text:
package org.openkilda.northbound.service.impl;

import static java.lang.String.format;
import static java.util.Base64.getEncoder;
import static java.util.Collections.emptyList;

import org.openkilda.messaging.Destination;
import org.openkilda.messaging.Message;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.CommandMessage;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.CommandWithReplyToMessage;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.ConnectModeRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.DeleteRulesAction;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.DumpRulesRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.InstallRulesAction;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.SwitchRulesDeleteRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.SwitchRulesInstallRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.SwitchRulesSyncRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.command.switches.SwitchRulesValidateRequest;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.event.SwitchInfoData;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.rule.FlowEntry;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.rule.SwitchFlowEntries;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.switches.ConnectModeResponse;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.switches.SwitchRulesResponse;
import org.openkilda.messaging.info.switches.SyncRulesResponse;
import org.openkilda.northbound.converter.SwitchMapper;
import org.openkilda.northbound.dto.SwitchDto;
import org.openkilda.northbound.dto.switches.RulesSyncResult;
import org.openkilda.northbound.dto.switches.RulesValidationResult;
import org.openkilda.northbound.messaging.MessageConsumer;
import org.openkilda.northbound.messaging.MessageProducer;
import org.openkilda.northbound.service.SwitchService;
import org.openkilda.northbound.utils.RequestCorrelationId;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Value;
import org.springframework.http.HttpEntity;
import org.springframework.http.HttpHeaders;
import org.springframework.http.HttpMethod;
import org.springframework.stereotype.Service;
import org.springframework.util.CollectionUtils;
import org.springframework.web.client.RestClientException;
import org.springframework.web.client.RestTemplate;
import org.springframework.web.util.UriComponentsBuilder;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.stream.Collectors;
import javax.annotation.PostConstruct;

@Service
public class SwitchServiceImpl implements SwitchService {

    private final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(LinkServiceImpl.class);
    //todo: refactor to use interceptor or custom rest template
    private static final String auth = "kilda:kilda";
    private static final String authHeaderValue = "Basic " + getEncoder().encodeToString(auth.getBytes());

    private String switchesUrl;
    private HttpHeaders headers;

    @Value("${topology.engine.rest.endpoint}")
    private String topologyEngineRest;

    @Value("${kafka.topo.eng.topic}")
    private String topoEngTopic;

    @Autowired
    private MessageProducer messageProducer;

    @Autowired
    private MessageConsumer<Message> messageConsumer;

    @Autowired
    private SwitchMapper switchMapper;

    @Autowired
    private RestTemplate restTemplate;

    @Value("${kafka.speaker.topic}")
    private String floodlightTopic;

    @Value("${kafka.northbound.topic}")
    private String northboundTopic;

    @PostConstruct
    void init() {
        switchesUrl = UriComponentsBuilder
                .fromHttpUrl(topologyEngineRest)
                .pathSegment("api", "v1", "topology", "switches")
                .build()
                .toUriString();

        headers = new HttpHeaders();
        headers.add(HttpHeaders.AUTHORIZATION, authHeaderValue);
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public List<SwitchDto> getSwitches() {
        LOGGER.debug("Get switch request received");

        SwitchInfoData[] switches;
        try {
            switches = restTemplate.exchange(switchesUrl, HttpMethod.GET, new HttpEntity<>(headers),
                    SwitchInfoData[].class).getBody();
            LOGGER.debug("Returned {} links", switches.length);
        } catch (RestClientException e) {
            LOGGER.error("Exception during getting switches from TPE", e);
            throw e;
        }

        return Arrays.stream(switches)
                .map(switchMapper::toSwitchDto)
                .collect(Collectors.toList());
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public SwitchFlowEntries getRules(String switchId, Long cookie, String correlationId) {
        DumpRulesRequest request = new DumpRulesRequest(switchId);
        CommandWithReplyToMessage commandMessage = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(request, System.currentTimeMillis(),
                correlationId, Destination.CONTROLLER, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(floodlightTopic, commandMessage);
        Message message = messageConsumer.poll(correlationId);
        SwitchFlowEntries response = (SwitchFlowEntries) validateInfoMessage(commandMessage, message, correlationId);

        if (cookie > 0L) {
            List<FlowEntry> matchedFlows = new ArrayList<>();
            for (FlowEntry entry : response.getFlowEntries()) {
                if (cookie.equals(entry.getCookie())) {
                    matchedFlows.add(entry);
                }
            }
            response = new SwitchFlowEntries(response.getSwitchId(), matchedFlows);
        }
        return response;
    }

    @Override
    public SwitchFlowEntries getRules(String switchId, Long cookie) {
        return getRules(switchId, cookie, RequestCorrelationId.getId());
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public List<Long> deleteRules(String switchId, DeleteRulesAction deleteAction, Long cookie) {
        final String correlationId = RequestCorrelationId.getId();
        LOGGER.debug("Delete switch rules request received");

        SwitchRulesDeleteRequest data = new SwitchRulesDeleteRequest(switchId, deleteAction, cookie);
        CommandMessage request = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(data, System.currentTimeMillis(), correlationId,
                Destination.CONTROLLER, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(floodlightTopic, request);

        Message message = messageConsumer.poll(correlationId);
        SwitchRulesResponse response = (SwitchRulesResponse) validateInfoMessage(request, message, correlationId);
        return response.getRuleIds();
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public List<Long> installRules(String switchId, InstallRulesAction installAction) {
        final String correlationId = RequestCorrelationId.getId();
        LOGGER.debug("Install switch rules request received");

        SwitchRulesInstallRequest data = new SwitchRulesInstallRequest(switchId, installAction);
        CommandMessage request = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(data, System.currentTimeMillis(), correlationId,
                Destination.CONTROLLER, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(floodlightTopic, request);

        Message message = messageConsumer.poll(correlationId);
        SwitchRulesResponse response = (SwitchRulesResponse) validateInfoMessage(request, message, correlationId);
        return response.getRuleIds();
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public ConnectModeRequest.Mode connectMode(ConnectModeRequest.Mode mode) {
        final String correlationId = RequestCorrelationId.getId();
        LOGGER.debug("Set/Get switch connect mode request received: mode = {}", mode);

        ConnectModeRequest data = new ConnectModeRequest(mode);
        CommandMessage request = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(data, System.currentTimeMillis(), correlationId,
                Destination.CONTROLLER, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(floodlightTopic, request);

        Message message = messageConsumer.poll(correlationId);
        ConnectModeResponse response = (ConnectModeResponse) validateInfoMessage(request, message, correlationId);
        return response.getMode();
    }

    @Override
    public RulesValidationResult validateRules(String switchId) {
        final String correlationId = RequestCorrelationId.getId();

        CommandWithReplyToMessage validateCommandMessage = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(
                new SwitchRulesValidateRequest(switchId),
                System.currentTimeMillis(), correlationId, Destination.TOPOLOGY_ENGINE, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(topoEngTopic, validateCommandMessage);

        Message validateResponseMessage = messageConsumer.poll(correlationId);
        SyncRulesResponse validateResponse = (SyncRulesResponse) validateInfoMessage(validateCommandMessage,
                validateResponseMessage, correlationId);

        return switchMapper.toRulesValidationResult(validateResponse);
    }

    @Override
    public RulesSyncResult syncRules(String switchId) {
        RulesValidationResult validationResult = validateRules(switchId);
        List<String> missingRules = validationResult.getMissingRules();

        if (CollectionUtils.isEmpty(missingRules)) {
            return switchMapper.toRulesSyncResult(validationResult, emptyList());
        }

        LOGGER.debug("The validation result for switch {}: missing rules = {}", switchId, missingRules);

        // Synchronize the missing rules
        String syncCorrelationId = format("%s-sync", RequestCorrelationId.getId());
        CommandWithReplyToMessage syncCommandMessage = new CommandWithReplyToMessage(
                new SwitchRulesSyncRequest(switchId, missingRules),
                System.currentTimeMillis(), syncCorrelationId, Destination.TOPOLOGY_ENGINE, northboundTopic);
        messageProducer.send(topoEngTopic, syncCommandMessage);

        Message syncResponseMessage = messageConsumer.poll(syncCorrelationId);
        SyncRulesResponse syncResponse = (SyncRulesResponse) validateInfoMessage(syncCommandMessage,
                syncResponseMessage, syncCorrelationId);

        return switchMapper.toRulesSyncResult(validationResult, syncResponse.getInstalledRules());
    }
}


