The winds of global uncertainty have been buffeting economies, consumers and brands right across Latin America in the past year.
less than conducive to government and business investment. And, with inflation running as high as 30 percent at times, consumer confidence and household budgets have taken a bit of a battering.
times, yet they also present brands with unique opportunities to build strong, meaningful relationships with consumers.
in LatAm, working with some of most valuable and iconic brands in the region. We couple that with more than a decade of BrandZ™ global brand valuation research, which has tracked over 100,000 brands in 50 markets to identify the key drivers – local and global – of long-term growth in brand value.
These learnings are especially pertinent at times when business budgets are tight and there is pressure to deliver volume sales in the short term. Brands need to know that they are not simply spending on marketing, they are investing in connections with consumers that pay long-term dividends.
The brands that top the BrandZ™ Top 50 Most Valuable Latin American Brands this year are those that are deeply anchored in consumers' daily lives. They're about friendship and family; they're dependable and authentic.
What is clearly evident from this year's rankings is that, even in difficult markets and categories, you can maintain a strong position – and grow brand value.
the Top 10 to the BrandZ™ Top 20 Most Valuable Brands, there has been an overall decline of 12 percent in brand value. Yet the performance of individual brands has been hugely varied. In fact, while several strong Peruvian brands have endured double-digit declines in the past year, others have grown brand value by more than 50 percent.
In the pages ahead, we analyze the unique demands and opportunities for brand builders in each of our featured markets. The picture across the region is varied. In Colombia, there is peace after the long-running civil war but inflation is at record highs. Argentina is adjusting after elections that ended 12 years of rule by the Kircher family, and in Peru, there is hope that the new government will kick- start much-needed investment.
Householders are spending more carefully, making more frequent shopping trips, but spending less on each visit. They're looking for brands that offer great value. That means not just a good price and dependable quality, but also a promise to deliver beyond function and provide an emotional benefit.
There is a strong desire for business transparency, and this extends to people's experience of products and brands. When conditions are unstable, consumers are seeking brands that are honest and open with them – and that do what they say they'll do.
There is caution but also a lot of optimism that things will soon get better. There's an entrepreneurial spirit and 'can-do' attitude prevailing in many markets. People are still buying their favorite brands, even if a bit less often.
the chance to be both more timely and increasingly relevant to consumers. When digital technology, consumer data and brand creativity are united, that essential emotional connection is easier to achieve.
We know, through experience in this region and around the world, that brands that invest in maintaining and building relationships with consumers during difficult times bounce back faster and higher when consumer confidence returns. Strong, valuable brands also deliver superior shareholder returns.
I hope this report helps brands in LatAm learn from the past and build for the future.
This report is a collaboration by leading brand experts from WPP companies around the LatAm region. Their insights and Thought Leadership essays provide strategic understanding and tactical advice for brands seeking to grow their presence and improve their brand value.
in advertising; insight; branding and identity; direct marketing, digital, promotion and relationship marketing; shopper marketing and e-commerce; media investment management and data investment management; and public relations and public affairs. All share a passion and determination to use their creativity and resources to establish and build strong, differentiated brands that deliver lasting shareholder value.
WPP experience in 113 countries. By connecting this talent and wisdom, we explore global trends and insights that help our clients in unique and useful ways.
in this report is the WPP BrandZ™ database, the world's largest, customer- focused source of brand equity knowledge and insight, and the BrandZ™ brand valuation methodology of Kantar Millward Brown, a WPP company.
50 Most Valuable Indian Brands. To download these and other BrandZ™ reports, please visit www.brandz.com. For the interactive BrandZ™ mobile apps, go to www.brandz.com/mobile.
To find out more about how we can help brands across the LatAm region, please contact any of the WPP companies that have contributed expertise to this report. They are listed in the resources section at the end. Or, feel free to contact me directly.


text:
Q: Findviewbyid returns null. But can access view elements by getting root view and looping through children I have an activity i want to use to configure a widget but I can't seem to get findViewById() to work. It returns null for all elements.
Here's my layout file
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">
<TextView
    android:name="@+id/testTextView"
    android:text="refresh time (seconds)"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<EditText
    android:name="@+id/testEditText"
    android:text="10"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:inputType="number" />
<Button
    android:name="@+id/testButton"
    android:text="Button text"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

</LinearLayout>

This is my activity's onCreate method:
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_configure_widget);
    Button button = (Button) findViewById(R.id.testButton);
    EditText editText = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.testEditText);
    TextView textView = (TextView ) findViewById(R.id.testTextView);

    button.setText("Button test");
    editText.setText("editText test");
    textView.setText("textView test");
}

Each those elements (button, editText, textView) are null and it throws a NullPointerException when i try set the text. If I comment out those setText lines the correct layout is shown as defined in the xml.
Though it works if i use View v = findViewById(android.R.id.content); to get the root element and grab the child elements from that.
Like this:
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_configure_widget);
    View v = findViewById(android.R.id.content); //this is a FrameLayout, I don't know if the container is always a framelayout
    ViewGroup firstChild = (ViewGroup)((ViewGroup)v).getChildAt(0); //this gets my linearlayout
    TextView textView = (TextView)(firstChild.getChildAt(0));
    EditText editText = (EditText)(firstChild.getChildAt(1));
    Button button = (Button)(firstChild.getChildAt(2));

    button.setText("Button test");
    editText.setText("editText test");
    textView.setText("textView test");
}

Using this the layout is shown with the text for each element set to "Button test" "editText test" and "textView test" as expected.
I've cleaned and rebuilt the project. And when debugging i've checked that the resource names are actually resolving to id numbers.
Can anyone explain what's happening? Why isn't my findViewById() working for me?

A: Your views don't have any ids. Use android:id and not android:name to declare them.

A: You need to declare the attribute android:id for those views that you would like to access in your code. Therefore, you need to add this attribute to your views in your xml file.
Change your layout.xml file to this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">
<TextView
    android:id="@+id/testTextView"
    android:text="refresh time (seconds)"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<EditText
    android:id="@+id/testEditText"
    android:text="10"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:inputType="number" />
<Button
    android:id="@+id/testButton"
    android:text="Button text"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

</LinearLayout>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Roseman University's vibrant campus culture, allows students, faculty and staff to learn and work in an atmosphere where they can grow both professionally and personally. Students have the opportunity to become active members and leaders of dozens of student organizations, allowing them to meet and foster lifelong colleagues through collaborative learning, community service and advocacy. Our expert faculty not only teach, they have opportunities to make discoveries and develop new innovations, both in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, but also in transforming health sciences education.
Our campuses in Utah and Nevada offer an abundance of outdoor recreation, such as hiking, rock climbing, boating, camping, ATVing and world class skiing and snowboarding. The scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, rich amenities, and professional possibilities in Nevada and Utah give students, faculty and staff an environment where they can reignite their passions and achieve their goals.


Adorned path of Stillness » marks the return of the neoclassical and dark ambient music act Day Before Us on the Argentina based label Twilight Records, in collaboration with GH Records. This is their sixth full length release. This new effort is an enthralling soundtrack for dark, solemn, thoughtful times. It incorporates acoustic and lyrical sections next to electronic textures and diverse processed sounds.
The general atmosphere offers precious moments of introspective melancholia punctuated by mysteriously hypnotic instrumentals. This is a multifaceted album but also remarkably cohesive with many dynamics, emotional movements that will ravish fans of haunting and touching cinematic music in a rather classical mood.


text:
Q: ASP.NET MVC 3 - How can I conditionally validate (IValidatableObject) when calling UpdateModel or TryUpdateModel? I am using EFCodeFirst CTP5 (although this shouldn't make a difference) and ASP.NET MVC 3. I have created the following entities:
public class Company
{
    public int CompanyID { get; set; }
    public int SubdomainID { get; set; }
    public virtual Subdomain Subdomain { get; set; }
}

public class Subdomain : IValidatableObject
{
    public int SubdomainID { get; set; }
    public virtual ICollection<SubdomainActivity> Activities { get; set; }
    public IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(ValidationContext validationContext)
    {
        int activitySum = Activities.Sum(x => x.Value);
        if (activitySum != 100)
        {
            yield return new ValidationResult(string.Format("The Activity percentages must add up to 100. Current sum is {0}", activitySum), new[] { "Activities" });
        }
    }
}
public class SubdomainActivity
{
    public int ActivityID { get; set; }
    public int Value { get; set; }
}

Notice that a Company has a Subdomain and a Subdomain has an ICollection<SubdomainActivity>.
I have controllers for Company and Subdomain. In the SubdomainController when I call UpdateModel() (or TryUpdateModel()) on an instance of a Subdomain I get the result I want. The Subdomain activities are validated that the values sum up to 100.
In the CompanyController when I call UpdateModel() on an instance of a Company it validates that the Subdomain.Activities add up to 100 as well, which I don't want. The user can't even edit Subdomain.Activites from the Company edit view anyway, so it makes no sense to tell them that there was an error with Subdomain.Activities.
I would like to be able to add an item to the validationContext.Items IDictionary so that I can conditionally validate based on context or something like that, but I haven't been able to figure out how to do that without writing my own IModelBinder (which I could do I suppose, but seems like overkill). Ultimately I have come up with this workaround in the CompanyController, but I am sure there is a correct way to handle this (this is wrapped in a try catch)
var d = this.companyRepository.GetById(id);
bool good = TryUpdateModel(d);
if (!good)
{
    if (ModelState.ContainsKey("Subdomain.Activities"))
        ModelState.Remove("Subdomain.Activities");
    if (!ModelState.IsValid)
        throw new InvalidOperationException(string.Format("The model of type '{0}' could not be updated.", typeof(Company).FullName));
}
this.companyRepository.Save();

As an interesting side note, if I don't check if the model is valid and throw an error then the companyRepository.Save() works fine. In other words EFCodeFirst doesn't seem to call Validate on the Subdomain, but MVC UpdateModel does.
Can anyone help me out with a better/correct/recommended way to handle this?

