text:
What 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' teaches us about life as a stormtrooper
Are stormtroopers a terrifying army of faceless drones or the victims of cult brainwashing?
In the first six Star Wars movies, the Empire's stormtrooper army was an uninvestigated mystery.
The stormtroopers have their roots in the clone army secretly commissioned by Darth Sidious, which first appears in Attack of the Clones, but by the time of A New Hope, it was unclear what lurked behind those expressionless white helmets. Were stormtroopers hired soldiers or Imperial loyalists? Were they even human? The original trilogy never explored why someone would choose to work for the Empire, and the stormtroopers ended up being seen as something of a punchline: an endless conveyor belt of robotic yet incompetent footsoldiers who infamously missed their target almost every time.
In The Force Awakens, we finally met a stormtrooper—FN-2187, aka Finn—and we got a plausible explanation for why the previous generation kept failing to kill their enemies. Their poor aim may have reflected the popular theory that many conscripted soldiers couldn't make themselves fire at the enemy in the trenches of World War II—an issue that led the U.S. Army to introduce human-shaped targets at its firing ranges.
Perhaps some stormtroopers weren't fully invested in a fight to the death, which would explain why Captain Phasma told Finn to submit his blaster for inspection. His blaster shots (or lack thereof) were being logged; if any stormtrooper failed to shoot during a firefight, it would be a clear sign that they need to be punished—or "reconditioned."
The Force Awakens introduced an important new facet to the background of the stormtrooper army: loyalty to the First Order. Although the Galactic Empire of the original trilogy dabbled in fascist imagery, it didn't have an overt political ideology or strategy like the villains in the Hunger Games movies.
Darth Sidious, aka Emperor Palpatine, was driven by an unquenchable thirst for power; his officers were motivated by a combination of fear and military professionalism; and his stormtroopers were mostly depicted as brainless cannon fodder. The First Order is subtly different, and there are strong hints that stormtroopers spend years being brainwashed so they'll be willing to die for their cause.
Oddly enough, this idea helped to humanize the stormtroopers. Finn is obviously an outlier, but we also saw several other moments that set certain stormtroopers apart from their comrades. In one scene, two guards tacitly agree to run away from Kylo Ren's temper tantrum, and during one battle sequence, an amped-up soldier attacks Finn with a riot-control baton while calling him a "traitor." That isn't the kind of reaction we saw from the personality-free drones of A New Hope.
Star Wars/Know Your Meme
Based on Finn's backstory and General Hux's Nuremberg-style rally on Starkiller Base, we know that the First Order's entire infrastructure is built on a foundation of loyalty and brainwashing. It's a militarized cult on an industrial scale.
Stormtroopers are conditioned from childhood to kill for the Order, rejecting all sense of personal identity in favor of masks and serial numbers. Aside from Finn, we never see a stormtrooper's face. Individuality seems to be a perk of higher office, with Hux and his lieutenants getting real names and traditional military titles. Captain Phasma is an interesting middle ground: still a stormtrooper, but one who has a clear sense of identity and whose job involves monitoring the manufactured loyalty of her subordinates.
Phasma's role suggests an atmosphere of constant surveillance, in which soldiers are encouraged to inform on potential traitors among their comrades. This cult-like regime may well have been inspired by North Korea, which receives a fairly obvious nod in the form of Snoke's official title: Supreme Leader.
The intriguing (and heartbreaking) thing about Finn is how normal he is. Despite a lifetime of training and brainwashing, he defects at the first sign of violence, mourning a fallen comrade and refusing to participate in the murder of civilians on Jakku. This level of empathy clearly isn't a desirable trait in a stormtrooper, but Phasma's reaction to his defection—observing that she never noticed any serious anomalies in him before—implies that the average stormtrooper may well be more human than we think.
In Greg Rucka's short-story collection Before the Awakening, Finn's training sounds surprisingly similar to that of a typical military unit. Some stormtroopers even have nicknames based on their serial numbers, and in spite of their unquestioning loyalty to the Order, they are capable of kicking back and having casual conversations. If the stormtroopers truly were seen as completely disposable cannon fodder, Finn wouldn't have been branded a traitor (a very loaded word) by his comrades. He simply would have been written off as a malfunctioning piece of equipment.
The First Order's backstory doesn't get much screentime in The Force Awakens, but the film's visual dictionary offers some background on how the Order emerged from the ruins of the Empire. Most importantly, the officer class all grew up "on the far side of the Unknown Regions," isolated from the New Republic founded by Leia and the rebel forces.
Characters like General Hux spent 30 years absorbing propaganda about terrorists (the Rebel Alliance) destroying the glory of the Empire, which explains why Hux and his contemporaries display such zeal for the Order. They're the political equivalent of Kylo Ren's obsessive Darth Vader cosplay antics.
Because the First Order evolved from the methods of the Empire, its leaders needed a stormtrooper army to match: efficient, deadly, and loyal to the cause. They wanted to inspire the same passionate devotion that made the Rebel Alliance so powerful, but in order to do so, they had to take a shortcut. That shortcut was building a brainwashed cult, big enough to take over the galaxy.
Photo via Star Wars
Finn First Order John Boyega Star Wars Stormtroopers The Force Awakens


When is a scale not a scale? When it is designed to measure ratios.
The Ratio Scale isa brewing tool from Brewista. It helps you calculate the water needed for pour over coffee based on the amount ofcoffee grounds used. With an Auto Mode and a Manual Mode, the Ratio Scale is simple to use and the coffee-to-water ratio settings are easily adjustable. This scale is unlike any other scale on the market -- it is not intended to be used for simple weighing and taring. Instead, Brewista has designed the Ratio Scale as a tool to help those who wish to perfect their brew ratios for pour over.
Two timing bars on the LCD Display show the desired pour rate and the actual pour rate, which helps the user pace their pour. This feature makes the Ratio Scale a perfect training tool for baristas and lovers of coffee who want to perfect their pour over. Check out the video below to see the Ratio Scale in action.
To download the Quick Start Guide, click here.
To download the Owner's Manual, click here.


* 1. As a parent/guardian of a student at APW Elementary School, what would be your preferred form of communication?
* 2. If you chose other in question 1, please give suggestions of other communication options.


TRACASA, in collaboration with GMV, is part of the group of companies that have carried out in 2016, the Framework Contract established by the EU Satcen (European Union Satellite Center) for the Copernicus reference mapping service.
This service offers a remarkable improvement to the NATO international cartographic standard MGCP (Multinational Geospatial Co-production Program), in relation to the catalogue of elements and the final cartographic scale. The result of the service is the identification and categorisation in geospatial databases of more than 200 elements of the territory, economic uses, land cover, infrastructures, transport and other resources.
The implementation of the service provides a georeferenced database on EU borders, with detailed information on hydrography, topography, vegetation, infrastructure and main activities of the population. The service populates the geographical information system of frontiers, the management tool for the authorities responsible for its control and surveillance.


In Scotland, serious offences are tried in a Crown Court.
In Scotland, serious offences are tried in a Sheriff Court.
Which of the following responsibilities does not fall upon a member of Parliament?
Among the following choices which is the correct title of European Convention on Human Rights?
Because of their sexual orientation is it acceptable that these people in UK to be ill-treated?
Parliamentary democracy is maintained in the UK.
Everyone pays National Insurance Contributions.
Most working people pay National Insurance Contributions.
Civil law relates to disputes between people.
Civil law relates to crimes which are investigated by the police.
Serious offences are tried in Crown Courts before a judge and jury.
What media do the solicitors avail in advertising their services?
Al-Qaeda, is the only terrorist organisation causing threat to the UK.
What are the members of the House of Lords called?
Solicitors usually charge a fee related to the amount of time spent on a case.
Solicitors always charge a set fee for each case.
The cabinet's decisions often have to be debated or approved by Parliament.
The cabinet's decisions must always be debated or approved by Parliament.
Cases pertaining to offences of youngsters and children are heard in the courts of one of the following places. In which places such cases are dealt?
News and reports on political parties are covered by Radio and Television in a balanced way. In connection of the same which is the correct statement?
The law requires radio and television to give equal time to opposing political viewpoints.
The Prime Minister encourages radio and television to give equal time to opposing political viewpoints.
The most serious civil cases are heard in the Sessions court and the High Court.
European Union is also known as The Council of Europe.
You should never introduce yourself to your new neighbours, but should let them introduce themselves.
You should always introduce yourself to your neighbours when you move into a new house or flat.
If a public body does not respect someone's rights, the judiciary will change human rights legislation.
If a public body does not respect someone's rights, the judiciary can order it to change its policies or pay compensation (or both).
What is meant by proportional representation the system implied for electing MEPs in UK?
Hearing of legal cases are conducted in the Magistrates' Court by qualified District Judges or Deputy District Judges. In which part of UK does this practice exist?
Only some people are able to participate in their local community.
Everyone has the opportunity to participate in his or her local community.
UK Parliament website provides all information regarding the procedure for visiting the Parliament.
Name the country that does not belong to the Commonwealth?


text:
Q: Moving files with a batch file I have 30 folders, one for each travel group with 10 subfolders each, each subfolder corresponds to an activity.Some pictures dont match with the group, so i have a list of the pictures that dont match.
Im using this batch to move the jpgs from the folders but it's putting them all together. is there any way that the batch creates a folder with the name of the folder it's been moved from?
for /r "originfolder" %%# in (*) do findstr "%%~nx#" "filelist.txt"&&move "%%#" "destinyfolder"

