text:
Epic times: Bill Gates has been an official member of Chinese academia for years. And there's more…
on May 05, 2020 May 05, 2020
by Silviu "Silview" Costinescu
The man who literally took the world hostage and is now asking for a medical ransom has been elected as member of China's academic institution in 2017
It's never been a secret or anything, just no one cared. Or they've been paid to look away.
Gates, 62, now stands shoulder to shoulder with 66 other prominent Chinese and foreign scientists who have been elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 2017
India Times
Also shoulder to shoulder with imprisoned, tortured or dead whistle-blowers.
And this is not even the best part.
India Times takes the opportunity to inform on Gates' investments in China, begging the question if citizenship can mean anything to global "godfathers" like him. "Godfathers" as in Scorsese's vision.
"Election as a foreign member of CAE is a lifelong honour that is expected to build up the institution, promote international cooperation and exchanges as well as improve CAE's status in the field of engineering, state-run People's Daily reported.
In September, TerraPower, a Bill Gates-led company, established a joint venture with China National Nuclear Corporation, with the aim of building and operating small, medium, and large travelling-wave nuclear power plants in the next 20 years ." – India Times
The energetic love story between Gates and China hit a wall in the last days of 2018. And on the wall it was written: "Orange Man Bad".
The U.S. Department of Energy in October announced new restrictions on nuclear deals with China, in keeping with a broader plan by the Trump administration to limit China's ability to access U.S-made technologies it considers to be of strategic importance.
<<Gates wrote in an essay published late last week that TerraPower is unlikely to follow through on its plans in the face of new U.S. restrictions on technology deals with China.
The Bellevue, Washington-based company is now unsure which country it will work with to conduct trials of its technology, which is designed to use depleted uranium as fuel for nuclear reactors in a bid to improve safety and costs, company officials told the Journal.
"We're regrouping," Chief Executive Chris Levesque told the Journal in an interview. "Maybe we can find another partner."
Gates, who co-founded TerraPower, said in his essay that regulations in the United States are currently too restrictive to allow the reactor prototype to be built domestically.">> – Reuters
If this alone doesn't explain a lot, I don't know what does.
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Among the 18 foreign experts, 10 come from US, 3 from the UK, 3 from Australia, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Russia, reported China's Daily, without mentioning names.
The New American was the only media I found to take the length of investigating who these people are and the research yielded very interesting results. Here's what they wrote at the time:
Leo Rafael Reif, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is one of Gates' new fellow cadets at CAE, according to Reif's MIT biography page. The same page also informs us that, in 2015, Reif "received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has also received honorary doctorates from Tsinghua University (2016)." Reif is also a member of the globalist Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), whose members played the key role in the historic normalizing of U.S. relations with China, and, subsequently, implementing the policies that have transformed that communist regime from a backward Third World country into an economic and military behemoth. In joining the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Reif is following in the footsteps of another MIT chief, the late Charles M. Vest (MIT president 1990-2004). Dr. Vest was also president of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) from 2007 until his death in 2013.
The NAE, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, notes on its website, that in addition to Dr. Vest, other NAE members who have been inducted into the Chinese Academy of Engineering include:
Liang-Shih Fan, The Ohio State University (NAE)
Raj Reddy, Carnegie Mellon University (NAE)
Surendra P. Shah, Northwestern University (NAE)
Henry T. Yang, University of California, Santa Barbara (NAE)
Among the new CAE classmates who will be formally inducted at a ceremony in Beijing on June 8, 2018, along with Bill Gates and Dr. Reif, is Professor Nicholas Peppas, who holds the Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. "Membership in the CAE is the highest engineering distinction in China, and the academy is among the most prestigious engineering communities in the world," a press release from the university on December 4 announcing the award proudly explains. "Once elected, foreign members hold lifelong memberships. Peppas is one of 18 foreign members elected in 2017 and the only member elected from the state of Texas." The same release also notes: "In China, Peppas has received Honorary Professorships from Sichuan University (Chengdu) and Peking Union Medical College (Beijing) and Master Lecturer recognitions from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai) and Peking Union Medical College (Beijing)."
Even more "linked in" with the Chinese academic establishment than Peppas is Dr. Ahsan Kareem, the Robert Moran Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences at Notre Dame University, who is one of the new CAE members. A Notre Dame press release announcing the great 'honor" mentions that Professor Kareem "currently serves as an honorary professor at Tongji University; Southwest Jiaotong University; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Central South University; Shijiazhuang Tiedo University; and as a distinguished visiting professor at Nanjing Tech University. This is in addition to guest professorships at Beijing Jiaotong University; Chongqing University; the Southeast University, Nanjing; and Tokyo Polytechnic University." The release further notes that "Kareem was also appointed by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as a high-end consultant to Tongji University — the highest level of appointment given to a foreign expert in China."
As is evident from the bios of the American inductees into the CAE, they have been buddying up with Chinese universities for some time now, with some of them holding visiting professorships and consultancies in China that, undoubtedly, have proven lucrative for themselves, though not so much in terms of advancing academic freedom and genuine scholarship. Academic freedom, to which they all pay lip service, does not exist, of course, in the rigidly policed (and brutally enforced) world of Orwellian thought control that is daily life in the glorious People's Republic. Unfortunately, that thought control is increasingly the reality in American academe as well, as American colleges, universities, and think tanks eagerly accept more and more funding from Communist China's new billionaire "philanthropists" and state-owned corporations. (See: "China's Communist Billionaires: Darlings of Harvard, Wall Street, CFR.")
Dr. Wang Dan, a leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protests (that turned into a massacre), penned a recent op-ed that appeared in the New York Times (of all places!) lamenting the fact that the communist thought police at many American colleges and universities are almost as prevalent and oppressive as in China. Dr. Wang, who spent nearly seven years in prison for his Tiananmen participation (he was one of the "lucky" ones who weren't ground into hamburger under the People's Liberation Army tank treads), writes in his op-ed entitled "Beijing Hinders Free Speech In America" that members of the China Students and Scholars Association, which has chapters at many of our universities, operate as a spying and enforcement arm of the Chinese government. The same can be said for the Confucius Institutes, another gestapo arm of China's Ministry of Education that enforces CPC orthodoxy on American campuses. In a 2013 article entitled "China U," in the left-wing magazine The Nation, University of Chicago anthropology professor emeritus Marchall Sahlins stated: "Confucius Institutes censor political discussions and restrain the free exchange of ideas." And, he asked, "Why, then, do American universities sponsor them?" Professor Sahlins notes that the Confucius Institutes are "governed by a council of high state and party officials from various political departments and chaired by a member of the Politburo, Vice Premier Liu Yandong." American university officials look the other way and pretend not to notice what the Confucius Institute and the China Students and Scholars Association are doing. But as Professor Sahlins charges, "by hosting a Confucius Institute, they have become engaged in the political and propaganda efforts of a foreign government in a way that contradicts the values of free inquiry and human welfare to which they are otherwise committed." That is a rather mild condemnation of the blatant betrayal — not only of their students' rights, but of American society — that these university officials are engaged in.
President Reif's MIT, naturally, boasts a thriving chapter of the China Students and Scholars Association. And as Selwyn Duke pointed out in The New American this past April, MIT Press has published an outrageously subversive children's book entitled Communism for Kids by Bini Adamczak, "a Berlin-based social theorist and artist." Well, we can't wait for the kiddies to get to MIT (or the local community college) to begin learning about the glories of Marxism-Leninism and "the wonderful world that could be," right? The MIT Press promotional for its propaganda for tots says of Adamczak's book:
Once upon a time, people yearned to be free of the misery of capitalism. How could their dreams come true? This little book proposes a different kind of communism, one that is true to its ideals and free from authoritarianism. Offering relief for many who have been numbed by Marxist exegesis and given headaches by the earnest pompousness of socialist politics, it presents political theory in the simple terms of a children's story, accompanied by illustrations of lovable little revolutionaries experiencing their political awakening.
Then, by the time they get to MIT (if not before) they'll be ready for Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, and ready, as well, to wield it as a member of the Red Guards, to implement the Cultural Revolution here, as it was murderously implemented in China.
The Chinese Academy of Engineering falls under the authority of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the regime's main executive ruling body, whose head is China's premier, currently Li Kequiang. Are the privileged members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering less slavishly instruments of totalitarian ideology than were the German engineers that built Hitler's war machine? Simply read a few entries from the CAE website to remove any doubts. It is replete with entries such as this October 25, 2017 Communist Party propaganda spiel entitled "Xi's thought enshrined in CPC Constitution."
"The Communist Party of China (CPC) added 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' to its Constitution on Tuesday," the CAE entry breathlessly states. "The amendment, approved at the 19th CPC National Congress, juxtaposes Xi's thought with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development," the propaganda release continues. "Enshrining Xi's thought into the Party Constitution has proved the main highlight of the congress, signifying a leap forward in the sinicization of Marxism. The resolution on the amendment to the Constitution states that with the integration of theory and practice, Chinese communists, with Xi as their chief representative, have given shape to the new thought since the 18th CPC National Congress."
The CAE entry, which is not unusual for unabashed, full-throated rhapsodizing over every CPC dogmatic announcement, states further: "This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Karl Marx's iconic book 'Das Kapital,' while 2018 marks the 170th anniversary of the Communist Manifesto as well as the 40th anniversary of socialist China's launch of the reform and opening-up drive. Xi believes that the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics means 'Scientific socialism is full of vitality in 21st century China, and that the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is now flying high and proud for all to see.'"
Much thanks for this, of course, goes to billionaire crony capitalists such as Bill Gates, academics such as Dr. Reif, Dr. Vest, and Professor Peppas, and the American universities and corporations that have enabled "the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics" to fly "high and proud for all to see." – The New American
academics, bill gates, china, energy, energy markets
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text:
Q: wordpress plugin to include files I created a code for wordpress plugin to include files in head. I don't have good knowledge but after googling i created it....but sure that code is not correct
add_action ('init', 'ajp_header_init');
add_action('wp_head','ajp_instance_code');
//This function includes the required css and js files
function ajp_header_init()
{
if ($directories[count($directories)-1] == 'mu-plugins' )
define ('AJP_PLUGIN_URL', content_url().'/'.$plugin_dir);
else
define ('AJP_PLUGIN_URL', rtrim(content_url().'/plugins/'.plugin_basename(dirname(__FILE__)), '/'));
wp_register_script('Jquery Adaptive Plugin',AJP_PLUGIN_URL.'/lib/jquery.adaptivate.min.js',false);
wp_register_script('Jquery Adaptive Plugin',AJP_PLUGIN_URL.'/lib/jquery.adaptivate.js',false);
wp_register_style('Jquery Adaptive Style',AJP_PLUGIN_URL.'/css/adaptive.css',false);
wp_enqueue_script('jquery');
wp_enqueue_script('Jquery Adaptive Plugin');
wp_enqueue_style('Jquery Adaptive Style');
}

