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Home News Mayor claims report proves London is AI capital of Europe
Mayor claims report proves London is AI capital of Europe
A new report by AI research and thought leadership organisation CognitionX backs Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's ambitions to make London a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and investment.
In March, we reported that the Mayor had commissioned CognitionX to map AI innovation across London and identify the capital's strengths as a global AI hub.
Now Khan has announced the report's findings, claiming they prove "that London is the AI capital of Europe, and that our supportive and welcoming tech ecosystem is the best place to build and scale an AI company."
He added, "Alongside our welcoming tech ecosystem, we have a strong pipeline of AI innovation and an academic and investment base geared for the long term."
The report was published to coincide with CognitionX's CogX 2018 conference in London, which brought together a range of AI experts from business and academia. Internet of Business is publishing a range of exclusive reports from the event over the next few days.
Read more: CogX 2018: How AI will teach itself to transform economy
What attracts AI companies to London?
The report points out that London is home to one of the world's AI giants, DeepMind (which recently teamed up with a local hospital to help diagnose eye disease), while most of the 750-plus vendors mentioned in the document are SMEs. This, Sadiq Khan claims, shows that London provides companies of all sizes with the right mix of ingredients for success – and is providing a nurturing environment for startups.
The research found that, with 758 companies, 645 of which have a London headquarters, London has an AI supplier base that is double the size of Paris and Berlin combined.
The report embraces a broad definition of 'AI company', including firms that had sold at least one AI product, carried out AI research, or whose product is on the borderline of AI.
London's global prominence in finance, insurance, and law – industries that are both leading and being influenced by AI innovation – make it attractive to companies in the field. As do its universities and their partnership with research bodies such as the Alan Turing Institute.
The rate of new AI supplier formation in London is reported to be 42 percent per annum, significantly faster than the global rate of 24 percent.
The Mayor was emphatic about the implications for wider technology innovation in the city:
These strengths will also support my ambition to make London a world-leading smart city, in which public data and AI will open doors for the public and private sectors to work together to improve the way that Londoners experience our city on a daily basis.
Khan didn't ignore the elephant in the room, however: Brexit. "Unavoidably, the context of the UK's relationship with the EU looms large," he said. "As Mayor, I will continue to fight for the best deal that not only protects London's tech sector, but which can ensure it continues to grow."
While the UK may be casting itself adrift from the rest of Europe, the report highlights London's diversity as being integral to its ability to attract AI talent and investment from around the world. Forty-three percent of London's AI companies have a non-UK national as a founder, it says.
CognitionX estimates that the global market for AI applications is worth $3.4 billion in 2018 – encompassing over 12,000 suppliers – and is forecast to grow to $50 billion by 2025.
Plus: May's Tech Investment Roundtable
In related news, UK Prime Minister Theresa May is today hosting a Tech Investment Roundtable with IT industry leaders, exploring how to keep the UK in the vanguard of technology companies' inward investment, post Brexit.
Internet of Business says
In the face of Brexit, Sadiq Khan is eager to present London as fertile ground for AI investment and innovation, especially after the UK was sidelined from Europe's €20 billion AI strategy. The UK's own £1 billion ($1.3 billion) Sector Deal for AI was largely funded by private investment, with comparatively little – if any – new money from the government, as our recent report explained.
Prime Minister Theresa May recently announced investment in AI cancer diagnosis, while the Tech for Good Summit, organised by French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris, sought to promote AI incubation across the channel. Politicians throughout Europe, and beyond, are competing to ride the AI investment wave.
The Mayor of London commissioned the CognitionX report on the back of his stated ambition to make London the capital of AI, and so its positive findings inevitably have good PR value.
Nevertheless, the view that London is emerging as a global leader in AI is persuasive. The House of Lords Select Committee on AI recently argued that the UK is "in a strong position to be among the world leaders in artificial intelligence" – a fact that, if handled carefully, "could be a great opportunity for the British economy".
Andrew de Rozairo, VP of Customer Innovation and Enterprise Platform, SAP, agreed in his evidence to the Select Committee: "If we adopt AI, given the strong skill sets that we have in the UK, we have a huge opportunity to boost productivity."
Sadiq Khan's efforts in the capital are an open call to AI investors, tech talent, and startups: London welcomes you.
Alan Turing Institute
CognitionX
Andrew Hobbs


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Pakistan: fourth journalist killed this year
Haroon Khan was murdered on October 12, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Credit: PFUJ
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the killing of a journalist in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, October 12. The IFJ demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Haroon Khan, a journalist with Sach TV and stringer for local Mashriq Television channel, was returning home after offering prayers when two motor-cycle borne assailants opened fire. Khan's bullet ridden body was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The motive for the killing is yet to be determined.
IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Haroon Khan is the fourth journalist killed in Pakistan this year, drawing attention to the challenging and dangerous environment that Pakistan's media continues to work in. Peshawar is renowned for the hostile environment the media works in. As we draw near to the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we demand action from the Pakistan government to concrete action to guarantee the safety of journalists, and end the culture of impunity that runs rife across the country. To date of the more than 100 journalists murder in Pakistan since 2005, only 3 cases have been successfully prosecuted."
November 2 is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, which will launch the IFJ's annual #EndImpunity campaign that will run until November 23. See the IFJ website for more details.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0946
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


MADISON MILLHOUSE farmer and stock raiser; P. 0. Piqua; who was born in Miami Co., on the farm he now owns; his birth occurred Aug. 14, 1843; he is a grandson of John Millhouse, who was a native of Maryland: there he arrived at manhood and married; his wife died near the close of the eighteenth century; in 1800, John Millhouse emigrated to Ohio and entered Madison's present farm; he then returned to his native State, where he remained until 1801, when he the second time came West; in a few months, he married Miss Margaret Boyer, who was a native of Virginia; her father, Lewis Boyer was one of the patriots of the Revolutionary army; also one of Gen. Washington's life guards in 1776; John and Margaret Millhouse were the parents of eleven children; this family endured all the hardships of pioneers of Miami Co.; John Millhouse died about 1845, and Margaret in 1866. Madison Millhouse is a son of Jacob Millhouse, who was born in Miami Co. May 8, 1814; he was brought up to agricultural pursuits and nobly assisted his father in clearing away the unbroken forest, where, in 1880, waving fields of grain are seen; the marriage of Jacob Millhouse with Frances Johnson was celebrated about 1841; Frances was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, March 28, 1815, and died in Miami Co. March 28, 1844; Jacob Millhouse departed this life June 20, 1871; by the above marriage, there were two children, viz., Margaret, born Nov. 27, 1841, died Dec. 1, 1860, and Madison; he being the only heir at his father's death, he inherited his estate. Madison, in his boyhood days, received a limited education, and was taught the principles of farm life by his father, which he applies on his land, in Sees. 6 and 12. Spring Creek Township; this farm, previous to falling in his possession, was under good cultivation, but has greatly improved under his care, and acquired many valuable buildings. His marriage with Sarah W. Furrow was celebrated April 17, 1867; they, by this union, have one child, Albertie, born Feb. 24, 1868; Mrs Millhouse was born June 25, 1845, in Spring Creek Township, Miami Co., Ohio.


FPMG works with professional business advisors—financial planners, accountants, insurance agents, attorneys and others, especially those who understand the value of joining the circle of trusted advisors who work with high-net-worth individuals and families. By understanding the behavioral issues and personal dynamics that impact clients, advisors can improve their opportunity to become an advisor of choice.
We help professionals every day achieve the next level in their careers by understanding the needs of clients in their target market.


The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in any home. A place to cleanse and refresh, it should be a room you look forward to using. But if your shower is old or outdated, it may not help you feel your best.
Custom shower glass doors can improve the look and feel of your bathroom. Glass Doctor® will work with you to select the type of shower glass, hardware and more for your ideal bathroom renovation, then expertly install what you choose. Call 855-603-1919 to get started with your in-home consultation.
When you opt for custom shower glass doors, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities. The first choice you make is in regards to the glass thickness. In general, you will have two options: ⅜" glass or ½" glass.
Many people choose ⅜" glass due to the fact that it is less expensive than ½" glass. This option is the minimum thickness required to provide a secure and stable door for your home. If you are looking for a more stable and luxurious feel, ½" glass may be the best choice, as it looks and feels more substantial than its thinner counterpart.
Hinge options are another factor to consider. Depending on the size and shape of your space, you may decide that it makes the most sense for your glass shower door to slide, swing or pivot, or even remain open.
Another key question you should consider relates to both function and design: to frame or not to frame. While framed shower doors provide a traditional feel and solid structure, frameless shower doors offer a more seamless and elegant look.
Finally, the shape of your shower door is another aspect that is worthy of thorough consideration. Whether you choose neo angled, curved or traditional glass panels will depend largely on your overall goals for the project and the your aesthetic desires.
At Glass Doctor, we understand that you want your shower to make just the right statement. That is why we provide and install custom glass to fit your unique needs. With our upfront pricing and wide range of glass options, you can finally have the custom shower glass of your dreams. Give us a call today at 855-603-1919 to get started.


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Q: Core Data Deletion rules and many-to-many relationships Say you have departments and employees and each department has several employees, but each employee can also be part of several departments.
So there is a many-to-many relationship between employees and departments. When deleting a department I would like to delete all employees that are only part of that department and nullify the relationship to this department for all employees that are also member of another department.
Would a cascade-rule in both directions do that? Or does a cascade rule automatically delete all employees of a department regardless of other affiliations?

