text:
Throne of Glass Book 1 Review
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Throne_of_glass.jpg Amrutha Kadekar
Anushka Kale
Throne of Glass is a #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas. There are six books in the series, with Throne of Glass being the first one. Overall, this book is very well-reviewed and has gotten many awards from around the world. Throne of Glass is one of my favorite books, due to the exciting plot and amazing character development.
Throne of Glass is about a young assassin named Celaena Sardothien who spent the last year in a slave camp called Endovier. Her only chance at being freed from the camp is to take part in a competition to become the champion of the tyrant king of Adarlan. Celaena has particular hatred towards him, due to the fact that he laid siege on her home kingdom of Terrasen and murdered her parents when she was a young girl. Throughout the competition, Celaena learns about the hidden and dark history of Adarlan and Terrasen. Even though the King of Adarlan banned magic in the kingdom, she begins to see strange things happening in the castle, which could mean the return of magic. During her training for the competition, she also builds unexpected relationships with both the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Guard. Over the course of the story, Celaena attempts to uncover the truth about Adarlan and stop the king's plans before it is too late.
This is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. The plot always kept me on the edge of my seat and was very intricate and captivating because of all the different elements. I also enjoyed how the author built up the conflict throughout the story into a powerful climax. A key aspect in good stories is strong characters. This story definitely has many characters that are very versatile and have a complicated backstory, which is part of the appeal of the book for me. Celaena participates in a variety of activities, ranging from ballroom dancing to hand-to-hand combat. One review said, "Maas manages to flawlessly blend heart-breaking drama, which allows you to see right to the heart of the characters and connect with them, with laugh out loud humour at the easy banter between the characters as they poke fun at each other." Maas also gave the perspectives of many characters, which in the beginning was useful, but towards the end got slightly annoying because of how many different stories were happening.
Despite the many amazing features about this book, my favorite aspect is the level of detail and description the author goes to when describing a character or new setting. The description factor rivals that of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series. I finished this book fairly quickly, because I was always so excited to see what was going to happen next. Overall, this book is well liked by fantasy fans and has sold over 1 million copies.
There are also many more amazing novels in this series that continue the story of Celaena Sardothien. I would 100% encourage all people who love fantasy books to read Throne of Glass.
Anushka Kale, Staff Contributor
Anushka Kale is Freshman at Centreville High and in her first year of Journalism. She is taking Journalism because she says she has always enjoyed writing...
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Who's Your Favorite JP Budtender?
The more feedback you provide us the better we can serve our patients at each and every location. Please take the time to fill out our dispensary survey below to give us an overall rating of how we are doing!


Ram Dass's long-awaited Be Love Now is the transformational teaching of a forty year journey to the heart. The author of the two-million-copy classic Remember, Be Here Now and its influential sequel Still Here, Dass is joined once more by Rameshwar Das—a collaborator from the Love Serve Remember audio recordings—to offer this intimate and inspiring exploration of the human soul. Like Deepak Chopra's Book of Secrets, the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness, and Jon Kabat-Zinn's Coming to Our Senses, Ram Dass's Be Love Now will serve as a lodestar for anyone seeking to enhance their spiritual awareness and improve their capacity to serve—and love—the world around them.
ils:.b13140279|Book|Books|First edition.|English|HarperOne,||xxv, 304 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.


text:
Al-Ifk (Slander) was an Act to Defame ar-Rasul and Disrupt the Ummah. Today, Muslims Use It Against One Another.
History shows that slander was a lethal weapon utilised strategically by the enemy to crush the Ummah. Today, unfortunately, instead of learning the positive lesson of al-Ifk, Muslims are exploiting such perverse strategy when fighting among themselves and to bring down the Ummah.
Annoyed with political lies and endless public misdirection?
We get you. Many of us have been fighting hard against Muslims using fake information associated with religion for their business profits — the sunnah food, for example.
And now we find that Muslim leaders and Daies themselves are portraying a similar behaviour for the benefit of their group's interests.
Such a confusing situation today reminds us of the incident of al-Ifk.
Al-Ifk (slander) happened several years after Hijrah, when Aisha, the wife of ar-Rasul, was accused of 'inappropriate conduct' between her and one Muslim soldier by the name of Safwan.
History shows that slander was a lethal weapon utilised strategically by the enemy to crush the Ummah.
Today, unfortunately, instead of learning from the bad lesson of al-Ifk, Muslims are exploiting such perverse strategy to fight among themselves and thereby bring down the Ummah.
Here are the three main roles involved in al-Ifk. Which role are we playing, if unknowingly, to 'help' with the disintegration of the Ummah?
1. The Mastermind
During al-Ifk, although the news was not proven true, the hypocrites led by Abdullah bin Salul managed to cause a ruckus among the Sahabah.
He did it in a way that was not a direct character assassination of the personalities involved.
Instead, he created a false impression so that the listeners would arrive at a negative and wrong conclusion by themselves.
Today, we are doing the fighting in the mass media and faced with the prominence of some activists who are skilful in stealing the spotlight on social media.
Even the notion of Islamophobia, as we know it, stands on the foundation of selective reporting and misdirecting the public perception.
Unfortunately, that same strategy that was originally used against Islam is now launched by Muslim strategists themselves to fight among each other.
Despite the differences are merely in strategy, politics and approaches – those in the field of ijtihadi.
2. The Believers From Within
During al-Ifk, it was the insiders of the Muslim community who further spread the rumours without determining the truth of the matter.
Among the Companions who were tested by Allah in this matter were Hamnah binti Jahsy, Hassan ibn Thabit and Mistah ibn Uthathah, the latter being the member of al-Badr! (May Allah forgive them).
Today, while the evil deeds do originate from the enemies of Islam, the aggravating component has always been the Muslims themselves from within.
Even if the leaders and Daies didn't commit the slander, their lay supporters shared it by blind loyalty, and by being oblivious of the possibility of it being a slander.
Ever heard of the Nazi-proposed law of propaganda "Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth"?
3. The Accused and Their Circle
During al-Ifk, one of the wives of ar-Rasul, Zaynab did highlight Aisha's devoutness when being asked about the incident.
Even ar-Rasul sought for clarification from Aisha herself.
He didn't dismiss the accusation just because she was his wife, or fell into the rumours blindly as his image was being tarnished publicly.
The positive lesson of al-Ifk today is that it is vital for us to put forward the good thought (husnuzhon) first – moreover so as the slander about a Muslim is spread by another Muslim.
But not in the sense of total blindness, no matter who the accused are – our own leaders, our brothers in Islam, or ordinary Muslims.
In addition, we do have to consider the possibility of deliberate or manufactured misdirection.
What more with the massive number of 'Islamic' fake accounts and cyber troopers mushrooming today.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It's amazing what you see in the dimly lit corners of a motorway service area. I met up with a few friends to see some of the cars on the Historic Monte Carlo Rally. The cars we were to see set off from Glasgow. Others set off from Barcelona, Oslo, Reims, Turin & Varsovie.
This was not an official checkpoint, just an optional stop so we weren't sure how many cars we would see. Twelve were expected but we only saw seven.
The first run of the New Year saw a small group of car enthusiasts with varied tastes meet in Bedale High Street for a 30 mile run to The Buck Inn at Thornton Watlass for lunch.
This is what this old car hobby is all about, meeting great people, seeing lovely cars, and having fun.


While Europe bakes and large parts of the U.S. too, it seems Costa Rica is having another very rainy "winter". Danny and the crew report non-stop rain since the beginning of June, and May was pretty wet as well. All good signs for the lake level and a nice green launch.
Many of you may have read about some big changes for our gear suppliers and there is some uncertainty about what this means. Just to clear it all up.
North Windsurfing is no more. The parent company, Boards and More, have decided to no longer continue licensing the name "North" from the VC Company that owns the name. As of now all products that previously were sold as North Kiteboarding (NKB) or North Sails (North Windsurfing) will appear under the name Duotone .For those with gear purchased from us or your local dealer all warranties will continue to be honored. You can already see some of the new 2019 sails on the webpage. It goes without saying we will have some of the new 2019 Duotone sails in the line-up for the start of the season. The Fanatic brand remains unchanged and we will be adding a few Wave Stubbys to our board line-up.
For those of you checking out accommodation for the coming season, Eco Adventure House in Sabalito has dropped its prices while also making some upgrades in the outside kitchen and repainting all the rooms.
Previous Will Costa Rica be the right fit for you ?
Next International Living Conference 2018 in Costa Rica is over and was a huge success.


