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Die Dark Side of Daedalus Con ist eine Convention von Fans für Fans, die einmal jährlich stattfindet. Während sie 2008 und 2009 noch an einem Wochenende im Mai bzw. September stattfand, findet sie nun Anfang November statt. Sie ist inzwischen nicht nur deutschlandweit, sondern auch international bekannt. Unter anderem kommen Gäste aus Belgien, Frankreich, den Niederlanden, England, den USA und aus Australien.

Themenschwerpunkte sind Science-Fiction, Fantasy, LARP und Rollenspiel.

Die Dark Side of Daedalus Con unterscheidet sich von anderen Cons durch das Konzept "Weniger Stars, mehr Fangruppen und Fans im Programm". Neben den Programmpunkten der Stars bestimmen verschiedenste Aufführungen einzelner Fangruppen und Vereine das Programm maßgeblich mit.

Einige der Fangruppen, die weltweit zusammen über 10000 Mitglieder haben, sind in der Gründungsgeschichte eng mit dieser Convention verbunden. Meistens waren es die deutschen Abteilungen, die auf dieser Veranstaltung gegründet wurden oder ihren ersten Auftritt haben. Die Dark Side of Daedalus Con ist eine Fortsetzung der bereits vorher existierenden Dark Side Convention. Der neue Name sollte darauf hinweisen, dass alle Arten der Science Fiction auf der Con willkommen und repräsentiert sind.

Programm
Zu den Programmpunkten zählen unter anderem

 Autogrammstunden,
 Rollen-, Brett- und Kartenspielbereich,
 Photoshootings mit den Stars,
 Autorenlesungen,
 Workshops,
 Kunst- und Modellbauausstellungen,
 Konzerte,
 Fanfilme,
 Fanaufführungen,
 Frage & Antwortstunden,
 Ausstellungen von originalen Filmrequisiten,
 Kostümwettbewerbe
 und vieles mehr.

Des Weiteren bieten einige Händler ein umfangreiches Angebot aus den Bereichen Science Fiction und Fantasy.

Geschichte und Ehrengäste
Die Dark Side of Daedalus Con entstand aus der Dark Side Con, welche den Themenschwerpunkt hauptsächlich auf Star Wars gelegt hatte. Im Jahre 2008 fand dann die erste Daedalus Con statt, welche nun die Dark Side Con beinhaltete. Themenschwerpunkt der Dark Side Con war weiterhin Star Wars, während mit der Daedalus Con Star Trek und Stargate hinzu kamen. Aber auch Fans und Fangruppen aus anderen Bereichen der Science-Fiction (z. B. Battlestar Galactica) und Fantasy (z. B. Conan) fanden sich ein. Hinzuzufügen ist noch, dass viele der Fans sich auch nicht nur für einen Bereich der Science-Fiction interessieren. So kann es z. B. sein, dass ein Star-Trek-Fan auch gleichzeitig ein Stargate-Fan ist und u. U. Fangruppen beider Bereiche angehört. Ebenso können sich Sci-Fi-Fans durchaus auch für Fantasy interessieren und haben entsprechende Kostüme parat, so dass sie z. B. an einem Tag der Con als Wraith, am nächsten Tag als Drow verkleidet sind oder die Verkleidung am gleichen Tag wechselt, z. B. morgens als Stargate-Offizier, abends als Klingone. Durch dieses Phänomen beinhaltet die Con heute ein breites Spektrum aus Sci-Fi und Fantasy. An mindestens einem Tag der Con findet ein Stargate-LARP statt und auch Rollenspieler, die lieber die Würfel auspacken und sich dem Pen&Paper widmen sind jederzeit willkommen.

Den Namen Dark Side of Daedalus trägt die Con seit 2010, wobei in einigen Jahren Namenszusätze hinzu kamen, außerdem werden jedes Jahr einige Ehrengäste zur Veranstaltung eingeladen.
Neben den jährlich anwesenden Ehrengästen (dem Komiker Freddy Bee, dem klingonischen Nikolaus Klingolaus und dem SciFi-Reporter Robert Vogel) sind folgende Bekanntheiten Gäste auf der Con gewesen:

Weblinks
 Offizielle Website der Darkside of Daedalus Convention
 Onlinebericht beim Handicap Netzwerk
 Onlinebericht
 Onlinebericht bei den Ruhrnachrichten
 weiterer Onlinebericht bei den Ruhrnachrichten
 Onlinebericht in der Recklinghäuser Zeitung
 Onlinebericht bei Seniorenreporter.de 2014

Veranstaltung in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Spieleveranstaltung
Kultur (Bochum)
Science-Fiction-Convention
Fantasy

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Annabel is a Special Counsel in the corporate team in Adelaide.
She specialises in corporations and securities law, with a principal focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital raisings and corporate advisory work.
Annabel has extensive experience in managing corporate transactions for a wide range of local and international clients in diverse industries, from listed companies, private equity funds and government owned corporations, to SMEs and not for profits. Her experience working with clients in the financial services and health sectors have given her a particularly strong understanding of these industries.
She has advised on acquisitions, divestments, IPOs, placements, rights issues, partnerships, joint ventures and restructures. She also provides general corporate and commercial advice in relation to issues ranging from compliance with the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act, as well as advising on the drafting and negotiation of a wide variety of contracts.


