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HBO's New 'Westworld' Teaser Features Massive Orgy Scene
The star-studded drama will debut in the fall.
Lesley Goldberg
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HBO used Sunday's penultimate episode of Game of Thrones to drop a new promo for its highly anticipated (and twice-delayed) drama Westworld.
The clip, only the second featuring footage of the series, aired ahead of Thrones' "Battle of the Bastards" hour and provides a closer look at the 10-episode project based on Michael Crichton's 1973 film. The new teaser gives a glimpse of the Western world and also includes a massive orgy scene. The latter part of the teaser aired Sunday on HBO and seems to have been trimmed from the trailer HBO released online.
Sexually Explicit Casting Contract for HBO's 'Westworld' Extras Has SAG-AFTRA Concerned
Written by Jonathan Nolan (Person of Interest) and Lisa Joy, Westworld stars Anthony Hopkins in his first series-regular role as an inventor who runs an adult amusement park populated by lifelike robots. Here's HBO's new description of the series: "Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged."
Watch the Teaser Trailer for HBO's Highly Anticipated 'Westworld'
The drama hails from J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk's Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot Productions, with the duo exec producing alongside the late Jerry Weintraub, Nolan (who directed the pilot) and Joy. Kathy Lingg will co-executive produce and Athena Wickham is a producer on the series. Susie Ekins is set as a co-producer. Westworld hails from Bad Robot, Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the show's androids — played by castmembers including James Marsden, Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton — can be killed off and return with completely different personas, allowing actors to play many characters. That creative device, one top talent agent said, helped HBO attract a premier cast (which also includes Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright). And unlike the actors on such anthology series as FX's American Horror Story and HBO's own True Detective, which reboot themselves every season, the cast of Westworld is signing multiyear deals.
How HBO's 'Westworld' Became TV's Hottest Project
The series was originally slated to debut in 2015 and was delayed in January for script rewrites and reshoots. HBO at the time pushed it to premiere in the first half of 2016, with the premium cable network more recently confirming that it will debut in the fall. The new teaser notes it is due in October
The first footage for the show bowed last year at San Diego Comic-Con during a panel for Nolan's CBS drama Person of Interest after which HBO released first-look images.
An extended trailer wowed the press at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour last year.
HBO's High-Class Problems: $100M 'Vinyl' Disappoints Amid 'Westworld,' David Fincher Woes
"[With] the film … you were very invested in one particular group of humans that were enjoying the park and their experience with the robots. This is not that. This is very much told from the POV of the robots," HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told reporters at TCA. "The corporate world's as dimensionalized as the park. And I think the visitors to the park are really not the primary focus of our show at all. So again, without giving more than that away, I think all I can say is only one character that you saw in the clip is a visitor to the park. And yeah, it resembles the film in name and in spirit but really is, I think, otherwise not much of a reference point."
Watch the new promo, below.
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By Rick Porter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I may have been the one to share this link with her in the first place, but she beat me to the punch as to blogging it first. So here it is – Pesky Sens go to Round 2!
The Pesky Sens go to Round 2! And they're actors!


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The Whole30 for Beginners: Diet Guide, Who It Works For, What Foods to Eat
Is the Whole30 diet right for you? Find out what you need to know so you can make an informed decision.
by Rachael Schultz
Westend61
Unless you've been living under a rock the last two years, you probably have a co-worker, family member, or fantasy football buddy who has tried the Whole30 diet—and, no doubt, they rave about it. So it may come as a surprise to know, nutritionists aren't quite as thrilled about it. Here's everything you need to know about what the Whole30 is and whether it's worth your time.
What Is The Whole30?
The Whole30 is exactly what the name suggests: For 30 days, you only eat whole foods—except only those that for sure don't cause inflammation in your body. The idea is to eliminate all the things that definitely make you feel crappy—processed food, alcohol, sugar—but also foods that might be making you feel bad—beans, legumes (soy, tofu, chickpeas, peas, lentils, peanuts), dairy, and grains. What you can eat: vegetables (including potatoes), fruit (in moderation), unprocessed meat, seafood, eggs, nuts and seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, and coffee (Hallelujah).
The idea of the diet is to detox from foods that are potentially causing low energy, aches and pains, weight retention, skin issues, digestive ailments—the list of side effects goes on. By the end of the month, it also becomes an elimination diet: You can now reintroduce the less dramatic offenders like legumes, dairy, and grains, and see how your body reacts.
What the research says: There is research to suggest that some people may feel better forgoing the offenders because of unknown intolerances. Roughly 65 percent of adults can't digest the lactose in milk, according to the National Institute of Health, and slight intolerances can cause easily overlooked symptoms like gas and cramping. Meanwhile, people can be sensitive to gluten without actually being allergic to it—meaning the proteins can cause inflammation even if you aren't full-blown celiac—according to, among other research, a 2017 study analysis in Frontiers in Physiology. (Although there's a good amount of science to suggest these people are actually FODMAP sensitive, which the Whole30 does not entirely eliminate).
If you're sensitive to wheat, gluten, or dairy, then yes, going without will help. But research has also shown some grains, like brown rice, and legumes actually help decrease inflammation, and that lactose intolerant folks may be able to tolerate small amounts of cheese and yogurt.
The Benefits Of The Whole30
Obviously, you're going to feel better cutting back on junk food, sugar, and alcohol, all of which can lead to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and decreased energy levels, says Natalie Rizzo, RD, author of The No-Brainer Nutrition Guide For Every Runner.
Otherwise, there are three main upsides to following the Whole30 for 30 days, says DJ Blatner, RDN, nutritionist for the Chicago CUBS and author of The Superfood Swap. It helps you start paying attention to what you put in your body and how it makes you feel; you become more savvy about ingredient lists on packaged food; and you start cooking more. These are all cornerstones to making sustainable changes for a better diet, Blatner says.
And chances are, you probably will feel better at the end of the month—pretty much everyone who tries the Whole30 says so. But, more than likely, this isn't because your body doesn't like grains and legumes—it's because your body loves more vegetables and fruit, Blatner points out.
Both nutritionists agree, you don't need to remove dairy, grains, or legumes from your diet—and definitely shouldn't be doing so longer than 30 days. "All three of these food groups provide plenty of important vitamins and minerals that can enhance your diet," Rizzo explains. When you look at blue zones—the places in the world where locals live the longest—they all include legumes, healthy grains, and small amounts of dairy, for example.
Blatner adds that giving up healthy carbs in the form of grains, especially, can compromise your ability to work harder and longer on every kind of workout from long runs to heavy lifts. "The Whole30 does allow potatoes, plantains, and fruit, but you'll likely feel more energized for and recover better from a workout if you can also include oats, brown rice, or quinoa before, during, or after a workout," she says.
Chances are, if you feel better off grains and dairy, it isn't because your body can't tolerate the food—it's because you were eating way too much of it before, and at the expense of something else. Trading whole wheat bread at every meal for vegetables at two of them will, of course, make you feel more energized, Blatner points out.
Who is the Whole30 Best For?
Both nutritionists agree the Whole30 isn't a diet that should be followed long term. And you should probably steer clear if you're in the midst of marathon training, since you need easy access to clean carbs. But if you want to clean up your habits, there's no real risk in any athlete trying it for 30 days, as long as you're smart about your carb timing, Blatner says.
Written by Rachael Schultz
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Travel video about destination Trans Siberian Railroad in Siberia.
The most beautiful section of the Trans Siberian Railroad travels from Irkutsk in Siberia to the massive Lake Baikal. It takes in Ulan Ude as well as the border town of Nauschki and terminates at the Mongolian capital of Ulaan Baatar. Varied landscapes and exotic towns turn this journey into a fascinating adventure.Travelling from Moscow, and after a total of three days and more than five thousand kilometres on the train, we disembark at Irkutsk, the most beautiful city in Siberia. The city became home of the Dekrabisten who fought for liberty in the former Tsarist empire and were eventually banished to Siberia where they introduced their own culture. In Port Baikal is the remarkable and modern Circum-Baikal train that takes a full day to travel around Lake Baikal. Ulan Ude is an exotic city with a population of a million and for the first time we get a feeling of being in Asia. However, the largest head of Lenin in the world emphasises the region's association with Mother Russia. In 1666 a winter fortress was built on the Uda River by Russian Cossacks who were travelling east, the Verchneundinsk Fortress. Ulaan Baatar: the station is very quiet. Under the severe stare of the female train guards, passengers leave the train and the luggage is unloaded. The Trans Siberian Railroad is still the longest railway line in the world and connects the continents of Europe and Asia. It is truly a technical miracle and a legend that has survived the passage of time.
Amir Temurni bitta gapi bor, OLLOH birdur unga tengdosh yoqdur Dunyodaham bir SHOX yani Ollohning quli boshqarmasi lozimki unga teng SHoh ölmasin….. Moğilistondan chiqib butun eryuzini bosfolshga yolga chiqadi Osyodan Evropagacha bosvoladi….. Özbek halqi ER yuzini yarmidan kopini 75% bosvolib Ollohni amri bilan Dunyoga Hukumdorlik qigan Dunyoni boshqargan uluğ insonlani nevaralariimiz Temuriylar oylasi ÖZBEK farzandlarimiz…..
Jezzz he could at least learn proper pronunsiation.
Very nice video. Wonderful video. All should watch.
The report is good, interesting. But the Music is somethimes heavy.
It's called a Railway, like the entire planet calls them except the USA…..
How much time are u allowed during the stops to sightsee? Are u allowed to break journey to stay overnight at stops and then carry on the journey on the next train?


