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A White House team drafts a memo to John Bridgeland, President Bush's domestic policy adviser, arguing that Bush should renege on his campaign promise to impose limits on power plant emissions of carbon dioxide. The memo cites a December 2000 Energy Department analysis which said that implementing CO2 restrictions would undermine the economy. The memo suggests that Bush acknowledge rising global temperatures, but state that "any specific policy proposals or approaches aimed at addressing global warming must await further scientific inquiry." Not a single person on the team is a scientist. The recommendation ignores a March 7 memo written by climate experts at the Environmental Protection Agency urging the president to keep his pledge. In their memo, the EPA scientists said the Energy Department analysis was flawed. It noted that the study "was based on assumptions that do not apply" and "inflates the costs of achieving carbon dioxide reductions." The White House team that recommends breaking the campaign pledge is made up of Cesar Conda, an adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney; Andrew Lundquist, the White House energy policy director, who later becomes an energy lobbyist; Kyle E. McSlarrow, deputy secretary of energy and former chairman of Dan Quayle's 2000 presidential campaign; Robert C. McNally Jr., an energy and economic analyst who later becomes an investment banker; Karen Knutson, a deputy on energy policy and former Republican Senate aide; and Marcus Peacock, an analyst on science and energy issues with the Office of Management and Budget. [New York Times, 10/19/2004]
Entity Tags: Cesar Conda, Karen Knutson, Andrew Lundquist, Kyle E. McSlarrow, Bush administration (43), Robert C. McNally Jr., Environmental Protection Agency, Marcus Peacock, John Bridgeland
Timeline Tags: US Environmental Record
Category Tags: Policies
EPA administrator Christie Todd Whitman tells reporters that the Bush administration has "no interest in implementing" the Kyoto Protocol. [BBC, 3/28/2001; Associated Press, 3/28/2001; Environmental News Network, 3/28/2001; CBS News, 3/28/2001; CNN, 3/29/2001] The treaty would require 39 industrialized nations to cut emissions of six greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride—to an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012. The US would be required to reduce its emissions by about 7 percent. The protocol will not go into effect until it has been ratified by countries that were responsible for at least 55 percent of the world's carbon emissions in 1990. [BBC, 3/29/2001; BBC, 9/29/2001] The United States is the world's largest polluter and therefore its refusal to support the treaty represents a significant setback. In 1990, the US was responsible for 36.1 percent of greenhouse emissions. [BBC, 6/4/2004] The Bush administration complains that the treaty would harm US economic interests and that it unfairly puts too much of the burden on industrialized nations while not seeking to limit pollution from developing nations. [BBC, 3/29/2001]
Entity Tags: Bush administration (43), Christine Todd Whitman
Timeline Tags: US Environmental Record, US International Relations
President Bush unveils a plan to reduce the "intensity" of greenhouse gases by 18 percent. Greenhouse gas intensity is the ratio of emissions to economic output, meaning that global warming pollution would continue to grow, but at a slower pace. This target would be achieved through $4.6 billion in tax credits and incentives, spent over a five-year period, to encourage businesses and farmers to cut their emissions. For example, the plan would provide tax credits to businesses that use renewable energy sources. [CNN, 2/14/2006; New York Times, 2/14/2006] Critics of the plan say a voluntary program based on tax credits and incentives represents a weak alternative to the Kyoto Protocol's mandatory reductions which would cut emissions well below their 1990 levels by 2010. "We've found that these voluntary programs just don't work," says Joseph Lieberman. [CNN, 2/14/2006] The New York Times notes, "The one thing the climate policy would not do is require anything of anybody." [New York Times, 2/14/2006] The president also introduces a second plan aimed at curbing air pollution. The "Clear Skies Initiative" would require reductions of sulfur dioxide emissions by 73 percent, nitrogen oxides by 67 percent, and mercury by 69 percent, by 2018. But the plan includes no reductions for carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. Companies would be able to purchase credits from other businesses that have reduced their emissions below required levels. Unlike the plan supported by environmentalists and many Democrats, Bush's program would delay these reductions until 2010 or later. [CNN, 2/14/2006; New York Times, 2/14/2006]
Entity Tags: Joseph Lieberman, George W. Bush
The Bush administration announces its 10-year "Climate Change Science Program Strategic Plan" which it says is aimed at reducing the "uncertainties" associated with the issue of global warming. Its goals include identifying "natural variability" in climate change; improving climate forecasting; improving methods for determining the risks of global warming; improving methods of measuring the effects of greenhouse gases; and obtaining a better understanding of the impact global warming might have on humans, wildlife, and plant communities. The task will be a collaborative effort shared among 13 different federal agencies that have been charged with producing no fewer than 21 reports over the next four years. Critics of the plan say it is an attempt to prevent anything meaningful from being done to address the human causes of global warming. They note that scientists and governments from more than 150 countries have already reached a consensus on the issue—that global warming is happening, that human activity is the dominant force behind it, and that action needs to be taken immediately, before it is too late. "We can't wait until we have perfect knowledge on climate change," says Michael MacCracken, an atmospheric scientist who led US efforts to determine the potential effects of global warming from 1993 to 2001. McCracken mocks the Bush administration's presumed respect for certainty, noting that it "appears to have no uncertainty about the safety of genetically modified foods," a technology that many experts have raised concerns about. [Associated Press, 7/23/2003; Inter Press Service, 7/25/2005]
Entity Tags: Bush administration (43), Michael MacCracken
The Environmental Protection Agency rules that carbon dioxide, the leading cause of global warming, cannot be regulated as a pollutant. EPA General Counsel Robert Fabricant writes in his 12-page decision, "Because the [Clean Air Act] does not authorize regulation to address climate change, it follows that [carbon dioxide] and other [greenhouse gases], as such, are not air pollutants." His ruling reverses the position taken by the Clinton administration in 1998. Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is pleased with the decision. "Why would you regulate a pollutant that is an inert gas that is vital to plant photosynthesis and that people exhale when they breathe? That's not a pollutant," he says. Melissa Carey, a climate policy specialist for Environmental Defense, disagrees. "Refusing to call greenhouse-gas emissions a pollutant is like refusing to say that smoking causes lung cancer. The Earth is round. Elvis is dead. Climate change is happening." [Knight Ridder, 8/29/2003]
Entity Tags: Robert E. Fabricant, Bush administration (43), Eron Shosteck, Melissa Carey, Environmental Protection Agency
A budget document from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research reveals that the Bush administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005 would reduce climate change research budget by $9.2 million, eliminating the federal government's $2 million abrupt climate change research program and cutting its paleoclimatology laboratory in half. It would also terminate $1.3 million in funding for postdoctoral programs and end research programs on the health and human aspects of climate change. [ESA Policy News Update, 6/14/2004; Natural Resource Defense Council, 12/31/2005]
Entity Tags: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bush administration (43)
Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), officially implements a new NOAA-wide media policy. The new policy, written by NOAA Public Affairs Director Jordan St. John, government lawyers, and Commerce Department policymakers, gives the NOAA's public affairs offices ultimate authority over all agency communications. [Raw Story, 10/4/2005; Union of Concern Scientists and Government Accountability Project, 1/30/2007, pp. 31 ; Maassarani, 3/27/2007, pp. 10 ] The media policy will become more restrictive after Hurricane Katrina (see September 29, 2005).
