text:
Bassist Dave Brodie & his Quartet featuring saxophonist, Victor North
Victor North
Other Showtimes
Select a seating area:
Premier Tables
Standard Tables
Cocktail & Bar
with Victor North
$70 Dinner & Show / $90 VIP Dinner & Show
***In compliance with the City of Philadelphia's option for COVID-19 restrictions, Chris' Jazz Cafe has made the decision to require ALL patrons to provide proof of full vaccination, with a corresponding Photo ID.
Without proof of full vaccination, you will NOT be permitted to enter the premises. This will be required for all shows. We hope to do our part to keep our community safe while we continue to enjoy the very best of local, national & international jazz. ***
DINNER & SHOW AVAILABLE (Max of 4 tickets per order, limited seating) $70 per person includes 3 course dinner & show. Beverages, tip & tax not included. Arrival time for 8pm show is 7pm. Arrival time for 10pm show is 9:30pm.
VIP DINNER & SHOW (Max 4 tickets per order) $90 includes upfront seating.
GENERAL ADMISSION - $20 with A La Carte Menu as available
Streaming available Pay-as-You-Wish via PayPal.me/PhillyJazz or Venmo: @ChrisJazz-Café
Watch the online show here:
David Brodie started playing the electric bass at the age of thirteen and first took on the upright bass at nineteen while enrolled at Berklee College of Music. After a year in Spain, he returned to his native Philadelphia where he quickly joined up with guitarist Jimmy Bruno, with whom he played for the next several years. From that point, his reputation well established, Brodie has enjoyed a busy playing and recording career and has performed with some of the world's greatest jazz musicians including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Potter and Randy Brecker while performing regularly with some of Philadelphia's finest such as Larry McKenna, John Swana, and Joanna Pascale.
Having moved to the East Coast over 30 years ago, saxophonist Victor North has been a staple on the Philadelphia Jazz Scene for 25 plus years, leading his own groups, hosting countless jam session at Chris' Jazz Cafe over the years, and working as a sideman throughout the Tri-State area. Currently a member of Joey DeFrancesco's "Philly Trio", since August of 2018, Victor has performed and/or recorded with Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band, Elio Villafranca, Charles Fambrough, John Swana, Terell Stafford, Mickey Roker, Duane Eubanks, among others, and recently performed at New York City's famed, Blue Note Jazz Club, as a new member of Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir. Victor can also be heard on Lucas Brown's recently released CD, Skyviews and will be back at Chris' Jazz Cafe again on Thanksgiving Weekend with Joey DeFrancesco.
Seating Info
Premier Tables:
The best seats in the house positioned directly in front of the performance stage (marked dark blue on the seating map).
Standard Tables:
Clear and unobstructed views of stage (marked purple on the seating map). A few tables have a partially obstructed view (marked light blue on the seating map).
Cocktail & Bar Area:
Seating at high-top tables and at the bar area available on a first come, first seated basis (marked green on the seating map). Tables may be shared for sold out shows. Two TV monitors with live video feed of the performance are conveniently located above the bar and cocktail areas.
All ticket prices are per person.
Dinner menu available in all sections.
Your ticket is also your dining reservation.
Every ticket gets a seat in area purchased and tables are reserved based on the date when you made your reservation.
We will do our best to ensure that your entire group sits together, please let us know in the order notes if there are multiple ticket orders in your group.
For any special needs or accommodation requests, please call us at 215-568-3131.
Tickets are the same price whether purchased in person, over the phone or online.
No refunds, professional cameras or outside food and drink.
There is a limited amount of seating available for performances, if the show is sold out online, contact us at 215-568-3131 for seating availability.
Festival Seating:
Festival seating is our general admission ticket. The entire venue or a portion of the venue may be designated for festival admission. These tickets will guarantee you a seat for the show and you are free to sit anywhere in the venue based on a "first come, first seated" basis. This should also allow for larger groups to sit together.


Home ADVICE BUILDING OR RENOVATING Designing the ultimate laundry, all the tips and tricks you need!
Designing the ultimate laundry, all the tips and tricks you need!
We recently discovered Zephyr and Stone — sisters and best friends Ania and Kasia who are mad for building, renovating and designing homes! We're sure you'll love their luxe yet highly functional approach to interior design as much as us.
Today they're sharing all their tips and tricks to designing the ultimate laundry — one that's functional, gorgeous and ticks all the boxes!
Whatever the size of your laundry, and whether you're building or renovating, it's vital that its design is both practical and functional. So where do you start and what are the essentials? We've put together a list of our top tips for creating the ultimate laundry.
So first things first, where is the perfect place to locate your laundry?
Our favourite location is flowing directly from the kitchen or butler's pantry, with a second access from a hallway in your home. That said, it's not always practical or possible to relocate a laundry here, particularly if you're renovating an existing home.
Ideally your laundry should be placed in a services area, away from bedrooms and living areas, so that when your washing machine or dryer is in use, it doesn't resonate throughout resting or entertaining zones. If you're building on a small lot and space is a commodity, it can be practical to locate your laundry off your garage so that it serves as an access or hallway from your garage into your home.
If you don't have the luxury of a dedicated laundry room, consider integrating your laundry into a bathroom or kitchen, or within cabinetry off a hallway, away from living areas. Whichever way you go, ensure your laundry has reasonable access to a clothesline, or external drying area.
1) Do I want a front or top loader washing machine?
2) Will I have a separate washer and dryer or an all in one?
It's vital you choose your appliances before moving onto the next step.
Your next step is to consider how you will use your laundry and what items you will store. Design your space to reduce double handling, and streamline the washing, drying and folding process to save time.
Consider the workflow and ensure there is enough space to move around safely and comfortably. Who will be using the laundry? It may be appropriate to elevate appliances to reduce bending or crouching.
If possible, consider positioning your washing machine between your sink and laundry baskets, allowing you to transfer clothing directly between these areas. Positioning the dryer next to or above the washing machine reduces double handling, and ensures you have bench space close-by so clothing can be folded or sorted directly from your dryer.
Include a space to store an air dryer if you use one, or a rail to hang wet clothes. In the laundry below, we allowed for both shorter clothing and full length items to be hung up to air dry, ready for ironing. The ironing station is positioned on the wall adjacent to this area where it can be easily accessed.
Ample storage is gold in your laundry. Include a combination of cupboards, overheads, drawers and bench top space for the ultimate storage hub. Overheads are ideal for storing chemicals up high out of reach of children and the inclusion of a tall cupboard allows you to store brooms, mops and vacuum cleaners out of sight.
Opting for custom, built-in cabinetry is the best way to maximise and optimise the space you have, but is more costly than flat pack or standard storage options. Either option can result in a functional and aesthetically pleasing space, so consider what's best for you and your budget.
Installing a rail to allow clothes to dry on hangers reduces ironing, and the addition of open shelves allows you to display plants, vases, candles, soaps or fresh towels – finishing touches which give your laundry that designer look.
So now you're almost ready to design your new laundry! But wait, what about all those little dos and don'ts, and luxuries that you just must have?
Here's our list of top tips to take your laundry from fab to extraordinary!
Make sure your bench is deep enough for your appliances and sinks! 600mm is the standard depth of a kitchen bench, however this is often not enough for a laundry. Remember that laundry sinks are generally bigger than kitchen sinks and you'll have hoses tucked in behind your washing machine. We opt for a minimum 650mm deep benchtop in laundries.
There are a variety of both undermount and drop-in sink options on the market. If you have the space, opt for two sinks side by side, as we did in the laundry below. Make sure you have enough bench room behind your sink to fit your tap mixer, or you can place it to the side if space doesn't allow. A mixer with a pull out spray allows for easy cleaning of your sink and washing items.
We opt for the Robinhood IC1300. These are fabulous as they have a built in light and safety timer which switches power off to your iron once the timer is done. The ironing board is height adjustable and folds away effortlessly into its own purpose designed cabinet. We install these into a 90mm thick wall recess to ensure we achieve a neat finish. Ensure your wall cavity frame is deep enough and suitable for installation and allow for an electrician to run suitable power for this.
A pair of large slide out bins will take your laundry to next level. We use Hideaway Bins, which can be integrated into your cabinetry and allow you to sort whites and darks separately. The strong plastic bins lift out easily so they can be hosed or washed out occasionally to avoid odour build up. If you opt for a stand-alone laundry basket, make sure you allocate space in your laundry design under the bench or in a corner to allow for this.
Include direct external access to your clothesline where possible, and ensure you have adequate ventilation through a window and/or an exhaust fan. Ensure there is adequate lighting through windows or a skylight and consider installing task strip LED lighting within your cabinetry.
You may also want to consider incorporating a drying cupboard, particularly if you live in a cold area. This will speed up the rate at which your clothing will air dry, and keeps drying clothes out of sight. Just ensure you consider ventilation to prevent moisture or mould buildup.
Washing machine plumbing taps and power points can be hidden away in a cupboard next to the washer. Ask your cabinetmaker or handyman to drill a large hole at the back of your cabinet next to your washing machine, to pass your cables and hoses through.
Make sure your flooring is suitable for a wet area and is non-slip when wet. If you're tiling, consider running a short tile band skirting up the wall to prevent damage in case of water leaks. Use a feature splashback above your bench top and sink for ease of cleaning, and to give your laundry that designer look.
If you are building or renovating a double storey home, incorporating a laundry chute is essential! It can be installed inside a wardrobe or hidden behind cabinetry off a hallway, directly above a laundry cupboard. We use a cabinetmaker to construct the chute out of laminate board, and always install the chute high enough so that young children cannot climb into it.
As with any modifications in your home, be sure to check for any local building regulations before commencing.
Sisters and best friends, Ania and Kasia spent their childhoods immersed in the happy chaos of their parents' numerous renovations. It's not surprising that they were both drawn down the same rabbit hole — building, renovating and designing homes. With over fifteen years experience in the building and interior design industries, they have joined forces to create Zephyr + Stone. They are passionate about creating functional and gorgeous spaces.


