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Lately, more and more of you have been posting comments to the site, as well as sending me e-mails personally. I thought I'd go through and post a few to the front page here, so as to make sure that everyone sees them.
I also received an e-mail from an individual last night who stated that he/she wanted to ask or tell me something, but wanted assurance that it would be kept private. My stance on that is this: If you post a comment, it's going on the site automatically, so don't post anything in a comment you don't want to show up. If you want to e-mail me personally, I *MAY* post to the site what you send to me. If you tell me not to, however, I will *NOT* reveal your identity. Ever.
I firmly believe that the only way to get the citizens of Mitchell to say what they *really* think is to allow them to do so in a completely anonymous and confidential manner. If I made people identity themselves, less people would share their true thoughts. The people of Mitchell are scared to speak up because, if they do so, they have to fear reprise and retribution from the police and leaders of this town. I know this for a fact because one of the Mitchell Police was trying to get me fired from my job — and that's a fact, not an accusation. That's bullshit.
So, great people of Mitchell, continue posting your comments and sharing your thoughts. The more information that's shared, the more informed we will all be. Here's some of your comments…
Reader Comments
The reason Fish left the department was because he had a drug problem (XANAX). The department heads knew about it so they drug tested him. Fish checked himself into drug rehab. NEW had a drug problem too, that's why he didn't pass his Sit – ups. If you want to stir the shit pot, start asking questions as to why Mitchell needs to keep spending money for a "Computer Examiner". Does Mitchell have that many computer crimes to justify it's cause. Mr. Hardman will hate you for that and probably send out his goons for you so watch your back!
Keep up the good work!!!!
Fish? Xanax? No way! Haha, I'm joking. I believe that 100%! I've often wondered about Chief Hardman's "Computer Examiner" certification and why he needs this. According to the "Mitchell Indiana Police Department Officers Information" page, "Chief Hardman has extensive training in computer forensics and is a certified computer examiner."
And how many times have you used that knowledge in a case in Mitchell, Chief Hardman? Probably the most likely case in our area that would require a forensic examination would probably be something along the lines of child pornography, in which case I would hope that "more qualified" persons would be called in. By the way, I use Encase on a regular basis. It rocks.
If you think the Police is bad, it's because it boils down to the leadership! How about "Volunteer Fireman" who get paid an allowance (most of them get thousands) and then on top of that use city vehicles to respond while off duty. Then they are using the city's gas for those calls and then getting reimbursed for burning gas. But what if it's the city's gas? Should they still get paid the $15 for gas to put in their own pocket? That's ghost employment and it seems it's only legal in the city of Mitchell.
Does the city need to spend $$ for the Cheif of Police to pick up his own kid from school. I guess we're paying twice there. One for the boy to ride a bus home and the other for his daddy to pick him up from school. If I was a leader, I wouldn't be letting personel that advantage of our taxs dollars. The next election just can't get he fast enough.
"E.T. for MAYER 2008″
Lots of good points, there, but who is E.T.? If you're running for Mayor in the next election, let us know! I think I speak for most of us when I say that a change in leadership in definitely needed!
Something else, you really want to get back at fat ass Hardman? Ask him about the terrible deed he committed while in college. While his grandmother was still alive he did something that made her ashamed of him. He was kicked out of college! Or how about the time was was arrested for giving kids alcohol? Do we need this kind of person leading a Police Departemnt? This shows how incompentent Mayor Chastain is! If this is the type of person that Butch leads then the City is destined for hell! Speaking of the City, why not let it go back to being a "Town" Mitchell's not big enough to support the salery of a Mayor! Let Mitchell be a town like Orleans or Paoli (which seems to do better than Mitchell). Chastain and Kern are hoping to ride the coat tails of the Casino to help Mitchell out.
To be honest, I don't really have much against Hardman. In my own experiences — which may well be different than those of everyone else — I have usually found him to be a respectable person that does not attempt to belittle or harass like some of the other officers do.
NO ACTION TAKEN , Mayor's son-in-law was along for the ride so therefor no punishment was handed out!
This was in response to the January 8, 2005, incident where Detective Phelix drove a police car into high water on the bridge over Mill Creek behind Spring Mill (Times-Mail article about the incident here).
What's really funny is the teen who broke into the shit hole card board pizza that serve's "sanitation pie" is the step-son of a Mitchell Police Dispatcher. Just goes to show that even their kids are dumb too! Guess the apple didn't fall to far there. He's not the only one that works there with a "dumb" kid!, seems one of the officers has one too.
Oh, really? The kid was Jeffrey Johnson. Who is his step-father? (Larry Tyler comes to mind, for some reason.) That's funny, goes to show that no matter how much "better" they (police/dispatchers) think they are, they're just like everyone else. And who's the other officer with a "dumb" kid?
You should call Mitchell Police Dept and ask them why during the election time they have put a cap on the number of tickets the dept can write to ten! Seems they are doing everything they can to Keep that fat slobs in office. Why don't they keep the 10 ticket cap all the time instead of just election time? Seems they have to keep fat blair under control or he'll cost Butch the election.
I'm not sure I understand this one. This year's election did not include the race for Mayor. Mayor Chastain will hold the office to the next two years. I could definitely see them doing something like that in an election year, though. Let me know if I missed something here…
Dude you are freakin awsome. thats so dumb about the ticket for skateboarding on the sidewalks. im glad that you have that article on your website. Now we have to skate at that shitty thing they call a skatepark. me and my friend just got in trouble by a cop to day for sitting on our skateboards. He said next time he sees us up there he will give us a ticket. Theres no where but town to skate in Mitchell but the city, and we don't even vandilies anything. well if you get this get back to me.
Thanks! I agree that the updated ordinance that prohibits skateboarding downtown is completely fuckin' stupid — I already made my thoughts on that known. The "skate park" behind City Hall is a joke. I really feel sorry for you kids in Mitchell these days. They don't want you to drink or do drugs or fuck, but they don't give you a choice — there's nothing else for you to do. Oh wait, it was like that when I was a kid too — now that's fuckin' progress!
I been so tempted to go out and buy a skateboard and ride it up and down Main Street just to make a point. I'll gladly let them take it from me when they arrive, then I'll wait five days, pay them five dollars, pick up my skateboard and do it again. Fuckin' idiots.
i have a serious question. i can't ask it on your site but can you assure me that whatever i we talk about is private
Absolutely, see my comments above about keeping things confidential.
Well, that's all for now. Please keep your comments and e-mails coming! Under each article, there is a link to post a comment directly to the site. It will say "Leave a comment" if no one else has commented on that article, or "x Comments" if others already have. Just click that link to leave a comment. If you don't want to post it for the world to see, but want to send it to me directly, just shoot me an e-mail to email@example.com. Hope to hear from you soon!


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Menzgold Ghana Limited has condemned what it describes as needless leak of a meeting it had with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The gold trading company said the leak to the media of a confidential meeting "to say the least, in very bad faith and distasteful; as it defeats our confidence in the body and an affront to cooperation. We totally condemn it!"
The company in a statement Thursday said, in the wake of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) warning to the public to desist from doing business with the organization, it "availed itself to all relevant State Institutions for various consultations and dialogues designed to arrive at a productive and sustainable resolution."
Menzgold's statement is in response to a directive by SEC for the embattled company to suspend their gold trading with the public with immediate effect.
In a letter dated September 7, SEC said it has thoroughly investigated the activities of Menzgold and has found that the Nana Appiah Mensah-owned firm does not have the license to trade in gold collectibles from the public.
The statement explained that interactions with representatives of Menzgold confirmed to SEC the view that the aspect of Menzgold's business which involves purchase and deposit of gold collectibles and guaranteed returns is a capital market activity under Act 929 without a valid license issued by SEC which contravenes the law.
The statement added that subsequent requests have been made by SEC to Menzgold's lawyers to furnish SEC with specific detailed information on the operations of the firm.
The supply of those documents, however, does not clear Menzgold to continue the mentioned aspects of Menzgold's business.
"That aspect poses a threat to unsuspecting and uninformed investors," SEC noted.
But the management of Menzgold said it "finds it very unfortunate that a letter relating to business discussions between the organization and the Securities and Exchange Commission has found its way to the public."
The company said as a law-abiding organization they have referred the matter to their lawyers and rest assured, the right action shall be taken.
"We hereby assure all our cherished customers that neither Menzgold as a business entity nor any of its products has been shut down.
"We urge for calm as we deal with this matter to its logical conclusion. Your gold trades are very safe and business is proceeding as usual," the company said.
Source: Myjoyonline.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Master Suite with Garage, Brattleboro, VT
The concept for this addition began as an attic renovation to create a master suite. As discussions progressed, it became clear that the existing attic space was not going to give the owners the open, airy feel that they desired. When mention was made of the need for a better garage and storage space, the new plan was born. The tiny garage gave way to a spacious 2 car garage with ample storage, and room on the second floor for a luxurious master suite including walk-in closet, laundry alcove, and full bath.


