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Search Results for Nissan Dealers Perth Articles
Nissan Dealers Perth
Displaying 1 - 15 Nissan Dealers Perth Articles
Nissan Dealers Perth Fans Teased with the 2018 Leaf
When they think about Nissan cars, Australia based drivers probably don't think of electric vehicles. In fact, the first generation Nissan Leaf was available for sale here, but it didn't make much of an impact with the Aussie SUV loving customer base.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on June 12, 2017
Local Nissan Dealers Review The New 2022 Sustainability Plan
As you local Nissan car dealership we thought it would be important for us to explain the recently announced Nissan 2022 Sustainability Plan is a little more detail. This is the first ever Nissan plan of this kind, and it is part of the larger M.O.V.E. to 2022 program.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on July 12, 2018
Tips for Four Wheel Driving Your Nissan Patrol, Perth Beginners Should Know
The days of four wheel drive vehicles being only used by tradies during the working week are long gone. These days many people enjoy getting into their four wheel drive and having a weekend adventure. However, before you hit the open road with your Nissan Patrol, here are some beginner tips.
By: Daniel N Published in Automotive on March 21, 2017
Nismo Supercar Rollout Back on Track
When visiting Nissan dealers, Perth gearheads may have been keen to know if the Nismo supercar was ever going to arrive. For the last few years, there has been a great deal of talk about whether Nissan would be releasing the performance Nismo sub brand here.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on November 23, 2016
The Nissan 370z Coupe - Perth Prices Slashed
The 2018 Nissan 370z Nismo is the flagship car in the exciting coupe lineup, and we now have some solid specifications. The excitement is building for the release, and it's been reported that local Nissan dealers intend to take full advantage of the event.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on September 28, 2017
Nissan Navara Special Edition Announced
The new Nissan Navara is already considered a fantastic off-roader, but it has been taken to a new hardcore level with the AT32 special edition. This European model has made its debut at the Birmingham 2018 Commercial Vehicle show. The AT32 was developed as a collaborative project with Arctic.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on May 23, 2018
Could The 2018 Nissan Qashqai Debut Autonomous Technology?
The new Nissan Qashqai is set to debut here in Australia before the end of Q1 in 2018. This facelifted model was already eagerly anticipated, but the rumours of added autonomous technology have increased speculation.
By: Daniel N Published in Automotive on June 12, 2017
A Review of The 2017 Nissan Juke N-sport
The 2017 Nissan Juke N-Sport is an interesting addition to the lineup that adds plenty of new features. Often when more premium models come along the original ethos behind the car becomes lost.
Key Features of The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder For Sale Perth Drivers Should Know
The Pathfinder has been given a new look for 2017 and is now an even more attractive proposition. The model now has more torque and power with all the latest safety innovations, to create the full package. So, here are just a few key features Perth drivers can expect from the 2017 Pathfinder.
By: Daniel N Published in Automotive on April 07, 2017
Does The New Nissan Qashqai For Sale Stack Up Against The Holden Trax?
In many reviews, the Holden Trax has been labelled as the best small SUV around. However, the Nissan Qashqai is an up and comer, challenging the Trax for the crown. So, how does the new Qashqai stack up against the Trax?
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on March 21, 2017
Nissan Z Crossover Could Still be Added to Nissan New Vehicles Lineup
When it comes to Nissan new vehicles, there has never been greater speculation than the talk about the Nissan Z Crossover. There have been persistent rumours about whether the next variant of the Z will be a high riding crossover when it replaces the 370Z.
The X Opus Concept Unveiled
As your local Nissan dealers, we like to keep our customers and interested parties up to date with the latest Nissan news. This is even true when the technology is not even a car, and so we are happy to talk about the new Nissan X Opus camping trailer.
By: Daniel N Published in Cars on April 09, 2019
Taking a Look at Nissan New Vehicles
If you have been looking for a new Nissan for sale, you may have noticed the landscape of the range changing recently. Nissan has been innovating even more than usual, and the company has bold plans for the coming years with the M.O.V.E 2022 program.
Planning a Family Trip in Your Nissan Juke? Reviews of Old School Games
The new Nissan Juke for sale is a fantastic family vehicle, but even the best vehicles can become a little boring for your little darlings on a long journey. Fortunately, there are some old school games that can make your family trip into a more enjoyable experience.
The Dangers of Microsleeping in Your Nissan Pathfinder
Read any Nissan Pathfinder review, and you're likely to find that this model offers fantastic driving performance. While there is an excellent safety suite, this doesn't mean that you can take your safety for granted. Safe driving practices are still important, and you need to be aware of.


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Media & Film
LaoAmericans
Visit Laos
Keyboard Lao
Nerakhoon: The Betrayal
February 1st, 2008	| Published in Media & Film
By Siamphone Louankang
Thavisouk Phrasavath (Thavi for short) came to the United States as a refugee of the Vietnam War like most Laotian Americans. His father, an officer in the Royal Lao Army, was sent to "seminar" (re-education prison camp) by the new communist government. Because of their close connection to the failed regime, Thavi's family had no choice but to leave Laos. He swam across the Mekong River to reach the refugee camps in Thailand, first staying at Napo, then Ubon. Thavi's mother and remaining siblings followed two years later, only to meet with a misfortune that would take them over a decade to rectify. Offered just one opportunity to leave, Thavi's mother had very little time to gather together what remained of her family and quickly flee. Two daughters, ages 14 and 2, were not at home and could not be immediately found…
"Nerakhoon" is the documentary story of the Phrasavath family's experience leaving home, coming to a new country and relating to what they left behind. Collaborating with experienced cinematographer-director Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Blow, Summer of Sam), Thavi wears many hats: film subject, co-director and main editor. This January I traveled to Park City, Utah to join Thavi, his family and the documentary team for the film's premier at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It was Thavi's desire to share with Lao Roots Magazine a first hand experience of the renowned independent film festival because, he insists, "I don't want to be the first and only — I know that if I can get this far, the younger generation of Laotian American's can go much further."