However - for British security and intelligence agencies - it is unlikely that such an obvious security threat was merely "overlooked." That extremists thrive within British communities without government intervention indicates complicity, not incompetence.
British intelligence and security service interest in Libya has focused for 20 years on the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), whether it was opposing Muammar Gaddafi and working with al-Qaida, later renouncing its old jihadi worldview – or taking part in the armed uprising that has now overthrown the regime.
The article in reality is nothing more than an attempt to portray a listed terrorist organization as "reformed" ahead of increased public awareness regarding the true nature of Libya's US and British-backed "rebels."
LIFG members would not only assist the US and British governments in the 2011 overthrow of the Libyan government, they would also move on - with Western arms and cash - to NATO-member Turkey where they staged an invasion of northern Syria.
Mr Belhaj also discussed sending Libyan fighters to train troops, the source said. Having ousted one dictator, triumphant young men, still filled with revolutionary fervour, are keen to topple the next. The commanders of armed gangs still roaming Tripoli's streets said yesterday that "hundreds" of fighters wanted to wage war against the Assad regime.
Revealed once again is a convenient intersection of terrorist and US-British interests - this time in pursuit of regime change in Syria in the wake of successful US-UK backed regime change in Libya.
Al Harati's army of Libyan terrorists would expand to hundreds, possibly thousands of fighters and later merge with other Syrian militant groups including Al Qaeda's Syrian franchise - Jabhat Al Nusra. In Libya, LIFG fighters have divided themselves among various warring factions, including Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates.
As these terrorists filter out of Syria and back home, those hailing from LIFG are mainly returning to the UK where they have been known by US and British security and intelligence agencies for years to exist. With them they will be bringing back the technical knowledge and experience needed to carry out devastating attacks like the recent blast that targeted Manchester.
It is terrorism that follows as a direct result of British foreign and domestic policy - supporting terrorists abroad and deliberately refusing to dismantle their networks at home - all as they feed fighters and resources into the US-UK proxy war still raging in Syria.
The British government is directly responsible for the recent Manchester blast. It had foreknowledge of LIFG's existence and likely its activities within British territory and not only failed to act, but appears to have actively harbored this community of extremists for its own geopolitical and domestic agenda.
The recent blast will only reinforce the unsophisticated "tolerance versus bigotry" narrative that has gripped British society, entirely sidestepping the reality of government sanctioned terrorism wielded both abroad and against its own people - not for ideological or religious purposes - but purely in pursuit of geopolitical hegemony.
That the US and UK are using terrorists to expedite their respective geopolitical objectives should come as no surprise - particularly in regards to LIFG - since the organization itself branched out of Washington's mercenary fighters used against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
What is surprising is that the Western public continues to react emotionally to each terrorist attack individually rather than rationally, seeing the much larger picture and pattern. And until the Western public sees that bigger picture and pattern, fear, injustice, murder, and mayhem will continue to dominate their lives and futures.


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See More by alexiuss
Vitaly Alexius Art by Kyros-XIII
Alexiuss by hitte
Abstract_Surreal And SF by myjka55
TheNetherworld
By alexiuss
4K Favourites
Castaway from the world,
Walking amidst the crowd.
There's a storm inside my mind.
It haunts me when I am awake,
Everyday, everyway, my body it bind.
Decompressing my brain and tearing it apart.
And if I could just sleep, it would be a good start.
But there's just no time left.
There's too much to do.
All the sound of the world,
Amplified, overblown.
All the colors exposed and pulsating.
I have no-one to blame,
But myself and the sky
And society that's always demanding.
Like a hurricane above, eternally wild.
This migraine is making me blind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------------------------------
Now it's a full rights CD cover for the band "Canobliss": [link]
Published: Nov 3, 2006
© 2006 - 2021 alexiuss
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


From 18-22 September, a number of Danish companies participated in an Andersen Consult developed Danida Business Delegation to Tanzania organised in close collaboration with the Danish Embassy in Dar es Salaam. The companies visited Tanzania to identify new opportunities, potential clients, distributors and business partners. And what a success – the first deal is already closed and two fresh business partnerships are being formed less than a week after returning to Denmark.
The main objective of the delegation was to build commercial ties and promote trade and investment between Denmark and Tanzania. During a B2B event, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Trade and Industry, presented some of the current opportunities and challenges in East Africa and emphasised that the Tanzanian Government is working hard to improve the environment for doing business in Tanzania. The many opportunities for Danish companies were further stressed by the Danish Ambassador, Mr. Einar Hebogaard Jensen.
"The Danish companies are in a strong position here in Tanzania due to the close collaboration between Danida and Tanzania and a long list of development projects carried out since the 1960s. Especially, aquaculture, food and health care sectors hold interesting opportunities for Danish suppliers." – Mr. Einar Hebogaard Jensen , the Danish Ambassador.
The set-up of the delegation allowed the Danish companies to meet with Tanzanian companies more than once. At the B2B event at Hyatt Regency, the delegates each met with 5-9 local companies interested in doing business followed up the next day by visits to the local companies' facilities. The delegates moreover visited a local brewery, a slaughterhouse, a university, an ice plant, a fish market and a meat processing plant to experience first hand local business methods. During a networking dinner at Southern Sun in Dar es Salaam, the companies met for the third time and had the chance to agree on future business in a casual setting while sharing valuable market information from both sides.
"Now we know how to initiate the market in Tanzania. There is absolutely a market for us with regard to end-users and distributors. There are also various authority approvals required before starting up and this we are also much enlightened on. We look forward to get started on the market". - Helle N. Thestrup, Ph.D., MD, Ampliqon A/S.
Many commercial and valuable relations between Denmark and Tanzania were built last week. Although the Danish delegation was the first of its kind organised by the Danish Embassy, which until now has worked with aid and development projects only, the mission has already created concrete business opportunities for the five companies.
One of the methods to stay in touch with local companies after a business delegation is to use the Danish export platform www.andersenB2B.com. In 2015-16, Andersen Consult ApS has developed this platform to kick-start the digitalisation of Danish SMEs' export process. AndersenB2B and its Community Managers are actively matching up Danish companies with potential clients and opportunities outside Denmark.
In Dar es Salaam, the response to AndersenB2B was very positive which has resulted in a complete delegation sign up and a number of new projects from Tanzanian entrepreneurs where Danish equipment and know-how is needed.
The Danish delegates have returned to Denmark with not only a promising and realistic picture of the opportunities in Tanzania but with many relevant contacts to follow up on. One of the methods the delegates will be utilising is exactly an AndersenB2B membership as well as joining the active networking forum which is being offered by this digital platform.


The future of the NCAA?
Thank goodness Rob Burns cares about academics. The rising senior from Northern Virginia had a 4.01 GPA after his junior year at Stone Bridge High School and could have gone to almost any college. Considering nearly all football players at NCAA Division I-A schools get full scholarships, without UVA's academic reputation, the superstar defensive end may have signed elsewhere. And if certain bigwigs have their way, Virginia might be unable to afford kids like Burns in the future.
As a rule, Ivy League football players are the only ones who don't receive athletic scholarships. Everywhere else, football players, regardless of GPA, receive full tuition as well as room and board, special food, use of exclusive facilities, individual tutoring, stipends, and often have access to a "needy student fund" for clothes and other necessities.
Since they already have such a sweet deal, it's no wonder the notion of paying college football players is unsavory at the very least. But the knowledge that schools make so much money from football while the players receive a paltry $50,000+ in education and perks seems unjust to a great many people. So what to do?
As Ivan Maisel of ESPN so aptly put it, "Full cost of attendance is bureaucratic jargon." With the right spin, anything could be included. A trip home for Thanksgiving? Done. A Tempur-Pedic mattress for that aching back? Sure. An X-Box to study up on Madden? You got it. Some iTunes gift cards to purchase blood-pumping music? Why not? Oh? You don't have an iPod? Why, ask and ye shall receive.
Until now, the argument against "full cost of attendance" has been financial: schools can't afford it, and NCAA scholarship limits don't allow it. But as Reggie Bush, Cam Newton, and numerous others have proved, plenty of folks out there are itching to pad players' pockets, and boosters would surely be happy to jump at a legitimate chance to provide players with their hearts' desires.
Undoubtedly the money to provide "full cost of attendance" is there for the taking, so what– if anything– is the problem?
By not calling it an actual paycheck (tacky!), proponents of the plan believe the serfs on the academic side of campus won't be offended (a gross display of naïveté, to be sure) and the players would have nothing to fear from the taxman. "Full cost of attendance" would be a gift-in-kind sort of program, only with money.
One has to wonder if commissioners Jim Delany (Big Ten) and Mike Slive (SEC) remember Enron and Lehman Brothers. Though they promote "full cost of attendance" as a scholarship program, it's just transparent creative accounting wrapped in ham-handed (and equally transparent) linguistic doublespeak.
A rose is a rose is a rose– so Gertrude Stein said. It's the law of identity, which both Delany and Slive, being lawyers, should know. A thing is itself; it is what it is.
"Full cost of attendance" is nothing but a paycheck, and a blank one at that. Call it what you will, it's something neither Virginia nor any other college can afford.


