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NICHE DEVELOPMENT
Facilitate Your Way to New Business
Here's how to be an effective facilitator and get work in this arena.
BY CHRISTOPHER B. CALL
FACILITATORS SHOULD ENJOY BEING IN FRONT of a group. Emotional maturity and the ability to think quickly on their feet are essential attributes of good facilitators. The major prerequisite for the job, though, is an ability to interact well with others.
TO START OUT IN THIS NICHE, CPAs can offer facilitation services pro bono to civic groups to get a few recommendations under their belts. Teaming up with someone established in the industry is another way to gain exposure.
CPAs CAN FACILITATE ONE-TIME PROJECTS such as priority-setting meetings for IT programs and vendor selection. Retreats, idea-generation sessions and company reorganization meetings also are ideal for facilitation engagements. Strategic planning or budget meetings always could benefit from a nonpartisan facilitator.
YOU CAN AVOID PROBLEMS during your sessions by establishing ground rules with group members, keeping all participants involved and interjecting humor where appropriate.
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. Being too rigid can undermine the session's purpose. Offer alternative solutions to participants when they get stuck on an issue.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE CLIENT after an event to make sure its goals were met and to find out how you could improve your performance as a facilitator.
CHRISTOPHER B. CALL, CPA, provides strategic facilitation services and business consulting in the San Francisco Bay area of California. His e-mail address is cbcall@pobox.com .
our client has scheduled a planning meeting on compensation packages and financing options for the upcoming fiscal year. The company needs consensus from its board members and management, but opinions are as strong as the egos involved. The CFO asks whether you know someone who could facilitate the session. How do you respond?
Many CPAs would automatically recommend someone else, thinking the job skills required reside outside their field of expertise. Yet, for you, this is a golden opportunity to expand your role as consultant to provide new advisory services. Accounting work exposes you to many kinds of people, problems and business situations. Tell your client you can do the job. A majority of Americans consider their accountant trustworthy, according to a July 2002 Gallup poll: Use this to your advantage. Your CPA designation is your best piece of facilitator advertising. Read on to discover how to break into this service niche and enhance your performance in the new position.
The facilitator's role is to be an objective third party in a number of group settings—for example, when employees from different parts of a company need to come together to create a training program for a new information technology system and have only a certain amount of time in which to do it. The facilitator's level of involvement may be high or low; but, overall, he or she encourages people to immerse themselves in the talk and helps them generate ideas with brainstorming sessions, for example, in order to make sure they achieve the goals of the meeting.
Facilitators—sometimes called moderators and trainers—should like to be in front of a group, says Denver CPA Patricia Lane Williams. "Every group needs a leader," says Leita Angela Hart, CPA, of Leita Hart CPA and Associates, Austin, Texas. Emotional maturity and thinking quickly on their feet in order to improvise when problems arise also are essential attributes of good facilitators (see " Learn From Others Who've Been There "). "Ideal facilitators are bossy but not opinionated," says Hart. "On the job their own emotional issues should never come into play; they must remain the adult throughout the process and be all about the group, having minimal ego."
Opportunities Abound
There are some 25 million meetings held every day in the United States.
Source: Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner, Lenny Lind, Duane Berger, Catherine Toldi and Sarah Fisk (New Society Publishers, www.newsociety.com , 1996).
Facilitators don't contribute ideas to a meeting but keep the group on track to meet its goals. "For CPAs who are used to advising clients and answering questions, this might be difficult," Hart says. "They may want to 'help' the group out." But sharing opinions with participants might prompt them to question the facilitator's objectivity—or worse, give in to his or her ideas, she says.
Several organizations, such as the International Association of Facilitators, the National Institute for Facilitation and Leadership Strategies—the Facilitation Company, sponsor facilitator designations. The major prerequisite for the job, though, is an ability to interact well with others. With that skill and the right education and tools, you can handle the facilitation process from start to finish. "Natural-born facilitators are few and far between," says Edi Osborne, CEO of Mentor Plus of Pleasanton, California. "Even the best can benefit from some training" (see " AICPA Resources " and " Where to Find Training ," below).
Where to Find Training
The AICPA provides a number of resources for practitioners who are offering new services or breaking into a niche. For example, the Institute works with Mentor Plus of Pleasanton, California, to market the Performance Measurement PLUS Skills and Systems Workshop ( www.aicpa.org/assurance/view/workshop.htm ), which "covers the technical aspects of performance measurement and provides the tools necessary to implement the service." Since much of the material relates to facilitating, it would be helpful for facilitators-in-training. For more on what the Institute offers, see " AICPA Resources ."
Leadership Strategies—the Facilitation Company ( www.leadstrat.com ), sponsors a certified master facilitator (CMF) designation with the National Institute for Facilitation ( www.nifac.org ). To become a CMF, a candidate must have facilitated 60 sessions (one session of which must be videotaped and reviewed) over a three-year period, produced five references and earned a score from his or her "assessor" and "reviewer" of at least 80% on each of six skills: presence, assessment, communication, control, consistency and technique. There also is an associate master facilitator (AMF) program, with a minimum requirement of 30 facilitated sessions.
The International Association of Facilitators ( www.iaf-world.org ) offers a certified professional facilitator designation. To be a CPF, one must facilitate seven sessions, have an in-person interview and have one session reviewed by a program evaluator.
The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) ( www.astd.org ) is good for networking, for learning about facilitating through seminars and workshops and for finding clients.
The National Speakers Association (NSA) ( www.nsaspeaker.org ) is helpful in teaching you how to build relationships and market your services, says Leita Angela Hart, CPA, of Austin, Texas. The association's Knowledge Bank and Resource Center has good information about facilitating. You also can become an affiliate with a state chapter of the organization. The Colorado Speakers Association has half-day to full-day facilitation sessions and a 10-month, fast-track program covering topics such as presentation skills.
The Institute of Internal Auditors ( www.theiia.org ) holds seminars on how to conduct a control self-assessment, where an internal auditor facilitates a discussion with management and staff about controls.
You can visit these Web sites to learn more about what training is out there:
Carter Group, Employee Development Solutions, provides facilitator training sessions. Go to www.buildingteams.com .
Institute of Cultural Affairs, Technology of Participation Workshop, offers facilitation courses, www.ica-usa.org .
American Management Association (AMA) gives the "How to Be an Effective Facilitator" course and offers a seminar called "The Effective Facilitator: Maximizing Involvement and Results," www.amanet.org .
You also can read these books: The Facilitator's Fieldbook by Tom Justice and David Jamieson (AMA), The Facilitator Excellence Handbook by Fran Rees (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 1998) and The Skilled Facilitator by Roger Schwarz (Jossey-Bass, 2002).
To begin in this line of work, you could offer services pro bono to civic groups: Many nonprofits could benefit from a facilitator's guiding them through annual planning or fund-raising discussions. Community leaders sit on many of these boards and are often a source of other fee-based opportunities. This "sweat equity" marketing costs nothing more than your time.
Note your availability for facilitating meetings in client correspondence and press materials. CPAs who want to offer this service can add "Strategic Facilitator" to their business cards. Or, Williams says, they can include facilitation services in their business plans and make certain all firm partners agree this is a viable way for their organizations to grow. "Firm members should let a 'facilitator-in-training' pursue this niche because it will take a lot of time and effort," she adds.
At first Hart did a few assignments for free to build her client roster and get recommendations. She created a double-sided marketing piece to send to prospects and to use as a reference when phoning them to help keep her focus. On it she listed what she does and why companies should hire her. "It took a lot of cold-calling," says Hart, "a task most people dread."
"The classic conundrum when entering a new market is this: To get work, you need experience. To gain experience, you need work," says Bruce Withrow, CA, who started Meeting Facilitators International of Toronto. "You can solve it by teaming with someone already established." Cofacilitating with others who have a track record will help you hone your skills, he says.
Don't underestimate word-of-mouth advertising. Hand out your card to every person at meetings you facilitate. Hart enrolled in professional organizations and became a leader in them so she could get to know people better. "The field is all about relationships," she says.
NEGOTIATE THE FEE
As for how to charge, you're providing the services of a consultant so price yourself accordingly. Fees range from hourly to per-head to per-meeting. Hart charges a per-day rate but says some facilitators charge by group size. Williams usually bills on a project basis. Osborne charges a fixed per-session price with room for variables if, for example, more preparation is required. You also could tie your fee into a tax, accounting and advisory services package.
Facilitators negotiate their fees with clients. A number of practitioners are facilitators on the side in addition to their regular accounting work, says Hart. "Some CPAs might use the service as a way to obtain clients for other practice niches and therefore not charge at all," Williams says. Others might decide it is a way to earn more money and acquire clients, she says, so they add it to their business plan, actively marketing their facilitation expertise. Still others might direct their entire practice toward facilitation, regularly conducting seminars and strategic planning sessions, for example.
LOOK FOR THE IDEAL EVENTS TO FACILITATE
Facilitators can be useful in any situation where a company calls people together to accomplish a task such as generating ideas for improvement in some business area or solving a problem. For example, you could have a family-trust client whose members are in dispute about whether to dispose of some property. The client may have declined your first offer to intercede, convinced the family could work it out alone. After two months of arguing, the client allows you to monitor the discussions. The mere presence of an unbiased party helps defuse the negativity that has built up, and the family reaches an agreement. However, Osborne cautions that "severe conflicts in family companies may require a different kind of expert, such as a business psychologist." The facilitator can suggest such a path.
"CPAs in public practice can be particularly adept at facilitating one-time projects such as priority setting for IT programs or vendor selection," says Withrow. Hart has facilitated strategic planning and budget meetings. Retreats, idea-generation sessions and company reorganization meetings all could benefit from a nonpartisan arbiter such as a facilitator, says Osborne, who also helped develop and is cofacilitator/trainer for the Performance Measurement PLUS Skills and Systems Workshop marketed and sponsored by the AICPA.
Before any assignment, you must gather the tools—both manual and electronic—you will need to make the meeting effective for all participants. Withrow sometimes distributes handheld electronic keypads—similar to the ones used by the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game show audience—to the people in his sessions so they can respond to questions anonymously. A data projector shows participants' answers on a big screen at the front of the room. "It's a good way to plow through a lot of material with a larger group," Withrow says. His company uses networked laptop computers for brainstorming and employs polling, a manual technique, at many sessions he facilitates.