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Family Business Ireland
info@familybusiness.ie
About Our Business
A father who changed his mind
The solution was there all along
When unplanned events met an unplanned future
It's The Right Way
Advisor Locator Map
EFB-KPMG 2020 Global Tax Monitor
In this challenging year, KPMG have explored the situation of taxation on family businesses in 54 countries and territories in order to offer an
Family Business Management Programme 2020
The Family Business National Centre of Excellence is inviting business founders, next generation managers and those with an interest in learning how
Growing a family business - LEO Enterprise Week BOI Workbench Centre Fri 6th March 8am
Phil Cone of Acadeny Crests Ltd and Michael Finn NSG Ltd will be interviewed by JJ O'Connell of Family Business Ireland to discuss their growth
5 warning signs of a governance problem
If you have been experiencing any of the following in your boardroom, you are already late in acting to improve the quality of your board. Either you have a governance problem now, or one is coming.
• Absence of a rigorous process in defining a long-term, forward-looking business strategy.
• Poor communication between the company's owners and its professional managers.
• Significant turnover among the second layer of the company's senior executives combined with very long tenure by the top layer of senior executives -- conditions that have not been accompanied by strong business performance over the past three to five years.
• Board meetings that are too comfortable and always follow a familiar pattern: Nobody challenges anyone in the board meeting on any topic that is material.
• Everyone sitting at the board table is a family member, longtime family accountant, family estate lawyer or close friend.
We can offer you the guidance that you need. Contact us now.
Source:https://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/5-warning-signs-governance-problem
Sunday Times Article - The "sticky baton" of family business succession
Friday, 11 August 2017 00:00
We trust that you will discover is a highly valuable read below from the Sunday Times.
Succession is the key subject as it is keyin reality when running a family business . The importance or succession is discussed well and the why it is so important to encorporate it into your Family business as soon as possible.
When Ted Dwyer became temporarily deaf in one ear a decade ago, he sent his first text message, asking his son Eamon to come home from Australia. Though Dwyer did not know it, this was the start of the process of handing over the reins of City Life Wealth Advisors, a life and pensions brokerage he set up 46 years ago.
"For a while Eamon worked for me, then we worked together, and now I work for him," says Dwyer, 70, who has opted to leave the business to his son rather than give shareholdings to all four of his children.
"Other parts of the estate can go to other people, but Eamon will get the business. It's a big risk because if the business was to fail, he would get nothing."
This is the conundrum Dwyer now helps other families address, through his consultancy Ted Dwyer Family Business. He went back to college to study succession planning and has since helped clients manage the transition of their businesses to the next generation.
"One problem facing many family businesses in Ireland is that there is really only enough revenue in them to support one family, not two or more," says Dwyer.
Emotional issues are tied up in handing over the reins, too. "Eamon and I have been working on this process for 10 years, and, even though it turns out he's much better at the business than me, letting go is difficult. I'm still not used to it."
For the Dwyers, it helped to have an outside chairman on the board to act as a mentor to Eamon and ensure the interests of the business, rather than the family, were to the fore.
Once you have made the changeover, it is important to accept it, says Dwyer. "Things happen in the business that I don't necessarily agree with. If I'm asked, I'll give my opinion, but I let Eamon make the decisions."
The handover of many businesses was complicated by the recession, but they are getting back on track in the improved economic environment, says JJ O'Connell, of Family Business Ireland, a consultancy. He points to a recent report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, which estimated that the 55-64 age group in Ireland has wealth — including houses, pensions, investments and small businesses — worth nearly €350bn.
"A huge transference of wealth to the next generation is expected in the coming years," says O'Connell. "It's a real economic issue for Ireland as a whole to make sure this is managed efficiently."
Whether family or not, the next generation of management must be educated and trained to take on a business. Companies should start succession planning as early as possible, says O'Connell, with simple business continuity plans outlining who will step into a particular role during a crisis.
"You don't want to leave these matters until circumstances take over, be it a car accident, stroke or any of the things that can affect a family. You may not realise at the time that it is in fact the start of an intergenerational changeover," he says.
An upshot of the recession is that it has put off many next-generation members from taking over the family business, particularly where people saw how hard their parents worked for little return.
"We're helping a lot of businesses with managing changed expectations for the next generation," says O'Connell. "In other cases we're seeing sons and daughters stepping in and taking over their parents' business debts. The scars of the recession are there, but family businesses typically don't talk about them."
Stewart Dunne, a partner in the audit department at accountants BDO, says there has been a post-recession increase in business handovers, driven by the fact there is more value in businesses, greater economic certainty and larger amounts of money around than in recent years. Causes for concern remain, however.
"First, it's a question of whether there is enough money in a business not just to fund the retirement of the parents, but also whether there will be enough left in the business to ensure it's viable and has enough working capital," says Dunne.
Second, if parents are looking to take a step back, do the children have the skills required to take over, or will the business need outside professional help? If the latter is required, parents must be "really hard-nosed and commercial" in putting the business first, adds Dunne. If the plan is for children to eventually take over the business, it is important they get experience elsewhere first.
"The problem for any family business is that it's very easy to operate in a cocoon. They might know a lot about their own business, but not about how businesses in other sectors operate, nor even what their competitors are doing," says Dunne.
Bringing in managers from outside may help, but it can be hard to achieve. Owners of family businesses often find it difficult to attract ambitious people because those they seek might fear playing second fiddle to a lesser-qualified boss whose name is over the door.
"To attract top talent to a family business you need to incentivise, and you have to realise that a shareholding will more than likely be a part of that," says Dunne. "Family businesses are often too reluctant to consider giving away a stake to outsiders, even though it can be the best way of attracting the high-performing management required."
Ironically, one of the biggest threats to a business can be the entrepreneurial spirit that established it. Not knowing when to go, or refusing to relinquish decision-making, is the hallmark of what has been termed the "sticky baton" of intergenerational handovers.
This was not an issue, however, for Rachel and Frank Doyle, the founders of Arboretum, a Co Carlow garden and retail centre. Their sons, Fergal and Barry, approached the couple with a proposal about taking over the business.
The transition was helped by the brothers' complementary skills, says Fergal. Barry is a horticulturalist who looks after the retail side, while Fergal is in charge of administration and marketing.
"We both know what is required of us. Our parents let us make our own successes and mistakes," says Fergal.
The original business has grown as a result, and the brothers have opened a second outlet in Kilquade, Co Wicklow.
"At some point the older generation has to give that level of trust when it comes to the decision-making, and let us get on with it," says Fergal.
Source: Sandra O' Connell, The SUnday Times Newspaper.
The Hofstede Centre
Thinking of going Global with your business?
Are you looking to move your business into a country that may have completely different cultures and views?
Under National Culture, Professor Geert Hofstede states that values in countries can be distinguished into categories. The original categories are:
Power Distance (PDI),
Individualism versus Collectivism (IDV)
Masculinity versus Femininity (MAS)
Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI).
Long-Term Orientation (LTO) was added in 1991 and there are others not fully distinguished but the website gives great insight to what categories are more dominant in each country. This is important aspect to have knowledge on if you are thinking of going global.
Click here to read more:
http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html
Why You Need Emotional Intelligence to Run Your Family Business
Leaders who are emotionally aware have a knack for reducing conflict and building lasting relationships, two qualities that are beneficial to businesses of all kinds, but particularly family businesses, where the line between personal and professional matters is easily blurred.
Click here to read the full article:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244127
A Family Business conversation
A Family Business conversation - Friday 10th March 2- 4pm at the Northside for Business Campus, North Ring Road, Cork. David Donegan Managing Partner Donegan Solicitors and JJ O'Connell (myself) are hosting a two hour briefing as part of Enterprise Week with Cork City LEO. Places are limited - just 20. This is a free event.
Recent high profile family disputes have once again raised awareness and interest in succession planning. It is regrettable that it takes the circumstances of a court dispute to focus the mind of others to look at the issue. However family business succession is a complex and sometimes emotive issue. Each family is unique and solutions differ. David is one of Ireland's most expert and experienced advisers and we have worked together for over twenty years.
If you are a parent, son, daughter, sibling, in-law, or adviser we invite you to join us for a confidential chat that we hope you will find of value.
For more information please contact us on the following:
Tel: 021- 4211433
The Enduring Family Business
The Cork Family Business Breakfast meeting hosted by Cork Chamber of Commerce and Chartered Accountants Ireland, Cork Society was a great success last Friday the 17th.
The four speakers covered all areas necessary and were very encouraging of being proactive in an enduring family Business:
Brian O'Brien of PWC presented the findings of the 2016 PWC Family Business Survey and shared his views.
Brendan Twohig of MK Brazil who spoke about the Tax Implications in Family Business and it was the funniest tax talk I have ever heard.
JJ O'Connell of Family Business Ireland & Plato Cork and Jan Harte owner of Jan Harte & Associates co-presented. JJ focused on the Opportunities and Pitfalls working in a Family Business and the Importance of Planning & Processing and Jan Harte spoke about the Importance of Culture in Family Business and How to Create the Culture you want.
To read more or receive more information, please click on the link below:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/enduring-family-business-jan-harte
Mother and son in dispute over Kilkenny group ownership
A dispute between mother and son about the ownership of the well-known Kilkenny group of luxury design retail stores, employing 300 people, has come before the Commercial Court.
Greg O'Gorman claims his mother Marian, the CEO of the company running the stores, summarily terminated his employment as group marketing director last July in a demeaning and humiliating manner.
He said this was after 13 years' service and no suggestion of misconduct or non-performance on his part.
He said he, his wife and three children, had been left "financially destitute" and he had been unable to get alternative employment.
The court heard that despite promises over years of a share transfer for his hard work, Mr O'Gorman's mother last June publicly repudiated a signed "family constitution".
He said that under this document she held legal ownership of shares in the company in trust for the O'Gorman Family Business Partnership made up of himself and his three siblings, Christopher, Melissa and Michelle.
All four siblings hold a 25% share, with the estimated value of his shareholding at €12.5m, it is alleged.
Mr O'Gorman said the "enormous personal toll" of these events has been compounded by marital disharmony between his parents who recently separated after 41 years of marriage.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern said the case was "peculiarly suited" for mediation and urged the parties to consider it.
The judge said it would be "very undesirable" to have this family dispute involving a successful business being explored publicly.
Mr O'Gorman's Senior Counsel, Rossa Fanning, said he would convey what the judge had said but, unfortunately, there was a "history of acrimonious disputes" which Mrs O'Gorman had found herself at the centre of over years.
The judge agreed to join Christopher O'Gorman, Castle Close Road, Blarney; Melissa O'Gorman, Mount Street Crescent, Dublin 2 and Michelle O'Gorman, Fernhurst, Tower, Blarney, as notice parties and returned the case to June next.
Mr Fanning said Mr O'Gorman made no criticism of his siblings and was not advancing any legal case against them but needed to join them as the outcome of the case would affect their interests.
Mr O'Gorman said Clydaville Investments Ltd, which carries on the luxury design retail Kilkenny business brand, operates 15 stores with its flagship store at Dublin's Nassau Street.
It had a €27m turnover in 2015 and he had secured a preliminary desktop valuation of some €50m for the business.
He was employed full-time by Clydaville between 2003 and 2016 and, after turning around the performance of the Galway store, was promoted by his mother to more senior roles and later to group marketing director.
The business flourished particularly during and since the economic recession, due "in no small part" to his management contribution, he said.
He made many personal sacrifices to ensure the success of the business, including working exceptionally long hours for a salary that did not reflect that, he said.
His mother represented he was effectively working for himself because of her promises to transfer a shareholding to him, he claimed.
To give effect to "repeated" promises, she convened family meetings and instructed advisers from 2009 leading to her and all four children being bound by terms of a family constitution executed in September 2010, he claims.
That evidenced the creation of a family partnership involving the four children as general partners and their mother as managing partner with Mrs O'Gorman continuing as the named shareholder of Clydaville but holding the shares in trust for the O'Gorman Family Partnership, it is claimed.
All parties complied with terms of those documents until a company meeting of 22 June 2016 when his mother read a prepared statement the company was no longer to be considered as a "family company", he said.
His employment was summarily terminated without reasons shortly afterwards, he said.
He was "shocked and personally devastated" and found "profoundly upsetting" his mother "publicly reneged on promises and commitments given to me over many years".
He lodged a claim for unfair dismissal before the Workplace Relations Commission in December 2016 and sought advice, leading to this case being initiated
What independent directors bring to a board
Doctors are advised not to operate on their family members, and there is good reason for this: Judgment can get skewed and the result can be less than ideal.
Likewise, a director should not have an overly emotional tie to the company he or she is in essence "operating" on—whether that tie be a family connection or financial dependence.
If there is one thing that great boards have in common, it is that they include truly independent directors.
Independent directors bring the following qualities to a board:
• Balanced focus on present state and future needs
• True objectivity
• Transparency for all shareholders/stakeholders
• Proper assessment of risks
• Elevation of the company to the next level.
Be sure to take one on board. Should you need more advice, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Family Business Ireland.
https://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/what-independent-directors-bring-board
Why family businesses may be losing the war for talent
Although privately owned family businesses enjoy significant competitive advantages to help attract, engage and retain executive talent, family firms also face several common compensation challenges.
• Informal pay governance process: Compensation governance in private family firms tends to be a bit more informal and less structured than in public companies. The compensation committee usually consists of family shareholders and insiders, rather than independent directors. When insiders serve on a compensation committee, executive pay discussions can be more personal and potentially contentious.
• Opaque compensation plans: Many family companies offer unique compensation programs, but these programs are sometimes opaque and not fully understood by all stakeholders. Obscure features of the compensation plan may persist, and executives may lack a complete understanding and appreciation of the value of the total package.
• Below-market long-term incentives: There are numerous reasons why family companies offer below-market long-term incentives. These reasons include the family's unwillingness to share equity and thus dilute both ownership and earnings. Thus, it is often unrealistic for a private family company to match the long-term incentive compensation levels offered by public companies, and the total compensation strategy must consider this shortfall.
• Absence of a total compensation strategy: Family companies often lack a cohesive compensation strategy covering all elements of executive pay: base salary, annual incentive, long-term incentives and benefits/perquisites. The company leaders may not understand how all of the elements of pay fit together as well as the trade-offs between various elements. The family company may find itself leaning too much on the culture and goodwill of executives, believing that loyal, long-tenured executives are less concerned about compensation.
• Lack of external market knowledge: Private family companies often lack an understanding of current market practices and norms. Small companies place less emphasis on the external labor market. They tend to promote executive talent from within the company, until that is no longer tenable. A lack of knowledge about executive compensation trends can hinder the ability to compete for talent.
https://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/why-family-businesses-may-be-losing-war-talent
Keep a laser-like focus on your customers and their needs - it will help you stay relevant
One of the main things Jane Lorigan, CEO of Saongroup.com has learned is that it's not just the speed of technological change, but how fast people's expectations and behaviour evolve to match it.
When she joined IrishJobs.ie (part of Saongroup) the common wisdom was that "finding a job is a job in itself". Even though applying for jobs online was a step forward from newspaper advertisements and putting your CV in the post, back then - from a technical point of view - it was still a chore to apply for jobs.
People were accessing the internet via dial-up and connectivity was a major issue; one of our primary technical concerns was making sure the pages on the site loaded quickly.
Fast forward 12 years and everyone is carrying their own personal computer around in their back pocket, their lives conducted through the medium of the mobile phone. They use best-in-class technology every day and expect every online experience to match this level of technological development.
She advises to keep a laser-like focus on your customers and their needs. It will help you stay relevant and navigate the technological changes.
In an enterprise with multiple stakeholders, you have to identify who is most important to your business and be single minded about designing your product offering around them.
From the start they have always been clear that helping jobseekers find a job is what they are all about and that has stood to them. Even though new technologies are presenting every day, Jane states that they are able to sift through the noise and focus only on what makes getting a new job easier.
Instinct is good, but data is better.
When Jane started her career a lot of kudos was given to business "instincts", but good data is now fundamental to her decision making.
The digital adage "track and act" helps us measure the technology we implement and assess whether it is supporting job seekers in their job hunt.
Staying on top of technology is a challenge for every business today. As an organisation we've always embraced progress so we channel technology effectively. Jane likes to think that they've used it to take the work out of finding a job.
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Judge Strikes Down Kansas 'Show Me Your Papers' Voter ID Law
REUTERS/Dave Kaup
Kevin Daley Supreme Court correspondent
A federal judge in Kansas City struck down a state law Monday requiring Kansas voters to show proof of citizenship before casting ballots.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson, a George W. Bush appointee, found the statute unlawfully burdens ballot access for eligible voters, in violation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Constitution.
"The court determines that the magnitude of potentially disenfranchised voters impacted by the law and its enforcement scheme cannot be justified by the scant evidence of noncitizen voter fraud before and after the law was passed, by the need to ensure the voter rolls are accurate, or by the state's interest in promoting public confidence in elections," the judge wrote.
Robinson maintained that prohibiting eligible citizens from voting because they lack proper identification did more to damage public confidence in the electoral process than voter fraud.
The law at issue was championed by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, an ally of President Donald Trump who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. Kobach's office did not issue a statement on the ruling by press time.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) organized a challenge to the law, which they cast as another iteration of a broader voter suppression effort. (RELATED: Supremes Duck Major Ruling On Partisan Gerrymanders)
"This decision is a stinging rebuke of Kris Kobach, and the centerpiece of his voter suppression efforts: a show-me-your-papers law that has disenfranchised tens of thousands of Kansans," said Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's voting rights project. "That law was based on a xenophobic lie that noncitizens are engaged in rampant election fraud. The court found that there is 'no credible evidence' for that falsehood, and correctly ruled that Kobach's documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement violates federal law and the Constitution."
In a separate, scathing portion of the decision, the judge pilloried Kobach for failing to comply with judicial rules of procedure and discovery. Though staff attorneys typically represent the state in court, Kobach chose to personally defend the lawin this litigation.
"It is not clear to the court whether [Kobach] repeatedly failed to meet his disclosure obligations intentionally or due to his unfamiliarity with the federal rules," Robinson wrote. "Therefore, the court finds that an additional sanction is appropriate in the form of Continuing Legal Education (CLE)." Attorneys are required to periodically complete CLE courses to maintain their law licenses.
The judge went on chide Kobach for his apparent unfamiliarity with procedural rules, and his failure to share information with the plaintiffs.
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Tags : aclu kansas kris kobach
Kevin Daley
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Did Ilhan Omar Marry Her Brother? Trump Officially Weighs In