PAUSE

A: You'll need a few more lines. There are a few different ways, this being one of them.
@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
pushd "originfolder"
for /F "usebackq delims=" %%a in ("filelist.txt") do for /F "delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /s "%%a" 2^>nul') do (
    set "filepath=%%~dpi"
    set "filepath=!filepath:~0,-1!"
    for %%f in (!filepath!) do set "destpath=%%~nxf"
    mkdir "C:\Full path to\destinypath\!destpath!"
    move "%%~a" "C:\Full path to\destinypath\!destpath!"
)
popd

simply get the path of the file, then use the last name of the path (folder where file exists) and create that folder name in your destination path, before moving the file.
Note, this is untested code, so please use a test scenario before attempting this in production.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Wendy W., a Charlotte, NC resident, won the #ShareYourShutters contest for winter 2016!
Wendy had Polywood® plantation shutters set up in the bedroom. They let light filter in while giving her privacy! When our installers left her house, she photographed her new window treatments and posted the image to Facebook with #ShareYourShutters to enter.
We're happy that Wendy is so pleased with her new interior shutters. Her bedroom wouldn't stay as toasty during the winter (or pleasantly cool in the summer) if it hadn't been for her energy efficient Polywood shutters. And now she can sleep in longer thanks to all the light her new shutters block out.
Congratulations to Wendy for being our Share Your Shutters Winter 2016 winner! She was presented with a $100 dinner giftcard to a local restaurant in Charlotte.
Do you have shutters in your home installed by Sunburst Shutters Boston? We want to see your photographs on Facebook, or any other social media platform. And it would be great to have a homeowner from the Boston area win the next Share Your Shutters competition.


Lomond is the heart of the district with excellent recreational facilities, clean parks, well equipped playgrounds, and all the amenities. Community clubs and committees are very active, energetic and family oriented. Agriculture and the Oil and Gas Industry are the largest employers. Traditional values, determination and an eye to the future keep the village prospering!


Customize your Kia vehicle with genuine Kia parts and accessories. Browse our selection of accessories by selecting your vehicle model below. Questions or concerns? We Carry a large stock of accessories. Our Parts Department is here to help! Contact us today and learn more about accessorizing your Kia your way.


text:
SA +27 (0) 64 621 8498 UK +44 (0) 7919 090853 email: info@bigmack-tsa.com we are using
Golf Tour Operator in Garden Route | Garden Route Golf Tour Operator
Golf Tours in Durban
Golf Packages in Cape Town
South African Safaris
Wild Life safaris South Africa
Safari tours coming very soon
Come and meet some of South Africa's most revered, and famous residents, on our BIGMACK TOURS into the country's intense and incredible wilderness
We would like to invite you to join us on a wildlife safari tour, which will take you on a journey deep into South Africa's wild, and untamed heart. Expertly guided across the terrains of Kruger National Park and the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park you may well catch glimpses of the country's BIG FIVE, from the safety of one of our recommended tour options. Our beautiful country is renowned for its wildlife, and we'd like to grant you the experience of capturing a plethora of wild animals and birds – with your camera, of course!
Kruger National Park is famed as South Africa's largest, and most exciting safari destination. Boasting sweeping views and more than its fair share of wild inhabitants the park is steeped in legend and history. As well as South Africa's famous BIG FIVE of the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros, this esteemed national park is home to countless insects, some 147 species of mammal, 500 species of birds, 116 reptilian varieties, 34 amphibious species, 49 kind of fish, and almost 2,000 trees, shrubs and smaller plants. You won't have to venture too far before making your first sighting.
A visit to Kruger National Park is something of a pilgrimage for many South Africans. Join their ranks as you experience nature as it was intended to be enjoyed; wild and unashamedly beautiful. With its array of animals and diverse habitats, Kruger National Park is an area you could easily lose yourself in, although our knowledgeable guides will always lead the way.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Previously known as Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, having amassed 96,000 hectares that are ripe for exploration. Rolling hills, grassy summits, rushing rivers, dense forests and rocky waterfalls spread across the valley as far as the eye can see, and house some of the world's most glorious species. Standing atop the reserve's highest peaks, you'll have uninterrupted views across a seemingly endless landscape, which is peppered with rocky outcrops and low-rising hills. Transformed by rainwater the wilderness sustains abundant insects, plants, birds, mammals and reptiles. We invite you to glimpse, and perhaps interact with the wildlife populations in a way you'd never thought possible. Enjoy nature in all of its glory.
Our luxurious Wild Safari Tours
We'd recommend that your plan your trip to Kruger National Park or Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park from our list of recommended safari tour options, although we are always happy, and excited to hear any ideas that you might have for your adventure. Our packages range from exclusive private safaris to affordable group trips, although we can promise that your luxury and comfort are never overlooked.
What are you waiting for? BIGMACK TOURS will open the door to this wild, new world.
We want to share our love for South Africa with our guests. It is our privilege to accommodate your favourite pastimes in one of the world's most spectacular countries. Whether you share Russel's bucket list dream of catching a 1000lb marlin, would like to dive and weave between spectacular coral and mysterious cave systems, or want to play golf on some of the most prestigious, and pristine courses in the world: we have a package for you. Wine tours, wildlife safaris and cultural excursions are also waiting, in a land that you've perhaps dared only dream about. What's more, we're here to help: if your dream getaway doesn't already exist, allow us to imagine it for you from start, to glorious crescendo.
Contact Bigmack Tours
SA +27 (0) 64 621 8498
UK +44 (0) 7919 090853
We are using
email: info@bigmack-tsa.com
20 nights, 13 rounds of golf
10 nights, 8 rounds of golf
© 2018 BIGMACK Tours :: All Rights Reserved :: Privacy :: Terms
Website design by Oast House Media East Kent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Аккон або Акко (*д/н —53 до н. е.) — вождь племені сенонів у 40-50 роках до н. е. Учасник Галльської війни проти римських загарбників.

Життєпис
Походив зі знатного роду кельтського племені сенонів. Невідомо саме коли стає їх вождем. Наприкінці 54 року до н. е. стає прихильником повстання проти римлян, підтримав плани Верцингеторикса. Ймовірно, йому вдається втягнути у війну карнутів, своїх сусідів, але не паризіїв, з якими карнути колись складали єдину державу.

Втім Гай Юлій Цезар стрімко рушив проти сенонів, внаслідок чого Акко не встиг зібрати усі свої війська. Зрештою Акко зазнав поразки, сенони здалися римлянам, які віддають Цезарю 100 заручників, серед яких знаходився Акко. Напочатку 53 року до н. е. на всегалльских зборах, що проходили в Дурокорторуму, змову сенонов піддано осуду, і Акко було страчено за давнім римським звичаєм, тобто його відшмагали різками, а потім відрубали голову.

Джерела
 William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Library, 2005 [1849], p. 6.
 Danièle et Yves Roman, Histoire de la Gaule, Librairie Arthème Fayard, Paris, 1997, (ISBN 978-2-7028-1646-2)
 Caius Julius Caesar: De bello Gallico VI 44

Правителі кельтів

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Parenting is hard. Nothing really prepares you for it.
When I was pregnant I read just about everything I could get my hands on: how to breastfeed, developmental stages, researched the best foods and strollers and much more. I felt prepared. But after coming home with a tiny infant— I went from feeling prepared to feeling overwhelmed!
Parenting is hard. And in our 21st century society it's even harder when you throw technology and Internet into the mix. That feeling of being overwhelmed can turn quickly to fear and anxiety. What do you do?
As a parent I certainly don't know all the answers, but I'm not overwhelmed any more. Time, research, communication and a willingness to embrace change has made me more confident, particularly when it comes to technology.
The key to being a successful digital parent as communication. When we feel overwhelmed, we aren't open to talking. We create black and white rules that make us feel comfortable—but do little to create lines of communication between us and our children.
We aren't saying there should be no rules, but that they should be attached to appropriate developmental stages. And any rule should be built through ongoing communication between adult and child.
The 3Ms of Digital Parenting are based around communication. When you talk with your child, a base of trust develops that can grow through adulthood.
When a child is young the greatest teacher are the people they are around the most, their parents or caregivers. This is the time to model appropriate behavior. Create shared expectations around technology in the household. If you don't put your phone down during dinner—why should your child?
At this stage those shared expectations around technology can be taken to the next level. Consider letting your child have their own account online which you would manage. This creates opportunities for your child to share their thoughts and creations online. Their online experiences will be both positive and negative, but the negative can provide another chance for communication.
Hopefully there's been a base of trust and expectations set before the teen years. Your child will be on their own soon, away from parental modeling, managing and monitoring. Now you can take a further step back; allow them their own accounts without little supervision. Monitor how they're doing and pay attention to changes in your child's behavior. Be a sounding board and a place for them to bring questions and concerns.
Parenting is hard. And being a digital parent can be even harder.
We at Digital Respons-Ability can help. We offer workshops and training for parents around technology. We not only teach on devices and trends, but ways to facilitate communication and build trust.


text:
Etched in Bronze
The Air Force clarified the process by which it awards the Bronze Star Medal in the face of criticism over the frequency of the award. "The number of [Bronze Star Medal] recipients in no way diminishes the accomplishments of those individuals who have earned it; rather, it allows commanders to recognize meritorious or heroic service," said Will Brown, Air Force Evaluations and Recognitions Branch chief at the Air Force Personnel Center. The Air Force Secretary is authorized to grant Bronze Stars for either heroic or meritorious achievement or service not involving aerial flight, and in connection with operations against any opposing armed force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in armed conflict. The "V" for valor device distinguishes individuals who have been engaged in conflict to a lesser degree than what might qualify them for a Silver Star. Candidates can expect a consistent and rigorous review process for the Bronze Star or higher awards, said Col. Scott Arcuri, Air Forces Central's director of manpower, personnel, and services. The approval rate for candidate decorations is between 50 percent and 60 percent, he noted in the April 24 release. (Washington, D.C., report by Amaani Lyle)


text:
Ламбро (Ламбо) Капиданчев (Капитанчев) е български предприемач.

