text:
The New Year Cow
December 31, 2019 December 25, 2019 ~ Derek Des Anges	~ Leave a comment
On Christmas day I took 30-45 minutes out from gluttony and arguments to draw a cow.
Click through for Redbubble products
Not only is this speed study a pleasant and relaxing image in the simplified style I'm working out at the moment (in part so that I don't lose myself for over a year trying to do–as I currently am–a hyperrealistic study of some banana chips in a foil bag), it's the first time I've managed to put together a piece of art that looks good on absolutely every single item in the Redbubble store's offerings. Quite the Christmas miracle.
Cui Bono? What can we infer from press ownership, and who owns Britain's news?
December 31, 2019 ~ Derek Des Anges	~ 1 Comment
There is a well-known Soviet-era joke about newspapers. In Moscow, there were two papers. Pravda (Truth), and Izvestia (News). And as the saying goes: if it's in Izvestia it's not Truth, and if it's in Pravda, it's not News. Like most jokes, it reveals something about the culture it comes from, in this case a healthy distrust for press information in a society with infamously strong state control over newspapers.
In the UK, there is an apparently plurality of information sources, catering to a variety of different views as much as they shape them. We suffer from an apparent plague of trustworthy news sources, all contradicting each other.
There are a couple of stand-out offenders in the "not actually reporting the news" arena: The Daily Mail probably the most infamous. It has a low trust rating, a high level of complaints, and climbing profits because it figured out a hundred years before the internet how to monetize Outrage Clicks interspersed with cute dogs.
We shall take as a given that there is no such thing as unbiased reporting; even the choice to report or not on a subject constitutes a bias, long before we get into issues such as framing, language use, editorialising, speculation, opinion bleed and so on. In order to get a good idea of what biases we can likely expect from a news source, it's a good idea to find out who and what controls the news.
In places like the former Soviet Union, this was easy. The Party controlled the Press, and the Press reported the truth as they determined it would be. In the UK, with much-vaunted freedom of the press* and litigant-favouring libel laws which in theory keep misinformation in check**, this is much harder.
* However, the UK remained one of the worst-performing countries in Western Europe, and a number of worrying trends continued, particularly in relation to national security, surveillance, and data protection.
** Daily Mail tops the list of Independent Press Standards Organisation Corrections for the third year running
The Daily Mail is owned by the Daily Mail & General Trust, of which Jonathan Harold Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere is the chair and controlling shareholder. Harmsworth is a nom-domiciled citizen.
The Daily Express, Daily Star and The Mirror, as well as Scotland's Daily Record, are all owned by Reach, formerly the Trinity Mirror group. The Mirror was originally a Harmsworth Publication, and the Express was previously owned by pornographer Richard Desmond; as part of the Competition & Markets Authority's requirements for the acquisition of the Express, Reach (then Trinity Mirror) had to leave it as a standalone concern, effectively meaning its editorial policies have not changed. The CEO of Reach is Jim Mullen, and the chair is Nicholas Prettejohn.
The Barclay brothers, non-domiciled billionaries, currently own the Daily Telegraph, although as of October 26th 2019 it has been rumoured they are placing the title and its Sunday variant up for sale due to declining revenues.
The Times and The Sun are owned, ultimately, by News Corp. News Corp is run by Australian-born American citizen Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan. Murdoch inherited the beginnings of his media empire from his father, Keith.
The Independent and the Evening Standard are owned by Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev.
The Financial Times is owned by the Japanese company Nikkei. Chairman and CEO of the Nikkei group is Tsuneo Kita.
The Guardian is owned by the Guardian Media Group. The group is wholly owned by Scott Trust Limited, which exists to secure the financial and editorial independence of The Guardian in perpetuity.
The Morning Star, the UK's only far-left newspaper of note, has been owned by the People's Press Printing Society since 1945. The PPPS is a readers' cooperative.
The New Statesman, technically a magazine rather than a newspaper although often treated as a newspaper, is owned by Mike Danson, who also owns Globaldata.
It's not just who owns papers that matters, but how they get their money. The Twitter-based activist collective @StopFundingHate, for example, uses the interests of advertisers to "nudge" newspapers away from publishing racism, homophobia, and other forms of derogatory speech against protected characteristics by contacting the companies whose products or services are placed in juxtaposition with these articles, asking "is this what you want your brand to be associated with?". In some instances this has led to companies pulling their advertising contracts from the offending newspapers, choking a certain amount of revenue. It is debatable whether this achieves the long-term aims of the group, that of removing the inflammatory use of bigotry to drive traffic to news sites and therefore pollute public discourse with unacceptable and usually fringe viewpoints. However, it is an example of the way in which capitalist structures do not have to solely serve one group of people.
The majority of newspapers draw their revenue from advertising, especially the tabloid press (a group usually comprised from UK nationals: The Mirror, The Daily Mail, the Sun, and the Daily Express, with The Daily Star as a lesser-impact tabloid) and some are supplemented through subscriptions and other sources, which are exclusive to broadsheets and periodicals.
Of the above list, The Morning Star, Times, Telegraph, New Statesman and Financial Times operate on a full subscription access model for their online versions to augment advertising revenues. The Guardian offers a voluntary subscription service modelled after Wikipedia's donation drives, and the Independent offers a premium subscription with access to additional content.
With the above information, it is easy enough to find–in the public domain and accessible via most good search engines–conflicts of interest that may lead to altered reporting or the suppression of stories. Although it is advisable not to give too much credence to complex sociopolitical explanations for news publishing choices–the primary role of any news media agency is to sell papers (or, online, to drive traffic to its site and keep it there)–following the money can help to make sense of more baffling suppressions of inherently newsworthy stories, especially those wherein there is little-to-no risk of a valid libel suit*. Connections between properties owned or heavily invested-in by newspaper owners or indeed editors are therefore a reasonable starting place for understanding omissions and editorial distortions.
Some of these connections are highly visible: the Times is unlikely to criticise Sky News, another News Corp company; Lebedev's Evening Standard editor, former chancellor George Osborne, is an indication of interest. However, there are more difficult connections to be sought out. Webs of connections between politicians, newspaper owners, and heavyweight donors may only be traceable by full-time journalists like Carole Cadwalladr; many companies' true ownership are buried behind a string of shell companies. While these are usually designed for the purpose of limiting the amount of tax due to any given country's administration, they do have the secondary benefit of concealing interests and promoting the view of specific individuals or news sources as disinterested third parties.
While less centrally financially-controlled publications such as the Guardian may appear to be less dictated by the interests of companies with direct shared ownership to the newspaper, it is worth considering that a the media trust's investments must be nurtured to provide adequate funding to run the newspaper and pay its staff. Adversely affecting/prejudicing the returns of those investments would be counterproductive to the paper–even before considering the individual biases of editorial staff.
It may therefore be worth triangulating media consumption between economic biases to some degree. To my mind, a reasonable balance can be achieved by reading the Financial Times (biases: largely the making of money in a highly capitalist global society), the Morning Star (biases: Marxist), and a news agency of some kind–for preference Press Association/Associated Press over Thomson Reuters. This will still not necessarily give you an unbiased through line of fact, but it will at least ensure that all your information doesn't come from the interests of one company.
* To understand what may constitute a libellous story, or one which can feasibly be sued over, I cannot recommend McNae's Essential Law for Journalists highly enough.
Additional advice: avoid articles which report solely on an emotive reaction to something, or which are simply a reworded press release ("a source says"); be aware that "think tanks" or "pressure groups" are usually funded from uncertain sources and with unknown aims (The Taxpayers Alliance is a very good example of this). A think-tank with a clear mission statement is preferable to one which uses vague terms. Do not neglect local newspapers, but be aware that the majority are owned by one single company. And, where possible, seek out your own confirmation. We live in a golden age for access to journalists. Make the most of it: not all of them are corrupt.
Taken as a whole, the view on the UK's print media is stark. Many newspapers are owned by individuals (usually via some tax-avoidance strategy boards), and those individuals are rarely, if ever, tax-paying UK citizens. For unbiased information on taxation effects, for example, I would not recommend a reader turning to the Telegraph, Times, or the Independent, even less so any of the tabloids. Connections between political parties and particular press outlets are also vexatious: the original intention of a free press was to hold Parliament and the ruling parties of the country to account. If newspaper owners are allowed to give large donations to specific political parties, it calls into question the lens of reporting from those newspapers. It will, however, be hard to win an election without the support of the major UK publications, particularly on a platform that explicitly threatens the model of donations in secret.
For the sake of remaining informed, rather than misled, I would strongly advise not reading UK newspapers, and concentrating on press agencies instead.
Fallow Periods
It's now been ten years since I both started and completed my very short-lived comedy "career", beginning with a workshop hosted by comedian & writer Natalie Haynes, and ending with me gently slithering out of the five minute slots under or above pubs with a general sense of disinterest in the whole business.
Looking back it seems like an aberration, but also like the culmination of a particular segment of my life. Now, at the end of another decade, the first year in over ten in which I don't have a recently-completed first draft of a novel to look back on, I find I'm looking back on what may be another culmination, and I am wondering about the slow shaving off of self-expression, of language, of connection to other people that has been under way.
Comedy seemed like an aberration because I'd previously avoided the stage for about seven years in absolute totality, after spending my childhood and adolescence obsessed with it. Not to the extent of learning a single damn thing or putting in any effort, of course–that's never been my approach to anything where I'm not immediately applauded or validated with grades–but from the age of 3 through to 18 or so I was firmly entrenched in whatever amateur dramatics I could get myself accepted into in the face of my total absence of acting skills.
I loved–and this is what came back with comedy–the tension between how badly I wanted to be the absolute centre of attention, and the complete horror of being seen. Theatre offered the perfect solution: everyone has to look at you, but none of them see you. A whole room full of people staring at a complete fiction who just happens to have your face. And it only worked if you could form connections within a group of people who would be your closest, your nearest, your dearest–intense friendships that could be instantly discarded once the show was over.
The problem for me was the transition between the emotional highs of performance and the complete nothingness that followed. The adrenaline–my entire body shaking all the way through probably didn't help my performance–wearing off into the flat emptiness of being too young to have cast parties and too weird to have friends. It's hard to have a polite meal with your parents after you've spent two weeks keying yourself up for an hour and a half of prowling around on a stage the size of a postage stamp and pretending to slap people you'll never see again.
With comedy the situation was simultaneously better and worse. Better, because comedy excused and justified–elevated, even–all the bad conversational habits that I have. Talk too much, steamrolling over everyone else's interjections, in pursuit of some point you feel you need to provide endless context for? Appalling for conversations but perfect for the stage. Endlessly spewing out things which are mean, ill-judged, outright lies, in sole pursuit of making people laugh? Again, this is an obnoxious way to conduct a conversation but the root of at least the most basic kind of pub basement comedy.
For those reasons it was also somewhat worse than theatre: it indulged my worst habits, encouraged me to disappear into my own self-mythology. I am not, after all, a particularly funny person, but I can make whatever gibberish meanness I've thought up sound like comedy because–learning from poetry, at the very earliest stage of my writing life–I know what rhythm a joke should have. It only works on stage, if people aren't thinking. Pub basement stuff.
And the high and the low were both higher and lower. The reward is immediate: people laugh. Lots of them. And they're all watching, waiting to be made to laugh, so the pressure is higher, and the adrenaline more powerful, so your body shakes even more, and your stage persona overrides the natural desire to run away. The problem with this is that comedy, even moreso than acting, creates a false connection to an audience, who want to talk to you afterward and are somewhat disappointed when it turns out that the reason you enjoy being in the magic circle of the spotlight is that you don't want to have a conversation with anyone. And comedy, morseo than acting, creates these tiny bubbles of camerarderie backstage, where it is a requirement to be Mates with people you have never met before and never will again–but might, so you have to make a good impression. Switch personalities in seconds.
Given that I need a good run-up to have any kind of personality at all, it was inevitable that wasn't going to work.
That was 2009. This is the end of 2019. The me of 2009 failed to finish a novel; the me of 2019 failed to finish a novel. The me of the intervening years (and at least three of the previous ones) has successfully written several. In the intervening time I have taught myself about structure in the most mechanical fashion I could, about character arcs, about pacing, and above all about perseverance: the one thing I have always been told that I lack.
The end of the year is traditionally the period for self-reflection, and the end of a decade moreso. I'm disinclined to put too much weight on the bland mathematics of things like decades, but there's no time like the present for contemplating what remains to be achieved.
In listening to interviews with much more accomplished writers–people who I admire, rather than people who are perhaps wildly popular–I am beginning to uncover the root of some dissatisfaction.
In pursuing making books which work structurally, along the lines of the most basic, functional fiction–to show that I can write "properly", write entertaining fiction, and not, hopefully, fall into the traps of unthinking bigotry that are the water we swim in while writing (mixed metaphors are one of the problems I need to iron out!)–I've effectively abandoned all interest in the things that brought me to fiction in the first place. Namely, an interest in getting up close and personal with compelling characters and moments from their lives, and the joy of using language to creatively build situations a reader could feel properly immersed in–doing interesting or intelligent things with narratives.
Instead, I've fallen into the same trap I fell into with comedy and theatre, of becoming so attached to pursuing a favourable response by following the rules, that I sucked all the fun out of the act itself. There should be more to what I'm doing than just chasing after instant validation; I should care about more than just finishing and avoiding anger or criticism.
Partly inspired by a Tumblr post exploring the rhetorical unity and construction of character voice in Shakespeare's work (which is incredibly intimidating), partly inspired by the unabashed self-indulgence in Alan Moore's Jerusalem, which I've just started reading and will now probably be reading until the heat death of the universe, because it is very long and I like to read several books at once where possible… and partly inspired by another Stewart Lee Q&A [VIDEO, be warned] where he talks, towards the end, about rejecting three-act structure and letting a good story find its own level…
I think it might be worthwhile to return to the creative influx of university, to get back to reading and acting on texts that encourage technical thought about the construction of sentences, about euphony and rhythm, rather than than solely getting into factual and structural research for novels; that it might be worth my while exploring exercises designed to bolster particular elements of writing, rather than viewing every instance of putting words down as something that has to be finished, polished, and hopefully sold.
I'll let you know how well that works out, and whether or not the allure of cheap applause beats the desire to be genuinely better at what I do.
Since my last book came out and chaos descended all over the country in its most unedifying of forms, I've taken a vow to spend more time looking at art (and promptly broken that vow by picking up overtime at work), I've started compiling a poetry collection, and turned towards trying to fill my brain back up with things, or what Terry Pratchett referred to as "blind research".
Here, then, are a few of the things I have consumed or am in the process of consuming:
Foundation, by Peter Ackroyd; the first of Ackroyd's ambitious histories of England. Charming and poetic in an understated way, it begins with the very first intimations of human settlement in England and ends up… with the Tudors. That's a lot of scope. Currently I'm watching John I fuck things up repeatedly. Ackroyd has these subtly emotionally destructive turns of phrase and dry humour that I'm enjoying a lot.
Homo Britannicus, by Chris Stringer. The Ancient Habitation of Britain project's findings, and also the history of the study of pre-history. Sometimes a bit overwhelming both in the sense of the sheer depth of time being surveyed, sometimes in the sense of the amount of numbers being used (I have this infuriating brain problem where I stop being able to read things if there are too many numbers in the text), but never in terms of the prose, which is highly accessible and occasionally quite funny, if only because 19th century scientists truly, truly were a bonkers collection of people.
Discovering Scarfolk, by Richard Littler. Some light relief in terms of the amount of mental energy required to read it, although not in tone. Scarfolk's occult and folk horror stylings riven with 70s nostalgia & presented in the form of an exploration of a found document is a nice reminder of the different formats fiction can take, and also (possibly intentionally) mirrors some of the presentation of the somewhat more high-brow House of Leaves.
Annihilation, by Jeff Vandermeer. I tore through this in about two days–a very short book–and the film which is based upon it only really contains some echoes of what the novella is actually about. It's an ambitious, cold kind of read with a narrator who is deliberately detached from the reader while being present and first-person. The relentlessness and complete alien nature of the discoveries being made makes for a very stressful read but they're also part of what makes it so compelling.
The Construction of Homosexuality, by David. F Greenberg. A very dense and somewhat out of date (published in 1988) sociology text examining the history and global conception of "homosexuality" as a social category, using deviance & labelling theory, Greenberg's book is in part a welcome return to long-ago learnt concepts from my secondary education-level sociology classes, in part a fascinating overview of (what was known at the time) about the history and anthropology of same-sex attraction/sexuality around the world and as far back as can be remembered, and in part a frustrating catalogue of the failures of a white cis man to get to grips with non-white gender identities and the concept of sexualities and genders not lining up directly with the penetrator/pentrated axis that permeates many conceptions of these things even now. It's highly ambitious and very long.
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is an indepth narrated tour around Alan Moore's concept of magic and consciousness; this was accompanied by multiple interviews (Stewart Lee & Alan Moore; Alan Moore & John Higgs; Alan Moore & Michael Moorcock; and this homely little chat for starters, which touch on a number of adjacent subjects; I had forgotten how laconic & genuinely funny Alan Moore can be)
Stewart Lee on writing — or rather on "not writing"; in an address to students Lee–out of his stage persona for once–talks about the history of stand-up comedy in the twentieth century, its relationship in the UK to fluctuations in arts funding and how that's affected how comedians conceptualise themselves and their work, and his approach to writing, or indeed not-writing, a set. It is a genuine joy both in this and in other of his interviews to see how much thought he puts into the structure and pacing of his work.
The Great God Pan, by Arthur Machen (read by Edward French).
Dr Euan Mackie's lecture on the work of Alexander Thom at Megalithomania / Archaeastronomy and The Megalith Builders sees apparent archaeastronomological renegade Dr Mackie explain his tests, both planned and "accidental" of theories put forward by Alexander Thom on the function of megaliths in Scotland, and their accuracy as astrological clocks. As I knew approximately nothing about the subject going in, the immediate overlying narrative of academic warfare gave the whole thing an added layer of interest which helped augment the detective-story shape that excavations often have in the retelling.
Seasons Greasons
December 25, 2019 ~ Derek Des Anges	~ Leave a comment
From me, my household, and the disproportionately large IKEA stuff bear currently straddling my lap while I type: I hope you have a pleasant 25th of December, whatever you are doing with it. I hope you have a relaxing festive perineum, whether at work or at home or on holiday or, I suppose, on the space station. And I fervently hope that 2020 is better for the majority of the people of the world than 2019 was.
And, since hoping is rarely enough, may 2020 be the year that we start acting to en masse to have a slightly more equitably-distributed Good Time.
Autopsy of a Failure: How Not To Write
December 1, 2019 November 19, 2019 ~ Derek Des Anges	~ Leave a comment
Every year since 2006 I've participated in and completed NaNoWriMo. Using the month of concerted, frenzied activity to push myself into focusing and finishing, I've always used the challenge to get a solid first draft done for later editing.
This year, I didn't, for the first time.
I started, but I didn't finish.
(Alright, in 2006 and 2009 I didn't finish my draft but did hit the word count; in 2006 I came back to the story and finished it, and the result is The Other Daughter, whereas in 2009 my attempted sequel to Pass The Parcel, tentatively titled Musical Chairs, stalled at 80,000 words and only the bare beginnings of a plot, and I gave it up as a bad job–but that doesn't sound as dramatic).
In fact, I wasn't even two weeks into the challenge when I threw up my hands and declared that I was, in the words of a familiar meme, straight up not having a good time, bro.
That, incidentally, was the deciding factor. Not time constraints (for the first time in several years I was trying to balance concerted full-time work with writing, as I couldn't take any time off this year), but loss of enthusiasm. I can–and indeed have, when writing the first and second halves of Pass the Parcel–work around a full-time job to get a draft written in the time allotted to me. It's tricky, but when the will is there, the way can be found. The challenge becomes a joy.
In this case, I was getting absolutely no joy out of the experience. I couldn't get words out. Every single sentence was a walking nightmare: the motto of NaNoWriMo is usually given as just Get The Words Out, which is very liberating for a lot of people–not to have to struggle with concepts of quality, to uncork and unclench and just assure themselves that they're capable of writing that much, that consistently,. on one project.
The problem is that if I see what's coming out of me and know that it is complete sludge, no amount of "giving myself permission to suck" will erase the fact that future me is going to have to edit that. "Fix it in post" applies to factual research, names I can't remember, individual words I can't find at the moment I need to find them in–bits that can be blocked out in the original draft as I zoom past them in the joy of pursuing the plot and hanging out with the characters.
When, however, the language feels like lead pellets and the characters are pretty much lifeless and flat in my palms, there's not likely to be a remedy short of throwing the whole book away.
I'm trying to work out how it came to this point. The portion of the year spent on world-building and exploration was fun and interesting. I just appear to have forgotten how to convey information about a world in a narrative. The portion of the year spent on writing things about characters was interesting; but I completely missed any attempt at writing with them.
Part of the reason I had dead characters with dead voices is that I never trialled them, and part of the reason that I didn't trial them was lack of authorial acoustics. I've never subscribed to the Ivory Tower model; of bookwriting, and like to take lots of people along with me even for the first draft ride, to get plentiful feedback as I'm writing, to help me see where I might be missing things, or which characters aren't developing in the way that I want them to. Even before the first draft, being able to talk out plot holes, advertise and expand characters to an audience, and wrestle with what themes are actually contained in my story at the planning stage with someone who is genuinely interested is a great help!
It's also a great confidence-booster, and the sad fact is that since last year where–through no one's fault so much as through bad timing and communication mishaps–I couldn't find anyone to step into either the first draft readership or planning stages for my draft, I began to feel discontent with writing, and convinced nothing I was doing was any good.
The year that followed saw me writing even less, and planning less, and losing confidence hand-over-fist in what I was producing. Which is bizarre, because I was also being paid to write content for an app and a blog. The authorial ego is a very fragile thing!
How to undo this?
Well, there is a question! So far, having had a good response to the publication of Architects of the Flesh, and working on a private commission for a friend's Christmas present, in which I'm genuinely freed from all judgment but hers (including my own!) has given me a little confidence back.
So has being straight-up hassled by a different friend about a project I've been putting off writing, and talking over that same project with a different friend and getting exactly the intelligent, critical questions I needed to work out one of the things I'd been getting wrong with it.
So I'm cautiously optimistic that next year will bring me a slightly better and more committed run at it.
For some people, "just let yourself be bad at it, but finish it" is what's liberating. For me, haunted by the spectre of god knows how many "you give up too easily" complaints in my youth and therefore punishing myself into finishing things neither I nor anyone else enjoys me doing, it's accepting that I'm allowed to quit when something's not fun any more. Writing should be fun, at least most of the time, even if there are the odd off days when you're not inspired and have to go sweat instead, or feel like a complete imposter and you're sure that nothing that comes out can be at all good–if those days are all the time, it might just be that the project is not right.