• Use 1/4" seam allowances unless otherwise indicated.
• Press seams to one side after sewing each seam unless otherwise indicated.
STEP 1: Cut fabric. Cut 5 3/8" square blocks: 2 cats, 2 orange, and 2 yellow. From purple fabric, cut one 4 1/2" x 15 1/8" front strip, one 5 1/2" x 15 1/8" bottom strip, one 14 1/4" x 15 1/8" back piece, and two 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" ends. From multicolor fabric, cut the following pieces: one 15 1/8" x 33 1/2" lining, two 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" lining sides, and two 3 1/2" x 28 ½ straps. From plastic canvas, cut two 5" x 13 1/2" strips.
STEP 2: Sew outer layer. For front, sew two rows of three blocks with cat blocks in center and alternating arrangement of yellow and orange blocks (Figure 1). Join block units with one 4 1/2" x 15 1/8" purple strip (Figure 2). For bottom, sew 5 1/2" x 15 1/8" purple piece to bottom edge of block unit. For back, sew 14 1/4" x 15 1/8" purple piece to this piece (Figure 3).
Lay this unit right side down. Stack two plastic canvas strips and lay over carrier bottom (5" x 15 1/8" purple section). Whipstitch plastic canvas to bottom, stitching to seam allowances on each side.
Pin outer layer unit right side up on batting. Cut batting to same size. Quilt outer layer to batting with stipple quilting on the purple areas of the front and back (Figure 4). For sides, pin two purple 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" purple pieces on top of batting and cut out. Quilt together with stipple quilting.
STEP 3: Sew straps. Fold and press down a 1/4" hem on one long edge of each multicolor strap. Cut two pieces of batting 1" x 28 1/2". Center one batting strip on wrong side of one strap piece. Fold edge without hem over batting. Fold edge with hem on top of first fold, arranging batting so folded edge is next to edge of strap. Topstitch length of strap 1/8" from each side edge. Repeat for remaining strap.
STEP 4: Sew lining. Fold multicolor lining piece in half and pin to mark center lengthwise on each side. Mark center of 5 1/2" edge of a multicolor side piece and pin right sides together to side edge of lining, matching center marks. Repeat on opposite side (Figure 5). Sew bottom edges of side pieces to lining, stopping and starting 1/4" from edges. Clip seam allowance of lining only to points where seam begins and ends. Note: Be careful not to cut through stitching. Turn lining. Pin to side edge of side piece and stitch. Repeat for other side of side piece (Figure 6). Sew remaining side piece in same way. Press seams and leave wrong side out.
STEP 5: Assemble carrier. Sew quilted purple side pieces to carrier bottom in same way as Step 4. Pin and sew ends of one strap to front top edge of carrier, aligning raw edges with ends of straps 2" from side edges. Make sure strap does not get twisted (Figure 7). Repeat for remaining strap, sewing it to top back edge of carrier. Place carrier right side out inside lining. Align and pin all edges. Straps will be between carrier and lining. Stitch together, leaving a 6" opening along top edge for turning. Trim corners and clip where end pieces are sewn. Turn right side out and whipstitch opening closed. Top stitch across top edges of side end pieces 1/2" from edge.


text:
Home Business Aviation
Nigerian wins case against Emirates Airlines; refunded lost $1.6 million
in Aviation, highlights, Home, home-news, latest News
After 13 years of legal battle, a Nigerian businessman, Orji Prince Ikem, has won his case against Emirates Airlines to get a refund of $1.63 million lost while travelling from Lagos to Guangzhou in China.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the airline to pay the money to Prince Ikem.
Justice Muslim Hassan also ordered the airlines to pay Ikem N50million as damages for the "untold hardship and loss of earning" he suffered by the deprivation of use of his money from 2007 till date.
The judgment followed the plaintiff's battle to recover two hand luggage containing personal effects and $700,000, as well as $930,000 in 18 bundles of $50,000 wraps each and $30,000 cash not in wrap.
The court heard that the $930,000 belonged to another businessman, Olisaemeka Ugwunze, who wanted it delivered in China for purchases.
The plaintiff told the court through his counsel, Chris Ekemezie, that at the departure lounge of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Emirates Airlines' staff requested that he hand the luggage to them for safe keeping in the cockpit, but he refused and insisted on keeping them by himself.
They insisted on keeping the luggage for him considering the huge amount of money contained therein, promising that on arrival at his destination, the two bags would be handed over to him.
After a prolonged argument and in order not to miss his flight, the plaintiff yielded and handed over the two bags to them, and they were tagged with numbers EK428682 and EK428683.
That was the last time the plaintiff saw the bags and the money.
On his arrival in Guangzhou, the airline could not account for his four luggage, The Guardian reported.
Ruling on the plaintiff's prayers for the return of his $1.630 million and N100million general damages, Justice Hassan observed that the airline, through its counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to refute Ikem's claims.
The judge held: "I have read all the processes filed by both parties as well as their agreements and resolved that the only issue for determination is whether the plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs sought before this court.
"A claim not controverted is deemed admitted, in this case the defendant did not call a witness but rather rested its case on that of the plaintiff which means that all what the plaintiff claimed and their pleadings are admitted.
"I hold that Emirate Airlines failed in its obligations to customers by not delivering the luggage containing the sum of $1.630 million.
"On the whole, I hereby make the following orders; An order that Emirates Airlines pay the plaintiff the sum of $1.630 million.
"An order that the defendant pay the sum N50million to the defendant as damages. Parties shall bear their own respective costs."
www.aviationghana.com
Source: pmnewsnigeria
Via: norvanreports
Tags: Emirates AirlinesLagos to GuangzhouOrji Prince Ikemrefunded lost $1.6 million
Saudi Crown Prince announces construction of $200 billion zero-carbon smart city


On the Rigado Vesta gateway, Node-RED is enabled by default. With the "DevKit" package, a demo app runs automatically to show connection with a Nordic Semiconductor Thingy:52.
Note that using the root user is not recommended for production environments. This does, however, add a quick way of testing additional flows for the developer environment.
Restart the Gateway once the user is changed.