function ajp_instance_code()
{
echo"
<script type='text/javascript'>
$('html').adaptivate({
'widths': [240, 320, 480, 640, 768, 960, 1024, 1280, 1440, 1600, 1920, 2400],
'format': 'width_{operator}_{width}',
'orientationFormat': 'orientation_{orientation}'
});
</script>
";

A: Why are you sure the code is not correct? What is not working? What errors have you received? Please read the guidelines on asking questions.
Some tips.

*

*The slugs for wp_register_script/style should be that - put them in lowercase and swap the spaces for -

*jQuery is loaded in noConflict mode (for good reason) by default. This means you should use 'jQuery' rather than '$' for your selectors.

*It's generally better to put your scripts in their own file and enqueue them like the others (that removes the need for the wp_head call.

A: I suggest you to read THIS PAGE for a correct script implementation and try to use this code for define paths:
plugins_url('lib/jquery.adaptivate.min.js',__FILE__)

This is an example of a plugin file for colorbox script implementation:
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'load_colorbox' );
function load_colorbox() {
    wp_register_script('jquery-colorbox', plugins_url('js/jquery.colorbox-min-1.4.17.js',__FILE__),array( 'jquery' ),false,true);
    wp_enqueue_script('jquery-colorbox-handler', plugins_url('js/jquery.colorbox-handler.js',__FILE__),array( 'jquery-colorbox' ),false,true);
    wp_enqueue_style('jquery-colorbox-style-theme', plugins_url('css/theme5/colorbox.css', __FILE__) );
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Job seekers looking for a change of scenery should consider winter jobs very closely as they can offer an exciting and challenging change to the norm. Good pay and conditions as well as being able to take advantage of the winter activities are big draw cards.
Winter jobs in Connecticut and other winter tourist areas are filled fast due to the number of people who desire these types of jobs so it is the best interests of the job seeker to act quickly to secure the job of their choice. Who knows, you may plan on staying for the winter and end up staying all year round.


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ALBUQUERQUE,N.M. (KRQE) - A family visiting New Mexico from California got quite the surprise during a stop a local museum. A loaded gun mysteriously made its way into their rental car.
The family says they cleaned out the car before going to the Natural History and Science Museum last weekend ahead of their flight home. That's why they're still confused as to how the firearm got there in the first place.
The loaded gun was the last thing couple Julie Mendolsohn and Casey Craig expected to find while on vacation.
"I just instinctively thought, 'oh maybe those are the keys'. So, I reached down and grabbed it," Casey Craig explained. "And what I pulled back was...a pistol, a sidearm, a firearm."
The California family says they rented from Avis at the Sunport. For four days, they went sightseeing around the state.
"We came up to see all of the neat ancient ruins," Mendelsohn said.
On their last day in town, they decided to go to the museum to kill a few hours before their flight. Earlier that day, Julie Mendelsohn says she thoroughly swept the rental car looking for any loose items.
"I have been dinged from a rental car company before for having sand in the car and it's a $75 fee and I'm not paying that," Mendelsohnn said. "So, I made sure the whole car was super clean before we left the hotel."
From the hotel, they went to the museum. "After we had been there for about an hour and a half or so, Julie had complained that she was chilly," Craig said.
So, he went to get her jacket, which is when they noticed their rental car keys were nowhere to be found. "It turned out the car was unlocked and the keys were not in the ignition," Craig said. "So, I started to search the car." That's when they saw the gun under the passenger seat and called Albuquerque Police. They weren't the only ones baffled.
"The two security guards from the museum said they'd never seen anything like it before," Mendelsohn said. "No one had."
In the end, there was no clear conclusion as to how the gun got there. APD says it did not come back as stolen possibly because the original gun owner did not know the serial number. Mendelsohn says nothing was stolen from the car. It had to be towed because the keys were never found.


