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Guatemalans Have Had Enough
Congress suspended the latest budget bill following widespread protests against self-serving political elites.
Vaclav Masek
Thousands of Guatemalans took to the streets on November 21, in a historic day of unrest against an austerity budget approved under secretive conditions.
The events that unfolded over the weekend will be etched into collective memory of Guatemalans, with the iconic images of flames engulfing Congress as the embodiment of rage against the stale political class. Thousands peacefully assembled in the middle of a pandemic to urge an end to incompetence and corruption at the highest echelons of the Guatemalan state.
At midnight Sunday, Congress suspended the spending bill, not without calling for "the harshest penalties" to those involved in the "terrorists acts" against the legislative building in Guatemala City's Zona 1.
Regrettably, for Guatemalans and victims of counterinsurgent violence elsewhere, the authoritarian vestiges of the repressive state apparatus were also on full display: plainclothes security officers infiltrating among the demonstrators; riot police firing tear gas at peaceful crowds; arbitrary detentions of independent journalists; and outright police brutality against idle bystanders.
The nonviolent anti-government protests ended with at least 43 arrests, mostly university students who put their bodies on the frontlines to protect crowds gathered in front of the National Palace. Two protestors were operated on after sustaining eye injuries, and both lost their left eye.
Now, the demands that thousands rallied behind go beyond budgetary concerns. Guatemalans won't back down until meaningful change is realized.
Five years ago a similar moment culminated in the ousting of disgraced president Otto Pérez Molina and vice president Roxana Baldetti. Guatemalans inevitably entertain the idea that these compounding crises, which now include a severe legitimacy issue and an enraged public, might ultimately result in a similar outcome.
The Budget Vote As Boiling Point
The main slogan that drove the masses to take the streets was clear and actionable: veto the legislature's proposed austerity budget for 2021. Ironically, at Q99.7 billion (US$12.8 billion) the spending plan is the largest in Guatemala's history, much of it financed by public debt incurred by IMF loans.
Proposed by the legislative bloc led by President Alejandro Giammattei's VAMOS party, the budget was negotiated in secret and approved at dawn on November 18 by Congress. The bill included a budget increase for congressional facilities, funneling millions of quetzales to ministries enmeshed in corruption allegations, and spending cuts for education and health.
The administration alleged that the budget for 2021 was "advantageous" to the country, even though it slashed funding to key programs like the national human rights agency known as the Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos (PDH), and lowered allocations to the judiciary.
The day before the protests erupted, and as calls for the president to veto the budget bill grew, Vice President Guillermo Castillo said in a news conference that he had "little communication with the president" and publicly extended an offer to the president to resign together, saying they should step down "for the good of the country."
As of Monday, November 22, the president has yet to respond to the vice president's comments.
The distance between Giammattei and Castillo, although clear for some time, "has reached the point of no return" said Guatemalan historian Rodrigo Véliz, who specializes in Guatemalan foreign policy during the Cold War.
"Perhaps the [issue] that attracted the most attention was Castillo's stance on Social Security," said Véliz. "The vice president defended the institution and rejected any attempt to privatize it, even amid the pandemic."
After 10 months in office marked by crisis and ungovernability, a president with poor approval ratings, who is closed to dialogue even with his own vice president, now faces the worst legitimacy crisis of his administration. "Now we have to see who and whom is supporting the vice president," said Véliz.
Discontent is growing due to the lack of empathy towards societal needs, shown by both legislators and officials in the executive branch. Congresspeople's insistence on pushing the budget through is an affront on the few remaining democratic institutions in Guatemala. The timing could not be worse: an economic downturn due to the extended lockdown, a worsening public health situation due to the pandemic, and now a delicate humanitarian situation. The country is still assessing the wreckage of Eta and Iota, back-to-back hurricanes that rendered entire communities underwater.
Fire, Tear Gas, and Arrests
Although nationwide demonstrations took place simultaneously, protests were called for 2 PM Saturday at the Plaza de la Constitución in Zona 1, in the heart of Guatemala City's historic center. The open space has recently been renamed by feminist collectives as the Plaza de las Niñas, in memory of the 41 girls who burned inside an state-run orphanage in 2017, during the administration of former president and comedian Jimmy Morales. Largely attributed to negligence and abuse, the Hogar Seguro incident not only eroded the legitimacy of the state in providing welfare to its citizenry, but also inspired calls for structural changes in the outdated bureaucracy of paternalist policymaking.
Around the time that the rally started in the Plaza, protesters three blocks away set Congress ablaze as police officers looked on, passively "guarding" the building. Doubts still surround the torching, which the Giammattei administration regards as a "terrorist act." Calls for the demonstrations were made days in advance, so the absence of security forces to protect the Congress is suspicious.
Once the building went up in flames, police moved into Congress with tear gas. Demonstrators fled and scattered into the Plaza, where the majority of the participants were peacefully assembled. A picket line of mostly university students contained the advance of the security forces, allowing for the Plaza to be free of unrest until later in the afternoon, when security forces took aim at the crowd.
Tear gas spread across the Plaza, as the crowd stampeded away from the toxic fumes. Perhaps one of the most surreal moments was when members of the National Civilian Police (PNC) were caught on camera pulling weapons out a gutter during a skirmish with protesters. At night, police vehicles equipped with water cannons cleared the Plaza and its surroundings.
As information about the detainees surfaced later in the night, lawyers and human rights defenders offered support at the Torre de Tribunales, where they were detained.
Carlos Martínez Roca, a lawyer working on transitional justice issues, helped secure their release. "The vast majority of the detainees were young people: university students, independent journalists, and people from working class backgrounds that were literally snatched from the street for being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Martínez Roca. "All of them complained about the excessive use of force during their arbitrary arrests, some security officers even threatening them with death." Martínez Roca and his fellow pro bono lawyers, many of them recent university graduates, communicated with detainees' family members during the process.
Hearings continue on Monday, November 22, but so far the vast majority of charges against protesters, which include illegal protest, public disorder, property damage, have been thrown out. Judges have criticized prosecutors' failure to present evidence in the case against political prisoners.
The day after the #21N protests, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a statement condemning the "excessive use of force" by police. Following these events of police terror, the PDH requested the court order the removal of the recently-named Minister of the Interior and police chief. This follows the Constitutional Court accepting a writ of amparo to order police to respect the right to protest.
At midnight on Sunday night, Congress released a bizarre pre-recorded statement showing tweets and Facebook posts that allegedly "incited the burning of the cultural patrimony of the country." Leaders from all parties with congressional representation appear in a message delivered by Allan Rodríguez, president of Congress and leader of the Giammattei's VAMOS party. Rodríguez announced that the legislature is "suspending" the budget bill, which generates concerns about the legal procedures that may follow said decision.
The Era of Repression is Ongoing
Similar to origins of the police in the United States, the police has been a defining feature of the Guatemalan nation-state and its capitalist-oriented development logic.
According to historian María Aguilar Velásquez, who studies the social history of the National Civilian Police (PNC) during the Guatemalan Civil War, it is important to contest the official narrative of a "peaceful" Guatemala after the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996. "Saturday's event is a reflection of what has been happening to Indigenous communities for a long time, and a lesson that the state still protects its interests," Aguilar Velásquez said.
"The first police force in Guatemala was created by Justo Rufino Barrios in the 1870s to control forced Indigenous labor in coffee plantations," she explained. "The police owe itself to the state, which in the case of Guatemala is patriarchal, racist and exclusionary; and so, it responds to its instructions accordingly."
Despite the creation of a new Constitution amid the ongoing civil war in 1985, massacres continued, she added. "So, during the Peace Accords, agreements established that security forces were going to be reformed—the army was going to reduce its ranks, and the PNC would be tasked with 'protection.'"
But even after the war ended and the peace agreement was signed, repression against communities continued. "The narrative that repression is a recent feature of democratic Guatemala erases the recurrent displacements of Indigenous communities protecting their land caused by security forces," said Aguilar Velásquez.
On Sunday night, the government of Guatemala issued a statement alleging "systematic acts of violence against national institutions." The Giammattei administration invoked the Inter-American Democratic Charter and asked the Organization of American States to mediate dialogue, claiming that "a minority group is attempting to carry out a coup."
There are similarities between the scenes on #21N and the multiclass coalition that consolidated in 2015 and ousted Otto Pérez Molina and Roxana Baldetti. Corruption is at the center of it all. But the protest movement still lacks adequate political organization and a consolidated program to fundamentally reconfigure the antidemocratic postwar political system.
One difference between 2015 and the latest protests, according to the historian Véliz, is the display of "traces of frustration and anger" on Saturday. "So far," he added, "there are no signs of a massive rejection of the burning of Congress, which would suggest a certain harmony with that action with the population that did not mobilize out of fear of the pandemic," says the historian Véliz.
Simmering since 2015, Guatemalans' anger over incompetent and corrupt governance has erupted. Now, the streets are flooded by a vibrant coalescence of diverse constituencies that is bound to keep growing under the banner of ending the self-serving pursuit of wealth and power by the political elites.
How many of us can the Plaza hold?
Vaclav Masek is a doctoral student in Sociology at the University of Southern California.


