The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Adult basic education" means education or instruction designed to achieve general competence of skills in reading, writing, and oral communication, including English as a second language and preparation and testing services for obtaining a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate as provided in RCW 28B.50.536.
(2) "Base level of correctional services" means the minimum level of field services the department of corrections is required by statute to provide for the supervision and monitoring of offenders.
(3) "Civil judgment for assault" means a civil judgment for monetary damages awarded to a correctional officer or department employee entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against an inmate that is based on, or arises from, injury to the correctional officer or department employee caused by the inmate while the correctional officer or department employee was acting in the course and scope of his or her employment.
(4) "Community custody" has the same meaning as that provided in RCW 9.94A.030 and also includes community placement and community supervision as defined in RCW 9.94B.020.
(5) "Contraband" means any object or communication the secretary determines shall not be allowed to be: (a) Brought into; (b) possessed while on the grounds of; or (c) sent from any institution under the control of the secretary.
(6) "Correctional facility" means a facility or institution operated directly or by contract by the secretary for the purposes of incarcerating adults in total or partial confinement, as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.
(7) "County" means a county or combination of counties.
(8) "Department" means the department of corrections.
(9) "Earned early release" means earned release as authorized by RCW 9.94A.729.
(10) "Evidence-based" means a program or practice that has had multiple-site random controlled trials across heterogeneous populations demonstrating that the program or practice is effective in reducing recidivism for the population.
(11) "Extended family visit" means an authorized visit between an inmate and a member of his or her immediate family that occurs in a private visiting unit located at the correctional facility where the inmate is confined.
(12) "Good conduct" means compliance with department rules and policies.
(13) "Good performance" means successful completion of a program required by the department, including an education, work, or other program.
(14) "Immediate family" means the inmate's children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, great grandparents, siblings, and a person legally married to or in a state registered domestic partnership with an inmate. "Immediate family" does not include an inmate adopted by another inmate or the immediate family of the adopted or adopting inmate.
(15) "Indigent inmate," "indigent," and "indigency" mean an inmate who has less than a ten-dollar balance of disposable income in his or her institutional account on the day a request is made to utilize funds and during the thirty days previous to the request.
(16) "Individual reentry plan" means the plan to prepare an offender for release into the community. It should be developed collaboratively between the department and the offender and based on an assessment of the offender using a standardized and comprehensive tool to identify the offender's risks and needs. The individual reentry plan describes actions that should occur to prepare individual offenders for release from prison or jail, specifies the supervision and services they will experience in the community, and describes an offender's eventual discharge to aftercare upon successful completion of supervision. An individual reentry plan is updated throughout the period of an offender's incarceration and supervision to be relevant to the offender's current needs and risks.
(17) "Inmate" means a person committed to the custody of the department, including but not limited to persons residing in a correctional institution or facility and persons released from such facility on furlough, work release, or community custody, and persons received from another state, state agency, county, or federal jurisdiction.
(18) "Labor" means the period of time before a birth during which contractions are of sufficient frequency, intensity, and duration to bring about effacement and progressive dilation of the cervix.
(c) Guide an offender from one location to another.
(20) "Postpartum recovery" means (a) the entire period a woman or youth is in the hospital, birthing center, or clinic after giving birth and (b) an additional time period, if any, a treating physician determines is necessary for healing after the woman or youth leaves the hospital, birthing center, or clinic.
(21) "Privilege" means any goods or services, education or work programs, or earned early release days, the receipt of which are directly linked to an inmate's (a) good conduct; and (b) good performance. Privileges do not include any goods or services the department is required to provide under the state or federal Constitution or under state or federal law.
(22) "Promising practice" means a practice that presents, based on preliminary information, potential for becoming a research-based or consensus-based practice.
(23) "Research-based" means a program or practice that has some research demonstrating effectiveness, but that does not yet meet the standard of evidence-based practices.
(b) Mechanical device including but not limited to: Metal handcuffs, plastic ties, ankle restraints, leather cuffs, other hospital-type restraints, tasers, or batons.
(25) "Secretary" means the secretary of corrections or his or her designee.
(26) "Significant expansion" includes any expansion into a new product line or service to the class I business that results from an increase in benefits provided by the department, including a decrease in labor costs, rent, or utility rates (for water, sewer, electricity, and disposal), an increase in work program space, tax advantages, or other overhead costs.
(27) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Washington state department of corrections, or his or her designee.
(28) "Transportation" means the conveying, by any means, of an incarcerated pregnant woman or youth from the correctional facility to another location from the moment she leaves the correctional facility to the time of arrival at the other location, and includes the escorting of the pregnant incarcerated woman or youth from the correctional facility to a transport vehicle and from the vehicle to the other location.
(29) "Unfair competition" means any net competitive advantage that a business may acquire as a result of a correctional industries contract, including labor costs, rent, tax advantages, utility rates (water, sewer, electricity, and disposal), and other overhead costs. To determine net competitive advantage, the department of corrections shall review and quantify any expenses unique to operating a for-profit business inside a prison.
(30) "Vocational training" or "vocational education" means "vocational education" as defined in RCW 72.62.020.
(31) "Washington business" means an in-state manufacturer or service provider subject to chapter 82.04 RCW existing on June 10, 2004.
(32) "Work programs" means all classes of correctional industries jobs authorized under RCW 72.09.100.
Effective dates—2009 c 521 §§ 5-8, 79, 87-103, 107, 151, 165, 166, 173-175, and 190-192: See note following RCW 2.10.900.
Intent—2007 c 483: See note following RCW 72.09.270.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.


text:
Q: Modules and classes in Ruby. Contradictions? According to RubyMonk section 8.1 modules only hold behavior and not state and classes can hold behavior and state.
Yet modules are a super-class of classes in Ruby. How can this be?

A: Oh brother, and if you forget about module/class instance variables and module/class methods, you can't even say that classes hold state--because it's the instances of classes that hold the state.  Classes hold a list of instance methods.  So that whole section on classes is technically wrong too.
The bottom line is that 99.99% of the things in ruby are objects, and any object can hold state.  A class is an object(as well as a producer of objects), a module is an object(but not a producer of objects), and instances of classes are objects.
I suggest you not worry about state.  Just concentrate on the fact that modules can be used for two things:
1) As a namespace:
module MyFunctions
  def MyFunctions.puts(str)  #...or: def self.puts(str)
    Kernel.puts "***" + str
  end
end

puts 'hello'
MyFunctions.puts 'hello'

--output:--
hello
***hello

2) As a package of methods to be included, e.g. in a class:
module AnimalTricks
  def speak
    puts @noise
  end
end

class Dog
  include AnimalTricks

  def initialize
    @noise = "woof"
  end

end

class Mouse
  include AnimalTricks

  def initialize
    @noise = "sqeak"
  end

end

Dog.new.speak
Mouse.new.speak

--output:--
woof
sqeak

A: Modules can have state, bru
module Foo

  @state = "a"

  def self.state
    @state
  end

  def self.stateful
    @state = "b"
  end

end

Look!
Foo.state    # a
Foo.stateful # b
Foo.state    # b

A: If what you cited is really what that source says, then it lacks accuracy. Under accurate use of the terms, indeed that is contradiction.
However, people (inaccurately) use the term Module to mean "a Module that is not a Class". Under this sense, which is presumably what is meant, what is written there is not contradiction.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
La musaranya de Tarfaia (Crocidura tarfayensis) és una espècie de musaranya que viu a Mauritània, Marroc i al Sàhara Occidental. Les seves principals amenaces són el canvi climàtic, el sobrepasturatge del bestiar domèstic i les activitats mineres.

Referències

Bibliografia

 Aulagnier, S. i Thevenot, M., 1986. Catalogue des mammiferes sauvages du Maroc. Travaux de L'Institut Scientifique, Rabat, Serie Zoologie 41: 1–164
 Aulagnier, S. i Hermas, J., 1989. Etude biométrique des Crocidures (Soricidae, Insectivora) de la région de Massa (Souss, Maroc). Doñana, Acta Vertebrata 16: 89–104
 Hutterer, R., 2005. Order Soricomorpha. A: D. E. Wilson i D. M. Reeder (editors), Mammal Species of the World, p. 220–311. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland (Estats Units)
 Vesmanis, I. E. i Vesmanis, A., 1979. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Crociduren-Faune Marokkos (Mammalia, Insectivora, Soricidae). 1. Die Wimperspitzmäusen aus den Sammlungen des Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Zoologische Abhandlungen (Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden) 36: 11–80

Enllaços externs

 Animal Diversity Web

Musaranya Tarfaia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


On the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an exhibition on the same issue has been mounted in Karachi, Pakistan.
According to IQNA, the exhibition opened on January 30 and will be underway for four days, although the organizers have plans to extend it till the end of the Ten-Day Fajr Festival on February 11.
Various book titles in Persian, English and Urdu about Islam and Iran, collections of stamps published in Iran since the victory of the revolution and handicrafts have been exhibited.
The exhibition introduces different cities, religious sites and historical heritage of Iran as well as the Persian race, culture and civilization.
Every year, Iranians commence the Ten-Day Dawn festival on February 1 which marks the return of Imam Khomeini and the culmination of the victory of the Islamic Revolution on February 11.


