Doha: The Cabinet has approved a draft law regulating the partnership between the public and the private sector. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet regular meeting held yesterday at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated that Cabinet considered topics on the agenda. The Cabinet approved a draft law regulating the partnership between the public and the private sector.
The partnership between the government and the private sector shall be made under the partnership contract in accordance with the provisions of this law. The partnership shall be in accordance with one of the following regulations: Allocation of land through rent or use license, for development by the private sector, build operate transfer (BOT), build-transfer-operate (BTO), build own operate transfer (BOOT), operations and maintenance (OM) or any other form adopted by H E the Prime Minister, upon the proposal of the competent minister.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. (32) of 1995 on the prevention of damage to the plant environment and its components. The amendments come within the framework of modernising legislation, to address the problems created by the practical reality in this area, and to tighten the penalties for violating the provisions of the law.
The Cabinet also approved a draft air service agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Peru.
The Cabinet also took the necessary measures to ratify, cooperation agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the International Organisation for Migration, basic agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the United Nations Children's Fund and agreement between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of the State of Qatar.
It also took measures to ratify terms of reference between the United Nations represented by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the State of Qatar and represented by the Government of the State of Qatar on the establishment of an Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Doha, the State of Qatar.
Cabinet took measures to ratify maritime transport agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion with regard to income taxes.
The Cabinet took appropriate decision regarding a memo by the Minister of Finance on the proposal to add representative members of General Tax Authority in a number of joint and specialized committees in the State and a memo by the Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs on the results of the First Council on Aging, organized by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services in the Republic of Turkey (Ankara, February 2019).
The Cabinet listened to a presentation by the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs on the Waqf, which included the statement of Waqf banks and their achievements, and the challenges facing the Waqf. The Cabinet stressed the importance of the Waqf to achieve the principle of social solidarity and investing it for the development of society.
1 – تخصيص أراضٍ عن طريق الإيجار أو الترخيص بالانتفاع، لتطويرها من قبل القطاع الخاص.
2 – نظام البناء والتشغيل ونقل الملكية (B.O.T).
3 – نظام البناء ونقل الملكية والتشغيل (B.T.O).
4 – نظام البناء والتملك والتشغيل ونقل الملكية (B.O.O.T).
5 – نظام التشغيل والصيانة (O.M).
6 – أي نظام آخر يعتمده رئيس مجلس الوزراء، بناءً على اقتراح الوزير المختص.
ويجوز لكل من الجهة الحكومية أو الإدارة المختصة، من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على اقتراح القطاع الخاص، تحديد أحد المشروعات لتنفيذه عن طريق الشراكة.
ثانياً- الموافقة على مشروع قانون بتعديل بعض أحكام القانون رقم (32) لسنة 1995 بشأن منع الإضرار بالبيئة النباتية ومكوناتها.
وتأتي هذه التعديلات في إطار تحديث التشريعات، لمواجهة المشكلات التي أفرزها الواقع العملي في هذا المجال، وتشديد العقوبات على مخالفة أحكام القانون.
ثالثاً- الموافقة على مشروع اتفاقية خدمات جوية بين حكومة دولة قطر وحكومة جمهورية بيرو.
1 – اتفاقية تعاون بين حكومة دولة قطر والمنظمة الدولية للهجرة.
2 – اتفاق أساسي بين حكومة دولة قطر وصندوق الأمم المتحدة للطفولة.
3 – اتفاقية بين المفوضية السامية للأمم المتحدة لشؤون اللاجئين (UNHCR) وحكومة دولة قطر.
4 – بنود اختصاصات بين الأمم المتحدة، ويمثلها مكتب الأمم المتحدة لتنسيق الشؤون الإنسانية (OCHA)، ودولة قطر وتمثلها حكومة دولة قطر بشأن تأسيس تواجد لمكتب تنسيق الشؤون الإنسانية في الدوحة بدولة قطر.
5 – اتفاقية النقل البحري بين حكومة دولة قطر وحكومة جمهورية الصومال الفيدرالية.
6 – اتفاقية بين حكومة دولة قطر وحكومة جمهورية الصومال الفيدرالية بشأن تجنب الازدواج الضريبي ومنع التهرب المالي فيما يتعلق بالضرائب على الدخل.
1 – مذكرة سعادة وزير المالية بشأن اقتراح إضافة أعضاء ممثلين عن الهيئة العامة للضرائب في عدد من اللجان المشتركة والمتخصصة في الدولة.
2 – مذكرة سعادة وزير التنمية الإدارية والعمل والشؤون الاجتماعية بشأن نتائج المجلس الأول حول الشيخوخة، الذي نظمته وزارة الأسرة والعمل والخدمات الاجتماعية في الجمهورية التركية (أنقرة فبراير 2019).
سادساً- استمع مجلس الوزراء إلى العرض الذي قدمه سعادة وزير الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية حول الوقف، والذي تضمن بيان المصارف الوقفية وإنجازاتها وما يواجه الوقف من تحديات.
وأكد مجلس الوزراء على أهمية الوقف بما يحققه من مبدأ التكافل الاجتماعي واستثماره لتنمية المجتمع.


text:
Gentrifying the Los Angeles River
Amir Khafagy
Once marginalized by the city's elite, LA's riverside neighborhoods are now facing revitalization — and displacement.
A shopping cart is seen in the Los Angeles River in the early morning hours on April 21, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. David McNew / Getty
From its modest start in the Santa Susana Mountains to its end at the Western reach of the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles River spans forty-eight miles. The thirty-two miles that cut through the heart of Los Angeles and its surrounding cities — made famous by such movies as Grease and Terminator 2 — resemble a massive war trench made of concrete. In 2007, after decades of lobbying by community groups, environmentalists, and artists, the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers approved a $1.3 billion master plan that will reimagine an eleven-mile stretch of the river, transforming it from a gash on the cityscape to a beautified urban sanctuary.
As the city celebrates the start of the project, some of the activists who originally championed the revitalization of the river fear that it has become a Trojan horse for gentrification. Sissy Trinh, the Vietnamese-American founder of the Southeast Asian Community Alliance (SEACA), said that she "recognizes the need for green infrastructure projects like the LA River restoration, but the practical reality is that these types of projects are profit-making opportunities for mega-developers who are creating a speculative economy in our impacted communities."
As a grassroots organization, SEACA's focus is centered around youth-based organizing and policy advocacy in underserved LA neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, and Solano Canyon. Most of those community's residents live slightly above or below the poverty line and are majority people of color who also happen to share an uneasy and often antagonistic relationship with the rapidly changing LA River waterfront. Because of the rising rate of homelessness in the communities it serves, SEACA now describes its work "as dealing with the issues of gentrification, displacement, AND homelessness prevention."
There is a certain amount of irony in this story. It was the neglect of the LA River that contributed to these neighborhoods' economic stagnation in the first place; and yet it's the same river that will bring in a flood of economic regeneration that community members fear will end up forcing them out.
It was no accident that many, mostly poor and working-class people of color came to be concentrated so close to the riverfront in the first place. Rents were relatively cheap because city officials and land developers viewed the river as a grim eyesore blemishing an otherwise glitzy city. In 1938, the Army Corps of Engineers began paving over the waterway with concrete in order to prevent the frequent flooding that was plaguing the city and hindering its economic growth. When the project was completed, most of the river was paved over, no longer functioning as a river but rather as a gigantic flood channel.
Over the course of the next few decades, the city neglected to adequately invest in the riverfront. Developers had no desire to build near what was universally viewed as an eyesore, so real-estate values remained stagnant. With the land so cheap, manufacturers found an affordable place to set-up shop. Most of the neighborhoods along the river were zoned exclusively for manufacturing. Large factories and warehouses still dominate the areas along the river. The manufacturing sector provides an important source of income, with living wages for the thousands of working-class and immigrant residents who live and work near the river. In fact, Los Angeles County is the largest manufacturing center in US, employing 510,900 workers, and a substantial portion of this industry is located near the river.
For many, the riverfront has served as an economic refuge for those who otherwise couldn't afford the astronomical cost of living in Los Angeles, one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the world. According to a study by the University of Southern California's Price School of Public Policy, of the one million people living along the river, 52 percent are Latino, a larger share than the overall Latino population of Los Angeles. The median household income of river communities is a mere $45,000 a year, with 18 percent living at or below the poverty line.
Because of the demographics along the river, city officials, as well as developers like Lincoln Property Company and Fifteen Group, have been using the language of ecology, equality, and livability, portraying the river's development as a social-justice cause. Developers are promising to build affordable housing and other supposed concessions in exchange for tax breaks and other economic concessions. Highlighting the unequal disparity of parkland across the city, proponents of redevelopment claim the river will unite the city for the collective good.
"Wherever the river is, it connects all of us," said Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti. "Physically, environmentally, spiritually." But who, exactly, the river development will connect is not entirely clear. For those living on its edges, the river was a symbol of economic divide and social marginalization. For the mayor and the developers who support him, the river is viewed as an engine of prosperity.
For the Few, Not the Many
Hoping the project will cement his legacy, Garcetti argues that the redevelopment will transform the river into an urban oasis accessible to all Angelinos, as well as address the racial and economic disparities surrounding access to parkland.
According to the Price School's research, white LA residents have access to about twelve to fifteen times more parkland per resident than those living in Latino and black communities. "Densely populated neighborhoods in Central Los Angeles have less than one acre of parkland per 1,000 residents" the study found. Predominantly higher-income white communities have "100 acres of parks per 1,000 residents."
Proponents of the revitalized river claim the project will bring much needed parkland right to the doorstep of the underserved. Yet critics warn that a flash flood of displacement should be expected instead.
"The sad irony of projects like the LA River restoration" Sissy Trinh said, "is that they were designed to address climate-change impacts and to make us a more climate-resilient city but the 'unintended consequences' of gentrification and displacement are in fact undermining the stated goal of these projects."
Studies project the LA River's revitalization will spur billions of dollars in riverside development. Land values have already increased 21 percent in anticipation of the project. In Los Angeles's Frogtown neighborhood, land values have more than doubled. Rents have also risen astronomically along other waterfront communities, such as Chinatown, where in at least one building rents have increased by as much as 50 percent. Land speculation and rent increases have lead activists like Sissy Trinh to believe that any environmental benefits gained as a result of the river project will be inconsequential because the river project will undoubtedly exacerbate LA's already massive homelessness crisis.
"For example" Trich said, "a number of low-income residents that got priced out of their neighborhoods are now setting up encampments or living out of RVs and dumping their raw sewage into the River!"
The project is expected to generate a building boom, subsidized to the tune of $500 million by the city via its nonprofit River LA Corporation, which oversees public-private partnerships surrounding the river.
At least one of the many developers on the corporation's board has already demonstrated a substantial conflict of interest. In 2011, when Morton La Kretz put up $4.75 million for a bridge connecting the Atwater Village neighborhood to Griffith Park on the opposite side of the river, Mayor Garcetti, then a city-council member, praised it as "the kind of public-private partnership we need to continue bringing new life to the river and the neighborhoods around it." City, county and state officials agreed to front the remaining costs of completing the bridge, the price tag of which eventually ballooned to over $16 million. The La Kretz family owns a parcel of land near the bridge that, with Garcetti's backing, it has sought to rezone into a subdivision. Kretz also owns land in Frogtown, a neighborhood that sits directly opposite the river banks.
The original grassroots effort to transform underutilized public space for public good has been co-opted for personal profit by developers like La Kratz. The project's master plan, finalized back in 2007, was conceived with community input, but in 2016 River LA turned the project over to architect Frank Gehry. Known for his gaudy buildings, Gehry has no previous experience in urban design. Yet Garcetti praised his involvement, stating that Gehry would elevate the development so that the "civic elite of LA realizes this is not a hobby of the activists but one of the grand projects of our time."
In the minds of many activists, the mayor's statement cemented the belief that the LA River project is being designed with the covert intention of benefiting the city's moneyed elite at the expense of the working-class communities along the river. Activist lawyer Robert Garcia, executive director of City Project, said in a recent interview in the LA Times that the city historically "treated its river as an industrial wasteland" and described the development along the riverfront as a "land grab." Sissy Trinh points out that the neighborhoods along the waterfront are "among the poorest in the city."
Yet the project is moving forward without adequately addressing concerns over the detrimental effects of displacement, and observers worry it will be a feat not so much of urban engineering as of social engineering.
Amir Khafagy is a journalist, political activist, organizer, writer, and performer. His work has been featured in City Limits , Counterpunch , The Indypendent , and The Hampton Institute . He is currently completing an MA in urban affairs at Queens College.
From its modest start in the Santa Susana Mountains to its end at the Western reach of the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles River spans forty-eight miles. The thirty-two miles that cut through the heart of Los Angeles and its surrounding cities — made famous by such movies as Grease and Terminator 2 — […]
Alex Birnel
The Purge of New York
The Permanent Crisis of Housing
Peter Marcuse
Liberalism and Gentrification
Gavin Mueller