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Q: My second for loop is not running? I have 2 for loops, I am working on a 2048 like game. This method returns true if something slid to the left. However, it returns false to me and only "banana" is printing, which means the other for loop isn't even executed. What could be the case?
  public boolean slideLeft(int[][] array, int row) {
    int[] array2 = new int[array.length];
    boolean result = false;
    for(int j = 0; j < array.length; j++) {
      array2[j] = array[j][row];
      System.out.println("banana");
    }
    for (int i = 0; i <array2.length; i ++) {
      if (array2[i] == 0 && array2[i+1] != 0 && i != array2.length-1) {
        System.out.println("apple");
        array2[i] = array2 [i+1];
        result = true;
      }
      if(array2[i] != 0 && i != 0 && array2[i-1] == array2[i]) {
        System.out.println("pear");
        array2[i-1] = 2*(array2[i-1]);
        array2[i]=0;
        result = true;
      }
    }
    return result;
  }

A: Second for loop executed but none of condition inside the second for loop is not match. Then you will not get any out put.
You can make sure second for loop is running just put a else and print something.
You need to reconsider and rethink about condition inside the second for loop to correct them.

A: Your other for loop would throw ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException when i==array2.length-1, because the following condition is evaluated from left to right, so array2[i+1] would be aveluated before i != array2.length-1 is evaluated.
  if (array2[i] == 0 && array2[i+1] != 0 && i != array2.length-1) {
    System.out.println("apple");
    array2[i] = array2 [i+1];
    result = true;
  }

You should change it to :
  if ( i != array2.length-1 & array2[i] == 0 && array2[i+1] != 0) {
    System.out.println("apple");
    array2[i] = array2 [i+1];
    result = true;
  }

Your second if condition avoids a similar exception, since you check that i != 0 before checking that array2[i-1] == array2[i].

A: Its seems that you are trying to create an array, array2, of integers of length array.length. There is a possibility that the array.length could just contain two rows (possibility of single row is eliminated because if there was just one row you would have seen IndexOutofBoundException) in such case your if conditions will never get executed.
A way you can work through is by placing check statements for array.length and else clause in the second for loop.

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Big changes can happen in your life at any time, so you have to think carefully about financial decisions that may affect your future. Whether your family is growing or you're trying to limit the impact of a transition on your loved ones, remember your long-term goals. You may be considering important life events like college or marriage; you may be put in a position of caring for the people who supported you throughout your life; or you may be negotiating a settlement to divide your combined assets — no matter what the situation, you've got a lot to think about. Planning now could help make the difference between just getting by and living comfortably down the road.
As you develop your financial strategies, be sure to protect your assets and family against life's uncertainties. There are many considerations to take into account as you approach retirement age. Given today's longer life spans and active lifestyles, you need to ensure you have a steady stream of retirement income. You may also be concerned about contributing to your children or your grandchildren's college education. Finally, you should establish an estate plan to make sure the assets you've accumulated pass on to those you love, according to your wishes. Insurance coverage can provide a solid foundation for your future, protecting you and those who depend on you for financial security. Some basic protection planning now can help ensure you have the income and assets to meet your financial goals in the future.


text:
go, explore!
Art of Travel
7 Weirdest Tourist Attractions you shouldn't miss!
So you are weird and have never fit in? Hey, you there – the kid who spent 14 years in school, silently staring out of the window, the girl who likes to wear fur boots in summer because she just likes to, the 30 year old business executive who has a 2 GB collection of ocean sounds, the boy who skipped classes to hang out alone in the library, the woman who changes her hair color, every month, like Ramona Flowers, the man who still refuses to open an email account – basically you, who are different from everyone around you, and you, who simply wants to pack his/her bags and get away from all this drama and chaos. You, me, the same, the weird kind!
In this world where everything has become predicable and usual, where people have been reduced to just bodies chasing this or that, it seems like we have all lost that part of us which wants something new, not money or happiness, or success or babies, but just something new to experience, to see!
Here is a list of places that are calling out to that element in you which has forgotten what it is like to be surprised, or scared, or amused or even simply confused by something corporeal before your eyes. Pack your bags every few months and take a trip to one of these places if you are simply weird, or have some green-colored beard.
1. Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden in Thailand
The tourism industry calls it the Thailand Hell Horror Park. But this place is so much more than that. It is both gruesome sight to behold and a spiritual journey that one could undertake. It brings to life the Buddhist concepts of sin and the suffering of pain in the underworld by cement and plaster statues depicting the various torture methods employed in Naraka (hell). Inside the garden a sign reads: 'If you meet the Devil in this life, don't postpone merit-making which will help you to defeat him in the next life.'
How to get there: This unnerving piece of art is located in the village of Saen Suk. Take a bus from Bangkok to Bang Saen town in Chon Buri province. After that, you are lucky if you get a taxi or a passing car. Otherwise, your only option is a walk almost 3 hours.
[Credits: Flickr]
2. Hoia Baciu Forest in Romania
I know what you're gonna say. Forests and woods are always spooky. Haven't I learnt anything from the Little Red Riding Hood? Well, I must ashamedly admit, my attention span as a kid was ridiculously below average and I never quite made it to the end of any story.
This forest, famously known as the 'Bermuda Triangle of Romania' and covering over 250 hectares, has seen multiple disappearances of travelers and thrill-seekers, UFO sightings, unexplained electrical phenomenon, ghost sightings and apparitions, faces appearing in photographs taken there, strange shaped trees, and unexplained charring on tree stumps and branches. Apparently, when you enter the forest, you are overcome by intense anxiety and the feeling that you are being watched.
How to get there: It is located in the Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania, which has an international airport in place for you to fly there.
3. The Catacombs in Paris
First of all, watch the 2014 movie called As Above, So Below. And then book a ticket to Paris if you think you have what it takes.
The Catacombs of Paris is an enormous ossuary (room filled with bones of dead people) and cemetery built under the streets of the city neatly holding the remains of about 6 million bodies. The caverns and tunnels of the stone mines were converted into mausoleums for the dead, a city for the dead, under the living and breathing city of Paris. Inside, one can see stacks and stacks of skulls and bones reaching the ceiling while you walk between these rows, unguarded.
How to get there: The Catacombs are well within the city of Paris. Any flight from your nearest international airport is going to get you there.
4. Dwarf Village in China
Now on a happier note, did you know that China has an entire village inhabited almost exclusively by dwarfs? It is a place, called the 'Kingdom of the Little People' where they can be among people who are like them, without any fear of judgment or jokes or second-looks. And for the tourist in you, there are performances and plays put up by the inhabitants, mainly scenes from fairy tales and ballets. There are also markets where you can buy mementos and accessories.
How to get there: It is located near Kunming in Yunnan. Just take a train. Not pricey.
[Credits: CVLTNation]
5. Ramen Museum in Japan
Remember the nights in hostel when you ended up having long conversations with your friends and suddenly realized that it's 4 am and that there is a black hole in your stomach? That electric kettle and instant noodles combo is essentially why you got through college.
Well, there is an entire museum dedicated to this savior of youth called the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, which pays a tribute to the creator of cup noodles, holding everything from a reproduction of the shack where Mr. Ando first invented chicken ramen to a tasting room with different Nissin products.
How to get there: Located in two cities – Yokohama and Osaka – with an entry fee of 500 yen for adults, getting there simply needs one to take a flight.
6. Phallus Museum in Iceland
There are one too many men obsessed with their own members. Is it normal when a person is obsessed with the members of every mammal on earth? I doubt, if I'd hear a yes. But, it's definitely worth witnessing this 'massive' collection.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum hosts a collection of phallic specimens of over 200 mammals found in the country. Basically, it's a building housing severed male pride in jars filled with preservatives. An interesting fact to note is that there is a documentary called The Final Member about two men competing to be the first human specimen!
How to get there: It's located in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. A flight to the city and a cab to the museum. Simple.
7. Varosha in Cyprus
Wanna see how the world would look like after it ends? Abandoned buildings, isolation, absolute silence, tumbleweed blowing away on the ground – the picture of serenity or a ghost town, depending on your perception.
Varosha is a completely uninhabited coastal town in Cyprus which once held families, but after the Turkish invasion in 1974 was evacuated when the inhabitants were told to run for their lives. It originally had a flourishing tourism industry and was, in essence, a resort town, but now just looks like the set of a post-apocalyptic movie.
How to get there: The deserted town is in the southern region of the city of Famagusta, located on the east coast of Cyprus. Sadly, public entry to Varosha is restricted, but one can always have a look from the outside.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the Florida attorney general, announced an operation a few months ago that successfully shut down a major computer tech scam that cheated people out of millions of dollars by convincing them that their computer was compromised and they needed to pay for the fix.
The FTC also warned that these types of scams continue to be a major threat to U.S. consumers.
In fact, there's a new version of the scam making the rounds that involves a pop-up warning claiming to be from Microsoft. According to a recent report, the fake notification first warns you that your computer will lock up if the alert window is closed, and then it instructs you to call a specific phone number 'immediately.' The message from the crooks may also warn that your computer has 'been infected with a suspicious activity' and even claim that your information has already been stolen.
This is just one variation of how it can work.
The problem is that these scams come in all different shapes and sizes — including pop-up alerts, fake advertisements and even phone calls — making it difficult for consumers to be able to tell the difference between fake alerts and the real ones.
To make users think these pop-up alerts are legitimate, hackers create them to look just like real updates you would get from Microsoft or Apple. Typically, the notification then prompts the user to call a toll-free number (displayed in the ad) to make sure their device, and any sensitive information stored inside, are protected.
When you call the number, you're asked to give a fake tech support worker remote access to your computer by downloading a software.
In one case, fake 'technicians' sitting in a call center in Florida would then allegedly 'run a series of 'diagnostics' that inevitably discovered the existence of grave problems that must be immediately fixed at a cost of $200 to $300,' according to the FTC.
On top of that, consumers were encouraged to spend an additional $200 to $500 to replace their existing antivirus software, which they were told was outdated and useless. And when people did purchase the 'updated software,' it was typically something that's already available as a free download, according to the FTC.
Get rid of malware. Update or download legitimate security software and scan your computer. Delete anything it identifies as a problem. Here's a list of free antivirus and malware protection options.
Don't click on any links in an email you weren't expecting: Scammers often disguise malware attacks as emails that appear to be from a friend, helpful website or company you do business with. If you aren't sure about it, delete the email and contact the friend or company directly. If you click on any link or attachment in an email you weren't expecting, it could install malware on your device without you even realizing it until your bank account has been drained.
If you receive an email claiming to be from your bank or other company that has your personal information, don't click on any of the links: Even if it looks official, it could still very easily be a scam. Instead, log in to your account separately to check for any new notices. You can also call the company about the information sent via email.
Research unknown sites before going to them directly: When it comes to spotting potentially-dangerous websites, before you go to an unknown site, double-check the spelling of the web address/URL by first doing a search for it.
Run anti-virus software: Frequently run anti-virus protection programs on your devices to check for any malware that could be hiding in the background. Here's a list of free options.
Watch: Scam alert: Is that job posting real?