Биография
Ламбро Капиданчев е роден в 1884 година в костурското село Лобаница, тогава в Османската империя, днес заличено на територията на Гърция.

Преселва се във Варна. При избухването на Балканската война е македоно-одрински опълченец.

Притежател е на "Цариградската фурна" на булевард "Княз Борис" във Варна. Общински съветник е във Варна в края на 20-те и началото на 30-те години на XX век.

Вижте също
 Кръстю Капиданчев

Бележки

Български предприемачи от Македония
Родени в Лобаница
Македоно-одрински опълченци
Дейци на Македонските братства
Български общественици от Македония
Български имигранти от Македония във Варна
Починали във Варна


text:
Omicron Variant: What We Need To Know?
New Omicron Variant is the latest variant discovered in the Coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, the new variant comes just after the Thanksgiving holiday, sending chills through the world. The first case was in South Africa, which resulted in the U.S. halting travel to many African countries. Not to mention, the U.S. market fell drastically, and scientists and world leaders met to determine risks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points. The S&P 500 index was down 2.3%, on pace for its worst day since February. The price of oil plunged nearly 12%.
The new variant named, Omicron is classified as a highly transmissible virus and is in the same category as the Delta variant. There is also evidence that suggests an increased risk of reinfection. The World Health Organization (WHO) and medical experts warned against overreaction before better understanding the variant. "We must move quickly and at the earliest possible moment," British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers.
As of now, there is no indication that the variant causes more severe disease. Nevertheless, some genetic changes appear problematic, and experts aren't sure if the Omicron variant would cause a significant health threat. However, as with other variants, some infected people display no symptoms, South African experts said. Therefore, even though some genetic changes appear problematic, it was unclear if the new variant would pose a significant public health threat. Some previous variants, like the beta variant, initially concerned scientists but did not spread very far.
Solving Puzzles Boosts Mental Health
Inequity in Vaccine Rollouts
The Omicron variant hasn't hit the United States, but five cases were discovered in Canada this past weekend. The variant "seems to be spreading at a reasonably rapid rate," he told Dr. Fauci told CNN. Sadly, the new variant depicts wealthier countries hoarding vaccines threatens to prolong the pandemic—less than 6% of fully vaccinated people in Africa. In addition, millions of health workers and vulnerable populations haven't received a single dose; thus, increasing the opportunity for the variant to evolve.
"This is one of the consequences of the inequity in vaccine rollouts and why the grabbing of surplus vaccines by richer countries will inevitably rebound on us all at some point," said Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Britain's University of Southampton. He urged 20 leaders "to go beyond vague promises and deliver on their commitments to share doses."
Travel Bans
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discouraged travel bans on countries infected with the new variant. They don't believe the travel bans have "yielded a meaningful income." Nevertheless, the European Union imposed a temporary travel ban from southern African countries on Friday, and stocks plummeted in Asia and Europe. Germany discussed enacting a flight ban and only allowing German citizens to come home on flights from South Africa. Other travelers will have to quarantine for 14 days, vaccinated or not. Last Thursday, Germany surpassed 100,000 deaths for COVID-19.
Can Vitamin D Prevent COVID-19?
Italy health ministry announced banning entry for anyone who has traveled to the seven southern African nations within the last 14 days. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic planned similar measures. In addition, Japan announced that Japanese nationals who traveled to specific African countries would have to quarantine at government-dedicated accommodations for ten days and take a COVID-19 test on the 3rd, 6th, and 10th days. Furthermore, Japan hasn't opened back up to foreign nationals.
The South African government said the U.K.'s decision to ban South Africans temporarily seemed rushed. At the same time, the U.S. public health officials were talking Friday with South African colleagues. Coronavirus infections jumped 11% in the past week in Europe, the only region in the world where COVID-19 continues to rise. The WHO's Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge, warned that the continent could see an additional 700,000 deaths by the spring without urgent measures.
coronavirusCOVID-19delta variantModernaOmicronOmicron VariantpandemicPfizer
Delta Variant Causes An Increased Risk Of Stillbirths
Fashion Trailblazer Virgil Abloh Passes Away at 41
Treat Skin Irritation Caused by Face Masks
rdanielsr6d7 May 15, 2020 May 15, 2020
Intersection of Inactivity and Coronavirus
rdanielsr6d7 April 28, 2020 April 29, 2020


text:
namespace sync_file_system {

SubtreeSet::Node::Node()
    : contained_as_subtree_root(false),
      number_of_subtrees_below(0) {
}

SubtreeSet::Node::Node(bool contained_as_subtree_root,
                       size_t number_of_subtrees_below)
    : contained_as_subtree_root(contained_as_subtree_root),
      number_of_subtrees_below(number_of_subtrees_below) {
}

SubtreeSet::SubtreeSet() {}
SubtreeSet::SubtreeSet(const SubtreeSet& other) = default;
SubtreeSet::~SubtreeSet() {}

bool SubtreeSet::IsDisjointWith(const base::FilePath& subtree_root) const {
  base::FilePath::StringType normalized_subtree_root =
      storage::VirtualPath::GetNormalizedFilePath(subtree_root);

  // Check if |subtree_root| contains any of subtrees in the container.
  if (base::Contains(inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_,
                     normalized_subtree_root))
    return false;

  base::FilePath path(normalized_subtree_root);
  while (!storage::VirtualPath::IsRootPath(path)) {
    path = storage::VirtualPath::DirName(path);

    auto found = inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.find(path.value());
    if (found != inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.end())
      return !found->second.contained_as_subtree_root;
  }

  return true;
}

bool SubtreeSet::insert(const base::FilePath& subtree_root) {
  base::FilePath::StringType normalized_subtree_root =
      storage::VirtualPath::GetNormalizedFilePath(subtree_root);

  if (!IsDisjointWith(subtree_root))
    return false;
  inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_[normalized_subtree_root]
      = Node(true, 1);

  base::FilePath path(normalized_subtree_root);
  while (!storage::VirtualPath::IsRootPath(path)) {
    path = storage::VirtualPath::DirName(path);
    DCHECK(!inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_[path.value()]
                .contained_as_subtree_root);
    ++(inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_[path.value()]
           .number_of_subtrees_below);
  }

  return true;
}

bool SubtreeSet::erase(const base::FilePath& subtree_root) {
  base::FilePath::StringType normalized_subtree_root =
      storage::VirtualPath::GetNormalizedFilePath(subtree_root);

  {
    auto found =
        inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.find(normalized_subtree_root);
    if (found == inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.end() ||
        !found->second.contained_as_subtree_root)
      return false;

    DCHECK_EQ(1u, found->second.number_of_subtrees_below);
    inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.erase(found);
  }

  base::FilePath path(normalized_subtree_root);
  while (!storage::VirtualPath::IsRootPath(path)) {
    path = storage::VirtualPath::DirName(path);

    auto found = inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.find(path.value());
    if (found == inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.end()) {
      NOTREACHED();
      continue;
    }

    DCHECK(!found->second.contained_as_subtree_root);
    if (!--(found->second.number_of_subtrees_below))
      inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.erase(found);
  }

  return true;
}

size_t SubtreeSet::size() const {
  auto found =
      inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.find(storage::VirtualPath::kRoot);
  if (found == inclusive_ancestors_of_subtree_roots_.end())
    return 0;
  return found->second.number_of_subtrees_below;
}

}  // namespace sync_file_system

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


List of Ecuador newspapers for news and information on sports, entertainments, history, jobs, education, tourism, lifestyles, travel, real estate, business, and more.
Leading daily Spanish-language newspaper based in Avenida. El Comercio was founded in 1906.
One of the largest daily newspapers published in Ecuador. The newspaper based in Guayaquil and published in Spanish-language. El Universo contains articles about politics, crime, entertainments, economics, news from different provinces, and more.
Ecuadorian regional newspaper based in Quito.


