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Smithson Speaks
Frieze Names Curators of Themed Sections at 2019 New York Fair
By Claire Selvin
Claire Selvin
Associate Editor, ARTnews
More Stories by Claire
Uniqlo Unveils New Collection Inspired by Keith Haring's Work in Tokyo
Aiming to Revise Canon, Arab Art Center Opens at NYU Abu Dhabi
Frieze New York 2017.
COURTESY FRIEZE
The Frieze art fair announced today that Patrick Charpenel, executive director of El Museo del Barrio in New York, and Franklin Sirmans, director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami, will curate two new themed sections at its 2019 New York edition.
Additionally, Courtney J. Martin, deputy director and chief curator of the Dia Art Foundation, will serve as curator of the 2019 Frieze Artist Award, and Laura Hoptman, executive director of the Drawing Center in New York, will organize the fair's Spotlight section.
The section curated by Charpenel, which is titled Diálogos, will focus on work by contemporary Latinx artists. This presentation coincides with El Museo del Barrio's 50th anniversary, and invited galleries will show works by artists "who have played a significant role in El Museo's history," according to a release. Sirmans will organize a section centered on the New York–based gallery Just Above Midtown (JAM)—which played a significant role in the art scenes of the 1970s and 1980s—and its founder, Linda Goode Bryant.
Loring Randolph, artistic director of Frieze, said in a statement, "It is an honor to collaborate with these institutional leaders who are at the forefront of shaping the art and ideas of today. With their contribution, Frieze New York 2019 will offer an experience that is both dynamic and challenging—pushing the boundaries of what an art fair can be."
Frieze New York is scheduled to take place from May 2 to 5 on Randall's Island.


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Spectrum Global Solutions Inc. (SGSI) Expands Range of 5G Services with Acquisition of Battery Technology Company
November 26, 2019 11:05:10
Spectrum Global Solutions reports third quarter 2019 financial results
Closes acquisition of global battery technology company WaveTech GmbH
Receives $6.9 million in new contract awards
With the recent acquisition of WaveTech GmbH, Spectrum Global Solutions Inc. (OTCQB: SGSI) has strengthened its support capabilities for telecommunications companies building the new 5G infrastructure. The acquisition has also opened the door to new markets for Spectrum's core business, particularly in Europe, Asia and Africa, where the acquired entity maintains several key relationships. Spectrum expects to benefit from substantial economies of scale by capitalizing on the cross-selling opportunities now made possible. The company announced the acquisition and several other positive developments in its release of financial results for Q3 2019, including close to $7 million in new contracts and establishment of a Canadian subsidiary (http://nnw.fm/Ri5o1).
The WaveTech GmbH acquisition marks a new chapter in Spectrum's remarkable success story…
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com
NetworkNewsBreaks – Treasure & Shipwreck Recovery (OTC: BLIS) Enters Agreement for Large Area Targets off Florida's East Coast
NetworkNewsBreaks – Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX.V: SIM) (OTCQX: SYATF) Secures Min $1.8 M to Equip Taxis with Innovative CP250 In-Vehicle Smartphone

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Non Executive Directors
Scientific Principles
The Car Analogy
MirZyme
Scientists at MirZyme have developed a breakthrough 'miracle' cure for preeclampsia
Scientists at MirZyme Therapeutics have discovered a cure for preeclampsia, a life-
threatening hypertensive disorder affecting one in twelve of 130 million annual
pregnancies worldwide.
The study, led by Professor Asif Ahmed, Executive Chairman and CEO working with
affiliates at the King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, University of Milan, Italy,
University of Toronto, Canada, Aston Medical School and University of Southampton
in the UK.
MirZyme Therapeutics, an innovative early stage biopharmaceutical company,
focused on the development and commercialisation of targeted therapeutics with
companion diagnostics to prevent preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in
pregnancy. MirZyme is the first of its kind in the maternal drug space that is taking
this type of approach. The company has been granted global patents for drugs that
produce the 'smelly gas', hydrogen sulphide, for the prevention of preeclampsia and
fetal growth restriction.
The team discovered that hydrogen sulfide-releasing aspirin, a designer molecule,
MZe786 releases hydrogen sulfide to suppress hypertension, improve kidney
function and prevent poor fetal outcome in this model of preeclampsia. They also
found that MZe786 was superior therapeutic candidate than aspirin in preventing
preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia presents itself as a new hypertensive disorder halfway through
pregnancy. Every year around the world, it causes the death of a mother or an
unborn child every minute or leads to serious complications for some mothers and
their baby.
Four in ten of the children born to affected mothers are delivered prematurely and up
to one in four are born growth-restricted.
All of them are at risk of health issues into their adulthood, which includes
cardiovascular disease, learning difficulties and breathing problems.
Preeclampsia is a dangerous disorder that can shorten lives even after pregnancy by
inflicting long-term health consequences on mothers such as kidney and
cardiovascular disease, stroke and dementia.
Just like covid-19, preeclampsia is a disorder of unmet medical need. There are no
drugs to prevent or treat it and the annual global cost burden of preeclampsia is over
100 billion US dollars.
Identifying the cause
The research, published in the prestigious journal Redox Biology, shows that
preeclampsia is caused during pregnancy due to a defect in a protective enzyme and
with a rise in a culprit protein called soluble Flt-1 in the mother's circulation.
These scientists developed a genetic model of preeclampsia with low levels of a
protective enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 and high circulating soluble Ft-1. This model
showed signs of severe preeclampsia including hypertension, kidney injury and
under-sized babies.
Miss H. May Rezai, the first author who is about to submit her PhD thesis said, "I am
so proud of this work and the opportunity to work with MirZyme during my PhD has
given me a unique insight into the world of science and business. During my PhD, I
had decided I didn't want to ever get pregnant as I developed a fear of preeclampsia, but now I feel, MirZyme is shining a light on this silent killer in a way to prevent it. So,
one day I will be able to have a safe and healthy pregnancy".
Professor Asif Ahmed, Executive Chairman and CEO of MirZyme and the Founder
of Aston Medical School in Birmingham said: "Pregnancy should be a joyous time,
yet sometime pregnancy is a risky business. At MirZyme, we aim to minimise the
risks. Our ambition is very simple; we want to ensure that preeclampsia never causes
a woman to choose between her own life and the life of her unborn child. This paper
is paving the way for a safe, easy accessible and effective treatment against
preeclampsia. One Test. One Pill. Save Two lives. This we will achieve before this
decade is over."
Professor Mark E. Smith, The Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of
Southampton said, "At Southampton, we encourage academic and entrepreneurial
activities. Active engagement with companies such as MirZyme Therapeutics will
help our postgraduate research students to explore the world of translational science
and business. The breakthrough science reported in this research paper is all about
transforming and saving lives. I look forward to seeing a closer interaction between
MirZyme and the University so we may offer opportunities to our students like that
experienced by Miss May Rezai."
For further information, contact info@mirzyme.com
MIRZYME AWARDED THE FIRST FAST-TRACK INNOVATION PASSPORT FOR THE TREATMENT OF PREECLAMPSIA
CEO Nominated for Businessman of The Year
Women's Health Innovation Summit - Boston, USA
© 2019 by MirZyme


The Jaxon Gold Pendant Necklace in Berry Illusion is loved for its geometric center framed in metallic detail. This simple pendant necklace is perfectly petite, set on a delicate chain. Endlessly versatile, you can wear the Jaxon Gold Pendant Necklace at any time, with anything.