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Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology
Our Spring edition is packed full of some of the most exciting, and necessary, developments in data science and manufacturing. Whether it's the smart automation of manufacturing equipment in huge premises, or the digitalisation of clinical trial operators, this issue of IPT uncovers the changes we're seeing across the industry.
IPT Spring 2022 Contents
EDITORIAL DESK
The IPT editorial team attempts to navigate the latest pharmaceutical innovations in a time of devastation in Ukraine and around the world.
CONNECTIN PHARMA
Industry News and Updates
Discover some of the latest innovations and products from the biggest companies in the pharma industry.
How Cloud ERP Software Can Help Manufacturers Succeed Post-Brexit
The repercussions of events like Brexit and the global pandemic have caused uncertainty and a need to rethink strategy altogether. However, an integrated SaaS solution can provide a holistic view of the business and enhanced control over processes.
Plant-Powered Formulations Offer a Sustainable Future
Innovative oral therapeutics that meet patients' needs for ease of use and the desire for more environmentally friendly solutions, have the best chance of success.
Predictive Digital Twins Help Pharmaceutical Companies Plan
In an uncertain environment, using technologies like digital twins and predictive simulation can help forecast the impact of changes across the manufacturing process without affecting current business practices.
How API Manufacturers and Technology Suppliers Can Mitigate Potent API Processing Risks
Michael Avraam at ChargePoint Technology walks IPT through the challenges and obstacles that companies face when looking to build safety, quality, and efficiency into their potent active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) processes
Improving Systems Integration in Manufacturing
Pharma has been slow to adopt new technology in its manufacturing plants, partly because it fears change and partly because it often has a mix of legacy equipment. However, embracing greater interoperability through technology can smooth processes and support data integrity.
The Changing Face of Quality Management
Smart automation is enabling new ways to monitor and intervene pre-emptively in pharma manufacturing. Find out the views of industry experts, who debated the subject in a roundtable video discussion.
Advances in In-Line Rheology Measurement of Topical Pharmaceuticals
Many elements make up the composition of topical pharmaceutical products, and maintaining the correct rheological characteristics is vital to avoid product quality and even failure.
A Roadmap to Effective Digital Transformation
Biopharmaceutical companies need a clear strategy to ensure greater manufacturing efficiency and data integrity through the appropriate use of digital technologies
SAMEDAN LTD
Transforming Patient Data Automation for Clinical Trials
Manual duplication of records is time-consuming and risks errors. New technology, that works with all systems, promises to eliminate these challenges and improve data integrity.
Powering Clinical Trial Analytics With Automation
The application of end-to-end technology in clinical trial processes, coupled with updated quality standards, will accelerate the review and usability of data and reduce time to market for new therapies
'Storming and Forming' Cloud Deployment
Pharmaceutical companies that have started to embrace digitalisation and cloud storage are examining the many areas where these technologies can benefit their increasingly data-rich businesses
Microbiomes and the New Bio Revolution
Advances in microbiome ecology and data science are set to fuel the next industrial revolution, improving drug development, health, and wellbeing
In-person exhibitions are back for 2022. Take a look at what's in store for the next quarter in pharma.
PMEA
Manufacturing Roundtable: Quality ManagementThe Changing Face of Quality ManagementAs smart automation offers new ways to monitor and pre-emptively intervene in pharma manufacturing, what does the future hold for the discipline? Late last year, experts from Merck, Syneos Health and Accenture debated the subject via video, chaired by James Kelleher, CEO of Generis Dr Heiner Niessen at Merck, Peter Brandsetter at Accenture, James Man at Syneos Health, and James Kelleher at GenerisIs the Era of Quality Management Over? The panel first looked at the future role of quality management in life science. James Man of Syneos Health suggested that the activity could now be more embedded within everyday operations and improved incrementally, a vision that Peter Brandstetter of Accenture agreed with.
"I think companies will reach a point where they don't need quality management or people working in quality," he said. "When everything is digital and automated, quality management loses its relevance."
On the ground, though, the situation looks rather more complex. Merck's Heiner Niessen said he believed quality demands are actually increasing, as more parameters are measured and the responsibility for quality extends along the supply chain.
Yet this, in turn, increases the urgency to address the manual burden of quality monitoring and management. "There's an opportunity here," Brandstetter said. "The more we learn about the manufacturing process from all of the data being collected – and about the context – the better we can predict it, rather than checking retrospectively."
It's here that smart use of technology offers considerable potential – for example in managing information from different sources. As Merck's Niessen put it: "With improving digitalisation, it's much easier to capture and track this information, right out into the real world."
Personnel Factors The idea of smarter technology and automation can cause consternation among teams – who may worry about being sidelined, or about whether they can trust the technology sufficiently to let it take over from human oversight.
But Syneos Health's James Man said that it is still people who make the decisions and promote change – however, if those decisions can be informed by rich data, the outcomes are likely to be better.
It might be better to involve quality experts more, he suggested. "Right now, there isn't typically a role of Chief Quality Officer – but perhaps there should be," he said. "If companies want to be more pre-emptive, and for compliance to add value to the business, there will need to be structural changes – beginning with representation."
The Role of AI At Merck, machine intelligence is already starting to play a role in quality management, although this is currently only in limited areas such as image analysis. Although AI has yet to be applied to 'real decision-making', Niessen suggested that the quality considerations would be similar to those already in place.
"Either you train the human being, or you train the algorithm, so if it doesn't work, the measures to take will be the same," he noted. The critical requirement, though, would be that the algorithm's own decision-making process would be transparent.
"There is enormous pressure on the industry to reduce the cost of medical drugs and companies do need to contain costs wherever possible"Syneos's Man suggested that AI/ML might offer potential in the context of individualised/personalised medicine and quality management – to keep track of oversight and do this more cheaply, and less manually: along the lines of a digital twin perhaps.
"If AI can be applied as a learning tool, I do see potential for collectively improving capability by identifying near misses and so on," he said.
Niessen noted that when very low quantities of a product are involved, the need for greater efficiency with quality management grows, given that there will be as many quality control measures as there are personalised products.
The Business Benefits "Do companies just have to accept that quality costs will rise as data and parameters increase, or should they become better at reducing effort and containing costs?" asked James Kelleher at Generis.
There is enormous pressure on the industry to reduce the cost of medical drugs and companies do need to contain costs wherever possible, the panel agreed – especially with the trend towards personalised medicine. Also, from a health insurance perspective, as outcome-based reimbursement becomes more established, the cost of quality does become a factor, Accenture's Brandstetter added.
So, what of the scope for smarter quality in delivering tangible business benefits – for example, driving insights for future products, preventing recalls, ensuring the supply chain delivers as expected, and so on?
"Lots of companies recognise that quality is an underutilised competitive lever," James Man acknowledged. "People are cautious about investing currently," he said. "There's certainly more that can be done."
The Roadmap To finish up the debate, Generis's Kelleher asked the panel what definitive steps companies might take between now and 2025 to move closer to their goals.
Merck's Niessen pointed to the need to connect individual quality systems across the value chain to enable seamless data transfer. "So, you would have your CAPA system, your RIM system, your supplier RIM system all acting more or less as one system," he suggested. Merck sees a big advantage here, he said, and has initiatives in place to drive standard data exchange formats for exchanging quality information at a system level.
Accenture's Brandstetter concurred that there needs to be more structured data that are exchangeable across company borders. Blockchain could help here, he suggested – enabling a trusted chain of data.
Regarding the role of static 'documents', the panel were undecided. James Man thought that their role would not diminish. "The way we access and interact with documents is here to stay," he said. "But we should connect quality systems, and a Chief Quality Officer function will be important. Embedding quality people in the key R&D teams will happen. Achieve that, and you might be piloting more real-time data exchange with the regulators by 2025."
Dr Heiner Niessen
Head of Application Technology Quality & Compliance at Merck.James Man
quality subject expert and R&D Advisory
Managing Director at Syneos Health.Peter Brandstetter
Quality and Regulatory expert at Accenture.James Kelleher
CEO at Generis.


