Based in Europe and Africa, MICHEL IRS is a specialist consultancy with an established track record of more than a decade of providing niche, customized services to a variety of national and international organisations, including the OECD, OSCE, the Asian Development Bank, various European ministries and national ministries such as the German Federal Foreign Office, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the African Climate Finance Hub and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Drawing from her squad of experienced, multi-lingual associates and her large network of contacts, Founder and Managing Director Rebecka Michel is able to constitute the ideal team to plan and execute a diverse range of high-level events and programmes.
In recent years, MICHEL IRS has provided protocol services for the G20, the Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting and for the European Union's Development Days.
A specialist consultancy with an established track record of more than a decade of providing niche, customized services to a variety of national and international organisations.
I take a very direct, hands-on interest in every single piece of work we do because I take great pride in the quality of our service and in ensuring we meet the detailed requirements of every one of our clients.
Rebecka is the Founder of MICHEL International Relations & Services. A self-confessed "perfectionist, who sets the highest standards – of myself and my staff", Rebecka is passionate about her business, which she has grown since its inception in 2006.
For the two years before her decision to go it alone, Rebecka had joined the Press and Cultural division of the German Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Rebecka explains: "I realised that I loved the world of international diplomacy and that there was a potential niche for me as a provider of protocol services. Perhaps it was brave to set up shop, but it seemed like a natural growth opportunity at the time and I have certainly never looked back".
Rebecka speaks German, English, French and Persian (Farsi) fluently and has basic knowledge in Spanish and Portuguese. Rebecka's multilingual talents have served her in good stead. While she was born in Germany, she was educated at French schools when growing up in Tunisia and Pakistan (her father was a development aid specialist with GIZ).
Later, she studied Political Sciences, French and English at the University of Kassel, Germany. Alongside her studies she worked for a subsidiary of BASF (Wintershall AG) and as an English Lecturer for the management level of Daimler Chrysler.
Nowadays she divides her time between her base in Berlin and her home in Cape Town, South Africa, where she lives with her partner and their little boy.
In addition to playing a key role in managing task teams on big projects such as the G20, French Presidency and COP 2017, Kaja leads on the recruitment, training and coordination of Liaison Officers.
"Kaja is my left-hand woman", says Rebecka. "Her focus under pressure, her emotional intelligence and her ready wit make her the perfect lieutenant for my organisation and my projects. I could not do without her".
Kaja has a wide experience in organising big international summits and conferences. In 2011, she advised the Polish government on the organisation of its rotating EU presidency and operated as Principal Coordinator of a team of about 80 Liaison Officers. She then joined the Polish Finance Ministry where she coordinated the work of the Finance Minister's Office and acted as a media and public relations Adviser to the Minister, and as his chief spokesperson. Subsequently, Kaja was appointed Deputy Director of the Financial Education Office at the Polish Ministry of Finance. In this position, she supervised the work of up to four units, building educational campaigns, new media and communication channels.
A native speaker in Polish, Kaja speaks fluent French and English. She has a good understanding of Russian and basic knowledge of German and Spanish. She holds Master degrees in Politics, and Administration from the College of Europe (Bruges), and in European Politics from the Sciences Po Institute of Strasbourg.
Nathan is a long-time partner of MIRS, whom he advises on global content and protocol-related matters. In addition to being an experienced event coordinator he is a political analyst who specialises in European and African politics. In recent years, he served as Deputy Coordinator for VIP related services and bilateral meetings manager during the European Development Days in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and has also coordinated the stay of some of the most challenging foreign delegations during various international summits.
Until February 2016, he worked as a Policy Analyst at the Polish Institute for International Affairs (PISM), a leading Warsaw-based governmental think-tank, where he provided expertise on EU affairs and French security and defence policies in particular. Previously, he gained experience within various institutions such as the Council of the EU, the World Bank Brussels Office, the European Stability Initiative, the Belgian Business Chamber and the Belgian Embassy in Warsaw.
Nathan is the Founder of a political-economy advisory group, Dufour Analysis & Associates, and is retained as a Senior Research Associate and Marketing Advisor by the Paternoster Group – African Political Insight.
Nathan holds a postgraduate Masters degree in EU International Relations and Diplomacy (College of Europe, Bruges, 2011) and an MA in European studies (ULB, Brussels, 2010).
A native speaker in French, Nathan speaks fluent English and has a solid knowledge of Polish and Spanish, as well as a basic understanding of Russian and Dutch.
Rita is one of MIRS's most seasoned Senior Managers, with a deep knowledge of high-level events' management and a results-orientated approach to leading a multi-cultural team and the aptitude and agility needed in such a role.
Rebecka says that: "Her tough, no-nonsense approach, as well as her brilliant sense of humour, is often exactly what I need in the management of a large team of liaison officers and in dealing with demanding delegations. She balances charm with sharp reflexes and her ability to anticipate problems and take immediate action to resolve them. I trust her completely".
Having worked at the European Commission as a coordinator for DG Enterprise specific events, Rita gained extensive experience in the domain of event management. She pursued that path as a freelance event manager for events such as the Rock in Rio International Music Festival, as well as the NATO summit in Portugal and also worked as Liaison Officers' Coordinator during the Portuguese, French and Belgian rotating presidencies of the Council of the European Union, the UNESCO summit and the French chair of the G20.
When she is not working with MIRS, Rita runs her own business in Lisbon, where she is the owner and manager of "The housing Concept" – an innovative company managing student residencies, accommodating over 400 students.
Rita has a strategy-orientated MBA from the Solvay Business School ULB and the Open University of Saigon as well as the Master's degree from Universidade Católica de Lisboa both in Business Management and Administration.
A native speaker in Portuguese, Rita speaks fluent English, French and German and has a working knowledge of Dutch and Spanish.
Cansu is a project manager who has been working for MIRS since 2016 with a focus on preparing high level events such as the OSCE ministerial meeting and the G20 summit in Hamburg. Furthermore, she has acted as liaison officer on numerous occasions profiting from work experience she gathered during her previous activity at the Visitors' Service of the German Bundestag.
Rebecka says that "Cansu is very attentive to the important details, quick to grasp the essence of a client's needs and I know that I can rely on her to handle the complex planning that is often a key part of our work. She is a brilliant project manager".
Cansu studied Public Administration at the Berlin School of Economics and Law and is currently completing her Master's degree in European Studies at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt Oder. During her studies, she completed numerous internships including the German Bundestag, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin and the European Parliament in Brussels. Cansu is fluent in German, English, Turkish and has basic understanding in French.
Richard Calland has thirty years of experience in law, politics and sustainability, and acts as a content and strategy advisor to MIRS. He is now based at the University of Cape Town (UCT) as an Associate Professor in Public Law and as a part of the academic leadership of its SDG initiative. As a specialist in transparency law and policy he currently serves as a member of the World Bank's Independent Access to Information Appeals Board.
A programme director at leading African democracy think-tank Idasa from 1995-2011, Prof Calland has founded a number of organisations including of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution and the Open Democracy Advice Centre. A prominent political analyst, and a columnist for the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa since 2001, he is the author of a several books including Make or Break: How the next three years will shape South Africa's next three decades, Anatomy of South Africa: Who holds the power? and The Zuma Years. He is a Founding Partner of political risk consultancy The Paternoster Group: African Political Insight, and a long-time advisor to a number of multinational companies.
In the field of sustainability strategy, he is a Fellow of the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership and as such has served as a member of faculty on numerous leadership programmes for organisations such as the African Development Bank, PWC, Network Rail, Namdeb, Tata and Nedbank. In addition, he is the co-director of the African Climate Finance Hub – the only African-based organisation with a specialist track record of working with governmental and development partners on climate finance in Africa.
Dr Nomfundo Xenia Ngwenya is the Chief Strategy Officer for Ntsele Global, a small, black-owned South African investment group. She has worked extensively across the African continent as a senior government official, policy researcher and businesswoman.
She was previously Chief Director for African Economic Integration at the National Treasury, where she represented South Africa at key continental multilateral economic institutions such as the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the International Monetary Fund's Afritac-South Steering Committee, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She previously chaired SACU's Finance and Audit Committee and was South Africa's Deputy at the ADF, where she co-chaired (with the UK) the working group on mobilising financial resources for Africa's low-income countries.
Prior to her appointment as Chief Director, she was Director: Global Development Policy, where she headed National Treasury's BRICS unit. In this role, she oversaw the formulation of South Africa's negotiating position at the New Development Bank (NDB) and was part of the South African delegation to the inaugural negotiations of the NDB. After leaving National Treasury, she was appointed Programme Head for the the DfID-funded Globabl Economic Governance programme, where she oversaw research on regional trade, illicit financial flows and infrastructure financing. She has also headed the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA's) South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers programme, served as an analyst at the South African Secret Service and lectured at the University of South Africa.
Dr Ngwenya is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Non-Executive Director of the Johannesburg Development Agency. She holds a PhD in International Studies from the University of Cambridge, MSc in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), MA and BA (Hons) in International Studies from the University of Stellenbosch and BA (Political Science) from the University of Port Elizabeth.
Torben Michael Theis holds a track record of more than 15 years of work experience in the German political landscape and so advises MIRS on German government relations and content. After completing his political apprenticeship at the Federal Chancellery, he held various positions in political committees and in multinational organisations, as well as for members of the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) before becoming Deputy Managing Director of Germanys biggest political youth organisation in 2007. Over subsequent years Torben has built up an admirable network of high-level contacts across the German political scene. In 2013, he established THEIS International Consulting, which provides strategic guidance to its clients on matters of policy, government relations and public affairs.