A: I found a way to handle this a bit more gracefully. Instead of implementing IValidatableObject on the Subdomain I just use a [CustomValidation] attribute on the Activities property of the Subdomain. This is NOT called when validating the Company instance in my question and I still get my specialized validation on the activities. Hopefully this helps someone somewhere someday.
public class Subdomain
{
    public int SubdomainID { get; set; }

    [CustomValidation(typeof(Subdomain), "ValidateActivities")]
    public virtual ICollection<SubdomainActivity> Activities { get; set; }
    public static ValidationResult ValidateActivities(ICollection<SubdomainActivity> activities)
    {
        if (activities.Count > 0)
        {
            int activitySum = activities.Sum(x => x.Value);
            if (activitySum != 100)
            {
                return new ValidationResult(string.Format("The Activity percentages must add up to 100. Current sum is {0}", activitySum), new[] { "Activities" });
            }
        }
        return ValidationResult.Success;
    }
}

A: public IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(ValidationContext validationContext)
{
    int activitySum = Activities.Sum(x => x.Value);
    if (activitySum != 100)
    {
        yield return new ValidationResult(string.Format("The Activity percentages must add up to 100. Current sum is {0}", activitySum), new[] { "Activities" });
    }
}

what about modifying your Validate() method as below?
public IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(ValidationContext validationContext)
{
    int activitySum = Activities.Sum(x => x.Value);
    if (Activities.Count != 0 && activitySum != 100)
    {
        yield return new ValidationResult(string.Format("The Activity percentages must add up to 100. Current sum is {0}", activitySum), new[] { "Activities" });
    }
}


When people think of Holmfirth, they think of the postcard-perfect village nestled into West Yorkshire (not forgetting the filming location for the TV classic, 'Last of the Summer Wine'). This quintessential Yorkshire town has become popular for long weekends spent in the countryside offering afternoon tea on every corner.
Two years ago Bloc, the colourful, modern coffee house and kitchen was born, and afternoon tea in Holmfirth was never the same. Meg, the owner, grew up in Holmfirth and always struggled to find places to eat with her friends. With that in mind, she created the perfect place that she'd enjoy socialising with friends, hoping that other people would love it as much as she did. Thankfully the people of Holmfirth do!
"We've been using a Linea Classic since we opened the doors at Bloc 2 years ago. We loved it since the minute we got it. In May this year, we decided to create Road Bloc – our coffee defender. We knew that we want to use another La Marzocco in the defender so we decided to get a custom colour machine for the cafe so we could use our original coffee machine in the defender. Our coffee supplier, Dark Woods, recommended the machine to us when we first started putting plans together for Bloc. We loved how reliable our first machine was and of course the look of it; so simple and classy! Paul at Dark Woods described it as 'any baristas dream coffee machine'. We can get through up to 6kg a coffee a day but with us using the Linea Classic, every single coffee comes out just like the last.
We are a renowned pit stop for cyclists and locals offering a unique menu of all things 'on toast'. Served in a relaxed, chilled out environment, it's the perfect place for socialising, working and a bit of you time. We pride ourselves in our local suppliers and produce and of course our colour scheme is Yellow, Megs favourite colour.
Next time you're in Holmfirth, let the Team Bloc make you feel warm and toasty!
Keep an eye out for where we are next week for our next instalment of the Lifetime of a Linea campaign.


text:
Shop Old
Bags & Leather
Cufflinks & Silver
Shop Old ▾
Shop New ▾
A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Story of Yule-Tide by Charles Dickens, First Trade Edition, 1902
Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Yule-Tide. New York: The Roycroft Shop, 1902. First trade edition. Bound in full leather and housed in an archival slipcase.
This beautifully bound 1902 Roycroft edition of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol In Prose Being a Ghost Story of Yule Tide was published by The Roycroft Shop in East Aurora, New York. The book is bound in full red leather with holly leaf decorative borders on the front and rear boards, gilt embossed title and spine decorations, and five raised bands. The novel was bound by the Monastery Hill Bindery and is now housed in a custom archival slipcase with a gilt embossed silhouette of Scrooge.
Dickens' A Christmas Carol was the most successful book of the 1843 holiday season. It was first published in London by Chapman & Hall, on December 18, 1843. Over six thousand copies sold in the seven days before Christmas of that year and eight stage adaptations were in production within two months of the book's publication. The book is as popular today as it was over 150 years ago.
The novel tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Charles Dickens, through the voice of Scrooge, urges readers to honor Christmas in their hearts and try to keep the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year.
Overall very good condition for age. Rebound by the Monastery Hill Bindery, as stated on inside of back board and signed by Joseph E. Zuffant, Jr. for the bindery. Bound in full red leather with gilt embossed decorative motifs along the outside edges of the boards, the inside edges of the boards, and spine. A green, red, and gilt holly border is embossed on the front and back boards. Some darkening of the spine and minor wear to the bottom edge. Text block has gilt edging at head and deckled fore-edge. Pages are toned but internally clean. Housed in a custom archival slipcase with a gilt embossed silhouette of Scrooge. Dimensions (with slipcase): 9 ⅛"H x 6 ⅛"W x 1 ¼"D
"The White House Years: Mandate for Change" and "The White House Years: Waging Peace", Signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, Limited Edition Two Volume Set $5,000.00
1797 The Constitutions of the Sixteen States which Compose the Confederated Republic of America $4,200.00
A Canyon Voyage by Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, First Edition, 1908 $895.00
All Shop Old Products
All Shop New Products
Visit Again
© 2021 The Great Republic. All Right Reserved.
Sign up for our emails to receive exclusive flash sales weekly! Get 50% off list price of incredible pieces, only offered to our subscribers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The case against smart meters – are people right to be suspicious?
As the smart meter roll out begins, opponents are voicing their concerns about the potential dangers. So are smart meters really as 'smart' as they're cracked up to be, or could they become unhealthy, dangerous, personal data sinks, as many are now suggesting?
Smart meters, the next generation of power meters for homes and businesses, are currently being rolled out across many countries, including the US, Europe, China and Japan.
However, despite smart meters being celebrated by legislators and many energy experts, not everyone is onboard with the smart meter revolution.
Some campaign groups in both the UK and the US believe smart meters to be unnecessary health and security risks that are simply part of 'a global smart grid agenda'.
Stop Smart Meters UK, a campaign group against smart meters, say they create "documented (and suppressed) health risks, unwarranted privacy violations and safety issues to the loss of sovereignty and control of our property in our own homes."
Adding to the campaign, in September a US film called Take Back Your Power was released, which questions the benefits of smart meter and grid technology and "corporate practises to tap private information".
The film talks to, among others, a former senior executive at the National Security Administration (NSA), American computer specialist and former CIA and NSA employee Edward Snowden and a former Apple executive.
Security issues – privacy, hacking and terrorist attacks
"Some campaign groups in both the UK and the US believe smart meters to be unnecessary health and security risks."
So what privacy and security risks do smart meters pose? Smart meters send information about a household's energy use back to the utility provider via wireless communications technology within the smart meter.
Dr Elizabeth Evans, a qualified doctor who no longer practises but is now a Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique practitioner and co-founder of the Stop Smart Meters UK website, believes this information is extremely valuable to energy companies, government organisations, marketing organisations and other third parties, including hackers and organised criminals, and therefore is vulnerable.
"The detailed information will allow for deep analytics and profiling technologies to be applied to energy users, for detailed energy / appliance / device usage, etc. to be built," Dr Evans says.
"There have been numerous occasions where wireless smart meters have been shown to be easily hacked; for example, a group of ethical hackers showed how easy it was to hack a Discovergy smart meter less than two years ago at a conference in Berlin," she adds.
The incident Dr Evans refers to regarding Germany-based Discovergy is said to have occurred when the company allowed information gathered by its smart meters to travel over an insecure link to its servers.
When asked, British Gas, which has already started fitting smart meters for its customers, said a daily, or at minimum, monthly reading will be sent to suppliers, with customers needing to provide express permissions for half hourly readings. Adding to that, the only other information sent to a supplier is if the anti-theft tamper alarm is raised so that the meter can be made safe.
A British Gas spokesperson added: "Smart meters must meet a number of security standards specified by Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). DECC has brought in a number of security consultants to ensure data is protected and to allow draft license obligations to be prepared."
The company adds that the meters store data in the meter using methods "widely used across a number of industries such as banking and telecommunications" and is sent using Advanced Encryption Standard, which is more complex than what is used for internet banking.
David Emm, senior security researcher in the UK for Kaspersky Lab, a worldwide IT security company, says although smart meters have obvious benefits, "there are potential risks".
"If someone is able to intercept such transmissions, they could gather personal information, interrupt the supply to the customer, or send false data – resulting in huge bills for those affected, or loss of revenue for suppliers.
"If the interruption of power could be done for large numbers of customers at once, this could result in an outage that, before the advent of smart meters, would have meant an attack on the power supplier's systems," he suggests.
He added, however, that encryption of data being sent and received is the key to protecting it and would "greatly reduce the risk of attack".
Health risks from radiation
Those calling for an immediate halt and reversal of the US and UK's smart meter programme also believe smart meters can cause headaches, insomnia, sleep disorders, depression and arrhythmias in the short term and even cancer, DNA damage, infertility and, among other things, damage to foetuses, in the long run.
"Information is extremely valuable to energy companies, government organisations, marketing organisations and other third parties."
Smart meters use radiofrequency waves to communicate the information they collect and transmit. There are many other everyday devices that use radiofrequency waves for communication purposes and these include radio / television transmitters, mobile phones and wireless (Wi-Fi) computers.
"Radiofrequency radiation was classified as a 2B (possible) carcinogen in 2011 by the IARC [part of the World Heath Organisation]," says Dr Evans.
"Putting a device that emits this radiation 24/7… into every home in the UK will expose everyone – adults, children, babies and foetuses in utero – to this carcinogen completely involuntarily."
Dr Evans also highlights the fact that, unlike mobile phones or WIFI, people will be unable to turn a smart meter off in order to limit their exposure. She raises concerns about the cumulative impact of all these devices, which may result in households exceeding the 'woefully inadequate' International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection's (ICNIRP) safety levels set in 1998.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine in April 2012 called for immediate caution regarding smart meter installations and for more research to be conducted, due to "patients reporting to physicians the development of symptoms and adverse health effects after 'smart meters' are installed on their homes."
Furthermore, Dr Evans raises concerns about the unknown impact, due to the constant use of radiofrequency radiation omitting devices being a relatively new phenomenon: "An "epidemic" in early onset dementia is being reported by doctors, as well as an obesity epidemic – all rising in line with the rise in wireless technology use and radiofrequency radiation pollution – both conditions have been linked to chronic radiofrequency exposure."
Although it's very hard to quantify the long term results of prolonged exposure to radiofrequency, it's worth remembering there are many things in modern day life that can be identified as carcinogenic, from charred food to Asbestos. It's the strength and level of exposure that is important to note when considering possible detrimental health effects.
Public Health England's (PHE) stance is that there is no evidence to suggest exposure to the radio waves produced by smart meters poses any health risk.
"Assessments of smart meter systems in other countries have found exposures that are small in relation to the ICNIRP guidelines and there is no reason to think that the situation would be any different in the UK," it states on the PHE website.
To further corroborate these assessments, the PHE will be carrying out further research as smart meters are rolled out.
Yoav Zingher, a director of KiWi Power, who works with remote demand response technology, disagrees with Dr Evans' argument: "I don't mind saying that is just not an argument, we have more radiation from phones than we do smart meters and we're all happy with our phones."
David J. Brenner Higgins, professor of radiation biophysics at the Center for Radiological Research Columbia University Medical Center, offers his opinion: "While it's always hard to prove that something is "safe", wireless smart power meters result in significantly less radiofrequency radiation exposure than produced by cellphones, so it is very unlikely they would be associated with adverse health effects."
What's the truth? It's hard to tell
"The American Academy of Environmental Medicine in April 2012 called for immediate caution regarding smart meter installations."
It seems the 'truth' about smart meters is very subjective – it depends who consumers choose to believe; you'll find studies and arguments both for and against smart meters wherever you turn.
However, a few things seem consistent. Hacking of energy data from individual homes does seem to be a possibility, just as hacking any other computer run company is – just last week an attempt to hack a Santander bank computer was foiled with 12 arrested.
It comes down to a question of the likelihood of this happening and trust that the relevant level of encryption and security is employed and is not being collected for sinister capitalist motives, as has been suggested. The DECC will not make all necessary smart meter security measures public for security reasons.
It's possible that long term exposure to radiation could have detrimental health impacts 30 to 40 years down the line or even immediately. But nobody really knows as it's hard to prove.
If a consumer is unconcerned by WIFI and mobile phone radiation they're unlikely to be concerned about radiation omitted via smart meters – but if they are they should have the choice to say no, which they do in the UK. However, in the US there have been reports of smart meters being fitted without prior consent.
Further studies and looking to the US, which is years ahead in its smart meter roll out, will hopefully provide further clarity on these issues in the near future.
Follow Heidi Vella on Google+
The smart meter revolution: end-user technology round-up
A smart meter revolution is underway throughout the US, Europe, China and Japan, with wireless, data hungry 'smart' meters replacing old fashioned 'dumb' meters in homes and some businesses.
UK smart meter roll-out – what should households expect?
The Energy and Climate Change Committee issued a report last week on the smart meter roll-out that is set to begin in 2015 and reach completion in 2020.
Construction Project Management Software for the Power and Energy Industry
ZS Zylinder-Service
Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturing and Repair for Coal Power