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as its orange groves were being bulldozed to clear land for housing tracts. My family appreciated the natural landscape of Southern California, and on weekends we hiked in the foothills and mountains of the Angeles Forest and for vacations often camped in Joshua Tree and Owens Valley; early experiences that strongly influence my choice of subject matter today. My aptitude for art was recognized by my teachers in primary school and they got me into various weekend workshops provided for kids by artists in the Claremont area. In my twenties I attended Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, studying painting and photography, and graduated with a BA in Art.
After many years living in the San Francisco Bay Area and painting with a focus on the figure, I relocated to the Eastern Sierra in 2010. Now I wander around in Owens Valley alluvial watershed and adjacent high desert lands, camera in hand, capturing images to use as sources for compositions in my travel-trailer studio.


Those 'rusty' road sign icons were designed with grunge and textures in mind by Jan Cavan of Dawghouse Design Studio. These icons should be perfect if you're working on a website design with a grungy feel or with a lot of textures. There's 30 icons included in the download and all icons are in transparent PNG format (172x172) and the PSD file is also included. All layers are grouped and named for easy editing.


MANGER-German on January 7, 1998. Beloved husband of the late Madeline. Loving father of Joseph and Rose Marie Manger. Dear grandfather of Eric and Gretchen Manger Immerman. Cherished uncle of Rudy and Otmar Manger. Also survived by his sister-in-law Beate Manger and many nieces and nephews in Germany. Reposing at the Frederick Funeral Home of Flushing, Northern Boulevard at 193 Street. Visiting hours Thursday, 2 to 5 and 7 to 10PM. Funeral Mass Friday, 10:30 AM at Mary's Nativity R.C. Church. Interment Mt. St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alpine Learning Group, Inc., 230B Woodland Ave., River Edge, NJ 07661.


text:
Irvine Unified School District is a school district in Irvine, California, United States, that serves the city of Irvine.  Established on June 6, 1972, IUSD serves approximately 36,000 K-12 students at twenty-four elementary schools, six middle schools, five K-8 schools, two virtual academy, six comprehensive high schools.

Irvine has been frequently recognized among the top school systems in California and the United States. On the state's latest Academic Performance Index, which measures overall achievement on a scale of 200 to 1,000, IUSD posted a districtwide score of 921, marking a five-point increase over the previous year.

Irvine schools have earned the state's highest honor – the label of California Distinguished School – 48 times since 1986, and all four comprehensive high schools have been recognized at least once. All four comprehensive high schools have also earned the distinction as Blue Ribbon Schools, the nation's highest level of recognition for K-12 campuses. In all, IUSD has produced 13 Blue Ribbon schools since 1983.

Schools

According to USNews, the best ranked...
Elementary School in IUSD is Turtle Rock Elementary
Middle School in IUSD is Vista Verde
High School in IUSD is University High School

Elementary schools
 Alderwood Elementary
 Beacon Park School
 Bonita Canyon Elementary School
 Brywood Elementary School
 Cadence Park School
 Canyon View Elementary School
 College Park Elementary School
 Culverdale Elementary School
 Cypress Village Elementary School
 Deerfield Elementary School
 Eastshore Elementary School
 Eastwood Elementary School
 Greentree Elementary School
 Loma Ridge Elementary School
 Meadow Park Elementary School
 Northwood Elementary School
 Oak Creek Elementary School
 Plaza Vista School
 Portola Springs Elementary School
 Santiago Hills Elementary School
 Solis Park School
 Springbrook Elementary School
 Stone Creek Elementary School
 Stonegate Elementary School
 Turtle Rock Elementary School
 University Park Elementary School
 Vista Verde School
 Westpark Elementary School
 Woodbury Elementary School

Middle schools
 Beacon Park School
 Cadence Park Middle School
 Jeffrey Trail Middle School
 Lakeside Middle School
 Plaza Vista School
 Rancho San Joaquin Middle School
 Sierra Vista Middle School
 Solis Park School
 South Lake Middle School
 Venado Middle School
 Vista Verde School

High schools
Creekside High School (Continuation)
Irvine High School
Northwood High School
Portola High School
University High School
Woodbridge High School

Other schools
 Early Childhood Learning Center
 Irvine Adult School
 Irvine Adult Transition Program
 Irvine Home School

See also

List of school districts in Orange County, California

References

External links
Irvine Unified School District

School districts in Orange County, California
School districts established in 1972
1972 establishments in California
Education in Irvine, California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Meet the Director: Now in his fifth year teaching at White Station High School, Mr. Sims is thrilled to be working with the best band students in the city. A graduate from the University of Memphis, Mr. Sims brings his love of music to the band room, as well as his AP Music Theory course.
WSHS Band Boosters: The boosters are an organization consisting of parents, family, and students all with the common goal of furthering the music experience for the wonderful students in the WSHS Spartan Band.
Eric Groff Band Booster President Serves as the head of the Band Boosters, works in conjunction with the Booster Board, and presides at the Band Boosters meetings.
Anne Engstrom Band Booster Vice President Serves as the Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee and presides at the Band Boosters meetings in the absence of the President.
Andre Brooks Treasurer Maintains records of the Band Boosters bank account; keeps record of deposits and expenditures.
Teki Groff Communications Assists Mr. Sims and the Band Booster Board in disseminating information about band and Band Booster activities.
If you have any questions for the band booster officers, please contact us at whitestationbandboosters@gmail.com or you can submit a question using the form below.