I don't know about you, but to me there is nothing more frightening than a dying iPhone, iPad, laptop, etc. when on the go.
As a result of these, I have gone through a multitude of nightmares, from not being able to request an Uber taxi at a time of urgency, to not being able to reschedule my Amtrak ticket on time.
I have tried a multitude of power banks promoting efficient and fast charge. Some work better than others, some are more promising than others, and overall they do their job. My issue with most of these power banks is how slow they can charge devices, how long it can take for them to retain their own power charge, or the fact that these can't charge some of the most common or most used devices out there.
One power bank that has surpassed my expectations is Freewise. One of the things I truly like about this power bank is how portable it is. It measures 3 x 3 inches, meaning that I can fit it nearly anywhere (I would dare to say that you could easily carry it in your pockets). I also like that it has a very sleek design and a nice smooth suede surface (looks is always a plus!).
It has two USB ports, so you can actually charge two devices at the same time!
As a result of the above, you can charge nearly any device that is UBS compatible.
One of the things that truly impressed me about this device is its ability to charge bluetooth speakers. I own a bunch of these, so it is always great to know that I can keep these charged anywhere I go!
It actually has a mini light that always comes in handy to see in case of full darkness or emergencies (this is always important!).
Overall a very solid and powerful device!
This is easily one of my favorites, if not my favorite charging bank out of all the ones I have owned or purchased. I like that the manufacturers truly paid attention to details and other common potential needs from buyers. The extra light, the power, and even its feasibility to charge bluetooth speakers are up to par with today's technological demands. Overall, I rate this a 10 out of 10 – I highly recommend it.
As always, check it out!


