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← Influence? What Influence?
Prodding the Russian Bear →
The CBI gets its sums wrong
Pro-EU politicians from the old parties keep telling us that "every UK family benefits by £3000 a year from EU membership". This is based on a recent CBI report. But there are big questions about the CBI's numbers.
First of all, they've done no new research. The CBI has simply carried out a review of existing literature on the theme. They've taken public estimates of "benefits" – typically 2 to 3 % –and rounded them up substantially. They say "It is not unreasonable to infer (my emphasis) from a literature review that the net benefit arising from EU membership is somewhere in the region of 4–5% of UK GDP or between £62bn and £78bn". This claim is unsupported by references, at least in the Executive Summary.
It's worth reading the excellent critique of the CBI position in the Telegraph blog by Mats Persson, Director of Open Europe.
The CBI appears simply to have ignored the costs of membership. This is a bit like the reverse of Lord Stern and The Stern Report on Climate Change. He took all the costs of "global warming", exaggerated them, and ignored the benefits.
They have also implicitly assumed that we would lose the trade we currently do with the EU when we leave. They suggest that in any trade negotiations after we leave, the EU would have the stronger hand. This ignores the fact that we will be not only the EU's largest external trade customer, but also the largest net customer. Clearly the UK will have the stronger hand. The CBI has failed to produce an exhaustive study of the literature and has ignored the many contrary views which have been published.
The most notable omissions include cost/benefit analyses by the Institute of Directors (IOD) and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). The conclusion of the IOD was that after totting up all the economic costs and benefits, staying in the EU leaves Britain out of pocket, to the tune of 1.75 per cent of GDP. A report by NIESR in 2004 concluded that EU membership delivers only a small net benefit.
Further studies by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the US International Trade Commission found it essentially too close to call either way. The author of the IEA paper, the late Professor Brian Hindley, says: "Any economic gain or loss is small – almost certainly less than 1 per cent of GDP… more precise or more sophisticated calculations will not arrive at a large number for either gain or loss."
This is very different from the CBI's estimate of EU membership boosting GDP by 4-5 per cent a year. Have these contrary studies been missed off the list because they are "off-message", as far as the CBI is concerned?
The independent House of Commons library has recently produced an alternative study on the topic which has a choice of literature completely different from the CBI, and represents a much broader spectrum of opinion. Separate and independent analyses by two of the UK's most respected economists, Tim Congdon and Patrick Minford, both indicate that the costs of membership, including the huge damage inflicted by gross over-regulation, cost as much as 10% of GDP.
Former trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson estimated trade benefits at 1.8% of GDP (the CBI seems to start at 3 to 5%, and round up to 4 to six per cent). But former Industry Commissioner Günther Verheugen estimated the regulatory costs of EU membership at 5.5% of GDP (and rising).
So should we take this claim that EU membership boosts GDP by up to 5 per cent seriously? I don't think so. No one seems very clear on how the CBI researchers have arrived at those figures. And, as the CBI report itself says, I wonder: "what would have happened if history had been different?".
18 Responses to The CBI gets its sums wrong
The "irritation!" to us of the eu is incalculable.
Me_Again says:
The only flaw with that post was this line Roger:-
"… Separate and independent analyses by two of the UK's most respected economists, Tim Congdon….."
Tim is by no means separate or independent, I know he's no longer our chief economist because he put personal gain before his principals, but I believe he's still a member in good standing.
I meant — and I think it's clear from the context — separate and independent FROM EACH OTHER. I did not mean that Congdon and Minford have no established views or party affiliations.
"….Separate and independent analyses by two of the UK's most respected economists." That may be what you intended Roger but I doubt I am the only one who read it in that context -but many will not know of Tim's background.
Doesn't matter though because lots of the things I take for granted I have no references for. Something I read somewhere…….is about the best I can come up with without rummaging in the Google locker.
barrymx5 says:
And of course membership of the CBI is predominently of large companies, many of whom lobby the Commission to ensure new regulations help the keep out competition.
And Roger you were great on Question Time last Thursday Well done.
Maureen Gannon says:
my only comment
Congratulations Roger you did a grand job on QT and showed a great deal of restraint when talked over..
Malcolm Edward says:
It makes you wonder how members of the CBI manage to run their companies in the real world.
Bellevue says:
John Redwood, on his blog, has some impressive calculations….. and comes up with a COST to each household in Britain of £4000 per annum.
When you consider what the Common Fisheries policy and the Common Agriculture policy have cost this country, I would say the cost is even higher.
(and apart from anything else, Roger, you should be pushing the Who-Rules-our-Country?? theme.)
Bellevue has made a good point Roger in his/her last sentence. A good many people switch off if faced with a mass of statistics even though the bottom line is obvious as you have explained above. But even Joe Bloggs understands that self rule is no longer allowed in the good old UK.
Personally, I believe that freedom, independence and democracy are the real issues. I hope I would have the courage to vote for OUT even if it cost us money. But it's reassuring to know that when we do what is right, we also do the best thing for our economy.
Flyinthesky says:
The CBI's figures probably only consider the benefits for members and corporates, the actual reality is the benefits of eu membership are privatised whereas the cost, both in financial and in terms of society itself are socialised.
From whatever bias figures are generated either way I'm convinced the net is negative, even if they were in balance the issue of sovereignty remains paramount. Nation or region, what's it to be?
catalanbrian says:
Tim Congdon (UKIP parliamentary candidate, Chairman of The Freedom Association etc.) and Partick Minford (Monday Club, Better Off Out Campaign etc). Independent of each other they may be, but they are both well known Eurosceptics, so I think that any report on the EU made by either of them is unlikely to present a fair and independent view. You UKIPPers must be getting desperate if you need to rely on such misleading nonsense.
I have no doubt that when someone who is affiliated prepares a report nowadays, that a certain bias creeps in. However, this is the case with both sides of this argument as you well know.
We have idiot Clegg saying 7% of UK law comes from the EU. Deliberately disingenuous or mendacious take your pick.
Ps Brian, we aren't the desperate ones…………
Has it occurred to you, Catalanbrian, that they may support UKIP because they understand the economics, rather than vice versa?
But surely it is in your interests to use reports by unbiased people, rather than by people who are likely to present matters from a UKIP/Eurosceptic viewpoint?
neilfutureboy says:
Dan Hannan wrote recently http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/author/danielhannan/ of how the CBI is now just another government funded sock puppet. It is one of the last organisations you would think would wish to be government funded but there it is.
This "report" which as you say does not involve any actual research, is exactly what you would expect from career sock puppeteers (as indeed Stern's also was).
Mike Stallard says:
Roger, for the very first time I did not bother with reading your excellent article.
What matters in this "debate" is not throwing figures back and forth at each other. They are selling the sausage not the sizzle.
If you look at the tiny number of countries that the EU has trade agreements with and compare that with the World Trade Organisation, of which Norway and Switzerland are both members, for instance, the difference is striking. Bandying figures around – but leaving out all the inconvenient ones – is not what we are talking about. We need to present the real picture in all its stark simplicity: the EU is not working and the EU can never work.
I do not think that, say, Napoleon, was prevented from conquering Italy by a cost analysis. I do not think that, say, Winston Churchill was reckoning up the cost of "fighting on the beaches". I do not think that Mr Farage is driven by economic analysis, but because he is disgusted.
And do you know what? So am I!
All perfectly true Mike but business decisions are not supposed to be based on emotion.
Tactical decisions are not supposed to be based on anger.
Strategic decisions should be pondered long and carefully and be unemotional
We all feel loathing for the manipulators, I'd guess, we all hate the way things are twisted by the spin doctors BUT we cannot let the high emotion control our actions or we're stuffed.
We have to be as coldly calculating as the people we are up against -and I don't mean the lower level people like Cameron and Clegg.
A space divided. A future together?


Building, features and location excellent.Slow check in and out.
We thought the location, staff, food and room were excellent and there was easy access to the City.It was quite a walk up to the top floor of the Elm House annexe.
Welcome to Oxford. Enter your dates and choose from over 213 properties!. Find a place to stay in Oxford. Book the best price! Oxford → Hotels Oxford, Guest houses, Bed and breakfasts Oxford, Inns, Apartments Oxford. Cheap Hotels, Discounts, Hotel Deals and Offers • Oxford hotels — Let ehotelsreviews.com find the perfect hotel in Oxford for you.