A: Thanks, alex. I will probably do that.
In the meantime I had found a different way of doing this:
1.) register for notifications on changes:
    [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
            selector:@selector(managedObjectContextDidChange:)
            name:NSManagedObjectContextObjectsDidChangeNotification
            object:managedObjectContext];

2.) when changes occur and an employee gets updated. I check if that object has 0 relations to departments and delete it:
- (void)managedObjectContextDidChange:(NSNotification *)notification {
    NSSet *updatedObjects = [[notification userInfo] objectForKey:NSUpdatedObjectsKey];

for(NSManagedObject *obj in updatedObjects){
    // walk through updated objects -> check for employees
    // check if they still contain departments and if not delete them
    if([obj.entity.name isEqualToString:@"Employee"]){
        NSLog(@"Employee changed!");
        if([[(Employee*)obj Departments] count]==0){
            NSLog(@"No more relations -> Delete Employee");
            [managedObjectContext deleteObject:obj];
        }
    }
}}

That works well too, but might get more complicated if you have several different entities for which to observe this kind of behavior.

A: A cascade rule will automatically delete the objects at the destination. So, if you delete a department, the employees will be deleted regardless of the number of departments they're in.
It sounds like the behavior you want is a little more nuanced, to delete only the "orphaned" employees -- i.e. those that don't have a department. When you delete a department, a good way of finding those would be to do something like this:
NSManagedObject *doomedDepartment = // get the department to be deleted

NSSet *employees = [doomedDepartment valueForKey:@"employees"];
NSSet *orphanedEmployees = [employees filteredSetUsingPredicate:[NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"departments.@count == 1"]];
for (NSManagedObject *orphanedEmployee in orphanedEmployees) {
    [managedObjectContext deleteObject:orphanedEmployee];
}

[managedObjectContext deleteObject:doomedDepartment];

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Safariland® 7365 7TS™ Low-ride holster is incredibly durable, and remarkably lightweight. Constructed from SafariSeven™, the holster is built to withstand the elements, including extremes of heat and cold. In addition, the holster retains its structural integrity even when submersed indefinitely. On the inside of the holster, the SafariSeven material is non-abrasive to protect your firearm's finish. Additional protection is provided by raised surfaces which create airspace around the firearm, allowing dirt and moisture to quickly clear contact. The 7365 7TS™ Low-ride holster has two retention systems, including the SLS (Self Locking System) and ALS® (Automatic Locking System.) To ensure a perfect fit, the holster is compatible with all Safariland holster mounting options, and the low-ride belt loop allows the holster to ride close to the body.
Print The Safariland® 7365 7TS™ Low-ride holster is incredibly durable, and remarkably lightweight. Constructed from SafariSeven™, the holster is built to withstand the elements, including extremes of heat and cold. In addition, the holster retains its structural integrity even when submersed indefinitely. On the inside of the holster, the SafariSeven material is non-abrasive to protect your firearm's finish. Additional protection is provided by raised surfaces which create airspace around the firearm, allowing dirt and moisture to quickly clear contact. The 7365 7TS™ Low-ride holster has two retention systems, including the SLS (Self Locking System) and ALS® (Automatic Locking System.) To ensure a perfect fit, the holster is compatible with all Safariland holster mounting options, and the low-ride belt loop allows the holster to ride close to the body.


