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Normally, the early business of an assembly consists of rather dry procedural housekeeping details that only a parliamentarian could love. Not so at this assembly.
On Monday night, during the first business session, when the adoption of procedures and rules came up on the agenda, the kid gloves came off for the first time.
First, though, some quick background details. Adoption of a church social statement, such as the sexuality statement being considered here in Minneapolis, requires a 2/3 "super majority vote" in order to pass. That's in the constitution and can't be changed without a lot of trouble. Other business, such as the recommended changes to ministry policy, which are also being considered here, require only a "simple majority," or 50% + 1.
Well, the debate on Moday night centered around changing the voting rules only for ministry policies. Opponents of changing church policy to enable partnered gay and lesbian church professionals, which includes pastors, to serve as rostered (official) leaders of the church desperately attempted to change the vote requirement from a simple majority to a super majority. This parliamentary move would almost certainly doom the legislation, making change impossible.
Voices were passionalte on both sides of the 2 hour debate. Those in favor of keeping the simple majority argued that it only took a 50% vote to decide against allowing partnered gay and lesbian professionals to serve in the church in the first place, so it's only right that we should allow a 50% vote to change the policy to allow full inclusivity now. Those in favor of requiring a super majority vote argued that since there is no unity in opinion in the ELCA on the subject, and because of the "gravity of the issue," only a 2/3 vote would be appropriate. Eventually, however, we won the day, and on the motion to require a super majority vote on ministry policy changes, the vote was 57% against.
This is great news for supporters of full inclusion, and considering the numbers of the vote, there is great hope now among us that the changes to ministry policies will pass when they come up for vote on, perhaps, Friday.
This, as you know, directly affects Grace, as we have a pastor who is excluded from serving on the official ELCA roster because of the existing policy. And there are a heartbreaking number of stories which are even tougher to hear than Pasotr Lura's.
We have met so many seminary sturdents and graduates here who suffer from this exclusion. I spoke to a young man this morning, a seminary student, who told me that when he recently came out to his congregation, he was asked to leave the church. Our Graceful Engagemet trainer is a seminary grad who is serving the church in a low-paying, lay position. She can find no other work. And I spoke with the mother of another seminary grad ( she is, ironically, the wife of an ELCA pastor) who is simply waiting for a call that will never come if policy is not changed. She cries at the injustice and the pain of it for her child.
Pasor Lura came to us, you remember, as an ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) candidate. ELM is a sponsoring body for LGBT persons who will accept extraordinary calls from churches, like Grace, who are willing to buck the ELCA rules and call an unrostered person. We did it. It can be done. But it is a sacrifice for the pastor because it is not an official, ELCA sanctioned call.
Do you know that, despite our local bishop's sensitivity on the subject, he must send mail to her under the title, "Ms. Lura Groen"? Do you know that she cannot vote at church meetings? Do you know that we are listed on our local synod's website as currently being without a pastor?
Can you imagine how difficult this must be? Granted, our pastor has not let this slow her down in the least, but it still hurts. And it is clear that some pastors are simply not willing to take her chosen route at all. And they hurt, too. They all want to serve in the ELCA -- the church they love, the church that nurtured them as children, the church that willingly educated them to be qualified pastors, the church to which they feel called. It is for all of these people, for all of the Ms. and Mr. near-pastors out there, that we work this week.
We walk the halls, talking to voting members about the issues. We sit next to them at meals, sharing our personal stories and putting a real, live face on the debate. We train, we sing, we pray, we support one another in this tiring work. And at the end of long, exhausting days, we fall into our beds for a few hours of sleep, feeling vulnerable and afraid, but recalling the words of Bishop Hanson in his opening sermon, "Fear can make us turned inward, immobilized, withdrawn from engagement in God's mission -- mere shadows of what God created us to be. Fear can make us obsessively protective of what we have, and reactively distrustful of others. Fear nurtures the suspicion and cynicism that lead us to act in ways that are mean-spirited and downright anti-neighborly. Fear can drive us to make demands of others for our own security rather than faith making us ready to serve others with confidence and humility. Fear can drive us to false certainties rather than be ready to explore questions that, when addresses faithfully, can embolden our witness, release our imaginations, deepen our faith, and strengthen our courage."
It is hard not to live in fear right now. What if all of our work comes to nothing? What if what we believe to be God's justice is overturned? It is, indeed, hard not to be afraid.
But we stand in the certainty of God's love and grace, in the certainty of the open and welcoming witness of the life of Jesus, and in the certainty of the wisdom, comfort, and direction that is offered by the Holy Spirit.
No matter what happens here in Minneapolis, we can be absolutely certain of these things. Even if the road ahead of us is going to be longer and more difficult that we would wish for, we can still be certain of these things.
It is this certainty that brings deep, restful sleep at the end of an exhausting day, and the energy to get up and start all over again in the morning.
Later today (hopefully): the results of the Sexuality Statement vote!


Be prepared for a serious arm-wrestle from a seriously hard pulling sport fish.
Cobia are axceptionally powerful battlers providing long, fast runs, sometimes jumps, and the don't give up very easily. Often mistaken for sharks, cobia are often found swimming with manta rays, whales and large sharks.
They are found in Northern oceanic waters of Australia - occasionally in Southerern waters of the continent depending on warm currents in summer.
Size: 5 - 20kg. But can reach up to 70kg in some places.
They are a good eating fish too with a firm white flesh.
Depends on the size of fish being targeted - they grow extremely large so 9 - 14wt outfits will cover all situations and make sure you have a reel with a strong drag with plenty of backing.
Anything really, Large is good!!! They like to hang around Manata Rays, but otherwise deep on structures such as channel markers.
Sinking lines will get flies down to the required depths for fish that hang under mantas and down around markers or structure. Occasionally they are found on the surface but a sinking line should be first choice.


The desire to surprise and delight you is imprinted in our DNA. So get ready to enjoy an unforgettable stay, and let us take care of everything.
Our dining offer is a combination of traditional cuisine, surf and turf, classic tapas and more contemporary preparations, always searching for products of the highest quality while respecting our philosophy: an honest and elegant cuisine made with love and care. And with what we do not prepare ourselves, such as our cold cuts and cheeses, we offer the best raw ingredients produced locally so that you can enjoy the highest quality.
At the Sorli Sport spa you can enjoy a water area with sauna, Turkish bath or hammam, salt cabin, ice cave, sensations shower, individual cabins, etc. The use of swimwear, flip flops and shower cap at the spa is mandatory. Special access fee for guests staying at Hotel Sorli Emocions.
If you want to enjoy a relaxing and sensorial experience, put yourself in the hands of our Natura Bissé specialist team. They will recommend the best treatment for you so that you can feel completely revitalised inside and out. Book in advance to guarantee your relaxing experience.
Our innovative centre, Sorli Sport, is a space with a contemporary design equipped with the latest technology and dedicated entirely to sport, health and beauty. It is the ideal complement for your stay at the hotel, whether you are looking to relax or to free endorphins by burning toxins. Special access fee for guests staying at Hotel Sorli Emocions.
Get away from a hard day practicing outdoor sports while staying at Hotel Sorli Emocions. Play paddle tennis in one of the 6 tracks you will find in our Sorli Sport center. Make your reservation in advance with possible morning or afternoon hours (service with special rate for guests staying at the hotel).
Fancy a dip as the sun goes down after a long day out? Then head for our swimming pool and garden, where you can relax with the best music selection while sharing an ice-cold cava and sampling our delicatessen.
At the Sorli Emocions shopping centre you can enjoy new shopping experiences and emotions, discovering the best brands in accessories, high-quality cosmetics, books, wine, food and tableware.
The centre is a place where experimental creativity, exclusivity and innovation come together in products which are ideal for gifts or personal treats, all of which in the heart of the Maresme region.
Loyal to our commitment, we use bed linen made with Egyptian cotton by the historical manufacturer Bassols, located in nearby Sabadell. Our mattresses are made with care by Sonpura in Terrassa, our china is from La Bisbal and our furniture is by Andreu World among others.
Also, breakfast at Sorli Emocions is prepared entirely with local products and homemade dishes, made freshly for each guest.


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Truckers' protest may hit deliveries
Drivers are planning blockades on roads and at industrial estates, potentially disrupting Christmas travel
TRUCK drivers are threatening to block roads and access to parcel depots and industrial estates later this week, bringing possible disruption to Christmas travel and deliveries.
Rungis wholesale food market on the outskirts of Paris, which supplies fresh food to shops and restaurants across large parts of France, is among the locations that could be targeted in the protest.
Other strategic roads, warehouses and logistics centres could also be blockaded. The CFDT union claims the turnout will be "massive" - with most of the protests planned for Thursday and Friday, December 18-19.
Unions are calling for a pay rise, with a guaranteed hourly wage of at least €10, plus the payment of a 13th month of salary at the end of each calendar year.
They say transport firms can afford the rise now that petrol prices are lower and the threat of the écotaxe on polluting transport has been scrapped.
CFDT Route general secretary Thierry Cordier said: "This is the only means we have to be heard and understood. It's bad news for households, but we want to defend our members' interests first and foremost."
Who has a key to get into my home letterbox in France?
Covid-19: How long for France to vaccinate enough people?
Hikes and fat bikes: French ski firms diversify for Covid

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When former hobby kingpin Bill Mastro appeared in a Chicago Federal courthouse last October and plead guilty to one count of mail fraud, his plea agreement included details of the auction house improprieties which contributed to his possible five-year sentence in a Federal prison. Mastro was scheduled to be sentenced last December, but papers filed in court postponed the sentencing until June when it was again pushed off until October. Mastro's co-defendant, Mark Theotikos, was also scheduled to change his plea to guilty in June but on Wednesday his hearing was again postponed from July 28th to August 6th when he is expected to enter a guilty plea. Mastro's other co-defendant, Doug Allen, is scheduled for trial in September.
Mastro's plea agreement stipulates that he must cooperate with the Government in its case against his co-defendants but it also details the elaborate shill-bidding scheme that prosecutors allege Mastro and his employees engaged in from 2002 to 2009 at Mastro Auctions.
Mastro's plea agreement describes an episode that transpired in 2002 when Mastro "placed shill bids to drive up prices" on items bid on by Tom Noe, a coin dealer and Republican fundraiser from northwest Ohio. Back in 2006, Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News reported that Ohio investigators suspected Noe had made purchases at Mastro Auctions with state money and that in the course of a probe called "Coin-Gate" discovered that Mastro Auctions "may have engaged in shill bidding and other questionable practices that resulted in inflated prices and auction house commissions." Ohio State Auditor Betty Montgomery estimated at the time that Mastro had sold Noe "at least $1.3 million worth of memorabilia" and in 2012 Noe was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for theft, money laundering and other charges.
In one specific instance noted in Mastro's plea agreement, the government details Mastro's shill bidding in his 2002 Spring Americana auction against Noe who had contacted Mastro "directly in order to place ceiling bids in the auctions." In 2006, an anonymous source told the New York Daily News that "Noe had a secret account with Mastro Auctions, and the only person at Mastro Auctions allowed to conduct transactions with Noe was CEO Bill Mastro." The Mastro plea agreement states that Noe placed "up to 100 ceiling bids through defendant depending on the auction." Mastro then utilized "a shill account belonging to a friend of an auction house employee to drive up Individual T. N.'s ceiling bids." Mastro's shill bidding ultimately inflated the prices of several items Noe won including "a 1924 John W. Davis Jumbo Campaign Display Badge for $2,338″ and a "set of 1960 John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon Campaign Posters for $2,205." The government states that the bidder would have won those auction lots for for a lesser price had Mastro not shilled him. Mastro also sent invoices and the auction lots to an associate of Noe thus creating the basis for his plea of guilty to one count of mail fraud.
Bill Mastro (inset left) plead guilty to shill bidding former Ohio Republican fundraiser and convicted felon Tom Noe (center). The plea agreement also alleges Mastro and partner Doug Allen (inset right) shill bid a customer on a rare set of Mayo football cards from the 1890s. (bottom).
The government documents show how Mastro "repeatedly shill bid" customers like Noe and also "had access to ceiling bids because of his position" and also detailed how sometimes bidders placed those ceiling bids directly with Mastro and his partner Doug Allen and how Mastro says both men would "drive up the bids of certain bidders, by placing shill bids below the bidders' ceiling bids." In another specific instance the court papers state that Allen knew a certain bidder had "placed a ceiling bid of $80,000 on a Mayo football card set" and that Mastro "observed as Allen, using a paddle belonging to Owner A, placed shill bids on the Mayo Football card set knowing that his bids would not win and would trigger Individual C. L.'s ceiling bid." The set sold in the 2006 auction for $91,535 including Mastro's buyers premium.
Bill Mastro sits at the phone banks of his "Best of Yesterday" phone auction in 1996, years before computer and online bidding became the norm in the industry.
Additionally, Mastro also violated a 2007 "Code of Conduct" established by the auction house whereby he "failed to disclose items that were owned by the auction house" and another company "Historical Collectibles" which was owned by the auction house and had its "merchandise, records and other assets" stored at the Mastro auction house. The agreement reveals that between 2008 and 2009 "Mastro knew that the auction house failed to disclose ownership of over 1,000 items owned by Historical Collectibles" and also engaged in placing "ceiling bids on several hundred items owned by Historical Collectibles that Mastro had previously owned.
Contrary to Luckey's claims that he did not engage in this bidding practice, several sources allege that Luckey was a prime example of this activity and was included in the circle of friends both Mastro and Allen knew engaged in such bidding agreements with other friends and associates. Sources also indicate that since Mastro allegedly destroyed bidding records from the pre-2007 auctions, Luckey felt confident his bidding would not be recognized in the FBI investigation into Mastro. Between 2007 and 2009 Luckey vehemently defended Mastro and Allen and attacked other forum members who criticized and leveled accusations against the auction house and its principals. Luckey claimed New York Daily News reporter Michael O'Keeffe had "a vendetta" against Mastro and banned a forum member named Aaron Michiel for calling him "Mastro Monkey" in his online posts.
Net54 moderator Leon Luckey (left) banned a member who called him "Mastro's Monkey" for his support of Bill Mastro and Doug Allen. The collector "Aaron M." posted his reaction to Mastro's guilty plea on another forum (right).
After Mastro's guilty plea Aaron Michiel took to the Vintage Non Sports Cards chat board after Mastro's guilty plea stating that back in 2007 he "grasped the scope of (Mastro Auctions') criminal activity" and reiterated how Luckey was "completely in Bill (Mastro) and Doug's (Allen) back pocket and defended them at any chance." Feeling vindicated even more Michiel referred to Luckey in another post last week writing, "The Mastro Monkey finally turned on his master." Aaron then posted Luckey's recent comments about Mastro's posting on Paul Lesko's CardBoard Connection article in which the disgraced auctioneer showed little remorse for his misdeeds. Luckey responded to that post saying he found Mastro's statement "disgusting" and promised that he would be writing a letter to Mastro's judge to voice his displeasure.
One thing that Leon Luckey and Aaron Michiel have in common is that both say they believe they are victims of Mastro's shill-bidding scheme. There are scores of Mastro customers and collectors who believe they were shilled as well as others who suspect they were but just don't know for sure. The one's who know for sure were contacted by FBI agents in the course of the Mastro investigation and were told the details of the shill-bidding process.
Last year, Paul Lesko published two of the letters written by Mastro's victims that were sent to Judge Ronald Guzman, but sources indicate that many other letters were sent by victims chronicling their personal stories and thoughts on the ex-hobby kingpin. Last year Hauls of Shame secured another letter written by Mastro shill-bidding victim Stephen Cummings, a forensic psychologist from Seattle, Washington. Cummings was contacted by one of Mastro's attorneys to write a character reference letter to the Judge in support of Mastro but instead decided to write a letter he describes is "quite different from the version his attorneys had suggested." In the letter, which was made public by the court on Wednesday, Cummings offers his personal analysis of how Mastro was "sociopathic and abused the trust of his customers." Cummings also suggests to the Judge that Mastro "has a severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder with Antisocial Features" and that he became "addicted to money and power, and enjoyed the process of 'screwing' unwitting customers." Cummings also requested a refund for "22% over charges incurred during the shill bidding process." Cummings' letter appears in its entirety (below).
Shill-bidding victim Stephen Cummings sent this "character reference" letter to the Judge in the Mastro case.
Well I sent in a letter stating I had nothing but good dealings with Bill over the years.
Was I ever shilled in 1 of his auctions? Maybe, do I still get shilled to this day in other auctions? Maybe, but there is no way to tell and I just try to bid what I am comfortable paying and not think about it.
And…. NEVER leave ceiling bids with certain auction houses! That is free money sitting in front of them on the table, what do you expect them to do? I know… Be Honest.
good for Stephen Cummings for his letter. I just hope the legal team doesn't use this letter as a cause for mental insanity in regard to this case. He went dangerously to close in detail description of his character. I guess this is what psycologists do but don't give the defense something to sink their teeth in!
I don't wish bad things on anyone but this man has a bed right next to Bernie Madoff I hope. In closing Don Steinbach is probably better off that he passed early. Maybe it was God's calling to save him from his partner's nightmare greed tendencies. I wonder how Don Steinbach would have handled this or would Mastro have stayed honest if Steinbach lived?
Glad to see the courts are and will act on these cases of fraud to John Q. Now the others who think they are scott free,had better keep a eye out over their shoulder,cause they could be next, to bite the bullet.
You were defrauded by Mastro. Prices on items were falsely inflated due to Mastro and Allen's fraud — you overpaid because of it. Not leaving a ceiling bid made no difference with these guys — they were running people up, one bid at a time, giving a false sense to bidders that that they were bidding against a legit other bidder. Just paying what you thought you were 'comfortable with' makes no difference; perhaps their shill bidding still made you pay too much?
Bill and Doug were the biggest fraudsters in the history of our hobby and they deserve severe prison sentences. Bill's pitiful claim of finding God is as much of a load of crap as everything else about him. The judge will learn the truth as he sees an avalanche of bad character letters, something that rarely happens at criminal sentencings.
Not Mastros Monkey…If you think Mastro and Co are the only auction crooks you are sadly mistaken. The current auction heads are cut from the same cloth and just havnt gotten caught yet. Dan McKee gives the best advice about never leaving a ceiling bid but that doesn't cover all the fakes and altered material tbey sell at will.


Jonathan Jansen leaves his tenure at the University of Free State for a position at Stanford University in the United States. (Nardus Engelbrecht, Gallo).
It's hard to get near to Jonathan Jansen. The University of the Free State (UFS) rector has just given a talk at the Franschhoek Literary Festival, and there's a throng of people who want to shake his hand and profess their admiration.
During his conversation onstage with broadcaster Redi Thlabi, Jansen had mentioned a big announcement he was due to make the following Monday, without elaborating.
The news turned out to be his departure from UFS to take up a position at Stanford University in the United States in September. It was an unexpected revelation, given that Jansen had categorically denied rumours that he was stepping down as recently as last month.
Later, settling into an armchair in the panellists' Green Room, Jansen was still keeping mum about his move.
The news was broken in a statement from the UFS council on Monday. Reactions on social media were predictably mixed. It's fair to say that Jansen has divided opinion during his tenure at the university. To some, he has been a vital black figurehead who has made enormous strides in transforming a racially divided institution at a difficult period in South Africa's history. Others consider him a conservative — even reactionary — individual whose views on race and politics have been increasingly out of touch with the student mood.
But Jansen dismisses the notion that his public writing, in particular, has often attracted criticism. "I can honestly tell you 90% of what I get in emails and letters is incredible validation," he says.
But he is quick to concede that, after seven years at the helm of the university, much work remains to be done. The notion that it had become a bastion of non-racialism under his stewardship was exposed as a myth in February, when a brawl broke out between white spectators and black protestors at a Varsity Cup rugby game.
That event meant Jansen's time at the institution was bookended by ugly racial incidents. He took up his position shortly after a video surfaced in 2008 showing UFS employees on their knees eating food which had been urinated on by male students. The parallel of the two incidents is not lost on Jansen.
Jansen cites the existence of interracial couples at the university as one illustration of a shift in institutional culture.
The practical moves the university has undertaken under Jansen to deal with racism include introducing workshops on the topic and a core curriculum on race and history, which is mandatory for every first-year student.
But steps taken on campus sometimes have little effect off campus: Jansen describes UFS as set amid a largely "untransformed" farming community. "I call it the Mississippi of South Africa," he says.
Some of the issues with which UFS has been grappling have been shared by other universities nationally: students unhappy with financial exclusion, for instance, and wrangling over language policy changes.
But there's little doubt that part of Jansen's divisiveness among students must be attributed to his public writing, in which he has frequently expressed frustration with a black sense of victimhood and entitlement, and endorsed a kind of pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps approach to tackling poverty.
In February this year, for instance, Jansen wrote a column in which he expressed a desire for the government to operate as efficiently as Domino's Pizza.
Some felt it to be a strange and inappropriate analogy, given that corporate South Africa has often achieved its efficiency on the back of exploiting underpaid black labour. When I raise this, Jansen looks frustrated.
"Go there," he says, meaning that I should visit a Domino's Pizza franchise. "Go there and tell those people that they are serially oppressed. You'll find people who are joyful, who are happy to have work.
He adds that in his youth he sold Bata shoes in Wynberg, Cape Town, "and I was not less of a person".
It's these kinds of pronouncements that have prompted speculation that Jansen's end-game might be to enter South African party politics.
"Absolutely not," he says, adding that there must be a space for public intellectuals to express views without being dismissed on the basis of political affiliation.
"I think that was also the role I would have advised for my friend Dr [Mamphela] Ramphele," he says, in reference to the former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor's doomed foray into politics with her party, Agang.


The Department of Dance debuts its 55th season with works by our upcoming generation of creative artists. With nine powerful new works by our undergraduate students, audiences will be guided through experiences of belonging, the American Dream, the power of nature and our vulnerable relationship with life. Join us in this celebration of youth and hope traced by our young and inspiring artists.


Tennessee is supposed to have a part-time Legislature, the primary constitutional responsibility of such is to pass a budget. Everything that is over, above, and beyond the passage of a budget is just that-over, above, and beyond. In some cases it is over our heads, above the clouds, and often beyond reality. It should be the goal of the next General Assembly to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities quickly, quietly, and with little fanfare-and then to adjourn and go home. The best way to insure that government is limited, as many in the Republican leadership in Nashville say they want, is to limit the time the General Assembly is in session.
NASHVILLE-The votes have been tallied in today's meeting of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus, and the legislative arm of the GOP has chosen Beth Harwell as the Republican nominee for Speaker. Based on the sheer numbers of Republicans in the House, it seems a near certainty that Harwell will go on to be officially elected Speaker of the House on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011. The real challenge for House Republicans now is to move on from an unexpectedly divisive campaign for the Speakership and unite to act as the governing majority.
The House Republican Caucus, it should be remembered, is not a government entity, but is the legislative arm of the Republican Party in the Tennessee House of Representatives. You must be a member of the House to be a member of the Caucus, and you must profess to be a Republican. The caucus, however, determines what constitutes a Republican for the purpose of its agenda in the House and its members determine who can and can't be a part of it. This is clearly evident in the reality that while the State Republican Party says Kent Williams can't run as a Republican or identify officially as one, the House Republican Caucus officially says that Williams is a member and for their purposes, is a Republican. Since the caucus is an arm of a political party, it may nominate candidates from among its membership for relevant legislative offices. Once those nominations are made, then the vote in January is a public matter.
Since this writer is a Republican Party officer in Jefferson County, one of the things that I've learned in dealing with party matters is that undue outside influence on internal party proceedings is very much frowned upon. The same is true, from what I understand from friends on the other side, in the party opposite. It isn't that the opinions of fellow Republicans or friends of the conservative cause are not valued-quite the contrary-but too much outside influence on an internal party vote brings the divisions in the party to bear for the public to see. Oftentimes, the opposition will look for ways to take advantage of your differences. As a member of the GOP Executive Committee in my county, I've learned to leave my differences with other members at the door and not to take disagreements personally, because we may need to help each other during election season and we're fighting for the same ends. If House Republican Caucus members think that one or two outside groups are trying to unduly influence an internal vote, it could potentially backfire on the groups who would like a certain outcome, because some members may just say "I was leaning one way, but I didn't appreciate the way group X was trying to sway the race or be too involved with member X-I think I'll vote for member Y instead."
That has all changed in the space of a single election. In the 107th General Assembly, it is the Democrats who will have only 35 seats and-with a couple of notable exceptions-are now a largely backbench urban rump. The Black Caucus, once the mighty right arm of the Democratic Speaker, won't have the votes to appropriate coffee and doughnuts in the coming session. As my friend Frank Cagle has rightly pointed out, this is not a situation the Republicans are used to, and that goes for Republicans both in and out of the General Assembly in our State. While our party has traditionally been one of top-down control until recently, Republicans-especially those from East Tennessee-are not people who march in lockstep, so party leadership elections need to be conducted with great care. Constituents absolutely have the right to voice to their members a prefence on leadership positions for the offices of the House (this writer has done so in the past and certainly will do so in the future), but members should be under no obligation to publicly reveal their votes in a caucus election for any leadership position until after the caucus vote is taken. Why? Because in their newly-fragile state, the Democrats will look for any advantage they can, and open division in the House Republican Caucus is a recipe for disaster. If you want the conservative agenda to move forward, you can't add arsenic to the winning potion.
Glen Casada would make a great Speaker of the House, but there is no reason at all to believe that Beth Harwell wouldn't be a great Speaker as well, especially with a 64 seat majority caucus that can have their way regardless. If she does win the caucus nomination, the idea that somehow the General Assembly will cease to be conservative is a bit ludicrous. The Republican Caucus can, and likely will pass whatever it pleases regardless of who has the gavel.


Rediff.com » Sports » Poll prediction: Germany to lift FIFA World Cup again!
Germany will retain their World Cup title in Moscow to equal Brazil's record of five wins in the tournament, according to a Reuters poll of financial specialists more used to predicting market moves.
In a May 16-31 survey of regular Reuters poll participants from across the globe, Germany's national soccer team got the highest number of nods - 43 out of 145 analysts - to lift the trophy in July.
Four years ago Germany humiliated then hosts Brazil in a crushing 7-1 defeat that reduced fans clad in yellow, blue and green to tears and stunned silence in Belo Horizonte's Estádio Mineirão.
"Germany have a good combination of skill and discipline and are not overly dominated by any one star player, but rather a high level of players throughout," said Frank Blackmore, chief economist at EFConsult in Johannesburg.
"Hence, my choice of Germany as 2018 winners."
Luiz Roberto Monteiro, a trader at Renascença brokerage in São Paulo, said many people wanted Brazil to win "because there's a lot at stake after the Germany fiasco."
"But I think they are thinking with their hearts. Brazil depend too much on a small number of players, particularly (star forward) Neymar. It's a good team but I don't think they'll get past the semifinals."
Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, who has scored over 600 senior career goals for club and country, is expected to win the Golden Boot - an award for top goalscorer of the championship, last won by Colombia's James Rodriguez in Brazil.
The bank's modelling gave a 60 percent chance that one of those three teams would win.
Egypt, known as "The Pharaohs" and returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence, are the underdog nation with the best chance of outperforming.
But that view may have shifted since last weekend's European Champions League final, in which their talisman Mohamed Salah, playing for Liverpool against winners Real Madrid, got injured. He is now a doubt for one or more of Egypt's group games.
Some economists relied on their standard econometric modelling skills to predict the World Cup's outcome.
"I guess the point is that in a rational world in which the form book rules, one of Brazil or Germany should win," said Peter Dixon at Commerzbank who ran 10,000 stochastic simulations.
"But somewhere amongst the simulations there may well be a universe in which Saudi Arabia beats Panama in the final. The very fact there is a random element is one of the reasons why we may well be wrong, and why sports like football hold such a deep fascination."


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Home » News » Quick Heal Technologies strengthens India R&D leadership team
Quick Heal Technologies strengthens India R&D leadership team
By IANS On Oct 28, 2020
Home-grown cybersecurity solutions company Quick Heal Technologies on Monday announced the appointment of Sanjay Agrawal and Bibhuti Kar as its Chief Product Officer and Head of Research and Development, respectively.
The new appointments are in line with the company's strategy to accelerate product innovation and drive expansion of next-generation enterprise security solutions under the "Seqrite" brand.
In his role, Agrawal will be responsible for driving the overall product vision and strategy in line with market expectations, while Kar will drive the company's development efforts leading a team of talented engineering professionals and security researchers.
"The addition of Sanjay and Bibhuti will further accelerate our efforts to strengthen our enterprise security business," Kailash Katkar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Quick Heal Technologies, said in a statement.
"We are certain that they will add significant value to Quick Heal Technologies as we continue to innovate and deliver world-class security products and solutions in sync with the ever-evolving and dynamic market expectations," Katkar added.
Agrawal is an entrepreneurial engineering and product leader with over two decades of experience.
He has served several high-performing roles, including Vice President of Engineering Application and Security at ColorTokens and Director of Engineering at Cisco.
Kar brings with him over two-and-a-half decades of experience in the global high-tech industry.
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur), Kar held several prestigious roles in leading technology companies like Cisco, Bell Northern Research and Sophos before joining Quick Heal Technologies.
Quick Heal Technologies earlier this month said that during the lockdown, it digitally onboarded over 150 employees across domains, including R&D and security labs.
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Sure, I thought, fire and brimstone.
"As a banquet table filled with the most delicious food you ever wanted to eat."
"Everyone is at the table, but no one can eat."
"No one can eat because the only thing to eat with are spoons too long to get to your mouth. It is Hell. The only way to eat is with the spoons. everyone is fighting, pouting, crying... no one gets to eat."
"Now, picture the same table, the same banquet... the same spoons with the same rules in heaven, yet everyone gets to eat."
My eyes got big, I wonder what the punch line is?
The long spoons were used to feed each other."
Years later, that parable came to me in a most strange way. I was walking to work one day when a man stopped me, knife in hand. I knew he was hurting... his hand shook so. "Give me your money."
"Sure. Here." I handed him the five dollars I had been saving for lunch.
"Look, Lady. I mean it. Give me your money."
"I am sorry. That is all I have."
I gave the man a gentle smile. "Yeah. I guess it is. But here you go, if I give this to you, it won't be stealing. So here."
The man just stared at me... "I could cut you you know."
"Yes, but that would be a lot of effort for five dollars...Look I am going to be late to work. So if you don't mind, I will just be going." I stepped around the man and kept walking, praying that my false bravado would not get me killed. As I turned the corner, I glanced back and the man was gone.
The next day, I packed a lunch, since I worked the graveyard shift at a local factory, I decided money was not the thing to be carrying since the incident. As I headed out, I looked up and the same man was there. "Oh, Hello."
The man shrugged and took his knife out again.
"Look, before you go to all that effort, all I have is my lunch. I would gladly give half of it."
"What if I said, I want all of it to you."
"Well, I could do with out I suppose. And if I give it to you, you wouldn't be stealing." As I handed him the sack... he glanced at it, frowned, taking two sandwiches and said, "Here." handing back the sack with a banana and apple left. I smiled. "You sure?"
"Take it." He said and started to leave.
He turned and said, "For what?"
"For sharing your lunch with me."
He smiled and said, "Lady, I think you are nuts."
I started to pack a bigger lunch each day and my strange friend now would walk up and we would share my lunch as I headed off to work.
I found out that he had been a lawyer but had become an alcoholic and his addiction cost him everything.
"Um, could you teach me how to read?"
"Yeah. I quit school and started to work at 13. Missed a lot of school due to a sick mom. I was the youngest and the rest had jobs."
"Humm...I will think about it."
"Only one condition." I said.
"I don't want to learn from a drunk."
"Then I can't help you."
"You don't understand. Just don't tutor me while you are drunk."
So every night we would sit on a bench outside the factory and read the paper. It was all he could find and would share my lunch as he taught me. He showed up sober each night.
Then, one day he said,"You really are smart. Have you thought about your getting your GED?"
I laughed. "Do you really think I could pass?"
"You will never know if you don't try."
I laughed again. "I could say the same to you."
"You could try playing it sober."
The man thought for a minute. Shrugged, "I have tried." and got up and left.
I never saw him again. I did get my GED. I even went to college, night school and got my social work degree. Now I work with an outlying clinic specializing in alcoholism. I had not thought of that man in a long time when suddenly one of my clients told me of his AA sponsor. that he was coming to pick him up, since he was hurting really bad. I stayed and waited with him. Suddenly I looked up and saw the man coming towards us and laughed. He stood there in his suit. The look of surprise on his face made me smile even wider.
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it is not a true story, just a conglomerate of some things that did happen, i guess. thankyou for your kind words though. i really believe that it is the small things in life that can make a difference. daily, that is.
Wow! awesome story. What a little bravery, persistence and hope can do for someone. Is it a real life story?. I bet the man will be grateful to have found someone who gave him a chance at life. Nice hub, I like the way the story kept me till the end. keep it coming.
I would have definatly thought that the girl was crazy but kindness and a gentle exterior is sometimes just the right push.
Look out for that 50 Caliber guy. His parents never had any children so his neighbors had to have him!
um, thanks...but this one was made up, the concert one was as real as they come.
I'll try to share this one! This is great stuff and you're right- truth is stranger than fiction! Funnier too!
Outrageous! I was laughing halfway through! An incredible economy of words for such a return! Thank you Ma'am!
thankyou for your kind comments. what can i say? i am a simple person. take care.


In 2016, we were commissioned by CDS Superstores (International) Ltd to provide a multidisciplinary design service, developing a new 700 person head office, national training centre and exemplary 8000m2 flagship retail store for The Range. The development forms the catalyst for the wider Derriford Commercial Centre and we have carefully considered the wider urban design contributions to the wider site.The development's design evolved organically, and the final proposal creates a strong visual focus on the international office building and the retail store on the main William Prance Road, the scheme also includes a garden centre, surface car parking and underground parking.
A key stylistic decision was to endeavour to break up the mass of the retail warehouse by introducing the branding colours and a variety of materials, alongside playing with the height of the building.
The "orange ribbon" purposely links the 'Originated in Plymouth' perforated aluminium graphic with the penthouse office, illustrating The Range's birth and successful growth as well as the fluctuations and fine balancing of profit and loss within the retail sector.
Bailey Partnership led on a successful pre-application enquiry and subsequent public consultation. The Planning Team prepared a robust planning statement in support of the application and managed all aspects of the application process including s106 negotiations. The scheme, being a departure from the development plan was then considered by the Sectary of State and planning permission granted subject to conditions.


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9 things to know about the massive BCBS of NC system failure
- Friday, January 15th, 2016 Print	| Email
Over the past week, Chapel Hill-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has been under fire for technical problems resulting in what company executives are calling the most serious system failure in recent decades.
As the deadline for coverage under the Affordable Care Act looms, the largest health insurer in North Carolina has been the cause of great frustration for customers across the state.
Here are nine things to know about the debacle.
1. Consumers were put in the wrong health plans. Approximately 25,000 customers — or 7 percent of all individual customers — across the state were accidentally put in the wrong plans.
2. BCBS ran into numerous billing issues. While some customers have not been billed for their plans, others have been charged for cancelled policies. The insurer also administered automatic bank drafts from 3,200 customers for an incorrect amount. In many cases, this involved withdrawing more than the customer owed or charging customers for multiple plans.
3. Some customers don't know if they're insured. Because numerous BCBS customers haven't received their insurance ID cards in the mail or received them late, they don't know if they have health insurance. Nancy Willis, a BCBS customer, said her plan didn't renew for this year. "I've got doctors' appointments rescheduled — I just cancelled them because I didn't have my card yet," she said, according to The Charlotte Observer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina expects most customers to receive their ID cards by next week, according to a company statement.
4. Phone lines are backed up. BCBS of N.C. said it's experiencing a call volume of 400 percent to 500 percent higher than at this time last year. Although the insurer usually handles about 20,000 calls per day, it received 137,000 on Jan. 11 and 67,000 on Jan. 12. One customer, Stephanie Nelson, was put on hold for more than five hours while waiting for a representative to pick up, according to The Charlotte Observer.
5. The insurer has issued numerous apologies. In addition to posting an apology on Facebook, BCBS of North Carolina's CEO Brad Wilson issued a public statement. "The difficulties that many of our customers who purchased their own health insurance faced this week are unacceptable, and we are truly sorry for this experience," he said, according to The Charlotte Observer. "I want all our customers to know that we're working around the clock to address the situation — bringing in more staff, expanding customer service hours and enhancing our website's capacity."
6. The problems were caused by a new system and a billing company error. BCBS of North Carolina recently implemented a new customer service record system. In addition, Mr. Wilson said the problems resulted from a mistake at Naperville, Ill.-based TriZetto, the insurer's claims processing and billing vendor.
7. A whistleblower has said BCBS of North Carolina knew about the issues in advance. The staff member said the company recently decided to move forward with a software switch to TriZetto's Facet program even though potential problems were foreseeable, according to ABC11.com. "Major problems arose two, three months ago," the whistleblower said. "Company leadership decided we are moving forward with this software no matter what the problems [are] ... It's a catastrophe."
BCBS of North Carolina denied the claim, saying the transition to the Facet program began two years ago. "The system has not only been tested, it has been in operation since 2014," the insurer said in a statement. "The success rate of moving our individual customers to the system was more than 90 percent."
8. North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) has gotten involved. Earlier this week, Attorney General Cooper wrote a letter to BCBS of North Carolina regarding the system failure, according to ABC11.com. In the letter, he asked the insurer's executives how and why the problems occurred, and what they're doing to fix it. BCBS of North Carolina has until Jan. 22 to respond to the information request.
9. BCBS of North Carolina has promised the issues will be fixed and customers will be reimbursed. The insurer has extended its customer service line hours and said all customers will be refunded for any incorrect charges. Earlier this week, Mr. Wilson has said the company will need until the end of the week to resolve the problems.
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1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2007
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2007
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Contents >> Health >> Article - Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
This page was updated on 23 Nov 2012 to include the disclaimer below. No other content in this article was affected.
Users are warned that historic issues of this publication may contain language or views which, reflecting the authors' attitudes or that of the period in which the item was written, may be considered to be inappropriate or offensive today.
HEALTH OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIANS
The 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS), conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), provides information about the health circumstances of Indigenous Australians. The survey collected information from 10,400 Indigenous people in private dwellings across all states and territories of Australia, including those living in remote areas, and built on the Indigenous supplements to the 1995 and 2001 National Health Surveys (NHS(I)). It is planned to repeat the survey at six-yearly intervals as part of a cycle of Indigenous household surveys, and to coincide with every second National Health Survey (NHS). Together with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS), the NATSIHS provides a wide range of information about the wellbeing, social circumstances and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This article presents a selection of results from the 2004-05 NATSIHS, measures of selected changes since the 2001 NHS(I)), and comparable results for the non-Indigenous population from the 2004-05 National Health Survey (NHS). Some information from the 2002 NATSISS is also included.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples comprise 2.4% of the total Australian population. During the collection phase for the 2004-05 NATSIHS, the Indigenous population in private dwellings was projected to be 474,300.
The Indigenous population is relatively young, with a median age of 21 years compared with 36 years for the non-Indigenous population. As age is closely associated with health, care should be taken when comparing information for these two populations. To account for differences in the age structure, comparisons between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are presented by age group or as rate ratios based on age-standardised data, as appropriate. More information on the size, age structure and distribution of the Indigenous population, is provided in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the Population chapter.
HEALTH STATUS
Self-assessed health
Self-assessed health status provides an indicator of overall health; it reflects an individual's perception of his or her own health. This measure is dependent on an individual's awareness and expectations regarding their health, and may be influenced by factors such as access to health services and health information.
In 2004-05, just over three-quarters (78%) of the Indigenous population reported their health as either good, very good or excellent, consistent with 77% reported in the 2002 NATSISS. The remaining 22% of Indigenous people reported their health as fair or poor.
Self-assessed health varies with age. The proportion of people aged 15-24 years reporting excellent or very good health was 59%, compared with 18% of people aged 55 years and over (graph 9.18).
After adjusting for differences in age structure between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous people overall were almost twice as likely as non-Indigenous people to report their health as fair or poor - a relative difference which was apparent across most broad age groups.
The 2004-05 NATSIHS collected, for the first time, information on the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous adults (aged 18 years and over) using selected questions from the SF-36 (measuring generic health status in the community) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Questions were also asked about feelings of anger, the impact of psychological distress, stressors, and cultural identification.
In response to questions (from the SF-36) about feelings of happiness and energy levels, more than half the adult Indigenous population reported feeling happy (71%), calm and peaceful (56%), and/or full of life (55%) all or most of the time, while just under half (47%) said they had a lot of energy all or most of the time. Indigenous people in remote areas were more likely to report having had these positive feelings all or most of the time, than were Indigenous people living in non-remote areas - a difference of at least five percentage points for each measure.
In response to questions from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, 9% of Indigenous adults reported feeling nervous all or most of the time. When asked how often they felt without hope, 7% reported having had this feeling all or most of the time. Similarly, 7% said that they felt so sad that nothing could cheer them up, all or most of the time. Around one in six Indigenous adults (17%) reported that everything was an effort all or most of the time and 12% felt restless all or most of the time.
Long-term health conditions and disability
In 2004-05, around two-thirds (65%) of Indigenous people reported at least one long-term health condition; with a higher proportion in non-remote areas (68%) than remote areas (57%). One in seven Indigenous people (14%) reported two long-term health conditions and a further 29% reported three or more. After adjusting for age differences between the two populations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians were equally likely to report a long-term health condition.
Consistent with results from 2001, eye/sight problems (30%), asthma (15%), back and disc disorders (13%), heart/circulatory diseases (12%) and ear/hearing problems (12%) were the most commonly reported long-term health conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2004-05. In addition, 6% of Indigenous people reported diabetes and 2% reported kidney disease (table 9.19).
9.19 SELECTED LONG-TERM HEALTH CONDITIONS OF INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS PERSONS(a) - 2001 and 2004-05
2004-05 Indigenous
to non-Indigenous
ratio(b)
Back pain/problems n.e.c., disc disorders
Diabetes/high sugar levels
Ear/hearing problems(c)(d)
Eye/sight problems
Heart and circulatory problems/diseases
Kidney disease(c)
All persons with a long-term health condition(e)
(a) A medical condition (illness, injury or disability) which has lasted at least six months, or which the respondent expects to last for six months or more. This is an ICD-10 based output classification.
(b) Age-standardised Indigenous rate divided by age-standardised non-Indigenous rate, except for ear/hearing problems.
(c) Difference between 2001 and 2004-05 data is statistically significant.
(d) Indigenous to non-Indigenous rate ratio for ear/hearing problems is based on actual rates, not age-standardised rates.
(e) Sum of components may exceed total as persons may have reported more than one long-term health condition.
Source: ABS data available on request, 2001 National Health Survey; 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey; and 2004-05 National Health Survey.
Asthma was reported by 15% of Indigenous Australians in 2004-05 - almost twice as often in non-remote areas (17%) as in remote areas (9%). Within the Indigenous population, asthma was more prevalent among females than males in all age groups apart from children aged 0-14 years (graph 9.20).
After adjusting for age differences between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous people were 1.6 times more likely to report asthma as a long-term health condition than non-Indigenous people (table 9.19).
Consistent with results from the 2001 survey, 12% of Indigenous Australians reported a long-term health condition associated with the circulatory system, such as heart disease or hypertensive disease. In 2004-05, these long-term conditions were more prevalent in remote (14%) than non-remote (11%) areas. Rates of heart and circulatory problems/diseases were higher for Indigenous females than for males in all broad age groups.
Heart and circulatory diseases/problems tend to develop over the course of a lifetime. Results from the 2004-05 NATSIHS show a marked increase in the prevalence of these conditions among Indigenous people from around 35 years of age onwards. After adjusting for age differences between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous people were 1.3 times more likely than non-Indigenous people to report heart disease and/or circulatory problems (table 9.19).
Diabetes (including high sugar levels) continues to be a significant health issue among Indigenous Australians, with an overall prevalence of 6% in 2004-05. Consistent with results from 2001, diabetes was almost twice as prevalent among Indigenous people in remote areas (9%) as it was in non-remote areas (5%). Within the Indigenous population, diabetes was more prevalent among females than males, particularly among those in the 35-54 year age group (graph 9.21).
After adjusting for age differences between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous people were more than three times as likely as non-Indigenous people to report some form of diabetes (table 9.19).
In 2004-05, kidney disease was reported by 2% of Indigenous people overall (3% in remote areas and 1% in non-remote areas). Kidney disease increased with age, from less than 1% of Indigenous children aged 0-14 years to 7% of Indigenous Australians aged 55 years and over. After adjusting for age differences, rates of kidney disease were about 10 times higher in the Indigenous population than in the non-Indigenous population (table 9.19). The treatment of kidney disease accounts for around one-third of all hospital admissions of Indigenous people.2
The 2004-05 NATSIHS collected information from private dwellings only (i.e. not from health-care facilities) and may, therefore, have underestimated the prevalence of kidney disease in the Indigenous population.
The 2002 NATSISS provided, for the first time, information on the prevalence of disability among Indigenous Australians aged 15 years and over. Data for Indigenous people aged 18 years and over in non-remote areas is comparable with results for non-Indigenous adults from the 2002 General Social Survey, conducted by the ABS.
In 2002, over one-third (36%) of Indigenous people aged 15 years or over had a disability or long-term health condition which limited their ability to perform everyday activities. Overall rates of disability were similar for males and females; rising from 23% of those aged 15-24 years to 70% of those aged 55 years and over.
Among Indigenous people with a functional limitation, 8% had a profound or severe core activity limitation, meaning that they always or sometimes needed assistance with at least one activity of everyday living (self-care, mobility or communication).
In non-remote areas, after adjusting for age differences between the two populations, Indigenous adults were much more likely than non-Indigenous adults to have a profound or severe core activity limitation, regardless of age (graph 9.22). The earlier onset of long-term health conditions and/or disability, and consequent need for assistance, means that Indigenous people have a comparatively higher need for service provision at relatively younger ages.
HEALTH-RELATED ACTIONS
An individual's health-related actions, and access to health professionals and services are important factors in the successful prevention and management of health conditions. Apart from visits to a dentist, Indigenous people were more likely than non-Indigenous people to have taken at least one of the surveyed health-related actions in 2004-05 (table 9.23).
9.23 HEALTH-RELATED ACTIONS OF INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS PERSONS - 2001 and 2004-05
Health-related actions(a)
Admitted to hospital
Visited casualty/outpatients
Consulted GP/specialist
Consulted dentist(c)
Consulted other health professional
Days away from work/study(d)
Other days of reduced activity(e)
(a) Hospital admissions relate to the twelve months prior to interview. All other health-related actions relate to the two weeks prior to interview.
(b) Age-standardised Indigenous rate divided by age-standardised non-Indigenous rate.
(c) Persons aged two years and over.
(d) Persons aged 5-64 years.
(e) Persons aged five years and over.
HEALTH RISK FACTORS
In 2004-05, half the adult Indigenous population (50%) reported smoking one or more cigarettes per day. Smoking was more prevalent among Indigenous than non-Indigenous adults in every age group (graph 9.24). After adjusting for age differences between the two populations, Indigenous adults were more than twice as likely as non-Indigenous adults to be current daily smokers.
In 2004-05, around half of all Indigenous adults (49%) reported having consumed alcohol in the week prior to interview, of whom one-third (16%) reported drinking at risky/high risk levels. When compared with results from 2001, the proportion of Indigenous adults who reported drinking at risky/high risk levels in 2004-05 was about three percentage points higher overall (five points higher in non-remote areas and two points lower in remote areas). After adjusting for differences between the age-structure of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous adults were less likely than non-Indigenous adults to have consumed alcohol in the preceding week (45% compared with 63%), although the proportions who reported drinking at risky/high risk levels were similar (15% compared with 14%).
Many of the principal causes of ill-health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are nutrition-related diseases, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes and renal disease. While a diet high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates increases the likelihood of developing these diseases, regular exercise and intake of fibre-rich foods, such as fruit and vegetables, can have a protective effect against disease.
In 2004-05, the majority of Indigenous Australians aged twelve years and over reported eating at least one serve of vegetables (95%) and/or fruit (86%) each day. In addition, 79% usually drank whole milk and 11% drank low/reduced fat milk. Indigenous people in non-remote areas were more likely to drink whole milk than were non-Indigenous people, regardless of age.
Information relating to the frequency, intensity and duration of exercise undertaken by Indigenous Australians living in non-remote areas showed that the proportion who were sedentary or engaged in low level exercise in the two weeks prior to interview was higher in 2004-05 (75%) than in 2001 (68%).
In the 2004-05 NATSIHS and NHS, self-reported height and weight measurements were collected for people aged 15 years and over. Using Body Mass Index (End note 1) scores, just under one-third (31%) of Indigenous people were recorded as being in the normal or healthy weight range, with a further 23% in the overweight category and 24% classified as obese. After adjusting for non-response, and age differences between the two populations, Indigenous Australians were 1.2 times more likely to be overweight/obese than non-Indigenous Australians. In each age group the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people was greater for females than for males.
In 2004-05, the majority of Indigenous women aged 18-64 years with children, reported having breast-fed them (84%), consistent with results from 2001 (86%). The proportion of women who breast-fed their children was higher in remote areas (92%) than non-remote areas (80%). Similarly, 79% of Indigenous children under four years of age had been breast-fed for at least some period, of which 13% were being breast-fed at the time of the 2004-05 survey.
The data presented in this article represent only some of the insights that can be obtained from the 2004-05 NATSIHS. Other health-related topics include child and adult immunisation, substance use and women's health (including contraception). In addition, the survey also collected a range of socio-economic information which can be used to provide a broader context for the range of health indicators. Readers interested in undertaking further analysis of the data are referred to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2004-05 (4715.0.55.004).
1 Body Mass Index (BMI) scores are calculated from reported height and weight information, using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared. BMI values are grouped as follows: Underweight (less than 18.5); Normal weight (18.5 to less than 25.0); Overweight (25.0 to less than 30.0) and Obese (30.0 or higher).
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2001, (4715.0), ABS, Canberra
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2002, (4714.0), ABS, Canberra
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2004-05, (4715.0), ABS, Canberra
Statistical Geography Volume 1 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2006, (1216.0), ABS, Canberra
Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (2005), 'The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2005', (4704.0), ABS, Canberra
This page last updated 23 November 2012
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Each year, millions of people die as a result of unclean water. A problem often exacerbated by poor waste management and malnutrition.
Sadly, these numbers are often made up of children or the elderly. In developing countries, it is predominantly children under the age of five who often die from diarrhoea, contracted from water sources. According to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2009), around two million children die from water related illness each year. By comparison, according to the Ugandan Water and Sanitation Resource Centre (Why Water, 2010), approximately 310,000 people died in Africa as a result of armed conflicts in 1998. Cholera, in particular, has increasingly become a problem: the prevalence of the infectious disease rose by around 79% between 1998 and 2006. It is estimated there are currently over 100,000 people infected in Zimbabwe alone (Schnabel, 2013).
Water cuts across many of these goals and most obviously impacts on goal 7.
Integrate the principles of sustainable development in country policies and program and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
Reduce biodiversity loss, including (among other things) reducing the proportion of total water resources used.
Halve by 2015 the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Improve the lives of the world's more than 100 million slum dwellers.
The challenge lies in the basic reality of the water cycle - we are not producing any more water. This fact is sometimes described as "the water that you are drinking today was once the tears of dinosaurs". This may sound corny but the statement illustrates the simple nature and vital importance of the water cycle, that almost every primary school child is taught.
For the Millenium Development Goals to progress it is important to be aware of the potential for disputes that arise from a redistribution of limited resources. Water distribution is not an area that is conflict free. The United Nations now recognises that water disputes can occur where opposing nations have conflicts of interest in water use - public or private access.
In many third world countries it is water supply that is a key goal. However, in many developed countries the challenge of water supply may have been overcome, but the necessity of water quality remains. A recent report (Berstein, Business Insider Australia, February 2015) indicates that even in California, where it would be expected that water quality is managed appropriately, there were more than 1,000 violations of federal water quality standards last year. "The most common violations were for high levels of such contaminants as arsenic, nitrates, radioactive minerals and perchlorates." These were commonly from natural sources, exacerbated by California's current drought.
If you have enjoyed reading my guest editorials please keep an eye on future newsletters for further installments.


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Bar in town
On 11 Apr 2016 at 11:51am Anna wrote:
Somebody open up a hip bar for people who dont like pubs please....
On 11 Apr 2016 at 12:51pm Karenina wrote:
Yah, Right on.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 1:16pm Ed Can Do wrote:
People have tried several times in the past and they all went bust within about six months. There simply isn't the market for that kind of thing in Lewes.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 1:55pm Saloon bar Sid wrote:
Hip bars. they're so yesterday
On 11 Apr 2016 at 2:05pm Bongo wrote:
Flip sake!
On 11 Apr 2016 at 4:17pm Hyena wrote:
Anna, define hip. The cocktail bar on Fisher St tried to be hip, cool, exclusive etc. It was permanently empty.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 4:25pm xplorer2 wrote:
The Limetree Kitchen has a cocktail bar. Not sure if it's hip or not. Then there's Pelham House bar - certainly not hip but very pleasant and not pub-like. and with local art to inspect.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 4:50pm Artist wrote:
I perform my art in front of a porcelain slab . That's what a pub should be about .No you can't linspect me working.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 7:31pm Wiil wrote:
The Pelham House bar always seems to have a feeling of death before life . Symposium is good but it's hardly a 'hip bar.' Not really sure that you can have an instant 'hip bar'. Too many pseudo hipsters in Lewes I rather suspect. And what's wrong with pubs for goodness sake. After all they're some of the few remaining 'public' places that exist nowadays.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 9:51pm Mrs Twine wrote:
I know it's old fashioned, but a hip bath can be very relaxing, dears.
On 11 Apr 2016 at 10:35pm The Old Mayor wrote:
A string and tonic Mrs Twine ?
On 12 Apr 2016 at 9:20am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
It's only 15 minutes on the train to Brighton, Anna, I'm sure you'll find a suitably "hip" bar there.
On 12 Apr 2016 at 10:55pm Bud wrote:
Anna - start your own ? Not sure how you could make it survive as I'm certain the demographic you want - single 20-40 year olds - are more likely to live in Brighton.
I could see a nice funky wine bar doing well if it was able to attract the older but still 'hip' crowd (parents of almost grown kids, who are desperate to get out) . You also need good pricing. but Dymposium is way too bland.
On 13 Apr 2016 at 11:31am The Twister wrote:
is the "hip' bar required to compliment your own deluded self-image?
On 13 Apr 2016 at 12:06pm Pauls wrote:
I used to have a wine bar in town , caller era pauls wine bar , but it's closed now , wonder why ? Discuss
On 13 Apr 2016 at 12:11pm Farmer Giles wrote:
I went to pull a pig there in the 80's. I misread the sign , " Paul swine bar "
On 13 Apr 2016 at 5:11pm smelly old man wrote:
The Gardeners is full of hipsters, beards galore
On 15 Apr 2016 at 1:02am Grange Drinker wrote:
Join me in the Gardens for a refreshing litre of Aldi Cider.
Music by Spotify.
HIC!
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If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.


A loose mineral foundation with powerful UVA/ UVB protection (SPF 15) that has the added benefit of making you look amazing!
The key ingredients are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide - the pure stable Zinc Oxide and large particle Titanium Dioxide provides superior natural UVA/B protection and a luminous appearance on the skin.
One light layer will offer SPF 15+ broad spectrum (UVA/B) protection. Two layers give maximum protection and are perfect for a day look.
Download the Synergie Minerals Colour Guide.
4. Polish the minerals into the skin using small, firm, circular buffing motions. Work minerals into the skin quickly and evenly without spending too long on one area of the face.
We recommend applying your Synergie moisturiser prior to the application of your loose mineral foundation.
MineralWhip antioxidant cream foundation (SPF 15), provides flawless coverage and natural protection with 40% mineral sunscreen.
The combination of zinc oxide, beta glucan and seabuckthorn oil help promote hydration and rejuvenation whilst antioxidants reverse free radical cell damage.
Free of harmful additives and recommended for those wishing to achieve maximum coverage.
Buffer in small circular motions using the Synergie Foundation Maxi brush.
a groundbreaking BB liquid foundation (SPF 15), 30ml.
light textured liquid mineral base with built-in zinc oxide UV protection, niacinamide to address skin hydration and pigmentation, and tomato-derived Lycopene, which protects the skin from environmental ageing.
this product is a serious cosmeceutical treatment makeup.
Niacinamide - active cosmeceutical able to increase hydration levels, minimise pigmentation and regulate oil levels in skin.
Zinc Oxide - provides natural broad spectrum sun protection and reduces skin inflammation.
Tocopherol/Vitamin E - promotes general skin health and minimises free radical damage.
Aloe Vera - potent botanical anti-inflammatory.
Now in a convenient airless pump. Simply press down on lid to dispense a pea-sized amount. For added coverage if needed, finish with Second Skin Crush Loose minerals.
For best application, apply with Synergie foundation Maxibrush in firm circular motions.
A little goes a long way with Synergie Minerals BlushCrush (5g). The concentrated pigment is designed for both shading and highlighting and is available in two shades: soft rose and soft apricot.
Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide - offer broad spectrum sun protection.
Apply a light sweep across the apples of the cheeks and a touch across the temples. Best applied with the Synergie flat top Blusher brush.
Used to deepen the tone of your base minerals or as a stand alone product, the silky sheer formula of BronzeCrush (5g) will give you a luminous glow. Available in two shades: medium and dark bronze.
Apply a strong sweep across the apples of the cheeks and a touch across the temples. Apply with the Kabuki brush or Blusher brush.
Apply Moonglow Luminiser to the high points of the cheek bones, underneath the brow bone, down the bridge of your nose and on the cupids bow.
Using the bronzer brush, apply Hydrobronze to sculpt out the hollows of the cheek bones, below the chin and around the hair line.
Eyedration pressed eyeshadows are all natural with no toxins or questionable ingredients including dimethicone, talc and artificial colours.
HydroBlush is a pressed blush powder with concentrated pigment.
Key Ingredients: Vegesome™ (botanicals, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract and Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract). This ingredient is clinically proven to prevent moisture loss and controls the release of hydrating liposomes onto the skin. The addition of Vegesome™ gives our pressed range its signature luminous glow. This key ingredient is a lipid that explodes with moisture when you press it on to the face, releasing hydration throughout the day to ensure your skin looks fresh and radiant from morning to night.
Apply a light sweep across the apples of the cheeks and a touch across the temples. Best applied with the Synergie Blusher brush.
HydroBronze is a pressed blush powder with concentrated pigment, perfect for contouring and the appearance of a healthy glow.
Bronzer is designed to add colour to the face where the sun would naturally hit. Brush a light layer along the top of the forehead and across the cheeks. For a more contouring look, sweep along the jawline and under the cheekbones. Apply sparingly with the Kabuki brush or Blusher brush and build up to a gradual tan.
Following the application of your Synergie Minerals foundation, apply Hydromatt setting powder all over the face focusing on the T-zone. Apply using a clean flat top blush brush.
HydroSpritz is a multi-vitamin facial spritz. It plays a dual role as it sets loose minerals in addition to infusing the skin with anti-oxidants, hydrators and other nurturing ingredients throughout the day.
Rejuvalip natural lip gloss combines the cutting edge antioxidant anthocyanin, medical grade lanolin and collagen stimulating sweet stevia leaf. This synergistic blend of natural cosmeceuticals rejuvenates and conditions the lips, leaving you with the perfect hint of colour.
Anthocyanin: a potent antioxidant providing protection against UVA/UVB damage, harmful pollutants in the environment and free radical damage.
Medical-grade lanolin: a powerful water-binding humectant that reduces moisture loss from the lips to protect and prevent dehydration.
Synergie's Lipglosses provide a luxurious, glass-like finish in a wide selection of colours.
Medical grade lanolin - a powerful hydrating agent, absorbing 200 times its weight in water. Excellent for hydrating the delicate lip area.
Vitamin E - an antioxidant that is also fantastic for hydration.
Twist the bottom of the tube to expel gloss and apply to lips. This product contains lanolin and is not suitable for vegans.
Synergie LipService is a cosmeceutical daily lip treatment. It will protect lips from the effects of environmental ageing, and deeply hydrate giving a fuller and more youthful lip shape and texture. LipService can be used as a night treatment and as a multitasking day gloss with cosmeceutical benefits.
Hyaluronic Acid - a natural moisturising factor found in the deeper skin layers. Referred to as the 'natural super moisturiser' this substance is able to hold 1000 times its weight in water and is applied topically to deeply hydrate the skin by constantly attracting moisture. This provides both moisturisation and volume increase to the lips, allowing them to appear visibly plumper and more hydrated with daily application.
Tripeptide complex - an active peptide which acts as an antioxidant to neutralise free radical damage and protect the delicate lips from environmental stress, damage and premature ageing.
Lanolin - an intense natural hydrator that is able to hold 400 times its weight in water, regulating the rate of trans-epidermal water loss to protect, increase skin moisturisation, and prevent dehydration.
Stevia (natural sweetener) and spearmint essential oil - no artificial flavour, the naturally sweet minty taste makes Synergie Lip Service good enough to eat- literally! Resist the temptation as your lips need it more than your taste buds!
This product contains lanolin and is not suitable for vegans.
Apply at night before bed or daily as needed. Apply under lipstick to enable penetration of active cosmeceutical ingredients.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide - provide broad spectrum UVA/B protection from ageing and damaging rays.
Grapeseed Oil/Shea Butter/Lanolin - nurturing natural emollients to lock in moisture and the hydrate lips.
A mineral illuminating powder to highlight and contour the face. Available in moonglow.
Key Ingredient: Vegesome™ (botanicals, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract and Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract). This ingredient is clinically proven to prevent moisture loss and controls the release of hydrating liposomes onto the skin. The addition of Vegesome™ gives our pressed range its signature luminous glow. This key ingredient is a lipid that explodes with moisture when you press it on to the face, releasing hydration throughout the day to ensure your skin looks fresh and radiant from morning to night.
Add instant radiance by sweeping on the high points of the face such as cheek and brow bones.
Synergie MagnifEye eyeliner pots create a subtle daytime look or a dramatic smoky eye nighttime look. The cream formulation with built-in brush is easy and simple to use and natural formula will minimise eye irritation. Available in four shades: black, brown, steel blue and white.
Key Ingredient: Castor Bean Oil - a natural anti-inflammatory.
Formulated specifically for the sensitive eye area, MaximEyes eyeshadows (2g) are all natural with no toxins or artificial colours, containing pure pigment for intense, vibrant shimmer and matte colour.
Key ingredients Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide offer broad spectrum sun protection and minimise inflammation.
Best applied with the eyeshadow brush.
Witch hazel a natural astringent, reducing inflammation and sanitising the skin. Also aids with hydration and stabilises the barrier function of the skin.
Canadian Willowherb an anti-irritant and anti-redness ingredient for all skin types.
Aloe Vera a powerful anti-inflammatory which calms sensitive skin. Traditionally renowned to relieve irritation of burns, and moisturise the skin to promote wound healing.
Simply apply to a cotton pad and wipe over the face and neck to remove traces of makeup and impurities. There is no need to rinse. Follow with serums and a moisturiser suited to your skin type.
Synergie PoutPot lipliners create the perfect outline to prevent lipstick bleed and help your lipstick hold all day. The mineral-rich, natural pigment formulation with built-in brush makes application simple, convenient and safe to use.
Key Ingredient: Argan Oil - nature's healer and emollient.
Apply in small strokes to outline the lips before applying the Synergie CC lipstick.
A loose mineral setting powder with powerful UVA/ UVB protection with the added benefit of making you look shine free and amazing!
One light layer will set your foundation and provide a perfect shine-free day look.
We recommend applying your Synergie moisturiser prior to the application of Loose Minerals foundation, and follow with your Shine Free setting powder.
This luxurious and natural blend mascara contains Argan oil and Shea Butter to condition lashes and help prevent breakage. With no tar, artificial colours or petroleum based dyes, Vitalash Mascara's natural formula protects the lashes, decreasing the possibility of premature lash loss.
Calcium Carbonate - conditions lashes and prevents lash fallout.
Shea Butter - soothing and anti-inflammatory on lash line.
Castor Bean Oil - promotes healthy lashes from the follicle.
This product contains beeswax and is not suitable for vegans.
Sea Buckthorn Oil - minimises redness and irritation, heals blemishes and reduces scarring.
Zinc Oxide - UVA/B protection and reduces inflammation.
Shea Butter - hydrating, non-comedogenic organic butter.
Vitamin E - antioxidant, hydrator and non-comedogenic oil.
Apply with the concealer brush and blend gently.
Best applied with the small concealer brush or the camouflage brush for larger areas.
An apricot-tone concealer designed to neutralise dark circles under the eyes. Contains seabuckthorn oil to nurture delicate skin around the eyes.
Apply sparingly and blend prior to using Synergie Minerals foundation.
Apply sparingly and blend prior to applying Synergie Minerals foundation.
Includes Synergie Minerals Second Skin Crush 5g, Kabuki brush with pouch and a 50ml Hydrospritz.
Synergie's synthetic bristle brushes have been specifically designed and chosen to work in conjunction with Synergie Minerals® makeup. All Synergie brushes are made with premium synthetic fibres and are 100% vegan and cruelty free.


text:
Molarity Classic: 555-559
Author: Michael Molinelli '82
Mistakes can be made in the rush to get out the door.
555. This cartoon was based on an event of some confusion — and it was nothing but confusion to the reader. It referred to the sudden removal of five students from Pangborn Hall in circumstances that seemed to have deprived the students of due process. In the news, a front-page story in the same issue of The Observer announced that Father Hesburgh would be observing elections in El Salvador along with Secretary of State, Alexander Haig '43.
556. A sports piece documented the success of Irish decathlete Paul Doyle '83, who set a new school record with 7,774 points, placing third in the Domino Pizza Relays in Florida. Meanwhile, I started a weekly column just so the Observer editors could see that I could write.
557. The Democratic Socialists of America, numbering about 25 and comprised mostly of graduate philosophy students and professors, protested Father Hesburgh's trip to El Salvador.
558. News item: Three members of the women's swim team were named All-Americans: Kathy Latino '82, Teri Schindler '83 and Jeanine Blatt '82
559. This strip was very politically incorrect of me. The twist is that this time Cheryl's disapproval comes before the punchline instead of being the punchline.
See the first five classic strips. Buy the book with all 581 original cartoons: MOLARITY: The Compleat Molarity is available at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore and Amazon.com. Check back monthly for more classic Molarity strips. Molarity Redux, the updated, continuing adventures of Jim Mole and friends, also is posted monthly. For those new strips, check out the cartoon archives.
The Gist: Where the Psyche Dwells
Margaret Fosmoe '85
By the Numbers: Campus Dining
Peace Can Happen
Brett Beasley '22MTS


text:
Marek Sobola (ur. 3 lipca 1981 w Żylinie) – słowacki architekt krajobrazu, ogrodnik i heraldyk, autor herbów kościelnych w Australii i Oceanii, Papui-Nowej Gwinei i w Zatoce Perskiej.

Życiorys
Urodził się w Żylinie. Ukończył studia na Wydziale Ogrodniczym Słowackiego Uniwersytetu Rolniczego w Nitrze w specjalizacji Architektura krajobrazu. W 2007 r. uzyskał tytuł doktora. Karierę międzynarodową rozpoczął w 2016 roku kiedy stworzył herb dla Wikariatu apostolskiego Arabii Północnej. Marek Sobola jest autorem międzynarodowego projektu Drzewo pokoju (ang. Tree of Peace, ros. Дерево мира, niem. Der Friedensbaum). Projekt realizowany jest na Słowacji, w Polsce w gminie Trzyciąż (Cmentarz Wojenny w Cieplicach), Rosji, Austrii, Stanach Zjednoczonych i w Serbii.

Heraldyka kościelna
 Arcybiskupi: Stephen Joseph Reichert, Francesco Panfilo, Karl Hesse i Anton Bal.
 Biskupi: Dávid Tencer, Francis Meli, Dariusz Kałuża, Vladimir Fekete, Otto Separy i Paul Donoghue.
 Archidiecezje: Honiara (archidiecezja na Wyspach Salomona), Madang i Rabaul.
 Diecezje: Tonga, Goroka, Samoa-Pago Pago, Tarawa i Nauru, Rarotonga (diecezja obejmująca całość Wysp Cooka oraz Niue), Mendi, Kimbe, Bereina, Alotau-Sideia i Diecezja Reykjavíku.
 Inne: Misja "sui iuris" Afganistanu, Wikariat apostolski Arabii Północnej i Prefektura apostolska Azerbejdżanu.

Odznaczenia

Ordery i odznaczenia państw obcych
Rumuńska rodzina królewska

  Królewski Medal za Lojalność (Medalia Regală pentru Loialitate) (2022).

Święty Konstantyński Order Wojskowy Świętego Jerzego

  Brązowy Medal Benemerenti (2021).

Cesarsky Dom Romanowów:

  Cesarski Medal Pamiątkowy "Pamięci 100. rocznicy Wielkiej Wojny 1914-1918" (2020).

Przypisy

Urodzeni w 1981
Ludzie urodzeni w Żylinie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Barbecued Cauliflower is not normally thought of, but give it a try as it is absolutely delicious. Brining it ensures it is seasoned all the way through.
you prefer. Using the cauliflower leaves in the slaw also minimises waste.
900ml of cold water and submerge the cauliflower in it for 2 hours.
all over with half the spiced butter.
Place on the hot barbecue or griddle pan. Cook all over until a deep golden, then brush with the remaining spiced butter and wrap in foil and put back on the barbecue or pan. Cook in the foil for 20–25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre meets no resistance. Remove the cauliflower from the foil and place back on the barbecue, drizzling the cooking juices from the foil over the top.
For the tzatziki, mix all the ingredients together and season to taste.
cauliflower leaves, then season well and dress with the vinaigrette.


text:
import { vec3, mat4 } from 'gl-matrix';
import macro from 'vtk.js/Sources/macros';
import vtkBoundingBox from 'vtk.js/Sources/Common/DataModel/BoundingBox';
import vtkProp3D from 'vtk.js/Sources/Rendering/Core/Prop3D';
import vtkVolumeProperty from 'vtk.js/Sources/Rendering/Core/VolumeProperty';

const { vtkDebugMacro } = macro;

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// vtkVolume methods
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

function vtkVolume(publicAPI, model) {
  // Set our className
  model.classHierarchy.push('vtkVolume');

  publicAPI.getVolumes = () => publicAPI;

  publicAPI.makeProperty = vtkVolumeProperty.newInstance;

  publicAPI.getProperty = () => {
    if (model.property === null) {
      model.property = publicAPI.makeProperty();
    }
    return model.property;
  };

  publicAPI.getBounds = () => {
    if (model.mapper === null) {
      return model.bounds;
    }

    // Check for the special case when the mapper's bounds are unknown
    const bds = model.mapper.getBounds();
    if (!bds || bds.length !== 6) {
      return bds;
    }

    // Check for the special case when the actor is empty.
    if (bds[0] > bds[1]) {
      model.mapperBounds = bds.concat(); // copy the mapper's bounds
      model.bounds = [1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1];
      model.boundsMTime.modified();
      return bds;
    }

    // Check if we have cached values for these bounds - we cache the
    // values returned by model.mapper.getBounds() and we store the time
    // of caching. If the values returned this time are different, or
    // the modified time of this class is newer than the cached time,
    // then we need to rebuild.
    const zip = (rows) => rows[0].map((_, c) => rows.map((row) => row[c]));
    if (
      !model.mapperBounds ||
      !zip([bds, model.mapperBounds]).reduce(
        (a, b) => a && b[0] === b[1],
        true
      ) ||
      publicAPI.getMTime() > model.boundsMTime.getMTime()
    ) {
      vtkDebugMacro('Recomputing bounds...');
      model.mapperBounds = bds.map((x) => x);
      const bbox = [];
      vtkBoundingBox.getCorners(bds, bbox);
      publicAPI.computeMatrix();
      const tmp4 = new Float64Array(16);
      mat4.transpose(tmp4, model.matrix);
      bbox.forEach((pt) => vec3.transformMat4(pt, pt, tmp4));

      /* eslint-disable no-multi-assign */
      model.bounds[0] = model.bounds[2] = model.bounds[4] = Number.MAX_VALUE;
      model.bounds[1] = model.bounds[3] = model.bounds[5] = -Number.MAX_VALUE;
      /* eslint-enable no-multi-assign */
      model.bounds = model.bounds.map((d, i) =>
        i % 2 === 0
          ? bbox.reduce((a, b) => (a > b[i / 2] ? b[i / 2] : a), d)
          : bbox.reduce((a, b) => (a < b[(i - 1) / 2] ? b[(i - 1) / 2] : a), d)
      );
      model.boundsMTime.modified();
    }
    return model.bounds;
  };

  publicAPI.getMTime = () => {
    let mt = model.mtime;
    if (model.property !== null) {
      const time = model.property.getMTime();
      mt = time > mt ? time : mt;
    }
    return mt;
  };

  publicAPI.getRedrawMTime = () => {
    let mt = model.mtime;
    if (model.mapper !== null) {
      let time = model.mapper.getMTime();
      mt = time > mt ? time : mt;
      if (model.mapper.getInput() !== null) {
        // FIXME !!! getInputAlgorithm / getInput
        model.mapper.getInputAlgorithm().update();
        time = model.mapper.getInput().getMTime();
        mt = time > mt ? time : mt;
      }
    }
    return mt;
  };
}

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Object factory
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

const DEFAULT_VALUES = {
  mapper: null,
  property: null,
  bounds: [1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1],
};

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

export function extend(publicAPI, model, initialValues = {}) {
  Object.assign(model, DEFAULT_VALUES, initialValues);

  // Inheritance
  vtkProp3D.extend(publicAPI, model, initialValues);

  // vtkTimeStamp
  model.boundsMTime = {};
  macro.obj(model.boundsMTime);

  // Build VTK API
  macro.set(publicAPI, model, ['property']);
  macro.setGet(publicAPI, model, ['mapper']);
  macro.getArray(publicAPI, model, ['bounds'], 6);

  // Object methods
  vtkVolume(publicAPI, model);
}

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

export const newInstance = macro.newInstance(extend, 'vtkVolume');

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

export default { newInstance, extend };

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home Design & Decor
How to Arrange Army Medals in a Shadow Box
Krista Lee Childers
Krista Lee Childers has been actively writing since 1998. Her work, both creative and journalistic, has been featured in several school-affiliated publications including "Euphemism" and "The Indy." Childers' favorite subjects to write about are arts, crafts and hobbies. She received a Bachelor of Science in print journalism from Illinois State University with a minor in technical writing.
Receiving medals from the military is an honor. Each medal has a special meaning for the recipient and should be displayed. Medals vary in size, shape and color, which can make it difficult to organize them in a shadow box frame. Arranging these medals using rank, date or shape can help make it both aesthetically pleasing and meaningful to anyone who views them. The benefit of placing these medals in shadow boxes is that you can add photos, documents and even pieces of the army uniform, depending on the depth.
Silicone-based glue or hook and loop fasteners
Rank or Date
Cut out a piece of paper in the same size as the shadow box. This will give you a template to plan the arrangement. Rank and date include medals given beyond rank, such as honorary and special awards.
Arrange the medals in straight columns and rows, in order of level. The space between each should be at least 1 inch, but is best judged by the size of the shadow box. The medals should be placed evenly in the shadow box, with either equal or more space on the top and sides.
Attach the medals to the shadow box. This can be done easily if there are pins on the back of the medal, but if there is no way to adhere it, use silicone-based glue or hook and loop fasteners.
Cut out the template to plan the arrangement. Medals that are odd shapes can be scattered around the shadow box, almost in an unorganized manner.
Organize the medals. The odd shapes can also be organized by having a bigger or more important medal in the center, with smaller, less important medals arranged in a circle, square or rectangle in the box.
Attach the medals with silicone glue or hook and loop fasteners.
Use a template to arrange the medals around the photo or document, which can be placed in the center top, middle or bottom. If there are multiple pictures, place them symmetrically, mixed with the medals.
How to Hang Medals in a Shadow Box
How to Position Military Medals Properly in a Shadow Box
Attach the photos and medals to the backboard of the shadow box.
Add a framing mat for a clean look. A mat can be cut with openings for the pictures, allowing them to fit behind, without needing adhesive. Mats can be professionally cut with a bevel for you at a framing store. Materials found at an arts and crafts store can also be bought so you can cut the mat yourself.
3-D Items
Consider adding 3-D items, such as hats and clothes, with a professional framer. Even if you decide to do it yourself, the professional will be able to explain the best way to arrange everything, how to adhere it and the depth of shadow box needed.
Use the paper template to plan the shadow box. Remember that it will be sitting upright and plan the 3-D objects accordingly.
Arrange the medals with 3-D items. In this style, medals are often grouped together by date or shape.
Art and Framing by Valentino: Framing
Get The Picture: Military Medals and Flag Framing
How to Create Military Shadow Boxes
How to Make a Picture Frame With Cardstock
How to Build a Collage About Yourself
How to Gift Wrap Pictures
How to Mount Documents and Poems for Wall Display