text:
To cool Earth, just scrub the carbon
By Eoin O'Carroll
Most efforts to halt global warming involve cutting emissions of carbon dioxide – the most significant greenhouse gas produced by humans. But what if we could help stabilize the climate by somehow removing the CO2 that's already in the air?
That's exactly what Sir Richard Branson wants to do. On Friday, the British billionaire announced in London the Virgin Earth Challenge, a competition offering $25 million to whoever can come up with a way to scrub at least 1 billion tons of CO2 a year from Earth's atmosphere. Worldwide, the burning of fossil fuels releases about 25 billion tons of CO2 annually.
The project is backed by some of the top names in climate advocacy. Along with Mr. Branson, the panel of judges will include former Vice President Al Gore; NASA's chief climatologist Jim Hansen, one of the first scientists to predict global warming; and British scientist James Lovelock, who first proposed the Gaia Theory, which likens the Earth to a single living organism. Also on the panel are British environmentalist Crispin Tickell and Australian biologist Tim Flannery.
Branson said that he drew inspiration from an 18th-century British competition. In 1714, an act of Parliament offered 20,000 pounds – a huge sum at the time – to anyone who could accurately calculate longitude. In 1773, the prize went to John Harrison, a working-class clockmaker.
More recently, the Ansari X Prize offered $10 million for a manned spacecraft that could fly into space at least twice in two weeks. In 2004, it went to aerospace designer Burt Rutan and financier Paul Allen. That year, Branson signed a deal with the pair to license the technology for space tourism with Virgin Galactic, whose first flight is planned for 2009.
This venture – an attempt to create a space-tourism market where none yet exists – has prompted accusations of hypocrisy. In an Op-Ed in The Independent, a British daily, Steve Connor notes the huge amount of fuel needed to send a person into space, along with Branson's stated desire to make spaceflight less exclusive:
"The prize he is announcing today to capture and store man-made CO2 is a commendable gesture.... But how does he square that with his desire to turn us all into an army of carbon-crazed space cadets?"
And the Virgin founder's fleet of carbon-spewing airplanes has not gone unnoticed. The Financial Times writes:
"[E]nvironmental groups pointed to the irony of such an offer from the owner of an airline.... Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth, said: 'He appears deeply confused about climate change. The harsh reality is that companies like his can't continue to pollute at the level they are doing.' "
The Guardian quotes Kevin Anderson, a top climate researcher, who is skeptical of what he calls "hopeful, madcap magic-bullet schemes":
"He's misguided, misinformed and potentially quite dangerous in making people think there is some great technological hope out there.... He should rethink his attitude to rail and aviation rather than take this wacko, futuristic route."
Branson has endeavored to make his transportation holdings more ecofriendly. Last October, he announced that all profits from his air and rail interests – an estimated $3 billion – would be reinvested to develop a "clean fuel."
Critics of this reinvestment have observed that, for these companies to profit, they must produce even more carbon emissions. Further, experts say that clean alternatives to jet fuel are decades away.
As for Virgin Galactic, the company's website claims that the spacecraft will be "many times more environmentally friendly" than those of other space programs, but it doesn't elaborate.
Branson isn't the first billionaire to back attempts to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Gary Comer, the late founder of the Lands' End mail-order retailer, teamed up with Columbia University geologist Wallace Broeker to develop technologies that suck up CO2 and bury it.
But can we remove enough CO2 to have an impact? Maybe. In 2003, a Columbia University physicist proposed planting 250,000 giant paddles coated with carbon-absorbing chemicals around the globe, but added that more research was needed. And in 2004, US researchers observed that seeding the ocean off the coast of Antarctica with iron creates a massive phytoplankton bloom that absorbs carbon dioxide.
It could be many years before greenhouse-gas removal technology is proven: the Virgin challenge plans to test the program for a decade before paying out the prize money. Until then, we'll have to be content with the slow, yet reliable, CO2 scrubbers that have been around all along: plants.
NYC to London in 3.4 hours? Richard Branson backs supersonic startup
Virgin Galactic spaceship cleared for test flights
Richard Branson: Virgin has a team working on electric cars
https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0215/p12s01-sten.html


