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Priorities for health services research in primary care
Willemijn Scha¨fer MSc*
Researcher, NIVEL – Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research
Peter P Groenewegen PhD
Director, NIVEL – Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research and Utrecht University, Dept of Sociology, Dept of Human Geography, European Forum for Primary Care
Johan Hansen PhD
Senior Researcher, NIVEL – Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research
Nick Black MD FFPHM FRCS
Professor of Health Service Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
Willemijn Scha¨fer
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL)
Received date: 27 February 2011; Accepted date: 10 March 2011
BackgroundAll European health systems face several common challenges related to increases in lifestyle and chronic diseases, a decreasing future workforce, inequalities in health and the consequences of societal changes. Primary care, which has the potential to help meet these challenges, would benefit from the contribution of health services research (HSR) on a wide range of topics. As funding for such research is limited, priorities need to be defined. AimWith the European Union (EU) funded project Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice (HSREPP) we identified several HSR priority areas for health care in general across Europe. This article focuses on our findings as they apply to primary care. MethodsGeneral findings of the HSREPP project were based on bibliometric analyses of past research and ongoing EU-funded projects, an online expert survey and conference discussion.We checked these general findings by presenting the preliminary results at the third biannual conference of the European Forum for Primary Care in 2010. During this conference a debate was held on whether the identified research topics were also applicable to primary care. ResultsSeveral research areas were identified. At the level of the healthcare system these areas included evaluation of primary care reforms, the influence of funding on cooperation between primary care providers plus workforce management and migration. At the organisational level the relationship between primary and secondary care, the internal organisation of primary care settings, patient involvement and community oriented care and aspects of professional–manager relations need to be studied. Finally, the role of primary care in increasing equity in access and health outcomes was found to be an important topic for future research. ConclusionsGiven funding constraints, it is imperative that research priorities are identified to ensure that resources are devoted to the most pressing and important issues facing primary care. Priority areas for future research are amongst others the evaluation of primary care reforms in Europe, and the relations between primary and secondary care.
health services research, primary care, priority setting
Health services research (HSR) is an increasingly important resource for the efficient and sustainable organisation of health service delivery. It is commonly defined as:
•.the multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financial systems, organisa-tional structures and processes, health technologies and personal behaviours affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care and, ultimately, the health and wellbeing of citizens.[1,2]
HSR is important in shaping and supporting health-care delivery and health system design in Europe. As Funding for HSR is scarce and competes with other priority areas of European Union (EU) Funding, it is important to identify research priorities. In this article we propose and discuss some priorities for HSR with regard to primary care in order to meet the future information needs of policy makers in Europe. The outcomes can offer support in shaping both research programmes for primary care and general research programmes at a national and a European level. The article is mainly based on the EU-funded project Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice (HSREPP), the aim of which was to identify HSR priorities for use in future European research programmes. We focus on research priorities for primary care for two reasons. First, primary care has a major impact on the whole healthcare system. A well-organised primary care system has the potential to prevent more specialised and often more expensive parts of healthcare systems from becoming over-loaded. Second, there is much variation in primary care organisation and strength of primary care within Europe. New member states of the EU are still transforming their healthcare systems from special-ist/polyclinic-based systems to primary care-based systems. This underscores the need for opportunities to learn from other countries.
Our line of reasoning is that European healthcare systems face a number of common challenges and that primary care can play an important role in coping with these challenges. However, we need to know more about how primary care can play that role and in this article we discuss the research priorities for generating this knowledge.
Challenges for European healthcare systems
European healthcare systems face a number of com-mon problems[3] and HSR can contribute to their solution.[4,5] The first problem arises from two conse-quences of an ageing population (apart from the positive side that most people value a long life!). First is the changing nature of health problems from acute and infectious disease to non-communicable, lifestyle related and long-term disease. With increasing age multiple morbidity also increases. Health problems in older citizens are often intermingled with social prob-lems, such as loneliness as a result of the death of a spouse. Healthcare systems have to anticipate and adapt to these changes. Specialisation and a strong delineation between health care and social care have to be overcome. The second side of an ageing European population is that the proportion of young people diminishes. This poses a serious threat to the future healthcare work-force.[6] Fewer young people over the coming decades can be expected to increase competition between sectors and countries to recruit the best students.[7] HSR should address the problem of an increasing need for health care in a situation of decreasing availability of health workers.
The second common problem facing European healthcare systems relates to inequalities in health. The increasing life expectancy of Europeans is unequally distributed both geographically and socially, within and between countries.[8] The consensus is that there is an increase rather than a decrease in health inequal-ities. Socioeconomic inequalities in health account for a substantial part of the economic cost of health care, social security benefits, reduced labour productivity and welfare losses.[8] Health care can help to counteract the increasing trend in health inequalities in two ways; first by improving access to good quality care for all population groups and second by designing special programmes that address the health of specific groups in society.
The third problem relates to societal changes that permeate healthcare systems and for which healthcare systems have to find solutions. An important social cultural change is individualisation; the long-term process in Western societies of diminishing depen-dence of citizens on their social environment and increasing autonomy and freedom of choice.[9] Indi-vidualisation is associated with the wish of people to stay in their own homes and live independently. At the same time the possibilities of realising this are ham-pered by another consequence of individualisation, namely a decrease in the cohesiveness of local social relations. The process of individualisation also influ-ences the mutual expectations and the relations be-tween citizens and healthcare professionals. Due to the availability of more information through, for example, the internet, citizens have developed their knowledge on health care and in line with this their demands for health care. Moreover, patients have become more involved in the decision-making process.[10]
Another important societal change affecting health care is the increasing use of markets in health care. The shift towards more long-term diseases requires healthcare systems to integrate care and to counter fragmentation. Market-oriented health care has poss-ible repercussions on the way healthcare organisations are able to cooperate and provide integrated care. Healthcare providers who perceive more competition in their professional environment tend to express less trust in their colleagues.[10] Information that used to be shared might be seen as commercially sensitive and no longer to be shared. Some forms of cooperation in health care are now being scrutinised and challenged by national competition authorities. Another important consequence of the use of markets in health care is that certain groups of people, e.g. older people and people with multiple morbidity, might be avoided by health-care providers as it is more difficult to achieve im-proved outcomes in these groups.
The core argument of the World Health Report 2008, Primary Care Now More Than Ever, is that well organised primary care systems are better able to solve these problems. Our core argument is that HSR in the area of primary care can make a useful contribution towards finding and supporting the solutions for these problems.
Primary care as a solution for these challenges
Primary care is assumed to be able to cope better with the changing pattern of disease than hospital-oriented health care. Strong primary care has a generalist approach, taking into account the social and family context of patients, and provides continuity, compre-hensiveness and coordination.[11] Primary care can counteract the current fragmentation of health care by guiding patients through the system where necessary. Countries with a strong primary care system might be able to develop more comprehensive models to man-age and coordinate care for long-term conditions.[12] However, the problem-solving ability of primary care would benefit from integration of primary care and social care, in order to better support people in self-management of their situation and to facilitate their living longer at home and in the community. Also, the integration of primary care and public health is important for tackling health inequalities, especially in areas with low social cohesion. Primary care favours access to care for the population in general and minority groups in particular.[13] Primary care is also more responsive to patients' needs and pReferences.
Priority areas for HSR into primary care
The project HSREPP aimed to identify priority areas for HSR. The general methodology of the project was based on the 'listening model' for priority setting, using a combination of a technical assessment and an interpretive assessment:[14] an online survey among 295 researchers and policymakers in Europe, an analysis of the health services research literature of the past decade and an inventory of EU funded projects, the organisation of a working conference with about 350 participants as a platform for discussion on HSR priorities and finally a check of the results by pre-senting the preliminary results at several conferences. An exact description of the combination of methods used in this project and its results can be found in the final report of the project.[15]
In addition to closed questions to rank topic areas, the survey in the HSREPP project incorporated an open question directed at HSR topic experts as to what they considered the top priority for the next two to five years and why. The respondents who answered that question suggested a wide variety of topics. These were graphically represented in a word frequency analysis, using the free software 'Wordle' (with font size being proportional to frequency of occurrence; see Figure 1). This manner of questioning provided unbiased answers as any topic could be cited. It was clear that primary care was seen as an important area for HSR. That particular key term was mentioned quite frequently (in 10% of instances in comparison to 6% for hospital care). In addition, many of the important themes that were listed had a clear implication for the organisation and role of primary care, referring among others to the importance of integrated care, performance, workforce and human resources, quality and effectiveness and patient management.
Figure 1: Word cloud of the priorities identified in the HSREPP stakeholder survey, using Wordle (www.wordle.net)
The priorities identified through the HSREPP pro-ject concerned HSR priorities in general; they covered both primary and secondary care. To check to what extent the identified priorities were applicable to primary care a debate was held at the third biannual conference of the European Forum for Primary Care in 2010. During the debate session, the word cloud was used to present results of the HSREPP project and participants were asked to reflect on these priorities. The HSREPP project identified three priority areas in the domain of health systems and four in the domain of healthcare organisations and service delivery. Their relevance for primary care was supported by the group discussion at the EFPC conference, although the areas sometimes needed further refinement to be applicable to primary care.
In the area of healthcare systems research we ident-ified the following priorities, which were then refined for the primary care field based on the EFPC confer-ence discussions.[16]
• Evaluation of health care reform From the point of view of primary care this is important, especially for new member states of the EU in Central and Eastern Europe that have attempted to transform their healthcare systems over the past two decades.
• Public versus private Funding and privatisation or commercialisation For primary care the effects (both intended and unintended) on access, health outcomes, affordability and responsiveness are im-portant. Cooperation is more important than competition; so an important issue is how modes of Funding and incentives affect cooperation.