Weddings for most are typically a one-different cultures, parental relationships and of course the different traditions within different areas of the globe.
We feel that what it is as a photographic DUO that truly sets us apart from the rest and provides us with an advantage into our clients coverage is not only the importance that we place on having a relationship with out clients but the power of insight which we have gained throughout our own culturally blended experience as a couple/family, equally being able to relate to our clients and their families wants and needs to truly know and understand the meaning and purpose behind all aspects of the process whether an engagement ceremony & reception or the start of your actual wedding celebrations.
Our wedding gallery will allow you as a prospective client to gain a better understanding of what you can expect from your wedding day captures as you scroll through some of our most recent and relevant work that we have done over the years. Should you find that it compels you feel free to drop us a line or place a ring as we would love to hear from you.
Will you go to multiple locations?
We will shoot at multiple locations as needed, we can also advise clients on time that will be needed to do so. Often enough many clients do not remember to take into consideration travel time, traffic, parking and walking to certain locations, feel free to ask us as we have a bit of immeasurable experience and insight into the nature of these considerations.
Depending on coverage end and start times we may require accommodations. If we are covering an event until 12am and coverage starts at 6am once more we would require accommodations in order to provide our clients with the best coverage possible, understandably.
If travel is more than 300 miles airfare may be required, please ask in order to determine the requirement.
Have you worked at my venue?
While it is impossible to have worked at everyone venue we have worked at quite a few! If this is a concern please do ask. Also keep in mind even if we have not covered an event at your venue we do offer site visits as well as want to remind you that sometimes a new and fresh perspective can yield images at your venue that you did not realize were possible.
Are you available for my wedding date(s)?
We do not keep an online calendar online to check availability, but a quick email can certainly address this question, text even (703.314.7861) as we are super responsive and pride ourselves on never leaving any question unanswered.
Have you photographed a North Indian or South Indian wedding before?
We have photographed that and beyond! We are familiar with all things either or. While most of our weddings appear to be North Indian, we are comfortable photographing both.
We always carry back-up equipment in our vehicles as we can never be sure if we will need it or not for any reason. We also provide our event(s) with additional lighting as and when needed.
Can you provide a Certificate of Insurance (a.k.a: COI) to my venue coordinator?
We are fully insured and can directly work with your venue coordinator to ensure we issue a COI with the correct verbiage and coverage as needed in order to be compliant with your venue.
What is the ideal space for getting ready?
Obviously the bigger the getting ready space the better. Allowing us to step back and document the getting ready without climbing all over everyone or interferring with your make-up, hair andpossibly stylists efforts in getting you ready can be everything when looking back on yourimages and the perspective in which it allows us to capture your getting ready photos. Natural light when getting ready is essential to creating those crazy light and airly images that are all the instagram craze these days, allowing us to really keep that third dimension to your images without trying to recreate it through artificial lighting tenchniques with on or off camera flash. We knowand understand that some of our clients are not given the luxury of natural light images during their getting ready images and we will do our best to set the correct expectations and create unique images that are not "all" dark and moody but certainly encapsulate your day as it was.
It is good to plan and take note before your hair and make-up team arrive that they place you in a position where your photo and video team can work around them without interferring in their time with you, but also keep you positioned in a way that the window/natural light streams in on your face without harsh light/streaking falling on your face. Fall off window light is ideal for great softly lit imagery, this is why as photographers we desire overcast-cloudy days, they are ideal for portraits.
Is there anything I can do to ensure I get all those detail shots I love on your site?
HERS: dress, evening dress (if second look is taking place) shoes, rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, bangles, arm and waist bands, heirloom jewelry, handkercheif, or tokens; like something borrowed, blue, old or new items and of course your wedding invitation should you want us to arrange and style that too.
HIS: wedding attire, reception attire, shoes, belt, socks, watch, rings, bangle, bracelet, handkerchief, pocket square, turban, shawl, swords, pendants, pins; tokens like cufflinks, horoscope rings, custom grooming items, and that invitation too!
BRIDES: Why be stuck with the standard unavoidable shots of your dress sprawled over the bed or hung in front of a washed out window? Or the hangers that are customized yet can't hold the weight of your dress? The perk to these mannequin's is that when set up the night before it allows for easy hand steaming and the wrinkles to naturally fall out of your dress! Use our associate link here to ensure you get the right one, https://amzn.to/2OdfBLm - keep in mind they are sold by waist and bust sizes, this is sure to make your detail shots stand out from the rest!
We would like to take couples photos, where should we take them?
If we have shot at your venue previously we can give options to where the best locations are based on the time of day in which your couples photos will be taking place. We understand clients have favorite areas around the venue they have chosen for their wedding day and we will do our best given the time allocated to make sure we captured all the wonderful things that attracted you to the venue given the time allocated. We want our clients to be confident when hiring us that we will guide them into getting the best, most creative and properly lit shots on their wedding day. So understanding that the fountain in the front of the hotel is gorgeous at high noon may not be the ideal spot to take all of your couples photos we can definitely try to snag a few unique ones there for sure.
If your venue is new to us as photographers we can arrange to do a walkthru with you or plan to arrive earlier on the day of to ensure that we have scouted and choose the best location to take photos as a couple on your wedding day.
What is the "first look" exactly and how does it happen?
The "first look" is essentially meant to be when the bride and grrom see each other for the first time before the ceremony. Lots of clients are electing to do this in order to not take away that moment of being seen for the first time and have that private beginning with each other as the start of their wedding. The trend mostly put into place by clients really wanting to finish off combined bridal party, couples and family portraits before the wedding ceremony takes place in order to make the most of their portrait time. The "first look" typically is set-up. This simple means a location is most often predetermined and the clients are given instructions as to where each will come from and the act of first seeing each other is placed into motion - all of which is captured as it takes place in a candid manner.
Do you recommend a first look?
We do, but do not require it. First looks can often ease a bit of the pressure when trying to squeeze so many things into the wedding day, add to it the South Asian element and the already tight schedules - first looks are certainly a sure fire way to get a little alone time before chaos let's loose - we say that in the most endearing ways as we truly love the hustle and bustle of our all of our clients wedding celebrations! "First Looks" are almost a standard nowadays and but we certainly don't want to add that stress to anyone's big day. We also respect that some clients are superstitious and some traditional so whichever route you choose to take with your timeline is alright by the Regeti's!
There are PROS and CONS to everything, as with "First Looks" they simply tend to give us more time with our clients than we would normally get as time is very limited post ceremony with most clients often moving into a second look. The first CON to note is that it will require you to wake-up and begin hair and make-up a bit earlier. This could cause all things to shift forward to backwards a little depending on family traditions whether group prayer or pooja's that are required before leaving the room to start portraits. Our "first looks" tend to start and move into individual and bride & groom portraits and while idealistically we would love an hour to do all this most clients only have about 30 minutes to give on the wedding day.
We would be more than happy to discuss this with you in more detail if you are undecided. After all, that is what we are here for!
Can my friends and family be there for our first look?
Certainly, Although most often this is a quiet more private moment between the couple there are times that we have clients that would like to have their bridal party and immediate family witness this. We just ask that you remember that we will be moving into couples and individual portraits and prefer that time alone with our clients. Most often there are friends that want to come to help out - but unfortunately this can often make clients nervous, self concious, reserved a little and can cause a delay as toomuch primping can occur in an effort to make the bride feel pampered. I promise none of that will be overlooked as we shoot all our couples portraits together and our attention to detail is pretty on point!
Do you recommend doing family photos before the ceremony?
We do recommend immediate family photos before the ceremony if clients intend to have a "First Look", when and if time permits. Most times with turmeric dusted rice, confetti and sindoor powder clients opt. to have their portraits, couples photos and immediate family portraits executed before the ceremony takes place.
How long should I allocate for family photos before the ceremony?
We tell clients that a good rule of thumb for determining howmuch time to allocate for formal photographs is 2 minutes per photo. We find that often enough even though formals can move rather quickly there is typically a cousin, auntie, uncle, sibling or parent that will "get away" and we will need the additional buffer time to locate and execute the portrait. Whether they are trying to attend to guests, children, parents or assist in wedding responsiblities it happens and we want to be sure our clients are not stressed out by the time constraints that are present at every event we photograph. Part of having a worry-free wedding day is ensuring that we set realistic, reasonable and practical timelines. The first thing cut back on when timelines are not practical or schedules begin to run behind is time for photos, unfortunate when that takes place safe shots take precedence over the artistic and create ones and the variety of your images will suffer. Therefore we want to makesure all our clients get the most out of their wedding day and their time with us as their creative minds. On average our smaller American non-denominational ceremonies allocate 15 minutes for family photos while our larger South Asian Indian clients allocate 30 minutes for their photos when wanting to take immediate family photos prior to the start of their wedding ceremony.
We would like to take photos with family post wedding ceremony, how much time do you need?
This truly depends on how many formal photos you will be having taken. We highly recommend creating what we refer to in our industry as a "shot list", this is not a list of images you would like to have on your wedding day rather a list of the different combinations of family photographs you would like to have take with families, friends, or even officiants, priests, pundits, rabbi's or pastors. It's a structured list that we ask families to work together on so thatthey can reasonably agree to formal photos that they would like to see when looking through their proofs post wedding. Often enough because we tend to recoomend clients have immediate family photos taken (outdoors when possible) prior to the start of their ceremony, when they are their freshest, they still often want images in front of the "altar" or "mandap" when services have taken place in a church or ballroom. For this we often tell clients to create all the different combinations for the preceremony photos and cut it down to 3-5post wedding meaning; one of the bride's side, one of the groom's side and one of the one of the two as unified. If parents are divorced we recommend doing a photo of each set of families and two separate extended portraits to meet all needs within the extended family. Understanding that if you have 15 combinations portraits will take 30 minutes and if you have 30 we will require an hour to execute the shot list provided. On average our smaller American non-denominational ceremonies allocate 30 minutes for family photos while our larger South Asian Indian clients allocate 1 hour for their photos when wanting to take immediate family photos post wedding ceremony.
When should I tell my bridal party to be ready for photos?
Keep in mind the logistics that go into coordinating everyone getting ready. When to tell the bridal party to be ready depends on a number of factors, but first and foremost how you plan to incorporate them into your wedding day. Some clients have bridal parties full of friends, others full of family, others friends and family, and some strictly cousins or out of town guests with other family commitments prior to the ceremony that make it tougher for them to play larger roles in the bride's getting ready. If you are wanting the bridesmaid to be in your gettingdressed photos we recommend having them dressed and ready by the time you complete your hair and makeup. Especially Mom, it is important that if Mom is still with us that she take part in your getting dressed. These can often create some pretty great captures as the day is so busy and things are moving so quickly that even Mom hasn't had a moment to take in the realization that her daughter is getting married today! We refer to these moments as time to breathe, enjoy them take them in, because we can promise you are gonna miss these when they are gone, we can't wait to grab them all and freeze them in time.
If you don't mind bridal party members not being with you while you get ready then afford them the time to get ready at a slower pace on their own and join you post first look and couples photos. This can relieve some stress and allow additonal time for your hair and makeup team to put the finishing touches on making your girls look immaculate!
FOR THE GUYS: You want them to be with you getting ready, especially Dad if he is still with us and your best man if you are able to single one out! These create some great helping hands and add depth to the story telling of your images.
Do I need to hire lighting and AV for my event?
This is highly recommended in order to provide you with the best photography possible using the most flattering of light. You want to remember that event lighting is a talent and skill that requires an understanding of light placement and good shadows and bad shadows, we can work closely with your lighting an AV team to ensure that the end result is always the best result. Please don't hesitate to let us know if assistance/guidance is needed.
Can you recommend vendors such as; catering, florists, decorations, mehndi artists, hair stylists, make-up artists or a venue for my event(s)?
WE CAN AND LOVE TO! Photography is often enough the 2nd or 3rd in line of booked event professionals. Photographers have the most engagement with all of your actually vendors coming in a close tie with your event planner/coordinator if you should choose to hire one (*we've got recommendations for those too!), so asking your photographer can provide you with an array of options you may have yet to start to explore.
When can I expect to see my event images?
Our images are provided online within 6-8 weeks post wedding day. Once you confirm your preferred shipping address we will then ship your wedding images directly to your on a beautifully branded thumb-drive.
What is the difference between FAVORITES and the proofs in my gallery?
Every photographer will vary on how they offer and deliver their images. For us we deliver all of your images within an online gallery as your proofs to view quickly and in an organized manner. These images are LOW resolution and saved specifically optimized for web viewing only and not for printing. Print files are much larger and are provided either immediately via Google Drive access or will arrive on the provided thumb-drive that we will ship immediately upon receiving your address confirmation. Within your online gallery is a FAVORITES folder and this is the folder that if you looked at nothing else would recap the highlights photographically of your celebration(s) these are retouched personally within photoshop and remove any non-permanent personal imperfections that may distract from the beauty of that particular image.
Can I order prints and products?
Through our online cart system you are able to order prints and products that we are currently offering.
Print orders placed are shipped within 5-7 business days.
Depending on the product time frames will vary. Files are shipped within 6 to 8 weeks post wedding day. Albums are shipping within 6-8 weeks post approval. Prints are shipped within 5-7 business days of your order being placed. Wall Art is shipped within 4 weeks of placing your order and retouching requested are emailed within 5 business days. All shipping dates are subject to change and fluctuate based on the time of year and influx of orders that may be received at any particular time.
Will we receive all our images?
Yes. You will receive all the images we take from beginning to end. We do not edit our images to cut down to a number rather to provide you with quality over quantity. We will remove blinks, wardrobe malfunctions, lighting test shots and any patched panoramic stitches we make take once stitched. On average with two photographers, clients can expect to receive around 100 images for every hour of photographic coverage provided.
All of our delivered images are color corrected. All images within the FAVORITES section of our gallery and on our website are retouched. All images printed and within your album(s) are always retouched. We do not overly soften or retouch our images as we intend for them to remain as true as possible to capture. Blemishes, fine lines, wrinkles, rashes and irritations are non-permanent issues that we address, however if you wish to have a mole removed, additional softening or a family member disappear/cropped please feel free to email us those special requests and we can advise you on if it is possible or not. We are here to help in any way we can. Stylistically images cannot be fixed/edited so it is important that esthetically you love the look and feel of our imagery before you hire us to photograph your wedding day. The perfect match is extremely important when it comes to hiring your photographer.
Yes. All of our clients received their images in the highest of resolution with shared copyrights.
Will my images be watermarked or have logos per se?
No. The only images marked are images that we use within our own social media platforms.
Can I order additional thumbdrives/hard drives for our parents?
Certainly. Please send your request and we can provide you with a link to pay for additional items online.
Can I order an additional cinema video play book?
How do I begin the album process?
Our cart system is designed to make this as easy as possible and once your images are online you receive an email that gives you line for line exactly what these steps and the process is to move forward in having your albums designed and ordered.
How soon would I receive my wedding album?
Wedding albums are shipped within 6-8 weeks post approval you will received a UPS tracking email sent directly to your inbox once shipping takes place.
What if your should become ill and not be able to cover my event(s)?
Through Associates that work alongside of us on a regular basis and a network of amazing photographers we have built relationships over the years with you would be provided coverage for your event(s). In the event that there was time we would provide a refund if preferred to allow you the opportunity to find your own preferred replacement as well.
The booking process is quite simple. Once you have shared your details you will receive a proposal for services based on your needs & wants. Once reviewed and accepted you will receive a contract for services to be returned with your non-refundable deposit. This holds the date on our calendar and ensures that Regeti's Photography is booked exclusively for your events.
Will you hold my date(s)?
Unfortunately because we only take 20-25 events per year we cannot hold any date(s) for clients without a formal signed contract and deposit for services.
What if our wedding is canceled? Will you offer a refund?
In the event that your wedding or celebration(s) are canceled we would not provide a refund for services. However, we will allow for the balance to be transferred towards another family member, friend or used towards others services. These situations are done on a case by case basis and determined at that time.