The completion of the documentary has been a long journey, with nearly 23 years in the making. At the pre-screening party a mixture of excitement and relief filled the restaurant. When asked how he felt about finally reaching the finish, Thavi compared the process to raising a child, nurturing and grooming it, and now letting it out into the world, stating: "We have worked very hard for a long time and I hope that our offspring will be well received." Unrelenting producer and attorney Wilder Knight continued working through the celebration lunch, reviewing agreements and meticulously analyzing the fine print for the film's debut. Tickets to the premier were entirely sold out weeks in advance.
On the day of the screening I waited in the theater "green room" while the co-directors and producers anxiously paced in and out, alternating phone calls with last minute press photographs. Nervous tension seemed to be at an all time high, but apart from minor concerns over sound quality, the team remained confident. Due to the epic nature of the project, spanning over two decades, individual clips were shot with different cameras and various film types over time. The final product was ultimately pulled together in premium high definition format. Musical advisors included respected Laotian artists Voradeth Ditthavong and Phone Phoumithone. The highly experienced documentary team hailed from as far as Argentina and Switzerland. Producer Flora Fernandez-Marengo was up late the night before going over final administrative details and was ready to finish the last leg of what seemed like a marathon. For sound engineer Benny Mouthon (who has mixed numerous TV shows, documentaries, commercials and films) his 15 year journey with the team was worth every moment and he was excited to finally showcase their efforts.
Sundance organizers ushered a capacity crowd into the 448 seats of the classic Library Center Theater. After a brief introduction the lights dimmed and the audience was immediately transported more than 30 years back in time. Juxtaposing never before seen historic clips with candid personal interviews and poetic narratives, the richly crafted film drew a full range of emotions from the crowd.
Although the film was shot throughout both the United States and Laos, the images of traditional religious ceremonies and heavy metal hairdos of the 1980s were immediately familiar to fellow Laotian American and Utah resident Nikki Khonesavanh. "I connected with the film on an intimate level," said Nikki, "I cried because I understood the struggle, I smiled when I saw our culture and customs in motion and in the end I was filled with joy that the story of our people were told."
Thavi was born in the town of Thakhek in Khammouane province, but later moved with his family to Pakse to be near his father's military post in the province of Attapeu. While young Americans were enjoying the Summer of Love, the CIA was funding an intense bombing campaign in the hills of southeastern Laos, the main artery of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Although no official war was declared, tens of thousands of Laotian soldiers were directly funded by the U.S. to deter the advance of the North Vietnamese communists into the south. After the American withdrawal from region and the fall of Saigon, the communist forces in Laos swept into power and forced their former rivals out. The resulting exodus resulted in nearly a 10 percent total population loss, and by some estimates 90 percent of the country's educated elite. Thavi points out that his family's story is just one of many similar Laotian stories. In the face of the tremendous political changes, there were few choices left.
"Nerakhoon," Thavi explains, "is when someone has done a good deed and you have forgotten." The documentary focuses on betrayal on several levels: between family members, between countries, between an individual and his heritage. Also underlying the story is a philosophical world view which Thavi discovered in a long forgotten Laotian prophesy — a prophesy which, as he points out, has many similarities to those of other cultures. Although the film is a personal narrative, Thavi feels that it can serve as a universal one as well. Ellen's brother, Jeffrey Kuras explained to me why the project was so important to the director: "Our family immigrated from Poland before World War I and went through a difficult period of transition. None of my grandparents ever returned, even for a visit, partially because of the difficulties caused by the Iron Curtain. My father's father in particular always wanted to move back. Letters were exchanged between our family in America and the relatives back in Europe up until the 1950's, but they were all destroyed. Ellen deeply regretted not having a record of our family history, and she observed the persistent sadness of my grandfather."
Despite amount of work he has put into the making of the documentary, Thavi points out that he came upon the project by pure chance. Thavi and his family found themselves in Brooklyn, New York in 1982. They had been sponsored by a church group that he says essentially "ripped them off." His family was left to share a run-down apartment with several other refugee families and almost no support, financial or otherwise. Help eventually came in the form of welfare checks and foodstamps. Thavi eventually finished high school and went on to study engineering. It was two years after his arrival in the U.S. that his cousin approached him about teaching Laotian to a woman who was interested in interviewing elderly lowland Lao to learn their history. Ellen Kuras was working on a script about a Laotian Family in Rochester, New York and ultimately asked Thavi to assist with the project. After about two months into the project, the main subject no longer wanted to participate and Ellen then turned to Thavi.