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Q: Custom slider using Vue JS I'm developing a slider on my Vue project. Now, on page load, the slider is not working means I can only see the dot, not the slider but when I click on the dot then it's working can see the slider.
Here is my HTML code:

        <ReservationItem  v-if="Object.keys(consultations).length" :consultation="consultation"
                    :is_active="consultationIsActive()"/>

And the JS code:
export default {
    components: {
        Notice,
        ConsultationBox,
        Pagination,
        ReservationItem,
        AdvisorItem
    },
    layout: "sidebar",
    mounted() {
        this.handleAutomaticeButtonEnable();
        this.currentSlide(this.slideIndex);
    },
    data() {
        return {
            activePage: 1,
            consultations: {...this.getConsultations} || {},
            slideIndex: 0,
            sliderTimer: '',
        };
    },
    methods: {
        plusSlides(n) {
            return this.showSlides(this.slideIndex += n);
        },
        currentSlide(n) {
            if (this.sliderTimer) {
                window.clearTimeout(this.sliderTimer);
            }
            this.showSlides(this.slideIndex = n);
        },
        showSlides(n) {
            var i;
            var slides = document.getElementsByClassName("reservationSlider");
            var dots = document.getElementsByClassName("dot");
            console.log(slides.length);
            console.log(slides);
            if( slides.length ) {
                if (n > slides.length) {
                    this.slideIndex = 1;
                }
                if (n < 1) {
                    this.slideIndex = slides.length;
                }
                for (i = 0; i < slides.length; i++) {
                    slides[i].style.display = "none";
                }
                if(!n) {
                    this.slideIndex++;
                }
                if (this.slideIndex > slides.length){
                    this.slideIndex = 1;
                }
                console.log(this.slideIndex);
                for (i = 0; i < dots.length; i++) {
                    dots[i].className = dots[i].className.replace(" active", "");
                }
                if(slides[this.slideIndex - 1]) {
                    slides[this.slideIndex - 1].style.display = "block";
                }
                if( dots[this.slideIndex - 1] ) {
                     dots[this.slideIndex - 1].className += " active";
                }
                this.sliderTimer = setTimeout(this.showSlides, 3000);
            }
        },
    },