View all accessories Dress like a professional footballer with our football socks. Available in a wide variety of colours, our football socks can provide a comfortable and warm performance. Big brand names like Nike, Umbro and adidas are available and give excellent support and protection during football. Check out our football department for more equipment and accessories!


text:
Q: VBA - Browsing, selecting file and saving file as I am creating an access database with forms and reports. in one of my forms I want to be able to go to a folder selecting a file (.pdf, .doc, .xls) and then saving it in a dedicated "attachments" folder.
I know about OLE objects and the attachment functions, but both of these would be saving the attachments within the database perse. I am trying to stay away from this since it is imperative to have readily access to the attachments and also to make the database lighter.
I have been playing in VBA with
Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)

and
Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogSaveAs)

this is what I have so far but it is not working:
Option Compare Database

Private Sub Select_Save_Click()

Call SelectFile

End Sub

Public Function SelectFile() As String

 Dim FD As FileDialog
 Dim File_Name As String
 Dim path As String

path = "O:\foldername"

Set FD = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)

With FD
    .AllowMultiSelect = False
    .Title = "Please select file to save as attachment"
    If .Show = True Then

        File_Name = Dir(.SelectedItems(1))

        SelectFile = .SelectedItems(1)

        new_name = path & File_Name

        .SelectedItems.Item(1).SaveAsFile new_name

        Me.Attach_Save = new_name

    Else
        Exit Function
    End If

    Set FD = Nothing

End With

End Function

A: Consider using FileCopy as .SaveAsFile method may not work inside the FD object. Plus, SaveAsFile method is primarily associated with the MS Outlook VBA using email attachments.
Also, use Dir() on the string variable outside the FD object and not on the variant array .SelectedItems(1) inside the FD object.
Finally, notice I add a final back slash in the path string.
Dim FD As FileDialog
Dim File_Name As String
Dim path As String

path = "O:\foldername\"

Set FD = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)

With FD
    .AllowMultiSelect = False
    .Title = "Please select file to save as attachment"
    If .Show = True Then
        SelectFile = .SelectedItems(1)
    Else
        Exit Function
    End If
End With

File_Name = Dir(SelectFile)

FileCopy SelectFile, path_name & File_Name

Set FD = Nothing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It's been ages since I've gotten stuck into creating a nice long detailed podcast. We had a few nice weekends during March. In this podcast you'll hear anything from cooking, to a mad session, to children playing to children trying to swing out of me. You'll also hear the dogs, and Nama walking me through a street in Ennis. It might be entertaining. It might not. If your into audio, you might enjoy how it all hangs together. Or you might find it a complete waste of your time. But in any case, please leave a comment so I know what you think of this.


text:
Sebastian Masuda (増田 セバスチャン, Masuda Sebasuchan, born August 7, 1970), is a Japanese artist, art director, and producer of the Harajuku shop 6%DOKIDOKI. Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. He has been active from 1995 to current day.

He has directed and designed performances for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. He is known as a pioneer of kawaii culture and often referred to as the "king of kawaii" or "father of kawaii"

Career
In 1995, Sebastian opened 6%DOKIDOKI in Ura-Harajuku. Celebrities have visited 6%DOKIDOKI, including Conan O'Brien, and clothing and accessories have been worn by BLACKPINK, and Nicki Minaj.

He was the art director for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Pon Pon Pon music video in 2011, which garnered international attention. He designed the Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku, which had been a tourist destination, including visits from celebrities Kim Kardashian, singer Dua Lipa and Jenny of K-pop's Blackpink. and "Miracle Gift Parade" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Sanrio Puroland.

In 2014, he began his first solo exhibition Colorful Rebellion -Seventh nightmare- in New York.