Entity Tags: Jordan St. John, Conrad C. Lautenbacher
Category Tags: Policies, Politicization, Media contact with scientists, Hurricane intensity
NASA quietly terminates the Deep Space Climate Observatory, a program that would have provided scientists with a way to continuously monitor Earth's energy balance. According to Robert L. Park, a professor of physics at the University of Maryland, data obtained by the observatory would have helped scientists develop a better understanding of global warming. The observatory, named Triana, was the brainchild of former Vice President Al Gore. Its launch, scheduled for 2001, was put on hold by the Bush administration, which ridiculed the project as "Gore's screen saver." Gore had suggested that the program could stream video footage of the earth into classrooms so students could watch the earth's weather systems live from space. NASA says it decided to terminate the project because of "competing priorities." Launching the satellite would have cost only $100 million. [New York Times, 1/15/2006] In 2004, President Bush announced that one of his administration's space priorities would be to begin a program that would send manned space flights to the moon by 2020, and eventually to Mars.
(see January 11, 2004)
Entity Tags: Robert L. Park, Deep Space Climate Observatory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Category Tags: Policies, Politicization
Dr. James Hansen, the director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and a top climate scientist, reveals that the Bush administration ordered NASA's public affairs staff to review his lectures, papers, Web site postings, and interview requests after he gave a lecture calling for the reduction of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. "They feel their job is to be the censor of information going out to the public," Hansen says, and he promises to ignore the restrictions. NASA denies trying to silence Hansen, saying the restrictions apply to all NASA officials, and adds that it is inappropriate for government scientists to make policy statements (see Between June 2003 and October 2003, (January 2006), and (Late January 2006)). [Savage, 2007, pp. 106] This is not the first time Hansen has gone public about government attempts to censor and muzzle him and his fellows (see October 2004, October 26, 2004, and February 10, 2006).
Entity Tags: Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Bush administration (43), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, James E. Hansen
Timeline Tags: US Environmental Record, Domestic Propaganda
Category Tags: Policies, Politicization, Whistleblowers, Political pressure on staff
NASA quietly changes its mission statement, from, "To understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers… as only NASA can," to, "To pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research." NASA spokesman David E. Steitz says the change reflects President Bush's goal of pursuing human spaceflight to the Moon and Mars (see January 11, 2004). Some NASA scientists are angered by the change, which was implemented without consulting the agency's 19,000 employees or giving them advance notice. According to NASA scientists, the phrase "understand and protect" played an important role in determining the agency's research priorities. "Without it, these scientists say, there will be far less incentive to pursue projects to improve understanding of terrestrial problems like climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions," the New York Times reports. Philip B. Russell, a 25-year NASA veteran who is an atmospheric chemist at the Ames Research Center, says, "We refer to the mission statement in all our research proposals that go out for peer review, whenever we have strategy meetings. As civil servants, we're paid to carry out NASA's mission. When there was that very easy-to-understand statement that our job is to protect the planet, that made it much easier to justify this kind of work." [New York Times, 7/22/2006]
Entity Tags: David E. Steitz, Philip B. Russell, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
In its 2007 budget request, NASA proposes canceling or delaying a number of significant earth science programs that scientists consider critical to understanding global climate change. The Plain Dealer reports that these cutbacks are being made "in order to pay for human spaceflight projects." [Plain Dealer (Cleveland), 5/28/2006; Boston Globe, 6/9/2006] The Bush administration has pledged that the US will launch manned space flights to the moon by 2020, and eventually to Mars.
(see January 11, 2004)
Entity Tags: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Academy of Sciences releases a study finding that NASA's earth science budget has declined 30 percent since 2000. NASA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees a large portion of the government's climate research, has been plagued with enormous cost overruns and schedule delays with its premier weather and climate mission. The report—two years in the making—warns that half of the scientific instruments on the country's environmental satellites are expected to cease working by 2010. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that the government increase its spending on researching the potential impacts of climate change such as ice-sheet melting, sea-level changes, and extreme weather events; restore support for efforts to improve NASA's "capability to observe natural hazards and environmental changes"; and fund other efforts that would improve weather forecasting. Co-chairs Berrien Moore III of the University of New Hampshire and Richard Anthes of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research tell the Washington Post that NASA needs about $500 million a year restored to NASA's earth science program, "essentially a return to the budgets during the Clinton administration," the Post notes. [Washington Post, 1/16/2007; National Academy of Science, 1/16/2007]
Entity Tags: National Academy of Sciences, Richard Anthes, Berrien Moore III
Jeremy Grantham, chairman of a Boston-based fund management company, in his quarterly letter to clients includes a commentary on the United States' policy toward climate change, particularly that of the current administration. One of Grantham's clients happens to be Vice President Dick Cheney. In his piece, titled "While America Slept, 1982-2006: A Rant on Oil Dependency, Global Warming, and a Love of Feel-Good Data," Grantham writes, "Successive US administrations have taken little interest in either oil substitution or climate change and the current one has even seemed to have a vested interest in the idea that the science of climate change is uncertain." Grantham embraces the conclusions of the latest IPCC report (see February 2, 2007), saying, "There is now nearly universal scientific agreement that fossil fuel use is causing a rise in global temperatures. The US is the only country in which environmental data is steadily attacked in a well-funded campaign of disinformation (funded mainly by one large oil company)" (see Between 1998 and 2005). If anyone is still sitting on the fence, he suggests considering Pascal's Paradox—in other words, comparing the consequences of action vs. inaction if the IPCC's conclusions are correct. Grantham, whose company manages $127 billion in assets, disputes the notion that going green would harm the US economy, noting that industrialized countries with better fuel efficiency have on average seen better economic growth than the US over the last 50 years. Instead of implementing a policy that would have increased fuel efficiency, the country's "auto fleet fuel efficiency went backwards over 26 years by ingeniously offsetting substantial technological advances with equally substantial increases in weight," he notes. "In contrast, the average Western European and Japanese cars increased efficiency by almost 50 percent." He also writes that the US might have eliminated its oil dependency on the Middle East years ago had it simply implemented a "reasonable set of increased efficiencies." If there were just 10 percent less cars on the road than there are today, and each one drove 10 percent fewer miles using vehicles that were 50 percent more efficient, US demand for oil would be 28 percent lower, he explains. If similar efficiency had been attained in other modes of transportation, the US would have been able to reduce its reliance on foreign oil by 38 percent completely eliminating its reliance on oil from Middle East, which currently accounts for only 28 percent of US oil imports. He also notes in his letter, which apparently was leaked to President Bush before publication, "Needless to say, our whole attitude and behavior in the Middle East would have been far different, and far less painful and costly. (Oil was clearly not the only issue, or perhaps even the biggest one in Iraq, but it is unlikely that US troops would have fought two wars had it been a non-oil country in, say, Africa or the Far East that was equally badly behaved.)" [Street, 2/5/2007; Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo, 2/5/2007]