• Workforce management and migration Inless affluent countries international mobility of health workers might reinforce labour supply problems in primary care as a consequence of demographic changes.[17] Changing definitions of professional tasks (task delegation and substitution) are important issues in primary care.[18]
In the area of healthcare organisations and service delivery the priority areas and their identified rele-vance for primary care are:[19]
• Inter-organisational relations Central issues for primary care in this area are the relationships between primary and secondary care and the seamless organ-isation of care for people with (multiple) long-term conditions where integration of care between or-ganisations is very important.
• Intra-organisational control Research in this area focuses on how organisations arrange their work internally. It includes topics such as workforce/ skill-mix or changing service provision. Within primary care this relates to the transformation of primary care from a 'cottage industry' to a set of larger, more corporate organisations. The current phase of this transformation varies across Europe.
• Patient relations Because of its location close to people, primary care has the potential for greater patient involvement and participation. The gate-keeping and guidance role of primary care is im-portant in demand management. Further, there is a growing need for knowledge on community oriented care (which is broader than patient-oriented care).[20]
• Governance and accountability Issues of quality and safety are as important in primary care as in hospital care. Improvement of patient safety might require approaches different from those in the hospital context. The changing organisational size of primary care raises issues of professional–man-ager relationships and regulation of provider or-ganisations.
It is clear that these topics cover many of the recog-nised research priorities for primary care. The recently published series of articles The research agenda for general practice/family medicine and primary health care in Europe show similar priorities.[21] These articles identified patients' and doctors' perceptions, perspec-tives and pReferences as being important for future research. In addition, knowledge of community oriented care was found to be lacking. They also revealed that the implications of multiple morbidity should be addressed. Regarding governance, they emphasised clinical governance and stated that the impact on health and sustainability of the effects of therapy, communication strategies and educational interven-tions should be addressed. In the HSREPP project, governance referred to the organisational aspects of governance.
An important area that did not come up as a specific priority area within the general HSREPP priority setting exercise was equity. However, this subject was stressed during the debate about priorities for primary care. The role of primary care in reducing health inequal-ities – which is in itself plausible – is under-researched. The systematic review by Kringos et al,[22] based on primary care literature between 2003 and 2008, showed that evidence for a positive relationship between stronger primary care and better equity in access to health care and, ultimately, health outcomes was weak. Few studies contributing to evidence in this area were found.[22] HSR can monitor trends in access to care and help design and evaluate specific programmes. Equity should be a spearhead for future research in the field of primary health care.[23] It is important to know how social, cultural and environmental circumstances in-fluence health inequalities between populations.[21] At the EFPC conference this theme was emphasised by De Maeseneer and Willems.[20]
The importance of an international perspective
The priority areas for HSR in primary care are not only important for separate countries, but especially when taking a European perspective. First with regard to health systems research; since the 1990s, policy makers in Central and Eastern Europe have supported reform leading towards primary care.[24] Also in other coun-tries of Europe, such as Spain, Greece and Portugal, reforms of health systems have aimed to strengthen primary care.[25] There is a strong need for evidence to monitor and support these developments in Europe.
The last big European study of primary care was the European Study of GP Task Profiles[11,26] in the early 1990s, just after the fall of communism. The need for new Europe-wide research to monitor the changes since that time[27] is being filled by several studies. The first is PHAMEU (Primary Health care Activity Monitor Europe; www.phameu.eu), the aim of which is to
describe the structure of primary care at system level.[28] The results will be available in mid 2011. The second study is partly a replication and partly an extension of the European Study of GP Task Profiles. This is the Quality and Costs of Primary Care Study (QUALICOPC; www.qualicopc.eu). The extension is both in data collected – especially in the use of patient surveys – and in topics studied: equity, avoidable hospitalis-ations, healthcare costs and identification of good practices.s
Second, for healthcare organisations and service delivery, an international perspective is important in European HSR in the area of primary care. There is a lot of variation in the organisation of primary care. This makes analysis of the relationships between organisation of primary care and outcomes possible. Much of the literature on the positive outcomes of strong primary care is based either on analyses within healthcare systems, such as the USA's,[29] or on inter-national comparisons that include only European OECD countries and OECD countries outside Europe.[30] It is important to establish studies that include a broader range of European countries.
The variation in organisation of primary care in Europe means that we can learn from each other. How-ever, there are large differences in research capacity across Europe, both in HSR in general and in primary care in particular.[20] Therefore there is a need for a European infrastructure to support training and the sharing of HSR findings.
HSR is important to help healthcare systems cope with the challenges that they face. Many European health-care policy makers can see the potential of HSR and support giving HSR a place in European research programmes. The study Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice (HSREPP) aimed to identify priorities for HSR in Europe. In this article we have discussed these priorities with a special emphasis on primary care. The main priorities that resulted from this project, as we applied them to primary care, were:
• evaluation of primary care reforms
• the influence of Funding and other incentives on cooperation
• workforce management, planning and migration
• the relationship between primary and secondary care
• the internal organisation of primary care providers
• patient involvement and community oriented care
• issues of professional–manager relationships.
Based on the discussions at the EFPC conference and the lack of evidence in this area, we have added to this priority list the role of primary care in improving equity in access and health outcomes. It has to be recognised that methodologies used in this study have some limitations, such as the use of a limited number of literature databases and a focus on EU-funded projects. Also the use of Wordle only gives an im-pression of frequency of occurrence of topic fields – it does not disclose how topics relate to each other, nor does it show if expert opinions differ, depending on their country of origin (see elsewhere for these findings[19]). When reflecting on the methods used, it is clear that each has its pros and cons. Therefore we chose a combination and triangulation of sources of information to provide the most stable set of future priorities. Furthermore, the identified priorities focus on all EU countries as a collective, while the need for research at the national level may vary according to country and healthcare system. Some interesting pro-jects on primary care in Europe are already under way. However, there is still a broad range of issues that have to be more fully explored. An important condition for this to happen is that HSR capacity in general, and in primary care in particular, is developed in countries that lack this.
Lohr KN and Steinwachs DM. Health services research: an evolving definition of the field. Health Services Research 2002;37:15–17.
AcademyHealth. What is Health Services Research? 2007. www.academyhealth.org/about/whatishsr.htm (accessed 15 August 2007).
World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care – now more than ever. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2008.
HSR-Europe. Health Services Research: helping tackle Europe's health care challenges (policy brief). Utrecht: NIVEL, 2011.
Hansen J. Health services research in Europe: evaluating and improving its contribution to health care policy. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 2011 (in press).
European Union. Green Paper on the European Work-force for Health. Brussels: European Union, 2008.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop-ment (OECD). The Looming Crisis in the Health Work-force: how can OECD countries respond? Paris: OECD, 2008.
Mackenbach JP, Meerding WJ and Kunst AE. Economic costs of health inequalities in the European Union. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2010 (e-pub ahead of print).
Mills M. Individualization and the life course: towards a theoretical model and empirical evidence. In: Howard C (ed) Contested Individualization: political sociologies of contemporary personhood. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007, pp. 61–79.
Groenewegen PP, Hansen J and Ter Bekke S. Professies en de toekomst: veranderende verhoudingen in de gezondheidszorg (Professions and the future: changing relations within health care). Utrecht: VVAA, Springer, 2007.
Boerma WGW and Fleming DM. The Role of General Practice in Primary Health Care. London: World Health Organization, 1998.
Gress S, Baan CA, Calnan M et al. Co-ordination and management of chronic conditions in Europe: the role of primary care. Position paper of the European Forum for Primary Care. Quality in Primary Care 2009;17:75– 86.
Uiters E, Deville W, Foets M, Spreeuwenberg P and Groenewegen PP. Differences between immigrant and non-immigrant groups in the use of primary medical care; a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research 2009;9:76.
Lomas J, Fulop N, Gagnon D and Allen P. On being a good listener: setting priorities for applied health ser-vices research. Milbank Quarterly 2003;81:363–88.
Scha¨fer W, Hansen J and Groenewegen PP. Use of information tools for measuring the production of HSR, its in health care policy and its future priorities. In: HSR-Europe. Health Services Research into European Policy and Practice. Final report of the HSREPP project. Utrecht: NIVEL, 2011. Available at: www.healthservices research.eu (in press).
Velasco Garrido M, Hansen J and Busse R. Mapping research on health systems in Europe: a bibliometric assessment. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 2011 (in press).
Van den Heuvel A, Aarendonk D, Groenewegen PP and De Maeseneer J. The European Forum for Primary Care and the European Commission Consultation Process on the European Workforce for Health: some emerging messages. Quality in Primary Care 2009;17:307–9.
Groenewegen PP. Nursing as grease in the primary care innovation machinery. Quality in Primary Care 2008;16: 313–14.
Hansen J, Scha¨fer W, Black N and Groenewegen PP. European Research Priorities for Health Care Organis-ations and their Service Delivery. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 2011 (in press).
De Maeseneer J and Willems S. New Challenges Require New Types of Health Services Research. Abstract. Third bi-annual conference European Forum for Primary Care: The Future of Primary Health Care in Europe III, 2010.
van Royen P, Beyer M, Chevallier P et al. Series: The research agenda for general practice/family medicine and primary health care in Europe. Part 5: Needs and implications for future research and policy. European Journal of General Practice 2010;16:244–8.
Kringos DS, Boerma WG, Hutchinson A, van der Zee J and Groenewegen PP. The breadth of primary care: a systematic literature review of its core dimensions. BMC Health Services Research 2010;10:65.
De Maeseneer J and Willems S. Commentary on Series: The research agenda for general practice/family medi-cine and primary health care in Europe. Part 5: Needs and implications for future research and policy. Euro- pean Journal of General Practice 2010;16:203–4.
Windak A and Van Hasselt P. Primary care and general practice in Europe: Central and East. In: Jones R, Britten N, Culpepper L et al (eds) Oxford Textbook of Primary Medical Care. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 70–3.
Campbell JL, Medive J and Timmermans A. Primary care and general practice in Europe: West and South. In: Jones R, Britten N, Culpepper L et al (eds) Oxford Textbook of Primary Medical Care. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 65–70.
Boerma WG, van der Zee J and Fleming DM. Service profiles of general practitioners in Europe. European GP Task Profile Study. British Journal of General Practice 1997;47:481–6.
Liseckiene I, Boerma WG, Milasauskiene Z, Valius L, Miseviciene I and Groenewegen PP. Primary care in a post-communist country ten years later: comparison of service profiles of Lithuanian primary care physicians in 1994 and GPs in 2004. Health Policy 2007;83:105–13.
Kringos DS, Boerma WG, Bourgueil Y et al. The European primary care monitor: structure, process and outcome indicators. BMC Family Practice 2010;11:81.
Shi L, Macinko J, Starfield B, Politzer R and Xu J. Primary care, race, and mortality in US states. Social Science and Medicine 2005;61:65–75.
Macinko J, Starfield B and Shi L. The contribution of primary care systems to health outcomes within Organ-ization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, 1970–1998. Health Services Research 2003;38:831–65.
The research leading to these results has received Funding from the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement 223248.
Policy research not requiring formal Ethical Approval.


