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Peter is an associate professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. He can be contacted at [email protected] Richard is a research assistant in the School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo, working in the Programming Languages Group. He can be contacted at [email protected] plg.uwaterloo.ca.
Concurrency is the most complex form of programming, with certain kinds of real-time programming being the most complex forms of concurrency. Often the mechanisms for writing concurrent programs only exacerbate the complexity because they are too low level and/or independent from the language. Currently, concurrency is being thrust upon all programmers indirectly through the push for higher performance in hardware. To maintain Moore's Law, it is becoming necessary to add parallelism at a number of hardware levelsinstruction pipeline, multithreading, multicore processors, shared-memory multiprocessors, and distributed clusters. Some successful attempts have been made to implicitly discover concurrency in a sequential program; for instance, by parallelizing loops and access to data structures. While this approach is appealing because of the simple sequential programming model and ability to parallelize legacy code, there is a limit to how much parallelism can be found, and current techniques only work on certain kinds of programs. Therefore, explicit concurrent mechanisms are necessary to achieve maximum concurrency potential. Luckily, approaches to this are complementary, and can appear together in a single programming language.
C++ Concurrency
Given the need for explicit concurrency, modern programming languages such as Beta, Ada, Modula-3, Java, and C#, among others, provide some direct support for concurrency. Surprisingly, however, C++ has no concurrency support. During C++'s 20-year history, many different concurrency approaches for C++ have been suggested and implemented with only varying degrees of adoption. As a result, there is no de facto standard dominating concurrent programming in C++. (In C, there are two dominant, but incompatible, concurrency librariesWin32 and pthreads.) In this article, we argue that C++'s lack of concurrency is significantly limiting the language's future. This deficiency has also been recognized by the C++ Standards committee, which is currently examining concurrency extensions. We also outline how high-level object-oriented concurrency can be added to C++ through a freely available concurrent dialect of C++ called "C++" (http://plg.uwaterloo.ca/ usystem/uC++.html).
Concurrent Design Principles
There are a number of major design principles for adding concurrency to object-oriented languages, such as:
- Object-oriented design is built on the notion of the class. Hence, concurrency should be built on the class notion, allowing it to leverage other class-based language features.
- All concurrent systems must provide three fundamental properties: thread, a mechanism to sequentially execute statements, independently of (and possibly concurrently with) other threads; execution context, the state needed to permit independent execution, including a separate stack; and mutual exclusion/synchronization (MES), mechanisms to exclusively access a resource and provide necessary timing relationships among threads. These properties cannot be expressed in an architecture-independent way through existing language constructs. (Even algorithms for MES, such as Dekker's algorithm, do not always work without a sufficient memory model.) Therefore, any concurrency system must provide abstractions to implement these properties.
- Because MES causes the most errors for programmers and the greatest difficulty for safe code optimizations, it should be implicit through concurrent language constructs.
- If the routine call is the basis for normal object communication, it should also be used for concurrency. Mixing mechanisms, such as routine call with message-passing/channels, is confusing and error prone, and may lose important capabilities such as static type checking.
Joining the fundamental concurrency properties with the class model is best done by associating thread and execution-context with the class, and MES with member routines. This coupling and the interactions among the concurrency properties generate the programming abstractions in Table 1.
- Case 1 in Table 1 is a standard C++ object. Its member routines do not provide MES, and the caller's thread and stack are used to perform execution.
- Case 2 has all the properties of case 1 but only one thread at a time can be executing among the member routines with the MES property, called a "mutex member." Within a mutex member, synchronization with other tasks can be performed. This abstraction is a monitor, which is well understood and appears in many concurrent languages (Java, for instance).
- Case 3 is an object that has its own execution context but no MES or thread; the execution context is associated with a distinguished member in the object. This abstraction is a coroutine, which goes back to the roots of C++ in Simula.
- Case 4 is like case 3 but deals with concurrent access by adding MES. This abstraction is a coroutine monitor.
- Cases 5 and 6 are a thread without a stack, which is meaningless because a thread must have a stack to execute.
- Case 7 is an object that has its own thread and execution context but no MES. This case is questionable because explicit locking is now required to handle calls from other threads, which violates design principle 3.
- Case 8 is like case 7 but deals with concurrent access by adding MES. This abstraction is a task, which is an active object and appears in many concurrent languages (Ada). Note, the abstractions are derived from fundamental properties and not ad hoc decisions by a language designer, and each has a particular set of problems it can solve well. Simulating one abstraction with the others often results in awkward solutions that are inefficient; therefore, each has a place in a programming language.
C++: Concurrency in C++
C++ was designed using these concurrency design principles and engineered to provide high-level, integrated, lightweight, object-oriented concurrency for C++. By being high level, you can code in a race-free style, which eliminates the need for a complex memory model. By being integrated into the C++ language, the compiler can understand precisely when it can safely perform optimizations. Currently, C++ is a translator that converts to C++, but its design ultimately assumes it is part of C++.
Figure 1 shows the syntax for adding the programming abstractions in Table 1 to C++. There are two new type constructors _Coroutine and _Task, extensions of class, implicitly associating the execution context and thread properties to objects. There are two new type qualifiers, _Mutex and _Nomutex, for qualifying member routines needing the mutual exclusion property and which contain synchronization. There are implicitly inherited members providing context-switch/synchronization, suspend(), resume(), wait(), signal(), signalBlock(), and one new statement_Accept. Each of these new constructs is explained through examples.
A coroutine is not a concurrent abstraction, but it appears directly from the combination of fundamental concurrency properties and supports direct implementation of finite-state machines (FSM). In C++, the execution context (stack) for a coroutine object is associated with its distinguished member main; see Listing One.
A coroutine type implicitly inherits member routines resume and suspend, which provide control flow among coroutines. Like a class, a coroutine's public members define its interface but also provide the interaction with the coroutine's main; multiple public member routines allow complex, type-safe communication. The resume routine is called from the public members and the suspend routine is called directly or indirectly from the coroutine's main. The first call to resume starts main, which executes on its own stack. Subsequent resumes restart at the last suspend from main. Routine suspend restarts the last resume executed by a public member. A coroutine object becomes a coroutine when main starts (first resume); the coroutine becomes an object again when main ends.
Listing Two is a simple FSM for recognizing phone numbers of the form: (555)opt 123-4567. Characters of the phone number are passed one at a time to the next member, which returns the current status of the parse. Note how the coroutine main retains its execution location and restarts there when it is resumed; for example, when parsing groups of digits, the coroutine suspends in the middle of a for loop and restarts within the particular loop when resumed. The killer application for a coroutine is device drivers, which cause 70-85 percent of failures in Windows/Linux. Many device drivers are FSMs parsing a protocol; for instance:
...STX...message...ESC ETX...message... ETX 2-byte crc...
Here, a network message begins with the control character STX and ends with an ETX, followed by a 2-byte cyclic redundancy check. Control characters can appear in the message if preceded by an ESC. An Ethernet driver is just a complex version of this simple protocol, and the FSM for the Ethernet protocol can be directly coded as a coroutine. Because FSMs can be complex and occur frequently in important domains, direct support of the coroutine is crucial, independent of concurrency.
A monitor is a concurrency abstraction that encapsulates a shared resource with implicit mutual exclusion and provides for complex synchronization among tasks using the resource; see Listing Three.
Any member routine can be qualified with the MES qualifiers, _Mutex/_Nomutex, indicating the presence or absence of MES, respectively. Only one thread at a time can be executing among the mutex routines of a monitor object; other threads calling mutex routines of the same object implicitly block. Recursive entry is allowed for the thread currently using the monitor; that is, it may call other mutex members. The MES qualifiers can also qualify a class, which defines the default qualification for the public member routines. Hence, the presence of a single mutex member in a class makes it a monitor. Member variables cannot be MES qualified. The destructor of a monitor is always _Mutex, because the thread terminating a monitor object must wait if another thread is executing in it.
The mutex property ensures exclusive access to the monitor's data by multiple threads. For simple cases, such as an atomic counter, exclusive access is sufficient and the order of access is unimportant. For complex cases, the order of access can be crucial for correctness; for example, one task may need to communicate information to another task and wait for a reply, or a resource may have strict ordering rules with respect to thread usage. Ordering is controlled by threads synchronizing among themselves within a monitor using condition variables and operations wait(), signal(), signalBlock(), or an _Accept statement on mutex members.
A condition variable is a place where a task within the monitor can wait for an event to occur by another task using the monitor. Figure 2(a) illustrates the internal parts of a monitor object for synchronization with condition variables. Calling threads wait until no mutex member is active. A condition variable (for example, c) is a queue of waiting threads. The thread active in the monitor object waits on queue c by executing c.wait() (dotted line), which either implicitly restarts the last signalled thread, or if no signalled threads, releases the monitor lock so a new thread may enter. The active thread may execute c.signal() (dashed line) to restart a waiting thread at the front of a condition queue; the signalled thread can only restart after the signaler thread blocks or exits due to the mutual exclusion property, which is accomplished by having the signalled thread wait temporarily on the hidden urgent condition. Alternatively, the active thread may execute c.signalBlock() (solid line), which makes the active thread wait on the urgent queue and immediately starts the signalled thread at the front of the queue. Using these mechanisms, order of access within the monitor can be precisely controlled.
Tasks within the monitor can wait for an event to occur by a calling task using an accept statement. Figure 2(b) illustrates the internal parts of a monitor object for synchronization with an _Accept statement. _Accept selects which mutex member call to execute next (like Ada's select). _Accept(m1) unblocks the thread on the front of the mutex queue after the accepter is implicitly blocked (like signalBlock). If there is no calling task, the accepter waits (on the hidden urgent queue) until a call to the specified member occurs. When the member call ends, the accepter implicitly restarts after the _Accept statement. _Accept can appear at any level of routine nesting in the monitor. The _Accept statement can check multiple mutex members for calls:
_Accept( m1, m2,...);
The call on the first nonempty mutex queue is selected (so the order of member names is important); if no calls are pending, the accepter waits until a call occurs. Finally, each selected member can be separated and supplied with a guard:
_When( conditional-expression )
_Accept( m1 ) statement
else _When( conditional-expression )
_Accept( m2 ) statement
