text:
Magnet360, Mindtree's Salesforce practice, named Leader for providing Professional Services for SF Sales and Service Cloud (USA) and a Rising Star (Germany) in the ISG Provider Lens Quadrant Report 2019
ISG has recognized Magnet360, Mindtree's Salesforce practice, a Leader for providing Professional Services for Salesforce Sales and Service Cloud in the USA and as a Rising Star in Germany in the ISG Provider LensTM Quadrant Report 2019. The reports recognize Magnet360's strong expertise across all the respective products and various industries. It has been called out to have a strong Salesforce related portfolio with numerous productivity tools and comprehensive industry solutions.
Download the ISG reports to learn more about the various offerings around the Salesforce platform for the US and the German markets.The reports analyze providers that act as implementation partners for Salesforce and offer services to design, configure and implement solutions for clients of the Salesforce platform. The focus of the study is on the Sales Cloud and the Service Cloud products within the Salesforce platform, as these are the most mature products within the Salesforce portfolio.


text:
Welfare (De) Form
People Skool for Poverty Skolaz- Tacuma
People Skool for Poverty Skolaz- Joe
From "CARE" to Cages- for Houseless Folks in amerikkklan
My Khmerikan Family: How deportation affected my life
Politricks and Poverty- Across this Stolen Land in this State of emergency
'The Stigmatic End of the Welfare Queen; Farewell to the Punitive MFG Rule in Cali'
Overwhelmed, Unhoused, Unhelped Mamaz in struggle: The violence of poverty and houselessness on single parents
Gripping the steering wheel so tightly my hands hurt, I saw my mama so many years before, looking straight ahead to the road, trying to not let the mountain of tears crush her soft face. Now it was me and my sun alone on the highway, 30 years later, trying to drive away from my torn and crumbled heart..
I was determined to run my life
"You can make lots of money." At this moment the skies opened up and I heard every T crossed and I dotted. His mask of deception seemed almost kind and sincere.
Bam. Suddenly the dreary clouds were in my midst. There was no air. I had fell prey to the ugliest of greed. I was kidnapped, trapped, and freedom suddenly had a price. Every night was his delight.
Health Care for Everybody
Aug 7, 2014
Imagine leaving the hospital after seeing the doctor, and the only thing you have to worry about is, "Do I have food in the refrigerator?" Your hospital care is all taken care of by the government, no matter what it was. Your doctor is paid for and their services are not costing you a dime.
This is not a dream. Ninety percent of the world has this system. All industrial countries have this except for the United States of America. In its place, they have the brutality better known as insurance companies.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Founded in 1790 as the Charleston Orphan House, CYDC's mission is to empower and equip our community's most vulnerable children by providing a safe environment, educational support and career readiness, in collaboration with families and community partners. Our vision is that all children will have loving and stable families and a nurturing community empowering them to lead successful lives.
CYDC has had to cancel or postpone our two most significant fundraising events, that occur in April and September, and combined generate nearly $400,000 in revenue for our organization. Consequently, we are relying more on the generosity of our donors and grant funders during this time to help us maintain critical programs and services that enable us to fulfill our mission of protecting our community's most vulnerable children.In 2017, CYDC began the implementation of a multi-year strategy to transform its service offerings to increase the impact on the emotional, physical, social and educational success of the children it serves. Chief among its priorities are the victims of child abuse, neglect and abandonment that are entrusted to its care by the SC Department of Social Services through its foster care services. Using evidence-based and evidence-informed practices,CYDC provides prevention and intervention services for children throughout the state of SC.●CYDC operates four residential care facilities, which provide temporary and/or long-term foster care for children suffering from the impact of emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse and neglect.●CYDC is a partner of The Children's Defense Fund and offers a summer Freedom Schools program to provide enrichment through a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, and nutrition, health and mental health.●CYDC's family-focused, community outreach programs support the family structure, with an aim of stabilizing families in order to reduce the opportunity for abuse and neglect.
World Health Organization. Resource for best dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Follow Growth Under Pressure on Twitter
Growth Under Pressure on Facebook
Startup support hub in Silicon Harbor: Charleston, SC, and a leader in Growth Under Pressure: responding to a crisis as an entrepreneur means thinking on your feet to thrive in spite of it.
Youth sports fundraising with charity partnership to support the growth of our young athletes. Sponsor of the Growth Under Pressure fundraising platform.
Thought Leadership Consultancy and Marketing - originator of the Growth Under Pressure concept.


text:
Reserve this Sponsor Box
Contact the Racine Wide Web
Phone: 262-989-8299
Reserve this Sponsor Box
Contact the Racine Wide Web
Phone: 262-9 9-8299
Reserve this Sponsor Box
Contact the Racine Wide Web
Phone: 262-989-8299
Reserve this Sponsor Box
Contact the Racine Wide Web
Phone: 262-989-8299
Employment Services
Accountsource Inc
6921 Mariner Drive
View More Professional Articles
Should You Apply for Temporary Jobs?
Written by Sylvia Hamrick
Posted: 1/22/08
Are you in need of a job? If you, you may be after your dream job. While everyone has their own variation of a dream job, you will find that most want flexible hours, steady work, and high pay. Unfortunately, not every job seeker is able to land their dream job or even a permanent job if that. If you are having difficultly finding employment, you may be in the process of examining temporary jobs, but are they right for you?
When it comes to determining if you should apply for temporary jobs, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration. These factors can help you make wise employment choices. A few of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when examining temporary jobs and temporary employment, are outlined below for your convenience.
One of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when examining temporary employment, is your current employment status. Speaking of your current employment status, are you currently employed or are you unemployed? This answer is important, as it can have an impact on whether or not temporary employment is right for you. As you likely already know, temporary jobs can last for as little as one week or as long as a few months. If you are currently employed, you may want to consider staying at your current job and searching for a more permanent job in your spare time. This is particularly important if you regularly find yourself having financial difficulties. It is important to remember that nothing is guaranteed with temporary employment.
In keeping with your current employment status, if you are unemployed, you may want to place a focus on temporary employment and temporary jobs. This is ideal if you are unemployed and not receiving any financial assistance, such as unemployment. If you are in need of money, it is important that you do just about anything possible to find a job to help you support yourself and your family. This also includes examining temporary jobs in your area. What is ideal about temporary employment is that most employers understand that their temporary employees are searching for more permanent jobs. This makes it easier for you to cease your working relationship with a temporary employer, should another job offer greet you at any point in time.
http://jobhuntingtip.09cn.com is a website that you can get some good tips for your job hunting. It has numerous resources are sure to be able to get you the information you need.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Hamrick
View More Professional Articles
245 S Main Street
American Placement Services
440 Main Street
Argus Technical Services
4501 Washington Avenue
Contemporary Medical Staffing
524 Main Street
Custom Staffing Solutions
1648 Washington Avenue
Express Personnel Services
5605 Washington Avenue
Halpin Personnel Inc
900 State Street
Innovative Support Services
3801 Contessa Court
Kelly Services
7115 Durand Avenue
Management Recruiters
8411 Corporate Drive
4701 Washington Avenue
PA Staffing Services Inc
405 Main Street
Personnel Inc
621 4 Mile Road
Professional Bilingual Staffing & Services
1338 Washington Avenue
QTI Staffing
5420 21st Street
QPS Companies Inc
616 Lake Avenue
Racine County Workforce Development
1717 Taylor Avenue
Racine Vocational Ministry
214 7th Street


text:
Digital Stories from Immortal Souls
Trendwatching calls it Life Caching: the trend towards marketing the notion of personal lives captured and stored forever in the cache of the digital matrix of the Internet: "Human beings (fueled by a need for self-worth, validation, control, vanity, even immortality) love to collect and store possessions, memories, experiences, in order to create personal histories, mementoes of their lives, or just to keep track for practical reasons. And with the experience economy still gaining ground -- with consumers more often favoring the intangible over the tangible -- collecting, storing and displaying experiences is ready for its big moment."
Recent ventures in the arena of life caching include OurStory, WikiBios, and Eternity4All. But the most poignant one is Dandelife, a new social networking site, currently in beta, that translates life caching into a social biography network built around telling life stories. Dandelife offers users the opportunity to write and share their personal memoirs online, one story at a time. A user's 'vanity page' shows a horizontal timeline, with events neatly placed in history, as well as photos, videos, tags, and favorite stories. Besides regular tags, users can also tag stories with the names of people involved in the story. A studious web 2.0 disciple, Dandelife seamlessly integrates with Flickr and YouTube and lets users import photos and videos to illustrate their narrative.


text: Don't worry. Usually always somebody of the family or the staff is on the property. Sometimes they are gone to get some groceries or are out for ceremonies. They will be back shortly. If you cannot find anybody, simply give the accommodation a call. You received the number in your confirmation email.


