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Kaleb C. Lund, PhD
Dr. Lund has a strong background in chemistry and toxicology and applies these sciences to his current passion - botanical medicine. His interests lie in the chemical and ecological relationships that form the foundation of plant medicine and draws on these relationships when working with plants in the laboratory, the classroom, or when using them to heal.
After joining Bastyr University as a postdoc fellow in 2007, Dr. Lund began training in herbal medicine and natural products research. Since that time, he has served as the Director of Research Laboratories, has been credentialed as a registered herbalist by the American Herbalists Guild, and now serves as core faculty in the Department of Botanical Medicine where he trains students in pharmacognosy, materia medica, regulation of dietary supplements, and natural products research.
Core Faculty, School of Naturopathic Medicine, Department of Botanical Medicine
Assistant Research Scientist, Bastyr University Research Institute
Dr. Lund is currently teaching classes through the departments of Botanical Medicine and Basic Sciences. His focus is on botanical research, phytochemistry/pharmacy and dietary supplement quality and regulations. His research interests include developing models to improve the validity of in vitro assessment of botanical medicines including simulated digestion and hepatic metabolism as well as analytical methods that account for the complexity of whole herbal products. Dr. Lund continues to mentor graduate and undergraduate students in a multitude of exciting and creative research projects developed by students in the herbal science and nutrition programs.
Dr. Lund works closely with graduate and undergraduate students to mentor them in various natural products research projects including constituent analysis by HPLC/GC-MS, cell culture, molecular biology, and mitochondrial sensing.
His current projects include: studying the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Oplopanax horridus (Devil's Club); modulation of opiate-induced neuroinflammation by Salvia divinorium (Diviner's Sage) and its potential to treat addiction; and the development of meaningful, in vitro models to research botanical medicines.
BS in biochemistry from University of Minnesota in 2000
MS in chemistry from University of Minnesota in 2004
PhD in toxicology from University of Minnesota in 2007
Postdoctoral training in herbal science at Bastyr University in 2010
Dr. Lund's graduate research focused on mitochondrial toxicity of pharmaceuticals — studying the effects of anti-HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on mitochondrial respiration, gene expression and energy signaling.
As a postdoctoral fellow in the Bastyr University Research Institute (BURI), Dr. Lund expanded his research interests to include herbal science research, including the preparation, authentication and assessment of the biological activities of botanical medicines. His postdoctoral research involved the study of how excess glucose leads to mitochondrial dysfunction using in vitro models of hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. This research demonstrated that an extract of Japanese dogwood fruit (Cornus officinalis) prevents NF-κB activation and protects mitochondria from hyperpolarization caused by excess glucose.
More recently Dr. Lund served as the Director of Research Laboratories at BURI for three years, managing and maintaining an active, multi-study, natural products research laboratory. He worked to expand the analytical and basic science research capabilities of Bastyr University and strived to keep active projects running smoothly. During this time Dr. Lund mentored 18 undergraduate and graduate student research projects ranging from the immunomodulatory effects of Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus) to the discovery of reserpine in Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata). Additionally, using an industry funded grant, he established a method for modeling in vitro intestinal absorption and applied it to combinations of quercetin, curcumin and resveratrol.
Undergraduate-level: Research Methods for Herbal Science, Test Methods for Botanical Authentication, QA/QC for Herbal Science, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology Overview for Herbal Science, Research Applications in Herbal Science and General Chemistry I & II.
Graduate-level: Clinical Pharmacognosy, Natural Products and Intestinal Microbiota.
Dr. Lund's interests include mitochondrial bioenergetics, inflammatory and immune modulation by botanicals, improving the models of in vitro herbal assessment to decrease the use of animal models and the analytical examination of botanicals to demonstrate chemical diversity within species. His dream is to develop methods that account for the complex and emergent pharmacology of botanical medicines.
Dr. Lund is a clinical herbalist and magical philosopher interested in the interaction of the human organism with plants and the natural world at the chemical/physiological, emotional and spiritual levels. He is particularly interested in the process in which plants facilitate healing through biochemistry, emotional connectedness and ultimately through consciousness. Dr. Lund enjoys reading (and putting into practice) classical texts on herbalism and western mystery traditions, especially the integration of astrology and herbal medicine.
Dr. Lund believes that the return to health involves the integration of the self into the ecosystem – specifically the realization that you are an integrated part of your environment and that disease represents the separation of our consciousness self with our organism or environment.
When teaching in the classroom or laboratory, Dr. Lund tries to facilitate personal ownership of knowledge by encouraging the individual's flow of insights and mistakes in an environment free of judgment.
American Herbalists Guild Professional Member
Institute of Translational Health Sciences Scholar
Lund, K.C., Pantuso, T (2014). "Combination effects of quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin on in vitro intestinal absorption." Journal of Restorative Medicine. 3: 112-120.
Clark, T., Lund, K.C. (2012). "Presence of the indole alkaloid reserpine in Bignonia capreolata L." International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research. 4(3): 89-91
Lund, K.C., K.B. Wallace (2008). "Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent phosphoregulation of mitochondrial complex I is inhibited by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors." Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 226(1): 94-106
Lund, K.C., L.L. Peterson, and K.B. Wallace (2007). "The absence of a universal mechanism of mitochondrial toxicity with nucleoside analogs." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 51(7): 2531-2539
Lund, K.C. and K.B. Wallace (2004). "Direct effects of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on rat cardiac mitochondrial bioenergetics." Mitochondrion 4: 193-202.
Lund, K.C. and K.B. Wallace (2004). "Direct, DNA pol-γ-independent effects of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on mitochondrial bioenergetics." Cardiovascular Toxicology 4(3): 217-228.
Kaleb C. Lund PhD
School of Naturopathic Medicine
Department of Botanical Medicine
Email: klund@bastyr.edu


