text:
Q: How to write Custom object to firestore in Dart I have this custom Object that I want to write to firestore, but I'm getting this error:

Unhandled Exception: Invalid argument: Instance of 'CheckboxModel'

My two Classes:
class TaskModel {
  String taskId;
  String taskTitle;
  String taskColor;
  DateTime taskDateEdit;
  List<CheckboxModel> checkboxItems;
}

class CheckboxModel{
  String checkboxContent;
  bool isDone;
}

and this is the method to write to firestore:
void addTask(TaskModel task){
    String _uid = _firebaseService.auth.currentUser.uid;

     _firebaseService.firestore
        .collection("users")
        .doc(_uid)
        .collection("tasks")
        .doc(task.taskId)
        .set(task.toMap());
  }

Any help suggestion on how I should approach this? Thanks in advance!

A: Solution: (TaskModel class)
toMap method:
Map<String, dynamic> toMap() => {
        "task_id": taskId == null ? null : taskId,
        "task_title": taskTitle == null ? null : taskTitle,
        "task_color": taskColor == null ? null : taskColor,
        "task_date_edit":
            taskDateEdit == null ? null : taskDateEdit.toIso8601String(),
     ->     "task_items": checkboxItems == null
            ? null
            : this
                .checkboxItems
                .map((checkboxItem) => checkboxItem.toMap())
                .toList() <-
      };