In the early phases of the Cosmonaut program, Russian scientists were grappling with the very real scenario of a health crisis in space. In the weightless environment, surgical procedure could not be performed. Because of the confined areas of the space capsules and weight restrictions of booster rockets, medicines and other health devices could not be taken along at expense of oxygen, food and waste disposal equipment. Large, heavy medical devices obviously could not be accommodated.
The end result of this program produced the SCENAR device or Self-Controlled Energetic Neuro-Adaptive Regulator. This device was kept as a highly classified military secret until the 1990s and Perestroika (the breakup of the Soviet Union into its constituent Republics). At that time, inventors received patents for the device and it was made available to Western Countries. The SCENAR received approval of the USSR Medical Council (Russia's FDA) in 1986, and was used in military hospitals. Many Research papers have been published on its effectiveness; the inventors also received a Prestigious Russian Fair Award for its development. The Maximum effect with SCENAR therapy is achieved when a person is wrapped with energetic Blanket.


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House of Breguet
The personalities
Unmistakable signs
Proper maintenance
Breguet records
Stolen pieces
Breguet Museums
My Breguet Sign In Register
1999 to the present
Milestones 1747 - 1800
In 1775, the reign of Louis XVI just took place and ushers in a new wind over France. The King is favorable to the arts, and Breguet takes advantage of it to start its own business. He is successful up until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. The unstable climate in Paris forces him to flee his adopted country, and he returns to Switzerland. When he comes back, Abraham-Louis Breguet sets out to rebuild his business and find a new clientele.
Distinguished patrons
1798 - Constant force escapement
Breguet patented this invention on March 9, 1798 (19 Ventôse, Year 6, in the Republican calendar). Its basic principle is the exchange of the motive power that supplies the movement of a watch, which may be irregular in its effect, with another, strictly constant force. In the solution described in his patent, the watch parts' variable output is used to push up a spring or weight, which provides a constant impulse to the oscillating part. Intriguing in theory but extremely delicate in practice, the constant-force escapement was used by Breguet only in a few rare and prestigious pieces.
Water-colour illustration for the constant-force escapement patent, filed in 1798. Institut national de la propriété industrielle, Paris
Share with wechat https://www.breguet.com/en/timeline/1747-1800/milestones/constant-force-escapement-7528