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The Welles Report: Part V
Note: The following is the version of the report that was made available to the general publick in late 609. An unexpurgated version was made available to certain officers of HM's Government at the same time. The latter remains a protected document under the Secrets Act of 571.
3.3: -its course
It is here that the author must offer a needed digression upon the subject of the accounts delivered within this section of the report. Should any account repeated here seem incredible or otherwise unrealistic, one must be reminded that the chaos of a battlefield is said to be a most distorting condition. One has done her utmost to ensure that the phenomena and events recorded here were corroborated by multiple accounts, but even those have brought discrepancy in the telling. Regrettably, the author, being barred from forming her own accurate first-hand conceptions on the nature of a battlefield by the personal conditions of her sex, may not offer quite as informed a commentary on the creditability of these first-hand accounts as might be expected.
(Editor's note: the following two paragraphs consist of a sarcastic, and occasionally bitter digression relating to the purely masculine nature of the martial departments of H.M.'s Government. They were removed from both versions of the report by the request of the office of the Lord Intendant.)
Thus the martially-experienced reader must excuse the text, if any of the following accounts may seem to differ from their own personal military experience.
There is no doubt that the first volleys of shot fired by Wulfram's centre battery inflicted grave execution upon the massed bodies of Antari infantry. An observer of the 8th Foot recalled 'round-shot, appearing as no more than black specks in fight, suddenly tearing through the enemy like a steel plough through the screaming, bleeding dirt'. Wulfram's guns could hardly miss, being aimed at a wide mass of infantry no less than two kilometres across and several hundred metres deep, and the Antari return fire, though heavy, proved inaccurate. Khorobirit had likely, as many Antari commanders have done, made the mistake of prioritising the preservation of his guns over their effect upon any prospective enemy. Though understandable, given the unwieldy nature of Antari artillery, and the fact that the guns themselves were most likely from the arsenal of Prince Ivan of Jugashavil or Khorobirit himself, it nonetheless meant that the Antari guns had been placed too far away from Wulfram's army to make any appreciable impact.
However, this did not mean that, as some would argue, that Wulfram's artillery could have won him the battle entirely. While the effect of the centre battery's round-shot – quickly supplemented by that of the left battery – did indeed kill or maim many of the enemy, it did not have the effect of disrupting the enemy's formed bodies of men, or of slowing the enemy's advance in any appreciable manner. Though many hundreds of the enemy were killed as they made their approach, the Antari foot numbered into the tens of thousands, and it is very likely that those bodies of enemy not directly subject to our artillery did not even notice the fact that their portion of the army was under cannonade at all. Of those prisoners the King's Army took at Blogia (most of them infantry), a full third stated that they had not been able to see the effect of our artillery in any shape or form, save perhaps in the appearance of isolated bodies, trampled over by those who marched forward in their wake. Thus, despite the prodigies of the brave and skilled gunners who fought with Wulfram's army, I must regrettably judge the effect of their repeated discharges of round-shot into the enemy to be negligible.
The only tangible impact which the Tierran artillery had did not begin until the enemy had almost closed with our own infantry. In his placement of his heavy guns, Wulfram had possessed the foresight to site his batteries atop a point where they would not only be able to fire round-shot over the heads of the infantry before them, but canister-shot as well. This, the gunners were ordered to do at the range of five hundred paces. When the enemy foot had passed this distance, the centre and left batteries discharged double-loads of canister over the heads of Castermaine and Havenport's brigades, and into the front ranks of the Antari foot. Not only did this serve to cause great losses within those portions of the enemy infantry, it also inflicted such a level of chaos through the wide-spread nature of its effect as to momentarily check the advance of the enemy. Unfortunately, the closing nature of the battle meant that further application of canister-shot to the front ranks of the enemy force was made impossible: at ranges closer than three hundred and fifty paces, the risk that the men of the infantry brigades would be struck by low-flying canister-balls was deemed unacceptable. Thus the gunners resorted to firing their canister and round-shot into whatever targets presented themselves behind the forward edge of the enemy advance, doing much to thin their numbers, but little to alleviate the immediate situation of the infantry battalions now engaged by a force which greatly outmatched them in number.
The infantry of Havenport's brigade were the first to engage the enemy. Once the enemy had reached a range of approximately one hundred and ten paces, the 2nd battalion of the 11th foot presented and delivered a battalion volley into the enemy. This, the adjacent battalions, the 1st of the 11th, and the 1st of the 14th, took as signal to open fire themselves, despite the orders of their officers. Upon seeing the fire of the entire left wing of Havenport's brigade, the remaining troops of the forward row-of-battalions in the brigade opened fire as well. Battalions further down the line, assuming that a general volley had been ordered, gave fire in sequence down the line.
This was, perhaps, a fortuitous occurrence, for although it is recommended to officers in the field that they withhold their opening volley until enemy foot advance to the range of sixty paces or less, such a stricture was born out of the experience of the Unification Wars, when the King's battalions of foot were expected to face similarly ordered bodies of infantry. The Antari foot, however, had neither the ability or the inclination to exchange volleys: they were, after all, armed only intermittently with firelocks. Instead, they had intended to close with Wulfram's infantry with a massed shock charge. Had the Tierran infantry withheld their fire until the enemy closed, it is entirely possible that they would have been unable to discharge their volleys until the enemy had already closed with them. Ultimately, the impact of the opening volley, delivered at a range of anywhere between one hundred and ten to fifty paces (one observer from the 5th Foot had claimed that Antari had made it to within five paces of him before the order to fire was given by his battalion officer, but this is likely hyperbole) had been sufficient to inflict grave losses to the forward edge of the enemy assault, and force those following to fall back and regroup.
At this point, the order was likely given down the line for men to fire in their own time, as quickly as possible. Prior to the battle it had been considered probable that once the initial forward momentum of the Antari infantry had been checked, it would be more advantageous to allow individual companies and battalions to deliver as much fire into the enemy as possible, rather than rely on the shock of a mass volley. This was to serve the purpose of inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy without giving them sufficient cause to rout entirely, and thus perhaps regroup and reform to the Antari rear, where they might prove obstacles to Wulfram's planned decisive blow. In this task, the three brigades of Wulfram's infantry persisted for the next two hours, successfully occupying the enemy's foot and inflicting sufficient losses to compel Prince Ivan of Jugashavil to commit his infantry reserves.
In the performance of this task, the commanders of the three brigades each used different methods. On the left flank, the Duke of Havenport had manoeuvred his brigade as if he had been the one on the attack: when the enemy foot showed signs of retreat or weakness under the weight of his musketry, he would order the four battalions of his reserve line (including the two battalions of his own Kentauri Highlanders) forward with bayonets charged. Once those bodies of the enemy foot which had been immediately engaged had been put to flight by the prospect of facing an attack by Fresh Tierran infantry, Havenport would withdraw these battalions, and move his remaining four – that is to say those who had initially formed the front line – forwards, and repeat the process. This he did thrice in between the time of eleven-thirty in the morning and one-fifteen in the afternoon. He would do it again for a fourth time at around five-thirty in the evening, but by then, the circumstances and the purpose of the attack in question had obviously much changed.
Likewise, Baron Tourbridge acted in a similar, though not identical manner. Ordered to hold a longer portion of the line with battalions which were, in general, of poorer quality and strength, Tourbridge had no viable reserve with which to keep the enemy engaged. Instead, he chose to order a general advance as the enemy retreated, only to withdraw as fresh enemy counterattacks materialised, therefore never truly disengaging with the enemy. This tactic, though undoubtedly effective, was also both costly in lives and energy: the constant pattern of attack and retreat not only created short periods of chaos which allowed the enemy to close and inflict losses more easily (including one incident in which the Antari had been able to almost break through a portion of the line held by the 7th foot), but it also meant that by the time of the early afternoon, many of Tourbridge's men were overheating and exhausted. Multiple sources report some men fighting without jackets, vests or even shirts, preferring to meet the heat of battle, march, and counter-march without encumbrance of heavy clothing, despite the increased danger of powder burns and other hazards.
Caught in between these two aggressively led brigades were the battalions under the command of the Earl of Castermaine. Known to be both meticulous and acerbic in equal measure (to the point where his nickname among the common soldiery-'The Old Complainer'-shows up even in semi-official correspondence to Grenadier Square), Castermaine had opted for a more cautious method of keeping the enemy engaged. At the most forward point in his line, Castermaine had placed the 2nd Battalion of the elite Grenadier Guard, commanded by the celebrated Lieutenant Colonel the Viscount Wolfswood. When the Antari pressed home their attack, he ordered this battalion to fall back, as if retreating. When the enemy foot pressed the attack, they would suddenly find themselves under fire not only from the suddenly-resurgent Grenadiers, but also from its flanking battalions, which had wheeled to present their own musketry into the flanks of the enemy attack. In this manner, Castermaine meant to funnel the enemy before him into a crossfire. However, the more aggressive movements of his fellow Generals-of-Brigade meant that Castermaine was required to constantly readjust the flank battalions of his own brigade, lest he lose contact with Havenport's battalions to his left, and Tourbridge's on his right. So cognisant was he of these impositions, that he would even go so far as to appeal to Wulfram directly, complaining in a message timed at twelve-thirty that he felt his position much resembling that of 'a small child hauled about by a pair of excitable foxhounds'. Despite his complaint, there was no sign that Castermaine's brigade showed any failure or deficiency in the discharge of its assigned orders.
From his position at the right flank, Wulfram could see little of how his infantry fared: though the day had dawned clear, the light breeze of the late morning had proved insufficient to shift the now-unbroken cover of the thick powder fog caused by the near constant exchange of fire between the Tierran infantry and those few segments of the Antari foot in possession of firelocks. So thick was this obscuring smoke that observers spoke of the difficulty of even seeing from one end of a formed company to another, and that the enemy not fifty paces before them was often reduced to the shape of dark shadows. Only through supernumerary officers acting as gallopers were the various battalions of foot able to maintain communications with the brigade staffs, and only through yet more gallopers were these staffs able to keep Wulfram appraised of the situation through their irregular, infrequent, and no doubt somewhat distorted reports, delivered with considerable delay.
It was only when the wind began to pick up at around one o'clock in the afternoon that Wulfram and his staff were able to see for themselves the situation in the field. It was only at this point that observers were able to confirm to Wulfram, without reservation, that the reserve forces of the Antari infantry were moving forward to reinforce their faltering fellows already pressed into the attack. Upon receipt of this knowledge, Wulfram immediately ordered that all three brigades of infantry charge bayonets and begin a general advance, hoping to quickly occupy both the Antari foot already engaged and their reserves in preparation for the advance of his own cavalry upon the Antari flank.


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A Liner Conference System (also called a "shipping conference") is an agreement within the shipping industry in relation to ocean liners. Typically, the agreement is between two or more shipping companies to provide scheduled cargo and/or passenger service on a particular trade route under uniform rates and common terms.

Although a Liner Conference System allows shipowners to club together, enabling them to continue to operate a regular "liner service" and maintain requisite standards of service, there is a downside.  Such agreements may establish protectionist organisations that can involve monopoly abuse and possible breach of competition law. For instance, under European Community Law, article 101 of the Treaty of Rome (as amended) imposes a prima facie ban on anticompetitive "agreements between undertakings". However, the Encyclopædia Britannica site states that overall the advantages to the public of Liner Conferences outweigh their disadvantages.

