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Home Commentary Comptroller Franchot statement on starting Maryland public schools after Labor Day
Comptroller Franchot statement on starting Maryland public schools after Labor Day
Aug 24th, 2015 · by Peter Franchot · Comments:
ANNAPOLIS — "With thousands of students returning to Maryland public schools today, I would like to thank teachers, administrators and support staff for their hard work, selfless dedication and commitment to making a difference in our children's lives. They have my continued support and appreciation for the sacrifices they make each and every day. This is an exciting time for students and families, and I wish them success in the coming school year.
By next Monday, students from all but one of Maryland's 24 public school systems will return to the classroom. Sending kids back to school during the hot and humid days of August just doesn't make sense to me – or to an overwhelming majority of Marylanders that support starting the state's public schools after the Labor Day holiday. Very rarely does an issue make so much sense that it crosses all demographic, geographic and partisan lines like this one does, as evidenced by Governor Larry Hogan's support, along with the 13,240 Marylanders from every corner of the state who signed the "Let Summer Be Summer" petition.
Despite facing firmly entrenched opposition from within the educational bureaucracy, this issue is just too important for me to back down. Once again, I will put my full support behind legislation to make a sensible change to Maryland's public school calendars. As with most legislation that is introduced, I recognize that this is a multi-year effort. With the tremendous support of families, teachers and small business owners I have met while traveling across our state, I am more certain than ever that this is an issue of great importance to our quality of life and our economy. An independent poll by Goucher College found that 72 percent of Marylanders favor adjusting the school calendar and a Virginia Commonwealth University study showed no link between a pre-Labor Day school start and student achievement.
A legislative task force chaired by a representative of the Maryland State Department of Education voted overwhelming to endorse the initiative, concluding that starting school after Labor Day could easily be accomplished without moving the end of the school year beyond mid-June. Worcester County, the only school system with a post-Labor Day start, has been able to do so without extending the school year or creating major disruptions.
Starting school after Labor Day would give teachers, who have to return to classrooms in the stifling heat of mid-August, sometimes in schools without air conditioning, the break they need to recharge their batteries and to spend more quality time with their own families. Students would have greater opportunity to learn life lessons outside the classroom, including those involved in agricultural organizations like 4-H and Future Farmers of America. These kids work incredibly hard all year to earn a spot at the Maryland State Fair, only to have to choose between attending the start of school or exhibiting at the state fair. Simply put, a post-Labor Day start to school would give more families the time to build lasting memories.
Small businesses that lose seasonal workers would get a much needed boost during these tough economic times. A 2013 study conducted by Maryland's Bureau of Revenue Estimates determined that a post-Labor Day school start could generate an additional $74.3 million in direct economic activity, including $3.7 million in new wages and a separate $7.7 million in state and local revenue.
I have complete confidence that our local school systems can make reasonable and modest adjustments to the school calendar to make a post-Labor Day start work for each of their communities. While there are significant economic benefits to changing the school calendar, this is ultimately about family and about the precious, but fleeting time parents have to spend with their kids."


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Sankt Knuds Skole (eller Skt. Knuds Skole) er en fri grundskole på Ryesgade midt i Aarhus, hvis fundament bygger på det katolsk-kristne livs- og menneskesyn. Skolen består af børnehaveklasser til og med 9. klassetrin med i alt cirka 437 elever (pr. 2014). 20% af eleverne er katolikker. Der er cirka 60 lærere og andet personale ansat på skolen. Skt. Knuds Skoles skolefritidsordning (kaldet Asgård) tilbydes skolens elever 0. – 4. klasse.

Skolen er medlem af Foreningen af Katolske Skoler i Danmark.

Historie
Skt Knuds Skole blev etableret i 1873 af Pater Augustin Sträter i ejendommen Fredensgade 22, da Jesu Selskab i april forinden på en konference i København besluttede at grundlægge en katolsk menighed i Aarhus, der på daværende tidspunkt kun havde en enkel katolik blandt 20.000 indbyggere. Skolen er navngivet efter Knud den Hellige, som var konge i Danmark i perioden 1080-86 og Danmarks værnehelgen. Skolen fejrer sin fødselsdag hvert år den 19. april, som netop er dagen, Knud den Helliges jordiske rester i år 1100 blev lagt i et skrin og anbragt i alteret i Sankt Knuds Kirke i Odense.

Skolen startede ud med byens eneste katolik (tysk skrædder) og dennes to børn, men antallet var i 1875 vokset til 36 elever og pater Sträter og pater Feldmann ikke længere kunne overkomme undervisningen. Undervisningen af pigerne og de små drenge blev derfor overtaget af Skt. Joseph-Søstrene fra Odense. I 1875 blev skolen flyttet ind i menighedens nye hus på Ryesgade 24, hvor den siden har haft til huse.

Eksterne henvisninger
 Sankt Knuds Skoles hjemmeside
 Sankt Knuds Skole på aarhuswiki.dk

Katolske skoler i Danmark
Uddannelsesinstitutioner i Aarhus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Proper technique and good body mechanics will reduce the wear and tear from everyday tasks.
It is important to understand that there is a proper and improper way to stretch, stretching the wrong way can result in more harmful effects than benefits.
Improper stretching can cause damage or injuries to muscle, ligaments and tendons.
Approximately one in three seniors over the age of 65 will fall each year and the risk of falling increases with age.
This risk doubles or triples of there is poor mental functioning or if there is a history of falling.
As people age, their bodies change. It is inevitable that muscular strength and function will deteriorate and the nervous system will slow. These physical and neural changes contribute largely to falls in the aging population and these falls can have serious consequences.
Falls can result in sprains, fractures, dislocations, psychological problems and economic problems that can have an impact on walking and ability to live independently.
environmental obstacles like ice, bumps, weather, lightning and stability.
The most common parts of the busy injured by falls are the shoulder/upper arm, knee and lower leg, wrist, head and chest.
The most serious injury that affects the elderly is hip fractures.
There are many things that can be done to prevent falls such as lifestyle changes to increase strength, bone density and flexibility.
Exercise is a key factor in helping prevent falls. Weight bearing exercises can increase bone density and increase the strength necessary to move, improve cardiac abilities and maintain balance. Weekly stretching of major joints can improve flexibility and range of motion reducing the risk of falling.
Safety aides should be used. It is important to wear glasses and hearing aids as necessary. Canes should be fitted to the proper height and grippers on shoes can be added for slippery walking surfaces.
Medications should be used wisely. Don't overmedicate and be sure to follow medication instructions!
Calcium and Vitamin D together in a diet can help maintain strong bones and reduce the incidence of fractures.
Falls are inevitable. Most people will fall at some point in their lives. If you fall try to land on your behind not directly on your hip. There is still a risk for injury but it can decrease the force placed directly on the hip and reduce the risk of it fracturing.
As our population ages, falling is becoming more of an issue. While some falls are inevitable, many of them are preventable with only minor changes to the environment and lifestyle. People need to know their risks, understand how falls happen, what the consequences of falling are and know how to prevent falls. Take control of your body and environment so you can reduce your risk of falling and maintain a good quality of life!


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Michael Hollinger (born January 13, 1962 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) is an American playwright who is currently an associate professor of theatre at Villanova University and an alumnus of New Dramatists. He received a Bachelor of Music in viola performance from Oberlin Conservatory in 1984 and a Master of Arts in theatre from Villanova in 1989. He has been married to Megan Bellwoar since 1990.

Because of his background as a musician, Hollinger considers his plays compositions. He is quoted as saying, "Plays are music to me; characters are instruments, scenes are movements; tempo, rhythm and dynamics are critical; and melody and counterpoint are always set in relief by rests—beats, pauses, the spaces in between."

