text:
Chapter: 3 Current State of Nuclear Preparedness
« Previous: 2 Federal Planning for Nuclear Incidents
Suggested Citation:"3 Current State of Nuclear Preparedness." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Exploring Medical and Public Health Preparedness for a Nuclear Incident: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25372.
Current State of Nuclear Preparedness
Key Points Made by Individual Speakers
Preparedness for a nuclear incident, especially state-sponsored attacks, varies widely among different geographical and government-level agencies; some jurisdictions have been preparing for nuclear incidents for decades because of nearby nuclear production or other relevant activity, and others have only recently begun to consider nuclear preparedness. No jurisdiction has a fully developed plan for a state-sponsored nuclear attack. (Lujan, McClendon, Williams)
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials uses an all-hazards approach in its public health preparedness planning and is now beginning to focus more on nuclear threats, through activities such as the National Alliance for Radiation Readiness and other global partnerships. (Hawkins)
State and local jurisdictions are most concerned with workforce turnover, lack of funding for nuclear preparedness, the need for ongoing preparedness training, and the need to maintain an appropriate level of expertise on radiological and nuclear threats. (Hawkins, McClendon, Williams)
In the next panel session of the workshop, moderated by Roberta Lavin, executive associate dean and professor, College of Nursing, Univer-
sity of Tennessee, professionals representing state and local government agencies and related organizations were asked to consider the following: the current state of medical and public health preparedness for a nuclear incident; the relationship between current medical and public health preparedness and prior assumptions of the threat environment; possible changes to planning assumptions for nuclear incidents, with particular attention to the (re)emergence of state actor threats; and implications of these possible changes for nuclear incident prevention, planning, and response.
Patrick Lujan, emergency preparedness manager, Department of Public Health and Social Services, Guam, described the events of August 2017, when Guam made headlines worldwide following nuclear threats from North Korea. In October of that year, Guam was threatened again by North Korea. In response, Guam built up its research and planning for any future potential threats, Lujan explained. Lujan was followed by Michael "Mac" McClendon, director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Harris County Public Health. With its 33 cities, including Houston, Harris County is the third largest county in the United States. McClendon's office is responsible for all-hazards response and recovery planning, and his remarks were also informed by his participation in the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) Radiation Workgroup. The third panelist was Chris Williams, deputy director, Office of Radiation Protection, Washington Department of Health. Part of his role is to oversee the state's Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program, which focuses primarily on radiation readiness for Columbia Generating Station, Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and Naval Base Kitsap. In addition, his office works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local fire and emergency medical services on radiological dispersal device (RDD) preparedness. Finally, Regina Hawkins, senior analyst, preparedness, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and co-lead, National Alliance for Radiation Readiness (NARR), offered an organization-level perspective as a convener of state and local health representatives.
CURRENT STATE OF MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS FOR A NUCLEAR INCIDENT
Panelists discussed preparedness at several different levels, with Lujan describing Guam's experience as a U.S. territory first. At 33 miles long and 7 miles wide, and with a population of 170,000, Guam is among the largest islands in the North Pacific. Nearby smaller islands look to it for guidance and leadership, Lujan explained. However, until the North Korean threat emerged in summer 2017, nuclear planning was "foreign" to Guam, despite ample public health preparedness planning more broadly, he said. Thus, Guam aggressively pursued a memorandum of agreement with the
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to address Guam's response to this new threat, albeit with challenges. For example, the nearest Strategic National Stockpile cache is on the west coast of the continental United States, raising concerns about response time, Lujan said. In addition, Guam's health care workforce is aging, which makes it difficult to build up a medical professional volunteer program. This is true not just on Guam, Lujan said, but also on the outer Pacific Islands. However, compared to the other islands, because of its unique territorial status, Guam is able to lean on DoD to provide resources.
At the state level, Williams explained that Washington's Department of Health initiated its Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program in the 1970s because of the radiological hazards at the Columbia Generating Station, the Hanford plutonium development site, and the U.S. naval shipyards and submarine base. With the advent of public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funding in 2002, the state began investing in public health preparedness on a broader scale. Although the PHEP- and ASPR-funded approach is an all-hazards one, the initial focus was on bioterrorism as directed from the federal government. In addition, the program also focused on threats that were specific to the state of Washington, including local disease threats, such as measles outbreaks, but also floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters, Williams said.
Nuclear incidents, including improvised nuclear devices (INDs) and other missile attacks, are not viewed as high-probability incidents, Williams said, and also a draft IND plan is in place. The radiological incidents are considered high probability to the extent that the state already deals with radiological hazards. Some of the PHEP and ASPR funding has gone into developing community reception centers close to Columbia Generating Station, Hanford, and in Kitsap County to offload the stress from hospitals in the event of an incident. Patients who might be impacted radiologically could then be sent to those centers. Ultimately, Williams said, threats are prioritized and addressed based on funding levels.
Williams said a key concern regarding nuclear threats is public perception. When the Fukushima incident occurred, Williams's office took calls for several months from Washington residents who were concerned about an incident that had happened thousands of miles to the west, separated by an ocean. "The concern of the citizens really impacted our office in terms of the time spent trying to alleviate their fears," he said. If an incident were to occur within Washington, self-evacuation would likely be a problem, with residents attempting to leave without understanding the magnitude of the threat. This, in turn, would impact people and hospitals outside of the impacted area, he said.
Addressing emergency support, Williams said the capacity of facilities in surrounding areas to handle the influx of patients from impacted areas and to treat those patients is a major challenge. Williams described an area of Seattle known as "Pill Hill," where a large number of hospitals, including a Level 1 trauma center, are located. If that area were to be hit, those hospitals and that trauma center would be affected and possibly destroyed, in which case facilities outside of the impacted area would be dealing with issues for which they are unprepared. Williams concluded by noting that Emergency Support Function #8 partner coordination should become a higher priority.
McClendon described nuclear preparedness at the local level. Until recently, he said, Harris County's nuclear preparedness efforts centered around transportation incidents related to shipping out of Port Houston or traveling to and from the port on the highway. Approximately 5 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pulled McClendon and his colleagues into Atlanta for a 3-day summit on INDs, RDDs, and related threats, after which his office built and exercised plans, identified gaps, and developed about 25 partnerships across the county.
A key capacity-related challenge for a nuclear incident is derived from the county's responsibility to plan megashelter (a shelter with more than 1,500 beds) operations throughout in the event of an emergency. For example, during Hurricane Harvey, Harris County operated two 10,000-bed megashelters, one at the NRG Center and another at the George R. Brown Convention Center. If the county is also responsible for screening people following a nuclear event, it has to be better prepared, McClendon asserted. Recent nuclear preparedness training exercises have gone well, McClendon said, with respect to the use of electronic and paper screening tools. However, it is unclear how prepared the county is for a larger, state-sponsored event. While the county continues to engage the private sector to support preparedness—including private health care systems, medical societies, and nongovernmental organizations—the private sector partners are not used to the typical government command and control structure, McClendon said.
Workforce issues pose another capacity-related challenge, as made evident during Hurricane Harvey. Harris County Public Health employs 700 people, but only 360 employees worked during the peak of the disaster, while the remaining employees were either unwilling to work or were affected by the hurricane themselves. McClendon described the county's challenge in stressing to employees the importance of their role during an emergency response. "They do their day-to-day function," he said, "but when we have a Type 1 event going on at the local level, they are reassigned, and that is problematic right now for us." He called for refreshing the education and training of new employees so that they understand the importance of emergency response functions.
Regarding emergency management, McClendon hypothesized that if a state-sponsored event were to hit the city of Houston or Harris County, local responders would be on their own for the chaotic first 48 hours after the event, citing a period following Harvey during which entry into the county was exceedingly difficult. The experience led the county to preidentify employee needs during an emergency. Aside from broad all-hazards lessons in disaster preparedness, McClendon said that Harris County has not developed a response plan specifically for state-sponsored nuclear incidents.
Finally, Hawkins offered NARR's perspective on nuclear preparedness, representing a broad coalition of state and local health partners. Regarding its strategic priorities, ASTHO assists its members in building resilient workforces, supports them through technical assistance, provides them with tools and also empowers jurisdictions to develop their own tools for radiation readiness, and helps to shape policy to ensure that the voice of public health is represented. Hawkins remarked that although most of its constituents have adopted an all-hazards planning and preparedness mentality over the years, there has been greater interest recently in preparedness specifically for a radiological or nuclear incident. Hawkins mentioned ASTHO's participation in the Pacific Islands Preparedness and Emergency Response Summit and the sharing of federal (CDC, Environmental Protection Agency, etc.) materials and tools—including infographics and protective action guidelines—with Pacific Island members.
Turning to NARR, Hawkins has noticed growing interest among state and local public health practitioners through NARR's webinars and traffic to other resources. The webinars allow for subject matter experts to discuss the newest tools and discoveries, and in May 2018, NARR released guidance for traveler screening at international ports of entry following a radiological incident; other tools are also in development, she said.
EMERGENCE OF STATE ACTOR THREATS: HAS IT CHANGED PREPAREDNESS PLANNING? HAS IT CHANGED WHO IS AT THE TABLE?
Lack of Nuclear Expertise at the Local Level
McClendon said that because of Harris County Public Health's lack of expertise in radiation, it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas Health Science Center for health physics experts to advise and lead the county through a planning process. The county also leans on its state partners. In addition, the county maintains partnerships through health care coalitions and the private sector. As Houston is the "oil hub" of the United States, McClendon said, several oil corporations are headquartered there, with expertise in planning, responding, and recovering
from catastrophic emergencies. For the past 20 years, Harris County has been under either a federal or state disaster declaration response every 9 months (whether due to hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, or other disasters), and as a result there have been many opportunities to work with private sector partners. McClendon predicted that in the event of a state-sponsored nuclear incident, the county would likely lean heavily on the private sector until state and federal support arrive. Based on past experience with Type 1 incidents—the most complex incidents according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's emergency management grading scale—he described how local jurisdictions tend to scramble during the first few hours of a response, attempting to make sense of what is going on. He imagined that a state-sponsored nuclear incident would be so traumatic that it would stun them initially.
Williams agreed with McClendon that public health generally is not a radiation expert-oriented field. Although the state of Washington has an Office of Radiation Protection, there is no counterpart at the local public health level, Williams said, and Washington's health care coalitions lack expertise in radiation-related issues. Although Williams's office can provide that support, it has only seven staff, all of whom are dealing with other issues, primarily based on funding.
Nuclear Readiness at the Local Level: Calling for Support from Above
McClendon noted that further investment in nuclear preparedness will require further direction and funding from the federal government. The primary focus of Harris County Public Health right now is on day-to-day health promotion: obesity, smoking, other local health issues. When McClendon and colleagues approach the executive director about their planning process, the response is, "Where's your capacity, and where are your dollars? That's the bottom line," McClendon said. Of nuclear incident preparedness, he said, "if it needs to be elevated, then it has to come elevated to us."
Williams agreed with McClendon that an emphasis on nuclear readiness must come from higher level decision makers and be matched by adequate sources of funding. He reiterated that the focus is going to be on immediate, day-to-day issues unless a push is made from the sources that fund the state's preparedness to be better prepared for a nuclear incident. PHEP and other federal sources of funding for state and local health often dictate priorities for these jurisdictions, Williams said.
Optimism: Nuclear Preparedness Is on the Docket
Hawkins offered what she described as "a little bit of a silver lining" in that much of the activity over the past year with respect to the threat of a
state-sponsored nuclear incident has acted as a catalyst. For her, one of her most important tasks with both ASTHO and NARR is the forging of very strong relationships with both members and federal partners. Over this past year, ASTHO's federal partners have been reaching out directly and even using ASTHO as a conduit for reaching out indirectly to its members. In Hawkins's opinion, ASPR has been mindful of state and local needs when making revisions to public health emergency preparedness planning. For example, she mentioned ASPR's reaching out regarding the new Regional Disaster Health Response System (RDHRS) and reaching out for feedback and input.
A Role for International Assistance?
Because of its distance from the U.S. mainland, Guam has learned to "think outside the box," Lujan said. Guam's closest neighbors are Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. He mentioned having recently attended a biosecurity exercise on smallpox that was hosted by the University of New South Wales, Australia. Lujan expressed concern about current geopolitical tensions in the North Pacific and called for making necessary amends so that Guam can seek international assistance should a state-sponsored event occur.
Cham Dallas, university professor of health policy and management and director of the Institute for Disaster Management at the University of Georgia, also touched on the topic of international assistance. He mentioned the World Health Organization's emergency medical teams and the discussions under way about extending the teams' focus to cover thermonuclear threats (Ian Norton discussed this resource in greater detail later in the workshop; see Chapter 6). He too thought that cooperation with other nations was worth considering and wondered how feasible it would be, citing a recent example from his own work supporting Chinese officials working on nuclear preparedness.
WORKFORCE TURNOVER: A MAJOR CHALLENGE TO PREPAREDNESS
Lavin, the moderator, asked panelists how preparedness efforts and plans at the state and local levels are relayed to hospitals, public health departments, and health care providers who are responsible for medical care in the event of a nuclear incident. In response, most of the panelists expressed concern about workforce turnover.
While McClendon commended ASPR's development of RDHRS, he cautioned that the magnitude of people impacted by a state-sponsored nuclear event would require spending more money on training hospital
employees—the "boots on the ground" who do not worry about nuclear preparedness on a daily basis. Not only would the hospital employees need to be trained, but training efforts would also need to account for high staffing turnover at various levels, including nursing, and hospitals "have to start all over" 2 or 3 years after a previous training, McClendon said.
Radiation exposure treatment is unfamiliar even to some trauma physicians and providers, McClendon continued, and some providers do not maintain specialty skills across the course of their careers. He recalled how upon issuing a request through the Medical Reserve Corps for nurses to administer vaccines during an H1N1 epidemic, several of the nurses who responded had not administered a vaccine to a child in years. As a result, McClendon's office was forced to offer just-in-time training to educate the nurses on the administration of vaccines for children ages 0–8. He emphasized the need for ongoing and systematic funding to ensure that more hospitals employ providers who can treat people in a nuclear trauma situation.
Williams agreed that staff turnover is a challenge and that maintaining boots on the ground readiness requires ongoing effort. When preparedness activities were still part of the Health Resources & Services Administration (prior to moving to ASPR), he noted, Washington State purchased large quantities of equipment for hospitals to prepare for all-hazards threats and offered annual training to hospital staff. Williams echoed McClendon and noted the frequent and noticeable staff turnover at the training sessions. Many employees in coordinating positions remained, but there was high turnover among hands-on providers.
Hawkins agreed with McClendon's and Williams's concerns about workforce turnover. She noted that NARR has experienced recent turnover due to retirement, and she emphasized the criticality of maintaining subject matter expertise in the area of nuclear preparedness and medical response.
Willingness to Work in the Event of a Nuclear Incident
In addition to expertise and training, Hawkins raised another issue that continually appeared throughout workshop discussions: responders' willingness to work. She explained that there is a fear around radiological and nuclear preparedness even among those who are well educated and understand the risks of such an event.
Lacking in Resources But Strong in Networking: A Different Challenge
The situation in Guam is slightly different, Lujan explained. While the island lacks resources, networking is one of its strengths. Coordination is relatively smooth when an emergency occurs because the major decision makers in the police department, the fire department, hospitals, and other
important command centers already know one another, and when the resources arrive, "we just roll," Lujan said.
COMPLACENCY: AN OBSTACLE TO NUCLEAR PREPAREDNESS
Williams explained that in 2002, when he joined Washington State's preparedness program, he had a conversation with his doctor about his work, and the doctor said, "That will never happen here," referring to a potential bioterrorist attack. Williams suspected that conversation would have played out similarly if the topic had been nuclear events. Ultimately, he said, the threat of a nuclear event is not on the public's radar, and people especially tend to avoid projecting the threat onto themselves directly.
McClendon agreed and added that even among local elected officials, the threat is not high on their radar. He suspected that Harris County could successfully draft and implement a plan as a receiver community in the event of a nuclear incident—if Harris County itself were not affected directly but took in displaced persons from the affected area. However, people do not want to project themselves as being the affected community, McClendon noted. Additionally, despite the possibilities for survival and recovery as described by Buddemeier, McClendon said that many officials have a fatalistic attitude toward a potential event. Thus, McClendon emphasized the need to educate even local officials about the threat environment, the realities for survival and recovery, and the need for preparedness planning (see Chapter 5 for additional discussion around communications tools and strategies).
DISCUSSION WITH THE AUDIENCE
Crisis Standards of Care
Jack Herrmann, deputy director, Office of Planning and Policy, ASPR, referred to Buddemeier's description of the magnitude of the potential public health and medical impacts of a state-sponsored nuclear incident (see Chapter 2) and asked the panelists about efforts being made to address crisis standards of care: Are state, local, and territorial jurisdictions working with the health care sector to develop response plans to potential emergencies of this magnitude, during which there may be hundreds of thousands of people needing care?
Williams replied that in his prior role with Washington State's Public Health Preparedness Program, he and colleagues developed a number of work groups to address crisis standards of care. However, groups focused primarily on pandemics and continuity of operations for situations during which, for example, there are more sick people than there are ventilators.
As far as he was aware, the state has not addressed crisis standards of care related to nuclear or radiological threats. McClendon described a similar situation for Harris County. There used to be a statewide crisis standards of care work group, but the effort stalled several years ago, and it has not been revived.
Preparedness for Ship and Sea-Related Delivery
David Winks, managing director, AcquSight, asked whether any of the jurisdictions represented on the panel had considered ships or submersibles being used to deliver an IND. Williams replied that Washington has a program whereby the state works with the U.S. Coast Guard and law enforcement officials to search for radiological sources on ships, particularly in the Puget Sound region. Trainings are conducted two or three times a year. In Texas, the Port of Houston Authority receives federal grant money to screen all containerized cargo that enters the port, McClendon explained. He said it is an active and well-supported program and that Port Authority is in constant communication with Harris County's hazardous materials team and the U.S. Coast Guard; they also have the ability to screen on highways as well.
Concerns About Local Preparedness and Public Outreach
Raymond Puerini, senior program analyst, NACCHO, echoed panelists' concerns about local preparedness and shared findings from NACCHO's most recent annual preparedness profile assessment indicating a low level of concern regarding radiation issues. About 20 percent of respondents expressed concern about an accidental release, and only 16 percent reported feeling very prepared for an actual radiation emergency. In addition, 42 percent of respondents reported that they were not conducting any preparedness activities related to terrorist threats, and 35 percent reported that they were not conducting any activities related to CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) threats.
Puerini said that NACCHO has also engaged stakeholders at both the local and state levels to understand gaps in preparedness, some of which are the same as those described by the panelists, including a lack of perceived risk of being affected by a nuclear incident and lack of outreach and public awareness. In addition, he said, stakeholders reported organizational silos and competing priorities that make it difficult for leadership to buy in to preparedness. Of these, lack of outreach and public awareness is the most profound gap, Puerini said.
Puerini asked Lujan about the strategies being deployed in Guam when facing threats from North Korea to engage the public and make people
feel safe and prepared. Lujan replied that the general strategy centered around CDC's shelter in place message, and the territory worked with the Department of Homeland Security and DoD to spread it. In addition, they partnered with the University of Guam to hold live broadcasts.
Partnering with Vendors
In addition to the partnerships described by Hawkins, Kris Arnold of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council suggested pursuing partnerships with hospital product vendors. She mentioned the increased use of advisory assistance in hospitals and projected that with these partnerships in place, hospital officials would be more easily able to efficiently disseminate (via electronic systems) current knowledge and instructions for handling radiation contamination and other CBRN problems.
Next: 4 Updating Planning Assumptions of Nuclear Preparedness »


The 2018 HKEA Spring Dinner was organized on March 7, 2018. The guest speaker, Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean of Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong, talked on "Economics and Business Education in China". Members and their friends had an enjoyable evening.


is there anything I can do to fix this? I can't watch tutorials on youtube on how to use dorico and have dorico open at the same time.
when ever I open dorico youtube seems to stop working and when I close the program they begin working again.
edit: I think it have something to do with the audio device setup but so far I can only chose between dorico sound not working and youtube videos working or youtube videos not working and dorico working. I don't have this problem with other notation softwares like musescore.
The same problem is with cubase 8 but reaper doesn't seem to have that problem would be really awesome to have it fixed so I can use these programs.
thanks for the help it seem to work now with dorico is there any way to do the same with cubase 8?
Well sure, but you'd want to ask that question in the Cubase forum, not the Dorico forum.
when you said sure did you mean you knew about one? or did you just want to say I should post it in the cubase forum?
No, I meant that you should post it in the Cubase forum. Different staff in a different country.
The solution for Cubase is similar. Select 'Studio Setup' from the Studio menu (I'm on Cubase 9.5 - the menu item may be slightly different in an earlier version), then select VST Audio System, select Generic Low Latency ASIO Driver, then press the Control Panel button and make the same change to check/uncheck the exclusive access box.
What happens if we can't use the Generic Low Latency ASIO driver?
If you have crashdumps you can send them to 'u dot stoermer at steinberg dot de'.


text:
Québec City at a Glance
Jeff Frenette Photography
The birthplace of French North America and the only walled city north of Mexico is an open-air treasure chest that will delight history and culture buffs alike. Its European background and modern North American character are set off by a heady blend of history, traditional and contemporary art, and French-language culture to make Québec City a destination like no other.
Year after year, travel magazines continually rank the Québec City Area among the world's top destinations.
Find out what Quebec City is best known for.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Quartier Petit Champlain, Barrons-nous
Francis Gagnon
Place Royale, Jeff Frenette Photography
Founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain
Recognized as the cradle of French civilization in North America
A UNESCO world heritage treasure (1985) on account of its heritage site of Old Québec
The only fortified city north of Mexico
A unique North-American religious heritage: first catholic parish north of the Spanish colonies, first Anglican cathedral to be built outside the British Isle, and the only Holy Door outside Europe
An heritage influenced by different nations: Hurons-Wendat, French as well as British and Irish
A French Canadian Culture
Audet Photo
Petit-Champlain, Jeff Frenette Photography
@chefarnaudm, Chez Boulay
D. Lafond
Capital of the province of Québec
Home to a population of 717,000 inhabitants (Greater Québec City Area), 95% of them French-speaking. However, many people, including the vast majority of hospitality industry workers, also speak English
A very safe city, with one of the lowest crime rates in North America
Among the world's best food cities
Famed for its hospitality and joie de vivre
A One-of-a-Kind Geography
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
Casse-cou Staircase, Chantal Gagnon
9,000 km2 in area (5 592 mi2)
Québec comes from the Algonquin word kébec, meaning "place where the river narrows"
Inaugurated in 1919, the Quebec Bridge is the longest cantilever bridge in the world
Divided into two distinct parts (the Upper Town and the Lower Town) linked by nearly 30 sets of stairs
Old Québec is easily walkable
Parks, wildlife reserves, and scenic attractions are minutes away, with a host of outdoor activities available all year round
Located less than 15 minutes by car from the city center, Montmorency Falls are 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls
A Winter Wonderland
Danny Vachon
Village Vacances Valcartier / Francis Gagnon
Fred Photo et Vidéo
From November to late March, the region is one giant playground while Old Québec dazzles with its enchanting blanket of snow
The only ice hotel (Hôtel de Glace) in America
The Québec Winter Carnival, one of the world's largest winter festival, has been warming hearts since 1955
Village Vacances Valcartier is the largest winter playground in North America
The 10 Most Beautiful Spots in the Québec City Area
The 15 Prettiest Streets in Old Québec
Why Visit Québec City?
6 Ways to Experience a Unique Culture in North America
10 Attractions to Discover More Than 400 Years of History
Petit-Champlain
10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I'm delighted to be joined this week by the one and only Helena Sheffield telling us about her book/writing corner.
Many of you will know Helena for her fabulous emails from her main job as Avon's Digital Marketing Manager and for her love of hats!
Helena, thank you for joining me today - can you tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?
My bedroom is in the attic space of a third story flat, so there was serious potential for reading spaces when I moved in. In fact, it was pretty much the first thing I arranged. My reading corner has a bean bag and plenty of cushions, along with THE furriest, warmest blanket I've ever possessed. It's also got a red Turkish lantern and some purple and silver tea light holders to keep it feeling toasty when it's winter, and my sister once gave me a log which she artfully wrapped in fairy lights and painted with glitter. It's clear she was short on money at the time… The defining feature, though, is the tapestry that I've hung from the eaves of my room, which drapes across the reading corner to make it feel like a den. Once I get in there, the chances of me leaving are pretty minimal. I can really only be lured out by hats or Nutella.
I used to work in a library, so I'm OBSESSED with bookshelves. I have arranged every shelf in our flat into alphabetical order or into the Dewey Decimal System. I'm super cool. But I did allow myself some creativity, and my favourite shelf is the one where I arranged all my prettiest books into a jumble of pleasing piles and displays. I've also put my two Harry Potter wands there because, as I said, I'm super cool.
Super cool indeed - Do you have any reading/writing habits, Helena?
I do like to put incense on while I'm reading – especially during the winter. I think it helps me to switch off and really concentrate on reading. As for writing, (and I only have The Art of Wearing Hats to go on here), the only habit that seems to work is putting my head on my desk, closing my eyes and sitting in absolute silence while hoping that at some point something will start happening. Sorry, hattening.
Hat puns welcome! How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?
This is something I should do, but fail at dismally. I try to make sure I've read all the books I'm working on, plus submissions that come in every week, plus the other books that I just happen to stumble upon when I find myself in bookshops (too many of them). I'm afraid there's no order, but I've got very good at keeping multiple plot-lines in my head and reading about 5 books at the same time. It's lucky I've always been that way, or I think I'd go ever-so-slightly mad (but of course, all the best people are).
I'm completely envious of you managing multiple plot lines! Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your Book Corner with us Helena.


text:
Dajabón ist eine Provinz im Nordwesten der Dominikanischen Republik. Sie wurde 1938 von der Provinz Monte Cristi abgetrennt und trug bis 1961 den Namen Libertador.

Geografie
Der Süden der Provinz wird von der Corillera Central bestimmt. Im Westen wird die Provinz Dajabón durch den gleichnamigen Fluss Rio Dajabón (auch Rio Masacre genannt) von Haiti abgegrenzt. Der Name des Flusses stammt aus der Kolonialzeit, als sich das Wasser des Flusses durch das Blut der Kämpfer rot färbte.  1776 wurde die Grenze zwischen dem spanischen und dem französischen Hispaniola festgelegt, die im Wesentlichen der heutigen Grenze zwischen Haiti und der Dominikanischen Republik entspricht. 1936 verübte Truijlo an gleicher Stelle ein Massaker an Haitianern, und das Wasser des Flusses färbte sich erneut durch das Blut der Getöteten rot.

Die umliegenden Provinzen sind Monte Cristi, Santiago Rodríguez und Elías Piña.

Wirtschaft
Wie in allen Provinzen, ist auch in Dajabón die Agrarwirtschaft nicht wegzudenken. Neben lokalen Produkten werden auch Tabak  und Reis angebaut. Auch die Milcherzeugung ist von Bedeutung.

Durch die Nähe zu Haiti ist der Handel ein wichtiger Faktor in der Wirtschaft geworden.

Wichtige Städte und Ortschaften
Dajabón, Provinzhauptstadt
Loma de Cabrera
Restauración
El Pino
Partido

Einzelnachweise

Provinz (Dominikanische Republik)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
//
//  MPLogEventRecorder.m
//  MoPubSDK

//  Copyright (c) 2015 MoPub. All rights reserved.
//

#include <stdlib.h>
#import "MPLogEventRecorder.h"
#import "MPLogEvent.h"
#import "MPLogging.h"
#import "MPLogEventCommunicator.h"
#import "MPCoreInstanceProvider.h"
#import "MPTimer.h"

void MPAddLogEvent(MPLogEvent *event)
{
    [[[MPCoreInstanceProvider sharedProvider] sharedLogEventRecorder] addEvent:event];
}

/**
 *  The max number of events allowed in the event queue.
 */
static const NSInteger QUEUE_LIMIT = 1000;

/**
 *  The max number of events sent per request.
 */
static const NSInteger EVENT_SEND_THRESHOLD = 25;

/**
 * A number between 0 and 1 that represents the ratio at which events will be added
 * to the event queue. For example, if SAMPLE_RATE is set to 0.2, then 20% of all
 * events reported to the MPLogEventRecorder will be communicated to scribe.
 */
static const double SAMPLE_RATE = 0.1;

/**
 *  The delay in seconds to wait until sending the next batch of events.
 */
static const NSTimeInterval POLL_DELAY_INTERVAL = 2 * 60;

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

@interface MPLogEventRecorder ()<NSURLConnectionDataDelegate>

/**
 *  IMPORTANT: All access to self.events should be performed inside a block on self.dispatchQueue.
 *  This is to prevent concurrent access issues to the event array.
 */
@property (nonatomic) dispatch_queue_t dispatchQueue;
@property (nonatomic) NSMutableArray *events;

@property (nonatomic) MPLogEventCommunicator *communicator;
@property (nonatomic) MPTimer *sendTimer;

@end

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

@implementation MPLogEventRecorder

#pragma mark - Public methods

- (instancetype)init
{
    if (self = [super init]) {
        _events = [NSMutableArray array];
        _dispatchQueue = dispatch_queue_create("com.mopub.MPLogEventRecorder", NULL);
        _communicator = [[MPLogEventCommunicator alloc] init];
        _sendTimer = [MPTimer timerWithTimeInterval:POLL_DELAY_INTERVAL
                                                 target:self
                                               selector:@selector(sendEvents)
                                                repeats:YES];
        [_sendTimer scheduleNow];
    }

    return self;
}

- (void)dealloc
{
    [self.sendTimer invalidate];
}

- (void)addEvent:(MPLogEvent *)event
{
    if (event) {
        dispatch_async(self.dispatchQueue, ^{

            // We only add the event to the queue if it's been selected for sampling.
            if (![self sample]) {
                MPLogDebug(@"RECORDER: Skipped adding log event to the queue because it failed the sample test.");
                return;
            }

            if ([self overQueueLimit]) {
                MPLogDebug(@"RECORDER: Skipped adding log event to the queue because the event queue is over its size limit.");
                return;
            }

            [self.events addObject:event];
            MPLogDebug([NSString stringWithFormat:@"RECORDER: Event added. There are now %lu events in the queue.", (unsigned long)[self.events count]]);
        });
    }
}

#pragma mark - Private methods

- (void)sendEvents
{
    dispatch_async(self.dispatchQueue, ^{
        MPLogDebug([NSString stringWithFormat:@"RECORDER: -sendEvents dispatched with %lu events in the queue.", (unsigned long)[self.events count]]);

        if ([self.communicator isOverLimit]) {
            MPLogDebug(@"RECORDER: Skipped sending events because the communicator has too many active connections.");
            return;
        }

        if ([self.events count] == 0) {
            return;
        }

        if ([self.events count] > EVENT_SEND_THRESHOLD) {
            MPLogDebug(@"RECORDER: Enqueueing a portion of events to be scribed.");

            // If we have more events than we can send at once, then send only the first slice.
            NSRange sendRange;
            sendRange.location = 0;
            sendRange.length = EVENT_SEND_THRESHOLD;
            NSArray *eventsToSend = [self.events subarrayWithRange:sendRange];

            // Don't flush the event array in this case, because we'll have more to send in the
            // future.
            NSRange unSentRange;
            unSentRange.location = sendRange.length;
            unSentRange.length = [self.events count] - sendRange.length;
            NSArray *unSentEvents = [self.events subarrayWithRange:unSentRange];

            [self.communicator sendEvents:eventsToSend];
            self.events = [unSentEvents mutableCopy];
        } else {
            MPLogDebug(@"RECORDER: Enqueueing all events to be scribed.");
            [self.communicator sendEvents:[NSArray arrayWithArray:self.events]];
            [self.events removeAllObjects];
        }

        MPLogDebug([NSString stringWithFormat:@"RECORDER: There are now %lu events in the queue.", (unsigned long)[self.events count]]);
    });
}

/**
 *  IMPORTANT: This method should only be called inside a block on the object's dispatch queue.
 */
- (BOOL)overQueueLimit
{
    return [self.events count] >= QUEUE_LIMIT;
}

- (BOOL)sample
{
    NSUInteger diceRoll = arc4random_uniform(100);
    return [self shouldSampleForRate:SAMPLE_RATE diceRoll:diceRoll];
}

/**
 *  IMPORTANT: This method takes a sample rate between 0 and 1, and the diceRoll is intended to be between 0 and 100. It has been separated from the -(BOOL)sample method for easier testing.
 */
- (BOOL)shouldSampleForRate:(CGFloat)sampleRate diceRoll:(NSUInteger)diceRoll
{
    NSUInteger sample = (NSUInteger)(sampleRate*100);
    return diceRoll < sample;
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Sex worker Nokuphila Kumalo murdered by Zwelethu Mthethwa 'just wanted to put bread on the table'
By Farren Collins - 16 March 2017 - 18:54
Murdered sex worker Nokuphila Kumalo was "just the girl next door who wanted to provide for her family".
That is what her friend' transgender sex worker Gulam Petersen' recalled of Kumalo on Thursday' moments after artist Zwelethu Mthethwa was convicted of murdering her.
"She was a very down-to-earth girl'" said Petersen after Judge Patricia Goliath handed down her ruling at the High Court in Cape Town.
"She was like the girl next door because she was working for her family. She had one son and she wanted to support him.
"We don't do things that suit our lifestyles' we do things that put bread on our tables."
Painter and photographer Mthethwa beat Kumalo' 23' to death in Woodstock in 2013. She died of cardiac arrest after suffering a liver injury from blunt force trauma.
The incident was captured on CCTV and Mthethwa's Porsche was identified at the scene. The artist's defence team tried to discredit the footage' but Goliath said in her judgment she was satisfied with its authenticity.
Goliath also said the similarities between Mthethwa and the man in the footage "are remarkable"' and Mthethwa's lack of a plausible alibi had left the court "convinced [he] was both the driver and the attacker".
Goliath denied Mthethwa extended bail' and Lesego Tlhwale from women's rights group Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) said they were hoping for a life sentence. The artist is being held at Pollsmoor prison until sentencing on March 29.
Tlhwale said that the verdict sent a message that sex workers do matter. "This is a landmark case considering Mthethwa is an internationally acclaimed artist'" she said.
"Money has been thrown' bail was set at R100 000. He was even able to hire one of the top defence lawyers in the country."
Mthethwa's works have been exhibited at venues such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York' but in December Sweat successfully petitioned the Iziko South African National Gallery to remove his art from an exhibition. — TMG Digital/The Times


Ultee, ME. Working Together: Tech Transfer for CDMOs and Biologics Drug Developers. Biopharm International, Jan 4, 2017.
Ultee, ME. Implications of Cell Culture Conditions on Biologic Protein Quality. Biopharm International, live broadcast March 11, 2015, repeated March 18, 2015, and available for download.
Ultee, ME. Advances in Protein Production Bring New Options for Flexibility in Bioprocessing. Interview by Tricia Gladd, Editor, Bioprocess Online, October 15, 2014.
Ultee, ME. Implementation of Single-Use Products: A CMO's Perspective. Bioprocess Theatre at BIO 2014, San Diego, June 2014.


How many hours can I lease a place For the cost that I paid for?
Assuming I lease a venue for a Thousand dollars, how many hours would that be.
It actually depends on the venue. There are the Ones That rent it each hour but the Majority of the time those are just affordable rentals. The Larger ones allow you to rent the event for a day together With everything that comes with it. The extension payment could be for a different Day but most of the time you book it in advance. Learn more about Stranahan Theater ohio on stranahantheaterohio.com.


A huge Xmas party to celebrate the festive season in style!
2 & 1/2 hours of non stop fun. Christmas games, Competitions, bouncy castle, face painting, disco and more. Children can come in Christmas fancy dress.


Willing Workers is a class of some of our senior adult members that is meeting in our 2nd floor historical room directly off of the sanctuary. They are currently studying Faith in Action from the Brethren Press.
Sunday Morning Alive is an adult class meeting in our fellowship hall on the first floor near the elevator. They are doing a study on the book of Romans.
Women's Sunday School Class is a women's adult class that meets in the first floor library and is studying Max Lucado's Revelation.
Climbers is an adult class that meets in the first floor fellowship hall and they are studying a book called, Be Ready, a Study of II Thessalonians, by Warren Wiersbe.
Young Parents Class is currently meeting on the first floor of the education building, 2nd door on the left. They are studying a marriage series titled You and Me Forever from Right Now Media.
Young Adults meet on the 2nd floor of the education building (4th door on the left) and are studying apologetics by Ravi Zacharias.
Made in God's Images meets in the Fellowship Hall and are studying the book of Ephesians from Right Now Media.
All children's Sunday School classes are using The Gospel Project by Lifeway.
The Gospel Project is a Christ-centered chronological study that will take students on a journey through the storyline of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Along the way, students will discover the big picture of what God has been doing throughout redemptive history, and what it means for them.
Ages 4-5 yrs meet on the first floor of the education building, 2nd door on the right.
Grades 1 - 3 meet on the second floor of the educational building, 2nd door on the left.
Grades 4-5 meet on the second floor of the education building, 1st door on the left.
Grades 6-8 meet on the first floor of the education building, 1st door on the right.
Grades 9-12 meet on second floor of the educational building in the youth room, 1st door on the right.


WBA Project Coordinator Golie Ebrahimian is a Houston native who moved to Mississippi in 2016 from St. Louis, where she earned her Master of Architecture from Washington University. She went on to work for a firm in St. Louis where she specialized in healthcare design and planning. Since joining the WBA family, she has found her home in a collaborative environment with team members who are willing to share their knowledge. Join us as we dive a little deeper with Golie.
What spurred you to pursue architecture as a career?
Since I was a child, I have always wanted to be an architect. I can remember my family and I traveling abroad and I was always fascinated by the architecture and how it varied from place to place and how local culture and history influenced the design.
How did you end up at WBA?
My husband and I moved here from St. Louis after he took a new job in Vicksburg with the Army Corps of Engineers. When I first started looking for a job after we moved, WBA stood out amongst all the firms because of their diverse projects, open studio environment, and the talented people.
What has been one of most challenging projects you've worked on so far in your career?
My most challenging project was Mercy Hospital Jefferson Cancer Center located in Crystal City, Missouri, with a firm in St. Louis. The biggest challenge was gaining the knowledge on patient experience and the technical aspects of oncology design.
When you aren't designing and building, what can we find you doing?
You can find me outside with my husband, Brian, whether it be gardening, running, hiking, or just watching the birds in our backyard.


Shop for Best Bath & Body products in Skin Care. Body Lotions, Body Scrubs, Soaps, Sunscreens, cleansing brush, and Oils.
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This entry was posted on mercredi, mai 16th, 2018 at 4:17 and is filed under Combat, Philosophie, Sick au logis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.


text:
IE est un sigle, qui signifie :
 indo-européen ;
 Intelligence économique, une activité de production de connaissances servant les buts économiques et stratégiques d'une organisation ;
 l'Internat d'excellence est un programme gouvernemental français mis en place par le ministère de l'Éducation nationale à partir de 2008 ;
 Internationale de l'éducation, une organisation syndicale mondiale de l'éducation ;
 Internet Explorer, le navigateur web de Microsoft ;
 Instituto de Empresa, école de commerce espagnole ;
 Intelligence émotionnelle, capacité à utiliser les émotions et les sentiments.

IE est un code, qui signifie :
 Irlande, selon la liste des domaines de premier niveau : .ie.
 l'occidental (langue construite), selon la norme ISO 639 des codes des langues.

Ie peut faire référence à :
 Ie, une île japonaise appartenant à l'archipel des îles Ryū-Kyū ;
 ie, système familial japonais.

i.e. peut faire référence à :
 , en latin,

Ie ou D'ie
 Japon :
 Ie, anciennes maisons de commerce
 Ie,  village du district de Kunigami
 Pays-Bas :
 la Die, près de Alkmaar
 la Die, près de Akersloot
 la Diem, près de Diemen
 le Ransdorper Die, près de Ransdorp
 Pays-Bas / Frise
 Dokkumer Ie, en Dantumadiel

Code


A two-day event was organized to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Armada Española.
Spanish AV-8B plus Harrier. It will be the main act of the Spanish Navy centenary air show.
The main events related to the Spanish Naval Aviation Centenary (Centenario Aviación Naval) will take place on September 15-16. The first day will be reserved for a private Military ceremony in Rota Naval Base attended by a High State Authority. During the day there will be an air parade and an exhibition of air assets on the ground.
On the second day, sept. 16, from 10.30 am an Air Show will be held at the La Costilla Beach in Rota, with participation of air elements from other navies, armies and organizations. Some aircraft will take off from warships deployed in adjacent waters including the Juan Carlos I (L-61) aircraft carrier. It will surely be a good opportunity to see in the air many Harrier vertical take-off and landing jets.


Our wings are worth the weight.
We're not in the wing business. We're in the flavour business. It's been our mission to serve the world flavour since we first opened shop in '05, and we're just getting started. With a gregarious, kind hearted leader behind this fun brand, Tre "Wingmaster" Jones keeps his Brantford Ontario roots thriving with a flavour fanatic fan base!
Since its inception in 2005, the Wingmaster has continued to earn praise for its consistent delivery of a truly superior wing and unique dessert menu items. With a wide variety of proprietary sauces developed over the years, they have served to further elevate the already intense Wingmaster experience!
Wingmaster is the destination when you crave fresh never faked wings, hand-cut seasoned fries and any of our famous sides. For people who demand flavour in everything they do, there's only Wingmaster – because it's more than a meal, it's a flavour experience.
It's flavour that defines us and has made Wingmaster one of the highest rated brands southern Ontario. We've got over 70 unique and undeniable flavours to choose from, each one bringing something different to the table.
Whether you prefer boneless to bone-in, at Wingmaster we have a flavour for every taste - Each one making you crave in ways you've never imagined.
No one does wings like us because no one cares like us. We take pride in being the ones who serve the world flavour. To do this well, it takes a team of people, throughout the company, who don't just show up. They Get. At. It. Every. Day.
When you work at a place people love, even obsess about, their enthusiasm is infectious. Our employees feel their passion and become fans themselves, if they weren't already. If you share the crave or hear the calling, Wingmaster may be the place for you.
...order online and start earning your rewards today!
Collect Points and earn discounts on your favourite meals. Online contests and monthly prize draws for everyone enrolled online. Simply create an account and you're in!
✦ Earn 2 Points for every $1.00 you spend.
✦ Collect 25 Points and receive $3 off your first purchase.
✦ Special Offers, Discounts & More.
✦ Invites to menu tastings.


Watch for the "user request" icon!
Types written in any language!
DLL Architecturewhat is the advantage ?
Memory issue: trnlib.dll is getting too big.
Only load the Types that are needed.
Transsolar "no-standard types," TESS Libraries, Hydrogems, User Components.
Non Fortran Language Types may be used.
DLL Architecturehow does it work ?
After reading the deck, TRNSYS calls subroutine LoadLibrary.
LoadLibrary searches the UserLib directory for DLLs and loads any that are found.
LoadLibrary searches each DLL for "exported" subroutines that have "Type" in their name.
LoadLibrary compiles a list of pointers to each exported subroutine.
Instead of calling Types, TRNSYS calls each pointer in the list.
DLL Architecturewhat do I need to do ?
DLL Architecturewhat are the disadvantages ?
Setting up a Compaq Visual Fortran workspace is more complicated.
TRNSYS now comes with a ready made workspace.
Debugging in the Developer Studio is more complex.
Be careful of which project is "active" when you recompile.
You can only set breakpoints in the active project.
WebFOCUS New Features -. version 7 release 7.03. ira kaplan. april 20, 2012. references. webfocus new features 7.7.03. new features quick view interactive diagram 7.7.03.


I have enhanced compoent AIC_INCIDENT_S view AIC_INCIDENT_S/IncidentSRL which is the result list of the incident search. I added a customer field to the context in orrder to display the number of an request for change.
My target is that the user can click this document number and navigation into the rfc details. But unfortunately the navigation does not work (it navigates nowhere) and even worse the navigation does not work at all after is clicked the rfc.
I implemented the P-method as follows to make it clickable. The event to be fired is named HEADEROV_RFC.
I have created an event handler in the same view named EH_ONHEADEROV_RFC which is implemented as follows.
CHECK lv_index IS NOT INITIAL.
lo_entity ?= gr_result_list_cnode->collection_wrapper->find( iv_index = lv_index ).
lo_root        TYPE REF TO cl_crm_bol_entity.
IF lo_btorder IS BOUND AND lo_btorder->alive( ) = abap_true.
IF cl_crm_uiu_bt_tools=>check_display_authority( lo_root ) IS INITIAL.
Instead of calling method op_singleselection( ) without parameters i tryed to pass the target document using a collection but this did'nt work either.
DATA(lo_collection) = NEW cl_bsp_wd_collection_wrapper( ).
op_singleselection( iv_data_collection = lo_collection ).
I hope one of you guys can help me with the issue.
And, put a break point in event handler EH_ONHEADEROV_RFC.
I am actually not sure what I can/must configure in that part of the customizing this is new to me). Can you be a bit more specific, in case the screenshot does not show what you are looking for?
I am now trying to understand this ... "My target is that the user can click this document number and navigation into the rfc details.".
If that RFC details page is another component, you might have created the Object type for that. That object type should be there in SPRO -> Generic OP mapping.
Please check this link once.


Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride 2018 Pageant!
It's that time again to crown our "New" Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride 2018 Queen!
Are you the next Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride Queen?
Join us at The Faena Theatre on Monday, April 2nd, 2018 at 7:30 PM!
Our 6th Annual Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride Pageant (A FUNdraiser event benefitting Miami Beach Gay Pride and honoring Joanna James Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride 2017) will be taking place on Monday, April 2nd, 2018 at The Faena Theater located at 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Event doors will open at 7:30 PM and pageant will start promptly at 9 PM. This event will be hosted by Tiffany T Fantasia (Miss MBGP 2013), Athena Dion (Miss MBGP 2015) & Peter J Morales. Special Guest Performances by Joanna James (Miss MBGP 2017), Kalah Mendoza (Miss MBGP 2016), Athena Dion (Miss MBGP 2015), Tp Lords (Miss MBGP 2014), Tiffany T Fantasia (Miss MBGP 2013) and many more TBA soon...Sounds by Dj Sushiman Lords aka Brad Wofford. Stella Rosa Red Carpet Champagne Reception hosted by the fabulous Kitty Meow aka Shawn Palacious! We look forward to seeing you there and hope you help us crown our next Queen!
*All Early-Bird Discounted Purchases must be made 24 hours in advance of event. Must be 21 and over and provide valid ID at the door for admittance.
*Table Bottle Service Package(s) Include Admission for a Party of 4 with priority seating & 1 Bottle of Liquor with Mixers of your Choice from our Miami Beach Gay Pride Liquor Sponsors Menu: Tito's Vodka, Herradura Tequila, Jack Daniel's Whisky & Goslings Black Seal Rum.
(Applicable Taxes and a 20% Gratuity not included) Must be 21 and over and provide valid ID at the door for admittance.


More than 300 works of art created by CH-UH students in grades K-12.
Art is grouped by school and displayed throughout the library complex on both the east and west sides of Lee Road.
Opening reception is Tuesday, April 12 6-8 pm in the Lee Road Library Lobby, and all are welcome.


text:
The Federal Administration in treecrumb format
The Federal Council admin.ch
FCh: Federal Chancellery
FDFA: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
FDHA: Federal Department of Home Affairs
FDJP: Federal Department of Justice and Police
DDPS: Federal Department of Defence Civil, Protection and Sport
FDF: Federal Department of Finance
EAER: Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
DETEC: Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
ENSI: Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Publications, media
Data, indicators, maps
The FOEN
Topicscurrent page
Topic Biodiversity
Information for specialists
Strategy & Actionplan
Zurück Zurück zu Information for specialists
Strategy & Actionplan selected
The Federal Council adopted the Action Plan for the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy on 6 September 2017.
The measures contained in the Biodiversity Action Plan
promote biodiversity directly (creation of ecological infrastructure, support for species)
build bridges between federal biodiversity policy and other policy areas (e.g. agriculture, spatial planning, transport, economic development)
raise awareness among decision makers and the public about the importance of biodiversity as a central pillar of life
Action Plan Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (PDF, 1 MB, 06.09.2017)
Investments in biodiversity are worthwhile
Confederation and cantons decide on programme agreements in the area of the environment and thus engage jointly for nature conservation and forest biodiversity. Nature is blooming, but economy and society profit too.
This is the result of a survey conducted by FOEN among the cantons.
Flow of Funds, Recipients and Impact of Investments in Nature Conservation and Forest Biodiversity (PDF, 5 MB, 02.09.2019)Final Report Cantonal Survey
In doing this the Biodiversity Action Plan implements the objectives of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy.
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy
From Rio de Janeiro to the Action Plan
Switzerland, along with many other states, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the sustainability summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Convention's 193 Member States (status as of May 2017) have set themselves the goal of ensuring the conservation of ecosystems and their services and of species and their genetic diversity. This is necessary to meet the needs of both today's and tomorrow's generations. The Convention's provisions include the development of national strategies for the conservation of biodiversity. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 was passed at the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan) in October 2010. This comprises, among other things, strategic goals known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and provides the individual states with a framework for the efficient and coherent implementation of the Convention.
UN-Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The diagram presented below shows the most important events leading to the adoption of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and the accompanying Action Plan.
Click to select the individual milestones and open the associated links.
Action Plan – June 2019
On 26 June 2019, the Federal Council decides to enhance the urgent measures in the areas of nature conservation and forest biodiversity (immediate measures 2017–20) and extend them for another four years. This will enable the federal government to invest a total of CHF 232 million in urgent measures for particularly sensitive biotopes of national importance and forest biodiversity in the years 2021–24, and to cover some of the identified deficits. Under the environmental programme agreements, the cantons will contribute a similar sum to financing these measures. The final decision will be taken in parliament in December.
Media Release: Bund budgetiert für das Jahr 2020 einen Überschuss von 0,6 Milliarden (26.06.2019, in german)
Action Plan – 2017–23
Implementation Phase I involves the implementation of measures for the urgent reinforcement of policy execution (immediate measures) and, from 2019, other Action Plan projects. All measures and projects will be evaluated in 2022 in relation to their ecological and economic impact on the conversation and promotion of biodiversity. This impact analysis will form the basis for the substantive and financial decisions in relation to Implementation Phase II.
2018 Cantonal Survey: Flow of Funds, Recipients and Impact of Investments in Nature Conservation and Forest Biodiversity (PDF in german)
Adoption of the Biodiversity Action Plan
The Federal Council adopted the Action Plan for the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy on 6 September 2017. The Action Plan contains a catalogue of measures and pilot projects for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity and the services it provides to the economy and society. The Confederation will contribute up to CHF 80 million annually for the implementation of the first phase of the Biodiversity Action Plan in 2017-2023.
Media Release: Federal Council adopts the Action Plan for the Conservation and Promotion of Biodiversity (07.09.2017)
Conference of the Parties (COP) - December 2016
A Swiss Delegation led by Marc Chardonnens, Director of the FOEN, participates in COP 13 in Cancun, Mexico. The topics for discussion include the integration of biodiversity into other economic sectors, in particular agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism.
UN Biodiversity Conference
Action Plan - May 2016
On 18 May 2016, the Federal Council decides to invest an additional CHF 55 million in the conservation of biological diversity in Switzerland. It is planned to use the funds for immediate measures to be implemented in the period 2017-2020 (urgent rehabilitation and upgrading of biotopes of national importance and biodiversity in forests).
Medienmitteilung: Biodiversität - Bundesrat spricht Mittel für dringliche Massnahmen 2017-2020 (18.05.2016)
UN Conference - September 2015
For the first time in its history, the international community sets itself binding goals for sustainable development in the context of Agenda 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015. Eleven of the 17 goals concern the environment directly or indirectly. The SDGs are also taken into account in the Biodiversity Action Plan.
Agenda2030 (EDA): Post-2015 Verhandlungen - Die entscheidende letzte Runde
Action Plan - 2015-2016
The proposed measures are substantiated and combined based on the feedback from the cantons, the responsible departments of the FOEN and other federal authorities. The measures are revised in the process so that they are even more efficient in terms of fulfilling the ten objectives of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy.
Action Plan – April to July 2015
Consultation with the cantons on the Action Plan shows that most cantons acknowledge the need for an Action Plan for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity and largely welcome the general direction of the Action Plan.
Ergebnisbericht Vorkonsultation Massnahmen Aktionsplan Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz (PDF)
Action Plan – February 2015
On 18 February 2015, the Federal Council acknowledges the general direction, timeline and the Confederation's financial requirements for the implementation of the Swiss Biodiversity strategy. It also decides to canvass the positions and assessments of the cantons in 2015 on the measures that affect them directly.
Medienmitteilung: Bundesrat konsultiert Kantone zur Umsetzung der Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz (18.02.2015)
Approximately 650 experts from the administration (Confederation, cantons, communes), political circles, business, science, interest groups and NGOs participate in the development of the measures for the Action Plan.
Partizipativer Prozess zur Erarbeitung des Aktionsplans Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz: Zusammenfassende Berichterstattung (PDF)
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan – April 2012
The Federal Council adopts the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy in spring 2012. At the same time, it mandates the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy (PDF)
Conference of the Parties (COP) - October 2010
The Parties to the CBD pass the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 at the tenth Conference of the Parties in October 2010 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. The Plan comprises five strategic goals with a total of 20 core targets referred to as the "Aichi Targets". In view of the urgent need for action, the United Nations declared the years 2011 to 2020 the "UN Decade on Biodiversity".
Convention on Biological Diversity: Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - July 2009
On 1 July 2009, the Federal Council mandates the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to develop a Swiss Biodiversity Strategy. The cornerstones of the Strategy are: Biodiversity is rich and capable of reacting to change; Biodiversity and its ecosystem services are conserved in the long term.
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - September 2008
Based on a request submitted by National Councillor Adèle Thorens and a postulat submitted by National Councillor Kurt Fluri, Parliament includes the development of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy in the Legislature Plan 2007-2011.
Schweizer Parlament: Erarbeitung der Biodiversitätsstrategie für die Schweiz (Interpellation 08.3505)
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy - May 2007
In its Environmental Performance Review of 2007, the OECD recommends that Switzerland prepare and develop a strategy for the conservation of biological diversity as a matter of urgency.
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy – December 2004
Kurt Fluri submits a parliamentary postulate for the development of a biodiversity strategy. The postulate is not debated.
UN Conference – June 1992
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was signed at the United Nations' Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, is the first international treaty to tackle the protection of biological diversity comprehensively, globally and sustainably (species protection, ecosystem protection and protection of genetic resources). The Parties to the Convention are required, among other things, to develop national strategies for the conservation of biodiversity.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Newsletter Aktionsplan Biodiversität
Nr. 9, 7. September 2017
Nr. 8, 22. December 2016
Nr. 7, 29. April 2016
Nr. 6, 18. February 2015
Nr. 5, 16. July 2014
Nr. 4, 10. January 2014
Nr. 3, 4. October 2013
Nr. 2, 11. Jul< 2013
Newsletter des Aktionsplans Biodiversität
Ergebnisbericht Vorkonsultation Massnahmen Aktionsplan Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz (PDF, 764 kB, 18.05.2016)
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Results of the biodiversity monitoring system in 2016. 2017
Kurzporträt Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz
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Implementing the Biodiversity Convention
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Jeff Bezos stepping down as Amazon CEO
Lisa Fickenscher
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February 2, 2021 4:32pm
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO of Amazon, the e-commerce empire he founded 27 years ago, he said in a letter to employees.
The world's second richest man on Tuesday said Andy Jassy, head of Amazon's cloud computing unit, will take over the reins in the third quarter of 2021. Bezos, 57, will then become executive chair of Amazon's board, the letter states.
Bezos, who started Amazon selling books out of his garage in 1994, is stepping back from the day-to-day operations on a high note. The company he took public in 1997 at $18 a share now trades at $3,380 a share as Bezos has morphed it into an online retailing giant responsible for a massive 37 percent of all online sales in the US, according to data tracker Statista.
Amazon market valuation surpassed $1 trillion for the first time last January, and its growth only continued to surge — now worth more than $1.6 trillion — as the coronavirus pandemic has forced more people to shop online.
Bezos announcement shocked Wall Street, but Amazon's stock remained fairly stable, down less than 1 percent in after hours, as investors were reassured by the fact that he will remain involved.
"It's truly amazing all the successes he's had and although he's irreplaceable," Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough told The Post, "what's probably holding the stock back is how strong the company is now and that he's not leaving."
Bezos said he was stepping down so he could spend more time on other "other passions." In addition to Amazon, the divorcee owns spaceship exploration company Blue Origin and The Washington Post as well as charitable organizations Day 1 Fund and Bezos Earth Fund.
Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO of Amazon.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
"As much as I still tap dance into the office, I'm excited about this transition," said Bezos, who divorced from his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Bezos, in 2019. MacKenzie, who changed her last name to Scott in 2020, was one of Amazon's first employees.
Bezos has since been seen publicly with Los Angeles TV reporter Lauren Sanchez, a relationship that resulted in the billionaire clashing with supermarket tabloid The National Enquirer, also in 2019, over X-rated selfies the mag obtained in reporting on the affair.
"I intend to focus my energies and attention on new products and early initiatives," Bezos said. "Andy is well known inside the company and has been at Amazon almost as long as I have," Bezos said. "He will be an outstanding leader, and he has my full confidence."
Jassy joined Amazon in 1997, the year it went public, and has long been rumored to be a potential Bezos successor. He's led the profitable Amazon Web Services cloud team since its inception.
In a follow-up call with analysts on Tuesday, the company said Bezos will focus on acquisitions in his role as executive chairman, as he has in the past. Jassey will focus on the culture and vision of the company. Amazon has not announced Jassey's replacement yet.
Andy Jassy will take over as CEO of Amazon.
REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
Jassey's cloud computing unit has helped supercharge the company's growth in recent years, but growth has slowed amid increased competition, including from tech rivals Microsoft and Alphabet Inc.'s Google.
Bezos broke the news 90 minutes before Amazon reported its quarterly results, which marked the first time the company surpassed $100 billion in sales.
Bezos' wealth has soared along with his company's fortunes. He is currently worth $188 billion, according to Bloomberg. He grabbed the world's-richest-man title in October 2017, surpassing Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates, but lost it last month to Tesla founder Elon Musk, who's skyrocketing stock has given him a net worth of $190 billion, Bloomberg said.
Bezos would be richer had it not been for the divorce, which left the ex with 19.7 million of the couple's Amazon stock shares, a value of more than $38 billion as of July 2019.
Bezos last year sold around $10 billion in his remaining shares to fund Blue Origin and his other interests. And he's dropped millions in recent years on posh homes in major cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Miami.
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There is no single test that can accurately diagnose cancer. The complete evaluation of a patient usually requires a thorough history and physical examination along with diagnostic testing. Many tests are needed to determine whether a person has cancer, or if another condition (such as an infection) is mimicking the symptoms of cancer. Effective diagnostic testing is used to confirm or eliminate the presence of disease, monitor the disease process, and plan for and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
The Radiology Department at Spectrum Health Lakeland is committed to offering patients' and physicians state-of-the-art imaging technologies with the highest standard in radiological care. Lakeland's board-certified radiologists and specially-trained radiologic technologists offer access to the most advanced diagnoses and minimally invasive interventional treatments available.
Our radiology department uses advanced imaging technology including positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans, ultrasound and digital mammography.


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HomeAutomating IE With PowerShell to Capture Screenshots
Automating IE With PowerShell to Capture Screenshots
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Automating Internet Explorer with PowerShell for Data Entry
IE is dead to the world, but it's still kickin' in Windows 10. Here's a great way to use the browser to automate some redundant tasks and score back some extra time.
Sort files in bulk with PowerShell
I want to find more time to learn PowerShell from the ground up. So far I've been scripting with it and learning chunks and cmdlets at a time as I need them. For example:
Shorten Links Before Creating QR Codes
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Capture your Screen as a GIF Animated Image
If a picture is worth 1000 words, a video must be pure gold. But recording and sending a video capture of your screen for a quick how-to or to demonstrate an issue is a chore. Today I'm going to share a tool I found to make it much easier.
Make Windows 8.1 Sit, Stay on the Desktop
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Windows 8 Tip: Search without leaving the desktop
Watch a Power User for a while, and you'll soon notice that they rarely take their hands off the keyboard. Without lifting a wrist to touch a mouse, trackpad, or touch screen, these super users move seamlessly between tasks, switch programs, and navigate complex and large documents.
Use POP email in Windows 8
The Windows Mail app is built for connected devices like mobile phones and tablets, and allows full sync across all your devices. If you move a message into an email folder from your tablet, your phone and computer will also show that same change. Where Windows 7 required you to install your own email program to get email, Windows 8 now lets you do so right out of the box. And even if your email provider does not support synchronization like this,…
Store product keys in the setup file's name
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Home/Commodities/Trump says administration plans to raise the vaping age to 21 in US
Trump says administration plans to raise the vaping age to 21 in US
admin 8 November 2019
File photo of vapingKai Pfaffenbach | ReutersThe Trump administration plans to raise the vaping age to 21 "or so" as part of its plan to curb teen vaping, President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday."We're going to be coming out with a very important position on vaping," Trump said. "We have to take care of our kids, most importantly, so we're going to have an age limit of 21 or so, so we'll be coming out with something next week very important on vaping."A number of state and local governments have already raised the smoking age to 21 from 18, a policy the tobacco industry supports. Multiple lawmakers have filed federal bills, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.Trump and top health officials on Sept. 11 said the administration was readying a ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Trump's comments Friday suggest the administration may be backing off those plans amid intense pressure from vaping advocates who say flavors help adults stop smoking cigarettes and that removing flavors would force vape shops around the country to close."We have a lot of people to look at, including jobs, quite frankly," Trump said. "Because, you know, it's become a pretty big industry."It was widely speculated that the administration would announce its plan Tuesday in conjunction with the publication of two studies outlining kids' appetite for flavors, particularly mint. It wasn't immediately clear why the announcement was delayed.
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'He's doing very well with Trump'


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Home > Other useful information > Information about the... > Political System
After World War II, the political system in Czechoslovakia was greatly affected by the introduction of a Soviet-style Communist regime, as it was in the other countries of central and eastern Europe. The system of power was distorted. In effect this imbalance meant that the three branches of power necessary for democratic development - executive, legislative and judicial - were substituted by a unified Communist power. Its power was based on the constitution and for forty years it ruled all layers of social and political life throughout the country with the help of oppressive institutions. After February 1948, the Communist Party became the only autonomous political entity. It allowed a few other parties to exist within the so-called National Front; however, these parties held no real power and were created to provide an outward image of Czechoslovakia as a democratic state.
After the revolutionary events of November 1989 which brought about the downfall of the Communist regime, the entire country faced the uneasy task of resuming its pre-Communist traditions and building a democratic political system. A wide diversity of political parties were well-established even before the break-up of Czechoslovakia on December 31, 1992. The constitution of the Czech Republic, which became valid on the day of the birth of the new state, explicitly defined civil rights, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of power, and the independence of the judiciary.
CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Elected for a term of five years in a direct election by the people of the Czech Republic. The President may serve a maximum of two successive terms in office. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Presidential power is limited; the most important is the right to veto any bill which has already been passed by Parliament, with the exception of constitutional bills. However, it can be overturned by the Chamber of Deputies. In addition, this power is void in times of constitutional or other political crises.
The Parliament consists of two chambers - the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It passes all bills valid in the territory of the Czech Republic and expresses approval of important international treaties; i.e. those concerning human rights and basic liberties, political treaties, and general economic treaties. It decides on the most important acts of state, such as declaring war or approving the deployment of foreign armies on Czech soil.
Chamber of Deputies
Bills are sent to the Chamber of Deputies. The right of legislative initiative is possessed by a deputy, a group of deputies, the Senate, the Cabinet or local or regional cabinet representatives.
A bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies is sent to the Senate which has the power to veto it, send it back to the Chamber of Deputies with amendments, or table the bill.
Many laws are adopted as a transposition of European Union law.
The Senate is composed of 81 senators elected for six-year terms. Every two years one-third of the Senate's seats come up for re-election. The Senate cannot be dissolved.
Parliamentary Activity:
A resolution by a parliamentary chamber is passed by a clear majority of deputies or senators present. A constitutional bill or an international treaty must be passed by a 60% majority of the total number of deputies and senators present.
The Legislative Process:
Elections to the Legislative Bodies:
Elections to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate take place by secret ballot on the basis of general, equal and direct voting. The Chamber of Deputies is elected on the basis of proportional representation. Political parties must obtain five percent of the popular vote in order to gain seats in the chamber. The Senate is elected on the basis of majority vote.
All citizens of the Czech Republic over 18 years of age have the right to vote for representatives in both chambers of Parliament. Candidates for the Chamber of Deputies must be over 21 years of age, while candidates for the Senate must be over 40 years of age.
Elections to the Chamber of Deputies and presidential elections also take place abroad – it is therefore possible for Czech citizens to vote at the office of Czech diplomatic mission (embassy, consulate).
The Government
The Government is the supreme body of executive power. It Consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, and coordinates activities of the ministries and the central bodies of the state administration and manages the state administration throughout the territory of the state. The Government has exclusive legislative initiative in terms of the state budget.
The Supreme Audit Office
The Supreme Audit Office is an independent controlling agency which audits the management of state property and the implementation of the state budget. It audits the ways in which the resources of the state budget of the Czech Republic are created and used.
The Czech National Bank
This is the central state bank of the Czech Republic.
In accordance with Czech law, the main goal of the bank is to preserve the stability and purchasing power of the currency, and while pursuing this goal, the bank is not dependent on the cabinet of the Czech Republic. The president and executives of the bank are appointed by the President.
The Constitutional Court was set up to protect constitutional rights. It consists of 15 judges who are appointed by the President - with the consent of the Senate - for a term of ten years. In their decisions judges are bound only by constitutional laws, international treaties, and by a law designating the proceedings of the constitutional court.
The Supreme Court is the supreme judicial body in all matters within the jurisdiction of the courts, except those within the jurisdiction of the constitutional court or the supreme administrative court. The judges are bound only by law and they are in a position to decide whether other legal regulations are in accordance with the law.
Both the Constitutional and Supreme Court are not located in the capital, but in Brno, the second largest city of the Czech Republic. Thus, Brno is considered as a judicial capital of the country.
The Public Defender of Rights
Since 1999, the office of the Public Defender of Rights located in Brno deals with citizens' complaints about the public administration measures. However, the Public Defender's findings are not enforceable. Apart from the complaints lodged by individuals, the Public Defender can also propose a cancellation of ordonnances to the Constitutional Court. Current Public Defender of Rights, Anna Šabatová, sworn to the office in 2014.
Culture, Education
Trade & Economy
Customs clearance of parcels – Customs Administration, online shopping
Country and People
Official Czech Republic Website


William Shakespeare online - William Shakespeare Sonnet 60 Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore. Famous William Shakespeare love poem known as Shakespearean Sonnet 60 Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore. Famous Shakespearean sonnet, or short poem, entitled William Shakespeare Sonnet 60 Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore.


Anna Belova, Ph. D., is head of the Innovation 3.0 working group focused on the transition from a resource-based economy to an innovation driven economy within the Open Government of the Russian Federation. She spent three years working in the government as Deputy Minister managing the privatization and reform of Russian Railways.
Dr. Belova is chief scientist and head of research and advisory projects at Moscow State University's Research Centre for System Transformation, and a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Management of the Higher School of Economics state research university. She is also a member of the advisory cross-industry commission for the presidium of the council for the modernization of the Russian economy under the President of the Russian Federation, and a member of the government's Expert Council.
Dr. Belova currently spends most of her time serving on the boards of directors of large Russian and international companies, and as a prominent economist and expert on transformations in different advisory councils.
Dr. Belova has unique practical management cross-industry experience, including in mining, railways, port and air transport, nuclear, oil, gas and coal energy, telecom, infrastructure construction, venture capital, banking, agriculture and logistic.
She has written more than 50 papers and articles in business and professional journals on the subjects of macroeconomics, risk forecast, strategy, corporate governance, monopoly restructuring, business process reengineering and optimization.