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Oregon voters will decide on Psilocybin Program Initiative in November
By Victoria Antram
In Ballot measures
The Oregon Secretary of State certified the Psilocybin Program Initiative for the November ballot after completing the signature verification process on July 8. The secretary of state verified that 132,465 of the 160,963 signatures submitted were valid. The signature validity rate was 82.3 percent.
The initiative establishes the Oregon Psilocybin Services Program under the Oregon Health Authority. The program would permit licensed service providers to administer a psilocybin product to pre-screened individuals 21 years of age or older through a process that consists of preparation, administration, and integration sessions. The initiative requires a two-year development period for the Oregon Health Authority to adopt regulations for psilocybin services and licensing. It also requires that an advisory board appointed by the governor be established to advise the Oregon Health Authority.
The Oregon Psilocybin Society (OPS) is leading the Yes on IP 34 campaign. As of the last campaign finance deadline on June 5, the campaign had received $1.2 million in contributions. New Approach PAC, a nonprofit that has endorsed and financially supported marijuana ballot measures, contributed $1 million.
Yes on IP 34 previously announced on May 4 that they would coordinate their campaign efforts to gather signatures with the Yes on IP 44 initiative that was certified for the ballot on June 30.
Yes on IP 44 is sponsoring the Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative that would reclassify personal possession drug offenses from misdemeanors to violations with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine or a completed health assessment. It would also establish a drug addiction treatment and recovery program.
Two legislative referrals will also appear on the November ballot that concern campaign finance and tobacco taxes.
In 2019, 50.64 percent of Denver voters approved Initiated Ordinance 301, the Psilocybin Mushroom Initiative. The measure made the adult possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms the lowest law enforcement priority in Denver and prohibited the city from spending resources on enforcing related penalties.
Decriminalize Nature D.C., the campaign behind a similar initiative in Washington, D.C., filed 36,249 signatures with the D.C. Board of Elections. The campaign needs 24,836 valid signatures with a certain number from at least five of eight wards to qualify its initiative for the ballot.
A total of 183 measures appeared on statewide ballots in Oregon from 1995 to 2018. Of the total, 47.54 percent were approved.
Oregon 2020 ballot measures
Victoria Antram
Victoria Antram is a staff writer at Ballotpedia. Contact us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Razer Blade 14 Review - Pint Size Powerhouse
An Ultrabook is typically a thing of compromises, and if you want a laptop that's thin and light, power is often sacrificed. However, the Razer Book 14 challenges that stereotype and offers a sleek and attractive alternative to other high-end ultra-portables.
So far, E3 2021 Everything was about games, games, games, and other games, but the green snakes at Razer will also showcase some of today's new gaming hardware, including the all-new Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop. I got the opportunity.
You can integrate your RGB scheme with your room's lighting if you have Phillips Hue products.
Not only is this the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop in the world, it's also the first such device with an AMD CPU-and I say, especially this ultra-slim laptop is also available. It also has one of Nvidia's RTX 3080 graphics chips that look pretty nice when it comes to.
Buy for $2,199.99 from Razer
Buy for $2,199.99 from Best Buy
This is very rare on a 14-inch gaming laptop. Usually, these slightly smaller gaming laptops are the largest on the RTX 3060's top, and you can do even more with Nvidia's fairly slow GTX 1660 chip.
After all, if you're dealing with smaller chassis (especially ultra-thin chassis), there's less room to ventilate those hot GPU chips and keep everything nice and cool.Even the latest model of Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 It won't be higher than the RTX 3060, but Razer wants to change that and offer an uncompromising "ultimate" 14-inch gaming laptop.
Red Dead Redemption running on its Ultra preset averaged 58fps — just one frame away from the Blade 15 Base. (All games were run at native resolution.) The game averaged 51fps with every slider manually maxed out, which is still decently playable.
Horizon Zero Dawn ran at 70fps, also just one frame worse than the Blade 15 Base. The Blade 14 actually beat the Blade 15 on Shadow of the Tomb Raider where it averaged 51fps with ray tracing on ultra (the Blade 15 averaged 46fps) and 81fps with ray tracing off.
Just for comparison's sake, the Blade Stealth 13 only averaged 45fps on Shadow of the Tomb Raider with ray tracing off, which is a very noticeable difference. The Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 2060 put up 74fps on Tomb Raider sans ray tracing, and 31fps on Red Dead. Note that both of these laptops were running the games in FHD, so that performance gap is bigger than the numbers make it seem.
THESE NUMBERS MAKE A FAIRLY COMPELLING CASE FOR BUYING THE AMD-POWERED BLADE 14 OVER THE INTEL-POWERED BLADE 15 BASE
It's no joke when it comes to packing the "ultimate" components. Although the RTX 3080 is not the top 16GB model found on more powerful laptops such as the 2021 edition Asus ROG Strix Scar 15.
The 8GB model chosen by Razer is still a powerful 100W TGP model and is in the same competitive arena as the 8GB and 105W models tested within a fairly large model. Gigabyte Aorus 15G At the beginning of the year. If that's not enough, AMD's powerful octa-core Ryzen 9 5900 HX processor is also included. This is the most powerful AMD laptop CPU currently available.
To achieve this, Razer has made existing steam chamber cooling technology more efficient, cooling the CPU and GPU at the same time. Of course, if you haven't seen your laptop yourself, you can't comment on the quiet / loud noise that puts a load on the Blade 14.
Razer said in an early preview session that Blade 14 fans "stand out and generate heat," but don't "get crazy." Given the slim, 16.8mm thick chassis, it's still pretty noisy, but I hope it's not deafening when it's finally picked up for testing.
The Blade 14 is also available on other models, and Razer will see variations of both the RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 GPUs during the presentation, but with luck it can be a bit quieter. All models also come with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. The latter can be upgraded if more storage is needed.
AGREE TO CONTINUE: RAZER BLADE 14
Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It's impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit "agree" to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements most people don't read and definitely can't negotiate.
To start using the Razer Blade 14, you'll need to agree to the following:
A request for your region
A request for your keyboard layout
These are optional:
Set up Windows Hello facial recognition
Allow Cortana to access information (including your location and location history, contacts, voice input, speech and handwriting patterns, typing history, search history, calendar details, content and communication history from Microsoft services, messages and apps, and browsing history in Microsoft Edge) to provide personalized experiences and suggestions
Privacy settings (location, Find My Device, sharing diagnostic data, inking and typing, tailored experience, advertising ID)
Customize suggestions and welcome experiences for gaming, schoolwork, creativity, entertainment, family, and / or business
OneDrive backup
Microsoft 365 free trial
Razer account (to use Synapse software)
That's four mandatory agreements and 13 optional agreements to use the Blade 14.
Battery life was acceptable, but not as tremendous as we've seen from some recent AMD systems. I averaged six hours and 12 minutes of continuous work with the screen around 200 nits of brightness.
That's not terrible — it's still not uncommon to see gaming laptops die after just a few hours on battery — but a number of AMD rigs are also breaking the eight-hour mark these days.
Razer has great expectations for Blade14's Vapor Champer technology.
Even more promising is the Blade 14's battery life, and Razer claims that the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 models can be used for up to 10 hours and up to 12 hours of web browsing and media playback on a single charge.
Time with RTX3060 version. Sure, they didn't clarify the screen brightness they used to achieve this number, but as gaming laptops progressed, 10 hours of web browsing was still pretty good, so it's reasonable. Seems to be able to do a day's work, which is always a big plus in my book.
Razer doesn't downplay the Blade 14 display either. There are two options: 1920×1080, 144Hz version and 2560×1440, 165Hz model. According to Razer, the former can fully fill 100% of the standard sRGB color gamut, but its 1440p model covers 100% of the HDR grade DCI-P3 color gamut.
That is, the board. This is a very attractive set of specs when combined with the powerful game interior, both of which support Freesync Premium to support smooth tier-free games with higher refresh rates.
"THE WHOLE CHASSIS IS CNC ALUMINUM"
In case you've never used a Razer laptop before, their signature feature (apart from the gaming performance) is the RGB keyboard. The Blade 14 has per-key RGB lighting that you can customize in the Razer Synapse software that comes pre-installed.
The whole chassis is CNC aluminum, and it's quite sturdy, though also a fingerprint magnet. There's a respectable port selection, which will allow you to power up to three external displays at a time. You get one HDMI 2.1, in addition to two USB-C ports with DisplayPort 1.4, two USB-A ports, an audio jack, a lock slot, and a charging port.
While many colorful gaming keyboards look obnoxious and garish, Blade keyboards are subtle and chic, in part because there's almost no backlight bleed from beneath the keys and the fonts are simple, not aggressive.
Key-by-key RGB keyboard lighting, built-in upward-launching speakers with THX Spatial Audio certification, HDMI 2.1 output for up to 4K 120Hz games on compatible displays, and two USB Type-C (3.2 Gen 2) power supplies Port with, two USB Type-A ports (also 3.2 Gen 2), headphone and mic jack combination, support for both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. This is one of the most attractive laptops. It also has a Windows Hello compatible webcam for anyone doing important work from home.
Not surprisingly, the Razer Blade 14 is cheaper because it has all the nice "ultimate" hardware built in, as the base 1080p model with the RTX 3060 will start at £ 1799 / $ 1799 / ₹ 133,000
There is none. There are also two 1440p models (one RTX 3070 and one RTX 3080) for £ 2199 / $ 2199 and £ 2799 / $ 2799 / ₹ 210,000 , respectively. It's a lot of cash for such a tiny gaming laptop, and much of its lasting appeal will definitely ride on its noise level.
After all, it's all very well to be the "ultimate" gaming laptop on paper, but if it sounds like a jet engine every time you play the game, it's probably not so ultimate in everyday use. I feel that there is no such thing.
SONY SRS-NB10 REVIEW: CALLS GO OFF YOUR EARS.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) Review
Apple iPhone 13 review: Everything you need to know


as output that he or she could then copy and edit locally?"
WL: Although I don't know if not why not, but I also don't know how!
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Photography by Blanca Beltran - The holiday season is now in full swing in Houston as Mayor Sylvester Turner hosted the 99th Annual Mayor's Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting. Presented by Reliant, an NRG Company, the spectacular event feature traditional music Santa, and a huge fireworks show. Celebrity guests adding to the merriment of the show were Yolanda Adams, Alisan Porter, Mary Griffin, Debra Duncan, Ernest Walker, Houston METdance, Los Luzeros de Rioverde, KIPP Sharp Singers, and Harmony Public Schools. The event produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events with Director Susan Christian had the holiday tree glowing from the stunning star topper down to the energy efficient LED lights. Toys were collected from the public to benefit the toy drive held by the Salvation Army Greater Houston.


