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Mondays with Matty: An unbiased perspective on Cutler
No, I'm not going to chime in on the Jets loss to Pittsburgh. Gang Green blew molten lava on the Patriots last week and had nothing but smoke and ash left in Pittsburgh for a team that the Pats handily defeated earlier this season. (Imagine if BenJarvus Green-Ellis had gotten 25-30 carries last week when it is now obvious that's how to beat the Jets?)
I have watched the "Jay Cutler bashing" parade go on since about 5PM yesterday. It is absolutely atrocious. Maurice Jones-Drew, Darnell Dockett, even Deion Sanders called out Cutler for leaving the game against the Packers. Fans and journalists everywhere piled on. Many of them forgot one simple thing:
Jay Cutler has Type I Diabetes.
A doctor friend of mine, who is keeping anonymity because, well, duh, had this to share with me once the diagnosis of a Type II MCL Sprain was announced as Cutler's injury.
"I almost expected this... if I gave the MRI films to 10 different radiologists, probably 50% would agree. Here is the thing that few people know about MRI/CT/XRAYs....they are subjective. They are open to interpretation of the person reading them. There is a great book called - How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman. Great read - physicians always get a full history. If I get handed films and told the person is an athlete, high collision, high speed....I tend to look for trauma. If you instead tell me the guy is a telephone operator (do they even have those anymore?) then that sprain is grade I.
Point being - knee was injured and type 1 diabetes complicates each and every injury. A small cut can lead to a deadly infection. One of my mentors, an MD, had a poster in his office similar to the Uncle Sam - I want you deal.....guy was pointing half a finger with the quote "Don't F*ck With Diabetes". This is more than Wilford Brimley can help."
Things that are nothing to many of us can be made much more serious to others. A cut to the arm of a hemophiliac can be disastrous, for example, when for many of us we just need a band-aid.
To the folks who automatically cite the Philip Rivers knee injury in 2007, when he played with no ACL and an MCL that was surgically repaired during the week, think about this: Rivers left the game the week before against the Colts with that knee injury, which was also a playoff game. He didn't return to that game, and it was Billy Volek who led the Chargers to victory down the stretch against Indy. Although Rivers played every snap the next week, he went 19 for 37 with 2 interceptions. How effective was he? When is the line between being tough and being stupid crossed? Could the Chargers have won that game with Volek starting in lieu of Rivers (based on the Patriots defense two weeks later against Eli Manning, it's not a stretch). It's a moronic comparison. In the 1993 NFC Title game, Troy Aikman left with a concussion, and Bernie Kosar had to rescue the Cowboys. This was before the severity of concussions in the NFL was truly known. Was Aikman, for a word many fans used yesterday, "a pussy" for leaving the game, a game which to this day he still says he can't remember? No, because at the time his resume had been built as a Super Bowl winning QB. Bring Twitter back to that day in 1993 and perhaps people sing a different tune.
Cutler wasn't lighting the world on fire anyways, the Bears were actually more effective moving the ball with Hanie at quarterback. Does anyone who watched that game yesterday think Cutler was going to lead Chicago to a single point?
Cutler's teammates have stood up for him. His previous history, when he has only missed one game in his career (due to concussion), doesn't portray him as a wuss-bag. He plays behind a porous offensive line and for an offensive coordinator who probably took 5-10 years off of Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner's lives when they played for St. Louis. (By the way, both QB's have a massive history of concussions and injuries. Coincidence?)
Cutler's biggest crime is not being a fan or peer favorite. He, justifiably or not, has a reputation as being "soft" around the league, and people waited for the first opportunity to call him on it when it counts.
Maybe this ruins his career. Maybe he rebounds from this to be a wonderful story someday. This much is certain: There are many more doctors in the world than we all thought, and many of them masquerade as current and former NFL Players, who all had time on their hands to watch the Championship Games on television.
Posted by MattyMSM at 7:13 PM
Labels: Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, National Football League, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers
Great read and awesome point I don't think I've heard anyone bring up. Thanks for sharing.
MattyMSM said...
Thanks for the comment, Mike.


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Syneuodynerus egregius är en stekelart som först beskrevs av Herrich-Schäffer 1839.  Syneuodynerus egregius ingår i släktet Syneuodynerus och familjen Eumenidae.

Underarter

Arten delas in i följande underarter:

 S. e. arzhakanensis
 S. e. barbarus
 S. e. bohemani
 S. e. egregior

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egregius

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The new species captured on camera in Mendocino County, CA. Photo by Nick Kerhoulas, UAF.
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - A brand new species of flying squirrel has been discovered in the Pacific Northwest, researchers said in a research study published on Wednesday.
The newly identified creature has been named "Humbolt's Flying Squirrel" after a naturalist named Alexander von Humbolt, who lived from 1769 to 1859.
Prior to this discovery, scientists had only believed that two species of flying squirrel inhabited North America. Now, scientists say, that number is three.
Scientists said that visually there are slight size and color differences in the animal's anatomy, but the report states that overall "it doesn't look much different from its relatives."
In a statement made by an ecologist with the University of Alaska Southeast, they say six scientists contributed to the research, and that the discovery of the new squirrel was aided by the help of Alaska data.
According to Allison Bidlack with UAS, the new squirrel is native to the Pacific Coast, from southern British Columbia all the way down to California. While not native to Alaska, the Humbolt flying squirrel's territory does overlap with another flying squirrel breed that does inhabit Alaska – the northern flying squirrel.
It was the northern flying squirrel, which researchers were collecting in Southeast Alaska 20 years ago, that appeared to be exhibiting what was originally thought to be odd mating habits in forests of the Pacific Northwest.
"As we were analyzing the data, [biologist Brian Arbogast] started realizing that in the Pacific Northwest we were looking at squirrels that were basically living in the same forest that were not interbreeding at all," Bidlack said.
This prompted a closer look at museum samples of squirrel specimens around the United States, eventually leading to the discovery of two distinct squirrel species living in the same area and not interbreeding with one another.
The reason that the northern and Humbold squirrels didn't breed is due to this large time lapse. Bidlack said that while the northern and southern flying squirrels (the other of the three species found in North America) could interbreed due to being "sister species," the Humbolt squirrel could not.


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ABOUT 7DC
Oliver Béres
Oliver began his dance education when he was accepted into the Hungarian National Ballet School at age 10. He trained under Zoltan Solymosi and at age 14 was chosen to participate in some of the performances at the Hungarian State Opera House. In 2004, he received a full scholarship for the summer program in Wolfsegg, Austria. In 2005, he graduated from the Hungarian National Ballet Academy as a classical ballet dancer and was invited to the North Carolina Dance Theater's summer program on a full scholarship. He has danced with several companies in Europe and in the United States, and recently retired as a soloist dancer with Carolina Ballet.
He has performed in The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Spartacus, Le Corsaire, The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Prodigal Son, The Four Temperaments, The Firebird, A La Francaix, Stars and Stripes, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, Rubies, Who Cares?, Lost and Found, Monet Impressions, Carmina Burana, Dracula, Carmen and many more.
© 2017-21 7 Dance Centre
Photo Credits: Special thanks to Dragon's Lair Photography, Sabrina Evans and Amy Perkins.
55 HILLSBORO SREET | PITTSBORO, NC 27312 | (919) 545-7000

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Emperor of Paris (2018) Hindi Dubbed
The Emperor of Paris (2018) Hindi Dubbed Paris, France, early 19th century. The legendary convict François Vidocq lives in disguise trying to escape from a tragic past that torments him. When, after an unfortunate event, he crosses paths with the police chief, he makes a bold decision that will turn the ruthless mastermind of the Parisian underworld against him.
The Emperor of Paris (2018) Hindi Dubbed Watch Online Free
Director: Jean-François Richet
Actors: August Diehl, Denis Lavant, Denis Ménochet, Freya Mavor, Olga Kurylenko, Patrick Chesnais, Vincent Cassel
The Host (2020) Hindi Dubbed
The Host (2020) Hindi Dubbed A chance opportunity arises for Robert Atkinson, a London banker who risks his bank's money to leave the mundane behind and start a new life….
Genre: Crime, Hollywood Hindi 2020, Mystery, Thriller
Miss Congeniality (2000) Hindi Dubbed
Miss Congeniality (2000) Hindi Dubbed When the local FBI office receives a letter from a terrorist known only as 'The Citizen', it's quickly determined that he's planning his next act…
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Hollywood Hindi 2000
Saab Bahadar (2017) Punjabi
Saab Bahadar (2017) Punjabi A small town cop finds himself investigating the murder of a prominent citizen. Saab Bahadar (2017) Punjabi Movie Watch Online Free
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Punjabi Movies, Thriller
Rivaaz (2011) Hindi
Rivaaz (2011) Hindi is a film against exploitation, a film about dignity, about hope of women who are traded in the name of tradition. Family-based Prostitution in which exists in…
Genre: 2011 Movies, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) English
In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) English…
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
Fast Food & Cigarettes (2019) Hindi Dubbed
Fast Food & Cigarettes (2019) Hindi Dubbed In a film without any dialogue, strangers are taken hostage in a small town diner. No one is as they seem. Fast Food…
J. Edgar (2011) Hindi Dubbed
J. Edgar (2011) Hindi Dubbed As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed…
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Hollywood Hindi 2011
Gandii Baat 6 (2021) Hindi Season 6 Complete
Gandii Baat 6 (2021) Hindi Season 6 Complete Scintillating stories of murder mysteries all under the genre of erotic thriller. With characters bordering on the psychopath tendencies, the stories this…
Genre: Crime, Drama, Erotic, Fantasy, Thriller
Hit and Run (2021) Hindi Dubbed Season 1 Complete
Hit and Run (2021) Hindi Dubbed Season 1 Complete A happily married man's life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a mysterious hit-and-run accident in Tel…
Country: Israel, United States
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Web Series Hindi Dubbed
In Bruges (2008) Hindi Dubbed
In Bruges (2008) Hindi Dubbed Ray and Ken, two hit men, are in Bruges, Belgium, waiting for their next mission. While they are there they have time to think and…
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Hollywood Hindi 2008
30 March (2021) Hindi Dubbed
30 March (2021) Hindi Dubbed Ali, the fugitive from a murder he does not even know whether he committed it or not, sets out to uncover truth with the help…
Genre: Crime, Drama, Hollywood Hindi 2021, Mystery
Limbo (2021) Hindi Dubbed
Limbo (2021) Hindi Dubbed Veteran detective Cham works with rookie cop Will to hunt down the city's serial killer. The investigation leads them to a lair littered with dismembered female…
Trailer: The Emperor of Paris (2018) Hindi Dubbed