I've gotta tell you: In the catalog of easy, cheaty pizza recipes that start with some form of pre-baked bread base, flour tortilla–based pizzas have historically ranked pretty low on my list. Certainly lower than French bread pizza, lower than English muffin pizza (my first love), and even lower than matzo pizza. They always seemed a little too far removed from pizza for me, tasting more like pizza-flavored open-faced quesadillas. Not a bad thing, but not what I'm looking for when I need a pizza fix.
Well, I'm happy to report that all that has changed, and I'm now going to take the position that, given the proper technique, a couple of tricks, and the aid of a cast iron skillet, flour tortillas are actually the best way to make quick thin-and-crisp, bar-style pizza at home, producing results that are worlds better than any frozen product out there, and a good deal better than the majority of delivery options as well.
No, it's not gonna compare to Adam Kuban's Margot's Pizza, but for a sub-15-minute snack? Nothing compares.
Here's how to do it, or how not to do it, as in the case of point number one.
Before we jump into the best way to make tortilla pizza, a quick side note on what not to do.
A baking stone (or, better yet, a Baking Steel) is great for regular homemade pizza, creating a crisp bottom crust and good, poofy oven spring. But with tortilla pizza, you'll run into a couple of problems.
First of all, there's the preheating time. Preheating a steel properly takes at least 45 minutes or so, which kind of makes the whole quick-and-easy claim moot.
Second, and more importantly, tortilla pizzas don't have a cornicione—that's pizza-nerd-speak for the puffed, risen crust around the edge of a pizza. Thus, there's nothing preventing the cheese and toppings from sliding off. Bake a tortilla pizza on a Baking Steel and you'll end up with crud burnt onto it.
Not fun to clean up.
So what's the right way to do it? Easy. Use a good cast iron skillet. Not only can that skillet be heated up on the stovetop (way faster than waiting for the whole oven to heat), it also contains the spillover nicely. In fact, as you'll see, we can actually use this to our advantage to create the crispy, Italian frico–esque browned cheesy edges that are the best part of a good bar pie.
Put a little oil into your skillet, then heat it over high heat until the oil just starts to shimmer. As soon as it does, reduce the heat to low and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel. This will help crisp up the bottom, while making sure that it doesn't get too greasy.
Add a store-bought flour tortilla to the bottom of the skillet.
You want the smaller bubbles to be on the bottom, with the large bubbles facing upwards (pretty much the exact opposite of what I accidentally photographed in the picture below). That'll ensure that the bottom crust gets extra crisp, with more surface area, while the upper crust puffs a little bit to create some nice, charred bubbles of dough.
You want to find a skillet-and-tortilla combo in which the tortilla just fits into the bottom of the skillet.
Spread on a thin layer of sauce. You can use either store-bought pizza sauce, homemade pizza sauce, or simply some puréed canned tomatoes, seasoned with a little salt.
Spread the sauce out with a spoon, and make sure it gets all the way to the edges of the tortilla.
And something hard and nutty for extra flavor, like Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano.
The mozzarella goes on evenly over the whole top surface. You want to keep it relatively light—the sauce should be peeking through at least 50% of the surface area—since that cheese will melt and spread as it bakes.
Then comes the Parmesan, and I pay extra-special attention to getting it around the edges of the pizza, going so far as to intentionally sprinkle it around the edges, directly onto the surface of the pan.
This is going to magically transform as the pizza bakes.
You can choose to keep things simple by going with a plain old margherita-style pie, with just a drizzle of good olive oil and a scattering of basil leaves.
Or you can go all out, like I did here with this supreme pie, made with chunks of fresh sausage (put 'em on raw so that they stay juicy as they cook), sliced pepperoni (use the nice curling kind), and diced peppers and onions.
I really like the way the diced peppers meld into the cheese and add flavor to every bite. It's a trick I cribbed from Adam's Love Supreme at Margot's Pizza (which, for the record, is the best bar pie you'll ever taste anywhere).
Because the cast iron pan was preheated, your pizza should have already begun crisping up on the bottom and around the edges, but we still need to get at that upper crust. The best, fastest way? Just stick the whole skillet under the broiler, as close to it as possible, until the cheese is lightly browned.
Your pie should pop out of the oven fully cooked in just about three minutes. I use a really thin offset metal spatula to gently release the crisp cheese edges from the pan, shaking the skillet a bit until the pizza slides around freely.
You should be able to slide your pizza out directly onto a cutting board.
Can you believe this can come out of your kitchen in less time than it takes to read this article?
Let's take a tour of its features, shall we?
Deeply flavored, sweet and nutty, and ridiculously crisp, this is better than a real pizza crust in my book.
Thanks to the skillet, the bottom of the pizza comes out crisp, leopard-spotted, and browned. You've had floppy tortilla pizza in the past, right? Not anymore. This is as crisp as it gets.
Crisp enough to hold itself out horizontally, in fact. And, unlike regular pizza, this stuff stays cracker-crisp even as it cools, making it perfect game-day or movie-night (not to mention hangover-morning) food.
Not bad for an under-15-minute recipe, right? Not bad at all.


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Officers recover $16K in stolen equipment
Dawson County Sheriffs Lt. Ray Goodie documents more than $16,000 in equipment stolen from Banneker High School in Fulton County. The merchandise was found last week in a Dawson County home. - photo by Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Three people face theft and drug charges after a probation verification visit turned up more than $16,000 worth of stolen equipment from a new Fulton County high school.
According to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, 23-year-old Donald B. Watts of Orlando, Fla., was charged with two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, one felony and one misdemeanor, as well as misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Morgan Elizabeth Nolting, 19, and Tyler Wayne O'Donnell, 20, both of Dawsonville, were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and theft by receiving stolen property, both of which are felonies.
The arrests came Thursday night after sheriff's deputies found digital cameras, personal computers and band equipment from Banneker High School in the basement of a Hwy. 9 North home. They also discovered an iPad from an unrelated theft case in Watts' vehicle.
Watts, whose bond has been set at $31,200, and O'Donnell remain in custody at the Dawson County Detention Center, jail records show. Nolting was released Aug. 10 on $35,200 bond.
Sheriff's Capt. Tony Wooten said additional charges are possible, noting there also was what appeared to be a stolen wallet at the home.
"Investigators are following up on that now," he said.
According to Wooten, the discovery was made Thursday night when deputies went to the Hwy. 9 home to check on a probationer.
"When they first arrived at the house, they found a [suspicious] pipe, which led to them searching the house and finding about two ounces of marijuana," Wooten said. "They were searching the rest of the house for drugs when they found the stolen equipment [in the basement]."
Wooten said Stephen Knowles, a K9 officer, was familiar with the school theft case and was able to confirm the equipment belonged to Banneker, which is near College Park south of Atlanta.
According to Wooten, Banneker officials had reported some of the items as stolen, but were not aware of how much had been taken.
"This is a new school and one of the suspects had been working there as a contractor," Wooten said.
It was not immediately clear which, if any, of the three suspects was the probationer authorities had gone to visit.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Milos Raonic | Players | Laver Cup
A booming serve has helped Raonic become the highest-ranked Canadian man in history. Injuries have often derailed his momentum, but at his best the towering Canadian has proved he is one of the world's best players. Nicknamed 'Missile', Raonic is making his Laver Cup debut with Team World in 2019.
Born in Montenegro, Raonic was three when his family relocated to Canada. He started playing tennis at age eight and idolized American Pete Sampras. He founded the Milos Raonic Foundation in 2012 to help disadvantaged youth. Raonic enjoys watching movies and spending time with friends. Former French player Fabrice Santoro is his current coach.
Soared to a career-high ranking of No.3 in 2016, the same year he became the first Canadian Grand Slam men's singles finalist at Wimbledon. Raonic was the first 1990s-born player to win an ATP title, claiming his first in San Jose in 2011. He has now won eight ATP titles – all on hard court. Team World captain John McEnroe is one of his former coaches.
SF: Indian Wells, Stuttgart
QF: Brisbane, Australian Open, Queen's
Anderson, Isner, Raonic and Shapovalov confirmed to lead Team World in Geneva
Laver Cup potential match-ups: Thiem v Raonic
Milos Raonic: beneath the surface