Facebook, Whatsapp and Viber are not the only ones which have created a lot of buzz among internet users. A lot of people are talking about "Instagram" these days. It is being said that this app will bring another revolution in the social networking service. Almost everyone has atleast heard about this new application – Instagram.
But a lot of people are not completely aware about this application, this new social networking service and its features. This article is a dummy's guide about Instagram – its complete app review. In this article we will try to answer all the related to this application. What exactly is Instagram – what are its feature, why has it become so popular, what's so special about this new application.
Instagram is an online photo sharing, video sharing application. So what's new – even Facebook and Whatsapp allows photo/video sharing among friends.
It is a social networking service that allow its users to take pictures and videos (from the app itself) – apply filters to these pictures/videos and share them on different social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr etc. You can also modify (apply digital filters) to already taken pictures (from Gallery). In short – you take picture, apply some filters (beautify the image) and share the app anywhere you like.
Another distinguishing feature of this app is it take the image as a square shape and not 16:9 aspect ratio (which is normally used by mobile phones).
Originally Instagram was just a photo sharing service, however they have now updated this to include video record and sharing for upto 15 seconds. This video service came only last month (June 2013).
Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. This app was launched in October 2010. From then it has never looked back – they are growing pretty fast. As of April 2012, it reached over 100 million active users.
Below find the new features about this cool application.
When you share you photos you can add tags to your pictures. You can add tags to your photos and videos that will make them visible on public tag pages. Adding tags to your photos is a great way to find new followers and share your photos with more people.
After you tag your post with a hashtag, you'll be able to tap on the hashtag to see a page that shows all photos and videos users have uploaded with that hashtag.
You can only tag your own posts, not other users' photos/videos.
The limit on the number of tags you can use on a post is 30. If you include more than 30 tags on a single photo/video, your comment will fail to post.
You can crop the pictures (resize). You can only crop photos that you select from your photo library. If you want to crop a photo you take using the Instagram app, simply return to the camera view and select the photo from your library. To crop a photo, pinch and move the photo to adjust what content fits within the frame. Use the grid to aid in framing the photo.
Once you've taken a photo or selected one from your device, you can edit it by applying effects and filters.
You can choose from a variety of filters : willow, sierra etc. Swipe to the side to see additional filters.
You can even add filters to your videos (not just pictures). After you've recorded your video, tap Next. Tap a filter at the bottom of the screen to preview how it will look with your video. Make sure to swipe to the left to scroll through all your options!
Once you've selected a photo and added any effects or filters you want, you can add a caption and include your location as well.
Instagram is like any other social networking website – it is based on having friends and followers. You follow people just like Twitter and people can follow you back. At the top of your profile (or anyone's profile) you will see the username, profile pic, how many photos have been uploaded, how many followers the account has, and how many they are following. Updates and picturs will be visible in your stream of the people you follow. You can like the pictures or comment on them.
Everyone now has a mobile phone with Camera. We all love taking pictures – Instagram makes it so easy to beautify the images, manage them and instantly share on social networking sites. It acts like a bridge between Camera and Social networking sites.
Its very easy to use – Instagram is simple to use. Anyone and everyone can take pictures, apply filters and share them. Now you need not to be camera expert inorder to capture beautiful images. It allows people to exert their creativity by choosing which filter and effect fit a photo best.
Photo Vs Text Update – Pictures can say a thousand words. Its hard to communicate in words, sometimes photos make the task easier. If I am traveling and found something interesting I would not blog about it but I prefer sharing pictures on social networking sites. Photos are medium of the future.
Photographs : You will find some of the best pictures on Instagram. Photographers just love the application and use it day to day.
It is based on the concept of Social Networking – follow other people and find other followers. Make friends with people – this concept is itself viral.
Facebook last year (in 2012) bought Instagram – for a cool $1 billion. That's a huge amount of money considering the fact that Instagram does not make any money!


text:
import { createSelector } from 'reselect';

/**
 * Direct selector to the datasets state domain
 */
const selectDatasetsDomain = () => (state) => state.get('datasets');

/**
 * Other specific selectors
 */

/**
 * Default selector used by Datasets
 */

const makeSelectDatasets = () => createSelector(
  selectDatasetsDomain(),
  (substate) => substate.toJS()
);

export default makeSelectDatasets;
export {
  selectDatasetsDomain,
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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Home Media In The News SF Chronicle: Drug Court: Addicts Kick Habit, Charges
SF Chronicle: Drug Court: Addicts Kick Habit, Charges
Tamara Aparton
Marisa Lagos
Elley Fore could have been serving a life sentence in state prison. But instead, on a recent weekday, he found himself inside a packed San Francisco courtroom with tears in his eyes as he received a standing ovation.
He could see the police chief and public defender in the crowd, several deputy district attorneys and Superior Court Judge Angela Bradstreet. But it was the sight of his children, grandchild, fiancee and ex-wife that got to him.
For three decades Fore was addicted to crack cocaine, and he did a lot of things he wasn't proud of. But in 2010, police picked him up on a charge, drug possession with intent to sell, that was one too many under California's "three strikes and you're out" law. If convicted, he could be looking at 25 years to life behind bars. Now hes having a more healthy life, he's not doing drugs anymore, he's in rehab and hes doing a new great diet, and if you are asking yourself which diet plan should you choose? Visit tophealthjournal and find out!
Instead, the San Francisco district attorney's office threw him a lifesaver: drug court. The idea behind the 17-year-old program, for Fore and others like him, is to get clean in exchange for having charges dropped.
"I was not ready to stop using drugs," Fore, 50, admits now. "I wanted a 'Get out of jail free' card."
Fore underwent two months of treatment at the drug court's center, then completed a three-month residential program at one of dozens of private treatment centers that partner with the city. He relapsed but returned for help. It took him two years, instead of the typical one year, to complete the program, but he says it worked: He's been off drugs since Jan. 6, and the city was drug-testing him to be sure. Drug addiction and substance abuse is becoming a big problem in the states, if you are addicted or know someone who needs help, please visit this article about ft lauderdale rehab center.
On a recent day last month, Fore was one of 21 people who "graduated" from drug court in a courtroom ceremony during which his felony charge was officially dismissed. He's now looking for a job and continuing his treatment.
"I've been drug court's probably longest-running client," Fore said as the crowd laughed. "In the journey of being an addict, we burn many bridges, tear up lives, hurt the people we love – and we don't care. Today, I care. … My journey is not over just because I've got some sobriety. I am not fixed. But today, I am learning how to grow up and be a man."
The program is offered to nonviolent drug and alcohol addicts facing criminal charges due to DUI Seattle cases and is one of the centerpieces of San Francisco's rehabilitative approach to criminal justice that some experts say is the kind of model program other California counties should consider embracing now that Gov. Jerry Brown's realignment program is in full swing.
Studies show the diversion program helps reduce recidivism by up to 87 percent for graduates, thus saving taxpayers more than $14,000 per participant.
"Having somebody who's been used to having drugs, getting drugs, using drugs every day of their lives – and now they are drug free and have legal income and have a place to live – provides them with some wonderful tools to go forward and live a crime-free existence," said Bradstreet, the judge who oversees the court.
Bradstreet said such programs are imperative in light of state data, recently reported by The Chronicle and California Watch, that indicate that a majority of third-strikers serving 25-years-to-life sentences are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Most of the drug court's recent graduates were cocaine and methamphetamine addicts, with alcohol being the other primary substance of choice; on average, the participants were age 45 and had been using since they were 20 years old.
Now, they're drug free and have housing; 52 percent are employed. The others are receiving legal income, such as disability benefits.
Part of the drug court's success, Bradstreet and others said, stems from the acknowledgement by all sides that drug addicts are likely to relapse or trip up during treatment. Her job at court hearings the participants must attend every other week is a mix of "giving them tools and feedback and encouragement and, sometimes, tough love." It's not unusual for her to order a participant who has relapsed into community detox and tell them to come back in three days for another hearing.
Fore and the other participants said they were well aware of the rare break they received, although many admitted that like Fore they agreed to the program initially because they were more interested in avoiding jail than getting sober.
"What I love about drug court is that it didn't give up on me when I gave up on myself," Fore said.
Their case managers, drug counselors and fellow participants helped steer them to recovery. In addition to those people, the recent graduates expressed gratitude to the city, for giving them this chance. They said that sobriety has allowed them to reconnect with family members who were driven away by their addiction. And finally, they stressed that the graduation is not the end, but the beginning, of their work.
One graduate said he has made mistakes all over the country, and was arrested the day he got to San Francisco. "No other place gave me a chance like this," he said.
Previous articlePraying Man Acquitted of Robbery
Next articleFog City Journal: Rebooting One's Life: Graduating From Behavioral Health Court
Should the San Francisco Police Department apologize to the black community? – Mission Local
Four years in prison — for driving without a license?
Public Defender's Office Demands Police Files
Criminal Justice Reformers Launch "Debt Free Justice California"
Woman Acquitted of Charges in Alleged Attack on Barista


text:
Antillophos scitamentus is een soort in de klasse van de Gastropoda (Slakken).

