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Gelatin or gelatine (from  'stiff' or 'frozen') is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also be referred to as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen hydrolysate, gelatine hydrolysate, hydrolyzed gelatine, and collagen peptides after it has undergone hydrolysis. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, beverages, medications, drug or vitamin capsules, photographic films, papers, and cosmetics.

Substances containing gelatin or functioning in a similar way are called gelatinous substances. Gelatin is an irreversibly hydrolyzed form of collagen, wherein the hydrolysis reduces protein fibrils into smaller peptides; depending on the physical and chemical methods of denaturation, the molecular weight of the peptides falls within a broad range. Gelatin is present in gelatin desserts, most gummy candy and marshmallows,  ice creams, dips, and yogurts. Gelatin for cooking comes as powder, granules, and sheets. Instant types can be added to the food as they are; others must soak in water beforehand.

Characteristics

Properties
Gelatin is a collection of peptides and proteins produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals such as domesticated cattle, chicken, pigs, and fish. During hydrolysis, some of the bonds between and within component proteins are broken. Its chemical composition is, in many aspects, closely similar to that of its parent collagen. Photographic and pharmaceutical grades of gelatin generally are sourced from cattle bones and pig skin.  Gelatin is classified as a hydrogel.

Gelatin is nearly tasteless and odorless with a colorless or slightly yellow appearance. It is transparent and brittle, and it can come as sheets, flakes, or as a powder. Polar solvents like hot water, glycerol, and acetic acid can dissolve gelatin, but it is insoluble in organic solvents like alcohol. Gelatin absorbs 5–10 times its weight in water to form a gel. The gel formed by gelatin can be melted by reheating, and it has an increasing viscosity under stress (thixotropic). The upper melting point of gelatin is below human body temperature, a factor that is important for mouthfeel of foods produced with gelatin. The viscosity of the gelatin-water mixture is greatest when the gelatin concentration is high and the mixture is kept cool at about . Commercial gelatin will have a gel strength of around 90 to 300 grams Bloom using the Bloom test of gel strength. Gelatin's strength (but not viscosity) declines if it is subjected to temperatures above , or if it is held at temperatures near 100 °C for an extended period of time.

Gelatins have diverse melting points and gelation temperatures, depending on the source. For example, gelatin derived from fish has a lower melting and gelation point than gelatin derived from beef or pork.

Composition
When dry, gelatin consists of 98–99% protein, but it is not a nutritionally complete protein since it is missing tryptophan and is deficient in isoleucine, threonine, and methionine. The amino acid content of hydrolyzed collagen is the same as collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen contains 19 amino acids, predominantly glycine (Gly) 26–34%, proline (Pro) 10–18%, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) 7–15%, which together represent around 50% of the total amino acid content. Glycine is responsible for close packing of the chains. Presence of proline restricts the conformation. This is important for gelation properties of gelatin. Other amino acids that contribute highly include: alanine (Ala) 8–11%; arginine (Arg) 8–9%; aspartic acid (Asp) 6–7%; and glutamic acid (Glu) 10–12%.

Research

Digestibility
A 2005 study in humans found hydrolyzed collagen absorbed as small peptides in the blood.

Effects on skin
Ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen may affect the skin by increasing the density of collagen fibrils and fibroblasts, thereby stimulating collagen production. It has been suggested, based on mouse and in vitro studies, that hydrolyzed collagen peptides have chemotactic properties on fibroblasts or an influence on growth of fibroblasts.

Joint effects
Some clinical studies report that the oral ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen decreases joint pain, those with the most severe symptoms showing the most benefit.

However, other clinical trials have yielded mixed results. In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies concluded that "a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of collagen hydrolysate and maintenance of joints". Four other studies reported benefit with no side effects; however, the studies were not extensive, and all recommended further controlled study. One study found that oral collagen only improved symptoms in a minority of patients and reported nausea as a side effect.  Another study reported no improvement in disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.  Another study found that collagen treatment may actually cause an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Safety concerns
Hydrolyzed collagen, like gelatin, is made from animal by-products from the meat industry or sometimes animal carcasses removed and cleared by knackers, including skin, bones, and connective tissue.

In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with support from the TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) Advisory Committee, began monitoring the potential risk of transmitting animal diseases, especially bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. An FDA study from that year stated: "...steps such as heat, alkaline treatment, and filtration could be effective in reducing the level of contaminating TSE agents; however, scientific evidence is insufficient at this time to demonstrate that these treatments would effectively remove the BSE infectious agent if present in the source material." On 18 March 2016 the FDA finalized three previously-issued interim final rules designed to further reduce the potential risk of BSE in human food. The final rule clarified that "gelatin is not considered a prohibited cattle material if it is manufactured using the customary industry processes specified."

The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the European Union in 2003 stated that the risk associated with bovine bone gelatin is very low or zero.

In 2006, the European Food Safety Authority stated that the SSC opinion was confirmed, that the BSE risk of bone-derived gelatin was small, and that it recommended removal of the 2003 request to exclude the skull, brain, and vertebrae of bovine origin older than 12 months from the material used in gelatin manufacturing.

Production

The worldwide demand of gelatin was about  in 2019. On a commercial scale, gelatin is made from by-products of the meat and leather industries.
Most gelatin is derived from pork skins, pork and cattle bones, or split cattle hides. Gelatin made from fish by-products avoids some of the religious objections to gelatin consumption. The raw materials are prepared by different curing, acid, and alkali processes that are employed to extract the dried collagen hydrolysate. These processes may take several weeks, and differences in such processes have great effects on the properties of the final gelatin products.

Gelatin also can be prepared at home. Boiling certain cartilaginous cuts of meat or bones results in gelatin being dissolved into the water. Depending on the concentration, the resulting stock (when cooled) will form a jelly or gel naturally. This process is used for aspic.

While many processes exist whereby collagen may be converted to gelatin, they all have several factors in common. The intermolecular and intramolecular bonds that stabilize insoluble collagen must be broken, and also, the hydrogen bonds that stabilize the collagen helix must be broken. The manufacturing processes of gelatin consists of several main stages:
 Pretreatments to make the raw materials ready for the main extraction step and to remove impurities that may have negative effects on physicochemical properties of the final gelatin product.
 Hydrolysis of collagen into gelatin.
 Extraction of gelatin from the hydrolysis mixture, which usually is done with hot water or dilute acid solutions as a multistage process.
 The refining and recovering treatments including filtration, clarification, evaporation, sterilization, drying, rutting, grinding, and sifting to remove the water from the gelatin solution, to blend the gelatin extracted, and to obtain dried, blended, ground final product.

Pretreatments
If the raw material used in the production of the gelatin is derived from bones, dilute acid solutions are used to remove calcium and other salts. Hot water or several solvents may be used to reduce the fat content, which should not exceed 1% before the main extraction step. If the raw material consists of hides and skin; size reduction, washing, removal of hair from hides, and degreasing are necessary to prepare the hides and skins for the hydrolysis step.

Hydrolysis
After preparation of the raw material, i.e., removing some of the impurities such as fat and salts, partially purified collagen is converted into gelatin through hydrolysis. Collagen hydrolysis is performed by one of three different methods: acid-, alkali-, and enzymatic hydrolysis. Acid treatment is especially suitable for less fully cross-linked materials such as pig skin collagen and normally requires 10 to 48 hours. Alkali treatment is suitable for more complex collagen such as that found in bovine hides and requires more time, normally several weeks. The purpose of the alkali treatment is to destroy certain chemical crosslinks still present in collagen. Within the gelatin industry, the gelatin obtained from acid-treated raw material has been called type-A gelatin and the gelatin obtained from alkali-treated raw material is referred to as type-B gelatin.

Advances are occurring to optimize the yield of gelatin using enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen. The treatment time is shorter than that required for alkali treatment, and results in almost complete conversion to the pure product. The physical properties of the final gelatin product are considered better.

Extraction
Extraction is performed with either water or acid solutions at appropriate temperatures. All industrial processes are based on neutral or acid pH values because although alkali treatments speed up conversion, they also promote degradation processes. Acidic extraction conditions are extensively used in the industry, but the degree of acid varies with different processes. This extraction step is a multistage process, and the extraction temperature usually is increased in later extraction steps, which ensures minimum thermal degradation of the extracted gelatin.

Recovery
This process includes several steps such as filtration, evaporation, drying, grinding, and sifting. These operations are concentration-dependent and also dependent on the particular gelatin used. Gelatin degradation should be avoided and minimized, so the lowest temperature possible is used for the recovery process. Most recoveries are rapid, with all of the processes being done in several stages to avoid extensive deterioration of the peptide structure. A deteriorated peptide structure would result in a low gel strength, which is not generally desired.