Did you know that cats are the most popular pet in the world? For thousands of years, these lovable creatures have provided companionship and service to people. But how much do you know about them? Daily Cat Trivia lets you learn about cats while receiving a new cat picture every day. So, whether you're a cat lover or just a trivia fan, Daily Cat Trivia is for you!


text:
Local archivist recounts history behind collection of 20th century Valentines
By: Web Staff
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Love comes in a lot of forms.
That's evident by a collection of Valentines that were sent to a very sick little girl in the early 1900s.
News 3 Photojournalist Michael Woodward went to the Central Library in Chesapeake for a look at this unique antique collection.
"To my Valentine - postman, handle this with care," read Robert B. Hitchings.
Hitchings is the archivist historian at the Chesapeake Central Library.
"Two years ago, I did a program for the Currituck County Historical Society. They asked me to bring the history of the Valentine," he told News 3.
I'm sending my heart to a lady fair...
"A lady afterwards gave me a round wooden container and she said, 'Mr. Hitchings, I want your room to have these old Valentines of Laverne Miller,'" Hitchings recalled. "This little Valentine belonged to Laverne Miller."
"You can see the detail and the craftsmanship. Although she wasn't from our area per se in Virginia, the little girl lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," he explained.
Who is an old sweetheart of mine...
Hitchings said Laverne was the only child of Walter and Hazel Miller and died of diphtheria.
And I want her to be my Valentine...
He said her mother saved all the Valentines that she received in 1924.
Related: 'Colored Notes': A look into the 1920s Portsmouth column written by a former slave
"And it's sad that she passed away. And this is a little tribute to Laverne Miller," Hitchings said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Weekly drop-in meditation classes – suitable for everyone. The classes are designed to give you the means to gain more inner peace and happiness in your daily life.
Each class consists of guided meditations, a talk and discussion.
Each class lasts approximately one and a half hours and is followed by refreshments.
Each class is self-contained, though you are welcome to attend the whole course.
These meditation classes are suitable for everyone. They are taught by our resident teacher Gen Gakyi and give a practical introduction to meditation and include topics such as the benefits of meditation, how to start, maintain and improve a daily meditation practice. Advice is also given on how to remain peaceful in daily life by applying the meditation techniques explained in these classes. The classes conclude with light refreshments afterwards. Please feel free to drop in on a class-by-class basis. See below for dates.
No special clothing is required with chairs and cushions provided for your comfort. Come along to any session, pre-booking is not required.
Our drop-in classes run throughout the year as short courses, although each class is accessible stand-alone. You are welcome to come to any session or course.
Happiness is something that each one of us has the potential to experience, but often our habitual ways of thinking take us in the opposite direction. This short course will explore ways of thinking which lead to happiness and enrich our life experiences.
Many people want to deepen their experience of meditation. This course looks at the different ways we can meditate and the essential elements for making progress with daily meditation.
When we encounter difficult situations we tend to regard the situation itself as our problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the side of the mind. This course looks at how we can transform our experiences through changing how we look at everything.


text:
Soccer-Suggestions to change style are destabilising Leeds, says Bielsa
FILE PHOTO: Premier League - Manchester United v Leeds United
(Reuters) - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa launched a broadside at the media on Thursday, saying there were some people attempting to 'destabilise' his squad with opinions on why the club must alter its playing style to succeed.
While Bielsa's attacking philosophy has earned praise in many quarters for being entertaining, it has also been doubted by others, with promoted Leeds conceding more goals than they have scored to sit 14th in the standings.
Leeds were thrashed 6-2 at Manchester United on Sunday, which led to more criticism of Bielsa's style as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ran riot at Old Trafford. But Bielsa said the scoreline should not be a basis to question their tactics.
"I don't worry too much about what the press think. I always listen, read and try to take the best possible message from what's written," Bielsa told reporters ahead of Sunday's home game against Burnley.
"What does worry me is that what's written does influence the public, they decrease the capacity to understand for the public. Also (they) try to destabilise by suggesting to the players that the style needs to be changed.
"This happens when the results allow. It doesn't matter if in the previous game, prior to the United game, the opinion was completely different. Of course, the substance to try and reach a conclusion is the amount of goals we have been conceding."
Bielsa explained how even though United won convincingly, both teams dominated the game but it was the hosts who converted their chances while Leeds did not despite creating more.
However, the Argentine said he had been outfoxed by Solskjaer's tactics to play two central midfielders in Fred and Scott McTominay which threw a spanner in the works.
"With this decision, the manager of United was superior to me in the way I imagined the game," Bielsa added. "It helped balance their defensive system and I didn't think the key of the game would be with the two central midfielders."
Bielsa had said after the game that he would not abandon his principles and reiterated the need for weaker teams to take risks in the interest of English football.
"I will always gamble for the hurt to be a smaller one even if there's a risk of it getting better," Bielsa said.
"This is why I say English football is one of the few altars where it is valued, in the attempt to be better, even if the opponent ended up being superior.
"Clearly, that stopped being this way. The spectators started thinking this way, which I think will affect English football."
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)


OLD BRIDGE, N.J.—Blonder Tongue Laboratories announced Purdue University has successfully transitioned its campus television network, Boiler TV, from analog to digital relying on a wide range of solutions from Blonder Tongue. Utilizing a combination of Blonder Tongue's multiplexers, MPEG-2 SD and HD encoders, and amplifiers, the university can affordably deliver more than 100 SD and HD channels to students, faculty, and visitors in residence halls, athletic buildings, and auditoriums as well as the on-campus Union Club Hotel. In addition to enabling Purdue University to deliver better quality video content, Blonder Tongue's equipment also allows the university to send out timely and reliable emergency alert information.
"When migrating to a digital infrastructure, we needed to deploy CATV equipment that would improve the student experience and the performance of our emergency alert system," said Michael Beach, manager, Boiler Television Network at Purdue University.
Purdue University uses Blonder Tongue's MUX-2D-QAM multiplexers, HDE-2H/2S-QAM MPEG-2 HD encoders, SDE-4AV-QAM MPEG-2 SD encoders, and HDE-8C-QAM MPEG-2 HD encoders for video processing before distributing the signals via fiber and RF to Blonder Tongue amplifiers located around campus. Based on a high-density, low-cost, flexible design that reduces the equipment, space, and power needed for QAM distribution, Blonder Tongue's digital television DTV solutions dramatically lower the university's capital and operating expenses.
Prior to the digital conversion, Boiler TV found it challenging to deliver clear video. Using Blonder Tongue encoders, which feature optimized motion estimation capabilities, the university can deliver an exceptional video quality, even those with fast motion such as sports events, the vendor said. All Blonder Tongue equipment features an intuitive Web-based interface through which Boiler TV engineers can easily make on the fly channel changes from any remote location.
One of the key requirements of the Boiler TV upgrade was to improve the university's ability to deliver timely emergency alert information. Blonder Tongue's encoders are one of the only solutions on the market that come equipped with an Emergency Alert System interface, enabling Purdue University to distribute information to students and faculty in a matter of seconds in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. Currently, the university is looking into implementing a one-button emergency alert approach so that Boiler TV can simultaneously send campus-wide emergency alerts via text message, email, and TV programming with the push of a button.
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and its affiliate, R. L. Drake Holdings, LLC announced today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court ruling rendered in September 2013 in the patent infringement lawsuit initiated by Ktech Telecommunications, Inc.
At the 2014 NAB Show, Blonder Tongue, a leading manufacturer of SD and HD digital video solutions, will perform live demonstrations of its latest Professional Series of MPEG-2 encoders and ATSC/QAM transcoders for broadcasters.