text:
2018 Ford Expedition coming to the Philippines
New-generation Ford Expedition to arrive in the country soon
Ford February 05, 2018 11:02
2018 Ford Expedition EL EcoBoost V6
First Look: The king-sized 2018 Ford Expedition EL for the PH market
Ford reveals more details on the 2018 Expedition
All-new 2018 Ford Expedition officially revealed
2015 Ford Expedition Platinum EL
MIAS 2015: Ford PH launches EcoBoost-powered Expedition Platinum
Spied: 2018 Ford Expedition testing with production body
Live large with these special editions of Ford Explorer, Expedition
Ford's next-generation flagship SUV is set to arrive in the country soon. Yes you read that right, the 2018 Ford Expedition is coming to the Philippines and it is set to make its official debut at this year's Manila International Auto Show.
Called the 'smartest, most capable and most adaptable Expedition' to date, the all-new model comes with cutting-edge technologies that make it safer, more powerful and more convenient than its predecessor.
For starters, the body and chassis has been made lighter and more durable thanks to extensive use of high-strength aluminum alloy and steel. With it, the 2018 Expedition is 136 kg lighter than the older model.
Inside, the Expedition can come with wireless charging for smartphones, as well as Wi-Fi hotspot capability that can support up to ten devices. Dual rear headrest entertainment screens can also be specified for added entertainment. In true Ford fashion, SYNC 3 comes as standard and comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and navigation.
At the heart of the 2018 Expedition is an uprated 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that is married to a ten-speed automatic tranmission. Standard models generate 375 PS along with 637 Nm of torque, 10 PS and 68 Nm more than its predecessor. However, higher-grade variants get extra horsepower with the V6 now rated at 400 PS and 651 Nm torque.
There is no word yet, however, as to what variant/s will be launched in the Philippines. Currently, the 2018 Expedition is available in XLT, Limited and Platinum versions. Moreover, all of the variants are available on the extended-length version called Expedition MAX.
The 2018 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) will take place at the World Trade Center in Pasay City from April 5 to April 8.
Ford Everest, Ranger to get engine updates this 2018
Expect more power and efficiency and likely a new face on the Ford Everest, Ranger soon
Jose Altoveros 2018-02-05 12:17:29
2019 Mercedes-Benz A Class mixes high-tech with stylish looks
New look with new tech, say hello to the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A Class
2018-02-05 10:02:46 Marcus De Guzman
Get up to PHP 200K off with Suzuki's All Out, Blow Out promo
Take advantage of big discounts and special low downpayment schemes for the Ciaz, S-Presso, XL7, and Ertiga
AutoIndustriya.com


text:
package com.moneydance.modules.features.rebalance;

import com.infinitekind.moneydance.model.CurrencyTable;
import com.infinitekind.moneydance.model.CurrencyType;
import com.infinitekind.util.StringUtils;

import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.event.ChangeEvent;
import javax.swing.table.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.text.NumberFormat;

// Base functionality for paired tables.

class FooterTableBase extends JTable {
    FooterTableBase(TableModel tableModel) {
        super(tableModel);
        setCellSelectionEnabled(true);
        putClientProperty("terminateEditOnFocusLost", Boolean.TRUE);
    }

    FooterTableModel getDataModel() {
        return (FooterTableModel) dataModel;
    }

    // Draw a line above the footer to visually separate it.
    @Override
    public Component prepareRenderer(TableCellRenderer renderer, int row, int column) {
        Component c = super.prepareRenderer(renderer, row, column);
        if (row == 0 && getDataModel().getFooterVector().isEmpty()) {
            JComponent jc = (JComponent) c;
            jc.setBorder(BorderFactory.createMatteBorder(1, 0, 0, 0, Color.BLACK));
        }
        return c;
    }

    @Override
    public void columnMarginChanged(ChangeEvent event) {
        TableColumnModel eventModel = (DefaultTableColumnModel) event.getSource();
        TableColumnModel thisModel = getColumnModel();
        int columnCount = eventModel.getColumnCount();
        for (int i = 0; i < columnCount; i++) {
            thisModel.getColumn(i).setWidth(eventModel.getColumn(i).getWidth());
        }
        repaint();
    }

    @Override
    public TableCellRenderer getCellRenderer(int row, int column) {
        DefaultTableCellRenderer renderer;
        String columnType = getDataModel().getColumnTypes().get(column);
        switch (columnType) {
            case "Text":
                renderer = new DefaultTableCellRenderer();
                renderer.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.LEFT);
                break;

            case "Currency0":
            case "Currency2":
                renderer = new CurrencyRenderer(getDataModel().getCurrency(), columnType.equals("Currency0"));
                renderer.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.RIGHT);
                break;

            case "Percent":
                renderer = new PercentRenderer();
                renderer.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.RIGHT);
                break;

            case "Integer":
                renderer = new IntegerRenderer();
                renderer.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.RIGHT);
                break;

            default:
                renderer = new DefaultTableCellRenderer();
        }
        return renderer;
    }

    // Base class for rendering a table cell containing a number of some type. NaN or null produces a blank cell.
    // Negative values are red.
    private class NumberCellRenderer extends DefaultTableCellRenderer {
        Double doubleValue;
        final String defaultValue = "?";

        boolean isCloseToZero(Double value) {
            return Math.abs(value) < 0.01;
        }

        @Override
        public void setValue(Object value) {
            try {
                setText(defaultValue);
                if (value == null) {
                    setText("");
                    return;
                }
                if (value instanceof String) {
                    value = Double.valueOf((String) value);
                }
                doubleValue = (Double) value;
                if (Double.isNaN(doubleValue)) {
                    setText("");
                } else {
                    if (isCloseToZero(doubleValue)) {
                        doubleValue = 0.0;
                    }
                    if (doubleValue < 0.0) {
                        setForeground(Color.RED);
                    } else {
                        setForeground(Color.BLACK);
                    }
                }
            } catch (Exception e) {
                setText("exp");
            }
        }
    }

    // Render a currency with given number of fractional digits.
    private class CurrencyRenderer extends NumberCellRenderer {
        private final boolean noDecimals;
        private final CurrencyType relativeTo;
        private final char decimalSeparator = '.'; // ToDo: Set from preferences (how?)
        private final NumberFormat noDecimalFormatter;

        CurrencyRenderer(CurrencyType currency, boolean noDecimals) {
            this.noDecimals = noDecimals;
            CurrencyTable ct = currency.getTable();
            String relativeToName = currency.getParameter(CurrencyType.TAG_RELATIVE_TO_CURR);
            relativeTo = relativeToName == null ? ct.getBaseType() : ct.getCurrencyByIDString(relativeToName);
            noDecimalFormatter = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance();
            noDecimalFormatter.setMinimumFractionDigits(0);
            noDecimalFormatter.setMaximumFractionDigits(0);
        }

        @Override
        boolean isCloseToZero(Double value) {
            return Math.abs(value) < 0.01;
        }

        @Override
        public void setValue(Object value) {
            try {
                super.setValue(value);
                if (getText().equals(defaultValue)) {
                    if (noDecimals) {
                        // MD format functions can't print comma-separated values without a decimal point so
                        // we have to do it ourselves
                        double scaledValue = doubleValue * relativeTo.getUserRate();
                        setText(relativeTo.getPrefix() + " " + noDecimalFormatter.format(scaledValue)
                                + relativeTo.getSuffix());
                    } else {
                        long scaledValue = relativeTo.convertValue(relativeTo.getLongValue(doubleValue));
                        setText(relativeTo.formatFancy(scaledValue, decimalSeparator));
                    }
                }
            } catch (Exception e) {
                setText("exp");
            }
        }
    }

    // Render a percentage with 2 digits after the decimal point.
    private class PercentRenderer extends NumberCellRenderer {
        private final char decimalSeparator = '.'; // ToDo: Set from preferences (how?)

        PercentRenderer() {
        }

        @Override
        boolean isCloseToZero(Double value) {
            return Math.abs(value) < 0.0001;
        }

        @Override
        public void setValue(Object value) {
            try {
                super.setValue(value);
                if (getText().equals(defaultValue)) {
                    setText(StringUtils.formatPercentage(doubleValue, decimalSeparator) + "%");
                }
            } catch (Exception e) {
                setText("exp");
            }
        }
    }

    // Render an integer.
    private class IntegerRenderer extends NumberCellRenderer {
        IntegerRenderer() {
        }

        @Override
        public void setValue(Object value) {
            try {
                super.setValue(value);
                if (getText().equals(defaultValue)) {
                    setText(Long.toString(Math.round(doubleValue)));
                }
            } catch (Exception e) {
                setText("exp");
            }
        }
    }

    // Directly edit target percentages (e.g. 5%). They are represented in the table as fractions (e.g. 0.05).
    @Override
    public TableCellEditor getCellEditor(int row, int column) {
        String columnName = getDataModel().getColumnNames().get(column);
        switch (columnName) {
            case "Target":
                return new DefaultCellEditor(new JTextField() {
                    @Override
                    public void setText(String r) {
                        Double perValue = (Double) getValueAt(row, column) * 100.0;
                        super.setText(perValue.toString());
                    }
                }) {
                    @Override
                    public Object getCellEditorValue() {
                        Double perValue = Double.parseDouble((String) super.getCellEditorValue()) / 100.0;
                        return perValue.toString();
                    }
                };

