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Disruptive Factors in the OLED Business Ecosystem
AMOLEDs have several key, potentially disruptive elements in both display and lighting technology.
by Antti Lääperi
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CLAYTON M. CHRISTENSEN is known for his discussion of disruptive technology in books such as The Innovators Dilemma,1 The Innovators Solution,2 and Seeing What's Next.3 In these works, he defines two cases of disruptions: "low-end disruptions" and "new-market disruptions." The first reshapes existing markets by delivering relatively simple, convenient, low-cost innovations to a set of customers who have previously been ignored by industry leaders; the second creates new markets with new customers. Christensen also points out that disruptive innovations, at least in the near-term, have poorer product performance and underperform established products in mainstream markets, but also offer other features that new and existing customers value.
Disruptive innovations that have taken place in the display industry include an historical example that happened in two different countries in the 1970s. Researchers at Westinghouse in the U.S. and at Dundee University in Scotland separately were able to demonstrate the operation of liquid-crystal cells on glass-based TFTs. This enabled a major breakthrough.
For some time, it seemed as though OLEDs were poised to become a disruptive technology. But, in fact, now it seems that OLEDs have only some aspects of disruptive innovation as defined by Christensen. This article will examine this potential for at least partial disruption in detail.
To evaluate the innovations that are continuing to take place in the display industry, we will use the term "ecosystem thinking." Ecosystem thinking, as discussed in recent literature, such as Judy Estrin's Closing the Innovation Gap and Marco Iansiti and Roy Levien's The Keystone Advantage,4,5 enables one to see the importance of single innovations as building blocks of a bigger systemic innovation framework. Using this concept, we will show that new OLED technology has many disruptive features, which are moving from the high-end side of the application spectrum to the mainstream flat-panel business. It is still too early to say whether or not these new disruptive elements will be able to truly disrupt the current flat-panel ecosystem. OLED technology has not found a killer application in the last 10 years, although it is directly competing with TFT-LCD technology today in some areas.
TFT-LCD Flat-Panel Ecosystem Case
The first target market for AMOLED disruption involves small- and medium-sized LCDs and TFT-LCDs. These have been used in mobile phones and hand-held devices. The overall market-size estimation for these displays for 2009, according to several sources, is about 1090 million units. The share of TFT-LCDs has increased rapidly since their introduction in the early 2000s and exceeded 50% and 600 million display volumes during 2007.6 TFT-LCDs can compete with AMOLEDs in optical properties; therefore, the market size of TFT-LCDs indicates the market potential for AMOLEDs. Samsung Mobile Display estimated in August 2009 that AMOLEDs could take a 40% market share in the mobile-phone display market by 2015. The AMOLED share is now 2.3%.7 Due to the increased need to save on battery life in power-hungry smart phones, AMOLEDs have the best chance of capturing the smart-phone market first, then moving to laptops and then to thin, low-power TV screens.
OLED Ecosystem Case
In the year 2000, strong hype began over potential opportunities for OLED technology. With its excellent image quality, thinness, and response times, it was seen as a rapidly approaching challenger to existing TFT-LCD technology in small- and medium-sized displays. However, during the past 9 years, TFT-LCD technology has been able to improve performance in image quality while at the same time reducing costs dramatically due to big investments in large-sized TFT-LCD fabs. This somewhat decreased the potential for OLEDs to become a disruptive influence during that time.
Partly for the above reason, OLED technology has been without doubt less disruptive than TFT-LCD technology thus far. However, OLED technology does have some disruptive elements. The OLED stack structure is much simpler than the structure of a TFT-LCD and that offers cost-saving potential in the long run. The amount of emissive organic material that is needed in an AMOLED display is roughly 1% of the liquid-crystal material needed for the same-sized TFT-LCD. There is no need for color filters and backlight units, and color filters are a significant cost contributor for TFT-LCDs. Currently, costs for equivalent AMOLED displays are higher due to the price of emissive OLED material and the capital costs of new production lines. However, the high OLED material costs compared to that of liquid-crystal material costs are mainly due to the huge volume advantage currently held by liquid-crystal materials. Also, the current method of depositing emissive OLED material uses evaporation tech-nology, which unfortunately wastes a lot of expensive emissive material (see Table 1).
AMOLEDs in Small- and Medium-Sized Displays
AMOLEDs have been used in mobile-phone displays for 2 years now, and feedback from consumers has been relatively neutral. The marketing message has been difficult to create for companies that are otherwise mainly using TFT-LCD screens in their products. At this point, AMOLEDs have not been able to offer consumers any big improvement in image quality or battery life. In fact, power consumption for AMOLED screens in web applications has been higher than that in corresponding TFT-LCD screens. Outdoor readability has also been worse than for transflective TFT-LCD screens. In order to market AMOLEDs as a green technology for smart phones, the power consumption, including web applications, needs to be lower than that for TFT-LCD technology. This is, in fact, forecasted to happen by 2011.
Figure 1 shows the forecast for power consumption development by both TFT-LCDs and OLEDs in the years to come. The TFT-LCD power-consumpion reduction is mainly due to improvement in the efficiency of LEDs used in backlight units, and it is estimated to improve 10% per year. For AMOLED displays, the power consumption is dependent on content. Movie content typically uses only 10% during maximum power consumption, while web applications typically use 80% at maximum power consumption. In TFT-LCDs, power consumption has not been content dependent. However, it is possible to reduce the backlight while watching movies without creating noticeable artifacts in the image, using algorithms to reduce the power consumption by tens of percentages. In web applications, however, these algorithms do not provide significant reductions in power consumption.
In Fig. 1, the algorithm for web content for TFT-LCDs has been used. The large power consumption reduction in AMOLEDs is mainly due to the introduction of green phosphorescent emissive material. The lifetime of phosphorescent blue is not yet at commercial levels. The absolute power consumption is dependent upon selected luminance levels, and therefore only relative figures are indicated. TFT-LCDs and AMOLED displays are adjusted to provide the same perceived luminance. The pixel density in both displays is about 250 ppi.
Table 1: Major Features of OLEDs. Source: DisplaySearch8
Feature Nature of feature
Material usage Amount of emissive OLED material equals 1% of the liquid-crystal material used in TFT-LCDs.No color filters needed in OLED displays.
Material costs Emissive material expensive compared to that of liquid-crystal material, but no need for color filters and enhancement films.
Viewing angle Wide viewing angle with no degradation of contrast ratio.No color change due to changing viewing angle.
Self-emitting No backlight unit needed.Additional cost-saving advantage.
Response time Microseconds vs. milliseconds in LCD technology.Response time remains fast under sub-zero temperature conditions.
Transparency OLED panel can be bright and transparent.
Potential new markets
Flexibility Easier to make flexible than LCDs. This may be the killer application for OLEDs.
Power consumption OLED power consumption has been too high for web applications, but is reaching competitive levels.
Lifetime OLED lifetime was too short 4 years ago for potential mobile-phone customers, but is now much improved to competitive levels.10
Fig. 1: Projected power consumption through 2011 shows AMOLEDs gradually using less power than TFT-LCDs.9
As shown in Fig. 1, the point at which the lines are estimated to cross each other corresponds to the point in time that the power efficiency of AMOLEDs should be made better than equivalent TFT-LCD efficiency. We estimate that this can happen during 2010.
The power consumption of displays in smart phones is becoming more important becaue of two reasons. The first is that consumers prefer to look at the web from a bigger screen (while still keeping it pocket-sized), and the other is the increased time that displays need to be in active mode. This may mean hours per day. If no radical new innovations take place in TFT-LCD technology, it seems obvious that AMOLEDs will begin to achieve more and more market share in smart-phone categories. And increased volumes typically will decrease costs and prices.
AMOLEDs for TV Applications
Normal TV applications are from a lifetime point of view different from mobile-phone applications. The TV screen primarily features moving and changing imagery, and for that reason is not as susceptible to image sticking or the so-called "burn-in" phenomenon that happens over time. Therefore, concerns about lifetime and burn-in do not seem to be showstoppers for TV applications.
Lifetime is defined to be the time when luminance has dropped to half of the original value. In the case of OLEDs, different colors have naturally different lifetime figures. Blue has clearly lower figures than red and green. This can cause white-point movement over the long run, and images become more greenish. Panel makers can compensate for the lower lifetime by increasing the size of the blue cells. This reduces current density and therefore increases pixel lifetime. However, the lifetime figures are already at such a level that this phenomenon is barely visible after 10 years of usage time. More problematic is the handling of the burn-in effect. The human eye is very sensitive when it comes to observing differences in luminance levels of adjacent pixels. A 10% difference can be easily seen, while a 50% luminance reduction over the years of a screen's lifetime is hardly noticeable.
Subtitled movies and broadcasts, however, present a different challenge. In some countries, the white text is surrounded by a black box. This provides maximum contrast, but is most problematic from a burn-in standpoint and will require further studies and simulations. An initial attempt to understand the sensitivity of the text box and broadcaster's logo for OLED applications was performed using an OLED simulator developed for mobile-phone applications. This simulator is described in detail in the 2007 SID paper "OLED Lifetime Issues in the Mobile-Phone Industry." 11 For the TV simulation, the "camera" image was used to represent subtitled movies and broadcast logos and the center part of the same image simulates the moving content. Input and results are shown in Fig. 2.
(a) TV Simulation, Input Image
(b) TV Simulation
10 hours/day
6 years' usage
30 years' usage
8.5% degradation of R&G
36% degradation of R&G
16% degradation of blue
Fig. 2: This TV-application simulation shows (a) a test image and (b) two color-bar result images after 6 and 30 years of usage at 10 hours/day. The degradation values show how much luminance the worst pixels lost from the original.