It's no shock that H&M rips off Chloe all the time, and we suspect their designers have a small shrine to Phoebe Philo somewhere in their studio. But what's funny is that H&M's Chloe obsession seems to go beyond the clothes. Let's take a close look at their recent online campaign, which stars Freja Beja in her pre-haircut days and also features a gorgeous blonde with a bob... Anja Rubik. The Freja and Anja combination is what's power-packing Chloe's current ad campaign. We can't help but wonder if this Chloe - H&M casting is a coincidence... Or if H&M realizes they can harness someone else's aspirational branding identity with a few simple model steals.
Next Week: Chloe for Chloe?


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Canadian Royalties	International Royalties
Neighbouring rights and private copying royalties, also referred to as equitable remuneration, are outlined in the Copyright Act to ensure that recording artists, meaning all performers on sound recordings from session players and backing performers to featured vocalists and instrumentalists, are compensated for the use of their recorded work.
These rights were introduced in the Copyright Act of Canada in 1997 to acknowledge the essential role of recording artists and record companies in the creation of recorded music, similar to rights in other countries that recognize the value of artistic works. Before 1997 only composers and authors received royalties from the broadcast or public performance of their songs in Canada, through SOCAN, CMRRA, SODRAC and CSI.
ACTRA RACS collects and distributes Canadian and International royalties owed to performers for the use of their recorded work. To date we've distributed $100 million directly to recording artists.
I'm truly grateful for the thorough job you all do on my (& all artists) behalf. In these increasingly difficult times it's comforting to know that there are those that are getting the artists all of those nickels and dimes that can (eventually!!) add up to a living (however modest) & advocating on our behalf to those that determine the means by which we can all be fairly paid. Without the efforts of RACS things would certainly be different & I thank you for that.
Mike Turner
Our Lady Peace
Get Regular Updates. Join our Newsletter.
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Jessica Alba: I don't want to be stay-at-home mom
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
The Departed
Jill Eikenberry
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Jung-Hee Moon
South Kor
Jesse Hoy
Templeton, California, U
Eric Porvaznik
Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Julianne Moore: We can all learn from 'Carrie'
Talking about her new movie Carrie, Julianne Moore told Wenn that the latest adaptation of Stephen King's novel can teach the society some important things about the issues marginalized, lonely kids are facing.
"The character of Carrie was based on two girls Stephen King had gone to high school with; both of whom were extremely isolated and marginalized by everyone at school – one by extreme poverty and the other by her parent's extreme religious views," Moore says. "He combined them and came up with the idea of Carrie. They both died in their 20s of different causes. The story is really what the cost of that social isolation is; when you do marginalize people what are the consequences?"
The actress believes that learning more about these kids can help prevent another school massacre like those that happened in Columbine or Newtown. "The book is about the cause of social isolation and the rage that ensues from that. I don't want to minimize what happened in Newtown but that was a boy who was extremely socially isolated. He spent a lot of time alone. I think there are real dangers to people being left out," Julianne said.
One response to "Julianne Moore: We can all learn from 'Carrie'"
Indeed, social isolation leaves a deep psychological imprint in hearts and souls of young people, especially during school years, since teenage is the most sensitive period in life of every person. I am happy such movies as 'Carie' appear on screen. Julianne Moore is a brilliant actress. I cannot wait to see the film.
Joan Rivers still in coma
Miley Cyrus: Elvis Presley twerked
Jason Segel collects puppets
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7 Celebrities Who Worked On the Trucks in The Past
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COVID Risk Driven by Pre-Existing Economic and Social Conditions
Society STEM | Baruch College, The City College of New York, The Graduate Center
By LIDA TUNESI
This time last year, we didn't know how the novel coronavirus worked or spread. We weren't sure what put you at a higher risk—touching common surfaces? Standing close to someone? Being inside versus outside?
Since then, research has shown that the virus most commonly spreads through close contact with infected individuals via respiratory droplets. A new study illustrates how this played out in New York City.
The researchers showed that zip codes with higher percentages of people who live in crowded quarters and have high-risk in-person jobs and long commutes are associated with higher infection rates. The results give hard evidence for how COVID-19 affects people differently based on their economic conditions.
The study, by Professor Prabal De (City College, The Graduate Center) and Taylor Price (Baruch College), is forthcoming in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.
The researchers combined data on COVID-19 positive tests and mortality from NYC's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene with economic data from the five-year American Community Survey. They defined overcrowded households as those with more than one person per room, and long commutes as anything over 30 minutes. Jobs in healthcare support, food preparation and serving, personal care, construction, and other "essential worker" occupations were considered high-risk.
Zip codes where more people fell into these categories were more likely to have higher positive test rates. Crowded housing was also associated with higher mortality rates. Given what we know about the virus, this makes sense: Being in close, in-person contact puts you at higher risk, whether it's at home, at work, or on the subway.
But just because the results aren't surprising doesn't mean they aren't important. They give clear evidence of the connection between community health and economic conditions, showing that even though the virus "doesn't discriminate," certain lives are more at risk. "Policymakers should be aware of the spatial differences in vulnerability to exogenous health shocks among the population," the authors write.
Beyond SUM
Explore This Work
Pre-existing Economic Conditions and COVID-19 Infections and Mortality in New York City
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2021
Work By
Prabal De (Associate Professor, Economics) | Profile 1 | Profile 2
Taylor Price (Adjunct Professor, Economics) | Profile 1
The City College of New York
COVID-19housing conditionsinfectionpandemicvirologyworking poor
New Yorkers Think Worst of COVID-19 Is Over (But Still Want a Vaccine)
Venomous Wasp Discovery Aids the Fight Against Insect-Borne Diseases