text:
Science races law to end culling seven billion male chicks a year
February 5, 2020 By Merritt Clifton
(Beth Clifton collage)
No more fingers up chicks' anal vents
PARIS, France; BERLIN, Germany––Racing to appear to be ahead of egg industry science, French agriculture minister Didier Guillaume on January 28, 2020 announced that his administration would ban mass culling of male chicks and castration of piglets without anesthetic.
"From the end of 2021, nothing will be like it was before," Guillaume told media.
The Guillaume declaration followed similar but thus far lightly enforced pronouncements from Germany in 2015 and Switzerland in 2018––and also followed a series of breakthroughs by egg industry researchers in learning to distinguish the gender of egg embryos long before chicks actually hatch.
Macerated, gassed, electrocuted, asphyxiated, crushed
Explained Agence France-Presse, "Some seven billion male chicks, unwanted because they provide neither meat [in the same ratio to feed as so-called 'broiler' breeds] nor eggs, are culled around the world every year. Many are ground up alive. Others are gassed, electrocuted, or asphyxiated [and crushed alive] in plastic bags."
In Germany, Agence France-Presse added, "where 45 million male chicks are macerated each year, a top administrative court ruled in June that the slaughter could continue," despite the passage of a law against it, "until a method was found to determine the sex of an embryo in the egg," in lieu of the traditional practice of having "chick sexers" squeeze open newly hatched chicks' anal vents to do a visual inspection.
"France and Germany announced last November (2019) that they would work together to put an end to the chick massacre," Agence France-Presse continued, while noting that "A European Union directive from 2009 authorizes shredding [chicks alive] as long as it causes 'immediate' death for chicks less than 72 hours old."
Updated Sara Spary, Saskya Vandoorne and Fanny Bobille of CNN a day later, "Maxime Chaumet, general secretary of the poultry trade body Comité National pour la Promotion de l'Oeuf, told CNN more research was needed to find an alternative method to shredding.
"We understand and take note of what the minister of agriculture said," Chaumet said. "However, we currently have no other method available. At the end of 2021 we hope that we will have a solution.
"Machines will be needed," Chaumet added. "A two-year time period is quite short," Chaumet complained, "but the minister is well aware of this. They need to accelerate the research process, because at the moment it's looking like a complicated ban."
"A priority & the right thing to do"
"Egg manufacturers in the United States made a similar pledge in 2016," recalled Washington Post reporter Michael Brice-Saddler, "when United Egg Producers — the industry group that represents hatcheries that produce 95% of all eggs in the United States — announced it would end chick culling by 2020, or as soon as it was 'economically feasible' and an alternative was 'commercially available.'
United Egg Producers president Chad Gregory reaffirmed the 2016 commitment in principle, telling Brice-Saddler that ending chick culling is both "a priority and the right thing to do."
However, Gregory continued, "Identifying gender in-ovo is scientifically complex and a technologically challenging issue, with millions of dollars already spent by stakeholders to develop a solution. We are hopeful a breakthrough is on the horizon," Gregory finished.
Sex-sorted eggs sold in Berlin
Science magazine writer Gretchen Vogel, writing from Berlin, Germany, offered a much more optimistic perspective in August 2019.
"In hundreds of grocery stores here," Vogel began, "shoppers can pay a few extra cents for eggs stamped with a heart and the word respeggt—to show that they were laid by hens that did not hatch alongside male chicks destined for slaughter. This week, the eggs will be available for the first time in stores outside of Berlin. By the end of the year, they will appear all across Germany—a sign that scientists are getting closer to solving a tricky chick-and-egg problem.
The respeggt eggs are marketed by Selggt, described by Oliver Morrison of Food Navigator as "a joint venture between German retailer Rewe and Dutch technology company HatchTech, which, with the help of funding from the German Federal Ministry of Food & Agriculture, has been working to find a solution for the past 10 years."
(Beth Clifton photo)
"The right technology could solve this right now"
Wrote Vogel, "Sorting males from females before chicks hatch at 21 days wouldn't just avoid the massacre. Hatcheries would no longer need to employ sexers, they wouldn't waste space and energy incubating male eggs, and they could sell those eggs as a raw material for animal feed producers, the cosmetics industry, or vaccine manufacturers."
Agreed Timothy Kurt, scientific program director at the USDA Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research in Washington, D.C., "Everyone wants the same thing, and the right piece of technology could solve this right now."
The technology behind the respeggt eggs, Vogel explained, "sorts them based on sex hormones. Funding from governments and industry has prompted an abundance of other ideas—from laser spectroscopy to magnetic resonance imaging scans to genetic engineering."
USDA funds six researchers
On November 22, 2019, the USDA Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research "awarded $1,056,957 to six organizations," it announced to help further the development of egg sexing methods, while "The Open Philanthropy Project provided matching funding for a total prize amount of $2,113,915."
Abdennor Abbas of the University of Minnesota received $400,000 to work on "an artificial intelligence platform for rapid and non-invasive egg sex identification," using "a 3D scanner to analyze the geometric shape of eggs and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry to analyze the volatile organic compounds" they emit.
Pedro Gomez of Orbem Ai received total funding of $1,549,911 to "develop specialized technology that automatically scans and classifies eggs without touching them," using "accelerated magnetic resonance imaging technology" in combination with "advanced artificial intelligence. This MRI approach," the USDA announcement said, "allows Gomez to examine the organ development of embryos to detect physical differences between the males and females, without penetrating the shell."
At the speed of light
John Humphrey of Microscale Devices LLC received $667,918 total funding "to use multidimensional spectral mapping technology to identify the sex of eggs from 0-12 days of incubation. This technology," the USDA announcement explained, "shoots different wave lengths of light at the egg and detects the refracted light patterns. Artificial intelligence will be employed to develop an optical fingerprint, or signature, that can determine the sex of eggs in less than five seconds."
Jeroen Lammertyn of KU Leuven received $966,212 "to use a gender specific volatile detection technique to determine sex in ovo.
Adam Rivers of the USDA Animal Research Service won $396,762 "to use fiber optics and machine learning for analysis of volatiles" in combination with "proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry," to be done "at a rate of 2000 samples per hour," to analyze the differences between male and female eggs.
Finally, Thomas Turpen of SensIT Ventures, Inc. received $400,000 "to develop a microchip-based chemical sensor for early-stage in ovo sex determination."
The developer of the most promising egg sexing technology is to receive an additional $4.5 million for further research and development in 2021.
"Essentially the embryo's pee"
Meanwhile, explained Morrison of Food Navigator, Leipzig University veterinary endocrinologist Almuth Einspanier "laid the groundwork for the respeggt brand" by discovering that "by day nine of development, female embryos produce a hormone called estrone sulfate that can be detected reliably in fluid that builds up in the egg—"essentially the embryo's pee," Einspanier told Vogel.
The Seleggt company, of Cologne, Germany, then "built a robot that fires a laser to open a hole in the shell much smaller than a pinhead," Vogel summarized. "It sucks out a minuscule drop of the fluid and adds it to a solution that turns blue in the presence of the female hormone. Female eggs go to the incubator and male eggs are sent off to be frozen and processed into powder for animal feed."
Seleggt managing director Ludger Breloh told Vogel that the system is already sorting up to 3,000 eggs an hour in a Dutch hatchery.
Quail. (Beth Clifton photo)
"Nine-day-old embryo might feel pain"
"But large hatcheries process as many as 50,000 eggs an hour," Vogel noted. "Some animal welfare advocates raise a more fundamental problem, claiming that a nine-day-old embryo might feel pain. And hatcheries must pay for nine days of incubation costs.
"Gerald Steiner, an expert in medical imaging at the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, helped find a test that works at day four," Vogel continued. "His team shines a laser through a thumbnail-size hole in the eggshell and measures fluorescent signals from the blood cells. The signals are different for male and female embryos, likely because males develop slightly faster and form certain blood cells sooner. The group is working with Agri Advanced Technologies, a German subsidiary of one of Europe's largest chicken breeders," Vogel said, "to develop a prototype system."
Vogel also mentioned Ovabrite, of Austin, Texas, "chasing a technique that would leave the eggshell intact and sort eggs before incubation. Mass spectrometers would capture and analyze sex-specific volatile molecules that leak through the eggshell. Scientists suspect the molecules, first discovered in quail eggs, may allow parent birds to smell clues about an embryo's development and sex. But it is still a challenge to reliably detect such a faint signal from pre-incubation eggs," Ovabrite president Jonathan Hoopes told Vogel.
Marker genes
Vogel concluded by citing genetic engineering experiments underway in Australia and Israel, using "the CRISPR gene-editing technique to modify hens' sex chromosomes so that their sons carry a marker gene that makes male eggs glow under fluorescent light.
"Public opposition to genetic modification in Europe means the approach is unlikely to catch on there," Vogel predicted, but North American and Australian consumers are much less resistant to genetically modified food products, her sources noted, and in any event the eggs sold for human consumption would not include the marker gene.
Unilever has egg industry market clout via ownership of the Hellman's and Best Foods mayonnaise brands.
Momentum vs. "Hold the mayo"
The leading threat to further technological progress in egg sexing, ironically, may be legislation meant to expedite it, since––especially within the European Union––such laws could drive egg production out of the very nations where the most headway has already been made.
Momentum toward replacing chick culling with egg sexing has been building since Unilever, the world's largest maker of egg-based mayonnaise, owner of both the Hellman's and Best Foods mayonnaise brands, on September 2, 2014 announced that it would lead a global initiative to end the culling of newly hatched male chicks.
Unilever may also be the world's largest maker of ice creams containing eggs, as owner of the Ben & Jerry's, Axe/Lynx, Dove, Omo, Becel/Flora, and Heartbrand companies, and appears to be overall the world's third-largest producer of consumer goods, trailing only Procter & Gamble and Nestle.
(See World's largest mayonnaise maker to seek end to culling male chicks.)
Pig castration
The Guillaume announcements about ending chick culling and requiring that anesthesia be given to piglets before castration meanwhile did not impress many European animal advocates.
Compassion in World Farming said that Guillaume should have moved to stop the castration of piglets altogether, which is done to prevent "boar taint" in male pigs who reach sexual maturity before slaughter, "and expressed disappointment," Agence France Presse said, "that Guillaume did not announce a ban on eggs from cage-raised chickens."
Beth, Teddy, & Merritt Clifton.
L214, a French organization "which opposes all meat consumption," Agence France Presse reported, said the Guillaume announcements measures were "not ambitious" and "do not address the basic problems," mentioning "nothing on slaughter conditions, nor on how to exit from intensive animal farming."
Please donate to support our work:
www.animals24-7.org/donate/
"Return-to-field" = animal control neglect of duty, two cases allege
Roberta Kalechofsky, 90, interpreted Judaism in animal rights context
Who shot pregnant harbor seals? Thomas Sewid encouraged it.
2nd fatal dog attack of 2023, like the first, kills child out past sunset
More predators in animal charity than remain in the wild
George Santos was a small-timer among animal charity scammers
Filed Under: Chickens, Culture & Animals, Eggs, Europe, Feature Home Bottom, Food, France, Germany, Global, Horses & Farmed Animals, Meat issues, Mediterranean, Poultry Tagged With: Chad Gregory, Didier Guillaume, Gretchen Vogel, Merritt Clifton, Oliver Morrison, Timothy Kurt
Karen Davis says
I won't hold my breath waiting for technology or legislation or whatever the key is to preventing newborn male chickens from being macerated, gassed, electrocuted and suffocated to death in the hatcheries around the world. In 2016 I wrote about this subject in connection to the pet food industry, which incorporates these destroyed chicks, known as "hatchery waste" along with the egg shells, into dog and cat food. It's all too evil and dismal to apprehend – including marketing eggs from tortured hens with a "respect" label signifying that the male chicks were supposedly dispatched "humanely."
https://www.upc-online.org/slaughter/160907_pet_food-bird_shredding_and_embryo_sexing-behind_the_scenes.html
Karen Davis, PhD, President, United Poultry Concerns http://www.upc-online.org
Susan Trout says
The solution is so simple and kind. Just stop eating chicken and eggs. Would humanity continue to carry out this ghastly practice if harming young children was involved? What will it take to recognize that all sentient creatures feel pain and suffer. How have we come this far living in such denial and indifference?