All the following simulations use the lifetime figures of 100,000 hours for red and green and 50,000 hours for blue. These figures are already obtainable today in panels with an output luminance of about 250 nits. It should be noted that much higher lifetime figures have already been reported, and material development companies are investing a great deal of research into increasing the lifetime figures of blue.
In both cases in Fig. 2 the TV has been "on" for 10 hours a day with subtitled movies playing all the time. The first result was obtained after 6 years of usage. A SID 2007 paper11 demonstrated that degradation levels under 5% are hardly noticeable. However, as shown above, the degradation value of 8.5% in red and green and 16% in blue cause an annoying burn-in effect. The "Camera," "Options," and "Exit" texts can be clearly seen in the color bars. In order to limit the degradation to 5% with subtitled movies, the lifetime should be 175,000 hours for all colors or the size of the blue subpixels should be greatly increased.
The second color-bar image represents 30 years of usage. This example is mainly to show how the burn-in effect can be seen over a very long run. The tiny "2M" symbol at the lower corner of the "Camera" image and the field-strength indicator at the upper left corner are simulating the broadcaster logo. Those start to be visible in color-bar images after a usage of 30 years with today's OLED materials.
The conclusion is that subtitled movies and images, in which white text is presented in a black box, seem to be too demanding for today's OLED materials. To limit the burn-in effect to less than 5% degradation, lifetimes of 175,000 hours are needed for a usage time of 6 years. It should be noted that black-text boxes are not used in all TV networks, but this study was made from a worst-case perspective. The broadcaster logo does not seem to be problematic.
AMOLEDs in Laptops
The killer application for TFT-LCDs was the laptop computer. For AMOLEDs, the situation is clearly different. Thus far, the power consumption of AMOLEDs in web applications, which are very commonly used in laptops, has been higher than that for TFT-LCDs, and due to scalability limitations, the prices for AMOLED-based laptops have been far too high. The power-consumption obstacle looks to be solved in the near future, as shown in Fig. 1, but cost and price will remain issues for some time.
However, a preliminary simulation analysis was performed to review the laptop application from both a lifetime and burn-in sensitivity perspective. The simulator developed for mobile-phone applications was used8 by selecting three input images and a color-bar image to show the results of a burn-in analysis. The test images and result images are shown in Fig. 3. The lifetime of emissive materials were 100,000 hours for red and green and 50,000 hours for blue.
The resulting image suffers a maximum of 4% degradation for red and green pixels and a maximum of 7% degradation for blue pixels. Burn-in effect in the resulting image (color bar) is almost invisible. The corresponding figures after 8 years of usage are 6% for red and green and 11% for blue. The burn-in effect is slightly seen after 8 years of usage. The first and second test images represent menu screen and stationary text pages, respectively, and the third one represents moving content. This needs to be further analyzed in the future, but this preliminary result already shows that laptop applications are very valid for AMOLEDs, provided that scalability issues enabling price reductions are solved.
(a) Laptop Simulation, Input Images
(b) Laptop Simulation
1 hour/day
7 hours/day
Result after 5 years
4% degradation of R&G
7% degradation of blue
Fig. 3: These laptop test images show results after 5 years of simulated usage.
AMOLEDs in PC Monitors
PC-monitor applications are in many ways close to laptop applications, except that power consumption is not so critical, and the PC monitor business is more price-sensitive than the laptop business. Usage-time expectations of PC monitors are longer than in laptops. In PC monitors, the screen typically goes to screen-saver mode if there is no activity. This is a good practice from an AMOLED point of view, as long as the screen saver is not using a stationary image. The same tool8 was used to simulate PC monitor usage from an AMOLED burn-in perspective.
Degradation values have increased to 9% for red and green and to 16% for blue pixels. The runtime in Fig. 4 was 10 years. The burn-in effect caused by text input is now visible. The degradation results after 6 years of usage are 5% for red and green and 10% for blue. The burn-in effect is not easily noticeable.
OLEDs in Lighting
Recent developments in the efficiency of emissive materials have opened totally new applications to OLEDs. The linkage between AMOLEDs and emerging OLED-lighting ecosystems is the development of highly efficient emissive materials and the optimal solution to outcoupling efficiency issues. OLED lighting will be in many ways a very disruptive technology, much more than OLEDs in the display industry. It will afford architects and interior designers totally new ways to design lighting. Instead of point light sources, distributed light panels can be used, including color variations. Also, this disruptive technology is coming from the high-end side, meaning that it does not involve the creation of new markets, but will disrupt the way in which lighting is designed in homes and in public places in the future. It can be assumed that lifetimes over 100,000 hours will be obtained, resulting in 23 years of operational lifetime, if the lighting is used an average of 12 hours per day throughout the entire year. Maintenance and repair issues need to be taken into account, but those most probably will not be any kind of showstoppers. The reduction of illumination to half its value might be observable, reducing the operational lifetime to 10 years or requiring 200,000-hour half-lifetimes. We may even see OLED lighting used in the backlight units of TFT-LCD TV screens before AMOLED scalability issues are solved. LED lighting will be used to replace light bulbs and halogen lamps in the near future for power-saving reasons, but OLED lighting will bring about a new way to design lighting.
TFT-LCD and OLED case studies have shown that many elements of the industry follow or are forecasted to follow Christensen's disruptive theory.9 To make the theory comply with case studies for the display industry, an extension – high-end disruptions – is proposed to be added as the third element of the set of definitions concerning disruptive innovations. Examples from the display industry show that disruptive technology can come to the business ecosystem also from the high-end side, i.e., more expensive in the beginning, but offering something customers appreciate and are ready to pay more for. For example, a wall-mounted flat TV was a dream of people for a long time, and TFT-LCD TVs were able to come close to living that dream. Now, LED-based TFT-LCD TVs are flater, and OLED-based TV will bring even thinner structures, brilliant colors, and contrast with a wide viewing angle and low power consumption.
(a) PC Simulation, Input Images
(b) PC Simulation
Result after 10years
Fig. 4: Test images demonstrate PC monitor results after 10 years of usage.
The inventions that produced TFT on glass and combined that with liquid-crystal cells formed a disruptive innovation in the late 1970s. These innovations took place in the U.S. and in Europe, but Japanese companies were still able to take the lead in TFT-LCD technology and disrupted the entire display industry in the U.S. and in Europe. The killer application for this disruptive technology was notebook computers. Costs at the time were much higher, but the flatness of the screen was something consumers would pay more for. TFT-LCDs disrupted the CRT business with lower quality, but with a higher cost structure.
AMOLEDs have disruptive elements and are challenging the TFT-LCD ecosystem from the high end with lower power consumption, brilliant colors, a wide viewing angle that does not cause a loss in contrast ratio, and a thin and simpler structure. Displays will be for some time more expensive, but in the long run OLEDs seem as if they will be less costly to produce than TFT-LCDs. The competitive advantages seem to support AMOLEDs in taking a substantial market share, first in small- and medium-sized displays for handheld devices. AMOLED power consumption is, however, dropping below the corresponding TFT-LCD power-consumption figures in demanding web-page applications. This will enable manufacturers to create a green marketing message and will enable smart-phone manufacturers to design AMOLEDs into their products in larger volumes than that to date.
A further observation is that AMOLEDs are ready to be used in laptops and in PC monitors as soon as scaling can enable cost reductions. Lifetime and burn-in sensitivity are close to acceptable levels based on the preliminary analysis reviewed here. However, more studies and simulations with laptop-oriented content are required. The same observation is valid in the case of the PC monitors. Lifetime and burn-in sensitivity do not seem to be obstacles in taking AMOLEDs to this market.
A preliminary study was also performed for TV applications. Moving content and the logo of the broadcaster do not seem to be problematic from a lifetime and burn-in sensitivity perspective, but black text boxes with white letters will make the worst possible contrast for the screen and will require a further increase in the lifetime of the emissive material or a reduction in the contrast by some other means in the smart receiver itself.
In short, the key OLED technology elements with the potential for disruption (as compared to TFT-LCD technology) are the use of active materials and the ability to achieve lower power consumption by 2010. Another possible disruption may occur in the area of lighting. All of this, of course, relates to the green aspects of the technology, which will almost certainly drive the OLED ecosystem of the future.
1C. Christensen, The Innovators Dilemma (Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1997).
2C. Christensen and M. Raynor, The Innovator«s Solution (Harvard Business School Press, 2003).
3C. Christensen, S. Anthony, and E. Roth, Seeing What's Next (Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts).
4J. Estrin, Closing the Innovation Gap. Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in the Global Economy (McGraw-Hill, New York, 2008).
5M. Iansiti and R. Levien, The Keystone Advantage. What the New Dynamics of Business Ecosystems Mean for Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability (Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 2004).
6R. Young, USFPD Conference Presentation, March 2007; M. Portelliget and M. Robertson, Report (August 21, 2009).
7DisplaySearch, Alternative Display Technology Report: OLED Technology (2006).
8A. Lääperi, Discussions with leading emissive OLED material supplier and leading AMOLED panel makers (2009).
9A. Lääperi, "OLED lifetime issues from a mobile-phone industry point of view," J. Soc. Info. Display 16, No. 11 (2008).
10A. Lääperi, I. Hyytiäinen, T. Mustonen, and S. Kallio, "OLED Lifetime Issues in the Mobile-Phone Industry, SID Symposium Digest38 (2007).
11A. Lääperi and M. Torkkeli, "Disruptive Innovations and Innovation Ecosystems in the Display Industry," ISPIM 2009 Conference (June 2009). •
Antti Lääperi is with Nokia Corp. located in Helsinki, Finland. He can be reached at antti.laaperi@nokia.com orantti.laaperi@gmail.com.