Uses

Early history of food applications
The 10th-century Kitab al-Tabikh includes a recipe for a fish aspic, made by boiling fish heads.

A recipe for jelled meat broth is found in Le Viandier, written in or around 1375.

In 15th century Britain, cattle hooves were boiled to produce a gel. By the late 17th century, the French inventor Denis Papin had discovered another method of gelatin extraction via boiling of bones. An English patent for gelatin production was granted in 1754. In 1812, the chemist  further experimented with the use of hydrochloric acid to extract gelatin from bones, and later with steam extraction, which was much more efficient. The French government viewed gelatin as a potential source of cheap, accessible protein for the poor, particularly in Paris. Food applications in France and the United States during 19th century appear to have established the versatility of gelatin, including the origin of its popularity in the US as Jell-O. From the mid 1800s, Charles and Rose Knox of New York manufactured and marketed gelatin powder, diversifying the appeal and applications of gelatin.

Culinary uses

Probably best known as a gelling agent in cooking, different types and grades of gelatin are used in a wide range of food and nonfood products. Common examples of foods that contain gelatin are gelatin desserts, trifles, aspic, marshmallows, candy corn, and confections such as Peeps, gummy bears, fruit snacks, and jelly babies. Gelatin may be used as a stabilizer, thickener, or texturizer in foods such as yogurt, cream cheese, and margarine; it is used, as well, in fat-reduced foods to simulate the mouthfeel of fat and to create volume. It also is used in the production of several types of Chinese soup dumplings, specifically Shanghainese soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao, as well as Shengjian mantou, a type of fried and steamed dumpling. The fillings of both are made by combining ground pork with gelatin cubes, and in the process of cooking, the gelatin melts, creating a soupy interior with a characteristic gelatinous stickiness.

Gelatin is used for the clarification of juices, such as apple juice, and of vinegar.

Isinglass is obtained from the swim bladders of fish. It is used as a fining agent for wine and beer. Besides hartshorn jelly, from deer antlers (hence the name "hartshorn"), isinglass was one of the oldest sources of gelatin.

Cosmetics
In cosmetics, hydrolyzed collagen may be found in topical creams, acting as a product texture conditioner, and moisturizer. Collagen implants or dermal fillers are also used to address the appearance of wrinkles, contour deficiencies, and acne scars, among others. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its use, and identifies cow (bovine) and human cells as the sources of these fillers. According to the FDA, the desired effects can last for 3–4 months, which is relatively the most short-lived compared to other materials used for the same purpose.

Other technical uses

 Certain professional and theatrical lighting equipment use color gels to change the beam color. Historically, these were made with gelatin, hence the term, color gel.
 Originally, gelatin constituted the shells of all drug and vitamin capsules to make them easier to swallow. Now, a vegetarian-acceptable alternative to gelatin, hypromellose, is also used, and is less expensive than gelatin to produce.
 Some animal glues such as hide glue may be unrefined gelatin.
 It is used to hold silver halide crystals in an emulsion in virtually all photographic films and photographic papers. Despite significant effort, no suitable substitutes with the stability and low cost of gelatin have been found.
 Used as a carrier, coating, or separating agent for other substances, for example, it makes β-carotene water-soluble, thus imparting a yellow color to any soft drinks containing β-carotene.
 Ballistic gelatin is used to test and measure the performance of bullets shot from firearms.
 Gelatin is used as a binder in match heads and sandpaper.
 Cosmetics may contain a non-gelling variant of gelatin under the name hydrolyzed collagen (hydrolysate).
 Gelatin was first used as an external surface sizing for paper in 1337 and continued as a dominant sizing agent of all European papers through the mid-nineteenth century. In modern times, it is mostly found in watercolor paper, and occasionally in glossy printing papers, artistic papers, and playing cards. It maintains the wrinkles in crêpe paper.
 Biotechnology: Gelatin is also used in synthesizing hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. Gelatin is also used as a saturating agent in immunoassays, and as a coat. Gelatin degradation assay allows visualizing and quantifying invasion at the subcellular level instead of analyzing the invasive behavior of whole cells, for the study of cellular protrusions called invadopodia and podosomes, which are protrusive structures in cancer cells and play an important role in cell attachment and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM).

Religious considerations
The consumption of gelatin from particular animals may be forbidden by religious rules or cultural taboos.

Islamic halal and Jewish kosher customs generally require gelatin from sources other than pigs, such as cattle that have been slaughtered according to religious regulations (halal or kosher), or fish (that Jews and Muslims are allowed to consume).

On the other hand, some Islamic jurists have argued that the chemical treatment "purifies" the gelatin enough to always be halal, an argument most common in the field of medicine.

It has similarly been argued that gelatin in medicine is permissible in Judaism, as it is not used as food. According to The Jewish Dietary Laws, the book of kosher guidelines published by the Rabbinical Assembly, the organization of Conservative Jewish rabbis, all gelatin is kosher and pareve because the chemical transformation undergone in the manufacturing process renders it a different physical and chemical substance.

Sikh, Hindu, and Jain customs may require gelatin alternatives from sources other than animals, as many Hindus, most Jains and some Sikhs are vegetarian.

See also
Agar
Carrageenan
Konjac
Pectin

References

External links

Animal products
Conservation and restoration materials
Dietary supplements
Edible thickening agents
Excipients
Gels
Skin care
Structural proteins


Often overlooked, philanthropy is an important part of any PR plan and beneficial to every organisation. Misconceptions regarding philanthropy run high among business owners as many are of the popular belief that they don't have the necessary resources and time to give back to their communities. In other words, they end up committing the grave mistake of underestimating the power of philanthropy for business.
There's no denying the value of the media that plays a key role in image-building but philanthropy is better positioned to show the local community and target audiences that your company is dedicated towards a cause.
Research shows that most consumers prefer enterprises that support causes they care about and many audiences switch to a brand associated with a specific cause. Furthermore, more than 85% of the consumers want businesses/brands to popularise their good work. It's true that customers have become savvier than before. They enjoy a clear understanding of how to spend their money and are keen to support a good cause.
From the standpoint of a PR firm, a properly implemented philanthropy programme has robust benefits and directly impacts the bottom line. Therefore, the idea to promote a cause is good for the community and businesses both. At some places where the competition is strong, customers are expected to make their decision based on factors like company reputation or the causes supported by a firm.
It would be appropriate to say that philanthropy has the ability to be effective in ensuring the success of PR and marketing initiatives. Currently, supporting a cause by contributing funds and time to the community is the need of the hour. This is one of the reasons why PR agencies often emphasise upon the relevance of cause-related marketing that helps to promote the company's product/service/image. In fact, the leading PR agencies across India widely acknowledge the relevance of philanthropic initiatives. Starting from the CEO to an intern, it is possible to engage every employee in an organisation in different philanthropic efforts. The logic is simple. Good philanthropy is capable of leading a business towards success.
Although pitching philanthropy is not an easy job and poses a challenge for the PR firms, off late there are signs that show that the media are in fact, increasingly paying more attention. A recent study undertaken by the top firms in India found that a rising number of publications are sparing more column space to philanthropic news and companies are using context-focussed philanthropy to attract both social and economic gains.
So, is it possible for businesses to infuse creativity in their philanthropic initiatives to get noticed amidst competition? Since it is the 'smartest' thing to do, every organisation should consider getting their employees involved. Through voluntary participation, employees can engage in the promotion of philanthropic programmes and eventually make prospects and clients aware using social channels. After all, philanthropy focusses upon helping local charitable causes, volunteering and is not just driven by monetary donations.
How should philanthropy be used in a business setting?
Touted as unique and powerful, philanthropy is a combination of marketing targets and the desire to ensure the well-being of mankind. It ensures that a business bags parallel benefits such as employee retention, enhanced exposure, performance and productivity improvement while ensuring the common good of the community by supporting a worthwhile cause.
In the last few years, philanthropy has transformed considerably and witnessed strategic adoption while advancing a company's name, public image and more. It is true that philanthropy offers higher benefits to the corporate entities.
PR companies that are actively engaged in these initiatives are of the belief that philanthropy is a cost-efficient way for an enterprise to improve its competitive context using the efforts and infrastructure of non-profits and other institutions.
What PR can communicate about philanthropy?
It is believed that giving back is the gateway to varied effective PR campaigns. Whether you are planning to initiate right from scratch or are keen to bolster your established venture, PR gives the power to build connect with the target audience leveraging credible sources.
While there are different ways to initiate a PR campaign, utilising philanthropy to its full potential to support communities can go a long way.
In this post, we have listed out some of the effective ways PR can support philanthropy.
When a business directly engages with a specific cause or decides to volunteer at an event, it shows that the organisation is committed to a cause. Every charitable enterprise has its own personal requirements' list, ensure that you are comfortable with these needs.
Irrespective of the size of the team, spare a day in a year to implement philanthropic initiatives. Ensure that it's a working day so that the team-building spirit gets boosted. Some of the commonly implemented philanthropic initiatives businesses engage in comprise participation in street cleaning projects, refurbishing low-income housing, etc.
You can offer to make t-shirts for the volunteers or donate pens (with the company logo) for the organisation to use in their offices or at events.
If a business enterprise owns a painting business, collaborate with a charity that offers services like building or repairing homes to the needy.
When used efficiently, philanthropy is the right tool that creates awareness about local engagement and charity both. While this is considered as an efficient way to expand PR initiatives, it is great to improve community outreach and positively impact the lives of others.