            default:
                return null;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Want to Buy Ripple in 2019? » Should I Buy Now?
» Guides » Is Ripple a Good Investment & Should I Buy Now?
Cryptocurrencies are in a general downtrend after many of them reached their record-highs in late 2017. The dramatic fall in price makes some cryptocurrencies look like a real bargain now and offers new opportunities to jump onto the crypto-bandwagon. Whether this is the case with Ripple and its XRP token depends on a number of factors, and this article is going to address the most important technical and fundamental of them by answering the question "Is Ripple a good investment and should I buy now?".
Invented in 2004 by Ryan Fugger and introduced in 2012 by Ripple Labs, Ripple is real-time gross settlement system (RTGS), payment protocol and currency exchange that uses a network of independent servers to verify each transaction. It offers an almost instant and cost-free solution for cross-border transfers of all types of currencies, including fiat currencies, commodities and even airline miles. Unlike bitcoin which wants to create a decentralized replacement for the traditional banking system, Ripple's approach is quite different. The company caters to enterprises and large companies who want fast and low-cost money transfers, by facilitating existing banking institutions and encouraging them to employ the Ripple Transaction Protocol.
The token of the Ripple network is called XRP. Unlike bitcoins and ethers which need to be mined by miners, there is already a fixed amount of XRPs created and made available by Ripple Labs. While the coin itself isn't necessary for Ripple's network to operate, it does provide certain advantages compared to other cryptocurrencies. For example, the total number of transactions per second (TPS) that XRP can handle is 1,500, compared to Ethereum's 15 and bitcoin's 3-6 TPS. In addition, Ripple allows for almost instant transaction settlements (in 4 seconds), compared to ether's 2 minutes and bitcoin's 1 hour. With so many advantages, let's see whether Ripple (XRP) is a good investment right now.
Just like the other altcoins, Ripple's price-chart and performance closely resembles that of bitcoin. Following the crypto-hype over the course of 2017, almost all cryptocurrencies skyrocketed in value. Bitcoin reached $20,000 in late 2017, ether's price doubled, NEM and EOS went up fivefold, and Ripple went from $0.20 to $3.30 – a whopping rise. Fearing of missing the train, investors around the world started to jump into the crypto-market, pushing the prices of cryptocurrencies to record-levels. For a short time in 2017, Ripple was the second largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization. Currently, the coin holds a respectable third place with a market cap of around $22 billion, only behind bitcoin and ether. As of today (14th June), one coin trades at around $0.52, which may change by the time you're reading this article.
It's important to stress that the total number of XRPs is 100 billion, and out of that number only 40 billion are in circulating supply. The rest is owned by Ripple Labs, with around 52 billion placed in escrow. An additional 1 billion XRPs can be distributed per month, if the company needs funds for new projects. However, there is no guarantee how much XRPs Ripple Labs is going to sell, and any extraordinarily large sell order could significantly hurt the coin's valuation.
Just like most other cryptocurrencies, Ripple is in a general downtrend. After hitting its record level in December 2017, the coin lost much of its value and trades now at only a fraction of its previous price. Ripple made consecutive lower lows and lower highs since then, and is range-bound between $0.47 and $0.97 since April 2018. These two price-levels are major demand and supply zones, respectively, and we would need to see a break of those levels before having a clearer picture of the future price-action.
As the chart above shows, a clear break below the $0.47 level doesn't see any meaningful support before $0.20, while a break of the $0.97 resistance to the upside could send the coin up to $1.20.
Technical levels do discount all important market information, and the large number of market orders placed at important levels can accelerate certain breakouts. However, developments on the fundamental side create trends and reverse them, making it important to follow all Ripple-related news before entering the market. Any new agreements and partnerships with large and influential financial institutions could easily send the price up, and 2018 shows a busy schedule for Ripple's team in negotiating new contracts.
The peak and trough analysis of Ripple shows a similar picture to other cryptocurrencies. The crypto-market has been in a general down trend since the beginning of 2018, showing distinctive characteristics of downtrends in the form of lower lows and lower highs. However, the coin failed to make a fresh lower low recently, signaling that sellers didn't have enough power to push the price below the previous support. In addition, you need to pay attention to the descending triangle formation on the daily timeframe (green lines), which may signal a break above the upper triangle line given fundamentals add enough buyers to the market.
The absence of lower lows, as shown on the chart above, may also signal the start of a new uptrend. However, to confirm an uptrend, the price has first to break resistance of the upper triangle line and to create a fresh higher high by breaking the horizontal resistance zone (supply zone) at $0.97. So far, the price is at a tipping point to break through the lower horizontal support zone (demand zone), which may trigger a real sell-off on Ripple. Right now, the key is patience and waiting for additional confirming signals to enter either short or long. Let's see whether technical indicators could be the confirming signal we're looking for.
What do Technical Indicators Say About Ripple?
Technical indicators use mathematical algorithms on historical price-data to anticipate future price movements. While technical indicators shouldn't be used to make trading decisions, they can be a helpful tool to confirm a long or short trade setup.
Relative Strength Index – The weekly RSI on Ripple shows a reading of 44, which is generally considered neutral. A reading below 30 would indicate an oversold level and a buying opportunity, while a reading above 70 indicates an overbought market condition and a sell opportunity. However, note that oscillators such as RSI can stay overbought/oversold for a long period of time before the price actually reverses. Some other oscillators show a sell signal, just like the MACD.
Moving Averages – Moving averages try to smoothen the price-action by plotting the average price of an asset. If a moving average points down or crosses below and longer-term moving average, the signal is generally bearish. In the case of Ripple, almost all moving averages send sell signals except the 100-period and 200-period MAs. On the daily timeframe however, all MAs suggest selling Ripple across the board.
By summarizing all technical signals on the weekly timeframe, we get a sell signal for Ripple. A total of 12 indicators suggest selling the coin, 9 are neutral and only 1 indicator shows a buy signal.
Just like with any other cryptocurrency, Ripple has its risks and benefits. The network itself is safe and scalable, although some opponents criticize that Ripple is not enough decentralized which allows regulatory authorities and the company itself to interfere with the system. Ripple Labs already updated its policies following a FinCEN violation and fine in 2013, and now allows only payment gateways and transactions that are fully-aligned with regulatory requirements. This regulation and the ability for a central authority to control the network has not much to do with blockchain's benefits, and could show to be a risk-factor for the mainstream adoption of Ripple.
On the other hand, the platform itself is lightning fast and processes transactions in under 4 seconds. The very low cost of a transaction (1/1000 of a dollar) makes it an attractive option for large cross-border money transfers, which would otherwise take days and carry significantly larger costs. In addition, Ripple Labs already has over 100 institutional customers and more than 75 of them are commercially deploying Ripple's protocol. The company also partnered with ZipZap, which could create a direct competitor to Western Union, offering faster and cheaper money transfers. If the company manages to add more customers to its base, this could be a strong backwind to the coin's price.
Since Ripple offers instant and low-cost money transfers, it's no wonder that a growing number of banks and financial institutions are partnering with the company. Names such as Santander and American Express are already using Ripple's protocol, and the list is only expanding. Any hints of Ripple's future adoption by large players in the banking industry will attract buyers to XRP and rise its price.
The team behind Ripple has been very busy in 2018 so far, and many important events are planned to happen in the coming months as well. New partnerships with large companies are announced for 2018, including FairFX, UniPay, MoneyMatch. This could improve Ripple's money-transfer systems even more and support the price of the coin during this year. MercuryFX, a global currency specialist offering currency conversions at very competitive exchange rates, has also started to use Ripple's xRapid payment solution for its operations. XRP is also expected to start trading on new crypto-exchanges, including Satoshi Citadel Industries and SBI.
On the fundamental side, Ripple doesn't see many challenges since it's expanding its customer base and cooperates with regulatory and governmental bodies. In fact, the Federal Reserve established a task force last year in an effort to improve the payment system in the United States. The Fed was looking for a fast, reliable and low-cost payment solution, and Ripple sent its proposal. If the Federal Reserve recognizes the benefits of Ripple's transaction protocol, this would be a major step towards a mainstream adoption.
Ripple is a versatile transaction protocol that allows for fast, cheap and secure cross-border money transfers. This is done through a network of independent servers, that can be owned by organizations and individuals, and which are used to validate each transaction. As a result, the settlement of a transaction lasts less than 4 seconds, and XRP – the network's token – can handle 1,500 transactions per second.
However, just like any other cryptocurrency, Ripple XRP is in a downtrend since the beginning of 2018. Trading at just a fraction of its record-high in late 2017, you may ask yourself "is Ripple a good investment and should I buy now". The current technical picture calls for additional confirmation before entering into the market, with $0.47 and $0.97 being important levels to watch. Technical indicators mostly send a bearish tone, which is no wonder considering the poor performance in the recent period.
On the other side, fundamentals seem to support the coin so far. New partnerships are being agreed and even the Federal Reserve is interested in adopting Ripple's transaction protocol. If this cooperation materializes, it could lead to an entirely new and exciting chapter in the life of the coin. If you're interested in buying XRPs, continue to follow the news and wait for a fresh higher high to form, which would confirm a new uptrend.


3 months later, here's my Art Basel recap. Art Basel isn't the same as when I was in school (2009-2013). Actually, a lot of things aren't the same. But that's the ebb and flow of life. It allows other things to come into fruition.
Dukki Kim, Between Cyprus Trees, 2018. Acrylic on canvas.
The middle plate made me giggle.
I liked this carpet - not sure who made it.


text:
Q: Django admin returns 403 Forbidden error on Microsoft EDGE after consecutive POST savings or editings I'm having 403 Forbidden error after saving or editing elements from Django admin, on Microsoft Edge. I'm logged in as superuser, so I have all the permissions for adding/editing elements through the admin. In fact, the problem is presenting when I successfully add a new element and then I decide to "save and continue editing" or "save and add another". The second modification/creation will always fail with the 403 error. It works well on all the other browsers, just Microsoft Edge fails. Any ideas?
I'm using Django 1.11.7.
Here is an example of my settings.py:
import os
import raven
from core.run_environment import RunEnvironment

gettext = lambda s: s

CURRENT_ENV = RunEnvironment.current_env()

# Build paths inside the project like this: os.path.join(BASE_DIR, ...)
BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))

SECRET_KEY = ''

DEBUG = CURRENT_ENV == RunEnvironment.LOCAL

ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['127.0.0.1', 'mysite.mydomain.com']

DOMAIN = '.mydomain.com'
CSRF_COOKIE_DOMAIN = DOMAIN
SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN = DOMAIN

CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS = ['mysite.mydomain.com', '127.0.0.1']

ADMINS = (
    ('Admin name', 'admin@adminemail.com'),
)
MANAGERS = ADMINS

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    'django.contrib.sites',
    'admintheme',
    'django.contrib.admin',
    'django.contrib.auth',
    'django.contrib.contenttypes',
    'django.contrib.sessions',
    'django.contrib.messages',
    'django.contrib.staticfiles',
    'rest_framework',
    'accounts',
    'allauth',
    'allauth.account',
    'allauth.socialaccount',
    'raven.contrib.django.raven_compat',
    'ajax_select',
    'mptt',
    'geoposition',
    'adminsortable2',
    'easy_thumbnails',
    'filer',
    'subscriptions',
    'ckeditor',
    'ckeditor_filebrowser_filer',
    'core',
    'hitcount',
]