text:
Festival Watch: Human Rights Watch International Film Festival
By Gordon Hitchens
Human Rights Watch—the largest U.S.-based organization devoted to safeguarding human rights internationally—founded its annual film and video festival six years ago as a showcase to exhibit documentary and fiction works on human rights themes. The festival illustrates the faith of its founders that film and video are ideal tools for education and persuasion: they are fast, portable, flexible, adaptable to various formats, capable of speedy revision of both picture and sound components, and can be transported, exhibited, and reproduced relatively inexpensively.
Because the watch monitors human rights in 70 nations, it necessarily deals with a broad range of abuses, including ethnic cleansing; terror, starvation, and deportations as weapons of war; the use of chemical weapons and landmines; the torture of prisoners; oppression of minorities and women; child labor; female genital mutilation; censorship; and problems of democratization. These themes and others were documented and dramatized among the 30 titles that were screened June 16-30 in New York City's Walter Reade Theater. A smaller group of works (minus the videos) went on to Los Angeles's Museum of Tolerance Jul 15-21. Selections from the festival will later tour to upstate New York, Boston, Seattle, New Mexico, Vancouver, and Palm Springs.
About half of the festival's titles were documentaries, both long and short, film and video, U.S. and foreign. Of great impact was Marcel Ophuls' 1976 film The Memory of Justice, still on the mark as a timeless indictment of the war criminals and collaborators hiding among us (and within us?). With characteristic self-confidence and inexhaustible inventiveness, Ophuls almost good-naturedly probes for over four and a half hours, from the Nuremberg trials to Vietnam, combining stock footage and new materials, finding guilt and evasion of responsibility aplenty, even within our own ranks.
The pursuit of Nazi war criminals in The Memory of Justice was echoed and updated by The Art of Remembrance: Simon Wiesenthal, a new profile by Austrians Johanna Heer and Werner Schmiedel. A survivor of Auschwitz, Wiesenthal pledged himself to the tireless search for Nazi killers in hiding, eventually leading to the capture, trial, and execution of Adolf Eichmann. Wiesenthal's work within Austria has been hampered by the official suppression of evidence about Austria's complicity in the crimes of the Third Reich. Today, ethnic conflicts within Europe, including Germany, can perhaps lead one to despair, but not Simon Wiesenthal, who perseveres.
Like the Nazis, the Communists in Romania were brutal and thorough. The popular rebellion against the dreaded Ceausescu dictatorship began in 1989. Timisoara, by Bost Ovidio Pastina, is titled after the city where a demonstration by peaceful civilians turned into a massacre. In grainy black-and-white, often abstract images, the film records first the euphoria of young marchers (including children with flags), then the approach of tanks, youths who leapt upon the steel monsters, screams, panic, bodies littering the streets. The dictator's secret police invade the hospitals to shoot wounded survivors in the head. The Timisoara massacre hardens the resolve of rebels elsewhere; eventually the dictator is seized and executed. New leaders emerge-"ex" Communists, new born-again democrats. There is no "THE END" on the screen; instead, we read, "THIS FILM HAS NO END."
Halfway around the world, in India, racial and religious violence has deep roots, a theme explored in Father, Son, and Holy War, by Anand Patwardhan. Committed to social reform in India, Patwardhan's half-dozen award-winning films have dealt with such issues as unionizing workers, slum housing, women's rights, and ecology. Here we see politicians urging men to assert their virility in violence against religious enemies, communal orgies of nighttime destruction against minority neighbors, and the systematic dehumanization of women through the common practice of wife burning (an unwanted wife "accidentally" spills hot kitchen oil on herself because her dowry and submissiveness proved insufficient) and Sati, from the Sanskrit word for "good woman," the ancient and still-practiced ritual in which a widow willingly throws herself on the burning funeral pyre of her deceased husband.
Women of Islam: The Veil and the Republic, a French film by Arezki Ahcene, explores the choices facing many Muslim women now living in France, having come (perhaps unwillingly) to this alien land of a different race, with a strange culture and language and an infidel religious faith. Another French work, Olga Nakkas Lebanon: Bits and Pieces, uses the voices of women over stock footage to explore the myths and memories of old Lebanon, including its 17 years of warfare. Formerly prosperous, cosmopolitan, and cultured, today Beirut is surrounded by shantytowns of displaced refugees, its future uncertain. The film attempts to find a new identity and purpose amid the "bits and pieces."
The Drilling Field, a British offering by Glen Ellis, documents the basic struggle in Nigeria that has counterparts in many nations: how to "move the nation forward" (that's the jargon) versus the local traditions and livelihoods of farmers and fisherman, the Ogoni people, who are surviving on ancestral properties. In the oil-rich delta of the Niger River, battle has broken out between the Ogoni and Nigeria's military dictatorship. Troops sweep in for the kill. The standard atrocities. Mission accomplished. Nothing special. The government insures the uninterrupted flow of oil, thus cash, from the Shell Petroleum Development Company to the capital in Lagos, to enrich the already rich.
Like the Ogoni, the Nuba are an African minority, far distant, in miles and in concern, from the "forward" central military Islamic Khartoum government. The Right to Be Nuba, by anthropologist Hugo D'Abeaury, was shot secretly by a heroic French-British team traveling by foot and camel to the remote hills of the Sudan. The Nuba, a black people, are resisting the government's genocidal policy of enforced assimilation into the predominant Arabic-Muslim culture. The government is winning. The Nuba, a proud, strong people, are being slaughtered in roundups of thousands, their villages and crops burned, their cattle cut down. Has the United Nations ever heard of the Nuba?
Maciej Drygas' beautiful The State of Weightlessness provides a welcome break from horror. A magnificent Polish film that affirms our humanity at its finest, amid the wonder and grandeur of space exploration, The State of Weightlessness shows us five burly middle-aged Soviet cosmonauts, each speaking extemporaneously, sometimes painfully, but with the natural poetry of ancient Slavic mystics, describing the shattering sensations, feelings, thoughts of magical flight, of transcendence, of participation in this enlargement of our collective human potential.
American veteran producer Robert Richter, whose documentaries are usually long and densely informative (Who Shot President Kennedy?, The Money Lenders: The World Bank and IMF), is now producing a one-hour look at the U.S. Army School of the Americas. His School of the Americas/Assassins, nominated this year as an Oscar short, is a 17-minute summary of that full-length film, now in development. Assassins refutes the Pentagon's claim that the School of the Americas is non political and merely trains Latin American officers in how to salute without knocking your hat off. The film traces some officers back to their home turf, where they serve rightist usurpers as death-squad terrorists and use their U.S. acquired skills to search out and destroy peasant insurgents and their families.
Another American offering, Laurel Chiten's Twitch and Shout, argues for recognition and tolerance of those 100,000 Americans among us who are afflicted with Tourette Syndrome. TS is a strange genetic disorder, not fully understood by science, that unexpectedly triggers not only twitches and shouts but tics, shrugs, shivers, spasms, noises, offensive expletives, and/or dance-like gyrations. Producer Chitin and several Tourneys (as they refer to themselves) met with festival audiences in lively sessions. The film's humor and irony relieved, yet heightened, its serious motif: that scorn and discrimination toward Tournees are simply the result of ignorant prejudice.
Carol Jacobsen's From One Prison... deals with discrimination of another sort. Four prisoners, murderesses sentenced to life or long terms for having killed abusive lovers or husbands in self-defense, tell their own stories; no family members, judges, attorneys, wardens, guards, penologists, psychological therapists, or omniscient narrators intrude. We learn of their having endured for years brutalizing mistreatment by men bent upon domination, humiliating the women, breaking their wills, breaking their noses, battering them, sometimes raping them casually, having nothing better to do. Police and social agencies were indifferent or ineffectual in stopping these abuses prior to the murders. We learn that 80 percent of women in long-term prisons today are there for having killed male partners in self-defense. Their sentences typically range from 16 to 20 years or more. In contrast, men who kill their partners typically are sentenced to two to six years. From One Prison..., Jacobsen's fourth film about women in prison, will accompany petitions for clemency for the film's four and for other women who have killed in self defense.
The American documentary In the Name of the Emperor, by Nancy Mei-Yu Tong and Christine Choy, born respectively in Hong Kong and in Shanghai, is about genocidal atrocities committed by the Japanese army in China in the late 1930s. In the 1937 "Rape of Nanjing" (then China's capital), an estimated 300,000 Chinese were killed, 20,000 women were raped, children were used as human targets for bayonet practice. An American missionary was able to photograph some atrocities, and that footage is used here along with diaries, eye-witness testimonials, documents, and new footage from other sources. A related topic of the film is the estimated 200,000 Korean women compelled by the Japanese army to serve as prostitutes for their warriors. Recently, reluctantly and partially, the Japanese government has apologized for wartime atrocities. This film, and others, are encouraging historians and peace activists in their long campaign to compel Japan to acknowledge its own history.
Festival director Bruni Burres is satisfied, justifiably, with the growth of the festival in the six years since its founding, from a niche event to its present eminence as the only international film and video festival specifically addressing human rights issues. Press visibility today is enhanced. The new venue, within New York's prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, is a great plus. Screening and discussion facilities at the Walter Reade Theater are a vast improvement over the ad hoc arrangements of previous years. In New York attendance doubled, and there was more contact with New York's ethnic minorities, increasing the appetite for films.
In 1994, the festival gave perhaps 15 hours to films and videos on Bosnia; this year, none. Perhaps U.S. television is amply covering events in Bosnia now. Alas, no documentary on Rwanda was at hand. TV covered the massacres there, but with news reports only. Within the Arab/Israeli sphere, Burress said that suspicion of western film crews and resentment regarding allegedly inaccurate reporting in the past inhibited good documentary production on that area and on the peace talks. But several films on related topics were seen at the festival, notably Women of Islam and Lebanon: Bits and Pieces.
This year the festival offered strong programming acknowledging the half century anniversary of the end of World War II. Burres noted that several of these films (especially The Art of Remembrance: Simon Wiesenthal and Ophuls' The Memory of Justice) emphasized vigilance and responsibility, themes that are basic to the mandate of the festival's parent organization, the Human Rights Watch.
New York writer Gordon Hitchens is a founding editor of Film Comment.
The Virtual Festival Circuit: Filmmakers Reflect on The COVID Months
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RealScreen Considers Programming Post-9/11


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Sisters Found Fatally Shot After Westchester Apartment Fire Are Identified
by: Cindy Von Quednow
Posted: Nov 20, 2018 / 01:13 PM PST
Updated: Nov 20, 2018 / 02:11 PM PST
Two sisters found fatally shot after an apartment fire in Westchester on Nov. 17, 2018 are shown in photos on a GoFundMe page.
Two sisters who were found fatally shot in a burned Westchester apartment over the weekend have been identified.
Uniek Atkins, 27, and Sierra Brown, 16, were found Saturday morning after the blaze at an apartment building in the 8600 block of Belford Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
LAPD officials said the sisters had been shot. Brown died of a gunshot wound to the neck, but Atkins' cause of death is still pending additional investigation, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office reported.
Atkins is named as Uniek Souvinette in the GoFundMe page. The fundraiser is for the sisters' three children, who are 6 and 7 years old, and the youngest is 10 months old.
The young women's family members said at a vigil Sunday that they don't know who would want to hurt the sisters.
Photos of two sisters who died in a shooting and arson fire at their Westchester apartment on Nov. 17, 2018, are displayed at a vigil on Nov. 18, 2018.
No arrests have been made in the shooting. A motive behind the crime also remains a mystery.
A car belonging to one of the victims is missing, LAPD Detective Sean Kinchla told KTLA. It's described as a white, four-door, 2015 Nissan Altima with a California license plate of 7CXN273.