15.59mm x 24.08mm / 0.614in. x 0.948in.
Ornate Celtic Cross Charm by Rembrandt Charms. The height is 1 inch. The Ornate Celtic Cross Charm is a piece of jewelry that adds an Irish and religious flair to any charm collection.
This religious charm can be placed on a necklace or will be a wonderful addition to a Charm Bracelet. All Rembrandt Charms are available in either silver or gold.


One type of surgical procedure is called "myomectomy", which is performed to remove the fibroids via an abdominal incision.
A relatively safe procedure, known as "hysteroscopy" (surgical procedure utilizing an endoscope), is often performed to remove the fibroids without needing an abdominal incision.
Should the fibroids get very large, "hysterectomy" (surgical removal of the uterus) still remains the only permanent solution for uterine fibroids.
It is quite hard to differentiate a malignant uterine sarcoma from the common uterine fibroids because they share the same symptoms. It is important to consult your physician to determine if you're having symptoms that might be caused by cancer in the uterus.


Prefers wetter, cooler areas and tolerates light shade.
Recognised as a pasture weed in New Zealand as early as 1955 and has become a significant pest plant in parts of the North Island.
Appears to spread along roadsides in the Manawatu due to mowing of road verges.
Tutsan may infest lightly shaded native forest lands and therefore prevent forest regeneration. It can also dominate riparian areas.
Repeat mowing may weaken the plant.
Follow-up control is likely to be required. Tutsan may re-sprout from woody stems after poor spray application and regeneration of plants from seed may also occur.


The runways of Givenchy, Celine and Lanvin were just three that made it clear that fashion's long fascination with the dark side continues well into spring. While florals and pastels might work for some girls, if black on black is more your speed, we have you covered. Take note of ladies like Kendall Jenner, Ciara, Gal Gadot and Bella Hadid who go all noir all the time—and shop the pieces.
Derek Lam top, $1,395, shopBAZAAR.com.
Elizabeth & James dress, $465, net-a-porter.com.
Proenza Schouler dress, $3,069, matchesfashion.com.
The Row jacket, $2,990, net-a-porter.com.


The Let's All Do Good app will simplify your life by allowing you to easily keep up to date on each child's school activities, local community events, and your favorite non-profit organizations – all in one place. It's easy to navigate and simple to use, and you'll never miss another event or opportunity again.
My Discovery Destination! is proud to sponsor this app to all Cache County schools at no cost. We believe it will help busy families manage their time and resources better than ever before. The schools in Cache County are participating as a pilot program to help prepare the program to go statewide. As part of the pilot program, My Discovery Destination! is also providing the sponsoring capability to each school throughout the pilot program. Over the next few months we will expand this service to our other communities, and eventually to the rest of the schools across the state.


Administration and Operational staff in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs was on Monday apprised on the Ministry's strategic direction in achieving its mandate to the indigenous peoples.
Ministers Sydney Allicock and Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Deputy Permanent Secretary Samantha Fedee were all in attendance.
The engagement was the first for 2019 and came on the heels of a successful 2018.
The Ministry was able to deliver on its Current and Capital Budgetary allocations with an expenditure totaling approximately 96%.
Staff members attending the first general meeting of 2019.
Minister Sydney Allicock in his address assured staff that the APNU/AFC coalition remains in Government and will deliver its mandate to the indigenous peoples since they (the indigenous populations) is dependent on the Ministry to deliver needed goods and services.
The Minister also encouraged staff to ensure that projects under the Presidential Grants initiative which are incomplete are completed in a timely manner and assistance be given to ensure this is realized.
Some $1.9B was approved in the National Assembly for 2019.
Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe in echoing similar sentiments, also noted that staff is critical to delivery, and encouraged all, to work together and much will be achieved.
Alfred King who is the Ministry's Accounting Officer also noted that to realize development, staff must be able to give a good account of their hours at work and be good stewards for the allocation of resources which will ultimately benefit villages and communities.
Meanwhile, in order for effectively and efficiently execution the Ministry's budgetary allocations, the Policy team last week sought assistance from the Finance Ministry in order to successfully implement is budgetary allocations.
The Ministry of Finance proposed a 5-STAR approach which will be used by the Ministry to implement is policies and programs.
The approaches are the Quick Gains, the Green Dot, the Yellow Dot, the Low Hanging Fruits with the fifth and final approach being the REDDD Flags.
"The Quick Gains' approach will see a matrix developed for all roll over projects with stipulated timelines and progress reports, and once those timelines and guidelines are observed, implementation of project/s will be execute in accordance with Government's developmental agenda.
This approach identifies issues, challenges concerns (if any) that were encountered during the execution phase.
"The Green Dot" approach will see projects budgeted for in 2019 and executed in a timely manner, since they would have been in "a state of readiness" following the acquisition of designs and Bill of Quantities.
A matrix must be developed which must include Name of Project, date advertised, Close Date of Bids, Date for Evaluation to be completed, Date for Award from the National Procurement Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Date of No-objection from Cabinet (if necessary), Date of Commencement and Completion of Works.
"The Yellow Dot" focuses on projects for which no designs are available and hence cannot be tendered.
A matrix will be developed and must include, Name of Project, Preparation of designs (if In-House), Preparation of TOR for consultant ( if External design consultant), Date for Launch of tender, Closing Date, Award date an Period of design and preparation of Bill of Quantities.
Hereafter, Ministries must apply the Green Dot status and the Quick Gain status as required.
"Long Hanging Fruits", which refers to the procurement of goods and services will also see several guidelines observe among them, acquiring technical specifications (where technical specifications are not available, prepare specs immediately), commencement of the tendering process and as far as practical, group procurement of similar goods, equipment and supplies across departments/divisions, then proceed to the "Green Dot" phase.
"The REDDD Flags" identifies projects that are not yet identified in budget 2019 among them miscellaneous roads, drains, bridges, schools, health facilities, police stations to name a few.
Staff in the Procurement, Governance and Projects are the specific target departments since they play a key role in implementation.
The Ministry has in its employ some one hundred and thirty three staff covering Policy, Administration and Operational.


Discover stunning beaches hugging the crystal waters of the Pacific and the Upper Clarence taking you off the beaten track to another world.
From the coastal diversity of Bundjalung National Park to the lush rainforests of the Border Ranges National Park, adventurers will not be disappointed. West of Casino you'll find Mallanganee National Park and moments away Richmond Range National Park. These parks offer spectacular views over the ancient volcanic landscape of the Green Cauldron and Mt Warning on the north coast of NSW.
Established and emerging artists show their talent through the standard and uniqueness of their work. Visit a gallery to to view paintings, textiles, artifacts and sculptures on display.
Picnic by the Evans River, known as Little River, where excellent facilities are available with child-friendly swimming.
Arrive at dusk or dawn where you can observe the platypus swimming or feeding in their natural environment. There are also fish, water fowl and ducks to be seen.


