WASHINGTON, D. C. --- U. S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and General Government, announced conference committee approval of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005. The bill is expected to pass the Senate and House of Representatives later today.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2005 is a spending bill that includes the remaining appropriations bills, which provide funding for: Transportation, Treasury, and General Government; Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, State; Energy and Water; Foreign Operations; Interior; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Legislative Branch; and Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Sen. Shelby said, "The Alabama State Docks have the potential to become one of America's most economically important ports in this century because of the proximity to emerging trade routes on the Gulf of Mexico. I am pleased that the bill provides $10 million in funding to modernize this important asset to our state by constructing an intermodal containerized freight terminal." Preliminary data indicates Alabama will need to expand its current dockside facilities that handle and store containerized cargo.
Senator Shelby said, "These funds will help to design and support the construction of a 4-lane grade separation near the intersection of US 90 and Hamilton Boulevard in Mobile. This funding is important to enhance the safety of this crossing. It is imperative we continue to make our transportation systems safer, and this funding goes directly towards improving areas where railroads cross over busy arteries."
Senator Shelby said, "The promise of high speed rail throughout this area could provide unprecedented economic growth and opportunity. This bill provides $1 million to continue planning for high speed rail service throughout the Gulf Coast area." Specifically, these funds will address the technical issues associated with track conditions, operational impediments, ridership and recommendations for improving travel speeds and frequency of service.
Senator Shelby said, "The bill provides $500,000 to continue the important research done at the University of South Alabama." This research is designed to collect and analyze data on rural vehicular trauma victims for the purpose of identifying the cause of fatalities. Based on these findings, the Center will develop a trauma system that will utilize available resources to reduce morbidity and mortality for these rural accident victims.
The Center for Coastal Transportation Engineering Research at USA will develop, conduct, coordinate and disseminate results of the most recent research findings concerning civil engineering design of transportation systems in environmentally-sensitive coastal areas.
The bill provides $100,000 for the purchase of buses to improve mobility options for seniors in the City of Orange Beach and surrounding areas.
The Center for the Living Arts will receive $500,000 to assist with renovations that will allow the center to fulfill its arts and education missions.
These funds will be used to establish the Southern Fuel Cell Coalition which will serve the Southeastern United States. The coalition will work to tackle the challenges and opportunities that face fuel cell development and hydrogen infrastructure in the South.
Senator Shelby said, "I am pleased the bill includes $567,000 for the Tri-State Initiative, which is a multi-state project devoted to developing sustainable production systems for conventional and specialty crops." The primary objective of this project is to develop an economically and environmentally sustainable sod based crop production system appropriate for the biological and social conditions of the southeastern United States. This production system would include cattle, row crops, pharmaceutical herbs, fruit and vegetables. This project will deliver a viable production system for small farms, including family farms as well as a large number of minority and presently under funded farmers. Large farms will also benefit from the project and obtain higher yields at reduced costs and allow young people to enter into a profitable farming career.
Senator Shelby said, "This bill includes $604,000 for the Precision Agricultural Partnership, which conducts research to increase farm and forest productivity. This project uses technologies such as remote sensing, geographic information systems and global positioning systems to aid traditional methods of farming and forestry."
Senator Shelby said, "This bill includes funding for the Alabama Beef Connection program. This new program will allow us to track cattle as they move from farm to market and will provide greater information to public health officials who monitor beef products."
Senator Shelby said, "This continued funding will support research of greenhouse, nursery and turf horticultural products. The research will focus on areas such as new and improved pest resistant plant strains, utilization of new technologies in production, and strategies for crop scheduling. As the largest economic plant industry in Alabama, research in these areas are needed to maintain and fuel the industry's growth."
Senator Shelby said, "This funding will allow Auburn University, Alabama A & M and Tuskegee University to conduct joint research of conservation tillage, precision agriculture and management of poultry litter."
Senator Shelby said, "The University of South Alabama, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Conservation, will use the $800,000 included in this legislation to continue conducting surveys and work on the reseeding program in Mobile Bay. The program will attempt to restore productive oyster reefs in areas that have experienced reef loss due to environmental and harvesting factors. A resurgence of the oyster beds will significantly impact the water quality and clarity in Mobile Bay, as well as assist the Bay in fostering survival of sea grass meadows and marine species such as blue crab, sea trouts, and some snappers and grouper."
Senator Shelby said, "This bill provides $2,084,650 for the National Fatherhood Initiative. This project will study the causes and consequences of out-of-wedlock childbirth, including the impact illegitimacy has on criminal activity and welfare dependence. The funds will also be used to develop and promote pro-family practices as a solution to these problems. The Initiative's work will be conducted by a consortium which includes the National Fatherhood Institute and the Alabama Policy Institute."
Senator Shelby said, "The Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program is composed of six regional centers that share intelligence and coordinate efforts against criminal networks that operate in many locations across jurisdictional lines. Typical targets of RISS activities are drug trafficking, terrorism, violent crime, cybercrime, gang activity, and organized criminal activities."
