PfSI is currently the largest independent provider of school improvement services to primary schools and academies in Cambridgeshire. We work with headteachers, managers, governors and other leaders to honestly evaluate the quality of their school's provision and identify how to improve.
The collective experience of our partners covers nearly every aspect of education. Not only are we experienced consultants, but as ex-headteachers and senior local authority officers we have first-hand experience of the challenges and difficulties you're facing. The skills of our partners will be an invaluable tool to raise standards within your school.
"Her unique perspective enabled the school to identify key priorities for improvement, which ensured we moved from 'satisfactory' to 'good with outstanding features' in our last Ofsted." – Cambridgeshire headteacher, on one of our partners.
'Partnerships for School Improvement' was founded in 2011 by Pauline Ball and Barry Dowler.


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Home » NoSQL » The right to be forgotten: 'majority of employees likely to exercise GDPR rights'
The right to be forgotten: 'majority of employees likely to exercise GDPR rights'
by Nick Ismail 1 December 2017
New research by data security company Clearswift has shown that 75% of employees are likely to exercise their right to be forgotten (RTBF).
The principle also known as 'right to erasure' dictates that an individual can request their data to be removed or deleted when there is no compelling reason for a business to continue processing that information.
The research, which surveyed 600 senior business decision makers and 1,200 employees across the UK, US, Germany and Australia, has revealed that the majority of employees will likely request that their data is deleted, something that 48% of business decision makers believe will have serious consequences for their business, slowing down productivity as resource is allocated to dealing with these requests. A small number of business decision makers (5%) even said that their organisation would grind to a halt.
>See also: The Queen's Speech: a technological revolution?
Although businesses are anticipating a drain on resources, this may still be underestimated, with a mere 34% of businesses successfully conducting a RTBF request so far. The Marketing/PR sector are least confident in handling RTBF, with only 23% stating that they could handle requests without any impact, whereas 50% of those in HR were sure of their abilities to handle this without issue.
Despite the well-established rhetoric on the board historically distancing itself from security, board level staff were by far the most likely to request erasure, with 73% saying they would be extremely or very likely to request the service.
Dr Guy Bunker, SVP Products at Clearswift, said: "RTBF is an extremely challenging aspect of GDPR. Organisations need to balance an understanding of the data landscape in the organisation with a wider knowledge of the day-to-day practices within the business, including the possible pitfalls. For example, if businesses do not have a record of data duplication or are unaware of staff copying data, RTBF requests won't be conducted correctly."
"Working with various departments that hold and process critical data to map storage locations and data flows will create that understanding. Even when the information goes outside the organisation, this data is still your responsibility, so you need to know who you've shared it and through which communication channels so you can effectively execute a RTBF request. Deletion can then be carried out automatically leveraging technology, or manually."
>See also: 2018 is shaping up to be a regulatory nightmare for financial services
Interestingly, the desire for data erasure is far greater amongst those in the private sector (78%) when compared to those in the public sector (65%), a relaxed attitude towards data security that is evidenced further by public/private sector opinion on cyber security breaches, with more than a quarter of public sector employees (28%) not worried by recent global cyber attacks compared with 17% in the private sector.
Bunker added, "Businesses also have to be aware that the right to erasure does not provide an absolute 'right to be forgotten'. Individuals have a right to have personal data erased and to prevent processing in specific circumstances, but there are exceptions for certain sectors.
"Not all data is created equally, and some cannot be 'forgotten' on request. For example, you could not contact your local GP and ask for the right to be forgotten, because the practice would not be permitted to delete your information. Similarly, if you have purchased goods you cannot expect the transaction data to be deleted in an arbitrary manner."
Tagged: GDPR
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Why cyber security strategy must be more than a regulatory tick-box exercise
61,000 open source projects, vulnerable to 15-year-old flaw, now patched
Following discovery of a 15-year-old vulnerability affecting open source projects through Python, Trellix has managed to patch over 61,000 of the ventures affected
Over 200 million email addresses stolen in Twitter cyber attack
Why diversity matters when recruiting cybersecurity staff

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


San Francisco Opera has released an impressive array of DVDs of its outstanding productions. A couple of the most recent are Porgy and Bess with Eric Owens, LaQuita Mitchell, Lester Lynch, Chaucey Packer, Karen Slack, conducted by John DeMain, and the not to be missed I Capuleti e I Montecchi with a superb cast that captured the essence of this supreme bel canto masterpiece of Bellini. Joyce Didonato (Romeo), Nicole Cabell (Giulietta), Saimir Pirgu (Tebaldo), Eric Owens (Capellio) Ao Li (Lorenzo) conducted by Riccardo Frizza.
When one hears Fargo, one imagines the place to be like the 1996, award-winnning Coen brother's film, Fargo, based on actual crime events which took place in the snow-covered plains of 1987 Minnesota. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover a thriving opera company, Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company (originally called Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera) in a vibrant city filled with museums, galleries, restaurants, and shops, so many in fact, that it is difficult to find a parking downtown.
Festival Hall on the North Dakota State University campus hosted The Gondoliers, the inaugural performance of the newly formed Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera in April 1969. A group of local residents felt that there were many musical members of the community without an outlet for their talent, as well as sufficient interest in the region to establish a light opera company. The company quickly expanded its offerings the second season with Il segreto di Susanna,Trial By Jury, The Student Prince, and Carmen, including bringing in talent from outside the local area. The repertory quickly expanded, continuing with less frequently performed works like Susannah, Pergolesi's The Music Master and Argento's The Boor along with light operas and musicals. The 1980s brought Eugene Onegin, Zar und Zimmermann, Ballad of Baby Doe along with repertory favorites like Traviata, Butterfly, and Barbiere di Siviglia. The 1990s continued in a similar vein with rarely performed Haydn's Creation along with repertory favorites and light operas. David Hamilton, whose background as a baritone whose credits include singing at the Metropolitan Opera, took over as executive director in the 1990s. He is also a professor at Concordia College which has a large music department, providing a "ready-made" chorus for the company's performances. He has continued with three opera season, two mainstage with one production still a lighter opera to bring those scared of opera to a performance, and one smaller, experimental work that included a world premiere, Buried Alive and Embedded, during the 2013-14 season. Upcoming 2014-2015 season includes Merry Wives of Windsor, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Daughter of the Regiment.
La traviata featured Beverly Sills as Violetta as at that time established professionals sang the leading roles in Wolf Trap Opera Company productions and young artists sang in the chorus. Since 1985, all leading roles have been performed by the Filene Young Artists, an elite group of young singers who are chosen through a highly-selective annual nationwide audition tour. Grant Gershon conducts the National Symphony Orchestra and José María Condemi directs this new, fully-staged production.


Self-confidence and courage are a strange thing and there can be a balancing act that you need to perform to make sure you're making the progress you want to make. When you don't have enough confidence in yourself and what you're getting ready to do, you won't have the courage to take action and get started. When you have too much confidence and courage on the other hand, without the knowledge of what to do, it's easy to get yourself in hot water. Here's an example.
Let's say you decide to go into business for yourself designing and maintaining websites for small businesses in your area. If you don't have enough confidence in yourself and your abilities, you won't get the business up and running. You're not going to be comfortable approaching the small business owners in your area until you get more knowledge and expertise. And if you do, you're not going to sound confident and convincing. The net result is that you won't get your first handful of clients and the learning opportunities creating and maintaining actual websites and working with client brings. This definitely isn't a good thing.
Now let's look at the other side of the scale. What if you have too much confidence in yourself and your abilities and the courage to approach a bunch of business owners and tackle even the most difficult projects? Your idea is that you'll figure it out as you go along. While that can sometimes work, there's also a lot of risk in this approach and if you take it too far, it's easy to mess up royally. This in turn could cost your customers a lot of business and hurt both their reputation and yours. This is also not a good thing.
The key then is striking a balance and finding that middle ground where you have enough courage and confidence to get started, get some experience, and learn "on the job", without getting too cocky and getting yourself in way over your head. There's a lot to be gained from saying yes and then figuring out what you need to do and what you need to learn, but it needs to be tempered to a point where you're not way outside of your area of expertise.
Where are you right now regarding this balancing act? Considering that you are taking part in this challenge, I'm assuming that being over confident isn't an issue for you. I hope this far into the challenge you are steadily moving toward that perfect middle ground. Keep going, keep working on getting that self-confidence and courage and start taking action. You may just surprise yourself and find out how much you're capable of.


"It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations". ~ Kahlil Gibran.
← Make Art With Love..


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rosemarieberger.com
Tracking Jesus Inside the Empire
Tag: Babylon
Tim Nafzinger: Financial Institutions and Babylon
At OLSX, St. Paul's. Photo credit: Duncan C., http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/6281021255/
As part of the Word and World mentoring circle that I belong to we have been reading Protestant theologian William Stringfellow and talking about the Occupy Movement.
Here's a concise insight from Tim Nafzinger:
>>It's very interesting, in light of our recent discussion on William Stringfellow's An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land to read George Monbiot's column in The Guardian naming the Corporation of the City of London (the official name of the square mile in London that houses many of the world's most powerful banks and financial institutions) as "Babylon" in yesterday's Guardian. Note this is a completely different legal entity from the London where 3 million people live. Monbiot writes:
It's the dark heart of Britain, the place where democracy goes to die, immensely powerful, equally unaccountable. But I doubt that one in 10 British people has any idea of what the Corporation of the City of London is and how it works. This could be about to change. Alongside the Church of England, the Corporation is seeking to evict the protesters camped outside St Paul's cathedral. The protesters, in turn, have demanded that it submit to national oversight and control. …
[The City] has also made the effective regulation of global finance almost impossible. Shaxson shows how the absence of proper regulation in London allowed American banks to evade the rules set by their own government. AIG's wild trading might have taken place in the US, but the unit responsible was regulated in the City. Lehman Brothers couldn't get legal approval for its off-balance sheet transactions in Wall Street, so it used a London law firm instead. No wonder priests are resigning over the plans to evict the campers. The Church of England is not just working with Mammon; it's colluding with Babylon.
Fittingly enough, from a Stringfellow perspective, this private banking world is often just referred to as "The City."
Monbiot's naming and shaming (along with the resignation of three Church of England clergy members) seems to have had its effect. This morning the Church of England stopped its attempts to evict Occupy London. Now it's just Babylon against them…<<
Author Rose Marie BergerPosted on November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011 Categories UncategorizedTags Babylon, capitalism, financial industry, Guardian, London, Monbiot, Occupy Movement, Stringfellow, Tim Nafzinger, Word and WorldLeave a comment on Tim Nafzinger: Financial Institutions and Babylon
The Good Book and Gay Marriage
Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Yesterday in Minneapolis, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) crossed an historic threshold as Presbyterians in the Twin Cities area voted to eliminate all official barriers to the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as ministers and lay leaders in their 2.4 million member denomination. With their vote the Twin Cities Presbyterians were the 87th Presbytery (a regional governing body) to vote yes, giving the denomination the majority of votes needed to approve the landmark change.
In light of this historic event and other debates closer to home, I want to repost a 2008 item below.
One of my faith heroes and friends, Bill Wylie-Kellermann, a United Methodist serving as pastor at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Detroit, recently engaged in a faith-based debate for Newsweek about what Scripture teaches on same-sex marriage. I found it very insightful. His dialogue partner was Barrett Duke from the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Their online discussion was a follow-up to the Newsweek cover story by Lisa Miller, Our Mutual Joy.
It's this kind of thoughtful interaction that can help people of faith grow together in Christ—while hopefully (in my opinion) moving us toward a Christian faith that asks about the "content of one's character," one's fidelity to God, and how one manifests God' love both materially and spiritually to the poor and the least of these, rather than sexual customs or mores.
Another interesting exchange to recommend is Jon Stewart's interview with Mike Huckabee on social conservatism and gay marriage. Respectful, funny, and enlightening.
Here's a bit from the Newsweek exchange, but read the whole thing:
Bill Wylie-Kellerman: I found the cover story by Lisa Miller quite good over all, and stimulating, raising a number of things about which I'd like to talk, beginning with the very nature of marriage in church and society. That is actually a matter of some theological confusion. I love the Bible, and stake my life in the biblical witness, and it is that which calls me to the struggle for full inclusion of gay people and their gifts. I know we disagree.
Barrett Duke: Greetings. I look forward to our conversation. This is a very important topic, not only for the church but also for our culture. I believe Christians must submit to the Bible's teachings, and I believe the Bible is unequivocal in its teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful. That being the case, it is impossible for me to accept same-sex marriage, which legitimizes a sinful behavior.
I think Lisa Miller's NEWSWEEK article was atrocious. It was obviously biased in its attitude from the start. It is evident to me that Lisa already had her mind made up and was simply interested in trying to convince her readers that she was right. Of course, she is within her right to do that, but she was hardly honest in her treatment of the Bible in the process. She dismissed it without even giving it opportunity to speak. Her comment, "Religious objections to gay marriage are rooted not in the Bible at all, then, but in custom and tradition …" was offensive and uninformed. My objections to same-sex marriage are very much rooted in the Bible. If NEWSWEEK actually intended to be an honest mediator of this issue, they should have published pro and con articles by respected Bible scholars rather than engage in such blatantly obvious opinion journalism.
Wylie-Kellerman: By laying out a clear argument, public conversations are invited. I also know it was a great breath of air for gay folks to read a theologically literate argument on their behalf. They are so constantly hit over the head with Scripture, to which we must surely come.
Ms. Miller called the mix of civil and religious elements of marriage an often "messy conflation of the two." I agree. On the one hand, a marriage is a civil contract between two people and the state with certain rights, responsibilities and privileges implied. On the other, it is also often an act of worship between two people before God, surrounded by prayer and support from a worshiping community and with the presence of ongoing pastoral care. It seems to me only over the former that the state should have authority. In the Episcopal Church, for example, marriage is one of the sacraments. In Methodism, it is a service of worship. This means we have the intrusion and participation of the state in a sacramental act of worship. That's more than messy.
Duke: I'm sure some considered the article a "breath of air," but they have not been well served. It is not a theologically literate argument. It didn't even deal with many of the key Bible passages. Reading Ms. Miller's article, one could get the impression that the New Testament is silent about the subject of homosexuality, which of course it certainly is not. Furthermore, my objections to same-sex marriage are not based solely on the Bible's teachings. The Bible informs my opinion about this issue, but the question I think we are trying to answer is, what does God have to say about this? It is clear that the Bible condemns homosexual behavior. Since I believe that the Bible is God's word, and I have good reason for this belief, then it must mean that God condemns homosexual marriage, so the Bible cannot be used to help create an argument for same-sex marriage. Whether one wants to create a nonreligious, i.e., civil, marriage or not, it doesn't change what is the clear biblical teaching about homosexual behavior.
Wylie-Kellerman: I want to go forward here speaking out of the conversation which I hear going on in Scripture, one pertinent to the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people. The direct sanctions in the Levitical code against male homosexual acts arise during the period of the exile. They are part of the purity code that set boundaries against assimilation into Babylon. Much of those laws concern dietary restrictions. Think Daniel and Meshach and friends and their refusal to consume the imperial diet. The boundaries of the community are being proscribed and protected by the code. As I understand it, the body itself becomes the image of community. So all of the body's entry and exit points, all orifices are regulated: what goes in as resistance to the empire—like kosher table—has served Judaism's cultural identity throughout the Diaspora. By the time of Jesus, however, these boundaries had been turned on their sides. The purity code was turned against women, the sick and disabled, and poor people. They were the unclean.
At great personal cost, Jesus set about in his life and ministry to welcome the unclean into his community and to his table. He violated the purity code with his body, even finally on the cross. In the Book of Acts (chapter 10), the Holy Spirit urges Peter in a vision to eat unclean foods, and he says that would be an "abomination." Precisely so. But the Spirit persists, and he accedes, which really means he is able to welcome and eat with a gentile, Cornelius, otherwise unclean, then on his way to visit. St. Paul spends a lot of his correspondence thinking this through in writing about the law (more than the purity code, but really set in motion by its stricture). For him the issue is whether the "wall of hostility" (Ephesians) would run down the middle of the common table, even the communion table, dividing Jews and gentiles in the Christian community. In the church, the movement is toward fuller and deeper inclusion. It is that which culminates in Paul saying there is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, male nor female for we are all one in Christ. In the context of the American freedom struggle, this was understood by the church (sometimes poorly and certainly belatedly) to imply, there is neither black nor white. Today I hear the summons to say, in Christ, there is neither gay nor straight.
Continue reading "The Good Book and Gay Marriage"
Author Rose Marie BergerPosted on May 11, 2011 May 11, 2011 Categories UncategorizedTags Acts 10, Babylon, Barrett Duke, Bible-busting, Bill Wylie-Kellermann, Cornelius, Daniel, Detroit, Ephesians 2, Ephesians 5, Ephesians 6, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, gay marriage, Jon Stewart, kosher, Leviticus, Lisa Miller, Meshach, Michigan, Mike Huckabee, Newsweek, Our Mutual Joy, purity codes, same-sex marriage, sexual customs, sexual mores, Southern Baptist Convention, St. Paul, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, United MethodistLeave a comment on The Good Book and Gay Marriage
Is Sheol in Preston Hollow, Texas?
Whilst reading in the prophet Isaiah, I popped down to the grocery store to buy orange juice for Sojourners' Mardi Gras pancake breakfast tomorrow. With the prophet's searing poetry still curdling inside me, my eyes fell on that this week's edition of that fish-wrap, scandal rag The Globe trumpeting:
Just weeks after leaving the White House, depressed and paranoid George Bush is suicidal, insiders fear. In a blockbuster world exclusive, sources tell GLOBE the ex-President is boozing up a storm – and reveal why he is terrified of Barack Obama and his own wife Laura. Don't miss a single word!
It seems that life in the Bushes' new home in Preston Hollow, a wealthy Dallas suburb, is not all he expected it would be. It struck me that the prophet Isaiah is much better at explicating the daily headlines than I am and in words much franker and bolder than I usually give myself permission to use. Isaiah 14:6-10 says:
You persecuted the people with unceasing blows of rage and held the nations in your angry grip. Your tyranny was unrestrained. But at last the land is at rest and is quiet. Finally it can sing again! Even the trees of the forest–the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon – sing out this joyous song: `Your power is broken! No one will come to cut us down now!' In the place of the impotent there is excitement over your arrival. World leaders and mighty kings long dead are there to see you. With one voice they all cry out, `Now you are as weak as we are!
In fact, Isaiah describes Yahweh's specific instructions to Israel to taunt the deposed leader of an empire, saying, "When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon" (Isaiah 14:3-4).
Theologian Walter Brueggemann, in his explication of Isaiah 1-39, makes the argument for why this taunting is important, saying that when the people are free from their oppression then "one of the important opportunities, in such freedom, is to engage in a mocking song against the tyrant."
Brueggemann goes on to describe the toppled ruler's arrival in Sheol:
"Sheol" is not a place of punishment, but it is where the dead are kept in their impotence. As the deposed oppressor arrives in Sheol, now completely removed from authority and utterly impotent—a suitable resident for Sheol—all the others who used to be active authorities and great powers in the earth (now become impotent) present themselves as a welcoming committee for the new arrival in Sheol. They gather around the new arrival and recognize him as one of their own, formerly powerful, now completely powerless.
In high irony, the poet [Isaiah] has them welcome the new member of the powerless to their company—"You are like us"—powerless, no longer a force to be reckoned with. … The speech "rubs it in," so that this now feeble has-been should be recognized for what he is, completely broken and irrelevant, warranting no attention at all. (Isaiah 1-39 by Walter Brueggemann, 1998, p. 127-128)
In light of Isaiah's description, it seems entirely appropriate that Kyle Walters, president of Elliott's hardware store in Dallas should offer George Bush a job as a store greeter, saying, "Like you, many of our greeters are retired from the corporate world, so we're sure you'll have no trouble making new friends."
How many American retirees have had to do just this in order to make their Social Security checks stretch farther and cover their medical expenses?
And, the LA Times reports, that while the former first lady is working on a book, "the former president has yet to interest a publisher in his memoirs. In fact, several have advised him to wait a few years until his reputation is less, well, in need of a good hardware polishing."
Of course, having compassion for George W. Bush, the man, the husband, the father, is part of the Christian calling, as is extending him the hand of mercy when he repents of his sins.
But for President Bush who sought the status of emperor and who claimed divine right in his exploits; who tortured strangers in secret prisons; who opened the nation's treasuries to privateers; who unleashed the dogs of war on civilians for the purpose of working out old vengeances and hoarding resources, I have a few good taunts left in me.
In fact, I imagine that, right now, Sheol may have taken up an address in Preston Hollow, Texas.
Author Rose Marie BergerPosted on February 24, 2009 February 23, 2009 Categories UncategorizedTags Babylon, Dallas, Elliott's Hardware, empire, George W. Bush, Isaiah 14, Israel, Mardi Gras, poet, president, Preston Hollow, prophet, Sheol, taunt, Texas, The Globe, Walter Brueggemann, YahwehLeave a comment on Is Sheol in Preston Hollow, Texas?
"Some Songs Required" a poem
I wrote this strange little poem a few years ago. It wasn't prompted by anything happening in the Middle East, but as I revisit it now, there is some element of lament that resonates with my current lament for the people in Gaza and Israel.
Some Songs Required
by Rose Marie Berger
Down the river from Babylon
there was a city of Dales,
not quite like Zion. In Nutdale,
Elmdale, and Oakdale people sat
two by two in boxes neatly stacked
where they wept without knowing why.
Upriver, Babylon heard only their singing
in a special language of clicks and snaps;
not in the stringed language of the lyre,
that riffled and flowed over the feet
of the Stored Ones. True too that the Dale-dwellers
babbled in a tongue fewer and fewer of them
could understand. Instead they stared:
at each other, at the river, pointing out the little
heads of children, afloat like golden boats
on the current. While Babylon, teeth sharp
from gnawing on its platinum
bedpost at night, reached down its
right hand to touch the flag hanging
limp between its legs. A single gold tear
slipped away to tell the others.
Author Rose Marie BergerPosted on January 9, 2009 January 10, 2009 Categories UncategorizedTags Babylon, Gaza, Israel, lament, Middle East, poemLeave a comment on "Some Songs Required" a poem
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Eine durchschnittliche Folge dieses Podcasts dauert 32m. Bisher sind 2256 Folge(n) erschienen.
Do political parties influence the First Lady's duties?
The role of First Lady is extraconstitutional, and the functions of this position have varied across administrations. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the influence political parties may have on the role of the First Lady.
Was an Irish monk the first European to find America?
Although Columbus is often thought to be the first European in America, an Irish monk may have reached the New World in the sixth century. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the fact and fiction surrounding St. Brendan.
How Presidential Pardons Work
The U.S. Constitution grants several powers to the President, including the ability to pardon anyone for several types of crime. Learn about the origins of pardons in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.
What was America's first terrorist threat?
When the U.S. was still a young nation, the notorious Barbary pirates demanded tribute from countries across the world. Rumor has it that President Jefferson was the first to stand up to the pirates. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more.
Does my vote count?
The framers of the Constitution put the electoral college in place as a compromise, and ever since voters have wondered if their vote counts. Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn more about the fact and fiction of the electoral college.
Did someone really escape from Alcatraz?
Alcatraz was one of the United States' most notorious prisons -- isolated on an island and surrounded by sharks. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the fact and fiction surrounding escape attempts at Alcatraz.
The History of Presidential Debates
In the United States, the presidential debate is a time-honored institution. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to as our staff writers trace the fact and fiction surrounding presidential debates.
Did Marie Antoinette really tell French peasants to eat cake?
Marie Antoinette was only ten when Rousseau published the famous 'let them eat cake' quote. Check out our HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about what this statement actually meant -- whether or not Marie actually said it.
How the Symbols of U.S. Political Parties Work
A donkey and an elephant are the symbols of the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, but how were these symbols chosen? Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about the fact and fiction surrounding America's political symbols.
Why is there an underground city beneath Beijing?
The Beijing underground city may sound like the stuff of legends, but it's a real place built to escape Soviets. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about the fact and fiction surrounding the city underneath Beijing.


Latest update : 17 March.
Iran, who remembers 8 march 1979 ?
Interview of Fariba by Shirin Shalkooi, Brussels February 2019. Can you introduce yourself ?
In conversation with the Iranian journalist about her autobiography, the problems plaguing Iran, her fight against the oppression of women in the country and more.
We the signatories of this statement, refuse to separate our opposition to U.S. imperialism and any imperialist war drive on Iran, from our support for the progressive and revolutionary social justice struggles of Iranian women, workers and oppressed minorities against their regime.
The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release a woman who was arrested on 27 December 2017 in Tehran for engaging in a peaceful protest against compulsory veiling (hijab), Amnesty International said today.
Women 'arrested for riding bicycles' in Iran and made to sign pledge never to cycle in public again. Female cyclists have previously been arrested for flouting the country's modesty laws.
The Tehran Symphony Orchestra cancelled a performance that had been planned for the closing ceremony of an international wrestling event on November 29, 2015, after the authorities objected to the presence of women musicians among the orchestra members.
To mark International Women's Day Justice for Iran (JFI) has published a major report on history and politics of enforced hijab under the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Since she won the price in October and EU representatives asked Iranian authorities to let them meet her, the campaign against her has intensified.
We are a group of Iranian feminists and women's rights activists who demand an end to state-led violence and repression, as well as the immediate release of all political detainees in Iran.
"Memories, Memoirs and Art: Women Political Prisoners of Iran", a website animated by Shahrzad Mojab from Toronto University.


text:
Realme's could bring 240W Fast Charging in early 2023.
Realme has announced that they will debut their fast-charging technology in January 2023. The smartphone manufacturer claims that with this "breakthrough," it would "leapfrog" its rivals and take the top spot in this industry. It is currently anticipated that the first handset to use it will also ship with a potent chipset and a brand-new, high-end main rear camera.
In 2022, smartphone charging rates reached new heights, primarily propelled by companies like Realme with products like the GT Neo 3. It could recharge their batteries at up to 150 watts (W), but soon, gadgets like the 210W Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition took its place.
Realme has recently made strong suggestions that it might once more conquer the smartphone power brick mountain with a fresh "complete innovation" that will be announced on January 5, 2023. Despite the potential speeds that might be reached, the firm has previously stated that it will safeguard the wellbeing and "longevity" of the new battery in question.
Although it is claimed that Realme would make an official upgrade to 240W charging, the company has not yet specified this rate. It is anticipated to make its debut in the GT Neo 5, which, according to a recently leaked poster, will also be upgraded with the new Sony IMX890 sensor as a main camera and OIS on top of that.


Want to create a buzz about your biz? Watch this video to find out how with the help of buzzmybiz.
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buzzmybiz provides a 5-page microsite within the main buzzmybiz site that can be updated as often as required enabling businesses to provide full information about their business including logo, pictures, testimonials, menus, pricelists and links to further information. It facilitates customer contact and provides a place to create and join forums about local communities.
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buzzmybiz connects businesses and their customers supporting the development of an ongoing relationship.
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Vogue Hair and Beauty is a hair salon situated in West Kensington, a short distance away from three tube stations: West Kensington, Fulham Broadway and Barons Court. Offering a vast range of hair services, they specialise in hair extensions both for ladies and men.
Their aim is providing a natural look to enhance your style, while giving your hair body and length. They offer a free consultation and only use human hair, which can be blended and styled to suit individual needs. The shabby chic ambiance along with a professional yet friendly team ensure a truly remarkable experience.
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Expert lash artist Liudmila is proud to offer tailored treatments for your unique facial features and eye shape to suit your own style. She ensures you get flawless lashes using high-quality premium synthetic material for long-lasting results that leave you feeling fantastic.
Give yourself a low-maintenance beauty routine and enhance your natural beauty with a new set of lashes from Eyelash Design Studio. You can reach the venue by a short walk to Fulham Broadway underground station.


George Abittan and Batman will look to make it two straight wins as they'll face Michael Loyd and Superman. Superman simply struggled from downtown last week, shooting 25 percent from distance. Loyd scored a team-high 19 points, while Amanda Kelley got herself 10 points. Batman put a beating on Aquaman as Abittan scored a game-high 39 points on nine made 3s. William St. Clair ll also returned to Ultimate Hoops and had quite the performance, scoring 27 points on 59 percent shooting. I know that Superman will take a close look at St. Clair ll and make sure he doesn't get his shots off. Watch out for Robert Lew to make some clutch 3s and Evan Hunt to get some smooth jumpers to go down. Vance Randall may be a difference maker too, and Superman may have their hands full here, which is why I'm making Batman the favorites.
Lamont Harris Jr. and Aquaman will look to get the upset win against Juan Carter's Flash. Even though Aquaman lost last week to Batman, they still shot 52 percent from the field, but they were without two of their best players in Ben Carey and Luis Maceira. If they want any shot and getting the win, I would think Carey and Maceira would should suit up. Paul Boag, who got himself a double-double of 20 points on 13 boards, while he matched up against Edwin Urbina and boy will we see some aggressive basketball being played tonight. Carter will be the difference maker for Flash, but don't sleep on James Rice or else he will power his way through Aquaman's defenders in the paint. I expect this to be a low-scoring game and for Flash to pull through for the win.


Thousands of savers are being dumped onto miserly rates as their sky-high fixed deals come to an end.
In particular, due to the stampede to grab a 7%-plus one-year deal last October, the coming weeks will see a deluge of consumers needing to urgently switch.
Some savers who let their accounts lapse onto their provider's default rate on maturity will see their pre-tax earnings plummet from 7.21% to just 0.1% (see the Top Savings guide).
On a £10,000 balance, a basic rate taxpayer would see a £570 drop in the annual interest earned, or a whopping £2,850 cut on a £50,000 deposit.
Many providers move fixed rate savers onto some of their poorest-paying accounts when their term is up, if you fail to act.
Therefore, it is vital to check exactly when your fixed deal ends and scour the market for the top-paying alternative (see the Top Savings and Top Fixed Savings guides).
Returns were so high this time last year because Bank of England Base Rate stood at 5%, compared to an historic low of 0.5% now.
Many of the top fixed-rate deals lasted a year and the rush to grab one began because Base Rate started its dive last October.
On 8 October 2008, Base Rate fell by 0.5 percentage points to 4.5%, which meant some providers pulled their top rates.
For example, the last date you could have deposited cash in The AA's 7.21%-paying account, the record-breaking deal of recent times, was 24 October 2008.
On 6 November, Base Rate crashed by a further 1.5 percentage points, soon after which there were no 7%-plus deals available.
That day, MoneySavingExpert.com sent an urgent tip note urging savers to bag the last-remaining deals at that level (find out how to get the free weekly email).
This site listed the following providers among the top payers in autumn last year.
The table below shows what you'll earn, if you took one of these deals, when your respective one-year fix is up, assuming you do nothing.
Fixed rates offer the best returns but your money is locked away for the term, so consider that before applying (full details in the Top Savings guide).
Best fixed rates. The top one-year fix is at 3.7% from Bank of Cyprus, the best two-year fix is at 4.3% from Chelsea BS, while the best three-year deal comes from ICICI at 4.7%. Note that Bank of Cyprus savings are not UK-protected.
Best variable, easy access deal. Citibank offers 3.3%, including a 2.25 percentage points bonus.
Stay safe. You're protected up to £50,000 per person, per financial institution. So if you're lucky enough to have more than that, spread your cash (see the Safe Savings guide).