    more code .....
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
middle easten
Sustainable Investing Glossary
Water sustainability refers to the availability of fresh water for human consumption and use in agriculture and industrial processes. Sea water is by far the most abundant resource on the planet, covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface, but it cannot be used as drinking water without desalination. Fresh water covers only 2.75% of the planet, of which 1.75–2% is frozen in glaciers and the polar regions, most of which is trapped in Antarctica. Only 0.5%–0.75% of all the Earth's fresh water is accessible on the ground, of which about 87% is contained in lakes.
The relative unavailability of water has led some to believe that eventually wars will be fought over access to it. The US Director of National Intelligence warned in 2012 that water demand is set to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, which means the risk of conflict will grow. Disputes have already been seen in hot regions including the Middle East, where Turkey's removal of dams along the Euphrates River in 2015 exacerbated the Syrian conflict.
Agriculture is the biggest consumer of fresh water through the need for irrigation, followed by industry. Population and industrial expansion in emerging markets will dramatically increase water demand, not just for crops and livestock, but also for industrial processes such as energy, manufacturing, and construction. Growing populations and aging infrastructure are challenging urban centers in the provision of drinking water and also for sanitation and sewerage systems, which require water to function. Areas which have seen water shortages have also faced sanitation problems as they became unable to flush away human waste.
Climate change is making water shortages worse. At one extreme, droughts have led to failed harvests along with bush fires in Africa and Australia. At the other extreme, storms and floods have badly damaged infrastructure in areas that previously had reliable water and sewerage systems, such as in the southern US and parts of Europe. Overpopulation is another threat: 22 cities in India are set to run out of water by 2025, while a lack of toilets means about 12% of the Indian population still practice open defecation.
Creating returns that benefit the world we live in
The pricing problem
One contributor to the problem is that despite its status as a vital and in some cases rare commodity, water is largely underpriced in the world. Many companies are able to extract vast quantities of water from the local mains or river for use in their processes at little cost, which gives them no incentive to use it more efficiently. Waste water can often be discarded into rivers also without cost, endangering the purity of future supplies. To address this, many have called for greater regulation and a coherent pricing system.
For investors interested in tapping into the topic, Robeco offers a Sustainable Water strategy that buys the equities of companies offering products and services that address the challenges related to the quantity, quality and allocation of water. Its main focus area is seeking those companies providing solutions along the water value chain, from irrigation and infrastructure to sophisticated water testing and analytics.
Reducing water shortages requires substantial investments in technologies and infrastructure that enable efficient management and treatment of water supplies. This includes the creation of more efficient irrigation systems to the installation of pipeline networks that can efficiently distribute water to population centers. Up to 20% of water through pipelines is currently lost through leaks and burst mains, particularly in urban centers where the pipes have not been replaced for decades.
Bottled water sustainability
Refill your water bottle: a sub-theme within water sustainability is bottled water, for which the problem is not availability, but what to do with the bottles once they are used. Before the coronavirus pandemic, one million water bottles were being purchased every minute, and 80% of them are single use. Much of what is wasted ends up in the oceans.
Robeco supports the Refill campaign, a UK organization which aims to drastically reduce single-use water bottle consumption by encouraging people to refill their bottles with tap water instead. Its success has so far stopped more than 100 million plastic bottles from entering the waste stream. Thousands of shops and other high street outlets have signed up to offer water at their premises, and the scheme was extended to cover railway stations and airports.
See also: Food sustainability, Resource sustainability, Circular economy.
Back to the Sustainable Investing Glossary Quantitative Investing Glossary Credit Investing Glossary
Climate risk and portfolio decarbonization have become center stage
Insurance companies are directly exposed to climate risk, and face increasingly tighter scrutiny from regulators regarding its impact on their balance sheets.
14-01-2021 | Interview
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The weight of man-made objects on Earth now exceeds the mass of all living things, new research reveals.
13-01-2021 | Stunning statistics
Letter from the CIO: Stay contrarian
Keep questioning the consensus in 2021, says Victor Verberk, Robeco's CIO Fixed Income and Sustainability.
07-01-2021 | Insight
Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. (Dubai office) is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority ("DFSA") and only deals with Professional Clients and does not deal with Retail Clients as defined by the DFSA.
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Tag: feminism
Why be a cheerleader when stripping pays better?
"Channel Solid Gold" (a strip club in Mexico City) by Abe Atri, CC-G, via Wikimedia Commons
"Washington Redskin Cheerleaders" by dbking, CC-G, via Wikimedia Commons
Seriously. This is a legitimate question, and I'd love some responses.
But first, let me tell you how I got to this question.
A news story popped up because some new cheerleader outfits were being called too skimpy and revealing.
I went to check out the article, and there was a great quote from a guy who claimed that there was nothing wrong with the outfits that bear a striking resemblance to something found in Victoria's Secret or Frederick's of Hollywood. But, he was careful to note, his daughter (also a cheerleader) would never be allowed to wear something like that. "'I think they're a little overdressed. Of course, I've got a daughter who's a cheerleader down there, and she will not be wearing anything like that,' said Dennis Stanek."
Ah, the joys of hypocrisy!
This whole exchange got me interested, though, in the careers of professional cheerleaders. Just why is it worth it for them to engage in cheering on these sports teams? What do they get out of it? Is it just, as the article says, that they "[cater] to that 14-year-old boy or even that 30-year-old woman that they can inspire"? (Which, I'd like to assure you, I find hard to believe – perhaps men of all ages, but unless you assume all women are lesbians, that "inspiration" is lacking.)
So I went and found another article, one that talked about the Redskin cheerleaders, just to use as an example. The cheerleaders who make the cut get paid – are you ready? – a whopping $75 per home game performance! Wow, huge bucks in that field! Now, to be fair, they also receive a pair of season tickets, but, of course, they're working during the games, so they have to give those away. Now, here comes all the unpaid work: two to five practices a week, lasting up to six hours each; practicing and studying the choreography outside of the practices; exercising, tanning, dieting, etc. and all those other goodies that they have to do to keep up their "look;" and eight days every year for a calendar shoot (they don't receive any proceeds from the calendar sale, FYI). Then there are the game days themselves, which means that most of the cheerleaders are up early in the morning to get ready and be at the field before 8 a.m. for a 1 p.m. game. Then, assuming all goes well, the cheerleaders are done by 6 p.m. On top of that, the Redskins won't state how much the cheerleaders make for their personal appearances at various locations (which the Redskins charge for), plus any of the images of the cheerleaders are used without any fees going to the women, even though the football players are paid for the use of their likenesses.
Sounding like a raw deal?
Let me also note that the average salary for an NFL football player is $770,000 a year (as of 2010 figures), although the low end is a measly $200,000 and the high end a whopping $1.4 million. To play a sport, and sometimes, I might note, play it really, really poorly. I wonder if cheerleaders would get contracts like that if they fumbled and dropped the ball, so to speak…
Regardless, let's get real now.
Strippers.
Forbes, in October of 2011, had an awesome series on strippers. The strippers they talked to earned a whole lot more than those cheerleaders, and, depending on where they were, sometimes wore just as much. (Remember, some areas, do not allow full nudity…) So, one woman earned anywhere from $23 to $31 an hour. When she worked anywhere from 75 to 96 hours per month (how many hours do you put in? 160 or more?), she took home about $2,200 to $2,900 a month. On top of that, she was able to deduct all of her expenses for waxing, costumes, make-up, etc. Another woman they talked to earned up to $4,400 a month, again working only 9 days that month. The women admit that age can lower their earnings, and some months are worse than others, but we're still talking about performing in scanty outfits.
Let's look at it this way:
Similarities: Must be in good physical condition. Must keep up their appearance. Must wear skimpy outfits and perform in public.
Differences: $75 for a full day's work. $120 for about 4 hours' work.
So, again, let me ask the question: Why be a cheerleader when stripping pays better?
Galveston, you disappoint me again…
August 15, 2012 Katherine SangerLeave a comment
From Slut Walk Houston, 2011
I have to say that I lived in Galveston, and while I was there, I pretty much loved it. There were enough positives that part of me still wishes I was there. But…someone needs to talk to their police department.
Recently, two joggers were attacked on Seawall Blvd. In one case, the woman says that about a dozen cars went past during the attack, and no one stopped or did anything. Now, to be fair, I don't know that I would stop and get out of my car, but I might pull over, honk, and make it clear I was calling 911. But that's not the point.
The point is that the police chief made a lovely statement, as per the Galveston Daily News: "Galveston police Chief Henry Porretto said joggers should be aware of their surroundings. Wearing ear buds could give an attacker an advantage, he said."
Damn those joggers wearing ear buds! They're asking for it! I mean, hell, first off, they're women. Second, they're out alone. Third, they're wearing ear buds! Oh the humanity! Ear buds, the scourge of the 21st century.
Let me repeat something.
Don't blame the victim.
Just because a woman has the nerve to do something that men would do does not mean that they have asked to be attacked or that they should be told that it is their fault if they are attacked. If it had been two guys who had been mugged, would the police chief have issued the same statement? I'm thinking not so much.
Oh, and just to add one fun detail: that victim who had the nerve to wear ear buds? Yeah, she also had the nerve to carry a metal pipe that she used to defend herself.
What the Hell are the "Glamour Women of the Year Awards"?
June 4, 2012 Katherine Sanger6 Comments
By H16794 U.S. Copyright Office. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
It's kind of sad I have to ask, but I just do.
Here's the thing: I read the news. Lots of news. And I saw a link on my local news for "Glamour Women of the Year Awards." And it's just a slideshow. Thirty-four photos. And some of the "thumbnails" are of the women's waists. Others are just faces. And there is nothing on the page anywhere about what these awards are for. It's just a bunch of pretty faces. Nothing to identify what these awards are for.
Okay, that's odd…normally people care about what awards are for, right? If we were looking at "Men of the Year Awards," wouldn't we care about what they were for? Wouldn't there be a mention somewhere? Somehow?
But going to Glamour's website doesn't help. Instead, there are great headlines that tell me that I should own dresses, know sex tips, and will be judged by my body. Thanks, Glamour, that's exactly what I was looking for!
I went ahead and Googled it, thinking maybe eventually I would find the information. I could find only a single page that wasn't a bunch of photos. Celebrity-Gossip.net actually listed the awards and the winners.
Hmmm. Helpful, but not too helpful. Then I found it – the best page that told me the true purpose of the "awards." The Huffington Post stood up and shouted it – "This Week in Beauty: Best & Worst From the 'Glamour' Women of the Year Awards 2012." And how awesome, you can judge the women and rank them! Cause, you know, the awards were only about how they looked. What else could they be? And if you check out the comments, it's clear that is the only point of the awards. People –both male and female – insult the women in the photos, making fun of their eyebrows, eyeshadow, and roots.
Yes, this is another rant. But it's a worthwhile rant. Why don't we notice these things? Why don't we call them out? Why don't we argue and shout and tell these people that we mind what they do? There are only two options: we don't mind, or we do and we keep quiet about it. So let's not keep quiet. Let's talk about it and argue and shout. Because if we don't, who will?
Ruining My Childhood Reading
March 23, 2012 Katherine SangerLeave a comment
One of the first SF authors I was introduced to was Heinlein ("I learned it from watching you, Dad!" – the reference for those who get it). And for years and years, I fondly remembered the short story "The Roads Must Roll." It was a story I'd recommended to others. Fun. Interesting. Awesome starter for anyone who wanted to read SF. I looked back on it and loved it.
Then, almost 20 years later, I read it again, this time for a grad-level class on SF. And oh my god! Suddenly I realized that this excellent, amazing, classic of a story was awful. No, not the writing or the plot. But the treatment of women!
As an uber-feminist, I was shocked that 12 year old me didn't notice just how badly the women were treated – and ignored – as human beings in the story.
Amazing what happens when we read something from a new perspective. Which is why I now find myself in possession of the 75th Anniversary Edition of "Is Sex Necessary?" by James Thurber and E.B. White. This version, unlike the one I read as a child, has a forward by John Updike that discusses many of Thurber's issues and sheds light on why this comedic masterpiece may not be as funny as all that after all.
So here I go, plunging into the depth of another memory and seeing if I'll emerge unscathed or soaking wet. Wish me luck!
Wonder Woman…Maybe Not So Wonderful…
March 18, 2012 March 18, 2012 Katherine SangerLeave a comment
Yeah, it's from 1975, and, yeah, we can't be all too surprised that it's horribly sexist, but wow. Just wow.
The group of us have recently begun watching the original Wonder Woman series. And the lines in it make all of us groan and shake our heads. In the first episode, Woman Woman is hired as a secretary to replace the evil Nazi secretary for the "Air Force" Major Steve Trevor after she is ousted and found out. They hire her because they need to find an ugly woman who won't distract them with their looks – so they hire her because, while she's good at typing, she's a dog. (Okay, maybe they didn't call her a dog…wait, no, I think they did!)
And, shockingly, the episode was written by William Marsten and Stanley Ralph Ross.
We're only on episode four, but each episode has at least a few lines that seem to be completely against the point of Wonder Woman – there is no female empowerment. While she may have to save Steve (who seems awfully incompetent…which might explain how he managed to become a Major) in just about every episode, Woman Wonder does such classic things as lose her lasso and enter a beauty contest.
Out of these four episodes, only one – Wonder Woman Meets Baroness Von Gunther – includes a woman in the writing credits: Margaret Armen.
They recently tried to do a reboot, which, sadly, was not even as good as the original series.
So will we keep watching? Yeah. And will we keep being shocked and horrified by the view of women in 1975? Definitely.
And that's probably a very good thing. If nothing else, it lets us know quite how far we've come.