text:
When do Americans think that workers and students should be able to use sick days?
Linley SandersSenior Data Journalist
November 29, 2022, 9:00 PM GMT+0
Companies in the United States handle their employees getting sick inconsistently. There are no federal requirements for employees to receive paid time off when ill — though there are laws permitting unpaid leave — which means the country has a patchwork of approaches to sick leave. Attention to sick days has expanded following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent studies of its effect on mental health.
A YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adult citizens explores Americans' view of physical health, mental health, and how people want to see sick days being allotted and used. Here are five major findings:
Americans say companies should allow sick days to be used for many reasons and purposes
In some workplaces, an employee's allotment of sick days are not reserved only for when they are physically ill. Some companies have changed the classification of sick days to "wellness days" that people can use for physical ailments and also for a mental respite. When it comes to how businesses should permit their employees to use sick days, Americans generally support companies allowing workers to apply these days for a large set of circumstances, including surgery (78% strongly support, 11% somewhat support) and feeling physically exhausted (33% strongly support, 31% somewhat support).
Younger Americans are more likely to support people using sick days when healthy
Younger Americans, in particular, are more willing to use sick days non-traditionally, with 60% of 18- to 29-year-olds saying that people should be allowed to use all of the sick days provided to them, regardless of whether they are sick when they use them. About half of 30- to 64-year-olds agree, compared to just 36% of people who are 65 and older. Most Americans 65 and older (55%) say people should only be allowed to use the sick days provided to them if they are actually sick — a position shared by 56% of the people in this age group who are retired.
Americans say companies should be required to give paid sick days
Many Americans say they would like to U.S. businesses start to be required to give paid sick time. By 54% to 21%, Americans say businesses should be required to provide paid time off to employees who are mentally unwell. Support is higher — 62% to 17% — for paid sick time for employees who are physically unwell.
Americans see mental health and physical health as having significant effects on one another
Majorities of Americans in each major age group say that mental health has a very or somewhat significant impact on their physical health, and vice versa. Women are slightly more likely than men to say mental health has a significant impact on their physical health (78% vs. 71%), as well as the reverse (78% vs. 72%).
Attitudes to mental health days in school
Just as some companies are expanding their definition of sick days, colleges and universities are beginning to offer students broadly defined "wellness days" off of school. Most Americans approve of allowing students to take excused mental health days off of school just as they would be allowed to stay home sick for physical illness — with similar levels of support for students in elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. For each level of education, Democrats are more approving than Republicans are of allowing mental health days.
This poll was conducted on October 4 - 6, 2022, among 1,000 U.S. adult citizens. Explore more on the methodology and data for this poll.
Image: Adobe Stock (Prostock-studio)
What issues do you want President Biden to focus on?
Sick Days | YouGov Poll: August 18 - 22, 2022
Would you ever consider it acceptable for parents to send their child to school when the child is experiencing cold or flu symptoms, after a doctor says they are no longer contagious?
Do you think parents today are more or less cautious about their children contracting and spreading diseases than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic?
Do you think people today are more or less comfortable being around people who are sick compared to how they were before the COVID-19 pandemic?
Three in five Democrats say Congress should raise the debt ceiling, compared to 20% of Republicans
What aspects of the House GOP agenda do Americans support?
The share of Americans who see Joe Biden as honest and trustworthy has dropped to a new low
Many Americans think certain groups not protected by employment discrimination laws should be
Polls from the Past: Which regional reputations in the U.S. have persisted and which have evolved


At Oakley Oral Surgery, our staff consists of two teams: administrative and surgical. All staff members are CPR certified. The administrative team at Dr. Oakley's office is informed and well-versed in health and insurance policies. The surgical staff at Oakley Oral Surgery are experienced, certified oral and maxillofacial surgical assistants, who assist in administration of IV Sedation and surgery. Dr. Oakley's surgical staff also consists of a Registered Nurse to assist him in the administration of intravenous anesthesia. Dr. Oakley and his R.N. are trained in ACLS (Advance Cardiac Life Support).
Please feel free to call them at Oakley Oral Surgery in Mission or Overland Park at Mission Office Phone Number 913-722-3253 with any questions.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Oakley, call our office in Mission, KS at Mission Office Phone Number 913-722-3253, or request an appointment online.
Dr. Richard M. Oakley, manages a wide variety of problems relating to the mouth, teeth and facial regions. For more information about the oral and maxillofacial surgery services we provide, or to schedule a consultation, call our office in Mission, KS at Mission Office Phone Number 913-722-3253 or Overland Park at Overland Park Office Phone Number 913-897-5297.


My name is Susanne Lejuez.
Ever since I was a young girl I have had a fascination with training dogs and this extended to my lifelong passion: the working sheepdog, also known as the Border Collie.
I have worked with dogs my whole adult life, have been a shepherd in both Ireland and still herding in the Netherlands, trainer of guide dogs for the blind and have managed to do well at National and International sheepdogtrials.
Before deciding to commit to training mostly Border Collies I tried a variety of sports with my first few dogs, and also my first Border Collie. Sports such as agility, scent tracking, obedience and tricks for doggy dance.
From my background in dog training and dog behavioural studies, I have come to prefer a method that works with the individual dog as well as the combination dog/ handler. Harmony and teamwork between dog and handler and an animal friendly approach are very important.


text:
Meridian Announces Increase in Loan Facility
Meridian Mining S.E.
Apr 23, 2019, 17:00 ET
LONDON, April 23, 2019 /CNW/ - Meridian Mining SE (TSXV: MNO) ("Meridian" or the "Company") today announced it has increased the loan facility from Sentient Global Resources Funds IV, L.P. (the "Lender") originally made on August 17, 2018 by US$1,500,000 (the "Loan Amendment").
The Lender has agreed to increase the non-arm's length loan facility by US$1,500,000 to US$4,500,000. All other terms remain the same. The loan bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum and matures on March 31, 2020.
Mr Clark, Interim CEO & President, states, "The extraordinary wet season has severely impacted the internal logistics of the manganese operations supressing production and export sales. Despite this the Company has met internal Brazilian sales contracts and maintained quality. The Company is confident that the financial aid provided by Sentient Global Resources Funds IV LP will contribute towards the long term goals of profitability."
As the Lender is considered to be a "related party" of Meridian, the Loan Amendment is considered to be a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Loan Amendment was entered into on an expedited basis for sound business reasons; however, as a result, the Company did not file the material change report more than 21 days before entering into the Loan Amendment. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as no securities of Meridian are listed or quoted on the markets specified therein. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(f) of MI 61-101 as the board of directors of Meridian has determined that the loan and Loan Amendment is on reasonable commercial terms that are not less advantageous to Meridian than if the loan and Loan Amendment were obtained from a person dealing at arm's length with the Company, and the loan and Loan Amendment will not result in the debt becoming convertible or repayable as to principal or interest, directly or indirectly, in equity or voting securities of the Company. The board of directors of Meridian, other than those with a direct or indirect interest in this transaction, has unanimously approved the Loan Amendment, including the Company's reliance on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining SE
Gilbert Clark
Interim CEO, President and Director
Meridian Mining SE is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on exploring and developing the Espigao manganese and gold projects, the Bom Futuro tin JV area, and adjacent areas in the state of Rondonia. Meridian is currently producing high grade manganese at its project located at Espigao do Oeste.
Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration and development of its properties and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate has been established. In particular, because the Company's production decision relating to Meridian Mineracao Jaburi S.A, manganese project is not based upon a feasibility study of mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the Espigao manganese project has not been established.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Meridian Mining S.E.
For further information: Jonathan Richards, +1 604-681-0405, [email protected]
https://meridianmining.co/
Meridian reports on approval of trial mining licence for 30,000t...
Meridian Places Its Espigão Manganese Operations On Care And...
Meridian Mining Is Granted Trial Production License...


It's been forever since my last favorites post, but this month, I've found a lot of things that I have been loving so I thought that it deserved a favorites post! I'll also be doing a other favorites post on my other blog, so check that out too!
So let's start from left to right. My favorite mascara this month has been covergirl lashblast volume in the waterproof formula! I have had cheerleading every single day this month and it's also been raining and I thought it was just a good idea to be wearing a waterproof formula. It works great, but it takes a little work to get off! Next is my favorite bronzer. My body shop bronzer. It has a slight shimmer and it works well for contouring and all over the face. I reviewed it so if you want to read it, click here. Next, I have a stack of bangles. I bought this from charolette russe and it is a mix of white leather braided bangles and plain gold ones. It is so summery and it matches everything that I've been wearing this month! Next is my favorite bright lipstick. Its from the maybelline vivids collection and it is in the shade "vivid rose". It is perfect because it's bright, but still wearable. I also reviewed this, so you can read it here. I also have been loving all of my EOS lip balms, but the newest addition to my collection (strawberry sorbet) has been my favorite and the one that I've been reaching for the most. I reviewed this, too, and I'll link the review here. My last favorite is an animal printed bag. It is really big and it is perfect because I can carry everything that I need for class and cheerleading. Also, I sewed this bag a few years ago in home economics class! Leave your june favorites in a comment below because I'd love to hear it!


text:
Police: Man charged with third OUI
MEDWAY -- Gerald B. Drew, 45, of 2 High St., was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday and charged with drunken driving, police said.
According to the police report, Drew was traveling on Rte. 109. He left West Medway Liquors, drove down 109 weaving and stopped at Keystone Liquors. He then continued west on 109 and stopped by Choate Park where he was arrested, according to police.
Drew was charged with a third offense of driving under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle as to endanger and failure to stay in marked lanes, police said.
One taken to the hospital
FRANKLIN -- One person was taken to Milford-Whitinsville Regional Hospital Wednesday after a car hit a tree on Jordan Road at 4:16 p.m., according to the police and fire departments.