In 2017, he was appointed as a Cultural Envoy by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and he has lived in the Netherlands while producing artwork, he has traveled to the African continent doing workshops and lectures. He is a visiting professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design and Yokohama College of Art and Design. He was also a visiting scholar at the Department of East Asian Studies at NYU

Solo exhibitions

 2014「Colorful Rebellion –Seventh nightmare-」(Kianga Ellis Projects, New York February 28, 2014 – March 29, 2014) (Young At Art Museum, Miami July 12, 2014 – January 5, 2015) (Padiglione Visconti, Italy April 14, 2015 – April 19, 2015) (Terrada T-Art Gallery, Tokyo December 18 – 27, 2015) (Tropenmuseum , Amsterdam September 28, 2018 – September 1, 2019)
 2015「TRUE COLORS」(T-Art Gallery, Tokyo)
 2016 「TRUE COLORS」(Ronin Gallery, New York)
 2017 「Point-Rhythm World -Monet's Microcosm- "」(POLA Museum of Art)
 2017 「YOUR COLORS」(ROPPONGI HILLS A/D GALLERY)
 2019 「FOREVER COLORS」(ROPPONGI HILLS A/D GALLERY)

Group exhibitions

 December 6 2014  Time After Time Capsule in Miami
 May 3 2015  Time After Time Capsule in NYC / Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
 November 13 2015 – May 2016  Time After Time Capsule NY Hello Kitty meets Seattle / EMP Museum
 April 13-16 2016  Time After Time Capsule in Washington, D.C. / Japan Bowl , National Cherry Blossom Festival
 July 3 2016  Time After Time Capsule in London / Camden Market North Yard
 July 7-10, 2016   Time After Time Capsule in Paris / Japan Expo
 July 23-24, 2016    Time After Time Capsule in San Francisco/J-POP SUMMIT
 November 26, 27, 2016  Time After Time Capsule in Singapore / Anime Festival Asia
 Nov 1, 2016 – Jan 29, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in Los Angeles / Japanese American National Museum
 May 14, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in NYC vol.2 / Japan Day at Central Park
 Oct. 13, 2017 – Ma 18, 2018  Time After Time Capsule in Alaska / "The Art of Fandom" at Anchorage Museum
 November 26, 2017   Time After Time Capsule in Cape Town, South Africa / V&A Water Front
 November 30, 2017  Time After Time Capsule in Luanda , Republic of Angola / Angola National School of Arts
 January 13, 2018   Time After Time Capsule in La Paz , Bolivia / Cinemateca Boliviana
 January 20, 2018  Time After Time Capsule in Sao Paulo , Brazil / Japan House
 2017「The Doremon Exhibition TOKYO 2017」Mori Arts Center Gallery, Tokyo
 2019「Gaping Hole Secret」Reborn Art Festival 2019
 2020「Primal Pop (Pac-Man Mix)」The Museum of Pac-Man Art, Tokyo
 2020「Gaping Hole Secret」Kurkku Fields, Japan

References

External links

Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Japanese art directors
Japanese pop artists
Harajuku
People from Matsudo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Interested in cycle tourism development?
Find out more about the benefits of becoming a certified bicycle-friendly business!
County Holiday Homes offers hassle-free private property rentals and associated services for clients who want more from their vacation rental holiday. Choose from numerous vacation rental properties throughout beautiful Prince Edward County. Rustic to luxurious to pet-friendly options available. Fully furnished and equipped.
Ideal for vacations, get-togethers, romantic getaways, short-term lodging. Visit our website and start planning your getaway now. Minimum 2-night stay.


When William Webb Ellis invented the sport of rugby in 1823 by picking up a soccer ball and running with it, he had no idea that the ball would still be in the air more than 165 years later.
Nor could he have imagined that his rule-breaking initiative would one day lead rugby players from around the world to the Mad Dogs bar in Hong Kong, where they would sing, in enthusiastic if uncertain harmony, "Why Was He Born So Beautiful?"
Rugby, drinking and singing are virtually inseparable, a fact that is clearly evident in such strongholds of the game as Cardiff Arms Park in Wales, but equally plain during the annual Hong Kong international Sevens.
It was in 1975 that expatriate rugby fanatics hatched the idea of an international seven-a-side tournament over lunch at the Hong Kong Club. In less than a year, they had organized the first event.
Sponsors were found, including Cathay Pacific Airways, which flew in the 11 teams of seven men each, plus two spares and a manager.
The teams were from Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Tonga and Malaysia, plus Hong Kong. Spectators, not all of them rugby fans, were thrilled at the speed of the game--the fast running, swift passing and die-hard tackles.
The tournament quickly caught fire, growing first to 16 teams and then to today's 24, which include the United States and Canada.
Last year, the event--officially known as the Cathay Pacific/HongkongBank Invitation Sevens--attracted a sellout crowd of more than 30,000 fans to Government Stadium at So Kon Po.
This year's tournament, which features teams from Wales, West Germany, Soviet Union and the Arabian Gulf among the 24 invitees, will be held next weekend, March 31-April 1, and has been sold out for weeks.
Still, visitors to Hong Kong have a chance to participate in the festivities.
Pubs and restaurants will be filled with rugby followers, and all events except the post-tournament banquet for the teams are open to everyone. There is even the chance of a buying a late ticket, either through Cathay Pacific or the HongkongBank or perhaps at the stadium on one of the two game days. Ticket prices are about $27 U.S. for adults, $13.50 for children.
The Sevens, as it is known locally, is the biggest event on Hong Kong's busy sporting and social calendar. Throngs of business people schedule trips around that weekend, and sales meetings and conferences are conveniently arranged to coincide with the rugby tournament.
A well-connected tourist can expect invitations to lunch at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, golf at Fanling or the more exclusive Shek-O, drinks at the Hong Kong Cricket Club and dinner at the Hong Kong Club. The less well-connected can still enjoy the festivities at hotels and pubs that overflow with rugby fans from around the world.
New Zealanders, fanatical about rugby, come in droves regardless of whether employers or wives approve of the outing. The Kiwis, plus the large number of Australian expatriates in Hong Kong, put away a good share of the 30,000 pints of beer that is usually drunk in the course of the two-day event.
Not to be outdone for color and flair, many Hong Kong expatriates show up at the games in kilts, gaily striped rowing blazers, Cambridge rugby caps and Oxford bags.
Extravagant dogs such as Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds are paraded around with club ties, bandannas and straw hats.
A festival atmosphere reigns, people bump into old friends, they stop by one of the many company boxes and are offered cucumber sandwiches and a drink. Some bring picnic hampers, just as they would do back home at Twickenham, the game's shrine in England.
Before the matches begin, there is a parade of participants. This, too, can get raucous.
A Chinese pipe band leads the way, and the teams walk around the stadium to a tumultuous welcome. The Australians boo the Kiwis, the Kiwis boo the Aussies and everybody cheers emerging rugby nations such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Fiji, whose big men are bold runners, are crowd favorites. The Tongans are there, the Samoans, the men from Brunei and the Hong Kong squad.
The parade carries on with the Thais, a team from Taiwan, the American Eagles, and always a squad from Britain. This year, Wales is sending its national team.
The referees join the parade, living up to the old jibe that they are blind by walking around with white sticks and wearing dark glasses.
Then comes the play, two days of fast and furious rugby laced with moments of high drama and great emotion.
The effervescent Dutchmen have returned with one of their players in a wheelchair, the man having broken his neck at the previous year's tournament.
Against all expectations they win a runner-up's trophy, and there is hardly a dry eye in the stadium when the Dutch captain gives the award to his crippled teammate.
The previous year's tournament featured a romantic touch masterminded by, naturally, a Frenchman.
He arranged for his girlfriend to go to the Sevens with friends and sit at the southern end of the pitch. He then sat at the opposite end with 16 friends, who, at a signal, held aloft huge cardboard letters that spelled out "Natalie, will you marry me?"
The other group of friends sitting with Natalie then produced two sets of signs and gave her the choice of oui or non.
Twenty thousand pairs of eyes swivelled to the north end. When "oui" was raised, the crowd went wild.
It all wraps up with a banquet at the Hong Kong Hilton, when the players, up to now on a disciplined short leash, can let their hair down.
There is a band but never enough girls, and a bar that never runs dry. Most teams do a skit, and the occasional individual will do a solo turn, such as the Hong Kong engineer who did a striptease while the band played the theme from "Ghostbusters."
Everyone thought he would stop when he got to his gray flannels, but no--off they came to reveal black stockings and a garter belt. The lot came off, true to the traditions of the rugby song, "Zulu Warrior."
Elsewhere, meanwhile, the fans spilled out of restaurants and sought more beer.
One group hailed a taxi and asked for the Mad Dogs bar. The driver, it quickly became clear, spoke only Cantonese. An Australian asked him again, this time twice as loudly, but for some reason that didn't work, either.
Then a Canadian had an idea. He barked: "Woof! Woof! Woof!"
"Ah," said the driver. "Mad Dogs!" And away they went.
--Mad Dogs, 33 Wyndham Street, Central.
--Kangaroo Pub & Travel Club, 15 Chatham Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon.
--Hardy's, 35 D'Aguilar Street, Central.
--New Kelly's Last Stand, 11A Ashley Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon.
--Schnurrbart, 6 Hart Ave., Tsimshatsui, Kowloon.
--Mexican/Texas Rib House, Victoria Centre, Causeway Bay.