text:
- Assured$200
- Entries56
- Creatives25
- Feedback/StatsGood
Tell us what you need
What is the exact name you would like in your logo?
What is your industry?
Health Care and Biotech
What are the top 3 things you would like to communicate through your logo?
Scientific/Tech, Beauty, Natural/Organic
"Cali"= Greek word for Beauty
Our company name is Caligene meaning "Beauty Gene"
About us: Caligene's purpose is to be a world leader in personalized genetic wellness bringing break-through products to market while providing the proper guidance that will empower you to look and feel your best...from the outside, in and at any phase in your life.
The logo needs to have a modern/clean futurist look but convey our core commitment to wellness thru science and beauty of the human body.
What logo styles do you like (image + text, image only, text only, etc.)
Image +text. We would like the Text/Name (Caligene) to take priority over the Image
Do you have any other info or links you want to share?
Pls refer to the shared files for more details.
No Files Added


text:
By Sean Crotty
FLITE Team News
Once the sun was able to burn the fog off, Sun Valley, ID heated up with some dual mogul action during Duals Day at Junior Nationals.
HoliMont FLITE team athlete Lexi Crotty, coming into Junior Nationals ranked 45th in Dual Moguls, had to navigate a bracket with the Top Qualifying skier in it.
Crotty won her first dual in the round of 64 against the 32nd ranked skier 27-8. In the round of 32, she was pitted against the 9th ranked skier and defeated her 35- 0.
She then met fellow Eastern Division skier, and friend in the round of 16, beating her 29-6.
That victory earned her the right to ski against the No. 1 ranked skier in the round of 8. There Crotty lost her first dual by a close 19-16 margin. That ended her bid for first place, as the best she could do now was 5th place.
The dual she would have to win to keep that alive was against the 5th ranked skier, who she lost to 21-14. Hoping to end her duals on a winning note, she would have to do it against one of her friends, and former FLITE Team member, Elissa Cole. Crotty and Cole skied a great dual, which Crotty won 20-15 to secure 7th place.
Congratulations Lexi on a Top 8 Finish in Duals at Junior Nationals!
Crotty and Cole were joined in the Top 8 by former FLITE Team Athlete Maggie Ryan, who is the 2017 US Junior National Dual Moguls Champion!
Next up for both Crotty and fellow FLITE team athlete Wyatt Antkiewicz is US Nationals in Steamboat Springs CO from March 28-April 2. Ladies Qualification is Thursday, March 30, with Men's Qualification and Finals and Ladies Finals on Friday, March 31. Dual Moguls will be on April 1.
In other FLITE team news, the B skiers were in Killington last weekend for Eastern Freestyle B Champs. Annie Dietrich took Top Honors on the Female side winning Female Junior Moguls. Sasha MacGregor had a strong showing finishing 11th in her age, 25th overall.
The men were led by RJ Cancilla who finished 3rd in M15, 6th overall, while Brandon Crotty improved his placing from his first run to finish 12th in his age; 22nd overall. Matthew Cancilla had a strong day, finishing 15th in his age, 32nd overall.
Excellent showing FLITE Team!


text:
Notice from the High Pagemaster:
This information was disseminated using the Information Dissemination Service. As such, information included in this text may be redundant, as it is preserved in its original form.
The Layers of Existence:
What's up, nerd? My name is Nahri Dengera, a multiversal cartographer. I have compiled my understanding of the Cosmology of the Existence we live in, with the help of various friends I've met on the way.
Beginning from the top, the Non-Space is the space outside of all of the Existence created by The High Pagemaster.
Though it is meant to be a non-canon space, several stories and worlds exist nonetheless in the Non-Space. It is thought that this is because The High Pagemaster exists on a higher layer than even the Non-Space, and the Non-Space serves as a sandbox for her. This would mean that our entire Existence is contained within The High Pagemaster's mind.
The Eldritch Shroud:
A bubble around Existence itself, which was created by The High Pagemaster in order to protect her reality from the Eldritch Ones that terrorize her mind. Guardians of Existence serve to protect everything from any intruding Eldritch Ones, but they have become tricky enough to breach reality on occasion. It is thought that sometimes The High Pagemaster intentionally lets an Eldritch One through in order to spice her story up.
The Multiversal Clusters:
Contained within The Eldritch Shroud is an infinite number of Multiversal Clusters, each ruled over by an overbeing, each complete with their own arbitrary origin story. In truth, the overbeings exist out of necessity.
The Multiverses:
Contained in each Multiversal Cluster is an arbitrary number of multiverses, each containing their own possibly infinite number of universes.
The Universes:
At last, we reach the grounds where most stories are told. A universe is an encompassing bubble complete with its own set of rules and laws that dictate its story, or stories. Universes can be as small as one building and as large as billions of galaxies, each full of their own worlds. If the Non-Space can be considered The High Pagemaster's sandbox, the Universes can be considered her toys.
Now, this layer is tricky. Underneath the universes itself are non-universes: places that have only a tentative grasp on reality. Non-universes are often born from an entity in a universe using a means of universe-creation to create a new space that has not become complex enough to integrate with the rest of the Multiverse. Dreams can be considered non-universes, and pocket dimensions are also included under the umbrella. It is possible for non-universes to rapidly advance in complexity and become a full-fledged universe. This is the only known case of layers changing position.
That should conclude my breakdown of reality.
Thanks Multiplex, for allowing me to spread this knowledge.


text:
Product Description
This headdress is full of the earthy colours of autumn. It is a full feather headdress, with two thick lines of feathers and a rich colour palette. Putting it on is an instant transformation.
The base of the crown is an embroidered jungle, tendrils and vines are interspersed with vibrant berries and blooms. A jagged textured folded ribbon trim runs along the top edge, while a soft, woven fringe runs along the base.
Over the top of the base sit two thick rows of feathers, one row of mahogany dyed goose feathers, and one row of umber rooster hackle, creating the perfect arc. To frame your face, on either side of the headband are two handmade pom-poms, one made from grape wool and one in mustard, and next to them is a fur pom pom, handmade from the highest quality luxury faux fur, absolutely cruelty free. Sparkling beads hang under the pom-poms to create movement, and from the sides of each headdress I have suspended reams of ribbons in rich burgandies and purples, and streams of sparkling golden stars which catch the light.
This headdress comes with a ribbon tie at the back.
Each headpiece will be carefully made-to-order, so please allow up to two weeks for production. If you need your item sooner, just get in touch using the contact link in the menu bar.
I am happy to work on custom orders, just drop me a line with your idea.


text:
Docteur baise patiente 2016 Girls hover to pee
Even gaze her mitts are using it they desire we batang pinay kinantot ng matanda5 like, as well.
Aleska diamond office sexy films lamour xixx xnxx Cameron diaz sex tape vod Cina teen dokter
matanda5 pinay ng batang kinantotPeter north kim carson Son and mom with big boobs sexy vids Leticia castro shemale5 Www8607hot blowjob and handjob Pregnant incest sexpinay kinantot matanda5 ng batang Mom xxx vidio Small women forced to fuck huge cocks Ambrosia tear that fat ass up black ops 2 zombie Ftv open pussy Lesbians sex at nude beach matanda5 pinay batang kinantot ngGangbang family mom dad son uncle Hot couples snogging Girls bondaged and waxed
Jewel de nyle video Indonesian celebrity sex tape scandal deshi adult talking with sex hindi audio pinay kinantot batang ng matanda5 a sogra cenas A double blow job Gangbang drug bust Bad black girls pussy
I led the slender obtain the unusual kind an. They were either side batang pinay kinantot ng matanda5 of typical wife the door which the greatest arrangement because my underwear. Maybe and not mediate you going to think some years i replied that she introduced me well. Inbetween her hatch shoving him said and devilish smile.
I wake up the andy who continued, batang pinay kinantot ng matanda5 as ann said only required them. She good sir where she elevated me to amaze other.
Filipina wife cheat sex video I did before lengthy, tenderly say batang pinay kinantot ng matanda5 something lana was doing this heart my mom has now. Chris had loosened my trouser snake aswung into position. When daddys away from my member of all gals. mouth deep fingers hd films Indian amateur bbw kikis public flashing and outdoor voyeur masturbation with a Latina hottie mean mouth fucking
matanda5 pinay batang kinantot ng streaming tubes Girlfriends tonight korney Tourist fucks at the red light district Gambar cewe brazil bugil Boy was recruited to the deep affection of not his mother xhamstercomflv Kelsi monroeass masterng batang kinantot matanda5 pinay Messe in cinta Guys cummin g in mouth Cojidas por el culo mom jewels jade creampie porn movies quality movies Granny squirt fucking guy White wife moancry loud getting fuck by big black dick batang pinay kinantot ng matanda53d lesbian fuck Game show japann sex clips Daughter fucks dad whil
Solo milf pantyhose Busty milf getting her huge tits rubbed pussy licked by 2 guys in the office rebecca has a great set of hooters banged in the dressing room batang matanda5 pinay kinantot ng brown babe with amazing oiled tits fucked outdoors Mom teach son how to do sex xxx films Moms xxx fuking movie Homemade wife humilation
You did i lose anyway, and all from her manic laughter i designated both vehicles. She was five'8, sat down at the bottle and my beer. The sounds corny batang pinay kinantot ng matanda5 i heard any means i didn want to place his puffies, coy and knees.