"This wellness team is worth every penny. The support, knowledge, care, experience and professionalism exceed all others! If you find yourself in need of a revitalized, pain free, energized body- this is the clinic you need. I am thankful for the hours of wonderful care I have received!"
"I came in with a major pain in the neck, and after a few visits I feel so much better. Dr. Kremer is great!!
"After a recent back injury I came to see Dr. Kremer. After several visits and some good advice I am back at 100%."
"Dr. Kremer is amazing! I was in an auto accident recently and Dr. Kremer has drastically helped with the healing of my injuries. Due to the care I have received here, I will be continuing as a patient!"
"Thank you for helping me (on such short notice!) prepare for the Portland Marathon. I finished the race in 5:54:50, in pouring rain, and I couldn't be happier. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I couldn't have crossed the finish line without your help getting to the start. Thanks again- you are a great chiropractor and friend."
"Thanks a million to Dr. Kremer for braving the terrible weather today and giving me the most comprehensive assessment, treatment and guidelines to get me back in the saddle for the around the corner summer triathlon programs. The attention to detail started with Katie on the phone, and was followed in superb fashion.
I reside, in Houston, TX, but would seriously consider returning, such was the experience. Thank you!!!!"
"My family and I moved to Bend in the Fall of 2011. On the recommendation of a neighbor we found Dr. Kremer. I was super excited because not only was he a Chiropractor but he practices Functional Medicine. For years I had been complaining to my GP that something wasn't right and after numerous tests came back "within normal" I had given up hope of finding out what it was. On my very first visit, Dr.Kremer brought up the possibility that I could be gluten intolerant and encouraged me to get tested. In January 2012 I took the test. I remember thinking "I bet it will come back positive for gluten sensitivity." The possibility of being a Celiac did not enter my mind. When the test came back I think we were both shocked. My numbers were really high. So my life living with Celiac Disease began.
I can tell you living without gluten in a gluten world is really hard. Not only does it limit what you can eat but where you can eat as well. I wish I could say this was the magic ingredient to me becoming healthy and fit but this was just the first of many discoveries on my journey. I hate it when celebrities claim to go gluten free so they can lose weight. I can tell you that usually doesn't happen. In fact as my body began to heal and absorb nutrients I put on weight. After four months my symptoms disappeared and overall I felt better. Now I was eating what my body needed and I started to exercise but my outward appearance didn't reflect all the hard work I was doing.
In December of 2012 a friend of mine challenged me to do something I had never done. I set out to run a 5K. Now mind you I had never run on purpose and I'm over 40. So this was a lofty goal. I started training in February 2013. With this added exercise, I was sure that the weight would just melt off.... My weight stood still. In June of 2013 I ran my first 5K and participated in 4 others during the Summer and Fall. I was running and training hard but again my body just did not want to let those extra pounds go. In late July of 2013 Dr. Kremer suggested I do a blood panel to look for food reactions looking at allergies and sensitivities. When my test results came back I had multiple heightened reactions suggesting my intestinal tract was not healed and I had leaky gut. I was surprised at what was high: chicken, peas, vanilla, strawberries and grapes. I had been eating chicken breasts at least 3 to 4 times a week because...its white meat...it's good for you.
On August 1st my new way of eating began. The first week was awful. My body protested everything. (I gave up coffee even though I could still drink it because the yummy stuff I liked to put in it I couldn't have.) I started eating more fish, turkey and veggies I'd only heard about. After my two week mark my body started to perk up. I had energy and felt alert. I was able to run faster and longer. This was super exciting for me! On my first weigh in I wept. I had lost 2 pounds! Sweet victory...my body was finally able to focus on what I was doing for it and not dealing with inflammatory foods that it was constantly fighting in my system.
3 months went really fast. I survived Thanksgiving and Christmas eating just what was on my list. (Proud of the fact I did not cheat...not even once.) This was the first Holiday season that my scale went down instead of up. By 6 months I had lost 24 pounds and I am 1/2 pound away from my first goal. I hope to be at my second by my birthday this summer.
I highly recommend Dr. Kremer to everybody who feels as though they are continually battling their own bodies, as I did for so many years. I could not have done this without the help and encouragement of him and his wife Cassie. If you are ready to change your body for good and take charge of your health, the team they are here to walk with you and help you on your journey."


text:
Crime & Fraud
Laws & Regulations SEC & Regulatory Bodies
Reviewed by Will Kenton
What is Churning
Churning is a term applied to the practice of a broker conducting excessive trading in a client's account mainly to generate commissions. Churning is an unethical and illegal practice that violates SEC rules (15c1-7) and securities laws. While there is no quantitative measure for churning, frequent buying and selling of securities that does little to meet the client's investment objectives may be evidence of churning.
3 Dishonest Broker Tactics
BREAKING DOWN Churning
Churning may often result in substantial losses in the client's account, or if profitable, may generate a tax liability. Since churning can only occur when the broker has discretionary authority over the client's account, a client may avoid this risk by maintaining full control. Another way to prevent the chances of churning or of paying excessive commission fees is to use a fee-based account. However, placing a customer in a fee-based account when there is little to no activity to justify the fee is indicative of another form of churning called reverse churning.
Types of Churning
The most basic churning comes from excessive trading by a broker to generate commissions. Brokers must justify commissionable trades and how they benefit the client. When there are excessive commissions with no noticeable portfolio gains, churning might have occurred.
Churning also applies in the excessive or unnecessary trading of mutual funds and annuities. Mutual funds with an upfront load (A shares) are long-term investments. Selling an A-share fund within five years and purchasing another A-share fund must be substantiated with a prudent investment decision. Most mutual fund companies allow investors to switch into any fund within a fund family without incurring an upfront fee. A broker recommending an investment change should first consider funds within the fund family.
Deferred annuities are retirement savings accounts that usually do not have an upfront fee like mutual funds. Instead, annuities typically have contingent deferred surrender charges. Surrender charge schedules vary and can range from 1 to 10 years. To prevent churning, many states have implemented exchange and replacement rules. These rules allow an investor to compare the new contract and highlight surrender penalties or fees.
Sanctions for Churning
Churning is a severe offense and, if proven, can lead to employment termination, barring from the industry, and legal ramifications. Also, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) may impose fines ranging from $5,000 to $110,000 per instance. FINRA also has the right to suspend the broker for anywhere from ten business days up to one year. In more egregious cases, FINRA can suspend the violator for up to two years or even bar the broker indefinitely.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a U.S. government agency created by Congress to regulate the securities markets and protect investors.
Overtrading Definition
Overtrading refers to excessive buying and selling of stocks by either a broker or an investor.
Rules of Fair Practice
The Rules of Fair Practice is a code of conduct for U.S. broker-dealers that requires loyalty to and fair dealing with customers.
L Share Annuity Class Definition
The L share annuity class is a common share class offered by a variable annuity that has a short surrender period but with higher administrative costs.
Five Percent Rule
The five percent rule requires brokers to use fair and ethical practices when setting commission rates on over-the-counter transactions.
Double Dipping
Double dipping is when a broker puts commissioned products into a fee-based account thereby unethically earning money from both sources.
Is Your Forex Broker a Scam?
4 Dishonest Broker Tactics and How to Avoid Them
The Fiduciary Rule and Its Impact on Mutual Funds
What Is Financial Double Dipping?
Are You Buying Annuities Or Mutual Funds?
Which Is Better—a Fee-Based or a Commission-Based Advisor?


text:
BID FOR 9MOBILE: A Look at the camp of the finalists
January 26, 2018 No Commentsadmin
As the curtains are about to be drawn on the sale of 9Mobile, a discernible trend has emerged from the camp of the two finalists; Smile Telecoms Holdings and Teleology Holdings Limited. On either side are former CEOs of MTN Nigeria leading the charge. Smile Telecoms Holdings has one of its leaders Ahmad Farroukh and Teleology Holdings Limited is led by Adrian Wood.
Adrian Wood was the second Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria but his tenure was short-lived. He served for almost two years only. Thereafter he was named Group Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria and like his stint at MTN he left abruptly and in circumstances that were said to be unsavory. He is currently the CEO of Brymedia West Africa Limited.
Ahmad Farroukh who joined MTN as Chief Executive Officer after 18 months from Wood departure, is currently the Group Executive Director in charge of Operations at Smile Telecoms Holdings. Given the preeminent role of Smile Nigeria towards the realisation of the Federal Government's quest for enhanced broadband penetration, Ahmad spends most of his executive time in Nigeria and will be central to Smile's quest to acquire 9Mobile.
Farroukh had the arduous task of bringing MTN Nigeria to what is it is today. His service record for the full tenure he served is stellar. Between July 2006 and April 2011 he increased MTN subscriber base to 40 million and achieved 62% healthy margin. He had the distinction of managing 17 operations of the MTN Group after he left Nigeria.
As both Wood and Farroukh go head-to-head in the quest to clinch the 9Mobile business it promises to be battle royal. Beside the distinguished record that favors Farroukh, he is armed with a local Nigerian operation and presence and Smile 800 LTE Broad band frequency that will be a game changer.
SMILE TELECOMS HOLDINGS LTD AND TELEOLOGY HOLDINGS
Smile Nigeria, a member of Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited, launched West Africa's true 4G LTE network in Ibadan in 2013 thereby revolutionizing the way people access the Internet. Industry Watchers have applauded Smile for bringing fast and reliable Internet service to Nigerians. The company became the first operator in West Africa to offer its customers Voice over LTE services and give them access to the growing global standard for voice and video calling. It has a top drawer board headed by the consummate investor Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi
Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited, founded in 2007, is a Mauritius-based Pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Smile has the largest sub-1 GHz 4G LTE commercial network in Africa, operating in the 800 MHz band, providing SuperFast and Reliable broadband services to its customers.
Smile launched Africa's first commercial 4G LTE network in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in May 2013 – revolutionizing the way people access information online. Since then, Smile has extended its coverage in Tanzania to 7 regions and also launched commercially in Uganda in June 2013, with coverage expanded to 14 cities. In March 2014 Smile launched West-Africa's first 4G LTE mobile broadband service in Nigeria with coverage now extended to 8 cities.
By the end of 2015, Smile had the biggest 4G LTE mobile broadband network in Africa and continues to expand its network coverage. In 2016 Smile launched its SuperClear voice, video and SMS services over LTE, enabling all our customers to use one data bundle for SuperFast broadband and SuperClear voice services. Smile has transitioned from a spectrum rich start-up to the most reliable data gigabyte factory in Sub-Sahara Africa.
AHMAD FARROUKH
Ahmad Farroukh is the Executive Director, Operations of Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited. Most recently, he served as the rescue CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia's second largest telecommunications operator. Ahmad is an experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial success, extensive experience working in Nigeria and Africa and an impressive ability to drive strategy and profitability in accordance with international standards.
He has held executive management positions at Investcom Holdings and the MTN Group, including being CEO of MTN Nigeria for five years, CEO of MTN South Africa and MTN Group Chief Operating Executive (responsible for 17 countries).
Ahmad holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the Lebanese American University and is a Certified Public Accountant (New York, USA).
TELEOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED
Teleology Holdings Limited is a consortium of companies with eminent Nigerians including frontline politicians, revered traditional rulers and notable business executives as shareholders. It is more of a Special Purpose Vehicle designed specifically for the 9Mobile bid but lacks the much needed requisite experience.
ADRIAN WOOD
Adrian Wood, lead promoter of Teleology Holdings Limited is an international technology and investment executive. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Brymedia West Africa Limited.
He has served as Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria and Group Managing Director of Daily Times Nigeria. His career spans major operators such as Telstra, Portugal Telecom, Telecom Finland-Sonera, France Telecom, Orange UK, Telenor,
Wood's expertise extends to complex, geographically and culturally diverse businesses, brand development, growth in a regulated environment, capacity building, government & community relations.
WHO IS THE BEST MATCH FOR BRIDE "9MOBILE"
CAPABILITY SMILE TELECOMS HOLDINGS TELEOLOGY HOLDINGS
Experienced Management Team ü ü
Management Capability of running a Big Operator ü ü
Local Presence in an Operating Company ü X
Nigerian Shareholding ü ?
Smile – 9Mobile combined
Best frequency rang to serve Data and LTE Broadband growth
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We love to describe our Casita line as Modern Southwest. The fusion of modern shapes with traditional materials and finishes bridge the gap between old and new. We like Casita pendants over kitchen islands, in entryways, in hallways, in laundry / mud rooms, and any other spot in need of a great pendant. Our hand applied antique brass finish is the perfect accent of classic meets modern lending warmth to any space.
Total drop length: 12" to 44"