fromMap method:
factory TaskModel.fromMap(Map<String, dynamic> json) => TaskModel(
        taskId: json["task_id"] == null ? null : json["task_id"],
        taskTitle: json["task_title"] == null ? null : json["task_title"],
        taskColor: json["task_color"] == null ? null : json["task_color"],
        taskDateEdit: json["task_date_edit"] == null
            ? null
            : DateTime.parse(json["task_date_edit"]),
       -> checkboxItems: json["task_items"] == null
            ? null
            : List<CheckboxModel>.from(
                json["task_items"].map(
                  (itemAsMap) => CheckboxModel(
                      checkboxContent: itemAsMap["checkbox_content"],
                      isDone: itemAsMap["is_done"]),
                ),
              ),  <-
      );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Andrew McCabe Lied. So Will the FBI Apply the Same Rules Against Him That It Applies to All of Us?
It's official: Andrew McCabe lied.
The new report from the Justice Department inspector general concludes that McCabe, the former FBI deputy director, lied to then-FBI Director James Comey, to other FBI agents, and to officials of the Office of the Inspector General. Some of those lies came when McCabe was under oath.
What did he lie about? Unauthorized disclosures about the FBI's investigation into the Clinton Foundation. The information was leaked to a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
The inspector general has completed his work. The question now is, will the Justice Department prosecute McCabe? Or, put another way: Will the FBI and the Justice Department follow the same rules they apply to members of the public who lie to a federal agent?
Supreme Court Doesn't Want to Hear Imprisoned Ex-Gov. Blagojevich's Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will not hear former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appeal, marking the end of a decadelong legal road and virtually guaranteeing he will remain in prison until 2024 barring a presidential pardon or commutation.
The justices did not comment in letting stand the convictions and 14-year prison term that Blagojevich is serving. It marked the second time in two years that the high court has rejected hearing Blagojevich's appeal.
Blagojevich's lawyers had hoped the Supreme Court would take up his case to make clear what constitutes illegal political fundraising. They argued that politicians are vulnerable to prosecution because the line between what's allowed and what's illegal is blurry.
His convictions included trying to extort a children's hospital for contributions and seeking cash in exchange for an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president in 2008.
The New Treatment for Opioid Addiction: Marijuana
The price of medical marijuana could fall dramatically for some patients by mid-summer. And the drug will soon be used to treat opioid withdrawal in Pennsylvania, which will become the second state after New Jersey to allow it for that purpose.
At a news conference in Harrisburg, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said she had approved the sale of cannabis flower, the traditional smokable or vaporizable form of the plant.
"It's another tool," Levine said. "The whole idea of this program is to provide another tool in the toolbox of physicians to treat these conditions."
Since the launch of the state medical marijuana program in February, dispensaries in Pennsylvania have sold only pricey marijuana oils and extracts. Flower, also known as leaf or bud, needs no processing and is less expensive to produce.
"For some patients, the cost of their medical marijuana could drop by 50 percent with the addition of flower," said Chris Visco, owner of TerraVida Holistic Centers, a chain of dispensaries with shops in Sellersville and Abington. "It offers the lowest price per milligram of THC, the active ingredient."
With Fewer Police Applicants, Departments Engage in Bidding Wars
Hiring police officers is much harder than it used to be. To stay competitive, some are offering generous pay increases and bonuses.
Like many law enforcement agencies, the Utah Highway Patrol has lots of vacancies to fill as officers leave for higher-paying jobs. It also has a lot of competition. Salt Lake City recently announced plans to hire 50 additional officers for its police force. This prompted the city council in nearby Ogden to approve pay raises and extra bonuses for many of its officers as a preemptive measure to thwart departures to the larger department in Salt Lake.
Highway Patrol Col. Mike Rapich has observed what he calls a "wage war" among agencies competing for personnel. "We're in a really aggressive recruiting effort," he says, "probably more so than I've seen in the 25 years I've been with the agency."
Law enforcement officials across the country say they're struggling to fill vacancies, largely due to retirements and moves to the private sector. A national survey by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence found last year that governments are having more trouble hiring police than any other category of personnel. Agencies are scrambling to attract and retain talent, often by boosting compensation packages or ramping up recruitment.
Researchers mark death of Pearl Harbor mastermind Yamamoto
A group from the U.S. and Japan is trekking to a remote Pacific island jungle to document what is considered one of the most important wreck sites of World War II: the place where American fighters shot down a Japanese bomber carrying the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Three members of a New York-based WWII research organization and a Japanese aviation expert plan to visit the crash site on Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday - the 75th anniversary of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's death.
Yamamoto had spent several years in the U.S. earlier in his military career, studying at Harvard University and admiring America's industrial might.
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, he was quite possibly the most hated man in America.
Noemie Emery: Ted Kennedy's enablers at Chappaquiddick
"This one's for you, Mary Jo." So read signs in the Bay State in 2010, when Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat opened up by the passing of Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy. Even before the film "Chappaquiddick," the stain scrubbed at so hard by some of those featured in the movie had never been wholly erased.
The senator, weak as he was, was hardly the worst of the people depicted. That honor goes to the fixers, who showed up to "help" him escape the consequences of his actions. They saved his career, but not his reputation. And they gave to themselves the stigma they merit, and to his dead brothers a guilt-by-relation they did not deserve.
By 1969, when the accident happened, the Kennedys had been through a series of tortured transitions, when one of its sons met a violent ending, and the expectations around him passed on to the next: Joseph "Joe" P. Kennedy Jr. was killed in the war, and the torch passed to John F. Kennedy; JFK was killed, and the torch passed to Robert "Bobby" F. Kennedy; Bobby was murdered, and the torch passed to Ted, by whom it was dropped.
House Democrat Pushes Licensing Requirement for Handgun Owners
Representative Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) is pushing legislation to require licenses for handgun owners throughout the United States.
The legislation, HR 5490, is titled the "Handgun Purchaser Licensing Act."
HR 5490 would not only require licenses but would also provide federal grants to help states cover the expense of a licensing program.
The bill is based on the inaccurate claim that "33,000 Americans were killed by guns" in 2013. Hillary Clinton made this claim again and again during her failed 2016 campaign, and Breitbart News showed that her claims actually exaggerated "gun violence" deaths by 66 percent.
In reality, the number of accidental deaths was 505, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the number of deaths due to actual "gun violence" was 11,208. The number of suicides was 21,175. When Clinton spoke, she would combine homicides, accidental deaths, and suicides as if all were the result of "gun violence" and present a death toll of 33,000. Rep. Esty is doing the same thing.
Philadelphia Starbucks manager claims loitering was ongoing problem
The Starbucks manager who called the police on two black customers for trespassing has spoken out, claiming that loitering has been an ongoing issue in the store.
The employee, named only as Holly, has since 'mutually parted ways' with the Philadelphia store after video went viral of the two men being arrested as they waited for their friend to arrive at the coffee shop.
The incident has sparked sit-ins and protests at the store as many claim the black men were racially profiled by the manager. On Monday, interfaith clergy leaders staged a sit-in at the Center City Starbucks to demand action.
Holly, who managed the 18th and Spruce Street location for a year before leaving the company, told AppleNews.com on Saturday that she'd had problems with loiterers and one had even chased her round the shop after she asked them to leave.
It's the end of the Castro era in Cuba
With Raúl to step down as president, his chosen successor emerged as the only candidate to replace him.
Raúl Castro, who took over from his brother Fidel 12 years ago and led Cuba through some of its biggest changes in decades, is expected to step down as president on Thursday and hand power to someone outside the Castro dynasty for the first time since the Cuban revolution more than half a century ago.
During his two terms as president, Mr. Castro opened up his Communist country to a small but vital private sector and, perhaps most significantly, diplomatic relations with the United States. It was a notable departure from his brother's agenda, yet it was possible only because he, too, was a Castro.
New ways to tackle prostate cancer discovered
Thousands of men's lives could be saved after a world first study found new ways to tackle prostate cancer.
Scientists have discovered 80 proteins which trigger prostate cancer and cause it to spread.
The revelation means drugs currently used to treat breast, ovarian and skin cancer could in future be given to prostate cancer patients.
They could be life-saving for the one in seven men who die within a decade of getting prostate cancer.
These men need further treatment beyond radiotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery to remove their prostate gland. Currently there are just seven drugs available to block two proteins which cause prostate cancer.
But the study led by the Institute of Cancer Research in London has now found another 80 proteins which could be stopped with a single daily pill.
Automatic Voter Registration Goes Beyond the DMV
The most recent states to adopt the practice are expanding it to agencies that serve disenfranchised populations, including the poor and disabled.
New Jersey on Tuesday became the 12th state, plus the District of Columbia, to enact an automatic voter registration law, which is intended to increase participation in elections.
While automatic voter registration (AVR) is itself a new trend -- first adopted in Oregon in 2015 -- New Jersey's law represents a new twist: It allows the practice to extend beyond the DMV.
