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How to stand out from the crowd and win creative industry awards
Written by Katy Cowan
Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst
For our latest tips articles, we're calling on the expertise of the industry and picking their brains to uncover some nuggets of wisdom to share with you, our Creative Boomers.
For our first area of focus, we'll be taking a look at what's won creative awards this year and what creatives can learn from it, thanks to the help of Asa Cook, Creative Director at Design Bridge. Asa, it's over to you.
Another creative awards season has come and gone with lots of brilliant work being celebrated from a diverse range of agencies and clients.
Along with some of my fellow Design Bridge creative directors, I've been on a variety of judging panels in recent years, and I've noticed a shift in the industry in terms of what judges are looking for.
One of the main observations is that brands, both big and small, are being awarded when they take risks. This has been led by start-ups and smaller businesses that can often afford to take the biggest chances, such as Magpie's disruptive (and already iconic) branding for Bandido coffee and B&B Studio's minimal design for Lone Wolf vodka.
But the bigger players are also being awarded for risk-taking too, such as "BEANZ MEANZ HEINZ" by JKR and the Lacoste "Save our species" campaign by BETC Paris, both of which removed key brand assets from their packaging yet remained recognisably on-brand.
Another observation is the continuing rise of film, both as a part of brand campaigns as well as awards entries. It felt like most of the awarded entries had accompanying films this year. A great film can indeed be a compelling and effective way of adding context and expressing the creative idea to a judging panel.
But while film should be celebrated and encouraged, as the people judging these entries I think we need to be careful not to move to a place where only campaigns with multiple touchpoints or the need for a video explainer are considered award-worthy.
We need to find ways to judge these projects fairly alongside brilliant one-off pieces of graphic design or standalone pieces of packaging and ensure that we're judging the creative work and execution itself, not just the impact of the film that accompanies it.
Smirnoff – Choose Love
These kinds of discussions got me thinking more broadly about judging criteria in design awards, and how it might be changing. For example, another popular topic of conversation among panels was how much consideration should be placed on a design project's success on social media. Questions I heard from fellow judges this year were things like, "Did they blog about it?", How many likes did it get?" and "Did it go viral?"
While popularity and shareability of a piece of creative work are important factors in considering its merits and the impact it has made, I don't believe they should be the driving force. After all, a campaign might have gone viral for the wrong reasons and may actually have detracted from a brand's reputation.
At that point, might we be awarding design based on how many shares it had, for better or worse, rather than on its design merits? What about the brilliant design projects that didn't get social media traction but are impeccably well crafted and executed?
It's an interesting dilemma that's emerging, and it left me wondering if share-ability/social media/viral credentials need their category or at least a more uniform way of being judged across the board. After all, it's not always easy to quantify how much a project was shared, nor the impact it has on a client's business.
Our Smirnoff Choose Love design, for example, was shared on Instagram and Twitter. A lot. But for us, the positive, inclusive message that was delivered by our clients, who replaced the Smirnoff 21 design with these bold, provocative and celebratory bottles in all Tesco stores during Pride 2017, was far more important than how much it was shared on social media. That said, there was a positive impact on sales, and it also helped us become joint Design Agency of the Year at FAB Awards.
Fortnum and Mason Florentines
I was left scratching my head at The Archaeologist that was awarded at Cannes this year. This was the €1,000 bottle of gin that is made from steeping the spirit with old Harley Davidson engine parts. The film they made to tell the story was incredibly well made, and the bizarreness of the product no doubt caused a storm on social media. But I'm not convinced that the actual design stood up against other design projects in the category. And after all of that, did anyone buy it?
At the other end of the spectrum, Studio Sutherland's award-winning work for Start-Rite does an excellent job at what it's supposed to do - a contemporary refresh of a heritage shoe brand; bold, unique and emotionally engaging. It's easy to see the idea of the serifs on the lettering as just a witty visual idea.
But I think the genius of this work is that it's the perfect expression of the idea "Keep Exploring", so the humanised lettering is not just appealing for children, it's also aspirational for parents who want their children to begin to discover their independence.
The posters build on this by expressing this the same idea in a completely different way. Which shows us that awards judges are looking for depth of thought and meaning, not just that 'smile in mind' moment.
Our work for Fortnum and Mason Florentines picked up awards this year for the same reason. At first glance, the patterns feel like an expression of the flavours of the biscuits. But the hidden story is the transformational effect that Italian fashion had on mid-century London – the home of the famous store and the provenance of the biscuits all rolled into one neat visual thought.
Ultimately, creative awards should be about celebrating the power of a great idea and an excellent execution. As the media landscape continues to shift and develop, judging panels and juries need to be clearer than ever before about what their collective criteria is to ensure that this remains the case.
Asa Cook joined Design Bridge in 2002 with a first-class honours degree from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle. Since starting as a Junior Designer, he progressed through each role to become Creative Director in 2012. Asa has won 28 internationally recognised design awards during his time at Design Bridge across a broad range of brands including Tate & Lyle sugars, Unilever spreads, and Smirnoff vodka.
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The objective of this Competence Platform on Energy Crop and Agroforestry Systems for Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems - Africa (COMPETE) is to stimulate bioenergy implementation in arid and semi-arid regions in Africa.
WIP is the coordinator of the COMPETE project. The COMPETE partnership comprises 18 European, 3 international (African Development Bank; Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Conservation International) and 23 non-European partners. 13 partners are from African countries. COMPETE was co-financed by the European Commission in the 6th Framework Programme - Specific Measures in Support of International Cooperation (INCO).
Exploit the benefits of innovative bioenergy solutions in Africa with respect to sustainable rural development and improved livelihoods, increased energy access and income generation, alternative markets for agricultural products, security of energy supply, and diversification of energy sources.
Avoid the dangers of negative social and environmental implications, with regards to biodiversity, water availability, land competition, land ownership, insufficient value creation for local farmers, and the 'fuel versus food' debate.
In December 2010 the partnership of the COMPETE Bioenergy Competence Platform for Africa consist of 230 stakeholders from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. 140 stakeholders come from 28 African countries.