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KICKOFF: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium. TV: ESPN, Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters (field reporter).
SERIES HISTORY: Ninth regular-season meeting. Ravens lead series, 6-2. The teams last played in 2014, when Houston won 25-13 at NRG Stadium. The Texans have won two of the past three matchups but are 0-4 at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore won the only postseason meeting, in the divisional playoff in 2013.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Tom Savage will get his fifth start of the season, facing a Ravens secondary that leads the NFL with 16 interceptions.
Coach Bill O'Brien said ball security will be paramount. "Against the Ravens, you'd better make sure you take care of the football. Whoever is carrying the ball, obviously throwing the ball, everything. That is one of the biggest stats in our game today -- that turnover takeaway ratio. We have to do a great job in that area."
The Texans will try to take the pressure off Savage by running Lamar Miller.
Last week, Baltimore kept the pressure on quarterback Brett Hundley, who threw three interceptions. The Ravens will have the same game plan against Savage. Baltimore strives to give its offense a short field.
The Ravens hope to have left tackle Ronnie Stanley back in the lineup from a concussion. However, Stanley remained in concussion protocol this week. The offensive line struggled to protect Joe Flacco last week against the Packers. As a result, Flacco resorted to mostly checkdowns because of the constant pressure.
Houston is ranked 26th against the pass, so Flacco will take some shots downfield. If they can take an early lead, the Ravens will look to pound the ball with Alex Collins.
--Texans RB Lamar Miller vs. Ravens DT Brandon Williams. The Ravens were one of the worst run defenses in the league when Williams missed four games with a foot injury. They allowed 169.5 rushing yards per game and went 1-3 over that stretch. Since Williams' return, they have dominated opponents. Miller ranks 10th in the league with 604 yards and two touchdowns and will get a lot of work, especially with the Ravens' secondary playing at a high level. The Texans don't want backup quarterback Tom Savage creating costly turnovers, so the onus will be on Miller to move the ball.
--Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Texans CB Johnathan Joseph. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Joseph got burned by T.Y. Hilton for a touchdown pass and then got beat the following week by Rams WR Robert Woods. Joseph appears to have lost a step. Flacco has the arm to make him pay.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Texans OLB Jadeveon Clowney. He has a career-high eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss this season. Clowney has 34 tackles for loss in his past 24 games, the most in the NFL.
FAST FACTS: Houston beat Arizona 31-21 last Sunday and has scored 30 six times -- tied with the Rams and Eagles for most in the NFL. ... Houston RB Lamar Miller has three TDs in his past four games and is one of five AFC RBs with 600 rushing yards (604) and 250 receiving yards (264). He has 207 scrimmage yards (166 rushing) in the past two meetings. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins leads the NFL with nine TD catches. In his past two road games, he has averaged 167.5 yards. He has caught at least seven passes in each of his past five road games. ... DE Jadeveon Clowney had two sacks last week. In his past four games, he has five sacks and nine tackles for loss. In his past five road games, he has five sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. ... LB Benardrick McKinney is one of four NFL linebackers with 240 tackles (249) and eight sacks since entering the league in 2015. ... CB Kareem Jackson had two interceptions in the last meeting. ... CB Johnathan Joseph has two interceptions, including one for a TD, in the past four meetings. ... Baltimore blanked Green Bay 23-0 in Week 11. The Ravens' three shutouts this season are tied for the most since the Ravens had a franchise-record four in 2000. The Ravens have 13 shutouts -- the most in the NFL since they joined the league in 1996. ... Baltimore RB Alex Collins has 341 scrimmage yards in the past four home games. He ranks second in the AFC with 5.04 yards per carry. ... WR Jeremy Maclin has TD catch in two of the past three at home. He has 278 receiving yards and two TDs in his past three games vs. Houston. ... WR Mike Wallace has scored in the past two games. He is one of three active players (Julio Jones and DeSean Jackson) with 500 catches (510) and 15 yards per catch. ... LB Matt Judon recorded two sacks and a forced fumble last week, his third career multi-sack game. He has three sacks in his past two games. ... In his past five home games, LB C.J. Mosley has 50 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception-TD. ... LB Terrell Suggs had two sacks and a forced fumble in Week 11, his 20th two-sack game. He is one of five active players with 20 career two-sack games.
PREDICTION: The ballhawking Ravens should have another easy target in Savage, who has turned the ball over nine times.
OUR PICK: Ravens, 23-16.


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Strategy of TrendLine Trading
Expression, saying "The Trend is one's Best Friend" is a true statement in the binary trading. We attain two kinds of trend line dealing. An asset can easily trend in two different ways, wither down or up. An uptrend, moving upwards or ascending trend the indications bullish momentum and downtrend, downwards or descending the trend signals the bearish momentum. Both the condition of market can be easily traded in their favor. When the markets begin to trend they create channels where the cost starts moving in. It can be easily identified by the lower lows and higher highs, mainly based on trend direction.
Bearish and Bullish
The bullish market shows purchasing pressure which pushes the cost higher, which in turn results in uptrend being created.
Bearish trading trend signals the selling pressure which in turn causes the price to fall, which in turn results in downward trend. These terms can be regarded as bearish and bullish momentum.
Application of Trend Lines
Drawing these types of trend lines one needs to identify nearly two points, no matter whether it top or bottom of channel. Channel lines needs to be diagonal in the orientation and moreover should be parallel too. More points that are lined up and higher time frame, stronger the channel will become. This particular rule is applicable in both the down and up trends.
Trend line dealing can be utilized in combination with the Low/High option. After identifying channel a put/low option can be easily placed when the cost bonuses from top of the line of channel. Call or high options can be easily placed when the cost bonuses from bottom of channel.
You should always try your level best in placing the trades with a direction of trend instead of doing trade against it. In reference to the picture mentioned above, we can note a downloadable channel clearly, indicating that we should place put/low options. Trend line strategy is a bit more difficult but it yields for high possibility trades.


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San Francisco Soap Company Gardenia Bouquet bath bar soap enriched with moisturizing shea butter, extracts of shea, chamomile flower, argan and oatmeal which help soften skin. This vegetable-based formula is gluten-free, does not contain animal tallow, parabens or GMOs and contains the finest ingredients to cleanse and nourish your skin. The clean, floral fragrance of delicate gardenias will leave your skin wonderfully scented and refreshed. This moisturizing bath soap bar is made in the USA.
Ingredients: Sodium Palmate, Sodium Cocoate*, Water (Aqua) (EAU), Glycerin, Fragrance (Perfume), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) meal Extract, Argania Spinosa Extract, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide (CI77981), Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate *May Also Contain Sodium Palm Kernelate
3.5 Oz (99 g)
Customer ReviewsWrite a review
This scent is so amazing so i came back and bought 6 to enjoy for a while. The Gardenia sent is fresh and the soap top notch. Any San Francisco soap co. products are.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


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Talend ESB is provided to you through a zip file named Talend-ESB-VA.B.C. To install Talend ESB on your server machines, unzip the Talend-ESB-VA.B.C.zip file.
The following procedures detail the installation and configuration of the ready-to-use tools contained in the Talend ESB package:
Note about the start commands: Instead of the individual
start commands that you can find in the following sections, you can also use:
tesb:start-all in the container, which starts all the Infrastructure Services,
except the Event Logging features which have to be started individually with the
tesb:start-el-default command.
For more information about the Infrastructure Services, see the Talend ESB Infrastructure Services Configuration Guide.


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Online Support
Online Support are responsible for any technical issues encountered whilst dealing with any of the Legal Aid systems. The team will ensure to find a solution to general user errors or refer any technical issues to our external support teams.
The team can be contacted by telephone on 0300 200 2020 (option 3), via the web chat link above or you can email email@example.com
If the web chat function shows as being 'busy' this means there are no agents available, however, you can still call or email us using the information above.
Please see the Email Requirements document for the important information we require when contacting the Online Support Team.
If you are experiencing any issues with using web chat, please complete the Web Chat Feedback Form.