Kismet is a 802.11b wireless network sniffer. It is capable of sniffing using almost any supported wireless card using the Airo, HostAP, Wlan-NG, and Orinoco (with a kernel patch) drivers.
Can make use of sox and festival to play audio alarms for network events and speak out network summary on discovery. Optionally works with gpsd to map scanning.
Submit the title and link (including https://) to an article pertaining to Kismet and it will appear in the Web Links section of the right banner. Contact us here if an entry needs to be removed.


Beetiful designed the book cover to PS: The Dragon Fights by K.G. Wilkie. It's the second book in the Shadeworld series.
The Shadeworld is a realm that stood as refuge when all the magical beings on Earth were persecuted during the witch trials. The realm has had peace under the rule of the dragons for centuries, but now a kingdom divided between loyalty to the two heirs has sparked revolution. Crown prince Aeron ventures on a quest with his vampire friends and nymph lackeys to fight the encroaching darkness, but the darkness inside of him may threaten the balance and destroy everything he holds dear. As he fights for his people, Alyss struggles with knowing she's a normal human teen that's been imprisoned in a strange world full of monsters she never guessed might exist. The Alchemists, a group of tech mages who refuse to bow to the authority of the rebels or the dragons in the palace, say she has a secret that binds her to their strange world. A secret that may just change everything.
Get PS The Dragon Fights by K.G. Wilkie today!


text:
IntoUniversity
Raising £40million for under privileged children
The Big Leap branding, campaign brochure & collateral
Working with IntoUniversity to define the look and feel for a new campaign to raise £40million to provide educational opportunity for disadvantaged children by providing secure and supported learning spaces.
With an approach that delivers outstanding results – with eight out of 10 course participants making it to University – this is a programme that deserves to be made available to the most disadvantaged across the UK.
Brand identity. Press & online advertising. Photography. Brochure, poster & postcards. Print management.
intouniversity.org
info@gtandi.co.uk · + 44 (0)20 3405 7969 · 66 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QE
Registered in England & Wales - Company registration no: 7600029 - VAT no: 206557119 | Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Read More