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Health & Pharmaceuticals›
State of Health›
Lowest number of condom users among Indian couples - by state 2018
States with the lowest number of condom users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 unsterilized couples)
by Sanika Diwanji, last edited Feb 5, 2019
This statistic displays the lowest number of condom users across Indian states and union territories in the fiscal year of 2016. The union territory of Lakshadweep had approximately 329 users per 10,000 unsterilized couples, while the state of Arunachal Pradesh had the least number of condom users during that time period. The countries with the lowest prevalence of condom use among its male population as of 2013 can be found here.
Number of condom users per 10,000 unsterilized couples
India's financial year starts in April and ends in March.
According to the source, the data is an estimation.
United Kingdom birth rate 2000-2017
Number of live births in the United Kingdom 2000-2017
Teen pregnancy abortion rate in England and Wales 2004 to 2017
State of Health
Crude birth rate in the United Kingdom (UK) 1960-2016
Statistics on "Contraception in the United Kingdom (UK)"
Contraceptive methods
Crude rate of birth in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1960 to 2016 (per 1,000 population)Crude birth rate in the United Kingdom (UK) 1960-2016
Prevalence of contraceptive use in the United Kingdom and Europe from 1970 to 2030Rate of contraceptive use in the United Kingdom and Europe 1970-2030
Birth rate in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2017United Kingdom birth rate 2000-2017
Number of live births in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2017 (in 1,000 births)Number of live births in the United Kingdom 2000-2017
Share of conceptions of under 16 year old girls leading to abortion in England and Wales from 2004 to 2017*Teen pregnancy abortion rate in England and Wales 2004 to 2017
Share of conceptions leading to abortion in England and Wales in 2017, by age groupAbortions in England and Wales in 2017, by age
Net ingredient cost of leading contraceptive pills prescribed in England in 2015 (in GBP)Leading contraceptive pills prescribed: net ingredient cost in England 2015
Number of items of leading contraceptive pills prescribed in England in 2015Leading contraceptive pills prescribed in England 2015, by number of items
Rate of women provided emergency contraceptives by sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by age (per 1,000 population)Women provided emergency contraceptives by services in England 2017/18, by age
Rate of women provided emergency contraceptives by sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/2018, by deprivation decile (per 1,000 population)Women provided emergency contraceptives in England 2017/18, by deprivation decile
Number of emergency contraception items provided by sexual health services and pharmacists in England from 2010/11 to 2017/18 (in 1,000s)Emergency contraceptives provided in England 2010/11 to 2017/18
Share of women using user dependent and long lasting contraceptives in England in 2017/18, by age*Contraceptive use among women in England 2017/18, by type and age
Share of uptake of long acting reversible contraceptives in England in 2017/18, by methodUptake of long acting reversible contraceptives in England 2017/18
Number of emergency contraceptives provided by sexual and reproductive health services in England from 2004/05 to 2017/18, by type* (in 1,000s)Emergency contraceptives provided in England 2004/05-2017/18, by type
Number of individuals in contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England between 2004/05 and 2017/18 (in millions)Contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England 2004/05-2016/17
Number of women contacting sexual and reproductive health services for contraceptive reasons* in England in 2017/18, by age (in 1,000s)Reproductive health services: contact for contraceptive reasons in England in 2017/18
Number of contacts made with sexual and reproductive services for emergency contraception in England in 2017/18, by age (in 1,000)Number of contacts requesting emergency contraception in England 2017/18, by age
Share of reasons for contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by genderReason for contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18
Share of individuals in contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by ageContact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by age
Highest number of condom users among Indian couples - by state 2018
Lowest number of oral pill users among Indian couples - by state 2018
Highest number of oral pill users among Indian couples - by state 2018
Condom used during most recent sexual encounter in Ireland in 2015
Highest number of new IUCD users among Indian couples -by state 2018
Lowest number of new IUCD users among Indian couples -by state 2018
Female sterilization as contraceptive among married or in-union women in Europe 2015
Unmet need for family planning among married and in-union women in Europe in 2015
Effectiveness of different contraceptive methods as of 2014
Contraceptive use by type in Europe in 2016
Frequency of condom usage in the Netherlands 2017, by gender
Share of women using contraceptives in the Netherlands 2017, by type
Share of women in Japan using contraceptive methods 1970-2030
Share of Brazilians who used condoms in the past year 2004-2013
Individuals who used condoms as a form of contraception in Ireland 2015/16, by age
Italy: not using emergency contraception after unprotected sexual intercourse 2012
Share of women in Japan not using any contraceptives 1970-2030
Individuals who used the pill as a form of contraception in Ireland in 2015/16
Italy: attitudes towards emergency contraception 2012
Contraception in the United Kingdom
Contraception in the United Kingdom (UK)
Sexual health in Italy
HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
Sexual health in the United Kingdom
Trends in Contraceptive use Worldwide 2015
ERICA: sexual initiation and contraception in Brazailian adolescents
Revisiting the use of condoms in Brazil
The Brazilian Response to HIV and AIDS
Abortion Worldwide 2017
Sexual health in Europe
Crude rate of birth in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1960 to 2016 (per 1,000 population)
Prevalence of contraceptive use in the United Kingdom and Europe from 1970 to 2030
Birth rate in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2017
Number of live births in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2017 (in 1,000 births)
Share of conceptions of under 16 year old girls leading to abortion in England and Wales from 2004 to 2017*
Share of conceptions leading to abortion in England and Wales in 2017, by age group
Net ingredient cost of leading contraceptive pills prescribed in England in 2015 (in GBP)
Number of items of leading contraceptive pills prescribed in England in 2015
Rate of women provided emergency contraceptives by sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by age (per 1,000 population)
Rate of women provided emergency contraceptives by sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/2018, by deprivation decile (per 1,000 population)
Number of emergency contraception items provided by sexual health services and pharmacists in England from 2010/11 to 2017/18 (in 1,000s)
Share of women using user dependent and long lasting contraceptives in England in 2017/18, by age*
Share of uptake of long acting reversible contraceptives in England in 2017/18, by method
Number of emergency contraceptives provided by sexual and reproductive health services in England from 2004/05 to 2017/18, by type* (in 1,000s)
Number of individuals in contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England between 2004/05 and 2017/18 (in millions)
Number of women contacting sexual and reproductive health services for contraceptive reasons* in England in 2017/18, by age (in 1,000s)
Number of contacts made with sexual and reproductive services for emergency contraception in England in 2017/18, by age (in 1,000)
Share of reasons for contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by gender
Share of individuals in contact with sexual and reproductive health services in England in 2017/18, by age
States with the highest number of condom users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 unsterilized couples)
States with the lowest number of oral pill users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 unsterilized couples)
States with the highest number of oral pill users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 unsterilized couples)
Share of individuals who used a condom during their most recent sexual encounter in Ireland in 2015
States with the highest number of new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 couples)
States with lowest number of new Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) users among Indian couples in FY 2018 (per 10,000 couples)
Prevalence of female sterilization as contraceptive method among married or in-union women in Europe in 2015, by country
Share of unmet need for family planning among married or in-union women in Europe in 2015, by country
Percentage of unintended pregnancies among women using select contraceptive methods as of 2014*
Share of contraceptive use in Europe in 2016, by type
Frequency of condom usage with the last partner in the Netherlands in 2017, by gender
Share of women using contraceptives in the Netherlands in 2017, by type
Share of women in Japan using any contraceptive method from 1970 to 2030
Percentage of Brazilians who used condoms in the last 12 months in 2004, 2008 and 2013
Share of individuals who used condoms as a form of contraception in Ireland in 2015/16, by age
Reasons for not using emergency contraception after unprotected sexual intercourse among Italian women in 2012
Share of women in Japan not using any contraceptive methods from 1970 to 2030
Share of individuals who used the contraceptive pill in Ireland in 2015/16, by age
Attitudes towards emergency contraception among Italian women in 2012


Check out my article, Smart Food Strategies for Pregnancy, live online today at a fabulous website, Skinny and the City. The article briefly reviews some theories on why pregnant women crave certain foods, plus offers tips on how to save yourself from eating an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's. These tips are from me, a registered dietitian in her ninth month of pregnancy who struggles with an ice cream addiction every day!
Skinny and the City is a website run by Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, author of The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss, and a team of registered dietitians. The website gives readers "The Skinny" on the latest diet trends, including scrumptious recipe ideas, beauty and fashion advice, restaurant reviews and guides, and general nutrition information. Check out the website for the latest information related to weight loss and healthy eating by qualified nutrition experts – registered dietitians!