TGI Friday's never fails to surprise, coming up with new creations every now and then. This time around, TGI Fridays, has added unique layers of flavor in two new rib entrées. Available for a limited time only, handcrafted Beef Bacon-Crusted Ribs and Texas-Spiced Ribs build on Fridays' legendary mastery of meaty, mouthwatering ribs. I had the opportunity to be invited to savour these yummy bites a couple of weeks back.
For a limited time, Fridays' premium rib extravaganza offers Guests two delectable, handcrafted choices, each served with crispy seasoned fries and coleslaw. Their remarkable melding of taste and texture give these fresh, innovative rib dishes the satisfying flavor Guests crave served up with big helpings of Friday's fun.
Being a meat lover myself, I do love a huge chunk of meaty goodness, especially when it has these extra flavoured crusts. The Texas Spiced Ribs came served as a full rack of ribs, cooked until juicy and tender, made even more delicious as it is fire-grilled and crusted with a flavorful blend of Texas herbs and spices. Pretty good stuff there.
I find the new Beef Bacon Crusted Ribs even more delectable and unique as it has these very nice beef bacon sprinkled on the top, giving a crispy texture with each bite. A full rack of ribs cooked to perfection, glazed with tangy BBQ sauce, and crusted with a heaping helping of crispy beef bacon, there is no reason not to like this dish.
We ended the very 'meaty' dinner with some sweet dessert in the form of TGI Friday's Brownie Obsession. Sweet stuff here, with the warm brownie served covered in chocolate-fudge sauce, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and pecans.
At RM59.90++, there are three different types of ribs to choose from – succulent beef ribs, tender short ribs and luscious lamb ribs, Fridays is set to cater to everyone's unique palates.
Which outlet? I know the guy who runs the one at Paradigm.
Miera, I love meaty dishes, steaks and ribs, so for me it was great!


RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Syndication) is an easy way to keep your readers abreast of updates to your site content. At their simplest and most common, RSS feeds send subscribers the title and a brief blurb about each new article or post on a given site or blog, along with a link to the post. Users can subscribe directly to feeds from sites they read regularly, though feed aggregators such as Google Reader and MyYahoo also collect feeds in searchable form.
Over the last few years, most major media outlets have implemented RSS to allow their readers to keep up with site changes as they happen. RSS feeds are built into most blogging software and are so common in the blogosphere that they are becoming critical to a site's credibility among bloggers as an information source.
Though the name "feed" implies that RSS is something that you send out to subscribers, your RSS feed is really just a simple XML file that lives on your site and that you either update by hand (not common any more) or is generated automatically by your site's content management system. When people subscribe to a feed, they've really just set up their RSS-reading program or site to automatically reqest the feed's XML file at a regular interval and display the contents.
For political campaigns, RSS should be a no-brainer. It's extremely easy to set up and to maintain, and it's a great way for you to keep in regular contact with your more tech-savvy readers. Also, as RSS aggregators become more common, many people are reading the contents of RSS feeds without even knowing it, since the news pages they're browsing are collecting and displaying the contents of feeds from many sites.
If you do podcasts, RSS feeds alert subscribers and aggregators every time you post a new installation (the "cast" part of the word "podcast" derives in part from the way RSS lets you mimic the "content push" model of traditional broadcast media).
Particularly if you update your RSS feed by hand, always run it through a feed validating site after you change it. Tiny flaws can crash your whole feed.
In the same way you submit your site to search engines and directories, submit your feed to feed aggregator sites — you can find them via a Google search.
Perhaps the reference to Feedster should be updated, since it has been dead for awhile?


101 Independence Avenue Southeast has a Walk Score of 52 out of 100. This location is Somewhat Walkable so some errands can be accomplished on foot.
This location is in Washington D.C.. Nearby parks include Mount Vernon Woods Park, Huntley Meadows Park and Hollin Meadows Park.


The residential development at Clowne has been realised through close collaboration between QAD Architects and Bolsover Council who stipulated that only an exceptional and exemplar scheme that would receive a positive planning outcome.
The scheme had to be bespoke (whilst using standard house types) and respond to and interpret contextual village typologies whilst eschewing standard volume house builder conventions. The scheme evolved by imagining how a cluster of dwellings would have populated the site in an organic and unplanned manner.
Although utilising portfolio house types the elevation detailing was designed specifically for the development referencing the local vernacular.