Pontian was among the first victims of an anti-Christian new emperor. Rounded up with the antipope Hippolytus, Pontian was deported to the labour mines. While imprisoned, Hippolytus reconciled his differences with Pontian and even ordered his followers to bring themselves back to the Church. Before he succumbed to the harsh treatment of the mines, Hippolytus became a true confessor of Christ. Pontian, in the mines only two months, was brutally beaten to death by his jailers.
'Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: "The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children's teeth are set on edge"?
'As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father's life and the son's life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.
'The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour's wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances–such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.
'But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.
People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
I take no pleasure in the death of anyone – it is the Lord who speaks.
In my line of work, there comes a time where we need to decide if a student who obtained less than desirable grades and exhibited behaviour which does not meet expectations, is a result of us, as teachers, failing the student; or is it because the student chose his own path. Indeed, this is something which we see in the readings of today where God reminds the Prophet Ezekiel of the importance of choosing the straight and narrow.
Doing what is needed to fulfil one's Christian's duties is certainly not something which we find easy to do. The ways of the world do make us falter but I believe that Jesus has shown us the way in which we need to stay close to Him. This is to adopt a child-like attitude towards things. A child-like attitude requires us to trust in God and to work our way towards achieving what God desires of us in our lives. In practical terms, this means we need to identify the strengths and talents we have in our lives and then decide how best we can use it to glorify God. However, is this something which we are open to?
As we continue with our lives, we need to accept our frailties and weaknesses. However, what makes us a better Christian is how we recover from it. God reminds us in the first reading that He wants us to live and not die. Just like the teacher in the first paragraph, we need to accept the fact that students choose their own behaviour. We can counsel, lecture, pray and even ignore but ultimately, the decision lies with the individual on his choice of behaviour. Let us ask God for the wisdom to guide us in deciding what is the decision we should make.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray for the wisdom to choose the path which leads to life.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all who offer Spiritual Direction.
Eusebius (283-371) was a priest and lector in Rome, Italy. He was consecrated bishop of Vercelli, Italy in 340, but was exiled to Palestine and Cappadocia due to his struggle against Arianism. He was a friend of St. Athanasius of Alexandria. He was a prolific writer according to his contemporaries, but none of his works have survived. He was the first bishop to live with and follow the same rule as his priests. He may be been martyred by Arians, but reports vary. Many consider him a martyr as he may have died as a result of his sufferings in exile.
Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) had a strong Marian devotion, and travelled to the assorted Marian shrines and apparition sites in France. He organised lay societies under the direction of the Marists, preached and taught, and worked for Eucharistic devotion. He felt a call to found a new religious society, and founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the lay Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. His work encountered a series of setbacks, including have to close his nascent houses and move twice, and the houses not being able to support themselves financially. However, his vision of priests, deacons, sisters, and lay people dedicated to the spiritual values celebrated in the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament anticipated many of the renewals brought about by Vatican Councils I and II.
The word addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel says this: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
no medicine to make you well again.
they look for you no more.
so great is your guilt, so many your sins.
Why bother to complain about your wound?
that I have done all this to you.
the citadel restored on its site.
make them honoured, and not disdained.
and I will punish all their oppressors.
their ruler come from their own people.
by coming close to me? – it is the Lord who speaks.
And you shall be my people and I will be your God.
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.
Come, why did you doubt?
In June, a group of us went to Majodi for a retreat. When I signed up, I had no idea what it was about. The title intrigued me. I was at a point in my spiritual journey when I just about gave up trying to understand Jesus. This faith journey was just too hard. I felt complete and utter emptiness. I just coasted along and hoped for the best.
I had no expectations of the retreat. Only that God, in His infinite love and mercy, might steer me towards a direction. The retreat was short, not intense. Days leading up to the retreat, Jesus was already preparing me. He blessed me with several small incidents and events that showed me that He was right there with me. Just that I didn't see Him.
Something had been festering in my heart for months and I just didn't know how to deal with it. A thorn in my side which I hoped would just go away. It didn't. But 3 days before the retreat, Jesus gave me the opportunity to 'make good' with the person I was upset with. I resisted and made all sorts of excuses not to come face to face with this person. But Jesus, in all his wisdom, kind of just shoved me along. And so things were restored. I could now go freely to this retreat with no baggage.
The theme of the retreat was 'Get Out Of The Boat'. The scripture Father used for reflection is today's gospel reading. On Day One, we were asked to take stock of our lives. Where were we in relation to: family, church, ministry, neighbourhood, health, recreation, work, vocation and relationships? And in these areas of our lives, we were to picture what type of boat it was – sampan, speed boat, luxury liner?
All this while I have been so afraid to get out of my comfort zone. I remained in the boat despite how bumpy the ride was. Didn't matter what sort of boat it was. However, as I journaled and started to share with my friend, I came to realisation that I was no longer in the boat.
Looking at my life, and all the events leading up to where I am today. I am indeed out of the boat and did not even realise it. It was a revelation of sorts for me. And Jesus also revealed that I am now actually living out my vocation. Not in the way I had pictured it would be. But I am living it!
A few of us were laughing about our own states. Someone told me that she too was out of the boat, only she was desperately clinging to the sides of her boat trying to climb back in! Funny how we humans are.
Peter got out of the boat. His eyes were fixed on Jesus and he actually walked across the water! But the moment he doubted, he started to sink. Our spiritual walk is a leap of faith. Yup, we don't know what's ahead. But if we keep our eye on Jesus, we will not sink.
Oh yes. Jesus had another revelation for me. Actually, I am now back in the boat. Like what?? Yup. I am now back in the boat. And Jesus is the Seamaster.
Prayer: Jesus, despite how deaf and blind we can be, continue to lead us to live the live you had intended for us. Help us to have the courage and faith to step out into the unknown, knowing that you have your eyes on us.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for our lives. For what you have done for us, so much more than we imagined or prayed for. You are the source of our strength. You comfort us, fill us and provide for us. For this we are every so grateful.
St. Camillus (1550-1614) used to be a gambling addict. He lost so much he had to take a job working construction on a building belonging to the Capuchins; they converted him. Because of a persistent injury, he moved into San Giacomo Hospital for the incurable, and eventually became its administrator.
Lacking education, he began to study with children when he was 32 years old. St. Camillus founded the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick (the Camellians) who care for the sick both in hospital and home. He honoured the sick as living images of Christ, and hoped that the service he gave them did penance for his wayward youth.
you smooth the way of the upright.
your name, your memory are all my soul desires.
the inhabitants of the world learn the meaning of integrity.
the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.
no more inhabitants of the world are born.
and the land of ghosts will give birth.
Distressed, we search for you O Lord.
Reflecting on today's reading over and over again, I try to put myself in the shoes of Isaiah, one who praises and gives thanks, to actually know what our Lord has done for him and sings praises with so much love and admiration. Not that I do not genuinely praise our Lord or give thanks from deep within my heart every week as I worship Him. Today's readings brought me back to the times where I would attend at least one 'Praise and Worship' session from a community every year, where leaders would help us focus on God within our hearts, and to give shouts of praise to the Lord without much reservation and lifting our arms to surrender to Him. There are moments where you can jump and shout your love for God, for everything that He has done for us.
The Gospel today assures us that our relationship with God isn't only about feeling the high during worship, where we have so much love to be thankful for, but it is about pouring out all our difficulties and distressed moments. We praise, we surrender and we accept. The Father sent Jesus to lighten the burden of sin, the burden of anguish, the burden of fear but raises all of us through eternal hope.
Let us try to bring back the close moments we had with our Lord in the next few months. As we are back in the liturgy and season of Ordinary Time, do not make it an ordinary season of prayer and worship, but to increase our faith more, or spend more time with the Lord or ministry. In this way, we are keeping the Lord close to our lives everyday, going through happy moments with our family and friends, as well as disappointing times. Always remember to shoulder the yoke of our Lord God, because we are never alone.
Prayer: We pray for those who have lost direction in their lives and finding difficulty in meeting the basics of living, may they get through this period and holding onto the hope presented to us from God.
Thanksgiving: I want to give thanks for all the mentors and educators, in enriching the lives of others in the form of education and guidance, so that the other becomes a more responsible person in society.


Cindy Sharp, MD, is in practice at Bozeman Health Nephrology Clinic. A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dr. Sharp completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Alabama and a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She previously was medical director of the hemodialysis units in Kalispell and Libby, and co-director of the dialysis unit in Browning. Dr. Sharp moved to Seattle to work as a nephrologist in a multispecialty clinic, relocated to Bismarck in 2004 to be medical director of the dialysis unit at St. Alexius Hospital while providing nephrology care at satellite clinics. Dr. Sharp moved to Montana in 2007 as an internal medicine physician in Ennis, was then recruited to work as an internal medicine physician and nephrologist in Sheridan, WY, in 2009 before returning to Montana. She is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology.


I think my team wrote me off from the beginning because I was this out-of-shape, year-old queen. The Jamaicans set a national record, but it was not enough to beat the United States team, who finished in a world-leading time of I had spent 24 days with those people and knew the numbers were against me. Retrieved February 13, No matter how bad she was feeling. Due to the large number of tests that were conducted, we employed the false discovery rate controlling procedure described by Benjamini and Hochberg Interested participants received a link and unique log-in code to an anonymous, online survey, which took approximately 20—30 minutes to complete.