Hollinger has written three short films for PBS and co-authored the feature-length Philadelphia Diary.  His awards include the Roger L. Stevens Award from the Fund for New American Plays, three Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play, a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award, a commission from The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science and Technology Project, and fellowships from the Independence Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Works
Full-length plays:
Under the Skin' (2015)Hope and Gravity (2014)Cyrano, translated, and co-adapted with Aaron Posner (2011)Ghost-Writer (2010)A Wonderful Noise (musical), co-authored with Vance Lehmkuhl (2009)Opus (2006)Tooth and Claw (2004)Red Herring (2000)Tiny Island (1997)Incorruptible (1996)An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf (1994)

Plays for young audiences:Eureka!Hot AirBoxheadsClean Getaway (musical), co-authored with Beth Dannenfelser

Ten-minute plays:Battle of the BackyardSenior MomentTruth DecayNaked LunchServietteTwo-Part InventionScreenplays:Opus IncorruptiblePipe''

References

Sources

External links

Alumni, New Dramatists
Playscripts, Inc.
Michael Hollinger discusses his plays
On The Red Herring
On Incorruptible

20th-century American dramatists and playwrights
Oberlin Conservatory of Music alumni
Villanova University alumni
Villanova University faculty
Living people
1962 births


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'Execute the gays' minister is hosting a Bible conference in DC
Is Mike Pence busy?
By Terrance Heath Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Kevin SwansonPhoto: screenshot
Radical anti-LGBTQ preacher Kevin Swanson is bringing his brand of bigotry to Washington, DC, with his Bible conference this summer.
Swanson's Bible Family Conference will take place August 10 – 11, in Washington, DC. Rep. Mike Johnson (R, La.) was initially listed as a keynote speaker, but his name no longer appears on the conference website.
Swanson's gone on the record numerous times to suggest that all gays should be summarily executed.
The rest of his "greatest hits" are equally shocking.
Swanson dedicated a broadcast of his radio program to calling for the execution of Girl Scout leaders for supporting LGBTQ rights and women's rights.
Swanson also warned that the Boy Scouts would soon have a "sodomy merit badge" after deciding to allow openly gay scouts to join.
Swanson condemned Highlights magazine as no better than ISIS for including a story about two gay dads to "encourage the support for the sin of homosexuality among kids."
Swanson said on his radio program that the Supreme Court needed to overturn marriage equality to avoid Hurricane Irma.
Swanson blamed LGBT people for California's wildfires, because of the 2011 FAIR Education Act, which added LGBT people and disabled people to the list of minorities whose contributions to the state should be mentioned in textbooks. Swanson described it as a "bill that encouraged homosexual indoctrination in California public schools for six-, seven-, eight-, nine- and 10-year-olds."
Swanson declared on his "Generations Radio" program that Hillary Clinton would lead "tremendous majorities of American kids" down "the track towards homosexuality."
He told his listeners that the LGBTQ community is "the catalyst by which nations are destroyed."
Swanson also warned his listeners that the goal of public schools is "for your children is that your kids be transgendered and communist by 20 years of age."
On a broadcast of his radio program, Swanson said that God created HIV/AIDS to punish gays and that the disease is a sign of "God's kindness," because it gives them a chance to repent and avoid hell.
That's just a sample of the insanity, and Swanson is bringing to Washington this summer. For the moment, at least, it doesn't look like any members of Congress are willing to take the stage at Swanson's conference.
But someone should see if Mike Pence is busy. After all, Trump says he "wants to hang" gay people.
Anti-gay, Boy Scouts of America, California, California wildfires, Girl Scouts, Hillary Clinton, Homophobia, Hurricane Irma, Kevin Swanson, LGBT Rights, LGBTQ Youth, Marriage Equality, Transgender
Texas high school won't let lesbian couple attend prom together
Official California voter guide includes horrific anti-trans screed from Senate candidate
Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a longtime supporter of LGBTQ rights, dies at 99
What happened to Lindsey Graham?
Tom Daley and new diving partner Matty Lee qualify for 2020 Olympics
A man cut off his gay son's earlobe to mark him as an 'abomination'
Gay teen goes viral for performing a stunning death drop at his graduation
A new video game lets you defeat Trump or Putin with a Pride parade danceoff
A Christian mom thought she couldn't support her son's marriage. But she went in a rainbow sash.
These 2 men were at the Stonewall uprising but didn't know it until they married
Show Comments ( )
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From striking down sodomy laws to supporting marriage equality, Stevens was a reminder of how much the Court changed over time.
This will be Daley's fourth trip to the Olympics – and we couldn't be prouder.
A man cut off his gay son's earlobe to mark him as an 'abomination'
"The worst thing is they didn't take me to hospital or give me medication. They just locked me inside a room as I tried to stop the bleeding."
He was beaten after being called anti-gay slurs. Now his picture is going viral.
"I seriously can not believe that a homophobic attack happens! Which it does and it's wrong!"
A gay teen who was brutally bullied for years stabbed one of his attackers. He's going to prison.
The teen defended himself with a knife during a violent attack at school after the school did nothing to stop the bullying.
A gay man won $1.5 million in a discrimination suit against his state's former governor
One of the former Republican governor's first moves in office was to try to get rid of this state employee.
He killed a man & shot another 'because they were gay.' He won't be charged with a hate crime.
He admitted to attacking "dozens" of gay men before he ended up murdering someone.
RuPaul saves woman from sexual assault by biting attacker
A little Shih Tzu named RuPaul defended his owner and drove off the would-be rapist.
Gay mathematician Alan Turing will be honored on the £50 note
Turing was a gay mathematician who figured out how to decode Nazi messages in WW2. After the war he was prosecuted for having a relationship with another man.
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The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy (ICDA) was founded In 1991 through a generous grant to California Western School of Law ("CWSL") from the San Diego Indigent Defense Fund. The Institute's charter is to improve the quality of criminal defense representation.
In 2013, ICDA was designated by the San Diego County Bar Association to administer funds which are to be used exclusively to reimburse eligible panel attorneys of the Office of Assigned Counsel (OAC) Division of the Department for the Public Defender, or panel attorneys of an organization that succeeds OAC with respect to the administration of the Assigned Counsel Program, or a similar County funded indigent criminal defense conflicts panel, for specific expenses listed below.
In order to receive reimbursement for eligible expenses, please click on the Submit Form tab and follow the step by step the instructions.
Expenses should be submitted within 90 days of incurring the expense. CWSL can make one-time exceptions for expenses older than 90 days (but under 6 months). Under NO circumstances will CWSL consider any expenses more than 6 months old.
CLE seminars and training (basic courses) course fees.Travel related expenses are not allowed.
CLE death penalty and murder seminars and course fees, provided that each panel attorney seeking such reimbursement (i) shall have obtained the Institute's prior approval before incurring the expense, and (ii) shall have attained the appropriate OAC (or Successor Organization) program attorney level rated to handle murder cases.Travel related expenses are not allowed.
(b) certified that such device and/or software will be used to access electronic discovery made available by the District Attorney's Office in indigent criminal cases.


Theatre goers in Cornwall and Devon are to experience a "challenging" and at times "uncomfortable" performance, while gaining an unflinching insight into teenage perceptions of life.
Students from Cornwall College St Austell will be performing Status Update by Tim Etchells at The Keay Theatre, St Austell on 9th March 2017 as part of National Theatre Connections – a nationwide celebration of new plays for young people.
National Theatre Connections is one of the world's largest celebrations of youth theatre. Plays are commissioned for and about young people, from some of the best contemporary playwrights, and performed by schools and youth theatres all over the UK and Ireland.
Status Update is one of 10 brand new plays written especially for Connections by a selection of the best playwriting talent in the UK.
The play is an unflinching and funny catalogue of the things teenagers learn, believe and have sussed out about the world. From the ridiculous, to the highly charged, all these ridiculous truths and half-truths are laid bare before us without the safety net of character or fiction.
This play is not for the faint hearted!
The students will also perform at The Drum Theatre in Plymouth on Thursday 27th April at 7pm and if selected could get the opportunity to perform in London at The Royal National Theatre.
For more information on the range of Performing Arts courses available across The Cornwall College Group call 0845 22 32 567.