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Tertiary sector news & views
The Scan's year 2015
Life & stuff
Life & stuff 2012
Life and stuff 2014
A snapshot of the Victorian VET Sector
Higher Education at a glance
TDA Newsletter 7 April 2015
Posted at 4:45 pm by intermediatescan
Apr 9th
Federal government considering escape clause for duped VET students
The federal government is considering a new 'cooling-off' provision that would allow students signed up by some colleges to back out of agreements.
The Australian reports that Assistant Education Minister Senator Simon Birmingham is evaluating a two-step enrolment system to stop colleges recruiting students signed up as a result of door-to-door sales and other high pressure techniques.
"It should be an opt-in process that operates a little like a cooling-off period," Senator Birmingham said.
"Rather than opting out at the end of that period, they would have to opt-in as a demonstration of their enthusiasm and commitment to do the course."
Senator Birmingham has also issued a warning to recruitment companies about using bogus job ads in order to gather personal details of job applicant which are passed on to training providers.
"If I find the current laws are inadequate to deal with it, I will be happy to strengthen the rules," he said.
A new home and a new minister for TAFE NSW
TAFE NSW has been moved from the education portfolio to the industry portfolio and a new minister as part of Premier Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle.
Responsibility for TAFE will shift from Education Minister Adrian Piccoli to fellow National MP, John Barilaro, Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business.
Premier Baird said the Coalition made a number of significant announcements on TAFE during the campaign "that indicate the importance of the vocational education and training sector in the Government's push to create 150,000 new jobs during its second term of office."
Minister Barilaro, who managed a building firm in Queanbeyan before entering parliament, has been a strong supporter of apprenticeships and training.
TDA extends its congratulations to Minister Barilaro on his new responsibilities.
South Australia to review courses in policy shake-up
The South Australian government has released a new training blueprint to replace the 'Skills for All' scheme.
Meanwhile, the State Opposition has released a financial performance summary which, it says, shows payments to TAFE SA from the Skills for All program have fallen by almost $49 million this year.
Announcing the reforms, Higher Education and Skills Minister Gail Gago said: "Currently, there are about 900 subsidised courses. Today more than 200 courses that have no students – and more than 150 courses that do not align with the state's economic priorities or strategic industry needs – will undergo a review."
A refined list of courses will be released on May 1 and will be subject to consultation with the training and skills sector, and will take effect on July 1.
See more.
ASQA approves TAFE Directors' tuition assurance scheme
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has approved the tuition assurance scheme (TAS) operated by TDA as suitable for the protection of fees prepaid by vocational education and training (VET) students.
Registered training organisations (RTOs) must protect fees that are prepaid by students in excess of a total of $1,500.
ASQA Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson said: "TAFE Directors Australia applied to ASQA seeking approval for its TAS and, following an extensive assessment, ASQA has determined that TDA's scheme provides the necessary protection of prepaid student fees and approved its recognition under the national Standards for RTOs."
Under the TDA TAS, if a member RTO is unable to provide the training for which it has received payment, the student will be placed with a suitable alternative. If no suitable alternative place can be found, fees will be refunded.
New job services providers announced
The Commonwealth Department of Employment has announced contracts to 66 organisations, including a number of TAFE Institutes, to deliver employment services as part of its new 'jobactive' program.
Jobactive will provide $5 billion over three years to deliver job services to 51 employment regions across Australia.
The new model, to come into effect on July 1, will provide outcome payments at four, 12 and 26 weeks to ensure job seekers take up work opportunities, including seasonal work.
Holmesglen and Box Hill Institute secured a number of contracts.
See the full list of providers.
International education strategy gets a thumbs-up
TAFE Directors Australia has welcomed the release by Education Minister Christopher Pyne of the Draft National Strategy for International Education.
TDA's Acting CEO, Malcolm White commended the government for finally responding to the recommendations of the Chaney Report, Educating Globally, which was released over two years ago.
"We are particularly pleased to see a strong emphasis on vocational education and training and the significant benefits this sector does, and can, provide," he said.
"We now look forward to a May budget which provides clear incentives and investments to achieve this," Mr White said.
The Minister said that international education is a $16.3 billion export industry that supports 130,000 jobs nationally.
"It has been estimated that over the next decade international education could double in value to the Australian economy, creating tens of thousands of local jobs," he said.
See the Draft National Strategy for International Education.
See TDA's media release.
Financial advice tool now available for VET students
Apprentices and trainees will be able to improve their money management skills, following the release of 'Be MoneySmart' – a financial education resource aimed at those in the vocational education and training sector.
The resource was developed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), in consultation with the Australian Tax Office, Group Training Australia, Fair Work Building and Construction, Bendigo Kangan Institute and Innovation and Business Skills.
Be MoneySmart covers five topics – saving, budgeting and spending; personal tax; superannuation; debt management; and insurance.
It is a free, online resource that can be used for accredited training as part of the Certificate III in Financial Services or for general money management skills development programs.
It is also available as a package for training organisations.
Vietnam and TAFE NSW expand their training partnership
TAFE NSW and the Government of Vietnam have signed a new MOU that will see education and vocational training expanded to more colleges in Ho Chi Minh City.
The MOU will allow Vietnam's most prestigious provider of vocational education, EMG Education, to roll out extra programs over the next three years with TAFE NSW.
TAFE NSW Managing Director Pam Christie said the training program which began earlier this month has been such a success that both parties agreed to expand the program across additional colleges.
"The continuing progress of this program will see students improve both their English language and vocational skills," Ms Christie said.
Activities began this week with the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment professional development program which will be delivered to 30 vocational teachers who will then deliver TAFE NSW courses with the support of five TAFE NSW Institutes.
Closer partnership: TAFE NSW Chair, Margy Osmond and Managing Director, Pam Christie; Vietnam's Minister for Education, Pham Vu Luan; EMG Education Chairman, Hung Truong and Sydney TAFE Director, David Riordan.
Victorian TAFE Association appoints Executive Director
The Victorian TAFE Association has appointed Andrew Williamson as its new Executive Director.
Andrew has held a number of senior positions in the Victorian VET sector, most recently in the Victorian Department of Education and Training, where he was Acting Director of TAFE Governance and Performance Monitoring in the Higher Education and Skills Group.
Previously, Andrew was an Associate Director at Victoria University, where his leadership responsibilities included industry liaison and innovation in the trades disciplines.
He is a founding member and past President of VALA (Victorian Applied Learning Association) and past President of VISTA, the peak professional association for managers and leaders in the Victorian VET sector.
TDA extends its congratulations to Andrew on his new role.
More funding to help young carers
The federal government will provide an additional 150 bursaries to help young carers to continue study or vocational training.
Carers Australia received 800 applications for bursaries this year.
Due to the strong demand, the Young Carer Bursary Programme will provide an extra 150 bursaries worth a total of $450,000 – on top of the 150 already announced.
The government will also provide $50,000 to Carers Australia to support the delivery of the bursaries.
There are more than 300,000 young carers under 25 who look after people with disability, physical or mental health issues, or older people in need of help.
WAVE National Conference
Leaders, teachers, learners, leavers: Women in the Australian VET market
DATE: 8 April 2015
LOCATION: Melbourne, Victoria
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
AVETRA
18th Annual Conference
DATE: 8-10 April 2015
LOCATION: The Rendezvous Grand, Melbourne
DETAILS: More information.
Group Training Association of NSW & ACT
The future of work: Rethinking employment, training and skills in NSW and ACT
LOCATION: Amora Hotel, Sydney
Global Concepts Symposium
Centre for Excellence & LH Martin Institute
DETAILS: More information coming soon.
National Congress & Expo
DATE: 2 & 3 June 2015
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
NSW ITABS
Navigating the new world: New challenges = New Opportunities
LOCATION: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, Sydney
Western Sydney Careers Expo
DATE: 18-21 June 2015
LOCATION: Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
NCVER
'No Frills' conference
DATE: 6-8 July 2015
LOCATION: University of Western Sydney
Victorian TAFE Association
2015 State Conference – Leading Transformational Change
DATE: 16-17 July 2015
LOCATION: RACV Club, Melbourne
VET Development Centre
Teaching and Learning Conference
DATE: 3-4 September 2015
LOCATION: RACV Torquay Resort, Victoria
National VET Conference
Velg Training
LOCATION: Adelaide Convention Centre
Author: intermediatescan
The Scan is produced by Inter Mediate, a Melbourne based public policy consulting practice, with a focus on education and training issues, particularly higher education. The Scan reviews topical issues in the tertiary education sector and places them in a broader context.
Posted in ASQA, International, Notices, TAFE, TAFE Directors Australia, The Scan, VET, Vocational education & training	| Tagged International, Notices, NSW TAFE, SA TAFE, TAFE, VET appointments, VET regulation, VET regulatory standards	|
Federation Training chief quits
Crackdown looming on short courses
Academic Gongs 2018
"Uni funding freeze could cut 10,000 places": UA
Victorian first round uni offers 2018
Vocational education & training (802)
Higher education policy (669)
TAFE (566)
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Commonwealth policies (503)
VET (493)
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Donald R Sweitzer, chairman of IGT Global Solutions Corporation, will be retiring at the end of December after 20 years heading IGT's government affairs and business development.
"Don's expertise building and nurturing relationships with state and commercial partners around the world, along with his insights into complex geopolitical situations, have been important to IGT's continued expansion and leading market position," said IGT CEO Marco Sala.
Sweitzer added: "I am grateful to Marco Sala and the entire IGT family, our customers, and business partners for the extraordinary opportunities and meaningful relationships we have built together throughout the last 20 years.
Prior to his role as chair of IGT Global Solutions, Sweitzer was SVP of global business development and public affairs, a role in which he identified and developed new business opportunities and supported the expansion of the company's products and services in existing jurisdictions.


Prick of the Spindle & Cynthia Reeser are spoiling me rotten. I am eating donuts and being spoiled rotten. I am smiling. I am a bratty kid.
Prick of the Spindle is nice. Congrats to all the nominees. Congrats to me. Spoiled rotten. Grease Stains is slated to be the second release from PotS's imprint Aqueous Books. Mike Atwood's The HiStory of Santa Monica is slated to be the first. Big congrats to Mike.
Prick of the Spindle also released their third podcast today. And guess what? It's more me. Being spoiled rotten. Eating donuts. Drinking milk. Bratty kid. I am imagining myself to be a robot right now. How do you feel about that?
How do I even begin to thank Prick of the Spindle & Cynthia Reeser for all this goodness?
I will do a slow robot dance. Because I am a slow robot. A slow grinning robot.
Slow robot says, "THANK YOU, PRICK OF THE SPINDLE. THANK YOU, CYNTHIA REESER. YOU MAKE ROBOT SMILE. AND DANCE."
Congratulations, Mel! Well Deserved! Also, I loved the podcast. Great story.
congrats mel. a major woody for you.
"THANK YOU, REESER," said robot brat.
Thanks, Michael. Major wood, no doubt.
"BIG LARGE THANK YOUS, ERIC BEENY," says robot melly-mel.