Thavi describes his early years in America as bad, going on worse. He recalls the frustrations he felt being called a "chink". He found himself trying to fit it by dressing and trying to be like the "homeboys" in order to "camouflage" his identity, but soon realized it did not make a difference. It is this experience of prejudice that continues to motivate his work. "Laotians in America," he laments, "are almost mythical, as if we don't even exist." Like so many refugees, Thavi wants people in America to know that he did not come here to steal jobs. "We did not leave our homes willingly to come here," he argues, "we were forced to leave and had no choice." Reflecting on the countless unexploded ordnances that still dot the open fields in Laos, he also wants Americans to know what role this country has played. Thavi explains that his interest in film and media in general is its power to educate and inform. He is confident that mass media is the best means of overcoming prejudice and wants Laotians to have a voice in the media. In an interview with BBC World, Thavi shared his hope that his work could send a message of both political awareness and compassion.
"I'm 1500% Buddhist," declares Thavi. Beginning his immigrant life in America translating for the Laotian Community, Thavi helped diverse Laotian ethnic groups obtain social services and became a representative Laotian speaker in New York City. He has consulted for the Board of Education and city social events. He is not certain how people in Laos will receive the film. He points out that as an artist, he wants to present his authentic experience. Although he did not set out to make a political film, it is impossible separate politics from to the spirit of the times. Yet, karma seems to have come full circle. The film's Sundance premier received a roaring applause and standing ovation from the audience, with almost everybody remaining for the enthusiastic post-screening question and answer session. There are plans for a national theater release and PBS/POV has already secured rights to broadcast the documentary in over 500 channels. With the amount of enthusiasm surrounding the film, Thavi is hoping an Academy Award nomination may be even been on the horizon and exclaims, "I am very proud of this opportunity to represent the Laotian people."
As I was leaving the Sundance Film Festival, Thavi called to wish me a safe flight home and share some heartfelt words: "You guys at Lao Roots Magazine are doing a great job. It's important for our community to share important events with one another, to inspire each other, and show that with hard work and persistence we can achieve our dreams."
Find more about Nerakhoon at http://www.thebetrayalmovie.com/.
A version of this article appears in Lao Roots Magazine issue #4 (2008).
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South Seattle Emerald
Civics, Column
Why the Port of Seattle Can't Get Contracting Right
July 26, 2017 Editor	3 Comments
by Hanna Brooks Olsen
I-200, which passed 19 years ago, has made it nearly impossible to correct decades of discriminatory contracting processed—but that's not the only reason
In late 2007, an audit of the Port of Seattle found numerous glaring issues, including the squandering of close to $100M. The report, which ultimately lead to the departure of two high-ranking officials and a criminal investigation, also found something else: Port leadership, it alleged, may have been exploiting loopholes in the rules around contracting to steer lucrative deals away from small businesses who had taken part in the bidding process and instead toward preferred providers.
"In my mind, one of our primary missions as a port is to really foster local small business," said then-Port Commission President John Creighton, who's up for election again this year. "We've been falling down on the job."
Following the findings, the Port underwent all of the customary changes government bodies make when caught in an unflattering pattern of behaviors, rolling out a transparency committee, vowing to improve, and "enacting strong accountability measures."
Nine years later and many leadership changes later, new CEO Ted Fick was stepping down after being charged with misusing Port funds and giving illegal raises. The transparency did not appear to have been much improved—and neither did the ongoing issues with problematic contracting processes.
Race, Diversity, and Priority Hiring at the Port
Every year, the Port of Seattle awards hundreds of contracts, from airport concessions and custodial deals to partnerships to provide technology, heavy machinery, materials, and labor. Every job that's done at the Port of Seattle and its properties is done by a government employee or a contractor. And those are desirable contracts—they're the kind of good jobs that lawmakers promise to bring back to their communities while on the campaign trail.
The bidding process can be daunting, though, and many newer or smaller businesses stumble when trying to apply. And even when they get it right, they may still not get the contract; in recent years, the Port of Seattle has made news headlines for their contracting behaviors.
In 2015, after emails between two Port employees referring to a Rod O'Neal, co-owner of Seatac Bar Group and a Black man, as a "thug" surfaced, Creighton publicly denounced discrimination, stating on Twitter that any employees who "feels promoting diversity is hogwash…should find new work."
Those same employees fired back, filing a wrongful termination suit and claiming that Creighton had terminated them not because of their email exchange, but because he was seeking revenge for their attempts to flag preferential treatment received by O'Neal and other non-white concessions providers.
From their suit:
Commissioner Creighton and former Commissioner Rob Holland developed close relationships with a handful of the minority-owned business tenants operating restaurants and bars at the airport ("the Tenants"). These Tenants donated tens of thousands of dollars to Creighton's and Holland's campaigns, socialized and dined together, and attended Seattle Seahawks football games together.
The two Port employees believed Creighton was upset over their objections to a 2012 motion calling for priority hiring of businesses owned by people from marginalized communities. Again, from their suit:
Although drafted as a motion "promoting racial diversity" among airport businesses, it was, in fact, carefully crafted legislation designed to benefit only the Tenants who drafted it. Granting the leases in 2012 under the terms sought by the Tenants would have resulted in a gift of public funds in excess of $8 million.
The dispute between the tenant and the Port employees stretched back for years; jockeying for position in the concourse is an ongoing battle among Port employees and airport tenants. But the crux of the suit appeared to be that the airport tenants were receiving special treatment not because of their race, but because of their deep pockets.
However, even if the tenant in question was receiving special treatment for diversity's sake, that would have been illegal, too.