The deal will combine the No. 3 and 4 wireless carriers in the US, which will be known as T-Mobile. John Legere will be CEO.
The deal will combine the No. 3 and 4 wireless carriers in the US, which will be known as T-Mobile. John Legere, the outspoken current chief of T-Mobile will be CEO of the newly combined firm; Mike Sievert, current T-Mobile Chief Operating Officer, will be President and COO of the combined company.
T-Mobile will be headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. with a second HQ in Sprint's current home of Overland Park, Kansas. The merger values Sprint at $59 billion and the combined company at around $146 billion.
"The problem is, as has been seen elsewhere, when you get down to three wireless carriers, things get a little too cozy. Technology investment doesn't drop, but prices rise. That's been the situation in Canada for years — with three dominant carriers, they have great networks, but high prices and no nationwide unlimited data plans," he wrote on Friday.


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With Go Fair ltd, you're always on budget wherever you travel.


text:
El libro de Sofía, es una serie animada educativa colombiana, producida por Telecaribe, creada en 2004,  con 4 capítulos de prueba, pero llega oficialmente el 20 de noviembre de 2006. Su creador es Gustavo Raad y ganó el Premio India Catalina a mejor programa infantil colombiano, el 4 de marzo de 2007. Su eje temático es educar a la teleaudiencia infantil, con temas como la ciencia y la cultura. La serie consta de 20 capítulos, y se está produciendo una segunda temporada. La trama inicia con un tema científico o cultural y se desarrolla en una "aventura del conocimiento".

Personajes

 Sofía: Es una niña de 8 años, inteligente y con un alto nivel de lectura. Es la líder del grupo, y siempre esta atenta a responder y solucionar las dudas de su hermano Daniel. Tiene su libro cargado en su bolsillo, y lo saca cuando hay dudas o quiere consultar algo. El nombre viene de esta niña, en griego, significa "sabiduría". Su voz es realizada por la presentadora colombiana Mima Guao, quién también realiza la voz de "La Computadora".

 Daniel: Hermano de Sofía, tiene 6 años y una curiosidad inmensa. Es el personaje que mueve la serie, pues sus interrogantes de lo que le sucede a su alrededor, son el inicio de las misiones.

 Agente Súper K: Es la presencia adulta de la serie, aunque al final es el más niño de todos. Su gran némesis es el Doctor Malo, a quien le achaca todos los problemas que se presentan. Es un personaje divertido y aporta el humor a la serie.

 Computadora: Es la que envía a Sofía, Daniel y Súper K a las conexiones del tema, por teletransportación.

 Sing Gi: Es un niño chino que aparece en 2 capítulos de la serie: La cultura, cuando Daniel lo conoce en la escuela, y en La gravedad, cuando aparece en un parque acuático.

 Mateo: Es el vecino de Daniel y Sofía. Solo aparece en el episodio de las telecomunicaciones, cuando Daniel trata de comunicarse con él, pero no sabe cómo.

Capítulos
 Las Vacunas
 La música
 Las plantas
 Los libros
 Las leyes
 La navegación
 La prehistoria
 La cultura
 El clima
 La ecología
 La arquitectura
 La pintura
 El vestido
 La computación
 Las telecomunicaciones
 La fotografía
 La rueda
 La gravedad
 La educación
 El sistema solar
 La Energía Eléctrica
 EL Sol
 Los Deportes
 El Dinero
 Los Insectos
 La Brújula
 El Automóvil
 El Microscopio
 El Cuerpo Humano

Personajes históricos que salen en la serie

 Louis Pasteur
 Ludwig van Beethoven
 Esopo
 Erik el Rojo
 Evangelista Torricelli
 Nicolás Copérnico
 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
 Keops
 Samuel Morse
 Leonardo Da Vinci
 Adriano
 Isaac Newton
 Emperador Huang Ti
 Francisco Giner de los Ríos
 Kirkpatrick Macmillan
 Blaise Pascal

Referencias


Are teacher shortages a case of a wrong diagnosis and a wrong prescription?
Recently, the Government has looked to offer bursaries to help boost recruitment after teacher shortages. However, is focusing on teacher recruitment the wrong answer?
Why is teacher retention a problem and what effect is focusing on recruitment having on children in schools?
Year upon year, there are reports of a teacher shortage here in the UK and the Government's response to this problem has generally been the same. At the Conservative Party conference last month, the Education Secretary, Justine Greening announced that math graduates who teach will receive up to £35,000 in bursaries. Similarly, in Scotland at the SNP conference in October, John Swinney declared that the Government will offer £20,000 bursaries to those who become teachers in key subject areas.
When I started my Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in 2013, similar dialogues were being spouted by the Government. However, is the Government focus on cash bursaries as a drive to boost teacher recruitment the wrong answer to the wrong question? Back in 2003, Ingersol and Smith explored the issues surrounding the teacher shortage and found that teacher recruitment was not the problem.
The real problem is teacher retention, not recruitment!
The process which causes a teacher to leave the profession is something which starts a long time before a teacher actually leaves (Lindqvist and Nordanger, 2015, p96). My experience in teaching mirrors these findings. I loved teaching and had an amazing group of children both years. When I decided to leave the profession this year, it was not a decision that I took lightly; it was something that I had thought about for almost a year and was based on several factors. The main one being workload and specifically 'unnecessary' work.
Studies into why teachers leave the profession have shown that workload is a key factor and something which has constantly been an issue in education. Smithers and Robinson (2003) found that more than half of primary teachers who left the profession ranked workload as the most important factor in leaving. I went into the profession knowing that it would be a tough job. I stayed late after school, took books home and generally spent most weekends doing some form of work. Still, I felt like I was only just staying afloat, a feeling I'm sure many other teachers can relate to.
Constantly inputting assessment data on numerous platforms.
Reproduction of data in different formats for the use of governors/academy/school heads.
Excessive unnecessary 'in-depth' marking to adhere to the 'school policy'.
After getting through my first year, I remember recalling a piece of advice from my tutor during my training year: 'ask yourself, how much of an impact is this going to have on my children's learning'.
Of all the additional things I was expected to do each week, I asked myself: how many of them were necessary? How many of them were going to impact on my children's learning? My children made good progress each year, though at times I felt inadequate because I was struggling to manage this excessive 'unnecessary' workload. As a professional, if you spend your week working late or bringing your work home and part of your weekend working, it will undoubtedly have an affect on your social life and even your health. This is a problem facing many teachers, especially younger ones or those new to the profession.
Teachers are humans, yet the amount of work expected in some schools forces us to work like robots.
An unmanageable workload is clearly having an affect on teachers causing them to leave the profession, even after just a term. But, what affect is it having on children?
Focusing on teacher recruitment as opposed to looking at the real issue, teacher retention, can also have a damaging affect on students. Research into the effect of teacher turnover in London schools found that high levels "can be shown to have a detrimental effect on pupil progress and achievement" (Dolton & Newson, 2003).
When judging schools, poor pupil progress is often linked with a high teacher turnover, so what effect is this nationwide high teacher turnover having on the students? If recent reports are to be believed, this issue of teacher retention is only going to get worse; almost half of teachers are predicted to leave in the next 5 years.
Rather than a constant cycle of enticing new people to fill the shoes of those who have left, why do we not hold the Government / school leaders to account and address the problem of retention?
When judging schools, poor pupil progress is often linked with a high teacher turnover!
Review marking policies to get rid of 'unnecessary' marking.
Think about what your teachers are there to do and minimise or abandon the amount of administrative work they do.
Remember that teachers are humans as well and a lighter work load will make for happier teachers. A shift in this workload would allow teachers to have more time and to focus on what they are there to do – teach and stimulate the minds of the future.
Remove the top and lower tier OfSTED gradings from school inspections.
Until something significant is done to ease the workload and pressures surrounding the job, more good teachers will continue to leave and it will continue to have a negative affect on our children's education.
Simply recruiting more teachers is like using a Band-Aid to stop a leak. The plaster will fall off!
Nathan was a teacher at an academy in a disadvantaged borough of London for two years. He took pride in inspiring young minds of the future to take up a love of learning. During his time in class, he witnessed the importance of education for children from difficult backgrounds. He also experienced the difficulties that teachers and schools can face in trying to provide children with the best opportunity in life. These experiences led him to study an MA in Education, Policy and Society at King's College London, where he is enjoying learning about policy and its impact on schools, teachers and students. Prior to entering teaching he studied Politics and Sociology at Nottingham Trent University. Outside of education, Nathan is involved in grassroots politics for his local community and is an avid supporter of his beloved local football team, AFC Wimbledon.
Lots of good old common sense in here. We could also address the issue from other perspectives. For example, while most teachers would probably say they teach because of the sense of purpose one feels as the motivational driving force, lets not forget teachers had lost the equivalent of approximately 15% pay in real terms by 2016. (https://www.teachers.org.uk/sites/default/files2014/nut-submission-december-2016-final.pdf). A little more in your pocket would definitely help. Allied to this add the deliberate break up of local accountability through the debacle which is acadmisation/free schools (I only wish they were free); the deliberate under-funding of the system; the ridiculous changes to exam systems and gradings; and external accountability (not forgetting the internal through poorly managed performance management) and what we have is the most direct attack on our profession …. ever. Not even Thatcher the milk snatcher would have thought she could get away with what this bunch of conniving Goveites and Gibbites have achieved.
We desperately need to get on with fighting for our profession and taking the education agenda back from political forces and their Twitterati voices. They talk about 'no excuses' quite a bit so let's adopt the mantra when it comes to defending our most precious resource – teachers – in ensuring children get the best education possible.
Yeah, agreed- policy changes to address: salary issues, underfunding, accountability, exam systems and gradings could definitely go some way to addressing some of the issues regarding teacher retention. However, with education policy being kicked around like a political football at the moment, any substantial changes like those would take years to address. In the short term, Head Teachers/SLT must do their best to ease the work load/pressures on teachers.
Absolutely! Workload is a huge issue and much buck-passing of 'priorities' is still going on alongside schools who are STILL judging lessons! I believe the College of Teaching has a role to play but needs far greater numbers to sign up before it can wield real influence. To be frank, in many ways we have allowed this to happen but it's way too late for a blame game so, I agree with you Nathan – attack workload now and maybe also take down the 'outstanding' banners? It's actually an advert (and tacit approval) for Ofsted!
I have just read this having spent 49 hours marking last week in preparation for my Yr 11s doing their mock speaking exam. Unsurprisingly, I have come down with a cold and feel completely and utterly worn out. Coming hard on the heels of an Ofsted inspection in October, followed by a team review (basically an internal Ofsted) in November, I am feeling that I cannot go on. I love teaching but I have been looking at job adverts for other posts because this job will kill me if I don't get out. I have been teaching for 20 years and am generally fairly resilient but things have just got out of hand. I read 'Mark, Plan, Teach' the weekend after it came out – if my school would stick to this book's principles then I would not be feeling like this. I would say roll on the Christmas holidays but my students do their mocks on 18 December and the deadline for their reports is within days of returning in January, so my holidays will be taken up by marking and doing their reports. So much for work-life balance!
Sorry for being pedantic but affect and effect have been used interchangeably in your piece. Other than that fantastic…sorry, I'm still a teacher despite the odds.