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JOHN CHILEMBWE PDF
John Chilembwe and Family. Image Ownership: Public Domain. John Chilembwe was a Baptist educator and political leader who organized an uprising against. Every 15 January is "John Chilembwe Day" in Malawi. This is a day when the earliest hero of Malawi's independence movement is remembered. His portrait was. Reverend John Chilembwe was born circa in the then 'nameless' enclave that later became British Central Africa before mutating into.
Author: Shakanos Goltilrajas
Country: Maldives
Uploader: Dozahn
AfricaNoFilter Politics Dec Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. A History of Malawi, — The sources cited above agree that, after chulembwe the series of social and personal issues mentioned increased Chilembwe's bitterness toward Europeans in Nyasaland, and moved him towards thoughts of revolt. In serving others, we serve God. But it takes courage to change a country.
Chilembwe uprising – Wikipedia
It's the Economy Dec Chilembwe plotted to kill all white men in the protectorate, save for a few missionaries sympathetic to his cause, to bring about a new order in the region. And we serve God by serving others. It is now years since Rev. The principal was a militantly independent Negro, Gregory Hayes and Chilembwe both experienced the contemporary prejudice against negroes and was exposed to radical American Negro ideas and the works of John BrownBooker T.
The revolt has been the subject of much research and has been interpreted in various ways by historians. The Anti-Corruption Bureau just announced last week that there are no cabinet ministers in the said case.
However, they treat the outbreak and effects of the First World War as the key factor in moving him from thought to planning to take action, which he believed it was his destiny to lead, for the deliverance of his people.
Washington, Frederick Douglass and others.
100 years since John Chilembwe 'finished his work' (originally published in newspapers on Jan 15)
Health Benefits of Ginger 5. Conditions on the estates where the "Anguru" became tenants were generally poor, and Africans both on estates and Crown Lands were subjected to an increase in Hut tax indespite food shortages.
Apart from this girl, all the dead and injured were men, as John Chilembwe had ordered that women should not be harmed. Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora.
IBM SYSTEM X3650 M3 DATASHEET PDF
He was one of the first Africans to speak of Nyasaland at a time when the vast majority of his fellow subjects cared only for tribal identification. The same speech depicted the uprising as a manifestation of desperation but because of his desire to "strike a blow and die", he did not have any idea of what he would replace colonialism with if the revolt succeeded.
Chilemhwe avoiding attempts to capture him and apparently trying to escape into Mozambique, he was tracked down and killed on 3rd February. There is chilemhwe little direct evidence of what John Chilembwe did preach although, at least in his first decade in Nyasaland, his main message was of African advancement through Christianity and hard work.
The mission was defended by four African armed guards, one of whom was killed, Father Swelsen was chilembww wounded in the fighting and the church was burnt down.
However, one man cannot fight corruption alone. After his return to Nyasaland, Chilembwe developed close contacts with independent, African-controlled churches, including Seventh Day Baptist and Churches of Christ congregations, with the aim of uniting chilemnwe or all of these African churches with his own mission church at the centre.
Despite its failure, the Chilembwe rebellion has since gained an important place in the modern Malawian cultural memory, with Chilembwe himself gaining "iconic status. Psychological Stress and the Question of Identity: The rebels moved into Magomero in the early evening, while Livingstone and his wife were entertaining some dinner guests.
Transformation begins with the renewal of our minds. In Booth took him to the United Stateswhere Chilembwe received a degree from a black theological college. They said this cannot happen. Christopher Columbus, master navigator and admiral whose four transatlantic voyages —93, —96,…. The Commission, which presented its conclusions in earlyfound that the revolt was chiefly caused by mismanagement of the Bruce plantation. The consequences for land grabbing on the African continent could be devastating for the development goals of nations in the long term.
John Chilembwe was a Baptist preacher who led a rebellion against colonial rule. They said Peter Mutharika is economically clueless. Now every Malawian above the age of 16 is going to have a National ID.
Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. The colonial government proposed to undermine the power of independent churches like Chilembwe's, by promoting secular education but lack of funding made this chilembw. Bruce Estates developed and started to plant a hardy variety of cotton suitable for the Shire Highlands.
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In Nyasaland, the major effect of the war was massive recruitment of Africans to serve as porters in support of the Allied armies. I will give you an example. However, after he became chilsmbwe radical and began to predict the liberation of the Africans and the end of colonial rule, [1] [13] joyn began to foster closer links with a number of other independent African churches.
The tyranny of good intentions Ashoka Mukpo Scandals like the one at More Than Me—the US charity that failed to protect school girls in its care from rape by staff—are common in even the most elite aid organizations.
Health Benefits of Apples 2. However, by orChilembwe had chiembwe more politically militant and openly voiced criticism over the state of African land rights in the Shire Highlands and of the conditions of labour tenants there, particularly on the A. But at their heart was a solid matter of fact element that was constructively forward looking, and kept for the most part within the bounds of practical, if remote, possibility.
The last known photo of John Chilembwe leftleader of the uprising, taken in Central Africana, Blantyre, pp. Today, Chilembwe is celebrated as a hero of independence, and John Chilembwe Day is observed annually on 15th January in Malawi.
John Chilembwe | Nyasaland leader |
When he brought forward the date of the Shire Highlands rising, Chilembwe was unable to ensure that it could still be coordinated with the planned rising in the Ntcheu District, which was therefore largely abortive. Portrait of an African Village, p.
He hoped that discontented Africans on European estates, relatives of soldiers killed in the war and others would join as the rising progressed. Since Decemberthe newly introduced Kwacha note also carries his picture.
When no reply was forthcoming to his written protest against conscription, he and a few followers decided on an admittedly suicidal blow. Scandals like the one at More Than Me—the US charity that failed to protect school girls in its care from rape by staff—are common in even the most elite aid organizations.
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CESUR YENI DUNYA PDF


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Solberg and Subaru… winners again - but this time it's Oliver!
There's nothing new about a Solberg winning a rally in a Subaru. Except when it's Oliver Solberg, the 17-year-old son of Petter.
On only his second ever event with Subaru Motorsports USA, Oliver didn't just win the DirtFish Olympus Rally (April 27/28), he dominated it with fastest time on 8 of the 12 forest stages in the state of Washington.
The potential for victory had been clear after Oliver scored a stunning second place on his debut aboard a Vermont SportsCar-prepared Subaru WRX STI at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in March.
"Honestly, this is such an emotional moment for me," said Oliver, moments after stepping down from dancing on the roof of the Subaru, complete with its famous blue and yellow livery.
"When we got to the end of the last stage, it was like a dream had come true for me. My mom was first to the car and then dad… you know we have all worked hard for this and I have a lot to thank those guys for. Us Solbergs, we're an emotional family and this was an incredible, incredible moment for us all.
"Saturday was a good day, everything went to plan, but yesterday (Sunday) was a little bit more complicated. I got two rear punctures on stage 10 which made the final stage closer than it should have been. We went into that last 20-miler with only 13 seconds lead over my team-mate David [Higgins]. Because we had that issue with the punctures and I was so focused to the fight, I think it helped take away some of the nerves. For sure, it added to the feeling of relief when we came across the line."
And that final-stage performance was vintage Solberg: Oliver was 13 seconds faster than David to win by 26 seconds.
"We pushed, but we didn't take the risks," said Oliver. "It was about managing the situation."
8 wins from 12 stages and a 26-second victory might have made the Shelton-based American Rally Association (ARA) appear straightforward. It wasn't.
Just days before the start, Oliver discovered his co-driver Aaron Johnston couldn't make the trans-Atlantic trip for personal reasons. This is where having a triple FIA world champion for a father helps… Petter opened his contact book and called French legend Denis Giraudet in. Having co-driven world champions Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol, Oliver was delighted with Denis. Predictably, he did the perfect job in calling the notes on the fast, but exceptionally tricky stages.
The other complication was running first on the road and sweeping the loose gravel clear to make the road faster for those following.
"This is only my second ever gravel rally in a four-wheel drive car," said Oliver. "So I'm still learning everything, really; learning to drive first on the road was just another lesson on this rally. Seriously though, I knew it would be tough – David had told me this was the worst rally of the season to be first on the road. And then I found out I would be there!"
Oliver coped manfully, demonstrating maturity way beyond his 17 years. By the end of Saturday's eight stages, he had built a lead of 41 seconds. Sunday's final day was supposed to be about managing that gap from the front of the field, but that pair of punctures complicated matters. Despite the double deflation, Oliver kept his cool and took the top step of the podium.
"Running first was really tricky, the weather was dry and dusty, which made it very loose," he said. "OK, it's a very different situation, but I can understand much more now what Sébastien Ogier is talking about when he explains his frustrations running in this position: you know you are sliding more than the guy behind and you know you are giving them time. All I could do was drive as neat as possible, trying to be efficient with the brake and the throttle and keep it straight.
"We made it and I can't tell you how proud and happy I am with what we achieved on this rally. I am not doing the full championship in American this year – but still, with a win and a second place from my first two rallies, I really will be trying to push for the title. It'll be tough, but let's see.
"The one thing I definitely have to do is say a really big thank you to the team and everybody in Subaru Motorsports USA. We didn't have to touch the car once and, apart from the two punctures, we didn't have any issues at all."
The feeling was the same from Denis' side of the car. Despite a 43-year difference in age and the fact they'd never even tested together before last week, Oliver and Denis worked perfectly.
Denis said: "I have co-driven a lot of drivers in my career and I have worked with a lot of young drivers, but this really was a special ride. To look across and see this young Solberg doing what he was doing was unbelievable.
"He coped with everything like he had been rallying for years; he coped like you would have expected his father – or his mother – to have. He is a special talent and I thank him and the family for the opportunity to compete and win with him. His future in the sport is really a bright one."
Petter added: "Like Oliver said, this really is a dream for us all. OK, we knew the result was possible after the last rally (100 Acre Wood), but the way he did it was special. I know what first on the road means and, I tell you, this was a big achievement.
"I went to the stages to watch for the first time on Saturday and I tell you, watching this sport as a father is much harder than competing! But I was impressed. Very impressed.
"To see a Solberg win in those colours again is special. This is a weekend Pernilla and I will never forget."
With three wins (and a second place) from his first four rallies in a four-wheel drive car, Oliver will now turn his attention back to the Latvian Championship. He will drive a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 on Rally Liepāja next month.
"We won the first two rounds in Latvia in the snow," said Oliver. "It would be really cool to go to the first gravel round there and try to make it three in a row."