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mattpomroy / September 4, 2006
Like her former Seinfeld co-stars Jason Alexander and Michael Richards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has found life after the hit series tough going. All that's changed though, with her Emmy award-winning show The New Adventures Of Old Christine. As the series arrives in the UAE this week, Time Outlooks at how Julia beat the curse of Seinfeld.
There are few things so pitiful as an unsuccessful actor clinging onto the last dregs of hope of stardom. Conversely, the other side of that perpetual misery is the actor who's made it big – but subsequently finds themselves forever typecast by their success to ever break free and have a hit with anything new.
From luminaries such as , Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler, Mayim 'Blossom' Bialik, to Fred 'Wonder Years' Savage, the world of TV development hell is full of these ghosts, drifting disconsolately through new shows and films, desperately trying to shed their former screen glories. It's a sad sight. One such televisual star who was finding herself being slowly sucked into that unforgiving vortex was Julia Louis- Dreyfus, best known as the charmingly dappy Elaine Benes in the 90s sitcom Seinfeld. As she discovered, when one stars in a sitcom that was fêted as being one the greatest TV shows of all time, breaking free from the character will always present problems. The rest of the supporting cast experienced difficulties re-establishing themselves too.
Ironically, probably the most successful ex-Seinfeld alumni is that show's creator, the misanthropic Larry David, whose black comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm featured a storyline satirising Louis-Dreyfus and former Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander's frustrations at not being able to break out of their previous characters.
But now, it seems, the so-called curse of Seinfeld has been well and truly defeated. At last month's Emmy Awards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus picked up the award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her new vehicle; The New Adventures Of Old Christine with the words, 'I'm not somebody who really believes in curses, but curse this, baby!'
Here in the UAE we can finally find out what all the palaver's about this week as Christine… finally premieres on Super Comedy on September 7. Adventures Of Old Christine is hardly an original concept, instead returning to the well-worked sitcom furrow of dysfunctional families. Louis-Dreyfus plays a divorced working single mother, Christine Campbell, trying to balance the demands of modern life: raising a young son, facing the dating world again, putting up with her slacker brother, yadda, yadda, yadda, all while maintaining relations with her ex-husband (Clark Gregg) who's seeing a younger woman, also called Christine – hence the show's title.
But while the premise is nothing particularly special, it's the razor-sharp writing and engaging performances from the leads that's got viewers and critics coming over all warm and fuzzy. Created and co-written by Kari Lizer (who worked as a scriptwriter on the hugely successful sitcom Will & Grace), Lizer claims that the Christine character is loosely based on her own life and was written with the intention of giving Louis-Dreyfus a chance to show a more lovable, caring side to her character that the more flippant Elaine ever did on Seinfeld. While Seinfeld had a strict 'no hugging, no learning' rule, fans will be slightly thrown to see her here raising – and caring – for a young child. And as any old Seinfeld fan knows, the chances of Elaine Benes ever doing any such thing (unless there was a devious ulterior motive) were slimmer than Kramer becoming mayor of New York.
That said, Louis-Dreyfus still kept close ties with her alma mater and admitted to consulting with Seinfeld creator Larry David before taking the part of Christine. 'Larry read the script of the pilot when I was debating whether or not to do it,' said Louis-Dreyfus. 'He thought it was fantastic and suggested I go forward. Andy Ackerman, who directed Seinfeld for five or six years, is directing all of our shows. So it feels just right.'
Unlike her previous, failed post- Seinfeld project, Watching Ellie, Christine fulfils its writer's aim of uncovering Louis-Dreyfus's warm and likeable side. Not too earnest, but just funny, vulnerable and really rather adorable, Christine battles against the slings and arrows of some outrageous misfortunes in her daily life.
The writing rattles along briskly, throwing down the wisecracks and gags with abandon, giving Louis-Dreyfus ample opportunity to exercise that wickedly accurate comic timing (and those amazing facial ticks and expressions) that made Elaine Benes so watchable. For instance, in one episode, preparing to re-enter the world of dating Christine visits a spa but ends up refusing to get a Brazilian because she 'did that once and it was like a hair arrow pointing to my C-section scar'.
Although her character is blighted with bad luck it seems that Louis- Dreyfus has hit pay dirt and it couldn't happen to a more deserving actress. 'You're unbelievably lucky if you have a hit, but to have two big hits is that much more lucky,' she said following the failure of her first post-Seinfeld outing. 'There are hundreds of misses for every hit, and that's what we're talking about. But it shouldn't keep you from trying.'
Of course she'll never escape her success in previous work and people will always see Elaine Benes when they look at her – 'I'm going to be asked Seinfeld questions for the rest of my life,' she admitted. But with the curse broken, an Emmy on the mantelpiece and second series on the way, it's the start of a new adventure for old Elaine – and at last she can become Queen Of The Castle, the mistress of her own domain.
For Time Out magazine – click here for original PDF – The New Adventures of Old Christine
September 4, 2006 in Television. Tags: time in, time out, TV, tv review
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Wei Pang
Associate Professor, School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences
Associate Professor, School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Computer Science
EmailW.Panghw.acuk
EH14 4AS
I am interested in supervising projects related to bio-inspired approaches to machine learning and data mining.
Willing to speak to media
Machine Learning, Data Mining, Bio-inspired Computing, Qualitative Reasoning
Please see my personal webpage and lab page for more information: https://pangweijlu.github.io/
BCML Lab @Heriot-Watt: https://bioml.eu.org/
I am also a member of Edinburgh Centre for Robotics: https://www.edinburgh-robotics.org/academics/wei-pang
Press Profile
Featured on the Cover Page of Royal Society of Edinburgh ResourceE: https://www.rse.org.uk/publication/resource-autumn-2015/
The EPSRC project "Manufacturing Immortality" was mentioned by BBC Radio 4 Today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09kq1gr
Mentioned by the CRUK Oxford Centre for the Endo.AI project: http://www.cancercentre.ox.ac.uk/using-ai-to-detect-oesophageal-cancer-earlier/
Mentioned by Oxford Centre for Early Cancer Detection for the Hame-AI project: https://www.oxcode.ox.ac.uk/news/early-detection-artificial-intelligence-and-digital-pathology-sandpit
Scottish Crucible Reflections: https://scottishcrucible.org.uk/dr-wei-pang-scottish-crucible-2015/
Speak for the MSc AI program and Data Lab scholarships when I was Director of MSc AI and Data Lab Coordinator at Aberdeen: 2019: https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/05/02/msc-artificial-intelligence-ai-scholarships-at-aberdeen-university/ 2018: https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/175874/aberdeen-university-secures-75600-worth-of-ai-scholarships/
Data Lab Award at Aberdeen: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/news/12039/ https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/news/12967/
DeepSwarm: 1)Best Paper Award: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/news/13396/ 2)Towards Data Science Tutorial: https://towardsdatascience.com/ants-can-tell-you-how-to-wire-your-neurons-7cb9462b83bb
Key Research Words/Phrases
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, Modelling and Simulation, Computational Intelligence
Dive into the research topics where Wei Pang is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Algorithms Computer Science 100%
Clustering Algorithm Computer Science 38%
Qualitative Model Computer Science 38%
Experimental Result Computer Science 34%
Accuracy Computer Science 30%
Real World Computer Science 28%
Particle Swarm Optimization Computer Science 23%
A survey on physarum polycephalum intelligent foraging behaviour and bio-inspired applications
Awad, A., Pang, W., Lusseau, D. & Coghill, G. M., Jan 2023, In: Artificial Intelligence Review. 56, 1, p. 1-26 26 p.
Physarum 100%
Physarum polycephalum 42%
Competition 42%
Feature Correspondences Increase and Hybrid Terms Optimization Warp for Image Stitching
Cong, Y., Wang, Y., Hou, W. & Pang, W., 4 Jan 2023, In: Entropy. 25, 1, 106.
Overlapping Region 100%
Image Stitching 75%
Experimental Result 25%
Simulation Mode 25%
Multi-stage Bias Mitigation for Individual Fairness in Algorithmic Decisions
Ghadage, A., Yi, D., Coghill, G. M. & Pang, W., 2023, Artificial Neural Networks in Pattern Recognition: ANNPR 2022. El Gayar, N., Trentin, E., Ravanelli, M. & Abbas, H. (eds.). Springer, p. 40-52 13 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; vol. 13739).
Real World 100%
Simulation Mode 100%
Research Worker 50%
Classification (Machine Learning) 50%
All particles driving particle swarm optimization: Superior particles pulling plus inferior particles pushing
Liu, Q., Li, J., Ren, H. & Pang, W., 5 Aug 2022, In: Knowledge-Based Systems. 249, 108849.
Particle Swarm Optimization 100%
Simulation Experiment 12%
Objective Function 12%
Statistical Analysis 12%
Interaction Operator 12%
An Adaptive Mutual K-nearest Neighbors Clustering Algorithm based on Maximizing Mutual Information
Wang, Y., Pang, W. & Jiao, Z., May 2023, In: Pattern Recognition. 137, 109273.
Algorithms 100%
Clustering Result 42%
Clustering Algorithm 28%
Mutual Information 28%
2015 Scottish Crucible project awarded by President of Royal Society of Edinburgh
Pang, Wei (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Crucible 100%
Project 100%
ADMA 2016 Best Paper Runner Up
Data Mining 100%
Data Application 100%
UKCI 2019 Best Paper Award
Intelligence 50%
Computational 50%


We will start by working with global adjustments to control Luminosity and color. Then we will apply local adjustments to control how specific areas of the photo look.
Don't forget to check out my FREE Lightroom CC Course for Beginners, and my FREE Lightroom CC courses on Adobe's Website.


