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Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture
Dr. Catherine Parayre
Teaching faculty & staff
Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Culture (IACC)
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Articles tagged with: award
New for 2018: the Marilyn I. Walker Textile Art Award
Monday, May 07, 2018 | By dvivian
Beginning in 2018 the Executive of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts will be awarding the Marilyn I. Walker Textile Art Award.
This award will be made to an undergraduate student who is graduating from the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), Brock University; who is awarded, by vote of the Executive Committee of the MIWSPFA, the top prize for a piece of textile art produced and submitted by said student.
As the award must be granted to a student for the purposes of his or her continuing education and or development, students must also submit an expression of their intention to continue this education and or development.
For the purposes of this award, textile art is defined as a work of art that utilizes any and all forms of textiles, either natural or man-made, and in any form of original artistic expression.
For the purposes of this award, continuing education or development is defined as any form of post graduate education and development which the student may wish to pursue whether at a college, university, by way of apprenticeship at a technical institute or at a research facility.
For more information about Marilyn I. Walker see: brocku.ca/miwsfpa/marilyn-i-walker
We thank Marilyn I. Walker and her estate for the legacy of her generosity.
See the article about the first recipient of the new award, Victoria Reid (Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Studio Art, with First-Class Standing, 2018).
Tags: award, Marilyn I. Walker, Marilyn I. Walker Textile Art Award, textile art
Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Future Students, News
Director of cSTAC and DART Professor honoured for his contribution to the City of St. Catharines
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 | By Brock University
Pictured left to right are Professor Debra Maclauchlan and Associate Professor Peter Vietgen (Faculty of Education), Associate Professor David Vivian and Assistant Professor Virginia Reh (Department of Dramatic Arts, Faculty of Humanities)
Associate Professors Peter Vietgen (Visual Arts Education in the Department of Teacher Education, Faculty of Education) and David Vivian (Department of Dramatic Arts and the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities) were each presented with three Volunteer Recognition Certificates from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of St. Catharines, at the 23rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Night co-sponsored by the City of St. Catharines, the St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce, and the Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery.
Professor Vietgen was nominated by the Niagara Artist's Centre for his contribution to the Public Art Advisory Committee of the City of St. Catharines. Professor Vivian was nominated for his service over four years as Chair of the Culture Committee of the City of St. Catharines. Both Committees of Council are actively engaged in developing new policy, advocacy, funding, recognition and opportunities in the arts and culture sector, contributing to the creation of stimulating and sustainable culturally-rich lives in the city of St. Catharines.
Given annually, the Volunteer Recognition Awards recognize those outstanding volunteers whose unselfish and dedicated service to an organization has made a significant difference in the community. Nominations are open to youth and adult volunteers, who are presented with their awards at a banquet hosted by the Mayor and councillors in April. This year the banquet was held at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre on Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
Tags: award, dart, david vivian, faculty, volunteer recognition
Categories: Faculty & Instructors, News
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Recent research has found that feigned illness is costing the UK economy a staggering £900 million. Estimates for 2016 show that a total of 137 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in the UK. Of these, the study found that the number of working days lost due to employees throwing a 'sickie' amounted to 7.5 million days.
Small businesses especially are hugely affected by absence and often do not have the capacity to cover for absenteeism. Just one person off sick can be incredibly disruptive to the day-to-day running of the business and can have an enormous impact on productivity, if for instance, orders cannot be fulfilled due to a lack of staff. Whilst genuine illness cannot be helped, there are actions that can be taken to address preventable absences.
Most common reasons for absence?
Minor illnesses, such as coughs and colds are the most common reasons, followed by musculoskeletal problems. Mental health issues, such as stress, depression and anxiety are the next most common reasons for sickness absence.
Research shows that for employees who feigned illness 42% did so to have a day's rest, 21% blamed hangovers and 19% took time off to avoid a stressful situation at work.
Monitoring absence levels is critical to gain an insight into episodes of absence and will enable a manager to spot patterns. With effective monitoring, a regular 'Mondays off' incidence of absenteeism can be nipped in the bud.
If absence reason trends are identified, measures can be put in place to address them. For example, a trend for musculoskeletal problems in the office may indicate a need to review workstation ergonomics.
Effective monitoring enables early intervention and regular reviews will help to bring absence rates down. Consider reviewing absence data once a month for the whole workforce, noting the reasons for absence, trends and the number of occasions in the last rolling 12 months.
One of the key steps to manage sickness absence is to have clear policies and processes in place. Managers and staff should know what is required when it comes to sickness or unplanned leave. Ensure employees know who they have to report absences to, the requirement for sick notes and how frequent short-term absence will be dealt with.
Your sickness policy should be provided to all employees, either as part of the staff handbook or as a standalone policy and should be included in the induction process. A return to work process is a useful way to identify the true basis of any absences and will enable you to address any work-related causes, such as stress due to workload.
If you do not currently have an attendance management policy and believe one will be of benefit, please speak to your SSG HR consultant.
By 2020, more than half of the entire workforce population will be made up of millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and Generation Z (those born between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s). According to a recent report, three-quarters of UK employees favour flexible working, with millennials the most likely of all age groups to pick a job for its flexibility.
A flexible schedule helps employees to manage a better work-life balance and this can have a significant and positive impact on absenteeism.
The digital age is upon us, which means we are connected 24/7. Small business owners often create a culture where employees are expected to be constantly available, and even contact them while they are on annual leave. This can lead to a situation where employees feel forced to take sick days to get a rest. Even then, research reports indicate that over half of survey respondents admitted to dealing with work emails whilst off sick.
Small businesses need to develop HR policies and due processes to prevent the blurring of lines over work and time off. It is essential staff do not feel the need to take sick days off to rest.
Establishing a workplace that supports well-being is good for employees, employers and business success. Promoting well-being at work can help to prevent problems from escalating, increase employee engagement and improve productivity.


text:
Q: How to get data from database in my android table view as columns and Restrict the no. of row as 10 as per page display I have done following coding for deriving data's from table and displayed in the android view as a Table columns and rows.
The Database coding is
public List<Country> getAllCountry()
{
    List<Country> countryList = new ArrayList<Country>();

    //select query
    String selectQuery = "SELECT * FROM COUNTRY_LIST";

    SQLiteDatabase db = this.getWritableDatabase();
    Cursor cursor = db.rawQuery(selectQuery, null);

    for (cursor.moveToFirst(); !cursor.isAfterLast(); cursor.moveToNext())
    {
         Country country = new Country();
            country.setId(cursor.getString(0));
            country.setName(cursor.getString(1));
            country.setNationalty(cursor.getString(2));
            country.setDate(cursor.getString(3));

            // Adding person to list
            countryList.add(country);
    }

    return countryList;

}

The XML is
<TableLayout
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:id="@+id/tab">
  <TableRow
      >
  </TableRow>
</TableLayout>

The Activity Coding is
List<Country> country = db.getAllCountry();

    StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
    for (Country c: country)
    {
        builder.append(c.getId()).append(";")
            .append(c.getName()).append(";")
            .append(c.getNationalty()).append(";")
            .append(c.getDate()).append("_");
    }
    //tv.setText(builder.toString());

    builder.toString();

    String st = new String(builder);
    Log.d("Main",st);
    String[] rows  = st.split("_");
    TableLayout tableLayout = (TableLayout)findViewById(R.id.tab);
    tableLayout.removeAllViews();

    for(int i=0;i<rows.length;i++){
        Log.d("Rows",rows[i]);
        String row  = rows[i];
        TableRow tableRow = new TableRow(getApplicationContext());
        tableRow.setLayoutParams(new TableLayout.LayoutParams(LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT));
        final String[] cols = row.split(";");

        Handler handler = null;

        for (int j = 0; j < cols.length; j++) {
            final String col = cols[j];
            TextView columsView = new TextView(getApplicationContext());
            columsView.setLayoutParams(new TableRow.LayoutParams(TableRow.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, TableRow.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT));
            columsView.setTextColor(color.black);
            columsView.setText(String.format("%7s", col));
            Log.d("Cols", String.format("%7s", col));
            tableRow.addView(columsView);
            }
         tableLayout.addView(tableRow);

    }

I have the above programs to display the values form database.
Now I want to restrict the no. of rows to be displayed to be 10 and moving to next ten by clicking next.
Please give advice to achieve this.
Thanks in advance.
Regards, Dinesh

