text:
September 24, 2012 by James O'Brien
There were three or four occasions in "Killing Them Softly" when I had to turn my head away, due to the violence. I wasn't the only one, it seems, as I de-briefed with a combination of friends, colleagues and others as we attended the red carpet premiere of the new Brad Pitt film at Dendy Opera Quays.
The first scene that I had to turn my eyes from was a fairly brutal bashing. There were several other scenes were people were shot and killed. There were quite a few occasions when I literally jumped out of my seat.
It's not a film if, like me, film violence terrifies you. And yet, it's a film I enjoyed very much.
Without wishing to give too much away, the central plot-line concerns a group of three men who are involved in a crime, and who then become the subjects themselves of a contract killing.
Brad Pitt plays a character who, it seems, has no qualms about killing people for money. "How could someone do that?", we wondered afterwards, reflecting on the "sheltered lives" we all obviously lead. My conclusion was that someone who did this kind of thing for a living was someone who obviously got off on killing, and for whom the money was an incidental thing. In contrast, another character in the film who is also a contract killer, seems to only do it for the money, as he eases the emotional pain I concluded he must feel, through drugs, alcohol and prostitution.
Speaking of prostitution, I noticed there was only woman in the movie, and her role was that of a prostitute.
Curiously, the film is set against the backdrop of the 2008 US Presidential Election with many scenes from speeches by McCain, Bush Jnr and Obama being an integral part of the film. The political message behind the film is that, due to unbridled capitalism, America has become a place where all kind of unacceptable behaviour, including contract killing have become "acceptable. There's a scene towards the end of the film where Brad Pitt says this far too explicitly for me and some of the people I de-brief the film with. "Yeah, yeah, I get it, you didn't have to say it", was a common reaction. A well-known director who I chatted with described the politics of the film as "undergraduate".
But I did enjoy the film. The plot-line was compelling, the film was beautifully shot, and the characters were, sadly, very believable.
This entry was tagged blogging, killing them softly, movies. Bookmark the permalink.
← Saturday in Sydney
Now Hear This →
I believe the film's director is Australian.
Violence is becoming increasingly explicit in modern movies. I had to look away from the screen several times when viewing 'Killer Joe' a few weeks back.
Yes he is, and he was there at the opening along with Ben Mendelsohn who plays the junkie in the film very convincingly.


Borgo De Nor – Vibrant ladylike dresses uphold Borgo de Nor's design DNA, as shown in this red crepe Aiana dress. Made in the UK, the feminine shape features features waterfall ruffles that fall over the shoulders and across the wrap-around skirt, and it's printed with a black and white dragonfly and foliage pattern – a nod to the label's exploration of natural-world motifs. Style it with strappy leather sandals and a woven basket bag as part of a warm-weather evening edit.


text:
Johann Georg Heinrich Hassel (30 December 1770 in Wolfenbüttel – 18 January 1829 in Weimar) was a German geographer and statistician. He was an influential figure in the early 19th century and published several large books of geography and statistics. Hassel was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1828.

References

 Dictionnaire universel d'histoire et de géographie. 1847
 Schildt: Hassel, Johann Georg Heinrich. In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck und Günter Schell (Hrsg.): Braunschweigisches biographisches Lexikon. Hahn, Hannover 1996

1770 births
1829 deaths
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences
German geographers
German statisticians

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The work "---and Other Poets" represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Liverpool. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.
The Resource "---and Other Poets"
Context of "---and Other Poets"
Data Citation of the Work "---and Other Poets"


text:
@interface TestSegmentMerger: NSObject <UKTest>
{
	//The variables for the new merged segment
	id <LCDirectory> mergedDir;
	NSString *mergedSegment;
	//First segment to be merged
	id <LCDirectory> merge1Dir;
	LCDocument *doc1;
	NSString *merge1Segment;
	LCSegmentReader *reader1;
	//Second Segment to be merged
	id <LCDirectory> merge2Dir;
	LCDocument *doc2;
	NSString *merge2Segment;
	LCSegmentReader *reader2;
}

@end

@implementation TestSegmentMerger

- (id) init
{
	self = [super init];
	//The variables for the new merged segment
	mergedDir = [[LCRAMDirectory alloc] init];
	mergedSegment = @"test";
	//First segment to be merged
	merge1Dir = [[LCRAMDirectory alloc] init];
	doc1 = [[LCDocument alloc] init];
	merge1Segment = @"test-1";
	reader1 = nil;
	//Second Segment to be merged
	merge2Dir = [[LCRAMDirectory alloc] init];
	doc2 = [[LCDocument alloc] init];
	merge2Segment = @"test-2";
	reader2 = nil;

	[TestDocHelper setupDoc: doc1];
	[TestDocHelper writeDirectory: merge1Dir segment: merge1Segment doc: doc1];
	[TestDocHelper setupDoc: doc2];
	[TestDocHelper writeDirectory: merge2Dir segment: merge2Segment doc: doc2];
	LCSegmentInfo *si = [[LCSegmentInfo alloc] initWithName: merge1Segment
										  numberOfDocuments: 1
												  directory: merge1Dir];
	reader1 = [LCSegmentReader segmentReaderWithInfo: si];
	si = [[LCSegmentInfo alloc] initWithName: merge2Segment
						   numberOfDocuments: 1
								   directory: merge2Dir];
	reader2 = [LCSegmentReader segmentReaderWithInfo: si];

	return self;
}

- (void) test
{
	UKNotNil(mergedDir);
	UKNotNil(merge1Dir);
	UKNotNil(merge2Dir);
	UKNotNil(reader1);
	UKNotNil(reader2);
}

- (void) testMerge
{
	//NSLog(@"----------------TestMerge------------------");
	LCSegmentMerger *merger = [[LCSegmentMerger alloc] initWithDirectory: mergedDir name: mergedSegment];
	[merger addIndexReader: reader1];
	[merger addIndexReader: reader2];
	int docsMerged = [merger merge];
	[merger closeReaders];
	UKIntsEqual(docsMerged, 2);
	//Should be able to open a new SegmentReader against the new directory
	LCSegmentInfo *si = [[LCSegmentInfo alloc] initWithName: mergedSegment numberOfDocuments: docsMerged directory: mergedDir];
	LCSegmentReader *mergedReader = [LCSegmentReader segmentReaderWithInfo: si];
	UKNotNil(mergedReader);
	UKIntsEqual([mergedReader numberOfDocuments], 2);
	LCDocument *newDoc1 = [mergedReader document: 0];
	UKNotNil(newDoc1);
	//There are 2 unstored fields on the document
	UKIntsEqual([TestDocHelper numFields: newDoc1], [TestDocHelper numFields: doc1]-[[TestDocHelper unstored] count]);
	LCDocument *newDoc2 = [mergedReader document: 1];
	UKNotNil(newDoc2);
	UKIntsEqual([TestDocHelper numFields: newDoc2], [TestDocHelper numFields: doc2]-[[TestDocHelper unstored] count]);

	LCTerm *t = [[LCTerm alloc] initWithField: [TestDocHelper TEXT_FIELD_2_KEY] text: @"field"];
	id <LCTermDocuments> termDocs = [mergedReader termDocumentsWithTerm: t];
	UKNotNil(termDocs);
	UKTrue([termDocs hasNextDocument]);

	NSArray *stored = [mergedReader fieldNames: LCFieldOption_INDEXED_WITH_TERMVECTOR];
	UKNotNil(stored);
	//NSLog(@"stored size:; %d", [stored count]);
	UKIntsEqual([stored count], 2);

	id <LCTermFrequencyVector> vector = [mergedReader termFrequencyVector: 0 field: [TestDocHelper TEXT_FIELD_2_KEY]];
	UKNotNil(vector);
	NSArray *terms = [vector allTerms];
	UKNotNil(terms);
	UKIntsEqual([terms count], 3);
	NSArray *freqs = [vector allTermFrequencies];
	UKNotNil(freqs);
	UKTrue([vector conformsToProtocol: @protocol(LCTermPositionVector)]);

	int i;
	for (i = 0; i < [terms count]; i++)
	{
		NSString *term = [terms objectAtIndex: i];
		int freq = [[freqs objectAtIndex: i] intValue];
		UKTrue([[TestDocHelper FIELD_2_TEXT] rangeOfString: term].location != NSNotFound);
		UKIntsEqual([[[TestDocHelper FIELD_2_FREQS] objectAtIndex: i] intValue], freq);
	}

	//NSLog(@"---------------------begin TestMerge-------------------");

	[TestSegmentReader checkNorms: mergedReader];