text:
Keeping Your Employer Brand Afloat During Turbulent Times
by Steve SpiresOn January 17, 2018 0 comments
The nation's unemployment rate is at a 17-year low of 4.1%, fueling the demand for talent and creating a highly competitive talent marketplace. At the same time, technology continues to disrupt business from almost every angle, and industries experiencing dramatic change and consolidation face redundancies and waves of layoffs.
Against this backdrop, maintaining a positive employer brand today is more important than ever.
Throughout my 30-year career, I have seen companies handle downsizing in various ways, all of which have had an important impact on employer brand. I've seen it done well, and not so well.
One company had a phenomenal culture and was consistently ranked near the top of "best places to work" lists. It was a grassroots operation and was terrific at engaging its employees around the network while at the same time getting integrally involved in local communities. In short, people loved working for this company, and it showed.
Then the financial crisis of 2008 hit, and this company was not spared the devastating effects of the downturn. Reductions in force became a necessity and, initially, were handled very effectively. Even faced with enormous financial pressures, the company did the right thing by its employees: working with an outplacement firm, providing all the necessary information, and encouraging exiting employees to engage with the transition process early. Culturally, the company was doing well to maintain and reinforce its well-deserved reputation as a great employer.
The reins tightened, however, when a major consulting firm came in and pulled the plug on the smooth career transition process. The company was under so much pressure from so many stakeholders it chose to resist implementing "best practices", instead simply going through the motions. Negative information began to circulate about how exiting employees were being treated. Fast forward 10 years: The company has still not fully recovered and its employer brand suffered significant, lasting damage.
How could this scenario have been avoided? In my experience, best practices dictate that early and sustained engagement with outgoing employees will get them moving forward optimistically, facilitate a more upbeat attitude among those left behind, and foster a positive brand reputation both inside and outside the company.
Moving forward in a constructive way means more than clicking links on job boards. It means working with an effective transition coach who will help the candidate define the right path forward. It requires identifying personal and professional goals, strengths, and areas for improvement, and an overall marketplace value proposition. Working with a well-matched coach results in a rock-solid resume built to reflect market needs, a smart go-to-market strategy, and unequivocal human support throughout the process.
A positive career transition experience means exiting employees will be good brand ambassadors on social media and in the marketplace. And, remaining employees will stay engaged, having seen their company treat outgoing people with care and respect.
It's the least a good employer can do, and human resource professionals can have a definitive impact on successful career transition strategy and execution.
Steve Spires
Steve Spires is Managing Director, Career Services, and Senior Executive Coach at BPI group, overseeing the delivery of the firm's career transition services in North America. Steve has extensive executive leadership experience in managing and growing businesses and coaching senior executives and their teams. He can be reached at sspires@bpi-group.us.
#Nextchat RECAP: Can We Do That?! Recruitment, Selection and Hiring Tips and Traps
How Personal Brands Can Help You Learn About Prospective Employees
#Nextchat RECAP: HR -- Always Be Marketing and Communicating
Investing Time to Advance Change


Availability: There are over 50 shops, delis and farm shops stocking Swan Gold in bottles. See our stockists page.
When you browse the beer aisle at Tuffins, pop in to Quarry Farm Shop for a Steak and Swan Pie or nip in to Canon Pyon Stores for some Just Rachel Ice Cream, you can now add Swan Gold in bottles to your basket. It is unique in that it is a beer with its own geocache.
Swan Gold is a clean, refreshing 4.0% golden ale, and our flagship brew. Saaz hops are used late in the brewing process, imparting an earthy, floral hop character.
Take a look at the bottle label for Swan Gold and you'll find reference to the geocache set up to celebrate the visit of the Leominster Ale Taster to the brewery. If you'd like to know what geocaching is all about, there are some articles at Montem Life and Hobby Help to get you started.


TON3X's new LP features hard-hitting R&B, Dance and even dabbles into alternative with the lead single " BLEND ". The timely song addresses the topic of identity in Christ.
Snippets of "Unspoken" can be heard via TON3X's myspace and website!! The new TON3X LP "Unspoken" will be in stores nationally March 17th, 2009 on Battery Records/Sony BMG.


At Doheny's Crash Repairs, we provide the full range of services necessary to get your vehicle back on the road in top condition following a crash, and to keep you moving while we do so.
If required, we can arrange use of a replacement vehicle for you while your own is being repaired.
One of our expert estimators will carefully assess the damage to your vehicle and produce an accurate repair estimate using the computerised Glassmatix estimated system that is required by all leading insurers. The estimate will be provided to both you and your insurance company, and our estimator will contact you to explain all repairs deemed necessary and why.
We use state-of-the-art technology for all aspects of crash repair work, and the process is thoroughly recorded at all times via photography and other data storage. Any vehicle panels being repaired or replaced will be fitted and checked for correct alignment and all will be finished to the highest standards before being allowed proceed for paintwork.
Four wheel alignment, headlight alignment, air condition servicing and alloy wheel refurbishment are among the other services we provide. All vehicles are fully valeted at the end of the repairs process, before being returned to their owner.
Once your vehicle is ready to return to the road, we can deliver it to you at your home, workplace, or other convenient location, if you are unable to pick it up from our premises yourself.
Simply contact us to avail of our professional service, help and advice. We'll get you back on the road in no time!


In 2002, Fr. Louis I. Newman's priestly faculties were removed following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Fr. Newman left the Diocese of Rockville Centre in the late 1980s and moved to California. In 2002, he retired from the Diocese of San Diego. Fr. Newman died on December 2, 2011.


text:
Sarab-e Surenabad (, also Romanized as Sarāb-e Sūrenābād and Sarāb-e Surenābād) is a village in Gavrud Rural District, in the Central District of Sonqor County, Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 82, in 19 families.

References

Populated places in Sonqor County

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Head to West Palm Beach on February 11, 2017 for a day full of good vibes and good things for your body. Join the community in celebrating living healthy lives, while you SWEAT during one (or many) of their fitness classes scheduled all day and taught by knowledgeable and very motivating instructors. With a plethora of vendors you're sure to snag a great deal on your best new yoga pants or a favorite new snack recipe, if this is not enough. Join some of the instructors during their workshops and learn how to live a fuller healthier life.
* CJ will be instructing a 60-minute hands-on Olympic lifting workshop.
Click here for more information about classes or here for more information about workshops.


text:
Q: Why does character trim work for get_the_excerpt and not for the_excerpt? So I am wishing to trim the excerpt for a specific loop and it was all working fine until I imported a load of posts for that category loop. Now the excerpt trim is not working and only seems to work if I use $excerpt = get_the_excerpt();
Any ideas?
<?php $excerpt = the_excerpt(array ( 'class' => 'custom-excerpt'));
            echo substr( $excerpt, 0, 100); ?>

A: get_the_excerpt() returns the text so you can capture it and modify the contents.
the_excerpt() outputs the content so it is echo'd out and you are not actually receiving the text.
If you have to use the_excerpt() you can use output buffering to capture the output and then massage the data as necessary:
ob_start();
the_excerpt(array ( 'class' => 'custom-excerpt'));
$excerpt = ob_get_clean();
$excerpt = substr( $excerpt, 0, 100);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
define([
    'underscore',
    'uiRegistry',
    'mageUtils',
    'uiElement'
], function (_, registry, utils, Element) {
    'use strict';

    return Element.extend({
        defaults: {
            headerTmpl: 'ui/grid/columns/text',
            bodyTmpl: 'ui/grid/cells/text',
            disableAction: false,
            controlVisibility: true,
            sortable: true,
            sorting: false,
            visible: true,
            draggable: true,
            fieldClass: {},
            ignoreTmpls: {
                fieldAction: true
            },
            statefull: {
                visible: true,
                sorting: true
            },
            imports: {
                exportSorting: 'sorting'
            },
            listens: {
                '${ $.provider }:params.sorting.field': 'onSortChange'
            },
            modules: {
                source: '${ $.provider }'
            }
        },

        /**
         * Initializes column component.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        initialize: function () {
            this._super()
                .initFieldClass();

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Initializes observable properties.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        initObservable: function () {
            this._super()
                .track([
                    'visible',
                    'sorting',
                    'disableAction'
                ])
                .observe([
                    'dragging'
                ]);

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Extends list of field classes.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        initFieldClass: function () {
            _.extend(this.fieldClass, {
                _dragging: this.dragging
            });

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Applies specified stored state of a column or one of its' properties.
         *
         * @param {String} state - Defines what state should be used: saved or default.
         * @param {String} [property] - Defines what columns' property should be applied.
         *      If not specified, then all columns stored properties will be used.
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        applyState: function (state, property) {
            var namespace = this.storageConfig.root;

            if (property) {
                namespace += '.' + property;
            }

            this.storage('applyStateOf', state, namespace);

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Sets columns' sorting. If column is currently sorted,
         * than its' direction will be toggled.
         *
         * @param {*} [enable=true] - If false, than sorting will
         *      be removed from a column.
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        sort: function (enable) {
            if (!this.sortable) {
                return this;
            }

            enable !== false ?
                this.toggleSorting() :
                this.sorting = false;

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Sets descending columns' sorting.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        sortDescending: function () {
            if (this.sortable) {
                this.sorting = 'desc';
            }

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Sets ascending columns' sorting.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        sortAscending: function () {
            if (this.sortable) {
                this.sorting = 'asc';
            }

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Toggles sorting direction.
         *
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         */
        toggleSorting: function () {
            this.sorting === 'asc' ?
                this.sortDescending() :
                this.sortAscending();

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Checks if column is sorted.
         *
         * @returns {Boolean}
         */
        isSorted: function () {
            return !!this.sorting;
        },

        /**
         * Exports sorting data to the dataProvider if
         * sorting of a column is enabled.
         */
        exportSorting: function () {
            if (!this.sorting) {
                return;
            }

            this.source('set', 'params.sorting', {
                field: this.index,
                direction: this.sorting
            });
        },

        /**
         * Checks if column has an assigned action that will
         * be performed when clicking on one of its' fields.
         *
         * @returns {Boolean}
         */
        hasFieldAction: function () {
            return !!this.fieldAction || !!this.fieldActions;
        },