MIDDLEWARE = [
    'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.sessions.middleware.SessionMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.auth.middleware.AuthenticationMiddleware',
    'django.contrib.messages.middleware.MessageMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.clickjacking.XFrameOptionsMiddleware',
    'core.middleware.TimezoneMiddleware',
]

ROOT_URLCONF = 'mysite.urls'

TEMPLATES = [
    {
        'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
        'DIRS': [],
        'APP_DIRS': True,
        'OPTIONS': {
            'context_processors': [
                'django.template.context_processors.debug',
                'django.template.context_processors.request',
                'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth',
                'django.contrib.messages.context_processors.messages',
                'core.context_processors.app_name'
            ],
        },
    },
]

WSGI_APPLICATION = 'mysite.wsgi.application'

SITE_ID = 1

# ======================================================================================================================
# Database
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.11/ref/settings/#databases
# ======================================================================================================================

CONFIG_DATABASES = {
    RunEnvironment.LIVE: {
        'default': {
            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
            'NAME': '',
            'USER': '',
            'PASSWORD': '',
            'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
        }
    },
    RunEnvironment.STAGE: {
        'default': {
            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
            'NAME': '',
            'USER': '',
            'PASSWORD': '',
            'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
        }
    },
    RunEnvironment.LOCAL: {
        'default': {
            'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
            'NAME': '',
            'USER': '',
            'PASSWORD': '',
            'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
        }
    }
}
DATABASES = CONFIG_DATABASES[CURRENT_ENV]

# ======================================================================================================================
# Password validation
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.11/ref/settings/#auth-password-validators
# ======================================================================================================================

AUTH_PASSWORD_VALIDATORS = [
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.UserAttributeSimilarityValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.MinimumLengthValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.CommonPasswordValidator',
    },
    {
        'NAME': 'django.contrib.auth.password_validation.NumericPasswordValidator',
    },
]

# ======================================================================================================================
# Internationalization
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.11/topics/i18n/
# ======================================================================================================================

LANGUAGE_CODE = 'it'
TIME_ZONE = 'UTC'

USE_I18N = True

USE_L10N = True

USE_TZ = True

LANGUAGES = (
    ('it', gettext('Italiano')),
    # ('en', gettext('English')),
)

# ======================================================================================================================
# Static files (CSS, JavaScript, Images)
# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.11/howto/static-files/
# ======================================================================================================================

STATIC_URL = '/static/'
STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '../static/')

MEDIA_URL = '/media/'
MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '../media/')

# ======================================================================================================================
# Custom Auth
# ======================================================================================================================

AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'accounts.User'

# ======================================================================================================================
# REST Framework
# ======================================================================================================================

REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': (
        'rest_framework.authentication.SessionAuthentication',
    ),
    'DEFAULT_PERMISSION_CLASSES': [
        'rest_framework.permissions.IsAuthenticated',
    ],
    'DEFAULT_RENDERER_CLASSES': [
        'rest_framework.renderers.JSONRenderer',
    ],
    'DEFAULT_PAGINATION_CLASS': 'rest_framework.pagination.LimitOffsetPagination',
    'PAGE_SIZE': 200,
}

# ======================================================================================================================
# Django Allauth
# ======================================================================================================================

AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS = (`allauth`
    'django.contrib.auth.backends.ModelBackend',

    'allauth.account.auth_backends.AuthenticationBackend',
)

ACCOUNT_USER_MODEL_USERNAME_FIELD = None
ACCOUNT_EMAIL_REQUIRED = True
ACCOUNT_USERNAME_REQUIRED = False
ACCOUNT_AUTHENTICATION_METHOD = 'email'
ACCOUNT_SIGNUP_PASSWORD_ENTER_TWICE = True

if DEBUG:
    ACCOUNT_EMAIL_SUBJECT_PREFIX = 'DEBUG: MySite.com - '
else:
    ACCOUNT_EMAIL_SUBJECT_PREFIX = 'MySite.com - '

ACCOUNT_LOGOUT_ON_GET = True

ACCOUNT_ADAPTER = 'accounts.adapter.AccountAdapter'

ACCOUNT_LOGIN_ON_EMAIL_CONFIRMATION = True
ACCOUNT_CONFIRM_EMAIL_ON_GET = True
ACCOUNT_EMAIL_CONFIRMATION_AUTHENTICATED_REDIRECT_URL = '/accounts/email-confirmed/'

ACCOUNT_EMAIL_VERIFICATION = "mandatory"
ACCOUNT_UNIQUE_EMAIL = True

# ======================================================================================================================
# Easy Thumbnails
# ======================================================================================================================

THUMBNAIL_HIGH_RESOLUTION = True

THUMBNAIL_PROCESSORS = (
    'easy_thumbnails.processors.colorspace',
    'easy_thumbnails.processors.autocrop',
    'filer.thumbnail_processors.scale_and_crop_with_subject_location',
    'easy_thumbnails.processors.filters',
)

# ======================================================================================================================
# CKEditor
# ======================================================================================================================

CKEDITOR_CONFIGS = {
    'default': {
        'width': '100%',
        'toolbar': 'Custom',
        'toolbar_Custom': [
            ['Bold', 'Italic', 'Underline'],
            ['NumberedList', 'BulletedList', '-', 'Outdent', 'Indent', '-', 'JustifyLeft', 'JustifyCenter', 'JustifyRight', 'JustifyBlock'],
            ['Link', 'Unlink'],
            # ['FilerImage'],
            ['RemoveFormat', 'Source']
        ],
        'extraPlugins': 'filerimage',
        'removePlugins': 'image'
    },
    'dashboard': {
        'width': '100%',
        'toolbar': 'Custom',
        'toolbar_Custom': [
            ['Bold', 'Italic', 'Underline'],
            ['NumberedList', 'BulletedList'],
            ['RemoveFormat']
        ],
        'removePlugins': 'image'
    },
}

# ======================================================================================================================
# Geoposition
# ======================================================================================================================

GEOPOSITION_GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY = ''

# ======================================================================================================================
# Sentry
# ======================================================================================================================

if DEBUG is False:
    RAVEN_CONFIG = {
        'dsn': '',
    }

# ======================================================================================================================
# Django Notifications
# ======================================================================================================================

NOTIFICATIONS_USE_JSONFIELD = True

# ======================================================================================================================
# Celery
# ======================================================================================================================

CELERY_BROKER_URL = ''
CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = 'rpc://'
CELERY_BEAT_SCHEDULER = 'django_celery_beat.schedulers:DatabaseScheduler'

Django returns the 403 error this way:

Forbidden (403)
You are seeing this message because this HTTPS site requires a
  'Referer header' to be sent by your Web browser, but none was sent.
  This header is required for security reasons, to ensure that your
  browser is not being hijacked by third parties.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Before you get going with email marketing you should do at least three things. Even before you select an email marketing service provider. These tasks should be done as part of your initial research. From these tasks you should be put on the right path to begin email marketing.
1. Review and understand the Federal CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. This Federal law sets the minimal requirements you must abide by when sending email. A couple items in this law that you should be aware of are (A) your email's subject line must be relevant to the content within the email you are sending. For example, you cannot send an email with a subject line that reads "You've won $1,000,000!" and the body of the email is about the latest under water basket weaving techniques. (B) You must provide a method or mechanism to remove a subscriber from your email marketing list. Most email marketing service providers provide this service as part of their fees and will put a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of the sent email. Otherwise, you must remove the subscriber within 10 days or face Federal fines upwards of $16,000 per occurrence. Be aware of the terms and conditions of your email marketing provider as they may have additional requirements you must agree to in order to use their software.
2. Brainstorm ways to acquire email addresses with permission. You need to keep your list growing by adding new subscribers as other's unsubscribe. There are a number of ways you can ask for permission. (A) On your website you should have an email sign-up form. Most email marketing service providers provide forms that you can put on your website and add those submissions are then added to your list. Develop a plan to offer an incentive to subscribe whether it be a free download or coupon. (B) When you attend networking events or trade shows be sure you are mentioning that you send out newsletters or promotions via email. Ask for permission to subscribe them and let them know they can unsubscribe anytime with no hard feelings!
3. Develop an email marketing schedule that fits your current workload and marketing plan. Too many times business owners bit off more than they can chew causing them to lose interest. Email marketing is a gradual-growth marketing activity. You should start small and scale as it helps your business grow. Start by sending monthly, then twice per month, then weekly. If you do not see better results by sending weekly, scale back to bi-weekly. Don't try to beat your list to death and don't leave it out to dry either. You cannot take a month off an expect your list to be happy to hear from you again when you start sending again. Planning is key so make it part of your monthly marketing plan.
These three items above are just a few tasks you need to look into so you can gain a better understanding of what will make your email marketing successful. Keep in mind that the CAN-SPAM Act sets the minimum requirements of email marketing. The terms and conditions of your email marketing service provider are what you must follow to use their software. Don't be afraid to brainstorm unique ways to grow your list with permission. Don't be tempted to buy a list as it will kill your business. Finally, don't bite off more than you can chew with email marketing. Scale up and level out your email marketing schedule.