	//NSLog(@"---------------------end TestMerge-------------------");
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Simple POLYGON works for Geometry, goes nuts for Geography I am trying to do some rough conversions on existing data in SQL Server, and I've run into a fundamental problem: some values result in absolutely insane Geography values (completely different than when converting to Geometry, and larger than the world).
To demonstrate (you can play along by pasting these into SMSS), first a value that works. This:
 select geometry::STGeomFromText('POLYGON ((-117.32216660788508 34.177168197248626,
 -117.32109372408894 34.177239206062119, -117.31997792501811 34.177345717135324,  -117.31877629517302 34.1777007560267,
 -117.31778924291802 34.178197808468425, -117.31697385070404 34.17855284389654,  -117.31572930585527 34.178872374446435,
 -117.31388394629543 34.179049891294419, -117.31396977727077 34.18075403145842,  -117.31435601493629 34.18128656783967,
 -117.3142701842343 34.18224512483765,  -117.3145276765817 34.18263564480344,  -117.31478516886948 34.182884156622642,
 -117.31602971364187 34.182884156683222, -117.31761758144738 34.182990662024359,  -117.31881921076211 34.183700691544509,
 -117.31959168699038 34.184588218779275, -117.32049290934701 34.185227233885087,  -117.32220952286221 34.185759741650074,
 -117.32439820560153 34.186469747642533, -117.32568566633354 34.1875347450137,  -117.32718770290016 34.186434247967654,
 -117.32791726351087 34.187818742028931, -117.33065200748472 34.186927575007324,  -117.33057801468092 34.186682748398141,
 -117.33062093015677 34.18636324722852, -117.33044926909629 34.185972744025044,  -117.33074967660546 34.185369235587181,
 -117.33079259241063 34.184730222763626, -117.33023469200026 34.183452181711729,  -117.32963387708459 34.182245124812688,
 -117.32911889359198 34.18114455809, -117.32838933249405 34.179866462235616, -117.32748811018537 34.179120898048325,
 -117.3265010578688 34.178375326097509, -117.32499902080058 34.177700756182119, -117.32401196695326 34.177416725213575,
 -117.32302491436702 34.177274709574604, -117.32216660788508 34.177168197248626))', 4326)

is a shape identical to
 select geography::STGeomFromText('POLYGON ((-117.32216660788508 34.177168197248626,
 -117.32109372408894 34.177239206062119, -117.31997792501811 34.177345717135324,  -117.31877629517302 34.1777007560267,
 -117.31778924291802 34.178197808468425, -117.31697385070404 34.17855284389654,  -117.31572930585527 34.178872374446435,
 -117.31388394629543 34.179049891294419, -117.31396977727077 34.18075403145842,  -117.31435601493629 34.18128656783967,
 -117.3142701842343 34.18224512483765,  -117.3145276765817 34.18263564480344,  -117.31478516886948 34.182884156622642,
 -117.31602971364187 34.182884156683222, -117.31761758144738 34.182990662024359,  -117.31881921076211 34.183700691544509,
 -117.31959168699038 34.184588218779275, -117.32049290934701 34.185227233885087,  -117.32220952286221 34.185759741650074,
 -117.32439820560153 34.186469747642533, -117.32568566633354 34.1875347450137,  -117.32718770290016 34.186434247967654,
 -117.32791726351087 34.187818742028931, -117.33065200748472 34.186927575007324,  -117.33057801468092 34.186682748398141,
 -117.33062093015677 34.18636324722852, -117.33044926909629 34.185972744025044,  -117.33074967660546 34.185369235587181,
 -117.33079259241063 34.184730222763626, -117.33023469200026 34.183452181711729,  -117.32963387708459 34.182245124812688,
 -117.32911889359198 34.18114455809, -117.32838933249405 34.179866462235616, -117.32748811018537 34.179120898048325,
 -117.3265010578688 34.178375326097509, -117.32499902080058 34.177700756182119, -117.32401196695326 34.177416725213575,
 -117.32302491436702 34.177274709574604, -117.32216660788508 34.177168197248626))', 4326)

but whereas this is a normal shape:
select geometry::STGeomFromText('POLYGON ((-119.04875492369416 34.164161218753534,
 -119.04647152992771 34.164653707860808,
 -119.04651509053122 34.165394459240041,
 -119.04248252847063 34.166478499131578,
 -119.04172574590484 34.164564154335864,
 -119.03917374684349 34.165235750493039,
 -119.0380544383415 34.162236094366847,
 -119.04002439477063 34.16165399645466,
 -119.03894991831106 34.158296126228663,
 -119.04136758708498 34.157624530071487,
 -119.04687457606995 34.159012443868363,
 -119.04875492369416 34.164161218753534))', 4326)

This covers the entire earth (and the binary data is COMPLETELY different):
select geography::STGeomFromText('POLYGON ((-119.04875492369416 34.164161218753534,
 -119.04647152992771 34.164653707860808,
 -119.04651509053122 34.165394459240041,
 -119.04248252847063 34.166478499131578,
 -119.04172574590484 34.164564154335864,
 -119.03917374684349 34.165235750493039,
 -119.0380544383415 34.162236094366847,
 -119.04002439477063 34.16165399645466,
 -119.03894991831106 34.158296126228663,
 -119.04136758708498 34.157624530071487,
 -119.04687457606995 34.159012443868363,
 -119.04875492369416 34.164161218753534))', 4326)

Any ideas?

A: Sometimes the key to untangling polygon topology issues can be to use the same vertices to form LINESTRINGs, and render those lines with an arrowhead to view ring orientation.
Here's the first ring:

And here's the second:

The difference is orientation -- the shapes which draw properly in both representations have "left-hand rule" orientation (e.g., when walking the perimeter of the shape with arms extended, the left hand would be inside the shape).  The shape that draws "incorrectly" as a Geography uses right-hand rule.
Geography may actually be trying to do you a favor, by assuming you know left-hand rule is required, and therefore generating the inverse (all the globe except the specified ring), while geometry just generates an invalid shape.  Then again, Geography is not allowed to occupy more than one hemisphere, so maybe I'm giving Geography too much credit.
There are a number of ways to detect ring orientation in a programming environment, the easiest of which uses the Trapezoid Rule (also known as the Shoelace Formula) to calculate the area of a shape, and if the area is negative, then the shape is inverted (there's two different ways to calculate the delta, so validate it on a simple polygon of known orientation before using it on unknown shapes).
You may be able to use SQL-Server's MakeValid() request to force correct orientation to a Geometry before casting to Geography, but I wasn't able to get this to work on the first try.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Sue has edited, reformatted, created covers, designed the interiors, and helped me publish four books over the last few months on Createspace and Kindle. This was no easy task, but she never complained, was always cheerful and upbeat, and accomplished work quickly and with quality and excellence.
A word that leaps out about Sue is honorable. Her word is her bond. If she says she will do something, you can be assured that's exactly what will happen. She is vastly knowledgeable about computers, the internet, editing, and software for book publishing. She is fast, works well with schedules, is detail oriented, and precise.
I don't know what I would have done without her. She is my book angel. We are working together on yet another of my books, a 2nd edition, and I hope to hire her for several more books in the near future. I cannot praise Sue enough.
My book, Holy Trinity: Maiden, Mother, Crone, could not exist without Sue Stein. Simple as that. Sue is much more than a book designer. She coached me, recommended publishing options, did perfect edits, data checked, uploaded, and carried through every tight passage. The publishing world is too complicated for novices like me, but I thought I couldn't afford help. Sue earns every penny! As for the book design, just look at my cover, and check out what she did to create the back of the book. It's genius. You do need Sue Stein.
Sue Stein deserves so much more praise than what I could include in the acknowledgments to those who helped make the publication of my book, Living with the Unexplained, possible. It reads: Sue Stein – Book Designer, for her creativity, positivity, and knowledge of all things book (and publishing) related.
I was blessed to have discovered Sue through a series of coincidences that led me to Sandra Bartel, also a first book writer, which then led me to Sue. I emailed my unedited text to Sue without even contacting her first. I knew that she was the one I needed to lead me through the publishing process. She called me the next day leaving an encouraging message. I called her back and thus began a wonderful team effort to make my book the best it could be.
Sue's cover design has brought many positive comments from readers: "beautiful, stunning, perfect…" The interior design has also impressed. Sue has an innate ability to sense what a writer needs. For me, at age 81 and a tech-illiterate, she was heaven-sent.
Did I mention that Sue is beyond kind and considerate? As busy as I knew she was with other clients, she always responded quickly to my questions and requests.
Sue Stein's ability to create a quality book at a reasonable cost made her the perfect choice for me and should for you.
Sue Stein converted my print book, Living in the Wake of Addiction: Lessons for Courageous Caregiving to an eBook format. The conversion process was complicated by quotes that were inserted in the text in the printed book. But, Sue was patient and figured out the correct way to work with them and still please me with the final conversion product. Not an easy task! Sue was patient and very responsive to my personal ideas of how I wanted the conversion to look. She handled any questions and concerns in a prompt, business-like manner and maintained a great sense of humor which is always important to me when I work with someone.
Sue's creativity showed in her design of the book cover and interior layout, which included installation of my paintings. I was delighted with her timely and detailed responses to my emails for help. She always knew how to solve problems and I liked her positive approach to any challenges that came up.
Sue has done a great job for me formatting and converting several books into epubs. She is quick to respond, and her price is very reasonable. I highly recommend her for this type of project.
Sue did an amazing job formatting my book. She was quick, creative, and knew what I needed–often before I did. Her prices are reasonable for someone of her experience and caliber. I highly recommend Sue and plan on using her again.
I heartily endorse Sue Stein's professional expertise. Over the last several years she has helped in the creation, editing, and proofreading of numerous, lengthy (200+ pages), extremely detailed, factual-based documents. In all her hours of editing Sue's work was spot on! I will definitely be turning to Sue for assistance with future work as well.
Sue Stein formatted my first book, You'll Be Nothing Without Me. She made sense of my writing, and was extremely patient when setting up my Barnes and Noble Nook Book and Amazon , Kindle and hard copy. I highly recommend her as a knowledgeable IT person, and great resource for anything related to book publishing and editing.
After spending three years writing my book, to complete this project with excellence I needed a graphic artist who could lay out and design my book so it would communicate and validate its important message. I was referred by another graphic artist to use Sue's services and I have not been disappointed!
Sue has a high standard of excellence and attention to detail to everything that she does. As a result, my book has the same look and polish that is just as good if not better than if I had worked with a major publisher on this project.
Despite multiple revisions and fine tuning to get it "just right", Sue was patient and hung in there, even though I felt that I might incur her wrath with just "one more" edit or revision that needed to be done. If you are looking for a book designer who will support and strengthen the message of your book or business, look no further than Sue Stein, you will NOT be disappointed!
Sue was professional, thorough, and the projected was completed on time. If you're looking to have your book done right the first time, she's your gal!