Automatic voter registration typically happens when people apply for or renew a driver's license. But four of the last five laws of this kind either require or open the door for people to be automatically registered to vote when they interact with government in other ways.
Illegal immigrants seeking jobs, not safety, survey shows
The Hondurans who make up most of the illegal immigrant caravan still churning through Mexico say they're asylum seekers — but the vast majority of their countrymen making the journey north are actually regular economic migrants, according to a new study this month.
Relatively few are actually fleeing violence, while more than 80 percent told pollsters it's all about better opportunities elsewhere. The poll was taken by the Reflection, Research and Communication Team, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic order of Jesuits in Honduras, and surveyed nearly 1,600 Hondurans in February, just a month before the caravan organized.
A stunning 44.3 percent of Hondurans said they are looking to emigrate — a figure that suggests a new surge of people could be headed north.
The findings, which were released last week in Honduras and translated and released here in the U.S. by the Center for Immigration Studies on Monday, contrast with the image of the caravan, whose participants claim they are asylum seekers who deserve political protections in the U.S.
Somehow, it is supposed to be a scandal that Sean Hannity asked Michael Cohen for advice
President Trump's tweet that "Attorney-client confidentiality is dead" was doubly accurate. I concede that Judge Kimba Wood has a law degree and many years of experience and I don't, but I am still stunned by her cavalier disregard for the protections of lawyer-client confidentiality. She refused a request by President Trump and Michael Cohen's lawyers to be the first to review documents seized from the lawyer's office and homes..
Another person whose privacy was shredded by Judge Wood is Sean Hannity. Right there, on the front page of the New York Times and constantly on CNN and MSNBC, the supposedly shocking news that Michael Cohen named Sean Hannity as a client of his when forced to name all of his clients in open court by Judge Kimba Wood. More shocking to me is that a federal judge would so casually force disclosure of any lawyer's client list, which are not, in my understanding, matters of public record. But Judge Wood, who named no legal reasoning for her ruling, must have some basis in law…one would hope. The question now is moot, since the horse is out of the barn, but the ruling strikes me as wrong-headed.
Ketamine spray can stop suicidal thoughts, study finds
An anesthetic that is also used as a 'club drug' can help people with dangerously suicidal thoughts, rapidly treating their depression and wish to die, researchers reported Monday.
The drug, called ketamine, has already been shown to help when given intravenously. Developers tried a nasal spray formulation that they thought might act more quickly and be easier to give.
The hope is to help patients hold on until more traditional anti-depressants and therapy have a chance to click in, developers said.
Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Shells
Crowley Making Moves to Succeed Pelosi as Dem House Leader
Democratic lawmakers and aides say Rep. Joe Crowley's (D., N.Y.) maneuvers to become the Democrats' next House leader are no secret, despite his maintained stance that he has no such intention.
Nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers and aides interviewed by Politico generally agreed: Crowley is making moves to succeed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) in hopes of being the next speaker of the House. Crowley, who serves as the Democratic Caucus chairman, said he's focused on Democrats winning the House and doesn't have plans to challenge Pelosi, but his travel schedule has been reminiscent of a party leader's.
Some Democrats want him to go for it.
"I think Pelosi and Hoyer ought to take the message from [Paul] Ryan's retirement and realize it's time for this caucus to move on. And I think Crowley fits the bill to be our next leader," Rep. Filemon Vela (D., Texas) said.
Vela's comments reflect a wider dissatisfaction with Pelosi, whose leadership has been called "toxic" to the party's image. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D., N.J.) also gave Crowley an unsolicited endorsement in March, saying the House's culture was changing and Democrats ought to "start fresh."
The 4-Day School Week Gets Introduced to Cities and Suburbs
The public school in Campo, Colorado, hasn't required all its students to come to class on Fridays for nearly two decades. The 44-student district dropped a weekday to boost attendance and better attract teachers to a town so deep in farm country that the nearest grocery store is more than 20 miles away.
"I think the four-day week helped us, initially, in recruiting teachers," the superintendent, Nikki Johnson, said. "Now that so many districts are on four-day, that's not much of an incentive."
No national database tracks the number of public schools that cram instructional hours into four days. But the schedule — long popular in rural Western communities — is becoming more common elsewhere as school leaders search for ways to both attract teachers and save money.
In Oklahoma, for instance, where teachers recently staged a walkout to demand more school funding, cash-strapped districts have been using four-day weeks to cope with a teacher shortage and state budget cuts. Last school year, 97 districts of 513 ran on the compressed schedule, nearly twice as many as the previous year.
Three Men Charged With Trying To Smuggle Miniguns Into Mexico
Remember when President Obama tried to claim the blood being spilled in Mexico was the result of lax American gun laws? Not only did he completely ignore his own administration's role in guns going south of the border, but pretends that Mexican drug cartels don't have access to guns the ordinary American citizen can't get.
Things like miniguns.
Charged with a litany of gun violations to include possessing and transferring unregistered machine guns and unlawfully exporting firearms to Mexico were Tyler Carlson, 28, of Austin; Michael Fox, 69 of Georgetown; and Tracy Garwood, 62, of Scottsdale.
According to court documents, in June 2016, Customs agents inspecting a vehicle crossing into Mexico at Anzalduas, Texas, recovered 15 AK-47 style rifles, four handguns, 4,000 rounds of ammunition and the power supply and feed chute for a Garwood M-134G Minigun. This triggered an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations that ultimately labeled Carlson as the go-between who worked to smuggle as many as 200 guns across the border to Mexico without a license going back to 2014, paid for in over $270,000 in postal money orders.
Prosecutors hold the firearms were obtained by Carlson from Fox, a federal firearms licensee and a former lawman who, with the help of Garwood, also built a number of off-the-books Miniguns for the man. Garwood, who started a Scottsdale-based company specializing in an improved generation of the multi-barreled 7.62mm machine gun in 1999, allegedly told the ATF that a number of M134G rotor housings– considered the receiver of the Minigun– were destroyed, but the parts, controlled items under the National Firearms Act, were recovered in a 2017 search warrant at Fox's home in Texas with their markings partially obliterated.
Why, it's almost like gun laws don't stop people inclined to commit criminal acts.
Hmmmmmmmm. Funny how that shakes out, isn't it?
AP U.S. History Textbook Promotes Leftist Bias
Textbook blames political differences in America on racism, bigotry and sexism.
A forthcoming 2019 edition U.S. history textbook published by Pearson and intended for AP classes has ruffled feathers for its clearly leftist political bias. An excerpt from the updated textbook describes the motives of those voting in 2016 election like it came straight from a Democrat fundraising email:
Trump's supporters saw the vote as a victory for people who, like themselves, had been forgotten in a fast-changing America–a mostly older, often rural or suburban, and overwhelmingly white group. Clinton's supporters feared that the election had been determined by people who were afraid of a rapidly developing ethnic diversity of the country, discomfort with their candidate's gender, and nostalgia for an earlier time in the nation's history. They also worried about the mental stability of the president elect and the anger that he and his supporters brought to the nation.
Elsewhere, it becomes even more apparent that the textbook seeks to interpret diverse political motivations primarily through the lens of race. For example, the description of President Donald Trump's cabinet: "They were largely white males, more so than any cabinet since Ronald Reagan." Or this example that suggests the reason for the political differences in the country are primarily due to race: "Those who had long thought of the nation as a white and Christian country sometimes found it difficult to adjust" to the changing cultural mores. The textbook concludes that Trump's political positions and views are "not-very-hidden racism."
Thousands of apps in Google Play Store may be illegally tracking children
Thousands of popular children's apps available for download on Google Play may be violating child privacy laws, according to a new study, drawing more attention to big tech's data-collection efforts.
The study analyzed 5,855 of the most popular free children's apps and found that a majority of them may be violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). According to the study, thousands of the tested apps collected the personal data of children under age 13 without a parent's permission.
"This is a market failure," Serge Egelman, a co-author of the study and the director of usable security and privacy research at the International Computer Science Institute at UC-Berkeley, told the Washington Post. "The rampant potential violations that we have uncovered points out basic enforcement work that needs to be done."
The researchers found that potential privacy violations came in different forms. More than 1,100 children's apps collect identifying information from kids using tracking software whose terms of service actually prohibit their use for children's apps..
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/04/17/thousands-apps-in-google-play-store-may-be-illegally-tracking-children-study-finds.html
Friday, April 20 th, Delmar VFW Auxiliary Dinner
The public is invited to an Oyster Fritter and/or Chicken Salad Dinner on Friday, April 20, from 6 -8 p.m.,sponsored by the Delmar VFW Auxiliary, 200 W. State St., Delmar, MD.
The menu includes your choice of two vegetables from the following: seasoned green beans, homemade potato salad, homemade macaroni and cheese, seasoned turnip greens, applesauce, and pickled beets, along with a dinner roll and coffee or tea. Desserts will also be available. The price varies according to the chosen platter combinations.
Call 410-896-3722 after 6 p.m. for carry outs. All proceeds benefit local charities and organizations supported by the Delmar VFW Auxiliary.
Byron York: If James Comey talks to sell books, why not to Congress?
Fired FBI Director James Comey's bookselling campaign is well under way. ABC is leaking sensational tidbits from a five-hour interview Comey did with George Stephanopoulos, set to air in a prime-time special Sunday. A commercial for the show features Stephanopoulos revealing that Comey compared President Trump to a "mob boss."