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Trump Repeats False Claim That FDA Approved Malaria Drug Chloroquine for Covid-19
While speaking to U.S. state governors at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, President Trump, again, said the FDA had approved malaria drug chloroquine for treatment of Covid-19, a claim the FDA has denied. #Coronavirus #Covid19 #Chloroquine
Earlier Thursday during an at-times-confusing White House press conference, Trump said that chloroquine was approved for use and that he wanted to "remove every barrier" to test more drugs against Covid-19 and "allow many more Americans to access drugs that have shown really good promise."
The drug, chloroquine, hasn't yet been approved for treatment of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. While it's been available for decades for malaria, it's not clear whether it will work against the new illness. A March 10 review of existing research found that there's little solid proof one way or the other.
"Normally the FDA would take a long time to approve something like that, and it's — it was approved very, very quickly and it's now approved by prescription," Trump said.
An FDA spokesperson said the drug had not been approved for use in Covid-19 patients. However, U.S. doctors are legally able to prescribe a drug for any illness or condition they think is medically appropriate.
More than a dozen generic drugmakers, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Mylan NV and Novartis AG's Sandoz unit manufacture chloroquine, also called hydroxychloroquine. It comes with few major known side effects, is relatively inexpensive and is widely used around the world. It's also been touted by Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk as a potential treatment, and China has been testing it as well.
Other drugmakers are also developing experimental treatments and vaccines for Covid-19, with results from a Gilead Sciences Inc. drug, remdesivir, expected next month.
« What I'm Doing To Prepare For Coronavirus/Covid-19 – Mike Maloney Unraveling Revelation: The Rider on the Red Horse »


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Apple Holding Secret Meetings with Food and Drug Administration
by Usman Qureshi – Wed, November 30, 2016
According to a report by Business Insider, Apple has been holding secret meetings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the past few years, discussing "diagnostic apps and other unreleased health products". Meetings with Apple officials were not listed on FDA public calendars, and were discovered by Mobi Health News, which obtained emails between Apple and FDA through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Apple appears to have ambitions in health technology far beyond the services it has publicly released so far. It is believed the Cupertino tech giant's ambitions may lead to "new products that require government regulation as health devices". Redacted emails obtained by the source show that Apple discussed several unreleased products with the FDA including two "possible (and related) products in the cardiac space", and a diagnostic app for Parkinson's disease.
The "cardiac space" products are interesting, though the emails seen by Mobi Health News don't have more details. The reporters speculate that it might have to do with an EKG attachment for the Apple Watch. AliveCor, a startup, makes a similar product called Kardia Band. It's also possible that Apple is planning to integrate better heart-rate tracking into future versions of the Apple Watch.
The Parkinson's app, if it were able to diagnose the disease, would most likely require federal regulation, which would make the product a first for Apple.
According to the emails, majority of talks centered on regulatory issues, such as how Apple's ResearchKit should be classified, how Apple approves health-focused apps in its App Store and what working groups Apple scientists would join.
AirPods to Ship Over 'Next Few Weeks', Says Tim Cook in Email


Our backing band was born from the need to move away from the electronics and get more into the harder sound. And without live drums and bass can not. The first band was born January 2, 2009 and the first concert we attended together April 11, 2009 at club Futurum, as support for the Spanish legend Soziedad alcoholic. It was nážez.
Since then, we have received a lot of festivals and solo concerts in clubs, theaters and community centers throughout the country.
A special concert was shot on DVD and named it Brioso. For this support we have received the Golden Plate award for selling more than 13,000 copies.
In 2012 we passed his first big throne after the theater halls, 12 beautiful Christmas concerts with repertoire and special guest Pepa Vojtek band coat.


Rare Tony Hawk X Powell Peralta Pictograph skateboard circa'91/'92. Original artwork by Sean Cliver. Brand new, unused and in original shrink wrap. W=9.25" L=32.25" WB=14.5.
Please visit our page doingourverybest for more listings. We sell a wide variety of rare shoes, apparel, collectibles and skate related items. The item "BRAND NEW and NOS Powell Peralta X Tony Hawk Pictograph Skateboard Circa 91/92" is in sale since Thursday, August 25, 2016. This item is in the category "Sporting Goods\Outdoor Sports\Skateboarding & Longboarding\Skateboard Parts\Decks". The seller is "doingourverybest" and is located in San Mateo, California. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russian federation, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica.


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Activists Continue to Press for Wyden Pass on Fast Track
March 16, 2015 • 0 Comments
Story and photos by Pete Shaw
Senator Ron Wyden's choice as to who he represents–the people of Oregon or the multinational corporations that stand to make huge profits at the expense of working people–is being pushed to a head over the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) . On Monday March 9 a collection of 200 labor rights and environmental activists, union members, those opposed to increased costs for pharmaceuticals, and people simply opposed to giving corporations even greater power over their government, gathered at Director Park to serve notice to Wyden that he must not support the Fast Track legislation that will all but assure the TPP's passage. The rally was followed by a short march.
"You all know Senator Wyden is the most important senator in the entire country when it comes to trade right now," Elizabeth Swager of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign told the raucous crowd. "He's feeling a lot of pressure from the people who want to offshore our jobs, jack up our medicine costs, and undermine our environmental protections and deregulate Wall Street."
Wyden is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, and his support for Fast Track is being courted heavily by Republicans, the Obama Administration, and the corporations who will gain from the TPP's passage. That support is seen as crucial to getting other Democrats to fall in line.
But he is also feeling pressure from his real constituents, the people of Oregon. They should know best, since Oregon has lost 75,000 jobs since 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) became law.
Fast Track is the legislation that is used to ease the passage of so-called free trade agreements (FTAs). It gives the president all negotiating power in the crafting of FTAs, even as the Constitution mandates that trade is the purview of Congress. When the resulting trade legislation is brought before Congress, there is very little time for debate, and no amendments may be added to it. The public is almost entirely squeezed out of the picture.
And with good reason. What little is known of the TPP–it is being negotiated in secret by about 600 corporate lobbyists, but because of leaked documents published by Wikileaks people have been able to catch a glimpse of what the legislation will contain–shows that the TPP is another FTA like NAFTA and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). It has very little to do with trade. These arrangements tear down national sovereignty, making sure that things like environmental and labor laws cannot stand in the way of corporate profits. They protect corporations from democracy.
"The corporations pushing for Fast Track and the TPP not only think you're overpaid, they think Chinese sweatshop workers are overpaid," said Swager. "They want to use the TPP to ship jobs to countries like Vietnam, where wages are just a third of what they are in China. The corporations pushing to Fast Track the TPP think you're not paying enough for health care. They want to use the TPP to jack up medicine prices, increasing costs here at home and flat-out denying access to medicine in developing countries. The corporations pushing to Fast Track the TPP care more about their bottom lines than the quality of of the air and water we leave behind for future generations. They want to use the TPP to attack our environmental and consumer protections. The corporations pushing to Fast Track the TPP–you're not going to believe this one–they think that Wall Street is over-regulated. They want to use the TPP to prevent regulation of banks, insurance companies and hedge funds, risking another financial crisis."
Rob Nosse, Oregon District 42 State Representative, urged people to keep on pressuring their representatives in Congress, noting that no FTA has been stopped once Fast Track has been passed. "We can't make trade deals fair for workers when Fast Track exists," he said.
Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain told the crowd, "We got NAFTA, we got CAFTA, and the way I see it, workers got the shafta," adding that when FTA supporters talk about job growth, they not only neglect the far greater number of jobs lost, but also ignore the kind of jobs that return. Public Citizen's Lori Wallach has calculated that NAFTA has cost the US one million jobs, and has resulted in decreased wages and benefits along with an increase in inequality. Wallach's calculation of 1 million jobs lost due to NAFTA is a net calculation–the difference between jobs lost and jobs gained. Chamberlain noted that the jobs that do come back are "non-union lower wage jobs with no benefits."
Chamberlain has consistently expressed opposition to FTA's, but he also has been an avid supporter of Wyden–so much so that many activists call him Wyden's pitbull. The rally was hosted by the Oregon AFL-CIO, and Chamberlain's presence at the rally may mark a turning point. Certainly the union's Facebook event page pulls no punches in stating "Oregon can't afford another free trade deal like NAFTA, and we have a chance to put pressure on Senator Ron Wyden and members of Congress to stand with Oregon's workers and say NO to Fast Track and NO to the Trans Pacific Partnership."
Ostensibly Wyden's problem with the TPP has been the lack of transparency during negotiations, but NAFTA was wide open for the public to see and its bad effects are clear. The TPP, composed of the US and 11 other nations of the Pacific Rim that produce over 40% of the world's gross domestic product, would dwarf NAFTA. Worse, the TPP is a docking agreement–meaning that it remains open for other countries to join.
What no doubt does bother Wyden is the growing solidarity among people opposed to FTAs. His January Town Hall event at Portland Community College's Southeast Campus was disrupted and eventually taken over by activists from the Black Lives Matter Portland and Don't Shoot PDX movements, who turned the usual dog and pony show into a substantive discussion of the issues that mattered to people in attendance.
Then, on February 18, at a rally that went to both Representative Earl Blumenauer's and Wyden's Lloyd District offices, Adrienne Cabouet of Black Lives Matter Portland addressed the crowd, reminding them that economic and race issues are deeply enmeshed, and that economic pitfalls such as those resulting from FTAs affect people and communities of color even more than they do white people and their communities. Cabouet called for solidarity that recognized the harsher economic realities faced by people of color due to "decades of institutional racism ingrained into every segment of our state and government." Those words were well-received.
This most recent rally urging Wyden to cast his vote for Oregonians saw Ramon Ramirez of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), the Oregon farmworkers' union and largest Latino organization in the state, noting the need to oppose Fast Track and stand up for working people everywhere. "Fast Track is another word for exploiting workers here and in other countries," he said. "It is nothing but another disguise to exploit workers…to squeeze more profit out of working people."
Ramirez also told the crowd about the direct link between NAFTA and the rise of people without documentation migrating to the US. Those people did not happily leave their homes. NAFTA resulted in the Mexican market being flooded with cheap US agricultural produce against which Mexican farmers could not compete. These farmers then left their land, moving either to the cities where they created a glut of labor that reduced wages or to the US where they could send back money to their families and help them survive, and perhaps be reunited with them. "We don't need Fast Track," Ramirez said. "We need jobs. We don't need Fast Track. We need immigration reform. We don't need Fast Track. We need better wages."
This is a winnable fight. As Swager reminded the crowd, in January 2014, Senators Orrin Hatch (now chair of the Senate Finance Committee) and Max Baucus, and Representative Dave Camp introduced Fast Track legislation. It failed, and all of Oregon's federal delegation opposed it. That included Wyden who felt too much pressure from Oregonians who banded together in opposition to Fast Track. He had little choice but to oppose the measure, despite pressure also coming from the corporations that fill his campaign coffers. In other words, Oregonians' solidarity and the strength that comes from it made Wyden fearful that if he voted for Fast Track, it would be used against him by voters in his next election.
That possibility is now rearing its head for Wyden. A recent poll conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of Democracy for America showed that half of all Oregon voters would be less likely to vote for Wyden in his re-election campaign next year if he votes for Fast Track and the TPP.
In January 2014, Oregonians showed Senator Wyden who he represents. They can show him again. Otherwise, they may well show him the door.
Want to get involved? Call Senator Wyden at (503) 326-7525 and tell him you want him to oppose Fast Track and the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Follow up your phone call with an email to Senator Wyden by going to: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/1034/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17225
Tags:Black Likes Matter Fast Track Immigrant Rights labor Solidarity Trans Pacific Partnership
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Бе́льченко Ви́ктор Алексе́евич (род. 26 марта 1961 года) — российский черепно-челюстно-лицевой , специалист в области черепно-лицевой хирургии, главный внештатный специалист по челюстно-лицевой хирургии Департамента здравоохранения города Москвы (2013).

Главный врач Челюстно-лицевого госпиталя для ветеранов войн ДЗМ, д.м.н., профессор.

В 1983 году окончил стоматологический факультет Московского медицинского стоматологического института им. Н. А. Семашко.

С 1983 по 1988 год обучался в клинической ординатуре, а затем в аспирантуре по специальности «Хирургическая стоматология» в Центральном НИИ стоматологии и челюстно-лицевой хирургии.

В 1988 году защитил кандидатскую диссертацию на тему: «Клиника, диагностика и лечение больных с посттравматическими деформациями носоглазничной области с повреждением слезо-отводящих путей».

В 1989 году проходил стажировку по черепно-лицевой хирургии в Международном институте черепно-лицевой хирургии (Даллас, США) под руководством профессоров Кеннета Сельера и Яна Манро.

В 1990 году исполнял обязанности заместителя директора по лечебной работе в Центральном НИИ стоматологии и челюстно-лицевой хирургии.

В 1996 году защитил докторскую диссертацию на тему: «Реконструкция верхней и средней зон лица у больных с посттравматическими дефектами и деформациями лицевого скелета с использованием аутотрансплантатов мембранозного происхождения и металлоконструкций из титана».

С 1996 по 1998 год руководил первым и на тот момент единственным в стране отделением черепно-лицевой хирургии, развернутым на базе стационара в Центральном НИИ стоматологии и челюстно-лицевой хирургии.

С 1998 по 2010 год работал в должности заместителя директора по научной работе Научно-практического центра специализированной медицинской помощи детям имени В.Ф. Войно-Ясенецкого.

С 2001 года профессор, с 2010 по 2020 годы заведующий кафедрой челюстно-лицевой хирургии и стоматологии стоматологического факультета РНИМУ им. Н. И. Пирогова Минздрава России.

Профессор В.А. Бельченко один из основателей черепно-лицевой хирургии в России, автор 20 изобретений, автор и соавтор более 300 научных работ, в области черепно-челюстно-лицевой хирургии, среди которых две монографии: "Черепно-лицевая хирургия. Руководство для врачей" (2006 год) и "Черепно-лицевая хирургия в формате 3D. Атлас" (2010 год); учебники: "Неонатальная хирургия" (2006 год), "Челюстно-лицевая хирургия" (2018 год) и Челюстно-лицевая хирургия: национальное руководство" (2019 год).

Член профильной комиссии Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации по специальности «Челюстно-лицевая хирургия». Член Правления Общероссийской общественной организации «Общество специалистов в области челюстно-лицевой хирургии». Среди учеников профессора В.А. Бельченко 2 доктора и 12 кандидатов медицинских наук.

В феврале 2013 года назначен главным внештатным специалистом по челюстно-лицевой хирургии Департамента здравоохранения города Москвы.

С апреля 2014 года возглавляет Челюстно-лицевой госпиталь для ветеранов войн.

С 2017 по 2022 гг. — депутат Совета депутатов муниципального округа Даниловский. Член партии «Единая Россия».

За большой вклад в борьбу с коронавирусной инфекцией (COVID-19), самоотверженность и профессионализм, проявленные при исполнении профессионального долга Указом Президента России № 407 от 21 июня 2020 года награжден орденом Пирогова.

В 2021 году:

Приказом Председателя Следственного комитета Российской Федерации Бастрыкина Александра Ивановича Виктор Алексеевич Бельченко награжден медалью "За содействие".

За добросовестное исполнение служебных обязанностей и высокий профессионализм, выполнение заданий особой важности и сложности, а также за содействие Следственному комитету Главный врач Бельченко Виктор Алексеевич Приказом Председателя Следственного комитета России Бастрыкина Александр Ивановича награжден памятной медалью к 75-летию Победы в Великой отечественной войне.

В 2023 году:

Приказом Председателя Следственного комитета Российской Федерации Бастрыкина Александра Ивановича Виктор Алексеевич Бельченко награжден памятной медалью "10 лет Следственному комитету Российской Федерации".

Примечания

Ссылки
 Официальная страница главного внештатного специалиста по челюстно-лицевой хирургии Департамента здравоохранения Москвы
 Бельченко Виктор Алексеевич — главный внештатный специалист по челюстно-лицевой хирургии Департамента здравоохранения Москвы

Преподаватели РГМУ
Профессора РГМУ
Медики Москвы
Челюстно-лицевые хирурги
Члены «Единой России»
Депутаты муниципальных образований Москвы