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sharing borders with North Korea alone, South Korea, or as it is officially known, the Republic of Korea, is called one of the Four Asian Tigers alongside Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, as a result of its rapidly developing economy and high standard of life.
South Korea is split into 17 divisions and is run as a Democratic Presidency with the current President in office as Park Geun-hye. The country holds over 50 million residents and covers over a 100 thousand square kilometres of land, sharing ocean borders with Japan and China to the east and west respectively.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sidharthan, a high-functioning resident in a rehabilitation center for psychiatric patients, focuses on living an ascetic life. Here we see him leading a religious prayer song with words from three major religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. The lyrics ponder on how specific rites in all three religions are comparable with each other.
*Om – Mantra used in Hinduism and Buddhism. It appears in the beggining and end of most Sanskrit prayers.
**Alif Laam Meem – Abbreviated Arabic letters prefixed to the chapters in Qur'an.
***Hallelujah – A joyous praise to God used by Jews and Christians.
+ Om and Alif Laam Meem are comparable to each other in a sense as Om is the start and end of Hindu prayers while Alif Laam Meem and other abbreviated Arabic letters appear as a prefix to the holy book of Qur'an in Islam. These words are believed to have been existing since inception of the universe, to be present today and expected to perpetuate forever by the respective religions.
++Here the lyrics are comparing the crows at Vavu Bali (the Hindu rites for deceased ancestors) to the sparrows/birds in church yards on a Palm Sunday and saying they are echoing the mantras of Hinduism (Om) and Christianity (Hallelujah) respectively and how they are very similar.
+++Here the lyrics are indicating the tendril of smoke send out by smoldering frankincense at a church altar is comparable to the garden of smoke created by burning camphor during evening prayers in a temple.
+* Image copyright to the original uploader.


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Walker County Educator of the Year: Terry Murray's students learn how to shine in prison classroom
The Huntsville Item
By Tom Waddill, Feb 25, 2018
Students stay alert in Terry Murray's classroom. They have to, otherwise they might get hit on the head by a flying football.
A literacy teacher in the Windham School District, Murray uses a football — her squishy Sam Houston State Bearkat model — to call on her students. She asks a question, then tosses the ball to a student.
"When they catch the ball, it's their turn to shine," Murray said with a smile.
And shine they do.
Students never get bored in Terry Murray's literacy classroom. For 3 1/2 hours each day, they work on assignments and learn things they didn't learn in school the first time they were there. Murray prepares her students to take the test for a GED degree.
"When I tell them they passed (the GED test), it's amazing. It's just amazing," Murray says. "Some of the guys literally kiss the ground. Some of them cry. It's very rewarding."
Offenders young and old — inmates who read and write on a wide range of levels — enjoy the educational experience in Murray's classroom inside the Estelle Unit, which is located about 20 miles north of Huntsville.
Most of the students in Murray's class accomplish their No. 1 goal. They earn their General Education Development, or GED, degree.
"The guys realize then that they're going to leave here with something they didn't have before. Some of them have never felt success before, and after they pass that test, they feel like they've accomplished something. And they have."
Proudly, Terry Murray says, "I love working for Windham. This is probably the most challenging and rewarding job I've ever had. Every day is a different day. I tell my students, 'Don't give up.' My motto is, I'm fair, I'm firm and I'm strict. I don't take no for an answer. Some of the students who are reluctant to learn, I tell them to give me three weeks. If they give me three weeks, their attitudes will change."
Murray has been teaching in the Windham School District since 1991. She started her career in Madisonville, then jumped to Willis where she taught reading and math to special education students.
After seven years in Willis, Murray started looking for a job closer to her Huntsville home. In the Windham District, which are the schools inside Texas prisons, she found what she was looking for and more.
"I love working for Windham," Murray said proudly. "This is probably the most challenging and rewarding job I've ever had. Every day is a different day. I tell my students, 'Don't give up.' My motto is, I'm fair, I'm firm and I'm strict. I don't take no for an answer.
"Some of the students who are reluctant to learn, I tell them to give me three weeks. If they give me three weeks, their attitudes will change," she added. "Just give me a chance. That's all I ask."
Murray's boss says it's amazing to watch this teacher work her magic.
More than 25 years into her career with the Windham School District, Terry Murray says she's still enthused and energized by her job teaching offenders in the Texas prison system. Many of Murray's students come to her class unfamiliar with success. Most leave her class with a General Education Development, or GED, degree and a newfound confidence they can take with them when they get out of prison.
"I send all of my newly hired teachers to observe in Ms. Murray's class because of her exceptional classroom management skills and because of how she masterfully guides her students to achieve excellence in education," said Frieda Hamer Spiller, a principal in the Windham School District who works in the Ferguson, Goree, Holliday, Huntsville and Wynne units.
"Teaching at the Estelle Unit for the past 20 years or so, Terry has impacted the lives of multitudes of offender students in her literacy class," Spiller added. "She has guided well over 400 of these students who have achieved their GEDs. Not only is Ms. Murray dedicated to teaching the offender population and helping her students achieve society's minimal educational standard, but she also sets high academic standards that her students strive to attain."
Using some of the same tools she employed as a youthful teacher in Willis, Murray makes her students at Estelle feel special. Some of them don't stop with their GEDs; many of Murray's students keep pushing and start pursuing a college education.
TDCJ Warden Wayne Brewer (right) and Major Kevin Smith congratulate
WSD teacher Terry Murray on being named an outstanding educator for Walker County.
"First, you've got to make the students feel worthy," Murray explained. "They've got to feel like, 'I can do this,' then you can begin a lot of cooperative learning. In my classroom, they learn to work together. When they get out in the real world, they've got to be able to do that.
"They come into class timid and withdrawn and leave out with knowledge and power that cannot be taken away."


Home » Regulatory Audits of Your Cannabis Business: Plan Ahead!
Regulatory Audits of Your Cannabis Business: Plan Ahead!
Can your cannabis business survive state scrutiny?
Like all business, cannabis businesses are subject to audit by state taxing authorities and other agencies. These audits tend to proceed differently with cannabis business, though, given the unique regulatory approach states take with marijuana. If a regulatory audit turns up issues, then fines and even loss of your business's license could follow. This post outlines the top issues in preparing for, and managing, a regulatory audit of your cannabis business.
Every state with a regulated cannabis market has specific record keeping requirements. Prepare for future audits by keeping meticulous records. Like other businesses, a marijuana business must keep detailed records regarding all aspects of the business including: sales, inventory management, purchases, taxes, employment, environmental compliance, legal and transportation. Unlike other businesses, a cannabis business is required to keep all source documentation. For example, purchases of goods and services must not only be supported by master goods and service contracts, but transaction level invoices; bank statements must include check and deposit slip detail. When in doubt, keep as much detail as possible.
As stated HERE and HERE, it is wise to conduct periodic self-audits to identify any weakness in record keeping or any other compliance issues. Self-audits allow a cannabis business to address issues as early as possible. Self-audits also assist a business is constantly improving not only its regulatory compliance but improving customer service and profitability.
Each state differs in how long records must be maintained. Washington requires that records be archived for three years while California requires records be archived for seven years. However long a state requires a cannabis business to archive records, it is a best practice to archive records in electronic format where possible, alongside retention of hard copy data.
Cannabis regulators will notify you by letter that your cannabis business is under audit. Included with that letter will be a list of records to provide. All states with regulated cannabis markets have wide latitude to inspect records and your physical business location. For example, Washington regulations require a cannabis business to archive a wide variety of documents and mandate that such records "must be made available for inspection if requested by an employee of the WSLCB." In general, a cannabis business will have no standing to challenge a cannabis regulatory agency right to demand and to inspect records. Your time and money will be best spent gathering the records requested.
Typically, records must be produced in a very short time frame, so a cannabis business should immediately begin to gather the documents requested. Typically, information must be requested from CPA's bookkeepers and attorneys, so give your business as much time as possible to get this information.
Most states have strict sanctions for a cannabis business that fails to provide documents to the regulators. For example, a determination of a failure to provide documents in the State of Washington will result in the cancellation of a license. As expected, most states have strict sanctions for misrepresentations of fact to cannabis regulators. Again, a determination that a cannabis business has misrepresented facts will result in the cancellation of a license. A cannabis business must be aware that every document provided and statement made to the regulators is "on-the-record". A cannabis business should never speculate or guess in responding to inquiries made by the regulators.
Although your cannabis business has an affirmative duty to provide accurate information to the regulators, you do have legal rights and protections.
If the enforcement officer identifies a potential violation, the enforcement officer must follow a specific notice procedure. In Washington, the enforcement officer must issue an Administrative Violation Notice (AVN) and deliver the notice to the cannabis business, or the businesses agent or employee.
Identify any aggravating or mitigating circumstances adjusting the penalty.
If the regulators suspend a license, the licensee must promptly initiate an adjudicative proceeding before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Washington office of Administrative Hearings. A hearing must be held within 90 days of the date of suspension.
In Washington, a cannabis business must petition for a stay of suspension within 15 days of service of the suspension order. A hearing must be conducted within 14 days from receipt of the filing of the petition for stay.
Missing this key 20-day period will result in a range of sanctions from penalties to revocation of the cannabis business license.
One of the key tactical decisions is whether to request a settlement conference or to move directly to requesting an administrative hearing. Although a settlement conference offers an opportunity to resolve issues in a more informal manner, there may be instances where moving directly to an administrative hearing is wise. This tactical decision should be considered carefully in consultation with counsel, and is highly dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Although a regulatory audit is intimidating, your cannabis business can best prepare for such an audit by aggressively implementing best practices, performing internal compliance audits, and keeping meticulous records. Remember, states that have legalized adult cannabis use, such as Washington, are under scrutiny by the federal government. Increased federal scrutiny puts pressure on states to enforce their local cannabis laws, and a key part of such enforcement is through regulatory audits. For all of these reasons, your cannabis business would be wise to plan for an audit by state regulators.