See also
 Far Eastern Freight Conference

References

Further reading
1974 Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences

Admiralty law
Maritime transport
Economics of transport and utility industries

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


10 Years After The Rising, 'Iron Gold' Asks: What Now? Pierce Brown's rip-roaring Romans-in-space series Red Rising seemed to come to a triumphant end with last year's Morning Star. But what was the cost of that triumph, and where will it lead?
10 Years After The Rising, 'Iron Gold' Asks: What Now?
It has been 10 years of war.
In Pierce Brown's Red Rising universe, the rebellion begun by slaves three books ago, then carried into the stars by slaves become heroes, become gods, become myths, has nearly been won. Mars and Earth and Luna have been freed from the imperial control of the Gold ruling caste. The green fields of Mercury (just ... go with it) have been won at the cost of a million lives. Venus is all that remains now — stronghold of the Ash Lord, last vestige of the old order. Just one final epic battle, right? Then victory, sweet and eternal.
No. No way. If you're already a fan of Brown's books (and you should be), you're already accustomed to the complex, layered, incredibly human-scale stories he's been telling for the past few years. Tales of war and honor and betrayal and regret grafted (somehow, nearly impossibly) onto an almost childishly simple frame of space Romans waging pew-pew laser gun fights over who gets to be Grand Poobah of the solar system or whatever.
And look, if you're not a fan — if you're coming cold to this strange place — then I can't even begin to explain to you the epic that Brown has already crafted. There are a hundred characters, all with goofy names like Victra, Cassius or The Jackal, and a hundred battles, all reading like your most fevered science fiction daydreams come true on the page.
But at the core of it, there's Darrow, originally a 16-year-old slave on Mars, who made himself the leader of a revolution that grew into a rebellion that ignited the entire solar system. Darrow became the Reaper — a leader, a legend, the deadliest thing on two legs. And the men and women who fought with him became like angry child-gods let loose upon the world, all of them bloodstained and looking for vengeance upon those who had once been kings and queens.
And if it sounds like I'm being sly here, or mocking, I am absolutely not. I have loved with a nerd's glee every one of these books — and loved them even more for their absolute, over-the-top ridiculousness, their soap opera plots and Brown's unapologetic love for cranking everything to 11, all the time, forever. Even his quiet moments are QUIET. Even his peaceful ones probably have a snake hidden somewhere.
But his newest, Iron Gold, is something else. It is his crux book — the point at which his series (already nearly 2,000 pages long) has to do something new (sound familiar, sci-fi fans?). Because we've had Darrow's youth. We've had his rise to power and his wars. The last book, Morning Star, was Darrow at his peak, smashing the forces of his enemies, becoming not just a hero, but a legend. And while a lesser author would've just kept things rolling, running his Good Guy straight into battle and victory, Brown ain't no lesser author. Instead, he did something unusual.
He made his new book about someone else.
He made it about a young girl in a refugee camp, saved from a life of slavery and then abandoned by the rebellion that freed her and her family.
He made it about an old soldier, traumatized and tired of Darrow's war. A man who gave up the fighting and turned criminal, running from his past and all its supposed glories.
He made it about a prince in exile — one of the enemy, spirited away and in hiding.
And he made it about Darrow, too, of course. And his best friend Sevro. And the Howlers and Mustang and Dancer and all the old names that everyone expects, of course, but mostly (and best ... ly?) it is about these other people who are in the bad places they're in because of Darrow and the rest and their war.
'Iron Gold' is mature science fiction existing within the frame of blazing space opera.
Iron Gold is mature science fiction existing within the frame of blazing space opera, bouncing back and forth between some of the most cinematically brilliant nonsense you'll ever read and serious discussions of politics, morality and the cost of violence. It is, all of it, done in a style so purple that it borders on Shakespearean, and offers us both a continuation of the story Brown has been telling for years right alongside an eye-opening widening of his universe, as though we're watching it all through an exquisitely calibrated telescope that can slide on perfect bearings from one side of the solar system to the other without the slightest blur.
The old hero is still there — the Reaper grown and exhausted, haunted by all the killing and dying that has been done in his name. Once a man willing to risk anything because he had nothing to lose, now he has a wife, a child, friends, a home, power. And in this state, he is forced to face an uncomfortable question: Would he know peace if he saw it? And what would he do, this god of war, if peace was actually offered to him?
But in most important ways, Brown has chosen to hand his narrative over to those otherwise forgotten by most war stories: the homeless, the outcast, the broken. He allows us — forces us, really — to see our heroes unadored and the world the Reaper has made through eyes other than those who forged it. He asks, through them, So ... was it worth it?
Jason Sheehan knows stuff about food, video games, books and Starblazers. He is currently the restaurant critic at Philadelphia magazine, but when no one is looking, he spends his time writing books about giant robots and ray guns. Tales From the Radiation Age is his latest book.


Tired of the dim stock halogen headlights on your Jeep? This Jeep LED headlight and lightbar combo kit includes everything you need for a major light upgrade!
This combo kit includes everything you need.
The LED headlights offer a much needed lighting upgrade to your stock Wrangler headlights.
The 52 Inch (JK) & 50 Inch (TJ) Lightbar offers unmatched lighting power.
Mounting hardware, harnesses, relays, fuses, and everything else you'll need for installation included.
This LED Light Bar puts out 30,000 lumens and a pair of four Inch pods and custom bolt-on mounting brackets for the Jeep wrangler. This Lightbar will make your Jeep look great and give you unmatched lighting power. You'll get everything you need with this combo kit.
Fast delivery, unsure how easy installation was because i paid someone but it took them just abt two hours. My wrangler looks 10 x's better now.
Only hooked in the headlights so far. But what a difference. Easy install.


This is also very true of mortgage finance advice. There are thousands of pages of free advice on buy-to-let finance across the old 'interweb'. Moneyfacts one of the better sources for mortgage data has recently reported that the number of buy to let mortgages has breached the thousand mark for the first time since the 2007 financial crisis.
I've just asked myself this very question when looking for finance on a slightly unusual property, (a modern conversion – with metal frame and timber cladding). Is there any mortgage company out there that's going to lend on such an unusual building?
Now as a tight fisted landlord my immediate reaction was to grab the ipad and start searching some of the better mortgage broking websites. I have listed some of the better ones below with an overview of my initial thoughts. Please feel free to add in some of your suggestions or thoughts.
Which are the best free buy-to-let mortgage websites?
Founded on the same principles of our free website. You do have to sign up for the service; but then you are presented with a market wide range of BTL mortgages. The search allowss you to filter the results and also shares useful information on the rental surplus and additional borrowing. Not only that; but we give you a £100 cash back for every deal that goes through.
Access to best rate products and free phone number with nice summary of the mortgage products so you can see at a glance essential stuff like LTV. To make an application you are directed to the individual buy-to-let mortgage companies contact centre. Free phone number, call back facility but limited choice of products although they are conveniently displayed by category. The nice thing about this site is that you don't have to add any data to see their info meaning that you can start browsing for a mortgage immediately.
One of the historic market leaders; who do let you see a selection of mortgage products. They have a brief selection of mortgage products but the website does not allow you to search under any given criteria. Clearly, as mortgage brokers they are keen to get you to contact them and no doubt incur a brokers fee.
The Internet powerhouse has poured 1Os of millions into marketing and buying the well respected advice site Money Saving Expert. It does have a useful search facility searchable by type of mortgage, repayment period, initial offer period. To make an application it appears that you get fired off to the mortgage provider direct (no doubt MSM will get a referral fee for this).
Again, one of the buy-to-let mortgage brokers that have been around from the start. The website has a very useful facility to allow landlords to search products on their database by LTV, product type and gives costs for lender fee and interest costs. To go further you have to submit an enquiry form. The company is also strong on commercial mortgages and development finance.
Why would I need a mortgage broker?
So having trawled the free mortgage brokers sites, they still hadn't answer my question, as to which mortgage companies were going to lend on an unusual construction type of steel frame and wooden cladding.
There was really no way of telling looking at the free data to hand.
This is where a little bit of inside expertise comes in handy. A good mortgage brokers will know which lender will lend on unusual buildings, high LTV are which are more flexible on rental cover. This is the service a landlord is paying for.
I really don't have the time to phone a whole bunch of mortgage companies to find the one that might be able to lend on my 'unusual' lending criteria. This is where a mortgage broker comes in. All lenders are tightening their lending criteria.
For landlords that are self-employed they need to be able to provide a lender 3 years SA 302 and the tax calculation over view forms. This is new, but apparently all lenders require them. Things like this a landlord wouldn't know, so having a good broker to hold your hand through the process is invaluable.
If I was back working for the Council as a PAYE employee then obtaining a standard mortgage on a standard buy-to-let property it should be fairly easy to find a mortgage yourself and go direct to a lender.
However, if you are looking for finance on a non-standard property or lending scenario then paying an expert broker £250 – 500 is well worth the investment to ensure you get the investment you want.


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Phoetaliotes es un género de saltamontes de la subfamilia Melanoplinae, familia Acrididae, y está asignado a la tribu Melanoplini. Este género se distribuye en México  y Estados Unidos.