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Social Justice in the EU 2016: Social Inclusion Monitor Europe (SIM) - Index Report
Immigration Policy: Migration Continues to Split Europe
Bulgaria Report
SGI experts on Bulgaria
Bulgaria SGI 2019
Georgy Ganev
Programme Director, Economic Research, Sofia University
Georgy Ganev is an economist and is a program director for economic research at the Centre for liberal strategies in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has been an assistant professor at Sofia University's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration since 2003 and been the acting Chair of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian Macroeconomics Association since 2005. His interests include issues of macroeconomics and monetary theory and policy, political economy, transition, development and growth economics and new institutional economics. At the university, he teaches the standard courses on introductory macroeconomics, money and banking, as well as a graduate seminar in new institutional economics. George Ganev's recent publications (in English) include The Political Economy of Reform Failure (edited by Mats Lundahl and Michael Wyzan. Routledge 2005) and "Where Has Marxism Gone?" in East European Politics and Societies (Routledge 2005).
Associate Professor, McGill University Department of Political Science, Montreal
In addition to her position at the Department of Political Science, Maria Popova is also a faculty associate of the Universite de Montreal-McGill's European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE) and the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID). Her research work is on the state of the rule of law in the post-Communist region. At McGill, Popova teaches courses on democratization, European courts, and the rule of law. She received a BA in Government and Spanish Literature from Dartmouth College and an MA and PhD in political science from Harvard University.
Frank Bönker (Coordinator)
Prof. Dr., University of Cooperative Education
Frank Bönker is professor in economics and public management at Saxonian University of Cooperative Education Riesa. After studying economics and political science at the Freie Universität Berlin, he worked at the Center for European Law and Policy (ZERP) at the University of Bremen and at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (O). He has also taught at the Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Leipzig and Babeș-Bolyai-University Cluj-Napoca. His main fields of research have included welfare state reform, local social policy, post-communist economic reform and the Europeanization of East-Central Europe. His book publications on East-Central Europe include The Political Economy of Fiscal Reform in East-Central Europe (Cheltenham: Elgar, 2006) and Postsozialistische Transformation und europäische (Des-)Integration (co-editor, Marburg: Metropolis, 2008).
With a relatively weak government office, Bulgaria receives comparatively low rankings (rank 34) in the area of executive capacity. Its score on this measure has fallen by 0.2 points relative to its 2014 level.
Strategic planning focuses on EU membership requirements. The government office plays a largely administrative role, but is developing policy-evaluation capabilities. The prime minister has little formal power over ministers, but a powerful PM can exert significant informal influence. Line ministries prepare proposals without significant central input.
Promising reforms have improved the RIA system, but assessments are still formalistic. Though ex post assessments are technically required, they are not regularly performed. The government enforces regulations in an inconsistent and often biased way. Public communication often appears aimed at hiding rather than highlighting the true intentions behind policies.
The country's EU and NATO memberships have driven adaptation. The government rarely sets publicly accessible policy-performance benchmarks, with budgeting and EU-membership requirements being an exception. A roadmap for integration into the euro zone and EU banking union has been agreed with EU partners. Municipalities often complain of unfunded mandates.
How much influence do strategic planning units and bodies have on government decision-making?
Strategic planning units and bodies take a long-term view of policy challenges and viable solutions, and they exercise strong influence on government decision-making.
Strategic planning units and bodies take a long-term view of policy challenges and viable solutions. Their influence on government decision-making is systematic but limited in issue scope or depth of impact.
Strategic planning units and bodies take a long-term view of policy challenges and viable solutions. Occasionally, they exert some influence on government decision-making.
In practice, there are no units and bodies taking a long-term view of policy challenges and viable solutions.
The most important systematic strategic-planning process is related to the requirements of EU membership and the necessity of preparing strategy and programs within the EU framework. These include the convergence program, the reform program as a part of the European Union's 2020 strategy, and concrete strategical considerations justifying the setting of priorities for EU funds absorption. Under the macroeconomic imbalances procedure of the European Union, which categorizes Bulgaria as a country with imbalances, Bulgaria is obliged to integrate specific European Commission recommendations into the development of policy strategies.
There are national strategies on security, energy, governance and development of water resources, development of scientific research, Roma integration, physical education and sport, which serve for some long-term orientation. These strategies have been prepared in coordination with various ministries and on the basis of extensive discussions with the relevant expert communities. They are overseen by the line ministries and parliamentary committees responsible for these policy areas. Presently, the Council of Ministers' portal for public consultations lists 165 "active" strategic documents relating to the national level, more than 20 of which have a term that reaches beyond 2020.
Strategic documents at the national level (a list of documents in Bulgarian), available at: http://strategy.bg/StrategicDocumentsHandler.ashx?lang=1&type=1
Does the government regularly take into account advice from non-governmental experts during decision-making?
In almost all cases, the government transparently consults with non-governmental experts in the early stages of government decision-making.
For major political projects, the government transparently consults with non-governmental experts in the early stages of government decision-making.
In some cases, the government transparently consults with non-governmental experts in the early stages of government decision-making.
The government does not consult with non-governmental experts, or existing consultations lack transparency entirely and/or are exclusively pro forma.
In Bulgaria, there are various ways to consult stakeholders and experts, including a special online portal at the Council of Ministers and more than 70 advisory councils. The government has also started to seek out expertise by forming public councils linked to specific ministries. Representatives of academia and research institutes are traditionally included in the process on an ad hoc basis.
Council of Ministers, public consultations portal: www.strategy.bg
Council of Ministers, advisory councils portal: saveti.government.bg
Does the government office / prime minister's office (GO / PMO) have the expertise to evaluate ministerial draft bills according to the government's priorities?
The GO / PMO provides regular, independent evaluations of draft bills for the cabinet / prime minister. These assessments are guided exclusively by the government's priorities.
The GO / PMO evaluates most draft bills according to the government's priorities.
The GO / PMO can rely on some sectoral policy expertise but does not evaluate draft bills.
The GO / PMO does not have any sectoral policy expertise. Its role is limited to collecting, registering and circulating documents submitted for cabinet meetings.
GO Expertise
The official government office in Bulgaria, the Administration of the Council of Ministers, plays a mainly administrative role. It prepares cabinet meetings, but is still developing the capacity for in-depth evaluation of the policy content of line-ministry proposals. Specialized directorates within the Council of Ministers' administration review submissions from the line ministries, but more from a formal than from a substantive point of view. The prime minister's own political-cabinet staff is relatively small and has little expertise to evaluate the policy content of line-ministry proposals.
To what extent do line ministries involve the government office/prime minister's office in the preparation of policy proposals?
There are inter-related capacities for coordination between GO/PMO and line ministries.
The GO/PMO is regularly briefed on new developments affecting the preparation of policy proposals.
Consultation is rather formal and focuses on technical and drafting issues.
Consultation occurs only after proposals are fully drafted as laws.
Line Ministries
Line ministries tend to prepare policy proposals independently and introduce them to the prime minister and the Council of Ministers when they are completed. The prime minister and the Administration of the Council of Ministers are consulted when proposals cross ministerial lines, or are incompatible with other proposed or existing legislation. Even in such cases, the involvement of the administration tends to focus mainly on technical and drafting issues and formal legal considerations. There are no official procedures for consulting the prime minister during the preparation of policy proposals.
How effectively do ministerial or cabinet committees coordinate cabinet proposals?
The vast majority of cabinet proposals are reviewed and coordinated first by committees.
Most cabinet proposals are reviewed and coordinated by committees, in particular proposals of political or strategic importance.
There is little review or coordination of cabinet proposals by committees.
There is no review or coordination of cabinet proposals by committees. Or: There is no ministerial or cabinet committee.
Cabinet Committees
No cabinet or ministerial committees coordinate proposals for cabinet meetings in Bulgaria. There are many cross-cutting advisory councils that include several ministers or high-ranking representatives of different ministries and have some coordinating functions. These might thus be seen as functional equivalents to ministerial or cabinet committees. The role of the councils, which often have a rather broad membership, is quite limited in substantive terms.
How effectively do ministry officials/civil servants coordinate policy proposals?
Most policy proposals are effectively coordinated by ministry officials/civil servants.
Many policy proposals are effectively coordinated by ministry officials/civil servants.
There is some coordination of policy proposals by ministry officials/civil servants.
There is no or hardly any coordination of policy proposals by ministry officials/civil servants.
Ministerial Bureaucracy
While a comprehensive framework for coordination between ministry officials and civil servants exists, many issues are actually resolved at the political level. Within the ministries, a departmentalist culture prevails. This is especially true during coalition governments, when coordination between line ministries under ministers from different parties is virtually nonexistent.
How effectively do informal coordination mechanisms complement formal mechanisms of interministerial coordination?
Informal coordination mechanisms generally support formal mechanisms of interministerial coordination.
In most cases, informal coordination mechanisms support formal mechanisms of interministerial coordination.
In some cases, informal coordination mechanisms support formal mechanisms of interministerial coordination.
Informal coordination mechanisms tend to undermine rather than complement formal mechanisms of interministerial coordination.
Informal Coordination
Given the tendency of the Bulgarian political system to produce coalition governments, informal coordination mechanisms have played a vital role. The rules of coordination between government coalition parties or parties supporting the government are traditionally not communicated to the public. It is unclear to what extent informal coordination helps achieve a higher overall coherence of policies.
How extensively and effectively are digital technologies used to support interministerial coordination (in policy development and monitoring)?
The government uses digital technologies extensively and effectively to support interministerial coordination.
The government uses digital technologies in most cases and somewhat effectively to support interministerial coordination.
The government uses digital technologies to a lesser degree and with limited effects to support interministerial coordination.
The government makes no substantial use of digital technologies to support interministerial coordination.
Digitalization for Interministerial C.
The 2014 – 2020 e-government strategy and the State e-Government Agency, established in 2016, aim to improve interministerial communication through the use of digital technologies. The necessary infrastructure for electronic document flows and communication between ministries exists and is increasingly used. However, digital technologies are primarily used for coordinating technical issues.
To what extent does the government assess the potential impacts of existing and prepared legal acts (regulatory impact assessments, RIA)?
RIA are applied to all new regulations and to existing regulations which are characterized by complex impact paths. RIA methodology is guided by common minimum standards.
RIA are applied systematically to most new regulations. RIA methodology is guided by common minimum standards.
RIA are applied in some cases. There is no common RIA methodology guaranteeing common minimum standards.
RIA are not applied or do not exist.
RIA Application
Changes in the legal framework for RIA in 2016 have improved the quality of RIA. However, ministries still take a largely formal approach, and the level of understanding and experience on the part of ministerial experts responsible for preparing the assessments is rising but still deficient. Assessments for legislative proposals sponsored by individual members of parliament continue to be of poor quality.
Does the RIA process ensure participation, transparency and quality evaluation?
RIA analyses consistently involve stakeholders by means of consultation or collaboration, results are transparently communicated to the public and assessments are effectively evaluated by an independent body on a regular basis.
The RIA process displays deficiencies with regard to one of the three objectives.
The RIA process displays deficiencies with regard to two of the three objectives.
RIA analyses do not exist or the RIA process fails to achieve any of the three objectives of process quality.
Quality of RIA Process
With the exception of the assessment of budgetary and environmental impacts of proposed legislation, so far RIA has had a largely formalized nature in Bulgaria. Once a proposed draft has entered the phase of public consultation, civil society and academic actors are able to offer their own assessments, which then become a part of the documentation accompanying the proposal and are available to the public online. Formalism in impact assessments continues, even though the legal framework for impact assessments was reformed in 2016. With respect to acts proposed by the Council of Ministers, there has been visible improvement of late, with more than 410 assessments encompassing all normative proposals of the executive branch. In 2018, the Institute for Public Administration published a RIA methodology, which is expected to unify standards, and make assessments by different ministries more consistent and transparent.
Administration of the Council of Ministers (2018): Impact assessment: annual report for 2017 (in Bulgarian). Sofia (http://strategy.bg/FileHandler.ashx?fileId=13942).
Institute for Public Administration (2018): Methodology for ex-ante impact assessment of normative acts and programs (in Bulgarian). Sofia (https://www.ipa.government.bg/sites/default/files/metodika_korektura_all.pdf).
Does the government conduct effective sustainability checks within the framework of RIA?
Sustainability checks are an integral part of every RIA; they draw on an exhaustive set of indicators (including social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability) and track impacts from the short- to long-term.
Sustainability checks lack one of the three criteria.
Sustainability checks lack two of the three criteria.
Sustainability checks do not exist or lack all three criteria.
Sustainability Check
Most of the regulatory impact assessments in Bulgaria are merely formal, with the exception of budgetary and environmental issues. Bulgaria has a Fiscal Council, which provides assesses the fiscal sustainability of proposed regulations and policies. Environmental checks focus mostly on issues of pollution and wilderness protection, and less on greenhouse gas emissions. Other economic and social impacts are generally addressed superficially, and the input of non-government actors in the public-consultation process, although formally sought, has little visible impact.
To what extent do government ministries regularly evaluate the effectiveness and/or efficiency of public policies and use results of evaluations for the revision of existing policies or development of new policies?
Ex post evaluations are carried out for all significant policies and are generally used for the revision of existing policies or the development of new policies.
Ex post evaluations are carried out for most significant policies and are used for the revision of existing policies or the development of new policies.
Ex post evaluations are rarely carried out for significant policies and are rarely used for the revision of existing policies or the development of new policies.
Ex post evaluations are generally not carried out and do not play any relevant role for the revision of existing policies or the development of new policies.
Quality of Ex Post Evaluation
The rules for impact assessments in Bulgaria established in 2016 require an ex post evaluation of policies and their effects within five years of their implementation. So far, providing ex post assessments has not become a regular practice. The public consultations portal of the government contains ex post assessments of some laws, but the latest dates from 2012. There is no evidence of ex post assessments being used by government bodies for the evaluation, revision or termination of policies.
Does the government consult with societal actors in a fair and pluralistic manner?
The government always consults with societal actors in a fair and pluralistic manner.
The government in most cases consults with societal actors in a fair and pluralistic manner.
The government does consult with societal actors, but mostly in an unfair and clientelistic manner.
The government rarely consults with any societal actors.
There are a number of bodies that represent various interests in the process of policymaking in Bulgaria. A prime example of this tradition is the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, which includes representatives of the government, trade unions and employer associations. Over the years this council has evolved into a major forum not only for advice and consultation, but also for the negotiation of various policies and the adoption of specific proposals that are later formally confirmed legislatively. Other societal actors, including minority organizations, environmental and other interest groups are represented in the more than 70 advisory councils at different levels of government. In practice, however, their influence on decisions is limited. The legislative process also includes a period for public consultation of proposals, but in many cases this step is skipped. An increasing number of government agencies are adopting a default policy to make their deliberations open to the general public.