The guard must be true before a mutex queue is considered; if there is a terminating else, the accepter does not block, rather it polls for callers. The statement after an _Accept is executed by the accepter after the mutex call, allowing it to perform different actions depending on which call occurred.
Monitor Examples
Listing Four(a) shows the classic dating- service problem implemented with condition variables, where two kinds of tasks exchange information based on some criteria. In this case, there are girl and boy tasks exchanging phone numbers if they have matching compatibility codes (values 0-19). A girl task checks if a boy with the same code is waiting. If not, she waits; otherwise, she copies her phone number to the shared variable GirlPhoneNo, and does a signalBlock to immediately restart the waiting boy while she waits on the urgent queue. The waiting boy restarts, copies his phone number to the shared variable BoyPhoneNo, and returns with the girl's phone number. The waiting girl is then implicitly restarted from the urgent queue after the boy returns, and she now returns with the boy's phone number. Listing Four(b) shows the classic read/write problem implemented with _Accept, where multiple reader tasks can simultaneously read a resource, but writer tasks must be serialized to write the resource. Tasks access the resource like this:
ReadersWriter rw;
reader task writer task
rw.StartRead(); rw.StartWrite();
// read resource // write resource
rw.EndRead(); rw.EndWrite();
The variables rcnt and wcnt count the number of simultaneous reader or writer tasks using the resource. EndRead/EndWrite decrement the appropriate counter when a task finishes using the resource. StartRead checks if a writer is using the resource, and if so, accepts EndWrite, causing the reader task to wait on the urgent queue and preventing calls to any other mutex member. When the current writer finishes writing, it calls EndWrite; then the waiting reader implicitly restarts in StartRead and increments rcnt. StartWrite begins with the same check for a writer and the same actions as for a reader if a writer is using the resource. Alternatively, if there are rcnt readers using the resource, the writer loops and performs rcnt accepts of EndRead, one for each of the completing reader tasks. After the last reader finishes reading and completes its call to EndRead, the waiting writer implicitly restarts and increments wcnt. Because the accept statement strictly controls entry into the monitor, new (calling) tasks may not enter out of order.
Coroutine Monitor
The properties of a coroutine and monitor can be combined to generate a concurrency abstraction for resource sharing and synchronization along with retaining data and execution state; see Listing Five.
A coroutine monitor is ideal for an FSM used by multiple threads, such as a shared formatter printer. The printer is the shared resource called by multiple threads to print each thread's data, and the printer can be a complex FSM organizing the data into rows and columns with appropriate markings and headings. Combining these fundamental properties into a single construct simplifies the job of developing the solution for a complex problem.
The properties of a coroutine monitor can be combined with a thread to generate a concurrency abstraction for an active object that dynamically manages a resource; see Listing Six, for example.
Active objects appear in many concurrent languages. The use of both wait/signal on condition variables and accepting mutex members occurs frequently in a task (less so in a monitor). Finally, because the destructor is a mutex member, it can be accepted to determine when to terminate a task or monitor.
Listing Seven(a) shows a basic worker task, Adder, generating the subtotals for each row of a global matrix by summing the elements of a particular row. (Global variables are used to simplify the example.) In C++, the member routine uMain::main serves as the program's main (starting) routine. This routine reads the matrix and starts a block that creates an array of Adder tasks, one for each row of the matrix. Each task's main starts implicitly after its constructor completesno explicit start is needed. Similarly, no explicit join is needed because the block containing the array of tasks cannot end until all the tasks in the array terminate, otherwise, the storage for the tasks could be deallocated while threads are executing. After all tasks in the block terminate, the block allocating the array of tasks ends, and the subtotals generated by each worker task can be safely summed to obtain the total. The constructor for each Adder task selects a specific row to sum by incrementing a shared variable; no mutual exclusion is necessary for the selection as each task of the array is created serially. The main member of each Adder task adds the matrix elements for its particular row in its corresponding subtotal location.
Listing Seven(b) shows a classic administrator server, where clients call different members for service. The server may provide multiple interface members for different kinds of clients and client requests. A client's call may be serviced immediately or delayed using condition variables. The server's main loops accept client calls using the _Accept statement; an accepted call may complete immediately or require subsequent servicing and signalling of the delayed client. Finally, the server's destructor is also being accepted to know when the server is being deleted by another thread.
Miscellaneous C++ Features
C++ has a number of other features that integrate concurrency with C++:
- Both termination and resumption exception handling are supported, as well as the ability to raise exceptions among coroutines and tasks; see Listing Eight(a). For resumption, the stack is not unwound, and control returns after the _Resume when the handler completes. The _At clause provides nonlocal delivery of an exception to another coroutine or task. Nonlocal delivery of exceptions is controlled by _Enable and _Disable statements; see Listing Eight(b). Specifying no exceptions enables/disables all exceptions.
- The execution environment can be structured into multiple clusters of tasks and processors. Each cluster has a scheduler to control selection of its tasks to run on its processors; tasks and processors can migrate among clusters.
- C++ streams and UNIX files/sockets are augmented to be thread safe, object-oriented, and nonblocking; for example, safe stream I/O is performed like this:
- The declaration at the start of the I/O expression provides necessary locking of the specified stream for the duration of the expression. There are three classes for accessing sockets: uSocketServer, uSocketAccept, and uSocketClient, which hide most of the socket complexity and support connectionless and connected protocols with timeout capabilities.
- Basic real-time programming is available through three extensions of the task:
- Fixed and dynamic priority schedulers are provided for use with clusters, including a transitive priority-inheritance protocol. The _Accept statement is extended to handle timeouts:
- There is a debug mode for testing with many assertions and runtime checks, and C++ also generates reasonable error messages. C++ compiles on GCC 3.2 or greater and Intel icc 8.1/9.0; for Linux Intel x86/Itanium and AMD 32/64; Solaris 8/9/10 SPARC; and IRIX 6.x MIPS.
isacquire( cin ) >> . . .;
osacquire( cout ) << ...<< endl;
_RealTimeTask R {...};
_PeriodicTask P {...};
_SporadicTask S {...};
_Accept( M1, M2 ) {...}
else _Accept ( M3 ) {...}
else _Timeout( 1 ) {...} // restart after
// 1 second if
// no call
Providing concurrency via low-level libraries such as pthreads makes no sense for C++. This approach is error prone and does not integrate with existing C++ mechanisms. Medium-level approaches that attempt to leverage existing language features with a concurrency library also fall short, as programmers still struggle with multiple coding conventions and limitations of use, and some primitive concurrency properties are still hidden from the compiler. To truly help you and the compiler, concurrent programming requires high-level concurrency models and constructs. The three fundamental properties in concurrencythread, execution context, and mutual-exclusion/ synchronizationcan be integrated directly into C++'s core programming notionthe classand subsequently work with other C++ mechanisms. This approach retains the language's object-oriented programming model and provides multiple concurrency approaches and models, while requiring only a few new keywords and mechanisms in C++. C++ is a full implementation of these ideas, providing a system that lets you tackle complex concurrent projects.
_Coroutine C { void main() { // distinguished member / executes on coroutine's stack ...suspend()... // restart last resume } public: void m1(...) {... resume();...} // restart last suspend void m2(...) {... resume();...} // restart last suspend };Back to article
Listing Two
_Coroutine Phone { public: enum status { MORE, GOOD, BAD }; private: char ch; status stat; void main() { int i; stat = MORE; // continue passing characters if ( ch == '(') { // optional area code ? for ( i = 0; i < 3; i += 1 ) { suspend(); if ( ! isdigit(ch) ) { stat = BAD; return; } } suspend(); if ( ch != ')') { stat = BAD; return; } suspend(); } for ( i = 0; i < 3; i += 1 ) { // region code ? if ( ! isdigit(ch) ) { stat = BAD; return; } suspend(); } if ( ch != '-') { stat = BAD; return; } // separator ? for ( i = 0; i < 4; i += 1 ) { // local code ? suspend(); if ( ! isdigit(ch) ) { stat = BAD; return; } } stat = GOOD; } public: status next( char c ) { // pass one character at a time to FSM ch = c; resume(); // activate coroutine return stat; } };Back to article
Listing Three
_Mutex class M { // default MES for public member routines // SHARED DATA ACCESSED BY MULTIPLE THREADS uCondition c1, c2[10], *c3 = new uCondition; //different condition variables // default for private/protected is no MES void m1(...) {... /* MES statements */...} // no MES _Mutex void m2(...) {... /* MES statements */...}; // MES public: void m3(...) {.../* MES statements */...} // MES _Nomutex void m4(...) {...} // no MES ... // destructor is ALWAYS mutex };Back to article
Listing Four
_Mutex class DatingService { uCondition Girls[20], Boys[20]; int GirlPhoneNo, BoyPhoneNo; public: int Girl( int PhoneNo, int code ) { if ( Boys[code].empty() ) { Girls[code].wait(); GirlPhoneNo = PhoneNo; } else { GirlPhoneNo = PhoneNo; Boys[code].signalBlock(); } return BoyPhoneNo; } int Boy( int PhoneNo, int code ) { if ( Girls[code].empty() ) { Boys[code].wait(); BoyPhoneNo = PhoneNo; } else { BoyPhoneNo = PhoneNo; Girls[code].signalBlock(); } return GirlPhoneNo; } };(b)
_Mutex class ReadersWriter { int rcnt, wcnt; public: void ReadersWriter() { rcnt = wcnt = 0; } void EndRead() { rcnt -= 1; } void EndWrite() { wcnt -= 1; } void StartRead() { if ( wcnt == 1 ) _Accept( EndWrite ); rcnt += 1; } void StartWrite() { if ( wcnt == 1 ) _Accept( EndWrite ); else while ( rcnt > 0 ) _Accept( EndRead ); wcnt += 1; } };Back to article
Listing Five
_Mutex _Coroutine CM { // default MES for public member routines uCondition c1,c2[10],*c3 = new uCondition; // different condition variables void m1(...) {.../* MES statements */ ...} // no MES _Mutex void m2(...) { .../* MES statements */ ...}; // MES void main() {...} // distinguished member / has its own stack public: void m3(...) { ...resume()/* MES statements */ ...} // MES _Nomutex void m4(...) { ...resume(); ...} // no MES ...// destructor is ALWAYS mutex };Back to article
Listing Six
_Task T { // default MES for public member routines uCondition c1,c2[10],*c3 = new uCondition; // different condition variables void m1( ... ) {.../* MES statements */ ... } // no MES _Mutex void m2(...) {.../* MES statements */...}; // MES void main() {...} // distinguished member/has own stack/thread starts here public: void m3(...) {.../* MES statements */ ...} // MES _Nomutex void m4(...) {...} // no MES ...// destructor is ALWAYS mutex };Back to article
Listing Seven
const int rows = 10, cols = 10; int M[rows][cols], ST[rows]; _Task Adder { // add specific row static int row; // sequential access int myrow, c; void main() { ST[myrow] = 0; // subtotal location for ( c = 0; c < cols; c += 1 ) ST[myrow] += M[myrow][c]; } public: Adder() { myrow = row++; } // choose row }; int Adder::row = 0; void uMain::main() { // read matrix { Adder adders[rows]; // create threads } // wait for threads to terminate int total = 0; // sum subtotals for ( int r = 0; r < rows; r += 1 ) total += ST[r]; cout << total << endl; }(b)
_Task Server { uCondition delay; void main() { for ( ;; ) { // for each client request _Accept( ~Server ) { // terminate ? break; // service each kind of client request } else _Accept( workReq1 ) { ... delay.signalBlock(); // restart client ... } else _Accept( workReq2 ) { ... } } // shut down } public: void workReq1( Req1_t req ) { ...delay.wait();...// service not immediate? // otherwise service request } void workReq2( Req2_t req ) { ... } ... };Back to article
Listing Eight
_Throw [ throwable-exception [ _At coroutine/task-id ] ] ; // termination _Resume [ resumable-exception [ _At coroutine/task-id ] ] ; // resumption(b)
_Enable <E1><E2>... { // exceptions E1, E2, ... delivered } _Disable <E1><E2>... { // exceptions E1, E2, ... not delivered }Back to article