MOSCOW: During more than 18 years in power in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has encountered four US presidents but not built lasting good relations with any, reports AFP.
Putin became prime minister in 1999 as warm ties between president Boris Yeltsin and US leader Bill Clinton chilled over the Kosovo conflict.
Russia was outraged by NATO-led airstrikes against its Serbian allies in response to a massacre in Kosovo. Putin took office as premier months afterwards.Relations thawed from 2001 under President George W. Bush and Putin, now Russian president. Putin offered Russia's support in fighting terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The countries fell out again over US plans for a missile shield in eastern Europe, the US invasion of Iraq and Washington's backing for the pro-Western "Orange revolution" in Ukraine.
US president Barack Obama vowed to "reset" relations with Russia, under Putin as prime minister and then president again from 2012.
Initial advances included the signing of a nuclear disarmament treaty in 2010. But that detente did not last either.
The countries exchanged sanctions in 2012 over the death of a Russian anti-corruption lawyer.
Russia also fell out with Western powers over the downfall of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.
The West backed an uprising against the pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine. Moscow and the West also backed opposite sides in the Syrian civil war.
Donald Trump vowed to mend US relations with Moscow during his presidential election campaign.
Since becoming president in 2017, he has been beset by allegations of Russian meddling in the US election and collusion between the Kremlin and his campaign team.
The two countries have expelled each others' diplomats and exchanged fresh sanctions.
Trump's promise to restore ties with Moscow will be put to the test at Monday's summit in Helsinki.
MOSCOW: During more than 18 years in power in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has encountered four US presidents but not built lasting good relations with any, reports AFP. Here is a summary of relations between Putin and US leaders, ahead of his Helsinki summit on Monday with President Donald Trump: Putin became prime minister in 1999 as warm ties between president Boris Yeltsin and US leader Bill Clinton chilled over the Kosovo conflict. Russia was outraged by NATO-led airstrikes against its Serbian allies in response to a massacre in Kosovo. Putin took office as premier months afterwards.Relations thawed from 2001 under President George W. Bush and Putin, now Russian president. Putin offered Russias support in fighting terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In June 2001, Bush told a news conference alongside Putin: I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy... I was able to get a sense of his soul. The countries fell out again over US plans for a missile shield in eastern Europe, the US invasion of Iraq and Washingtons backing for the pro-Western Orange revolution in Ukraine. US president Barack Obama vowed to reset relations with Russia, under Putin as prime minister and then president again from 2012. Initial advances included the signing of a nuclear disarmament treaty in 2010. But that detente did not last either. The countries exchanged sanctions in 2012 over the death of a Russian anti-corruption lawyer. Russia also fell out with Western powers over the downfall of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi. The West backed an uprising against the pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine. Moscow and the West also backed opposite sides in the Syrian civil war. Donald Trump vowed to mend US relations with Moscow during his presidential election campaign. Since becoming president in 2017, he has been beset by allegations of Russian meddling in the US election and collusion between the Kremlin and his campaign team. The two countries have expelled each others diplomats and exchanged fresh sanctions. Trumps promise to restore ties with Moscow will be put to the test at Mondays summit in Helsinki.


Owning a home can be costly, especially when it comes to energy conservation and overall home maintenance. SipForm aim to reduce these costs – home owners can now opt for a more modern approach, with homes that are built using structural insulated panels (SIPS) to reduce the overall energy consumption.
With the size of our land mass, we experience some of the most extreme climatic variations in the world which leads to needing efficient and reliable home cooling and heating systems. The need for building smart, energy conserving houses that not only play a part in reducing overall home ownership costs but also reduced maintenance due to the use of high performance materials.
We've put together some reasons below why homeowners are moving towards modern high performance homes.
Times have drastically changed from the days of building basic timber or brick houses that lacked necessary efficiencies to reduce the cost of living. This is because, with the increased cost of power, homeowners are changing their preference to greener houses that can almost power themselves.
A house with structural insulated panels installed on the walls, floor, and the roof is likely to save a homeowner up to ten times the amount that would otherwise be incurred through cooling and temperature regulation. Additionally, modern kit homes increase efficiency by ensuring every appliances energy costs are significantly reduced to minimise household expenditure.
These efficiencies in energy conservation plays a large role in reducing overhead expenses associated with owning and running a home.
A prevailing trend common to most homes is the preference to construct using durable and environmentally friendly materials. Through with the use of long-lasting structural insulated panels, homeowners can rest assured costs of running their homes will be significantly reduced. Modern 21st-century homes offer more than just efficiency as they are designed to be more durable whether during both hot, cold or rainy season.
Further, modern homes are constructed with posterity in mind. This reduces the usage of environmentally dangerous products that would otherwise affect future generations either through gradual emissions or extreme energy consumption. As a result of this, most of us are opting to go green as it appears to be the cheaper and safer option.
All potential homeowners must consider the comfort of the home. Traditional homes are becoming less attractive, especially since the rise of smart homes that automatically control the home temperature to be both comfortable and energy-wise. Most homes are expensive to maintain due to their outdated designs that tend to increase costs while reducing user comfort.
Modern features such as solar/battery storage, energy recovery ventilation, waste water recycle systems and water storage tanks are pushing the limits of sustainable and eco living. From the basic arrangement of modern designs to the interconnection of the various technologies mentioned above, modern homes are no doubt the way to go in these trying economic times.
High-performance homes are slowly transforming into a necessity due to the high-level energy conservation. The reason for such preference is the effectiveness of the home in conserving energy and improving user comfort. Further, modern design allows for proper ventilation and heat conservation through the structural insulated panels. The panels are not only useful in regulating temperatures and conserving energy but are also sustainable due to their durable characteristics.
To learn more, get in touch with our friendly team on 1800 747 700 or email us at info@sipform.com.au.
A simple infographic detailing the benefits to the homeowner when building with Structural Insulated Panels.