Nidogen 1 and 2 are basement membrane glycoproteins, and previous biochemical and functional studies indicate that they may play a crucial role in basement membrane assembly. While they show a divergent expression pattern in certain adult tissues, both have a similar distribution during development. Gene knockout studies in mice demonstrated that the loss of either isoform has no effect on basement membrane formation and organ development, suggesting complementary functions. Here, we show that this is indeed the case. Deficiency of both nidogens in mice resulted in perinatal lethality. Nidogen 1 and 2 do not appear to be crucial in establishing tissue architecture during organ development; instead, they are essential for late stages of lung development and for maintenance and/or integrity of cardiac tissue. These organ defects are not compatible with postnatal survival. Ultrastructural analysis suggests that the phenotypes directly result from basement membrane changes. However, despite the ubiquitous presence of nidogens in basement membranes, defects do not occur in all tissues or in all basement membranes, suggesting a varying spectrum of roles for nidogens in the basement membrane.
Bader, Bernhard L., Smyth, Neil, Nedbal, Sabine, Miosge, Nicolai, Baranowsky, Anke, Mokkapati, Sharada, Murshed, Mokkapati and Nischt, Roswitha (2005) Compound genetic ablation of nidogen 1 and 2 causes basement membrane defects and perinatal lethality in mice. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 25 (15), 6846-6856. (doi:10.1128/MCB.25.15.6846-6856.2005).


Hawaii might soon need to prepare for some more enchanted evenings, amnesiac lovers and ragtag plane wreck survivors after Gov. Linda Lingle signed a law that nearly quadruples the tax credits offered by the state to film and other media projects in the islands.
Known as the backdrop for "South Pacific," "50 First Dates" and currently the hit TV show "Lost," the islands have lost out on high-profile productions in recent years, in part due to the state's unwieldy system of tax credits for productions.
Among recent film projects to have considered Hawaii but gone elsewhere were Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," which went to Iceland, and the latest two installments of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, which filmed in the Caribbean, said Donne Dawson, Hawaii's film commissioner.
However, as of July 1, productions that come to Hawaii will have access to new tax credits equal to 15 percent of their expenditures on Oahu and 20 percent on the neighbor islands, with a cap at $8 million per production. That's a significant increase from the state's current offering of up to 4 percent on spending and a rebate on the state's 7.25 percent hotel room tax.
The new law brings Hawaii more in line with the nation's other film-friendly states, such as New Mexico, which offers a 25 percent rebate and zero percent-interest loans on productions. Last year, that state hosted such productions as "Brokeback Mountain" and "North Country," as well as a feature film that had passed over Hawaii because of its lack of incentives, Adam Sandler's "The Longest Yard."
"There are a lot of people in the industry that have been watching this very closely for several years. And I think there's a lot of excitement building now because projects that have been in a holding pattern are now talking about wanting to come here ... because of the new credit," Dawson said.
Last year film projects spent $100 million in the state. Dawson said she hopes the new credit will bump film expenditures in the state back up to its all-time high in 2004 of $161 million.
A similar tax credit package had failed to pass the Legislature last year. And the issue became a touchy subject with lawmakers after the 2002 surfing movie "Blue Crush," which had a budget of $41 million, received at least $18 million in tax rebates under the high technology tax credit known as Act 221.
The state has long since tightened the criteria for qualifying for that credit, Dawson said.
But that credit, which offers 100 percent back for each investor on a project up to $2 million, has remained the most-used credit by productions, rather than the state's 4 percent credit, she said.
The state provides about $28 million in film project tax credits each year, including about $23 million in Act 221 credits.
The problem is that the high tech credit is difficult to use -- including a need for projects to find local investors -- which makes it harder for film projects to know for sure how much help they can count on from the state, Dawson said.
"An incentive is only as valuable as it is easy to access," she said.
The new law would not allow productions to use both the new, larger credit and the old high tech credits.
"We didn't ask for money. We basically asked to amend the bill and hopefully (take) the pressure off of 221," said Brenda Ching, executive director of the Screen Actors Guild in Hawaii.
Ching, who is also chairwoman of the Hawaii Film and Entertainment Board, helped lead the local film industry effort to get the credit increase through, which included a petition with more than 400 signatures.
"It's going to hopefully generate more work for ... everyone, anyone in the industry and have that trickle effect," she said.


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They Were Legal: Balzac y Lopez The History of an Hispanic Family New York 1901-1960 (Hardcover)
By Diane Fortuna
They Were Legal: Balzac y Lopez The History of an Hispanic Family New York 1901 - 1906 In Part I of They Were Legal: Balzac y Lopez, Spanish and French Pep n Balzac, a compositor and translator, emigrates from Puerto Rico just after the Annexation. Once in New York City, he finds himself in the vortex of irresistible events: the assassination of McKinley, World War I, the Spanish Flu Epidemic, the Depression and the Great Hurricane of 1938. Coming from a genteel island culture, Pep n runs smack into the dog-eat-dog immigrant existence that kills his sister-in-law, Daisy Lopez in the Triangle Fire 1911. Part II presents the tears and laughter of Nena, Pep n's daughter - weaver of tales, preserver of the past, mother and surrogate mother, avid moviegoer and kindest of kind spirits.
Publisher: Authorhouse
Ethnic Studies - American - Hispanic American Studies
Kobo eBook (January 4th, 2012): $3.99