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AFC BournemouthBarnsleyBirmingham CityBlackburn RoversBlackpoolBristol CityCardiff CityCoventry CityDerby CountyFulhamHuddersfield TownHull CityLuton TownMiddlesbroughMillwallNottingham ForestPeterborough UnitedPreston North EndQueens Park RangersReadingSheffield UnitedStoke CitySwansea CityWest Bromwich Albion
Hull to hold talks with Owen representatives
by Andrew Slevison 2009-06-24 00:51:35.000000
Hull City manager Phil Brown has confirmed the club will hold talks with representatives of soon-to-be former Newcastle striker Michael Owen.
Owen has revealed he will leave St James' Park this summer and is searching for a potential club where he can continue his career.
Brown said that although Owen is reluctant to make his way to KC Stadium, the club would do enough to persuade him.
"We will be speaking to Michael's representatives within the week," he told the Hull Daily Mail.
"I would think he would have a number of offers and we'll have to be competitive, but I wouldn't sit down with him if I thought I was wasting my time.
"Anything is possible in football.
"I don't think Michael will go for the best financial offer. I don't think it's about that for him at this stage of his career - he'll want the best offer for his future.
"He needs to spend a high percentage of next season's games at the highest possible level and that's where we can come in."
Andrew Slevison Follow


The Whipsaws performance on NPR's Mountain Stage radio program is now available online! We had the pleasure to share the stage with our friends and great performers Tim Easton, Melissa Mitchell, Spiff, and Kliff Hopson.
Special thanks to Larry Groce and everyone at Mountain Stage for this great opportunity!
The Whipsaws are excited to announce the release of their self-titled new album! This album was released in conjuction with their 10th Anniversay as a band!


Pregnant actress Rebecca Gayheart, who is expecting her first child wears pale wash jeans and a black tank for effortless chic! Match it with the Seraphine Pale Wash jeans here at Queen Bee and our BEST SELLING miracle maternity tank in black. So buttery soft and flattering - you'll want one in all 3 colours! Finish it off with a summer scarf and wedges.
Keira Knightley may not have won the BAFTA for best supporting actress for her role in The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch, but she certainty won the fashion stakes.


Mortgage Specialist vs. Mortgage Broker.
So what is the difference? Is one better than the other? Will one or the other affect my interest rate?
These are very common questions that REALTORS® often get asked on a daily basis. Since us REALTORS® are neither a mortgage specialist or broker, I will be referencing my information from a blog post from Dominion Lending that I will link here.
Let's start with mortgage specialist; they are employees of the bank that they work for like ATB, RBC, CIBC, BMO etc. It is their job to sell bank related products to you, so when you apply for a mortgage with your bank of choice, your mortgage specialist will get you a mortgage based on their products and rates.
A mortgage broker or mortgage associate works for an independent company that has access to multiple lenders' mortgage rates and offers. A quick Google search shows companies like Canwise Financial, Dominion Lending Centres, Roost Mortgage and Invis to name a few.
Mortgage brokers are similar to a dating service in my opinion; it is their job to find a lender that will best be suited to "date" you based on the property you wish to purchase, your credit score and interest rate they have to offer. Just like a dating service, your mortgage broker will approach you with the approval from the lender and see if you accept their terms and conditions. They also have access to a wide range of interest rates from different institutions. Mortgage Brokers are also licensed by RECA (Real Estate Council of Alberta) the same governing body that licenses us at RE/MAX here in Edson.
Every bank or lender has a different set of rules and a different set of requirements that they follow. You could end up being declined with a mortgage specialist but approved with a mortgage broker. As an example your mortgage specialist works for XYZ Bank INC. and you have been dealing with them for years. You wish to purchase a property and apply for financing with their mortgage specialist and get declined…. This does happen a lot, it could also mean a LOT of different things from your credit, to the source of your down payment, CMHC, the property etc. However, this is where your mortgage specialist will have their hands tied and will not be able to help you as they have exhausted their resources.
A mortgage broker will be able to try again if the first lender declines you and no this does not mean they will be pulling your credit report over and over again, they just pull it once. A mortgage broker or associate also does not get paid unless you get a mortgage so they will fight a little harder to get you approved.
Here are some tips and advice on how to make an informed decision on if you should go with a mortgage specialist or a broker.
Pull your credit first. You can do this through Equifax.ca and understand your credit score and what is included in it.
Determine what you want to purchase. Are you looking for a house, country property, mobile, raw land or commercial? Each of these options has their own set of financing challenges.
Do you know where your down payment is coming from? 5%-25% of the purchase price is needed depending on what you are wishing to buy. How are you getting the money, is this in your account already? Do you need to access RRSP's, your tax free savings etc.
Do you know how much money you make? Pull out your taxes and your pay subs.
Interview your mortgage specialist and your mortgage broker. Show them your credit report, your income and what property you are interested in purchasing. Some banks will not finance mobiles or anything over so many acres or will only look at credit ratings over a certain number.
Ask them straight out, "This is my credit score, this is how much money I make, this is where I will be getting my down payment from and this is the property I would like to purchase. Does this meet your financing requirements for a mortgage?" Don't be afraid to ask questions, brokers and specialists are both there to help you, just make sure you make a choice that is right for you.
What are RPRs and LOCs?
If you have ever purchased a home you may have heard your REALTOR® speak about RPRs and LOCs. But what are RPRs and LOCs? I will break it down for you and explain what each item is and why they are important in a real estate transaction.
Let's start with RPRs, RPR stands for "Real Property Report" in essence, it is an outline drawing of your property, any buildings, sheds, garages, fences etc. that you may have. This is completed by a qualified surveyor. If you have ever seen people by the side of the road with a tripod and what looks to be only half of a pair of binoculars on top, that is what the survey process looks like at the start.
This now brings us to LOC, LOC means "Letter of Compliance" and this is obtained from either the Town of Edson or Yellowhead County depending on where you live. A member from the Town or County will need original copies of your RPR, the survey drawing you just had completed. From here they can verify that the buildings on the property meet the zoning requirements. In other words, you have a residential dwelling with a residential zoning. Same applies to commercial.
They will also check and verify that all of the buildings on the property meet the minimum setback requirements, which means that they are not too close to the property line for the Town or County's specifications. They will also check the location of fences and any out buildings.
What happens if the building, fences, etc. are too close to the property lines? Well, every case is different and it will be up to the discretion of the Town or County of how they would like you to handle it.
Why are RPRs and LOCs important in a transaction? It is a full outline report of your property, you know what you are selling / buying and that is what it is. To put it in a different light, if you look at food labels, your RPR and LOC is the ingredient list, verifying what is advertised on the label is accurate. They lawyers will require this in order to transfer the title to the new owner as verification that buyer is buying is accurate.
Having a real property report is a great thing, you know that in the future you are not going to have any property line or zoning issues. Of course, if you have any further questions on this article, our agents will be more than happy to help you out.
January of 2016 has started off to not a bad start with 4 sales less than 2015. Contrary to popular belief, the market has not gone belly up and the 30% drop in prices is nowhere to be seen. I have been getting stopped by several people and in the conversations I have heard things like, "Oh the real estate market is going to bottom out." Or "Oh prices will be dropping 30%" or "Why would I want to pay that much, the prices will drop by over 50% and Edson will be a ghost town in six months.
For the first time since 2007 we also have rental vacancies, but there are not that many vacancies. The single person who is coming here to work is not as abundant as they used to be. There are a lot of bachelor suits, or single bedrooms, or two bedroom apartment style units available. We have noticed that families are replacing the single person rentals. However, depending on companies and the projects they have planned this could change.
2016 will boast a whole new set of challenges, challenges that we will take head on as a community and power through. We may need to watch our spending, be a little smarter and things may be worse before they get better but they will get better.


