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H&M Disclosing Supplier List Along with Sustainability Progress
Mike Hower
H&M for the first time has made its supplier factory list public alongside its annual sustainability report, released last week.
The fashion apparel company says publishing the list is an effort to build a more transparent, sustainable fashion industry and covers 95 percent of its total production volume. H&M offered incentives programs and formed strategic bonds with suppliers to encourage them to voluntarily open up. The suppliers hail from several dozen countries in Europe and Asia, including Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, China, India and Sri Lanka, among others.
The report also highlights H&M's clothing collection initiative, which gives customers the opportunity to return old clothes from any brand and in any condition in exchange for a discount voucher. The company says it hopes to one day close the textile loop and make clothes out of the recycled garments.
H&M is the biggest user of certified organic cotton in the world for the second year running, according to the report. The company is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative and currently acquires more than 11 percent of its cotton supply from organic and recycled sources.
Other achievements include raising support for higher wages and yearly wage reviews for garment workers in Bangladesh and launching a global water stewardship program with WWF. The company also reported 74 percent of its managers and half its board members are women.
On the energy front, the company says it has reduced the electricity intensity of its stores by 15 percent since 2007 and is on track to meeting its 20 percent reduction goal by 2020.
"We are proud of the achievements we have made during the year," said H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson. "We are transparent about the progress we make and the report is an important part of that. Our customers should feel confident that everything they buy from H&M is designed, manufactured and handled with responsibility for people and the environment."
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Apparel/Fashion/Textiles
Published Mar 25, 2013 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT / 1am GMT / 2am CET
Head of Client Engagement
thinkPARALLAX
Forget EPR: Researchers Outline Blueprint for 'Ultimate Producer Responsibility' for E-waste
BIER Guides Beverage Companies on Water Circularity
'Our Waters' Documentary Highlights One Community's Fight to Protect Its Coast from Commercial Exploitation


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Aliabad (, also Romanized as 'Alīābād; also known as 'Alīābād-e Chehel Gazī, 'Alīābād-e Ernān, and Deh Aliābād) is a village in Ernan Rural District, in the Central District of Mehriz County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 332, in 100 families.

References

Populated places in Mehriz County

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Hi, this is a project i've been working on for a bit, New-ish to Sudo mod, I had an account at somepoint, but then idk what happened to it, I forgot to change my email after I had to change it after some scary stuff happened.
Thickness goal is 18mm, screen is a regular 3.5" composite monitor I already modded to 5v. I plan to use a PI0W, so I can have bluetooth and wifi. I plan to use gpio for the buttons, and usb audio, and possibly hdmi out.


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International Institute of Welding Taps Lincoln Electric's Harry Sadler to Chair Shipbuil...
International Institute of Welding Taps Lincoln Electric's Harry Sadler to Chair Shipbuilding Committee
Sadler Brings Four Decades of Arc Welding Expertise to IIW Leadership Role
Harry Sadler, manager, Military and Shipbuilding, at Lincoln Electric
CLEVELAND - Harry Sadler, manager, military and shipbuilding, at Lincoln Electric has been appointed to chair the International Institute of Welding's Select Committee on Shipbuilding. In addition to having spent more than 40 years gaining expertise in arc welding methods and processes at Lincoln Electric, Mr. Sadler has a long history of involvement in technical societies. His leadership roles have included serving on the Welding Research Council Board of Directors and as Section Chair of the American Welding Society. He is also a life member of the American Welding Society.
As the newly appointed IIW chair, Mr. Sadler brings a strong background in such process solutions as welding equipment, welding process control, new welding techniques and the relationship of these solutions with design, productivity, quality, cost and training. In his new role with IIW, Mr. Sadler says he will seek innovative ways to increase quality and reduce costs for shipbuilders worldwide, despite the challenges of an increasingly competitive market.
"My focus will be bringing to global shipbuilders the latest scientific and technical information on new technology and improved manufacturing methods and material handling concepts, all with the objective of helping them grow their businesses," Mr. Sadler said.
Mr. Sadler's service on IIW's Select Committee on Shipbuilding (SC-SHIP) represents Lincoln Electric's ongoing global support of the welding industry.
About IIW
The International Institute of Welding (IIW) was founded in 1948 and is recognized as the largest worldwide network for welding and allied joining technologies, boasting a current membership of 55 countries. The IIW's mission is to act as the worldwide network for knowledge exchange of joining technologies to improve the global quality of life.
About Lincoln Electric
Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 42 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric, its products and services, visit the company's website at www.lincolnelectric.com.
Robin Suttell – rsuttell@fallscommunications.com or 216.696.0229
Cristy Coté – ccote@fallscommunications.com or 216-472-2383
Cécile Mayer – c.mayer@iiwelding.org or +33 1 4990 3608
Lisa Busby-Montenegro – lisa@iiwelding.org or +33 1 4990 5159
shipbuilding iiw

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


NAB 2016 Sales List – Hurry – Several Offers Ending Soon!
The following is a list of NAB sale offers, along with currently active sales that will run through NAB.
Details: 15% Off All Products, Including Upgrades. Note: Limit 1 item per end-user.
Details: Save 30% on All Products, including Lock & Load for FCPX and CoreMelt V2 Plugin Set.
Details: 25% Off (Reg: $330 SALE: $247.50) Camera tracking and digital content integration.
Details: Upgrade to Edius Pro 8 or Workgroup 8 from any Edius version & Save.
Details: 15% Off mocha Pro and mocha Plus New Licenses and Upgrades. Save time and solve difficult post-production problems.
Details: Save on New Purchases and Upgrades of RX 5 Standard/Advanced, and RX Post Production Suite.
Details: 50% Off Classic Pack Bundle, Native and HD versions. contains McDSP Analog Channel, CompressorBank, FilterBank, MC2000 Multi-band Compressor.
Details: 25% off Mercalli V4 SAL+ Video Stabilizer + Dynamic CMOS Correction (Reg: $199.95 SALE: $149).
Details: 60% off All Products (Download Only, does not apply to HDs). Includes Transitions, Motion Graphics Elements, VFX Tools and More.
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Details: 35% off Individual Products and Upgrades; 10% Off Bundles. Save on ProAnimator v8, 3D Invigorator Pro and More.


The House of Deputies and House of Bishops met together Friday morning and afternoon for the official nomination of presiding bishop nominees and to discuss issues of structure and governance.
This meeting was not strictly constitutional, as many deputies noted during Thursday night's meeting of the Committee on Structure and Governance.
The Primate of Brazil, the Most Rev. Francisco de Assis da Silva, addressed the joint gathering first, highlighting the bonds between the two churches and the need for cooperation.
After his address, the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the 27th Presiding Bishop announced the four nominees. The floor was open for discussion, but no one stepped forward.
The assembled bishops and deputies were asked to name five aspects of each major structure of the church that enable their ministry, and five they would change. The discussion moved sequentially from General Convention to Executive Council and staff, then to provinces, and then to dioceses.
The Convention broke into small groups comprising two deputations each, which were encouraged to send their suggestions by email or Twitter (using #gcgas).
The conversation was hard to follow, given the division of the Convention into small groups, and the inability of deputies or the press to circulate among bishops and deputies. The Twitter conversation was consumed by dozens of suggestions of change.
Committee members will have their work cut out for them when they gather all of these responses.


Glancing for a moment at a history of Ka-Bar knives, we can see that part of what makes this brand so famous was the part it played in World War II. From their humble beginnings, to their growth and development, to their present day standing as a leading knife manufacturer, read all about Ka-Bar right here!
My daily essentials include a designer purse and my tactical folding Mtech knife. Ladies, having a knife for every day carry (EDC) isn't just for the guys! Knives provide great use and defense for any number of different situations you could face in your day-to-day life. Read all bout the Mtech knife here, one of the best multi-purpose knives you could imagine!
Different Spyderco blade shapes serve different purposes, so always be aware of your particular needs when setting forth to purchase a knife. From Reverse S, to Assist, to Sheepfoot, we've got all of the best blade shapes covered from the world class knife manufacturer, Spyderco.


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Q: Looking for synonymous expressions for - to throw someone away like a used toothpick In my native (Georgian) language we have this colloquial saying - throw someone away like an eaten apple, meaning- to get rid of someone after having taken advantage of him/her in a dishonest way.
I have come across a few such sayings in English as well, like- to throw someone away like an old rug or used toothpick or spit someone out like a cherry stone, etc.
I have a question, are there any other such sayings and which one is used more frequently in English?