text: Q: Coding a Trailing Stoploss I'd like to code a Trailing Stoploss that starts 10 pips behind my entry once a target is hit 20 pips in profit. trailingSL = high - 0.0030 for a long position is an easy enough concept, but how would I set up the target trigger and how would I get trailingSL to not move if price is going toward it? I'm wanting to do this without strategy.exit


text:
Anita Rani
Anita Rani Nazran (born 25 October 1977), better known as Anita Rani, is a British radio and television presenter.
Anita Rani Nazran
(1977-10-25) 25 October 1977 (age 41)
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Journalist and broadcaster
Bhupinder Rehal
Early lifeEdit
Rani was born and brought up in Bradford, Yorkshire,[1] to a Hindu father and a Sikh mother.[2]
In an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? first broadcast on 1 October 2015 on BBC One, Rani investigated the history of her maternal grandfather Sant Singh (born Sant Ram, in Sarhali in 1916, died 1975), in particular learning more about his first wife and children, who died during the violence of the Partition of India in 1947, while he was a thousand miles away in Kirkee, serving in the British Indian Army, which he had joined in August 1942. Rani discovered that her maternal grandfather was born into a Hindu Taggar family, but converted to Sikhism as a young man in accordance with a custom prevalent at the time. He continued to serve in the Indian Army after Indian independence, retiring as a risaldar (equivalent to a warrant officer) in 1970.[3]
Rani was educated at Bradford Girls' Grammar School, an independent school.[4] Rani developed an early interest in journalism, hosting her first show at the age of 14 on Sunrise Radio.[5] She went to the University of Leeds, where she studied broadcasting.[4]
Life and careerEdit
After leaving university, Rani worked as a researcher for the BBC and other organisations.[6]
In 2002, Rani presented The Edit, a live news and entertainment programme on Channel Five. She has also presented a number of pop shows on Five including Spring Break Live, Party in the Park and Pop City Live, as well as being a freelance journalist for 5 News.[4] In Spring 2003 she fronted The State We're In, a satirical current affairs programme on BBC Three. She also presented the first Poetry Slam on the same channel.[citation needed] She was nominated as Best On Screen Personality at the Royal Television Society Midlands awards in 2005.[4]
Rani joined the BBC Asian Network radio station in March 2005, and became presenter of the weekend Hot Breakfast show. From April 2006 to March 2007 she presented the weekday morning talkback programme Anita Rani on the BBC Asian Network on the station.[7][8]
In 2005 she was a regular reporter on The Cricket Show on Channel 4. From 20 May 2006 she was a co-presenter of Desi DNA, an arts programme on BBC Two catering to the Desi (British Asian) community. She launched Destination Three, a late night entertainment zone on BBC Three.[4] In May 2006 Rani joined Sky Sports where she became co-presenter with Simon Thomas on the Cricket AM show each Saturday morning.[4]
Rani presented My Generation Next, shown on BBC News 24 between 2 and 9 December 2006. She covered for Anita Anand on the late evening weekday show on BBC Radio 5 Live in March and September 2007 and has presented World Have Your Say on the BBC World Service and Weekend Breakfast on Five Live. She has also covered on various shows for BBC Radio 6 Music. In August 2008, Rani was the co-presenter of Rogue Restaurants on BBC One and joined the team of roving reporters on The One Show. From 2 March 2009 she co-presented BBC One's Watchdog, succeeding Julia Bradbury.
From 2011 until 2015, Rani presented Four Rooms where unique objects are offered for sale to specialist dealers. In 2016, she was replaced by Sarah Beeny.[9]
Rani co-presented with Justin Rowlatt the two-part documentary travelogue India on Four Wheels, a road trip around India sampling the changes and problems that growing car usage has brought to the country in the last two decades.[10] She collaborated with Rowlatt on a follow-up, two-part documentary entitled China on Four Wheels, aired on 9 September 2012 and 16 September 2012. In 2012, Rani took part in BBC's Great Sport Relief Bake Off, winning the competition. In 2013, Rani co-presented the unique live broadcast project Airport Live from Heathrow Airport. Another follow-up to India on Four Wheels was a two-part documentary entitled Russia on Four Wheels, which aired on 20 January 2014 and 22 January 2014. In April 2014, she was one of the presenters of BBC Two's Escape to the Continent. In August 2014, Rani was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[11]
Since 2015, she has co-hosted BBC's Countryfile. Rani co-presented The World's Busiest Railway 2015, alongside Dan Snow and Robert Llewellyn. The four-part series aired on BBC Two.[12] In 2016, she co-presented The Refugee Camp: Our Desert Home for BBC Two and presented This Morning for four Fridays in the summer alongside James Martin.[13][14]
In 2016 Rani co-presented the three-part BBC Two series New York: America's Busiest City alongside Ant Anstead and Ade Adepitan.[15] She presented My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947, a two-part programme on BBC One. She co-presented World's Busiest Cities in 2017 with Dan Snow and Ade Adepitan.
Strictly Come DancingEdit
Main article: Strictly Come Dancing
Between October and December 2015, Rani participated in the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing,[2] partnered with Gleb Savchenko and reached the semi-final. In week 7 the couple scored 34 marks dancing a jive to "The Boy Does Nothing" by Alesha Dixon. In week 9, at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, they danced a paso doble to "Malagueña" by Connie Francis and scored 37.
Rani hosted the 2017 Strictly Tour around Britain. She replaced Mel Giedroyc who previously hosted the tour.
Personal lifeEdit
Rani lives in east London with her husband, Bhupinder Rehal, who is a technology executive for an advertising agency.[3]
In 2018 she was honoured with Outstanding Achievement in Television at The Asian Awards.[16] Rani also serves as an ambassador for The Scout Association in the UK.[17]
FilmographyEdit
Rogue Restaurants (2008) – Co-presenter
Watchdog (2009–2010) – Co-presenter
India on Four Wheels (2011) – Co-presenter
The One Show (2011–2012, 2014–present) – Stand-in presenter and reporter
Four Rooms (2011–2015) – Presenter
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (2012) – Contestant
China on Four Wheels (2012) – Co-presenter
Airport Live (2013) – Co-presenter
No Sex Please, We're Japanese (2013) – Presenter
Russia on Four Wheels (2014) – Presenter
Escape to the Continent (2014–present) – Co-presenter
Countryfile[18] (2015–present) – Co-presenter
The World's Busiest Railway (2015) – Co-presenter
Strictly Come Dancing (2015) – Contestant
The Refugee Camp: Our Desert Home (2016) – Co-presenter
This Morning Summer (2016) – Co-presenter
New York: America's Busiest City (2016) – Co-presenter
BBC Young Dancer (2017) – Co-presenter
One Love Manchester (2017) – Co-presenter
My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947 (2017) – Presenter
World's Busiest Cities (2017) – Co-presenter
Richard Osman's House of Games (2017) – Contestant
The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (2018) – Guest Presenter
Today at the Great Yorkshire Show (2019) – Co-presenter
^ "Anita Rani featured article on TheGenealogist". TheGenealogist. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
^ a b Price, Annie (2 September 2015). "Strictly Come Dancing 2015: Who is Anita Rani?". Sunday Express. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^ a b "Anita Rani". Who Do You Think You Are?. Series 12. Episode 8. 1 October 2015. BBC One. Retrieved 1 October 2015. Journalist Anita Rani never met her maternal grandfather Sant Singh — all she has been told is that he suffered terrible tragedy at the time of India's Partition. Anita's mother also tells her that Sant had another wife and family before marrying Anita's grandmother. Armed with this knowledge, Anita travels to India to see if she can find out more about her grandfather's first family — and discover what happened to them during Partition.
^ a b c d e f "Anita Rani profile". Sky Sports. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
^ "BBC presenter Anita Rani on life after Leeds", The Gryphon
^ "Strictly Come Dancing - Anita Rani - BBC One". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
^ "Biographies — Anita Rani Presenter, Asian Network". BBC Asian Network. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
^ "Anita Rani off mid-morning Asian Network show". Asians in Media. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 5 December 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
^ "Strictly Come Dancing's Anita Rani leaves Four Rooms". digitalspy.com. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
^ India on Four Wheels BBC
^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
^ Dowling, Tim (25 August 2015). "World's Busiest Railway 2015; Muslim Drag Queens – review: 'I'm worried for your safety'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
^ "James Martin and Anita Rani to host Fridays on ITV's This Morning during summer". itv.com. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
^ Sweney, Mark (19 July 2016). "Saturday Kitchen's James Martin and Anita Rani to host ITV's This Morning". theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via The Guardian.
^ "BBC Two's New York documentary goes inside America's Busiest City". standard.co.uk. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
^ "Asian Awards 2018: Recognition with Lots of Glitz and Glamour". Desiblitz. 29 April 2018.
^ https://scouts.org.uk/news/2017/06/new-scouting-ambassador-anita-rani-visits-chingford-cubs/
^ "Anita Rani". BBC Countryfile Magazine. 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
Anita Rani on Twitter
BBC One Show profile
Countryfile profile
Anita Rani on IMDb
Anita Rani behind the scenes abseiling for the BBC's The One Show
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anita_Rani&oldid=906887872"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
10 N Lake St
Grayslake, IL 60030
Illinois State Senate District 31 News
ILLINOIS STATE SENATE DISTRICT 31: Bush statement on Tollway Board's decision to nix Route 53 study
State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) released the following statement in response to the Illinois Tollway Board's decision to cut funding for the Route 53 environmental impact study.
The following actions were taken on May 28 in the House on Senate bill SB651 ("alternative elec/gas suppliers"): "Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate", "Second Reading - Short Debate", "Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate", "Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee", "House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Public Utilities Committee(by Voice Vo
The following actions were taken on May 16 in the House on Senate bill SB1726 ("alzheimer's-advisory committee"): "Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate", "Second Reading - Short Debate", "Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams" and "Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Deb Conroy".
The following actions were taken on May 22 in the House on Senate bill SB1507 ("civ pro-disseminate priv image"): "Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate", "Second Reading - Short Debate", "House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee" and "House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Edly-Allen".
The following actions were taken on May 16 in the House on House bill HB921 ("sch cd-ed support personnel"): "Passed Both Houses", "Third Reading - Passed" and "Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.".
The following actions were taken on May 16 in the House on House bill HB840 ("utility-decommission of plants"): "Passed Both Houses" and "Third Reading - Passed".
The following actions were taken on May 22 in the House on House bill HB3652 ("sch cd-sch counselor-college"): "Passed Both Houses" and "Third Reading - Passed".
The following actions were taken on May 22 in the House on House bill HB3113 ("no copay-dermatology exam"): "Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s", "Arrived in House", "Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a", "Third Reading - Passed", "Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading", "Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted(Fine", "Recalled to Second Reading" a
The following actions were taken on May 17 in the House on House bill HB3435 ("ins code-epinephrine injector"): "Passed Both Houses" and "Third Reading - Passed".
The following actions were taken on May 22 in the House on House bill HB2665 ("medical-minor's consent"): "Passed Both Houses" and "Third Reading - Passed".
The following actions were taken on May 23 in the House on House bill HB2152 ("mental health action on campus"): "Passed Both Houses", "Third Reading - Passed" and "Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino".
The following actions were taken on May 21 in the House on House bill HB2601 ("property-conservation rights"): "Passed Both Houses" and "Third Reading - Passed".
The following actions were taken on May 16 in the House on House bill HB1475 ("seizure smart school act"): "Passed Both Houses", "Third Reading - Passed" and "Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.".
The following actions were taken on May 16 in the House on House bill HB2028 ("st police-burial reimburse"): "Passed Both Houses", "Third Reading - Passed", "Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins", "Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings" and "Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.".
The following actions were taken on May 28 in the House on Senate bill SB1719 ("keep internet devices safe act"): "Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate", "Second Reading - Short Debate", "Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate" and "Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee".
The following actions were taken on May 29 in the House on Senate bill SB1786 ("veh cd-license to work act"): "Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate" and "Do Pass / Short Debate Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee".
The following actions were taken on May 22 in the House on Senate bill SB1557 ("ins cd-pharm benefits managers"): "Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate" and "Second Reading - Short Debate".