If you chose not to fall…you have excellent mental health!
Among older adults (aged 65+), according to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls. The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand (Academic Emergency Medicine 2000).
Fortunately, falls are public health problems that are largely preventable!
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 4 ways you can prevent falls: Exercise to improve balance and strength; have your medicines reviewed; have your vision checked; and make your home safer.
Let's look into the first one in detail (Exercise to improve balance and strength).
There are many things that you can do to improve your balance.
First one is to take up Tai Chi classes. Island Health offers 2 classes of Tai Chi at our downtown location on Tuesdays at 10:00am and Thursdays at 6:30pm.
The second is to schedule an appointment with any of our Exercise Physiologists and they will review your history and current issues. They will develop a simple workout plan that you can work on while you are at the gym. They will cover balance, lower body strength, core strength, and ensure that you are performing weight bearing exercises to increase bone density (to lower the chance of fractures).
1) One foot balance: Stand barefoot against the wall (or chair). Lift your left foot off the floor (balancing on your right foot). Try to maintain your balance for 30 seconds without bringing your left foot down and/or touch the wall/chair. If you need to bring your foot down or touch the wall/chair, please do it. If you can't do the full 30 seconds, start with 5 seconds and then increase it over time. Then do the other side again.
To increase difficulty, take 1 or 2 steps away from the wall/chair. Stand on one foot and try to touch the wall/chair with your opposite arm (standing on right foot, touch with your left arm).
2) Walk toe to toe in a straight line (for approx. 20 feet).
To increase difficulty, hold some kind of weighted object in your hand while walking in a straight line. Switch hands halfway.
3) Chair Squats: Stand in front of a chair and keep your feet about a foot apart. Squat down like you're going to sit in a chair, keeping your knees behind your toes. Once you touch the chair, stand back up to the starting position. Over time, you should be able to gently tap the chair with your buttocks (without actually resting on the chair) and stand up. Do this 10 times twice.
To increase difficulty, add some weight to your chest while performing squats.


'I feel like I've been in one competition or another for a long time," Lauren Graham says.
The actress is sitting at a café in downtown Manhattan—where passersby are so hip that they don't pay much attention to the star of TV's hit Gilmore Girls. As the many fans of the much missed, long-running series will remember, Lorelai Gilmore, Graham's character, was a delightfully imperfect, almost sisterly single mom to her 16-years-younger daughter, Rory (played by Alexis Bledel): funny, fast-talking, and a little goofy around the edges.
Think you know Gilmore Girls? Take the quiz!
Since wrapping up Gilmore Girls in 2007, she hasn't exactly been idle. There have been a couple of movies, including the romantic comedy The Answer Man, with Jeff Daniels, coming out this month. And Graham recently starred in her first Broadway musical, a revival of Guys and Dolls, which taxed even her Herculean work ethic.
So now that the play is over, the pressure's off, right? Might she have time for, say, an extended vacation?


Shopping for marine upholstery fabric? Find major brands below at reduced prices. These boat fabrics are heavy duty, elastic, water repellent, and resistant to mold & mildew. This means they can be used in a wide range of aquatic applications, like boat covers, enclosures, seating, and backing for marine interior. Find prints for both the classic and modern-minded boat owner.


The plot centers around a large area of land owned by an old black lady, Elvira Backus. It had been given to her by her one time employer and secret father of her two children, a southern patriarch. Discovering oil on the afore mentioned property, the patriarch's family tries to regain the land by destroying the deed and denying it ever existed. Coming to Elvira Backus's aid is attorney Willie Croft. He attempts to get back Elvira's land and leads the movie to it's eventual court scene.


Kevin carefully wiped his fingerprints off the knife.
Ji told Jayant more about his past.
Nhan was wondering the same thing.
Carter is a dedicated family man.
Isidore has been trying to learn to speak French for a long time.
Simon came to Japan as a child.
Wolf asked Konrad some very personal questions that she refused to answer.
Srikanth didn't hear Randy enter the room.
Kevyn thought it was cool.
David has three younger brothers.
Malcolm's noticed something was out of place.
Tim says he's the best tennis player at his club.
Shuvra doesn't know his neighbors.
Clem Jackson works here, doesn't he?
You can talk to Ethan now if you want to.
If anybody can help us, it's Walt.
Kevan ripped out the page.
Barbara has a very high fever.
Jerry overheard John and Ricky talking about him.
Donnie hated Sharan, but not as much as she hated him.
I'm glad Sjaak was OK.
Bucky should've discussed that with you.
Elvis has a history of drug abuse.
Jeremy couldn't find the words to express how he was feeling.
Mara may use my bicycle if he wants to.


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Coronavirus: The Mullahs Strengthen Ties with Venezuela
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16003/iran-venezuela-ties
Reports recently revealed that in the last week of April alone, the sanctioned Iranian airline, Mahan Air, with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made several flights to Venezuela. Reportedly, the Iranian regime delivered "parts, technicians, and gasoline additives to fix a major refinery in Venezuela," and received nine tons of gold bars in return.
The United Nations, as usual in regards to every country other than Israel, remained silent as Mahan Air reportedly violated the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls upon Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
In addition, Venezuela has granted more than 173 passports to radical Islamists... The passports are able to be used for travel to North America and Europe.
Iran has been bypassing US sanctions amid the coronavirus crisis, and strengthening its ties with Venezuela. Pictured: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (left) reviews the honor guard at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 10, 2015. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
Iran has been bypassing US sanctions amid the coronavirus crisis, and strengthening its ties with Venezuela.
Reports recently revealed that in the last week of April alone, the sanctioned Iranian airline, Mahan Air, with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made several flights to the South American nation. Reportedly, the Iranian regime delivered "parts, technicians, and gasoline additives to fix a major refinery in Venezuela," and received nine tons of gold bars in return.
Iran is apparently desperate for revenue, after US sanctions, the coronavirus outbreak and plunging oil prices crippled its economy. According to Kpler, a data intelligence company that tracks commodity markets and shipments, in February alone, Iran's crude oil exports dropped to 250,000 barrels per day. Before the US re-introduced sanctions on Iran's energy sector, the Islamic Republic was exporting roughly 2.5 million barrels of oil per day.
In December 2019, the US sanctioned Mahan Air for its links to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and smuggling weapons. The US State Department said:
"The United States is taking action against three Iranian entities linked to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and sanctioning eight other entities that helped smuggle weapons from Iran to Yemen. The State Department is announcing the designation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), its China-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company Ltd, and the Iranian airline Mahan Air under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of WMD and their delivery systems, as well as their supporters. The Iranian regime has continued to procure proliferation-sensitive items in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231."
The United Nations, as usual in regards to every country other than Israel, remained silent as Mahan Air reportedly violated the Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls upon Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
Germany, in early 2019, also agreed to sanction Mahan Air. A spokesman for the German foreign ministry pointed out:
"It is in Germany's diplomatic interest that there are no flights to Germany by companies that support the military conflict in Syria and contribute to the repression of people in war zones."
Tehran has not only been using Venezuela for military cooperation, but also, it seems, to advance its nuclear program. Venezuela has been accused of covertly assisting Iran with the production of raw material for nuclear weapons as well as ballistic missiles. In recent years, Iran and Venezuela have also signed several military and industrial agreements.
The ruling mullahs in Iran appear have been using Venezuela as part of a larger agenda for increasing Iran's influence and the presence of its proxies in Latin and North America.
The US, in fact, has evidently become increasingly concerned about Hezbollah's presence in Venezuela. Ambassador Nathan Sales, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the State Department, said recently:
"We're concerned that Maduro has extended safe harbor to a number of terrorist groups, the ELN [National Liberation Army] in particular, but also FARC [the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] dissidents who rejected the peace accord, as well as supporters and sympathizers of Hezbollah."
It is worth recalling that as early as 1992, Hezbollah, under Iranian control, was reportedly behind the bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina. Twenty-three people were killed and nearly 250 injured. Again, in 1994, Hezbollah, under the direction of Iran, bombed the headquarters of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA). That attack killed 85 people and injured hundreds more.
In addition, Venezuela has granted more than 173 passports to radical Islamists, according to the Washington-based Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), in a report entitled, "Canada on Guard: Assessing the Threat of Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba to Immigration Security." The passports are able to be used for travel to North America and Europe.
Iran, from perspective of its regime, can more effectively damage US national interests as well as undermine the West on the global stage by partnering with other anti-Western states. Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pointed out:
"We [non-Western governments] have to develop a proper cooperation among the developing nations in order to wriggle ourselves from the domination of the western powers. And this effort is going on among the independent developing nations today. We have to establish a collective effort with a view to create [sic] a new international independent economic system that should be on the basis of justice."
In conclusion, the coronavirus crisis must not distract us from the ruling mullahs' activities in Venezuela. They are alarming and a serious threat to America's national interests.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US foreign policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
Follow Majid Rafizadeh on Twitter
Related Topics: Iran, Venezuela
Recent Articles by Majid Rafizadeh
Biden Administration's Total Disregard for Iran's Protestors, Nuclear Threat, 2023-01-28
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No, Iran Nuclear Deal Is Not Yet Dead and Russia Is Helping Iran Go Nuclear, 2022-12-31
Theodore Crawford • May 24, 2020 at 08:27
Iran is, obviously, carrying water for Russia. Economic and military expediency in the face of the US sanctions war keep Iran a Russian proxy state. Russia's pragmatic adoption and maintenance of Iran and other Islamic terror states made Russia the largest and most powerful "kingpin" terror state in the world, until China released COVID-19!
Pj moran • May 23, 2020 at 06:39
IRGC flights to Venezuela have been going on for years. There are more than 1500 'Venezuelans' that speak Farsi without accent. They have complete Venezuelan records from birth though they arrived as adults. It has been a hub for Islamic radicals in Latin America for a decade.
John Cox • May 16, 2020 at 09:23
What can possibly go wrong with this union???
Mike O'Neill • May 11, 2020 at 06:53
* radical Islamists *
What are they then?
Simple but misguided supporters of a pseudo-religion or does the author mean card-carrying adherents of it?
Do they not indulge in violence themselves, but approve of it?
Euphemisms abound everywhere, anything to avoid the terrible truth.
"There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that's it." -- Recep Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister, Milliyet, Turkey, Aug. 21, 2007.
FREE JOSHUA WONG!
Joshua Wong, a leader of the Hong Kong's democracy movement, has been repeatedly imprisoned for protesting the policies of the Chinese Communist Party.