This category is one of our most subjective – what does it mean to breakout? Does that mean you're suddenly a household name? Does it mean you got your first paycheck? Our choices don't really exist on either of those planes, but somewhere in between.
I was, like I suspect a lot of people, a little surprised when Jon Davis-Hunt was announced as the artist on "The Wild Storm." I was aware of Davis-Hunt's work on "Clean Room," but Warren Ellis's flagship book for his new imprint seemed destined to have a more established, superstar artist on it. But thank goodness Ellis knows what he's doing more than I do, because Davis-Hunt has been a revelation. His work is extremely crisp and precise, but is also brimming with life and chaos, and is perfect for this slow-burn of a title. He is equally adept at showing big, epic fights, where the pages deconstruct into small panels of extreme detail, as he is at showing the mundane bureaucratic ennui that somehow even exists when dealing with alien technology.
For my money, no one this year drew better hand to hand combat or designed more interesting technology than Davis-Hunt. "The Wild Storm" retains a surprising levity, a jarring brutality, and page after page of simply stunning artwork.
Jorge Jimenez has been doing a lot of work with at DC these past few years. Most of it has been centered around The New 52 "Earth 2" titles, but when Rebirth started, the Superman family nabbed him up and he's been putting out some of the most beautiful comics in DC's stable. Last year, Jimenez drew one of our best single issues in "Superman" #7 and another beauty with the Swamp Thing/Supers team-up in "Superman Annual" #1. This year, Jimenez and Peter Tomasi launched "Super Sons" in February, featuring the shenanigans of Damien Wayne and Jon Kent, which has consistently month after month been some of DC's finest. I talked about this series a few months ago with Paul on the Comic Syllabus, as it's my favorite new series of the year, in large and overwhelming part to the utter joy Jimenez brings to the craft.
Jimenez is the perfect fit for "Super Sons," adding in the perfect amount of cartoon finesse to really sell the partnership between Damien and Jon and the legacies they're both trying to live up to. In the first two arcs, Jimenez has continued to improve every issue. His second arc is some of the most beautiful Teen Titans art I've ever seen. Jimenez also recently had some pages in "Batman: Lost," and in a book that featured art by veterans Doug Mahnke and Yanick Paquette, Jimenez was the standout. Tackling some of the alternate worlds shown to Batman in the Dark Multiverse, Jimenez nailed the varying sequences given to him in this heavy metal interlude, proving he has a range of talent sure to be utilized on many more titles in the future.
Emil Ferris, where have you been all my life?
This year the good folks at Fantagraphics released Ferris's graphic novel "My Favorite Thing is Monsters," and it hit the comics world like a lightning bolt. Rendered completely in ballpoint pen on lined, spiral-bound notebook paper (move over Jim Rugg), "…Monsters" is an exquisite example of boundary-pushing comic art. It's a hefty tome that stands head and shoulders above nearly everything else that's been published this year. And it's her first published comics work.
Her art is a treat to linger on. She's got this incredible way of using the weight and texture of a ballpoint pen's line to her advantage, creating shapes and contours that seem to push forward from the page. Every one of her pages have this tactile nature to them, as if you'd be able to examine them by running your fingers across their surfaces. This comes from the way she deftly crisscrosses lines in tight formations to create a type of hatching that expands and contracts to communicate the bends and folds on faces and clothes.
It's telling that an artist who only worked on 6 issues of the 25 issue run and was rubbing shoulders with Liam Sharp and Nicola Scott could leave such an impression. Evely's style feels both at home in North American comics and unique among them. With a focus on deft characterisation and dense detail, her pencils bring a crisp, crosshatched fluidity that at once feels like a gorgeous tableau and offers itself to her emotional storytelling.
Nick Derington came out of nowhere. His joyful pencils have given "Doom Patrol" a tone like nothing else the characters have ever experienced. The more lighthearted approach to the work has really given the scripts a more accessible style to the point where you can hand nearly anyone the first trade of "Doom Patrol" and one of the first responses they might have is: that's a beautiful book. Derington is always game to go as weird as Gerard Way's strange scripts call for, despite the inherent beauty of the word. Unlike some of his peers, Derington exceeds in drawing action and momentum as well as nearly all of his fight scenes carry a dynamic sense of energy that translates to the page.
The artist can seemingly pull off anything, with a cat/human hybrids littering the pages alongside bodies of all shapes and sizes. The average issue of the series also packs in some extra creatures and weirdos which always posses striking designs. Derington hits a supreme sweet spot in how he continually references past works in the DC Universe to mix and match his art with. There's a level of experimentation in the work that is hard to match anywhere else in comics.
Brian: We had a lot of internal debate among the editorial staff – as we tend to every year – about what exactly 'breakout' means. It's one of those terms that means something different to everyone. But I think no matter how you define it, all of our choices took huge strides this year, whether in technical ability or, more likely, simply came into greater prominence. We've had this category for a number of years now, but I think this is the best list we've compiled thus far.
Alice: Something that strikes me about this year's picks is how unique their style is and how emblematic that was of our need for new and unique stories in 2017. From Nick Derrington and Bilquis Evely bringing a softer, almost European flair to DC comics with their intricate pencilwork to Tyler Boss's stark, characterful linework and structural playfulness to Emil Ferris's experimentation with the medium of ink. Even the two more "conventional" (for lack of a better word) artists on this list, Jorge Jimenez and Jon Davis-Hunt, brought something unique to their takes on the world of superheroes and bombast to make something that we've never seen before.
Matt: I think the staff chose a varied style of artists this year and echoing, you, Alice, it's interesting to see a bunch of people trying to achieve all kinds of different things with the medium. It reminds you of how big comics are and can be. Some of these people have been toiling away for years only to finally make a huge impact here. Others came bursting out of the gate. It'll be great to watch them grow and change and evolve over the years, pursuing whatever corner of comics they're going for.


text:
A Parti tartomány egyike annak a nyolc tartománynak (mkoa) amelyre Kenyát közigazgatásilag felosztották, az Indiai-óceán partján. Központja Mombasza város. Területe 83 603 km², 1999-es adatok szerint népessége 2 487 264 fő. Lakói főleg a midzsikenda és a szuahéli népekhez tartoznak.

Más fontos városai: délen Diani, északon Malinid, Watamu és Lamu. Diani turistaközpont, Mombaszához hasonló pálmafákkal és fehér homokos strandokkal. Malindi az a város, ahol Vasco da Gama vezetőhöz jutott, akinek a segítségével a monszunszelekkel Indiába hajózott.

A tartomány éghajlata nedves trópusi.

Kerületei
A tartományt a következő hét kerületre (wilaya) osztották:

Kenya tartományai

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Farr West World of Myscal Taylor
Farr West is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,094 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Farr West City is located on the north end of Weber County. It is bordered on the east by Pleasant View and by Harrisville, on the south by Slaterville, and on the west by Plain City, and was first settled by Mormon pioneers. In 1858, Joseph Taylor settled in the area that later became Farr West.
Early settlers had to be quite self-sufficient. They primarily raised hay and grain and kept a few farm animals for work and for food. As the population grew, some farmers furnished milk and butter to customers in the city. Later, farmers branched into dairy or poultry operations to augment family income; a few raised cash crops like onions, tomatoes, and potatoes.
The earliest business in Farr West was built in 1862. It was called the Prairie House, and was a tavern that primarily served travelers who were on their way to the gold mines in Montana. In 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad laid a line through the eastern part of Farr West, a line later called the Ogden Shoreline. In 1874 William Rawson opened the first general merchandise store in the town.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farr_West,_Utah
Background Information to Myscal Ta


As a member of Purex insiders I get to test and try new Purex products.
The ScentSplash is available in many scents.
Purex® Crystals ScentSplash™ is the next evolution in laundry in-wash fragrance boosters.
Contains refreshing scent beads that release bursts of fragrance to infuse your clothes with irresistible freshness that lasts!
New formula is convenient and versatile enough to be used directly in the washer or in-wash tray, and is safe for all wash fabrics.
I really like the Purex Crystals ScentSplash!
Its really to use just poor into the cap and add to the washer.
It makes my towels and blankets so soft and smell so good!
Purex also has some great giveaways at this time!


Red Fox Luxury Car Hire invites you to rent a BMW in Naples with us. The Province of Naples is a charmed place where colours, culture, flavours and history are entangled in a pleasant fusion of enjoyment and fun.
Take your BMW to the Naples itself is also perfectly situated for seeing some of the finest sights that Italy has to offer Pompeii and Herculaneum, the mighty slopes of Vesuvius, the fabled islands of Naples Bay, and the Amalfi Coast.
The choice of so many different places will appeal to every type of tourist: from the art and history enthusiast to the environment and sea lover to aficionados of the traditional foods and wines.If you have noticed on your travels that all European cities are beginning to look and feel the same, you really should spend some time in Naples, which is like nowhere else you have ever been.So take your BMW on a tour around the city centre and see the sights that make up this beautiful historic city.
The simple fact is Naples is no more daunting than any other large city but its great advantage over other cities is that it's ten times more interesting than most, a mixture of different historical epochs that end up in one passionate melting pot. This whole area certainly comes alive with its many bars, clubs and restaurants which is the perfect opportunity to show off your BMW.
Hire your BMW in Naples with Red Fox Luxury Car Hire today.


text:
'Nepal's climate to get warmer and wetter in future'
- CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL, Kathmandu
Experts say that abnormal changes in the climate may trigger extreme events related to temperature and rainfall
Feb 2, 2018-A new study titled 'Climate Change scenarios of Nepal' says the Himalayan country's climate is likely to get warmer and wetter in the future.
The average annual mean temperature may see a rise a by 0.92-1.07 degree Celsius in the medium-term period (2016-2045) and 1.30-1.82 degree Celsius in the long-term period (2036-2065).
The average annual precipitation may increase in both the short-term and long-term period by 2-6 per cent and 8-12 per cent respectively, the report predicts.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DoHM) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development's (Icimod) carried out the joint study. Their experts analysed climate change data for the medium- term period (2016-2045) and long-term period (2036-2065). The study forms technical support to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.
Icimod Water and Climate Specialist Santosh Nepal says, "Temperature related parameters show significant increase as the report suggests.
"Based on this study, Nepal's future climate would be more challenging. There will be an upsurge in extreme precipitation and temperature," says Nepal.
The researchers considered 1981-2010 as the reference period for the study. They took two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) - RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 - as representations of extreme future scenarios in the country.
The RCPs are four greenhouse gas concentration trajectories designed to support research on impacts of climate change. They predict climate future, which means the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) in four different periods in future.
Under the RCP 4.5, the GHG emissions will rise around 2040 and then decline. Likewise, emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century in RCP 8.5.
The study estimates both the average annual mean temperature and average annual rainfall will see a continuous surge up to the end of the century. Rainfall may increase by 11-23 per cent, whereas the temperature will go up by 1.72-3.58 degree Celsius in the period.
While the study predicts temperature increase for all seasons, the highest rise in mean temperature of 1.3-1.4 degree Celsius (medium-term period) and 1.8-2.4 degree Celsius (long-term period) may be seen post-monsoon.
Rainfall may decrease during the pre-monsoon season by 4-5 per cent in the medium-term period, but will continue to rise rest of the season. The post-monsoon season will experience the highest increase in rainfall 6-19 per cent (middle-term period) and 19-20 per cent in (long-term period).
Such abnormal changes in the climate may trigger extreme events related to temperature and rainfall.
"We already have too much water during the monsoon season. We do not have enough catchment areas. Imagine what level of havoc additional rainfall could cause. Excess rainfall would cause floods and landslides and damage property," says Nepal.
Besides, the study has also predicted changes related to meteorological extreme events in future. There will be increase in intense precipitation events, but rainy days will slump down, meaning heavy rainfall in short span of time. On one hand, the Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) will see an upsurge whereas the Consecutive Wet Days (CWD) may decrease under RCP 4.5 scenario. On the other hand, CDD and CWD will decrease and increase respectively under the RCP 8.5 in the future.
With rising temperature, the number of both warm days and warm nights will increase, and number of cold days and nights will go down.
NAP, beginning in September 2015, aims to boost institutional capacity of the government to implement climate resilient development plans. This will reduce vulnerability to impacts caused by these changes.
The Ministry of Population and Environment Joint-secretary Ram Prasad Lamsal says, "These are climate projection scenarios for the future. Our aim is to limit temperature rise well below 1.5 degree Celsius." The ministry is NAP stakeholder.
Experts consider this study and other observed climatic trends that show temperature rising annually by 0.056 degree Celsius from 1971 to 2014 as significant documents in the NAP process.
"It is important to be aware about climate changes. These could severely impact people's life, infrastructure and livelihoods. We have to make adaptation plans keeping in mind the direction of changes and ranges because there's uncertainty about climate change projections and predictions," concludes Nepal.
›National
› Chandan Kumar Mandal
NOC hikes fuel prices ›
More From National
Local units place faith back on consumer committees
Death toll from floods and landslides reaches 69 Jul 15, 2019full story »
ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Monday, July 15 Jul 15, 2019full story »
Fees for bachelor level medical courses likely to increase Jul 15, 2019full story »
Bungal declared far-west's first 'Chhaupadi free' municipality Jul 15, 2019full story »
Faparbazaar residents fear Chaurakhola entering their homes
Faparbazaar residents fear Chaurakhola entering their homes Jul 15, 2019full story »