Entity Tags: Jeremy Grantham, George W. Bush
Four hours after the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s report on global warming (see February 2, 2007) finding that greenhouse gases are "very likely" the main cause of rising global temperatures, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman says in a statement, "We are a small contributor to the overall, when you look at the rest of the world, so it's really got to be a global solution." The United States, with about 5 percent of the world's population, is responsible for roughly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other country. [Associated Press, 2/2/2007]
Entity Tags: Samuel W. Bodman
The annual summit of the G-8 nations, an informal association of the Northern Hemisphere's eight largest industrialized nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain, and the United States—concludes with what Vanity Fair will call "a tepid pledge to cut greenhouse gases by 50 percent by the year 2050." President Bush lets his feelings about global warming and the US's role in dealing with the issue show when, bidding farewell to his fellow heads of state, he says, "Goodbye from the world's greatest polluter." [Vanity Fair, 2/2009]
Entity Tags: George W. Bush
At least 19 Congressional Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), say that the Obama administration's "cap-and-trade" proposal would cost American families $3,128 apiece in extra taxes. Misrepresenting an MIT Study - Boehner, McConnell, and their fellow Republicans base their claim on a 2007 MIT study. However, one of the study's researchers, John Reilly, says that the Republicans are misreading it. According to Reilly, any tax burden on American families would not be felt until 2015, and the cost would be closer to $31 per person and $79 per year. The controversial claim originates in a Web posting by the House Republican Conference on March 24, which says: "The administration raises revenue for nationalized health care through a series of new taxes, including a light switch tax that would cost every American household $3,128 a year. What effect will this have on Americans struggling to pay their mortgages?" The St. Petersburg Times explains that the GOP's "light switch tax" is a reference to President Obama's proposal to tax power companies for carbon dioxide emissions, and allow companies to trade emissions credits among themselves. The program is called cap-and-trade. Republicans say the power companies would pass the tax on to electricity consumers, thus creating what they call a "light switch tax"—a term the Times calls misleading in and of itself. According to the MIT study, such a program would raise around $366 billion per year; Republicans divide that figure by the 117 million households in the US and get $3,128 in additional costs. Reilly says the Republicans are "just wrong. It's wrong in so many ways it's hard to begin." Corrected by Study's Author - And, Reilly says, he told House Republicans so when they contacted him on March 20. "I had explained why the estimate they had was probably incorrect and what they should do to correct it, but I think this wrong number was already floating around by that time." Republicans also claim that the Obama administration intends to use cap-and-trade money to pay for what they call "nationalized health care," a claim refuted by details of the program released by Obama officials. (House Republicans later amend this claim to say that the program will pay for "increased spending.") The Times notes that Boehner rebuffs a second attempt by Reilly to correct the claim that the program will cost American households over $3,000 per year. Further Falsehoods - Instead, nine other Republicans and the neoconservative Weekly Standard begin echoing the claim, with the Standard claiming that their figures show an annual cost of over $3,900 and accusing Reilly of "low-balling the cost of cap-and-trade by using some fuzzy logic." Reilly says the Standard "just completely twisted the whole thing.… It's false." Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) takes the claim even further, saying that the huge annual tax would be levied on "every living American." Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) restates the cost to $4,500 per family, and fellow House colleague Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) raises the rate to $4,560. Fox News correspondent Jim Angle reports Gregg's claim without refutation or examination; on a later Fox broadcast, Gregg says, "every time you turn on your light switch, you're going to be paying a tax." Denouncing the Lies - Reilly has written to Boehner and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming to denounce the GOP's distortion of the MIT study. Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) accuses the Republicans of "using an intentional misrepresentation of the study," and says: "One of the things I find most distressing is their repeated falsehood about somehow a $3,000 increase in taxes on the American people based on a research done by MIT. They talked about it four times again last night!… The fact is that in the budget we have an opportunity for people who want to be legislators not communicators to help us allocate how those benefits will be utilized." [St. Petersburg Times, 3/30/2009; Think Progress, 4/1/2009; Think Progress, 4/2/2009]
Entity Tags: Judd Gregg, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Obama administration, John Reilly, Jim Angle, Cynthia Lummis, Earl Blumenauer, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, House Republican Conference, John Boehner
Timeline Tags: Global Economic Crises
Category Tags: Policies, Politicization, Press releases, Studies-academic
During a Congressional hearing on the US's response to global warming, Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) says global warming is nothing more than a natural phenomonon, and the only response people need to make is to get some "shade." Barton says: "I believe that Earth's climate is changing, but I think it's changing for natural variation reasons. And I think mankind has been adopting, or adapting, to climate as long as man has walked the Earth. When it rains we find shelter. When it's hot, we get shade. When it's cold, we find a warm place to stay. Adaptation is the practical, affordable, utterly natural reflex response to nature when the planet is heating or cooling, as it always is.… Nature doesn't seem to adjust to people as much as people adjust to nature. Adaptation to shifts in temperature is not that difficult." Think Progress reporter Satyam Khanna notes that Barton is nicknamed "Smokey Joe" for "his efforts on behalf of big polluters," and last year "stalled Congressional efforts to decrease power plant emissions." [Think Progress, 3/25/2009]
Entity Tags: Satyam Khanna, Joe Barton
Category Tags: Policies, Communications with Congress, Causal factors
General topic areas
Indicators of global warming
Scientific issues
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text:
Part of this ability is likely due to flawed wiring between the ears: some people look at failure as a sign of failure, while I often look at it as an inspiration for amusing comment. So few succeed in life, after all, while most fail, so why not find a way to get some use out of the more common stuff of humiliating defeat than to hang your hopes on a harvest of success which likely will never come anyway?
I don't mind falling face down, as I'm experienced and accustomed.
What utterly confuses me is success. Knowing as I do the position and motion of every molecule in the Universe gives me the secure understanding that we are all doomed to lonely ignominious soul-crushing defeat and despair, yet sometimes the Universe will play truly dirty pool and throw the foulest jape of all: success.
Like today. I sort through the mail, toss out the 3 pounds of assorted useless crap, and at the bottom of the stack I find that thin one-page note from the Nicholl Fellowship folks, surely that same "thank you for playing *DING!* next?" note Greg Beal sends out to 95% of us suckers, er, I mean entrants into the Nicholl lottery.
"Dear Mr. Nicholson,
Congratulations! You have advanced into the Quarterfinal Round of the 2007 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. In doing so, yours is one of only 254 entries to survive the First Round."
Well there's a new kick in the old wedding tackle.
How the hell is a card-carrying Gold Circle Member of the Piss and Moan Club supposed to handle such an announcement?
For now I'll likely stay the course and just carry on: "scratch butt, look vaguely annoyed, find something pointless to waste time upon."
But I gotta tell ya: these be strange waters we now sail.
"hope" is a four-letter word B

subset: commoncrawl


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Gregory to Januarius, &c.
Though your Fraternity in the zeal of righteousness gives fitting attention to the protection of divers persons, yet we believe that you will be the more prone to succour those whom a letter from us may commend to you. Know then that Pompeiana, a religious woman, has represented to us through one of her people that she endures many grievances continually and unreasonably from certain men, and on this account has petitioned us to commend her in our letters to you. Wherefore, greeting your Fraternity with the affection of charity that is due to you, we have felt that we must needs commend the aforesaid woman to you, that, with due regard to justice, thy Fraternity may not allow her to be aggrieved in any way contrary to equity, or to be subjected to any expense unadvisedly. But if it should happen that she has any suits, let the matter of dispute be debated before chosen arbitrators, and whatsoever shall be decided, let it be so carried into effect quietly through your assistance that both reward may accrue to you for such a work, and she who has been commended by our letters may rejoice in having found justice.


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Written by Christoan Smit
29 May, 2019
First of all, money talks. Cloud services used to be much more expensive. Going back to the 80's – Mainframe, the precursor to Cloud, was something only FTSE 500 companies could afford; now even the smallest of startups can arm themselves with the benefits of Cloud computing. This is largely due to economies of scale – when 1000 small companies join forces, they can afford the same, top-end systems as what a single company with 1000 employees can.
What makes Cloud so reliable? Firstly, a caveat: Not all Cloud providers were created equal. Check to make sure that your Cloud provider meets certain minimum standards such as ISO 27001, Tier 2 data centres and multiple data centres to provide failover in case one of them goes down. If all systems are good, then Cloud is an excellent way to ensure your business continuity.
Let's say your office gets flooded: 'Back in the day' before Cloud, you wouldn't be able to work, but now, thanks to Cloud, you could. If you had cloud-hosted desktops, like a Citrix desktop and VoIP phone from Venom IT, you could go home, to the local pub or anywhere else that has a fairly decent internet connection, and carry on working as normal.
There are two ways in which Cloud desktops could outperform physical desktops – running your apps and internet speed.
Here's how it works: A Cloud desktop is made up from a combination of powerful servers which then pool their resources into one giant cluster. This cluster then provides the resources to host smaller computers such as servers and desktops.
Think of a cart being pulled by several horses – the more horses, the heavier the load they can pull, but the speed remains the same. Similarly, a cloud-hosted desktop relies not on one, but several physical machines to power it, whereas a physical desktop is, well, just one machine, and if anything goes wrong, that's it.
The cloud desktop is what does all the calculations, processing and running of apps; your physical desktop that you use to connect to the Cloud, is really nothing more than just a screen for the cloud desktop.
Finally, the Internet speed at a high-end data centre could easily be fifty to a hundred times faster than the internet at your office. Your cloud desktop uses that super-fast internet connection to fetch data, and not the internet at your office. All the internet at your office really does is provide 'screenshots' from your cloud desktop to your physical desktop, which doesn't require much bandwidth.
Some Cloud providers, such as Venom IT, offer free system upgrades and latest Windows versions along with the usual security patches and updates, all at no extra charge. This means, not only a saving in cost because you don't need to buy new Windows licenses or physical machines, but also improved security and functionality.
With all your data on the Cloud, how secure is it? Again, this is where economies of scale really work in your favour. A data centre firewall is significantly more powerful than your average office firewall/router – a bit like the difference between a JCB and spade.
A high-end data centre firewall like the ones used by Venom IT will, for instance, open all incoming emails, check for weblinks, click the link, check the website it points to for malware, open any attachments, check those weblinks, and scan the attachment for viruses – all in under 300 milliseconds! The average office-grade firewall simply can't do that.
Need to work away from the office? Then Cloud services give you a plenitude of choices to help you remain productive whilst on the move. A hosted desktop, for example, stores all your work on the cloud and gives you the flexibility of using pretty much any device – laptop, tab or even smartphone, to connect. Once connected, all your work is right there and the interface will always look the same – no matter whether you're using Windows, Apple or Android.
Another sterling example of the mobility provided by Cloud is the VoIP phone system. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) means you can make free internal calls – even to branches that are geographically separate. You can also enable your mobile phone to act as though it were the phone on your desk at work simply by installing an app and connecting it to your VoIP system.
Scalability is a word you won't find in the Oxford Dictionary from a decade ago. It emerged quite recently and simultaneously in various industries, with various meanings. From a Cloud perspective, scalability simply means you can easily add or remove services, apps, users and change admin rights, as the need arises.
Practically, what this means is you could have, let's say, 40 users this month, 43 users next month, 41 the month thereafter… you get the idea. A small caveat is to check your contract. Venom IT offers a 30-day rolling contract, which means there is no penalty for making changes, but not all Cloud providers work this way – some might penalise you for making any changes, and/or try to lock you in with unreasonably long contracts, so do be careful when signing any Cloud services agreements. Also make sure that it's stipulated in the contract that you retain ownership of your data – again, some Cloud providers sneak clauses into their contracts that effectively make them the new owners of your data.
Moving to the Cloud is probably the right choice for 99.9% of all businesses. If you have any doubts, or if you feel you first need some more info or assistance before taking the leap, or if you simply would like an independent review your current situation, Venom IT is there to lend a helping hand.


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The Arts
Hapkido is a Korean system of self-defense and self-improvement. Incorporating a vast assortment of techniques, this style is one of the most comprehensive martial arts. A Hapkido student studies kicks, strikes, pressure points, joint manipulations, throws and a wealth of other martial skills, while gaining the added benefits of self-confidence, conditioning and an appreciation for living a healthy lifestyle.
Hapkido does not involve competition techniques or katas. Instead, a student develops an arsenal of moves designed to control an opponent through compliance with pain and providing a non-injuring alternative as the first line of defense. The primary goal is to end the fight as quickly and efficiently as possible.
A very relaxed, free-flowing style, Hapkido relies more on spontaneous reflexive action and the ability to adapt to a given situation as opposed to a series of rigid stances and impractical moves to be memorized.
Judo is a Japanese martial sport comprised of throwing, mat holds, arm locks and chokes. Strategies are taught in movement, combination throws, counters and ground grappling. The technical skills of Judo involve the principles of applied physics and body leverage mechanics in order to allow a smaller person to overcome a physically stronger, larger opponent. The American Judo-Hapkido Institute is affiliated with Shufu Yudansha-kai and the United States Judo Federation. Students learn a very traditional form of Judo, including shiai (contest preparation) as well as kata (formal skills). The American Judo-Hapkido Institute has produced numerous national and international champions.
Sinmoo Yu Sool Kwan
Offered exclusively to our Elite and Elite Leadership members, this Hapkido-based system is infused with the throwing and grappling techniques of Judo to create an unrivaled style of personal defense.
A long and healthy life depends on a routine of exercise and physical activity. In Te-Geri, students cross-train in a variety of disciplines including aerobic regimens, resistance training and martial arts-based techniques, all geared toward improving the physical and mental well-being of the student, while providing a more engaging experience than many workout programs.


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Americans Heart Torture
Vodpod videos no longer available.
CIA Ordered To Hand Over Information About Destroyed Torture Tapes
The Central Intelligence Agency must turn over records regarding detainee interrogation tapes the agency destroyed in an alleged effort to protect the identity of its officers.
A federal judge rejected the CIA's attempt to withhold records relating to the agency's destruction of 92 videotapes that depicted interrogation of CIA prisoners in a ruling Friday afternoon. The tapes were said to have shown some detainees' torture.
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing for the documents' release under the Freedom of Information Act, and aims to have the agency held in contempt of court for refusing to provide them.
The ACLU has been remarkably successful at obtaining previously secret government documents. President Barack Obama was recently forced to release Bush administration memos which outlined torture techniques to be employed on detainees.
ACLU staff attorney Amrit Singh lauded the court's decision.
"We welcome the court's recognition that the ACLU's contempt motion against the CIA must be promptly resolved," Singh said in a release. "Recent disclosures about the CIA's torture methods further confirm that there is no basis for the agency to continue to withhold records relating to the content of the destroyed videotapes or documents that shed light upon who authorized their destruction and why.
"The public has a right to this information and the CIA must be held accountable for its flagrant disregard for the rule of law," Singh added.
In a release, the civil liberties group noted "the CIA had previously said it would only turn over documents from August 2002 that relate to the content of the videotapes. But U.S. District Court Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York today ordered the CIA to produce records from April through December 2002 that relate to the content of the tapes, as well as documents from April 2002 through June 2003 that related to the destruction of the tapes and information about the persons and reasons behind their destruction."
"Judge Hellerstein also ordered the government to reconsider the extent of redactions it intends to make to the documents in light of last week's release, also as part of the ACLU's FOIA litigation, of four secret memos used by the Bush administration to justify torture," the release adds. "In addition, the court ordered the government to explain whether contempt proceedings would interfere with a federal criminal investigation into the destruction of the tapes led by prosecutor John Durham."
Jane Hamsher Calls Bullshit On Rahm Emmanuel's 'This Week' Appearance
JANE HAMSHER Gets it done; as usual…
Because someone has to
Rahm on This Week:
STEPHANOPOLOUS: The President has ruled out prosecutions of CIA officials who believed they were following the law. Does he believe the officials who devised the policies should be immune from prosecution?
RAHM: Yeah, what he believes is, look, as you saw in that statement he wrote. And I think, just take a step back. That he came up with this, and he worked on this for four weeks. Wrote that statement Wednesday night, after he made his decision, and dictated what he wanted to see and then Thursday morning I saw him in the office, he was still editing it. He believes that people in good faith were operating with the guidance they were provided. They shouldn't be prosecuted.
STEPHANOPOLOUS: But what bout those who devised the policies?
RAHM: But those who devised the policies –he believes that they were — should not be prosecuted either. And it's not the place that we go — as he said in that letter, and I really recommend that people look at that full statement. Not the letter, the statement. In that second paragraph: This is not a time for retribution. It's a time for reflection. It is not a time to use our energy and our time in looking back, and in a sense of anger and retribution. We have a lot to do to protect America. What people need to know, this practice and technique, we don't useany more. He banned it.
Is that truly what the administration thinks? That people who want to see those who illegally led the country down the road of torture held to account are simply "looking back" in "anger" and "retribution"? Fifty percent of the country favor such investigations, including 69% of Democrats and a majority of independents. Is Rahm saying that President Obama believes they're nothing more than an angry, vindictive mob, and that nobody could possibly have a rational basis for believing that our laws should be enforced?
Manfred Nowak, the United Nations top torture investigator, says that treaties entered into by the United States require criminal investigations:
The United States, like all other states that are part of the U.N. convention against torture, is committed to conducting criminal investigations of torture and to bringing all persons against whom there is sound evidence to court.
How does Rahm rationalize the President's stated goal to "restore our moral standing" in the world with thumbing our noses at the international agreements we've entered into? Is there an "except when we don't feel like it" clause?
The United States has 5% of the world's population, but nearly 25% of its prisoners. There is something terribly inconsistent about a Senior Administration official like Rahm Emanuel insisting that an elite few should not be subject to our laws, and that people who take issue with this have no higher motive than counterproductive rage.
Sign the petition telling Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate torture here.


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I just discovered Gary Ryan, mostly because he's playing a guitar made by my very good friend Stephen Hill, an English luthier who lives and works in La Heradura, which is on the Granada coast. I met Stephen in 1988 the first time I went to Spain, and I still have the 8th guitar Stephen ever made, back in 1989. Anyway, this Gary Ryan is a pretty impressive player, so enjoy. The first piece is his and the second is some Bach.
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4 Responses to "Gary Ryan – Benga Beat"
You missed this one from the same series – very nice too:
Very nice. Thanks for posting.
I was very impressed with Benga Beat! To me, the piece is quite captivating. Gary needs to be congratulated for a composition not only filled with such "catchy" rythms and melodies, but also a balanced form – somewhat close to a Rondo, IMHO. More information about him would be greatly appreciated, i.e. education,does he concertize, teach, live in CA, etc? Thanks so much for posting this! More from him would be wonderful.
Just got around to viewing this, and I have to say that Benga Beat was simply astonishing. Sight unseen, I would have said you couldn't do that on a guitar. Lovely and surprising music; thanks for posting it.


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Alona is a Modern Elegant vintage font with beautiful ligatures,special alternative glyphs. It's a very versatile font that works great in large and small sizes.Alona is perfect for branding projects, Logo design, Clothing Branding, product packaging, magazine headers, or simply as a stylish text overlay to any background image.
Introducing Design School – our jam packed platform with its own mini search engine! Design School was made to help you learn all there is to know about fonts, graphics, templates, designs, file types, different software programs, Frequently Asked Questions and much much more.


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Apart from Ishaqzaade she was seen in movies like 1920 London, Second Marriage Dot Com and 15 Park Avenue. The veteran actor has also starred in TV shows like Uttaran, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Trideviyaan and Pratigya.
Bollywood celebrities who worked with her took to Twitter to express their sorrow, Parineeti Chopra Tweeted,
Arjun Kapoor who also starred in Ishaqzaade Tweeted,
Masaan movie actor Vicky Kaushal who recently worked with Charu also Tweeted,
A report has quoted a source close to the actor saying that perhaps stress could be the reason for her cardiac arrest as she was shooting till the wee hours of the morning, until 3am.
The final rites of the actor will take place today after the rest of her family arrives from different cities. They are to take place at Shiv Dham in Mumbai's Goregaon East.


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Dear Art Enthusiasts and friends
This week I worked the Co-op on Tuesday, to re-organizing my wall, i spent a little time refining my superman in my piece for the justice trio.
I went to Bizz Fizz to promote the Walkerville Co-op and myself, took a painting that I worked on during the meeting.
I spent one more day on it to refine it a step further


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Celebrated gospel songstress Yolanda Adams will perform on the 7th of January in Accra, sources close to the adorable minister of God has said.
Very little information has been gleaned about which event company is bringing her down but word has it that a performance contract between her management team and the events house was signed last week, paving the way for a very big musical concert.
"My music at its core is joyful, uplifting, inspiring, affirmative, exuberant, playful, and universal in its appeal and intention – that is the music of Yolanda Adams," she once said.
The message and ministry of this Grammy-winning Gospel/Adult Contemporary superstar is abundant with love, faith, rhythm, and wisdom.
Working with some of the biggest names in pop, R&B, hip-hop, and Gospel, Yolanda Adams's career has been marked by a string of hugely successful albums, sold-out tours, stand-out TV appearances, and a desire to incorporate into her music a multitude of genres and influences.
A lifelong resident of Houston, Texas, Yolanda grew up in a household filled with spirit, soul, and songs. Her mother studied music, and Yolanda and her five younger siblings heard everything from jazz to classical to rhythm and blues. She soaked up the sounds of Gospel legends James Cleveland and the Edwin Hawkins Singers, jazz icon Nancy Wilson, and pop/R&B great Stevie Wonder. That wide swath of sonic textures, combined with years in the church choir, would guide Yolanda – both as a performer and
a person.
Born Yolanda Yvette Adams on August 27, 1961) the American Grammy- and Dove award-winning Gospel music singer and radio show host has sold some 4.5 million albums since 1991 in the United States.


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Florida Villa Package Holidays in 2021 & 2022
All the luxury of a hotel, with the freedom of your own space and privacy – get the best of both worlds with a villa holiday. Choose from our enviable range of villas in Orlando, Kissimmee and other sought-after areas in Florida. Our villas in Florida boast features like luxurious swimming pools, games rooms, spas and gardens. You'll find villa rentals located close to desirable areas in Florida like beaches, Disney World and golf courses.
Make the most of your holiday when you choose villa rentals in Florida. Each house is fitted and furnished to the highest specifications, with open and spacious living arrangements, plush bedrooms and bathrooms and fully fitted kitchens, enabling you to enjoy family life in your home from home while exploring all that Florida has to offer. If you're planning a villa holiday in Florida in 2021 and 2022, choose from our fantastic range of options.
From a relaxing escape to an action-packed adventure, Florida has it all. Looking for relaxation? Spend your days relaxing by your own private pool or on one of Florida's famous beaches, followed by a delicious meal freshly prepared at your villa. Here for the action? Hit the theme parks by day, then put your feet up in the evening. Whatever you've imagined from your dream holiday in Florida, with a villa as your base it's easy to turn dreams into reality.
- Spacious Villa with Games Room or Spa
- Well located close to attractions
- Only 15 Minutes from Orlando's Main Attractions
- Private Screened Pool With Lanai
- Beautiful Solara Resort
- 8 Miles from Disney
- Stunning 13,000 sq. ft Clubhouse
- Fabulous Location - 8 Miles from Disney
- Beautiful, Spacious Villas
- Resort Style Lagoon Pool with Waterfall
- Beautiful Resort
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- Only 4 Miles from Disney®
- Gated 24 Hour Manned Secure Resort
- Luxury 7,500 Sq Ft Clubhouse
- Beautiful Gated Resort
- First Rate Amenities & Luxury Villas
- Surrounded By Stunning Landscape
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- 10 Minute Drive from Walt Disney World®
- Set In A Tropical Conservation Area
- Located in the north of the island
- Beautiful & comfortable home
- Private swimming pool
- 4000 Sq Ft Luxury Clubhouse
- Resort Style Heated Swimming Pool
- First Class Family Amenities
- Located only 10 Mins from Disney®
- Tropical Resort Style Pool & Spa
- Fantastic Familiy Amenities
- Most Southerly Island on the Southwest Coast of Florida
- Great Location close to sublime beaches
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Sowing Snapdragons Indoors
Add old-fashioned charm and bright color to your garden or containers with snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus). In U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11 snapdragons are perennial, while in zones 5 to 7 they may live a second season with winter protection. The plants, which grow in more than 200 varieties, can range from 6 inches to 3 feet tall depending on the cultivar you choose. Snapdragons grow best in cool weather. They stop growing once temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so start them indoors to have them ready to plant outside two to three weeks before your last frost date.
Clean a seed-starting flat with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. A new seed-starting flat does not need to be sterilized.
Mix equal parts perlite, sphagnum moss and vermiculite in the clean seed-starting flat. Ensure the flat is filled to within an inch of its rim. Moisten the mixture with water.
Sprinkle the snapdragon seeds over the soil. They are tiny and can just be sprinkled on the surface of the soil with your fingers. Do not cover the seeds with soil. They need light to germinate.
Cover the tray with plastic wrap or with a plastic dome if the tray came with one.
Move the tray to a location where it can be kept at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in bright, indirect light.
Remove the plastic in 10 to 14 days when the seedlings germinate.
Thin the seedlings to 2 inches apart.
Transplant into individual 3- to 4-inch pots when the first true leaves appear.
Things Needed
- Bleach
- Seed-starting flat
- Perlite
- Sphagnum moss
- Vermiculite
- Plastic wrap
- In climates with mild winters, start snapdragon seeds indoors in the summer to plant outside when temperatures cool in the fall. They'll flower over the winter.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images