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Cineplexx International GmbH Austria http://www.cineplexx.at
About Cineplexx International GmbH:
In 2009, the Cineplexx International GmbH started expanding to Austria's neighbouring countries and the first cinema outside Austria was opened in Bolzano, South Tyrol. Cineplexx also took over a cinema in Zagreb's city centre, thus laying the foundation for expansion into Croatia. Further Cineplexx cinemas followed in 2011 and 2012 in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. In 2013 Cineplexx established five multiplex movie theatres in Slovenia and the first seven-hall cinema in Albania. Further expansions into Kosovo and Greece took place in the following years. The last expansion took place in June 2019 when Cineplexx is debuting on the Romanian market by establishing three cinemas until end of the year. The foundation was layed by acquiring the 2700 seats Cinema at Baneasa Shopping City. Today, Cineplexx has a strong presence with 49 Multiplex Cinemas and 6 traditional cinemas in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Italy and recently also Romania. With around 1,500 employees, the company generated sales of around 130 million Euro in 2018. In 2018 the Cineplexx cinemas welcomed almost 12 million visitors. Constantin Film Holding GmbH, to which Cineplexx International GmbH belongs, was founded in 1951 as a film distributor in Austria. The group stands for modern, visionary cinema and is the undisputed pioneer in cinema technology - this was confirmed in 2018 with the latest innovations in Cineplexx Wienerberg (Onyx-LED and Real D Flagship-Laser), Cineplexx Graz, Belgrade and Novi Sad (MX4D) as well as the IMAX laser in Cineplexx Donau Plex.
More information at www.cineplexx.at
Cineplexx International GmbH News:
Jun 18, 2019 Cinionic and Cineplexx Introduce the First All-Laser Theater Chain in Austria
Cinionic, the Barco, CGS, and ALPD cinema joint venture providing a new visual standard with enhanced services and technology solutions, announces a strategic relationship with Austrian cinema chain Cineplexx (Cineplexx Kinobetriebe GmbH) and CinemaNext, the European specialist in cinema exhibitor services, to power the first all-laser theaters in Austria.
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Nov 28, 2018 MediaMation, Inc. (MMI) Entertains Serbian Cinema Market With Two New MX4D® Theatres
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marlbank
Jazz blog: notes, tips, recommendations
First listen: Unheard Tubby Hayes
From the previously unissued and newly-rediscovered 1969 Grits, Beans and Greens: The Lost Fontana Sessions, by the great British jazz saxophonist Tubby Hayes, to be released by Decca on 26 July. I guess this will make a lot of people very happy.
Grits, Beans And Greens: The Lost Fontana Studio Session 1969
1CD, 1LP & Digital. 5 tracks of what would have been the final album
1. For Members Only (take 2) [6.26]
2. Grits, Beans and Greens (take 4) [6.09]
3. Rumpus (take 1) [7.30]
4. You Know I Care (take 2)
5. Where Am I Going? (take 3) [9.16]
Recorded at Philips Studios, Stanhope Place, London, Tuesday June 24th, 1969
The personnel: Tubby Hayes (tenor sax); Mike Pyne (piano); Ron Mathewson (bass); Spike Wells (drums)
Producer: Terry Brown
Engineer: David Voyde
Grits, Beans And Greens: The Lost Fontana Studio Sessions 1969 [Complete Sessions]
2CD Deluxe + digital. The complete sessions. 18 tracks including alt. takes, studio chatter + the May 1969 studio session (with Louis Stewart on guitar). In recording date & tape order.
1. Where Am I Going – (Take 1) May 27th, 1969 [08:27]*
4. Grits, Beans and Greens – (Take 1) [05:44]
5. For Members Only – (Take 1) [07:25]
6. Where Am I Going? – (Take 1) Breakdown [04:18]
7. For Members Only – (Take 2) Full Version [06:34]
1. Where Am I Going – (Take 2) [06:18]
2. Grits, Beans and Greens – (Take 2) Breakdown [00:57]
4. Rumpus – (Take 1) Full Version [07:45]
5. Where Am I Going – (Take 3) Full Version [09:41]
6. Rumpus – (Take 2) Breakdown [00:31]
8. Rumpus – (Take 4) [07:22]
9. Grits, Beans and Greens – (Take 4) Full Version [06:19]
10. You Know I Care – (Take 1) Breakdown [01:06]
11. You Know I Care – (Take 2) Full Version [07:05]
* recorded at Philips Studios, Stanhope Place, London, May 27th, 1969
Tubby Hayes (tenor sax); Louis Stewart (guitar); Ron Mathewson (bass); Spike Wells (drums)
Remaining tracks recorded at Philips Studios, Stanhope Place, London, June 24th, 1969
Tubby Hayes (tenor sax); Mike Pyne (piano); Ron Mathewson (bass); Spike Wells (drums)
All compositions by Edward Brian 'Tubby' Hayes except for:
You Know I Care – written by Columbus Calvin 'Duke' Pearson
Where Am I Going – written by by Seymour Kaufman aka Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh
All arrangements by Edward Brian 'Tubby' Hayes.
Van Morrison autumn tour dates
The never ending tour continues... following on from news of his headlining, now sold out Albert Hall appearance at Ronnie Scott's 60th this autumn, Van Morrison has added more UK dates with concerts announced for Bournemouth International Centre (21 October), St David's Hall Cardiff (23 Oct), New Theatre Oxford (27 Oct), Royal Concert Hall Nottingham (28 Oct) and the Brighton Dome over two nights (2-3 December). Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday.
Looking ahead to The Balance
There is a great gravitas about hearing Abdullah Ibrahim live and you get that here on The Balance which is to be released by Gearbox on Friday. With his band Ekaya this was recorded in London and simplicity is key, grand cadences and rich tonality washes all over the record which has a rich instrumentation including even harmonica on the title track as well as cello, and piccolo. But it is the pianistic touches above all you are looking for expressed in a language Ibrahim himself has provided all the vocabulary for. Ibrahim now in his eighties has always had that ability to make his presence count and rather than flurries of uptempo fast fingered melodies prefers to underline what he has to say with chords that count delivered as if they matter. And they so joyfully do. One of the releases of the year.
A fully fired up latin-jazz big band these days is a pretty rare beast.
Essence is something of a special occasion for the great pianist Michel Camilo because this is his 25th album and he has pulled out all of the stops. It is fairly rare to hear Camilo with his own big band and he takes the opportunity to dust down some of his earlier work and give it a big band setting.
Arranged by Michael Philip Mossman the big band is full of A list players including saxophonists Antonio Hart and trumpeter Diego Urcola. Trombonist Steve Davis is there too and Cliff Almond is the powerful drummer on hand. You know you are in safe hands from the very first track, 'And Sammy Walked In'.
While the album is never old fashioned it does speak of jazz history as much as the present and underlines once again why Camilo is one of the greats. Above all it is full of spirit and has a rhythmic urgency that draws the listener in. And yes it swings like the clappers SG
Marcos Valle returns with his first LP in nine years
Marcos Valle is back with Sempre, the Brazilian's first solo LP since 2010's Estática. A canny fusion of disco, samba, and jazz-funk Valle recruited Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros and the album boasts a horn section that includes trumpeter Jesse Sadoc. Close your eyes and you may find yourself back in 1979.
Listen to Happy Face by Ibrahim Maalouf
Janek Gwizdala returns with The Union
Moses Boyd pops up in Buxton Water TV ad
Jonny Mansfield, Elftet, Edition ***1/2
Shift towards electronica for Neil Cowley
© 2019 marlbank


text:
Town of Athol 2021 dog licenses available
Athol Town Hall. Recorder Staff/Domenic Poli
ATHOL — The 2021 dog licenses for the Town of Athol are available. The cost of dog licenses are: male/female, $15; neutered/spayed, $8. Dog licenses must be renewed by Feb. 28, 2021 or a $15 late fee will be charged.
Dog licenses may be obtained through the mail or put in the drop box located in front of the Town Hall. Please include a check payable to the Town of Athol with the required fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Proof of rabies vaccination and neutering/spaying is required for all dogs.
Online payment for dogs is also available. Please go to the Town of Athol's website at www.athol-ma.gov.
Residents who no longer own a previously licensed dog are asked to notify the Town to avoid late notices and fees.
For further information, contact the Athol Town Clerk's Office at 978-721-8445 or townclerk@townofathol.org.
COVID-19 cases continue to plague Athol


Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon says his airline's marketing in China aims to portray this country as romantic and an ideal destination for families.
He said his airline had just enjoyed its best ever performance in China in the past year, despite increased competition and an economic slowdown there.
Air New Zealand has been flying directly to China since 2006 and has forged a new relationship with Air China to allow a resumption of services to Beijing.
He told the China Business Summit in Auckland on Monday that more targeted marketing was helping to expand the high-value end of the China market. While overall numbers were continuing to grow quickly, the spend per visitor was growing even faster.
Air New Zealand was "fixated" on two marketing platforms to attract families and couples.


The brain is the center of intelligence and reason, but humans have taken a long time to use theirs to figure out that important fact. Early cultures had ideas about how the mind and body worked-and developed myths to explain them-but for thousands of years, the brain was ignored.
The discovery of the papyrus that tells case number six's unfortunate story has its own long, interesting history. Edwin Smith, an American Egyptologist and antiquities dealer, purchased the papyrus from Mustapha Aga in 1862. As the British consul in Luxor, Aga often "discovered" ancient artifacts-or bought them from tomb robbers-and used his status to avoid prosecution for illegally selling antiquities.
Smith realized the papyrus contained important medical information when he bought it, but since the text was written in hieratic-a more informal, everyday version of hieroglyphics that is extremely difficult to translate-he couldn't decipher what it actually said. He kept the ancient document in his collection until he died in 1906 and willed it to his daughter, Leonora. After waiting another 14 years, Leonora donated the papyrus to the New York Historical Society. In 1920, the Society sent the papyrus to James Henry Breasted, a professor at the University of Chicago and the first American to receive a Ph.D. in Egyptology. Breasted spent 10 years working on the document and finally published a full translation in 1930.
Now referred to as the Edwin Smith surgical papyrus, the ancient text is currently housed at the New York Academy of Medicine in Manhattan.
The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus was written in 1700 BC, but experts believe it is a copy of an original text that was written even earlier in 3000 BC. The exact age and origin of the papyrus will probably never be known, but it is still a fascinating snapshot of how people thought about the brain almost 5,000 years ago.
Or it might be more accurate to say the papyrus reveals how they didn't think about the brain, since ancient Egyptians from this period didn't have a word for the organ. The hand, heart, and eye each had their own unique words, but the word used to indicate "brain" is made up of four glyphs: "vulture," "reed," "folded cloth," and a final suffix that means "little." The glyphs represent sounds that added up to a word that roughly translates to "skull-offal," not exactly the most respectful name the Egyptians could have given the brain.
Despite the lowly name given to the brain, the ancient doctor who conducted the examinations in the papyrus understood that injuries to the organ in the skull could be life-threatening and cause unexpected symptoms in the rest of the body. Other cases in the text describe head injuries that affect people's ability to speak, their ability to walk, and how well they could track objects with their eyes. Today, neurologists test many of these same abilities to determine if people are suffering from brain injuries.
The papyrus also contains the first descriptions of brain anatomy. The "corrugations which form in molten copper" that case number six describes most likely refer to the creases and ridges, called sulci and gyri in modern terminology, visible on the surface of the brain. The ancient doctor also felt "something therein throbbing (and) fluttering under" his fingers when he touched the brain, probably indicating that he could feel his patient's pulse.
Egyptian doctors who lived nearly five millennia ago could describe the brain and had some understanding of how it functioned, but ancient Egyptian culture still largely neglected it. When pharaohs were mummified, embalmers would remove the brain with a hook inserted through the nose and discard it, while other organs-including the liver, intestines, and lungs-were carefully preserved in their own sacred canopic jars. Also, the brain is rarely mentioned in other ancient texts from Egypt.
The doctor featured in the papyrus, and ancient Egyptians as a whole, did not make the intellectual leap and argue that the brain was the center of thought, movement, and emotion. That would have to wait another 3,000 years until a Greek philosopher named Alcmaeon wrote that the brain was that source of all sensation and cognition. Still, the Edwin Smith surgical papyrus represents an important first step in our journey to understanding the brain.
To read more about the Edwin Smith surgical papyrus and to see a photograph, click here.
The human cerebellum, or "little brain", weighs about 150 grams. Located at the lower back of the brain, the cerebellum is key to maintaining posture, walking, and performing coordinated movements. It is also thought to play a role in olfaction or smell.


Look at how you are living and be introduced to eco-friendy ways of doing almost everything.
A comprehensive and insightful book that produces well-behaved dogs everybody can live with and love.
Letters are making a comeback – they have greater impact – and are more successful than emails.


text:
Protium occultum är en tvåhjärtbladig växtart som beskrevs av D.C. Daly. Protium occultum ingår i släktet Protium och familjen Burseraceae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Kinesträdordningen
occultum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A variety of complex organic and psychosocial factors contribute to malnutrition in CF.
Malabsorption Pancreatic exocrine secretions contain less enzymes and bicarbonate, have a lower pH, and are of a smaller volume, and the physical properties of proteins and mucus within the lumen are affected. This results in obstruction to the small ducts and secondary damage to pancreatic digestive enzyme secretions causing malabsorption. Other problems, such as gastric hypersecretion, reduced duodenal bicarbonate concentration and pH, disorders of bile salt metabolism, disordered intestinal motility and permeability, liver disease, and short bowel syndrome after intestinal resection in the neonatal period, may contribute to malabsorption. The severity of malabsorption is variable, and there can be significant malabsorption of protein and fat-soluble vitamins despite adequate use of enzyme supplements.
Increased energy expenditure Resting energy expenditure, an estimate of basal metabolic rate, is 10-20% greater than in healthy controls and may contribute to energy imbalance. Increased REE appears to be closely associated with declining pulmonary function and subclinical infection. Bronchial sepsis leads to local release of leukotrienes, free oxygen radicals, and cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-a. Antibiotics have been shown to reduce energy requirements of moderately ill patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


The Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre (HRCC) is open seven days a week and is a hub of activities and events for residents and visitors in the Harvey area.
Our air conditioned Function Room seats approximately 270 people (theatre style) incorporating bar facilities, commercial kitchen, cool-room, cinema screen, stage, sound and lighting.
Cultural activities and performances are regularly held at our venue and these include live theatre, a range of music genres, comedy and children's shows plus much more.
Cultural performances in 2017 included The Beggars (music), Eleanor's Story (live theatre), Barbara and Barry's Sweet, Sour and Saucy (comedy) and Kookoo Kookaburra (children).
A weekly movie (Cinema at The Centre) is shown every Tuesday afternoon at 1pm and often features a recent release, Australian theme or all-time classic movie.
Other annual cultural activities that occur at the HRCC include the Australia Day breakfast, Harvey Agricultural Show, Bianca Panetta Academy of Dance and the Harvey Seniors Christmas Dinner.
For more Harvey Community events check out the Harvey Visitor Centre's website.


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Q: Solving systems of logial and set theoretic propositions I need to allocate a couple of dozen elements into different sets, respecting some boundary conditions, and was hoping Mathematica might somehow help.
A simple example:
The propositions being
a) a $\in$(AvB)
b) b $\in$B
c) $\vert$$A\vert$=1
I would expect the answer to be: A={a}, B={b}.
Any hints? Thanks, indeed.


