Costume Design. He was 39 (60) years old when He died Costume & Make-Up\nBob Herron as Stunts. He was 49 (97) years old when He died Crew\n99 and 44\/100% Dead (47 years)\nRelease day: Thursday, August 29, 1974","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Keyword Analysis & Research: south african embassy usa chicago\nsouth african embassy usa chicago 1.72 0.8 7687 4 33\nsouth 0.46 0.1 3564 46 5\nafrican 1.68 0.4 6805 9 7\nembassy 0.37 0.8 8116 86 7\nusa 1.85 0.1 5605 84 3\nchicago 1.6 0.1 3683 21 7\nKeyword Research: People who searched south african embassy usa chicago also searched\nsouth african embassy usa chicago 0.16 0.9 4216 90\nHow do I contact the South African consulate Chicago?\nSouth African. Address. Consulate of South Africa in Chicago. 200 S Michigan Ave # 600. Chicago, IL 60604. USA. Telephone number. (312) 939-7929. Fax number.\nWhere are the South African consulates in the United States?\nThis website is a joint project of the Embassy of South Africa in Washington, DC and the South African Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. What services can South African citizens expect from Consular Officers?\nIs South Africa Consulate New York open on Tuesdays?\nSouth African Consulate General in New York will be open on Tuesdays to comply with Covid-19 precautionary protocols and procedures. The visiting hours strictly by appointment only for Immigration Affairs ( non-South African applicants) and Civic Services ( South African applicants) are from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.\nWhat services does the Chicago consulate in Chicago offer?\nUsually a Chicago consulate can assist in passport and visa issues, as well as document certification and the like. In any case it is important that you contact the Chicago consulate directly to find out which consular services they offer.\nSearch Results related to south african embassy usa chicago on Search Engine\nSouth African Consulate in Chicago\nconsulate-chicago.com\nhttps:\/\/www.consulate-chicago.com\/south-africa.html\n7 rows \u00b7 South African: Address : Consulate of South Africa in Chicago 200 S Michigan Ave # 600 ... Diplomatic mission: South African Telephone number: (312) 939-7929 Fax Number: (312) 939-2588\nDiplomatic mission: South African\nTelephone number: (312) 939-7929\nSouth African Consulate in Chicago | United States\nchicago-consular.com\nhttps:\/\/www.chicago-consular.com\/Consulate\/South-Africa-in-Chicago\nContact details of the South African Consulate in Chicago - the United States. South African Consulate General in Chicago, the United States 200 South Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor Chicago Illinois 60604 United States. is a lower level diplomatic representative office appointed by the Embassy of South Africa in the United States and is lead by Ms Peal Nomvume \u2026\nDA: 100 PA: 76 MOZ Rank: 69 Up or Down: Up\nConsulate General of South Africa in Chicago, United States\nembassypages.com\nhttps:\/\/www.embassypages.com\/southafrica-consulategeneral-chicago-unitedstates\nThe consulate general of South Africa in Chicago is located at 200 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 600 and can be contacted by telephone on (312) 939-7929 as well as by email [email protected] The consulate general of South Africa in Chicago is supervised by the embassy in Washington, D.C..\nSouth African Consulate-General in Chicago, USA\nembassy-finder.com\nhttps:\/\/embassy-finder.com\/south-africa_in_chicago_usa\n5 rows \u00b7 Consulate-General of South Africa in Chicago. Address. 200 South Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor. ... Email: [email protected] sacg. xohost. com\nEmail: [email protected] sacg. xohost. com\nSouth African Consulate General in Chicago, United States\nembassynvisa.com\nhttps:\/\/embassynvisa.com\/south-african-consulate-general-in-chicago-united-states-of-america\/\nSouth African Consulate General in Chicago, United States of America Address, Phone number, Location, Consular assistance number, Opening hours, Email, Visa services and consular services. Address: 200 South Michigan Avenue Suite 600 Chicago IL 60604. Phone: + 1 312 939 7929. Email: [email protected] [email protected]\nDA: 44 PA: 100 MOZ Rank: 87 Up or Down: Up\nConsular: Civic & Immigration Services, North Americas\nsouthafrica-usa.net\nhttps:\/\/www.southafrica-usa.net\/homeaffairs\/\nThe Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Washington DC and the Consulate General of the Republic South Africa in Chicago hereby announce that as of 1 May 2021, all consular, civic and immigration services for the 14 states in the Midwest region of the United States will be processed by the South African Embassy in Washington DC.\nDA: 33 PA: 4 MOZ Rank: 15 Up or Down: Up\nEmbassy of South Africa in United States of America | VisaHQ\nvisahq.com\nhttps:\/\/www.visahq.com\/south-africa\/embassy\/united-states\/\nSouth Africa Consulate in Chicago IL Address 200 South Michigan Avenue Suite 600 60604 Illinois Chicago IL United States Phone +1-312-939-7929 Fax +1-312-939-2588 Email [email protected] [email protected] Website URL http:\/\/southafricachicago.com\/ Report changes South Africa Consulate in New York Address\nsaembassy.org\nhttps:\/\/www.saembassy.org\/index\/consular\/\nDA: 7 PA: 96 MOZ Rank: 43 Up or Down: Up","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Advocates See Room For Improvement In San Diego's 'Placemaking' Program\nContributors: Matthew Bowler \/ Video Journalist\nPublished October 25, 2019 at 3:00 AM PDT\nA group of men play a board game at a gathering space in City Heights created under San Diego's placemaking ordinance in this photo taken on Oct. 21, 2019.\nOne year ago, a community nonprofit in City Heights installed four picnic tables on city-owned right-of-way at 50th Street and University Avenue. Since then it has become a popular gathering place for the neighborhood's Somali community.\nVideo: Advocates See Room For Improvement In San Diego's 'Placemaking' Program\nThe benches and tables \u2014 which are decorated with an East African board game \u2014 were one of the first projects approved under San Diego's \"placemaking\" ordinance. Placemaking refers to small-scale beautification projects meant to enhance a neighborhood's cultural identity.\nAnastasia Brewster, strategic partnerships manager at the City Heights Community Development Corporation, spearheaded the project. She said it also functions as a traffic calming measure on one of the city's most dangerous streets.\n\"When you see people here, there's a lot more dignity brought to the community,\" she said.\nA year-and-a-half after the placemaking ordinance was approved by the San Diego City Council, city officials have issued three permits under the program. The other two were for signage in Old Town and lighting in the Gaslamp Quarter. Another four projects are still in review.\nRELATED: San Diego's Temporary Park Quartyard Opens In New Location This Week\nBrewster said when City Heights CDC first approached the city with its idea, it was told the tables and benches would require a development permit costing some $20,000 \u2014 a price she said was \"completely out of our budget\" and exorbitant for such a small and simple project. The placemaking permit cost only $1,500, and the nonprofit got reimbursed through a city grant program.\nBut Brewster said the group still had to hire a consultant to help with paperwork, and that it decided not to include art in the project to avoid having to jump through one more bureaucratic hoop: The city requires projects with art to first secure approval from the city's Commission for Arts and Culture before applying for a placemaking permit.\n\"That is just another hurdle to just very simple community-driven work,\" she said. \"I think that with a creative solution, we could change that.\"\nA mural is seen decorating the Lincoln Park community gathering space on 50th Street, Oct. 21, 2019.\nProjects in the city's coastal neighborhoods also need an additional permit after the California Coastal Commission forced the city to amend its ordinance.\nElizabeth Studebaker, who oversees the placemaking program in the city's Economic Development Department, said the city plans on reviewing the ordinance's effectiveness and presenting its findings to the City Council. But she added that the ordinance was crafted to avoid half-baked projects.\n\"Most of that review process is ensuring that the applicants have a plan, and they can tell us what their plan is, and they can tell us what materials they're using,\" she said.\nStudebaker also defended the city's decision to exclude neighborhoods restricted to single-family homes from the streamlined approval process. She said commercial districts and neighborhoods that allow apartment and condo buildings are understood to be shared public space.\nRELATED: City Heights Coffee House Grows From Cart To Storefront\n\"Single-family unit residentially zoned areas are generally considered a little bit more private,\" she said.\nThe push to amend city laws to facilitate placemaking started after the failure of a project in Lincoln Park. In 2015 the nonprofit Urban Collaborative Project installed benches and planter boxes to beautify the blighted intersection of Euclid and Imperial avenues. But city officials ordered the benches removed, saying the nonprofit failed to secure the proper permits.\nBarry Pollard, the group's executive director, shifted his efforts to a vacant lot one block away. The lot is now a community gathering space that hosts parties, spoken word events and yoga classes.\nPollard said he hoped the city does more proactive outreach to encourage placemaking projects. And he said city staffers should go out to see the projects when they're completed so they more deeply understand how placemaking can build community pride.\n\"We're talking about empowering the communities,\" he said. \"Things like this is what makes them feel better about themselves.\"\nAdvocates See Room For Improvement In San Diego's 'Placemaking' Program And More Local News\nSan Diego City Council members last year approved a new placemaking program meant to encourage small-scale community beautification projects. Hear how advocates and critics say the program is doing. And, local firefighting crews were on high alert Thursday, while utility officials shut off power to nearly 8,000 East County homes and businesses in a bid to prevent wildfires. Plus, Mexican officials are seeking help from the United State to reduce gun trafficking across the border. Finally, a look into Robert Eggers new horror film,\"The Lighthouse.\"\nPolitics City HeightsSan Diego Government","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Dhritarashtra said, Thou didst mention to me before the name of Pandya, that hero of world-wide celebrity, but his feats, O Sanjaya, in battle have never been narrated by thee. Tell me today in detail of the prowess of that great hero, his skill, spirit, and energy, the measure of his might, and his pride' Sanjaya said, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Drona's son and Karna and Arjuna and Janardana, those thorough masters of the science of weapons, are regarded by thee as the foremost of car-warriors. Know, however, that Pandya regarded himself superior to all these foremost of car-warriors in energy. Indeed he never regarded any one amongst the kings as equal to himself. He never admitted his equality with Karna and Bhishma. Nor did he admit within his heart that he was inferior in any respect to Vasudeva or Arjuna. Even such was Pandya, that foremost of kings, that first of wielder of weapons. Filled with rage like the Destroyer himself, Pandya at the time was slaughtering the army of Karna. That force, swelling with cars and steeds and teeming with foremost of foot-soldiers, struck by Pandya, began to turn round like the potter's wheel.\nLike the wind dispersing a mass of congregated clouds, Pandya, with his well shot arrows, began to disperse that force, destroying its steeds and drivers and standards and cars and causing its weapons and elephants to fall down. Like the splitter of mountains striking down mountains with his thunder, Pandya overthrew elephants with their riders, having previously cut down the standards and banners and weapons with which they were armed, as also the foot-soldiers that protected those beasts. And he cut down horses, and horsemen with their darts and lances and quivers. Mangling with his shafts the Pulindas, the Khasas, the Bahlikas, the Nishadas, the Andhakas, the Tanganas, the Southerners, and the Bhojas, all of whom, endued with great courage, were unyielding and obstinate in battle, and divesting them of their weapons and coats of mail, Pandya deprived them of their lives. Beholding Pandya destroying with his shafts in battle that host consisting of four kinds of forces, the son of Drona fearlessly proceeded towards that fearless warrior. Fearlessly addressing in sweet words that warrior who then seemed to dance on his car, Drona's son, that foremost of smiters, smiling the while, summoned him and said, O king, O thou with eyes like the petals of the lotus, thy birth is noble and learning great. Of celebrated might and prowess, thou resemblest Indra himself. Stretching with thy two massive arms the bow held by thee and whose large string is attached to thy grasp, thou lookest beautiful like a mass of congregated clouds as thou pourest over thy foes thick showers of impetuous shafts. I do not see anybody save myself that can be a match for thee in battle. Alone thou crushest numerous cars and elephants and foot-soldiers and steeds, like the fearless lion of terrible might crushing herds of deer in the forest.\nMaking the welkin and the Earth resound with the loud clatter of thy car-wheels thou lookest resplendent, O king, like a crop-destroying autumnal cloud of loud roars. Taking out of thy quiver and shooting thy keen shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison fight with myself only, like the asura Andhaka fighting with the three-eyed deity Thus addressed, Pandya answered, So be it Then Drona's son, telling him Strike assailed him with vigour. In return, Malayadhwaja pierced the son of Drona with a barbed arrow. Then Drona's son, that best of preceptors, smiling the while, struck Pandya with some fierce arrows, capable of penetrating into the very vitals and resembling flames of fire. Then Ashvatthama once more sped at his foe some other large arrows equipped with keen points and capable of piercing the very vitals, causing them to course through the welkin with the ten different kinds of motion. Pandya, however, with nine shafts of his cut off all those arrows of his antagonist. With four other shafts he afflicted the four steeds of his foe, at which they speedily expired. Having then, with his sharp shafts, cut off the arrows of Drona's son, Pandya then cut off the stretched bow-string of Ashvatthama, endued with the splendour of the sun.\nThen Drona's son, that slayer of foes, stringing his unstringed bow, and seeing that his men had meanwhile speedily yoked other excellent steeds unto his car, sped thousands of arrows at his foe. By this, that regenerate one filled the entire welkin and the ten points of the compass with his arrows. Although knowing that those shafts of the high-souled son of Drona employed in shooting were really inexhaustible, yet Pandya, that bull among men, cut them all into pieces. The antagonist of Ashvatthama, carefully cutting off all those shafts shot by the latter, then slew with his own keen shafts the two protectors of the latter's car wheels in that encounter. Beholding the lightness of hand displayed by his foe, Drona's son, drawing his bow to a circle, began to shoot his arrows like a mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain. During that space of time, O sire, which consisted only of the eighth part of a day, the son of Drona shot as many arrows as were carried on eight carts each drawn by eight bullocks. Almost all those men that then beheld Ashvatthama, who at the time looked like the Destroyer himself filled with rage, or rather the Destroyer of the Destroyer, lost their senses. Like a mass of clouds at the close of summer drenching with torrents of rain, the Earth with her mountains and trees, the preceptor's son poured on that hostile force his arrowy shower. Baffling with the Vayavya weapon that unbearable shower of arrows shot by the Ashvatthama-cloud, the Pandya-wind, filled with joy, uttered loud roars. Then Drona's son cutting off the standard, smeared with sandal-paste and other perfumed unguents and bearing the device of the Malaya mountain on it, of the roaring Pandya, slew the four steeds of the latter.\nSlaying then his foe's driver with a single shaft, and cutting off with a crescent-shaped arrow the bow also of that warrior whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, Ashvatthama cut off his enemy's car into minute fragments. Checking with the weapons those of his enemy, and cutting off all the weapons of the latter, Drona's son, although he obtained the opportunity to do his enemy the crowning evil, still slew him not, from desire of battling with him for some time more. Meanwhile Karna rushed against the large elephant force of the Pandavas and began to rout and destroy it. Depriving car-warriors of their cars, he struck elephants and steeds and human warriors, O Bharata, with innumerable straight shafts. That mighty bowman, the son of Drona, although he had made Pandya, that slayer of foes and foremost of car-warriors, carless, yet he did not slay him from desire of fight. At that time a huge riderless elephant with large tusks, well-equipped with all utensils of war, treading with speed, endued with great might, quick to proceed against any enemy, struck with Ashvatthama's shafts, advanced towards the direction of Pandya with great impetuosity, roaring against a hostile compeer. Beholding that prince of elephants, looking like a cloven mountain summit, Pandya, who was well acquainted with the method of fighting from the neck of an elephant, quickly ascended that beast like a lion springing with a loud roar to the top of a mountain summit. Then that lord of the prince of mountains, striking the elephant with the hook, and inspired with rage, and with that cool care for which he was distinguished in hurling weapons with great force, quickly sped a lance, bright as Surya's rays, at the preceptor's son and uttered a loud shout. Repeatedly shouting in joy, Thou art slain, Thou art slain Pandya with that lance crushed to pieces the diadem of Drona's son adorned with foremost of jewels and diamonds of the first water and the very best kind of gold and excellent cloth and strings of pearls.\nThat diadem possessed of the splendour of the Sun, the Moon, the planets, or the fire, in consequence of the violence of the stroke, fell down, split into fragments, like a mountain summit riven by Indra's thunder, falling down on the Earth with great noise. At this, Ashvatthama blazed up with exceeding rage like a prince of snakes struck with the foot, and took up four and ten shafts capable of inflicting great pain upon foes and each resembling the Destroyer's rod. With five of those shafts he cut off the four feet and the trunk of his adversary's elephant, and with three the two arms and the head of the king, and with six he slew the six mighty car-warriors, endued with great effulgence, that followed king Pandya. Those long and well-rounded arms of the king, smeared with excellent sandal-paste, and adorned with gold and pearls and gems and diamonds falling upon the Earth, began to writhe like a couple of snakes slain by Garuda. That head also, graced with a face bright as the full Moon, having a prominent nose and a pair of large eyes, red as copper with rage, adorned with earrings, falling on the ground, looked resplendent like the Moon himself between two bright constellations. The elephant, thus cut off by that skilful warrior into six pieces with those five shafts and the king into four pieces with those three shafts lay divided in all into ten pieces that looked like the sacrificial butter distributed into ten portions intended for the ten deities. Having cut off numerous steeds and men and elephants into pieces and offered them as food into the Rakshasas, king Pandya was thus quieted by Drona's son with his shafts like a blazing fire in a crematorium, extinguished with water after it has received a libation in the shape of a lifeless body. Then like the chief of the celestials joyfully worshipping Vishnu after the subjugation of the Asura Vali, thy son, the king, accompanied by his brothers approaching the preceptor's son worshipped with great respect that warrior who is a complete master of the science of arms, after indeed, he had completed the task he had undertaken","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Arrow Episode Guide: Season 8, Episode 3 - Leap of Faith\nFor a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.\nReunited with his sister, Thea, Oliver finds himself in a race against Talia Al Ghul and the Thanatos Guild in the catacombs of the League of Assassins' headquarters. Meanwhile, Diggle and Lyla embark on a special ops mission together, to save Bronze Tiger's family. And in the far future of Star City 2040, the new Team Arrow take the fight to the Deathstrokes.\nIndiana Jones movies (name-dropped, general theme of exploring a booby-trapped tomb, the Phoenix tile puzzle is lifted directly from the \"name of God\" challenge in The Last Crusade) and the present-day storyline of Arrow Season 3 (focus on League of Assassins drama, Diggle and Lyla spywork)\nMany of the fights are shot too close. This would make it hard to see the action, if the poor lighting throughout the episode didn't make it impossible to see anything in general.\nThe Star City future storyline seems to suggest that the membership of the Star City Reunification movement is a big secret. Weren't they all present and trying to recruit new members at an incredibly open gala in the season 8 premiere?\nThe Thantos Guild die stupidly trying to get past Oliver (fully armed with a bow) and the booby trapped tomb of Al-Faith, by charging him one-at-a-time, while climbing down a rope.\nMia's throat-wound seems to heal up awfully quick when it's time for her to cradle Zoe and look anguished.\nAs always, Lexa Doig is a delight as Talia.\nThis episode marks Katie Cassidy's directorial debut.\nThis episode introduces the Arrowverse version of Sandra Hawke - the girlfriend of Ben Turner and mother of Connor Hawke.\nIn the original Green Arrow comics, Sandra \"Moonday\" Hawke was one of Oliver Queen's many short-term girlfriends during his free-loving college days. She became pregnant as a result of one of their dates, but refused to seek support, being determined to prove she could make it on her own as a single mother. Her son, Connor, would go on to meet his father nearly two decades later and eventually take up his mantle, becoming the second Green Arrow.\nThis episode sees Lyla and John return to Kasnia - a fictional nation first introduced into the DC Comics lexicon by Superman: The Animated Series. It has been repeatedly used on Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow whenever they needed a setting in Eastern Europe. On Earth-38, Kasnia was the nation which discovered the Supergirl clone that become known as The Red Daughter.\nFelicity hard-wired the power grid of The Bunker through the floor. This can be used to electrocute anyone standing in the main room through a control hidden in a safe room.\nZoe makes use of a device that creates a stunning sonic attack similar to the Canary Cry. Sara Lance originally used this same device as The Canary in Season 2.\nDialogue Triumphs\n(Oliver explains his bargain with The Monitor)\nOliver: He asked me to help him, but he's not very good at sharing information with the people he's working with.\nThea: (dryly) Sounds like somebody else I know.\nOliver: I need to be 100% sure that I can trust him. I know it's a long shot, but I was hoping that Nyssa could tell me what, if anything, the League knows about him.\nThea: Okay. What are you not telling me?\nOliver: He's seen the future. He's seen me die. It's soon, Speedy.\n(There is a pause as Thea looks at Oliver expectantly.)\nThea: And?\nOliver: (deadpan) Take as much time as you need to be upset.\nThea: Ollie, come on. You've cheated death more than any of us have by this point.\nOliver: This is fundamentally different than anything that we've ever dealt with before.\nThea: Okay. Well, let's try to figure out what we're dealing with, but like I said, Nyssa's not here.\nOliver: Sara hasn't been able to help either.\nThea: We've kind of killed off every League member, haven't we?\nOliver: So now you're back to your old exploits?\nTalia: With the League gone, the region has become quite unstable.\nThea: And you think training a bunch of assassins in a place like this is gonna stabilize it?\nTalia: I think it a wiser course of action than declaring a one-woman war on the Thanatos Guild.\nThea: What is going on with you, Ollie? You were never this overprotective when I left Star City.\nOliver: Things have changed. I left my family behind, Speedy. And I miss them. And every day, I wrestle with whether or not I made the right decision because maybe I didn't. And I saw an entire world wiped out of existence. A world that you weren't in, by the way, because I wasn't around to protect you. I'm sorry, Thea, but the only way that I can bear this is if I become 100% certain that my sacrifice, that my death... will protect the people I love. I need my family to be safe.\nThea: You know, I've been thinking a lot about Mom and Dad lately, wondering what they would think about the lives we've chosen. All the mistakes they made, all the lies they told...In their own very, very messed up way, they thought they were protecting us.\nOliver: Well, they weren't. They didn't.\nThea: No, but it did help us become the people we are today. They turned us into heroes. We can't change the future, Ollie. The past teaches us you might as well not bother trying to.\nOliver: (chuckles) When you'd stop being my baby sister?\nThea: I never did. I just grew up a little bit. (sighs) Now can we please get off this mountain?\nOliver: Yeah.\nTalia: It is your destiny.\nThea: Yeah, but, see, about that. I don't really believe in the whole fate, destiny thing. We can all make our own choices.\nTalia: Meaning?\nThea: Meaning I don't think the world needs another League of Assassins. It could use League of Heroes. It wouldn't be a one-woman job.\nTalia: You'd extend me that honor despite my betrayals?\nThea: You made a mistake. We've all made mistakes.\nTalia: Not one but two women to wield my father's sword? He would be aghast. (Talia smiles and chuckles wickedly) I accept.\nOliver: I can't believe I'm saying good-bye to you again.\nThea: Well, you're not. Think of it as a \"See you later, and please don't die.\"\nDialogue Disasters\nThe reactions to Zoe's death are pure hammy Narm.\nOliver runs into Thea in the area around Nanda Parbat.\nOliver catches Thea up on recent events, including her new niece.\nThea makes reference to 303 and her time in Corto Maltese, where she used Mia as an alias.\nThea now has a scar on her right cheek - the result of a battle with Athena of the Thanatos Guild.\nNyssa Al Ghul is off dealing with some League business. Thea thinks she is in Thailand.\nThea saw Roy Harper, sometime after the events of 720, and he told her about the fight with The Ninth Circle. He is currently off \"dealing with his demons\/\"\nOliver contacted Sara Lance regarding the League's history and any connection the Monitor might have to it. She didn't know anything.\nLyla has been keeping an eye on Sandra and Connor Hawke since Ben Turner was recruited to ARGUS. He's currently on a deep-cover mission and Sandra missed a check-in for the first time.\nLyla has pictures of Sandra and Connor at an airfield in Kasnia - far from where Ben is now and any mission he's ever run for any organization.\nThe plane in the photo of Sandra and Connor belongs to Abdul Nardoc - a Kasnia philanthropist who is believed to have terrorism ties.\nLyla needs John to work with her on this mission, because she's still ferreting out all the corruption within ARGUS and can't trust anyone else with this mission.\nOliver refers to the events of 705 and how Talia owes him a debt for helping her escape from prison. He agrees to consider the debt paid if she helps him find the answers he seeks regarding The Monitor among the League's records.\nThe Karan Shah is the formal name of the League of Assassin's fortress and central base of operations. It has been destroyed, but the catacombs underneath it remain intact.\nTalia's father had the League's historical records moved into the catacombs to keep them safe.\nOne of Abdul Nardoc's associates is Farzad Qadir - the son of Gholem Qadir - the man Ben Turner killed to save Lyla Michaels' life while serving in the Suicide Squad in 216.\nThe Chronicles of Al-Fatih are the journal of the founder of the League of Assassins and the first man to hold the title Ra's Al Ghul. Legend has it that he was given advanced knowledge by one of the sky gods. Talia thinks this could be The Monitor. When the book is located, it contains a drawing of the Monitor and a note that the end times would come if the League ever abandoned their mission charge from \"the sky god\" to maintain the balance between good and evil.\nThea can read Arabic.\nThe Sword of Al-Fatih is a relic of equal power to the Ring of Ra's Al Ghul. Before the Ring of Ra's Al Ghul, whoever wielded the Sword of Al-Fatih was considered leader of the League of Assassins. It is believed to be interred in Al-Faith's secret tomb.\nBurning the false Chronicles of Al-Fatih reveals a stone sphere, marked with constellations, which somehow reveal the true location of Al-Fatih's tomb. It turns out to be on top of the mountain where Oliver dueled Talia's father in 309.\nTalia poisons Oliver to keep him from getting to the tomb ahead of her. He is found by Thea, who he previously ordered to go back to their camp.\nTalia is captured by Athena, who then captures Oliver and Thea and intends to use them to test for traps in the tomb of Al-Fatih.\nTalia and Thea enter the tomb while Oliver holds off the Thanatos Guild.\nDiggle and Lyla save Sandra and Connor Hawke.\nAll of the Thanatos Guild die.\nThea beats Talia in a duel for the Sword of Al-Fatih.\nTalia passes command of her students over to Thea, but Thea refuses to restart the League of Assassins. She suggests, instead, that she and Talia start a League of Heroes.\nOllie makes reference to the Queen Family Hozen and how Felicity gave it to William.\nWilliam was able to protect himself from the Deathstrokes swarming The Bunker, having remembered that Felicity hard-wired the electricity for the complex through the floor. This enabled him to use it to shock them as they entered the main room.