Het dier komt uit het geslacht Antillophos en behoort tot de familie Buccinidae. Antillophos scitamentus werd in 2005 beschreven door Fraussen & Poppe.

Buccinidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Bitcoin, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency News
BTCm News
Bitcoin Widgets
What is a Blockchain?
Price Analysis News
Ethereum Widgets
What are Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)
Bitcoin Travel Guide
Cryptocyclopedia
ICO/IEO
A Guide to Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)
IBM, SecureKey Technologies Upload Canadian Citizen Identities to the Blockchain
Reading Time: 6 minutes by Landon Mutch on November 16, 2017 Blockchain, News, Tech
IBM and SecureKey Technologies, a Toronto-based startup founded 2008, with approximately 100 employees, and offices in Boston and San Francisco, have partnered with the Canadian Federal Government and the majority of Canadian banks in a bold initiative to solve the ubiquitous problem of personal identity security and authentication. Collectively, they are building and implementing a new national identity blockchain technology for Canadian citizens. IBM and SecureKey are building the identity network using Hyperledger's blockchain technology, which the Canadian government and major financial institutions are already integrating at the highest levels.
A Permissioned Blockchain Driving Innovation
Despite the steady increase in identity theft, most of the world relies almost exclusively on increasingly weak and vulnerable forms of identity security and authentication. The World Economic Forum estimates the average user has over 130 authorization credentials, i.e., username and password pairs. Dealing with the ever-increasing burden of juggling our various credentials is no easy task, and all too often we fall into dangerous habits such as reusing predictable usernames and passwords across all our services. Stopgap fixes, such as two-factor authentication and credential managers, can actually compound the problem by adding even more vulnerable credentials to the heap. In two whitepapers, SecureKey described the inherent difficulties of current identity security and proposed a blockchain solution and has called on telcos to play a more active role in the identity and fintech industries.
On March 20, 2017, an IBM press release said "Together SecureKey and IBM are developing a digital identity and attribute sharing network using IBM's Blockchain service which is built on top of the Linux Foundation's open source Hyperledger Fabric v1.0… The network is currently in the testing phase in Canada, and once it goes live later in 2017 Canadian consumers will be able to opt-in to the new blockchain-based service using a mobile app."
At the time of publication, the app release date has been pushed back to 2018. SecureKey told BTCManager it would be released for iOS and Android, in cooperation with the three major Canadian wireless providers; Rogers, Telus, and Bell. "The app allows consumers to easily share trusted credentials (of their choice) with organizations of their choice; [Credentials] such as verified name, address, DoB, phone number, location, etc." The three major telcos will be "providing data (network verified phone number, network verified location, etc.) into the network through their Enstream joint venture."
Identity App Due for 2018 Release
SecureKey revealed to BTCManager that the app to be released in 2018 will be "initially available for use by any consumers that have a relationship with [these financial institutions]. Service providers across Canada (including participating financial institutions, telcos, government, etc.) can then elect to use the network to verify the identity of these consumers and provide them access to their products and services." Incredibly, SecureKey also stated to BTCManager that the software will be released under an open source license.
Essentially, this new financial technology will allow banks and other trusted institutions to easily, and securely, share previously validated customer identity information with third parties, via a consumer-controlled app on their devices. So, rather than having to go through their own identity verification process, third parties can instantly verify a new customer's identity; if the customer allows their bank (or other trusted service provider) to send their information to the third party through the app.
"What IBM is building with SecureKey and members of the digital identity ecosystem in Canada, including major banks, telecom companies, and government agencies, will help tackle the toughest challenges surrounding identity," said Marie Wieck, general manager, IBM Blockchain.
"This method is an entirely different approach to identity verification, and together with SecureKey, we have a head start on putting it on the blockchain. This is a prime example of the type of innovation permissioned blockchain networks can accelerate."
In October 2016, many leading Canadian banks, including BMO, CIBC, TD, RBC, Scotiabank, and Desjardins, collectively invested C$27-30 million ($21.2-23.6 million) in SecureKey. SecureKey has also received funding from the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) and the Command Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analytics (CCICADA), a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate funded research center. Already, the company has rolled out its SecureKey Concierge ServiceTM, which allows users to log in to 80 Canadian Federal Government websites.
At the time of publication, users can log in to these government websites using one of the following trusted partners; Affinity Credit Union BMO Financial Group, CHOICE REWARDS MasterCard, CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Desjardins Group, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Tangerine, or TD Bank Group.
Shedding Light on IBM and SecureKey's Collaboration
In answer to the FAQ "Why is the Government of Canada offering users the option to use banking credentials?," the Government of Canada website reads:
"By offering a choice of credentials, the government is making its online services more convenient for clients to access. Many individuals use their online banking credentials regularly, so being able to use the same credential to access government services online means that you will have one less User ID and password to remember."
In answer to the question "Is any of my banking information shared if I use Sign-In Partner (SecureKey Concierge)?," the Government of Canada website reads, "No, your banking information is not shared when you use a Sign-In Partner. The technology is designed in such a way that the Government of Canada will not know which Sign-In Partner (or financial institution) you have used. Similarly, the bank will not know which government department or agency its customer contacted. Also, the credential broker who facilitates this interaction will not know the identity of the individual or business. The participating financial institutions and departments and agencies will not share any information that identifies individuals, as directed under privacy legislation."
Ann Cavoukian, Ph.D., and Second Executive Director at The Privacy and Big Data Institute at Ryerson University, in a SecureKey Concierge ServiceTM promotional video, asserted "When visiting a government services website that offers the SecureKey Concierge ServiceTM…sign in using the government supplied login or using a trusted Sign-In Partner… No passwords or personal information (such as your name, address, or date of birth) are exchanged during the process. Your bank won't know which government service you're accessing, and the government won't perceive any information about your bank."
In an IBM Blockchain promotional video, Greg Wolfond, Founder, Chairman, and CEO at SecureKey, colloquially explained, "We think identity is much more valuable than money, and you have to be able to stop [identity theft]. We turned to blockchain and started working on Hyperledger because we didn't see another technology that could solve this problem the way we want to solve it. So what we're able to do with Hyperledger and blockchain is really make the service 'triple blind.' When you take your driver's license and you go to a bar, to a bar, to a liquor store, the bar and liquor store trust that you're you because the state issued that document, but there's no way the state can know you went here, you went here, you went there. And the biggest thing we get with Hyperledger is we also have to blind the middle; there is no broker in the middle. So, there's no way the operator of the network can see any of the data in transit or at rest. So, blind on the receiving side, blind on the sending side, and blind in the middle means the system is 'triple blind.' So, all the banks will have this as a companion app…when I show up at a telco, and I want to prove who I am, I can take a picture of a QR, enter my mobile number; and I'm asked on my device, 'do I want to share this information from my bank, and do I want to share that my credit score is over 700?' And I'm consenting to that release… The telcos in Canada…say that just implementing this, it's [CAD] 50-70 million a year in savings just in efficiencies — the banks have hundreds of millions in efficiencies."
In another SecureKey promotional video, Wolfond says, "Security around identity is tough; we need strong 'what I know factors' like bank password and questions, we need 'what I have factors' like cellphones and cards, and we need biometrics to know who you are. We can't do that without building an ecosystem where everyone works together for the common good."
Rene McIver, Chief Security Officer at SecureKey, commented, "We have al ot of objectives to meet to get this right, like; leveraging established digital assets already established at trusted providers, not over-answering questions, putting the user in control of their information, blinding the relying party and identity provider from one another, preventing them from tracking the user, and lots more. We also need to comply with all privacy legislation across the country, both federal and provincial levels" (Indeed, there are a few privacy acts: FIPPA, FOIPPA, MFIPPA, PHIPA, PIPA, and PIPEDA!).
Andre Boysen, Chief Identity Officer at SecureKey, added "For example when a student shows their ID at a bar and then at another bar, there is no way for the [government] or anyone else to track where they've been. It's crazy though, for a young woman to get into a bar, she has to disclose her height, her weight, her address, and her age."
So, next time you buy a beer, Canadian or not, you may want to ask yourself, "Do I prefer to disclose my height, weight, address, and age? Or would I rather store my identity in a national blockchain?" Depending on how successful the new financial technology is in Canada, you too may see an identity blockchain coming to a government or bank near you.
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KOTRC members enjoy two flying sites in Los Angeles County.
The Whittier Narrows recreation area is one of the two flying sites located in Los Angeles County and is the location for the KOTRC sponsored contests during the year. Whittier Narrows is part of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation department and is located in South El Monte, California.
There is a $6.00 per vehicle entry fee.
The Control Line flying area has three fully paved flying circles with one circle fully fenced for safety during speed events. A permanent carrier deck with a paved takeoff and landing area and a paved pilots area is available. The remainder of the carrier circle is over grass. Grass Circles are available for combat.
The small circle in the upper left is the tether car track, one of the few left in the country.
The Los Angeles County Whittier Narrows Recreation Area has been in existence a long time. The model flying field, and especially the control line facility, is there primarily because of one individual. In 1957 John Gudrangian lived in the vicinity of Western and Manchester Avenues in the city of Los Angeles. He had a fifteen year old son, John Junior, that was active in control line flying.
Around 1963 the family moved to a location West of the Whittier Narrows area, near the town of El Monte. There were no acceptable sites for control line flying near there and flying sites in general were informal arrangements that were dying out fast.
John began an energetic pursuit of the idea to put such a facility in the Whittier Narrows area. He was a painting contractor by trade and, because of this, had numerous contacts in County Government. He used them to understand the appeals process and to present his material in the best way. He made numerous presentations and visits and had the help of Los Angeles County control line clubs. The presentations sometimes used the phrase "Some place where a boy can go to fly his model airplane."
In a few years the idea was accepted and the area for the current facility reserved, and the flying circles and cage constructed. Primarily because of this man, the site is one of the premiere sites in the Western Hemisphere for control line speed and also among the best for control line racing.
The Sepulveda Basin is located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County near where the 405 freeway and the 101 freeway meet. The flying area is just west of the 405 freeway and is entered from Woodley Ave. between Victory and Burbank Boulevards.
The entry to the site is located on Woodley Ave. between Burbank Blvd. and Victory Blvd. Look for the sign to "Apollo XI field" on the west side of Woodley Blvd.
The main Control Line flying area has two fully paved flying circles with a grass next to the circles. Bring your own shade as there is no shade close to the C/L circles. Three additional paved circles are available for contests, but are used at other times by the helicopter flyers.
The two main control line circles are the dark circles on the left. The three light circles are primarily used by the helicopter flyers except during contest days. The RC runway is at the upper right.