Ever ponder what it resembles to attempt Dwayne Johnson's 10-pound every day consume less calories? Regardless of whether you can smell what "The Rock" is cooking, it's apparently difficult to devour an every day encouraging of nourishment proportionate to the heaviness of a medium-sized feline. At any rate, not in the event that you need discipline. Johnson's exceedingly exposed day by day dinner plan has produced media buzz over the Internet's blogosphere, however really attempting the previous WWE genius' seven-supper per-day eating regimen requires in excess of a muscle head's craving.
Johnson's crazy sustenance prep regimen starts at 4am every morning, as indicated by Muscle and Fitness. On the off chance that you as of now think that its hard to stomach a foolishly early morning reminder, have a go at bringing down a pound of nourishment before the sun rises. Johnson's first supper incorporates 10 ounces of cod, two entire eggs and two measures of cereal, quickly taken after by an extraordinary exercise session, and another dinner stacked with cod. Johnson expends around 34 ounces of cod for each day, which compares to about 2.125 pounds of fish. Attempting Johnson's eating routine requests an extraordinary level of commitment, responsibility, and needing for an unfathomable aiding of cod.
Attempting Johnson's every day supper plan isn't for the prototypical calorie counter, or customary muscle head. His eating regimen plan comprises of seven suppers and extreme episodes of activity in the middle of each eating session. Johnson's second supper incorporates eight ounces of cod, a 12 ounce sweet potato and one measure of vegetables. His third dinner comprises of eight ounces of chicken bosom, two measures of white rice and another measure of veggies. His efficient routine can be attempted, however only occasionally would it be able to be rehashed. Johnson's fourth feast doesn't require a trek to the drive-through; it incorporates eight ounces of cod, some rice, some vegetables and one teaspoon of fish oil.
Johnson's famous eating routine arrangement incorporates utilization of more than 350 grams of protein for each day to boost his muscle-building limit. For near purposes, the normal grown-up male devours around 50 to 75 grams of protein for each day, or under 25 percent of Johnson's day by day allow. His last three suppers incorporate a mix of chicken, steak, eggs, potato, mushroom, green plate of mixed greens and casein protein in amounts sufficiently adequate to bolster a whole family at supper.
Altogether, "The Rock" devours an expected aggregate of 5,165 calories for each day, likening to an astounding 10 pounds. His nourishment decisions are to a great degree solid in nature, empowering him to keep up a savage build at 6'4'' and 270 pounds. In spite of his crazy eating regimen and exercise schedule, "The Rock" expends less fat and sugar than the normal American does while eating fundamentally less nourishment every day. All in all, think you have the psychological mettle and physical strength expected to attempt Johnson's superhuman eating regimen? Most muscle heads couldn't dream of it.


I'm so pleased to share an article I wrote which is posted on the fabulous Sonima on the importance of fermented foods. Although ferments have fallen out of fashion in our modern diets, they are crucial not only to gut health, but also to immune function, weight, mental health and more. Enjoy!
It was once thought that ferments were used merely as a means of food preservation. For example, in the absence of modern refrigeration, cabbage could be preserved well beyond the growing season in the form of sauerkraut. However, as research on the human microbiome (the ecosystem within the body) progresses, scientists are coming to realize that fermented foods, which are rich in "good" bacteria, also play an important role in maintaining and optimizing our health.
We now know that our bodies are not sterile—far from it. In fact, our bodies contain more foreign bacteria than our very own cells (combined, it is estimated that the bacteria in our bodies could fill a half-gallon jug!). When the microbiome is balanced and this bacteria is present in healthy proportions, these organisms can affect our weight, immunity, mental state, and more. They help us better digest our food, and even synthesize nutrients, such as vitamin K, in our intestines.


text:
/*global QUnit */
sap.ui.define([
	"sap/ui/core/Element"
], function(Element) {
	"use strict";

	QUnit.module("Declarative Source Info");

	QUnit.test("only elements created from XML view should have _sapui_declarativeSourceInfo", function(assert) {
		var element = new Element();
		assert.notOk(element._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo);
	});

	QUnit.test("Cloning elements with declarativeSourceInfo", function(assert) {
		var element = new Element();
		element._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo = {
			xmlNode: {}
		};
		var clone = element.clone();
		assert.notStrictEqual(clone._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo, element._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo);
		assert.deepEqual(clone._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo.xmlNode, element._sapui_declarativeSourceInfo.xmlNode);
	});

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Date of Submission 25-Aug-2022
Keywords: Corneal perforation, polymicrobial keratitis, scraping
Balasubramaniam A, Nandan BR, Gowda NV. Triple trouble: A case report of mixed keratitis. Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2023;3:67-8
Balasubramaniam A, Nandan BR, Gowda NV. Triple trouble: A case report of mixed keratitis. Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Feb 1];3:67-8. Available from: https://www.ijoreports.in/text.asp?2023/3/1/67/368211
Polymicrobial keratitis constitutes 2%–15% of infectious keratitis. Most often, they are both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and require a high index of suspicion from the clinician.[1] Specifically, in South India, Bharathi et al.[2] reported mixed infections to comprise 2.39% of all microbial keratitis cases. Hereby, we are reporting a case infected with Aspergillus flavus, a sporulating filamentous fungus, and co-infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacillus, with previous herpetic keratitis as a predisposing factor.
A 61-year-old female patient presented with complaints of pain, redness, and diminution of vision in left eye for 1 month. She had no history of trauma or systemic illness. Also, she was not a contact lens user. She had a past history of undergoing dacryocystectomy and being treated as recurrent herpetic keratitis with oral and topical acyclovir 3% for 15 years. For the above complaints, the patient had visited a local doctor, where she was treated with an antifungal as the 10% KOH mount was positive for fungal elements, but there was no improvement.
On examination, her vision was found to be hand movements, a central 5 × 5 mm deep stromal ulceration, 60% thinning of the central cornea, and overlying epithelial defect which showed some neurotrophic changes and hypopyon of 3 mm. Posterior segment was unremarkable [Figure 1].
Figure 1: Central stromal ulceration with overlying epithelial defect with neurotrophic changes
A corneal scrape for Grams stain, KOH, and culture was obtained and the patient was empirically started on tablet acyclovir and natamycin 5% hourly. Patient reviewed 2 days later with a perforated cornea, for which a therapeutic keratoplasty was done [Figure 2]. Her corneal scraping report revealed gram-negative bacilli and fungal hyphae; culture and further speciation revealed confluent growth of P. aeruginosa and A. flavus [Figure 3]. Postoperatively, she has been using tablet acyclovir, natamycin 5%, and tobramycin 0.3% as per the sensitivity reports. She has had a successful infection-free postoperative follow-up of 1.5 months [Figure 4].
Figure 2: Central perforation with a flat anterior chamber
Figure 3: C-streaked culture plate showing mixed growth, which was then speciated into Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus flavus
Figure 4: Post-therapeutic keratoplasty
Most common organisms involved in polymicrobial keratitis include filamentous fungi and coagulase-negative staphylococci followed by Pseudomonas spp.[3],[4] P. aeruginosa keratitis in non-contact lens users tends to have a more severe course of the disease,[5] as found in our patient. Predisposing factors for mixed infections include ocular trauma (15%), preexisting ocular surface disease (9%) like herpetic keratitis, lagophthalmos, bullous keratopathy, previous ocular surgery (3%) like keratoplasty, and systemic immunosuppression.[4] Polymicrobial keratitis must be strongly suspected in patients who have had a nonhealing ulcer despite medications, treatment with over-the-counter drops, and unsupervised use of topical steroids. Another important cause of a co-infection could be the contamination of multi-dose eye drop, wherein the most common organisms involved are usually staphylococci, but Pseudomonas has also been reported.[6],[7] As a secondary analysis of mycotic ulcer treatment trial, Ray et al.[8] advocated the importance of performing a repeat scrape and found that a positive culture at 6 days has a high risk of surgical intervention, worse 3-month visual acuity, and a larger scar size. Through this case report, we want to emphasize on the importance of rescraping a nonhealing ulcer, as the possibilities of having a co-infection with another organism is high. Cases of mixed infections have been reported to be difficult to treat and have a propensity toward perforation (12%), resulting in a poorer prognosis, which is similar to that seen in our patient, who eventually required a therapeutic keratoplasty.[4]
Mixed infectious keratitis requires a strong clinical and microbiological acumen. Although polymicrobial keratitis and challenges in treatment have been reported previously, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of culture-proven combination of A. flavus and P. aeruginosa in a setting of a viral keratitis. We would like to highlight the importance of rescraping a nonhealing ulcer. These patients have a long clinical course, require frequent follow-ups, and need topical eye drops for a prolonged duration. Complications have to be anticipated and managed accordingly.
Khoo P, Cabrera-Aguas MP, Nguyen V, Lahra MM, Watson SL. Microbial keratitis in Sydney, Australia: Risk factors, patient outcomes, and seasonal variation. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2020;258:1745-55.
Bharathi MJ, Ramakrishnan R, Meenakshi R, Padmavathy S, Shivakumar C, Srinivasan M. Microbial keratitis in South India: Influence of risk factors, climate, and geographical variation. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2007;14:61-9.
Fernandes M, Vira D, Dey M, Tanzin T, Kumar N, Sharma S. Comparison between polymicrobial and fungal keratitis: Clinical features, risk factors, and outcome. Am J Ophthalmol 2015;160:873-81.e2.
Ahn M, Yoon KC, Ryu SK, Cho NC, You IC. Clinical aspects and prognosis of mixed microbial (bacterial and fungal) keratitis. Cornea 2011;30:409-13.
Enzor R, Bowers EMR, Perzia B, Perera C, Palazzolo L, Mammen A, et al. Comparison of clinical features and treatment outcomes of pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis in contact lens and non-contact lens wearers. Am J Ophthalmol 2021;227:1-11.
Taşli H, Coşar G. Microbial contamination of eye drops. Cent Eur J Public Health 2001;9:162-4.
Daehn T, Schneider A, Knobloch J, Hellwinkel OJC, Spitzer MS, Kromer R. Contamination of multi dose eyedrops in the intra and perioperative context. Sci Rep 2021;11:20364.
Ray KJ, Lalitha P, Prajna NV, Rajaraman R, Krishnan T, Srinivasan M, et al. Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial Group. The utility of repeat culture in fungal corneal ulcer management: A secondary analysis of the MUTT-I randomized clinical trial. Am J Ophthalmol 2017;178:157-62.
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Acid proteases and histologic correlations in experimental ulceration in vitamin A deficient rabbit corneas.
Comparison of systemic and mucosal vaccination: impact on intravenous and rectal SIV challenge.
Is renin a factor in the etiology of essential hypertension?