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After Hurricane Sandy, Questions Linger Over Cellphone Reliability
Posted by revelation
in: News Articles, Science & Technology, US News
Roughly one in four cellphone towers in the path of Hurricane Sandy went out of service. It was a frustrating and potentially dangerous experience for customers without a landline to fall back on. Now, local officials and communications experts are pushing providers to improve their performance during natural disasters.
Lori McCaskill lives in Brooklyn, and when Sandy hit last October, her Verizon cell service went out. She couldn't work. She couldn't check in with family and friends. Her sister was due to have a baby any day.
"I realized, oh, if there's actually an emergency, I don't know if a call would get through," she says.
Cellphones Off The Grid
In the city of Long Beach, N.Y., all the cell towers went down during Sandy. City Manager Jack Schnirman described the experience at a recent Federal Communications Commission hearing on how cellphone networks held up, or didn't, during the storm.
"There was one woman in particular who passed away, of natural causes, an elderly woman," he said. "And her daughter had to walk literally a mile and a half from her home to police headquarters just to say, 'Listen, my mom has passed, and I thought I should tell somebody.' "
To prepare for the next disaster, Schnirman wants better access to "Cell on Wheels," or COWs. They're cell towers that can be moved from place to place. He wants backup power, like generators, at cell towers. And he wants better access to the cell providers themselves. He said he didn't even know whom to call during Sandy.
"The city's IT department flagged a Verizon tech off the street to help us find out who in Verizon could help; we needed to get somebody to come and help us," Schnirman says.
Wrong Assumptions
One of the problems is that cell companies, unlike power companies, are not required to tell the public where their networks are down or how many customers are affected.
Susan Crawford, a professor at Cardozo Law School, says assumptions that competition would force the carriers to provide reliable service are wrong.
"We assumed that cable would compete with phone, phone would compete with wireless, and that therefore we didn't need to have this whole superstructure of regulation," she explains. "It turns out that we were wrong."
These problems are growing as more and more people drop their landline phone service. Currently, more than a third of households rely solely on cellphones. Crawford's home is among them.
"I'm speaking to you on a cellphone because I don't have a landline at home," she says.
A Shifting Communication System
After 2005's Hurricane Katrina, federal regulators did try to mandate that each cell tower have backup power. But the carriers challenged that rule in court and it was rolled back.
Crystal Davis works in crisis communications for Sprint Nextel, the only major carrier that agreed to be interviewed about Sandy. She says a battery typically provides about four to six hours of additional power to a cell site.
"In terms of a permanent generator, that can give you an extra day or two," she says.
The problem is, in some places after Sandy the power was out for weeks.
Jamie Barnett, the former chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, says backup power aside, there's a bigger issue here. As many calls move from copper wires onto the Internet, Barnett says, the FCC's role is in question.
"The carriers have questioned whether or not the FCC has authority over broadband, basically Internet-based communications," he says. "Well, that's the way all communications are moving."
Barnett says most calls these days — landline and cellular — will be processed through the Internet at some point. So he thinks limiting the FCC's authority over broadband would be a big deal, and could lead to a lot more instances of "can you hear me now?"
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LOCATION TARGETING: Your Phone Apps Are Tracking Every Step You Take and Every Stop You Make (And Then Selling It)
Watch What Happens When A Baby That Is Addicted To A Cellphone Has It Taken Away (VIDEO)
Check Out John McAfee's (Educated) Warning About The Dark Side of That Presidential Alert Sent to Your Phone
Connected To The Matrix: Americans Spend Most Of Their Waking Hours Staring At A Television Or Computer Screen


Not 'the best I have ever had' but quite good & close to the original thing – I guess as good as it can get in Gurgaon for kathi rolls. Rest – I've had better.
Address & other details: Near Canara Bank, beside Super Bakery,Galleria Market. On the stretch between Citibank ATM & Post Office.
This is a real tiny hole in the wall. Infact it is just a narrow long kitchen carved out of the Super Bakery store. A guy sits in front of the shop with a billing machine. All around him are colorful backlit pictures of food available at the shop. Customers cannot enter the shop – They stand on the pavement , order, pay, maybe eat standing there & walk away. The shop is quite crowded at times.
The guy at the counter was pretty outspoken & was pretty knowledgeable about his offering. He was also being nice in helping us manage the food + other things in hand. In a quick chat with himwe got to know that these guys started as caterers in Corporate Office canteens in Gurgaon & they now have large Industrial Kitchens.
menu card on the wall.
The menu card of Kolkata's chef had few dishes from Kolkata – Egg/ Aloo/ paneer/ Chicken Rolls of different permutations & combinations, chicken biryani, mutton biryani only on weekends, gravy dishes like kosha, chaap etc.
Rest of the menu was Punjabi & Chinjabi. I guess the Chef was inspired by Bhowanipur or Dunlop in Kolkata where even today there is a large Punjabi population.
Food was surely better than expectation but far from the best.
We started with egg double chicken roll – Meaning a maida parantha with 1 egg & 2 portions of tandoored boneless chicken. The paratha was excellent – It was thick, layery, flaky , soft inside & mildly crispy outside. The tandoori chicken pieces inside were very soft & somewhat juicy. Onions were also perfectly chopped. What however was a bit of a spanner was the sauce that was used. Firstly it was not compulsory to use a sauce. Secondly, the sauce was too pedestrian – one of those cheap local varieties. Sans the sauce I wud rate it at 4.25/5. As it is I wud rate it as 3.75/5.
Post the roll we ordered fish fry. Fish fry in Kolkata is a masala coated fillet of fish dipped in egg/arrowroot, dipped in bread crumbs & deep fried. Most places do the coating exercise twice, resulting in a crispy thick outer layer. The masala coating of the fish leads to flavors & also adds to the taste. The fish fry is usually served with strong mustard sauce.
The fish fry at Kolkata's chef had only one coating – so it was soft. The good part of that was that the taste of fish cud be enjoyed more. On top of that the masala coating of the fillet was either insignificant / nonexistent. The good part of this was that we cud taste the fish even more & the flip side was that it moved further away from the original one. Needless to say, mustard sauce was not served. From authenticity point of view the fish fry wud get a 3.5/5 but from just a food item perspective, it wud get a 4/5.
The last item we ordered that evening was Chicken Biryani – We asked for mutton & were told that mutton is sold only on weekends!!!!
A good Kolkata Biryani is characterized by aromatic long grain super soft melt in the mouth rice that has independent strands – does not stick to each other. The flavor of the meats & the masalas is very high – so much that eating just the rice part is also a delight. Te meats are again super soft.
The biryani at Kolkata's Chef had long grains of rice that was aromatic but it was not super soft – it was not hard either. It was OK. The strands were independent but overall the rice was too dry. The flavors of the rice was good & so was the taste. I give the rice a 3/5.
The chicken was not super soft & one out of 2 pieces in the plate were bad – Smelly, non fresh. I give the good piece a 3/5 & the bad piece a 0/5, thus taking the rating of chicken to be 1.5/5.
Overall the rating of biryani averages out to 2.25/5.
I wud go here to eat rolls in future but never spend money on that Biryani. Look forward to hearing ur experience.
Had a Egg roll 4pcs….. bill amount was Rs.158/- and we paid Rs.500/- but he didn't return the balance amount.
OMG!!!! why did he not return? What did u do?