To what extent does the government achieve coherent communication?
Ministries are highly successful in aligning their communication with government strategy.
Ministries most of the time are highly successful in aligning their communication with government strategy.
Ministries occasionally issue public statements that contradict the public communication of other ministries or the government strategy.
Strategic communication planning does not exist; individual ministry statements regularly contradict each other. Messages are often not factually consistent with the government's strategy.
Coherent Communication
The coherence of government communication in Bulgaria is relatively low. The communication activities of the various ministries are not centrally coordinated, so it is easy for the media to identify inconsistencies and contradictions in the information and positions of different ministries. Under recent coalition governments, the lack of coherence is exacerbated by the lack of informal coordination between ministries. Moreover, all too often public announcements and communications aim to hide rather than highlight and explain the true intentions behind proposed regulations and policies. A good case in point is the government communication about the Belene nuclear power plant. Whereas the government's initial announcements stressed that the project was re-activated due to interest from Chinese investors and Chinese construction companies without any Bulgarian commitments or finances involved, it has turned out later that Russian investors and companies, and Bulgarian public financing will also play a major role in the project.
To what extent can the government achieve its own policy objectives?
The government can largely implement its own policy objectives.
The government is partly successful in implementing its policy objectives or can implement some of its policy objectives.
The government partly fails to implement its objectives or fails to implement several policy objectives.
The government largely fails to implement its policy objectives.
Government Effectiveness
Bulgarian governments avoid setting policy-performance benchmarks that are available to the public. The main exceptions are within the area of macroeconomic policy, especially regarding the budget and compliance with the high-profile requirements of EU membership. While the government has succeeded in controlling the fiscal deficit and public debt, it has not been successful in its long-standing objective of joining the Schengen Area. It has been partially successful in the objective of exiting the macroeconomic imbalances procedure given that its imbalances are no longer assessed as excessive. Another important policy objective – integration into the euro zone and European banking union – has been furthered somewhat with the government successfully negotiating with its EU partners a clear roadmap outlining key measures to be introduced. Budgeting in Bulgaria remains primarily based on historical expenditures and does not involve programmatic elements, which would necessitate benchmarking and measurement.
To what extent does the organization of government provide mechanisms to ensure that ministers implement the government's program?
The organization of government successfully provides strong mechanisms for ministers to implement the government's program.
The organization of government provides some mechanisms for ministers to implement the government's program.
The organization of government provides weak mechanisms for ministers to implement the government's program.
The organization of government does not provide any mechanisms for ministers to implement the government's program.
Ministerial Compliance
The prime minister does not have significant legal powers over his ministerial colleagues. The constitution defines the Council of Ministers as a collective body presided over by the prime minister. The position of the prime minister thus strongly depends on his or her informal political authority. When the prime minister is a party leader with a relatively strong personality, as in the case of the Borissov governments, the informal influence is significant, but dependent on the political context. In the summer of 2018, the prime minister successfully pressured three ministers to resign in the wake of a bus crash. However, later in the year, the prime minister was not able to demand the resignation of ministers from his coalition partner, because this would likely have toppled the ruling majority. The organization of government provides incentives to ensure that ministers implement the government program only to the extent that the program is a priority for the prime minister and the informal political context allows him to sanction them.
How effectively does the government office/prime minister's office monitor line ministry activities with regard to implementation?
The GO / PMO effectively monitors the implementation activities of all line ministries.
The GO / PMO monitors the implementation activities of most line ministries.
The GO / PMO monitors the implementation activities of some line ministries.
The GO / PMO does not monitor the implementation activities of line ministries.
Monitoring Ministries
The Council of Ministers' administration lacks the capacity to monitor the implementation activities of the line ministries. The chief secretary of the Council of Ministers' administration and the specialized directorates of the administration can, however, oversee most of the line ministries' policy activities, especially in the areas financed through EU funds. The chief secretary and the directorates also provide some administrative support to the prime minister and the head of his political cabinet, who exercise more direct control over the ministries on a political basis. The exercise of control tends to be informal, through the party apparatuses, and the strictness with which control is applied seems to be a function of the political context, especially under a coalition government.
How effectively do federal and subnational ministries monitor the activities of bureaucracies/executive agencies with regard to implementation?
The ministries effectively monitor the implementation activities of all bureaucracies/executive agencies.
The ministries monitor the implementation activities of most bureaucracies/executive agencies.
The ministries monitor the implementation activities of some bureaucracies/executive agencies.
The ministries do not monitor the implementation activities of bureaucracies/executive agencies.
Monitoring Agencies|Bureaucracies
The capacity of ministries to monitor the implementation activities of the bureaucracies and executive agencies within their task areas is quite limited in institutional terms. The monitoring that does take place tends to focus only on priority areas (e.g., the absorption of EU funds) and tends to rely on informal rather than formal mechanisms. Under coalition governments monitoring is further limited by the practice of dividing government, bureaucratic and agency appointments between coalition partners. Consequently, ministers from one party are impeded from effectively monitoring agency heads from another party.
To what extent does the central government ensure that tasks delegated to subnational self-governments are adequately funded?
The central government enables subnational self-governments to fulfill all their delegated tasks by funding these tasks sufficiently and/or by providing adequate revenue-raising powers.
The central government enables subnational governments to fulfill most of their delegated tasks by funding these tasks sufficiently and/or by providing adequate revenue-raising powers.
The central government sometimes and deliberately shifts unfunded mandates to subnational governments.
The central government often and deliberately shifts unfunded mandates to subnational self-governments.
Task Funding
Local governments in Bulgaria receive most of their revenues from the central government and have a very limited revenue base of their own. Municipalities receive funding from central government in three ways: a portion of the revenues from some general taxes are designated for municipal budgets; central government subsidizes municipality budgets; and central government delegates some of its tasks to municipalities, transferring the respective financing to them (known as delegated budgets). The National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria often claims that the central government deliberately leaves delegated functions underfunded, forcing municipalities to finance national policies with local funds. There have also been allegations that the central government favors municipalities ruled by the same parties as the national government. While the topic of fiscal decentralization – which would significantly increase municipal revenue sources at the expense of the national budget – routinely features in the public discourse, a reform to this effect does not look very likely.
To what extent does central government ensure that subnational self-governments may use their constitutional scope of discretion with regard to implementation?
The central government enables subnational self-governments to make full use of their constitutional scope of discretion with regard to implementation.
Central government policies inadvertently limit the subnational self-governments' scope of discretion with regard to implementation.
The central government formally respects the constitutional autonomy of subnational self-governments, but de facto narrows their scope of discretion with regard to implementation.
The central government deliberately precludes subnational self-governments from making use of their constitutionally provided implementation autonomy.
Constitutional Discretion
Bulgaria is a unitary state with two levels of government – national and municipal. The constitution vests municipalities with a relatively broad set of powers and competencies, and the law generally respects this independence. However, in reality most Bulgarian municipalities are financially dependent on central government transfers, because their own revenue base is inadequate for generating the necessary revenues.
In 2016, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works adopted a new decentralization strategy for the next 10 years. Compared to its largely ineffective predecessor, it has a broader scope and covers not only fiscal matters, but the functions of different tiers of government as well. The strategy is accompanied by an implementation program for 2016 – 2019. Its implementation should be monitored by a newly created council on the decentralization of state government. However, as of late 2018, according to its portal, the council's last session was held in January 2016.
To what extent does central government ensure that subnational self-governments realize national standards of public services?
Central government effectively ensures that subnational self-governments realize national standards of public services.
Central government largely ensures that subnational self-governments realize national standards of public services.
Central government ensures that subnational self-governments realize national minimum standards of public services.
Central government does not ensure that subnational self-governments realize national standards of public services.
In Bulgaria, the effectiveness of national-government oversight and compliance with national standards in the decentralized provision of public services differ among functional spheres. For example, education is provided by local schools with standards upheld relatively objectively and effectively through external evaluation and regional and local inspection. However, in the sphere of environmental, waste-management and forestry standards, as well as in the local health care sector, monitoring is uneven and some localities have much lower standards than others. The extent to which different municipalities' regulations are compliant with regulatory standards set in national law also varies.
To what extent is government enforcing regulations in an effective and unbiased way, also against vested interests?
Government agencies enforce regulations effectively and without bias.
Government agencies, for the most part, enforce regulations effectively and without bias.
Government agencies enforce regulations, but ineffectively and with bias.
Government agencies enforce regulations ineffectively, inconsistently and with bias.
Government regulatory enforcement in Bulgaria is biased and uneven. On numerous occasions over recent years, government agencies have enforced regulations inconsistently for different actors, favoring specific vested interests and penalizing potential competitors to these vested interests. Examples include biases in the implementation of the competition protection framework in banking and non-bank financial supervision, public procurement, and post-privatization control. The most recent example of inconsistent and biased enforcement involved two decisions by the Competition Protection Commission in 2018, which blocked two private sector acquisitions (one in the energy sector and another in the media sector). In one case, the commission criticized the acquiring company for being too small relative to the acquired one. In the second instance, the commission criticized the acquiring company for being too big. In both cases, the decisions were motivated by considerations of political control.
To what extent does the government respond to international and supranational developments by adapting domestic government structures?
The government has appropriately and effectively adapted domestic government structures to international and supranational developments.
In many cases, the government has adapted domestic government structures to international and supranational developments.
In some cases, the government has adapted domestic government structures to international and supranational developments.
The government has not adapted domestic government structures, no matter how beneficial adaptation might be.
Domestic Adaptability
EU and NATO membership imposes a clear necessity on the Bulgarian government to be able to respond to and adopt changes based on international and supranational developments. Beyond changes in recent years related to this, the primary governmental structures and their methods of operation have remained largely unchanged. One area in which organizational changes related to supranational developments seem to be leading to an improvement is the implementation of EU-funded programs, especially in some spheres such as transportation and environmental protection infrastructure. Another example of the ability of the government to adapt to supranational circumstances was the creation in 2017 of a Ministry of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The ministry was a structural response to Bulgaria holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and has been evaluated as successful. The ministry will be disbanded at the end of 2018. There is already a discernible attempt to begin a process to adapt government structures in Bulgaria to upcoming changes in the EU funding framework.
To what extent is the government able to collaborate effectively with international efforts to foster global public goods?
The government can take a leading role in shaping and implementing collective efforts to provide global public goods. It is able to ensure coherence in national policies affecting progress.
The government is largely able to shape and implement collective efforts to provide global public goods. Existing processes enabling the government to ensure coherence in national policies affecting progress are, for the most part, effective.
The government is partially able to shape and implement collective efforts to provide global public goods. Processes designed to ensure coherence in national policies affecting progress show deficiencies.
The government does not have sufficient institutional capacities to shape and implement collective efforts to provide global public goods. It does not have effective processes to ensure coherence in national policies affecting progress.
International Coordination
The capacity of Bulgarian government bodies to correspond with, coordinate and participate in international processes and initiatives has improved, especially after it became a member of NATO and the European Union. Yet, Bulgaria is still primarily reactive in terms of international efforts to foster the provision of global public goods and its level of commitment to such causes remains relatively low. Factors contributing to this situation include a lack of capacity, political cautiousness about international commitments and, recently, increasing xenophobia represented in the governing coalition.
More often than not, Bulgaria tends to take part in international efforts but wait for the international community to formulate policies, set goals and benchmarks. It then does its best to implement those domestically. Inasmuch as there is coordination and assessment going on, it is for these reactive purposes.
To what extent do actors within the government monitor whether institutional arrangements of governing are appropriate?
The institutional arrangements of governing are monitored regularly and effectively.
The institutional arrangements of governing are monitored regularly.
The institutional arrangements of governing are selectively and sporadically monitored.
There is no monitoring.
There are no formal ex ante mechanisms for monitoring whether institutional arrangements of governing are appropriate. It is only ex post, when a problem becomes serious enough or a crisis emerges, that reflection regarding the structure of governance and institutional arrangements begins, and such cases are usually spurred by public pressure or pressure from some other government body. Deliberations on proposed legislation serve less often to prompt such debates. A striking recent example was the vigorous debate about the weakness of road construction supervision, which followed a fatal accident in the summer of 2018 and the subsequent finding that poor construction had been a contributing factor to the accident.
To what extent does the government improve its strategic capacity by changing the institutional arrangements of governing?
The government improves its strategic capacity considerably by changing its institutional arrangements.
The government improves its strategic capacity by changing its institutional arrangements.
The government does not improve its strategic capacity by changing its institutional arrangements.
The government loses strategic capacity by changing its institutional arrangements.
Bulgarian government bodies do have the capacity to reform, both in the case of reforms initiated from within and reforms originating externally. It is becoming customary for ministries to publish their medium-term plans as a part of the annual budget procedure. However, even when reforms in different spheres are seriously contemplated, reform proposals are almost never connected with strategic thinking about changes in the institutional arrangements of governance.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Texas was set to execute Duane Buck last night. Texas held off until the last appeals had been decided.
Today, the Supreme Court has intervened, and granted a stay.
At Buck's sentencing hearing, the jury that set his punishment was informed by a psychologist that black people had a higher rate of violent behaviour, a statement used by the prosecution as its key argument against giving him an alternative penalty of life imprisonment.
The victim's surviving relative asked for clemency.