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Q: How can I get unity-2d-launcher to integrate with Awesome WM? I really like the unity launcher, but in Awesome it only displays on Tag 1, and sometimes pops up behind other windows. Has anyone figured out a way to get this to work?

A: Using the suggestion by Marco in his comment, make the Unity launcher sticky.  Look in your rc.lua file (which should be in ~/.config/awesome/) for the section that starts with:
-- {{{ Rules
awful.rules.rules = {

and then add the following awful rule
{ rule = { class = "Unity-2d-launcher" },
properties = { sticky = true } },

For example, you can add that rule right before the last line of the section which is -- }}}.  Save your changes and before restarting Awesome, remember to type awesome -k in the terminal to check and confirm the correctness of the syntax of your rc.lua.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Here I Am è il primo album in studio da solista della cantante norvegese Marion Raven, già membro del gruppo M2M. Il disco è uscito nel 2005.

L'album è uscito inizialmente solo in diversi Paesi dell'Asia, dell'Oceania, in Norvegia, Svezia e Messico.

Tracce
Giappone & Scandinavia

Sudest Asia & Taiwan

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Beige Book – First District
Economic activity improves somewhat, but outlook remains unusually uncertain
Alex Cronin/Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
The Beige Book
The Beige Book is published eight times per year. Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions in its District through reports from Bank and Branch directors and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. The Beige Book summarizes this information by District and sector.
Boston (First District) Beige Book Report, July 15, 2020
Summary of Economic Activity
Economic activity picked up somewhat in the second half of May and June, according to First District business contacts, but largely remained well below year-earlier levels. Retailers reported increased sales in June, with some online purchases exceeding June 2019. Tourism contacts cited much-improved summer bookings in coastal areas compared with cancellations in April and May. Manufacturing results were mixed, but most reported rising revenues. Software and information technology services firms said their businesses were holding steady, with declines in new orders but continuing strength from existing customers. Commercial and residential real estate markets in the region continued to report that activity had paused. Considerable uncertainty characterized respondents' outlooks, as was the case in the May report.
Employment and Wages
Employment changes were mixed across firms and sectors. One retailer brought back all corporate staff full time on July 1 and plans to bring about 1,800 furloughed warehouse and store employees back to work in August. An online retailer is hiring more workers, particularly customer service, to meet increased demand. Employment among manufacturers was mixed, with some firms hiring many workers and others engaging in layoffs and furloughs. An aerospace manufacturer laid off 7 percent of its workforce and cut salaries for all employees including senior executives. A toy maker furloughed salespeople and complained that production workers had not returned because of generous UI benefits. Responding software and IT services firms said they have continued to pay employees fully, partly funded by declines in operating expenses due to travel cutbacks. Headcount was down since last quarter at two software firms that froze hiring. By contrast, one IT firm continued to hire and said other layoffs in tech made it possible for them to bring on new highly skilled workers.
Prices continued to receive little mention. Manufacturing contacts cited a benign pricing environment with no one reporting significant positive or negative pricing pressure either among their suppliers or in their end-markets. Similarly, most software and IT services contacts reported no current plans to change pricing.
Retail and Tourism
Retail respondents continued to report major disruptions related to COVID-19 shut-downs but, despite the challenges, sales have improved since April. One contact reported increasing strength week-to-week in June, with women's clothing and outdoor equipment leading sales growth. An online retailer similarly reported increased revenue and continued growth in first-time users. They noted sustained year-over-year increases in sales of home office supplies and, more recently, higher sales of large home appliances, which previously were not a major source of revenue. One retailer whose sales dramatically increased in March and slumped in April and May reported June results at nearly the same level as June 2019. One contacted retailer noted looting and vandalism from the protests in early June at several stores.
Travel industry contacts reported improved bookings of hotel stays and short-term rental properties. In one coastal area, hotel bookings have nearly returned to 2019 levels for July and August. Restaurants in these areas continue to report difficulties adjusting to distancing restrictions, but each successive weekend has resulted in more customers. Air travel, however, remains severely impacted by the pandemic; total air passengers in Boston in June were down more than 85 percent from the same time last year, an improvement from April (down over 97 percent). Cruise traffic has been halted until September.
Manufacturing and Related Services
Experiences varied widely across the eight manufacturing firms contacted this cycle. A frozen fish producer and a maker of cardboard boxes reported very strong demand and sales; the box company said that sales growth slowed in June but was still strong. A toy company said that business had slowed significantly since April, partly because the cessation of movie production hit their media tie-ins, and partly because of production difficulties. An aerospace company said that while defense sales remained strong, commercial aviation declined. Idle planes mean no demand for aftermarket parts; in addition, build rates for new planes are falling because the travel recession is expected to last until 2022 and consequently airlines do not want to take delivery of new planes. A manufacturer and retailer of furniture which closed in March has reopened and hired back most of its employees after securing PPP funding and seeing demand pick up. A travel industry contact reported that goods trade through Boston's port fell in May, with exports down 40 percent and imports down 9 percent from the prior year.
The outlook was somewhat mixed. Most respondents said they expected business to improve over the rest of the year, but the toy maker said they would make significant staff cuts if sales did not improve by August.
Software and Information Technology Services
Activity at software and IT services firms in the First District remained mostly stable throughout the most recent quarter. All firms reported significant declines in new bookings, but steady revenue from existing customers. The majority of firms expected to see flat to 2 percent revenue growth, with another firm anticipating low double-digit growth year-over-year attributable to a cloud-based software acquisition finalized earlier this year. Multiple firms noted that what recent demand they have seen, has mostly been for cloud-based product lines.
Respondents were split in terms of optimism, with most remaining concerned regarding the U.S. economy. One medical technology contact noted that their elevated uncertainty may linger through the end of the year as hospitals remain focused on the pandemic. Contacts that reported being more optimistic than last quarter generally cited increased demand for cloud-based services and increased certainty regarding remote operations.
Commercial real estate activity in the First District has remained on pause because of COVID-19. Most contacts reported an increase in sublease availability in the office leasing market. Most tenants were able to pay May and June rents, except for retail tenants who were hit hardest by the pandemic. Warehouses, grocery stores, and pharmacies were among the few robust leasing sectors. Across the region's markets, investment sales activity was slow to nonexistent. All contacts expressed substantial concern about uncertainty.
In the Boston area, few leasing transactions have occurred. Vacancies increased in the Boston office market while the industrial leasing market was also quiet, except for warehouse leasing. In the Hartford area, there was little leasing activity; renewals represented the only office leasing market transactions. Hartford's industrial leasing market for buildings over 25,000 square feet was relatively active, but the market for smaller buildings was quiet. In the Providence area, leasing picked up slightly in recent weeks, but most transactions were time-sensitive deals. The pandemic has worsened the historically quiet industrial leasing market in Providence, and contacts expected the availability rate to rise significantly in the near future.
Residential real estate markets in the First District remained slow through May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (All areas reported year-over-year changes from May 2019 to May 2020. Connecticut data were unavailable.) For both single family homes and condos, all reporting areas experienced double-digit decreases in closed sales compared to a year ago. Many contacts indicated they viewed this as a temporary pause in activity, saying people had delayed, rather than cancelled, their plans to buy or sell. Contacts across the region said they anticipate a busy summer as local economies begin to reopen and people who put their plans on hold because of the pandemic enter the market. However, they also expressed concern that further spread of the virus may cause market activity to slow again.
Residential markets continued to favor sellers. Inventory dropped substantially in all reporting areas for both single family homes and condos. At the same time, median sales prices increased in all areas except for Vermont and condo markets in Boston and Massachusetts. The New Hampshire representative noted "Buyers have been quicker to return to the housing market in force than sellers." Eagerness among buyers to take advantage of exceptionally low mortgage rates is likely contributing to this dynamic.
For more information about District economic conditions visit: www.bostonfed.org/regional-economy.
All Beige Book content going back to 1996 can be found at the Board of Governors website.
The Minneapolis Fed hosts the Beige Book archives by district, going back to 1970.
Site Topics
COVID-19 pandemic ,
COVID-19 ,
Manufacturing ,
Commercial real estate ,
New England Public Policy Center