A "source present at the taping" told Axios that the interview "left people in the room stunned — [Comey] told George things that he's never said before." Just to make sure everyone is sufficiently teased, Axios reported that, "If anyone wonders if Comey will go there, he goes there."
Who is Kimba Wood? Judge on Cohen case officiated Soros wedding, was Clinton AG pick
The federal judge presiding over the Michael Cohen case finds herself at the center of one of the toughest legal brawls of the Trump era -- but District Judge Kimba Wood is no stranger to the spotlight.
She has a colorful and potentially controversial past that could arise as the case involving President Trump's personal attorney moves forward. Trump allies were quick to note that Wood once was considered for attorney general by then-President Bill Clinton -- and she even officiated the wedding of left-wing billionaire George Soros.
Former Trump adviser and current Fox News contributor Sebastian Gorka said Wood should recuse herself.
"Now she has power over the lawyer who works for the man who beat Bill's wife in the 2016 election," he tweeted. "WHERE'S THE THE RECUSAL?"
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/17/who-is-kimba-wood-judge-on-cohen-case-officiated-soros-wedding-was-clinton-ag-pick.html
ESPN's Jemele Hill Smears Philly PD, Implies Race Played a Role in Starbucks Arrest
ESPN writer Jemele Hill has blasted the Philadelphia Police Department, and implied that racism played a role in the handling of the arrest of two black men in a downtown Philadelphia Starbucks on Thursday.
Video emerged recently, which showed two black men getting arrested in a Starbucks. A white patron can be seen, and heard, sarcastically questioning police over why they were taking the men into custody:
In addition, the person who shot the video, Ms. DePino, who describes herself as "outraged since November 8" on her Twitter profile, assumed the black men were arrested "for doing nothing."
U.S. Air Campaign Destroys $42 Million Worth of Taliban Heroin Profits
The unprecedented U.S.-led air campaign against the Taliban's economic engine, opium and heroin, has destroyed 73 drug labs and deprived the narco-jihadist group of $42 million in proceeds since President Donald Trump authorized the operations in November.
"It's the first time we've used air power to … strike and put pressure on Taliban revenue in the 17 years of the war," U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch, the chief of air operations targeting insurgent revenues, told USA Today, referring to the authority granted by President Trump last year.
"The new authority allowed us to strike in areas where previously the Taliban felt like they were completely safe," added the general.
Following a dramatic drop in counter-narcotics activity authorized by former President Barack Obama, the cultivation area and overall production of opium skyrocketed.
London's Foolish Attempt to Battle the Latest Crime Wave
London is a great city for liberals. The bastion of progressive policy that leads the world in how to be better. The police don't even carry guns! It is the progressive ideology that makes the city one of the safest in the world. It's a haven for people of every race and creed. Terrorism, discrimination and crime are a threat to no one!
You've seen the headlines. You know where this is going. London is under siege from a new wave of crime. Property crime, assaults, terrorism and now murder have all grown to dangerous proportions. Let's take a look at London and her policies and see if there is a lesson hidden somewhere.
London Crime Wave
This story begins with a look at skyrocketing crime in London. The major headline that you have probably seen is that London's murder rate exceeded that of New York City. This is a first for recorded history, and it has now persisted for two consecutive months.
To be fair, the London murder problem is only barely ahead of New York, but considering that it has been lower for more than a hundred consecutive years, it's a big deal. In February and March each, London had one more than New York. We'll see if the trend continues in April.
GM to Lay Off 1,500 American Workers While Mexico Plant Remains Unaffected
General Motors (GM) will soon be laying off up to 1,500 American workers who currently work at the auto company's Lordstown, Ohio manufacturing plant, while the company's Mexico plant remains unaffected.
GM announced the U.S. job-cutting plan that they say is due to the poor sales of the sedan version of the Chevrolet Cruze which, between 2014 and 2017, have decreased by more than 30 percent, CNN reports.
In total, the poor sales of the sedan Cruze will leave 1,500 American workers laid off, which is about half of workers currently working at the plant.
Meanwhile, the corporation's Mexico plant will be unaffected by the lack of sales. In Mexico, GM manufactures the hatchback version of the car. GM employs about 15,000 workers in Mexico, jobs that could be relocated to the U.S. to provide work to Americans.
Last year, Trump blasted GM for manufacturing their cars in Mexico, Breitbart News reported.
Attkisson: Trump Was Right To Fire Comey; Here Are 12 Reasons Why
A lot of new information has come out in the year since President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.
No matter whether you admire Trump, Comey, both or neither - it's now difficult to argue that Trump made the wrong move in removing Comey.
Even many of Trump's detractors would agree that no president should keep in place the head of a crucial division who - along with some of his top staff — apparently worked to undermine or control the president, and exercised poor judgment in important matters.
Here are 12 ways Comey has proven Trump was right to fire him.
1. Comey testified that it gave him a "queasy feeling" when then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch directed him to publicly refer to the Hillary Clintonclassified email investigation as a "matter." Yet, he did so anyway and did not raise objections.
2. Comey's FBI, including allegedly his general counsel, was responsible for multiple leaks to the press with the apparent goal of politically helping Clinton or harming Trump. On the other hand, the FBI kept a closely-held secret any information that was favorable to Trump — such as the fact that Comey repeatedly told Trump he wasn't under investigation.
3. Top FBI officials working under Comey conspired to develop an "insurance plan" in the event Trump were to be elected. (One possible implication is that they could not afford to have Trump officials poking around into what they or other U.S. intel agencies had been doing over the years.)
There Is No "Patriotic Duty" To Pay More Tax
In 1873 during the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, the government abolished its income tax.
Aside from a single episode in 1894, there would be no income tax in the United States of America for nearly 40 years.
It was during this period that the United States emerged as the largest, most powerful economy in the world.
And the country achieved this with no income tax. No inflation. And very little public debt.
Today it's entirely different. The dollar has lost over 99% of its value since 1913.
And the US has accumulated more debt than any other nation in the history of the world.
Entitlement program costs are soaring. The US government's own figures estimate that the long-term funding gap for Social Security, Medicare, etc. exceeds $40 trillion. Many private estimates are several times that amount.
Comptroller Extends Tax Filing Deadline by 24 Hours to April 18
Extension granted due to problems with the IRS' online tax processing and payment platforms on April 17
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (April 18, 2018) - Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced today that the filing deadline for 2017 tax returns has been extended 24 hours through midnight tonight, April 18. This is in response to the outage of the IRS' online tax processing and payment platform yesterday.
The IRS encountered issues Tuesday morning with its online system. Taxpayers using paper to file and pay their taxes at the deadline were not affected by the system issue.
"Maryland taxpayers who were affected by the IRS' website outage yesterday can rest assured that you have another day to file your taxes, as they needed federal tax return information to file their Maryland tax return in our system," said Franchot. "Taxpayers can continue to use our iFile system without disruption."
Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns electronically on marylandtaxes.com for the fastest possible processing and to ensure they receive all possible refunds. Free state tax assistance is available at all of the agency's 12 taxpayer service offices Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A list of office locations can be found here.
Media Research Center Reveals How Social Media Giants Were Caught In Massive Conservative Censorship
NewsBusters has recently released a detailed report about how the major tech giants of Silicon Valley have been caught time and time again in ploys to censor conservative thought and opinion online. Unfortunately, they've done this with incredible success over the years. Just in the past few months, Gateway Pundit has been subjected to Facebook shadowbans, unexplained YouTube suspensions, and has had the Twitter accounts of various writers hidden from public view.
In the detailed Media Research Center report, Dan Gainor and Ashley Rae Goldenberg outline how each and every one of these tech giants has used their ability to control the flow of information and silence conservative viewpoints from the public.
Yesterday evening, Fox News' Laura Ingraham discussed the state of social media alongside MRC's Brent Bozell. "Among the findings, claims from former employees that Facebook hides conservative content from the trending section were backed up by a detailed study," Ingraham said. "Google, YouTube, and Twitter partner with leftist groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center, that hate conservatives.
Conviction and sentencing of Joseph Ellis
Woman Calls Cops on Man for Pro-Gun T-Shirt
'This lady was having a literal panic attack,' man says
A woman called the police on a man with his children at a Texas playground for wearing a pro-Second Amendment T-shirt.
The shirt, produced by West Virginia-based company Warrior 12, shows an AR-15 rifle with the words, "I'll control my guns, you control your kids."
According to the Blue Lives Matter blog, which first reported on the incident Saturday, Troy Johnston was visiting a playground in Benbrook with his two daughters late last month when the incident began.
Steny Hoyer Promises to RAISE TAXES if Democrats Win Congress
CNBC: Are you looking at raising the tax rate again on the highest earners?
Democrat Steny Hoyer: I think certainly we'll look to have revenues as opposed to simply creating more debt. This bill is going to create debt. Obama created and previous presidents created.
Democrats like to use the term "revenues" when they are talking about raising taxes today. It is one of their word games – like the "Affordable" care act.
"Self-Centered, Self-Serving Jackass": FBI Insiders Furious After Comey Interview
Current and former FBI agents are furious after former Director James Comey gave his first interview since President Trump fired him last year to ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Sunday night, reports the Daily Beast - which was privy to a play-by-play flurry of text messages and other communications detailing their reactions.
Seven current or former FBI agents and officials spoke throughout and immediately after the broadcast. There was a lot of anger, frustration, and even more emojis—featuring the thumbs-down, frowny face, middle finger, and a whole lot of green vomit faces.
One former FBI official sent a bourbon emoji as it began; another sent the beers cheers-ing emoji. The responses became increasingly angry and despondent as the hourlong interview played out. -Daily Beast
"Hoover is spinning in his grave," said a former FBI official. "Making money from total failure," in reference to Comey plugging his book, A Higher Loyalty.
Jana Winter of The Beast adds that when a promo aired between segments advertising Comey's upcoming appearance with The View, the official "grew angrier."
"Good lord, what a self-serving self-centered jackass," the official said. "True to form he thinks he's the smartest guy around."
Worcester County Sheriff's Office Press Release
We would like to make you aware of a public scam that is taking place
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public that there are criminals posing as law enforcement personnel, including DEA agents, as part of an extortion scheme. Victims are contacted by phone by the impersonators who attempt to convince them that they have purchased drugs illegally and that action will be taken unless they pay a fine. Please visit the below link for more information on the scam as well as an online incident reporting form.
Please follow the below links to the DEA press release and the Extortion Scam Online Reporting
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/esor/spring/main?execution=e1s1
Immunotherapy transforms lung cancer, the biggest cancer killer
Combinations, pre-surgery treatment both help stop cancer spread
Immune therapy drugs can transform lung cancer treatment, giving patients years of extra life, doctors reported Monday.
They found that pre-treating lung cancer patients with immune therapy drugs before they have surgery can help melt away the tumor and at the same time limit or even stop its spread.
And combinations of immunotherapy drugs have helped other lung cancer patients get off more toxic standard chemotherapy while also extending their lives.
7 Prince George's County elementary students cut wrists at school, officials say
HYATTSVILLE, Md. - Seven students at an elementary school in Prince George's County cut their wrists at school using blades from pencil sharpeners, according to officials.
Officials with Prince George's County Public Schools said a concerned parent at William Paca Elementary School in Hyattsville came forward on March 29 and an investigation was launched.
It was revealed that the students used blades out of pencil sharpeners to cut themselves, officials stated.
OAN Investigation Finds No Evidence Of Chemical Weapon Attack In Syria
BREAKING NEWS: Rt. 50 Bridge Is Stuck In The Upright Position: UPDATE: NOW OPEN
The State Highway Association, (SHA) is desperately trying to fix the problem. You may want to take Rt. 90 for the time being.
Feds Give $1 Million to Study 3-Year-Old 'Non-Binary Children'
'Tomboys, princess boys, pink boys, non-binary children, gender creative kids—you name it!'
The National Science Foundation is expanding a study of transgender children as young as three years old, giving the project's researcher an additional $1 million.
Kristina Olson, a researcher at the University of Washington, received the 2018 Alan T. Waterman Award, the nation's "highest honor for a young scientist or engineer," for her work studying the gender identities of toddlers.
Olson's TransYouth Project is not just interested in transgender children, but "intersex children," "non-binary children," "princess boys," "pink boys," and more.
"Olson is recognized for her innovative contributions to understanding children's attitudes toward and identification with social groups, early prosocial behavior, the development of notions of fairness, morality, inequality and the emergence of social biases," the National Science Foundation said in a statement announcing the award.
Report: N Carolina hospital misdiagnosed more cancer cases
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A report on cancer misdiagnoses at a North Carolina hospital has revealed at least 25 patients were affected by faulty pathology laboratory test results.
The Winston-Salem Journal cites a report released last week that says at least two of three patients at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center who were diagnosed with cancer underwent lumpectomies and radiation before being told they didn't have cancer. Three patients faced potential treatment delays because testing didn't find cancer.
Medicare officials say another 19 patients had erroneous test results that didn't ultimately affect treatment.
An initial report released last month only identified four potentially misdiagnosed patients.
The hospital has until Thursday to submit a corrective plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Failure to resolve identified issues by June could result in suspended inpatient Medicare billing privileges.
What ever happened to performers like these?
Saturday, April 21st from 7a.m. – 12.00 p.m. Multifamily yard sale at 25561 Rising Eagle Rd, Mardela Springs, MD
Home goods, kids items, books plus a whole lot more!!
No streetlights on this street so event begins at 7a.m.
Bring your own tote bad!
Troopers Arrest Juvenile for Multiple Weapons Charges
Magnolia - Delaware State Police arrested a Dover teenager after it was discovered that he was in possession of a firearm.
The incident occurred on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at approximately 11:09 a.m. when Troopers were dispatched to the area of Mckinley Circle for reports of an individual with a handgun. Upon arrival, Troopers observed 15-year-old Davion Scott standing in the area, and proceeding to walk away as he saw the police vehicle. Scott was given verbal commands to stop, at which point he was observed reaching for an object in his waistband. Scott then proceeded to remove a handgun from his waistband and threw it underneath a parked vehicle. Troopers were able to take Scott into custody without further incident. A black handgun with an obliterated serial number and loaded with a magazine containing 3 45 rounds was recovered from the scene.
Scott was transported to Troop 3 where he was charged with Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Juvenile, Possession of a Weapon with an Obliterated Serial Number, Resisting Arrest, and Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was arraigned in the presence of his father before the Justice of the Peace Court 7. Scott was released to his father's custody on $32,000.00 unsecured bond.
Naloxone: Lifesaver or opioid enabler?
A drug that reverses an opioid overdose and prevents death is often cited by public health experts as a bridge that would connect people to addiction treatment. But evidence suggests it is acting more akin to a revolving door of continued substance abuse.
The overdose-reversal drug naloxone has historically been administered by first responders such as police officers. Now that the drug comes in easy-to-use devices, including an auto-injector and a nasal spray, health officials are urging laypeople carry them to save lives.
In the midst of a massive wave of overdose deaths involving opioids such as heroin, they hope it will be a first step in getting people into treatment. Nearly every state allows for naloxone to be obtained without a prescription, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams recently issued a rare public health advisory recommending that more people stock it.
Breaking News: The C.I.A. director Mike Pompeo is said to have met with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in recent weeks to set up a meeting with President Trump
President Trump alluded to Mr. Pompeo's mission on Tuesday when he said that the United States was in direct talks with North Korea at "extremely high levels," and that the White House was looking at five sites for a potential meeting of the leaders.
Barbara Bush, wife of the 41st president, mother of the 43rd, has died at 92. She was known for her straight talk and self-deprecating humor.
Barbara Bush, the widely admired wife of one president and the fiercely loyal mother of another, died Tuesday evening.
Jim McGrath, a family spokesman, announced the death in a statement posted to Twitter.
Bathroom Hand Dryers Are Depositing Flying Poo Particles All Over Your Clean Hands
So you're fastidious when it comes to germs. You are careful to wash your hands during flu season to avoid getting sick, and you don't even think twice about washing after using the restroom. Once your hands are clean, you routinely go to the only available option to dry your hands: the electric dryer hanging in the restroom you use at work / the gym/ the mall / in whatever public place you happen to be when nature calls. All good, right? Well... not so fast. You might want to brace yourself (but preferably not with your hands...).
According to the American Society for Microbiology, those hand dryers that have been billed as excellent for the environment because they cut back on paper waste might not be so great for our health. In fact, they have been shown to suck up bacteria that is floating in the air, heat it up, and then spray it all over the room (and your newly washed hands). Do you know what kind of bacteria might be floating around the air in a public restroom? You guessed it: poop.
▼ April (1434)
Andrew McCabe Lied. So Will the FBI Apply the Same...
Supreme Court Doesn't Want to Hear Imprisoned Ex-G...
With Fewer Police Applicants, Departments Engage i...
Researchers mark death of Pearl Harbor mastermind ...
Noemie Emery: Ted Kennedy's enablers at Chappaquid...
House Democrat Pushes Licensing Requirement for Ha...
Philadelphia Starbucks manager claims loitering wa...
Illegal immigrants seeking jobs, not safety, surve...
Somehow, it is supposed to be a scandal that Sean ...
Ketamine spray can stop suicidal thoughts, study f...
Crowley Making Moves to Succeed Pelosi as Dem Hous...
The 4-Day School Week Gets Introduced to Cities an...
Three Men Charged With Trying To Smuggle Miniguns ...
Thousands of apps in Google Play Store may be ille...
Byron York: If James Comey talks to sell books, wh...
Who is Kimba Wood? Judge on Cohen case officiated ...
ESPN's Jemele Hill Smears Philly PD, Implies Race ...
U.S. Air Campaign Destroys $42 Million Worth of Ta...
London's Foolish Attempt to Battle the Latest Crim...
GM to Lay Off 1,500 American Workers While Mexico ...
Attkisson: Trump Was Right To Fire Comey; Here Are...
Comptroller Extends Tax Filing Deadline by 24 Hour...
Media Research Center Reveals How Social Media Gia...
Steny Hoyer Promises to RAISE TAXES if Democrats W...
"Self-Centered, Self-Serving Jackass": FBI Insider...
Immunotherapy transforms lung cancer, the biggest ...
7 Prince George's County elementary students cut w...
OAN Investigation Finds No Evidence Of Chemical We...
BREAKING NEWS: Rt. 50 Bridge Is Stuck In The Uprig...
Feds Give $1 Million to Study 3-Year-Old 'Non-Bina...
Report: N Carolina hospital misdiagnosed more canc...
Troopers Arrest Juvenile for Multiple Weapons Char...
Breaking News: The C.I.A. director Mike Pompeo is ...
Barbara Bush, wife of the 41st president, mother o...
Bathroom Hand Dryers Are Depositing Flying Poo Par...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
.. _WdRowHeightRule:

``WD_ROW_HEIGHT_RULE``
======================

alias: **WD_ROW_HEIGHT**

Specifies the rule for determining the height of a table row

Example::

    from docx.enum.table import WD_ROW_HEIGHT_RULE

    table = document.add_table(3, 3)
    table.rows[0].height_rule = WD_ROW_HEIGHT_RULE.EXACTLY

----

AUTO
    The row height is adjusted to accommodate the tallest value in the row.

AT_LEAST
    The row height is at least a minimum specified value.

EXACTLY
    The row height is an exact value.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Ilya Malyushkin is a Russian professional ice hockey forward  who currently plays for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League.

References

External links

Living people
HC Yugra players
1984 births
Russian ice hockey forwards
Sportspeople from Surgut

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Gretchen Carlson Alleges Roger Ailes, 76, Sexually Harassed her
Ailes, 76 ogled her, commented about her legs, urged her to wear clothes, told her she was sexy but "too much hard work."
Andrew Toth/Getty Images
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has filed a lawsuit against the CEO and Chairman of Fox News, Roger Ailes, for sexual harassment and retaliation.
NEW YORK - Former Fox News Channel anchor Gretchen Carlson sued network chief executive Roger Ailes on Wednesday, claiming FOX fired after she turned down his sexual advances. Ms. Carlson's lawyers filed the Complaint in Superior Court in New Jersey's Bergen County.
Carlson is former host of a daytime show at Fox. She alleges Ailes had retaliated against her because of complaints she had made about discrimination and harassment. The 11-year Fox employee was anchoring a 2 p.m. show when she said she was fired on June 23 at the end of her contract.
She said her firing came nine months after Ailes told her during a meeting that "you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago."
In response, FOX News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes issued the following statement: "Gretchen Carlson's allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network's decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit. Ironically, FOX News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11 year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously."
The 50-year-old Carlson was Miss America in 1989. She alleges in her lawsuit that Ailes, who is 76, ogled her, repeatedly commented about her legs, urged her to wear clothes that enhanced her figure and told her she was sexy but "too much hard work."
Carlson alleges that in 2013, she was fired from her job hosting morning show "Fox and Friends", and her pay reduced with the transfer to a daytime slot, because she had complained about sexual harassment.
She said that one of her "Fox & Friends" co-hosts, Steve Doocy, "had created a hostile work environment by regularly treating her in a sexist and condescending way." She said that when Ailes heard of her complaints, he called her a "man hater" who needed to learn to "get along with the boys."
Television Producer Roger Ailes attends the Carnegie Hall 125th Season Opening Night Gala at Carnegie Hall on October 7, 2015 in New York City.
Carlson said that Ailes retaliated against her by cutting back on political interviews, and by ending a regular appearance she had been making on Bill O'Reilly's prime-time program, generally Fox's highest-rated show. BTW, O'Reilly himself has been on the receiving end of sexual harassment allegations
"I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career," Carlson said in a statement. "Although this was a difficult step to take, I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace."
Two days after the June 12 Orlando, Florida, nightclub massacre, Carlson told viewers that she supported reinstating a ban on assault weapons. The next day, she revealed Fox viewers had profanely attacked her, and she read some of the less obscene responses on the air.
The lawsuit demands damages in an amount to be determined at time of trial, but not to exceed the jurisdictional limits of this court.
Bret Michaels Releases Emotionally Charged New Single And Video "Jorja Bleu" On His Daughter Jorja's Birthday
Celebrity Fitness Trainer Charlene Ciardiello Works Out With Actress Erin Gavin For Her Next Movie Role.
"Black Heritage Auction" to Feature Songs, Notes and Jewelry of Tupac Shakur
Never Ride a Galapagos Tortoise Wearing a Bikini, While Visiting Richard Branson
Bruce Springsteen, Vin Scully & Tom Hanks among Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients


Type and structure of artificial neural network (ANN) have significant impact on its performance. Furthermore, networks of the same type and structure often perform differently due to the random distribution of initial weights. These issues cause the practical use of ANNs a challenging task. Some of the mentioned drawbacks can be eliminated using ensembles of ANNs. However, relevance of a single ensemble member might be different in different classification or regression tasks. In this paper we present an autonomous ensemble design method that includes selection of a subset of ANNs most suitable for solving of a specific task. The ensemble is able to change its structure by choosing the electors with respect to their training performance. The proposed method is tested in practical regression tasks in civil engineering structures monitoring.


Leticia Bufoni, Lacey Baker, Alexis Sablone, Jessica Florencio, Eliana Sosco and Ester Perussi went on a trip to Europe to check out our homeland's skate-ability, starting off with the UK and the eternal city of Rome. Luckily for us they took picutre wizard Ana Paula Negrao with them, to capture everything in moving images for your viewing pleasure. And the best part – there is more goodness to come in the sequel! Happy Mondays.


Paragon seeks to pull the cannabis community from marginalized to mainstream by building blockchain into every step of the cannabis industry and by working toward full legalization. Our strength lies in the unique blockchain/cannabis connection that uses smart contracts.
The Paragon model starts with a crypto-token and blockchain technology. It then sets up a network of physical cooperative workspaces where members can work, meet, socialize, and create. This will resolve issues with leases for cannabis-based startups and dispensaries that struggle with finding affordable and suitable locations to house their business.
Finally, Paragon will actively support and fund blockchain innovation in the cannabis field, such that it increases the use and importance of PRG. Paragon's business model is both unified and complementary. Each part combines to improve the whole. We will go into depth with each aspect and discuss what it does, how it works, and what makes it unique.
I give it 5 stars! There is a true need in this growing industry to standardize payments, licensing, location finder and other legal aspects of cannabis transactions. I see Paragon has a top notch team and technology to achieve that and bring trust to community and governments. As this industry evolves there will be significant revenue growth opportunities for companies like Paragon.
A great use of the blockchain tackling a real problem in a high growth market. The site and company documents are well represented. I also like the idea of creative hub and what I imagine will be a leading CVC for the cannabis industry.


Jo Ito has found an mage that seems to solve the mystery of that bulge under the presidents coat. it might be an ipod. Right!
Interesting debate in the comments ensue, not about the iPod spoof but about the copyright in cases where you can't find the author, creative commons et al. You should check it out. The image seems to have appeared at Happy Go Larry previously (October 13th).


text:
Alan Titchmarsh Returns with a New Season of Love Your Garden
Alan Titchmarsh is my wife's favorite garden show host. He really knows his stuff and he's pleasant to listen to as well. I'm not 'that' into gardening but she is and I consider her an authority on the topic. Our garden proves it. If you're into gardening, you'll definitely want to tune in to this season's Love Your Garden television show.
Alan and his team return this summer for a brand new series of Love Your Garden.
Watch our exclusive interview with Alan above.
This year the gardens of some truly deserving people will be transformed as Alan takes inspiration from the most unique and beautiful gardens in the country. All hands will be on the decking as friends and the local community all get involved to help build something truly special.
There's no excuse for a grubby garden as Alan shows how to turn the the most unlikely outdoor spaces into life enhancing havens.
Along the way there will be handy horticultural hints and tips to make sure everyone can have a garden to be proud of.
Want more Alan? Buy his latest DVD The Seasons with Alan Titchmarsh
Read more at: http://www.itv.com/alantitchmarsh/loveyourgarden/
Alan Titchmarsh returns with a new season of Love Your Garden — will you watch? Are you into gardening? Are you ready to plant all your early spring vegetables? What do you think of the Love Your Garden series and Alan Titchmarsh in particular?


Submission for the Robert Austrian Awards is now closed.
To honor the memory of Robert Austrian for his pioneering and immensely important research on pneumococci and pneumococcal diseases, Pfizer is sponsoring research awards in the field of pneumococcal vaccinology. Pfizer has selected the International Symposium of Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases, ISPPD, to manage the Robert Austrian Research Awards in Pneumococcal Vaccinology. The ISPPD Advisory Board is responsible for the Robert Austrian Research Awards in Pneumococcal Vaccinology and has defined the research topics and criteria for the selection of award recipients. Based on these criteria, a committee, consisting of 3-5 members of the ISPPD Advisory Board will propose the award recipients to the ISPPD Advisory Board for approval. Recipients of the Robert Austrian Research Awards in Pneumococcal Vaccinology will be selected from applications and from nominations, based on a research proposal and curriculum vitae with a list of publications and a letter of recommendation. Up to ten Robert Austrian Research Awards in Pneumococcal Vaccinology of approximately $25,000 USD each will be awarded at the ISPPD-11, April 15-19, 2018. The award recipients are expected to present their results at ISPPD-12, 2020.
Young scientists (usually <40 years of age), including PhD students and post-doctoral. The age criteria could be waived for applicants from low-middle income countries who have an established research output of at least 5 manuscripts on pneumococcal disease in the previous five years, or who have received their PhD in the previous five years. Consideration will also be provided to individuals who have received their PhD more than 5 years ago, but whose career development was interrupted because of illness, or parental responsibilities. Established scientists at the Professorial level are not eligible for the awards.
At least one applicant from each of the geographical regions; Africa, Asia/Australasia, Europe, Latin America and North America will be awarded, provided that the Advisory Committee considers the proposal to be of a suitable quality.
For applicants older than 40 years, provide an additional motivation as to why the application should be considered.
The Research proposal concept sheet should not exceed 5 pages (1.5 line spaced and Arial font size 12), exclusive of the proposed budget. The proposal needs to include a brief background and rational for the study, clearly articulated study objective/s, justified sample size (if applicable), study methodology to be employed, analytical plan and any ethics considerations and how those would be dealt with. Any additional sources of funding, for projects expected to exceed $25,000 should be declared.


text:
A Case Study In B2B SEO Keyword Analysis
A few weeks back, Dr. Peter J. Meyers ("Dr Pete") wrote a post on SEOmoz about the average position in the browser screen a number-one ranking in Google appears. It is an interesting piece of research, and I recommend reviewing it. My two key takeaways were: More Google-specific features, such as advertising and local results, […]
Derek Edmond on March 20, 2013 at 11:46 am
A few weeks back, Dr. Peter J. Meyers ("Dr Pete") wrote a post on SEOmoz about the average position in the browser screen a number-one ranking in Google appears. It is an interesting piece of research, and I recommend reviewing it.
My two key takeaways were:
More Google-specific features, such as advertising and local results, are taking up real estate in Google search results pages.
Search marketers need to be looking beyond keyword visibility reports and what is actually displayed in search results for primary keyword targets.
The research was timely as it validated keyword search analysis we had performed (albeit much more manually) for a client experiencing year-over-year declines in organic search traffic for the past few months.
Dr. Pete's analysis is one method we used for addressing B2B SEO keyword challenges and identifying new recommendations and direction.
In this column, I want to walk the reader through a series of keyword analysis tactics we used to assess declines in organic search engine traffic for a client website. Through each tactic, we identified direction for SEO recommendations, as well.
Client Background
We were approached by an organization seeking to address declines in organic search engine referrals. The website in question receives in excess of 200,000 monthly organic referrals, but that number has declined significantly in recent months.
Their primary keyword targets all seemed to be performing relatively well, in terms of positions (rank) in search engine results. However because their primary keywords represented only a fraction of the total number of search phrases people used to find their website, further analysis of keyword information was a necessity.
Here is a snapshot of organic search referral data by month with changes (positive and negative) year-over-year:
The decline in year-over-year growth started to draw attention in August 2012, but really became an issue in November. As a result, our initial emphasis was to look at organic search data for the three month period between November 2012 and January 2013.
For keyword analysis to be effective, it is critical to evaluate trends in segments of data, seeking to identify patterns and anomalies. We used three methods of analysis, discussed below.
Breakout Search Engine Sources
The first step was to simply look at what search engine referral sources were experiencing the most significant declines. As illustrated in the screenshot below, it's clear that Google is/was the clear loser. In fact, traffic from Yahoo/Bing increased in that same time period.
Google was the search referral channel we needed to dig deeper into for keyword analysis.
Key Takeaway: While broad search engine trends are important, it is equally important to evaluate the specific search engine referral sources, as well. As illustrated in the data below, you can see Google traffic was actually on the decline, in terms of year-over-year performance, several months before this issue became a red alert.
Breakout Keyword Themes
Once we identified it was a Google issue specifically, the next step was to identify how core keyword themes performed year-over-year. I equate keyword themes to the variations of primary keyword targets a client focuses on.
So, if your primary theme is "big data," it means how often "big data" is used in all keyword queries generating traffic to the site. Here is a generic snapshot of how these themes performed.
You can use a simple filter to identify the volume of search referrals associated with a particular keyword or phrase.
With information in hand, we went about assessing the strength of content associated with each theme, re-optimizing material as appropriate, and making recommendations for new content strategies associated to related keyword targets.
Immediate actions that were undertaken:
Revisit key SEO tagging elements (HTML Titles, Meta Descriptions, etc.) on primary SEO landing pages.
Assess existing content for cross-linking opportunities.
Pull together a short list of content ideas that could be executed, enabling cross-linking of updated materials and target new variations of keyword themes.
Supporting Resource: SEO Professional Jason Acidre recently wrote a good, step-by-step resource for doing something similar, based off of high-performing, long-tail keywords found via Google Analytics.
Evaluate The Long-Tail
The volume of long-tail keyword traffic was the next place to look. What we realized was that the year-over-year trend in the number of unique phrases via Google traffic had gone down an average of 30%, when comparing monthly volumes.
Here is a snapshot of the data:
The information above led to two critical action items:
Evaluate visitor performance of website activity associated with visits yielded from a single key phrase referral (i.e., one search query, one visit)
Look for technical issues which may be creating broader search visibility issues across the site
Based on a sample set of single visit/keyword queries, we realized that particular content type yielded the poorest visitor experience, as it pertained to bounce rates and pages per visit. Recommendations on layout and usability were delivered to improve visitor experience for that particular content type.
The technical evaluation proved to be a bit more difficult investigation. A review of HTML code and site architecture SEO factors revealed only minor issues. But as we evaluated third-party referral reports and the search engine results for long-tail keywords, a duplicate content issue was uncovered.
Key Takeaway: Careful review of reporting data and search results needs to be undertaken to uncover less obvious but potentially serious issues. You probably won't find the problem immediately. It's also good to get a second set of eyes on the data as well, particularly when hitting a wall with analysis.
Understand Changes In The Display Of Keyword Search Results
The final factor we looked at was how the search engine landscape had changed year-over-year, in association to top keyword referrals (as discussed at the start). We manually reviewed no less than the top 100 keyword referrals sending traffic each month, from November through January of the previous year, identifying blended search results, local results, and other factors impacting the page.
Here is a snapshot of how our spreadsheet of data was organized:
What we realized was that as much as 20% of primary keyword referrals were impacted by local listings (we used the Yoast Firefox plugin to help filter personalization out of results). News, video, images, and Knowledge Graph results were also having an impact.
Key Takeaway: A strong data set needs to be built out to support strategic SEO recommendations. In this case, the growing suspicion that there was a need for further site emphasis on regional and local distribution efforts was confirmed. The next step was/is putting a tactical plan together for execution.
Factor The Influence Of "Not Provided" Search Volumes
While all of this data can be powerful, SEO professionals must also factor the influence of "not provided" traffic percentages from Google, as well. This involved two key measurements:
Graphing the overall percentage of "not provided" search volume each month.
Making estimates based on historical averages of top landing pages accessed via organic search on what type of keywords could be getting used via "not provided" results.
We felt like we had enough of a compelling case in our first three analytical points to keep our estimates of impact at a high level. That might not be the case in all situations, so putting together more stringent impact assumptions is something to always consider.
One Final Tip: Remember Who You're Presenting To
Don't forget taking into account the audience in review. While this data might be significant, it may also be overwhelming to those not in the trenches.
If you're talking to management, charts and graphs illustrating and validating trends tend to work better than rows of excel data. Don't overload them with data. Focus on how the data shows action that will improve business results.
Will their keyword referral traffic fully rebound? We can't say for certain. What we do know is the specific aspects of organic keyword performance that need to be addressed and what the first steps are in the process, both short and long term.
What are your thoughts in this process and what steps are missing? I would love to read your feedback and thoughts via comments below.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.
Derek Edmond
Derek Edmond is a Managing Partner for KoMarketing, a B2B online marketing agency specializing in search, social media, and content marketing. With over 10 years experience, Derek has worked with a range of organizations from the Fortune 500 to venture-backed startups and small businesses.
B2B Search Marketing ColumnChannel: SEO
Search Engine Land's Guide To SEO