Phoetaliotes es un género monotípico, y su única especie es Phoetaliotes nebrascensis, Thomas, 1872.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Acrididae


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Oct. 5, 2011) – Rockwell Collins is bringing the industry-leading capabilities of its Pro Line Fusion ® integrated avionics system to turboprops and light jet aircraft.
"Until now, no one has been able to deliver the feature-rich capabilities, robust architecture and enhanced safety that Pro Line Fusion brings to this class of aircraft, and we're doing it at a lower cost and lighter weight than other systems in this segment," said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins.
This latest configuration of Pro Line Fusion includes the industry's first touch-control primary flight displays, integrated head-up synthetic vision, and autonomous backup flight control modes. Additional features include MultiScan™ weather threat detection and full integration with Ascend™ flight information solutions.
Pro Line Fusion was certified in June on the Bombardier* Global 6000* long-range business aircraft. The system has been selected for 11 announced aircraft platforms across the business aviation, commercial air transport and military market segments.
The proven scalability of the Pro Line Fusion software, combined with advanced hardware features such as embedded display processing and highly integrated sensors and radios, are key elements of making the system small enough for turboprops and light jets while bringing more functionality and value to aircraft manufacturers and operators.
The system will be available for new aircraft applications as well as a display retrofit for turboprops and light jets equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21™ avionics.
Certification is expected by the end of 2013.
New, easy-to-use touch-control capability on the primary and multi-function displays dramatically enhances situational awareness by allowing a pilot to operate with his or her eyes forward through all phases of flight.
The Rockwell Collins HGS™-3500 − the industry's first head-up guidance system (HGS) for light- to mid-size business aircraft, and the only head-up display to include synthetic vision − keeps the pilot's eyes forward and focused out the window during critical phases of flight.
Rockwell Collins' award-winning MultiScan™ Threat Detection System provides optimal, clutter-free weather information that reduces pilot workload and enhances safety and passenger comfort by minimizing unexpected turbulence encounters.
Fully synchronized with Rockwell Collins Ascend™ flight information solutions, Pro Line Fusion-equipped aircraft stay connected to a global network that allows both individual owners and company flight departments to manage their aircraft operations more smoothly and effectively.
The first ever one-touch emergency mode for business aircraft affords disoriented pilots extra time to recover by putting the aircraft into a safe-altitude holding pattern and also provides guidance cues to the nearest airport during engine loss.
The new Pro Line Fusion offering for turboprops and light jets will be on display at the 64th Annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Meeting & Convention in Las Vegas.


Nikau Foundation is pleased to announce our commitment to support youth organizations in Kāpiti through the 2018 grants and sponsorship programme. The Community Foundation and its Nikau Kāpiti Fund has long supported youth charities in the district with over $50,000 committed in grants since 2011. Organizations like Youth Quest (now part of KYS) have previously benefitted from Tindall Foundation's youth funding stream. This is set to continue this year through a range of support, including Nikau's sponsorship of Kāpiti Run for Youth held on Sunday 25th March.


text:
namespace ThreeDCartAccess.RestApi.Models.Product.GetProducts
{
	public class ThreeDCartDiscount
	{
		public int? DiscountID{ get; set; }
		public int DiscountPriceLevel{ get; set; }
		public int DiscountLowbound{ get; set; }
		public int DiscountUpbound{ get; set; }
		public double DiscountPrice{ get; set; }
		public bool DiscountPercentage{ get; set; }
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
/* jshint quotmark: single */

(function () {
	'use strict';

	questkit.scopeCommands = function () {
		var result = [];
		var povParent = questkit.povParent();
		questkit.allCommands().forEach(function (cmd) {
			var parent = get(cmd, 'parent');
			if (!parent || parent == povParent) {
				result.push(cmd);
			}
		});
		return result;
	};

	questkit.scopeVisible = function () {
		return questkit.scopeVisibleNotHeld().concat(questkit.scopeInventory());
	};

	questkit.scopeVisibleNotHeld = function () {
		var povParent = questkit.povParent();
		return questkit.scopeReachableNotHeldForLocation(povParent).concat(questkit.scopeVisibleNotReachableForLocation(povParent));
	};

	questkit.scopeReachableNotHeldForLocation = function (location) {
		var result = [];
		var pov = get('pov');
		questkit.getAllChildObjects(location).forEach(function (object) {
			if (questkit.containsReachable(location, object) && object != pov && !questkit.contains(pov, object)) {
				result.push(object);
			}
		});
		if (location == get(pov, 'parent')) {
			result.push(pov);
		}
		return result;
	};

	var getChildObjects = function (object, recurse) {
		var result = [];
		questkit.allObjects().forEach(function (child) {
			if (get(child, 'parent') == object) {
				result.push(child);
				if (recurse) result = result.concat(getChildObjects(child, true));
			}
		});
		return result;
	};

	questkit.getAllChildObjects = function (object) {
		return getChildObjects(object, true);
	};

	questkit.getDirectChildren = function (object) {
		return getChildObjects(object, false);
	};

	questkit.containsVisible = function (parent, search) {
		return containsAccessible(parent, search, false);
	};

	questkit.containsReachable = function (parent, search) {
		return containsAccessible(parent, search, true);
	};

	var containsAccessible = function (parent, search, onlyReachable) {
		var searchParent = get(search, 'parent');
		if (!searchParent) return false;
		if (get(search, 'visible') === false) return false;
		if (get(parent, 'darklevel') && !get(search, 'lightsource')) return false;
		if (searchParent == parent) return true;

		var canAdd;
		if (onlyReachable) {
			canAdd = questkit.canReachThrough(searchParent);
		}
		else {
			canAdd = questkit.canSeeThrough(searchParent);
		}

		if (canAdd) {
			return (questkit.containsAccessible(parent, searchParent, onlyReachable));
		} else {
			return false;
		}
	};

	questkit.canSeeThrough = function (object) {
		return (get(object, 'transparent') || questkit.canReachThrough(object)) && !get(object, 'hidechildren');
	};

	questkit.canReachThrough = function (object) {
		return get(object, 'isopen') && !get(object, 'hidechildren');
	};

	questkit.contains = function (parent, search) {
		var searchParent = get(search, 'parent');
		if (!searchParent) return false;
		if (searchParent == parent) return true;
		return questkit.contains(parent, searchParent);
	};

	questkit.scopeVisibleNotReachableForLocation = function (location) {
		// TODO
		return [];
	};

	questkit.scopeInventory = function () {
		var result = [];
		var pov = get('pov');
		questkit.getAllChildObjects(pov).forEach(function (object) {
			if (questkit.containsVisible(pov, object)) {
				result.push(object);
			}
		});
		return result;
	};

	questkit.scopeExits = function () {
		return questkit.scopeExitsForLocation(questkit.povParent());
	};

	questkit.scopeExitsForLocation = function (location) {
		var result = [];
		questkit.allExits().forEach(function (exit) {
			if (get(exit, 'parent') != location) return;
			if (get(exit, 'visible') === false) return;
			if (get(location, 'darklevel') && !get(exit, 'lightsource')) return;
			result.push(exit);
		});
		return result;
	};

	questkit.getNonTransparentParent = function (object) {
		if (get(object, 'transparent')) {
			var parent = get(object, 'parent');
			if (parent) return questkit.getNonTransparentParent(parent);
		}
		return object;
	};
})();


text:
Шейханбар () — село в Ірані, у дегестані Лаялестан, в Центральному бахші, шагрестані Ляхіджан остану Ґілян. За даними перепису 2006 року, його населення становило 952 особи, що проживали у складі 273 сімей.

Клімат
Середня річна температура становить 14,62°C, середня максимальна – 28,34°C, а середня мінімальна – 0,46°C. Середня річна кількість опадів – 1100 мм.

Примітки

Населені пункти шагрестану Ляхіджан


Chicago Business Broker | Playbook Advisory-Selling a Business?
If you are ready to discuss Selling A Business, you have come to the right place. Our Chicago based Business Brokerage Firm and its President have assisted business owners on over 100 Buy-Side & Sell-Side business sale transactions since 2011. Our proven methodology has been refined and perfected over the past decade and we are confident no other firm can match the resources we utilize to list, market and sell your business.
Our proprietary "Playbook" starts with Confidentiality, which for most owners is an important and absolute must in the business sales process. Our firm understands the importance of keeping the Company under the radar while our business brokers are marketing the business for sale. We do not allow prospective buyers direct access to your employees, customers and vendors. It's very common that none of the parties learn about the sale of the business until the deal has closed and the Seller has their sales proceeds.
If you are ready to talk with one of our experienced business brokers than call Jim Peddle at 312-525-9622 or email Jim at President@playbookadvisory.com. We will start with a short phone call to discuss the sales process, fees, marketing and next steps. If you like what you learn we will schedule a convenient time to meet in person in either our Bradley Business Center offices in Chicago or at your place of business after hours.
Looking for an alternative to other business brokers in Chicago?
There's a better way to sell your business.
Why Pay another Broker more than you have to sell your Business?
Playbook Advisory will not charge any upfront costs or marketing fees so we align your interests with ours and get paid at the closing table along with you.
Results, References & Experience...Call us today at 312-286-3200 or contact us for more information.
Send us your name & email or call Jim Peddle directly at 312-525-9622.


Musicians in residence for the weekend.
Chief waiter Cafe des Tilleuls: Dawn Chorus is a band that created a great atmosphere at La Terrasse des Tilleuls! A pleasure for our customers but also for waiters, who found serving to the music amazing ! Let yourself be transported by their music!
Special Rock/ Reggae band guests!
Mayor's International Official: ..you were fantastic…got the audience singing and dancing!
Musicians in residence for that week.
We picked a great night too because they'd put on a fantastic Burns night event! The haggis Neeps & tatties were really good and perfectly accompanied with Whiskey sauce & a dram! The young lass did it justice with the readings of Burns too! The live music [Dawn Chorus] was great & complemented the whole event.


text:
Q: Not able to pass CSV file data to call another feature in background Not able to call one feature file from another when passing the data via CSV. Same works when i directly give in examples.
The below works
Background:
def rspSes = call read('classpath:helpers/createSessionID.feature') {"customerNo": '#(IP_Customer)'}

Scenario Outline: To validate based on different product combinations

    Given path '/v1/sourceAccounts'
    And param paymentType = "PERSONAL"
    And header cus = IP_Customer
    When method get
    Then status <status>

Examples:

| IP_Customer | IP_FROM_ACCT | IP_TO_ACCT | AMOUNT | Purpose              | Message                        | status |
| 165942   | 8957         | 1004       | 5.99   | PERSONAL              | dkfkdjfkdjkfjdkjfkdjfkjd       | 200    |

**However, if I change the above examples to read a CSV file. It is not picking the value from CSV. Tried changing  {"customerNo": <IP_Customer>}, still didnt work. **
| read("testData.csv") |

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Our lightest DR Battery Mower is perfect for smaller lawns up to a quarter acre. The DR PRO-16 has a 16" steel mowing deck that is far more durable than competitive products. A 700W brushless motor runs so quietly your neighbors may not even be aware that you're mowing! You can switch easily between bagging and mulching, and when you're done, the fold-down handlebars allow you to store it on end. Smart!