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How Ancestry Became a Best-Selling Amazon Product by Highlighting User's Emotional Stories
Vineet Mehra, the company's CMO, spoke about its evolution at ANA Masters of Marketing week
Last year during the shopping spree that occurs annually between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Amazon's best-selling product wasn't an Alexa, TV, iPad or any of the other usual suspects. It was a DNA testing kit from Ancestry.
Ten years ago, stories of a person's genealogy and ancestral background were largely passed down through the generations by word-of-mouth. Thanks to the explosion of the at-home DNA testing kit category, people now have more concrete information than ever about their ancestral heritage. With that information comes a sense of excitement, and Ancestry is one of the companies that has capitalized on that interest. For $99, they sell at-home DNA test kits in the form of a tube that users can spit into and send off to a lab for testing. Once the kits are processed, they offer information about where your family comes from in geographic detail and allow you to connect online with potential DNA relatives.
Taking a test like Ancestry's (other popular options include 23andMe and National Geographic Geno) is a relatively recent trend.
"If I were to tell you two years ago that we could get a consumer to spit in this tube up to this black line, put it in a FedEx box and ship it in, you would have told us we were crazy," Vineet Mehra, Ancestry's CMO, said at last week's ANA Masters of Marketing week in Orlando.
And participate they did: Ancestry is growing faster than the pace of the internet. In more literal terms, the saliva it received from users last year would have been able to fill 7,800 Instant Pots. "That's the level of consumer behavior change that we've driven," Mehra said.
At ANA, Mehra spoke not only of the company's unlikely growth but also about how Ancestry has been able to engage people with its product and its marketing. Ancestry's made headlines for some of its campaigns, particularly those that focus less on the spit-in-a-tube-and-test-your-DNA process and more about the emotional journey a person goes on when they get one of the kits themselves.
In one, they asked people about their preconceived notions about both their nationality before showing them their own results, many of which differed from what a person expected, an eye-opening look at how misguided people's prejudices can be. Indeed, one of the people featured in the ad said that everyone should take this sort of test and that "there would be no such thing as extremism in the world" if people had the chance to.
Another powerful spot, launched last year on the Fourth of July, rounded up several direct descendants of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. Unlike the founding fathers who originally made up the signing of the historic document, this group was diverse, featuring men and women of a variety of backgrounds.
But shorter spots make up only part of Ancestry's marketing strategy. The company's goal, Mehra said, is to "take your customer and invite them into every part of your content ecosystem." A big part of Ancestry's content ecosystem is its long-form programming, particularly PBS' Finding Your Roots and TLC's Who Do You Think You Are?, both of which take famous people on a journey through their ancestry.
Mehra said both shows "take celebrities and turn them into customers and then do their reveal in the form of a TV show." In Finding Your Roots, guests read their "book of life" that gives them details about their family history. On Who Do You Think You Are?, guests visit spots around the globe that hold significance to their families. The latter program has been nominated for six Emmy Awards, for what Mehra said is essentially branded content.
This fusion of content that's compelling on its own with a branded message is the key to keeping marketing relevant, according to Mehra. But for Ancestry, what really provides an extra product is that people will talk about it without an incentive. He points to Al Roker's five-minute-long recounting of his own results on the Today show—in an unsponsored segment—as evidence of that.
Mehra said, "To become a modern marketing organization, you have to have a brand side and the performance side at the same time."


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In order to sustain my creativity I find I need to have time to think. My recent much looked forward to retirement from teaching means I can devote myself to my own work. I had a years sabbatical from teaching 4 years ago and it was a fantastic period where I experimented with porcelain and new ideas, where for the first time in years I could 'play' and afford (timewise) to make mistakes. When you teach even part-time, your 'making-time' is precious you don't want to waste it on failures (or at least I don't)!
I am a bit of a manic sketch book person, I work things out in 2D and do research etc. I like working in a sketchbook.
In terms of subject matter for my work, I have always tended to work in themes; shoes, wings/flight, Tarot…I don't know what I'm doing at the moment…whether working in porcelain is the theme or the fact that I seem to be looking a lot at architecture. I do know I'm like a miner I dig away at something until I feel bored by it, then I know it is time to examine another theme.
At the moment I am still excited by what happens when you switch my porcelain pieces on…the way light changes them…so for the time being I will continue. To be honest I distrust 'inspiration'….but I do go with intuition! If I get really stuck I go to the Victoria and Albert…there is so much stuff of such brilliance there it pushes me out of the lull, or I make something I think I would like.
From mybackground….oldish very working class parents, secondary modern school…art was something done by posh people, the likes of us got jobs and did art for a hobby. I did that for 2 years and then hated it so much, my evening class sculpture teacher said I was good enough to try for art school. So I did….Wimbledon Foundation, degree at Middlesex.
I have done commissions, but only based on what I do (I made a double piece for Schroeder's Bank in London, but it was something I was keen on anyway). I did a garden fountain, years ago which was really hard work, and they changed the deadline date so I had to rush…it was a COMPLETE disaster…I didn't take any money…in the end they gave me a case of wine! I needed it!
In terms of repeating work…NO it is always even SLIGHTLY different otherwise what's the point…I'm not a machine…..besides which if I try to make something EXACTLY the same it never goes right, the best thing to do is aim for a 'recreation'
I like selling, and would like to charge more but will have to build up to that. The deal I made when I left art school 30 odd years ago was that I would not live from my work, but from selling my labour: initially shop work, then technician work, finally teaching, that way I was free to make what I wanted and would not have to throw 200 Mugs a week. .


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Classic Cars 3D Parking
Tags: Car Games / 3D Games / Parking Games / Unity Games
Publisher: Gamolition.com
Video Walkthrough
Classic Cars 3D Parking is a parking game. Many new types of vehicles appear every year, but the most stunning ones remain in history as great classics. Now you get to drive these incredible vintage cars from the 1950s collection in an intense 3D parking game. Complete all twelve challenging missions with progressive levels of difficulty in order to successfully win the game. You will need patience and skill to accomplish that. Have a lot of fun playing Classic Cars 3D Parking!
Use your arrow keys to drive and your space bar to brake.
Embed this game
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VERY COOL WEBSITE. enter the dimensions of your room and the things you want to put in it… it helps you come up with ways to arrange it. Pin now, look later. is creative inspiration for us. Get more photo about home decor related with by looking at photos gallery at the bottom of this page.
We are want to say thanks if you like to share this post to another people via your facebook, pinterest, google plus or twitter account.
Right Click to save picture or tap and hold for seven second if you are using iphone or ipad.
Full size is 468X419 (Link to full-size image) pixels.


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Moxey wants selection clarification
Wolves still feel aggrieved at being handed a suspended £25,000 fine by the league after making 10 changes for the clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford in December. Moxey points out that other teams have also made wholesale alterations to their line-ups without action being taken against them. The issue has come back into the spotlight after last weekend when Fulham made nine changes for the clash with Everton and were beaten 2-1. Moxey said: "Some sections of the media were having a go at Wolves for the side we fielded against Manchester United. "I don't recall them having a go at Manchester United for making many changes on the last day of the season which could have affected relegation. "Since then we have seen other managers make a lot of changes. Are we going to have the same furore over Roy Hodgson's selections for Fulham at the weekend? "The Premier League have got an issue and we will be raising it at the summer meeting now being introduced are squad systems where you can only register 25 players and as many Under-21s as we like. "The manager will have 25 players to pick. Surely he has got to be able select whatever 11 he wants to play week in and week out just as Roy Hodgson did at the weekend. "We will be asking for clarification on the ruling. The one question is 'how many changes are too many?' but we won't be asking for an apology for the action taken against us." Moxey wants manager Mick McCarthy to remain at Wolves for "a very long time" after saluting his efforts in keeping the club in the Premier League. McCarthy is understood to be on a one-year rolling contract and has performed wonders since taking charge at Molineux four years ago when Wolves, according to Moxey, were a "club in crisis". Moxey said: "Mick has been central to everything we have done from a football point of view. He took over a club that was in crisis. "Part of our plan when we appointed Mick four years ago was to take the club and rebuild it, take it to the Premier League and stay in the Premier League. "We set out a plan of where we wanted to go and Mick has delivered at every turn and we couldn't be more happy with what he has done. "I hope personally Mick will be with us for a very long time."


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Going back to school is definitely a big deal for the kiddies. That first-day look is key for most and kids take a lot of care in picking out their fit. The Mini Classy dropped their 'Back to the Grind' collection just in time for the big day. This collection is packed with some of the freshest kid styles that will have your mini looking right for their epic return to school.
The Mini Classy brand is no secret. The celebs have been on to them for quite some time. The Kardashians, 50 Cent, Black Thought, and Mario Lopez are just a few of the celebs who fit their kids in the Mini Classy. The Dino and Harem pants are a huge hit with the kids and they're designed for a rugged but comfy fit. The Back to the Grind Collection comes equipped with cool camo prints and the famed Dino Pants with matching hoodies to complete the fit. Take a look at some of the images in the gallery above and hit TheMiniClassy.com to cop your kid's fit.
The brand was recently featured in People Magazine's Back to School list of brands to shop for the kids. Take a look at some of the images in the gallery above and hit TheMiniClassy.com to cop your kid's fit.


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Defensive coverage that is based on the use of six defensive backs.
Dime coverage is used primarily in obvious passing situations, where the offense might have as many as six eligible receivers running pass patterns. We expect to see the continued use of the dime with the new passing records that were broken in recent years.