I cannot think of how this could've ended better. The young woman got help and you were kept safe. I was amazed at how well your mind functioned under such extenuating circumstances.
I sure didn't feel as if I was functioning very well. I question in this later backwash of the incident if she was looking to break in for things to steal to sell, if she was being run by someone nearby who was on the phone. I am mostly happy that I never let her in or walked out to her, and pleased that really nothing lasting happened.
So sorry Claire! I need a baseball bat instead my house. The kids have tried to give me one. U keep it together so beautifuly.
Get the bat! My daughter Emily thinks I should get a taser.
What a tale. You poor thing. Feeling concerned for a deranged scary woman, you are most kind. I hope she sends u a note of condolence. She was in the wrong here.
I'm sure not holding my breath until her note arrives!
I'm nervously double checking my doors now and alert to the slightest sound. Thinking about security more than ever before. Is being locked up tight enough? It was this time, but next time?


When you're selling online, the words you use create an image, make sure you create the right one.
From product descriptions to your about page, it's time to show your customers you understand what it is they need.
Interested in a quote? Give me a shout…….


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First Drive: 2011 Scion tC
TOPICS:CarsCoupesScionToyota
Posted By: David Goodspeed September 2, 2010
The freshman class of the Scion tC proved to be quite successful for the "garage band" division of Toyota. In fact, since its launch as a 2005 model, the little coupe has accounted for more than a third of Scions sales despite having the shortest production run (when combining xA and xD units). This is the best selling model in its showroom so for the model makeover one thing is painfully clear – don't screw it up. Stick to your roots, stick to what brung ya' here and stick it to the competition.
And that is what Scion is doing.
We zipped down to the live music capital of the world to get our first experience with Scion's sophomore tC coupe. We were not disappointed. Inside Austin city limits we got familiar with the larger, more athletic 2011 model offered with choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.
The new ride is still front wheel drive and still a two-door-only offering, but a new, beefier 2.5-liter four sits under the hood and six speeds are delivered with either transmission.
On first blush I found something familiar with the new tC profile – the c-pillar looks oddly similar to that of its wealthy cousin GS in the Lexus stable. Up front the new coupe retains characteristics of the first-gen car but with a wider, squarer jaw. The "pudge" in the middle has been to a few P90X classes and the gluteus maximus (thankfully) does not sport any droopy drawers.
Inside, the cabin offers accommodations for four and a new walk-in lever for rear seat access makes ingress/egress a breeze for the under-six-foot crowd. Seating is all cloth but the new sport steering wheel is straight off a track racer and offers drivers a more exciting bonding experience with their car.
Overhead, every tC will arrive with the all-glass panoramic roof panel featuring moonroof over front and rear seat rows and a large hatch still finishes off the rear.
We spent time in the crush of downtown traffic jams and open stretches of freeway during our time in the new tC but Travis County's finest kept us from realizing any needle action on the right hand side of the speedo. All-in-all though this new Scion coupe does improve over its predecessor in both ride, handling and performance.
By the numbers, the 2011 delivers 180hp and 173 lb. ft. of torque (vs. 161/162 previously) and either transmission choice should bring 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The front seats are wider, the rear seats tilt, steering is now electric, airbag count is up to eight and the base audio system pumps out 300 watts. Pricing is set to begin at $18,275 for manual equipped cars with automatic gearboxes adding a grand to that figure, and the new rides should roll into Scion dealerships at the beginning of October.
As with my nephew and godson who is also entering his sophomore year in Austin, Texas, I wish the 2011 Scion tC continued success and a stellar grade point average.
David Goodspeed
David was editor of AutoworldToday at Today Newspapers in the Dallas suburbs until its closing in 2009. He was also webmaster and photographer/videographer. He got started doing photography for the newspaper while working as a firefighter/paramedic in one of his towns, and began working for the newspaper group full-time in 1992. David entered automotive journalism in 1998 and became AutoworldToday editor in 2002. On the average, he drives some 100 new vehicles each year. He enjoys the great outdoors and as an avid fly fisherman, as is his spouse Tish. He especially enjoys nature photography and is inspired by the works of Ansel Adams.


The 2016 HPDE & TRACK DAY SCHEDULE IS HERE! Be sure to rely on us for the most comprehensive list of track days and high performance driving events nation wide! Have a fun and safe 2016 HPDE and track season!
Click on any of the HPDE schedule listings to register. Don't see your event listed? Please use the comment section below to get your event added to our HPDE Schedule.
This is the ultimate HPDE schedule of events nationwide from every organizing body.


The online poker world is abuzz right now after JJProdigy came out and said that he played two accounts in the Party 500k which took place on February 12th, 2006. He played under his regular moniker, and also under "ablackcar", which ended up winning the event.
JJProdigy has claimed that his grandmother was playing in the tournament under "ablackcar", and when the account was starting to do well in the tournament, JJProdigy took over and then won the tournament.
There seems to be two different opinions about this. One side says "he came out and admitted it. Everyone knows that the good players almost always have multiple accounts registered in the same tournament. As long as there is no chip-dumping going on between accounts, then there is nothing wrong with this."
The other side says "Playing two accounts in the same tournament is cheating, straight up, no matter how you slice it."
This has definitely shone a light on a practise that has been taking place for a while, and that is good online players playing more than one account in the same tournament. What do you all think of this practise? Right or wrong?


The Sims Blog: Get Hyped, It's The Sims' Anniversary!
The Sims Blog: Get Hyped, It's The Sims' Anniversary!
The Sims Team has just released a new blog to celebrate The Sims Franchise's 19th Anniversary. In this blog they've shared some tips about throwing a party in The Sims 4, shared the news about the new designs available in the Threadless Store and also shared the link for the Maxis Monthly Livestream "for some community fun".
Ready to get celebrate #TheSimsTurns19? We are, too! Chat with fellow community members on The Sims 4 Forums, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Sign up for The Sims 4 newsletter and get Grim's Ghoulish Guitar for free!
So I guess University is the next pack? According to the first screebn.