Pretty much everyone wears socks on a daily basis right? So why not treat someone that you know to a gift subscription to Socks In A Box?
The Men's Modern Classic Socks Subscription is all about sock styles that are classic with a contemporary edge, yet aren't loud or too bright. They're what I like to call cool and understated, and I feel that most men would enjoy wearing them. This month's pair features a rich burgundy colour base with mint green accents on the heels and toes, and a white abstract square pattern on the main body. Made from a blend of 70% cotton, 29% nylon and 1% elastane, they have all the right amounts of comfort, durability and stretch that you'd expect from a quality pair of socks.
For women, there's the popular Trendy Trainer Socks Subscription which is aimed at ladies who are sporty or do a lot of activities where they prefer to wear comfortable shoes like trainers, but don't want all of their socks to be seen. The Trendy Trainer socks come up just under the ankle so you see a glimpse of colour that can complement an outfit nicely. This month's design features a pale grey base with navy blue accents on the heels and toes, and a cute pink and white heart pattern on the main body. They're made of the exact same composition blend as the men's socks above and have the same quality in terms of feeling comfortable with a little stretch for durability.
Practical and stylish, Socks In A Box make a great gift idea for both men and women!


The 95th percentile is a widely used mathematical calculation to evaluate the regular and sustained utilization of a network connection. It is commonly used among all major internet transit and peering networks, as well as datacenters and ISPs for both capacity planning and/or calculating usage. It roughly means 'for most of the time this was the throughput on the line'.
The 95th percentile is a good number to use for billing as it can allow the customer throughput bursts without additional financial compensation. Basically the 95th percentile says that 95% of the time, the usage is below this amount. Conversely, 5% of the time, usage is above that amount.
Sampling interval, or how often samples are taken (called also "data points").
A percentile is calculated on some set of data points.
Every data point represents the average bandwidth used through the sampling interval, calculated as the number of bytes (or KB/MB/GB etc.) transferred divided by the sampling interval length in seconds (effectively representing the average utilization for single sampling interval). The number is expressed in a data transfer rate as bits per second (Kbps/Mbps/Gbps).


55% of Americans only have enough saved up to cover one month of lost income.
How to explain the savings gap in American households.
Why you can afford to cut out your cell phone & TV bills in half, keep your old car, and stop eating out every week.
As Americans, we are exceptional at so many things. Not only do we have great universities and doctors, and more food and entertainment options than most places on the planet, but we also have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and a democracy that is (or at least should be) the envy of the world.
Unfortunately, we struggle with one of the most important things: saving money.
Yes, despite living in one of the most prosperous nations the world has ever seen, we – and the country we live in – are overspending and drowning in debt. And the chickens have come home to roost.
How Much Do Americans Have Saved?
Debt issues aside, a serious savings gap plagues the vast majority of American households. According to a recent study, 55% of people had only enough liquid savings to replace one month of lost income. And making matters worse, an astounding 70% of Americans say they face at least one strain on their finances, either due to income, expenditures, or overall financial health.
The savings crisis doesn't just affect people at the bottom of the income scale, either. Americans at all points on the earnings spectrum experience financial issues of one kind or another.
Of course, it's easy to blame Americans and our penchant for (enter luxury item here) as the cause of our struggles. But that isn't necessarily fair. As The Precarious State of Family Balance Sheets notes, American wages have essentially remained stagnant for over a decade, with the total growth in earnings for the average American coming in at just 2% from 1999 to 2009. To put things in perspective, wages grew 22% during the previous two decades (1979–1999).
Wages aren't growing like they should be. And everything costs more than it did just a few years ago. It's as indisputable as it is frustrating.
How Much Could You Save If You Changed Just One Thing?
But that doesn't mean we should all lie down and give up! Like it or not, we all have the power to make small changes that can improve our financial lives in the long run. We just have to figure out what to change to make a difference.
As a numbers geek, I love seeing how small, seemingly unimportant changes can drastically alter someone's bottom line. Cutting back a few dollars here or there may not seem life altering, but it's the big picture that counts.
And often, your budget woes don't stem from your house payment or student loan bills; it's more like a death from a thousand cuts. Sometimes, it's those little monthly bills that add up like mad – your bi-weekly trips to the mall, your daily coffee runs, or the fact that you trade in your car every three years no matter what.
1. Keep your paid-off car for one more year.
When you consider the fact that car payments completely obfuscate the total cost of a vehicle, they're pretty darn amazing. In today's world, no one cares if they ride off the lot with a car that costs $40,000. They just want to know how much they're paying each month. And worse, when that car is just a few years old, they usually trade it in and start the whole process over.
But, what if you did something crazy and kept your car for a whole year after it was paid off, instead of taking on monthly payments for a brand new one? According to a recent analysis from Experian and commentary from Credit.com, you could save over $5,700 with just this one move, with the average car payment coming in around $483.
Want a $5,700 raise this year? Keep your car, and you can have one. Or take on $500 monthly payments for something new and stay poor. The choice is yours.
2. Cancel your cable bill and switch to Hulu and Netflix instead.
Have you ever thought about how much cash you forfeit to have cable television streaming in your home 24/7? According to Yahoo! Finance, the average cable bill teeters at around $99 per month at the end of 2015. That's $1,188 per year – a whole lot of cash to fork over for a service that offers little in return.
But, cancel your cable and you'll find a whole new world of inexpensive, common sense options. With a $60 Roku Box, for example, you can buy access to unlimited television with Hulu and Netflix for just $7.99 per month each. My family did this several years ago, and we've been extremely pleased with our $16 per month television setup. You might miss a few extra shows at first, but the savings are well worth it. And you'll have a whole lot more free time, too.
3. Cut the family cell phone bill in half.
When it comes to the American fascination with smart phones, nothing surprises me anymore. Not only are people willing to fork over nearly $700 for the newest phone, they're even willing to rent phones for a monthly fee as well.
Not that you asked, but here's my take on that: If your phone is so expensive you have to lease it, you can't really afford it. But I digress, because it gets much, much worse. In addition to renting phones, consumers paid more than $120 per month on average for plans with the big carriers – Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
Considering the fact that you can sign up for low-cost providers like Ting, Republic Wireless, or Cricket and pay less than $50 per month for similar coverage, I find that hard to believe.
The bottom line: If you switched from an expensive plan to a discount carrier and cut your bill from $120 to $50 per month, you could save $840 next year.
4. Only go out to eat twice per month.
According to the National Restaurant Association's recent report on consumer dining preferences, the average American household spent $2,678 at restaurants in 2012. That's around $223 per month for the privilege of avoiding dirty dishes and getting tofu that is actually crispy and worth eating. And hey, that might be worth it…at least sometimes.
That's pretty crazy when you think about it, but it also represents a huge opportunity. We all know that dining out is more expensive than eating in, so imagine if you cut your restaurant spending down to just two casual dinners out per month.
Think Applebee's instead of Ruth's Chris, folks. With a family meal at $50 each (make the kids drink water!), you could feasibly spend just $100 per month on restaurant dining and easily save at least that much along the way.
Here's the thing: You don't have to cut everything out to save money; you just need to cut where it matters most. Consider prioritizing possible entertainment options and choosing only your favorites. If you want to get ahead, you have to find some way to cut back – then stash that money away for retirement instead.
For most people, it's all about looking at your monthly spending and figuring out which areas are the least important. Sure, you might die without a subscription to Bravo, but maybe you're fine forgoing fast food and eating grilled cheese at home. As long as you're willing to cut somewhere, that's perfectly okay.
Remember, you can probably afford some things you want, but you don't have to have everything.
What would you cut to save money next year? What are some ways you have saved big in the past?
Needs correcting: How Much Do Americans Have Saved?
Otherwise, good article with common sense suggestions. I also tell people to make these changes in advance of the new year as they often take a few billing cycles to settle in. Then you already feel accomplished and on-track on Jan 1.


text:
Jaguar 'won't break even until 07'
Jaguar will lose money for two years before breaking even in 2007.
In an interview with the Financial Times Joe Greenwell said losses will continue at Jaguar, owned by Ford, despite plans to shed 1,150 jobs at its main plant in Coventry.
"We are losing hundreds of millions of dollars," Greenwell is quoted as saying today. "Frankly, the company is unsustainable and unviable at these levels."
He said he would listen to unions' ideas on how to avoid job losses, but warned: "We are still of the belief that our strategy is the right one."
Jaguar announced its cost cutting plans last month. It said it would stop Formula 1 motor racing at the end of the season.
Ford bought Jaguar in 1989 for 1.6 billion pounds.
(Source: Financial Times)


text:
Q: How to write netCDF file with character entries in dimension variable using R I am not able to figure this out myself and thus was hoping for some ideas from your side.
I am trying to create a netCDF-4 file in R using the netcdf4 library. The nc-file should contain a variable, let's say temperature (ta), which has 4 dimensions: longitude, latitude, time, and pressure level.
Because of certain reasons I would like the last dimension "pressure level" to consist of character entries, like "upper level", "lower level".
Unfortunately, the function ncdim_def() only allows numerical values and not characters.
I have looked into many things including nco/cdo commands, but did not find a solution. Does anybody have an idea?
Any help would be much appreciated!