Information about the year 4 programme and degree structure.
In the final year of undergraduate study, students have the opportunity to specialise, having covered much core material in previous years. Specialisation is available in the form of a wide range of course options and through the project/dissertation/thesis, which is undertaken on an individual's preferred topic, agreed with a supervisor. This project, plus the advanced course options available, allow the students to build on their practical and foundational skills and even to apply those skills towards research.
The common feature of 4th year for all degrees based in the School of Informatics is the 40-point 4th year project (also known as the ug4 project). Students on joint degrees such as BSc CS/Physics or BEng Electronics/SE may take their 4th year project in the partner department (Physics or Electronics in the examples above), but all the same those students will have some 40-point 4th year project (if taking the project in the Physics department, this would be split as two 20-point projects). MInf students in their 4th year also have a 40-point project. The distinguishing feature of the 4th year project is that it is an individual piece of work on a research topic specific to the individual student. To ensure successful progress on the project, the student will have to manage the available time carefully; the project work and the final writing-up of the dissertation will require a certain amount of creativity and self-direction.
Degrees are specified via Degree Programme Tables (DPTs) which appear on the Edinburgh DRPS site. A subpage of the DRPS with links to the DPT entries for all Informatics degrees can be found on the DRPS website. Click on the link for your individual degree - clearly the details of interest to you this academic year (as a final year student) are those under year 4.
Details of the 4th year DPT differ according to the particular degree. As a guideline, most single-honours degree programmes have a 4th-year structure consisting of the 4th year project (40 points) and a selection of courses from a listed main collection of 4th year suggestions (about 50-80 points usually). There may also be a sub-collection of 4th year suggestions with a smaller number of points allowed, such as in the BSc CS DPT (this particular sub-collection allows one option (10 points) to be chosen from core postgraduate CS courses). If the student's course choices do not comprise 120 points in total (this depends on how many are selected from the main collection), the student may take one 10-point course from among all Informatics level-10 courses, or one 10-point course from among all level-10 courses across the University, or both if necessary. Note this description is just an overall rough description, and details vary across degrees - for example joint honours degrees (including the MA in Cognitive Science) will have more than one "main collection" of courses, corresponding to the different subjects of the degree.
We now discuss "main collections of 4th year suggestions" in the DRPS (from which most options should be chosen) and mention some counterexamples to the typical structure described above.
In the paragraphs below "normal year taken (nyt)" refers to the "Year" listed against that course in the sortable list of courses on the Informatics site. This year is also listed in the DRPS alongside the "level" entry for the course.
''main collection of 4th year suggestions": The ''main collection of 4th year suggestions" will vary depending on the degree. For example, the main collection for 4th year of the BSc CS is different to that 4th year of the BSc AI, with some (but by no means all) courses belonging to both collections.
levels/normal-year-taken: every course in the DRPS has both a level and a normal year taken value. In a "main collection of 4th year suggestions" of Informatics courses in the DPT, the individual courses listed may either have level 10 or level 11 (level 11 is probably slightly more common). The level 11 Informatics courses listed in these "main collections" will usually have normal year taken (nyt) = 4 where they are listed in the sortable list of courses in Informatics (and "Year 4 undergraduate" written in the DPT entry).
sub-collections: As well as the "main collection" of course options inn a 4th year DPT, most degrees also have a smaller sub-collection of postgraduate courses (these are level 11, nyt=5) from which a student is permitted to select 10 points (ie, one course).
Joint degrees: For joint degrees such as BSc CS/Maths, there is likely to be two "main collections of 4th year suggestions" to consider, one for CS courses, and one for Maths courses. The DPT will require students to approximately balance their choices from the two Subjects of the joint degree. Usually the constraint is a bit stricter on the number of required points from the School where the student does not take the ug4 project.
compulsory courses: For most Informatics degrees, single or joint, the only compulsory course in 4th year is the 4th year project. Two exceptions to this are the BSc in CS/MS (having a compulsory course from the Management side), as well as the BSc in AI/Maths (the Informatics course AR is compulsory).
CT (Credit Total): each course (including the project which officially is a course) is allocated a number of points (10, 20 or 40 in this university). Roughly speaking 1 point corresponds to 10 hours of effort (naturally this is a guide only). Note that the points (and implied effort) cover all aspects of a course including practicals, private study, revision and even exam time. Our nyt=4 taught courses are all rated at 10 points; the project by contrast is rated at 40 points. The credit total is simply the sum of the points of the courses taken. The total number of points you must take adds up to 120 (this applies to all degrees). Thus a typical final year student will take 8 courses each at 10 points and the project (giving 8×10+40=120 points).
non-Informatics courses: As described above most DPTs allow the opportunity to enrol in a 10-point course (of level 10 or greater) anywhere in the University. If you are to take this opportunity, you must ensure that you satisfy any pre-requisites for the course, and should ask permission from the Course Lecturer to be admitted to the course.
extra courses outside "main collection": A request to take extra courses belonging to Informatics (with nyt=4) but not belonging to the "main collection of suggested ug4 courses" for your particular degree. This may be agreed by the SCAO officer if there are special reasons (eg, preparation for the ug4 project) to deviate from the main collection; however, you must get your PT to submit a concession form if you want to do this.
extra postgraduate courses: A second likely deviation would be a request to take extra nyt=5, level=11 courses, apart from the number (usually just one 10 point course) allowed by the DPT. In certain cases a student may be permitted to take extra nyt=5 courses, but it depends on having special reasons for the request, and on getting permission via a concession form submitted by your PT. You should really try NOT to take more than 1 or 2 nyt=5 courses, because these courses (as well as being slightly more difficult) might have deadlines late in the semester which may interfere with project work/dissertation-writing. Late deadlines are not permitted for Informatics nyt=4 courses (except coursework-only courses).
Some other requests might be to take extra courses outside Informatics (and not in your "main collection" group(s)), or to take courses which have "levels" below level 10. Both these kinds of requests are likely to be refused due to the particular constraints which govern the award of Honours degrees.
Who do I contact if I have a query or need to talk to someone?
In the event that you cannot reach your Year Organiser please contact the Informatics Teaching Organisation.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the courses you have selected meet with the requirements of your degree.
PATH Informatics pages - An online resource designed to make interpreting the DPT and choosing courses easier.


Some time ago we were implementing Identity Management solution at an electricity distribution company. The core component was our Identity Manager CzechIdM.
CzechIdM interconnects systems with portal application and enables hundreds of thousands of customers to create and manage their login information. Because of the huge number of users, CzechIdM has to withstand a significant load of hundreds of requests per second. In this post, we will show you, how it is done.
Every information system and hardware has its limits. In the complicated application, not mentioning environment of integration platform, the limitations are even stricter. Aside of RAM consumption, disk space and CPU, we have to deal with network throughput, database connectivity and endpoint system delay.
In this deployment, every single user request is important and must be served. This is because of registration, password reset and password change functions. Because of the high load, CzechIdM implements request queue. Under fire, the system with the queue may slow down, but every user request will be processed. And that is what matters.
Java comes with bundled technology for internal application messaging called Java Messaging Services, JMS. Using internal messaging, some part of the application can transfer data to another part. The JMS messages are stored in the queue until the recipient accepts them. The queue can be either persistent or in-memory.
In our case, user requests are served by classes, which simply encapsulate request into message, push it to the queue and wait for the response from component, which actually processes the request.
Queues themselves are handled by the application server. Thanks to this, configuring new queue is only a matter of creating appropriate xml configuration.
The queue has attached listeners. These listeners consume messages from the queue and process data. They are generally called Message Driven Beans. Their number is limited by the settings in the application server, so we are sure we will not tun out of memory due to high message count.
//do we need to send reply somewhere?
The most important method of the Bean is onMessage() method. Input of this method is whole message. Only problem here is, that message payload has to be a primitive type (or a String). As a workaround, we used standard Java serialization combined with base64 encoding – we send every request (or response) object in its serialized base64 encoded form.
And thats it! The JMS technology takes care of everything else – thread scheduling, pool synchronization or even the message persistence in the database.
In the post, we described how CzechIdM uses JMS for load balancing of user requests. If you have any questions, don't hesistate and contact us on info@bcvsolutions.eu.
For various reasons, many organizations (have to) use legacy applications. That is simply a fact we need to cope with while creating integration solutions. One of our customers use really old SunSSO, which was released about ten years ago, and use it for authenticating users. This particular version of SunSSO doesn't have any simple API for external applications. It has only the SOAP service which cannot be used, e.g. for session token validation. Because we needed to validate sessions from other applications, we wrote ourselves a simple RESTful API.
SunSSO was open-sourced in 2005 as OpenSSO but, later after acquisition, Oracle removed the source code from the download sites. Company called ForgeRock created a fork of OpenSSO and develops the product under the name OpenAM. OpenAM comes with a nice pack of REST services. Their specification was a base specification for our servlet REST interface. The specification considered here is from OpenAM 10. In version 11, ForgeRock marked it as deprecated and moved to more convenient JSON format. Specification we used can be found here.
For accessing functionality of the access manager itself, we need to deploy servlets into the same application context. This will ensure that requests can be forwarded into the AM's classes. The principle is that the servlet translates client requests into objects and then forwards those objects in standard manner into the access manager.
There comes a simple example on how to write a session validation servlet by yourself. First, we set up the development environment – standard J2SE project is perfectly sufficient.
Now we have to add the development dependencies: am_sdk.jar, am_services.jar, servlet.jar. All those can be found in your existing SunSSO installation. Just copy them over and update classpath of the newly created project. Also, do not forget to set appropriate JVM version (1.5 in most cases).
Suppose we created the IsTokenValidServlet as shown in the previous section. Now we need to deploy it.
First, package the compiled class into jar archive (lets call it RESTservlet.jar). Copy this jar into the directory where other SunSSO jars are located. Open the server.xml file of the AM server and add the /path/to/RESTservlet.jar into the classpath so the server can find our class.
In the repository you can find the existing REST servlets source codes. Unfortunately – due to licensing – we couldn't add the jar dependencies. It probably does not matter since those of you who will need to use these servlets, will probably have access to an instance of SunSSO.
Any feedback, patches or comments are greatly appreciated. If you have questions you can also contact author by email: petr.fiser@bcvsolutions.eu.
Delegation of the approval request extends options of requests in CzechIdM. This function gives users opportunity dynamically to choose own deputy, who have been entrusted approving incoming requests.
Delegation, in their basic functionality, allows users move own rights and responsibility related with requests in CzechIdM to other user or a group of users. The user only needs to choose in CzechIdM web interface some other user(s), to whom he would want to delegate own requests and, when the deputy accepts this responsibility delegation, this delegation becomes active without any complicated administration.
Now all of approval requests will stop comes to original approval and it is sent to every active deputy. Every one of this deputies has full rights to approve or reject this request. When someone finishes the request, it is regarded as closed and it is deleted from list of waiting requests by other deputies.
In choosing deputy is possible in delegation form choose start-date and end-date of delegation validity. This choice enables various options of delegation, then in practice delegation is not active before start neither after end of validity. CzechIdM treats with inactive delegations like they don't exist – i.e. when user has a lot of delegations but all of them are inactive, CzechIdM sends every request to him.
Specifying start-date or end-date is not mandatory and nothing prevents to user leave one or both fields in form empty. Without specifying end-date is delegation indefinitely (until user cancel it). Without specifying start-date delegation is valid at the moment of confirmation by deputy.
Users with relevant rights have access to tab "Delegate tasks" in CzechIdM in Tasks section. On this site there is shown overview of all delegations with the time intervals during which are tasks delegated to the deputy (or deputies). By pressing the Edit button we move to the displayed form below, which is for create new delegation.
By pressing button "Select user" displays dialog box, which allows searching in list of other users and their filtration by user-name, first name or last name.
After selecting a user is added to the list of selected users. In the right part of form is possible to specify start-date and end-date of delegation validity.
After selecting users and time range is need to create the delegations. To do this is there button Select, after its pressing is created one line in list of selected users for each user, with time details.
In this table is possible to delete any existing delegation (using option "Delete" at the end of line). To close the edit form are there two buttons on the bottom of the form. By selecting Close the form is only closed and all changes are discarded. The Save option saves all changes to the system and after that closes form. Deleting the existing delegations takes effect immediately but creating a new delegation take effect until after that the deputy approved the delegation.
The system does not restrict users to delegation their requests to someone who delegates his request also, even on several levels. The resulting cascade behaves so that any request addressed to one of the users in the resulting delegation concatenation, gradually passes through all participants in the chain and is sent only to the user at the end.
In the event that users consciously (or unconsciously) close the chain of delegation – ie in chain of delegations would occur one user on two different places – a situation can be call delegation in the circle. System in this situation can not adequately determine to whom requests should be delivered, therefore contains a fuse that will ensure that in the case of delegation in circle, all requests sent to participants in the circle, are sent to the original recipients.
Described delegation function is already standard component of our Identity Manager CzechIdM. Currently, we are planning further extension the functionality for better overview and control and from the perspective of the delegate and few administration functionality for easier delegation management. If you are interested or questions please contact me at jan.effenberger@bcvsolutions.eu.
Identity Manager CzechIdM offers many standardized processes. Recently, self-registration of a customer to a portal was added. This way, CzechIdM helps to solve the problem how to deliver registration data securely: customers authenticate themselves in the process of self-registration and CzechIdM enables them to set their initial password.
2013 was for us and for our customers the year, of massive increase in managed accounts and number of systems connected to CzechIdM. We focused on the completion of contracted projects and stabilization, strengthening of our knowledge.
– For our customers we manage through CzechIdM over 2mil accounts.
– We have developed new connectors for CzechIdM: Vera, Active Directory, Siebel, Matrix, Navision, Fama, FIS CVUT, Medea, eIdentity, MS-Exchange 2010, OpenAM, Liferay, Sun Access Management, AW Caesar, VPN, Sun Portal.
– We went through an external audit of accounts for years 2011-2013.
– Traffic on our blog is still increasing. For year 2013 it makes 150%.
– We achieved two new references from our customers.
– We changed the internal development methodology to more agile.
– We take the speed of development into whole new level.
– We released 2 new versions of CzechIdM.
– We migrated Oracle Cluster from 10g to 11g.
– We are testing more, until now, 40% spent time is dedicated to testing.
In this article we will show how to manage Google Apps accounts with CzechIdM.
The CzechIdM Identity Manager is a tool providing central and automatic management of all user identities (accounts, groups etc.) in the whole network, with no negative impact on the work of the current system. CzechIdM communicates with end systems in their native protocols (LDAP, JDBC, SSH, …). CzechIdM is usually connected to end systems by special connectors written in Java. You can find the list of supported systems below under "List of connectable systems". CzechIdM is a purely open-source software. It can be adapted to almost all networks and all end systems. You can think of CzechIdM as a powerful engine wrapped in a set of forms, workflows and rules.