A: You could try:

Cast aside like an old glove
Discarded like trash
Tossed aside like an old sweater

There are probably more commonly used expressions, but I think you could get creative with this one if you wanted to!
See:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-thesaurus/cast-something-or-someone-aside

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It's been almost two weeks since a Cape Coral police officer crashed her car into the front of a home, and still no arrest.
It's been almost two weeks since a Cape Coral police officer crashed her car into the front of a home, and still no arrest.
Police say 33-year-old Emily Zyvoloski was three times the legal limit when she crashed into a home on Nicholas Parkway.
Zyvoloski was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and unable to take a sobriety test at the scene.
Police said they have not made any arrests because the crash is still under investigation.
"Typically our clients in the same situation get a notice to appear when there are serious injuries involved, and that can take anywhere from a week to three months after an accident," said criminal defense attorney Scott Moorey.
Moorey said medical personnel are protected to give law enforcement medical information, but police need to wait to subpoena medical records.
"It's a situation that will result in what I call notice to appear, which means she will not actually be placed in handcuffs," Moorey said.
ABC7 went through Zyvoloski's more than 600-page personnel file. In nearly 10 years, she was written up several times for violating policy but never for anything related to drugs or alcohol.
Zyvoloski was off-duty when she crashed and was not in a police car. She remains on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
You may remember when a man crashed his pickup into a Cape pool hall in the summer of 2015. The crash killed Ronald Gravel when the truck pinned him against the bar.
Investigators said early details revealed William Gulliver was five times the legal limit at the time of the crash. There were even empty beer bottles in his truck when he crashed into Diamond Billiards, but he wasn't arrested right away.
"Just because you have the blood and obviously it depends on the reading of what that is, that doesn't mean it's the only thing in your case," said former state attorney Brian Edwards.
Edwards explained that before charges are filed, investigators must be sure to cross all their T's and dot all their I's, because as soon as the handcuffs are on, the countdown begins for the right to a speedy trial.
Gulliver was eventually arrested and took a plea deal in the case. He'll spend seven years in prison and will not be allowed to drive again.


Break out the earplugs … BLACK has gone GOLD for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game will be available at North American retail outlets on February 28. BLACK has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB. Developed by Criterion Games, the team responsible for the award-winning Burnout series, BLACK casts gamers as Sergeant First-Class Jack Kellar, a seasoned veteran of the US military and the leader of a BLACK ops team sent to Eastern Europe to bring in a traitor. Forget stealth. BLACK sends players in all guns blazing and delivers overt Hollywood-style firefights and destruction set against the modern war on terror. In BLACK, gamers will quickly learn to abide by the five rules of guncraft: · The guns are the stars of the show – Let your massive arsenal of automatic weapons will do the talking. · Every bullet is your baby – Make every miss count. If you can't get a clean shot at your target bring down the roof on top of him. · Bigger and louder – why blow up something small when you can blow up something big? Why use a small gun when you can use a big one? · Leave a trail of destruction – Bullets pulverize plaster and splinter boards. Doors fly off hinges. If it's in the world it's there to be shot. · Death is an opportunity – Get creative with your kills. Catch an enemy in the shoulder and spin him around into the enemy behind him. Blow out the scaffolding below another.


Our Intrepid Song Leader, Lion Don Vineyard (#18), won the Tail Twister's pot on the first drawing. Our attendance was 18 members plus 3 guests. Rev. Jerry Wilcox, with the Jonesboro First Christian Church, was a guest of Lion Pat Snodgrass and Mr. Paul Holmes, with Northeast Arkansas Business Today, was a guest of the club.
The next Car Show Committee meeting will be at 6:30 PM at Forest Home Church of the Nazarene on March 10. Sponsors and Booth Vendors need to be contacted within the next two weeks.
Mayor Harold Perrin was our speaker this week and he made a most informative speech about city business and especially about the clean-up from the recent ice storm. March 22 has been set as the final day for the removal of limbs from off the parkways in Jonesboro. He also discussed the final work being done on Highway 63 to have the new designation of Interstate 555 and the construction of Highway 226 to Highway 67 to Little Rock. It is estimated that the population growth of Jonesboro will reach between 68,000 to 71,000 by the next census.


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Politics Filipino, Vietnamese troops to hold sports showdown on Spratlys
Filipino, Vietnamese troops to hold sports showdown on Spratlys
Friday, June 06, 2014 15:44 Email Print
A building on an island in the Spratly archipelago that belongs to Vietnam.
Filipino and Vietnamese troops will engage in a light-hearted round of sports diplomacy on islands in the Spratly archipelago, the Philippines said Thursday.
Basketball, beach volleyball and tug-of-war games will be held this weekend on tiny islands that are claimed by nations to show that rivals can still be friends, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said.
"This is camaraderie. That is a friendly gesture," del Rosario told reporters.
The games will be held in the Spratly archipelago, a powder keg area of the South China Sea that is coveted by the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
China claims nearly all of the sea, which is also believed to contain vast deposits of oil and gas, even waters approaching the coasts of its neighbors.
The Philippines and Vietnam have voiced growing alarm in recent years at what they perceive as China's bullying tactics in staking its claims to the sea.
This weekend's planned sports are intended to continue fostering a warmer relationship.
The games will be a tiny affair, with only a small number of soldiers taking part, according to Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda, head of the Philippines' western military command that has responsibility for the Spratlys.
But he said they would see Filipino soldiers cross over to a Vietnamese-held island for day one of the games, with the Philippines to host Sunday's events.
India PM offers Vietnam $500 million credit line for defense cooperation
Narendra Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Vietnam in 15 years
Philippine president 'responds positively' to Vietnam premier's visit invitation
French president hails preservation of Hanoi Old Quarter
Japan to provide patrol ships to Vietnam amid maritime row with China
Vietnam says all will lose in any South China Sea war


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You've been: Warned Warriors claim 57-run win to take series 2-0
Security first: Police officers told to shore up campaign against criminals
Accountable: Sanitation workers' salaries withheld for absenteeism
'The workers had been issued notices but they had not paid heed'
Our Correspondent November 12, 2015
Sanitary Workers. PHOTO: SHAHID BUKHARI
MULTAN: Rs5 million, which had been issued as October's salaries for sanitation workers of the Solid Waste Management Company, has been deposited back into the national exchequer by DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal. The DCO was told that the recipients of the salary had been absent from work or were fired earlier.
Gondal has instructed the Solid Waste Management Company's management to conduct an investigation into the company's 'ghost' employees.
Solid Waste Management Company Ahmad Shehriyar Managing Director said Rs5 million had been released as salaries of workers who had been absent or terminated. The salaries were not given to the workers and have been deposited in the national exchequer, he said.
Shehriyar explained that the employees had not shown up for work even though they had been issued several show cause notices and warnings. The company began the process of terminating "ghost" workers long ago, he said.
He said the chief secretary had ordered them to ensure presence of staff and that the workers would have to display their national identity cards to mark their presence. He said they would be given their salary after verification of their national identity card.
He said a system of attendance had been introduced to check the presence of workers.
Solid Waste Management teams would also conduct surprise checks to ensure presence of workers in the field.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2015.
Surprise visit: 'Teachers should ensure attendance'
Off duty : 13 jail staffers suspended for absenteeism


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Crew members or other systems may disturb during steering the ship. Every captain is from time to time in such a tricky situation and we provide them assistance through our control systems for yachts and ships. With these systems with integrated innovative technology they take over full control (remote, wireless and with joy-stick) based on the experience of the installation and operation on all major brands.
Free yourself from the conning position and enjoy the total freedom of movement around your yacht!


There is no other home like this in Elk Grove. This custom home sits on a large corner lot on a dead end cul-de-sac. When you first walk into the front door, you will be amazed by the beautiful large timber frames that create warmth throughout the main living space. The custom stacked rock fireplace with REAL rock hearth, goes from floor to ceiling. This home has that kitchen that you have always wanted. It is decked with unique granite counters, warm circle sawn fir floors, and has enough space that you could get lost. Little (important) details that shouldn't be missed are the aluminum clad windows, huge walk-in pantry, two headed shower in master bath, central A/C, large voltage central vacuum, 3 car garage, solid alder wood trim/doors and large windows. Borders trail system and backs to open space. Playground is across the street.
We do not have neighborhood information for 344 Annie Glade Dr.
Homes near 344 Annie Glade Dr have a median list price of $569,000 and a median price per square foot of $195.
344 Annie Glade Dr, Bozeman, MT 59718 is a single family home for sale listed on the market for 47 days. The median listing price for Bozeman at $425,000, is 70% greater than MT at $249,900. Nearby neighborhoods like Ramsay, Fairway Estates, West Shiloh and Pioneer Park have a median listing price of $335,000. This home has a three-car garage. There are similar and nearby single family homes for sale at 3360 S 23rd Ave, 3318 Fen Way and 577 Clifden Dr.