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COVID-19 and reopening of schools
in Columns, Opinion
The COVID-19 pandemic can be safely regarded as one disease that has seriously affected the way we live our lives like no other disease in recent memory. It has affected the way we move about and fraternize with fellow human beings. The disease has redefined the world of work that many workers now work from home. It has affected our mode of religious worship and schooling, trade and commerce.
The new normal arising from the pandemic is that we should learn to perform certain functions virtually or through online channels. Most bank services today are carried out online unlike before when people troop to the banking halls for every manner of transactions including money transfers and payment of bills that they can conveniently perform in the comfort of their rooms.
The pandemic has equally affected transportation, especially air travel to other countries which is yet to resume in the country. COVID-19 pandemic has equally affected governance to the extent that most government's meetings are done through online platforms. The pandemic has led to so many crimes, especially robbery, rape and killings of people, as well as cyber-crimes.
The disease, like in most other countries, caught us unaware and highly unprepared. The state of our health facilities testifies eloquently our level of unpreparedness. It is commendable that despite the poor state of our healthcare system, we have not recorded so many deaths compared with countries in Europe and America. Africa till date remains the least affected continent.
The federal and state governments have played commendable roles in the fight to stem the spread of the disease with lockdowns, sensitization and precautionary measures. Without any vaccine yet for the dreaded disease and without any curative medicine in sight, the best way we can confront the disease still lies with more sensitization and keeping of all the precautionary measures against the spread of the disease.
We must continue with the wearing of face masks, keeping social distance, washing hands with soap and running water, using sanitizers and avoiding crowds, and working from home. Besides, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has made it clear that we have to live with the disease for so long until a vaccine is produced or a cure found.
In other words, the global health agency is reiterating that the pandemic has become a new normal which we must strive to live with just like other infectious diseases. Since COVID-19 pandemic has become something we cannot do without, there is urgent need to evolve new ways of doing things so that we cannot spread the disease as well as ensuring that the disease does not disrupt those things we should do for life to be meaningful. Interestingly, the government is gradually opening up the economy and other sectors.
Now, people can move about and go to the markets on specified days. Nigerians can now walk into the banks and do one thing or the other even though the queues are so long. They can now travel to the hinterland to bury their loved ones. Some people can marry as well. Goods and services can now freely move about without much extortion from the security agents who man the highways. However, there are two areas that have remained closed since the advent of the pandemic.
These are schools and worship centres. Apart from some schools that are using the online platforms to reach their students, many schools, from primary to tertiary institutions have remained closed since the disease came to Nigeria. The reason for this state of affairs for the schools and the worship centres is understandable. Considering the large number of people that will converge at these centres and schools when they are reopened, government is being careful in handling the issue of reopening them to avoid mass infection from the pandemic.
Despite these explanations, some religious people are becoming worried that markets are open and people go there with or without observing some of the precautions, airports are open, politicians are contesting elections, yet the worship centres and schools have been asked to remain closed in Lagos and some other states. Even the planned reopening of religious centres in Lagos was later postponed when they have made elaborate plans to welcome their worshippers. When the federal government mooted the idea of reopening schools for final year students, especially those taking the WASSCE, which is done throughout West Africa, parents and major stakeholders were elated that the students will be back to school on August 4 to enable them take the examination.
Taking the examinations will enable those who passed this year's UTME to enter the university and other tertiary institutions. But the joy of the parents of the affected candidates was cut short when the same government reversed itself and insisted that the final year students in unity schools and other schools under the care of the federal government will not take this year's WASSCE because the government did not consider it safe for them to return to school. It urged state governments to see reason with it and do the same. But the fate of WASSCE candidates in private schools was not considered. Also, the interest of those running private schools was probably not factored because they will lose a lot of money having been closed down for so long. Many of them can no longer pay their workers salaries. The situation is indeed precarious.
More problematic is the fact that Nigerian students will lose this year's WASSCE if the federal government's decision on the examination is not rescinded forthwith. While the pandemic has come to stay with us, we should not abandon every activity because of the unseen enemy. The closure of schools and worship centres should not remain indefinite. The government should put measure in place to enable final year students return to schools on August 4 and write their WASSCE as previously planned. If other countries in West Africa are doing the examination, Nigeria should not be an exception.
The Lagos State government should also tidy up the guidelines that will enable worship centres to reopen even if it means having a skeletal service on their days of worship for a few people. If the final year students are allowed to take WASSCE, the government will be in a better position to anticipate when all schools will reopen. Before then, all schools must embrace online teaching in addition to interactive classroom teaching. Since private universities have embraced the new form of learning, state and federal universities must follow suit. ASUU strike should not be interminable.
Happy Birthday to Peter Obi
On July 19, former Anambra State Governor and the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 general election will be 59. We join millions of his numerous admirers to remember him for his development of the politics of Anambra State as well as redefining governance in the country in general. Obi's lifestyle in and out of government is worthy of emulation. Those in government should learn one or two lessons from Obi on prudence in governance, especially now that the emphasis is on reduction of cost of governance.
His public speaking engagements have enlivened the national socio-economic discourse in recent years. As Nigerian democracy evolves, the need for people like Peter Obi in governance increases. Obi has remained a reference point in Nigerian politics because of his astute political vision and accomplishments while piloting the affairs of Anambra State.
As you celebrate this great milestone, it is our prayer that God will continue to strengthen you and give you the grace to do more in the service of the nation, God and humanity.
Between direct primaries and electronic transmission of results
AFRD: COAS celebrates, presents vehicles to Army heroes
For Oshiomhole, it's not a requiem
The 2020 flood alert
Peace returns to NNU as group harmonises factions


text:
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Mandarin Centers Institute is the No. 1 private Chinese language learning center worldwide and also a Hanban accredited center to host the official Chinese HSK exams in its facilities.
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is an internationally standardized Chinese language proficiency test for non-native speakers of Chinese. It consists of 6 levels. The comparison between the HSK Test, "The Chinese Language Proficiency Standard for Foreigners" and "The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF)" is as follows:
HSK levels
HSK 1
It allows the student to understand and use a set of very simple phrases and words that serve to meet specific communication needs and prepare him/her for further acquisition of more advanced Chinese language skills. NHSK Level 1 is recommended for students who have studied Chinese language for one academic semester at a rate of 2-3 hours per week and have mastered about 150 frequently used words and the corresponding syntactic structures.
This level measures the student's ability to use the Chinese language for direct and simple conversations on everyday matters, and to test whether he/she has reached an advanced initial level. NHSK level 2 is recommended for those who have studied Chinese language for two academic semesters (one academic year) at a rate of 2-3 lessons per week and have mastered about 300 frequently used words and the corresponding syntactic structures.
Level 4 measures a student's ability to communicate and discuss using the Chinese language on a wide range of topics, as well as to communicate fairly fluently with native Chinese speakers. NHSK Level 4 is recommended for those who have studied Chinese language for four academic semesters (two academic years) at the rate of 2-4 classes per week and have mastered about 1200 frequently used words and the corresponding syntactic structures.
Level 5 measures a student's ability to read Chinese language newspapers and magazines, understand and enjoy television programs, and use the Chinese language for comprehensive and complete speech. NHSK Level 5 is recommended for those who have studied Chinese language for more than two academic years at the rate of 2-4 classes per week and have mastered about 2500 frequently used words and the corresponding syntactic structures.
Level 6 measures the student's ability to listen and understand without any difficulty or to read without difficulty news in Chinese as well as to be able to express their ideas and opinions in Chinese, both in spoken and written language. NHSK Level 6 is recommended for students who have mastered 5000 or more than 5000 frequently used words.
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text:
Historic flooding submerges villages in central Vietnamese province
Many villages in the north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri were still severely inundated as of Saturday afternoon, as flooding has broken the record in 1983 due to prolonged downpours over the past days.
Torrential rain brought about by a tropical convergence zone, low-pressure area, and cold spell triggered serious floods in central Vietnam, and Quang Tri Province in particular, from October 6 to 10, according to Vu Duc Long, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.
The highest rainfall was recorded in the localities from north-central Ha Tinh Province to central Thua Thien-Hue Province, while an overflow occurred in such rivers as Ngan Sau, Bo, Hieu, and Thach Han.
Water levels in the Hieu River in Quang Tri Province reached a historic high as it was 0.11 meters higher than the record in 1983, Long elaborated.
Trieu Giang Commune in Trieu Phong District, Quang Tri Province suffered the heaviest flood as it was surrounded by three rivers.
All three villages in the commune were submerged.
Residents of these villages, who have been familiar with inundation during rainy seasons every year, were all caught off guard as this year's floods have exceeded their prediction.
Due to the effect of Storm Linfa, more downpours are expected to batter central provinces until October 13.
In Quang Tri, rainfall is forecast to reach 300-500 millimeters and flooding may linger in the next days.
Tuoi Tre News – October 11, 2020
Heavy rains trigger widespread flooding in Vietnam Northern Vietnam suffers longest heat wave in 49 years Heat wave in Vietnam Vietnam prepares to evacuate 500,000 people as Storm Noul nears Typhoon kills 3 in central Vietnam
ClimateFloodVietnam
Deadly flooding displaces thousands across Mekong region
In Ho Chi Minh City, why are quarantine hotel rooms more expensive than normal ones ?


text:
The Original Soul of Michael Jackson is a remix album by American singer Michael Jackson. It features songs recorded early in his career mainly during the 1970s and remixed in 1987, before its release that year by Motown.

Release
While the album claims that it "contains music never before released", the only new song available was a re-dubbed cover of Edwin Starr's 1970 hit "Twenty-Five Miles", sung by the Jackson Five and solely credited to Michael. The original recording of the song was included on the 2009 set Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection. Some songs were newly edited on the album, with a newly dubbed version of "Dancing Machine". "Ain't No Sunshine" was also slightly different in the vocals and a modern drum machine was added to "Twenty-Five Miles". "Melodie" was planned for a single in an effort to promote the record in the US, but was scrapped for a promo-only single "Twenty-Five Miles"/"Up On The Housetop".