It will be our pleasure to have you visit us in our offices at a previously made appointment regarding the time and date of our meeting.
Below is the site map and directions to our offices.
Coming from Zielona Gora - make a right on the first light intersection (by the BP gas station) (going in the direction of Wroclaw), after driving several hundred meters, before an overpass (before a characteristic skyscraper of the Internal Revenue building) make a left. After driving approx. 200 meters [about 660 feet] passed the ZUS [Social Insurance Services] building (across the street there is a blue school building) make a right a direction of two skyscrapers. The road goes passed the skyscrapers and becomes Sloneczna Street. More or less midways on this road are our offices (a characteristic high sand brick fence).
Coming from Wroclaw - left at the first light intersection (going on the main road in the direction of Zielona Gora). Make a right at the next light intersection (a church on the right and a Shell gas station passed the intersection). After about 1000 m [about 900 yards] there will be train tracks. Make a left about a 100 meters [approx. 328 feet] passed the tracks (on the opposite site is a stretch of boutiques). More or less midways on this road are our offices (a characteristic high sand brick fence).


The Wabash County Commissioners approved the 2017 appointments at its first meeting of the new year Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Scott Givens was elected as the Commissioners' chairman with Brian Haupert voted into the vice chairman seat.
As for local board, Givens was reappointed to the Plan Commission Board, the Tax Abatement Committee and the Central Dispatch Advisory Board. Meanwhile, Susan Baker was appointed to the Wabash Carnegie Public Library Board.
A former Manchester College basketball standout has been tabbed by governor-elect Eric Holcomb to serve as state chair of the Indiana Republican Party.
Kyle Hupfer will be considered for the post when a caucus takes place on Feb. 1.
If selected, Hupfer would replace Jeff Cardwell, who announced in December that he planned to resign on Jan. 21 following the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump and vice president-elect Mike Pence.
A little "Magic" is gone from the Economic Development Group of Wabash County.
Abby Hoy, executive assistant at EDG, resigned after 10 years at the post to pursue other opportunities. Her last day on the job was Friday, Jan. 6.
An early-morning traffic stop resulted in two arrests last weekend.
Cody Hardesty, 28, and Ashley Hernandez, 26, were both arrested shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 on preliminary charges of visiting/maintaining a common nuisance, obstructing justice, possession of paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine, according to a release from the North Manchester Police Department.
According to court records, as of Tuesday, Jan. 3, Hardesty, of North Manchester, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; maintaining a common nuisance – alcohol, a level 6 felony; possession of paraphernalia, a class c misdemeanor; and driving while suspended, a class a infraction.
Residents could see some movement on various programs that are part of the Stellar Community Projects program in 2017.
Work has already started on the Rock City Lofts project, and work on other aspects of the program will begin later this year.
The Wabash City Council, at its December meeting, heard an update from Rachel Swanson, American Structurepoint's liaison with the city.
Wabash City Schools' Board of Education rearranged itself Monday, Jan. 2, starting with appointing Jordan Tandy as board attorney.
Previously appointed to the board as a member, Tandy will now act as the board's legal advisor after taking over the vacant seat left behind by John Johnston's retirement.
Additionally, the board reappointed Brandon France, whose term expired in December, to serve the final two years of Tandy's term.
The City of Wabash will lease a building near the Wabash River to a local businessman who plans to open a store as part of the Wabash River Redevelopment Project.
The Wabash Board of Public Works and Safety approved the three-year lease for the building, which is now being used as a storage facility for the Wabash Park Department.
An official from the Indiana Burn camp received a check for more than $2,000 from the Wabash Fire Department on Friday, Jan. 6.
The money, which amounted to $2,057.94, was raised during the fourth annual step walk in honor of those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, as well as in memory of three local firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Mark J. Koopman, Hoosier Burn Camp executive director, received the check from one of the event's co-founders, Firefighter/Paramedic Jeff Krom. He and Firefighter/Paramedic Dennis Vigar began the event on their own in 2012 and it has grown to now include representatives from other local fire departments, as well as members of the public.


Well, James outdid himself for this past Sunday's "Wine and Unwind". No hockey puck here (although, it would be a cool thing to serve at a hockey-themed birthday party. Just sayin'.) Not only is this recipe super easy to make (the cake itself only has six ingredients) but it's also gluten-free!
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease an 8 inch round cake pan, and dust with cocoa powder.
2. In the top of a double boiler over lightly simmering water, melt chocolate and butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
1. In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar, the corn syrup and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Add 4 ounces chopped chocolate, swirl pan to mix, do not mix, and allow to stand until melted, about 3 minutes.
2. Whisk 1 tablespoon butter into icing until melted and the chocolate is shiny and smooth.. Put wax paper under the cooling rack then pour glaze evenly over cake. Use a spatula to ease icing out to edges of cake and down the sides. Sprinkle the ground almonds around the top edge of the cake. Allow icing to cool and set before slicing.