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Draft recommendations to the European Commission in own-initiative inquiry OI/1/2003/ELB
Case OI/1/2003/ELB - Opened on Friday | 31 October 2003 - Recommendation on Monday | 24 May 2004 - Decision on Thursday | 11 November 2004
(Made in accordance with Article 3 (6) of the Statute of the European Ombudsman(1))
The reasons for the inquiry
According to Article 195 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the European Ombudsman is empowered to conduct inquiries on his own initiative in relation to possible instances of maladministration in the activities of Community institutions and bodies. By virtue of this provision, on 31 October 2003, I opened an inquiry into the internal dispute resolution procedures available to national experts who are seconded to the Commission. The reasons for the inquiry are as follows.
Internal dispute resolution procedures and complaints to the European Ombudsman
Articles 2.4 and 2.8 of the Statute of the Ombudsman require that a complaint to the Ombudsman must be preceded by appropriate administrative approaches and that no complaint may be made to the Ombudsman that concerns work relationships between the Community institutions and bodies and their officials and other servants unless all the possibilities for the submission of internal administrative requests and complaints, in particular the procedures referred to in Article 90 (1) and (2) of the Staff Regulations, have been exhausted by the person concerned and the time limits for replies by the authority thus petitioned have expired.
The purpose of these provisions is to give the Community institution or body concerned the opportunity to resolve problems itself, before the European Ombudsman becomes involved.
Seconded national experts are national or international civil servants or persons employed in the private sector who are working temporarily for the European institutions. According to the rules applicable to seconded national experts, adopted by the Commission(2), they shall remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and shall continue to be paid by that employer. Nonetheless, they receive from the Commission allowances covering their expatriation expenses.
Two seconded national experts lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsman (complaint 495/2003/ELB). As part of checking whether the complaint met the conditions of admissibility laid down by the Statute of the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman examined the rules applicable to seconded national experts, but did not discover any provision therein concerning the resolution of possible disputes. The question of whether use of such a procedure might be an "appropriate administrative approach" for the purposes of Article 2.4 of the Statute of the Ombudsman did not, therefore, arise.
The Ombudsman also examined the possible relevance of Article 90 of the Staff Regulations. The Ombudsman recalls that, as regards officials and other servants of the European Communities, Article 90 of the Staff Regulations states that any person to whom the Staff Regulations apply may request that the Appointing Authority take a decision relating to him. It also states that any person to whom these Staff Regulations apply may submit to the Appointing Authority a complaint against an act adversely affecting him. The Ombudsman's preliminary conclusion was that Article 90 is not applicable to seconded national experts.
The Ombudsman therefore opened an inquiry and informed the Commission of the complaint and of his preliminary conclusion concerning Article 90. In its opinion on the complaint, the Commission did not comment on the preliminary conclusion, nor did it inform the Ombudsman of any other procedure that the complainants could have invoked in relation to the matters of which they had complained to the Ombudsman.
In view of the above, the Ombudsman is not aware that any internal procedure exists for the resolution of possible disputes between seconded national experts and the Commission.
The potential value of an internal dispute resolution procedure
The experience of ombudsmen in the Member States and more generally is that an effective internal dispute resolution procedure enables a public body to resolve a high proportion of problems itself, either by taking remedial action if necessary, or by explaining its position to the complainant.
In the case of seconded national experts, such a procedure could benefit the experts themselves by:
providing a quick, easy, and cost-effective means of resolving difficulties and obtaining redress where necessary;
fostering a greater sense of inclusiveness;
promoting a sense of empowerment; and
giving individuals the assurance that their complaints are being taken seriously and that they are being treated properly, fairly and impartially.
The Commission would also benefit from a procedure that could:
serve as a quick and efficient means of resolving difficulties;
promote good internal relations and communications;
encourage a positive attitude towards the administration; and
highlight shortcomings and areas which could be improved.
The information requested in the own-initiative inquiry
The Ombudsman therefore kindly requested the Commission to inform him:
- whether it received complaints from seconded national experts concerning matters related to their secondment and how any such complaints are dealt with;
- whether it would be willing to introduce, in the rules applicable to seconded national experts, a suitable provision for the resolution of possible disputes.
The Ombudsman's inquiry into complaint 495/2003/ELB continues separately.
The Commission's opinion
The Commission's opinion can be summarised as follows:
Article 90 of the Staff Regulations states that any person to whom the Staff Regulations apply may request that the Appointing Authority take a decision relating to him/her. It also states that any person, to whom these Staff Regulations apply, may submit to the Appointing Authority a complaint against an act adversely affecting him/her. As already concluded by the Ombudsman, Article 90 of the Staff Regulations is not applicable to seconded national experts because the Staff Regulations are not applicable to them and the allowances they receive are not based on the Staff Regulations.
The Commission's decision of 30 April 2002 (C(2002)1559), amended by the Commission's decision of 31 January 2003 (C(2003)406), sets out the rules applicable to national experts seconded to the Commission.
Article 1, paragraph 2 of the above-mentioned decision establishes that national experts seconded to the Commission remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and must continue to be paid by that employer. As a consequence, no statutory or other employment relationship exists between the Commission and seconded national experts. Nevertheless, the Commission's decision lays down rights and duties of seconded national experts, including the right to receive certain allowances.
As regards the first question of the Ombudsman:
The Commission receives complaints and inquiries from seconded national experts concerning matters related to their secondment. The Commission's services have followed informal ways of settling possible disputes and answering inquiries in order to avoid potential disputes being amplified and aggravated.
The Commission ensures that seconded national experts have access to:
1) the hierarchy of the service to which they are seconded;
2) the service within the Directorate-General for Personnel and Administration (DG ADMIN) responsible for seconded national experts. The service manages all national experts seconded to the Commission's services and deals with the general problems experienced by seconded national experts.
In addition, the Commission has established a good relationship with CLENAD, which is the representative association of seconded national experts. CLENAD has regular meetings with the competent services of the Commission where questions are raised and problems are examined.
When necessary, the responsible service of DG ADMIN contacts other departments of the Commission in order to find a solution to the problems encountered.
In view of these various channels of communication and the informal character of the mechanisms to solve possible disputes, there is no record of the number of complaints.
As regards the scope, steps and channels for dispute settlement, the legal situation is, at present, not fully clear, particularly since the above-mentioned Commission's decision of 30 April 2002 does not provide for a complaints procedure.
As regards the second question of the Ombudsman:
The Commission considers that it acts in full respect of the existing Commission's decision applicable to national experts seconded to the Commission.
Nevertheless, considering the arguments brought forward by the Ombudsman, the Commission is prepared to introduce, in the context of the next substantial revision of this decision, a suitable provision for the resolution of possible disputes. Considering Articles 2.4 and 2.8 of the statute of the Ombudsman, such provision should also prevent complaints reaching the Ombudsman before all possibilities for solving the problem by internal administrative means have been exhausted.
1 Complaints procedure for seconded national experts
1.1 Seconded national experts are national or international civil servants, or persons employed in the private sector, who are working temporarily for the European institutions. According to the rules adopted by the Commission in a decision of 30 April 2002(3), seconded national experts remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and continue to be paid by that employer. Nonetheless, they receive from the Commission allowances covering their expatriation expenses.
During an inquiry into a complaint lodged by two seconded national experts (complaint 495/2003/ELB), the Ombudsman examined the applicable rules, but did not discover any provision therein concerning the resolution of possible disputes. The Ombudsman therefore kindly requested the Commission to inform him:
- whether it received complaints from seconded national experts concerning matters related to their secondment and how any such complaints were dealt with;
1.2 The Commission confirms that Article 90 of the Staff Regulations is not applicable to seconded national experts because the Staff Regulations are not applicable to them and the allowances they receive are not based on the Staff Regulations.
According to the Commission, its services have followed informal ways of settling possible disputes and answering inquiries in order to avoid potential disputes being amplified and aggravated.
The Commission acknowledges that, as regards the scope, steps and channels for dispute settlement, the legal situation is, at present, not fully clear, particularly since the Commission's decision of 30 April 2002 does not provide for a complaints procedure.
The Commission states that it is prepared to introduce, in the context of the next substantial revision of the above-mentioned decision, a suitable provision for the resolution of possible disputes.
1.3 The Ombudsman notes that the Commission acknowledges that the legal situation, as regards the scope, steps and channels for settling disputes is not fully clear. The Ombudsman points out that such lack of clarity could make it more difficult to secure the full and correct application of the right to good administration, as provided for by Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in the case of seconded national experts. In this context, the Ombudsman also points out that the availability of a clear procedure established by law should complement, not replace, informal ways of settling possible disputes and answering inquiries in order to avoid potential disputes being amplified and aggravated.
1.4 The Ombudsman further notes that the Commission itself envisages corrective action and that it is prepared to introduce, in the context of the next substantial revision of its decision of 30 April 2002, a suitable provision for the resolution of possible disputes.
1.5 The Ombudsman welcomes the Commission's positive attitude in this regard, but notes that the Commission has not established a definite timetable for action. The Ombudsman recalls that, according to Article 17 of the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour, failure to act within a reasonable time is a form of maladministration. In these circumstances, the Ombudsman considers that there are grounds to make a draft recommendation to the Commission that it should adopt a complaints procedure for the resolution of possible disputes between seconded national experts and the Commission.
2.1 For the reasons given above, the Ombudsman makes the following draft recommendation to the Commission, in accordance with Article 3 (6) of the Statute of the Ombudsman.
The draft recommendation
The Commission should adopt a complaints procedure for the resolution of possible disputes between seconded national experts and the Commission.
The Commission will be informed of this draft recommendation. In accordance with Article 3 (6) of the Statute of the Ombudsman, the Commission shall send a detailed opinion by 30 September 2004. The detailed opinion could consist of acceptance of the Ombudsman's decision and a description of the measures taken to implement the draft recommendation.
Strasbourg, 24 May 2004
P. Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS
(1) Decision 94/262 of 9 March 1994 of the European Parliament on the Regulations and General Conditions Governing the Performance of the Ombudsman's Duties, 1994 OJ L 113/15.
(2) Commission's decision of 30 April 2002 (C(2002)1559), modified by Commission's decision of 31 January 2003 (C(2003)406).
Case OI/1/2003/ELB
Friday | 26 November 2004Press release
Ombudsman welcomes future complaints procedure for seconded national experts
Thursday | 11 November 2004Decision
Decision of the European Ombudsman on complaint OI/1/2003/ELB against the European Commission
Wednesday | 19 November 2003Press release
European Ombudsman to investigate dispute resolution procedures for seconded national experts
© European Union, 1995-2023


