Spheres of Influence: Risk Management After the Financial Crisis
Vincent H. O'Neil
April 1, 2014
One of the biggest revelations of the 2008 financial crisis was that the scope of risk management is almost unlimited. The violations of sound risk practices that generated the crisis spanned numerous industries and sectors: Home loan originators actively relaxed mortgage lending standards, investment banks concealed the risky nature of the resulting mortgages while packaging them into bonds for sale, and the list goes on.
Oversight was also lacking as ratings agencies stamped seals of approval on those bonds without examining them closely, and entities seemingly unconnected to the mortgage industry sold esoteric financial products that essentially insured those dangerous bonds. Government regulators failed to control the hazardous activities, and some public officials even promoted ultimately disastrous practices.
Unexpected consequences abounded as a result of the meltdown, endangering markets and businesses that initially appeared unconnected to the mortgage industry. The crisis demonstrated that the business world had become so complex and interconnected that risk management needed to widen its scope accordingly. It became evident that, because threats can come from unexpected sources, risk awareness needs to be spherical.
In the past, risk management could be viewed as a single sphere containing the most direct hazards facing a business, but this approach must now expand. Every factor and entity impacting a business should be examined individually, in terms of its own sphere containing its own influencers. These secondary spheres will frequently extend beyond the limits of the original sphere surrounding a business and usually will overlap yet more spheres. Those overlaps represent an organization's potential secondand third-order threats, whose connection to the company might not be readily apparent. While it may be impossible to sever the interconnections linking you to these outside influences, identifying them allows you to prepare for their possible effects.
Before going any further, consider two important lessons from the 2008 financial crisis. First, the information is out there, but getting it requires effort. While there was plenty of warning that lending standards had declined prior to the meltdown, only a few entities recognized the danger this posed. Detailed information on the deteriorating quality of home loans was available, and the story might have been quite different if the entities rating and buying mortgage bonds had scrutinized their underlying assets.
Second, remember the importance of questioning what you are being told. Many people who doubted the overall health of the mortgage industry later accepted explanations they should have challenged. Assertions that the business had fundamentally changed and somehow become virtually risk-free turned out to be simply wrong.
Remember that unscrupulous or incompetent players frequently suffer little harm from their actions—in fact, some of them actually benefit from misfortune. You cannot rely on someone else to provide warning of approaching danger.
With these lessons in mind, the following three-step process will help you gauge your company's risk exposure.
Look in the Mirror
The first step is thinking of your business as a sphere that contains all the different factors and entities of direct influence. Then, analyze each of those influences in terms of risk. This should be familiar ground, as it is similar to basic risk analysis and disaster recovery planning. List the factors and entities that directly affect you, then examine each of them for potential problems. Identify areas of concern and take action to mitigate or control them.
This list will be extensive, as it includes everything you do and more. Starting with your own operations, examine the threats in such basic categories as communications, transaction processing and product delivery. That is the first sphere, and its analysis never ends.
Next, think of your business as a system with a system of systems. This includes, but is not limited to, topics such as markets, applicable laws and regulations, and workforce considerations.
Take a hard look at your business finances. The financial crisis demonstrated that disruptions in supposedly unrelated industries can adversely affect credit elsewhere. Your business finances can cover a lot of ground—from working capital to pension funds—and each of these requires close examination in terms of vulnerability to market disruptions or unidentified threats.
The insurance you purchase requires an even harsher scrubbing to determine if it is truly sufficient and to identify the soundness of its providers. The blurring lines between banks and non-bank actors pose a real danger here, as a disruption in the banking industry can jump to the insurance world just when you need your insurer in top form. The insurance industry practice of using reinsurers to reduce risk concentrations is a further concern, as the soundness of these secondary players is sometimes found wanting during a crisis. Find out exactly who is supposed to fulfill the requirements of your policy by conducting detailed and ongoing review.
Know the state of your own industry. Peers can sink your business if they behave irresponsibly, as proven during the financial crisis. The activities of mortgage originators and bond creators destroyed or damaged numerous large banks, costing the jobs of many ethical and competent people whose work seemed to have no relation to mortgages. Reputation risk is also critical. Because your company's name can be tarnished by the actions of your peers, take the time to find out if they are cutting corners.
Examine Your Influences' Influences
Next, think of each of your influences as having its own sphere, containing the factors and entities that impact it, and analyze those as well.
The financial crisis proved that a business can be radically affected by bad things happening elsewhere. The business world is becoming more complex and interconnected, and that increases the number of threats while, at the same time, making them harder to see. As a result, seemingly unrelated products, markets and entities can be dangerously linked, and it sometimes takes a lot of work to recognize those connections.
AIG's role in the crisis is a good example of this. Selling credit default swaps (essentially insurance policies on mortgage bonds) exposed AIG to the meltdown of an industry to which it had little connection. Many of their business partners did not know about that dire situation, and its revelation was a major surprise for entities that relied on AIG for insurance. It was hard for the managers of those organizations to understand how a collection of bad home loans could rob them of their insurance coverage. When mortgage bonds began defaulting in record numbers, however, the credit default swaps sold by AIG (and others) had to be paid off.
As the crisis spun out of control, ramifications for other industries became clear. Predictably, businesses related to the mortgage industry were affected, such as home construction and building material supply. But the contagion then spread in unexpected ways.
Businesses with no direct link to mortgages found themselves threatened by their relationships with endangered entities, or by the disruption of vital functions in the financial markets. Ignorance of the activities and vulnerabilities of business partners, suppliers and providers of essential services left a great many organizations unsure of their own survival. In the post-financial crisis world, what you don't know can hurt you badly.
Ask "What If?"
The third step in the risk assessment process is to ask, "What if this happens here?" Do so at different points on the chain of interconnection, then consider how you can avoid, mitigate or react to potential harm.
Completing the first two steps of this process should provide a clear picture of the influences on your business. That initial analysis may reveal some threats on its own, but now is the time to identify the dangers that are not readily apparent.
Asking "what if?" helps identify the consequences of different potential occurrences, regardless of whether or not they are possible. Worst-case analysis is essential: the financial crisis witnessed several developments previously deemed so unlikely that they were not seriously considered in risk planning. Examining the effects of each of these scenarios can reveal potentially hazardous outcomes.
Start with the list of assumptions under which you or your influencers operate. A key assumption in the financial crisis involved the historically low default rate in American mortgages. This would have been a reasonable planning figure if the same lending standards generating that low incidence of default had remained.
Unfortunately, lending standards had eroded so much that the figure was simply wrong for use in modeling. Assuming a low default rate on highly risky loans suggested that the bonds made up of those loans were a sound investment. Once the loans began to go bad in large numbers, however, the bonds did too, setting off the crisis.
Modest adjustment of the criteria used in mortgage bond risk modeling would have radically altered the expected outcome, in some cases changing a huge profit to a disastrous loss. Question how your models are set up and how they function, and never accept being told that the model cannot be explained.
Once you have identified a threat or weakness, take action. Apply a method similar to your disaster recovery plan by identifying potential problems and attempting to reduce or avoid them before trouble arrives. Put a realistic plan in place for what you will do if the worst-case scenario actually comes to pass, and review it frequently.
Finally, take charge of identifying the hidden connections that could impact your business. As long as they are unknown, there is no way to prepare for them.
Vincent H. O'Neil has been a risk manager in the public and private sectors for 30 years and now works as a risk consultant, writer and public speaker.