I updated FreeFlow Core from v5.1.0.0 to v5.1.0.2 on 20th April and it's been noticed that one of my long standing impositions changed resulting in jobs having an upside down reverse. This workflow has been in use for almost a year, survived previous updates and has processed approx 1,800 jobs.
Looking at the Imposition I see on the Press Sheet tab that 'Sides Imaged' is set to Head to Toe.
However, the reverse pages in the diagram are no longer head to toe, and the resulting PDF is also no longer head to toe. I believe this is a direct result of updating to the lastest system version and now makes me wonder if anything else may have been changed in any of my other workflows. Should I be worried?
I have the FreeFlow Core clone with managed files taken from before running the backup if the devs wish to check my files.
I know of know reason why a workflow should change behavior from 5.1.0.0 to 5.1.0.2 . It would be helpful if you could supply an ffc of the workflow and examples of the "correct" and "incorrect" outcomes. Another potential place for error in the workflow is the rotate pages node. Is the 180 degree rotate set to 180 in the preset?
Sure. I have a collection of files ready here to send. Please let me know where I can send them to. I don't want to upload them here as 1) It contains a complete FreeFlow Core clone and 2) the PDF's are of a customer's job.
The rotate pages node is fine. All it does it rotate page 4, 180 degrees.
Arghhh.. This issue has just been noticed on another workflow.
Same problem... the Imposition Head to Toe is no longer correct!
I'm gonna have to go through all impositions and check each workflow. This is a costing us time and money!
Right now, I will not trust another FFC update.
I have not been able to uncover a problem with head to toe imposition on FFCore 5.1.0.2. Could send screen snaps of all the imposition screens (press sheet,layout, gutters, cut marks)? Does the output match the imposition preview screen? You may get a faster resolution contacting the Xerox hotline to sort this out.
I am seeing the problem now. I have written an AR. Feel free to author a SPAR. This is not good.
Sorry not to have come back sooner but I've been flat out here with work.
Good to hear you have seen the issue at your end. I'm not familiar with the terms AR and SPAR, could it maybe mean Action Report? but either way it sounds good you've done so.
All the impositions that are affected here have Layout Tab->Page Order set to Signature.
Creating a new imposition here and setting Press Sheet Tab->Sides Imaged to 'Head to Toe' works for all Layout Tab->Page Order options except Signature.
It's only when changing Layout Tab->Page Order to Signature does the 'Head to Toe' option not work.
As many of my impositions use the 'Signature' option then this must have worked with previous versions of FFC, just not v5.1.02.
No worries. When I realized the issue was with the Signature layout, it was obvious.
AR is "action report" -- Xerox internally discovered problems. SPAR is "software action report -- customer discovered problems. SPARs are higher priority than ARs. The problem has been assigned to a developer.


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The National Auditors: CBS gave a former president DKK 692,000 well knowing it contravened the rules
(Photo: Mette Koors)
The former Chairman of CBS' Board knew that signing an agreement with the former President of CBS for a one-off fee worth DKK 692,000 was against the rules, the National Auditors concludes in a new report. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science is entitled to demand a full refund of the amount, the report states. CBS will investigate whether there is a basis for making a claim against the former board, according to the University Director.
News | Updated: August 27th, 2021
Anne Thora Lykkegaard
When the former President of CBS resigned, he received a one-off fee of DKK 692,000 and a redundancy payment totaling DKK 800,000 in 2019. Per Holten-Andersen was the President of CBS from 2012 to 2019.
Now, the National Auditors (Rigsrevisionen) concludes in a new report 'Revisionen af statens forvaltning 2020' that the one-off fee contravened the rules and regulations for government subsidies. Moreover, the former Chairman of the CBS Board of Directors was aware that the fee was against the rules, the report states.
The fee was agreed in 2016. Karsten Dybvad was Chairman of the CBS Board of Directors from 2015 to 2019.
"Of course, it makes an impression when you receive criticism from the Public Accounts Committee [Statsrevisorerne ed.]," writes Kirsten Winther Jørgensen, the University Director of CBS in an email to CBS WIRE and continues:
"We regret that back in 2016, CBS had the notion that the agreement could be made with those concrete terms. With the Public Accounts Committee's report, we have to conclude that was not the case."
According to the fixed-term circular, both the redundancy payment and a one-off payment cannot be agreed if resignation is requested
The National Auditors
Every year, the state pays CBS a taximeter grant. In 2020, it amounted to DKK 660 million and is CBS' largest source of income. The money is given on condition that it is used in accordance with state rules and regulations.
"The agreement regarding the one-off fee was signed even though the Ministry of Higher Education and Science repeatedly pointed out to CBS that the agreement did not comply with the rules in the area" the report states and continues:
"It appears from internal communication between CBS and the Chairman of the CBS Board of Directors that the former chairman had been notified that it would be against the rules if the agreement was signed."
According to the report, the one-off payment of DKK 692,000 was agreed in connection with extending a fixed-term agreement in 2016, in which it was agreed that a contractual condition was to be continued regarding a one-off fee accompanied by a redundancy payment.
"According to the fixed-term circular, both the redundancy payment and a one-off payment cannot be agreed if resignation is requested," states the report.
Furthermore, the National Auditors find "that the Ministry of Higher Education and Science should claim that the part of the taximeter grant that has been used against the rules be repaid, and that CBS should consider making a claim against the former CBS Board of Directors for the loss of the grant."
"CBS has been asked to consider making a claim against the former CBS Board of Directors. We are investigating whether there is a basis for that," writes Kirsten Winther Jørgensen.
Lastly, The National Auditors conclude that the ministry has not followed up on the terms of the agreement in the final fixed-term contract.
CBS WIRE has requested comments from the current Chairman, Torben Møger Pedersen.
The current Chairman has, however, declined to answer questions posed by CBS WIRE regarding whether he would recommend that CBS make a claim against the former board and how the CBS Board of Directors will ensure the rules and regulations on state subsidies are complied with in the future.
A year after the money laundering case: CBS is ready for new collaborations with Danske Bank
Per Holten-Andersen: We discussed terminating all collaboration with Danske Bank
CBS continues close collaborations with Danske Bank – is that responsible?
What my first three years at CBS have taught me
Karsten Dybvad: The responsibility for entering the contract is mine and I, of course, note the Public Accounts Committee and the National Auditors' criticism
The National Auditors: CBS gave a former president DKK 692,000 well knowing it contravened the rulesby


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What We Know So Far About Marvel's Shang-Chi
What to Know About Shang-Chi, Marvel's Upcoming Kung-Fu Superhero Movie
Here's everything we know so far about Shang-Chi and who is going to star in it.
By Philip Ellis and Joshua St. Clair Published: Apr 29, 2020
Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings postponed filming last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The film will feature Marvel's first East Asian lead (played by Simu Liu).
Footage of Liu and Awkwafina leaked on Twitter this week.
Before Coronavirus delayed production and pushed back the release date of Marvel's upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, director Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina were filming in Australia.
Video uploaded to Twitter this week reveals the first on-set images of the newest Marvel stars who stand before scaffolding, looking upwards. The set includes motorbikes, a palm tree, and what appears to be taboo scaffolding with a construction sign written in simplified Mandarin Chinese. Wherever they are in the fictional Shang-Chi universe, it's definitely not Australia.
Principle photography for the film began in March and was quickly shut down. The first photos of the Marvel production feature a helicopter in front of blue screen. So far, we know almost nothing about the plot of the film, just the way Marvel producers like it. Here's what we do know about the film, though:
The Shang-Chi release date is moving back
Earlier this month, it was announced that Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would be pushed back from February 12, 2021 to May 7, 2021. Releasing on February 12 instead: Eternals, which itself was bumped back to make room for Black Widow, which was bumped back because … Coronavirus.
Shang-Chi's director knows a few Marvel stars.
Destin Daniel Cretton is officially directing Shang-Chi, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cretton has previously worked with Captain Marvel star Brie Larson, directing her in the 2013 indie flick Short Term 12, the 2017 drama The Glass Castle, and 2019's Just Mercy, which also starred Black Panther villain Michael B. Jordan.
Shang-Chi will be the first East Asian lead in a Marvel Studios movie.
While the title of "first Asian Marvel movie superhero" technically goes to Lewis Tan for his performance as Shatterstar in Deadpool 2, that movie was part of 20th Century Fox's stable of movies and not the official MCU. On the small screen, we've also had Colleen Wing, played by Jessica Henwick in Netflix shows Iron Fist, Luke Cage and The Defenders. But Shang-Chi will mark the first time in Marvel history that an Asian character is the big screen lead.
BREAKING: The first photos from the set of #ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings have been revealed!
(via @7NewsAustralia) pic.twitter.com/BxjUkVKtU4
— MCU - The Direct (@MCU_Direct) March 12, 2020
The character is a "master of kung fu."
Shang-Chi was originally created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin in 1972 as Marvel's answer to the Kung Fu television show. They were unable to buy the rights to that series, so instead they acquired the character of pulp villain Fu Manchu, and introduced Shang-Chi as his son. Trained from birth as a master of martial arts, Shang-Chi has teamed up in the comics with some of Marvel's greatest heroes, including Captain America and Iron Man.
The film's writer is a comic book movie expert.
The movie will be penned by Chinese-American screenwriter Dave Callaham, who has excellent superhero credentials. He also wrote the screenplay for upcoming DC sequel Wonder Woman 1984 and has reportedly been hired to work on a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Shang-Chi will be a part of Marvel's diverse next phase.
As the previous Marvel phase came to an end in the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame last April, we're onto a new phase. Following the recent successes of Black Panther and Captain Marvel, we can expect a more diverse line-up of heroes in Marvel's next cycle of movies; in addition to Shang-Chi, Marvel will also feature its first ever gay superhero in The Eternals.
Philip Ellis
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
Joshua St. Clair
Joshua St Clair is an Assistant Editor at Men's Health Magazine.
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A scientist working with chemicals in laboratorium. Photo Retha Ferguson/Pexels
What can be done to better support women pursuing their PhDs in Africa
September 23, 2020 September 23, 2020 The African Mirror Doctor of Philosophy, gender gaps, PhD, PhD studies, University of Oxford
ANNE M. KHISA, PhD, Post- Doctoral Research Fellow, African Population and Health Research Center
A Doctor of Philosophy – commonly known as a PhD – is the highest level of academic training. It allows the degree holder to teach the chosen subject at university, conduct research or practise in the specialised area.
However, in many African countries like Kenya, there are gender gaps when it comes to women enrolling in, and completing, their PhD studies. This subsequently affects their recruitment into university teaching and research positions. Women make up just 30% of Africa's researchers.
There are various reasons for this. For instance, a study covering several African countries found that barriers include sexual harassment, a lack of mentors – with some male faculty mentors unwilling to act as mentors for junior women – and difficulty finding a balance between career and family.
A study by the African Academy of Sciences reported similar challenges faced by women scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. It found that the success of women already working in STEM was highly influenced by the work environment, the recruitment process and gender relations. More has to be done to help women overcome gender-based challenges.
To support postgraduates in further education, several initiatives offer PhD fellowships – a merit-based scholarship – in Africa.
My colleagues and I from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) wanted to examine one of these and how it catered for women. Our case study was on the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA). This is an initiative that was formed in 2008 and is jointly led by the APHRC, based in Kenya, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
We focused on CARTA for our study because it tries to build the capacity of individual PhD scholars – who focus on public and population health – using doctoral fellowships and research grants. CARTA also tries to get member universities to institutionalise good practices.
By the end of 2019, CARTA had graduated 87 of its 209 active PhD fellows. These individuals produced peer-reviewed publications and some fellows were promoted in their academic careers.
Of the active fellows, 55% are women. We found that the programme caters well for women looking to complete their doctorates. For instance, it recognises that women need special consideration when it comes to pregnancy and in the care of newborn babies, and that they may have different responsibilities when it comes to domestic chores and the care of the family.
All of these are factors could have previously prevented them from enrolling in, or completing, their PhDs. It's important that other institutions offering fellowships replicate aspects of this model to better support Africa's women academics.
Gender-sensitive
CARTA works with eight partner African universities and four research centres. Individuals attached to these institutions can apply for PhD fellowships that can last for up to four years. The fellowship includes participation in seminars, stipends and small grants for research activities.
One of CARTA's gender-sensitive policies is that it uses a different cut-off age for male and female applicants, at 40 and 45 years respectively. The aim of this is to cater for women who may have been delayed starting their PhD studies until later because they had children.
PhD fellows are entitled to paid maternity and paternity leave. And fellows are granted a leave of absence during their maternity leave – their award restarts upon their return. This ensures they are not penalised in any way and eventually enjoy the same benefits as other fellows.
The programme also supports new parents as they participate in month-long "joint advanced seminars", training courses offered four times in the course of the PhD. CARTA pays for the cost of a childminder during the seminar, and the fellow can use this facility for as many seminars as they need.
We found that meeting these practical needs during training supported women to maintain on-time graduation rates similar to their male counterparts.
There are a few challenges though. A recent evaluation of the CARTA programme revealed that it lacked systematisation of data and learning from it.
A second challenge relates to building a stronger feedback mechanism between actors. While the CARTA programme has managed to address practical gender needs, structural barriers – like unequal pay and unfair workloads – can be addressed by working with institutions to change their gender policies in higher education.
Future benefits
Having a programme like this, which strategically addresses gender differences, has long-term benefits. Women CARTA fellows were able to gain certain strategic advantages in academia. This includes promotion to senior academic and leadership positions, winning other research grants, sustaining collaborative research and being recognised by their peers, hence providing female role models to junior scholars.
The programme is a timely initiative that ought to be replicated for greater coverage across the continent. It would take careful programming, commitment of resources in cash and kind and sustainable partnerships by African state and non-state actors with northern partners. But these could help create a more gender equal mix of successful PhD researchers and faculty on the continent. – The Conversation.
U.N. warns excluding women from top jobs threatens COVID-19…
'J&J shot can be given to pregnant women'
Women have always trailed men in research output: how COVID…
Keeping women in science
← Insurgency in Mozambique threatens food security
Reframing women in Namibia's early history of photography →