A: cursor = database.query(TABLE_NAME,
                new String[] {NAME_OF_COLUMNS} ,
                null, null, null, null, null ,limit);

Pass Integer Number as a value of limit as per your need

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks
Qiang Duan, Nirwan Ansari, Mehmet Toy
SDN and NFV are two significant innovations in networking. The evolution of both SDN and NFV has shown strong synergy between these two paradigms. Recent research efforts have been made toward combining SDN and NFV to fully exploit the advantages of both technologies. However, integrating SDN and NFV is challenging due to the variety of intertwined network elements involved and the complex interaction among them. In this article, we attempt to tackle this challenging problem by presenting an architectural framework called SDNV. This framework offers a clear holistic vision of integrating key principles of both SDN and NFV into unified network architecture, and provides guidelines for synthesizing research efforts toward combining SDN and NFV in future networks. Based on this framework, we also discuss key technical challenges to realizing SDN-NFV integration and identify some important topics for future research, with a hope to arouse the research community's interest in this emerging area.
https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
Published - Sep 1 2016
10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
Dive into the research topics of 'Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Software defined networking Engineering & Materials Science 100%
Virtualization Engineering & Materials Science 93%
Duan, Q., Ansari, N., & Toy, M. (2016). Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks. IEEE Network, 30(5), 10-16. [7579021]. https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
Duan, Qiang ; Ansari, Nirwan ; Toy, Mehmet. / Software-defined network virtualization : An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks. In: IEEE Network. 2016 ; Vol. 30, No. 5. pp. 10-16.
@article{ad8d5111e48d4bde8ac6734cd7c36776,
title = "Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks",
abstract = "SDN and NFV are two significant innovations in networking. The evolution of both SDN and NFV has shown strong synergy between these two paradigms. Recent research efforts have been made toward combining SDN and NFV to fully exploit the advantages of both technologies. However, integrating SDN and NFV is challenging due to the variety of intertwined network elements involved and the complex interaction among them. In this article, we attempt to tackle this challenging problem by presenting an architectural framework called SDNV. This framework offers a clear holistic vision of integrating key principles of both SDN and NFV into unified network architecture, and provides guidelines for synthesizing research efforts toward combining SDN and NFV in future networks. Based on this framework, we also discuss key technical challenges to realizing SDN-NFV integration and identify some important topics for future research, with a hope to arouse the research community's interest in this emerging area.",
author = "Qiang Duan and Nirwan Ansari and Mehmet Toy",
doi = "10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021",
journal = "IEEE Network",
Duan, Q, Ansari, N & Toy, M 2016, 'Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks', IEEE Network, vol. 30, no. 5, 7579021, pp. 10-16. https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
Software-defined network virtualization : An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks. / Duan, Qiang; Ansari, Nirwan; Toy, Mehmet.
In: IEEE Network, Vol. 30, No. 5, 7579021, 01.09.2016, p. 10-16.
T1 - Software-defined network virtualization
T2 - An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks
AU - Duan, Qiang
AU - Ansari, Nirwan
AU - Toy, Mehmet
N2 - SDN and NFV are two significant innovations in networking. The evolution of both SDN and NFV has shown strong synergy between these two paradigms. Recent research efforts have been made toward combining SDN and NFV to fully exploit the advantages of both technologies. However, integrating SDN and NFV is challenging due to the variety of intertwined network elements involved and the complex interaction among them. In this article, we attempt to tackle this challenging problem by presenting an architectural framework called SDNV. This framework offers a clear holistic vision of integrating key principles of both SDN and NFV into unified network architecture, and provides guidelines for synthesizing research efforts toward combining SDN and NFV in future networks. Based on this framework, we also discuss key technical challenges to realizing SDN-NFV integration and identify some important topics for future research, with a hope to arouse the research community's interest in this emerging area.
AB - SDN and NFV are two significant innovations in networking. The evolution of both SDN and NFV has shown strong synergy between these two paradigms. Recent research efforts have been made toward combining SDN and NFV to fully exploit the advantages of both technologies. However, integrating SDN and NFV is challenging due to the variety of intertwined network elements involved and the complex interaction among them. In this article, we attempt to tackle this challenging problem by presenting an architectural framework called SDNV. This framework offers a clear holistic vision of integrating key principles of both SDN and NFV into unified network architecture, and provides guidelines for synthesizing research efforts toward combining SDN and NFV in future networks. Based on this framework, we also discuss key technical challenges to realizing SDN-NFV integration and identify some important topics for future research, with a hope to arouse the research community's interest in this emerging area.
U2 - 10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
DO - 10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021
JO - IEEE Network
JF - IEEE Network
Duan Q, Ansari N, Toy M. Software-defined network virtualization: An architectural framework for integrating SDN and NFV for service provisioning in future networks. IEEE Network. 2016 Sep 1;30(5):10-16. 7579021. https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.2016.7579021

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Odd Couple Hysteria: PISCES HOOKS TAURUS-A Review
Hi there! Today I'm sharing a Throwback Thursday review for a sweet New Adult M/M contemporary romance from Anyta Sunday. PISCES HOOKS TAURUS is the fourth book in her Signs of Love series. I really enjoyed LEO LOVES ARIES and SCORPIO HATES VIRGO, so I dove into this one.
It's a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you're looking for.
Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after.
Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he'd be married to the woman of his dreams.
It would be perfect.
And it would be before his visa ran out.
But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure's on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can't make sense of anymore?
Just as well he's met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all.
Don't cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten.
This is the fourth book in a series, but easily enjoyed on it's own.
Zane is a 23 year old New Zealander looking to extend his US travel visa…indefinitely. Through marriage. See, his elder brother Jacob is married to an American girl, and their first child is just being born. Zane has felt most-closely connected to Jacob and he wants to remain in the US to be the doting uncle his newborn niece will need. It's not like Zane has a steady job, or even a college education–like his brothers. Nope, Zane is a secondary school drop-out and is living off a bit of inheritance while drawing panels for a comic series. Zane definitely seems to admire smart people, even as he accpets that he–himself–will never be counted among them.
Couch surfing in the area of his brother's home turns into a bit of a tough prospect as he's summarily shut out of the place he'd been crashing in favor of a renter's relative. He leans a bit on Jacob's social circle and is put in touch with Becky–whom Zane quite wishes to woo for lodgings to last at least until he finds a suitable marriage prospect, or has to return to New Zealand at the end of the month. Zane is big on the wooing, since he also wants to find a woman to marry him. Perhaps Becky could be the one for him!!
And, that's yet another of Zane's misunderstandings in life. Because Becky is a tender nickmane his sister-in-law gave her dearest childhood friend: Beckett Fisher, college literature professor, and out gay man. Beckett is indeed a savior, of sorts, lending a futon in his attic to Zane for a week–just until his own sister arrives. THen Zane will have to move on–unless he can convince Beckett to share his own bed with him.
It's not as sordid as it sounds, in truth. Zane is a happy-go-lucky Pisces, charming all and sundry, except the women he hopes might fall madly and deeply for him. Beckett is a wounded Taurus, whose marriage to a beautiful young man–Luke–dissolved rather shortly after it began. And, he's been celibate for going on five years now as a result. Zane is captivated by Beckett in a platonic Bromantic way–and wants to help heal the pain of Beckett's divorce. He's also blown away by how intelligent and kind Beckett is, not to mention handsome; at their first meeting, Zane assumed Beckett was a cougar's model boytoy. Oh the laughs when he learned they were mother and son…
Zane does manage to convince Beckett not to toss him out once his flighty sister arrives–and Zane is a mite oblivious to Beckett's rising tension regarding dates and connecting with Beckett's beautiful sister. But, Zane is laser focused on helping BEckett out of his slump–and it takes a few weeks before Zane recognizes that his bromantic feelings may not be completely platonic after all. In fact, they might be downright romantic.
This is a sweet, odd couple slow burn romance with an innocently oblivious man–Zane–awakening to his newly bicurious side. Beckett is as stalwart as he can be, but the attraction for him began from the meet-cute, much to his chagrin. Beckett has spent years telling himself that love is a sham, and he'll never marry again, and he's hooked by Zane's odd and sometimes goofy gestures of connection. They both enjoy a quieter pace of life, and their habits of life dovetail well, with Beckett being reserved, but generous and Zane being gregarious, yet easily intimidated by intellect. I liked how they built a cooperative friendship before anything physical happened. Also, it was important that Zane made the first moves, because Beckett wasn't able–not with giving up on love. And certainly not falling for a straight man! There are a couple of fun side characters, Darla, Beckett's elderly neighbor who makes the horoscope predictions that keep Zane on the hunt for his love, and Beckett's oldest friend–a big buff man Zane calls "Books for Breakfast"–because he's so intelligent and intimidating, and whom Zane mistakes for having a crush on his Beckett.
With the growth of their friendship, Beckett and Zane both lower their defenses, and Zane does manage to charm Beckett. But the return ticket date is quickly approaching, and Beckett won't be down for a quickie wedding. It's a good thing that life is long, and a decision quickly made can portend a whole lifetime of happiness. They take the time to make the best, and right, choices for one another, even if it means temporary separation. The Pisces did hook the Taurus, folks, and they lived happily ever after.
Interested? You can find PISCES HOOKS TAURUS on Goodreads and Amazon. I received a review copy via NetGalley.
About Anyta Sunday: (in her own words…)
A bit about me: I'm a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.
Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, GFY/OFY, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.
I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.
If you'd like to check out more of my stories, check out my website, Facebook and twitter.
May 14, 2020 Veronica Rundell	adult contemporary, Anyta Sunday, Gay romance, M/M Romance, New Adult Romance, PISCES HOOKS TAURUS