text:
For this game you use one deck of cards but remove the jokers.
Face cards- King, Queen, Jack, all equal 10
Ace= 1
The object of the game is to make sums of 10.
First have someone secretly remove two cards and place to the side. (addends) The addends must be greater than 10 when added together. For example, a student could have removed a 6 and a 7. Do not remove face cards or 10s. These two cards will be the missing addends in the very end of the trick.
The students start by placing three cards out on the table. If a 10 can be made you will cover the two cards that equal 10 ( 2/8, 3/7, 4/6, 5/5, A/9) with cards from the stack. Since Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10s all equal 10 you only cover them with one card. If a 10 can not be made start a new stack.
When all the cards have been laid out in stacks. You will then find the missing addends that make 10. These groups will be added together. There will be two extra stacks that don't equal 10. The missing stacks that don't make a 10 are the missing addends to the cards the student secretly removed from the beginning.
Here is a little video of my nieces playing this game. This was the first time showing them so it's not perfect.

subset: commoncrawl


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Amazon Contest: Win a Trip to London and Read "The Tales of Beedle the Bard"
Apr 09, 2008
Today, Amazon has announced a fantastic new contest that is sure to appeal to the serious Harry Potter fans. The online retailer has announced a new contest to win a trip for two to London, England for the weekend, where you will be able to read the special handwritten "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by author J.K. Rowling. As readers will recall, the "Beedle the Bard" tales were mentioned Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with Amazon the winner of the charity auction of one of the seven hand written Beedle books by J.K. Rowling. Until now, only photos of the book and short summaries have been revealed.
To enter this contest which is open to people ages 13 years and older from 24 countries around the world, you "must creatively write a short, English-language submission of 100 or fewer words answering one of the following three questions:
* What songs do wizards use to celebrate birthdays?
* What other sports do wizards play besides Quidditch?
* What have you learned from the Harry Potter series that you use in everyday life?
You may enter here at Amazon (US) or Amazon (UK). The contest is open now until April 22, and according to the press release, is open "in two age categories: 13-17 and 18 and older. The contest is open to customers in 24 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China and Canada.
An Amazon committee will choose 10 semifinalists from each age group based on creativity and originality of idea as well as the writing style of the submission. On May 5, Amazon will post the semi-finalist submissions from both age groups and allow Amazon customers one week to vote for their favorite entry in each of the two age categories. The winner in each age group will move on to become one of two finalists who will compete for the grand prize." In the final stage all will be able to vote for the winner, which will be announced on May 22."
"Customers have been anxious to see, touch and read this rare, unique, and absolutely beautiful piece of literature' said Russell Grandinetti, vice president of books at Amazon. "We're thrilled to be able to offer our customers a chance to head to London, don a pair of white gloves and be one of only a handful of people in the world to have read these amazing tales. And of course, given the rarity of the book, security guards are included." A reminder for those who have not yet seen the photos and summaries of the Beedle the Bard book, you may see them via this link. GOOD LUCK to all who enter!


text:
Part of the body located below the chest. It contains the digestive organs (stomach, kidneys, intestines, liver, etc). In women it also contains the ovaries and uterus.
A swelling, caused by a build up of pus, that is located within the body tissue.
Brief summaries that provide the essential points of written works.
Documents in which monies or goods received and paid or given out are recorded in order to permit periodic totaling.
account book
Books in which financial accounts are kept.
The cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hip bone into which the ball-shaped head of the femur fits.
Acid Purification System
automates the purification of DNA from biological samples such as blood, sell cultures viruses and other tissues.
A disorder of the skin in which the glands producing oily matter become inflamed. It is characterized by blackheads, pustules and even scars. There are a number of treatments available. Acne particularly affects teenagers.
acrylic painting
acrylic paintings (visual works) (<paintings by material or technique>, paintings (visual works), ... Visual and Verbal Communication (Hierarchy Name))
the treatment of disorders with infrared or ultraviolet radiation
A central therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where fine needles are inserted into the skin at specific points. These points are believed by to lie on channels, or meridians, of energy flow, or qi (chi).
The condition of being addicted, or unable to live without, a particular habit, substance or pursuit.
A virus that contains DNA. It causes respiratory infections that have similar symptoms to the common cold.
A behavioural disorder which begins in childhood. Symptoms include short attention span and impulsive tendencies, commonly but not always combined with hyperactivity.
admission ticket
A voucher that entitles entry to an event or establishment, often prepaid.
A hormone secreted from the adrenal gland in preparation for 'fright, flight or fight'. The effects include increased heart and breathing rate, improved muscle contraction and delayed muscular fatigue.
A public notice or announcement especially one advertising goods or services in newspapers, on posters, or in broadcasts
Public notices or paid announcements, especially those in print. For announcements paid for by an advertiser and broadcast on radio or television, use "commercials."
The nonpersonal presentation of goods, services, or ideas for action, openly paid for by an identified entity. KAUFAD.
advertising card
Use for cards distributed by merchants or manufacturers to advertise or promote their business or product, sometimes as premiums. For small printed sheets or cards bearing tradesmen's advertisements from the 17th through the 19th century, use "trade cards." For cards made later, bearing the name and address of a business concern and the name of its representative, and intended more for information than for advertising, use "business cards." For cards made later and issued primarily to be collected, with or without advertisements on them, use "collecting cards." For cards intended to be posted as public advertisements, use "posters" or its narrower terms.