If you are an industry owner, then you must be very well aware that an industrial precinct should be hygienic. No matter how much effort you put in maintaining the standard of cleanliness in your industrial property, you will come across several pests which will proceed in your industrial zone and hide in various places inside your industry, making your business upside down in the long run. Stave off your industrial materials and health of your laborers and employees by availing the unfailing industrial pest control solutions from the reputed pest agency.
Let the proficient pest guys start their effective processes which are required to combat against all pest issues. The pest specialists will do their best to relieve you from the lasting pest attacks. Depending on the nature of the pest invasion, the efficient pest guys will provide pest-related measures required to protect your manufacturing goods from the notorious insect pests. The skilled pest technicians will apply pest sprays and effective pest products in the storage units, processing section and every place of your industrial sector to forestall the entry points of all kinds of pests.
It is extremely important to get the internal and external portion of your industrial sector properly inspected by the trained pest inspectors of the eminent pest control agency. The industrial pest inspection executed by the qualified pest inspectors will cater high standard of inspection to keep the creepy crawlies at bay. As per your pest requirements, the pest agency has all the pest solutions at their end.
Keep all types of insect pests out of your industrial precinct permanently.


Zuma Surf & Swim Training has teamed up with the folks at Party with a Cause to raise money for Heal the Bay by donating private surf lesson at the exclusive Pt. Dume beach.
This event is sure to be a good time...and the best part, the proceeds go to the great people at Heal the Bay who are dedicating their lives to keeping our bay clean. To show your support you can purchase tickets to this event and bid in the silent auction for tons of local activities.
Lisa who is organizing the event just made some $50 tix available but it was limited to the first 50 people to purchase. Details.."We are thrilled to have received a large donation from a big supporter of Heal the Bay (who has asked to remain anonymous). We have decided to apply this donation to discount 50 event tickets -- 2 guests may attend for the price of 1 ticket.
We are very excited to be able to extend this promotion to you, and hope it will enable you to attend. Please note that this will only apply for the first 50 guests that complete their purchase.


text:
Q: Continuously listen for fingerprints on android device in background I am developing a fingerprint gesture application which should work in the background and continuously listen for fingerprint input from user to perform desired actions. So far, I have tried to use IntentService to make fingerprint scanner work in the background but as soon as I close the activity or minimize it, fingerprint scanner stops working. Is there any way where I can use fingerprint scanner in the background even after my activity is closed?
Here is my code
MainActivity.java
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final String KEY_NAME = "secretkey";
    private Cipher cipher;
    private KeyStore keyStore;
    private KeyGenerator keyGenerator;
    private FingerprintManager.CryptoObject cryptoObject;

    private TextView textView;
    private Button auth_button,stop_button;
    private FingerprintManager fingerprintManager;
    private KeyguardManager keyguardManager;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
            keyguardManager = (KeyguardManager) getSystemService(KEYGUARD_SERVICE);
            fingerprintManager = (FingerprintManager) getSystemService(FINGERPRINT_SERVICE);
            textView=(TextView)findViewById(R.id.authStatus);
            auth_button=(Button)findViewById(R.id.auth_button);
            stop_button=(Button)findViewById(R.id.stop_button);

            if (!fingerprintManager.isHardwareDetected()) {
                textView.setText("Your device doesn't support fingerprint authentication");
            }

            if (ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                textView.setText("Please enable the fingerprint permission");
            }

            if (!fingerprintManager.hasEnrolledFingerprints()) {
                textView.setText("No fingerprint configured. Please register at least one fingerprint in your device's Settings");
            }

            if (!keyguardManager.isKeyguardSecure()) {
                textView.setText("Please enable lockscreen security in your device's Settings");
            }

            else {
                auth_button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                    @Override
                    public void onClick(View view) {
                        Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Starting service", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                        try
                        {
                            generateKey();
                        }
                        catch(Exception e)
                        {
                            e.printStackTrace();
                        }
                        if(initCipher())
                        {
                            Provider provider=new Provider(fingerprintManager,cryptoObject,MainActivity.this);
                            Intent intent=new Intent(MainActivity.this,AsyncService.class);
                            startService(intent);
                        }
                    }
                });

                stop_button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                    @Override
                    public void onClick(View view) {
                        stopService(new Intent(MainActivity.this,AsyncService.class));
                        Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Service stopped", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    }
                });
            }
        }
    }

    private void generateKey() {
        try
        {
            keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance("AndroidKeyStore");
            keyGenerator = KeyGenerator.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES, "AndroidKeyStore");
            keyStore.load(null);
            keyGenerator.init(new

                    KeyGenParameterSpec.Builder(KEY_NAME,
                    KeyProperties.PURPOSE_ENCRYPT |
                            KeyProperties.PURPOSE_DECRYPT)
                    .setBlockModes(KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC)
                    .setUserAuthenticationRequired(true)
                    .setEncryptionPaddings(
                            KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7)
                    .build());

            keyGenerator.generateKey();
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    public boolean initCipher() {
        try
        {
            cipher = Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7);
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException("Failed to get Cipher", e);
        }

        try
        {
            keyStore.load(null);
            SecretKey key = (SecretKey) keyStore.getKey(KEY_NAME, null);
            cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, key);
            return true;
        }
        catch (KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException e)
        {
            return false;
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            throw new RuntimeException("Failed to init Cipher", e);
        }
    }
}

AsyncService.java
public class AsyncService extends IntentService {

    private int ONGOING_NOTIFICATION_ID=2346712;

    public AsyncService() {
        super(AsyncService.class.getName());
    }

    @Override
    protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {
        showNotification();
        new FingerprintHandler().startAuth(Provider.fpManager,Provider.cryptoObj);
    }

    public void showNotification() {

        Intent notificationIntent = new Intent(this, MainActivity.class);
        PendingIntent pendingIntent =
                PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0, notificationIntent, 0);

        Notification notification =
                new Notification.Builder(this)
                        .setContentTitle(getText(R.string.notification_title))
                        .setContentText(getText(R.string.notification_message))
                        .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.launcher)
                        .setContentIntent(pendingIntent)
                        .build();

        startForeground(ONGOING_NOTIFICATION_ID, notification);
    }

    public class FingerprintHandler extends FingerprintManager.AuthenticationCallback {

        private CancellationSignal cancellationSignal;
        public void startAuth(FingerprintManager manager, FingerprintManager.CryptoObject cryptoObject)
        {
            cancellationSignal = new CancellationSignal();
            if (ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(getApplicationContext(), Manifest.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED)
            {
                return;
            }
            manager.authenticate(cryptoObject, cancellationSignal, 0, this, null);
        }

        @Override
        public void onAuthenticationError(int errMsgId, CharSequence errString)
        {

        }

        @Override
        public void onAuthenticationFailed()
        {
           //some action to perform
        }

        @Override
        public void onAuthenticationHelp(int helpMsgId, CharSequence helpString)
        {

        }

        @Override
        public void onAuthenticationSucceeded(FingerprintManager.AuthenticationResult result)
        {
            //some action to perform
        }
    }
}

Provider.java
public class Provider {

    public static FingerprintManager fpManager;
    public static FingerprintManager.CryptoObject cryptoObj;
    public static Context mContext;

    public Provider(FingerprintManager fingerprintManager, FingerprintManager.CryptoObject cryptoObject, Context context) {
        fpManager=fingerprintManager;
        cryptoObj=cryptoObject;
        mContext=context;
    }
}

A: You can try this below code. First of all you need to add properties of Service in Manifest file
  <service
        android:name=".service.Service"
        android:enabled="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:isolatedProcess="true">

  </service>

And also add START_STICKY in your service.
@Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
    return START_STICKY;
}

A: try this,
worked for me
@Override
public int onStartCommand(@Nullable Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {

    startForeground(ONGOING_NOTIFICATION_ID, showNotification());
    new FingerprintHandler().startAuth(Provider.fpManager,Provider.cryptoObj);
    return START_STICKY;
}

@Override
protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {

}

public Notification showNotification() {

    Intent notificationIntent = new Intent(this, MainActivity.class);
    PendingIntent pendingIntent =
            PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0, notificationIntent, 0);

    Notification notification =
            new Notification.Builder(this)
                    .setContentTitle(getText(R.string.notification_title))
                    .setContentText(getText(R.string.notification_message))
                    .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.launcher)
                    .setContentIntent(pendingIntent)
                    .build();
    notificationChannel().notify(ONGOING_NOTIFICATION_ID, notification);
    return notification;

}

@TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.O)
private NotificationManager notificationChannel() {
    NotificationManager notificationMgr =(NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {

        NotificationChannel notificationChannel =(NotificationChannel) new NotificationChannel("channel_name", BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID, NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_MIN);
        notificationChannel.setDescription("desc");
        notificationChannel.setLightColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getApplicationContext(), R.color.colorPrimary));
        notificationChannel.enableLights(false);
        notificationChannel.enableVibration(false);
        notificationMgr.createNotificationChannel(notificationChannel);
    }
    return notificationMgr;

}

A: Look at my answer here

Finally, After hours of trying I found the problem, The solution is you must create AccessibilityService and enable the permission from settings, After enabling the permission, Callback will work.