"The Birds of Berkshire" has phylloscopus sibilatrix as a scarce summer visitor but there have been few breeding records since the book's publication in '96. Nowadays you'd be lucky even to hear about a passage bird on www.Berksbirds.co.uk and few birders will have added this phyllosc to their Berkshire list in recent years.
In the 1960s there were typically three breeding pairs with up to six singing males reported annually across the county. The 70s brought a steep decline and there have rarely been more than one confirmed breeding pair since then. The reason for the failure of this bird in the county is not known. It has, however, also suffered a moderate decline in the UK. There are still many sites in the county which have the mature broadleaved woodland with a sparse understorey favoured by the species.
This bird was first seen [and suppressed] in mid-May. It then went silent until it was found again at the same place and "put out" on June 16th; it showed well for a few days after which it was netted/ringed and wasn't seen or heard of again - to the annoyance of some!


Ismael Duran advises lenders, financial sponsors and corporate borrowers in connection with syndicated leveraged finance and other commercial lending transactions, including acquisition, bridge, asset-based and other corporate financings. Fluent in English, Spanish and French and admitted to practice in the New York and Spanish Bars, Ismael also represents financial institutions, sponsors and corporate borrowers in connection with bank financings in the Latin America region.
Columbia Law School, 2005 LL.M.
Ismael Duran is Counsel in the Firm's Corporate Department. He advises lenders, financial sponsors and corporate borrowers in connection with bank syndicated leveraged finance and other commercial lending transactions, including acquisition, bridge, asset-based and other corporate financings. Admitted to practice in New York and Spain, Ismael also represents financial institutions, sponsors and corporate borrowers in connection with financings in the Latin America region.
Ismael has represented lenders and other financial institutions in connection with syndicated credit facilities, including JPMorgan, Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs, among others. Ismael has also represented corporate borrowers in connection with their financing activities, including AOL, MasterCard and Travelers Companies. Ismael regularly represents lenders and sponsors in connection with the negotiation and implementation of credit facilities as they relate to Latin American clients or Latin American interests.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ismael was a corporate associate at Garrigues Abogados, a Spanish law firm, where he advised Spanish companies and counseled foreign clients with interests in Spain.
Ismael Duran received his law degree in 1996 from Universidad de Zaragoza in Spain and his LL.M. in 2005 from Columbia Law School. Ismael is fluent in English, Spanish and French.


Wire Coordinated Hanger with light but durable & strong steel body, chrome finishing, rounded ends, 'U' notches & fixed hook.
Long lasting Display option for organizing your sales floors or crowded racks. You can use this metal hanger for hanging 2-pieces sportive uniforms, dresses, lingerie, seasonal blouses & outfits with straps.
Acquiring these practical display hangers is a small investment that your budget can afford.
Thickness of Steel Rod Ø: 0.35 cm.


To bring art to the people: that is what Walter Crane, Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Albert Hahn, Frans Masereel and Gerd Arntz, the five artists in this on-line exhibition wanted to do. They created prints in large editions and illustrations in popular magazines instead of paintings. In this way they could reach a large audience, and what's more, an audience that would never visit a museum.
Art was not only supposed to reach ordinary people, it was also supposed to contribute to social change. Crane, Steinlen, Hahn, Masereel, and Arntz adapted their subjects and style to their political convictions. They depicted daily life, social problems, and the struggle for a better society. Their best work is as valid today as when it was created, from the 1880s to the 1930s. For some artists, political involvement, aiming at comprehensibility and the use of inexpensive printing techniques are stimuli rather than restraints.
On this site you can read short biographies of the five artists, see up to ten works of each of the artist's work and learn about some of the symbols they used to convey their message. All works shown are from the collection of the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam.
All pictures and files on this site are copyrighted. They are meant for display on this site only. Nothing may be copied, duplicated or distributed in any other way without prior written permission.


text:
How Much Is Mark Clark Worth?
Mark Clark Net Worth
How Much money Mark Clark has? For this question we spent 25 hours on research (Wikipedia, Youtube, we read books in libraries, etc) to review the post.
Total Net Worth at the moment 2019 year – is about $204,3 Million.
Mark Clark information Birth date: May 1, 1896, Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, New York, United States Death date: April 17, 1984, Charleston, South Carolina, United States Profession:Actor Children:William Clark, Patricia Ann ClarkBooks:Calculated risk, From the Danube to the Yalu, Leaving Home
:How tall is Mark Clark – 1,81m.
How much weight is Mark Clark – 65kg
Mark Wayne Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War and was the youngest lieutenant general (three-star general) in the U.S. Army.During World War I, he commanded a company of soldiers in 1917 and was seriously wounded by shrapnel. After the war, Clark's abilities were noticed by future U.S. Army Chief of Staff George Marshall. During World War II, he commanded the Allied Fifth Army, and later the Fifteen Army Group, in the Italian campaign. He is known for leading the Fifth Army in its capture of Rome in June 1944.Clark has been heavily criticized for ignoring the orders of his superior officer, General Harold Alexander, and is to blame for the escape of the German 10th Army which he let slip away in his pursuit of being the first to enter Rome – a strategically unimportant city. The German 10th Army joined with their countrymen at the Trasimene Line. In 1945 Clark became the youngest American to be promoted to general.General Dwight D. Eisenhower considered him a brilliant staff officer and trainer. Clark was awarded many medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the U.S. Army&#39, s second highest award.One legacy of the &quot, Clark task force&quot, which he headed from 1953-55 to recommend on all Federal intelligence activities, is coining the term Intelligence Community.
Wikipedia Source: Mark Clark


text:
Federal officers fight back against Portland rioters who launched fireworks into Federal Courthouse
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 by: Arsenio Toledo
Tags: antifa, Black Lives Matter, chaos, civil unrest, civil war, crime, criminals, Explosives, federal courthouse, federal law enforcement, fireworks, fireworks as weapons, left cult, Liberal Mob, lunatics, Oregon, Portland, rioters, rioting, riots, siege, unrest, uprising, violence, violent mob, weapons
https://www.distributednews.com/443693.html
(Natural News) Federal law enforcement officers in Portland have fought back against Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters in Portland, Oregon by firing tear gas and other crowd-control munitions into the violent mob.
The whole incident occurred Thursday evening, July 23, on the 56th consecutive night of riots in Portland. The riot continued well into the early morning hours on Friday.
Listen to this breaking news episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, to learn about how the Chinese Communist Party has been trafficking illegal firearms into the United States to arm members of Antifa and the Black Lives Matter Movement, with the eventual goal of causing enough chaos and civil unrest to spark a Second American Civil War.
Rioters gather around Federal Courthouse
Around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, police reported that a group of no fewer than 2,000 people began gathering at Lownsdale Square and Chapman Square, two park blocks right across from the Multnomah County Justice Center and the federal Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. The crowd waved upside-down American flags and were accompanied by a group known as the "Wall of Moms" – middle-aged women wearing yellow shirts who stood between law enforcement officers and the rioters to prevent arrests.
By 11 p.m., several speakers had already addressed the crowd. Officers who came out of the Federal Courthouse began re-erecting the building's fences, which were torn down by rioters earlier in the day. As soon as the federal troops finished their task and returned to the confines of the courthouse, the building was fired upon with commercial-grade fireworks. These were used to agitate and intimidate the federal agents holing up inside the building.
Protestors using green laser pointers to blind/agitate feds.
One of their many tactics. pic.twitter.com/S0D4b12Gn5
— Bowen Xiao (@BowenXiao_) July 24, 2020
Along with the fireworks, several sections of the re-erected fence were once again torn down, causing large breaches in the courthouse's inner perimeter. The rioters also started fires inside the fenced area.
At 12:50 a.m., the federal agents started rushing out of the Federal Courthouse and firing tear gas into the violent mob to get them to disperse.
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB), which did not participate in the dispersal of the crowd, reported that as the federal officers rushed out of the building, they were hit with a number of projectiles and improvised incendiary devices, such as fireworks and flares. They were also flashed with lasers meant to blind them. (Related: Portland passes resolution barring police from cooperating with federal law enforcement.)
At around 1:15 a.m., the crowd remained defiant. While the volume of fireworks lessened, some rioters were still lighting them and aiming them at the federal troops, who responded with tear gas and flash grenades. The rioters at one point began chanting, "Stay together, stay tight. We do this every night."
A few minutes before 2 a.m., the PPB declared the event to be an unlawful assembly, which made the crowd slowly dissipate from the area of their own accord over the next few hours. However, the bureau stated that they were not present at the demonstration, save for several officers who made the public announcements and kept track of the unfolding events.
It has been two months since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a nationwide wave of engineered civil unrest. Keep track of the latest events at Rioting.news.
TheEpochTimes.com
KOIN.com
Previous :Mayor Lori Lightfoot takes down 2 statues of Christopher Columbus in Chicago
Next : Portland rioters ARMED with "knives, rifles and explosives" – Attorney General Barr
More news on antifa
Radical leftists plan violent takeover of D.C. after election
Trump-supporting farmer's equipment burned down in possible "politically-motivated arson"
Police spokesperson: Antifa structure similar to Islamic terror cells
Texas National Guard activated, deployed in anticipation of Election Day chaos
Police association spokesperson says Antifa shares the structure of Islamic terrorism
Mexican journalist exposes Joe Biden for signing compact that created influx of child trafficking, immigrant children in cages
Plutocrat violence and election-night horror: Marxian analysis shows that Antifa is fascist
AP attempts to sanitize violence, claims rioters are "regular" citizens caught up in the moment
Portland demonstrators set fire to billboard advertisement with pro-police message outside police union building
Rioters injure 30 police officers in Philadelphia as thousands of thieves LOOT over 30 retail stores
https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-07-28-federal-officers-fight-back-against-portland-rioters.html
Federal officers fight back against Portland rioters who launched fireworks into Federal Courthouse