Advance your clinical experience and learn vital skills for providing compassionate medical care with an elective clinical placement in NSW's largest private hospital.
The University of Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School welcomes elective applications from international and Australian medical students in their final or penultimate years of medical studies. Given the limited number of elective placements offered each year, and because our clinical school is located within the largest non-for-profit private hospital in New South Wales, clinical electives are highly competitive.
Electives are generally offered for between 3 and 8 weeks, with limited opportunity for longer-term placements. Please note that we are unable to offer elective placements to students from universities where the majority of teaching is delivered online as students are expected to have a reasonable amount of prior experience in taking histories and examining patients in a clinical setting.
We offer a range of placements in both medicine and surgery, subject to availability. We ask that you indicate your preferred placement type at the time of application. Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School reserves the right to change a student's elective placement if the relevant department is no longer able to accept them.
Pay the $100.00 AU application fee online via OneStop.
Submit your evidence of vaccination protection (via email).
Organise a Criminal Record Check from the country where you are currently residing (in English or with a certified translation and with a 3 year validity).
Organise a National Police Check from the Australian Federal Police. The application form and further information can be found on the AFP website.
Once your application and associated documentation is complete and satisfactory, you will be asked to pay the Elective Fee online via OneStop.
The above documents must be submitted to Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School no later than three months after the conditional offer is emailed to you. Students should be aware that some documents (e.g. Criminal Record Check, National Police Check) take time to organise.
Students who wish to apply for an elective and are hoping to start in less than three months time should email the Electives Coordinator for advice before submitting an application package.
In accepting an elective placement, you will be required to abide by the guidelines of the University, the hospital and your supervisor.
Acceptance of applications for elective terms is at the discretion of the Head of School and subject to load and local considerations.
All elective placements must be co-ordinated via the clinical school and students should not apply directly to a potential supervisor or department head.
Students must organise their own accommodation arrangements.
Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School reserves the right to change a student's elective placement if the relevant department is no longer able to accept them.
No student will be allowed to commence an elective placement unless all the documents on the Checklist for Elective Application have been received by the Electives Coordinator.
Receipt of an application does not guarantee an offer of a placement. Placements are processed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School reserves the right to cancel a placement in the event that documentation provided by the student is incomplete or unsatisfactory.
It is the responsibility of the overseas applicant to contact their nearest Australian Consulate with respect to visa requirements. A tourist visa will allow entry and stay in Australia for the purpose of study/training for a period of up to 3 months. Any stay in excess of 3 months may require an Occupational Trainee Visa.
It is assumed that overseas elective students will have a reasonable proficiency of intermediate English before commencing an elective placement. A minimum English level of IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 600 (100-iBT, 250-CBT) is required and should have their University state this in their letter of good standing.
Students should not pay any fees until a formal offer is made. Application and elective fees are payable online at OneStop upon acceptance of a formal offer.
The elective fee is charged once we have confirmed your application and associated documentation is complete and satisfactory. Payment is due no more than three weeks after a placement has been allocated on your behalf and you have received notification.
Students may be able to postpone their placement as long as the student provides at least 3 months notice and as long as the new commencement date is within 12 months. If the 12 month deferment period lapses with no new placement commencing, the elective fee becomes non-refundable.
Please note, it is the student's responsibility to make contact in regard to a new placement once the next year's placements have been released. Students are liable for any fee increases that take place during their deferment period.
Application Fees: These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Elective Fees : If a student cancels their placement, they may be eligible for a refund, depending on the reasons for cancellation.