The Art Of Building Polite Applications And Avoiding Errors In Your Errors.
When you're a kickass programmer who spends more time with the compiler than with other human beings you tend to run into problems. You start to think of your code as a way for you to interact with your machine; instead of also considering it a way for you to interact with your end-users and other programmers who maintain your code. Long story short, you become slightly inconsiderate about your end users and you start thinking more-and-more like a machine.
You swing like a pendulum, sometimes expecting your users to understand stack-trace of your exceptions, which you display as error message, and sometimes considering your users to be complete idiots who understand nothing about software; so you lean towards not even telling them what went wrong and lean towards completely lame and generic error messages.
At Multiplitaxion Inc, I happened to witness an application where I saw a team lean towards the later. Someone in the team had found the ultimate way to encourage reuse in code and centralize exception handling. The result: Every crash that the application went through showed one generic error message. 'Error Encountered. Our support staff is working on fixing this'; or at-least, something to that effect.
After we played around with the application for a couple of days we knew exactly what to expect when 'anything' went wrong with the application. After a few weeks it turned into a joke; every time the our-support-team-is-working-on-fixing-this error appeared on the screen, there were remarks which were on the lines of, "awesome! now we know the support staff has some work to do and is finally working". I officially declared this as the forty-two of all error messages ever invented.
As hilarious as some of the jokes regarding the support-staff-is-working-on-fixing-this error were, there was something fundamentally wrong about the error. The ingenious idea of a 'generic error message' seemed to work under the premise that the user is an idiot who doesn't even have to be told what went wrong. To say the least, the error demeaned the ability and intelligence of the end user and whispered gently to the end user telling him - 'you're an idiot'.
Thanks for sharing. Why didn't the program notify the library? What did it want to notify the library about? Why is it telling us? Why do we care? And what are we Ok'ing, anyway? It is not OK that the program failed!
Software is often rude to the user. It blames the user for making mistakes that are not the user's fault, or should not be. Error message boxes like the one in [the picture] pop up like weeds announcing that the user has failed yet again. These messages also demand that user acknowledge his failure by agreeing: OK.
Software frequently interrogates the user, peppering him with a string of terse questions that he is neither inclined or prepared to answer: "Where did you hide that file?" Patronizing questions like "Are you sure?" and "Did you really want to delete that file or did you have some other reason for pressing the Delete key?" are equally irritating and demeaning.
If there is one underlying theme in either providing completely irrelevant code related details to the end user or not even telling him what's wrong, it is the programmers inability to think like the end user. As programmers we go from expecting the users of our applications to be just as technically savvy as we are to being a complete idiots.
Setup is unable to locate a suitable version of DirectX on your machine. You will need to install DirectX before you can use LiveArt98, dumbass!
Sympathy notwithstanding, Ezzell awarded the entry third prize. Red-faced developers at Viewpoint noted that the message had simply slipped through the quality-assurance cracks and that they'd fixed the problem "about 4 seconds after we realized it was still there."
Yes, of-course the 'dumbass' part in the installer of LiveArt was an innocent joke by the programmers; but none the less it is an indication of the fact that most of us programmers tend to find the fact that computer users aren't as technically savvy as us, somewhat funny.
Error: Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue.
Windows has found an unknown device and is installing a driver for it.
Error 0000: No errors found, restarting computer.
The procedure failed with the following error: The command completed successfully.
Cannot delete tmp150_3.tmp: There is not enough free disk space. Delete one or more files to free disk space, and then try again.
These are classic error messages which may or may not have slipped through the cracks of QA or maybe it is a classic case the technical teams, not even realizing there was anything wrong with any of these messages. Of course, they were neither hoping nor expecting that the end users will feel a little, lost, when they encounter these messages.
The task of displaying relevant and appropriate error messages to the user is an art picked with time and experience. As much as using accurate, easy-to-understand-and-act-on Error messages might sound trivial to us as programmers; the act coding your error message has deeper impact on how people perceive your application and the love they give back to your application.
Of-course you can continue to classify making your error messages meaningful, sensible and genuinely helpful as a 'trivial' task which can be fixed 'later'; after you are done with your functionality; but there's one tiny little problem with that approach; after you're done, the 'later' never comes. Besides, not asking unnecessary questions; and eliminating un-necessary warnings is a way of life which requires considerable discipline throughout the development cycle. Don't take your error messages and the politeness of your lightly. Consider spending some time thinking about these items as you code.
Go the extra mile and every time you write an error message question yourself - do you really need to inform the user about this error or can you fix it yourself? is your error message full of errors? Is it outright rude? Assuming that the user understands your stack trace is expecting too much from him. Assuming that he is stupid and hiding sufficient details from him is stupidity on your part.
Making your error messages sound like it's the users fault or making it sound as it was some external factor which caused the error to occur and then providing no clue about how to fix things is even worse.
After all, if your application doesn't work, we all know who is responsible for it.
On a serious note, don't write rude applications, May I suggest that we as programmers, consider introducing some 'politeness' in the applications we build.
Building applications that are not rude and avoiding errors in your errors is an art. The level of politeness you introduce in your application will usually decide the love it gets from it's users. Now go search all the error messages in that codebase you're working with and start reviewing them meticulously; can you find errors and warning which can be avoided or eliminated? Are your error messages full of errors? Are your error messages outright rude or demeaning to the users? Consider putting in some effort and thought towards making them meaningful, polite and genuinely helpful.


This exhibition was an exhibit on glass plate photography collections from 19th century that are own and manage by quite a few Indonesian institutions. The collection record Indonesian cultural and natural heritage as captured by explores; archaeologists; anthropologists; architects; and old institutions recording their development through the centuries.
The exhibition was a result of a yearlong networking process done by Tribuana partnering with PDA (Pusat Dokumentasi Arsitektur) with institutions who manages the collections. The institutions are Indonesian (National Museum; National Archive; Archive of Bank Indonesia; Architecture department of Institut Teknologi Bandung; Archive of Bank Mandiri) and Dutch (Troppenmuseum; KITLV), with exhibit hosted by Erasmus Huis Jakarta and Universitas Indonesia. The exhibit accompanied with workshops on photography; pinhole technique and talks on heritage. The exhibit and activities were done in November and December 2013.