Grieve, so you can be free to feel something else.
The above quote has become my mantra. I lost my best friend two years ago, today.
I never fully unpack a suitcase until I have used all its contents, or my mother demands it. She has since given up and lets me trip over it for whatever period I spend at home. I would be dishonest if I did not mention the fact that my suitcase moonlights as a bar "fridge". You see, my favourite thing to to en route to Africa (read Zimbabwe), is to stroll through the Duty Free shop and buy a few (like 2 or 3, calm down) one litre bottles of vodka. For some reason, the Duty Free store stocks variations that you don't see at your local liquor shop and this makes for interesting holiday buzzing. Anyway, I'll purchase those and hide them in my suitcase. This will explain why, during my Africa stints, you will likely find me at home babysitting the same tumbler of Mazoe with tons of ice. All day. I think my family has chalked it up to extreme homesickness and finds it endearing that I love our national drink this much, which works for me. To be honest, I'm surprised inyongo hasn't killed me yet.
Anyway, on this particular Thursday morning in January, at the height of summer in Africa, I packed the last of my belongings back into the suitcase I had been living out of for the past four and half weeks. Except for the now empty vodka bottles. Those I stashed into my ginormous "purse" so that I could dispose of them in a bin that didn't belong to my mother. Yes, I'm 27. No, I will never drink openly in front of my parents. Please stop asking me why. As I packed, I cross referenced with my list. I pack with a list because I'm an adult that needs order. (I can feel the judgment). Fine, I pack with a list because I'm afraid of forgetting things. As I zipped the bag up, in my mind I scheduled the day's appointments and calculated the time I would have to say goodbye to my friends before dashing to the airport.
Father had loaned me his car – mostly because Mother doesn't let anyone drive her car and, honestly, with the calibre of drivers in our household, I do not blame her. I lined up my luggage in the foyer for quick transfer later, and gently carried my handbag and its contraband contents to the car before my mother heard the telltale sound of clanging bottles and ordered me to lie on the ground with my hands visible so she could conduct a thorough investigation. (cue sirens).
This is funny because that is almost exactly how this would have gone.
I had breakfast, (okay, chocolate cake) at Mary's Corner with a childhood friend who is now married with three children. (Two at the time). The most beautiful boys and a girl. We spoke about how different our lives were and she showed me pictures of her sons in uniform and I had to all but bat my ovaries down. And here I was jetting off to singlehood and general debauchery in the Cape with blessed little to be responsible for. I remember feeling a bit awkward because all my stories began with atrocious giggling due to the the sheer ridiculousness of the tales, whilst hers were homey, familiar and most definitely involved an assortment of baked goods and consistent cuddles. (Sheds thug tear).
I then sped off to the Tin Cup. It may or may not have been before noon, but I was on holiday and as my body was now 40% vodka anyway, who was I to deny my parched throat? I recall sitting near the window with one half of my favourite cousins (yes, twins) downing ciders and eating the fries from his girlfriend's plate. Side bar – she and I hit it off that day. So much so, that she once carried an order of Chicken Inn (KFC but better) from Bulawayo to Cape Town for me. Legendary stuff. I had a 2 o'clock meeting with Natalie at the Boma (is it still called the Boma? The one at the dams?). Please note, I rarely drove around my city, and I never did it tipsy. So picture this; It's I.50pm and I have a 3pm buzz going. I'm recklessly racing towards the back entrance to the dams, I keep missing the turn because, well, buzz, and she is texting me like I'm a slow 13 year old. She was so rude to me. I mean, she had no regard for my adultness and general respectability. I loved that. If a stranger ever read our texts, they'd wonder why we even bothered.
When I finally walked up to her table – it really was hers. Apparently she had a corner that she'd claimed. It was by a bench, in a corner, with all the cushions. her slops were on the floor and her legs dangled from the seat. And she'd ordered me wine. Come to think of it, that may be why we were friends. All the wine. But that wouldn't explain that horrendous Spice Girls performance from grade 4 after that one breaktime. She was Posh spice (of course), and I was Scary Spice (another of course). It went quite well I think, after I'd stopped crying because Joanne had kicked my shins for some reason or the other.
The wine wouldn't explain NRZ – the rap trio she, Zola and myself formed. Our one and only hit was a bunch of slick lines spat over makeshift drumbeats to Busta Rhymes' "Touch it". Our tag line was "NRZ, keeping you on track".
Gosh, we were so cool.
The wine wouldn't explain the break times we spent harmonising to Destiny's Childand Ne-yo with Zola (DRAMATIC). Or how we slayed our first live performance of Fever at Isigodlo Samakhosi. Or how after that performance, she caught me canoodling with what I can now confidently describe as a "not my type" boy outside. (In my defence, he played the guitar, so, what choice did I have?) Or the way we spoke about that night for weeks afterwards, because that was how exceptionally boring our lives were.
The wine wouldn't explain the heart-to-hearts we had in the prefect's common room (I had to drop that in. Thank goodness I did not peak in high school because, wow). We'd head up the wooden stairs to what I imagine used to be the attic in the house that was now our school administration headquarters. And there, during our free periods, whenever we found ourselves alone, we'd share our deepest secrets. And I don't mean the standard, predictable teenage angst-filled boy nonsense. I mean, there was plenty of that, but sometimes, really deep stuff. Existential crises and fears of inadequacy. Even then, she was years wiser than I. She gave the most sound advice and to ease the silence, she'd tease me relentlessly about the length of my school skirt.
I remember settling in next to her on those cushions that summer's afternoon and reading one of her journals. She wrote all the time. So honestly. Some of it left me speechless. I cried. She cried. We then laughed hysterically about the folly of our youth until the waitress side-eyed us from her station – although there wasn't anybody else there. I remember leaving my wine for her to finish because I'd been summoned by Mother and was petrified of missing my flight and having to explain that I had been side tracked by grapes. I popped some chewing gum to disguise my activities and left. She remained to write, she said.
She yelled out my childhood nickname as I climbed into the driver's seat. I rolled my eyes and waved from the window as I drove off at breakneck speed. Probably not the wisest of my decisions. My heart was happy.
That was my last memory of Nat. Happy. And Lord, so beautiful.
2 weeks later, I woke up to the news. And my world hasn't been the same since. Yeah it hurts a little less every day, but it still hurts.


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text:
title: new page - register
date: 2011-04-06 00:00:00 Z
permalink: "/blog/2011/04/new-page-register/"
layout: post
---

Now you can [register](/prepare/) for your retreat online.

EDIT: This was when I offered retreats in Guatemala. Now see [world](http://zeemaps.com/map?group=2075542) map of darkrooms. Note link there to Czech map.

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No...........we didn't add irrigation. No............we didn't install drainage. The trenches you see around the playing field are the result of "Root Pruning".
Before we began, we marked areas that we wanted to trench with paint. The path should be straight as opposed to curved in order to keep the trench narrow and minimize disruption. We targeted our worst areas. In other words we targeted areas where we have the biggest struggle keeping turf happy in the summer when the heat is on and the trees are competing for water.
My friend Jeff from Greenshields brought his really cool machines out to do the work. Jeff's expertise is drainage and he uses these machines to install miles of drainage every year. At Tacoma we have very little need for drainage so I haven't been able to use Jeff's talented staff before. We recently realized that his stuff is also perfectly suited to efficiently prune roots from the fairways.
You can see that the finished trench is very clean and tidy.
This trench on 13 was the most impressive. Here we were pruning poplar roots which are very aggressive. This fairway is so hard to keep green in the summer because of the encroaching poplar roots. I expect to see a huge improvement here this coming summer.
Look at this pic of the trench we cut on 13. The density of roots from the poplars is really impressive.
After the trenches were cut, Jeff's guys used the side shooter to backfill the trenches.
Then they put the packer-roller-thingy on the really cool skid-steer and packed the sand into the trenches. It was really impressive to see how Jeff and his guys did 1500 feet of trench in 8 hours. What's even more impressive is Jeff says he can double his productivity next time now that we have run through the process this year and figured out ways that we can improve on it. I'm hoping that we see a huge improvement from the root pruning and that we can just get on a schedule to do a day of pruning each spring. Here's a cool short video of the process.