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


View and download the Andrew Smialek '08 Leadership Award letter and application.
All interviews are approximately 20 minutes in duration and will be held at 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. on the dates listed above.
All applications must be submitted by April 30, 2019 please.


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B.C. man hit with $6K rental car bill after 30-day impound
The bill follows a trip through the Interior last January.
Nicholas Johansen/Castanet Dec 2, 2022 1:02 PM
In his claim to the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Amandeep Singh Dhindsa argued Avis "did not make any effort in getting the car released early from the impound yard," which he says Avis promised to do.@ylwkelowna/Twitter
A man who planned to rent a vehicle from Kelowna's airport for just two days is stuck with a $6,253 bill after the car was impounded for a month in Revelstoke.
Amandeep Singh Dhindsa filed a dispute with the Civil Resolution Tribunal earlier this year, claiming Avis Car Rental overcharged him during a trip through the Interior last January.
Dhindsa rented the car from the Kelowna airport on Jan. 13, 2022. While he initially planned to rent it for just one day, he later extended it to a two-day rental.
But on Jan. 15, police in Revelstoke impounded the car for 30 days and had the car towed to a local impound lot. The recent decision doesn't disclose why the car was impounded, but notes that Dhindsa had possession of the car at the time.
The car was released from the impound lot on Feb. 15, and Avis had it towed back to Kelowna on Feb. 20. Avis billed Dhindsa for rental charges up to Feb. 16, totalling $2,111. Dhindsa was charged an additional $1,862 for towing and impound fees. With other fees and taxes, the total came to $6,253.
But in his claim to the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Dhindsa argued Avis "did not make any effort in getting the car released early from the impound yard," which he says Avis promised to do.
Had Avis succeeded in getting an early release, Dhindsa says his rental and storage fees could have been limited to just 10 days.
Section 262 of the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) states that a car's owner can apply for its early release within 15 days after an impoundment. The section states that early release can be considered if a vehicle is used in a business and the impoundment imposes an "economic hardship" on the business. As such, Dhindsa argues Avis should have done more to secure the early release.
"I accept Avis could have applied for an earlier release ... there is no evidence before me that Avis would have been successful," said Civil Resolution Tribunal vice-chair Shelley Lopez in her ruling.
"In particular, section 262 of the MVA indicates Avis would need to show it would suffer economic hardship if the car were not released. Yet, it did not suffer any such hardship, because it charged Mr. Dhindsa for the storage and rental fees during the impoundment."
As such, Lopez ruled that Avis was entitled to charge Dhindsa for the entire impound period, plus the time it took to have the car towed back to Kelowna and Dhindsa's claims were dismissed.
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Baby Wesley came to visit the portrait studio for his newborn photography session at almost 2 weeks new, 13 days to be exact. This little guy made me work very hard for these images, and I am glad we all stuck it out because we even got a smile from him. Between the fun energy of his big sister, and the love you could feel between everyone, this was such a great session!
Here is a sneak peek at their brag book, while we wait for the rest to arrive.


text:
49 Rapid Access AF Clinic – A New Service Towards Better Outcome
Heart View
Baskar Sekar1,
Jonathon Whyler2,
Emma Williams2,
Abdul Azzu2,
Mark Payne2,
Azad Hanna2
1New Cross Hospital
2Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital*Presenting Author
Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the top ten reasons for hospital admissions. Failure to recognise this arrhythmia and risk stratify patients early on diagnosis can have detrimental consequences including high risk of thromboembolic events, stroke, heart failure and death. An audit conducted in our hospital (2011–2012) revealed that patients with AF stay an average 5.6 days in hospital. It has been estimated that billions of pounds are spent each year from health and social care budgets due to AF and AF related strokes.1 To address this, a new service "Rapid access AF clinic (RAAFC)" was developed in our hospital in June 2012. This retrospective study explores the role of RAAFC on clinical outcomes since its introduction.
Methods 210 patients were seen in our clinic between 01/06/2012 and 30/10/2015. 56 patients were excluded from the analysis - – 41 due to lack of access to records, 1 found to be in CHB and 14 in sinus rhythm. 154 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients were divided in to 2 groups depending on the duration of their symptoms. Group A (symptoms <48 h, n = 49) were seen in clinic on the same day. After clinical assessment, patients were cardioverted with flecanide and if failed underwent electrical cardioversion. Group B (symptoms >48 h, n = 105) were advised rate control medications, anticoagulants and arranged for cardioversion after 6 weeks when maintained in therapeutic INR. Those with poor rate control or early signs of instability, underwent TOE guided cardioversion. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to a year.
Results The mean age of the patients was 63.8 ± 13.8 years and 67.5% were male. Patients characteristics at baseline are shown in Table 1 and final outcomes in Table 2. Worryingly 57.1% of the patients scored 2 or above on CHADS2Vasc risk assessment of which 61.4% were not on anticoagulants. During follow-up, a high proportion of patients (63.9%) were asymptomatic and 66.7% maintained in sinus rhythm. The average length of stay was 2.72 ± 8.44 h. Only 4 patients (0.04%) were readmitted prior to their initial follow-up due to recurrence of AF. Two patients in group B developed complications related to thromboembolism. One had left femoral artery embolism requiring embolectomy and the other had TIA 2 days following TOE guided cardioversion. The patient who had embolic event had CHADS2Vasc score of 2 and developed symptoms 3 days after commencing warfarin when INR was subtherapeutic.
Baseline characteristics clinical outcomes
Abtract 49 Table 2
Conclusions RAAFC appear very effective in preventing hospital admissions, reduce length of stay and also helpful in identifying high risk patients who benefit from anticoagulation. We recommend RAAFC initiated in each trust to lower morbidity, mortality and also costs to NHS.
Camm AJ, Kirchhof P, Lip GY, et al. Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. The task force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J. 2010;31(19):2369-–429
Anti-coagulation
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309890.49


With the "World Cup" coming around again to bring the nations together in friendly warfare on the field, KESQ's Arnell DiMaandal ask the question: Who is America's Team? The answers will surprise you. This was a news package for KESQ that was shot and edited for the 5pm news.