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November '16 News Letter
Time flies, doesn't it, but quite a lot has been happening over the last few months, and I thought it was time to catch up.
The Pulham Memorial Project
In my July News Letter, I announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given a grant to the partnership of Broxbourne Borough Council, B3Living and Lowewood Museum to support the conservation of what remains of the site of the old Pulhams' Manufactory in Station Road, Broxbourne, and to create a Touring Exhibition and supporting Events Programme. B3Living are the builders and Management Company of the flats that now occupy the ground on which the Pulhams' house and manufactory once stood.
Fig 1 – The old kiln and grinding wheel
The Kiln and Puddling Wheel
The one remaining kiln and puddling wheel that had been left on the site when the buildings were demolished in 1965 have now been restored by the firm of Szerelmey Conservation, under the direction of B3Living. Fig 1 shows what they looked like before work started – repeated from my last News Letter – and Fig 2 shows what a good job was done by the restorers. The brickwork of the kiln has been completely checked and repaired where necessary, and a new cowl has been fitted to the top. The wheel and base now has a completely new wooden frame and fittings that used to be the yokes to which two horses or donkeys were harnessed whilst walking round and round to turn the wheels that ground the clay into a very fine powder in the trough at the bottom.
Fig 2 – The restored grinding wheel and kiln
A marketing board has been installed at the site, where it is clearly visible from the footpath, to announce the fact that it marks the home of the old firm of Pulham and Son – manufacturers of the famous 'Brox Rocks' (!). It also contains a small typo that claims 1949 as being the date of the firm's demise, rather than the real date of 1939. However, this is a very good start, and I am assured that this poster is only a temporary measure, and that a more permanent signage to mark the Pulham story – hopefully with a rather more elegant title – will be installed in the Memorial Garden next year, when the final design and landscaping is complete.
Fig 3 – Pulham Memorial Project Site – or 'Brox Rocks' – Placards
The Memorial Garden will be landscaped alongside the kiln and wheel, and it is extremely fitting and appropriate that Valerie Christman, the great-great-grand-daughter of Michael Angelo Pulham – son of James 1, and designer of so many of the wonderful garden ornaments made in the Manufactory – will be involved in its design and construction. She is a professional garden designer and landscape gardener in her own right – with several awards to her credit for gardens she has helped to create at the Chelsea Show – and she hopes to be able to incorporate a small Pulhamite rockery area into the garden. Three Information Panels will be installed to record the history of the firm.
Work on the Exhibition is going well, and it will run from 14th January to 29th April, 2017 at Lowewood Museum under the rather imaginative title of 'Romance in Stone: The Pulham Legacy' – I only wish I'd thought of that! Readers will recall that a 'Pulhams of Broxbourne' Exhibition was mounted at Lowewood in October, 2012 to mark the publication of my book, 'Rock Landscapes: The Pulham Legacy', and, as far as I know, this is the first time that they have ever mounted a 'second edition' of an exhibition. I naturally feel extremely proud to have had the pleasure and opportunity to research the firm upon which all this well-deserved publicity is now being directed.
A series of interactive videos of some of the Pulhams' most prestigious gardens is currently under production, and they will enable visitors to take virtual tours of the gardens at Highnam Court, Waddesdon Manor, Sheffield Park, Dewstow Gardens and Danesfield House.
The launch of the Memorial Site and Exhibition is being planned for either Friday, 13th, or Saturday, 14th January 2017 – attendees will assemble at Lowewood Museum, and a minibus will take them to the Memorial Site and back. Attendance may have to be limited to Invitation Only as the Museum can only accommodate a limited number of people at any one time.
Special Themed Events
A series of special themed events have also been arranged by Lowewood Museum to support the 'Romance in Stone' Exhibition.
A fully-booked Stone Carving Workshop was held under the direction of award-winning carver Simon Keeley in the gardens of Lowewood on Saturday, 22nd October, and Fig 4 shows the carvers holding their blocks at the end of the session. Val is second from right.
Fig 4 – Stone Carving Workshop (Image by Jennifer Roiwland)
Future events are being planned for:
Saturday, 11th February, 2017 – A Public Event Day, including visits to the Pulham Manufactory and more
Thursday, 9th March, 2017 – A Pulham Conferencen at the Spotlight Theatre, Hoddesdon, and Visit to the Lowewood Exhibition (ticket price to be confirmed, but is likely to be £25). See also below.
Saturday, 18th March, 2017 – A Themed Family Activity Day associated with British Science Week.
After Lowewood, the Exhibition will be available for hire as a Touring Exhibition to other museums or memorial occasions around the country, so, if anyone knows of a venue that might be interested in booking it, could you please telephone Lowewood Museum on 01992 445596, or email museum.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk for further information.
How About a Pulham Convention?
The Special Pulham Conference being planned for 9th March 2017 raises a very interesting prospect. Wouldn't it be great if as many of our contacts as possible could meet up to share their knowledge and experiences of owning, restoring, maintaining or learning about our wonderful Pulham heritage? This is just an idea at the moment, but, in order to test the possible response to it, I would greatly appreciate your quick initial feedback on the linked Response Form – just fill in your name and email address, together with a short comment about which Pulham site you are associated with (if any), and what topics you may be particularly interested in. I have used a 'standard downloadable' form here, so my control over the headings is limited – don't bother about the 'Website' box if it is not appropriate, and, since the 'Comments' box is defined as mandatory, just type 'xx' in there if you prefer not to make any actual comment.
Watch this space . .
Special Pulham Interest Day at Waddesdon Manor
There was a Special Interest Day on Pulham Rocks at Waddesdon Manor on Wednesday, 21st September, attended by about 25 people. Val and I began proceedings with our 'Pulhams of Broxbourne' presentation, and this was followed by a short presentation by Matthew Norton and Carl Oakley, of B3Living, who spoke about the restorations for which they had been responsible on the kiln and grinding wheel at the Pulham Memorial Site in Broxbourne, as described above.
Fig 5 – Lunchtime at Waddesdon with Val, Sophieke Piebenga (Research Archivist and Garden Historian) and Pippa Shirley (Head of Collections and Gardens at Waddesdon)
A most enjoyable lunch was followed by another interesting presentation – this time by Sophieke Piebenga, Garden Historian and Research Archivist at Waddesdon – who gave us some fascinating details about her research into the Waddesdon archives, and the discovery of some of the documents relating to the engagement of James Pulham and Son and others working on the landscaping of the estate.
Fig 6 – Extracts from Waddesdon Accounts for January 1887 and December 1891 (Account books belonging to Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, 1882-1898; Waddesdon, The Rothschild Collection (Rothschild Family Trust); acc. no. 167.1997.1-7 © National Trust, Waddesdon Manor)
We then had a Question and Answer session in which a lot of interesting topics were raised, followed by a tour of the Pulham rockwork around the North Drive, Aviary, Tulip Patch and Dairy Water Garden, led by Sophieke and Paul Farnell, the Head Gardener at Waddesdon. Fig 5 shows Val and myself after lunch with Sohpieke and Pippa Shirley, Head of Collections and Gardens at Waddesdon, and Fig 6 is a reproduction of two extracts taken from the Accounts of Waddesdon Manor for January 1887 and December 1891, when Pulhams were paid £168 and £385 respectively for work on the Rockery. This was the time when we think the enormous grottoes were built around the Aviary and the top of the North Drive.
Fig 7 – Inspecting the huge North Drive Grotto
Fig 7 shows some of the group inspecting the wondrously huge grotto at the top of the North Drive, and Val is shown standing by the small cascade near the pool in the Dairy Water Garden in Fig 8.
Fig 8 – Val at the cascade in the Water Garden
1901 – 'The Newgate Gap', Margate Kent
News of a 'new' Pulham installation came my way recently – one that had not previously been recorded in our databases, and of which I had no previous knowledge. It was created in 1901, and takes the form of a long flight of steps leading down from the promenade into the Newgate Gap, at Cliftonville, Margate, Kent.
It was brought to my attention by two local historians, James Brazier and Newton Whitelaw, and turned out to be a very interesting story, to which you can link directly from the above Section heading. In fact, it has prompted me to add a new category of Pulham Sites in my website Gazetteer under the prefix of 'Add xx', which will include any further revelations that might come my way.
Fig 9 – The steps at Newgate Gap, Margate (Image provided by James Brazier)
The Newgate Gap is a deep gorge that runs down from the street level to the shore, and James 3 was asked to install a series of steps leading down into it between two walls of Pulhamite rock. Fig 9 is from an old postcard taken shortly after the steps were opened, and shows groups of people posed on them.
'Rock Landscapes' Gets onto a Book Club List
On Monday, 3rd October, we presented our 'Pulhams of Broxbourne' talk in the Hertford Theatre to more than 120 members of the Hertford U3A. It went very well, and one of the most heartening things for us was that, during our usual book signing and sales after the talk, we were asked by two ladies – who each bought a copy – if the stories we had told were all in the book. When we confirmed that most of them were, they said that they had enjoyed the talk so much that they were going to nominate the book to their Book Club for group reading and discussion. That's what I like about Hertford people – such shrewd and discerning doyens of impeccable taste. . .
Our 2016 Presentation Diary Ends on a High Note
We concluded our Diary of Presentations for 2016 with talks to the Welwyn Hatfield District Association in Welwyn Garden City, and to the Ryde and District Gardeners' Association in Hatfield, and both evenings were well attended.
In fact, our final presentation at Hatfield was a particularly rewarding occasion on which to close the season, because we collected three treasured additions to our collection of testimonials at the end of the evening – which I believe is colloquially known in the World of One-Armed Bandits as 'Three in a Row' or 'Hitting the Jackpot'. I hope my readers will forgive me if I put modesty to one side for a moment to report that, in his generous Vote of Thanks at the end of our talk, Chris Hale – a Member of the Ryde Gardeners' Association – said:
'. . . It was an absolutely enchanting story, told in such a light and entertaining way. . .'
Another member of the audience said:
'That was one of our best presentations . .'
. . . and, just to put the cream on the cake, I received an email the next morning from David George – the Club's Chairman and Events Organiser – to say:
'Thank you for your excellent presentation to the RDGA last evening. Everyone enjoyed it and learned so much. Those members who did not attend missed a treat!'
That's what I like about Hatfield people – they're just like Hertford people . . .
Just as a matter of interest, I checked over our statistics for the four years during which we have now been doing this presentation, and found that we have now told our story 24 times, to more than 1,200 people, and signed and sold just over 100 books. Most of the venues have been within about 20 miles of the Pulhams' home in Broxbourne, but we have been as far as Swansea and Dewstow in Wales, Woodbridge in Suffolk, Henley-on-Thames, Shipton-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire, The Swiss Garden near Biggleswade, and Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshie. They were all great venues; we met many lovely people, and we have enjoyed every minute of it.
Does Your Local Park Need a 'Friend'?
I would like to close this News Letter with a reference to a note I received recently from Diana Lamb, Chair of the Friends of Dunorlan Park, a group established in 1996 primarily to work with the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on the application for Heritage Lottery Funds, and to monitor the major works to be carried out in the Park. The results of this work are described fully in Chapter 5 of my book, and what glorious results they were.
Subsequently, the Friends became a thriving group, with around 300 members who built up an excellent relationship with the local Council, with whom they have conducted several major projects. Dunorlan Park retained its Green Flag and Green Heritage status in 2016 – which it has done consistently since 2006 – and managed to retain its Gold Standard in the Large Parks category, despite the difficult times and continued budget constraints.
Fig 10 – With Tony Ewins and Marian Williams at Dunorlan Park, 2010
Large numbers of visitors still come along to enjoy the landscaping and facilities of the Park – which include an excellent café and boating lake –maintained in such good order by Tony Ewins, the Head Gardener, and his team of hard-working volunteers.
However, the Friends now feel that they have reached a mature stage where they no longer have a role to support further major developments in the Park, and the gracefully ageing membership are trying to recruit younger members, which has not been too easy. Diana is planning to retire as Chair next year, after 20 years in the post, as is also Tony Ewins, so it looks like some difficult times lie ahead.
Friends Groups, such as the one at Dunorlan Park, are crucial in maintaining the health and wellbeing of our Parks – and not just the ones that contain Pulham features. As public funds continue to be squeezed – and with no respite in sight – volunteering, fund-raising and advocacy will continue to be vitally important to keeping our parks high on the political agenda. We need to demonstrate public support, and to supplement what our local Councils are able to afford., because any future grant applications they may make will – as with Dunorlan's HLF bid – need a body like the Friends to show that the community is fully engaged. The same applies to awards like their Green Flag and Bloom, so it is up to all of us to show our support, and get involved as far as we can.
Fig 10 was taken in 2010, when Val and I visited Dunorlan Park, and met Tony Ewins, Head Gardener, and Marian Williams, who, until her retirement soon afterwards, was the Strategy and Projects Officer at Tunbridge Wells Council. Tony had the fountain running, and the Avenue leading up to the Temple Summerhouse was flanked by gradually maturing trees that were planted to replace the original ones during the restoration programme of 2004. I am pleased to say that I have since lost some weight.
'A Wonderful Book to Own . . .'
We have put the clocks back, and the evenings are drawing in. We are getting invitations from all the Charities to buy their Christmas cards, and the shops are already filling up with Christmas decorations, so I must not miss this opportunity to remind you that 'Rock Landscapes: The Pulham Legacy' is still available at a very special discount price from my www.pulham.org.uk website – the perfect Christmas present for a very special person. More than 40 of the Pulhams' most prestigious creations are fully discussed and beautifully illustrated with some stunning photographs taken by Professional Gardens Photographer, Jenny Lilly.
Check out the 'CONTENTS' Page here, and visit our 'Book Shop' Page, which provides a direct link to the publisher's website, ACC Art Books. All you have to do is follow the link and enter the 'PL1' Promotion Code in order to buy a copy at a massive 40% discount from the RRP of £35!
Yes, £21 (+ £4 P&P) = £25!
The book has been critically acclaimed by all the major Professional Reviewers, whose comments can be summed up simply as:
'A Wonderful Book to Own, and the Perfect Present for a Garden-Loving Friend'
Click on any of the above Cover Image – or any of the other links here – to go direct to the Book Shop.
Happy reading, and my Very Best Wishes to all my readers.
Posted on October 31, 2016 November 1, 2016 by Claude HitchingPosted in NewsTagged 'Friends' Groups of Local Parks, 'Pulhams of Broxbourne' Presentation Diary, B3Living, Newgate Gap Margate - Pulham Rockwork, Pulham Exhibition at Lowewood, Pulham Kiln and Puddling Wheel, Pulham Memorial Project, Rock Landscapes: The Pulham Legacy, Waddesdon Manor - Pulham Interest Day.
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One thought on "November '16 News Letter"
VEE SHAW says:
i am interested.