Be sure to do your homework, too. The " Facilitator's Checklist " at right will help prepare you to step in front of a group and navigate the meeting to a successful conclusion. Then you can follow these tips to make sure you get off to a good start.
Facilitator's Checklist
CPAs can use these questions to prepare for an engagement.
What is the company's reputation in the industry? Why has a meeting been called?
Why has a facilitator been asked to participate? Can I be totally objective in this situation?
What is the goal of the meeting? Does a decision have to be made by the end of it?
Who are the participants, and what are their jobs and functions in the company?
Are there "power participants"—a vice-president, for example?
What types of personalities do the participants have?
Has anyone been excluded (either deliberately or due to other commitments)?
Do all the participants want to be at this meeting?
The outcome of the meeting will affect how many people? Is it clear how various outcomes will affect them?
Will any laws or government regulations be an issue in either the nature of the discussion or the range of possible outcomes?
Are there any taboo subjects? Are there any "sacred cows"?
What's the time frame for the meeting? Is its length appropriate given the agenda? Will there be time for expanded discussion?
Where will the meeting be held: neutral ground or on-site?
How will the participants' seats be arranged? Classroom style, in a circle, with a table or no table, for example?
What follow-up is required and when?
Set the tone. The purpose of the meeting largely will dictate its tone. Your preparation will have told you whether this is a friendly or combative group. Inform participants up front you don't give personal opinions but will drive the process through which the group itself will make the decisions. In the first 10 minutes, you should begin to establish a "safe" environment, says Hart, by briefly stating your qualifications, acknowledging the job titles and experience of the participants and asking them what they want to get out of the session. "If you don't take their concerns seriously, appear to be off track or allow strong personalities to dominate, the 'safety' is ruined," Hart says. "Then people won't speak up."
Establish ground rules. "Having participants make a list of which behaviors they will and will not accept can help prevent problems," says Hart. "The facilitator should post it on the wall." At a minimum participants should observe certain rules of civil behavior: Abusive language and put-downs are out; people must turn off their cell phones and nonessential beepers. Make it clear anyone violating the rules will have to leave. Once the group makes the rules, it tends to police itself.
Identify objectives. Write down what the group must accomplish by the end of the session. Refer to the list periodically throughout the meeting to ensure you all are making progress.
Keep all participants involved. Some people talk more than others, and this can be bothersome to the group. "If there is an 'elephant' in the living room (or anything that causes an uncomfortable feeling), you should acknowledge it," says Hart. "The group will break down if you try to cover it up." In her experience, a group's most common elephant usually is an emotion, such as frustration, and discussing it helps to keep Hart's sessions under control.
Michael Wilkinson, managing partner of Atlanta-based Leadership Strategies—the Facilitation Company, who previously spent eight years at Ernst & Young, uses a round-robin technique to encourage shy participants to get more active in the discussion. He typically uses a question that is opinion-focused rather than one for idea generation. For example, he could say: "We've just heard from Dave about how we might solve this problem. Let's quickly get some feedback. We'll start with John (who is three seats away from a person who has not said anything) and go around the room. Let's first identify what we like about the idea, and then we'll open it up to anyone for ways to improve it. John, get us started. What do you like about the idea?" Wilkinson says this gives the quiet person a chance to prepare a response, relieving some of his or her anxiety.
Interject humor. Lightheartedness can aid even the most serious negotiations. Look for ways to use comedy to alleviate tension. You could keep a supply of Dilbert cartoons, for instance, to illustrate your points. The use of inane buzzwords by Dilbert's pointy-haired boss always gets a laugh when someone starts a tangential discussion. "Humor can help a difficult discussion, but one must not take away from the issues or claim center stage," says Osborne.
PRACTICAL TIPS TO REMEMBER
Here are some things to keep in mind when you're facilitating an event. You must
Gain the confidence of the meeting participants by stating your qualifications, experience with similar clients and commitment to helping the session be productive for all involved.
Set the proper tone. You can accomplish this by keeping promises you make, acknowledging the positions and experience of the participants and asking them what they would like to get out of the session.
Establish a set of ground rules with the group. Posting on the wall a list of behaviors the group considers acceptable and unacceptable can prevent some problems.
Write down what needs to be accomplished and refer to these objectives periodically during the session to ensure the group remains on track.
Be flexible, understanding that being too rigid may undermine the purpose of the meeting. Be ready to offer alternative solutions to participants when they get stuck on an issue.
Seek an agreement from the group to implement the decisions reached at the meeting. Afterward, write a summary of the discussion and tasks assigned to participants and present it to the client (the person(s) who hired you) with a thank-you note.
Keep all participants involved. Some people talk more than others, and this can be bothersome to the group.
Summarize and assess progress. It's OK to regularly stop, summarize what people have said so far and review progress made toward the stated objectives. Keep a record of key points on pages taped to the wall as participants make them. A facilitator can synthesize or summarize a group's ideas without crossing the line of objectivity. Sometimes, a facilitated process stalls or stops due to group dynamics such as participant restlessness, Osborne says. The facilitator should not see this as a failure. It's important to find the root cause quickly and continue the session. In the case of restlessness, you could give a 10-minute break, encouraging participants to step outside for some fresh air.
Be flexible within limits. A facilitator who is too rigid can undermine the purpose of the meeting (sticking to unrealistic time constraints may hamper discussion and prevent the group's reaching consensus, for example). Offer alternative solutions. For instance, you could say: "It doesn't look as if we're going to complete our goals during the time allotted. Can we all agree to come back tomorrow and pick up where we left off?" However, be careful not to be too flexible: It could damage your credibility.
Get commitment to action. Seek an agreement from participants to implement the decisions reached. Ask specific questions such as, "Bob, will you revise the policy by Monday as we've discussed?" Write down assignments and make sure the group members understand what the next steps are.
Follow up in writing. After the meeting, draft a summary of what was discussed, what objectives the group achieved and what assignments were handed out to individual members. Give the summary to the client along with a thank-you note. "Following up with clients is helpful," says Wilkinson. "We can make sure we did a good job helping clients achieve the results they were after, and we can ask for recommendations on how to improve our performance as facilitators. Follow-ups also give our company the opportunity to inquire about any additional issues we can assist the client with in the future."
A NATURAL NICHE FOR CPAs
According to a January 2003 AICPA survey conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates Inc., 90% of business decision makers agreed their accountant was competent and reliable and demonstrated sound business judgment. Your CPA designation is your best piece of advertising for the facilitation area. Others see you as a natural choice for an unbiased moderator. Convincing yourself of your capabilities might just be your biggest hurdle. Use the tips, training and other resources in this article to start on a path that will provide you with career diversity and brand-new opportunities for expanded accounting work.
Web-based resource
e-MAP: Management of an Accounting Practice Handbook (# MAP-XXJA, one-year electronic subscription), practice management guidance from top CPAs in the profession.
2004 Practitioners Symposium
Performance Measurement PLUS Skills and Systems Workshop, www.aicpa.org/assurance/view/workshop.htm .
Marketing a Consulting Niche, edited by Allan D. Koltin (# 056508JA).
Start Consulting—How to Walk the Talk by William Reeb (# 090439JA).
For more information or to order, go to www.cpa2biz.com or call 888-777-7077.
Learn From Others Who've Been There
Over time CPAs can get better at anticipating pitfalls and establishing alternative strategies. Here are some tips on how to avoid the mistakes new facilitators frequently make.
See to participants' physical needs. Not doing so was one of Osborne's early faux pas. She now sets forth exact specifications concerning room layout, temperature, lighting, food (healthy, easy-to-eat snacks work best) and bathroom accessibility—aiming to keep people comfortable and alert. Osborne recommends giving shorter, more frequent breaks—instead of longer, less frequent ones—to keep people fresh. Williams once facilitated a meeting where someone ran a vacuum all morning in the room next door. Now she talks to facility managers beforehand to ensure nothing disturbs her participants.
"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em," as the Kenny Rogers song goes. You need to have the foresight and courage to walk away from situations requiring more skill than you have, Osborne says. A few times, she found herself in an unworkable situation that left everyone frustrated. Now, to avoid even the slightest hint of discord, she interviews each participant before the session and discusses issues and answers questions prior to convening the group. Otherwise, she says, you wind up dealing with hidden agendas.
Find out whether a company has had a bad experience with a past facilitator. Executives often will admit this to you up front. Osborne advises finding out what went wrong and why. It helps to ask the client, "What could cause the process to go sideways?" Sometimes people think facilitated processes are a waste of time, and it takes a lot of effort to prove them wrong. Get to know what client expectations are beforehand. Your client may have too many or too few expectations—it's best for the facilitator and client to agree so the process will be a success.
Get management buy-in. "I have stopped taking jobs where I don't have management's full support," says Hart. "Otherwise, it is a futile and frustrating experience for everyone. It isn't worth the investment on the company's part—and I tell managers that." Early in her career she facilitated a meeting of internal auditors. The division director walked into the session in its third hour and sat at the back of the room. The group, which had been talkative up to that point, shut down. Each time Hart solicited feedback, the director explained why an idea wouldn't work. "It was a waste of time," Hart says. "That was a good lesson to learn; now, I find out where management stands before I arrive."
Overcome nervousness. "I think one of the greatest fears CPAs considering facilitating have is that someone will embarrass them or the group will get unruly," says Hart. "I'll tell you a secret: That seldom happens. Most groups prefer you succeed. It allows them to relax and enjoy the process." A peer recently gave Hart this advice: Find the supportive folks in the group—the ones nodding their heads and smiling—and talk to and work with them until everyone else gets on board.
Deal with conflicts. "Don't stick your head in the sand as soon as you have trouble in one of your sessions," says Wilkinson. He once had a company's CEO turn to its president and yell, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Instead of addressing the CEO's remark head-on, Wilkinson meekly asked the group, "Any other input?"
Facilitators can be trained to recognize the signs such an outburst might occur. "Early detection is the key to staving off a fight," Wilkinson says. "For example, I had noticed the CEO shifting uncomfortably in his seat while the president spoke. If I had addressed the concerns I knew he had by asking earlier for the group's input, the CEO would have had the chance to voice his opinion in a supportive environment. Instead, he held it in for too long and finally burst." Preparatory work helps prevent these kinds of problems, he adds.
Quash nay-saying. A pessimist can put a damper on any session. When dealing with someone who keeps muttering, "That won't work," Wilkinson suggests coming right back with, "You may be right, but how do we fix it so it will?" He says you'd be surprised at how often the naysayer suddenly becomes quiet or offers something constructive to the discussion instead.