text:
Molesworth, M. & Dale, M., 1 May 2019, Clinical Skills for Nursing Adults: Step by Step. Wright, W., Newcombe, P. & Everett, F. (eds.). SAGE Publications
ESOL, emancipation and "comfort radicalism": perceptions of ESOL practitioners in the Scottish further education sector
Brown, S., 20 Sep 2019, ESOL provision in the UK and Ireland: Challenges and Opportunities. Mishan, F. (ed.). Oxford: Peter Lang, p. 183-209 27 p. (Language, Migration and Identity; vol. 2).
radicalism 100%
emancipation 99%
language policy 14%
Event bidding: a research agenda for major and mega sport events
McGillivray, D., Turner, D. & Lauermann, J., Oct 2019, A Research Agenda for Event Management. Armbrecht, J., Lundberg, E. & Andersson, T. D. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, (Elgar Research Agendas).
governance principle 12%
cultural event 11%
Frustrating desistance: stigma as a barrier to change
Anderson, S., 30 Sep 2019, Strengths-Based Approaches to Crime and Substance Use : From Drugs and Crime to Desistance and Recovery. Best, D. & Colman, C. (eds.). 1st ed. Routledge, 19 p.
Gastric aspiration
McGrouther, S. & Orr, J., May 2019, Clinical Skills for Nursing Adults : Step by Step. Wright, W., Newcombe, P. & Everett, F. (eds.). SAGE Publications, p. 114-118 5 p.
Geochemistry: inorganic
Trueman, C., Rodgers, K., McLellan, I. & Hursthouse, A., 12 Mar 2019, Encyclopedia of Analytical Science: Reference Module in Chemistry, Molecular Sciences and Chemical Engineering. Worsfold, P., Poole, C., Townshend, A. & Miró, M. (eds.). 3 ed. Elsevier Limited, p. 271-282 12 p.
Atomic Property 100%
Geochemistry 90%
Chemical Element 49%
environmental science 37%
Health, wellbeing and quality of life
Curl, A. & Clark, J., 16 Oct 2019, Transport Matters. Docherty, I. & Shaw, J. (eds.). Policy Press
quality of life 100%
policy 23%
private car 18%
Home palliative care in the United Kingdom and Europe
Stevens, E. & Milligan, S., 15 Aug 2019, Hospice palliative home care and bereavement support: nursing interventions and supportive care. Holtslander, L., Peacock, S. & Bally, J. (eds.). Springer International Publishing AG, p. 45-62 18 p.
Home Care Services 100%
Health Priorities 20%
Drive 16%
General Practitioners 14%
Image-Writing: the essayistic in mainland Chinese non-fiction cinema and Zhao Liang's
Yu, K., Jun 2019, World cinema and the essay film: transnational perspectives on a global practice. Hollweg, B. & Krstić, I. (eds.). Edinburgh University Press
Integrated sustainable urban development strategies in the European Union: added value and challenges
Van Der Zwet, A. & Ferry, M., Jan 2019, Territorial Cohesion: The Urban Dimension. Medeiros, E. (ed.). Springer Nature, p. 111-129 19 p. (The Urban Book Series).
value added 100%
development strategy 99%
Intravenous fluids
Living in the urban renaissance? Opportunity and challenge for 21st century Glasgow
Livingston, M. & Clark, J., 18 Dec 2019, Transforming Glasgow: Beyond the Post-Industrial City. Kintrea, K. & Madgin, R. (eds.). Policy Press
transition economics 100%
Renaissance 87%
city center 82%
strategic planning 80%
Lymphoedema
Williams, A., 31 May 2019, The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine. Llewellyn, C. D., Ayers, S., McManus, C., Newman, S., Petrie, K. J., Revenson, T. A. & Weinman, J. (eds.). 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 537-540 4 p. (Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology).
Lymphedema 100%
Lymphatic System 53%
Self-Management 45%
Media manipulation and happiness
Mahon, J. P., 31 Oct 2019, Mental Health for Millennials . MacGiolla Bhuí, N., Noone, P. & Housel, R. (eds.). Ireland: Book Hub Publishing Group, Vol. 3. 8 p. (Mental Health For Millennials).
Migrant solidarity in postcolonial Europe: challenging borders, creating mobile commons
English, C., Grazioli, M. & Martignoni, M., 4 Jun 2019, Routledge Handbook of Radical Politics. Kinna, R. & Gordon, U. (eds.). 1st ed. New York: Routledge, p. 194-211 16 p.
freedom of movement 49%
Mobile use during adolescence: determinants and impacts
Terras, M. M. & Ramsay, J., 22 Mar 2019, Impacts of mobile use and experience on contemporary society. Xu, X. (ed.). Idea Group Inc, p. 1-19 19 p.
adolescence 100%
determinants 86%
psychological theory 45%
More than just a line of sight: cinematic windows and their significance
Grace, T. & Jamieson, G., 12 Sep 2019, Dedans Dehors: Approches Pluridisciplinaires de la Fenêtre. Katsika, K. (ed.). France: Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté
Train 100%
Railway 39%
Hitchcock 37%
Addiction 32%
McGarry, W. & MacCallum, C., 31 May 2019, Clinical Skills for Nursing Adults. Wright, W., Everett, F. & Newcombe, P. (eds.). London: SAGE Publications
nursing 100%
health care 47%
Oak Tree Inn: growth challenges facing a family-run tourism business
Livingstone, R., 4 Dec 2019, Exploring Strategy: Text and Cases. Whittington, R., Regnér, P., Angwin, D., Johnson, G. & Scholes, K. (eds.). 12 ed. London: Pearson Education, p. 723-730 8 p.
family business 100%
tourism sector 96%
strategic management 87%
Perineal repair
Howie, L. & Marshall, H., 28 Feb 2019, Midwifery at a Glance. Forrest, E. (ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 184-185 2 p. (At a Glance (Nursing and Healthcare)).
Permeation properties of self-compaction concrete
Zhu, W., 20 Nov 2019, Self-Compacting Concrete: Materials, Properties and Applications. Siddique, R. (ed.). Woodhead Publishing Limited, p. 117-130 14 p. (Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering).
grade 100%
chlorides 69%
diffusivity 63%
hydration 36%
Provocation three: from space to (embodied) place: a manifesto for sensory learning In site-specific practices
Layton, J., 30 Nov 2019, Leap into Action: Critical Performative Pedagogies in Art & Design Education. Campbell, L. (ed.). New York: Peter Lang, p. 165-167 3 p.
provocation 100%
Manifesto 86%
affective bonds 65%
Learning Environment 60%
Pedagogy 53%
Quantitative data analyses
Davison, R. C. R. & Smith, P. M., 2019, Research Methods in Physical Activity and Health. Bird, S. R. (ed.). 1st ed. Oxon: Routledge, p. 168-183 16 p.
R & F v United Kingdom
Gray, C., 12 Dec 2019, Scottish feminist judgments: (re)creating law from outside in. Cowan, S., Kennedy, C. & Munro, V. E. (eds.). Hart Publishing (UK)
Riding the wave: understanding the context of female entrepreneurship in Pakistan
Omeihe, K. O., Dakhan, S. A., Khan, M. S., Gustafsson, V. & Amoako, I. O., Jan 2019, Women Entrepreneurs and Strategic Decision Making in the Global Economy. Tomos, F., Kumar, N., Clifton, N. & Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (eds.). Idea Group Inc, p. 20-39 20 p.
entrepreneur 59%
Hamilton-Smith, L. & Bateson, M., 31 May 2019, Clinical Skills for Nursing Adults: Step By Step. Wright, W., Newcombe, P. & Everett, F. (eds.). SAGE Publications
Simultaneous synthesis and design of integrated reaction-separation systems using rigorous models
Ma, Y., El-Khoruy, A., Yang, Z., Sun, L., Zhang, N., Li, J. & Xiao, X., 31 Jul 2019, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design. Muñoz, S. G., Laird, C. D. & Realff, M. J. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V., p. 371-376 6 p. (Computer Aided Chemical Engineering; vol. 47).
Nonlinear programming 100%
Distillation columns 54%
Program processors 39%
SNP: devolution winners
McAngus, C., 31 Aug 2019, The Story of the Scottish Parliament: The First Two Decades Explained . Hassan, G. (ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, p. 135-144 12 p.
decentralization 100%
parliament 98%
Socialism in a cold climate: the radical left since 1999
Gibbs, E., 31 Aug 2019, The Story of the Scottish Parliament: The First Two Decades Explained. Hassan, G. (ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Sports entertainment: toward a high concept of professional wrestling
Quinn, J., 5 Mar 2019, Convergent wrestling: participatory culture, transmedia storytelling, and intertextuality in the squared circle. Reinhard, C. D. & Olson, C. J. (eds.). Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, (The Cultural Politics of Media and Popular Culture).
entertainment 89%
Consumer products 58%
product placement 38%
The game of shipyard as heritage activism: creating public knowledge for political action
Kosmala, K. & Sebastyanski, R., 30 Jul 2019, AHRC Connected Communities Heritage Network Symposium Proceedings 2018: based on the AHRC Connected Communities Heritage Network Symposium held at De Montfort University on June 29th 2018. Higgett, N. (ed.). Connected Communities Heritage Network, p. 22-27 6 p.
Shipyard 100%
Activism 96%
Political Action 86%
Cultural Heritage 50%
The impact of later life illnesses on people living with dementia
Duffy, F. J. R., 9 Apr 2019, Textbook of Dementia Care: An Integrated Approach. Jackson, G. A. & Tolson, D. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon: Routledge, p. 112-121 10 p.
The policy discourses that shaped the 'transformation' of Glasgow in the later 20th century: 'overspill', 'redeployment' and the 'culture of enterprise'
Collins, C. & Levitt, I., 18 Dec 2019, Transforming Glasgow: beyond the post-industrial city. Kintrea, K. & Madgin, R. (eds.). Bristol: Policy Press, p. 21-38 18 p.
discourse 100%
regional economic policy 81%
tertiary sector 51%
first generation 49%
world trade 46%
The role of market institutions in trade and economic development in Africa
Eba, B. J. C. & Struthers, J. J., 2019, Logistics and Global Value Chains in Africa: The Impact on Trade and Development. Adewole, A. & Struthers, J. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 265-295 31 p. (Palgrave Studies of Sustainable Business in Africa).
Commodity Exchange 100%
Ordered Logit 53%
Transaction Costs 53%
The Scottish government
Arnott, M., 31 Aug 2019, The Story of the Scottish Parliament: The First Two Decades Explained. Hassan, G. (ed.). Edinburgh University Press, p. 52-63 12 p.
The shift towards a digital business model: a strategic decision for a Female Entrepreneur
Scuotto, V., Serravalle, F., Murray, A. & Viassone, M., 11 Jan 2019, Women Entrepreneurs and strategic decision making in the global economy. Tomos, F., Kumar, N., Clifton, N. & Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (eds.). Idea Group Inc
Female Entrepreneurs 100%
Strategic Decisions 75%
Business Model 59%
Value Network 47%
Entrepreneurs 41%
Towards a better criminological understanding of harmful alternative health practices: a provider typology
Lavorgna, A. & Horsburgh, H., 18 Oct 2019, Medical Misinformation and Social Harm in Non-Science Based Health Practices: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Lavorgna, A. & Di Ronco, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 7-23 17 p.
judicial documents 100%
gray literature 70%
health practitioners 67%
Transitioning to digital games-based learning: the case of Scottish universities
Abdul Razak, A., Abidin, M. I. Z. & Connolly, T. M., 2019, Management and Administration of Higher Education Institutions at Times of Changes. Visvizi, A., Lytras, M. D. & Sarirete, A. (eds.). Emerald Publishing Limited, p. 151-165 15 p. (Emerald Studies in Higher Education Innovation and Technology ).
Transnational education networks of excellence based on quality, accreditation, and recognition management: a holistic approach
Schumann, C-A., Ziao, F., Reuther, K. & Tittmann, C., 26 Mar 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality Assurance and Relevance. Badran, A., Baydoun, E. & Hillman, J. R. (eds.). 1st ed. Springer International Publishing AG, p. 69-96 28 p.
quality management 100%
holistic approach 94%
accreditation 81%
Transport, urban regeneration and health: An issue across scale
Clark, J. & Curl, A., 9 May 2019, Handbook of Global Urban Health. Routledge, 19 p.
Urban Health 100%
Cause of Death 38%
Valuation challenges in stranded asset scenarios: a risk discourse of evidence from the UK
Olatubosun, P. & Köseoğlu, S. D., 16 Sep 2019, Valuation Challenges and Solutions in Contemporary Businesses. Köseoğlu, S. D. (ed.). Hershey, PA: Idea Group Inc, p. 157-174 18 p.
Risk Reporting 100%
Sell-side Analysts 96%
Scenarios 63%
Assets 57%
Voyaging with Hugh Miller
Cuthbert, S. & Gilbert, J., 2 Mar 2019, Conversations in Stone: A Celebration of Hugh Miller's Legacy. Reid, L. & Panciroli, E. (eds.). Edinburgh: Scottish Geodiversity Forum and Friends of Hugh Miller, p. 25-33 9 p.
Wettability characteristics of laser surface engineered polymers
Waugh, D. & Lawrence, J., 30 Apr 2019, Laser Technology: Applications in Adhesion and Related Areas. Mittal, K. L. & Lei, W-S. (eds.). United States: Scrivener Publishing
wettability 100%
polymers 54%
"What will the respectable public say?": protest musicianship and class in 'Sexta' events in Mexico City
Green, A., 2 May 2019, Citizenship in the Latin American Upper and Middle Classes: Ethnographic Perspectives on Culture and Politics. Montero-Díaz, F. & Winter, F. (eds.). Routledge, p. 30-45 16 p. (Routledge Advances in Sociology).
Where science ends, art begins? Critical perspectives on the development of STEAM in the new climactic regime
Pirrie, A., 19 Dec 2019, Why Science and Art Creativities Matter: (Re-)Configuring STEAM for Future-Making Education. Burnard, P. & Colucci-Gray, L. (eds.). Brill Academic Publishers, p. 19-34 16 p. (Critical Issues in the Future of Learning and Teaching; vol. 18).
Mathematics 100%
Canvas 32%
Who are the experts? Examining the online promotion of misleading and harmful nutrition information
Horsburgh, H. & Barron, D., 18 Oct 2019, Medical Misinformation and Social Harm in Non-Science Based Health Practices: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Lavorgna, A. & Di Ronco, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 100-115 16 p.
nutrition 100%
promotion 84%
expert 72%
health information 59%
Writing myself into an academic career
Murray, R., 31 Dec 2019, The Positioning and Making of Female Professors: Pushing Career Advancement Open. Murray, R. & Mifsud, D. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 89-111 23 p. (Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education).
academic career 100%
writer 15%
Younger person with dementia
Ritchie, L., 2019, Textbook of Dementia Care: An Integrated Approach. Jackson, G. A. & Tolson, D. (eds.). 1 ed. Routledge, p. 169-177 9 p.
'Congratulations, Dr!': surviving and thriving in your viva
Aquino, M. R. J. & Wilson, C., 21 Jan 2019, A Guide for Psychology Postgraduates: Surviving Postgraduate Study. Walton, H., Aquino, M. R. J., Talbot, C. V. & Melia, C. (eds.). 2nd ed. The British Psychological Society, p. 76-80 5 p.
confidence 100%
A holistic approach to the delivery of effective enterprise education
Scuotto, V. & Murray, A., 2018, Experiential Learning for Entrepreneurship: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives on Enterprise Education. Hyams-Ssekasi, D. & Caldwell, E. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan Publishers , p. 125-144 20 p.
Entrepreneurial Attitude 100%
Technical Skills 86%
Business Schools 54%
Entrepreneurial Capabilities 53%