Senator Shelby said, "This project will provide funding to increase available resources for Missing and Exploited Children investigations. The funding will bolster this critical program and provide the necessary resources for the ABI to quickly and efficiently recover missing children and prosecute the offenders. Investigative resources will include personnel and equipment, training, as well as resources for public education issues surrounding Missing & Exploited Children."
Senator Shelby said, "The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program continues to be a success story by partnering federal, state, public and private entities in order to assist small and mid-sized American manufacturers modernize so that they may compete in the global marketplace."
These funds will be used for University of South Alabama research, in cooperation with industry and the Cooperative Research Network of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, on a fuel cell powered home using the Smart Energy Management Control System.
Sen. Shelby said, "This legislation provides $66 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission. This funding will allow the Appalachian Regional Commission to continue their efforts to bring economic development and increased infrastructure to this region of the United States."
Sen. Shelby said, "The Delta Regional Authority was established three years ago and created an eight state region of the country, including 20 counties in Alabama, eligible for additional transportation and infrastructure funding, as well as funds for economic development and skills training. This year's appropriations bill provides $6,048,000 for the Delta Regional Authority."
The bill allows for the University of South Alabama's Birth Defects Monitoring Program to be eligible for funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Senator Shelby said, "I am very pleased that the Senate has again recognized the importance of this program and supports the work of the Birth Defects Monitoring Program at the University of South Alabama. This program is nearing conclusion and the language in this bill supports the orderly termination of this investigation of environmental causes of birth defects in the Ukraine."
This bill provides $1.2 million for acquisition of a proposed total of 10,000 acres of pristine forest lands in Mobile Tensaw River Delta. This will complement 54,000 acres that have already been secured in the area. Senator Shelby said, "These funds will assist in the efforts of federal, state and local entities to conserve and manage this unique ecosystem."
This funding will assist in the purchase of land, from willing sellers only, within the boundaries of Alabama's National Forests. The National Forests in Alabama represent the largest area of publicly owned land in Alabama, covering approximately 665,661 acres. Senator Shelby said, "This year's funding will aid in the continued protection and preservation of our wildlife and natural resources in this area."
This funding will assist the forest industry in underserved communities and distressed counties to create and retain jobs to stimulate economic development in the State of Alabama. Senator Shelby said, "The forest industry in Alabama is suffering from difficult times with the loss of more than 4,000 jobs due to plant closures, layoffs, and downsizing. Users of the program will receive direct practical assistance to create and retain jobs, expand the use of productive technologies, reach new markets, and improve the utilization of forest resources."
Senator Shelby said, "I am very proud to have played an instrumental role in the creation of a regional academic cancer research institute at the University of South Alabama. As a cancer survivor, I know firsthand the importance of this regional center. Here they will study the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as provide the upper Gulf Coast with greater local access to state-of-the-art cancer treatment."
These funds will help the Cancer Research Institute continue the growth of this comprehensive cancer research, patient care and education center serving south central Alabama, south central Mississippi, and northwest Florida. The area served by the Cancer Research Institute, consisting of 42 counties and over 2.5 million persons, currently has no comprehensive academic-level cancer center or research institute. As the only academically-based healthcare institution within its 42-county service area, these funds will help USA in its effort to bring state-of-the-art cancer research and patient care services to the region in order to develop the comprehensive cancer program.
The University of South Alabama is making improvements related to the Mitchell College of Business Library in Mobile, Alabama. The funding included in this bill will assist the University in these efforts.


If you are wondering where your life is headed, if you are searching for a new direction, this Level is for you. Take a journey through the Four Angles of Astrology, which rule the four main areas, or directions, of our lives. In this level, you will have the opportunity to explore and transform your perspectives and experiences in these key areas of life, including self-image, relationships, family, career, and more.
The Four Angles are in everyone's birth chart, and their unique configurations are determined by the time and place when we took our first breath. Although we cannot change our birth chart, we can change our lives. For in our dash® system of astrology*, we are all about transcending fate. We are all about overcoming challenges and building our strengths, and this course will give you the tools to do just that.
These Four Angles, which are, in essence, four perspectives or four points of view, conduct the way we perceive and experience the world--whether we are aware of it or not (and often we are not). With this course, you can gain awareness of how you are conducting your life so that you can arrange it to your liking--or change it altogether.
In this level we will work with the archetypal energies of the Four Angles--specifically the Four Tarot Kings. Each of the four angles is ruled by an angel, which the Four Tarot Kings represent. Why do we we work with the archetypal kings? Because each of us has our own kingdom, and that kingdom is what we call reality. With this course you will be given the keys to your kingdom so that you may become the strong and benevolent ruler of your world.
In this level, you will learn about the qualities of each of the Four Angles: the Ascendant, the Descendant, the Nadir, and the Midheaven—their physical as well as their spiritual qualities. Thus the classes are eminently practical: You can readily recognize how the angles manifest in your daily life. You will learn about the very nature of reality, specifically, how everything you do, say, think, feel, perceive, no matter how subtle or gross, creates and shapes everything in your world, individually as well as collectively. This is a humbling and awe-inspiring realization—and a life-changing one.