SI base unit - SI derived unit
SI base unit - SI derived unit - Unit Converter Online
SI base unit - SI derived unit
SI units - Conversion
The International System of Units (abbreviated SI) is the modern form of the metric system. It was established in 1960, and based on the meter-kilogram-second system. The units are divided into two classes—base units and derived units. The seven base units are represented different kinds of physical quantities.
Each SI unit is represented by a symbol, rather than an abbreviation. The use of unit symbols is regulated by precise rules. In the worldwide, in spite of using different language, however, these symbols are the same. "The SI is not static but evolves to match the world's increasingly demanding requirements for measurement."
SI base unit
Name Unit symbol Quantity Quantity symbol Dimension symbol
kilogram kg mass m M
second S time t T
ampere A electric current I (an uppercase i) I
kelvin K thermodynamic temperature T Θ
mole mol amount of substance n N
SI derived unit
Name Symbol Quantity Relationship with other units
hertz Gy frequency kg
becquerel Bq radioactivity (decays per unit time) 1/s
siemens S electrical conductance 1/Ω = A/V
farad F electric capacitance C/V
lumen lm luminous flux cd⋅sr
weber Wb magnetic flux J/A
gray Gy absorbed dose (of ionizing radiation) J/kg
sievert Sv equivalent dose (of ionizing radiation) J/kg
watt W power, radiant flux J/s = V⋅A
degree Celsius °C temperature relative to 273.15 K K
newton N force, weight kg⋅m/s2
lux lx illuminance lm/m2
radian rad angle m/m
steradian sr solid angle m2/m2
katal kat catalytic activity mol/s
pascal Pa pressure, stress N/m2
joule J energy, work, heat N⋅m = C⋅V = W⋅s
coulomb C electric charge or quantity of electricity s⋅A
ohm Ω electric resistance, impedance, reactance V/A
henry H inductance V⋅s/A = Wb/A
tesla T magnetic field strength V⋅s/m2 = Wb/m2 = N/(A⋅m)
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The National Space Society (NSS) hails the announcement of Stratolaunch Systems, a Paul G. Allen Project, as a pioneering investment in space transportation. The company has been formed to build a mobile air-launch-to-orbit system that will include three primary components:
- A carrier aircraft, developed by Scaled Composites, the aircraft manufacturer and assembler founded by Burt Rutan. It will be the largest aircraft ever flown.
- A multi-stage booster, manufactured by Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies;
- A state-of-the-art mating and integration system allowing the carrier aircraft to safely carry a booster weighing up to 490,000 pounds. It will be built by Dynetics, a leader in the field of aerospace engineering.
"The Stratolaunch Initiative is another bold step towards the key goal of reducing the cost of space travel" said Gary Barnhard, Executive Director of the National Space Society. "By providing a less costly, more flexible, and timely launch capability than existing ground-based systems, the Stratolaunch team intends to achieve routine airport-like space transportation services to orbital destinations. NSS wishes clear skies ahead for their efforts," he concluded.
With an envisioned payload capability of 13,500 pounds cargo and/or crewed spacecraft delivered to Low Earth Orbit, a fully reusable first stage air-launch carrier, and the potential for evolution to a winged returnable second stage, the initiative holds great promise. More background information on the Stratolaunch concept can be found in their presskit.
In their announcement yesterday, Stratolaunch said, "… space has long been on Allen's mind. In the close of his memoir, Idea Man, published earlier this year, he hinted at his plans, writing that he was 'considering a new initiative with that magical contraption I never wearied of sketching as a boy: the rocket ship." NSS thanks Paul for endeavoring to bring his boyhood dreams into reality in this historic way.
Since 1974, NSS has been working to bring forward the day when humans will be living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the vast resources of space are brought to bear for the dramatic betterment of humanity. Commercial space initiatives are bringing that day ever closer.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Hellcat, the F6F in World War II
Largely responsible for crushing Japanese airpower wherever the American fast carrier force sailed, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was considered the most... Show synopsis Largely responsible for crushing Japanese airpower wherever the American fast carrier force sailed, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was considered the most important Allied aircraft in the Pacific during 1943 and 1944. Designed for speed, range, and climb to compete with Japan's exceptional Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it succeeded not only in engaging the "Zeke" on equal terms but also in dictating the rules of combat. Fighters in every sense of the word, the Hellcats were credited with destroying more than five thousand Japanese aircraft, gaining outright air supremacy over the invasion beaches, and helping ensure Allied amphibious victories in the Central Pacific. Aviation historian Barrett Tillman presents the full story of the fighter plane--the men who built and tested it, the squadrons that flew it, and the heroes it created. Heavily illustrated with photographs from the pilots' own collections, this spirited, carefully documented operational history is an absolute must for anyone interested in aviation history. It is now available for the first time in paperback.


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Marketing your franchise is an essential part of success, but many franchisors are lost when it comes to marketing. And when there is no system at the top for marketing a franchise – to franchisees or to customers – failure is more likely. What are some of the things you can do to improve your franchise marketing and how can Accurate Franchising, Inc. help?
1. Importance of Collaboration
First, it is important to understand the importance of collaboration, between the franchisor and the franchisee. It is essential there be an open line of communication and that franchisors and franchisees be able to share data and discuss decisions right from the start. We will help you identify and fill marketing communication gaps, so everyone involved in your franchise is able to function and deal with information effectively.
2. Balance Between Franchise Marketing and Franchise Consistency
Next, we will help you strike a balance between local franchise marketing and franchise consistency. It is important franchisees target their local audience, but it is also important there be consistency in your brand. There is a successful way to give some autonomy to franchisees without sacrificing the overall concept behind your marketing.
3. System for Managing Data
We also find it helpful to create a system for managing data. These systems help you gain insight into marketing performance at each location, so you are able to see what is working and what is not. Then you can use that information to coach your franchisees. When you and your franchisees are viewing the same data, it is easier to have clear and effective discussions about the status of a franchise and goals for the future.
This also helps you adopt tools and strategies that are being used throughout your franchise. If something is successful at one location, there is a good chance it could work elsewhere. There is no reason to be alarmed if a franchisee wants to try something or be unique, and in the long run, it could help everyone involved. You just need to have a system in place for franchise marketing so you can monitor the actions of your franchisees and implement what works at all of the franchise locations.
Want to learn more? We will help you get a system in place for marketing your franchise.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Guidecraft Beehive Lacing, Manipulative Preschool Toy for Kids
Sorry, this item is out of stock
The beehive lacing set combines a classic lacing activity while inspiring dramatic play. Set includes a solid rubber wood beehive with holes for the three bees on multi-colored lacing strings to lace through it. These manipulatives are easy for little hands to grasp and are for developing essential and cognitive skills including dexterity, hand-eye coordination, as well as visualization and process. Suggested age: 3+.
- Beehive lacing set encourages children to lace the colorful bee strings through the beehive block
- Includes beehive, and three bees on multi-colored strings, with bead Stoppers
- Various holes run through the chunky wooden beehive block to lace each bee in and out in various directions
- Strengthens fine-motor skills and sequencing capabilities
- Suggested age: 3+


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Betty WilliamsArticle Free Pass
Betty Williams, byname of Elizabeth Williams (born May 22, 1943, Belfast, N.Ire.), Northern Irish peace activist who, with Máiread Maguire and Ciaran McKeown, founded the Peace People, a grassroots movement dedicated to ending the sectarian strife in Northern Ireland. For her work, Williams shared with Maguire the 1976 Nobel Prize for Peace.
Williams, an office worker and wife and mother, took little part in public life until August 1976, when she witnessed an incident that moved her to speak out. An Irish Republican Army terrorist was shot by British troops while fleeing in a car, and the car went out of control and struck several people, killing three children. Williams immediately began circulating petitions in Protestant neighbourhoods calling for an end to sectarian violence. This activity soon brought her into association with Maguire (then Máiread Corrigan), an aunt of the slain children, who had been similarly galvanized into action. Together they founded the Peace People to advocate for an end to the Northern Ireland conflict.
Williams left the Peace People organization in the early 1980s. Soon afterward she immigrated to the United States, where she resided for two decades before moving to the Republic of Ireland. Williams founded the World Centers of Compassion for Children International in 1997. In 2006 she joined Maguire and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners Shirin Ebadi, Jody Williams, Wangari Maathai, and Rigoberta Menchú to found the Nobel Women's Initiative.
What made you want to look up "Betty Williams"? Please share what surprised you most...


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Explainers are high school students ages 14 - 17 who have been accepted into a competitive internship program and work as volunteer educators in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden.
Explainers facilitate experiences with nature and plant science for children and families. Using seasonal lessons and explorations of the garden, Explainers prepare children to use their senses as tools for exploring the garden. Explainers rotate through activity stations that are located both outside in the garden and inside the Discovery Center. They commit to a minimum of 125 training and volunteer hours.
The Everett Children's Adventure Garden is a unique, 12-acre outdoor/indoor museum at The New York Botanical Garden (in Bronx, N.Y.). In this innovative space children discover plant science through fun, hands-on, and engaging educational programs. Interactive exhibits convey different plant science concepts. Playful elements such as topiaries and mazes capture children's imaginations and create an atmosphere of exploration and fun.
Teens share a sense of community, forge new friendships, and spend time outdoors exploring nature. Teens become more self confident through public speaking, gain a deeper knowledge of a topic (plant science and ecology specifically), and share experiences with peers. MetroCards or small stipends are provided to defray the cost of transportation to and from the Garden. Benefits also include admission for Explainers' families to visit the garden, discounts at the Cafe and Shop in the Garden as well as documentation of service hours and recommendations for college or other scholarship programs.
Twenty-five new Intern Explainers are accepted into the program three times a year (see dates on the right-side of the page). During the school year, Explainers volunteer on weekends and optional school holidays. Weekend shifts last 4.5 hours in either the morning or afternoon. In addition to a weekend shift, summer interns also volunteer for two 4.5-hour weekday shifts, Tuesdays through Fridays. At the beginning of each new session, Explainers are given six months after the first training date to complete the 125 hours.
How do teens become Explainers?
Applications are reviewed within the week of the Open House/Application Deadline (see dates on the right-side of the page). Applicants who are invited to be interviewed will be contacted via e-mail within five business days of the application deadline. Interviews are held on the Saturday following the Open House weekend. Group interviews are interactive and take place at the Adventure Garden. Applicants accepted into the program will receive an e-mail within five business days after the interview and will receive an invitation to attend the required Explainer Orientation with a parent or guardian. Explainers accepted into the program are required to complete four consecutive weekend days of training during school year internships or four consecutive weekday training days during summer internships before they may begin actively volunteering. Training includes "shadowing" sessions working side by side with experienced mentor/educators. Explainers attend regular "Refresher" trainings when Program curriculum changes.


University of Helsinki: Volatile biomarkers as identifiers for pathogenic oral bacteria
Volatile biomarkers are compounds that exist in gaseous form or easily change phase from liquid to gas. In the human body, they exchange between blood and the lungs, and consequently, can be detected from the exhaled breath. Examples of volatile compounds are malodorous sulfur compounds present in the morning breath or ethanol, which has been traditionally measured from the exhaled breath with a breathalyzer.
The aim of the research is finding new volatile biomarkers for pathogenic oral bacteria. Bacterial species responsible for periodontitis and other serious infections, such as abscesses, are the main subject of interest.
Oral infections are prevalent both in Finland and globally. Approximately 74 percent of Finnish adults have inflammation of the gum tissue, known as gingivitis, and 21 percent have already developed periodontitis, a disease destroying the supportive tissues around teeth. Oral infections can also cause sepsis, if pathogenic bacteria are able to enter the bloodstream in large amounts, for example, through an abscess. Furthermore, oral infectious diseases have been linked to increased cardiovascular risk diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly decrease the risk for developing a serious oral infection. The detection and identification of pathogens via volatile compounds, whether from human exhaled breath or a culture, would be a quick and cost-effective diagnostics method for oral infections.
In the recent Nature
Scientific Reports
publication, the focus is identifying the volatile compounds produced by the selected oral bacteria and measuring the capacity in which these bacteria are able to produce certain compounds. The analysis was done with a combination of two mass spectrometric methods, which provide sensitive, real-time information about the concentrations of the volatiles, as well as their concrete identification.
According to the results, the studied oral bacteria can be distinguished based on the volatiles produced. In addition, the real-time measurements suggest that bacteria produce distinct compounds in different phases of their lifecycle. Certain compounds are connected to the active growth of the bacterial cells and others to cell death. This knowledge could be used, for example, to evaluate the progress of antibiotic treatment, if the volatiles connected to bacterial cell death are increased in the exhaled breath of the patient.
Next, the bacterial findings reported in the recent publication are combined with human breath measurements. The final goal is to develop a breath test for detecting and monitoring oral infections. In the future, analysis of volatile biomarkers could be a quick complimentary method for basic microbiological laboratory tests, such as bacterial culturing. Furthermore, infections could be detected non-invasively in the future by measuring volatile biomarkers from the human exhaled breath. Reliable methods based on the analysis of volatile compounds could also be further develop for viral and fungal infections as well.
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Reading Experiences in the Kindergarten Classroom
Kindergarten classrooms also differ in terms of the instructional practices that teachers use to help children learn to read.6 Teachers' practices vary in terms of their instructional approaches—that is, the extent to which learning is teacher directed and involves the whole class; teacher directed and involves small group activities; or teacher guided and involves individual-child activities or child-selected activities. Teachers' practices can also vary according to the ways that children are grouped for instruction—whether children are organized into mixed-level groups, achievement groups, or peer-tutored groups.
In whole-class, teacher-directed activities, the teacher initiates and leads the majority of activities while the entire class is involved. Teachers can also lead and structure small-group and individual teacher-directed activities, which sometimes can occur concurrently with child-selected activities. Child-selected activities in kindergarten might include, for example, the use of learning centers in which the children can choose an activity (and perhaps the time spent on that activity). To account for the difference in the length of day between fulland half-day programs, in this analysis, the minutes that kindergarten teachers reported spending on these activities were converted into the percentage of class time.
Based on teacher reports, fulland half-day classes spent more time in whole class activities than in small group, individual, and child-directed activities. No differences were detected in the percentage of total class time spent on each type of teacher-directed activity by kindergarten program type (figure 5).
In some classrooms, teachers group children for instruction by their level of ability. As mentioned previously, teachers use various types of groups—mixed-level, reading achievement level, and peer-tutoring—to teach reading. Mixed-level groups consist of children of different ability levels working together. Reading achievement groups include children with similar abilities working together. Peer-tutoring allows proficient students to assist those who are less proficient with a learning activity. Ability grouping in kindergarten is related to the type of program. In spring 1999, full-day classes were more likely than half-day classes to use mixed-level groups (48 vs. 42 percent), reading achievement groups (26 vs. 14 percent), and peer-tutoring in reading (23 vs. 15 percent) on a daily basis (figure 6). Half-day classes used mixed-level groups more often than other types of groups (Walston and West 2004).
6The findings about children's reading achievement in the preceding sections reflect percentages of children. The findings in this section refer to percentages of classrooms. Eighty-five percent of kindergartners were in public school classrooms in fall 1998, and the majority of ECLS–K analyses of kindergarten classrooms to date are limited to public schools (Walston and West 2004). (back to text)
Figures and Tables
Figure 5: Average percentage of class time that public school kindergarten classes used various instructional approaches, by kindergarten program type: Spring 1999
Figure 6: Percentage of public school kindergarten classes that used various grouping strategies daily for reading, by program type: Spring 1999
Table FS5: Standard errors for the average percentage of class time that public school kindergarten classes used various instructional approaches, by kindergarten program type: Spring 1999
Table FS6: Standard errors for the percentage of public school kindergarten classes that used various grouping strategies daily for reading, by program type: Spring 1999


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Resistors that efficiently transfer heat from the resistive element out into the surrounding medium or heat sink are known as heat sinkable resistors. Resistive power density largely depends on the mounting arrangement and its thermal aspects. Chassis mounted resistors provide low temperature coefficient of resistance and thus are ideal for the purpose of heat sinking. Read More
Chassis mount resistors are basically wire-wound resistors where a large ceramic core is molded into an aluminum, chassis-mount housing using extrusion. The wire-wound design maximizes pulse handling, while the aluminum housing provides superior heat conduction. Since heat is released in one plane, that side is attached to an external heat sink.
Chassis mount resistors commonly find application in:
KWK Resistors manufactures Chassis Mount Resistors with non-inductive windings and their compact design is suitable for effective thermal management. Resistance values range from 0.005 ohm up to 250k ohm.Read Less
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ReLUs: An Alternative to the ReLU Activation Function
In an attempt to reduce the impact caused by the Dying ReLU issue on Neural Networks and improve accuracy, the Rectified Linear Unit with Sigmoid (ReLUs) does not flatten out negative weights to zero, instead, it combines them with a sigmoid call and an extra hyper-parameter, thus enabling differentiability. This approach is also superior to the Leaky-ReLU implementation due to the oscillations that it adds to negative weights. it uses the difference between the sigmoid of sine and cosine functions to create a wave, thus deactivating some neurons during the forward pass, but not all of them.
With a Computer Science background, 25 years developing standalone, distributed and mobile systems, plus a passion for Artificial Intelligence, Wilder has built a stronghold of knowledge which he loves to share with communities. His passion for AI, and being a contestant at the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE competition, has brought him to the AI for Good Summit, in Geneva at the United Nations, as a guest attendee. Wilder is currently Ambassador at the City.A, which is a large community present in 40+ cities.


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The process for enrolment into the school is as follows:
- Interview with parents / guardians
- Interview with prospective pupil
- Entrance test (in some cases)
Once the initial contact has been made and assuming that the school makes an offer of a place for the child, there will follow:
Formal acceptance of place:
- Completion of the request form.
- Payment of initial fees.
Once a placement has been formally offered and accepted, parents/guardians must provide the following documentation:
- 2 photocopies of the child's birth certificate (long version) or 'libro de familia'.
- 4 passport photographs of the child.
- Photocopies of parents' identity documents or passports.
- Medical certificate and vaccination certificate.
- Certificate of transfer from previous school (if applicable).
- Bank details for payments by standing order.


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Why This Free Security Camera Software for PC is a Must-Have!
One of the most significant challenges faced by video surveillance systems is the storage of videos. Large amounts of data are generated every day, and storing this data can be costly and time-consuming. One way to increase the storage time of videos is to use time-lapse recording. This feature enables the software to capture images at specific intervals and then combine them into a video. Time-lapse recording
can significantly reduce the amount of data stored on the disk, making it easier to manage and analyze.
Additionally, the storage requirement would vary based on the frame rate. A higher frame rate would capture more frames per second, leading to larger file sizes. For instance, doubling the frame rate would approximately double the storage need.
SmartVision s intelligent motion detection can significantly reduce storage needs. Instead of continuous recording, the software can be set to record only when motion is detected, effectively reducing redundant footage and conserving disk space.


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AudienceScapes Field Blog
KEY COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT WEBSITES
Uganda Communication Profile
Mobile Communications: Uganda has seen exponential growth in access and use to mobile phones in recent years. Bolstering this growth has been low cost introductory rates and the introduction of new competition.
Internet: Limited telecommunications and electrical infrastructure has kept the cost of home internet access high and unaffordable to even some of the most affluent Ugandans.
Radio: Uganda's mostly rural population relies heavily on radio to stay informed through regional and community stations, as well as to communicate with each other via talk shows and other formats.
Television: Poverty, a lack of quality reception outside of urban centers and a limited electrical grid inhibit use and reach of TV outside the cities.
Newspaper: Urban residents are more than twice as likely to be weekly newspaper readers than rural residents. However, three-quarters of the readership of the top four newspapers reside in rural areas.
Media Environment: Uganda has a broad and diverse broadcast media environment. There are a large number of outlets willing to criticize the government and offer a variety of viewpoints.
See All Communication Sectors
Insights from the field
Community Radio Stations Walk Political Tightrope: The handful of community radio stations in Uganda sometimes have to navigate a narrow course between promoting social change and upsetting those with a stake in the status quo.
Media outlet matrix
Regional and Urban/Rural Differences: On the national level there is a clear urban-rural divide. However, this divide is more nuanced on the regional level, as there are clear differences between regions in access and use of both traditional and newer media formats. For more...
Gender Similarities and Differences: Household access trends revealed general equity between men and women, but women did fall behind in terms of new ICT use. However, male respondents were more likely than females to say they use various media and ICTs than women, raising the question of whether women are actually able to use various devices that are in their households.
Age and Media Use in Uganda: Young adults (15-24) are the most likely age group to watch TV and read newspapers on a regular basis. In terms of ICTs use the divide is even more apparent between those under 44 and those 45 and older.
Socio-Economic Status and Media use in Uganda: Income as well as education are clear determinants of how people access and use communication technologies in Uganda. Read more to see how SES or education plays a role in people's media and communication habits.


text: A brain-computer interface (BCI) system may allow a user to communicate by selecting one of many options. These options may be presented in a matrix. Larger matrices allow a larger vocabulary, but require more time for each selection. In this study, subjects were asked to perform a target detection task using matrices appropriate for a BCI. The study sought to explore the relationship between matrix size and EEG measures, target detection accuracy, and user preferences. Results indicated that larger matrices evoked a larger P300 amplitude, and that matrix size did not significantly affect performance or preferences.


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ulf of Maine Area Studied
Area: 46,700 square miles
New species discovered since 2000: 13 named; many collected that need further analysis
Named species : >5,600
Species yet to be discovered: thousands
Census of Marine Life: _URL_
Gulf of Maine Area program of the Census of Marine Life: _URL_
Centre for Marine Biodiversity: _URL_
Ocean Biogeographic Information System: _URL_
Public Library of Science: _URL_
Related Gulf of Maine Times articles:
What Lies Beneath: Exploring the Gulf of Maine Biodiversity Discovery Corridor (_URL_
Surprising Species Diversity Revealed (_URL_


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What does it actually look like when a boss behaves badly?
Some great research on incivility gives us a very clear picture of what behaviours are bad in a team or workplace. They include: giving bad news via email (and thereby avoiding an awkward face-to-face); excluding some people from sessions without explanation; loss of temper; routinely checking and attending to emails and texts in meetings; leaving snippy voice mails; and lots more. It so happens that the vast majority of acts of incivility are carried out by the more senior, towards those who are more junior. That's right, by bosses.
But why do they do it?
The answer is not because of certain psychological traits, and it's not because of particular contexts that a boss may find himself or herself in. It's the effect of the ROLE itself. Just finding yourself the boss, and experiencing the power that the boss's ROLE brings, is enough to cause us to act with less empathy, more impulsiveness, and more frequent acts of incivility. Experiencing the power that a boss's role brings has an array of cognitive and emotional effects on us; and, unchecked, those effects make us generally less pleasant. In fact, they can make us scary or even dangerous.
The good news is that we DO have some choice.
If we are aware of the effects that more powerful roles can have upon us, we can outsmart those very effects. We do not need to be taken ransom by the effects of power on us, but rather we can overcome those effects. It just takes a genuine and persistent intent. If we deepen our awareness about the triggers that might cause us to behave badly, and practice an orientation toward others and their needs, we can become the leaders we dream to be.
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Adding The Sun by Kevin MacLeod
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This study examines the role of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in the global economy and financial system. Sovereign wealth funds are not a new phenomenon in international finance. Governments of a few countries have used similar entities to manage their international financial assets for several decades. Moreover, countries have always held international reserves, and government-owned entities have made cross-border investments for many years.
Sovereign wealth funds or their equivalent pose profound issues for the countries that own them with respect to macroeconomic policy and the potential for corruption. They also raise issues for countries that receive SWF investments as well as for the international financial system as a whole because government ownership introduces potential political and economic power issues into the management of these cross-border assets.
This study traces the origins of SWFs. It describes the issues raised by these large governmental holdings of cross-border assets for the countries that own them, for the host countries, and for the international financial system. The study lays out what is known about the 50-plus SWFs of various countries. Some countries have more than one such entity, and a sample of government-managed pension funds is included in this analysis because they raise most of the same basic policy issues. Using publicly available information that is provided on a systematic basis, the author has previously developed a "scoreboard" for these funds involving a number of elements grouped in four categories: structure, governance, transparency and accountability, and behavioral rules. The 2008 edition contributed to the development of a set of generally accepted principles and practices, the Santiago Principles, for SWFs by the International Working Group operating under the auspices of the International Monetary Fund.
This publication presents an updated scoreboard for an expanded list of funds, evaluates the Santiago Principles, and examines current compliance with those principles. The study also examines the policies of recipient countries and the role of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) investment codes. Finally, the study discusses the evolving role of SWFs in the context of the global economic and financial crisis and its aftermath and will make recommendations for the policies of countries both managing such funds and those that expect to receive investments from them in the future.
Dr. Truman is a distinguished scholar who has been analyzing sovereign wealth funds for the last several years. His work has been influential in the development of the Santiago Principles, a voluntary code of behavior, transparency and accountability adopted by most countries with large sovereign wealth funds. This is an invaluable book for anyone interested in a serious and objective analysis of these funds—their origins, their objectives, their differences across countries, their effects on the global economy, and their consequences for international economic policy.
Laura D'Andrea Tyson, University of California Berkeley, and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
Selected chapters and sections are provided for preview only.
2. What Are Sovereign Wealth Funds?
3. Issues and Concerns
6. The Santiago Principles
7. Host-Country Responses to Sovereign Wealth Funds


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So the first thing you heard this morning, courtesy of the brave people at NPR. How they do stuff like this every day is truly admirable.
These are the rules. Write a story.
- Seven sentences of seven words.
- Each sentence begins with the successive word of the first sentence.
Broccoli and My Feelings for You: A Breakup Story
"I don't think I want broccoli tonight."
"Don't starting making demands—you're not deserving."
Think first, he mused, and then speak.
"I am tired of you saying I'm unworthy–"
"Want to argue this now?" she responded.
"–Broccoli is a metaphor for our relationship."
Tonight, he thought, this thing finally ends.


Weight Loss Tips from Pilates Rockhampton
Weight Loss Tips from Pilates Rockhampton
Everyone agrees cardio exercise is an excellent way to burn calories and improve your physical and mental health. Furthermore, resistance or weight training is especially important to tone muscle to keep your metabolism high. Distinctively, Pilates Rockhampton Reformers Classes gives you a great combination of both cardio and resistance training. Additional weight loss tips include:
1. Drink Water, Especially Before Meals
Studies have also suggested drinking water before meals helped you eat fewer calories and lose up to 44% more weight.
2. Use Smaller Plates / Portion Control
Trick the mind into eating fewer calories with less on the plate!
3. Make the effort to have healthy, on the go snacks available for the week
A little effort and planning can prevent the guilt that comes after an unhealthy splurge.
4. Brush Your Teeth After Dinner
Less likely to be tempted to have a late-night snack.
5. Eat Spicy Foods
Spicy foods like can boost metabolism and reduce your appetite slightly.
6. Avoid Sugary Drinks
Studies show that liquid sugar calories may be the single most fattening aspect of the modern day diet.
7. Eat Balanced
Carbs, protein, fibre, fruits and vegetable all play a part.
8. Sleep Well
9. Don't Diet, Be Healthy Instead!
Finally, surround yourself with people and activities that keep you motivated and happy. Add Pilates Rockhampton to your "To Do" list today!


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Scarlet-chested Parrot (Neophema splendida) - Wiki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[Photo] Neophema pulchella, ru:Травяной попугайчик красногрудый. Splendid grass parakeet or scarlet-chested parrot. Source: _URL_ Author FNature.
|Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".|
The Scarlet-chested Parrot
), known alternately as Scarlet-breasted parrot
, Orange-throated parrot
or Splendid parrot
, is a parrot
endemic to central South Australia and inland southern Western Australia.
has many mutations including the par blue, sea green and white breasted.
|The text in this page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article shown in above URL. It is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.|


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Rembrandt's Late Pupils is the first book to present the late Rembrandt as teacher, his relationship with his pupils and the instruction that they received from him in the final period of his career, from around 1650 until his death in 1699. In art, the relationship between pupil and master has always been of crucial importance. This applies to the time of Rembrandt as much as in the art academies of today. These close interactions over many years played a major role in the production of art. They took place in the workshop and in the house of the master.
From 1650 to 1669 at least fourteen artists received instruction from Rembrandt, including Nicolaes Maes, Willem Drost, Abraham van Dijck and Arent de Gelder. A number of them were encouraged in this by Rembrandt's former pupil Samuel van Hoogstraten.
This richly illustrated book delves into instruction, the rules for making art, comparisons between paintings and imitation.


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Lecture 15a Metallocenes. Ferrocene I Ferrocene It was discovered by two research groups by serendipity in 1951 P. Pauson: Fe(III) salts and cyclopentadiene.
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Presentation on theme: "Lecture 15a Metallocenes. Ferrocene I Ferrocene It was discovered by two research groups by serendipity in 1951 P. Pauson: Fe(III) salts and cyclopentadiene."— Presentation transcript:
1 Lecture 15a Metallocenes
2 Ferrocene I Ferrocene It was discovered by two research groups by serendipity in 1951 P. Pauson: Fe(III) salts and cyclopentadiene S. A. Miller: Iron metal and cyclopentadiene at 300 o C It is an orange solid Thermodynamically very stable due to its 18 VE configuration Cobaltocene (19 VE) and Nickelocene (20 VE) (and their derivatives) on the other side are very sensitive towards oxidation because they have electrons in anti-bonding orbitals Ferrocene can be oxidized electrochemically or by silver nitrate to form the blue ferrocenium ion (FeCp 2 + )
3 Ferrocene II Pauson proposed a structure containing two cyclopentadiene rings that are connected to the iron atom via  -bonds The diene should undergo Diels-Alder reaction, but ferrocene does not! Instead it undergoes aromatic substitution i.e., Friedel-Crafts acylation During the following year, G. Wilkinson (NP 1973) determined that it actually possesses sandwich structure, which was not known at this point The molecule exhibits D 5d -symmetry, but is highly distorted in the solid state because of the low rotational barrier around the Fe-Cp bond (~4 kJ/mol) All carbon atoms have the same distance to the Fe-atom (204 pm) The two Cp-rings have a distance of 332 pm (ruthenocene: 368 pm)
4 Ferrocene III In solution, a fast rotation is observed due to the low rotational barrier around the Fe-Cp axis: One signal is observed in the 1 H-NMR spectrum (  =4.15 ppm) One signal in the 13 C-NMR spectrum (  =67.8 ppm) Compared to benzene the signals in ferrocene are shifted upfield This is due to the increased  -electron density (1.2  -electrons per carbon atom in ferrocene vs. 1  -electron per carbon atom in benzene) The higher electron-density causes an increased shielding of the hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms in ferrocene The shielding is larger compared to the free cyclopentadienide ligand (NaCp:   =5.60 ppm (THF),  C =103.3 ppm)
5 Ferrocene IV Cyclopentadiene It tends to dimerize (and even polymerize) at room temperature via a Diels-Alder reaction It is obtained from the commercially available dimer by cracking, which is a Retro-Diels-Alder reaction (  H o = 77 kJ/mol,  S o = 142.3 J/mol*K,  G o = 34.6 kJ/mol, K eq (25 o C)=8.6*10 -7, K eq (180 o C)=3.6*10 -2 ) The monomer is isolated by fractionated distillation (b.p.=40 o C vs. 170 o C (dimer)) and kept at T= -78 o C prior to its use Note that cyclopentadiene is very flammable, forms explosive peroxides and also a suspected carcinogen
6 Ferrocene V Acidity of Cyclopentadiene Cyclopentadiene is much more acidic (pK a =15) than other hydrocarbon compounds i.e., cyclopentene (pK a =40) or cyclopentane (pK a =45) The higher acidity is due to the resonance stabilized anion formed in the reaction The cyclopentadienide ion is aromatic (planar, cyclic, conjugated, possesses 6  -electrons)
7 Ferrocene VI The high acidity implies that cyclopentadiene can be deprotonated with comparably weak bases already i.e., OH -, OR - Potassium cyclopentadienide is ionic and only dissolves well in polar aprotic solvents i.e., DMSO, DME, THF, etc. The reaction has to be carried out under the exclusion of air because KCp is oxidized easily, which is accompanied by a color change from white over pink to dark brown
8 Ferrocene VII The actual synthesis of ferrocene is carried out in DMSO because FeCl 2 is ionic as well The non-polar ferrocene precipitates from the polar solution while potassium chloride remains dissolved in this solvent If a less polar solvent was used (i.e., THF, DME), the potassium chloride would precipitate while the ferrocene would remain in solution
9 Ferrocene VIII Infrared spectrum (CH, sp 2 )= 3085 cm -1 (C=C)= 1411 cm -1 asym. ring breathing:  1108 cm -1 C-H in plane bending:  1002 cm -1 C-H out of plane bending:  811 cm -1 asym. ring tilt:  492 cm -1 (E 1u ) sym. ring metal stretch:  478 cm -1 (A 2u ) Despite the large number of atoms (21 total=57 modes total), there are only very few peaks observed in the infrared spectrum….why? Point group: D 5d : 4 A 1g, 2 A 1u, 1 A 2g, 4 A 2u, 5 E 1g, 6 E 1u, 6 E 2g, 6 E 2u Only the modes highlighted in bold red are infrared active! (CH, sp 2 ) (C=C) asym. ring breathing
10 Synthesis I Alkali metal cyclopentadienides Alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia with a dark blue color due to solvated electrons that are trapped in a solvent cage The addition of the cyclopentadiene to this solution causes the color of the solution to disappear as soon as the alkali metal is consumed ('titration') Magnesium It is less reactive than sodium or potassium because it possesses often a thick oxide layer and does not dissolve well in liquid ammonia  Its lower reactivity compared to alkali metals demands elevated temperatures (like iron) to react with cyclopentadiene The THF adduct of MgCp 2 displays one cyclopentadienide ligand bonded via a  -bond (  1 ) and the second one via pentahapto (  5 )
11 Synthesis II Transition metals are generally not reactive enough for the direct reaction except when very high temperatures are used i.e., iron (see original ferrocene synthesis) A metathesis reaction is often employed here The reaction of an anhydrous metal chloride with an alkali metal cyclopentadienide The reaction can lead to a complete or a partial exchange The choice of solvent determines, which product precipitates
12 Synthesis III Problem: Most chlorides are hydrates, which react with the Cp-anion in an acid-base reaction  The acid strength of the aqua ion depends on the metal and its charge The smaller the metal ion and the higher its charge, the more acidic the aqua complex is All of these aquo complexes have higher K a -values than CpH itself (K a =1.0*10 -16 ), which means that they are stronger acids Aqua complexKaKa [Fe(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ 3.2*10 -10 (~hydrocyanic acid) [Fe(H 2 O) 6 ] 3+ 6.3*10 -3 (~phosphoric acid) [Co(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ 1.3*10 -9 (~hypobromous acid) [Ni(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ 2.5*10 -11 (~hypoiodous acid) [Al(H 2 O) 6 ] 3+ 1.4*10 -5 (~ acetic acid)
13 Synthesis IV Anhydrous metal chlorides can be obtained from various commercial sources but their quality is often questionable They can be obtained by direct chlorination of metals at elevated temperatures (_PHONE_ o C) The dehydrating of the metal chloride hydrates with thionyl chloride or dimethyl acetal to consume the water in a chemical reaction Problems: Accessibility of thionyl chloride (restricted substance because it used in the illicit drug synthesis)  Production of noxious gases (SO 2 and HCl) which requires a hood  Very difficult to free the product entirely from


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area surface conversion
Amount: 1 square pole (sq pole) of area
Equals: 0.000025 Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ (平方公里) in area
Converting square pole to Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ value in the area surface units scale.
TOGGLE : from Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ into square poles in the other way around.
CONVERT : between other area surface measuring units - complete list.
Conversion calculator for webmasters.
Area units calculator
Main area or surface units converter page.
Convert area surface measuring units between square pole (sq pole) and Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ (平方公里) but in the other reverse direction from Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ into square poles.
|conversion result for area surface:|
|1 square pole||sq pole||=||0.000025||Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ||平方公里|
Converter type: area surface units
This online area surface from sq pole into 平方公里 converter is a handy tool not just for certified or experienced professionals.
First unit: square pole (sq pole) is used for measuring area.
Second: Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ (平方公里) is unit of area.
0.000025 平方公里 is converted to 1 of what?
The Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ unit number 0.000025 平方公里 converts to 1 sq pole, one square pole. It is the EQUAL area value of 1 square pole but in the Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ area unit alternative.
How to convert 2 square poles (sq pole) into Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ (平方公里)? Is there a calculation formula?
First divide the two units variables. Then multiply the result by 2 - for example:
2.529285264E-5 * 2 (or divide it by / 0.5)
1 sq pole =? 平方公里
1 sq pole = 0.000025 平方公里
Other applications for this area surface calculator...
With the above mentioned two-units calculating service it provides, this area surface converter proved to be useful also as a teaching tool:
1. in practicing square poles and Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ ( sq pole vs. 平方公里 ) values exchange.
2. for conversion factors training exercises between unit pairs.
3. work with area surface's values and properties.
International unit symbols for these two area surface measurements are:
Abbreviation or prefix ( abbr. short brevis ), unit symbol, for square pole is:
Abbreviation or prefix ( abbr. ) brevis - short unit symbol for Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ is:
One square pole of area surface converted to Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ equals to 0.000025 平方公里
How many Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ of area surface are in 1 square pole? The answer is: The change of 1 sq pole ( square pole ) unit of area surface measure equals = to 0.000025 平方公里 ( Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ ) as the equivalent measure for the same area surface type.
In principle with any measuring task, switched on professional people always ensure, and their success depends on, they get the most precise conversion results everywhere and every-time. Not only whenever possible, it's always so. Often having only a good idea ( or more ideas ) might not be perfect nor good enough solution. If there is an exact known measure in sq pole - square poles for area surface amount, the rule is that the square pole number gets converted into 平方公里 - Chinese píngfāng gōnglǐ or any other area surface unit absolutely exactly.
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Transcription factors are DNA-binding proteins, bound to specific DNA sequences that regulate gene expression. Whether activating or repressing gene regulation, these proteins control the transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA. Transcription factor modulation of target genes leads to new molecules appearing on an immune cell's surface, including receptors for cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation. The mechanisms regulating the signaling pathways in the immune system are diverse and complicated. A greater understanding of the presence and regulation control of transcription factors in immune cells may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for immune diseases.
Detection of transcription factors in immune cell populations, particularly in populations at low frequencies and in a heterogeneous environment, may be challenging when using classical methods such as western blot analysis. Employing an application such as flow cytometry, that permits the characterization of transcription factors within discreet immune cell subpopulations, delivers a powerful approach to analyzing immune response.


Elizabeth Bishop Roosters
Throughout history, poets have existed to create works that spark emotions from their readers. One poet in particular, who virtually mastered this technique, was Elizabeth Bishop. Born in 1911, Bishop grew to be a well-known poet. Her works gained national attention, and her writing style brought her fame.
Elizabeth Bishop was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1911. She began her young life in New England, and later moved to Nova Scotia in Canada after her father died and her mother was committed. After basic education, Bishop attended Vassar College in the state of New York. Bishop met Mary McCarthy, and they worked together on a literary magazine while attending Vassar called Con Spirito. Bishop graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1934. After graduating, Bishop pursued her literary career and became wealthy as a result. Due to the overwhelming popularity of her first publication, North and South, Bishop edited and re-released it. With the publication's new makeover, the popularity increased earning Bishop the Nobel Prize for Poetry in 1956.
Bishop's works were extensive and thought provoking. Although many of her publications were magazine submissions (The New Yorker), Bishop released different collections of her poems. Questions of Travel (1965) focused on many of the settings she saw and felt while living in Brazil. Brazil (1967) was a travel book of poems about Brazil's surroundings. An Anthology of 20th Century Brazilian Poetry (1972) is exactly what it labels, Brazilian poetry. Geography III (1976) was her last collection of poems that earned her the National Book Critics Circle Award. Bishop died from a cerebral aneurysm in Boston on October 6, 1979.
Due to Bishop's magnificent following of readers, her poems have survived over twenty years after her death. There are many poems that carry an underlying meaning, and one of Bishop's in particular is Roosters. Roosters, is a poem of uncertainty and power. The poem addresses the Bible story of Peter's denial that he was a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus told Peter that by the time the rooster crows, Peter would deny any knowledge of Jesus three times. As the evening passed, three times Peter was questioned about Jesus and three times he denied Jesus' existence.
Roosters starts off with a description of the surroundings and atmosphere. The setting develops a gloomy and dark arena for the reader to delve into:
At four o'clock
in the gun-metal blue dark
we hear the first crow of the first cock
just below
the gun-metal blue window
and immediately there is an echo
off in the distance,
then one from the backyard fence,
then one, with horrible insistence,
grates like a wet match
from the broccoli patch,
flares, and all over town begins to catch.
The different uses of adjectives maintain the obscurity of the scene. The narrator seems annoyed by the continuous crowing of the rooster first thing in the morning. By wanting to put an end to the crowing, he/she views the dark and the window as "gun-metal blue". It appears, if the narrator was fully awake, they would shoot the rooster to keep him from crowing. In response, an echo of other roosters rang out across town. The narrator expresses his/her feelings of disgust by stating, "with horrible insistence". The annoyance carries on, as the roosters' chests "planned to command and terrorize the rest".
Bishop begins to illustrate the awkward usage of a "stupid" icon like the rooster:
over our beds
from rusty iron sheds
and fences made from old bedsteads,
over our churches
where the tin rooster perches,
over our little wooden northern houses,
making sallies
from all the muddy alleys,
marking out maps like Rand McNally's:
glass-headed pins,
oil-golds and copper greens,
anthracite blues, alizarins,
each one an active
displacement in perspective;
each screaming, "This is where I live!"
Bishop questions the roosters, "what are you projecting?" These feeble minded creatures that have seemed to always be placed with admirable statistics. The roosters, "whom the Greeks elected/to shoot at on a post, who struggled/when sacrificed," are seen as "Very combative?". The anger of the narrator is further expressed, "what right have you to give/commands and tell us how to live," questioning the true nature of a rooster's existence. The hatred towards the rooster escalates to the point of killing it out of spite:
And one has fallen,
but still above the town
his torn-out, bloodied feathers drift down;
and what he sung
no matter. He is flung
on the gray ash-heap, lies in dung
with his dead wives
with open, bloody eyes,
while those metallic feathers oxidize.
The "gun-metal blue" held the meaning as entailed in


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Consumer insights are customer truths. From helping to personalize communications, understand customer experiences and unmet customer demands, or competitor analysis, consumer insights can provide a wealth of information, allowing companies to better communicate with customers.
According to Forrester, insight-driven organizations are growing 8x faster than the global GDP. In a digital era where consumer trends and preferences are constantly in flux, we can no longer afford to wait months for insights to be delivered through market research.
While often regarded as martech, social listening tools can do more than track campaigns, influencer marketing, and brand health. In fact these tools are used more and more in conjunction with traditional research techniques, making them a key component of modern marketing research, due to its ability to deliver real-time insights in an instant.


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Compressed Manifold Modes for Mesh Processing
MetainformationenComputer Graphics Forum (Proc. of Symposium on Geometry Processing SGP), vol. 33, no. 5. 2014
This paper introduces compressed eigenfunctions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on 3D manifold surfaces. They constitute a novel functional basis, called the compressed manifold basis, where each function has local support. We derive an algorithm, based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), to compute this basis on a given triangulated mesh. We show that compressed manifold modes identify key shape features, yielding an intuitive understanding of the basis for a human observer, where a shape can be processed as a collection of parts. We evaluate compressed manifold modes for potential applications in in shape matching and mesh abstraction. Our results show that this basis has distinct advantages over existing alternatives, indicating high potential for a wide range of use-cases in mesh processing.


What is a Genset?
What is a Reefer Genset
For situations that require powered engines in remote locations and during inland transport, a genset offers the solution. Several industries use gensets for fulfilling their [...]
Read more
What Is a Reefer Container?
The terms "reefer container" and "reefer" are short for "refrigerated container." These containers maintain a stable temperature inside while controlling humidity and promoting adequate airflow. [...]
Read more


text: Research conducted by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Researh Council) Centre for Integrated Systems Biology of Ageing and Nutrition (CISBAN) is being presented at the conference of the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) in Newcastle, U.K. This research sheds new light on why restricted diets extend life span in certain organisms. Mice fed a restricted diet had reduced levels of senescent cells in their livers and intestines, where large numbers of these cells are known to accumulate as animals age. It was found that the cells of mice fed restricted diets better maintained their telomeres, the protective 'ends' of chromosomes that help prevent errors, and aging. Read more at the BBSRC website.


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Anthropometric Predictors of Concentric Hip, Knee, and Ankle Work During a 5x5 Conventional Deadlift Routine
The deadlift is one of the most commonly performed exercises to strengthen the lower body, as well as one of the main lifts in powerlifting and strongman competitions. However, literature exploring the deadlift exercise and its variations remains quite limited compared to other popular exercises like squats and bench press. PURPOSE: The purpose of this exploratory analysis was to determine if there are relationships between anthropometric characteristics (arm length, torso length, thigh length, and shank length) and hip, knee, and ankle joint angular concentric work during a 5 sets of 5 repetitions (5x5) conventional deadlift (CDL) routine. METHODS: Eleven resistance-trained males who had experience with the deadlift exercise completed this study (21.5 ± 1.4 years, 180.7 ± 5.7 cm, 89.9 ± 16.0 kilograms). Limb lengths were measured by a 3-D optical scanner (Size Stream®). After completing a warm-up that consisted of 5 minutes of cycling at a self-selected pace and 2-3 minutes of lower body exercises (e.g., bodyweight squat and walking lunges), the subjects started deadlifting. Subjects performed warm-up sets of the deadlift exercise while self-selecting their repetitions and incrementally increasing weight during each warm-up set by ~10-20% until reaching a weight that they corresponded to an RPE of 8 on a Borg Category-Ratio (CR-10) scale. The subjects then underwent a 5x5 deadlift workout using the selected load, with 2-to-5 minutes of rest between sets. Joint angular work was assessed via a three-dimensional 12-camera Vicon motion capture system (200 Hz) and two force platforms (1000 Hz). Outcomes were averaged across sets 1-through-5 and analyzed using multivariate regression and relative importance analysis in the R software. RESULTS: Together, the predictors from the multivariate regression model did not correlate with hip (p = 0.75; R2 = 0.24; R2adj = -0.26), knee (p = 0.99; R2 = 0.05; R2adj = -0.59), or ankle (p = 0.11; R2 = 0.67; R2adj = 0.45) concentric work. Independently, the only predictor variable that correlated with any of the outcome variables was thigh length, which was a predictor of ankle concentric work (p = 0.03). In this model, thigh length accounted for 37% of the variance in ankle concentric work. CONCLUSION: This preliminary research suggests that some gross anthropometric predictors may not explain hip, knee, or ankle joint concentric work during a 5x5 CDL routine. However, given the small sample size and exploratory nature of this work, the findings should be viewed as tentative until future research investigates the relationships between anthropometrics and deadlift mechanics.
Keith, Dale S.; Scherrer, Daniel; Nunley, Brandon; Harry, John R.; and Tinsley, Grant M.
"Anthropometric Predictors of Concentric Hip, Knee, and Ankle Work During a 5x5 Conventional Deadlift Routine,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
13, Article 26.
Available at: _URL_
Health and Physical Education Commons, Medical Education Commons, Sports Sciences Commons