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Home Event Coverage City of Palms Classic Sunshine Series: Hialeah Mater Academy vs. Fort Myers...
City of Palms Classic Sunshine Series: Hialeah Mater Academy vs. Fort Myers Evangelical Christian
Local private school power Evangelical Christian took on one of the top teams in South Florida, the Mater Academy Lions. This would give a broader stage to both programs.
EC got on the board first with a putback from Aaron Jones. Mater Academy quickly showed why they are one of the better teams in the state. A 7-0 run, capped by a three from Michael Bradley, made the score 7-2 with just under five minutes to play. EC answered quickly with a pair of baskets to get back to within one. Mater scored on a baseline drive by Malik Renau to make the score 9-6 in favor of Mater with three minutes to play. At that point, the well went dry for the Lions and EC capitalized. A pair of transition baskets from Jones and a three from E.J. English gave EC a 15-9 lead. Mater would score just before the end of the quarter to end the drought, but EC led 15-11 after one.
EC scored first in the second. A three from Mater was offset by a three from EC to maintain a six point EC lead. Mater put on a 5-0 spurt to get to within one, 20-19, with 5:49 to play. EC's Jones scored in transition but a three from Bradley tied the score at 22-22. EC broke the ice with a pair of buckets in transition. Mater got back to within two, 28-26 with 1:46 left in the quarter, but Jones scored twice for EC to put them up six at the break, 32-26.
Mater came out hot to start the third, putting on a 12-0 blitz to take a 38-32 lead with just over five seconds to play. EC finally got on the board with a floater from Dylan McDaniel, but Mater wasn't done. Renau scored twice off of steals, then he and Isaiah Josue each completed three point plays. Now the margin was fourteen in favor of Mater, 48-34, with under three minutes left in the period. EC finally got back into the swing of things and got to within nine, 53-44, with thirty seconds left. A buzzer beating three from Bradley of Mater made the margin thirteen, 56-43, going into the final period.
Mater never took its foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. They eventually grew the lead to twenty, 76-56, with just over a minute to play. EC just didn't have the manpower to survive the Mater onslaught. The Lions would win comfortably by the score of 78-60.
Mater was led by Reanu with 27 points while Bradley added 21, all on threes. Josue contributed 12 points.
Jones led EC with 27 points while both Trent Guttery and McDaniel put up ten points each.
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Before analyzing this historic mobilization it's useful to review how it played out in some of the more than 200 cities involved.
The Chicago Tribune centered on actions in support of adjunct college faculty, "The Fight for $15 campaign is rallying to unionize an estimated 8,000 part-time professors in the Chicago area, aiming to expand its initial focus on fast-food workers at chains such as McDonald's and Burger King, to child care, janitors and other service-sector employees." A reliable friend on the scene reported about 5,000 participated.
In Kansas City there was an ambitious schedule of action starting before sunrise and ranging well after sunset, including strikes at McDonald's properties, campus protests, a press conference and a mass rally followed by a march. The 5PM rally in Theis Park was the main unifying event. A steady stream of folks getting off work, or picking up kids from child care, were able to grab donated hamburgers and/or grilled vegetables as they found a spot on the grass of the giant amphitheater. Still arriving to the end, I estimate there were 600-700 on hand. The majority were Fast Food workers and their families, mostly African-American and Latino. But at least forty percent were workers and students showing solidarity, many organized by unions and Jobs with Justice. Labor Party Advocates was visible with our signature banner and received many thumbs-up.
Speakers at the brisk KC rally included the Mayor; the president of the 6,000 member UAW Ford Local; two prominent clergy; and a Fast Food worker who read a poem she had written about the challenges of low pay. At the conclusion, most lined up for a march of a few blocks to the University of Missouri Kansas City campus where they were welcomed by a contingent of UMKC students as well as adjunct professors explaining why they were getting on board with the Fight for 15. The actions merited front page coverage in both the 4/15 and 4/16 editions of the Kansas City Star and were the lead stories on local television news.
The 15now.org website featured a round up of reports of 4/15 actions in a number of other cities including Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon.
These two slogans arise from different perspectives of complimentary movements sharing the same goal for a new wage floor. The testimony of the working poor proves they suffer not only from unconscionable low pay; they also face terrible working conditions, disrespectful and arbitrary treatment from management–and a high rate of on the job injuries. They need a union to effectively address those issues in addition to winning 15.
The 15 Now movement focuses on establishing city and state minimum wage laws with a floor of 15 for all workers, organized or not. As the UPS workers in Brooklyn made clear, there are union members doing hard work for highly profitable corporations for as little as 10 dollars an hour.
15 Now came out of successful struggles in Seatac and Seattle in 2013-14. It is a coalition of union and community groups as well as many individual activists. Socialists also play an important role there, especially after the election of Kshama Sawant of the Socialist Alternative party to the Seattle City Council. The new Seattle minimum means substantial wage increases for 100,000 workers in that city. Since then 15 Now has established 23 state or local chapters around the country. Recently San Francisco became the third city to pass a 15 minimum.
Both the 15 and a Union message promoted by organized labor and the coalition effort of 15 Now for minimum wage laws deserve our support.
U.S. unions went through their greatest period of membership growth and bargaining breakthroughs during the Great Depression marked by mass unemployment. These successes under such harsh conditions were only possible because insurgent unions came to be recognized as a broader social movement, advancing the interests of the entire working class.
Especially the newly formed CIO went after the low paid, unskilled factory workers in basic industries ignored by AFL craft unions—building from scratch what became the United Auto Workers, United Steel Workers, United Electrical Workers, United Packinghouse Workers, and others. They were assisted by generous financial support from one of the oldest unions—the United Mine Workers—who had the vision to understand organized labor had to grow to remain viable.
I believe a similar upsurge is possible and necessary. But I want to reiterate a crucial point made in the last WIR.
All talk about the de-industrialization of America is bogus. U.S. manufacturing production is second to none. But technology has greatly reduced manufacturing employment and industrial union membership has plummeted. Food and Retail are the dominant sectors of job growth today. Walmart is the biggest private sector employer in the USA—and the whole world. More workers toil under the Golden Arches of McDonald's in this country than are covered by union contracts at General Motors, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Electric and Boeing—combined.
With much more vision and honesty than her predecessor, SEIU president Mary Kay Henry has staked her reputation and union's resources on organizing today's equivalent of Depression era factory hands—again so long neglected by mainstream unions. Reports filed with the Labor Department indicate SEIU has spent 25 million dollars so far on the Fight for Fifteen.
To be sure, sister Henry is not a paragon. SEIU is still politically devoted to the Democrats—a concealed lethal weapon of boss rule. But John L Lewis, who used the Miners union to enable the CIO, was no saint either. It's still early days but the Fight for 15 is the most promising front for our side in the class war being waged against us today.
* My friend Andy in Brooklyn recently reminded me about the outrage of near slave migrant labor being allocated to build museums and university campuses for the likes of Guggenheim and New York University in Abu Dhabi. You can learn the facts, and sign on to a statement calling on these American institutions to do the right thing by their workers, at gulflabor.org.
* Being preoccupied with the April 15 actions has meant neglect in the WIR of some major development around climate and environmental issues posted on our companion Labor Advocate news blog. I will start catching up next time.