This course uses the archetypal imagery of the Four Kings of the Tarot (as indicated above) and the Four Heavenly Kings of Tibetan Buddhism, the dash® system of astrology, the principles of Tibetan Buddhism, and passages from Genesis to illustrate the lessons in each class. However, this is by no means a course in religion or fortune-telling. Nor does it require you to have any interest whatsoever in being an astrologer.** Rather, the purpose of these methodologies is to enable you see your challenges and strengths while empowering you to transcend obstacles and capitalize on your abilities.
Each class begins a journey into an angle and its cardinal virtue. Each angle will be explained in depth: how they stand on their own, how they relate to and build from each other.
Class 1: Ascendant: Self-Awareness, Know Thyself, Appearance.
Discover the cardinal virtue of the Ascendant (COURAGE), the properties of the Ascendant, and how those properties--on a wholesome or degraded level--may manifest in your life.
Explore how the Ascendant conducts the way you perceive and experience the world: You will learn what it looks like when the Ascendant is ruling in an unwholesome manner (such as poor self-image and avoiding confrontation), or when the Ascendant is ruling in a wholesome manner (such as self-esteem, ability to confront effectively, and a high level of self-responsibility).
Class 2: Descendant: Others, Relationships, Enemies.
Discover the cardinal virtue of the Descendant (FAIRNESS), the properties of the Descendant, and how those properties--on a wholesome or degraded level--may manifest in your life.
Explore how the Descendant conducts the way you perceive and experience the world: You will learn what it looks like when the Descendant is ruling in an unwholesome manner (such as spending a lot of time railing against the unfairness of life and having problematic close relationships), or when the Descendant is ruling in a wholesome manner (such as being able to see and accept things the way they are and having successful close relationships).
Class 3: Nadir: Home, Family, Roots.
Discover the cardinal virtue of the Nadir (SOUND-MINDEDNESS), the properties of the Nadir, and how those properties--on a wholesome or degraded level--may manifest in your life.
Explore how the Nadir conducts the way you perceive and experience the world: You will learn what it looks like when the Nadir is ruling in an unwholesome manner (such as lack of boundaries and acting out childhood issues), or when the Nadir is ruling in a wholesome manner (such as self-control, gratitude, and healthy boundaries).
Class 4: Midheaven: Goals, Highest Point, Career.
Discover the cardinal virtue of the Midheaven (METHOD), the properties of the Midheaven, and how those properties--on a wholesome or degraded level--may manifest in your life.
Explore how the Midheaven conducts the way you perceive and experience the world: You will learn what it looks like when the Midheaven is ruling in an unwholesome manner (such as workaholism and avoiding emotions), or when the Midheaven is ruling in a wholesome manner (such as not confusing what you do with who you are).
Class 5: Synthesis (How all the angles work together).
Discover how to transcend the challenges and capitalize on the strengths of a particular angle, both within yourself and in relationship to others.
Working with the archetypal imagery of the Kings of the Tarot in this class can bring you into conscious communication with the archetypal energies which govern all of existence. The stronger our relationship is to these archetypes, the more fulfilled our lives become. All of our issues are rooted at the archetypal level, which is screaming for our attention and focus. There is an archetypal energy you have been neglecting, and it wants your attention and acceptance. When accessing the world of archetypes, we learn which potentials and talents are dormant within us and which patterns are controlling us and causing us to act out unconsciously.
This pre-recorded class is empowering and insightful. You can bring any issue into this class for resolution and healing. Homework is given at the end of each class, where you will be able to document your journey and transformation.
Class assignments serve to deepen your understanding of the teachings on an experiential level, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Either way, the more you keep the teachings in mind throughout the week between each class and observe your life through that lens, the more empowered you will be to create the life you desire.
You have unlimited access to the recorded classes and may re-watch them as often as you wish.


Are you tired of the ever-rising power costs? If yes, it's time to go green. Solar energy is the answer.
Whether you want to go green, set up reliable backup power or improve the value of your solar energy, solar batteries are essential components. That's why we believe solar and batteries are great when together.
Solar batteries are a game changer in commercial and residential markets. They revolutionize how people use and store energy. But before you buy a solar battery, you need to know everything about them, including the depth of discharge (DoD).
When a battery discharges, the amount of power drained determines its depth of discharge. For instance, if you're using a 100 amp hour battery and use 70 amp hours, the depth of discharge is 70 percent.
It's important to keep this number in mind. Depending on your battery type, the number will influence its cycle life and lifespan.
The life of your solar battery consists of cycles. A cycle starts with a fully charged battery and ends when you discharge and recharge the battery fully.
Renewable sources of energy require your battery to take a longer period between cycles. That's because of the time difference between sunny and windy days.
Your solar battery should stay in this condition until the next sunny day when you recharge. That's where there's a problem.
When operating the batteries on winter, the cycle can take a maximum of three weeks. Lead acid batteries don't like staying this long in a discharged condition. If it does, Sulfation builds up on lead plates reducing their effectiveness.
Don't let battery bank last more than 10 days in an uncharged condition. Use a generator to recharge them every 10 days. It doesn't matter whether they have electricity or not. Don't forget this crucial maintenance till you get to sunnier days.