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For control of our business, our website logs IP addresses, which is the automatic number assigned to your computer when you surf the web. The IP address allows us to anonymously track visitors' usage on our website. Your IP address is not connected to any personally identifiable or on-line contact information like a name and address, so you remain anonymous at all times.
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Ocwen Announces Extension of the Expiration Date of Previously Announced Exchange Offer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 30, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocwen Financial Corporation, (NYSE:OCN) ("Ocwen" or the "Company"), a leading financial services holding company, today announced that Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC ("OLS") extended the expiration date of its previously announced Exchange Offer (as described below) from 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 30, 2016, to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 2, 2016 (such date and time, as the same may be further extended, the "Expiration Date"). As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 30, 2016, $346.9 million aggregate principal amount (or 99.1%) of Ocwen's 6.625% Senior Notes due 2019 (the "Existing Notes") had been tendered in the Exchange Offer.
On November 1, 2016, OLS commenced an offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") all outstanding Existing Notes held by eligible holders for up to $350 million aggregate principal amount of newly issued 8.375% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2022 of OLS (the "New Second Lien Notes") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offering memorandum dated November 1, 2016 and the related letter of transmittal (collectively, and as amended by this press release, the "Offering Materials"). The CUSIP numbers for the Existing Notes are: 675746 AF8 (Registered), U67503 AA7 (Reg S) and 675746 AE1 (Rule 144A).
The Exchange Offer is purely a debt-for-debt exchange offer and none of OLS, Ocwen or any of their subsidiaries will receive any cash proceeds from the transaction.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Materials, eligible holders who had validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Existing Notes on or prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on November 15, 2016 (such date and time, the "Early Tender Date"), and whose tenders are accepted for exchange, will receive, the Total Exchange Consideration which consists of $950 principal amount of New Second Lien Notes for each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered (the "Exchange Consideration"), plus an early tender premium equal to $50 principal amount of New Second Lien Notes for each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered (the "Early Tender Premium"). Eligible holders who validly tender or have validly tendered their Existing Notes after the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date, and whose tenders are accepted for exchange, will only be eligible to receive the Exchange Consideration and not the Early Tender Premium. Withdrawal rights for the Exchange Offer expired on 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 15, 2016.
The settlement date for the Exchange Offer is expected to occur within three business days of the Expiration Date subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Exchange Offer. Eligible holders of Existing Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will also receive a cash payment equal to the accrued and unpaid interest in respect of such Existing Notes from November 15, 2016 (the most recent interest payment date for the Existing Notes prior to the settlement date) to, but not including, the settlement date.
The Exchange Offer is being made only to holders of the Existing Notes who have completed and returned an eligibility form confirming that they are both (x) either (i) "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBs") within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (ii) not "U.S. persons" and are outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, and (y) "accredited investors" within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act (such holders that meet clauses (x) and (y) are "eligible holders").
OLS's obligation to accept Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions described in the Offering Materials, including but not limited to the requisite lenders under OLS's senior secured term loan agreeing to the consummation of the Exchange Offer.
The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, as well as the terms of the New Second Lien Notes, are described in the Offering Materials, copies of which may be obtained by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent in connection with the Exchange Offer, at (212) 269-5550 or (800) 431-9645 (toll free), by email to firstname.lastname@example.com, or at www.dfking.com/ocwen.
The New Second Lien Notes have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state or foreign securities laws. The New Second Lien Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The Exchange Offer is not being made to holders of Existing Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Eligible holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender their Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer and, if so, the principal amount of Existing Notes to tender.
About Ocwen Financial Corporation
Ocwen Financial Corporation is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, originates and services loans. We are headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with offices throughout the United States and in the U.S. Virgin Islands and operations in India and the Philippines. We have been serving our customers since 1988. We may post information that is important to investors on our website (www.Ocwen.com).
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by a reference to a future period or by the use of forward-looking terminology.
Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Our business has been undergoing substantial change which has magnified such uncertainties. Readers should bear these factors in mind when considering such statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. In the past, actual results have differed from those suggested by forward-looking statements and this may happen again.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our servicer and credit ratings as well as other actions from various rating agencies, including the impact of downgrades of our servicer and credit ratings; adverse effects on our business as a result of regulatory investigations or settlements; reactions to the announcement of such investigations or settlements by key counterparties; increased regulatory scrutiny and media attention, uncertainty related to claims, due to rumors or otherwise, litigation and investigations brought by government agencies and private parties regarding our servicing, foreclosure, modification and other practices, including uncertainty related to past, present or future investigations and settlements with state regulators, the CFPB, State Attorneys General, the SEC, Department of Justice or HUD and actions brought under the False Claims Act by private parties on behalf of the United States of America regarding incentive and other payments made by governmental entities; any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings; our ability to effectively manage our regulatory and contractual compliance obligations; our ability to contain and reduce our operating costs, including our ability to successfully execute on our cost improvement initiative; the adequacy of our financial resources, including our sources of liquidity and ability to sell, fund and recover advances, repay borrowings and comply with debt covenants, including the financial and other covenants contained in them; volatility in our stock price; the characteristics of our servicing portfolio, including prepayment speeds along with delinquency and advance rates; our ability to successfully modify delinquent loans, manage foreclosures and sell foreclosed properties; uncertainty related to legislation, regulations, regulatory agency actions, government programs and policies, industry initiatives and evolving best servicing practices; as well as other risks detailed in Ocwen's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its current and quarterly reports since such date. Anyone wishing to understand Ocwen's business should review its SEC filings. Ocwen's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, we disclaim any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Investors: Stephen Swett T: (203) 614-0141 E: firstname.lastname@example.com Media: John Lovallo T: (917) 612-8419 E: email@example.com Dan Rene T: (202) 973 -1325 E:firstname.lastname@example.com


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Need a place to plant, room to grow, some sunny earth of your own? Get involved in VCU's community garden and get growing your own vegetables, flowers and herbs! Registration is now open for the Fall semester. Fill out this survey to apply: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GZ8BH6K
Registration deadline is Friday, August 10th. Register early as space is limited and we cannot guarantee everyone a plot.
At the VCU community Garden, faculty, staff, and students are able to grow their own vegetables, flowers, and herbs and choose from a variety of different plot types based on the amount of time they would like to commit. No gardening skills are necessary to sign up for a plot. Workshops will be offered at little or no cost that will teach basic gardening and related skills like companion planting, efficient watering, seed saving, composting, and organic gardening techniques that will naturally enrich soil nutrients and improve plant growth.
Grow your own...
Take home your own fresh, local, organic produce or donate to charity; access to reduced-cost gardening workshops; grow enough food to supplement a small family's food supply and save money on groceries
...Or share a plot with friends!
Share your own fresh, local, organic produce amongst your group or donate to charity; access to reduced-cost gardening workshops; lower time commitment the more people get involved. Form a group with your friends, roommates, department, or student group to grow food together. Develop team-building skills while growing your own fresh and nutritious food to share.
The VCU Community garden has two plots designated solely for donations. We need your help in these gardens! If you are interested in volunteering, email firstname.lastname@example.com and let us know. We'll add you to our volunteer email list so that you can hear about any upcoming opportunities. You'll also be given access to a volunteer Google doc where you can sign up to help water the plots.
We have Hugelkutur and Wicking Beds
These gardens store or hold water below the surface, and require less water to maintain. Crops often have increased production due to a more optimal level of moisture in the soil. You'll get to take home your own fresh, local, organic produce or donate to charity; and have access to reduced-cost gardening workshops.
Plot Prices:
All plots include free use of water from on-site spigots and free access to shared garden tools. All plot sizes require a $10 deposit which will be returned at the end of the term if the plot has been well maintained and is cleaned out before the next term begins. There are 3 semester terms in a year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Save money by purchasing an entire year rather than all 3 semesters.
Small plot (5'w x 3.5'd)
Semester: $10 + $10 deposit
Year: $20 + $10 deposit
You will have room to grow about 3 tomato plants, 4 trellised cucumber plants, 9 pepper plants, or 12 lettuce plants.
Medium plot (5'w x 7d')
Semester: $15 + $10 deposit
Year: $35 + $10 deposit
You will have room to grow about 5 tomato plants, 7 trellised cucumber plants, 20 pepper plants, or 25 lettuce plants.
Large plot (7.5w' x 7'd)
Semester: $25 + $10 deposit
Year: $45 + $10 deposit
You will have room to grow about 8 tomato plants, 12 trellised cucumber plants, 30 pepper plants, or 40 lettuce plants.


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CodeCampOz 2007 Review
Written on April 3, 2007
Another year, another trip to Wagga for CodeCamp. This year was very good, though there were fewer presentations (just one "track", rather than the last two years where there were often two or more choices at times).
It really is good to spend a couple of days with your peers, and "super-peers" - hearing from some of the people who really know their stuff.
I even finally introduced myself (in person) to Mitch Denny after all this time.
Categories: DotNet, Conferences


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Cool Malibu
Reviewed By GARY R (Enumclaw, WA) Reviewed for a 2013 Chevy Malibu —6/6/2018 8:55 PM
My custom floors mats were shipped quickly and very high quality. The service manager at Chevrolet dealership was very impressed and told they could get that good of floor mats for my car. 2013 Malibu LTD wife's car and she is very happy


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If you thought the take over of 2011 was interesting…
If you got bored during the TNABH V VOC incident…
Are you a fan of controversy….
This time, we arent JUST coming for this website. WWE says a revolution is coming, we say if you want something done right… Do it yourself. The powers that be over in Nashville must not be happy that their employee allowing me to continue to post my brand damaging remarks so please head on over to twitter and follow @InstantClassicH
Join us if you will, the trouble will be worth it. Good night and good luck.
Wrestling/Entertainment's Greatest Villain
Harry Barnett