\nWilliam determines that John Diggle Jr. and the Deathstrokes are killing everyone involved in the Star City Unification movement. 10 have been killed so far.\nMia pushes the team to make a direct assault on the Deathstroke's hideout.\nZoe is killed by John Diggle Jr. while saving Mia.\nMia, William and Connor are sent back in time to 2019 and the original Team Arrow bunker.\nOliver is seemingly teleported to the Team Arrow bunker by the same flash of white light.\nNanda Parbat\nKasnia\nUntelevised Adventures\nRoy, Nyssa and Thea apparently destroyed the last of the Lazarus Pits some time between this episode and 616. They have been working since then to stop the Thanatos Guild from reforming the League of Assassins.\nBen Turner officially became an ARGUS agent sometime following the events of 722.\nThe Fridge Factor\nZoe Ramirez is unceremoniously killed off to give everyone else on Team Arrow 2.0 some angst. (Also, apparently, to not further confuse viewers with the presence of another Black Canary in the upcoming Green Arrow and the Canaries spin-off.)\nA mixed bag, overall. The bits with Thea and Talia are good, but that owes more to Willa Holland and Lexa Doig nailing these characters out of the park with every appearance after so many years. The stuff with Diggle and Lyla is competently acted, but seems very repetitive. And the future storyline is as lackluster as everything else done with the flash-fowards since Season 7. Ultimately, it succeeds only because of some strong speeches and strong performances, which seem wholly separated from the overall direction and staging of the episode, which are outright horrible at times.\nPosted by Starman at 4:44 PM\nLabels: Arrow, Arrow Episode Guide, Arrow Season Eight, Blackstar, Connor Hawke, John Diggle, John Diggle Jr., Lexa Doig, Talia Al Ghul, Thea Queen, William Clayton, Zoe Ramirez","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"English teacher buys \u00a352 fake TB diagnosis online so he can skip work for holiday\nEnglish teacher Mr Du tried to take time off from his school in Hohhot, in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, by pretending he had tuberculosis\nMr Du tried presented a scan of a different person's lungs (\nImage: AsiaWire)\nJohn Feng\nA teacher who bought a fake tuberculosis diagnosis online so he could go on holiday has been caught out after officials hauled him in for further tests.\nMr Du's dodgy diagnosis was discovered after two pupils at the school he works were found to have contracted the bacterial infection.\nThe 23-year-old teacher reportedly paid the equivalent of \u00a352 for a fake chest scan and diagnosis online so he could take time off to go on holiday.\nWhen Mr Du, who teaches English as a second language to children around the age of five, presented the certificate to his employers at the privately run school, they decided to test his 18 pupils for the disease.\nThe teacher tried to convince members of staff at his school in Hohhot that he had TB (\nAsiaWire)\nLonely widow, 89, hands \u00a325k to conman because he's the 'only person I speak to'\nThings took an unexpected twist when two youngsters in his class were found to have TB.\nThe discovery led Mr Du to pay a further \u00a335 for a second diagnosis showing he didn't have the disease, which usually takes months of daily antibiotics to cure.\nBut the teacher's second set of hospital documents failed to convince the parents, who pressured him into taking a third test at a Hohhot hospital in the Chinese region of inner Mongolia,\nThis proved not only that he had been clean of TB all along, but that the previous chest scans belonged to another person entirely.\nIt seems his two sick pupils contracted the disease from another source.\nMr Du, who parents said was popular among pupils, later made a public apology in front of all his pupils' parents.\nHe revealed he wanted to take an extended holiday and use China's National Day break to have some lengthy time off.\nHe paid the equivalent of more than \u00a380 for the two fake scans (\nFearing his first lie would be exposed, he decided to lie again to try and cover it up, he added.\nMr Du admitted he did not realise how serious TB was when he chose to use it as his sick leave excuse.\nParents have told local media they are demanding further assurance that management at the school will improve, but did not say whether they would seek to involve officials with the city's education bureau.\nThe school's director, Ms Zhang, did not say whether Mr Du would keep his job.\nHospitalsSchools","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"https:\/\/sixerswire.usatoday.com\/2018\/11\/08\/sixers-joel-embiid-dario-saric-stats-pacers-win\/\nSixers use steady offense, plenty of Joel Embiid in first road win\nNovember 8, 2018 12:15 pm ET\nFor the Philadelphia 76ers, playing on the road has consisted of turning the ball over too much and not shooting well from the 3-point line.\nThe Sixers didn't significantly improve in either of those facets of their game Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. Still, their steady play on offense helped them take down the Indiana Pacers 100-94 to earn their first road win of the season.\nWhat the Sixers did well was initiating their offense through Joel Embiid. As Embiid played in the post, the floor opened for the rest of the team. Philly's star big man worked well in the post against Myles Turner early. He led the team with 20 points and shot 43.7 percent from the field.\nWith the Sixers being able to play through Embiid in the post, driving lanes were created; the Sixers totaled 46 points in the paint. As driving lanes appeared, 3-pointers were a bit easier to come by, too.\nSixers' 3-point shooting vs. Pacers\nThe Sixers still didn't shoot well from the 3-point line, but they finished about two percentage points higher than what their average on the road was before this game.\nDario Saric had his best game of the season, as he got cleaner looks within the offense. Saric scored a season-high 18 points and shot a season-high 66.6 percent from beyond the arc.\nLandry Shamet also benefited from receiving open looks, as he shot 50 percent from 3-point range. Since Shamet moves without the ball well, he has been a solid option for the Sixers off the bench.\nThough the Sixers played well inside, they faltered on offense when the Pacers defended the interior better. Philly committed 16 turnovers, right around their average per game for the season. As players drove into the lane, the Pacers clogged the paint. Embiid led the team with five turnovers, but perhaps that could be attributed to the Sixers becoming a bit too reliant on him for parts of the game.\nThe 24-year-old was doing so well in the post that the Sixers kept going to him, and rightfully so. The Pacers began to defend against Embiid better in the post, which messed with Philly's spacing.\nStill, the Sixers' 16 turnovers were an improvement compared to their season-high 27 turnovers against the Brooklyn Nets.\nThough the Sixers grabbed their first road win of the season, there was one other main area of concern. This came from the fact that they didn't play well defensively in the fourth quarter.\nSaric hit a 3-pointer to put them up 92-75 with about 7:30 left, but the Pacers cut away at the lead because the Sixers didn't defend the 3-point line anywhere close to the level they did early on. Bojan Bogdanovic hit two 3-pointers and Victor Oladipo hit one as well during a 13-4 run for the Pacers.\nFor the Sixers, this first road win is a step in the right direction, but as the season goes on, they'll have to continue to improve their performances when playing away from Wells Fargo Center.\nStar wrestler Triple H offers to pay Sixers' Joel Embiid's fine from NBA\nJoel Embiid relishes opportunity to be a closer for Sixers late in games\nFormer Sixers guard Ish Smith happy for success Joel Embiid is having\nTobias Harris reacts to his second-half success as Sixers beat Nuggets\nSixers make sure to single out PJ Tucker after home win over Nuggets","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"OLCC kicks off six-month ban on flavored vape products\nCreated: 11 October 2019 | Written by Sam Stites\/Oregon Capital Bureau\nBan takes effect Monday, Oct. 15, as OHA and OLCC to create work group to investigate cause of vape-related outbreak.\nOregon's Liquor Control Commission and the Oregon Health Authority on Friday, Oct. 11, rolled out a ban on all flavored cannabis and nicotine vaping products in response to a growing number of cases of acute respiratory illness and death linked to vaping.\nOLCC board members unanimously approved temporary rules proposed by the Health Authority after a Portland meeting. The board was responding to Gov. Kate Brown's Oct. 4 order placing a temporary ban on the products.\nOLCC's ban takes effect Monday, Oct. 15. The ban is expected to affect approximately 4,000 retailers statewide.\n\"We're dealing with a national epidemic with a growing number of cases,\" said Jeff Rhodes, the governor's senior policy adviser to OLCC. \"The latest numbers are 1,299 cases and 26 deaths, two of which occurred in Oregon.\"\nIn Oregon, an outbreak of nine cases of acute respiratory illness caused the Health Authority and Brown to issue warnings in late September for Oregonians to stop vaping. Brown asked the Health Authority to propose options up to and including a temporary ban which she issued a week earlier.\nAccording to OLCC officials, the agency will call manufacturers and retailers across the state this weekend to inform them of the new rules and distributing signs notifying consumers of the ban.\nThe ban does not include tobacco-flavored tobacco or nicotine products. It also doesn't include marijuana-flavored marijuana and THC products on the market.\nOLCC Marijuana Technical Unit Manager TJ Sheehy said that 10 percent of all marijuana vape products would be affected by the ban. A process to handle exceptions could be in place by Nov. 15 at which time manufacturers can apply to have products sourced from natural botanicals exempted from the ban.\n\"It's important to note that most of these cases reporting vaping of THC products, some of them using exclusively THC products, but also some using exclusively nicotine products,\" said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer. \"In working with the CDC, we still don't have a definitive cause of this injury, or what ingredient or ingredients are causing it.\"\nThe OLCC and the Health Authority will create a work group in the next six months to examine the source of these illnesses.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Delays at U.S.-Canadian border concern business owners, employees\nVermont U. S. Rep. Peter Welch held a discussion about the issue Monday\nUpdated: 7:17 PM EDT Jun 3, 2019\nLiz Strzepa\nNBC5 Reporter\n14:00:12:10 45 TO 50 MINUTES, DEPENDING THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR ROB VOSINEK TO GET TO WORK... HE COMMUTES FROM QUEBEC -- TO JAY PEAK EVERY DAY... WHERE HE'S THE CANADIAN GROUP SALES MANAGER. 14:00:31:10 I COMMUNICATE WITH THE PORT OFFICIALS ON A REGULAR BASIS VOSINEK -- SHARING HIS CONCERNS ABOUT DECREASED STAFFING AT THE U.S.-CANADIAN BORDER AT A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION THIS WEEK, HOSTED BY VEROMONT CONGRESSMAN PETER WELCH... WHO SAYS STAFFING AT THE NORTHERN BORDER HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR MONTHS... SINCE SOME STAFFERS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY RE-LOCATED TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER, TO MANAGE OVERCROWDING CONCERNS. 13:37:54:17 IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE ONE PROBLEM YOU DON'T DO IT BY CREATING ANOTHER THE STAFFING -- IMPACTING BUSINESSES, LIKE THE BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IT'S PRESIDENT GENE RICHARDS SAYS 20- PERCENT OF ITS PASSENGERS ARE CANADIANS. 13:53:03:22 PEOPLE ARE ALREADY CHALLENGED. THEY'RE RIGHT AT THEIR PATIENCE LEVEL 13:53:20:09 WE NEED THAT OPERATION TO WORK WELL NATS \/ CLAPPING 14:31:30:25 ONE OF THE LARGEST TRADING PARTNERS IS OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH: CANADA GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT -- ALSO EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A SMOOTH OPERATION AT THE NORTHERN BORDER... AT A 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FOR A. N. DARINGER -- WHICH DEALS WITH U.S. AND CANADIAN BUSINESSES...EV ERY DAY. THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT -- SAYS TARIFFS -- ARE ALSO A MAJOR CONCERN... 14:43:11:14 OUR CLIENTS HAVE NEEDED US MORE IN THE LAST YEAR PROBABLY THAN THEY HAVE IN A WHILE. ITS VERY COMPLEX AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO STAY THAT WAY FOR A WHILE VERMONTERS -- HOPING TO SEE CHANGES THAT WILL IMPACT AMERICANS AND CANADIANS IN A POSITIVE WAY. .\n\"(It takes me) 45 to 50 minutes, depending (on traffic),\" said Rob Vosinek. That's how long it takes for him to get to work. He commutes every day from Quebec to Jay Peak Resort, where he's the Canadian Group Sales Manager.\"I communicate with the port officials on a regular basis,\" he said.Vosinek shared his concerns about decreased staffing at the U.S.-Canadian border at a roundtable discussion this week hosted by Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch.Welch said staffing at the northern border has been a concern for months since some officers have been temporarily relocated to the southern border to help manage overcrowding concerns. \"If you're trying to solve one problem you don't do it by creating another,\" he told business leaders in the room.The staffing shortage is impacting businesses like the Burlington International Airport, whose general manager, Gene Richards, said 20 percent of its passengers are Canadians.\"People are already challenged. They're right at their patience level. We need that operation to work well,\" said Richards.\"One of the largest trading partners is our neighbor to the north: Canada,\" said Gov. Phil Scott.The governor also emphasized the importance of a smooth operation at the northern border at a 100th anniversary celebration for customs broker A.N. Deringer. The company deals with U.S. and Canadian businesses every day.A.N. Deringer's President Jake Holzscheiter said tariffs are a concern.\"Our clients have needed us more in the last year probably than they have in a while. It's very complex and I think it's going to stay that way for a while,\" he said.Vermonters are hoping to see changes at the border that will impact Americans and Canadians in a positive way.\n\"(It takes me) 45 to 50 minutes, depending (on traffic),\" said Rob Vosinek.\nThat's how long it takes for him to get to work.\nHe commutes every day from Quebec to Jay Peak Resort, where he's the Canadian Group Sales Manager.\n\"I communicate with the port officials on a regular basis,\" he said.\nVosinek shared his concerns about decreased staffing at the U.S.-Canadian border at a roundtable discussion this week hosted by Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch.\nWelch said staffing at the northern border has been a concern for months since some officers have been temporarily relocated to the southern border to help manage overcrowding concerns.\n\"If you're trying to solve one problem you don't do it by creating another,\" he told business leaders in the room.\nThe staffing shortage is impacting businesses like the Burlington International Airport, whose general manager, Gene Richards, said 20 percent of its passengers are Canadians.\n\"People are already challenged. They're right at their patience level. We need that operation to work well,\" said Richards.\n\"One of the largest trading partners is our neighbor to the north: Canada,\" said Gov. Phil Scott.\nThe governor also emphasized the importance of a smooth operation at the northern border at a 100th anniversary celebration for customs broker A.N. Deringer.\nThe company deals with U.S. and Canadian businesses every day.\nA.N. Deringer's President Jake Holzscheiter said tariffs are a concern.\n\"Our clients have needed us more in the last year probably than they have in a while. It's very complex and I think it's going to stay that way for a while,\" he said.\nVermonters are hoping to see changes at the border that will impact Americans and Canadians in a positive way.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Sectors and Companies\nAlbayrak Career\nAlbayrak Foundation\nAlbayrak Sports\nTractors and Engines\nT\u00dcMOSAN\nT\u00dcMOSAN, which has successfully carried out many products and services since its establishment in 1976, continues its activities in order to contribute to the country's economy and to eliminate foreign dependency with its experience of more than 40 years in the production and development of diesel engines, tractors, gearboxes, transmission and power transmission organs.\nT\u00dcMOSAN which is the neing the first diesel engine manufacturer of Turkey, has focused on R&D studies of engine, transmission and power transmission groups and electronic systems for the Defense Industry sector in 2012, and has signed national projects in the Defense Industry with 100% Turkish capital and engineers for more than 40 years. continues its activities with the mission of throwing.\nT\u00dcMOSAN was selected by the Defense Industry Presidency (SSB) in order to initiate contract negotiations in the Altay Main Combat Power Group tender in 2014, the contract was signed on March 17, 2015, but the force major and the project occurred due to the failure of the Austrian firm providing technical support to obtain an export license from its government. This contract was mutually terminated on February 24, 2017, since the changes requested by T\u00dcMOSAN were not accepted by SSB.\nFollowing the signing of the Power Group Development Project Agreement between T\u00dcMOSAN and SSB, tactical wheeled vehicle concept design studies, which will consist entirely of domestic systems in the field of Defense Industry, started and the developed industrial prototype vehicle was presented at IDEF'17 Fair. The first prototype of the armored vehicle called \"PUSAT\", with the R&D project supported by T\u00dcB\u0130TAK after the fair, took place in the IDEF'19 Fair.\nT\u00dcMOSAN first started R&D studies to develop automatic transmission with torque converter, automatic transmission with synchromesh and transmission control unit in Turkey and has taken an important progress in this regard. Industrial prototypes of 8 + 1 manual transmission, 8 + 1 synchromesh automatic transmission and full automatic transmission with torque converter, which were developed by T\u00dcMOSAN for on-road and off-road wheeled vehicles, were presented at IDEF'19 Fair. The hybrid power package, developed for PUSAT and the \"ALP\" power group developed for Armored Combat Vehicles, was also among the remarkable products at the fair.\nAs a result of intensive R&D studies, a contract was signed between SSB and FNSS for the supply of 100 Special Purpose Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle (\u00d6MTTZA) project diesel engines from T\u00dcMOSAN.\nIn line with Turkey's 2023 goal and strategy and within the framework of localization activities; Instead of the gasoline Wisconsin engines of American origin used in the Aircraft Stop Systems, which are used to safely stop the military aircraft when they land on the runway in emergency situations at Military Airports.T\u00dcMOSAN has started the Aircraft Stop System Rewind Engine Application Project for the use of 3-cylinder diesel engines. T\u00dcMOSAN 55 horsepower diesel engine suitable to be integrated into the Aircraft Stop System within the scope of the project; The domestic and national power package, which includes the cooling package and its subsystems, was applied and presented to the use of the Turkish army.\nDeveloped as the first member of the Marine engine family, the 4DT-41M engine (105 hp) was showcased as \"Turkey's 100% Domestic Marine Engine\" at the CNR Eurasia Boat Show \u2013 14th International Marine Vehicles, Equipment and Accessories Fair. The T\u00dcMOSAN Marine Engine Project has been initiated to develop solutions that Turkey needs, extending to the type of engines that can be used both for the use of auxiliary engines and marine generators and for boats with an average length of 12 meters. With the project, it is aimed to offer and integrate economic and national-domestic solutions at 75, 85, 95 and 105 horsepower for important waterways platforms in Turkey, which is surrounded by seas on three sides.\nIn order to increase the product range of T\u00dcMOSAN, generator and generator engine production was planned by using 3 and 4 cylinder diesel engines, and in the first half of 2019, 4-cylinder 42, 48, 65, 74, 82, 91 and 100 kVA generator engines were produced. At the same time, a domestic generator with 80 kilovoltamper (kVA) power was developed as the first member of the Generator family with options varying between 40-100 kVA using the T\u00dcMOSAN engine was exhibited at the fair.\nT\u00dcMOSAN, which has achieved many firsts in our country with its young staff, most of whom are doctorate and graduate level engineers in Istanbul Topkap\u0131 R&D Center, is forcing the boundaries of our country's industry with its newly developed engines and other projects, such as diesel engines, transmissions and transmission organs. It has undertaken a mission to reduce our country's external dependence on critical issues. With the activities of T\u00dcMOSAN, Turkey will reach a competitive level among countries that have the ability to develop and manufacture diesel engines, transmissions and powertrains in the world.\nT\u00dcMOSAN also aims to take an active role within the framework of localization activities of Engines, Transmissions, Power Packs and Transmission Bodies within the scope of modernization projects in the field of Defense Industry.\nT\u00dcMOSAN will develop nationally and locally cost-effective products in line with Turkey's 2023 goals and strategies, and present them to the use of our Defense Industry.\nT\u00dcMOSAN has ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certificate, TSE Service Qualification Certificate (TSE-HYB), MSB Military Factories General Directorate Approved Supplier Certificate, Facility Security Certificate and R&D Center certificates.\nwww.tumosan.com.tr\nALBAYRAK CONSTRUCTION\nAfter the earthquake that destroyed the city in 1939, there were also members of the Albayrak family among those who ran to Erzincan to start reconstruction. First came Albayrak's father, then his son Hac\u0131 Ahmet Albayrak, the founder of Albayrak Group. Hac\u0131 Ahmet Albayrak worked in the construction of housing units for earthquake victims until 1950 to serve his country and act with the awareness of creating a safe future for society.\nAlbayrak Construction is among the best construction companies in Turkey with the projects it has initiated since the 1950s when urbanization started to accelerate in Turkey. Albayrak Construction has undertaken many important projects including the construction of Mu\u015f Train Station in 1954, 4th Levent-Taksim Metro in 2001, Kartal-Kaynarca Metro Line in 2017, hospitals (more than 1,000 beds in total), and stadium (33,000 seats). It has completed more than 20,000 housing constructions.\nAlbayrak Construction is famous for being able to do business in the most difficult and unfavourable conditions abroad and finishing projects before the time it's due. For example, a 200-bed capacity hospital in Mogadishu was concluded in 12 months with a 24-month contract, and the construction of the Mogadishu Turkish Embassy building was completed in 24 months, despite a 36-month contract.\nIn the last 10 years, the company has turned into an investor operator in the global arena. With the concessions of Mogadishu and Conakry Ports, the company continues its investments with a revenue-sharing mechanism where it is responsible for construction, seaside investments, and equipment investments. Albayrak, with its engineers and technical team, has full control of the local construction market conditions within its borders and contributes significantly to the development of the countries concerned with a win-win approach.\nThe strategy of Albayrak Construction is based on the joint development of concessions and contracting works, which are two main fields of activity. Albayrak Construction aims to strengthen this business model by expanding its area of expertise and the geography in which it is active.\nAlbayrak Construction's goal is; to consolidate its position as a private sector company serving the public interest, to fulfil its globalization targets in strong growth markets, to strengthen its position in transportation and logistics activities, to accelerate the digital transformation of business activities with its own team and to provide fully independent transparent management.\nThe main task of Albayrak Construction; To design, finance, construct and operate infrastructure and facilities to improve daily life, logistics activities, and mobility, acting with the mission of providing benefit to society and developing infrastructure for countries.\nBeyond economic and financial impacts, Albayrak Construction has a vision of versatile performance and is determined to operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Group companies operating in the field of environmental management play an active role in realizing this vision.\nAlbayrak Construction, which undertakes projects for the benefit of the public and society, thinks that it is essential to engage in active and effective dialogue with all its stakeholders to correctly explain the win-win principle to all its stakeholders in the conduct of business activities.\nTransparency allows for the most active and instantaneous information transfer possible with the effective help of the information technology company of our group.\nActing with this assertive vision, Albayrak Construction's goal is to create long-term, sustainable benefit for its customers, employees, partners, and humanity.\nVARAKA KA\u011eIT\nSEKA Bal\u0131kesir Paper Factory, which started its activities in 1981 to produce domestic newspapers and book paper, was transformed into a joint stock company in 1997 within the scope of privatization, and in 2003 it was included within Albayrak Group.\nAfter joining the group, modernization works are started and a paper production machine with a capacity of 174,000 tons \/ year was purchased from Holmen Paper Madrid S.L. The machine was disassembled in the first quarter of 2013 and installed in Bal\u0131kesir SEKA facility with a capacity target of 400,000 tons \/ year. Completed, the facility was completed in mid-2019 with a trial production by Varaka K\u00e2\u011f\u0131t Sanayi A.\u015e. as it started its activities with.\nThe facility, which was established on an area of \u200b\u200b1,265,000 square meters near Pa\u015fak\u00f6y, on the Bal\u0131kesir-Bigadi\u00e7 highway, has a closed area of \u200b\u200b110,000 square meters. The headquarters of the company is in Istanbul.\nThe products produced and planned to be produced in Varaka Paper facilities are as follows: Fluting, Testliner (Brown), Testliner (White), Testliner (White Coated), Kraft (Imitation), Kraft, Gray Cardboard, Bag Paper.\nHigh-tech Automation Control System (DCS) and Quality Control Systems (QCS) are used at every stage of production in order to increase productivity and quality and to ensure continuity in the product quality.\nVaraka Paper, which is environment friendly, uses 100% waste paper as a raw material for its production, while ensuring the recycling of paper and packaging wastes to the economy, it also contributes to environmental cleanliness by using waste. In addition, it prevents the use of trees for paper production and prevents the cutting of thousands of trees.\nIn the cogeneration facility it owns, the fuel provided by the country's resources is burned and steam is produced, while, the electricity requirement of the facility is produced with the steam turbine, then it brings environmentalism to the force by using energy resources correctly and efficiently.\nWaste water from the process is treated in a treatment facility consisting of physical, chemical and biological treatment units with a capacity of 9400 m3 \/ day, and discharged by creating a wastewater below the discharge criteria. At the same time, it minimizes water consumption by using some of the treated water in its own process.\nwww.varaka.com.tr\nOn-Vehicle Equipment\nKADEME A.\u015e.\nKademe A.\u015e., which started its activities in 2011, in Konya Organized Industrial Zone on the land of 1.000.000 square meters, in a closed area of \u200b\u200b20.000 square meters; constitute the industry's most extensive product range with productions of compact, vacuum and trailed type road sweeping vehicles, disinfectant and sterilization vehicles, hydraulic compacted garbage container, hook lift, container washing vehicle, water tanker-sprinkler, vacuum truck, combined trenching machine, various type platform, tree removal machine, trailer, and compost machine.\nWithin the framework of the Albayrak's corporate culture and international quality understanding, offers products and services by creating value beyond customer expectations, attaches great importance to honesty and after-sales satisfaction. Albayrak is open to foreign markets and to adopt the mission of being a leading international organization in the production of on-vehicle equipment, and unconditionally as a vision. With a customer-oriented approach, it has set itself the main goal of reaching the position of \"leading company\" in Turkey and the world.\nWith its expert staff, have superior engineering knowledge, it aims to expand its product range by analysing the needs of the sector and transferring the opportunities offered by advanced technology, to the production processes at the highest level in line with the pioneering and innovative approach, and to strengthen its position in the domestic market as well as in the countries it exports to.\nWith its strong R&D department, Kademe offers the opportunity to design and manufacture equipment on vehicles of different brands and types in the sector where each order requires a new design.\nKademe which is being a leader in the sector with its manufacturing and after-sales service support, carries out its production without sacrificing quality by obtaining a CE certificate for the products it manufactures at ISO 9001 quality standards.\nwww.kademe.com.tr\nDefense Industries\nT\u00dcMOSAN D\u00d6K\u00dcM\nT\u00dcMOSAN D\u00f6k\u00fcm has started its production activities in 2012, manufactures cast iron parts in the factory established on an area of \u200b\u200b15.340 square meters. The factory, which has a gross liquid metal production capacity of 10,000 tons \/ year in a single shift, is aimed to reach 20,000 tons \/ year in double shifts.