From washing over walls to putting words onto water, event professionals are finding new ways to use projections. Projections not only incorporate a 3-D element and larger-than-life color and graphics into event design, they also offer powerful branding opportunities. Big excitement doesn't have to come with a big price tag, though; in some cases, using projections to enliven events can be more cost-effective than hauling in costly candles and floral.
For a Fortune 100 client who wanted a cutting-edge image at its March event, Phoenix-based Shadow Mountain Productions delivered the latest in projection technology. "In addition to widescreen formatting and the use of the Vista Spyder video routing system, we created a branding opportunity by using Vision Plex screen pieces," says Shadow Mountain director of sales Matt Farmelant. The special effects team cut 12 squares of Vision Plex — a new projectable surface — attached them together, and suspended them from a line of truss. Using a 10K digital projector, Shadow Mountain simultaneously broadcasted multiple images onto the screens. "The video and Vision Plex screens were the scenic elements at this event," Farmelant says, adding that one attendee said it looked as though the screens were floating in midair.
At an April welcome reception for a corporate incentive event at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Fla., Merrell's team took advantage of the property's dramatic swimming pool. The team used projections to display star images from a custom-made gobo across the pool's surface. "Lighting projections with logos that show on the bottom of pools are less expensive than using floating candles and flowers to decorate," Merrell says.
LIGHTS, MORE LIGHTS AND ACTION!
For the April party celebrating the release of a Remy Martin cognac, moving lights, low-resolution LED screens and high-resolution projections infused the event with lively colors that changed hourly. New York-based K.I.M. Media event producer Leslie Short worked with Los Angeles-based production company ShowPro to use projections that would "bring the colors from the Remy Martin cognac bottle, which was designed by famous photographer David LaChapelle, alive," Short says. "Using scenic projec-tions allowed us to get both stylized interpretations of the bottle art as well as literal images in the event space," adds Jim Gordon, ShowPro's director of business development.
Short was eager to highlight new ways of using projections during the event and wanted something unexpected to happen each hour. "Projections were able to change speed and shape and give me variations of a single color that normal lighting situations could not," she says.


Facebook is one of the largest social media sites and so Facebook marketing has become a serious form of marketing. There has been a huge growth in Facebook marketing in the last few years. Facebook's Alexa rank is #2, which confirms the potential Facebook marketing can have on any business, if done in an effective way.
You know that Facebook is basically a social media site where most of the members are people who are there to connect with other people for light informal communication. They want to be part of a group, talk to family and friends and make new friends. So, Facebook marketing should be subtle. Aggressive Facebook marketing is not desirable and it may not be successful as people usually look forward to connect with people in Facebook and not be customers to whom the companies will sell their products and services.
So, the companies who are looking forward to Facebook marketing can use attraction marketing to attract the potential customers or the prospects. According to this marketing technique, you have to represent yourself as an expert or a leader who has very good knowledge about a certain thing. Then after this you have to make the people interested in you or the thing that you have to offer and make them follow you. If you can do this, then it will be very good for you business.
If want to go for Facebook marketing then first of all you will have to open a Facebook account. Your Facebook account is very important and it should be self explanatory. After you have opened your Facebook account, you have to create a Personal Page, a Group Page and a Fan Page. You will get lots of help from Facebook in the form instructions for creating the different pages. In Facebook, SEO is not much involved, and everything depends on how well you have maintained a network around you for people to see you as an influential social person.
After you have signed up and created all the pages, you will have to take steps towards the main thing that is Facebook marketing. You will have to properly set up the pages. You should not forget that people are here to connect with other people for non business purpose, so you have to act as an individual and not as a business entity who wants to sell products. You should fill up the bio information properly where you can let other people know about yourself and help them to connect with you. All your pages must have your pictures which are interesting and attractive. For promoting as a company or business page, it is a totally different concept of marketing through paid advertisements too, but when you are thinking about the simple marketing directly from your account, try to be totally legit and share original information about yourself.
You must add adequate high value contents which should not be about the greatness of your product but most of the time, the content should be free. This will make people know and trust you. Once you are done with this, you should start to find people with the same interest and related to your business and join them. Facebook marketing can only be successful, if you properly maintain the pages by regularly interacting with people and responding to their queries. When you are not a business page but an individual-maintained page where people like to interact usually, give your maximum to keep people interacting to each other.
Although these are just the basic tips, these could be quite effective if you are looking for a slow progress for a long-term promotion without having to pay for the same. If you are ready to spend something on ads and promotion through that, it would surely help in bringing out more productivity from the Facebook pages you would be working on.