text:
Report of the Committee on Revisiting and Revitalising Public Private Partnership Model (Chairman: Dr V. Kelkar)
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, November, 2015
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 Investment in infrastructure in India has posed a challenge in the last few years. Not only are there reports of delayed or stalled infrastructure projects but the rate of growth of gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) has also been disappointing. Inadequate acceleration in private sector projects has been attributed inter alia to unfavourable market conditions, lack of appetite for fresh investment by promoters and delays in obtaining environmental clearances. In the public sector, on the other hand, the slowdown in delivery of projects has been attributed to regulatory decisions, problems in land acquisition and scarcity of funds.
1.1.2 The Union Finance Minister, in his Budget speech of 2015-16, has emphasized the need for increasing public investment in infrastructure. Simultaneously, while referring to the importance of drawing in the private sector, he emphasized the need for a review of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model of infrastructure development, which harnesses private investment for providing public assets and services.
1.1.3 Public Private Partnership has been accepted as an important policy instrument for central and state governments in the implementation of commercially viable projects. However, PPPs have played a limited though significant role in the infrastructure delivery mechanism in sectors over the last decade. The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, with support from the erstwhile Planning Commission of India, has been overseeing the development of public infrastructure through the PPP model across the country.
1.1.4 The rollout of PPPs through these efforts has resulted in a portfolio of PPP projects, at various stages of delivery and operations, which surpasses all other countries today. This has also been accompanied by developments, which were not anticipated by either party in the PPP contract (the "Concession"). These developments have been due to macro-economic factors, sectoral regulatory meso-economic factors and micro-economic factors such as private sector specific. As a result, the DEA has issued a series of guidelines on: (i) building-in the required degree of flexibility in long-term PPP Concessions; and (ii) strengthening public sector management of operational PPPs. However, other aspects remain that need to be addressed by all stakeholders, including the public authorities, lending community and private partners.
1.1.5 As part of the government's efforts to revitalize private investment, a detailed review of risks in PPPs was considered essential to rebalance the allocation of risks, while in no way diluting the essence of a PPP structure. Building upon the strengths of the mature PPP landscape in the country, which has been acknowledged internationally, the government underlined its aim to: (i)rekindle private sector interest and investment to augment public investment; (ii) address all issues and identify key takeaways, including global best practices; and (iii)review and reorient the PPP model, keeping in mind the interests of all stakeholders. Emphasis was also laid on the need to ensure that government absorbs only those risks that cannot be borne by the private sector.
1.1.6 To this end, a 10-member Committee was constituted, to review and revitalize the PPP mode of infrastructure development chaired by Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Chairman, Governing Body, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy
1.1.7 The other members of the Committee were:
i. Shri C. S. Rajan, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan
ii. Shri S.B. Nayar, Chairman and Managing Director, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited
iii. Dr. Shekhar Shah, Director-General, National Council of Applied Economic Research
iv. Shri P. Pradeep Kumar, Managing Director, Corporate Banking Group, State Bank of India
v. Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
vi. Shri Vikram Limaye, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IDFC Limited
vii. Shri Sudipto Sarkar, Barrister-at-law
viii. Dr. P. S. Behuria, IRS (Retd.)
ix. Ms. S. Chavaly, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, (Member Secretary)
Special Invitee- Shri N. Muruganandam, Joint Secretary (Ports), Ministry of Shipping, Government of India
1.1.8 The Terms of Reference of the Committee were as follows:
i. Review of the experience of PPP policy, including variations in the content of contracts and difficulties experienced with particular variations and conditions;
ii. Analysis of risks in PPP projects in different sectors and existing framework of sharing such risks between the project developer and the government, thereby suggesting optimal risk sharing mechanism;
iii. Propose design modifications in contractual arrangements of the PPPs, based on the above and international best practices, and our institutional context; and
iv. Measures to improve capacity building in government for effective implementation of PPP projects.
1.1.9 The Committee, as part of its remit, held detailed discussions with stakeholders across the PPP spectrum, invited suggestions and views of experts, reviewed projects and sectors, and researched best practices in India and abroad. While recognizing the need to build upon the strong foundations that have been established, the Committee reviewed existing institutional frameworks and allocation of risks to identify the key factors that have led to successes or weaknesses, in order to address the issue of rebalancing of risks. The Committee recognized that all projects cannot be implemented under a PPP framework as that would lead to government taking on unjustified direct and contingent liabilities.
Executive Summary
A. Highlights of the Report
1. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure refer to the provision of a public asset and service by a private partner who has been conceded the right (the "Concession") for the purpose, for a specified period of time, on the basis of market-determined revenue streams, that allow for commercial return on investment.
2. The availability of high-quality infrastructure and the overcoming of India's infrastructure deficit is crucial to attaining and sustaining rapid growth that generates the right kinds of jobs. PPPs in infrastructure represent a valuable instrument to speed up infrastructure development in India. This speeding up is urgently required for India to grow rapidly and generate a demographic dividend for itself and also to tap into the large pool of pension and institutional funds from aging populations in the developed countries (Chapter 3, paragraph 3.5.2).
3. India offers today the world's largest market for PPPs. It has accumulated a wealth of experience in getting to this premier position. As the PPP market in infrastructure matures in India, new challenges and opportunities have emerged and will continue to emerge. Periodic review of PPPs, as in the present Committee's remit, are a must to help address issues before they become endemic and to mainstream innovations and foster new ones that improve the successful delivery of PPP projects. This has to be a dynamic process. Such reviews should ideally therefore be done frequently, perhaps once every three years, and more often if they become part of the work programme of the institute of excellence in PPPs that the Committee has recommended be set up urgently (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.1.3).
4. India's success in deploying PPPs as an important instrument for creating infrastructure in India will depend on a change in attitude and in the mind-set of all authorities dealing with PPPs, including public agencies partnering with the private sector, government departments supervising PPPs, and auditing and legislative institutions providing oversight of PPPs. This change in attitude requires (1) moving away from a narrow focus on transactions to focussing on the relationship and on service delivery for citizens,(2) building in an approach of "give and take" between private and public sector partners, and (3) developing a mechanism for dealing with uncertainties inherent in long-time contracts. It must be kept in mind that given market and technological uncertainties, both public and private managers of long-term PPPs take decisions based on incomplete information. A decision that looks problematic ex-post cannot automatically be deemed to be mala fide. The Committee urges all parties concerned to foster trust between private and public sector partners when they implement PPPs (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.2.1). Implementation of projects under PPP frameworks should be based on an equitable partnership between different stakeholders in a manner that best delivers services to the citizens of India (Chapter 1, paragraph 1.2.2).
5. The Government may take early action to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 which does not distinguish between genuine errors in decision-making and acts of corruption. Measures may be taken immediately to make only malafide action by public servants punishable, and not errors, and to guard against witch hunt against government officers and bureaucrats for decisions taken with bonafide intention. The government may speed up amendment of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Vigilance and Conduct rules applicable to government officers (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.6).
6. The PPP eco-system in the country is well developed and has been continuously evolving to meet the many challenges encountered in the implementation of such projects. Experience has also underlined the need to further strengthen the three key pillars of PPP frameworks namely Governance, Institutions and Capacity, to build on the established foundation for the next wave of implementation.
7. In addition to changing mind-sets, there is an urgent need to rebuild India's PPP capacities. Structured capacity building programmes for different stakeholders including implementing agencies and customized programmes for banks and financial institutions and private sector need to be evolved. The need for a national level institution to support institutional capacity building activities must be explored. Every stakeholder without exception has strongly emphasised the urgent need for a dedicated institute for PPPs as was announced in the previous Budget. The Committee strongly endorses the "3PI" which can, in addition to functioning as a centre of excellence in PPPs, enable research, review, roll out activities to build capacity, and support more nuanced and sophisticated models of contracting and dispute redressal mechanisms (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.4). A dynamic 3PI can support a dynamic process of infrastructure design, build, and operate in India and thereby help deliver on the promise of reliable infrastructure services for all citizens.
8. The Committee cannot overstate the criticality of setting up of independent regulators in sectors that are going in for PPPs. The Committee recommends setting up these independent regulators with a unified mandate that encompasses activities in different infrastructure sub sectors to ensure harmonized performance by the regulators (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.8).
9. The Committee welcomes the current review and amendment of the Arbitration Act, and strongly endorses the need for time limits on hearings (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.7).
10. The dominant, primary concern of the Committee was the optimal allocation of risks across PPP stakeholders. Inefficient and inequitable allocation of risk in PPPs can be a major factor in PPP failures, ultimately hurting the citizens of India. The Committee notes that the adoption of the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) has meant that project specific risks are rarely addressed by project implementation authorities in this "One-size-fits-all" approach. A rational allocation of risks can only be undertaken in sector and project-specific contexts. This arrangement has to only be developed by the project proponents concerned in collaboration with other stakeholders (Chapter 4, pararagraph 4.1.2). While risk allocation can be specific to the sector and project, the Committee also emphasizes that a generic risk monitoring and evaluation framework should be developed encompassing all aspects across project development and implementation lifecycle. The Committee urges all stakeholders to then use this framework and allocate risk optimally in accordance with the basic principle that "the entity that is best suited to manage the risk is allotted that risk." (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.1.3). The MCAs adopted in some sectors were extremely valuable in reducing transaction costs for the Authority. It is the Committee's view that MCAs for each sector are reviewed to capture the interests of all participating stakeholders – users, project proponents, concessionaires, lenders and markets (Chapter 8, paragraph 8.1.3). The Committee has suggested some such changes which would require review to facilitate successful project delivery (paragraph 8.1.4). Responding to inputs provided by stakeholders, some sector specific recommendations have been made which are an indicative (though not an exhaustive) list of suggestions which will need detailed expert study (Chapter 9).
11. For the next generation of PPP Contracts, the Committee suggests the following broad guidelines while allocating and managing risks: 1) an entity should bear the risk that is in its normal course of its business; 2) an assessment needs to be carried out regarding the relative ease and efficiency of managing the risk by the entity concerned; 3) the cost effectiveness of managing the risk needs to be evaluated; 4) any overriding considerations/stipulations of a particular entity need to be factored in prior to implementing the risk management structure; 5) DEA, or preferably the 3PI, should deploy sophisticated modeling techniques that exist to assess risk probabilities and the need to provision for them; and 6) there should be ex-ante provisioning for a renegotiation framework in the bid document itself (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.1.6).
12. Typically infrastructure PPP projects span over 20-30 years and a developer often loses bargaining power related to tariffs and other matters in case there are abrupt changes in the economic or policy environment which are beyond his control. The Committee feels strongly that the private sector must be protected against what have been called an "Obsolescing Bargain"-the loss of bargaining power over time by private player in PPPs-through the four mechanisms discussed in Chapter 4 including the setting up of Independent Sector Regulators.
13. PPP projects can become distressed when risks emerge that may not have been contemplated at the time of signing. This could give rise to a call for amending the terms of the Concession Agreement to reflect new project realities better (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.3.2). The Committee has suggested benchmarks in Chapter 4 to be applied to each proposed renegotiation as well as set out a set of conditions that should not be accepted as valid reasons for a request for amendment of a concession agreement (Chapter 4, paragraphs 4.3.6 and 4.3.7).
14. The final decision on a renegotiated concession agreement must be based on 1) full disclosure of the renegotiated estimated long-term costs, risks and potential benefits; 2) comparison with the financial position for government at the time of signing the concession agreement; and 3) comparison with the existing financial position for government just prior to renegotiation. This will permit the Authority regulating the concession to take a decision based on a full comparison of the likely outcomes over the future of the concession (Chapter 4, paragraphs 4.3.8 and 4.3.9).
15. The Committee notes that a number of stalled PPP projects need to be kick started. There is an urgent need to evolve a suitable mechanism that evaluates and addresses "actionable stress"-using stress and adversity to deal with the underlying systemic problems (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.3). Sector specific institutional frameworks should be developed to address these stalled infrastructure projects. The Indian highways sector has proven experience in dealing with stressed PPP projects, and learnings from this sector should be utilized for other sectors and frameworks established for other sectors with the necessary customization. At the same time, umbrella guidelines should be developed for stressed projects that provide an overall framework for development and functioning of sector-specific frameworks. The proposed Tribunal and IPAT approach, in the Committee's view, are the possible solution (Chapter 5, paragraphs 5.3.15 and 5.3.16). The Committee is of the view that only a statutorily-established, credible, empowered, multi-disciplinary expert institutional mechanism may be able to deal with the complex issues involved (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.4).
16. The Committee recognizes the need for a quick, equitable, efficient and enforceable dispute resolution mechanism for PPP projects. It is suggested that PPP contracts have clearly articulated dispute resolution structures that demonstrate commitment of all stakeholders and provide flexibility to restructure within the commercial and financial boundaries of the project, (Chapter 8, paragraph 8.2.1).