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Q: Empty panda dataframe when working with excel with multiple sheets I am working with a directory of excel sheets and have decided to use Panda Dataframes to deal with it. As an example I have an excel spread sheet of the form:

Each excel file has multiple sheets. Also, they contain merged cells. To tackle this I wrote the following code:
import pandas as pd
import os

files=os.listdir(path)
files_xl=[file for file in files if file[-4:]=='xlsx']

df=pd.DataFrame()

for f in files_xl:
    try:
        data=pd.ExcelFile(path+f)
        xl=[data.parse(sheet_name) for sheet_name in data.sheet_names]
        for item in xl:
            item.index=pd.Series(item.index).fillna(method='ffill')
            df.append(item)
    except:
        continue

However, it (1) returns an empty dataframe and (2)does not replace the NaNs which result from the merged cells.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Cheap flights from Bratislava to Corfu from only €13!
Good deal! Grab this opportunity and fly Ryanair from Bratislava, Slovakia to Corfu from only €13 round trip!
The beautiful Greek islands are one of the best Mediterranean destinations. With hundreds of islands to choose from, planning a trip can be a bit of a dilemma. To help you maximize the best of your travel experience, check out the best of the islands' diverse attractions.
This Ionian island features charming old towns, whitewashed houses, Byzantine churches, and the remains of Venetian fortresses and Greek temples. In Corfu you will discover some of Greece' most beautiful sandy beaches, some still unspoiled.
Visit the famous Canal D'Amour with unique rock formations. According to tradition, couples who swim through its narrow canal will get married soon. Wander the ancient streets of the Roman village of Kassiopi and visit Old Perithia, renowned as the island's oldest village. Don't forget to hit the beach at Chalikounas.
One piece of cabin baggage per passenger.
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Creator: Unknown. May 4, 1917.
The Simmons Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 29, Ed. 1, Friday, May 4, 1917, newspaper, May 4, 1917; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth96498/: accessed April 24, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.


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Explained: Russian S-400 air defence missile system. Why is US not happy over India's S-400 procurement?
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Oct 11, 2021, 01:01 PM IST
[File photo] A view shows a new S-400 'Triumph' urface-to-air missile system after its deployment at a military base outside the town of Gvardeysk near Kaliningrad, Russia March 11, 2019. Photograph:(Reuters)
India in October 2018, had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems despite the fears that the purchase could lead to CAATSA sanctions
India is likely to induct the first batch of sophisticated Russia's S-400 missile defence systems by the end of this year — an air defence technology deemed as one of the best. It is capable of tracking and neutralising threats to boost the air defence capabilities of the armed forces.
Indian Air Force's head, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on October 05, 2021, said that the delivery is expected as per schedule. His comments were made during the customary news conference ahead of Indian Air Force Day on October 8.
What is the S-400 missile defence system?
The S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name) is a complex air defence missile system, consisting of radars, control systems and different types of missiles. It was developed in the 1990s by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 series of surface-to-air missile systems. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007.
The S-400 air defence system is equipped with targeting systems, multifunction radar, autonomous detection, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers and a command and control centre.
ALSO READ | China-made electric vehicles should not be sold in India: Modi govt to Elon Musk
It is capable of engaging aerial targets, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), ballistic and cruise missiles, within the range of 400km at an altitude of up to 30km and can fire three types of missiles to create a layered defence.
The system is said to be able to simultaneously engage 36 targets and if we compare S-400 to S-300, the upgraded and advanced version has four new different types of missiles from short-range (40km) to very long-range (400km).
The command post, which is equipped with LCD consoles that process the air space surveillance data, control and monitor long-range surveillance radar. It tracks airborne threats and also prioritises the threats.
The radar can detect and track aircraft, rotorcraft, cruise missiles, guided missiles, drones and ballistic rockets within the distance of 600km reportedly.
The system was specifically designed to detect and destroy highly advanced fighter jets such as F-16 and F-22 and missiles such as Tomahawk.
Why is the US unhappy over New Delhi's procurement of the Russian weapons system?
To enhance its defence system, India in October 2018, had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems. Despite the fears that the purchase could lead to Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, India made the first tranche of payment of around $800 million to Russia in 2019. India had received a warning from the Trump administration that India might face US sanctions if it goes ahead with the contract.
Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA is a tough US law that authorises the administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.
ALSO READ | ISRO-ICG device helps save nine sailors stranded at sea between India and the Maldives
However, India on October 5, 2021, said discussions are going on with the US on the S-400 missile defence deal, a day after US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman expressed unease over the planned procurement of the Russian weapons system.
"This has been under discussion between our two countries for some time. It was raised and we have discussed it and explained our perspective. And discussions on this are ongoing," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Sherman, on a three-day visit to India, said that any decision on possible sanctions on the S-400 deal will be made by President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Washington has previously said that the S-400s pose a threat to its F-35 fighter jets and NATO's broader defence systems. As when Turkey received the first deliveries of the S-400 surface-to-air systems from Russia in July 2019, it prompted the US to begin removing the NATO ally from its F-35 stealth fighter programme over security concerns.
However, India is confident that it can get a waiver considering the crucial strategic partnership with the United States.
Why Pathaan is a strong rebuke to #BoycottBollywood gang
Hot air in the cold Alps: Why Davos forum is divorced from ground reality
World's China plus One business strategy spells advantage for India