One of the greatest advantages in completing the MBA in General Business degree from Saint Leo University is that students have the skills and general knowledge needed to be effective in any type of management career in business, government agencies or even in non-profit organizations. The format also allows students to sample classes from several different areas of interest without limiting the broad based skills and practical applications covered in the general business degree.
Through the highly interactive online format, professionals can complete their MBA from the comfort of their own computer, accelerating or self-pacing to meet their schedule and time limitations. Classes will include topics such as marketing and sales management, structure and organizational issues, workplace environments, human resource management and finance and accounting in business.


text:
Penalties, Round Two
Coco Beach, Puerto Rico – What's the Deal?
PGA and European Tour Merger?
By G.F. Skipworth in General Discussion, Golf Articles, Latest Golf News, Pro Golf
Many Questions Arise if the European and PGA Men's Tours Effect a Merger
Rory McIlroy has been musing lately about the idea of Europe and the U.S. seeking a merger, at least the men's golf part. That's right, the PGA and European Tour in a hypothetical merger. There are so many talents between the two, and there isn't always enough time in the schedule to get them all together. Such a merger would stand the game of professional golf most of us grew up with on its head. That's not necessarily such a bad thing, but a few concerns jumped to mind – so here goes.
A merger would mean two schedules worth of tournaments rolled into one. Which ones would stay? I assume that no one would dare touch the Masters, and fooling with the Open – that is the British Open – would be fooling with centerpiece of modern golf history. Where the U.S. Open and PGA go, I have no idea, but the new organization would almost have to find a place for them. But would the Grand Slam stay the same, and in an effort to get tournaments on both continents on the schedule, what would the travel regimen look like? Granted, the modern grand slam is not the grand slam of Bobby Jones, but it's the principle of the thing. I'm not going to watch anything if all the nostalgia is taken out of it. And by the way, with all the potential jet lag, would we have more players bowing out to rest up?
What about the Ryder Cup, and events like it? I guess we can still play match tournaments, shirts and skins style, between American and European players, but it might not get quite as intense being brothers for the rest of the year. Where's all that anti-American sentiment and Yankee imperiousness toward European snobbery going to go? Will wagers be paid off in dollars or Euro? Â And speaking of a two-continent merger, where will the power centers go? Will the headquarters of the European Tour duke it out with the USGA over the rule book, and where would this golf counterpart to the United Nations building be located? On Malta?
One giant tour covering the European continent and much of the North American continent could possibly alter the destinies of many people. What about the national programs of Canada and Mexico? What happens if the Canadian Open loses space, and what of the other tours? If the men combine their forces in such a large geography, would the LPGA be far behind? It's one thing if all the greats come with it – Ko, Thompson, Henderson, Feng, and any of a number of South Korean golfers. But, if there's any exclusion due to a more packed tour, forget about it.
There have been changes over the years about how young golfers qualify to enter the big leagues. What changes would occur in an international merger? Would qualifiers pit Europeans and Americans against each other, or would we still be tested against our own before going into the majors? And here's a good one. What would it mean for the television companies that cover the tournaments? Would such a merger be a boon for business, or a big fat pain in the neck?
Before we forget, there's also an Asian Tour going on out there, and some of the countries involved supply a fairly large percentage of great players on today's stage, at least they do for the women's tour. Are they invited into this merger? Â If we see a merger of the two large tours, whose ball will be used? If they do this, maybe I'll finally get to try the smaller British ball we crowed about when we were kids. Gee, I wonder what the new logo will look like.
Rory is "Extraordinary"
Europe and Asia Merger?
Chase Koepka – There's Another One
McIlroy and His Moment
European Tour, golf, McIlroy, merger, PGA, usga
G.F. Skipworth
has spent every available moment playing golf or studying the greats since the 60s, in between world tours as a classical musician, Harvard studies in Government or as the author of a dozen novels. Nicklaus and Snead may be the statistical greats, but Skipworth is a life-long devotee of Gary Player, and considers meeting the South African at the Jeld-Wen to be an unforgettable milestone. His driving passion in golf these days is to raise viewer interest in the LPGA.


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Kirklees Council's mayoral costs plummet
NEW figures show the cost of the Mayor of Kirklees is plummeting – but may be three times higher than a neighbouring council's bill.
Spending on staff, office supplies and the chauffeur-driven limousine has fallen by more than £100,000 in the last four years – with more reductions planned.
But Kirklees Council's mayoral bill may be three times as large as that of Oldham Council.
The Kirklees mayor's office cost £274,334 in 2008/09. The following year the figure fell slightly to £270,036.
In 2010/11 the cost of the mayor's office declined more sharply to £178,454 followed by £146,934 last year.
The 2011/12 total included £85,627 on staff, £41,742 for supplies and services and £17,363 for transport.
The total spending of the mayor's office is due to keep falling in the next two years, reaching £137,618 in 2013/14.
However, Kirklees appears to spend significantly more on its first citizen than Oldham Council.
According to a Freedom of Information request, the Greater Manchester local authority spent just £47,317 on its mayor last year, including staff costs, transport, stationery and admin.
The figures were discovered by Kenn Winter, who lives in Lindley but is originally from Oldham.
But a top council officer last night questioned the Oldham figure and defended Kirklees.
The council's director of resources David Smith said: "From the information supplied it is not clear whether the two councils have used the same method to calculate the overall costs of the mayoralty."


With the holiday season approaching, Abby Carter feels a hollow ache in her heart. Her Christmas wish, written on paper, sealed in a bottle, and thrown into the ocean, is that she will find someone to love, someone who will love her in return.
Jaded by his fast-paced life and painful past, Dylan Thane is intrigued by the letter in the bottle he pulled out of the ocean and is determined to meet Abby. This gorgeous, sensitive woman lights his world on fire, and he rediscovers his passion for life. But Dylan has kept a secret that could threaten their happiness.
As Dylan and Abby fall more deeply in love, Dylan realizes that Abby may be the only one who can soothe his damaged soul. For Abby, Dylan has touched the most secret places of her heart and fills the emptiness in ways she'd never thought possible. But before they can join together, they must first face the challenges threatening their future, and decide if their Christmas wishes will be granted or denied.
Janelle Daniels brings you a story of love and hope for the Christmas season. At this time of year, anything is possible when you truly believe.