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Battery & Fuel Cell >
Battery researcher Jeff Dahn: Why the million-mile battery makes sense
Batteriesbattery cellsBattery researchDalhousie UniversityJeff DahnStationary storage potentialTeslaTwaice TechnologiesV2G
The battery research team around Jeff Dahn continues to work on the million-mile battery. As the Tesla battery researcher explained at an online conference, the actual goal is not to make an electric car drive 1.6 million kilometres with it but to be able to use the battery in V2G applications.
In essence, the work was already described back in October 2020, when Dahn and his team presented a cell that is supposed to last for around 10,000 cycles and would provide traction current for over three million kilometres. Dahn also referred to these results during his appearance at the battery software conference 'Twaice Vision', which was organised by the Munich-based battery analytics specialist Twaice.
In some conclusions, however, Dahn, who tuned in directly from his office at Dalhousie University, deviated from previous statements. In 2020, for example, Dahn had mentioned the use in autonomously driving taxi cabs with extremely high mileage as a possible field of application for such cells.
At the Twaice online conference broadcast from Munich, the battery researcher said that the use of such long-lasting cells in private cars is not only possible, but actually necessary in the future, although not to actually drive well over a million miles in an electric car with them.
"We have to do without fossil fuels," Dahn said during his presentation. "It is cheaper to install solar panels and wind power than coal. However, energy production is not so constant, so we need energy storage on a large scale."
V2G solves energy storage shortage
A good thing, he said, is that battery production worldwide will increase more than fivefold by 2030, starting from 2020. Here, the vast majority of announced and planned battery cell production capacity will be for all types of electric vehicles, from e-bikes to electric cars to battery-electric buses and trucks. "Growth will be driven by eMobility applications, less by energy storage," says Dahn.
In order to nevertheless be able to store corresponding amounts of energy in grid energy storages, the development of vehicle-2-grid (V2G) applications is inevitable, according to Dahn. With bidirectional charging, the storage capacity built into the electric car can be used for grid tasks: The consideration in and of itself is not new – most cars are stationary for most of the day.
According to the battery researcher, the cells must be suitable for this task. "If an EV battery is designed for 800 cycles, that is enough for most car applications, but it cannot be used well for V2G," says Dahn. He calculates 400 cycles per year for grid energy storage. "At 10,000 cycles, such a battery cell will last 25 years, which also matches the lifespan of solar panels and wind turbines," says the researcher.
To achieve such cycle resistance, Dahn's research team works with additives for the electrolyte. In the cell, the electrolyte reacts with the electrode materials over time, which is why a thin layer of reaction products is deposited on the surface of the anode and cathode. Since many of these reaction products contain lithium, they continue to enable the transport of lithium ions, yet the "solid electrolyte interphase" film ensures reduced ion transport. As the cell ages, the usable capacity decreases.
Reactive additives in the electrolyte are meant to reduce the reaction with the electrode material and thus the formation of this film. "Using these additives, with only a few percent by weight admixture, one can considerably extend the life of lithium-ion batteries," says Dahn.
Cells for stationary storage has different requirements than an electric car
Dahn's team is working with an NMC532 cell with a graphite anode. These cells are purchased dry, i.e. without electrolyte, from a Chinese supplier. The electrolyte is then mixed with the additives in the laboratory. "Finding the ideal mixture of additives is a huge challenge, and we spend a lot of time on it in the lab," says Dahn. Over several years, a combination of materials was developed that still reaches 90 percent of its original capacity after 12,000 cycles at room temperature.
Here it must be noted that such durability is currently only possible in the laboratory, and even that only with low charge and discharge powers. This cell was charged and discharged at 1C. With up to 3C, the durability is still above average, but nowhere near as good. However, operation at 1C is important for vehicle-to-grid applications when the car is charged or discharged at low power. Fast charging, however, also harms this durable battery in the long run.
At the end of his talk at 'Twaice Vision', Dahn reports on quite different challenges, namely, that if the cell chemistry lasts this long, other components like the housing, the module hardware or the battery management system will fail first. "We already had such a case in our lab that the charging equipment failed and we had to move the cell to a new environment," says Dahn.
Dalhousie University's research partnership with Tesla is exclusive and was renewed in January 2021. The Californian electric car maker is thus more than a simple third-party funder for the university. The first agreement was signed in June 2015, and officially the agreement, which began in 2016, was set to run until 2021. The current agreement runs until "at least 2026".
With reporting by Sebastian Schaal, Germany.
Source: Webcast conference
Umicore signs recycling agreement with ACC
Aston Martin interested in Britishvolt batteries
Ein Kommentar zu "Battery researcher Jeff Dahn: Why the million-mile battery makes sense"
Garry Rayner
Yes the issues are always the numbers of charging cycles available before batteries show capacity issues
This is what we are all seeing so solutions to this are key
https://www.electrive.com/2022/02/11/battery-researcher-jeff-dahn-why-the-million-mile-battery-makes-sense/


Native of Sarthe, she divides his time between the countryside and Paris where lives and works. Along with her career as painter she taught graphic arts for years at different high schools.
Graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, attended prestigious studios of painters such as Nallard, Chapelin-Midy and sculptors as Etienne Martin at the Beaux Arts in Paris.
Invited at the "Xeme Prix International d'Art Contemporain" in Monaco won the Grand Prix international.
Her pictures feature in private and public collections such as the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.


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Witchcraft, the Devil and Emotions in Early Modern England
Charlotte-Rose Millar
Published by Routledge, July 2017
Author: Charlotte-Rose Millar, Visiting Fellow 2017 – 2018, Conversions Project.
This book represents the first systematic study of the role of the Devil in English witchcraft pamphlets for the entire period of state-sanctioned witchcraft prosecutions (1563-1735). It provides a rereading of English witchcraft, one which moves away from an older historiography which underplays the role of the Devil in English witchcraft and instead highlights the crucial role that the Devil, often in the form of a familiar spirit, took in English witchcraft belief. One of the key ways in which this book explores the role of the Devil is through emotions. Stories of witches were made up of a complex web of emotionally implicated accusers, victims, witnesses, and supposed perpetrators. They reveal a range of emotional experiences that do not just stem from malefic witchcraft but also, and primarily, from a witch's links with the Devil. This book, then, has two main objectives. First, to suggest that English witchcraft pamphlets challenge our understanding of English witchcraft as a predominantly non-diabolical crime, and second, to highlight how witchcraft narratives emphasized emotions as the primary motivation for witchcraft acts and accusations.
https://www.routledge.com/Witchcraft-the-Devil-and-Emotions-in-Early-Modern-England/Millar/p/book/9781472485496
Ingenuity in the Making: Matter and Technique in Early Modern Europe
Witchcraft, the Devil and Emotions in Early Modern England: 5 questions to Charlotte-Rose Millar
Tags british history, early modern, gender history, religious history, witchcraft, women's history


As a business person or organisation, it is very important to understand that sales and marketing are two different things. Although, over the years, a lot of persons think that both are the same. In the actual sense, they are not. Although they had both be used interchangeably by many, that doesn't in anyway mean they are the same. In this article, we want to expose you to the major differences between sales and marketing.
Usually, for big firms, there is always a distinction between sales and marketing. This is because, they can afford the resources to employ/afford the services of sales and marketing teams. However, for most small businesses and firms, this distinction is lost of them. Irrespective of the general misunderstanding and mix up between these two, let's see the differences between sales and marketing. Read on.
So, let's look at the way to differentiate Sales Vs Marketing.
In very simple words, sales can be termed as a process which focuses or targets on individuals or small groups. Marketing on the other hand targets a larger group or the general public. Sales and marketing are different in their concepts in the sense that while sales would concentrate on smaller groups such as individuals; marketing would concentrate on larger groups such as groups from general public.
Marketing is characterized by several factors such as promotion of the products with the aid of marketing tools, creation of awareness among the members of the public about the use of the product, conduct of research and the like. A sale is not characterized by research or creation of awareness among the members of the public about the use of the product.
Marketing includes research (identifying needs of the customer), development of products (producing innovative products) and promoting the product (through advertisements) and create awareness about the product among the consumers. As such marketing means generating leads or prospects. Once the product is out in the market, it is the task of the sales person to persuade the customer to buy the product. Well, sales means converting the leads or prospects into purchases and orders.
Marketing aims at meeting consumer demands, whereas sales focuses on the fact whether consumer demands match the products. One of the most important differences between sales and marketing is that sales involves direct interaction whereas marketing is not about direct interaction, but it is all about indirect methods such as advertising, email marketing and viral marketing.
While marketing is aimed at longer terms, sales pertain to shorter goals. Marketing involves a longer process of building a name for a brand and pursuing the customer to buy it even if they do not need it. Where as sales only involve a short term process of finding the target consumer.
Selling in short can be called as the result of an action triggered by marketing. In other words you can say that a thorough marketing brings about a successful sale. If you are good in marketing you can be a good sales person too.
Why Different Sales VS Marketing?
It is very important to draw a line on where sales differs from marketing . That one is good in marketing doesn't necessarily mean the person can be good in sales, although it can be learned. Knowing these differences will help every business know how to plan themselves effectively to maximize sales and marketing.


Welcome to the 331st episode of Our Hen House, featuring Eric O'Grey with his story of double rescue. And Cynthia von Buhler presents The Illuminati Ball. As always, the award-winning, weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by us — Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan.
You'll hear how Eric O'Grey changed his life by adopting Peety (and a vegan diet). And artist, director, and playwright Cynthia von Buhler talks about her latest play, The Illuminati Ball, featuring plant-based fare and an animal-centric story line.
All that, vegan banter, and plenty of "Rising Anxieties," too! Pet your pets and let's get squawking!


This shabby chic style save the date card is perfect for announcing a summer wedding. We've created a collage design featuring a flower, rustic ribbon, a distressed hessian style background and, of course, lots of lovely floral print bunting.
The cards are also personalised with your names printed onto a distressed paper style label.


LAS VEGAS – Tate Rhoads and Kyle Lippincott knew they needed to do something special during Friday's Bullfighters Only qualifier if they were to advance to next week's BFO Las Vegas Championship.
They did. Both men started their fights at the Las Vegas Convention Center with flat-footed jumps. It paid off as Rhoads won Round 1 with an 84-point fight with WAR Fighting Bulls Wicked Ways; Lippincott was 83.5 in his bout with WAR's War Machine.
Now they will move on to fight at the BFO Las Vegas Championship, which takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com. It will feature a $50,000 purse and also include two more qualifiers that will advance through competition that takes place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
It was a similar type fight for Lippincott, who cleared his jump cleanly, then ran into a little trouble midway through the bout.
Now he'll be part of the first round of the tournament-style competition at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
"Last year I came in the qualifier round as well and made it to the last day before I got beat," Lippincott said. "To be in the championship to be able to play with everybody else is everything.
It takes high levels of self-worth to be successful in freestyle bullfighting, where men face athletic and aggressive animals that have been bred for this kind of competition.
"It means the world to me to get this win," Rhoads said. "My aunt and cousin were killed in a tragic car accident a couple weeks ago, and I wanted to come out here and do this for them.
Part of it is just being part of the top freestyle bullfighting organization in the world.
That includes next weekend's purse of $50,000, which helps make the BFO Las Vegas Championship the richest bullfight in the sport's history.