Are you using lead-acid batteries? If yes, don't discharge them too deeply. It causes a permanent damage that reduces their lifespan and reduces performance.
That's because batteries degrade as they charge and discharge. The degradation affects the kilowatt-hours a battery can store in its useful life. Its cycle life can reduce to 300 cycles or less.
The lowest depth of discharge for your lead acid generators should be 80 percent. At this point, your battery capacity is at 20 percent.
However, if you're using deep cycle batteries for your solar energy system, performance increases at 50 percent depth of discharge.
Conversely, lithium batteries can discharge to 100 percent without any long-term effect. Such batteries can offer over 3000 cycles in its lifetime.
Getting solar systems for your home is quite satisfying in long run. But you need to know the amount of money you're likely to save.
Before doing the purchase and installation, take your time to know everything about the system. Beyond saving on costs, using solar energy protects your environment.
But all this is possible if you take good care of your battery. Don't let it discharge below the recommended 80 percent DoD.


text:
Home Entertainment News KYLE JOHNSON FIGHTS FOR HIS MOTHER ICONIC STAR TREK ACTRESS NICHELLE NICHOLS RETAINS IVIE MCNEIL WYATT PURCELL & DIGGS IN ELDER ABUSE CASE
August 13, 2020 RGN staff 0
KYLE JOHNSON FIGHTS FOR HIS MOTHER ICONIC STAR TREK ACTRESS NICHELLE NICHOLS RETAINS IVIE MCNEIL WYATT PURCELL & DIGGS IN ELDER ABUSE CASE
August 13, 2020 RGN staff
Kyle Johnson, son of Nichelle Nichols, the iconic Star Trek star, filed a countersuit against Gilbert Bell. The suit accuses Bell of elder abuse, theft, fraud, and additional charges related to Bell's bilking Nichols of significant assets including appearance fees, her pension, Social Security, and her Woodland Hills, CA home. (Featured Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Nichelle Nichols & Kyle Johnson
The countersuit is being handled by the Los Angeles-based law firm of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs.
Nichols, 87, the African American actress and performer, is best known for her role as Lt Uhura, Communications Officer of the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek / TOS (The Original Series), and the succeeding films 1 through 6. The role was groundbreaking for female African American characters and actresses in American television and film.
The countersuit charges Bell with consistent, tortious, malfeasant, and callous conduct as he "took advantage of a highly respected woman when she was vulnerable" and continued as her health and circumstances declined. The countersuit alleges that in 2012, Bell temporarily moved into a second house on Nichols' property and continues to live in the house under a fraudulent lease and a succeeding fraudulent reverse mortgage.
Bell exerted influence and assumed control over Nichols' assets and personal life by telling Ms. Nichols lies, fabricating documents, and establishing legal entities controlled by Bell in order to profit from Ms. Nichols' personal affairs.
According to the National Council on Aging, more than ten percent of those over 60 fall victim to elder abuse. Financial exploitation is one of the many ways in which seniors are taken advantage of by people they trust. A number of well-known celebrities, including Stan Lee, Mickey Rooney, and Casey Kasem reportedly suffered elder abuse in their later years. Refer to case number 19STCV23804 for more information.
Based in Los Angeles, Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs is a multi-cultural law firm which has been serving clients for more than 75 years in a diverse range of practice areas. The firm's partners include Ricky Ivie, W. Keith Wyatt, Byron Purcell, Rodney Diggs, and Marie Maurice.
For media interested in interviewing Mr. Johnson, contact Shawna Charles, IXG PR, at 310-490-7690 publicity@ixgpr.com.
ALL IS BRIGHT: A CONCORDIA CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE GROUNDLINGS ON-DEMAND SPECIAL
WARNER BROS. PICTURES FAST-TRACKS DEVELOPMENT ON WONDER WOMAN 3
tags: Elder Abuse Lawsuit Nichelle Nichols star trek
previous WINNERS OF THE 41ST ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY ANNOUNCED
next DRAMA SERIES TRACKERS EXCLUSIVELY ON CINEMAX

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Home > Google News > Misc Google > Google and Yahoo's Ad Deal Ended Because of Anti-Trust Concerns?
We reported on November 5th that Google and Yahoo ended their ad agreement. We only knew what the Google Blog (and other news outlets) told us: the government didn't seem too happy about the agreement and advertisers were concerned.
In the past 24 hours, though, it's come to light that there was a lot more than just a "governmental concern." The truth of the matter is that the United States Department of Justice was "three hours away" from filing an antitrust lawsuit against Google, according to CNET.
Now what? Well, Google's decision to pull away was "shrewd." And they think it's smart that Google pulled out, whereas Microsoft's past history shows that they wouldn't back down.
MS rarely back down. Thats why they got such a bad reputation- they were swallowing a multi-million (dollar/pound/euro- take your pick) DAILY fine about publishing "complete and accurate technical specifications" and still fighting.
At the same time, though, some wonder why there was a concern about monopolies anyhow. After all, Google and Yahoo are considered competitors.
At the same time, there's a problem with the government's approach, according to one individual.