        /**
         * Applies action described in a 'fieldAction' property
         * or actions described in 'fieldActions' property.
         *
         * @param {Number} rowIndex - Index of a row which initiates action.
         * @returns {Column} Chainable.
         *
         * @example Example of fieldAction definition, which is equivalent to
         *      referencing to external component named 'listing.multiselect'
         *      and calling its' method 'toggleSelect' with params [rowIndex, true] =>
         *
         *      {
         *          provider: 'listing.multiselect',
         *          target: 'toggleSelect',
         *          params: ['${ $.$data.rowIndex }', true]
         *      }
         */
        applyFieldAction: function (rowIndex) {
            if (!this.hasFieldAction() || this.disableAction) {
                return this;
            }

            if (this.fieldActions) {
                this.fieldActions.forEach(this.applySingleAction.bind(this, rowIndex), this);
            } else {
                this.applySingleAction(rowIndex);
            }

            return this;
        },

        /**
         * Applies single action
         *
         * @param {Number} rowIndex - Index of a row which initiates action.
         * @param {Object} action - Action (fieldAction) to be applied
         *
         */
        applySingleAction: function (rowIndex, action) {
            var callback;

            action = action || this.fieldAction;
            action = utils.template(action, {
                column: this,
                rowIndex: rowIndex
            }, true);

            callback = this._getFieldCallback(action);

            if (_.isFunction(callback)) {
                callback();
            }
        },

        /**
         * Returns field action handler if it was specified.
         *
         * @param {Object} record - Record object with which action is associated.
         * @returns {Function|Undefined}
         */
        getFieldHandler: function (record) {
            if (this.hasFieldAction()) {
                return this.applyFieldAction.bind(this, record._rowIndex);
            }
        },

        /**
         * Creates action callback based on its' data.
         *
         * @param {Object} action - Actions' object.
         * @returns {Function|Boolean} Callback function or false
         *      value if it was impossible create a callback.
         */
        _getFieldCallback: function (action) {
            var args     = action.params || [],
                callback = action.target;

            if (action.provider && action.target) {
                args.unshift(action.target);

                callback = registry.async(action.provider);
            }

            if (!_.isFunction(callback)) {
                return false;
            }

            return function () {
                callback.apply(callback, args);
            };
        },

        /**
         * Ment to preprocess data associated with a current columns' field.
         *
         * @param {Object} record - Data to be preprocessed.
         * @returns {String}
         */
        getLabel: function (record) {
            return record[this.index];
        },

        /**
         * Returns list of classes that should be applied to a field.
         *
         * @returns {Object}
         */
        getFieldClass: function () {
            return this.fieldClass;
        },

        /**
         * Returns path to the columns' header template.
         *
         * @returns {String}
         */
        getHeader: function () {
            return this.headerTmpl;
        },

        /**
         * Returns path to the columns' body template.
         *
         * @returns {String}
         */
        getBody: function () {
            return this.bodyTmpl;
        },

        /**
         * Listener of the providers' sorting state changes.
         *
         * @param {Srting} field - Field by which current sorting is performed.
         */
        onSortChange: function (field) {
            if (field !== this.index) {
                this.sort(false);
            }
        }
    });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Trigger not working for stopping table insert I am using the following code for stopping null value insert into table using trigger. But when I pass null value, the inserting is happening fine. Any idea what am I doing wrong here?
create table test
(col1 number,
 col2 varchar2(40)
 )

create or replace trigger test_trg
after insert on test
for each row
declare
    excp exception;
    pragma autonomous_transaction;
begin
    if :new.col2 is null then
     RAISE excp;
    end if;
exception
    when excp then
         dbms_output.put_line('error');
         rollback;
end;

(Please note, I do accept that using a not null or a check constraint on the col2 is a better solution. I just want to find out the reason behind the error in this seemingly correct code)

A: you have to define the trigger as BEFORE INSERT to fire before the insert is executed, remove the pragma autonomouse_transaction and the rollback (they have no sense here, because you do not any DML), then reraise the exception in the exception handler

A: Don't rollback in trigger, just re-raise excpetion after logging it:
create or replace trigger test_trg
after insert on test
for each row
declare
    excp exception;
    pragma autonomous_transaction;
begin
    if :new.col2 is null then
     RAISE excp;
    end if;
exception
    when excp then
         dbms_output.put_line('error');
         raise; -- propagate error
end;

When you put "exception ... end;" block in code you say to PL/SQL that  managing consequences of this error is on your responsibility. So, if you don't raise any error from a code which handles original error, for PL/SQL it means that all actions regarding this error already done in your code, all went OK and record must be inserted.
You can try it in this SQLFiddle.


text:
Q: Why in a simple loop I lose fetchAll's values of a sqlite3's table using python? I need to print some rows from an sqlite3's table using python3, but into the loop I get none value. following my code:
import sqlite3
db=sqlite3.connect('db.db')
cdb=db.cursor()
cdb.execute('create table if not exists table1 (field1,field2,field3)')
cdb.execute('insert into table1 values (?,?,?)',(1,2,3))
db.commit()
cdb.execute('insert into table1 values (?,?,?)',(4,5,6))
db.commit()
cdb.execute('insert into table1 values (?,?,?)',(1,7,8))
db.commit()
cdb.execute('select * from table1')
for i in range(len(cdb.fetchall())):
    if cdb.fetchone()[0]==1:print(cdb.fetchone())
db.close()

my error message:
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'replace'
Thanks

A: Your call to cdb.fetchall() consumes the iterator and is pointless, so remove it:
for row in cdb.execute('select * from table1'):
    # do something with row

As described in the official documentation.

A: After you fetchall the cursor point to nothing, so if you fetch anything it returns None.
to see what happend after commit the data just try:
cdb.execute('select * from table1')

print(cdb.fetchall()) # Return the data
print(cdb.fetchone()) # Return : None

db.close()

to fix this you could execute the sql again before the fetchone witch will be slow
I recommend doing this:
cdb.execute('select * from table1')

data = cdb.fetchall()
for i in data:
    if i[0] == 1: print(i)

db.close()


There's a lot to figure out when starting a business and often, entrepreneurs aren't sure what to spend money on. Bookkeeping? Marketing? Sales? Employees? As an outsourced bookkeeping and accounting firm, we will be the first to tell you that it often isn't bookkeeping. We recommend you spend money honing your products and developing your brand. But fear not, the need for bookkeeping and accounting support will come. We promise.
Many food entrepreneurs sell their products via multiple sales channels. Because of this, it's important they understand what channels are most profitable. Accountfully performs monthly margin analysis to see which products are selling on which channels. Using real data rather than gut feelings, food entrepreneurs can use this information to make important pricing decisions.
Regardless of the number of channels you sell on, keeping up-to-date inventory counts is a mandatory part of running a product-based business. But good new—an outsourced accounting team can help you with this. Accountfully makes sure inventory and associated costs are integrated with bookkeeping systems. When a sale goes through, it's deducted from the inventory count in real-time–we often use an inventory management system called Dear Inventory. This sheds light on the in-house inventory and raw materials that will need to be ordered.
Making decisions about product distribution can be stressful. Business owners worry about things like commissions, broker fees, trade spend, and merchant charge backs. When working with an outsourced accounting firm like Accountfully, you can rest assured that sales are properly coded and chargebacks are valid before they're paid.
Running a business isn't easy but it's a lot easier when you work with a team that can support you in your growth. Accountfully works with food entrepreneurs who want to scale their business. As a team, we go beyond reconciling accounts and closing books at the end of the month. We collaborate and engage with our clients. Our end goal is to help them make sense of their numbers so they can make decisions that will positively impact their business.


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The best part about summer for me is that I actually have time to think and to write.
While I get that it may not be everyone's idea of a good time, it definitely makes me happy even though it's often hard work.
The challenge for me is that I'm typically using different types of writing.
By way of example, this summer my writing included a chapter of a textbook being published by Athabasca University about leadership for active, creative, and engaged communities as well as another article called How One Small Rural Community Found their Ruby Slippers—and the Power of Innovation Within.
The former was purely academic and for me, the most difficult kind of writing. The latter was the most fun and easiest to write because it was a simply the story about one amazing small town and how they found the power within to turn their community around.
Why is it that we don't use more stories in our day to day work?
Even though we all tell stories, know we learn best from stories, and typically want to read stories more than academic journals, we still tend to place more value on academic writing that reflects facts and statistics and think of it as having more credibility and being more professional.
Not sure why that is because I've learned the best way to touch people's hearts and minds is being real, telling stories, and doing it in an open and authentic way.
While it would be difficult to describe a winning formula for telling a good story because each of us is an innate storyteller and will have our own unique approach, the most effective are those that come from the heart. The best stories are always the ones that resonate with authenticity, passion, and values. It is through stories that capture our imagination and our spirit that we are able to embrace and impart an understanding of what really matters.
Next entry: Ready, Fire, Steer?