text:
(from wattsupwiththat.com)
written by Woody Zimmerman June 12, 2019
"It looks like climate-change has returned," said my buddy Al, as I entered his coffee shop last week. He had the papers spread out in front of him on the counter.
"Yes, it's back," I replied. "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is running around warning us that we have only 12 years left before cars, planes, and farting cows destroy the earth. The ice caps are going to melt and New York will be under water. Actually, I'm not sure that would be bad."
Before the winsome Miss "Occasional-Cortez" came along to revive it, climate-change had faded off the front page for several reasons. One of those reasons was scientific. Actual climate scientists – e.g., Dr. Fred Singer, Professor Emeritus of environmental science at UVA, and Canadian Dr. Timothy Ball, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project – were debunking Al Gore's global warming scare-campaign by showing that the climate has undergone repeated changes during recorded history. Most of those changes occurred before cars, planes, and heavy industry came along. This was bad news for global catastrophe prophets (including Dr. Gore) who were making a nice living warning us that we're doomed unless we hand over all of our money, move into grass huts and pedal rickshaws to the store. Miss O-C doesn't seem aware of any scientific data, so she has jumped in with both feet.
A second reason why global warming/climate-change went off the radar screen was that environmentalists had successfully grabbed the money by scaring politicians into funneling billions into programs to "do something" about climate change. Clearly this was the climate-activists' true objective. As I have noted in other articles, politicians dream of finding a "problem" that can never be solved, no matter how much money is thrown at it.1 Climate-change is such a problem. It has been happening for millions of years for reasons that remain elusive.
Some scientists theorize that fluctuations in the sun cause it. Green Al (Gore) and other activists say the culprit is carbon dioxide emissions, but polar ice core samples don't identify a clear linkage between climate and CO2. Sometimes the climate didn't warm, even when CO2 levels were ten times today's levels. At other times, the climate warmed significantly while CO2 levels were low. In 1900, temperatures were warmer, while CO2 levels were well below today's levels.
Despite these logical flaws in the carbon-did-it case, billions are being poured into research grants to prevent climate-change. (Your government at work.) These expenditures won't stop climate change, but they will enlarge the legions of spear-carriers who support the scare. Writing from Brisbane, Australia, Dr. John Ray says: "The Holy Grail for most scientists is not truth but research grants. The global warming scare has produced a huge downpour of money for research. Any mystery why so many scientists claim some belief in global warming?"
During my career in the technical government-contract industry, back-bench cynics (including yours truly) called our trade "prostituted science" because of the omnipresent pressure to produce findings the customer wanted. Valuable contracts could be lost, should a contractor get diverted into an esoteric pursuit of "truth" and away from the customer's wishes. It was always important to know which way the wind was blowing. I don't claim that research was always corrupted in this way, but sometimes it was. Government-funded research is not "pure research."
Thirdly, there is the "disaster fatigue" factor. Around the time of Al Gore's Earth Day concerts, several years ago, the global warming movement seemed to reach such a crescendo of hysteria that perhaps its champions thought it prudent to lie low for a spell. Under the steady drumbeat of "doom-doom-doom," the public tends to develop scare-numbness – particularly when the disaster is posited a hundred years out. You don't have to be a Harvard Ph-doctor to see that climate gurus who can't predict the weather three days from now might have a problem or two predicting it correctly 36,524 days from now. If you have a stake in getting the public to buy a far-away disaster, you don't want anyone doing too much analytical thinking about these issues. Maybe the scare campaign worked, so let's tone it down for a while.
(from mycartoonthing.com)
Democrats' retooled campaign to rid the world of carbon emissions and cow-flatulence – "before it's too late" – is drawing lots of attention: some scientific, some financial, some political, and some entertainment. The latter primarily because talking heads like having an articulate, nice-looking young woman like Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on their TV news-shows. But despite her entertainment value, actual science and contrary public-opinion are throwing cold water on the hysteria. Here are some notes from all over on what's happening:
Scientific Consensus. The late Dr. Nigel Calder – former editor of The New Scientist and author of innumerable books and articles on science, including The Chilling Stars – was asked if scientific consensus on climate change is now so entrenched that it can't be shifted. He replied:
"The idea of a settled consensus is alien to productive science. In any branch of research that isn't moribund, battles rage between the entrenched bigwigs and their cronies, versus others who challenge their hypotheses. What makes science so valuable …is that eventually errors are corrected and ideas shift. But that can be a slow and painful process taking 10-20 years."
Dr. Calder added that control of climate science public research funding by the "warming consensus" retards the error-correction process.
Climate Driver. Dr David Whitehouse – an astronomer, former BBC science correspondent, and author of The Sun: A Biography – made these comments:
"…Annual global temperatures … [indicate] that …recent successive annual global temperatures are well within each year's measurement errors. Statistically the world's temperature is flat. The world certainly warmed between 1975 and 1998, but …no scientist could honestly look at global temperatures over the past two decades and see a rising curve. It is undisputed that the sun … [late in] the 20th century was behaving differently from that of the beginning. Its sunspot cycle is stronger and shorter and, technically speaking, its magnetic field leakage is weaker and its cosmic ray shielding effect stronger. …When the sun's activity was rising, the world warmed. When it peaked in activity in the late 1980s, within a few years global warming stalled… The sun is by far the single most powerful driving force on our climate, and the fact is we do not understand how it affects us as much as some think we do. So look on the BBC and Al Gore with skepticism. A scientist's first allegiance should not be to computer models or political spin but to the data: that shows the science is not settled."
Climate Change and Fuels. Trilby Lundberg is publisher of the Lundberg Survey, a national survey of gas prices quoted regularly by major news organizations. These are excerpts from a CNN interview of Mr. Lundberg:
CNN: What are the effects of alternative fuels?
TL: "[Government] subsidization of alternative fuels – non-petroleum fuels – has already added a great deal of cost for gasoline consumers here in the U.S. To further mandate these uneconomic sources that cannot compete – even with heavy subsidy – would make gasoline prices higher and hurt consumers. When the market is ready – if it ever is – for such fuels, then they will not need subsidies. Meanwhile, the much heavier use of ethanol in the United States is affecting world prices – not only U.S. gasoline prices, but world prices for those consumables that use corn."
CNN: So you see these as hurting Americans more than helping them?
TL: "Yes. The use of tax money to prop up these uneconomic sources of fuel is itself a negative for consumers… The use of ethanol …makes gasoline prices higher than they otherwise would be, through the difficulty of achieving EPA regulations and the final gasoline product…"
CNN: As far as conservation, what trends are you seeing?
TL: "I'm hoping that consumers will see through the rhetoric about consuming less, demanding less, as faulty. It is not a given that consuming less [is] good for our economy or for our personal freedom. It is not even established for our environment that we [should] deprive ourselves of gasoline for our personal mobility as well our commerce. … [To] deprive ourselves of this great product that makes the country go around, commercially and individually, I think is flawed." …I don't accept … that [global warming or climate-change] are caused by petroleum consumption, nor do I accept that the human species should not affect its environment. So even if it were someday … shown to have some small effect on the environment, I see no crime. In fact, taking into account the many, many millions of people around the world that envy our way of life, it would seem more humanitarian to wish them the kind of plentiful petroleum products and vehicles …that we enjoy …to lift themselves out of [a] backward, poor way of life."
Shouts from the Outback. Here are a few responses to Martin Durkin's BBC film, The Great Global Warming Swindle2, after it was aired by the Australian Broadcasting Company:
"The liberal left has found a new movement and some say it's even a religious movement. This farce has gotten so out of control that a blatant scam has emerged called 'Carbon Credits'. It's a way for the limousine- and Learjet-liberals to live their lavish lifestyle, while …wagging their finger at the middle and lower class to conserve energy. If this isn't enough, law firms are setting up shop to sue corporations for altering the micro climate around them. This will ultimately trickle down to the single family home owner…"
"Science of any discipline should always be strongly questioned and debated. The fact that those who promote 'human-caused global warming/climate change' refuse to be questioned, analysed and debated – and desire everyone to mindlessly believe – leads me to think that their 'science' is indeed flawed and unable to withstand interrogation and cross-examination."
"I like living in a house, with electricity and heat; and being able to drive my car to the grocery store and to visit my friends and relatives. Politicians want to either take this away from me, or force me to pay exorbitant surcharges for the privilege. Of course, they won't be inconvenienced because they will either exempt themselves from their draconian demands, or will have enough money to pay the surcharge. I keep hoping that we are only hearing from the lunatic fringe and that most of the world sees this for the complete idiocy that it is."
"The computer models are garbage. You simply cannot predict global temprature change with only 10-11 variables, as used in the particular computer model Al Gore cites in his movie. I pointed this out to a friend, (mathematics professor) at KSU here in America, and he concurred. Why so many faculty/scientists at major universities continue to allow themselves to be railroaded by political hacks like Al Gore and Leo DiCaprio is beyond me." (Yo! It's the money. – WZ)
Roman Counsel. Finally, this snippet from Dr. Fred Singer's weekly info-mail, from which several excerpts for this article were drawn:
"The intellectual Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) must have foreseen Global Warmism. He said: 'The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.'"
Maybe it's not hopeless yet. Thank God for the Internet. It is now the people's most powerful tool for defeating crazy ideas.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." (Mark Twain).
"Men defend most violently, not the things they know to be true, but the things they fear may be false." (G. K. Chesterton)
"Politicians' Dream;" http://thebullelephant.com/politicians-dream/
"The Great Global Warming Swindle" https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+great+global+warming+swindle&view=detail&mid=D18717E0F4A852C8F36AD18717E0F4A852C8F36A&FORM=VIRE
Marcus Aurelius (from roberthorval30.wordpress.com)
The End is Near was last modified: June 12th, 2019 by Woody Zimmerman
Woody Zimmerman
Woody Zimmerman, a former "software-soldier" of the Cold War, had a long career in mathematics, computing, simulation, and modeling – including 30 years at Science Applications International Corporation. He holds degrees in mathematics from Wheaton College and Johns Hopkins University. At Wheaton he also minored in German. Now retired, he writes analysis and commentary on social and cultural issues, education, religion, history, science, war and politics. He and his wife, Carol, have been married for 55 years; they have three children, nine grandchildren, and a great-grandson.