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Finding ways to help people live happily and comfortably at home
Lyndon, a ForHousing tenant has hearing difficulties and uses sign language to communicate with others because he finds it difficult to communicate verbally. As Lyndon has no family or friends close by, he relies a lot on the Supported Housing Service and the team that work there.
When Lyndon recently had a fall, he called for help using his pendant but had trouble knowing if the operative could hear him. Lyndon felt really anxious and distressed and when the emergency services got to him he was very panicked.
After the incident we knew we needed to change the alarm equipment and think of ways we could give Lyndon reassurance that his emergency calls had been answered and help was on the way.
Lyndon is really independent and had said before that he didn't want any extra equipment, but after his fall he changed his mind.
The ForHousing team worked together to see what products would work well for Lyndon and would help him control his stress and anxiety.
Equipment was found that could be used alongside the system Lyndon already had in place at his home and would help him feel more reassured and comfortable.
After talking things through with Lyndon we installed the new equipment into his home. This included a vibrating pillow pad which linked to the smoke alarm, flashing lights that told Lyndon he had an intercom call, and a vibrating and flashing pendant that let him know when a call had been made to the emergency alarm company and help was on its way.
Since Lyndon has had the new equipment he feels safer at home and has peace of mind that someone will always be on hand to help him.
By using a sign language interpreter on video calls, we have been able to stay in touch regularly with Lyndon to make sure that his needs are met even during COVID times.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Facts About Finland That Could Get You Packing
April 23, 2014 by jenniferc
Finland has been ranked the 'best country in the world' by Newsweek in 2010 after various factors were summed up. Since the sun shines all day and all night in June and July, Finland is also called the land of the midnight sun since it does not drop below the horizon. Here are more facts about Finland that might just get you packing. As a matter of fact here is an article that could help you know how to prepare in the event you do move to Finland. Or anywhere in the world.
The Most Saunas in the World
There are 5.3 million people in Finland with 3.3 million saunas, making there an available one sauna per two to three people. Every apartment in Finland has a sauna including every office building, gym and hotel.
The Land of a Thousand Lakes
In Finland there are inland rivers and lakes that make u ten per cent of the country. The large forest area covers almost 2/3 of the land mass. In Finland, a significant minority of Swedish speakers live, so the official languages are both Swedish and Finnish Being a republic, the people directly elect the president who has real power over major military decisions, the EUP policy and foreign affairs. In other matters, the highest authority of the country is the parliament. Metal industries, technology and forestry are the most important sources of revenue. Finland also happens to be the world's biggest mobile phone producer.
World's Most Honest
When 192 wallets were dropped by Reader's Digest into sixteen different cities from Mumbai to New York as an experiment about honesty. Eleven out of twelve wallets in Helsinki which makes them the world's most honest city. Compare this to, say, Lisbon, Portugal only one wallet was returned and this was by a couple on vacation from Holland.
Second Happiest Country in the World
After Denmark, Finland is the 2nd happiest country in the world. The secret may be because on a daily basis, it is also the country that eats the least fruits. Less fruit, more candy, maybe that is the secret. I'm kidding, okay? Even serious businesses love Finland. After Singapore and Switzerland, Finland takes third place on the Global Competitive Index. Plus, right after Switzerland, Finland has the world's second-best workers. While on the subject, here is a course on happiness including the skills to flourish that helps you figure out what makes life worth living. Like the Finns.
The Best Mobile Games in the World Are From Finland
Since Nokia phones, Angry Birds is the most famous product from Finland. It has even been announced that the download numbers of this game surpassed the 2 billion mark. Plus, compared to all the vendors combined in the USA, companies from Finland held more positions in the top five in iPad charts. Finnish apps also hitting top downloading numbers include Oceanhorn and Badlands. Recently, Supercell made history holding the top two positions as the top grossing US iPhone and iPad apps. Here is a course on C++ Gaming that can help you develop your own version of Angry Birds.
Top Performing Latecomer
Having remained a country that was largely agrarian until the fifties, Finland was relatively a latecomer to the industrialized world. After this, however, it developed rapidly into an economy quite advanced as it built an extensive welfare state Nordic style, which resulted in a nominal per capita income as of 2012 of over forty sixty thousand dollars, which is among the world's highest. The country is a top performer in various national metrics of performance including human development, quality of life, civil liberty, economic competitiveness and education.
They Read. A Lot.
In Finland, there are eighteen books per capita borrowed on average. This means that in a year, a family of five borrowing a hundred books is not unusual. As a matter of fact, it is considered normal. This is in comparison to .03 books in Rio de Janeiro per capita per year, 2.5 books in Shanghai, 4.8 in Paris and 6.8 in London. Here is a course on speed reading that could get you reading a lot more books than usual, in the same amount of time.
The World's Least Failed State
Think of Sudan, Congo and Somalia where the government controls just a small part of the country. Face it, some countries fail while others do not. Among the countries that don't fail, Finland is the world leader. For this reason, it is also considered the world's most stable country. Here is a course called, 'How the Economy Really Works' if this is something you are interested in, which shows you the various factors affecting the economy of a country, including yours.


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Jon Krakauer Climbs Aboard With Gersh
By Patrick Hipes
Patrick Hipes
Executive Managing Editor
More Stories By Patrick
'Top Gun: Maverick' Wins Best Picture At AARP Movies For Grownups Awards
Peabody Awards Ceremony Finally Making Its Move To L.A., Sets 2023 Date
Courtesy Gersh
EXCLUSIVE: Bestselling writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer, whose 1996 book Into the Wild became the two-time Oscar-nominated film directed by Sean Penn, has signed for representation at Gersh. He currently has his 2003 book Under the Banner of Heaven, an investigation of polygamy and religious fundamentalism in the American West, in development at Imagine Entertainment. He's also at work on his next book, details of which are under wraps.
Krakauer has had eight books published including 1997's Into Thin Air, which chronicles first-hand (he was there) the tragic 1996 Mt. Everest climbing disaster that killed five; and 2009's Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, for which he embedded five months with U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan.
He also produced Prophet's Prey, Amy Berg's 2015 documentary about Warren Jeffs that bowed at Sundance and aired on Showtime.
Krakauer's most recent book, Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town, hit shelves in 2015. He also has written for National Geographic, Time, the New Yorker, the Washington Post and the New York Times.
He continues to be repped by attorney Becky Hall.
Gersh
Fox News And 'The Five' Top January Ratings; MSNBC and CNN Show Slight Gains In Total Day Viewers Vs. 2022
Snap Inc. Shares Slide Again After Uneven Q4 Results
Costume Shop Workers At L.A. Opera Ratify First-Time IATSE Contract


text:
package org.kuali.coeus.s2sgen.impl.generate.support;

import org.kuali.coeus.s2sgen.impl.generate.S2SBaseFormGenerator;
/**
 * This abstract class has methods that are common to all the versions of
 * EDGEPA427 form.
 *
 * @author Kuali Research Administration Team (kualidev@oncourse.iu.edu)
 */

public abstract class EDGEPA427BaseGenerator extends S2SBaseFormGenerator {

    protected static final int NARRATIVE_TYPE_ED_GEPA427 = 51;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


People always say "find the bait and you'll find the fish" and sometimes that isn't too difficult when bluegills, shad, and shiners are all bunched up. Pelagic bait can be fairly easy to find as it readily shows up on electronics and there can be obvious visual cues like birds diving or predator fishing blowing up on the surface. However, there is so much more going on down towards the bottom that isn't as obvious.
There is an extensive list of prey items that are mostly bottom dwellers. Crayfish are definitely one of the most common and desired prey items. Gobies are another big one if you are in the Great Lakes or connected waterways. But there are many others we might not think of so often sculpins, darters, logperch, mudpuppies, and insect larva (some are big enough to be a sizeable meal) just to name a few.
But how do you know when some of these less obvious prey items are around? An educated guess is a great start. Some research into what potential prey items might be prevalent in a certain fishery and what their habits are is an excellent source. That works well when putting something together quick is necessary. You can often guess on likely habitats and you will end up finding some active fish.
A lot more can be learned by looking a little more in depth. If the water is exceptionally clear the naked eye can be extremely valuable in detecting movement along the bottom. A FishSens SondeCAM underwater camera is another great tool for getting a much closer look. It particularly has a knack for identifying areas rich in gobies because they are often attracted to the camera movement. Size and color of the prey items are other important details the SondeCAM can uncover. Lastly, hop in the water and turn over a few rocks. You'll get a better handle on what the crayfish are like in a fishery and realize they aren't the only thing scooting around down there.
Sometimes you'll get lucky and hooked fish will give you a little clue. Always try and identify anything a fish regurgitates during the fight or in the livewell. Also if I am fishing for a species of fish to eat, I never pass up an opportunity to find out what's in their stomach. It may be a little gross but you would be surprised at what they key in on sometimes.
Studying this less obvious stuff takes a little more time but it can really help piece together one of the most important questions in fishing. The why? The more pieces of the puzzle you can put together the easier it will be to answer that question and the more prepared you'll be to take advantage of a similar situation in the future.
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I'm not sure if you really know me at all.
But I love the way you look at me.
do not know my heartache, the blisters.
Sunset fireworks, bright and uncontained.
Rhodonite cheeks and dancing bonfires.
You are helping me find this new version of me.
I let the darkness dissipate.
you know, what it's really supposed to be like.
bed forts and belly laughs.
Growing up innocent and idyllic.
Remembering, behind my lips, untainted moments.
Castles made of jade, hair in French braids.
that imagination can by dizzying and defying.
I have so many questions that have no escape.
cling to the back of my throat.
that unassuming way you do.
light me up – you were so unforeseen.
Drown me in sweet kisses and kerosene.