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The 20 Best Companies for Management Opportunities As Rated by the Women Who Work There (January 2021)
Looking for a company that has great management opportunities? InHerSight defines "management opportunities" as your chances of becoming a manager of teams and talent.
InHerSight's list is based on ratings and reviews from millions of working women who have rated their current or former employer on 18 factors of female friendliness, including, you guessed it...management opportunities. Rate your company ›
The 20 best companies for management opportunities
1. Amrock
4.9 stars for management opportunities • Hiring now
Amrock is a real estate company headquartered in the Detroit, MI area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.9 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Amrock:
"Tough scheduling at times due to nature of the business however there are actually more females in leadership than men! Great benefits and a lot of great women to look up to. "
2. Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. is a non-profit organization management company headquartered in the New York City, NY area, that employs 11 to 50 people. The company has a 4.9 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Girls Inc.:
"Wonderful place to work, excellent opportunity for advancement...but we get paid next to nothing with few benefits"
3. Stange Law Firm, PC
Stange Law Firm, PC is a law practice company headquartered in the Arnold, MO area, that employs 51 to 200 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Stange Law Firm, PC:
"Great place to work - Equal opportunity employer - Love the diversity"
4. Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange is a retail company headquartered in the Tucson, AZ area, that employs 501 to 1000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Buffalo Exchange:
"Buffalo Exchange is a wonderful women run company that I love being a part of!"
5. Chicago Marketing, Inc
Chicago Marketing, Inc is a marketing and advertising company headquartered in the Downers Grove, IL area, that employs 51 to 200 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Chicago Marketing, Inc:
"The environment here is amazing. Everyone is always willing to help each other. The managers are great leaders and make work a place you actually want to come to! It's a fun, team…"
6. Tory Burch
Tory Burch is an apparel & fashion company headquartered in the New York City, NY area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
7. AMN Healthcare
AMN Healthcare is a staffing and recruiting company that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for AMN Healthcare:
"Our CEO Susan Salka is a phenomenal female leader who inspires and engages with authenticity."
8. CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga is a health, wellness and fitness company headquartered in the Denver, CO area, that employs 5001 to 10000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for CorePower Yoga:
"Wonderful supportive place for men and women equally. Upper management has created a culture of opportunity for everyone - a large percentage of staff at all levels is female."
9. UKG
UKG is a computer software company headquartered in the Weston, FL area, that employs 10000+ people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for UKG:
"Overall ultimate software is a great workplace for women. I believe it may have predominantly a female workforce. We have a women in leadership program that has several outings …"
The Body Shop is a retail company headquartered in the 06-02/06 area, that employs 5001 to 10000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for The Body Shop:
"Work life balance"
11. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is an internet company headquartered in the San Francisco, CA area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Eventbrite:
"Eventbrite is a place where I get to bring my whole self to work. My boss expresses appreciation for my work while also challenging me to tackle new opportunities and refine the e…"
12. Rapid Response Monitoring
Rapid Response Monitoring is a public safety company headquartered in the Corona, CA area, that employs 501 to 1000 people. The company has a 4.8 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Rapid Response Monitoring:
"Nice place with a big upside career wise."
13. White House Black Market
White House Black Market is a retail company that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for White House Black Market:
"By far the best company to work for."
14. Gallup
Gallup is a management consulting company headquartered in the Omaha, NE area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Gallup:
"Gallup overall has treated me very well. Through thick and thin, this company is more of a family than a workplace. I strive to come in to work even on my bad depression days beca…"
15. Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig is a health, wellness and fitness company headquartered in the Carlsbad, CA area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Jenny Craig:
"Great company , retired from there."
16. Gordmans
Gordmans is a retail company headquartered in the Omaha, NE area, that employs 5001 to 10000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
17. Disney Consumer Products
Disney Consumer Products is a consumer goods company that employs 5001 to 10000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Disney Consumer Products:
"I absolutely loved working at Disney Consumer Products. The people, the culture, the energy, the family-like environment-- all of it, made for an amazing workplace and one that I …"
18. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a hospital & health care company headquartered in the Memphis, TN area, that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
"One would think St. Jude Children's Research Hospital would be a wonderful place to work. But unless you are in the clique you are destined to be fired. You are expected to be the…"
19. Equity Residential
Equity Residential is a real estate company that employs 1001 to 5000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Equity Residential:
"Amazingly female friendly environment. A very diverse group of women in high leadership, corporate, and executive roles."
20. Maurices
Maurices is a retail company headquartered in the Duluth, MN area, that employs 5001 to 10000 people. The company has a 4.7 star rating for management opportunities.
Here's what one woman writes about working for Maurices:
"👗🎽👖👘👙"
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Liberia has a huge bulge in its youth population. The big question now is how to create the jobs that will get young people into the labour force.
Gyude Moore discusses how Liberia is creating new job opportunities.
Transcript: Liberia like a lot of other countries in Africa faces a huge bulge in its youth population but a dearth in terms of jobs to be able to absorb them, so by 2050 the population in the continent should be about 2.5 billion.
The big question now is how to create the jobs that will be able to absorb those people, the young people into the Labour force.
We have opportunities, we have opportunities in agriculture; Agriculture and industries that grow around, especially processing of agricultural products, and so if countries like Liberia will pick one or two agricultural products, focus on them, build infrastructure around them, build financing around them, build the kinds of architecture that makes them successful, we have enough opportunity to be able not simply to just provide jobs for Africa's young people but to make the continent thrive in such a way that the standard of living will actually increase, despite the high numbers of people who are joining us.
So my hope is not just for President Weah, but other presidents across the continent will begin to see the threat that this could become if it is not addressed properly.


Today, at the Sunnyvale Bootstrapper's Breakfast Meetup in Sunnyvale, we had the pleasure of having a wonderfully inspiring speaker – Matt Oscamou. He is the founder of Frontier Bites, a healthy snack food product. He is based in Mountain View and he is a great example of what it means to be a successful and resourceful bootstrapping entrepreneur.
Matt started Frontier Bites in 2011, after deciding to leave a civic engineering career to follow his passion for creating healthy and delicious food products. He has built his company from the ground up and (incredibly) he has been running it as a "one man shop", as he likes to say.
He also talked about using a Kickstarter campaign to pay for the redesign of his packaging (shown at right).
Frontier Bites has been growing steadily since its inception, and it has recently been given the go ahead to be included on the shelves at Whole Foods and REI, among many other smaller local stores. In addition to creating a brand new product, managing all aspects of the business, marketing, and production, Matt has also found the time to participate in the Stanford Startup accelerator program LaunchPad, and he was just recently featured on a CBS segment about startups pitching to Google Ventures VCs in the back of Uber Cabs (how cool does that sound?! – link ).
Prototype in small batches and take baby steps to truly understand what your customers want and how to create the best product possible. Use the design thinking method whenever possible.
Choose your partners wisely and work out meaningful business relationships.
Bootstrap as much as possible, and as many aspects of your business as you can.
Use professional, licensed producers if you want to make high volumes of food products, don't try to do everything yourself.
Find ways to minimize risk by working in small batches.
Apr-10-2014 Engadget on Mat't's Uberpitch Cash Cab ride with Google Ventures.


text:
'It's about kicking people off payments': Lambie unconvinced on drug testing welfare recipients
News National 'It's about kicking people off payments': Lambie unconvinced on drug testing welfare recipients
1:06pm, Sep 9, 2019 Updated: 5:07pm, Sep 9
Jacqui Lambie knows more than most about drug abuse, after her son battled a methamphetamine addiction. Photo: Facebook
Samantha Maiden
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has lived and breathed the devastating impact of drug addiction during the years her son struggled with ice.
One glance at the photographs of Dylan Milverton before and after treatment for drug addiction show the incredible transformation after 12 months of rehabilitation at the Teen Challenge Camp in Queensland.
It's that personal struggle that's informed her decision to reject the Morrison government's plans for a trial to drug test welfare recipients unless more rehabilitation services are provided.
"This isn't really about getting people off drugs. It's about kicking people off payments," she said.
"You can't punish someone for being on drugs if they don't have the help available to get them off it. We have to get the services in place to help people.
"It's one rule for them, one for everyone else. They don't want a breathalyser at the chamber doors after those long dinner breaks where half of them get on the sauce"
Senator Lambie said she was also concerned it would force drug addicts to turn to crime.
"Making an addict more desperate doesn't make them more healthy," she said.
"They just become a junkie with a habit to service and no money to service it with. So what you end up seeing is more cars being broken into, more TVs being flogged at Cash Converters, more prostitution, more crime, more cost and no fewer drug addicts."
Forced to kick her son out of home after his ice addiction spiralled, she reached rock bottom after realising the only thing that would stop him was jail.
"I sometimes pray and think, you know, he is going to end up in jail,' she said at the time.
She hoped that a court would send him to a rehabilitation program as an alternative to prison – and that's exactly what happened in 2015
Mr Milverton received a two-month suspended jail sentence four years ago for a range of offences, including using counterfeit money.
He faced a jail term but it was suspended on the condition that he attend a Queensland Teen Challenge rehab centre near Toowoomba.
While initially angered by his mother's decision to go public with his drug battle, Mr Milverton's personal story now appears on the website of Teen Challenge.
"I was in and out of courtrooms when I was younger. I was homeless. I was lost," he said.
"When I first heard about Teen Challenge through my mum, I wasn't too keen on the idea. It wasn't something I did on my own, it was something I did through the staff and through God."
Dylan Milverton, before and after his battles with methamphetamine addiction. Photos: Herald Sun/YouTube
Earlier on Monday, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz agreed he was happy to be drug tested if it convinced Senator Lambie to back the legislation.
"If it takes me to have a drug test, to get Jacqui Lambie over the line I am more than willing to submit," he said.
But despite calling for politicians to be drug tested if they wanted to introduce the scheme for welfare recipients, Senator Lambie said that wasn't enough to get her vote.
"They say taxpayers don't want their money going to drug dealers. What, are they going to test every ABC journo? Every pensioner? Every war veteran? Every school teacher? Let's get real," she said.
"This isn't about who is getting tax dollars, it's about who's easy to take them from."
Federal MPs to consider government drug testing plan


Maybe digital sheet music. Contains printable sheet music plus an interactive, downloadable digital sheet music file.
Though today is a blue day Still tomorrow is near, And perhaps with the new day Cares will all disappear.
The Arrangement Details Tab gives you detailed information about this particular arrangement of Maybe - not necessarily the song.
There are no reviews written for Maybe.