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- why these books are so popular
- the advantages and disadvantages of reading such books
- how comic books can be used for educational purposes
Justify your views by providing reasons.
Reading comic books— a relaxing, joying and learning activity
"Spiderman" or "War and Peace"? "Batman" or "Romeo and Juliet"? "Dragonball" or "Antony and Cleopatra"? If taking these questions to ask the secondary and primary school students, I guess that nine out of ten students will choose the Spiderman, Batman and Dragonball. On the street, we can easily see numerous teenagers taking a comic book and reading it. In other words, comic books are extremely popular in Hong Kong, even compare with the classical literatures. It begs questions that what make comic books so popular and what is the pros and cons of reading comic books?
The most obvious reason is that the design of comic books is really reader-friendly. The size of comic books is quite small; therefore, readers can take it everywhere and no need to bring a big bag to carry it. In addition, the popular comic books are probably having many chapters, likes "Dragonball" and "Gundam Seed". It is very convenient for the readers killing time. When waiting bus or MTR, you read a chapters, maybe more. The bus or MTR then will arrive in less than no time. So, the designs of comic books, the chapters arrangement and the size, are very convenient for the readers.
Other cause is about the human nature or human behaviour. Honestly, mainstream people, including adults and youngsters, love reading pictures more than words, colorful pictures more than only words printed in black and white. When reading the colorful and interesting pictures, we will enjoy it. In contrast, the majority of people, not all people, can not get the enjoyment for reading many long... [continues]
Cite This Essay
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Evil Deeds began five years ago as a blog about forensic psychology, anger, violence and the destructiveness of human evil. It has since evolved to more broadly cover related and relevant topics such as mental health, spirituality, psychotherapy, psychopathology, creativity, and the archetypal quest for meaning and purpose.
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Click on map for very large image (142Kb, Gif 1655x2340 pixels)!
This map was digitized from the geology map of Madagascar (BESAIRIE, 1964).
The 96 original categories were reclassified into predominant rock types
which seem to have an important effect on the vegetation they support.
The categories of sedimentary rocks include sandstones, loose (unconsolidated)
sands, and two limestone categories of different ages (one of which produces
the spectacular "tsingy" areas of jagged, highly eroded limestone pinnacles).
A broad category of metamorphic rocks (including granites and migmatites),
often covered by thick layers of laterites, covers large areas of the central
and eastern areas of the island. Lavas and basalts, and several restricted
rock types including quartzites, marbles and ultrabasics are also distinguished.


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ZK-TS-PT100 Surface mount temperature sensor
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Surface mount temperature sensor
Temperature measurement range
Pt100 third line
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Widely used for temperature measurement in power, petroleum, building materials, scientific research and other industries
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Pursuant to Act 82 of 2012, the Board is pleased to report that Superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille has met or exceeded his established goals for the 2019-20 school year.
 The Superintendent's 2019-20 Goals are based on priorities identified in the following categories Student Academic Growth, Achievement and Support; Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term Planning; District Operations and Safety, Facilities Planning and Maintenance; Communications and Engagement; Professional Growth that align with the district's Strategic Plan and address academic achievement, budgetary, facility, operational and curricular needs. References to the district's Strategic Plan means the "Strategic Plan 2016-2021-Five Pathways, One Destination". References to the Curriculum Audit means the "March 2017 Curriculum Audit of the Cheltenham School District completed by Curriculum Management Solutions, Inc."
 Objective Performance Measure #1 – Student Academic Growth, Achievement and Support: The Superintendent uses multiple data sources to assess student success and growth as appropriate, specific to needs within the District and as determined annually in collaboration with the Board of School Directors, including standardized assessments, PVAAS, and Future Ready Pennsylvania Index.
 The Superintendent works with the administrative team to analyze the school district performance and work in concert with the Office of Education and the building administration to identify key areas of need for all schools and develop a plan of intervention for the identified areas of need.
 In addition, the Superintendent continues to work with the administration to review the district-wide curriculum needs via the curriculum audit to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all students, aligns with state/national standards, and is equitable and culturally relevant. The administration will continue to engage in teaching supervision through the observation and evaluation processes which inform professional development and provide support for best practice implementation in classroom instruction. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Monitor the improvement of state assessment measures via the PA Future Ready Index while meeting and improving on-track measures using 2018-2019 local and state assessments available to the district with a focus on mathematics in grades 3-8 with a 10% increase in students scoring proficient/advanced.
 2. Provide oversight for the completion of the written curriculum (Grade 5-10 Health Curriculum, K-8 Math and English assessments), supporting documents resources and professional development.
 3. Develop and implement Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (A-TSI) and strategies to reduce disproportionality in attendance among students with disabilities.
 4. Ensure the implementation of Danielson Framework for teaching that engages in staff supervision through the observation and evaluation process and provide supports for best practices.
 Objective Performance Measure #2: Facilities Planning and Maintenance:
 The Superintendent collaborates with the Business Manager and the Director of Operations to analyze the data provided through the Facilities Condition Assessment to develop a five-year plan for improvements/renovations to the district facilities. The plan developed will serve as the guide for future renovations and improvements to the school district and include an ongoing plan for the maintenance and sustainability of the current school district facilities. Action shall be taken to ensure the safety of students and staff and to ensure compliance and address prioritized needs taking into consideration budget constraints. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Oversee the implementation of Schooldude to support work orders, preventative maintenance and facilities usage
 2. Lead and monitor the development of sustainability protocols, practices, and procedures that promote and supports district goals
 3. Present a facilities condition report that will be used to develop a five-year facilities plan.
 4. Develop and communicate a multi-year sustainability plan that promotes/supports district commitment to environmentally friendly practices that promote energy efficiency and reduce harm to the environment.
 Objective Performance Measure #3: Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term Planning: The Superintendent works with the District Business Manager to develop and present a responsible budget that provides resources needed to maintain quality education programs while ensuring fiscal responsibility. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Provide the board with supporting documentation and guidance in negotiating collective bargaining agreements that meet the district's programmatic needs while simultaneously recognizing the district's fiscal realities.
 2. Support the Board in the identification and drafting of policies per objectives of the curriculum audit and strategic plan.
 3. Present a budget to the board that is balanced, student-focused and eliminates or reduces the use of fund balance.
 Objective Performance Measure #4: District Operations and Safety
 The Superintendent manages District operations, ensuring completion of activities associated with the annual budget; overseeing the distribution of resources in support of district priorities; and directing overall operational activities within the District. Superintendent guides and monitors the implementation of the district comprehensive emergency plan. In addition, through collaboration with local, county and state agencies the school district will update and improve the school district's emergency response procedures. Furthermore, the Superintendent will monitor the professional development provided to faculty, staff, and safety officers that supports the plan in the event of an emergency. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Monitor the collaboration with township and county emergency management in supporting the district's comprehensive emergency operation plan/emergency response procedures and providing approved training.
 Objective Performance Measure #5: Professional Growth
 The Superintendent creates a climate that stimulates and supports professional growth and improvement of all staff. Professional development will be developed and provided to staff and in-service opportunities will be developed for all staff that promotes research on how students learn, classroom management, equity, cultural proficiency, emerging technology tools for education and new curriculum. The Superintendent works to individually reflect upon his effectiveness within the role, and works to improve effectiveness through the use of professional development literature, programs and activities. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Participate and attend local, regional and national professional development opportunities such as MCIU, PENN Leadership Council, AASA National Superintendent Certification and recommends best practices to the district.
 2. Continue to monitor and implement cultural proficiency practices that support the district's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity.
 Objective Performance Measure #6: Communication and Engagement
 The Superintendent communicates with and engages the staff, the Board, and members of the community, clearly articulating District goals and priorities, addressing local and broader issues affecting the District, and building support for District initiatives, programs and short/long-range plans. The Superintendent provides leadership in communicating with the general public those positive activities, programs, accomplishments, and district improvements to increase community awareness and understanding. In 2019-2020, the Superintendent shall:
 1. Present to the board a communication dashboard/scorecard to update staff, the Board and community on progress made on district goals.
 2. Design structures and processes to facilitate parent and guardian involvement and community engagement that results in support for and commitment to the district.
 3. Will lead and support a communication plan that provides multiple communication channels (video, written, social media), etc. to inform and highlight/promote district goals, accomplishments, programming and initiatives.