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Registration is now closed...
Note: Registration is not required to attend the Alda talk or the panel discussion. Registration is only required to attend the workshops. Please contact Jane Koropsak if you have any questions.
Our scientists and many other Lab employees have things to say that the public needs to hear – about our research, about how science works, and why it matters. By telling our story clearly and vividly, we can build a broader understanding of science and help policymakers and the public make well-grounded decisions about funding and policy issues, and help our community and other stakeholders understand the value of having the Lab located here on Long Island. But engaging with the public and the press can be difficult, and many scientists feel unsure of their ability to communicate well. That's why Brookhaven National Laboratory is delighted to host a workshop April 9 on communicating science that promises to be illuminating and helpful. The workshop is being presented by the new Center for Communicating Science, a cooperative venture of Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Alan Alda, actor and host of TV's "Scientific American Frontier" series, whose interest in science communication helped spark creation of the new center, will speak in the morning, along with a panel equally committed to communicating science. In the afternoon, we will hold four workshops, all of which lend themselves to public speaking and communication. Scientists and facility staff will be able to take an innovative workshop, created by Alda, which uses improvisational theater games to help connect more directly and personally with their audiences. The improv workshop will be led by Stony Brook Theatre Arts faculty members trained by Alda. With these faculty members, Alda led a series of improv sessions for Lab scientists and Stony Brook graduate students last fall that produced striking results. Participants said it helped them in their teaching, presentations, and thesis defense -- plus, it was a lot of fun!
Besides improvisation, the April 9 workshop will offer sessions on how to interact with the media and write effective op-ed articles and letters to public officials. You can also gain greater insight into new media, such as blogs and podcasts.
We see the April 9 workshop as a rare opportunity to improve communication skills that are essential to your career – skills that will help you convey the illuminating stories of science.
Event Date
April 9, 2010
Event Location
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Berkner Hall, Bldg 488
Main Lecture Hall
Event Coordinator
Jeanne D'Ascoli
Bus: 631-344-2277
Fax: 631-344-3654
Email: email@example.com
Last Modified: May 7, 2010


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Michelle Maggiore leads transportation business development for Cisco's Smart and Connected Communities. She is a professional transportation engineer with 20 years of experience in performance management and strategic planning for transportation agencies and local governments, most recently applying her background to the deployment of technology in the public sector.
Her academic contributions to the field of transportation include the development and application of decision support tools to align public-sector investments to regional goals and performance measures. Her methodology for optimizing transportation and technology investments was published by the National Academy of Sciences in NCHRP Report 806, where she served as Principal Investigator. Michelle continues to support the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies in Next-Generation Traffic Management research.
Prior to joining Cisco, Michelle led US transportation services for IBM. She has advised the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Eno Transportation Foundation, and the US Congress on performance-based transportation and technology investment planning.
Michelle has an MS in transportation engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a BS in civil engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.


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The Brief
Tripidee is a trip planing application where users use an assortment of cards to plan and share trip agendas. Tripidee came to us to redesign their desktop website and during the three weeks we had for this project, my team designed and tested high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and created style guides.
Designing for the Brand
Their current website suggests friendly and exciting, but in order for it to grab and keep the users' attention it needed to appear more adventurous. Their initial homepage was designed with a large emphasis on showing off its features and less on enticing users with the trips themselves. Like the UX team, I felt that even if they had a great product it wouldn't be used if users couldn't envision themselves on a great trip from the onset. I needed to design for a website that would both offer the opportunity for a great trip and air the reliability of a solid product with fun features.
The Metrics
In a market where there are dozens, (if not hundreds) of other trip planning sites, we needed to separate Tripidee from the rest of its competitors. My team scoured over dozens of travel sites and narrowed it down to the four that best represented the aesthetic diversity of the trip-planning market.
We noticed a trend among most travel sites: they varied between using heavy imagery or a lot of illustration or were tonally either business-like or relaxed and light-hearted. The ones that limited their scope of color tended to be more organized, but lacked excitement while the ones that used a lot of color seemed cluttered. We then created a matrix to map out where each company sat in relation to each other in order to figure out how Tripidee would be able to stand out.
Designing For Users
The UX team determined the two types of users who were most likely to use Tripidee: the meticulous planner and the wanderlust traveler. The meticulous planner wanted to have total control over their trip planning experience while the wanderlust traveler simply wanted to be as efficient as possible. For my iterations I decided the best design direction to go in would be a clean interface with an emphasis on imagery and limited color.
Design Principles
With these factors in mind and the matrix in hand we came up with some design principles to serve as a foundation to make sure Tripidee was consistent, stood out from the competition, and most importantly: met user needs.
Style Exploration
With the preliminary research completed I created three divergent style tiles to explore different options in UI elements, color palettes and photographic directions.
Ideation and Iteration
In choosing to emphasize the great outdoors, I wanted my designs to express the notion that there is great big world out there and users are only a few clicks away from exploring it. It is for this reason I switched out the icons on the home page for paginated images. This tested well with users. I also changed the copy for the CTAs that the founders thought was a great improvement on the original.
When it came to redesigning the Community Inspiration section I did away with the clutter of the collage to stay in line with our open road to discovery principle. I reorganized the suggestions into lanes and added hover states to each container to avoid crowding so the imagery would be unobstructed.
Style Guide
In addition to a functioning prototype we gave our clients style guides. These would prove to be an invaluable asset should they need a quick reference to the implemented styles and foundational elements.
Final Thoughts
I had a blast doing the redesign of the Tripidee website. The importance of imagery in a site like this was the most interesting thing I learned from testing. I was hard-pressed to find a balance that would excite the wanderlust user through the imagery and give the maticulous planner confidence though an exhibition of the sites features. A balance I was reassured was there in the final rounds of testing.
Three weeks to put together an identity for a brand was both intimidating and exhilarating. I worked with a wonderful team and excellent clients. Ultimately, I'm very proud of this work because I designed something that works well and looks great for both the users and the clients.


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Intel's Phil Cronin and CSC's Bob Hayward are two of the industry heads that will form the new NSW Information Communications and Technology Industry Advisory Panel, announced by the Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce.
Other members of the Panel include Gartner's Warren Anderson and the CSIRO's Dr Ian Oppermann. The panel was pulled from a list of 200 applicants and membership will be for an initial 12-month period. The first meeting will take place soon in order to allow the Panel to provide input into the development of the NSW Government's ICT strategy, Minister Pearce said in a release.
"There will also be opportunities to participate through Working Groups which will be established to implement the NSW Government's ICT Strategy," he said.
"I'm very much looking forward to working with the members of the Industry Advisory Panel and with the community as we turn NSW into the Australian leader in ICT."
Members of the Panel include:
John Baird (Chair) – Head of Information Enterprise Services, Deutsche Bank
Baird has worked at the highest level in ICT for over 30 years across a diverse range of organisations including those that specialise in financial services, research, telecommunications and hardware.
Warren Anderson – Group Vice-President, Gartner
Warren has 22 years experience in the Australian IT industry, having worked in business management roles with local start-ups and large multinationals. Warren is also a national board director of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), and Chairs the Queensland Digital Economy Program.
Phillip Cronin – Managing Director, Intel Australia & New Zealand
Cronin has worked in the Australian IT sector for 24 years in senior management roles. Intel has provided independent advice for many years to Federal & State governments, across areas such as Education, Healthcare & Data Centres, seeking to extract maximum value from ICT. Philip is also a member of Intel's Apac HQ Management team. He is currently the Chairman of AIIA and was voted in the Top 12 Most Influential People in Australian ICT in 2010 and 2011.
Barry Dietrich – General Manager Technology Solutions Division, CSG
Dietrich has more than 20 years' experience working in the ICT sector with extensive experience working with government to deliver high quality, innovative solutions particularly in health, education and budget management. Barry has spent the last 10 years working solely in the public sector market and has sat on Oracle's Global Public Sector board.
Bob Hayward – Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, CSC
Hayward has extensive IT sector experience. Prior to CSC, he was a Director of IT Services for KPMG Australia and Senior Vice-President and Research Fellow with Gartner for Asia/Pacific. He has also previously been a member of the Shanghai and Dalian Government IT Expert Advisory Boards and was an ICT advisor to the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games. Bob is a co-founder and continuing non-executive director for Asia Online, an Asian-based start-up focused on developing automated machine translation technologies.
Dr Ian Oppermann – Director, CSIRO ICT Centre
Opperman is a well respected researcher in the ICT community and is currently a Board member or Chairs numerous Government, research, and private sector institutions, including the Australian eHealth research Centre, the IBM R&D Laboratory (Australia) Steering Committee, and the Advisory Council for the University of South Australia Institute of Telecoms Research. Prior to the CSIRO Ian held managerial positions at Nokia and Nokia Siemens Network and was the Director of the Centre for Wireless Communications in Finland.
Jane Treadwell – Director, Jane Treadwell Consulting
Treadwell has extensive experience in ICT in Australia and overseas and currently runs her own consulting business. Her main work is with the World Bank and other nations in driving public sector reform/transformation, transparent governance and smart investment that leverages the value of ICT. Prior to this she worked at executive levels in state and federal governments in Australia across many portfolios including the positions of Deputy CEO and CIO of Centrelink, and the Victorian Government Chief Information Officer. She was recently named iAwards ICT Woman of the Year by the AIIA, Australian Computing Society and the Pearcey Foundation.