LAS VEGAS – Cort Scheer's run at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo wasn't his best.
Sure, he shared the second-round victory, but that was the only night he placed. Frustrating is one description for the two-time NFR qualifier from Elsmere, Neb.
"I don't think I rode as good as I should have, but I'm not going to get down about it," said Scheer, a saddle bronc rider who attended Garden City (Kan.) Community College, Montana State University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University on rodeo scholarships.
Scheer rode eight of 10 broncs and, most importantly, placed in the average by having the fifth best cumulative score. That $15,901 bonus pushed the Nebraskans NFR earnings to $30,429. He finished the season ninth in the world standings with $98,180.
"I'm happy with it," he said. "You see lots of guys come in here and not win a dime. I didn't win anything close to what I expected. You can either let that get you down, or you can thrive on it and build for next year.
The support system in his corner is a key part of his positive attitude; it takes a lot of help and the right mind-set to be one of the best in the game, and Scheer is.
"I've got my sponsors behind me, and my family's always supporting me," he said. "They never had a negative moment this whole finals. You see a lot of guys come in here, and they don't do what they thought they could. That just happens.


text:
Q: Exoplayer throws Player is accessed on the wrong thread when calling experimentalSetOffloadSchedulingEnabled I'm new an exoplayer and want to use the experimentalSetOffloadSchedulingEnabled function.
My exoplayer is implemented like:
    DefaultRenderersFactory factory = new DefaultRenderersFactory(getApplicationContext())
            .setEnableAudioOffload(true);
    exoPlayer = new ExoPlayer.Builder(getApplicationContext())
            .setLooper(Looper.myLooper())
            .setRenderersFactory(factory)
            .build();

In onResume() from MainActivity I set exoPlayer.experimentalSetOffloadSchedulingEnabled(false); which throws "Player is accessed on the wrong thread." exception on some devices.
exoPlayer.experimentalSetOffloadSchedulingEnabled(false);

How can I access exoplayers looper to set the experimentalSetOffloadSchedulingEnabled in the correct thread.
I do not know where ConnectivityThread comes from.
Fatal Exception: java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to resume activity {com.mediaapp.test/com.mediaapp.test.MainActivity}: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Player is accessed on the wrong thread.
Current thread: 'main'
Expected thread: 'ConnectivityThread'
See https://exoplayer.dev/issues/player-accessed-on-wrong-thread
   at android.app.ActivityThread.performResumeActivity(ActivityThread.java:5312)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.handleResumeActivity(ActivityThread.java:5351)
   at android.app.servertransaction.ResumeActivityItem.execute(ResumeActivityItem.java:54)
   at android.app.servertransaction.ActivityTransactionItem.execute(ActivityTransactionItem.java:45)
   at android.app.servertransaction.TransactionExecutor.executeLifecycleState(TransactionExecutor.java:176)
   at android.app.servertransaction.TransactionExecutor.execute(TransactionExecutor.java:97)
   at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:2443)
   at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:106)
   at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:226)
   at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:313)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8751)
   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
   at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:571)
   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1135)

Thanks,
GGK

A: According to the exoplayer api doc, your exoplayer instance can only be called in thread set by setLooper(). onResume is usually called in the main thread. Is it possible that your exoplayer instance is sometimes built in a thread other than the main thread? Adding some logs to print out the current thread may help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The day of the jacket 4
Ben Pile writes at Spiked – the website of Brendan O'Neill, a net-surfer's island of political acuity – about a group that calls itself "Extinction Rebellion" (acronym, XR).
The extinction it is against is the one that man-made global warming is bringing (they passionately believe) to the human race and possibly all living things on earth.
Nothing says 'take me seriously, I am here to save the planet' quite like a fully grown man, with a full beard, dressed up as a Girl Guide.
(See the picture at the end of the post)
And nothing better forges a sense of solidarity with ordinary people than obstructing London's bridges and roads, causing traffic gridlock. Protests such as this took place in London over the past two weekends as part of a new movement called Extinction Rebellion (XR), which claims the human race is heading for extinction and calls for carbon emissions to be cut to net zero by 2025.
For decades, direct action of this kind has been environmental activists' preferred mode of expression. Movements with a weight of numbers behind them only need to demonstrate their size to illustrate how much they resonate with the wider public. Environmental protests, having no such public support, instead use direct action or spectacle to draw attention to themselves. As well as blocking London's roads, XR activists also glued their hands to government buildings and to the gates of Buckingham Palace. Such stunts get a great deal of attention, but they rarely arouse much public sympathy. …
Green MEP Molly Scott Cato claims that direct action is necessary because a conspiracy of 'wealthy individuals and multinational corporations, backed by complicit politicians, has subverted the political process and blocked action'. But this conspiracy theory gets things completely the wrong way round. Climate change is almost exclusively a preoccupation of the wealthy. The global poor cannot afford to do without cheap fossil fuels like coal, while the working class in the West struggles to absorb the high cost of green taxes. Billionaires and corporations, on the other hand, fall over themselves to demonstrate their green credentials. And politicians from all parties, far from resisting environmentalist demands, compete to be the champions of environmentalism.
The UK's Climate Change Act, passed in 2008 by the Labour government, was the first of its kind in the world. It bound the country to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 per cent. The current Conservative government is now considering plans that are even more extensive: reducing the UK's CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. This will include the abolition of petrol and diesel engines, among other things. The only actual fetter on politicians' green ambitions, so far, has been political reality. XR and its supporters demand regressive, authoritarian and controlling legislation to limit consumption and production. But in general, voters do not want to be poorer and less free.
For a glimpse of what the political reality has in store for green ambitions, take a peek at the protests on the other side of the channel. While last weekend's Extinction Rebellion protests reportedly attracted 2,000 greens in London, the gilet jaunes movement, sparked by rising fuel taxes, has brought hundreds of thousands of people on to streets and motorways across the whole of France. Despite the inconvenience caused by the blockades and go-slows, the protests enjoy the support of around 70 per cent of the French public, reflecting the high level of opposition to President Macron's green taxes.
France's gilets jaunes (yellow vests) took to the streets last weekend for the second weekend in a row, with over 100,000 taking part in marches, blockades and go-slows. The previous weekend saw nearly 300,000 protesters all across the country, threatening to bring France to a standstill. The yellow vests take their name from the hi-vis jackets that all French drivers are required to own by law, which protesters have fashioned into their symbol of resistance. The movement is spontaneous, leaderless and not connected to any existing political party, union or organisation. Its ad-hoc demonstrations are organised on social media. What began as a protest against an environmentalist hike in fuel taxes has come to encapsulate a more general anger with the status quo. Many are particularly angry about the cost of living. [From Spiked]
Moreover, there is no other 'rebellion' in history that can match XR's desperate, fawning obsequiousness. Protesting outside Buckingham Palace last Saturday, activist Gail Bradbrook read aloud a letter to the monarch: 'With great humility, we now come to your majesty to implore you to act on our behalf: to fulfil your sacred duty to protect the realm.' What kind of 'rebellion' appears 'with great humility'? What kind of 'rebellion' begs the monarch to limit the material freedom of her subjects?
Sticking with the France comparison, this is akin to the starving peasants of the French Revolution demanding of the king and queen not only no cake, but also less bread.
The protesters themselves never tire of making historical comparisons. They flatter themselves with allusions to the Suffragettes, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. But King had 'a dream' in which places 'sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice'. XR and other environmentalists, on the other hand, can only offer a nightmare vision: a catastrophic climate collapse to which the only remedy is ecological austerity.
See our critical portrait of Gandhi here.
History is full of weird, religious zealots with apocalyptic prognostications. While the climate debate is often presented as being about 'the science', environmentalists like XR's Molly Scott Cato emphasize not science, rationalism and debate, but spiritual feelings. 'As a Quaker, I don't believe that spiritual wisdom resides in books or rituals but in the still, small voice that tells you when something must change', she writes. The environmentalists' belief in an impending apocalypse is a kind of religious conviction.
The Quakers' still small voice of conscience doesn't trouble them too much in North Korea, where they run collective farms worked by slave labor. [Note the second last paragraph of the article linked to, bearing in mind that in North Korean all farms are collective and use forced labor.]
Force is the method all these saviors of the earth favor.
Another XR campaigner and co-religionist of Scott Cato, Rupert Read, writes in the Conversation that, 'As a Quaker, I cherish the opening words of the famous Shaker hymn: 'Tis the gift to be simple'. Chillingly, he adds his own twist: 'It isn't enough to live a life of voluntary simplicity.' Climate activism, ultimately, is about the authoritarian regulation of other people's lives.
Doom-mongers have existed throughout history. But the question is, why have the likes of Extinction Rebellion become so prominent, causing such a splash in the media? It is a symptom of our times. The movement has emerged in an atmosphere where politicians struggle to offer a compelling vision of the future and are instead preoccupied with staving off a looming catastrophe. The self-styled rebels of XR, rather than standing against this pessimistic zeitgeist, epitomize it.
Such climate activists are in every country in the West, working to regulate all our lives, wherever we may be. They would have us live in enforced poverty.
The human race just might survive, they preach, if it limits its activities to the minimum necessary to gain bare subsistence.
It is an atavistic creed, yearning to return to primitive ways in which the human race could probably survive but individuals would have very short lives.
They are extreme puritans, and their rule would be totalitarian. Criticism would not be tolerated. Some environmentalists already call for prison sentences and some think capital punishment would be just for dissenters.
Now is the time to put on figurative yellow jackets and do some serious rebelling against them.
rebels against carbon dioxide
Posted under Britain, Climate, Environmentalism, France by Jillian Becker on Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Tagged with "Extinction Rebellion"., Ben Pile, Brendan O'Neill, Jehan Calvin, Molly Scott Cato, President Macron, Rupert Read
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What began four seasons ago as three weekend mountain bike camps for women run by a regional cycling federation in British Columbia has grown into a sell-out 13-camp series across Western Canada and the United States for nearly 500 women now run by Sugoi.
Today's Sugoi Dirt Series is likely the largest mountain bike weekend camp program of its kind devoted to women bikers and run by women.
"When you look at any kind of mountain-bike related statistics -- whether they are elite racing, grassroots racing, club membership or simply casual participation -- women came out as a relatively small percentage," said Candace Shadley, camp co-organizer for title sponsor, Sugoi, about the emphasis on women. "So, from a cycling perspective, women made a great demographic toward which to put some additional effort."
Since 2003 under the flag of lead sponsor Sugoi, the camp (www.dirtseries.com) also introduces women bikers of all levels and ages (20-somethings to 60-plus) to a host of other companies that are now also involved as sponsors (some only in Canada). Other than Sugoi, cash and product sponsors include: PowerBar, which has also supported the camps since their inception as a part of the Cycling British Columbia program (www.cycling.bc.ca), Nokian tires and Sleeman's beer (hey, gals do beer too!). Other product sponsors include Rocky Mountain bikes, Synchros, Giro, Hoots, Deuter, Brave Soldier, Kryptonite, Sea-to-Sky Ford (truck lease) and Kicking Horse coffee (java's gotta be a part!), as well as other smaller companies that provide lunches at various campsites. All sponsors also provide product, some of which is divvied up for a drawing at the end of the camp -- allotted so every single participant gets something (leave it to the women to make it all-inclusive), from clothing or bike gear to first-aid supplies or water bottles and sports nutrition products.
For the first two years as a Cycling BC program, Shimano was the title sponsor. Sugoi joined as a clothing sponsor in the second year and decided to become title sponsor and grow the program starting in 2003. That growth also took two of this year's 13 camps into the United States -- Sun Valley, Idaho, and Hood River, Ore.
With this year's huge jump in numbers, the camps will accommodate in one year alone nearly the same number the program has accommodated in its previous three years combined.
Shadley said the original program began by Cycling BC under her guidance was an effort born from some research to find out why more women don't cycle or mountain bike. The research showed most didn't feel they had the technical skills.
"I can tell you that it's just plain fun teaching women," Shadley said. "They listen to what you're saying, are awesome at making adjustments to their riding, support each other like you wouldn't believe, and then get so incredibly excited when they do things they didn't even imagine they could."
SNEWS® took part in one camp near Calgary recently and found the comparison to other camps and other co-ed camps black-and-white: Catering seemingly to the (OK, stereotypical, but mostly true) needs of women to get everything explained to them step-by-step, and then demonstrated before personal practice, the camps spent both of two mornings doing drills in and around the base of the host resorts. Those drills included the most basic braking skills to downhill bike control to wheelies, ratcheting, manuals and log jumps. All participants are broken into about five or six smaller level-specific groups with two instructors each. Building on the confidence gained from all the practice on the flats, the afternoons are spent on the mountains and trails doing rides. Lunches are taken together and are very social, and Saturday evening is spent with casual dinner munchies and beverages as mechanics demonstrate maintenance skills with Q&A. Amazingly, all instruction, light breakfasts, lunches, snacks and the Saturday evening program is included in the CDN $195 weekend fee for Canadian locations and USD $175 fee for U.S. locations (except lodging and transportation to the camp).
Several attendees told SNEWS® they feel safe and supported and have gained confidence in the skills they previously disparaged as not good enough.
"It's just different being with women, because you see someone who's your same size and she can do it," said Jackie Simpson, 36, co-owner with her advanced biker-husband Kevin of an area bike shop, Rebound Cycle, in Canmore, Alberta. "So you think, 'Well, I can do it too.' But if you see a guy do it, you don't think that because he's, well, a guy -- just bigger with more muscle."
The program finishes this year on Sept. 18-19 with a so-called "reunion weekend" (a co-ed camp that attracts about 70 participants) at Whistler Resort that is just like the other instructional weekends, but attracts many previous campers for a festive "reunion" atmosphere.
For more information on the camps, go to www.dirtseries.com, email info@dirtseries.com, or call 604-905-8876.
SNEW® View: The support and encouragement, even between different levels of bikers, was phenomenal. Even with instructors who all had national and international biking credentials and titles, no one seemed intimidated. Enthusiasm was indeed contagious, with instructors nearly jumping out of their skins when a participant accomplished something she hadn't thought she could. "Ohmigawd! That was perfect! Ohmigawd, that was so exciting!" shrieked Shadley at one point during drills, clapping her hands and leaping in the air when a participant managed a wheelie drop off a box. Companies would do well to get involved in efforts such as these since it's been shown that women become extremely dedicated to a company that supports and seems to understand their needs.