When you find yourself in need of professionals jet washing service, do not hesitate to call our company right away and hire our one-of-a-kind, here in Wandsworth SW18, jet washing service.
Our company is a respected cleaning services provider for the area, and we take pride in our skilled cleaners, and in our speciality, which is jet washing services. We have many years of experience in the field and we know how to give our clients what they need and want.
Trust our company with your cleaning needs, and we guaranteed you 100% satisfaction. Our cleaners are very good at what they do and will give you outstanding results.
What our company is offering you is a very reasonable and appealing offer – our high-quality jet washing service for a very economical price. Our pricing system is designed to be very practical, because we want to help as many people as we can.
We have worked hard in our many years of practice, to perfect our methods and approaches. Now we dare say our jet washing service is second to none here in SW18 London, and we will prove it to you.
Our cleaners will thoroughly clean your pathways, patio or driveway, or brickwork, etc. The special pressure washing machines that we have equipped them with can efficiently and safely clean any kind of hard surface. With minimum disruption or water splashes to the surroundings, our cleaners will get rid of moss, algae, weeds, dust and grime, and various stains.
Hurry up and call our company as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner we will come and clean your home exterior and give it a fresh new look.


text:
Q: Ubuntu 14.04 wireless unstable and the signal is weak I installed Ubuntu 14.04 LTS alongside Win8.1 and the wireless was unstable. I updated windows network drivers then it went better but the signal is still very weak and also sometimes network switches off like before.
Running this command:
wget -N -t 5 -T 10 https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/raw/master/wireless-info && \
chmod +x wireless-info && \
./wireless-info

resulted in:
http://paste.ubuntu.com/12103971/
Any help?

A: Check the settings in the router. WPA2-AES is preferred; not any WPA and WPA2 mixed mode and certainly not TKIP. Second, if your router is capable of N speeds, I have better luck with a channel width of 20 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band instead of automatic 20/40 MHz. I also have better luck with a fixed channel, either 1 or 11, rather than automatic channel selection. After making these changes, reboot the router.

A: After a hell alot of trial-error, this fixed it for good! :D
sudo modprobe ath5k nohwcrypt
sudo sh -c "echo 'options ath5k nohwcrypt' >/etc/modprobe.d/custom-wireless.conf"


text:
Gigaom Search » Property » Gigaom
Just another Gigaom Sites site
|Feed favorited by 0 people. Feed Info
December 28, 2006 Published ~ 13 years ago.
ROEM, an electronic paper concept
Reading On The Move, aka: ROEM, is a concept that looks very intriguing. ROEM is a multi-function design that centers around rollable electronic paper providing access to digital eBook content, photos, music and learning content. ROEM is also meant to be judicious with power, following in the footsteps of other e-ink devices that only use power when re-rendering the page.
Sound far-fetched? I've seen actual rollable electronic paper applications and although the prototype was small, I believe the technology isn't that far away. Can you imagine carrying one of these and unrolling it for your morning paper?
Jeremy's CES tips are dead on!
Last year, I was fortunate enough to attend CES as a member of the Engadget team. That trip was covered by AOL and if you want to know how Engadget provides arguably the best coverage, the secret is: hard work. This year, I'm paying out of my own pocket to attend and I'm looking for the best strategies because you simply can't go to CES without a plan. Well….you can GO without a plan, but you won't cover nearly as much ground and you'll miss important keynotes and such.
Jeremy Toeman has six years of CES experience and just provided his 10 tips that are worth reading even if you're not attending simply because it illustrates the sheer size and scope of this ginormous show. I especially like tip number 7: discriminate on swag. I can't tell you how much "stuff" I collected last year between flash drives, pens, towels and the like. I almost needed another piece of luggage!
Speaking of CES; James and I are planning our calendars for the show and I'm curious: whose booths would you list as "can't miss"? If you're unsure of who's who at CES, you can see all 2,700+ vendors here.
800 x 480 cellphone screens: overkill or good idea?
There's quite a bit o' buzz on Hitachi's announcement: they've launched production of a new cellphone LCD panel, fitting 800 x 480 resolution on a 2.9-inch screen. Now I love a high resolution screen more than most: my favorite computer display is the 1400 x 1050 res on my 12.1-inch Toshiba M205 Tablet PC and all three of our home televisions are capable of 1920 x 1080 resolution. I have to wonder though: do we really need 800 x 480 in such a small area?
Obviously, picture clarity improves with at least one of two things: a higher resolution display or a smaller display. Take a look at a digital pic on a large display and then look at the same pic on a smaller display: it will look clearer. That's why the iPod can get away with a lower resolution screen and also why a video on the QVGA Zune screen looks solid. If Apple or Microsoft increased the display size any more on either device, then a higher res would be needed or the picture quaility would decrease.
The 800 x 480 res is what we have natively on the 7-inch UMPC screens and yes, at that size display, I think we could bump it up a bit. 800 x 480 on a 2.9-inch display? I'm not sure there's enough of a benefit there to justify the cost and rest.
I've previously owned two VGA Windows Mobile devices: the Toshiba e805 with a 4-inch screen and the Dell Axim X51v that uses a 3.7-inch display. I have to say: 640 x 480 was fantastic and having 800 x 480 would likely make the text a tad small. Take that 800 x 480 res and plop it on a 2.9-inch screen and the text will be even smaller. Sure we can incrase the font sizes, but what's the big push for such a high res in such small screen area? Hitachi also has to combat the increased power consumption of such a resolution in a small display, although they appear to solved that issue. Ah….maybe it's just me, but I think it's overkill and I'm more than happy with VGA on a screen at three-inches or less. How about you?
Just for kicks: if you want to know what 800 x 480 looks like on a 4.3-inch screen and what device just arrived in the jkOTR test labs, hit the jump.
Yes, we have a Raon Digital Vega in the house on loan from iCube!
To give you an idea of text size: the "Vega" logo is about one-half inch wide.
The 2.8-inch QVGA display of my XV6700 as it sits on top of the 4.3-inch 800 x 480 Vega display.
Although the lighting is poor, my XV6700 stylus is below the Vega for another size comparison.
Dell upgrades ROM for Axim X50, X50v
Perhaps the rumor of the Dell PDA demise is a bit overstated: the company officially released a ROM upgrade for the X50-series handheld yesterday. You can find information and downloads for the three different device ROMs (X50 - low, X50 - medium, X50v) directly at the Dell site and there are several Aximsite threads covering questions and user experiences. According to Dell, this Windows Mobile 5 ROM dubbed A02 provides:
1.OS 5.1.195(Build 14957.2.3.1)
2.Wireless roaming enhancement.
3.Improve CF memory card sometimes disappear.
4.CF modem driver improvement.
5.Microphone recording enhancement
6.ActiveSync connection improvement.
As with any ROM update, you definitely want to backup your device first and then ensure that it's plugged in to an external power source before performing the ROM flash. The easiest way to brick a handheld is to have the power die on you in mid-flash! Thanks for the tip from our unofficial-UK-man-in-the field: Phil.
Pentax DSMobile 600 dpi handheld scanner
This updated handheld single page scanner from Pentax has a few features that could come in handy. The new DSMobile bumps the dpi up to 600 from the prior model's 300 dpi resolution and only weighs 12 ounces. Even better: there's no extra power components to carry along since the Pentax uses a USB cable to get power from your notebook.
Currently, the DSMobile is only supported on Windows machines, but DigitalTrends indicates a TWAIN driver is forthcoming for Max OS X soon. Watch for the handy scanner next month for around $135 so you too can scan business cards, 8.5-inch by 14-inch docs or any page size in between.
UREN V1 unboxing: UltraMobileLife
Bjorn got his paws on the UREN V1 Mobile Auto PC and provides the obligatory unboxing ceremony for all to see. Those of you in the U.S. might want to watch this because Bjorn is thinking that we won't see this device here, although with importers like iCube and Dynamism, you never know.
The UREN V1 is a Via C-7 based (1.5 GHz) handheld that runs Windows XP (embedded if I recall); it sports a 7-inch touchscreen, 30 GB drive and integrated GPS making it very usable as a "car-puter". It's worth noting that unlike the current UMPCs on the market, this unit is all screen; there's a small bezel around the screen and no interface buttons at all. The screen looks to reflect quite a bit of glare as well; for an Auto PC, I'd love to see a view-anywhere display.
CES to debut wireless power
A press release I just received might just be the big news coming out of the forthcoming CES in Las Vegas. Charging mobile devices without power cords has long been a dream for many of us and Fulton Innovation, a company backed by Motorola (among others) plans to announce the eCoupled Intelligent Wireless Power technology. It's very scientific in principle but the bottom line is devices can be produced that draw power through proximity to the source rather than be plugged in like it's done today.
How eCoupled Intelligent Wireless Power Works
eCoupled technology leverages inductive coupling, which works by transferring energy from one device to another through a shared magnetic field. The technology stems from the foundational work of renowned scientists Michael Faraday and Nikola Tesla.
Fulton Innovation's intelligent inductive power technology overcomes historic limitations of inductive coupling by using resonance-seeking circuitry that dynamically seeks and optimizes power transfer under multiple, varying load conditions and spatial configurations.
Conventional inductive coupling typically requires careful "tuning" of the power supply circuit with the device being powered. Only minor variations in the physical positioning and power requirements of the inductively powered are tolerated. Any variation in either the load or the positioning of the power supply relative to the device can severely impact performance.
eCoupled technology addresses the limitations of spatial rigidity, static loads and unacceptable power losses. The eCoupled technology power supplies adapt to multiple loads and spatial configurations while maximizing energy transfer efficiencies by dynamically seeking resonance between the power supply and device at high frequencies to achieve the optimal coupling coefficient under all conditions. Energy efficiency is increased over conventional inductive coupling with power losses as low as 2 percent, making eCoupled technology comparable to hardwired connections.
eCoupled technology includes an intelligent feedback and control system, communicating with individual devices in real time, which allows the technology to determine not only power needs, but also factors such as age of a battery or device and charging lifecycles on an individual basis in order to supply the optimal amount of power to keep a device at peak efficiency.
Kevin and I will try to track these folks down at the CES in a couple of weeks and we'll be sure to pass along what we uncover.
It IS the Nokia N93i on the FCC site
Several sites are reporting that a new Nokia phone has surfaced on the FCC site but they can't tell for sure if this is the rumored Nokia N93i. All of the documentation appears to show a model number "N00", but if you check the last PDF attachment here (shown above), you'll see that this is a brief User Guide Supplement indicating the model is the Nokia N93i! I'm convinced!
This upgrade to the Nokia N93 offers the same high-quality 3.2 megapixel shooter with Carl Zeiss optics and includes integrated Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g WiFi. The real question at this point is: what features are upgraded from the N93? The FCC has the November draft of the manual here if you've got nothing else to read today. Looks like we've got a etched keypad for starters…and the User's Guide Supplement indicates a lower res secondary camera at the top left of the device, near the speaker below.
Pay those NYC parking violations on-line
I filed this under "Cool Stuff" because it is, but it took all my willpower to do it. See, this post cost me $115 in parking violation fines, but here at jkOTR, we're always willing to take one for the readers and find all the mobile tech news you can use.
About two weekends ago, we took the kids somewhere they'd never been: New York City. It was a long day of travel but we got there safe and sound via various bridges and tunnels, which seemed to the be highlight of the trip for them. The lowlight had to be the parking ticket I received about a block from "Ground Zero", which was a $115 violation. Other cars were parked there, but somehow I won the ticket lottery in the 20 minutes the vehicle was there. I was about to mail the ticket and payment in today, when I noticed that you can pay on-line at the NYC Department of Finance site. What a great resource!
The site is very easy to navigate and I did a lookup of my ticket just to see how it worked. Yes, I have the paper copy, but hey, I'm getting my $115 worth, 'k? I found my ticket along with a detailed explanation of the violation and even found a PDF image of the ticket; something I can print and frame for posterity now. Actually, they can keep the PDF image shown below. For my money, I'm framing the original! Kudos to NYC for watching those unlawfully parked vehicles and for providing a simple and effective mobile way to pay for thy transgressions…
December 4, 2001 Published ~ 18 years ago.
SMS 2.0 could make its first appearance at MWC
SMS is getting a facelift at Mobile World Congress. Mavenir Systems is launching a messaging platform that could turn carriers' staid old SMS into a much more vibrant platform on par with Apple's iMessage. But most importantly the technology preserves SMS's most valuable asset: its ubiquity.
« Previous 1 2 … 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 Next »
Feed Information for Gigaom Search » Property » Gigaom
Homepage: http://search.gigaom.com
Feed URL: http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/index.rdf
Bookmark: http://rss2.com/feeds/jkontherun
garnet: Newly tagged products at Amazon.com
How To Be Irresistible To Men Review
Should I Consider Buying Low Cost Health Insurance?
Tinnitus Chinese Cure: Is It A Solution?
Soulja Boy Starts, Wins Twitter Beef with Chris Brown
arcade system purchase
Choosing Your Career
How To Get Credit Score Based On FICO For Free
Advertise Your Business To Schools And Educational Institutions Using Promotional Items
Is There Honestly A Hemorrhoids Miracle Or is it Only Buzz?