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Recap. I had my third shoulder surgery in four years on my right side on October 16th. The procedure included grafting bone from my hip into my shoulder, securing that with a few screws and replacing my humeral head - again. A picture is worth a 1,000 words, see below. Love the staples in the "after" shot.
The Good. Surgery was a technical success, everything in the operation room went well. It will take another 4-6 months to determine the full extent of how successful the surgery was after I'm through rehab. I'm hopeful and optimistic that I won't be back under the knife anytime soon. I'm also a scarred shoulder surgery veteran, so I'll reserve judgement for a little while.
The Bad. Anyone remember the part where the anesthesiologist rhymes off a list of potential complications from surgery, and assure you the risk of any one of them happening is miniscule? No one remembers that part until they have a complication and - suddenly - it becomes a conversation where you wish you were paying closer attention While recovering in the hospital, I discovered I had some - at the time - scary nerve damage in my forearm and fingers. I didn't have consistent motor control from the forearm down through my fingers. A very long story and a trip to a neurologist later, all is much better. I have some residual numbness in my right thumb, but a far cry from the scary hospital experience where I couldn't move my arm at all.
The Ugly. I'm not a particularly vain person, and I have my fair share of scars. But this time, there is no hiding from the etching in my shoulder. Three incisions over the same scar line will do that. And my hip scar is much worse. I had a post-op infection on the incision site, and it just didn't close well at all. It's an angry pink mess. I wear my scars likes badges of honour - they are war wounds in my battle with arthritis.
I'm alive. I've got more metal bits and pieces and screws than I did before. The pain was managed fairly well. I was somewhat under-educated on the extensive immobility of the hip portion of the surgery. My surgeon saying "don't worry, you'll walk out of here" was not exactly accurate, based on my wheelchair exit from the hospital.
I listened to hours of music, watched days and days of Netflix and tried to keep my chin up. I rediscovered Fleetwood Mac recently - and their song "You can go your own way". I keep trying to go my own way, and my RA keeps pulling me back. But at least I'm still trying.


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App Concept - The Throwdown
The throw down is a geo-located king of the hill social app for action/extreme sports. Users would preform awesome tricks at a certain location and claim that spot by putting a 10 second video up. Other users can challenge them by uploading to that same location pin. Users will then vote on who did it better in their feed by seeing two entries for a single location randomly matched up against each other.


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Ethnic, Religious, Cultural Support
Programs that facilitate the settlement of new residents in the community; marshal community resources on behalf of disadvantaged residents during the holidays; or offer other services that augment and expand the protection, supervision, care and support that are provided through the primary family unit, or that enhance the recipient's mobility or ability to communicate and live more comfortably. (PH AIRS Individual and Family Support Services)
If you know of a Service that should be listed but isn't, please Suggest a New Provider. If you find errors in a listing, please let us know by using the "Suggest an Edit" form on the provider's detail page.


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Three days into the 21-Day Sugar Detox and I'm feeling pretty good. It's possible that the detox is making me delusional in thinking it is more manageable than I initially thought it might be. But so far, I've found that with a few key tips, it is not difficult to follow the guidelines. While you may not be interested in or ready for an intensive program, I've outlined a few tips for easily reducing daily sugar intake,which you can begin incorporating today.
- Read labels. Seriously, I can't stress this one enough! Sugar comes in many forms and often times, companies will attempt to mask its presence by labeling it as something you may never have even have heard of. Check for words and phrases such as: high-fructose corn syrup, dehydrated cane juice, fruit juice concentrate, and agave nectar. (See here for a more complete list.)
- Plan meals and snacks in advance. While time consuming, it is definitely worthwhile to prepare meals and snacks ahead of time when possible. Having snacks handy when you get a mid-afternoon craving and bringing lunch to work will ultimately lead to a greater chance of success and less opportunities to give in to the 3 p.m. vending machine desperation. In need of assistance with this one? Visit The Foodee Project for free meal planning tools and delicious recipes.
- Aim for a majority of unprocessed foods. When in doubt, trust things that don't come in packages such as produce, fresh meat from the deli, and raw nuts. At the very least, you'll know that there are no processed or refined sugars in these products.
- Drink herbal tea. Aside from its many health benefits, herbal teas can often have a sweeter taste which might curb cravings. Personal favorites include: Teavana Wild Orange Blossom, Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice, and Teavana Pineapple Kona Pop.
- Enlist support from family or friends. Consider cooking-in rather than going out for a meal, offer to bring a dish to the next family gathering, and share your new attitude with others. While it may seem awkward or uncomfortable at times to decline food (particularly at family gatherings, it always seems to be a scene rather than an unnoticed action), remember that you will ultimately feel better being in control of what you put in your body.
In the meantime, check out the Top 10 Foods with High-Fructose Corn Syrup. You might be surprised (I was shocked!) to find that frozen pizza and yogurt are among the top five on the list.
Any other tips or advice you have found useful when trying to reduce sugar intake?


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It will help you to plan that perfect get away and use up any available spare time you may have. Aswell as helping you with travel it also keeps you upto date with the news and reviews on the latest biking equipment.
If motocycles and adventures are for you, this will help to complete that dream of travelling on two wheels across the globe. Adventure Bike Rider magazine is filled with features, travel guides, stunning images and articles of riders on their travels.
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Course Outline
Introducing CSR
- Why CSR?
- Definitions of CSR
- Corporate governance
- A framework forunderstanding CSR
- Values motivation
- Limitations of CSR frameworks
Target audience
- Heads of organisations, chief officers, chairpersons, board members and directors.
- Heads of departments, and senior managers & executives interested in corporate social responsibility (CSR).
- Managers of tomorrow who wish to develop modern business practices and find ways to act in a truly responsible way.
- Those who see business as being increasingly central to addressing global concerns and society's expectations of going beyond wealth creation, against a backdrop of financial crises, climate change, political shifts, and population growth.
- Those who want their business to maximise profits whilst also being publicly accountable for its social and environmental record.
- Those who are concerned about the role of business in modern society.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to understand:
- The context within which contemporary CSRhas flourished.
- The different perspectives on and definitions of CSR.
- The values that companies are being askedto uphold.
- The main issues with which contemporary CSR is wrestling.
Key Information
Course Code:
1 day


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Political turmoil and economic uncertainty since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi have lead to a wave of credit rating downgrades and low bank ratings.
The poor performance of the economy, which is experiencing its slowest growth rates in decades, had led several international agencies such as Capital Intelligence (CI), Moody's and Fitch Group to downgrade ratings of Egyptian banks and maintain a "negative outlook".
On 20 August CI lowered the Commercial International Bank (CIB)'s long-term foreign currency rating (FCR), which is the bank's ability to meet the foreign currency denominated financial obligations, to B-, and affirmed the short-term FCR at B following the recent downgrade of Egypt's sovereign long-term FCR, the risk of investment in Egypt, to B- from B.
"The ratings, which are set at the same level as CI's sovereign ratings for Egypt, denote significant credit risk, as CIB's capacity for timely fulfillment of financial obligations is very vulnerable to adverse changes in the operating environment and economy," the agency's statement read.
"When sovereign ratings depreciate, the banking sector automatically follows," said Mostafa Bassiouny, economist at Signet Institute.
In July, Fitch Egypt's Issuer Default ratings (IDR), the measure of credit risk for financial and non-financial corporations in a country, was downgraded from B to B- citing "heightened uncertainty" and "inflamed political tensions" as the reasons. A month later, the international agency lowered the FCR for Banque du Caire, Export development bank of Egypt, Arab International Bank , Arab African Bank and the National Bank of Egypt following Egypt sovereign ratings action.
Ashraf Salman, CEO of Cairo Financial Holding, said the negative outlook of a country reflects the microeconomic units operating within it. "It's a chain effect. When the country's outlook is negative, the microeconomic units will not be able to maintain their obligations."
Salman said credit rating agencies focus on the theoretical aspect and "neglect the practical situation" in the country.
"The United States and Eastern Europe's loan to deposit ratio is 90%, in Western Europe it's 80% and in some gulf countries it can exceed 100%, however this ratio in Egypt is around 50%; a very low ratio compared to other countries," he said.
"The banking sector is very well provisioned so even if the provisions increase and the profits decrease [leading to the return on investments and equity], this will be a marginal effect," he said.
Salman said Egyptian banks invested in government bonds, which meant their financial situation was secure; "Egyptian banks' investments are divided into 85% in treasury bills and 15% treasury bonds….that the government would not be able to pay off these T-bills is unrealistic," he said.
Moody's latest report, on 19 August, stated that the market-based risk has deteriorated amid the violent dispersal of sit-ins, adding that investors are "understandably concerned" about the impact of the civil unrest on the already fragile economy.


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Video verification in the news
I was going through my inbox the other day and I came across an email from RSI president Keith Jentoft. I've written beforeabout Keith's always-on-task, tireless promotion of video verification. He forwarded on a link to me of the security industry being spotlighted in a local news broadcast.
It's nice to see the security industry get some positive coverage in the mainstream media. I've also written before about the black eye the industry often receivessince news only seems to cover security when there's a loss.
Anyway, the spot paints the industry in a positive, helpful light. It gives plenty of facetime to Videofied's MotionViewer (though, MotionViewer Man is conspicuously missing...) and I don't think they could have squeezed one more shot of the Acadian logo in there.
Nice work guys!


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15 Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon Pilots trialled GRAVITY for 14 days. At the end of the trial, all 15 asked if they could buy their own GRAVITY, as they could see the positive benefits it made to their home and work life.
"If I used the GRAVITY whilst actually experiencing an ache/pain, the ache/pain would disappear much quicker than usual"
First Officer – Airbus
"My muscle tension and discomfort has significantly reduced. I have more free movement, in particular more hip mobility. I'm running with ease and therefore my times have been better."
Training Captain – Cathay Dragon
"I love it! I really love using GRAVITY and will continue to do so. I'm amazed, my lower back pain has basically gone"
Senior First Officer – 777
"I enjoyed using the GRAVITY and after about day 4, once I had built it in to my routine, would find that I was looking forward to/feeling ready to use it, especially when the roster meant that it could be used at the end of the day. Looking forward to continuing to use it"
First Officer – Airbus
"When used prior to bed it would induce a more relaxed and "in control" feeling that would enable onset of sleep quicker"
First Officer – Airbus
"I look forward to a quiet 20 minutes lying on the GRAVITY, which then leaves my body very relaxed. I know if I do have back/neck/shoulder pain, the GRAVITY system is a tool I can use to manage pain myself without having to go to a chiropractor or massage therapist".
Captain 777


text: swingbeat #1 Posted May 12, 2011 I'm looking to write an app that will let a user browse the wiki pages. Is there an API to access the wiki pages like Wikipedia has? Or is there a way to get a dump of the pages so they can be viewed offline? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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It's not the third gunman on the grassy knoll, but this week's dispute over a yellowed ledger with a formula marked "D Pepper Pepsin Bitters" may leave us with a mystery that can, sadly, only be resolved by opening a vault that's likely to remain shut.
Both the Oklahoma man that found the ledger and his auction house claim that the recipe represents an early variation of Dr Pepper. The document dates back to around 1880 to 1890 they said (Dr Pepper debuted in 1885), and came from the pharmacy where Dr Pepper was first served.
Despite that evidence, The Dr Pepper Snapple Group says it isn't the recipe for its flagship beverage."Heck, it isn't even a recipe for a soft drink," the company said in a statement Monday.
But that didn't quiet the auction house.
"Dr Pepper Snapple Group never claims that the ledger book from The Corner Drug Store in Waco… isn't the original formula," said Greg Rohan, president of the Heritage Auction Galleries, "just that it's not the current one."
It's worth noting that the ledger lists 13 ingredients, while Dr Pepper famously includes 23 flavors.
Of course, the only way to clear up whether or not this "bitters" recipe has anything to do with Dr Pepper would be to gain access to the current formula. According to DPSG, that isn't going to happen.
"Dr Pepper's 23-flavor blend is safely under lock and key in an undisclosed location," the company said. "The room is under 24-hour video surveillance and only one person in the world has access to this room. Only three members of the Dr Pepper family know the formula, and they aren't talking."


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We love this stunning new Jägermeister packaging for Christmas gifting! It comes in an amazing new tin casing and is perfect for impressing your friends and family this year!
Jägermeister is undoubtedly one of Germany's most famous alcohol drink exports. Its unique taste is mildly spicy, complex and warming, and is the result of almost 80 years of traditional craftsmanship. Made using a secret blend of 56 different herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits from all over the world, the secret recipe has not changed since it was developed by Curt Mast in 1934. Best consumed as an ice cold shot, the pure and natural ingredients used within Jägermeister guarantee a high quality finish, and authentic taste.
This set has a RRP of £19 and is available from all major supermarkets.


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Milk Candies
Cafe Coffee Milk Candy
Mr. Brown Milk Candy
Fruit Candies
Aaahh Mint Fruit Candy
Hajmedar Fruit Candy
Imli-Rani Fruit Candy
Kerry Fruit Candy
Lichi Fruit Candy
Little Jony Candy
Mango Fruit Candy
Mentho Fruit Candy
Nutty Butty Fruit Candy
Orange Fruit Candy
Pan Swad Fruit Candy
2 Star Soft Centre Milk Candy
Boom Masala Candy
Soft Centre Fruit Candies
Heart Shaped Candy
Joker Flat Type Lollipop
Chupa Chup Ball Type Lollipop
Select Country
Home › Candies
Soft chewy center and a delicious and sweet taste define the 2 Star Soft Centre Milk Candy. We provide a properly packed assortment of the 2 Star Soft Centre Milk Candy in bulk quantities at the market leading prices. Being a reliable Manufacturer and Supplier of 2 Star Soft Centre Milk Candy, we use the best-grade raw
We are a nonpareil Manufacturer and Supplier of Boom Masala Candy. We manufacture premium Candy using the finest ingredients. Our Candy is widely demanded for its refreshing taste and great flavor. It is mainly famous amongst children as well as adults. Bulk orders of the Candy are processed by us as per the specific
We are offering a delectable range of Soft Centre Fruit Candies in different flavors so as to provide wide selection to the kids. These Soft Centre Fruit Candies are hygienically prepared and completely free from the human contact as well as contamination. Owing to their delicious flavor and soft chewy taste, our Soft Centre
We are West Bengal, India based dependable Manufacturer & Supplier and bring to our nationwide buyers a wide assortment of Heart Shaped Candy. We make use of the best quality raw ingredients for manufacturing them so as to deliver a delectable range of Heart Shaped Candy. Our product range is inclusive of Mango Candy,