text:
Eric J. Drysdale
THE PRICE TO PAY
A terrorist attack, Martial Law, Government restructure, ruthless enemies and terminal cancer are problems that face General Adrian Marshall, Chief of Defence Forces, as the new President of Amity.
Thriller by Eric J. Drysdale • Complete • 49 chapters
Show Reviews Hide Reviews (21)
Duckpuddle Road: A Story of Maine by James T. Kenny
Grammar Punctuation
The Mystique of Time Gone By
This is a fine novel. It is a character-driven work in that it examines the relationships and inter-relationships of eight young adults in their 20s. It could have been set anywhere, and, with adjustments, at various times. The author has chosen to set it in 1964, immediately after the assassination of JFK on November 22nd 1963. The locale is rural Maine. To me the time is inspired on a number of levels: this is a time the majority of readers will relate to because we lived the 60s, or are aware of the assassination historically; it anchors the novel with one of the major events of the century; and the characters' lives and their sharpened perceptions are examined by themselves and the reader within that context.
Let me enumerate the numerous excellent features of this story:
It is told in the First Person Viewpoint, which is right and appropriate as it allows Sully to indulge in a certain amount of introspection and observation, and, quietly foreshadow events, as, in telling the story he is reflecting on a time and events long gone.
Personification. I like the way Jim uses Personification to engage the reader and place them in the time and place.
Imagery. The book is strengthened by the repeated images that show Sully's unity and connection with the land, with his world.
•	I also liked the way the story was 'Book Ended' by the introduction of and reference to Sam Mitchell. Because of who and what he was this added a quiet touch of mysticism for the alert reader.
I love the sense that Jim conveys of Sully being at one with nature, with the evocation of the land, the natural world and the seasons. I believe that Jim is very much this type of man, for it is his voice I hear. In some ways it reminded me of William Humphrey's HOME FROM THE HILL, and that, as someone who has read over 5,000 books and counts Humphrey's masterwork as being in my 10 favourites, is high praise indeed.
COMMENTS – OBSERVATIONS – THOUGHTS:
I felt that in the first two chapters there was too much exposition, however, Jim is such a fine writer that integration of dialogue replacing some of the exposition would be at a cost.
The novel doesn't really have a plot, it is more a beautifully detailed revelation of the coming together of 8 friends over a short time. I kept feeling there should be a dramatic event in the last chapter which would, or would not be resolved, but, in itself, would be a denouement. Would that have made the book better? I am not sure. Maybe the book as it is, is more like Life often is, and that was what Jim wanted to depict. Anyway, that was why I only gave 4 stars for 'Plot'.
The title – it seemed to me that this fine, fine novel deserved a stronger, more evocative, more symbolic title. I am not sure what that is, and it is not for me, but Jim to think about, consider and agonise over.
CONCLUSION: I believe that anyone who is a discerning reader, who appreciates excellent construction of sentences, full, richly developed characters, and a carefully honed evocation of time and place, will consider the time they spend with Sully and his friends on Duckpuddle Road will not only be worthwhile, but a pleasure because of their Gentleman guide, James T. Kenny.
Thank you, Jim, for the pleasure you have provided in introducing me to Sully and his friends, and the Maine countryside. Thank you also for the excellent review you did of my novel THE PRICE TO PAY.
All the very best in all the ways, Eric -- Eric J Drysdale -- Email: ericjdrysdale@gmail.com
Read the story now
TRIUMPH OVER EVIL by GT. Ling
WHO IS TRIUMPHANT - AND WHAT IS THE PRICE?
This is a powerful and powerfully confronting novel. The reader is drawn in from the first chapter when a strong tri-dimensional picture is painted of Bruno, his psychological problems and his obsession with Katherine. You just KNOW something terrible and shocking is going to happen to this innocent teenage girl and the unsuspecting family.
Good flashback sequences filling in JM and Barbara's studies to become a dentist and a psychiatrist, their romance, marriage and success, Mrs. K as part of the 'family' and then the birth of their daughter, Katherine.
Move forward to present day – Katherine is in her mid teens, a talented violinist and artist. A happy, healthy young girl with all the good things of life on the plate before her, but the deranged, obsessive Bruno is about to snatch the plate from her grasp, smash it and proceed to carve up her body and mind with the broken shards.
I have a fascination with what I refer to as 'The Fork in the Road Syndrome', and Bruno encapsulates the Fork in the Road for the Harris family. To me, with over 5,000 books read, probably 60% fiction, the best books are the ones that unfold in a logical sequence with credible tri-dimensional characters you love or love to hate. The best plot twists emerge as a natural outgrowth of events, of stimulus – response, and just because the character appears to be a major player does not mean they will survive to see the sun rise on the last chapter. Congratulations to Mr. Ling for capturing all of these elements in this shocking, dramatic, yet credible novel.
After Bruno's vicious, deranged attack the reader has no idea where the story will turn, and what is around the next turn in the road. You will not be disappointed. On reflection you think, that wouldn't have occurred to me, but given the events and the characters driving them, it makes perfect sense. I really like the fact that because of his history of violence, of being the victim, the court orders Bruno to undergo psychiatric assessment. Barbara takes it on as a pro bono case, and from there their fate is sealed.
I could not help but be reminded of some of Patricia Highsmith's great books, or elements that are common to all her work: novels that are peopled with ordinary and less than heroic characters, villains who are major characters, and good people who fall foul of villainy.
The ending, literally the last few paragraphs, was excellent, and definitely emerged from the shadows of Patricia Highsmith and Alfred Hitchcock.
Lastly the title. This is a great title! The title is the first thing that we, the reader, sees, and the writer's best opportunity to create a strong first impression. I love titles that are symbolic, are drawn from, or are quotes from the Bible, Shakespeare or noted poets; titles that suggest the pleasure, satisfaction and reward that awaits the reader. For example, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, GONE WITH THE WIND, EAST OF EDEN, PLOUGH THE SEA, HOME FROM THE HILL, A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT, and my own novel, THE PRICE TO PAY.
There are parts of this book that I would have developed or written differently, but that is ever the case, and is completely subjective. Each of us writers bring to the page a vision of the story we want to tell, but this is informed, shaped and moulded by who we are and where we have come from; of the forces that have moulded us and the journey we have travelled. Full marks to Mr. Ling for extracting the fragments from his journey and prodigious imagination the components of which he then used to form this powerful, disturbing and ultimately rewarding novel. A big 'Thank You' to the author, keep right on writing. Eric.
Inside My Mind by pixie__16
FRACTURED AND INTROSPECTED TIME
Firstly, Pixie, presuming even half of the poem is personal I feel for you. Let me make a few comments and observations. My novel, THE PRICE TO PAY is on the Inkitt site, but I have always loved poetry - reading it and writing it. Personally I most appreciate 'real poetry' with metre and rhyme, but I acknowledge that poetry is the most subjective of writing forms, and in their various structures they can touch the reader and convey all the emotions. For me it is an excellent discipline where the idea, or its essence, is distilled into a box and then opened in the most meaningful way to you, the poet. Impossible to really use a star rating designed for novels to examine a poem, which is why I put 3 stars for all. I liked many of the ideas you expressed, the emotions you raised and questioned, and it seemed in some way your own examination has been cathartic and in confronting your own feelings and the background you have risen above at least some of the pain. I wish you peace and happiness and self acceptance. Eric.
Dead or Alive by William Elliott Kern
Past and Future Melded
Eric J Drysdale - Ericj_999 - Hi William, Thank you for the opportunity to read, and now review your most interesting novel. The essence of the novel: mortality, immortality, death and youth regained are concepts and ideas to which we can all relate. You dealt with this well, with various twists and turns along the way, and ultimately a satisfying denouement. Let's look at my ratings in order: 'Overall' - 4 stars is a good fit. 'Plot' - The Plot and the idea is excellent - readers will be pleased they accompanied you on the journey - Deserves 5 stars. 'Writing Style' - This should be 4 stars, but I have only put three because I feel you can do better. I loved some of your prose and images, but at other times the sentences seemed they could, and should have been formed better. You can do that. Go back and revisit some of them. 'Punctuation - Grammar' - 3 stars - various reviewers have commented on the grammar, and especially the Capitalization used extensively throughout the book. I don't really have a problem with that in some ways - there are various classics (now) that have broken barriers, however, I feel nothing should interrupt the forward flow or progression of the story, and that clearly has happened again and again, and I don't feel there is a lot gained by having the capitals. This is a good novel, and Readers, you will be pleased you accompanied William on the Journey. Lastly, thank you, William for your kind review of my novel THE PRICE TO PAY, Eric.
Cost of Revenge by Gracie Qu
A FANTASY KINGDOM BROUGHT POWERFULLY TO LIFE
Congratulations Gracie on a number of levels: the creation of a kingdom, a land and a society caught in the thrall of war; an array of tri-dimensional characters with wonderful appropriate names – both strong Anglo-Saxon and newly minted; vigorous, detailed battle scenes, and, I really liked the sense of unity you showed with horse and rider (I had the feeling you have spent time on and around horses and have a love of these fine animals). Regarding the creation the kingdom of Gelbraun and the society of the time I acknowledge a job well done. A lot of work, thought and cross-referencing of detail goes into this; it does not happen by chance. In my novel, THE PRICE TO PAY, I have created a fictional island off the east coast of Australia, the unicameral political structure and the portfolios of office, and I know the amount of time, effort and close attention required.
Your prose and writing style is robust and vigorous, and most appropriate for the unfolding of this excellently crafted story. The mysticism and the fortunes told that overlays the sequence of events as they unfold, especially as nothing is certain, adds an extra dimension, and also seems right for the evocation of time and place that are suggested. And, in the end the denouement was most satisfying, bringing events to their relative conclusion within the realms of both mysticism and reality. A Grand job! Keep up the good work, Gracie. Kindest regards, Eric.
JOE AND NELLY A World War Two ghost story by Kim Russell
THE COHESIVE STRENGTH AND POWER OF FAMILY LOVE
My approach to reviewing JOE AND NELLY was different from any book I have ever reviewed before – on Amazon, Audible or Inkitt, or just a review for myself: I tried to think as me as a child 10 – 16 years old, or my own child or grandchild, if I had one, at that age, and what impact the story would have on me, or them. As I start reading I speculate about you, Kim, did you, your Mum or your Nan live through these times? There is a truth and a perception here in your wonderful evocation of time and place that seems to go beyond research.
This is a rare find for modern children to read. Children who have no concept of the world before TV, computers, the internet or the mobile phone; of a world where bombs rained down on London, where children were sent off to Wales for their safety in a steam train, and where you went to an outside lav. Cohesion of the family unit, love of king and country, of a willingness to lay down one's life in the protection of those things because it was the 'right and proper thing to do', the importance and value of family love, protection and support, all these elements are richly detailed in a lovely, tender story of two children reaching out to connect across the barrier of death.
Granddad is a good strong patriarchal figure who would exemplify many of his kind in those years. The characters are finely drawn and you feel you know this simple, typical family. In many ways this is not just a 'kid's book'.
I believe that many people of our age group, born in the mid-thirties to the mid-fifties, particularly in the UK and here, in Australia would relate to, and be touched by, the unfolding of events, have a wry smile reflecting on a bygone era and quietly brush aside a tear that comes unbidden to their eye.
Thank you so much, Kim, for sharing this moving and carefully woven story with readers around the world. I wish you every success with it, and I am delighted that I did not quickly pass it by, as would normally have been the case. If you enjoy my novel THE PRICE TO PAY half as much I will be well satisfied.
Eric (Eric J. Drysdale)
My email address is: ericjdrysdale@gmail .com
Hell On Earth by TomTickle
Evan's Adventures on Earth
Ericj_999 – Eric J Drysdale. Hi Tom, congratulations on writing an excellent, entertaining, thought provoking, and, at times, very amusing novel. This is a really NEAT story. I liked the concept or the plot, but it delivered far more than a good idea. I liked it more than I thought I would, because for me, very often supposed humour doesn't come off and degenerates into stupid inanities or foolishness that could only be the product of cretins.
Here the humour was intrinsic to the circumstance, the characters and the collision of events, and I often found myself laughing out loud. The plot was outstanding, reminding me in a way of Patrick Tilley's wonderful MISSION, which has been a favourite of mine for over three decades, but it was MISSION with humour. You struck just the right style with your prose and dialogue, and the many unexpected twists and turns were seamlessly woven into the unfolding story. Then you rounded it off with a most satisfying denouement and a lovely touch in the last line about the Golden Key. Well done! 5 Stars all round.
I wish you every success. Thank you, also, for offering to Review my novel THE PRICE TO PAY. - Link - https://www.inkitt.com/stories/thriller/191414
Email: ericjdrysdale@gmail.com
Ionshaker Desperate - The Manhunt by Felix Timothy
Black Days, and Blacker Nights
The word that came to mind was economy, or economical. As a writer myself I appreciated the economy with which Felix grabbed the reader's attention, raised the question of mystery, of broader implications and sketched in the background of the unfolding police / FBI investigation. He quickly fleshed out the primary characters as they entered the first chapters. Quite clearly this is not Felix's first foray into the world of words and their best assembly and the reader is comfortable they are in the hands of a competent guide. You just know there are going to be many twists and surprises ahead and are keen to have the spotlight shred the darkness of the unknown. I also liked the way he ended the chapters on a question mark or a note of uncertainty.
This is a very impressive beginning to a book I feel will deliver the goods, and am keen to read the remainder - quickly.
Eric J Drysdale -
E: ericjdrysdale@gmail.com
Inkitt Classics
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Books About Zombies
Horror Books With Vampires
Paranormal Books
Books For Dog Lovers
Romance-Drama Books for Over 18s
Satire Books
Books Located In Berlin
Books Similar to 'Percy Jackson'
Books Similar to 'Batman'