\nT\u00dcMOSAN D\u00f6k\u00fcm, melting system producing 6 tons \/ hour of liquid metal, 800x1000x300 + 300 mm 50 molds \/ hour automatic molding, 45 tons \/ hour sand preparation system, 25 and 80 lt cold box core machines, robotic and manual grinding units, 1 ton It has suspended sandblasting machine, surface painting units and fully equipped sand and metal laboratories.\nT\u00dcMOSAN D\u00f6k\u00fcm is a customer-oriented company that has a command of the technical and environmental standards of the sector, is aware of its social responsibilities, knows the value of the environment, nature and human health, is open to continuous improvement, uses advanced technology, manufactures at international standards.\nIt has determined as a vision to increase the contribution rate to the country's economy, industry and employment with the existing production capacity increase and new investments, and to become a leading global casting company that guides the sector.\nwww.tumosandokum.com.tr\nMEZRA AGRICULTURE\nMezra Ziraat founded in 2018 to eliminate the raw material deficiency of Erzurum Sugar Factory, lease arable lands within the borders of Erzincan and Sivas, making beet cultivation, introducing modern agricultural practices and agricultural tools to the farmers in the region, and leading them in this regard.\nIn the 2018-2019 season, when founded, 4,500 decares of land were leased as well as 7500 decares of leased land in the 2019-2020 season, and thus 6-10% of the raw material need of the Erzurum Sugar Factory was met by Mezra Ziraat.\nIn addition, within the scope of modern agricultural tools and agricultural practices, 10 tractors, 2 6-row dismantling machines, and 3 cleaning and loading machines, and a wide variety of plows and seed drills were purchased, and this equipment was offered to our farmers as other rented planting areas.\nThe dealership of an important company in modern irrigation systems has been taken; Both our farmers were provided with irrigation systems at affordable prices, and the 7500 decare area was equipped with sprinkler irrigation systems, saving the lands from the flood (wild) irrigation method that causes soil erosion. In addition, those who did not rent their fields or planted other crops were encouraged to plant sugar beet with sprinkler irrigation pipes, seed, fertilizer, and harvesting supports. Because of these incentives, there has been an increase in farmer planting and an awareness of modern agriculture has increased.\nMezra Ziraat, the only pioneering private company in Turkey in its field, continues its activities by growing with a machinery and equipment park of 25 million TL, 10.000 decares of cultivation area, approximately 60.000 tons of beet production capacity, 50 permanent 150 seasonal employees in total.\nERE\u011eL\u0130 TEKST\u0130L\nEstablished by S\u00fcmerbank in 1934, Ere\u011fli Integrated Textile Factory was put into operation in 1937 and joined Albayrak Group in 1997 within the scope of privatization. After this date, Ere\u011fli Tekstil, which has become a giant integrated facility in the sector with its 8 million dollars of modernization, technology park, and new unit investments, has succeeded to be among the three biggest brands in Turkey.\nThe factory, which consists of a fabric factory with a closed area of \u200b\u200b45,000 square meters on a land of 72,000 square meters and garment units with a closed area of \u200b\u200b3,500 square meters, produces weaving thread, sewing thread, printed and dyed fabric, and sewing from fabric.\nManufacturing and sewing fabric of camouflage and non-camouflage clothing, coats, parkas, shirts, and wind jackets for land, air, gendarmerie and security forces with international quality standards, antibacterial, nanotechnology features, with the machine park developed with Industry 4.0 technology, as well as cold climate parkas and dresses, planting is done.\nThe production volume of Ere\u011fli Tekstil, which has an annual capacity of 5 million dyed fabrics, 8 million printed fabrics, and 765 thousand ready-to-wear suits, fills the needs of the General Staff and Police units. Ere\u011fli Tekstil, where 950 people are employed, has an annual growth rate of approximately 30 percent.\nwww.ereglitekstil.com\nSugar Production\nSUKKAR \u015eEKER \u00dcRET\u0130M\u0130\nErzurum and Erzincan Sugar Factories, which were put into service in 1956 by the late Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, were taken over by Albayrak Group in 2018 and started to produce crystal sugar with the SUKKAR brand as of May 2019.\nAs a result of the efforts put in factories renewal and modernization, with an investment of over 40 million TL, the capacity of the Erzincan Sugar Factory, where 1800 tons of beets are processed per day, has increased to 2200 tons and the capacity of the Erzurum Sugar Factory, where 3300 tons of beets are processed per day, has increased to 4000 tons.\nSUKKAR produces 80.000 tons of crystal sugar annually in 1500 decares of land and 116 decares of closed area in the region where beet cultivation and approximately half a million tons of sugar beet are harvested on 100.000 decares of land with nearly 4000 farmers. While performing these, it provides employment opportunities for 400 personnel.\nSUKKAR, which is also the pioneer of the transition to mechanized agriculture in Erzurum and Erzincan Sugar Factories, in order to increase beet production and sugar yield per decare, put into service the beet harvesting, also, loading and cleaning machines imported from abroad within this scope. In this way, sugar beets are easily removed and transported from the field, saving workload and cost.\nAdditionally, the company, which plans to focus on the neglected agricultural cultivation areas in the field of sugar beet production in the Erzurum region, aims to increase productivity and farmer training to the highest levels by implementing an exemplary agriculture practice. It also plans the licensed warehouse activities for the cereals to be sown by the farmer, and the oil factory where it will collect and process oil seeds for sunflowers. In addition to these, the dry pulp facility, cube sugar facility and sugar packaging facilities are among its near-term targets.\nwww.sukkar.com.tr\nEstablished in 1952, Albayrak Group embarked on its journey by launching operations in the construction sector. Today, the group boasts over 30 companies that employ close to 20,000 workers in the fields of construction, manufacturing, logistics, services and media.\nAlbayrak Holding and Group Companies Kvkk Directive\nAlbayrak Holding and Group Companies Kvkk Policy\nClarification Text on Protection and Processing of Personal Data","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Energy Project\nButterfly Way Station: Helping an Eagle Scout and Our Community\nWritten by Jillian Cready\nIncluding an interview with Krish Dhanuka\nThis past summer, Puranik Foundation had the opportunity to transform a Third Ward community park into a butterfly way station. By partnering with Eagle Scout Krish Dhanuka, the block-wide Chess Park gained visitors of humans and insects alike.\nWe talked with Krish about his project, and what inspired him to focus on butterflies and Chess Park in particular.\n\"When I was looking for a place to do my Eagle Scout project, I wanted to do it where I could make a big impact, and that is when I found Chess Park. Seeing how Chess Park was currently benefiting the community, and its future potential was really inspiring to me. I figured it would be a great place to do my project,\" said Dhanuka.\nAfter assessing the park, Krish then decided to focus on butterfly-attracting flowers and plants that would contribute to a monarch butterfly way station.\n\"The reason for the Monarch Butterfly Way Station is to sustain monarch butterflies on their migration path from Canada to Mexico and vice versa. While on their migration, they go through multiple generations and need places to sustain themselves. The main plant in the way station is milkweed, which is the only thing monarch caterpillars can eat. The rest of the plants attract other pollinators and animals,\" Krish continued.\nThese plants will be sustained long after this year's migration, which took place between October 10th-22nd, 2021.\n\"The park will be beneficial for as long as it stays alive and maintained. If the plants are receiving water we can continuously regrow the milkweed and the way station will stay functional,\" Krish discussed.\nWe will be tending to this location, as one of our many Plant with Puranik projects. These are monthly events where we partner with a local park or community garden to help maintain, build, or expand these cherished areas.\n\"I would like to follow up on the park and continue to visit it as often as I can. I live about an hour away from the park so I am not able to water it on a daily basis, but I asked Mr. Edward Pettitt to water them. I want to try to keep the park operational as long as possible. Personally, I want to try to get more involved with more non-profits and projects like this one as I grow up, and I also want to try to help as many people as I can by either volunteering in different places or doing more community projects like this one,\" Krish added.\nWe, at Puranik Foundation, were excited to partner with such a passionate student to work on this specific project. We thank Krish, his family, and his fellow scouts who made this possible.\nIf you or your school have any projects such as this one in mind that need assistance, please contact info@puranikfoundation.org. If you are interested in volunteering on a Plant with Puranik day, please follow us on social media or visit our website www.puranikfoundation.org to learn more.\n3773 Richmond Ave, Ste 225, Houston, Texas, 77046 +1 832 806 1317 info@puranikfoundation.org\nIndia Office & Vision International Learning Center\nGujar-Nimalkarwadi, Katraj, Pune, Maharashtra 411046, India +91 91300 88210 info@puranikfoundation.org\n\u00a9 2021 Puranik Foundation. All rights reserved.\nWebsite Designed + Developed by LaPraim Digital Agency Vector graphic of LaPraim Digital Agency logo","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Social Services Manager Jobs in Basking Ridge, NJ\nPillar Care Continuum - Morristown, NJ (8 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nThe desired candidate will follow DDD, Office of Licensing, Department of Human Services and Pillar policies and procedures in accordance with the expressed preferences and desires of individual residents...\nResident Services (Social Work) Manager\nErickson Living - Pompton Plains, NJ (24 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nThe Resident Services Manager provides leadership and support to some or all of the following departments: Resident Services, Community Resources, the Volunteer Program, Wellness, Fitness\/Aquatic Center...\nDirector of Social Work, Division of Student Success and Retention\nKean University - Union, NJ (15 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nThe Director will connect students with campus and community resources that assist with solving social, economic, emotional and behavioral problems; help students cope with problems and solve issues...\nDirector Clinical Bh Programs & Services\nAnthem Blue Cross - Iselin, NJ (14 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nJob Information Anthem, Inc. Director Clinical BH Programs & Services in Iselin, New Jersey Description SHIFT: Day Job SCHEDULE: Full-time Your Talent. Our Vision. At Beacon Health Options, a...\nAnthem Blue Cross - Morristown, NJ (8 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nJob Information Anthem, Inc. Director Clinical BH Programs & Services in Morristown, New Jersey Description SHIFT: Day Job SCHEDULE: Full-time Your Talent. Our Vision. At Beacon Health Options, a...\nGroup Home Manager\nCerebral Palsy of North Jersey - Plainfield, NJ (8 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nThe Residence Manager must cooperate with Pillar Care Continuum, the Office of Licensing, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Human Services in any inspection or investigation...\nManager Social Work Care Coordination LCSW\nClinical Management Consultants - Newark, NJ (20 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nServices department operates within budget and complies with established performance standards....\nSocial Work Manager - Care Coordination Dept (20-27523) - NY - Staten Island\nRCM Healthcare Services - Staten Island, NY (24 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nProvide extensive knowledge in the area of discharge planning, crisis intervention, and community resources....\nClinical Supervisor\nResources For Human Development - Woodland Park, NJ (23 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nProvide crisis intervention services in the homes of consumers as needed Provide therapeutic counseling services to consumers as indicated on rehabilitation plans....\nDirector of Case Management\nRWJ Barnabas - New Brunswick, NJ (14 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nRWJBH is seeking a full-time Director of Case Management for our New Brunswick campus. Responsibilities: Monitors and reduces length of stay while maintaining optimal patient outcomes. Provides...\nDirector of Social Services II\nGenesis Healthcare LLC - Cedar Grove, NJ (21 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nAdditional certification such as Geriatric Case Management, Hospice & Palliative Care, Gerontology, Clinical Social Work, Health Care, Nephrology, Mental Health, and\/or Substance Abuse preferred. 4....\nExecutive Director, Case Management\nNovartis Pharmaceuticals - East Hanover, NJ (14 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nBy 2023, Patient Specialty Services [PSS] is projected to support over 1.4 Million patients and impact nearly $4B of Novartis's US Pharma revenue. PSS provides mission critical support to Novartis...\nAssociate\/Assistant Professor and Program Director, Professional Counseling and School Counseling Programs\nSeton Hall University - South Orange, NJ (16 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nDuties and Responsibilities: The Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy in the College of Education and Human Services is seeking applicants for a tenure track core faculty member,...\nCatholic Charities - East Brunswick, NJ (18 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nProgram Director - Apply Using Job Code 15668 Careers \/ Job Openings December 11, 2020 Middlesex Behavioral Health, East Brunswick, NJ Provide leadership, supervision, staff development and...\nDirector of Case Management - 5K SIGN-ON BONUS\nSelect Medical Corporation - West Orange, NJ (17 miles from Basking Ridge, NJ)\nOverview Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Select Medical West Orange, NJ Director of Case Management (5K Sign-On Bonus) Responsibilities Position Summary The Director of Case Manager is...\nDemographic Data for Basking Ridge, NJ\nMoving to Basking Ridge, NJ? Find some basic demographic data about Basking Ridge, NJ below.\nHome Value vs Household Income in Basking Ridge, NJ\nSalary for Social Services Manager Jobs in Basking Ridge, NJ\nThis is the average annual salary for Social Services Manager jobs in Basking Ridge, NJ as reported by the BLS.\nCFG Health Network\nDaiichi Sankyo, Inc.\nSocial Services Managers in Basking Ridge, NJ offer the following education background\nHere's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Social Services Managers in Basking Ridge, NJ","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"shadow man (thing)\nSee all of shadow man, there are 2 more in this node.\n(thing) by malcster Sun Oct 06 2002 at 12:48:21\nName: Shadow Man\nFormat: Nintendo 64*, Playstation, PC, Dreamcast.\nDeveloper: Acclaim Teeside Studios\nPublisher: Acclaim\nBBFC rating: 15\nAcclaim's wonderfully dark 3D action platformer. The game is based on the themes of Voodoo and the afterlife, and a supernatural avenger who is trying to save the world from the enemy, named Legion.\nThe basic plot of the game is that you play Mike LeRoi, an ex cab driver from New Orleans. After Mike got in trouble with a street gang he was in fear of his life. He asked a Voodoo priest to put a charm on him to protect him from dying. Unfortunately it worked a little to well, and then the gang decided to attack Mike's car, which also contained the rest of his family, including Luke, his brother. Everyone in the car died, except Mike. When he woke up from a 5 year coma, his memory was gone, and he was a slave to the Voodoo priest, forced to work as a hitman for him. Later, Nettie, another powerful Voodoo priest, freed Mike from the clutches of his original master. She put the mask of shadows in his chest, forcing him to become his alter ego, Shadow Man, walker of Deadside.\nDeadside and Liveside are the two worlds in which the game is set. You travel between them using Luke's teddy bear, which warps to any level which you have already visited.\nDeadside is the afterlife, a twisted world full of once living people turned in to zombies, or even little two headed walking torsos. Most of the game is set in Deadside.\nMarrow gates\nThis is the first area of Deadside, and this is where you can talk to Jaunty, a skeleton snake who is your mentor of sorts in Deadside. He will provide you \"advice\", but regrettably some of it is not helpful in the slightest.\nPaths of Shadow\nThese paths connect every area of Deadside together, and this is the place you will spend most of your time trekking though.\nThe Temple of Life located in the Wasteland is where you can trade in any cadeaux you find - 100 gets you a new block on your life bar.\nThis is the first of the Gad temples, and after completing it you are rewarded with the Gad Toucher which allows you to push burning blocks without taking damage.\nTemple of Prophecy\nThis Gad temple is the home of the Gad Marcher, which allows Shadow Man to walk over hot coals without taking damage.\nThe final, and hardest Gad temple, contains the Gad Nager, which allows you to swim in lava without taking damage. All three Gad tattoos are needed to complete the game.\nThe Asylum, the main base of Legion, the Shadow man's arch enemy. Contains:\nCageways\nContains a train to transport you into the Asylum proper.\nWhere you first get to see the inspiring size of the Asylum up close.\nCathedral of Pain\nThis level is the gate to all five of the serial killers lairs in Liveside. Retractors are needed to enter each lair through the girsly \"Schism\" gateway (a flayed torso, into which you plunge a surgical tool to open it up. It then become a passage to Liveside\nLavaducts\nThe Gad Nager is almost essential here, because as the name suggests, the level is full of lava.\nThis is the most disturbing level in the game, because it is made up of white tiled rooms covered with blood.\nThis moody level is one of the last in the game (although as with all the others, it can be reached quite early on, since Shadow man is so non-linear) and as such has Dark Souls hidden in the most fiendish places.\nThis level is crucial to finishing the game, as it houses the dark engine which powers the Asylum. The engine was built by one of The Five, Jack 2. You must shut it down to proceed.\nLiveside is the game's name for our world. A small but very significant portion of the game is set here.\nLevels set in Liveside include:\nBayou Paradise\nThis level houses Nettie the Voodoo priest, who is ultimately in charge of you. She gives you necessary items at the start, and can be returned to at any time for advice.\nGardelle Jail\nThis level houses three of the serial killers: The Lizard King, the Repo man, and the Video Nasty Killer. Naturally, the prison is in the middle of a full scale riot.\nMordant St. NY\nThis gloomy level houses Avery Marx, aka the Home improvement killer. He wanders round this pitch dark flat with Night vision goggles, hunting you.\nDown St. Station\nThis out of use tube station is the home of Jack 2, a resurrected version of the original Jack the Ripper. He is the hardest serial killer to beat.\nThe levels with serial killers in can at first only be entered through a Schism Trace from the Cathedral of Pain, but once they have been explored they can be warped to from anywhere, using Luke's Bear.\nThe game revolves around Mike's quest to ultimately find all 120 Dark Souls. Dark Souls can be used to open Coffin Gates in Deadside, which then allow new parts of the game to be explored. The game is hopelessly vast, with a reputed 70 odd hours of gameplay. Shadow Man or Mike LeRoi run, jump, swim and climb their way through enormous levels, which contain excellent graphics, top notch sound, and interestingly for an Acclaim game, no fog.\nAbilities, weapons, and items were all collectable, and imporoved as you went through the game, and so you ended up with a Shadow Man who could walk across hot coals, swim in lava, climb up bloodfalls (think a red waterfall) and push flaming blocks. Both supernatural voodoo weapons and real world machine guns are included.\nOverall this game is incredibly complex and challenging. If you like your adventures set in a dingy depressing place of doom, then Shadow Man is the way to go. I have never got very far on it, due to my Controller Pak not working, so I cannot save my game. However, the bits I have played are wonderlingly splendiforous. It's out for the PC on budget now in the UK for \u00a35. Pick it up - I know I will.\n*I currently only own the N64 version, so if other versions have major differences don't complain to me.\nThanks to Triften for a correction.\nno rent Half-Life weapons Necromancer Shadowman\nsoftware mascots Shadows Collide with People Jamie Delano controller pak\nMega Man 2: The Power Fighters Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off! stylish Logo\nRed Hat Dark Hunger Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Final Fantasy character archetypes\nRedd Pepper Cannon Spike Super 3D Noah's Ark Cochise\nFinal Fantasy Tactics Job List Observations on the Final Fantasy Series Video Games (S) Melissa Scott\nHow I invented Anna and made her a character in all my stories\nI am not a hacker\nFine Structure\nHarlow Shapley","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Wage Supplement helped 17,000 businesses protect 105,000 jobs \u2013 Malta Enterprise\u2026\n\u20ac683 million in direct assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic\n14-day quarantine unsustainable for the economy \u2013 Malta Chamber of Commerce\nHSBC Malta introduces minimum cash withdrawal policy\nHome Social What's On Heritage Malta supports youth through art programme\nHeritage Malta supports youth through art programme\nManfredi Bertelli\nWednesday, 17 July, 2019 at 12:24 pm\nLast Updated on Thursday, 18 July, 2019 at 12:40 pm by Christian Keszthelyi\nHeritage Malta (HM) is launching its summer programme for children in order to encourage them to try their hands at art more, according to a press release sent to Business Malta.\nHM will do this by making them play with art while being in prehistoric areas maintained by Heritage Malta; under the shadows of a megalithic temple, close to the mysterious catacombs, in a palace or in an art museum.\n\"If your children dream of becoming artists, comic creators, writers, or are simply fascinated when listening to stories, Heritage Malta gives the opportunity to join its programme starting this month and ending in September,\" Heritage Malta said in the press statement.\nA \u20ac5-donation is requested for attending the programme, however, students who have collected all their Heritage Malta Passport stamps can attend for free. Tickets can be bought online and inside museums upon presentation of the Student Passport.\nHeritage Malta has a passport scheme in place for teenagers and the elderly above the age of 60. These schemes are offered by HM, available to all students attending primary or secondary level education unlimited access to all Heritage Malta sites and museums, as well as the elderly.\nheritage malta\nstudent passport\nPrevious articleMaltese Bojoko launches site in Canada\nNext articleMalta's consumer prices grow 1.8% in June\nManfredi used to be a junior journalist working with Business Malta, the predecessor of Malta Business Weekly's online platform. He enjoys putting his creativity into his writing and is committed to learning new styles to strengthen his skills and embellish his flair.\nBay Street Complex celebrates 21 years since opening its doors\nSMEs National Forum 2021 to tackle the Journey Ahead for SMEs in the context of Green Growth\nJCI Malta holds its AGM as the Leaders for Change\nWage Supplement helped 17,000 businesses protect 105,000 jobs \u2013 Malta Enterprise...\nThursday, 30 December, 2021 at 9:00 am\nWednesday, 29 December, 2021 at 5:14 pm\nWednesday, 29 December, 2021 at 12:55 pm\nWednesday, 29 December, 2021 at 11:55 am","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Shop All Desks & Tables\nStorage Seating\nPartitions & Privacy\nBeams & Privacy Booth\nShop All Partitions & Privacy\nWork From Home Spaces\nEverything you need to make working from home comfortable and productive.\nShop All Spaces\nFind the Best Solution For You\nSimply answer a few quick questions and we'll suggest the best height-adjustable product for you.\nOpen Box Products\nExecutive Office Collection\nShop Work From Home\nShop Healthy Workspaces\nShop Private Offices\nShop Retrofit Spaces\nShop Common Spaces\nCreate sophisticated yet flexible offices with modular pieces that blend high-end quality and style with mix-and-match convenience.\nOffice Furniture Solutions\nRedesign Your Space\nFlexible Office Furniture\nSafer Solutions\nFree Space Planning\nSee a Vari workspace for yourself.\nLearn how Vari helps our clients create flexible and active workspaces.\nVariSpace\nFully-furnished workspaces with first-class amenities and flexible space solutions.\nMeet us in person at any of our showroom locations, or schedule a guided tour.\nKILL THE HANDSHAKE: POST-COVID GREETINGS TO TRY\nFinding out which greeting will work for your team can be a fun back-to-work exercise that may just bond you closer to your colleagues and make up for lost time apart. From simple hand waves to the shaka sign, here are some greetings we're exploring at Vari in the post-COVID workplace.\ntext.alert.social.linkcopysuccess\nAs businesses slowly reopen across the globe, employees will enter dramatically changed workplaces. Social distancing and new levels of cleanliness have become prioritized in the workplace and revamped office layouts will prioritize personal space\u2014whether that involves desk barriers or pedestrian lanes keeping office traffic flowing. Along with other health and safety precautions, your team will naturally try alternative types of greetings for their co-workers and their clients beyond the usual handshake or friendly hug. Finding out which greeting will work for your team can be a fun back-to-work exercise that may just bond you closer to your colleagues and make up for lost time apart. From simple hand waves to the shaka sign, here are some greetings we're exploring at Vari in the post-COVID workplace.\nIt's time to wave goodbye to the standard handshake and start waving hello to your colleagues. Though COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, the problem with handshakes is that if an infected person coughs or sneezes on their hands and then touches your hand, you can be exposed to the virus. Your best bet is to forego contact altogether, and a simple wave may be something you're already accustomed to doing in casual settings. When you pair your wave with a smile, friendly \"hello,\" or even an explanation as to why you're not offering a handshake, your connection becomes even more meaningful because you're showing your colleague that you care about their health, too.\nElbow Bump\nAt a news conference in Connecticut, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams displayed the elbow bump to reporters, remarking, \"We should probably rethink the handshake for a while.\" He wasn't the only one either. World Health Organization Assistant Director General Bruce Aylward was also photographed offering an elbow to a reporter who extended his hand for a handshake. While this gesture is ideal for those who want to hold on to physical contact in their greeting style, keep in mind an elbow bump may be disconcerting for those who still want to keep six feet of distance from each other.\nYou may have seen the A\u00f1jali Mudr\u0101 if you've ever traveled to parts of Asia that either practice Hinduism or have taken on the greeting as a cultural norm. The A\u00f1jali Mudr\u0101 involves clasping one's hands together in prayer position while uttering, \"Namaste,\" which translates to, \"The Divine within me bows to the same Divine within you\" in Sanskrit. Or, if you prefer, you can incorporate this only as a gesture, without saying \"Namaste\". Whatever you choose, it may just result in a blissed-out workday for you and your colleagues.\nShaka Sign\nIf the shaka, or \"hang loose\" sign, is forever associated with surfers in your mind, think again. According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the casual greeting originated with a Hawaiian man named Hamana Kalili, who lost his three middle fingers in an accident at an Oahu sugar mill. The greeting quickly became a symbol he used to communicate with his co-workers and took off as a sign of gratitude and friendship on the islands ever since. Whether you surf or not, a shaka sign is a perfectly safe greeting to give your co-workers during these difficult times.\nHand Over heart\nPopularized in predominantly Muslim nations, putting your hand over your heart is a sincere greeting that shows respect for one another and has been around \"since the time of prophet Muhammad in the 7th century,\" says Craig M. Considine, a lecturer at Rice University. Even more, the greeting was recommended by World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. If it helps, you may even think of the hand over heart greeting as making a pledge, whether that's a pledge to keep your relationships strong with your co-workers or a pledge to eradicate this virus in whatever small way you can.\nWhile it may feel like COVID-19 is putting company culture to the test, innovation is the ultimate strategy for adapting successfully to our new world. By finding new ways to connect with co-workers and clients, employees will thrive in even the most unfamiliar surroundings. Learn more about the relationship between workspace layout and culture at Vari.com.\nErica Garza is an author and essayist from Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in TIME, Health, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and VICE.