Oh. My. Word. Has anybody actually seen the Nu Metro website lately? What the hell were they thinking. I mean the last update they did was bad (all those annoying pop-ups) but this, this is just too freaking hard to navigate! And there seem to only be about 4 or 5 cinemas listed. Did the others all close while I was away or have they not been added to the website yet? Finding information out about a specific cinema is actually downright impossible (I don't think it exists!).
Aha. I've just discovered the error of my ways. What the freak is up? There is the old (still hideous) Nu Metro site at their .co.za address, but a completely different one (freaking hard to get the information you need from) at their .com address. Now that's just plain silliness if you ask me. And this is why, no matter what, Ster Kinekor will *always* be better.
As you can probably tell, Varen & I went to movies last night. We had to see Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond.
Forensic intelligence links an MI6 traitor to a bank account in Haiti, where a case of mistaken identity introduces Bond to the beautiful but feisty Camille - a woman who has her own vendetta. Camille leads Bond straight to Dominic Greene - a ruthless businessman and a major force within the mysterious organisation.
On a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene, conspiring to take total control of one of the world's most important natural resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano. Using his associates in the organisation and manipulating his powerful contacts within the CIA and the British government, Greene promises to overthrow the existing regime in a Latin-American country, giving the General control of the country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land.
Hmmm. Daniel Craig is definitely right up there as James Bond. Hard to tell if he's better than Connery or not, but it's a close call. Pity this movie wasn't up to the standard set in Casino Royale. But it was still fun. And the dude playing the villain, Mathieu Amalric, is truly a creepy man! Needless to say, Varen thoroughly enjoyed it :) Meh, you've gotta see it either way, it's a Bond film.
*update* Oh my word. I forgot the most bizarre part of our movie watching experience! They showed the annoying trailer of Leon Schuster's new movie, Mr Bones 2. I mean how is this man still making movies? More importantly how do these movies make any money? I always feel embarrassed that these are South Africa's Box Office movies, what must the rest of the world think?!? Anyhoo, I learnt last night why they make money (to my horror), at least half the cinema was in hysterics over his ridiculous and slapstic on-screen antics. I hung my head. It was a sad day for South Africans.
Yeah, how slimy was the guy who played the bad guy. Ewww.


This may be a little late since we're already a week into the new year, but it's never too late to give the skin a good pamper, right? This time of year can wreak havoc on the skin, from the chill outside to the less-than-healthy food and drink consumed in bulk. That, on top of the stress of moving this past weekend, has given me a case of seriously agitated skin.
I've been employing my arsenal of de-stressing products to get everything back to normal. To slough off the dead skin and really de-congest I've been using my two favorite exfoliating treatments - the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel and the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial. Both give very similar results, and I reach for them interchangeably, depending on how much time I have.
I've also got masks designed to soothe stressed-out skin, which are obviously perfect for times like this. The newly-released Nugg Beauty De-Stress Mask* quite cooling and extremely nourishing. It really helps to plump up the skin and return it to normal. The Belif First Aid Anti-Hangover Soothing Mask is also perfect for the task. I've mentioned it quite a lot lately but it really is an important product in my rotation - it instantly soothes my skin and really feels like it's helping it "recharge." And the ultimate blogger favorite, the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, would be perfectly recruited here as well. As it helps to purify as well as nourish the skin, it's ideal for stressed-out skin.
Another nice treat for the skin that I find really soothing are sheet masks. One I'm really looking forward to using is the Boscia Sake Brightening Hydrogel Mask. I've used their Deep Hydration mask recently and really liked it, so I'm excited to try this one. And lastly, to pep up those tired and dehydrated eyes I've been loving the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift*. These are eye masks that come in two parts, the masks and the activator that you soak the masks in. When using them my undereye area seems immediately brighter and more lifted, giving the appearance of being much more well-rested than I am.
What are your go-to products when your skin is feeling stressed?