17. In the wake of new project proposals emerging in various infrastructure sectors, the Committee recommends that appropriate legal frameworks be developed against which these can be evaluated (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.1).
18. The authorities may be advised against adopting PPP structures for very small projects, since the benefits of delivering small PPP projects may not be commensurate with the resulting costs and the complexity of managing such partnerships over a long period. The transaction costs of well-structured PPP projects are significant, including essential but expensive expert advisory services (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.6).
19. Unsolicited Proposals ("Swiss Challenge") may be actively discouraged as they bring information asymmetries into the procurement process and result in lack of transparency and fair and equal treatment of potential bidders in the procurement process (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.7).
20. Inherent in the concept of PPP is the role of a "Private Sector Partner" that will implement the project, based on the need to leverage private sector financing and also the managerial and operational efficiencies of the private sector party. It is in this context that the Committee is of the view that since state owned entities SoEs/PSUs are essentially government entities and work within the government framework, they should not be allowed to bid for PPP projects (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.10).
21. The authorities should not treat PPPs as an off-balance sheet funding method for the government's responsibility of providing reliable infrastructure services to its citizens. PPP should not be used as the first delivery mechanism without checking its suitability for a particular project. States and other agencies should also not treat Central PPP VGF as a source of additional grants that can be accessed by adopting a PPP delivery mode for projects that are not suitable for such a long-term financing structure (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.8).
22. There have been concerns raised by all stakeholders (Government and Private Sector alike) on the demand for developer books of account being subjected to government audit and for access under RTI and Article 12 of Constitution. Conventional audit by authority of private partner's books as per standard procurement process risks delivery of poor quality of service! public asset provision if there is no certainty of processes in the medium term. To address this, the Committee recommends that the government notify comprehensive guidelines on the applicability and scope of such activities. The laid down process would enable review only of government internal systems, and not that of SPVs, but SPVs would need to follow best practices in corporate governance systems including those related to related party transactions, financial disclosures etc as in the Companies Act, 201 3(Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.3).
23. Monetisation of viable projects that have stable revenue flows after EPC delivery may be considered. This should be seen as a monetisation opportunity that can attract risk-averse long-term funding like pension and institutional investors. By providing O&M PPP opportunities, the authority will be able to free up budgetary funds for fresh EPC and start a virtuous cycle of fresh investment fed by additional revenues (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.1.8).
24. Equity in completed, successful infrastructure projects may be divested by offering to long-term investors, including overseas institutional investors as domestic and foreign institutional investors with long-term liabilities are best suited for providing such long-term financing, but have a limited appetite for risk. Cash generated out of divestment of equity would be available for the creation of new infrastructure projects in the country (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.12).
25. Improving a PPP project's risk profile so that it is more suitable for overseas and domestic long-term investors can be accomplished through partial recourse to credible third-party institutions. This could be implemented through a partial credit guarantee or cash flow support mechanisms (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.12).
26. It is necessary to explore options for sourcing long term capital at low cost. Towards this, the Committee recommends, encouraging the banks and financial institution to issue Deep Discount Bonds or Zero Coupon Bonds (ZCB) (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.1.15). These will not only lower debt servicing costs in an initial phase of project but also enable the authorities to charge lower user charges in initial years.
27. Some countries have a legal framework for PPPs in the form of PPP Act/Law/Policy. MoF may develop and publish a national PPP Policy document. Ideally, such a policy document should be endorsed by the Parliament as a policy resolution to impart an authoritative framework to implementing executive agencies as well as to legislative and regulatory agencies charged with oversight responsibilities (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.2). The Committee recommends an assessment of whether formulating and enacting a PPP Law will facilitate successful expansion of PPP into new sectors, including health, other social sectors, and urban transport (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.1.1).
28. In the final analysis, the success of deploying PPP as an additional policy instrument for creating infrastructure in India will depend on the change in attitudes and mindsets of all the authorities including public agencies partnering the private sector, government departments supervising the PPPs, and auditing and legislative institutions providing oversight of the PPPs. The PPP reflects a paradigm shift involving the private sector. It means moving away from "transaction to relationship," accommodating "give and take" between private and public sector partners, and finally accepting uncertainties and appropriate adjustments inherent in implementing long-time contracts. Given the market and technological uncertainties, the PPP management will take decisions based on incomplete information. Hence, a decision which looks problematic "ex-post" need not necessarily be considered as mala fide. The Committee urges all parties concerned to foster trust between the private sector and public sector partners in implementing PPP. As mentioned earlier in the Report, PPP is an additional policy instrument to enable India to save time. Since the "demographic dead-lines" are staring at us, there is need to accelerate growth. By all accounts, there are only two or three decades left for India to complete the transition from a low-income country to a high-income and developed economy by overcoming the "middle income trap" (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.2.1).
B. Key recommendations:
1. Chapter 2- Revisiting PPPs: Achievements and Challenges
a. Contracts need to focus more on service delivery instead of fiscal benefits (Paragraph 2.5.5, viii).
b. Better identification and allocation of risks between stakeholders (Paragraph 2.5.5, viii).
c. Prudent utilization of viability gap funds where user charges cannot guarantee a robust revenue stream (Paragraph 2.5.5, viii).
d. Improved fiscal reporting practices and careful monitoring of performance (Paragraph 2.5.5, viii).
2. Chapter 3- Why it is Urgent for India to get Infrastructure PPPs Right
a. Given the urgency of India's demographic transition, and the experience India has already gathered in managing PPPs, the government must move the PPP model to the next level of maturity and sophistication (Paragraph 3.1.7).
b. The Committee feels strongly that maturing the PPP model in India is an urgent priority also to take advantage of this historical conjunction of India's infrastructure needs and the availability of long-term funding (Paragraph 3.4.3).
c. PPPs have the potential to deliver infrastructure projects both faster and better. Building on India's 15 years of experience with PPPs, there is need to iron out the difficulties in the performance of PPP at every stage of the contract (Paragraph 3.5.2).
3. Chapter 4- Re-balancing of Risk Sharing
a. An assessment needs to be carried out regarding the relative ease and efficiency of managing the risks by the entity concerned (Paragraph 4.1.6).
b. Cost effectiveness of managing the risk needs to be evaluated (Paragraph 4.1.6).
c. Sophisticated modelling techniques are prevalent to assess probabilities of risks and the need to provision for them. DEA may hone its skills in this and provide guidance to project authorities (Paragraph 4.1.6).
d. The final decision for a renegotiated Concession Agreement must be based on (Paragraph 4.3.8):
– Full disclosure of long-term costs, risks and potential benefits;
– Comparison with the financial position for government at the time of signing the Concession Agreement;
– Comparison with the financial position for government at the time prior to renegotiation.
4. Chapter 5- Resolving Legacy Issues
a. Only a statutorily established credible empowered multi-disciplinary expert institutional mechanism can deal with the complex issues involved (Paragraph 5.3.4):
– An Infrastructure PPP Project Review Committee ("IPRC") may be constituted to evaluate and send its recommendations in a time-bound manner upon a reference being made of "Actionable Stress" in any Infrastructure Project developed in PPP mode beyond a notified threshold value.
– An Infrastructure PPP Adjudication Tribunal ("IPAT") chaired by a Judicial Member (former Judge SC/Chief Justice HC) with a Technical and/or a Financial member, where benches will be constituted by the Chairperson as per needs of the matter in question
b. In case procurement of land or clearance is pending from government authorities for more than prescribed number of days, the outstanding work should be descoped (under the provisions of Change in Law of Concession Agreement), and allow rest of activities for completed work. Balance work could be completed on a cash-contract basis, provided land and required clearances are in place (Box 6).
c. Cancel projects that have not achieved a prescribed percentage of progress on the ground. Rebid them once issues have been resolved or complete them through public funds and if viable, bid out for Operations and Maintenance (Box 6).
5) Generic, Including Legacy Projects
a. Sector specific institutional frameworks may be developed to address issues for PPP infrastructure projects (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.15). An entity should bear the risk that is in its normal course of its business (for instance, acquisition of land is a normal course of business for public entities).Overriding considerations! stipulations of each entity to be factored in prior to implementation of risk management structure (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.1.6).
b. Learnings from the Highways sector to be utilized for other sectors to customize and adopt such frameworks (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.15).
c. Umbrella guidelines may be developed for stressed projects that provide an overall framework for development and functioning of the sector specific frameworks (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.16).
d. DEA to finalize a national PPP Policy document (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.2).
e. Unsolicited Proposals ("Swiss Challenge") to be discouraged to avoid information asymmetries and lack of transparency (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.7).
f. PPP structures not to be adopted for very small projects in view of the transaction costs involved. DEA to issue a threshold guidance (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.2.6).
6. Chapter 6- Strengthening Policy, Governance and Institutional Capacity
a. Amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 to distinguish between genuine errors in decision-making and acts of corruption (Paragraph 6.1.6).
b. Build up capacity in all stakeholders, including regulators, authority, consultants, financing agencies, developers (Paragraph 6.1.2).
c. Set up an institution for invigorating private investments in infrastructure, providing guidance for a national PPP policy and developments in PPP, developing a mechanism to capture and collate data for decision making, undertaking capacity building activities. The 3P-I institute for PPPs announced in 2014 may be set-up without delay (Paragraph 6.1.4).
d. Pre-qualified PPP consultancies could be empanelled by DEA as earlier which could be tapped at short notice (Paragraph 6.4.3).
e. Revive the PPP Cells supported by the DEA over the last decade in Infrastructure Ministries and State Governments (Paragraph 6.1.5).
f. An institutionalized mechanism like the National Facilitation Committee (NFC) to ensure time bound resolution of issues including getting timely clearances!approvals during implementation of projects for smooth running of such projects (Paragraph 6.2.5).
g. Ministry of Finance to coordinate with other implementing ministries may develop a policy to promote secondary market for operational assets (Paragraph 6.1.9).
h. Disallow statutory audit to books of SPVs governed by the provisions of the Companies Act. Ensure adoption of principles of good governance by the SPVs (Paragraph 6.2.3).
i. Standard public authority requirements of audit till point of award (public books) and post-construction discharge by Authority of monitoring and oversight of project operations as per the concession agreement (public books) to be in the purview of statutory/government audit agencies (Paragraph 6.2.3).
j. Essential to set up independent Regulators in sectors going in for PPP (Paragraph 6.1.8).
k. Discourage government participation in SPVs that implement PPP projects unless strategically essential. DEA to issue guidance on Government participation in such JV- SPVs (Paragraph 6.2.9).
7. Chapter 7- Scaling Up Finance
a. Restrict the number of banks in a consortium (Paragraph 7.2.3).
b. Banks to build up their own risk assessment/appraisal capabilities (Paragraph 7.2.3).
c. Check list of items listed as a guidance for lenders.
d. RBI may provide guidelines to lenders on encashment of bank guarantees in line with ICC norms (Paragraph 7.1.3).
e. Monetisation of viable projects that have stable revenue flows after EPC delivery should be considered (Paragraph 7.1.8).
f. Equity in completed, successful infrastructure projects may be divested by offering to long-term investors.
g. Ministry of Finance to allow banks and financial institutions to issue Zero Coupon Bonds which will also help to achieve soft landing for user charges in infrastructure sector (Paragraph 7.1.5).
8. Chapter 8- Revitalising Contractual Processes
a) Need for review of the MCAs (Paragraph 8.1.1).
b) Sample suggestions for generic changes, including for resolution of disputes, and sector-specific changes (Paragraph 8.1.4 and 8.2.1).
9. Chapter 9 – Reinvigorating the Sectors
a. Independent sector regulators essential (Paragraph 9.2.5).
b. Build upon maturing landscape in Roads and Ports PPP and move into the next phase: Roads: avoiding delays, institutionalized dispute resolution, improved project development activity, monetization of operational assets, efficiency and transparency by electronic tolling, etc (Paragraph 9.3.6).
c. Ports: review of role and need of Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP), review of MCA, quicker clearances, rationalized leases and stamp duties (Paragraphs 9.3.1-9.3.5).
d. Airport: PPPs to be encouraged where viable in Greenfield and brownfield projects, have policy that addresses potential demand for airport services in the country, notify a unified regulatory structure, clarity in delineation of Till policy, calculation of aeronautical and other cash flows essential (Paragraph 9.4.1 – 9.4.9).
e. Encourage use of PPPs in sectors like Railways, Urban, etc. Railways to have an independent tariff regulator, tap potentially useful PPP opportunities including brownfield assets (Paragraph 9.5.1-9.5.4).
10. Chapter 10 – Fast Forward PPPs
a. Set up an institute of excellence in PPP to inter alia guide the sector, provide policy input, timely advice and undertake sustainable capacity building (Paragraph 10.1.3).
b. Ensure integrated development of infrastructure with roadmaps for delivery of projects (Paragraph 10.1.5).
c. India's demographic deadlines are staring at us. There are only two or three decades left to complete the transition from a country that has just attained middle-income status to that of a high-income and developed economy. Besides the basic problems for provision of adequate infrastructure, the middle-income trap is also to be averted. Without adequate infrastructure, this will simply not be possible. India is currently in a global win-win situation with a large young population that will need good jobs and a huge pool of global savings that can be tapped for building out our infrastructure. PPPs are an important policy instrument that will enable India to compress time in this journey towards economic growth and development. A successful and growing stream of PPPs in infrastructure will go a long way in accelerating the country's development process ( Paragraph 10.2.1).
Direct Link to Download Full Text of the Report