Vivekananda kendra conducted on 30th to 1st July of 2015 non-residential camp Bothakur road ulubari Guwahati Assam.
Labels: Vivekananda kendra conducted on 30th to 1st July of 2015 non-residential camp Bothakur road ulubari Guwahati Assam.
Yoga satra 1st to 10th July 2015 112 participants.


text:
A Certain Uncertainty: Haegue Yang's Sculpture Takes Unpredictable Paths
Over the past twenty years, the Korean-born artist has created a tremendously varied body of enigmatic work, both sculptural and graphic.
Christopher Phillips
AiA Photos
Photos: Haegue Yang's Exhibition "In the Cone of Uncertainty," at the Bass Museum of Art
ADAA Art Show Opens, Met Museum Updates Painting's Provenance, and More: Morning Links from February 27, 2020
Here's what we're reading this morning.
Be There With Bells On! As MoMA Reopens in New York, Haegue Yang Plots Potent Performance-Installation for Spacious Atrium
The new commission will come alive each afternoon at the museum.
Haegue Yang at South London Gallery, United Kingdom
See images from one notable show every weekday.
Apr 2, 2019 5:29 pm
From the Archives: Haegue Yang Brings Storage to the Spotlight, in 2010
The South Korean artist currently has a show on view at the Museum Ludwig.
Spring Preview: The Most Promising Museum Shows and Biennials Around the World
Behold 28 shows and biennials to see this season.
Into the Void: On Spring Shows of Empty, Charged Spaces , and Raw, Rough-and-Tumble Sculpture in New York
On shows at the Whitney Museum, Essex Street, Artist's Institute, Gladstone, Gagosian, Artists Space, Metro Pictures, Real Fine Arts, Greene Naftali, Mitchell-Innes & Nash
Andrew Russeth
Haegue Yang at Greene Naftali, New York
Pictures at an Exhibition presents images of one notable show every weekday
Lyon Biennale
The title of the 13th Lyon Biennale is curiously antiquated: "La Vie Moderne." Like previous iterations of the recurring exhibition, this one was conceived by a guest curator in response to a prompt b…


I am a documentary wedding photographer, based in Sheffield. I have been fortunate enough to shoot weddings across the UK and beyond and I'm more than willing to travel. I aim to capture weddings creatively whilst documenting your day in a relaxed but professional way. In my experience, it is essential to book a photographer that you feel a connection with. Making sure that my style and work reflects what you would like your photographs to portray is paramount to ensuring that we are right for one another. My photographs tell stories. In this case, love stories. I feel privileged to be able to meet and get to know such awesome couples and then to share one of the biggest days of their lives! It really is a wonderful feeling, to capture on camera such momentous moments and to make sure that you have them to keep forever. I simply love my job and this passion shines through in each and every one of the images I take.
My passion is for documentary photography and this underpins my style when it comes to weddings. My approach is simple…I capture everything I see. You can never be sure, no matter how much meticulous planning has gone into the day, when a great moment is about to happen. In order to tell the whole story of the day, my camera will always be by my side. I will be ready to record all of the special, planned moments of your day but also to look out for the unique and incidental things, which make your wedding bespoke to you. My discreet style enables me to capture personalities and impromptu moments, which you may have missed whilst enjoying your day. This often provides a different perspective for you, taken through my lens.
I will provide you with a beautiful collection of amazing images that tell the story of your day. My documentary approach ensures that all of your photographs will be captured in an unobtrusive and personal manner. This will remain consistent, right from the early preparation time spent with the bride and groom, throughout the day and right up until the first dance and evening reception. Of course, I will also take the more formal shots but in a way that you feel comfortable with.
After the wedding, I will work closely with you to produce contemporary, natural images that capture your love and are uniquely yours. You will help by bringing your personal insight and knowledge to ensure that we select the best pictures. These will document events as well as reflecting all of the emotion of the day. I will add my own narrative alongside your story telling and together, we will ensure that you are totally happy with your final images. You will have something very special and completely bespoke, that you can treasure forever.