text:
Barcelona expect frosty return to Camp Nou with recovery a long way off
AFP, Valencia :
Barcelona's recovery begins against Getafe on Sunday but the pain felt from their Champions League collapse at Anfield is likely to get worse before it gets better.
For Getafe, who stand on the brink of their own meteoric upset of finishing in La Liga's top four, the game at Camp Nou is pivotal but for Barca's hurting players, it could feel more like a wake.
"There are going to be some difficult days ahead, but we have to go again," said coach Ernesto Valverde.
A week before, their fans had roared them off, ecstatic after a 3-0 victory over Liverpool put them within touching distance of their first European final since 2015.
When the names of the players, and coach, are read out before kick-off this weekend, the reaction will be instructive, pointing to just how much Tuesday's 4-0 defeat has spoiled an otherwise excellent season that could yet end with a domestic double.
"We have to be really self-critical about what happened," Luis Suarez said.
"There are a lot of things to evaluate and to think about.
"We have to apologise for our attitude and realise the criticism is going to rain down on us now. We're really upset, we're hurting a lot. We're humans and we feel the pain."
After Getafe, comes a trip to Eibar for the last league game before the Copa del Rey final against Valencia in Seville on May 25.
Win at the Benito Villamarin and there will be celebrations, history made too, but nothing now can make amends.
Like 12 months ago, two trophies will be seen as a failure and, like 12 months ago, there are reports that defeat in the cup final will see Valverde sacked.
The way Barcelona respond in these last three games will not save Valverde but, however unfairly, it could condemn him.
Any suggestion the players have stopped believing will enthuse those anxious for change. "I don't know how this affects my future," Valverde said on Tuesday. "But here we are and the coach has to take responsibility."
Patience could wear thinner too with those seen to have underperformed.
After they beat Liverpool, Lionel Messi criticised the fans for their treatment of Philippe Coutinho, who was whistled off in the second half. But Messi then was speaking from a position of strength.
Valverde made 11 changes for the defeat to Celta Vigo last weekend and could rotate again, sparing his players potential censure from the fans and offering them a longer period of recuperation.
Getafe could be the beneficiaries given Barcelona are the biggest obstacle left between them and the remarkable feat of Champions League qualification. They play at home to 15th-placed Villarreal on the last day.
A weakened Barca would be a blow too for Valencia and Sevilla, each three points behind Getafe, and with time running out.
Valencia's head-to-head means they will finish above Getafe if they can square them on points while Marcelino's side have winnable games left, at home to Alaves on Sunday before ending with a trip to struggling Real Valladolid.
Sevilla have to finish ahead of Getafe on points while also facing a difficult trip to Atletico Madrid and then in-form Athletic Bilbao.
At the other end, two of the three relegation spots have been taken by Rayo Vallecano and Huesca but Girona, Valladolid, Levante, Villarreal and Celta Vigo could all still finish 18th.
Girona are the current incumbents but host Levante on Sunday. Valladolid travel to Rayo, Villarreal are at home to Eibar and Celta are away at Bilbao.


text:
Home MMO News Epic Games To Host A $3 Million Fortnite Celebrity Charity Tournament At...
Epic Games To Host A $3 Million Fortnite Celebrity Charity Tournament At E3
E3's just around the corner, and Epic Games has big plans for it. Of course, there are the obligatory parties, and booths, as well as whatever panels they plan on doing. But the biggest thing (according to a report on IGN) is a special celebrity charity tournament — the Fortnite Pro-AM.
The tournament will pair celebrities with Fortnite pros, creating 50 two-man-teams that will compete with each other for a chance to win a $3 million prize for their charity of choice. Currently five teams have been announced — including YouTuber Markiplier teamed with actor Joel McHale, and the music industry's Marshmellow teaming up with Twitch streamer Ninja.
The event will be open to the (paying) public, with those in the Los Angeles area being able to purchase tickets for $10. From what IGN says, it seems there will be some sort of invite system where players located in LA will be sent an email that will allow them to make this purchase.
Oh. And if you're wondering. No. The three million for this event is not being taken from the $100,000,000 Epic has set aside for Fortnite tournaments over the coming year.