Freecharge Support Contact Number, Customer Care Toll-Free Number, Complaint Email: Freecharge is one of the big and trusted online recharge & shopping company in India after PAYTM for mobile, DTH, Data card recharge.Lots of internet users use Freecharge website, android, nd windows apps for online recharge in just few seconds.Now a days Freecharge is known as the best online recharge service provider portal in India.Lots of internet user love to do recharge online from their home, office and institution quickly via Freecharge.com online recharge portal.
FREECHARGE also deals in different types of daily use products online shopping via its wallet and bank account.If you are facing any type of difficulty or error regarding the online transaction on Freecharge then you can easily contact to the Freecharge customer care representative by the Freecharge customer care toll free number, complain email & contact details mentioned below.
If your money/amount deducted from your account while recharging and you didn't get benefit of that recharge as per the company plan (top-up, data, voice, SMS Pack, special recharge) then you can easily contact to the Freecharge support team/customer care.
Also See: PAYTM customer care toll-free number, recharge & wallet complaint contact details.
Stay tuned with us and like us on Facebook for more related free news updates and offers online.
Freecharge, the Snapdeal owned digital payments platform, said it has introduced a first of its kind service in India by which customers can now complete recharges and make bill payments using Microsoft s voice-based smart assistant Cortana.


First things first - we'd like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who attended our Spring Plant Sale! It is one of the highlights of our year - sharing our love of plants and gardening with so many wonderful people. We hope you found what you were looking for. If not, or if you have any suggestions about the sale, drop us a note at vbmgevents@gmail.com.
May is usually a transition month in Tidewater gardens. Spring blooms have faded and cool season vegetable crops are coming to an end, which means it's time to finish planting heat-loving veggies and summer-blooming annuals and bulbs. The weather is transitioning as well, and we've gotten our first few really hot days. With these changes come a medley of chores, depending on how you garden.
Pay attention to moisture levels in containers and around new plantings. Wind and sun dry out soil quickly.
Be on the lookout for fungal diseases like powdery mildew and black spot. These thrive in the garden after wet weather. For advice on what to use to treat or prevent disease, consult the 2017 Pest Management Guide, which has information on disease and insect problems, including organic methods of control.
Plant caladium bulbs, as well as summer-blooming bulbs and tubers such as gladiolus, lilies, dahlias, and crocosmia.
Plant pepper and eggplant transplants in the garden.
For warm season grasses, May/June are appropriate times for planting and nitrogen fertilization.
For cool season grasses, you can still seed and fertilize through the end of May. Otherwise, wait until August.
Once June arrives and the first days of summer are upon us, planting is done and it's time to enjoy your hard work! Still keep an eye on insects and disease. If you need help identifying a problem, Master Gardeners are here to help. Plant Doctor Clinics are held on Saturdays at five locations throughout Virginia Beach. For a complete listing of Clinic dates and times, click here. The Master Gardener Help Desk is staffed Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm, and can be reached at 757-385-8156. The Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center is also open to help the public identify and manage garden and landscape problems. Samples can be taken to 1444 Diamond Springs Rd for identification and management recommendations at no charge.
The Gardening Talks and Workshops committee has added three workshops to the 2017 schedule. In conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, three workshops will be held at the Brock Environmental Center. The first was held on May 20. Additional workshops will be held on July 29 and October 21. The workshops center on the rehabilitation of a pollinator garden and feature lectures and hands-on activities. More information about the July and October workshops will be coming soon. Follow our Facebook page for the most up-to-date announcements about registration and program details. Click here for a schedule of the remaining 2017 Garden Talks & Workshops.
Late spring and summer bring insects to our gardens, but which ones are friends (beneficial) and which ones foes? Virginia Cooperative Extension offers an online insect identification tool, along with fact sheets, to help you get to know the six-legged life in your garden.
Ruth will focus on some of the most common butterflies in our area and how to identify and attract them to your garden. Their life cycles will be shown and discussed. Free & Open to the Public. 7 - 8pm, Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
Workshop will take place in the VBMG Herb Garden at Historic Lynnhaven House. Learn about herbs used from Colonial times to Victorian times, to counteract odor in the street and during a time when people bathed infrequently. Make your own little bouquet, a simple craft item that can act as potpourri later as it dries. Free and Open to the Public. Registration is required. Register at herbsthenandnow1.eventbrite.com. Registration opens June 1, 2017.