"Three yards and a cloud of dust" (1) - that's how Woody Hayes described his "crunching, frontal assault of muscle against muscle", the offense that defined the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 50s and 60s. He went on say that, in regards to the passing game, "only three things can happen when you pass and two of them are bad". Hayes' colourful description of his offense springs directly from the original vision of American Football: run, run, run. Were he alive today, he would be shocked to see that the game has evolved into a philosophy of pass, pass, pass. This phenomenon has elevated one player position above all others: the quarterback. He has become king; all other players are subject to the whims of the crown. How did this happen? Let's review the game, its history and follow it through.
American Football - simply known as "football" in the United States - generates the most revenue of any sporting franchise in the United States and indeed the world (2). In 2012, the NFL (National Football League) took in nearly $10 billion dollars (U.S.) compared to the Premier League at $3.3 billion. Still not impressed? Attendance numbers tell the same story: the NFL attracts nearly 4 million spectators more than the nearest competitor which, interestingly, is not what you might guess (hint: it's not the Premier League and it's not some other American sports league). If you guessed the Bundesliga association football (i.e. "soccer") league in Germany, congratulations! That league holds the number two designation (3), which drew 13.8 million visitors during the 2011-12 season compared to 17.2 million for the NFL.
To say that the game is popular in the United States is like saying a hurricane mildly disrupts traffic. Indeed, football is deeply embedded into American culture from cradle to grave. Since I have been self-aware on this Earth, football has maintained a religious fervor all the way from the Pop Warner leagues through high school, through university settings and of course the progamme.
Football - What's in a Name?
The word "football" implies a strong relationship between your foot and the ball, does it not? Ironically, American football has very little to do with one's feet outside of running - the ball is either already in a player's hands or is being thrown from one player to another. When the ball does touch a player's foot (on purpose), it's reserved for kicking, which doesn't happen very often. Kicking is reserved for "special teams" action when one team is attempting a field goal, punting, the extra point* or kicking to the other team.
*The NFL is considering the removal of the point after a touchdown.
The fact is, the first incarnations of the game were derived from rugby and soccer, using the feet to advance the ball or score, hence "football". In fact, when the first game was played between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869 (4), the rules forbade the forward pass - the very thing which now has come to define the sport.
To understand how the passing game came to fruition, we have to understand why rule changes prompting its rise were born. In the case of football, it was due to numerous injuries and in fact, death.
The NFL introduced a passer rating formula designed to rate a quarterback's performance (passing only - their ability to scramble, run, etc. is not accounted for in the formula). The graph above shows the league average (mean) passer rating was 27.2 in 1932, but has steadily risen attaining a mean of 85.0 in 2013. If this trend continues, we can project a league-wide average quarterback rating of 100 in the year 2034. That's pretty amazing since the designers of the formula intended 66.7 to be an "average" quarterback while any rating above 100 would be considered "excellent". That means the "average" quarterback of 2034 would be considered "excellent" if the formula isn't adjusted (or perhaps the game itself).
For the curious, here's a box plot revealing that the passer rating spread was mostly unremarkable and uniform (i.e. a normal distribution) since 1970*. Note that the median trend followed the mean trend rather closely (Figure 2).
*Before 1970, the NFL consisted of only a few teams causing integrity problems with the data, therefore, only data since 1970 was used.
The average yards per completion has dropped from nearly 15 to 11, revealing the trend for shorter, quicker passes. Since the year 2000, the trend towards shorter passes seems to have hit a wall at around 11 yards on average (more clearly seen with the grey loess curve above). I suspect that's where it will remain unless the rules change, extending the length needed to gain a first down (teams currently need ten yards for a new set of "downs"). Therefore, even though the above trend line would eventually hit zero in theory, the real world dictates otherwise. Don't look for 2 to 3 yards passes to become the norm at any point in the future.
Indeed, there is a strong link between passer rating and yards per completion (r2 = 0.74). Short, more easily-completed passes produce a higher completion rate as well as more touchdowns and lower interceptions - all factors in the passer rating formula. Of course, a similar correlation would seem likely for the other factors in the passer rating such as interceptions, touchdowns and completion percentage. However, the point here is that yards per completion is a major driving force - when you reduce the length of the passes, all of the other factors in the passer rating trend in your favour - not the other way 'round. It's the one variable in the passer rating formula that the quarterback/offense has direct control over in play design.
With all of the information presented here, it seems likely that the two quarterbacks for this year's Super Bowl (2014) should have high ratings. Indeed, the Denver Broncos feature one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game: Peyton Manning and his 115.1 passer rating (15). They will be facing off against the Seattle Seahawks starring Russell Wilson and his 101.2 quarterback rating (16). Both of these quarterbacks are considered "excellent" by the passer rating formula noted above. To this author, this comes as no surprise that two elite quarterbacks end up facing each other in the championship game. Personally, I'm going with Peyton and the Broncos for the win.
Given that quarterbacks are throwing for more yardage than ever and throwing more times per game than in years past, the quarterback has indeed become the most important position in football. Additionally, large amounts of money and fame await those who prove themselves to be elite passers. These factors have motivated quarterbacks to become better and better as noted in their ratings. Unfortunately, the game now relies upon this one position more than ever; teams perform very differently given who is taking the snaps. Watch the starting quarterback go down with an injury and then observe what happens to the offense - you'll usually see a vastly different team from that point forward (how vast depends on the disparity in quarterback skill levels).
How long this trend continues is anybody's guess, but the days of "three yards and a cloud of dust" appear to be over for the most part.
Are today's quarterbacks really that much better than those of years gone by? If our only measuring stick is the passer rating formula, then the answer is yes.
Unless you change the formula.
In my opinion, these "old school" quarterbacks might be better than we think, despite what I've written above. The fact is, these passers existed in offenses which relied more on the running game and "vertical" (long distance) passing. That, combined with the rule changes listed above, put them in situations where their completion percentage was lower, sacks were more numerous and passing yardage was down (along with attempts). In other words, they played under brutal conditions.
1. The weight to the yards per completion portion of the formula was doubled. Earlier offenses relied on a power running game while also throwing long balls. By doubling the 10 weight of this stat, it rewards that style of offense (and it's also very difficult to execute).
2. The weight of the completion percentage calculation was halved. Short passes are easier to complete than long ones, therefore, I decided to reward the long ball passers by reducing the influence of lower completion percentages.
3. The weight of the interceptions calculation was also halved. The short game produces fewer of these, percentage-wise, therefore I wanted to reduce this effect as well.
The "old school" quarterbacks don't look as bad, do they? The chart still shows an upward trend, but it's not as steep. In the current system, there is a 19.2 point difference in rating between 1969 and 2013. With the new formula, that difference is only 12.2 points. So, while today's quarterbacks still rate better than their predecessors in the revised system, they aren't as far ahead. To be honest, the formula would need to be completely reworked in order to really allow those early quarterbacks to really shine - they played under difficult conditions. The ten yard rule for a first down comes to my mind here - we might see a real trend like this evolve if first down yardage is lengthened, forcing teams to throw further.


text:
Unite conference round-up
Published Tue 3 Jul 2012
Unite's conference brought together reps and activists from across the public and private sectors.
"It's been a very good conference," Len McCluskey told Socialist Worker. "This is a powerful union demonstrating its commitment to principled trade unionism.
"We're sending a clear message to the government and the employers that we're going to fight back."
Unite members voted to renew their commitment to fighting for decent pensions and in defence of public services.
Gill George from the health workers' national sector committee was applauded for calling for "trench warfare to defend the NHS".
There were also debates on international solidarity, with guest speakers from the US and Cuba, and motions to support workers in Egypt and a boycott of Israel.
Construction worker Steve Acheson received a standing ovation for his work exposing blacklisting of union activists.
The union had many debates on its policies, but decisions about strikes are taken separately at the level of industrial sectors.
Young observers
A large section of the conference floor was taken up by young members invited to attend as observers as part of a drive to rejuvenate the union.
"It's good to see how the union makes its decisions, although I would have preferred to be a delegate," Charlotte Childs, a factory worker from Scunthorpe, told Socialist Worker.
Fellow young observer Ben Hayes added, "The debate didn't always go the way I'd have liked, but the union feels like it's moving forward.
"It was uplifting to see so much appetite to get organised."
United Left meeting
One of the biggest fringe meetings was hosted by the United Left grouping in Unite.
United Left chair Martin Mayer said activists should aim to get a million on the streets for the TUC demonstration on 20 October.
Another highlight was the Unite the Resistance fringe, which drew 60 delegates to hear striking Spanish miner Segundo Menendez Collar, Egyptian journalist Mostafa Bassiouny and others.
Simpson's golden goodbye
The whole conference was outraged at the £500,000 "golden goodbye" obtained by Derek Simpson, former joint general secretary of Unite.
McCluskey argued that severance payments should be approved by three senior union executive members.
But delegates went further and voted for payments to be approved by the whole of the union's executive council.
Tue 3 Jul 2012, 17:54 BST
Len McCluskey sets out three point plan to build Unite
Unite conference: Debates over Trident jobs and nuclear power

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Darren Fletcher back at Manchester United in coaching role
Darren Fletcher of Manchester United and (R) Wayne Rooney #10 of Manchester United lift the winners trophy following their 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Guinness International Champions Cup 2014 Final at Sun Life Stadium on August 4, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. [Chris Trotman/Getty Images/AFP]
Darren Fletcher is back at Manchester United in a coaching role as he embarks on the next stage in his career.
Fletcher won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup during a 12-year career with United.
Now retired from playing, the 36-year-old has been helping to coach United's under-16s part-time as he works towards completing his coaching badges.
He is following in the footsteps of other former United greats, with Patrice Evra having spent time at the club recently, while current Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started his coaching career as reserve-team manager.
Fletcher left United for West Brom in 2015, then joined Stoke in 2017 before hanging up his boots earlier this year.
He has been working as a pundit, and says he is ready to start coaching after having the summer to reflect on his playing career.
Fletcher and Wayne Rooney walk with the trophy following their 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Guinness International Champions Cup 2014 Final at Sun Life Stadium on August 4, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. [Chris Trotman/Getty Images/AFP]
"I think I needed that period to step away a little bit and took my time to come away and accept not being a player any more, moving onto my coaching badges, and this is the early stages of doing it," Fletcher told United's official website.
"I'm just getting my coaching badges done and being invited back into the club. I've got a bit of spare time in the evenings and I thought there's nothing better than doing something at United and giving a bit back, working at the Academy.
"It's a club that means a lot to me, so it ticks both boxes really. It allows me to get my coaching badges done and give a bit back to the Academy kids."
Fletcher, who made more than 300 appearances for United between 2003 and 2015, has found it rewarding passing on his huge experience to the club's next generation.
"Do you know what? I've really enjoyed it," said the former midfielder, who earned 80 caps for Scotland.
"I started a few weeks before lockdown, and got a taste of it, but have been back involved for two or three weeks. I'm just loving it, the enthusiasm and the stage they're at in their career.
"It's a great place to be, in the evenings, I'm giving up my time and can see how much it means to them.
"I pass on some advice and small details on the game and they really try to take it on board and add it to their game. To see them doing it, and getting rewards from it, means a lot."
Trump-Biden differences laid bare in final US presidential debate
Huawei reportedly hoarded 5G chips before Trump sanctions


text:
Sanja is een bestuurslaag in het regentschap Bogor van de provincie West-Java, Indonesië. Sanja telt 13.730 inwoners (volkstelling 2010).

Plaats in West-Java

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


At 7, we went to the movies with the family and Donna & Roger.
We went to save mrs Banks which was a really good movie!
Then we went to firebowl café to eat something. At 6 we went to Donna&Roger's house for christmas dinner.
It was sooo much fun, and we had really good food! We had fondue and a lot of rootbeer.
When we came home we wrapped our last christmas gifts and then we went to bed.
CHRISTMASMORNING!!! YAY, time to celebrate my very first American Christmas!
We all got up at 8 in the morning and run downstairs in our PJ's.
We gathered around the tree and dad would throw the presents at us.
All those happy faces while they were opening each others presents was amazing!
I got this amazing American bag from my parents back home in Holland. I didn't expect to get a gift, because this High School Year is already the BIGGEST gift ever. A gift to the heart, which I will cherish forever! Love you guys! I love it!
And now my presents from my American family, thank you SO MUCH, Carol, Rick, Anson, Katie & Emily.
As you can see, I had a great christmas. (And a 140 days in the USA) After that, we made dinner ready and had dinner with a lot of people.
The next morning, me, Katie and Emily went to the high school to play tennis for a little while.
At night we went to another movie, The Secret life of Walter Mitty, what an amazing movie was that!
Friday, we had a relaxing day and at 2 we went to the cutest movie EVER, Frozen.
Saturday Jasmine came over, painted nails, watched movies and laughed a lot.
The rest of the day was kind of relaxing. At night we went out for dinner at County Line. That is another BBQ place in Texas.
Me & Katie shared a huge plate of beef & pork ribs, which was so awkward to eat. But anyways, it was so good!
And of course, those huge American glasses of soda. Free refills, awesome!
I slept in, and at 3 Kennedy came over and me, katie, emily and kennedy went thriftshopping at Goodwill.
I got a blouse and a baggy pants for only 10 dollars.
Then we went Bowling from 10 to 12. We had a blast!!
And look behind them, yeah, we got photobombed!
We slept in today, at 6 we went to somebody's house to watch a fireworkshow!
After that, me and Emily went to the Steak dance and at 12 we had a balloondrop.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TEXAS EVERYBODY!! I am so ready for 2014!!
I am halfway, and I hope the next half will be even better than the first half!
And this is how Europe looked like with all the fireworks, isn't that beautiful?! I miss Home.


text:
Creative British Columbia
creating an environment for our future
Imagine BC
Dialogues on the Future of British Columbia
Year 1 – The Future of British Columbia
What might be possible by bringing together a group of intelligent, curious, and passionate British Columbians of diverse ages, professions, geographical, and cultural backgrounds to explore the one thing they share in common? The future of British Columbia.
The Imagine BC dialogue series is an exploratory and interrogative approach. It is aimed at deeply inquiring into the way things are, the way things ought to be, and the values and choices possible to create a liveable future in British Columbia. Our conversations attempt to bring a quality of imagination to these complex questions. And we do this with a sense of urgency and purpose as well as with a sense that time is limited and choices must be made today if we want to have an impact on the future
As we speak we are losing species, the human footprint on the land is growing, and opportunities for innovation are being lost. There are too many people adrift. Our capacity to define these challenges accurately and make decisions wisely will determine our future.
Is there, as yet, a distinctive British Columbia culture?
How might we have economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and healthy communities in British Columbia?
What should British Columbia be in 30 years and what are the choices we have to make today?
Four overriding themes marked this portion of the dialogue.
First, a shared love of and connection to the land – Love of the land
Second, a recognition of the immense cultural and linguistic diversity in the province – Cultural diversity
Third, an excitement and optimism about the future based on our identity as a province 'on the edge' – A province 'on the edge; and
Fourth, an urgency around the need to reconcile our relationship with First Nations – Relationship with First Nations people
The future is highly unpredictable. Global tectonic stresses include energy shortages, climate change, terrorism, disease, the widening gap between the rich and poor, and the potential for instability in the international financial system. Such problems are exacerbated by the increasing complexity and pace of networked systems, the increase capacity of small groups of people to destroy things and people, and the rise of fundamentalism.
We recognize that economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and healthy communities are equally necessary and are inextricably intertwined and interdependent. Each one relies upon the other.
Economic prosperity refers to the generation of wealth, and also means equal access to human rights such as health care, education, employment, and cultural enrichment. Our current standards have to be raised. We need a different "floor" for the "have-nots" in future. Other elements of economic prosperity include choice, trust, cultural engagement, and personal enrichment.
Environmental sustainability includes the visible natural world, – trees, water, mountains, – as well as the water and air we take for granted. The built environment and what we create must be included in this definition as well as the cultural environment. Sustainability refers to making decisions today so as not to compromise the future.
Healthy communities are characterized by the conditions conducive to human health and well-being, including the social and economic determinants of health and the built and natural environment. In this sense, the health of a community and its individuals goes beyond the physical health and includes diversity, trust respect, public engagement, basic security, and freedom from violence, as well as choice, civility, and a pervasive generosity of spirit.
We share an existential connection to the land that leads to a desire to preserve it to the greatest extent possible. This involves respecting the land in its natural state and making a commitment to live in a way that sustains our environmental quality, our generosity of spirit in terms of cultural diversity, and a deep appreciation, and a deep appreciation for the enrichment of life that comes from such diversity. Present choices involve evolving from the present economy and cultural framework that is driven by natural resources to a broader based economy with an emphasis on human resources.
Decentralized approach to problem-solving and ingenuity
There is an ecological approach to problem-solving which involves creating multiple groups linked together within a loose information network. Power is distributive rather than hierarchical. Groups would be allowed to search for solutions with as much autonomy as possible. Success is rewarded along the way with failures viewed as learning opportunities for all. For example, competing multidisciplinary teams might be charged with solving the homelessness problem. Competition can be creative as it focuses people's minds in addition to structuring incentives.
Creative ideas come by supporting preferential reproduction of good ideas, networked groups instead of hierarchical organizations, and the transfer of these ideas to different contexts. Through small groups of people, we see the potential to experiment with distributed problem-solving methods. Such efforts require:
A collective effort to reach effective and sustainable solutions
Resources such as knowledge, data, expertise, finances, and jurisdiction inherently distributed between stakeholders
Agreement by problem-solving groups on how tasks will be segmented and allocated and on how new knowledge will be shared and synthesized
Addressing the diversity of problems and exploring the richness of opportunities that guide us into our optimal future, we denizens of British Columbia can learn from the salmon whose ingenuity, resilience, and persistence have inspired us since the beginning of time.
The salmon is already an icon with BC residents from Haida Gwaii to the Rocky Mountains. It is what makes us care about this place. The salmon is a creature that has always been swimming at the vortex of cosmologies of aboriginal people. People and salmon have co-evolved here. When we talk about the things that we love, we are necessarily inarticulate. Salmon have become a metaphor for what we acre about in British Columbia.
Our vision of British Columbia's future involves restoring the abundance of salmon throughout their former range. It will require feats of engineering heretofore unprecedented. It will require restoring robust stands of timber and clean water. Salmon and humans want the same habitat. The restoration of salmon and all of their abundance and diversity would require fundamental infrastructure changes, from road building to community planning. To care about the salmon is to care about the sustainable future of all peoples and species in British Columbia and it requires making imaginative choices today.
Whether it's salmon, homelessness, mental health, the aging population, educating and caring for our children, or creating wealth, we need to bring new problem-solving strategies to our complex problems in a way we have yet to do in this province. And we need to involve more British Columbians in the dialogue about the future.
Imagine BC Year 1
Dialogues on the Future of British Columbia – PDF
Year 2 – Ecology and Economy: Navigating the Future of British Columbia
What would it take to get decision makers to rethink the relationship between the ecology and the economy? Who are the decision makers? Is it sufficient to lobby individuals for change or are the challenges so overarching that government must intervene to direct individual action? If government intervention is necessary, at what level?
It seems clear that we are all decision makers; everyone can take actions that increase or reduce his or her personal footprint on earth. At the same time many of the challenges are beyond the capacity of individuals to affect. The cooperation of governments, businesses and international agencies will ultimately be critical to finding a right balance.
Conversely, governments cannot or will not move far in any in any direction without the support, or at least the acquiescence of a willing population. So any attempt to encourage action must be aimed broadly at public education, – at public dialogue, – as well as at appropriate levels of government.
At a time when reducing the human footprint is a critical goal, British Columbia is particularly well-equipped to take a leadership role. The province has extensive experience with clean and renewable energy and is a leader in energy conservation. It is also a leader in researching alternative energy systems.
Far from being a limiting factor on our economy, the aggressive pursuit of conservation and alternative energy has the capacity to create jobs and economic wealth, especially as our expertise and technological advantage becomes increasingly valuable on the growing world market. There are rich multi-sectoral, public, and expert driven dialogeas and debates to be had over the potential for British Columbia's future, over the flexibility of BC's economy and the resilience of the global biosphere.
The conclusion is clear: no one wants to spend any time thinking about a future that's all bad. But if we don't think about it, – if we spend no time whatever planning beyond the next quarter, the next political term, or the next international sporting event, – the future will be bad. As Canadians, – as British Columbians, – we have a huge capacity and a rich natural advantage. It is urgent that we marshal our resources in a way that will make the "right balance" not just an imagined future, but also a likely one.
Imagine BC seeks to
Create a network of interdisciplinary innovators who will generate provocative and constructive ideas about the kind of future we want for British Columbia
Engage British Columbians in meaningful public dialogue, transcending partisan politics, about our province's future
Produce a number of educational materials that support public dialogue in British Columbia's future
Cultivate a culture of dialogue that engages citizens and specialists/experts/thought leaders to consider our future from multiple perspectives
Contribute to public judgement about what choices we should be making for a sustainable future
Influence public policy discussion regarding emerging economic, social, cultural, environmental issues and opportunities in British Columbia
Ecology and Economy: Navigating the Future of British Columbia – PDF
Year 3 – BC's Future Well-Being: Alternative Futures and Signs of Progress
What kind of future do we have in British Columbia? How does thinking about our future and our present in terms of well-being contribute to addressing the challenges we face as a province? What are the indicators of well-being?
How is well-being impacted by natural, social, and economic capital? How do we score on the happiness index in British Columbia compared with other jurisdictions? What actions are necessary now to ensure the future well-being of British Columbia's citizens?
If we were to develop a set of provincial well-being accounts to monitor our progress, what should be included, – e.g. quality of work, the state of our communities, social and regional disparities, early childhood education, crime rates, health, the strength of our relationships, the state of our environment? What would it take for British Columbia to be a national and world leader in social, economic, and environmental well-being?
Imagine BC series aims to build the province's capacity to think proactively about the future. A society that is alert to the future is a society that is ready to seize the opportunities open to it.
In this regard, 'future-literacy' as much as technological or civic literacy, is a critical competitive advantage that deserves investment and merits both public and private support.
BC's Future Well-Being:Alternative Futures and Signs of Progress – PDF
Questions for creative exploration and conversation
Questions drawn from Simon Fraser University Dialogues on the Future of British Columbia
How could we shift from problem-solving with one-off disciplinary frameworks and cultivate a culture of creative exploration? What are local, national, and international examples of such decentralized approaches? What do we want British Columbia citizens to dialogue around?
What is the most important objective for British Columbia for the next 30 years?
What do we imagine for the future of our children and the children of others in British Columbia?
How can we bring people who live in British Columbia together in community conversations around our common interests?
How do we engage people from diverse cultural, ethnic, economic, and regional backgrounds to focus on the future and what and how they can contribute?
How could we realize the full potential of British Columbia's diversity?
What steps could be taken to build capacities in communities?
How can we ensure that heritage legacies are appreciated and protected?
How can we redefine prosperity in non-monetary terms in order to reduce our human footprint?
What roles must education, arts and culture, and dialogue play to engage our society in urgent conversations to bridge our differences and forge consensus?
What new narrative do we want to create for the province and do we need new language to talk about the need for change?
How do decision makers and citizens engage with each other to explore and understand the relationship between ecology and economy?
What reforms to government structures will help us make better decisions?
How do we expand and relocate the idea of leadership and change the way we envision the relationship between this leadership and governmental decision-makers?
What will government look like in a community imagined and driven by community leaders?
Where are we getting it right?
Simon Fraser University Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Dialogue brings together many voices, stories, perspectives, and experiences to increase mutual understanding and identify shared solutions. Instead of arguing for what you already know, dialogue is entered into with a spirit of curiosity and an openness to be changed.
Creative British Columbia Quantum Ideas 2020 Proudly powered by WordPress.