Symptoms: eye discomfort, corneal dryness and keratopthy or visual loss that may result from improper lid closure.
Topical lubrications, ocular moisture chamber or temporary tarsorraphy may be helpful to reduce the ocular symptoms.
Definitive surgical management of the causative factors is essential to prevent more advance complications.


text:
Wednesday, July 17 Houston SUBSCRIBE
Houston SUBSCRIBE
Man sought in girlfriend's shooting death near northwest Houston club
Nicole Hensley | on May 23, 2019
Cindy Romero-Fajardo was shot in the head on Feb. 3 while leaving El Corral in the 8100 block of W. Tidwell Road, according to Houston police investigators.
Police are looking for a man accused of killing his girlfriend soon after the bickering couple was kicked out of a northwest Houston club, court records show.
The suspect was charged with murder in the death of 32-year-old Cindy Romero-Fajardo, who was shot in the head on Feb. 3 while leaving El Corral in the 8100 block of W. Tidwell Road, according to Houston police investigators. She died Thursday.
Her 27-year-old boyfriend, Wilson Rivera-Madrid, is believed to be on the run. He was initially charged Monday with aggravated assault of a family member but was not apprehended.
He was not home when investigators went inside an apartment he shared with Romero-Fajardo, before the first round of charges were filed. The door to the apartment "swung open" when police knocked and investigators were unable to find any of his clothes.
HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Pasadena crime prevention course a lesson in neighborhood vigilance
Investigators believe Rivera-Madrid at some point had "returned to his apartment and taken his belongings, leaving in a hurry," according to court documents.
A club bouncer, who identified Rivera-Madrid as an El Corral regular, told police he saw the suspect brandish a gun in the parking lot as the couple left around 3 a.m., prior to the Feb. 3 shooting. The security guard then heard at least one gun shot as the couple drove away, charging papers show.
Another witness said he saw a man in a black cowboy hat, who was believed to be Rivera-Madrid, dump a woman's body in the street a quarter of a mile from the bar and then speed off, police said.
Romero-Fajardo was still alive when first responders found her in the 7900 block of Grow Lane, about a block away from her apartment. She spent the next four days hospitalized with her head wrapped in bandages, according to documents. During that time, a family member identified Rivera-Madrid as the woman's boyfriend of four years and provided his phone number.
HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Trump immigrant crime hotline still faces hurdles, pushback
Investigators called Rivera-Madrid and spoke to him through a translator. He alleged during the phone call that Romero-Fajardo was missing and he wanted to find her.
Investigators told Rivera-Madrid that she was at Southwest Memorial Hospital and to meet them there. Police waited for more than an hour, but he never showed up.
Rivera-Madrid does not appear to have any criminal history in Texas.
NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.
Nicole Hensley|Staff Writer


text:
Graphing Human Uniqueness
Nautilus readers vote on what they think makes humans special.
By Nautilus Editors
Chart by Nicholas Garber
Throughout this issue, we've explored the question of whether humans are unique, and if so, in what ways. In one interactive piece, "The Vocabulary of Our Uniqueness," we asked readers which words best described what makes us special. And here are the results.
Readers cast 1,234 votes for 56 different terms, which we have grouped together thematically (and subjectively). This is obviously not a rigorously precise survey, but it's enough to give a general snapshot of how people think of the question.
The number one choice turned out to be "science," which also included the terms "math" and "astronomy," but not "technology" and "medicine," which we grouped under "tools." The science category received 144 votes, or 12 percent of the total. After that came culture, positive human relations (like "love" and "cooperation"), imagination, philosophy, and negative human relations (like "arrogance" and "war"). The full graph is below.
One thing that might be inferred from these results is that launching a new magazine on science, culture, and philosophy is a good way to address the things that make humans special, and may therefore be of great interest to them.
What do you make of the data?


Trying to wrap up a project for invoices.
Barely have any code as is, need help with a few things.
This shouldn't seen too hard I just want to go over a few things.
Have partially finished tab test which has labels and an iGrid control that is duplicated, and it doesn't organize well when tabs are removed and I would like them movable.
Again, need help with the reorganization method of the labels when they are removed/added.
Am qualified to handle this project and deliver results in the promised timeframe. Relevant Skills and Experience I have experience with VBA, VB, VB.NET, Delphi 7 and other programming languages.
Hi Mr, Im interested with your project. Does the project in Visual Basic or VB.Net? Can we discuss more on chat and I will provide you the best I can to you. Please contact Me Asap. Thanks.


This is a placeholder page for Laurel Ulrich, which means this person is not currently on this site. We do suggest using the tools below to find Laurel Ulrich.
You are visiting the placeholder page for Laurel Ulrich. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Laurel Ulrich. We created this page automatically in hopes Laurel Ulrich would find it. If you are not Laurel Ulrich, but are an alumni of Mira Costa High School, register on this site for free now.


The ultimate protection for your Vango tent's groundsheet, the Vango Footprint is the top camping essential! Easy to remove and to clean, it will provide ample of protection from small tears and holes caused by stones and sharp ground. Footprints are cut to the shape of your tent so you can choose the perfect spot to set up camp – Tailored for use with the Vango Capri 800XL Tent. You can also use the use the footprint as a base for when you pack your tent away to save the muddy knees!


New light on Book of Mormon origins!
Both volumes describe (inter alia) events in the Middle East and Asia centuries before Christ.
Both volumes focus heavily on a series of battles stretching out over years between two major civilizations that have long-standing conflicts with one another. These battles involve large armies, each under the direction of a major political/military leader. These armies directly clash with each other in a series of major battles; some of the battles take place at or across a major river.
Both volumes are written several hundred years after the campaigns in question and are based on contemporaneous or near-contemporaneous records of the campaigns themselves.
Both volumes describe an army led by a young, brilliant, brave military commander in his 20s who inspires his men, who wins virtually all of his battles, usually with much fewer losses than the other side, who is himself upon occasion wounded, and who dies at a relatively young age.
Both volumes are written by authors who have a very high opinion of said military commander.
Both volumes contain the complete text of letters exchanged between two major military/political leaders currently at war with one another. These letters deal specifically with exchange of prisoners and with each side calling upon the other to come to terms.
Both volumes deal with a complex set of city-states with changing allegiances. The two major armies (or forces detached from them) also attack, lay siege to, and capture cities controlled or loyal to the other side.
Both volumes describe intricate army maneuvers, including forced marches, night marches, ambushes, dividing up of forces, attacks from multiple sides, brief and extended sieges, and so on.
Both volumes describe armies waiting for and receiving (or not receiving) supplies and reinforcements.
Both volumes describe battles with casualties numbering over 200,000.
Both volumes describe cities and camps that are defended by digging trenches, piling up earth, and setting up a palisade (breastwork).
Both volumes describe attacks upon bandit-like peoples in mountain fortifications.
Both volumes describe one ruler offering his daughter in marriage to the ruler of a hostile civilization.
Both volumes describe the murder of a civilization's ruler by a usurper who assumes his kingship, as well as other plots to kill or overthrow a ruler.
Both volumes describe the act of proskynesis (stretching one's self full length upon the ground before a superior being).
Both volumes deal with religious issues and themes, including signs (some of which are astronomical) and prophecies (some of which are fulfilled).
Both volumes describe the chief capital city discussed in the volume as being destroyed by fire.
Both volumes describe key religious ceremonies being performed near a body of water in a wilderness.
Both volumes describe incidents of troops getting drunk, with unfortunate results.
Both volumes describe one civilization adopting more and more trappings of the other civilization, not always to its benefit.
Both volumes describe new cities being founded, and often being named after the leader who founded them.
Both volumes describe a variety of temples and specific forms of worship at those temples. Both volumes also describe animal sacrifice as part of a religious ceremony.
Both volumes describe a variety of types of governments, including hereditary kingships, non-hereditary kingships, democracies (of a sort), and others.
Both volumes mention horses, elephants, swords, spears, bows, arrows, javelins, chariots, and armor.
Both volumes describe long-distance travel via ships, as well as long treks overland.
Both volumes describe events taking place in a variety of geographical settings, including oceans, coastlines, mountains, deserts, valleys, hills, rivers, lakes, and jungles.
Some identical proper names (people and places) occur in both volumes, such as "Ammon", "Babylon", and "Egypt".
Clearly, this is too much to attribute to coincidence! In fact, I believe a careful comparison of Anabasis Alexandri and the Book of Mormon will reveal far more similarities, big and small, than can be found between the Book of Mormon and, say, View of the Hebrews or the Spaulding manuscript.
Likewise, I would posit that there are far more similarities, page after page, between Anabasis Alexandri and the Book of Mormon than between the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith's own early 19th Century American milieu.
So, clearly, Smith must have drawn upon Anabasis Alexandri in creating the Book of Mormon, rather than the usual sources cited by those seeking a naturalistic explanation for the Book of Mormon. QED. ..bruce..
 Griggs, C. Wilfred and Brown, S. Kent. "Joseph Smith in the British Museum: The Lost Years", publication pending.


text:
Un caganer es una figurita de nacimiento que se suele colocar en los belenes, como tradición en Cataluña, la Comunidad Valenciana y las Islas Baleares, normalmente escondida en un rincón, detrás de un arbusto, agachada y en postura de estar defecando. También es frecuente esta figura en los belenes de otros puntos de España, así como de Italia y Portugal, donde reciben el nombre de cagador o cagón.

Historia
Se cree que el origen de esta tradición se sitúa entre finales del siglo XVII y principios del XVIII, en mitad del Barroco, un movimiento cultural y artístico que se caracterizaba por un realismo exagerado. En esa época no era una figura específica del belén, sino que se encuentra en azulejos donde sale representado contando historias. El caganer aparece en el belén del pirineo catalán y aragonés a finales del siglo XVII, aunque no se hizo popular del todo hasta el siglo XIX.

Tradicionalmente, el caganer era un campesino ataviado con la indumentaria tradicional catalana (faja y barretina). Más modernamente se han realizado todo tipo de versiones del caganer, utilizando a menudo la imagen de personajes populares como políticos o deportistas. Por ejemplo, en el año 2008 se vendían figuras de Barack Obama, Hugo Chávez, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner y Lula da Silva, y en el año 2013 se vendieron figuras de Lionel Messi, Obama, Angela Merkel, Vladímir Putin, Nelson Mandela y el Papa Francisco.

Generalmente, esta figura se sitúa en un rincón apartado del belén, intentando que no quede en un lugar destacado. Aunque no se conoce con exactitud cuál es la razón para colocar esta figura, se cree que el caganer con sus heces fertiliza la tierra, por lo que se le considera un símbolo de prosperidad y buena suerte para el año siguiente. La tradición del caganer está aceptada plenamente por la iglesia. Colocar esta figura en el belén traía suerte y alegría; no hacerlo comportaba desventura.

Curiosamente, el caganer no es el único personaje navideño típicamente catalán que defeca. Existe otra tradición originaria del Pirineo catalán y aragonés, el Tió o Tronca de Navidad, un tronco de árbol al que los niños apalean la noche antes de Navidad. Al ritmo de los golpes y de canciones tradicionales que los niños le dedican, el Tió'' los recompensa "evacuando" dulces y golosinas.