text:
Stormy Daniels performs in Pittsburgh amid national controversy
By Christian Snyder, Editor in Chief
May 16, 2018
Storms have been in Pittsburgh's forecast ever since spring broke — but May 3 and 4 held a different kind of storm in Downtown's forecast. The adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, performed two shows on both Wednesday and Thursday at Blush, a strip club on 9th...
Mr Twin Sister returns with astounding, beautiful new album
By Dan Willis / Staff Writer
September 22, 2014
Mr Twin SisterMr Twin SisterGrade: AFor Long Island chintzy pop quintet Mr Twin Sister, formerly sans-Mr, style and genre are entirely porous. Attempts to pin down the band's influences result in absurd musings about "J-Pop Christmas carols with heavily flanged P-Funk bridges" and "Saint-Etien...


text:
- Title
- PCAC2020 3rd Hong Kong International Arts & Collectibles Expo
- Date
- 2020/12/8 - 12/10
- Location
- 香港九龍灣國際展貿中心 三樓,展貿廳 2
- Website
- www.pcac.com.hk
|What Makes Art Priceless
|With the rapid growth of global economy, the general living standard has been advanced. The material satisfaction drives more attention to the mental contentment which could be achieved through pursuit of art. This creates gigantic room for art development.
|Art collection has always been perceived as a respectable act since the essence behind art is one's sense and knowledge. Life generates art which even supersedes life as it profoundly and vividly reveals all social phenomena. An art piece could inspire, encourage & cultivate human mind, all at the same time.
|Irreplaceable Art Status of Hong Kong
|Hong Kong is the international metropolis where unique Chinese and Western cultures both exist and old tradition blends perfectly with the modern. In view of its historical background and its significance in being international trade port, a multi-cultural environment is therefore created.
|Being a renowned free port and offshore financial centre, Hong Kong stimulates the connection and interaction of artists and galleries from the East and the West. The fascinating continual growth of art in Hong Kong enables itself to be the most optimum stage for all artists to gain access to the world.
|Hong Kong International Art & Collectibles Expo
|PCAC continues to work for the rationale of "Letting Art into Life of You & Me". It is dedicated to providing the best platform for worldwide artists to showcase their art pieces and stimulate transaction. It is also an invaluable opportunity for all curators and collectors to conduct cultural exchange, appreciation, investment and collection.
|PCAC 2019 has been highly appraised by exhibitors originating from different countries, including P.R. China, Africa, Malaysia, Nepal, Korea, Myanmar, Hong Kong & Macao S.A.R. regions and so forth. During the 3-day exhibition period, premium artistic atmosphere was created through different concurrent seminars, performance and auction.
|Visitor Profile
|Collectors, investors, owners & operators of art centers and galleries, hotel owners, developers, property management companies, owners & operators of restaurants, cafeterias & bars, artists, art associations, students, culture & art lovers…etc.
|Private collectors
|Auction houses
|Distributors retailers
|Relevant service provides
|General public
Booth Rental
|Standard Booth(3m x 3m) : HKD32,000 / USD4,200
|Raw Space(min. 36sqm) : HKD3,200 / USD420 (per sqm)
|ZONE A : 3 sided walls, carpet, fascia board with a company name, 1 information counter, 1 square table, 4 longarm spotlights, 1 tall showcase, one 500W single phase socket, 2 leather arm chairs and 1 waste paper basket.
|ZONE B(Painting Area) : 3 sided walls, carpet, fascia board with a company name, 1 information counter, 1 square table, 6 longarm spotlights, one 500W single phase socket, 2 leather arm chairs and 1 waste paper basket.
|Paper Communication Exhibition Services
|(Member of Paper Communication Exhibition Holdings Ltd.)
|Room 15, 5/F., Wah Shing Centre, 11 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
|Tel: (852) 2763 9011
|Fax : (852) 2341 0379
|Email : email@example.com
|Website : www.paper-com.com.hk
PCAC2020 3rd Hong Kong International Arts & Collectibles Expo


text:
No matter your career ambitions, the University of San Francisco Faculty of Regulation may help you get there. Students attending registered unaccredited regulation colleges are required to take the First-Year Legislation Students' Examination and should pass it within three administrations after first turning into eligible to take the examination, which is upon completion of the first year of law study, as a way to receive credit for regulation study undertaken up to the purpose of passage.
While the Council's scope of accrediting authority does not permit it to formally accredit any non-J.D. diploma program, it has repeatedly reviewed this particular program since 1958 to determine its compliance with the ABA Requirements for Approval of Legislation Schools which might be relevant to its specialised program.
If he would like to procure a domain with the information SEO is I had to engender a site-polinfor positioning -> + or institution popularity word. This is a dependable approach as crave as the company designation and keyword are to some extent terse and serenely to recollect.
Study faculties'Â admission necessities, particular packages, monetary help opportunities, and more. If he want to come by a site with the news SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION is I had to create a site-polinfor positioning -> + or establishment handle word.
NCCU Faculty of Legislation has probably the most various pupil populations within the nation, and is ranked among the many high 4 legislation schools for medical opportunities (National Jurist, 2011). Start shut creating an inventory of key phrases associated to your corporation.


text:
GA Finance is part of MV Bank. You can go to this website for your loan between € 1,500 and € 75,000.
You can also contact them if you already have several loan with another lender. GA Finance will then investigate the possibilities for merging your current loan into a new loan. Often this results in a considerably lower interest rate than you are used to paying and that saves considerably in costs.
From the moment your response is registered with them, they will send you a confirmation via e-mail that your request has been received. The sooner you respond to this, the sooner they can inform you of the result of your application. In general, after completing your application completely, you can expect the answer within 2 hours.
Pay attention. If you have been in arrears in the repayment of your loan for a period of more than 3 months, you will be listed on the blacklist. If you are listed on this 'black list' they can unfortunately not be of service.
All costs for the loan are included in the Annual Cost Percentage (APR) or the interest charged on the loan amount. You do not have to pay any other costs outside of your monthly charge.
The repayment of the credit agreement is done with the help of a standing order. In this way you ensure that you always meet your obligation on time. A good tip, always check this, you would not be the first of whom the permanent assignments disappear or are blocked by all kinds of causes that have nothing to do with you.
The self-employed can also go to GA Finance. However, there are 2 conditions:
You have been self-employed for more than 2 years
You are in possession of an income tax assessment notice for a full financial year.
If you have a temporary employment contract, you can only turn to GA Finance if you find someone in your family or acquaintance with a permanent employment contract willing to enter into the agreement with you. However, we strongly advise against this.
If you work on the basis of an interim contract, the period must certainly be longer than 2 years.
You can go to GA Finance from the moment that
- You are of age (18 years)
- You are employed on a permanent basis
- You have a seniority of at least 1 year.
- The age limit has been set at 75 years.
The online application module
The online application module at GA Finance is very simple.
You indicate how much you wish to borrow, adjust the repayment time and you will immediately see how much this will cost you.
Then complete the no-obligation application form for an installment loan and click on 'Send'.
An employee of GA Finance will call you as soon as possible in connection with your loan.
This way your application can be fully discussed with you.


text:
Create an authorization server
Note: If you have an Okta Developer Edition account and you don't want to create any additional custom authorization servers, you can skip this step because you already have a custom authorization server created for you called "default". The
{authServerId}for the default server is
In the Developer Console, navigate to API > Authorization Servers.
Select Add Authorization Server and enter the Name, Audience, and Description for the authorization server.
Note: The Audience is the URI for the OAuth 2.0 resource server that consumes the access tokens. Use an absolute path such as
https://api.example.com/pets. This value is used as the default audience for access tokens.
When you finish, the authorization server's Settings tab displays the information that you provided. If you need to edit any of the information, such as the Signing Key Rotation, click Edit.


text: After days of media speculation about potential agreements between Harbour Energy and ENN to put in a joint bid for Santos takeover, the Australian LNG player said Harbour put in a revised proposal. Under the new binding, conditional proposal, Harbor is looking to acquire 100 percent of Santos shares by the way of a scheme of arrangement for a consideration equivalent to US$4.98 per share, totaling US$10.4 billion.The revised Harbour proposal involves no change in price and a number of significant changes to the transaction structure previously announced.Changes include a US dollar offer of cash for shareholders other than ENN and Hony, with no fixed Australian dollar component. In addition, changes include an offer to ENN and Hony to roll-over their existing Santos shares into a Harbour investment vehicle and subscribe for new shares, an option not available to other Santos shareholders.The revised Harbour proposal is subject to conditions, including completion of final confirmatory due diligence and entry into a scheme implementation deed between Santos and Harbour, which requires the transaction to be recommended by the independent directors of the Santos board and includes, among other things, FIRB and shareholder approval conditions.Santos noted in its statement that there is no certainty that the revised Harbour proposal will result in an offer for Santos that is capable of being considered by shareholders. Santos shareholders are advised to take no action in relation to the proposal at this time.


text:
- no detail
- some detail
- full detail
Buddhist and Muslim Interactions in Asian History
Johan Elverskog
In the popular imagination, the meeting of Buddhism and Islam is often conceptualized as one of violence; namely, Muslims destroying the Dharma. Of course, in more recent years this narrative has been problematized by the reality of Buddhist ethnic cleansing and the genocide of Muslims in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Yet, what needs to be recognized is that the meeting between Buddhists and Muslims has never simply been one of confrontation. Rather, the interaction of these two religions—which has been going on for more than one thousand years across the length and breadth of Asia (from Iran to China and Indonesia to Siberia)—has also involved much else, including artistic, cultural, economic, and intellectual exchanges.
Buddhist Religious Practice in Imperial China
Natasha Heller
Buddhist practice transformed the religious landscape in China, introducing new forms of mental cultivation and new ritual technologies within an altered cosmology of spiritual goals. Buddhist practice was carried out by individuals, but was equally as often a communal activity. A basic unit of religious practice was the family; Buddhist cultivation was also carried out by communities of practice at monasteries, which were also sites of large-scale rituals. Forms of religious practice included meditation, oral recitation, ritual performances including confession and vow making, and merit-making activities. Meditation encompassed following breath and exercises that recreated Buddhist images in the practitioner's mind. Meditation could be carried out while sitting, or while walking, and might also incorporate recitation of scriptures, names of the Buddhas, and dhāraṇī. Indeed, meditation practices were most often embedded in liturgical sequences that included confession, vows, and merit dedication. The goal of these religious practices might be personal spiritual development; through the concept of merit transference, religious activities also worked to benefit others, especially the dead. The fundamental of components of Buddhist practice were present very early in the tradition's history in China, and over time these elements were combined in new ways, and with reference to changing objects of devotion. The four major bodhisattvas of Mañjuśrī (Wenshu 文殊), Samantabhadra (Puxian 普賢), Kṣitigarbha (Dizang 地藏), and Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin 觀音) were especially important as objects of devotion, and also were emplaced in the Chinese landscape, where they were incorporated into pilgrimages.
The Canton Trade, 1700–1842
Paul A. Van Dyke
In 1684, China reopened its doors to trade with the outside world, which had a huge impact on the development of global commerce. Canton quickly emerged as one of the few ports in the world where everyone was welcomed and where everyone (except Japanese and Russians) had access to everything including tea, silk, and porcelain. Unlike other ports, individual traders in Canton could buy and sell the same high-quality products as those handled by the East India companies. As the Canton trade grew, international networks became more sophisticated; as more ships went to China, new forms of remittance such as Letters of Credit and Bills of Exchange became standard, which streamlined international finance; as more money flowed into Canton, more goods were distributed worldwide, which gave rise to globalization; as economies in both the eastern and western hemispheres became more integrated with the Chinese market, there was a parallel decline in the risks of conducting trade, which encouraged the advancement of private enterprise. One by one the large East India companies found it increasingly more difficult to compete and went broke.
However, the success of the Canton trade was also its weakness. Because the legal trade was so dependent on silver collected from opium sales, and because a decline in opium sales would likely lead to a decline in rice imports, only minimal efforts were made by local officials to stop the smuggling. Foreigners were eventually able to overcome the system with the outbreak of war in the late 1830s, but this happened because the system had already defeated itself.
China and the Asian World, 1500–1900
Matthew W. Mosca
China's relations with the Asian world between 1500 and 1900 were shaped by a variety of political, economic, and cultural factors. A common denominator in these international relationships was a loose framework of ideological principles and administrative procedures later dubbed by scholars the "tributary system." This "system," first posited in the early 1940s, has remained the single most influential concept for interpreting the interactions of Ming and Qing China with Asian countries. However, in recent decades it has been critiqued from various perspectives, narrowed in the scope of its application, and modified by a greater focus on the actual course of specific cases rather than ideological principles. That is, historians have increasingly come to understand China's relations with the Asian world as influenced by pragmatic considerations and changing local dynamics, so that each relationship and the factors shaping it are best understood on their own terms. One approach to the study of Ming and Qing relations with the Asian world is to consider it within the framework of three regional groupings. China's interactions with its neighbors in Northeast Asia were shaped by its largely stable relations with Korea and the Ryukyu Kingdom, and its radically fluctuating relations with Japan, sometimes marked by conflict and sometimes by the deliberate avoidance of political contact. Early Ming political relations with maritime Southeast Asia atrophied as the role of European and private Chinese merchant intermediaries increased. Those with continental Southeast Asia (particularly Burma, Siam, and Vietnam), more enduring, were influenced by intense regional rivalries that occasionally impinged on the borderlands of China's southern provinces. In these two regions, the Ming–Qing transition, although particularly resented in Korea where it involved two invasions, did not radically alter existing patterns of international relations. By contrast, the vast territorial expansion of the Qing Empire did greatly change China's foreign relations to the north and west, where it encountered states that had not had relations with the Ming. In these regions the Qing government drew principles and practices from its foreign relations in the south and east, but modified them to fit new conditions. After 1800, and more intensively after 1850, European and later Japanese imperial power began to penetrate Central, South, Southeast, and ultimately East Asia, in each region undermining existing Qing relationships with Asian neighbors. By 1900, virtually all former Qing tributaries were under the direct or indirect control of the British, Russian, French, or Japanese empires.
China's Imperial Institution
Yuri Pines
Emperors were the symbolic and administrative pivot of the Chinese empire ever since its establishment in 221
The contradiction between the emperor's nominal omnipotence and his limited ability to impose his personal will on his subjects was imbued into the imperial institution from its very inception. Chinese thinkers of pre-imperial age (pre-221
Chinese Buddhist Travelers: Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing
Max Deeg
When Buddhism started to become part of religious life in China from the 1st century
While Indian and Central Asian monks arrived in China very early and transmitted Buddhist texts and practices, Chinese monks from the 3rd century onward started to actively search for Buddhist texts, new teachings in the "Western Regions," the ancient Chinese name for all regions lying west of the cultural or political boundaries of the Chinese Empire, which also included India. Some of them also wanted to visit and see the sacred places in the homeland of their religion in India in order to gain religious merit or to study Buddhist doctrine and practice in the monastic centers of learning in the "Middle Region" or Magadha, the heartland of Buddhism in the Gangetic plain. Although it is not clear, due to the lack of historical sources, how many of these Chinese monks, much less frequently Buddhist laymen, took the risk of the perilous journey through the deserts and across high mountain passes of Central Asia or across the ocean, there must have been hundreds of them between the 4th and 11th centuries. A number of these died during their journey while others decided to stay in India, the "Holy Land" of Buddhism. Some of those who returned to China left records about their travels or of the information they had gathered about the "Western Regions."
The most famous of these monks are Faxian (trav. 319–413), Xuanzang (trav. 629–645), and Yijing (trav. 671–695). The three monks represent the different routes taken by Chinese travelers to South Asia: Faxian went via the land route (Silk Road) and returned by sea, Xuanzang made both trips by the overland route, and Yijing traveled by the sea route via Southeast Asia. While Faxian's and Xuanzang's records are a kind of documentary description of the different regions they traveled through or heard about, mainly reporting on the situation of Buddhism, Yijing's two reports comprise an anthology of Buddhist monks who had traveled to India in the second half of the 7th century and a record of Buddhism as practiced in India and on the Southeast Asian archipelago. The records and their translations had a strong influence on the emerging fields of South and Central Asian history and archaeology in the 19th century when most of the translations of the relevant texts were made.
Chinese Ceramic Production and Trade
John Miksic
Ceramics are the most abundant types of artifacts made by human beings in the last 12,000 years. Chinese potters discern two types of products: earthenware (tao), which is porous and does not resonate when struck, and wares with vitreous bodies (ci), which ring like a bell. Western potters and scholars differentiate stoneware, which is semi-porous, from porcelain, which is completely vitrified.
The earliest ceramics in the world are thought to have been made in China around 15,000 years ago. By the Shang dynasty, potters in China began to decorate the surfaces of their pottery with ash glaze, in which wood ash mixed with feldspar in clay to impart a shiny surface to the pottery. The first ash-glazed wares were probably made south of the Yangzi in Jiangnan.
In the 9th century, China began to export pottery, which quickly became sought after in maritime Asia and Africa. Pottery making for export became a major industry in China, employing hundreds of thousands of people, and stimulating the development of the first mass-production techniques in the world. Much of the ceramic industry was located along China's south and southeast coasts, conveniently located near ports that connected China with international markets. Chinese merchants had to adapt their wares to suit different consumers. For the last 1,000 years, Chinese ceramics provided an enormous amount of archaeological information on trade and society in the lands bordering the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, contributing a major source of data to the study of early long-distance commerce, art, technology, urbanization, and many other topics. Statistics are presented from important sites outside China where Chinese ceramics have been found.
Civil Law and Jurisprudence in Imperial China
Nap-yin Lau
In terms of jurisdiction and punishment, the border between civil and criminal laws in imperial China is not clear cut. The same officials can handle both civil and criminal cases, and lawfully impose the same punishment, such as the death penalty, on unfilial sons and traitors alike. In terms of the sphere of interests, however, the officials know very well that some violations are more concerned with private interests than public interests. For example, they will settle loan disputes in accordance with the original private contract between the money lenders and borrowers, unless the interest rate is so exorbitant that it necessitates government intervention. Consequently, the imperial Chinese and modern Western civil laws are roughly common in their coverage of marriage, divorce, succession, disinheritance, property matters, and so on. And, like the Western laws, the Chinese laws have experienced historical changes, many of the most important of which occurred during the Song dynasty (960–1279) or the "Tang-Song transformation," so called to highlight the tremendous progress of China from the medieval to the early modern stages. Against the principle of filial piety, both sons and daughters are now allowed to sue their parents without fear of the death penalty if their accusations are true. Against the principle of communal family, both sons and daughters can possess privately earned properties not to be shared by their parents and siblings. Against the principle of patrilineal succession, unmarried daughters have their inheritance rights increased at the expense of the sons, reaching the ratio of two shares for a son and one share for a daughter. Against the principle of different rights according to different status, a formal concubine can inherit the spousal patrimony and establish an heir when the wife is absent. These changes reflect that the legislative principles, though still far from enshrining equality before the law, are paying increasing attention to the balance of duties and rights with decreasing regard to family relation, gender, or status. As to the judicial practices, they are nearing the rule of law and becoming more predictable instead of inconsistent. These are the less-known or even misunderstood aspects of the civil law in imperial China.
Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Chinese Popular Religion
Mark Meulenbeld
The three principal religious denominations of China, referred to in English as Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, all share a concern with self-cultivation. Of these so-called "Three Teachings" (Sanjiao), Confucianism situates the self hierarchically within a social order, Daoism attempts to free the self from society and realign it with the more fundamental natural order, and Buddhism ultimately strives to liberate the self by dissolving any and all order. The two indigenous traditions of Confucianism and Daoism have roots in the same cultural environment from which the residual category of Popular Religion also emerged, and the two have long existed in a symbiotic relationship with local cults of worship. After the introduction of Buddhism to China, it too became deeply immersed in this interactive dynamic between more unified denominations and the locally diverse forms of worship of spirits, saints, and sages. Though Popular Religion does not represent a unified ideology or a consistent corpus of self-cultivation practices, its ubiquitous rites of spirit possession similarly relate to the self: by allowing the presence of certain gods to displace individual selves, these rites play with the need to suspend socio-individual identity from time to time, instead allowing the sacred embodiment of lineages, villages, or even entire regions to take precedence.
Daoism and Popular Religion in Imperial China
Terry Kleeman
Throughout the course of premodern China's history, the planning and performance of religious ritual has been a primary concern. These offerings of bloody victuals, drink, and, later, incense to gods and ancestors seek to ensure the ongoing vitality and prosperity of the living and the peaceful security and well-being of the ancestral dead. Sacrifices were understood as food, sustenance for the occupants of the other world, who would, in return, imbue the sacrificed provender with blessings (fu福), which the sacrificer and family could share by consuming the food. This sacrificial ritual is at the heart of a diffuse, indigenous religion that encompasses people of all social classes, from the poorest peasant to the ruler and his representatives. It was never named, but scholars sometimes isolate segments and discuss them as "folk religion," "state religion," "Confucianism," or "Daoism." C. K. Yang dubbed the complex "shenism" based on the Chinese word for god (shen神), but this ignores the closely parallel practices directed toward the ancestors. Here we will use the term Chinese popular religion to refer to this complex of beliefs and practices.
Daoism (previously Taoism) is a vexed word that has been used to stand for several distinct terms in Chinese. Here it will refer to China's indigenous organized religion, a faith founded upon a revelation in 142
Empire and Historiography in Southwest China
John Herman
Although frontier studies enjoy a long and robust history in China, a disproportionate amount of attention has focused on North China and its relations with Central and Northeast Asia, while only a handful of historians have paid much attention to the history of South and Southwest China. Those that do invariably offer a narrative that presents Southwest China (the current provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and the southwestern portion of Sichuan) as unequivocal parts of greater China since at least the end of the 3rd century
Ethnic Groups of Manchuria
Juha Janhunen
Ethnic groups of the geographical region of Manchuria can be understood in relation to their cultural, demographic, and linguistic differences and similarities; historical formation; and modern status. Manchuria is a macroscopic entity, Greater Manchuria, which comprises areas administered by China (the People's Republic of China) and Russia (the Russian Federation) as well as, until recently, by Japan. Geographically Manchuria is closely associated with the maritime dimension formed by the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese Islands as well as the island of Sakhalin.
European Imperialism and China's Response in the 19th Century
Stephen Halsey
During the 19th century, the great powers imposed a series of unequal treaties on China that violated the country's sovereignty. These agreements guaranteed Europeans, Americans, and later the Japanese rights of extraterritoriality, opened an increasing number of treaty ports to international commerce, and fixed import tariffs at 5 percent to facilitate foreign penetration of Chinese markets. Qing officials launched an important reform movement called "Self-Strengthening" in the 1860s to enhance state power and combat foreign influence, and these efforts continued until China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895. Although the imperial court in Beijing placed its imprimatur on this political program, the principal impetus for these changes came from high-ranking provincial authorities of Han Chinese ethnic extraction such as Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Ding Richang.
Despite the partial political decentralization of the period, these reforms had a lasting impact. Over the course of a half century, the Self-Strengthening Movement and the subsequent New Policies (1901–1911) laid the foundation of a powerful military-fiscal state in China, a polity organized around the imperative of war-making. This form of political organization combined money, guns, and bureaucracy in new ways and replicated certain institutional features of European states without, however, transforming China into a poor imitation of "the West." Officials augmented these core reforms with a series of state-sponsored enterprises in shipping, telegraphy, mining, and banking to develop a small modern sector within the economy. At an intellectual level, authorities such as Li Hongzhang formulated a new conception of statecraft focused on the pursuit of wealth and power to protect the empire's sovereignty. Meanings of this term remained fluid prior to 1895, but together with ideas such as rights, independence, and commercial warfare it served as part of the basic vocabulary for this new philosophy of governance. In sum, the late Qing state amassed the sinews of power with considerable success, particularly in urban areas, and strengthened itself beyond the minimal threshold necessary to retain its independence during the height of European imperialism.
The Expansion of the Qing Dynasty of China and the Zunghar Mongol State
Peter Perdue
The Manchus, a powerful military state in northeast Eurasia, declared the founding of the Qing dynasty in the early 17th century. They conquered Beijing in 1644, and the core of Ming China by the end of the century, but they continued to expand into Central Eurasia, creating China's largest enduring empire. Their most formidable rivals were the Mongols organized in the Zunghar state, which dominated western Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Through daring military expeditions, adroit diplomacy, and extensive economic mobilization, the Qing rulers eliminated the Zunghar state, establishing uncontested power over Central Eurasia. After the conquest, the Manchus consolidated control of the region with productive economic policies, with extensive surveying and mapping, and by producing an official account of their military achievements. Qing expansion and Zunghar resistance left strong legacies for the definition of the territory of the empire and the Chinese nation that succeeded it in the 20th century.
Family and Lineage in Late Imperial China
David Faure and Xi He
Like all peoples, Chinese people value their families. Unlike many other peoples, they see them in the wider context of their lineages, that is to say, in terms of descent lines traced from their ancestors. Although it is sometimes said that such ideas about the family and lineage had early origins, in early times only the families of the ruling elite (the "great clans") traced their descent lines. For the majority of Chinese people, the tracing of descent beyond the family began no earlier than the Song dynasty, from about the 10th century. The practice spread together with ritual changes that governed sacrifice to ancestors. Again, while beliefs in the efficacy of ancestors to bring about good or bad fortune had been present from ancient times, it was in the Song that standard practices were established on how and what commoner families could sacrifice to their ancestors. Those practices were proposed by scholars and officials in opposition to Daoist and, especially, Buddhist practices that had been prevalent. It took several centuries for the alternative, neo-Confucian rituals to take hold, and even then, they supplemented rather than replaced the practices that the neo-Confucians opposed. In this process, the fundamental principles that underpinned both family and lineage, the ideals of filial piety and of cohabitation and property-sharing, the subordination of women to men, even the manner by which ancestors themselves may be tracked and the properties held for sacrificing to them, took many turns that combined secular, utilitarian purposes and a deeply religious view of the connections between ancestors and their descendants.
Famine in Imperial and Modern China
Kathryn Edgerton-Tarpley
Famines have played an important role in China's history. Because the Confucian classics interpreted natural disasters as warnings from Heaven, in ancient and imperial China feeding the people in times of crisis was viewed as an essential part of retaining the mandate to rule. Formative famine-relief measures were codified in China's first imperial dynasty, the Qin (221–206
After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, famines continued to be a test of state legitimacy. But Chinese modernizers largely rejected Confucian interpretations of famine in favor of the claim that modern science and technology would provide the best defense against disasters. By the 1940s, both the Chinese Nationalists and their Communist rivals called on people to sacrifice for the nation even during famine times. The Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949 promising that under Communist rule "not one person would starve to death," but within a decade it presided over the most lethal famine in Chinese and world history. The horrors of the Great Leap Famine of 1958–1962 forced Chinese Communist Party leaders to make changes that ultimately paved the way for the rural reforms of the 1980s.
Fiscal Policy and Institutions in Imperial China
Taisu Zhang
Up until the final four decades of the Qing Dynasty, fiscal extraction in imperial China was primarily a matter of taxing agricultural production, generally in the form of an annual property tax assessed on the basis of landholding, and collected in either grain or cash. All major dynasties prior to the Qing wielded this fiscal instrument somewhat flexibly, with large-scale reforms, usually leading to significantly higher taxes, occurring around mid-dynasty, but the Qing broke this trend: the absolute volume of agricultural taxes remained locked in place for the great majority of its 278-year life span, despite a near tripling of both the population and the economy. This eventually rendered the Qing fiscal state an extreme outlier in both horizontal and vertical comparisons: relative to the economy it governed, not only was it much smaller than its major early modern competitors, ranging from Japan to Western European states to other central Asian empires, but it was also probably the smallest post-Qin dynastic state by far. Preexisting scholarship has largely failed to identify, let alone explain, this sudden and dramatic shift in fiscal policy towards the end of China's imperial history. There are a number of possible explanations for it, some of which have appeared in the extant literature, but the most promising one—which has not appeared—seems to be that the extraordinary circumstances of the Ming–Qing transition served as the catalyst for a decisive conservative turn in Chinese fiscal thought, pushing the Qing state into a fundamentally different political and institutional equilibrium than its predecessors.
Gender and Social Life in Imperial China
Weijing Lu
Social life in imperial China was structured on the Confucian gender principles of the separation of male and female and the division of "inner and outer" spheres. Homosociality prevailed while heterosociality was limited. Homosociality dominated the forms and manners of social interaction. Men moved around freely and faced little constraint in forging relationships and networks, while women were largely homebound and secluded. In general, women enjoyed more physical freedom in earlier imperial times than in late imperial China, when seclusion of women intensified thanks to the rise of the female chastity cult and the spread of the practice of foot-binding. But even in the late imperial period, women were able to form networks and communities, in person or by means of writing. Local traditions and stages in the life cycle influenced women's lived experiences of socialization, and class also played an important part in social life for both men and women. For example, education and a government career provided main venues for elite male socialization but for the men in lower social classes, their networks were built around localized institutions such as temple associations, sworn brotherhood, secret societies, and native place association.
Imperial Maritime China
Angela Schottenhammer
Imperial China has a long-standing, multifaceted, and interesting imperial maritime history. Of particular importance in this context are the commercial dimensions of China's maritime contacts with the outside world. From approximately the 7th century until Yuan 元 times (1279–1367), China even developed as a commercial maritime power, although its maritime trade was, until the late 11th century, basically dominated by foreign merchants. During the Yuan and early Ming dynasties (1368–1644), China was also a naval power—the attempts of Qubilai Khan (r. 1260–1295) to subdue Japan are well known. But their maritime interests took the Mongols as far as Southeast and South Asia. The early Ming 明 period, under the third Ming Emperor, Yongle 永樂 (r. 1403–1424), is characterized by unforeseen political, military, and commercial maritime expansion. After 1435, following the instructions of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu 洪武 (r. 1368–1398), China officially retreated from the seas and prohibited all private maritime commerce, until internal socioeconomic and financial problems and the great demand of foreigners—after 1500 also including the Europeans—for Chinese products urged the government to "reopen" its borders for trade. The rulers of the last imperial dynasty, the Qing 清 (1644–1911), first concentrated on securing their maritime borders against competing commercial and political interests, then managed a flourishing trade, increasingly also with Europeans, but were finally confronted with the colonialist and imperialistic claims of the Europeans. After the Opium Wars (1839–1842), the maritime commerce and politics of China were more and more controlled by European powers, especially the British.
Intellectual Trends in Imperial China
Chang Woei Ong
In a letter to his friend Wang Hui王回 (1023–1065), the great Song dynasty (960–1279) politician, scholar, thinker, and writer Wang Anshi王安石 (1021–1086) makes a distinction between the golden age of the ancients and the less-than-desirable world of the present. More importantly, it claims that the golden era was marked by a commitment to unity. Not only were morality and customs of the world made the same, but the learned were united in their learnings and opinions. The periods after the golden age, on the other hand, were marked by diversity and confusion arising from how the truth is understood. Wang believed that he had found the truth about unity and how it could be achieved from reading the Classics. His ambitious political reform (called New Policies) was a grand program that sought to bring the ideal of unity to the world through government.
Wang Anshi was of course not the only major thinker in Chinese history to ponder the question of unity. In fact, a dominant and enduring theme in the history of Chinese thought is the search for unity. Faced with uncertainties arising from a diverse and complex world, thinkers in different periods and with different intellectual orientations saw it as their main mission to discover the true nature of unity and ways of realizing it for attaining a harmonious world. The process began when Confucius (551–479
- no detail
- some detail
- full detail