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Business people have been really good at embracing design thinking lately. But how about the other way around? Today, I (designer) ventured myself to the glorious Oslo Business Forum 2018, where even Barack Obama would show up to throw some president-glitter on the business leaders of Norway. Fancy that.
Text was originally published on LinkedIn Pulse.
We are taking the most abundant element of our planet (which is information), to transform it into the most precious thing for people (which is life).
This quote was triggered by his opinion that we are generally lacking perspective. We should get better at asking "why" and look for purpose. If we go back in time, we can look at the present with more depth.
By looking at the technological revolutions through history, he pointed out that only the fourth technological revolution has been populated by such an avalanche of changes simultaneously. Even though these changes might represent a mountain of interesting new raw material for innovators, Kutarna said that Leadership is the answer to deal with this great clash we are facing. This is a kind of leadership that cannot be taught, because there are too many unknowns. We just have to put our hands on the wheel and take responsibility.
Today is the slowest day in the rest of our lives.
The next speaker, Silvija Seres, also had a good point supporting this outlook; "Lifelong education is a new professional hygiene". True, true!
Coming from Microsoft, you would perhaps expect an Azure-biased sales pitch. But Kimberly's talk had several neat and objective perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of this technology.
A significant part of the presentation was dedicated to the ethics of AI, as this becomes present in our everyday lives. A good example is facial recognition, which strikes us in the core of human rights.
We must make a new social contract and make sure we follow the ethics of AI. We must remain accountable to the impact we make on humans.
Towards the end, she raised the question of defining new laws that represent a global consensus. Microsoft is donating loads of money, to contribute to what they call "AI for good." Way to go, Microsoft!
What geeks and algorithms have in common is that they base decision making on data rather than gut feeling. This is contrasting some of the traditional leadership styles, which McAfee completely debunked as an option for the future.
Machines are demonstrating excellent judgement.
While being very optimistic about the positive impacts of machine learning, McAfee also proved why we should embrace crowd sourcing. "Don't miss out on tapping into the power of the crowd".
Asking the right questions. "What?" and "why?"
Search for the ones that are seeking the truth. Run from the ones who have found it.
"Sustainability is the single most important issue for this planet today."
"Dangers arise from the perspective of believing that we are not all equally worthy. 80% of all bad in the world comes out of this."
"Let us hang on to what makes us human. Hope, dreams, fears and blind spots."
"To sustain the good of globalization, and efficiency of tech, we must build stabilizers - for example through a social welfare state. Norway has done well."
"When things are moving fast, there are people feeling left behind. These are representing not only inequality, but also dangers. For example nationalism."
"If you are not cultivating new talent, your organization will fail."
"Diversity is the key to succeed in the long term. Different points of views will help you identify blind spots."
If you are not making mistakes, you are probably not pushing boundaries. You are missing out on opportunity. But it is also important not to make a cult out of failure.
What's not to love about Obama?
The conference hall was full of sponsor booths that generally held a high level of interaction and demos. This was far more engaging than the average conference cubicles you might expect. In my opinion, "The Startup Village" was particularly inspiring. I stopped by Voicable's booth, where I met my friend and tutor for public speaking, Rick Salmon.
"Try to speak like Obama", he said, and get your voice analyzed while you're at it! I surprised myself by achieving an impressive 93% score! ...but some dude before me managed 95%. Wait... maybe that was actually Obama himself!?
Most main-stage lectures were high-level to the point of being philosophical. I missed some strong contemporary business success stories, which could deliver more hands-on inspiration.
I missed design thinking completely. True, some speakers mentioned empathy, and Obama had several points about the people perspective. But shouldn't Norwegian business leaders talk more about people-centered methodology in these speedy tech-times? It is our anchor, guys!
For a conference with Sustainability in the title, I would actually have expected even stronger, hands-on, this-is-how-you-roll-up-your-sleeves kinds of take-aways.
Traditional thinking is holding us all back.


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Provide details of an independent third party to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Finance. We will then sell them the vehicle for the current fair market value and you will receive 100% of the vehicle sale proceeds (less any monies outstanding). The independent third party is usually your Volkswagen Van Centre. Find your Van Centre details.
Or, enter into an annual secondary hiring period and retain the use of the vehicle. The secondary hiring rental payment is 4% (plus VAT) for commercial vehicles of original (VAT exclusive) invoice price, payable annually in advance and 1% (plus VAT) for passenger cars.
provide details of an independent third party to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Finance. We will then sell them the vehicle for the current fair market value (as per Full Payout) and you will receive 100% of the vehicle sale proceeds. The independent third party is usually your Volkswagen Van Centre. Find your Van Centre details.
Or, you can enter into a secondary hiring period and retain use of the vehicle. The secondary hiring rental payment is 4% (plus VAT) for commercial vehicles of original (VAT exclusive) invoice price, payable annually in advance and 1% (plus VAT) for passenger cars.


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Self-employed avoid big cut to universal credit after return of the 'minimum income floor' delayed until April
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The suspension of the universal credit 'minimum income floor' will now last until the end of April, the Government announced today – which means many self-employed people WON'T now face huge drops in payments next week.
Last week, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis warned of the "sinkhole" waiting for many self-employed people after Thursday 12 November, when the planned return of the minimum income floor would have meant payments were slashed. He suggested that any self-employed people affected should write to their MP as soon as possible.
The minimum income floor is basically an assumed level of earnings. When calculating how much universal credit you'll receive, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assumes the self-employed earn at least roughly minimum wage. Without the floor in place, those earning less than that level are assessed on actual income – so get more help. Now the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has announced that the suspension of the minimum income floor will continue for the time being.
See our Coronavirus Self-Employed & Small Limited Company Help and Coronavirus Universal Credit & Benefits guides for more info on your rights if you're self employed, and details of the support available.
What is the minimum income floor – and why is today's announcement so important?
In normal times, if you've been "gainfully self-employed" (meaning your main occupation has been self-employment) for more than 12 months, you'll be affected by the minimum income floor rule – though there are exceptions.
Normally with the minimum income floor, the DWP assumes you earn a wage that you may not actually get. If you claim the benefit when you've been self-employed for over a year, the DWP will assume you earn at least the same as someone in paid employment with similar working hours on the minimum wage. See how the minimum income floor is calculated below.
The problem comes for people who earn BELOW the floor. Here, when assessing you for the benefit, instead of looking at what you actually earn, the DWP will assume you earn the (higher) minimum income floor, and the more you are deemed to be earning, the less universal credit you get. See below for an example of how this works in practice.
If you earn ABOVE the floor, there's no issue, as you'll be assessed on your actual income.
In March, the Government suspended the minimum income floor due to the pandemic – but it had been due to return on Friday 13 November. Its suspension was a lifeline for many self-employed people who had initially seen income plummet after Covid-19 hit, as it meant their universal credit payments were calculated on what they were actually earning, rather than an assumed amount that may have been higher than the reality. The fact it now won't return till April will therefore be good news for many.
Here's what Martin had to say in response to the news today – and below you can see his original tweet to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week campaigning on the issue:
CONFIRMED. Good news for self employed. Govt has extended the removal of the Universal Credit min income floor til Apr (was due to end next wk)
The floor means self employed assumed to earn at least c min wage for UC. Without it, those earning less are assessed on actual income
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) November 3, 2020
On 13 Nov, there's a huge sink hole awaiting many self-employed as @RishiSunak's Covid suspension of the Uni Credit min income floor ends.
Ie self employed'll be assumed to have earnings for UC calc even if they don't
I'd suggest self-employed contact their MP asap
Pls share
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) October 22, 2020
How is the minimum income floor normally calculated?
Here's where it gets complicated:
First, the DWP calculates how many hours you could be expected to work each week. This could be up to 35 hours a week, or fewer in some circumstances – for example, if you have caring responsibilities.
Your expected working hours are multiplied by the hourly national minimum wage for your age group, and then calculated as a monthly salary. For example, if you're aged 25 or over and in employment, you must be paid a legal minimum of £8.72 an hour – though it'll be less than this if you're younger.
This weekly wage is then multiplied by 52 and divided by 12 to get an equivalent monthly salary. So someone who was expected to work a full 35-hour week would be expected to earn:
- £1,322.53 a month if they're aged 25 or over. This is based on a minimum hourly salary of £8.72.
- £1,243.67 a month if they're aged 21-24, based on a minimum hourly salary of £8.20.
- £978.25 a month if they're aged 18-20, based on a minimum hourly salary of £6.45.
- £690.08 a month if they're under 18, based on a minimum hourly salary of £4.55.
The DWP then deducts tax and national insurance to work out your minimum income floor. This is deducted at an amount "the Secretary of State deems appropriate", so can differ from case to case.
While the tax and national insurance make it hard to state exact minimum income floors, the monthly wages above can be taken as a good approximation of the level of minimum income floor that will apply to you in your age group (assuming you'd be expected to work full time).
How does the minimum income floor affect payments?
Your universal credit payment is based on many factors, including where you live, whether you have children, whether you're in a couple and more. And it's also affected by how much you earn – or, how much you're assumed to earn under the minimum income floor rule. So...
If your actual income is LESS than your minimum income floor, it's the minimum income floor that's used to calculate your payments instead, meaning you'd get less universal credit than if your actual earnings were used.
If your actual income is MORE than your minimum income floor, your real earnings will be used to calculate your universal credit payments.
If the Government had brought back the minimum income floor, some self-employed people would have seen a drop in their universal credit. Here's an example of what could have happened (though as we say above, universal credit entitlements are based on lots of different factors, so see this as an illustration)...
A 40-year-old self-employed musician, who wasn't eligible for help under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, started claiming universal credit in April after coronavirus restrictions disrupted his income.
At the moment he is only able to earn about £200/month due to reduced demand, and his universal credit payments are based on this amount. As he is a homeowner, lives alone and doesn't have children, at the moment he gets £283.89/mth in universal credit.
But if the minimum income floor is brought back in, his universal credit payments would be calculated as if he were earning his minimum income floor amount. This could be around £1,200/mth for someone in his situation, though exact amounts will vary – even though his actual income is only a fraction of this. As a result, he would no longer be entitled to claim universal credit, leaving him almost £300 a month WORSE OFF.
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Self-employed avoid big cut to universal credit after return of the 'minimum income floor'
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The end? … or just the beginning?
Just 5 days and 120kms from our final destination, after 5 weeks of walking, our lovely long walk is over. Greg spent a night in hospital in Lugo, and is now 'home' and improving, but not enough for us to complete our walk on this trip. It's so disappointing for us both, but rather than focus on it, I'm going to write about the good stuff, and there's been plenty of that.
When we started our walk, I hadn't done anywhere near enough training – it was cold and wet at home and I had too much else to do, and lots more excuses for why I couldn't walk for quite a few kms at a time with a heavy rucksack. In the end, I don't think it really mattered. After the first week or so, I got used to the distances and to carrying an extra 12 kg, and once my feet settled down, walking 25kms became just what I did every day. And I was always happy to spend the day walking, I never thought 'oh, I don't want to do this today', although I was glad of our 3 rest days when we took them in large cities.
I've gotta say, that as someone who spends most of her life sitting in front of a computer screen, who hates sport and isn't really all that interested in physical activity, walking 680kms while carrying a 12 kg pack is something I'm pretty darn proud of. I'm fitter than I have ever been, and thinner than I've been in quite a few decades. And I've got this tan that looks great … until you look at my white ankles and feet.
We have seen some beautiful parts of Spain, and met some great people. The friends of the Camino who helped make our journey a success, and the pilgrims we met along the way were all interesting and all had a tale to tell, and a story to share. It was always good to bump into people we had met earlier on our Camino, and to catch up on their travels since we saw them last.
As we drove along the motorway to the hospital a couple of days ago, I realised how lucky we had been to spend those 5 weeks walking – we really got to see what that part Spain was like, compared with zooming along in a motor vehicle. Every country looks the same from a motorway.
The food. Ah, the food. I could, and probably will, write a whole post or even a whole blog on Spanish food. Some of it was incredibly good, some of it was utterly forgettable, but eating out every night was a novelty and a lovely change from the usual 'what's for dinner?' at home. I keep finding Spanish cookbooks (or actually, I think they find me) that I want to buy for myself and to stock on my website.
So for now, we'll keep on posting on this blog. The current plan is to stay here in Lugo for a couple more days, then go to Santiago by bus (and I can tell you now, it won't be the same as if we had walked all the way), fly to Frankfurt for the Book Fair as we had planned, then fly home from Munich on October 12th as planned. By then, Greg will hopefully have recovered enough that the flights won't worry him too much, and we've really just got to get home to our real lives, our businesses, our families, friends and to Daisy the cat!
We have had an unscheduled stop at Triacastela today because Greg has been struck by a nasty bout of dizziness whenever he tries to get up. He has spent the day in bed and we'll see how he's feeling tomorrow. I'm not sure how this will affect the last few days of our walk. I guess it will be interesting at best, and impossible to complete at worst. I did visit the little church in the village we're staying in this afternoon and put in a good word for him. I hope he recovers soon. It's not fun feeling sick when you're far from home.
Autumn started in the northern hemisphere early last week and now wherever we walk we see ripe wild fruit, berries and nuts, and cultivated food crops are being harvested. Last weekend marked the start of the grape harvest, and people are busy picking, selling and storing their crops. As we walked out of Cacabelos a few days ago, we saw an old man wheeling his wheelbarrow full of pears and potatoes in to town, followed closely by another old man carrying a basket of walnuts. People have set up roadside and pathside fruit stalls and yesterday we followed signs for 'frambuesas' (raspberries) to the courtyard of a house that had a little table with punnets of raspberries and redcurrents and an honesty box. Those red berries were delicious!
What has really amazed us is how green the countryside is, so late in the season. At home it's all turned brown by early autumn, but here everything is very lush and the grass is high.
We've spent the last week or so walking in the mountains, where the winters are long and cold. Huge stacks of neatly split firewood are being stored, food is being preserved and there seems to be more activity than usual in the little villages we walk through. Pimientos (red capsicums) are being char-grilled prior to canning, beans are drying and then being stripped from their pods, the last of the season's tomatoes are being coaxed to ripen.
Another sunny day, but it was still only about 19C. We left at 9:30am, but we had only 21km to do today. Out guide told us it was flat, but it was an uphill climb out of town. We had great views to the north of us.
It was about a 5km walk before we found a bar Judy could have a coffee, and we could have a break. It was a nice sunny position, where we could stay warm. We walked though little villages that mostly seemed to be running dairy cows. One village (Padornelo) that had three houses in it, one of which was empty.
We had a short steep walk up to a bar, and we found Franz, who we have been bumping into for weeks. The last time we saw him was the Leon Cathedral.
We stopped for lunch at another little dairy farming town Fonfria, where a woman was running a little cafe by herself. It was good food, clean, and shows how lots of people in other little spanish camino towns could make a living as well.
After Fonfria it was relatively flat to Biduedo, after that the dreaded downhill began. Judy has posted before about walking downhill, but let me remind you, its hard on the feet. Even with walking poles to lessen the shock, 7km continuously downhill is difficult.
We made it to Triacastela, finding on the outskirts a 800 year old chesnut tree. We made it at about 5pm. We found the restaurant in town that had the most people in it (others were empty), and had a Menu del Dia (menu of the day) for 10 Euros each, which was nice.