A 63-year-old Honduran woman, her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, whose identities are being protected because they fear persecution by gang members, speak from Guatemala about why they are seeking asylum in the U.S. or Canada, Jan. 31, 2014.
There's been a more than 500 percent increase in asylum-seekers at the U.S. border in the past five years.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala — María, a petite, 63-year-old Honduran woman, pulled a newspaper clipping out of a folder thick with documents.
"They killed my son on Feb. 27, 2011," she said, pointing to the photo of a young man in a wheelchair.
Gunshots during a robbery landed her son in a wheelchair several years before he was killed. Local gang members finished the job after accusing him of passing information to a rival gang.
María told the story as she sat with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter at a shelter for migrants in Guatemala City.
The family didn't want their names published for fear of retribution by their alleged persecutors.
Threats against the family continued after her son's death, María said, so she fled Honduras in early January along with 12 family members.
Guatemala has given them temporary protected status. But the thick folder on María's lap contains many other documents that she hopes will help her family get asylum in the U.S. or Canada.
In fiscal year 2013 the number of foreigners claiming a fear of returning to their home country when apprehended at the U.S. border more than doubled, totaling 36,026. Nearly two-thirds of these cases, called "credible fear" claims, were made by people from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
The number of credible fear claims at U.S. borders more than doubled between fiscal years 2012 and 2013.
At the same time, the annual percentage of apprehensions in which immigrants claimed a credible fear of return rose to 15 percent in fiscal year 2013, compared to a range of 4 to 6 percent between fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2009, according to recent congressional testimony from the Department of Homeland Security.
Experts say they're not especially surprised.
"The situation in Central America has become so extreme," said Thomas Boerman, a consultant who serves as an expert witness in many asylum cases involving Central Americans fleeing gangs and organized crime.
Boerman said he had interviewed police officers in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who told him they often counseled crime victims to leave the country because they couldn't guarantee their safety.
The sharp rise in asylum-seekers along the border has caught the attention of some lawmakers. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, suspects fraud.
A poster at a migrant shelter in Guatemala City advises people who fear returning to their home country of their right to seek refuge in Guatemala, Jan. 30, 2014. Because criminal networks stretch throughout Central America, most asylum-seekers from the region head further north, to the U.S. or Canada.
He's held two hearings on the issue in recent months.
"Because of our well-justified reputation for compassion, many people are tempted to file fraudulent claims just so they get a free pass into the United States," he said at a hearing in December.
Asylum lawyers and people who work with immigrants in Central America doubted that people were trying to game the system en masse. But most admit that some amount of fraud is inevitable.
"Sure, not 100 percent of people who come to the border and say they have fear will have a legitimate fear," said Karen Musalo, director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies at UC Hastings law school. "But probably a good number of them do."
Boerman said the rising number of credible fear claims does put immigration authorities in a tricky spot.
"The U.S. government has a fear, and it's not an illegitimate fear, that if it starts granting relief based on persecution by gangs and other criminal groups that these floodgates will open," he said.
A Guatemalan woman recently deported from the U.S. makes a phone call at a migrant shelter in Guatemala City, Jan. 30, 2014. Despite an increase in Central Americans fleeing to the U.S. because of gang or drug-related violence, most still come for economic reasons.
Despite the dramatic rise in credible fear claims at the border, most Central Americans still come for the classic reasons — work and family ties.
On a weekday afternoon at the migrant shelter in Guatemala, two young men from Honduras played dominoes across a plastic table in the patio.
Urbina said he was deported last year after living in Los Angeles since 1998.
Currently, individuals claiming a credible fear of return to their home country must convince an asylum officer that they have a "significant possibility" of establishing an asylum claim before an immigration judge. It's one way to begin the process of filing for asylum.
Few Central Americans who apply are ultimately granted asylum: between 6 and 8 percent of asylum applications from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador were granted in fiscal year 2013, compared to near 50 percent for Chinese asylum applications,according to the Department of Justice.
Boerman, the expert witness, said it would be tragic for the U.S. to raise the bar for asylum applicants at the border.
"If there's not a credible and reasonable fear determination that allows the person to move their case through the system, it results in an automatic deportation. And in so many instances I'm familiar with, that really is tantamount to torture and murder," Boerman said.
Back in Guatemala, María and her family are evaluating their next move, and getting together more documentation to make an asylum claim in the U.S. or Canada.


How do Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) complement each other? How do they differ? These questions are commonly heard at UDL Institutes.
Assess student progress during learning to enable appropriate instructional adjustments.
Provides learners with the tools to become more self-aware and in charge of their learning rather than having to rely exclusively on teachers to make modifications.
We know that individual learners have diverse needs, styles, and preferences. Why not design a curriculum from the outset that celebrates that diversity and optimizes learning for all?
Hall, T., Strangman, N., & Meyer, A. (2003). Differentiated instruction and implications for UDL implementation. Wakefield, MA: National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum. Retrieved August 22, 2007 from the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials.
Rose, D., & Meyer, A., (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal Design for Learning. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Author: CAST, Inc. Copyright 2007. Used with permission.
Carol defines Universal Design for Learning and describes what it looks like in the classroom. Includes many resources for further study and implementation. To see examples of these principles in practice, go to the Lessons below. Then evaluate and adapt your own lessons to create success for ALL learners!


Happy Thanksgiving 2019 to all of you. Thanksgiving Quotes 2019 is celebrated every year on 23th of November 2019 i.e Thanksgiving day 2019 and Happy Valentines day 2019 it is the day which is dedicated to commemorating the entire community of people across the nation of US. Happy Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to pay tribute and heartily respect to the teachers of the nation who have to contribute towards the betterment of the society by imparting education. Happy Thanksgiving quotes are reckoned as the backbone of the society who put all their efforts to shape the career of the students also help them become a successful citizen of the United States country and in the US celebrate with Images.
May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday season and healthful, Happy New Year.
A special greeting of Thanksgiving time to express to you our sincere appreciation for your condence and loyalty. We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day.
add We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes. May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving quotes!
I'm really glad that we're family. Thanking God for having you in my life on this special day.
May your home be lledwith laughter and happiness!
November is the time to be thankful, a time to remember and to embrace those who enrich our lives.
I'm thankful for a lot of things, but I'm most thankful for You!
May your stufng be tasty. May your turkey plump, may your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious, and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs.
November is the time to be thankful, a time to remember funny quotes and to embrace those who enrich our lives. I'm thankful for a lot of things, but I'm most thankful for you.
Because today is a special day, I want to let you know funny quotes that I appreciate you every single day. Happy Thanksgiving wishes!
Hope that you're surrounded with the love of your dear ones on this festive funny quotes season. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
A heartfelt thanks to you on this day, for being my guide, my teacher, and my father. Happy Thanksgiving Dad!
I am truly grateful to you for being such an amazing woman. I am so lucky that you are my mother. Happy Thanksgiving Mom.


text:
Read Attorney Lisa Bloom's Letter About Fox News' Toxic Culture And Why It Should Tank Murdoch's Sky News Deal
Bloom, Who Represents O'Reilly Accuser Wendy Walsh: Fox Has Shown An "Utter Disregard For The Rights Of Women"
Blog ››› April 13, 2017 1:13 PM EDT ››› PAM VOGEL
Fox News' "ongoing culture of sexual harassment, its recent payouts of tens of millions of dollars of hush money, and most egregiously, its role in ending the careers of women who complained has been well documented in American media," and it reveals an "utter disregard for the rights of women," according to attorney Lisa Bloom.
Bloom -- whose firm is well-known for representing clients who report sexual assault and sexual harassment by men in positions of power, including President Donald Trump -- now represents Wendy Walsh, a radio personality who says Fox News host Bill O'Reilly sexually harassed her in 2013.
Walsh shared her experience in the wake of an April 1 New York Times report revealing that O'Reilly and Fox News' parent company, 21st Century Fox, have paid a total of about $13 million to avoid lawsuits pertaining to reports of sexual harassment and other misconduct by O'Reilly. Walsh's account is the latest in a long timeline of reports of sexual harassment at Fox News that reveals a pattern of corporate retaliation, victim-blaming, and million- and million-plus-dollar payouts for silence extending far beyond O'Reilly or former Fox chairman Roger Ailes, who resigned last year after numerous women said that he had sexually harassed them. Activists, including Media Matters president Angelo Carusone, have spurred more than 80 U.S. advertisers to respond to the Times report about O'Reilly by pulling their ads from airing during the O'Reilly Factor time slot.
Bloom is now joining global activism group Avaaz in laying out the case for why this toxic workplace culture of sexual harassment, discrimination, and silence -- which has festered under the watch of 21st Century Fox owner Rupert Murdoch and his sons -- should disqualify the company from its bid to acquire British satellite broadcasting company Sky.
21st Century Fox struck a $22.9 billion deal to acquire Sky in December, but they have faced hurdles in getting clearance from British antitrust and media regulators. The U.K. media regulator Ofcom is now charged with reviewing 21st Century Fox and Murdoch's stakes in British media, and it could "kill the deal if it decides that Murdoch and 21st Century Fox do not meet the standard of 'fit and proper' owners." The standard, as CNN reports, is "broad" and includes consideration of "any relevant misconduct" on the part of Murdoch or the company -- such as, perhaps, his reported resistance to firing O'Reilly and 21st Century Fox's long-term complicity in violating workplace protections for women and people of color.
Bloom sent a letter to Ofcom on April 11 detailing the company's long history of sexual harassment and discrimination under Murdoch's leadership, which the attorney noted had also spurred her to ask the New York State Division of Human Rights to "open an investigation into the toxic culture for women at Fox News." New York City public advocate Letitia James has also called on the city's Commission on Human Rights to investigate Fox for employment discrimination.
In her letter to Ofcom, Bloom wrote that 21st Century Fox's silence and "utter disregard for the rights of women" reveal a "lack of oversight, intervention, and decency" at the company.
Read the full letter to Ofcom below, and Bloom's dossier on Fox culture sent to the Division of Human Rights here.
Lisa Bloom letter to Ofcom by Media Matters for America on Scribd
Image at top by Dayanita Ramesh.
Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault, Media Structures & Regulations
Rupert Murdoch, Bill O'Reilly, Lisa Bloom
Sexual Harassment at Fox News
Pam Vogel ›››
Twitter›
Pam Vogel is the deputy editorial director at Media Matters, where she has worked since August 2015. She has a master's degree in sociology and education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in urban studies from Vassar College. Her research interests include local news and the nontraditional media landscape, media treatment of gender-based violence, and inclusive and intersectional reporting.