text:
Home BUSINESS Shale Slowdown Takes Economic Toll
Shale Slowdown Takes Economic Toll
MIDLAND, Texas—America's hottest oil-drilling regions—such as this one at the heart of the Permian Basin—are seeing their economies soften as shale producers slash spending, leading to emptier hotels, choosier employers and less overtime for workers.
Early this year, demand for the tubing, bolts and valves used in fracking was so high that
Homer Daniels's
oil-field equipment company, RK Supply, in the Midland area was on track to easily beat its annual revenue forecast. But by August, Mr. Daniels had to impose a hiring freeze as customers delayed projects.
"It affects everybody's bottom lines," Mr. Daniels said.
Fracking has made the U.S. the world's top oil producer, buoyed the national economy and helped the country become a net exporter of crude and petroleum products for the first time in decades. But the rapid production growth of recent years is waning as shale companies, many of which have struggled to make money, focus on profits over expansion to satisfy unhappy investors.
"The boom time is done at this point, unless oil prices go up significantly," said
Michael Plante,
senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Shale Slowdown
Hotel revenue is declining in some of the hottest U.S. oil regions and flattening out in others as producers scale back to meet investor demands.
Change from previous year in revenue per available hotel room in oil producing regions
Already, that shift is taking an economic toll. National nonresidential fixed investment—which tracks spending on software, research and development, equipment and structures—fell at an annualized rate of 2.66% in the third quarter and 1.01% in the second quarter, due in large part to declines in oil and gas spending, according to the Dallas Fed.
Spending is expected to decline further next year. North American shale investment, or spending on drilling and fracking, is forecast to fall about 6% this year, then tumble another 14% in 2020, adjusted for inflation, according to energy analytics firm Rystad Energy.
Companies also are trimming jobs, leading to a 5% decline in seasonally adjusted oil-field service employment in the 12 months ended in October, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Oil-field equipment company RK Supply has had to impose a hiring freeze as customers delayed projects.
Dylan Cole for The Wall Street Journal
In Texas, the nation's top oil-producing state, energy industry employment has dropped at an annualized rate of 2.1% through September, Dallas Fed data show. Such granular figures weren't available in other oil-producing states, but BLS data show that in North Dakota, seasonally adjusted employment in mining and logging, which includes the oil-and-gas industry, fell about 9% from January through October. Employment has been steadier in Colorado and New Mexico.
The changes are evident in the Permian, the region straddling Texas and New Mexico that has been the heart of the fracking boom. Trucks carrying sand, water and crude still clog the highways, new homes continue to be built, and regional unemployment was 2.4% in October, up from a recent low of 1.9% in April but below the national average of 3.3%, not seasonally adjusted, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Still, oil-and-gas workers have begun to see their hours cut, and hotel occupancy in Midland has fallen 14% through the first 10 months of the year from a year earlier, according to hospitality benchmarking firm STR Inc. Occupancy had tightened during the boom, leading to high prices and a building frenzy throughout the Permian. The average cost of a room in Midland was about 55% higher last year than in 2017, STR data show.
Jose Urteaga,
a supervisor for a bulk fuel supplier, the softness has meant that his company doesn't have to worry as much about employee turnover.
"In the past, we were just getting every warm body we could," Mr. Urteaga said at a recent cookout in Midland. "Because it's leveled off some, we're able to check references, make sure guys have the experience they're putting on their résumés."
The slowdown is unusual because it hasn't been driven by a sharp decline in crude prices, which have hovered around $57 a barrel this year. Rather, U.S. oil producers are paring growth and spending largely because many have struggled mightily to generate returns for shareholders and are facing tightening access to capital. Including reinvested dividends, a broad index of U.S. oil-and-gas companies has fallen about 47% in the past three years as the S&P 500 index soared roughly 49%, according to FactSet.
"Investors are playing a large role here, and that's the biggest driver of this cycle," said
Chris Wright,
chief executive of Denver-based
Liberty Oilfield Services Inc.,
which specializes in hydraulic fracturing. Companies such as Liberty that provide services or parts to shale producers have been among the hardest-hit by the pullback.
In Hobbs, N.M., just 5 miles from the Texas border,
Kevin Mattingly,
who owns Shiloh Machine, is seeing customers that used to consistently pay him within 60 days wait 90 or 100 days to do so. Meanwhile, the pile of tubing and other tools that companies have asked the machinist to repair is dwindling.
"There is a crunch on our cash," Mr. Mattingly said. He recently asked employees to stop working overtime, a key source of income in oil boomtowns, where costs run high and housing can be difficult to find.
On the Texas side of the Permian,
Scott Chaffin
is planning to go back to school in January for welding, after seeing his weekly hours at a pipe-inspection company fall to about 50, from more than 80 earlier this year.
"You've got to pay attention a lot more to your spending," said Mr. Chaffin, 34 years old, who has cut back on expenses such as new clothes and eating out.
Are you concerned about a shale slowdown at all? Why or why not? Join the conversation below.
Write to Rebecca Elliott at [email protected]
Previous articleGeneral election 2019: Jeremy Corbyn apologises over heavy Labour defeat
Next articleTop-5 Cryptos This Week: ATOM, XTZ, LINK, BCH, NEO
Volvo to install cameras inside cars to check if drivers are...
Low & Bonar's stock plunges after it warns profits for year...


SYNERGY HomeCare an effective option for people recovering at home.
Gilbert, AZ (PRWEB) May 31, 2012 - Current reports from the National Stroke Foundation cite strokes as the leading cause of adult disability. With 795,000 projected incidents of strokes in the next year, many people are looking for ways to prevent and recognize strokes and as well as the right kind of care should a stroke happen to them. SYNERGY HomeCare's services are a popular solution among people who have experienced a stroke.
Yet most people cannot identify stroke warning signs or risk factors and most of those strokes are preventable--some studies indicate that up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. The National Stroke Association offers a Stroke Awareness Resource Center with free downloadable stroke education information, graphics and ways to get involved in raising awareness.
For many people who have experienced a stroke, high-quality home care during rehabilitation can aid in their recovery. Since strokes often reduce motor function and mobility, having help around the house with daily living activities is beneficial to stroke patients and their families. Trained caregivers can assist by helping clients get in and out of bed, provide personal care services such as grooming and bathing as they regain their strength as well as perform necessary household tasks such as meal preparation, changing linens and housekeeping.
Strokes can also take an emotional toll with depression and anxiety being among the most common issues. An encouraging companion can positively stimulate emotions through social interaction and structured care plans, which give stroke patients a sense of purpose and direction.
SYNERGY HomeCare, a national franchise of home care, was founded in 2000 in Gilbert, Ariz. Synergy HomeCare now has more than 135 franchises in 38 states. For additional information, please visit http://www.synergyhomecare.com.
National Stroke Association's mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke. It is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke by developing compelling education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. Visit http://www.stroke.org for more information.


Entercom has pulled more than 200 stations from the TuneIn radio platform in a push to drive more listeners toward its Radio.com service.
The move was announced weeks ago through a series of on-air campaigns specifically targeting users of the TuneIn smartphone and smart speaker apps. Stations affected include local music, talk and news stations that were once operated by CBS Radio before the company merged with Entercom last November.
Affected stations include former CBS radio stations WINS (1010 AM, New York), KCBS-AM (740 AM, San Francisco) and KNX (1070 AM, Los Angeles). Entercom stations affected by the move include KKDO (94.7 FM, Sacramento), KGMZ (95.7 FM, San Francisco) and KHTP (103.7 FM, Seattle).
In an interview with the radio publication InsideRadio.com, an Entercom executive said the move was intended to push listeners toward Radio.com, the CBS Radio platform that was acquired as part of the deal.
"We are committed to making Radio.com a leader in the digital audio space," Entercom Chief Executive Officer David Field told the publication, adding that the company is planning to launch additional web services for both consumers and advertisers in the coming months.
Many people with Amazon Echo and Google Home smart speakers used the TuneIn app as a way to stream local Entercom and CBS stations. Several people took to social media on Wednesday to complain that their smart devices no longer allowed them to stream their favorite radio stations.
In response to those complaints, TuneIn said it was disappointed Entercom had chosen to remove the stations but remained committed to providing additional content in the future. TuneIn continues to offer local broadcast stations alongside exclusive streams from cable news networks, sports programming and podcasts under a freemium model.
In June, Bloomberg News reported TuneIn had hired a financial advisor to explore a possible sale of the product. The company raised $500 million last summer, but said it would be willing to sell for less to the right buyer.