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Air fin coolers (AFC)
Hybrid Cooling Systems
B&W SPIG also provides solutions for environmentally friendly wet/dry (hybrid) cooling towers. Hybrid Cooling Systems are the optimal solution for plume abatement and water saving.
Air-cooled condenser (ACC)
Advantages of single-row aluminum fin tube bundles include:
• Lower pressure drop (steam-side and air-side)
• Higher thermal efficiency
• No dead zones
• Lower fan power consumption
• Lower sound levels
• Lower weight per surface area
• Higher corrosion resistance
Air Fin Coolers
Air-cooled heat exchangers, also known as air fin coolers, are a cost-effective solution using air to cool process fluids. Air fin coolers are typically used in process industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, refineries, power plants, waste-to-energy plants, and chemical processing.
B&W SPIG provides cost-effective designs to meet the required thermal performances and to ensure the best efficiency in thermal and mechanical pressure part designs, steel structure and noise management.
We can provide the following types of finned tubes:


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Komatsu America Corp. and its distributor Power Motive Corporation celebrated the completion of Komatsu CARE's 10,000th service interval. Komatsu America pioneered the construction industry's complimentary maintenance programs for its Tier 4 machines with launch of Komatsu CARE in 2011.
Whether the equipment is leased or owned, Komatsu CARE covers all factory-scheduled maintenance intervals on Tier 4 Interim Komatsu construction equipment for the first three years or 2,000 hours (whichever occurs first), as well as two complimentary Komatsu Diesel Particulate Filter (KDPF) exchange units for the first five years, or 9,000 hours, whichever comes first. The complimentary maintenance program is available at all North American distributors and is transferable to new owners, upon resale, within the United States and Canada.
"Programs, like Komatsu CARE, strengthen the relationship between the customer and distributor and demonstrate the unrivaled product support that Komatsu provides in this industry," said Mike Hayes, Director of Service Marketing and Distributor Development for Komatsu America Corp. "Komatsu is committed to programs like Komatsu CARE because they protect the customer's investment and ensure that their assets remain productive." Hayes continued, "We also work closely with our distributors like Power Motive to ensure that they have the proper resources and the staff needed to service our customers so that our customers can maximize productivity, while minimizing any associated costs."
The Komatsu CARE program is similar to complimentary maintenance programs that have been very successful within the luxury auto industry. Those programs, like Komatsu CARE, can increase residual values on lease returns, increase the price of used vehicle sales, and increase the longevity of component life. Over 96 percent of Komatsu Tier 4 Interim customers have received at least one Komatsu CARE complimentary maintenance service since its launch in 2011.


text: Personality Struggles What Does It Really Feel To Be An Empath? July 3, 2019 Manal Shaikh 0 Comments alone, care, depression, emotion, emotional, empath, empathic, empathy, feelings, help, loneliness, love, personality, pros and cons, sad, suicidal Are you an empath? or do you know anyone who is? Have you ever wondered to be one? In this Read more


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Join Date: Mar 2011
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Malibu Pro2 Tandem Kayak $1750.00
This is an incredible deal! New (18 months ago) this custom kayak sold for over $2700.00. The kayak has been used 6 times, all from La Jolla Shores and was used twice for fishing and 4 times for sightseeing.
This Malibu Pro2 Tandem Kayak is the ultimate two seater fishing or dive kayak perfect for day play, fishing, diving, snorkeling exploring, nature watching, fitness, light touring, and surfing. This custom kayak can be quickly set up in two configurations, with or without the bait tank.
This Malibu Pro 2 Tandem Kayak is incredibly stable, has large storage capacity, provides dry seating, is stackable, and comes with two dive wells, center molded foot wells, threaded nylon eyelets, and stainless steel hardware.
Length: 13'
Weight: 60 lbs.
Width: (at beam) 33"
Depth: (from waterline) 5.5"
Footrests: Molded multi-rests
Max. Load: 550 lbs.
Included Extras:
2 Surf to Summit inflatable GTS Airwave seats. http://www.surftosummit.com/gts-kayak-seats-c-299.html GTS Airwave revolutionizes kayak seat comfort. Identical to the GTS Elite in every way except the seat cushion, this is an expert level kayak seat with the added benefit of an adjustable, inflatable seat cushion for hours of customizable comfort and support. If you find yourself feeling sore after a day on the water, you should consider this seat. New these seats sold for over $200 each.
1 - Basic Bag with the added benefit of two incorporated water bottle carriers fits all of your hydration needs on those long paddles.
1 - Gear Bag that increases the options for paddling by offering a quick and convenient place to store keys, wallets, sunscreen, and any other loose item you want to have close at hand.
2 - 8" Round hatch with attached double-hinge T-lock lid, watertight gasket and removable 6" bucket.
1 - 6 Point extremely durable, reinforced, watertight deck hatch.
6 Rod holders
Bait Tank with electric pump and plumbing
Eagle Cuda 168 Digital Sonar Graph
Battery Charger
Bait Net
Telescoping Gaff
Hand Bilge Pump
Kayak cart
Werner Camano carbon fiber Paddles http://www.wernerpaddles.com/paddles/touring/premium/camano/ The Camano features our most popular award winning Low Angle mid-sized blade design. Providing the perfect combination for paddlers who want gentle power and use a relaxed all around touring stroke. The Camano also offers the best balance of light swing weight, durability and performance.
Award winning mid-size blades design offers gentle power and a smooth easy stroke.
Advanced dihedral blade design creates stable forward strokes.
Light swing weight reduces fatigue.
Werners most popular all around touring design.
Highly visible translucent amber colors.
Retail Price $265 each.
Act fast for this one-of-a-kind offer!!!
(858) 273-1765
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Ginseng plant
Ginseng (pronounced /?dns/) is any one of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae. Ginseng is found only in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in eastern Asia (mostly Korea, northeastern China (Manchuria), Bhutan, and eastern Siberia), typically in cooler climates. Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng known. This article focuses on the series Panax ginsengs, which are the adaptogenic herbs, principally Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is in the same family, but not genus, as true ginseng. Like ginseng, it is considered to be an adaptogenic herb. The active compounds in Siberian ginseng are eleutherosides, not ginsenosides. Instead of a fleshy root, Siberian ginseng has a woody root. The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term renshen (simplified: ; traditional: ). Ren means "man" and shen means a kind of herb; this refers to the root's characteristic forked shape, which resembles the legs of a man. The English pronunciation derives from a southern Chinese reading, similar to Cantonese yun sum (Jyutping: jan4sam1) and the Hokkien pronunciation "jin-sim". The botanical/genus name Panax means "all-heal" in Greek, sharing the same origin as "panacea", and was applied to this genus b cause Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine as a muscle relaxant. Besides P. ginseng, many other plants are also known as or mistaken for the ginseng root. The most commonly known examples are xiyangshen, also known as American ginseng ? (P. quinquefolius), Japanese ginseng ? (P. japonicus), crown prince ginseng ? (Pseudostellaria heterophylla), and Siberian ginseng ? (Eleutherococcus senticosus). Although all have the name ginseng, each plant has distinctively different functions. However, true ginseng plants belong only to the Panax genus. Ginsenosides, unique compounds of the Panax species, are under basic and clinical research to reveal their potential properties in humans. Possibly an adaptogen, ginseng remains under preliminary research for its potential properties or therapeutic effects, such as for respiratory illnesses, quality of life, influenza or fatigue in cancer patients. P. ginseng may affect cancer in animal models but this effect remains unclear. One study in laboratory animals showed possible effects of ginseng or its ginsenoside components on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues and another on penile erection. Ginseng is known to contain phytoestrogens and may affect the pituitary gland to increase the secretion of gonadotropins.[citation needed] Other mice studies found effects on sperm production and the estrous cycle.