"Transfiguring Prairie Skies" explores the themes and creation of the monumental stained glass windows at Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon. Donald Bolen's words reflect our searching, longing for, and experiencing God's imprint of life, death, and resurrection within creation, within our world, within ourselves - revealed shining through the windows. Sarah Hall's artistic process of making these magnificent windows is richly illustrated and detailed. The fusion of word and image, glass and light - is simple, beautiful and eloquent.
The Glass Art of Sarah Hall by J.S. Porter presents 27 beautifully illustrated art glass installations. Hall's work ranges from a solar tower in Vancouver to leaf patterns in an Arizona sanctuary, to the jewelled splendour of the 'Wisdom Windows' at Massey College in Toronto.


If you own a home, you know the importance in changing furnace filters, cleaning the carpets, cleaning the chimney, clearing out the rain gutters and mowing the lawn during the spring and summer. In order for your home to remain in tip-top shape, you have to maintain it.
If you own a car, it's the same thing. You have to get regular oil changes, replace the tires after a certain number of miles, and get it serviced according to the manufacturer's instructions. This way, your car will be reliable and it will perform well.
Even you have to be maintained. You need food for proper fuel, shelter to protect you from the elements, exercise to stay lean and strong, and adequate rest so you can recharge your batteries. If you don't take proper care of yourself, your body is sure to let you down.
Like your home, your car, and your own body, your estate plan needs to be "serviced" periodically. Look at your estate plan as a snapshot in time. It paints a picture of you, your family, and your assets at the time you create it. Since all of these things change over time, you should update your plan accordingly.
If you created a will in the first year of marriage and now you have three children, or now you're divorced and remarried, or now you're enjoying your Golden Years with more (and more) grandchildren, you can't expect the original plan to be as effective as it was 10 or 15 years ago. Estate planning is not a one-time event; throughout your lifetime, it will need to be revised, tweaked and updated. Sometimes, it might even need to be replaced.
When is it Time to Make Updates?
How do you know when it's time to update your estate plan? Instead of thinking in terms of years; for example, think in terms of events. Generally, if there is a significant change in your health, family, or financial situation, or if the laws change, you may need to make changes to your existing estate plan.
Has it been some time since you updated your estate plan? Or, has there been significant changes in your personal or financial situation? If you feel an estate plan update is in order, I encourage you to contact me today to schedule your free consultation!


A double whammy of wonderful, this Chocolate and Gin Gift Box promises is perfect for the spirit enthusiasts out there.
Hotel Chocolat have paired together chocolate and gin in true creative fashion with a varied selection of treats. Spoil yourself with their Gin Truffles, offering a delicious juniper-distilled hit of gin and sealed in delicious dark chocolate, before discovering for yourself why their Cocoa Gin is a triple gold star winner at the Great Taste Awards. It's a delicious collection that won't disappoint.