– Interior designer specialised in hospitality design.
– Interior designer specialised in retail design.
Nonscale, Inc. is an architectural firm specialising in middle to large scale commercial and residential design. We work with various commercial developers across Asian countries.
We are seeking a 3D visualiser to produce high quality 3D visuals using 3D MAX, Rhino3D and V-Ray for middle to big scale commercial architecture and interior projects. You will work with our design team as a dedicated visualiser.
Curiosity is a Tokyo based design company established by French designer, Gwenael Nicolas. Our main clients are international prestigious brands such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Berluti and more.
For further expansion, we are looking for experienced interior designers for retail and also restaurants.
Convocatoria abierta para artistas y comisarios como parte del programa de residencias El Ranchito y del acuerdo trilateral entre AC/E, Tokyo Wonder Site y MACSA, en el marco del Año Dual España – Japón 2013/2014.


Scrap in production can has a significant effect on profitability. The challenge is to reduce scrap from production considering the effectiveness of the process. To know where scrap is arising, you need to have a detailed understanding of the process.
Wesconi implements projects in scrap reduction and identified opportunities for improvement. Each of these projects has a single systematic plan for a actions, which consists of several phases. The first phase is Measuring and testing. It include mapping the value stream (warehouses, product engineering, production/assembly, rework, check points, expedition), analysis of amount of scrap produced in individual operations (conditions is a good record of volume), definition of structure of scrap and total costs.
The second phase – Measurement analysis consists of the product analysis, mold flow analysis, analysis of mold repairs, analysis of technological parameters, analysis of machine and equipment operating parameters (temperature, time, pressure etc.), comparison with CAD drawings. The third phase – Implementation of measures + Verification of the performance (monitored KPIs) measurement costs, product processing time, customer delivery time, process control, SMED, schedule for machine maintenance and cleaning.
And the final step in the project is measurement of project results, i.e. cost reduction in production, reduction of produced scrap, reduction of recycling costs, shortening lead time for products, increase the number of OK parts, reducing costs for non-quality. Below we are going to review the example of implemented project. The project was devoted to elimination of waste material for product instrument panels and cockpit systems, Audi Q7 (during foam process).
The project was implemented for IAC GROUP s.r.o. in Lozorno. The main target was to reduce scrap costs by 50 %, clearly set up the production process on the foaming line, reduce production costs by a min of 30 % (recycling of reserves, man days, etc.). As results of analysis were detailed recommendation for cost reduction, waste recycling, speed up of production and increase the number of pieces /hr.


text:
History of the Archives
House Historical Biographies
House Speaker Biographies
House Member Highlights
Current House Members
History of the House
Committee Transcripts and Reports
James R. Roebuck, JR.
Member Biography
1985 Representative 188 Democrat
ROEBUCK, James R., Jr., a Representative from Philadelphia County; born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., February 12, 1945; graduated, Central High School, 1963; B.A., Virginia Union University, 1966; M.A., University of Virginia, 1969; Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1977; lecturer, assistant professor, Drexel University (1970-1984); legislative assistant, Office of the Mayor, Philadelphia (1984-1985); member, 60th Ward Democratic Executive Committee, 7th Division (1974-1976); 2nd vice-chair, 46th Ward Democratic Committee, 25th Division (1980-1984); 1st vice-chair, 46th Ward Democratic Committee, 25th Division (1984-1986); member, Democratic State Committee (1984-1990); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a Special Election on May 21, 1985; Sworn-In, June 3, 1985 to serve the remaining 1985 term; reelected to the House for 17 more consecutive terms; appointed, Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg University (1990); appointed, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (1991-1995); appointed, Task Force on Higher Education Funding (1994); appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) (1995-2020); appointed, Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction (PlanCon) Advisory Committee (2016-2018); appointed, Special Education Funding Commission (2019-2020); appointed, Higher Education Funding Commission (2019-2020); unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (2020).
Papers of James R. Roebuck, Jr., 1985-2020, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg.
If you wish to contact your current State Representative, please visit the Find Your Legislator page; or visit the Members of the House page to view a list of all current Representatives.
The House Archives is
located in Room 628 of
the Irvis Office Building
in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Box 202220
Additional hours available on request.
records@pabmc.net
For House and Senate Calendars, bill text and other legislative information, visit Session Information on the PA General Assembly's web site.


text:
Designers and Artisans
Author Archives: karthika
Textiles at Coletta Collections – January 2019
https://www.colettacollections.com/blogs/studio-happenings/behind-the-scenes-textiles-protoyping
This entry was posted in Design for Social Enterprise on April 6, 2019 by karthika.
Fustat Fragments: Indian Textiles in the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection
Article on Fustat Fragments – January 2019Download
Rare Indian textiles – Fine Hand Spun Cotton
The Last Vestiges of Fine Hand Spun Cotton in Ponduru, a Remote Village in South India
Article published in Textiles Asia Journal, January 2017
In the remote village of Ponduru in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, the tradition of hand spinning fine cotton yarn is still alive. It is the only place in India, or dare I say, the world, where one can still find a small community of spinners and weavers producing 100s new metric (Nm) count hand spun, hand woven fabric made from an endemic species of cotton.
Hand loomed fabric made of 100s Nm count hand spun yarn from indigenous Gossypium Arboreum cotton fiber from Ponduru.
Ancient India was the earliest center of cotton cultivation, manufacture and trade. Although we find hand woven fabrics all over the world, no other region can boast of such fine cotton yarn woven as early as 2700 BC as proven by the fragments of cotton cloth found in the excavations of Mohenjodaro. By the first century AD, Indian weavers were weaving diaphanous textiles described in the greco-roman report, Periplus of the Erithreyan Sea. And nowhere did it reach the perfection of muslins from Dhaka renowned for their yarns of 200s and 300s Nm count.
A yarn's thickness or count is communicated through various internationally accepted numbering systems relating the said yarn's length to its weight. The system used for cotton in India called the New Metric (Nm) system derives the yarn's size by determining the weight in grams of 1000 meters of yarn. So if a hank of yarn is 1000 meters long and weighs 10 grams, it is called a 100s yarn. The higher the number, the finer the yarn. So a 100s yarn is finer than a 20s yarn.
A hank of 1000 meters of hand spun yarn weighing 10 grams – 100s Nm count yarn from Ponduru.
So how did the spinners in ancient India manage to spin such fine yarn? Many researchers believe that the answer lies mainly in the unique qualities of the fibers of two indigenous Indian species of cotton – Gossypium Herbaceum and Gossypium Arboreum.
A young Gossypium Arboreum plant under a light drizzle.
It was during my 5 years of training as a textile designer at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad that I truly began to appreciate the comfort of handloomed cotton fabrics. In 2007, I returned to NID to teach a class on textile design. My teacher and role model, Aditi Ranjan welcomed me warmly, sharing interesting books and finds. One day, she showed me a caressable textured cotton fabric that was naturally tinted rose-beige and told me that it came from Ponduru.The name stuck. Ponduru. Figure 4
Two years later, while researching handloomed cottons for my fair trade business, I learned about Uzramma Belgrami, an activist working for the upliftment of rural cotton farmers and weavers through her non-profit organization, Malkha. It is she who first drew my attention to the harmful thoughtless practices of the commercial cotton industry. The lamentable story of how the perfectly adapted Indian cotton species were suppressed and replaced with hybrids by vested interests causing ecological and social catastrophes piqued my interest. She too mentioned Ponduru, this time in the context of an enviable situation. She was not able to replicate and render viable, the small scale production of fine hand spun yarn using local rain fed, hand plucked Gossypium Arboreum cotton grown only in small farms near Ponduru.
Ponduru became an obsession. Few people had any connection with the weavers in Ponduru or the AFKKS (Andhra Fine Khadi Karma Sangam), a unit of the Khadi Village Industries Commission that oversees the entire chain of production. They had no email and nobody picked up the phone. 'Why do you want to go there? Ponduru fabrics are dead', said one of my contacts working with weavers and rural development nearby.
One day, Lata Tummuru of Dastakar Andhra Marketing Association, from whom I had purchased fabrics for my garment company, found me a 'direct' telephone number for the AFKKS. And this time, somebody picked up the phone! A certain Uday Kumar, at the AFKKS assured me that he would show me the entire process of hand spinning and weaving.
In the summer of 2015, fully aware that this could turn out to be a wild goose chase, I flew to Vishakapatnam accompanied by my thirteen year-old daughter, and close French friends with their three teenaged sons to see for myself. Eager to reach my goal as soon as possible, I wasted no time, renting a ten-seater car for the next few days. Soon the kids were hungry. I was anxious about one of us falling sick – not when I was so close to Ponduru! We stopped at a road side restaurant and I ordered plain omelettes, Rotis and boiled vegetables, specifiying 'not even one chilli', fearful that they may add a bit of the infamous Andhra chilli. Everybody enjoyed the food and nobody fell sick. As there are no hotels in Ponduru, we stayed overnight at the clean, convenient three star Vijetha Inn hotel situated forty five minutes away from Ponduru, at Srikakulam, the nearest big town. Early next morning we reached Ponduru.
'Udayji', as I decided to call him, gave us a brief introduction of his Gandhian office, piled high with thick ledgers and antique records wrapped in dusty muslin. Apart from being the cashier, he is also the accountant, dispatch manager and receiving agent. He told us that the endemic Konda Patti and Punasa Patti, as the villagers call them, are still cultivated in neighboring villages by sixty farmers struggling against the heavy onslaught of hybrid varieties and the move towards mechanised intensive farming of cotton. Erra Patti, the naturally tinted rose-beige cotton is grown in smaller quantities as a mixed crop with tobacco. The villagers refer to it as red cotton. This small- scale production of cotton is hand picked and bought by the AFKKS for Rs. 100/ kilogram ($1.59). It is then redistributed to the one thousand odd village women who spin cotton for a supplementary income.
He then led us to the house of a spinner, a short distance from his office. We entered a tiny room about 1.5 meters by 3 meters wide. Haima Korukonda and her neighbour Kalyani Maadugula willingly demonstrated their skills, sitting down on the cool cemented floor. We somehow managed to fit ourselves in. Soon another two curious onlookers, our driver, as well as an inquisitive reporter from a local newspaper joined us. In all we were fourteen packed into the room.
On the floor were simple wooden tools inherited from their mothers and grandmothers. I was thrilled to find, as in most traditional crafts, exquisite tools and methods passed down from generation to generation co-existing with clever adaptations of products found in the modern world. The spinners of Ponduru use tools, techniques and raw material similar to those used by spinners in Dhaka in the 1800s!
Raw hand picked Konda Patti cotton and Valuga fish-jaw comb used to clean the cotton fibers.
Haima and Kalyani removed little bits of dry leaves from a handful of raw cotton. They then ran the short fibers of their cotton bolls cleaning them gently yet deftly by running them through a special comb made of a quarter of a Valuga fish jawbone. The Valuga, I believe, is from the Catfish family, with several rows of teeth. Ideally one has to have a big fish with a jaw measuring about nine inches long in order to cut it up and make four combs. Hard to come by these days, with the size of Valugas getting smaller, these are prized tools that make all the difference.
A full Valuga fish jaw.
Kalyani Maadugula combs out the fibers.
The result was a neat 'chain' of tufts of cotton with their seeds lying in the middle and their fibers lying parallel to each other. One would think that they would use this aspect. Instead, Kalyani pulled out a little wooden device with 2 rollers and a handle. She fed the fiber through the space between the rollers. The fiber fell in a pile to one side while the seeds fell to the other. This gentle method of ginning allows the cotton fiber to remain unbroken and the seed is collected for replanting.
Combed chain of tufts of cotton with the seeds inbetween, lying in a basket made of palmyra leaves.
Ginning Konda Patti cotton – separating fiber from seed.
Haima gathered up a handful of ginned fiber and laid it on a wooden board. She took up her Yekillu, a bow made of the wood of the Jamoun tree, and tied with the nylon string of a tennis racket. As she twanged the string amidst the cotton fiber, it fluffed up to double in size. Folding it lightly upon itself another three times, she twanged away to make what looked like a nebulous mass that was now the size of a melon. With nimble fingers Haima discarded a few short clumps of fiber that appeared only to her expert eyes. We sat mesmerized. It is this soft clean nebulous mass, that she rolled into a sliver with light pressure with both her palms and her Chuttupolla, a polished wooden rod. The sliver was ready for spinning and carefully encased in a smooth piece of dried banana bark folded in two. 'It is important to be meticulous and ensure that there is no dust, dirt or perspiration', Haima explained.
Twanging the Yekillu to fluff up the cotton fiber.
Picking out asperities and short un-spinnable clumps of cotton fiber.
Rolling the sliver with the Chuttupolla.
Sliver encased in banana bark, ready for spinning.
Time stood absolutely still. All of us experienced a collective sense of magic and awe as she fixed the spindle made of a spoke of a bicycle wheel on her Gandhi Charkha, turned the handle with her right hand and deftly drew a fine thread of cotton yarn from the sliver. All eyes were on the sliver, fiber after fiber slid smoothly into the flow of thread. Her left arm moved back and forth in large fluid movements to accommodate the creation of about 1 meter of yarn at a go, which she would then wind on to the spoke. Perspiration dripped from our foreheads, staring in disbelief, in the still silent hot humid air. Finally I broke the spell and exclaimed, 'But how can this be? How can the fibers just slide off so obediently and make a yarn so uniform and fine, how?!'
100s cotton count thread on the spindle.
Haima calmly broke off the thread on the spoke, held the broken bit to the sliver and off she went again, drawing yards of fine 100s Nm count yarn. Just like bread needs starter yeast, the spindle always has some thread on it. This starter thread when placed atop the fibers of the sliver 'catches'. All of us have been told that the quality of a fiber depends on its length. This is not entirely true! Indian cotton fibers have filaments that are shorter with thicker diameters than the widely commercialised cotton species from the Americas, Gossypium Hirsutum and Gossypium Barbadense. The fibers cling much more to the seeds, making ginning difficult. But this also gives them a natural crimp and springy-ness which makes them ideally suited to spinning fine high twist yarn with fewer filaments that allows for long lasting washable fabrics. Once a spindle is full, the yarn is wound into a hank 1000 meters long, weighing 10 grams. The women earn Rs. 64 per hank from the AFKKS, which is about a dollar. Kalyani took off a hank and twisted it tight upon itself.
An expert spinner spinning natural beige colored Erra Patti on a Gandhi Charkha.
Bicycle spokes with hand spun 100 Nm count yarn waiting to be wound into hanks.
I could sit there and watch them for hours. But the reporter was plying us with questions, and Udayji was hungry. It was lunchtime. With the characteristic generosity of all Indian villagers, Haima offered us lunch. It was enticing, but I declined. We were so many, and the children were not used to spicy Andhra food. We settled down to a picnic of bananas and biscuits bought at the local market in the cool corridor of the AFKKS office.
The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting with Udayji. He told us about the difference in yield of hybrid cotton – 1200 kilograms of cotton per acre, versus 300 kilograms of indigenous cotton. Konda Patti and Erra Patti he said, require no chemical pesticides and no extra water, as they are rain fed. The farmers use natural fertilizers like cow manure and Neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) powder.
After tiny cups of delicious hot black tea, we walked across to the house of a weaver. Like most weavers in the area, he used a pit loom, sitting comfortably in an in-built seat on the floor, his feet on two smooth pedals. I always wondered why handloom weavers preferred pit looms, especially as they have a tendency to flood during the monsoons. My personal theory is that the closer the warp is to the ground, the higher the humidity. Cotton fiber is stronger when humid.
Unlike other handlooms that I saw in the region, the weaver inserted a shuttle that held tiny bobbins that lay soaking in a bowl of water, beating his weft ever so gently. The yarn chafes easily and breaks once in a while, especially if it did not get its fair share of starch while warping. But the experienced weaver mended broken ends as calmly as a Zen master. Typically, he weaves up to a meter of fabric per day, and earns Rs. 140 for it, ($2.22).
The weaver, repairing a broken end.
Ponduru fabric on the loom with the shuttle holding a tiny bobbin of wet weft. Notice the bamboo reed.
The next morning, our hotel was abuzz with the news! E-Naadu, the local newspaper had an article on us, on the fact that we had come so far to Ponduru, all because of it's wondrous cotton spinning. But we had to hurry if we wanted to catch a glimpse of the warping process. Warping is done from dawn to 10 AM or until the morning dew and humidity dries up in the hot sun. Udayji explained to me that the hanks are soaked in water for three days before being wound onto cones. This allows the yarn to shrink, thereby gaining in strength, I surmised.
He led us inside a hut with extremely low walls and a high thatched roof. Submissively bowing to enter the cool dark space, we rose to behold a magnificent giant warping reel right up in front of our faces. One half of the reel was lodged in a trench that took up the entire width of the hut, and the other half rose imposingly to the tip of the roof. Three warps were being reeled on at the same time!
The giant warping reel with three warps being wound at the same time.
The streets were filled with warps being laid out, sprayed with light rice starch, and combed with palm root fiber brushes to separate the warp threads. Whole families were involved, moving their bodies in perfect harmony, spreading threads apart, beating lightly on bamboo sticks so that broken ends would drop down so they could mend them. They worked in unison, aware of the need to proceed quickly and efficiently.
Two weavers separating starched warp threads by running a palm root brush through the damp warp.
Ram Babu, a reporter for the Hans India newspaper and several local TV channels, appeared along with Madhu, a journalist from Sakshi newspaper. I would have shooed them away, but for my friends who reminded me that if I wanted to promote Ponduru fabric, I should answer their questions patiently.
Sakshi Newspaper, 2nd August 2015
The heat was rising and the warps were now swiftly being wound up. We decided that it was time to acquire some of these marvellous textiles. At the AFKKS shop we treated ourselves to several meters of fine unbleached 100s Nm count for Rs 1009 ($16) per meter. The fabric felt light and airy in my hands.
Ponduru's wealth- natural beige fabric in 60s Nm count yarn, and unbleached fabric in 100s Nm count.
Advocating for gentle manual processing, spinning and weaving, the people of Ponduru produce fabric that is alive to the touch! To know the comfort of hand spun and hand loomed cotton fabric against one's skin, the way it breathes and absorbs perspiration, the way it seems fragile, yet resists repeated washing, only to grow softer each time, is a privilege. To me, limited edition Ponduru fabric is as connoisseur worthy, beautiful and alive as the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. Undecorated and modest, it tells a story so rich and pertinent in today's glossy publicity ridden world. This fabric, with its subtle irregular textured yarn is the essence of purity and authenticity. We have the British to blame for the decline and disappearance of gossamer thin Dhaka muslin. Who do we blame if Ponduru fabric dies a quiet death?
By Karthika Audinet
Photo credits: Figures 5,6,13,14 and 18 by Peyrache family. All other photographs taken by the author.
This entry was posted in Design for Social Enterprise on May 7, 2017 by karthika.
The Weaving Workshop at Rockville
This is an excerpt about one of the participants I work with, from an artisan feature story illustrating our work at St. Coletta.
Due to her physical disability and limited use of her hands, Sharon found it difficult to find a suitable job in the community that could accommodate her needs. In the past, she worked at Walter Reed as a courier, but was forced to look for new opportunities when they downsized. Sharon was very determined to find work and make money following this position, and given her work ethic it was important for her to get a job that fit her, as well as provided some income.
Sharon joined our Rockville Adult Program in August of 2012 and decided to try to learn to weave. Initially she faced some challenges but with a few accommodations she was able to learn this fairly complicated skill. Now Sharon can weave scarves for our St. Coletta Shops. She truly enjoys her job and the satisfaction of customers buying her work, and she weaves independently, only needing staff assistance when there is a problem. Sharon is now earning a wage, which has created a sense of independence that was previously lacking, and she even helps keep track of how many inches she weaves per day. Her confidence has soared. Once shy and reserved, she has become more talkative, she smiles more and is generally happier!
Adults with physical and intellectual disabilities are an often overlooked and underfunded population. St. Coletta strives to bring out the strengths and unique talents of these individuals, so that they can achieve as much independence as possible for positive, fulfilling lives. Our participants enhance their vocational skills and utilize their creativity while completing meaningful activities. Thanks to the support of caring individuals like you, we are able to offer the tailored instruction and various activities that allow our students and adults to reach their full potential.
Sharon thrives in her routine, and her weaving continues to improve. Just seeing her smile makes it clear that she has gained more independence and is reaching her full potential; she is even interested in exploring other types of work. At St. Coletta, our goal is to make a real difference in the lives of children and adults with intellectual and secondary disabilities. With your help, we are! We are giving individuals like Sharon the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Photo: Karthika Audinet
Text: St. Coletta of Greater Washington
This entry was posted in Design for Social Enterprise on June 25, 2015 by karthika.
Two Great Textile Traditions of South India – Part 1
Presentation at the Textile Museum, Washington DC, 18th April 2015
Kalamkari by master craftsman, Niranjan Jonnalagadda. 2009
I decided to focus on just 2 major aspects that made Indian textiles stand out amongst world textiles and continues to do so:
Fine handloomed supplementary weft patterning
It just so happens that South India, and especially the state of Andhra Pradesh still has artisans with the skills that combine these 2 elements: they practice unbroken traditions that are thousands of years old, weaving and painting fabrics.
Focus on the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh, 2009
Hand loomed double ikat and hand painted textiles, Andhra Pradesh. 2009
Pattern is inextricably linked to textiles, so I will touch upon it briefly, but it would require a separate presentation .
As we all know, ancient India was the earliest center of cotton cultivation, manufacture and trade. It was from here that delicately woven cotton and brilliantly colored fabrics were introduced to the Middle east, Africa, Asia and thereafter to Europe.
Although we find hand woven fabrics all over the world, no other country can boast of such fine hand loomed cotton woven as early as 3000 BC. One of the earliest fragments of cotton cloth found wrapped around two silver jars in Mohenjodaro was made of 34s warp and weft having 60 ends and 20 picks per inch.
I would like to first demonstrate what fine means. The term cotton count, is an international norm for defining a yarn's thickness. The higher the number, the finer the yarn. A 100s yarn is finer than a 20s yarn. Normally, a yarn is spun and twisted to give it strength. It is then plied with one or more yarns to achieve even more strength. This is when we call a yarn a 2/20s or a 20/2s depending on which side of the Atlantic you are! I would like to invite you to take a look at some of the samples of single ply and double ply yarns to get an idea of fineness. So this gives us an idea of how fine cotton was in the Indus Valley Civilization back in 3000 BC.
Now, for most of us weavers, weaving un-plied yarn is in-imaginable, leave alone single ply 100s! If you put an un-plied yarn in the warp, the chaffing caused by the repeated lifting of the yarns and motion of the beater on the loom would eventually break the thread. But guess what? By the 1st century AD Indian weavers were weaving diaphanous textiles described in the greco-roman report Periplus of the Erithreyan Sea.
Detail from a miniature painting, c.1680. Christies.
We know that more than 30 types of cotton cloth were imported by Romans from Pliny's accounts. And most of the fine cloth was woven along the humid banks of rivers or coastal areas. In fact the word muslin gets its name from the port of Masulipatnam on the Coromandel coast of Andhra Pradesh.
But nowhere did it reach the perfection of muslins of Dhaka. By the time the Mughals were ruling India, we wove muslins with 200s to 400s counts. Miniature paintings dating from the Mughal times show us women dressed in a range of fabrics including translucent muslin.
Detail from a Mughal miniature. c.1720
There are stories of how the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb scolded his daughter for walking around nude, to which she replied that she had 7 layers of Dacca Muslin! These muslins had poetic names like Malmal (the finest sort), Abirawan (running water), Shabnam (morning dew). They were expensive and made mainly for the elite and royalty.
Jahangir and Noor Jahan. Detail from a Mughal miniature painting. c.1620
So how did they manage to spin and weave such fine yarn?
There existed a superior quality of cotton fiber
The coastal areas of India had ideal levels of moisture and temperature
Dexterity in hand spinning and weaving developed from one generation to another, improving all the time
And my new theory is that we Indians have an endless concept of time! We are born, we die and we are re-incarnated! And that allows us to undertake tedious work.
All of us have been told that the quality of a fiber depends on it's length. This is not entirely true! The indegenous species of Gossypium Arboreum and Gossypium Herbaceum had much shorter fiber lengths than the cotton species from the Americas Gossypium Hirsutum and Gossypium Barbadense.
Right to left: Fibers of Gossypium Barbadense, Gossypium Hirsutum, Gossypium Arboreum, Gossypium Darwinii
As cotton fiber clings to it's seeds, the process of prying them away, called ginning is tedious and long. Although Indians used small wooden tools to speed up the process, it still remained a small scale production.
Cotton ginning 1866. Gins using this simple process served as the basis for new mechanized inventions
By the 17th century the textile trade was largely in the hands of The British East India Company, basically a group of greedy traders. As their appetites grew, they introduced cotton cultivation in North America with the Hirsutum and Barbadense species. Cheap slave labor was used for the ginning.
In 1793, an American, Eli Whitney invented the Whitney Gin which drastically reduced the hours needed to gin cotton. From 600 slave hours, it came down to just a dozen or so per bale. The Whitney gin had been developed using the long fibers of the Hirsutum and Barbadense species. These fibers were so long that even when the ginning machine broke them, they would still be long enough to be spun. So Indian cotton with it's short staple was wrongly labelled 'inferior'.
The Whitney Gin was developed for long fibers
However, studies have shown that
Indegenous Indian fibers are shorter yet finer than the Hirsutum- Barbadense fibers.
The fibers cling much more to the seeds, making de-seeding even more difficult, but this also gives them a natural crimp and springiness.
The greater elasticity of Indian cotton comes because of a cavity inside the fiber that allows for easy passage of air.
This allows for better dye absorption and luster, softness and breathability
All these attributes are enhanced by gentle manual processing, spinning and weaving.
The textile manufactures and the costumes of the people of India by John Forbes Watson, 1866
By 1880, the British had succeeded in forcing Indian farmers to cultivate foreign varieties of cotton to supply raw cotton to mills in Britain. They levied multiple tariffs and taxes and brutally restricted Indian cloth production so that Indian markets were increasingly forced to purchase cloth manufactured in Manchester mills. Indian indigenous cotton stopped being cultivated for it's fiber and the exact technique of creating Dacca Muslin disappeared.
Luckily, hand loom weaving, especially of Saris remains a living tradition in many villages in India. Weaving with fine hand spun yarn using locally grown cotton survives precariously in a little village called Ponduru in Andhra Pradesh. I'm hoping that I will still be able to find a few weavers when I go there this year.
Cotton from the indigenous varieties are handpicked.
The fibers are then combed using the tiny teeth of the Valuga fish jaw bone that gently pry the fibers away from the seed and impart a certain luster to them while keeping the seed intact for planting again.
Valuga or Cat fish jaw
They then use a bamboo bow to twang and separate the fibers further, and arrange them in roves.
Women spin yarn as fine as 120s count from dawn to about 10 am until the sun dries up the morning dew, and the light did not have too much glare, much the same way women spun yarn for Dacca Muslin.
Most of the looms used by the hand loom weavers are still pit looms. A large pit is dug in the ground and the soil is tamped down all around. A little built in seat is hollowed out on one side, and a very rudimentary structure made of wood or bamboo makes up the rest of the loom. During the hot summer months, it's actually very comfortable and cool to sit there and weave. But during the Monsoon rains, water seeps into the pits. Although they bail the water out, weaving becomes near impossible. Worse still, the pre-loom process of sizing with rice starch outside is hampered. Nothing dries.
So why do they continue to weave in pit looms? Cotton gets stronger when wet. The humidity levels are higher closer to ground! So when Dacca Muslin got as fine as 400s count, we must remember that it evolved in humid flood prone Bangladesh.
Nathalie Froger Silva, National Geographic, Malkha Marketing Trust, Sarisafari.com.
The mysterious Navajo Medecine Man's Kilt that turned out to be from Nagaland
In 1994, Steven James a collector of Hopi and Navajo Kachinas, chanced upon a Navajo Medecine Man's kilt and two rattles in an antique dealors shop in Tucson.
But no amount of further research yielded any information about similar looking kilts. In fact, Curators and American Indian friends told him that it was not Navajo at all. They seemed to think it was South American.
Dr William Merrill, Curator for Central and South American Ethnology at the Anthropology department of the National Museum of Natural History, agreed that it wasn't Navajo but could not ID it and suggested to contact the Textile Museum and/or any of their associates. Gradually, his search led to Jeff Krauss, the president of the IHBS, who in turn passed the buck to me!
Several things about the piece struck me: the central bird motif, the pompoms, the use of color, the wide floats and the ric-rac.
I began by searching for bird motifs in Latin America and ruled it out. Next I thought it might be Uzbek- bold, graphic. Then, I decided to be audacious and say that it was actually from my country – Kutch, in India. I own a piece with similar aesthetic. But… upon further research I found that bird motifs were not similar. I had already ruled out South East Asia, and was almost giving up.
And then it clicked – It was Naga!
Long story short, the King of Manipur(1598-1652) ordered the Khoisnam family to pay their tribute in the form of this shawl, which he then gifted to the Nagas, known to be head hunters.
This is a Sasangasaba or Elephant shawl.
So how does a Sasangasaba from remote , dangerous and inaccessible North East India land up in Navajo land?
That is the story of my next blog!
This entry was posted in Design for Social Enterprise on December 14, 2014 by karthika.
Last weekend, I was invited to sit in on the Design Council at the Artisan Resource at NY NOW. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, NY NOW is an immense trade fair where every exhibitor, retailer and visitor feels overwhelmed with the immense scale and quantity of things.
But tucked away in a warehouse-like space called Pier 94, was Artisan Resource, dedicated to booths for artisan groups from all over the world to display their handmade wares, aspiring to receive enough clients and orders to keep their livelihoods sustainable and traditions alive.
My role was to offer design critique vis a vis products, merchandising and booth display.
I ended up spontaneously taking apart the Filipino booth of Echostore and redoing it from scratch, editing products, focusing on an exquisite range of Ikat backstrap wovens in Abaca fibre.
And then, luckily for me, and them, clients came pouring in!
This entry was posted in Design for Social Enterprise on August 21, 2014 by karthika.
Britt Miske on Two Great Textile Traditions of South India – Part 1
karthika on Rare Indian textiles – Fine Hand Spun Cotton
Yamila Serravalle on Rare Indian textiles – Fine Hand Spun Cotton
Curt Busch on Rare Indian textiles – Fine Hand Spun Cotton
Design for Social Enterprise


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WASHINGTON (JTA) — After years of fighting against anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union and later in an independent Ukraine, the Ukrainian Jewish community is now confronting a new threat. This threat comes from an unprecedented effort by the Russian government and others to paint a false impression of the state of anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
The recent claims of growing anti-Semitism in Ukraine, and of pervasive neo-Nazi ideology in the protest movement and the newly formed government, exaggerate the effect of the crisis in Ukraine on its Jewish community and misstate the facts.
The concerns about the safety of the Ukrainian Jewish community are real. Since the beginning of the unrest in the country in November, four members of the Kiev Jewish community have been assaulted, a synagogue in Zaporizhia was firebombed and a synagogue in Simferopol was vandalized with swastikas and other anti-Semitic symbols.
The two most recent incidents took place in Kiev in recent weeks. The director of the Ukrainian branch of Hatzalah emergency services was attacked by two unidentified men who shouted anti-Semitic slurs, stabbed him and inflicted other injuries. The next day a Jewish couple was assaulted close to the Great Choral Synagogue in the Podol district of Kiev.
Several local Jewish community leaders, however, suggest that these incidents were most likely provocations designed to incite unrest and discredit the new Ukrainian government. The Ukrainian Jewish community is as concerned about provocations by pro-Russian groups, and Russia's destabilizing role in Ukraine as it is about homegrown anti-Semitic groups.
Contrary to the allegations of growing anti-Semitism in Ukraine, there is no pattern of violence against members of the Ukrainian Jewish community. Moreover, the Ukrainian authorities swiftly responded to the most recent incidents and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. Ukraine's acting prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, met with the leadership of the Ukrainian Jewish community and vowed to increase security measures for Jewish institutions.
The Ukrainian government's guarantees to the country's Jewish community are important to help alleviate concern about the presence of some radical elements in the opposition movement and the new government. But while the presence of the Svoboda party, the Right Sector and Spilna Sprava is alarming, radical and neo-Nazi ideologies do not represent the Maidan movement as a whole.
Although the Jewish community had been divided in its opinion of the movement, many Ukrainian Jews participated in the protests against what they believed to be a corrupt and criminal government.
Ukraine has a complicated past, and an even more complex history of ethnic relations. Since Ukraine's independence, anti-Semitic sentiments have been used during elections and crises as a political tool to influence public opinion.
Similar attempts to use the Ukrainian Jewish community as a pawn in the bigger political game are occurring now.
To respond effectively to the crisis in Ukraine, the international community needs to be well informed and rational, distinguishing facts from rumors and innuendo. It needs to impress upon Ukraine's new government that it is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of Jewish institutions and preventing legitimation of anti-Semitism and xenophobia.
It must also recognize that Russia's attempts to undermine the Ukrainian government's legitimacy not only undercut Ukraine's ability to stabilize the domestic situation, and to address the looming economic crisis and general security concerns, but also affect the Ukrainian government's ability to combat anti-Semitism and ensure the safety of Jewish institutions.
The efforts by the Russian government and others to perpetuate a myth that anti-Semitism is an integral part of the new Ukrainian government's agenda are alarming. The United States and others need to send a strong message that just as anti-Semitism and xenophobia are unacceptable, the cynical exploitation of concerns about these issues in order to advance a political agenda also will not be tolerated.