Critical reception
Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s (1990), Robert Christgau wrote, "Once you get past the slipshod cynicism of Motown's catalogue exploitation, you have to admit that this mostly remixed, sometimes synthed-up mishmash has its charms and even uses—that in fact it's superior to the 'real' 1975 best-of the label long ago deleted. I love the previously unreleased 'Twenty-Five Miles' and the preteen-sings-the-blues 'Doggin' Around,' could live without the two J5 non hits, and will no doubt pull this down when I want to remember 'Dancing Machine' and 'Rockin' Robin.'"

Track listing

References

External links

1987 compilation albums
1987 remix albums
Michael Jackson compilation albums


Go to File>New (Cmd/Ctrl+N), set the Width to 460mm, Height to 310mm, Resolution to 300 pixels/inch and click OK. Fill the background with a light blue gradient. Insert a wintery sky and place it at the top of the scene. Resize the image using Free Transform (Cmd/Ctrl+T).
Duplicate the sky layer and move to the left. Erase the unnecessary parts. Make the bottom part of the sky lighter. Create New Adjustment Layer>Gradient Fill (colour c8def5) with a clipping mask, and set the blending mode to Screen. Darken the upper part of the sky using Curves.
Insert another sky, and use a black soft brush (B) on the layer mask to erase the hard edges. Create a new layer with a clipping mask (right-click>Add Clipping Mask), set blending mode to Color, Opacity: 50%. Use a soft brush with colour #7a7e7e to paint over the sky area.
Add more clouds to the image. As with the previous step, hide unnecessary parts using the layer mask. Create Adjustment Layer>Curves with a clipping mask and lighten dark areas. Then create a new layer (Opacity 80%). Select the colour #a0afc1 and use a soft brush to paint areas of the sky.
Darken more of the sky at the top with a Curves adjustment layer. Go to Select>Color Range, select Highlights and click OK. With the selection made, use a Curves adjustment layer to increase the brightness. Blur the layer mask by going to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur, set Radius 3px.
Insert a lake image. Cut out the mountains with a Lasso tool, move them onto the scene and scale accordingly. Use the Clone Stamp tool to remove repetitive areas. Group the mountain layers. Create a Curves adjustment layer with a clipping mask, lower the contrast, and add more blues and cyan.
Duplicate the layer with the mountains, place it below the first layer. Move it to the top. Use the Lasso tool and Clone Stamp tool to change the shape of the mountains. Use Curves to reduce the contrast a bit more. Create a new layer with a clipping mask and fill with #8aaac9. Set Opacity to 30%.
Darken the top of the mountains by using Curves. Create a new layer with blending mode set to Screen, Opacity 30-50%. Use a soft brush with a colour of #8894a9 to paint the bottom of the mountain. Create a new layer, paint fog between the mountains. Use a small white soft round brush with an Opacity of 10-15%.
Duplicate and merge layers with mountains, set the blending mode to Screen. Add more red and yellow by using Curves. Paint glare using a white brush on the black layer mask. Group all layers with mountains. Create a Color Balance adjustment layer with a clipping mask to add more blue and cyan.
Insert more meadows and lakes to complete the landscape. Use a soft brush to mask the edges. Select Curves and adjust brightness and contrast for each element. Use Color Balance to add more yellow and red.
Use a stream stock photo to create the lake and insert some hills. Use the Eraser tool with a soft brush and the Clone Stamp tool to eliminate seams. Adjust brightness, contrast and colour for each element. Use Curves, Color Balance and Hue/Saturation for the desired result.
Insert a forest. Reduce brightness using Curves. Add more yellow and red in the midtones by using Color Balance. Add a road. Similarly, edit the brightness and contrast. Our goal is to achieve uniformity of all the elements on the brightness and hue.
Reduce the brightness, and add more red and yellow. Group all the landscape layers. Create a Selective Color adjustment layer. In Neutral colours, set the values to Cyan: +33, Magenta: -14, Yellow: +13 and Black: +33. Use a layer mask to apply the correction only to the water.
Create a Curves adjustment layer. Lower the white point, raise the black point, and add blue in the shadows. Fill white selected areas on the mask layer. Duplicate the landscape layers and merge on a new layer. Set blending mode to Screen. Add more red and yellow using Curves. Get glare in some areas on the mask layer.
Insert a rock. Darken the right side of the cliff. Adjust the colour, and add more red and yellow. Add a castle. Place it on top of a cliff. Reduce the brightness of the castle by using Curves.
Place a tower from a different castle photo on top of your existing castle. Use Hue/Saturation for colour correction. Pick the colour #e4dcd0. Paint with a soft brush (Mode: Color, Opacity: 50%) in white on areas of the tower. Reduce brightness using the Curves.
Use more images to add to your castle. Lengthen the bottom of the tower using the Clone Stamp tool. Adjust the brightness using Curves. Create a new layer with a clipping mask, fill with #faf9f6. Set blending mode to Overlay, Opacity: 28%. Duplicate tower, place it to the right of the castle. Darken the right side.
Find lots of castle stock images. Combine different elements with each other. Use Transform (Cmd/Ctrl+T) to resize. Mask unnecessary details using the Clone Stamp. Use previous steps to adjust colour and brightness for all elements.
Cut out elements from castles to build bridges. Duplicate layers to lengthen the bridge. Use Erase and Clone Stamp tool to mask edges. Place bridges between the towers of the castle. Use an image of a castle to create a wall. Adjust colour and brightness for all the elements.
Use the Clone Stamp tool on a new layer to add plants around the castle. Use an image of some plants as a sample. Select Brush Tip Set>Chalk 17 pixels. In the Brush Presets, enable Shape Dynamics and Scattering. Add trees around the castle with another stock image.
Add some waterfall stock photos. Adjust the brightness and contrast using Curves, and add more yellow and red. Create a new layer, with blending mode Multiply, Opacity: 57%. Select colour 282e3a and paint the bottom of the waterfall. On a new layer, draw waves and splashes near the shore and waterfall.
Create a new layer (Multiply, Opacity: 30-60%) for adding shadows. Use a dark brush. Darken the bottom and right side of the castle, bridge, some areas of the plants and rocks. Create a new layer, set to Color Dodge and brush in highlights. Use a clipping mask to add effects only to the selected objects.
Place some trees into the scene. Add plants to the foreground from plants stock photos. Adjust the colour and brightness for all elements. Add highlights and shadow areas as the previous step. Draw drop shadows under the trees.
Create a dragon using stock photos and use Puppet Warp to change its shape. Reduce contrast, and add shadows and highlights. Place birds in the scene and reduce the contrast. Paint them a light blue using a brush at a low opacity.
Select a soft round brush, Opacity 10-15%. Paint the edges of the objects on a new layer. Sample colour taken from the surrounding area. Use a blending mode of Normal, Soft light or Color and a low opacity. This adds more uniformity to your picture. Use a clipping mask to add effects only to the selected objects.
Paint some rays in the sky, and set blending mode to Soft Light, Opacity: 40%. Repeat this setting the blend mode to Screen, Opacity: 35%. Erase the edges. Use a soft brush to draw more rays and highlights on a new layer (blend mode: Color Dodge). Use a light yellow.
Increase the brightness of the picture using Curves. Add more yellow and red using Color Balance. Add Solid Color and Gradient Fill adjustment layers. Use Soft Light and Screen blend modes, Opacity: 5-30%. Try to experiment with adjustment layers to achieve the best results.
This is quite nice! I would very much like to try it. I wonder if you could at least add a list of the necessary stock images. You don't have to post your exact stock links, unless you have them handy. But, to read through and determine what one needs is, well, a bit tedious.
I can live with a tut that doesn't offer the links to the stock used. I usually find similar images, anyway, so, I am not repeating a tut verbatim, but, I am having trouble just figuring out what I need!