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Brian is a passionate ICT executive specializing in complex program management, organizational leadership and flawless execution.
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One of the most critical skills that any project manager or program manager needs to exhibit, continue to develop, and consciously refine is that of customer relationship management. It is absolutely vital if one wishes to grow, mature, and excel in the customer project/program delivery space. Embracing and truly delighting your customer goes well beyond the basics of traditional customer satisfaction, clinging desperately to the hope of scoring five out of five on some dull, impersonal, antiquated customer survey issued at project completion. Surely, we can do better than that? Let's take a closer look at some ways to move beyond the mundane to delivering a truly great customer experience!


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Aim for six months of people-focused leadership
Twelve months ago Samoa was counting down to the arrival of over 3,000 athletes and sports officials for the 2019 XVI Pacific Games.
And at the end of July, we were celebrating a historic third placing in the Pacific Games behind sporting powerhouses Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia, not to mention under two years of preparations to host the region's largest sporting event following the withdrawal of Tonga in 2017.
But the euphoria emanating from our success in the islanders' version of the Olympic Games was short lived, with the first cases of a deadly measles epidemic reported in September, followed by the declaration of a state of emergency (S.O.E.) in October, and the loss of 83 lives as the country entered the new year.
Sadly, the opportunity for our people to rebuild their lives after a devastating measles outbreak, went out the window with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Despite recording zero COVID-19 cases to date, the impact of the pandemic on the world economy suffocated vulnerable small island economies such as ours, which counts tourism and remittances among its top foreign exchange earners.
Fast forward to June and the impact of the pandemic on the lives of citizens is unavoidable everywhere you turn. Restricted business trading hours, shorter school weeks, craft markets devoid of tourists, the closure of lodges and hotels, and a ban on international arrivals in Samoa.
Amid the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, including the loss of over 3,000 jobs in the tourism sector, the Government unwittingly tables three Bills in Parliament this year to amend the Constitution as part of its Judicial reforms agenda.
The public reaction was instantaneous: lawyers, Supreme Court Judges, a former Judge, non-government organisations, political parties, political and legal experts, members of the public, and villages have condemned the Bills.
Despite the criticism, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and his Government are determined to push through with the proposed changes through the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020, Land and Titles Bill 2020 and the Judicature Bill 2020.
Hence it is tragic that citizens are uncertain with what the future holds for them and their children, as they marked the country's 58th Independence day celebrations on Monday in the comfort of their own homes.
Independence day celebrations are supposed to unite us as a people and a nation – not divide us at a critical juncture in human history, when we need to be united to overcome a national or international crisis, such as the measles outbreak or COVID-19.
Let's hope the muted celebrations around the country, in front of our television screens at home and in the company of our families, enabled our leaders to also quietly reflect on Samoa's highs and lows over the last 12 months and not take our people's resilience for granted.
As we usher in a new month and work towards getting some sense of normalcy back in the people's lives, following all the uncertainty associated with the coronavirus and the effects of the S.O.E., citizens would want six months of Government leadership that stays focused on their welfare and is free of name-calling and divide-and-conquer politics.
There's no doubt the Government's proposed Bills took the shine off its COVID-19 response, and led to fears among citizens that it is capitalising on the pandemic to push through reforms, which if passed by the Parliament will have long-term ramifications for the rule of law and democracy in Samoa.
Pushing through major changes to the country's Constitution, 12 months away from the next General Election and along the way bypassing legislative drafting processes, shows disdain for our parliamentary democracy and the systems and processes put in place over the last 58 years.
Right now thousands of men and women are unemployed and are praying for help to feed their families, as they consider alternative forms of income-generation activities, including returning to their land to work in their plantations.
And women and children are at their most vulnerable due to the head of the family being unemployed for the last two months, as frustrations turn into violence due to weeks of lack of income to pay the bills and put food on the table.
The struggle is real out there and families are hurting. The Government should stay focused for the sake of the people it was given the mandate to govern.


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GROUND DISPLAYS
ABOUT LANGLEY
LANGLEY HISTORY
TWIN BEECH 18 - MATT YOUNKIN
Matt Younkin is a third generation pilot. He is the son of Bobby Younkin who is considered to be one of the greatest airshow pilots of all time. Matt is also the grandson of Jim Younkin who is well--‐known for designing Century and Trutrak autopilots as well as building replicas of the 1930's Howard "Mr. Mulligan" and Travel Air "Mystery Ship" race planes.
Matt spent his first couple of years in the industry performing at airshows in the Super Decathlon and the Travel Air "Mystery Ship." In 2007, Matt debuted his version of the aerobatic act made famous by his father in the Beech 18. This act continues to be described by producers and fans alike as one of the most beautiful and graceful displays the industry has to offer.
Matt's latest and greatest achievement is perfecting the world's only night aerobatic display in a Beech 18. Equipped with over 50 externally visible lights, the top airplane appears to glow in the dark while the bottom side twinkles violently. Combined with smoke, noise, choreography, and an incredible musical score, the Twin Beech Night Spectacular is quickly becoming one of the most popular displays in the airshow arena.
In 2012, Matt became the first second generation recipient of the coveted Bill Barber Award for Showmanship. Considered young in the airshow industry by some and a veteran by others, Matt continues to amaze airshow goers with his unique ability to capture the crowd in the moment, much the same way his father Bobby and sister Amanda did for so many years.
For additional information, visit http://younkinair.com/
No federal endorsement intended.
This website is under the management of the Langley Chapter Air Force Association (LCAFA). There is no Federal Endorsement of either the LCAFA or their partners and/or partners' products.
SITE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED BY HERB GILLEN ADVERTISING
© 2018 | JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS


To help make the right decision.
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As many traditional southerners start their year off with a pot of black-eyed peas for good luck, I thought why not continue the trend into the new year. I use frozen black-eyed peas so there is no need to soak them before cooking and I keep a few ham hocks in the freezer as well, so I always have these ingredients on hand. This meal would be complete with some good crusty bread, or if you wish to follow tradition, a big wedge of warm corn bread and butter.
This entry was posted in Recipes and tagged Black-Eyed Peas, celery, Crock Pot, Ham Hocks, Red Pepper, soup. Bookmark the permalink.


The Sedalia Police Department received two K9 ballistic vests thanks to the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and a local donor, who wished to remain anonymous. The vests have been issued to K-9 Charlie and K-9 Gallo.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Massachusetts whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950.00 and has a five-year warranty.
The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life saving body armor for their four legged K9 officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 930 law enforcement dogs in 39 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of $880,000.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit the Vested Interest in K9s website.
Photos and press release provided by the Sedalia Police Department.


Brother MFC-9330CDW Driver Download – Brother is referred to as a company that releases various kinds of printing equipment. The products vary from simple home-based printer to industrial printing system with complicated functions. This business releases Brother Printer drivers since the corresponding products to the printing apparatus. Each Brother printing system has an corresponding driver.
Driver of a printer is truly critical in assisting proprietor running the printer. It is crucial if the printer is connected with other devices such as desktop . Without a driver, the printer won't work as it is supposed to. This report can help readers obtaining better understanding of this software and approaches to run it.
Driver is software that is necessary as an external device is connected to a pc program. This software tool helps translating the language utilized by external device (printer in this instance ) for your consumer's computer. You may not observe that computer's OS and printer do not function in programming language.
Brother Printer drivers are necessary if user want to connect printing machines released by this maker to a particular computer program. Each printer series will have a specific driver. In addition to that, the type of operating system installed in user's computer also affects the driver. Typically, a printer driver is provided for free from the manufacturer.
Physical backup of driver normally comes together with the printing product. Nevertheless, in some cases, user may be required to get into the driver. Listed below are the steps to do that.
When the necessary driver has been downloaded into the computer, then the next thing that user needs to do would be to put in it. The approach isn't complicated in any way. Follow the following steps for installation.
Everybody will tell you that Brother Printer drivers have to be updated frequently. Upgrades are completed to make sure that issues occurring from the older version is going to be taken care of. It also makes sure that printing device will function in optimum fashion and remain compatible with operating system.
Throughout the process of installing the driver into computer system, user can elect to become automatic updates whenever new model of software is released by Brother. If not, user should check on available upgrades through placing or command panel to make sure that they do not miss out on one.
The driver has various menus that user can choose. All of it rides on features provided by specific printer collection. The basic choices are colored and black-and-white printing. Some machine also offers scanning and faxing choices. The navigating process is extremely straightforward. The info should help user using Brother Printer drivers correctly.


This site describes my experience in designing and installing a residential grid-tie PV system at my house (ele. 650ft) on the Kona side of the Big Island. Hopefully this site will help others down the same path. I was inspired to write this because at the current date (December 2006) there is a lot of information available on installing solar water heating, but almost nothing with sufficient detail to enable actually designing and installing a grid-tie PV system.
PV is short for Photo Voltaic and is a technology for generating electricity from sunlight.
Grid-tie, just means that the PV panels are connected to the electricity grid (using an inverter); this is sometimes also called distributed generation.
Net Metering is a billing plan; when the sun shines the PV panels generate electricity, the inverter turns DC (from the PV panels) to AC and the electricity meter runs backwards, during the remainder of the day the electricity meter runs forwards. The user pays for the Net change in the meter, plus a HELCO connection charge.
The carbon footprint of my house is approximately similar to that of my car. So a residential PV system is way more effective a reducing C02 emissions than a hybrid car, ethanol in gasoline, and possibly than bio-diesel. So add solar panels first.
The Net value of the electricity registered by the meter is averaged over the year, so the sunny and cloudy months average out. Too big a PV system and over a year I generate more electricity than I use, and I do not get paid for the extra. However the extra generated electricity is not wasted but added to the grid and somebody uses it—I just don't get financial compensation. HELCO is in effect buying electricity from me at the retail rate (up to a limit, my usage) – that is a deal. It is possible to wholesale electricity to HELCO but that is outside the scope of this document.
This is not a backup or off-grid electricity generation system. When HELCO has a power interruption, so will my house; even if it is a bright sunny day. The solution to this would be to add batteries like an off grid PV system; this adds a whole level of complexity that I chose not to look at.
HELCO must be able to disconnect the system in the event they are working on power lines in my area. So the system must include an easily accessible 'AC Disconnect Switch' located between the inverter and the breaker box.
I already have solar water heating; directly heating water with the sun is more efficient than having PV panel generate electricity which is then used heat the water electrically. The economic return for water heating is better using the more direct method.
PV Panels are connected in "strings", a string is a set of panels connected in series. Multiple strings may be connected in parallel; each string must have the same number and type of panels. Inverters set minimum and maximum numbers of panels on a string. Inverters usually allow a maximum of 2 to 4 strings. Strings refer to the electrical connection between panels and not the physical layout; a string of six panels may be physically laid out on the roof as two rows three, three rows of two, one row of six, or I suppose in a circle with the surroundings painted to look like a flower.


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Home > Company Industry Overviews > Carlyle Group L.P
Carlyle Maintains Operating Margins on Expense Management
By Robert Karr
Weak performance and compensation
Carlyle Group's (CG) total expenses decreased to $459 million in fiscal 1Q16, as compared to $1 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Carlyle's various funds derive value from the effective management of their operating companies as well as from the returns generated for their shareholders or limited partners.
As a result, the majority of the company's expenditures relate to compensation and benefits for fund managing teams. Compensation and benefits include basic compensation and performance fees. As performance improves in the June quarter, compensation expenses are expected to rise. However, overall margins are expected to remain in line with the March quarter.
Carlyle's compensation expenses fell further in the first quarter of 2016. Expenses stood at $311 million in 1Q16, as compared to $587 million in 1Q15, mainly due to lower appreciation in carry fund valuations and lower realized performance fees on fewer exits during the quarter. The company's equity compensation decreased to $75.4 million in 1Q16, a drop of 16% compared to 1Q15. Its first quarter cash compensation expense of $162 million reflects a 6% decline from the previous year.
Carlyle generated a negative return on equity in the last fiscal year, which was the lowest among its alternative investment peers that form part of the iShares Dow Jones US Financial ETF (IYF). In comparison, Carlyle's peers posted the following returns on equity:
Blackstone (BX): 10.6%
KKR (KKR): 8.9%
Apollo Global Management (APO): 8.7%
Carlyle's expenses
Carlyle's general and administrative expenses dropped to $74 million, which was lower than the recent quarterly average of $7 million the company had maintained. Management also expects cash compensation to remain below 2015 levels for the rest of the year.
In the next and final part of this series, we'll analyze Carlyle's margins.