If the government knew anything about running a business, they wouldn't be operating with a close to $1 trillion annual deficit.
Forum discussion continues at WebmasterWorld and Sphinn.


text:
The next, next big thing
The web had its day. Mobile is already peaking. So what's next?
by Alasdair Allan |	@aallan | +Alasdair Allan | May 19, 2011
In my old age, at least for the computing industry, I'm getting more irritated by smart young things that preach today's big thing, or tomorrow's next big thing, as the best and only solution to my computing problems.
Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and the smart young things need to pay more attention. Because the trends underlying today's computing should be evident to anyone with a sufficiently good grasp of computing history.
Depending on the state of technology, the computer industry oscillates between thin- and thick-client architectures. Either the bulk of our compute power and storage is hidden away in racks of (sometimes distant) servers, or alternatively, into a mass of distributed systems closer to home. This year's reinvention of the mainframe is called cloud computing. While I'm a big supporter of cloud architectures, at least at the moment, I'll be interested to see those preaching it as a last and final solution of all our problems proved wrong, yet again, when computing power catches up to demand once more and you can fit today's data center inside a box not much bigger than a cell phone.
Thinking that just couldn't happen? You should think again, because it already has. The iPad 2 beats most super computers from the early '90s in raw compute power, and it would have been on the world-wide top 500 list of super computers well into 1994. There isn't any reason to suspect that, at least for now, that sort of trend isn't going to continue.
Yesterday's next big thing
Yesterday's "next big thing" was the World Wide Web. I still vividly remember standing in a draughty computing lab, almost 20 years ago now, looking over the shoulder of someone who had just downloaded first public build of NCSA Mosaic via some torturous method. I shook my head and said "It'll never catch on, why would you want images?" That shows what I know. Although to be fair, I was a lot younger back then. I was failing to grasp history because I was neither well read enough, nor old enough, to have seen it all before. And since I still don't claim to be either well read or old enough this time around, perhaps you should take everything I'm saying with a pinch of salt. That's the thing with the next big thing: it's always open to interpretation.
The machines we grew up with are yesterday's news. They're quickly being replaced by consumption devices, with most of the rest of day-to-day computing moving into the environment and becoming embedded into people's lives. This will happen almost certainly
without people noticing.
While it's pretty obvious that mobile is the current "next" big thing, it's arguable whether mobile itself has already peaked. The sleek lines of the iPhone in your pocket are already almost as dated as the beige tower that used to sit next to the CRT on your desk.
Technology has not quite caught up to the overall vision and neither have we — we've been trying to reinvent the desktop computer in a smaller form factor. That's why the mobile platforms we see today are just stepping stones.
Most people just want gadgets that work, and that do the things they want them to do. People never really wanted computers. They wanted what computers could do for them. The general purpose machines we think of today as "computers" will naturally dissipate out into the environment as our technology gets better.
To those preaching cloud computing and web applications as the next big thing: they've already had their day and the web as we know it is a dead man walking. Looking at the job board at O'Reilly's Strata conference earlier in the year, the next big thing is obvious. It's data. Heck, it's not even the next big thing anymore. It's pulling into the station, and to data scientists, the web and its architecture is just a commodity. Bought and sold in bulk.
The overflowing job board at February's Strata conference.
As for the next, next big thing? Ubiquitous computing is the thing after the next big thing, and almost inevitably the thirst for more data will drive it. But then eventually, inevitably, the data will become secondary — a commodity. Yesterday's hot job was a developer, today with the arrival of Big Data it has become a mathematician. Tomorrow it could well be a hardware hacker.
Count on it. History goes in cycles and only the names change.
Arduino is a building block for the world to come.
The abandonment of technology
The return of the Personal Area Network
tags: apps, data, development, embedded devices, mobile, web


text:
Home Scientific Meetings
By Wendell Dilling
The Midland ACS Section celebrated a milestone in 1994 when it hosted the 50th Fall Scientific Meeting. These meetings have had a varied and interesting history. Early scientific meetings were organized by scientists at The Dow Chemical Company and Dow Corning Corporation and were attended chiefly by employees of those companies. More recent ACS Fall Scientific Meetings have been organized and attended by college faculty, high school teachers, students, scientists, and other people from a variety of organizations such as Central Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, Alma College, Delta College, and Michigan Molecular Institute in addition to Dow and Dow Corning.
These meetings have been held annually since 1945 except during 1974 when a labor strike at Dow prevented the meeting from taking place. As noted below, an extra meeting was held in 1962. Thus the 50th meeting this year is being held in the 50th year. The numbering system for the meetings was first used in 1952 with the 8th Meeting.
The first five meetings (1945-1949) in what became the current numbered series were closed Dow/Dow Corning Scientific Meetings and were not open to ACS members in general. However, the Midland ACS Section was instrumental in the origin of these closed meetings. In 1944 a group of Dow scientists, Julius E. Johnson, Jr., Lewis R. Drake and Jack L. Williams, sought local activities for the ACS to sponsor at Dow's headquarters in Midland, Michigan. Appreciating the advantages of a closed meeting, they obtained the approval of W.R. Veazey, Dow coordinator of research and patents, to hold several such scientific meetings in the following years. The chairmen of these closed meetings were selected by the ACS Midland Section.