Galería

Véase también
 Tradiciones navideñas en España
Tió de Nadal
Belenismo
Pesebre
Adoración de los pastores

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Belenismo
Patrimonio cultural inmaterial de Cataluña
Palabras y frases en catalán


text:
Mission, Vision, Service Pledge
Regional Adjudication Branches
Transparency Governance
Notices of Award
FOI Manual
2021 HSAC Rules of Procedure
2019 HLURB Rules of Procedure
2020 Citizen's Charter
2021 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary
2022 Public Advisory (January 7)
2022 Public Advisory (January 8, 2022 )
GAD Program
Client Feedback Form
Fees Calculator
FORMER DOJ UNDERSECRETARY FIDEL J. EXCONDE JR. APPOINTED AS HSAC COMMISSIONER
Atty. Fidel J. Exconde, Jr. was appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on 08 January 2020 as Commissioner for Human Settlements Adjudication Commission and assumed his office on 21 January 2020.
Prior to his stint as HSAC Commissioner, Atty. Exconde was the youngest lawyer to be appointed as Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the Department of Justice in a concurrent capacity serving from 2005 upto 2009 during the Arroyo administration. He exercised supervision over important attached agencies like the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Corrections, and the National Bureau of Investigation. He also served the government under several administrations in several capacities – Prosecutor II of the Department of Justice, Member of the Board of Directors of Home Guaranty Corporation in 2001 and Assistant Secretary for General Legal Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2004.
Atty. Exconde has been appointed six times under three Presidents, the latest being the Commissioner of a quasi-judicial agency. Immediately he strengthened the agency's contempt powers granted by law, initiated case de-clogging projects for RABs NCR and CALABARZON that disposed cases in record time. He likewise instituted and piloted a Case Management System for RAB NCR and Document Management System in his office, that digitized cases and records, which made retrieval accessible even at a remote work arrangement and improved efficiency of adjudication process.
Aside from his exercise of his functions as a public official, Atty. Exconde holds various Executive position for the family business – particularly including a well-known women's undergarment line founded by his mother.
When asked in an interview during his assumption of office as a new Commissioner, Atty. Exconde said that he will put into good use his years of experience in government to efficiently deliver the services of the Commission to the public, promote efficiency as exemplified in his previous positions, and improve overall response time. He also said that since he was trained to work with people as he was growing up, thus, current employees of the HSAC can expect an open door and that he will be accessible whenever he is needed.
Commissioner Fidel Exconde Jr. took his oath of office before Executive Commissioner Melzar P. Galicia on 21 January 2020.


The ever-rising cost of a college education has led to the creation of college savings plans that have been given various federal tax advantages. Among these are "529 plans" which vary from state to state with regard to investment options, contribution maximums, and state income tax treatment. One type of 529 plan allows taxpayers to purchase tuition credits for a designated beneficiary, thereby locking in today's college costs. A second type allows the donor to contribute to an investment account to pay for a beneficiary's higher education expenses, such as tuition and room and board.
Individuals can contribute up to five times the annual gift tax exclusion to a 529 plan in one year on behalf of a beneficiary (currently, $65,000 or $130,000 for married couples) without being subject to gift tax. In effect, the contribution is treated as five separate annual exclusion gifts. Gift tax is avoided so long as no other gifts are made to the beneficiary in the same five-year period.
Anyone can contribute to a 529 plan on behalf of the beneficiary. Grandparents, other relatives, or friends of the family can use 529 plans as an effective estate planning tool. The plans are unusual in that donors still can retain control over the account, and even take it back if necessary, while reducing the size of their estates. Under current law, earnings taken out to pay college expenses will be tax free.
Plans may be sponsored by a state or state agency, one or more educational institutions, including private schools. Money from one 529 plan can be rolled over into another such plan for the same beneficiary or even other family members without any penalty.
For individuals who want more control over their investments, a Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly called an "Education IRA") may be an attractive alternative to a 529 plan. A contributor to a Coverdell account can choose investments and change them, depending on his or her investment strategy. Earnings are tax-free as long as they are used for qualified education expenses. However, the annual limit on contributions is $2,000.
Coverdell accounts may only be established for minors. However, for beneficiaries with special needs, rules stopping contributions when the beneficiary turns 18 and requiring that the account be emptied when he or she turns 30 have been removed.


text:
Energy Forward Stories
BKR $22.73
W&T Offshore and BHGE Announce Strategic Agreement for Joint Exploration & Development Program of 14 Drilling Projects in GoM
BHGE to provide a full suite of integrated oilfield services and oilfield equipment including drilling, completions and production, and subsea production systems
Latest example of collaboration between product companies aligned to customer's performance objectives
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 30, 2018-- At Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) today, W&T Offshore Inc. (NYSE: WTI) and Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE: BHGE) announced a strategic partnership related to W&T's joint exploration and development program, which includes 14 drilling projects, most of which are operated by W&T in the Gulf of Mexico.
The project utilizes a commercial model that consolidates BHGE engineering, products and services expertise in order to reduce total project costs and time to first production. The field development agreement will leverage BHGE's portfolio to improve execution efficiency, reduce risk, and incentivize performance through shared objectives. The deal demonstrates BHGE's fullstream capability by leveraging its integrated portfolio of offerings from oilfield equipment (OFE) and oilfield services (OFS).
Today's announced partnership is part of W&T's joint exploration and development program among a group of investors to drill up to 14 specified projects in the Gulf of Mexico over the next three years.
BHGE will provide drilling and evaluation, completions and well intervention, and pressure pumping services. It will also supply wellhead systems, subsea production systems which includes subsea trees, controls and associated subsea connection systems. Surface wellheads and production equipment, as well as the associated installation tooling and services will also be provided from the OFE product company.
"This partnership with BHGE is the type of collaborative arrangement that is enabling renewed activity in the Gulf of Mexico," said Tracy Krohn, chairman and CEO of W&T. "By partnering closely with BHGE we are locking in service reliability and ensuring access to the broadest selection of equipment and services and advanced industry technology."
"W&T was looking for a partner to help drive down the total cost of development. BHGE's unique and flexible offering helps to consolidate engineering, products and services through one provider while leveraging the full technology and services leadership to meet their objectives," said Kevin Wetherington, President of BHGE North America. "W&T has a long track record of success in the Gulf of Mexico and we expect this partnership to accelerate the continuation of that success."
Cutting-edge technologies from BHGE's fullstream portfolio—including the TerrAdapt™ adaptive drill bit, the first self-adjusting drill bit in the industry—will be used for the development of these wells. The TerrAdapt bit earned OTC's prestigious Spotlight on New Technology award, and is being officially recognized today as part of the 50thOffshore Technology Conference in Houston.
Learn more by visiting BHGE at Booth #2827
About Baker Hughes, a GE company
Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE: BHGE) is the world's first and only fullstream provider of integrated oilfield products, services and digital solutions. We deploy minds and machines to enhance customer productivity, safety and environmental stewardship, while minimizing costs and risks at every step of the energy value chain. With operations in over 120 countries, we infuse over a century of experience with the spirit of a startup – inventing smarter ways to bring energy to the world. Visit us at BHGE.com.
About W&T Offshore
W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. The Company currently has working interests in 49 producing fields in federal and state waters and has under lease approximately 700,000 gross acres, including approximately 470,000 gross acres on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf and approximately 230,000 gross acres in the deepwater. A majority of the Company's daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T Offshore, please visit the Company's website at www.wtoffshore.com.
OFE Media Relations
Kelly Russell
kelly.russell2@bhge.com
Global External Affairs
Stephanie Cathcart
stephanie.cathcart@bakerhughes.com
investor.relations@BHGE.com
Download Brand Assets
View Media Contacts
More Baker Hughes
BHGE.com
Rig Count
Industrial.ai
BakerHughesC3.ai
Shop Baker Hughes
Low Carbon Solutions
© 2020 Baker Hughes Company
Legal footer


text:
Access to bank or building society account
Coping Financially
Low income households
Since its inception in 2004, there have been four revisions to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016. Analysis of changes in the overall ranking of data zones between revisions highlight changing patterns in the distribution of relative deprivation in Scotland.
Despite Glasgow having the highest concentrations of deprivation in Scotland, in successive revisions, Glasgow's position relative to other areas has improved. The proportion of Glasgow's data zones in the most deprived decile nationally had dropped from 47% (in SIMD 2004) to 32% (in SIMD 2016).
Distribution of deprivation in Glasgow over time
Click on graph to expand
A detailed profile of deprivation in Glasgow, published by The Scottish Government, can be viewed here.
SIMD – Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation provides a relative measure of deprivation based on indicators from 7 domains – income, employment, health, education, access, housing, crime. The index identifies multiple deprivation for 6505 small areas (data zones) across Scotland. There have been five versions of SIMD to date. The initial index of 2004 (SIMD 2004) has been revised four times in 2006 (SIMD 2006), 2009 (SIMD 2009), 2012 (SIMD 2012) and 2016 (SIMD 2016). For more information go to the SIMD site.
Deprivation deciles - the term 'deprivation decile' is used to represent 10% of a population with a particular level of deprivation. Thus, the most deprived decile equates to the most deprived 10% within a population, while the least deprived decile represents the 10% of a population living in the least deprived circumstances.
SIMD Analysis: Future Projections
An analysis of the reasons behind the recent decline of deprivation in Glasgow, with tend projections towards 2015.