Antigen Species: Bovine Depositor: Lin, J.J.-C.
Positive Tested Species Reactivity: Broad species, Chicken, Fish, Human, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Xenopus Depositors Notes: CT3 was initially published in: Jin, J., Lin, J.-C., and Lin, J.J.-C. (1990). Troponin T isoform switching during heart development. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 588, 393-396.
Antibody Registry ID: AB_528495 Additional Information: CT3 recognizes the embryonic and adult cardiac isforms [PMID: 2358124]. CT3 cross-react with slow skeletal muscle TnT but doesn't recognize fast skeletal muscle TnT [PMID: 12732643].


KOTA KINABALU, April 14 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal wants Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) leaders and machinery to give their full commitment to getting close to the rakyat to explain current issues so that the people will understand them better and have confidence in the ruling government.
Mohd Shafie who is also President of Warisan said this must be done continuously even after elections because it was important to ensure voters continued to support the government.
"Even after the elections, we still have to get close to the people and explain certain issues including the limitations faced by the government in providing jobs and business opportunities.
"We cannot make changes easily because we realise that what is happening now in terms of economic recession and the burden of huge debts are not caused by the present government but the previous," he said.
Speaking to reporters after launching the Borneo Textile Crafts Festival 2019, Mohd Shafie said by continuing to get close to the people and explaining to them the current issues, the voters will side with PH-Warisan.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew who is also Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, as well as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.
Mohd Shafie was speaking to reporters when asked to comment on PH's loss to Barisan Nasional in the Rantau by-election yesterday and PH-Warisan's approach of ensuring victory in the Sandakan by-election on May 11.
He said the voter momentum in constituencies in Sabah and the Peninsular was definitely different, but the PH-Warisan machinery must ensure that the approach for the Sandakan by-election was to get to the hearts of the voters.
"We have to suit our approach to the voters... it is not easy but we have to do it (to ensure victory for PH-Warisan)," he said.
He added that he had discussed this with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng since it was a DAP seat and the candidate will be announced soon.
Earlier, in his speech, Mohd Shafie said local textile entrepreneurs must increase productivity to meet market demands and ensure that their products expand globally.