text:
Home World Araqchi, Understanding reached on Iran financial, economic sanctions
Araqchi, Understanding reached on Iran financial, economic sanctions
Jim W. Dean, Managing Editor
by Jim W. Dean, VT Editor with Press TV, Teheran
Economic warfare is the core issue
[ Editors Note: The Iran nuclear talks are proceeding as I had hoped as we neared the deadline. Some issues are finally being resolved while the most difficult are getting pushed down the line. The report below of the economic and financial sanction being resolved is a major step.
Now that Iran knows what is in the deal it can compromise on some of the outstanding issues, like the arms importation that the West wants. The catch there is that has nothing to do with the nuclear threat, the phony one that has put us through this over a one decade charade now.
Republican presidential candidates all seem to have gotten the Israeli lobby mass email to campaign on opposing keeping Iran from getting "the bomb". I was listening on Chris Hannity's show in the car yesterday, and Mark Rubio, a bought and sold Zionist shill if there ever was one, was raising money on "saving America from Iran".
Our political class has basically become a embarrassment, in two ways. First is their own personal failure responsibility for being special interest shills, especially for foreign clients, and second for all the good citizens that vote these puppets into office. Whereas our "free media" used to at least occassionally weed a worst of the worst out of Congress, now someone would have to get caught with a goat in a Motel Six to trigger a media jihad against them.
This election period seems to be shaping up to put on display how far we have sunk, where the democratic exercise will be reduced to which two bit sell out scoundrel is your favorite choice. To choose neither is a disenfranchisement of your vote which "they" are also keen to see you choose. We have to attack all the low quality people runing for office to shame not only them, but their supporters for not caring more… Jim W. Dean ]
– First published … July 08 2015 –
A senior Iranian negotiator says an understanding has been reached on the removal of financial and economic sanctions, noting that the P5+1 should make a "political decision" to settle the remaining issues blocking a final deal on Tehran's nuclear program.
"There are several kinds of sanctions, most important of which are economic and financial sanctions, on which we have an agreement, on which we have already decided how to deal with economic and financial sanctions, they would all be lifted on the implementation day," Abbas Araqchi told Press TV correspondent in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on Tuesday.
"On other sanctions we are still discussing, the question of simultaneity is very important for us, measures by both sides should happen at same time an in the same manner," he said, adding that "so to find a formulation to find simultaneity on this case is rather difficult… we think that some ideas and formulations that we have been able to innovate may work but we are still working on that."
He underlined that "the contentious issues need the opposite side's political decision," adding, "On the question of sanctions we are working very hard to come to the point where no sanctions remain in place because this is an obvious principle that we cannot have both a deal and sanctions together, and the P5+1 should choose one of them."
"No deadline is sacred to us. We are ready to stay in Vienna as long as needed to continue the negotiations even if the talks have to be extended day by day," added Araqchi, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs.
Iran and the P5+1 countries — the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – have been engaged in crucial nuclear talks in the Austrian capital to nail down a landmark deal over Tehran's nuclear program.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Tuesday that the negotiating parties have "a clear" will to reach a final nuclear agreement. He told reporters that there are a range of issues that need "some trade-offs."
"There will need to be some difficult decisions made on both sides if we're going to get this done. But I think there is a clear will on both sides now to complete this agreement, to keep at it until we get there," Hammond said.
He added that the sides would proceed with the discussions into Wednesday at level of political directors. The British foreign secretary noted that he would take the opportunity of a short break to go back to London "because we have our budget tomorrow" but that he would return to the Vienna talks.
Foreign ministers of the P5+1 would "be back here [in Vienna] tomorrow night and we're looking forward to making some solid progress then on Thursday when we reconvene."
Iran and the six world powers missed an initial deadline of June 30 and all parties agreed a new one of July 7. However, the negotiators agreed to extend the deadline until Friday, July 10, after they failed to reach consensus.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Tuesday that the talks between Iran and the P5+1 countries would continue "for the next couple of days."
A senior US official also said on Tuesday that the Iranian and P5+1 negotiators are close to a final nuclear agreement but they have still some differences. "We have never been closer… and we are still not where we need to be," the US administration official said.
More work needed in Iran-IAEA cooperation
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement on Tuesday that its five-member delegation held "constructive" talks in Tehran on ways forward to resolve all outstanding issues.
"Further progress was achieved in Monday's discussions with senior Iranian officials, but more work is still needed," the statement added.
It noted that the team's trip to Tehran on Monday was a follow-up meeting to a visit by the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to Iran on July 2. The UN nuclear agency and Iran will continue their dialog, the statement added.
Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Tuesday that Iran and the IAEA took a "major step" toward resolving remaining issues pertaining to Tehran's nuclear program.
"Iran and the IAEA took a major step in resolving the outstanding issues to reaching a fundamental understanding on the topics and the timing of cooperation," he said.
The five-member IAEA delegation arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials.
Jim W. Dean is Managing Editor of Veterans Today involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews.
Read Full Complete Bio >>>
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text:
What's happening in the world of dockless transportation
Hit by Big Loss, Bird Seeks $300M in New Funds#12730
By Freebird - Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:39 pm
https://www.theinformation.com/articles ... -new-funds
Article is behind a paywall To view images REGISTER or LOGIN for full access.
The gist of it is:
Bird lost over $100m in the first quarter of 2019.
Bird told existing investors recently that, over two four-week periods in May, June and July, the newer versions of its scooters, known as Bird One and Bird Zero, pulled in more revenue per ride on average than the company had to spend on repairs, replacement, insurance, payments operations and charging costs. The contribution margin, or revenue that remains from each scooter ride after costs, for those four-week periods ranged from 15% to 30%, according to the company. The figures exclude R&D and general and administrative expenses such as staff salaries and stock payments.
Edmund liked this
Re: Hit by Big Loss, Bird Seeks $300M in New Funds#12732
By Edmund - Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:53 pm
By Cory Weinberg and Amir Efrati
The wintertime was bleak for Bird. In this year's first quarter, the electric scooter operator lost nearly $100 million while revenue shrank sharply to only about $15 million, people familiar with the matter said. In the spring, it told people it was down to about $100 million in cash, even after raising more than $700 million over a year and a half.
It's well known that scooter companies struggled in the colder months of the year, but the depth of Bird's problems hasn't been previously reported. Now, the company that unleashed the global scooter craze is trying to raise hundreds of millions of dollars more in venture capital by convincing investors that it has started to turn around, recording what one person familiar with the figures said was double-digit revenue growth each month since February. Prominent in its pitch is previously unreported internal data, obtained by The Information, that aims to show Bird's new scooters are durable enough so that each ride makes money.
• Bird lost nearly $100 million in Q1
• Internal data points to improvements
• Company seeks $200M to $300M from investors
Bird insists it has turned a corner. It says it has been slashing the costs it has to pay per ride to repair, charge, insure and replace its vehicles. That's largely because the vehicles are heavier and made up of new types of components that make them more difficult to steal. The progress is renewing optimism among some current investors. The company is projecting solid growth in the summer months, when it expects to break even, excluding capital expenditures.
"After a lot of hard work and innovation over the winter, Bird has emerged in full force with spectacular growth across markets," David Sacks, a Bird board member and general partner at Craft Ventures, said in an email.
Bird has been having conversations with investors about raising more money for several months, people familiar with the matter said. It has told potential investors it wants to raise $200 million to $300 million by the end of the summer. The company is seeking to raise at a higher price than its current $2.3 billion post-money valuation, which it attained last summer after less than a year of existence. Since then—when it was able to increase its valuation from $1 billion to $2 billion in just a few weeks between deals—the investment frenzy has cooled.
Many large funds, including SoftBank's Vision Fund, have explored investing in scooter firms but have been worried about the potential size of the market and the durability of the vehicles, the people said. One Bird investor blamed negative media coverage for the growing difficulty to raise money.
"The scooter industry has the most uncertainty in consumer tech today. No one knows what's going to happen," said an investor in a rival scooter firm that also explored investing in Bird.
"Are cities going to allow it? Are the unit economics going to work? Will the payback period [for purchasing scooters] be two months and it will all work?"
"Bird executives have been open about the company's decision to sacrifice growth to trim losses over the winter."
Bird executives have been open about the company's decision to sacrifice growth to trim losses over the winter.
The pitch from Bird and other scooter operators: The key to financial success is improving the hardware, so that scooters require minimal repair and can survive for hundreds of rides before needing to be replaced. Bird is trying to overhaul its fleet by replacing scooters that break down easily with longer-lasting models. About 80% of its fleet—which CEO Travis VanderZanden has said is in the "hundreds of thousands" of scooters globally—is made up of these tougher, Bird-designed scooters, a person close to the company said.
In the third and fourth quarters of last year, Bird said it generated about $25 million and about $40 million in gross revenue, respectively, the person said. Net revenue was more than $20 million in the third quarter and about $25 million in the fourth quarter, this person said. Some of that gap was due to rider discounts, which Bird eliminated in the first quarter of this year, when it pulled in just $15 million in gross revenue. A year earlier, in the first quarter of 2018, Bird generated several million dollars in revenue when it was in few markets, said a person briefed on the matter.
Bird executives, including Mr. VanderZanden, have been open about the company's decision to sacrifice growth to trim losses over the winter. After the $100 million loss in this year's first quarter, Bird made several quick moves to reduce its cash burn. It laid off about 5% of its staff, including cuts to its government relations team. The company's service was "paused" in 44 of its 103 North American markets, it told Portland, Ore., regulators in April.
As cash has run low, Bird also has been finding new ways to get more money in the door. It started requiring customers to pre-load money into Bird's app rather than paying per ride. (Lime, a rival, has a similar process.) Bird also began selling its scooters to customers directly for $1,299, which required a $149 deposit for pre-orders. And other companies can buy Bird's scooters, too, giving Bird a cut of revenue, an arrangement it has with a scooter rental company called Sherpa in cities like Los Angeles.
Bird's presentation to current investors, portions of which are analyzed below, contains detailed information on the company's revenue and operational costs:
The sample: In the presentation to investors, Bird breaks down its revenue and costs on a per-ride basis using two four-week periods of average usage from May 6 through June 2 and from June 10 to July 7 this year. The data only reflects use of the Bird One and Bird Zero scooters, the majority of Bird's global fleet.
Revenue: Gross revenue for each ride ranged from $4.12 to $4.27, up from the $3.65 that Bird told investors last year. That is likely due to Bird's increase in prices in April, which shot up in some cities to 30 cents from 15 cents for each minute of riding. The cost to start a ride has typically stayed at $1. Net revenue from each ride in the samples ranged from $3.72 to $3.82 because of discounts.
Depreciation: Bird's largest cost per ride is depreciation, or the decline in value of its scooters. Depreciation, as calculated by the company, is a four-week trailing figure taking the total depreciation expense for that time and dividing it by the total number of rides, a person familiar with the matter said. Currently, that figure ranges from $0.94 to $1.17 per ride, or about a quarter of revenue for each ride, Bird says. That implies the scooter would last between 550 and 650 rides before needing replacement, which is about six months of use, assuming each scooter is ridden about three times per day. That calculation is based on the total cost of manufacturing, transporting and paying the import tariff for each scooter, which is $660, a person familiar with the matter said. Bird also includes what it calls "accelerated depreciation" in its calculation, in which the company writes off the remaining value of scooters that are stolen. That accounts for the bulk of the improvement in depreciation cost, another person said.
Payments and insurance: About 25 cents, or 6% of pre-ride gross revenue, goes to payment processing fees and insurance. Last May, that figure stood at 46 cents. Executives at other scooter firms caution that Bird likely has difficulty knowing the full extent of its potential insurance costs in the four-week sample it used because of larger claims that could come later. But Bird executives have told people that scooters see fewer at-fault collisions than in ride-hailing.
Charging: To charge each vehicle, Bird says it pays between 79 cents and 93 cents per ride, or roughly a fifth of per-ride revenue. That's down from $1.30 last May. Assuming the company pays its independent contractors $5 for each charge, the figure would imply that Bird charges each vehicle once every five or so rides, or roughly every 10 miles. That suggests Bird isn't making use of the 30 miles or so it says its scooters' batteries can last. Chargers often need to move scooters to different parts of cities, which drives up costs.
Repair: To repair each vehicle, Bird says it pays 32 cents to 44 cents per ride, or 8% to 11% of gross revenue. That's down from 51 cents last May. Bird says it reduced costs even while hiring more expensive labor. In the spring, the company started hiring its own mechanics who work out of regional service centers, rather than relying on independent contractors.
Sc00tr liked this
Great find @Freebird!
Hard to believe Bird burned through $600M in 18 months. I agree the the new scooters will be more profitable but they will also be met with increased competition. Riders haven't been showing brand loyalty and continue to use the closest scooter to them.
By Freebird - Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:24 pm
Burning through $1M a day sounds like a lot of fun.
My thoughts on this:
Bird has proven that purpose-built rental scooters bleed half the money as 1st gen personal scooters (M365, ES4)
The business model is doomed since they can't predict any day or formula that will make them profitable
They already have enough scooters in the pipeline (in factories and boats from China) to make their worldwide fleet 100% G2 heavy Birds (zero, one) in the next 60 days
They don't give a rat's ass about the old models and won't pay a cent ransom to Sheriff Cleatus who impounded them.
They would rather write off G1 scooters rather than retrieve them.
They are doing a better job of loss prevention and paying better bounties on the G2 tanks.
Lime already figured out most of this several months ago
By Edmund - Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:36 am
- Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:36 am #12800
This article hit a nerve with Bird. Here's what Bird's founder had to say about it.
While Travis was tweeting one of Bird's investors was saying this.


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text:
Tackling climate change with AI
23 July 2019 by Jessica Montgomery, Senior Policy Adviser
As concerns about the impact of climate change (PDF) grow, so too is the debate about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
At 2019's International Conference on Machine Learning, leading researchers explored how AI technologies can help tackle climate change. New applications of AI across sectors could help reduce carbon emissions, while new research might offer ways of creating more energy-efficient AI.
This blogpost summarises a few of the research directions highlighted at the conference.
Reducing emissions from current systems
Carbon emissions from energy, transport, and cities could be reduced if energy-intensive processes were more effective. By analysing data and making recommendations to optimise such systems, AI could help reduce energy use across industry sectors.
While falling turbine costs are helping to spur the widespread adoption of wind power, the unpredictability of this renewable energy source continues to limit the extent of its use. Analysts rely on predictions of likely power outputs from these turbines in order to manage their use, and AI could help make these predictions more accurate. By analysing weather forecasts and data about past turbine performance, one AI system from DeepMind is able to predict likely wind power output 36 hours ahead. This allows those managing the grid to make more use of renewable energy; as wind power output becomes more predictable, it becomes more valuable.
Energy consumption in buildings is responsible for a quarter of today's global energy-related emissions. Intelligent and automated systems could help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings by identifying opportunities for efficiency – adjusting heating and lighting according to the number of people in a room, for example – while smart meters and intelligent control systems could support better integration of low carbon energy into the electricity grid mix, with systems adapting to usage patterns. Insights from AI-enabled analysis can also support more effective urban planning, for example through district-level heating and cooling systems, which can reduce overall local energy consumption (PDF).
For many businesses, the processes of transporting, storing, and cooling goods in the supply chain is a significant source of carbon emissions. By improving the accuracy of demand forecasting, AI could help businesses more accurately predict how many goods need to be transported, and to where. More accurate forecasts could reduce the amount of waste from these systems, and the overall requirements for shipping and storage.
Increasing resilience to change
AI could also provide insights to help develop adaption strategies that could help increase resilience to climate change, for example:
By helping produce more accurate forecasts or predictions of extreme events, by supporting advanced approaches to modelling local weather systems
By analysing data to inform biodiversity tracking and management processes, which can build better understandings of the dynamics of pests or disease, as changes to environmental conditions influence their distribution and impacts
By supporting scientific discovery in materials science, to more effectively capture and store energy (in batteries, for example)
By helping manage land use, monitoring greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture practices, supporting precision agriculture techniques, and better monitoring and managing forests
What about the environmental impact of AI?
AI methods have made impressive advances in recent years, reaching or exceeding human-level performance at some tasks. However, many of these advances have relied on training larger models on bigger data sets – such approaches require a lot of computer power, which in turn requires more energy.
A recent study from researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst looked at the energy required to train natural language processing systems – the approach to AI in which computers learn how to analyse human language. They measured the power requirements for some of the most successful models in the field, and found that training these to publication-ready standard could result in production of as much carbon as the full lifetime running of five cars.
But new research is also pointing to ways of creating more energy-efficient AI, offering routes to reducing its climate impact. For example:
New approaches to tuning neural networks – the process of optimising a model performance that can be particularly energy-intensive – are making the model development process more efficient
AI systems are helping make the cooling of data centres more efficient, so the systems to store and manage data require less energy
Advances in hardware design could make the process of running AI software more energy efficient
Further work across these areas, and more, could develop more effective AI methods, while also reducing their energy-intensity.
Many of these technologies have been available for some time, but further work is needed to help ensure they are widely adopted. By advancing research in key areas, developing novel applications, and supporting research collaborations across sectors and disciplines, AI researchers can play an important role in harnessing the power of AI to help tackle climate change.
This blog post summarises just a few of the points at the ICML 2019 workshop on tackling climate change with machine learning. The paper published by workshop leaders gives much more detail and many more examples of the ways in which AI could contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting adaptation strategies.
disqus_c1Pbhv3dNw
The paper seems to adopt a social engineering model in an implicit manner when it envisages how AI might be useful in remediating climate change.
In other words designing policies and programs to be implemented that could impact on people as "objects" in systems.
A neglected alternative is an enabling and social networking kind of approach which might use AI to enable more insight, communication, informed discussion, decision making and action on the part of persons as agents themselves.
An example ( not from climate change ) is the use of nutrition apps for people wanting to lose weight. These are not 100% effective by any means. But some people use them as an extended mindfulness tool in order to integrate and modify eating patterns to lose weight ( or manage diabetes) while sustaining an adequate balance of nutrients. They usually also have recipe storage and shopping list capabilities.
In other words they extend the mind and thereby the agency of persons rather than designing systems to which persons must conform and which manipulate them.
So that is my comment. AI and robotics become threatening and disabling when they function as power over and above persons. When they enable and empower persons they can extend the mind and the agency of persons. That can be made explicit in the designing.
But that is by no means a black and white issue as any number of science fiction and dystopian films and stories will testify. Its just that there is such a very strong bias towards technocracy and managing others that it needs to be pointed out.
Again, another much discussed example is the way facebook et al fall short of the ideal potential of AI in achieving and enabling extended communal conversation. Its not just an abstraction either since climate change misinformation is spread through facebook whereas as a type of AI system one might expect it to be able to achieve the spread of information.


text:
Q: How to convert a dict to tensors in tensorflow I am following the tutorial about tensorflow: https://www.tensorflow.org/tutorials/wide
There are lots of categorical features which have to be converted to sparse matrix with tf.feature_column.categorical_column_with_vocabulary_list().
BUT, I do not want to use the predefined Estimator,
m = tf.estimator.LinearClassifier(
    model_dir=model_dir, feature_columns=base_columns + crossed_columns)

I prefer to use a costumed NN model, with:
estimator = tf.contrib.learn.Estimator(model_fn=model)
estimator.fit(input_fn=input_fn(df, num_epochs=100, shuffle=True), \
              steps=100)

So in model(), there will be
 def model(features, labels, mode):
    ...
    node = tf.add(tf.matmul(features, w), b)
    ...