This video was taken down from YouTube several times, now it's on a dutch website.
You'll soon see why it was taken down. Liberals are afraid to show what's really going on in Europe right now.
As Breitbart says "With Open Gates: The forced collective suicide of European nations', a slick, hard-hitting film about the European migrant crisis is going viral in Europe, already watched at least half a million times.


text:
Word from the General Manager
Located on the African West coast almost at an equal distance between the ports of Senegal and Cameroon, the Port of Abidjan is located at the junction of major shipping lines from Europe, Asia and America. .
This ideal location coupled with the quality of the services and the synergy of skills and expertise that characterize the Port community of Abidjan, have made this modern logistical platform to be qualified as a major trading, fishing, transit and transshipment Port of West and Central Africa. Thanks its dynamism, the Port of Abidjan currently represents 90% of the external trade of Côte d'Ivoire, 70% of the industrial activities in the country, more than 85% of customs revenues which make up more than 60% of the general budget of the State, and more than 40 000 direct and indirect jobs. This Port with a sub -regional vocation has proved in the past ten years of crisis, its capacity to continuously improve the quality of its services to reach exceptional levels of traffic.
However, the serious post- electoral crisis that Cote d'Ivoire has just gone through did not spare this important link of the national economy which must take up new challenges in order to continue its mission as a tool in the service of the Ivorian economy and of the whole West African subregion.
It is with this double task of rehabilitating the foundations of the Port and of projecting it into the future to create one of the largest hub Port of Africa, that we are striving together with the new management which I have been privileged to lead
since December 10, 2010 following my appointment by the President of the Republic, H.E Alassane Dramane Ouattara.
To this end, all of the skills of the operators, both public and private, our Port platform will be again be used to provide complete satisfaction to our national and international customers who continue to trust us by choosing on our Port.
It is together that we will succeed the challenge of improving the image of Côte d'Ivoire by enabling it to regain its place in the concert of nations and to fully play its role as West Africa's engine.
HIEN Y. SIE
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The Port of Abidjan
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The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was established by National Health Insurance Act 2012, (Act 852) to provide financial risk protection for healthcare to all persons legally resident in Ghana through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Healthcare Providers (HP's) credentialed by the NHIA, submit claims for healthcare services provided to NHIS members. Since inception, there has been an exponential growth in claims volumes and payments, threatening the sustainability of the Scheme.
The NHIA is therefore seeking a Strategic Partner with the requisite claims management knowhow to effectively and efficiently manage claims with the goal of achieving 90% electronic claims management.
• Provide claims submission solutions that can be utilized in all NHIA credentialed Healthcare Provider (HP's) for submission of eclaims. The Solution should enable online and offline generation and submission of claims.
The National Health Insurance Authority now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing the above service. Interested firms must provide information indicating they have the capability and are qualified to perform the service.
• Firm must have not less than seven (7) years' experience with a proven track record in rendering similar services in Ghana and or any African Country. References with names, phone numbers and emails must be provided.
• Relevant qualification and experience of all technical personnel.


At age 28 I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I kept waiting for a doctor to tell me how long I had left to live, but a countdown never came. Five years later, I'm still here. I have been on a series of hormone therapies and a recent targeted therapy that's kept me stable. Honestly, someone in my situation couldn't ask for more. Your research has allowed me many privileges: I work full-time, have avoided chemotherapy, and can depend on myself to practice yoga, drive, and do almost everything I would like to. These privileges aren't afforded to everyone with Stage IV breast cancer, so I am grateful.
As grateful as I am to just be alive, I can't pretend like it's been easy being forced into menopause at 28—or undergoing a double mastectomy at 29. I take comfort in making my day-to-day life as normal as I can. I go to work, support my husband, and try to stay active. On the outside, I probably seem like any other married person my age. However, I had no idea that life could feel so painful and so normal at the same time. With this diagnosis, I'm stuck in a cycle of treatments and scans—a holding pattern—and everyone I love is stuck with me.
My husband and I have been married for seven years. He's pretty much the best thing that's ever happened to me. I was never the type of person to plot out my future, but when I met my husband, something about him changed that. Suddenly, I did care about what my future entailed. We wanted to start a family—have children, grandchildren—but cancer has taken that away from us. In a way, it feels like I am taking this away from him, the person I strive make happy. I don't know if this is something I can get over.
It feels ironic that just as we were beginning to make big plans for our future, our family, I'm faced with incurable breast cancer. Now, planning more than six months out doesn't always feel aspirational, it often feels foolish. I ask myself, "Will I be well enough to do this in a year?" or "If my next scan shows progression, will I have to cancel?" I wish, everyday, that new developments will allow me to have my body back; that I won't have to watch my friends die; that new advances will allow me to have my own children. Some of these wishes are more realistic than others, but I have to believe in my "moonshot". I choose to believe in a wild, beautiful dream. Though unrealistic, it makes reality a little more palatable.
I'm still astounded that I get to have days without thinking of this disease. I have you to thank for that. I can't imagine the complexity of work someone in your field experiences—but please look at me and know that someone's life is affected on every level because of what you do.
The hard thing about good work is that it's never finished. There are plenty of people like me whose lives are literally in your hands—no pressure 😉 We need you—and we need treatments for metastatic breast cancer to continue to improve.
Dear Scientist, breast cancer has disrupted my plans for a family. What's next for me?
Kaye McDonald, of Orange County, was preparing to take a big step before cancer rerouted her life. Scientist Jennifer LaFontaine is determined to help her remain hopeful.
Dear Scientist, atopic dermatitis keeps me itching nonstop. Can you help me and my family find relief?
Twelve-year-old Jaemin Kung, from Arlington, has a condition that makes his skin break out severely, with no preventative treatments to fight it. Scientist Jean Beebe is searching for ways to make his life less burdensome, and way less itchy.
Jake Marrazzo has a condition that's wearing down his muscles. He's also a spirited actor and advocate. When he meets researcher Jane Owens, their conversation teaches them how important each of them are in the fight to find new treatments.


text:
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class ThrowBall : MonoBehaviour {

	private GameObject throwable;
	private Inventory inventory;

	public float power = 10.0f;

	float gravity = 9.8f;

	int layerMask;

	void Start(){
		throwable = GameObject.FindWithTag ("Book");
		inventory = GameObject.FindWithTag ("GameController").GetComponent<Inventory>();

		layerMask = 1 << 8;
		layerMask = ~layerMask;
	}

	// Update is called once per frame
	void Update () {

		if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.T))
		{

			Ray ray = Camera.main.ScreenPointToRay(Input.mousePosition);

			Debug.DrawRay(ray.origin, ray.direction * 10, Color.yellow);
			//Debug.DrawRay(target.transform.position, rayDirection);

			RaycastHit hit;

			if (Physics.Raycast(ray, out hit, Mathf.Infinity, layerMask))
			{
				Vector3 relativePos = new Vector3();
				relativePos.z = 0;
				relativePos.x = Mathf.Sqrt( (hit.point.x - transform.position.x) * (hit.point.x - transform.position.x)
				                           + (hit.point.z - transform.position.z) * (hit.point.z - transform.position.z) );
				relativePos.y = hit.point.y - (transform.position.y + 0.5f);

				Vector3 relativeVelocity = ComputeInitialVelocity(power, relativePos, true);

				Vector3 localDirection = hit.point - transform.position;
				localDirection.y = 0;
				localDirection = localDirection.normalized;
				Vector3 worldVelocity = new Vector3();
				worldVelocity.y = relativeVelocity.y;
				worldVelocity.x = relativeVelocity.z * localDirection.x;
				worldVelocity.z = relativeVelocity.z * localDirection.z;

				//Debug.Log(relativeVelocity.ToString());

				if (Vector3.Angle(localDirection, transform.forward )<= 90)
				{
					if (inventory.remove(Inventory.ItemCategory.BOOK))
					{
						GameObject book = Instantiate(throwable, transform.position + new Vector3(0, 0.5f, 0), Quaternion.identity) as GameObject;
						book.rigidbody.velocity = worldVelocity;
					}
				}
			}

		}
	}

	Vector3 ComputeInitialVelocity (float speed, Vector3 target, bool smallerAngle)
	{
		float temp = Mathf.Pow(speed, 4) - gravity*(gravity*target.x*target.x+2*target.y*speed*speed);

		// no real solution, return 45 degrees
		if(temp < 0)
		{
			return new Vector3(0,Mathf.Sin(45*Mathf.Deg2Rad)*speed,Mathf.Cos(45*Mathf.Deg2Rad)*speed);
		}

		temp = Mathf.Sqrt (temp);
		float angle;
		if(smallerAngle)
		{
			angle = Mathf.Atan((speed*speed - temp)/(gravity*target.x));
		}
		else
		{
			angle = Mathf.Atan((speed*speed + temp)/(gravity*target.x));
		}

		return new Vector3(0,Mathf.Sin(angle)*speed,Mathf.Cos(angle)*speed);