Cursed, hunted, and feared, Senna has been forced to wander from place to place for more years than she cares to remember. She gave up hope long ago that there could ever be an end to her isolation.
Odd sightings in the forest—monsters of legend come to life, old enemies back from the past, fearsome beasts on the prowl—begin to frighten the people of Lise's village. Somehow, all of these things are connected to Senna. As the villagers' fear grows, so does their hatred.
Senna prepares to flee, accepting what has become her fate, but Lise isn't ready to give up her one chance for happiness. Soon, only Lise stands between the villagers and the woman she has grown to love.


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Abderrahim Bargache, né le  à casablanca et mort le  à casablanca, est un journaliste, comédien, écrivain et animateur de télévision Marocaine spécialiste de la gastronomie marocaine.

Biographie
Issues d'une famille morisque ,après avoir obtenu son baccalauréat, Abderrahim Bargache fait ses études à l'Institut de coopération maroco-allemande Friedrich Naumann (renommé plus tard en « Centre de formation des journalistes de Rabat »). Il poursuit ensuite ses études journalistiques en France au Centre de formation des journalistes de Paris.

Carrière journalistique
Il commence sa carrière journalistique en tant que collaborateur à diverses publications françaises, notamment Le Monde, Libération, La Dépêche de Toulon et Psychologie. Il collabore également à des publications marocaines, notamment Lamalif, et Sindbad.

Il travaille en parallèle pour le compte de l'agence marocaine Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), dont il a été, successivement, correspondant à Paris, rédacteur en chef à Rabat et chef de bureau à Casablanca, de 1977 à 1986.

Durant sa carrière journalistique de plus de vingt ans, il rédige des milliers d'articles de relation de faits, de synthèse et d'analyse ou encore de traitement de fond, d'humeur ou de critique d'art.

Critique culinaire
Lauréat de l'« International Institute of Food and Wine », il devient rapidement une référence culinaire au Maroc à la suite de ses diverses recherches portant sur la gastronomie marocaine. Il a également rédigé plusieurs textes sur l'histoire de la cuisine marocaine, publiés notamment dans l'Encyclopédie du Maroc, le Maroc des potentialités et la Civilisation marocaine, et a été directeur de collection de l'encyclopédie La Cuisine de l'éditeur Okad.

Il est expert international et conférencier sur la nourriture et la culture gastronomique auprès de plusieurs organisations internationales, dont l'Institut méditerranéen, la Commission européenne, le mouvement Slow Food et auprès de l'International Institute of Food and Wine des États-Unis.

Il anime pendant 14 ans (de 1986 à 2000) une émission culinaire hebdomadaire, Walima, sur les ondes de la chaîne de télévision marocaine TVM, dédiée à la gastronomie marocaine.

Carrière de comédien
Abderrahim Bargache a également été comédien de théâtre, de cinéma et de télévision, et directeur de production de cinéma. Entre 1998 et 2000, il collabore avec l'humoriste marocain Said Naciri et marque un brillant passage dans la sitcom marocaine : Moi, mon frère et sa femme.

Filmographie
 1989 : Le Marteau et l'enclume de Hakim Noury
 1992 : Beyond Justice de Duccio Tessari
 1993 : À la recherche du mari de ma femme, de Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi
 1994 : L'Enfance volée, de Hakim Noury
 1995 : Arthur Rimbaud, l'homme aux semelles de vent de Marc Rivière
 1997 : Solomon de Roger Young
 1998 : Marrakech Express de Gillies MacKinnon
 1999 : La Ruse des femmes, de Farida Belyazid
 2000 : Al-Makroum de Daoud Aoulad Siyad
 2007 : Number one de Zakia Tahri
 2007 : Où vas-tu Moshé ? de Hassan Benjelloun (film sorti la veille de son décès)

Récompenses
  de Bon esprit de camaraderie du Lycée Moulay Abdallah, en 1965
  de Participation étrangère au Festival de poésie de Châteauvallon, en 1973
 Cuillère d'or du Club des Poètes gourmets de RFA, en 1988
 Médaille du Mérite national marocain, en 1990
 Médaille de Chevalier de la Confrérie de la diète méditerranéenne, à Barcelone en 1994
 Maïda d'or du Festival des Arts culinaires, à Fès en 2001.