\nhttps:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/carlieporterfield\/2020\/04\/14\/heres-what-the-post-coronavirus-office-may-look-like\/#337ea4595492\nhttps:\/\/time.com\/5786005\/fistbumps-handshakes-covid-19\/\nhttps:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2020\/03\/04\/handshake-elbow-bump-new-greetings-coronavirus-outbreak\/4937302002\/\nhttps:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2020\/mar\/03\/elbow-bumps-and-footshakes-the-new-coronavirus-etiquette\nhttps:\/\/www.hinduamerican.org\/blog\/the-power-of-namaste\nhttp:\/\/archives.starbulletin.com\/2002\/03\/31\/news\/kokualine.html\nhttps:\/\/www.uae-embassy.org\/about-uae\/travel-culture\/traveling-muslim-country\nhttps:\/\/www.latimes.com\/world-nation\/story\/2020-03-13\/coronavirus-namaste-greetings-handshakes-noncontact\nhttps:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/handshake-alternatives-gestures-around-world-trnd\/index.html\nPartitions and Privacy\nCall +1 (800) 207-2587 or CONTACT US\n\/office-furniture.html\n\/redesign.html\n\/flexible-work-spacing.html\n\/space-planning.html\n\/fed-gov.html\n\/state-local-government.html\n\/get-a-quote.html\n\/corporate-programs.html\n\/WL-CQFWP.html\n\/PB-G3.html\n\/BM-PWR48.html\n\/BM-EXTPWR48.html\n\/CB-LCKR.html\n\/CB-TWLCKR.html\n\/CB-FRLCKR.html\n\/CB-LWLCKR.html\n\/remote.html\nBY-HLOPND31.html\nWL-QFWFEP.html\nCB-EXECCLCTN.html","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Share this Story: Is this 1931 all over again? Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson and more think so\nIs this 1931 all over again? Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson and more think so\nIs the world about to repeat the economic catastrophe of 1931? A growing chorus of economists of all stripes thinks so\nPamela Heaven\nIs the world about to repeat the economic catastrophe of 1931?\nA growing chorus of economists of all stripes thinks so.\nIs this 1931 all over again? Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson and more think so Back to video\n\"Suddenly normally calm economists are talking about 1931, the year everything fell apart,\" writes Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman in the New York Times.\n\"The parallels between Europe in the 1930s and Europe today are stark, striking, and increasingly frightening, write Bradford DeLong and Barry Eichengreen in the new preface to Charles Kindleberger, The World in Depression 1929-1939.\n\"We see unemployment, youth unemployment especially, soaring to unprecedented heights. Financial instability and distress are widespread. There is growing political support for extremist parties of the far left and right.\"\n[np-related]\nIn May 1931, Austrian bank Creditanstalt, founded in Vienna by the Rothschild banking dynasty, suffered a run. Its collapse after a merger with an insolvent rival sparked a crisis that left Germany and central Europe strewn with failed banks, caused defaults in Europe and Latin America, knocked the pound off the gold standard, and forced the New York Federal Reserve by October to raise its discount rate by 2 percentage points.\n\"Austria's troubles shouldn't have been big enough to have large effects on the world economy, but in practice they created a panic that spread around the world. Sound familiar?\" wrote Krugman.\nThe ominous clouds on the horizon are uniting economic pundits who normally find little common ground.\nKrugman's new oped http:\/\/t.co\/9ehZv0QT Like Niall Ferguson & me in our FT oped he relates today to 1931. For once Paul and Niall agree!\n\u2014 Nouriel Roubini (@Nouriel) June 25, 2012\nIn their piece for the Financial Times entitled Berlin Is Ignoring the Lessons of the 1930s, historian Niall Ferguson and economist Nouriel Roubini argue that a silent run on the banks in the eurozone periphery has been going on for two years now. Greeks have withdrawn more than \u20ac700m from their banks in the past month.\nTheir solution to the crisis would be a program of bank recapitalization in the periphery and the core funded by the European Financial Stability Facility and its successor, the European Stability Mechanism.\nAs well, an EU-wide system of deposit insurance needs to be created to avoid a run on eurozone banks \u2013 which the pair see as a certainty if Greece exits the euro.\n\"The EU was created to avoid repeating the disasters of the 1930s. It is time Europe's leaders \u2013 and especially Germany's \u2013 understood how perilously close they are to doing just that,\" they wrote.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Kingdom of Essex\n(Redirected from East Saxon)\nFor other uses, see Essex (disambiguation).\nThe Kingdom of the East Saxons (Old English: \u0112ast Seaxna R\u012bce; Latin: Regnum Orientalium Saxonum), today referred to as the Kingdom of Essex \/\u02c8\u025bs\u026aks\/, was one of the seven traditional kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy.[1] It was founded in the 6th century and covered the territory later occupied by the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and (for a short while) Kent. The last king of Essex was Sigered and in 825, he ceded the kingdom to Ecgberht, King of Wessex.\nKingdom of the East Saxons\n\u0112ast Seaxna R\u012bce (Old English)\nRegnum Orientalium Saxonum (Latin)\nThe Kingdom of Essex.\nCommon languages\nOld English, Latin\nAnglo-Saxon paganism, Christianity\n\u00c6scwine (first)\nSigered (last)\nWitenagemot\nHeptarchy\n\u2022 Established\n\u2022 Disestablished\nSceat\nPreceded by Succeeded by\nSub-Roman Britain\nKingdom of Wessex\n1 Extent\n2.1 Origin\n2.2 Essex monarchy\n2.3 Christianity\n2.4 Later history and end\n3 List of kings\nExtentEdit\nA map showing the outline of those parts now adjacent to the traditional county of Essex (in grey), but which historians postulate were part of the ancient Kingdom of Essex before becoming detached during the middle of the 8th century.\nThe kingdom was bounded to the north by the River Stour and the Kingdom of East Anglia, to the south by the River Thames and Kent, to the east lay the North Sea and to the west Mercia. The territory included the remains of two provincial Roman capitals, Colchester and London. The early kingdom included the land of the Middle Saxons,[2] later Middlesex, most if not all of Hertfordshire[3] and may at times have included Surrey.[4] For a brief period in the 8th century, the Kingdom of Essex controlled what is now Kent.\nThe modern English county of Essex maintains the historic northern and the southern borders, but only covers the territory east of the River Lea, the other parts being lost to neighbouring Mercia during the 8th century.[3]\nIn the Tribal Hidage it is listed as containing 7,000 hides.\nAlthough the kingdom of Essex was one of the kingdoms of the Heptarchy, its history is not well documented. It produced relatively few Anglo-Saxon charters[5] and no version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; in fact the only mention in the chronicle concerns Bishop Mellitus.[6] As a result, the kingdom is regarded as comparatively obscure.[7] For most of the kingdom's existence, the Essex king was subservient to an overlord \u2013 variously the kings of Kent, Anglia or Mercia.[8]\nOriginEdit\nSaxon occupation of land that was to form the kingdom had begun by the early 5th century at Mucking and other locations. A large proportion of these original settlers came from Old Saxony.[9] According to British legend (see: Historia Brittonum) the territory known later as Essex was ceded by the Britons to the Saxons following the infamous Treachery of the Long Knives, which occurred ca. 460 during the reign of High King Vortigern. Della Hooke relates the territory ruled by the kings of Essex to the pre-Roman territory of the Trinovantes.[10]\nThe kingdom of Essex grew by the absorption of smaller subkingdoms[11] or Saxon tribal groups. There are a number of suggestions for the location of these subkingdoms including:\nThe Rodings (\"the people of Hr\u014d\u00fea\"),[11]\nthe Haemele, Hemel Hempstead[12]\nVange[13] - \"marsh district\" (possibly stretching to the Mardyke)\nDenge[5]\nGinges[12]\nBerecingas - Barking, in the south west of the kingdom[14][15]\nHaeferingas in the London Borough of Havering[14]\nUppingas - Epping.[14]\nEssex monarchyEdit\nEssex emerged as a single kingdom during the 6th century. The dates, names and achievements of the Essex kings, like those of most early rulers in the Heptarchy, remain conjectural. The historical identification of the kings of Essex, including the evidence and a reconstructed genealogy are discussed extensively by Yorke.[16] The dynasty claimed descent from Woden via Seaxn\u0113at. A genealogy of the Essex royal house was prepared in Wessex in the 9th century. Unfortunately the surviving copy is somewhat mutilated.[17] At times during the history of the kingdom several sub-kings within Essex appear to have been able to rule simultaneously.[3] They may have exercised authority over different parts of the kingdom. The first recorded king, according to the East Saxon King List, was \u00c6scwine of Essex, to which a date of 527 is given for the start of his reign, although there are some difficulties with the date of his reign, and Sledd of Essex is listed as the founder of the Essex royal house by other sources.[18]\nThe Essex kings issued coins that echoed those issued by Cunobeline simultaneously asserting a link to the first century rulers while emphasising independence from Mercia.[19]\nThe tomb of S\u00e6bbi of Essex (r.664-683) was visible in Old St Paul's Cathedral until the Great Fire of London of 1666 when the cathedral and the tombs within it were lost.\nChristianityEdit\nThe earliest English record of the kingdom dates to Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, which noted the arrival of Bishop (later Saint) Mellitus in London in 604. \u00c6thelberht (King of Kent and overlord of southern England according to Bede) was in a position to exercise some authority in Essex shortly after 604, when his intervention helped in the conversion of King Saebert of Essex (son of Sledd), his nephew, to Christianity. It was \u00c6thelberht, and not S\u00e6berht, who built and endowed St. Pauls in London, where St. Paul's Cathedral now stands. Bede describes \u00c6thelberht as S\u00e6berht's overlord.[20][21] After the death of Saebert in AD 616, Mellitus was driven out and the kingdom reverted to paganism. This may have been the result of opposition to Kentish influence in Essex affairs rather than being specifically anti-Christian.[22]\nThe kingdom reconverted to Christianity under Sigeberht II the Good following a mission by St Cedd who established monasteries at Tilaburg (probably East Tilbury, but possibly West Tilbury) and Ithancester (almost certainly Bradwell-on-Sea). A royal tomb at Prittlewell was discovered and excavated in 2003. Finds included gold foil crosses, suggesting the occupant was Christian. If the occupant was a king, it was probably either Saebert or Sigeberht (murdered AD 653). It is, however, also possible that the occupant was not royal, but simply a wealthy and powerful individual whose identity has gone unrecorded.[23]\nEssex reverted to Paganism again in 660 with the ascension of the Pagan King Swithelm of Essex. He converted in 662, but died in 664. He was succeeded by his two sons, Sigehere and S\u00e6bbi. A plague the same year caused Sigehere and his people to recant their Christianity and Essex reverted to Paganism a third time. This rebellion was suppressed by Wulfhere of Mercia who established himself as overlord. Bede describes Sigehere and S\u00e6bbi as \"rulers \u2026 under Wulfhere, king of the Mercians\".[24] Wulfhere sent Jaruman, the bishop of Lichfield, to reconvert the East Saxons.[25]\nWine (in 666)[26] and Erkenwald (in 675)[26] were appointed bishops of London with spiritual authority over the East Saxon Kingdom. Although London (and the rest of Middlesex) was lost by the East Saxons in the 8th century, the bishops of London continued to exert spiritual authority over Essex as a kingdom, shire and county until 1845.[27]\nLater history and endEdit\nDespite the comparative obscurity of the kingdom, there were strong connections between Essex and the Kentish kingdom across the river Thames which led to the marriage of King Sledd to Ricula, sister of the king, Aethelbert of Kent. For a brief period in the 8th century the kingdom encompassed the Kentish Kingdom to the South. During this period, Essex kings were issuing their own sceattas (coins), perhaps as an assertion of their own independence.[28] However, by the mid 8th century much of the kingdom, including London, had fallen to Mercia and the rump of Essex, roughly the modern county, was now subordinate to the same.[29] After the defeat of the Mercian king Beornwulf around AD 825, Sigered, the last king of Essex, ceded the kingdom which then became a possession of the Wessex king Egbert.[30]\nThe Mercians continued to control parts of Essex and may have supported a pretender to the Essex throne since a Sigeric rex Orientalem Saxonum witnessed a Mercian charter after AD 825.[31][32] During the ninth century, Essex was part of a sub-kingdom that included Sussex, Surrey and Kent.[32] Sometime between 878 and 886, the territory was formally ceded by Wessex to the Danelaw kingdom of East Anglia, under the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. After the reconquest by Edward the Elder the king's representative in Essex was styled an ealdorman and Essex came to be regarded as a shire.[33]\nList of kingsEdit\nThe following list of kings may omit whole generations.\n527 to 587 (perhaps)\n\u00c6scwine or\nErchenwine First king according to some sources, others saying son Sledd was first\n587 to ante 604 Sledd Son of \u00c6scwine\/Erchenwine\nante 604 to 616\/7? S\u00e6berht Son of Sledd\n616\/7? to 623? Sexred Son of S\u00e6berht. Joint king with Saeward and a third brother; killed in battle against the West Saxons\n616\/7? to 623? Saeward Son of S\u00e6berht. Joint king with Sexred and a third brother; killed in battle against the West Saxons\n616\/7? to 623? (another son of S\u00e6berht\nname unknown) Joint king with Sexred and Saeward; killed in battle against the West Saxons\n623? to ante c.653 Sigeberht the Little\nc.653 to 660 Sigeberht the Good Apparently son of S\u00e6ward. Saint Sigeberht; Saint Sebbi (Feast Day 29 August)\n660 to 664 Swithhelm\n664 to 683 Sighere son of a Sigeberht, probably 'the Good'. Joint-king with S\u00e6bbi\n664 to c.694 S\u00e6bbi Son of Sexred. Joint-king with Sighere; abdicated in favour of his son Sigeheard\nc.694 to c.709 Sigeheard Joint-king with his brother Swaefred[34]\nc.695 to c.709 Sw\u00e6fred Son of S\u00e6bbi. Joint-king with his brother Sigeheard[34]\nc. 709 Offa Joint-king during latter part of reign of Sw\u00e6fred and perhaps Sigeheard\nc.709? to 746 Saelred Representing distant line descended from Sledd. Probably joint-king with Swaefbert\nc.715 to 738 Sw\u00e6fbert Probably joint-king with Saelred\n746 to 758 Swithred Grandson of Sigeheard\n758 to 798 Sigeric Son of Saelred. Abdicated\n798 to 812 Sigered Son of Sigeric. Mercia defeated by Egbert of Wessex, sub-kingdom of Essex subsumed into Wessex; from 812 to about 825 held it only as dux.\nSee also: List of English monarchs\n^ The Latin name was used, for instance, by William of Malmesbury.\n^ Keightley, Thomas (1842). The History of England: In two volumes. Longman.\n^ a b c Yorke, Barbara (2002). Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England. Routledge. pp. 47\u201352. ISBN 978-1-134-70725-6.\n^ Baker, John T. (2006). Cultural Transition in the Chilterns and Essex Region, 350 AD to 650 AD. Univ of Hertfordshire Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-902806-53-2.\n^ a b Rippon, Stephen, Essex c. 760 \u2013 1066 (in Bedwin, O, The Archaeology of Essex: Proceedings of the Writtle Conference (Essex County Council, 1996)\n^ Campbell, James, ed. (1991). The Anglo-Saxons. Penguin. p. 26.\n^ H Hamerow, Excavations at Mucking, Volume 2: The Anglo-Saxon Settlement (English Heritage Archaeological Report 21, 1993)\n^ Yorke, Barbara (1985). \"The Kingdom of the East Saxons\". In Clemoes, Peter; Keynes, Simon; Lapidge, Michael (eds.). Anglo-Saxon England 14. Cambridge University Press. pp. 31\u201336.\n^ Yorke, Barbara (1985). \"The Kingdom of the East Saxons\". In Clemoes, Peter; Keynes, Simon; Lapidge, Michael (eds.). Anglo-Saxon England 14. Cambridge University Press. p. 14.\n^ Hooke, Della (1998). The Landscape of Anglo-Saxon England. Leicester University Press. p. 46.\n^ a b Andrew Reynolds, Later Anglo-Saxon England (Tempus, 2002, page 67) drawing on S Bassett (ed) The Origin of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms (Leicester, 1989)\n^ a b Yorke, Barbara (2002). Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England. Routledge. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-134-70725-6.\n^ Pewsey & Brooks, East Saxon Heritage (Alan Sutton Publishing, 1993)\n^ a b c Hooke, Della (1998). The Landscape of Anglo-Saxon England. Leicester University Press. p. 47.\n^ VCH, volume 5\n^ Yorke, Barbara (1985). \"The Kingdom of the East Saxons\". In Clemoes, Peter; Keynes, Simon; Lapidge, Michael (eds.). Anglo-Saxon England 14. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1\u201336.\n^ Yorke, Barbara (1985). \"The Kingdom of the East Saxons\". In Clemoes, Peter; Keynes, Simon; Lapidge, Michael (eds.). Anglo-Saxon England 14. Cambridge University Press. p. 3.\n^ Metcalf, DM (1991). \"Anglo-Saxon Coins 1\". In Campbell, James (ed.). The Anglo-Saxons. Penguin. pp. 63\u201364.\n^ Bede, book II, chapter 3\n^ Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, p. 109.\n^ Yorke, Barbara, Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England (1990)\n^ Blair, I. 2007. Prittlewell Prince. Current Archaeology 207: 8-11\n^ Kirby, The Earliest English Kings, p. 114.\n^ Bede, HE, III, 30, pp. 200\u20131.\n^ a b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 239\n^ Essex archdeaconry through time\n^ Rippon, Stephen. \"Essex c.700 - 1066\". In Bedwin, O (ed.). The Archaeology of Essex, proceedings of the Writtle conference. p. 117.\n^ Brooke, Christopher Nugent Lawrence; Keir, Gillian (1975). London, 800-1216: the shaping of a city. University of California Press. p. 18.\n^ Swanton, Michael, ed. (1996). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Phoenix Press. p. 60.\n^ \"Sigeric 4\". Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England. Retrieved 29 January 2016.\n^ a b Cyril Hart The Danelaw (The Hambledon Press, 1992, chapter 3)\n^ Hart, Cyril (1987). \"The Ealdordom of Essex\". In Neale, Kenneth (ed.). An Essex Tribute. Leopard's Head Press. p. 62.\n^ a b Handbook of British Chronology (CUP, 1996)\nCarpenter, Clive. Kings, Rulers and Statesmen. Guinness Superlatives, Ltd.\nRoss, Martha. Rulers and Governments of the World, Vol. 1. Earliest Times to 1491.\nRetrieved from \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Kingdom_of_Essex&oldid=935379259\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Historical Bridges in MA Rebuilt with FRP Composites\nHaving reliable infrastructure is one of the key components that keeps people on the move.\nRoads, bridges, overpasses, and other vital elements enable people and commercial transportation to move to and from desired destinations with ease. That's why it's important to maintain certain building structures such as bridges.\nConventional materials like steel, concrete, and wood can be worn down over time, and they require quite a bit of maintenance.\nLuckily, with the help of advanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites, the lifespan of bridges can be extended. Let's look at some examples.\nRugg Bridge\nLocated in Sandisfield, MA on Route 57, the Rugg Bridge is a historical crossing point that was built back in 1938. Carrying travelers across the Clam River, this bridge has been a key part of the local infrastructure for decades.\nIn desperate need of repair, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) undertook the task of rebuilding the decaying bridge. After receiving a $1 million grant to cover the cost of repairs, the decision was made to rebuild the bridge using FRP composites.\nOriginally built out of concrete that had been poured over a steel grid, the bridge deck weighed 60 lbs psf. While this was fine for foot travelers and horses, it has not been able to withstand heavy use. The deck itself was too heavy to hold up for much longer. A lightweight replacement was needed urgently.\nChoosing to use a FiberSPAN bridge deck, construction began on the new Rugg Bridge. Steel stringers were spaced longitudinally along the 123-ft bridge and spaced precisely 6-ft-2-in apart along the center.\nNext, the FiberSPAN deck was installed. FRP composite panels were used. Each panel measures 25-ft-11-in in width and 10-ft in length. They also all maintain a consistent thickness of 7-7\/8-in. The fiberglass panels were then connected to the steel stringers via bolted shear studs.\nThe wear surface was made from black Matacryl also known as aluminum oxide. In total, the new FRP composite bridge deck weighs only 23 lbs psf. The finished bridge is now able to withstand loading conditions up to an 18-wheeler. This comes out to a wheel load of 16,000 lbs and an axle load of 32,000 lbs.\nOther specifications include an environmental durability factor of 0.9 and a bending strain\/shear strain maximum of 20% for a service load with a dead load. That is one very durable bridge.\nRocks Village Bridge\nThe Rugg Bridge isn't the first time FRP composites have been used to rebuild bridges. In fact, the folks over at MassDOT took inspiration from the Rocks Village Bridge rebuild in Haverhill, MA.\nAs the state's oldest moveable bridge, the Rocks Village Bridge was constructed in 1883. The original structure featured a six-span truss design that swung to allow barges and boats to pass underneath with no complications.\nThe restoration of this vital bridge not only replaced old materials with FRP composite profiles, but it also added an extra 18,800 sq ft of driving space. Since its rehabilitation in 2015, recent inspections have shown that the FRP composite surface, span joints, and panel-to-panel joints are still like new.\nThe original Rocks Village Bridge consisted of timber, which was not aging well. Due to exposure to elements, the wood was beginning to warp and rot. Moisture damage had set in, and it became apparent that replacing the old timber with new wood planks would just lead to more maintenance in the near future. That is why MassDOT turned to FRP composites.\nAs a connecting passageway over the Merrimac River, the Rocks Village Bridge also featured original steel truss latticework on the outside. By cleaning and coating the steel components, this section of the bridge was able to be saved. Additionally, six new steel beams were added to the interior portion of the bridge for reinforcement.\nFRP composites came into play for the bridge deck. A lightweight material was needed to retain the bridge's ability to swing open to let boats pass underneath. This means that the deck needed to be as lightweight as possible.\nThe average concrete bridge deck weighs 100 lbs psf, and a steel grate is about 25 lbs psf. On the other hand, a FRP composite bridge deck weighs only 19 lbs psf. Since the FRP composite material is also immune to water and corrosion, it proved to be the best choice.\nBecause of the length of the bridge, the original engineers had used uneven trapezoidal shapes to create the latticework for the deck.\nWith one end of the bridge being narrower than the other, the new designers had to create new, correct dimensions. They also needed to come up with a design that would support loads transferred from the guardrails in the event of an impact. This led to the engineers attaching guardrails on three of the spans on the bridge deck and other guardrails to the sides of the deck for optimized flexibility.\nThe FRP composite panels weighed 5,000 lbs each and had to be installed sequentially because there was no extra space for a crane. Using light equipment, the construction team was able to place the panels with no problem. The FRP composite panels were connected by shear studs and welding steel edges instead of the usual adhesive bond.\nOnce the bridge deck was complete, a polymer-infused concrete overlay was placed over the top instead of conventional asphalt. This was done to minimize the total weight. The finished FRP composite bridge now measures 809-ft long with a total deck area of 18,776 sf.\nThere are currently 54,957 historical bridges across the United States that require restoration. At the present, steps to preserve the bridges have kept them in passable working order. However, by replacing the worn-out components with FRP composite profiles, the bridges can be made like new again. They will also last a lot longer.\nIf you are looking for a way to restore your city's local bridges, get in touch with our experts here at Tencom to learn more about FRP composite profiles.\nTopics:General","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), and the closely related resting metabolic rate (RMR), is the amount of daily energy expended by humans and animals at rest. Rest is defined as existing in a neutrally temperate environment while in the post-absorptive state. In plants, different considerations apply.\nThe release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, the heart, lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver, intestine, sex organs, muscles, and skin.\n2 Nutrition and dietary considerations\n3 Physiology\n3.1 BMR estimation formulas\n3.2 Animal BMR\n4.1 Glucose\n4.2 Fats\n4.3 Proteins\n4.4 Aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise\n5 Longevity\n5.1 Organism longevity and basal metabolic rate\n6 Medical considerations\n7 Cardiovascular implications\nThe body's generation of heat is known as thermogenesis and it can be measured to determine the amount of energy expended. BMR decreases with age generally (as people usually don't maintain lean body mass) and with the loss of lean body mass. Increasing muscle mass increases BMR. Aerobic fitness level, a product of cardiovascular exercise, while previously thought to have effect on BMR, has been shown in the 1990s not to correlate with BMR, when fat-free body mass was adjusted for.[citation needed] New research[citation needed] has however come to light which suggests anaerobic exercise does increase resting energy consumption (see \"Aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise\"). Illness, previously consumed food and beverages, environmental temperature, and stress levels can affect one's overall energy expenditure as well as one's BMR.\nBMR is measured under very restrictive circumstances when a person is awake. An accurate BMR measurement requires that the person's sympathetic nervous system not be stimulated, a condition which requires complete rest. A more common and closely related measurement, used under less strict conditions, is resting metabolic rate (RMR).[1]\nBMR and RMR are measured by gas analysis through either direct or indirect calorimetry, though a rough estimation can be acquired through an equation using age, sex, height, and weight. Studies of energy metabolism using both methods provide convincing evidence for the validity of the respiratory quotient (R.Q.), which measures the inherent composition and utilization of carbohydrates, fats and proteins as they are converted to energy substrate units that can be used by the body as energy. Studies conducted by Spennewyn in 1990 found strong correlations between lean mass and metabolism based on indirect calorimetry measurements. Spennewyn discovered that lean tissue in men and women required approximately 16 calories per pound per day[citation needed]. Thus, once a lean mass was known it could be multiplied by 16 to reveal daily caloric needs based on the activity level of the individual. This method has been used in many health club environments to determine daily caloric needs.\nNutrition and dietary considerations\nBasal metabolism is usually by far the largest component of total caloric expenditure. However, the Harris-Benedict equations are only approximate and variation in BMR (reflecting varying body composition), in physical activity levels, and in energy expended in thermogenesis make it difficult to estimate the dietary consumption any particular individual needs in order to maintain body weight.\nBoth basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate are usually expressed in terms of daily rates of energy expenditure. The early work of the scientists J. Arthur Harris and Francis G. Benedict showed that approximate values could be derived using body surface area (computed from height and weight), age, and sex, along with the oxygen and carbon dioxide measures taken from calorimetry. Studies also showed that by eliminating the sex differences that occur with the accumulation of adipose tissue by expressing metabolic rate per unit of \"fat-free\" or lean body weight, the values between sexes for basal metabolism are essentially the same[citation needed]. Exercise physiology textbooks have tables to show the conversion of height and body surface area as they relate to weight and basal metabolic values.\nThe primary organ responsible for regulating metabolism is the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is located on the diencephalon and forms the floor and part of the lateral walls of the third ventricle of the cerebrum. The chief functions of the hypothalamus are:\ncontrol and integration of activities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)\nThe ANS regulates contraction of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle, along with secretions of many endocrine organs such as the thyroid gland (associated with many metabolic disorders).\nThrough the ANS, the hypothalamus is the main regulator of visceral activities, such as heart rate, movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, and contraction of the urinary bladder.\nproduction and regulation of feelings of rage and aggression\nregulation of body temperature\nregulation of food intake, through two centers:\nThe feeding center or hunger center is responsible for the sensations that cause us to seek food. When sufficient food or substrates have been received and leptin is high, then the satiety center is stimulated and sends impulses that inhibit the feeding center. When insufficient food is present in the stomach and ghrelin levels are high, receptors in the hypothalamus initiate the sense of hunger.\nThe thirst center operates similarly when certain cells in the hypothalamus are stimulated by the rising osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid. If thirst is satisfied, osmotic pressure decreases.\nAll of these functions taken together form a survival mechanism that causes us to sustain the body processes that BMR and RMR measure.\nBMR estimation formulas\nSeveral prediction equations exist. Historically most notable was Harris-Benedict equation, which was created in 1919.\nThe original equations from Harris and Benedict are:\nfor men,\nwhere P is total heat production at complete rest, m is the weight, h is the height, and a is the age, and with the difference in BMR for men and women being mainly due to differences in body weight.