text:
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Cyber Security Skills Gap: What Can you do to Maximise your Resources?
In analysis / By Stephen Peak / 13 November 2019
The IT security sector is in crisis. The shortage of skilled professionals has become a crisis, as organisations across the globe struggle to find the people they need to keep mission-critical IT systems secure and compliant. The latest stats out this week reveal the number of unfilled positions has exceeded four million for the first time. This has repercussions far beyond the industry itself, of course.
Problems like this are notoriously hard to fix as it can take years before we find out if new strategies are starting to fill the talent pipeline again. So, what can organisations do to address the cyber security skills gap and maximise their resources in the meantime?
How bad is the skills gap?
The bottom line is: it's pretty bad. According to estimates from certifications organisation (ISC), the global skills gap rose from 2.9 million professionals this time last year to 4.07 million this year — an increase of 39%. The shortfall in North America is 561,000, while in APAC, a region which has many science and technology graduates, the shortfall is a massive 2.6 million. Europe has a smaller overall shortage of 291,000 professionals, but that figure has jumped 100% from last year.
Unsurprisingly, nearly two-thirds (65%) of the 3,000+ infosecurity professionals polled by ISC said their organisation was experiencing a shortage of cyber security staff, and over one third (36%) claimed the cyber security skills gap was their number one workplace concern.
These figures are backed up by other pieces of recent research. A Tripwire study from March 2019 found that 85% of organisations believe their IT security department is understaffed. A poll of Infosecurity Europe followers, which was carried out this year, also revealed that nearly half of existing businesses (46%) are finding it difficult to encourage new talent to join the IT sector. Meanwhile, industry body ISACA revealed that 69% of cyber security professionals believe they're understaffed.
It stands to reason that fewer in-house skills mean organisations are more exposed to cyber risk. Over half (51%) of respondents to the ISC poll admitted that their organisation is at moderate or extreme risk due to staff shortages. This couldn't have come at a worse time.
Cyber threats are growing at a faster rate than cyber security professionals can contain them. Black hats have all the resources at their disposal of a $1.5 trillion cyber crime economy, offering off-the-shelf hacking tool-kits and updated advice to launch a range of money-making attacks. Today's security teams have to contend with phishing and social engineering, file-less malware, organised cyber crime gangs running coordinated Business Email Compromise (BEC) and other campaigns, in addition to information-stealing malware; and much more besides. One security vendor blocked over 26.8 billion unique threats in the first half of 2019 alone.
Security teams are overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge. A perfect storm of escalating threat levels combined with a sudden surge in corporate endpoints, including IoT devices and cloud systems, is threatening to submerge them in a tsunami of security alerts. It doesn't help that competing security products may lead both to security gaps and overlapping alerts, while poorly configured tools mean many of these alerts may be false positives.
At the same time, the stakes have never been higher. Consider the huge fines that GDPR and NIS Directive regulators could levy for security mistakes that lead to serious breaches.
To put things into perspective, the global information security workforce needs to grow 145% to meet surging demand. That's unlikely to happen any time soon. But there are some immediate changes your business can make today to help cope with surging cyber threat levels and increased compliance requirements.
Revisit your hiring strategy. Consider applicants from a broader range of backgrounds; potentially non-IT related professionals and graduates
Consider retraining existing employees from the IT department or elsewhere
Take a look at AI and automation tools which can help take the workload of stretched IT security teams. SIEM and incident response is one area where you could benefit, although analysts are still needed to act on alerts
Improve security training and awareness of all staff, to provide a better first line of defence against phishing attacks. Remember to extend this to all employees, including temps and execs
Consider outsourcing some of the security function to third-party experts. Managed IT partners can take the strain off your in-house team, by running secure infrastructure, security monitoring services and more
Every organisation is different, and there may be specific strategies that work best for you. When done properly, cyber security is ultimately the art of risk management. And one of the most pressing risks today is not having the human resources you need to keep threats at bay.
If you'd like to speak to someone about your current security team or would like some advice on outsourcing to a managed IT provider, contact us today.
Flexible Working: Being a Mother and Employee
6 Tips to Stay Secure Online this Black Friday
Stephen Peak is Head of Continual Service Improvement for Nasstar PLC. Steve ensures Nasstar's solutions, staff and clients are consistently compliant with regulations.
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Q: How to delete InsideView from sugarcrm? I tried to delete InsideView from sugarcrm, but I do not know where to find the templete which includes them, It seems that InsideView was created by javascript.
could any one tell me how to delete InsideView from sugarcrm?