Liens externes

Notes et références

Journaliste marocain
Acteur marocain
Animateur marocain de télévision
Cuisinier marocain
Critique gastronomique marocain
Critique gastronomique du XXe siècle
Critique gastronomique du XXIe siècle
Naissance en octobre 1949
Naissance à Casablanca
Décès en décembre 2007
Décès à 58 ans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida can help. Our responsibility is to keep you informed, and to help discern what's important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.
COVID-19 Surges In Rural Communities, Overwhelming Some Local Hospitals
By Will Stone,
Will Stone
Daniel Acker
Rural communities across the country, places largely spared during the early days of the pandemic, are now seeing spikes in infections and hospitalizations.
As the coronavirus outbreak surges across the country, many rural communities — places which were largely spared during the early months of the pandemic — are now seeing an unprecedented spike in infections and hospitalizations.
The pandemic's grip on rural America is especially alarming because many of these less populated areas rely on small hospitals, which don't have the beds or staff to absorb a crush of patients, especially those who require high levels of care.
In early September, the rate of new infections per capita started climbing quickly in the country's most rural counties reaching what are now record levels — significantly higher than what is being seen in the major urban areas, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is a similar trend in smaller metro areas, although not quite as dramatic.
"Rural is not a refuge," says Keith Mueller, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health and director of the Rural Policy Research Institute. "These counties may be sparsely populated, but it also means that sparsely populated is not an assurance that spread won't happen."
In the Midwest, cases have climbed on average nearly 60% over the past two weeks, compared to 35% nationally. And across the country, most non-metropolitan counties have now recorded at least 100 cases or more per 10,000 people since the pandemic began — that's almost double what it was in early September.
Even though the raw numbers may seem small compared to cities, rural counties in states like Kansas, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska now have some of the highest rates of infections per capita in the country. And in many places, hospitalizations are also at record levels.
The surge in rural America is not uniform across the country; some communities got hit during the spring and summer for example, when there were big outbreaks at food processing plants.
This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reiterated his concerns about the pandemic's foothold in his state's rural counties, saying that many of the residents being hospitalized are coming from those communities rather than the major cities.
"Please wear the masks," DeWine pleaded, "rural counties, we're not seeing the mask wearing is high, we would like to really see it get up."
In North Dakota, Dr. Misty Anderson, an internist, is worried about the pandemic's hold on small cities and towns like Valley City, N.D., where she lives — just an hour west of Fargo.
"I never lost any patients until recently and I lost a couple in just one week," says Anderson, who's also president of the North Dakota Medical Association. "It has gotten into a nursing home in our area."
North Dakota's hospitals are filling up and cases are at record levels.
But Anderson has noticed that many people in her state seem less willing to wear masks and follow social distancing recommendations than they were during the spring.
"It's like every man for themself," she says. "In my local hospital so far, we've been lucky, but we're ready and prepared."
While Anderson now practices in North Dakota, her family is from a small county of only about 1,300 people just over the border in South Dakota — a place that recently had a major spike in cases.
"It got into their school. It got into their bank, people my mom works with and knows," says Anderson, who was dismayed to hear some residents still didn't seem to take it seriously.
"One person actually said, 'I had COVID and it was the best thing that ever happened to me,'" she recalls. "Who says stuff like that?"
In many rural communities, small hospitals rely on moving patients to major metro areas when they need a higher level of care or when there are not enough staffed beds.
"Our biggest challenge right now has been finding beds when we need them," says Beverly Vilhauer, CEO of South Central Health in Wishek, N.D., which is about 100 miles from Bismark. "What we're finding out is that the bigger hospitals, they don't have enough available staffed ICU beds."
While her hospital has two dozen beds, Vilhauer says it can only staff about six to eight beds at a time and doesn't have a respiratory therapist who can manage seriously ill COVID-19 patients.
This situation is typical for many smaller facilities, known as "critical access hospitals," at the moment, she says.
In Carroll County, a hotspot in the western half of Iowa, about 20% of COVID-19 tests are coming back positive.
"We've actually expanded our COVID unit three times," says Edward Smith, CEO of St. Anthony Regional Hospital, which has been receiving patients from smaller hospitals in the area. "We've taken care of patients from five different counties."
Smith says staffing is the biggest challenge because health care workers are getting exposed to the coronavirus while out in the community.
"We are seeing greater absenteeism at work due to employee illness or their kids or their husbands," he says.
Rural areas also tend to have an older population with higher rates of poverty and chronic disease than suburban and urban areas.
"It is very troubling to see the virus spreading into areas where a higher proportion of the population is at risk of having a severe case," says Dr. Nancy Dickey, director of Texas A&M's Rural and Community Health Institute and former president of the American Medical Association.
"The majority of rural hospitals are struggling, most of them on a good day are relatively short staffed and people wear multiple hats," she says.
Once the pandemic gets into rural communities, containing the spread can be especially challenging because they don't have the same public health resources and staff as more urban areas.
A big city can quickly open up a COVID-19 testing site and bring in thousands of people, but the same is not necessarily true in rural areas, she says.
The U.S. was expected to have a surge of cases during the fall and winter months as people moved indoors. But rooting out infections in places without adequate testing — or policies requiring facemasks — will make it all the more difficult, says Aaron Wendelboe, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
The cumulative death rate in rural Oklahoma has surpassed metro areas.
"We really could have done better during the summer to prevent some cases and not be so full in our hospitals. I think that the transmission really does reflect the community's behavior," Wendelboe says.
Iowa, the Dakotas, Montana, Oklahoma and Missouri do not have statewide mask mandates, but Wendelboe says some local governments in Oklahoma have passed their own local requirements.
"It's clear that those communities with mask mandates have a more flat trajectory," he says.
Health News Florida rural healthCOVID-19CoronavirushospitalsRural
Will Stone is a former reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
See stories by Will Stone
USDA: Grants To Boost Telemedicine In Rural Florida Areas
Hospitals Grapple With Lack Of Testing Agents
Rural Hospitals Are Sinking Under COVID-19 Financial Pressures


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Our Acaryas
Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty and Acarya Smt. Darshana Nanavaty
The Dedicated Pioneers Of Chinmaya Mission Houston
Since 1982, Sri Gaurang Nanavaty and Smt. Darshana Nanavaty have enriched the Houston community with the treasured scriptural knowledge of Vedanta. Their most revered Guru, Pujya Gurudeva Swami Chinmayananda, conferred the title of "Acarya" on the devoted couple in 1983. The beloved Acaryas of Chinmaya Mission Houston are also affectionately addressed as "Uncle" and "Aunty" by their expanding Chinmaya family.
As early as in 1979, the Nanavatys, inspired by Gurudeva, gave up their professional careers and immersed themselves in an intense study of the Hindu scriptures during the Vedanta Course at Piercy, California. After that, their commitment to the Vedantic path of life took deep roots in Houston. In more than three decades since 1982, their loving guidance has grown to nourish the scriptural learning and cultural growth of almost a thousand families.
While their selfless work makes their love for the community visible, it is a matter of happy pride to the Houston community that our Acaryas of Houston were recently honored and highlighted among the "Jewels of Gujarat" – in a 2014 Silver Jubilee publication (by Maneesh Media) featuring 80 eminent Gujarati personalities selected from fourteen countries.
Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle
Every Sunday, in two sessions, Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle conducts satsangas for adults and parents of the Chinmaya Bala Vihar children. His discourses on a wide range of Vedantic texts, from the Bhagavad Gita to the Upanishads, encourage reflection and contemplation while catering to seekers at all levels of experience. He also guides many Study Groups on the other days of the week to make Vedanta applicable in daily life. With a deep sense of caring alongside a framework of discipline, Acarya Sri Gaurang Uncle can make an audience smile and think about many facets of both secular and spiritual life. He travels to various Chinmaya Mission locations in the US, Canada, and overseas to share the wisdom of Vedanta.
Known for his organizational skills, Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty is also a respected trustee of Chinmaya Viswavidyapeeth, an upcoming University for Sanskrit and Indic Traditions, the newest venture of Chinmaya Mission in India. He continues to serve as one of the Directors on the Chinmaya Mission West Board since 1982 when Pujya Gurudeva appointed him.
Acarya Smt. Darshana Aunty
Smt. Darshana Aunty is the devoted co-Acarya of Chinmaya Mission Houston and the guiding force behind the Bala Vihar activities. Blessed by Gurudeva and encouraged by the next global head of Chinmaya Mission, Swami Tejomayananda, Acarya Smt. Darshana Aunty has compiled the Bala Vihar series of curriculum textbooks for the benefit of all Chinmaya Mission centers worldwide. They symbolize her tireless efforts to make the Hindu scriptures relevant to children of all ages, at all stages of their learning.
One of her earlier books, "Bon Voyage," illustrates and conveys the essence of spirituality in a simple and effective style to children. Another of her creative productions, a multimedia CD-ROM version of the Bhagavad Gita titled "Journey to the Truth" is a beautiful gateway to the timeless wisdom of the Gita. It features a captivating combination of art, animation, music, and narrative. Entertaining Bala Vihar plays like "Alphabet Connection" that showcase young talent and Vedantic themes and the Gita 365 mobile app highlight other hallmarks of Acarya Smt. Darshana Aunty. Whatever the creative medium, her ability to teach with love and clarity attracts universal appeal.
Her teachers-training workshops in many Bala Vihars in North America and India are noteworthy for the many creative techniques she employs to make spiritual and cultural learning enjoyable to both children and teachers. She also conducts the weekly Devi group for women and continues to build on the Chinmaya Bala Vihar teaching legacy.
Smt. Sneha Sandhane
Smt. Mrs.Sneha Sandhane is our newest Vedanta Teacher at Chinmaya Mission Houston. Being a long term CMH member & dedicated volunteer, Snehaji and her family have been a part of the CMH family since 2003. Though being a seeker of Vedanta for many years, her inspiration to embark on the path of spirituality began at an early age. Born and brought up in the traditional family of Rajpurohit (royal priest), Snehaji grew up with a strong background in Samskrta, vedic chanting, and rituals. Through her upbringing and Gurudeva's teachings, she was inspired to take her spiritual yearning to the deeper study of Vedic scriptures.
With blessings from Guruji, Pujya Gaurang Uncle and Pujya Darshana Aunty, she decided to attend the Vedanta course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya from August 2017 through 2019 under the tutelage of Pujjya Swami Bodhatmanandaji – the resident acarya of the Vedanta course. Upon her return, Snehaji is contributing most of her time in spreading the knowledge of vedanta through Satsanga and study groups as a dedication to carry forward Gurudeva's vision and inspire many seekers on the path of spirituality.