In early 1945, the above-mentioned group and several other Dow researchers became concerned about the lack of a forum to present and learn about technical developments. Researchers had lost an opportunity to interact with others in their fields when the Spring and Fall 1945 National ACS Meetings were canceled owing to wartime conditions. As a result of this concern, an announcement was made at the 201st Midland Section ACS Meeting on March 20, 1945, that a committee consisting of Gordon Clack, Chairman, William F. Mick, Daniel R. Stull, and Jack Williams had been appointed to organize a "Spring Scientific Meeting." All papers scheduled for this first meeting were by invitation only. Several of the papers had been presented previously at informal discussion group meetings held evenings in Dow facilities.
The Scientific Meeting was scheduled for May 5, 1945. The March 20 section meeting minutes state that "Inasmuch as it has been decided that the spring meeting must, due to lack of time and confidential nature of some of the reports, be a Dow rather than an ACS affair, the Midland Section has severed all official connection with this committee. No announcement of the committee nor of the meeting was or will be made in American Chemical Society meetings here." Thus the first of the series of Scientific Meetings 49 years ago was not an ACS meeting but was a closed meeting restricted to Dow and Dow Corning employees.
Saturday, May 5, 1945, the date of the first Scientific Meeting also was VE Day. The program consisted of six presentations by seven authors, Norman Wright, "Identification of Organic Compounds By Infrared Spectra," Vernon A. Stenger, "Recent Developments in the Search for New Elements," George J. Atchison, "Analysis of Microgram Samples," Earle R. MacLaughlin, "Water Problems in the Midland Area," Julius E. Johnson, "Tropical Diseases Encountered in Military Operations," and William R. Collings and Shailer L. Bass, "Silicones As New Engineering Materials." Attendance at this first meeting was 120. In addition to the technical talks held in the Dow Auditorium, the program included special exhibits, a luncheon, and entertainment.
The Midland Section was officially involved in planning the next Scientific Meeting, which was called the "Midland Meeting in Miniature." It was held Saturday, September 15, 1945, in the Dow Auditorium. Archival records indicate this meeting was not included in the numbered list of Midland Section ACS Scientific Meetings. The organizing committee consisted of Lester J. Dankert, General Chairman; Steven S. Drake, Chairman of Committee on Arrangements; Lorraine Boble, Chairman of Entertainment Committee; and George J. Atchison, Chairman of Publicity and Registration Committee.
The technical program, which was printed in the August 25, 1945, issue of Chemical & Engineering News, consisted of 14 papers by 32 authors. A photographic summary of the meeting was printed in "The Chemical News Parade" section of Chemical & Engineering News, October 10, 1945. A report in the archives indicated that a capacity audience (370 registrants) of "scientific men" was present in the meeting room and out in the foyer. The capacity audience attests to the attendees' desire for scientific interactions with their colleagues. This Saturday was the first in several years that they could call their own because prior to this time Dow had a six-day work week. After an all-day technical session from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., including a luncheon in the Dow Cafeteria, the attendees participated in an ACS dance entitled the Scientific Swing. The dance, arranged by the Entertainment Committee and the Dow Dance Committee, was held in the K of C Hall from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
The first Midland Section Scientific Meeting of the numbered series that was open to all ACS members was the sixth, held on March 18, 1950. The first non-Dow/Dow Corning person to present a paper at one of these meetings was Howard Potter, Professor of Chemistry at Alma College, in 1951. The title of his paper was "The Reaction of Phenyl Lithium and Phenyl Magnesium Bromide with Some Alpha-Beta Unsaturated Sulfur Compounds."
The first five Scientific Meetings consisted of one morning session and one afternoon session. The next two meetings had two concurrent sessions each. The number of simultaneous sessions reached a maximum of 17 in 1982 and 1983. At least part of each of the first 11 meetings was held in the Dow Auditorium. Other meeting locations were in the Dow library, cafeteria, music building, and Abbott Road Building, the Dow Corning cafeteria and conference rooms, Delta College, Central Intermediate School, and H.H. Dow High School.
The first recorded keynote speaker was Mark E. Putnam, director and general manager of Dow, in 1950. The first non-Dow/Dow Corning keynote speaker was Robert R. White, from the University of Michigan, in 1959. Other notable keynote speakers were Edgar C. Britton (1951), Albert L. Elder (1960), Melvin Calvin (1963), Herbert C. Brown (1964 and 1986), William J. Sparks (1965), W. Albert Noyes, Jr. (1969), William D. Ruckelshaus (1975), Anna J. Harrison (1977), Herbert D. Doan (1983), Fred Basolo (1987), and Roald Hoffmann (1992).
Several references in the records of the Scientific Meetings show that men dominated the early meetings. For example, the subtitle of an article in 1949 stated that " . . . Dow and Dow Corning Men Get Together . . ." The 1950 meeting program announced that "Aiding in the registration of visitors will be the female members of the Midland Section . . ." A call for papers for the 10th meeting in 1954 sent to Baker Perkins Company, Saginaw; Leonard Refineries, Alma; Central Michigan College, Mount Pleasant; Alma College, Alma; and Michigan Chemical Corporation, St. Louis; included the following sentence: "We would like to solicit papers from men in your group to be presented at this meeting."