text:
Wiwi Jury
Wiwi Jury: Georgia's Circus Mircus with "Lock Me In"
byWiwibloggs Team
The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 40 competing songs in Eurovision 2022. Next we review Georgia, who have chosen Circus Mircus with "Lock Me In".
Did they lock in our votes? Read on to find out!
Circus Mircus – "Lock Me In" (Israel Eurovision 2022)
Review: Circus Mircus – "Lock Me In"
Robyn: Look, I'm not exactly sure what is going on here… but I like it! These Georgian indie rock circus clowns — with a lead singer who has a suspiciously antipodean accent — are serving a simple but incredibly catchy tune. The song manages to evoke both the drama of Covid lockdowns as well as some double entendre ("lock me sideways", you say?), with the end result being a fun song that doesn't risk being confused with any of the other acts in Turin. More clownery, please!
Oliver: Perhaps the most unpredictable Eurovision competitor, Georgia has boldly opted for full-scale bonkers. Elements of Brit-pop seep through, with hints of Everything Everything in the guitar riffs and falsetto ostinatos. Even so, such ornaments are no strong foundation for successful songwriting. "Lock Me In" is incoherent nonsense disguised as a quirky arts project, dressed up with an elaborate marketing plan that ran out of steam before the train left the station. Mysteriousness is always a fun gimmick, but Norway already has Georgia pipped to the post on that front. The ambition is admirable, but the execution less so.
Lucy: Hear me out…"Lock Me In" is BRILLIANT. Eurovision always needs diversity in genres, and Georgia have yet again provided exactly that. With the rumours of Nika Kocharov being part of the merry band of clown school dropouts Circus Mircus, it was always going to be a vibe different than anything in the contest. From the second it starts with 'Show me whatcha got…", we get intense quirk, fun and possibly a shock qualifier? All I know is I can't stop singing it, it's catchy as heck. I'm so excited to see how weird the staging could be.
Antranig: I try to find the positives in every entry but sometimes, I have to accept the reality that there simply isn't much to draw upon. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, the only positive here is the creative way they have crafted some of the lyrics. I think everyone has heard the term "lockdown" enough lately, and I enjoy the way they play with their words. Beyond that, I have nothing positive to add. Better luck next time, Georgia.
Luis: Georgia keeps going their own way at Eurovision and sometimes we're not conscious of how lucky we are to have them. "Lock Me In" walks a fine line between Daft Punk's lesser known catalogue and regular 90s Brit Pop. Personally, I'm all for it, but I'm aware this will be a divisive choice. However, some of Georgia's most divisive entries have brought them gold. Midnight gold, to be exact.
Georgia Eurovision 2022 ranking
In the Eurovision 2022 Wiwi Jury, we have 18 jurors but only have room for five reviews. The remaining scores are below:
Angus: 7.5
Cinan: 6
Deban: 5
Jonathan: 5.5
Josh: 4.5
Natalie: 5
Pablo: 4.5
Renske: 4
Ron: 5.5
Sebastian: 9
Suzanne: 2
Tom: 6.5
William: 2.5
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 1 and a high of 9.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.34/10
What do you think of Georgia's Eurovision 2022 entry? Share your own score and review for Circus Mircus's "Lock Me In" below!
See all our Eurovision 2022 reviews and rankings here
Circus Mircus
Wiwi Jury 2022
Wiwibloggs Team
Eurovision pre party
PrePartyES 2022: 34 acts set to perform in Madrid's La Riviera tonight
byBernardo Pereira
Wiwi Jury: San Marino's Achille Lauro with "Stripper"
The Voice Georgia: 16 semi-finalists remain in Eurovision 2023 selection
byRezo Mamsikashvili
The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Junior Eurovision lyrics
Georgia at Junior Eurovision 2022: Mariam Bigvava with "I Believe"
New music this week: Songs from Kalush Orchestra, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more
New music this week: Songs from Sanja Vucic, Systur, Nina Zilli and more
Georgia: The Voice will serve as artist selection for Eurovision 2023
New music this week: Songs from Circus Mircus, Benjamin Ingrosso, Kristian Kostov and more
ayzelto
This is just… to messy from me. It has the Georgian stamp, no doubts about that, but they announced it was going to be a BOMB and it ended up being an innofensible firecracker. 3,5/10.
Thank you Robyn for having an open mind. Shame on Deban and especially William for being as predictable as ever.
Héctor
Look, as much as I love indie or alternative rock, I want to like this more than I do now. It's interesting and different but I don't see a clear direction or message which make it more complex to empathize with the song. I think it just pretends to be fun and playful.
I do want Georgia to qualify and do well, though.
Georgia stands in my 25th place.
13. France (7)
15. Armenia (7)
21. Belgium (6.75)
25. GEORGIA (6.5)
27. North Macedonia (6.25)
32. Romania (5)
34. Israel (4.5)
It's kinda funny we have a song called Guilty Pleasure on a year with several Guilty Pleasures to choose from (Georgia here, Norway, Latvia and for some San Marino)
I do like it, but I do have a soft spot for crazy songs. The song is catchy and the psicodelia element on it makes it interesting.
Still, I see it as borderline qualifier the actual performance being its make or break.
ESC Stan
This is next level bonkers, and I'm here for it. It'll stand out for sure and its mercifully short. It reminds me of Indy music in Australia in the 90s but for the life of me I can't think who. Will this qualify? I… don't know. I honestly can't figure it out. There are heaps of songs this year where I'm like "I'll have to see on the night". This is one of them.
Jayx
As expected, really underrated here but watch them all giving 9 or 10s to spain?
Reply to Jayx
have they given all 9 or 10 to Spain? Or is that your wish, so you can say "I knew they were going to give 9 and 10 for spain"? What if they give 4 and 3 to Spain? Will then Circus Mircus score be fair? Why is Spain the centre of comparison? Aren't any of the other song that have already been given points by the wiwi jury good to show your thesis? Was this simply a cheap argumet to complain on the Spanish song? Are yo so desperate about that that you have to use a piece of… Read more »
I love this song, its funny. Better than Ukraine. 9/10
CookyMonzta
At present, I do not see this one qualifying. They will ultimately have to rely on what they put on stage. They could come up all 7s like Ireland 2018 (who I also thought was in big trouble), or they could come up all cherries like Georgia 2014.
Jinbeizaki
One of my favorite songs this year and I can't even vote for it in the semi-final (being in sf1) PLEASE LET THIS QUALIFY! I am begging you to vote for this if you can! This song I feel is either a "love it or hate it" but the risk taken is exactly why they are worthy to qualify for the final. Bring that diversity on Saturday! Plus from the pre-parties we could see them in: they can sing live! Crossing my fingers for them to qualify more than anything in this season!
Midnight Gold
Reply to Jinbeizaki
I really wish I could be voting in the first one instead, it seems like I'm almost always getting stuck with the SF I like less, but as it is I'll definitely be voting for Nika's circus so he could finally bring Georgia back to the final after 6 long years in the wilderness (especially as my country was kicked out of the contest before I could actually vote for them back in 2016…).
It's a really interesting , but it's going to get lost in the pack of Euro- predictably…..
Anhel
"Me Eurofan, Me angry, Eurovision only bop and ballad!"
What 1990s British bands does it remind you of?
When I think of that style, I think of Blur and Suede and Oasis. I don't really think Circus Mirkus is much like them. I'm not disagreeing with the people who have said this, I just would actually like to know who they remind you of so that I can go listen to them. I want more.
Reply to Jonas
I think "Lock Me In" is something that Damon Albarn could make for an experimental album or even for Gorillaz.
Reply to Illi
Thank you, I can actually see that. It would go nice with some Jamie Hewlett animation. Which would also help with staying anonymous.
Briekimchi
I've been saying that "Lock Me In'" sound pre-dates anything from the 90s UK music scene but Gorillaz is a pretty good shout. There are some similarities and overlaps there.
I agree, I've been thinking that myself – I see a lot of references to Britpop but aside from the British accent, I don't see the connection (no pun intended, Elastica). Britpop for me had a rockier, guitar-led edge and Circus Mircus is much more keyboard led, so I would equate it more closely to indie pop since the turn of the millenium.
I listened to it again and there is maybe a bit of Kula Shaker in there and maybe Primal Scream?
Pulp? I only really know Common People, but it doesn't seem too guitary. I was too little at the time to get to know all the bands, so only am familiar with the ones still more famous today.
I'm not 100% certain on Pulp, I suppose there are electronic elements, there is the whole Joy Division progression into New Order thing that happened a few years before, so electronica was definitely being fused with guitars around that time, but I see Circus Mircus more on the "funky" side whereas a lot of the 90s stuff was more straight up rock-pop. As to the whole nationalist thing, it really wasn't like that, it was a purely geographic description – it was actually a really progressive time, much more inclusion, do it yourself/working class kind of vibe , a reaction… Read more »
I just looked up a "50 Best Britpop Albums" article on Pitchfork. Pulp are actually number one, which I wasn't expecting. The article starts off with Jarvis Cocker saying he hates the word, he finds it to be nationalistic flag-waving. Maybe it's just that he resents the whole country getting credit for his work.
Blur, Radiohead, Oasis and Suede come next. I can't really see Circus Mirkus on any of those albums. There were a lot of other names in the fifty that I don't know, though.
Some great ones on there. Placebo and Ash are two of my all time favourite bands but they are not what I would call Britpop. Then there are Supergrass, The Verve, they have some awesome tracks but again not like Circus Mircus. I would say Ocean Colour Scene is beginning to get a bit like them. Maybe Cornershop, Black Grape, The Divine Comedy and Super Furry Animals would be worth a try as well if you want to get something like them. Plus Pulp has my all-time favourite line of the 90s "and drink and dance and screw, because there's… Read more »
I'll give them a go, thank you. I'll probably enjoy them even if they're nothing like Circus Mirkus, so it won't be a waste of time.
Wiwibloggs is probably one of the last places where I'd expect to find someone who shares my love for Ash 😉
Maybe I'm just being too pedantic and not thinking past the "Britpop" label, which to me was a kinda nationalistically specific British thing about British people. Parklife. Union Jacks. I know some of the bands actually hate the description.
When I'm listening to Circus Mircus, the two bands that immediately come to mind are ELO and The Psychedelic Furs. They feel like an odd combination of the two.
Not Britpop – it reminds me of CAKE, the American band (Short Skirt/Long Jacket)
lps supremacy
+1 on Super Furry Animals, would also add Denim and maybe the Auteurs. And there's more than a hint of the Cardiacs in that chorus – probably unintentional because they're fairly obscure even in the UK, but they're *brilliant*, especially if you're enjoying CM's rockier side.
As usual, it's tricky to rate the Georgian entry. I believe we won't be able to judge it fairly until we know how it will be visually presented. From making it a psychedelic lisergic trip to giving it a family oriented ludic aesthetic, they can go many ways with it, providing a sensorial experience few other entries can achieve. Even if they fail to grab me by the eyes, I already love the joyful brit-pop inspired chorus. Not so sure about the borderline ennerving repetition of the pre-chorus, but maybe I just need to get in the mood. 6.75/10
Reply to Sabrina
I like the song and even I can't get on with the repetition in that part of the song. So whenever you work out whatever mood you need to be in to enjoy it, please share with me whatever put you in said mood. 😉
ESCLOU
6.5/10 I love that Georgia always sends something completely different from the other entries, this song is so catchy and weird… and I love that! Maybe it's not one of my favourites, but I can definitely appreciate this. Can't wait to see the staging! 🙂
mark dowd
wacky and unusual.. Deserves to qualify and light up Saturday night final..
This gets a lower score than San Marino..so unfair. Cause this isn't that bad at all.
Reply to Stephanie
They don't really care about either, but Georgia hasn't got Achille Lauro flaunting his junk about so it gets a bit of a lower score than San Marino in the end…
Im so fab
Reply to Midnight Gold
Or maybe San Marino has a better entry. Just a thought…
ete sech
I would love Georgia to win Eurovision rather sooner than later, they always bring something unapologetically random and I love them for that!
Although I like this song, I don't think it's winner material, unfortunately 🙁
4/10 I really like some bits of this song and really dislike other parts. Unfortunately, there are more of the latter ones.
#synthsareawesome
Georgia – Circus Mircus – Lock me in – a sorta review: Unlike many users of the site, I always enjoyed Geotgian entries and, along with Portugal, these two countries are my favourite Eurovision competitors. This new offering didn't leave me dissapointed. A quirky track from a band with Daft Punk-ish gimmick radiates British 1970s psychedelia vibes with a groovy intro and a chorus revolving around the contrast with the verses, as well as the juxtaposition between the key of sonics and vocals. The lyrics are quite cryltic and I'm inclined to believe they are utterly meaningless, but that rather… Read more »
I think this entry is absolutely amazing. It's contemporary, funny, mindful and ironic and with good staging it can be a great moment in Eurovision. I hope it qualifies because we desperately need more diversity in the Eurovision of the future and Georgia needs to be encouraged to continue give us this diversity and offers these treats. 8,5/10
I probably do have Georgia above the countries that you mention, except Azerbaijan of course. For me, SF2 looks pretty straight forward in terms of qualification with only one open qualifier spot left to play for. Why not Georgia though?
Reply to Briekimchi
My absolute qualifiers from semi 2 are Poland, Estonia, and Sweden, moreover also Serbia and Cyprus. Objectively, I feel like Australia and Finland will make it. Czech Republic probably will as well, especially because they are placed last. I can see the juries going for Belgium, but I can also see Georgia going through with a great staging. Also Azerbaijan. After seeing it live, he really is good.
This isn't for everyone. The verses are very repetitive and are sang in an uncomfortably high register. That can be off-putting. However, if you can live with those issues, this is a playful little number that really makes good use of the work that it pay homage to. I'm hearing a lot of people compare it to 90s Britpop but honestly, those choruses are a complete homage to the best stuff that you'd hear from ELO to me. I also love the 8-bit sound that comes in at about the time of the second verse. Lyrically, it switches from the… Read more »
Rating: 6.0/10.0
Gold star.
Pauly
I like it, it's different but why do they keep pulling this lame trick of hiding their faces, it's so 2006.
I think this entry can pull a Georgia 2016 surprise qualification if staging is superb.
Young_At_Heart_In_Austin
They certainly strattle the line between being fun and a joke act. After watching the Wiwi interview with them in their hotel room, I think it's more joke act. And the Madrid pre party crowd didn't really get into their performance at all.
just an esc fan
Possibly the most underrated song of the year. The amount of times I've seen it last is unacceptable. Proper British sound (clearly Nika Kocharov prefers that sound!), very funky and in general so fun!
Actually praying this will have a psychedelic staging like 2016 and qualify cuz this is a breath of fresh air among all the ballads.
UK juries (and hopefully public).. yk what to do!
Rating: 7.5/10 (17th)
This song is so much fun!
My namesake is a great example of defying the odds and genre bias at ESC, I don't know if Georgia can do the same thing this year and I'm not as big of a fan of this one as I was of their 2016 entry, but still, with such a nickname I can't bring myself to rank Nika and his circus any lower than 10th place (2022 has also got a much better line-up than 2016 so there's a bit of that element to it as well).
Jo.
terribly underrated
Rabadrick
L.O.V.E. From Romania
The wide extent of reactions is great news for Georgia. Love it or hate it, works better than being "just a nice song". Will end somewhere between #6 to #10.
I knew that Robyn would like it. Her comment is on point and I agree 100 %
10) Georgia – If this is Mr. Nika Kocharov (which I'm 99% certain it is) behind this, then I am definitely expecting a fun staging for this song. The music video gives me enough to believe this'll happen. Lyrically it's not great, but this isn't the type of song where I'll be focussing on the lyrics. It's Georgia, Georgia like to go the alternative route, and once again I'm 100% here for it. 7.5/10
Lil Krumpy
8.Georgia – It is special. I really want to love it. But it seems like a laid-back bop, as opposed to a banger. I had some expectations (hopes) that this would be psychedelic rock. I want it to be more dynamic. The lack of visuals might make the vibe a bit less accessible.
40.Georgia 0/10
GEORGIA – As always, Georgia continues sending risky entries, and, as always, I respect that. I wasn't a big fan of their latest songs, but I feel like I dig this one. It's quirky, it's fun, and I like the circus imagery. The composition is fairly repetitive, and the lyrics seem to be between cryptic and random. I feel like there must be a deeper meaning to this, but I haven't figured it out yet. It leaves a lot of room for great staging, and I think that if that's done right, this could be a major grower. Even as… Read more »
Purple Mask
For interpretation, I'm definitely feeling "lockdown" or "quarantine" in this song. Musicians wanna get out to the dance club, and are ready to "blow up." Their music is their space craft, as it were. The repetitive notes in the melody are that itching feeling when you need to get up and play music; like when you start tapping on a table out of boredom and frustration.
Reply to Purple Mask
I like this interpretation, Purple. 🙂
Definitely agreeing that its qualification chances are almost entirely dependent on stronger visuals. If the brains behind the operation are what we suspect, then this is something that they could pull off. It's a hard entry to dislike but it's going to take a bit more to get some televote support behind it.
I am really glad you are positive about it though. 7/10 does sound fair and honestly, I'd have no problem putting it higher in my ranking if there weren't songs I just liked a little more.
It is currently in my mid 20s as well. 2022 isn't that bad of a year at all, even if 2021 has set the bar quite high. There are 30-ish songs that have some merit to address, Georgia definitely being one of them. I have other favorites, but this is still fun. Qualification will heavily depend on the staging and camera work, but it's a nice entry either way. Used to be around a 6 when I heard it, but the Willy Wonka styled staging certainly brought it up. I am positive so far.
I don't think random lyrics are bad. I don't think music has to make sense in order to be good. It would be another story if they tried to say something deep and their take on the said issue was shallow at best or if the meaning was so primitive that it would become cringe-inducing. But utterly meaningless lyrics aren't trying to sell themselves as something else and leave a room for endless interpretations or no interpretation at all, which is great in my humble opinion .
Reply to #synthsareawesome
I hope it didn't come across as if I was overtly critical towards the lyrics. Calling them random (even if, as Purple Mask says, they might not even be that random) is a rather neutral observation. While I admit that most of the time I prefer some meat to the message, I much prefer simple, random, or nonsensical lyrics to pretentious or robotic ones.
Polegend Godnova
it's a song you either get or you don't. it's as indie as it gets and a nice addition to this year's lineup.
The Voice of Reason
The original song is only around 2:30 minutes, so I would have hoped by now a version with an extra 30 seconds that plays around with the structure of the song and edits certain 'repetitive' parts to be shorter, perhaps adding a new part of the song. If Circus Mircus can do that, and nail the live performance with a colourful wierd clown-like staging, they COULD do well.
Reply to The Voice of Reason
Are they allowed to change the song at such a late stage before the contest in May?
I think that there have been examples of revamps being announced during April. Not sure though. If they had changed it by the time they released their music video for example I don't think there would have been a problem.
Fantastic. There's so much fun had with the music here. Evidently the Brit Pop influences are shining through, because it all sounds so British to me. There are also electronic arpeggios going on in the "post-Chorus Bridge" and a bit of a Daft Punk vibe too. Musically, here are some things I noticed: – Intro: Groovy bass line, spoken word rhythms and a counter-beat ticking over the top of it. The whole intro is designed to keep us guessing where we're going. – Chorus: The key is D, but the repeated note sung is an A, creating an ambiguous "open… Read more »
I see the British influence too, but to me it's more of an updated version of 1960's psychedelia. I love it! ?
Reply to Ang
Yep, I see that there too. 🙂
This is more the influence that I'm picking up in this one. I'm not hearing the 90s but rather late 60s, early 70s.
Are you second from the left in that picture?
That's his cousin, Purple Mask and Gloves.
Reply to Jimmy
Ahahaha! 🙂
I'm all for unique entries, but this doesn't work. It's messy, repetitive and unexciting. I feel like there are better songs that do what this song tries to do. Place in top: 40/40. 1/10.
Fast Food Music Lover
I refuse to listen to this for the longest time because not much focus was given to it and the way the band portray themselves make them look like a joke entry. But after deciding to give the official music video a try, I'm pleasantly surprised. I bet the staging would be a lot of fun.
The song is eclectic and may have it fans . I've not yet heard the song even in full yet. I'm not a fan. However , considering its quirkiness and certain reactions if might do good in the televote . Currently I have it in the may qualify category .
Gurl
Underrated.
Efthymios
Second most underrated entry of the year, just behind Iceland. <3
I went from not getting the song to loving it and singing all the time. It's crazy, it's fun – but I get why people are baffled by it and I don't really see this qualifying. Still – I love it.
19. Georgia: Georgia always does its own thing. And I love that! This year they are offering us a quirky but also interesting song with once again some alternative/ progressive rock influences (and a comeback (?) from Nika Kocharov whose 2016 song is my winner of that year- a fun fact) . The song intrigues me given that I am a rock fan that appreciates experimentation within the rock genre, even if it's nowhere near as good as 'Midnight Gold'. In more ways than one, this feels like a logical part 2 of Georgia 2016 which proved to be successful… Read more »
11. Georgia – Circus Mircus – Lock me in – 8/10 – this what a quirky and engaging entry should look like. It has its own idiosyncratic style and a confident point of view. There are surprisingly danceable qualities in the early parts of the song's structure with a sonically juxtaposed but instantly catchy chorus. The song does not feel overly manufactured, bringing a breath of fresh air into the smog of safe, middle-of-the-road entries we have this year. A lot will depend on the performance in terms of how well it does in the contest.
I think the performance is not something we should worry about. Georgia rarely disapppints in this sector.
Reply to Thanos
Except last year. I mean, he was vocally good, but he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. Plus the staging wasn't impressive either.
Yes this is true. I actually liked last year's song and some elements of the performance like the projected lyrics on Tornike's white shirt were a good idea. But the overall staging was lacklustre. Not bad just lacklustre. And the fact that as you say, he seemed like he didn't want to be there, made it worse.
Solfrid Holte Johansen
Sure. He wanted to be near the mountains and the sea. I sat in our garden watching the mountains and the sea that we've got here, and then the song popped up on my playlist. Suddenly I really liked the song. Really. It fitted my mood. It doesnvt fit a concert hall that well I guess. I wonder howcwell it would have done if everybody haf a garden like ours amd would have voted watching ESC 2021 there.
You might have this ranked a little high but I don't actually have a problem with your actual rating. I feel people are sleeping on this a bit and putting it at the bottom without really giving it a fair shake. I think it is in the middle of the pack and maybe, the quirkiness does give it a bit of a leg-up on some of the similar entries. There's some clever musical touches in this and some brave choices.
Think we're all agreeing it's an entry that really needs some assistance from the staging choices.


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Yoenis Cespedes' 40-home-run brag leaks out after Mets dispute (New York Post)
by Howie Kussoy December 19, 2019
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Read "Yoenis Cespedes' 40-home-run brag leaks out after Mets dispute" at New York Post
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How Does Firm Size Explain Cross-Country Differences in Ownership Concentration?
59 Pages Posted: 12 Mar 2020 Last revised: 9 Oct 2020
See all articles by Fariborz Moshirian
Fariborz Moshirian
Institute of Global Finance, UNSW Business School
Nguyen Thi Thuy
The University of Danang, University of Economics
Jin Yu
Monash University -Department of Banking and Finance
Bohui Zhang
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Date Written: October 9, 2020
Using a comprehensive international sample of 18,932 firms across 40 countries, we find that cross-country variations in ownership concentration are attributable to differences in firm sizes. Ownership concentration in large firms differs strikingly between countries. For example, large U.S. firms tend to have much more dispersed ownership structures than large non-U.S. firms. In contrast, the ownership concentration of small firms does not seem to vary across countries. Further analysis reveals that differences in ethical values and legal environments across countries can assist in explaining this cross-country variation in ownership across different firm size groups. Our results are robust to alternative blockholding proxies and firm size measures. Taken together, our findings not only provide novel and ethics-based explanations of corporate ownership structures around the world, but also potentially reconcile the presently conflicting views on whether U.S. ownership structures differ from those found elsewhere in the world.
Keywords: ownership concentration, firm size, ethical values, legal environment
Moshirian, Fariborz and Thuy, Nguyen Thi and Yu, Jin and Zhang, Bohui, How Does Firm Size Explain Cross-Country Differences in Ownership Concentration? (October 9, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3547092 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3547092
Institute of Global Finance, UNSW Business School ( email )
+61 2 93855859 (Phone)
+61 2 94877519 (Fax)
The University of Danang, University of Economics ( email )
Jin Yu (Contact Author)
Monash University -Department of Banking and Finance ( email )
HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/site/jinyufinecon/
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen ( email )