Crumpler has released a cool Star Wars collection so fans can express their love for the franchise where ever they go with these impressive new shoulder bags and backpacks.
These officially licensed Star Wars bags feature designs inspired by the lovable droids – C3PO and R2-D2.
Customers have the choice from an every day waist pack to tablet and laptop sleeves all the way through to backpacks and a shoulder bag.
This is a waist pack which is designed to be worn across the body.
Made of weatherproof nylon and tarpaulin, it has three separate storage zones to give you a total of two litres of storage along with an adjustable waist or chest strap plus heavy duty zips tipped with red rope.
The limited-edition Star Wars print includes both R2-D2 and C3PO and is available in gold or blue.
This is a practical padded mini sleeve that is large enough to store your small tech and mini tablets. It's large enough to fit the iPad Mini.
Available in blue or gold, it also has an internal zippered pocket and a slip pocket so you can carry accessories and USB's and other small items.
This limited edition Star Wars sleeve can fit a 13-inch laptop and be protected by the durable and padded fabric.
It has an internal slip pocket as well as a zippered pocket and has a design print of C3PO and R2-D2 in either gold or blue.
Sirius is a basic drawstring backpack which has an extra thick PVC coated nylon tarpaulin base which makes it lightweight yet tough enough to use every day.
There is drawstring access to the main compartment where you will find a padded internal iPad sleeve and a padded back for comfortable wear.
There are also four separate compartments as well as three easy access front pockets.
All up there is a total of 22 litres of storage.
You'll also find the limited edition Star Wars print in either blue or gold.
The Algorithm C3PO is a roll-top backpack that can fit a 15-inch laptop and provide 15 litres of storage space.
The weatherproof bag has padded grab handles with press-stud closure along with padded shoulder straps for comfortable wear.
There is a magnetised cinching buckle on the roll-top main compartment with C3PO inspired gold accents on the zips grab handles and lining.
Like the droid that inspired it, the Chronicler R2-D2 is a feisty shoulder bag which can fit a 13-inch laptop along with access to 11.6 litres of storage.
There are six separate storage compartments plus a front pocket many offers to organise your smaller items.
It has a padded top handle along with an integrated shoulder strap.
For added security there is also a Velcro and silver anodised brand buckle main compartment closure.
And just like R2-D2, there are silver and blue accents throughout including zips webbing and lining.