A: You can disable the InsideView connector from the Admin area which will hide it. Go to Admin->Connectors->Enable Connectors. Then select the InsideView tab and drag over all modules from Enabled to Disabled.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Notes Towards Free Culture
Rob Myers June 24, 2006 Free Culture
The Commoner N.11 – spring/summer 2006 Re(in)fusing the Commons
After ten issues, The Commoner makes the first timid steps toward changing format and organisation, towards making more explicit and visible the practices of cyber commoning it is grounded on. Watch this space, we are slow, but things will happen. Meanwhile, enjoy the edition that our two guest editors, Nate Holdren and Stevphen Shukaitis, have put together, an edition in which the different contributions are traversed by the problematic of commoning.
Boing Boing: Royal Society to try open access science publishing
The UK Royal Society, the oldest "learned society" in the world, will try publishing some of its journals under open access licensing.
Boing Boing: Wendy Seltzer smokes the MPAA in the Wall St Journal
My pal and former EFF attorney Wendy Seltzer conducted a debate with MPPA exec Fritz Attaway in the pages of the Wall Street Journal. In it, Wendy makes mincemeat of Attaway's arguments, which keep coming around to accusing her of wanting to commit piracy and rip off artists, which, as she explains over and over again, isn't what she's trying to do at all
Boing Boing: Pete Seeger tribute disc locked down with Dr0
Such irony: Bruce Springsteen recorded a tribute album for Pete Seeger, anti-property agitator and old-guard leftist. Springsteen's label slapped a super-restrictive DRM on the disc that prevents PC playback, ripping to MP3, and lots of other freedoms that are totally in synch with the poltiical messages in Seeger's music.
EFF: DeepLinks
The ad collects a century-worth of fear mongering by an industry focused on legislating to protect out-dated business models, rather than adjusting to changing market opportunities:
"I forsee a marked deterioration in American music…and a host of other injuries to music in its artistic manifestations, by virtue"or rather by vice"of the multiplication of the various music-reproducing machines…" -John Philip Sousa on the Player Piano (1906)