A Culture of Discrimination, a Law Supporting It, or Both?
The Federal government provides the Port of Seattle incentive to award some contracts to less privileged vendors. The Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (ACDBE) is an FAA program that's "designed to help ensure that there is a level playing field for socially and economically disadvantaged firms to compete for airport contracting and concession opportunities."
But the truth of the matter is that, despite that program and many more, the Port of Seattle doesn't do a great job when it comes to hiring and contracting with POC-run businesses. A 2013 report from the Port of Seattle noted that it had increased its overall expenditure to small businesses that are considered "minority-owned (MBE), women-owned (WBE) and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE)" to 3.2 percent.
"As a part of the port's 25-year Century Agenda objectives, we are working to increase the proportion of funds the port spends with qualified small business firms on construction, consulting, goods and services to 40 percent of the eligible dollars spent," the report reads.
And while plenty of attempts have been made to course-correct, there are numerous factors that keep the main benefactors of Port contracts looking largely homogeneous—which is to say, white, wealthy, and male.
Chiefly, there's a law against it. And without repealing that law, the goal of 40 percent seems like a moonshot.
Newer residents and younger readers may not recall, but in the state of Washington, it is illegal to hire or give contracts based on race, gender, religion, or a number of other factors.
Thanks to voters in 1998, who passed Tim Eyman's Initiative I-200, the law of the land expressly explains that "the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting."
Though the law's stated intent was to prohibit government entities "from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin," which would, according to backers (like Holland, ironically), "promote equal opportunity for all," the impact has been about what a person might expect—without diversity or priority hiring requirements, contracts have continued to land in the laps of the same partners time and again.
"I-200 hinders our ability to grow port contracting with local minority and women owned businesses," Creighton told the Emerald. John Persak, a longshoreman who's now running for Port Commission #4, agrees, citing the current climate of progress.
"I-200 needs to be repealed," he said. "Given that marriage equality was upheld by a vote and I-1552 failed to qualify, now is a good time."
But of course, I-200 isn't just a Port problem; since it was enacted, public agencies, including schools, have been tallying the fallout. In 2006, the PI declared that the initiative had "misread the future," citing lower inclusion rates of students of color in higher education and reduced economic opportunity.
"I-200 was wrong because it let us pretend that we didn't need to do anything to right the balance of decades of injustice," wrote page editor Mark Trahant. "I-200 let us put off any urgency for another day."
Public opinion has largely shifted on I-200—and on ideas of priority hiring and affirmative action, generally—and calls to strike the law have become an annual drum beat. In 2015, the Seattle Times Editorial Board—rarely a beacon for progressive change—called for a repeal, stating that the law "does not serve the needs of Washington," specifically noting the ways that the law narrows the college pipeline.
The following year, Creighton brought forward a motion by the Port Commission, calling on the Legislature to repeal I-200. It passed unanimously. The language of the motion stated that a repeal would "allow the Port to continue to advance its mission of supporting family-wage job growth and ensuring that growing prosperity in the Puget Sound region is shared by all communities equally."
Citing a study the Port had commissioned years before, which found that "utilization of minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises for construction and construction-related contracts was substantially below what might be expected based on the availability of those contractors," the motion points the finger at I-200 for the Port's contracting issues.
"This law constrains the Port in its ability to implement the findings of the disparity study by restricting programs designed to ensure that all qualified persons have fair and equal access to participation in public-funded contracts and to engage in employment policies that support regional economic growth and prosperity," the motion reads.
Democrats in the House answered the call the following year, but the bill died a quiet death in committee.
What the Port Could Do
There are ways, though, to work around I-200, says Persak.
"One thing the Port could do is engage these communities," he explains. Because, while repealing I-200 is certainly imperative, it's not the only way they could be working to achieve that 40 percent goal. Education, direct outreach, and assistance with getting in the door could help increase the diversity of who gets Port bids without violating I-200—but you'd need to know who to talk to and how to do it.
"I think they want to do that, they know they need to do that, but they don't necessarily know how to do that."
Herein lies the pernicious cycle that I-200 and similar restrictions on priority hiring and contracting create; Port employees are rarely come from the communities that need direct outreach to get involved in the complex bidding process, and Commissioners almost never do.
Creighton says, despite the difficulty, they are working on it.
"We have been looking at best practices for increasing port contracting with WBEs and MBEs, and the City of Seattle appears to have had some success increasing its contracting numbers while working within the restrictions of I-200," Creighton told the Emerald. "Still, repeal of I-200 would be best."
Unfortunately, with I-200 on the books, it's incredibly difficult for a government body like the Port of Seattle to set out to correct the decades-long course of action, even if the political will is there. But it's not impossible—and if it really is a priority, now's the time to move on it.
With so much support for a repeal, there's one additional question: Why doesn't the Port, an entity with huge sums of money behind it and extremely powerful friends and allies in Olympia, throw all of its weight behind a campaign? In Washington State, the initiative process is a political hammer that can be used both as a tool and a weapon—and, Persak says, it seems like a repeal would likely pass at the ballot in this climate.
"It's going to be expensive," he said, referring to a potential ballot initiative. But if it's one of the most restrictive pieces of legislation on the books and is actively damaging our public agencies' ability to hire and retain a quality, diverse workforce, isn't it worth it?
The Port of Seattle needs a big PR win and quickly. Decades of bad news—corruption, fraud, discrimination of multiple kinds—mean the Port ought to be trying make some new allies, and that opening their contracting to new partners would be advantageous. Unfortunately, as long as I-200 stays on the books, any calls for more diverse contracting seem largely ceremonial.
Hanna Brooks Olsen is a co-founding editor of Seattlish and has written for the Atlantic, CityLab, and Seattle Met. When not stringing together words or making sounds she enjoys music on vinyl, bourbon, college football, making impulse purchases at second-hand stores, ballet, and sitting in dark bars with friends. She also sings a mean rendition of Walking in Memphis.
Featured image is a wiki commons photo
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3 thoughts on "Why the Port of Seattle Can't Get Contracting Right"
Perry Cooper says:
The Port of Seattle has increased outreach and training for small businesses and those owned by women and minorities and the results show progress. We value the diversity of our region's small, minority and disadvantaged business community and are working to reduce barriers to increase participation in Port contracts.
Our Airport Dining and Retail (ADR) Program is a prime example of this outreach with recent lease group opportunities and the results of intense outreach, including:
•	168 small, minority and women-owned businesses participated in an Airport Concessions Opportunity Summit in January 2016 to increase awareness of ADR opportunities ;
•	44 attendees of a five-week program focused on training small, local, disadvantaged businesses on opportunities and challenges with participation in the ADR Program as well as how to become certified as an ACDBE;
•	over 700 firms are registered on our ADR leasing website (a 41 percent increase) since an increase in outreach beginning in 2015
•	We have also created new introductory and intermediate kiosk programs at Sea-Tac Airport to provide small businesses with the opportunity to experience operating here with less financial risk and lower barriers to entry than full in-line locations.
Overall with the Port, increased outreach and support for small business include:
•	Small Business Roundtables have been held with Port Commissioners (Bowman, Albro, Gregoire) to hear from the small, minority and disadvantaged business community on how the Port can reduce barriers and increase WMBE participation.
•	PortGen (opportunity workshops and outreach for WMBE and small business on upcoming contracting opportunities) – 2017 held 6 sessions with 180 participants (year to date)
•	Promoted contracting opportunities through local community meetings such as Tabor 100, NAMC (National Association of Minority Contractors), Chamber activities as well as regional contracting forums and trade shows
•	Coordinated WMBE outreach with PRIME contractors on Port projects
•	Undergoing an assessment of the City of Seattle's WMBE program to determine what best practices the Port of Seattle might adopt.
•	Will be sponsoring/hosting the 2018 annual meeting of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, the only national, non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the full participation of minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises (M/W/DBEs) in airport contracting and the inclusion.
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Q: How does a view know its own url in RoR Is there some easy way (offered by rails?) for the view to know its own url ? The one that was called to display the page.
I am able to write a helper method that will rebuild the url from the different parameters available for the controller in the params hash. But before programming such method, i was wondering if there is anything standard already.
Thanks

A: You can use request.fullpath or even request.original_url.
Take a look at the request object

A: Depends on which rails version you are using :
Rails 2 : request.url
Rails 3 and above : request.original_url -- http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionDispatch/Request.html#method-i-original_url

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New Delhi, (IANS) Counterfeiters are lurking in the dark and there's no guarantee that the medicines sold from the drug stores across India are all genuine. A consumer cannot tell whether the pharma product wrapped in sleek packaging isn't fake.
India is yet to adopt international solutions which are necessary to authenticate medicines and pharmaceutical products that millions of people depend on to combat health conditions. Unlike Pakistan, India doesn't have a system with which the consumer can check whether a medicine is genuine.
"The counterfeiters here are successful because we are not making their task difficult and not making this business less profitable for them," U.K Gupta, President of Authentication Solutions Providers Association, told IANS.
"The counterfeiters can pursue their business because of non-adoption of authentication solutions, inadequate surveillance efforts by brand owners to identify counterfeit products and lack of consumer awareness," he said.
According to Gupta, the product packaging is easily copied due to availability of packaging raw materials in the neighbouring countries.
"We already have a barcode system to check the authenticity of medicines that are exported. Through this system we can keep at bay all types of spurious and fake medicines," Drug Controller General of India G.N. Singh told IANS.
"However, we do not have any system to check the medicines that come to India and the medicines that are sold in India," he added.
But it's a different scene in Pakistan where the Drug Regulatory Authority introduced the global unique identification code system to counter the sale of spurious drugs and over-pricing. Under the new system, buyers having smartphones can verify a medicine and its price.
Can such a system be implemented in India?
Singh said: "The process has already been initiated and within a couple of months we will have a code system like Pakistan to check the spurious medicines".
A large part of the procedure will involve oversight, testing, tracking and analysis of practices.
"Adopting authentication solutions is the most important preventive step. The government and brand owners should communicate to the consumers about the authentication features on their product and the means to verify those features," Gupta said.
"Hologram is the best tool. These days we have interactive and 3D hologram as well," he added.
"The interactive hologram can be verified by a device which tells the consumers about its authenticity. The consumer can check the details of this product by physical verification such as visual checking," Gupta said.
"Even a consumer can verify product details from a company's website or by digital authentication of products with features such as barcodes or unique SMS verification codes," he added.
A 2014 ASSOCHAM report titled 'Fake and Counterfeit Drugs In India-Booming Biz' stated that around 25 per cent of India's drugs are fake, counterfeit or substandard. The fake drugs market is likely to cross US$ 10-billion mark by 2017.
ASSOCHAM had suggested that the government must make it a mandatory for all branded medicines to feature a tracing and tracking mechanism.
"The only step required is a strong regulatory oversight with proper testing procedures, and a robust tracing and tracking mechanism. We also must have a centralised depository to analyse the good manufacturing and distribution practices," Bejon Misra, former Chairman of Consumer Coordination Council, told IANS.
However, Misra said the "biggest challenge is the lack of trained persons in the state drug regulatory authorities" to curb the menace of fake pharma products.
According to a World Health Organisation report, every year about one million people die globally due to spurious drugs. Keeping that in mind, India must not lag behind in taking stringent measures to stamp out the counterfeit drugs. Authentication solutions would be a step forward.


Is your employee handbook really up-to-date? In this workshop you will learn how to build a complete, up-to-date, effective handbook. You will learn about terms that must be included, should be included, and cannot be included. And you will receive sample language for some of the important elements that your current handbook might be missing.


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New on-line system helps those called to serve on a jury
The state court system now has an on-line system to help those who're called to serve on a jury. Court Communications Officer Steve Davis says the " e-Juror " system now allows you to take care of everything on-line. He says once you get a summons in the mail, you go to the website and type in the number on the summons, and the website asks you a series of questions to see if you're qualified for jury duty.
Davis says the system can also answer a lot of your questions once you get called to serve. Depending on your county, it will direct you to a page that tells you where the courthouse is, courthouse hours, where you can park, how much you'll be paid. "Takes kind of the mystery out of jury duty," Davis says. He says this is part of an ongoing effort to improve the process for jurors.
Davis says the state has been doing a lot of different things to try and make it easier and more convenient for jurors. The courts randomly select prospective jurors from a master list that includes licensed drivers and registered voters.
Davis says an estimated 148,000 summons are issued each year, about six percent of the population, and the actual number of people who serve on a jury is about 6,500, or three percent of the population. Davis says he was called to serve jury duty a few years ago and ended up spending one day on the job.
He says that's pretty typical, a one to three-day commitment. And once you've served, you don't have to serve again for two years. To learn more visit the Iowa Judicial System's website.
Filed Under: Crime / Courts


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One of our energy efficiency joker
News | K&P Insights | People
Edmund Blajer is our go-to man for MC and plant technology, as well as a consultant for all questions relating to energy efficiency. © Kieback&Peter
Edi has a hobby. He calls it "my model railroad, so to speak": digitally networked measurement, control and regulation technology for air conditioning, ventilation and heating systems. His love of it is so great that he has turned this hobby into a profession and pursues it with burning passion at Kieback&Peter. Edi has been part of the company since 1998. Starting as a customer service technician, he has now become one of the company's most sought-after energy efficiency experts. While he generally enjoys his job, there is one thing he likes most about his work here: "The recognition and appreciation from my colleagues and customers. This is simply priceless."
On the cutting edge as a pioneer
Edi had his first encounter with Kieback&Peter as a young electromechanical engineer: "I installed a Kieback&Peter controller for the first time back in 1987." He was fascinated by the technology behind it. After coming across a job ad from Kieback&Peter in 1998, he applied and promptly joined the family business. As a customer service technician at Kieback&Peter's Mannheim branch, the Palatinate native spent his early years overseeing the control technology of heating and ventilation systems in shopping centers, factories, schools and hospitals, among other places. As project manager, he later took over the planning and implementation of ever larger and more complex control systems. He was also a pioneer in the first BaOpt and later Climotion projects – smart measurement and control technology designed to optimize central air conditioning and ventilation systems.
Great experience with optimum measurement and control technology
To this day, Edi has always been enthusiastic about his hobby, which is actually his profession. He moved to our headquarters in Berlin in 2012 as a support engineer to assist his colleagues around the world with their Climotion projects. In 2021 he played an instrumental role in the development of Kieback&Peter's proprietary "en:air" ventilation control software. Edi has since then focused on the provision of planning, implementation and optimization advice for all en:air projects worldwide – including by means of webinars and classroom training as well as (with even more passion) practical tips sourced from his knowledge and experience.
Saving loads of energy with smart solutions
Edi is always delighted to find the ideal solution to a technical challenge and thus make the world a little better: "I can leverage my experience to help customers upgrade their ventilation and air-conditioning technology, boosting its energy efficiency without replacing all the hardware. For me, this is putting sustainability into practice. After all, it not only saves resources, but also a great deal of energy, thus reducing CO2 emissions when operating the systems."
Double knowledge by sharing it
Even though reinventing both small and large wheels for the building automation of the future can be stressful, Edi appreciates the relaxed working atmosphere. "I'm happy every time I can draw on my experience to help come up with a suitable solution and thus pass on a piece of my knowledge to my customers, colleagues and the company as a whole."
His other hobbies
When Edi is not busy with his favorite "hobby" – measurement, control and regulation technology – he also likes to spend his time on other interests such as riding his motorcycle and bicycle." You can also find him snowboarding, in the garden growing vegetables, at matches of the 1st FC Kaiserslautern soccer club or at rock and heavy-metal concerts. Edmund Blajer – one of our energy efficiency jokers and a real mover and shaker.
Video: One of our energy efficiency joker
©Kieback&Peter
Edmund Blajer co-developed Kieback&Peter's own energy-efficient ventilation control software "en:air" as part of an outstanding team effort. For the master electrician, measurement and control technology is both a profession and a hobby – a true passion.
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Recently I acquired an SSD and decided to install Windows 8.1 and Ubuntu on it and use my HDD as Data Storage. However, I seem to have installed GRUB onto the HDD and not the SSD, which has not created any problems - both Windows and Ubuntu work just fine - but I would like to move GRUB to the SSD, so that if I need to replace my HDD (clicking...) I will not have to format everything and start over.
I ran bootinfoscript and the result said "Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda". My HDD is dev/sda and my SSD is dev/sdb.
So how can I do that? I need to move it completely so that removing the HDD won't harm the installation.
Also, if you would like me to post anymore information just tell me what to do and I will post it.
You can install GRUB to your SSD using the command sudo grub-install /dev/sdb.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged dual-boot grub2 hard-drive ssd or ask your own question.


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Muzz Announce New Self-Titled Album and Share Single, "Red Western Sky"
The supergroup featuring Josh Kaufman, Paul Banks and Matt Barrick will release their album in June
By Isabella DeLeo | April 15, 2020 | 12:45pm
Photo by Driely S./Matador Music News Muzz
Muzz, the collaboration from Josh Kaufman (producer/multi-instrumentalist and Bonny Light Horseman member), Paul Banks of Interpol and Matt Barrick of Jonathan Fire*Eater (and touring Fleet Foxes drummer), just announced a self-titled debut album, due out from Matador on June 5, according to a press release. The group has also shared a new single and accompanying music video, "Red Western Sky."
The band directed and produced the video, which they shot at American Treasure Tour Museum in Pennsylvania, amid an eclectic mix of vintage cars, toys and creepy clowns. The somber "Red Western Sky" follows recent releases "Bad Feeling" and "Broken Tambourine."
Kaufman discusses Muzz's sound, saying, "the music has this weird, super removed vibe but is also personal and emotional at the same time." He adds, "If something felt natural in a simple way, we left it. I'd never heard Paul's voice framed like that—a string section, horns, guitars—we know none of that is visionary but it felt classic and kind of classy."
The band's name holds a special meaning for Kaufman, who used the word "muzz" to describe the music's "subtle, analog quality and texture," per the press statement.
Banks says, "Ultimately, the music speaks for itself." He adds, "We have a genuine, organic artistic chemistry together. It's partly a shared musical taste from youth, as with me and Josh, but then it's also the souls of my friends that resonate with me when expressed through music. I think it's cosmic."
Checkout the "Red Western Sky" video below, followed by the Muzz tracklist and album art.
Muzz Tracklist:
1. Bad Feeling
2. Evergreen
3. Red Western Sky
4. Patchouli
5. Everything Like It Used To Be
6. Broken Tambourine
7. Knuckleduster
8. Chubby Checker
9. How Many Days
10. Summer Love
11. All Is Dead To Me
12. Trinidad
Muzz Album Art:
red western sky
matt barrick
paul banks
More from Muzz
Muzz (Members of Interpol, Bonny Light Horseman, The Walkmen) Release New Single "Knuckleduster"By Danielle CheloskyMay 28, 2020 | 11:38am
Arlo Parks Announces New Album My Soft Machine With Release Of New Single "Weightless" By Rayne Antrim January 18, 2023 | 1:10pm


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Next Article in Tech Buzz
Trio of New iPhones Expected in September
By John P. Mello Jr.
August 28, 2018 5:00 AM PT
Apple will release three new iPhones in September, according to Bloomberg — the latest media outlet to publish information from unnamed knowledgeable sources about the company's plans.
Although all the phones will have edge-to-edge displays, like the iPhone X, only two will have OLED screens, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Some Apple insiders have been referring to 2018 as an "S" year, it said. That's a reference to a year when most of the significant changes affect the inside rather than the outside of the iPhone.
The new iPhone lineup marks a change in strategy for Apple, Bloomberg suggested. Instead of seeking to add users, Apple apparently plans to slowly increase the average prices of its phones and boost income from accessory and digital services sales.
"It is highly likely they will do three new phones," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a technology advisory firm in Campbell, California.
"They need new models with new features and new price points in order to keep growing the iPhone business," he told TechNewsWorld.
Whopping 6.5-Inch OLED
At the high end of the three iPhone models Bloomberg described will be a model with an edge-to-edge, 6.5-inch OLED display (measured diagonally), which would make it one of the largest phones on the market. Last year's iPhone X was Apple's first model with the high-quality screen, which has been in some competitors' products for some time.
The high-end model will have design features introduced in the iPhone X — a glass back with stainless steel edges and dual cameras on the back — and support viewing of app content side-by-side on the large display.
"I think the larger screen will be a big draw," said Tuong Nguyen, a senior principal analyst at Gartner, a research and advisory company based in Stamford, Connecticut.
"Apple has been traditionally lagging in terms of having large-screen offerings equivalent to what's offered by competitors," he told TechNewsWorld.
"I look at what happened with the 6 Plus as an indicator of demand for larger screens," he continued. "Apple saw a big jump in market share with that introduction."
Upgrading iPhone X
The new iPhone's dual app feature didn't score any points with Nguyen.
"I assume it's like the dual-screen functionality seen on Samsung and other devices," he said. "I've had access to this for years, but I haven't found it that compelling. I never use it."
Apple also is expected to release an upgrade of the current 5.8-inch iPhone X, with improvements in the processor and camera.
"Camera performance and quality is increasingly an issue that users care about," said Charles King, a Hayward, California-based principal analyst with Pund-IT, a technology advisory firm.
"If Apple can deliver the goods there, it stands a chance of getting more consumers on board with higher-priced handsets," he told TechNewsWorld. "That said, I don't see any game-changing improvements that would budge the needle much in terms of Apple's overall share. "
Attraction of X Technology
Expanding technology introduced in the iPhone X across the product line could prove to be popular with consumers.
"There were a good number of consumers who were compelled by the X design, but were unable to get it at its price point," Gartner's Nguyen said. "With the design cascading through the line, it'll become accessible for everyone considering replacing their iPhone."
However, the pricing on the OLED iPhones isn't likely to budge, with the 5.8-inch model likely to sell at US$999 and the 6.5 model likely to sell for even more.
"It's important to remember that most consumers today are buying their phones on installments," said Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm.
"You're paying more per month for a thousand dollar phone, but it's a small jump per month," he told TechNewsWorld.
Bringing Back Color
The third iPhone model expected to be introduced is a so-called budget model. It will have a 6.1-inch LCD display — not state of the art OLED — and aluminum edges instead of stainless steel. It will be offered in a variety of colors.
The colors of the aluminum edges won't necessarily be the same color as the glass back of the phone. Apple experimented with colors in 2013 with the iPhone 5c. The all plastic phone wasn't embraced with open arms by the market — something Apple hopes to change this time around by using metal and glass construction on its budget model.
"While the 5c did OK in a few markets, the company didn't see fit to repeat the experiment until now," King noted. "Unless Apple has come up with significantly new finishes, I doubt that most consumers will be impressed."
Business Insider reported the budget model could sell for $550-$650.
As with the original iPhone X, the home button on the new phones will be replaced with a gesture-based control system. In addition, the new models all will use Face ID to unlock the phones.
The two OLED phones may contain dual SIM slots, at least for some regions. The feature will make it easier to switch between carriers when country hopping.
Just Another 'S' Year
From everything that's been reported so far about the new iPhones, King noted, the changes are typical of an "S" year cycle.
"Basically, Apple is making upgrades in performance and camera functions to entice users to buy into its higher pricing schema," he said. "The rumored LCD-based phones follow past company efforts to attract price-sensitive customers and markets to the Apple brand."
The new iPhone configuration will present Apple with a problem it hasn't faced since the iPhone X: coming up with appropriate names for the phones.
Having a smaller phone — the 5.8-inch OLED model — sell at a higher price than the larger LCD model may be confusing to consumers, the Bloomberg article suggested.
During development, the names for the phones reportedly have changed multiple times.
Whatever names Apple gives the phones and whatever the final products look like, chances are good they will be hits.
"Given consumer response in the past and their willingness to trust Apple's design decisions," Creative Strategies' Bajarin observed, "I expect whatever Apple brings out will be highly successful."
John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reportersince 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, theBoston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and GovernmentSecurity News. Email John.
More by John P. Mello Jr.
borisaman says:
I have a second hand iphone 6 plus, was a very good price from eBay. The prices of these devices are utter madness, zombies buying over priced things because they think it makes them better people, so so sad
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We make the world as we imagine it to be. Our every action creates the reality that we inhabit. Every act of kindness repaid threefold in a kinder world, every fearful fumble dredging up the black sludge of shame. Every minute spent just sat beneath a tree conjures a deeper love for nature. Rehearsing death reveals its purpose, its normality. Every tap of the contactless card a pledge of faith in currency, economy, the entire paradigm of commerce and capital. So much of our behaviour is unconscious habit, but denying our power and responsibility just allows the violence of karma to perpetuate. To change society, we must expose ourselves to ridicule. There is great potential in ridiculous action, for out of nonsense we weave the fabric of new sense. Our actions and our habits are still meaningful, even if we cannot perceive the emerging meaning.
When we bring consciousness to bear on the symbolism and significance of our thoughts and deeds, we enter the domain of ritual. Temporary spaces in which the power of performance impresses itself upon our minds and the wider reality. Spaces of the sacred and the profane, containers for transcendent experience, a realm of thresholds and portals to a web of meaning that stretches from the soil to the stars. Working between scales and beyond time, to draw down the cosmic drama into the everyday, or cast upwards our intentions to be caught by mysterious currents. Ritual is our birthright, our social fabric, and how we maintain and manifest the truth of our fleeting visions, how we beckon in what we see beyond the veil of the everyday. It is not enough to image the world we want to live in. We must manifest it.
Concluding our four-part occult odyssey, we've tripped through Tarot, Mythology and Astrology to land in the domain of humanity's oldest tool. We'll be joined by author, occultist and ceremonial magician Julian Vayne, whose book Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony has graced many a seeker's bookshelf. Together with Nikki Wyrd, publisher, ecologist and one of the directors of Breaking Convention, they'll craft for us a Solstice ritual to find the light on this, the darkest night. We'll be led down the path of healing by Dr Isabel de Salis of the University of Bristol, a medical anthropologist with a special interest in the Ancestors... and our Beloved Sara Zaltash, pioneering Islamic performance artist and interfaith minister in training, will bless with a journey into the political power of everyday ritual.