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The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse
An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue
Eatwell, Piu Marie
"One of the most notorious and bizarre mysteries of the Edwardian age, for readers who loved The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher. At the close of the Victorian era, as now, privacy was power. The extraordinarily wealthy 5th Duke of Portland had a mania for it, hiding in his horsedrawn carriage and creating tunnels between buildings to avoid being seen. So when, in 1897, an elderly widow asked the court to exhume the grave of her late father-in-law, T.C. Druce, under the suspicion that he'd led a double life as the 5th Duke, no one could dismiss her claim. The eccentric duke, Anna Maria was sure, had faked his death as Druce, and, therefore, her son should inherit the Portland millions. A lurid, decade-long case was born. Uncovering new archival treasures and offering a 'lively account of ... the lies, deceit, and hypocrisy of Victorian society' (The Times), Piu Marie Eatwell evokes an era in transition, when the rise of sensationalist media blurred every fact into fiction, and when family secrets and fluid identities pushed class anxieties to new heights"--Provided by publisher.
Publisher: New York : Liveright Publishing Corporation, a division of W.W. Norton & Company, 2015
Edition: First American edition
Characteristics: xiii, 338 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cm
Call Number: 941.0823092 EAT
Read more reviews of The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse at iDreamBooks.com
671books Aug 29, 2016
I loved this book. Once I started reading it, I could not put this book down. Hidden passages. A reclusive duke. Tales of being dead or not dead. Hidden families. All in all it makes for a great page turner.
I won't say much more here for fear of ruining the ending, but for fans of true crime, this is the story for you.
bibliotechnocrat Jun 12, 2016
File under too-unlikely-to-be-untrue. This narrative focuses on a convoluted court case in which potential inheritors squabble and scheme in an attempt to establish that the late 5th Duke of Portland in fact faked his own death and lived on as a furniture salesman. It's filled with delicious Victorian and Edwardian details and characters, lies, deceptions, illegitimacy, hypocrisy, and money. A fun read.
rpavlacic Mar 20, 2016
Secret passageways. Illegitimate children. Multiple claimants to a huge fortune. A double life. Not to mention the emergence of the exploitative tabloid media. All these add up to this early twentieth century story where truth truly is stranger than fiction ... except for the fact it really happened.
trotter73 Mar 06, 2016
A definite case of the truth being stranger than fiction.
Very interesting once the story gets moving..
jazpur Dec 26, 2015
Claim and counterclaim. Fact stranger than fiction. A very worthwhile rendition of a cause celebre in Edwardian society and the lengths gone to, by the aristocracy to cover up a scandal affecting the inheritance of the Portland Dukedom.
htliang Dec 03, 2015
This is a fascinating re-telling of the Druce-Portland affair in Edwardian London. Was the extremely wealthy 5th Duke of Portland really living a double (or triple) life as a middle class merchant? Did he have two secret wives and father eleven (or more) children?
An elderly widow appears at a British court in 1898 requesting that her father-in-law's coffin be exhumed to show that it is filled with lead. Her purpose is to enable her son to receive his rightful inheritance. Two photographs showed an uncanny resemblance between the two men. Both were eccentric, had skin conditions, refused to eat red meat, and possessed many wigs. The duke lived almost entirely in isolation either at his huge Welbeck Abbey estate or at his London residence (Harcourt House). He initiated the building of many underground tunnels and trapdoors which enabled him to leave unseen. He only communicated with servants by letterboxes placed outside his rooms. No-one knew if he was home or not.
There are more twists and turns in this story than in a work of fiction! There is mystery, madness, deceit, famous detectives, genteel ladies, and intrigue. The author has done an incredible amount of research to be able to produce such a detailed version of this gripping story. There are many photographs and drawings in the book to refer to as well. Highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the late Victorian/early Edwardian time period and likes to learn the details behind a story.
Portland, William John Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, Duke Of, 1800-1879 — Death and Burial
Eccentrics and Eccentricities — England — Biography
Privacy — Social Aspects — England — History — 19th Century
Secrecy — Social Aspects — England — History — 19th Century
Missing Persons — England — History — 19th Century
Fraud — England — History — 19th Century
Trials (Fraud) — England — History — 19th Century
Great Britain — History — Edward VII, 1901-1910 — Biography


Having been involved with with digital music since the very beginning, The Source is not only a pioneer of digital distribution, but is also a unique as a digital music aggregator. The Source has always been driven by the human side of music making, and that feeling has permeated the way we do business and look after our clients' music.
With The Source Content Editor, our web based platform, we can offer a completely unique and easy to use service that not only enables our clients to have access to all track and release data at any time, but also allows them to edit all their data online. From correcting a typo to creating an entire series of releases, this can all be done online with a simple to use system, meaning that the client is in complete control of all their data and releases at all times.
We believe in providing the best possible service for our clients across the board. We don't just deliver your tracks to the online stores (iTunes, Amazon Mp3, etc.), we also make sure that everything is done in the easiest and best possible way, because delivering a track is just the beginning. We check the promotion opportunities available for your releases, and with unique multi-layered accounting systems we can accommodate the most complex royalty contracts. We ensure that you and your clients are accounted to on time and, in today's global market, make sure that your music is doing its best for you.
Furthermore, with our unique array of services, The Source is so much more than a digital music aggregator! The Source is a music company which offers a multitude of logistical, creative, technical and IT solutions for musicians, labels and content owners alike.
The Source has always enjoyed a personal approach in the way we operate, and although we have an easy to use support system, for the more complex issues real people are always just a phone call away. And if you really want to, you can come and meet us! Just make an appointment to come and visit our offices and studios in The Netherlands.
And we are passionate about what we do. Throughout all the technical developments and new challenges over the years, we have never lost sight of the fact that everything always comes back to the music. Indeed, so passionate are we about what we do that we named our company so that we should never lose sight of what the music represents to what we do.
Music is at The Source of everything we do!


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April 2012 Horoscope Sagittarius
April 2012 Monthly Horoscope for Sagittarius
Your progeny have had a very ambitious and successful year, but since Mars entered retrograde on January 24, they have lacked ambition and confidence. Whatever you can do to give them encouragement would go a long way at this time. With a little advice and succor on your part they should have their old clarity of mind and self-confidence back by the 11th.
Your planet of love moves ahead on the 4th and the pace of your social activities accelerates exponentially. This month you seem to have an extraordinary clarity of mind and you are able to see to the root of any problems which may exist in your current relationship. You have the responsibility, and the means, to affect the sort of changes in your life that you've been longing for. Your love planet is in Pisces, your 4th house until the 17th. This causes you to feel a great deal of nostalgia with regard to your love life. You feel an almost insurmountable urge to return to an old flame, perhaps even someone who hurt you in the past but has come to realize the error of his or her ways. You long for the "good old days" with this person and this person also is longing to be with you. Though the path to a reunion could be complicated and fraught with hurdles, it is something that can be accomplished.
You are feeling the need for emotional support and closeness now, something that may be lacking in your current relationship. The practical problems surrounding your love life seem unimportant to you now. What is important is that feeling of love. If you have to live in a tent to make that happen, you'll do so and happily. You refuse to be shackled to an unhappy relationship simply because of practical considerations.
On the 17th Mercury enters Aries, your 5th house, bringing about a significant shift in your mood, particularly with regard to love and romance. As has been the case for the past month, you are now able to experience love at first sight. And miracle of miracles, this is not just infatuation, but will turn out to be the real thing. You may soon find yourself in the great romance of your life, one that is more relaxing and fun than anything you have previously known. This love is like one long honeymoon, a honeymoon that could last the rest of your life.
You may also experience a sudden and unexpected opportunity for career growth during April, particularly around the 23rd of the month. A career change or significant advancement in your current job are possibilities. This could not come at a better time!
The new romance headed your way could occur in the work place. A colleague, perhaps someone new on the scene, could well turn out to be "the one" you've been looking for. Someone in the health profession also could find your charm particularly attractive at this time. Be ready for anything.
Your health and romance are inextricably entwined now. Take care of yourself, stay fit, and be ready for the opportunity of a lifetime. You want to look good now because a wonderful thing is coming your way.
Horoscope 2023 Sagittarius Horoscope 2023 Chinese Horoscope 2023
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Sagittarius Tomorrow Horoscope Weekly Sagittarius Horoscope Monthly Sagittarius Horoscope Sagittarius Compatibility Horoscope Zodiac Sign Sagittarius
Comments: April 2012 Horoscope Sagittarius