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Earth from Space is presented by Kelsea Brennan-Wessels from the ESA Web-TV virtual studios. In the one-hundred-fourth edition, see how Sentinel-1's radar signal reacts to the surface of the largest salt flat in the world.
See also Earth from Space: Radar image of the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia to download the image.


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EgyptExchange rate: 1 Egyptian Pound = Rs 3.8 The Indian rupee has appreciated by a whopping 55 percent over the Egyptian Pound in the past year. In 2016 it would have cost Rs 8.6 to buy a single Egyptian pound, but the ancient history of Egypt and its magnificent pyramids, Nile cruise and Red Sea areas look to be a far better economical bet right now. While the political situation is far from ideal, the country is still looking to attract tourists to increase its GDP. Going now means you can take a picture of the Giza pyramids without a hundred other tourists photobombing you.
Sri Lanka
Exchange rate: 1 Sri Lankan Rupee = Rs 0.45 There's a reason Sri Lanka is turning into the new Goa – bargain rates have gotten even cheaper over the past year. The Indian rupee has appreciated by a modest two percent against the Sri Lankan rupee but given the popularity of the country, it means you can stretch your money even further than you thought you would. Whether it's the Buddhist triangle, windswept Galle fort or the emerging Jaffna region, the teardrop-shaped country is bound to give a lot of joy to Indian travellers in 2017.
Exchange rate: 1 Malaysian Ringgit = Rs 15.2 The good news just keeps coming for Indians as far as Malaysia is concerned. In 2016, Malaysia allowed Indians to travel with e-visa even as its currency kept on declining against the Indian rupee. Over the last one year, the Malaysian Ringgit has lost over 15 percent of its value compared to the Indian rupee. From the vertiginous heights of Kuala Lumpur to pristine rainforests in Kota Kinabalu and culinary wonders of George Town, there has never been a better time to visit Malaysia than today.
Exchange rate: 1 Argentinian Peso = Rs 4.3 Granted, the airfare to Argentina's capital Buenos Aires can make you tear your hair apart. But consider this: the Indian rupee has gained 37 percent over Argentina's currency since 2016. The country's debt problems have seen the currency slump to historical levels, making travel options seem alluring for the first time in years. The huge country can be visited for its beautiful cities such as Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza et al, and for its natural highlights such as the Iguazu Falls and awe-inspiring glaciers. Remember never to use cards (for the outrageous fees charged by banks) and exchange money with caution across the country.
Exchange rate: 1 Philippine Peso = Rs 1.3 You could spend a lifetime and yet never be able to visit Philippines' 7,000-plus islands. With the rise of the rupee's purchasing power though, you can definitely add a couple of days to your Philippines itinerary. A bump of 3.4 percent over the Philippine peso gives you more reasons to disconnect and spend your days unwinding at Palawan's dreamy beaches, hiking up to Bohol's chocolate mountains or simply taking in the urban sprawl of capital, Manila. Just keep an eye out for President Rodrigo Duterte's drug-cleansing drive to stay on the safer side. (All forex information, including historical data, sourced from www.xe.com )
-Like this article? Also read: #ColdWar: Mumbai Vs The Rest Of India Sri Lanka Image Courtesy: Shutterstock.com


text: Having the most liquidity is one of the most important factors in FX trading. Land-FX has built relationships on transparency with well known tier 1 banks and with other financial institutions adding them to the aggregation pool in order to offer the best competitive price to all our clients. Land-FX is able to offer you Tailored Liquidity 24 hours/5 days a week for all your trading needs.


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The harem was the ultimate symbol of power and wealth of the Sultan. His ownership of women and eunuchs, mostly as slaves, showed his wealth and prowess. The institution of the harem was introduced in Turkish society with the adoption of Islam, under the influence of the Arab Caliphate which the Ottoman's sought to emulate.
Most of the men and women within the harem were bought as slaves to ensure obedience, however some remained free. The main wives, especially those married to solidify personal and dynastic alliances were free women. Slaves and free men and women alike were given an education within the harem. At the end of their respective educations, the men and women would be married off to each other. Subsequently, the men would be sent to occupy administrative posts in the empire's provinces.
Due to this practice, only a small number of women were chosen to become part of the Sultan's personal harem of concubines. This group of women was governed by the Valide Sultan, typically the Sultan's own mother. An even smaller number of women would be chosen as the Sultan's favourites, or the hasekis. Even these women could be chosen to be married off or sent as gifts to valued members of the Ottoman elite, that is if they hadn't had sexual relations with the Sultan himself. (Read more.)Share