text:
How to find a federal job
By Jessie Bur
(LeoWolfert/Getty Images)
The U.S. federal government is the largest employer in the world and comes with its own unique hiring process. This ongoing series explores the federal job application process and the ins and outs of how the government classifies, investigates and prioritizes applicants for federal work.
1. Navigating USAJobs and the federal hiring process - Nearly all federal positions are hired through the USAJobs portal, which houses thousands of government listings and processes millions of applications each year. The key to a successful federal application starts with understanding how to use the site.
2. Understanding the GS pay scale and required skills - The General Schedule dictates how most federal positions are classified and paid. But applicants don't need to be an expert, if they know where to look.
3. Assessments are becoming the new norm in federal hiring - A degree will soon become less important in the federal job application process, but agencies will turn to other means of assessing an applicant's skills.
4. What to expect in a government background investigation - The federal government uses background investigations to determine whether an applicant is suitable for government work. It is generally the longest part of the federal hiring process, but while all jobs require investigations, not all receive security clearances.
About Jessie Bur
Jessie Bur covered the federal workforce and the changes most likely to impact government employees for Federal Times.
More In HR
OPM extends deadline for hiring assessment reform
Agencies will have until the end of 2022 to make sure that their job listings involve more than just a self-assessment to determine whether an applicant has the right qualifications.
New leadership initiative aims to add 400 paid federal interns
The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program comes as the federal government struggles to draw young talent to replace those soon to retire.
Feds get Christmas Eve off in 2021
Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, meaning feds will receive their paid holiday the day before.
Biden customer service order aims to streamline public service loan forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student loans after prolonged work in the public sector, could become easier to navigate.
OPM again extends special pandemic hiring authority
Agencies have just over six more months to make use of Schedule A hiring authorities for pandemic response.
Biden praises Guard response to Jan. 6 attack in fiery anniversary speech
The commander-in-chief's remarks came on the one-year anniversary of the attack.
Proposed rule would create a better public record of discrimination
The proposed rule addresses a legal mandate that federal employment practices expand accountability for discrimination and retaliation response.
Capitol Police working more closely with DoD ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary
More coordination with Pentagon leaders is one of many security reforms put in place over the last year.
Congress' doctor wants 'maximal telework' amid virus surge
The seven-day average rate of infection at the Capitol's testing center has grown from less than 1% to more than 13%.
US Postal Service recovers from poor holiday showing in 2020
The Postal Service and several other private shippers reported that holiday season deliveries went smoothly, for the most part.
Pentagon pushes maximum telework through January 2022
The health protection condition status for the Pentagon Reservation hasn't changed, but officials are tightening restrictions and safety measures for the worksite.
Most feds get New Year's Eve off in 2021
Federal holidays that fall on weekends generally create an 'in lieu of' holiday the day before or after they occur.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday detailing the federal employee pay adjustments effective in 2022.


text:
First off - as may be obvious - we switched up the template for this here blog site. Got rid of the one we'd originally picked, which had turned out to be kinda buggy, so now hopefully functionality will be improved (especially re: commenting). Definitely still experimenting with the look, we'll be futzing around with it for a while, and hopefully improving it, so don't be alarmed if it appears a bit (or a lot) different the next time you visit!
And then - The Book. That's our big project, currently in its very earliest stages. Right now we're just trying to envision what it's gonna look like: How big it'll be, what format (hardcover? softcover? something to display on your coffee table? to read on the toilet?), how many of the many thousands of aQ-reviews we can fit in, which ones to include and then how to organize 'em all… The reviews that we select will then need to be edited (slightly), re-proofread, fact-checked, and annotated - yep, we're planning on appending a sentence or two in italics or something to some (most?) of them, giving them more context, or putting them in a now-perspective, like, "What were we thinking? This album is terrible!" or "Why didn't we mention the hidden bonus track?" or "Utterly don't remember this record at all but it's obvious I wrote the review, what's wrong with me?" Stuff like that. But better.
Under consideration also are other value-added features, like mini-essays on sub-genres and best-of-lists and bits from guest contributors and a cd compilation or download or 7"… Lots and lots to think about. Input & ideas encouraged, please let us know what you'd like it to be like.
But that's getting way ahead of ourselves. Right now, still conceptualizing. To just get a grasp on the scope of the project & all the material we're gonna be working with, we figure we need to start re-reading ALL the the reviews from the lists #1 through #502. That'll take a while! To begin with, we've dug up the big three-ring binders that we used to have on the counter long ago in the shop, that were stuffed with print-outs of the first 250-or-so lists. That's five large binders just for those lists alone - quite a stack:
So, we're now carefully going through 'em and taking notes on releases/reviews that jump out as being essential, stuff that's gotta be in the book (The Conet Project! Sensational! Sounds Of North American Frogs! Kathy McGinty! Feuhler! The Electric Lucifer! Shevalreq!), also getting ideas about possible ways to group reviews together if we go that route, how much revision is gonna be necessary, etc., etc.
It's a weird moving-forward and yet at the same time diving-back-in feeling - been stirring up lots of nostalgia readin' through these binders. Fun, though, and it's been reminding us to listen to a lot of things we hadn't in a while, which is always good.
Also super good - we're pleased to report that an ideal aQ-lovin' indie rock luminary (and New York Times best-selling author) has already agreed to write the foreword, and we have also lined up a talented person to do the design! (Names withheld for now just to be secretive and in case somebody changes their mind.)
Also, not regarding the book, but also speaking of progress, congrats to our successors Stranded for getting their brand new website up recently and putting out their first few weekly email updates these past several Fridays. Not quite the old aQ-list, but they did include some fresh reviews in each update, some written by former aQ-staffers, so that's a start!
And our pal Ken's long-in-the-works documentary about aQuarius is also progressing (he's probably happy we gave him an ending!), he's recently been posting some clips from it online, like this one...
Lastly, nothing to do with progress, but we thought we'd stick this tidbit in here as well: Kirk just alerted us that the new album that just came out by next-level rap group Clipping. includes samples from The Conet Project. (Hopefully they'll have better luck with that than did Wilco.)
Labels: aQuarius, book, Conet, documentary, progress


text:
Bonham's Aston Martin sale to feature DB5, Vanquish and V8 Volante
The yearly Bonham's Aston Martin Sale will once again offer some stunning James Bond models, including a grey 1964 DB5, 2003 Vanquish and 1989 V8 Volante.
Spot the seven James Bond Aston Martins in London on Global James Bond Day
Seven Iconic Aston Martin James Bond cars will be in central London to celebrate 'Global James Bond Day' this Friday, October 5th 2018.
Daniel Craig's Aston Martin Vanquish sells for $468,500 in New York
Daniel Craig's Aston Martin 2014 Centenary Edition Vanquish, numbered 007 was sold for $468,500 (approx. £335,000 / €380,000) at The Exceptional Sale at Christie's in New York on Friday 20 April 2018.
Daniel Craig's Aston Martin Vanquish on auction
On 20 April 2018 an Aston Martin 2014 Centenary Edition Vanquish, numbered 007 and belonging to actor Daniel Craig, will be offered in The Exceptional Sale at Christie's in New York.
Pierce Brosnan's own Aston Martin Vanquish destroyed in fire
A post on Pierce Brosnan's Instagram page tells us the sad news that Brosnan's personal Aston Martin Vanquish is no more. It was destroyed in a fire in the garage of his Malibu home on Wednesday 11 February 2015.
Aston Martin Centenary celebrations at Kensington Gardens photo album
In 2013, Aston Martin celebrated its 100 year anniversary with several events organised around the world. American Bond fan Ronald Zaguli visited the Aston Martin Centenary celebrations at Kensington Gardens in London in July 2013 and shares his experience and photos.
"Now pay attention Bond... this is your Aston Martin!"


Business Description: Strandline Resources Limited is a Perth based Australian mineral exploration and development company.
Established: Strandline Resources Limited was established in May 2000.
Listings: Strandline Resources Limited listed on the ASX on 17th May 2000 (ASX:STA).


It was a long time coming for Dustin Poirier who after 8 years of competing in the Octagon and 22 fights under the UFC banner, has finally picked up his first title belt. But the win came at the cost of a five round war against the flyweight champion Max Holloway, whom Dustin defeated for the second time. The rematch was a lot different from their first bout. Max had improved by leaps and bounds, which was evident in tonight's performance. Max threw a lot more punches but the power shots did their damage and caused Max to slow down in the early rounds. Both the fighters had their chance to end the fight, which in turn resulted in an exciting standup exchange. With this loss, Max snaps his 13 fight win streak. Dustin will now face Khabib to unify the light weight title belt later this year.