Then, I got the errors like:
 TypeError: Failed to convert object of type <class 'dict'> to Tensor.
 Contents: {'education': <tf.Tensor
 'random_shuffle_queue_DequeueUpTo:1' shape=(?,) dtype=string>, 'age':
 <tf.Tensor 'random_shuffle_queue_DequeueUpTo:2' shape=(?,) dtype=float64> ...

My question is how to convert the features to a tensor that can be used as input.
Hope I have described the question clear. Thank you in advance.

A: features is a dict of Tensor you can get a Tensor by like features['education'], but this Tensor still type of string, it still can't use tf.add(tf.matmul(features, w), b), you should process your string type feature into numberical feature with like tf.feature_column.categorical_column_with_vocabulary_list().
Update:
You can check offical dnn implementation , in def dnn_logit_fn part, it use feature_column_lib.input_layer to generate input layer from features and columns,  and the columns is a list of tf.feature_columns.*.
When defining a tf.feature_columns.* such as tf.feature_column.categorical_column_with_vocabulary_list(), it accept string which must exists in features.keys() as first parameter, it connects a tensor from features to a feature_column to tell tf how to process the raw input (string) tensor into a feature tensor(numberical).


You have a project – a sponsor, a customer, a project plan, a budget, and resources – now it is time for project plan execution.... So where do you start?
How does a "Kickoff Meeting" sound?
obtain their understanding and concurrence of individual responsibilities.
Project Overview – describe the business purpose, the sponsor, major project deliverables, the "customer", and major milestones.
Project Goals – short-term and long-term goals/objectives, and the metrics to measure attainment of the objectives.
Review the Project Schedule – focus on the near-term activities and tasks for each team member (I usually make sure all team members know what is expected of them up to the first deliverable).
Communications and Project Reporting – make sure all team members understand and concur with the project communications plan for all project stakeholders.
You began with the Project Initiation documents – Project Mandate, Business Case, and/or a Project Charter – to understand the business purpose and objectives for the proposed project.
During the Project Planning stage(s), you refined the initial project information into a Project Plan (may have included an interim Project Brief under PRINCE2®) which included the project approach, objectives, schedule, budget (cost estimate), resources, change approach, risk analysis, along with the plans for project communications and quality assurance. Also during the planning process, you decomposed the work to accomplish the project deliverables (Work Product & Product Descriptions) into 1-10 day activities and assigned resources to accomplish the work leading up to the deliverable or product.
internal governance teams such as a PMO, Change Control Board, or Project Board approving deliverables or work product.
In addition to including a written description of the Project Scope in the Project Management Plan (a deliverable from the Project Planning process), the WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) and the Project Schedule (the activities listed in the Microsoft Project Gantt chart) both included the Project Scope activities, milestones, and deliverables.
Under PRINCE2®, the WBS scoping would have been more detailed as the PBS (Product Breakdown Structure), detailing the activities and milestones to deliver the Work Product and each deliverable would have been associated with its own Product Description.
During the Project Plan Execution, you will have to make from one to many adjustments in the four areas listed above, depending on the progress of your project.
During Project Plan Execution, you have two fundamental tools for managing the Project Schedule and Project Resources. The Project Schedule is best managed using a scheduling software application.
Remember, Microsoft Project is the number one project management software application in use today. As mentioned before, I highly recommend that ALL Project Managers, whether you like the software or not, become very familiar with Microsoft Project as a project scheduling tool.
If you organization is focused on a Project Portfolio Management approach to projects, you should consider the larger applications such as Primavera, which includes a Portfolio Management module.
During Project Plan Execution, the easiest way I have found to manage Project Resources is using a combination of an MS-Excel spreadsheet, and if time permits, the resource tracking feature of Microsoft Project. If time does not permit, I only use an Excel spreadsheet to track which project team member is doing which portions of the WBS/PBS, and when they start and end the work. On projects with more complexity, or when requested by the organization, I will also track planned hours per activity and actual hours per activity.
During Project Plan Execution, periodic project status meetings will give you the forum to review progress, discuss any corrective actions, determine the need for additional resources, discuss meeting project dependencies and risks. Since getting everyone together for status meetings is sometimes not doable, I always request weekly work updates (Project Status Reports) from all team members containing the following information – what was accomplished, what is planned, current milestones/deliverables, perceived issues, perceived risks, and requests to ensure meeting project objectives.
Project Status Meetings (which I typically convene weekly – same day and time each week) are an opportunity for your project team members to discuss their progress; describe issues and perceived risks, and receive recognition from you in meeting specific milestones.
Overall, managing project execution involves using the Project Management Plan and the Project Schedule to track work completion and progress; while monitoring project issues, risks, and dependencies.
"Who is depending on the Deliverables" -- it is critical for you, the PM, to focus on all project dependencies, internal and external to your project. What are members of your team depending on in order to complete their work? What are external entities depending on from you or your team (which will have an effect on your project)?
"Who needs to know What" -- communication is the key to all successful projects, at least all the ones I have worked over the past 15 years. During Project Planning, you established a Communications Plan (also part of your Project Management Plan document). As Project Manager, you must take a leadership role by ensuring that the Communications Plan is followed, as agreed by the Project Sponsor (or the Project Board).
Successful (usually meaning on-schedule and on-budget) delivery of the Work Product or Project Deliverable is the ultimate goal of your project, and of the Project Plan Execution. Some organizations take that one step further and state that the end user acceptance of the Work Product is the ultimate goal of the project. Under either scenario, you (the Project Manager) must ensure the delivery of a quality, accept-able Work Product.
You will have defined "Quality" in the "Quality Plan" portion of the Project Management Plan document, developed during the Project Planning phase. If your organization has a Quality Initiative (perhaps they follow ISO for documentation or CMMI for software development), then use the work completed under the company initiative as you starting point – as the saying goes, "don't re-invent the wheel." Complying with the company initiative will make it easier for the Project Sponsor and specific Stakeholders (such as end users of the deliverable) to accept your Quality Plan.
In addition to complying with Quality Plan, you will develop and agree to specific Acceptance Criteria for each Work Product. Most likely, you or a team member will work with customer or end user representatives to develop the Acceptance Criteria. The business requirements are basis of the Acceptance Criteria, which are gathered and decomposed early in the Project Plan Execution.
Controlling a Stage (CS) -- from a PMI perspective, this stage combines the overall project management of project execution with the monitoring of progress and reporting found in the Monitoring and Control phase.
Managing Product Delivery (MP) -- is focused on the execution and delivery of the project deliverables; providing direction to those project team members performing the work.
Managing Stage Boundaries (SB) -- focuses on the transition from one stage to the next, including the execution stages. This stage also has elements of the Monitoring and Controlling Phase, of which PMP's and other PMBOK® practitioners would be familiar.
I want to make sure I touch on a few techniques to assist with your Project Plan Execution success. These may or may not be used, depending on your experience as a PM, the complexity of your project, and the project management practices of your organization.
the completion of an activity depends on the start of another (called a start-to-finish relationship.
During the forward pass and backward pass, you will determine the activities that comprise the Critical Path – those sequence activities with the shortest duration from project start to finish, and having no slack time. The network analysis and establishing a critical path are part of the Project Planning phase. However, tracking the progress of completion of the critical path activities is a focus of the Project Execution phase.
I will explain CPM and Project Scheduling in more detail on a subsequent page. If you have specific CPM or Scheduling questions, feel welcome to ask, by going to our Q&A page.
Fast Tracking -- this simply taking activities that would normally be worked sequentially and working them in parallel. Although this approach adds risk and may result in rework, Fast Tracking is probably used most often to compress the project schedule.
Crashing -- the typical crashing method is to add resources to complete activities ahead of schedule, or simply "throwing more money at the project". Used alone, crashing is usually less effective than fast tracking.
Ideally, when you face the need to compress or recover the project schedule, consider all techniques and consider using a combined approach of both fast tracking and crashing.
Your success will be measured on how well you achieve the project objectives – have you stayed on-schedule; have you stayed on-budget, have you delivered a quality work product; has your customer accepted all project deliverables. Answers to these questions will determine the perception of how well you executed the Project Management Plan.
Project Plan execution is the core process that occurs during execution. According to the PMBOK® Guide (3rd Ed.), "… the vast majority of the budget is expended in execution".
During the Project Plan Execution phase, your main project outputs are work results (deliverables and work product) and change requests. Project information is also fed into performance reporting calculations (such as Earned Value calculation to determine if you are on-budget and on-schedule). Changes do occur as the work progresses, yes on some projects they really do occur. While they are identified during the Project Plan Execution process, changes are considered and approved or denied in an integrated change control process (defined as part of the Scope Management Plan, during the Project Planning phase).
Good Luck & Good Execution !