text:
8 Reasons To Visit The Mojave National Preserve
June 1, 2016Alex E + Save to a List
Don't overlook this hidden gem in the middle of Southern California.
The Mojave National Preserve is an outdoor playground the entire family can enjoy, any time of year. With less than half of the visitors Death Valley National Park received last year and not even a quarter of the visitors Joshua Tree National Park received, The Mojave National Preserve is the over looked desert with all the same attractions, if not more than its more popular neighbors. This 1.6 million acre area in the heart of southern California is an outdoor paradise. This landscape shaped by extinct volcanoes, rugged mountains and old ghost towns, offers an array of hiking trails, four wheeling trails, wildlife, wildflowers, rock climbing, camping, and photography to anyone will to take on the challenge of getting there. The park is a fee-less area, except for a few developed campsites, and doesn't offer the same amenities as most areas in the National Park system. Make sure you are well prepared when you venture out into this vast isolated desert, but don't let that scare you away! Here are the top 8 reasons to visit the Mojave National Preserve.
1. The Lava Tube
This hidden gem under the desert floor is an amazing and magical experience. The Lava Tube, which can only be accessed by a 5 mile dirt road, is a great place to explore for all ages. The Lava Tube has three cave like rooms. The roof of the lava tube has three holes that allow light to shine down to the cave floor. The beam of light that cuts through the darkness creates a magical experience and photo opportunity.
2. The Mojave Road
The Mojave Desert Road is known today as a 140 mile off road trail for 4 wheel drive enthusiasts, but what many people don't know is how important the Mojave Road is to American history and the West. The Road stretches from the Colorado River in Arizona to the Mojave river in California. The trail which was originally used by Native Americans became a way for foreign explorers and eventually American settlers to cross the great expanse of rough desert. The Mojave Road follows the many water springs that dot the dry landscape. The trail that is a staple of American history is now a fun way for people to access the deserts wonderful landscape.
3. The Isolation
Sandwiched between Death Valley National Park to the north and Joshua Tree National Park to the south, The Mojave National Preserve gets over looked by most adventurers. What many don't know is that the Mojave actually holds a larger concentration of Joshua Trees than Joshua tree NP. With less trails, primitive campsites harder to access, and an expanse of unmarked territory, the Mojave gives you the isolation and seclusion we all search for in the wild! See the Joshua Trees without all the people, take advantage of primitive and self issue camping, and explore an endless expanse of trails and unmarked territory.
4. The Kelso Sand Dunes
The Kelso Sand Dunes are beautiful mountains of sand, some as tall as 650 feet tall, that stretch as far as the eye can see! The 45 square miles of sand dunes brings me back to the good old days as a kid playing in a sand box. Now this life size playground offers amazing photo opportunities and fun for the entire family. Hike, climb, or even snowboard your way around these rare dunes.
5. The Caverns
Although currently closed to the public due to a lack of funding, water well, and the need for new generators, the state park systems claim The Mitchell Caverns will be reopened in the near future. The limestone caves sit nestled below the Providence Mountains. The caves were once used to dig further mines in search of silver and gold. The caves offer beautiful stalactites and stalagmites which drape the cave walls. The cave stays at a constant 65 degrees which is great relief from the desert heat above. Be on the look out for this hidden gem to be reopened!
6. The Stars
Although located right in the middle between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, two of the busiest night life's in the country, the Mojave National Preserve offers some of the darkest night skies in America. With small towns, roads, and civilization few and far between in this part of the California, this is easily one of, if not the best location to fall asleep under an endless night sky. On my last camping trip to Hole-In-The- Wall campground, I counted over a dozen shooting stars before I fell asleep. With the use of a 4x4 vehicle or a good pair of hiking boots, the Mojave allows you to escape even the minor glow of a neighboring campsite. Pull over on the side of the road or walk into the vast desert to find your own personal night sky!
7. The Photography
The burnt orange and reds of this desert in the early morning and late evening provide perfect lighting for even the most novice of photographers. Wake up early and watch as the desert landscape comes to life with the early morning glow. The sunrise and sunsets silhouetted by the large mountain landscape dotted with Joshua trees are a photographers dream. Other than the last 6 reasons, the desert wildflowers, the wildlife, and historic landmarks are just a few of the endless opportunities to capture that wall hanging shot!
8. The Challenge
In today's world we get so accustom to the convenience of modern day amenities and true adventure seems an after thought. The lack of convenience makes the Mojave National Preserve that much more desirable. The Mojave like most desert regions has very hot temperatures during the day and extremely low temperatures during the night. This kind of weather can be difficult on any person or machine. Taking on the challenge of crossing the Mojave Road or venturing out on foot to do some primitive camping, takes planning and preparation. The risk of venturing out into the wild expanse without the safety net of the park service or gas station just up the road, is what keeps that adventurous soul alive in all of us!
Alex EExplorer
I try to spend every free moment skiing, backpacking, fishing or finding an adrenaline rush!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Robert MacNeill received his Bachelor's degree with Honors in Chemistry from Heriot Watt University then his MSc in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Huddersfield, both in the United Kingdom. Robert is also a Chartered Chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. With 20 years of experience in all aspects of quantitative bioanalytical LC–MS/MS method development, 11 of these years heading method development activities within HLS/Envigo, and a regular author and peer reviewer for the journal Bioanalysis, Robert is a recognized expert and innovator in the field.
There are, in essence, two schools of thought that I can perceive when discussions occur on the topic of appropriate purity of the laboratory water and various solvents, additives and reagents for any given stage of a quantitative bioanalytical procedure. I can understand the perspectives of both, but I am cemented with one in terms of my angle and agreement.
It is actually something that can spark surprisingly heated argument. I think it is down to this being, on the surface, quite a simple subject which shouldn't require much thought to generate a suitable outcome. Then there is a natural resistance to change as regards what one expects to use from experience. Around ten years ago, I discovered LC–MS grade solvents commercially available. When I was recommending the switchover to these from the historic HPLC grade for bioanalytical LC–MS applications, I was astounded to find resistance, even though for me it seemed like the proverbial no-brainer. It took weeks of persuasion for all my colleagues to be content; fast-forward to nowadays and MS-appropriate grades are engrained in all protocols.
The two schools of thought are as follows. One is about using what seems to work and aiming for cost-efficiency in the context of using the most readily available, or lowest grade, so to speak, that results in a functional assay. Perhaps only at the analytical endpoint this may involve using the most scientifically appropriate grade, the reconstitution and the mobile phase in the LC–MS analysis, as opposed to these and all prior steps in a bioanalytical procedure.
The opposing angle is more old-school, I suppose, where risk of signal loss and associated non-reproducibility is minimized in the interests of method performance and reliability, and where minimizing solvent costs is not so much of a priority. The most scientifically appropriate grade is used in all steps of a procedure, from the preparation of primary solutions to the final analysis, considering primarily the nature of the LC–MS analytical endpoint.
Now, for bioanalytical LC–MS, within the possible options, the most scientifically appropriate grade of solvent is LC–MS grade. What makes this a better choice than the clear and historic competitor of HPLC grade? The most significant part of the answer for LCMS is that it is deionized, and that is not the case for HPLC and other non-MS grades. Whilst knowing the risks they bring, we are not overly concerned with trace organic interferences, which are controlled anyway in HPLC grade solvents, in our wonderfully selective LC-SRM methods. However, we require that ionic – especially hard ionic with concentrated charge – contaminants are removed to trace and controlled levels. Whilst minimizing these contaminants dramatically reduces adverse phenomena like stable adduct formation and displacement, directly affecting sensitivity, there is probably more importance in the control, since without precision and reproducibility there cannot be a useful method. HPLC grade solvents are not associated with any concern about levels of anionic or cationic impurities. This is particularly important with water, where ionized and ionizable contaminants are most solubilized. LC–MS water must be Type 1 and used fresh to be truly reliable, by the by, and that is with regard to interferences that are ionic, organic, or leachables from storage containers and the possibility of bacterial growth. Anyway, it is very important to understand that the lack of control, as these key ionic contaminants aren't even measured, emphatically does not fit with a conscientious analytical mindset. Why take the risk?
It is fairly intuitive to consider that a biological matrix, particularly something like plasma, will contain large abundances of the very interferences mentioned above, and a host of others. This is the basis of the mentality lending itself to using the right grade only post-extraction. However, consider one of the key adverse phenomena, the adduction of hard cations, such as the formation of a coordinate covalent bond between a sodium ion and a lone pair of electrons on an amine moiety on the analyte. This is the kind of complex that is unfavorable if the protonated form is being monitored for quantification, as is typical in quantitative applications. I think it is very important to bear in mind that in the same given matrix there will also be a great abundance of many different endogenous small and large molecules that these same ions can and will adduct to, thus taking away significantly from the available yield that would otherwise adduct to our test compounds. Indeed, a solution hypothetically containing similar levels of these contaminants is a far more dangerous scenario than in matrix, since there is no other material present to soak them up, as it were. Therefore it would seem to be the case that the use of solvent and additives of the right grade prior to work in matrix is actually at least as important as in the latter stages, contrary to the stated mentality.
All in all, out of principle, I would strongly recommend controlling what can be controlled and to strive for the best performance data, not to resign oneself to defeat in a presumption. Yes, there may be a few times more of the likes of sodium or potassium in human plasma than regular water, but other endogenous substances accept their adduction, thereby working to save the signals from our monitored compounds. In any case, it should not give the green light to lay on the abundance with an inappropriate solvent grade and increase the chances of unacceptable method performance. If, for a given solvent, it is a little more expensive to use LC–MS grade than the likes of reagent grade or HPLC grade, and that won't necessarily be the case, it is well worth it for method performance and reliability.