text:
Nitol looking to assemble Tata Nano locally
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=93643
Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan
Bangladesh could be the next assembling home of the world's cheapest car Tata Nano, if a negotiation among the government, the car's Indian manufacturer and their local representative sees the daylight.
Nitol, the local sales agent of Nano's giant parent concern Tata Motors, said Sunday that the company was aiming to assemble the jelly bean-shaped car from its own premises after its grand unveiling in Bangladesh at the recently-concluded India Trade Fair.
"The move is aimed at keeping the prices of the acclaimed tiny car at its expected level as maintaining that highly anticipated low price appears hardly feasible in Bangladesh after counting the high import duties and other expenses", a high official of Nitol Motors told the FE recently.
"Currently, we are waiting for the final go-ahead from the government for setting up our own assembling plant on the outskirts of Dhaka and if everything goes well, we would be able to market the home-made Tata Nano by the end of this year", he added.
Amid much media frenzy, Tata Nano was launched in March last year at the Pragati Maidan of New Delhi, the capital of India, with a starting price of Rs 100,000 equivalent to US$2,160, placing it in the Guinness Book of Records as the cheapest car in the world to date.
The news provides a ray of hope for a section of Bangladesh's rising middle class people, for whom the luxury of owning a personal car still remains a distant dream.
However, much of this initial frenzy was about to die down, when the Nitol officials informed the prospective customers that they might not be able to sell the Tata Nano LX on display at the India Trade Fair at a price lower than Tk. 600 thousand in the local market after taking into account the high import taxes and the minimum profit margin.
"But if we can assemble the same car locally at our own plant, the price could come down to around Tk. 300 to 350 thousand, which can make it the cheapest car available in the Bangladeshi market by far", Tata Nitol's General Manager for International Trade Division Ayatollah said
Nitol officials pointed out that the car could possibly be a good bargain to the young jobholders and professionals, university students and even the female homemakers.
From its existing automobile plant in Jessore, Nitol is already assembling a number of other types of Tata commercial vehicles including trucks for the local market.
"We are yet to do a market feasibility study on the demand for such vehicles in Bangladesh; however if we find that there is a potential demand of 1000 units per year for this car in the local market, for instance, we may opt for locally assembling this vehicle", Ayatollah said.
Industry insiders observe that the car could be a potential competitor to its Indian counterpart Maruti Suzuki and other low-budget automobile varieties available in the market, but they also expressed skepticism about the potential durability of such low-cost four-wheelers.
"Despite availability of cheaper options in the local market, rather pricey Toyota is the most sought-after brand in Bangladesh", said an industry insider. "So it's very unlikely that the customers here would risk quality for cheaper prices while buying their dream car".
Posted in Automobiles/Vehicles, Engineering Sector/Steel and Metals Industry
Yields of a rated Bangladesh
Mamun Rashid
Bangladesh is in the process of obtaining a sovereign credit rating. Noted rating agencies like Standard and Poor's and Moody's have been invited to drive this exercise, while three international banks operating in Bangladesh have been requested to provide them with necessary assistance (Standard Chartered and HSBC are advising for S&P and Citibank NA for Moody's). A team has been formed with participation from relevant government agencies to support this process. Nobody less than the Bangladesh Bank governor, finance minister and secretary, along with the investors are taking keen interest in this process.
A sovereign rating is a forward-looking estimate of a borrower's default probability based on a combination of historical performance and forward projections. Initial rating is always the toughest one, and a lot of work and senior level engagement are needed from the government. A rating not only assesses the likelihood of a country's defaulting on its debt obligations, but also gives a strong signal about the overall health of the economy. A rating assumes even more significance for a developing country in terms of creating confidence and providing access to capital for development. In today's global environment, a non-rated sovereign draws more negative attention than does a less-than good rated one.
Perceived investment risk of an unrated country often surpasses the facts on the ground, thereby increasing the risk premium that they ask for. This often leads to an unattractive value proposition. Bangladesh is already paying the price for not having a quantifiable sovereign rating.
A sovereign rating helps the investors in bringing their own internal risk appraisal in congruence with that of the market, thus reducing risk premium.
By obtaining a rating, Bangladesh will be able to enjoy benefits including: (i) a universally accepted measure of strong creditworthiness (ii) establishing a platform to facilitate immediate access to international capital markets (iii) precursor to establishing routine of investor education exercises and (iv) establishing itself as a sophisticated issuer in the international capital markets.
Bangladesh has embarked on a successful economic reform process, and made a great progress on most of the socio-economic issues including addressing institutional weaknesses. Bangladesh has passed through various events in the recent past, such as flood, Word Trade Organisation cutover, oil price hike, and has shown its strong resilience. Also, Bangladesh has never defaulted on any international financial obligations.
Given Bangladesh's economic progress, the generally improved sentiment toward Asian sovereigns and the positive momentum of the political situation, experts believe the time is right to approach the agencies.
Naturally, the question would come to readers' mind that what Bangladesh's rating will be. While the answer to this question can be given by the respective agencies, I would like to present some data to have a broader understanding about where we can expect to see Bangladesh. Table 1 shows the rating scales of different agencies. Table 2 gives a comparative analysis of some other rated countries with Bangladesh.
While, the above table shows some attractive macroeconomic statistics for Bangladesh relative to its peer countries, it does not fully capture various qualitative strengths of the economy as well as of the country. I would like to highlight on some of them:
– Largely positive macro-economic environment based on public sector reforms, double digit export growth, relatively stable exchange rate, improving social indicators, etc.
– Investment climate in Bangladesh compares rather favourably with most South Asian countries. Bangladesh is blessed with huge reserves of natural gas and coal. Bangladesh has a large domestic market, with steadily rising disposable income among the middle class. Thirty-five percent of population is under 14 years of age while 61 percent between 15-64 years of age (Median age 23), coupled with growing purchasing power of an ever growing middle class; Bangladesh is in a unique position to attract entrepreneurs from home and abroad. Bangladesh is one of the least urbanised countries in the lists of Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan creating significant opportunity space. Competitive labour costs and flexible labour laws are key factors encouraging investment.
– Revenue Reforms Commission and Public Expenditure Reform Commission are set up to rationalise government finances. Reforms of state-owned enterprises, including privatisation, public-private partnership and energy sector rationalisation, have been initiated. Bangladesh Development Forum has provided an opportunity to the donors to focus on Bangladesh's development needs.
– Financial sector achieved tremendous progress in terms of having repo, reverse repo and inter-bank repo. Primary Dealers guideline has been introduced for better convenience of underwriter and traders. Dhaka inter-bank offer rate (DIBOR) has been introduced to help develop an overnight swap market and a commercially acceptable yield curve for the taka. The Bangladesh Bank has approved a couple of derivative transactions. The Securities and Exchange Commission has outlined clear guidelines for companies to get listed and established stronger surveillance to monitor capital market participants. Total government debt is manageable at 49 percent of GDP (gross domestic product), which is lower than most of the peers. External debt along with current account balance performs better than India, Philippines, Pakistan and Indonesia.
– Stable inflow of remittances helped Bangladesh avoid any balance of payment pressure. The resilience of the economy is not only deriving from the fact that it is mostly insulated from the global markets by regulations, but also from an internally vibrant economy.
It is time to let the world know about our progress. What better way of telling this success story than having some respected international credit rating agencies mentioned above speak for Bangladesh?
Posted in Business, Investment and Investing Opportunities, Economic Growth/GDP/Exports and Foreign Trade
10 firms team up over digital land records
Md Hasan
The land record system is up for automation with the help of some local IT firms — a step that promises to reduce hassles and disputes originating from the existing process.
Fake ownership of lands spawns criminal activities in Bangladesh, according to a study. More than 80 percent of criminal activities stem from land disputes, according to the Association for Land Reform and Development, a nongovernmental organisation.
Ten local IT firms have come forward to introduce a digital mapping and land revenue management system. The firms have already formed a company, Terra Tech Ltd, and sought a government go-ahead to start work. The law ministry has hinted at the green light.
Once the system is automated, landowners or buyers will not need to visit more than 10 government offices for documents. All the documents will be uploaded to a database, to which the government officials and people, in some cases, will have access.
"Land management needs reforms immediately with a fully secured automated system," said Mahboob Zaman, chairman of Terra Tech. He said initially the company will start digitalising land records and registration process of Dhaka by June this year.
Terra Tech has already developed a business model to run the project and urged the government to take it under public-private partnership initiative.
Citing an example, Zaman said the business model could be like that of Chittagong Customs House automation. Zaman's company, Data Soft, automated the customs house under a deal with the government where both the parties share revenue after a certain period.
"Terra Tech will provide land management services in a few minutes in a sharp contrast to days or weeks required under the existing system. The cost will be lowered and the services will go on uninterrupted," said Habibullah N Karim, president of Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services.
"The entire infrastructure for the land record system will be built without any government investment," said Karim whose company, Technohaven Group, is also a member of Terra Tech.
Data Soft, IBCS-PRIMAX Software (Bangladesh) Ltd, Development Planners & Consultants, Business Automation, Techno Vista, Spectrum, E-generation, Technohaven, Upload Yourself and HSTC Ltd form Terra Tech, which has estimated around Tk 25 crore for digitising land records and the registration process in Dhaka city.
Dhaka District Collectorate, Settlement Publication Camp, land record and survey departments, and land offices of Demra, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Dhanmondi and Kotowali will be automated initially.
Terra Tech is offering to provide technology, equipment, manpower and required software to set up computer centres in these offices.
Land digitisation is not new for local software makers.
Projects including Modernisation of Land Administration Project (1995-98), Computerisation of Land Management Systems of Dhaka City Project (2004-06), Dhaka, Manikganj and Gazipur Collectorate Land Record Room computerisation (2005-07), Digital Khatian Preparation Programme (2005), Coastal Land Zoning Project (2009) have already been completed by local software companies.
The Bengal Settlement Regulation 1793 is the first initiative of land management in the region. Later in 1889, a cadastral survey was initiated in Bengal. During the Pakistan regime a revise survey was initiated. However, that survey did not complete.
"Absence of a database is the major reason behind land disputes," said Mahmudur Rahman, director of Development Planners & Consultants.
"In line with our plan, it will be a comprehensive link-up of all land-related organisations under a single network," Rahman added.
He said although some digitalisation projects were completed, those did not work because of a lack of maintenance.
He said the existing land records show that maximum lands, even in Dhaka city, are owned by farmers. So, the government is losing a huge amount of revenue from the sector as farmlands are still beyond taxation.
Once the land digitalisation project is completed, the government officials sitting at their offices will be able to see any transformation of lands including infrastructure and ownership.
Bangladesh's land management has been divided in terms of authorisation, which remains as a problem. The land ministry looks after the survey and record issues, while the law ministry handles the registration process.
The Terra Tech president, however, said a fully automated system will ensure the centralisation of land management.
hasan@thedailystar.net
Posted in Information Technology, Legal/Regulatory
Intel, Qubee sign deal
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/01/busi.html#19
Business Desk
Intel and Qubee on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding under which the companies will jointly propagate broadband internet along with wireless solutions such as WiMAX.
'We are pleased to collaborate with Intel to bring WiMAX innovative solutions to Bangladesh,' said Jerry Mobbs, chief executive officer of Qubee.
Intel Asia-Pacific region general manager Navin Shenoy also spoke on the occasion, said a news release.
Posted in Telecom Sector/Broadband and Internet/WiMAX
Govt to install 100-200MW wind-based IPP
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/01/front.html#8
Aminul Islam
The government will in a month begin the tender process for the installation of a 100MW-200MW wind-based independent power plant, according to an inter-ministerial decision made on Sunday.
Power Development Board officials at the meeting, chaired by the state minister for power and energy, Enamul Haque, made a presentation on the establishment of wind turbines in the Bay of Bengal to generate 100MW–200MW of electricity.
This will be the first large wind-based power plant in Bangladesh. The power board earlier made two unsuccessful attempts at running two 1MW power plants in Feni and Cox's Bazar.
The board officials told the meeting wind turbine could be installed in offshore areas — about 50 metres off the coast — at Anwara, Banshkhali or Kutubdia to generate electricity.
They said the average wind speed in the areas identified was 6.5 metres a second above 50 metres from the ground whereas the latest wind turbine can generate electricity at the wind speed of 4.5 metres a second.
'We will go for a pre-qualification tender for the installation of a 100MW–200MW wind-based power plant in a month if the government gives approval,' the power board chairman, ASM Alamgir Kabir, told New Age after the meeting.
He said the plant would be installed as an independent power plant, from where the board would buy electricity.
PDB officials said the price of electricity of the 'environment-friendly' plant could be higher because of higher installation cost.
'The installation cost of 1MW will be around $2 million whereas a conventional gas-based unit costs below $1million for installation,' an official said.
He said there was a risk that the turbine might be affected in cyclones. 'Additional care will be needed to protect the turbine during cyclones.'
The inter-ministry meeting also decided to install four 1MW wind-based power plants at Swandwip, Hatia and Kutubdia.
Officials of the defence and civil aviation ministries, Meteorological Department and the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation were present.
Posted in Energy Sector, Environmental/Green
Maksons plans for home textile unit
Maksons Spinning Mills, a listed company, has planned to set up a fully export-oriented composite home textile unit that promises to add Tk 300 crore to total turnover a year.
To set up the unit, the company has announced a plan to raise funds through issuing rights shares.
As part of the plan, the company's Board of Directors yesterday recommended two rights shares against one existing share at an offer price of Tk 25, which includes Tk 15 in premium.
A portion of the raised fund will be used for paying off high-cost debt that will increase the profitability of the company, it said in a statement.
The rights offer is subject to approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company that listed on stockmarket in 2008 said the proposed unit would be an integrated textile industry with weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing and garments sections.
Maksons expects the implementation of the proposed unit will drive total turnover to Tk 400 crore a year.
The board members at yesterday's meeting also decided to increase authorised capital from Tk 100 crore to Tk 500 crore.
Chaired by Maksons Chairman Abdul Ali, the meeting was attended by, among others, Managing Director Mohammad Ali Khokon.
Each Maksons share traded between Tk 107.70 and Tk 111 on Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.
Presently, sponsors hold a 41.2 percent share in the company, while institutions have a 26.15 percent stake and the public holding is 32.65 percent.
Posted in Financial/Banking/Stock Market
RMG exporters bag $1.8m orders from US show
Bangladesh garments and knitwear manufacturers and exporters got export orders of around $107.96 million with instant confirmed order of $26.81 million in a show in USA.
The three-day Men's Apparel Guild in California (MAGIC) show concluded in Las Vegas, the biggest city of Nevada, USA on February 18.
The MAGIC is the largest trade show in North America, which offers two shows annually — one in February and the other one on August 16-19.
Under the supervision of Export Promotion Bureau, 23 exhibitors from Bangladesh participated in the show.
Bangladesh's consul general in Los Angeles met officials of the MAGIC authority and requested them to arrange a wide publicity of Bangladeshi exhibitors with their products and company information.
The consul general visited all 23 stalls and exchanged views with them and discussed about ways and means for greater participations of Bangladesh in the next MAGIC show.