text:
California's latest experiment in faith-based policymaking is being unleashed today on the San Diego public, as regional water-quality officials begin hearings on new regulations that seem crafted to turn most owners of a car, house or dog into criminals within a decade or so. We wish we were exaggerating.
Under the draft rules, ordinary homeowners may face six years in prison and fines of $100,000 a day if they are deemed serial offenders of such new crimes as allowing sprinklers to hit the pavement, washing a car in the driveway, or, conceivably, failing to pick up dog poop promptly from their own backyards, let alone the sidewalk.
Cities throughout San Diego, south Orange and southwest Riverside counties must enforce the law, and set up 24-hour hot lines for people to report violations by their neighbors.
The new regulations even apply to firefighters, who would be forced to somehow capture and scrub the water running down the street from fire hoses and burning buildings, although the bureaucrats promise wiggle room for "emergency situations." We're at a loss to imagine the fire that doesn't present an emergency situation, but we're sure California's army of environmental lawyers will be glad to help cities figure that out in court.
The preposterous rules come from the earnest regulators at the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, which is supposed to stop pollution of our waterways and beaches.
Without question, the agency, in collaboration with local officials, has made important progress over the years. San Diego Bay, once heavily polluted, has become significantly cleaner, though heavily polluted areas of the bay remain. The county's beaches routinely earn "A" grades from an environmental group that measures closures.
Such gains came the old-fashioned way. Cities improved their sewage treatment systems. Officials cracked down on businesses that chronically dumped raw sewage and chemicals into storm drain systems. Restaurants cover grease containers these days, and people rarely dump trash or radiator fluid into a street gutter.
But now state officials are falling into the common trap of modern regulatory regimes – seeking small, questionable improvements at costs that promise to sap billions of dollars from the local economy.
In hundreds of pages, the new regulations set targets that measure bacteria from animal waste during dry periods at local beaches, even as they note that wide variations in bacteria occur naturally in the environment. And we could find no evidence from these officials that severe cuts in stormwater runoff will cause improvements in human or wildlife health. Indeed, nowhere do they bother to say why today's levels are considered bad for us.
To their credit, leaders of the city and county governments are beginning to protest the rules. Water-quality officials have promised to be flexible. Billions of dollars rest on that promise.


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Last updated: February 26, 2012
HHS Issues New Guidance on GINA
HHS Issues New Guidance on GINA
Entitled Guidance on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act: Implications for Investigators and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) [hhs.gov], the document developed by the HHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) offers the first formal guidance on this topic. The guidance applies to genetic research involving human subjects that is conducted or supported by HHS. Unless specific regulatory requirements are cited, the guidance simply represents OHRP's current thinking on the topic and should be viewed as recommendations.
GINA, which prohibits discrimination in health coverage and employment based on genetic information, was signed into federal law on May 21, 2008. The section of the law relating to health coverage generally will take effect between May 22, 2009 and May 21, 2010. The sections relating to employment will take effect on Nov. 21, 2009.
In addition to the guidance document, HHS has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Information for Researchers and Health Care Professionals, that touch upon aspects of GINA that are of particular interest to researchers and health-care professionals. Among the questions addressed are: "Does GINA have specific research provisions?", "Is GINA retroactive?" and "How will the law be enforced?"
"We strongly encourage investigators and IRB members to look over the new guidance and the FAQ. This information may prove helpful in discussions related to GINA that may arise as part of the research review or informed consent processes," said Laura Lyman Rodriguez, Ph.D., who is the acting director for the National Human Genome Research Institute's Office of Policy, Communications and Education.
Because GINA has implications regarding actual or perceived risks of genetic research and may affect a person's willingness to take part in such research, investigators should be aware of the protections that the law provides. They should also be familiar with the limitations in the law's scope and effect.
Members of Institutional Review Boards (IRB) should consider the provisions of GINA when assessing whether genetic research satisfies their criteria for approval, particularly whether risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits and whether adequate provisions are in place to project research participants' privacy and maintain data confidentiality. GINA is also relevant to informed consent. According to the HHS guidance, when investigators develop and IRBs review consent documents and processes, they should consider whether those documents and processes reflect the protections provided by GINA.
Comments on the HHS guidance documents are welcome at any time. They may be sent by e-mail to email@example.com; by Fax to 240-453-6909; or by mail to: GINA Guidance Comments, OHRP, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852.
HHS notes that comments received, including any personal information, will be made available to the public upon request.
To view the PDF document on this page, you will need Adobe Reader.
Last Reviewed: February 26, 2012


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|We are currently looking for a postdoctoral fellow interested in identifying the roles of non-coding variants using whole genome sequencing of patients with rare Mendelian phenotypes. This position is in collaboration with Merck Research Labs. Interested candidates should contact Shamil with a CV and statement of research interests and background.
|=====Job Opportunities=====
|We have an opportunity for a postdoctoral fellow interested in a computational project on the functional effects of coding variants. Generally, postdoctoral candidates with a strong background in computational biology, population genetics, protein structure or molecular evolution and interested in applications to human genetics are encouraged to contact Shamil.
|Specific opportunities for postdoctoral fellows and staff scientists are posted on this page when available. Irrespectively of specific openings, we always encourage qualified candidates to contact us.
|The Personal Genomics Consultation Service (PGCS) at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School analyzes patient cases with rare genetic phenotypes. PGCS is searching for a full time research scientist or computational biologist to help solve rare disease cases using computational genomics pipelines and bioinformatics tools, and to develop leading edge genetic algorithms that are essential to finding the genetic causes of rare phenotypes. Please see [[http://careers.brighamandwomens.org/JobDescription.aspx?Back=1&&jobId=2262379|the job posting for more information.]]
|===Position available: Postdoctoral Fellow in Statistical Genetics===
|We are looking for a statistical geneticist interested both in theory/method development and analysis of large scale sequencing, genotyping and epigenomics datasets. Potential projects will include the analysis of regulatory variation; unresolved issues of allelic architecture and phenotype prediction; development of new methods for the analysis of large-scale sequencing datasets. Experience in statistical genetics will be considered as a significant plus, and understanding of evolutionary and general genetics will also be valued. However, we will consider all applicants with a strong quantitative background willing to learn and work at the forefront of the rapidly expanding field.


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New/Current Students
ATSU Portal : Financial Aid : Student Services : Registrar : Graduation (ATSU login required) : Arizona Student Dental Association (ASDA) : University Student Handbook : iconnet news portal
Whether you're a new student or are currently enrolled, you're probably finding out that ATSU's Mesa Campus is an exciting place to learn! Home not only to ASDOH but also the Arizona School of Health Sciences, the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and the Arizona Health & Technology Park, ATSU-Mesa is poised to change the face of healthcare today. Wiith a focus on compassion, integrity, innovation, and collaboration, you truly are part of something special.


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Is Kelly Clarkson Getting Hitched?
Kelly Clarkson recently lost weight and went blonde. Some speculated that it was to look even hotter than normal on 'Duets,' but some are whispering that the 'Dark Side' singer's slim down is in preparation for something else: a wedding!
While Clarkson, 30, isn't engaged, she's expecting to be soon. The 'American Idol' alum has been dating Brandon Blackstock since late last year, and she adores him so much that he actually hinders her breakup anthem songwriting. The National Enqurier reports (quotes via The Telegraph) that Kel is expecting Blackstock to pop the question pretty soon, so she wants to look as hot as humanly possible.
"Kelly's expecting an engagement ring by late summer and to be wed by year's end," a source told National Enquirer (which is why we're taking this with a grain of salt, PopCrushers!). "Sure, she wants to look great for the singing show 'Duets,' but the driving force behind her weight loss is the holiday nuptials."
Clarkson reportedly loves feeling healthier and making an effort for her beau. "Kelly has been eating [well] and exercising like crazy because she wants to look good for Brandon," the source said. "She loves to tell him that when he pops the question she'll be at her ideal weight of 120lbs. – and ready to shop for wedding dresses."
Here's where it gets odd. Who actually says that? "Hey baby, when you finally propose, I'll be X number of pounds!" Though the couple are getting serious, we don't know if a wedding is in the cards just because Clarkson's slimming down — though we'd be stoked for her either way!
Watch the Kelly Clarkson 'Dark Side' Video


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Get fired up for water
The House will vote any day now on two bills designed to kill restoring protections for our waterways. At stake here is the drinking water for one in three Americans, as well as the quality of life that comes from enjoying our favorite waterways.
Please send your representative a quick note letting him or her know you're fired up for clean water.


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A performing arts legend was honored in Meridian, just weeks after his death.
Meridian Little Theatre Director Jimmy Pigford was remembered during Thursday night's performance of Steel Magnolias.
Pigford died Feb. 4. Until his hospitalization after suffering a fall, the longtime director was working to prepare for the performance.
Locals we caught up with said they wouldn't have missed the show for anything.
"It's very sad," MLT board member Gloria Moore said. "In fact, I dreaded coming, but I knew I had to do it. It'll never be the same. Meridian won't be the same without him."
"Mr. Pigford gave so much to the schools," Mandy Goldman said. "And so much to the community and so much to everyone."
Pigford was in his 50th year as MLT director. He had planned to retire after the season.


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Since you need to plug in your power recliner anyway, it just makes sense that they are now available with built-in USB charging ports for powering up your phones and devices. Thanks to this handy USB port right beside your cupholders, it's super easy to use your laptop for working at home or watching movies and TV. Just snuggle into the loveseat and power up! Additional charge may apply.
We'll specially make a sofa or chair in the fabrics you want, and get it to you faster than those other suppliers. We're always working to reduce lead times and bring the product to to your home faster, usually in as few as 21 days. Check with the store to find a lead time adjusted for your location.
Use the built-in console to store remotes, chargers, and other small items that could easily get lost in the depths of cushions.
Keep your drink within reach as you enjoy a movie or a sporting event. Having built in cup holders also helps eliminate spills and stains.
Open a hidden, velcro-sealed flap in the seat back and you can adjust the amount of premium cushioning fiber for better comfort. The wear and tear of aging furniture is no longer a problem when you can renew the cushion's plushness by adding more polyester fiber fill.
The design of this clever reclining loveseat keeps dimensions modest to accommodate all types of homes while still including two seats and a storage console. The reclining loveseat is available with a space saver or rocking mechanism, and power upgrade is available for both. The power console loveseats include built-in USB charging ports for powering up your devices.
The Codie Power Rocking Reclining Loveseat with Storage Console and Cupholders by Studio 47 at Morris Home in the Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Northern Kentucky area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Small in size but never in comfort, the Codie collection is an easy way to make any new space feel like a cozy and established home. Codie recliners boast the sink-in comfort and timeless style that makes furniture memorable. Choose the option that works best for your family with choice of upholstery cover, movement type, and power upgrade. The console loveseat even adds extra storage and functionality to your space with cupholders and an optional power upgrade with USB charging port. The feel and quality of a Codie recliner is guaranteed to blow the competition away, making it a superb investment.
The Codie collection is a great option if you are looking for Casual furniture in the Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Northern Kentucky area.
These images are representative of this group as a whole and may differ from this item.
Browse other items in the Codie collection from Morris Home in the Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Northern Kentucky area.
This item has been tagged as: Sectional with Recliner, Recliner Sectional, Reclining Sectional, Seating, Couches, Couch, Sofa, Reclining Home Theater Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Accent Furniture, Reclining Love Seat, Loveseat Recliner, Reclining Couch, Reclining Sofa, Couch with Recliner, Sofa with Recliner, Motion Furniture, Moving Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Family Room Furniture, Great Room Furniture, Den Furniture, Home Furnishing
Morris Home operates five stores in Ohio and one in Kentucky and prides themselves on being the areas best choice for living room furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture, accent furniture, entertainment furniture, home office furniture, kids furniture, outdoor furniture, and mattresses. Morris' Centerville, OH furniture store, Dayton, OH furniture store, Springdale, OH furniture store, and Columbus, OH furniture store provide furniture shoppers from Cincinnati, Columbus, Sharonville, Kettering, Bevercreek, Huber Heights, and Hamilton, OH a top of the line shopping experience when looking for living room, dining room, bedroom, entertainment, accent, home office and kids furniture.
Errors on Our Site: Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Morris Furniture Co., Inc reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted and whether or not the order has been confirmed. If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase, you may return it in accordance with our Return Policy.
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Ensure Your Happiness: Please note that some website picture are for illustration purposes only and may vary from actual items available in our showroom. We recommend visiting our showroom prior to purchase to ensure that the fabric, color, and finish meet your expectations.
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


text: Njfinfan as many of you surely remember (either through good times, and good discussion, or as some of you surely know, that light but firm smack to the hand when you misbehaved...) has recently had a major heart attack. I'm hoping to find out more details soon, but I do know she is one of the kindest, most gentle person you could know. She loves her kids, and her husband and these last few years have been really hard for her in her personal life. Please send out your prayers, good thoughts, best wishes out to her and her family. God bless you Mary, We love you and wish you the best. John thank you this transcends everything else.


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Keith Bickley '90 Joins Class Agent Ranksby Tom Runge • January 21, 2005 Share:
Keith Bickley has agreed to join the class agent team as an agent for the Class of 1990. He joins Mike Fulton '90 who recently agreed to sign on as well. Keith currently teaches Philosophy at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. He enjoys teaching and is planning to return to school, probably in the Chicago area, for an advanced degree in the future. Before moving to De Kalb, Illinois, Keith worked for the Verizon Foundation in Tampa, Florida. Many thanks to Keith for agreeing to serve the College and his class as a class agent.


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European Commission
Brussels, 12 June 2013
Automatic exchange of information: frequently asked questions
(see also : IP/13/530)
What is the automatic exchange of information, for tax purposes?
The automatic exchange of information is regarded as the best system for ensuring that national tax authorities can assess and collect the taxes they are due on income and capital that their residents have abroad.
Under this system, Member States collect data on income earned in their territory by non-resident individuals. They then automatically transmit this data to the authorities where the individual resides, so that it can be taxed in line with the Member State of residence's rules.
These exchanges take place through a secure IT network (the CCN system) which ensures that EU data protection rules are fully respected. The information is exchanged using standard computerised formats that the Commission has developed in close cooperation with the Member States.
What provisions are already in place for automatic exchange of information (AEI) within the EU?
The automatic exchange of information is provided for under 2 key pieces of EU legislation.
1. The EU Savings Tax Directive
(Automatic exchange of information on savings income)
The automatic exchange of information was first introduced in the EU in 2005, through the Savings Tax Directive. Under this Directive, Member States spontaneously exchange information with each other on the interest that non-residents receive from savings in their territory.
Austria and Luxembourg have been allowed, for a transitional period, to apply a withholding tax instead of engaging in the automatic exchange of information on savings. Currently, the rate of this withholding tax is 35%. However, Luxembourg recently announced that it would be moving to the automatic exchange of information from 2015.
In 2008, the Commission proposed a revised Savings Tax Directive. The aim of this proposal is to close loopholes in the legislation that are being exploited by tax evaders (IP/08/1697). For example, the scope of the Savings Directive would be extended to cover investment funds, pensions and innovative financial instruments, and payments made through trusts and foundations would also be captured.
At the European Council in May 2013, EU leaders committed to the adoption of the revised Savings Tax Directive before the end of the year.
2. The Administrative Cooperation Directive
(automatic exchange of information on other income types)
In January 2013, a new Administrative Cooperation Directive entered into force. This legislation foresees, amongst other things, the automatic exchange of available information on five categories of income from 1 January 2015. These are: income from employment, director's fees, life insurance products, pensions, and immovable property.
It is also foreseen that this Directive would be reviewed in 2017, with a view to extending it to cover more categories of income and capital. Today's proposal accelerates this process, by proposing that the scope of the Administrative Cooperation Directive be extended to ensure that dividends, capital gains, other financial income and account balances are also covered by automatic information exchange from 1 January 2015.
What is the content of the proposal?
Today's proposal expands the scope of automatic exchange of information under the Administrative Cooperation Directive, so that it covers dividends, capital gains, any other financial income and account balances.
While the 5 categories of income1 already covered by the Administrative Cooperation Directive will only be subject to the automatic exchange if the information is "available", this exception will not apply to the new items listed in today's proposal. Automatic exchange will be mandatory for these new categories. This is because Member States will already be making that information available to the USA under their agreements with the US on the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
The Commission proposes that the condition of "availability" for the five existing categories of income and capital is re-assessed during a review of the Directive in 2017.
Why is the Commission proposing to extend the automatic exchange of information, and why now?
As part of the intense new drive amongst Member States to clamp down harder on tax evasion, the May 2013 European Council called for priority to be given to extending automatic exchange of information at both EU and global level. However, uncoordinated action on this matter could lead to damaging fragmentation of the Single Market, and would not be as effective as an EU-27 approach.
Therefore, in order to ensure a coherent EU approach, and responding to Member States' new appetite for more ambition in this field, the Commission feels it is timely to enlarge the scope of automatic exchange of information at an accelerated pace.
In addition, Member States either have, or are negotiating, a FATCA agreement with the USA. The scope of automatic information exchange under FATCA is broader than is currently provided for under EU law. Therefore, these FATCA agreements could trigger a series of "most favoured nation" claims between the Member States (see question on FATCA below for full information on this point). Today's proposal will ensure that the scope of automatic exchange of information between Member States is just as wide as the scope of FATCA, thereby avoiding the need for the most favoured nation clause to be invoked.
Finally, extending automatic information exchange, under EU law, to cover the full range of income and capital also ensures a fair and neutral approach to all different assets i.e. they will all be subject to the same rules.
Why is this best done at EU level?
An EU framework of automatic exchange of information is needed both from an internal market perspective and for reasons of efficiency and effectiveness:
It will ensure a coherent, consistent and comprehensive approach to automatic exchange of information within the Single Market. As such, it will avoid loopholes and overlaps that could be created by a patchwork of national or bilateral approaches.
It will provide legal certainty for tax administrations and economic operators.
It will ensure equal treatment of all different types of assets under EU law, thereby avoiding undesirable reallocation of portfolios.
It will save costs and burdens for tax administrations and economic operators, as it is designed to make use of the IT systems already in place to facilitate information exchange under the Savings Directive and Administrative Cooperation Directive.
How does the Commission's proposal relate to the USA's FATCA?
EU Member States, like other countries across the world, are negotiating bilateral agreements with the US related to its Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The agreements provide a framework for automatic information exchange between US and foreign tax administrations on the income of US citizens abroad. Under the model agreement negotiated by certain EU Member States and the Commission with the USA (so-called Model 1), there should be reciprocity in this information exchange.
FATCA had a particular significance for the EU in terms of the level of information that Member States should automatically exchange with each other.
The abovementioned Administrative Cooperation Directive contains a "most favoured nation" clause (Art. 19). Under this clause, Member States are bound to provide any EU partner that requests it with the same level of information as they provide third countries, if this is more than provided for under EU law.
With today's proposal, EU legislation (Savings Directive + Administrative Cooperation Directive) will provide for the same scope of automatic exchange of information between Member States as is required under the US FATCA. As such, there would be no need for the most favoured nation clause to be triggered, and the EU will remain a global leader in the area of automatic information exchange.
How does this proposal relate to the "pilot project" on information exchange, launched by five Member States earlier this year?
On 9 April 2013 five EU Member States (DE, FR, ES, IT, UK) announced their intention to cooperate on a "pilot multilateral exchange facility". Through this, they would exchange the same type of information amongst themselves as they will exchange with the USA under FATCA. The logic of this initiative was to avoid the need to trigger the Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) clause in the Administrative Cooperation Directive (see FATCA question above). Since then, 12 other Member States (BE, CZ, DK, FI, IE, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK) have indicated their wish to join the pilot initiative.
Today's proposal offers Member States a means of carrying out this extended automatic exchange of information within a Community framework, with a legal structure that would apply throughout the EU. There are clear benefits to an EU approach rather than a bilateral/multilateral one in this area. It will avoid a patchwork of different bilateral agreements, which could leave loopholes and create additional costs for both administrators and businesses. It will also ensure that all 27 Member States benefit from this expanded information exchange on an equal basis, and create greater legal certainty for operators. Finally, it will mean that a single, strong automatic information exchange system is applied within the EU, putting the Union in a stronger position to push for similar standards internationally.
What are the international developments in relation to automatic information exchange, and what is the EU's role in this?
The EU has been the long-time pioneer of automatic exchange of information internationally. Since the Savings Tax Directive entered into force in 2005, it has been the only region in the world to apply this higher standard of information exchange for tax purposes. It has used this position as global fore-runner to also push for higher standards of tax good governance internationally.
When developing the FATCA, the USA took automatic exchange of information as its basis. As a result, every country or financial institution2 in the world will have to automatically transmit specific information to the US authorities on their US account holders.
With the world's two largest economic blocks now pushing the automatic exchange of information, there has been a new shift in this direction in the global arena.
In February 2013, G20 Finance Ministers committed to working towards making the automatic exchange of information the global standard. This idea will be taken forward at the the upcoming G8 Summit (June 2013) and G20 Summit (September 2013). The Commission will work with Member States to ensure that there is a strong, unified EU position, pushing to secure higher international standards of tax good governance worldwide. This reflects the call of the May 2013 European Council to give priority to extending the automatic exchange of information at international level, as well as at EU level.
In addition to these global developments, the Commission has also recently received a mandate to negotiate stronger savings tax agreements with Switzerland, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and Lichtenstein. (see speech/13/…). The aim of these negotiations will be to ensure these countries engage in equivalent levels of transparency and information exchange with the EU, as is carried out within the EU itself. The Commission will take into account international trends and developments in the negotiations, including the international shift towards greater automatic exchange of information.
Employment, Director's fees, life insurance products, pensions, immovable property
Depending on the Model agreed with the USA – most EU Member states have chosen to follow Model 1, which is a government-to-government approach to exchanging information.
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BCBG's Lubov Azria Dishes Fall Dressing Advice!
When Lubov Azria — creative director of BCBG and wife of founder Max Azria — dishes fashion advice, we're all ears. That's because not only does the Ukranian beauty have a fashion degree from FIDM, but she's been working at the BCBG Max Azria Group since 1991 (she married Max in 1992). And her job is no joke — she's in charge of the company's design team and oversees marketing and merchandising for BCBG's over 20 labels, like Herve Leger and Max Azria. In the latest BCBG Max Azria newsletter, Lubov dishes Fall dressing advice, more specifically about textures and layering. You don't want to miss this.


text: « Return to Search Deeba Husain, M.D., Joins Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Retina Consultants, Stoneham and the Retina Service of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston April 26, 2013 BOSTON (April 26, 2013) – Deeba Husain, M.D. will join the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Retina Service as a member of the full-time staff in May, 2013. Dr. Husain is a board certified ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal specialist. As a clinician scientist, her clinical interests span macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vein occlusions, and medical and surgical management of all vitreoretinal conditions including retinal detachment and macular holes. Dr. Husain will serve as site director of Mass. Eye and Ear, Retina Consultants located at 3 Woodland Road in Stoneham, joining Drs. Daniel Esmaili, M.D., Dean Eliott, M.D., Leo A. Kim, M.D., Ph.D., and Jason Comander, M.D., Ph.D. The practice opened in January 2012 and offers Stoneham and surrounding communities a full range of expert subspecialty medical and surgical care for retina-related eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye diseases. "Dr. Husain is a highly skilled and accomplished retina physician who adds a significant level of in-depth knowledge to our already outstanding team at Retina Consultants," said Department of Ophthalmology Chair at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital, Joan W. Miller, MD, FARVO, adding, "We are very excited to be here and believe that we offer a valuable service to the community. With Dr. Husain on board, we will continue to reach out and partner with neighboring hospitals and referring physicians to make accessible, affordable and high quality retinal care readily available to their patients." Dr. Husain attended medical school at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, India. In 1995, she joined the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear to conduct post-doctoral research in photodynamic therapy and age-related macular degeneration with Evangelos Gragoudas, MD and Joan W. Miller, MD, FARVO. She subsequently completed ophthalmology residency training at Harvard Medical School, followed by subspecialty training as a vitreoretinal fellow at Mass. Eye and Ear. In 2003, Dr. Husain was recruited to the Boston University School of Medicine, where she currently serves as Director of the Retina Service and Director of the Retina Fellowship training program at the institution. Actively involved in retina research, Dr. Husain has contributed numerous book chapters, review articles, and original papers in peer review journals. She has presented her work at various national and international Retina meetings. At Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Husain will continue her translational research in diseases of the Retina with a focus on age-related macular degeneration. She speaks Hindi and Urdu. Dr. Husain will be seeing patients at Retina Consultants in Stoneham and at Mass. Eye and Ear's main Charles Street campus in Boston. To refer a patient or to make an appointment with Retina Consultants, please call 781-662-5520. For appointments at Mass. Eye and Ear's main Charles Street campus in Boston, call 617-573-3202. About Mass. Eye and Ear, Retina Consultants Specialists at Mass. Eye and Ear Retina Consultants are equipped to treat diseases affecting the vitreous, macula, and retina. They employ the most advanced tools in the diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration and other diseases of the retina. All specialists are board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and hold faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School. About Massachusetts Eye and Ear Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. After uniting with Schepens Eye Research Institute in 2011, Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston became the world's largest vision and hearing research center, offering hope and healing to patients everywhere through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology through residency training as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals Survey" has consistently ranked the Mass. Eye and Ear Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology as top five in the nation. For more information about life-changing care and research, or to learn how you can help, please visit MassEyeAndEar.org.


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An intimate sustainable and fulfilled life is not a luxury option; it's the conclusion of our faith in our maker and in mankind.
Our greatest passion at Let's-Live Coaching is to assist and guide people to escape a type of living where the center theme of life is that of hurt, pain, fear, guilt, self- doubt and un-forgiveness.
We firmly hold on to the belief that, not knowing who you are or even the slightest disbelief in your original authentic blue print and design kept you captive and trapped you in an inferior mind-set and or unworthy opinion of yourself.
Francois therefore design his personal one to one coaching sessions on the following principles and beliefs:
|Our faith, love, compassion and sense of appreciation for the uniqueness in each individual compels us to design and tailor each personal one to one coaching session, to promote our clients unique blue print and assist him/her to overcome his/her unique obstacles and challenges.
If we gaze upon various arts, we might not understand the zeal and the power of the hidden seed, which responded to the prophetic voice of his creator. A single seed or idea, that finds his expression, in the unveiling of his artwork.
We believe in your dreams, the ones that keep rising from within yourself and appeals to your conscious to break over and above the horizon. The awareness of who you are and the greatness that dwells inside of you supersedes the self-created reality of lack and need.
Acquaint yourself with your childhood dreams and awaken to the truth of your life. Continue to harbour these thoughts within you and allow your dreams to release the infinite sea of possibilities, whilst you ponder on the idea of booking your personal one to one coaching session.
P.S Have you "notice" the change already!


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BEEVILLE — Two years ago, when Dr. Jamie Foster was moving from Florida to become a Texas AgriLife Research forage agronomist in South Texas, her job almost hit her in the face, literally.
"When I first moved here, I was driving between Mathis and Skidmore (near Corpus Christi)," Foster said. "The wind was blowing and topsoil was hitting my car."
She thought of the 500 years it takes for the earth to produce 1 inch of topsoil, she said.
"I wondered why people were producing crops the way they were."
After settling in at her job at the Texas AgriLife Research Station in Beeville, Foster learned that for lots of reasons conventional tillage was the preferred method of producing crops.
"I thought that incorporating strip-tillage with a legume cover crop in the winter might be a good solution to a lot of the problems we are facing," she said. "Here in South Texas, those problems are primarily moisture availability because of the drought situations and low rainfall in general, and also rising fertilizer prices."
The price of nitrogen in fertilizers has increased as fuel prices have increased, Foster said.
"Phosphorous and potassium fertilizers also have their limitations," she said. "They are limited resources, and we're competing with India and China more and more every day for these other two primary resources."
Foster is now working to identify legumes adapted to growing conditions in South Texas, including medics and clover, which have the potential to serve as cover crops.
"As off-season cover crops, the legumes have the potential to hold the soil in place on windy days and also improve the nitrogen cycling and availability," she said. "Legumes do take a lot of phosphorus to grow, but as they degrade in the soil, they leave some behind that's available for the row crops that follow its production, be it cotton or sorghum."
As the cool-season legumes grow, they can be harvested periodically for hay for added income, or even grazed, she added.
"That would reduce the amount of moisture required to grow the legumes," she said.
In conventional tillage, the entire field is tilled between crops; in strip tillage less than 70 percent of the field is tilled as growers leave behind 6- to 18-inch wide strips of untilled soil, Foster explained.
Growers in South Texas leave their fields completely bare and exposed during the off season for a couple of reasons, Foster said.
"It is easier to manage a tilled field, and other states have restrictions against conventional tillage," she said. "Or, they offer incentives to not till a field completely to reduce runoff. And there's a perception that a clean field is a better, neater field."
This fall, Foster is starting legume research demonstration plots in Uvalde and Beeville to determine which perform best.
"We'll do the research and develop data before making any recommendations," she said. "Growers are not likely to change their practices until they know this strip-tillage, legume system will improve yields and increase profits."
Foster said the research will be relevant to a large swatch of South Texas – a line from Victoria to San Antonio to Yoakum.
"Our research project will start with 1 acre of legumes at each of our two sites in Beeville and Uvalde, then we'll scale that up after a crop rotation cycle when we find a few legumes that will work," she said.
Foster said the changing economic times are making a strip tillage with legume cover crop system more attractive to growers.
"When fertilizer and fuels were relatively cheap and moisture was abundant, it was easy to continue with conventional tillage, or no till," she said. "But with those prices rising so dramatically, so is interest in this new system. Strip-till equipment is available and there are now modern legume cultivars to choose from."
The advantages of switching are just too enticing to ignore, Foster said.
"Lots of problems, both environmental and financial are solved," she said. "It reduces erosion, soil moisture loss and nitrogen loss. It improves organic matter in soil which means the soil is holding carbon. That reduces carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses and global warming. Plus, hay sales and grazing can increase incomes. That's a lot of wins."
Yet another plus could be that legumes break up insect pest cycles, Foster said.
"Dr. Mike Brewer, an entomologist at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi, will be making observations," she said. "Planting the same crops year after year, even in a cotton/sorghum rotation, tends to attract insects and promote continuous breeding cycles. Insects may not be interested if we introduce legumes."


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Thousands of sharks, heading north after migrating to the south for winter, prompted beach closures along South Florida's Atlantic coastline. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Several beaches along South Florida's Atlantic coast line were closed after thousands of sharks were seen migrating in the waters.
The sharks were migrating from Boca Raton to Jupiter since the beginning of March, marine biologists told NBC Miami.
Biologists said the sharks are going north after migrating to the south for the winter.
Lifeguards at Midtown Beach saw spinner sharks in the waters and put up red flags to tell beachgoers they couldn't enter the water.
"It's dangerous. It's not what you would expect. Families come out here to enjoy the weather, beach, and sand, but now they can't.They have to travel a little bit further than they should," said beachgoer Guirlene Exantus.
Doctors at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach told WPTV that they see about five to six shark bite victims annually. These bites are usually minor, but can put the victim at risk for infections.
Swimmers are advised to swim close at beaches with lifeguards and take jewelry off before getting in the water as experts say sharks are attracted to silver, yellow and gold.
Jeff Langlois / The Palm Beach Post via ZUMAPRESS.com
A pod of spinner sharks is seen through a wave at Midtown Beach, Fla. A huge swarm of sharks has shut down beaches of Florida as they migrate up the East Coast.
Tourist Tori Bradshaw just arrived in South Florida from her home state of Washington.
"Well, we don't have sharks in Washington," she said "I really wanted to go swimming."
"If there are sharks, you aren't going to find me in there. Only in Las Vegas," said Burt Abrams, visiting from Cleveland, Ohio.
They've actually enjoyed being in the water on the their vacation and were surprised to hear they may have not been swimming alone.
"The water has been beautiful. It's been warm. I don't think they come in this shallow, but I'm not going to test it," Bernice Abrams said.