Welcome to your complete resource for buying or selling condos and townhouses in the Central Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. View all current Central Lonsdale MLS® listings, Central Lonsdale condo and townhouse listings for sale, and detailed Central Lonsdale condo and townhouse building information.
Live at The Silva ~ Built by Marcon, this is one of North Vancouvers Finest Buildings. Rise with the morning sun as you look out to the East.
CONTEMPORARY LIVING AT THE AVONDALE in convenient Central Lonsdale. Beautiful one year old city home with 3 bedrooms and den, 2-1/2 baths and media/family room down.
LIVE AT AVONDALE, IN ONE OF NORTH VANS MOST DESIRABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS! THIS LOVELY 3 BEDROOM, 2.


text:
Q: Including javascript to google sites I'm trying to include a simple javascript to Google Sites but I get nothing when pressing the button. I put the code inside an HTML Box. The code works perfectly when tested locally. Here is my code:

<form action="" id="nothing">
  <input type="text" id="value1">
  <input type="text" id="value2">
<input type="button" value="Calculate" id="but" onclick="calcul()" />

Is there something I forgot to make it work?

A: Google Sites changes your entire script. You have to be a bit more careful writing JavaScript.
Adding var in front of every variable will fix your problem:

<form action="" id="nothing">
  <input type="text" id="value1">
  <input type="text" id="value2">
  <input type="button" value="Calculate" id="but" onclick="calcul()" />
</form>

This will work ;-)

A: Google Sites will filter out operations it considers unsafe.  Some details here, but was unable to find official documentation with quick search.
As another answer mentions, your variables need var declarations.  This is required because without this, the variables will become global to the window, and potentially could be used to escape whatever sandbox Google is putting around the sites javascript support, potentially causing security concerns.
So to fix:
var x = parseFloat(document.getElementById("value1").value);
var y = parseFloat(document.getElementById("value2").value);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Today I received an apologetical letter from Mrs Hays. She had written an angry letter because she thought I had neglected a MS she had entrusted to me to be forwarded to some publisher. I had written to her (as well as to Mr Hills to whom I wrote from Norwich) shewing how little I had known of her application, and she now writes regretting her impatience. The fact is that my very worthy friend has a sensibility which makes her a self-tormentor & a burthen to others – Full of the delicacies of passion rather than of taste, she suffers severely from every mortification & neglect – Such characters are objects of fear to cooler natures & to the indolent who are apprehensive of having their tranquility disturbed.
On 1 January 1825 he writes: "A morning of calls. Manning and Jardine not at home. On Miss Hays at Mr Hills of Canonbury – Her sister is still alive but in a deplorable state." In the Directories, a Hills & Wheeler, Corn Merchants, are in business at 8 Haydon Square (151) (Post Office Directory for 1812). In Pigot's 1823 Directory, a Thomas Hills, cornfactor, appears at 34 Mark Lane, possibly a relation.


Wedding Videographer in France: With breathtaking scenery, amazing weather and many beautiful venues to choose from there are so many reasons to have a destination wedding in France. The relaxed atmosphere and beautifully soft lighting is why we love filming weddings in France and always jump at the opportunity to do so. If you are planning a destination wedding in France then we would love to hear from. Please complete the contact form below to check our availability and to receive further information. We look forward to hearing from you soon!


text:
How Greed Affects Us All
by Ed Hogan | Mar 14, 2022 | Opinion
Stock Photo Illustration (Credit: lo lo / Unsplash / https://tinyurl.com/yvsjs3wc)
Have you read the list of the seven deadly sins lately?
In case you've forgotten, they are the sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.
We live in a society that doesn't talk much about sin, but one deadly sin — greed – has begun to affect me and others in ways that I don't like.
The late 1800's in the U.S. was a time of great wealth. Yet, it is now known as the "Gilded Age" due to the greed, excess, inequity and corruption that lay just beneath the surface of the economic expansion.
The 1920's were also known for greed and excess, as depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The '20s roared until the Great Depression.
The 1980's were known as the decade of greed. Michael Douglas even proclaimed, "Greed is good!" in the movie "Wall Street."
The 1990's and 2000's experienced two periods of major economic growth leading to "bubbles" – one in technology, the other in housing – that caused recessions.
The 2020's haven't roared much because of COVID-19, but greed has crept in stealthily and has appeared in some strange places.
Recently, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, the current insurance provider for public schools in Texas, has been in negotiations with the Memorial Hermann Health Center in Houston. Initial negotiations failed to produce an agreement, so I found myself in the precarious position of looking for new doctors.
My primary care provider is a brilliant woman who has nurtured and cared for me during some difficult health issues. It is no exaggeration to say that I love this person.
Because a multi-billion-dollar business couldn't reach a deal with another multi-billion-dollar business, I was searching for a new in-network PCP.
They were fighting over money, plain and simple. If it was over negligence or poor care, I could understand, but it was all about money.
Thankfully, an agreement was reached on Friday, March 11, after initial negotiations had failed, but the fact that nearly 200,000 patients spent a week worrying about who would provide their care moving forward demonstrates the problem.
I would bet similar circumstances have played out each year across the U.S., as executives seek to maximize profits to boost their stock prices, ensuring that investors are satisfied and that their job is secure. All the while, the frontline medical workers and patients suffer the consequences.
Last year, DISH Network entered negotiations with CBS over, you guessed it, money. When negotiations failed, fans who used DISH missed out on watching Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and LSU when their games aired on CBS.
Why? Because of money. Their words, not mine. This is one of several similar contract disputes in recent years.
Professional golfer Phil Mickelson was recently in the spotlight for unfortunate statements made about the PGA with regard to people in Saudi Arabia who are trying to set up a golf tour to compete with the U.S.-based PGA Tour.
In his comments, Mickelson shrugged off murder and human rights violations of the Saudi government in favor of competition and the possibility of more money to be earned from the proposed tour.
I am normally a free enterprise guy, but when Mickelson accused the PGA of having too much control and only caring about money, it seemed a little insincere.
The PGA has helped make Phil Mickelson a wealthy man. In an ironic twist of fate, shortly after his comments, he was awarded $6 million dollars by the PGA for being a golfer who brings in money to the tour.
I don't begrudge Mickelson's right to make money. But how much is enough? He is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and he is currently second on the PGA's all-time earnings list at nearly $95 million.
While he has since apologized for his statements, Mickelson has lost major sponsors and the significant pay that came from them. This might be the only thing that allows him to see the error of his ways.
Major League Baseball cancelled games due to contract disputes – in other words, over money. Millionaire owners and millionaire players couldn't agree on how to split the billions in revenue the MLB brings in each season.
While an agreement was reached after a 99-day lockout, the fans who provide that revenue missed out on part of spring training and at least a few regular season games. And the people who work the games – from the umpires to the ushers – will miss out on needed wages due to the cancelled games.
Truth be known, I have more sympathy for the players, but it is becoming harder and harder to even care – particularly when the average MLB player's salary was $4.7 million in 2021 and the league minimum was $570,500. Those numbers are sure to rise this year, as the new league minimum was raised to $700,000.
If Michael Douglas's character was right, that "greed is good," then it seems like it is only good for those who already have great wealth. An OxFam report released in January 2022 noted that "since 1995, the top 1% have captured nearly 20 times more of global wealth than the bottom 50% of humanity."
Is greed really good for the people who pay insurance premiums and cable bills, and for those who purchase tickets to sporting events? Is it good for all the hourly wage-earners and seasonal employees who will need to find other sources of income until the disputes are settled?
So how does the story end? Is there another "Great Depression" around the corner?
In deep East Texas, there is a saying that goes like this: "Pigs get fed … hogs get slaughtered."
Greed is called a deadly sin for a reason.
Ed Hogan
A public school teacher and ordained Baptist minister who lives in Cypress, Texas.
Tags: Economics, Ed Hogan, Greed, Inequality, Seven Deadly Sins, Sin, Wealth
Pride: A Virtue All Underdogs Can Embrace by Kyndall Rae Rothaus June 23, 2021
God Had Other Plans for Archbishop Desmond Tutu by Allan A. Boesak December 30, 2021
A Lament for Humanity on Human Rights Day 2021 by Wendell Griffen December 10, 2021


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The EU agrees on creating a fairer level playing field for the road transport sector.
Last night the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council reached an agreement on the so-called Mobility Package. Our Members managed to negotiate a very balanced agreement aiming at the improvements and harmonisation of rules and creating a fairer level playing field for the road transport sector.
On posting of drivers, MEP Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA said:
"Our Union needed this agreement, which puts an end to unilateral responses to the problems of a key sector to the competitiveness of our economy. We have a foundation for finishing to social dumping, improving conditions for professionals, contributing to road safety and supporting digitisation and de-carbonisation. A good deal for Europe."
On resting times for drivers, MEP Caroline NAGTEGAAL said:
"Contributing to a fair, safe and sustainable road transport was our ultimate goal during the whole negotiation process. The development of innovative solutions and new technologies and their swift and seamless introduction will generate benefits for the whole transport sector. We managed to negotiate a very balanced deal, which will respond to the needs of the sector and achieve a better harmonisation of the rules in the EU. "
On market access- cabotage, MEP Søren GADE, said:
"We believe that this agreement will lead to improvements of the single market, ensuring better enforcement of rules, as well as legal certainty, clarity and predictability for the road transport sector as a whole. We have to ensure a fair level playing field for all the actors and we strongly believe that this agreement would contribute to enhancing the European competitiveness and growth. "
MEP Radka MAXOVÁ, Employment Committee's rapporteur on posting of drivers, said:
"Generally I am very happy with the result that we have reached yesterday. The work on this file has been long and hard but the text we have on the table now is balanced. Europe has needed clear and enforceable rules for the transport sector for a long time. I am proud to have been a part of the team that contributed to the process".
Vidal Sans David
Mob : +32 470 891 264
Email : david.vidal@europarl.europa.eu
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica
Email: izaskun.bilbaobarandica@europarl.europa.eu
Caroline Nagtegaal
Email: caroline.nagtegaal@europarl.europa.eu
Søren Gade
Email: soren.gade@europarl.europa.eu


Uneconomic parcels are those that are not able to be developed independently of other parcels and are normally only valuable to the adjacent landowner(s) due to size, topography or access issues. Road sections that have been abandoned due to road relocation or realignment are also considered uneconomic parcels.
Please complete the Request for Services Form and return it to the Property Management office for processing. Please provide detailed information to better assist our office in determining the exact location of the property of interest. The mailing address is SCDOT, ATTN: Property Management, Post Office Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202-0191 and the fax number is (803) 737-1403.
A written request is received for the property.
The property is researched, new right of way limits are determined, and a packet is prepared to be sent to the appropriate engineering sections for recommendations.
SCDOT has five different engineering sections that review the packet, considering future needs that SCDOT may have for the property and submit their recommendations as to whether to retain or sell the property.
If all five engineering sections are in concurrence to sell the property, the request is submitted to the SCDOT Commission for approval to convey.
The value of a parcel is determined by either an appraisal, sales of comparable parcels in the area, and/or tax assessment values.
Results of the review process and value are presented to requestor.
* All requests are processed in the order that they are received.
There are no items to show in this view of the "Property Listings" document library.
Property of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Copyright © 2016 www.scdot.org.


The prevalence of obesity, measured by body mass index, has risen to unacceptable levels in both men and women in the United States and worldwide with resultant hazardous health implications. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors influence the development of obesity, and both the general public and health professionals stigmatize those who suffer from the disease. Obesity is associated with and contributes to a shortened life span, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, osteoarthritis, and hepatobiliary disease, among others. Weight loss reduces all of these diseases in a dose-related manner—the more weight lost, the better the outcome. The phenotype of "medically healthy obesity" appears to be a transient state that progresses over time to an unhealthy phenotype, especially in children and adolescents. Weight loss is best achieved by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure. Programs that are effective for weight loss include peer-reviewed and approved lifestyle modification programs, diets, commercial weight-loss programs, exercise programs, medications, and surgery. Over-the-counter herbal preparations that some patients use to treat obesity have limited, if any, data documenting their efficacy or safety, and there are few regulatory requirements. Weight regain is expected in all patients, especially when treatment is discontinued. When making treatment decisions, clinicians should consider body fat distribution and individual health risks in addition to body mass index.
To read the source of this article, click here.


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Why Aren't Planes Tracked Consistently? A Year After Flight 370 Disappeared, The Answer Is More Complicated Than It Seems
By Melanie Schmitz
ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images News/Getty Images
After the sudden disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 8, 2014, the global community came together to mourn the loss of its 227 passengers and 12 dedicated crew. Nearly one year later, the search for the missing jet is still underway, despite the dismal likelihood of the plane ever being recovered; in December, AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in December, which disappeared in inclement weather and was recovered after nearly a week and a half of searching in dangerous sea conditions. With such a catastrophic year behind them, the question remains: One year after Flight 370, why can't we track planes adequately, even now?
Theoretically, the major players in the air industry should be able to afford it. With the rising cost of ticket fares and the sudden drop in fuel prices, now would be an ideal time to siphon out older technology for newer, more reliable tracking systems — the sort that would be able to relay a plane's location every 15 to 20 minutes and pass back critical information — such as the type currently being used by Canadian airline First Air.
Whether or not the technology is expensive isn't really the issue, of course — as CNN deftly pointed out, staging a massive search effort is far more expensive in the long run — but whether or not each company is willing to take on the responsibility first and set the trend.
Ed Wray/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Already some have argued that the current tracking systems (mainly radar-based) simply don't do enough to counter modern-day security concerns. Some experts say that the outdated radar tracking only covers about 2 to 3 percent of the planet's surface, reported CNN on Wednesday, leaving an unfathomable amount of ocean and terrain in between, over which planes might become lost.
Worse, even with radar systems intact, planes within that small percentage area might still lose connection with ground control, due to the fact that they can simply be turned off by the plane's pilot — something that authorities from Malaysia Airlines officials confirmed last May during the search for the missing Flight 370. Although authorities still aren't sure of a motive, it was revealed that someone aboard the Boeing 777 had switched off the tracking system after the flight was handed over to Ho Chi Minh city Air Traffic Control, prompting a flurry of inquiries as to why that specific function was even possible (or allowed).
AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Rather than outdated radar systems, authorities are now calling on airline giants to make the switch to the much more reliable satellite versions. Using GPS, a plane's location is relayed back to control towers at certain intervals to allow authorities the ability to map out it's trajectory — but even current GPS systems have their flaws. Once a plane flies out over open water, for example, it loses contact — something that is wholly problematic, as the majority of lost flights disappear at sea.
Until airline companies can convince themselves to pay out the estimated $100,000 per plane that newer, more reliable systems will cost, it's likely that it will take more than a few tragic disappearances before they decide to make the switch.
Images: Getty Images (2)