	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Global Electric Truck Market
Sunil Kholi
Global Electric Truck Market size was valued at US$ 1.5 Bn. in 2020 and the total revenue is expected to grow at 28.1% CAGR through 2021 to 2027, reaching nearly US$ 8.49 Bn.
Global Electric Truck Market Overview:
In terms of value, the electric truck market is expected to reach 69,597 units in 2021 and 307,528 units by 2027, with a CAGR of 28.1 % from 2021 to 2027. Electric trucks are commercial vehicles that are powered by a battery pack and are used to transport cargo. Furthermore, compared to diesel trucks, electric trucks have fewer moving parts and do not require multi-speed gearboxes, which lowers vehicle maintenance costs and improves reliability while emitting nearly no noise. To know about the Research Methodology :- Request Free Sample Report 2020 is considered as a base year to forecast the Market from 2021 to 2027. 2020's Market size is estimated on real numbers and outputs of the key players and major players across the globe. Past five years trends are considered while forecasting the Market through 2027. 2020 is a year of exception and analyzed specially with the impact of lockdown by region.
Global Electric Truck Market Dynamics:
Thanks to technological advancements and manufacturing of EV batteries on a large scale, the cost of EV batteries has been decreased over the past decade. This has led to a decrease in cost of the electric trucks as EV batteries are one of the most expensive parts of an electric truck. For example, an electric vehicle battery cost roughly USD 1,100 per kWh in 2010. According to Bloomberg, their price would have dropped to roughly USD 137 per kWh by 2020, while the price in China is as low as USD 100 per kWh. This is due to lower battery manufacturing costs, lower cathode material prices, and higher production volumes, among other factors. According to a study on Research Gate, trucks will be priced similarly to traditional ICE trucks. Along with the growing demand for low-emission transportation, electric trucks will become more popular in the future decade. The recent development of self-driving trucks will have an impact on the electric truck business. Top manufacturers like as Tesla, Volvo, Vera, and Daimler have been working on self-driving electric trucks for the market. Self-driving electric trucks are also being developed by startups such as Embark, Einride, TuSimple, Ike, and others. Tesla, for example, hopes to have its self-driving electric truck on the road by the end of 2021. Since January 2020, Waymo has been testing its self-driving trucks. Electric vehicles require a substantially larger initial investment than gasoline, diesel, or compressed natural gas trucks. The cost of producing parts and machinery is likewise relatively significant. The high cost of electric batteries used in electric trucks is one of the main reasons behind this. Electric trucks will be less expensive than trucks that run on traditional fuels as battery technology develops and prices fall. According to a Forbes article by energy innovation, the production cost of an electric vehicle is currently much more than diesel or petrol trucks, but with lowering battery prices, it will be 50% cheaper by 2030 compared to diesel and petrol variations.
Global Electric Truck Market Segment Analysis:
Based on type, based on equipment the Electric Truck market is segmented into Battery Electric Trucks and Hybrid Trucks. The battery electric trucks segment accounted for the major revenue share of 84.76 % in 2019 & is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period. The segment is projected to increase at high CAGR during the forecast period, thanks to the increasing life & energy density of batteries & a drop in battery values. Moreover, growing government regulations to command zero-emission vehicles will also support segment development. For example, the European Union has passed enactment to decrease emissions by at least 40 % by 2030. The EU has also fixed a goal to decrease emissions by almost 60 % by 2040. Based on application, Electric Truck market is segmented into Logistics, Municipal, Construction, Mining, Others. Logistics segment has held the biggest market share in the past and will continue to do so over the projected period. Peterbilt and Dana recently announced the debut of the Peterbilt Model 220EV, which will have a range of up to 200 miles. The car is expected to be produced in late 2020. Navistar has entered the contest as well, offering a medium-duty electric vehicle under its global banner. The production manager has committed to a single-charge range of 250 miles with a battery capacity of 312 kWh, as well as completion of manufacture by early 2021.
Global Electric Truck Market Regional Insights:
During the anticipated period, the European region holds the biggest market share for electric trucks. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom make up Europe's electric truck market. Emission regulations in Europe are very strict. Governments across Europe are providing significant incentives to encourage the use of electric vehicles. As a result, the demand for electric vehicles in the region has skyrocketed. Electric truck manufacturers such as Volvo, Daimler, and others are based in the region. Europe has set a lofty goal of lowering CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, and has devised a plan to achieve it. The EPA and NHTSA have proposed that the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) cars regulation be adopted from 2021 to 2026 in the United States. The proposal could set corporate average fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger and light vehicles. OEMs are required to sell a certain amount of clean and zero-emission vehicles under the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Program (electric, hybrid, and fuel cell powered commercial and passenger vehicles). By 2030, the ZEV strategy hopes to have 12 million ZEVs on the road. China accounted for the major revenue share of over 78.85 % in 2019 & is expected to endure its control in APAC. The region is expected to hold a maximum revenue share through the forecast period thanks to the occurrence of key companies like Dongfeng Motor Corporation, etc besides, the region has the maximum adoption of electric trucks as the central government in China removed upper weight restrictions on subsidies for trucks & LCVs. Kenworth and Toyota Motor teamed together in March 2020 to produce ten zero-emission Kenworth T680 trucks. Under normal operating conditions, the vehicles will have a range of more than 300 miles.
Recent Developments:
• Scania AB announced its expansion into China with a new manufacturing unit in October 2020. In China, the company will open a totally owned manufacturing facility in Jiangsu Province, near Shanghai. Scania AB has decided to invest in the country due to the quick transition to a more open and market economy-based structure that is now taking place. • The Volvo Group purchased 50% of the partnership rights in the existing Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co. in March 2021. The goal is for the new joint venture to become a dominant global manufacturer of fuel cells by 2050, allowing the world to take a massive step toward climate-neutral and sustainable transportation. • Paccar's trucks will be equipped with 141 kWh and 282 kWh battery packs, allowing for 100 and 200-mile ranges, respectively, in December 2020. Customers would have the option of choosing between 355 hp and 469 hp motors. • In June 2020, the California Air Resources Board sets electric truck sales goals for makers staring in 2024. The law is projected to bring around 0.3 Mn electric trucks to California's highways by 2035. The objective of the report is to present a comprehensive analysis of the Global Electric Truck Market to the stakeholders in the industry. The past and current status of the industry with the forecasted Market size and trends are presented in the report with the analysis of complicated data in simple language. The report covers all the aspects of the industry with a dedicated study of key players that include Market leaders, followers, and new entrants. PORTER, PESTEL analysis with the potential impact of micro-economic factors of the Market have been presented in the report. External as well as internal factors that are supposed to affect the business positively or negatively have been analyzed, which will give a clear futuristic view of the industry to the decision-makers. The report also helps in understanding the Global Electric Truck Market dynamics, structure by analyzing the Market segments and project the Global Electric Truck Market size. Clear representation of competitive analysis of key players by Type, price, financial position, Type portfolio, growth strategies, and regional presence in the Global Electric Truck Market make the report investor's guide.
Global Electric Truck Market Scope: Inquire before buying
Global Electric Truck Market, by Region
• North America • Europe • Asia Pacific • Middle East and Africa • South America
Global Electric Truck Market Key Players
• AB Volvo • BYD Auto Co. Ltd • Daimler AG • Dongfeng Motor Corporation • FAW Group Co., Ltd. • Foton Motor Inc. • Isuzu Motors Ltd • Navistar, Inc. • PACCAR Inc. • Scania • Tevva Motors Limited • Tesla • Rivian • Ford • GM • Workhorse • Atlis • Lordstown • Bollinger • Volkswagen AG • Hino Motors Ltd. • Chanje Energy Inc. • Orange EV • Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. • Nikola Motor Co. • Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
1] What segments are covered in Global Electric Truck Market report? Ans. The segments covered in Global Electric Truck Market report are based on Type, Application, Population and Level of Automation. 2] Which region is expected to hold the highest share in the Global Electric Truck Market? Ans. Europe is expected to hold the highest share in the Global Electric Truck Market. 3] What is the Market size of Global Electric Truck Market in 2027? Ans. The Market size of Global Electric Truck Market in the forecast period 2027 is US $ 8.49 Bn. 4] Who are the top key players in the Global Electric Truck Market? Ans. AB Volvo, BYD Auto Co. Ltd, Daimler AG, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, FAW Group Co., Ltd., Foton Motor Inc., Isuzu Motors Ltd, Navistar, Inc., PACCAR Inc., Scania, Tevva Motors Limited, Tesla, Rivian, Ford. 5] What was the Market size of Global Electric Truck Market in 2020? Ans. The Market size of Global Electric Truck Market in 2020 was US $ 1.5 Bn.