Angel Number 346 – Meaning and Symbolism
Numbers are all around us and it's hard to spend a day without them. We need them in every situations and life would not make sense without them. With all functions which they have, they also have some hidden meanings for which a lot of people do not know.
They are also used as messages that come from angels who want to send something to us. We will meet every day with that number and it will appear in many situations. The angels sent us a message which can help us or give us advice about our future.
Angel number 346 – what does it mean?
An angelic number 346 is composed of the attribute of number 3, vibration and energy of number 4 and influence of number 6.
Number 3 is one of the luckiest numbers and brings very positive influence and happiness, enjoyment, feeling of fulfillment and motive for achieving high goals.
Number 4 brings energy to this number and extra strength and motive to accomplish certain things in life. It is also described by courage, power, honesty, will to succeed.
Number 6 describes talent, creativity, knowledge, great psychic abilities, and the ability to learn quickly and progress.
Number 346 is a set of very positive attributes of great energy and talent, which gives it great influence. People in this number are talented for all the work they do, but mostly expose themselves as writers, composers, singers, musicians, but also actors, psychologists, philosophers. They always want knowledge they like to learn new things and to work on themselves to bring everything to perfection.
They love to communicate with other people and to share their knowledge with them. They like to work with educated and smart people.
Secret meaning and symbolism
A message from an angel through the number 346 is a message saying that you are on the right path to collect your talent and your creativity.
After a lot of effort you invested, angels send you a message that motivates and encourages you to continue with the job you love.
You love your work, so every working day is enjoyment for you. If you have not yet decided what to do in the future now is the right time and angels are sure you will make the right choice and make great success.
Dedicate yourself to your family and friends, because they will always be there for you. After each job, it is always necessary to find time for rest and relaxation, so take a couple of free days and travel somewhere.
Angel number 346 and Love
People in number 346 prefer to enjoy life they like to meet new people and to always be in a relationship. It is difficult to take away the liberty that matters to them, and if you try it, it will probably result in a breakup. Their trust is also difficult to get because they are taught not to trust other people.
They are always smiling, moody, in the society they are the main entertainers and their humor is what adorns them and conquers the opposite sex.
They are also mystical, and that fascinates other people. The people in this number who are married have surely already found the love of their lives and there is no need to cheat or leave them for someone else.
Now they are ready to spend their lives with that person and provide everything in order to have a comfortable life.
Interesting facts about number 346
In the next section we tried to present some of the most interesting facts related to this number, all these information can help you and they can be useful to understand message from this number.
In math, number 346 is an even, composite and a Harshad number.
It is interesting that this number is a Franel number.
In Binary Code this number is written as 101101010.
In Roman numeral letter this number can be written as CCCXLVI.
What to do when you see number 346?
The message from an angel through the number 346 is very positive for you. It gives you the motivation to proceed further and tells you that talent will surely be charged and rewarded.
You must continue with the same effort, and do not let it go. Do not listen to other people's opinions just listen to yourself make the right choices and surely everything will pay off. Positive and good period is ahead of you, and now take the opportunity to get everything you've planned and want.
Angels will always be with you and follow your steps. Stay courageous and motivated as you have been until now and remember you will always have support from your family and friends. Also, angels will take care of you, they would never leave you alone no matter where you are or what are you doing.
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United Nations Special Commission
United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was an inspection regime created by the United Nations to ensure Iraq's compliance with policies concerning Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction after the Gulf War. Between 1991 and 1997 its director was Rolf Ekéus; from 1997 to 1999 its director was Richard Butler.
United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was an inspection regime created with the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 in April 1991 to oversee Iraq's compliance with the destruction of Iraqi chemical, biological, and missile weapons facilities and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency's efforts to eliminate nuclear weapon facilities all in the aftermath of the Gulf War. The UNSCOM inspection regime was packaged with several other UN Security Council requirements, namely, that Iraq's ruling regime formally recognize Kuwait as an independent state and pay out war reparations for the destruction inflicted in the Gulf War, including the firing of Kuwaiti oil supplies and destruction of public infrastructure. Until the UN Security Council saw that Iraq's weapons programs had been aborted and Iraqi leaders had allowed monitoring systems to be installed, the UN's aforementioned sanctions would continue to be imposed on Iraq.
The commission found corroborating evidence that Rihab Rashid Taha, an Iraqi microbiologist educated in England, had produced biological weapons for Iraq in the 1980s. The destruction of proscribed weapons and the associated facilities was carried out mainly by Iraq, under constant supervision by UNSCOM.
Inspectors withdrew in 1998, and disbanded the following year amid allegations that the United States had used the commission's resources to spy on the Iraqi military. Weapons inspector Scott Ritter later stated that Operation Rockingham had cherry-picked evidence found by the United Nations Special Commission; evidence, he says, that was later used as part of the casus belli for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The successor of the United Nations Special Commission was the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission.
The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was headed by Rolf Ekéus and later Richard Butler. During several visits to Iraq by the United Nations Special Committee (UNSCOM), set up after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait to inspect Iraqi weapons facilities, weapons inspectors were told by Rihab Rashid Taha that the al-Hakam germ warfare center was a chicken-feed plant. "There were a few things that were peculiar about this animal-feed production plant," Charles Duelfer, UNSCOM's deputy executive chairman, later told reporters, "beginning with the extensive air defenses surrounding it."
The powers given to UNSCOM inspectors in Iraq were: "unrestricted freedom of movement without advance notice in Iraq"; the "right to unimpeded access to any site or facility for the purpose of the on-site inspection...whether such site or facility be above or below ground"; "the right to request, receive, examine, and copy any record data, or information...relevant to" UNSCOM's activities; and the "right to take and analyze samples of any kind as well as to remove and export samples for off-site analysis.
Acceptance of the intrusion of the UNSCOM's inspectors on the part of the Iraqi regime was slow coming. But with the threat of punitive military action looming from the international community, and particularly the U.S., Saddam Husain begrudgingly allowed UNSCOM's inspectors into the country to begin their work.
Between 1991 and 1995, UN inspectors uncovered a massive program to develop biological and nuclear weapons. A large amount of equipment was confiscated and destroyed. Iraq by and large refused to cooperate with UNSCOM and its inspections as mandated by UN SC Res. 687 until June 1992, ten months after deadline, at which time the Iraqi government submitted "full, final and complete reports" on all of its weapons of mass destruction programs. These reports, however, were found to be incomplete and deficient, and at the same time UN inspectors were subjected to harassment and threats on the part of the Iraqi regime.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 699 was also passed in 1991, declaring that Iraq was responsible for all funding of UNSCOM's inspections in Iraq.
In 1995, UNSCOM's principal weapons inspector Dr. Rod Barton showed Taha documents obtained by UNSCOM from Israel that showed the Iraqi government had just purchased 10 tons of growth media from a British company called Oxoid. Growth media is a mixture of sugar, proteins and minerals that allows microscopic life to grow. It is used in hospitals, where swabs from patients are placed in dishes containing growth media for diagnostic purposes. Iraq's hospital consumption of growth media was just 200 kg a year; yet in 1988, Iraq imported 39 tons of it.
Shown this evidence by UNSCOM, Taha admitted to inspectors that she had grown 19,000 litres of botulism toxin; 8,000 litres of anthrax; 2,000 litres of aflatoxins, which can cause liver cancer; clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that can cause gas gangrene; and ricin, a castor bean derivative which can kill by inhibiting protein synthesis. She also admitted conducting research into cholera, salmonella, foot and mouth disease, and camel pox, a disease that uses the same growth techniques as smallpox, but which is safer for researchers to work with. It was because of the discovery of Taha's work with camel pox that the US and British intelligence services feared Saddam Hussein may have been planning to weaponize the smallpox virus. Iraq had a smallpox outbreak in the 1970s and UNSCOM scientists believe the government would have retained contaminated material.
UNSCOM learned that, in August 1990, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Taha's team was ordered to set up a program to weaponize the biological agents. By January 1991, a team of 100 scientists and support staff had filled 157 bombs and 16 missile warheads with botulin toxin, and 50 bombs and five missile warheads with anthrax. In an interview with the BBC, Taha denied the Iraqi government had weaponized the bacteria. "We never intended to use it," she told journalist Jane Corbin of the BBC's Panorama program. "We never wanted to cause harm or damage to anybody." UNSCOM found the munitions dumped in a river near al-Hakam. UNSCOM also discovered that Taha's team had conducted inhalation experiments on donkeys from England and on beagles from Germany. The inspectors seized photographs showing beagles having convulsions inside sealed containers.
The al-Hakam germ warfare center, headed by the British-educated Iraqi biologist Dr. Rihab Rashid Taha, was blown up by UNSCOM in 1996. According to a 1999 report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, the normally mild-mannered Taha exploded into violent rages whenever UNSCOM questioned her about al-Hakam, shouting, screaming and, on one occasion, smashing a chair, while insisting that al-Hakam was a chicken-feed plant.
Iraq charged that the commission was a cover for US espionage and refused UNSCOM access to certain sites, such as Baath Party headquarters. Although Ekéus has said that he resisted attempts at such espionage, many allegations have since been made against the agency commission under Butler, charges which Butler has denied. Within the UN establishment in Iraq, UNSCOM was not without its critics, with the UN's humanitarian staff informally calling the inspectors 'UN-Scum'. In return, the UN's humanitarian staff were called "bunny-huggers".
Also in 1996, the Iraqi ruling regime agreed to the terms of United Security Council Resolution 986, an oil-for-supplies agreement in which Iraq was allowed to sell $2 billion worth of oil every six months as a ways to purchase supplies for its increasingly impoverished and malnourished population. This agreement also allowed the UN to oversee the use and management of oil revenues, and to see that some of the funds went to pay war reparations and for the work of UNSCOM in Iraq during this period. The distribution of supplies purchased with oil revenues was also to be supervised by UN inspectors to ensure fair and equal distribution throughout the Iraqi population.
 1998 Airstrikes
Security Council Meeting On the evening of 15 December 1998 the Security Council convened to consider two letters from weapons inspectors. The IAEA report by Mohamed El Baradei stated that Iraq "has provided the necessary level of cooperation to enable... [our] activities to be completed efficiently and effectively". The UNSCOM report, authored by Richard Butler, deplored the restrictions, lack of disclosure, and concealment. While conceding that "[i]n statistical terms, the majority of the inspections of facilities and sites under the ongoing monitoring system were carried out with Iraq's cooperation," his letter listed a number of instances where unspecificed "undeclared dual-capable items" had been discovered, and where inspections had been held up so that buildings could be cleared of sensitive material.
Since Operation Desert Fox had already begun at the time of the meeting (just hours after the inspectors had been evacuated), the Security Council debated about who was to blame for the military action, rather than whether they should authorize it. The Iraqi representative said:
|"||I speak to you now while rockets and bombs are falling on the cities and the villages of Iraq... At a time when the Security Council... was discussing [the] reports..., and before the Council reached any conclusion on this subject, the United States and Britain launched their attack against Iraq. The two Powers requested a suspension of the informal meeting of the Security Council and their pretext for aggression was