text:
Banigo Backs VAPP Bill Domestication
The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo has indicated her resolve to support the domestication of the Violence Against, People Prohibition (VAPP) Bill in Rivers State.
Making the declaration recently when members of the observatory steering committee (OBSTEC) on violence Against Women and Girls paid her an advocacy visit in her office, the Deputy Governor assured that OBSTEC vision in this wise is a noble one that would institute a legacy for the development of the girl-child.
I want to see myself years after now looking back to say, look at the girls we brought out, look at the women we reached out to, look at where they are. That is our passion, we do not want to leave a vacuum behind.
"We have to give our women and girls that space to be . I believe every person has a gift from God to exhibit and to show talent in life.
'Just seek the support, little push and encouragement and they will be able to come out and shine", she said.
Dr Banigo used the opportunity to congratulate members of OBSTEC on the milestone they have set in the quest to reduce violence against women and girls in Rivers State.
She urged them to forge ahead beyond the 500 cases of violence against women and girls in Rivers State, noting that there are still many that are not reported in the state.
I want to thank you for all the work you have done. Be strong and keep pushing, don't give yourself boundaries, keep pushing and if you need more pushing, I will push it for you as well.
"Together, we are going to push it until we get to cover all the grounds", she concluded.
Earlier in her speech, the Monitoring and Evaluation officer of OBSTEC, Dr Vetty Agala intimated Her Excellency on the objectives of OBSTEC.
Dr Agala, who represented the chairperson OBSTEC, Barr Florence Fiberisima used the opportunity to request for Her Excellency's support to enable OBSTEC strengthen participation in the protection of he Girl-child.
She also requested for the adoption of OBSTEC as a functional platform for the government to work with in the reduction of violence against women and girls.
Other requests was for Her Excellency to secure the inclusion of the state action plan on the protection of women and girls into the Ministry of Women Affairs, and seure the domestication of violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) Act in the state.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Malnutrition Claiming Future Leaders In N/East – Expert
Polio'II Not Cripple Any Kogi Child – Gov
NGO Trains Healthcare Workers On Effective Handling Of SGBV Cases
The Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), an NGO, trained no fewer than 40 healthcare workers and members of Community Development Committee (CDC) on effective handling of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in their communities.
The Tide source reports that the participants were drawn from various primary health care centres in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The theme of the training is; "Strengthening the Capacity of PHCs and Ward Development Committees on SGBV Case Management and Access to Efficient Healthcare Service Delivery."
Mrs Abiodun Essiet, the Executive Director of AEIG, said the training was aimed at improving the knowledge of healthcare workers on how to effectively manage cases of SGBV in their centres.
She added that "the training focuses on proper documentation, management and non-tampering of evidences, which will assist in the prosecution of perpetrators.
"Healthcare workers are frontliners that manage SGBV cases and other people interact with them to share ideas with them, so, it is important that we re-orient them about their position and how they can handle these cases.
"Our project goal is to strengthen traditional justice system to effectively combat SGBV, and so far, we have done that across the area councils last year.
"What we are doing now is to train healthcare workers who will be interfacing with community development committee members in the various communities.
"These are issues of paramount concern to communities where most of the original inhabitants of the FCT are, as it is only the primary health centres that they can access care.
"So we want to work together with the healthcare facilities and ensure that the original inhabitants of the FCT are better served."
Dr Laz Eze, the Founder, Make Our Hospital Work Campaign, stressed the need for primary healthcare facilities to be accessible and affordable to the people.
Eze, who spoke on; "Promoting Health Care Delivery: The Role of Primary Health Care", added that PHCs were important in the areas of education, prevention, as well as physical and psycho-social response to SGBV survivors.
He added that drastic measures must also be taken by communities to ensure that SGBV cases were reported to the right authorities.
WHO To Establish TB Vaccine Accelerator Council
The World Health Organisation has announced plans to establish a Tuberculosis Accelerator Council (TB) with the urgency of vaccine development efforts to curb the disease.
A recent WHO commissioned study estimates that, over 25 years, a vaccine that is 50% effective in preventing disease among adolescents and adults could avert up to 76 million new TB cases, 8.5 million deaths, 42 million courses of antibiotic treatment and US$ 6.5 billion in costs faced by TB affected households, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.
Speaking Tuesday at a high-level panel on TB at the World Economic Forum, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, announced plans to establish a new TB Vaccine Accelerator Council will facilitate the licensing and use of effective novel TB vaccines catalysing high-level alignment between funders, global agencies, governments and end users in identifying and overcoming barriers to TB vaccine development.
"One of the most important lessons from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that innovative health interventions can be delivered fast if they are prioritized politically and financed adequately", said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "The challenges presented by TB and COVID-19 are different, but the ingredients that accelerate science, research and innovation are the same: urgent, up-front public investment; support from philanthropy; and engagement of the private sector and communities. We believe the TB field will benefit from similar high-level coordination," he said.
Despite countries making bold commitments to end TB by 2030, in the Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO End TB Strategy and the 2018 political declaration on the fight against TB, the epidemic shows no sign of slowing down. In 2021, approximately 10.6 million people fell sick with TB, and 1.6 million died. Drug-resistance continues to be a major problem with close to half a million people developing drug-resistant TB every year.
BCG is currently the only licensed TB vaccine. While it provides moderate efficacy in preventing severe forms of TB in infants and young children, it does not adequately protect adolescents and adults, who account for close to 90% of TB transmissions globally.
A vaccine that is 75% effective could avert up to 110 million new TB cases and 12.3 million deaths. The study further suggests that every US$ 1 invested in a 50% effective vaccine could generate an economic return of US$ 7 in terms of averted health costs and increased productivity.
Later this year, Heads of States and Governments will meet for a second United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB to review progress against commitments made in the 2018 political declaration. This presents an important opportunity to correct setbacks in the TB response, which includes the urgent development and delivery of new TB vaccines.
Natural Treatments For Arthritis and Joint Pain
Arthritis is usually due to inflammation – most often prolonged inflammation. The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation (arth=joint, ritis=inflammation), and refers to more than 100 different diseases. Arthritis is a degenerative disease affecting the joints that causes pain and limits mobility.
Arthritis is not a necessary part of aging. In fact, you can get relief from pain and even reverse much of the damage Arthritis has caused you.
Conventional medicine typically offers cover-up treatments for these naturally occurring changes. But these treatments do nothing to restore lost function. They may relieve symptoms—and just as likely, they may not. But they don't get at the root causes of the problems. And people still suffer. The purpose of this article is so that you don't have to suffer. Below are our Top 5 Natural Treatments for Arthritis and Joint Pain:
Eliminate Inflammatory foods from Your Diet
Most people do not know that certain everyday foods that you are probably eating, are actually making your pain worse. Some inflammatory foods like bread and pasta may be obvious, where as foods like eggplant and other nightshade vegetables also contain inflammatory properties.
*Many common cooking oils contain excess Omega6 which can be highly inflammable…
*Foods high in trans fats are also linked to chronic and systemic inflammation. You may be consuming far too many of these foods.
Rebuild Your Cartilage
Erosion of cartilage is one of the most common reasons for pain associated with Arthritis. Imagine a cushion where two bones meet. Without that cushion, bones rub together causing severe pain. Doctors typically prescribe pain masking drugs that will never address the true cause of the pain. A more effective approach would be to only use pain pills for temporary relief while you rebuild your cartilage. There are natural supplements that you can use like Devil's Claw, Cod Liver Oil, Glucosamine Sulfate. These supplements have to be taken in the proper quantities in order for them to be effective.
Incorporate More Anti-Inflammatory Foods into Your Diet
In addition to eliminating the pain causing foods we mentioned above, you can also take advantage of the natural pain fighting foods mother nature provides. Many juices have been used effectively against arthritis, especially pure black cherry juice – which is also a very successful natural remedy for gout. Beet juice is another good one and is wonderfully healthy in many ways. People with rheumatoid arthritis should include juices high in anti-inflammatory nutrients such as beta-carotene (found in parsley, broccoli and spinach) and copper (found in carrots, apples and ginger).
Herbs such as boswellia, cayenne, devil's claw, horsetail, licorice root, turmeric, ginger , white willow and yucca are also effective in relieving arthritis symptoms. Many of these ingredients can be effective.
There is also a very common beverage that contains more antioxidants than Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Sipping a few cups of day of this beverage can help halt further damage from Arthritis.
Address Magnesium Deficiency
In particular, deficiency in magnesium has been strongly associated with arthritis. Magnesium has been called the master mineral for good reason. As Dr. Carolyn Dean, who literally wrote the book on magnesium, reports magnesium plays an important role in more than 1,300 body processes. Alarmingly, it is estimated that 75% to 95% of us are deficient in magnesium. There are tests available that can help you determine if you indeed have a magnesium deficiency.
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