Inspector Dryer Vent began as an add-on service to Chimney Sweep, a local chimney service provider. In 2018, Inspector Dryer Vent became the first (and only) dryer vent company in the Saint Joseph area, focusing exclusively on dryer vents. From the start, our goal has always been to offer our community excellent service, education, and peace of mind. To best uphold our mission of protecting families from dryer related hazards, we are Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians (CDET) through the Chimney Safety Institute of America. As we grow, we hope to see an increase in awareness of dryer vent safety, and a decrease in dryer vent related fires and accidents.


text:
Client Summary
Risk Survey
Retirement Readiness Quiz
Roth vs. Traditional IRA Calculator
SECURE Act RMD Calculator
#SignalSwagger
Insights Secondary Navigation
Filter Blog by: Category All categories Uncategorized Financial Planning Wealth Management Financial Planning Firm Info Goal Setting Wealth From Wisdom Life Defined Community Involvement Infographics Work/Life Balance Insurance Date All posts January 202220212020201920182017201620152014
The Opportunity in Change: How Changing Goals Change Financial Plans
During the pandemic, my family moved into a new house. We weren't planning on moving, but that didn't stop us from participating in the pandemic housing boom. But we did so at a time where the kids weren't yet out of school, so for about three weeks, we owned two homes. Instead of having to take out home equity or get a bridge loan, we were able to put a down payment on the second home and be OK for those three weeks.
Expand Your Charitable Reach
As a kid, Zachary Conway's financial advisor father tried to instill good savings and charitable habits. Conway, founder and CEO of Seeds Investor, recently told the Framework podcast team about how that worked. When he got his monthly allowance, he divided it up among several containers: one for savings, one for spending and and one for charity.
Yes, You Can Make a Solid Long-Term Care Plan. Here's How and Why It's Important
In today's world it's fair to say that most reasonable people believe that they are going to live a long life, and, when you live a long life, it's also fair to say that sooner or later at some point, we're going to need some form of care.
Most Changes to Personal Taxes, Retirement Plans Dropped from Build Back Better Act
By Jamie Hopkins In September, I covered the proposed tax plan released by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, which would help pay for the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act through changes to corporate, personal and other taxes, as well as retirement plans.
Breaking Down the Basics of ISOs
Companies have several tools they can deploy in order to retain top talent, and one that is gaining traction is incentive stock options, or ISOs. Much like non-qualified stock options (NSOs), ISOs are a form of equity compensation in private or public companies.
As Gaming Industry Levels Up, So Does Its Value to Investors
Many investors are embracing the $160 billion gaming market. The industry is larger than the $43 billion box office, $60 billion video streaming and $19 billion music businesses combined.
Proposed Bill Includes Tax Increases for High Earners, Retirement Account Changes
Last week, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee released a draft of their proposed tax plan, which includes changes to corporate, personal and other taxes, as well as retirement plans – though Social Security would be untouched.
Creating Awareness Around Life Insurance
There's an old saying that with the stroke of a pen we have the ability to affect generations upon generations of lives.
Thinking of Social Security as Our Biggest Asset
You might have more money stashed away in the Social Security trust fund than anywhere else. In fact, what you put into Social Security very well might be your biggest asset and future source of retirement income.
You've Got the Mini-Fridge for Your College-Bound Kid – Now Don't Forget the Documents!
My niece's hard work in high school paid off, and she had many fantastic options for higher education. Despite being from New Jersey, she chose a liberal arts college halfway across the country in Texas and is about to begin her junior year there.
Signal Wealth Advisors
6955 S Union Park Center, Ste 250
Email | Map
Subscribe to our commentary & blog:
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.
The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors received by Paul West (2019). The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years' experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience, and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Research summary as of 29,334 nominations received, based on thresholds – 5,961 invited to complete online survey – 9,230 telephone interviews - 1,757 in-person interviews at Advisor's location. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client. Barron's Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee – Ron Carson, October 20, 2014 issue. Advisors inducted into the Hall of Fame include those who were recipients of the Barron's Top 100 Independent Advisors ranking since the list's inception. The Barron's rankings are based on data provided by over 4,000 of the nation's most productive advisors. Factors included in the rankings: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. Investment performance isn't an explicit component because not all advisors have audited results and because performance figures often are influenced more by clients' risk tolerance than by an advisor's investment-picking abilities. Investment News Icons & Innovators: Awarded to Ron Carson (2016) Investment News Icons and Innovators award recipients were selected based on the broad definition of, those who have conceived new ideas and tools that have propelled the industry forward. Listing in this publication is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client.
Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.
Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services.
Privacy Policy | Important Disclosures | Cetera Advisor Networks Business Continuity Plan
This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC may only conduct business with residents of the states and/or jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Not all of the products and services referenced on this site may be available in every state and through every advisor listed. For additional information please contact the advisor(s) listed on the site, visit the Cetera Advisor Networks LLC site at www.ceteraadvisornetworks.com.
Copyright 2022 CWM, LLC. All rights reserved. This content cannot be copied without express written consent of CWM, LLC. Wealth Designed. Life Defined. is a registered trademark of CWM, LLC and may not be duplicated.
Additional information about CWM, LLC and our advisors is also available online at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov or https://brokercheck.finra.org/. You can view our firm's information on this website by searching for CWM, LLC or by our CRD number 155344.
Carson Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Website Privacy Policy
By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.


text:
What It Took For This Introvert To Create A M'sian Board Game And Put It In Stores
Justin Lee
Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager is the first game board game that is released under the Boxfox Games banner and it took 3.5 years from conceptualisation to the finished product.
The person behind the game, Seh Hui made sure that it was completely made in Malaysia—from designing to production, everything was done in Malaysia.
Within the past few years board games have gone through an explosion of growth. In 2012, The Guardian went as far as dubbing it "A Golden Age for Board Games", stating board games have seen a growth rate as high as 40% year over year. It's also quickly becoming one of Kickstarter's most funded project categories.
Surprisingly, Malaysia has been keeping up with the trend and we had a number of homegrown board games released the past few years, with the latest one—Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager.
The Manager Behind Pasaraya
Pasaraya is the first game board game that is released under the Boxfox Games banner and it took 3.5 years from conceptualisation to the finished product.
"Boxfox Games isn't in any traditional way 'officially' established yet, in the sense that it is more akin to a passion project that at its market validation stage," said Seh Hui, the brains behind Boxfox Games.
"So it's literally a one-man show with a number of close friends who are supporting and helping me in making Pasaraya a reality. It started off with just blank business cards of two different colours to differentiate the card types and I just Sharpie'd and penciled in the stats," he added.
After that, Seh Hui immediately ran it through with his close gaming friends to see how they responded to it. Once he got approval from his friends, he ventured out and expanded play-test sessions to a much broader audience and with strangers.
He didn't originally plan to enter the board game industry as one of his favourite YouTubers, Tom Vasel, has always cautioned against self-publishing a game as it is a full-time venture on its own.
"And oh boy, is he damn right about that until this day!"
Seh Hui has his hands full as he does packaging and sales/ Image Credit: Seh Hui Leong Facebook
The Challenges Of Running A Pasaraya
Seh Hui finds that there is one challenge that has been a constant limiter and barrier for him to push forward with the game: interaction.
"The reality is that you need to interact with a whole lot more people."
"Convincing others to play-test your games, learning how to accept feedback and criticisms with an open mind, communicate and dealing with other people's schedules, reaching out to find printers, suppliers and partners," he added.
As a shy person and introvert who isn't used to openly communicating with strangers, it is something that he has to constantly remind himself to break out of his comfort zone.
"The biggest lesson that I have learn so far is to remind myself that this is not just my baby and that there are people, close friends or soon-to-be close friends, who are as excited to see you succeed."
He also learned that it is okay to ask for help when you need it, no matter how big or small their contribution is.
"Knowing that someone has your back is a great confidence boost to push you forward. Just remember to treat them well and treasure them," said Seh Hui.
He takes pride in the fact that Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager is completely made in Malaysia.
"With all Malaysian talent working on the graphic design and writing and produced by a Malaysian printer," Seh Hui said.
Some might doubt and question that 'wouldn't it be cheaper if it was produced in China?'. However, he thinks otherwise.
"I hold a strong belief that we shouldn't be squandering the potential we have in our local talent and manufacturing capabilities—that exporting the business to China means that we never will have the opportunity to gain the experience in manufacturing analogue games."
Due to that, he has also spent a five figure sum which most people would have bought a Malaysian-made car with that money.
"The project is fully self-funded thanks to 10+ years of frugal living and working in the tech industry," he added.
Image Credit: Boxfox Games Facebook
So far, Seh Hui has been receiving positive feedback, even from people overseas.
"I am still surprised and extremely grateful that there are people from the USA who instantly bought it the moment they have tried it for the first time. It's a great feeling knowing that my game is resonating with new people that I have never met."
So far 31 people have pre-ordered the game and actually waited patiently for 1.5 years for the game to be released. These are the people that probably gave the motivation for him to continue on with the game.
"I would say that Pasaraya might not have happened without their support and validation," he said.
For now, Seh Hui hopes to sell off his initial 1,000 copies of the game so that he can have a second print run. He also has more games that he would love to publish if given the opportunity.
For his final thoughts he said, "I'd love to see whether we have garnered enough sales and trust to become one of the first full-fledged Malaysian enthusiast game publishers."
Pasaraya: Supermarket Manager is now available at local game stores such as Meeples, Boardgamecafe.net, Kohii.my and All Aboard Community Gaming Centre.
If you are interested and would like to order the game, just drop him a message through Boxfox Game's Facebook page.
This E-Wallet Is Already In Your Phone And You Don't Even Know It
Feature Image Credit: Seh Hui Leong and Geek and Sundry
Tags: boardgameboxfoxgamesentrepreneurgamesmalaysiamalaysia startuppasarayasupermarket
This S'pore Couple Created A Bubble Tea-Themed Card Game – Received 100 Orders Before Launch
The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Free & Voluntary For M'sians, Plus 6 Other Facts To Know About It
For A Local Brand That Most M'sians Barely Know, It's Found Fans From UK To Australia
A M'sian Team Got 100 Industry Experts To Share Marketing Advice For Biz Recovery In 2021
6 Popular F&Bs In M'sia That Shut Down And The Competitors That May Take Over In 2021


text:
A Quick Overlook of Websites – Your Cheatsheet
Nigerian Newspapers – An Overview Nigeria is noted to be the highest news consuming nation in the African continent, as well as one of the highest in the world. Nigerians are observed to crave a lot for reading newspapers, especially from trustworthy publishing companies, despite the proliferation of internet news outlets, and this could be the reason why many newspapers there have gained much momentum. The following are lists of newspapers that are thriving in Nigeria. It is in Abuja, Nigeria where the first publication of the Blueprint Newspaper was released, and, currently, its circulation is delivered in and around the federal capital territory. This newspaper started, originally, as a weekly publication, but, eventually, switched to a daily publication. The former editor of Vanguard newspaper, Frank Aigbogun founded Business Day and worked hard to make this publication as a prestigious news material, as well as the first daily business newspaper in Nigeria. With a spread out circulation throughout Nigeria, Business Day, which began its publication in 2011, has also its circulation, as the only Nigerian newspaper with a bureau in Accra, Ghana. Business Day has earned the prestige as the leading publication of up-to-date news and insightful analysis of business, policy and the economy of Nigeria. As another business daily newspaper, Business Hallmark was founded in March 2009 in Lagos, Nigeria and has the status of being the medium watchdog and voice of the business community due to its well-researched analysis and projections. The newspaper enjoys huge readership among the business communities in Nigeria owing to the varied information on business, policy and finance, which are also available in their website.
If You Read One Article About News, Read This One
Daily Trust is a widely read newspaper in Nigeria which covers breaking updates and news, including politics, business, sports, city news, insurance, education, agriculture and many more.
Founded by Alex Ibru, an entrepreneur, and Stanley Macebuh, a top journalist with the Daily Times newspaper in 1983, The Guardian is known as the most respected newspaper in Nigeria. The Daily Times, which has its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, was one of the most successful, locally owned newspaper in Africa and had its peak in the 1970, until the paper went into decline after it was purchased by the government in 1975. With a national circulation in Nigeria, the Nigerian Compass also has weekday and weekend editions which cover current news, business, politics, and sports. Owned by Segun Oyebolu, the Nigerian Compass is now published as a free national newspaper in Nigeria by the newly registered Compass Free Paper Limited. Also published in Lagos, Nigeria, the Daily Champion is an English language newspaper which covers a wide variety of news, sports, business and community events. The Daily Post is a premium online newspaper, owned by James Bamisaye, and which had its first print launched in march 2015 in the regions of Lagos and Abuja.
Posted in Internet Services
Study: My Understanding of Businesses
If You Read One Article About Options, Read This One


text:
The Washington Post, September 11, 2008
Facing Up to Rape in Afghanistan
Although Afghans may be talking, in limited ways, about rape for the first time, incidents of rape have not decreased.
Rape is an endemic problem in Afghanistan. Whether women are forced into arranged marriages as child brides, or attacked by family members or local warlords, they are often held responsible for their own victimization. Afghan culture views a woman's virginity as sacrosanct, but Afghan law rarely gives her the chance to defend herself. Many women are thrown out of their families following, or even jailed.
And yet, things are changing. Earlier this summer, Afghan president Hamid Karzai pardoned three men convicted of gang-raping a woman in the northern province of Samangan. The rape took place in 2005 in front of the woman's village, after she had harangued the local warlord's men for forcing her son to become a soldier. At the time the case attracted little attention, and Mr. Karzai probably thought his pardons of three men, who had been sentenced to 11 years in prison, would also slip by unnoticed. The men all come from an influential tribe in the region.
The drug-running warlords who have controlled Afghanistan with the US blessing since 2001 have no interest in either democracy or women's rights.
Counterpunch, Sep. 11, 2008
Instead the case has been widely reported throughout the local and national media. Women's rights groups, activists and politicians are up in arms at the injustice. Some might argue that with an election approaching, Mr. Karzai's many enemies are simply using the subject to undermine him - but that does not change the fact that a rape case, and the issues of women's abuse, has taken center stage.
Our next guest voice author, Zarghuna Kargar, notes that an increasing number of rape victims and their families are going public with their cases. Zarghuna, who ran the BBC's Afghan Women's Hour for three years, has spoken to dozens of abused women and is currently writing a book about women in Afghanistan. Here, she tells the story of the family of one rape victim and their search for justice.
By Zarghuna Kargar
"The three men in the car grabbed her and drove to an army barracks where the commander raped her in his office. She [Sweeta] was threatened that if she told anyone about the incident they would kill her parents." (Photo: AHRO)
The girl is thirteen years old and she has been raped, and yet by Afghan standards she is one of the luckier ones. Her family has recognized her trauma and is trying to get her some sort of justice; in many families, she might be viewed as an object of shame and thrown out. The fact that her family members have chosen to stand by her, and that they even spoke out on Afghan national television last month, is an important change in how Afghans view the abuse of women. And the furor surrounding President Karzai's pardons of convicted gang-rapists in a separate case, which a few years ago probably wouldn't have raised many eyebrows, is also testament to this change.
That's partly due to the Afghan government and international organizations' work on raising awareness. The Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs has opened several safe houses for victims of domestic violence, and USAID has funded a number of publicity drives across the country. The initiative has in turn been picked up by TV and radio programs, which have deliberately confronted such taboo subjects as rape and domestic violence with the aim of encouraging people to recognize their own human rights (not to mention the dual aim of attracting a larger audience).
But I don't want to sound unduly optimistic. Although Afghans may be talking, in limited ways, about rape for the first time, incidents of rape have not decreased. Recent Afghan government sources say that in the last month, twenty five cases of rape in Northern Afghanistan have been registered with the police. The victims were mostly children, and mostly weak and vulnerable. In this girl's case, she was raped by the local warlord, a man with money and guns who expects to get whatever he wants. Those who file complaints are shunned by their communities and in some cases have been raped again by those in power.
All of this makes this case, and the victim's family's advocacy for justice, a remarkable act of courage. Her maternal uncle, Ali Khan, a farmer, notified local media about what had happened but would not name the warlord, when he appeared on television, for fear of retaliation.
"The police chief didn't listen to me - he threatened me of being killed if I spoke about it," Khan said. "I went with my sister and her disabled husband [the girl's father]. He didn't help us because the gangs who raped my niece were powerful and the police chief warned us not to talk to anyone about it." But Khan persisted with his media campaign, contacting local and international journalists. So far no one has been charged.
In another rape case in July, President Karzai dismissed five police officials for failing to act promptly enough in the case. The act by the president sends out the right message, but for every case like this girls, there are a hundred women whose plight is ignored.
Zarghuna Kargar is a broadcast journalist at BBC World Service, and the former anchor of Afghan Women's Hour. The name of the girl in this report has been changed to protect her identity.
URL for news «Facing Up to Rape in Afghanistan»
http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2008/09/11/facing-up-to-rape-in-afghanistan.html