From romantic picnic spots in San Diego to romantic sunsets in Temecula - this list is to be enjoyed for any occasion.
San Diego is bursting with small, unique shows you can enjoy with your loved one. The Red Spade Theater in Old Town, for example, is redefining magic shows. No longer are magicians top–hat–clad men at your children's birthday parties; these magicians provide adult entertainment 7 nights a week. We suggest attending Intimate Miracles on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, where founder Sebastian wows guests with private and unparalleled magical performances.
If you'd prefer a more low–key program, reserve a spot at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills. The small, outdoor cinema offers showings of new and classic movies in a unique, backyard setting. Grab a snack and cuddle up in a low–gravity chair or love seat with the provided (and freshly washed) blankets and pillows.
Coronado is one of San Diego's most picturesque tourist attractions. The island provides a quaint picture of small–town America, from the crafty shops along Orange Avenue to the red caps of the Del presiding over the scenic palms. Grab a rental stand up paddle board from trendy, local–approved Emerald City surf shop and head down to the bay for a paddle session with your Valentine. Afterward, quell your appetite with a stop at one of the Ferry Landing's culinary offerings (we'd suggest Il Fornaio for the beautiful view).
If you're looking for the perfect place to watch the Valentine's sunset, there's no better place than Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach (Point Loma San Diego). The epithet is well–earned as this natural park is consistently named as the best view in San Diego for watching the sun dip below the horizon. Grab a blanket, fill your picnic basket and settle down for that orange-y glow.
San Diego's landscape changes dramatically with a short drive north or east. Pack your bags and drive east to explore the wooded mountains of Julian. Hike the well–maintained trails surrounding the small town in the morning before heading into charming Julian. Explore the picturesque streets lined with cute shops and restaurants– but don't forget to stop in for a bite of Julian's famous apple pie! On the drive home, stop in at Alpine Brewing for a quick pint.
If you'd rather go north, turn your tires to the scrubby hills of Temecula. The region is famous for its countless wineries, many of which offer cuisine, as well. Book a stay at the luxurious Ponte Vineyard Inn for a romantic night away or book a ride with Aall In Limo for an elegant and safe ride. Whether your palate prefers red or white, Temecula is the perfect destination for every wine connoisseur and their lover.


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The forest industry has been one of Sweden's most important basic industries for more than a hundred years, and it usually accounts for 17-20 percent of the manufacturing industry's turnover, value added and the number of employees. Sweden ranks third among the world's countries in terms of total exports of pulp, paper products and wood products.
The forest industry is well spread throughout the country and is traditionally located to coastal resorts with deep export ports and along inland waterways. In several counties, the forest industry accounts for more than one fifth of the manufacturing industry's employment (primarily in Västernorrland, Gävleborg and Värmland counties). The leading forest groups also have extensive operations abroad.
Forest industry companies
Forest industry company with the largest turnover in 2015 products
Svenska Cellulosa AB, SCA pulp, hygiene paper
Stora Enso Oyj pulp, packaging board
BillerudKorsnäs AB pulp, paper, cardboard
Southern Forest Owners Economic Association sawn timber, pulp, paper
The largest sub-industry in the forest industry is the pulp and paper industry. It was already capital intensive early on and the processes have become increasingly high-tech. The production of pulp and paper has been integrated and the workplaces have become fewer, larger and increasingly dominant in each place.
Since the end of the 1990s, demand for graphic paper has steadily declined and exports to the US and countries in Europe have shrunk. The large forest groups are facing the change in the paper market in different ways. Some do this by specializing in special paper grades and increased production of wrapping paper and gift boxes (Holmen AB) or coarse packaging material (BillerudKorsnäs AB). One of the two largest forest industries, SCA, is developing various types of hygiene paper and tissue, while the other large forest group, Stora Enso, focuses on new, renewable biomaterials that can replace plastics and aluminum in, for example, food packaging.
About 70 percent of all paper used in Sweden is recycled and is used as raw material in pulp production for newsprint and packaging material. Compare pulp and paper industry.
The sawmill industry has also undergone major structural changes. The number of sawmills has more than halved since 1980, while production per sawmill has more than tripled and export volume has doubled. The largest sawmills are part of large forest companies, which usually have their own forests and a versatile production. There are still many private, smaller sawmills that buy the raw material in the timber market. Compare sawmill industry.
Iron production and export of pig iron, bar iron and processed products thereof were of major importance to the Swedish economy for several hundred years. Globally, the Swedish iron and steel industry is now quantitatively insignificant and Sweden accounts for only 0.3 percent of all steel trade. However, Swedish specialty steel companies have found niches where they have become world leaders, such as high-performance steels.
The largest market for Swedish steel is found in the major EU countries, mainly in Germany. Even in the US and in the last decade China is increasingly importing Swedish special steel.
Since the Swedish steel industry is highly specialized, we have to import a large part of all steel used in the country, especially standard grades (commercial steel). For history see the iron and steel industry.
In 2015, there were two ore-based steel mills, the SSAB-owned in Luleå and Oxelösund. Both manufacture commercial steel, mostly for export. In Höganäs there is also an ore-based iron sponge plant. The other ten steel mills use scrap as raw material and are focused on producing special steel, mainly for export. They respond to demand in specific product niches and are prominent in the global market with highly refined steels and products with high security and resilience. All of these ten steel mills except one (in Halmstad) are in Bergslagen. In addition, there are fifteen steel processing plants, such as rolling mills, forging mills, wire drawers and pipe mills. The products therefrom go mainly to the construction industry, but also to heavy engineering and metal products.
In Sundsvall is an aluminum smelter that produces aluminum by electrolysis of imported alumina. Älmhult in southern Småland also has an aluminum smelter, but the raw material is aluminum scrap, both domestic and imported.
In Boliden-owned Rönnskärsverken in Skellefteå, copper and lead concentrates are melted and refined from Boliden's own mines, but also from other deposits. At Rönnskärsverken, metals are also recovered from scrap electronics, and in Landskrona there is the only smelter in the Nordic region for the recovery of lead from waste batteries.
Mineral Vending Industry
The mineral goods industry manufactures non-metallic, mineral products such as cement, concrete, glass and ceramics. The largest companies in the industry are those who make the building materials cement and concrete.
Cement production has been in Sweden since 1874, in a total of fifteen locations. Mergers and closures occurred early and now cement is only manufactured in two places (Slite and Skövde), all with good access to the raw material limestone. Nowadays, the majority of all domestic cement comes from Slite in northern Gotland.
Concrete is by far the most common building material in Sweden. It is made mainly of cement and local deposits of sand, gravel and stone. In order to minimize heavy transport of raw materials and finished goods (pre-mixed concrete, concrete elements), production is spread throughout the country. The cement and concrete industry is severely disruptive to the environment and works with stringent environmental requirements.
The production of glass at the glass mills grew in the early 18th century. Eventually, three completely different product categories emerged: flat glass (for windows, motor vehicles), packaging glass (bottles, jars) and household, lighting and ornamental glass. Compare glass industry.
Ceramic manufacturing has undergone a major change. Since the production of sanitary ware in Gustavsberg was discontinued in 2014, such only exists in Bromölla where Ifö Sanitär AB has one of the Nordic region's largest factories for the production of plumbing products. Several companies with the production of household china, stoneware or earthenware have ceased. On the other hand, technological ceramics are increasingly being developed and produced which are used in high-tech processes and products. These new materials have exceptional material properties such as extreme hardness or temperature resistance.