text:
Share this Story: Banff festival explores the evolution of global mountain culture through film
Banff festival explores the evolution of global mountain culture through film
Eric Volmers
From the film Bayandalai — Lord of the Taiga. Courtesy, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Calgary
There a Spanish film about a Basque painter drawing inspiration from the Norwegian Svlabard archipelago near the North Pole. There's a German film about a French paraglider exploring the Karakoram mountains of Pakistan. There's an Austrian film about Nigerian BMX riders. Yet another Spanish film tells the story of a reindeer herder from the Dukhas tribe in Taiga.
If there is a theme to this year's Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, it's that the celebration of mountain culture is an increasingly borderless, global and diverse phenomenon.
Banff festival explores the evolution of global mountain culture through film Back to video
From the film Winterland by Nic Alegre. Courtesy, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Photo by Nic Alegre /Calgary
"We are seeing different types of people represented on screen," says festival director Joanna Croston. "There's more people of colour. Indigenous stories are being told as well, not just Canadian indigenous but international indigenous as well. It's exciting for us to have a different type of narrative other than the colonial, white narrative that would have been representative of the '50s and large nations going to conquer peaks. That has changed a lot."
From the film Queen Without Land by Asgeir Helgestad. Courtesy, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Calgary
The festival does not date back to the 1950s, but it is celebrating its 44th year. That makes it the second-oldest mountain film festival in the world, behind only the 67-year-old Trento Film Festival in Italy. The festival, which runs until Nov. 3, will screen 100 films from 19 countries. More than 100 filmmakers will be visiting from around the world.
All films are finalists, up for 10 prizes that are divided into sub-genres.
"It may be little known to Calgarians and also to people in the Bow Valley just how prestigious the Banff festival is and how it is held in high regard across the planet," says Croston. "For a lot of filmmakers, it's a life dream recognized to be on our stage and accept an award but also just to have their films screened here. The competition is really competitive."
From the film The Pathan Project by Jean Louis Wertz. Courtesy, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Calgary
In fact, there were 450 entries this year for the festival. As with all filmmaking, the boost in technology has democratized mountain films. It's no longer solely the domain of established filmmakers with access to big budgets. The films range from being a few minutes long to feature-length and are mostly non-fiction. But they are still judged on narrative, character development and the technical skills of the filmmaker. Increasingly, entries have an environmental theme. Skiing and other mountain sports are still big topics.
But there is also a common thread that links many of the hundreds of films that enter the competition.
"The idea of the indomitable human spirit is always a big theme for us," Croston says. "People overcoming obstacles; those may be life obstacles or they may be physical mountains. That's always a prevalent theme and it's never really gone away. It was probably in the first festival we held and it's still around. I think people are looking for an escape from their everyday lives."
The festival is expected to attract 20,000 people from around the globe. For the past 25 years, a version of each year's lineup travels to different countries. The festival now goes to 43 countries, holds 1,100 screenings and attracts 500,000 spectators. The first stop is in Great Falls, Mont., a week after the Banff festival ends.
"When we get visitors from other nations visiting Banff, a lot of the temporary workers who come to town for the ski season, for example, they will have heard of Banff through the world tour we offer," says Croston. "In some cases, they don't even know it's a town. They think Banff is an acronym because we've got this double-f on the back of our name, they think it sounds for film festival. When they discover we are actually a place, they get quite excited about that."
The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. For a schedule visit banffcentre.ca/banff-mountain-film-book-festival


All business operations have a tax implication. In an increasingly global world, companies have to operate taking into account a wide variety of tax systems. Knowing in advance the tax implications of business decisions and stay ahead of the latest developments in legislation and local and international jurisprudence are key factors that can influence the success of a business strategy. At Deloitte we have teams of experts supporting companies in all aspects of their taxes, with special emphasis on the international component.
Strategic planning local and transnational tax.
Advice on fiscal challenges (administrative proceedings).
Preparation and / or review of tax returns.
Analysis and classification laws of tax benefits.
Read more about Corporate Governance.
The aim of the division is to ensure the importance of good performance of international relations in the political, commercial and cultural development worldwide is essential today to achieve integral development.
Deloitte helps companies improve their processes and manage accounting, tax and payroll through outsourcing and the use of experienced professionals. Business Process Solutions Deloitte and tax practices have the ability and technology to coordinate and deliver a complete cross-border solution.
The aim of the network transfer pricing Deloitte is helping companies manage the risks by aligning solutions transfer pricing with its operations and overall objectives of the global company, assisting with strategic documentation support their transfer pricing practices, and resolve conflicts efficiently.


If an energy benchmark is the equivalent to putting your building on a scale to 'weigh' its annual energy performance, then an audit is the equivalent of a complete physical for your building.
While benchmarks simply observe the current state of your building's energy performance, audits are intended to discover and document exactly what is happening in your building from an energy efficiency perspective, and then provide actionable data on how to improve that performance. The primary deliverable of an audit is a report with a series of recommended, cost-effective energy efficiency measures that can be implemented, along with a financial analysis of the costs and benefits of each measure.
Beyond simple compliance with local energy performance ordinances (such as in San Francisco), audits can be used to inform your investment decisions on how to maximize the financial performance of your building. Building owners and managers understand the value of reducing energy costs, but sometimes need help in seeing the bigger picture of the value in investing in increased, whole-building energy efficiency. By looking at the financial performance of energy efficiency measures, building owners and managers can make better, long-term decisions about how and where to invest in their buildings for maximum return.
Audit are a combination of detailed detective work and lots of analysis. The more information we can gather on your building the better the analysis. At Boone Energy we have worked on all kinds of buildings ranging from older structures that have absolutely no documentation to new, extremely complex, life science buildings with abundant documentation. However, no matter how good the documents are, nothing is a substitute for on-site observation of actual conditions.
We go on-site for every audit and spend as much time as is necessary to accurately document the current state of your building's energy 'assets' including HVAC equipment and controls, lighting, hot-water, building structure and overall operations. We take pictures and videos of everything for future reference. We talk to tenants, building engineers and even outside contractors that perform maintenance on the building's systems. Then our engineers and certified energy auditors take over and analyze all of the available data looking for the most cost-effective steps that can be taken to improve the energy efficiency of each building while maintaining or improving occupant comfort. Big buildings of course take more effort than small buildings, but all buildings get our full focus.
At Boone Energy, our overall goal is to identify financially viable investments for you while making sure your building is compliant with local ordinances.