[2] For example, a 55 year old woman weighing 130 lb (59 kg) and 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall would have a BMR of 1272 kcal per day or 53 kcal\/h (61.3 watts).\nIt was the best prediction equation until 1990, when Mifflin et al. [3] introduced the equation:\n, where s is +5 for males and \u2212161 for females.\nAccording to this formula, the woman in the example above has a BMR of 1204 kcal per day. During the last 100 years, lifestyles have changed and Frankenfield et al.[4] showed it to be about 5% more accurate.\nThese formulae are based on body weight, which does not take into account the difference in metabolic activity between lean body mass and body fat. Other formulas exist which take into account lean body mass, two of which are the Katch-McArdle formula, and Cunningham formula. It should be noted, however, that the Cunningham formula is used to predict RMR instead of BMR.\nThe Katch-McArdle Formula (BMR):\n, where LBM is the lean body mass in kg.[5]\nAccording to this formula, if the woman in the example has a body fat percentage of 30%, her BMR would be 1263 kcal per day.\nThe Cunningham Formula (RMR):\n, where LBM is the lean body mass in kg\nSince lean body mass is metabolically active vs. fat cells which need very few calories to be sustained, these formula tend to be more accurate, especially with athletes who have above average lean mass and little body fat.\nTo calculate daily calorie needs, the BMR value is multiplied by a factor with a value between 1.2 and 1.9, depending on the person's activity level.\nAnimal BMR\nKleiber's law relates the BMR for animals of different sizes and the observations indicate that the BMR is proportional to the 3\/4 power of body mass. Warm blooded, cold blooded and unicellular organisms fit on different curves.\nEnergy expenditure breakdown\nLiver 27%\nBrain 19%\nHeart 7%\nKidneys 10%\nSkeletal muscle 18%\nOther organs 19%\nPostprandial thermogenesis increases in basal metabolic rate occur at different degrees depending on consumed food composition.\nAbout 70% of a human's total energy expenditure is due to the basal life processes within the organs of the body (see table). About 20% of one's energy expenditure comes from physical activity and another 10% from thermogenesis, or digestion of food (postprandial thermogenesis).[6] All of these processes require an intake of oxygen along with coenzymes to provide energy for survival (usually from macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and expel carbon dioxide, due to processing by the Krebs cycle.\nFor the BMR, most of the energy is consumed in maintaining fluid levels in tissues through osmosis, and only about one-tenth is consumed for mechanical work, such as digestion, heartbeat, and breathing.[7]\nWhat enables the Krebs cycle to perform metabolic changes to fats, carbohydrates, and proteins is energy, which can be defined as the ability or capacity to do work. The breakdown of large molecules into smaller molecules--associated with release of energy--is catabolism. The building up process is termed anabolism. The breakdown of proteins into amino acids is an example of catabolism, while the formation of proteins from amino acids is an anabolic process.\nExergonic reactions are energy-releasing reactions and are generally catabolic. Endergonic reactions require energy and include anabolic reactions and the contraction of muscle. Metabolism is the total of all catabolic, exergonic, anabolic, endergonic reactions.\nAdenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the intermediate molecule that drives the exergonic transfer of energy to switch to endergonic anabolic reactions used in muscle contraction. This is what causes muscles to work which can require a breakdown, and also to build in the rest period, which occurs during the strengthening phase associated with muscular contraction. ATP is composed of adenine, a nitrogen containing base, ribose, a five carbon sugar (collectively called adenosine), and three phosphate groups. ATP is a high energy molecule because it stores large amounts of energy in the chemical bonds of the two terminal phosphate groups. The breaking of these chemical bonds in the Krebs Cycle provides the energy needed for muscular contraction.\nBecause the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms in all carbohydrates is always the same as that in water \u2014 that is, 2 to 1 \u2014 all of the oxygen consumed by the cells is used to oxidize the carbon in the carbohydrate molecule to form carbon dioxide. Consequently, during the complete oxidation of a glucose molecule, six molecules of carbon dioxide are produced and six molecules of oxygen are consumed.\nThe overall equation for this reaction is:\nC6H12O6 + 6 O2 \u2192 6 CO2 + 6 H2O\nBecause the gas exchange in this reaction is equal, the respiratory quotient for carbohydrate is unity or 1.0:\nR.Q. = 6 CO2 \/ 6 O2\nThe chemical composition for fats differs from that of carbohydrates in that fats contain considerably fewer oxygen atoms in proportion to atoms of carbon and hydrogen. When listed on nutritional information tables, fats are generally divided into six categories: total fats, saturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, dietary cholesterol, and trans fatty acid. From a basal metabolic or resting metabolic perspective, more energy is needed to burn a saturated fatty acid than an unsaturated fatty acid. The fatty acid molecule is broken down and categorized based on the number of carbon atoms in its molecular structure. The chemical equation for metabolism of the twelve to sixteen carbon atoms in a saturated fatty acid molecule shows the difference between metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids. Palmitic acid is a commonly studied example of the saturated fatty acid molecule.\nThe overall equation for the substrate utilization of palmitic acid is:\nC16H32O2 + 23 O2 \u2192 16 CO2 + 16 H2O\nThus the R.Q. for palmitic acid is 0.696:\nR.Q. = 16 CO2 \/ 23 O2 = 0.696\nProteins are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen arranged in a variety of ways to form a large combination of amino acids. Unlike fat the body has no storage deposits of protein. All of it is contained in the body as important parts of tissues, blood hormones, and enzymes. The structural components of the body that contain these amino acids are continually undergoing a process of breakdown and replacement. The respiratory quotient for protein metabolism can be demonstrated by the chemical equation for oxidation of albumin:\nC72H112N18O22S + 77 O2 \u2192 63 CO2 + 38 H2O + SO3 + 9 CO(NH2)2\nThe R.Q. for albumin is 63 CO2\/ 77 O2 = 0.818\nThe reason this is important in the process of understanding protein metabolism is that the body can blend the three macronutrients and based on the mitochondrial density, a preferred ratio can be established which determines how much fuel is utilized in which packets for work accomplished by the muscles. Protein catabolism (breakdown) has been estimated to supply 10% to 15% of the total energy requirement during a two hour training session. However, if a person's muscle glycogen supplies are low from previous exercise sessions, the amount of energy derived from protein catabolism could increase from 15% to 45%. This process could severely degrade the protein structures needed to maintain survival such as contractile properties of proteins in the heart, cellular mitochondria, myoglobin storage, and metabolic enzymes within muscles.\nThe oxidative system (aerobic) is the primary source of ATP supplied to the body at rest and during low intensity activities and uses primarily carbohydrates and fats as substrates. Protein is not normally metabolized significantly, except during long term starvation and long bouts of exercise (greater than 90 minutes.) At rest approximately 70% of the ATP produced is derived from fats and 30% from carbohydrates. Following the onset of activity, as the intensity of the exercise increases, there is a shift in substrate preference from fats to carbohydrates. During high intensity aerobic exercise, almost 100% of the energy is derived from carbohydrates, if an adequate supply is available.\nAerobic vs. anaerobic exercise\nStudies published in 1992[8] and 1997[9] indicate that the level of aerobic fitness of an individual does not have any correlation with the level of resting metabolism. Both studies find that aerobic fitness levels do not improve the predictive power of fat free mass for resting metabolic rate.\nAnaerobic exercise \u2014 such as weight lifting \u2014 builds additional muscle mass, which is fat-free mass. Additional fat-free mass will lead to a higher resting metabolic rate according to the above studies.[citation needed]\nAlso, while aerobic exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular reasons as well as direct calorie burning, recent studies seem to suggest that heavy endurance exercise also increases resting metabolism. However, it is unclear if light cardiovascular training has the same effect.[citation needed]\nSee also: heartbeat hypothesis\nIn 1926 Raymond Pearl proposed that longevity varies inversely with basal metabolic rate (the \"rate of living hypothesis\"). Support for this hypothesis comes from the fact that mammals with larger body size have longer maximum life spans and the fact that the longevity of fruit flies varies inversely with ambient temperature.[10] Additionally, the life span of houseflies can be extended by preventing physical activity.[11] This theory has been bolstered by several new studies linking lower basal metabolic rate to increased life expectancy, across the animal kingdom - including humans. [12][13][14][15]\nBut the ratio of total daily energy expenditure to resting metabolic rate can vary between 1.6 to 8.0 between species of mammals. Animals also vary in the degree of coupling between oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production, the amount of saturated fat in mitochondrial membranes, the amount of DNA repair, and many other factors that affect maximum life span.[16]\nOrganism longevity and basal metabolic rate\nIn allometric scaling, maximum potential life span (MPLS) is directly related to metabolic rate (MR), where MR is the recharge rate of a biomass made up of covalent bonds. That biomass (W) is subjected to deterioration over time from thermodynamic, entropic pressure. Metabolism is essentially understood as redox coupling, and has nothing to do with thermogenesis. Metabolic efficiency (ME) is then expressed as the efficiency of this coupling, a ratio of amperes[clarification needed] captured and used by biomass, to the amperes available for that purpose. MR is measured in watts, W is measured in grams. These factors are combined in a power law, an elaboration on Kleiber's law relating MR to W and MPLS, that appears as MR = W^ (4ME-1)\/4ME.[clarification needed] When ME is 100%, MR = W^3\/4, what is known popularly as quarter power scaling, a version of allometric scaling premised upon unreal estimations of biological efficiency.\nThe equation reveals that as ME drops below 20%, for W < one gram, MR\/MPLS increases so dramatically as to endow W with virtual immortality by 16%. The smaller W is to begin with, the more dramatic is the increase in MR as ME diminishes. All of the cells of an organism fit into this range, i.e., less than one gram, and so this MR will be referred to as BMR.\nBut the equation reveals that as ME increases over 25%, BMR approaches zero. The equation also shows that for all W > one gram, where W is the organization of all of the BMRs of the organism's structure, but also includes the activity of the structure, as ME increases over 25%, MR\/MPLS increases rather than decreases, as it does for BMR. An MR made up of an organization of BMRs will be referred to as an FMR[clarification needed]. As ME decreases below 25%, FMR diminishes rather than increases as it does for BMR.\nThe antagonism between FMR and BMR is what marks the process of aging of biomass W in energetic terms. The ME for the organism is the same as that for the cells, such that the success of the organism's ability to find food (and lower its ME), is key to maintaining the BMR of the cells driven, otherwise, by starvation, to approaching zero; while at the same time a lower ME diminishes the FMR\/MPLS of the organism.[citation needed]\nMedical considerations\nEach person's metabolism is unique due to his or her unique physical makeup and physical behavior. Weight training can have a longer impact on metabolism than aerobic training, but there are no formulas currently written that can predict the length and duration of a raised metabolism from trophic changes with anabolic neuromuscular training. A decrease in food intake can lower the metabolic rate as the body tries to conserve energy. Researcher Gary Foster, Ph.D., estimates that a very low calorie diet of fewer than 800 calories a day would reduce the metabolic rate by more than 10 percent.[17] The metabolic rate can be affected by some drugs, such as antidepressants, which may produce weight gain in some individuals.[17] Antithyroid agents, drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism, such as propylthiouracil and methimazole, bring the metabolic rate down to normal and restore euthyroidism. Some research has focused on developing antiobesity drugs to raise the metabolic rate, such as drugs to stimulate thermogenesis in skeletal muscle. Studies of humans with 100+ year life spans have shown a link to decreased thyroid activity, their resulting lowered metabolic rate is thought to attribute to their increased life expectancy.[18]\nSome conditions can be a factor in the metabolic rate. The metabolic rate may be elevated in stress, illness, and diabetes. Menopause affects metabolism but in different ways for different people; thus hormones are sometimes used to minimize the effects of menopause.\nCardiovascular implications\nHeart rate is determined by the medulla oblongata and part of the pons, two organs located inferior to the hypothalamus on the brain stem. Heart rate is important for basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate because it drives the blood supply, stimulating the Krebs cycle[citation needed]. During exercise that achieves the anaerobic threshold, it is possible to deliver substrates that are desired for optimal energy utilization. The anaerobic threshold is defined as the energy utilization level of heart rate exertion that occurs without oxygen during a standardized test with a specific protocol for accuracy of measurement[citation needed], such as the Bruce Treadmill protocol (see Metabolic equivalent). With four to six weeks of targeted training the body systems can adapt to a higher perfusion of mitochondrial density for increased oxygen availability for the Krebs cycle, or tricarboxylic cycle, or the glycolitic cycle[citation needed]. This in turn leads to a lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, and increased resting or basal metabolic rate[citation needed].\nBy measuring heart rate we can then derive estimations of what level of substrate utilization is actually causing biochemical metabolism in our bodies at rest or in activity[citation needed]. This in turn can help a person to maintain an appropriate level of consumption and utilization by studying a graphical representation of the anaerobic threshold. This can be confirmed by blood tests and gas analysis using either direct or indirect calorimetry to show the effect of substrate utilization[citation needed]. The measures of basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate are becoming essential tools for maintaining a healthy body weight.\nFood energy\nThermic effect of food\nHarris-Benedict equation\n^ CaloriesPerHour.com. \"Diet and Weight Loss Tutorial\". Calculating BMR and RMR. http:\/\/www.caloriesperhour.com\/tutorial_BMR.php. Retrieved 2008-01-26.\n^ Harris J, Benedict F (1918). \"A Biometric Study of Human Basal Metabolism\". PNAS 4 (12): 370\u20133. Bibcode 1918PNAS....4..370H. doi:10.1073\/pnas.4.12.370. PMC 1091498. PMID 16576330. http:\/\/www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov\/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1091498.\n^ Mifflin, St Jeor et al (1990Comparison of Predictive Equations for Resting Metabolic Rate in Healthy Nonobese and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review). \"A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals\". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51 (2): 241\u2013247. PMID 2305711. http:\/\/www.ajcn.org\/cgi\/content\/abstract\/51\/2\/241.\n^ David Frankenfield et al (May 2005). \"Comparison of Predictive Equations for Resting Metabolic Rate in Healthy Nonobese and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review\". Journal of the American Dietetic Association 105 (5): 775\u2013789. doi:10.1016\/j.jada.2005.02.005. PMID 15883556. http:\/\/www.adajournal.org\/article\/PIIS0002822305001495\/abstract.\n^ Tom Venuto (2003). Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. ISBN 0-9724132-0-0. http:\/\/www.burnthefat.com.\n^ Exercise Physiology, 2nd edtion. Philadelphia.. Lea & Febigier. 1986.\n^ Lisa Gordon-Davis (2004). Hospitality Industry Handbook on Nutrition and Menu Planning. Juta and Company Ltd. p. 112. ISBN 9780702155789. http:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=qhJNdB5Vw6AC&pg=PA112&dq=BMR+factors&hl=en&ei=iy1sTcT5CsW2tgerz7HmAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=BMR%20factors&f=false.\n^ CE Broeder, KA Burrhus, LS Svanevik and JH Wilmore (1992) (1992). \"The effects of aerobic fitness on resting metabolic rate\". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55 (4): 795\u2013801. PMID 1550061. http:\/\/www.ajcn.org\/cgi\/content\/abstract\/55\/4\/795. Retrieved 2007-11-23.\n^ D. A. Smith, J. Dollman, R. T. Withers, M. Brinkman, J. P. Keeves, and D. G. Clark(1997) (1997). \"Relationship between maximum aerobic power and resting metabolic rate in young adult women\". Journal of Applied Physiology 82 (1): 156\u201363. PMID 9029211. http:\/\/jap.physiology.org\/cgi\/content\/abstract\/82\/1\/156. Retrieved 2007-11-23.\n^ Miquel J, Lundgren PR, Bensch KG, Atlan H (1976). \"The effects of temperature on the aging process have been investigated in approximately 3500 imagoes of male Drosophila melanogaster\". Mechanisms of Aging and Development 5 (5): 347\u2013370. doi:10.1016\/0047-6374(76)90034-8. PMID 823384.\n^ Ragland SS, Sohal RS (1975). \"Ambient temperature, physical activity and aging in the housefly, Musca domestica\". Experimental Gerontology 10 (5): 279\u2013289. doi:10.1016\/0531-5565(75)90005-4. PMID 1204688.\n^ http:\/\/physrev.physiology.org\/content\/87\/4\/1175.full\n^ http:\/\/www.discoverymedicine.com\/S-J-Olshansky\/2009\/07\/25\/what-determines-longevity-metabolic-rate-or-stability\n^ http:\/\/genesdev.cshlp.org\/content\/19\/20\/2399.full\n^ http:\/\/www.asiaone.com\/Health\/News\/Story\/A1Story20090613-148261.html\n^ Speakman JR, Selman C, McLaren JS, Harper EJ (1 June 2002). \"Living fast, dying when? The link between aging and energetics\". The Journal of Nutrition 132 (6, Supplement 2): 1583S\u20131597S. PMID 12042467. http:\/\/jn.nutrition.org\/cgi\/content\/full\/132\/6\/1583S.\n^ a b Whitman, Stacy \"The Truth about Metabolism.\" Shape. September 2003.\nTsai, Adam Gilden, MD and Wadden, Thomas A. PhD. Systematic Review: An Evaluation of Major Commercial Weightloss Programs in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2005, 142:56-66.\nGustafson, Deborah, PhD; Rothenburg, Elisabet, PhD; Blennow, Kaj, PhD; Steen, Bertil, MD,PhD; Skoog, Ingmar, MD, PhD. An 18-Year Follow-Up of Overweight and Risk of Alzheimer Disease. Arch Intern Med: Vol. 163, July 14, 2003, pgs 1524 through 1528.\nExpert Panel on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight in Adults. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: Executive Summary. Downloaded from www.ajcn.org on July 9, 2006, Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68:899-917.\nSegal, Arthur C. A Linear Diet Model. The College Mathematics Journal, January 1987.\nPike, R.L., and Brown, M. Nutrition: An Integrated Approach, 2nd edition New York: Wiley. 1975\nSahlin, K., Tonkonogy, and Soderlund, K. Energy Supply and muscle fatigue in humans. Acta Physiol. Scand. 162:261-266. 1998\nSaltin, B, and Gollnick. Skeletal muscle adaptability: Significance for metabolism and performance. In Handbook of Physiology, L.D. Peachey, R.H. Adrian, and S.R. Geiger, eds. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. 1983. pg 540 - 555.\nThorstensson, P. Muscle strength, fiber types and enzymes in man. Acta Physiol. Scand. 102: 443. 1976\nThorstensson, P., Sjodin, B. Actinomyosin ATPase, myokinase, CPK and LDH in human fast and slow twitch muscle fibers. Acta Physiol. Scand. 99: 225-229. 1975\nVanHelder, W., Radomski, Goode, R. and Casey, K. Hormonal and metabolic response to three types of exercise of equal duration and external work output. Eur. J. of Appl. Physiol. 54:337-342. 1985\nWells, J., Balke, B. and Van Fossan, D. Lactic Acid accumulation during work. A suggested standardization of work classification. J Appl. Physiol. 10: 51-55. 1957.\nMcArdle, W. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. Lea & Febiger. Philadelphia, PA. 1986.\nSpennewyn, K. An analysis of metabolic function. Journal of Body Fat Analysis. NIHS, Minneapolis, MN. 1990.\nThe original 1918 Harris-Benedict article (free full text)\nHarris-Benedict study. Detailed discussion of antecedents, data, measurements, statistics (Published by The Carnegie Institution of Washington 1919)\nBMR as affected by alcohol\nAlex Carrasquel\nBasal metabolic rate \u2014 A measure of the rate of metabolism. For example, someone with an overly active thyroid will have an elevated basal metabolic rate. * * * basal metabolic rate n the rate at which heat is given off by an organism at complete rest * * * an\u2026 \u2026 Medical dictionary\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 noun the rate at which heat is produced by an individual in a resting state \u2022 Syn: \u2191BMR \u2022 Hypernyms: \u2191metabolic rate \u2026 Useful english dictionary\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 Physiol. the rate at which energy is expended in a basal condition, calculated as calories per hour per square meter of body surface and compared with a normal standard expressed as the percentage above or below the amount of oxygen normally used \u2026 Universalium\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 noun the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to maintain vital functions such as breathing and keeping warm. Derivatives basal metabolism noun \u2026 English new terms dictionary\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 noun the rate of oxygen intake and heat discharge in an organism in a basal state. Abbrev.: BMR \u2026 Australian-English dictionary\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 ba\u2032sal metabol\u2032ic rate\u2032 n. the rate at which energy is expended while fasting and at rest, calculated as calories per hour per square meter of body surface \u2022 Etymology: 1920\u201325 \u2026 From formal English to slang\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 noun Date: 1922 the rate at which heat is given off by an organism at complete rest \u2026 New Collegiate Dictionary\nbasal metabolic rate \u2014 noun The amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post absorptive state \u2026 Wiktionary\nAbnormal basal metabolic rate \u2014 SignSymptom infobox Name = Abnormal basal metabolic rate ICD10 = R94.8 ICD9 = ICD9|794.7 Abnormal basal metabolic rate refers to a high or low basal metabolic rate.Associated conditions (incomplete list)* Hypothyroidism * Hyperthyroidism *\u2026 \u2026 Wikipedia\nmetabolic rate \u2014 n metabolism per unit time esp. as estimated by food consumption, energy released as heat, or oxygen used in metabolic processes see BASAL METABOLIC RATE \u2026 Medical dictionary","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Filed Under: Animal Rights Extremism\nSPECIAL REPORT: The New 'Nonviolence'\nLast weekend, a self-described \"nonviolent\" animal rights group known by the acronym SHAC held a series of demonstrations centered in New Jersey to mark the 50th birthday of medical testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences. Actually, it was Huntingdon's 51st birthday \u2014 but we'll forgive the activists for this gaffe, as protest chanting (\"1, 2, 3, 4\u2026\") seldom requires counting that high.\nIt was also World AIDS Day, a striking irony considering SHAC's virulent hatred for the very animal testing which could someday provide an AIDS cure.\nBefore the Sunday afternoon demonstration in front of Huntingdon, and the subsequent loud, threatening protests outside the homes of Huntingdon employees, SHAC held a Saturday evening lecture series of sorts. Invited guests included Rodney Coronado, a convicted felon who spent four years in jail for a Michigan State University arson (and recipient of over $70,000 from PETA); 1960s Black Panther icon Bobby Seale; and Robin Webb, a self-avowed leader of the terrorist Animal Liberation Front (ALF) in the UK. Webb was arrested during Sunday's organized mayhem.\nWhile animal-rights activists and their \"independent media\" allies are going out of their way to insist that the protests were entirely peaceful, the SHAC and ALF ringleaders' rhetoric was anything but warm and fuzzy. We know. We were there.\nThe following are unedited quotes, taken directly from videotapes of the recent SHAC protests. Let it never be said again that SHAC and ALF are peaceful, nonviolent organizations.\n\"Animal liberation is not a campaign. It is not a struggle. It is a war! It is an all-out bloody war!\"\n\u2013 UK ALF spokesperson Robin Webb\n\"As long as we emptied the labs of animals, they were still easily replaced. So that's when the ALF in this country, and my cell, started engaging in arson.\"\n\u2013 ALF-affiliated criminal (and PETA grantee) Rodney Coronado\n\"We're a new breed of activism. We're not your parents' Humane Society. We're not Friends of Animals. We're not Earthsave. We're not Greenpeace. We come with a new philosophy. We hold the radical line. We will not compromise! We will not apologize, and we will not relent! \u2026 Vivisection is not an abstract concept. It's a deed, done by individuals, who have weaknesses, who have breaking points, and who have home addresses!\"\n\u2013 SHAC ringleadaer and former ALF spokesperson Kevin Jonas\n\"We'll sweep the police aside. We'll sweep the government aside. We'll sweep Huntingdon Life Sciences aside, and we'll raze this evil place right to the ground\"\n\u2013 Robin Webb\nMore on \"Animal Rights Extremism\"\nWashed-Up Actor James Cromwell Explains Deranged Vegan Milk Stunt\nPostedMay 24, 2022 at8:00 am","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"WOODSTOCK AIR 2022\nDeadline to Submit: Monday, March 7\nBy: Woodstock - Jan 28, 2022\nThe Center for Photography at Woodstock\ninfo@cpw.org\nResidencies can change lives and set careers on a path for success. CPW's renowned artist-in-residence program, Woodstock AIR, has supported artists such as LaToya Ruby Frazier, Daesha Dev\u00f3n Harris, Kei Ito, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, William Cordova, and Xaviera Simmons early in their careers, providing them with a reaffirming experience of technical, creative and critical support.\nWoodstock AIR was created in 1999 to support photography-based artists of color, and to expand the dialogue around diversity, race, and identity in the context of social justice. Since then 146 artists, writers, and curators have come through the program. Support includes a $2,000 honorarium, access to CPW's digital lab, living space with a large studio equipped with a large format printer, Imacon scanner, editing setup, and ample workspace, as well as critical and technical support.\nIf you feel you could benefit from a 4-6 week creative period in a nurturing environment, please apply now. If you know of others who would benefit from the experience, please share this call with them. Anybody may apply, however, priority will be given to artists of color or those whose work engages with topics of diversity and race in the context of social justice.\nDeadline to apply is Monday, March 7 at midnight EST.\nThe application fee for WOODSTOCK AIR 2022 has been waived due to the generous support of the Joy of Giving Something Foundation.\nBack to Front Page Section Home\nSpam Defense Code:\n* Email address required for verification and does not appear with comments. - (Comments may not show up immediately)\nBooks by Charles Giuliano are available here.\nAds by BFA\n\u00a9 2006-2023 Berkshire Fine Arts\nThe opinions expressed are those of individual authors who are solely responsible for their statements and as such are not those of the staff and management of Berkshire Fine Arts or its affiliates.\nAbout Us - Business Listings\nWebsite Design and maintenance by BerkSites [-] Berkshire Website Design","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Vietnamese businesses balk at raising minimum wage every year: commerce chamber\nBy Staff reporters  December 27, 2017 | 06:04 pm GMT+7\nWorkers at a garment factory in Bac Giang Province, near Hanoi. Photo by Reuters.\nBusinesses claim that rapidly rising minimum wages have been causing them difficulties.\nRepresentatives of businesses in Vietnam have proposed that the government should stop raising the country's minimum wage every year, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).\nVietnam has been raising the minimum wage every year since 2007, forcing local businesses and foreign-invested firms to raise their wages by an average of 21.9 percent and 15.2 percent per year respectively. Meanwhile, between 2008 and 2016, Vietnam's GDP grew by an average of 5.96 percent per year, and annual CPI and productivity growth were just 8.77 percent and 3.65 percent.\nAt a meeting organized by the VCCI and the labor ministry, business representatives claimed that significant increases to the minimum wage in comparison to lower GDP, CPI and productivity growths were causing difficulties for many businesses. Additionally, several criteria currently used to determine the minimum wage were unreasonable and failed to precisely determine the living wage.\n\"Therefore we need to stop raising the minimum wage, or only raise it once every 2-3 years. Workers will only have jobs if businesses survive,\" said Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of Hung Yen Province's Business Association.\nAccording to Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy secretary general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, raising the minimum wage while productivity and prices remained the same would put greater financial strain on companies.\nNam suggested that the labor ministry should amend the current law and submit it for the National Assembly's approval as soon as possible instead of waiting until 2019 as scheduled.\nAgreeing with his peers, Truong Van Cam, vice chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, claimed that raising the minimum wage would lower businesses' profits and reduce competitiveness.\n\"Raising the minimum wage would also lower work opportunities, especially in remote regions, because if the minimum wage is too high businesses would be unable to pay their workers,\" Cam said.\nAdditionally, he argued that raising the minimum wage would lower foreign investment in labor intensive industries as FDI companies would move to regions with a lower minimum wage.\nThe prime minister earlier this month signed off on a decree raising the minimum wage for 2018 by 6.5 percent. This was the result of weeks of discussion last summer, which started with the VCCI proposing a low offer of 5 percent and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor asking for 13.3 percent.\nNot everyone was happy with the end result.\nMai Duc Chinh, vice chairman of the labor confederation which represents unions across the country, said in August that he had wanted an increase of at least as much as this year, which at 7.3 percent was already the lowest in a decade.\nChinh said that workers would not be able to sustain their basic needs on the latest pay rise.\nIn a survey conducted by Vietnam's Institute of Workers and Trade Unions in March, a third of the 2,600 workers questioned said their incomes were barely sufficient to live on, while 12 percent said their wages simply did not cover living expenses, forcing them to work extra hours.\nVietnam's PM signs off on lowest ever minimum-wage bump\nVietnamese businesses can't keep up with rapidly changing tax, customs policies: commerce chamber\nIs Vietnam's minimum wage structure sustainable?\nSmall businesses should reconfigure relationship with banks to get credit: experts\nFor small enterprises, transparency holds key to access to funds\nHanoi to host 2019 Future of Finance Vietnam\nTags: Vietnam business labor minimum wage salary VCCI\nFord invests $82 million to expand Vietnamese plant\nThe Matrix One enchants South Korean customers\nVietnamese dentists making more foreigners smile\nSwiss Post Solutions Vietnam leaps to top 10 sustainability ranking\nSun Life Vietnam inspires healthier lifestyle\nRicons shrugs off construction industry meltdown\nJingo Live promotes ways to enhance fan engagement\n5 tools to improve hiring experience for employees, employers\nReading: Vietnamese businesses balk at raising minimum wage every year: commerce chamber","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"ISSNAF - The 2020 awards recognize the excellence of Italian research in the U.S.\nMore research cooperation between the two sides of the Atlantic, new disciplines, and a strong female leadership component: ISSNAF, the foundation that brings together thousands of Italian scientists and academics working in laboratories, universities and research centers in North America, renews itself and takes stock of its activities during the...\nFight against Covid, Leukemia, Computer Science and Engineering: ISSNAF awards the best research projects of young Italian scientists in North America\nFinalists include young scholars active in US universities and research centers. The ISSNAF Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Guido Calabresi, a federal judge in the United States, and professor emeritus at Yale University Law School. They have made discoveries about the immune response in Covid patients, study the effects of the virus on blood...\n\"From Venice to the edge of the Universe: thirty years of discoveries with the Hubble Space Telescope\"\n\"From Venice to the edge of the Universe: thirty years of discoveries with the Hubble Space Telescope\" is an event part of #weareISSNAF, a series of webinars organized by the Italian Scientists & Scholars in North America Foundation, ISSNAF, in partnership with the Italian Embassy in Washington DC, the network of Italian Consulates and Italian Cult...\nPrende il via la serie di webinar #WeareISSNAF organizzata dall'Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF) in collaborazione con l'Ambasciata e i Consolati negli USA\nE' cominciata a Houston la serie di Webinar #weareISSNAF organizzati dalla Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF) in collaborazione con l'Ambasciata e la rete diplomatico-consolare italiana negli USA. La nuova serie si prefigge di affrontare temi specifici ma importanti nel panorama scientifico odierno attraverso conve...\nLeonardo Da Vinci Society & ISSNAF Bay Area Chapter Present Leonardo Awards 500\u2032 Winners\nThe Leonardo da Vinci Society and the Italian Scientists and Scholars of North America Foundation (ISSNAF) Bay Area Chapter are proud to present the Leonardo Award 2020 . This award recognize the outstanding contributions of Italian\/Italian American early career researchers\/scholars working in the San Francisco Bay Area. Winners of the 2020 Leonard...\nCinzia Zuffada (President of ISSNAF)\nHere at We the Italians we've been thinking that science and research are two fundamental and very delicate aspects of our lives way before the covid-19 virus hit the whole world: here at We the Italians we believe that science and research are extremely serious and complicated things, that require studies, talent and sweat, and we are therefore gr...\nLa campagna di raccolta fondi #Italystaystrong lanciata dall'Ambasciata e da ISSNAF supera la soglia del mezzo milione di dollari\nLa campagna di raccolta fondi #Italystaystrong lanciata dall'Ambasciata d'Italia a Washington e da Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF, www.issnaf.org) e sostenuta da un'intensa azione di promozione della rete diplomatico-consolare negli USA, supera la soglia del mezzo milione di dollari. Oltre 600 donazioni \u2013 da stu...\nYoung Investigator Awards 2020\nISSNAF - Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation - annually awards the Young Investigator Awards in various disciplines to outstanding, early-career Italian researchers working in the United States or Canada, in recognition of their significant and innovative contributions to their field of research. ISSNAF is very pleased to a...\nIIC Webinar series : Cinzia Zuffada : Reflections on the Earth Viewed from Space : May 5th at 4:30 PM PDT\nTuesday, May 5, 2020. 4:30 pm PDT. Register here. Presented by the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles with the Italian Culture Institutes of New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Journalist Maria Teresa Cometto in conversation with Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, Associate Chief Scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Reflections on the...\nISSNAF-BAC Talk Series - April 2020\nWednesday, April 29, 2020. 5:30 PM \u2013 7:00 PM PDT. register here. Dear ISSNAF BAC members and friends, in these difficult times, the sense of community and familiar faces provide a feeling of comfort. In this spirit, we would like to continue bringing together the community of Italian scholars and scientists in the Bay Area. In the last two years, B...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Pedestrian struck in West Springfield 'expected to be okay'\nWEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) \u2013 A man who was in critical condition after being struck by a car on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield Wednesday night is expected to be okay.\nA 61-year-old man was hit by a car near 135 Memorial Avenue just after 6 p.m.\nMan in critical condition after pedestrian accident in West Springfield\nWest Springfield Police Sgt. Joseph LaFrance told 22News, police received an update from Baystate Medical Center Thursday morning saying that the man is recovering and expected to be okay.\nHis name is not being released at this time.\nLaFrance said the Traffic Bureau Reconstruction Team is waiting for an opportunity to interview him. The accident is still being investigated.\nMore Hampden County Stories\nby Sy Becker \/ Jan 21, 2021\nSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Seniors living at home are just weeks away from receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.\nMercy Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Roose told 22News, we're still in Phase 1, inoculating health care workers, first responders, and residents of long-term care facilities.\nby Mike Masciadrelli \/ Jan 21, 2021\nSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)-Just over 4 percent of Americans have rolled up their arm and gotten at least the first dose of the covid-19 vaccine.\nImmunity won't come until after the second shot, but even after that's done, there's a chance they can still give the virus to others.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"IRB \u2013 Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada\nUpdate to Response to Information Request AUT27178.E of 25 June 1997 on the significance of the stamps and dates the Austrian authorities insert into the last two pages of a foreigner's passport, and whether the stamps indicate that the passport holder was issued an Austrian visitor's visa [AUT27716.E]\nA letter sent to the DIRB on 30 July 1997 by the Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Ottawa states:\nAs far as the stamps in the passport according to your sample are concerned, they show that the person has applied for an Austrian visa. It cannot be determined whether or not the visa had been granted to the applicant unless the applicant's name will be given.\nThis Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.\nEmbassy of the Republic of Austria, Ottawa. 30 July 1997. Facsimile sent to the DIRB.\nAnfragebeantwortung\n1126680 (fr\u00fchere ID 169135)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"The Golden Nuggets of Social Work The Role of Research in Social Work Practice Pass the Social Work Licensing Exam A Degree in Social Work Is Important for Career as Probation Officer COLCOA French Film Festival 2014: 'Stop-Over' Review\n'Union Square' Review: Nancy Savoca's Indie Film Reaps Rewards\nBy Ruby White\nNancy Savoca's latest film, \"Union Square\" is one of those unique films where viewers think they have the film pegged, but then are surprised by a number of twists and character revelations. Humor is mixed with tension between two estranged sisters with quite a rewarding outcome.\nThe tale is simple enough, two feuding sisters, Lucy (Oscar winner Mira Sorvino) and Jenny (acclaimed Broadway actress Tammy Blanchard) unexpectedly reunite for the two days preceding Thanksgiving and then during the holiday itself. Lucy is bigger than life \u2013 a New York\/New Jersey \"Housewives\" type springs to mind as she shops Filene's while publically having a devastatingly hurtful cell phone conversation with her lover. A few more heated calls are followed by a very messy meltdown in Union Square park.\nJenny on the other hand is extremely controlled, living in a spare modern loft overlooking Union Square. She and her fianc\u00e9 Bill (Mike Doyle) operate a healthy Millstruck Natural Foods business from their loft. When Lucy shows up unannounced, looking through her door's peephole, a frustrated Jenny feels obliged to let her sister in. Awkwardness abounds as a short, unannounced visit turns into, \"I need to stay a few days.\"\nOf course the two women mix like oil and water. Lucy commits crimes against Jenny's wood floors and air with her high heels and cigarette smoke, while Jenny cops to not being entirely honest about her past. Director Savoca remarks in the film's production notes \"\u2026the characters fit a stereotype and you can quickly judge them. But by the end, you are in it and you are with them \u2013 for better or worse.\" It's true as the skilled director, script and actresses pull viewers into the sisters' emotional vortex.\nAnother striking element about \"Union Square\" is its streamlined production calendar. Savoca (\"True Love,\" \"Household Saints\") and screenwriter Mary Tobler tailored a script to shoot in producer Neda Armian's Union Square loft. But the real kicker is that the film was scheduled to shoot for 10 days (it ended up twelve). That's all the budget allowed. Says producer Richard Guay in the production notes, \"What the story may have lacked in expansive exteriors and varied locations, it more than made up for in depth of character and emotional punch.\"\nDirector of photography Lisa Leone worked closely with Savoca for \"Union Square,\" their fourth film together (including \"Dirt\" and \"Reno: Rebel Without a Pause\"). They shot on the Canon 5D HD camera and averaged 9 script pages a day. Actor Doyle, in the film production notes, explains the short shooting schedule and slim crew, \"\u2026 was great because everyone was prepared and working at their top game, so you had to make choices and commit.\"\nMira Sorvino adds, also from the film's notes, \"Union Square\" proves, \"\u2026that a terrific movie can be made in an unbelievably short amount of time, with no trailers, trucks, a skeleton crew, etc\u2026 It kind of proved that a great director, script and willing cast are all you really need to make a powerful piece of cinema.\"\nHeed that statement filmmakers, less really can be more when a talented group of artists set their minds to it. Nancy Savoca's brisk (at 80 minutes) \"Union Square\" is a refreshing course in simple, but powerful cinema. Credit goes too, to her talented crew and cast including Sorvino, Blanchard, Doyle and Michael Rispoli, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Patti LuPone.\n\"Union Square\" is 80 minutes, Rated R, and opens in Los Angeles and New York, July 13.\nFor other film reviews by Lori Huck, check out:\nL.A. Film Fest: World premiere of 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'\n'The Invisible War' review: A must-see military documentary dissects dark secrets\nCOLCOA French Film Festival 2014: 'Stop-Over' Review\nThe Role of Research in Social Work Practice\nA Degree in Social Work Is Important for Career as Probation Officer\nThe Golden Nuggets of Social Work\nArts & Entertainments 1\nFamily & Relationship 1\nfilms 2\nLegal & Law 2\nLifestyle & Fashion 1\nShopping & Product Reviews 4\nSocial Work 4\nTravel & Tours 1\nPass the Social Work Licensing Exam\nCOLCOA French Film Festival 2014: 'Stop-Over' Review\nFree Sheet Music \u2013 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for Piano Solo\nThe fantastic thing about International Film Festivals is that they present a program of films that\u2026\nBecome a Trendsetter\nSign up for Davenport's Daily Digest and get the best of Davenport, tailored for you. [mc4wp_form id=\"729\"]\nPowered by RF Wiki","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"People's Dream Cruise 2020 Locally Organic\nEditors Note: Hmmm no carmaker promotions or events, the Chinese Wuhan Virus lurking in the shadows and the big collectors at home polishing their cars. Yet the people's Dream Cruise still attracted a crowd that was estimated at 50% of normal, tradition has trumped political correctness.\nBy Martha Hindes\nMichigan Bureau\nThe Auto Channel\nDetroit MI August 15, 2020; After a quarter century of annual Dream Cruises in August confirming the Detroit area as the self-proclaimed Motor City, a cancellaion because of the coronavirus wasn't about to deter diehard cruisers.\nOn Saturday, which would have been the 2020 Dream Cruise day, a lot of car people apparently missed the event cancellation notice.\nIt didn't matter that the Detroit 3 auto companies didn't have any vehicle reveals, or special event setups as they do every year. There wasn't a Mustang Alley from Ford or racing venue from Chrysler.\nAnd many of the truly classic collector cars that in the past have arrived from as far away as Australia were missing. But that didn't keep the locals from celebrating a tradition that had its roots in hot rod racing down Woodward Avenue, the main drag, more than a half century earlier. Many of this year's unofficial cruisers appeareed to be customized pet cars rather than lhan costly classics.\nRonald Reed, of Warren, in suburban Detroit, with his partially restored 1950 Chevrolet DeLuxe on display, hasn't missed a Dream Cruise since he was a child. Now he's introducing the holy grail of collectors to his six-year-old son Ryan, a car guy in the making.\nHe estimated there were about half the usual number of vehicles inching along Woodward Avenue, the annual cruise route, as autophiles refused to let a nasty viral bug take another victim. \"Normally they'd be at a standstill,\" he said.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"'Sustainability as we know it must go'\nIn its journey towards minimizing waste, is the packaging industry losing sight of the crucial importance of making its energy consumption more sustainable? Robert Lilienfeld, founder and executive director of sustainable packaging think tank SPRING, tells us more.\nI just came across a National Public Radio (NPR) story here in the U.S. that was entitled \"Start Cleaning Your Home More Sustainably with These Tips.\" It included the use of lemon juice, baking soda, and reduced packaging.\nI also recently read a \"Ladder Approach\" on LinkedIn that showed consumers how to start small (e.g., refilling water bottles), work up to eating plant-based, rather than animal-based proteins, and then finally switch to electric vehicles (EVs) as the ultimate environmental investment and planet saver.\nYou've heard all of these before, from the quaint and old-fashioned, to the cutting edge technical and modern. In fact, I started talking about these types of consumer suggestions in 1994, when I first began writing and publishing my waste prevention newsletter, The ULS (Use Less Stuff) Report. Back then, these ideas were cutting edge in terms of public awareness. Today, they're stale and, frankly, trite.\nEvery time someone decides that all they need to do to turn back the clock on climate change is to buy concentrated laundry detergent, we've rewarded them for doing something that frankly has little to no real value in the global fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.\nThis is similar to the recycling mentality, whereby people feel it is OK to buy more of something simply because they toss the used packaging into the recycling bin, rather than the garbage bin.\nRealistically, it's now too late to rely on small efforts and hope that vast percentages of the population will start to engage in them. It has not happened and will likely never happen: Unfortunately, we now appear to live in a divided world where the concept of \"greater good\" has largely been replaced with \"personal liberty.\"\nWe urgently need governments to step in and ensure that two things happen: Eliminate the use of fossil fuels as energy sources, and reduce the total consumption of energy, regardless of the source. This goes for hydro, wind, solar, and nuclear power; along with coal, natural gas, wood, and waste to energy.\nRemember, the Second Law of Thermodynamics is immutable: Consuming energy, no matter what its source, will generate entropy in the form of waste. Thus, the more efficient we are in terms of energy consumption, the more sustainable we are in terms of the environment, the economy, and societies.\nWhat can you do as a brand owner, converter, or material producer to help in this effort? First, lobby for, use, and promote the use of, renewable energy resources and even nuclear energy. Second, help your company, your employees, and your customers to do the same. Then, help them to make their homes, automobiles and appliances more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels.\nInstead of simply promoting (and possibly greenwashing) the supposed sustainable value of your products and packages, spend your time and money on helping to increase the residential and commercial use of non-fossil fuel-based energy resources. Include your efforts in annual reports, sustainability reports, ESG filings, advertising and, yes, on your packaging.\nOnce the use of fossil fuels for energy is off the table, the use of fossil fuels for plastics production becomes almost irrelevant to the public. If we can alleviate the really big problems related to greenhouse gas generation, the small ones will fade away, as their existence will no longer be magnified.\nIn this manner, the real value of plastics, in terms of source reduction, cost reduction, and material efficiency, can once again become publicly acceptable.\nThe science behind packaging sustainability\nWe need more facts, not simply more faith, to move the needle on packaging sustainability. In this article, Robert M. Lilienfeld, executive director at SPRING, unpacks sustainability misconceptions and myths, and gives an introduction into the key forces that contribute to climate change.\n'Is packaging circularity a false sustainability prophet?'\nThe idea of a circular economy is certainly promising, but how can we turn it into a reality? Robert Lilienfeld, founder and executive director of sustainable packaging think tank SPRING, looks into scientific theory and historical parallels in a bid to answer this question.\nLooking beyond the carbon cycle\nAre we missing the bigger picture when we talk about the sustainability performance of compostable packaging? Robert Lilienfeld, founder and executive director of sustainable packaging think tank SPRING, tells us more.\nShip goods, not air\nThe EU has set its sights on reducing empty space in packaging, with new rules on this issue forming a core part of its recently announced Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive revisions. How will all of this affect the industry, and how can companies get ahead of the curve? Jo Bradley, business development manager at Sparck Technologies, explores the options.\nHow to measure reusable packaging success\nHow can we accurately measure the environmental and economic success of reusable packaging models? The creation of a common language and set of metrics is essential, says Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity.\nIs simplifying sorting the key to creating a circular economy for plastics?\nIn order for plastic packaging to become truly circular, it's crucial that the sorting of post-consumer packaging is as efficient and consistent as possible. How can the industry make this happen? Professor Edward Kosior, CEO and co-founder at Nextek and NEXTLOOPP, tells us more.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"News: richard connell family\nDr. Connell is good and explains things in plain English and not medical terms. All Rights Reserved.\nHe won the O. Henry Memorial Prize twice for his short stories \"A Friend of Napoleon\" and \"The Most Dangerous Game.\" He was also nominated for an Academy Award for best original story in 1942 for the film \"Meet John Doe.\". Nach seiner R\u00fcckkehr in die USA begann er Mitte der 1920er Jahre mit dem Schreiben von Kurzgeschichten wie Tropic of Capricorn, A Little Bit of Broadway, Isles of Romance, One Hundred Dollars, A Friend of Napoleon und If I Was Alone with You. He listen to all of my concerns and addressed them. See Photos.\nExcellent! See Photos. Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright, Celebrities Interesting Facts By Nationality, Celebrities Interesting Facts By Profession.\nConnell was one of the most popular American short story writers of his time, and his stories were published in The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's magazines. We would like to express to you our deepest thanks for your contribution. His father was a newspaper reporter who later became a congressman. 09 309 0984.\nHis father's connections at the paper later proved useful for Connell, as by the age of 18 he secured a job as an editor. Richard Connell\u2026 When you walk into the office you are welcomed right away. 09 309 2136 Log In.\nHis father worked as an editor and reporter for the local paper before \u2026 Following in his father's footsteps, Connell began working as a reporter as a young man at the Poughkeepsie News \u2026 Richard, or \"Dick\" as he was more affectionately known, was raised in Pontiac, Mount Clemens\u2026 His father's connections at the paper later proved useful for Connell, as by the age of 18 he secured a job as an editor. Highly Recommended! Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Richard Connell on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. He subsequently worked on the city staff of The New York American and as a copy writer for J. Walter Thompson. The short story \"The Most Dangerous Game\" was originally published in Collier's Weekly on January 19, 1924. Gro\u00dfe Bekanntheit erreichte er durch seine 1924 ver\u00f6ffentlichte Kurzgeschichte Das grausamste Spiel (The Most Dangerous Game), die zu den am h\u00e4ufigsten in Anthologien erschienenen Short Storys geh\u00f6rt, und mehrfach verfilmt wurde wie zum Beispiel Graf Zaroff \u2013 Genie des B\u00f6sen (The Most Dangerous Game, 1932), den Ernest B. Schoedsack und Irving Pichel mit Joel McCrea, Fay Wray und Leslie Banks insziert hatten. I was able to get my child's diagnosis so I can get him services. Idaho Falls, Idaho. Connell later attended Georgetown and, after the death of his father, Harvard. I have and will continue to recommend him to my friends. He died in Beverly Hills, CA at the age of 56. He is proud to have a son who is an electrical worker in the field of renewable energy, and a daughter who is pursuing a career in forensic psychology. Richard Nativadad Connell. Upon his return from the war, he married Louise Herrick Fox in 1919.\nMay Elizabeth (Connell) Nicholson 18 May 1885 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England - abt 13 Mar 1978 managed by Jutta Beer last edited 23 Aug 2020. I have seen him 3 times, for each of my children. Mary Connell abt 1861 managed by Patrick Holland last edited 24 Aug 2020. 3106 South W. S. Young, Suite B-202, Killeen, TX 76542, \u00a9 Copyright 2019 Connell & Associates. Son of Samuel Connell and Jane Connell We found 12 records for Richard Connell in Shoreline, Seattle and 13 other cities in Washington. Richard Connell was born in on October 17th, 1893 in Poughkeepsie, New York. His father worked as an editor and reporter for the local paper before beginning his political career. Richard Connell, born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1893, was a popular author and journalist whose short stories were regularly published in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's Weekly.His story, The Most Dangerous Game is his best remembered work, which we feature in our Mystery Stories. CEO at G-Fast.\n\"There's nothing more fascinating than the human mind,\" Dr. Connell said. Copyright \u00a9 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. Dr. Connell enjoys wood working and traveling overseas, of which he and his wife have done a significant amount recently, visiting multiple countries in western and central Europe. Richard Connell 04 Feb 1809 Barrington, Barrington, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada - 1871 . My husband and I like how well he listens to our concerns and how we explain ourselves about our daughter. Some of his most notable works include: \"Centenarian\" (1916), \"The Most Dangerous Game\" (1924), \"Heart of a Sloganeer\" (1929), \"Cross-Eyed South-Paw\" (1929), \"Black Chrysanthemums\" (1927), \"Brother Orchid\" (1938), The Mad Lover (1927), Murder at Sea (1929), and Playboy (1936). This was an acutely difficult period for both she and I, as it was her first diagnosis and testing experience. Richard Connell: Birthdate: February 14, 1854: Death: July 04, 1924 (70) Immediate Family: Son of Samuel Connell and Jane Connell Husband of Cora Connell Father of Ruth Marion Johnson and Samuel B. Connell Brother of John A. Connell; Samuel Connell; Mary Jane Connell; Thomas Connell\u2026\nPai Gow History, Vampirina Song Monster Monster Lyrics, Millennium Management Minneapolis, Minecraft Jar For Chromebook, How To Test A Relay With A Battery, Animal Crossing Cotton Candy Stall New Horizons, Purple Sweet Potato Coles, Noose\/police By Husky_70, Elk Backstrap For Sale, Ranger 622 Top Speed, Emission Teletoon 2009, Glenn Close Hook, Guess The Recipe Pub Quiz, Karmalek Dolls Reviews, Arm Vs X86 Floating Point, Njdep Oil Tank Removal Records, Is The Meg On Netflix 2020, Courtney Elizabeth Beach, She Knows What She Wants Lyrics Miguel, Cardinal Health Learn123 Bridge, Phil Rosenthal Parents Holocaust, Mazda 6 Timing Chain Replacement Interval, The Fenestrated Man The Order, How To Fix Bent Charger Prongs, Samsung Rf260beaesr Error Codes, Honeywell Lyric T5 Screen Lock, Worst Skateboard Brands, Tinder Horror Stories Scary, Hateball The Office, Aric Almirola Wife, Nightingale Flower Poisonous, Calatrava Bridge Boston, Franz Schubert Wife, Spanish Love Riddles,","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"Mohan Rana\nMohan Rana (b. 1964) is a Hindi poet who grew up and studied in Delhi and now lives in Bath, England. He writes poems exploring themes of identity, truth, memories and nature. He has published eight poetry collections in Hindi, Jagah (Dwelling, 1994), Jaise Janam Koi Darwaza (As If Life Were a Door, 1997), Subah ki Dak (Morning's Post, 2002), Is Chhor Par (On This Shore, 2003), Pathar Ho Jayegi Nadi (Stone-River, 2007) Dhoop Ke Andhere Mein (In the Darkness of the Sun, 2008), Ret ka Pul (Bridge of Sand, 2012) and Shesh Anek (Much Remains, 2016). His published bilingual chapbooks include Poems (2011) with translations by Bernard O'Donoghue and Lucy Rosenstein and Vivir (2016), a chapbook of Spanish translations.\nWith each book his reputation as a diaspora poet has grown. Brevity, clarity and precision are defining characteristics of Mohan Rana's poetry. The poet and critic, Nandkishore Acharya, has written that, 'Amongst the new generation of Hindi poets, the poetry of Mohan Rana stands alone; it defies any categorisation. However, its refusal to fit any ideology doesn't mean that Mohan Rana's poetry shies away from thinking - but that it knows the difference between thinking in verse and thinking about poetry. For Mohan Rana the poetic process in itself is also a thought process.'\nHe has given poetry readings in India, UK and Europe. He has participated in the Ledbury Poetry Festival (2011), Stanza International Poetry Festival (2014), New Delhi World Book Fair (2014), Slovenian Book Fair Ljubljana (2016), English Pen Literary Salon at London Book Fair (2017) and Odisha Art & Literature Festival, Bhubaneswar; India (2018).\nHis poems have been translated into Belarusian, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, German, Croatian, Slovenian, Marathi and Nepali.\nPoems by Mohan Rana\nThe Cartographer\nAn Obsessive Tune\nThe Colour of Water\nThe Washerman\nAnother Word for It\nThe Morning Post\nDid You Hear It Too?\nA Standard Shirt\nThe Blue-Eyed Blackbird\nThe Poet's Fate\nIn Your Own Words\nThe Evening News and the Roof of the World\nAs the Past Approaches\nTo the Lost Children\nNot What the Words\u2026\nOther poets writing in Hindi\nOther poets from India","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}} {"text":"GMR PDF\nGeorge Acosta\nGMR.pdf\nEnregistrerEnregistrer GMR.pdf pour plus tard\n11 vues151 pages\nletemps050411\nGuide Doctorant\nDispense - position des 11 directeurs d'Ecoles d'Avocats\nAnnexes Formulaires Dossier Commission PAE\nsba Minist\u00e8re de l\nCanevas Nouveau Labo2009\nBDSaS 2015_2016.pdf\nLart de La These\nEtude Bibliographique PDF\nDroits Inscription\nDemande D\u00e9rogatoire\nCours Doctoraux FSS 2018 2\nAppel a Candidature CEDOC 2014 2015\nFor Mulaire\nFormations CD Um Jan Mars 2019\nCanevas-demande-financement-REZZOUG.docx\ndecret paysage\nFiche de Poste Linguist i Que\ncomposition_comite_these\nVous \u00eates sur la page 1sur 151\n3D Probe for Magnetic Imaging and Non-destructive\nFawaz Hadadeh\nTo cite this version:\nFawaz Hadadeh. 3D Probe for Magnetic Imaging and Non-destructive Testing. Instrumentation and\nDetectors [physics.ins-det]. Universit\u00e9 Paris-Saclay, 2018. English. \ufffdNNT : 2018SACLS421\ufffd. \ufffdtel-\n02073586v2\ufffd\nHAL Id: tel-02073586\nhttps:\/\/tel.archives-ouvertes.fr\/tel-02073586v2\nSubmitted on 27 Mar 2019\nHAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est\narchive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destin\u00e9e au d\u00e9p\u00f4t et \u00e0 la diffusion de documents\nentific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publi\u00e9s ou non,\nlished or not. The documents may come from \u00e9manant des \u00e9tablissements d'enseignement et de\nteaching and research institutions in France or recherche fran\u00e7ais ou \u00e9trangers, des laboratoires\nabroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou priv\u00e9s.\n3D probes based on\nmagnetoresistive sensors for\nNNT : 2018SACLS421\nmagnetic micro-imaging and\nTh\u00e8se de doctorat de l'Universit\u00e9 Paris-Saclay pr\u00e9par\u00e9e au Service de\nPhysique de l'Etat Condens\u00e9, et au D\u00e9partement imagerie simulation\npour le contr\u00f4le, CEA\n\u00c9cole doctorale n\u00b0564 Physique de l'Ile de France\nSp\u00e9cialit\u00e9 de doctorat : Physique\nTh\u00e8se pr\u00e9sent\u00e9e et soutenue \u00e0 Gif-sur-Yvette, le 14 Novembre 2018, par\nComposition du Jury :\nM. Philippe Lecoeur,\nLaboratoire C2N, Marcoussis Pr\u00e9sident\nMme Claire Baraduc\nCEA-Spintec, Grenoble Rapporteur\nM. Jerome Gattacceca,\nTechnopole Environnement Arbois-M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e,\nAix en PROVENCE Rapporteur\nM. Herv\u00e9 Tretout\nDassault Aviation, Argenteuil Examinateur\nM. Nicolas Poulakis\nTechnological Educational Institution of West Macedonia Examinateur\nM.Claude Fermon\nCEA-SPEC, Gif-sur-yvette Directeur de th\u00e8se\nNatalia Sergeeva-Chollet\nCEA- LIST, Gif-sur-yvette Encadrante\nI. RELATED PUBLICATIONS ................................................................................................................ V\nII. LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... VI\nIII. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................................... XII\nIV. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... XIV\nPART 1: LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................................................. 1\nCHAPTER 1. MAGNETIC SENSORS ............................................................................................................... 2\n1.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2\n1.2 MAGNETIC SENSORS ............................................................................................................................... 2\n1.3 SENSITIVITY, DETECTIVITY AND NOISE. .................................................................................................. 3\n1.3.1 Sensitivity .......................................................................................................................................... 3\n1.3.2 Noise.................................................................................................................................................. 3\n1.3.3 Detectivity. ........................................................................................................................................ 3\n1.4 NOISE IN MAGNETIC SENSORS................................................................................................................. 4\n1.5 INDUCTIVE MAGNETIC SENSORS ............................................................................................................. 6\n1.6 FLUXGATES .......................................................................................................................................... 10\n1.7 GIANT MAGNETO-IMPEDANCES ............................................................................................................ 12\n1.8 HALL EFFECT SENSOR .......................................................................................................................... 14\n1.9 MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSORS .............................................................................................................. 15\n1.9.1 Anisotropic Magnetoresistance (AMR) ........................................................................................... 16\n1.9.2 Giant magnetoresistances (GMR) ................................................................................................... 17\n1.9.2.1 GMR with spin valve structure ............................................................................................................... 19\n1.9.2.2 GMR effect ............................................................................................................................................. 20\n1.9.2.3 GMR sensitivity ..................................................................................................................................... 21\n1.9.3 Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ................................................................................................... 23\n1.10 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................ 24\nCHAPTER 2. NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING ................................................................................................. 29\n2.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 29\n2.2 NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING ................................................................................................................ 29\n2.3 OPTICAL METHODS ............................................................................................................................... 30\n2.4 PENETRANT TESTING ........................................................................................................................... 31\n2.5 MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION (MPI) .............................................................................................. 31\n2.6 ULTRASONIC TESTING .......................................................................................................................... 32\n2.7 RADIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 33\n2.8 MAGNETIC FLUX LEAKAGE ................................................................................................................... 34\n2.9 EDDY CURRENT TESTING ...................................................................................................................... 34\nCHAPTER 3. MAGNETIC IMAGING ............................................................................................................. 41\n3.2 MICROSCOPE FOR MAGNETIC IMAGING................................................................................................. 41\n3.3 TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPES (TEM) ................................................................................. 42\n3.4 LOCAL PROBE MICROSCOPY ................................................................................................................. 43\n3.4.1 Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) .......................................................................................... 44\n3.4.2 Magnetic force microscopy (MFM)................................................................................................. 45\n3.4.3 Scanning magnetoresistance microscopy (SMRM) ......................................................................... 47\n3.4.4 Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers ....................................................................................................... 47\n3.5 OPTICAL MICROSCOPE ...................................................................................................................... 48\n3.5.1 Magneto-optical devices based on garnets films ............................................................................. 49\n3.6 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 51\nPART 2: 3D PROBE AND APPLICATIONS FIELDS .................................................................................................. 52\nCHAPTER 4. 3D PROBE .............................................................................................................................. 53\n4.2 ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT ........................................................................................................................... 54\n4.3 EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP ........................................................................................................................ 56\n4.3.1 Experimental set-up for DC signal .................................................................................................. 56\n4.3.2 Experimental set-up for AC signal .................................................................................................. 57\n4.4 DESCRIPTION OF 3D PROBE FORMED BY FOUR GMR ............................................................................ 57\n4.5 GMR SENSORS USED FOR 3D PROBE DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................ 60\n4.5.1 Type 1 GMR sensors ....................................................................................................................... 61\n4.6 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................ 79\nCHAPTER 5. 3D PROBE IN MAGNETIC IMAGING........................................................................................ 81\n5.2 SET-UPS ................................................................................................................................................ 81\n5.3 STUDY OF CURRENT LINE ..................................................................................................................... 83\n5.4 MAGNETIC IMAGING OF DOLLAR BIN .................................................................................................... 86\n5.5 IMAGING OF SOFT STEEL OBJECTS ......................................................................................................... 89\n5.6 SUSCEPTIBILITY MEASUREMENT .......................................................................................................... 92\nCHAPTER 6. 3D PROBE IN NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING ............................................................................ 95\n6.2 OPTIMIZATION OF EC PROBE ................................................................................................................ 95\n6.3 3D EC PROBE ....................................................................................................................................... 99\n6.3.1 Simulation results with 3D EC probe .............................................................................................. 99\n6.3.2 Experimental Results ..................................................................................................................... 101\n6.3.2.1 Subsurface defects ................................................................................................................................ 101\n6.3.2.2 Surface defects ..................................................................................................................................... 105\n6.4 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................... 109\nCONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORKS .................................................................................................. 112\nREFERENCES.................................................................................................................................................. 114\nI. Related Publications\n1. Article:\n\uf0b7 F. Hadadeh, A.Solignac, N. Sergeeva-Chollet, M. Pannetier-Lecoeur et C.\nFermon \"3D magnetic imaging with GMR sensors\". (submitted).\n2. Conferences:\n\uf0b7 F. Hadadeh, N. Sergeeva-Chollet, E. Paul, M.Pannetier-Lecoeur et C. Fermon\n\" GMR probes for Magnetic Micro-Imaging and Non-Destructive Evaluation\n\", Joint European Magnetic Symposium, August 2016, Scottish Exhibition\nand Conference Centre (SECC), Glasgow, UK\n\uf0b7 F. Hadadeh, N. Sergeeva-Chollet, E. Paul, M. Pannetier-Lecoeur et C.\nFermon \"D\u00e9veloppement de la sonde CF \u00e0 base des capteurs GMR, pour la\nd\u00e9tection des trois composantes du champ\", COFREND, Mai 2017,\nStrasbourg France\nFermon \"Probe based on magnetoresistive Sensors for magnetic micro-\nimaging and NDT\", Workshop on Electromagnetic Non Destructive\nEvaluation, Septembre 2017, Saclay France\nFermon \"La d\u00e9tection des trois composantes du champ par une sonde CF \u00e0\nbase des capteurs GMR\", Colloque Louis N\u00e9el, Septembre 2017, Paris\n\uf0b7 F. Hadadeh, B. Esteves, N. Sergeeva-Chollet, A. Skarlatos, A. Solignac, M.\nPannetier-Lecoeur et C. Fermon \"Local magnetic microscopy of\nferromagnetic steels based on magnetoresistive sensors\", 12th European\nMagnetic Sensors and Actuator, July 2018, Athens Greece\n3. Patent\n\uf0b7 A. Solignac, N. Sergeeva-Chollet, F. Hadadeh, M. Pannetier-Lecoeur,\nC. Fermon \"Dispositif et methode de cartographie de la susceptibilit\u00e9\nmagn\u00e9tique de surface de mat\u00e9riaux. \" (In preparation)\nII. List of Figures\nFigure 1.1- Measurement diagram of magnetic field .............................................................................. 3\nFigure 1.2-GMR characteristics as a function of the magnetic induction (left part), noise in a yoke-\ntype GMR (right part) of 5\u00b5m width ..................................................................................... 6\nFigure 1.3-Equivalent circuit of induction sensor with load capacity \ud835\udc360 and load resistance \ud835\udc450. ........ 7\nFigure 1.4-Square Coil............................................................................................................................ 8\nFigure 1.5- Cylindrical Coil .................................................................................................................... 9\nFigure 1.6-Principle diagram of fluxgate ............................................................................................. 10\nFigure 1.7- Principle of pulse shift method ........................................................................................... 11\nFigure 1.8- GMI sensor made of ferromagnetic wire crossed by alternating current and subjected to\nan external field \ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc52\ud835\udc65 ........................................................................................................... 12\nFigure 1.9- GMI sensor marketed by AICHI Company [37]................................................................. 13\nFigure 1.10- Principle of Hall effect ..................................................................................................... 14\nFigure 1.11- Photograph of the linearly integrated Hall sensors (LIHaS): 64 InSb Hall sensors [51] .\n............................................................................................................................................. 15\nFigure 1.12-Principe diagram of AMR sensor ...................................................................................... 16\nFigure 1.13- The two discoverers of GMR ............................................................................................ 18\nFigure 1.14- Left: GMR scanning element for magnetic field mapping. SEM picture of a 450\u00b5m\nmeteorite collected in Antarctica, Right: Magnetic mapping of the meteorite magnetic\ndipole. Coll. Cerege \u2013 J\u00e9r\u00f4me Gattacceca [66]. ................................................................. 19\nFigure 1.15- Example of spin valve GMR [73] ..................................................................................... 19\nFigure 1.16- GMR structure: (a) Free layer, spacer and pinned layer Illustration of the spin-\ndependent scattering in ferromagnetic materials (FM). The spacer is non-magnetic (NM);\n(b) The equivalent electrical circuit with two conducting channels is shown for anti-\nparallel magnetizations (red) and for parallel magnetizations (blue); (c) The figures at the\ntop illustrate the trajectory of the electrons in antiparallel configuration and illustrate at\nthe bottom the parallel configuration . ................................................................................ 20\nFigure 1.17- Measurement scheme of GMR sensitivity. ........................................................................ 21\nFigure 1.18- Example of GMR response as function of magnetic field applied along its sensitivity axis\nFigure 1.19-Typical stack of TMR sensor on thickness of Fe diffusion barrier for double MgO-based\np-MTJ spin-valves with top \ud835\udc36\ud835\udc5c2\ud835\udc39\ud835\udc526\ud835\udc352 free layer [79]. ..................................................... 23\nFigure 1.20- Comparison of the detectivity of magnetic sensors : coil, fluxgate, Hall, GMI, AMR,\nGMR and TMR sensors ....................................................................................................... 26\nFigure 2.1- Non-destructive testing in the aerospace industry [91]...................................................... 29\nFigure 2.2- Optical instrument for surface deformations [93].............................................................. 30\nFigure 2.3- The four steps of PT technique ........................................................................................... 31\nFigure 2.4- Shema of Ultrasound Principe [35] ................................................................................... 32\nFigure 2.5-Example of uses of Radiography method [98]..................................................................... 34\nFigure 2.6- Principle of eddy current generation [35].......................................................................... 35\nFigure 2.7- Evolution of current density as function of piece depth (z) in the case in the case of plane\nwave excitation [103]. ......................................................................................................... 36\nFigure 2.8- Evolution of skin depth against frequency for different materials ..................................... 37\nFigure 2.9- Photo of the IMAGIC MR probe for buried flaws detection [106]..................................... 38\nFigure 3.1- In situ TEM study of magnetization reversal in Co80Ir20 film: Fresnel images in a\nhysteresis sequence on the hard axis in plane of the film [125]. ......................................... 43\nFigure 3.2- Schematic view of an STM (left part) Schematic illustration of the SP-STM method [126]\n(right part)........................................................................................................................... 45\nFigure 3.3- Atomic force microscopy principle (a) Tip form (b) Long- and short-range (interatomic)\nforces dependent of various distance (c) [130, 132]............................................................ 46\nFigure 3.4- MFM images of Co sample with wire width 150 nm with gold electrodes on top, with I\u2212\nand I+ indicating the direction of current flow [137] ......................................................... 46\nFigure 3.5- Example of NV-center Nanodiamond used for thermos dynamic application [151].......... 48\nFigure 3.6- Schematic drawing of the Faraday effect. The sample is illuminated by linearly polarized\nlight. Polarizer and analyser are set in crossed position. The light enters the magneto-\noptically active layer (MOL) and is reflected at the mirror layer. In areas where no flux is\npresent in the sample, no Faraday rotation takes place hence these regions stay dark in the\nimage. In all areas where flux is present, the Faraday rotation changes the polarization\nplane so that this light is able to pass through the analyser thus leading to bright areas. In\nthe drawing, a reflection angle #O is shown lor clarity whereas in the experiment we have\nperpendicular incident light. [153]...................................................................................... 49\nFigure 3.7- Magneto-optical images used to calculate distribution of electric field at 4.2 K in the\nsuperconductor. The image shows such distributions for a YBCO film with a grain\nboundary [160] .................................................................................................................... 50\nFigure 4.1-Electronic circuit ................................................................................................................. 54\nFigure 4.2 Alimentation part of electronic circuit ................................................................................ 54\nFigure 4.3- Full bridge circuit relied to INA103 .................................................................................. 55\nFigure 4.4- 3D probe with electronic circuits ....................................................................................... 56\nFigure 4.5- Experimental set-up for DC signal..................................................................................... 56\nFigure 4.6- Experimental set-up for AC signal. .................................................................................... 57\nFigure 4.7- Description of the probe (left part), Right: GMR sensors (right part) .............................. 58\nFigure 4.8- GMR sensors position in three axis.................................................................................... 58\nFigure 4.9- Distribution design of GMR sensors according to x-z plane (left part) and to y-z plane\nFigure 4.10- GMR sensor in a yoke-shape before cutting .................................................................... 60\nFigure 4.11- Distribution of magnetic moments in free layer with a yoke shape structure. ................. 61\nFigure 4.12- Spin valve stack of type1 GMR sensors. The thicknesses (X) are given in nm ................. 61\nFigure 4.13 \u2013 The response of four type 1 GMR sensors as function of magnetic field applied along\ntheir z-axis ........................................................................................................................... 63\nFigure 4.14- The response of four type 1 GMR sensors as function of magnetic field applied along\ntheir y-axis. .......................................................................................................................... 64\nFigure 4.15- The response of four type 1 GMR sensors as function of magnetic field applied along its\nx-axis. .................................................................................................................................. 65\nFigure 4.16- Voltage noise of four type 1 sensors with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45= 0 mV, 100 mV, 300 mV and 1V ........ 67\nFigure 4.17-Noise spectral density in V \u2044 \u221aHz of four type 1 sensors with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45= 0 mV, 100 mV, 300\nmV and 1V. .......................................................................................................................... 68\nFigure 4.18-Field equivalent noise in T\u2044\u221aHz of fourtype 1 sensors according to z-axis with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45=\n100 mV................................................................................................................................. 69\nFigure 4.19- Spin valve stack of type 2 GMR sensors. The thicknesses (X) are given in nm ................ 70\nFigure 4.20 \u2013 The response of four type 2 GMR sensors as function of magnetic field applied along its\nz-axis.................................................................................................................................... 72\ny-axis ................................................................................................................................... 73\nx-axis ................................................................................................................................... 74\nFigure 4.23- Low frequency noise in \u00b5V of four type 2 sensors with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45= 0 mV, 100 mV, 300 mV\nand 1V ................................................................................................................................. 76\nFigure 4.24- Noise spectral density in V\u2044\u221aHz of four type 2 sensors with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45= 0 mV, 100 mV, 300\nmV and 1V ........................................................................................................................... 77\nFigure 4.25- Noise spectral density in T\u2044\u221aHz of four type 2 sensors according to z-axis with \ud835\udc49\ud835\udc3a\ud835\udc40\ud835\udc45=\nFigure 5.1- Experimental set-up at CEA-LIST ...................................................................................... 82\nFigure 5.2- Experimental set-up at CEA-SPEC .................................................................................... 82\nFigure 5.3- Measurement scheme of current line ................................................................................. 83\nFigure 5.4- One dimensional (top) and two dimensional scans (bottom) of the magnetic field of a line\ncurrent according to x-axis; simulation results of Hx. component (left part) reconstruction\nof Hx component measured by 3D probe. The maximum amplitude is equal to 1.2 \u03bcT with\nSNR of 8.2 dB (right part) ................................................................................................... 84\ncurrent according to x-axis; simulation results of Hy component (left part) reconstruction\nof Hy component measured by 3D probe.. The amplitude of Hy is almost equal to zero\ncurrent according to x-axis; simulation results of Hz component (left part) reconstruction\nof Hz component measured by 3D probe.. The maximum amplitude is equal to 1.3 \u03bcT with\nFigure 5.7- Measurement results of George Washington's face in the case of Hz component detection\nobtained by Kletetschka [172] (left part). Picture of part of Washington's face in one dollar\nbill (center part) and measurement results obtained by developed 3D probe (right part) . 87\nFigure 5.8- Picture of Washington's face in one dollar bill (a) Magnetic image of a portion of a $1.00\nbill scanned at a working distance of height of 400 \u00b5m, Hz component.. The gray scale\nvaries from about \u2212300 \u00b5T(downward, black) to +310 \u00b5T(upward, white) (b) Magnetic\nimage of Hx component. The gray scale varies from about \u221280 \u00b5T to +85 \u00b5T (c) Magnetic\nimage of Hy component. The gray scale varies from about \u221265 \u00b5T to +60 \u00b5T in the case of\nHy (d)................................................................................................................................... 88\nFigure 5.9- Steel mock-up with different shape objects ........................................................................ 89\nFigure 5.10- Steel objet that contains many shapes .............................................................................. 90\nFigure 5.11- Hz component, the grey scale varies from \u2212100 \u00b5T (downward, black) to +80 \u00b5T\n(upward, white) ................................................................................................................... 91\nFigure 5.12-Hx and Hy components obtained by 3D probe. The gray scale varies from about \u221225 \u00b5T\n(downward, black) to +40 \u00b5T (upward, white) in the case of Hx (left part) the gray scale\nvaries from about \u221235 \u00b5T to +40 \u00b5T in the case of Hy (right part) ................................... 92\nFigure 5.13- The grid composed of magnet strips. ...................................... Erreur ! Signet non d\u00e9fini.\nFigure 5.14- Simulation results (left part) and experimental results (right part) in the case of Hx\ncomponent analysis .................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non d\u00e9fini.\nFigure 5.15- Simulation results (left part) and experimental results (right part) in the case of Hy\ncomponent analysis. The maximum amplitude is equal to1.6 \u03bcT Erreur ! Signet non d\u00e9fini.\nFigure 5.16- Simulation results (left part) and experimental results (right part) in the case of Hz\ncomponent analysis. The maximum amplitude is equal to 1.2 \u03bcTErreur ! Signet non\nd\u00e9fini.\nFigure 5.17- Experimental set-up for susceptibility measurement............... Erreur ! Signet non d\u00e9fini.\nFigure 5.18- The three components of magnetic field in the case of susceptibility measurement. The\nmaximum amplitude values are equal to Hx = 1.5 \u03bcT, Hy = 1 \u03bcT, Hz = 0.8 \u03bcT...... Erreur !\nSignet non d\u00e9fini.\nFigure 6.1-3D Probe based on a GMR array receiver and two current foils emitters ........................... 96\nFigure 6.2- The parameters of two current foils ................................................................................... 96\nFigure 6.3- Schematic of opposite excitation in two current foils emitters ........................................... 97\nFigure 6.4- Image of 1D z component distribution of magnetic induction reflected by aluminum mock-\nup for the two forms of excitations: phase and opposition phase ....................................... 98\nFigure 6.5- Distribution of z-component of magnetic induction reflected by aluminum mock-up at\ndifferent distance between the two current foils with the applied current of 100 mA (left\npart), 1D z-zone distribution at fixed x and y positions (GMR position) (right part) ......... 98\nFigure 6.6- Configuration realized in CIVA for 3D probe.................................................................... 99\nFigure 6.7- CSCAN of the defect in aluminum mock-uobtained with receiver places according to x-\naxis (left part), reconstruction of Hx component obtained with 3D EC probe (right part).