Palazzo del Quirinale was initially built towards the end of the XVIth century as a summer residence for the popes, replacing in this function Palazzo Venezia. The new residence, while being, similarly to Palazzo Venezia, at a certain distance from the river to minimize the risk of contracting malaria, because of its position on the hill enjoyed to a greater extent the breeze which at sunset tempers the heat of the Roman summer days.
Enlarged and embellished by several popes, with Pope Clement XII (1730-40) the palace became the official residence of the pope. The palace was sacked by the French troops in February 1798: according to the chronicles even the doors were taken away: the French occupied the palace a second time in July 1809 when they arrested Pope Pius VII: however it was soon restored by the French administration as Rome, annexed to the French Empire, became its second capital and the palace became an imperial residence with an apartment for the Roi de Rome (King of Rome), the son of Napoleon born in 1811. The emperor himself was expected to visit Rome in 1812: he never came to Rome, as he headed instead towards the third Rome, Moscow, where his star began its declining course.
Pius VII returned to Palazzo del Quirinale in May 1814 and the palace became even more than in the past the papal residence as the conclaves of 1823, 1829, 1831and 1846 were held there and the announcements of the new pope were made from its balcony (Loggia delle Benedizioni), designed by Bernini.
When the Italian troops arrived on September 20, 1870, Pope Pius IX, while claiming the illegitimacy of the Italian occupation, preferred to retire to the Vatican. The Quirinale, as the palace is commonly called, then became the residence of the King of Italy and after 1946 of the President of the Republic.
... the solemnity of the portal designed in 1615 by Carlo Maderno for Pope Paul V Borghese is interrupted by a tiny irreverent mask almost hidden in a little case below the inscription celebrating the completion of the portal itself.
The domes of its churches, the obelisks and the fountains of its squares, the statues of saints, angels and virtues, the gigantic coats of arms of the popes and the inscriptions celebrating their achievements all contribute to the grandeur and pomp of Rome. But those same popes and artists who wanted and designed these monuments included a sort of antidote against their works being taken too seriously: a laughing mask was very often hidden in works of art designed between 1550 and 1750.
The image you see in the background of this page shows a mask hidden in a fountain designed by Giovanni Vasanzio for Pope Paul V.
Bernini decorated Palazzo Barberini with a traditional frieze, but while the triglyphs (maybe you wish to consult my glossary) are designed according to the canons of classical architecture, the reliefs of some metopes are pretty unusual: they portray masks in different moods in a frame of bat wings: it is difficult to understand why in a palace meant to testify to the glory of the Barberini, both the family and Bernini agreed to include these reliefs, but one has to remember that the most celebrated statue by Bernini Apollo and Dafne is a metaphor of illusion, of the possibility of something not being what we believe it is.
Bernini often hid masks in the lower part of a coat of arms. The eight coats of arms he designed for the baldaquin in St. Peter's all have masks in different attitudes. He personally sculptured the laughing mask of the coat of arms of Innocent X Pamphilj in Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in Piazza Navona. Bernini hid a slightly mysterious mask, maybe an Egyptian prince, in the pedestal he designed for the obelisk in Piazza della Minerva.
Many other coats of arms show hidden masks: they can be seen not only in the coats of arms designed during the Baroque period, but also in those of the XIXth and XXth centuries.
The portal of Palazzo del Quirinale is not the only one to be decorated with a mask. In some cases, rather than being hidden, they constitute the main decoration of the portal. Palazzo Cerri has a very strange mask which portrays a man in the act of waking up and yawning: in addition to the mask at the center of the portal the folds of the lateral decorations design a threatening face.
Occasionally one mask was not thought to be enough. Flaminio Ponzio who designed in 1612-14 the side of Palazzo Borghese overlooking the Tiber included three masks in the corbels supporting the balcony. While the central and the lower masks can be seen from all viewpoints, the upper one can be noticed only from below.
Even churches were decorated with masks, although they could hardly be considered a Christian symbol.
The masks are usually ignored in the description of the monuments of Rome, nevertheless they contribute to make more human a city which has an excess of sanctity and glory.
You may wish to see a page on similarities between the monuments of Rome and those of Florence.


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Home News DAMNATION ANGELS Reveal New Song 'Fiber Of Our Being
DAMNATION ANGELS Reveal New Song 'Fiber Of Our Being
Posted on 31st May 2020
Comments Off on DAMNATION ANGELS Reveal New Song 'Fiber Of Our Being
UK symphonic metal act DAMNATION ANGELS have revealed their new track 'Fiber Of Our Being'. The song is the title track of their impending third album, which is due for release on 31st July 2020. Hear DAMNATION ANGELS 'Fiber Of Our Being' via the YouTube clip below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GByKwBpgNg&w=560&h=315]
The album is the first to feature vocal powerhouse Iggy Rod (Azeroth) and bassist Nic Southwood who joined after the release of the album "The Valiant Fire". Alongside the release will be the bands first ever music video, directed by Sitcom Soldiers (The Darkness, Feeder). 2020 promises to be their biggest year yet.
The new album can be pre-ordered here: https://damnationangelsmerch.bigcartel.com/product/fiber-of-our-being-cd
'Fiber Of Our Being' will also be available digitally worldwide via all major outlets on July 31st, 2020.
1. More Than Human
2. Railrunner
3. Fiber Of Our Being
4. Our Last Light
5. Rewrite The Future
6. Fractured Amygdala
7. Greed And Extinction
8. Remnants Of A Dying Star
9. A Sum Of Our Parts
In 2020 DAMNATION ANGELS returns with their highly anticipated new album "Fiber Of Our Being" which was mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios (Cradle Of Filth, Vader, Amon Amarth). The cover art was made by Sabercore23art.
DAMNATION ANGELS is:
William Graney – Guitas
Iggy Rodriguez – Vocals, Guitar
John Graney – Drums
Nic Southwood – Bass
With a nifty brand of gothy symphonic metal, I sense that greatness awaits" Bruce Dickinson
Formed in Britain late 2006, DAMNATION ANGELS set out to create a new benchmark in symphonic metal.
The band began by releasing their debut e.p Shadow Symphony in 2009, receiving rave reviews from critics stating that the band are "the brightest spark to emerge upon the UK scene in a very long time" and are "comparable with mega acts such as Avantasia and Blind Guardian".
Following the release the band struck a deal with Radtone Records (Japan) and released their debut album "Bringer Of Light" in Japan. A worldwide release followed in 2013 when the band struck a multi album deal with Massacre Records (Germany).
Bringer Of Light gained acclaim and topped Amazon charts worldwide, breaking into the top 100 downloads for all music in Germany. The success and reception of Bringer Of Light propelled the band to play outside of the UK for the very first time at the prestigious ProgPower USA Festival and a European tour with Andromeda.
The bands follow up album "The Valiant Fire" was released in 2015 followed by back to back European tours with progmetal legends Threshold. The album again received rave reviews, featured in magazines and press with Metal Hammer's Dom Lawson stating "The gleaming grandeur of new album "The Valiant Fire" marking them out as meticulous masters of the form".
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If you want to share multiple links (such as 10 YouTube videos) with your friends, you can put the links in a blog post like this and then share your post with your friends, but which will take a few time, depending on what post you are going to write.
Another easy way is to pack the 10 video links into one URL with BridgeURL, which is a free web-based application for you to share multiple links with one URL.
Below is how BridgeURL works.
On the home page, you enter a title (which will be a part of the generated URL), and paste your links (one per line), then click the "Create Link" button.
When you share the generated URL with your friends, they will see all the pages of the links in slide show format, such as this.
You can click the navigation button on the left or right to view the pages of the links one by one. Besides slide shows, you can also view all the pages of the links in new windows.
Click the "View In One Page" button in the bottom toolbar of BridgeURL slide show, then you can open the links one by one or all at once.
Since BridgeURL uses iFrames to display links, the slide show format will be not workable for Facebook, MySpace, PayPal and some other websites, but you can also share multiple links from those websites with one URL.
This entry was posted in Other Free Nuts and tagged links, URL. Bookmark the permalink.


Welcome to the third review in pieces. Today I will be reviewing Champions Online levels 11-15. Stay tuned after the jump to find out if the review has gone up or down since last time.
Welcome to the second review in pieces. Today I will be reviewing Champions Online levels 6-10. Will the review be better or worse as you ascend the ranks in Cryptic's second Superhero MMO? Find out after the jump.
I recently downloaded the demo for Champions Online and the trial for City of Heroes. I call what Champions Online offers a demo because it is ONLY the tutorial area. That is levels 1-5, with the ability to get to level 15 (or so I have heard) by grinding level 2 aliens.
City of Heroes offers a more traditional MMO trial. It lasts 14 days and as far as I know has no level restrictions. The usual deal applies here, so you won't be whispering anyone, trading or talking in general chat for the most part, but those aren't really necessary to decide if you want to pick up a game, at least not right away.
Let's get the age difference out of the way first. City of Heroes is showing it's age. The graphics aren't terrible by any means, but when compared to Champions Online it looks dated.
That is if you like the graphic style of Champions Online at all. The cell shading is a huge point of contention with fans of the two games, though I can't really see why. I don't know how people can be fans of comic books enough to want to play a super hero game, and yet not like the cartoony look. Then again maybe they are fans of super hero movies.


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The all important exam season is one of the most satisfying times of the year. Months of preparation and hard work have been based around this focal period of exams, and students really start maturing once they realise that education is really about putting dedicated and hard work.
But it's not all plain sailing and as exams kick in, some students are prone to anxiety and stress more than others. Managing this is all important as months of preparation and hard work could be ruined by last minute nerves. Exam anxiety and stress are a normal part of the whole exam process. And being able to focus and then sit the exams is itself a journey that students need to take. They come out of the other side with a real sense of achievement and more maturity once they have gone through this trial by fire.
Provide meals at the right times (for parents), eat at all the right times (for students).
Make sure you are drinking water – easier to drink with a straw. It is summer and winter drinking habits will cause dehydration, we need more water in the summer.
NO junk food : The temptation to eat pizza, chips and sugary treats is highest during times of stress. This needs to be avoided at all costs. Simple home cooked meals are best.
Early nights – The brain is so full on information at this point that it needs a lot of hours of sleep to process and rest. Last minute cramming is not a good idea at all. Please do not do this!
No screens/iPhone an hour before bed (wishful thinking I know – pigs will fly!) – At the very least students can switch their screens to "night mode" which is a lot less aggressive on the eyes at night.
Mindful exercises – Count deep breaths in and out for one minute before attempting any past papers. Practice past papers in different locations to get familiar with the unfamiliar. I always tell my students that your real paper should feel like your 15th past paper.
Lastly, good luck with exams, they will be all over soon!
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged #exams2016, exam anxiety, exam stress on May 26, 2016 by Atul Rana.