The final round of public engagement is planned for November 2017, which includes another series of land owner and stakeholder meetings, as well as final public information session which will include a viewing of a video simulation of the proposed route. The purpose of this round of engagement is to present the final recommended design and seek comments from the public and stakeholders.
Location: Red River Community Centre, 293 Murray Ave.
Meet with affected landowners and identify property requirements.
From 2014 to 2016, four public engagement events were held to collect feedback for the Chief Peguis Trail Extension West Functional Design Study. A public information session held on June 29, 2016 at Red River Community Centre had 244 people in attendance. An online survey closed on July 12, 2016 with 84 responses. Comments received through this public engagement process indicated a repeated desire for an uninterrupted flow of traffic and fewer traffic lights; this feedback was considered in the latest phase of the design. Read more about what was said during previous public engagement activities under the related links tab.
Following the 2016 engagement events, a series of landowner and stakeholder meetings were facilitated from February 2017 to June 2017, including a public information session which was held on June 6, 2017 at the Red River Community Centre, where 244 individuals signed-in and 113 comment forms were collected. An online survey received 112 responses. A summary of these engagement events and the feedback received from the public, stakeholder and landowners is available online here.


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Summary: A special opportunity to acquire a characterful and charming, four storey Victorian end terrace with mature, private gardens situated in one of Ulverston's most desirable residential areas with delightful elevated views over Morecambe Bay and the surrounding region.
LOUNGE: 13'11" x 12'9'' (4.23m x 3.88m) a bright reception room having a single glazed wooden framed bay window to the front aspect overlooking the gardens, detailed coved ceiling, electric fire with marble hearth, radiator and single glazed wooden framed side window overlooking the garden room.
GARDEN ROOM: 22'6'' x 9'8'' (6.87m x 2.95m) with single glazed wooden windows to three aspects and a wooden door to the front garden. Wall mounted light fitment and water tap.
REAR HALLWAY: 7'7'' x 6'5'' (2.3m x 1.9m) with a wooden fronted door to the Butlers cupboard and door to the steps down to the CELLAR. Door to WALK IN SHOWER: 3'5'' x 2'9'' (1.0m x 0.8m) having fully tiled beige walls with a mosaic tiled stripe, wall mounted shower fitment, hand rail, storage unit and extractor fan.
DOWNSTAIRS WC: 5'8" x 3' (1.7m x 0.9m) with a low level WC, sink with underneath storage unit, heated towel rail, fully tiled walls, tiled floor and single glazed frosted window to the side elevation.
KITCHEN: 13'11'' x 12'11'' (4.24m x 3.94m) with basic wall and base units, stainless steel sink and drainage unit with complementary splash back tiling. Hotpoint oven and ceramic hob, radiator, built in wooden storage unit with shelving, single glazed wooden sash window to the side, single glazed window to the rear and wooden door to UTILITY ROOM: 8'4'' x 6'5'' (2.5m x 1.9m) with wall mounted Ideal boiler, storage cupboard housing electric meters, storage shelves, single glazed window to the rear, space for washing machine, wooden door to the enclosed rear yard.
CELLAR: Accessed from the rear hallway; original tiled floor at the top of the stairs to: CELLAR ROOM ONE: 12'2'' x 12'9'' (4.01m x 3.88m) with a single glazed window to the front aspect and wooden storage shelves. CELLAR ROOM TWO: 8'9'' x 4'4'' (2.7m x 1.3m) with storage shelves.
SITTING ROOM/BEDROOM ONE: 18'3'' x 14'4'' (5.55m x 4.38m) a versatile, bright room that could be utilised as either a first floor Sitting Room or a Master Bedroom, having impressive views over Morecambe Bay and the surrounding Ulverston area. Having a single glazed bay window, coved ceiling, radiator, open fireplace with marble surround and hearth, single glazed wooden sash window to the front and side aspects.
BEDROOM TWO: 15'3'' x 10'11'' (4.64m x 3.32m) with a coved ceiling, radiator, uPVC double glazed window to the rear aspect, single glazed window to the side aspect and a wooden door.
WC: 5'1'' x 3'5'' (1.5m x 1.0m) with a low level WC, single glazed part frosted window to the side aspect and wooden door.
BEDROOM THREE: 12'8'' x 10' (3.87m x 3.06m) with a single glazed wooden sash window to the side elevation, pedestal sink and mirror, radiator and wooden door.
SHOWER ROOM: 7'9'' x 6'2'' (2.4m x 1.8m) with a pedestal sink and walk in corner shower unit with tiled walls and wall mounted MIRA shower. Mirrored vanity unit, radiator, part frosted, single glazed wooden sash window, laminate flooring, accessed via steps from the rear landing.
LANDING with a uPVC double glazed window overlooking the rear elevation, storage cupboard and wooden door to the ATTIC ROOM.
18'4'' x 14'2'' (5.58m x 4.31m) with two single glazed wooden sash windows to the front aspect with delightful views over Morecambe Bay, single glazed wooden sash window to the side aspect. Marble fireplace, pedestal sink with mirror, wooden storage shelving and wooden door.
BEDROOM FIVE: 14'8'' x 11'1'' (4.46m x 3.38m) with an uPVC double glazed window to the rear aspect, single glazed wooden window to the side aspect and wooden door.
EXTERNALLY: The dwelling is approached over a gated, sweeping pathway that is bordered with established flower beds, interspersed with a selection of shrubs and trees. The front gardens comprise of a variety of different sections and flower beds, and enjoy a large degree of privacy due to the walled perimeter and corner plot. There is a paved frontage that continues to the side aspect, which leads to the steps to the gated rear area that can also be accessed from Back Ford Park. There is a DETACHED SINGLE GARAGE to the immediate front and the potential to create off road parking or a further garage (subject to the necessary planning permissions).
The size and versatility of the garden grounds would certainly be of appeal to keen gardeners, families looking to create a play area for their children, those looking to cultivate their own vegetable garden, or those simply looking for a pleasant garden to relax and enjoy the sunshine!


When Al asked to marry me, without thought I said, "You need to ask my teacher, Yogi Bhajan." A few months later we had the opportunity to speak with him at a course he was giving in Washington DC. The answer he gave to Al was neither a yes or a no, but rather, "If you can fulfill these requirements, I will give you my blessing to marry her." The first requirement was that he be healthy. This seemed odd to say to an active healthy young man.
A few months later I went on a yatra to India for several weeks. While there I climbed to Hemkunt Sahib, bowed at the Golden Temple, travelled to Anandpur Sahib, and participated in an amazing parade to celebrate the founding of the Golden Temple. There were people riding elephants, horses, camels; there were cars and buses and thousands of participants. There were people chanting, there were people shouting, there was every kind of instrument accompanying the festival. Our group of American Sikhs sat upon the top of a bus, smiling at the crowds of people along the road and on rooftops cheering. Although the route was only a few miles long, we moved slowly—very slowly for over ten hours through the streets of Amritsar. I came back renewed, restored, reborn, and very thin.
Something had changed in Al. He did not seem as healthy. He had lost weight, lost energy, and the glands in his neck were swollen. He was not sleeping well. Both he and his brother had contracted a lung disease when they were in college in South Carolina, and if, back then, we had had access to the internet we would have understood that this disease can have devastating consequences. Twenty years later his brother died from complications from the disease while awaiting a lung transplant. What we did not know is that sometimes this disease evolves and causes Hodgkins Disease.
Without this information for the next 6 months, we sought advice from many sources. Yogi Bhajan put him on a mono diet; our homeopath had him on daily injections of a homeopathic medicine (that we later discovered was used in the treatment of cancer.) As his condition worsened—fevers and night sweats, large swollen glands in his neck, and lethargy, he was hospitalized. He had meningitis and slipped into a coma. I stayed with him chanting to Guru Ram Das. Yogi Bhajan had told me to chant the shabd Dhan Dhan Ram Das Guru eleven times a day. He came out of his coma and appeared to be recovering.
A month after leaving the hospital the symptoms returned and I brought him to the Hershey Medical Center where I was a medical social worker. Here the doctors tested and diagnosed him with Hodgkins Disease Stage IVB and told me that he would not live the three months until his next birthday.
It was early June and I decided to take him to Summer Solstice. We had been planning to get married there. And so I made arrangements to drive with him across country from Pennsylvania to New Mexico. He had tumors throughout his body—an especially big one near his sternum, and was on pain killers to alleviate his discomfort. I put a mattress in the back of the van where he stayed the entire trip and found someone to share the driving. I made arrangements for him to stay in the Medical cabin while we were there. Despite his condition, I also brought our birth certificates and clothes for our wedding.
At Solstice he got up for Sadhana every morning and then returned for the rest of the day to rest in the medical cabin. After morning sadhana we did the Healing Meditation with the Siri Gaitri Mantra for 11 minutes (Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung). On the fifth morning I walked towards Al. I was stunned, with the sun rising behind him, he looked healthy. I took his picture. I asked him what had changed and he told me that during the meditation, he felt all of the tumors leave him. From that moment on he stopped taking his pain medicine and participated in all of the activities at Solstice.
Knowing that he was now healthy, Yogi Bhajan gave us his blessing and we were married at the end of the Solstice. Our honeymoon was driving back across the country, tenting, swimming, hiking our way home. Back at the Hershey Medical Center he was re-tested and no longer had Hodgkins Disease.
Two years later I gave birth to our daughter and then three years later to our son. The marriage did not last, but Al is well and has had no reoccurrence of his cancer. From this experience I have found a personal relationship to this meditation and to the healing power of Guru Ram Das.
After meeting Yogi Bhajan in 1971, Siri Neel Kaur followed his advice to open a yoga center in south central Pennsylvania. Since that time she has taught thousands of people of all ages the science of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan®. Now she lives in Espanola, New Mexico and travels around the United States as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainer and a Level Two Instructor. She enjoys spending time with her 2 children and grandchildren.


View the BABS online magazine.
We have been invited to do two spots at The Atkinson Centre, during the Southport Festival.
Cancelled We have been invited to sing at a private birthday party. Please let Gerry know ASAP if you are able to attend.