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The flight time from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Mesa, California is:
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Open this map directly on Google Maps. For a quick answer, you can use TheDistanceNow.com to get the distance from San Jose to La Mesa.
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Flying time from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Mesa, CA
The total flight duration from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Mesa, CA is 5 hours, 45 minutes.
This assumes an average flight speed for a commercial airliner of 500 mph, which is equivalent to 805 km/h or 434 knots. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. Your exact time may vary depending on wind speeds.
If you're planning a trip, remember to add more time for the plane to taxi between the gate and the airport runway. This measurement is only for the actual flying time. You should also factor in airport wait times and possible equipment or weather delays. If you're trying to figure out what time you'll arrive at the destination, you may want to see if there's a time difference between San Jose, Costa Rica and La Mesa, CA.
The calculation of flight time is based on the straight line distance from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Mesa, CA ("as the crow flies"), which is about 2,621 miles or 4 218 kilometers.
Your trip begins in San Jose, Costa Rica.
It ends in La Mesa, California.
Your flight direction from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Mesa, CA is Northwest (-48 degrees from North).
The flight time calculator measures the average flight duration between points. It uses the great circle formula to compute the travel mileage.
Region: San Jose
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La Mesa, California
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Travelmath provides an online flight time calculator for all types of travel routes. You can enter airports, cities, states, countries, or zip codes to find the flying time between any two points. The database uses the great circle distance and the average airspeed of a commercial airliner to figure out how long a typical flight would take. Find your travel time to estimate the length of a flight between airports, or ask how long it takes to fly from one city to another.


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You are visiting the placeholder page for Cindy Haupt. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Cindy Haupt. We created this page automatically in hopes Cindy Haupt would find it. If you are not Cindy Haupt, but are an alumni of Mchenry West High School, register on this site for free now.


CAP Pool & Spas services provide professional economical solutions to your swimming pool and spas.
We cater for commercial and domestic pools and all work is undertaken by fully qualified technicians. We operate with the latest water testing equipment to ensure accurate safe results for our clients, and keep abreast of the latest advances in swimming pool technology.
• Planned service and maintenance contracts at a frequency to suit you.
• Friendly, reliable, discrete service.
• Maintenance and repair to all aspects of your pool.
• We will discuss with you any cost saving initiatives.


Take your ultra-wide deep-sky imaging to the next level.
Modern camera lenses have built in autofocusers that connect to the camera's central processor when attached to a matching DSLR camera.
These focus systems are designed for daytime use or well-lit night-time scenes and are unable to focus on stars, making them unsuitable for astronomy.
However, the lenses themselves can be excellent for ultra-wide deep-sky imaging, so finding a way to focus them accurately is a worthwhile exercise.
A Bahtinov mask focused on a bright star can work, but the focus adjustment requires tiny movements.
That makes accurate focus difficult to achieve, and changing temperatures during an imaging session mean that refocusing must be done periodically.
The automated focus system we describe here allows for minute focus movements and for regular refocusing to take place automatically.
We already had an autofocus controller for our imaging telescope that we could use for this project so only an additional focus motor was required.
When used with a conventional telescope, the motor attaches to the focus shaft via a flexible coupling, but for use on a camera lens with a focus ring, a different method must be employed.
The simplest solution is to turn the motor sideways and couple it to the lens's focus ring using a small timing belt.
Remove the coupler and measure the diameter of the motor's output shaft so that you can obtain a timing belt pulley that fits correctly.
Our shaft had a diameter of 5mm but the only suitable pulleys close to this size had a bore of 6mm, so we bought a 6mm to 5mm bore reducer to go with the 12-tooth high torque drive pulley selected for the project.
To determine the correct length for the timing belt, lay the motor alongside the camera lens and loop a dress-maker's tape measure around the motor shaft and lens barrel.
Purchase the nearest size to this measurement, which in our case was 390mm with 130 teeth.
Ideally you should use a Losmandy-style dovetail bar to mount everything on as these have a wide top, but if your mount will only accept the much narrower Vixen-style bar, this will also work.
If your dovetail bar has a recessed bolt slot underneath, use a ¼"-20 bolt to attach your camera and lens to the bar.
A slotted dovetail bar will allow you to accommodate different lenses.
If there is no slot then drill and countersink a 0.25-inch hole and use a countersunk ¼"-20 bolt for attachment.
Bolt the focus motor to one end of the aluminium strip to form a bracket, with the drive shaft at a right angle to the strip.
Loop the timing belt over both the pulley and the camera's focus ring and pull the motor away from the dovetail bar but level with its top.
This will allow you to determine the position of the aluminium strip on the top of the dovetail bar.
Mark both edges of the strip on the dovetail bar, and mark the far edge of the dovetail bar on the aluminium strip.
Remove the camera and lens and drill two 4mm holes in the dovetail bar, as far apart as possible, centred on the two marks.
Use a 5mm tap to thread the holes in readiness for mounting the motor bracket.
Cut off the excess aluminium strip at the edge mark you have just made then drill and slot two 5mm holes to match those on the dovetail bar.
Longer slots will allow different camera lenses to be accommodated.
Attach the motor bracket loosely to the dovetail bar, firmly attach the camera and lens to the dovetail bar with the lens set to manual focus and loop the timing belt round the pulley and focus ring again.
To complete the assembly, gently pull the motor and bracket outwards until the timing belt has no slack in it and tighten the two 5mm bolts to lock the bracket firmly in position.
Finally, install the ASCOM driver software on your computer and configure all the required parameters such as step size, focal ratio and your preferred focus exposure time.
You can now use the autofocus controller to adjust the focus of the camera lens either manually or automatically under software control.
Step 1 - Remove the coupler supplied with the motor from the motor shaft by undoing the retaining grub screw with an Allen key. Measure the shaft diameter with a set of callipers. This will tell you what bore size you'll need for selecting the correct pulley.
Step 2 - Attach the motor to a length of the aluminium strip, either directly or via the mounting bracket that it was supplied with. Attach the pulley to the shaft, using a bore reducer if necessary, seating it as close to the motor body as possible.
Step 3 - Attach the camera and lens combination to the dovetail bar with the timing belt looped around the focus ring and the pulley. Slide the motor outwards to tighten the belt and mark the position of the far edge of the dovetail bar on the aluminium strip.
Step 4 - Mark the edges of the aluminium strip on the dovetail bar. Cut off the excess aluminium and file the edge smooth. Drill two 4mm holes through the top of the dovetail bar in a line centred on the aluminium strip and thread them with a 5mm tap.
Step 5 - Drill and file two 5mm wide slots in the centre of the aluminium strip to match the positions of the two dovetail holes so that the timing belt can be adjusted for tension. With the timing belt in position, attach the aluminium strip with 5mm bolts.
Step 6 - Connect the motor to the autofocus controller and fill in all the parameters required by the software. The 'step size' will be difficult to determine as you can't measure this; it will take a little trial and error under clear skies to ascertain the correct figure.