Reader letters to Newsday for Thursday, March 21, 2019.
My office recently audited the Long Island Rail Road's management of dozens of unexpected delays, and we found it came up short in communicating to riders ["State comptroller audit: Info lacking for LIRR riders," News, March 12]. It also struggled to provide alternate transportation and ensure a smooth return to normal service. In many cases, it simply failed to follow its own playbook. The result is increased frustration for riders, which could have been avoided.
LIRR President Phillip Eng took exception to the audit, writing to Newsday that the incidents, which ranged from 2015 through July 2017, were old ["Old data belie LIRR progress since May," Letters, March 13]. His complaint came as a surprise, given that my auditors had more recent data from 2018 that showed the same shortcomings, but did not include the information at LIRR's request.
These more recent service delays were also part of my earlier report, issued in August, which focused on similar service problems during the winter of 2017-18. When the LIRR asked that we not repeat them in the latest report, we agreed as a courtesy. I can only imagine that LIRR did not complain about the age of the data in its formal response, which is part of the audit, because it was aware of this. But to complain about it after we issued the audit is misleading and wrong.
A key finding in both reports is that LIRR does not keep track of — nor follow up on — the "lessons learned" from service disruptions. Learning from mistakes is one of the recommendations my office has made to LIRR in our reports. I hope they take it to heart.
Eng is working hard to solve difficult challenges and improve service. Honest assessments of performance are vital to helping LIRR, and the MTA as a whole, improve. I'll continue to examine MTA operations closely. I hope these reports, even when the findings are uncomfortable, are received for what they are — honest and informed assessments.
Editor's note: The writer is New York State comptroller.
It is difficult to comprehend how any individual can have such hatred in his heart to commit the horrific acts seen in Christchurch, New Zealand ["Terror at mosques in New Zealand," News, March 16].
The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Bias Task Force and the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding at Suffolk County Community College condemn this terrorist act of wanton murder and all acts of hatred and prejudice committed by individuals and groups anywhere in the world. We pledge to continue to work for the day when hatred shall be removed from the minds and hearts of humans and understanding, respect, and love will be the banner that all will hold high.
Editor's note: The writer is chairman of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission.
The Suffolk Board of Rabbis believes that there is no place for ignorance and hate that lead to senseless violence and objectionable speech aimed at people who are not like ourselves or do not share religious beliefs.
On March 14, rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at Israel. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel who again find themselves under assault by terrorist threats.
The board joins with other Jewish organizations in condemning anti-Semitic statements by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). We call for a return to normalcy and decency in political speech in our country on all sides.
Finally, the board strongly condemns the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in a massive and tragic loss of life. We stand with the Muslim community on Long Island and around the world as it mourns during this terrible time.
Editor's note: The writer is president of the Suffolk Board of Rabbis.
The March 18 "Spin Cycle" story "Engineering license key" describes Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's desire to change the county charter to remove the requirement that the commissioner of public works have a state professional engineer's license. Bellone intends to place county Parks Commissioner Philip Berdolt, a "highly skilled manager with a proven track record," in the job. Berdolt does not have a professional engineer's license.
I am a retired consulting engineer and a licensed professional engineer, and I object to this charter change.
The commissioner of public works deals with engineering issues daily. Many are complex and require expertise that only a licensed professional engineer can provide. Decisions on these issues could be overruled by a commissioner unfamiliar with their engineering requirements. In no case should a non-licensed engineer be allowed to supervise any engineer's work.
If Bellone wants Berdolt in the position for his management skills, I suggest he hire him as deputy commissioner who can work alongside licensed professional engineers.


text:
package org.xmeta.util;

import java.math.BigDecimal;
import java.math.BigInteger;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

public class MapData {
	protected Map<String, Object> map = new HashMap<String, Object>();

	public void put(String key, Object value) {
		map.put(key, value);
	}

	public void set(String key, Object value) {
		map.put(key, value);
	}

	public Object get(String key) {
		return map.get(key);
	}

	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
	public <T> T getObject(String key){
		return (T) map.get(key);
	}

	public String getString(String key){
		return UtilData.getString(get(key), null);
	}

	public byte getByte(String key){
		return UtilData.getByte(get(key), (byte) 0);
	}

	public short getShort(String key){
		return UtilData.getShort(get(key), (short) 0);
	}

	public int getInt(String key){
		return UtilData.getInt(get(key), 0);
	}

	public long getLong(String key){
		return UtilData.getLong(get(key), 0);
	}

	public boolean getBoolean(String key){
		return UtilData.getBoolean(get(key), false);
	}

	public byte[] getBytes(String key){
		return UtilData.getBytes(get(key), null);
	}

	public Date getDate(String key){
		return UtilData.getDate(get(key), null);
	}

	public double getDouble(String key){
		return UtilData.getDouble(get(key), 0);
	}

	public float getFloat(String key){
		return UtilData.getFloat(get(key), 0);
	}

	public BigDecimal getBigDecimal(String key){
		return UtilData.getBigDecimal(get(key), null);
	}

	public BigInteger getBigInteger(String key){
		return UtilData.getBigInteger(get(key), null);
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients May See Improvement by Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Study Finds
by Özge Özkaya, PhD
Stimulating the vagus nerve with electrical signals significantly improves disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study, "Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits cytokine production and attenuates disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis," published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
So-called bioelectronic medicine may help treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, which are traditionally treated with relatively expensive drugs, without any reported side effects.
"This is the first study to evaluate whether stimulating the inflammatory reflex directly with an implanted electronic device can treat RA in humans," Prof. Paul-Peter Tak, of the Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology of the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, and the principal investigator and lead author of the study, said in a press release.
Researchers implanted a small stimulating device on the vagus nerve of 17 rheumatoid arthritis patients, several of whom had failed to respond to multiple therapies, including biological agents with different mechanisms of action.
The vagus nerve extends from the brain stem to the abdomen, going through several organs such as the heart, esophagus, and lungs. Its role is to keep the heart rate constant and control food digestion.
The researchers used a set schedule of activation and de-activation of the nerve and measured the response over 84 days. At day 42, they analyzed the number of tender and swollen joints, disease activity as measured by the patients themselves and the physicians, and C-reactive protein levels in the blood, which is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation.
Several patients reported significant improvements in disease severity without any side effects.
In previous in vitro and animal studies, the same team had shown that targeting the inflammatory reflex reduces inflammation through the inhibition of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It had not been proven until this study that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve can inhibit cytokine production and reduce inflammation in patients.
"This is a real breakthrough in our ability to help people suffering from inflammatory diseases," said Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, co-author of the study and president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and co-founder of SetPoint Medical that developed the implanted device.
"Our findings suggest a new approach to fighting diseases with bioelectronic medicines, which use electrical pulses to treat diseases currently treated with potent and relatively expensive drugs," added SetPoint Medical CEO Anthony Arnold.
"These results support our ongoing development of bioelectronic medicines designed to improve the lives of people suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases and give healthcare providers new and potentially safer treatment alternatives at a much lower total cost for the healthcare system," he said.
Tagged cytokines, electrical stimulation, Inflammation, SetPoint Medical, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Vagus nerve.
Previous: FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee Hears Perspectives on Biosimilar GP2015
Next:App Enables iPhone to Monitor Rheumatoid Arthritis Study Participants


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Home About AGS
AGS: a reference in innovation and development
A Spanish company that has marked a milestone in the evolution of the cold industry. Long-term vision, innovation and audacity to create disruptive solutions are the main values of the company.
Founded in 2004 by Rafael del Pino Atlantis Global System, S.L.U. (AGS) began its activities with the development of telematic control and management solutions for freight vehicles using GPS location devices. Through its more than 15 years of history, AGS has been innovating with the aim of integrating technologies and services to meet the needs of its customers, as well as the cold rooms belonging to food and / or medicine distribution centers.
In 2011, AGS presents the first telematics digital thermograph, which allows controlling the temperature of the goods in real-time. The new device, moreover, has been incorporated as a great novelty that could be used not only in vehicles but also in the cold-storage rooms of both food and pharma distribution centers.
In 2013, AGS receives the certification for the application of Module D to the manufacture of its digital telematics thermograph, Conecta+ Termotel, and one year later the company moves its facilities to the Scientific and Technological Park of Almeria.
In 2015, the professional solutions of AGS destined to the transport and cold rooms in distribution centers, are certified according to Annex 11 of the "Guide of Correct Manufacture of Medicines of Human and Veterinary Use" required by the Ministry of Health. One year later, in 2016, it receives the Andalusia Excellence Award.
In 2017, AGS launches AGS Termotel S,becoming the first modular telematics digital thermograph, intending to simplify its management and maintenance for the user. In case of failure, for example, only the damaged module needs to be repaired or replaced, leaving the rest of the system fully operational. Moreover, this process could be carried out by the user himself.
The new Termotel S also improved energy consumption efficiency (the lowest in its segment) and had digital temperature probes with an average error of +/- 0.05 ºC.
In 2021 a new generation of solutions will be available that represent a new giant step for the cold industry.
AGS's new flagship product is the Conecta + iTS Compact digital thermograph, which has a finishing option for autonomous and portable use.
iTS Compact is a turning point for the refrigeration industry, as it incorporates in a single ultra-compact device, the electronics of the temperature recorder and the probe, and can be applied both to the good transportation vehicles and to the cold-storage rooms of the distribution centers.
AGS Global System: a trusted partner for companies working in the cold chain
Today, AGS technology provides telematics coverage throughout Europe, North Africa, and Central America, with more than 40% of its customers included in the top 50 companies transporting goods subject to controlled temperature in Spain.
Besides, throughout these years, our customers in the world of food have joined service operators, passenger transport, cranes, road assistance, parcel delivery, commercial fleets, and companies in the pharmaceutical sector, who demand it for the optimal conservation and transportation of their medicines.
AGS has its engineering and development department, made up of highly qualified professionals and experts in developing solutions for the transport sector in its various fields and activities, easily and efficiently integrating the most advanced telematics technologies to develop planning, management, control, and mobility applications.


By inserting the KTP crystal inside the cavity immediately second harmonic generation takes place. Green laser light is emitted. The subsequent measurements can be performed either in local mode or through computer control via the USB connection of the base housing. This set-up is ideally suited to demonstrate the fundamental behaviour of a solid state laser system, its excitation process as well as its spectroscopic characteristics. Furthermore, the non-linear optic is impressively introduced by converting invisible laser radiation into visible green radiation.


Welcome to our Specials page, here you will find new vehicles loaded with value on price or accessories. We also currently have Ford Employee Pricing available on all new vehicles. Feel free to browse our selection and if you have any questions, please call us at Toll Free: (866) 986-2929 or send us an email at info@dkford.com.