Not to be confused with Bryan Adams.
David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family, Adams dropped out of school at age 16 and performed with several local bands before moving to Raleigh and forming the band Whiskeytown. Three albums and five years later, Adams went solo, releasing Heartbreaker in 2000. A longtime resident of New York City, Adams is probably best known for his song "New York, New York", which appeared on his 2001 release Gold. He has since released five more solo albums and three albums with his band, The Cardinals. His most recent album, Cardinology, was released on October 28, 2008.


text:
HomeNewsBids invited for Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Bids invited for Glasgow Prestwick Airport
RELATED TOPICS:AirportGlasgow Prestwick
28/07/2019 News 2 minute read
The Scottish Government has invited an undisclosed number of potential buyers to submit offers to purchase Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK/EGPK).
The news comes after the Scottish Government, which bought the airport for £1 six years ago, asked potential buyers to register their interest after the government announced its intention to sell the airport earlier this year.
Sources close the airport have suggested the buyer is already a 'done deal' but the Scottish Government, which has used £3.9m of Scottish taxpayers money to fund the airport, has to go through the tendering process to be seen to be transparent and fair.
Cargo Aircraft at Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Prestwick Airport is located south of Glasgow and only has Ryanair as a scheduled passenger airline. It also sees a substantial amount of cargo with carriers including Atlas Air, Cargolux and CargoLogicAir.
It has managed to reduce its operating loss to around £2m which is believed to have been the trigger for outside interest.
Ryanair is the only airline using Glasgow Prestwick Airport
It's potential is more as a major cargo hub over passenger flights with nearby Glasgow Airport already having an established passenger base leading some to express concern that the airport may simply be sold off for redevelopment.
Passenger numbers at Prestwick have been declining since their peak in 2007 (2.4m) and 2018 saw just 681,715 passengers use the airport making it the 27th busiest passenger airport in the UK.
Old Sarum Airfield issue Aircraft owners with notice to leave
Newcastle Airport closed after display jet burst a tyre on landing
The Best and Worst UK Airports according to passengers
24/08/2018 News, Travel 3 minute read
A survey of over 11,000 passengers has seen some major changes in the 2018 UK Airport Ranking by consumer watchdog, Which?. The 2018 survey saw Cardiff Airport drop significantly to below Bristol Airport and Manchester's Terminal 3 and London Luton score the lowest results for passenger satisfaction. Doncaster Sheffield Airport [read more]
82% of UK Airports increase pick-up and drop-off fees
8 in 10 (82%) of the UK's busiest airports have increased their pick-up and drop-off charges in 2019 according to research by the RAC. The research shows that only London Gatwick, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff airports have kept their prices for both drop-off and pick-up the same as last year. [read more]
Luton Airport chief calls for support after passenger numbers plunge by over 80%
11/11/2020 Airline news, News 2 minute read
Written by: Ryan Lim
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, London Luton Airport (LTN) has experienced an 82% drop in passenger traffic having seen 297,000 passengers in October. The ongoing ban on non-essential travel is expected to create an even larger impact on the airport and the airline industry which has already seen [read more]


Q: What is Vector Conversion?
Vector Conversion is the art of converting raster images to line art images format. Bitmap images are made up of pixels, and cannot be scaled up effectively. VECTOR images are created by the numerical coordinates that are contained within the file. Vector images can be scaled up or down infinitely without the loss of resolution and are much smaller files compared to bitmap files. Vector images also allow you to change color and edit individual elements with ease. Vector artwork is simply comprised of lines (wireframe) that represent the objects. Vector images are usually created with the drawing program such as CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator or Freehand.
Q: What are the advantages of Vector Art?
Vector Art ( A file created or converted to vector format ) is :Resolution Independent: A vectorised image has no jaggedness, no loss in detail and can be printed at any resolution.Size Independent: The image can be scaled up or down without any loss in quality.Can be Updated or Partially Changed: A library can be maintained and can be upgraded or partially changed.Can be archived and stored for later use: The archive of the artwork can be used for Literature, Manuals, Brochures, Newspapers, Service Bulletins and host of areas.Ideal for Colour Separations.
The turnaround time for one single file is generally our 2-3 working days. For volume orders, we shall intimatethe turnaround time when we receive your enquiry.
Anybody who has a Logo will need the logo vectorised. More often than not, a piece of letterhead or a business card is offered as "art" for a logo. Rarely is it a digital file. If it is a digital file, it is usually a raster image (.tiff, .jpeg, .bmp, etc . . .) The best choice for logos and other line art is an EPS file (Encapsulated Post Script). EPS files are typically generated from vector based programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, or CorelDraw. EPS files are fully scaleable and are not susceptible to distortion. Also, spot colors are easily specified in vector programs, which comes in handy if your project is not going to be produced in 4-color process.We offer our services to : Balloon Makers, Badge makers, Lapelpin makers, Label makers, Printers, Sign makers, Vinyl cutters, Promotional Items, Crest makers, Graphic Designers, Advertising Agencies, Cap makers, Sportwear makers, Yearbook makers, Announcements & invitation makers, Decal makers, Trophy makers, Stencil Engravers, Diploma Certificates makers, Game Developers, Pocket Patch makers, Clipart creators, Coat of Arms printers, Map Makers, Collectable pin makers, Heraldic Clipart makers, Digital Embroiders.
Q: How does indiaeye.com work? What is the workflow? What is the cost?
Q: How will I receive the files I ordered for?
The files you ordered for will be sent to you as an attachment to email. If the file size is large to be sent asan attachment, it would be put up on our server and you will receive the address to download the files.
Q: How do I send you my logo / artwork ?
Send us your logo / artwork as an attachment to email.
Q: How do I pay for the conversion?
You can pay by Paypal or pay using your credit card. You will be sent a link to our secure payment gateway which you can use to make an online payment. AFter this please add.
IF you have any corrections to be made because we have misunderstood your instructions or if it is an error on our part, then it will be done free of cost. Minor corrections are also done free of charge. Corrections on your part, if time consuming will be costed @$12 USD per hour with a minimum 1/2 hour slab.
Q: I would like to see my vector art before I pay for it.
Yes you can! Once you approve of the cost for conversion, then we will go ahead and convert your image to vector and send you a lowres jpg proof of the converted file.
Q: Will you keep my artwork on file?
Q: Do I have to send you the font used in my artwork?
It would help reduce the costing if you can send us the font to be used, or specify the name of the font used ( if available for a free download). However, if the font is not available, then our artists draw the font manually which will in turn increase the input time and costing. Alternatively you can indicate if we can use the nearest available font which will in turn reduce the costing.
Q: What if I don't know what font is used in my artwork?
Our expert artists can identify most fonts. We check with our own database of over 10000 fonts. However if the font is not available then it is drawn manually.


You know that I love dresses, so it is no surprise for anyone that I am always looking for cute cheap maxi dresses. This kind of look makes me feel pretty and feminine, without losing my comfort. I love light fabrics and big patterns, especially flowers. Like in this Round Neck Floral Printed Maxi Dress made with chiffon, a very light fabric. It will keep fresh and fabulous. And you can choose it in other colors as well.
Going very basic with colors and patterns, this Round Neck Striped Maxi Dress is a perfect election to work or a casual event. I love the floor-length skirt paired with that simple black top. So stylish and chic!
On spring, I like to change my shoes to a fresh open style due to the warmer weather. I pull out all my sandals, like these Plain Flat Ankle Strap Peep Toe Casual Gladiator Sandals. You can pair them with jeans or a skirt and will be on trend.
I have a weakness for flats; they remind me of school shoes but way cooler. Like these SOCOFY Plain Invisible Low Heeled Ankle Strap Round Toe Casual Flat & Loafers, they are awesome! That embroider design makes them almost ethnic, and I ship that. If you like them or want to check more fashion shoes for women, just follow the links.


The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and New Zealand government funding agency NZ On Air have partnered to establish a $1 million matching fund for digital media projects.
The funds will be available for the 2014-2015 financial year, and will be distributed to three interactive and/or multiplatform digital media projects. The projects must have one Canadian and one New Zealand producer. The funding will be distributed among the selected projects for a maximum of $400,000 each.
The fund marks the first time both NZ On Air and the Canada Media Fund have entered a digital production funding partnership. The idea for the fund was developed following a meeting between NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson and CMF President and CEO Valerie Creighton held in Australia late last year at the SPAA conference, ran by the Screen Producers Australia organization.
The CMF and NZ On Air are contributing equally to the fund, and the two organizations will jointly choose the projects selected to receive funding.
Additional details on fund's selection process and guidelines will be released on Oct. 10.