text:
Forever Delayed - The Independent Manics Forum > Manic Street Preachers > Manic Street Preachers Discussion
The new clues that suggest missing Richey staged his own dissapearance
Page 56 of 57 « First < 6 16 26 36 46 54 55 56 57 >
Bryter Layter
Winterlover
Location: Hogtown
Originally Posted by Glass Angel
I definitely second whoever said that Rosie Dunn should have been given the job, a tabloid crime writer who has been through treatment for alcohol use - it'd be great!
This woman is awful! Sharing stories about his treatment in The Priory? Some friend! I'm really disappointed that any of this was made public and this Rosie Dunn woman should be ashamed of herself for violating a patient's right to privacy regardless of whether that person is dead or not. It sets a dangerous precedent when people can't depend on the discretion of those they meet in therapy.
^ poor guy - and the one thing I forgot to mention about the penultimate chapter, was the bit about the authors being enthusiastically approached by people, who then declined to talk. If everyone you meet is an asshole...
I only posted it as an example of them stretching and inventing the truth to paint a certain picture of Richey. I can't imagine he's the only one who participated that's pissed off about being misrepresented and misquoted or the stories they've shared being completely re-worked to fit a certain narrative. Apparently he's writing a book himself which I presume is about his friendship with RE. Best of luck to him!
They probably were willing to talk about him especially given his sister's involvement, but it's obvious the Manics and Co. weren't happy about this book so these "insiders" withdrew their participation.
Find all posts by Bryter Layter
I am purity, they call me perverted
^ yeah, fair point. I might have been reaching for the one or two interesting bits, as her contribution actually was new and insightful. But it is a gross invasion of privacy.
I've finished the book, the last chapter started out promisingly, but, like so many others, degenerated into ludicrous speculation. Murder? Where the hell did that come from? Ever heard of Ocram's Razor? Sadly, Richey is almost certainly dead and buried in the sediment of the Severn. It isn't beyond the realm of possibility that he did plan a disappearance and made it to Goa or wherever, but why speculate about a murder when there is more than enough evidence to suggest suicide?
I'm glad I read the book for myself, but I shall certainly be leaving a detailed one-star review on Amazon!
Find all posts by Glass Angel
Oh, also, did anyone else get the distinct impression that Jo was not directly involved in this book? Which surely makes publishing her letters to Rachel an invasion of her privacy too?
4our5ive6ix
Born to end
Location: NYC, originally Liverpool
Originally Posted by Bryter Layter
Well, she did work for The S*n, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
Unconditional love and hate
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She didn't want to participate because, according to SHR, "she wanted to keep her memories of Richey to herself", but if that's the case, why allow personal letters he sent to be used if she wants to keep her memories of him to herself? As for Richey's letters to her and quoting her letters to Rachel, apparently she gave them permission to use them, but the correspondences with Rachel seem to end in 1998. There was that part about what was in the box he left for her, but it's hard to tell if it's from a recent correspondence or before 1998. I got the impression she seemed kind of a little meh about what he left in the box (I actually dug the realness of her opinions relating to the books he left her. ) and "from memory" kind of makes me think she either put it away for safe keeping or she no longer had it. According to the authors, they spoke with her when writing the book, but were not allowed to quote her nor were they allowed to see the box or it's contents. Presumably she agreed to chat with them because of Rachel's involvement so why wouldn't she allow them to see the box? Like I said, she probably doesn't have it anymore. I mean, if that's the case, no one can fault her for moving on. I do wonder though if she's read the book and if she, like Richard Fry, feels as though she was misrepresented. I did feel like the authors and Rachel kind of laid it on heavy about his heartbreak over losing his girlfriend and that her refusal to marry him (smart girl!) played a huge part in his decision to leave.
As for whether he's dead or not, I think he's likely dead, but as I've always maintained, I don't think he jumped from the Severn. It's too simple. The fact that his body has never been found is the stuff of legends and myths which is something he probably intended. If he had jumped from the Severn, there's no guarantee that his body wouldn't have washed ashore. I think he went somewhere else, but has likely since died.
Originally Posted by 4our5ive6ix
True, but to claim you're friends with the person and then to betray their trust like that? I mean, the guy had crippling trust issues too, but who cares about that because he's probably dead? I'm still shocked that his sister allowed any of this to be published regardless of her motives.
I must be an idiot but...
Rosie Dunn was a fellow patient and friend. To me she's the only one in the book who speaks of him as a real friend would, you get a true feel for the person from her and not once does she pass comment on friends or family, she says nothing and makes no assumptions about what was behind his illness nor does she reveal anything personal he may have said within group therapy sessions or to her direct and as for being a Sun journalist it seemed to surprise her too that he was open and friendly with her but they clearly clicked and he didn't make snap judgements about a person based on their job or background because in the hospital it doesn't and shouldn't really matter and to him it clearly didn't. I'd be more surprised if he found an affinity with a broadsheet journo......She gives, directly and indirectly, a rare insight into the man and she's refreshing on a stage full of bitchiness and school playground politics and half thought out ideas....
"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more," - Byron
'I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.' (from Sea Fever - John Masefield)
"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all" - Emily Dickinson
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Frozendiva
Stretched out in the sun
Well, the blind item I mentioned the other day on Crazy Days and Nights gossip column has apparently been solved.
https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2...vealed-36.html
Who knows if it is true. Would be very very interesting.
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Find all posts by Frozendiva
Freed from the century
Originally Posted by Frozendiva
Haha, good spot but christ the chances that Richey is now a hit ghost writer (including music apparently!) feels a bit slim.
Any guesses for his chain of 'fairly popular' songs over the last decade ? Something off the Greatest Showman maybe ? Aghh what's the name again of that George Ezra song about anorexia and american foreign policy ?
Last edited by Glyn; 05-07-2019 at 12:51.
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Dac X Lee
Hold me she said, Love me to Death
Location: I live in Seoul (S. Korea), but I'm from Umag (Croatia)
Originally Posted by Glyn
Beyonce's Lemonade. ♥
100 0100 110 0001 111 0010 110 1001 110 0001
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It's rather unusual for the Manics to be mentioned in any US gossip sites. This was an odd one. I think the average reader of the site is American and wouldn't know much about the band. Don't know if there were any stories about the band in the Daily Mail lately - where this could have been pulled from.
Some of the stuff on the site is true, some is fiction.
It's a curiosity.
Velocitygirl
Desire on its knees
A really popular US based True Crime podcast recently covered Richey's case and (they're by no means the first)
If he's popping up on US podcasts, it could well be some listeners are deciding to fill in the blanks, so to speak. But yeah, that's weird. And bullshit.
Find all posts by Velocitygirl
Decided that I'm keen to see what's in this book, but I don't want to buy it new and line the pockets of the knobhead who wrote it.
Anyone got a copy that they're willing to sell?
Find all posts by Lee
The Tragic Street Preachers?
Stumbled upon this, not sure if its been shared here yet? 4 part discussion on Richey with his 'former best friend' Richard Fry...it really is something...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eWyLx1oGJU
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junkymotown
Knowlede Is Power
Wow... I mean... that just looks terrible without even watching it.
As for the book (to answer Lee, above), it's interesting enough. There's a lot of "but what if this happened instead?" kind of writing throughout without any backing up, but as an insight into Richey's early life, mostly from his sister and friends, it's pretty interesting. Think of it as - 1st half = early years of Richey biography, 2nd half = disappearance and a lot of theorising without a lot of evidence.
It's not complimentary to the band, and there are some cringey moments where you think "ouch, that's a bit harsh," so there seems to be some undercurrent of dislike and distaste.
It's worth a read. And if you need to clear your conscience about paying for it, think of it as helping raise awareness about a missing person - and therefore raising awareness of other missing people.
Manchester Apollo - 27 Feb 2001
Manchester MEN - 6 Dec 2002
Manchester MEN - 17 Dec 2004
Leeds Uni - 17 Apr 2005
Leeds Uni - 9 May 2007
London Brixton Academy - 12 Dec 2007
Forever Heavenly (London) - 12 Sep 2008
Camden Roundhouse - 30 May 2009
London O2 - 17 Dec 2011
Manchester Ritz - 27 Sep 2013
Manchester Albert Hall - 11 Dec 2014
Tokyo Studio Coast - 8 Nov 2016
Tokyo ZEPP Diver City - 26 Sep 2019
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Son of Stopped
Builder of routine
Location: Make a cup of tea
Ha ha ha! Ah fuck, I have been a Richplanet viewer for a while as well.
"How did someone who can't play get a record deal?".
Because he happened to be in a band that had the guitar talents of James Dean Bradfield alone, let alone Sean and even Nicky wasn't the novice he made out.
Aaaarghhh I'm going to have to watch this now. Fuck I think I've got Richard Hall on Facebook. I have previously tried to engage in conversation with him and his replies were exactly how you hear him talk in the opening...
What you see is what you get? Despite not following the protocols of conversation of getting to the point then explaining that point!
EDIT: "and a gay" haha! Oh maybe we can get Dr. Judy Woods to write a big picture book called "Where Did Richard D. Hall's Integrity Go?"
"PERPETUAL ENKINDLING MACHINE" outlined...
MADE A MOVIE OF MY POETRY IN MY BEDROOM https://youtu.be/Vq73VlTb3WI Top that, mainstream and counterculture! Cut straight to the chase about environment https://youtu.be/Ia6LGJou9CY
Last edited by Son of Stopped; 03-10-2019 at 08:44.
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text:
Home Brexit Tony Blair urges remain Labour supporters to vote for 'other remain Parties'
Tony Blair urges remain Labour supporters to vote for 'other remain Parties'
Tony Blair in a outspoken attack on Brexit advocates that remain voters should vote for "unequivocal remain parties!"
Tony Blair urges Labour supporters put off by the party's "equivocation" to vote for one of the "unequivocal" Remain parties
The former prime minister and leading campaigner for a second referendum says Labour's "destructive indecision" of trying to face both ways "pleased no one" and let down the country.
But he urges Labour supporters put off by the party's "equivocation" to vote for one of the "unequivocal Remain parties" – the Lib Dems, Change UK, Greens, Scottish National Party or Plaid Cymru.
Mr Blair's latest anti-Brexit onslaught comes only days after he was attacked and mocked by Tory Brexiteers for claiming a second referendum would be a "healing process" for the nation.
"The most important thing to remember is that with the knowledge of these election results parliament will take its decision. MPs will scrutinise the ledger as if their future depends on it.
So, the big message: vote. Because your vote will affect their vote.
Who to vote for if you're on the anti-Farage side of the ledger. There are unequivocal remain parties – Liberal Democrats, Change UK, Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru. If, because of Labour's equivocation, you simply won't vote Labour, then vote for them. If, like me, despite everything, you can vote Labour, then vote Labour.
But whatever you do, vote! This is not a vote to choose a prime minister or a government. It is a vote for the Farage Brexit – or against it."
Blair makes the EU referendum a barometer for a second referendum
"The EU election results will send a vital message to MPs about Brexit"
Blair argues that the result of the EU elections will create the grounds for a second referendum that the result will set government policy and direction.
Blair suggests in his own words "Politics is not an exact science. After the vote, there will be a ledger. On one side will be hard or no-deal Brexit with Farage and the Tory fellow travellers. On the other will be those who want an end to Brexit and those who believe that, after this degree of mess and on a decision of this magnitude, the final say should be with the people."
Blair blames Corbyn not Brexit
He says: "Yet Labour could not even win the local elections. Despite Keir Starmer's best efforts, the leadership's ambiguity on Brexit has brought it confusion, not shelter from principled decision on the most vital question of national interest.
But leave aside principle. Even as a piece of political strategy, it was doomed to fail. Of course, there are Labour seats that voted strongly leave and who feel Labour should deliver Brexit, though, according to some MPs in these former Labour heartlands, it is concern over the Corbyn leadership as much as Brexit that is driving voters away."
Exasperating the divide
Blair's message does nothing but alienate the five million Labour supporting leave voters. These are grassroots Labour supporters who continually feel frustration at having no representation in the EU elections. Lots of whom are now openly declaring support for a one of vote for the Brexit Party.
Their frustration has been compounded by Labour remain MEP candidates like Lord Andrew Adonis who also claims this EU election is a endorsement for a remain second referendum. Adonis also told Brexit Labour supporters not to vote Labour if they wanted to leave the EU.
The Left is losing ground and the public pulse
It also coincides with a new opinion poll suggesting the Conservatives face a near wipe-out in the European elections and Labour is trailing badly behind The Brexit Party.
The poll, by Opinium Research, suggests the Brexit Party is way out in front on 34% (+6), Labour on 21% (-7), the pro-Remain Lib Dems 12% (+5), Conservatives 11% (-3), Greens 8% (+2), UKIP 4% (+1) and Change UK 3% (-4).
The reality to many Left wing Leave voters is lack of representation
The Tory Party is divided and catastrophically incapable of delivering Brexit. The Labour Party is divided and appears to many Leave voters as if it is permanently held hostage by the majority Remain Parliamentary Labour Party and constantly pressured into compromise by the second referendum campaign.
So Leave voters have no effective, unequivocal, voice in establishment politics. After three long years of watching the political Establishment twist and turn, squirm and prevaricate, the political system is held in even lower esteem than it was before the referendum took place.
In other words, everything that produced the Leave vote in the first place has become worse in the last three years while the political representation of those who voted Leave is still non-existent.
The secret of the Brexit Party's success is that it has fill this void.
And while Nigel Farage is obnoxious he is not stupid. The "democratic revolution" is a clever pitch to those who are politically disenfranchised.
The "tell them again" line perfectly expresses the anger of those who see a political Establishment desperate to nullify the democratic vote of the initial referendum.
Leave voters need to see that there is a radical left voice providing a real alternative to what Corbyn accurately described as the "snake oil" on offer from Farage.
Now the Labour Party machine needs to take its cue from the Labour Party leader. Action needs to follow words. And the action needs to start at the top.
The clearly fruitless and ill-advised discussions with the Tory government need to be halted now.
The Tories have no intention of guaranteeing workers' rights or meeting any of the other requirements that Labour would need in order to be able to agree a deal.
We need a Left wing Lexit campaigner with a clear vision and destination for the UK outside the EU
#Lexit
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Paul Knaggs
Editor Labour Heartlands, Labour Party member and activist. Editor NBN. Paul was brought up and raised in a South Yorkshire pit village the son of a coal face miner he joined the British Army in 1984 during the pit strike. Paul is a military veteran and as always remained Left wing. Throughout Pauls' constantly changing life socialism has been constant. Paul is also a member of the True Labour Movement.