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The cost to build a garage ranges from $3000-$50,000. The cost to build a garage varies greatly depending on location, if homeowners build the garage themselves or hire someone to do it and if the garage is small or large, simple or deluxe. The average cost of building a garage when a contractor is used is $35-$45 per square foot. The average cost of building a garage when the homeowner does the work is $15-$20 per square foot. When using a contractor, the average cost to build a 240 square foot single car garage is $8400-10,800; when homeowners build the garage themselves, the average cost to build a 240 square foot single car garage is $3600-$4800. When using a contractor, the average cost to build a 380 square foot two car garage is $13,000-$17,000; when homeowners build the garage themselves, the average cost to build a 380 square foot two car garage is $5700-$7600. However, homeowners that would like an extra large garage, a garage with an upstairs for an apartment, workshop or studio, or would like to add extra lighting, windows or other upgrades can expect to pay $55-$65 per square foot, when the job is done by a contractor or $30-$40 per square foot if they do the work themselves. Homeowners should remember to get a building permit before they start building their new garage; building permits vary in price per location.
The Average Cost To Build A Garage
When homeowners do the work themselves, the average cost to build a simple one or two car garage is around $3000-$4000, about $15-$20 per square foot. The average cost of building a garage when homeowners do the work themselves rises to around $30-$40 per square foot when an extra large or deluxe garage is built. When a contractor does the work, the average cost to build a simple one or two car garage is around $8000-$17,000, about $35-$45 per square foot. The average cost of having a garage built by a contractor rises to around $55-$65 per square foot when an extra large or deluxe garage is built.
The Cost To Build A Garage With Apartment
The cost to build a garage with an apartment is substantially more than the cost to build just a garage. When building a garage with an apartment, costs are greatly increased by the electricity, plumbing, appliances and things like the bathtub, sinks, windows and cupboards that are needed for an apartment.
The cost to build a garage with an apartment varies per location, the quality of building supplies used, the size of the garage and apartment, and if homeowners build it themselves or have a contractor build it for them. When a contractor is used, the average cost to build a garage with an apartment is around $45-$55 per square foot for the garage area, and about $100 per square foot for the apartment area. When a contractor is used, the average 600 square foot garage with an apartment costs about $70,000-$90,000.
Homeowners can reduce the cost of building a garage with an apartment by doing some or all of the work themselves. Homeowners that do around half the work will save around 25% on the overall cost of building a garage with an apartment, while homeowners that do all the work can save 50-60% on the overall cost to build a garage with an apartment. When homeowners do all the work, the average 600 square foot garage with an apartment costs about $30,000-$45,000. When homeowners do half the work themselves, the average 600 square foot garage with an apartment costs about $55,000-$65,000.
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Detached Garage?
The cost to build a detached garage is more than the cost to build a garage attached to the house. The cost to build a detached garage is more due to four walls having to be built instead of three walls. The cost to build a detached garage varies per location, the quality of building supplies used, the size of the garage and if the detached garage it built by a contractor or the homeowner. The average square foot cost to build a detached garage is $40-$55 when a contractor does the work and $15 when the homeowner does the work. Detached garages can be built using a detached garage kit. A detached garage kit is easier and quicker to build than building a garage from scratch. Prefab detached garage kits are available in wood and steel. The cost to build a detached garage with a prefab detached garage kit is $5000-$25,000.
Prefab Garages
Prefab garages are available in both steel and wood; prefab steel garages cost less than prefab wood garages cost. The cost of a prefabricated garage varies per location, materials used to make the garage, the size of the garage and if homeowners put it up themselves or hire someone to do it for them.
The cost of a prefab garage is also affected by the cost of delivery and the window and doors the homeowners choose. Prefab garages range in cost from $5000-$25,000. The average square foot cost of building a prefabricated garage made out of steel is $9 when homeowners do the work themselves. The average square foot cost of building a prefabricated garage made out of steel is $18-$20 when a contractor does the work. A prefab garage made of wood usually costs $7-$10 per square foot more than a steel prefab garage costs.
Cost To Build A One Car Garage
The average single car garage is around 240-300 square feet. The average cost to build a one car garage is around $4000-$5100 if homeowners build the garage themselves. The average cost to build a one car garage using a contractor is $9600- $12,000. The average cost to build a one car garage is around $2100-$2700 with a prefab steel garage kit when homeowners do the work themselves. The average cost to build a one car garage is around $4300-$5400 with a prefab steel garage kit when a contractor does the work.
Cost To Build A 2 Car Garage
The average 2 car garage is around 400 square feet. The average cost to build a 2 car garage is around $6,800 if homeowners build the garage themselves. The average cost to build a 2 car garage using a contractor is $16,000. The average cost to build a 2 car garage is around $3600 with a prefab steel garage kit when homeowners do the work themselves. The average cost to build a 2 car garage is around $7200 with a prefab steel garage kit when a contractor does the work.
The average 3 car garage is around 600 square feet. The average cost to build a 3 car garage is around $10,000 if homeowners build the garage themselves. The average cost to build a 3 car garage using a contractor is $24,000. The average cost to build a 3 car garage is around $5400 with a prefab steel garage kit when homeowners do the work themselves. The average cost to build a 3 car garage is around $11,000 with a prefab steel garage kit when a contractor does the work.
Garage Conversion Cost
Garage conversion costs $2000-$20,000 depending on whether homeowners do the work themselves or hire a contractor to do the work. Garage conversion cost also varies per location, what quality of materials are used and what conversions are done. Average garage conversion cost when the homeowner does the work is $2000-$10,000. Average garage conversion cost when a contractor is used is $7000-$20,000. Just like when building a garage, garage conversion requires a building permit; the cost of building permits varies per location.
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Shawna Williams
Taking Out the Garbage: How Cells Know What to Keep and What to Toss
To respond to the body's needs, our cells are constantly switching specific genes on or off. Flipping the switch means the cells either start or stop making copies of a gene out of molecules known as...
Type: News Article
Finding Better Ways to Cope with ADHD
Climb the stairs of OIST's Seaside House to the second-floor offices of the Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit, and the first sight that greets you may come as a surprise in a research institute:...
The Team Behind the Genomes
In July OIST's DNA sequencing section (SQC), which had been located 45 minutes away in Uruma, moved to the main campus' Center Building in Onna. The move gives OIST researchers easier access to the...
Nano-Engineering Electrodes to Give Tiny Generators a Boost
Could our waste be part of the answer to humanity's energy problems? Some researchers think so, thanks to bacteria that chow down on everything from sewage to heavy metals and give off electricity as...
The Next Generation of Stuff
Since our ancestors first began using tools to dig for insects or club rivals, we've been constrained by what seemed to be fundamental properties of matter. Light will bend in a certain way when it...
The Microscopy Lab
Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit members Rakesh Parayil Parameswaran Nair, Catherine Chin, and Grigoris Panotopoulos in the unit's Microscopy Lab
Basis of a Novel Drug-delivery System May be Hiding in our Cells
Sixty years ago, researchers looking at electron microscopy images found dense clusters of inlets budding from the cell membranes—the outer skins—of one type of cell. Dubbed caveolae, or "small caves...
Peeking Beneath the Surface for a Fresh Look at Nature
In two new papers, Prof. Bernd Kuhn and collaborators use novel techniques to visualize very different things: pH within protein crystals, and neurons in the cerebellum of the brain. Though the...
Model Demonstrates the Importance of Randomness to Brain Adaptation
When you get a new pair of glasses, take up a musical instrument, or play a new sport, it feels awkward at first, but your muscles and brain soon adapt to integrate the new tools and movements...
Lab 2 Comes to Life
With much of the equipment moved in and research units steadily populating its labs, cubicles, and offices, Lab 2, which opened late last month, is swiftly coming to life. For some newer units that...
Cryogen-free dilution refrigerator
A vendor adds seals to the Quantum Dynamics Unit's new cryogen-free dilution refrigerator.


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Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead are a filmmaking duo that have quietly made some of the best genre films the indie world has seen in recent memory. Their first film, Resolution, switched up the game when it came to stories about storytelling, and Spring, for all its interesting & intelligent monster movie elements, is a heartfelt and beautiful tale of love. Their latest, The Endless, goes back to a storytelling well the team dipped into with their first film, but it plays on such an elaborately greater level that it becomes a beast completely unto itself. The Endless is a horror/sci-fi film like nothing the cinematic world has seen thus far and only serves to prove Benson & Moorhead as some of the strongest voices in the world of indie cinema.
In the film, the two filmmakers play versions of themselves, Justin and Aaron, two brothers who ten years prior escaped from a cult located deep in the wilderness. Out of the blue, they receive a video package, a message from one of the cult members that convinces Aaron they need to return in an attempt at some sort of closure between the two groups. What the brothers find upon their return isn't what they were expecting.
When they arrive, the cult takes them back in with open arms as if their departure from the group left no ill feelings in its wake. Justin is still a little apprehensive about the all-inclusive nature of the group, and the strange occurrences in the surrounding environment aren't helping matters. Aaron, on the other hand, is convinced the cult is the answer to the brothers' existential crisis that has been building since they first left. The mystery builds, the unanswered questions about the area and the group build with it, and Justin and Aaron must learn to depend on one another if they are to find a way to escape once again.
It's a vague premise with which The Endless is working on, but that aspect only serves to hide the very deeply-hidden meaning about it all. Benson & Moorhead's films always work from a certain, abstract point of view that only reveals more layers and various pieces of an answer, not the answer itself. Cinematic artists like David Lynch and writers who dig deep into the questions of the universe like H.P. Lovecraft are clear inspirations for the works of Benson & Moorhead, but that never keeps the duo's films from working at the same level of enigmatic brilliance.
There is such a clear understanding of mystery about their work. As with their previous works, the mystery at the heart of The Endless only aids in the strength of what the filmmaking duo is claiming about personal identity and human relationships. Storytelling has become the primary way human beings make sense of the universe surrounding us, and Benson & Moorhead keenly skirt around the answers to it all and still embrace the very nature of what it means to be human.
They do this in the most personal of ways with The Endless. The reasoning behind the duo playing the two leads themselves builds on that personal essence in their latest film, and the two embody their respective parts with natural ability. Justin is the one who needs answers while Aaron is the more romantic of the two, able to blindly accept that the answers we seek from the universe aren't always the answers we want. The dynamic between the two is also a strong factor to the film, as well, and creates an organic bond that would potentially be absent should it be two other actors in the roles.
The Endless has so many surprises in store for viewers, especially if the viewer is familiar with the films of Benson & Moorhead thus far, that it is rather difficult to go into more detail about how it all plays out. Nonetheless, the brilliance on display in their latest project cannot be missed or denied. The Endless is a fascinating and eye-opening look at human interaction and the way storytelling has consumed every aspect of the experience of our lives. Groundbreaking and mesmerizing, The Endless is the latest proof that the filmmaking team of Benson & Moorhead are ones to watch when it comes to cinema that makes you think.
Follow Jeremy on Twitter - @JeremyKKirk