The National Transportation Safety Board investigated around 1,500 aviation accidents and incidents in 2018, several hundred of which involved fatalities. Plane crashes are some of the costliest and deadliest types of accidents, and special laws apply to injury victims and their families trying to recover compensation for the negligence of a pilot, airline or airplane manufacturer. The West Virginia aviation accident attorneys at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson have the skills, resources, and tenacity needed to take on airplane owners and manufacturers and recover much-needed compensation after a plane crash. From amateur-built and ultralight craft to, small private planes and international airlines, our Martinsburg lawyers handle aviation accident claims from Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport to Washington Dulles and everywhere in between.
Typically after a personal injury accident such as a car or truck accident, the damages suffered by the injury victim will be paid by the negligent driver's liability insurance carrier, either through settlement or judgement in court. The same is true for aviation accidents, and many states require aircraft owners or operators to carry at least certain minimum amounts of liability insurance. For instance, Maryland requires all general aviation aircraft owners to carry liability insurance if they hangar their craft at a state-owned airport and use their aircraft for commercial purposes, which could include renting out or leasing the aircraft, for example. The minimum amount of insurance required is $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. The Commonwealth of Virginia has similar requirements but requires only $25,000 for property damage instead of $50,000, and this requirement can be met through any approved demonstration of financial responsibility – liability insurance, cash, bond, letter of credit.
West Virginia, however, does not impose any requirement on general aviation aircraft owners or operators to carry any amount of liability insurance. This does not mean the owner will not be insured, however, but there is no legal requirement to do so. Also, while going after an uninsured driver personally is not always worthwhile in a car accident, even uninsured airplane owners are likely to have significant assets or financial resources to pay damages caused by their negligence. At Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson, our Martinsburg accident lawyers understand how to determine applicable insurance policies and develop the best strategy for getting a full and fair recovery for our clients injured in an airplane crash or any other aviation incident.
When a small plane accident was caused by manufacturing defects, structural or design problems, equipment failure or other causes linked back to the manufacturer of the airplane or one of its component parts, the manufacturer may be able to use the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) as a defense to liability. This law implements a "statute of repose" prohibiting defective product claims involving manufacturers of small private planes and their component parts after more than 18 years from the date of manufacture.
If you've been injured in an aviation accident or lost a loved one to a tragic plane crash, it's important to retain qualified attorneys who are knowledgeable about the laws that apply to aviation accident claims and who are skilled and experienced in holding responsible parties fully accountable for their negligence. Contact the Martinsburg personal injury lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a no-cost case evaluation at 304-263-0900 or 304-LAWYERS.


Upon your arrival at Cairns, you will be taken to the hotel and you can stay there overnight.
Soon after the breakfast, start to the Arlington Barrier Reef Sunlover Cruise Tour. It will be a beautiful trip. Night stay at your hotel.
Soon after the breakfast, you will be taken to the Full Day Kuranda Tour, after this you will be taken for a casual trip to 1-way Scenic Rail&Tjapukai Cultural Center. Night stay at hotel.
Soon after the breakfast you will be taken to the airport from where you will be transferred to Brisbane. Check in the Gold Coast Hotel, stay there overnight.
On this day you will be taken for a complete dream world tour. After enjoying the trip return back to your hotel.
This day is for leisure, you can do whatever you want. Night stay at the hotel.
Soon after your breakfast, you will be transferred to Sydney. After reaching Sydney, you will transferred to your hotel. Night stay at hotel.
Till afternoon you are free do whatever you wish. By evening you will be taken for Half Day Sydney City Tour including Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Kings Cross & Bondi Beach. After the trip get back to your hotel.
Day nine is free, you can indulge in activities you want.
On this day you will be transferred to Christchurch, after reaching there you will be welcomed by our executive and will take you to the hotel.
Soon after the breakfast, heed towards south across Canterbury Plains through the towns of Timaru and Oamaru to reach Moeraki. This place is famous for enchanting natural scenic. From there continue your trip towards Scottish influenced city of Dunedin, which is notable for its beautiful ambiance and Otoga university. Stay at Dunedin for the night.
You are free all morning, after relaxing, start your trip to Dunedin and cross New Zeaiflands Blue Mountains to Raes Junction. Proceed by these place, walk along the Shore of Clutha River and reach the Queenstown.Night stay at Queenstown.
This day is for you to enjoy on your own, you can do bungee jumping, jetboating, whitewater rafting, gondola rides and much more. Night stay at Queenstown.
Soon after the breakfast, heed to Central Otago region to Mt Cook. Then visit Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekape, before going to the Canterbury Plains. Later from there visit Christchurch.
On day fifteen you will be transferred to "Thermal City" of Rotorua. After reaching there, check in the hotel and stay overnight.
Soon after your breakfast, our executive will accompany you to the Airport, depending on your flight schedule.


As the 19th season of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week commences today, we ask some fashion week regulars about what they look forward to at this fashion week.
As the 19th season of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week commences today, we ask some fashion week regulars about what they look forward to at this fashion week. From favourite designers, hot trends, must-see shows to out-of-the-box creations, here's what the fashionistas are hoping to catch.
Really looking forward to one of my most favorite designers Gaurav Gupta. Always expect something out-of-the-box and uber stylish from him. I met him two years ago at his DLF Emporio mall store, and I fell in love with the drapes and how the garments fit a woman's body. I have worn his clothes for over 20 appearances, and every time I get clicked in his garments people ask me who the designer is.
This time I am looking at a fairly new designer. Jenjum is new, young, energetic and I am quite excited to know what he has done this time. I own a few garments from him as I have seen his previous shows as well. I think he holds great promise. He has impressed me with his cuts, materials that he uses and the feminine feel the garments embody. Hopefully, I will ask him to make something new for me to wear at the India Design Forum.


This website is published by The Cooper Law Firm, P.C. It is for informational purposes only. These articles do not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult their legal advisors prior to acting on any information set forth in these articles.
In light of all the controversy surrounding the Veteran's Administration scandal, many veterans in the Hampton Roads area have come into our office with questions. What if I have been a victim? How will I know if I am a victim? You could be a victim if you have waited a significant amount of time for medical care. You could be a victim if your love one has died while awaiting treatment from the VA hospital. You could also be a victim if you lost a family member to an infectious disease they acquired while being treated in the hospital. The main thing to know is that if you have been a victim, you can file a medical malpractice claim. We are willing to assist you in your efforts to recoup what you have lost. Just last year four families in Coatesville, PA recovered nearly $1,400,000.00 for malpractice claims against the VA. If you feel that you could be a victim, do not wait to act! The clock is ticking on your claim. Call the attorneys at The Cooper Law Firm to fight for you.


A Zen retreat, Spa Le Burgundy by SOTHYS is located in a setting barely hinted at and is entirely devoted to your wellbeing. You will find nothing quite relaxes you after a hard day like the time spent in an intimate hammam, a relaxing massage, or a few laps in the beautiful pool's inviting aqua waters.
Try out the facials as well, which are offered with different packages and are personalized to your skin type. Vanity treatments such as eye contouring, waxing, manicures and pedicures, hairdressing, and makeup are also available. If you're not quite relaxed yet after so much sightseeing, really take time to unwind with a body treatment including a range of massages and oils. Put Spa Le Burgundy by SOTHYS on your schedule, and learn what else deserves a visit by using our Paris trip planner.
A very pleasant moment. We were alone in the facilities (swimming pool, Hammam, sauna). The small downside concerns the massage where one indicates in advance a particular area and where this does not seem to really impact the massage. Masseuses start with this area but do not necessarily spend more time on this area.