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Home News Ag Economics Will California Remain Leader in U.S. Ag Production?
Will California Remain Leader in U.S. Ag Production?
With a value of $6.1 billion, California accounted for over half of U.S. fresh vegetable production in 2018 (Photo by Shermain Hardesty).
A new book shows how California has led the nation in farm sales since 1948 and explores future challenges
"California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues" by the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics details the past, present and future of many of California's major agricultural commodities, including grapes, tree fruits and nuts, vegetable crops, dairy, livestock, nursery and floral production, and cannabis. The new 18-chapter book, written by agricultural economists at UC Davis, UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, addresses issues such as labor, water, climate and trade that affect all of California agriculture.
"California agriculture overcame many obstacles to become the nation's number one farm state. Leading agricultural economists are generally optimistic that California agriculture will continue to thrive in the 21st century, despite continuing large challenges," said Philip Martin, UC Davis emeritus professor of agricultural and resource economics, who is co-editor of the new publication.
For over 70 years, California has led the nation in farm sales due to its specialization in high-value commodities such as fruits, nuts, vegetables and other horticultural crops. The book uses the most recent Census of Agriculture data to show that, of the $64 billion of these crops produced in the U.S. in 2017, California produced nearly half by value ($31 billion).
In 1879, wheat and barley occupied over 75% of the state's cropland. The types of crops grown in California have changed considerably over the years.
More than 44 percent of California's $50 billion in farm sales in 2017 were fruits and nuts, with 17 percent of sales from vegetables and melons, and 14 percent from nursery and other horticultural specialties crops. Many of these high-value specialty crops are also very labor-intensive and face challenges from increased cost and decreased availability of agricultural labor. The book discusses how California growers effectively responded to these labor challenges by adopting labor-saving mechanization. California remains competitive with producers elsewhere by relying on superior plant varieties, integrated pest management, and improved irrigation methods that increase both the quantity and quality of California agricultural commodities.
Water, climate and trade pose challenges and opportunities for California agriculture. In the last decade, water scarcity and decreased water quality, along with regulations to address these issues like the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, have prompted farmers to use scarce water to irrigate more valuable crops, as with the switch from cotton to almonds. Increased regulations and the increasing scarcity of water affect high-value specialty crops as well as the dairy and livestock industries that accounted for 24% of California farm sales in 2017.
Climate variability, including drought and heat stress, affects farmworker welfare, crop yields and dairy productivity. Retaliatory tariffs resulting from the 2018 trade war reduced U.S. agricultural exports to China by close to $14.4 billion per year, as exports of dairy, livestock and specialty crops fell.
California agriculture has a rich history of overcoming challenges by pursuing innovative research, adopting new technologies, and adapting to changing conditions. Learning how California agriculture has succeeded in the past suggests that the state can maintain its dominant role as an agricultural producer in the future.
Learn more about several of the major California agricultural commodities and the issues and opportunities they face in this new, second edition of California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues. Read the book for free online as part of the Giannini Foundation's Information Series (20-01) at https://giannini.ucop.edu/publications/cal-ag-book/. A paperback copy of the 414-page book can be ordered for $55 at http://bit.ly/CalAgBook2ndEd. – By Ria DeBiase, Communications Director, Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
The Giannini Foundation was founded in 1930 from a grant made by the Bancitaly Corporation (later renamed Bank of America) to the University of California. Its mission is to promote and support research and outreach activities in agricultural economics and rural development to benefit the agricultural industry, policymakers, and society at large. Giannini members include University of California faculty and Cooperative Extension Specialists in agricultural and resource economics. Learn more about the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics at https://giannini.ucop.edu.
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Event Horizons
Dubai's status as an events hub is cemented with Dubai World Trade Centre's busiest autumn season yet, with more than 1.2 million visitors anticipated
Dubai has built a formidable reputation as a global events destination over the past five years, with the city staging a wide range of trade and consumer exhibitions, conferences, and live entertainment and shows that pull in millions of visitors annually.
The biggest contributor to this fast-growing industry is Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), which in 2015 reported a 12% year-on-year increase in traffic to 2.74 million delegates and attendees, coupled with a 17% hike in exhibiting companies.
The entity's stellar performance has continued in 2016 and as DWTC embarks on its autumn events season it is anticipating attracting more than 1.2 million regional and international visitors over the next four months alone (September to December 2016).
DWTC will host more than 100 exhibitions, conferences, trade and entertainment events during this period including some of the UAE's mega shows – Cityscape Global, GITEX Shopper, GITEX Technology Week, Gulfood Manufacturing, Big 5, Dubai International Jewellery Week – in addition to a wide range of events catering to strategic industries aligned to the economic diversification focus of the UAE and Dubai.
"As we go into another busy events season, we look forward to hosting a diversified events calendar that will connect businesses from around the world. Our aim is to continue to provide the most conducive international platform where businesses from the East and West can showcase their work, find the right partners, and see a tangible return on investment - driving economic growth and creating value," says Ahmed Alkhaja, senior vice president – venues, DWTC.
"Last year, DWTC contributed a record AED12 billion (US$2.46 billion) in retained value toward Dubai's economy, and our priorities will continue to be aligned with the emirate's wider priorities for economic diversification, sustainably driving long-term returns for the MICE industry and building on our contribution to the GDP."
Show stoppers
Returning to DWTC from 6 to 8 September was the landmark 15th edition of Cityscape Global, which hosted major developers and international exhibitors from 30 countries, including significant pavilions from Turkey, Bahrain, the UK and new participants from Pakistan. The show, which attracted more than 40,000 visitors, highlighted the latest trends in global real estate and showcased worldwide projects.
From real estate to another mega industry, travel and tourism, which according to the Minister of Economy, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, contributed AED134 billion ($27.44 billion) to the UAE's domestic product in 2015 and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.4 percent annually over the next 10 years.
The Leisure Show and The Hotel Show running parallel at DWTC from 17 to 19 September this show will support a growing sector. The shows will provide decision makers and professionals a platform to discuss industry trends, developments and market intelligence across key areas of the hospitality industry.
An exciting upcoming addition to the DWTC calendar is the theatrical circus performance, Cirque Du Soleil – Varekai, which has garnered international acclaim and mesmerised more than eight million people worldwide since it first premiered in Montreal in 2002. Running from 16 to 26 September, the spectacular show will feature high-flying acrobatics and breath-taking stunts from 50 performers and musicians from 19 different countries.
From 26 to 28 September, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) will be bringing the 2016 edition of its Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) to the Middle East for the first time in the event's 92-year history. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event will draw upon the expertise of leading international oil and gas professionals, featuring current applications and emerging technologies within all phases of exploration and production (E&P). The conference element will provide an unparalleled opportunity for learning and collaboration at workshops, forums, and training courses, while the concurrent exhibition will showcase latest technologies from around the world.
The demand for the latest consumer electronics has grown significantly in the Middle East, and supporting this demand, GITEX Shopper is set to return to DWTC from 1 to 8 October, bringing together the top technology retailers, brands and distributors under one roof. The mega show will once again feature unrivalled offers on electronic devices from established local retailers and world-renowned brands.
The UAE also continues to remain at the forefront of technological innovation with game-changing initiatives, such as the first fully 3D printed office building and the Dubai Future Endowment Fund, which dedicates AED1 billion ($205 million) to support innovative projects in the emirate. Under the theme 'Reimagining Realities', GITEX Technology Week, which will be held from 16 to 20 October 2016, will redefine how technology can transform businesses through cutting-edge showcases, international keynotes and dignitaries from around the globe in attendance. The new GITEX Startup Movement, set to be the most global event of its kind, connecting more than 400 entrepreneurs and 250 investors and mentors from more than 55 countries, will be launched at the 2016 event.
With a 15,500 square metre extension to the indoor complex space, bringing the multipurpose indoor event and exhibition capacity to more than 122,000 square metres, DWTC is fulfilling its role as a creator of business opportunities, supporting the growth of the regional MICE industry while delivering sustainable economic growth, in line with the UAE Vision 2021.
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Eastern Busway
The Eastern suburbs of Auckland have grown quickly, with particularly rapid population growth over the last 30 years. The current population of 130,000 is projected to grow to approximately 160,000 by 2030.
While improvements have been made to services, further and substantial infrastructure changes are needed to cater for this past and projected future growth.
The AMETI (Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative) Eastern busway will create a dedicated, congestion-free busway between Panmure, Pakuranga, and the Botany town centres. The project also includes the Reeves Road flyover connecting Pakuranga Road with Pakuranga Highway.
The busway is supported by new cycling and walking connections, urban design improvements, safety and signal improvements at key intersections, and more.
National's Commitments
National will ensure the completion of all four stages of this project, including the promised Reeves Road flyover, as originally envisaged and which the community expects.
This will deliver the following benefits:
Travel by bus and train between Botany and Britomart in less than 40 minutes.
Two new stations at Pakuranga and Botany (in addition to Panmure).
New cycling and walking connections, urban design enhancements, and improvements for general traffic such as advanced signalling at important intersections.
A new flyover connecting Pakuranga Road with Pakuranga Highway which will provide better travel options and reduce congestion for general traffic.
The 2017 Indicative Business case forecast the cost at $1.4 billion.
Timing and sequencing
Construction is currently set to occur in four stages and is due to be completed in 2025.