GARDNERVILLE — Two people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a car rolled through a stop sign into the path of a woman driving a pickup truck on Highway 88 at Centerville.
The Nevada Highway Patrol said a man and a young girl, the driver and his passenger in the car, were taken by Care Flight to Washoe Medical Center in Reno.
Driver Robert Manuel Gonzalez, 54, of Gardnerville was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. Samantha Gonzalez, 9, however, was in critical condition at Washoe Medical Center, according to the NHP.
The driver of the pickup, Joanne Zuvich, 41, of Minden, said she was traveling southbound on Highway 88 at about 5 p.m. when she saw the car come to a rolling stop at Centerville, then cross Highway 88 in her path.
Zuvich said she was driving the 55-mph speed limit or slower. Her pickup hit the right front passenger side of the car. Zuvich said she bruised her knee and was shaken up by the accident.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Hartlane said he did not suspect alcohol was involved. The accident is under investigation. No charges had been filed, but Hartlane said the driver of the car might be charged with failure to yield.
All three people involved were wearing safety belts, the NHP added.


text:
PDF2 PDF |Add To My Favorites | Version: 09/04/14 - Enrolled 08/21/14 - Amended Senate 05/28/14 - Amended Senate 02/18/14 - Introduced
AB-1822 Tissue banks.(2013-2014)
Enrolled September 04, 2014
Passed IN Senate August 27, 2014
Passed IN Assembly August 28, 2014
Amended IN Senate August 21, 2014
Amended IN Senate May 28, 2014
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Nazarian and Waldron)
An act to amend Section 1635.1 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to tissue banks.
AB 1822, Bonta. Tissue banks.
Existing federal law governs the processing, storage, and use of human tissue and human cell, tissue, or cellular- or tissue-based products (HCT/P), as specified, and imposes certain regulatory duties relating to HCT/P upon the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Existing state law requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate tissue banks, which process, store, or distribute human tissue for transplantation into human beings. Existing law generally requires every tissue bank operating in this state to have a current and valid tissue bank license issued or renewed by the department, but exempts certain activities from that requirement, including the storage of HCT/P by a licensed physician or podiatrist, as specified, if the products were obtained from a California-licensed tissue bank, stored in strict accordance with manufacturer instructions, and used solely for the express purpose of direct implantation into or application on the practitioner's own patient, among other criteria.
This bill would create an additional exemption from the tissue bank licensing requirement for the storage of HCT/P by a person if that person is a hospital or outpatient setting and the HCT/P meets specified requirements, including, among other things, that the HCT/P was obtained from a tissue bank licensed by the state, is stored in the original unopened enclosure for one finished unit of transplantable tissue and in strict accordance with the package insert and any other manufacturer instructions and guidelines, and is intended for the express purpose of implantation into or application on a patient.
Section 1635.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), every tissue bank operating in California on or after July 1, 1992, shall have a current and valid tissue bank license issued or renewed by the department pursuant to Section 1639.2 or 1639.3.
(b) This chapter shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) The collection, processing, storage, or distribution of human whole blood or its derivatives by blood banks licensed pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1600) or any person exempt from licensure under that chapter.
(2) The collection, processing, storage, or distribution of tissue for autopsy, biopsy, training, education, or for other medical or scientific research or investigation, where transplantation of the tissue is not intended or reasonably foreseeable.
(3) The collection of tissue by an individual physician and surgeon from his or her patient or the implantation of tissue by an individual physician and surgeon into his or her patient. This exemption shall not be interpreted to apply to any processing or storage of the tissue, except for the processing and storage of semen by an individual physician and surgeon when the semen was collected by that physician and surgeon from a semen donor or obtained by that physician and surgeon from a tissue bank licensed under this chapter.
(4) The collection, processing, storage, or distribution of fetal tissue or tissue derived from a human embryo or fetus.
(5) The collection, processing, storage, or distribution by an organ procurement organization (OPO), as defined in Section 486.302 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, if the OPO, at the time of collection, processing, storage, and distribution of the organ, has been designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as an OPO and meets the requirements of Sections 486.304 and 486.306 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable.
(6) The storage of prepackaged, freeze-dried bone by a general acute care hospital.
(7) The storage of freeze-dried bone and dermis by any licensed dentist practicing in a lawful practice setting, providing that the freeze-dried bone and dermis have been obtained from a licensed tissue bank and are stored in strict accordance with a kit's package insert and any other manufacturer instructions and guidelines and are used for the express purpose of implantation into a patient.
(8) The storage of a human cell, tissue, or cellular- or tissue-based product (HCT/P), as defined by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that is either a medical device approved pursuant to Section 510 or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 360 et seq.) or that is a biologic product approved under Section 351 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 262) by a licensed physician or podiatrist acting within the scope and authority of his or her license and practicing in a lawful practice setting. The medical device or biologic product must have been obtained from a California-licensed tissue bank, been stored in strict accordance with the device's or product's package insert and any other manufacturer instructions, and used solely for the express purpose of direct implantation into or application on the practitioner's own patient. In order to be eligible for the exemption in this paragraph, the entity or organization where the physician or podiatrist who is eligible for the exemption is practicing shall notify the department, in writing, that the practitioner is licensed and meets the requirements of this paragraph. The notification shall include all of the following:
(A) A list of all practitioners to whom the notice applies.
(B) Acknowledgment that each listed practitioner uses the medical device or biologic product in the scope and authority of his or her license and practice for the purposes of direct patient care as described in this paragraph.
(C) A statement that each listed practitioner agrees to strictly abide by the directions for storage in the device's or product's package insert and any other manufacturer instructions and guidelines.
(D) Acknowledgment by each practitioner that the medical device or biologic product shall not be resold or distributed.
(9) The storage of an HCT/P by a person if both of the following apply:
(A) The person, as defined in Section 1635, is a hospital, or an outpatient setting regulated by the Medical Board of California pursuant to Chapter 1.3 (commencing with Section 1248), including an ambulatory surgical center.
(B) The HCT/P meets all of the following:
(i) The HCT/P was obtained from a tissue bank licensed by the state.
(ii) The HCT/P is stored in the original unopened enclosure for one finished unit of transplantable tissue and is stored in strict accordance with the package insert and any other manufacturer instructions and guidelines.
(iii) The HCT/P is intended for the express purpose of implantation into or application on a patient.
(iv) The HCT/P is not intended for further distribution.
(v) The HCT/P is regulated by the FDA pursuant to Parts 1270 and 1271 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations.


The Family Suite is a joining of The Original Guest House and The Corner Suite. It can sleep 6 people without anyone having to go through a bedroom to get to the bathroom. The two suites become a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 steam room apartment with a full kitchen (including W/D), private courtyard and dining room area.


text:
Q: How to skip the missing XML data column values while selecting form select query My query returns:

Msg 9421, XML parsing: illegal name character error

I need to skip the rows where there is no data in the below table
SELECT
    ps.person_num,
    q1.r1.value('.','varchar(50)') as id,
    q2.r2.value('.','varchar(50)')) as name
FROM
    persons ps
CROSS APPLY
    (SELECT CAST(SELECT CAST(sd.data AS xml)) AS p1(p1))
CROSS APPLY
    p1.p1.nodes('/person_data/person_id') q1(r1)
CROSS APPLY
    p1.p1.nodes('/person_data/person_name') q2(r2)

Persons table has two columns:
      Person_num    data (text column)
         1          <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <person_data>
                   <person_id>52<person_id/> <person_name>varna</person_name> </person_data >

         2         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?>?</?>

         3         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <person_data > <person_id>53<person_id/>
                    <person_name>mala</person_name></ person_data >

         4         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> < person_data > <person_id>54<person_id/>
                   <person_name>nayan</person_name> </person_data >

         5         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?>?</?>

         6         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> < person_data > <person_id>55<person_id/>
                   <person_name>tara</person_name></person_data >

         7         <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> < person_data > <person_id>56<person_id/>
                   <person_name>janu</person_name> </person_data >


Oral presentation will be 17 minutes in length. This includes 15 minutes for the actual presentation and 2 minutes to answer questions from the audience.
Delegates are strongly encouraged to have their presentations available in the PowerPoint and/or PDF formats.
Please note that conference staff will be available in the plenary rooms to assist with any audio-visual equipment problems that may arise.