Spider-Man is one of the few comic book characters that is a fixture in pop-culture and a fictional icon. After a short hiatus during the Sam Raimi trilogies, a new Spider-Man helmed by Marc Webb, came to fill the void. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is the latest superhero flick that hopes to keep that space filled and improve upon the mistakes of its predecessors. But it doesn't do too well either.
We return to find good ole web-head back in New York City, swinging from the top of skyscrapers and catching bad guys, you know, doing his Spider-Man thing. Life outside of his hero gig has begun to invade in a more powerful way than Spidey thought. High school is over, now it's time to move on to the next phase of life. However, being Spider-Man doesn't allow for much of that. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is forced to take on a plethora of villains (Green Goblin, Electro and the Rhino) hoping to bring an end to him and the ones he loves.
The film spirals out like a comic book, a very mediocre one. The story transitions from one point to the next at a rapid pace, eventually it feels like the pace the film rides on will be an easy adjustment, but it never comes because there's no consistency. It's fast at one moment, unbearably slow at the next. It's nothing like the first film "The Amazing Spider-Man" ('12).
In fact, it is much more like its silver screen forefather, "Spider-Man 3" ('07), there is just way too much going on. Every bit of development is smashed into a small block, and nothing ever feels fully formed. There is really nothing suitable enough to build on, but the movie proceeds to push the plot on anyway.
At the conclusion of the film, it feels like it was more of a segue way to the next movie than a sequel. With the next films in the growing Spider-Man franchise already in development, it looks like there was too much thinking ahead and they took their eyes off the ball on this one.
A character like Spider-Man deserves much better. Nowadays it seems pretty hard to mess up a comic book movie, there isn't much you need to do to make it watchable, but somehow "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" found a way.


Over the next week, the forum will be updated to a new forum software. Its very similar to vBulletin which we have now but it offers better add-ons and few issues. The site will be down for a few hours, once the forum is back up it will be the default color for a few days until the theme skin is updated. Please be patient. The new software will feature some cool upgrades that you guys have been asking for.
What's the name of the new program?
Can't wait for all the bit$%in' about the new forum.
Its gonna be awesome! I think my wife is so afraid of how it's going to go, she's going on a vacation without me!
I've had several PMs asking it their password or login will change. Nothing will change with your login credentials.
We have switched. There will be some glitches and bugs. The forum will be under construction for the next few days. If you see any major issues please post them up. Yes. we know the site is not green and black We are working on that.
Click members name to see his rating.
To leave feedback as a buyer or seller go to the member's profile page. Click the feedback stats text, then click the Add Feedback button.
Anyone else having issues with Tapatalk now? For some reason I cannot check private messages on Tapatalk now.
The only thing I noticed is my pictures in the classified ad I have posted don't show up for me. The pics for other ads show up. I used Imgur to load them. Other than that it looks good to me.
This is great ! I recognize this from another forum I frequent and it works much better. Especially pictures. Looking forward to the Rokslide skin back on.
On Tapatalk when viewing my profile there is a "trophy point" count below following, followers, etc. What does the trophy point mean and how is it measured?
XenForo is much easier to use mobile so much so that all the users on my Toyota forum have no issues uploading and embedding images directly from their mobile device.
Thanks for going with XF!
When do I get all these trophy I have been awarded?


text:
Q: What kind of data storage should i use on my android app? I am making an android app that calculates somne routes between different places in a town and returns to the user several ways to get there (by some buses, walking etc). For that, i need to store some coordinates, places names, buses so that this data can be accessed and used in the program, but cannot be modify or seen by the user. And i want somenthing that is easy to manipulate, because i'm new on this. What kind of storage should i use?

A: There are 4 Storages options
1.SQLite
2.External Storage
3.Internal Storage
4.Shared Preferences
Storage Options
the link will show you examples and storage options supported by Android..
my Suggestion is Shared Pref its the most easy one.
just remember when the user clear Cache all of the Storage Options will be deleted.

A: You can get the route between any two places in XML or JSON format(recommended).
From JSON Object you can get 'legs' array which containts information about waypoints between two places.
Details for Different traveling modes can also be fetched by specifying 'mode' attribute.
you can use sharedpreference's to save the above details and can be used later
For more details see this documentation
Here  is a good tutorial which may be useful for you

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Fresh-cut lettuce, classic Caesar salad dressing, grated parmesan cheese and croutons.
Three eight-ounce patties and three slices of cheese.
Texas toast, double American cheese, jalapenos, and grilled onions.
Grilled onions, grilled green chilis, and grilled tomatoes (all chopped), topped with Swiss and American cheese.
Grilled chicken, bacon, Swiss cheese, grilled green chilies, red onions and ranch dressing on a wheat bun.
Four large white meat strips with your choice of ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce.
Cheddar cheese, bacon, and jalapenos. Served with ranch dressing.


On June 20, 2018, RedBox+ Franchising, LLC completed their acquisition of redbox+, the nation's first and only roll-off waste container and portable restroom franchise. As part of this acquisition, RedBox+ Franchising, LLC will retain all current redbox+ employees/staff members and independent contractors who will provide ongoing support to new and existing franchisees.
The unique, patented redbox+ design is an efficient and effective accommodation for construction sites. In fact, this is a mandatory accommodation in the many towns and municipalities across the country where a portable restroom is required by law when a roll-off container is on-site for contractors to use. redbox+ franchise operators offer the industry's only solution for construction site operators eager to make one call for two critical services/products – roll-off waste containers and portable restrooms.
After building Monster Tree Service, the nation's first and only tree service and removal franchise, into one of the nation's fastest growing franchise systems, Josh Skolnick launched RedBox+ Franchising, LLC to acquire redbox+ and take over as the company's CEO and majority owner. When he reviewed the numbers, Skolnick was impressed by redbox+'s semi-absentee business model.
He says he's confident the concept will appeal to aspiring business owners interested in multi-unit/multi-territory franchise opportunities offering serious scalability and profitability potential.
redbox+ was founded in 2006 by Jeff Matejka. It all began with a simple, hand-drawn sketch of what would become the patented redbox+ design. After obtaining an exclusive U.S. patent for the combined roll-off waste container and portable restroom unit, redbox+ experienced rapid customer growth. In 2007, redbox+ received the "Innovation of the Year" award during the International Waste Expo.
RedBox+ Franchising, LLC is working to sustain controlled franchise system growth through expansion into new territories. In the next 12 months, the franchise aims to open 100 new locations.
If you're interested in learning more about redbox+, here is a video that displays franchise opportunity, the award-winning product and full service offering – https://youtu.be/IfTDUU5NaPI.
For more information about the franchise opportunity and RedBox+ Franchising, LLC, please visit https://franchise.redboxplus.com/.
In 2018, RedBox+ Franchising, LLC acquired redbox+, the nation's first and only roll-off waste container and portable restroom franchise.
Founded in 2006 by Jeff Matejka, redbox+ was started with a hand-drawn sketch that soon evolved into obtaining an exclusive US patent for the innovative roll-off waste container and portable restroom combination. The response was immediate and the next year redbox+ received the "Innovation of the Year" award during the 2007 International Waste Expo.
Today, redbox+ continues to grow as roofers, remodelers, home builders and more continue to take advantage of the cost-effective unique design. This sustainable growth is built on a steadfast business model, as evidenced by the recent acquisition by RedBox+ Franchising, LLC.
As the only "one call, two services" solution in the $60 billion-dollar waste management industry, RedBox+ Franchising, LLC already has hundreds of containers operating in multiple cities across the country. With an aggressive and sustainable franchise development strategy in place, RedBox+ Franchising, LLC expects to grow to 100+ locations in the next 12 months.
For more information about the franchise opportunity and RedBox+ Franchising, LLC, visit https://franchise.redboxplus.com/.


text:
Zosimus, New History 4.46
Zosimus (Greek Ζώσιμος): Early Byzantine, pagan author of a history of the Roman Empire, published in the first quarter of the sixth century CE.
The translation of Zosimus' New History offered here was printed in 1814 by W. Green and T. Chaplin in London, and was probably prepared by J. Davis of the Military Chronicle and Military Classics Office. The translator is anonymous. The text was found at Tertullian.org. The notes were added by Jona Lendering.
[4.46.1] While Theodosius was on his march, Maximus, having learnt that the mother of Valentinian and her children were to cross the Ionian Sea, collected a number of swift-sailing ships, which he sent under the command of Andragathius to cruize for them.
[4.46.2] But Andragathius, though he sailed about in every direction, failed of his purpose, for they had already crossed the Ionian Strait. Collecting, therefore, a competent navy, he sailed along all the adjacent coasts, in expectation that Theodosius would attack him with his navy.
[4.46.3] While Andragathius was thus employed, Theodosius, having passed through Pannonia and the defiles of the Apennines,note[The Julian Alps.] attacked unawares the forces of Maximus before they were prepared for him. A part of his army, having pursued them with the utmost speed, forced their way through the gates of Aquileia, the guards being too few to resist them. Maximus was torn from his imperial throne while in the act of distributing money to his soldiers, and being stripped of his imperial robes, was brought to Theodosius,
[4.46.4] who, having in reproach enumerated some of his crimes against the commonwealth, delivered him to the common executioner to receive due punishment. Such was the end of Maximus and of his usurpation. Having fraudulently overcome Valentinian, he imagined that he should with ease subdue the whole Roman Empire.
Home » Sources » Content » Zosimus » Zosimus, New History 4 » Zosimus, New History 4.46
Magnus Maximus (article)
Theodosius I (article)


New Caledonia has excellent roads and it's a good option to rent a car and drive around the big island of Grande Terre. You can stop along the way in nice hotels, motels or gites or you can camp in managed campgrounds.
There are 5 roads that cross the mountainous interior of New Caledonia's island of Grande Terre. The Transversal, going from Kone on the west coast to Poindimie and Touho on the east coast is arguably the best of the 5 roads.
There are several scenic stops along the way. For information on fly-drive holidays in New Caledonia get a copy of the Rocket Guide to New Caledonia.