The last few months we've had lots of activity in the extended Schulz family. Colbie and Nathaniel were born, Austin turned 1, Maddon, 3, Nathaniel baptized, Jon and Amanda here with him this weekend. It's really getting fun now!


Did They Move Too Quickly?
California made the move. It seems like yesterday that there was a mandate to make the change to the synthetic revolution. Fast-forward a few years later, and the tide may be turning.
Take Santa Anita. Pro-Ride is installed and has been problematic ever since. Just this Monday. they were forced to cancel due to a day of rain. The whole premise of poly tracks was to be able to repel everything that Mother Nature could throw at them. Not the case….
Track President Ron Charles has been in discussion to replace the surface with dirt after the meet. Now, we all know it will not be that simple. But, the wheels are turning, and that can be a bad thing for the makers of synthetics. The California Horse Racing Board said that they would be open to the idea or plan of a changeover.
Since the change to Cushion Track in 2007, there have been many days lost due to non-draining surfaces. This led to another overhaul of the track to Pro-Ride. The synthetics have divided owners, and caused more canceled days. The track is uneven, and according to riders, there were soft spots on the course.
OK. Point well taken and documented. For years, the game has had dirt surfaces. The only folks who totally support the idea of artificial tracks are those who have a vested interest. I think it is time to allow the tracks to make their own decision. After all, it is their money on the line. This is not a $10,000 investment. It can cost in the millions, and it does not seem to answer the questions. Wouldn't we be better served to patrol the existing surfaces and ensure safety for ALL tracks that are going to conduct a meet? Not just NTRA tracks, but all tracks…. Think about it, and let us know what you think…..


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Mathew J. Schwartz
Bitcoin Hit By Gameover Malware, Chinese Crackdown
China gets tough with exchanges trading Bitcoins, while new malware variant targets Bitcoin customers.
Top 10 Cloud Fiascos
Bitcoin aficionados were hit with a double whammy Wednesday, after China's largest Bitcoin exchange, BTC China Exchange, stopped accepting Chinese Yuan. The same day, security experts warned that a new variant of the Gameover malware, which is based on the Zeus banking Trojan, has begun targeting Bitcoin exchanges.
News of the blocking of Chinese Yuan (a.k.a. renminbi) deposits at Shanghai-based BTC China triggered a Bitcoin selloff, which caused the currency to lose about half of its value, dropping from a high of $1,250 Wednesday to a Bitcoin being offered for sale for just $636. At the Mt Gox exchange, meanwhile, the value of a Bitcoin Wednesday was averaging about $570.
The Chinese central bank's Bitcoin crackdown -- seen by some commentators as the government's attempt to bring the volatile virtual currency under control -- reportedly sparked a retaliatory series of distributed denial-of-service attacks that disrupted the website of the People's Bank of China.
[ Is mobile security improving? Read Android AV Improves But Still Can't Nuke Malware.]
The crackdown started last month, when the People's Bank of China prohibited the country's financial institutions from handling Bitcoins. On Monday, the central bank expanded that prohibition, telling all third-party payment providers that they must cease providing clearing services to all cryptographic virtual currencies -- including Bitcoin and Litecoin -- by the end of January.
"We essentially got notice from our third-party payment provider that they will discontinue accepting payments for us and new deposits," BTC China CEO Bobby Lee told the South China Morning Post. "We're still operating a bitcoin exchange in China, legally, and we're still allowing people to deposit and withdraw bitcoin and withdraw renminbi."
BTC China has been the world's largest Bitcoin exchange, handling 40% of the world's Bitcoin trading. But much of that trading has come from mainland China.
"A lot of people put Bitcoin's rise over recent months to China where interest in it has gone through the roof," Emily Spaven, editor of digital currency news site CoinDesk, told the BBC. "People are getting frightened that with the new regulations the country could now drop out of the ecosystem. Going forward, it's certainly not the end of Bitcoin, but people have been panic selling."
Beyond the wildly fluctuating value of Bitcoins, Bitcoin aficionados should also beware a new version of the Gameover banking malware, which has been updated to steal login credentials for Bitcoin exchanges. That warning was sounded by cybercrime expert Etay Maor, who works for IBM's Trusteeer. He said in an interview that the Bitcoin-targeting malware variant has been active since at least Nov. 29.
"This Gameover variant waits until an infected user attempts to log into the BTC China website," Maor said in a related blog post. "When this occurs, the malware steals the victim's username and password and suspends the session temporarily." That pause is so the malware can launch a social engineering attack against the user, by employing HTML injection to request that the user of the infected PC share the one-time password sent by BTC China to authorize the transaction.
"Once the cybercriminal has the victim's credentials he can easily perform an account takeover and assume control of the Bitcoins associated with the account," Maor said.
The Gameover variant is just the latest attack to be launched against Bitcoin users and exchanges. Many previous attacks have targeted -- and drained -- free e-wallet services that allow people to store their Bitcoins online. One of the virtues of attacking those sites is that if a hacker is successful, he can sell the stolen cryptographic currency anonymously.
"By definition, it won't be traceable," said Maor.
Mathew Schwartz is a freelance writer, editor, and photographer, as well the InformationWeek information security reporter.
InformationWeek Conference is an exclusive two-day event taking place at Interop where you will join fellow technology leaders and CIOs for a packed schedule with learning, information sharing, professional networking, and celebration. Come learn from each other and honor the nation's leading digital businesses at our InformationWeek Elite 100 Awards Ceremony and Gala. You can find out more information and register here. In Las Vegas, March 31 to April 1, 2014.
David F. Carr,
12/18/2013 | 10:05:24 PM
Is this where bitcoin comes unraveled?
Have to wonder if this is the beginning of the end. At least the dollar is backed by God.
Re: Is this where bitcoin comes unraveled?
Wait, wasn't that the Illuminati? Paging Dan Brown ...
I guess as long as the Chinese central bank has more mass then BitCoin -- the result will always be the same. Speaking of mass, I don't know why the central bank would even bother going after BitCoin, I mean it's not like BitCoin is a super AI using computational resource under the cloak of mining and transactions.


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