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Government Schemes & Policies
- Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
- Govt launches e-FRRO scheme to provide hassle-free travel
- Government launches first tranche of Sovereign gold bonds for FY19
- Inflation targeting has zero impact on price situation: Bhalla
Bilateral & International Relations
- US announces GSP eligibility review of India
Art & Culture
- Festival of Baisakhi
Science & Technology
- Task Force for fast-tracking Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology
- NASA to study how tiny sea creatures affect Earth's climate
Key Facts for Prelims
- 2nd India Mobile Congress
- ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award
For IASToppers Current Affairs Analysis Archive, Click Here
Government Schemes & Policies
Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
On the occasion of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti (14th April), the Union Government launched "Gram Swaraj Abhiyan- Special Interventions", an high-intensity outreach programme to deliver welfare schemes to select villages which need particular attention.
About Gram Swaraj Abhiyan:
The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was launched on the lines of rural development schemes like Antyodaya based on principle of convergence and saturation.
- The initiative aims for 100% coverage of seven schemes launched by Central Government for eligible beneficiaries in three-week window from April 14 to May 5, 2018.
- The objective of abhiyan is to promote social harmony, reach out to poor rural households, obtain feedback on ongoing programmes, enrol in new initiatives, focus on doubling farmers' income, enhance livelihood opportunities and re-emphasise national priorities such as cleanliness and strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions,.
Schemes covered:
- The seven schemes covered under it are Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Ujala scheme, Saubhagya, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Mission Indradhanush.
- It will benefit 17,000 poor villages by providing them free LPG connections, electricity supply, Jan Dhan accounts, two PM Insurance schemes and immunisation of children will be available in 21 days.
- Government has appointed dozens of directors and deputy secretaries to push its flagship programmes to "100% saturation" in rural areas.
Govt launches e-FRRO scheme to provide hassle-free travel
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched web-based application e-FRRO (e-Foreigners Regional Registration Office) to allow foreign tourists and travellers to avail of paperless and cashless visa-related services.
About e-FRRO scheme:
The e-FRRO scheme is aimed at building a centralized, transparent online platform for the foreigners to avail visa related services and to provide Faceless, Cashless and Paperless services to the foreigners with user friendly experience.
- Online FRRO Service delivery mechanism without requirement of visiting FRRO/FRO office barring exceptional cases.
- In this online system, foreigners can get as many as 27 visa and immigration-related services in India from comfort of their place of stay.
- Using e-FRRO application, foreigners can apply online on portal and obtain services through email and post without appearing in person at FRO/FRRO office.
- Using this application, foreigners are required to create their own User ID by registering themselves. Afterwards, they can apply online through registered user ID for various visa and immigration related services in India viz. registration, visa extension, visa conversion, exit permit etc.
- The e-FRRO scheme is being implemented on Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) with negligible extra expenditure, taking cue from already successfully running e-visa scheme that has earned revenue of more than Rs. 1400 crore since its launch in November 2014.
Significance of the scheme:
- In 2017, more than one crore foreigners visited India and out of them approximately 3.6 lakhs had to visit FRRO offices spread across the country for various visa-related services.
- e-FRRO eliminates need for any human interface and using it foreigners touring India will be no longer need to physically visit office of Foreigners Registration Office or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRO/FRRO) for visa-related services including registration and visa extension.
Government launches first tranche of Sovereign gold bonds for FY19
The government of India has announced that the first tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond scheme for the current year 2018-19 will shortly be opened for subscription.
About the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme:
The SGB Scheme was notified by the Government of India on November 05, 2015 after due approval of the Cabinet.
- The main objective of the scheme was to develop a financial asset as an alternative to purchasing metal gold.
- The target was to shift part of the estimated 300 tons of physical bars and coins purchased every year for Investment into 'demat' gold bonds.
- The bonds will be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities, including individuals, HUFs, trusts, universities and charitable institutions.
- The bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram. The tenor will be for a period of 8 years with exit option from the 5th year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
- The minimum permissible investment limit will be 1 gram of gold, while the maximum limit will be 4 kg for individual, 4 kg for HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by the government from time to time.
- In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only.
- Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
Inflation targeting has zero impact on price situation: Bhalla
What is inflation targeting?
- Inflation targeting is a monetary policy in which a central bank has an explicit target inflation rate for the medium term and announces this inflation target to the public. It will have price stability as the main goal of monetary policy.
- Many central banks adopted inflation targeting as a pragmatic response to the failure of other monetary policy regimes, such as those that targeted the money supply or the value of the currency in relation to another, presumably stable, currency.
Points in favour of inflation targeting:
- It will lead to increased transparency and accountability.
- Policy will be linked to medium/long term goals, but with some short term flexibility.
- With inflation targeting in place, people will tend to have low inflation expectations. If there was no inflation target, people could have higher inflation expectations, encouraging workers to demand higher wages and firms to put up prices.
- It also helps in avoiding boom and bust cycles.
- If inflation creeps up, then it can cause various economic costs such as uncertainty leading to lower investment, loss of international competitiveness and reduced value of savings. This can also be avoided with targeting.
Points against inflation targeting:
- Inflation targeting puts too much weight on inflation relative to other goals. Central Banks Start to Ignore More Pressing Problems. Inflation target reduces "flexibility".
- It has the potential to constrain policy in some circumstances in which it would not be desirable to do so.
Average inflation in 2017-18 was 3.5%. India's real interest rate is higher by 2.5%, which is 3rd highest in the world.
Why in news?
- Making a case for doing away with inflation targeting by the RBI, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) member Surjit Bhalla recently said it has made zero impact on prices. Under the new policy framework, the RBI aims to contain inflation at 4% with a band of (+/-) 2%.
Way ahead:
- Inflation targeting has been successfully practiced in a growing number of countries over the past 20 years, and many more countries are moving toward this framework.
- Over time, inflation targeting has proven to be a flexible framework that has been resilient in changing circumstances, including during the recent global financial crisis.
- Individual countries, however, must assess their economies to determine whether inflation targeting is appropriate for them or if it can be tailored to suit their needs. For example, in many open economies, the exchange rate plays a pivotal role in stabilizing output and inflation.
- In such countries, policymakers must debate the appropriate role of the exchange rate and whether it should be subordinated to the inflation objective.
Bilateral & International Relations
US announces GSP eligibility review of India
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has formally announced that it is reviewing eligibility of India, Indonesia and Kazakhstan in Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) based on concerns about countries' compliance with program.
- The reviews are based on Trump administration's new GSP country eligibility assessment process as well as GSP country eligibility petitions.
Why India?
- For India, GSP country eligibility review is based on concerns related to its compliance with GSP market access criterion and two petitions related to same criterion. The petitions were filed by US dairy industry and US medical device industry requested review of India's GSP benefits, given Indian trade barriers affecting US exports in those sectors.
What is Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)?
GSP is largest and oldest US trade preference programme introduced in 1976.
- It is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries both developing and developed countries.
- Under it, a wide range of industrial and agricultural products originating from certain developing countries are given preferential access to US markets.
- India's case, GSP enables duty-free entry of 3,500 product lines in US markets, which benefits exporters of textiles, engineering, gems and jewellery and chemical products.
Art & Culture
Festival of Baisakhi
Festival of Baisakhi is usually celebrated on April 13, but once in every 36 years the festival is celebrated on April 14.
- This year the occasion will be commemorated on April 14.
- It marks the advent of Baisakhi, which is an auspicious day primarily for the Sikh community, and is also known as Vaisakhi, Khalsa Sirjana Diwas, or the birth of Khalsa.
About Baisakhi:
- The word is derived from 'Baisakh', which is the second month of the Sikh calendar (Nanakshahi calendar). It signifies a new year of harvest for the community.
- The festival is primarily a thanksgiving day when farmers pay tribute to their deity for the harvest and pray for prosperity in future.
- Sikhs follow a tradition named Aawat Pauni on Vaisakhi. People gather to harvest wheat that grew in the winter. Drums are played and people recite Punjabi doha (couplet) to the tune while harvestin on Baisakhi day.
- Baisakhi also marks the birth of Khalsa, the collective body of all initiated Sikhs, also called the "Guru Panth"– the embodiment of the Guru. On March 30 in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh gathered his followers at his home in Anandpur Sahib, a city which is now home to several Gurdwaras. At this gathering, Khalsa was inaugurated.
- The festival of Baisakhi is celebrated amongst farmers as the festival of harvest. The month of April is considered as the harvesting time for the Rabi Crops, the crops which are sown during winter seasons.
- Since the photoperiod becomes larger, the short day plants start to flower and give fruits and grains, which are now ready to be harvested. Therefore, the farmers gear up in their fields and start harvesting the crops.
Science & Technology
Task Force for fast-tracking Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology
The Union Government has constituted 13-member task force to prepare road map and fast-track implementation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology or drones in the country.
- It will be headed by Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and will have representatives from government, PSUs, industry and sectoral experts.
- The task force will prepare roadmap, including outcomes, timelines, implementation and review mechanism and measurable metrics for implementation of UAV technology.
Draft Regulation on Civil Use of Drones:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in November 2017, announced draft regulations on civil use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, commonly known as Drones.
- As per the draft, all commercial categories of drones except those in the Nano category and those operated by government security agencies, will have to be registered by DGCA in the form of Unique Identification Number (UIN).
- The Mini and above categories will require Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP), but the model aircraft up to maximum take-off weight of 2 Kgs flown below 200 feet inside educational institution premises will not require UIN/UAOP.
- The draft regulation also mandates tremote pilots to undergo requisite training, except for Nano and micro categories. As per the draft regulation, the Micro and above category drones will have to be equipped with RFID/SIM, return to home option and anti-collision lights.
- The draft regulation also specifies certain restricted areas for operations of drones. Drones cannot be operated within an area of 5km from airport, within permanent or temporary Prohibited, Restricted and Danger Areas as notified by AAI in AIP and without prior approval over densely populated areas or over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway and within 50 km from international border and beyond 500 m (horizontal) into sea along the coastline.
NASA to study how tiny sea creatures affect Earth's climate
In a first, NASA is conducting a study of the world's largest phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic, named the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) mission, to see how the tiny sea critters influence the climate in every season.
- It is the first research mission to conduct an integrated study of all four distinct phases of the world's largest phytoplankton bloom.
About NAAMES Mission:
- The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) is an interdisciplinary investigation resolving key processes controlling marine ecosystems and aerosols that are essential to our understanding of Earth system function and future change.
- NAAMES is funded by the NASA Earth Venture Suborbital Program and is the first EV-S mission focused on studying the coupled ocean ecosystem and atmosphere.
- NAAMES consists of four, combined ship and aircraft field campaigns that are each aligned to a specific event in the annual plankton lifecycle.
- NAAMES studies the world's largest plankton bloom and how it gives rise to small organic particles that leave the ocean and end up in the atmosphere, ultimately influencing clouds and climate.
Significance of the mission:
- NAAMES is a five year investigation to resolve key processes controlling ocean system function, their influences on atmospheric aerosols and clouds and their implications for climate. Observations obtained during four, targeted ship and aircraft measurement campaigns, combined with the continuous satellite and in situ ocean sensor records, will enable improved predictive capabilities of Earth system processes and will inform ocean management and assessment of ecosystem change.
North Atlantic plankton bloom:
- The North Atlantic plankton bloom is among the most conspicuous biological events annually recorded by satellite ocean color measurements, yet even fundamental controls on the bloom's magnitude and interannual variability are controversial.
- The bloom climax is one event within an annual plankton cycle that essentially oscillates between a decreasing-biomass phase beginning in the summer and an increasing-biomass phase beginning in Winter-Spring and ending with the bloom climax in Spring.
Key Facts for Prelims
2nd India Mobile Congress
- The second edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC-2018) will be held in New Delhi on October 25-27, 2018.
- It will be organised by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
- The theme of second edition of IMC is NEW DIGITAL HORIZONS Connect, Create, innovate.
- IMC was launched in 2017 to provide platform for policy makers, industry and regulators to engage in meaningful deliberations to drive the future direction of telecom sector.
- The first IMC held in September 2017 was attended by around 2,000 delegates, 32,000 visitors, 152 speakers, 100 exhibitors and 100 start-ups.
ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)
- ENSO refers to anomalies in SSTs in Pacific Ocean off coast of South America which has sometimes been observed to have near-decisive impact on monsoon rainfall.
- In El Nino, a warmer than usual SST is observed in Pacific Ocean off coast of South America. This condition is associated with suppressed monsoon rainfall in India.
- La Nina is opposite ENSO and is more favourable for monsoon. It is known to help monsoon rainfall in India.
- When anomalies (deviations from usual SST in the Pacific Ocean) are too small or absent, monsoon rainfall over India is normal.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is conferred by Union Government for outstanding contribution to growth and development of Indian Cinema.
- It is highest official recognition (award) in Indian cinema.
- It was established in 1969 to commemorate the birth centenary year of father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke.
- It is given on basis of recommendations of a committee of eminent personalities set up by the government.
- The award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl.