text:
digiPortfolio on digibank
At a Glance
Easy to start at lower cost
Start a portfolio with a bite-size budget of just S$100.
No lock-in period
Withdraw your investment anytime without penalty. Your money is never tied down with digiPortfolio.
Eligible category for bonus interest with Multiplier
Enjoy up to 4.1% p.a. on your DBS Multiplier Account when you invest S$1,000 in digiPortfolio. The only bank to recognise robo-advisor investments. Find out more
Leave it to our experts
You might not have time to manage your portfolio. But we do. So let the DBS Investment Team do the monitoring for you. With their deep expertise, your money is in really good hands.
You're safe with DBS
Investing in digiPortfolio is investing directly with DBS. That's reassuring. And we ensure you have full transparency of your holdings and portfolio performance, just to put your mind at greater ease.
Access digiPortfolio on digibank
Just log in, select 'Invest' tab, and click/tap on digiPortfolio.
Wondering when to invest?
Dollar cost averaging (DCA) allows you to invest a fixed amount over regular intervals. This spreads out your investment cost over the long term and helps you to stay invested regardless of how the market is performing.
Good news is, you can now set up a recurring top up for digiPortfolio. A simple one-time setup lets you invest on repeat, hassle-free!
Welcome to digiPortfolio
Investments for every appetite.
digiPortfolio is a hassle-free, ready-made investment portfolio that offers the perfect match of human expertise and robo-technology. And now, you can savour the opportunity to invest in a wider selection of portfolios.
Dig in to more instant ways to grow and protect your wealth through regional or global diversification.
Built by human expertiseTo create the recipe for growth and a product unlike others in the market, we tapped our elite team of portfolio managers, whose expertise was previously accessible only to investment sums of S$500,000 and above. Besides carefully selecting exchange traded funds (ETFs) to create quality portfolios, the team monitors the market regularly, aligning digiPortfolio with our Chief Investment Office's views to ensure optimal asset allocation and portfolio resilience, and initiating rebalancing whenever necessary. |
Powered by robo-technologyNothing beats the speed of technology. So we use it to your advantage. digiPortfolio is coded to automate processes such as back-testing, rebalancing and monitoring. In doing so, we can deliver scale and efficiency, while giving every investor full transparency of trade activities. |
Let our experts prepare a balanced portfolio for you.
One small fee. For expert management.
We removed all sales charges, platform fees and switching fees. So all you pay is one small, flat management fee of 0.25% - 0.75% p.a. for the team's experience and efforts to curate and manage the portfolios.
Portfolio Type | SaveUp | Retirement, Income, Asia, Global |
Portfolio Value | S$100 | S$/US$1,000 |
Management Fee | S$0.25 | S$/US$7.50 |
Which portfolio should I pick?
What are the ingredients for each portfolio:
$1,000 to start |
What is it:
For investors who:
$100 to start |
What is it:
For investors who:
$1,000 to start |
What is it:
For investors who:
$1,000 to start |
What is it:
For investors who:
Factsheet |
$1,000 to start |
What is it:
For investors who:
Factsheet |
You can also log in to DBS digibank to learn more about our portfolios.
How are the portfolios constructed and managed?
Every portfolio offered to you has gone through meticulous screening and selection by the DBS Investment Team.
Discretionary Portfolio Management Team |
Expertise 1: Construction & Management 1.Selects the best funds from DBS's platform 2.Optimises risk and return trade-off 3.Constructs resilient portfolios 4.Monitors the market and rebalances portfolios when necessary |
Chief Investment Office |
Expertise 2: Strategy 1.Top-down evaluation of macroeconomic & investment environment 2.Provides strategic and tactical asset allocation views |
How to get started
Access digiPortfolio on digibank
To find digiPortfolio on digibank app:
New to DBS? It's easy with digibankingNEW
You can open a personal Multi-Currency Account and get digibank access easily on DBS digibank!
Download DBS digibank app now
Get more Benefits
Earn bonus interest on your DBS Multiplier Account when you invest minimum S$1,000 in digiPortfolio. The only bank to recognise robo-advisor investments. Find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
For FAQs on digiPortfolio, click here.
To find out more on Retirement digiPortfolio, visit this page.
How do I top-up or withdraw?
You can do it anytime with digibank online or through the app.
Through digibank online:
- Login to iBanking online
- Select 'digiPortfolio' in the top ribbon
- Click on 'Top-up' or 'Withdraw'
- Input transaction details, click 'Next'
- Review your transaction details before clicking 'Submit'
Through digibank app:
- Login to digibank app
- Select 'Invest' at the bottom
- Click on 'digiPortfolio' tile
- Select which portfolio you would like to top-up
- Click "Top Up" button
- Input transaction details. Click 'Next'
- Review your transaction details before clicking 'Confirm'
The typical turnaround can take up to 5 business days for digiPortfolio. For withdrawals, the proceeds will be automatically credited back to your selected crediting account.
What DBS / POSB account do I need to invest in digiPortfolio?
As digiPortfolios may be purchased in two currencies, S$ and US$, a Multi-Currency Account is required to ensure seamless transactions when opening or closing a portfolio. Any one of the following Multi-Currency Accounts may be used as the funding account for investing in digiPortfolio :
- My Account
- eMulti-Currency Autosave (eMCA)
- eMulti-Currency Autosave Plus (EMCA+)
- Multi-Currency Autosave Plus
- Multiplier account
The funding accounts currently accepted are individual accounts
The fall below fee for the MCA account will be waived for accounts that were opened specifically to fund your digiPortfolio.
Can I use my joint Multi-Currency Account to open a joint digiPortfolio?
We currently only accept individual Multi-Currency accounts and offer only individual digiPortfolios.
I only have S$ in my individual Multi-Currency Account (MCA), how do I apply for a US$ digiPortfolio?
You may do it anytime from internet banking (iBanking). Here's how:
Through digibank online:
- Login to iBanking online
- Click 'Banking' in the top ribbon
- Use the 'Transfer' option to convert S$ to US$ for your funding account
- Once the transfer is done, select 'digiPortfolio' in the top ribbon
- Select 'Create a new portfolio'
- Select your desired US$ digiPortfolio
- Input transaction details. Click 'Next'
- Review your transaction details before clicking 'Submit'
For mobile banking, here's how:
- Login with digibank app
- Select 'Pay & Transfer' at the bottom
- Select 'Exchange Currency' in the top ribbon
- Once the transfer is done, select 'Invest' at the bottom
- Click on 'digiPortfolio' tile
- Select your desired US$ digiPortfolio
- Input transaction details. Click 'Next'
- Review your transaction details before clicking 'Confirm'
Buy, Withdraw, Top-Up and Close portfolios
How do I start an investment through digiPortfolio?
Simply login to digibank online or digibank app and access 'digiPortfolio' via the 'Invest' button.
For digibank online:
- Select the portfolio you wish to invest in.
- Indicate your preferred risk level and funding account, funding currency and amount.
- Then confirm your decision after checking that your order details are correct.
For digibank app:
- Select the portfolio you wish to invest in.
- Select your preferred risk level, click 'Pick This Portfolio'.
- Indicate your funding account, funding currency and amount.
- Then confirm your decision after checking that your order details are correct.
I already have a DBS / POSB account? Why do I need to open a Multi-Currency Account to invest in digiPortfolio?
As digiPortfolios may be purchased in two currencies, S$ and US$, a Multi-Currency Account is required to ensure seamless transactions when opening or closing a portfolio. Any one of the following Multi-Currency Accounts may be used as the funding account for investing in digiPortfolio: My Account, eMulti-Currency Autosave (eMCA), eMulti-Currency Autosave Plus (EMCA+), Multi-Currency Autosave Plus and Multiplier account.
The funding accounts currently accepted are individual accounts.
The fall below fee for the MCA account will be waived for accounts that were opened specifically to fund your digiPortfolio.
What will happen if there is insufficient money in my Multi-Currency Account?
You will need to top up your S$ or US$ wallet in your Multi-Currency Account by transferring in monies from your Savings or Current Account. This can be done instantly via digibank online or digibank app.
Can I invest in digiPortfolio using my CPF or SRS funds?
No. Currently, digiPortfolio is not included in the list of investment products for which CPF or SRS funds can be used. We will provide an update if digiPortfolio becomes included.
Will my investment in an ETF-based digiPortfolio be counted towards the investment category of my Multiplier account?
Yes. For new investors, lump sum investments (minimum S$1,000 per transaction) in an ETF-based digiPortfolio will be counted towards the investment category of DBS Multiplier. For existing ETF-based digiPortfolio holders, a minimum top up of S$1,000 per transaction is required to qualify for DBS Multiplier.
Where can I obtain a copy of the respective portfolio information?
Details of the underlying ETFs in each portfolio are available in the Portfolio Details page in digibank online and digibank app. You will be able to view the fund prospectuses and fact sheets. In addition, there are short commentaries from the DBS Investment Team on the reasons for including each ETF in the portfolio.
When will fees be debited from my account?
Management fees are debited once a year. In the event that you close your portfolio, the applicable fees will be debited prior to closure.
How can I check my holdings?
Simply log in to digibank online or digibank mobile to view details of your digiPortfolio and holdings.
Can I change my investment amount by topping up or withdrawing from my portfolio(s)?
You can top up your portfolio at no minimum/maximum cap anytime you wish with no additional fees. Simply click on the top-up button next to your existing portfolios in digibank to increase your investment amount for the respective portfolio.
For withdrawals, you only need to maintain the minimum investment sum for your selected digiPortfolio by clicking the withdraw button.
This may involve selling some or all of your holdings in the portfolio. The selling process will take several days.
How do I close my digiPortfolio?
After logging into digibank, select the digiPortfolio you wish to close and submit your closure request. If you have multiple digiPortfolios, you will need to repeat this process for each one. The holdings in the selected digiPortfolio will be sold with the proceeds returned to your Multi-Currency Account. Please ensure that your Multi-Currency Account remains open until the proceeds have been credited successfully as the selling process will take several days: for Income/SaveUp digiPortfolios, it will take between 7-10 business days while the process for ETFs-based digiPortfolios will require between 3-5 business days. These estimated timelines comprise of regular market settlement timelines for funds and ETFs.
Can I still hold selected ETFs after the closure of my digiPortfolio?
No, once the closure request is submitted all the holdings in the digiPortfolio will be sold and the proceeds returned to your Multi-Currency Account. If you wish to remain invested in specific ETFs, you will need to purchase them individually via the DBS Online Funds Investment platform or via a regular savings plan through Invest-Saver.
How do I set up a recurring top up instruction for my digiPortfolio?
You can set up recurring top ups for digiPortfolio via the digibank app. Here's how:
For new digiPortfolio customers
For existing digiPortfolio customers
Recurring top ups can be made for these digiPortfolios:
- Income Portfolio
- SaveUp Portfolio
- Asia Portfolio
- Global Portfolio (ETF-based)
Can I modify my recurring top up?
Yes. You can modify your recurring top up via the digibank app by following these steps:
- Log in to the digibank app.
- From the home dashboard, tap on your digiPortfolio account.
- Scroll down and tap on 'Your Recurring Top-Ups' section.
- Tap on 'Modify' to modify your recurring top up instruction.
Please expect changes to be effective after 1 day.
How do I terminate my recurring top up instruction?
You may terminate your recurring top up instruction any time via the digibank app by following these steps:
- Log in to the digibank app.
- From the home dashboard, tap on your digiPortfolio account.
- Scroll down and tap on 'Your Recurring Top-Ups' section.
- Tap on 'Terminate' to terminate your recurring top up instruction.
Please expect the termination to be effective after 1 day. Any top ups scheduled for the same day will continue to occur.
digiPortfolio Management Fees
How are digiPortfolio Management fees calculated?
Calculation of Management Fees:
Portfolio Type | Asia Portfolio (0.75% p.a.) | Global Portfolio (0.75% p.a.) |
Management Fee | S$7.50 a year for a portfolio value of S$1,000 | US$7.50 a year for a portfolio value of US$1,000 |
The prevailing GST is applicable on the management fee for the respective Portfolio type.
How much do I have to pay to invest in digiPortfolio?
There is only one fee.
Based on the portfolio value, the annual management fee is at 0.75% p.a. for both the Asia Portfolio and Global Portfolio. There are no other sales charges, platform fees, switching fees, withdrawal fees or closure fees.)
This management fee goes towards the research, investment strategy, market monitoring and rebalancing of the digiPortfolio and is charged once a year, or at the time of portfolio closure.
digiPortfolio Investment Strategy
What is the investment strategy of digiPortfolio?
digiPortfolio's objective is to achieve a return befitting the respective mandate over an investment cycle of 3 – 5 years while managing the price fluctuation (risk) because of the market.
To achieve this, our strategy is to invest in a portfolio of exchange traded funds across asset classes including fixed income (bonds) and equity. Bonds provide steady income streams and equities provide capital growth. For any specific mandate, we will adjust the weights in either bonds or equities depending on our view on the market. We form this view together with our Chief Investment Officer (CIO) team – a dedicated team of analysts that form macro strategy. For example, in the Comfy Cruisin' Portfolio that is initially 45% invested in bonds funds, 50% in equities funds and 5% in cash, we would increase the weight in equities and decrease the weight in bonds if we believed that equities would outperform bonds over a certain period of time. Our adjustments are calibrated and not excessive.
How are risks managed in digiPortfolio?
The DBS Investment Team undertakes prudent risk management to guard against excessive risk in the portfolios. Our portfolio specialists consider acceptable price fluctuations to achieve certain returns.
Risk management also mitigates downside risks if our projections do not work out as we may have intended. For example, if we took an outsized investment in equities and it corrected heavily, it would cause undue stress to the portfolio. Having risk management standards and practices in place provides safeguards in the decision-making process.
How often is digiPortfolio rebalanced?
To make the portfolio effective, the portfolios are reviewed quarterly and rebalanced when necessary.
Regular rebalancing enables the portfolios to remain resilient no matter how the market moves.
How long should I remain invested in a digiPortfolio?
We believe that one should take a long-term view when investing to enjoy the benefit of compounded returns. Staying focused on long term targets will help investors overcome the anxieties caused by short term market volatility. A good guide is an investment cycle of 5 years.
Compounding generates additional gains by staying invested. In the illustration below, based on an initial investment amount of $10,000, a 6% annual return reaps $3,000 over 5 years if the investor withdraws the gains every year. If the investor did not withdraw the gains and stayed fully invested, the profit after 5 years would be $3,382 instead or $382 more.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Cumulative |
Simple | $10,600 | $11,200 | $11,800 | $12,400 | $13,000 | $3,000 |
Compound | $10,600 | $11,236 | $11,910 | $12,625 | $13,382 | $3,382 |
Short term investing requires good skill and timing to achieve success. However, this is difficult to execute during periods of volatility. The chart below is the MSCI World Index from 2013 to 2017. Suppose an investor started investing in 2013, he would have made some profit before meeting the rough patch in 2015. He may then decide to sell his investments to avoid further volatility. He may even wait a while before returning to the market. This may have meant missing out on the rally that proceeded in 2017. If he had stayed fully invested during the whole period, he could have benefited from the full 58% gain.
digiPortfolio vs Robo-Advisors
How is digiPortfolio different from Robo-Advisors?
Many robo-advisors in Singapore are stand-alone fintech companies with limited market capital, or part of the brokerage platforms of banks, which are separate from the full suite of banking products and services.
digiPortfolio is created and delivered by the Safest Bank in Asia and Best Digital Bank Globally. View Awards & Accolades.
DBS Bank also enjoys the highest credit ratings from the three top credit rating agencies in the world. digiPortfolio's investment process is completely integrated into the bank's secure systems so you have peace of mind knowing you are not being redirected to a third-party platform to transact. This also affords greater convenience as your internet banking login details are the only credentials needed to start investing
What is a Robo-Advisor?
Robo-advisors are digital platforms driven by algorithms that provide automated financial planning services with little or no human supervision. A typical robo-advisor collects information from clients through an online survey, and then uses the data to offer advice and/or automatically invest client assets.
Important information
In all other jurisdictions where the DBS/POSB iBanking website(s) is/are accessible by its residents or entities, it is intended for use by corporate, institutional, professional, wholesale and other qualified investors in accordance with the laws and regulations of such jurisdictions.
The material and information contained herein is for general circulation only and does not have regard to specific objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific investor individual and/or entity (collectively referred to as investor), wherever situated. The material and information contained herein does not constitute an offer, invitation, recommendation or solicitation of any action based upon it and should not be viewed as identifying or suggesting all risks, direct or indirect, that may be associated with any investment decision. Prospective investors should seek advice from a financial adviser regarding the suitability of the product before making a commitment to purchase the product. In the event that the prospective investor chooses not to seek such advice, he/she/they should carefully consider whether an investment in the said securities is suitable for them in light of their own circumstances, financial resources and entire investment programme.
The digiPortfolio Terms and Conditions have been updated and will take effect from 19 February 2024.
digiPortfolio Terms and Conditions


text:
September 10, 2007
With Novell® GroupWise® Mobile Server, you can synchronize personal information manager (PIM) and e-mail data from Novell GroupWise to Windows* CE, Windows Mobile*-based Smartphones, Symbian* OS, Palm OS* handheld devices, and SyncML* devices.
The GroupWise Mobile Server includes the following modules from Intellisync*:
E-mail Accelerator (excluding POP3, IMAP, Exchange Connector, Lotus Notes Connector, Workgroup, and PC Monitor)
GroupWise Connector
Mobile device synchronization
Save the GroupWise Mobile Server compressed executable file (gms202.exe) to a temporary directory on your Windows server.
Extract the .exe file into a directory at the root of your local drive or to a network server drive that can handle long pathnames.
The compressed file contains directory paths that could exceed DOS limits.
In Windows, click
, then locate the directory where you extracted the GroupWise Mobile Server files.Select the setup.exe file, then click to run the GroupWise Mobile Server Installation program.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the GroupWise Mobile Server.
For additional instructions, refer to the Installation Guide (InstallGdeEN.pdf) included with the software in the \Documentation directory of the extracted files.
For instructions on updating your system from previous version, see the GroupWise Mobile Server Getting Started Guide.
In a Web browser on your device, type the IP address or DNS name of the GroupWise Mobile Server, then type /install. For example, http://22.214.171.124/install.
Type your GroupWise username and password in the appropriate fields, then click
.If you are logging in to GroupWise Mobile Server for the first time, you need to complete Step 3 and Step 4. If you have logged in previously, skip to Step 5.
Select your time zone and your country.
Type your ZIP code or postal address, then click
.Follow the URL link to install the GroupWise Mobile Server client to your device; the installation launches automatically.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the GroupWise Mobile Server client.
If you are having difficulty downloading the Intellisync client on a Palm device, you might need to disable the proxy settings for your device Web browser.
To disable the proxy settings, open the Web browser on your device, click the menu button, then select
> . Select the tab, then click . Deselect all proxy settings, then click .For additional instructions, refer to the Installation Guide (InstallGdeEN.pdf) included with the software in the \Documentation directory of the extracted files.
Access the GroupWise Mobile Server Web PIM in your browser by entering the IP address or DNS name of the GroupWise Mobile Server.
Type your GroupWise username and password in the appropriate fields, then click
.Select your time zone, then select
.Type your city and ZIP/postal code.
Verify that your name and e-mail address are correct, then click
.From the list of available devices, select the type of sync device you are using, then click
.Select your wireless carrier in the
field.Type your phone number in the
.An SMS message is sent to the phone that was added.
On the mobile device, click the URL that is included in the SMS message.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the GroupWise Mobile Server PIM client to your device.
For additional instructions, refer to the client device guides included with the software in the \Documentation directory of the extracted files, or online at the GroupWise Mobility Web site.
For instructions on updating your device from previous version, see the GroupWise Mobile Server Getting Started Guide.
For a complete list of known issues, refer to the Release Notes included in the \Documentation directory of the extracted files.
If you have two NIC cards installed on the machine running GroupWise Mobile Server, there could be an issue if you are not synchronizing your devices. When a user provisions an account with a mobile device, the secondary NIC is added to the GroupWise Event Configuration. This address is used to slap (to send a notice that an event has triggered) the GroupWise Mobile Server machine when a change has occurred on a users account. Because the wrong address is used, and no slaps reach GroupWise Mobile Server. In addition, a synchronizing does not work if pull is used.
To resolve the problem:
From the Web browser of the GroupWise Mobile Server machine, go to http://localhost/diag.
Log in as the GroupWise Mobile Server administrator.
, then click .Add the GroupWise.Listener property to <hostname>=<ip>:<port>[,<more definitions>].
For example, dnsname=126.96.36.199:8191.
.Restart the Intellisync Mobile Suite service for the changes to take affect.
Next, you must delete all the users and either add them again manually, or set the server to auto discover and have the users add themselves. For information on adding users, see the Intellisync Mobile Suite Administrator's Guide.
After upgrading to the GroupWise Mobile Server 2.0.2, it is possible that the WebPIM might not work.
To resolve the problem, delete the genweb directory, which by default is located at C:\Program Files\Intellisync Mobile Suite\Tomcat\webapps\. After you delete the directory, restart the GroupWise Mobile Server machine.
If you are using GroupWise Mobile Server with Black Berry Enterprise Server or other software that can trigger or catch event notifications for GroupWise, it might cause the events to be deleted. When the events are deleted, it causes synchronization to be inconsistent. For additional information, go to the support Web site and search for TID 3368855.
For a complete list of defect fixes, refer to the Release Notes included in the \Documentation directory of the extracted files.
The following sources provide information about GroupWise Mobile Server:
Product documentation is included with the software in the \Documentation\English directory or the root directory of the extracted software.
Online product documentation is available on the GroupWise Mobility Documentation Web Site
Additional documentation for the GroupWise Mobile Server is available at the Intellisync Product Documentation Web site. GroupWise Mobile Server is Intellisync's Email Accelerator.
In this documentation, a greater-than symbol (>) is used to separate actions within a step and items in a cross-reference path.
A trademark symbol (®, ™, etc.) denotes a Novell trademark; an asterisk (*) denotes a third-party trademark
Novell, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this documentation, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Novell, Inc. reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes to its content, at any time, without obligation to notify any person or entity of such revisions or changes.
Further, Novell, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to any software, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Novell, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to any and all parts of Novell software, at any time, without any obligation to notify any person or entity of such changes.
Any products or technical information provided under this Agreement may be subject to U.S. export controls and the trade laws of other countries. You agree to comply with all export control regulations and to obtain any required licenses or classification to export, re-export, or import deliverables. You agree not to export or re-export to entities on the current U.S. export exclusion lists or to any embargoed or terrorist countries as specified in the U.S. export laws. You agree to not use deliverables for prohibited nuclear, missile, or chemical biological weaponry end uses. Please refer to the Novell International Trade Services Web page for more information on exporting Novell software. Novell assumes no responsibility for your failure to obtain any necessary export approvals.
Copyright © 2007 Novell, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, stored on a retrieval system, or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher.
Novell, Inc. has intellectual property rights relating to technology embodied in the product that is described in this document. In particular, and without limitation, these intellectual property rights may include one or more of the U.S. patents listed on the Novell Legal Patents Web page and one or more additional patents or pending patent applications in the U.S. and in other countries.
For Novell trademarks, see the Novell Trademark and Service Mark list.
All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Main Page
Last Added
Cfnm amateurs ride cock
Close and Play
Watch New Anal Porn Videos
(Cumshot) Hot SWEDISH Teen Fucked Deep In The Ass
Tied to a bed and used hard
Chucky and Renato fuck hard Tigerr Benson
Faye Reagan seduces her best friend's boyfriend
At the Mercy of the Crowd
Co coloco
Tanned petite Madelyn get ganged banged outdoor
Gallery adventure for wondrous blonde Phoenix
Stretching Casey's tight ass with fat cock
Alan Stafford nails cheating bride Nicole Aniston
Lets fuck Mark's mom
Gia DiMarco is the perfect mom with Perfect Ass!
In his step mom's room
American Whore Story
Show us your tits first!
My Ex's Angry Mom
My step-mom, Darla, can hep you!
My girlfriend's step mom is too hot
The Great Booty of Aleksa


text:
Alcohol Fuel Basics - Alcohol 101
Circle Track helps you understand alcohol fuels
The use of alcohol as a fuel in race cars, specifically Open Wheel and in some closed wheel cars, has been a standard for many years.
What most of us don't realize is why? When comparing alcohol to gasoline it's not readily obvious why one would select alcohol over gasoline. For purposes of this story when we refer to alcohol we mean methanol or ethanol. Gasoline is much denser from an energy content perspective, meaning it takes less gas (versus alcohol) to make the same power. It's easier to ignite gasoline than alcohol fuels. Gasoline is available all over the world, the quality may be different, but it's available. Gasoline is also more compatible with the materials that are currently used in the construction of fuel systems in use on the road today, from vehicles to the infrastructure used to move it from producer to customer.
The characteristics, between the gasoline's used in say an F1 car are worlds apart from what we use in Saturday night racing. It would be easier to get a date with Angela Jolie, even if you weren't supplying the baby sitter, than to buy 55 gallons of the "Gasoline" used in a F1 car. It's pretty much unobtainable to the average racer. That said, we're still able to buy racing gasolines that are a far cry from what is available at the pump today. We have at our fingertips, and our wallets, some of the finest racing fuels that have ever been offered to the racer at any time in history. We are a truly lucky lot. While we pay for this privilege, the cost is reasonable given the amount of technology and infrastructure it takes to deliver these high quality products.
History Lesson
We need to look back at why alcohol was even introduced to the racing community. It boils down to one word: safety. Yes, there are other benefits but the fuel was really legislated into use due to perceived safety benefits. The great things about gasoline and its use in racing engines, is also why it's inherently a riskier fuel than alcohol, gasoline will ignite in less than ideal conditions, as in outside the engine. And, once it's lit, it's harder to extinguish outside of the controlled burning that is taking place in the combustion chamber.
If you have ever been present when a race car catches fire it's a truly scary event, regardless of the fuel used. But gasoline is a bit more intense. The bright orange of the fire, the very intense heat, and the fact that spraying water on the fire does very little to it other than spread it around. I'm not suggesting banning gasoline as a fuel for racing; I'm just stating a fact. The fact that fires are a very rare occurrence in today's race cars is a testament to the safety that is designed into the modern race car, at all levels of the sport.
A car that is fueled by alcohol is no less scary should it catch fire, but there are a few critical differences. The fire is much easier to extinguish with water-based fire extinguishers. In fact, water is the fire extinguisher medium of choice for alcohol fires. There is less need for special extinguishers to be used outside of the car itself.
This goes back into our racing past, in 1964 when there was a crash and a terrible fireball due to a ruptured fuel tank, early in the Indy 500 and two prominent IndyCar drivers of that time, Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald, perished as a result of that fiery crash. The following year (1965) all the cars racing under the USAC banner, including the 500, were powered by methanol as the use of gasoline was banned.
Some other alcohol facts that make it a bit safer from a fuel perspective: It burns at a much cooler temperature and slower than gasoline. Consequently, this slower burn rate, around 18 to 22 percent slower depending on the conditions, results in an open fire that is a bit less intense and easier to control with easily obtained firefighting equipment. Please do not confuse this as a "safe fire."
But not everything is all roses and honey, from a safety perspective. In the light of day, it's almost impossible to see an alcohol flame. While it's easier to extinguish an alcohol fire, first you have to see it. Often times you will see the driver or crew reacting to the fire before any pit personnel can see the flames. Their reaction is due to the fact they are being burned. Think back to the Indy 500 when Rick Mears was burned by a fire ignited during a pit stop. This was the genesis of IndyCar teams squirting water on the dry break fuel valve right after it's disconnected from the car as a fire mitigating process. As a fuel, alcohol is to be treated with the same respect as any other fuel. It's dangerous and can cause some serious injuries just like any other combustible liquid.
Alcohol Problems
For the racer there seem to be many positives for using alcohol as a fuel; are there any downsides? Yes, there are a number of issues that alcohol brings to the party that are not even considerations with gasoline fuels. The first is that alcohol is hygroscopic. It will absorb water out of the air if it's exposed to the environment. This little feature can make a perfectly acceptable jug of fuel not worth using if the water content gets too high. This feature of alky fuels is, and has been, the bane of many tuners as they make changes to the fuel system only to find that the fuel was contaminated with water.
This is also a real problem in areas that have a good bit of humidity in the air. In the Southwest it's not a big issue but it still means that any alcohol that is stored needs to be in containers that are not vented and that the fuel should not be exposed to the environment any longer than possible.
Another downside is that many of the rubber type seals that are used in gasoline fueled cars don't hold up when the fuel is changed to alcohol. They don't react well with alcohol fuels, often degrading and no longer offering an acceptable seal, or even worse they degrade and contaminate the fuel downstream of their location. While this seems like a real issue, it's simply rectified, by using seal materials that are resistant to alcohols, from the tank to the end of the fuel delivery system.
Chemistry 101
The chemical makeup of alcohol is very corrosive to many of the coatings that are typically used on metals in the fuel system. It's not uncommon for metal components to get surface oxidization and pitting as a result of alcohol fuels. This becomes a real issue if the alcohol is allowed to sit in the fuel system between races. The fuel system should be maintained between races to prevent the alcohol in the system from turning into what is a very strong corrosive agent.
If the fuel system isn't cleaned frequently, preferably after each race day, the corrosive nature of alcohol will play havoc with the metal and rubber components in the fuel system, especially those components not designed for this type of fuel. This isn't a real issue as most racers who are using alcohol fuels are already familiar with the required maintenance. For those not familiar with the maintenance rigors required when using alcohol fuels; education comes quickly and with a vengeance.
Failure to properly maintain an alcohol fuel system will result in, aside from the corrosion, a grit like substance, almost a fine sand type of residue, in the lines and around aluminum parts. This grit is the result of an increased electrical conductivity that alcohol has over gasoline fuels. The grit is from the galvanic corrosion caused by the greater electrical conductivity from the fuel as it interacts with the various different metals in the fuel system. This contamination will migrate throughout the system clogging fuel filters, fuel jets, and generally cause havoc within the fuel system.
It's often thought that alcohol makes power because it has a greater amount of energy. This isn't exactly true; in fact, the type of alcohols that are commonly used in racing have less heat energy than gasoline based on the volume. There are, in fact, four types of alcohols of which only methanol and ethanol are currently used as fuels in the racing world. The other two types of alcohols, propanol and butanol, aren't used commonly used. Propanol has more uses as an industrial solvent than as a fuel while Butanol is an interesting chemical.
From a handling perspective, alcohol will cause the racer a few more considerations. Since alcohol has less heat energy than gasoline, you'll be required to burn more of it—that means more weight at the start of the race and, due to the higher consumption rate, the car will become lighter and lighter as the race progresses.
Why is this a bad thing? Because it will change your weight and balance to a greater degree than you would have with gasoline fuel, as the fuel burns off. Yes, gasoline burns off and the car will get lighter as well, it's just that with alcohol it will happen at a greater rate, and not only will you have to deal with the ever changing track conditions, but you will have to develop a setup that will not go away as the car gets lighter.
Of course, you can develop a setup that favors the car later in the race. The point is that the use of alcohol will not only mandate fuel system changes, but it will also mandate a different setup than gasoline.
More Power
So, just why does alcohol make more power than gasoline if it has less energy per pound than gasoline? Good question! Obviously, you will have to run more of the alcohol-based fuels to get the same power, how much more will depend on the type of alcohol you're running. With methanol and ethanol it's about 40 percent more than gasoline. Let me espouse some of the good characteristics that alcohol brings to the table.
First, when you burn alcohol one of the byproducts of combustion is oxygen. This helps enhance the combustion process. Another is the cooling effect of alcohol as it "vaporizes" in the inlet track. This helps create denser air as the air/fuel charge enters the engine, another positive. The cooling effect also helps to cool the engine, at least on the inlet side of the equation. Remember, producing horsepower is all about creating and controlling heat.
Another positive feature about alcohol that is seldom discussed is that the incoming fuel charge, the mixture of air and alcohol, is easier to compress than a mixture of gasoline and air. The alcohol doesn't vaporize as well or as completely as gasoline as it comes out of the carburetor or the injector. While gasoline forms a more complete vapor, alcohol forms a "vapor" made up of many very small droplets of fuel suspended in the incoming air/fuel stream entering the engine. Then during the compression stroke, the heat of simply compressing the incoming air/fuel mixture completes the vaporization process.
So, from a mechanical perspective, your engine uses a smaller percentage of the power it's making to sustain continued operation. Long story short, an alcohol mixture takes less energy to compress than a gasoline mixture. And, as an added bonus the last vaporization step also helps to further cool the mixture. Remember, cool, in this case, is a relative term as compared to a gasoline mixture.
Additionally, an engine that is burning methanol or ethanol can support a much higher compression ratio. It's not uncommon to see alcohol engines using as high as 13:1 or 14:1 compression rations with little fuel-related problems. Of course, high compression engines have other mechanical issues that aren't related to fuel. That said, alcohol can support some very high compression engines without the fuel causing detonation issues which can occur if the wrong grade of gasoline is used.
Currently, the majority of alcohol fuels are manufactured from petroleum products, in this case natural gas. More specifically, the methane that is a component of natural gas. It can also be manufactured from the pyrolysis of wood. A process that utilizes pressure, high temperature, and an absence of oxygen, one of the byproducts of this process is methanol, another is charcoal. The term wood alcohol is derived from this process. As previously discussed in other Circle Track articles, there are other sources of alcohol fuels, such as agricultural products like corn, beets, or sugar cane.
Leaving the political arguments of whether it's good or bad to manufacture fuel from corn, beets, or sugar cane let's jump right into the future. It seems much more economically viable to use feed stocks that are lower in cost and that we already have in our hands, than to grow or divert new feed stocks to produce fuels. Waste byproducts such as whey from the cheese making process, still contain sugars that can be turned into ethanol. It seems infinitely smarter to use this waste product or products and get all the value possible out of this resource.
As far as the racer is concerned, the more demand for alcohol fuel products the more technology will be devoted to improving the product and creating better and, hopefully, more economical methods for producing alcohol from waste products or easily renewable agricultural products. The future does look promising in this field of developing new methodologies for creating fuel from alternative sources.
The UOP division of Honeywell International this year flew a Gulfstream G450 Business Jet from New Jersey to the Paris Air Show using a "green fuel" that was composed of a 50/50 blend of petroleum-based jet fuel and Honeywell "Green Jet Fuel." The Green Jet fuel, or biofuel, was developed using camelina. Camelina is the agro crop that doesn't compete in the food chain and is used as a rotational crop in wheat farming.
Another benefit is that Camelina can be grown on farm land that is considered marginal and doesn't have to compete with crops that require the best land for production. This was the very first transatlantic flight that utilized a biofuel in a business jet. While this wasn't an alcohol-based product, it does showcase some very sound American technology that will have effects on how we develop new technologies for creating new fuel feed stocks, and this will have implications in how alcohol products are developed.
It may not be too far off into the future that we see commercially available alcohol-based fuels that are created from algae feed stocks or cellulouse waste products. The idea that we could take garbage and turn it into the feed stocks that are used to develop fuel isn't just a pipe dream it may become a reality. Who knows, landfills may be the next American energy fields; garbage may be the next black gold.
Moving forward, it will not only be the general consumer who will benefit from this type of new technology development but racers as well. The future does indeed look very bright.


text:
After using sign language to communicate with a friend, a deaf North Carolina man was stabbed several times last week. Why? A passerby apparently mistook his gestures for gang signs.
Terrance Ervin Daniels, 45, suffered wounds to the upper body during the altercation in Burlington, N.C., according to ABC News. The suspect is 22-year-old Robert Jarell Neal, who allegedly saw Daniels and his friend, also deaf, walking down the street, and approached wielding a kitchen knife.
(MORE: Talk With Your Hands: Gloves Translate Sign Language Into Speech)
Although Neal mistook the sign language for gang signs, there's no evidence to suggest that he's actually involved with any gangs, ABC News reports. So as of now, it's not clear why he attacked Daniels.
Following the incident, Daniels was flown by helicopter to the University of North Carolina trauma center for treatment. (He remains in stable condition.) Neal fled the scene, but was later arrested in Elon, N.C., Sgt. Mark Yancey of the Burlington Police Department told ABC News. At his court hearing Friday, Neal was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill — as well as a felony assault on a handicapped person. He did not enter a plea, and bond was set at $500,000.
Though this situation might seem like a bizarre and very troubling outlier, a strikingly similar scenario has occurred in the past. In 2011, two hearing-impaired Florida men were stabbed after their ASL conversation was mistaken for an exchange of gang signs.
MORE: Chicago City Clerk Scraps Boy's Winning Sticker for Supposed Gang Symbols


text:
ETP's Acquisition of Susser to Close Aug. 29
DALLAS – There is only one thing standing in the way of Energy Transfer Partner LP's (ETP) acquisition of Susser Holdings Corp., ETP chief financial officer Martin Salinas Jr. said during the company's 2014 fiscal second-quarter earnings call on Thursday. A shareholder vote by Susser shareholders in Corpus Christi, Texas, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 28.
Under terms of the proposed agreement, Susser shareholders may elect to receive either $80.25 in cash, 1.4506 common units of ETP, or a combination of both.
The deal was first announced on April 28.
Assuming Susser shareholders vote to approve the acquisition, the acquisition will close on Aug. 29, Salinas confirmed. History dictates that shareholders rarely vote against merger proposals whereby they receive a significant premium compared to the share price a company traded for before the announcement, as is the case with Susser.
Dallas-based ETP is the parent company to Sunoco Inc. and Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores (MACS).
Corpus Christi-based Susser is the parent company of more than 600 Stripes LLC and Sac-N-Pac stores.
"We are very excited about the complementary business with Sunoco, and the great team that Susser brings," Salinas said.
Salinas commented Thursday that gas margins were quite strong throughout ETP's retail business. He added that overall, MACS is performing extremely well.
ETP's retail division reported adjusted EBITDA of $136 million for the quarter ended June 30, compared to $97 million during the same period last year. Gross margins were also much higher, coming in at $308 million, $104 million higher than last year's second quarter. Revenues also increased by $277 million.
ETP operated 5,152 stores as of June 30, an increase of 178 locations year over year.
Companywide, ETP had a "great second quarter," said Salinas. The master limited partnership earned adjusted EBITDA of $1.17 billion for its 2014 fiscal second quarter, an increase of $100 million vs. the same quarter in 2013.
ETP also increased its quarterly distribution by 8 cents per common unit to 95.5 cents per unit, often a sign a company is confident about its future.


text:
Fitna anti-islam movie by Geert Wilders
From WikiLeaks
Unless otherwise specified, the document described here:
- Was first publicly revealed by WikiLeaks working with our source.
- Was classified, confidential, censored or otherwise withheld from the public before release.
- Is of political, diplomatic, ethical or historical significance.
Any questions about this document's veracity are noted.
The summary is approved by the editorial board.
See here for a detailed explanation of the information on this page.
If you have similar or updated material, see our submission instructions.
- Release date
- March 27, 2008
Presented are the Dutch and English subtitled version of the movie made by Dutch filmmaker and conservative politician Geert Wilders. Wilders, the head of Dutch political party PVV (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy), released this film to the open internet on 27th of March 2008 after the website was shut down by the registrar Network Solutions, following a global public debate about the motives and implications of publishing such a video.
The video presents six of the Qu'ran's Suras, accompanied with imagery allegedly supporting the applications of the Suras to modern Islamic communities and its implications on society in the Netherlands.
See also Submission (the literal translation of Islam), a superior film which lead to the murder (depicted in Fitna) of Dutch film maker Theo Van Gogh by an Islamic extremist in 2004.
See also the "biblical" response Schism
Further information
- Context
- United States
File size in bytes


text:
Parche de Seguridad Critico para Oracle
Fuente Newsletter:
Critical Patch Update — July 2010
The Critical Patch Update for July 2010 was released on July 13, 2010. Oracle strongly recommends applying the patches as soon as possible.
The Critical Patch Update Advisory is the starting point for relevant information. It includes a list of products affected, pointers to obtain the patches, a summary of the security vulnerabilities, and links to other important documents. Supported Products that are not listed in the "Supported Products and Components Affected" Section of the advisory do not require new patches to be applied.
Also, it is essential to review the Critical Patch Update supporting documentation referenced in the Advisory before applying patches, as this is where you can find important pertinent information.
The Critical Patch Update Advisory is available at the following location:
* Oracle Technology Network
The next four Critical Patch Update release dates are:
* October 12, 2010
* January 18, 2011
* April 19, 2011
* July 19, 2011
Oracle Security Alerts
- bitfrost's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- 2024 reads


text:
Since 1998, Earnings Whispers has published 120,051 Earnings Whisper numbers and, 71.8% of the time, the Earnings Whisper number was the most accurate published expectation by gathering the true expectations of 11,746 professional analysts - people who actually get paid to tell hedge funds, portfolio managers, and broker clients their projections.
Back in the 1960's, Ray Ball and Philip Brown discovered a market anomaly known as the Post-Earnings Announcement Drift (PEAD). Numerous studies since have confirmed the anomaly since, but since the Earnings Whisper number better reflects the market's expectation, investment models aren't changed merely by a beat or miss of the consensus estimate. Consequently, at least since 1998, stocks have only drifted in the direction of the surprise when it is based on the Earnings Whisper.
Combining the analysts' checks that make up the Earnings Whisper number, with measures of investor sentiment, we can score the likelihood a stock will see an Earnings Announcement Premium (EAP) - first discovered by William Beaver in 1968 - and move higher going into its earnigns release or move lower ahead of the news.
Much of the Post-Earnings Announcement Drift comes during the first several days after the earnings release but we've learned that, at least since 1998, there are some pieces of information that mean more for the longer-term drift and some things matter more to the short-term drift. The Power Rating focuses solely on the earnings and sentiment data that matters most for the short-term trade.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
For more information, contact the Gloucester County Commissioner of Registration.
Show All Answers
You may register to vote by completing a registration application form at the Gloucester County Superintendent of Elections Office or by mail. Forms are also available at any Municipal Clerk's Office, through the League of Women Voters, or other public agencies. For further information, please call the Superintendent of Elections Office at 856-384-4500 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Anytime, however, in order to vote in any election, your registration must be received 21 days prior to the election in which you wish to vote.
Under the federally mandated Help America Vote Act (HAVA), You will be required to provide either the last four digits of your Social Security Number or your complete Driver's License Number on the registration application.
Your registration will be valid indefinitely if you have not moved from Gloucester County or have not been disenfranchised.
No, but you may fill out a Party Declaration Form (PDF) at that time if you so choose.
If you legally change your name, you may vote in the next election by signing your new name in the poll book. Then you must complete a Change of Name Notice. (Title 19:31-13)
Voting locations are listed on the face of your Sample Ballot.


text:
Triple play is the driving competitive force behind the current and future plans of service providers of all types-- incumbent Telcos, ISPs, Cable MSOs, Mobile Carriers, and CLECs all realize that the service provider who provides the most compelling and cost-effective bundle of voice-video-data will win the war. In short, triple play can reduce customer churn, improve ARPU, reduce operational costs, and ultimately will be the lynchpin for service provider survival during this hyper-competitive era.
Last year's Triple Play Symposium (held in San Jose and New York) proved to be the premier forum for learning and exchanging ideas about the technology and business model behind successful triple play deployments. Triple play decision makers and technologists from leading service providers converged to discuss how to effectively make the business and technical decisions that will be the difference between success and mere survival.
This year the Triple Play Symposium is expanding with the addition of a Paris venue. Europe continues to be the most advanced and competitive market for triple play deployments, and the cross-Atlantic learning for all participants should be invaluable.


text:
Culture change in the Church
Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Post
Published: Thursday, March 25, 2010
There has been much advice given to the Catholic Church in regard to the sexual abuse scandals. There are, though, only two real options. The Church can become more Catholic, or less Catholic.
Much commentary favours the latter approach. If the Catholic Church were to become less distinctively Catholic -- begin to teach as false what she now teaches as true, modify her traditional practices, adopt democratic modes of governance -- she would fix the problem. Though rarely put so bluntly, the advice to Catholics is to become more like Protestants.
The alternative is for the Church to become more fully who she already is--a preacher, a teacher, a mother, a mediator, a ruler. The sexual abuse scandals are a result of the Church's infidelity to her own identity and mission. That demands the response of being more Catholic, not less.
Obviously that's the case for the perpetrators of sexual abuse. Sin, especially such grievous sin and criminal activity, is a betrayal of the graces of baptism and ordination. The scandals, though, have been as much about a failure of governance and oversight; it's from the Greek for "overseer" that we get the word "bishop".
In the 1960s, like much of society and after the Second Vatican Council, the Church simply abandoned her disciplinary life. Doctrinal dissent was not corrected, but often celebrated. Liturgical abuses, both minor and outrageously sacrilegious, were tolerated. Bishops simply stopped inquiring into priestly asceticism, prayer and holiness of life. Non-Catholics often have an image of the Catholic Church as a ruthlessly efficient organization with a chain of command that would make the armed forces jealous. The reality for most of the 1960s to 1980s was the opposite. A priest could preach heresy, profane the Holy Mass, destroy the piety of his people and face no consequences. The overseers decided to overlook everything. It is any surprise, then, that when accusations of criminal immorality emerged they too were dealt with inadequately, if at all?
Pope Benedict, in his bluntly-worded letter to Irish Catholics last week wrote that the bishops "failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse." Too many bishops weren't Catholic enough. They failed, for example, to follow the clear direction of the 1983 Code of Canon Law that a cleric who commits sexual sin with a minor "is to be punished with just penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants."
A culture of laxity had so infected bishops that their disciplinary muscles had severely atrophied. It was not as if they were vigilant rulers in all aspects, but perversely indulgent of sexual abuse. Indulgence was shown to abuses of all kinds. So latitudinarian had the clerical culture become that even modest attempts at doctrinal discipline were widely mocked -- or do we forget that the progressive press, inside and outside the Church, calling Joseph Ratzinger "God's Rottweiler"?
The great task for the Holy See then has been to restore those disciplinary muscles. On doctrine, a universal catechism was issued in 1992 to make plain the orthodox teaching of the Church. In the liturgy, instruction after instruction has declared the age of endlessly inventive innovations to be over. The Holy See wrested control over translations of the Mass away from national bishops' conferences, deeming a failure three decades of rhetorically insipid, theologically dubious and linguistically dishonest work.
On sexual abuse? In the late 1990s Cardinal Ratzinger launched a review of how such cases were being handled. In 2001, he and Pope John Paul II lost patience. That year -- before, it should be noted, the explosion of the American scandals in 2002 -- local bishops were told they no longer could handle the canonical aspects of such cases on their own authority. All cases of sex abuse had to be reported to Rome. The age of majority was raised from 16 to 18, the statute of limitations was extended and often lifted altogether, and speedier dismissals from the priesthood were authorized. If local bishops would not govern, then the Holy See would intervene directly.
Like doctrine and liturgy, the attempt was to effect a culture change -- precisely because any existing rules are useless in a culture of laxity. It takes time to change a culture, but what does culture change in the Church look like?
Since 2001, Rome has dealt with some 3,000 cases stretching back a half century or more. Canadian bishops were ahead of the curve; since 1989 there have been strict protocols in place. The current one for the Archdiocese of Toronto requires reporting abuse to civil authorities within one hour. Just last week my superiors dispatched a letter to another diocese I intend to visit testifying to my probity -- including criminal checks, sobriety and soundness of morals. That's now routine.
On Tuesday, the American bishops released their annual national audit of all charges in the last year. It reports that there were 398 new allegations in the entire United States last year. Six of them were from current minors; the rest were older incidents only now being reported. Over 70% of alleged offenders are already deceased, suspended from ministry, or dismissed from the priesthood. In a Church of some 60 million Catholics, aggressive action has seen the problem reduced to six cases of alleged current abuse. That did not make the news.
The backlog from the sins, shame and secrecy of the past is still to be dealt with. It will take some time. The victims' pain endures, the Church's shame remains. The abdication of discipline in the Church has taken a terrible toll. Slowly though we are becoming more Catholic and restoring the years that the locust hath eaten.
And these facts in response to Christopher Hitchens' unsuccessful attempted hatchett job.
Melbourne Latin Mass * The Mass in Latin in Melbourne Australia * The Novus Ordo Mass in Latin * The Roman Rite * Melbourne * Latin Novus Ordo * Tridentine Rite * Classical Roman Rite * Melbourne Gregorian Chant * Melbourne * Ad orientem * Melbourne * The Latin Mass * Melbourne * Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite * Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite * Liturgical Renewal * Liturgical Reform * * The Glorificamus Society: promoting Reverence, the Sacred and Beauty in Catholic Liturgy *


text:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief executives at the largest U.S. companies are much more optimistic about their sales prospects than they were three months ago, though many remain cautious about hiring.
The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that 72 percent of its members expect sales will increase in the next six months. That's up from 58 percent at the end of last year. And 38 percent plan to invest more in plant and equipment, up from 30 percent in October-December quarter, when the Roundtable released its last report.
Still, the better outlook hasn't made the group more optimistic about hiring. Twenty-nine percent of CEOs plan to increase hiring over the next six months, the same percentage as the last two surveys.
The executives are more comfortable with their current staffing levels and are less inclined to lay off workers. The percentage of CEOs planning to cut jobs fell to 25 percent from 29 percent, the second straight drop.
Even so, employers added 236,000 jobs in February, the government said last week. That capped a four-month hiring spree in which job gains averaged more than 200,000 per month. And it drove down the unemployment rate to a four-year low of 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January.
Some of the net gains in hiring reflect a drop in layoffs rather than more overall hiring.
Jim McNerney, chief executive of the Boeing Co. and chairman of the Roundtable, said the more cautious outlook among CEOs "may reflect ongoing uncertainty and a wait-and-see attitude about the business climate in the United States."
The Roundtable surveys CEOs about sales, capital spending and hiring. The results are combined into an index which gauges their outlook for the economy. That index jumped to 81 from 65.6 in December, the first increase in a year and higher the index's long-run average of 79.2.
The Business Roundtable represents CEOs of the 200 largest U.S. corporations. The survey results are based on 144 responses received between Feb. 11 and March 1.


text:
Cardholder Service: 1.855.341.4643 Application Inquiries: 1.855.341.4643
View French Version
We're always looking for ways to help you get ahead with your finances. That's why we want to offer you a special 5.9% annual interest rate on balance transfers to any Collabria* credit card¹.
By taking advantage of this special rate, you'll get to:
This offer is available from January 2, 2021 and expires on January 31, 2022.
Here's how you can take advantage of this offer:
Remember that we never charge you any fees for balance transfers to your Collabria credit card. After all, your financial wellbeing is our priority.
For more details, call Cardholder Services at 1.855.341.4643.
¹This offer is available from January 2, 2021 and expires on January 31, 2022 on all consumer and business credit card accounts, except the US Dollar card. During the promotional period, cardholders will be able to transfer balances to a Collabria credit card at the promotional annual interest rate of 5.9%. The US Dollar card is not part of this promotional offer. Please refer to your Cardholder Agreement for further details regarding Collabria cards that are eligible for this offer. You can also access this agreement at https://www.collabriacreditcards.ca/cardholder-agreement to see the agreement that applies to the card of your choice.
BALANCE TRANSFER PROCESS: Balance transfers can be requested after the cardholder receives and activates their card. They can initiate a balance transfer via MyCardInfo (online banking), in their branch or by contacting Cardholder Services. The cardholder requires the destination biller/payee name as well as the account/card# associated with the account. The minimum transfer amount without promotional offers is $100.
BALANCE TRANSFER PROMOTIONAL OFFER: The promotional 5.9% annual interest rate for balance transfers applies for 6 months from the date of transfer and will be applied automatically. When the promotional rate ends, your standard interest rate will apply. The promotional balance transfer rate can only be used during the promotional period between January 2, 2021 and expires on January 31, 2022. This offer may be withdrawn or ended at any time without prior notice. This offer applies to consumer and business credit cards. The US Dollar card is excluded from this offer. Account credits on a credit card, which is the money the card issuer owes you, cannot be transferred as a balance transfer to a Collabria credit card.
²This promotional offer does not apply to transfers between Collabria accounts. Please continue to make your regular payments on transferred accounts until you receive confirmation that the transfer has been completed.
³In order to receive the promotional 5.9% annual interest rate for balance transfers, a minimum transfer amount of $500 is required and you can transfer as many balances as your credit card limit allows during the promotional period, as long as each transfer is $500 or more. The minimum transfer amount without promotional offers is $100.
*To identify a Collabria-issued credit card, please check the credit card back; the issuer (Collabria) is always stated on the bottom left corner. If the credit card issuer is listed as Collabria, this card is not eligible for a balance transfer to another Collabria-issued credit card.
Collabria Financial Services Inc. ("Collabria") is an independent entity from your credit union with no ownership interest in the other. If you choose to obtain Collabria credit card services through a referral from your credit union, it will receive compensation from Collabria.
®The Collabria Mastercard is issued by Collabria Financial Services Inc. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
The Collabria Visa Card is issued by Collabria Financial Services Inc. pursuant to a license from Visa. *Trademark of Visa Int., used under license.
You are now leaving the Collabria website and will be connected to the Assurant® Financial Services Portal shortly.
Assurant® is responsible for processing your insurance claim. All the information you provide will be subject to Assurant's Privacy Policy, which can be found on their website at assurant.ca/privacy-policy. Insurance benefits are subject to terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions as outlined in the Certificate of Insurance.
You are now leaving the Collabria website and will be connected to the CardWise Online login page(cardwiseonline.ca).
CardWise is the digital account management tool that lets you manage your Collabria-issued credit card anytime, anywhere. If you are a personal cardholder or a business cardholder on an Individual Pay Structure, you can register for CardWise and experience all its' features and benefits through cardwiseonline.ca or the CardWise Mobile app. If you are a business cardholder on a Consolidated Pay Structure, please click here to find out about digital account management solutions available to you.
Accessing from your mobile device? Download CardWise from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.


text:
Intergovernmental Organizations
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are using CC to share research, data, and educational materials they produce. IGOs, like all creators who want wide dissemination of their content, realize they can benefit greatly from the use of Creative Commons licenses--maximizing the impact of their resources and efforts. A number of IGOs believe that as publicly minded institutions, adopting an open licensing policy for at least some subset of their publications is the preferred mechanism for ensuring the broadest and most widespread use and reuse of the information they publish.
This page explains some of the benefits for IGOs choosing to publish content under Creative Commons licenses, clarifies some unique legal considerations, provides case study of IGOs already using CC, aggregates relevant frequently asked questions, and addresses common licensing scenarios and options available to IGOs.
Why Intergovernmental Organizations Benefit from Using CC
IGOs' missions are aligned with sharing information and resources
Disseminating useful information globally is aligned with the mission and work of most IGOs. Sharing information and content -- ranging from education assessment metrics to cultural heritage resources to research studies on the environmental impact of fossil fuels to health information -- is central to the success of IGOs. Information and content that IGOs create can be made maximally useful to the diverse communities they serve, helping citizens, governments, civic institutions, and businesses across all sectors.
CC helps clarify rights to users in advance
Materials like reports, photographs and videos released under the default All Rights Reserved copyright require the end user to ask permission in order to use the resource in the absence of some applicable exception or limitation under applicable copyright law. This framework means IGOs must dedicate resources to review and approve those requests. From the user perspective, the time and effort required to obtain the permission can be significant. The result is that resources are less likely to be used, shared, or repurposed, significantly diminishing the potential impact of information published. (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has described the challenges to dissemination of information under the All Rights Reserved copyright framework as follows: "While information technology makes it possible to multiply and distribute content worldwide and almost at no cost, legal restrictions on the reuse of copyrighted material hamper its negotiability in the digital environment ... [T]he Creative Commons license is by far the best-known license for such content, the use of which is growing exponentially." OECD (2007) Giving Knowledge for Free: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources, p.13.
Creative Commons licenses offer a simple, standardized way to grant flexible copyright permissions in advance. The adoption of Creative Commons licenses increases the dissemination, discoverability, reuse, and translatability of research and education materials. CC licenses are the global standard for open content licenses, and are leveraged by corporations, institutions, and government bodies worldwide. Creative Commons licenses lower the transaction costs normally associated with seeking and granting permission to use resources by granting limited permission in advance.
CC helps ensure IGOs receive credit for the resources they create
IGOs who use CC licenses get the credit they deserve for the work they create. All CC licenses require that attribution be given to author in the manner specified. IGOs also need not worry about expending resources crafting custom terms of service specifying how their works can be used. Creative Commons licenses contain vetted, legally robust standard copyright terms and conditions. These common features serve as the baseline, on top of which IGOs can choose to grant additional permissions if desired.
FAQ: CC Licenses and IGOs
IGOs are unique in several respects from individuals and other organizations. Below are some common questions about how CC licenses work for IGOs.
Can intergovernmental organizations ("IGOs") use CC licenses?
Anyone may use CC licenses for works they own, including IGOs. The reasons for doing so vary, and often include a desire to maximize the impact and utility of works for educational and informational purposes, and to enhance transparency.
Creative Commons published a 3.0 ported license suite specifically intended for use by IGOs. These ported licenses -- known as the 3.0 IGO ported licenses -- grant all of the same permissions as our international (unported) 3.0 licenses; however, they have two unique provisions. First, unlike all other 3.0 licenses, where the licensor is an IGO then unless otherwise mutually agreed, disputes are resolved by mediation or, if that is unsuccessful, through arbitration. This provision was included in response to the challenges IGOs face with enforcing their copyright. IGOs have privileges and immunities from national legal processes, including judicial processes. Waiving that immunity so they can bring suit in a national legal forum can be exceedingly difficult. Instead, IGOs typically use mediation and arbitration as the preferred means to resolve legal disputes.
Second, unlike the other 3.0 licenses, the 3.0 IGO ported licenses contain a cure period just like CC's new 4.0 licenses. If a licensee fixes a license violation within 30 days of discovery, the license automatically reinstates. The inclusion of the provision is intended to help reduce the likelihood that mediation and arbitration become necessary.
What should I know before I use a work licensed under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses?
You should be aware of the dispute resolution mechanism in the license, which is contained in Section 8(h). Disputes involving works licensed by IGOs under the licenses are resolved by mediation and arbitration.
Generally, mediation is a process used to avoid settling a dispute in court. The process typically involves a neutral third party (called a mediator) who tries to help the parties resolve the dispute. Mediation is not binding, however, unless the parties agree otherwise. Arbitration is also used to avoid settling a dispute in court, but the third party (called an arbitrator) has authority to make a decision in favor of one party. Arbitration tends to be more formal than mediation.
Before using any work licensed by an IGO under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses, be sure you understand what the mediation and arbitration processes are that have been chosen by the IGO and know what they mean for you. IGOs typically designate those in the copyright notice attached to the work.
How does the mediation and arbitration provision work?
Assuming a violation of the license has occurred and the dispute cannot be amicably resolved, the process starts with mediation. The IGO/licensor sends a notice of mediation to the licensee designating the mediation rules if those are not already identified in the copyright notice accompanying the work. If mediation is unsuccessful, then either the licensor or licensee can chose to commence arbitration. If arbitration becomes necessary, then those proceedings allow for remote participation (e.g., by teleconference, written submissions, etc.) whenever practicable.
IGOs have the ability to designate the particular mediation and arbitration rules in the copyright notice attached to the work, though the licensor and user of the work can always agree otherwise. If none is designated and no agreement is reached, then the mediation rules will be those identified in the notice of mediation sent to the licensee. If the matter progresses to arbitration, then unless otherwise stated in the copyright notice the rules that apply are the current Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (known as the UNCITRAL arbitration rules). The UNCITRAL rules are widely used by IGOs and others.
Note that Creative Commons does not endorse any particular mediation or arbitration rules. Creative Commons has published special deeds for the IGO 3.0 ported licenses that emphasize that disputes are resolved by mediation and arbitration. You should always take note before using a work by an IGO whether the license used is an IGO 3.0 ported license.
Do the 3.0 IGO ported licenses operate differently in other respects?
No, the only differences are the mediation and arbitration processes and the ability to cure a violation and regain your rights as a licensee. CC and the IGOs took great care to ensure that the interpretation of the licenses are no different otherwise than the 3.0 international licenses. The adjudicating body (the mediation or arbitration tribunal) will interpret the scope of the license and remaining obligations in accordance with general principles of international law. Exceptions and limitations remain unregulated by those licenses as well.
Note that the IGO 3.0 port is designed so that only IGOs as defined in the license are able to use mediation and arbitration. It is not available to anyone else using the licenses.
Examples of CC License Use by Intergovernmental Organizations
Commonwealth of Learning
- The Commonwealth of Learning has incorpoated CC BY-SA as part of its open educational resources (OER) policy: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/27703.
- Interview with Sir John Daniel about the policy: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/28384
- COL's guidelines for open educational resources (OER) in higher education: http://www.col.org/resources/publications/Pages/detail.aspx?PID=364
- Case_Studies/Commonwealth_of_Learning
European Cultural Foundation
- The European Cultural Foundation's project Labforculture.org releases materials under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
European Funded
- http://www.communia-project.eu/about COMMUNIA - The European Thematic Network on the Digital Public Domain, funded by the European Commission (the executive of the European Union), CC BY-SA (Unported).
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) - CERN publishes its book catalog online as open data using the CC0 public domain dedication and the results of some Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments are published under various Creative Commons licenses.
European Space Agency
- Rosetta NAVCAM Images Now Available Under a Creative Commons Licence: http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/04/rosetta-navcam-images-now-available-under-a-creative-commons-licence/
- Mars Express HRSC images/videos under BY-SA 3.0 (IGO): http://blogs.esa.int/communication/2014/12/18/esa-mars-express-high-resolution-stereo-camera-hrsc-images-now-available-under-a-creative-commons-licence/, and the actual video/news release: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Flying_over_Becquerel
Inter-American Development Bank
- The Inter-American Development Bank is requiring the adoption of Creative Commons by the organizations that receive funding from the Bank in the context of the FOMIN (Fondo Multiateral de Inversiones) initiatives, particularly the ICT4BUS, a fund that promotes the adoption of e-commerce in the American continent, which has financed more that thirty initiatives in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua and other Latin American countries. Banks require those initiative to use the GPL to license any software developed by organizations receiving support from the bank, and CC to license the documentation related with those computer programs, such as user manuals.
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
- The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an IGO that supports sustainable democracy, and licenses selected publications under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.
- All UNESCO publications which are published on or after 31 July 2013 must be licensed using the Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 IGO license: https://en.unesco.org/open-access/ , http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ERI/pdf/oa_policy_rev2.pdf
World Bank
- The World Bank has incorporated CC BY into its Open Access Policy and as a default for Bank-produced research and knowledge products via its OPen Knowledge Repository: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/32335.


text:
Microsoft's own Guy in a Cube has been providing tips and tricks for Power BI and Business Intelligence on his YouTube channel since 2014. Every Thursday we highlight a different helpful video from his collection.
This week's Tech Tip Thursday is about the Power BI gateway for enterprise, featuring Guy in a Cube and his sidekick, Spud Trooper. Together they cover how to install and configure your gateway and what happens to your data behind the scenes. There's also a look at setting up outbound ports in your firewall, and a discussion of how Power BI ensures the security of your on-premises data.


text:
Don't you believe that President Obama's lies that people could keep their health insurance plans and doctors were his only lies about Obamacare or that these and the other lies were not demonstrably false when he uttered them.
In my book "Crimes Against Liberty," I chronicled Obama's multitudinous lies about Obamacare and many other subjects, from earmarks to tax increases. Please allow me to revisit some of my reporting on the Obamacare lies in light of the recent furor over Obama's dissembling concerning health care.
Let's start with the particularly galling declaration Obama made after Congress' partisan passage of Obamacare on March 21, 2010: "We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people. … Tonight's vote … is a victory for the American people."
Never mind that the American public was manifestly against passage of the bill, as shown in poll after poll and further demonstrated by Obama's inability to get the bill passed — despite overwhelming Democratic majorities in both chambers — without, in my words in the book, "legislative trickery, executive deception, political bribes, arm-twisting, and a meaningless executive order to supposedly negate the bill's abortion funding provisions."
Sen. Lamar Alexander, no raging conservative, then observed that Obama's behavior on Obamacare was "the most brazen act of political arrogance since Watergate … in terms of thumbing your nose at the American people and saying, 'We know you don't want it, but we're going to give it to you anyway.'"
Indeed, this is essentially what Obama's defenders are saying now with respect to Obama's "you can keep your plan" lie: "Obama lied to the American people because a lie is sometimes necessary for the greater good."
During the Democratic presidential primary campaign, Obama repeatedly promised that he would televise the health care debates on C-SPAN. When he was criticized for shamelessly reneging, he reacted similarly to how he is today, by twisting his own words. Even PolitiFact called him out on this "broken" promise.
Many of us pointed out at the time that Obama was lying when he said we could keep our plans and doctors. In the book, I wrote: "Obama said Obamacare 'would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan.' But he knew his plan had no such guarantee, and he also knew the plan would likely crowd out private insurers. The chief actuary of the Medicare program estimates 14 million people will lose their employer coverage under Obamacare, even though many will want to keep it."
I continued, "Investor's Business Daily reported that internal White House documents show Obamacare may result in 51 percent of employers (and 66 percent of small business employers) relinquishing their current health care coverage by 2013." Well, IBD may have estimated the date wrong, but these aren't new revelations we're witnessing, folks.
I wrote that Obama told a joint session of Congress on health care Sept. 9, 2009, "Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions." That very declaration, along with a bogus executive order, I noted, directly led to the passage of the bill by securing Democrat Bart Stupak's vote. The law obviously allowed federal funding for abortion; otherwise, Obama wouldn't have needed to issue the executive order supposedly countermanding it. But abortion, in some cases, was federally funded anyway.
The book also documented the double counting and sleights of hand Obama employed to misrepresent the bill as budget-neutral to the Congressional Budget Office. "'The most amazing bit of unrealistic accounting,' says (former CBO Director Douglas) Holtz-Eakin, is the projected savings of $463 billion from Medicare spending, which will be used to finance insurance subsidies. But Medicare has no extra funds at all to donate to the cause: it 'is already bleeding red ink.'" Holtz-Eakin estimated that these unaccounted items would "generate additional deficits of $562 billion in the first 10 years." Clearly, the administration knew at the time it was lying. These weren't just innocuous miscalculations.
Obama was also lying when he said Obamacare would reduce premiums by $2,500 for an average family of four. In the book, I quoted a CEO of one of the biggest health care companies, who said Obamacare would obviously make premiums go up. I also reported that economic experts inside the Health and Human Services Department confessed that contrary to Obama's claim, Obamacare would increase health care costs.
I unpacked Obama's egregious lies concerning the uninsured that served as the fraudulent impetus for this entire reform mania, and I covered the remainder of Obama's Obamacare lies concerning access to care, choice, quality of care, a single-payer plan and more.
The point of all this is not to claim any prescience on my part but to demonstrate that this information was available at the time for all to see. But the liberal media, Democrats and many other Obama enablers nonetheless deliberately assisted Obama in misleading the public into passing a bill that could very well lead to the destruction of the greatest health care system in history.


text:
The Classic Vibe was previously released in Vintage Blonde (aka translucent white) with a pair of Alnico III magnet-loaded singlecoils, and is now available in an authentic Butterscotch Blonde finish. That's not all: this latest edition also boasts a pair of Alnico V-based singlecoil pickups.
Our Classic Vibe has a four-piece pine body, a timber you might associate more with IKEA than Fender.
"The combination of the lively pine body and hotter pickups means this guitar cuts through a mix just as a great Telecaster should."
Actually, Leo Fender's 1949 prototype of the guitar that would eventually be christened the Telecaster was built around a pine body. Also, the first single-pickup Esquire models he released in 1950 had laminated pine bodies in black lacquer.
While Leo switched to Butterscotch-finished solid ash in late 1950 for reasons too complex to go into, the fact that Fender recently unveiled a pine-bodied Custom Shop Telecaster shows how well regarded the timber is as a tone wood.
The Classic Vibe might be cleverly disguised to look like an early 50s Blackguard Telecaster, but its playability is bang up to date. Leo's original guitar had a mega fat neck with a 7.25-inch radius fingerboard, while the Classic Vibe has a slim neck with a 9.5-inch radius 'board fitted with 21 medium jumbo frets.
The flatter 9.5-inch radius equates to a comfortable, if not mindblowing, action throughout the whole fingerboard and easy string bending above the 12th fret.
As mentioned, you can choose between the vintage-voiced Alnico III pickups of the Vintage Blonde Classic Vibe, or the new Butterscotch Blonde's ballsier Alnico Vs. The latter offer more output and grunt than the Alnico IIIs, which makes them a smarter choice if you thrive on overdrive.
The combination of the lively pine body and hotter pickups means this guitar cuts through a mix just as a great Telecaster should. It also has that legendary Tele tonal versatility in its DNA, which covers anything from jazz to classic rock.
Remember, the Telecaster is Excalibur to guitarists as disparate as Keith Richards, bluesman Muddy Waters and late great rockabilly legend Danny Gatton. In short, it covers a lot of ground.
There's something a bit bonkers about reviewing a 'new' guitar that was designed more than 60 years ago. Either a) Fender has run out of fresh ideas, or b) the Telecaster is so good it's stood the test of time.
The answer is b). Fender will always struggle to better the Telecaster, because Leo got the design so right in the first place. All the company can hope to do is tweak the design just enough to entice new players to buy one, without buggering it up.
That's exactly what it's done with the Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster. It has timeless looks and modern playability and tone, and if you shop around enough you'll find one for less than £300. Bargain.


text:
Over the last two decades, China has more than halved its tuberculosis (TB) prevalence, with rates falling from 170 to 59 per 100,000 people, according to findings from a 20-year-long analysis of national survey data, published in The Lancet.
Researchers believe the improvement has been driven by a massive scale-up of the directly observed, treatment short-course strategy (DOTS) – a World Health Organization-recommended TB control strategy that includes an uninterrupted supply of high-quality TB drugs. Awareness of DOTS in China has gone from half the population in the 1990s to the entire country after 2000, the findings reported.
"One of the key global TB targets set by the Stop TB Partnership aims to reduce tuberculosis prevalence by 50% between 1990 and 2015. This study in China is the first to show the feasibility of achieving such a target, and China achieved this 5 years earlier than the target date," says study leader Yu Wang from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, China.
"Huge improvements in TB treatment, driven by a major shift in treatment from hospitals to local public health centers implementing the DOTS strategy, were largely responsible for this success."
China is a major contributor to the TB pandemic, with 1 million new TB cases every year, accounting for 11% of all new cases globally. Two national surveys of tuberculosis prevalence in 1990 and 2000 showed that levels of TB were reduced by around 30% in the 13 provinces where the DOTS program was adopted. However, national TB prevalence fell by just 19% over the decade.
Another survey was done in 2010 to re-evaluate the national TB burden, providing an opportunity to assess the effect of the nationwide expansion of the DOTS program. Nearly 253,000 individuals aged 15 years and older were surveyed in 2010 at 176 investigation points chosen from all 31 mainland provinces. The results show that between 2000 and 2010, national TB prevalence fell by 57%—tripling the reduction of the previous decade.
During this time, 87% of the total decrease in prevalence was among cases already diagnosed with TB before the survey. The increase of known TB cases treated using DOTS rose from 15% in 2000 to 66% in 2010, and contributed to lower proportions of treatment default (from 43% to 22%) and re-treatment (from 84% to 31%).
According to the authors, "The DOTS program has been much more effective in reducing the prevalence of tuberculosis in known cases than in new cases. Because the prevalence in known cases is already very low, future reduction in tuberculosis prevalence is likely to slow substantially unless control efforts in addition to the DOTS strategy are implemented, especially in earlier case detection and treatment and use of new instruments."
Writing in a linked comment, Giovanni Battista, Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Italy, and Giovanni Sotgiu, from the University of Sassari-Research in Italy, point out that because many developing countries have already improved TB treatment using the DOTS strategy, "Long-term, rapid reduction in the tuberculosis burden leading to tuberculosis elimination will need additional efforts," including:
- Adoption of new instruments in diagnosis (rapid molecular testing for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis)
- Adoption of new instruments in treatment (new drugs effective against drug-resistant cases);
- Systematic diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection; and
- Better access to care by high-risk populations (including free diagnosis and treatment, and social protection mechanisms preventing income loss).