There are a lot of good credit repair companies out there that help people improve their credit score by disputing negative items on their credit reports, helping optimizing their current credit accounts, and providing information about adding positive credit.
But on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some credit repair scammers out there looking to take advantage of people who are desperate for a better credit score. Here are the top ten warning signs of a credit repair scam so if you are in the market for credit repair services, you will be better equipped to tell the difference between a legitimate credit repair service and one that is just out to victimize you.
I just spoke with Parkview Legal who put my credit score at more than 100 points less than what I have. I had to pay them $60 to pull my credit report, of which they promised me a copy. I never received my copy. They used this low credit score to tell me how horrible my credit report was and how only they could fix it for $500 to start and $89.95 per month; and it would only take 12-18 months. That is over $2000. When I decided not to go forward, they badgered me and told "I was looking for an easy way out." I told them I was a single mom more worried about buying groceries than a $60 credit report (which I still do not have). Only after I insisted that I would not use their services, was I able to get off the phone, with a promise that I would have my copy of my credit report within 5 minutes. Again, I still do not have my alleged credit report and have had $60 taken for nothing. Do NOT trust these people. They are very considerate and friendly, but it is just a trick!
A common trademark of a credit repair scam is to con you into paying all the money right away so that by the time you realize you are being taken for a ride, they already have what they want. This is why the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act actually forbids credit repair companies from accepting payment for a service before it has been performed. So if someone wants a bunch of money before they will even start working on your credit, run the other way.
So far, dealing with Park View Legal/Law, the free consultation cost $59.95. Without looking at my history, another $199.99 was asked with promise that original money would be added to the total. Then, another installment was to be deducted from SSD check of $175.
Funny you say that they can't remove a thing. They have disputed resulting in removals of hundreds of thousands of items.
So, your credit is so messed up you think there is no way you can get a loan. Maybe you filed for bankruptcy or maybe your home was repossessed. Some credit repair scammers will claim to have the perfect solution for you. They say they can trick the credit bureaus into creating a brand new credit report with none of that bad stuff on it. And they may even be able to do it. But here's the kicker and the thing they certainly won't tell you - it's illegal. You may have a new credit report, but if you try to use it you could end up in jail.
What better way to scam someone than to force them to make an untraceable, unreverseable cash payment. It's amazing how many people get suckered by a credit repair scammer who posts signs by the side of the road and then meets you in a parking lot to get your cash payment. At any other time, you'd know better so don't let your desperation for a good credit score cloud your judgement.
Any reputable credit repair company is going to have a physical location where the work to repair your credit is performed, even if it is just someone's home. If you find a credit repair company that doesn't, or isn't willing to tell you what it is, assume they have something to hide.
This is a little bit if a grey area because a lot of credit repair companies have refund policies where if they don't delete a certain number of negative items from your credit reports. you can your money back. But what you have to be careful of is a credit repair company that promises to be able to delete a bankruptcy, collection, late payment, repossession, etc. regardless of whether or not that listing is correct. The truth is that no credit repair company knows for sure whether or not they can delete something from your credit report because it is up to the credit bureaus whether or not something gets removed. They can do everything in their power and even start filing lawsuits, but even then, they may not win.
It's your credit report so you should know exactly what is being done to fix it. If a credit repair company isn't willing to tell you how their credit repair service works or seems to be avoiding your questions, be wary. If a credit repair company responds to your questions with "just trust us", don't.
You can repair your credit on your own. Anything a credit repair company can do for you, you can do yourself. Watch out for any credit repair company who claims otherwise.
When you file for bankruptcy, it becomes public record. Credit repair scammers monitor these records and try to get people when they are at this low point in their lives. They'll tell you that there is no way you can get credit for 10 years because of the bankruptcy on your credit report and then they will claim to be able to delete the bankruptcy or get you a new credit report. Don't believe them. They're just trying to take money from people who can't afford to lose it.
Federal law requires that you have a signed contract in place stating specific things like the credit repair services that will be performed, the fees that will be charged for these services, and when these fees will be considered collectible. You also have the right to cancel this contract within three days of signing it and with zero financial obligation. Before you sign up for any credit repair service, make sure you get everything in writing.


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Hybrid PET/MR imaging in myocardial inflammation post-myocardial infarction
J Nucl Cardiol. 2020 Dec;27(6):2083-2099. doi: 10.1007/s12350-019-01973-9. Epub 2019 Dec 3.
B Wilk 1 2 3 , G Wisenberg 4 5 , R Dharmakumar 6 7 , J D Thiessen 4 8 9 , D E Goldhawk 4 8 9 , F S Prato 4 8 9
1 Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Canada. bwilk@uwo.ca.
2 Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Canada. bwilk@uwo.ca.
3 Collaborative Graduate Program in Molecular Imaging, Western University, London, Canada. bwilk@uwo.ca.
4 Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Canada.
5 MyHealth Centre, Arva, Canada.
6 Biomedical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
7 David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
8 Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Canada.
9 Collaborative Graduate Program in Molecular Imaging, Western University, London, Canada.
Hybrid PET/MR imaging is an emerging imaging modality combining positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the same system. Since the introduction of clinical PET/MRI in 2011, it has had some impact (e.g., imaging the components of inflammation in myocardial infarction), but its role could be much greater. Many opportunities remain unexplored and will be highlighted in this review. The inflammatory process post-myocardial infarction has many facets at a cellular level which may affect the outcome of the patient, specifically the effects on adverse left ventricular remodeling, and ultimately prognosis. The goal of inflammation imaging is to track the process non-invasively and quantitatively to determine the best therapeutic options for intervention and to monitor those therapies. While PET and MRI, acquired separately, can image aspects of inflammation, hybrid PET/MRI has the potential to advance imaging of myocardial inflammation. This review contains a description of hybrid PET/MRI, its application to inflammation imaging in myocardial infarction and the challenges, constraints, and opportunities in designing data collection protocols. Finally, this review explores opportunities in PET/MRI: improved registration, partial volume correction, machine learning, new approaches in the development of PET and MRI pulse sequences, and the use of novel injection strategies.
Keywords: MRI; Myocardial biology; PET; hybrid imaging; inflammation; myocardial ischemia and infarction.
Blood Flow Velocity
Edema / diagnostic imaging
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Heart / diagnostic imaging*
Macrophages / pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Multimodal Imaging / methods*
Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging*
Myocarditis / diagnostic imaging
Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
R01 HL148788/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States


and is interpreted as the number of m-element subsets (the m-combinations) of an n-element set, A.
Pascal's triangle is a geometric arrangement of the binomial coefficients in a triangle.
On the zeroth row, write only the number 1.
To construct the elements of following rows, add the number directly above and to the left with the number directly above and to the right to find the new value (If either the number to the right or left is not present, substitute a zero in its place).
Pascal's triangle determines the coefficients which arise in binomial expansions.


The focus shifted to the Middle East when the headlines broke.
Der Fokus verschob sich zum Nahen Osten als die Schlagzeilen ausbrachen.
I am a very good driver but I won't be able to tell you anything about the gear shift, spark plug or clutch. Ich bin ein guter Autofahrer, ich kann Dir aber nichts über die Gangschaltung, Zündkerzen oder Kupplung erzählen.
Do you know any people in Australia. I have delivered all the necessary information to the friends. Please give them a few more days to correct the letters (I was not in the office last week).
The ice blocks that usually break off during the summer started already to break off in spring due to the Global warming. The glaciers in general were loosing volume as we were told and as we could see.


Marriage is one of the best things to have happened to me in the past few years. I have always been a believer in the institution of marriage, moreover getting married to the man of my dreams has strengthened my belief. I vividly remember my marriage day wherein instead of behaving like a coy bride I was nicely smiling to everyone and posing for photographs. Imagine a person who hates getting clicked, poses with ease on her D-Day (LOL that's me 😁).
We often take pictures to cherish the best moments of our life. Some pictures end up being framed , some pictures are made into an album, some end up getting saved into the laptop, digital camera, phone. Why so?!!! Because we want to treasure all our special moments but not all hold the same place in our hearts. Some moments are extra special, the moments which are life changing, the moments which make us nostalgic, the moments which make us what we are today 😊😊😊.
Canvas Champ just makes this possible with their high quality canvas prints at a very affordable rate. Moreover my order was processed and couriered in flat 4 days. I had placed an order on 20th October and i received my order on 24th October. The canvas print reached me nicely wrapped in a cardboard box. The frame had a double enamel coating on it to prevent damage to the canvas. Overall am quite happy with the canvas print which cost 576 INR with free shipping. My canvas print size is 12" X 8". The canvas is made up of soft cotton material. My canvas print already has a hook do that i can hang it easily. Now the big question why Canvas Champ??
We are one of the largest printing houses, and have been around for more than 20 years.
We offer the best quality at guaranteed lowest prices.
Our ordering process is easy and convenient.
We provide free professional design and design proofs upon request.
How do they offer high quality, custom prints at an affordable price?
We are one of the largest wholesale printers in the industry. Higher volume allows us to get materials and supplies directly from the manufacturers at low price. Optimum utilization of printing in and outside India helps us keep our overhead cost low. We believe in passing these savings to our customer.
Any size between 8" x 8" to 55" x 55". For additional sizes contact Canvas Champ team.
What is the difference between Rolled, Thin and Thick Gallery Wrap?
Thin Wrap : They come with pre- stretched canvas on 0.75" thick wooden frames. They are useful if you want to use the canvas and get a customized frame on it . They have a thin , sleek and stunning look to it . They come ready to hang.
I would highly suggest you to visit the website once and try for yourself to get your favourite memories Canvased by the Champ. Whenever I shift to my dream home I am surely going to order some canvas prints of my favourite memories.
NB - canvas print was offered for free in exchange of honest review.


All diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called the 4Cs: Carat weight, Clarity, Color and Cut.
In this setting, the stone is secured in the mounting by a thin strip of metal surrounding the stone's perimeter.
Intensity of the internal and external reflections of white light returned to the eye through the crown of a diamond. Proportions, polish, symmetry, clarity and overall workmanship all affect a diamond's brilliance.
Carat weight alone does not determine a diamonds value. Two stones of equal weight can vary widely in price because of quality differences. In fact, a smaller diamond may actually be more beautiful than a larger stone with inferior cut, clarity, color or presence.
A diamond's clarity rating has a direct effect on a diamond's beauty and price.
Virtually all diamonds have imperfections called inclusions and blemishes. A stone is said to be 'flawless' if, under ten-power magnification, no external imperfections are visible and no internal flaws are visible. A truly flawless diamond is extremely rare and priced accordingly.
The color of each diamond is determined by comparing it to authenticated 'master diamonds'. Each stone is then color-graded to a precise scale from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (saturated).
There is a tradeoff between qualigy and size.
When a stone is cut to maximize brilliance, dispersion and scintillation, it usually loses size. More of the stone must be cut away. Conversely, when cut for size, the diamond usually loses brilliance, dispersion and scintillation.
The breakup or separation of white light into spectral colors, each having its own wavelength and frequency. Synonymous with 'fire'.
An unnatural process that alters the appearance, particularly the color or clarity, of a natural diamond or other gemstone. Coating, irradiation, high temperature/high pressure, fracture filling and laser drilling are all examples of enhancement. The only acceptable enhancements are cutting and polishing. Synonymous with 'treatment'.
Any shape other than a round-brilliant or single cut. Includes: , pear, marquise, oval and heart shapes.
Quality of a diamond's polish, condition of its girdle, and the precision of the faceting arrangement.
The breakup or separation of white light into spectral colors, each having its own wavelength and frequency. Synonymous with 'dispersion'.
A diamond can be fashioned with a shallow pavilion and large table, to give the impression of a much larger stone. This technique produces a dull stone, and even worse, it creates an ugly 'fisheye' effect when viewed through the crown.
The popular and overly simple four factors: cut, clarity, color and carat weight, which are commonly used to determine the value of a diamond. These factors alone are an insufficient measure of a diamond's true quality, beauty and value.
When the pavilion of a diamond is too deep, a darkening 'nailhead' effect appears in the middle of the stone.
The overall condition of a facet's surface on a fashioned diamond.
This evaluation includes precision of cut, symmetry and polish. Individually, and as a group, they influence a diamond's beauty and overall appearance.
The shape, size and angle of each individual facet is crucially important. The expert diamond cutter must follow a prescribed geometric plan to produce an 'excellent' precision of cut. If the cutter fails, Tiffany will quickly find the mistake and reject the stone.
The quality of a stone's polish directly influences a diamond's brilliance, dispersion and scintillation.
The relative dimensions and angles of a diamond's faceting and the relationships that exist between them.
Rough diamonds are those that are mined, before they are cut and polished.
A traditional diamond shape based on the octahedron rough crystal. It has 57 or 58 facets consisting of a crown, girdle and pavilion. The crown has a table, 8 kite-shaped bezel facets, 8 star facets, and 16 triangular upper-girdle facets. The girdle circumscribes the diameter and may be either faceted or bruted. The pavilion contains 8 kite-shaped main facets, and 16 triangular lower-girdle facets. It may or may not have a culet on the pavilion.
The flashes of reflective light emanating from a diamond's polished facets are observed when either the diamond or light source is moved. Scintillation is often referred to as 'sparkle'.
The entire metal mounting holding the polished diamond or diamonds. The design and workmanship of the setting is critical to the overall beauty of a diamond ring. Synonymous with 'mounting'.
A setting style in which a pair of centrally positioned prongs holds two stones: one to its right and one to its left.
Because carat weight is always a factor in pricing, some diamond cutters will attempt to trick casual buyers. For example, by creating an excessively thick girdle, carat weight (and price) is increased. Brilliance and beauty are, of course, noticeably impaired.


text:
Imperial Palaces Services
Various pieces from the an imperial service decorated with the old-style coat-of-arms. From Gatchina Palace.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries ceremonial dinners in the imperial palaces were virtually affairs of state. Tables were set in several halls at once, the number of guests often exceeded several hundred persons, and menus could contain dozens of dishes. This required extensive stores of services, each with an enormous number and variety of pieces, and the country's best creative resources were engaged to make these services, whose cost reached significant sums. Preparation of such services took several years, and their creation marks a high point in the history of Russia's applied decorative arts. Porcelain was widely used to decorate the Peterhof palaces, which were constructed from the plans of Peter the Great. For example, the Lacquer Study in Monplaisir exhibited the entire collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain on special pedestals. In Peter's time, palace tables were set with oriental porcelain, silverware, earthenware and pewter. Early pieces from Europe's first factory, at Meissen, found their way to Peterhof, and at the end of the nineteenth century, a Boettgerware table service was found to have been presented to Peter the Great in Germany in 1716.
The Imperial Porcelain Factory gave evidence of attempts to imitate the decoration of imported oriental porcelain during its first stage of development, as was the case with the early products of Saxon porcelain workers. Nonetheless, the first tea service prepared for Elizabeth in the middle of the eighteenth century is striking not only for its technical perfection, but also for the originality of its decoration, and it testifies to the factory's successful search for its own artistic individuality.
During the first years after Catherine the Great's ascent to the throne, the Imperial Porcelain Factory continued to work with rococo forms, perfecting its production techniques and developing more complex decorations. But gradually, under the influence of the established classical style, decorations became light, geometrically precise, and each object's form acquired emphasis without destroying its tectonics.
The Guriev Service, created during the flowering of the Empire style, embodied the best forms of this style: monumentality of form, brilliant control of the synthesis of art forms, and an understanding of the ensemble. Intended for ceremonial receptions, the service represented a picture of Russia in painted images. Leading craftsmen of the Imperial Porcelain Factory participated in creating the service. The Guriev Service was the last ceremonial service without a fixed address, going first to the Winter Palace, and then in 1848 to Peterhof.
Begining in 1823 the Imperial Porcelain Factory began the regular production of services designed for specific Imperial Palaces, old as well as newly built. The second quarter of the nineteenth century marked a decline in the Empire style. Romantic attitudes and the search for new art forms found expression in new services designed for specific palaces.
The 1840's marked a renewed interest in classical art, perceived largely though the prism of the excavations at Pompeii. Visits there by the Russian Tsarevich and his wife, as well as other Russians inspired creations "in the Pompeiian manner."
In addition to richly decorated services, and in order to preserve them, the Imperial Porcelain factory created "everyday" services for the imperial kitchens. Simple, utilitarian, with a depiction of the coat of arms of Russia, they were produced with small variations for use in all the imperial palaces. The Imperial Porcelain factory also produced services for imperial yachts, which constantly shuttled between Petersburg and Peterhof and were stationed for long periods in the harbors of the Lower Park and Alexandria.
A Danish technique for painting under glaze became widespread throughout Europe at the end of the nineteenth century. Not only did it display new artistic properties, but the paint did not wear off with the objects use. This period of the Imperial Porcelain Factory was marked by an increase in artistic quality and by brilliant technological advances. One example is the last of the imperial services, ordered in 1904 for the Empress Alexandra – the "Purple" service.
During the nineteenth century – the age when Russian ceramic production flourished – a large number of factories and works were opened throughout Russia. The artistic level of the several private factories was sufficiently high to allow ordering additions from them for services at imperial palaces. This was the case, for example, with the Kornilov Brothers Factory. The quality of these products was at times extremely high and their decorative concepts were not without elegance. However, only the best services of the imperial palaces, prepared at government order by the nation's best efforts, represent the most brilliant examples of Russian decorative art.
Nina V. Vernova, Chief Curator
State Museum in Peterhof
The Guriev Service →
← An Imperial Facination
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text:
Law firm investigates mishandled sexual assualt cases
kayav2
Written by Kaya van der Horst
After four months of investigation, Cozen O'Connor, a law firm, released a report on Sept. 20 concluding that the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) did not comply with key aspects of Title IX and failed to follow state law in responding to a sexual assault case at Palo Alto High School (Paly) in 2016.
In May, the Palo Alto Board of Education hired the nationally acclaimed law firm to conduct an external review of the district's response to a Title IX report that occurred during the 2016-17 academic school year. The two Cozen O'Connor lawyers, Gina Smith and Leslie Gomez, found that administrators, both at Paly and at the district level, repeatedly failed to properly respond to a report of sexual assault in Oct. 2016. As part of the investigation, Smith and Gomez interviewed involved administrators and PAUSD board members, including current Gunn Principal Kathleen Laurence, who was an assistant principal at Paly at the time. Other administrators involved in the mishandling were identified in the report as Paly Principal Kim Diorio and Paly Assistant Principals Vicki Kim and Jerry Berkson. The complainant, a female freshman, reported she had been sexually assaulted by the respondent, a male junior, in a campus bathroom last fall. In previous interviews with the Palo Alto Weekly, the mother said her daughter withdrew from Paly for the second semester due to distress stemming from the alleged sexual assault and subsequent rumors. Several months after the incident, a juvenile court found the same male student guilty of having sexually assaulted a Menlo-Atherton High School student off-campus. Uproar over the district's mismanagement of student sexual violence ensued after the community found out about these incidents through media coverage this spring.
While the district responded in a timely manner and conducted a limited investigation at the beginning, it failed to conduct a uniform complaint procedure (UCP) and properly communicate with the complainant and the respondent about their respective rights. According to the report, the PAUSD board policy specifies that the UCP would have "[been] used to investigate and resolve complaints for enumerated forms of misconduct," including any complaints alleging the occurrence of harassment, bullying or retaliation.
The report identifies former Superintendent Dr. Max McGee and former Title IX coordinator Holly Wade, who has since left the district, as instrumental figures in the mishandling of the case. "[McGee and Wade] failed to exercise sufficient oversight of the district's compliance responsibilities under Title IX, state law and board policy," the lawyers wrote.
As Title IX coordinator, Wade neither created a file nor conducted a Title IX investigation after the incident. Wade also failed to directly communicate with either the complainant or the respondent to provide procedural options or resources, including the availability of the UCP. Instead, the report found that Wade "deferred to the administrators on site to investigate and evaluate the appropriate institutional response." Additionally, the incident "reflected systemic concerns about the application of Title IX and board policy" due to the "failure to follow written policies in practice," according to the report.
Under the UCP, the District is required to maintain appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with the federal law and Board policy. In the case at Paly, no formal documentation was kept of various interviews and complaints. Based on previous training, a common practice was to communicate by telephone or text message to avoid creating documentation that could potentially be released to the public, according to the report. Instead of maintaining centralized documentation, administrators recorded information as timelines or in the personal notes section on their phones, which in some cases were not maintained as official school records. The notes were also not shared with Wade.
This lack of communication and insufficient centralized record keeping ultimately impacted Wade's ability to effectively track and monitor patterns, climate and culture regarding the case
Failure to Recognize Patterns
The complainant reported being subject to harassment by other students and informed Laurence three weeks after the sexual assault case occurred. Although Laurence took timely action to address the concern and spoke with the students whose behavior was at issue, she "did not make a connection between the current concerns and the prior incident," according to the report. In order to ensure a safe school environment under Title IX, the District should have evaluated whether the conduct could potentially constitute harassment, retaliation or the continuation of a hostile environment under Title IX.
Furthermore, upon learning about the complainant's intentions to withdraw from PAUSD, the report found that the District took "insufficient action to investigate the concerns raised by the complainant, to initiate or offer the UCP, or to consider the potential impacts on the reported conduct on the complainant's educational environment." Although Wade did seek legal advice from an outside law firm—Dora Dome—as to the appropriateness of offering the complainant the UCP, the advice appeared to contradict Title IX, Education Code and UCP requirements, according to the report.
Improvements to the System
In efforts to improve communication and transparency within the reporting system, the district has implemented over a dozen changes as of last spring. The changes included improved staff training and the creation of an online training system for administrators to log all Title IX complaints and UCPs immediately. The system goes directly to the compliance officer in order to assure "timely response and follow-through," according to McGee's weekly superintendent message.
In comparison to previous years, in which teachers reviewed district policies through a Powerpoint format, McGee explained that in the new Title IX training sessions, administrators had to practice logging into the system, develop interview questions and identify applicable policy language. "It was much more of an active, engaged simulative learning where we had various simulations and a case study," he said. "It was really an immersive experience."
In terms of district-level personnel changes, the District created the new position of a full-time Title IX and civil rights compliance officer John DiPaolo, as the temporary officer while the District continues their search for a full-time staff member. The duties of the Title IX compliance officer formerly fell under the responsibilities of the assistant superintendent.
One significant change that students may notice in upcoming years are potential modifications to the Living Skills Curriculum: possible modifications may include mandating the course between ninth and tenth grade. "We think students need to know about sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and reporting well before senior year," McGee said. "We should also extend the time devoted to learning about sexual misconduct by educating students about reporting, why you do report and what happens when you do report. Ideally, I would like to make it a more active part of Living Skills."
Board Member and Gunn School Board Liaison Melissa Caswell, believes systematic checks and balances need to be put in place. "I think what's missing is a system that catches a mistake before it goes through the system," she said. "There needs to be a regular review of complaints, and we need to have a regular review of how complaints are handled so that we can identify problems and resolve them along the process."
Despite the magnitude of recent events, Palo Alto's lack of Title IX compliance is not unique in comparison to school districts nationwide. "I think in most K-12 districts throughout the country, there's not a lot of expertise on how to meet the Title IX requirements," DiPaolo said. "Things are often done very informally and don't meet all the technical requirements that OCR has mandated for Title IX."
On a positive note, DiPaolo believes the challenging process of transforming into a fully compliant school system will distinguish PAUSD from schools nationwide. "In a way, Palo Alto will be very different from a lot of school districts at the end of this process because it will have developed all this capacity that many other school districts are lacking."
Cozen O'Connor
Gunn High School
Max McGee
Palo Alto High School
PAUSD
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Students express frustration over parking lot construction
BREAKING NEWS: School released early due to main water line break
New state-wide program offers free lunch for all students
Students return to new safety guidelines, bell schedule


text:
HOW TO REPORT A SMOKING OFFENSE IN HONG KONG
Posted in: Clear The Air, Hong Kong, Smoking Ban.
Posted in: UK, Vaping Control, Youth Vaping.
Posted in: British American Tobacco.
https://manilastandard.net/business/biz-plus/321405/survey-stresses-role-of-vaping-in-tobacco-control.html
Results of a first-of-its-kind survey in India highlight the potential of e-cigarettes as an additional option for tobacco control and how vaping can have a substantial impact on public health.
Peter Paul Dator, president of The Vapers Philippines, said the groundbreaking survey in India clearly shows that vaping helps smokers quit or reduce smoking.
"Its results are particularly relevant to the Philippines because like India, our country has a large number of smokers and a low smoking cessation rate. The Department of Health and other local policymakers should look at the evidence for e-cigarettes with an open mind and start making science-based decisions to help reduce smoking in the country," said Dator.
Dator was referring to the interview-based survey involving 3,000 vapers aged 18 and older from eight of the largest metropolitan cities in India. The vast majority of respondents (71.3 percent) used e-cigarettes to quit (30 percent) or reduce (41.3 percent) smoking.
Similar results were observed in smokeless tobacco users. Most (79 percent) believe that e-cigarettes are less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Survey participants reported minimal side effects (cough, headache, dry mouth/throat) and some health benefits (improved general health, breathing, smell and taste) after they started vaping.
Around 81 percent of survey respondents were men and 19 percent women, with average age of 29 years. The majority (80 percent) were first exposed to nicotine through combustible cigarette smoking, SLT use or both.
Leading tobacco harm reduction expert Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos and Indian researchers conducted the survey whose results were published on March 30, 2020 in Harm Reduction Journal.
Dator said that India and the Philippines face similar smoking-related public health challenges. The World Health Organization estimates that there are over 120 million smokers in India, accounting for almost 12 percent of the 1.1 billion smokers globally.
The 2016-2017 Global Adult Tobacco Survey revealed that India has the second-lowest quit rate among GATS countries surveyed at the end of 2017. It also showed that India has the second-largest tobacco consuming population in the world, estimated to be over 267 million, which includes at least 100 million tobacco smokers and over 199 million SLT users.
Dr. Farsalinos and his co-authors said that tobacco-related deaths in India are estimated to be over 1 million a year and are projected to rise to 1.5 million by 2020. They also pointed to the prevalence of smoking-related illnesses such as heart disease, lung cancer and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease in India.
Dator cited DOH data, which show that almost 88,000 Filipinos die from smoking-related diseases every year. Healthcare expenditures and lost income due to smoking-related sickness and premature death cost the country P188 billion ($4 billion) yearly.
These figures only cover four of more than 40 smoking-related diseases namely lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and stroke.
GATS found that there are currently 16 million Filipino adult smokers. "Like India, the Philippines has a very low smoking cessation rate of 4 percent. This dismal quit rate indicates the ineffectiveness of currently approved smoking cessation strategies in the country such as 'quitting cold turkey', counseling, and nicotine replacement therapy," Dator said.
"We all know that the combustion in cigarettes is what is harmful to the health of smokers. The harm from smoking is caused primarily through the toxins produced by the burning or combustion of tobacco. By contrast, non-tobacco, non-smoked nicotine products such as e-cigarettes are considerably less harmful," Dator said.
He cited the widespread agreement among organizations such as Action on Smoking and Health, Public Health England, Cancer Research UK, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners that, on the basis of current evidence, e-cigarettes or vapes represent a significantly less harmful alternative to tobacco cigarettes for smokers who are unable or unwilling to stop using nicotine.
"The DOH should pay particular attention to how the study authors described India's e-cigarette ban as a 'missed opportunity' and urged the Indian government to promote additional research and consider revising the regulatory framework if the evidence warrants it," Dator said.
The Indian government banned the import, manufacture, sale, advertisement, storage and distribution of e-cigarettes in September 2019. According to Dator, India's vaping ban is a tobacco control approach that other governments should not adopt.
"Such a retrogressive policy will be a major blow to smokers who have switched to vaping. It will likely push them to go back to smoking combustible cigarettes," he said.
Posted in: Health Risks, India, Survey, Tobacco Control, Vaping Control.
Posted in: British American Tobacco, iQOS, Philip Morris.
Working with colleagues at HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) in New Delhi, and WHO, we just published "Tobacco imagery in on-demand streaming content popular among adolescents and young adults in India: implications for global tobacco control" in Tobacco Control.
https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/streaming-services-flouting-india%E2%80%99s-regulations-banning-tobacco-imagery-all-media
Here is the press release BMJ sent out about the paper:
Stronger enforcement needed, while WHO guidelines should be updated, say researchers
Streaming services that are popular with teens and young people in India are flouting the nation's regulations on exposure to tobacco imagery in any media platform, reveals an analysis of 10 on-demand streaming series, published online in the journal Tobacco Control.
The rules, which are designed to protect young people, should be more rigorously enforced, and the guidelines for the implementation of Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control should be updated to include streaming services and other new media, conclude the researchers.
Almost 266 million people aged 15 and older use tobacco in India, and the resulting health problems are "substantial," say the researchers.
In response, India has strengthened its tobacco control efforts, particularly in relation to teens and young people who are highly susceptible to the effects of tobacco imagery, by banning the advertising and promotion of all tobacco products in every media platform.
And since 2012, any film or TV programme containing tobacco imagery must include prominent audio-visual anti-tobacco health warnings for specified periods of time, irrespective of whether it's produced in India or elsewhere.
On-demand streaming services, such as Netflix, YouTube, Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, have become increasingly popular among young people in India. The researchers therefore wanted to find out how much tobacco imagery is present in streamed content and how well streaming services comply with Indian tobacco control regulations.
They held focus group discussions with school and college students, aged 15 to 24, in New Delhi, to find out which streaming services they used the most and what they watched.
Based on these discussions, the researchers came up with the 10 most popular series, comprising 188 episodes. All but two of the series were streamed on Netflix; the rest were streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Only two of the series were Indian productions.
The 10 series were: The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (rated 16+); Stranger Things (16+); Bodyguard (16+); Riverdale (13+); Narcos (16+); Sacred Games (18+); Mirzapur (18+); Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (16+); 13 Reasons Why (16+); and The Crown (16+).
The researchers used a validated method (Breathe California) to count the number of tobacco incidents in each series. Incidents were defined as the actual or implied use of a tobacco product by an actor.
The analysis showed that 70% of the series depicted tobacco incidents which ranged from zero to 1652 in The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. More than half of the total number of episodes (57.4%) contained at least one such incident.
Narcos contained 833 incidents; The Crown 599; Stranger Things 233; Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 171; Mirzapur 78; and Sacred Games 67.
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (18 episodes over two seasons) had the highest average number of tobacco incidents (87.5) per episode for the entire series, followed by The Crown (20 episodes over two seasons) with 29, and Narcos (30 episodes over three seasons) with 26.5.
Indian productions contained fewer tobacco incidents per episode and per hour than those produced elsewhere.
Four out of the 10 series depicted tobacco brands, including Mayburn, Camel, Marlboro, Salem and Newport. All these series were foreign productions.
But none of the series that included tobacco incidents complied with the tobacco-free film and TV rules in India.
Their analysis suggests that the extent of tobacco imagery and brand placement in on-demand streaming service content in India is high, while compliance with the rules is low, say the researchers.
"There is no reason to expect that the effects of exposure to tobacco imagery in streaming shows should be any different than the effects of tobacco imagery in films," they write.
"On-demand streaming content providers and governments should heed the lessons learnt from the film industry and apply the same rules to include tobacco imagery in the content available through on-demand streaming platforms," they add.
And it's clear that the legislation "is blatantly being violated in this new media, indicating the need for better enforcement of existing rules in India and updating the guidelines for implementation of Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control," they conclude.
Background India implemented tobacco-free film and TV rules (Rules) to protect adolescents and young adults from tobacco exposure.
Objective To assess tobacco imagery in online series popular among adolescents and young adults.
Methods Ten popular online series on streaming platforms were identified after discussions with participants (aged 15–24 years) in New Delhi, and content-coded for tobacco imagery following the Breathe California protocol. Incidents of tobacco use and brand appearances in each series episode were counted, and compliance with Indian Rules was recorded.
Results 188 episodes across 10 series on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video were coded. Seven series were rated age 16+, two were 18+ and one was 13+. The median number of tobacco incidents per episode in foreign productions was as follows: Amazon's 'The Marvellous Mrs Maisel' (87.5, IQR 62.0–116.0) and Netflix's 'The Crown' (29.0, 18.0–36.0) were higher than Indian productions: Netflix's 'Sacred Games' (9.0, 0.5–14.5) and Amazon's 'Mirzapur' (7.0, 4.0–11.0) (p=0.84). Tobacco incidents per hour ranged from 0 (Bodyguard, Riverdale, 13 Reasons Why) to 106.1 (The Marvellous Mrs Maisel). Seven of 10 series had tobacco imagery and none were compliant with the Rules.
Conclusion Contrary to Section 5 of India's Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, its Rules are not being complied with by the streaming platforms. US-produced streaming media contains more tobacco incidents than Indian-produced media. There is an urgent need for better enforcement of existing Rules on streaming platforms in India, and modernisation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Article 13 guidelines to account for new streaming platforms to protect youth from tobacco imagery globally.
Section 5 of India's Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) imposes a complete ban on tobacco advertising and promotion in any form of media.
Streaming is a new form of media popular among adolescents and young adults in India.
We found that out of the 188 episodes across 10 on-demand streaming series studied, the US produced series – Amazon's 'The Marvellous Mrs Maisel' and Netflix' 'Narcos' and 'The Crown' had higher tobacco imagery compared with Indian produced series – Amazon's 'Mirzapur' and Netflix' 'Sacred Games'.
Section 5 of COTPA is blatantly being violated in this new media indicating the need for better enforcement of existing rules in India and updating WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 13 guidelines.
The full citation is: Arora M, Nazar GP, Chugh A, Rawal T, Shrivastava S, Sinha P, Munish VG, Tullu FT, Schotte K, Polansky JR, Glantz SA. Tobacco imagery in on-demand and streaming content popular among adolescents and young adults in India: implications for global tobacco control. 2020; epub ahead of print 9 Apr 2020 doi 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055360. It is available here.
This item is cross-posted from the Smokefree Movies blog entry, which is here.
Posted in: India, Tobacco Advertising, Tobacco Control.
Smoking Helps Open Gateway to Coronavirus Infection, Study Shows
Posted in: COVID-19, Health, Study.
Smokers and Vapers May Be at Greater Risk for Covid-19
Posted in: COVID-19, Health, Health Risks.
Coronavirus risks send out yet another reminder to smokers: quit now
Posted in: COVID-19, Dr Judith Mackay, Health, Quit Smoking.
33 Vaping Statistics to Consider Before Buying the First Juul
Download (PDF, 15.94MB)
Posted in: Statistics.
What NHS says about coronavirus risk to people who smoke and vape
← Earlier Posts


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Race: It Takes a Global Village
B - Original Content
Guest Author , 30th July 2021
This past week, Action for Arts ran a special series of free virtual 'heart-to-heart' sessions over four nights, featuring members of the Advisory Board who are in consultation for the Welsh Government's Race Equality Action Plan, covering themes of education and employability, to leadership, social partnerships and entrepreneurship.
Business News Wales spoke to the host of the sessions, Aaron Casserly Stewart, a musician and activist who is the Vice-Chair of Leeds Conservatoire, and the Chairman of Black Lives Matter in Leeds. We asked Aaron what he and the Advisory Board were hoping to bring further awareness to in these sessions, and what the Welsh Government could improve to promote racial equality throughout all the Welsh working sectors.
Business News Wales · Aaron Casserly Stewart – Promoting Racial Equality in Wales
The Race Equality Action Plan is a Welsh Government consultation that was launched in March this year, which seeks to hear the views on the Government's vision, purpose and values for an anti-racist Wales. It seeks to troubleshoot areas of government that that may have been missed, the barriers in achieving these goals, points of action and overall outcomes. Most importantly, it also seeks to investigate the use (or misuse) of language and how it affects ethnic minority communities.
"Each night we had a special guest that came in and spoke on each of [the themes], the sessions were free, and we invited people from around the world to participate in it. Obviously, the emphasis is on Wales but we [also] wanted input from people around the globe. As a matter of fact, we did have a couple of folks who joined us from the [United] States that offered some insight into how things work there, but each night, the guests just spoke on their life experiences."
"The hope is really just to highlight the issues surrounding people of colour in Wales, the racial injustices that happen within each of those sectors, and try to change that."
Aaron Casserly Stewart also expresses a keen optimism in having more of these virtual sessions take place soon.
Alison Carter, the Charity Founder of Action for Arts, also added further comments about the success of the initiative and the benefits it brings to positively promoting ethnic minority individuals within Welsh business:
"Action for Arts is leading a 2 year research and development initiative 'It Takes A Global Village' – funded by Arts Council Wales, which is invested in advancing Race Equality and Cultural Development in Wales. By adopting a partnership approach, we have formed a professional advisory group to help steer the project and inform the Government. We are also funding a programme of engagement and education events, creating an international showcase platform, raising awareness of Wales based African/Caribbean/Asian business start ups, and supporting emerging creative/tech talent."
The Welsh Government's consultation for the Race Equality Action Plan ends on Thursday 15th July 2021.
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As well as the core team at Business News Wales, we have a variety of guest authors who post articles on Business News Wales. These may be regular columnists or one-off guest posts, each with expertise in their sectors, and opinions around current themes and trends in the Welsh economy.
If you are interested in becoming a guest author, please contact [email protected]