Historical contingency could use some help. Please research the article's assertions. Whatever is credible should be sourced, and what is not should be removed.
Historical contingency is an important idea in biology and evolution. It is the theory that the paths that life can evolve on are constrained by historical events that are often random. This was perhaps most succinctly described by Stephen Jay Gould, when he proposed the thought experiment of rewinding the tape of evolution backwards and replaying it. The question is: "would life evolve in the same way or in some very different manner?" This idea cuts to the heart of many issues surrounding the inevitability of humanity and determinism.
Historical events that can constrain evolutionary pathways are varied. They can include things that work at the genetic level such as genetic drift, population bottlenecks, neutral selection, exaptation, and potentiating mutations, but also external phenomena in the environment, such as climate cycles and meteorites.
Recent work by biologist Richard Lenski has looked at the role of potentiating mutations in historical contingency. The ability for multiple neutral mutations to add up and eventually allow for a beneficial mutation provides a vivid counter-example to the intelligent design propaganda of Michael Behe's book The Edge of Evolution.
This page was last modified on 12 December 2018, at 14:54.


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The 2008 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

After the election, the composition of the council was:
Conservative 44
Liberal Democrat 4

Election result
The results saw the Conservatives retain control after gaining 3 seats from the Liberal Democrats to have 44 seats compared to 4 for the Liberal Democrats.

Ward results

References

2008 English local elections
2008
2000s in Kent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


ed up of your old boiler? Then, it's time to replace it with Osa Mirror by Unical. Osa Mirror is the latest slimline boiler by Unical, and its ultra-chic mirror finish won't take up any space at all.
What is it? Osa Mirror by Unical is a mirror-effect boiler.
What is special about it? It looks just like an ordinary mirror and will complement any room: in the bathroom, just like a cabinet, in the entrance, to freshen up your look before going out, in the living room, as a decoration and to create the impression of a wider space...It's not a mere coincidence that Osa Mirror received the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017.
How is it made? Supermirror stainless steel front mounted on a further panel; this makes it perfect for any room, you can even display it in the living room in full view. Its high tech heart includes a condensation boiler (18 cm wide) with a soft-touch U-fly chronothermostat and pipes that are hidden from plain sight. Two modes are available: 24 and 35 kW and a choice of different fronts (white, glossy black, slate and greenery). Plus, Osa Mirror can be remotely operated via the U-fly app for smartphone, tablet or pc.
Who is it by? Unical's in-house design studio, ArtU includes top product designers. Their main aim: to freshen up everyday objects that are often hidden in the home, mainly because they aren't pleasant to look at.
We have chosen it because… Finally, the boiler too can be a work of art: so, we don't have to worry about hiding it from plain sight any more, crammed inside utility closets or in dark corners. In fact, Osa Mirror is so beautiful it deserves to be in plain sight, so we can look in its mirrored-surface any time we want.


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text:
Kostel Neposkvrněného početí Panny Marie je římskokatolický kostel v centru města Malacky. Je to největší kostel ve farnosti, ale i tak není farní kostel, protože ve farnosti se nachází kostel Nejsvětější trojice, který je starší.

Umístění
Kostel se nachází v centru města, hned vedle se nachází Spojená škola sv. Františka z Assisi, která se nachází v Černém klášteře, se kterým je kostel propojen.

Historie
Kostel pochází ze 17. století. Práce na kostele spolu s klášterem se začaly v roce 1647 a klášter byl dokončen v roce 1652. Kostel byl dostavěn až v roce 1653. Po dokončení dal Pavol Pálfi vyhotovit donační listinu, kterou daroval františkánskému řádu klášter i s chrámem. V kostele však ještě tehdy nebyly oltáře, varhany nebo kazatelna. Samotný kostel vysvětil biskup Tomáš Pálfi v roce 1660.

Výzdoba
Chrámová loď je postavena v barokním stylu. Chrámové stěny byly až do roku 1928 pouze vybělené, poté dal kníže Mikuláš Pálfi chrám vymalovat. Malování a částečné úpravy provedl František Malovaný se svými spolupracovníky.

Interiér

Oltáře

Hlavní oltář
Dominantou kostela je hlavní oltář. Pochází z první poloviny 18. století. Celý je vyřezávaný ze dřeva, kolorovaný a bohatě pozlacený. Je 14 metrů vysoký, vytvářen byl podle loretánských litanií. Stejně jako chrám je zasvěcený Neposkvrněnému Početí Panny Marie, svědčí o tom i ústřední motiv zadní dekorativní části – socha Panny Marie (Neposkvrněného Početí) v nadživotní velikosti. Na levé straně oltáře se nachází socha svaté Kláry, vysoko nad ní se nachází svatý Bonaventura. Naproti nim se nacházejí dole sv. Alžběta Uherská, nahoře sv. Jan Kapistrán. Nad oltářem se nachází erbovní obraz s erbem rodu Pálffiovců na levé straně, ale útvar v pravé části zůstává záhadou.

Oltář svatého Františka z Assisi
Oltář pochází z první poloviny 18. století. Darovala ho hraběnka Marie Antonie de Souches Ratvit, manželka hraběte Leopolda I. Pálffyho. Má hlavní a nasazovací obraz. Hlavní obraz sv. Františka z Assisi je starý a pochází z doby vzniku oltáře. Na Nasazovacím obraze se nachází svatý Mikuláš.

Oltář svatého Antonína
Oltář pochází z první poloviny 18. století. I tento darovala hraběnka Marie Antonie de Souches Ratvit. Je také pozdně barokní. Centrální obraz je dílem A. Veselého a představuje svatého Antonína. Nasazovací obraz je dílem téhož autora a je na něm zobrazen svatý Leopold.

Oltář Božského srdce Ježíšova
Obraz je umístěn v imitováné skalní jeskyňce (vytvořené vyhloubením do zdi). Po bocích jsou ještě dva menší výklenky, stejně na způsob jeskyňky, ve kterých jsou umístěny sochy Panny Marie a svatého Josefa.

Kaple

Loretánská kaple
Nachází se na levé straně u vchodu do kostela. Dominuje v ní barokní plastika z roku 1725. Nalevo od ní je busta sv. Anny a napravo sv. Josefa. Fresky na stěnách představují výjevy ze života Panny Marie.

Lurdská jeskyně
Pochází z dvacátého století. Dominuje v ní socha Panny Marie. Zrestaurována byla ve čtyřicátých letech 20. století. Hned vedle lurdské jeskyně je oltář Božského srdce.

Kaple Sedmibolestné Panny Marie
Kaple se nachází na pravé straně chrámové lodi. Přes kapli se vchází na kazatelnu.

Kaple Svatých schodů
Sestává ze dvou schodišť předělených stěnou. Každé sestává z dvaceti schodů. Svaté schody jsou však jen nalevo. Po nich se může vystupovat pouze po kolenou. Nahoře těchto schodů se nachází Oltář sv. Kříže.

Epitaf Mikuláše V. Pálfiho
Na stěně levé části svatyně se nachází epitaf hraběte Mikuláše V. Pálfiho. Dali ho postavit jeho vnuci Leopold, Mikuláš a Rudolf. Autorem náhrobku je uváděn Jan Mikuláš Moll. Zobrazil v symbolech život a pomíjivou slávu Mikuláše V. Pálffyho.