Eventually, women participated fully in the meetings. Shirley J. Goetz co-authored a paper, "p-Vinylbenzyltrialkyl Ammonium Salts in Vinyl Polymerization," with Griffin D. Jones, in 1956. Suzanne N. Heiny presented a paper, "Cross-Linking in Solution Polymerizations," co-authored with Ralph E. Friedrich, in 1958. Janet Paige was the first woman to present a paper, "The Flameproofing of Plastics-A Review of the Literature," without a male colleague, in 1959. Women have also given keynote addresses, and one has served as general chairperson.
The Dow/Dow Corning Scientific Meetings from 1945 to 1949 and the ACS Scientific Meetings from 1950 to 1961 were held in the spring. In planning for the 1962 (18th) ACS Spring Scientific Meeting, the General Committee decided to make it a closed Dow/Dow Corning Meeting because of problems they saw with the ACS Scientific Meetings. These problems included the difficulty in obtaining an adequate number of cleared papers for the meetings, low attendance by Dow and Dow Corning people, limited attendance by non-Dow/Dow Corning people, failure of the meetings to draw submitted papers by non-Dow/Dow Corning people, and the perceived high cost of the meetings.
Because plans had been made for a closed spring meeting, the Midland Section Executive Committee passed a resolution to hold an open ACS Scientific Meeting in the fall of 1962. A letter written by the 1962 Midland Section chairman, Ethan C. Galloway, to local research directors, stated that ". . . the ACS (Midland) Section heartily endorses an open meeting in some form." Thus began the Midland Section's Fall Scientific Meetings, which have continued to the present day.
For many years, oral presentation was the only mode used at Midland Section Scientific Meetings. In 1977 the section initiated poster paper presentations at the Fall Scientific Meetings. Poster papers have become increasingly popular at recent meetings. At the 49th Scientific Meeting in 1993, 31 papers were presented as posters and 33 papers were presented orally.
Many high school students in the Midland Section area have participated in the ACS Project SEED (Summer Educational Experience for the Disadvantaged) program. Traditionally the last event in their program is the presentation of the results of their summer research project on a poster at the Fall Scientific Meeting. The first such presentation, in 1978, was by Ruby J. Brink, Midland High School, and Rebecca D. Mills, Shepherd High School. Their preceptor, Bob A. Howell, and two Central Michigan University students co-authored their poster paper on "Derivatization of Naphthalene and Related Compounds Using (Arene) Tricarbonylchromium Complexes."
The first printed programs for Scientific Meetings were published in The Brinewell and the Midland Daily News (1945-1950). Large folded sheets were printed for the programs in 1951-1952 and 1954-1959. The first of many printed program booklets appeared in 1953 and then again in 1960. These program booklets continued through 1976. The two-page program outline from the 1966 booklet was printed in The Midland Chemist. In 1977 the program was printed as an integral part of The Midland Chemist. From 1978 to the present the program has been printed as a booklet insert in The Midland Chemist, with extra copies of the booklet printed for other distribution.
Exhibits have been an integral part of most Scientific Meetings starting with the first meeting in 1945. An exhibit of commercial instruments was part of the 1965 meeting. An exposition by commercial vendors of laboratory equipment, supplies, computers, and related items was added to the Scientific Meetings in 1982; these have continued to the present. These vendors have helped support the meetings financially.
In recent years the Midland Section Fall Scientific Meetings have expanded from their traditional role as a forum for the presentation of new research and development results. With the advent of National Chemistry Day in 1987, chemical demonstrations or "magic shows," primarily for children, were added to the Scientific Meetings. Workshops, presentations, and related activities for pre-college chemical educators were added in 1991.
Sci-Fest was added to the Fall Scientific Meeting in 1993. Sci-Fest is a fun and educational array of hands-on demonstrations and exhibits of Midland Section ACS programs and other science resources in the Midland Section area. It is also a recognition program for members who have served the Midland Section in various capacities. This recognition program replaced the Fall Scientific Meeting Speakers' Banquet that was formerly held on the Friday evening preceding the Saturday Scientific Meeting.
The Spring and Fall ACS Scientific Meetings have been supported financially from the beginning by The Dow Chemical Company and Dow Corning Corporation. Additional financial support has been derived from vendor fees.


text:
Southeast Asia Center, Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington
About SEAC
The History of SEAC
Funding your study
SEAC events
SEAxSEA Film Festival
FLAS Fellowships
FLAS Fellows
What is a FLAS Fellowship?