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Microenvironment of hematopoietic stem cells can be a target for myeloproliferative disorders
By admin June 24, 2014 Stem Cell Treatment
The discovery of a new therapeutic target for certain kinds of myeloproliferative disease is, without doubt, good news. This is precisely the discovery made by the Stem Cell Physiopathology group at the CNIC (the Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center), led by Dr. Simn Mndez-Ferrer. The team has shown that the microenvironment that controls hematopoietic stem cells can be targeted for the treatment of a set of disorders called myeloproliferative neoplasias, the most prominent of which are chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), and atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
The findings, published today in Nature, demonstrate that these myeloproliferative neoplasias only appear after damage to the microenvironment that sustains and controls the hematopoietic stem cells -- the cells that produce the cells of the blood and the immune system. Protecting this microenvironment, or niche, has thus emerged as a new route for the treatment of these diseases, for which there is currently no fully effective treatment.
"In normal conditions, the microenvironment is able to control the proliferation, differentiation and migration of the hematopoietic stem cell. A specific genetic mutation in these cells results in inflammatory injury to the microenvironment and this control breaks down. What our work shows is that this damage can be prevented or reversed by treatments that target the niche," explained Dr. Mndez-Ferrer.
Indeed, the same team of researchers has demonstrated the efficacy of a possible new treatment, which has been patented through the CNIC. The treatment involves an innovative use of clinically approved treatments for other diseases, so that, according to the authors, "it shouldn't be associated with adverse side effects." The new treatment route has been tested in animals and has received financial backing for a multicenter phase II clinical trial. "This study has a very strong translational and clinical potential," emphasized study first author Dr. Lorena Arranz, who added that "current treatment for myeloproliferative neoplasias is largely symptomatic and directed at preventing thrombosis and fatal cardiovascular events."
The only real cure available today is a bone marrow transplant, which is not advisable in patients over 50 years old. "This makes it important to identify new therapeutic targets for the development of effective treatments," the investigators conclude.
The above story is based on materials provided by Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
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Sweden: Rogue algorithm stops welfare payments for up to 70,000 unemployed | AlgorithmWatch
July 28, 2020 September 18, 2020 tnews 5 Views 0 Comments
By Tom Wills
Automated decision-making has become a national talking point in Sweden, after a report by the country's public broadcaster revealed thousands of unemployed people were wrongly denied benefits by a government computer run amok.
Officials at the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) started looking into the system after they noticed it was failing to generate letters to welfare claimants that had been expected. When they finished their review last year they found major shortcomings, with between 10% and 15% of the computer's decisions likely to have been incorrect, SVT reported.
It is unclear whether it will be possible to identify and correct the erroneous decisions, and when exactly the problem started.
The government brought in the computer system to automate the process of checking that people receiving a certain type of unemployment benefit keep up their obligations – and issuing warnings or withholding their payments if they don't. This was supposed to increase efficiency, but since last Autumn the system has been switched off and human bureaucrats brought back in to sort out the mess.
The agency did not inform the public about the problem, despite insiders knowing that thousands of decisions may have been wrong.
Adnan Habibija, Research Officer at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen i Sverige), said: "It is unfortunate that a computer failure at the Public Employment Service has led to wrong payment decisions for many people. This may have led to uncertainty for many beneficiaries, whose economic situation depends on unemployment insurance payments.
"Mistakes can occur but we are surprised that the agency has waited so long time to inform beneficiaries, but also its own employees, the government and other stakeholders."
In an article in the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter, researchers Anne Kaun and Julia Velkova, who contributed to AlgorithmWatch's recent report on the use of automated decision-making across Europe, say the situation highlights the risks of a growing trend.
"Swedish public administration has begun to replace people with algorithms to decide on everything from welfare payments to child support and sickness benefit," they write. "Citizens do not know if their decision has been taken by an algorithm or an officer."
In the AlgorithmWatch report, Kaun and Velkova discuss the processing of social benefit applications in Trelleborg in the south of Sweden. The municipality uses machines to check applicants' data with other government departments such as the tax office. It is one example of the automated decision-making that is being rolled out for a variety of purposes across Europe. The report highlighted the lack of oversight of automation that is being used to make judgments affecting millions of citizens.
An announcement posted on the Swedish employment service website in response to the SVT investigation says 500,000 automated decisions relating to warnings or sanctions were made by the flawed system.
Swedes taking part in certain government programmes for the unemployed are obliged to submit an activity report every month. This can be done by logging on to a website, through a smartphone app or by filling in a paper form. The agency said problems with the website and issues with registering manually submitted activity reports were among the factors leading to the computer wrongly issuing sanctions.
The employment service website posting said: "All persons who have been wrongly affected will have their cases corrected, provided they are in contact with the Employment Service."
The same week as the problems with the algorithm became known to the public, the agency announced it had launched a second automated decision-making system. This new algorithm will decide who has the right to state-subsidised employment, which is offered to some long-term unemployed people and recent immigrants to the country. Within two years, the administration is expected to automate a further two services, SVT reported.
The news comes just three weeks after the employment service announced it was laying off up to 4,500 of its 13,500 employees. The service cited a budget cut of SEK 800 million (€75 million) between 2018 and 2019. Mikael Sjöberg, Director General, was quoted in a release saying: "The renewal of the authority and the digitization we have carried out has laid a good foundation for continuing to deliver at a high level".
Photo by Alireza Badiee on Unsplash
Source: AlgorithmWatch News (CC BY 4.0).
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My friend, Arwen Gustafson, wrote such a thoughtful and articulate article on their family's journey through childhood leukemia, that I just had to share it here. If you know anyone whose child is going through cancer or a serious, chronic illness, this may provide some encouragement, perspective, and hope for what you are going through as a parent.
This entry was posted in Faith and tagged childhood leukemia, chronic illness. Bookmark the permalink.


A village nestled on a slope of Mont Saint-Martin, built on a peak above the Estéron.
Aiglun overlooks the Massif du Cheiron.
Andon, a village clinging to the flanks of the mountain, covers a vast territory which comprises the agglomeration of Thorenc, the hamlet of Canaux and the resort of Audibergue.
Aspremont, a round village, is one of the jewels of the ancient Comté de Nice. It is part of the "Villages Perchés" tourist route.
This is a village which clings to the mountain, and whose defensive role is obvious. Ancient houses, narrow alleyways, vaulted passages, winding stairways.


All students are encouraged to develop leadership skills throughout their time at Victory. A caring culture is forged by providing students with opportunities to take on responsibilities, work collaboratively, and represent the College to make a positive change in our community and the larger one in which we live.
Our aim is to equip students with skills and self-belief to prepare them for life beyond the classroom. A leadership role can help formalise these skills into practical application. We encourage students to apply for leadership roles and represent the College.


I pitched one of my famous tantrums the other day. My kids have seen them. Most of my friends have not. My computer got a virus, the electricity went out in half my house, and I'm having some financial issues right now. I'd just had enough. I was slamming doors, knocked the dog food over and yelling about anything and everything.
As I calmed down, I wondered why it is we'd rather slam a door than say a prayer. Imagine if more people stopped to pray before they let anger take control. There would be far less crime, less child abuse, and Congress might actually get something done.
We need to control our emotions and not let them get the better of us. Getting angry is just one step away from hurting someone else. Afterward we can apologize, but there's no guarantee it will be forgotten.
We need to stop and allow God to take control of our emotions. Psalm 37:8 reads, Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.
If I had taken a deep breath, counted to ten and prayed, I wouldn't have had to clean up the dog food that went all over the floor. That would have given me one less thing to be angry about.
Amen to that, Kathy! If only we could turn that adrenolin into somethign productive.
Sometimes, it's okay to be angry. God wired us with emotions. But He also wants us to be angry, but sin not.
Hang in there, good things are coming!
Aw, yes. If it were only that easy. The best I can hope for in those moments is to not forever ruin someone's opinion of me or a relationship.
Good thing my kids are used to it. I just hate to act like a two year old in front of them when I want them to act grown up.
a time to lean on God for direction (I have been leaning hard lately!!).
I had the ah-ha moment. I just hope I remember it when the next time comes.


Personal website claiming to be the 'Definitive Guide to the Wines of the Loire'. It has always been an ambition to write a book on the region. Now destined to become a retirement project. In the meantime, whilst some of the information published on the website is now somewhat out of date, from a historical and geographical perspective, it remains relevant and a useful resource for further additional reading in support of this website.
A South African project which sets out to liberate wines of the Cape that would otherwise not see the light of day.


For stressed-out healthcare professionals, often working in high-pressured, life-and-death environments, it is easy to get worn down and demotivated. At the same time, nursing involves a lot of routine tasks that can become dispiriting after a while.
'There are numerous reasons for loss of motivation,' says Michelle Brown, discipline lead for healthcare practice at the University of Derby's Chesterfield campus. 'It could be a lack of recognition or a feeling that one is "left behind" while others appear to be progressing. Or it could be monotony and a lack of inspiration in the day-to-day work.
The main thing is to avoid letting the situation turn into a crisis, counsels Nick Simpson, chief executive of health recruiter MSI Group. 'It is normal to worry about lack of motivation, but don't become too alarmed. Your lost motivation may be a sign that you would be better suited to a slightly different role.
But before rushing into changing jobs, try setting yourself fresh goals to revitalise your motivation.
'This could be by expanding your knowledge through continuing professional development, or learning a new skill,' adds Mr Simpson.
Don't blame yourself for the loss of motivation, rather seek advice. 'Talking to your line manager may be a way of addressing any issues – it can also be cathartic just to be able to discuss your thoughts,' says Ms Brown.
Take time to reflect – can you get yourself back on the path you want to be?
Reward yourself – think about a time where you achieved something you were proud of at work. Is there an opportunity to do this again?
Look for new responsibilities – is there an opportunity to take on a new challenge?
Seek inspiration – is there someone who could mentor or coach you?


text:
US Gun Deaths Reached a Record High in 2017
By Ed Cara on at
The number of Americans who were killed by firearms in 2017 reached a record high, according to a recent CNN analysis of data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were almost 40,000 gun-related deaths last year. The majority of these deaths were suicides.
CNN looked at the CDC's WONDER database, which pools together data on annual deaths, births, and the prevalence of certain illnesses within the US collected from state and local health agencies. Their analysis was actually a replication of one conducted by the nonprofit advocacy group Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV) earlier in December.
Both CNN and EFSGV's analysis found that 39,773 people had reportedly died by guns in 2017. It's the highest number of gun deaths ever recorded in the US going back to 1979, when the CDC began keeping track of these deaths under the current system.
"In 2017, nearly 109 people died every single day from gun violence," the EFSGV said in a statement following the release of its analysis. "Gun violence is a public health epidemic that requires a public health solution, which is why we must immediately enact and implement evidence-based interventions—like permit-to-purchase policies and extreme risk laws."
Tragic mass shootings have certainly become more common in recent years. But in reality, the greatest risk of dying from a firearm remains self-inflicted. More than half—23,854—of the gun deaths in 2017 were suicides, while 14,542 people were killed in a homicide (the remaining deaths were categorised as accidents, undetermined, or deaths caused by law enforcement officials while on duty).
The higher toll in 2017 might be partly the result of a larger population, but it's also the case that people are now more likely to die from guns than they were in the recent past. The annual age-adjusted rate of gun deaths per every 100,000 people jumped from 10.3 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 12 deaths per 100,000 in 2017, CNN reported. The trend seems to be reversing a long-running decrease in gun violence seen starting in the 1990s.
Lawmakers have tried to pass harsher gun regulations in recent years, particularly following mass shootings, but have mostly failed, thanks largely to Republican opposition buoyed by the lobbying efforts of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Predictably, in response to the analysis, the NRA was quick to counter with a statement that avoided taking any responsibility.
"Gun control laws are not the answer," the organisation tweeted last week, ignoring a wealth of evidence showing that gun control laws can have a positive impact on gun deaths, especially those caused by suicide. "If we want to prevent more horrific acts of violence our leaders need to stop demonizing the men and women of the @NRA and find solutions that will save lives."
Meanwhile, at least 12 people were injured in mass shootings in the US during the first weekend of this month past weekend, with one person dying as a result, according to the Gun Violence Archive. [CNN]
Featured image: Mark Wilson (Getty Images)


text:
Q: Ubuntu 16 timeout errors If im trying to update my ubuntu

sudo apt-get update

At the end I'm getting errors:

Err http://neurodebian.g-node.org data InRelease
Err http://neurodebian.g-node.org yakkety InRelease
Err http://neurodebian.g-node.org data Release.gpg   Unable to connect
  to neurodebian.g-node.org:http: Err http://neurodebian.g-node.org
  yakkety Release.gpg   Unable to connect to
  neurodebian.g-node.org:http: Fetched 3,653 kB in 2min 0s (30.4 kB/s)
  Reading package lists... Done W: Failed to fetch
  http://neurodebian.g-node.org/dists/data/InRelease
W: Failed to fetch
  http://neurodebian.g-node.org/dists/yakkety/InRelease
W: Failed to fetch
  http://neurodebian.g-node.org/dists/data/Release.gpg  Unable to
  connect to neurodebian.g-node.org:http:
W: Failed to fetch
  http://neurodebian.g-node.org/dists/yakkety/Release.gpg  Unable to
  connect to neurodebian.g-node.org:http:
W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old
  ones used instead.

Also when I'm trying to clone git:
git clone https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv.git ~/.rbenv

I'm getting:

fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv.git/': Failed to connect to github.com port 443: Connection timed out

And If I'm trying to use wayback machine downloader I'm getting errors:

Getting snapshot pages/usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:763:in
  initialize': Connection timed out - connect(2) (Errno::ETIMEDOUT)
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:763:inopen'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:763:in block in connect'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/timeout.rb:55:intimeout'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/timeout.rb:100:in timeout'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:763:inconnect'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:756:in do_start'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/net/http.rb:745:instart'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:306:in open_http'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:775:inbuffer_open'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:203:in block in open_loop'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:201:incatch'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:201:in open_loop'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:146:inopen_uri'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:677:in open'
          from /usr/lib/ruby/1.9.1/open-uri.rb:33:inopen'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader/archive_api.rb:8:in
  get_raw_list_from_api'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader.rb:88:in
  get_all_snapshots_to_consider'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader.rb:105:in
  get_file_list_curated'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader.rb:168:in
  get_file_list_by_timestamp'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader.rb:309:in
  file_list_by_timestamp'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/lib/wayback_machine_downloader.rb:192:in
  download_files'
          from /var/lib/gems/1.9.1/gems/wayback_machine_downloader-2.2.1/bin/wayback_machine_downloader:72:in
  <top (required)>'
          from /usr/local/bin/wayback_machine_downloader:23:inload'
          from /usr/local/bin/wayback_machine_downloader:23:in `'

Any ideas what could be wrong?

A: you are "offline" one way (unplugged cable) or another (your gateway is not letting you out).  See e.g. https://www.a2hosting.com/kb/getting-started-guide/internet-and-networking/troubleshooting-network-connectivity-with-ping-and-traceroute to troubleshoot your network connection using ping, traceroute etc commands


It was Catherine's idea to interview the nurses of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Health Program (MSCHP), or as the location is more endearingly known, "HIV Downtown." She used to work as a nurse at Saint Vincent's Hospital before it closed five years ago, and before Mount Sinai brought MSCHP into the MSHS family. "I just feel like they have tons of stories that need to be heard," she said to me when we met recently, at a nurse narrative event.
On the afternoon of our scheduled interview at the clinic, we were taken to a small, neat conference room that overlooked Chelsea. Our host, Lorrain Bell, the MSCHP Clinical Nurse Coordinator, came in shortly, jumping right in, setting the pace of our conversation in a confident and eloquent tone. She had things to talk about; stories to share, and the command she held over her narrative grabbed us out of our work-worry distraction, and held us rapt and eager to listen.
Saint Vincent's nurses pioneered the early efforts for care coordination for the first of New York's HIV population, Lorrain told us. Although there was fear at the beginning, she spoke highly of the support that the small, Catholic community hospital showed to HIV patients; "…nobody knew what it was, and it was a very challenging time," she said, "…but the program grew very quickly; they had to – it was a need!" The clinic was the largest of its kind, with over 3,000 active patients at the height of the crisis.
She's right, and the prevention-based focus of MCHPS speaks to this change. One of their major initiatives, a grant-funded program called, "The Summit," is the administration of rapid testing and treatment for people who believe they have been exposed to HIV, known as nPEP – non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis.
Patients with exposure must receieve nPEP within 36 hours. "None of these patients have appointments; they all have to be fit in, but if somebody comes in close to the deadline, I can't have somebody sitting out there [in the waiting room] in some danger," Lorrain explained. MSCHP staff will rearrange the waiting room list to meet the window of best chance for prevention. Nurses triage the nPEP patients, and then work with the providers and other team members to administer the "Stop the Clock Dose," in order to meet the deadline and prevent conversion.
Lorrain boasts an almost absolute prevention rate in the eight years the program has provided this innovative service; "It's effective! We have not had a person go from negative to positive – provided that they take the medicine…." she shouted, happily. The HIV care of the present, thanks to advancements and interdisciplinary teamwork, seems far less traumatic than the past.
MSCHP continues to grow, with the help of Mount Sinai, and the various grants that the program receives. "Mount Sinai is progressive and supportive of the programs that we are running," Lorrain confidently shared, saying, "…everybody, I think, feels this need to carry on and continue this fight, but it's not the same fight, it's a different fight – and I think that's what nurses are best at, looking at where the problems are." She referenced higher rates of STDs and growing transgender services as the new challenges she feels prepared to mount under the auspices of Mount Sinai's encouragement and vision.
We left quickly; Catherine running out with earbuds in tow to jump on a conference call, me hopping on my bike to ride in the cold evening towards more work. "That was awesome," I said to her before we parted. "Yeah, and Lorrain was just one of the original nurses – think of how many more stories need to be told," she replied.
Only 23 years have passed since Lorrain first started her work with HIV patients at Saint Vincent's, when people were dying more often than they were surviving. Today, Lorrain and her colleagues struggle to convince patients to wear condoms and take their pills consistently. Thanks to the incredible scientific developments in HIV treatment, the disease will, hopefully, disappear someday soon, perhaps taking with it the need to recognize World AIDS Day.
But as we reflected on Lorrain's stories and the images of her work in the disease-ravaged New York of HIV's early days, I couldn't help but wonder if we should continue remembering December 1 as World AIDS Day forever – no matter the future. Even when the virus is wiped out for good, we must always remember these profound stories of care.
Amanda Anderson RN, BSN, CCRN is an ICU nurse who currently works in nursing administration at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
Catherine Schaefer, RN, JD is an ICU nurse with over 18 years of experience. She is currently the Director of Professional Practice, and Patient Safety and Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital.
This entry was posted in Nurse's Perspective and tagged AIDS, HIV, World AIDS Day. Bookmark the permalink.


Hundreds of thousands of people in Wirral and parts of Cheshire and Liverpool will have a greater say over how their health services are run, as Wirral Community NHS Trust is authorised as a Foundation Trust.
After undergoing a rigorous assessment process, the trust will now be able to give patients, staff and the public the chance to become members or governors and have a formal say in how services are provided.
Chief Executive Karen Howell said: "I am delighted to announce that we have been authorised as a Foundation Trust and are looking forward to working even more closely with our patients and communities as they have a greater say in the future of their own healthcare services.
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do and are our driving force. As a Foundation Trust we now have more freedom to shape services that meet the needs of the people we serve in Wirral, Cheshire and Liverpool.
This remarkable achievement is testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of staff. Their tenacity and professionalism shone throughout the rigorous external assessment process."
To achieve Foundation Trust status, the trust had to prove it is well governed, meets the quality of care standards set out by the independent Care Quality Commission and is financially responsible and sustainable.
Listen to the audio clips.


We are Washington D.C.'s premier experts in furniture repair, refinishing & antique restoration. Not only does Clair's offer the finest period correct antique restoration service in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia. We also provide the absolute highest caliber on-site furniture repair, touch up work, furniture refinishing & French polishing in the region. While we are obsessed with period antique furniture we do offer many other furniture services such as commercial furniture refinishing, modern furniture service,office furniture repair, leather furniture repair, built in cabinetry touch up & refinishing.
We care for every client as if it were our only client. We communicate every step of the process and will advise on the correct approach for a successful execution of your project. The majority of our work comes from repeat business with existing clients. We do our best to grow that list by taking good care of the people who hire us. In this business your reputation is paramount. We take great care to make certain our clientele has been well served. Please contact us directly to discuss your project. If you're web savvy follow along on twitter or join us on Facebook.
Thank you Lynda Carroll @ Embassy of Ireland!
What is a period correct restoration?
Copyright © 2012 Clair's Furniture Restoration. All Rights Reserved.