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TOLBY is a memorable and fun way for youth to learn about energy efficiency.
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Pull up a chair and watch this video for some simple, practical ways to reduce energy drips in your home and stop paying for energy that you never get to use.
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Pain of Mating
Mating isn't always easy. It isn't always simple. Sometimes it is complicated. Sometimes there is hate and anger as well as love and need.
1. Chapter 1
Rating 0/5 Word Count 2601 Review this Chapter
Ok so this is my first attempt at fanfiction so please be kind!! In this story the whole mating process is a bit AU. In my world mating for a vampire is instant like imprinting and very powerful. The males are extremely possessive and protective of their mates and the instinct to claim, love and worship is overwhelming. A soul-deep connection binds and pulls them together. If a vampire mates with another vampire then things are fine, the female understands instinctively and there are no problems. But if a vampire mates with a human then it is a different story altogether. He cannot change her immediately as the bond needs time to strengthen and grow but he can't not be without her as his need to possess and claim is too strong. Furthermore he would want to slaughter everyone around her as his jealousy would overtake. In this story Jasper mates with a human Bella Swan and his only option is to kidnap her and fake her death. This story is about how they cope with what has happened.
Disclaimer – I own nothing of the twilight world. I am merely borrowing them.
Chapter One: Hated Beginnings
Jasper POV
It was done. Isabella Swan no longer existed. She died in a car accident when her truck popped a wheel and collided into a tree. She died instantly and was buried this morning by her foster parents next to her father who had been buried only two weeks previously.
I looked down at the beauty on the bed and tried to push my emotions down so that I didn't accidentally infect her with them. She was beautiful, perfection. Long, luxurious waves of chestnut and mahogany brown hair fell down to her waist, long black eye lashes framed eyes which I knew to be the deepest chocolate brown and her lips well full and pouty, the softest pink and begging to be kissed. Her stature was slight, she stood at only five feet four, a full foot shorter than me and while she was slim she was also blessed with soft full curves that I desperately wanted to touch and caress. She was everything I ever wanted. My mate. My reason for being and I knew that she would hate me. She was Isabella Cullen now. As much as I wanted her to take my name I didn't dare give her it as her new identity, I wanted her to consent to be my wife and take my name, although at the moment I doubted she would. I glanced down at my sleeping, human mate and once again felt self-loathing fill me. To kidnap her, take her and fake her death was the only option we could think of that wouldn't lead to all our deaths but I knew that she would in all likelihood not see it like that. I had taken away her freedom, her choice. She is my mate and I had to have her with me and while there are many reasons – good reasons – as to why we did what we did it doesn't change the fact that none of us asked Isabella what she wanted. In fact none of us have ever even spoken to her, never even been introduced and she would hate me, hate us all.
"You are going to have to let her wake up eventually Jazz" Alice said to me, trying to smile supportively. I looked down at the little pixie and I knew she was right. I had been keeping Isabella in a permanent state of lethargy and sleepiness for three days, I would let her wake up just enough to go to the bathroom or have some soup and then sent her back to sleep. It was wrong and yet another reason for her to hate me but firstly I needed to keep her quite and subdued until I could get her moved and secondly – as cowardly – as it seemed, I didn't want to look into her beautiful eyes and see her hatred, anger and fear just yet.
"She's right Major, you need to let your mate wake up and meet you properly" my brother Peter told me in an uncharacteristically serious voice. He and his wife and mate Charlotte had left their home in Texas to join us for awhile and they were both as concerned and worried for me and my mate as the Cullen's were. Finally after another hour I sighed and straightened my shoulders and slowly as the whole family stood and watched I drew my mate out of her sleep. Her eyes opened fully and consciously and for this first time she gazed at me with eyes full of awareness.
Edward POV
I have never heard so many minds full of self-loathing and self-hatred. But then my family has never hated ourselves and what we are as much as we do now. We are all sitting in the living room in silence, misery pouring out of us as we listen to Isabella weep and sob upstairs. Her anger, sorrow and hatred knows no bounds. We had little trouble convincing her of what we were – turns out that those damned wolves were friends of hers and she had heard the stories as a small child. That combined with a small display of our gifts and powers was enough to convince her that we are indeed gifted vampires. No, our trouble lies in the fact that as predicted and feared she hates us. We explained it all, including how the mating works and how we had to fake her death and how for a variety of reasons she was stuck with us, trapped and imprisoned is how she described it. Yet it still took over three hours before she truly understood that we couldn't let her go, couldn't let her leave and now she knows I don't think she will ever forgive us. Suddenly we hear her move and we all look upwards and wait on the proverbial edge of our seats as we listen to her slowly come down the stairs. She stands in the doorway looking very fragile, eyes red from crying. She looks at us all individually for a moment. Her eyes come to me first taking me in and my beautiful pixie mate who sits uncharacteristically still and sombre next to me, then her eyes flicker to Emmett and Rosalie who stand side by side, then onto Peter and Charlotte – the latter sitting on the formers lap, then onto Carlisle and Esme who sit on the love-seat together and finally the briefly rest on Jasper who stands in front of the fire looking utterly devastated. Finally she speaks,
"If I ask a question, will you all answer honestly?" her voice is low and raw from crying and we all rush to assure that we will indeed answer her honestly, Carlisle, waves his hand for quiet
"I assure you Isabella that there will be no secrets from you and we will all answer any questions you have as honestly and openly as we can" He speaks calmly, repeating what we as a family had agreed upon while she was asleep. She nods, seeming to believe us. Then she asks her question.
"Were you all in agreement?" none of us need to ask her to clarify, she wants to know if we all agree with the decision to take her, to fake her death and to keep her here. And as I look at the faces of my family I don't need my gift to know what they are thinking – oh shit. She is going to hate us all individually now as well as collectively and we all know it. Peter seems to decide to be the brave first one and stands up and steps forward. Isabella takes a step backwards and Peter brings his hands up in peace. He waits a second and when she nods, he speaks
Peter POV
I know she will hate me. I can feel it. But my gift also tells me that it is vital that we are all honest with her. She will certainly never forgive us if we lie to her on top of everything else we have already done and so with that in mind, and maintaining eye contact with the beautiful human that is my brothers entire world I speak,
"I would never wish you any harm little bird and I know that we have hurt you deeply with our actions and for that I am so sorry but yes I was in agreement with taking you. You belong with Jasper little bird, you are his mate, his other half and this was the only way we could keep everyone safe and together. Its insane I know but Jasper is my brother, I desperately want to seem him happy and your his mate, he needs you to be at his side and so you had to be with us, nothing could stand in the way of that." She raises an eyebrow,
"Not even my free will? Not even what I might want?" I don't answer, there is nothing I can say. Finally she nods.
"Thank you for being honest with me Peter. But please never call me little bird or any other nickname ever again. You don't know me and we are not friends or family so please drop the nicknames" She speaks clearly and coldly and it hurts, I have to admit. When I realised that Jasper would find his mate I was hoping she would be my little sister but it seems this may never happen. I tense as I feel Char stand and take my hand,
Charlotte POV
I feel Peter tense as I stand next to him. I can tell he is worried that I may be angry towards Isabella for her coldness towards him, mates are after all fiercely protective but I'm not. While I wish it wasn't the case I understand her position and can't fault her for it, I squeeze my mates hand reassuringly and feel him relax before I speak,
"I feel the same as Peter, I was in agreement but I hope you can let me get to know you at some point in the future because I would truly love to be friends" she nods at me but the coldness in her eyes doesn't change. Alice and Edward stand next.
Edward POV
I decide quickly what to say and go for it,
"While I worried about the effects I was totally in agreement but am deeply sorry for your pain" she nods and looks at my mate who already looks like she is going to sob and I pray that Isabella isn't harsh with Alice who has been hoping so intensely to be friends with Isabella.
Alice POV
Like Edward, my gift does not appear to work on Isabella, or at least not very well and so I don't know how she will take what I have to say,
"I agreed but I really do think you could be happy with Jasper and with us. Mates love each other so much and you could have such wonderful relationships with us all" she looks at me with such anger I feel my heart ache in sadness,
"Yes but people in wonderful relationships usually choose to be in them Alice – a luxury I have not had" I can't argue a point but I start to grieve the friendship I see slipping away from me. Esme comes to stand next to me her hand on my shoulder as Carlisle speaks next.
"I was in agreement as well and I am sorry for the pain caused to you my dear" She nods to him and her reaction is the same when Emmett simply repeats the statement sadly, having decided after her reaction to me and Peter not to try and convince her that he meant no harm and wants her as his baby sister. Esme however quickly makes the decision to reach out to Isabella and my heart clenches in worry.
Esme POV
I can see the sadness in my family and am desperate to ease it. I look towards Isabella whose anger radiates around her and try to say something, anything that may ease her anger and hatred
"I was in agreement and understand you anger and hatred towards us but would like to beg you to try and see that none us have meant anything maliciously. We truly didn't see any other way out and want nothing more than you happiness" her anger flares wildly in her eyes for a moment but then surprisingly softens, she nods at me and the turns to look at Rosalie, the last member of the family to give her opinion. We all instinctively know that Jasper will not be saying anything because his opinion is obvious, she is his mate.
Rosalie POV
I step forward much more than the others until I am only three feet away from Isabella and look right at her. Her fear is spiked but she is a brave little thing and maintains my glance. I take an unnecessary breath before I say my piece.
"Before I give my answer Isabella, I need to say something else, is that ok?' I ask, trying to show her that I respect her and what she says, she nods and I continue 'I love my family, I love them fiercely and desperately and so will always, always protect and support them. No matter what. Can you understand that?" I ask
"Yes, of course" she answers surprising everyone by engaging with me
"Good because I need you to know that whilst I will always support my family and help them, always support and help Jasper that does not mean that I necessarily agree with them all the time. In this case I did not agree. I understand the mating call certainly and the need to have you mate with you but as a woman who had her free will taken away from them, as a woman who never wanted this life but who later through finding her mate came to love and accept it, I did not agree with taking you the way we did. I did not agree with faking your death and making dozens of decisions about you and your life without consulting you and I am sorry for that. But I hope you can understand that whilst I didn't and don't agree with what has been done to you I have to support my family and try to help everyone including yourself cope with the situation we are now in." Everyone around me is silent. They all knew that I did not approve – I said so repeatedly – but none of them expected me to be as open with Isabella as I have been. I can't quite explain but I feel the need to help and befriend her. I know she will not allow any of the others to help her or be close to her – not yet anyway but I am hoping she may let me, at least a little. She looks at me and there is no anger and my relief is immediate,
"Thank you Rosalie, truly and I do understand." she gives me a small smile and then without looking at anyone else, turns and returns to her bedroom.
- Author
- daughterofartemis
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- 8701
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- Published
- 28 Mar 11
- Updated
- 09 Apr 11
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- In Progress