Residents at The Bath Club can enjoy the beautiful and exclusive buildingÂ's swimming pool complete with lap lanes and poolside cabanas.
The Bath Club Residences provide its distinguished owners with prominent Formal ballrooms, a GrosvenorÂ's Lounge and Courtyard, plus a billiards and game room.
The Bath Club features two, European style clay tennis courts with a tennis court pavilion and a tennis pro.
At The Bath Club condominium, residents are pampered at the Health spa featuring a full spa menu and personal trainers.
The very privileged residents at The Bath Club can spend a comforting evening relaxing at the invigorating Outdoor hot tub.


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Royal Jelly Helps in Cognitive Support, Healing Wounds, Fertility Support, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects, Kidney and Liver Disease Support, Healthy Skin, Energy and Vitality, Digestive Support, Bone Support, Diabetic Support and Protection Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
Royal Jelly Health Benefits: Improves Collagen Levels And Mor
If you have no idea what royal jelly is, then it might sound like something either prestigious or expensive, sitting atop shelves out of reach of children. After all, it does say 'royal' in the name. But if you're already familiar with what it does, then that opinion might not change at all since unsurprisingly so, royal jelly does deserve its name.
Why? Simple, because it's been reported to have anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial and wound healing properties. And much like honey, it can be eaten too, with the benefit including asthma natural remedy, age-defying treatment, healthy bone development and to boost our immune system, and that's not even all of it.
Here's what you need to know about this amazing natural substance.
Similar to honey, royal jelly (RJ) is also produced by bees, although this nutritious substance is only produced by young nurse ones from the hive. As a substance, RJ contains a large amount of amino acids, which we can use for both reproduction and healthy cell growth. Bees usually use it for the nutrition of adult queen bees and her larvae. It's the sole food that queen and nurse bees eat all their lives, as well as what larvae eat for three days after hatching. In total, it's the main food of bees, while honey is used to provide them energy...
Honey Boosts Effectiveness of Traditional Medicine
Natural deep eutectic characteristics of honey improve the bioactivity and safety of traditional medicines
J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Dec 11:112460
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Honey, an important additive with natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) characteristics, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
We investigated the quality-improving effects of honey on Astragali Radix (Mikvetch Root) (RA) as an example.
Decoctions of raw RA, fried RA, honey-fried RA, and a man-made- honey-fried RA were prepared and compared in cell-based bioactivity tests, chemical composition tests, as well as a bioavailability test with calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside.
The addition of honey increased the concentrations of active compounds and their oral bioavailability, provided protection against acetylation, and consequently increased their bioactivity. These changes were also observed when a pure NADES-mimicking honey was used.
Our findings provide a potential explanation as to why honey has long been used as traditional medicine additives and rationalize the application of honey and honey-like substance in producing pharmaceuticals.
Propolis-Enriched Stingless Bee Honey Successfully Treats Diabetic Foot Ulcer with Exposed Bone
Successful treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer with exposed bone using Trigona honey: a case study
J Wound Care. 2019 Dec 1;28(Sup12):S4-S8
Many studies have shown that honey might improve wound healing. However, its efficacy for large wounds which may be followed by a systemic effect remains unclear. The effectiveness of honey-based dressings in treating large diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is still unknown.
This study presents the case of a 38-year-old female patient presenting with an extensive infected DFU with exposed bone. The DFU was treated with propolis-enriched Trigona honey, used as a single treatment, in a home visit setting. After two months' follow-up, the wound exhibited complete re-epithelialisation despite the patient's initial poor condition.
Manuka Honey Used to Fight Infections in Surgical Dressings
Potential of Manuka Honey as a Natural Polyelectrolyte to Develop Biomimetic Nanostructured Meshes With Antimicrobial Properties
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 04 December 2019
The use of antibiotics has been the cornerstone to prevent bacterial infections; however, the emergency of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is still an open challenge.
This work aimed to develop a delivery system for treating soft tissue infections for: (1) reducing the released antimicrobial amount, preventing drug-related systemic side effects; (2) rediscovering the beneficial effects of naturally derived agents; and (3) preserving the substrate functional properties. For the first time, Manuka honey (MH) was proposed as polyelectrolyte within the layer-by-layer assembly. Biomimetic electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) meshes were treated via layer-by-layer assembly to obtain a multilayered nanocoating, consisting of MH as polyanion and poly-(allylamine-hydrochloride) as polycation. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated the successful nanocoating formation.
Different cell lines (human immortalized and primary skin fibroblasts, and primary endothelial cells) confirmed positively the membranes cytocompatibility, while bacterial tests using Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria demonstrated that the antimicrobial MH activity was dependent on the concentration used and strains tested.
How Manuka Honey Can Improve Your Digestion, Heal Wounds, Promote Oral Hygiene, Treat Colds and Coughs
How Manuka honey can help improve your health, especially during winters
Manuka honey is native to Australia and New Zealand. It has many benefits and uses like healing wounds, aiding digestion, and promoting oral hygiene, among others.
Honey is used all around the world as a popular condiment in food and home remedies
Manuka honey is produced in Australia and New Zealand
Here is how Manuka honey can be used to avail its many health benefits
New Delhi: Honey, as everybody knows, is a healthy food condiment. Honey has many health benefits and uses. It is used in weight loss remedies, as a natural source of sugar, to treat infections, and even as skincare solutions. Honey is of different types, based on how it is prepared and where it comes from. One such type of honey is the Manuka Honey.
Manuka honey is made in the southern continent of Australia, and its neighbouring island, New Zealand. The honey is prepared by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush, native to the region. Manuka honey is used widely and has many health benefits....
People are Trying Bee Stings to Treat Lyme Disease
Katy Vine shares what she learned writing a story about people using bee stings to treat lyme disease.
Wednesday, December 04, 2019 7:42 a.m. by Amy Iler
In this podcast: Katy Vine, Executive Editor of Texas Monthly, joins It Takes 2 to talk about a fascinating story she wrote about people desperately seeking treatments for lyme disease.
Royal Jelly Helps in Cognitive Support, Healing Wo...
Propolis-Enriched Stingless Bee Honey Successfully...
Manuka Honey Used to Fight Infections in Surgical ...
How Manuka Honey Can Improve Your Digestion, Heal ...


DANANG, Vietnam/WASHINGTON -- An American aircraft carrier made a port call in Vietnam on Monday for the first time since the war between the two countries ended in 1975, a visit geared to tip the diplomatic scales against an expanding China.
The U.S. and Vietnam each seek to contest Beijing's projection of maritime influence through their show of improved ties and force. With China also hurrying to strengthen its navy, the Sino-American competition for superiority in the Asia-Pacific region appears bound to intensify.
Smartphone-wielding locals gathered on high ground overlooking Danang Bay in central Vietnam to witness the arrival of the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson. Danang saw heavy fighting during the war as the site of a major U.S. military base, but those gathered showed no sign of bearing a grudge.
The two countries "have gone from former enemies to close partners," the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, said in a statement.
Cultural exchanges are planned during the Carl Vinson's stay through Friday, and some of the carrier's crew will visit memorials to those who died from American use of the herbicide Agent Orange during the war, according to U.S. news media. The U.S. aims for the two nations to overcome their past and greatly increase defense cooperation, according to a source familiar with the Defense Department.
That effort appears squarely aimed at providing a check on China's use of its military and economic might to expand its influence in Asia. In recent years, Beijing has bickered with countries including Vietnam and the Philippines over territorial rights in the South China Sea, where China has been building islands in order to expand its sphere of control.
In January, the Defense Department labeled China and Russia "revisionist powers" seeking to undermine the international order. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis laid the groundwork for the Carl Vinson's visit in a trip to Vietnam shortly afterward. The carrier also stopped in the Philippines in February.
The Carl Vinson, a symbol of U.S. naval might, can carry at least 70 aircraft. It far outstrips China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in terms of fighting power and makes for a much more impressive show of force than other American naval vessels that have made port in Vietnam.
The U.S. avoided the potentially more provocative choice of having the Carl Vinson visit Cam Ranh Bay to the south, which is closer to the Spratly Islands, whose sovereignty is disputed among parties including Vietnam and China. Washington appears to be keeping that diplomatic card in reserve while gauging Beijing's reaction.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken firm stances against China in the security and economic arenas, including by calling for Beijing to address their trade imbalance. The American government hopes to use its involvement with Vietnam and other countries to extract more favorable economic cooperation from Beijing, said a diplomatic source in Washington familiar with Japan-U.S. relations.
For Vietnam, which has objected most strongly to China over issues in the South China Sea, the expanding U.S. involvement in Asia has been fortunate. Last year, Vietnam deployed six submarines purchased from Russia to Cam Ranh Bay, but it cannot oppose Beijing alone.
This drives Vietnam to cooperate more closely with the U.S. and Japan as it seeks diplomatic leverage against China. In May 2017, Vietnam hosted a Japanese helicopter carrier in Cam Ranh Bay for what was called a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drill.