A: I found a workaround for my question. So what you can do is:

*

*create an array with two lines; rbind("upper level", "lower level")

*create a dimension for the ncols (dim_p1) and one for the nrows (dim_p2) of the array. IMPORTANT: use ncdim_def(...,create_dimvar=FALSE)

*create a new variable with ncvar_def(...,dim=list(dim_p1,dim_p2), prec="char")

*use ncvar_put() to write the array into the variable

Hope this helps.

A: You can code upper and lower levels in numeric form ie. 1 for upper and 0 for lower levels of pressure.
This may require decoding back to string at a later stage.


FORTUNE — Don Harrison became Google's head of mergers and acquisitions about a year ago. But he's been helping Google (GOOG) buy companies since 2001, when the company snapped up the Internet newsgroups archive Deja News, its first acquisition ever.
Harrison, then a lawyer at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, joined Google in 2005. After a dozen years working the legal side of deals, he took over the business side when his predecessor, David Lawee, left to oversee a new Google investment arm. Under Harrison, the pace of deals has accelerated with the acquisitions of Waze, the navigation app; Nest, the smart home devices maker; DeepMind Technologies, an artificial intelligence startup; and a string of robotics companies.
In his first interview since he became vice president of corporate development, Harrison spoke with Fortune about how CEO Larry Page thinks about acquisitions.
Fortune: It seems like Larry Page wants to use M&A more aggressively to push Google in new directions.
Harrison: Larry does want to be active in identifying areas where we can make big bets, were we can use moonshot thinking.
Over the past year, a lot of deals are for companies that have ended up over at Google X, the semi-secret lab were Google cooks up its most advanced projects. What kind of mandate has Larry given you?
They are not so much Google X as new product areas within Google. At its highest level the mandate is to find interesting companies that are moving things forward that are solving big problems.
Our acquisitions generally fall into three rough buckets. We look for smaller deals that are focused on talent and technology. We also focus on areas where we identified a core functionality that we are we are trying to implement across a product, and we can fill out that offering as a result of buying companies. There's a third area, which is still core, where we recognize that we need to be in an area, but we need to get to scale quickly.
Those three have been fairly consistent since 2007. This year, I sort of got to add to that this desire from Larry to really identify some big bets and add new product areas [to Google].
So what are the deals that fall under the new mandate to stretch Google into new areas?
Nest and Andy Rubin efforts are the biggest examples of this. Andy's efforts in automation are about building a new product area. We have helped him buy seven or eight companies that he has assembled into a pretty comprehensive approach to automation. Those are areas that Google as a whole has been interested in. [They] are somewhat outside the core, but we see a future where those things can work very well with our existing products and services.
A lot of people see Nest as a jumping-off point to building hardware in new areas. Are they right?
At this stage, it's really about helping [Nest CEO] Tony Fadell achieve his vision as fast as possible. And we believe that if we achieve his vision as fast as possible then it really opens up some opportunities in the future.
Nest was a Google Ventures investment. Is Google Ventures a sort of lead generation machine for Google's M&A?
We have a very strong ethical wall that prevents us from sharing information back and forth. I have a very close relationship with the partners at Google Ventures and with Bill Maris [who heads the venture group], but it's the same relationship I have at Kleiner Perkins or at Andreessen Horowitz and all the major VCs.
When you are negotiating a deal like Nest, isn't there an inherent conflict of interest? Google wants the lowest possible price, and Google Ventures presumably wants the highest possible price.
We have very strong rules in order to protect ourselves, but also to protect the target companies. Where I'm involved, Google Ventures will recuse themselves. In Nest, I negotiated with Kleiner [an early investor in Nest], and I negotiated with Tony [Fadell]. Google Ventures stayed out of providing advice in connection with the acquisition. And we do that across all our acquisitions were we are interested in a Google Ventures portfolio company.
Early on, Google was not known as the best acquirer of companies from the point of view of entrepreneurs. How much had to work at this?
We now have leads on my team that are embedded in the different product areas at Google. They're very closely in tune with the strategy for each of these product areas. There is a much tighter fit in terms of understanding what deals we look at and what deals are successful.
On the integration backend, we are data-driven and we're focused. We'll still make mistakes, but we have the processes in place to make sure we don't make the same mistake twice.
You mentioned mistakes. Many people see your recent deal to sell the Motorola handset business to Lenovo as unwinding a mistake, even though the initial acquisition of Motorola was in large part to buy its patent portfolio, which Google has kept.
I think the Motorola transaction has been a success for us. Financially, we bought the asset for $12.5 billion. It had $3 billion in cash; we were able to sell the Home division for $2.5 billion; we ended selling the handset division for $3 billion. There were some other tax assets as well. When you work through the math, you realize we spent between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion for the patent assets. At the time, the nearest comparable transaction was the Nortel patent auction where Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL) teamed up to buy that asset for $4.5 billion. And there's a good argument that the Motorola patent portfolio is a better portfolio.
As Larry noted, if you want to compete in the [handset] space you do need to be all in. We realized that Lenovo as a partner was all in, so that transaction made sense.


text:
Q: MOSFET Bootstrap circuit simulation with NGSPICE Preface
I am designing a Solid State Relay as an educational exercise, to catch up on what my university did not teach me. I am a long time Linux user and open-source software lover, which brought me to ngspice for simulation. I don't have access to professional design software or simulators.
Context
I designed a Solid State Relay, had a PCB manufactured, and burned out the gate driver upon testing with a 24VDC supply. I was able to verify that the PCB matches my schematic. I took some measurements and found out that my bootstrap circuit (this is a high-side NMOS switch) doesn't appear to be working correctly. I failed to simulate it before having the PCB manufactured, but my back-of-napkin calculations seemed to say everything was in spec. Now, I am setting out to simulate an updated version of my schematic, which is where I am seeking advice.
The problem

Please pardon my amateur schematic. As I understand it, CBOOT1 charges through D1 from the supply, and when the voltage from VBOOT to the source node (in the middle of the two transistors here) rises high enough, Q1 will turn on, discharging the capacitor slowly through any current leaking through the gate. I have elided the gate driver, since I'm trying to just simulate this bootstrapping behavior in AC and DC, for now.
The issue is, ngspice cannot simulate this circuit. I have a level 0 model for the BSC220N from Infineon, and everything else is standard simulation-only components. ngspice seems to be having trouble inside the transistor model because of the source node between Q1 and Q2.
Interestingly enough, I can simulate the model if I only use one transistor (which would work for DC-only applications), but the results are usually very noisy.
Does anyone have advice on how to get ngspice to converge? My SPICE code is below.
Circuit:
.title KiCad schematic
.include "/home/andy/workspace/coffee_items/bean_machine_controller/spice/libs/OptiMOS3_200V.lib"
VAC1 Net-_D1-Pad2_ GND dc 0 ac 120 sin(0 120 60)
RG1 Net-_Q1-Pad4_ /VBOOT 3
* CBOOT1 /VBOOT Net-_CBOOT1-Pad2_ 1u
CBOOT1 /VBOOT Net-_Q2-Pad8_ 1u
D1 /VBOOT Net-_D1-Pad2_ BASIC_DIODE
* RLOAD1 Net-_Q2-Pad8_ GND 8
RLOAD1 Net-_Q2-Pad8_ GND 8
XQ1 Net-_D1-Pad2_ Net-_Q1-Pad4_ Net-_Q2-Pad8_ BSC220N20NSFD_L0
* XQ2 Net-_Q2-Pad8_ Net-_Q1-Pad4_ Net-_CBOOT1-Pad2_ BSC220N20NSFD_L0
.end

Simulation script:
.title "boost circuit simulation"
.control
set ngbehavior=ps
dc vac1 0 120 1
tran 0.1s 10s 0s
option TEMP=27
.endc
.MODEL BASIC_DIODE D()
* .include "/home/andy/workspace/coffee_items/bean_machine_controller/spice/libs/OptiMOS3_200V.lib"
.include "boost_circuit.cir"

Invocation:
ngspice boost_sim.cir
Output:
doAnalyses: TRAN:  Timestep too small; time = 0.0193025, timestep = 1.25e-13: trouble with node "e.xq1.eaux#branch"


text:
East View Geospatial launches on-demand Milspec geospatial data
East View Geospatial (EVG), a provider of content-rich geospatial products, is now producing gold-standard large-scale topographic data as an off-the-shelf offering under the product name EV-FGD – East View Foundation Geospatial Data.
EVG has long produced foundation data and mapping for government and industry partners. Work has ranged across scales and over all corners of the globe. What is different at this stage is the commitment EVG has made to weave together various specialized source material, a global complexity grid-based, in part, on the LandScan Global Population Data and a blended US and non-US based workforce all aimed at gold-standard, yet affordable, data at 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 scales.
Traditionally, the emphasis has been on creating data acceptable to mapping organizations via government-supplied inputs and strictly mandated personnel production procedures, such as through the Multinational Geospatial Cooperation Program (MGCP). The MGCP program has successfully brought cooperative nations together for the sake of creating foundation geospatial data across key themes around the globe at 1:50000 scale. Tens of millions of square kilometres have been produced under the MGCP program. But much remains to be done, and maintenance to geodata already produced is also a consideration. EVG's aim is to meet the MGCP specification but deliver the data for a fraction of the cost, faster and with global coverage. We do this by leveraging commercial imagery, authoritative local source data and EVG's US and overseas workforce.
The results have been better than expected. Quality, throughput and predictability is at high levels. Deliveries to early-stage customers have been received with no reworks. Kent Lee, CEO and Founder – "This is a win-win situation. We are delivering milspec data at a fraction of the usual cost to the end customer. And because we are using our source data and software, EVG retains the license and can offer this data to others, which has not been the case in the usual GEOINT environment. This further primes the production pump and results in more, better and cheaper geodata available to the MGCP community. It is the same economics that underscores the revolution of commercial satellite imagery and, more recently, commercial launch capabilities like SpaceX."
Website East-View Geospatial
Hexagon's geospatial division launches Luciad V2019
Several must-hear speakers added to the GEOINT 2019 agenda
USGIF now accepting nominations for its 2019 Awards Program
USGIF appoints new Chief Operating Officer


text:
€57.1 million to renew bus fleet
By Olga Rosca
@olgarosca
EBRD loan to help Ankara bus company EGO buy 254 compressed natural gas buses
Deal confirms Turkish capital's membership of EBRD Green Cities programme
Cities globally account for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions
Residents of the Turkish capital Ankara will enjoy cleaner air thanks to a €57.1 million loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) extended to the city's public transport company EGO to replace polluting diesel buses with 254 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and install a CNG filling station.
The agreement confirmed Ankara as the 44th member of EBRD Green Cities, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's flagship urban sustainability programme.
On joining this initiative, cities undertake a trigger project with EBRD finance, as well as crafting their own Green City Action Plan (GCAP) setting out further actions. Ankara will be the second city in Turkey joining EBRD Green Cities following Izmir and will be a showcase for others.
A Memorandum of Understanding was formalised today in a virtual meeting between the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, and the EBRD's Managing Director for Turkey Arvid Tuerkner and Sustainable Infrastructure Group Managing Director Nandita Parshad.
Mayor Yavas said: "We work to invest in infrastructure projects to increase efficiency and improve the quality of lives, paying a particular attention to public health. We are pleased with the EBRD support and are looking forward to working together on future projects."
Ms Parshad commented: "The new buses will significantly reduce air pollution in the city, an ever growing problem. The project also recognises the realities of our time – the Covid-19 pandemic – as this increase in operational capacity is essential to ensure safe social distancing on buses, which in turn will deter a shift back to cars. This in itself will have a huge and positive impact on the city."
Mr Tuerkner added: "I would like to commend the municipality for joining the EBRD's Green Cities and promoting a green fleet renewal solution. We believe this transaction will be the first of many others to come in Ankara and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with the city. We also hope that our cooperation will attract other lenders to the city's future investments."
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, with a population of 5.7 million, is the second largest city in Turkey after Istanbul and the country's political and economic hub. Its population is growing at about two per cent a year, putting pressure on urban transport. Recognising the impact of poor air quality and the global effects of carbon emissions, the city is developing a greener future by investing in its public transport system and working on a comprehensive strategy to improve its environmental performance.
Bus services in Ankara are managed by Ankara Electricity, Gas and Bus Operations Organization (EGO General Directorate). EGO is a state-owned company affiliated to Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.
Buying the new buses will help the company as it retires from service polluting buses of up to 20 years old. EGO will further procure 28 new diesel busses meeting EURO 6 emission standards from their own budget as part of its fleet renewal programme. These improvements will significantly reduce air pollution in the city with decreases in toxic air gases and GHG emissions compared to current conditions.
Globally, cities account for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions and represent a prime opportunity to tackle climate change. The €2-billion-plus EBRD Green Cities programme helps each member city tailor solutions to its environmental needs with a unique combination of measures designed to move towards a lower-carbon and more liveable future.
The Turkish city of Izmir joined the programme in April 2019, the first Turkish city to do so, and began working on its Green City Action Plan a month later.
To date the EBRD has invested nearly €12.8 billion in 329 projects in Turkey, 96 per cent of which is in the private sector.


text:
Gorbàtov (en rus: Горбатов) és un poble (un khútor) de la província de Rostov, a Rússia, que en el cens del 2010 tenia 158 habitants, pertany al municipi de Bókovskaia.

Referències

Khútors de la província de Rostov


text:
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Now more than ever, knowing how and when to hire security for your event is a must for planners. In our world full of instant and terrifying news about the latest drive-by shootings, terrorism attacks, and hostage taking situations, the need for providing a safe and secure environment for your meetings and events is one that should be taken quite seriously. That's not to say that every function you sponsor needs to have armed guards at the ready, but it is imperative that planners take a close look at their programs to assess the risk in order to determine when it is appropriate.


text:
12 Unique Things to Do in Bremen
by Paul Joseph | Published July 18, 2017
Pretty Bremen sits in northwest Germany, around an hour away from Hamburg. The city straddles the Weser River, which flows out to the North Sea. Bremen is known for the grand buildings in the market square and beyond. They signal a place that's well preserved and steeped in history, but Bremen also has all the vigour of a contemporary European centre.
A picturesque view across the river in Bremen (Photo: PeterLademann via Flickr)
Visitors often start off at the 15th-century town hall with its ornate Renaissance façade. It's a UNESCO protected site and within you'll find hanging model ships, a nod to the city's maritime trading past. Move on to wander the tiny lanes of the old Schnoor quarter or enjoy the café terraces and river views along the Schlachte Embankment.
To see a quirkier side to the city, head to the Viertel quarter, with its street art, laidback cafés and late-night entertainment. You can also venture out by bike to the Blockland Dykes for countryside views and welcoming farm shops. Alternatively, delve deeper into this fascinating city with our handpicked list of unique things to do.
1. U-Boot Bunker Valentin
Few countries do memorials quite like Germany and this remarkable site, nestled on the Weser River in the Bremen suburb of Rekum, is one of the most noteworthy. Built to construct German U-boats during World War II, over 6,000 people lost their lives here due to a combination of allied air attacks and the terrible, unsafe working conditions that its labourers faced. Today the colossal structure, which was never actually completed, can be visited and explored by those seeking to commemorate or learn more about the horrors of National Socialism
LOCATION Rekumer Siel HOURS Tues-Fri 10am-4pm Sun 10am-4pm Closed Saturday & Monday
Inside the Valentin submarine factory on the banks of the Weser River (Photo: Jonas Ginter via Flickr)
2. The Roland Statue
So-called 'Roland' statues can be found in a number of German towns and cities, but few are as striking as the one in Bremen, which was designated a World Heritage site in 2004 – though given that the stone edifice was erected way back in 1404, this was perhaps not before time! As for its back-story, the Roland statue depicting Charlemagne, a 9th century Holy Roman Emperor, and was designed to symbolise the freedom and independence of the city. Today is remains a much-loved feature of Bremen's streetscape, one that is enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.
LOCATION Am Markt
3. Böttcher Street
This beautiful street is best visited on an empty stomach – that's because it's so narrow you might need to breath in to make it through! Officially the city's thinnest street, it is located in the Schnoor neighbourhood in the medieval centre of the city, close to the city hall, and is habitually lined with people going about their day. Inevitably many tourists also gravitate here to see for themselves just how tiny it is, and there's plenty of sites and amenities nearby to make your visit worthwhile, including art galleries, sushi restaurants and shops.
The eye-catching architecture of Böttcher Street in Berlin (Photo: Reinhard Clasen via Flickr)
4. Town Musicians Statue
In front of Bremen's city hall sits a quirky statue that catches the eye of everyone who passes. Erected in 1953, the bronze sculpture depicts a donkey, dog, cat and rooster, aka the 'Bremen Town Musicians', sitting on top of each other. It is based on a popular Brother's Grimm fairy tale about the four animals departing their home town to make a better life for themselves in Bremen. Sadly, they didn't make it to Bremen, but legend has it that if you touch the donkey's hooves with both hands you'll be endowed with good luck.
The bronze statue commemorating Berlin's Town Musicians, based on a fairy tail by the Brothers Grimm (Photo: alifowler via Flickr)
5. Beck's brewery
According to legend, some 3,000 bottles of Beck's beer are opened every minute – and we can raise a glass to that. Anyone visiting Bremen will soon discover its rich beer culture, with beer brewing having taken place in the city since the 11th century. Today it is home to the headquarters of beer-making behemoth Beck's, where visitors can come and tour the Beck's Brewery and gain an insight into the art of brewing. As well as looking round the museum, visitors can also see the ingredients store and brewhouse, the malt silos, and the fermentation and storage tanks. Two short films and a cinema presentation complete the tour, but don't grab your jacket just yet – now it's time for a sampling session.
LOCATION Am Deich 18-19 TOUR HOURS Thur-Sat 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 3pm (german & english), 4.30pm, 6pm Mon-Wed 1pm, 3pm, 4.30pm Closed Sundays ADMISSION €12.90
6. Beluga
The ceiling resembles a star-lit sky, the windows evoke the ocean waves and the cocktail menu includes more than 150 exotic tipples. In a city awash with highly distinctive entertainment venues, Beluga is one of the very finest. On Thursdays it turns night-clubbish with salsa night, on Fridays you'll be greeted by the dulcet tones of house and soul, and on Saturdays it's all about dance and lounge music. Happy hour is daily from 7pm to 9pm, when the price of cocktails plummets to just 4 euros. And if that doesn't persuade you to visit, nothing will.
LOCATION Auf den Häfen 12-15 HOURS Mon-Thur 6pm-2am Fri-Sat 6pm-4am Sun 6pm-12am
7. Wilhelm Bauer
Just four German U-boats remain from their heyday in the Nazi navy, but the only one still floating is the Wilhelm Bauer. Construction on the ship finished just as World War II was drawing to a close, and it was put into service as a training ship almost immediately. In 1945, the vessel was scuttled and sunk to the floor of the Baltic sea, but 12 years later it was raised, overhauled, and converted into a test boat for the new German military. It was during this time that the U-boat was rechristened the Wilhelm Bauer. Today it is permanently docked in Bremerhaven, about an hour's drive north of Bremen, where it serves as a museum ship for visitors to observe for themselves.
LOCATION Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1 HOURS Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
The Wilhelm Bauer, one of four remaining German U-boats from World War II (Photo: Eduard Bürge via Flickr)
8. Heartbreak Hotel
Situated in Bremen's bustling "Bermuda-Dreieck" district – known as such because of the ease with which you can get lost here – this smoky, funky and boisterous bar is at the heart of the city's nightlife. The crowds get larger as the night wears on, with arrivals at 5am not an unusual sight, and there's an excellent drinks menu along with a pinball machine which provides hours of fun. In short, this is the place to come for a unique nocturnal experience in Bremen, mingling with locals – businessman, punks and hipsters alike – and soaking up the atmosphere of one of the city's most popular nightspots. Just don't expect a bed at the end of the night – despite the name!
LOCATION Fehrfeld 30 HOURS Mon-Thur 8pm-4am Fri-Sat 8pm-7am Sun 8pm-2am
The dark, smoky interior of Heartbreak Hotel (Photo: Roland via Flickr)
9. House of the Glockenspie
One of the most eye-catching – and ear-tingling – landmarks in Bremen is the House of the Glockenspie, whose history dates back to the early 20th century. It was then that Ludwig Roselius, a local coffee baron, bought up a number of buildings located on the same street as his coffee business. Together with a sculptor named Bernhard Hoetger, he began changing the facades of many of the buildings to evoke Nordic supremacy and great explorers and conquerors. Atop one of these buildings, rows of bells rang, corresponding with a revolving panel to the left of the glockenspiel, which depicted Christopher Columbus, American actor Leif Erickson and two famous German explorers. The building was mostly destroyed during WWII but today is completely revamped, attracting admiring glances from all who pass it.
10. 2 Raum Club
Since opening its doors in 2002, this popular bar & lounge has become one of Bremen's most unique nightspots, attracting artisans of all kinds thanks to its regularly changing art exhibits. In keeping with its creative patrons, the décor is also suitably kaleidoscopic, awash with bright colours as well as eclectic furniture throughout. Thursdays are Student Nights which brings a younger crowd in keen to lap up the cheaper prices, while on the first Friday of each month the venue is transformed into a club with revellers dancing into the early hours.
LOCATION Rembertiring 7 HOURS Fri-Sat 11pm-7am Closed Sun-Thurs
11. Focke Museum
Bremen's state museum of art and cultural history offers a unique insight into Bremen's rich heritage. Comprising a main building, four historical houses and a display room, as well as a nearby Mühle Oberneuland windmill , the museum contains artefacts that span some 1,200 years. As well as a permanent collection, regular exhibitions on town history, arts and crafts, design, photography and art collections relating to urban and cultural history are staged here. The museum also hosts a diverse programme of events for all ages, from talks and readings to themed guided tours and educational events.
LOCATION Schwachhauser Heerstraße 240 HOURS Weds-Sun 10am-6pm Tues 10am-9pm Closed Monday ADMISSION Adults €6.00 children €3.50
Artefacts at the Focke Museum in Bremen (Photo: stephansanders via Flickr)
12. Paternoster lift
Paternoster lifts are something of a relic of the past due to safety concerns, but there remain a handful of authentic examples of this old-fashioned style of elevator dotted around the world. Some can be found in Bremen, including one in the city's cotton wool market, where visitors can come and experience being transported in its chain of doorless cabins, stepping on or off at any floor they wish. It may be a stretch to call them a tourist attraction, but the enduring charm and appeal of these antiquated modes of transport are in no doubt.