What narrative potential is embedded in our understanding of animals in an urban context?
Ambling through this question Neighbourhood Neighbourhood, emerging artist Tobias Grice presents works that turns out the language of a community. Materialising a dialogue between individuals through the display of a selection of archived lost animal posters.
Grice calls on the self-reliance of one's neighbourhood through a pair of participatory works, engaging in the 'free to a good home' mentality and animal-minding. Further more, investigating the roles attributed to animals in an urban context Grice questions the effects of humankind on animal behaviour through a video based performance that drawing directly from folk tale to illustrate this complex issue.
Tobias Grice, Neighbourhood Neighbourhood (2015). Digital image.
Tobias Grice, Seed Line, Bird Line (2014). Screenshot from digital video.


text:
Conversations that Count
Facilitating dialogue for problem solving, strategy and system change
Peter Willis
You or your organisation face a problem, perhaps an opportunity. You discuss it in regular meetings but you can't truly resolve it. It's so easy to get stuck. I know, because I've been facilitating conversations for nearly 20 years, helping people to move beyond 'stuck' to coherent thinking and fresh ideas that can work.
"Peter is an experienced, gentle, yet challenging conversation strategist. Not only is he able to hold and host the conversation, he is also able to provide content with depth, all in his inimitable style – humour, compassion and punch – rolled into one. Peter really knows how to work the room to help groups think and feel together."
Vanessa Otto-Mentz – Head of Strategy, Sanlam
I've discovered that the best conversations can dissolve the strata of power & seniority within a group to unleash a wealth of new thinking.
"Peter is an inspiration and has a way of connecting with people that makes them comfortable to think out of the box, to challenge, to learn and begin to create anew. He has a way of connecting the different levels within and across an organisation and creating an environment that allows for all voices to be heard and for concerns and possibilities to be explored together."
Mary-Jane Morifi – Formerly Executive Head Corporate Affairs, Anglo American Platinum
I believe that deep, extended dialogue is one of the surest ways to bridge any divide, whether within a company, organisation, or society.
"I have had the privilege to work with Peter as a facilitator in the Eskom NGO Forum. Peter has a calm and approachable demeanor that encouraged all participants to make a meaningful contribution. With appropriate and incisive questions he also pushed both Eskom management and the Environmental NGOs to be more open to different perspectives. This created an open and trusting environment. More importantly, he made us deal with the difficult issues, the elephants in the room."
Mohamed Adam – Former Eskom Corporate Counsel/Divisional Executive
My approach is usually to immerse myself within the group that I'm facilitating, while at the same time remaining independent enough to be a 'critical friend' and firm taskmaster.
"We had the pleasure of using Peter Willis as a facilitator for a number of strategic processes we embarked upon last year with our senior management group. Peter was excellent, grasped the culture of our company and its nuances extremely quickly and was able to tap into our requirements very easily, to the extent that it felt like he was one of us. He organised the processing of the meetings extremely efficiently and was able to drive all meetings to the point where real deliverable outcomes were a reality."
Andrew Golding, CEO, Pam Golding Properties
Any group has the potential to think as a coherent unit – it just takes patience and an empowering ambience.
"Thank you, Peter, for your excellent facilitation of the strategic planning workshop for our Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation. You helped us not only to decide on an exciting research agenda but also to strengthen our group identity."
Prof Res Altwegg, University of Cape Town
The Cape Town Drought Response Learning Initiative – breaking new ground
Cape Town became briefly the focus of world attention in early 2018 as we headed towards Day Zero. A surge of innovation and adaptation swept the city in those dry, dry months, culminating in Cape Town's water consumption dropping by a staggering 45-50%. Day Zero was averted.
But how could we learn from what we'd all done in the heat of the moment? And wouldn't other cities find it helpful to know? But no institutional mechanisms exist for doing this at a city-wide scale, either here or anywhere globally. So, with my good friend, film-maker Victor van Aswegen of CineSouth Studios, we created the Cape Town Drought Response Learning Initiative. Visit our website here and, to see the 30 in-depth interviews with key people who responded to the drought across the city, browse the Drought Response Film Library.
There is a large and growing concern in cities around the world that water insecurity could become a critical failure point. We've already been invited to share the project and the film material we're producing in Johannesburg, Sydney, Brisbane and London – in each case getting a very positive response.
Next stop: a series of 15 minute Modular Lesson films, each one focusing on a particular area of learning out of the Cape Town experience.
Then in the second half of 2020: the feature-length documentary.
My Journey to Here
I grew up in the English countryside and studied history at Oxford University. My first job was in the UK Department of Industry, liaising with the French government on the Concorde project. Thereafter I taught in London schools for four years and, through the 1980's, created and ran several small businesses in the field of publishing and marketing. In 1993 I moved to Cape Town with my wife (a South African) and our small son in time for the first democratic elections.
From 1995 to 2014 I pioneered in the field of sustainability, helping leaders make strategic sense of major social and environmental trends and for the last 12 years of this period was the South African Director of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. In that role I designed and facilitated numerous senior executive programmes, including the annual Prince of Wales Business & Sustainability Programme.
Since 2014 I have been a freelance facilitator and advisor. In March 2018 I began the Cape Town Drought Response Learning Initiative.
I mentor a number of young men and women. I remain a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and am a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management.
Tel: +27 21 786 1910 | Cell: +27 82 378 2384
Email: peter@peterwillis.co.za
"Circles in a Circle"
1923 by Wassily Kandinsky (Russian, 1866 – 1944)
Kandinsky's work has always moved me when I've encountered it in museums. I only recently learned that he was effectively the founder of modern abstract art and was constantly exploring the interaction between points, lines and planes. This painting not only illustrates that exploration, it also speaks to me of the complexity, creativity and ultimately the beauty that can arise when a conversation is conducted within a well-defined and safely held circle. I also find it has something of the quality of a mandala and my mind dwells upon it very easily and peacefully.
© 2020 Conversations that Count. All Rights Reserved.


text:
St. John's Red Storm Will Start Big East Tourney Play vs. Georgetown Hoyas
Feb 25, 2017; Queens, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard Marcus LoVett (15) drives around Georgetown Hoyas defense during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
St. John's finished as the No. 8 seed in the Big East and will play Georgetown in the first round of the conference tourney.
The Big East Tournament is this week and St. John's will start it off vs Georgetown on Wednesday night.
It will be the same matchup as it was a week ago when St. John's hung on to beat their long-time Big East rival, 86-80, at Madison Square Garden, which was their last victory of the regular season.
The two teams will square off again this week with much higher stakes.
Georgetown is reeling, coming in with a five-game losing streak. St. John's is not coming in with the best of momentums either, losing their last tow games including an 86-75 home loss to the Providence Friars in their season finale.
Both teams are evenly matched and this figures to be another competitive game between these two just like it was the last time they met.
Speaking of which, if St. John's can come in with the same hunger and execution as they did in their last meeting with the Hoyas, they should pull this one off.
They'll have most of the fans on their side since it's at MSG and the backcourt freshmen combination of Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett will create matchup problems for Georgetown as they have done against other opponents all season.
The only way St. John's will make it to the NCAA tournament is if they win the Big East Tournament. That will definitely be a tough road, especially since St. John's will next play defending champion and the No. 1 seed in the Big East in Villanova.
But we've seen many unexpected moments in Big East tourney play in the past and the fact that it's at MSG where St. John's play half of their home games, will definitely play a comfort level for them especially since they'll have many supporters.
It should be fun and the first game between St. John's and Georgetown figures to be exciting and a winnable game for the Johnnies.
The All-#BIGEASThoops Freshman Team: pic.twitter.com/DjVTgAOAk4
— #BIGEASThoops (@BIGEASTMBB) March 5, 2017
Chris Mullin
NCAA Tournament / Final Four


I started my employment at Lund University in 2015, funded by the NextNanoCells grant. This was funded by the EU Horizon H2020 programme (MSCA Individual Fellowship, Grant Agreement 656208) until April 2018.
The main goal of my research was to develop a specifically designed III-V nanowire-based solar cell to be subsequently connected to state-of-the-art high-efficiency bottom Si solar cell, thereby creating a multi-junction solar cell.
Nanowire solar cells are an innovative and promising way to further reduce the cost of photovoltaic electricity for terrestrial applications.
World electricity demand is steadily increasing over years and photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity stands out as a clean, sustainable and reliable way of electricity production. The use of III-V materials in multi-junction solar cells opens up for extremely high conversion efficiencies (>38%). High efficiency and reduction of material use is the key for competitive prices of this technology.
MOVPE growth of nanowires solar cells: A vast variety of core/shell nanowire solar cell structures has been developed by MOVPE such as GaAs/AlGaAs, GaAs/GaInP, GaAs/AlInP and GaAsP/AlInP, by carefully controlling structure, composition and doping of the wires. Prior growth, a well-defined array of Au particles on the GaAs substrates was deposited by means of nanoimprint lithography.
Nanowire solar cell characterization: Enabled by a nanoprobe manipulator inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), optoelectronic characterization at single nanowire level has been developed. In particular, a big piece of work has been done performing and understanding optoelectronic characteristics (e.g. EBIC and dark IV curves) of single nanowire solar cells and other type of devices such as first MJSC prototype structures within NWs, or InP photodetectors. As a result of these efforts, a new record efficiency of 15% of an InP NW solar cell has been obtained.
Aerotaxy of nanowire solar cells: In collaboration with Sol Voltaics AB (https://solvoltaics.com/) a functional single GaAs nanowire solar cell has been grown for the first time by Aerotaxy and a full optoelectronic characterization has been performed .
Secondment at Sol Voltaics AB: Advanced characterization methods for nanowire based solar cells have been developed, together with mentoring of younger engineers and scientists.
The results have been published in peer-reviewed articles (see below).
GaAs Nanowire pn-Junctions Produced by Low-Cost and High-Throughput Aerotaxy.
E. Barrigón et al 2018 Nano Lett. 18, 2, 1088-1092.
GaAs nanowire arrays on native substrate.
Vilgailė Dagytė et al 2017 Nanotechnology 28 505706.
InP/InAsP Nanowire-Based Spatially Separate Absorption and Multiplication Avalanche Photodetectors.
Effect of Ge autodoping during III-V MOVPE growth on Ge substrates.
Degradation of Ge subcells by thermal load during the growth of multijunction solar cells.
Enrique Barrigón et al 2018 Prog Photovolt Res Appl.
Understanding InP Nanowire Array Solar Cell Performance by Nanoprobe-Enabled Single Nanowire Measurements.