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Who are the Kurds?
Activities & Campaigns
Publications & Library
Turkey Debates the Village Guard System
Funeral services following the attacks in Turkey's Mardin province.
In last week's bloodbath at an engagement party, masked gunmen armed with assault rifles killed 44 people including the bride and the groom in a small village in Turkey's southeastern province Mardin. As the country debated the causes of this carnage, attention shifted to an evaluation of the village guard system. Since some of the victims and alleged assailants were members of the system, calls for its dissolution or reform have been raised by the opponents of Turkey's counter-terrorist policy. The security bureaucracy and nationalist forces have reacted quickly to defend this institution.
Turkey first developed the village guard system to quell the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Local men were recruited as a paramilitary force to both protect themselves and aid the security forces fighting PKK militants in south-eastern Turkey. Village guards' familiarity with the terrain, as well as the local language and dialects were important assets, and this helped to enhance the operational capability of the Turkish security forces. Moreover, by putting tens of thousands of tribesmen on the government's payroll, the Turkish state sought to co-opt these and create revenues to address the root causes of joining the PKK (Terrorism Focus, October 1, 2008).
Village guards, numbering around 90,000 at the height of the PKK's campaign, are currently around 58,000-strong. Although the system began as a temporary measure, it has become an integral part of Turkey's security apparatus. The guards, however, have frequently been criticized for their alleged involvement in criminal activities or human rights abuses. According to Interior Ministry records, village guards were the target of over 5,200 criminal investigations and as a result 853 guards were arrested for various crimes (Cihan Haber Ajansi, May 8). A recent report released by the Human Rights Association revealed that between January 1992 and March 2009 village guards committed various human rights violations, including forced evacuation, burning villages, kidnapping and rape. In the last seven years guards have killed 51 people and wounded 83 (ANKA, May 9).
The Mardin incident occupied Turkey's agenda last week, reigniting the debate over the village guards. So far, around 10 suspects including some village guards have been arrested, but the exact motivation behind the attack is still unknown. Explanations range from a feud between the families involved, to the social structure in the region which is based on feudal relations and the dominance of religious orders. In this context, the decayed village guard system has been advanced as a possible cause of the incident (Cihan Haber Ajansi, May 8).
The Interior Minister Besir Atalay raised expectations that the government might consider reform. After noting that some village guards were among both the victims and assailants, while the weapons used in the attacks belonged to the guards, Atalay told reporters that the ministry was saddened by their involvement and was evaluating the situation (Cihan Haber Ajansi, May 6). President Abdullah Gul also noted that if the shortcomings of the village guard system caused the attacks, then the government would take the necessary steps (Hurriyet Daily News, May 7).
The main opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP), and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) called for a parliamentary investigation into the killings in Mardin. The Parliament's Human Rights Investigation Commission formed a sub-commission, scheduled to visit the region later this week to conduct an investigation into the incident (Anadolu Ajansi, May 7).
The pro-Kurdish DTP put a large part of the blame on the village guard system, arguing that had the state not armed these people, the carnage would not have occurred. As part of its overall opposition to Turkey's policies on the Kurdish question, the DTP was an ardent critic of this system, demanding its dissolution. DTP deputies are campaigning for a parliamentary inquiry into this system, alleging that the village guards have become a criminalized network, and have undermined the social fabric and individuals' psychological health in the region (ANKA, May 6).
However, the defenders of the system are against any attempt to reduce the causes of the Mardin attack to the weaknesses of the village guard system. A representative from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) argued that the village guard system had served important functions in combating terrorism and it should be preserved (Anadolu Ajansi, May 6).
A spokesman for the Turkish military, Brigadier-General Metin Gurak defended the village guards during his weekly press briefing. He said that it would be unwise to hold the entire institution responsible (Milliyet, May 8). Interior Minister Atalay supported this view and defended the village guards. Though noting that the government will take into account the criticism of the guards, Atalay added that the dissolution of this institution was not on the agenda (www.cnnturk.com, May 9).
The deputy prime minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek, also supported the system, arguing that it had emerged out of necessity and these conditions remained. Cicek added: "It is necessary to avoid hasty conclusions. If some of them are involved in wrongdoing, then necessary action will be undertaken… It is wrong to attack the entire institution, because of the recent incident" (www.ntvmsnbc.com, May 10).
The debate on the village guard system is likely to continue and the opponents of Turkey's anti-terrorism policy will repeat their demands for its dissolution. However, many security experts regard it as a necessary counter-terrorist tool and argue that Turkey will need this institution as long as the PKK remains active. Since the government and the Turkish military appear to share this view, and PKK terrorism is unlikely to end soon, a partial reform of this system may be more realistic rather than its complete dissolution.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Unhappy doctors: what...
Unhappy doctors: what are the causes and what can be done?
Education And Debate
BMJ 2002; 324 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7341.835 (Published 06 April 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;324:835
Nigel Edwards, policy directora,
Mary Jane Kornacki, partnerb,
Jack Silversin, partnerb
a NHS Confederation, London SW1E 5ER
b Amicus, 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
As the response to a recent BMJ editorial showed, unhappy doctors are a worldwide phenomenon. In this article, based on workshops with doctors in the United States and United Kingdom, Nigel Edwards and colleagues suggest that the cause is a breakdown in the implicit compact between doctors and society: the individual orientation that doctors were trained for does not fit with the demands of current healthcare systems. They outline what a new compact might look like
Richard Smith's editorial in the BMJabout unhappiness in the medical profession provoked a huge response and confirmed that this is an international and widespread problem.1–4 We describe here the views of doctors themselves, gleaned from workshops in the United States and the United Kingdom, on the problem and what might be done about it.
Several reports from around the world describe declining morale among doctors, but little is known about the reasons
Workload and pay, though important, do not fully explain the problem
A key factor seems to be a change in the psychological compact between the profession, employers, patients, and society so that the job is now different from what doctors expected
Developing a new compact that is more acceptable to the profession is important
Clinical leaders have a potentially crucial role in developing a new compact
There is limited evidence to inform the debate, and therefore this article and our longer report5 are based on literature on the subject and seminars held in Massachusetts last August and in London in October. As with Smith's original article the ideas should be treated as tentative.
In the US seminar the participants were managers and medical executives from various healthcare systems including Kaiser Permanente. The UK participants were mostly senior members of the medical profession, educators, officers of the BMA, medical managers, and representatives of junior doctors, medical students, and a patients' group. Senior representatives from the Department of Health were present for part of the discussion. Participants were selected for their breadth of knowledge of the profession and the issues. We also asked individuals who were well placed to influence the implementation of some of the solutions.
The ideas that emerged from the workshop have been tested at events with members of the Royal College of Physicians and with senior members of the medical profession at a conference held by the Department of Health.
Potential causes of unhapiness
Pay and workload are obvious causes for unhappiness among doctors. However, evidence from systems with much higher pay and longer consultation times suggests that these are not enough by themselves to ensure high morale. Several of the causes are probably the result of changes in the expectations of patients, governments, and employers; and there may also be causes within medicine itself.
The developed world has seen significant reductions in medical autonomy and increases in accountability as a result of the growing evidence base and a long running attempt to bring medicine under managerial and cost control by governments, payers, and employers. This has resulted in the growing use of guidelines, protocols, audit, regulation, and inspection that many doctors perceive as eroding their control over their professional lives. Though there are benefits from these changes, having control over work is important for the job satisfaction of clinicians 6 7 and can have implications for overall health of employees.8 A related change in the relationship with employers has been the increased emphasis on numerical targets, efficiency, and volumes of work that dates from the late 1970s.
The changes in relationships with patients and society are particularly important. There has been a decline in deference for all professions and a perceived loss of trust, coinciding with a feeling that the media has become much more hostile. In fact doctors are a highly trusted profession,9 and the proportion of negative news stories is fairly constant—although the total number of stories has increased.10 At the same time, patients are increasingly active consumers and they demand and have been encouraged to expect enhanced services, including extended hours and rapid access. The easy availability of health information coupled with a sense of entitlement is shifting the power in the doctor-patient relationship and causing unease. This is compounded by sometimes unrealistic expectations about the power of medicine to solve the ills of modern life. Smith described this as a bogus contract between the profession and patients but one which doctors have themselves sometimes encouraged.1
Medical causes
Several causes relate to medicine itself. The job is difficult and emotionally demanding, and doctors are more likely to be self critical and have other personality traits associated with work related stress.11 The poor record of the profession in giving mutual support or giving and receiving feedback aggravates this. Working in teams is also associated with being better able to cope with stress,12 but skills in teamworking are not universal in the profession.13 The selection, training, and socialisation of doctors has tended to compound the problems of high workload, stress, and reaction to changes in the job.
Medicine has been based on a model in which doctors are trained to deal with individuals, not organisations; to take personal responsibility rather than delegate; and to do their best for each patient rather than make trade-offs in a resource constrained environment.14 These factors make high workloads and high levels of workplace stress all the harder to deal with. They also create a real problem in that professional values and training based on an individualistic orientation do not prepare doctors to function successfully as members of large, complex organisations. Little training is given to equip doctors for this, and the difficulty that many consequently experience leads to stress and frustration.
Failing to deliver what was promised
An important theme in all of these changes is the dissonance between what doctors might have reasonably expected the job to be and how it now is. The psychological contract or compact is a useful concept to explain this problem.
This is the implicit deal between doctors, patients, employers and society that defines what the parties to the relationship give and what they get in return.15 This seems to have changed without any explicit discussion with those involved and without being replaced with an equally meaningful or rewarding alternative.16
The type of compact that defined what doctors would give and what they would get in return and which has operated for most of the postwar period is characterised in outline in box 1. The mismatch between this promise and the imperatives facing organisations to find new approaches to delivering safe, high quality care and service is summarised in box 2.
Box 1: The old compact
RETURN TO TEXT
Box 2: The old promise and new imperatives
Rewriting the compact
Elements of the old promise to doctors are clearly unsustainable given the need to modernise the NHS and other healthcare systems and improve care. Indeed some elements of the old compact are a positive barrier to improvements in medicine and healthcare, particularly in as much as it perpetuates the ethos of what one physician speaker at the US workshop called "practising alone together."17 A new and more sustainable compact is required.
The first step might be to re-evaluate the relationship between doctors and healthcare organisations such as the NHS to make the compact more explicit. A new compact might ask doctors to work within guidelines, be accountable for key objectives and improving quality, actively support and contribute to achieving the goals of the organisation, work within resource constraints, and engage in team and collaborative working. Many doctors are doing this already.
Doctors should have the opportunity to shape the goals of the organisation, participate in resource allocation, and have the resources to do the job expected. They will also need training and technical support to do this, including time to step off the "hamster wheel" to engage in improvement activities, high quality data, and a supportive culture that uses information for learning rather than judgment.
A new compact would require organisations to take a highly participative approach with high quality appraisal, personal development, and other modern human resource management techniques. There is emerging evidence that the environment that this creates has beneficial results for patients.18
The relationship with government also needs to change. The original settlement in which doctors were given the right to regulate themselves and a high level of autonomy has already been undermined. In a new deal doctors might agree to follow nationally agreed standards and guidelines, work to improve quality, and account for their work. In return doctors should expect to be instrumental in developing the standards. The targets they are asked to account for should be realistic and there needs to be a manageable number. Government has a right to ask the profession to continue to improve but should not expect to micromanage it in detail.
Trained for this …
(Credit: PAXTON AND FARROW/SPL)
Mutual respect and restraint
Mutual respect is an important part of any new deal, including some restraint in each side's criticisms of the other. It also means recognising the legitimacy of the profession to regulate its affairs and the legitimacy of government to have a view on the key goals of the system and in setting standards.
One area where government often fails to meet the expectations of the profession is in not using evidence to design policy.19 There is an unavoidable conflict between the reductionist approach of medicine and the messy, political, and complex world of policy. Governments could do more to use what evidence there is and evaluating what is done, but the profession needs to accept that different standards of evidence apply in policy making. 20 21
The new compact with patients is perhaps the most problematic area. There are too many other pressures in society and messages from the media to turn back growing expectations, even if this were desirable. There are over 400 million interactions between patients and health professionals each year in the United Kingdom, and a relatively small number of patients generate a large number of these. At present the problem is that there is often not the time to have the conversation about expectations or to develop the relationship to use time in consultations most productively.22 More effective delegation to other professionals would assist in this.23
At a more macro level the profession, NHS managers, and government could work together to engage the public and media in a dialogue about the limits of health care, the nature of medicine, its uncertainties, and the dangers of a blame culture. The NHS, government, and the profession could help with this and set realistic expectations by not announcing new services or innovations until they are actually in place.
Supporting the development of a new compact
The training and preparation for becoming a consultant or general practitioner principal needs to equip doctors better for taking leadership and management roles. Good progress has been made in this area, but much more needs to be done, starting much earlier in medical careers. Action is needed to ease the often difficult transition between different phases of careers. The new compact between doctors requires recognition of the contribution of other professionals to the healthcare system, being accountable to and supporting colleagues, offering and accepting constructive feedback, and active engagement in mentoring and guiding others. In return doctors need to receive greater personal support from colleagues and the work environment, help and support to improve their services, and opportunities to continue to develop personally and to have a portfolio of interests (clinical skills, research, education, personal interests, projects, etc.)
[IMAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF THE AGENCY]
Two current tacit assumptions about medical careers need to change to support this change in the compact. Firstly, to encourage creativity, personal renewal, and learning, greater geographical and career mobility should be encouraged. Doctors should be able to restart career paths, retrain, and diversify without attracting criticism. Less controversially, the idea of greater diversity, portfolio careers, or different career stages (similar to that proposed for the consultant's contract) should be promoted. These changes will need to be supported by improved career advice and development and arrangements for re-entry after breaks.
The workshops identified the crucial role that medical leaders (both formal and informal) play in setting the tone of the organisation and being a role model for others. This pivotal position as leaders, managers, and opinion formers in their organisations means that medical leaders at all levels have the opportunity to be instrumental in developing the dialogue about the "gives" and "gets" needed for a new compact. This dialogue is also necessary to create a successful primary care or hospital trust.
We cannot return to the old compact, and something more meaningful and dynamic needs to be put in its place. Disillusionment and disappointment can be eased through honest discussion of the match between doctors' expectations and organisational and societal needs. It is also worth remembering that many doctors are happy and it will be important to ensure that they are fully engaged in helping to develop solutions.
More discussion and research are required to understand this problem and its possible solutions in more detail. In the meantime there is a key role for leaders in the medical profession nationally and in hospitals and primary care to work together with NHS managers to develop a new compact that improves care for patients, improves the effectiveness of the healthcare organisation, and helps create a happier workforce.
Smith R
.Why are doctors so unhappy?BMJ2001; 322:1073–1074.
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.Australian general practitioners: desperately seeking satisfaction: is the satisfied GP an oxymoron?Med J Aust2001; 175:85–86.
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.New stressors, new remedies.Occup Med (Lond)2000; 50:199–201.
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.Error, stress, and teamwork in medicine and aviation: cross sectional surveys.BMJ2000; 320:745–749.
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.Professional sub cultures and hospital reform.Sydney:University of New South Wales,1998.
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.Creating a physician compact that drives group success.Med Group Managment J2002; 47:54–62.
.Leading physicians through change: How to achieve and sustain results.Tampa:American College of Physician Executives,2000.
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.The link between management of employees and patient mortality in acute hospitals.Birmingham:Aston University,2002.
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Health Policy and Economic Research Unit. In: The future healthcare workforce.London:BMA,2002.
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Nigel Edwards policy director, Mary Jane Kornacki partner, Jack Silversin partner
Edwards Nigel, Kornacki Mary Jane, Silversin Jack. Unhappy doctors: what are the causes and what can be done? BMJ 2002; 324 :835
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'Information void' on Brexit has left UK firms 'in dark'
Gareth Morgan Twitter Email
August 3 2018 2:30 AM
British firms have been left in the dark over planning for Brexit amid an "information void", according to a leading UK business group.
https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/information-void-on-brexit-has-left-uk-firms-in-dark-37180369.html
https://www.independent.ie/business/article36900671.ece/6f5f0/AUTOCROP/h342/2018-05-06_bus_40695799_I1.JPG
The Institute of Directors (IoD) called on the UK government to speed up guidance on what companies should expect if no deal is reached on leaving the EU.
A survey of 800 business leaders showed that less than a third had made any Brexit contingency planning.
Many said they were waiting for clarity about the future relationship with the EU.
It comes at the end of a torrid week when a series of influential groups in the British business world have questioned the Brexit strategy.
Stephen Martin, director general of the IoD, said: "Many companies are still unprepared for Brexit, and it's hard to blame them. When it comes to knowing what to plan for and when, firms have been left in the dark."
A food industry boss this week called for a meeting with the government as he warned that Brexit is becoming "the stuff of nightmares".
UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) chief executive Ian Wright urged ministers to explain the implications of a no-deal Brexit to businesses in the industry.
Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich and Food to Go Association, told BBC's 'Newsnight' on Monday: "We live in a just-in-time world. We don't stockpile ingredients."
Further concerns emerged on Tuesday when local government officials in Dover, across the Channel from France, released an assessment of how a no-deal Brexit would affect the area around Europe's busiest ferry port. The assessment, named Operation Brock, suggests there would be a continuous backlog of trucks waiting to cross the English Channel, creating a gridlock as far as 65km inland.
In the British health service, NHS officials have highlighted the possibility of staff shortages, that costs "may go up" and that the quality and pricing of food could be affected.
Specialist equipment or parts sourced from the EU could potentially be "less accessible", a report warned.
The Bank of England raised its main interest rate yesterday for only the second time since the 2008 financial crisis as it weighed a strong jobs market and high inflation against growing concerns about Brexit.
The London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) has also kick-started its preparations for a hard Brexit, warning that the terms of the UK's exit are still "unclear".
The company has cautioned that a provisional agreement between negotiators in the UK and Brussels is yet to be approved by parliaments on both sides of the Channel, and could fall apart.
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A Project of East London Mosque
SIS News
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Qur'an for Children
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SIS aims to operate by the same term dates as mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets. However, it is open during the half-terms and sometimes the dates do not exactly match. Kindly click on the link below the term dates for the current and the next academic year.
Agreed term dates for 2018/19
Parents are reminded that SIS does not authorise leave during term time. If a child has two consecutive weeks of unauthorised absence then, the child may be taken off-roll without further notice. Children are also taken off-roll for three consecutive weeks of unauthorised lateness.
If a child is off-rolled for attendance or punctuality, then parents do not have the right to appeal against the decision. The child will need to re-apply and go through the same admission process which is expected from a child joining SIS for the first time.
Founded in April 1996, Saturday Islamic School (SIS) aims to educate Muslim girls and boys about Islam. This initiative to educate children about their culture and belief is very distinct and differs greatly from many of the commonly found traditional approaches. The model pioneered by SIS is now being replicated by others.
Saturday Islamic School
East London Mosque,
84 – 92 Whitechapel Road,
London E1 1JX
admin@saturdayislamicschool.co.uk
Due to the Covid-19, SIS admissions for September 2020 is on hold. SIS classes are held in the premises of mainstream schools. We are waiting for the Department of Education to give a go ahead to schools to resume the lettings of their premises. We will start the admissions as soon as the clearance is given insha Allah. Thank you for your patience.
Stepney Green (E1 4SD)
Class 1 to Class 5
LMC & Maryam Centre (E1 1QX)
Bow School (E3 3QW)
Green Spring Academy Shoreditch (E2 6NW)
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Across Western states, at every level of government, elected officials are developing, debating and enacting policies important to the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. Often, what gains traction in one city or state can quickly carry over to another.
With this in mind, NAIOP hosted a Western Legislative Summit in San Francisco last month focused specifically on core policy issues affecting commercial, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate within the Western United States. This was another in a series of annual summits, both national and regional, that NAIOP has hosted. Summit attendees gained valuable insight in developing effective advocacy strategies associated with both the policy and political challenges that occur during the public, and at times sensitive, debate at the state and local levels.
The session was led by Craig Benedetto, Principal at California Strategies, who focused on the industry's response in addressing the affordable housing needs of cities and local communities, particularly as it relates to the generation of housing revenue through linkage/impact fees on CRE, without inhibiting economic opportunity and commercial development. He stressed the importance for NAIOP and CRE to participate in the debate and engage policymakers in developing comprehensive affordable housing solutions that do not focus solely on one industry, such as CRE.
The session focused on legislative and regulatory efforts to reduce greenhouse gas and carbon emissions and its impact on commercial and industrial properties. Jennifer Hernandez, Partner with Holland & Knight, provided a realistic analysis of the current environmental debate.
This session was broken into two parts focused on (1) how the supply of water is changing the commercial real estate landscape in the West and (2) the new federal rule issued by the EPA and Army Corps to define "waters of the United States" (commonly referred to as WOTUS) that will receive federal protection. Steve LaMar, President of the Irvine Ranch Water District, and John Bryant, NAIOP's Senior Director of Federal Affairs, led the informative session.
The session was led by Curtis Spencer, President of IMS Worldwide, who focused on the challenges facing efficient freight movement from the port to the warehouse to the consumer across the West. He also highlighted the role that the cost of moving freight by rail plays in the selection of ports of entry for these goods.
The PowerPoint presentations for each of these policy discussions can be found here.
The summit concluded with an open discussion on the development and execution of strategies intended to impact the policy debate on these and similar issues. The discussion included effective advocacy approaches, membership engagement, political action committees, resource management and coalition building.
It is expected that 2016 will be an active year for policy debates on these and similar issues in the Western states. The summit provided attendees with the tools, foundation and confidence to walk the halls of government and the state capitols and effectively educate lawmakers and influence the policy debate. NAIOP and its chapters serve as the voice for commercial real estate. Through collaborative efforts, such as our Western Legislative Summit, NAIOP and its local chapters ensure that we remain at the forefront of the policy debate affecting our industry.


Cape Town – For years fans of the movie Titanic have insisted that there was enough space for both Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) on that raft.
After twenty years Kate is finally speaking out and everyone will be happy to know that she agrees with all the fans.
Speaking on The Jimmy Kimmel Show Kate confessed, "I think he actually could have fitted on that bit of door."
Thank you, Kate for finally admitting that Rose leaving Jack out in the cold was heartless.


text:
During Covid: When at Purple:
Sunday Worship –Streamed Live on Facebook from St. John's Lodi at 9:30 a.m. – This service is live on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stjojnslodi/ (with a later upload to our YouTube page). Remember to download the bulletin via the Thursday Epistle or from the parish website, it will help you navigate through the parish's sound quality. If you experience streaming (not sound) difficulties, it is helpful for us to know, so please leave a message at the church office about what you experienced.
When Red:
We stream live from St. John's Lodi at 9:30 am with 25% indoor seating available. Please contact the office if you plan on attending so we can have a count (209-369-3381 or stjohnslodi@sbcglobal.net). There will NOT be any Sunday School Services offered.
********** ********** ********** ********** ********
St. John's offers one service on Sunday's at 9:30 a.m., followed by a coffee hour. Children are welcomed to our Nursery and Children's formation and may join the congregation for Eucharist. The congregation and visitors appreciate that we print the entire service in the Sunday bulletin, making it much easier for people to participate.
St. John's has a rich tradition of music. Many musical offerings elevate the worship experience with "hymns and spiritual songs." Our new choir director has taken leadership of our choir, which practices weekly and serves each Sunday from September to June. Our pianist and organist enhance this joyful avenue of worship.
The laity play an important role in our worship services. Our acolyte program is composed of both youth and adult members, and included a crucifer and two torchbearers in the services. A lector conducts the readings of the Old Testament and psalm, while a Eucharistic Minister reads the New Testament reading and Prayers of the People.
In support of worship, we have a talented Designer Guild that creates all the floral arrangements for regular services, as well as for wedding, memorial or any celebration. Our dedicated Altar Guild and Linen Ladies maintain the Sacristy and ensure our altar is always prepared for the Sacred Feast. Bread for the Eucharist is baked by our Bread Bakers Guild.
Special celebrations are scheduled throughout the year, such as Holy Week and Christmas. Our monthly newsletter includes announcements and special activities which may be viewed from our website.


Also facing the same sanction is former US Postal Service doctor Luis Garcia del Moral and team trainer Pepe Marti, who also coached Alberto Contador for some time while he was with the Discovery Channel and Astana team.
Because of what it states were aggravating circumstances, defined as 'involvement in multiple anti-doping rule violations as well as trafficking, administration and/or attempted administration of a prohibited substance or method,' a sanction greater than the normal duration has been handed down. As a result, the three have been handed a lifetime ban.
USADA states that this will prevent them from 'participating in any activity or competition organized by any signatory to the Code or any member of any signatory.' VeloNation is awaiting clarification as to what exactly this means in relation to working with athletes. Ferrari is already blocked from working with athletes in Italy, and Filippo Pozzato is facing a possibly one year ban in relation to this.
Under UCI rules and the circumstances of the case, USADA has worldwide jurisdiction and therefore its ruling will have a global effect.
USADA CEO Travis Tygart says the sanctions both prevent the trio from working in the sporting area, and also makes a strong statement to athletes and others.
"The objective of USADA's investigation into the sport of cycling is to protect the rights of clean athletes by ridding sport of those in the system, whether coach, doctor, trainer, or manager who abuses their influence by encouraging, coercing or assisting athletes in cheating through the use of dangerous performance-enhancing drugs," he said.
USADA gives specific details about the offences committed by each of the three, as detailed in the statement below.
Three others are also facing charges in relation to an alleged serious doping conspiracy at the US Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams, namely Lance Armstrong, former US Postal Service and current RadioShack team manger Johan Bruyneel and RadioShack Nissan team doctor Pedro Celaya. Armstrong and Bruyneel are understood to have requested a five day extension beyond yesterday's initial deadline. Armstrong is attempting to have USADA's action blocked by a federal court, although his initial application was thrown out yesterday by the judge in question. He has been given the opportunity to refile the complaint, but has been told substantial revisions are needed before it will be considered.
It is not currently clear of Celaya has also requested an extension, or if he has opted for an arbitration hearing.
Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 10, 2012) – USADA announced today that Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral (cycling team doctor), Dr. Michele Ferrari (cycling team consulting doctor) and Jose "Pepe" Martí (cycling team trainer) have all received lifetime periods of ineligibility as the result of their anti-doping rule violations in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy.


text:
package io.ruck.filewatcher;

import com.sun.nio.file.SensitivityWatchEventModifier;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.FileSystems;
import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.nio.file.WatchEvent;
import java.nio.file.WatchEvent.Kind;
import java.nio.file.WatchKey;
import java.nio.file.WatchService;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

/**
 *
 * @author ruckc
 */
public class Watcher {

    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Watcher.class);
    private static final Map<WatchKey, List<PathListener>> MAPPINGS = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
    private static final WatchService WATCH_SERVICE;
    private static final Thread EXECUTOR;

    static {
        try {
            WATCH_SERVICE = FileSystems.getDefault().newWatchService();
            EXECUTOR = new Thread(new WatcherRunnable(), "File Watcher Thread");
            EXECUTOR.setDaemon(true);
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            throw new RuntimeException();
        }
    }

    private static class WatcherRunnable implements Runnable {

        @Override
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        public void run() {
            LOGGER.debug("Starting File Watcher Thread");
            while (true) {
                try {
                    LOGGER.debug("waiting for WatchKey");
                    WatchKey key = WATCH_SERVICE.take();
                    LOGGER.debug("received WatchKey "+key);
                    key.pollEvents().stream().forEach((WatchEvent<?> e) -> {
                        LOGGER.debug("received WatchEvent "+e);
                        WatchEvent<Path> ep = (WatchEvent<Path>) e;
                        List<PathListener> list = MAPPINGS.get(key);
                        list.stream().forEach((PathListener l) -> {
                            LOGGER.debug("delivering "+e+" to "+l);
                            l.handle(ep);
                        });
                    });
                    key.reset();
                } catch (InterruptedException ex) {
                    throw new RuntimeException(ex.getMessage(), ex);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    private static class PathListener {

        private final Path base;
        private final WatchListener<Path> listener;

        private PathListener(Path base, WatchListener<Path> listener) {
            this.base = base;
            this.listener = listener;
        }

        private void handle(WatchEvent<Path> e) {
            Path path = (Path) e.context();
            Kind<Path> kind = (Kind<Path>) e.kind();
            listener.handleEvent(base.resolve(path), kind);
        }
    }

    public static void register(Path base, WatchListener<Path> listener, Kind<Path>... events) {
        try {
            if(!EXECUTOR.isAlive()) {
                EXECUTOR.start();
            }
            WatchKey key = base.register(WATCH_SERVICE, events, SensitivityWatchEventModifier.HIGH);
            PathListener pl = new PathListener(base, listener);
            MAPPINGS.compute(key, (WatchKey t, List<PathListener> u) -> {
                if(u != null) {
                    u.add(pl);
                    return u;
                } else {
                    List<PathListener> list = new ArrayList<>(1);
                    list.add(pl);
                    return list;
                }
            });
            LOGGER.trace("Mappings: "+MAPPINGS);
            LOGGER.debug("registered "+key+" for "+base+" with "+listener);
        } catch (IOException e) {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);
        }
    }

    public static void unregister(Path base, WatchListener<Path> listener) {
        Iterator<Map.Entry<WatchKey, List<PathListener>>> iterator = MAPPINGS.entrySet().iterator();
        while(iterator.hasNext()) {
            Map.Entry<WatchKey, List<PathListener>> t = iterator.next();
            t.getValue().removeIf((pl) -> {
                return pl.base.equals(base) && pl.listener.equals(listener);
            });
            if(t.getValue().isEmpty()) {
                t.getKey().cancel();
                iterator.remove();
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
German coalition government: Dare to make more progress
22.12.2021 | Blog
The new German coalition government: Dare to make even more progress!
The new German government must address the fight against hunger holistically and food security systemically, admonishes Mathias Mogge. A commentary on the coalition agreement ("Dare to make more progress!") from the perspective of the General Secretary of Welthungerhilfe and Chairman of the Board at VENRO.
The cabinet of the new German coalition government in a collage of the swearing-in ceremonies in the German Bundestag on December 8, 2021. © Deutscher Bundestag / Tobias Koch
Mathias Mogge Secretary General
+49 (0)228 2288-0 Send email View Profile
According to the coalition agreement of the three government parties, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) associated with it are the "guiding principles" of the German government's policy, just as they were for the previous government. With only eight years left until 2030 and the world lagging far behind in meeting some of the SDGs, the new federal government must make significant efforts to do its part to implement them.
First, the preservation of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is an important and also forward-looking decision of the new coalition. The perspective of the Global South also belongs at the cabinet table of the Federal Government, not only Germany's own foreign policy and economic interests. The Southern perspective can be a clear amplifier for the implementation of the SDGs.
The coalition agreement quite prominently addresses the fight against hunger and the achievement of food security . The approach of linking the fight against hunger and poverty with the commitment to climate justice, biodiversity, and socio-ecological transformation is also the right one. Global hunger can only be ended sustainably if its complex causes are addressed: the impacts of the climate crisis, armed conflicts, and the effects of the corona pandemic as immediate causes, and worsening economic and social inequalities as structural causes.
A future fight against hunger would dare to make more progress if it took into account the complexity of food systems and took a systemic approach ¬- that is, not looking at isolated causes. So far, food systems are only mentioned in the coalition agreement as part of Central Research Area Two - "Climate, Climate Impacts, Biodiversity, Sustainability, Earth Systems, and Related Adaptation Strategies, as well as Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems." This must not be the end of the story.
BMZ's policies must be more closely coordinated with those of other ministries in order to prevent policies in other areas from having a negative impact on people in the Global South, especially on their food security. On July 13, 2020, the Committee of State Secretaries for Sustainable Development already presented important resolutions for the design of sustainable food systems. These should be urgently implemented by the new German government.
Safeguarding the human right to food
The necessary transformation must be built upon a human rights approach. The human right to food must be at the centre of future food security policy, but we miss the reference to it in the coalition agreement. If the coalition partners are committed to "peace, freedom, [and] human rights...," it would only be logical to also commit to ensuring that instruments of international law such as the UN Guidelines on the Right to Food are incorporated into national laws, policies, and programs in Germany, as well as globally and in partner countries of development cooperation.
Corona aid: People in Somalia register for e-vouchers that can be used to buy seeds or tools from local traders via their cell phones. © FAO
The coalition agreement clear emphasizes social protection systems, through the goal of creating a Global Fund for Social Protection. We very much welcome this, because in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic it became obvious how crucial these systems are for combating hunger and poverty, especially when individuals have lost their incomes through no fault of their own.
Our major concern is the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the already large hunger figures over the past 20 months. According to the Global Report on Food Crises,1 161 million individuals are currently in a food crisis. (IPC3 2 Of these, 35 million are even in an emergency situation (IPC 4); in its September 2021 update, the the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that this number could be as high as 41 million. In addition, more than half a million individuals are in a famine situation (IPC 5, Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen). This year's FAO report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI Report) indicates that up to 811 million people are currently hungry – and this year's Global Hunger Index predicts that 47 countries will not reach low levels of hunger by 2030 at current rates.
These figures show how important it is to more effectively continue the fight against hunger. The new German government should work especially hard to ensure that other donors also recognize this urgency and make appropriate contributions.
Securing funding
The coalition agreement includes a commitment to international financial obligations for development financing, including to provide 0.7 percent of Germany's overall GNI for development cooperation, including 0.2 percent for the least developed countries (LDCs). In contrast to the last government, the current agreement sets these values as a minimum. Nonetheless, according to the coalition agreement, these percentages are not to be enshrined in law. It therefore remains questionable whether this will be enough to implement the commitments. In fact, this percentage target has been repeatedly issued in the past, but in recent history it was achieved mainly by offsetting the costs of accommodating refugees in Germany. We presume that this commitment is also already being reflected in the medium-term financial planning of the federal government, and not only after "closing the books."
We expect the commitment to be reflected already in the medium-term financial planning, and not only after "closing of the books".
Mathias Mogge Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of Welthungerhilfe
In addition, we cannot find an explanation of how the goals for food security are to be financed. The CERES 20303 study calculated that rich countries would have to increase their development aid for agriculture and rural development by 14 billion US dollars per year from 2020 to 2030 to achieve the G7 goal from the 2015 summit in Elmau, namely, to free 500 million individuals from hunger. Yet the coalition agreement contains neither this target nor a reference to the corresponding funding. The expectations here are clear, especially in the run-up to Germany's G7 presidency in 2022: the financial commitment must be further increased, and other G7 countries must follow suit to jointly reach the necessary spending level.
As in the 2017 coalition agreement, the new government's agreement includes the formulation that the budget for crisis prevention, humanitarian aid, foreign cultural and educational policy, and development cooperation should increase on a scale of 1:1 to the budget of the Ministry of Defense. Given the increase in armed conflicts (an increase from 39 to 56 from 2010 to 2020) and the rising need for emergency aid, it is difficult to be happy about such a "minimum mark" set for development cooperation. A total of three percent of GNI is to be made available for international action. That diplomacy and development cooperation come first and only then the military is certainly a good order.
Better coordination of ministries
The planned increased coordination between all ministries spending in the areas of "foreign affairs, security, defense, development, and human rights" is an overdue improvement, but it remains to be seen how this coordination will take place. Unfortunately, the federal government has often not addressed the need for better coherence, repeatedly called for by civil society. At a minimum, other areas, such as economic, trade, security, and agricultural policy, must not contradict – much less undermine – the objectives of development policy.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Niger on her 2019 West Africa tour. © Bundesbildstelle / dpa
Unfortunately, there is no spirit of renewal on the subject of Africa either. The G20 Compact with Africa, which is not without controversy, is to be continued as before. In addition to the Compact, a bundle of Africa policy initiatives emerged between 2017 and 2019 that are not specifically mentioned in the coalition agreement, but will certainly continue to exist – from the 2017 BMZ Marshall Plan with Africa (with a goal of sustainable development of the African continent in the sense of the 2030 Agenda) to the 2019 development investment fund AfricaConnect (aimed at financing German companies in Africa) to AfricaGrow (aimed at financing African companies). In 2019, BMZ also launched the special initiative "Jobs and Employment." The result is that the plethora of initiatives has become confusing. The new German government should review its instruments for efficiency and effectiveness.
Despite the lack of success of engagement in the Sahel region, it should be continued. At the very least, previous engagement should be critically reviewed, particularly against the backdrop of the failed Afghanistan approach. Overall, passages of the coalition agreement contain remarkably warm words that reflect a surprisingly traditional image of Africa for a federal government. We would have liked to have seen a long-awaited announcement in the field of cultural policy in development cooperation, especially in the paragraph on dealing with Germany's colonial heritage and the planned "Special Programme Global South."
Simplifying partnership
It is encouraging that many parts of the coalition agreement clarify the importance of civil society . For a long time, civil society has called for the allocation and funding guidelines of BMZ and the Foreign Office to be simplified. Now there is a corresponding sentence in the coalition agreement. In fact, the administrative requirements for applications and reporting obligations have become increasingly complex in recent years. Civil society organizations have to find more and more resources to keep up with these requirements. A bold move is needed here to simplify the application and implementation of programs and adapt them to reality. This also includes a review of the funding periods.
Emergency aid has become an important instrument of German foreign policy. The global significance of the increase in funding in recent years is also reflected in the coalition agreement. The anchoring of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, the Grand Bargain for the further reform of humanitarian aid, and the commitment to further expand localization are important commitments. Upgrading the office of the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance is also the right step. However, the coalition agreement makes no mention of forward-looking humanitarian aid, which could mean a real paradigm shift. Welthungerhilfe, together with the German Red Cross, has done pioneering work here and can point to successes.
Overall, we would have liked the coalition partners to have dared to make more progress in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, as they did in the policy areas of climate, migration and integration, and agriculture. Perhaps practice can still improve the coalition agreement. Much now depends on the new minister's room for maneuvering and her personal assertiveness.
(1) FSIN and Global Network Against Food Crises. 2021. Global Report on Food Crises 2021. Rome.
(2) IPC : Integrated Food Security Phase Classification: Integrierte Klassifizierung der akuten Mangelernährung von 1 bis 5.
(3) Von Braun, J., Chichaibelu, B.B., Torero, M., Laborde Debucquet, D., & Smaller, C. (2020): Ending hunger by 2030 - Policy actions and costs. Bonn, Germany: Center for Development Research (ZEF). www.zef.de/fileadmin/downloads/SDG2_policybrief.pdf
18.11.2021 | Blog COP 26: The climate conference that failed the South
The results of the 2021 climate conference in Glasgow are sobering. Michael Kühn, Senior Advisor for Climate Change Policy on the results of COP26.
08.11.2021 | Guest Commentary How corporations determine what we eat
The concentration of companies in the food and agricultural sector is higher than ever. Fewer and fewer people are deciding what we eat.
08.11.2021 | Guest Commentary Market Power and Powerlessness - Competition Law Fails to Keep Up with Oligopolies
Structural inequality and bargaining power in global food value chains: a competition law toolkit assessment


Weifang Shengde Petroleum Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Weifang Shengde Petroleum Machinery Manufacturing Co.,Ltd is a specialized company who integrates the research and development, design and production in terms of oil and gas drill and extraction equipment and tools. It is the Tier one suppliers for China National Petroleum (Group) Corporation, China Petroleum & Chemical (Group) Corporation in petrol drilling machinery manufacturing.
The company always adheres to the principle of technology, integrity, people-oriented, which makes us achieve a leap in the development. The company has passed ISO9001 certification and API certification in 2006 with the honor of [Shandong Province High-tech Enterprise", Advanced company in abiding by the contract and keeping promises", and so on. The company has made dozens of national patents, some of which obtains the provincial and municipal outstanding new product award. IN 2010, it got the National Technology Innovation Fund for Small and Middle Enterprise.
The company now has more than 200 employees, in which there are more than 40 engineers and technicians; The Company has all kinds of advanced production and testing equipment with mains products of series of down hole motors, screw oil pumps and PDC bits. The quality of products is leading at home and abroad. The production capacity has reached 2,000 sets of down hole motors series, 800 sets of screw oil pumps series, Products are sold to domestic and foreign markets with widely praise and recognition from customers.
Company Name: Weifang Shengde Petroleum Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Optus has switched on tri-band carrier aggregation in suburbs of Newcastle, NSW. The telco revealed it had achieved speeds of up to 317 megabits per second using a combination of 1xFDD + 2xTDD channels on the 2300MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands.
People in Lambton, Mayfield and Mayfield West can now use the technology — once they get a hand on a Category 9 device, such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
"Aggregating 1x FDD + 2x TDD carriers on a commercial network with a commercial device is a world first for Optus," Dennis Wong, acting managing director Optus Networks, said in a statement.
"It is a more efficient use of our spectrum bands and will provide a more consistent and better experience for our customers."
The telco said it would switch on the technology in Melbourne's CBD early next month and Sydney's CBD in early 2016. It will be switched on in Adelaide and Brisbane in mid-2016.
Optus already offers 2x carrier aggregation in parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin as well as some regional centres.
Optus has also tested 4x carrier aggregation.
Telstra earlier this year rolled out tri-band carrier aggregation for parts of its network.


To book a table for 7 or more people, please contact us via email reservations@roganic.com.hk or call +852 28178383.
Bookings can only be made 60 days in advance.
We will require a credit card to secure dinner reservations.
Guests are required to provide credit card details to secure the reservation.
Same-day cancellation (within 24 hours of your booking) or no-show of your Roganic Hong Kong reservation will incur a charge of HK$680 per person at dinner.
Same-day cancellation (within 24 hours of your booking) or no-show of your Roganic Private Dining Room reservation, will incur a charge equivalent to the minimum spend required to hire the room.
Cancellation of your Aulis reservation less than 72 hours of your visit will incur a charge of HK $1480 per person at dinner for Aulis Hong Kong.
Roganic is happy to accept children over the age of 6 years at lunch time and over the age of 12 in the evening in the main restaurant. Children of any age are welcome in our private dining rooms. Please note we do not have a children's menu at the restaurant.
Roganic can usually cater for most health or allergy related dietary requirements with advance notice. Our head chef will happily adapt the menu according to each individual guest's requirements. Please note any allergies or intolerances when making the reservation, so advance notice can be given to the kitchen.


text:
Q: renderDataTable in shiny is showing column search at bottom but I want it on top I have the following code for a shiny application:
library(shiny)
library(tidyverse)
data_for_table <- read_csv("data/ForStatAnalysis.csv") %>% select(-ElectionYear ) %>% select(-State_abb) %>% rename('Total Migration'=totalMigration)

shinyServer(function(input, output) {

output$base_data <- renderDataTable(
  data_for_table,
  options=list(
    pageLength = 10, scrollX=TRUE
    )
  )

)

})

This renders with search columns (which I like) however, the search columns are located at the bottom of the grid, which is just weird.
It looks like this:

I have tried various options at https://datatables.net/reference/option/ but I can't seem to figure out what parameter will make the column search appear at the top of the grid.
Does anyone know how to move these column searchers to the top of the grid?

A: I needed to add the DT library and filter="top" as shown below.
library(shiny)
library(tidyverse)
library(DT)
data_for_table <- read_csv("data/ForStatAnalysis.csv") %>% select(-ElectionYear ) %>% select(-State_abb) %>% rename('Total Migration'=totalMigration)
# Define server logic required to draw a histogram
shinyServer(function(input, output) {

    output$base_data <- renderDataTable(
      data_for_table,filter="top",
      options=list(
        pageLength = 10, scrollX=TRUE,  options = list(
          columns = list(searchable = FALSE)
        )
      )

    )

})

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
import argparse
import sqlite3
import os

def main():
    """ 1) Fill in all null values with 0s
        2) Normalize all data
        3) Any additional options
    """
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("--svm", action="store_true", help="output svm file?")
    args = parser.parse_args()

    if(not os.path.exists("samples.db")):
        print("Expected samples.db in path.  Use net_preprocess.py first.")
        exit(1)

    autofill_nulls("samples")
    normalize_data("samples")

    autofill_nulls("udp_samples")
    normalize_data("udp_samples")

    autofill_nulls("tcp_samples")
    normalize_data("tcp_samples")

    autofill_nulls("icmp_samples")
    normalize_data("icmp_samples")

def autofill_nulls(table):
    """
    """
    conn = sqlite3.connect("samples.db")
    c = conn.cursor()

    # Names of all column
    c.execute('''SELECT * FROM %s''' % (table))
    column_names = [description[0] for description in c.description]

    c.execute('''SELECT * FROM %s''' % (table))
    samples = c.fetchall()
    for sample in samples:
        for idx, column in enumerate(column_names):
            if(column != "uuid"):
                if(sample[idx] == None):
                    new_value = 0
                    # Update db with new value
                    c.execute('''UPDATE %s SET %s=%d WHERE uuid=%d''' % (table, column, new_value, sample[0]))
        conn.commit()
    conn.close()

def normalize_data(table):
    """
    """
    conn = sqlite3.connect("samples.db")
    c = conn.cursor()

    # Names of all column
    c.execute('''SELECT * FROM %s''' % (table))
    column_names = [description[0] for description in c.description]

    # Get min,max of all columns
    column_props = {}
    for column in column_names:
        if(column != "uuid"):
            c.execute('''SELECT MIN(%s), MAX(%s) FROM %s''' % (column, column, table))
            column_props[column] = c.fetchone()[:2]

    c.execute('''SELECT * FROM %s''' % (table))
    samples = c.fetchall()
    for sample in samples:
        new_values = []
        for idx, column in enumerate(column_names):
            if(column != "uuid" and column != "class"):
                # Avoid div by zero errros
                if(column_props[column][1] != 0):
                    # Update value to be (value - min)/(max - min)
                    new_value = ((sample[idx] - column_props[column][0])/(column_props[column][1] - column_props[column][0]))
                    # Update db with new value
                    c.execute('''UPDATE %s SET %s=%f WHERE uuid=%d''' % (table, column, new_value, sample[0]))
        conn.commit()
    conn.close()

def sql_2_libsvm():
    #Turn sql data into lib svm format
    #lib svm format: <label> <feature_idx>:<feature_value> <feature_idx>:<feature_value> ...
    #also scale any non-binary data from 0 to 1.
    return

if __name__ == "__main__": main()


SBS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSE) today announced that it has been named to Business Week's 1999 Hot Growth list of 100 fastest-growing small companies. This 15th annual Hot Growth listing ranks publicly traded corporations according to their three-year results in sales growth, earnings growth, and return on invested capital, based on the latest figures from continuing operations available through the most recent 12 months. Technology companies led the list, as in previous years, although a broad range of industries and sectors were represented. The combined list features average annual sales growth of 44.5% and average annual earnings growth of 89.5% for the past three years, exceeding the Standard & Poorís Industrials companies, which reported 6.2% sales growth and 6.7% earnings growth during the same period. "We are pleased to be identified as a leading growth company by one of the foremost authorities on business. SBS will continue to do our best to merit this kind of recognition," said Christopher J. Amenson, Chairman and CEO of SBS Technologies. "The performance of our company is the result of a lot of hard work by our employees and their continuing diligence in satisfying customers and building the strategic value of this company," Amenson continued. SBS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSE) was founded in 1986 and has been listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market© since 1992. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, SBS Technologies has six additional operating locations throughout the U.S. and Germany. SBS is a leading manufacturer of embedded computer components and systems used in a variety of applications, such as communications, medical imaging, industrial control, and flight instrumentation, in the commercial and aerospace markets. The company markets its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and large commercial and defense end-users through a worldwide direct sales force, global channels, and an extensive service and support network. Additional information about SBS Technologies and its products is available through the company's web site at http://www.sbs.com This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward looking statements should be considered in light of the risk factors listed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending June 30, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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Health Zone
Pentagon awards funds to spinal cord injury research
By Anita Hassan on May 29, 2013 at 5:56 PM
The United States Department of Defense awarded a $2 million grant to help further research that will help people living with spinal cord injuries, MethodistHospital officials in Houston announced this week.
The grant will support the expansion of translational research to find treatments for individuals living with spinal cord injury, including servicemen and women. It's a type of research that uses basic science to create practical applications that can be used in the real world. i.e. drug studies.
Specifically, the grant will help fund the second and third phase of clinical trials for Riluzole, a neuroprotective drug that is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved drug used in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Laboratory studies have shown it to be effective in limiting traumatic damage to the spinal cord.
The two-year, peer-reviewed grant was awarded the North American Clinical Trials Network or NACTN.
Created by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, NACTN is a consortium of university hospital neurosurgical and neurorehabilitation teams, who bring therapy treatments into clinical trials. It is led by Dr. Robert G. Grossman, professor of neurosurgery at the Neurological Institute at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, which is one of NACTN's 10 clinical sites.
"Our goal is to bring effective treatments from the lab to the servicemen and women on our frontlines," said Grossman in a press release. "With the support of DOD and the Reeve Foundation, our network has a unique opportunity to move safe and potentially viable treatments from the research laboratory into the clinic – this is critically important because presently there are few treatment options for these patients other than standard medical care."
Anita Hassan
10 ways to avoid getting the flu this season
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Report: Data show dangerous levels of fluoride in Maine town
A lot of porn may shrink your brain, researchers say
How to get eaten alive in Houston (or how not to)
Study suggests strong link between depression and early death among seniors with diabetes
Study finds most bacteria-ridden parts of an airplane
Elderly in Texas face health challenges


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News > Medscape Medical News > Neurology News
Midlife Systemic Inflammation a Harbinger of Brain Volume Loss
Megan Brooks
A new study provides more evidence that midlife systemic inflammation may contribute to brain volume loss and cognitive trouble later in life.
In a large biracial community sample, a higher level of systemic inflammatory markers measured in middle-aged men and women was independently associated with lower regional brain volume and reduced memory more than 2 decades later.
"The findings provide support for inflammation's early pathogenic role in the development of neurodegenerative brain changes associated with late-life cognitive decline, AD [Alzheimer's disease], and other forms of dementia," write Keenan Walker, PhD, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, and colleagues.
The study was published online November 1 in Neurology.
A Contributing Factor
"The majority of previous studies on this topic have assessed markers of systemic inflammation and neurological integrity simultaneously. As a result, it has been difficult to disentangle whether systemic inflammation was a cause or just an associated feature of late-life brain changes," Dr Walker told Medscape Medical News.
"By demonstrating that markers of systemic inflammation in midlife relate to smaller brain volumes and reduced cognitive functioning decades later, our findings provide support for a causal or contributory role of systemic inflammation. Essentially, these results move us closer to clarifying the temporal relationship between systemic inflammation, cognitive decline, and neurodegeneration," said Dr Walker.
The findings are based on 1633 adults (mean age, 53 years; 60% female; 27% African American) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) who had five inflammatory markers measured at baseline: fibrinogen, albumin, white blood cell count, von Willebrand factor, and factor VIII.
By using all five, the investigators created an inflammation composite score for each participant. Episodic memory and regional brain volumes determined via MRI were assessed 24 years later, when the cohort had an average age of 76.5 years.
Each standard deviation increase in midlife inflammation composite score at baseline was associated with a 532-mm3 smaller AD signature region volume (P = .008), 519-mm3 smaller occipital lobe volume (P = .009), 110-mm3 smaller hippocampal volume (P = .013), and a 1788-mm3 larger ventricular volume (P = .013), as well as reduced episodic memory (P = .046), 24 years after baseline.
The effect of a one–standard deviation increase in the overall inflammation score in midlife on brain volume 2 decades later was similar to the effect associated with having a single APOE ε4 gene that increases the risk for AD, the researchers note.
Compared with adults with no elevated midlife inflammatory markers, those with elevations in three or more markers had, on average, 4.6% smaller hippocampal volumes, 5.3% smaller AD signature region volumes, and 5.7% smaller occipital lobe volumes.
The association between midlife inflammation and late-life brain volume was modified by age and race: Younger adults of white race with higher levels of systemic inflammation during midlife were more likely to show reduced brain volumes later on.
Implications and Caveats
The researchers note that the prospective study design, long follow-up, detailed assessment of potentially confounding variables, large sample size, and inclusion of a large African American sample are strengths of the study. However, the current findings should be interpreted within the context of several limitations, they note.
"Although the acute-phase reactants used in the present study represent components of the innate immune system, several of these proteins are implicated in other closely related physiologic process, such as hemostasis, which may also influence brain volume," they write. "Interpretation of the current findings is also limited by the measurement of inflammatory markers at a single time point, as it is unclear whether a single measurement can adequately capture inflammation chronicity."
Dr Walker said the five inflammatory markers used in the study were chosen for two reasons. First, they have been previously shown to be sensitive markers of nonspecific inflammation in the body and, second, the interleukins and other proinflammatory cytokines were not available.
"We hope to use these findings as a basis to request grant funding to look at interleukins, TNF-α [tumor necrosis factor-α], and other inflammatory mediators. This should give us a more nuanced understanding of the systemic inflammation–brain relationship," he said.
The researchers also caution that interpretation of the contribution of inflammation to neurodegeneration "rests on the assumption that brain volume loss occurred after inflammatory markers were assessed. Although evidence suggests that this is likely the case (brain volume loss accelerates after age 60 years), this cannot be confirmed without the assessment of change over time," they note. They did not have baseline MRI data.
Dr Walker said he believes it's too early to recommend any dramatic changes in practice based on this study.
However, "our findings do suggest that reducing the burden of diseases known to cause chronic inflammation should be a priority for dementia prevention throughout adulthood. It is my hope that these findings will direct future research efforts for dementia prevention and treatment."
Noteworthy Research
Kyle Bourassa, a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona in Tucson, who has studied inflammatory markers and cognitive function but wasn't involved in the current research, said the study is "noteworthy due to the large size of the sample and the fact that they are linking inflammation with brain volume changes specifically."
A recent related study by Bourassa and colleagues found that being overweight or obese leads to clinically meaningful increases in the rate of cognitive decline in association with changes in inflammatory markers in the blood, as reported by Medscape Medical News.
"In our previous study, we examined cognitive measures as our outcome, and while that is useful, being able to link inflammation to specific reductions in the size of brain regions is very interesting," Bourassa said.
Angela Scicutella, MD, PhD, a neuropsychiatrist in Bayside, New York, clinical associate professor, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York, and member of the American Academy of Neurology, said this study is a "contribution to the literature that already exists and supports the concept that inflammation is a contributing factor."
However, Dr Scicutella said she "would have liked to have seen the MRI at the outset and then later. Not having a baseline was a big problem for me because 24 years is a long time. It's a single time point, so how do you know that it is reflective of almost a quarter of a century? A lot can happen over the years."
"It would also have been nice to know the status of any depressive or anxiety symptoms," which can affect the brain, said Dr Scicutella.
Summing up, Dr Scicutella said the concept that inflammation has a role in neurodegeneration has been shown before, "so I don't think this is new, but they chose a different set of markers. It also beckons the question, where do we go from here? What do we do about this?"
The study had no commercial funding. Dr Walker, Kyle Bourassa, and Dr Scicutella have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Neurology. Published online November 1, 2017. Abstract
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Cite this: Midlife Systemic Inflammation a Harbinger of Brain Volume Loss - Medscape - Nov 02, 2017.
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It was way past her bedtime. But we were staying in the country, and she had spent the day swimming, befriending chickens, meeting a blue-tongue lizard, flying a kite and making pizza. And she was too excited to sleep. Instead, she practiced her jumping.


Before you depart, leave a hunting plan with a family member or friend. A hunting plan tells where and with whom you intend to hunt, and when you expect to return. It also should contain specific directions on your route to your destination and any alternate destination you may have if bad weather changes your plans. Be sure to include your cell phone number and cell phone carrier. Law enforcement officials can work with the carrier to locate your position using your cell phone even if you are injured and cannot answer.
Download a printable version of a hunting plan in PDF format.


An identityresult event is sent to an RTCPeerConnection object's onidentityresult event handler to inform it that an assertion has been generated by an associated identity provider (IdP) during the process of creating an SDP offer or answer.
Note: While older versions of the WebRTC specification used events to report assertions, this has been deprecated and removed from the specification. Instead, the peerIdentity property returns a Promise that resolves with an identity or rejects if an error occurs or if unable to validate the identity.


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Exploration & development
Handling & processing
Trade & transport
Cloud Peak Energy sweeps awards for safety
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Published by Louise Mulhall, Editorial Assistant
Global Mining Review, Thursday, 03 August 2017 15:30
Cloud Peak Energy Inc. (NYSE:CLD), one of the largest U.S. coal producers and the only pure-play Powder River Basin (PRB) coal company, has announced results for the second quarter and first six months of 2017.
Second quarter 2017 net loss was US$6.9 million, as compared to the net income of US$35.3 million for the second quarter of 2016, which included both US$18.8 million of contract buyout revenue and non-cash accounting income of US$37.3 million for asset retirement obligation remeasurements.
Adjusted EBITDA of SU$29.6 million, shipments of 14.3 million short t, and an average cost of US$9.72 per short t were all improved results as compared to the second quarter of 2016.
Exported 1.3 million short t during the second quarter, which were the company's full contracted volumes for the period.
Reduced undrawn letters of credit by US$38.9 million from 31 March, 2017. The improved company and coal industry conditions supported a lower amount of collateral for its reclamation bonding programme. Cloud Peak Energy now has US$28.6 million remaining in undrawn letters of credit.
Ended the quarter with total available liquidity of US$453 million.
Cordero Rojo Mine received the 2016 Safe Sam Award, from the Wyoming Mining Association, and the Wyoming Governor's Safety Award. Colin Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Second quarter shipments improved by 21% compared with the second quarter of 2016, as we exported 1.3 million short t and domestic customers took their contracted coal ratably. Improving volumes allowed us to deliver a solid operational and financial performance in the second quarter as the industry environment continued to improve."
Health, safety, and environment
During the second quarter of 2017, among the Company's approximately 1150 full-time mine site employees, there were no reportable injuries. The year-to-date Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) All Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) is 0.17, compared to a rate of 0.16 through the second quarter of 2016. During the 39 MSHA inspector days at the mine sites in the quarter, the Company received one significant and substantial citation with an assessment totaling US$4632.
The Cordero Rojo mine was awarded the 2016 Safe Sam Award, which is presented by the Wyoming Mining Association to the mining operation with the best safety record and the most work-hours across operations of all sizes. The Cordero Rojo Mine also received the Wyoming Governor's Safety Award for the large mine category. This award recognises safety excellence among Wyoming's mine operators, chosen from approximately 350 active operators in the state.
In addition, Cloud Peak Energy's Antelope Mine, located near Douglas, Wyoming, received the third place safety award for large surface mines from the Wyoming State Mine Inspector and the Wyoming Mining Association.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/03082017/cloud-peak-energy-sweeps-awards-for-safety/
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Great Panther achieves 2020 guidance
Friday 15 January 2021 15:15
Great Panther Mining Ltd has announced its 4Q20 and annual 2020 production results from its three 100% owned mines: Tucano in Brazil, and Topia and the Guanajuato Mine Complex in Mexico.
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Consolidating several groups of this independent biomedical research, treatment and education institution, City of Hope's Rivergrade Administration Center provides a cohesive, functional environment while helping to transform culture and behavior. To encourage interaction, a variety of neighborhood work zones are offered, ranging from individual workstations to casual collaboration areas to private meeting rooms. A central, looping circulation path defines neighborhoods and work zones. Graphics on each floor feature inspiring stories of City of Hope cancer survivors and reinforce the organization's mission.


Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) wants to chair the House Science Committee. Rohrabacher is also a climate change denier and a big supporter of offshore oil drilling.
The congressman is hoping to chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee if Republicans are able to keep control of Congress after November.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) will be retiring after the mid-term elections and both Rohrabacher and Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) hope to help run the committee.
If Rohrabacher is accepted to the position it could be devastating for the scientific community. He has claimed that scientists around the world have engaged in an "onslaught of nonsense being foisted upon humankind in the name of man-made global warming." The lawmaker even attempted to claim that "dinosaur flatulence" may have caused global temperatures to rise, according to National Memo.
Rohrabacher has also fought for offshore oil drilling, claiming that "environmental radicals" were preventing the practice from gaining mass appeal.
Skeptical Science lists many of the outright lies Rohrabacher has made against climate change. Among his claims is that "Co2 is not a pollutant," "the polar bears are not becoming extinct," "the earth quit warming and now may be in a cooling cycle," and many more.
An anti-science, anti-environmentalist would fit perfectly within the Trump administration. It's also an unlikely nomination if Democrats manage to accomplish a blue wave in November 2016 and take Congress from the Republican party.


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Denim Dish: Avondale Reports Loss
Blaming "extraordinarily difficult times for domestic manufacturers" and competition with foreign mills, denim producer Avondale Inc. reported a $7.7 million net loss for its fiscal year ended Aug. 29. That compares with a $100,000 loss a...
Blaming "extraordinarily difficult times for domestic manufacturers" and competition with foreign mills, denim producer Avondale Inc. reported a $7.7 million net loss for its fiscal year ended Aug. 29. That compares with a $100,000 loss a year earlier.
The 2003 loss included $5.1 million in aftertax charges related to two previously reported plant closings, asset write-offs and an early refinancing of debt, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2002, the company had $4.3 million in aftertax charges.
Sales fell 10.5 percent to $591 million.
Explaining the deteriorating financial results, chairman, president and chief executive officer G. Stephen Felker said, "Cyclical effects of poor retail sales are familiar to us. More unique today are the broad effects on global trade of the Chinese manipulation of their currency and other trade-distorting strategies. Unfortunately, it appears that Washington places little value on the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy."
Privately owned Avondale releases its financial results to the SEC because of publicly listed bonds.


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Batman Noir: Hush (HC)
Publisher: DC Comics
by Jeph Loeb (Author), Jim Lee (Art), Scott Williams (Art)
The colors are drained and the shadows come alive in this stark take on a dark classic! Presented in its original pencils and ink artwork by industry legend Jim Lee, Batman Noir: Hush highlights the grim, gritty atmosphere of Batman and Gotham City, and pits the Dark Knight against a city overrun with its legendary villains. As the likes of the Joker, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy and more throw Batman's life into chaos, little do they know they have become pawns to the enigmatic Hush in an elaborate game of revenge against Bruce Wayne.
This truly unforgettable story by two of comics' top talents, writer Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman/Batman) and artist Jim Lee (Justice League: Origins, Superman Unchained), presents the Caped Crusader's most personal case yet in stark black and white!
Batman Noir: The Killing Joke (HC)
by Alan Moore (Author), Brian Bolland (Author)
Black Widow by Kelly Thompson (Vol. 1)
by Kelly Thompson (Author), Elena Casagrande (Art)
by Mike Richardson


From intermediate to advanced level, PWYH volume two takes you into the stratosphere with new concepts and ideas all presented in high resolution. Part one focuses on single string improv. Part two focuses on chord melody and harmonic superimposition. Part three features six jazz guitar solos performed by Chris Standring. Every note transcribed in traditional notation and TAB. Every example is shown with video and audio.