text:
SRP / ENG
Where the leaders of energy transition in SEE meet
May 8-9, Hotel Crowne Plaza, Belgrade, Serbia
Energy transition of Southeast Europe - through decarbonization and system integration to climate neutrality and exit from the crisis
The Belgrade Energy Forum 2023, the new conference format of the Balkan Green Energy News portal, will be held on 8 and 9 May 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade. Built on the success of conferences in 2021 and 2022, as well as on the strong position and reputation of the portal in the region and the world, including the centers of political, economic and financial decision-making, BEF 2023 will be the place where the leaders of energy transition of Southeast Europe meet.
Like the rest of Europe, the region has faced a serious energy crisis further fueled by geopolitical frictions and rising inflation. BEF 2023 will discuss the most pressing energy challenges of the region: how to successfully implement the energy transition to a low-carbon economy, in accordance with the EU Green Agenda principles, decarbonize the energy and other sectors, integrate electricity markets into the regional and European ones in times of nationalism and protectionism voices getting louder, and provide technologies and capital needed for a secure supply of the region.
BEF 2023 will bring together decision-makers from the region, Europe and the world, leading investors in the energy sector, financial institutions, consulting firms, technology manufacturers, the world's most famous companies for innovative services and digital solutions, and non-governmental organizations. All members of the first league of the region's energy transition, or those who aspire to join it, will be in Belgrade on 8 and 9 May.
Secure your place in time as a participant or partner and be part of the most important energy event in the region for 2023.
Speakers at events 2021/2022
Artur Lorkowski
Director, Energy Community
H.E. Urs Schmid
Ambassador of Switzerland in the Republic of Serbia
Ex-Deputy Minister, Ex-Minister of Mining and Energy, Government of Serbia
Jasmina Trhulj
Head of Electricity Unit, Energy Community
Maja Turković
SVP Development Europe, CWP Global
Dejan Stojčevski
Technical Director, SEEPEX
Nikola Rajaković
President, Association of energy experts
Dragoljub Cibulić
Partner, BDK Advokat
Zoran Vujasinović
Miloš Mladenović
Director, SEEPEX
Svetlana Cerović
Head of Financing & Advisory, UniCredit Bank Serbia
Marko Janković
Director of Directorate for electricity market, EMS
Neda Lazendić
Country Manager, WV-International
Nemanja Mikać
ElevenEs
Fund Manager, EBRD
Francesko Corbo
Regional Head Energy Europe, EBRD
Head of Public Sector and specialized landing department, Erste Bank Serbia
Damir Miljević
Consultant, RESET
Nino Sijerić
Luxor Solar
Djordje Popović
Managing Director, Resalta Serbia
Dimitrije Knjeginjić
Director, Lafarge Serbia
Ana Džokić
Founder, Elektropionir
Join BEF 2023 as a panellist
Registration and welcoming coffee
Welcoming remarks
Branislava Jovičić, Founder and Editor of Balkan Green Energy News
PANEL I
Energy system of Southeast Europe – strategies for overcoming the crisis
The energy map of Southeast Europe (SEE), as in the rest of Europe, is changing significantly and rapidly due to global geopolitical turmoil, the energy crisis, and the imperative of decarbonization, primarily of energy but also other sectors. In political and economic terms, the region stands in two columns. In the first column are member states of the European Union, with all membership benefits, including substantial financial support for energy investments. The second one are the countries of Western Balkans as contracting parties of the Energy Community, with limited access to finance, the problem of dilapidated thermal power plants, and the obligation to abandon coal. Yet, both groups share a common goal – to ensure the security of the energy supply and successfully implement the energy transition.
Which strategies do decision-makers from the region see as winning for getting out of the crisis and what do they envisage is the first panel's topic.
Sponsor presentation
PANEL II
Regional electric utilities in energy transition – a transformation toward green megawatts
Decarbonization of electricity companies from SEE, especially those in the Western Balkans, and their gradual transformation into modern energy entities that ensure a stable supply of carbon-neutral electricity to customers is one of the pillars of the region's successful energy transition. Can the utilities independently carry out the transformation and build new capacities to produce green megawatt-hours, or do they need to partner with private investors for this undertaking? What models are currently in play, and what do they entail?
PANEL III
Modern technologies for sustainable heating and cooling
Decarbonization and the application of modern technologies are prerequisites for the sustainability of remote heating and cooling systems. Applying solar thermal and geothermal energy, heat pumps, biomass, and industrial waste heat reduces air pollution and GHG emissions. In the current intense energy crisis, locally available energy sources ensure the security of supply and increase the affordability of district heating and cooling services for end users. How will the SEE region make the best use of the possibilities of decarbonization of remote energy and reducing dependence on expensive fossil fuels is a question that will be addressed by the leading experts in this field in the region.
PANEL IV
Market design – is the current electricity market model sustainable?
The energy transition and the crisis caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine disturbed global energy and electricity markets. This especially applies to Europe. Resolving the situation and establishing a new sustainable state is still not in sight. Is the current model of electricity market design sustainable or should it be changed? Do state interventions violate some basic free market postulates and the target model of a single European market? In which direction will markets develop? What is the priority: energy independence or energy transition?
Networking reception
Welcoming coffee
PANEL V
Four challenges for an increased share of renewable energy sources in the region
In the last few years, the region has achieved significant results in the production of electricity from renewable sources. However, investments in green kilowatts remain modest compared to global trends. Records are broken by Greece and Turkey, while the Western Balkan countries still need help with problems such as obtaining permits, equipment procurement, incomplete regulation, unclear market entry and balancing models, and an increased appetite for financing. What should the region's countries and all participants in the supply chain do for investors to deliver more green energy to the grid? The main trends in renewable energy sources and the best practices will be discussed by leading experts on a panel that always attracts great interest.
PANEL VI
A renaissance of nuclear energy in the region – from conventional to modular reactors
We are witnessing a renaissance of nuclear energy in the world. Nuclear energy is also present in SEE – half of Hungarian and a third of Bulgarian and Slovenian electricity comes from nuclear power plants. On the other hand, the region's energy sector is under pressure to abandon fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which creates a need for new capacities to compensate for lower electricity production from thermal power plants.
Is nuclear energy the answer to this challenge? Can it contribute to energy security and climate neutrality of the region? Also, it is necessary to look at which technologies are optimal solutions for SEE countries, as well as the problem of security and nuclear waste. Politicians from the region announced possible cooperation on projects to build new nuclear capacities. Have concrete steps followed?
PANEL VII
Technologies for carbon neutrality by 2050
The European Union aims to become climate neutral by 2050. It is expected that by then, the entire SEE will be part of the Union. While renewable sources, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy are part of the green agenda for achieving climate neutrality, other technologies and approaches are also needed. Among the favourites are hydrogen as an energy carrier, waste management and biogas, reversible hydropower plants, and electrochemical energy storage. The panel will discuss the most promising technologies for achieving carbon neutrality and identify the leaders in their implementation.
PANEL VIII
Flexibility and digitalization for distributed energy production and consumption
The energy system of Southeast Europe is rapidly moving away from centralized production and consumption towards a decentralized system. With an increasing number of renewable energy power plants, prosumers, electric vehicles and electricity storage systems, the need to integrate these sources into the system is growing, which will ensure system balancing and improve its reliability in real-time.
Find out how digitalization and platforms for improving flexibility (aggregators, virtual power plants) can help the optimization of new distributed energy sources, integration of new green power plants, and improvement of efficiency of the energy system, as well as its decarbonization.
Court of BiH annuls ruling that state aid for coal plant Tuzla 7 was illegal
Energy communities in Greece boost installed capacity by 71.4% year over year
Mediterranean resort city of Antalya to build its fifth municipal solar power plant
Romania is exploring geothermal waters at 24 locations
Country partner
Serbian Companies on Changing Power Market
22. februar 2022.
First Big Conference on Solar Energy in Serbia
14. april 2021.
Our team at your service
Branislava Jovičić
Founder and Editor of
Balkan Green Energy News
Jelena Bunčić
Conference Coordinator
Arsen Krstic
We look forward to seeing you in Belgrade!
Secure your seat at the most important energy conference in SEE this year
Belgrade Energy Forum 2023
is produced by the
Balkan Green Energy News media
Center for Promotion of Sustainable Development
Bulevar Arsenije Čarnojevića 74/5, 11070 Beograd
bgenevents@balkangreenenergynews.com


text:
Afghan-Pakistan clash turns deadly
by Patrick Quinn and Amir Shah, Associated Press, Posted: May 3, 2013
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan border policeman was killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani troops along the country's contested eastern border, an Afghan security official said Thursday, in an incident that threatens to further inflame tensions.
Pakistani forces fired artillery rounds late Wednesday at Afghan border police in the Goshta district of Nangarhar province, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi. In an ensuing five-hour firefight, one border policeman was killed, he said.
Pakistan's government blamed Afghan forces for opening fire at a border post and described the incident as one of many "repeated violations" of the border. A statement said two Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were wounded.
"This is not the first time that the heavy fire was initiated from the Afghan side causing heavy injury and damage to the Pakistani structures," the Pakistani Foreign Office said. It added that the Afghan ambassador to Islamabad was summoned to the ministry and a complaint was filed.
Ties between the neighbors have been severely strained in recent months, and the mountainous region where the latest shooting took place has seen acrimonious exchanges between the two sides over the demarcation of their border.
A Western military official said the Pakistanis fired tank rounds into the Afghan side of the border as part of the exchange of fire. The official said it was not clear what started the skirmish, which was observed remotely by the U.S.-led coalition.
Posted: May 3, 2013 - 3:01 AM
Patrick Quinn and Amir Shah, Associated Press
Virginia's Supreme Court upholds weapons ban at gun rally planned for Monday where violence is feared
Denise Lavoie, Associated Press
Alan Dershowitz, Kenneth Starr on Trump impeachment legal team
Eric Tucker and Zeke Miller, Associated Press
U.S. to screen airline passengers from China for new illness
Mike Stobbe, Associated Press
Trump's black voter outreach looks in part to the pews
Elana Schor, Associated Press
Robert Burns, Associated Press
Supreme Court to decide whether electors must vote with their states in 2020 election
Mark Sherman, Associated Press