Strolling the beautiful streets of Bruges is like stepping back into medieval times. Bruges is one of the most picturesque places that we have visited in all of Europe.
If you are an older gay gent – a gay male aged 45 or older – and you are looking for accommodations in the Bruges area, a gay couple named Leo and Eddy may have the picture perfect fit.
Leo and Eddy own and operate Poldie's Bed and Breakfast in the posh seaside resort of Knokke, Belgium which is about 10 kilometers away from historical Bruges.
Leo and Eddy have two rooms available for older gay men. Their Bed & Breakfast comes with either Continental or cooked English breakfast, free Wifi and free parking. Dinner can also be arranged at 15 euros.
In the Summer, guests can enjoy the sunny, clothing optional section of the garden.
Transportation to the Bruges or Knokke train stations can also be arranged.
Leo and Eddy can even help you with tours to local attractions and historical sites.
Leo, age 68, likes traveling, nudist beaches, history, architecture and geography. He has lived in the USA in RI, NJ, MA, MI and SoCal.
Eddy, age 57, loves animals, documentaries about wildlife, traveling, cooking, fixing things and above all – soccer! He is an ex-soccer player himself.
Leo and Eddy charge 45 euros per night for one person and 55 euros per night two.


text:
More Alike Than Different
People who devalue animals are more likely to discriminate against human outgroups such as immigrants and minorities.
Summary By: Sara Streeter | Original Study By: Choubak, M. & Safdar, S. (2020). | Published: October 15, 2020
Photo by Juan Rumimpunu on Unsplash
"Greedy pig." "Sly like a fox." Stubborn as a mule." "Follows like a sheep." "Slow as a snail." We use these phrases, often without thinking. They are part of the cultural lexicon, but they are also animal epithets. They dehumanize people by comparing them with non-human animals, and people who do this are more likely to dehumanize and devalue social outgroups such as minorities and immigrants as well.
This paper reviews a broad range of literature to examine the mechanism of dehumanization common to bias against both marginalized human groups and non-human animals. At the heart of dehumanization is how society views non-human animals. Our culture is marked by "speciesism", or a preference for our species over non-human animals. While we tend to view non-human animals positively, we still believe they lack intelligence, emotional perspective, morality, self-determination, and other "human" traits.
Researchers have documented a relationship between discrimination against ethnic minorities and bias against non-human animals. Indeed, when people hold views that place humans above non-human animals, they also tend to be more ethnocentric (i.e. devaluing cultures other than their own). There are painful parallels between speciesism and oppression of outgroups such as minorities and immigrants. These groups rank above non-human animals but are still considered primitive and not fully human. For example, we describe immigrants as "beastly" to imply that they are uncivilized.
Research has also shown that ideologies that foster a belief in the superiority of certain human groups encourage hierarchical relationships and what is known as a social dominance orientation. This is a way to justify exploiting those with a lower rank. The pharmaceutical industry preys on the desperation of immigrants by offering them cash to participate in medical tests without making sure they understand the risks. This is only marginally better than the Tuskegee study, which left syphilitic African Americans untreated for decades.
Furthermore, the literature review shows that when people show more empathy towards non-human animals, they also show more empathy towards other humans. Conversely, there are links between the abuse of non-human animals and the abuse of women and children, as well as bullying by adolescents. This behavior is also linked to dehumanization, But while scientists have examined the outcomes of dehumanization, we know less about the causes of dehumanizing behavior.
To address this gap, the authors suggest using the interspecies model of prejudice to incorporate speciesism into the discussion of discrimination against outgroups. In this model, dehumanization is rooted in a speciesist belief system and mediates the relationship between speciesism and bias towards human outgroups. In other words, people who demonstrate speciesism engage in higher levels of dehumanizing behavior. This in turn predicts more outgroup prejudice.
Given this, it seems that highlighting similarities between humans and non-human animals would reduce dehumanization and along with it, prejudice against marginalized humans. And in fact, the review highlights experiments that confirm this to be the case. Subjects who were told that animals were like humans showed less speciesism and less bias towards outgroups. Stressing how humans and non-human animals are alike seemed to "rehumanize" the outgroups. Members of these groups no longer seemed as "other" or alien.
As animal advocates, we regularly struggle with speciesism, and likely will for a long time. Virtually every society believes that humans are superior in some way to non-human animals. Not only do these beliefs harm animals, they appear to harm marginalized humans as well. Coordinating efforts with advocates for minorities and immigrants could benefit both people and animals. Education campaigns that focus on the ways humans and non-human animals are alike can shift mindsets towards a more inclusive view that values all living beings
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/iaccp_papers/278/
Author: Sara Streeter
Sara Streeter spent her career as an accounting and finance professional. Now retired, she loves to hike, bike, paddle a sea kayak and travel. She has a passion for animals and has been a long-time animal advocate in various capacities.
EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY OTHER TOPICS
Psychology | Strategies
Choubak, M. & Safdar, S. (2020). The elephant in the room: The often neglected relevance of speciesism in bias towards ethnic minorities and immigrants. In S. Safdar, C. Kwantes, & W. Friedlmeier (Eds.), Wiser world with multiculturalism: Proceedings from the 24th Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/iaccp_papers/278
Highlights From The Library Front Desk
Faunalytics' Research Library has just hit 5,000 entries! Our Content Director, karol orzechowski, reflects on the growth of the database we've built and shares some of his favorites from the archives.
karol orzechowski
Local Action For Animals As A Stepping Stone To State Protections
Our latest study looks at whether local laws have laid the groundwork for laws at the state level of government, and whether this is a viable avenue for creating meaningful change for animals.
Precious Hose
The Language Of Research
With the launch of our new Faunalytics Research Glossary, we provide easy-to-understand definitions for a range of terms that will help you understand social science research.


text:
Film Review: The Square
Published March 14, 2018	By Lee Hill
Reviewed by: Lee Hill
Last modified:Mar 14, 2018
Reviewed by Lee Hill
In his 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, George Orwell said: "…if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better." Clear thinking, common sense, open debate and reason face new threats from the grip that marketing, branding, spin, "fake news" and other forms of intellectual cheerleading now have over our lives. The extent to which this corruption can infect even the most progressive nations, organisations, communities and individuals is one of the many themes of The Square, Ruben Östlund's problematic follow-up to his 2014 arthouse hit, Force Majeure.
At its best, The Square is a flip-flop version of Bicycle Thieves. Instead of a father and son struggling to survive unemployment and petty crime in post-WWII Rome, the focus is on Christian, a curator at a cutting-edge art museum in Stockholm. Christian is working closely with a trendy ad agency to promote a new exhibition, the all too literal installation that gives the film its title. Between the strategy meeting, where banalities are recast as miraculous insights, Christian's iPhone is stolen by pickpockets (demonstrating more creativity than many of the artists in the museum).
A streetwise co-worker helps Christian track his iPhone to a social housing complex. At which point, a ploy not only to get the phone back, but obtain justice goes comically awry. In tandem with this storyline, Christian has an awkward one-night stand with an arts journalist, played with enigmatic menace by Elizabeth Moss, a visiting artist (Dominic West) with a surfeit of self-importance gets his comeuppance, and the museum itself, mutates from a citadel of free expression to a Potemkin Village of neo-liberal complacency under siege.
The first hour of The Square is an audacious satire of a high art establishment, particularly museums and galleries like the Tate or Museum of Modern Art, which rely on corporate sponsorships and wealthy donors to keep imperial schemes of bringing elite culture to the masses aloft. While the context seems specific, the hollow art speak is largely indistinguishable from the specious lingo (Corporate Social Responsibility, the oxymoron that excuses a multitude of modern sins, comes to mind), permeating many a modern workplace.
The dark comedy falls short of its mark in The Square's second half as Östlund takes on sub-themes such as the refugee crisis, homelessness, the limits of democracy and free speech, trial by rolling news and social media, the sexual politics of dating, the sterility of urban architecture and even the ill-fitting uniforms chain store employees are forced to wear. This unwieldy ambition likely convinced the Cannes jury to award Östlund the Palme D'Or last spring over the Michel Haneke's Happy End, which covers the same territory, but with a far more sustained, albeit chillier vision.
Despite The Square's lop-sided anti-narrative, Östlund 's flair for the bravura set-piece shines through, especially at a fundraising gala where a performance piece turns into a primal riot. Östlund also breathes life, thanks to deft casting, to types that might have descended into caricature. As Christian, Claes Bang is variously empathetic, creepy, vain, concerned, indifferent and all too hu-man.
If The Square has a single message, it is that many of us in the West are becoming like Christian; crippled by contradictory ideals and desires, speaking without communicating and acting without any common purpose.
Lee Hill is a freelance critic and author.
Categories:Film Reviews
Claes Bang
oscar-nominated
Previous Post Trailer: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald
Next Post BFI FLARE: Five Must See Films


Much of the 360 Slim remains in the E, minus the A/V port.
Microsoft announced a new design for the 360 this week dubbed the Xbox 360 E. With the pricing for the for system mimicking the Xbox 360 Slim, the purpose of the new system likely stands to benefit Microsoft more than consumer.
iFixit has torn the new system down and found a number of modular parts, which were integral in giving the system a 8 out of 10 for repairability. In fact many of the parts, like the system fans and disc drive are identical to the ones found in 360 Slim.
One distinction for the new system does not require a teardown. The new version drops the old A/V port that launched with system, instead the system now has a built-in optical port. This means that outside of HDMI and optical, this 360 has none of the legacy 360 display and audio capabilities. Also apparent on the back is the subtraction of one USB port. Leaving the new version with a total of four.
The 360 E uses the same Microsoft-sold hard drive, and the one in iFixit's teardown was even labeled as an Xbox 360 S hard drive.
The new model sheds some connectivity as well as some bulk but remains at the same price as the Xbox 360 S, and even maintains the 360 S's cooling design. Prospective buyers will have to decide if the legacy connections and chrome bezel of the 360 S are worth getting while supplies last. The Xbox 360 S is still available from Amazon.
Last edited by Brian Hoss; 06-14-2013 at 01:20 PM.
interesting how it has a similar design and finish as the One, i guess they wanted it to match!
The new version drops the old A/V port that launched with system, instead the system now has a built-in optical port. This means that outside of HDMI and optical, this 360 has none of the legacy 360 display and audio capabilities.
I just read on CNet that it doesn't include an optical port...and the picture of the rear seems to confirm that. There appears to be a round port labeled "A/V".