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Home / Travel /
Ancient Jain temples submerged by Panchet Dam in Purulia
27 March, 2020 22:33:36
Telkupi (or Tailakampi) is a small non-descript village on the banks of Damodar River under Raghunathpur police station in Purulia district. The place has recently garnered interest among archaeologists and tourists, who flock there to view the Jaina architectural ruins of temples (Bhairavasthan) submerged by Panchet Dam in the Damodar River.
The area, along with the temples from 8th-12th centuries (Pala period) were submerged between 1956 and 1962 as a consequence of the construction of Panchet Dam. According to Armenian-Indian archeologist, Joseph David Beglar and Dr Debala Mitra, the area contained, perhaps, "the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal." Belgar listed over 20 temples and referred to several others and to numerous mounds, both of brick and stone. Out of those, only two stand today and one more is visible half-submerged in the Damodar reservoir at the Panchet Dam. The remains of some of these ruined temples are getting visible again in the silted-up reservoir.
The place was formerly known as Tailakampi or Tailakumpi. Taila generally means oil but according to Chanakya's Arthashastra, 'taila' was tax and 'kampa' or 'kampan' meant a pargana, or an administrative unit. Tailakampi paid taxes to the ruler of the land. Telkupi was the capital of Rudrashikhara, a local ruler of the area in 11th century, who helped Pala king, Ramapala to recover Verendra from Bhima. The royal chronicle of Panchkot Raj of Shikhar dynasty mentions that Rudrashikhara rose to power in 1098 AD. Historian Nihar Ranjan Ray assumes that he ruled from 1070 to 1120. Sandhyakar Nandi in his poem Ramacharitam, mentions that like wildfire, Rudrashikhara, was an expert in warfare who crushed the pride of the rulers of rivers and mountains.
There were two copper mines in the vicinity: Tamajuri and Tamakhun. Traders carried copper from these mines and transported it to Tamralipta. Tailakampi was a busy port in ancient times and a prosperous city. Most of the temples here were built between 9th-13th century AD. Jainism spread in Purulia during this time. It is believed that a majority of traders who came to Tailakampi were Jains and hence the religion proliferated in this region. Deities of a number of Hindu gods and goddesses have also been unearthed and it is believed followers of both the religions lived in harmony.
The earliest reports of the Telkupi Temples are noted by Beglar who visited the spot on two occasions. His report records three clusters of temples, the largest consisting of 13 temples on the banks of the river Damodar which was the Bhairavasthan.
Bhairavasthan was some nine kilometres from Telkupi on the south bank of river Damodar. Bhairav was the presiding deity of the cluster of temples. Bhairava is an ancient forest form of Shiva accompanied by two dogs. W. W. Hunter refers to Bhairavasthan as a Jain site with some Buddhist influence. Later, Hindus began to offer their prayers in Jain temples and transformed their identities into Hindu deities. Even to this day, local villagers chant 'Telkupi Bhairavnath Hay/ Aranar Baneshwar hay' This Bhairavnath is Jain Tirthankar Rishavdev and his vehicle was an ox. The villagers now worship the ancient sculptures of Rishavdev as Shiva.
Story Tag:
Jain temples of Telkupi
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On January 31, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) released the 41st statistical report of China Internet network development in Beijing. As of December 2017, China's Internet population reached 772 million, with a penetration rate of 55.8 percent. This exceeds the global average (51.7 percent) by 4.1 percent and the Asian average (46.7 percent) by 9.1 percent. The number of Internet users in China continues to grow steadily. The growth momentum is due to innovative Internet models, integration between online and offline services and online public services.
Mobile Internet users account for 97.5 percent, and the mobile network promotes IoT devices.
As of December 2017, the number of mobile Internet users in China reached 753 million, and the proportion of mobile Internet users increased from 95.1 percent in 2016 to 97.5 percent. At the same time, the proportion of Internet users who use the Internet increased by 3.2 percentage points to 28.2 percent. The usage rate for desktop computers, laptops and tablets has all declined due to the popularization of mobile phones. Smart devices with mobile phones as their center are the core of IoT. Smart cars and smart home appliances promote life experience and build personalized and intelligent scenarios.
More than 100 Chinese Internet companies are listed, and their total market value reaches nearly 9 trillion yuan.
As of December 2017, the number of listed Internet enterprises in China and abroad reached 102, with an overall market value of 8.97 trillion yuan. The combined market capitalization of Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu accounted for 73.9 percent of the total market value. Online games, e-commerce, cultural media, online financial and software tools accounted for 28.4 percent, 14.7 percent, 10.8 percent, 9.8 percent and 5.9 percent respectively of the listed companies.
There are 77 Internet unicorns in China, and important progress has been made in the field of artificial intelligence.
As of December 2017, the total number of Internet unicorns in China was 77, 41.6 percent of which were located in Beijing and 23.4 percent in Shanghai. Others are located in Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Guangzhou. E-commerce and online financial enterprises accounted for 18.2 percent and 15.6 percent of the total number of unicorn enterprises, occupying the dominant position. Cultural entertainment, automobile transportation, intelligent hardware, online medical and artificial intelligence enterprises have developed rapidly. The Development Plan for AI in New Generation provides strategic basis for the development of artificial intelligence in China, and important progress in the field of artificial intelligence has been made. As of June 2017, China has 592 artificial intelligence enterprises, accounting for 23.3 percent of the global total. In 2016, there were 3,0115 patent applications for artificial intelligence in China.


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Home > Featured Blogs > Digital Is What We Do Now: Banking Trends And What Digital Teams Should Do About Them
Digital Is What We Do Now: Banking Trends And What Digital Teams Should Do About Them
Peter Wannemacher, Principal Analyst
The first email I received at work in 2014 was from a bank; along with a festive new year's greeting, the email touted the bank's new mobile app and a new feature that let customers set up travel notifications directly from the bank's website. Later that day, I was in an airport reading a friend's Facebook post about how she wished "more apps were like Uber."
These are just a few small anecdotes about ongoing digital trends impacting businesses and banks both large and small. I recently spoke with a banking executive who put it simply: "Digital is what we do now." (This quote is now the header of my Twitter feed.)
Forrester recently published our Trends 2014: North American Digital Banking report, in which we identify major forces impacting banks and lay out five actions that we recommend digital strategists take to prepare for the future of digital banking. Here's a sample of some of our findings:
Banks will face a sustained – yet unclear – regulatory environment. In both the US and Canada, banks are confronting an uncertain regulatory future. The Dodd-Frank Act was signed into US law on July 21, 2010, but a large number of the rules and regulations remain unwritten. It's unclear when they'll be finalized, and the fact that 47% of deadlines have already been missed – according to the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell – doesn't bode well.
Customers' use and expectations of digital services will keep rising. Customers are increasingly going digital: Roughly four in 10 Canadian online banking users agree with the statement "I rely less on bank branches today than I did in the past," and about one-quarter of US online adults say they would consider banking with a firm that does not have any branches. Meanwhile, 23% of Canadian online adults say "the quality of the mobile and online services is a key reason" they remain with a provider.
Digital disruptors will make their presence felt. New entrants like Simple and the invitation-only Moven as along with established disruptors like PayPal are using digital technologies to try to win younger, tech-savvy customers. Meanwhile, dozens of payments startups like Square and LevelUp in adjacent markets might soon start eyeing expansion opportunities and new revenue streams. Digital disruption can also take other forms, ranging from Wal-Mart's continued dabbling in financial services to some consumers' arms-length experimentation with digital currencies like Bitcoin. Digital disruption is unavoidable, but the good news is that many digital teams are positioned to help banks prepare for the challenges and opportunities that digital disruption brings: Digital strategists are the ones spending countless hours identifying adjacencies and planning online and mobile initiatives.
Leading banks will innovate by tapping internal talent. To compete with digital disruptors, leading banks are embracing open innovation, an approach that solicits new ideas from three broad participant groups: employees, partners, and customers. Internal talent – employees on the digital team and beyond – is a critical resource, and companies are tapping into this by running hackathons, rewarding employees for new ideas, and opening innovation labs. For example, Wells Fargo Labs, which focuses specifically on digital innovations, has yielded services like the online person-to-person (P2P) payment vehicle clearXchange
Banks will pilot more cross-channel banking initiatives. Forrester defines a cross-channel interaction as "Any instance in which a customer or prospect moves from one touchpoint to another when completing an objective." The number, frequency, and impact of these cross-channel interactions are growing, and customers' expectations around seamless cross-channel service and sales are rising. Put simply, this isn't your grandfather's cross-channel banking. We recommend digital teams at banks start small by mapping out which channel pairs are especially important, either because customers or prospects commonly move between two touchpoints — from a mobile app to an ATM or branch, for example — or because the two touchpoints are used in interactions that have an impact on the bank's bottom line — from an online mortgage calculator to an in-branch appointment with a mortgage advisor, for example.
I encourage you to read the entire report here. In addition, let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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On average, fires in the home kill 39 people each year in Ireland. Our guide will show you some easy safety precautions you can take to greatly reduce the risk of a lethal fire in your home.
The following do's and don'ts will help you prevent a fire starting in your home, and may even save lives.
Smoke when you're in bed or tired.
Leave children alone near an open fire.
Leave matches or lighters in reach of children.
Overload electrical sockets; one socket = one plug.
Use a heater or a cooker to dry clothes.
Use petrol or paraffin to light a solid fuel stove.
Keep a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home.
Keep a fire safety kit in the kitchen that includes a fire extinguisher and a fire safety blanket.
Clean your chimneys at least once a year.
Use a spark guard with open fires.
Use proper holders for candles.
Repair or replace faulty electrical appliances immediately.
Do a safety check before you go to bed.
If a fire does start, early detection will save lives. Most deaths are caused by the inhalation of smoke, so the early warning provided by an audible smoke alarm will give you and your family the chance to escape. 82% of fires that kill are in homes with no working smoke alarm.
It is essential to fit a smoke alarm on every floor. For maximum protection, fit a smoke alarm in every room except the bathroom and kitchen. A heat alarm is more suitable for the kitchen because of the smoke generated by cooking.
Test your smoke alarms once a week by pressing the "Test" button, and change the batteries as required.
Change the batteries as soon as you hear the warning beep.
Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old.
Never borrow batteries from the smoke alarm.
Together with your family or housemates, develop and practice a Fire Escape Plan.
Have at least two ways to get out of the house, in case one way is blocked by fire.
Stay low to the ground when escaping as the smoke will be less dense there.
Agree on a meeting point in a safe place outside the house.
Make sure everyone knows to call the emergency services by dialing 999 or 112, and to calmly and clearly tell the operator what service you require, the address and your phone number; only hanging up the call when the operator tells you to.
Just in case both escape routes are blocked, decide on a room where all of you can gather and wait to be rescued. There should be a phone in this room so you can call for help. Close the door and seal the bottom with towels or blankets to stop harmful smoke entering.
Never re-enter a burning house for personal items.
Put out candles and naked flames.
Place a spark guard in front of an open fire.
Keep your way out completely clear.
Keep a fire extinguisher and a fire safety blanket in the kitchen and know how to use them.
Only attempt to put out a fire yourself if it is safe to do so.
Keep a fire escape ladder in the room that offers the best exit route from a window.
Keep torches in the main rooms of the home and especially in the master bedroom in case the fire causes a power outage.
Feel all doors before opening them; if a door is hot, get out another way.
Browse our wide range of smoke and heat alarms here, and our fire safety products here. Visit your local Topline for more helpful advice.