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Los Angeles Times Takes First Move Towards Correcting Saree Makdisi Op-Ed
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/23274/los-angeles-times-takes-first-move-towards
The Los Angeles Times has taken a first, partial step towards clarifying a blatantly false claim in a Jan. 8 Op-Ed by UCLA Professor Saree Makdisi that "there is not a single high school in the Palestinian communities in the Negev desert in southern Israel" ("Why Israel's schools merit a U.S. boycott").
As CAMERA earlier noted, there are more than 40 high schools for Bedouin students in the Negev. According to Suzie Ben Harush, a southern district spokeswoman for the Education Ministry, "Under the supervision of the ministry of education there are 39 high schools in the villages of the Bedouin population." In addition, she wrote CAMERA, there are three "more high schools under different supervision (two high schools of 'sachnin' net in Hura and Segev Shalom and one on the city of Rahat under supervision of the ministry of economy and industry."
The Los Angeles Times initially declined to correct, responding that:
This reference to "not a single high school in the Palestinian communities of the Negev desert" is attributed to Adalah, which stated as much in a 2011 report. "Palestinian communities" refers to the unrecognized Bedouin villages.
In response, CAMERA wrote to The Times:
The Arab population in Israel's Negev lives in both recognized towns and unrecognized Bedouin villages. Of the more than 170,000 Bedouin living in Israel's Negev, over 60 percent live in recognized towns. Makdisi does specify that he is referring to only the unrecognized villages, which after all, are home to far fewer Bedouin than the recognized villages. He refers broadly to "the Palestinian communities of the Negev desert." . . .
[T]he bottom line is that Makdisi's blanket statement referred broadly to the absence of high schools in "the Palestinian communities of the Negev." He did not specify that he was referring to the smaller sub-group of unrecognized Bedouin communities in the Negev. In the "Palestinian [ie Arab] communities of the Negev," there are more than 40 such schools. His claim is simply indefensible.
Scores of CAMERA letter-writers also wrote thoughtful letters urging the paper to correct.
As a result, editors published the following correction in the Jan. 20 print edition:
Israel:A Jan. 8 Op-Ed arguing for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions cited a study saying there wasn't a single high school in Palestinian communities in the Negev desert in southern Israel. The author and the study were referring specifically to Bedouin villages that are unrecognized by Israel.
In addition, though Makdisi's original false statement remains untouched on the website, editors also added the "for the record" towards the top of the article. (See below.)
Unfortunately, though the misinformation that there are no high schools for Arabs in the south was published unchallenged by The Times for quite some time, and it still stands on the website, albeit with the accompanying "for the record," the correction does not indicate how many high schools there actually are in Arab communities in the Negev.
In other recent "For the record" corrections on unrelated topics, The Los Angeles Times had commendably included the correct information, and did not only point out the original report was erroneous or misleading.
For instance, The Times commendably published the following corrections yesterday:
Hot neighborhoods: In the Jan. 17 Business section, a caption that appeared with an article about Los Angeles County neighborhoods said real estate prices rose 9.6% in Toluca Lake. As the article reported, prices rose 19.6%.
Meiji Tofu: An article in the Jan. 17 Business section about Koki Sato, president of Meiji Tofu, said the tofu maker's soy milk is used in the dairy-free ice cream sold at Sweet Rose Creamery's four locations in Los Angeles. There are five locations.
Similarly Jan. 22 correction also provided the correct information, and not only noted that the erroneous report was wrong:
Stock market: In the Jan. 21 Business section, an article about the stock market's Jan. 20 drop said that United Capital manages $16 billion in assets. It manages $15 billion in assets. (Emphases added.)
(The aforementioned examples concern quantitative errors, but The Times was also consistent about providing the correct information in corrections of names, places, and other data.)
Therefore, just as The Times published corrections commendably noting a price rise of 19.6% in Toluca Lake, five locations of Sweet Rose Creamery, and $15 million in assets managed by United Capital, so too it should note in the Makdisi correction that there are more than 40 high schools in Arab communities in the Negev. (The term "Arab" is much more clear and accurate than "Palestinian" in this case, since a large percentage of Israeli Bedouins do not identify as Palestinian. Nor do they live in the Palestinian-controlled areas.) At the very least, the fact that there are more than 40 high schools in Arab communities in the Negev should be added to the online correction, if not also run in print.
In addition, CAMERA continues to urge editors to change the wording in Makdisi's Op-Ed to state that there are no high schools in unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev, instead of the original, erroneous text that "there is not a single high school in the Palestinian communities in the Negev desert in southern Israel."
Meanwhile, in the world of Twitter, the thoughtful UCLA professor has gone silent since his initial post-Op-Ed fascinating insights about the "ad hominem rage" of "Ziotrolls" "who have lost all arguments":
Related Topics: University of California, Los Angeles receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free mef mailing list


text:
CODE of GOOD PRACTICE
A set of standards for Volunteer Sending Agencies involved in facilitating international volunteer placements. The Code is based on a vision of volunteers working in solidarity for a just, equitable and sustainable world and aims to promote responsible international volunteering
Comhlámh's Code of Good Practice is a set of standards for Irish Volunteer Sending Agencies facilitating international placements. The Code is based on a vision of volunteers working in solidarity for a just, equitable and sustainable world and it promotes responsible and responsive volunteering to ensure a positive impact for the overseas project and community, the volunteer and the sending agency.
The Code supports volunteer programmes to be led by a belief in global justice, to be based on good development practice and to address identified needs in partnership with local projects and communities. The Code promotes development education, which enables people to more deeply understand the world around them and to address the root causes of inequality and poverty.
Every Volunteer Sending Agency, which is party to the Code of Good Practice, commits to the implementation of the Code's five values that underpin the work of international volunteer programmes. Under each value, there are a set of principles and indicators which provide guidance for the development and implementation of volunteer sending programmes.
Code of Good Practice 5 Values:
PRINCIPLE 1: The programmes, projects and volunteer roles of our organisation are based on sustainable, mutual, and equal partnerships which recognise and address power differentials between our organisation and those we work with.
PRINCIPLE 2: The programmes, projects and volunteer roles of our organisation are based on aims and objectives that are mutually agreed with local communities and partners, are aligned with priorities identified by and valuable to local communities, and that are sustainable.
PRINCIPLE 3: Our organisation enables ongoing commitment to, understanding of, and engagement by volunteers in issues of global development through development education approaches.
PRINCIPLE 4: Our organisation accepts and values the diversity and individuality of volunteers and provides for their varying support needs.
PRINCIPLE 5: Our organisation ensures respect between the people in our organisation and between the organisation (staff, volunteers, contracted or other personnel) and the local community and partners involved in its work.
PRINCIPLE 6: Our organisation brings and understanding of diversity to bear in planning and implementing its programmes and projects that responds to the different identities of people within the local community and operates in a manner that is sensitive to and takes account of this diversity.
PRINCIPLE 7: Our organisation pursues programmes and projects that seek to address the root causes of injustice, poverty and inequality.
PRINCIPLE 8: Our organisation acts to ensure a positive relationship between its work and the world it seeks to sustain, to enable sustainable action by and resilience within local communities and partners, and to support volunteer roles that take account of their impact on the natural world and minimise any negative impact.
PRINCIPLE 9: Our organisation ensures honesty and transparency in its work, enables quality in its programmes, implements appropriate volunteer recruitment procedures, and ensures an accountability to local communities and partners, the general public and donors, and members, staff and volunteers.
PRINCIPLE 10: Our organisation takes steps to ensure the protection, safety and well-being of volunteers and to underpin their informed commitment to, understanding of and engagement in their role.
PRINCIPLE 11: Our organisation takes steps to prohibit, prevent, and address inappropriate behaviour by staff, volunteers, contracted or other personnel, in relation to children, vulnerable adults and the local community.
PRINCIPLE 12: Our organisation is committed to child-safe volunteering.
PRINCIPLE 13: Our organisation gives expression to, promotes and communicates the values of solidarity, respect, integrity, social justice and ecological sustainability through its plans, policies, procedures and practices.
read more about the values here
How does the Code of Good Practice Operate?
The Code of Good Practice works to facilitate learning, build the capacity of volunteer sending agencies and ensure accountability to partners and local communities overseas. The Code network enables peer exchange and support amongst organisations; and collective initiatives to raise standards across the international volunteering sector. Trainings, resources and outreach are also provided to support the implementation of the Code's values and principles.
Code Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSA) are required to undergo regular assessments, including annual self audits and three yearly external audits, to measure their practice and identify areas for improvement. A recognition panel also meets annually to review progression and to award an organisation if it has attained a higher level of compliance.
Code Award Icons
Total damage has been caused by the civilians arounf the new apple store at Wall street.
Guaranteed ROI
Always Online
All Code volunteer sending agencies are on a journey of continuous improvement in implementing the Code standards. Progression is awarded by a Code icon which reflects an organisation's growth and stage along this journey
Interested in international volunteering?
If you are thinking of international volunteering check to see if the organisation is party to the Code of Good Practice.
List of VSA's signed up for the code
You can also check with an agency as to how they value being part of the Code Network and their journey in progressing the Code's Standards.
#VolOps is the section of Comhlámh that can help you find the overseas volunteering placement you are looking for. We have been providing advice and support for people interested in international development work since 1975. We have VolOps Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts completely dedicated to posting information about new placements.
Interested in joining the Code of Good Practice?
The Code of Good Practice is open to all not-for profit Volunteer Sending Agencies which are legally registered in Ireland or Northern Ireland and have been actively sending volunteers abroad for over a year. Becoming a part of and engaging actively with the Code provides a clear demonstration of commitment to good practice standards and greater credibility with potential volunteers, funders and the public.
Comhlámh is a member organisation that works to mobilise for a just, equitable and sustainable world. As the Irish association of returned development workers and volunteers, Comhlámh supports people in their journey of working for social justice locally and globally.