text:
package org.michenux.drodrolib.battery;

import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.IntentFilter;
import android.os.BatteryManager;

public class BatteryUtils {
    public static boolean isChargingOrFull(Context context) {
        IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_BATTERY_CHANGED);
        Intent batteryStatus = context.registerReceiver(null, intentFilter);
        return isChargingOrFull(batteryStatus);
    }

    public static boolean isChargingOrFull(Intent batteryStatus) {
        int status = batteryStatus.getIntExtra(BatteryManager.EXTRA_STATUS, -1);
        return status == BatteryManager.BATTERY_STATUS_CHARGING || status == BatteryManager.BATTERY_STATUS_FULL;
    }

    /**
     * @param context
     * @return BatteryManager.BATTERY_PLUGGED_USB, BatteryManager.BATTERY_PLUGGED_AC, BatteryManager.BATTERY_PLUGGED_WIRELESS
     */
    public static int getChargingMode(Context context) {
        IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_BATTERY_CHANGED);
        Intent batteryStatus = context.registerReceiver(null, intentFilter);
        return getChargingMode(batteryStatus);
    }

    public static int getChargingMode(Intent batteryStatus) {
        return batteryStatus.getIntExtra(BatteryManager.EXTRA_PLUGGED, -1);
    }

    public static float getChargePct(Context context) {
        IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_BATTERY_CHANGED);
        Intent batteryStatus = context.registerReceiver(null, intentFilter);
        return getChargePct(batteryStatus);
    }

    public static float getChargePct(Intent batteryStatus) {
        int level = batteryStatus.getIntExtra(BatteryManager.EXTRA_LEVEL, -1);
        int scale = batteryStatus.getIntExtra(BatteryManager.EXTRA_SCALE, -1);
        return level / (float) scale;
    }
}


We've recently made big life changes and we couldn't be happier. Moving to Hawaii has been a big geographical shift, but also has brought more everyday happiness, as we imagined it would. In conversation with others here on Kauai, a recurring theme comes up: "If I had known how happy I'd be, I would have moved here a lot sooner." This got me thinking about the relationship between imagination, options, and how we as individuals choose and maintain our own reality all the while seeking greater happiness in life. Even though it seems like we couldn't be happier right now, could we be? If you don't feel as though you're as happy as you could be, could you make life changes to be happier?
While we firmly believe in the pursuit of happiness as societal and constitutional bedrock, the fact is: in the United States we're not all that happy. Laura Musikanski and John de Graaf, co-founders of The Happiness Initiative, believe the metric we use to determine success is problematic. They point out that the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is an economic indicator which belies our less than satisfactory results in poverty rates, rich-poor gap, health care expenses, stress and loneliness levels, and consumption of anti-depressants. Many people seek life changes to kick start improvements in these areas. What would a Gross National Happiness number look like?
I was alerted to The Happiness Initiative's Happiness Survey by Facebook friend Jeffrey Willius, who observed, "Of the 11 happiness factors surveyed, at least 8 are directly impacted by the amount and quality of our connection with Nature." We've certainly found a deeper daily connection with nature here on Kauai. Our house is open to the elements and surrounded by the jungle, and our daily activities are governed more by the weather here than they were on the mainland. We attribute a lot of our current happiness to our impressive natural surroundings.
The Happiness Initiative bases its work on a Gross National Happiness Index developed at San Francisco State University. This index measures satisfaction within the framework of 10 domains: material wellbeing, physical health, time balance, psychological wellbeing, education and learning, cultural vitality, environmental quality, governance, community vitality, and workplace environment. Average scores of over 20,000 people who've taken the test indicate happiness levels by domain range from a low of 50 (Time Balance) to a high of 71 (Social Support) on a scale of 1 to 100. The "happiness median" between all the domains was disappointingly low.
Even though the United States has the world's highest GDP, we only rise to 11th in a Gallup-Healthways poll on "life satisfaction." We were pleased to note Hawaiians are the happiest Americans! Aside from that, though, how come Americans are not happier as a whole?
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, writing for the Harvard Business Review, cites research that indicates "…the association between salary and job satisfaction is very weak." He found a great deal of evidence to suggest hidden psychological costs associated with monetary rewards actually help plateau satisfaction levels once a certain salary threshold (about $75,000 annually according to one academic paper) is met.
Begin work out of school and your happiness plummets, appearing only to regain its previous level by your late 50's! While high comparative income (based upon a traditional career/life trajectory) may be responsible for a certain amount of satisfaction, it doesn't appear to buy happiness. What life changes along our personal pathway might help us be happier?
Psychologist Dan Gilbert, who wrote Stumbling on Happiness, theorizes that our imaginations are limited, and therefore steer us wrong in our search for happiness. We tend to imagine, and therefore believe, certain things will make us happier than they actually do, and we rationalize to make disappointing outcomes more acceptable. Yet, we don't learn from our experience, and keep repeating the same errors: we amp up our careers, shoot for more money, and try to keep up with the Joneses. Many times, our imagination feeds on our insecurities, leading us to dread upcoming events rather then view them as positive opportunities. Gilbert's book talks about the "why" of happiness levels, but according to some reviewers offers little more than the suggestion to interview others in order to determine what might make you happier. Don't we look toward making specific life changes as part of the "how" of happiness?
Likewise, Barry Schwartz, in The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, believes unrealistic expectations (and the unhappiness associated with them) are linked to what we imagine as limitless options. When expectations aren't met, we respond by feeling dissatisfied, anxious, and even depressed. Schwartz believes that if we limit our choices, we impose the discipline we need to focus on what's important. We've written about the consequences of indecision and the paralyzing, limbo effect that chronically-uncertain people inflict upon themselves here at PassingThru, too.
At this less distracted level, The Happiness Initiative recommends you adopt gratitude, practice kindness, and sit silently for 5 minutes a day (a sort of mini-meditation in which you remain in the moment).
All of these sources seem to point to achieving a higher Gross National Happiness from a simpler existence. Our experience, both here on Kauai and back on the mainland as we simplified and eliminated, dovetails with this concept. We've heard corroborating stories from others who have made similar discoveries, as well. Rejecting the career treadmill's higher income/acquisition cycle has led us to greater meaning and rewards. We couldn't be happier – or could we? Stay tuned!
How to be happier: Catch the happiness virus.