Odkazy

Reference

Externí odkazy

Malacky
Malacky
Neposkvrněné početí Panny Mari
Stavby v Malackách


I'm sure we all hate paying taxes, but to me, income taxes bother me the most.
With property taxes, you can choose to live somewhere more modest to lower your tax burden. With sales taxes, you can choose to buy a cheaper option, or not to make a purchase at all.
While it may not sound exciting to live in a smaller place or not buy something, with an income tax the only way of lowering what you pay in taxes is to make less money, and to me, that seems worse.
Let's look at our income as a pie divided into 100 pieces (or 100%). Right off the top, more than 6 pieces of pie goes to Social Security. More slices go to pay your state and federal income tax. You may also have a city or school district income tax taking some slices of the pie.
Those pieces of the pie are gone and you can't get them back. So when a new income tax appears on the ballot or is proposed, even as small is at may seem, I look at it as a slice of pie that can't be used to feed something else like retirement, college savings, or replacing a vehicle.
The bad thing is that even if the pie gets bigger (like you make more money), the number of slices doesn't increase. You can't get a slice back after it's gone.
So, if you go out and make more money you'll never get a full pie back. No matter how hard you try, all you'll be able to do it increase the size of the pie that you've got left. As more pieces of the pie are taken away, the increase in the remaining pieces seems like less and less.
This is just my interpretation of income taxes and one way of viewing them. How do you view them? What comes to mind when a new income tax is proposed?
I've been trying really hard to write a post on Planning to Save every Thursday for you.
However, I've begun to realize that by doing that, I'm actually ignoring my other blog, Man Seeking Purpose. I really feel like I have a lot to contribute to that blog and sometimes I feel like I'm running dry for things to write on this blog.
So, starting this week, I'm going to be switching back and forth between Man Seeking Purpose and Planning to Save every other week.
If you don't like this plan, let me know in the comments below.
In the meantime, please consider subscribing to both blogs. It's the best way to be notified when new posts come out, and I promise not to spam you! See you next week!
(Survey) What are you struggling with financially?
I want to keep the content on Planning to Save relevant to you the readers. In order to do that, I need your anonymous feedback.
What are you struggling with financially? What do you wish you knew more about? Now is your opportunity to make a direct impact on the topics covered on this blog. Please take a minute (and hopefully it doesn't take longer than that), to fill out the two question survey.
If it doesn't load up correctly, you can open the survey by clicking here.
Why talk about it here? Well, shameless promotion for one. Another reason is saving money is really only one side of the equation. The other side involves making money. I personally believe that you'll be more successful in your career if you enjoy what you're doing. While you can make a ton of money, the time you spend doing it seems like an empty vacuum if you hate it.
Money saving tip of the week: For those who have Amazon Prime and a Kindle, you can download the eBook for free through the Amazon Lending Library!
Sure, you already know that kids cost money to raise. Too much money sometimes. Have you ever considered turning the tables and raising some cash at your kids' expense?
Check out the ideas below.
Tax Deductions – Kids are definitely a tax deduction and if you're not taking the deduction already, you're crazy! It doesn't even put a dent in what you spend on them in a year.
Babysitting – When they're old enough, you can have them babysit and make some money. They may not give it to you, but at least it's money in their pocket that they shouldn't be asking you for.
Rent them out – Neighbor's lawn needs mowed? Friend's weeds need pulled? Send your kid over and have them do it. Then you can make a back room deal with your friend for them to pay you directly. Just tell your kid they're doing a service project.
Craigslist – If all else fails, sell them on Craigslist. Sure, I could have said Amazon or eBay, but I'm pretty sure they've got strict rules against that kind of thing. Craigslist is more of a free for all type of thing anyhow. You might get enough interest before your classified ad is reported. Remember, younger kids have the cuteness factor, but older kids can be put to work. Be sure to stress that in your post.
The most important thing to remember this April 1st is to be creative. Kids have creative ways of sucking our wallets dry, so you might as well be creative in how you fill it back up. Be sure to leave your creative ideas in the comments below.
COMING SOON: Am I the Only One… Who Hates My Job?
Some of you may not realize that this site along with a sister site, Man Seeking Purpose, were created during a confusing and troubling time in my career. I felt like everything else in my life was going well, but what I wanted to be doing for my life's work was a mystery.
After doing a lot of soul-searching, I discovered that I wasn't the only one who felt the way I did. Those I knew who didn't feel fulfilled or were troubled with their jobs all seemed to have varying degrees of unhappiness and were unhappy in different ways. There was one common theme among them. It was the sense of loneliness and hopelessness. They felt like they didn't know what to do with their lives or that things would never change and they just had to accept it.
I decided to compile the range of emotions I experienced in my different positions, including the most difficult moments, add in what I knew others have experienced and create an e-book. Not only did I want to express how I've felt through my career, but I wanted to write something that others could relate to and hopefully help them through a similar difficult time in their career.
Keep your eyes open in the coming months. There is some final editing to be done before it hits the electronic shelves!
We recently came home from a week-long trip to Walt Disney World and while we like to have a great time and do things up as much as possible, we also like to stay within a reasonable budget so that we don't mess up any other goals we may have.
This time when we decided to go, we gave some serious thought to flying so we wouldn't have to take as many days off of work. However, when we started to price out the tickets, it was really hard to justify spending about $1100 versus the approximate $300 to $400 we spent last time on gas, hotels, and food.
In order to keep the trip down and back at a reasonable cost, we had to stay in hotels as cheaply as possible. I'm the type of person who would prefer to stay at a slightly nicer hotel, but I also don't want to blow our entire vacation budget on a temporary place to sleep.
The answer is to use hotel discount guides. You can find these at welcome centers and rest stops on the highway. They are free and are usually sitting outside in newspaper stands. The guides are arranged by highway and exits in that state so you can find the discounts for all the hotels at one exit in one place.
The discounts are really good and are lower than what you would get with a AAA card. As an example, we stayed at a Comfort Suites on the way down. I just checked their website and if we were to book it through there, we would have paid about $110 a night (AAA rate is $99) with taxes and everything. With the discount guide, we paid a total of $66.
There are usually some stipulations with the discounts, but they aren't usually deal-breakers. Some examples are that the discount can only be used for a one night stay or that it only applies to certain room types or for a certain number of people. They may let the last one slide though if you ask nicely.
Potential Savings: You can probably expect to save 30-40% off of the normal rate.
Let me know when you might use hotel discount guides to save money on a hotel stay in the comments below. If you've got any creative ways to save money on vacation leave those below as well.
We established in an earlier post that a lot of people will be getting a tax refund and it will average around $2800. That's quite a big chunk of change. But is getting a tax refund a good thing? A lot of people think that if they're getting a refund that it means they did something right or maybe they are somehow putting it to the government by getting money back. Unfortunately, that's not really the case.
The money you get back in a refund is YOUR money! It means that throughout the year you've paid too much to the government. They've been nice enough to hold onto it for you all year and not give you any interest on it so that you can file a bunch of paperwork and get it back. In fact, since the government tends to spend more than they collect, the money they're giving you back was probably borrowed from China. How's that for scary?
Why wouldn't you want to get a tax refund? Like I said before, you're not getting any interest on that money. Plus, if you're someone who has a hard time making ends meet each month it could be because you're paying too much of your money in taxes only to get it back next April. That's money you could be using to help pay off debt, invest for retirement, or save for college or a new car.
So how do you go about eliminating your tax refund and bringing more of that money home? Follow the steps below.
Look back at the previous year's refund amount. Do you expect any major changes in your life that might affect your refund one way or another? For example, are you getting married, having a kid, buying a house, etc. If so, you may want to use discretion later on.
Take the anticipated refund amount from the previous year and divide it by the number of paychecks. If you anticipate getting a $1000 refund and are paid biweekly, that comes out to be about $38.
Talk to HR or payroll and adjust your W4 exemptions until your paycheck amount increases by the amount you calculated in step 2. If you want to play it safe you can adjust your exemptions so only half of the amount you calculated is back in your paycheck. One important thing to remember: The exemptions on your W4 do not have to match the number of people in your family. They only tell your payroll department how much to withhold for taxes. I know, blah blah blah.
If you need help calculating the number of exemptions you can go to Paycheck City and enter in your information into the calculator until it's close to your current paycheck. After that, you can adjust the exemptions and see the difference it will make to your paycheck.
If all of that sounds too difficult and you get a huge tax refund, try increasing your exemptions by just 1 or 2. You'll likely still get a refund next year, but at least you'll have reduced it a bit. Then you can increase your exemptions by 1 or 2 the next year until you get your refund down to almost nothing.
Remember, tax refunds aren't necessarily a good thing. If you get a tax refund this year, celebrate it by spreading your refund out across the entire next year!
Hopefully you've found this post helpful. If so, please share it with others. Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Please post them in the comments below.
Check out the updated Planning to Save site!
I've taken some time to update Planning to Save to a new theme. While I really liked the old one, I didn't feel like past content, which I believe is valuable, was very easy to find. For that reason, I've converted the site to the standard WordPress 2014 theme.
I hope you find it easier to use and you like what you see. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
According to the IRS, the average tax refund last year was about $2800. That's a lot of money. Let's look at that a couple different ways.
That would be a pretty nice raise if you got that money in each of your paychecks. We'll talk more about that in a future post. For now, let's look at some ideas on how to use this year's tax refund.
It's always nice to get a big pile of money unexpectedly. It's sad to find out after a while that it disappeared and you've got nothing to show for it. Below are some ideas on how you might use your tax refund this year.
Pay off some debt. Since you're probably paying interest on any debt that you have, paying it off makes your tax refund that much more valuable by saving you interest every month.
Start or build an emergency fund. Emergency funds are far from exciting, but on the bright side, once you've got one, unexpected events aren't such a crisis.
Put it in an IRA for retirement. You can start the year by cutting your tax bill for the next year by putting your refund right into an IRA. Whatever you contribute to a traditional IRA can be a deduction if you itemize your taxes.
Start a 529 college fund for your kids. Depending on where you live and in which state you start a 529 college savings plan, you can get a lot of great benefits that a savings account won't provide.
Buy something big you've been looking at. If you've been planning to buy something like a new computer, furniture, or something else that isn't exactly "cheap", using your tax refund can get you that item that much faster. Plus, if you've saved money for that special item you can use it for something else now!
Plan a vacation. It may not sound like the most responsible thing to do, but paying cash for a vacation is better than putting it on a credit card.
Start a business. I'm sure you didn't expect to see that on the list. If you've ever thought about starting a business but have always used not having the money as an excuse, now's your chance. It may be the catalyst to make a dream come true.
Don't let your tax refund (or any unexpected dollars) slip away. Make a plan for it, even if the plan is to spend it frivolously. At least you'll know where it went.
How do you plan on spending your tax refund? Post your ideas in the comments below.