We provide Commission Purchasing as part of our client service. Scouring auctions is a speciality & securing the perfect piece for an interior is what we enjoy.
Items purchased by us on behalf & in close consultation with clients.
Appleyard Antiques will source it for you.
Sometimes it's really hard to find exactly what you want. If you can't find it in our catalogue and you've looked all over Sydney, get in touch and tell us what you're looking for.
I'm sure we can track it down. Appleyard Antiques will find you something special .
We can make anything to your specifications using our salvaged period timber such as kauri pine, oak, or fruitwood.
We make tables, sideboards, cabinets and bookcases. And we make sure it looks full of character and style.
Contact us if you are interested in your own custom made piece.
Appleyard Antiques provides an extensive professional service. We have been in the restoration trade for over 25 years and pride ouselves on clever craft at a fair price.
All repairs to antique furniture and wooden objects.
French polishing, hand finishing, surface revival and waxing.
Replacements and replicas made to order.
Read more about our restoration and conservation service, including some case studies.
We have had experience in the revival and refinishing of many homes in the Birchgrove and Balmain area as well as in Paddington and Centenial Park.
Selected items will be taken on commission. Please contact us.
Appleyard Antiques hires furniture and decorative items for film and advertising shoots.
We undertake private and corporate decorating projects, or liaise with your decorator to achieve your design needs.


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Az alapvető jogok biztosa közjogi funkció Magyarországon. A biztost – akit gyakran ombudsmannak is neveznek – az Országgyűlés választja meg hat évre, kétharmados többséggel. Feladata az alapjogok védelme, annak biztosítása, hogy a hatóságok tevékenysége ne sérthesse az emberek alkotmányos jogait. Az ombudsmani funkció létrehozására az Alaptörvény 30. cikkének (5) bekezdése ad felhatalmazást az Országgyűlésnek. Az alapvető jogok biztosának megválasztását és működését a 2011. évi CXI. törvény szabályozza. A jelenlegi ombudsman 2019. szeptember 26-a óta dr. Kozma Ákos.

Az alapvető jogok biztosa tevékenységét két helyettes segíti, akiket a biztos jelölése alapján az Országgyűlési képviselők kétharmados többsége választ meg ugyancsak hat évre. A helyettesek is közjogi tisztségviselők, akik a biztossal közösen felelősek az általuk felügyelt alapjogok védelme és gyakorlati érvenyesülésének biztosításáért. A jelenlegi biztoshelyettesek: Szalayné Sándor Erzsébet Prof., a Magyarországon élő nemzetiségek jogainak védelmét ellátó biztoshelyettes (megválasztás: 2013. október 21., újraválasztás: 2019. november 4.) és Bándi Gyula Prof., a jövő nemzedékek érdekeinek védelmét ellátó biztoshelyettes (megválasztás: 2017. február 21.).

Története
Magyarországon a 2011. évi CXI. törvény 2012. január 1-jei hatályba lépéséig négy országgyűlési biztos működött: az állampolgári jogok országgyűlési biztosa, a nemzeti és etnikai kisebbségi jogok országgyűlési biztosa, a jövő nemzedékek országgyűlési biztosa és az adatvédelmi biztos. Az új szabályozás szerint ezek közül az első három jogutódja az alapvető jogok biztosa lett, míg az adatvédelmi biztos szerepét az újonnan létrehozott Nemzeti Adatvédelmi és Információszabadság Hatóság vezetője vette át. (Az új hivatal első vezetője a korábbi adatvédelmi biztos lett.) A másik három 2011. december 31-én hivatalban lévő ombudsman közül az állampolgári jogok országgyűlési biztosa (Szabó Máté) lett az alapvető jogok biztosa, míg a nemzeti és etnikai kisebbségi jogok országgyűlési biztosa és a jövő nemzedékek országgyűlési biztosa ennek helyettesei lettek. Szabó Máté megbízatása 2013. szeptember 24-én járt le; utódja Székely László lett.

Jogállása
Az alapvető jogok biztosa politikailag független. Senki sem utasíthatja, és tevékenységéért egyedül az Országgyűlésnek felel. Miniszteri jogállása és fizetése, valamint képviselői mentessége van.

Az ombudsmant az Országgyűlés választja meg a köztársasági elnök javaslata alapján, kétharmados többséggel, hat évre. Az Országgyűlés az ombudsmant hivatalából felmentheti, ha 90 napon túli időre képtelen ellátni a feladatát. Amennyiben az ombudsman neki felróható okból feladatát 90 napon túli időre nem látja el, az Országgyűlés őt megfoszthatja hivatalától. A törvényben szabályozott összeférhetetlenség kimondásával is megszüntetheti az Országgyűlés az ombudsman megbizatását.

Hatáskör
Az ombudsman nem hozhat másokra nézve kötelező döntéseket, de javasolhatja a feltárt visszásságok orvoslását, jogszabályok hatályon kívül helyezését vagy módosítását, valamint szabálysértési vagy fegyelmi eljárások megindítását. Indítványozhatja azt is, hogy az alkotmánybíróság végezze el jogszabályok utólagos alkotmányossági vizsgálatát. Nem vizsgálhatja viszont az országgyűlési biztos a bíróságok, az Országgyűlés, a köztársasági elnök, az Állami Számvevőszék és az ügyészségek tevékenységét, és nem foglalkozhat 1989. október 23. előtti ügyekkel.

Korábban a rendőri intézkedésekkel kapcsolatosan, ha a rendőri intézkedés az állampolgár alapvető jogát sértette, kérhette, hogy panaszát a Független Rendészeti Panasztestület vizsgálja ki. 2020 áprilisától ezt a hatáskört az alapvető jogok biztosa kapta meg, akinek a vizsgálata után az országos rendőrfőkapitány bírálja el a panaszt.

Helyettesek
Az alapvető jogok biztosa tevékenységét két helyettes segíti, akiket a biztos jelölése alapján az Országgyűlési képviselők kétharmados többsége választ meg ugyancsak hat évre. A helyettesek is közjogi tisztségviselők, akik a biztossal közösen felelősek az általuk felügyelt alapjogok védelme és gyakorlati érvenyesülésének biztosításáért. A jelenlegi biztoshelyettesek: Szalayné Sándor Erzsébet Prof., a Magyarországon élő nemzetiségek jogainak védelmét ellátó biztoshelyettes (megválasztás: 2013. október 21., újraválasztás: 2019. november 4.) és Bándi Gyula Prof., a jövő nemzedékek érdekeinek védelmét ellátó biztoshelyettes (megválasztás: 2017. február 21.).

További részletek: nemzetiségi jogterület - http://nemzetisegijogok.hu/, jövő nemzedékek jogterület - https://www.ajbh.hu/dr.-bandi-gyula

Az Alapvető Jogok Biztosának Hivatala
Az ombudsman munkáját az Alapvető Jogok Biztosának Hivatala segíti.

Az Alapvető Jogok Biztosa Hivatala a korábbi (Budapest, V. kerület Nádor utca 22. szám alatti) székházából 2019 júliusában ideiglenesen új irodaépületbe költözött. Ennek címe: R70 irodaház, 1074 Budapest, Rákóczi út 70-72. A Hivatal telefonszáma változatlan: +361/475-7100

Az ombudsman hivatalának panaszirodája az 1054 Budapest, Vértanúk tere 1. címen működik.

A panaszát azonosítással vagy azonosítás nélkül benyújthatja az alapvető jogok biztosának weboldalán a https://www.ajbh.hu/forduljon-a-biztoshoz címen. E-mailben a [] oldalon küldheti el a panaszát.

Amennyiben a panaszát személyesen kívánja leadni, keresse fel a panaszirodát. Előzőleg kérjük, a gyorsabb és zökkenőmentes ügyintézés érdekében foglaljon időpontot. Ezt megteheti a Hivatal weboldalán (https://www.ajbh.hu/hu/idopontfoglalas_ugyintezes), vagy telefonon a +361/798-3686  telefonszámon.

Közérdekű bejelentés megtételére lehetősége van az alapvető jogok biztosának weboldalán, amely végigvezeti a bejelentés folyamatán. (www.ajbh.hu).

Panasz illetve közérdekű bejelentés benyújtásáról, annak feltételeiről a http://www.ajbh.hu/tajekoztato olvasható részletes információ.

Források

Magyar közjogi méltóságok

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: There are no syntax error still the php file doesnt write I trierd running the files on the server still the php wont write on text file, I've added html form and php screenshot below.
contact.php
Form.html
<form action="contact.php" method="POST" name="contact-form" id="contact-form">

                                Name :

                                      <input type="text" name="contact-name" id="contact-name" value="" required>

                                Email :

                                      <input type="email" name="contact-email" id="contact-email" value="" required>

                                Message :

                                      <textarea type="text" name="contact-project" id="contact-project" rows="6" value="" required>
                                      </textarea>

                          <button type="submit" value="Submit" name="contact-submit" id="contact-submit" class="send wow fadeInUp">Send Message</button>

                          </form>

A: Replace the below line
if(isset($_POST['submit']))

with
if(isset($_POST['contact-submit']))