Hippo CMS 11.0 FCS comprises the Community Edition 11.0.0 and the Enterprise Edition 11.0.1.
For this version of Hippo we have completely rewritten main parts of the channel manager. This new channel manager contains many improvements that we have collected over time from customer and partner feedback. Every aspect of the User Experience has been evaluated and improved where possible. This has resulted in a new channel manager that is faster, easier to use, more efficient to use and makes your work much easier.
While creating your site, overview of your work is always a very important aspect of the system you are working with. The new channel manager greatly improves the overview you have on the page you are working on. We have been implementing a new interaction pattern to the page preview. The page will gracefully zoom out when side bars or other new user interface elements move into view. This gives you an optimized view on your work at all times.
Besides the existing preview if the channel in different widths, it is now possible to edit in multiple widths as well. This means that the channel manager can now be used to compose responsive sites completely 'mobile first' or 'tablet first' and makes it easy to continuously review and improve the responsiveness of the site while in the edit process.
This is in response to a trend we are observing in the market, that digital marketers are using contextualization to make websites mobile, rather than dedicated channels. Combined with the mobile‐ first trend, this means we need to make editing and targeting of responsive web properties easier, that span both desktop and mobile delivery channels.
A left vertical sidebar has been introduced. This sidebar can be shown or hidden by the user and contains context dependent information. Currently, the sidebar can contain the sitemap or the component catalog.
The sitemap moved to the left vertical sidebar. This means that you can use the sitemap during previewing or editing to navigate the site. The site preview and sitemap are bi‐directionally synchronised; navigating in the site preview causes the sitemap to change focus to the appropriate page, while navigating the sitemap causes the preview to update to the selected page.
The component catalog that used to be part of the top bar of the channel manager moved as a tab to the new left sidebar as well. This means that much more components are visible at the same time and the page view is not obstructed anymore by the user interface.
Just like components, containers in the channel manager now highlight with a label showing their type when you hover over them. This makes identification of complex page structures much more convenient. Also, containers indicate more clearly that they are locked.
Managing pages is much more intuitive now because adding, deleting, moving and copying pages is fully integrated in the channel manager.
Notifications are now shown as toast notifications that pop up in the upper right area of the screen. In this way, a much more natural and less intrusive feedback to the user is implemented.
Deleting a component is a little different now. The component property dialog box now contains the 'delete' button. This positioning is a better user interface practice.
Working with menus is much easier in V11 as the menu is displayed as a tree. This provides much more context to the user and gives better visible feedback on the work.
Drag‐and‐drop has been improved to make it more intuitive and convenient to use. Scrolling and drag‐ and‐drop have been integrated, therefore moving components on large pages is much easier. Horizontal drag‐and‐drop has been created for spanned containers.
The user interface makes use of Angular Material, which standardises much of the user interaction and behaviour. The system is much more accessible in this way and easier to master.
As Hippo is used all over the world, we redesigned the way we are handling localisations. This makes the use of Hippo in multiple time‐ and language zones concurrently much easier.
We redesigned the localisation implementation in the CMS. All text in the CMS is available in language packs that can be included in your project. As a first additional language we will provide Chinese. Other languages might follow in the future or can be created on request. All left‐to‐right languages can be easily supported in this way. We currently do not support right‐to‐left, top‐to‐bottom or mixed left‐to‐ right/right‐to‐left languages.
In many cases the timezone of the CMS does not match the timezone of the CMS user. Hippo CMS 11 is capable of working in any time zone, while at the same time making sure no conflicts will arise in the underlying data stores. The time zone can be selected from the login dialog of the CMS, this feature has to be activated manually.
All newly generated passwords will be hashed using SHA 256 automatically from now on. Please note that old password hashes will not be regenerated but will keep their existing hashes.
Hippo CMS 11 will be available in the cloud via the Hippo onDemand platform. It will be available as on-premises installation as well.
Starting with relevance now is easier than ever as we preinstall our bundle with standard relevance collectors in your project by default. All collectors that do not need to be configured can therefore be used right outofthebox. Furthermore we improved on the documentation on configuring the other relevance collectors as well.
A new collector has been added that stores the continent data of the visitor. It is part of the standard set of relevance collectors and is available outofthebox. The collector makes use of the ISO list of continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (Oceania), Europe, North America, South America.
The Trends chart has a small but useful improvement. Besides selecting the time window for reporting to be '1 week', '1 month' and '3 months', you now can select an exact date range that you want to see reflected in the reporting results.
Hippo CMS 11.0 FCS is a major release. This means that we did a lot of work under the hood and that it is not backwards compatible with previous releases. If you want to learn more about major/minor/micro versions you can find information at .
The public API we provided for extending the functionality of the menu bar in the Channel Manager was dropped. Custom extension of this menu bar is therefore not supported anymore.
We have decided to have this initial release of version 11.0 available as FCS (First Customer Shipment). This means that the release is actually only supported for certain set of initial customers. This period gives us time to harden the release in the wild. After this initial introduction, we will release the GA (General Availability) version shortly. If you want to know more about FCS and GA, you can take a look at .
Elasticsearch 1.7 (previously used in the Hippo CMS Enterprise) will almost certainly reach End-of-Life later this year. Hippo CMS version 11 will therefore support Elasticsearch 2.3. For Hippo CMS 10.2 we will keep support for Elasticsearch 1.7 until Elasticsearch 1.7 or Hippo CMS 10.2 (whichever is earlier) reaches EOL. We provide tooling to convert your Experiments and Trends data to the new Elasticsearch.
Starting with version 11.0, we removed the (Enterprise release) system requirement for having Couchbase available.
Several security fixes were made in this release, including the implementation of a potential cross-site request forgery protection.
Please check the system requirements for Hippo CMS V11 before you move to, or start with, this new release.
The Hippo CMS 11.0 Community Edition and Enterprise Edition are available as FCS version for a selected audience as from today.


text:
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ACS joins Societies to request support for Afghan Scholars and Students
Room H-232, The Capitol
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
Room S-221, The Capitol
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to ask for support and legislation to assist students and scholars who have been displaced by the current crisis in Afghanistan. While we and our institutions continue to support efforts to safely evacuate Afghan students and scholars who face danger under the Taliban, we are also starting to discuss how to offer longer-term assistance for those displaced by the crisis.
Bright and talented students and scholars, including many women, who were engaged in academic pursuits before the Taliban retook Afghanistan now face a variety of challenges. Some who were already in the United States are now concerned about how to continue to pay for or begin an education at a U.S. institution of higher education. Others are located in countries outside of Afghanistan and hope to study in the United States, while still others remain in Afghanistan and seek to continue or start their education in the United States.
Many of our institutions want to help and are offering support to those seeking to continue their education and begin their new lives. This includes raising scholarship funds for displaced students, placing scholars in U.S. graduate programs, and developing creative options for students seeking to transfer credits from Afghanistan institutions who may have destroyed their records.
We appreciate and are grateful that the House recently passed legislation to provide funding for Afghan refugees. We encourage Congress to provide additional support for displaced students and scholars seeking to study and continue their academic careers in the United States. Below are some specific ways Congress could support Afghan scholars and students in future legislation:
Provide additional USAID funds to support Afghans who left Afghanistan on P-2 status and are currently in third countries waiting to travel to the United States. Some displaced scholars previously on USAID grants in Afghanistan are now in third countries and are unable to receive support from their USAID grant as funding was tied to work in Afghanistan.
Require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which would allow those entering the United States on various visa programs to remain safe from deportation as they make life-altering decisions.
Remove the non-immigrant intent for F-1, M-1, and J-1 student and scholar visa programs for Afghan students. We have already heard reports of students with Afghan citizenship applying to study in the United States from third countries being denied a student visa because they cannot demonstrate intent to return to Afghanistan after their program of study. If non-immigrant intent cannot be removed, the requirement should be satisfied by an intent to return when conditions in Afghanistan are normalized or to return to a third country.
Require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to waive the current rules around off-campus work for Afghanistan student visa holders by announcing special student relief for Afghan students in F and J status. Regulations allow DHS and the Department of State (DOS) to suspend or alter rules regarding duration of status, full course of study, and employment eligibility for specific groups of F-1 and J-1 students from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances.
Any supplemental bills for Afghanistan should provide additional funding to USCIS and DOS to process the influx of Afghan visas and green card applications.
Require DHS and DOS to consider all possible avenues of relief for Afghan nationals to remain in the United States to study, conduct research, and contribute to U.S. higher education as professors, faculty, and staff.
We look forward to working as closely as possible with the Administration and Congress to support displaced Afghans who wish to join the millions of international students and scholars who have contributed to the cultural and intellectual vibrancy of our campuses and to our national economic prosperity.
Ted Mitchell
ACPA-College Student Educators International
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American Council on Education
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Association of American Colleges and Universities
Association of American Universities
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
Council of Graduate Schools
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
National Association for College Admission Counseling
National Association of College and University Business Officers
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of System Heads
Phi Beta Kappa Society
Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics
State Higher Education Executive Officers Association


text:
Hunter Renfroe leads the way with 2 homers as Red Sox hold on to defeat Twins, 11-9
Despite getting out-hit 14-11, the Red Sox were able to hold on to a series-opening, 11-9 victory over the Twins at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Tanner Houck, just recalled from Triple-A Worcester earlier in the day, made his eighth start (10th overall appearance) of the season for the Sox, and he was not particularly sharp.
Over 4 2/3 innings of work, Houck allowed three runs — all of which were earned — on eight hits, one walk, and one hit batsman to go along with six strikeouts on the evening.
The Twins got to the right-hander right away on Tuesday, as he served up a leadoff triple to Max Kepler to begin things in the top half of the first that was quickly followed by a one-out RBI single off the bat of Jorge Polanco to put the Sox in an early 1-0 hole.
Houck was, however, able to settle in by keeping Minnesota off the board in the second and third innings, and the Boston bats rewarded him for that in their half of the third.
Matched up against Minnesota starter Griffin Jax, Travis Shaw picked up where he left off on Monday and belted a leadoff home run 413 feet into the bleachers, marking his second straight homer in as many swings of the bat.
Shaw's solo shot pulled the Sox back even at one run apiece, but the Twins countered by getting to Houck for two more runs in the fourth, with Luis Arraez and Nick Gordon each reaching base and Miguel Sano driving both runners in on a two-run single back up the middle.
That put the Twins back up by two runs at 3-1, though the Red Sox did not let their second deficit last all that long with Rafael Devers drawing a leadoff walk and Alex Verdugo ripping a one-out double to left field to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Hunter Renfroe.
Renfroe got his productive day at the plate started by taking a hanging, 83 mph slider from Jax and depositing it 374 feet over the Green Monster for his first of two home runs on the night.
Even with Renfroe giving the Sox a 4-3 advantage with his three-run blast, Houck ran into a bit more trouble in the fifth when he plunked the first man he faced in Brent Rooker and allowed him to advance up to second base on a wild pitch.
After punching out Polanco and getting Josh Donaldson to pop out to third base, Houck's outing came to an unceremonious end as he got the hook from Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
Finishing with a final pitch count of 90 (54 strikes), the 25-year-old hurler did not factor into Tuesday's decision, though he did raise his ERA on the season to 3.43.
In relief of Houck, Cora turned to Josh Taylor out of the Boston bullpen, and the left-hander — who ultimately earned his first win of the year — did his job by getting Arraez to ground out to second base to end the inning.
At the halfway point, the Red Sox were in possession of a 4-3 lead. With Jax still on the mound for the Twins, they made sure to pad said lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Enrique Hernandez, celebrating his 30th birthday on Tuesday, led off with a single and moved up to second base on a Minnesota fielding error.
Jax quickly recorded the first two outs of the frame, but Devers kept the rally alive by lacing a ground-rule, RBI double into the right field seats that brought in Hernandez from third to make it a 5-3 contest.
J.D. Martinez followed by drawing another walk, though he was quickly brought in on yet another double from Verdugo, which brought Renfroe to the plate in a prime run scoring spot.
On the fifth pitch he saw from Jax, another hanging slider, Renfroe took full advantage of that opportunity by crushing his second home run of the night — and 25th of the season — 420 feet over everything in left-center field.
Renfroe's league-leading 10th homer in the month of August alone gave his side a commanding 9-3 lead, and at that point, it looked like the Sox were going to run away with another lopsided win over a last-place team.
That did not turn out to be the case, however, as Martin Perez struggled mightily in his relief appearance. After allowing one run on one hit and an RBI groundout in the top of the sixth, the lefty got rocked for two more runs in the seventh when he served up a two-run shot to Polanco.
Hirokazu Sawamura, working in relief of Perez, did not fare much better, as he walked one, gave up a single to another, and misdirected a wild pitch that allowed both runners to advance into scoring position with one out.
After fanning Mitch Garver, it appeared as though Sawamura was out of trouble when he got Nick Gordon to swing at a 93 mph splitter in the dirt.
Gordon, however, was able to just barely foul off the pitch to keep his at-bat alive, and he followed by lining a two-out, two-strike, and two-run single back up the middle to pull the Twins back to within one at 9-8.
Adam Ottavino, working in relief of Sawamura in the eighth, worked his way around a Jake Cave leadoff single (with the help of Christian Vazquez gunning Cave down at second base) and a two-out walk of Rooker in an otherwise clean inning.
Looking to add some insurance in their half of the eighth, the Red Sox offense got just that from Hernandez, who truly celebrated his birthday in style by following up a Vazquez leadoff single and clubbing a towering two-run shot over the Monster off Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar.
Hernandez's 16th home run of the year, which traveled 425 feet and left his bat at 108.6 mph, put the Sox ahead 11-8, which would prove extremely beneficial a half inning later with Matt Barnes on the hill in the ninth.
To put it simply, Barnes' August woes continued, as the Boston closer served up a leadoff homer to Donaldson before walking two straight to bring the go-ahead run to the plate — all without recording a single out in the inning.
That ugly sequence resulted in Cora turning to Hansel Robles, who promptly saved the day — literally — in the process of punching out two and recording the third and final out when he got Cave to line out to end the game.
By securing the 11-9 victory for his side, Robles was able to notch his 11th save of the year (and first with the Red Sox) while also topping out at 99.4 mph with his high-octane four-seam fastball.
With the win, the Red Sox improve to 72-55 on the season to increase their lead over the Athletics for the second American League Wild Card spot to two full games.
Next up: Pivetta vs. Ober
The Red Sox will go for the series win over the Twins and look to extend their winning streak to three consecutive games on Wednesday night.
Right-hander Nick Pivetta will look to bounce back as he gets the start for Boston, while fellow righty Bailey Ober will do the same for Minnesota.
First pitch Wednesday is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. eastern time on NESN.
(Picture of Hunter Renfroe: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Author Brendan CampbellPosted on August 25, 2021 Categories Baseball, Sports, UncategorizedTags 2021 season, alex cora, Baseball, boston, hansel robles, hunter renfroe, jd martinez, josh taylor, Kiké Hernández, matt barnes, mlb, rafael devers, red sox, tanner houck
Previous Previous post: Red Sox recall Tanner Houck from Triple-A Worcester, option Jarren Duran
Next Next post: Red Sox prospects Jose Ramirez, Giancarlos Santana making strides in Dominican Summer League
Red Sox pitching prospect Victor Santos' debut season with Double-A Portland was a solid one January 18, 2022


This has to be the most BORING book I have ever read, that for the first time I left a book incomplete at 60%. I found the characters boring and Vella's writing style made the story feel even more drab. The chemistry between Terron and Kolina was taking forever to develop and their back stories was also taking too long to come to the forefront. Even the whole dog and wolf story was really annoying because it seemed to be going no where slowly. This book had taken me almost six days to read and I never complete it which is a first for me because I was procrastinating reading because I disliked the story from the beginning. I won't be reading any books in this series again.
All his life Terron Sax has been responsible for others, but ever since he moved to Lake Serene and joined the construction crew, he has been trying to get rid of this habit. Terron meets waiteress Kolina Childs and is finding it difficult to control his emotions.
Kolina has had many hardships her entire life and is afraid to depend on anyone, so when Terron enters her life she initially tries to resist their attraction. When Kolina gets an injury, she needs to decide if she wants Terron in her life.


text:
BF42: Battlefield 1918
BF1942 Mods
Battlefield 1918: The Guns of August (News 08/20)
By Quermann, September 2, 2020 in BF42: Battlefield 1918
Quermann 1
Quermann
Aus: Bfgamesania
Battlefield 1918: The Guns of August
Greetings and welcome everyone to a news update regarding Battlefield 1918. For a start we are pleased to inform you all that while we have been quiet in the past few months, work has been done in making the new V3.3 update, especially when it comes to the topic of new maps. But before we get to the new battles players will be able to take part in, it may be prudent to show one of the 2 new factions coming to V3.3, the French Zouaves!
French Zouaves
Formed from French settlers in colonial North Africa, these troops had a noteworthy reputation long before the war. In fact in the 19th century, soldiers from other nations in both Europe and North America formed their own Zouave formations inspired by these troops.
While a new faction is all well and good, one may also be interested to note that the Zouaves will also be carrying a brand new LMG into combat as well, specifically the Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié!
Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié
Utilized by several Entente nations including not just France but also Britain, Italy, Belgium, and the United States among others, this weapon gained a reputation for being accurate if complex to maintain.
With all of this covered now is a good time to move on to new maps and the first map to cover today is the map featuring the Zouaves, specifically the Battle of Saint-Gond Marsh.
Battle of Saint-Gond Marsh
Part of the much larger 1st Battle of the Marne in September of 1914, this engagement saw Entente troops hold off German attacks on the Eastern flank of the lines. A breakthrough here could have enabled the Germans to even potentially surround and cut off French and British forces from Paris. For this reason it was critical for the French and Zouave troops fighting to stop the Germans and when possible even counter-attack.
On the topic of maps featuring french forces we should now move on to the next map to showcase, specifically the Siege of Maubeuge.
Siege of Maubeuge
Fought over from late August to early September of 1914, the forts of Maubeuge denied German troops access to vital railroads that they needed to help supply and transport troops on the Western Front. For this reason, German forces resolved to shell the forts into submission with their heavy artillery, including Krupp 420mm Big Berthas. Although the Germans would eventually take Maubeuge on the 7th of September, the 1st Battle of the Marne had by then already begun and the defenders of Maubeuge were at least successful in tying down valuable German troops at this key point in the war.
With the history of Maubeuge out of the way it is now time to see a 3rd new map, this time based on the Battle of Kitchners' Wood.
Battle of Kitchners' Wood
Battlefield 1918 v3.2 (est. 12/19): Download
Battlefield 1918 v3.2b Patch (est. 02/20): Download
Part of the much larger 2nd Battle of Ypres in the Spring of 1915, Kitcheners' Wood itself was a counter-attack at night by Canadian troops in order to fill the gap left by fleeing Entente forces in the face of the first poison gas attacks made by the Germans on the Western Front. Despite extremely heavy losses in the woods, Canadian forces ultimately prevailed in their efforts.
With all these new features and maps fans may be unsurprised to hear that a new trailer has become available as well, which you can watch in the link below. Some attentive viewers may even spot the 2nd new faction making it's way to Battlefield 1918 as well.
<iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U26CuyePsQg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
With all of this news we at the Battlefield 1918 Development Team hope that you are as excited as we are and that you will continue to look forward to the day V3.3 gets released. Until then we thank you for your time and hope you have a good day.
Autor: ACE1918
Source: moddb.com


text:
package energy.usef.core.service.rest.sender;

import static energy.usef.core.util.ReflectionUtil.setFinalStatic;
import static org.mockito.Matchers.eq;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.times;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
import energy.usef.core.config.Config;
import energy.usef.core.config.ConfigParam;
import energy.usef.core.data.participant.Participant;
import energy.usef.core.data.participant.ParticipantRole;
import energy.usef.core.data.participant.ParticipantType;
import energy.usef.core.data.xml.bean.message.Message;
import energy.usef.core.data.xml.bean.message.USEFRole;
import energy.usef.core.exception.BusinessException;
import energy.usef.core.exception.TechnicalException;
import energy.usef.core.model.MessageDirection;
import energy.usef.core.service.business.MessageEncryptionService;
import energy.usef.core.service.business.MessageService;
import energy.usef.core.service.business.ParticipantDiscoveryService;
import energy.usef.core.service.helper.NotificationHelperService;
import energy.usef.core.util.DateTimeUtil;

import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Collections;

import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.mockito.Matchers;
import org.mockito.Mock;
import org.mockito.Mockito;
import org.mockito.Spy;
import org.powermock.api.mockito.PowerMockito;
import org.powermock.core.classloader.annotations.PowerMockIgnore;
import org.powermock.core.classloader.annotations.PrepareForTest;
import org.powermock.modules.junit4.PowerMockRunner;
import org.powermock.reflect.Whitebox;
import org.slf4j.Logger;

import com.google.api.client.http.HttpRequest;
import com.google.api.client.http.HttpResponse;
import com.google.api.client.http.HttpTransport;

/**
 * JUnit test for the SenderService class.
 */
@RunWith(PowerMockRunner.class)
@PrepareForTest({ DateTimeUtil.class, Config.class, HttpTransport.class, HttpRequest.class, HttpResponse.class })
@PowerMockIgnore("javax.net.ssl.*")
public class SenderServiceTest {

    private static final String MESSAGE_ID = "8bc30b49-7809-483c-86fe-0ce4caf83eb7";
    private static final String CONVERSATION_ID = "779a05e1-c395-46c0-a78f-a2b02c0a323b";

    private static final String MSG = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>"
            +
            "<TestMessage>"
            +
            "<MessageMetadata SenderDomain=\"agr.usef-example.com\" SenderRole=\"AGR\" RecipientDomain=\"dso.usef-example.com\" RecipientRole=\"DSO\" MessageID=\""
            + MESSAGE_ID
            + "\" Precedence=\"Transactional\" TimeStamp=\"" + DateTimeUtil.getCurrentDateTime() + "\" ConversationID=\""
            + CONVERSATION_ID + "\"/>"
            +
            "</TestMessage>";

    private static final String INVALID_XML = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>"
            +
            "<TestMessage>"
            +
            "<MessageMetadata SenderDomain=\"localhost\" Body=\"test body\" SenderRole=\"AGR\" RecipientDomain=\"localhost\" RecipientRole=\"DSO\" MessageID=\""
            + MESSAGE_ID
            + "\" Precedence=\"Transactional\"/>"
            +
            "</TestMessage>";

    private static final String SENDER_DOMAIN = "localhost";
    private static final String TLS_VERIFICATION_DISABLED_MESSAGE = "TLS/SSL verification is disabled. Certificates of the destination of the message will not be checked.";

    @Mock
    private MessageService messageService;

    @Mock
    private MessageEncryptionService messageEncryptionService;

    @Mock
    private NotificationHelperService notificationHelperService;

    @Mock
    private ParticipantDiscoveryService participantDiscoveryService;

    @Mock
    private HttpRequest httpRequest;

    @Mock
    private HttpResponse httpResponse;

    @Spy
    private Config config = new Config();

    private SenderService senderService;

    @Before
    public void init() throws Exception {
        senderService = new SenderService();

        PowerMockito.mockStatic(DateTimeUtil.class);
        PowerMockito.when(DateTimeUtil.updateSettings(Mockito.anyString(), Mockito.anyInt())).thenReturn(false);
        config.initBean();

        Whitebox.setInternalState(senderService, "messageService", messageService);
        Whitebox.setInternalState(senderService, "messageEncryptionService", messageEncryptionService);
        Whitebox.setInternalState(senderService, "notificationHelperService", notificationHelperService);
        Whitebox.setInternalState(senderService, "participantDiscoveryService", participantDiscoveryService);
        Whitebox.setInternalState(senderService, "config", config);

        Mockito.when(
                participantDiscoveryService.discoverParticipant(Matchers.any(Message.class), Matchers.any(ParticipantType.class)))
                .thenReturn(buildParticipant());

        // message = (Message) XMLUtil.xmlToMessage(MSG);
    }

    /**
     * Basic test for the SenderService.sendScheduledMsg method. Verify whether the error massage is correctly saved.
     *
     * @throws Exception
     */
    @Test
    public void testCreateOutMessageError() throws Exception {
        Mockito.when(messageService.storeMessage(Matchers.any(String.class),
                Matchers.any(Message.class), Matchers.any(MessageDirection.class)))
                .thenReturn(new energy.usef.core.model.Message());

        senderService.sendMessage(MSG);

        verify(messageService).storeMessage(Matchers.anyString(), Matchers.any(Message.class),
                Matchers.eq(MessageDirection.OUTBOUND));
    }

    /**
     * Tests whether the Logger is correctly called to warn that the TLS verification is disabled. Expected result: the logger is
     * called once with the error message concerning the TLS verification being disabled.
     *
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException
     * @throws IllegalAccessException
     * @throws NoSuchFieldException
     * @throws SecurityException
     * @throws BusinessException
     */
    @Test
    public void testBypassTLSIsLogged() throws IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, NoSuchFieldException,
            SecurityException, BusinessException {
        Logger loggerMock = PowerMockito.mock(Logger.class);
        setFinalStatic(SenderService.class.getDeclaredField("LOGGER"), loggerMock);

        Mockito.when(config.getBooleanProperty(ConfigParam.BYPASS_TLS_VERIFICATION)).thenReturn(Boolean.TRUE);
        Mockito.when(messageService.storeMessage(Matchers.any(String.class),
                Matchers.any(Message.class), Matchers.any(MessageDirection.class)))
                .thenReturn(new energy.usef.core.model.Message());

        senderService.sendMessage(MSG);

        verify(loggerMock, times(1)).warn(eq(TLS_VERIFICATION_DISABLED_MESSAGE));
    }

    /**
     * Tests whether the Logger is correctly called to warn that the TLS verification is disabled. Expected result: the logger is
     * never called with the error message concerning the TLS verification being disabled.
     *
     * @throws IllegalArgumentException
     * @throws IllegalAccessException
     * @throws NoSuchFieldException
     * @throws SecurityException
     * @throws BusinessException
     */
    @Test
    public void testBypassTLSIsNeverLogged() throws IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException, NoSuchFieldException,
            SecurityException, BusinessException {
        Logger loggerMock = PowerMockito.mock(Logger.class);
        Mockito.when(config.getBooleanProperty(ConfigParam.BYPASS_TLS_VERIFICATION)).thenReturn(Boolean.FALSE);
        setFinalStatic(SenderService.class.getDeclaredField("LOGGER"), loggerMock);

        Mockito.when(messageService.storeMessage(Matchers.any(String.class),
                Matchers.any(Message.class), Matchers.any(MessageDirection.class)))
                .thenReturn(new energy.usef.core.model.Message());

        senderService.sendMessage(MSG);

        verify(loggerMock, times(0)).warn(eq(TLS_VERIFICATION_DISABLED_MESSAGE));
    }

    /**
     * Basic test for the SenderService.sendScheduledMsg method.
     *
     * @throws Exception
     */
    @Test
    public void testSendScheduledMessage() throws Exception {
        SenderService instance = PowerMockito.spy(senderService);

        PowerMockito.when(messageService.storeMessage(Matchers.any(String.class), Matchers.any(Message.class),
                Matchers.any(MessageDirection.class))).thenReturn(new energy.usef.core.model.Message());

        PowerMockito.whenNew(HttpRequest.class).withAnyArguments().thenReturn(httpRequest);
        PowerMockito.when(httpRequest.execute()).thenReturn(httpResponse);
        PowerMockito.when(httpResponse.getContent()).thenReturn(new ByteArrayInputStream("dummy".getBytes()));

        instance.sendMessage(MSG);

        verify(messageService, Mockito.times(1)).storeMessage(eq(MSG), Matchers.any(Message.class),
                Matchers.eq(MessageDirection.OUTBOUND));
        verify(notificationHelperService, Mockito.times(1)).notifyNoMessageResponse(Mockito.anyString(),
                Mockito.any(Message.class));
        verify(config, Mockito.times(1)).getIntegerProperty(ConfigParam.TRANSACTIONAL_EXPONENTIAL_BACKOFF_INITIAL_INTERVAL_MILLIS);
        verify(config, Mockito.times(1)).getIntegerProperty(ConfigParam.TRANSACTIONAL_HTTP_REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES);
    }

    /**
     * Send invalid XML message
     *
     * @throws Exception
     */
    @Test(expected = TechnicalException.class)
    public void sendInvalidXMLMessage() throws Exception {
        SenderService instance = PowerMockito.spy(senderService);

        PowerMockito.when(messageService.storeMessage(Matchers.any(String.class), Matchers.any(Message.class),
                Matchers.any(MessageDirection.class))).thenReturn(new energy.usef.core.model.Message());

        PowerMockito.whenNew(HttpRequest.class).withAnyArguments().thenReturn(httpRequest);
        PowerMockito.when(httpRequest.execute()).thenReturn(httpResponse);
        PowerMockito.when(httpResponse.getContent()).thenReturn(new ByteArrayInputStream("dummy".getBytes()));

        // if validate outgoing xml is not enabled, force TechnicalException to succeed test
        PowerMockito.when(config.getBooleanProperty(ConfigParam.VALIDATE_OUTGOING_XML).booleanValue()).thenThrow(
                new TechnicalException(""));
        instance.sendMessage(INVALID_XML);
    }

    private Participant buildParticipant() {
        Participant participant = new Participant();
        participant.setDomainName(SENDER_DOMAIN);
        participant.setSpecVersion("2015");

        ParticipantRole role = new ParticipantRole(USEFRole.DSO);
        role.setUrl("http://localhost:666");
        role.setPublicKeys(Arrays.asList("unsigningKey", "KEY2"));

        participant.setRoles(Collections.singletonList(role));
        return participant;
    }
}


BCSEA and the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET) have joined their effort to promote and deliver energy training programs in British Columbia.
CIET has been a leader in energy training for over 20 years. Based in Toronto, CIET has trained over 2,500 professionals and is the exclusive provider of the Association of Energy Engineer's certification programs, including Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) and Certified Energy Auditor (CEA).
It's the goal of BCSEA Business Member IPS to help you understand the basics of solar power systems, so you may make informed and educated choices.
A culmination of all of the day's sessions, Session Four will take an inspiring spin on addressing the barriers that are limiting the potential of many small communities across BC. Beginning with a pragmatic approach to the reality of limited finances and collective will, our panel of esteemed speakers will demonstrate the current avenues and opportunities to bring about change in your community.
First up on Energy Connections' agenda will be a dialogue between representatives from different levels of government, First Nations and industry, on the current state of policies and programs surrounding sustainable energy in BC. The objective of this first session is give a clear understanding of the high-level framework of policies currently in place in BC.
BCSEA and Sierra Club BC endorsed a package of measures designed to help low-income customers of BC Hydro, in a BC utilities commission proceeding in October. The two groups threw their weight behind the BC Old Age Pensioners Organization (BCOAPO) and other groups represented by the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BC PIAC) who are asking the commission to assist the hundreds of thousands of BC men, women and children who are struggling to cope with the high and rising costs of electricity service from BC Hydro.
Climate leadership can take on many roles: it involves setting realistic targets rooted in scientific principles, developing an effective plan to achieve those objectives, and perhaps most important of all, inspiring citizens to take meaningful climate action.
Climate leadership can be carried out at different scales; most notably governments should be responsible for leading by example, therefore encouraging citizens to follow along their footsteps.


text:
Trump's Border Plan: Beyond Military Deployment, 'Catch and Release' Could Be Unilaterally Ended
Border Little Bonanza Produtions
John Binder
4 Apr 2018 Washington, D.C.
President Trump's administration announced on Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Defense Department will coordinate on a plan to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The move will not give the National Guard the authority to act as temporary Border Patrol agents, catching and detaining illegal aliens, but rather it allows troops to take on logistical jobs so that Border Patrol is given more manpower to focus on arresting illegal aliens.
The military operation at the border may shape up to be similar to that of President George W. Bush's "Operation Jump Start," where 6,000 National Guard troops were deployed to the southern border.
Bush's Operation Jump Start ended with National Guardsmen contributing to more than 176,000 illegal aliens being apprehended and about 320,000 pounds of drugs being seized, as Buzz Jacobs mentioned.
Breitbart News's Chris Burgard was on the ground in Hachita, New Mexico in 2005, revealing footage of the troops' operation in aiding the Border Patrol at the time.
Experts tell Breitbart News that the military at the border to assist Border Patrol is only the beginning of a larger operation that can be done by the Trump administration to help reduce the flood of illegal aliens continuing to pour into the U.S.
This week, Trump has complained about a caravan of 1,500 Central Americans who are set to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to request asylum. As Breitbart News explained, current law does not give the U.S. the authority to turn the asylum-seekers back to Mexico.
The "Catch and Release" program, where border-crossers are caught by immigration officials and then released into the interior of the U.S. while they await trial — oftentimes never showing up to their court date — has continued and even been increased by Congress with the approval of Trump.
Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur tells Breitbart News that to unilaterally, temporarily end Catch and Release, the Trump administration could set up tent cities along the southern border, similar to what President Clinton did in the 1990s.
The National Guard, Arthur says, has the authority to construct the tents on the border, giving immigration officials temporary detention centers where illegal aliens and border-crossers can be housed while they await their immigration trials, rather than being released into the U.S.
"Putting up temporary structures, that's part of what the military does," Arthur told Breitbart News. "I believe they could do this as part of their training."
While border-crossers are detained in the tent cities constructed by the military, the Trump administration could send additional immigration judges and staff to the border, as well as more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorneys. This, Arthur says, would speed up the court process and swiftly lead to border-crossers either being allowed to stay in the U.S. or being deported.
"With sufficient manpower, those cases can be heard in two months," Arthur said.
Center for Immigration Studies Mark Krikorian told Breitbart News that troops alone on the border to assist Border Patrol is not exactly the answer to the broader issue of illegal immigration to the U.S.
Krikorian says legal loopholes that allow for border-crossers to readily claim asylum in the U.S. would need to be changed to prevent a future group of asylum-seekers — similar to the current 1,500 Central Americans traveling through Mexico — from bypassing asylum in Mexico and instead making their way into the U.S.
Nor does the National Guard on the border move forward Trump's agenda of a border wall, though troops do have the authority to assist in building a wall.
Despite blaming Congress for blocking construction of a border wall, Trump recently signed a spending bill that barred him from building the wall using the prototypes he recently toured in the San Diego desert.
Staffers in his administration, such as Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, have failed to fight for border wall funding, even going so far as to cheer legislation that specifically bans the border wall.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.
ImmigrationPoliticsAndrew Arthurcatch and releaseGeorge W. BushNational GuardOperation Jump Start


Samsung have recently started rebranding all their wearable devices under the Galaxy brand. The first device we saw take this step was the Galaxy Watch. Now, we see another device taking this same direction. The Galaxy Sport, hopefully launching at Samsung unpacked, could in-fact be called Galaxy Watch Active.
The name Galaxy Watch Active has been hinted at by AllAboutSamsung.de and by the watch's recent FCC certification. Investigating the product label, it calls the device a Galaxy Watch – giving it enough wiggle room to be called Galaxy Watch Active. This new naming convention does make sense for the current 2018 and 2019 lineup of devices. It is anyone's guess what 2020 and beyond will look like.
Samsung is in the process of converting their current lineup of wearable devices; the Gear Sport, IconX earbuds, and Gear Fit, to the new Galaxy wearable branding. Recently, the Samsung Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Buds both received their Bluetooth certification.
As ever, these are simply rumours at the moment, unless something more substantial comes along. By substantial I mean like an actual picture (feel free to tip us at the IoTGadgets contact page). Hopefully, we have not got long for the launch of the Galaxy Watch Active, as we "should" see it at Samsung unpacked on the 20th February.


This blog that has informative articles on various topics like USB Gadgets, Cameras and Tablets. This site was really built with you in mind and we hope you will find it useful.
If you've anything to contribute in areas of USB Gadgets, Cameras and Tablets feel free to fill out the contact form, and reach out to us.


text:
in: Pages with reference errors, Animal behavior, Pages with broken file links, Lepidosaurs
Lepidosauria
Animals · Animal ethology · Comparative psychology · Animal models · Outline · Index
File:Katoomba-Hand-of-skink-edited.jpg
The foot of a skink, showing lepidosaurs' characteristic overlapping scales
The Lepidosauria (from Greek meaning scaled lizards) are reptiles with overlapping scales. This subclass includes Squamata and Rhynchocephalia. It is a monophyletic group and therefore contains all descendents of a common ancestor. The squamata includes snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenia. The Sphenodontidae are now only represented by two species of tuatara native to New Zealand although they were much more widespread and varied 200 million years ago. Lepidosauria is the sister taxon to Archosauria, which includes Aves and Crocodilia. The only surviving tuataras are the family Sphenodontidae, genus Sphenodon. Lizards and snakes are the most speciose group of Lepidosaurs and combined contain about 7,970 species.[1] However, the tuatara, which is found in New Zealand, has only two remaining species. There are noticeable distinguishing morphological differences between lizards, tuataras, and snakes.
1 Diagnosis
2 General description
3 Fossil record
6 Life history and behaviour
The reptiles in the subclass Lepidosauria can be distinguished from other reptiles by a variety of characteristics. First, the males have evolved a hemipenis instead of a single penis with erectile tissue that is found in crocodilians, birds, mammals, and turtles. The hemipenis can be found in the base of the tail. The tuatara has not fully evolved the hemipenis, but instead has shallow paired outpocketings of the posterior wall of the cloaca that have been determined to be precursors to the hemipenis.[2]
Second, most Lepidosaurs have the ability to autotomize their tails. However, this trait has been lost on some recent species. In lizards, fracture planes are present within the vertebrae of the tail that allow for its removal. Some lizards have multiple fracture planes, while others just have one single fracture plane. The regrowth of the tail is not always complete and is made of a solid rod of cartilage rather than individual vertebrae.[2] In snakes, the tail separates between vertebrae and some do not experience regrowth.[2]
Third, the scales in lepidosaurs are horny (keratinized) structures of the epidermis, allowing them to be shed collectively, contrary to the scutes seen in other reptiles.[2] This is done in different cycles, depending on the species. However, lizards generally shed in flakes while snakes shed in one piece. Unlike scutes, the ledpidosaur scales will often overlap like roof tiles.
Extant reptiles are divided into two clades: the Anapsida and the Diapsida. These clades are named for their number of temporal fenestrations in the skull. The Anapsida lack any temporal fenestration, but the Diapsida have a pair of temporal fenestrations on each side of the skull.[3] The Anapsida are represented only by turtles and their extinct relatives. Diapsida is composed Lepidosauria and their sister taxa Archosauria.[2] The subclass Lepidosauria is then split into Squamata and Sphenodontidae.
The group Squamata includes snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenians. Squamata can be characterized by the reduction or loss of limbs. Snakes, some lizards, and most amphisbaenians have evolved the complete loss of their limbs. The skin of all squamates is covered in scales. The upper jaw of Squamates is movable on the cranium, a configuration called kinesis.[4] This is made possible by a loose connection between the quadrate and its neighboring bones.[5] Without this, snakes would not be able consume prey that are much larger than themselves. However, the tuatara does not share this characteristic with the other Lepidosauria. Amphisbaenians are mostly legless like snakes, but are generally much smaller. Three species of amphisbaenians have kept reduced front limbs and these species are known for actively burrowing in the ground.[1]
Sphenodontidae includes tuatara and their extinct relatives and can presently only be found on small islands off New Zealand. The tuatara has amphicoelous vertebrae, which means the vertebrae are hollowed out at both ends.[4] The tuatara also have the ability to autotomize their tails. A well-developed median or pineal eye is present on the top of the head (parietal region) of the tuatara and their teeth are considered to be relatively large.[2]
Snakes do not have an extensive fossil record, but the oldest known snake fossil is from between early and late Cretaceous period.[2] There were tertiary fossil snakes that became extinct by the end of the Eocene period. The first colubrid also appeared in the Eocene period.[2] Lizards first appeared in the middle Jurassic period, and this is when the scincomorph and the anguimorph lizards were first seen. The Gekkotans first appear in the late Jurassic period and the iguanians first appear in the late Cretaceous period.[2] The lizards of the Cretaceous period represent extinct genera and species.[6] The majority of amphisbaenians first appeared during the early Cenozoic period.[1] The Sphenodontidae fossil record first appears in the Lower Triassic period, making it the earliest found fossil record of the Lepidosauria. The tuatara can now only be found on small islands off the New Zealand coast. However, fossil records show that it once lived on the main land New Zealand and was distributed globally.[4]
Lizards are originally split into two clades: the Iguania and the Scleroglossa. Snakes and amphisbaenians belong within the clade Scleroglossa. The analysis of teeth results in Iguania being made up of the sister taxa Chamaeleonidae and Agamidae.[2] Snakes are actually a branch within the lizard group. In fact, some lizards, such as the Varanids, are more closely related to snakes that they are to other lizards. Varanids, which are semi-aquatic, large-bodied carnivorous lizards that reside in Australia.[7]
Snakes currently have about 3070 extant species that are grouped into the scolecophidians and the alethinophidians.[1] The scolecophidians are made up of about 370 species and are represented by small snakes with a limited gape size.[1] The alethinophidians are made up of about 2,700 species and are represented by the more common snakes.[1] As snakes evolved, their gape size increased from the narrowness of the scolecophidians. This allowed for the digestion of larger prey. There are about 2,500 species of poisonous snakes that all belong to the Caenophidia.[1]
The amphisbaenians are mostly limbless, with the exception of three species that kept reduced forms of front limbs. Morphological data shows that species with front limbs form a sister group to those that are limbless. This means that the amphisbaenians' loss of limbs occurred only once.[1]
The Tuataras originated in the Triassic period and were distributed world wide. All species went extinct in the late Cretaceous, except for the Tuatara that now lives in New Zealand. This extinction correlated with the appearance of mammals. The current Tuatara's bone structure has evolved slightly from the species that existed in the Triassic period. Now, wild populations of the Tuatara can be found on thirty-two islands in addition to three islands in which populations have formed due to migration.[8]
Within the subclass Lepidosauria there are herbivores, omnivores, insectivores, and carnivores. The herbivores consist of iguanines, some agamids, and some skinks.[6] Most lizards species and some snake species are insectivores. The remaining snake species, tuataras, and amphisbaenians are carnivores. Some snake species are generalist and eat a narrow range of prey. For example, Salvadora eat only lizards.[6] The remaining lizards are omnivores and can consume plants or insects.
Viperines can sense their prey's infrared radiation through bare nerve endings on the skin of their heads.[6] Also, viperines and some boids have thermal receptors that allow them to target their prey's heat.[6] Many snakes are able to obtain their prey through constriction. This is done by first biting the prey, then coiling their body around the prey. The snake then tightens its grip as the prey struggles which leads to suffocation.[6] Some snakes have fangs that produce venomous bites. This allows the snake to consume an already dead or unconscious prey. Also, some venoms include a proteolytic component that aids in digestion.[6] Chameleons grasp their prey with a projectile tongue. This is made possible by a hyoid mechanism, which is the contraction of the hyoid muscle that drives the tip of the tongue outwards.[6]
The major predators of reptiles are other reptiles. Smaller reptiles are preyed upon by larger reptiles. Also, reptile eggs are consumed by other reptiles. Furthermore, birds are a predator of reptiles. Raptors, wading birds, roadrunners, are all examples of birds that consume reptiles. Mammals are also known to consume reptiles.[6]
The geographic ranges of snakes and lizards are vast and cover all but the most extreme cold parts of the globe. Amphisbaenians exist in Florida, mainland Mexico including Baja California, Mediterranean region, Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.[5] The tuatara is confined to only a few rocky islands of New Zealand. It digs burrows to live in and preys mostly on insects.[4]
Life history and behaviour
Squamates are represented by viviparous, ovoviviparous, and oviparous species. Viviparous means that the female gives birth to live young. Ovoviviparous means that the egg will develop inside of the female's body. Oviparous means that the female lays eggs. A few species within Squamata have the ability to reproduce asexually.[7] The tuatara lays eggs that are usually about one inch in length. These eggs take about fourteen months to incubate.[4]
While in the egg, the Squamata embryo develops an egg tooth on the premaxillary that helps the animal emerge from the egg.[6] A reptile will increase three to twentyfold in length from hatching to adulthood.[6] There are three main life history events that Lepidosaurs reach: hatching/birth, sexual maturity, and reproductive senility.[6]
Most Lepidosaurs rely on camouflage as one of their main defenses. Some species have evolved to blend in with their ecosystem, while others are able change their skin color to blend in with their current surroundings. The ability to autotomize the tail is another defense that is common among Lepidosaurs. Other species, such as the Echinosauria, have evolved the defense of feigning death.[6]
File:SnakeskinBoots1 gobeirne.jpg
Boots made from snake skin, the three closest from diamondback rattlers
Snakes are commonly feared throughout the world. There have actually been advertised rattlesnake roundups in North America. Data shows that between 1959 and 1986 an average of 5,563 rattlesnakes were killed per year in Sweetwater, Texas, due to rattlesnake roundups, and these roundups have led to documented declines and local extirpations of rattlesnake populations, especially Eastern Diamondbacks in Georgia.[2]
Habitat destruction is the leading negative impact of humans on reptiles. Humans continue to develop land that is important habitat for the Lepidosaurs. The clear-cutting of land has also led to habitat reduction. Some snakes and lizards migrate toward human dwelling because there is an abundance of rodent and insect prey. However, these reptiles are seen as pests and are often exterminated.[2]
People have introduced species to the Lepidosaurs' natural habitats that have increased predation on the reptiles. For example, mongooses were introduced to Jamaica from India to control the rat infestation in sugar cane fields. As a result, the mongooses fed on the lizard population of Jamaica, which has led to the elimination and decrease of many lizard species.[2]
Actions can be taken by humans to help endangered reptiles. Some species are unable to be bred in captivity, but others have thrived. There is also the option of animal refuges. This concept is helpful to contain the reptiles and keep them from human dwellings. However, environmental fluctuations and predatorial attacks still occur in refuges.[6]
Unfortunately, reptile skins are still being sold. Accessories such as shoes, boots, purses, belts, buttons, wallets, and lamp shades are all made out of reptile skin.[2] In the year 1986, the World Resource Institute totaled that 10.5 million reptile skins were traded legally. This total does not even include the illegal trades of that year.[2] Horned lizards are popular for being harvested and stuffed.[2] Humans must make a conscious effort to preserve the remaining species of reptiles.
Climate change has led to the need for conservation efforts to protect the existence of the Tuatara. This is because it is not possible for this species to migrate to cooler climates. Conservationists are beginning to consider the possibility of translocating them to islands with cooler climates.[9] The range of the Tuatara has already been minimized by the introduction of cats, rats, dogs, and mustelids.[10] The eradication of the mammals from the islands where the Tuatara still survives has helped the species increase its population. An experiment observing the Tuatara population after the removal of the Polynesian Rat showed that the Tuatara expressed an island specific increase of population after rat's removal.[11] However, it may be difficult to keep these small mammals from reinhabiting these islands.
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Vidal, Nicolas and S. Blair Hedges. "The Molecular Evolutionary Tree of Lizards, Snakes, and Amphisbaenians." C.R. Biologies. 332(2209): 129-139. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ref1" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Pough, Harvey, et al. Herpetology. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1998. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ref2" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Romer, A. S. & Parsons, T. S. (1985): The Vertebrate Body. (6th ed.) Saunders, Philadelphia.
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bellairs, Angus d'A. Reptiles. New York: Harper&Brothers, 1960.
↑ 5.0 5.1 Benton, M. J. The Phylogeny and Classification of the Tetrapods: Volume 1. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ref4" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 Zug, George R. Herpetology: An introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. San Diego: Academic Press, Inc, 1993.
↑ 7.0 7.1 Smith, James G.. "Survival estimation in a long-lived monitor lizard: radio-tracking of Varanus mertensi." Population Ecology. 52 (2010): 243-247. Web of Science. Web. April 27, 2011.
↑ Hay, Jennifer M., et al. "Genetic diversity and taxonomy: a reassessment of species designation in tuatara (Sphenodon: Reptilia)." Coserv Genet. 11 (2010):1063-1081. Web of Science. Web. April 27, 2011.
↑ Besson, A. A. and A. Cree. "Integrating physiology into conservation: an approach to help guide translocations of a rare reptile in a warming environment." Animal Conservation. 14 (2011): 28-37. Web of science. Web. April 27, 2011.
↑ Nelson, Nicola J., et al. "Establishing a New Wild Population of Tuatara (Sphendon guntheri)." Conservation Biology. 16 (2002): 887-894. Web of Science. Web. April 27, 2011.
↑ Towns, David R.. "Eradication as reverse invasion: lesions from Pacific Rat (Rattus exulans) removals on New Zealand islands." Biol Invasions. 11(2009): 1719-1733. Web of Science. Web. April 28, 2011.
Evans SE, Jones MEH. 2010. The Origin, early history and diversification of lepidosauromorph reptiles. In Bandyopadhyay S. (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, 27 Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, 27-44. DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7_2
Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Reptile taxonomy, Benton 2004
Lepidosaur phylogeny
Lepidosaurs


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WWE Had Humiliating Plans For Miro Before He Left
BY Thomas Hall – ON October 2, 2020 IN AEW, News, WWE
I don't think it would have gone well. Back in September, Miro, formerly known as Rusev in WWE, made his AEW debut as one of the biggest signings out of the group of April WWE releases. Since his debut, Miro has mainly focused on his new love of gaming, including segments and promos involving gaming. It is a very different way to go, but WWE had a pretty different idea for him last year.
During his five and a half year run in WWE, one of the longer stories that Miro took part in was a love triangle involving Lana and Bobby Lashley. Miro is married to Lana, who left him for Lashley, setting up the long running feud. The story involved Miro being a sex addict, which eventually annoyed Lana to cause her to have an affair. It turns out that the original plan was rather different.
In the latest edition of the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Miro spoke about the plans WWE had for him before he left the company. The original pitch for the storyline would have seen Miro suffering from erectile dysfunction, which would have upset Lana. Miro objected, saying that it would have killed his career as he had already lost his wife and was losing all of his matches as well. The story ended with Miro defeated, though Lashley and Lana have since broken up on-screen.
The story was kind of a mess. Check out how things went between the two of them:
Opinion: I can't say I blame Miro for being upset by this as it is the kind of thing that would have followed him around for the rest of his time in WWE. That is the kind of storyline that would have been brought up for years to come. I'm not sure why WWE thought it was a good idea, but for some reason they sometimes seem to pick a person and decide to crush them, which seems to be what happened to Miro. Can you blame him for leaving?
What did you think of the love triangle? How will Miro do in AEW? Let us know in the comments below.
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