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Is Bank of Montréal (TSX:BMO) Stock Worth Buying After its Q4 Results?
BMO
Jitendra Parashar
Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada
Bank of Montréal (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) announced the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2021 results earlier this morning. The bank posted a 38.2% YoY (year-over-year) rise in its adjusted earnings to $3.33 per share for the quarter — slightly higher than analysts' consensus estimate of $3.21.
BMO stock is currently trading with solid 40% year-to-date gains. However, it has seen some downside correction in the last couple of weeks — mainly due to a recent spike in volatility due to the Omicron variant. Let's dive deeper into its latest quarterly results and find out whether Bank of Montréal stock is worth buying after its Q4 earnings event.
Bank of Montréal's Q4 earnings
Bank of Montréal's stronger-than-expected earnings in the latest quarter were supported by strong earnings growth across all its operating groups along with lower provisions for credit losses. Its adjusted net profits from its home market personal and commercial banking segment rose by 42% YoY. The bank reported an even higher 58% YoY increase in its U.S. personal and commercial banking segment adjusted earnings. In contrast, the recent strength in the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar acted as headwinds to its bottom line.
Notably, it was the sixth consecutive quarter when Bank of Montréal continued to beat analysts' earnings expectations.
Revenue missed expectations
While Bank of Montréal managed to report better-than-expected earnings in the October quarter, its total revenue fell short of analysts' estimates. The bank reported total revenue of $6.33 billion — up 4.4% YoY but lower than Street's expectation of $6.59 billion.
On the positive side, its revenue-growth rate increased to 5.4% in the fiscal year 2021 compared to 3.1% in the previous fiscal year. Also, its total revenue figure of $25.1 billion for the latest fiscal year was much stronger than its pre-pandemic levels.
Profit margin expanded
Factors such as lower provisions for credit losses and strong revenue growth also helped Bank of Montréal post strong profitability in the last quarter. In the October quarter, its adjusted net profit margin expanded to 34.2% from just 25.7% a year ago.
With this, its adjusted net profit margin for the fiscal year 2021 stood at 33.5% — much stronger than 20.8% and 26.1% in its fiscal year 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Is BMO stock worth buying?
Bank of Montréal has been one of my favourite Canadian banking stocks for many years, partly because of its robust and consistent earnings and dividends growth. Its strong latest quarterly results seemingly boosted investors' confidence as its stock opened nearly 3% gains on the days of its Q4 earnings event. On the same day, the bank also announced an increase of about 25%, or a $0.27-per-share increase, in its dividends — adding optimism.
The recent worries about the new coronavirus variant Omicron are raising short-term uncertainties about economic growth. Nonetheless, the long-term strong economic growth outlook remains intact, which should help BMO stock continue soaring and yield handsome returns for its investors. That's why long-term investors may want to add this amazing dividend stock to their portfolios after its Q4 results.
The post Is Bank of Montréal (TSX:BMO) Stock Worth Buying After its Q4 Results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.
Should you invest $1,000 in Bank of Montreal right now?
Before you consider Bank of Montreal, you may want to hear this.
Motley Fool Canadian Chief Investment Advisor, Iain Butler, and his Stock Advisor Canada team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Bank of Montreal wasn't one of them.
The online investing service they've run since 2013, Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada, has beaten the stock market by over 3X. And right now, they think there are 10 stocks that are better buys.
Is US$100K Bitcoin Inevitable?
Retirees: 2 Top Dividend Stocks to Buy for Passive Income
3 Incredibly Undervalued TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now
Got $100? Add to These 2 Stocks Right Now
2 Canadian Stocks I'm Never Selling
Two New Stock Picks Every Month!
The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says Canada produced just over 1.1 million light vehicles last year for the lowest level of production since 1967. The low production numbers, down from 1.4 million in 2020 and close to two million in 2019, came as the auto sector globally was hit by a shortage of semiconductor chips caused by pandemic-related production issues and a surge in demand for electronics. Canadian production was hit especially hard as automakers prioritized chips for their m
Earnings are coming in for the big railway companies, but should Motley Fool investors consider CP (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) stock or CNR (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) stock? The post CP Stock or CNR Stock: Which Is Better for Your TFSA? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.
Forget Tech: Here Are Top Energy TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now
Three energy stocks are well placed amid a rallying oil price environment. The post Forget Tech: Here Are Top Energy TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.


This was my second show on the 2008 leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour. The first was in Phoenix, AZ, at the outdoor Cricket Pavilion. This time, it was at the indoor GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, with my wife and eight-year-old son, Cameron. We drove to Vancouver from Seattle, which is about a 3-1/2 hour drive. Unfortunately, it took much longer, due to traffic leading into the George Massey tunnel as well as the construction on Cambie street.
After we parked, we walked to GM Place to pick up my tickets from Will Call (yes, I lost them so I had to get replacements). Then we walked around the venue so I could show Cameron Neil's bus. Cameron felt a little nervous, as if Neil was going to pop out and tell us to leave.
After that, we went to dinner at a mall on Abbot street. The only thing that looked good was Chinese food. Cameron was more interested in going up the gigantic escalators. He dragged his mom up, and then he wanted me to go. I have to admit that with a chronic fear of heights, these escalators made my hands sweat. Of course, Cameron thought that was hilarious.
Lorne, Neil's drum tech, sits on a drum throne and watches Neil the entire show -- waiting for a problem to happen.
Neil goes through a pair of sticks about every 2-3 songs. After each song, he checks the stick for problems. When he's done with a stick, he throws it to Lorne, who places them in a drawer. Neil grabs a new pair of sticks right before Malignant Narcissism and the drum solo.
Neil often rests his left foot on his double bass pedal -- even when he's not playing it.
Alex's setlist is on his pedal box.
The TelePrompTer that Geddy uses for the lyrics scrolls a few lines at a time and then stops. At the end of the lyrics is the next song title.
On the last song, all the techs start packing everything up.
One of the computers used for mixing (on Alex's side of the stage) is a Windows Vista box. Tony Geranios, Geddy's keyboard tech, has a Mac. The slideshow that plays when he's not using it has personal pictures of the band and other places.
During this show, the band played at the high level I've seen for most of this tour -- with very few, if any, mistakes. Geddy and Neil seemed particularly fired up. The arena was at about three-quarters capacity. Unfortunately, the place where we sat is where many of the party concert-goers like to sit.
A few songs from the end of the first set, an Amazonian woman and her date sat to my right. The guy decided he was going to talk to the woman instead of watch the concert. Usually, this wouldn't matter too much -- but he ended up being louder than the music at times. Then, the woman leaned over and asked who the bass player was. If I'd told her it was Paul McCartney, she probably would have believed me.
Security seemed adequate for the first half of the show, stopping fights, nabbing some of those pot smokers or picture takers, and moving people out of the tunnel entrance just to our left. But something happened during the second set. I guess security decided to take a break, because the floor became a much more crowded place. My friends Monica and Steve, standing in the fifth row, said that security did nothing about people who snuck onto the floor in the second set.
During intermission, I waited in the longest food line of all time. By the time I got up to the counter, they had run out of pretzels (and Cam wanted one). I ordered a couple churros instead and got into the arena to hear half of "Far Cry." I decided to wait until after the pyro explosions to walk to my seat.
When the show was over, we got out to our car in record time and tore out of the parking lot. We were out of the GM Place neighborhood and driving up Cambie street 10 minutes after the show was over. Cambie street, currently in the middle of being torn apart for a train project, was much easier to navigate at midnight than at 6:00 p.m.
When we got to the U.S. Border, I told the border guard, "We went to the Rush concert." His response: "How was it?" Sometimes these border patrol types can be a little serious (even before 9/11). But two adults and a kid in the back probably don't fit their profile for people bringing contraband across the border.
After Brenda and Cameron fell asleep, I settled into a relaxing drive through northwestern Washington. After we picked up Drew from my brother's house, we got in the door at around 2:15. And I had to get up for work the next day. As I was falling asleep, I was thinking about the lyrics from Dreamline, "We're only at home when we're on the run..."


We are currently looking for a Senior Technical Specialist to join a leading biopharmaceutical company based in the Merseyside area. As the Senior Technical Specialist in Analytical Sciences, you will be a part of the Stability Team and will be responsible for cGMP stability studies for a variety of biological products and their design, management and execution.
1. You will be responsible for designing stability studies, writing and reviewing protocols, evaluating data and performing trend analysis.
2. As the Senior Technical Specialist, you will liaise with other departments such as Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Laboratory Teams and External Vendors to initiate stability studies and ensure they are executed and reported to the correct timings, budget and quality.
3. It will be your job to participate in internal and external quality stability audits.
4. You will provide technical expertise in Stability Studies to assist in trouble shooting any issues that occur in transfer or routine analysis.
1. Relevant degree in a scientific field (e.g. Pharmaceutical Science, Biopharmaceutical Science, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, etc.) is required for your application.
2. Proven industry experience in working with and managing stability studies is essential.
3. A working knowledge and practical experience working with biological products within development will be beneficial.