text:
In different places and in different ways, in groups and as individuals, women and women's groups are addressing a spectrum of issues. At Saheli, we believe that there is much to be learnt from the diversity of these experiences. At the same time, because we locate our own struggles within wider struggles for social change, we also believe it is important to draw connections between one struggle and another, and collectively debate strategies.
In an effort to initiate discussions, and equally, to create a forum for like-minded groups and individuals to address issues of common concern, over the last few years we have tried to organise open meetings on one Saturday of the month. Our idea has been to get activists and academics to share their experiences and insights by making presentations on an issue, and following that up with an open discussion. The meetings have covered a range of subjects not strictly pertaining to or affecting women. The issues with their larger implications on society, polity and economy have been picked either for their contemporary relevance, or with the understanding that our liberation as women, is linked with the liberation of other poor, marginalised and oppressed groups of society. These 'monthly meetings', as they have grown to be called, are open to anyone interested in discussing and debating issues of social and political importance, and our effort has been to reach as many people as we think would be interested, either telephonically or through handwritten post-cards. A number of students, teachers, activists and professionals have been regulars at these meetings. While the frequency of the meetings has been somewhat irregular, the spectrum of people attending them, the range of topics covered, the depth of presentations and the vibrancy of discussions have been inspiring.
Following a meeting in January 1999 on 'Fire, Lesbianism and Related Issues' (reported in the Saheli Newsletter of February 1999) we felt the need to widen the discussion to other aspects of women's sexuality in the current social and political context. Hence, we re-started our monthly meetings in March 1999 with a discussion on Marriage, Family And The Right Wing Backlash (Speaker: Dr. Tanika Sarkar, Professor, Delhi University). Subsequently, we organised a meeting on the Dalit Women's Movement (Speaker: Rajni Tilak, Centre for Alternative Dalit Media) to try and understand the specific issues facing dalit women in India, and the various dimensions of their struggle. In the immediate aftermath of the Kargil war, we held an impassioned session on Kargil: The Issues Ahead where we looked at the history and implications of continued Indo-Pak hostilities, and the role of the media in fanning such nationalism. (Speakers: Gautam Navlakha, Citizens Against War and Poornima Joshi, Hindustan Times). Our next meeting, titled Politics Of Education: Universalisation Of Literacy (Speaker: Dr. Sadhna Saxena, National Institute of Adult Education) unveiled the many ways in which the state manipulates education to fulfil its own agenda. In the face of overwhelming media hype about the 'global crisis imminent from ever-increasing world population', we organised a meeting titled Looking Beyond Six Billion: Politics Of Population Control (Speaker: Dr. Imrana Qadir, Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU). A few months after the remarkable resistance to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) guidelines, we held a meeting on The Battle Of Seattle: The Struggle Against WTO (Speakers: Leonie, David, and Harley, Alliance for Global Justice) which recounted the coming together of workers, farmers, students, environmentalists and other activists, and the preparations, the build up and the actual chain of events of the historic resistance in Seattle. For a long time, we have felt that the issue of prostitution, and the struggle of sex workers pose new challenges for the women's movement. Hence our most recent meeting was on Prostitution: A Critique Of Law And Policy, with Meena Seshu, Sangram/Vaishya Aids Muqabla Parishad (VAMP), a collective of sex workers in Sangli, Maharashtra, as the Speaker. But since Meena was unable to be in Delhi at that point, we ourselves attempted to map out some of the key issues and debates related to sex work as work, legalisation of prostitution and the rights of women in prostitution.
While it would be worthwhile to share accounts of all our monthly meetings, we thought the issue of women in prostitution needs further debate. Hence, we are sharing the discussion with readers in the hope that together, we will be able to carry it further.
The meeting on women in prostitution. Outlining new challenges.
The women's movement has traditionally raised issues of sexuality in the context of family and marriage, and prostitution has been perceived in a monolithic way, i.e. as exploitation and commodification of women's bodies, with women in prostitution being seen as victims of 'female sexual slavery.' Whether women are kidnapped, purchased, fraudulently contracted through organised crime syndicates or procured through love and befriending tactics, the practice of prostitution has been understood to be inherently violent and exploitative. This perspective, echoed by those working against trafficking of women and children assumes that all prostitutes are forced into the institution, and that selling of sex is synonymous not only with sexual exploitation, but with the selling of women's very personhood. Consequently, complete abolition of prostitution has been the only logical solution to end such exploitation. And the ways out of the profession being 'measures' like rescuing, rehabilitating, improving, disciplining and/or policing those involved in prostitution.
But the last few years have seen the emergence of many organisations of female (and male) prostitutes which have emphasised the need for going beyond the solutions of rehabilitation or abolition of prostitution. They have raised many fundamental questions about the social construction of sexuality and sexual practices, and the inter-linkages between class, gender and sexuality. They have shifted the focus to the problems of sex workers in terms of material deprivation and social stigmatisation, and the need to think about these issues afresh. The sex workers movement, as it has come to be called, has challenged the moral and ethical overtones that have surrounded the entire debate and determined 'the rights and wrongs' of their profession. They have raised demands for the recognition of 'sex work as work', and to be treated as an occupational group. They state that sex-workers should be entitled to labour rights, occupational health and safety regulation like all other workers. They have also stressed that the daily oppression faced by women 'in the business' has to be seen in conjunction with the dominant patriarchal ideologies and societal norms, which accentuate their oppression. Thus, along with the need to improve the material conditions and quality of their work, an equally important need is to confront and resist these ideologies and norms. Proponents of this approach argue that even a voluntary decision to sell sex is akin to selling other forms of labour. They aim at complete de-criminalisation of voluntary sex-work and all related activities. They argue that only when society and the legal system stop looking at sex-workers negatively, i.e., within the powerful dominant ideologies that shape moral ethical values, can these women be treated as complete human-beings deserving equal and just rights and freedoms, social and emotional fulfilment and expression of their needs and desires. And only then can they hope to minimise the harassment, abuse and oppression they face at the hands of police, pimps and others.
At the same time, some groups of sex-workers are also demanding legalisation of prostitution that not only involves taking the subject outside the realm of criminal law, but advocates regulation of sex-work through zoning and licensing laws. This demand had been raised at the historic First National Conference of Sex-Workers by Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee, held in Calcutta in November 1997. The conference focussed on the fact that the marginal and stigmatised position of sex-workers in society, increases their vulnerability to human and labour rights violations and demanded that existing labour, occupational and other safety laws be extended to sex-workers as well.
The presentation went on to discuss how in recent years, the discourse around prostitution has become couched in the language of human rights, while at the same time feminists, theorists and prostitutes' rights activists are involved in unravelling the complex and complicated world of sexual autonomy, free choice, sexual exploitation and agency versus victim debates.
This was followed by intense debate on various aspects of the issue. Can prostitution be seen as anything other than sexual exploitation of women in a male dominated world. If we as feminists are willing to reconsider that, then what implications does it have for our positions on commodification of women by the media, the beauty business and the marketplace?
Then, there was the crucial question of whether women's reproductive and sexual capacities can be considered labour power, and whether such a 'service' can be alienated from the 'self'. A statement from VAMP was recalled which says, "We believe that a woman's sexuality is an integral part of her as a woman, as varied as her mothering, domestic and such other skills. We do not believe that sex has a sacred space and women who have sex for reasons other than its reproductive importance are violating this space. Or if they chose to make money from the transaction they are immoral or debauched.' Not surprisingly, this sparked off an impassioned discussion.
The problems of defining prostitution were also raised, as was the issue of whether the objective of law and policy, has been and should be to stop prostitution on moral grounds or is it to stop exploitation of women? Can laws help women to get out of it or will they increase their exploitation? Should the law be reformed and be accompanied by other economic, development and welfare policies? What is the distinction between legalisation and decriminalisation of prostitutes? Should sex work be treated as work and laws should be made in accordance with that? One view was that there is no need for a law to deal with prostitution because the sex industry is restricted under criminal law and treating prostitution as unlawful activity leads to the criminalisation of prostitutes.
It was also pointed out by various participants that irrespective of our positions on the matter, we must all concede the need to take cognisance of the point of view of the sex workers being discussed. For instance, several sex workers have repeatedly said that as people who experience violence as a part of their daily lives, they are being further penalised by increasing violence in a society that is trying to order and control their lifestyles. This led us into the question of whether those arguing against de-criminalisation and/or legalisation are in fact, being coloured by moral biases.
It was also apparent that a lot of ambiguity in positions of various progressive groups in the country arises from the blurring of lines between prostitution and trafficking. It was pointed out that trafficking includes the procurement, sale, and transport of a woman using deception and coercion against her will for the purpose of prostitution which is being confused with prostitution per se. Making money from sex needs be differentiated from being forced to do so under any circumstances. Besides, a clear differentiation between trafficking of women and trafficking of children also must be made. Merging the two not only treats women as children, it is also unfair on the child who is being sexually abused and exploited. In this context, some friends from Nepal present at the meeting cautioned against focussing too much on legalisation. They spoke of how new laws to control trafficking of women in Nepal, has not only affected women's voluntary migration for all kinds of work, it has restricted their mobility across the border.
Although no consensus emerged on a single course of action, many felt the need for more clarification on various issues involved and more such discussions. But it was clear that the question of prostitution challenges us on many counts. Even while we continue to debate the issue, the discussion in Saheli on that hot summer afternoon made it abundantly apparent how essential it is for all of us to try and understand the lives, needs and struggles of sex-workers. We must acknowledge that demands for decriminalisation and/or legalisation are coming from the sex-workers' movement and give them due weightage. We must collectively assert our solidarity with the struggles of women in prostitution to the same rights as any other citizen. From the right to safety and security to the right to work; from the right to health to the right to education; from the right to freedom of movement to the right to privacy.


text:
Merit Cum Means Scholarship Scheme - A Complete Review
Delhi Government has launched a new scheme to help the meritorious students who hail from the economically poor families. The scheme is named as "Merit Cum Means Scholarship" Scheme. The students from the poor families, who have secured good marks in their last qualifying examinations, will avail the 100% fee waiver facility. Especially the poor students, who are recognized by the "National Food Security Scheme", are eligible for this scheme. Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia launched the scheme. Under the new initiative of Delhi Govt., the needy students, who are pursuing higher education in Delhi State Universities, must get benefited. This scheme is first of its kind in India.
Features of The Scheme:
According to the Ministry of Education of Delhi, the financial assistance will be given as per as the family income of the students.
If the family of any student has the card issued by the "National Food Security Scheme", the student can get 100% scholarship on his/her tuition fees.
If the family income of any student is up to Rs. 2.5 Lakh per year, the student will avail 50% waiving of fees.
Students with family income from 2.5 Lakh to 6 Lakh per year will get 25% fee waiver.
Students, who are pursuing higher studies in the State Universities of Delhi including the GGS Indraprastha University, Ambedkar University, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi Technological University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technological University for women, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology and Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, are eligible for the scholarship.
The scheme is prepared under the framework of the Delhi Higher Education Aid Trust.
Eligibility Criteria of the Scheme:
Students must score minimum 60% marks in the last qualifying examinations to avail the facility of the "Merit Cum Means Scholarship" Scheme.
There will be a relaxation of 5% marks in case of the students belong to the SC/ST category.
Every student with family income up to 6 Lakh Rupees will be eligible to get the facility of the scheme.
The main motto of the Govt. is to provide the facility to pursue the higher education to every meritorious student of the state without any financial worry.
The Govt. of Delhi has allocated the budget of Rs. 10 Crore for the academic session of 2017-2018. According to the Government officials, approximately 20000-25000 brilliant students from poor and middle class families must be immensely benefited by this scheme.


I found this repo with some some script and example: script & example.
Repos like that are generally good for one person's dotfiles across multiple machines. The idea with this support would be to allow each of us to have our own vim config, git config, shell, etc. installed automatically.
I tried this, and while it's pretty trivial with Puppet, it requires a bit too much elbow-grease in Ansible to be worthwhile.
BTW, if you copy your Puppet snippet, it might be a bit easier.
https://github.com/mozilla/build-puppet/blob/master/modules/users/manifests/person.pp#L50 is the puppet code.