Standing by their work stations at The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, as the start time approached, a surprising air of calmness descended on the sixteen budding young chefs aged between 12 and 16 who were about to produce a healthy three course meal for two people costing £20 or under. With supporters from sponsoring Rotary Clubs, teachers and parents, the results were eagerly awaited. After what seemed an eternity, the judges declared the results.
First was Hannah Bentley aged 15 of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, with her menu of Broccoli and Stilton Soup, followed by Pan Fried Sea Bass, curried cauliflower purée and mango relish with a dessert of Raspberry Mousse, meringue kisses and Raspberry Coulis. Hannah was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Penrith.
The judges had particular praise for her dessert which they classed as outstanding.
The Runners-up were; Kimberley Crossland, aged 14 of Keswick School and Jemima Neal aged 12 of Queen Katherine School, Kendal. All three now go forward to to the North West Regional final to be held on Saturday 16 March at Kendal College.
Rotary District Youth Chairman Shaun Ashworth, presented Hannah with her trophy, cash prize of £50 and vouchers for afternoon tea donated by The Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge.
Ken Day of the Rotary Club of Ulverston, who was joint organiser of the event, congratulated those taking part and thanked Robin Sharp, Head of Food Technology at The Lakes School, for the use of the School's facilities and judging chef Graham Gelder of McClures Catering who provided aprons for the competitors.


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Wednesday, September 4, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Public Safety Commission questions path forward for EMS providers being assaulted
After reports from EMS personnel raised questions about the frequency of field officer assault by patients, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services conducted an internal survey. The results showed that the majority of Austin EMS personnel say they've been assaulted on the job in the last two years.
"We certainly are being assaulted," Selena Xie, the president of the Austin EMS Association, said at Monday night's Public Safety Commission meeting.
Not only are the numbers of assaulted medics high, they are increasing. The results of the survey showed that both medics and communications professionals have been subjected to assault. Ninety-three percent of paramedics report being assaulted at some point in their career and 63 percent reported being assaulted more than once in the last two years.
Xie told the Austin Monitor that instances of assault are underreported in the EMS. With no internal reporting system for medics who have been assaulted, she said the survey that was released this month is the only current reported data from the department. Only 47 percent of field personnel and 52 percent of communications personnel within the EMS department responded to the survey.
As for its accuracy, "I think the numbers are probably even higher," Xie said. "I think that in any medic's lifetime they will be assaulted."
Kevin Harner, a paramedic with Austin EMS who was assaulted this past June, explained that with no tracking system, there is little recourse for medics and minimal ability to comprehend the prevalence of the problem. He said that the only option for reporting an assault is to file an on-the-job injury report, but those forms are only necessary when further medical assistance is required or an employee is looking to file a workers' compensation claim.
Xie told commissioners that in order to offer an option to medics who wish to report an assault, the EMS Association developed a form that both communications and field personnel can fill out and send to superiors within the department. "We've already had 10 people turn in the form," she said.
However, she explained to the Monitor that it is the EMS department's responsibility to track such incidents and that EMS should expedite developing a system to report and track cases of assault.
Another concern is the way in which police respond to these incidents in the field. When a medic requests assistance from the police for an assault, the request comes through dispatch as a Code 3. Code 3 is the highest-priority call and is used for a multitude of incidents including animal attack, medical emergencies and crowd control.
If there were to be a specific code for medics in distress, Xie said, "we would see a different kind of response."
She related several anecdotes of medics being questioned by dispatchers on how to direct calls while being attacked, and one case where a bystander had to yell into a medic's radio that the medic needed help.
Accordingly, she asked the commission that the Austin Police Department consider implementing a call type to indicate that a medic is down and in need of immediate assistance.
"If we need to make changes, we'll do that immediately," Assistant Police Chief Troy Gay said. "It shouldn't take that long." The police department agreed that it would look into designating a new call type.
Commissioners expressed their support of designating a specific call type for medics in need of immediate police assistance due to an assault.
Xie told the Monitor that she will follow up in a month to determine whether the departments have implemented any new call coding or reporting documentation.
Commissioners Rebecca Bernhardt and Daniela Nuñez were absent from the conversation.
Photo courtesy of the city of Austin.
Austin/Travis County EMS: The Emergency Medical Service for Austin and Travis County. Co-managed by the City of Austin and Travis county.
Public Safety Commission: The Public Safety Commission is a City Council advisory body charged with oversight of budgetary and policy matters concerning public safety These include matters related to the Austin Police Department, the Austin Fire Department, and the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department."
Reporter's Notebook: Reverse correlations
Reports of sexual assault down in 2019 for Austin and the country… Juliana Gonzales, the senior director of sexual assault services at the SAFE Alliance, came to give her monthly update to the Public Safety Commission on Jan. 6. She…
Public Safety Commission pushes for an independent investigation into 'endemic' racism and homophobia in APD
Last month, City Manager Spencer Cronk announced that attorney Lisa Tatum would investigate allegations of racism among the executive staff of the Austin Police Department. The investigation follows complaints that APD Assistant Chief Justin Newsom used the N-word to refer…


Disclaimer: I am a FreeBSD fan. It's my desire to run my favorite desktop environment on top of FreeBSD. FreeBSD appears to be a bit more secure than Linux and I like FreeBSD's simplicity when it comes to configuration and the blissful lack of the Linux disease named 'systemd'.
Unfortunately I've found through numerous attempts that FreeBSD ports/packages are very buggy. Currently, using FreeBSD as a desktop system for running my business is pretty difficult when programs such as Firefox, Thunderbird, and PCManFM disappear, crash and dump core frequently. These kinds of issues just do not happen when I use these programs on Linux. FreeBSD has proven itself to me as a great server OS in recent times, but right now I'm focused on desktop needs.
Because people on Twitter and elsewhere have complained that I should have built my FreeBSD ports from scratch with WITH_DEBUG enabled, I recently decided I would indulge them and also take notes during the process. Following are those notes and comments about what happened.
4:57 pm - qupzilla-qt5 builds without error, but crashes when setting preferences: "ASSERTION FAILED: m_cacheDirectory.isNull()"
Please keep in mind that I accepted the default build options for all of the packages except that I did choose 'DEBUG', when available. I did not choose any weird / exotic / unreliable build options at all.
So, what do you do when 'enough is enough'? To be honest, I'm 'cowardly refusing to proceed further', as the error message said. Why would I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to debug all of this when I can install Debian or PCLinuxOS and everything 'just work'? If I wanted to stay in FreeBSD, I could use pkg to install packages instead of building them, but then all of the Twitter-using FreeBSD-defenders would wag their collective fingers at me and tell me to 'build with debug flags' when my frequently-used apps crash on me. Argh!
I'm a decent programmer, but I really don't have the time or brain-power to help the FreeBSD package maintainers fix buggy packages. I run a busy remote IT business while also raising my young son (who has special needs) during daylight hours, then I'm usually spent by the time my beautiful wife gets home from her job. I might sound lazy or lacking commitment to open-source software, but hey, I'm in my late forties, am on the autism spectrum and tire easily -- gimme a break, okay???
That FreeBSD makes these packages/ports available should mean that they are of decent quality and not exploding time-bombs. Not all of the packages/ports are bad, but the ones that are popular, such as firefox, thunderbird, pcmanfm sure have issues. It's like buying a new Maserati (FreeBSD core) then watching as the mirrors, gas tank and bumpers (ports/packages) come loose and fall off the car while driving it down the street. Frustrating and maddening!
I'm not sure the issues you've had with FreeBSD as a desktop environment; while it's not as smooth as using the more mainstream GNU/Linux with some popular bloated DE, it is much faster and easy to configure, as you mentioned.
Specifically, I haven't had any issues with PCManFM (haven't dumped cores once ever on BSD) and while some other applications have had mild issues, it's never been anything too bad and not frequent enough to be of real concern. I should note I've been using PCManFM for probably years on a variety of systems, and it has been remarkably stable through all of them.
Using FreeBSD as both a server and desktop solution is a choice, for a better system that you can feel like you have actual complete control over. Linux as a system has become so complex you practically need a PhD to even begin to use a new distribution because everything has some proprietary gimmick to it that makes it "better" than all the other ones (see: systemd), but with FreeBSD and other original Unix derivatives, there is a sense of equality, of normalcy and balance. Everything makes sense [except for the ever-present X]. Even if it sometimes crashes into a pole, it's a balanced crash!
I'll admit, I come from a Windows-turned-Linux background, and I've only been using FreeBSD for about 5 weeks now--but I'm sold and I can't go back. It just feels right. While I can appreciate not being able to use it in a work environment, once everything is set up properly it's like logging in to an old friend that you share all your dirty secrets with. Only a few weeks in and I feel confident enough to tackle any problem that comes my way, even if it requires rebuilding the kernel and pouring over debug output.
I've made daemons in a few lines of sh, I've ran both Linux code natively though the ABI and Windows applications through Wine with resounding success (even some modern games), for things that need more care than Wine I've managed to launch in Bhyve. Overall each experience--while a challenge--has taught me more about the system, and unlike in other GNU/Linux setups where there's so much going on at once and everything has different syntax, FreeBSD has given me an even playing field and a host of guaranteed cross-compatible tools as it's base for me to build off of. Ports are fantastic as well, probably only rivaled by Gentoo Portage--which, if I recall, was inspired by BSD!
FYI, the applications that make up my "desktop environment" are i3, chromium, pcmanfm, urxvt, feh, ffplay, and zsh.
P.S.: While I do mainly use pkg to install, when I do want/need to build something from ports, I usually just install the build dependencies (make build-depends-list in a port, generated based on config flags) from pkg before actually building, unless I'm building with debug flags and I think it would be a good idea. Why waste the time compiling gmake? This could be something you could try to save time when trying to compile a lot of ports. I'm sure many BSDivas would continue to waggle their fingers at it, but it did save me a lot of time, especially when recompiling huge ports like chromium.