Mitchan's Manga Diary | Manga Diaries by a working mother Mitchan bringing up funny two boys in Japan.
Last week, I've got an interview by JEN–Non-Governmental Organization JEN–as I'm a "Monthly Supporter".They are making effort to PR JEN without using too much money so that they can use money to help people, so they planned this interview to find way.
JEN's office is very near from IIDABASHI station. This was my second visit to JEN's office, because last year, I interviewed with Keiko Kiyama, who is the Co-president of JEN. I've been a big fan of Ms. Kiyama since I saw her in a TV program. I was happy to visit JEN again.
This is the interview pages of Keiko Kiyama! She told us about the meaning of happiness in this interview.
Unfortunately Ms. Kiyama was on her business trip to United Nation's New York Office, but the staffs I met this time were also so attractive and nice! I really enjoyed talking with them.
One of the most interesting project of JEN is "Media Project" held in zaatari camp in jordan. Through the Media Project, project members publish a magazine, "The Road", and they also make movies. Movie making project is called "In Transit".
We can hear the real voice of young people in zaatari camp by watching these videos.
As for the magazine "The Road", Japanese media "Courrier Japon" is interested in the project and their website has special pages.
This entry was posted in 03_First Son (Taka) on 2017/10/31 by mangadiary.
I love cat, but I happen to marry a man who hate cats. I think he should have told me the important information-he hates cats-when we first met. Now he says he has even cat allergy! I too bad…I miss you cats!
This entry was posted in 05_Husband (Masa) on 2017/10/20 by mangadiary.
One day, on the way home from nursery school, Taka told me.
"Moomin Michael." I'm not sure if this information is correct.
This entry was posted in 03_First Son (Taka) on 2015/07/07 by mangadiary.
Taka, age 5, said to me.
I often see a sentence, "If I were a bird, I could fly in the sky." but this is the first time I think about becoming a heart.
This entry was posted in 03_First Son (Taka) on 2015/04/28 by mangadiary.
I hadn't know until I got kids that pantomime helps me a lot in everyday life.
This entry was posted in 03_First Son (Taka) on 2015/04/27 by mangadiary.
Regarding Taka's breast feeding, I stopped it when he become One and a half years old.
After I quit breast feeding, I made an appointment with my friend to have dinner together. On my way to the restaurant to her, I suddenly had a feeling that my head and body was going to be clear and clear, and my motherly pink mist is going out from me.
Welcome back, myself! Welcome back from 100% motherhood!
This entry was posted in 02_Child Rearing Problems on 2015/04/21 by mangadiary.


Smart dress is expected both on the Course as well as in and around the Clubhouse.
Denim clothing is not permissible at any time except specific social events, then the dress code will agreed by the Board and published.
Smart dress is expected at all times.


text:
An Office of Rural Broadband: We've Heard This Before
Submitted on March 18, 2019
An Office of Rural Broadband:
We've Heard This Before
On February 12, 2019 Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced S.454 – The Office of Rural Broadband Act in the Senate. Co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), the bill would establish an Office of Rural Broadband in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The bill has now been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Senator Cramer's Office of Rural Broadband Act is the latest effort to coordinate rural broadband planning and policy. There are myriad agencies and departments with a hand in rural broadband – the FCC, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) chief among them. Coordination – or lack thereof – has been one of the major hurdles in broadband deployment and in crafting a national rural broadband strategy more generally.
Agency coordination has been a key recommendation in a decade of reports on rural broadband. In this way, S.454 is simply reminding us of a long-standing unresolved issue. In 2009, for instance, the primary recommendation of the FCC's Rural Broadband Report was increased coordination among federal agencies, tribal, state and local governments, community groups and individuals. The Congressional Research Service marshaled similar language in 2012:
Given that the RUS and [the FCC's Universal Service Fund (USF)] broadband programs share the goal of deploying broadband to rural America, Congress may also wish to assess how these two programs can best fit together. Are they effectively targeted towards providing broadband to the most unserved areas of the nation, while at the same time minimizing adverse impacts on private incumbent providers? Are they the most cost-effective way for Congress to fund rural broadband development? To what extent are the two programs complementary, and to what extent do the two programs overlap? And finally, how will changes made to the USF program affect the viability of broadband loans made under the RUS programs?
Around that same time, the FCC and RUS signed a memorandum of understanding that promised data sharing and coordination on issues related to rural broadband. These promises have gone unfulfilled.
In 2015, the Obama administration formed the Broadband Opportunity Council "to produce specific recommendations to increase broadband deployment, competition and adoption through executive actions within the scope of existing Agency programs, missions and budgets." Chaired jointly by the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the council's report strongly recommended collaboration and coordination:
Agencies should expand interagency coordination to minimize redundancy and remove regulatory barriers and should continue to collaborate to meet the goals established for the Council. Additionally, where appropriate, Council members should increase collaboration and coordination with State, Local and Tribal governments to support their initiatives to expand broadband access and adoption.
Reports issued by the Trump administration have echoed these calls, including statements from the Interagency Task Force on Rural Prosperity and, in February 2019, the American Broadband Initiative, which noted that "coordination [between FCC and USDA] is critical to ensure that investments are not only complementary but also that they maximize the impact of limited Federal funds." In fact, coordination is mentioned 45 times in the new Trump administration report!
S.454 – The Office of Rural Broadband Act
The Office of Rural Broadband would coordinate efforts of the FCC, the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), NTIA, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), and other agencies. The Office would also author reports on rural broadband deployment, act as a go-between for rural broadband stakeholders, and document efforts to improve broadband mapping.[i] The bill stops short, however, of giving the Office any regulatory, oversight, or leadership responsibilities. In other words, the Office of Rural Broadband would be an Office without authority.
S. 454 is not unique among calls for a rural broadband office. In 2017, Congress saw competing bills to establish an Office of Rural Broadband: S.2959 – the precursor to S.454 - introduced in the Senate by John Hoeven (R-ND), proposed an Office of Rural Broadband at the FCC. In the House, H.R. 800 – the New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017, introduced by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), sought to establish an Office of Rural Broadband and the position of Under Secretary for Rural Broadband at USDA. These were amongst 20 rural broadband bills introduced during the last Congress. Just one, HR 4881 – the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act, was voted on.
What Do We Mean By 'Rural'?
In addition to vague wording and ambiguous responsibilities for the proposed Office, the legislation also reinforces another long-standing dilemma in rural development policy: the definition of "rural" itself.
The bill uses the definition of rural found in 47 CFR §54.505(b)(3). 47 CFR is devoted to telecommunications, and section 54.505 regards universal service support for schools and libraries. Here, "rural" is defined as an urbanized area or urban cluster with a population less than 25,000 "as determined by the most recent rural-urban classification by the Bureau of the Census." This is the working definition of rural for USAC, though it bears noting that it is not the working definition of rural for the RUS.
"Rural" is a contentious issue in American regulation, so much so that the 2008 Farm Bill ordered USDA to evaluate the various definitions of the term used within the department. USDA's report mapped well over 30 different iterations of the word. The report ultimately concluded that a universal understanding of "rural" should be adopted. USDA furthermore recommended that the standard definition be a community under 50,000 people. Coincidentally, or not, this is the definition employed in the 2008 Farm Bill.
A universal definition was never adopted, and, as a result, the smorgasbord of definitions continues to pervade regulatory discourse both at USDA and across federal and state agencies and departments. A stronger mandate for the Office of Rural Broadband would be to standardize the definition of rural within telecommunications policy and regulation as a component of its primary mission of coordination and inter-agency cooperation. This would satisfy the plea for standardization made in in the 2009 Rural Broadband Report:
Federal agencies involved in rural broadband initiatives should consider coordinating key terminology, such as the term "rural" across their programs, consistent with their legislative mandates.
We Need a Dog with Bark and Bite
Bills like S.454 tackle only one part of our rural broadband problem, be it coordination (S.454), agriculture (HR 4881), funding (HR 4232), or research (HR 4876). We need a national rural broadband plan to bring all of these responsibilities together under the auspices of one agency or department.
A stronger iteration of S.454 would stipulate multiple roles and responsibilities:
Create an Office of Rural Broadband,
Order this Office to craft a national rural broadband plan,
Imbue this Office with actual regulatory and oversight powers over rural broadband, and not just with an order of coordination, and
Require this Office to research and rollout a standard definition of "rural" for all agencies responsible for telecommunications policy and regulation.
Other, responsibilities that could be added to this Office include:
Coordinate and lead all federal rural broadband activities,
Revise the national broadband map and broadband deployment data collection, and
Draft recommendations to democratize the Universal Service Fund
As I recently wrote for the New York Times, this Office of Rural Broadband is best placed inside the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of USDA, rather than the Federal Communications Commission, as S.454 proposes. RUS has a mandate to champion rural America, and has offices and divisions in every state. RUS understands the needs of rural communities better than any federal department or agency. Placing the Office of Rural Broadband here, rather than at the FCC, would also recall an earlier time in our nation's history when we trusted USDA to connect our rural communities with electricity and telephony through the Rural Electrification Administration, the precursor to RUS.
What S.454, its forerunners, and companion pieces of proposed legislation, demonstrate is not a lack of drive to solve the problem, but rather the political will to follow through. Legislation is proposed and funding allocated, but a centralized strategy to shepherd these initiatives through to fruition remains vexingly absent. The Office of Rural Broadband Act has the potential to do this, but for it to work, we need to give this dog both bark and bite.
[i] Particularly welcome given the difficulties both the FCC and NTIA have experienced in managing the National Broadband Map.
Christopher Ali is a Benton Faculty Research Fellow and Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies, University of Virginia. During his two-year Benton Faculty Research Fellowship, Ali will continue work on his new book project, Farm Fresh Spectrum: Rural Interventions in Broadband Policy, which investigates the relationship between farming communities, communication technologies, and communication policy in the United States.
Benton, a non-profit, operating foundation, believes that communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities to bridge our divides. Our goal is to bring open, affordable, high-capacity broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy.
© Benton Foundation 2019. Redistribution of this email publication - both internally and externally - is encouraged if it includes this copyright statement.
Benton Foundation
By Christopher Ali.