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Educators in Action, redfored, The Student Success Act, West Virginia strike
West Virginia Lawmakers Out to Punish Educators for Taking a Stand
(Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
In October, the West Virginia Legislature promised to give educators a pay raise. It failed to deliver on that promise and so a special session was called to hash out the details. As many suspected, strings would be attached.
"Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation," wrote Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, in an editorial in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, "but even we're a little shocked at how far West Virginia's [senate] has gone to punish public school teachers and service personnel for striking two years in a row to defend their livelihoods and the kids they teach."
On June 3, the state senate narrowly passed an amendment to its Student Succeeds Act (S.B. 1039), which does include some provisions educators support, like providing more social workers, counselors, and nurses. But the bill also comes with a heavy dose of bitter pills: banning teacher strikes, removing local control from county superintendents to close school districts for a strike, canceling extracurricular activities during work stoppages, and docking the pay of teachers and staff who go on strike—or firing them altogether.
Additionally, the bill proposes an unlimited number of charter schools and diverts public dollars toward voucher programs.
"[T]he Student Success Act … [was] never about students at all," Lee explained. "[T]his late addition is petty and vindictive, and probably what Senate President Mitch Carmichael … wants more than anything, after being embarrassed by the teachers, school service personnel, and their unions two years in a row."
In 2018, WVEA members statewide went on strike for nine days, which lit the fire for #RedForEd across the U.S. Thirteen months later, they showed their power again with another work stoppage over charter expansion and vouchers.
West Virginians Ignored
The Student Success Act is similar to a previous senate bill (S.B. 451) that died in the house in February 2019. The main discord between the two chambers was over charter schools and vouchers.
Wendy Peters, an elementary school teacher, told MetroNews at the time, "Some folks in leadership are more beholden to these out-of-state interests, who have poured a lot of money into this," she said. "They let charter school and education savings account (voucher) folks have three hours to answer and ask questions in the (Senate) Finance Committee, and then they gave the teachers, the principals, and the superintendents of the state 70 seconds (each)," referring to a February public hearing.
We need to show up. I'm not going to be teaching all that many years more, but I care about the legacy I'm leaving behind for future educators and for the kids in the classrooms." – John Quesenberry, West Virginia teacher
Peters may still be right.
Charters and vouchers are back in West Virginia and have even captured the attention of U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who tweeted her support for these unproven schemes.
John Quesenberry, a civics and history teacher of nearly 31 years in Beckley, W.V., has taken note, saying that DeVos's input only "strengthens our resolve to continue to stand for our kids because we don't want what she did in Michigan to take a foothold here."
"When it comes down to it, Betsy DeVos doesn't have a vote in the legislature," he says "and that's what we're fighting against: people from outside of the classroom and out-of-state special interests telling us (educators) what to do."
While DeVos may not have a vote, West Virginians do.
Remember in November
This latest attack on educators is "stressful, but it also makes people angry that a handful of politicians can dictate what they want regardless of what the people say," explains Quesenberry.
The West Virginia Department of Education recently produced a report the captures the public's thoughts, opinions, concerns, and expectations about public education. Thousands of West Virginians shared their resounding support for increasing teachers' compensation, more student support services, and addressing the math teacher shortage. Charters and vouchers we're at the bottom of the priority list.
WVEA members, however, continue to organize and work with their allies. "Bridges have been built and people are working together…it's empowering," says Quesenberry, co-president of the Raleigh County Education Association.
Educators are now contacting their representatives and meeting with them face-to-face to push back against the provisions educators see as detrimental. They're also organizing to show up to the state capitol on June 17, when the house is set to consider the Act.
"We need to show up," says Quesenberry, "I'm not going to be teaching all that many years more, but I care about the legacy I'm leaving behind for future educators and for the kids in the classrooms."
Despite the outcome on June 17, the work will continue, as educators have their sights on the November 2020 election.
Linda Pentz of the Monongalia County Education Association commented via Facebook, "It's heartbreaking to watch leaders make such poor decisions for the children of WV. It is time for WV to take control of who is representing our state."
Officials at WVEA echo this sentiment. "The issue will not go away as long as the same people remain in place," says WVEA President Dale Lee.


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A new mobile Pokémon game could be on its way. The Pokémon careers site has posted a job listing for a "Principle Game Designer," saying that the individual will work with a team "to create an upcoming mobile game."
Another reference to mobile gaming is in the qualifications of the individual. One is "experience in mobile/video game design." Based on all this, it's not a matter of if a new Pokémon game for phones is coming, but when. Currently, the most popular mobile Pokémon title is Pokémon GO. According to GO's Google Play page, the game has been downloaded "over 850 millions times." Compare to other Pokémon mobile games in Play. Pokémon Duel has been downloaded over 34 million times, and Pokémon Quest has been installed over 5 million times. These are reasonable numbers, but pale to GO's numbers. Overall, the mobile market is strong for the franchise.
With Pokémon continuing to stay in the general public's eye, it makes sense to work on a new mobile title. This year sees the release of a core Pokémon RPG. While the next big game is always a huge deal, it also helps that this time instead of a small console, it's releasing on Nintendo Switch. Also, in May, the Detective Pikachu film will be released in theaters. This isn't a limited release either; Pokémon is going mainstream on the big screen. (There's even a rumor that a Pokémon Red and Blue movie is being considered for release after Detective Pikachu.) In some ways, Pokémon has become the most well known video game franchise.
While Pokémon GO has many regions to introduce, it's a good idea to release another mobile title to accompany it. The real question is, what could this game offer? GO offers players the ability to catch all sorts of Pokémon, and now you can battle other people in real time. Duel and Quest offer drastically different gameplay styles, so it's hard to think what a new mobile game will bring to the table. It could offer the most traditional Pokémon experience yet, but that doesn't sound probable because the company likely wants to drive sales to the core RPG on Switch. For now, it's all theories. We'll have to wait for the official announcement to get an idea of what to expect.


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Kelley Drye Ad Law Access Podcast
California Advances CCPA Amendments; Nevada and Maine Pass Laws to Reign in "Sale" of Personal Data
Alex Schneider discusses the recently approved (four) bills to amend the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Nevada and Maine Legislatures legislation that, like the CCPA, features new requirements relating to the sale of consumer personal data.
See our blog Ad Law Access (https://www.adlawaccess.com/2019/05/articles/california-assembly-approves-amendments-to-exclude-employees-from-ccpa-protect-loyalty-programs/ and https://www.adlawaccess.com/2019/06/articles/nevada-and-maine-advance-legislation-addressing-the-sale-of-personal-data/ ) for additional information on these and other privacy and advertising law topics.
The CCPA and other privacy topics are covered extensively on our Advertising and Privacy Law Resource Center:
https://www.kelleydrye.com/Advertising-and-Privacy-Law-Resource-Center
More episodes from Kelley Drye Ad Law Access Podcast
FTC Advises Companies to Remediate Log4j Vulnerability
Hosted by Simone Roach In an unusual warning to companies running Java applications with Log4j in their environments, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently cautioned that it "intends to use its full legal authority to pursue companies that fail to take reasonable steps to protect consumer data from exposure as a result of Log4j[] or similar known vulnerabilities in the future." All companies with consumer information should take heed, assessing information security risks on their systems and devices and implementing policies to guard against foreseeable risks. Blog Post -https://www.adlawaccess.com/2022/01/articles/ftc-advises-companies-to-remediate-log4j-vulnerability/ Contacts Laura Riposo DanDruff lvandruff@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8435 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Laura-Riposo-VanDruff Caroline T. Schmitz cschmitz@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8459 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Caroline-T-Schmitz Subscribe to the Ad Law Access Blog - https://www.adlawaccess.com/subscribe/ Advertising and Privacy Law Resource Center - www.kelleydrye.com/Advertising-and…Resource-Center The Advertising and Marketing and Privacy and Information Security practice groups at Kelley Drye have organized this Advertising and Privacy Law Resource Center to help your company navigate the legal landscape. www.kelleydrye.com Produced and recorded by Jeff Scurry
NY Lawmakers Introduce Sustainability Requirements for Fashion Industry
Hosted by Simone Roach New York lawmakers announced a bill aimed at imposing sustainability reporting requirements on the fashion industry. If passed, the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act would generally require major fashion retailers to map their supply chains, make various disclosures on their websites, and commit to reducing their environmental impact. The law would broadly apply to fashion retail sellers and manufacturers with more than $100 million in gross revenue that do business in New York. These companies would have to use good faith efforts to map a minimum of 50% of their suppliers by volume across all tiers of production, from raw material to final production. Based on this exercise, companies would have to disclose certain information on their websites. Blog Post -https://www.adlawaccess.com/2022/01/articles/ny-lawmakers-introduce-sustainability-requirements-for-fashion-industry/ Contacts Gonzalo E. Mon
gmon@kelleydrye.com
(202) 342-8576
Bio - www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Gonzalo-E-Mon John M. Foote jfoote@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8413 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/John-M-Foote Produced and Recorded by Jeff Scurry
State Attorneys General 2022 Predictions
Hosted by Simone Roach State Attorneys General are already off to the races in 2022 – both with a significant number of election campaigns in full swing and an uptick in their consumer protection enforcement efforts. As a result, State AG consumer protection topics will play a big part of 2022. Our Kelley Drye State Attorneys General team will present a webinar on these State AG priorities on January 27. (Register here: https://kelleydrye.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m4-f_o9JTqmMeMo-YUoqHA) In the meantime, we provide a snapshot of what's to come this year. Blog Post -https://www.adlawaccess.com/2022/01/articles/state-attorneys-general-2022-predictions/ Subscribe to the Ad Law Access Blog - https://www.adlawaccess.com/subscribe/ Contacts Paul L. Singer psinger@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8672 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Paul-L-Singer Gonzalo E. Mon gmon@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8576 Bio - www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Gonzalo-E-Mon Laura Riposo DanDruff lvandruff@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8435 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Laura-Riposo-VanDruff Beth Chun bchun@kelleydrye.com (202) 342-8671 Bio - https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-People/Beth-Bolen-Chun Webinar Registration - https://kelleydrye.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m4-f_o9JTqmMeMo-YUoqHA State Attorney General Consumer Protection Priorities for 2022 Consumer protection enforcement efforts are expected to increase dramatically this year. Recent pronouncements from State Attorneys General around the country bring privacy, big tech and the misuse of algorithms, and basic advertising related frauds into particular scrutiny. Please join Kelley Drye State Attorneys General practice Co-Chair Paul Singer, Advertising and Marketing Partner Gonzalo Mon, and Privacy Partner Laura VanDruff for discussion and practical information on these and other state consumer protection, advertising, and privacy enforcement trends. Time: Jan 27, 2022 01:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Advertising and Privacy Law Resource Center - www.kelleydrye.com/Advertising-and…Resource-Center The Advertising and Marketing and Privacy and Information Security practice groups at Kelley Drye have organized this Advertising and Privacy Law Resource Center to help your company navigate the legal landscape. www.kelleydrye.com Produced and recorded by Jeff Scurry