COURTNEY M. WATSON | M.S.W., R.S.W.
We are located at 3080 Yonge St, Suite 5090, which is the large building at the northwest corner of Yonge and Lawrence, directly beside Lawrence subway station.
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I trained at both The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts and Guildford School of acting. In recent years I have worked as an actor, producer, director, casting director and performing arts lecturer. I love collaborating with creative and innovative individuals in theatre and film.


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The Affordable Care Act's Reporting Requirements for Carriers and Employers (Part 21 of 24): Reporting for "MEC" Plans
By Alden J. Bianchi
It took a while, but most employers and their advisors have finally gotten the hang of the Affordable Care Act's employer shared responsibility rules. That is, they understand generally that:
"Applicable Large Employer Members" (i.e., each separate legal entity within a controlled group that collectively comprises an Applicable Large Employer) must make an offer of "minimum essential coverage" to substantially all of their full-time employees or face the prospect of a potentially very big penalty;
If coverage is offered, but it is unaffordable or fails to provide minimum value, then the employer faces the prospect of a potentially (hopefully, maybe) not very big penalty; and
If coverage is offered that is both affordable and provides minimum value, then the employer has no penalty exposure, but this approach might be costly.
When it comes to telling the government about compliance, however, not everyone has gotten the proverbial "hang-of-it," and many questions remain (at least enough to fill this blog from week-to-week). Most too have heard that the IRS has announced that it will be applying a "good faith" standard. While they get that this is a "good thing," many are not sure why, exactly. (Trust me, it's a good thing.) And there are of course a cohort of presumably small but indeterminate size employers that remain unaware of the rules or simply assume that their consultant or payroll service has it covered.
The lingering reporting-related questions appear to cluster around full-time employee determinations, offers of coverage, and eligibility, participation and coverage. This post examines issues relating to coverage, both under the rules governing the reporting of minimum essential coverage and under the employer shared responsibility rules, with a particular emphasis on "MEC plans."
Minimum Essential Coverage
In the context of the ACA, the term "minimum essential coverage" has come to be used in four different ways:
Under Code 5000A, U.S. taxpayers and green card holders must have minimum essential coverage or pay a tax penalty unless an exception applies;
Under Code 36B, low- or moderate-income income individuals who might otherwise qualify for premium tax credits from a public insurance exchange are rendered ineligible for subsidies if they have other minimum essential coverage (or are eligible for minimum essential coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan if the coverage provides minimum value and is affordable);
Under Code 4980H, applicable large employers face exposure for assessable payments for failing to offer minimum essential coverage to substantially all of their full-time employees; and
Vendors, promoters and some carriers have created and established for sale in the group market a preventive-services-only plan that has come to be known as a minimum essential coverage or MEC plan. Unlike the first three uses of the term MEC, this latter use is purely colloquial and market-driven. For the balance of this post, we will refer to preventive-services-only plans as "MEC plans."
The term "minimum essential coverage" can be confusing, since it refers not to the content of the coverage but to its source. Individual and group market coverage can qualify as minimum essential coverage, as can coverage under a governmental program such as Medicare or Medicaid. There is an important distinction to be made here, however. When coverage is offered through a public insurance exchange, that coverage must include a list of 10 essential health benefits which result in an aggregate benefit that qualifies as "minimum value." (For an explanation of minimum value, please see our previous post on the subject.)
In contrast, applicable large employers are not required to offer minimum value coverage, though there can be consequences for not doing so. As we noted above, an employer that offers minimum essential coverage that does not provide minimum value faces penalty exposure, though of a likely smaller magnitude than would otherwise be the case if the employer failed to offer any coverage. MEC plans do not provide minimum value.
The motives for choosing to offer MEC plans are two-fold:
1. Economic
There are instances in which the offer of MEC is simply the cheapest way to comply with the ACA's employer shared responsibility rules. MEC coverage is less than desirable, since it only covers preventive services. Despite that serious drawback, however, certain employees may benefit from the MEC coverage, since it satisfies the ACA individual mandate. So an employee with MEC coverage is not subject to tax.
2. Practical
Minimum value coverage may be unavailable or available only at exorbitant rates. This is a not uncommon occurrence in industries with low-wage, high turnover employees, who before the ACA were either not offered coverage or were offered coverage under "mini-med" plans. While some express concern over the failure on the part of mainstream carriers to develop and make available affordable products for this market, it should come as no surprise. This market segment is rife with adverse selection, and carriers are only now getting reliable data on actual take-up rates and claims experience.
Because MEC plans are group health plans, they must satisfy the ACA insurance market reforms. As a practical matter this means that a MEC plan must:
Not impose annual or lifetime limits on essential health benefits (i.e., the items and services within at least the following 10 categories: ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care);
NOTE: Most MEC plans are self-funded. Self-funded and large group insured plans are permitted to impose dollar limits on benefits that are not essential health benefits, and they can also apply non-dollar limits on essential health benefits. These plans must use an authorized definition of essential health benefits to determine which of the benefits they provide can be made subject to annual or lifetime dollar limits. What constitutes essential health benefits is determined state-by-state based on a "benchmark" plan. The benchmark can be designated by the state or adopted under a default rule. Self-funded plans have some latitude on the selection of a benchmark plan.
Cover children to age 26 where the MEC plan coverage includes dependents;
Comply with the ACA bar on rescissions of coverage;
Not exclude participants based on a pre-existing condition; and
Cover preventive services. Preventive services for this purpose means coverage for a wide range of health preventive and screening services. There are some 63 distinct preventive services that must be covered without the enrollee having to pay a copayment or co-insurance or meet a deductible.
Though not required, MEC plans are often bundled and sold together with hospital or fixed indemnity coverage a/k/a "excepted benefits" in the parlance of the ACA and prior law.
Reporting MEC vs. Minimum Value coverage
Code 6055: Reporting of Minimum Essential Coverage (Forms 1094-B/1095-B)
Every provider of Minimum Essential Coverage must report coverage information by filing an information return with the IRS on Form 1094-B and furnishing a statement to individuals on Form 1095-B. Where MEC plan coverage is fully-insured, the reporting obligation rests with the carrier. But where MEC plan coverage is self-funded—which is by far the most common approach—the coverage is reported by the employer on Part III of Form 1095-C if the employer is subject to the ACA employer shared responsibility rules, i.e., an applicable large employer member. Many employers offering MEC plan coverage are new to self-funding. This filing obligation could come as a surprise.
Code 6056: Reporting by ALE Member (Forms 1094-C/1095-C)
Offers of coverage that qualify as minimum value are coded on Form 1095-C, Line 14 using Codes 1A through 1E. These codes variously identify the recipients of the offer of coverage between and among the employee, his or her spouse, and dependents. The significance of these codes is that the employer may avoid exposure under Code § 4980H(b) if the coverage is also affordable. That this is the case is reported on Lines 15 (which permits the IRS to verify whether the coverage is affordable) and 16 (which discloses that coverage was elected or points the IRS to the reason why the employer is not liable for an assessable payment under Code § 4980H(b) with respect to the particular employee).
Offers of MEC plan coverage have their own reporting Form 1095-C, Line 14 series-1 indicator code, Code 1F (Minimum essential coverage NOT providing minimum value offered to employee). Where Code 1F applies, Form 1095-C, line 15 would be left blank, thus signaling to the IRS that the employer may be liable for an assessable payment under Code § 4980H(b) (i.e., the "potentially (hopefully, maybe) not very big penalty") with respect to the particular employee.
The benefit of a broad-based offer of MEC coverage appears on Form 1094-C, Part III, Lines 23 to 35, column (a), wherein the employer reports that it "offered minimum essential coverage to at least 95% of its full-time employees and their dependents." As a consequence, the employer is not liable for penalties under Code § 4980H(a) (the "very big" penalty). Under a transition rule that applies in 2015, the 95% threshold is lowered to 70%. An employer indicates that it is taking advantage of this relief on Form 1094-C, Part III, in Lines 23 to 35, Column (e).
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Alden J. Bianchi
Member / Chair, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice
Alden J. Bianchi is an employee benefits and compensation attorney at Mintz. He advises clients on retirement plans, compensation arrangements, ERISA issues, benefits issues in mergers and acquisitions, and health and welfare plans. Alden is an authority on health care reform.
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University Neighborhood Apartments (UNA), opened in July 2005, is the nation's first affordable housing built with Universal Design principles. It is a model of community housing: intergenerational, families and singles, and people with and without disabilities living together. The Universal Design principles incorporated into this 27-unit development allow everyone living at UNA to enjoy visiting each other and using all community facilities. Universal features include one-story living; wide doorways and hallways; low countertops, cabinets, and keyholes; extra floor space to accommodate a wide turning radius; pull-out cutting boards; stoves with controls on the front; push/pull lever faucets; and roll-in showers. Shared open space includes a play structure for children and the 4th floor terrace, which commands sweeping views of the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. Hearth Homes Community Building is the development partner and its founder, Sue Siegel, was the inspiration for the project.
Would you like more information about University Neighborhood Apartments? Please call the Property Manager at (510) 845-1223.


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Q: Need to prevent site name from breaking to next line on smaller devices I'm building a responsive site at concrete.lifestylerevolutionstx.com, and for some reason the site name breaks to the next line, below the logo, at smaller screen sizes. Any ideas how can I force them to stay on the same line?

A: As @millimouse suggested in the comments, since your logo header is part text and part image, you should add white-space: no-wrap; to the container, in this case it's .top-bar .name h1 a. This will suppress line breaks within text.
Additionally, you should consider removing overflow: hidden; on your nav element with the class .top-bar and adding a z-index of at least 3 to your section element with the class .top-bar-section, so your hamburger button menu actually appears over your scrolling gallery for lower screen width (width <= 979px) displays.


The security of the property in your business is not among the things you can take lightly. When you are determined to ensure that you will have maximum security for your commercial property, it is wise that you consider working with the locksmith. The locksmith will handle works such as installing the access control systems that necessitates every person coming to your company to have cards, the right fingerprints, or face identity which is pertinent in blocking strangers. It os for this cause that you can have confidence that your business will have total security when you choose to hire professional locksmiths. There are chances you will have some difficulties to figure out the most appropriate locksmith in the market because of the high number of such experts available. Content of this text focuses on what you should focus on when determining the ideal San Antonio commercial locksmith.
The last thing that you can fail to look at is the familiarity that the locksmith has in the access control system installation when deciding if they are okay for the job. Have the courage to inquire from the experts the duration they have been in the industry and their past clients. The locksmith who is perfect for the job is one who has been in the sector for numerous years since they must have all the knowledge necessary for the job.
Reviews can say a lot about a specific locksmith who is in the market. It is for this cause that you must confirm that you take your time to look at the web when choosing the locksmith so that you can know what their clients are saying. It is imperative that you observe some caution when reading the customer comments since some of them are not real and thus you should make an effort to contact some of them.
Do not fail to ask the locksmith whether they are guaranteeing their access control services before you choose them for the job. It is apparent that you will hate a scenario where you will have the system not working a short period after the installation. It means you must attest to it that you will hire the locksmith who has the most significant warranty. The best thing is confirming the guarantee is written so that you can rest ascertained you will be on the safe side in case of anything.
There is no doubt that you wish to keep down the cost of running the business by all means. It is for this cause that you must verify that you will work with the one who does not charge you more than you are willing to spend on the project. The perfect approach is to demand prices from many locksmiths so that you can know the most affordable for you.


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Fa'aso'otauloa Sam Saili - It's all about the family
By Sina Filifilia Sevaaetasi, 01/01/2017
Technology is a tremendous development.
But quite often when we talk about technology, we associate it with overseas-based companies.
Here in Samoa, one company blazing the trail with the use of advanced technology to make a real difference in every day life is SkyEye.
It is ground breaking company that offers services in vehicle tracking, U.A.V remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, I.S and real estate.
It saves money, reduces the headaches and gets you the desired results quicker.
Today the Samoa Observer unveils the brains behind the company.
SkyEye's office is a hidden gem at Vaimoso-uta. It is owned by the Saili family who have roots in Fasito'o-uta, Saleaula and Faga, Savai'i.
Although, all the board of directors are siblings, the main man behind the machine is SkyEye's Chief Executive Officer, Fa'aso'otauloa Sam Saili.
Fa'aso'otauloa is the son of the late Fa'aso'otauloa Sam Saili and Taimaaiono Metotagivale Leaupepe Saili. His father was the Minister of Finance who constructed the cornerstones of the economy and had a helping hand in the creation of the industrial heel in Vaitele, N.P.F, and Central Bank to name a few.
His father's work ethic and intelligence left a lasting impression on his children.
After his death in 1990, it left a rift in the family momentarily as they grieved for their father but then they picked themselves. It was after his death that the family really came together.
The young Fa'aso'otauloa was astounded by the courage and strength his mom showed through those rough times as she was now a single mother with 7 kids to feed and no income.
The only thing she had was her faith in God to carry them through those dark days.
The siblings banded together with the older ones taking the reigns in the family.
"I think that him passing away and leaving us nothing meant that we looked after each other," he said.
As the older ones left to pursue higher education, they would never forget their family and send back remittances to help. Then when the younger ones grew up, they did the same. It was in these moments that cemented and strengthened their bond as siblings that allowed them to be the family and business partners they are today.
Fa'aso'otaouloa grew up in Samoa attending Apia Primary, Samoa College, U.P.Y and then securing a scholarship overseas. After his studies, he returned to the islands and worked in the government until branching off into the private sector.
Finally, with his background in I.C.T and the collective knowledge of his brothers and sisters, they were able to start Skyeye. Fa'aso'otaouloa acknowledged the guidance of Afoa Kolone Vaai in the creation of SkyEye.
"We saw that this area that no one else has offered to the business in Samoa."
"In the developed world, there is so much technology that the businesses in the developed world take for granted. But because of the cost in Samoa, there's no one offering these services."
"The first one we launched successfully was the vehicle tracking. There are so many benefits in vehicle tracking. It's the reduction in fuel cost and the abuse of expensive capital equipment," he told the Samoa Observer.
"Some of the major customers are finding out that having to monitor the staff is not so much as important as the data they're getting back from the system and is something that every business should be looking at. The smart businesses know how to use this data to develop this business and take their business to the next level while using this data."
Many would think that having siblings as part of the board of directors would be a conflict of interest but for the Sailis it's the best part.
Asked what inspires him, Faaso'otauloa lights up as he recounts what inspires him most.
"It's actually working with my siblings. I like working with them because we know each other so well and we're always bouncing ideas off each other and what else can we do and what can we provide or how cane we improve this. That's all the things I look forward to. It's work but it's actually hanging out with my siblings."
Of course trying to implement anything new is often met with pushback by people who are reluctant to change. Thus, some of the hurdles Skyeye has faced as they introduce ground breaking advanced technology to a system that still record everything in writing is definitely going to face a lot of push back.
"The biggest challenge we've had is education and people not knowing the service we provide or not understanding them. It was a hard hurdle to try and educate people with what tracking can do for them.
"But now it's going into mainstream, what the vehicle tracking can do for them and business to grasp. Now we're introducing drone technology, which is also a big educational hurdle that we have to keep presenting to potential clients.
"Especially to agriculture and U.N.D.P, because overseas, this is what they use to get surveys of the environment.
"Overseas, it's a common thing but it something that we have to educate the local partners. The old way of doing things have worked for a long time but the new way can save them a lot of time and a lot of money. But also give them so much more information.
Faaso'otauloa also believes leadership is extremely important.
"In a lot of the organizations, the leadership is reluctant to make decisions that are very different from what they're used to. The business that have forward thinking leadership are the ones who have adopted our technology and in our opinion their businesses have benefited greatly."


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