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Town Hall / Pavilion Rental
Ball Diamond Calendar
Ball Diamond Reservation Request
Thinking About Joining?
The Center Fire Department relies entirely on volunteers who are committed to making a difference in their community. We are looking for motivated people eager to step up and make that difference.
Resides in the Town of Center
Do I need to have previous experience or schooling? Expand
No, we will provide the training needed to become a Firefighter. New members will be expected to complete around 120 hours of training through the WI Technical College System.
How much dose the training and gear cost? Expand
The Department pays for your training and provides any gear needed.
What would be my commitment after joining? Expand
In addition to responding on calls, members are expected to attend meetings and trainings. These are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at night.
Contact Chief Joe Hofacker for an application at (920) 851-5864
Wednesday 1:30pm - 5:00pm
N3990 State Road 47
Chairperson: (920) 257-6822
Clerk/Treasurer: (920) 731-7229
Email Clerk/Treasurer
Building Inspector: (920) 858-0102
Assessor: (920) 766-9166
Fire Chief: (920) 851-5864


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Contact Us for Appointments, After Hours Jail Releases & Emergencies 512-474-6484|info@defenselawyer.net
Scott C. Smith – Criminal Defense Lawyer
John Wise – Criminal Defense Lawyer
Firm Experience
Alcohol Related Offenses – DWI – Intoxication Assault – DUI
Computer Related Crimes
Domestic Violence and Assault Charges
Grand Jury and Investigation Representation
Federal Criminal Defense Attorney – Austin, Texas
Expunctions and Nondisclosure Orders
Jail Releases
Sex Offender Deregistration
Wiretapping and Spoilation
Expunctions and Nondisclosures of Deferred Adjudication
Sex Offender DeregistrationDefense Law Admin2019-11-13T14:35:40+00:00
Alcohol Related Offenses
Federal Court Practice
Expunction and Sealing of Records
Contact Us for Appointments, After Hours Jail Releases & Emergencies
If you have to register as a sex offender, you probably have dealt with hardships like job insecurity, community ostracization, housing difficulties, and harassment of yourself and your family. There is good news: you might be eligible for deregistration! The Law office of Scott Smith can assess your eligibility and work with you to successfully navigate the complex deregistration process.
Most persons who are convicted of any offense involving a "sex crime" will be required to register as a sex offender in Texas, even those whose offenses involved relatively minor crimes, consensual sex, or no sexual contact at all with any person. Many of these people completed years of court ordered sex offense counseling and reported to professionals who believe they do not pose any substantial risk to re-offend. Unfortunately, many of these people have suffered substantial negative consequences from sex offense registration, including exclusion from employment, restrictions on where they live, harassment, threats and social ostracization. Until recently, sex offender deregistration was not possible for anyone.
Fortunately, Sex Offender Deregistration is now available for some of these people. In 2005, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 867 which was designed to improve the rules for sex offender registration in many ways. See Article 62.401, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Those changes included a new procedure for certain sex offenders to request early termination of their requirement to register as a Texas sex offender if they are determined not to present a continuing threat to society. This would allow law enforcement authorities and the state to focus their resources on offenders who threaten public safety and would serve the interests of justice for offenders who are not a threat to re-offend.
In 2011, Senate Bill 198 and House Bill 227 were passed and enacted as the "Romeo and Juliet Bill". See article 62.301, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Like Article 62.401, this statute allows certain offenders to be removed from the Texas sex offender registry. It provides for a more streamlined path to deregistration, but applies only to a much smaller group of offenders.
The process for Early Termination of Sex Offender Registration in Texas requires strict adherence to statutory requirements enacted by the legislature as well as stringent rules adopted by the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment. This four-step process is designed to allow only a limited number of people to deregister.
Steps for Sex Offender Deregistration
Step One – Determination of Eligibility for Sex Offender DeregistrationTo be eligible for early termination of sex offender registration, one must have no more than one violation requiring sex offender registration and meet several other requirements. Eligibility hinges on the whether the violation was for one of the offenses which the Texas Department of Public Safety has qualified as eligible (see the DPS Tiered Offense Chart) and, sometimes, the facts involved in the particular case and other factors. For further information, see Frequently Asked Questions – "How can I know if I am eligible to deregister as a sex offender in Texas?"
Step Two – Application to the Council on Sex Offender Treatment for Deregistration EvaluationA written request must be submitted in order for the Council to determine the eligibility for the deregistration evaluation, along with documentation including court documents from the case, criminal background checks, and documentation of successful completion of sex offender treatment. For more information, see the sex offender eligibility checklist published by the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment.
Step Three – Deregistration Evaluation by Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider – Deregistration SpecialistAfter an application for deregistration has been reviewed and the applicant has been found to be fully qualified, the applicant must be evaluated by a licensed sex offender deregistration specialist. The specialist will use approved standards to assess the applicant's threat to re-offend and prepare a final report.
Step Four – Petition to the Sentencing Court for Early TerminationAfter the risk assessment has been completed, the applicant for early termination may petition the court in which the underlying case was prosecuted for permission to terminate the duty to register as a sex offender. Though each of the above steps involves rigorous scrutiny under strict standards, this final step may be one of the most difficult since each judge will be allowed wide discretion in granting the application.
Though the process for sex offender deregistration is likely to be a long and difficult one, it will be well worth it for many to apply. Since so much is at stake and review of such applications will be rigorous, it will be extremely important to be represented by counsel who is knowledgeable in this area of law.
The Law Office of Scott C. Smith represents individuals who wish to be able to deregister as sex offenders under Texas law. We also assist attorneys throughout the state of Texas who wish to work with co-counsel located in the capital and familiar with the specialized rules and procedures of the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment and unique issues associated with sex offender deregistration. If you are interested in exploring the sex-offender deregistration procedure, contact us at 512-474-6484.
© 2019 Law Office of Scott C. Smith, Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Board Certified | 512-474-6484 | info@defenselawyer.net


Ants are attracted by sweet smells and enter our houses in search of food and water. Once they are in, they will continue coming back following the odour paths left previously.
There are a few thousand types of ants and most of the tips listed will work for majority of them. Use the method of "trial and error" to figure out the best way to eliminate these pests from your house. It is a good idea to use a few methods at once to maximise pest control.
Getting rid of ants is an unpleasant business. It is better to concentrate efforts on prevention of their raids. Natural pest removal works with the behaviour of the animal instead of just killing them with chemicals and poison which could be harmful to your family & the environment.
This concept applies to all kinds of pests big and small. There are companies which use this principle to get rid of mice, rats and even pigeons.
If there is food left on the table, they will find it. Keep all the surfaces clean and your food in airtight containers while emptying rubbish bins daily.
Ants will never cross a chalk line, it's about the texture. Put a chalk border around your windows and wherever you think they might enter.
Ants also hate the smell of cinnamon, you can sprinkle it around the entry points and they will be repelled to come close.
3. Dust food grade diatomaceous earth into floor cracks. You can also use it around your plants, swap for fireplace ash, if you have it.
If the ants found their way into your house, it is time for action.
Simply killing them will not work. Ants leave a pheromone trail from their nests to wherever they go and even if you kill these ones, others will follow. The best solution is to get rid of that trail.
Begin with giving the area a good soapy wash.
Then a strong essential oil can be used to mask the scent path. Choose between lemon, orange, tea tree or peppermint essential oils. You can wipe the ant entrance points with it every other day until they are gone.
Clove essential oil contains Eugenol, a natural pesticide that kills small pests. Mix 15 drops of clove essential oil with 120ml water and 120ml vodka. Spray the mixture into any any cracks or directly on ants. If you don't have vodka lying around, replace it with vinegar, it will work just as well.
Mix food grade diatomaceous earth or baking soda with powdered sugar and put a thick layer wherever you've seen ants, they eat the mixture and bring it back to the colonies. Both diatomaceous earth and baking soda are fatal to ants while sugar attracts them. If you want a more extreme measure, find the colony and tip the diatomaceous earth directly onto the nest.
When the ants are gone, give your house a good vacuum and wash with soapy water.
If you try out any of the tips as pest control, please let me know how you get on! Good luck.


Will TUM Asia apply for a Student Pass for me to study in Singapore?
If you are an international student looking to study at TUM Asia, you will have to obtain a valid student pass (Visa) to study in Singapore. The process to start the application for your student pass takes place approximately 2 to 3 months before your arrival in Singapore. There is no need to apply for your student pass any earlier than that.
TUM Asia will help you start the application process and we will then give you instructions on how to complete the application online yourself. You will have to pay a small fee (averaging S$30) for the application for student pass. Once the application has been approved, you will be issued an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, and with this letter, you may enter Singapore with a valid passport.
After you have arrived in Singapore and completed your health check-up, and if everything is in order, you will then be notified by the authorities to collect your student pass in Singapore. A valid student pass is required for your studies in Singapore if you hold a non-Singapore passport.
Upon completion of your degree programme, you are required to surrender your student pass at the end of your studies. After which, you may choose to secure employment in order to secure a work pass to work in Singapore. The laws of Singapore govern the issuance of these passes. More information about the available types of passes can be found here.


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  {% endif %}


If it feels like it's taking forever to post your travel memories to Instagram or load a page on the restaurant recommendations, it may not be your hotel Wi-Fi's fault. It could be that the country's internet infrastructure is slow. But, surprisingly, some seemingly remote locations have some of the world's fastest internet connections.
According to the World Broadband Speed League ranking from U.K. analyst Cable, the African island of Madagascar has some of the fastest internet speeds in the world. At 24.9 megabits per second, Madagascar's internet is more than twice as fast as the global average. With the 22nd fastest internet in the world, Madagascar's speed outpaces France, the U.K., and Canada.
The high speeds are due to the creation of the East African Submarine Cable System. The underwater fiber-optic cable stretches from Sudan to South Africa. But even with the incredible speeds, it may be difficult to connect in Madagascar. It's estimated that only two percent of the population has internet access on the island country.
In terms of hyperconnectivity, your best bet is Singapore. The city-state has the fastest internet connection in the world and 82 percent of residents have access to it.
Scandinavian countries rounded out the fastest contenders. Sweden, Denmark and Norway (in that order) boast pure fibre connections, giving residents and visitors some of the world's fastest connections.
The U.S. comes in 20th for internet speed, meaning there are 19 other countries on this planet (including Belgium, Japan, and Spain) where you will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of time it takes to download something.


Actor Sudeep who made his debut as director with 'My Autograph' is an unhappy man as his film has been shifted from Bangalore Veeresh theatre, Gayathri in Tumkur and Mysore from14 th April.
In these three theatres producer S.A.Chinne Gowda's Sevanthi Sevanthi is releasing on 14th. "I have invested Rs.3 crore on the film and am yet to recover the complete investment in 50 days. The Film Chamber rule says the films that is doing well should not be disturbed. So it is not ethical to shift my film". Sudeep is willing to show the DCR (Daily Collection Report).
Adds Sudeep: "Being vice president of Karnataka Film Chamber of commerce Chinne Gowda (brother Smt.Parvathamma Rajkumar) should not accommodate his own production film 'Sevanthi Sevanthi' in which his son Vijaya Raghavendra plays lead". The actor said this before leaving to Bangkok for Thirupathi shooting.


text:
/*
 * NetworkClient.cpp
 *
 *  Created on: 07.04.2016
 *      Author: Marc Hartung
 */

#include "network_impl/NetworkMember.hpp"

#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>

namespace NetOff
{

    NetworkMember::NetworkMember()
            : _socket(nullptr),
              _maxBuffer(1024),
              _sleepTime(1000),
              _numMaxSleeps(100)
    {

    }

    NetworkMember::~NetworkMember()
    {
        killSocket(_socket);
    }

    bool NetworkMember::send(const char* buffer, const int & num)
    {
        int numBits = -1;
        int i = 0;
        while (i < num)
        {
            int partNum = std::min(num, i + _maxBuffer) - i;
            numBits = SDLNet_TCP_Send(_socket, static_cast<const void *>(&buffer[i]), partNum);

            if (numBits > 0)
                i += numBits;
            else if (i == numBits && i < num)
            {
                std::cout << "Connection send fail.\n";
                return false;
            }
        }

        //std::cout << getChar() << " sending " << num << " bytes\n";
        return true;
    }

    bool NetworkMember::recv(char* buffer, const int & num)
    {
        int numBytes = -1;
        int i = 0;
        while (i < num)
        {
            unsigned partNum = std::min(num, i + _maxBuffer) - i;
            numBytes = SDLNet_TCP_Recv(_socket, &buffer[i], partNum);
            if (numBytes > 0)
                i += numBytes;
            else if (i == 0 && i < num)
            {
                std::cout << "Connection recv fail.\n";
                return false;
            }

        }
        //std::cout << getChar() << " receiving " << num << " bytes\n";
        return true;
    }

    bool NetworkMember::variableSend(const char* buffer, const int & num)
    {
        int numCopy = num;
        if (!send(reinterpret_cast<char *>(&numCopy), sizeof(numCopy))) // Send size
            return false;
        return send(buffer, num);                                       // Send buffer
    }

    std::shared_ptr<char> NetworkMember::variableRecv(size_t * numBytes)
    {
        int num = 0;
        recv(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&num), sizeof(num));
        std::shared_ptr<char> res(new char[num], std::default_delete<char[]>());
        recv(res.get(), num);
        if (numBytes != nullptr)
        {
            *numBytes = num;
        }
        return res;
    }

    void NetworkMember::killSocket(TCPsocket& socket)
    {
        {
            if (socket != nullptr)
            {
                SDLNet_TCP_Close(socket);
                socket = nullptr;
            }
        }
    }

} /* namespace NetOff */


text:
GUEST BLOG: Star Trek Online -- Into the Hive
Chris Dods
October 12, 2012 1:00 PM EDT
Over the past year, the Borg have been threatening the very existence of many species in the galaxy. Their advancements in the Gamma Orionis Sector Block have cost the Federation and Klingon Defense Force countless lives, but resistance has proved not to be as futile as the Borg would have liked. The nanovirus discovered at Starbase 82 ("Infected") by Task Force Omega, along with the counteragent that was developed based on data found in the Vorn System ("The Cure"), has helped turn the tides of war. Also, the events in the Quadra Sigma System ("Khitomer Accord") have helped prove that the Borg attacks on the Vega Colony were mere attempts at trying to alter the timeline to give them the upper hand. While Task Force Omega has been victorious thus far, the Borg threat remains, and a final battle must be won.
All these events now lead to the culmination of the fight against the Borg advancement in our upcoming Special Task Force (STF) mission, Into the Hive. In this new STF, players will infiltrate Unimatrix 01, the heart of the Borg Collective and the home of the Borg Queen.
Incoming message from Task Force Omega…
Captain, our agents have discovered the location of a Borg Unimatrix. We managed to get a probe into the area, and before the Borg destroyed it, the readings indicated that the Queen's vessel was in the area. A small strike team is being assembled because they stand a higher chance of infiltrating the Borg defenses than an attack fleet does.
This is the best opportunity we're going to have to take the fight directly to the Collective. I want you to infiltrate the Unimatrix with a small team and defeat the Borg Queen!
Once you have penetrated to the heart of Unimatrix 01, the first thing you will need to do is defeat the drones connected to Central Plexus Node relays that give the Queen unfettered access to the rest of the Borg fleet. Once you have done that, you can upload a fractal virus to the Collective that will disrupt her communications with the rest of the Collective.
We'll keep the sensors locked onto your position and alert you to hidden dangers, as well as send you more information as it becomes available.
To participate, use the PvE Queue to join either a public or private queue. Into the Hive is a ground mission that is available in two difficulty modes: Normal and Elite. This event is always available, but if you play during certain hourly events (calendar updates to be announced at a later date) you will earn even more rewards. Into the Hive is available to both Federation and Klingon players and is targeted at 5-person groups. You must be a Vice Admiral or Lieutenant General to participate.
We'll see you in-game and in the queues for Into the Hive when it launches with Season 7!
Content Designer


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