EPSI !!! Eurogames Per Square Inch. FAST--ENDS WEDNESDAY!
I'll be contacting the winners with the links to the marketplace entries tonight and tomorrow. Everything is already packed and will go out as soon as we finalize the sales and paypal goes through. Thanks everyone!
Well, really it'll be cubic inches, but that's harder to say, than EPSI!
The saga continues as we pare down everything we own to fit into a house half the size of where we're living now. As time grows short, packaging stuff to ship and trips to the post office must be minimized. So this sale will focus on Eurogames which can fit into Medium Flat rate boxes.
The footprint of a Medium Flat rate box is 168 square inches...let's see how many games we can get in there!
There is one new critical rule--I will NOT combine shipping, unless it can be combined into a Large Flat rate box. Everything must be shippable via the after hours Priority Mail kiosk--so unfortunately at this time I cannot ship those really big boxes of goodness I've shipped in the last two auctions, and I also cannot ship internationally.
Auction ends Wednesday Oct. 16 around 7pm Pacific!
All items will have a start bid of $5.
Local pick-up is fine, and of course gets around the "combined shipping" problem. BUT all local pickups must take place no later than Monday Oct. 21!
all in excellent condition. Yes, Goldbrau has all of its beer coasters included!
.036 EPSI...Massive! All in excellent condition!


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Home Politics Maryland Chatters Ep. 05 ― U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and a...
Maryland Chatters Ep. 05 ― U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and a General Assembly Preview
Maryland Matters Staff
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines
Maryland Chatters · Ep. 05 ― U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and a General Assembly Preview
The world is a much different place than it was last week, when we first started preparing for this episode. On Wednesday, a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election as America's 46th president.
The attack occurred one day after two Democrats won runoff elections in Georgia, giving their party a majority in the U.S. Senate.
We talked this week with Maryland's junior senator, Chris Van Hollen, about the violence at the capitol, the new congress, the new administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland.
Later this week, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for an extraordinary session ― with desks surrounded by plexiglass, a House chamber annex, empty hallways and virtual bill hearings. Maryland Matters editor Josh Kurtz discusses what can be expected this session – from the logistics to the legislation.
Don Mohler: Did We Learn Anything These Last 4 Years?


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Home Letter to the Editor Letters to the Editor
Dec 8th, 2020 · Comments: 0
The Dorchester Banner welcomes readers' views on topics of public interest.
The following is an open letter, dated Nov. 30, to the Dorchester County Public Schools community from Superintendent Dave Bromwell.
Dear Dorchester County Public Schools Community,
I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break. As I announced before the break, we will be returning to school tomorrow in special groups. My daily conversations with Dorchester County Health Department Officer Roger Harrell continued over the Thanksgiving break, when the Executive Team and I waited anxiously for his daily reports. Each day, Dorchester County's COVID case figures continued to move in a downward direction, giving us significant optimism for returning in December.
I will continue to consult with Mr. Harrell each day regarding all COVID metrics that he uses for his recommendation to me on staff and students returning to school. While he does not take any number for granted, testing positivity rate is always a key to his recommendation.
He uses up to eight different metrics to determine his recommendation for staff and students returning to school. Presently Dorchester County has improved over 24% in the last 14 days, reducing its positivity rate and case rate. Today, Dorchester County has a 3.1% positivity rate which again shows our continued improvement.
Each week on Wednesday at 3 pm, I will announce a decision as to which instructional model will be implemented on the following Tuesday, based on the prior seven days of health metrics. I know having the most up to date information for parent planning is paramount but, as we have all found out, COVID-19 does not care about how schools or parents plan.
I want everyone to remain safe while staying vigilant with your COVID-19 safety guidelines. Stay tuned, stay healthy, and stay hopeful that we can proceed further into Phase 1.5 next week and Phase II of our reopening plan in January 2021.
W. David Bromwell
Republicans' two biggest lies/cons of past 40 years
Donald Trump has whined and screeched "voter fraud" since long before the election he knew he would lose, and Republicans including Rep. Andy Harris have gone right along with him. This is nothing new for Republicans — they have accused Democrats of voter fraud for decades, conducting one investigation after another all while they are guilty of voter suppression attempting to steal our Constitutional right to vote from many of us.
They reviewed/analyzed more than a billion votes from past elections under George W. Bush to uncover voter fraud, and failed to find anything significant. Trump launched his Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity led by conspiracy theorist Kris Koback to smoke out election fraud, and once again found nothing, collapsing after a few months of failure.
Now, Trump is charging voter fraud in dozens of lawsuits in swing states getting shot down in flames by Republican courts time after time for lack of evidence.
The other big lie/con job from Republicans has been their "Trickle down" claim that massive tax giveaways to the super-rich and large corporations end up trickling down to benefit all citizens. This has proven to be false every time they try it, yet that never stops them from trying again, hoping Americans citizens are ignorant and forgetful enough to believe them.
Ronald Reagan's massive tax giveaways in 1981 were exposed by his own Budget Director, David Stockman, as a fraud shortly after they failed. Then George W. Bush tried it again, and once again they failed to benefit the average citizen.
Sam Brownback conducted what he called the "perfect experiment" as governor of Kansas with huge tax cuts to corporations, and nearly destroyed their economy in his failure. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal tried the same thing in Louisiana, nearly destroying their economy.
Most recently, Trump's massive 2017 tax giveaway to the rich and large corporations have failed to benefit the vast majority of Americans.
Unfortunately, these lies have a lasting devastating impact on our democracy and country, with the Trump/Harris voter fraud lie undermining belief in our democratic elections. Yet, we can expect them to continue as the GOP persists in their efforts to undermine our Constitution and install an authoritarian dictatorship that does their bidding.
Neck District
As the number of Marylanders with COVID-19 rose and the state crossed warning thresholds set by the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization, Gov. Hogan reduced dine-in capacity for bars and restaurants, issued new guidance on out-of-state travel, encouraged telework and asserted that a coronavirus surge could be in Maryland's future.
Please be assured that we are doing all that we can to protect the health and safety of our volunteers, staff and supporters so that our mission of building homes, communities and hope can continue in spite of the challenges with which we are faced. Given the Governor's recent move back to Phase II of Covid-19 recovery, we have implemented the following changes:
1) Our affiliate office in Trappe continues to be open by appointment only. Please call before you make a visit to the office.
2) Temperature checks and masks are required for all staff and visitors to the office. Entry to the office is through Suite 8 on the second floor, which requires that you call before arrival. Upon arrival, a symptom and temperature check is taken and a waiver must be signed.
3) Affiliate staff will be working part-time from home to minimize the number of people who come in contact with one another in the office.
4) All committee and board meetings will return to zoom only until further notice.
5) N-95 masks will be required on jobsites once dry wall is installed and volunteers working in the home will be limited to no more than 4. The maximum volunteers on our jobsites continues at 6 requiring 2 volunteers outside a home after drywall is installed, weather permitting.
6) Our ReStore continues to vigilantly remind shoppers of social distancing and mask wearing and has a limit of no more than 75 shoppers in the store at any one time. Donation drop offs must be scheduled. This is to ensure that drop offs are adequately spaced out between customers and that staff have the ability to manage drop offs as they arrive and allowing time to prepare for the next drop off.
Thank you for being patient and working with us to protect the health and safety of those we love and those with whom we come in contact.
Blessings for a safe, peaceful and joyous holiday season.
JoAnn Hansen
The Viewpoints page is populated with letters from you, our readers. The Dorchester Banner was founded on and still is dedicated to the basic principle of civilly and respectfully sharing ideas to create a better community for us all. To submit a letter to the editor, visit the Submit a Letter page.
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