text:
Q: oracle database connection in java program
 import java.sql.*;
 import java.io.*;

 public class OracleCon {

public static void main(String []args)throws ClassNotFoundException,SQLException,IOException
{

Class.forName("oracle.jdbc.OracleDriver");
    Connection con=DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:oracle:thin@localhost:1521:xe", "system", "123456789");
Statement st=con.createStatement();
String sql="insert into citylist values ('vijay','54222','110001')";
int r=st.executeUpdate(sql);

if(r>0)
{
    System.out.print("value inserted");
}
else
{
    System.out.print("value not inserted");
}
//ResultSet rs=st.executeQuery(sql);

//while(rs.next())
//  System.out.println(rs.getString(1)+""+rs.getString(2)+""+rs.getString(3));
con.close();

  }
}

I have installed oracle 11g and jdk 1.8 at windows 7

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ClassNotFoundException:oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver
  at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown source)
  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass (Unknown source)

A: When you run your program in Command Line, you must include the jar file path in front of classpath parameter like this:
java OracleCon -classpath c:\somepath\ojdbc6.jar

A: It could be that you are missing the actual jdbc driver for your Java version.
ojdbc6.jar from Oracle should do the trick for versions 6, 7 and 8.
Also don't forget to add the driver file to your classpath.
If you are using Eclipse you can do that via right click on your project:
Properties > Java Build Path > Libraries

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Contracts/Legal / 2 months Ago
Anti-Abortion Laws Threaten Meetings Industry With Escalating Destination Boycotts
by Tyler Davidson
Abortion Rights Supporters Protest in New York City, Editorial Credit: Christopher Penler, Shutterstock
Legislation strictly limiting abortion rights in Alabama, Georgia and Missouri has resulted in numerous states and cities forbidding employee travel to the destinations using civic funds. These destination boycotts threaten to decimate room blocks when employees from massive states such as California can't use state funds to subsidize travel, registration and other fees.
With the possibility of similar anti-abortion legislation being passed in up to a dozen other "red states," the potential impact on meetings and conventions is creating fear of an industry-wide calamity that will surpass all previous destination bans and boycotts.
Leading the boycott charge in many destination bans and boycotts are sports industry organizations such as the NCAA and NFL, which have successfully pressured destinations by threatening to move blockbuster revenue-generating events such as the NCAA basketball championship tournament and the mother of all events, the Super Bowl.
And in 2016, Bruce Springsteen canceled his concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, to protest that state's "bathroom bill" targeting transgendered individuals' access of bathroom facilities that do not correspond to the assigned sex on their birth certificates.
The film, television and music industries also frequently join the fray. Georgia in particular offers substantial tax credits to filmmakers and has seen major investments by film studios setting up production facilities in the state. According to The New York Times, actor and director Jason Bateman of Ozark and Alyssa Milano of Insatiable both filming in the state for Netflix have said "they will stop working there if the law goes into effect in January."
Many in the meetings and events industry believe the possibility that the most recent round of boycotts could expand into many more destinations signals a tsunami is about to land, taking with it the economic health of destinations, suppliers, facilities, planners and associations.
Abortion-Law Boycotts Could Match Impact of Planner Commission Cuts
David Bruce, founder and executive director at the Alliance of Independent Meeting Professionals and managing partner of CMP Meeting Services, contends destination bans and boycotts will be the biggest meetings industry story of 2019.
He believes destination boycotts will match or even exceed the industry uproar resulting from major hotel companies cutting third-party meeting planner commissions in 2018.
"It's as big of an issue as the commission cuts were to my segment of the industry last year," Bruce said, adding that this most recent round of destination bans and boycotts could impact the industry on a larger scale than even the "bathroom bill" legislation that resulted in the 2017 boycott of North Carolina.
The Associated Press forecast that destination boycott would cost the state $3.76 billion in lost business over the following 12 years.
North Carolina lawmakers repealed its bathroom bill law after the NCAA pulled its 2017 college basketball championship tournament from Greensboro, North Carolina, in 2016 and threatened eliminate the state from consideration for its 2018-2022 tournaments.
Threats of a boycott by major corporations were considered key in Texas Governor Greg Abbott reversing course on one of his major reelection priorities and withdrawing support of the bill from his agenda.
"It was bad enough with the bathroom bill, but this could be 14 states within the next few months," Bruce said.
Bruce wrote a LinkedIn post titled "The Future of our meetings industry all should read" warning his colleagues of the perils of destination bans and boycotts, regardless of where one stands on the specific issues being battled.
"This climate is not healthy for either side of any issue," Bruce wrote. "Whether you believe in the bathroom bill or not, whether you believe in abortion or not, your meeting can and will be damaged by whatever another state has deemed objectionable."
[Need to Know: Legal Tips to Protect Your Meeting From Destination Boycotts]
For Bruce, the possible calamity facing the meetings and hospitality industry is as foreboding as it is hard to define.
"Where does the line stop? That really is the point here," Bruce said. "Do we start lowering our blocks in anticipation of possible issues coming down the pike? It's a lose, lose, lose proposition. This is where the future is going, and it's coming at us like a freight train.
"I will never write another contract that doesn't have some type of clause in it that will allow my group to adjust the contract based on a state legislature more than six months out," Bruce added.
Meetings Industry Association Reaction to Destination Boycotts
"Destination boycotts have been around for a while," said Jack Johnson, chief advocacy officer for Destinations International, a trade association that represents CVBs/DMOs and is firmly against destination bans and boycotts.
"The current situation is different in that there's the possibility of 14 or so states that will pass very restrictive abortion laws that could cause them to be boycotted by major 'blue' states," he added.
Johnson hypothesized that the current round of destination boycotts has the potential to have more impact on all aspects of the meeting industry than any that have come before.
"I think we're on the verge of reaching a tipping point," Johnson warned. "It's bad for the industry because we're the ones who will take the brunt of it. But in many instances, in my opinion, it's a failing strategy. When you ban travel to a state, the ones who are least affected by that are politicians, who are least likely to make a change."
[From the Archives: Should Groups Boycott Destinations?]
Destinations International has worked with meetings industry associations such as MPI, PCMA and Meetings Mean Business to survey meeting planners about their opinions on destination bans and boycotts, and how they have or may affect the bottom line of the organizations for which they plan.
Here are some Destinations International survey highlights:
The partnership resulted in Destination International releasing the "Weaponization of Travel Study" and a "The Weaponization of Travel Toolkit" for meeting planners to navigate and communicate the choppy seas of destination bans and boycotts.
"One statistic that sticks out in the latest study is that often when legislation is considered, our industry goes out and lobbies against it," Johnson said. "In our most current report, 41 percent of meeting planners proactively avoid going to destinations that are currently under boycott."
Additional survey highlights from Destinations International:
How Meeting Planners Can Navigate Destination Boycotts
Destination International's Johnson said meeting planners can implement a number of strategies that will allow them to honor their contracts by not cancelling events in destinations that have passed or are considering legislation that run counter to their foundational beliefs.
"It could be as simple as building a session at your meeting about what's happening, [and] contacting a local organization that is pushing back," he advised. "Provide a program for crisis response and how to talk to potential attendees and board/stakeholders, with certain messages to deliver. People just want to be reassured that if they're going to a destination in a boycott they're going to be welcomed and safe,."
Other strategies provided in The Weaponization of Travel Toolkit include:
Engage trusted advisors, starting with organizations on the ground.
Ensure your media plans and processes are up to date.
Discuss factors that could impact your organization's response.
Develop messages and materials that are reviewed in advance by leaders in your organization.
As appropriate, invest in information and tools that will make your organization's response effective.
Johnson believes that meeting planners and the organizations they plan for should think rationally about the issue and not overreact.
"You have to accept we're living in a very dynamic political time in a very polarized political atmosphere," he said.
"[Meeting planners should] develop some sort of on-the-ground action that underscores and supports those organizations locally that support your side of the cause," Johnson added. "The worst thing you can do is not show up, because then they think they've won."
[Read This Next: When Laws and Meetings Collide – Go, Stay or Boycott?]
Tyler Davidson
Vice President & Chief Content Director
Tyler Davidson has covered the travel trade for more than 25 years. In his current role with Meetings Today, Tyler leads the editorial team on its mission to provide the best meetings content in the industry.
Read more articles from this author >
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• This album is another example of Morrison's inimitable flair as an interpreter and arranger.
• No one would accuse the prolific Van Morrison of being stingy with his recorded output, but this, his 38th album, comes just over two months after his previous release.
• Granted both are dominated by covers — September 2017's Roll With The Punches tackles blues and soul classics, Versatile from November of the same year revisits jazz and vocal standards — but they also include a handful of newly penned originals. And even if he's not singing with the unbridled passion of his younger years, evident on 1973's career highpoint It's Too Late To Stop Now tour recordings, neither is he phoning it in.
• Here, he mixes swinging versions of George and Ira Gershwin's "A Foggy Day" and Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out Of You" with more contemplative, but no less inspired readings of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" and a bluesy "Making' Whoopee." While nothing will make you forget performances of these chestnuts from crooners that made them famous (Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole), it's clear Morrison isn't coasting just to grab some late~career cash from his aging fan base, likely the only ones willing to spring for this collection composed predominantly of Rat Pack~era standards. Perhaps he could have dug a little deeper instead of adding yet another version of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" to the existing boatload of versions that already exist, but Morrison commits himself to the tune as if he's just discovering it, maintaining the structure while scatting around lyrics with reverence and reserve.
• Better still are the six new tunes Morrison penned for this set. The easy jazz of "I Forgot That Love Existed," the spirited kick of "Only A Dream" and the finger popping sashay of "Take it Easy Baby" may not be new standards but they aren't lame imitations either. Van and his horn~propelled small combo capture a sure sense of sassy energy that pushes even the most laid back of these performances into compelling, if not exactly edgy territory.
• Equal parts blue~eyed soul shouter and wild~eyed poet~sorcerer, Van Morrison is among popular music's true innovators, a restless seeker whose incantatory vocals and alchemical fusion of R&B, jazz, blues, and Celtic folk produced perhaps the most spiritually transcendent body of work in the rock & roll canon. Subject only to the whims of his own muse, his recordings cover extraordinary stylistic ground yet retain a consistency and purity virtually unmatched among his contemporaries, connected by the mythic power of his singular musical vision and his incendiary vocal delivery: spiraling repetitions of wails and whispers that bypass the confines of language to articulate emotional truths far beyond the scope of literal meaning.
• George Ivan Morrison was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 31, 1945; his mother was a singer, while his father ardently collected classic American jazz and blues recordings. At 15, he quit school to join the local R&B band the Monarchs, touring military bases throughout Europe before returning home to form his own group, Them. Boasting a fiery, gritty sound heavily influenced by Morrison heroes like Howlin' Wolf, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Little Walter, Them quickly earned a devout local following and in late 1964 recorded their debut single, "Don't Start Crying Now." The follow~up, an electrifying reading of Big Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go," cracked the U.K. Top Ten in early 1965. Though not a major hit upon its original release, Them's Morrison~penned "Gloria" endures among the true classics of the rock pantheon, covered by everyone from the Doors to Patti Smith. Lineup changes plagued the band throughout its lifespan, however, and at the insistence of producer Bert Berns, over time session musicians increasingly assumed the lion's share of recording duties. A frustrated Morrison finally left Them following a 1966 tour of the U.S., quitting the music business and returning to Belfast.
• After Berns relocated to New York City to form Bang Records, he convinced Morrison to travel stateside and record as a solo artist; the sessions produced arguably his most familiar hit, the jubilant "Brown~Eyed Girl" (originally titled "Brown~Skinned Girl"), a Top Ten smash in the summer of 1967. By contrast, however, the resulting album, Blowin' Your Mind, was a bleak, bluesy effort highlighted by the harrowing "T.B. Sheets." The sessions were originally intended to produce only material for singles, so when Berns released the LP against Morrison's wishes, he again retreated home to Ireland while the album tanked on the charts. Berns suffered a fatal heart attack in late 1967, which freed Morrison of his contractual obligations and energized him to start working on new material.
• The first half of the '70s was the most fertile creative period of Morrison's career. • From Moondance onward, his records reflected an increasingly celebratory and profoundly mystical outlook spurred on in large part by his marriage to wife Janet Planet and the couple's relocation to California. After His Band and the Street Choir yielded his biggest chart hit, "Domino," Morrison released 1971's Tupelo Honey, a lovely, pastoral meditation on wedded bliss highlighted by the single "Wild Night." In the wake of the following year's stirring Saint Dominic's Preview, he formed the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, featured both on the studio effort Hard Nose the Highway and on the excellent live set It's Too Late to Stop Now. However, in 1973 he not only dissolved the group but also divorced Planet and moved back to Belfast. The stunning 1974 LP Veedon Fleece chronicled Morrison's emotional turmoil; he then remained silent for three years, reportedly working on a number of aborted projects but releasing nothing until 1977's aptly titled A Period of Transition.
• Plagued for some time by chronic stage fright, Morrison mounted his first tour in close to five years in support of 1978's Wavelength; his performances became more and more erratic, however, and during a 1979 date at New York's Palladium, he even stalked off~stage in mid~set and did not return. Into the Music, released later that year, evoked a more conventionally spiritual perspective than before, a pattern continued on successive outings for years to come. Albums like 1983's Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, 1985's A Sense of Wonder, and 1986's No Guru, No Method, No Teacher are all largely cut from the same cloth, employing serenely beautiful musical backdrops to explore themes of faith and healing. For 1988's Irish Heartbeat, however, Morrison teamed with another of his homeland's musical institutions, the famed Chieftains, for a collection of traditional folk songs.
• Meanwhile, Avalon Sunset heralded a commercial rebirth of sorts in 1989. While "Whenever God Shines His Light," a duet with Cliff Richard, became Morrison's first U.K. Top 20 hit in over two decades, the gorgeous "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" emerged as something of a contemporary standard, with a Rod Stewart cover cracking the U.S. Top Five in 1993. Further proof of Morrison's renewed popularity arrived with the 1990 release of Mercury's best~of package; far and away the best~selling album of his career, it introduced the singer to a new generation of fans. A new studio record, Enlightenment, appeared that same year, followed in 1991 by the ambitious double set Hymns to the Silence, widely hailed as his most impressive outing in years.
• Following the uniformity of his '80s work, the remainder of the decade proved impressively eclectic: 1993's Too Long in Exile returned Morrison to his musical roots with covers of blues and R&B classics, while on 1995's Days Like This he teamed with daughter Shana for a duet on "You Don't Know Me." For the Verve label, he cut 1996's How Long Has This Been Going On, a traditional jazz record co~credited to longtime pianist Georgie Fame, and for the follow~up, Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison, he worked with guest of honor Allison himself. Morrison continued balancing the past and the future in the years to follow, alternating between new studio albums (1997's The Healing Game, 1999's Back on Top) and collections of rare and live material (1998's The Philosopher's Stone and 2000's The Skiffle Sessions and You Win Again).


This is a photo of a family that was recently re-united. The lady next to Linda is from Pakistan and is a United States citizen. Over 12 years ago she applied for her brother to come to the United States. Her brother, his wife and 3 children just arrived!
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Take a moment to think about how many times you pick up your phone each day. If you have a monitoring feature or app, you may be able to see the exact breakdown of when and how you use your device. It's possible that you will be surprised by how many hours you spend on your phone each day. Unfortunately for business owners, employees are often just as guilty of spending hours on their phone – during paid work hours.
A recent survey shows that UK employers are paying every employee almost £9000 to chat, scroll through social media, other websites and apps annually. The survey established that employees are spending over two hours per day on tasks unrelated to their jobs. That equates to over 25% of a typical working week being spent not working. This figure doesn't consider any time spent on 'pseudo-work' – the time spent chatting on work messaging systems or other inefficient uses of official software. Employees can't be expected to perform efficiently and consistently for every moment of the day, but these figures should provide cause for concern in many workplaces.
What happens when staff aren't working at work? Absolute productivity drops, but there are also losses that aren't as easy to quantify. Highly distracted staff may lose focus more easily and have trouble concentrating for long periods. Intra-staff messaging services and team sharing spaces can become sources of distraction and socialising rather than focused work discussion. The integration of social media into the workday may encourage employees to risk sharing confidential information to contacts or accidentally record sensitive data.
It might start with smartphones, but it certainly doesn't end there. When staff have access to a work computer each day, it's easy to forget that they are not personal devices. Employees have reported doing online shopping, browsing and even viewing illegal or improper material on company property. Legalities aside, visiting unnecessary sites may increase the risk of malware infiltrating the company network.
It paints a dire picture, doesn't it? Realistically, very few workplaces are going to be able to eliminate time wasted on personal devices completely. It would almost certainly demand a complete ban of those devices in the workplace, and there are indications that employees are more likely to ignore that limit than abide it.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to help reduce the lost time at work. There are three different angles you can look at to help keep employees on task. Some changes can be done structurally by the IT team. Behavioural and cultural changes at work can help to refocus staff, and finally a review of company policy can help underline the importance any changes and set expectations for new employees.
Here's a list of things you can do to help reduce the negative influences of technology at work.
If there are some websites that appear to get a lot of attention on your internal networks, then consider blocking access to them. Sometimes prevention is better as it removes the temptation and should hopefully redirect staff back to tasks. If you're unsure about how to do that, connect with your IT support team. They will be able to provide support and further information about how to protect your business from inappropriate online activity. This may go beyond a standard blacklisting of known illegal or problematic sites and extend to video hosting platforms, for example.
Many individual apps and some smart devices have options to limit how long it can be used within 24 hours, or if notifications are displayed or make sound. Some can inactivate the device except for nominated, necessary apps. These artificial boundaries can also be useful to limit response times to specific windows. Some staff find it beneficial to restrict communications to specific times to ensure they are operating on their own schedule and not being constantly distracted and responding to other interruptions.
Remote work is growing in popularity for companies. It has a lot of benefits for both employers and staff, but it does come with risk, especially if the staff member is on an hourly wage rather than a piece rate. There are a lot of distractions at home, and sometimes it may not matter, if the work is completed on time. For workers that bill by the hour, it may be worth installing a screen monitoring program on a work device. These can capture screenshots periodically during work hours. It introduces a higher level of accountability, but there are privacy concerns associated with this that we will cover in the section below.
As the owner, manager or department leader you set the tone for your team. Model the behaviour that you expect to see from your employees. If you are constantly accessible by email, use your phone during meetings or post on social media then your staff will interpret that as tacit permission to do the same.
Even useful tech like staff messaging apps can be used to waste time. Be clear about the reasons staff use different software and if there are any limits around when they should be used, or for how long.
There are plenty of workplace philosophies that focus on how to efficiently manage time spent in the workplace. It is beneficial to apply these principles to staff tech use, too. Being deliberate about app use and developing firm habits can help. Consider the culture of your workplace when offering time management ideas to your staff. Some offices may benefit from scheduled downtime where internal messaging systems are disabled to encourage focussed work, but this won't work everywhere. Remember there is often a divide between what (feels) urgent and what is genuinely important.
In most workplaces, there should be no reason for devices to be checked during meetings. Ask all participants to turn off audible notifications and leave their devices in a pocket, bag or otherwise off the table. It's a simple idea but it helps to keep staff present in the meeting so that they are more useful to all involved.
Smartphones and social media have contributed to our shorter attention spans. They are designed to continually distract and engage. This sometimes influences our ability to concentrate on other tasks for longer periods of time. While office spaces are prone to distraction, carving out uninterrupted time regularly can help retrain focus for longer periods. The Pomodoro technique is a popular solution, where a person sets aside 20 minutes to concentrate on a single task. When the time expires, a 5- or 10-minute allowance is made for stretching, chatting or scrolling before returning for another 20-minute effort. Employees report that attempting this structure can help extend their attention spans over time, but this is just one way to extend focus, there are many popular methods available.
Sometimes staff can lose sight of the overall goals of the organisation and department. Remind them of the expectations and measurable outcomes. Regularly communicating the goals and expectations can help to keep everyone focussed and prioritise how time is spent in the office.
Use incentives to encourage staff to stay focussed at work. There are many ways to measure productivity – the screen capture technology mentioned above is one way but there are others. Rewarding excellent behaviour publicly can encourage other staff to reach for the same rewards.
Every workplace is different, but it's becoming common for work to follow staff home, particularly if work devices are used. Turn it off or set the expectation that emails do not need to be responded to unless in work hours. Discourage using work devices for personal activities so it can help keep the separation between the two spaces.
Sometimes, inappropriate use of technology refers to the physical items themselves rather than the software on the device. Provide protective casings for mobile devices and policies about safe use and maintenance. Of course, sometimes accidents do happen, and devices are damaged or broken. If an item is damaged through regular wear and tear or genuine accident the employer is typically expected to replace it at their cost. This also applies to fixed technology like desktop computers or printers.
Employees are only typically expected to pay or responsible for any negligent or malicious damage. The employment contract should outline the company position and responsibilities. Unless there is a specific clause stating so in the employment contract, an employer may not deduct the replacement cost from the employee's wages.
Where do ethics and privacy concerns enter into monitoring and accountability?
This is a bit of a grey area. Individuals may expect a level of privacy in the workplace, but ultimately if they are using work devices and work networks (including mobile data paid for by the company) then there is usually an expectation that the activities can be tracked or at least monitored. Be sure to make this clear at induction or when a policy like this is implemented. While types of monitoring can vary, remember that invasive monitoring can destroy or erode trust between the company and individuals. It's usually far more beneficial to tread lightly but deliberately rather than press for more information than is reasonable.
There are ongoing discussions about how much an employer can access personal social media accounts. This topic is still being navigated, but there are some general guidelines. Some employers will monitor publicly available accounts to verify sick leave claims, for example, but it's generally not acceptable to comb employees accounts – they are entitled to reasonable amounts of privacy. That said, employers are also entitled to monitor employee social media use if the organisation is at risk or negative impact.
Considering that the focus of this article is about productivity rather than data security, the posts or contributions of interest may not be inspected for content but rather the time stamps of the posts. Seeing frequent activity during typical work hours may be cause for a discussion, for example. As mentioned above, the expectation must be set with staff from the outset that light or infrequent monitoring may occur. This is considered acceptable.
Screen capture software can help to keep remote staff accountable as discussed but there are relevant privacy concerns associated with them. The aim of this technology is to ensure work is being conducted, not to disclose how staff spend their time when they are procrastinating. Periodic screen captures may capture private or sensitive information. Staff should have the power to delete these types of images while still noting that the time was spent off-task.
Employees have dawdled at the water cooler since time immemorial. After all, no one can be expected to work productively all day every day. The difficulty lies in just how much easier it is to lose time to social media and other online interruptions than to any other type of distraction. It's a quiet activity that may go unnoticed, but short bursts of time are clearly adding up to hours a day of wasted efforts. Online shopping, browsing and social media feeds are common culprits but remember they are not the only ones. You and your IT team can do a lot to influence the productivity culture of the workplace.
Prosyn are one of the most trusted IT support providers in London. If you would like more help advice and support with creating a focussed online environment for the employees in your business or any other IT support issues, contact us today to see how we can help.


Signals synchronizer matches initial and processed signals in time domain. Input of the synchronizer receives signal segments (pDATA), which duration is equal to VAD (Voice Activity Detection) frame. Criterions of VAD activity for them are specified in the pDATA segments.


text:
Lindsey Jensen
Dallas Operations Manager | Agent
ABOUT BURLESON, TX
As of January 1, 2017, the number of people who call Burleson home hit 43,960. Burleson is appealing to many because of its easy proximity to the Metroplex; a family-oriented environment; an outstanding school system; plentiful affordable land; more than 28 square miles of rolling hills, lakes and parks; and, it's one of the fastest growing and desirable communities in the Metroplex. Burleson currently has more than 290,000 residents within a 10-mile radius.
The community is within 30 minutes of at least 6 hospitals, including a pediatric hospital and a trauma center. The school district consistently brings in SAT and ACT scores that are higher than the state and national averages. Burleson also boasts a branch campus of Hill College. The city is home to over a dozen parks on approximately 300 acres. And, Burleson has its own municipal golf course, Hidden Creek Golf Course, which is renowned in the Metroplex. The city is also home to more than 30 churches of all denominations.
Burleson provides housing for everyone from a CEO to a retired couple or a student just starting out on their own. You're never at a loss for a great place to eat and shop with everything from the big-name chain retail outlets and restaurants to the small business operations that thrive on local support. The icing on the cake is a low crime rate, highly trained public safety employees, and a dedicated municipal staff that responds to the citizens' needs.
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