*One Star* There is much to like about this, open, rich wine with its red cherry and herb components filled out by sweet, crème brulée oak. Its aromas tend a bit to Merlot, and, so also do its accessible, supple flavors of ripe cherries, cappuccino, loam and quiet notes of herb.
This offering is an exceptional wine from an excellent vintage. It displays attractive aromas of mulberry, blackberry, spice and vanilla. This elegant wine is round and supple with alluring flavors of berry, plum and mocha that linger beyond the long, polished finish. The balance of fruit and power make it a candidate for graceful aging. Made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all harvested by hand in small lots from mid-September to mid-October 2001. Aged in a combination of American and French oak barrels for 20 months. Merlot was added to the final blend to increase fruit complexity. The Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enhance the aromas and add a pinch of spice.


The girls softball team beat Grant 6-1, maintaining an undefeated streak in conference.
In what could be considered an exciting game, the Antioch varsity softball team took down the Grant Bulldogs 6-1, with another dominant victory on Tuesday, April 9.
The game started off with a grand slam in the first inning from senior Abby Pyburn. Starting off the game with a grand slam definitely gave the team more confidence.
The Sequoits have come out this season playing very well and are currently undefeated in conference. All players on the team are contributing and making an impact, making the team very hard to beat. The next softball game, April 11, the Sequoits will take on the Grayslake North Knights.


text:
Michael Strahan: Fun Facts About the Newest 'LIVE!' Co-Host
Strahan has just been announced as Kelly Ripa's new co-host.
By ERIIN MCLAUGHLIN and KEVIN DOLAK
Michael Strahan Joins 'Live!' With Kelly Ripa
Former NFL player is selected as Kelly Ripa's new morning co-host.
Sept. 4, 2012 — -- intro: Michael Strahan made a career on the football field, but the 6-foot-5 former NFL defensive end will now be coming to homes across America on a daily basis, after being announced this morning as the new co-host of "LIVE! with Kelly and Michael."
Strahan, 40, is best known for his 15 years as defensive end for the New York Giants and more recently as a football analyst on "Fox NFL Sunday." After joining Kelly Ripa in the past few months as occasional guest host since Regis Philbin's retirement, he quickly won audiences over with his charm, wit and mega-watt smile.
While audiences will surely get to know Ripa's spirited new co-host in the 25th season of "Live!" here are a few fun facts about American's newest morning-show host.
RELATED: Michael Strahan Joins Kelly Ripa for "LIVE!"
quicklist: 1
title: Strahan's Childhood Abroad
text: Strahan was born in Houston but spent the majority of his youth in Mannheim, Germany, where his father was in the Army, then in business. Strahan didn't start playing football until his father sent him back to Texas in his senior year of high school, where he played at Westbury High School. Strahan won a scholarship to play college football after that season.
title: Strahan, the Actor
text: In addition to hosting television shows, Strahan also acted. In 2009, he starred in "Brothers," a short-lived Fox sitcom. He played a retired football player who moves to his hometown to be with his brother, whose own football career ended after a car accident.
title: Strahan, the Activist
text: Strahan is an outspoken supporter of gay marriage rights. In June 2011, he filmed a pro-gay marriage commercial in which he said, "As a defensive end for the New York Giants, I always played the game tough, but fair. And I feel it's unfair to keep committed couples from being married."
title: Strahan's Love Life
text: Strahan has been married twice. His first marriage was to Wanda Hutchins in Germany, with whom he has two children. Later, he wed Jean Muggli, with whom he had twin daughters. Strahan's marriage to Muggli ended with a drawn-out, acrimonious divorce. Muggli asked for $15 million in the divorce settlement, and $18,000 in monthly child support. The divorce judge ordered that their mansion be auctioned and the money be evenly split.
title: Strahan's Fiancee
text: Strahan has not been completely unlucky in love. He is engaged to Nicole Murphy, the former wife of Eddie Murphy, to whom she was married from 1993 to 2006. Strahan's bride-to-be appeared in the VH1 reality-TV series "Hollywood Exes." The couple recently listed their home in Hermosa Beach at $1.849 million.
title: Strahan's Crooked Fingers
text: "It's all from grabbing people," he said in an interview posted to YouTube. "You know when you're running and grabbing somebody and you try to jerk them? After the play is over and your fingers [bend]? You don't come out of a football game because of a finger. So you suck it up. They tape it together and you go play again. The next day looks like two put together. But you deal with it."


text:
Sen. Johnson denied visa to seek advice from Russia as part of Congressional delegation
WASHINGTON (WKOW) — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson nowadays mentioned that he has been denied a visa to enter Russia as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation.
Johnson is the chairman of the Senate overseas relations Committee's Subcommittee on Europe and Regional security Cooperation and had deliberate to speak with various Russian executive officials, American corporations, civil society businesses, and others, based on a information free up from Johnson's workplace.
"The route Vladimir Putin has chosen for Russia is a tragedy of historic proportions. in its place of holding free and fair elections, respecting the rule of thumb of legislations, and integrating Russia's financial system with Western democracies, Putin has invaded Georgia, attempted to illegally annex Crimea, carried out conflict in eastern Ukraine where lots have died, and supported a barbaric regime in Syria that has used chemical weapons by itself individuals in a war that has resulted within the deaths of hundreds of hundreds," Johnson said in an announcement.
"eventually, a new era of leaders will emerge in Russia. Working with Ambassador Huntsman, I had hoped direct communicate with Russian parliamentarians may support set the stage for better future family members between our two countries," Johnson said. "unluckily, Russian officers continue to play diplomatic games with this honest effort and have denied me entrance to Russia. in spite of this petty affront, i will proceed to advocate a powerful and resolute response to Russian aggression — and frank communicate when feasible."
Johnson has led and supported a number of pieces of legislations that goal to grasp Russia in charge for its aggression in Ukraine and its concentrated on of dissidents.
ultimate Congress, Johnson became some of the lead sponsors of law to rename the road in front of the Russian Embassy in Washington after dissident Boris Nemtsov, who become assassinated in 2015.
within the remaining Congress and in the current Congress, Senator Johnson has led Senate resolutions calling for a far better response to Russia's aggression in the Kerch Strait in November 2018, as well as sanctions concerning the Nord circulate 2 pipeline.
Posted by Kashif Paul at 5:01 PM


text:
Home » SFF Reviews » An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: It's not about aliens, it's about us
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: It's not about aliens, it's about us
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Disclaimer: As my students know, I've had a crush on Hank Green for years. I will try to not let this bias my review.
In the middle of the night when April May, a graphic designer, is on her way home from work in Manhattan, she's the first person to notice a huge new statue on the sidewalk. It's totally out of place, but she appreciates its artistry, so she calls her friend Andy and asks him to help her make a video about the statue (which she names Carl). When Andy uploads it to YouTube, it goes viral. When other Carls are discovered in other major world cities, April, the first person to report on the Carls, becomes famous and begins to relish her role as their spokesperson. Her fame opens many doors but also causes problems and, eventually, becomes dangerous.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (2018) is a delightful science fiction story with diverse characters and a fun and clever mystery to solve. The entire world is involved in trying to find clues and piece them together to figure out what the Carls want from us. On the surface, the book appears to be about our relationship with these aliens, but it's really about our relationships with each other.
Hank Green: Adorable, and so smart!
As April's fame and social media stats rise, April becomes increasingly concerned about her brand and increasingly less likeable to the people who loved her before she was famous. By the end of the book, many readers may find themselves turning on a protagonist they initially liked. Green is asking us to think about fame and its consequences, and perhaps specifically the type of fame driven by social media and platforms such as YouTube. Related to this, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing asks us to think about discourse in our current political climate and to consider how we've become so polarized and where extremism comes from.
I can't help but wonder if some of April's story is autobiographical for Green, a vlogger who became famous (along with his brother, The Fault in our Stars author John Green) on YouTube and used this fame to expand to other media including music and, now with this debut novel, literature.
I mentioned earlier that I love Hank Green's science videos, especially SciShow and Crash Course. I love his sense of humor and his precise manner of speaking. I don't think it's my imagination that I could hear him while reading An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. The prose sounds like him and, of course, the same sense of humor is there. I really liked this aspect of the novel.
I listened to the audiobook version produced by Penguin Audio and narrated by Kristen Sieh. This was the first time I've listened to her and I was extremely impressed. She was perfectly cast and, I don't know if she listened to a bunch of Hank Green's videos before narrating his first novel, but she somehow actually sounded like him (the speech patterns, not the voice, of course). This is an excellent audiobook that I highly recommend. It's 9.5 hours long. Oh, and Hank narrates the last chapter, which is adorable.
~Kat Hooper
Sibling rivalry is the worst at the best of times, but when you are the brother of arguably the most successful YA author in the world, it's got to get pretty tough. It is difficult to write a review of Hank Green's debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, without mentioning his brother John Green (that would've been one almighty elephant in the room). But there's no denying the debut author has chutzpah: not only is he following in his brother's footsteps, but he is even inhabiting the same genre. Yet that is where the similarities end. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing will take readers on an unexpected and original journey, one that is absolutely remarkable, and one they absolutely won't have seen coming.
April May is walking home late one night in New York. She finds a mysterious statue right in the heart of Manhattan, and calls her best friend Andy to come and film it. They post a video on YouTube (and somewhat fittingly: Hank Green is, of course, one half of the YouTube channel Vlogbrothers), only to find that it has gone viral the next morning: April has unwittingly become an overnight celebrity.
The next day, it transpires that these mysterious statues have popped up in sixty-four major cities all over the world. When April May teams up with a scientist, it quickly becomes apparent that these statues possess qualities that no known materials on Planet Earth have. There is no doubt that these Transformer-like sculptures (dubbed "Carls" by April May), are not from this world.
There are a few current YA clichés that Green couldn't seem to resist, such as April May being quirky in that Manic Pixie kind of way. The offbeat first-person narration is something YA readers will be familiar with, so in terms of voice, there is nothing groundbreaking going on here. Green also deals with a variety of diversity issues that are increasingly common in SFF today. (The next stage is to ensure that the publishing industry is actually as diverse as the stories being told.)*
But the story itself is pretty original. Green explores current issues — social media, the pitfalls of fame, celebrity — through the lens of Science Fiction, which is really the definition of what Science Fiction is meant to do. The relevance of these topics for a modern teen audience also make this book the perfect choice for those who wouldn't normally pick up a SF book about aliens or robots. And there's no denying it's incredibly readable; why else is that first-person oddball voice such a popular choice for a YA audience?
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a funny, contemporary, easily-digestible exploration of what it means to be human in an age where social media dictates so much of what we do. Green uses a fairly ordinary Science Fiction trope to make a YA story extraordinary, and despite the shoes he had to fill, he has done a remarkable job.
~Ray McKenzie
*This paragraph was edited in response to a helpful reader's comment.
Publication date: September 25, 2018. In his much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green – co-creator of Crash Course, Vlogbrothers, and SciShow – spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she's part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined. The Carls just appeared. Coming home from work at three a.m., 23-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship – like a 10-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor – April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world – everywhere from Beijing to Buenos Aires – and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight. Now April has to deal with the pressure on her relationships, her identity, and her safety that this new position brings, all while being on the front lines of the quest to find out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us. Compulsively entertaining and powerfully relevant, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing grapples with big themes, including how the social Internet is changing fame, rhetoric, and radicalization; how our culture deals with fear and uncertainty; and how vilification and adoration spring from the same dehumanization that follows a life in the public eye.
December 7th, 2020. Kat Hooper and Ray McKenzie´s rating: 4 | Hank Green | Audio, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
RACHAEL "RAY" MCKENZIE, with us since December 2014, was weaned onto fantasy from a young age. She grew up watching Studio Ghibli movies and devoured C.S. Lewis' CHRONICLES OF NARNIA not long after that (it was a great edition as well -- a humongous picture-filled volume). She then moved on to the likes of Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy and adored The Hobbit (this one she had on cassette -- those were the days). A couple of decades on, she is still a firm believer that YA and fantasy for children can be just as relevant and didactic as adult fantasy. Her firm favourites are the British greats: Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman, and she's recently discovered Ben Aaronovitch too. Her tastes generally lean towards Urban Fantasy but basically anything with compelling characters has her vote.
Marion Deeds / September 17, 2018
This looks like a fun and thoughtful read. Nice to see a positive Internet success story (the author) for a change!
Jana Nyman / September 17, 2018
This sounds interesting, and I'm glad you enjoyed it after being a fan of Hank Green for so long!
Braglin Sjaelland / December 7, 2020
I've never read this particular book, but the language Ray uses in her review is jarring and offensive. I'm not sure I know it means to be "ostentatiously bi-sexual", and I have no idea how the race of the character's partner has anything to do with a review of a book. Saying that including non-heteronormative sexualities or biracial relationships makes a book "too self-consciously woke" and "cliche" is to say that stories about those people don't matter or shouldn't be told, which is completely wrong. We need MORE texts about people who don't fit within the "usual" experiences of whiteness and being young, not more people telling them that they shouldn't be included in popular texts. Whether it was intended or not, the language used in that paragraph is dismissive and wrong and works to silence already silenced people. Did you ever consider that maybe a young bisexual in a biracial relationship was happy to see themselves represented in a book, for the first time in their life? I'm glad you think that identities that are different to yours should be called out and set aside as "too woke" for your tastes — absolutely disgusting language that should have never appeared here or anywhere else.
Ray McKenzie / December 9, 2020
Thank you for letting me know that my wording was offensive. I was attempting to point out that the author was following the current YA trend of being "self-consciously woke" by writing protagonists who are very different from the author, but I can see that it didn't come across well. It was never my intention to suggest that any voices be silenced. I am an advocate and a reader of all stories, especially the ones that aren't heard enough! It would be better to say that I look forward to a day when YA authors and those who work in the publishing industry reflect the diversity we see in the world. (This is getting better, fortunately.) I have edited my review to try to get this across better


More than one-third of U.S. adults were obese in 2005-2006, according to a National Health and Nutrition survey conducted for the Center for Disease Control. Approximately 33 percent of those found to be obese were men and 35 percent were women.
While many people know that eating healthier foods and getting more exercise can reduce the chance of being obese, some seem to have more trouble than others. Often times those people are women.
Vasudevan A. Raghavan, MBBS, MD, MRCP, director of cardiometabolic, lipid services and the Scott & White Medical Weight Management Program said there are several medical reasons why it might be more difficult for women to shed unwanted pounds.
"Pregnancy and menopause are physiological events that are unique to women and serve as risk portals for weight gain," he said.
Because these times of life can affect a woman's metabolism, getting tested for metabolic disorders might be something to consider for those who seem to be doing everything "right" and still can't lose weight.
Another factor that affects weight gain, especially in women, is stress.
Even though it seems as if the deck is stacked against women when it comes to weight loss, Dr. Raghavan said there are things we can do to increase our chances of success.
For more information about how to eat better and lose weight, go to the National Heart Lung Blood Institute's Aim for a Healthy Weight page.
Women's Health	Breast reconstruction: What are my options?


text:
«Новосибирский комсомолец» — именное наименование истребительной эскадрильи, построенной в годы Великой Отечественной войны на средства молодёжи (комсомольцев и других) Новосибирска и Новосибирской области.

Всего за годы войны было создано шесть эскадрилий с таким наименованием, первая поступила в РККА 4 июня 1942 года.

История
С инициативой построить на средства молодёжи авиационную эскадрилью выступили комсомольцы Нарымского округа Новосибирской области. Их поддержал областной комитет (обком) ВЛКСМ, который постановил провести несколько воскресников в период с 28 сентября до 15 октября 1941 года, заработанные во время которых средства перевести в фонд строительства эскадрильи. В воскресниках приняли участие десятки коллективов, помимо молодёжи в них приняли участие и школьники, а общее число собранных средств, включая взносы наличными, составило 2 236 000 рублей.

6 декабря 1941 года сбор средств был объявлен законченным. Деньги были перечислены заводу имени В. П. Чкалова, молодёжь которого также сверхурочно построила эскадрилью из девяти Як-7, приурочив её создание к Дню Красной Армии 23 февраля 1942 года. 20 февраля 1942 года новосибирский обком ВЛКСМ принял решение присвоить звеньям новой эскадрильи именные наименования «Комсомол Нарыма», «Комсомол Кузбасса» и «Новосибирский комсомол». Один самолёт в составе звена «Новосибирский комсомол» получил наименование «Новосибирский пионер». Надписи были нанесены на самолёты, также боевые машины были оформлены комсомольской символикой.

Передача эскадрильи лётчикам 12-го гвардейского авиационного истребительного полка ПВО (12 гв. иап ПВО) состоялся 4 июня 1942 года. Самолёт «Новосибирский пионер» получил батальонный комиссар  Д. Т. Прояненков, самолёт «Новосибирский комсомол» — старший лейтенант Г. Е. Фастовец, самолёты «Комсомол Кузбасса» — старший лейтенант М. Е. Цыганов и лейтенант К.А. Крюков,  самолёты «Комсомол Нарыма» — лейтенант В. Г. Лебедев и младший лейтенант А. А. Оже. Остальные самолёты получили лейтенант Ю. А. Келейников, лейтенант Н. И. Яхненко и младший лейтенант В. М. Помогалов.

Всё это время продолжали поступать средства на постройку новых боевых машин. На эти средства завод имени В. П. Чкалова построил ещё четыре машины, которым присвоили имена Зои Космодемьянской, Александра Чекалина, Лизы Чайкиной и Любы Земской. Инициатива получила дальнейшее продолжение, и всего за годы войны молодёжь Новосибирска и Новосибирской области собрала средства на строительство шести эскадрилий «Новосибирский комсомолец», которые поступили в формирования военно-воздушных сил РККА.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Фотографии самолётов эскадрильи в 12 гв.иап.

Истребительные эскадрильи СССР во время Великой Отечественной войны