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Old Umbrella Shop
Old Umbrella Shop, Launceston
Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, the heritage-listed Old Umbrella Shop in George Street, Launceston is a rare glimpse into Tasmania's retail history and heritage. Although not Launceston's oldest shop, it is distinctive not only because it has a well-preserved street frontage, but because it still contains many Victorian-style blackwood shop fittings.
This charming old shop in Launceston is one of the last surviving retail experiences of the early 1900s and is a rare example of an intact early twentieth century store, including the original till. Originally the shop was opened as a grocery store in the 1860s, before being operated by the Shott family between 1921 and 1978. Three generations of the Shott family ran the store, selling their handmade umbrellas and repairing umbrellas. Initially, the Shotts were in the shop next door.
The land on which the shop was built was first granted to surveyor Thomas Scott, and was used as a grocery store during the next decade. In the 1880s the owner was Daniel Corcoran who operated a business called the White House Grocery.
Robert Walter Shott was born in England in 1858. After living in New Zealand, he emigrated to Melbourne in the late 1880s and established an umbrella shop in St Kilda. He later moved to Tasmania, where he opened another umbrella shop at 64 George Street, Launceston. An advertisement in the Examiner in December 1909 gave a vivid description -
For men, twill silk with 18 carat gold-mounted ivory handle for 30s, it was made on the best frame from Hoyland's ribs so it could be covered again and again.
Silver mounted handles have reliable Partridge stems and Fox's Paragon frames and are equally strong and durable, but cheaper than the gold mountings.
Ladies umbrellas are also mounted beautifully in 18 carat gold and sterling silver on ivory or pearl handles with cable chains to slip over the wrist.
The greatest of all novelties is the 'spring opening' where with just a touch, the umbrella simply opens itself, slips into its slot and remains securely open until the spring is touched and it slides down to close . All kinds of beautiful silks in floral panels, striped, checked and patterned silks and satins as well as black and white are in plentiful stock ranging in price from 4 shillings, 6 pence to 12 shillings, 6 pence and upwards.
Shott's specialty umbrella was the 'automatic frame'; it was flexible, easy to adjust but impossible to blow inside out in bad weather. Prices ranged from 6s 6d to two and three guineas. Expensive in those days.
Business flourished and the shop moved to 60 George Street. Shott introduced souvenirs in 70 different timbers - boxes for playing cards, bookends, peppers and salts, desk sets, mirrors, candlesticks and many more. Some of these made suitable presentation gifts. A blackwood walking stick was given to the Prince of Wales when he visited Tasmania.
Robert Walter's son, Robert William Shott, joined the business in the 1920s and built upon his father's reputation for highly skilled workmanship. R Shott & Son began selling and eventually making their own Tasmanian blackwood souvenirs. Many of these were marked with a round paper label on the base and a small silver map of Tasmania on the side.
Robert William's son, John William Robert, joined the family business in the 1940s. John trained in French polishing and became an expert machinist, while his sister Dare provided valuable assistance repairing and sewing decorative motifs onto umbrellas. Every civic guest to Launceston after World War II was said to have been presented with a handmade wood souvenir from Shott & Son.
R Shott & Son Tasmanian souvenirs replaced souvenir ware previously imported from Europe, particularly ceramic wares emblazoned with transfers of local scenes. Shott & Son's affordable range included everyday products such as eggcups, ashtrays and napkin rings and more decorative items such as clocks, walking sticks and presentation boxes.
The present-day shop, now owned and operated by the National Trust, continues to sell a large range of umbrellas and souvenirs, most of which are made on the premises; it also has permanent historical displays in addition to a variety of National Trust and Tasmanian-made products. It is now run by a group of about 85 volunteers, who are full of valuable information.
The front of the building remains a shopfront, as it always has been. The Shott family lived above their shop during their time there, but these days there are legal offices above the Old Umbrella Shop. Most of the original fittings from the site's 1920 opening are still intact. The shop attracts tourists from around the world, with people impressed because it is unique and a step back in time.
Mr President, the volunteers have a wall of brochures in the shop as well as their own local knowledge to share with visitors, focusing predominantly on the north and the Tamar Valley.


A design of detection system using closed loop information processing strategy in multiple model framework is treated. The proposed detection system should simultaneously generate decisions and auxiliary input signal which can improve fault detection. The design of detection system is formulated as an optimization problem based on the assumption that the measurements will be available in the future. Then the dynamic programming can be utilized for the minimization of a considered criterion. A significant special case where the relation between the auxiliary input signal and the decision is given a priori is analyzed.
Šimandl, M. ; Punčochář, I. ; Herejt, P.


We are surrounded by wood: a cherry hardwood floor, a red maple ceiling, white oak doors, a black locust deck.
But most of the panels, posts and beams are pine – Leopold Pine, a reference to the thousands of evergreens planted by the legendary environmentalist in the 1930s and 1940s, in what is today the Leopold Memorial Reserve, northeast of Baraboo, between the Wisconsin River and I-90/94.
The new $5 million Leopold Legacy Center, on the reserve's eastern edge, will open on Earth Day, April 22. It is about one-half mile from The Leopold Shack, a national landmark, revered worldwide because of "A Sand County Almanac," Leopold's 1949 ode to conservation and respect for the land.
Inside, a visitor center of modest size contains interpretive materials and a PBS-produced video, to acclimate travelers to Leopold's work and land ethic. Outside will be a three-season classroom, to teach conservation principles and coach volunteers. The topic could be using a chainsaw properly, dealing with invasive species, managing a prescribed prairie burn.
Environmentalists and work parties will meet here. Researchers will use the center's library materials. Administrative offices also are a part of the 14-acre complex.
"We don't envision ourselves as a tourist destination, per se, but Leopold's life and ideas really need to penetrate a wider circle of people," Huffaker says.
What is not wood is glass – skylights that invite sunshine indoors, windows that frame a towering grove of trees.
"Only seven sticks of wood are not from here," Huffaker says, with a hint of exasperation, regarding the building construction. He points to a septet of trusses in the administrative wing and shrugs. "Long story," he says.
Throughout are timbers that are sturdy and smooth but full of knots and blemishes. Had this been a traditional house project, many of the wood planks would have been deemed unusable, only because of their appearance. "We're suggesting a new aesthetic," where natural flaws have character value.
The harvesting of trees from the Leopold Reserve also is woodlands restoration; the forest is thinned so the remaining trees can thrive. Stone for fireplaces and the exterior is either from a nearby quarry or reclaimed from a Madison project.
"We wanted to robustly and efficiently use these precious materials that are available to us," Huffaker explains, but the foundation also addresses energy issues in an aggressive manner.
A goal is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at the platinum level, the highest level of sustainable design possible, and a distinction not yet earned for any building in Wisconsin.
What does this mean? "It's a net zero building," Huffaker says. "We will produce as much as we'll consume in energy" because of a rooftop of solar panels, underground "earth tubes" for building ventilation, geothermal heat and other conservation measures.
The designer is Kubala Washatko Architects of Cedarburg, whose specialty is environmentally friendly buildings.
The foundation's intent is to open the new center to the public on Thursdays through Saturdays, with tours at 1 p.m. (reservations advised) and self-guided touring.
Visitors are welcome from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 for tours, seminars and remarks by several speakers, including Nina Leopold Bradley, daughter of the environmentalist.
Huffmaker says there is a growing interest in Leopold's life and philosophy, based on an increase in Leopold book sales, and "exponential growth" of citations of Leopold's work and writings.
"If we had seen a decline, I don't think we'd have thrown ourselves into this effort," he says.
The foundation's Land Ethic Campaign has reached $7.25 million of its $7.75 million goal. For more about Aldo Leopold Foundation projects and programs: www.aldoleopold.org, 608-355-0279. The Leopold Legacy Center is at E13701 Levee Road, two miles east of the roads intersection with Hwy. T.
Sunday is the last day to cast your vote at www.wondersofwisconsin.com, to help determine which destinations in the state are Wonders of Wisconsin. The website also will be the place to see winners of the competition. Prizes will be awarded, at random, to some of the people who cast a ballot.