Global_Electric_Truck_Market
Electric_Truck
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text:
Land reclamation – an epitaph for Posidonia meadows
Author: George Mangion
Published on Malta Today, 19th Decemeber, 2014.
In the past 25 years, the PN governments have relied on the construction industry to kick-start the economy by expanding development zones and relaxing building heights, particularly at Tigne Point, but never sanctioned land reclamation.
During these festive times many try to forget the political polarisation in the media and the virtuous try to live the remaining days of 2014 with family and friends in a tranquil mood. The latter do their best to share their blessings as another year of toil and hard work is about to finish. Upon closer reflection one cannot neglect to observe how a sum exceeding one million euros has been dutifully pledged to fill the coffers of both political parties – a paradox since according to the Opposition the computation of the COLA annual cost of living adjustment was too low and an insult to boot.
This notwithstanding, citizens have quickly forgotten any negative remarks on the miserable COLA handout and rose to the occasion by pledging generous cash donations. This may be a reflection of how fickle the electorate is and how easily they forget the heavy criticism from the Opposition lambasting the meager 58.3 cents weekly COLA increase. But it is the season to be jolly so they quickly threw caution to the wind and honoured their pledges, heeding the call of the respective leaders to help the party balance its deficit. It reflects a sign of a feel good factor as employment levels are high, energy tariffs reduced and glossy publications issued free with weekend newspapers tempt readers to indulge in buying expensive gifts – including timepieces – some starting from €22,000.
This is not to mention fully booked champagne parties in the New Year, hosted at a number of lavish "Paris styled" venues starting at €200 a head. Can this bonanza be skin deep or is there a true feeling of optimism in the air, such that this year more of the jet set are planning to spend their NewYear celebrations in expensive skiing resorts in the Swiss Alps – a vacation that makes them feel like joining the haute couture crowd. Surely this season is blessed with well wishers and it is not an exaggeration to say that the economy is on the rebound and next year the budget proposals (unless they are sabotaged by unforeseen circumstances) point to an interesting panorama of new initiatives that taken at the flood will lead to fortune.
One of these initiatives is the government intention to invite the private sector to participate in a number of exciting projects which can be implemented on a profitable basis using the Private Public Partnership template (PPP). One such PPP is land reclamation. Scarcity of land, high population density and mountains of stone waste are some of the driving factors behind a debatable notion to build more structures on untouched areas presently covered by sea. Simply put this is a process of using infill to create new land from the sea, which since Independence we have seen very useful extensions of the coastline added to meet the requirements of our expanding ports, ranging from Birżebbugia to Ċirkewwa, without any noticeable negative impacts on water quality for swimming or sea life.
This is not new to the Maltese islands. One may mention a few examples starting with the Marsa Sports Grounds which is standing on entirely reclaimed land, the sea originally reaching inland as far as Qormi since ancient times. Msida is another example of a major land reclamation project on a local scale, together with the Freeport in Birzebbuga measuring 200,000 square metres and currently generating €170 million, providing 2,000 jobs and the platform on which the Delimara power station stands. Not to mention a host of micro-scale private and public projects around the coast, which also include, say, an impressive and highly profitable cruise liner terminal in Grand Harbour. There can never be any bone of contention about the economic benefits the country derives from the cruise liner industry and, therefore, in this specific context, the author thinks it is economically feasible to reclaim land from the sea provided adequate safeguards are taken by operators.
Unfortunately in the past little or no public consultation was held when after the war the Msida creek was reclaimed to accommodate increased traffic flow in an area facing the church. It is true that there will always be a price to pay when inert waste, usually from construction and demolition sources, is arbitrarily dumped into the sea (here one may recall the scandal of the dumping of tons of inert material by MiDI consortium when excavating the massive underground car park in Tigne point). The hardest hit, from a purely environmental standpoint, is obviously the seabed, which not only loses its integrity in terms of physical characteristics but any biodiversity thriving on a particular site that is reclaimed is wiped out altogether.
As mentioned before one can never overlook the irreparable damage to ever present Posidonia oceanica meadows (seagrass) that lie over large tracts of seabed at various depths around the coastline. It is a paradox how many consider the masses of dead Posidonia grass washed ashore on our beaches as a pollutant, yet this is highly regarded by marine biologists as an essential safe haven to breeding fish and other marine organisms. By definition Posidonia is a keystone species that thrives in clear waters, mostly outside ports, which forms a web-like matte anchored to the sandy seabed. Readers may remember that it was Dr Gonzi the former Nationalist prime minister, who in 2005 first declared his government's intention to embark on a project to create artificial islands on the Maltese coastline.
It later transpired that no such islands were approved by MEPA, citing the huge volume of construction debris needed would either mean importing it from abroad or 'stepping up efforts to generate it locally'. Under the Gonzi administration there were a number of studies conducted by MEPA on the subject which by and large found that all sites were deemed as being too expensive: the exception was a site on the northern part of the coastline between Marsaskala and Ricasoli, near the present Smart City development. As can be expected the environmentalists lobby were adamant that no land reclamation is sanctioned since this disturbs the ecosystem, particularly the underwater Posidonia meadows –protected by EU Habitat directives. Land reclamation on the stretch of coastline at Bahar ic-Caghaq was also completely excluded for ecological reasons, even though the study confirmed that this area would be the most economically viable for reclamation because of the relative shallow water and proximity to inert material dumped over the years at Maghtab.
Most of all, environmentalists advised against any dumping as it disturbs the water column contributing to its turbidity as the material gradually settles down as sediment on the seafloor. This disturbance lowers the photosynthetic capabilities of aquatic species in that site to the detriment of the marine ecosystem as a whole. Developers disagree, saying that this negative effect would be expected to be localised, but ecologists warn about complications should the inert waste be not so 'inert' and be a carrier for toxic materials such as heavy metals, oils or other chemical species that could be absorbed by the marine ecosystem and contaminate food chains. The quality of 'inert' waste to be dumped is therefore an issue that cannot be adequately supervised and abuses can be expected by unscrupulous contractors. Builders prize the idea for the ease with which they might dispose of their stone waste, if permitted to dump it offshore as part of a grander design to extend building space for exclusive luxury properties built on premium sites across the waters, allowing for yacht marinas as was the case when the old Hilton site was sanctioned to be converted into a luxury marina, a smaller hotel and impressive condominiums of upmarket apartments.
Back to the subject of land reclamation environmentalists point to abuses and dark green lobbyists would argue that any massive project would require an unprecedented volume of construction material and debris that can only be derived by fuelling, somehow, an unprecedented building spree that is most unwanted, considering that at present there are more than 70,000 vacant dwellings. Again who will supervise the infill process? Cases of careless building practices particularly in the Sliema /St Julian's area have left us with ugly memories of practices causing poor environmental and human health. The implications in terms of the resultant particulate matter levels in ambient air, for example, white and black dusts, could be significant.
Yet not all is doom and gloom as the studies commissioned by MEPA conclude that land reclamation would have positive economic results for the country if the land is used commercially. With hindsight there was no significant attempt by the Gonzi administration to tap the economic potential of land reclamation so when this subject was raised again in the 2014 budget speech there was a sense of deja vu. Yet the call for expression of interest issued last year was successful, resulting in 21 applications and the government is expected to announce the winning project next year. Naturally one has to be cautious and not approve several land reclamation permits simultaneously, as these may lead to a proliferation of building mania leading to a chaotic urbanization of the coast line with multiple artificial islands to the detriment of the already mentioned disruption of the underwater ecosystem, particularly the protected Posidonia meadows.
In conclusion in the past 25 years, the PN governments have relied on the construction industry to kick-start the economy by expanding development zones and relaxing building heights, particularly at Tigne Point, but never sanctioned land reclamation. Now the Labour government seems to have its sights fixed straight towards the sea. So as to solve the need for elbow room in a crowded island can a compromise be found to protect the habitat while adding more open spaces and creating new jobs? Perhaps the promised reform of MEPA by its division and branching into an independent environment arm manned by qualified staff can be an effective solution – only thus can the Posidonia colony in the clear blue waters breathe a sigh of relief. Wishing a merry Christmas to all.