New Knowledge, based in Austin, announced this week it has $11 million in additional funding, to create tools to fight misinformation online.
The cybersecurity company focuses on protecting companies from "from covert, coordinated disinformation campaigns," according to a news release. It raised $11 million in Series A funding led by GVC Capital with participation from Lux Capital.
The company uses artificial intelligence, data mining and other tools combined with human analysis to identify and address attacks against companies. The company plans to use its funding to expand its sales and marketing and to scale into new markets.
New Knowledge, which launched in 2015, has previously raised $1.9 million in seed stage funding. It has customers in the entertainment, energy, financial services, and defense industries.


storm which had swung around the compass from the south-east to the north-west, and which was then blowing directly in upon us. The beaches of the outer cove were thundering with the surf, and even in our land-locked inner cove a respectable sea was breaking. No high backbone of island sheltered us from the wind, and it whistled and bellowed about the hut till at times I feared for the strength of the walls. The skin roof, stretched tightly as a drumhead, I had thought, sagged and bellied with every gust; and innumerable interstices in the walls, not so tightly stuffed with moss as Maud had supposed, disclosed themselves. Yet the seal-oil burned brightly and we were warm and comfortable. It was a pleasant evening indeed, and we voted that as a social function on Endeavour Island it had not yet been eclipsed. Our minds were at ease. Not only had we resigned ourselves to the bitter winter, but we were prepared for it. The seals could depart on their mysterious journey into the south at any time, now, for all we cared; and the storms held no terror for us. Not only were we sure of being dry and warm and sheltered from the wind, but we had the softest and most luxurious mattresses that could be made from moss. This had been Mauds idea, and she had herself jealously gathered all the moss. This was to be my first night on the mattress, and I knew I should sleep the sweeter because she had made it. As she rose to go she turned to me with the whimsical way she had, and said: "Something is going to happen--is happening, for that matter. I feel it. Something is coming here, to us. It is coming now. I dont know what, but it is coming." "Good or bad?" I asked. She shook her head. "I dont know, but it is there, somewhere." She pointed in the direction of the sea and wind. "Its a lee shore," I laughed, "and I am sure Id rather be here than arriving, a night like this." "You are not frightened?" I asked, as I stepped to open the door for her. Her eyes looked bravely into mine. "And you feel well? perfectly well?" "Never better," was her answer. We talked a little longer before she went. "Good-night, Maud," I said. "Good-night, Humphrey," she said. This use of our given names had come about quite as a matter of course, and was as unpremeditated as it was natural. In that moment I could have put my arms around her and drawn her to me. I should certainly have done so out in that world to which we belonged. As it was, the situation stopped there in the only way it could; but I was left alone in my little but, glowing warmly through and through with a pleasant satisfaction; and I knew that a tie, or a tacit something, existed between us which had not existed before.


text:
Q: Compare two arrays, use key from array two to find value from array one I have two arrays,
Array one:
$amount = array(0 => 11, 1 => 22, 2 => 33);

Array two:
$id = array(1 => 1);

I would like to get a result like this, by comparing:
result = array(1 => 22);

I've been trying to do this with several PHP functions, but my brain has now melted.
Hope there is some help out there.

A: Though your question is bit vague I guess what you need is array_intersect_key,
$common = array_intersect_key($amount,$id);

DEMO.

A: If I understand you correctly, you want to loop through the keys in $id and get the corresponding $amount into an array?
$result = array();
foreach($id as $key => $value) {
    if(isset($amount[$key])) {
        $result[$key] = $amount[$key];
    }
    else {
        // handle situation where
        // $amount doesn't have that key
    }
}

A: $array=array();
 foreach($id as $key=>$val){
 if(array_key_exists($key,$amount)){
   $array[$key] = $amount[$key];
 };
}

print_r($array);

DEMO

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Random access to members of array of unions Simplified example:
typedef union {
    int foo;
    char* bar;
} int_or_str;

void baz() {
    int_or_str* bogus = malloc(sizeof(int_or_str) * 43);
    bogus[42].bar = "test";
    printf("%s\n", bogus[42].bar);
}

*

*Should this work, will the compiler assume all 42 members of bogus are char pointers? (Obviously, I could try this, but emphasis on "should").

*Is it even defined what happens when you access an array of unions in such a way?

*Suppose, I wanted an array of unions which actually hold differently sized values, is it legal?  (I could store a layout separately, and compute the offset, if I was sure how union members are laid out in memory).

If you are wondering about motivation for this question: basically, I'm trying to come up with a solution for a run-time defined struct.  My idea was to have an array of unions to represent struct fields, plus some meta-data recording how to access those fields.

A: ad 1: Yes it will work.
ad 2: yes, it is perfectly defined.
ad 3: yes it is legal.
The whole idea of a union is that it can hold different types of elements. The size of the union will be the size of the largest element in the union. On a 64 bit system, that will probably be the size of the char *.
So no, the compiler will not assume that all elements are char pointers. That is why you have to use the dot nottion to tell the compile in your statement which type of element you want to access, and the compiler will generate the access.
But as Tom said, you can't know what type of element is currently stored; there must be an external reason (information)  by which you know that. If it is important to know it, you should store the information in the data structure, for example:
typedef struct {
    int whatisthis;
    union {
        int foo;
        char *bar;
    } u;
} int_or_str;

and set it like:
int_or_str example;
example.whatisthis= 1;
example.u.foo= 1;

example.whatisthis= 2;
example.u.bar= "test";

and access like:
if (example.whatisthis==1) printf("%d\n", example.u.foo);
if (example.whatisthis==2) printf("%s\n", example.u.bar);


text:
Cultural Exchange Between the Low Countries and Italy (1400-1600)
By Ingrid Alexander-Skipnes (ed.)
Turnhout: Brepols, 2007. VII + 292 pp, 18 col. plates and numerous b&w illus. ISBN 978-2-503-51838-1
Following the 2004 CAA session "Cultural Exchange Between the Netherlands and Italy, 1400-1530", Ingrid Alexander-Skipnes, broadening the scope of the subject, edited a fine selection of contributions dealing with Netherlandish-Italian artistic relations in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Notwithstanding the clearly defined range and surveyable time span of two centuries, the topics and scopes of the contributions in this volume are rather diverse, ranging from iconography (Wolfthal, Rohlmann) to painting technique (Ames-Lewis, Galassi), from style and function (Alexander-Skipnes, Gelfand) to critical reception (Scholten). Some perceptive, but otherwise highly speculative contributions complete the volume.
The disparity in scope, in my opinion, constitutes the strength as well as the weakness of the volume. The overall topic is hard to grasp (a factor which accounts for the two year time span between its appearance and the current review). Otherwise, the book offers a comprehensive overview of the diversity in approach and methodology in the field of Netherlandish-Italian artistic relations in early modern history. Several methods, materials and even generations are represented in the volume, making it an elucidating part of the historiography of the topic itself.
The volume is attractive visually. Pages are divided into two columns, and most black and white illustrations are strictly bound to one or both columns of the page. The full page color reproductions of the most important art works under consideration are at the back of the volume. Unfortunately, in quite a few cases the resolution of the black and white illustrations was not high enough, leaving the individual pixel rather clearly visible.
Probably because of the very different nature of the contributions, Alexander-Skipnes has chosen to arrange them more or less chronologically, commencing with Portinari-patronage in the second half of the fifteenth century. Diane Wolfthal discusses Tommaso Portinari's motivations for ordering paintings, particularly the Portinari Altarpiece (Florence, Uffizi). She argues that, following Cosimo de' Medici, Portinari felt the need to compensate for the usuary that he, as a banker, was involved in. This intriguing statement is supported by first and foremost an extensive overview of bankers' patronage from the early 1300s, as well as by a detailed discussion of the patronage of Cosimo, Portinari and Isabella of Portugal. Wolfthal concludes that for some of his commissions, Portinari had a pure and honest concern for his spiritual well being, without any business interest. Although firmly supported by visual and written evidence, some references cited to strengthen the case unfortunately are not convincing. The apparent pregnancy of Giovanni Arnolfini's wife in Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Double Portrait (London, National Gallery) is far from being unanimously accepted. Furthermore, St. Margaret on the right wing of the Portinary Triptych, whose presence is interpreted as referring to her role as patron saint of childbirth, should primarily be seen here as the saint bearing the same name as Portinari's daughter.
A second case study is offered by Elisabeth Ross who discusses the Peregrinatio in terram sanctam by Erhard Reuwich (Latin and German, 1486; Dutch, 1488). She describes how the artist used Venetian as well as northern motifs, and moreover, how he pushed the possibilities of the woodblock print – in the Peregrinatio and other printings – to its limits. The highly interesting issue of the assimilation of Venetian motifs is discussed at length. Ross raises the question whether Reuwich only adopts Venetian motifs, or whether he invests these motifs with their meanings. Her final and well argued statement is that Reuwich, through the deliberate choice of his pictorial language, advertizes Venice as the pre-eminent Christian stronghold against Muslim influence.
A third, equally well documented case study by Michael Rohlmann discusses the means by which Joos Ammann, a painter from Ravensburg in southern Germany ended up in Genoa in the mid-fifteenth century where he painted an Annunciation in the loggia of Sta. Maria di Castello that merges northern elements with Italian ones. Rohlmann not only explores artistic and business contacts between the north and Ammann's artistic environment, but ultimately arrives at the statement that Ammann's wall painting is as much a demonstration of self-awareness as it is probably the first real Flemish (as opposed to Italian) painting made south of the Alps.
Besides case studies, parts of the book are devoted to technical studies. Francis Ames-Lewis offers a systematic overview of the reception and appreciation of the technique of oil paint in (first) Northern Italy, immediately followed by Florence. He concludes that "the great importance of the adoption of Netherlandish oil-painting techniques […] has not been adequately acknowledged" (p. 58). It is exactly this kind of analytical contribution that gradually refines our understanding of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century artistic production in Italy and the Netherlands.
Ames-Lewis's essay is immediately followed by a technical analysis of one of the painters who was most obviously influenced by fifteenth-century Netherlandish painting: Antonello da Messina. Although Maria Galassi writes that the knowledge of Antonello's techniques is still in its infancy, she concludes with interesting observations. She demonstrates that Antonello adopted specific materials and techniques such as underdrawing and glazing, not by slavishly following, but by adapting these methods to suit his own technique.
Ingrid Alexander-Skipnes, whose subject too is situated at the crossroads of north and south, discusses the Certosa of Pavia and Ambrogio Bergognone's Christ Carrying the Cross, originally contained there. She demonstrates (and lavishly annotates) how the deliberate choice of northern as well as southern elements by the artist contributes to Carthusian devotion. For instance, she describes the depiction of the four steps of monastic life (Guigo II, before 1188) in the painting by Bergognone.
Even though one might think so far that the present volume deals solely with painting – the subject usually given preference in discussions of fifteenth-century art – this does not do justice to the book, which includes contributions on a variety of media. Thus Colin Eisler, who at the beginning of his article strongly challenges the importance traditionally placed upon panel painting and "the way in which Netherlandish art, in particular […] impacted upon pictorial production of [Italy]" (pp. 87-88), writes about tapestries, a subject also dealt with by Nello Forti Grazzini and Marina Belozerskaya who treats them together with other luxury products.
Continuing the discussion of other media is Laura Gelfand who underlines the importance of Brabantine architecture as a carrier of Burgundian iconography. Her compact contribution describes the background of Margaret of Austria's deliberate choice of Brabantine Gothic for her funeral church in Brou. Continuing the discussion of other media is Frits Scholten who provides the reader with a sometimes anecdotic overview of Netherlandish sculptors working abroad, mainly in Italy or for the Habsburg court, and mainly working in bronze – a material that refers directly to classical antiquity. His statement that more Netherlandish sculptors worked outside their own country than those of other nationalities is not so much supported by the percentage of itinerant sculptors as such, but by the percentage of internationallyitinerant sculptors. No less than 28% of the sculptors working abroad anywhere in Europe in the period 1400-1800 originated from the Low Countries. In the period under consideration in this essay (c. 1550-1600), some 200 Netherlandish artists were working abroad. It is not known how many of them were sculptors. A most intriguing part of the explanation of this phenomenon follows in the discussion of the careers of Giambologna, Cornelis Floris, Jaques DuBroeqc, and somewhat lengthier of those of Johan Gregor van der Schard, Adriaen de Vries and Willem van Tetrode. Scholten agues that, added to the high degree of urbanization, it was their backgrounds as either goldsmiths or stone carvers, that made Netherlandish sculptors so equipped at designing and casting bronze. Scholten rightly signals the low regard for mannerist sculptors after c. 1600, leading to a collective loss of art historical memory for some three and a half centuries. Thus, Adriaen de Vries's most important work, the Hercules Fountain for Christian IV of Denmark, was considered to be from Greece, judging by an account of 1688. At least the patron succeeded in associating himself with antiquity in the choice of the material.
The current review is not the place to discuss every contribution at length, especially since a few of them are only distantly related to the topic of the book. Ingrid Rowland's extensively documented contribution on Agostino Chigi for instance, as ably written as it is eloquent, barely touches on the subject of the present volume. Notwithstanding the complementary character of some of the essays, some obvious cross-references have not been made. For instance, Barbara Lane states that Raphael was particularly attracted to Memling because of the medium of oil paint but does not refer to Ames-Lewis's contribution. Furthermore, the colours red and blue of the mantle of the Madonna can, as she states, never count as proof – positive or negative – that there is any relation to any other woman dressed in red and blue, nor can the occurrence of plants or a cityscape, as long as there is no evident visual likeness.
The minor disadvantages discussed above do in no way invalidate Cultural Exchange Between the Low Countries and Italy (1400-1600). The volume is a valuable contribution to the study of Netherlandish-Italian relations in all its diversity. Because of this, an index and cross references would have been most helpful. But even without this, the volume belongs on the shelf of every scholar involved in the subject.
Lars Hendrikman
Bonnefantenmuseum


text:
November 30, 2022 News » Chicken-Fried News
The elements are unkind to the Oklahoma City unhoused in winter, but not nearly as unkind as City Councillor and Vice Mayor Mark Stonecipher.
By Gazette staff
Jerry Bennett
The long and short of it is that he sought to make encampments illegal and greatly broaden what constitutes the crime of trespassing in the city. In other words, if getting them out of sight means putting them behind bars, then so be it.
Stonecipher represents Ward 8, which stretches north from Lake Hefner to as far as NW 206th Street and from west near the Canadian County line east to Edmond city limits. In other words, the part of the city that has to contend with homelessness issues least, so really, he's just doubly an asshole to propose these ordinances.
Fortunately, the good people of Oklahoma City — whose hearts aren't as cold as the temperatures ahead — turned out en masse to oppose them and the city council voted unanimously to strike his cruel proposals.
"Today was a great exchange of ideas. We are all working hard on resolving the homeless issue in Oklahoma City, but at this time we need to keep discussing these issues among council and staff," Stoneheart … errr … Stonecipher wrote in an email to The Oklahoman following the city council meeting.
"A great exchange of ideas" is characterizing suggestions so repugnant that the city council chamber had an overflow section, but at least this one was universally rejected, unlike the 2015 panhandling ordinance that was unanimously approved and ending up putting city taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 million in legal fees when it was struck down.
Good thing OKC didn't need a million bucks for things like, say, helping house the homeless or get them back on their feet, which is to say nothing of all the volunteer dollars worth of possessions that would have ended up in a landfill.
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Are you planning to become a preschool or early childhood educator? Checking online, you will surely see a number of childcare jobs and being a preschool teacher is actually just one of them. That is right and in fact, when it comes to this fields, the opportunities seem to be endless. No matter where you are in the globe, for sure you will easily find a teaching opportunity and if you prefer to be with kids, the chances are a handful as well. You just have to be resourceful and be sure you also do your homework in checking the details of a particular job you plan to apply for.
Yes, instead of just directly instructing him on what to do all the time, you can offer options in which both will be useful inside the school though. Of course it is given that the options will also be interesting and also part of the options that all other kids can do. This way, the other kids will not follow what he did just so they can be provided with the same special treatment.
This is another option. Like for example when playing time will come as this is one of the phases in early childhood, you can delay his time because he has been naughty. This way, if he wants to play in the same time with the other kids, he will not try the same prank the next time.
Engaging in a behaviour chart will also prove to be helpful. You can share it to all your pupils and show them the punishments of those who will have more naughty starts and at the same time, the reward of those without one. As it is normal for kids to be competitive, for sure they will think twice before doing any naughty things again.
Yes, there are times when a kid is just seeking for attention like because he can't excel in academic lessons, he think that by doing something naughty will get his teacher's attention. Thus even if they have not done something extra special, you should also encourage your pupils sometimes.
If you really want to become an early childhood educator, you need to really have the stamina. It not a joke to deal with a class of preschoolers. To think that even if you only need to deal with a single child, it is already stressful. Thus you should be quipped enough to manage all of them.
For more opportunities in teaching, you should check online as there are a handful of them.
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