\n........................................................................................................................................... 100\nFigure 6.8- CSCAN of the defect in aluminum mock-up obtained with receiver places according to y-\naxis (left part), reconstruction of Hy component of magnetic field with 3D EC probe (right\npart). .................................................................................................................................. 100\nFigure 6.9- CSCAN of the defect in aluminum mock-up obtained with receiver places according to z-\naxis (left part), reconstruction of Hz component of magnetic field with 3D EC probe (right\npart) ................................................................................................................................... 101\nFigure 6.10- Experimental set-up for EC measurements (left part) 3D probe installed (right part). 102\ncomponent measurement ................................................................................................... 102\nFigure 6.13- Simulation results (left part), and experimental results (right part) in the case of Hz\ncomponent measurement. .................................................................................................. 103\nFigure 6.15- Simulation result's (left part), and experimental results (right part) in the case of Hy\nFigure 6.17- Aluminum mock-up......................................................................................................... 106\nmeasurement...................................................................................................................... 109\nIII. List of abbreviations\nACFM Alternating current field measurement\nAMR Anisotropic magnetoresistance\nAFM Atomic Force Microscopy\nGMI Giant magnetoimpedance\nGMR Giant magnetoresistance\nEC NDT Eddy current non-destructive testing\nECT Eddy current testing\nEC Eddy current\nFM Ferromagnetic materials\nHNDT Holographic nondestructive testing\nLPF Low-pass filter\nMI Magneto Impedance\nMPI Magnetic particle inspection\nMFM Magnetic Force Microscopy\nMO Magneto-optical\nMR Magnetoresistance\nNDT Non-destructive testing\nNM Non-magnetic\nNMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance\nPT Penetrant Testing\nPEC NDT Pulsed eddy current non-destructive testing\nRTN Random telegraph noise\nSQUID Superconducting Quantum Interference Device\nSMRM Scanning magnetoresistance microscope\nSNOM Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope\nSNR Signal-to-noise ratio\nSTM Scanning Tunneling Microscope\nTEM Transmission Electron Microscope\nTMR Tunnel MagnetoResistance\nUT Ultrasonic testing\nIV. Introduction\nThe work presented in this thesis focuses on the design of probe allowing simultaneously\nreconstruction of three components of magnetic field at the same measurement point (3D\nprobe), for non-destructive testing (NDT) and magnetic imaging applications.\nNDT is used in order to evaluate the properties of a wide variety of materials without causing\ndamage. Some of the common non-destructive techniques are eddy current, ultrasonic, optics,\nradiography and liquid penetrant testing. In NDT applications, the eddy current technique\n(ECT) is a widely technique used to detect and identify surface and sub-surface defects in\nconductive materials such as aluminum, inconel or steel. The principle of the eddy current\ntechnique is based on the interaction between magnetic field emitter to induce eddy currents\nin a controlled piece and sensors to detect the magnetic field created by these eddy currents.\nThe sensors can detect the presence of defects in the controlled piece by monitoring changes\nin the emitted field.\nMagnetic imaging consists on measuring the magnetic stray field emitted by a magnetic\nobject. At micron scales, it allows to reconstruct the magnetic inhomogeneitites of the object,\nwhich can be related to structural shape, material inhomogeneities or domain formation.\nMagnetic imaging is also used to determine current flows on a material surface. DC\nmeasurement gives the static configuration while AC measurement allows the determination\nof either AC current flow, either local susceptibilities. Above a large use in condensed matter\nphysics, magnetic imaging is used in microelectronics for circuit failure determination, in\nmagnetic industry (storage and magnetic sensors) and in geophysics to determine properties\nof rocks for example.\nThe probes developed in my PhD work are based on spin electronics sensors, which are based\non the use of the spin of electrons in conductive layer to manipulate their transport properties.\nThe giant magnetoresistance effect (GMR) discovered in 1988 allowed the fabrication of high\nsensitivity and micron size magnetic sensors. The resistance of the GMR changes with the\napplication of external magnetic field. GMR with spin valves shape are a particular case of\nmultilayered structure where the resistance is varying as the angle of the applied external field\nand an internal reference direction. GMR sensors have been first implemented in read heads\nfor hard disk drives and more recently in a wide variety of products for automotive, energy\nmonitoring or health applications. For NDT applications, GMR sensors overcome the limits\nrelated to the fabrication of very small coils, while bringing a very good detectivity. The size\nof GMRs allows also the realization of 3D probes.\nAchievement of the Work\nThe main achievements of the research work can be summarized as follows:\n\uf0fc Literature survey that brought understanding and familiarity with magnetic sensors,\nNDT techniques, and different types of microscopes for magnetic imaging.\n\uf0fc Design and construction of 3D probes based on four GMR sensors allowing\nsimultaneously reconstruction of three components of magnetic field at the same\nmeasurement point, which includes hardware (mechanical support, electronic circuit,\nemitter part for NDT application\u2026) and software (code to reconstruct the three\ncomponents of magnetic field by the signals received from the four GMR sensors,\nnoise elimination\u2026).\n\uf0fc Different types of GMR sensors have been developed for different types of\napplications compromising detectivity and magnetic field range. Magnetic imaging of\nmodel systems: current line, one-dollar bill, structured metallic object.\n\uf0fc Implementation of a magnetic imaging of susceptibility.\n\uf0fc Probe configuration and emitter dimensions for NDT have been optimized by\nsimulations in CIVA software.\n\uf0fc Detection of \u03bcm-sized and mm-sized defects in Aluminum, Inconel and Titanium\nsamples and the reconstruction of three magnetic components have been achieved.\nThesis Layout\nChapter 1 presents a non-exhaustive bibliographic collection of magnetic sensors, usable for\nmagnetic imaging and for NDT. This chapter highlights a summary of the main properties of\nmagnetic sensors, and details principle of the GMR (chosen for the development of the 3D\nprobe).\nChapter 2 reports a state of the art of different NDT methods : their application and their\nperformance. Review on the use of Eddy current testing and the key features of this method\nfor surface and sub-surface flaws inspection are also reported.\nChapter 3 describes non-exhaustive state of the art concerning microscopes using for\nmagnetic imaging. We will look at the advantages of the 3D probe based on GMR sensors for\nmicro-imaging application and compare them to other magnetic imaging microscopes.\nChapter 4 reports the design of the new 3D probe based on GMR sensors, which is comprised\nof electronics and hardware. Two kinds of GMR used for the developing of the 3D probe have\nbeen described: The type 1 GMR sensor has sensitivity of 19 V\/V\/T and has a maximal\nworking field up to \u00b115 Oe. The second type of GMR sensor has a larger working field (\u00b1200\nOe) than the type one sensor at the detriment of its sensitivity (3.5 V\/V\/T.) The characteristics\nof these GMR sensors (stack, sensitivity, noise measurement and detectivity) are also\nChapter 5 introduces the experiments on the performance of the 3D probe for magnetic\nimaging. Detection of three components of the field generated by a current line and one-dollar\nbill are presented. Magnetic imaging of magnetic objects with arbitrary shapes in soft steel\nobject are discussed. Also we will show the performance of 3D probes for spacing between\nclose magnetic features and for susceptibility measurement.\nChapter 6 introduces the experiments on the performance of the 3D probe for NDT. Probe\nconfiguration and emitter dimensions optimized by simulations have been discussed.\nDetection of three components of magnetic field response caused by sub-surface and surface\ndefects (\u03bcm-sized) in Aluminum, Inconel and Titanium mock-ups are presented. Comparison\nof the experimental results and simulation results are also presented.\nConclusions drawn from the research work and sets out recommendations for further work are\ngiven at the end.\nPart 1: Literature Review\nChapter 1. Magnetic sensors\nThe sensor in general is a device that transforms a physical quantity into a usable\nquantity like current or voltage. Magnetic sensors described in this chapter are\nmeasuring a magnetic field or a magnetic flux and produce a voltage output\nproportional to that measured quantity. There are different types of magnetic sensors,\nlike inductive magnetic sensors (coils) [1], fluxgates [2], Hall devices [3], Giant\nMagnetoimpedance (GMI) [4], anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) [5], giant\nmagnetoresistance (GMR) [6], tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) [7], each one useful\nfor specific applications. This chapter presents first a non-exhaustive bibliographic\ncollection of these magnetic sensors, usable for magnetic imaging and for non-\ndestructive testing. There are other magnetic sensors with good performances in terms\nof minimum detectable field and spatial resolution, such as SQUID (Superconducting\nQuantum Interference Device) sensors [8] not presented here due to their conditions of\nuse with cryogenic cooling and their expensive cost which make them difficult to\noperate in Non-destructive testing context. We will detail GMR sensors and their\ncharacteristics more than the other sensors, because they are the base of developed\nprobes.\n1.2 Magnetic sensors\nA magnetic sensor is in general a part of measurement chain that transforms the\nmagnetic field detected into a usable quantity typically a voltage (Figure 1.1) [9]. The\nmain interest of the magnetic field is to freely propagate in space which allows non-\ncontact detection. For that reason, magnetic sensors are used in a wide range of\napplications like distance, speed, current measurements, metal characterization or non-\ndestructive testing (NDT).\nFigure 1.1- Measurement diagram of magnetic field\n1.3 Sensitivity, detectivity and noise.\nHere, we introduce some definitions extensively used in the document.\n1.3.1 Sensitivity\nThe first one is sensitivity. Sensitivity is the output voltage obtained for a given field\napplied on a sensor. That sensitivity is given in Volt(V)\/Tesla(T) but depending of the\nsensor technology other quantities can be used.\nFor example, magnetoresistances or Hall effect sensors where a resistance is varying\nwith the field, the output voltage is proportional to the bias voltage applied to the\nsensor. Then the sensitivity is given in V\/V\/T.\nAs we will see later, inductive sensors have a sensitivity, given in V\/T and it depends\non the frequency. Hence, sensitivity will be given at a specific frequency.\n1.3.2 Noise.\nThe noise of sensors is as important as the sensitivity as performances will be given by\nthe signal to noise available. Noise is nearly always given in \ud835\udc49\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 at a given\nfrequency. Sources of noise will be described later.\n1.3.3 Detectivity.\nThe detectivity or field equivalent noise is the most suitable quantity to compare\ndifferent magnetic sensors. It is the field for which the signal to noise ratio is one.\nHence, it is equal to the noise in \ud835\udc49\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 divided by the sensitivity. It is given in\n\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67. Detectivity is usually dependent on the frequency but also on the voltage\nbiasing, size etc... of each sensor.\n1.4 Noise in magnetic sensors\nThe noise of magnetic sensors can be classified into two categories: white noise\nindependent of frequency (thermal noise and shot noise), and noise dependent of the\nfrequency such as: 1\/f noise or random telegraphic noise (RTN). Also electronic and\ninstrumental noises influence on the level of magnetic sensors detection. The entire\nmeasurement chain (including amplification and electronics circuit), gives noise signal\nat their output, which limits the level value of useful signal measured. We introduce\nnoise directly related to magnetic sensors described in this chapter.\nThe first form of white noise is the thermal noise or Nyquist noise. Any resistance in\nnon-zero temperature is a source of electrical noise. The velocity of electrons is zero in\nthe absence of electromotive force. However, the resistance fluctuations is non-zero\ndue to Brownian motion. At a fixed temperature \ud835\udc47, the voltage spectral density of\n1 2\u2044\nthermal noise \ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc61\u210e is given by the Nyquist formula (equation (1-1)), where \ud835\udc58\ud835\udc35 is\nBoltzmann constant, \ud835\udc45 is the magnetic sensor resistance, and \ud835\udc47 is the temperature [10]:\n\ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc61\u210e = \u221a4. \ud835\udc58\ud835\udc35. \ud835\udc47. \ud835\udc45. (1-1)\nThe second form of white noise is the shot noise. It is an electric noise that can be\nmodeled by Poisson law. Shot noise reflects the discreet nature of carriers charge\n(fluctuation of some number of carriers). Under the action of electric field, an electric\ncurrent is generated by the individual transport of charge carriers. This noise, unlike\nthe thermal noise, is directly related to electric current I and to the charge of carriers.\n1\u20442\nIts spectral noise density \ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc46\u210e\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc61 is given in Volt, and can be calculated by the\nfollowing equation:\n\ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc46\u210e\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc61 = \u221a2. \ud835\udc52. \ud835\udc3c .\u0305 \ud835\udc45 (1-2)\nwhere \ud835\udc52 is the charge of the electron and the coefficient 2 is coming from the fact that\nwe reason only in positive frequencies. This noise is present only in tunnel junctions,\nand thus in TMR magnetic sensors which will be described later in this chapter.\n1\/f noise\nThe origin of 1\/f noise is still a subject of discussion. This noise appears at low\nfrequencies and decreases roughly as 1\/f. 1\/f noise is observed in nearly all existing\nphenomena ranging from earth quakes to brain activity but also in a simple resistance\nwire. In metallic conductors this noise is related to a resistance noise and hence it is\nrevealed when a current is sent through the conductor. For that reason, it is particularly\nimportant for magnetoresistances where the resistance is varying with magnetic field\nThus the 1\/f noise could have an electrical and\/or a magnetic origin in GMR sensors.\nThe spectral density of 1\/f noise observed in various components is inversely\nproportional to frequency (1\/f \u03b3 ) with \u03b3 is about one. In 1969, F. N. Hooge proposed\nphenomenological relationship through the collection of large number of experimental\nresults on semiconductors and homogeneous metals [11]:\n\ud835\udefc\ud835\udc3b \ud835\udc49 2\n\ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,1\u2044\ud835\udc53 (\ud835\udc53) = . (1-3)\n\ud835\udc41\ud835\udc50 \ud835\udc53 \ud835\udefe\nwhere \ud835\udc49 is a potential difference that across the conductor, \ud835\udc41\ud835\udc50 is the total number of\ncharge carriers in the material. The Hooge constant \ud835\udefc\ud835\udc3b is non-dimensional parameter\nthat depends on the purity and on the number of defects present in the material [12].\nThe Hooge constant \ud835\udefc\ud835\udc3b \/\ud835\udc41\ud835\udc50 allows comparison of noise level between sensors. The 1\/f\nnoise dominates the white noise (typically in GMR and TMR) below cut-off or\noverlap frequency \ud835\udc53\ud835\udc50 . The noise due to magnetic domain is very high in small\nmagnetic GMR sensors and is strongly related to structural properties and magnetic\nconfiguration of the GMR. As this noise is inversely proportional to the number of\ncarriers, to increase the volume of the sensor reduces the 1\/f noise. This can be done\nby lengthening the yoke (will be presented in paragraph 4.5) or connecting several\nGMR in series or in parallel.\nRandom Telegraphic Noise (RTN):\nRandom telegraph noise (RTN) is one of important dynamic variation sources in\ndigital circuits. RTN occurs due to the random trapping\/detrapping fluctuations, it is\nimportant to study the RTN, since it is often due to random fluctuations between the\nmetastable states of the magnetic domains of the free layer. This phenomenon\ninducing undesirable variations in resistance is strongly dependent on working\nconditions of the device, and on polarization current. The spectral density of RTN is\ngiven in Eq 1-5\n\ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc45\ud835\udc47\ud835\udc41 (0)\n\ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc45\ud835\udc47\ud835\udc41 (\ud835\udc53) =\n\u2206\ud835\udc38 2 ( \u2206\ud835\udc38 ) + (2\ud835\udf0b\ud835\udc53\ud835\udf0f)2 ]\ncosh( )\n\ud835\udc58\ud835\udc35 \ud835\udc47 [\ud835\udc50\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc60\u210e \ud835\udc58\ud835\udc35 \ud835\udc47\n\ud835\udc38\nWhere \ud835\udf0f \u22121 = \u22112\ud835\udc56=1 \ud835\udf0f\ud835\udc56 \u22121 with \ud835\udf0f\ud835\udc56 = \ud835\udf0f\ud835\udc56,0 exp (\ud835\udc58 \ud835\udc56\ud835\udc47) , \ud835\udc38\ud835\udc56 corresponds to energy level of\n\ud835\udc35\nstate 'i'.\nIn magnetoresistive sensors like GMR and TMRs, RTN noise is mainly due to\nmagnetic domain fluctuations. It has been demonstrated that by a shape of the sensor\nor by magnetic stabilization of the magnetic layers, it can be reduced or even\neliminated [13].\nIn Figure 1.2 results obtained by Trauchessec et al. [14] on a GMR sensor are shown.\nThe square root of the noise power spectral density (right part) exhibits two\ncomponents: thermal noise and the low-frequency noise; the thermal noise becomes\ndominant above 1 kHz. The detectivity in the thermal noise regime of this sensor is\n0.1 \ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67.\nFigure 1.2-GMR characteristics as a function of the magnetic induction (left part), noise in a yoke-type GMR\n(right part) of 5\u00b5m width\n1.5 Inductive magnetic sensors\nInductive sensors are one of the oldest and most well-known type of magnetic sensors\n[15]. Inductive sensors are coils with different geometries, flat or solenoid. Generally,\nconventional coils are fabricated by winding a copper wire around a core.\nThanks to Lenz-Faraday induction phenomenon (Equation (1-5)), the magnetic field\nvariation into the inductive sensor creates a voltage. The transfer function of induced\nvoltage measured across the coil is given by V = f (B). This transfer function results\nfrom the fundamental Faraday's law of induction:\n\ud835\udc51\u03a6 \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc35 \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc3b\n\ud835\udc49 = \u2212\ud835\udc5b . = \u2212\ud835\udc5b. \ud835\udc34. = \u2212\u03bc0 . \ud835\udc5b. \ud835\udc34. (1-5)\n\ud835\udc51\ud835\udc61 \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc61 \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc61\nwhere \u03a6 is magnetic flux passing through a coil with an area A and a number of turns\nn. The output signal of a coil, V, depends on the rate of change of flux density \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc35\/\ud835\udc51\ud835\udc61.\nThe sensitivity S of the coil is the ratio of amplitude V to the magnetic field B,\naccording to the Lenz-Faraday law, at the frequency f. It could be written as:\n\ud835\udc49\n\ud835\udc46 = | | = \ud835\udc5b. 2. \ud835\udf0b. \ud835\udc53. \ud835\udc34 (1-6)\nThis equation shows that the sensitivity of inductive magnetic sensor increases when\nfrequency, dimensions or number of turns increases. However, the sensitivity is\nlimited by the resonance frequency \ud835\udc530 (equation (1-7)). If the working frequency \ud835\udc53 is\nhigher than the resonance frequency of the inductive sensor (\ud835\udc53 > \ud835\udc530 ), the sensitivity\nstarts to decrease. The equivalent circuit of inductive magnetic sensor is described in\nFigure 1.3-Equivalent circuit of induction sensor with load capacity \ud835\udc360 and load\nresistance \ud835\udc450.\nThis resonance frequency depends on the internal resistance R, inductance L and self-\ncapacitance C of coil sensor:\nf0 = (1-7)\n2. \ud835\udf0b. \u221a\ud835\udc3f. \ud835\udc36\nAt frequency above the resonance frequency, the operation of inductive magnetic\nsensor is dominated by the parasitic capacitance, and it becomes equivalent to a\ncapacitor. Thus, the inductive magnetic sensor will become unusable for NDT and\nmagnetic imaging applications. Above the resonance frequency, with \ud835\udefc = \ud835\udc45\u2044\ud835\udc450 , \ud835\udefd =\n\ud835\udc45. \u221a\ud835\udc36 \u2044\ud835\udc3f , \ud835\udc4e\ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc51 \ud835\udefe = \ud835\udc53\u2044\ud835\udc530 = 2. \ud835\udf0b. \ud835\udc53. \u221a\ud835\udc3f. \ud835\udc36 the sensitivity of inductive coil can be also\nexpressed by the following expression [16]:\n\ud835\udc5b. 2. \ud835\udf0b. \ud835\udc34\n\ud835\udc46=\n\ud835\udefc2 (1-8)\n\u221a(1 + \ud835\udefc)2 + (\ud835\udefd 2 + \u2212 2) \u00d7 \ud835\udefe 2 + \ud835\udefe 4\n\ud835\udefd2\nThe inductive sensors could contain a ferromagnetic core in order to concentrate the\nmagnetic field and to increase the sensitivity [17].\nAccording to equation (1-6) the sensitivity can be increased by increasing the coil\nsurface, but the counter part for NDT is the decrease of the spatial resolution. The\nminimum magnetic field detectable by the coil is also limited by the intrinsic noise of\ncoil and by the noise of associated electronics. In addition, the intrinsic thermal noise\nof the coil increases with its resistance, thus, the intrinsic thermal noise increases with\nits dimensions and number of turns.\nThe performance of inductive sensors can be calculated analytically in case of coils\nwithout ferrite core. Korepanov details it in [18].\nHere we will take two examples, which will allow us to compare GMR\/TMR sensors\nand inductive coils performances for non-destructive evaluation.\nThe first example is a square coil that has the following characteristics: resistance of\n3.5 Ohms, 8 layers, each layer has 9 mm2 of effective surface, and one turn (Figure\n1.4).\nFigure 1.4-Square Coil\nAccording to the Nyquist formula, its spectral density of white noise \ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc61\u210e is 0.24 \ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc49\/\n\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 . Equation (1-6) allows to calculate a sensitivity \ud835\udc46 of 5.4 \ud835\udc49\/ \ud835\udc47 at 12 kHz. Its\ndetectivity is equal to \ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc61\u210e \/\ud835\udc46 = 44 \ud835\udc5d\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 at 12 kHz, if the noise is limited by the\ncoil. If we consider a preamplifier with a typical voltage noise of 1 \ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc49\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 this gives\na detectivity of 176 \ud835\udc5d\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67.\nThe second example is a micro coil that wound using 0.7 mm radius wire, 460 turns\nand has a resistance of 32 Ohms.\nFigure 1.5- Cylindrical Coil\n1 2 \u2044\nThe cylindrical coil has white noise spectral density \ud835\udc46\ud835\udc49,\ud835\udc61\u210e of 0.73 \ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc49\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 . Equation\n(1-6) allows to calculate its sensitivity \ud835\udc46 = 53 \ud835\udc49\/ \ud835\udc47 at f = 12 kHz. Its magnetic noise is\nequal to 13 \ud835\udc5d\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 at f= 12 kHz. Mook presents in [19] the limit of miniaturized coil\ndimension using a copper wire of 30 \u03bcm diameter: it has a width of 0.5 mm, length of\n3 mm, 1000 turns.\nAnother type of coils is etched coils made on standard PCB or on flexible film of\nKapton type. Kapton is a thin film of polyimide, from ten to several hundreds of\nmicrometers, which has a very good flexibility. These flexible sensors allow to inspect\ncomplex shapes objects. For example, an eddy current probe for NDT developed in\nour laboratory is composed of 96 patterns of 2 micro-coils etched on a soft Kapton\nfilm of 50 \u00b5m of thickness Woytasik presents in [20] an example of coils that have 13\nturns in a volume of 30x18x100 \ud835\udf07\ud835\udc5a3 . The micro-coils allow to innovate in biomedical\ninstrumentation such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) using for imaging or for\nspectroscopy [21, 22]. Khelifa describes in [23] the manufacturing processes of\nflexible rectangular micro-coil (500 \u00d7 1000 \ud835\udf07\ud835\udc5a\u00b2) made on kapton substrate for\nNMR. Micro-coils have a limited spatial resolution and a limited sensitivity at low\nfrequencies but are very efficient at high frequencies.\n1.6 Fluxgates\nFluxgates sensors are composed of a ferromagnetic core and at least two coils. There\nare several configurations of fluxgate sensor, which are described in [24, 25]. Figure\n1.6 shows one of these configurations: an exciter winding surrounding the nucleus,\ntraversed by alternative current, creates an alternating magnetic field in the core,\nlocally parallel to the winding axis. The corresponding induction undergoes saturation,\nsymmetrical to zero. Another winding is arranged around the core, its axis being\nrectilinear. The first coil is called the excitation coil, while the second one is called the\nmeasurement coil or pick-up coil. These sensors exploit the saturation of\nferromagnetic material of core.\nFigure 1.6-Principle diagram of fluxgate\nThe voltage at the output of the pick-up coil has a form of pulses. In the absence of\nexternal magnetic field, the voltage is symmetric in time. In presence of external\nmagnetic field, the saturation of core is more rapid for one semi-period than another.\nThis asymmetry induces a time shift in the voltage at the output of pick-up coil. The\nmeasurement of this time shift allows to estimate the value of the external magnetic\nfield. Figure 1.7 shows the principle of phase shift measurement at the output of pick-\nup coil using to detect the presence of external magnetic field. We deduce external\nmagnetic field \ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc52\ud835\udc65 by the measurement of interval between the pulses.\nFigure 1.7- Principle of pulse shift method\nThe excitation coil frequency for fluxgate is in general between 50 Hz and 10 kHz.\nFluxgates have a high sensitivity, especially for continuous magnetic fields. They are\ndeveloped initially for compasses, because they are able to detect the Earth's magnetic\nfield. They are able to measure the components of constant or varying magnetic field\nvector in the range from 0.1 mT to 8 mT at frequencies up to several kHz. Pavel Ripka\ndescribes in [26] a summary of fluxgates performances. Recently, printed circuit board\n(PCB) technology has been used in the development of planar fluxgates for NDT\napplication [25]. Kej\u00edk has developed a 2D planar fluxgate composed of two\northogonal plan coils and an amorphous ferromagnetic core in the shape of PCB ring\n[27]. The authors report that the sensor is linear in a range of \u00b160 \u03bcT, and shows a\nsensitivity of 55 V\/mT. Also in biology application, a fluxgate sensors have been used\nin order to determine the binding between Streptavidin proteins with Biotin [28] and to\nstudy the release properties of hydrogel cylinders and microsphere [29].\nReducing of fluxgate dimensions decreases its performance. To prove this, we\nconsider two following examples: first, a sensor made by the Bartington Instrument\nCompany with a volume of 8 \u00d7 8 \u00d7 30 \ud835\udc5a\ud835\udc5a3 has white noise about 2 \ud835\udc5d\ud835\udc47\/\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 and can\nwork up to 4 kHz; second, a micro-fluxgate designed by CEA LETI in 2005 with\ndimensions 1mm \u00d7 400\u00b5m \u00d7 few \u00b5m etched on Silicon has white noise about 1 \ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc47\/\n\u221a\ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc67 [30, 31]. By simple comparison between the thermal noise of these two\nexamples, we can conclude that the reducing of fluxgate dimensions undergoes a loss\nin fluxgate performances manifested by increasing of noise. The main problem of\nminiaturized fluxgates stems from the volume of their coils. The fluxgates show\nimportant restrictions due to their weight, power consumption and high temperature\nfluctuations (no thermal stability).\n1.7 Giant magneto-impedances\nMagneto Impedance (MI) has been discovered in 1930 by Harisson et al in a nickel\nwire [32]. Later, in the early 1990s, Panina et al. studied the phenomenon in\namorphous wires and films, and discovered Giant Magneto-Impedance (GMI) [33].\nGiant magneto-impedance (GMI) is due to a significant modification of the impedance\nof soft ferromagnetic materials (amorphous or nanocrystalline wires or ribbons) when\nthey are subjected to external magnetic field. The excitation frequency of GMI is in\nthe MHz range.\nFigure 1.8 shows GMI sensor configuration formed by a simple ferromagnetic wire\ncrossed by an alternating current:\nFigure 1.8- GMI sensor made of ferromagnetic wire crossed by\nalternating current and subjected to an external field \ud835\udc3b\ud835\udc52\ud835\udc65\nThe impedance of conducting wire depends on skin effect \ud835\udeff (equation (2-7)), to\ngeometrical dimensions of the wire \ud835\udc4e, and to the wire resistance at low frequency \ud835\udc45. \ud835\udc57\nis the complex number according to the relation:\n\ud835\udc4e\n\ud835\udc4d = (1 + \ud835\udc57) . \ud835\udc45. (1-9)\n\ud835\udeff\nThe impedance given here is only defined if there is linear relation between current\nand voltage. This relation is valid if \u03b4<