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Photo: Dennis Jarvis CC
Albania: National representatives to the ECML
Experts Involved
Albania joined the ECML on 26 April 2001
Governing Board of the ECML
Appointed ministerial representatives from each member state. The Governing Board adopts programmes of activities, monitors their implementation and oversees the Centre's management.
Albania - Governing Board
Ms Daniela Tamo
Department of English, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Tirana
University of Tirana
Rruga "Him Kolli", Pallati Santara, Kati 5, Ap.4
A-1010 Tirana
National Nominating Authority
Agencies in each member state linked to ministries. They are responsible for selecting participants to the Centre's activities.
Albania - Nominating Authority
Ms Iliriana Topulli
Ministry of Education and Sports
Rruga E Durresit, no. 23
AL-1001 Tirana
Contact for the European Day of Languages (EDL)
The function of a national EDL Relay is to act as a multiplier for organisations, schools and associations, circulating: information communicated by the Council of Europe (for example the press release of the Council on the Day, which the Relays are invited to translate into national/local languages, updates on the website); promotional materials - posters, stickers etc. provided by the Council of Europe every year in significant quantities for event organisers.
Albania -
Ms Tatjana Vuçani
Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth
Division of Pre-University Education Development Programs
Senior Expert
Rruga e Durrësit Nr 23
Contact for the European Language Portfolio
Council of Europe Office
E-mail (General)
Contact point for the ECML
National networks in language education; The National Contact point disseminates information and documentation on the Centre's work on a national level.
Albania - National Contact Point, EDL National Relay
The Department of Curriculum Development in the Ministry of Education and Science is the department responsible for pre university education (pre school and compulsory education, secondary and vocational education). The Ministry's website (www.arsimi.gov.al - in Albanian and English) provides full details about the Department of Curriculum Development and the educational system in Albania. The language specialist in the Department for Curriculum Development is responsible for implementation of the educational policies in the field of languages (curriculum design, teacher training, bilingual education), as well as for co-operation in the field of languages with foreign institutions within the country and abroad.
The Albanian National Contact Point is responsible for communicating and disseminating information on ECML events and on ECML's resources, aiming at the professional development of the teachers but at the same time introducing them to the Centre's work and activities. The National Contact Point is responsible for creating a stable network of Albanian participants trained at the ECML and for applying their expertise in teacher training. Nominees are selected in co-operation with the National Nominating Authority according to their fields of interest and requests to participate in ECML workshops. Care is taken to ensure that nominees are actively involved in the particular workshop topic and disseminate information on the expertise acquired afterwards. Participants are obliged to submit a report after attending a workshop. The ministry regularly selects information about the ECML and puts it on its website in order to inform the public about the ECML's activities and programmes.
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In a bid to promote ocean health and sustainability, and encourage stronger female representation in Australian sailing, the first all-female professional crew to enter the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has announced its campaign to win the coveted Tattersall Cup in Hobart.
The 13-women-strong crew, led by Skipper Stacey Jackson, will race under the team name Ocean Respect Racing, 11th Hour Racing, and in support of Clean Seas. The team, which includes Dee Caffari, the skipper of the Turn the Tide on Plastic yacht that competed in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, hopes to inspire fellow competitors, event organizers, and supporters to protect the ocean.
Working closely with Stacey Jackson as Ambassador for the team is Julie Bishop, former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Australia's first female Foreign Minister. "I am delighted to be the ambassador for Ocean Respect Racing. This historic initiative will set the benchmark for female participation in sailing in Australia, and Stacey's team comprises some of the most capable sailors. Importantly, I am looking forward to working closely with the team and UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign to promote the importance of ocean health and sustainability in Australia. I hope that their sporting endeavors will inspire women and girls around the world," commented Bishop.
"I am delighted that the Ocean Respect Racing team is committed to the Clean Seas campaign and will be taking our message of turning the tide on plastic to audiences across Australia. I wish this spectacular all woman crew the best of luck!" said Acting Executive Director of UN Environment, Joyce Msuy.
The Sidney Hobart Race kicks off on 26 December.


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Trump says he was never thanked for John McCain's funeral
March 20, 2019 / 6:00 PM / CBS News
The silence in the room of pro-military tank plant workers was palpable Wednesday as President Trump turned a speech meant to be about the military and manufacturing into an opportunity to eviscerate the late decorated veteran Sen. John McCain.
Unprompted, the president blamed McCain for a failed Obamacare repeal vote and for the unproven dossier alleging ties between Mr. Trump and Russia, as he has on Twitter and in remarks over the last few days. But he stepped up those attacks in his speech Wednesday.
"I endorsed him at his request," Mr. Trump said. "And I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted. Which as President, I had to approve. I don't care about this - I didn't get thank you. That's OK. We sent him on the way, but I wasn't a fan of John McCain."
Mr. Trump spoke at the plant after the Army announced earlier in the year it would spent $714 million to upgrade the M1A1 Abrams at the plant, owned by General Dynamics. The White House has said the infusion of spending will support more than 1,000 jobs. Defense cuts five years ago nearly caused the plant to shut down. It is considered America's last tank factory.
President Trump speaks to workers at the Lima Army Tank Plant (LATP) Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, the country's only remaining tank manufacturing plant, in Lima, Ohio, on Wed., March 20, 2019. Reuters
In his remarks, the president reiterated his earlier declaration that ISIS will be "gone by tonight." The president held up two maps he had shown to reporters earlier at the White House, one of which he said was from Election Night, and the other representing the current status of the caliphate.
Recently, the president pressured U.S. auto giant General Motors to reopen a plant in Lordstown, Ohio, that closed earlier this month. Mr. Trump has been berating GM over Twitter and pressuring CEO Mary Barra to take action.
He continued that barrage in Wednesday's speech, imploring GM to "get that plant open, or sell it to somebody and they'll open it."
Mr. Trump is also in Ohio for a country club fundraiser.
Trump arrives at his fundraiser
Mr. Trump has arrived at the Brookside Country Club, where he will hold a roundtable with reporters ahead of a dinner. The president, who filed for reelection on Inauguration Day, has already raised tens of millions of dollars for his reelection effort.
Outside the country club were a smattering of protesters as the president motorcaded in. "Trump for Prison 2020," one sign read.
Trump ignores question about John McCain
As the president's Ohio trip continued, a reporter shouted as he reached for the door of his motorcade, "Why do you keep attacking John McCain?"
The president declined to answer, saying only, "Thank you."
Mr. Trump is en route to his fundraiser.
Trump says U.S. has killed key terrorists
Mr. Trump told the audience he learned only moments before that terrorists responsible for the deaths of four Americans in Syria, as well as other incidents, have been killed.
Trump eviscerates the late John McCain
Mr. Trump launched into an unprompted evisceration of the late Sen. John McCain, blasting the late war veteran for his vote on repealing and replacing Obamacare.
Then the president said he gave McCain the funeral McCain would have wanted, but he never got a thank you for it.
"I endorsed him at his request," Mr. Trump said. "And I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted. Which as President, I had to approve. I don't care about this -- I didn't get thank you. That's OK. We sent him on the way but I wasn't a fan of John McCain."
"So now what we could say is now, we're all set, I don't think I have to answer that question but the press keeps -- 'what do you think of McCain? What do you think?' Not my kind of guy, but some people like him and I think that's great."
Trump tells audience at plant they'd better love him
Mr. Trump opened his remarks by telling his audience they'd better love him, since he kept their plant open.
"You'd better love me, I kept this place open," the president told the crowd.
Trump is wheels down in Ohio
Air Force One touched down in Ohio at roughly 2:20 p.m. ET.
Fundraiser attendees can pay $15,000 for a picture with Trump
People who attend Wednesday night's fundraiser can get their picture with the president -- for $15,000, according to the invitation reviewed by the White House television pooler.
Dinner costs $50,000 a person or $70,000 for a couple. Entrance to the fundraiser costs $2,800.
Trump insults George Conway again
The last few days, the president has spent some of his time attacking the late Sen. John McCain -- "I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be" -- and George Conway, the husband of his top aide Kellyanne Conway who has repeatedly criticized the president's mental fitness on Twitter.
"George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife's success & angry that I, with her help, didn't give him the job he so desperately wanted," Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. "I barely know him but just take a look, a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!"
Mr. Trump, asked about Conway Wednesday, criticized him again, calling him wacky.
Trump claims he told Mueller he wouldn't be FBI director
Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, claimed he told Mueller he wouldn't be the FBI director.
Trump talks Mueller report, ISIS on departure
"Let it come out, let people see it. That's up to the attorney general," Mr. Trump told reporters when asked if the impending report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation would be made public.
"I want to see the report," he added, saying that he "looked forward" to its release.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump took credit for the driving out of the Islamic State group in Syria, using visual diagrams comparing ISIS territories currently in the region compared to that when he took office.
Trump has a fundraising head start
Mr. Trump already has a fundraising head start going into the 2020 election cycle. His campaign has raised more than $130 million since he became president.
Mr. Trump has expressed confidence that he can beat whomever the Democrats choose from their primary process.
"Whoever it is, I'll take him or her on," Mr. Trump told reporters earlier this month.
Trump hitting the campaign trail starting next week
The president, after largely taking a break from political travel since the midterms, will rally supporters in Michigan next week.
Mr. Trump is holding a "Make America Great Again" rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 28. There, he'll emphasize manufacturing as a part of his agenda.
At the same time, he's likely to attack what his campaign considers to be "radical socialist" policies embraced by Democrats.
"While President Trump has made good on his promises to American workers, 2020 Democrats are embracing radical socialist policies like the Green New Deal, which would raise taxes on all Americans and is opposed by the AFL-CIO because it would harm millions of its members and threaten their jobs," Michael Glassner, CEO of Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., said in a statement. "While Democrat proposals would cause irreparable harm to the American economy, President Trump has added hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs in just two years, a drastic change from Obama's disastrous two terms."
First published on March 20, 2019 / 12:13 PM
Kathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital.