text:
Q: $\exists x \in A \left[\varphi(x) \right] \rightarrow \exists x \varphi(x)$ and $\forall y \psi(y) \rightarrow \forall y \in B \left[\psi(y) \right]$ Here are two conventions that I have been told to use:
\begin{align}
&1)\  \exists x \in A \left[ \varphi(x)\right] \text{ should be interpreted as } \exists x \left [x \in A \ \land \ \varphi(x) \right]\\
&2)\  \forall y \in B \left[ \psi(y)\right] \text{ should be interpreted as } \forall y \left [y \in B \rightarrow \psi(y) \right]\\
\end{align}
Now, when I skim logic posts on this site, I will frequently see examples that use expressions such as $\exists x \varphi (x)$ or $\forall y \psi(y)$. I am not sure how to interpret these in the context of the aforementioned convention.
If I see something like $\exists x \varphi(x)$, should I assume that $\varphi$ must be some conjunctive proposition where the first conjunct is of the form $x \in D$? i.e. $\varphi(x):= x \in D \land \alpha(x)$ . Similarly, if I see $\forall y \psi (y)$, should I assume that $\psi(y):= y \in E \rightarrow \beta(y)$?
My thinking is no, that is incorrect. Given this, it seems as though the following definitions of $\varphi$ and $\psi$, and the way that they are subsequently used with quantifiers, are well defined formulas, but as to whether or not they evaluate to true/false is a different story:
Let $\varphi(x):= x\in A \rightarrow \alpha(x)$. Then $\exists x \varphi(x)$ expanded is $\exists x \left[ x \in A \rightarrow \alpha(x) \right]$.  Depending on whether or not the system we are in allows for a universal set, this could be false: for example, if $A$ is the universe and no element in $A$ has the property $\alpha$. If the system does not allow universal sets, this is always true.
Let $\psi(y):= y\in B \land \beta(x)$. Then $\forall y \psi(y)$ expanded is $\forall y \left [ y \in B \land \beta (y) \right ]$. Depending on whether or not the system we are in allows for universal sets, I suppose this statement could be true: for example, if $B$ is the universe and every element has the property $\beta$. However, if our system does not allow universal sets, this is always false.

If everything I have said is correct, I would like to turn my attention to the major point of this post.
Are the following two statements true regardless of whether or not a universal set is allowed:
\begin{align}
&1) \ \exists x \in A \left[\varphi(x) \right] \rightarrow \exists x \varphi(x)\\
&2) \ \forall y \psi(y) \rightarrow \forall y \in B \left[\psi(y) \right] \\\
\end{align}
I think the answers to both are yes. I am mostly interested in the first one because I find that, perhaps in attempt to be informal, many people will write $\exists x \varphi(x)$ when it is more practical to write, for example, $\exists x \in \mathbb R \varphi(x)$.

A: If you are working in set theory where the underlying logic is 1-sorted first-order logic, then you are correct that the quantifiers $\exists x \in A$ and $\forall x \in A$ should be viewed as shorthand. This is not the only way to approach set theory, and arguably it is not a natural way to approach set theory. But let's leave that discussion behind and talk about how people use quantifiers in practice.
In practice, people tend to implicitly use bounded quantifiers when they use an unbounded quantifier.
For example, let's say I write something like
$$ \forall n \exists m (n = 2m \lor n = 2m + 1)$$
Hopefully, it's clear from context that $n$ and $m$ are variables which range over integers (or natural numbers, depending on context). Clearly, it doesn't make too much sense to say that $\mathbb{R} = 2m \lor \mathbb{R} = 2m + 1$, for example, no matter what $m$ is. So it wouldn't be natural for us to actually have a totally unbounded quantifier on $n$.
The most common convention mathematicians use is actually aligned with the conventions of many-sorted logic. The idea is that each variable name implicitly has a "kind". All quantifiers over this variable name are implicitly only quantifying over things of this kind.
Generally, you'll see conventions like

*

*$n, m$ are integers

*$x, y$ are real numbers

*$z, w$ are complex numbers

*$\alpha, \beta$ are ordinals

*$f, g$ are functions (usually between two sets which are known from context)

*$U, V$ are open sets

*$A, B$ are sets

*$\mathcal{A}, \mathcal{B}$ are families of sets

et cetera.
You will then know that whenever you see a statement of the form $\forall n P(n)$, you should interpret this statement rigorously as $\forall n \in \mathbb{N} P(n)$ (which would then be interpreted formally as $\forall n (n \in \mathbb{N} \to P(n))$).
And you will know that whenever you see a statement of the form $\exists \alpha P(\alpha)$, you will have to interpret this statement as $\exists \alpha (isOrdinal(\alpha) \land P(\alpha))$.
So the key here is that when you see a statement of the form $\exists v \psi(v)$, you should actually reinterpret the quantifier and not reinterpret $\psi$.


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text:
Abraham Gemperlin, auch Abrahamus Gempperlin (* um 1550 in Rottenburg am Neckar; † vor 1639) war ein aus Württemberg zugewanderter Schweizer Buchdrucker.

Leben

Gemperlin war ab 1583 in Freiburg im Breisgau als Buchhändler tätig. Er ging Verbindungen mit dem Basler Drucker Ambrosius Froben ein. Unter seinem eigenen Namen erschienen drei Drucke.

Am 6. August 1584 ersuchte Abraham Gemperlin den Rat des schweizerischen Freiburgs im Üechtland, sich dort als Drucker niederzulassen. Bereits tags darauf war der Vertrag unterzeichnet. Gemperlin erhielt das Bürgerrecht, freie Wohnung und Unterstützung für die technische Einrichtung der ersten Druckerei der Stadt. Dafür musste er sich verpflichten, nur zu drucken, was von der Zensurbehörde bewilligt worden war.

Die Freiburger Regierung schrieb in einem Brief an Papst Sixtus V. am 14. Oktober 1585: «Auf Zureden des hochwürdigen Pater Petrus Canisius, der diese unsere Stadt durch seinen Aufenthalt in ihr herrlich ziert, haben wir um ansehnliche Kosten eine Druckerpresse erstanden und die Dienste eines Druckers gemietet».

Aufgrund einer unerlaubten Publikation wurde Gemperlin 1588 aus Freiburg verbannt. Nach Fürsprache der katholischen Kirche wurde er begnadigt und durfte kurz darauf zurückkehren. 1597 wurde er gefangen genommen, weil er zur Deckung von Schulden an Freiburg verpfändetes Material versetzt hatte.

Wilhelm Mäß, der bereits 1595 vom Rat als Drucker installiert worden war, übernahm 1597 sämtliche Anteile des Unternehmens von Gemperlin. Dieser war danach tätig als Wollwarenhändler und Wirt. 1610 wurde ein Konkursverfahren angesetzt und 1611 wurde der inzwischen Verarmte ins Bürgerspital aufgenommen. 1616 findet sich die letzte Erwähnung Abraham Gemperlins in den Akten. Das Todesjahr ist nicht bekannt, wird in der Literatur vor 1639 angenommen.

Im Jahrzehnt von 1585 bis 1595 hat Gemperlin gemäss bisherigem Wissensstand 52 Drucke herausgebracht. Er wurde unterstützt von einem Schriftsetzer und Gehilfen. Der Betrieb verfügte über zwei Druckpressen und eine Korrigierpresse. Die Schrifttypen konnten im eigenen Haus gegossen werden. Das Schriftmaterial bestand aus sechs Grössen Antiqua, je fünf Grössen Kursiv und Fraktur und einer kleinen Griechisch. Gedruckt wurden vor allem religiöse Titel aber auch Werke der Dichtung und Dramen in Auflagen von teilweise 2000 Exemplaren.

Das erste Buch, das Gemperlin in Freiburg druckte, war 1585 das Fragstück des christlichen Glaubens an die neuwe sectische Predigkandten. Das polemische Werk führte zu einer lebhafte Auseinandersetzung in der reformierten Schweiz. Der Freiburger Rat selbst setzte der Polemik 1587 ein Ende, indem er – vermutlich auf Anraten des Petrus Canisius – eine weitere polemische Publikation mit der Begründung «zur verhüttung meerer vnruwen und verbitterung» nicht drucken liess.

Drucke (Auswahl)
 Fragstück des christlichen Glaubens, an die neuwe sectische Predigkandten; durch den hochgelehrten H. Johann Hayum auss Schotten, der Societet Jesu Theologum frantzoesisch beschriben ; und folgends durch Sebastian Werro Pfarrherren zu Freyburg in der Eydgnoschafft, in das Teutsch gebracht, auch mit dem anderen Theyl vermehret, und alles auff ein Neuwes gebessert. Getruckt zu Freyburg in der Eydgnoschafft : bey Abraham Gemperlin, 1586. doi:10.3931/e-rara-48588
 Renward Cysat: Warhafftiger Bericht von den newerfundnen Japponischen Inseln und Königreichen, auch von andren zuvor unbekandten Indianischen Landen... : neben dem allen erfindet sich in diser Edition gründliche anzeygung von der Japponischen Legation neuwlich gehn Rom ankommen... 1586. Getruckt zu Freyburg in der Eydgenoschafft : bey Abraham Gemperlin. Link zu Digitalisat
 Auff des Schandmauls D. Lucas Osianders Hoffpredigers zu Stüdgard, letstes unsinniges Eselsgeschrey : darinnen ehr den ehrwürdigen Edlen hochgelehrten Herrn Iohannem Pistorium Nidanum ... und dann Fratrem Georgium Eckern franciscani ordinis sacerdotem ferners gern ohnverschambter närrischer weiss Iniurien und sich abermals mit bachantischer retorsione retorsionis nulliter salvieren wöllen, &c. ; letste und bestendige Conclusion und Beweissung das er Lucas Osiander ein verlogener leichtfertiger Mann sey und bleibe / F. Georgius Ecker, Barfüsser Ordens, Prediger zu Freyburg im Breissgöw. Gedruckt zu Freyburg in Uchtlandt bey Abraham Gemperlin, 1591. doi:10.3931/e-rara-10318
 Publikationen von Abraham Gemperlin in Schweizer Bibliotheken

Literatur

 Das Freiburger Buch 1585–1985, Katalog zur Ausstellung 400 Jahre Buchdruck in Freiburg, Kantons- und Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg (Schweiz), 1985
 Lioba Schnürer: Die Anfänge des Buchdrucks in Freiburg in der Schweiz, 1585–1605, Freiburg im Uechtland: Verlag des Deutschen geschichtsforschenden Vereins, 1944
 Abraham Horodisch: Die Offizin von Abraham Gemperlin, dem ersten Drucker von Freiburg, Schweiz,  Freiburg: Verlag der Paulusdruckerei, 1943

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Buchdrucker (Schweiz)
Person (Freiburg im Üechtland)
Schweizer
Geboren im 16. Jahrhundert
Gestorben im 17. Jahrhundert
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Explosives Factory Buildings
for Nobel, Westquarter Explosives Works, Redding.
During the First World War priority for construction work was given to sites that aided the war effort, which included more economical forms of food production. These were not just economical in terms of the reduced wastage but also in the manpower required to run them.
The production of detonators was obviously vital for waging war and the output had to be considerably increased. In 1879 the factory for producing fulminate of mercury had been built at Reddingmuirhead. It remained the only building on that side of the canal until 1896 when 2 acres were developed between then and 1912. At the beginning of 1914 the whole factory covered 19 acres and employed 450 people. By the end of the First World War it had grown to occupy 45 acres and employed an average of 800. J G Callendar was involved with this expansion work, designing and supervising the construction of the network of huts that spread further south up the hillside from the Union Canal. JG Callendar would have been 32 years old at the beginning of the war and this work probably prevented him from being called up.
Illus : The Ordnance Survey Map of 1897, surveyed 1896 (National Library of Scotland). The fulminate of mercury factory is the building at the bottom of the map.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As the season moves into early summer, the deciduous trees here at Hackberry Point have finally leafed out fully. Depending on the time of day, trees cast welcoming pools of shade over various parts of the garden. And while I don't consciously think about the sounds trees bring to the garden very often, that, too, is a welcoming feature. For one thing, the sound of wind in the treetops says something about the weather today—whether I'll be greeted by a brisk breeze or air that is still and humid when I venture out into the garden. Most days, birds and insects calling and chattering from the branches add to the the rustle and whisper of the leaves.
While the garden here includes both native and non native plants, most of the tree canopy consists of native species. Not surprisingly, there are quite a few northern hackberries (Celtis occidentalis) here, plus I have oaks (Quercus spp.), osage orange (Maclura pomifera), black walnuts (Juglans nigra), cherries (Prunus spp.), and redcedars (Juniperus virginiana), to name a few. That's good news for all the wildlife that share our space, since native plants support a rich array of insects, which in turn feed many of the birds that live here. Non-native plants don't support wildlife as well as our native species do. For more on the connections between wildlife, gardens, and native plants, read Douglas Tallamy's Bringing Nature Home.
Planting native trees is one of the best ways to make a garden more Bay friendly, and that's not just because they are better for wildlife. They also help control runoff, can reduce electricity bills, and more. I found a great link recently called the National Tree Benefit Calculator that lets you quantify the benefits that various trees bring to your landscape.
The 25-inch diameter red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) in the back yard intercepts 3,278 gallons of water, but only adds $8 to property value—I suppose because it is a less appealing species. (Not to me!) The calculator estimates it saves 153 kilowatt hours, and will reduce atmospheric carbon by 551 pounds per year.
Figure in the value these trees bring to wildlife: Oaks support 517 species of butterflies and moths, alone, and 40 species of birds and wildlife eat the berries of redcedars). Then add in the delicious shade they cast for sipping iced tea during the summer months (we actually have a hammock under the abovementioned red cedar), and I have a wealth of reasons to appreciate my trees today—and figure out where I can plant more.
Wow sounds like I should plant a few hundred Red Cedars in my yard. Seriously though, people don't realize just how much planting a tree could do. Greenery makes the world go round, go gardeners!!
I couldn't agree more! It really is amazing what a single tree contributes. For me, the shade my trees contribute is as important as all the other benefits.


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To inquire about permission for use.
Declare Peace: Free LyricFree Lyric of a downloadable song by the band A Prophet Among Us available on this web site.


text:
ITI Action Committee For Artists Rights
personal cases
useful links and sources
Category Archives: Arab States
Hella Mewis Freed
July 24, 2020 Arab States, News, personal case, updateACAR
Security officials in Bagdad announced today, that German curator Hella Mewis was released at 6:25 a.m. (03.25 UTC/GMT) in a security operation at Rusafa, eastern part of Baghdad. Iraqi authorities did not give any information about who was behind the kidnapping. No one was arrested during the operation.
Hella is presently under the protection of the German embassy in Baghdad. She is already the sixth foreigner to be abducted in the Iraqi capital this year and dozens of activists have been kidnapped in recent months.
Sources: Deutsche Welle, The Arab Weekly, Neue Züricher Zeitung (German)
Baghdad: German Cultural Manager Kidnapped
July 22, 2020 Arab States, News, personal caseACAR
The cultural manager and curator Hella Mewis has been active in German-Iraqi cultural exchange for many years. At the Berlin based network for cultural reconstruction in Iraq, she was involved in numerous initiatives and projects that were intended to enable the Iraqi cultural scene to join the international cultural exchange after decades of isolation through war and terror. Some of these could also be realized with the help of the ITI. Since 2012 she continued her work from Baghdad. She built up the cultural centre "Beit Tarkib" under the most difficult conditions and got support by the Goethe-Institut for festivals, concerts, readings, workshops and exhibitions.
Hella was, as usual, travelling by bicycle when she was kidnapped by armed men from two cars near the cultural centre in the evening of July 20. It is speculated that the perpetrators are close to the Hezbollah militia. The German Foreign Office has set up a crisis management team. Media and networks are following the case. #hellamewis, #freehella
Sources: AFP Germany (Video), Euronews, The Art Newspaper, Associated Press, New York Times, Neue Zuericher Zeitung (German), Sueddeutsche Zeitung (German)
Egypt: Crackdown of Freedom of Expression and Assembly
October 17, 2019 Arab States, News, personal caseACAR
An outburst of anti-government protests began September 20 in Egypt. The government has instated a harsh anti-protest law, is leveling falsified charges to quash media outlets that confront the established national narrative, introducing a law that fines journalists for reporting "false news," and prosecuting individuals who express different religious or political viewpoints with punishments of fines, harsh prison sentences, or even death sentences. Over 2,000 people have been imprisoned, many without any apparent connection to the protests, without charge and without legal counsel. Witnesses are reporting that all places of the Arab spring revolution in Cairo have been blocked and the police are stopping people in the street and asking for their mobile phones and then looking at what they share on facebook and their messages.
Among the reportedly detained people is the playwright Ezz Darwiesh from Alexandria. Darwiesh has been awarded at the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater 2007 and was invited to several festivals in the Arab World and Europe.
Source: PEN America
Categories Select Category African States Arab States Asian and Pacific States Eastern and Western European States, USA, Canada Latin American/Carribean States News personal case update worldwide
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text:
Millennium Development Goals:
How many did the world achieve?
Based on our work at www.OurWorldInData.org
Track progress on all the SDGs at www.SDG-Tracker.org
The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
consisted of 8 Goals, measured by 18 Targets
spanned the period from 2000 to 2015
Summary of achieved and missed Targets
Overall, the world achieved 3 and a half out of the 14 Targets which can be assessed quantitatively:
- MDG 1 on extreme poverty;
- MDG 3 on gender disparity in education;
- MDG 6 on malaria and tuberculosis;
- half of Target 7.C for safe drinking water and sanitation.
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target 1.A: Halve share of people living in extreme poverty
Extreme poverty was defined in the MDGs as living on less than $1.25 per person per day.
In 1990, 47% of people in developing regions lived in extreme poverty.
By 2015, this had fallen to 14% (surpassing the target of 23.5%).
The international poverty line for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been redefined as $1.90.
You can explore progress in poverty reduction by country over recent decades here.
Clicking on a given country shows its progress over time.
Further research and data on extreme poverty across the world can be found in our entry on Extreme Poverty.
Target 1.B: Achieve full and productive employment for all
Target 1.B was to achieve full employment for all, including young people and women.
In 1990, 62% of the working-age population in developing regions was employed.
By 2015, this had fallen to 60%. This target was therefore not achieved.
Target 1.C: Halve the proportion of individuals suffering from hunger
Target 1.C was to halve the share of people in developing regions suffering from hunger (defined as undernourished).
'Undernourishment' is defined as having a caloric intake below minimum dietary requirements.
In 1991, 23% of people in developing regions were undernourished.
By 2015, this had fallen to 12.9%, narrowly missing out on the target level of 11.5%.
Using this map you can explore progress by country over this period.
Further research and data on hunger across the world can be found in our entry on Hunger & Undernourishment.
Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
Target 2.A: ensure children universally will be able to complete primary education
Target 2.A was to achieve universal enrolment of children in primary education by 2015.
In 1991, 80% of children of the relevant age in developing regions were enroled in primary education.
By 2015, this had increased to 91%, but missed out on the target level of universal enrolment.
The number of out-of-school children globally fell from over 100 million in 1992 to 60 million in 2014.
57% of out-of-school children live in Sub-Saharan Africa; just under 20% in South Asia.
Further research and data on education across the world can be found in our entry on the Global Rise of Education.
Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Target 3.A: Eliminate gender disparity at all education levels
Target 3.A was to ensure gender parity in primary, secondary and tertiary education.
This is measured by the 'gender parity index' (GPI) which is the ratio of the female to male net enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education levels.
A GPI of 1 equates to complete gender parity; a GPI below 1 favors male enrolment; GPI over 1 favors females.
A GPI between 0.97 and 1.03 is considered 'gender parity'.
Gender parity was achieved at all education levels (primary, secondary and tertiary) by 2015.
Attainment of this goal, however, has not been universal.
Significant differences remain across regions and countries, as disparities favouring either sex can cancel each other out when aggregated.
Shown opposite is the GPI for primary education by country.
This data is also available to explore for secondary education and tertiary education.
Further research and data on disparities in education can be found in our entry on Educational Mobility & Inequality.
Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
Target 4.A: Reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds
Target 4.A was to reduce the global child mortality rate by two-thirds from 1990 to 2015.
In 1990, the child mortality rate was 90 per 1,000 live births.
By 2015, this had more than halved to 42.5 per 1,000 live births.
However, this missed the global target of reaching 30 per 1,000 live births.
The research and data on the reduction of child mortality across the world can be found in our entry on Child Mortality.
Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
Target 5.A: Reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent
Target 5.A was to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) by 75% from 1990 to 2015.
In 1990, the maternal mortality ratio was 380 per 100,000 live births.
By 2015, this had fallen more than 45% to 210 per 100,000 live births.
However, this missed the global target of reaching 95 per 100,000 live births.
The research and data on the reduction of maternal mortality across the world can be found in our entry on Maternal Mortality.
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Target 6.A: Halt and have started to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
Target 6.A was to halt and have started to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
This would require a reduction in the share of people with HIV/AIDS (prevalence).
In 2000, there were 3.2 million new cases of HIV/AIDS globally.
By 2015, this had fallen to 2.1 million cases.
However, this reduction was not fast enough to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The share of people with HIV/AIDS has not declined.
The number of people with HIV/AIDS increased from 28 million to 36 million between 2000 and 2015.
This target was therefore not reached.
Further research and data on global progress on HIV/AIDS can be found in our entry on HIV/AIDS.
Target 6.B: Achieve global access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for those who need it by 2010
Target 6.B was to achieve universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all with HIV by 2010.
ART coverage increased rapidly over this period, from 3% of those with HIV in 2000 to 23% in 2010.
Coverage since increased to 45% in 2015.
Despite substantial progress, this target was missed.
Target 6.C: Ceased & started reversal of incidence of malaria & tuberculosis (TB)
Target 6.C was to reduce the incidence of malaria and tuberculosis (TB) by 2015.
In 2000, globally there were 158 new cases of malaria per 1,000 people at risk.
By 2015, this had fallen to 94 new cases per 1,000 at risk.
This target was therefore achieved.
Further research and data on global progress on tackling malaria can be found in our entry on Malaria.
In 2000, globally there were 172 new cases of malaria per 100,000 people.
By 2015, this had fallen to 142 new cases per 100,000 people.
This target was therefore reached.
Goal 7: Environmental sustainability
Target 7.A: Integrate sustainable development & reverse loss of environmental resources
Target 7.A was to integrate principles of sustainable development into country policies & reverse loss of environmental resources.
Multiple metrics are used to assess this target.
Progress for the ozone layer was seen, with emissions of ozone-depleting substances falling from 252,000 to 7,000 tonnes since 2000.
Further research and data on ozone layer depletion can be found in our entry on the Ozone Layer.
However, most environmental metrics continued to regress.
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased around 50% from 2000 to 2015.
Further research and data on emissions across the world can be found in our entry on CO2 & other Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Global forests fell from 31.2% to 30.8% of land area from 2000 to 2015.
Overexploited fish stocks increased from 27.4% to 31.4% of total stocks.
Since most environmental metrics regressed, target 7.A was not achieved.
Target 7.B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving by 2010, significant reduction in rate of loss
Target 7.B was to reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss.
The Red List Index, which measures trends in species' risk of extinction, shows that a substantial proportion of species in all taxonomic groups examined to date are declining overall in population and distribution.
The Global Living Planet Index (LPI) also shows a continued decline in global biodiversity.
This target was therefore not achieved.
Target 7.C: Halve share of population without access to safe drinking water & sanitation
Target 7.C was to halve the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
In 1990, 24% of the world population didn't have access to an improved water source.
By 2015, this fell to 9% without access.
This target (a reduction to 12%) was therefore achieved.
Further research and data on safe drinking water access across the world can be found in our entry on Water Access, Resources & Sanitation.
In 1990, 46% of the world population didn't have access to improved sanitation.
By 2015, this fell to 32% without access.
This target (a reduction to 23%) was therefore not achieved.
Further research and data on santation access across the world can be found in our entry on Water Access, Resources & Sanitation.
The world is now working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
17 Goals; 169 Targets and 232 Indicators to be achieved by 2030.
Track our progress on all the SDGs:
www.SDG-Tracker.org
Based on work at www.OurWorldInData.org


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Prehistoric Baccarat - Four nice dinosaurs, palms and wild plants will astonish you with their graphics, the music and special sound effects will carry you into the past; original personages, unusual cards and bright colors will embellish the picture.
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Dedza (Malawi) (AFP) - The dream of a new life in South Africa has turned into a nightmare for hundreds of Ethiopian migrants held in overcrowded Malawian jails despite having served their sentences for illegal entry.
"This prison is hell on earth. We are in prison despite paying the fine," a tearful 15-year-old Eyasu Tadiya told AFP inside Dedza prison, 85 kilometres (50 miles) south of Lilongwe, the administrative capital.
Eyasu, looking weak and thin, said he had been on his way to join his father in South Africa, but had now given up hope of making it to the continent's most developed economy.
"The journey has ended here and I just want to go back home rather than suffer in this way," he said.
"We face a lot of challenges, mostly lack of food," the official said.
"We serve them one meal a day at 3:00pm, mostly a thick porridge with beans. They sleep up to 50 people in a cell meant for 20 inmates."
According to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), 317 Ethiopians are in the same plight, with most of them held in Lilongwe's Maula prison, which is designed to house 800 inmates but holds 2,650.
"We are tired of being in prison here where life is tough," Ethiopian Abebe Aleme told MSF in an interview last week in Maula prison, adding that many prisoners were ill with tuberculosis, malaria and skin ailments.
Aleme, 41, said he wanted to go to South Africa "because in our country we don't have enough to live".
"In South Africa if I go I work for two years, three years, I can have something to buy a house. In Ethiopia if you work even 20 years you buy nothing."
MSF's head of mission in Malawi, Amaury Gregoire, said "the large majority of those people are only guilty of dreaming of a better life in South Africa.
"However... they are enduring extreme overcrowding, insanitary conditions, inadequate food as well as the mental torment of not knowing when or how they will be released."
MSF says health conditions at Malau are "critical", with one tap for 900 prisoners and one latrine for 120 inmates.
Malawian high court judge Ken Manda admitted that "most of those arrested (for illegal entry in Malawi) were judged, sentenced and fined, but they are still in prison, waiting to be repatriated".
"Migrants detained face a host of health and human rights issues," he said last month.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is now trying to organise flights home for the others.
Their daily lives improved slightly recently thanks to the generosity of a local NGO, "Concerned Citizens", that offers them food, clothes, soap and translation services.
"It's terrible to see those poor souls suffer away from home," said Catherine Sani, head of the NGO. "They have nobody here to help them."


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<recipeml version="0.5">
  <recipe>
    <head>
      <title>Bailey's Irish Cream Whiskey</title>
      <categories>
        <cat>Liqueurs an</cat>
        <cat>Homemade be</cat>
        <cat>Gifts</cat></categories>
      <yield>1</yield></head>
    <ingredients>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>3</qty>
          <unit/></amt>
        <item>Egg yolks; room temp.</item></ing>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>1</qty>
          <unit/></amt>
        <item>14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk</item></ing>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>1 1/4</qty>
          <unit>cups</unit></amt>
        <item>Whipping cream</item></ing>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>1 1/2</qty>
          <unit>cups</unit></amt>
        <item>Irish whiskey</item></ing>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>1 1/2</qty>
          <unit>tablespoons</unit></amt>
        <item>Sweetened chocolate syrup</item></ing>
      <ing>
        <amt>
          <qty>1/4</qty>
          <unit>teaspoons</unit></amt>
        <item>Coconut extract</item></ing></ingredients>
    <directions>
      <step>  In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks until thick. Stir in the condensed
  milk, cream, whiskey, chocolate syrup and coconut extract. Beat for one
  minute. Taste and add more coconut extract if desired.

  In a large decanter, pour Irish Cream whiskey. Seal. Sore in the
  refrigerator and allow to mellow 7 days before using. Will keep for 2
  weeks.

  Makes about 5 cups.

  NOTES : Everything emulsifies better if all of the ingredients are a room
  temp.. If the egg yolks are cold when mixed they tend to stay together more
  and are visible in the drink ( not very pretty).
  Posted to KitMailbox Digest  by GAdams1350@aol.com on Sep 20, 1997

</step></directions></recipe></recipeml>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The combined police forces of an entire continent are focused on finding the alleged ring-leader behind the foiled Belgian terror plot to kidnap police.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, 2015 at 12:09 am and is filed under TERRORISM. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


The idea is simple. Create your original festive or seasonal message. We then select one a day to share share with our entire network throughout the month of December.
Lancashire Forum Creative is an in-depth programme is for senior/owner managers of Creative or Digital businesses who want to develop their leadership skills, innovate, and grow.
Lancashire PR consultancy, Catapult PR, has scooped three top PR awards in just two days, becoming a winner in both the Northern Marketing Awards and the CIPR PRide NW Awards.
Call for female artists to be part of our GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS exhibition at Prism Contemporary Gallery Blackburn. Exhibition opens March 8th 2018 - International Women's Day.
On the back of successful presentations for National Festival of Making and Super Slow Way, Jeni McConnell will take part in a panel discussion to shed light on the recent Art in Manufacturing project.


text:
Q: Hyper V- How to access drive on host in guest by drive letter I moved my old notebook via Disk2vhd to a virtual Disk. The old Notebook has a c: (System) and a d: (Data) Disk. In Disk2vhd I only select c: Drive.
On the new Notebook, is the same Disk-Layout. I directly copy the old Data-d: to d: on the new Notebook. Then I generate a new virtual machine on the new notebook using the VHD created from c:.
I then want to access the hosts d: in the VM directly. As I learned the hard way, d: could not be a net-share because a lot of programs on (virtual) c: shows errors or don't start if hosts d: is connected as net-share (assigned letter d:).
Another way I  tried is to use "enhanced session". The content of host d: drive is visible/usable in the VMs Explorer below Desktop. It seems not to be possible, to assign a drive letter (d:) to it, so the programs still can't access d:.
Is there a way to give the link in the Explorer the drive letter d: or an other way to use d: directly (not as physical disk, because the host also accesses d:)?

A: You can convert your "D" with other converter to a sepearate vhd(x) file. Here are the article with V2V converters overview - http://www.vmwareblog.org/v2v-converters-overview/

A: run vmconnect.exe , select options and add local drive. later you can then map a drive letter to it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Hassan Almoazen, Ph.D. Mostafa Waleed Gaber, Ph.D. James R. Johnson, Ph.D. Ram I. Mahato, Ph.D. Thaddeus A. Wilson, Ph.D.
The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate paclitaxel-loaded liposomal formulations for targeted drug delivery to breast cancer. The liposomal formulation was optimized to maximize drug loading and physical stability. Cholesterol and saturated lipid content showed a negative influence on paclitaxel loading. Short-term stability studies showed that optimum drug-lipid ratio is necessary for adequate physical stability. Biodistribution studies in mouse xenografts bearing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer using near infrared fluorescence imaging showed that the accumulation of tumor vasculature targeted long-circulating liposomes (LCL) in the tumor was significantly less than non-targeted LCL at 48 h. The accumulation of these liposomes in the peritoneal cavity was higher suggesting that they were cleared rapidly by the reticuloendothelial system. The antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel-loaded tumor vasculature targeted LCL was compared with paclitaxel-loaded tumor cell targeted LCL. The antitumor efficacy was comparable for tumor vasculature targeted LCL, non-targeted LCL, and paclitaxel solution formulation with tumor volumes of ~ 60-70% of the control treatment on 39 days post tumor inoculation. In contrast, tumor cell targeted LCL showed a significantly higher antitumor efficacy compared to all other treatments with tumor volumes of ~ 30% of the control treatment. To improve the long-term stability, these liposomes were lyophilized. The leakage and vesicle size increase during lyophilization was minimized by using lyoprotectant sucrose in the formulation. Feasibility of developing gas-filled liposomes for ultrasound mediated drug delivery was evaluated using freeze drying gas entrapment method for the preparation. The in vitro measurements of echogenicity showed that these paclitaxel-loaded tumor vasculature targeted gas-filled liposomes were acoustically active and can be disintegrated by high intensity ultrasound pulses.
Kannan, Vinayagam , "Development and Evaluation of Paclitaxel-Loaded Liposomal Formulations for Targeted Drug Delivery to Breast Cancer" (2010). Theses and Dissertations (ETD). Paper 135. http://dx.doi.org/10.21007/etd.cghs.2010.0158.


text:
Q: is there any word that means "current and upcoming"? I want to find a word that could mean current and upcoming but couldn't. Or is there any other shorter ways to describe it? can anyone help me?

A: I believe Sven Yargis inadvertently supplied the answer: emergent strongly suggests both present and future; e.g. "Execron, Boffex and Crudco are emergent players in the growing codswallop market." =]

A: Try imminent:

ADJECTIVE
1 About to happen:
they were in imminent danger of being swept away

(Definition and link from Oxforddictionaries.com)

A:
...find a word that could mean current and upcoming ... Or [other] shorter ways to describe it?

From en.wiktionary, pending has three senses that make it a suitable answer:

*

*awaiting a conclusion or a confirmation

*begun but not completed

*about to happen; imminent or impending

(Oxforddictionaries.com and collinsdictionary.com
include similar senses.) As you can see, the latter two senses correspond reasonably well to "current" things and "upcoming" things.
In spite of those dictionary entries, I tend to discount or disregard the "begun but not completed" sense, so I'm not able to enthusiastically back pending as an answer to the question.  In addition, many of the British English synonyms Oxforddictionaries.com suggests seem to me inappropriate or irrelevant, but you may find them worth considering:

unresolved, undecided, unsettled, unconcluded, uncertain, awaiting decision, awaiting action, undetermined, (still) open, hanging fire, (up) in the air, in limbo, in the balance, on ice, in reserve, in abeyance, ongoing, awaiting attention, outstanding, to be done, undone, not done, unattended to, unfinished, incomplete, left, remaining  for first two senses, and
imminent, impending, about to happen/be, forthcoming, upcoming, on the way, coming, approaching, looming, gathering, prospective, near, nearing, close, close at hand, in the offing, in the wind, to come, -to-be, anticipated, expected for third sense

Other terms I think relevant include looming, on the docket, on deck, pipelined, near term, and peri-, a prefix meaning near, on, around.  However, none of the 132 terms that begin with peri- look applicable.

A: Current and upcoming are at odds in most situations because something that currently possesses a particular status is already in place and thus fundamentally differs from something that hasn't yet acquired that status but will do so eventually. Consequently, a word meaning "current and upcoming" would have the same limited utility as a word meaning "being and becoming" would. Though language endlessly produces new words to fill newly perceived vacancies in its verbal arsenal, they have to be useful sufficiently often to prompt people to adopt them.
The practical problem facing a one-word synonym for "current and upcoming" is that the two ideas "current" and "upcoming" are important enough, different enough, and easy enough to express in a fairly compact form that people haven't felt the need to devise a single-word workaround for "current and upcoming." That may explain why no satisfactory one-word option for simultaneously indicating both states is in common use.
One alternative is to use the phrase "now and future," which does appear in the intended sense in some published writing, such as in Eugene Kennedy's book title The Now and Future Church: The Psychology of Being an American Catholic (1984), and in this instance from Gareth Stansfield, Iraqi Kurdistan: Political Development and Emergent Democracy (2003):

The study is, in effect, a 'now' and 'future' appraisal, thereby bringing into contention those aspects of theory which may be described as analytical, and those which may be termed prescriptive.

On the other hand, the phrase "current and upcoming" appears in published writings, too. For example, from Mat Heyman, National Bureau of Standards: A National Resource for Science and Technology (July 1979):

An explanation of some of the current and upcoming uses of computer technology in the supermarket, retail stores, and banking is offered in a new NBS pamphlet, Automation in the Marketplace.

And from Tetsuya Tokano, Water on Mars and Life (2005):

Several current and upcoming missions have instruments that will provide information on the mineralogy of Mars.

In fact, "current and upcoming" yields many more matches than "now and future" in a Google Books search once you clear away the irrelevant matches (such as the use of "now and future" in the sentence "Make the wrong choices now and future generations will live with a changed climate"), so it may be the most suitable phrase available.
I wouldn't use "now and next" unless I wanted to convey the particular idea that the item being described is both the current object of interest and the object next in line (to succeed itself).

A: Such things could be described as being du jour

popular, fashionable, or prominent at a particular time

Source
Although this can be used when describing past events (or the soup in cheesy French restaurants), when used in the present tense it implies that the subject is fresh and fashionable.
eg.

London Grammar are the band du jour

A: How about simply pending?
For a negative twist, try impending or looming.

A: *

*Word: Trendy

*Definition: following the latest trends or fashions; up-to-date or chic:

*Example: "the trendy young generation."

Taken from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/trendy?s=t


Subramaniyapuram – Movie Gallery More….
Adada Enna Azhagu – Movie Gallery More….
Neelambari – Photo Gallery More….
Valentines Day Special – Actress Vijayalakshmi in Big FM – Gallery More….
Director Aagathiyan's Daughter Wedding Reception – Photo Gallery More….
Sarath Kumar's First Political Meet in Madurai – Gallery More….
Singakutty Audio Launch Gallery More….
Indira Vizha – Photo Gallery More….
Indira Vizha and Aanal Katru Movie Launch – Gallery More….


Our good friends at Maritime History North are hosting the latest event in their wonderful heritage conference season, this time onboard HMS Trincomalee.
The event on 6th April 2019 is entitled HMS Trincomalee and Pax Britannica in the 19th Century and will address this amazing vessel, her building, service, restoration and future.
She is part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, and is the oldest warship afloat anywhere in Europe, berthed at Jackson Dock, within The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool.
So visit HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool and step into its history, while hearing from an incredible array of speakers.


text:
Saturn Returns Publishing
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Adult Lit, and Childrens Books
RevKess
The Written Activist, cover reveal
March 21, 2017 March 21, 2017 ~ saturnreturnspub	~ Leave a comment
Though The Written activist is not due out until around the first of the year, RevKess has released his cover design to Saturn Returns Publishing. The Written Activist is a collection of articles, essays and poems by RevKess himself. RevKess is an activist of both the Pagan and LGBTQIA-etc communities. He has hosted radio and podcast programs that address the issues that are important to both communities, frequently with overlap.
RevKess has written for multiple websites and blogs over the years. Including several that have gone fallow, some of which might return in the near future. He has written for Pagan Activist, Hail Columbia!, the Pagan Newswire Collective (their music page), Off the Beaten Path (currently offline), and other sites. He has been quoted on The Wild Hunt more than once.
RevKess is also one of the voices of the Pagan-Musings Podcast Channel. As program manager and head of music acquisitions for the channel, he fills multiple rolls on the channel. He cohosts the main show, Pagan-Musings, and the weekly news program, Pagan Weekly News, with his friend KaliSara. He hosts Musica Pagani on the channel as well. As Phil, he co-hosts Murphy's Magic Mess and Lavender Hill on KZUM-Lincoln/KZUM-HD in Lincoln, NE. The Mess is the world's oldest and longest running Pagan content program on the airwaves and the Hill is the only LGBTQIA-etc news and talk program of its kind in the state of Nebraska.
The Written Activist is slated for a January 2018 release. Visit the Facebook page for updates on this and other projects that RevKess is involved in.
BIG RELEASE! Landslide & Solar Eclipse
Landslide, New Moon, & Solar Eclipse
Announcement: Awaken the Feminine
New URL & Logo!
Modern Mythology Anthology, a reminder
Tinthia Clemant on Modern Mythology: New Stories…
saturnreturnspub on Modern Mythology: New Stories…
Katie Anderson on Modern Mythology: New Stories…
Modern Mythology Ant… on Modern Mythology: New Stories…
frejafolkvangar on Modern Mythology: New Stories…
modern mythology
Philipp J. Kessler


text:
Rails.application.routes.draw do
  devise_for :admin_users, ActiveAdmin::Devise.config

  mount API::Base, at: "/"
  mount GrapeSwaggerRails::Engine, at: "/documentation"
  ActiveAdmin.routes(self)

end


text:
Miserable, Awful & Delayed: Commissioner, Tax Advocate Talk 2015 Tax Season
If there's no word from Congress by December 1 - yes, that's on Monday - you can likely expect a delayed start to the tax season.
"Miserable."
That's how Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen described the upcoming tax season to a group of tax practitioners at the AICPA National Tax Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Citing concerns about extenders, increased responsibilities due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and cuts to the agency's budget, the Commissioner told the crowd, "All we can do is try to maximize our services as well as we can; as well as we can is still going to be miserable. You really do get what you pay for."
Since that announcement, nothing has changed. And that's an even bigger problem.
Congress hasn't moved forward at all with the extenders provisions. Extenders are those tax deductions and credits - about 55 of them - that expired as of December 31, 2013. If those provisions had simply expired, that would be the end of the story. But Congress keeps making noise about reinstating the provisions retroactively to January 1, 2014 - which would be fine if the plan was to reinstate all of them. But that's not what is in the cards. Some in Congress have introduced bills to extend just one or two provisions while others have bunched some provisions together and ignored others. Some of the extensions would be for one year, others, two years; still others may be made permanent. So far, there's no confirmation which provisions - if any - will be reinstated (or for how long) by Congress. And the clock is ticking. According to their own calendar, the House of Representatives has already left the Hill for November: they'll return for just eight days in December before breaking on December 12, 2014. The new Congress will report to D.C. on January 3, 2015.
Commissioner Koskinen says that the IRS can't wait that long. Together with Janet Novack of Forbes, I sat down with the Commissioner at his office in Washington, D.C., to talk about the challenges looming for the upcoming tax season. We asked about what the delay in passing a bill to deal with tax extenders might mean for taxpayers.
Confirming that he has been in contact with Congressional officials, including the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means leadership, the Commissioner said, "Clearly everybody recognizes that the later they make those decisions or the more complicated they are, the greater at risk filing season is... so I think I'm comfortable that they understand, appreciate and are concerned about that issue."
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen (C) testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform's Economic Growth, Job Creation, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill September 17, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Oversight and Government Reform Committee continues to investigate the IRS for targeting political groups applying for tax-exempt status for intensive scrutiny based on their names or political themes. (Credit Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
But that doesn't mean that we have any indication what's going to happen - and that is problematic. By November, the IRS is generally in the throes of testing systems (you may remember that IRS shuts down their systems in mid-October each year to begin preparations for the upcoming tax season). The Commissioner had hoped to have word from Congress by mid-November in order to have everything "up and running and ready to go." But word didn't come. So what happens next? Exactly what you'd think: IRS has to begin making plans for a delayed season. Here's what you should expect:
If there's no word from Congress by December 11 - about two weeks from now - tax season would absolutely be delayed, likely to the end of January 2015.
And then it gets more complicated.
If Congress approves the tax extenders without any changes by December 11, the result is that tax season would merely be delayed, again likely to the end of January.
If, however, Congress approves the tax extenders with changes by December 11, those changes would require re-programming of systems. The result? A switch to a tiered opening, a move that that the Commissioner acknowledges complicates the lives of taxpayers and tax preparers, as well as the IRS. A two-tiered opening means that some taxpayers can file when IRS opens its virtual doors in late January 2015 but those affected by the extenders would have to wait until the re-programmed systems are ready.
If you think you're experiencing a little déjà vu, it's not your imagination. In 2013, following tax law changes made in January 2013 as part of American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), the IRS opened the filing season late - on January 30 - and implemented a tiered system. Under the tiered system, all taxpayers faced an opening delay to January 30, 2013, but those claiming certain provisions like the residential energy credits, depreciation of property or general business credits faced an additional delay and could not submit returns until late February.
That was a tough season. Combine the chaos of 2013 with the increased compliance challenges of ACA and FATCA together with budget cuts and it feels like a disaster.
Already, the Commissioner is anticipating that the IRS will only be able to answer about 53% of calls - after a wait time of about 34 minutes - for the upcoming fiscal year. That's just about half - but, the Commissioner confirms, "It could be worse."
The 53% estimate assumes an increase of 5-6 million calls, largely attributable to confusion over ACA and FATCA rules. But that number is just a guess. We haven't had a filing season yet that addresses some of these questions such as how to deal with errors in calculating the premium tax credit for health care. The number of questions, and thus, the number of potential calls, could go higher: some estimates have placed the number of new calls at 11 million.
Up to 11 million more calls. 3,000 fewer workers just in the last year. You can do the math.
To make those numbers work, the IRS traditionally shifts resources - meaning people - to focus on filing season. That means, the Commissioner pointed out, more calls are answered, as a percentage, during filing season than at other times of the year. Last season, calls were answered about 71% of the time, a number the agency hopes to approach this year during filing season but that means that call answering rates at other times of the year could be below 50%.
And what about those calls that do get answered? Simple questions only. To keep call times short, IRS representatives have been instructed to answer simple questions and pass on the tough ones. So even though tax questions are becoming more difficult, fewer taxpayers will get complete answers. That's not good for compliance.
It's a concern echoed by the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson. Olson also sat down with us for a few minutes to talk about challenges for the upcoming season (she was running to a meeting to talk budgets). Her office is already gearing up for more volume as a result of ACA, FATCA and budget cuts which may result in "more problems, more confusion." She's hoping to mitigate some of the tax season troubles - including those specifically related to the premium health care tax credit - by identifying problems early. Despite these added preparations, the tax season could be, she said with a sigh, "Awful."
(Author's Note: This is part one of my conversations with the Commissioner and the Taxpayer Advocate. Find out more about the upcoming tax season, budget cuts, identity theft and what's on tap for the future when the conversations continue.)


Please oppose criminalizing private firearm transfers!
As your constituent and a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights, I write today urging you to oppose any new gun control measure that would only impact law-abiding gun owners, including the latest "universal" background check bills, H.R. 8 and S.42. This legislation is the gun control movement's latest attempt to restrict the rights of law abiding citizens by criminalizing the private transfer of firearms. This bill is nothing more than a feel good measure that will do nothing to address the root cause of violent crime. Instead of introducing legislation aimed at curtailing the rights of law abiding Americans, Congress should focus on reforming our broken mental health system and providing law enforcement with every tool necessary to protect our schools and strengthen our communities. Please defend the Constitution and protect the Second Amendment. Please stand strong and oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42.
As an avid supporter of the Second Amendment and a constituent in your district, I am asking you to oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42. The enforcement of "universal" background checks is a complete abuse of our Second Amendment rights. H.R. 8 and S. 42 along with other "universal" background check legislation will hinder individuals like me from acquiring a gun for self-defense. I rely on my firearms every day, I use them for many activities such as hunting, target shooting, as well as protecting my home. Gun control supporters believe that background checks on all gun sales will reduce violent crime, but it will only make it harder for law abiding gun owners to purchase firearms. Criminals will not go through a background check to purchase a firearm because, by definition, they do not follow the law. Please stand up for the gun owners in your district by voting "no" to H.R. 8 and S. 42 as well as any other "universal" background check legislation!
I'm writing to you today to ask that you OPPOSE H.R. 8 and S. 42 in addition to any other legislation that imposes so-called "universal" background checks. "Universal" background checks only put further burdens on law-abiding gun owners and will do nothing to stop crime. Criminals aren't going through a background check to get a firearm, they are stealing their guns or obtaining them through straw purchasers! Please stop creating more gun laws! Start enforcing the tens of thousands of laws on the books! As your constituent, I urge you to oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42 in addition to any other "universal" background check legislation that would have done nothing to stop any of the recent violent crime.
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42, legislation that places undue burdens on law-abiding gun owners and doesn't address the causes of violent crime. Criminals, by their very nature, don't follow the law. These so-called "universal" background check bills will only add new regulation and hardship on law-abiding citizens and will be ignored by the very criminals it is meant to address. Criminals and those wishing to do harm will continue to acquire firearms the way they always have; the black market, straw purchases, and theft. Even the Obama Justice department stated that a "universal" background check law would be unenforceable without requiring gun registration, without a complete database of all firearm serial numbers, how could this possibly be enforced? For these reasons, and many more, I urge you to oppose the burdensome and ineffective H.R. 8 and S. 42 "universal" background check legislation.
As a constituent and a proud gun owner and voter in your district, I urge you to oppose "universal" background check legislation. This legislation doesn't effectively stop criminals from acquiring guns. Criminals will always find a way to get guns if they want them, such as stealing them or having another person buy them if they cannot pass a background check. This is simply another burden placed on law-abiding gun owners. I don't want to have to involve the government if I want to sell a gun to a family member, friend, or neighbor who I know isn't a criminal. And the only way to enforce these new laws would be a gun registry, which I also strongly oppose. Please do not punish the millions of gun owners who exercise their rights safely and legally. Vote "No" on H.R. 8 and S.42 or any other "so called" "universal" background check legislation.
As a law abiding gun owner and your constituent, I urge you to oppose H.R. 8 and S .42 – "universal" background checks (UBCs) legislation. This proposed legislation will do nothing to advance our shared goal of reducing violent crime and will only affect already law abiding gun owners like myself. The term "universal" background check is also extremely misleading, as it will only apply to those who already obey the law. According to a Department of Justice study, 77 percent of criminals in state prison for firearm crimes gain access to firearms through theft, the black market, or "on the street." The same study showed less than one percent acquired their firearms from dealers or non-dealers at gun shows. Additionally, as we have seen in states that have gone down the "universal" background check rabbit hole, there is not a huge uptick in prosecutions or prevented transactions because once again this legislation will only affect law-abiding gun owners and not the criminals who are the root of the problem. If we truly want to reduce violent crime then Congress should support the Attorney General's effort to prosecute all violent crimes to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for your attention and I urge you to oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42– "universal" background check legislation.
I am writing today to ask you to oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42. These "universal" background check bills (UBCs) are a scheme that only hurt law-abiding citizens and erodes our Constitutional rights. While we share the goal of reducing violent crime, the fact is that according to the Obama Justice department, the only way to enforce this scheme is to create a national gun registry. Further, those intent on harming others will do so with or without a background check. Federal studies have found that criminals typically obtain firearms through stealing them, off the black market or via "straw purchases," which are already illegal. As these bills move through the legislative process, I hope that you will keep these views in mind. This issue is very important to me and to our nation's future. Please oppose H.R. 8 and S. 42, and instead put your efforts toward addressing the root problem of violent crime.


So yeah..um.. OUCH - I suppose I should not be allowed to use sharp objects!
Ouch hope you feel better soon!
Your not suppose to do surgery on yourself.........:-) have you had your shots up to date???
Ow! I hope your finger heals quickly.
Here are your interview questions. Thanks for playing!
3. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
4. If you could make one totally crazy, unreasonable wish, what would it be?


Mazda CX-5 prices announced | What Car?
Mazda CX-5 prices will start at 21,395, the company has confirmed.
The CX-5 SUV will be the first model from Mazda to include its Skyactiv technology, which brings together new engines, transmissions, body and chassis design to cut CO2 emissions and improve economy.
Buyers will have the choice of a 163bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.2-litre diesel with either 148bhp or 173bhp. Petrol models are available as two-wheel-drive only, while the lower-powered diesel can come with two- or four-wheel-drive. The higher-powered diesel is four-wheel-drive only.
There are four trims: SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav.
Smart city brake support where laser sensors detect objects in the road ahead and apply the brakes if a collision becomes imminent.
Nav versions add 400 to the list price, and an automatic gearbox available on the diesel engines costs 900.
The CX-5 goes on sale in the spring, and customers can pre-order now at Mazda dealerships.


Black pepper is a perennial evergreen flowering vine. Once the main stem is established it grows many side shoots to create a bushy column. The plants form short roots, called adventitious roots, which connect to surrounding supports. Leaves are almond-shaped, tapering towards the tip, dark green and shiny above, paler green below, arranged alternately on the stems. Florets are mainly hermaphrodite, tiny, apetulous that bloom on flowering stalks known as spikes. 50–150 whitish to yellow-green flowers are produced on a spike. Fruits or corns round, berry-like, up to 6 mm in diameter, green at first but turning red as they ripen, each containing a single seed. 50–60 fruits are borne on each spike. Fruits are picked when green and immature to produce green pepper; when fully grown but still green and shiny to produce black pepper (dried for about 3 days); and when slightly riper (red) to produce white pepper (for which the fruits are also soaked to remove the fleshy outer layer). It is best grown in sun dappled areas or areas with bright indirect sun. It needs a support structure (e.g., wooden frame or prop tree). Outside of conservatories or greenhouses, they may be grown in containers as a houseplant with an attached trellis or in a hanging basket. Containers can be taken outside for the warm summer months, as indoor houseplants will not usually produce fruit. Plants are intolerant of temperatures below 50'F/10'C. This species is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. It has been used in Indian cooking since at least 2000 B. C.
Height – Vining, 10-15ft total.
Sunlight – Filtered sun, bright indirect sun.
Harvest time – Year round.
Years to Bear Fruit – 3rd to 4th.


text:
109 résultats pour kingston ont
Kingston, George Templeman, house, Queen's Park Cres. W., present site of University of Toronto Medical Building.
Kingston, Ontario. : Photogravures
eBook, 189-
University reform; report of the resolutions adopted at a great public meeting of the inhabitants of Kingston. Wednesday evening, 6th March, 1861, with the speeches delivered on the occasion
eBook, 1861
Kingston, Canada West (Ontario), from Fort Henry
Thomas R. Cartwright & Co.
Ephemera, 1820
Toronto directory for 1876 : containing an alphabetical directory of the citizens, and a street directory with classified business directory and a miscellaneous directory to which are added directories of Yorkville, Leslieville, Brockton, Danforth Road, Todmorden, Chester, Don Mount, Kingston Road and Seaton Village
St George's Cathedral, Kingston, Ont.
Picture, 188-
Extensive auction sale of groceries, liquors, etc
Kingston (Ontario)
Cataraqui Bridge
Narrative of the dispute between the Bishop of Ontario and the congregation of St. George's, Kingston, relative to the appointment of Dr. Lauder
Toronto directory for 1875 : containing an alphabetical directory of the citizens, key to the streets of the city, with a classified business directory and a miscellaneous directory, to which are added directories of Yorkville, Leslieville, Brockton, Danforth Road, Todmorden, Don Mount, Kingston Road and Seaton Village
Kingston, George Templeman, house, Queen's Park Cres. W., present site of University of Toronto Medical Building
Calendar: Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons in affiliation with Queen's University Kingston, Canada and University of Trinity College, Toronto
Car barn, Toronto and Scarboro' Electric Railway, Kingston Road, north side, between Walter Street and Malvern Avenue (then called Charles Street), Toronto, Ont.
Defence of the plan of university reform proposed by the Senate of the University of Toronto; being a statement drawn up at the request of the Board of trustees of Queen's college
Kingston Rd. Methodist Church, Queen St. E., north west corner Vancouver Ave.
Agricultural Association of Upper Canada member's ticket
A South East View of Cataraqui [Kingston].
Testimonials in favor of the Rev'd John McIlraith, candidate for the chair of Hebrew, Biblical criticism and church history, in the University of Queen's college, Kingston, Canada West
Sir, A number of the inhabitants of the town of Kingston
Royal Military College Of Canada; Interior
Militia general orders
1800-1899 (19th century)
Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.) (3)
Ellis, William Hodgson, 1845-1920 (3)
Mathieson, Alexander, 1795-1870 (2)
Kingston (Ont.) (46)
All Special Collections (65)
Baldwin (92)


What is the correct spelling for EATH?
This word (Eath) may be misspelled. Below you can find the suggested words which we believe are the correct spellings for what you were searching for. If you click on the links, you can find more information about these words.
bath But we must get to Bath.
death Of course you read in the paper about Uncle Arthur's death?
each There are certain people who may kiss each other, and the rest may not.
earth But you can't get through life without it; anyway, not life on this earth.
eat While we're waiting, we might as well eat."
eats Give back one of these oranges to her, and tell her when she eats it...."
heath It was either bare of timber or heath clad, and received the name of Mount Bourcicault.
lath Groping around, I found vine-leaves, branches, and lattice-work, to which I clung, and tearing away with my foot the cloth which had caught on the end of a lath, I again brought my head where it should be, and discovered that I was hanging on a vine-clad wall.
oath I will not accept your oath.
path S. by a path following the right or east bank of the stream Vendeix.
Hath Now the hour of rest Hath come to thee.
neath Wondering she drew anigh, and in a while Went up the steps as she would entrance win, And faced her shadow 'neath the peristyle Upon the golden gate, whose flanges twin- As there she stood, irresolute at heart To try-swung to her of themselves apart; Whereat she past between and stood within.


text:
earsense
YCM
Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989)
Born: May 12, 1903, Sunningwell Plains Died: December 26, 1989, London (age 86)
Flute Sonata, Op. 97
(for flute and piano)
5:46 I. Allegro moderato
3:45 II. Adagio
4:43 III. Allegro
Duration: 12 minutes (approximately)
Composed: 1978 (age 74-75)
1 recordings, 3 videos
autoopen autoplay
James Galway, Phillip Moll
Related Composers
2000 WWI WWII Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989) Brian Ferneyhough (born 1943)
Brian Ferneyhough (born 1943)
Born: January 16, 1943, Coventry (age 78)
adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
duo, duet, dueto [S], duetto [I], duett [G]—a work for two instruments; the ensemble itself
moderato [I], moderamente, modéré [F], modérément [F]—moderately, at a moderate tempo, applying a touch of restraint to its related word(s), e.g. allegro moderato
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
sonata, sonate, suonato—a complicated term. Originally, "sounded" rather than "sung" (sonar vs. cantar), e.g. instrumental music. According to historical period, sonata began to imply a formal plan of movements as well as the structure within a single movement, e.g. sonata form. In general usage as a work title, it designates a multi-movement piece for solo or duo instruments with one of the instruments enjoying a feature role.
with thinking heart and feeling mind, I'll embody your muse, thy soul divine
© 1997—2021 earsense. All rights reserved. contact earsense


text:
ThrusterPWM::ThrusterPWM(BlackLib::pwmName pwm_pin):
    pwm_interface_(pwm_pin), GenericThruster()
{
    pwm_interface_.setPeriodTime(20, BlackLib::milliseconds);
    // Initialize thruster with 0 velocity command
    setVelocity(0);
}

ThrusterPWM::~ThrusterPWM()
{
    setVelocity(0);
}

void ThrusterPWM::setVelocityRatio(double velocity_ratio, ThrusterPWMDirection direction)
{
    // Constrain the scale the user requests.
    if (velocity_ratio < 0.0)
        velocity_ratio = 0.0;
    else if (velocity_ratio > 1.0)
        velocity_ratio = 1.0;

    // Negative values are interpreted by the thruster as reverse direction.
    if (direction == ThrusterPWMDirections::Reverse)
        velocity_ratio *= -1.0;

#ifdef LINEARIZE_OUTPUT
    velocity_ratio = linearizeOutput(velocity_ratio);
#endif

    // Send command value to thruster
    setVelocity(velocity_ratio);
}

void ThrusterPWM::setVelocityRatio(double velocity_ratio)
{
    // Constrain the scale the user requests.
    if (velocity_ratio < -1.0)
        velocity_ratio = -1.0;
    else if (velocity_ratio > 1.0)
        velocity_ratio = 1.0;

#ifdef LINEARIZE_OUTPUT
    velocity_ratio = linearizeOutput(velocity_ratio);
#endif
    // Send command value to thruster

    setVelocity(velocity_ratio);
}

#ifdef LINEARIZE_OUTPUT
double ThrusterPWM::linearizeOutput(double velocity_desired)
{
    double thruster_setting = 0.0;

    if(velocity_desired > 0.01)
        thruster_setting = velocity_desired*0.788+0.101;
    else if(velocity_desired < -0.01)
        thruster_setting = velocity_desired*0.9-0.112;
    else
        thruster_setting = 0.0;

    if(thruster_setting > 1.0)
        thruster_setting = 1.0;
    else if (thruster_setting < -1.0)
        thruster_setting = -1.0;

    return thruster_setting;

}
#endif

void ThrusterPWM::setVelocity(double target_ratio)
{
    pwm_interface_.setDutyPercent(7.5+target_ratio*0.02);
}

std::string ThrusterPWM::getType()
{
	return "PWM Thruster";
}

bool ThrusterPWM::inLimits()
{
	return true;
}

void ThrusterPWM::updateStatus()
{
    return;
}

double ThrusterPWM::getTemperature()
{
    return 0.0;
}

double ThrusterPWM::getVoltage()
{
	return 0.0;
}

double ThrusterPWM::getCurrent()
{
    return 0.0;
}

bool ThrusterPWM::isAlive()
{
    return true;
}


Hot Pursuit director Anne Fletcher has been quoted as saying in essence she's only concerned — presumably, in this case — about making a movie for audience satisfaction, not critics. All well and good but, as I say in my video review above, this movie is one hot mess that even easy-to-please average moviegoers are going to recognize is just. not. funny. Sorry. And this Reese Witherspoon-Sofia Vergara vehicle comes from a director I have admired for smart comic and commercial chops in the past including the underrated Streisand-Rogen film The Guilt Trip and especially Sandra Bullock's terrific smash The Proposal.
So what happened here? It seems like Hot Pursuit is actually trying to be some sort of knock-off of Bullock and Melissa McCarthy's teaming in The Heat from a couple of years ago. Or maybe a female version of the Robert De Niro-Charles Grodin classic Midnight Run. No such luck. This femme "buddy" story of a dopey, country bumpkin Texas cop (Witherspoon) who is assigned to accompany the widow (Vergara) of a drug boss to testify in a case against a major drug lord is so thuddingly flat and laugh-deprived it's almost painful to watch. One scene in which she and Witherspoon try to escape the bad guys by going on about "female problems" has to be seen to be believed. The many attempts at physical comedy just lay there and even the outtakes during the end credits aren't funny, though the stars seem to be cracking each other up. At least they had a good time.
Witherspoon has been on a career roll of late with an Oscar-nominated turn in Wild, which she also produced (along with Gone Girl). She was quite fine in a supporting turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice too. And Vergara is one of the key reasons to watch Modern Family every week, so it is sad to watch them helplessly trying to drum up laughs in this slapstick concoction (the tone-deaf script comes from David Feeney and John Quaintance, both sitcom writers) that might also set feminism back about 40 years.
Both Witherspoon (who shares producing credit with Bruna Papandrea and Dana Fox) and Vergara (who has an executive producer credit) must share some of the blame since they presumably have some behind-the-scenes clout on this thing. I like both, so hope they have gotten this out of their system.
Warner Bros is releasing the film, from New Line Cinema and MGM, today just in time for Mothers Day. Mothers, you have been warned.


WHO spokesperson and former BBC journalist Glenn Thomas killed in MH17 crash.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has paid tribute to colleague Glenn Thomas who is one of nine Britons to have died onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on Thursday.
Thomas, 49, a former BBC journalist, was among around 100 AIDS experts who were travelling to Melbourne for the annual International AIDS Conference, due to begin on Sunday.
In a statement, WHO says: "Glenn will be remembered for his ready laugh and his passion for public health.
"He will be greatly missed by those who had the opportunity to know him and work with him. He leaves behind his partner Claudio and his twin sister, Tracey. Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues at this time."
Tributes from colleagues are also appearing on social networks praising Thomas as a "wonderful person and a great professional".
Nine Britons, including two Newcastle United fans and a student from Leeds University, are now known to have died on board flight MH17 when it crashed in eastern Ukraine, Malaysia Airlines said today.
Officials from the airline say 298 people were on board the Boeing 777-200, which appears to have been shot down over the war-torn country yesterday while flying in restricted airspace travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
All passengers are believed to have died in the crash. Among them were 154 Dutch passengers, 45 Malaysians, including 15 crew, 24 Australians, 12 Indonesians, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos, one Canadian and one New Zealander.
Three infants are among the dead and the nationalities of 41 passengers have yet to be verified. New Zealand authorities have also confirmed that one of its nationals died in the crash, reports the BBC.
Flight MH17 was said by eyewitnesses to have "exploded" on Thursday afternoon after it was reportedly shot down by a ground-to-air missile.
The passenger jet crashed near the village of Grabovo in rebel-held territory close to the border with Russia.
The cause of Thursday's crash was not immediately clear but the area has seen heavy fighting recently between government troops and pro-Russia separatists, with rebels bragging about shooting down two Ukranian military jets in the region just one day earlier.
Malaysia Airlines MH17: Was Putin's Flight the Original Target of Missile Attack?


text:
Storage (SAN/NAS)
Security Awareness Testing & Training
Apple Consulting
Office 365, GSuite and Salesforce Backups
Axcient
Drive Savers
Star2Star
San Mateo Area
Berkeley, Emeryville
Oakland, Alameda
Hayward, San Leandro
Concord, Pleasant Hill
Walnut Creek, Orinda
Pleasanton, Livermore
Fremont, Milpitas
Mountain View, Sunnyvale
Palo Alto, Menlo Park
San Jose, Santa Clara
Santa Cruz, Monterey
Marin, San Rafael, Novato
Napa, Petaluma, Santa Rosa
You are here: Home / Blog / News
Windows 7 end of support January 20th, 2020
June 14, 2019 /in Computer Technology, News /by Carl Easterday
Yes, another article on the end of support for Windows 7.
We're now in June, and there is limited time to plan your workstation upgrades and work with your software vendors to upgrade your servers to 2016 or 2019 server.
Workstation Roll outs: If your business is still running Windows 7, now, really, now is the time to start placing those orders for new equipment.
The old way was to have your own image, to write over the OEM image on the new desktop or laptop.
10-30 users – just plan on manual deployment
30-500 users, and an Office 365 Azure Active Directory Premium customer- you might benefit from Microsoft Autopilot.
Cloud based
After profile configuration
Direct shipment from Manufacture (Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic, Microsoft Surface and Toshiba)
What Microsoft has done, it really cool and helps companies simplify the roll-out of new devices, no matter what network they connect to.
You have granular control of what the end user sees when they first logon to the device.
End-user license agreement (EULA): (Windows 10, version 1709 or later) Choose if you want to show the EULA to users.
Privacy settings: Choose if you want to show privacy settings to users.
Hide change account options (requires Windows 10, version 1809 or later)
User account type: Choose the user's account type (Administrator or Standard user).
Allow White Glove OOBE
Apply device name template: Choose Yes to create a template to use when naming a device during enrollment. Names must be 15 characters or less, and can have letters, numbers, and hyphens. Names can't be all numbers. Use the %SERIAL% macro to add a hardware-specific serial number. Or, use the %RAND:x% macro to add a random string of numbers, where x equals the number of digits to add.
Language (Region)*: Choose the language to use for the device. This option is only available if you chose Self-deploying for Deployment mode.
Automatically configure keyboard*: If a Language (Region) is selected, choose Yes to skip the keyboard selection page. This option is only available if you chose Self-deploying for Deployment mode.
So, if you are a corporate customer, with Office 365 work with your solution provider to add Office 365 Azure Active Directory Premium services to simplify your Windows 10 deployment options.
https://www.forte-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/Plug-into-the-Cloud.jpg 1696 1132 Carl Easterday https://www.forte-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/lmj-forte-website.png Carl Easterday2019-06-14 12:52:132019-06-14 12:52:13Windows 7 end of support January 20th, 2020
InfoWorld – MongoDB ransomware attacks sign criminals are going after servers, applications
January 9, 2017 /in Network Security, News /by Carl Easterday
The tremendous success of ransomware infections over the past year showed cybercriminals that holding data for ransom is the key to making money from online attacks. Ransom-based attacks are evolving, and if enterprise defenders aren't careful, they are going to soon see more ransom notes popping up on their servers, databases, and back-end applications.
Consider last week's events: After Victor Gevers, a security researcher and founder of GDI Foundation, reported several hundred instances of publicly exposed MongoDB installations had been wiped and held for ransom over the previous two weeks, several other attackers joined in, bumping the number of compromised databases from several hundred to more than 10,000.
The attackers didn't need to bother with malware to gain access to the database or the information saved within—the door was wide open since these MongoDB installations used the default configuration, which allowed unauthenticated connections via port 27017. These databases were fully accessible from the internet, and anyone connecting via that port had full administrator rights to read, create, update, and delete records.
While compromising a few systems and encrypting the data in large enterprises will continue to be lucrative—healthcare facilities paid out thousands of dollars in 2016 to regain control of their data and systems—attackers are going to change tactics to keep their income stream flowing. Databases, web servers, application servers, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and other enterprise applications all contain valuable information that can disrupt business operations if stolen.
"Attackers are always looking to increase the value of what they steal," said Jeff Schilling, chief of operations and security at cloud security provider Armor.
It's a safe bet that even if the enterprise doesn't use MongoDB, which is widely used in big data and heavy analytics environments, it may be running other servers or applications that are accessible from the internet and vulnerable to attack. Criminals can easily shift their attacks to those servers and applications. Already, last spring, researchers from Cisco's Talos Security Intelligence and Research Group found that attackers were exploiting vulnerabilities in JBoss application servers to spread SamSam ransomware.
New targets, new victims
The data contained on those systems don't have to be something the attacker can sell on the black market—it just needs to be valuable to the owner. It doesn't matter if the database or back-end system doesn't have financial data or transactional information. Application source code, personnel files, organization data, and entire application servers are all valuable.
"As long as it's valuable to someone, attackers can target it for ransomware in order to make a profit," said Jordan Wright, an R&D engineer at authentication company Duo Security.
Ransoms are most effective when there are no backups to restore the data. While most enterprises typically have some kind of backup strategy in place for databases and critical enterprise applications, they may still be forced to pay because of the perception that it will take too long to restore from backups.
In the case of those enterprises with compromised MongoDB installations, at least 20 victims sent the 0.2 BTC ransom (about $220 at current prices) to the BitCoin address used by the initial attacker between Dec. 21, 2016 and Jan. 6, 2017, according to information available on Blockchain.info.
Imagine being an Oracle or SAP administrator and one day finding that an attacker had copied all the data and then wiped the systems.
In case the idea of data stolen from code repositories and databases wasn't scary enough, software-as-a-service applications could become the next ransom target, Schilling said. An attacker could demand the ransom from the SaaS provider by successfully breaking into the network and disrupting operations, or from the SaaS customer by preventing the customer from accessing the data. A network breach on the provider side seems unlikely, but not impossible, since SaaS companies tend to invest heavily in securing their infrastructure.
But then, the massive DDoS attack against DNS provider Dyn affected SaaS providers adversely, without even touching their networks. That ransom demand could have gone sky-high, had the attackers gone that route.
Customer-side ransoms sound even more likely. There are already ransomware strains capable of encrypting data on cloud storage sites by infecting a computer that had a synced folder. Attackers can use stolen or compromised credentials to gain access to the customer's SaaS instance and all the associated data. Whether the customer would pay would depend on how quickly—and completely—the provider would be able to restore the data.
All kinds of attacks, not just malware
It will be a mistake to keep focusing on the malware. Yes, there are reports of ransomware on Smart TVs, and malware will continue to encrypt data stored in enterprise networks. However, ransomware isn't the only way cybercriminals have extorted enterprises in the past, and it isn't going to be the only approach going forward.
Remember that the attackers behind Sony Pictures demanded "monetary compensation." And ProtonMail and Feedly both were slammed with distributed denial-of-service attacks when they refused to pay.
Cybercriminals are going to make money however they can, and if it is easier to compromise the database by exploiting unpatched remote code execution vulnerabilities and escalation of privilege flaws, or through spear phishing, they aren't going to bother to try to infect the server with malware. Or they may use a combination of scripting languages such as PowerShell and JavaScript to compromise systems, which doesn't leave behind any malware samples for defenders to detect.
Defender checklist
Attackers are trying to figure out which types of data companies consider valuable, and which organizations are more likely to pay. The initial MongoDB attacks were originally nondiscriminating and compromised any open MongoDB installations, but security researchers believe the latest attacks are more selective, targeting healthcare providers, telecommunications companies, data brokers, and electric utility firms.
IT teams need to expand their focus and look at all the various ways their data could be stolen. Don't get bogged down looking for malware samples or signs of infections, because the attacker demanding the ransom may use other methods to hold the data.
Attackers connected to vulnerable MongoDB installations via port 27017. Organizations using the default installation of MongoDB should update their software, set up authentication, and lock down port 27017.
That advice applies to other databases, servers, and applications as well. ERP systems such as SAP need to be configured to consider security. Database ports should be locked down. Software updates should be applied as soon as possible. Restrict remote access and require strong authentication for any user accounts that require remote access rights.
Administrators need to control and limit access to their organization's data stored in their servers as well as in cloud applications. "Without mitigating controls like two-factor authentication, attackers can take over the data a user has access to by simply sending a phishing email," Wright said.
IT teams need to stop thinking of ransomware as a malware infection and start thinking of a broad range of attacks that have an extortion component. This means beefing up data breach detection capabilities, securing systems so that data can't be easily obtained, protecting the data even when defenses fail, and improving incident analysis so they can investigate thoroughly when something goes wrong. The attacks against MongoDB installations are just the beginning.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3155435/cyber-crime/mongodb-ransomware-attacks-sign-criminals-are-going-after-servers-applications.html
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5 Data Center Trends Changing Business as You Know It
May 5, 2015 /in Computer Technology, Data, Network Infrastructure, News /by Brian Lee
Many of today's sleekest, most sophisticated data centers have the humblest of beginnings. Whether you are upgrading your existing facility, building a new one, or considering outsourcing your data center to one of the growing number of hardened hosting facilities, here are five things to think about while preparing for the future.
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Unusual Suspects: 4 Types of Malware You Haven't Heard Of (Until Now)
January 22, 2014 /in BYOD, Network Infrastructure, Network Security, News /by Brian Lee
The topic of malware often causes some confusion. Most people know about viruses and that they need protection on their computers to prevent infections. However, the types of harmful programs that fall under the "malware" heading encompass more than just computer viruses. Read more
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What Questions SHOULD I Ask About the Cloud?
January 20, 2014 /1 Comment/in Collaboration, Network Infrastructure, News /by Brian Lee
Whether you are pursuing cloud computing for the sake of convenience, added security, economic reasons or all of the above, it's worth asking: What are the capabilities and what are the limitations when it comes to the cloud? Read more
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Cisco Express Collaboration Specialization
November 12, 2013 /in Cisco, Collaboration, News /by Brian Lee
Forte has achieved the Cisco Express Collaboration Specialization recognizing our ability to deliver the Business Edition 6000 platform. Unifying voice, instant messaging, presence, video, and contact center functions, the Business Edition 6000 provides device independent collaboration for your entire organization.
Learn more by calling us at 510-525-3000!
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Top Cisco Partner
September 19, 2013 /0 Comments/in Cisco, News /by Brian Lee
Forte was named one of the Top Cisco Partners in the US for the recently completed Cisco fiscal year! As a member of Cisco's Winner's Circle, we were among the top 30 partners for exceptional sales growth. This year has been one of fantastic growth for us. Our deep partnership with Cisco has allowed us to deliver fully integrated Data Center, Collaboration, Infrastructure, Wireless, and Security solutions to our clients.
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SPEAK WITH AN ENGINEER!
Click Here to Contact Us now!
Download your copy of Guide to Selecting an IT Consultant by Brian Lee, CTO & Principal Nerd.
Zero-Day vulnerability in iTunes and iCloud Apps on Windows PCs allowed ransomware to be installed
Is your business paying attention to cyber-security?
SamSam Ransomware
SD-WAN How can it help my company?
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[…] Moving Assets to the Cloud […]March 18, 2014 - 12:34 am by Enjoy Added Security While Keeping One Eye Open | The Cloud Lawyer
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