How Do I Apply for a FLAS? (Undergraduates)
How Do I Apply for a FLAS? (Graduate Students)
Resources at UW
Resources for K-12 Education
UW Student Organizations
Other Universities
UW Luce-SEA
Luce-SEA Home
Luce-SEA Projects and Partners Overview
Luce-SEA in UW Libraries
Southeast Asian Pasts and Futures
The Ramayanas of Southeast Asia
K-12 Book Recommendations
Teachable Cambodia
Teachable Indonesia: Grades K-8
Where in Southeast Asia
The Wallace Line
Vulcan Point
Teacher Training (Highline School District): Finding Home
The Story of Rama, about a prince and his long hero's journey, is one of the world's great epics. It began in India and spread among many countries throughout Asia. Its text is a major thread in the culture, religion, history, and literature of millions. Through its study, teachers come to understand how people lived and what they believed and valued. As the story became embedded into the culture of Southeast Asian countries, each created its own version reflecting the culture's specific values and beliefs. As a result, there are literally hundreds of versions of the story of Rama throughout Asia, especially Southeast Asia.
A curriculum could be developed based on comparisons between different versions. Possible goals could be:
1. To read rich historical and informational texts for the purpose of knowing more about the culture and literature of our district's South and Southeast Asian community.
2. To conduct short research projects to answer questions about the ways important traditional literature has been re-imagined in the west.
Additionally, as teachers question the way the story continues to be re-interpreted, they can evaluate various texts for their relevance to their student community.
Cambodia – Reamker
Cambodia, like many countries in mainland Southeast Asia, has a population that predominantly follows Theravada Buddhism; therefore the Reamker has many Buddhist influences. In it, Rama is known as Phreah Ream, and Sita is known as Neang Seda. The Khmer text also contains unique episodes not included in the original Hindu texts. For example, the encounter between Hanuman, the monkey general, and Sovann Maccha, the mermaid, is a favorite in Cambodia. But perhaps a key divergence to the original Hindu text is that after Neang Seda's trial by fire, in which she passes the test, she becomes deeply offended by her husband's lack of trust. Instead of reuniting with him to rule the kingdom of Ayodhya, she decides to leave him and find refuge with Valmiki the wiseman (who is also attributed for writing the oldest version of the Ramayana).
Java, Indonesia – Ramayana Jawa
Although Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, the continued popularity of the Ramayana (and the Mahabharata) is testament to its enduring cultural legacy in Indonesia, as well as, according to Benedict Anderson, the tolerance of the Javanese. In fact, it should be noted that the name of the city of Yogyakarta is a transliteration of Ayodhya. In Java, the Ramayana is usually performed through wayang kulit, or puppet shows that can last multiple nights. While the first half of the Ramayana Jawa is similar to the original Sanskrit version, the latter half is divergent to the point of being unrecognizable by Indian scholars. One of the many major changes is the inclusion of the all-powerful Javanese indigenous deity Dhayana, Guardian God of Java, and his misshapen sons, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong who make up the four Punokawan or "clown servants".
Laos – Phra Lak Phra Ram
The story of Phra Ram is so important to the Lao people that it has become their national epic. Being a Theravada Buddhist country, however, it has lost its association with Hinduism and is instead considered a Jataka Story, or a recounting of the Buddha's previous lives. Phra Ram is considered a previous incarnation of Gautama Buddha, and is regarded as the epitome of moral leadership and a true follower of his dharma. On the other hand, Hapmanasouane, the Lao Ravana, is considered the previous incarnation of Mara, the demon that tried to impede the Buddha's ascent to enlightenment. Also, instead of being set close to the Ganges, the story takes place along the Mekong River, the "mother of waters" and perhaps the most important river for many inhabitants in mainland Southeast Asia.
Malaysia – Hikayat Seri Rama
The Ramayana came to the lands now known as Malaysia most likely through Tamil traders. Even after Islam was introduced to the region, the epic's ideals of righteousness, loyalty, and selfless devotion ensured its popularity. Between the 13th and 17th centuries, the epic was written as a hikayat, an Arabic word that literally translates to "stories" and is regarded to be a form of Malay literature. The secularized wayang kulit version of the story, however, interestingly focuses on Maharaja Wana, or Ravana, who is depicted in this version as being more just and loyal than Seri Rama, who is perceived as being arrogant and vain.
Myanmar (Burma) – Yama Zatdaw (Yamayana)
In Burma, the Yama Zatdaw is also considered a Jataka Story of Theravada Buddhism, where Rama is known as Yama, and Sita is known as Thida. It was said to have been introduced during King Anawratha's reign in the 11th century; however, the version currently popular in the country also has Thai influences that can be traced back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 18th century, as well as, to a lesser extent, Javanese and Malay influences. However, on the whole, its use of an exuberant, acrobatic, and highly stylized form of traditional Burmese dance as well as ornate costumes keep it unique from all other versions of the Ramayana.
Mindanao, Philippines – Darangen, Singkil
The Darangen is the ancient epic song of the Maranao people composed of 17 cycles and 72,000 lines. It existed before the coming of Islam to the islands and is connected to earlier Sanskrit traditions. Although the Darangen touches on topics such as social values, customary law, courtship, and others, it also recounts the history of the Maranaos as well as their folktales. One episode recounts the abduction of Princess Gandingan by the diwatas (nature spirits) of the Kingdom of Bumbaran. They cause an earthquake, which also causes the trees of the forest to topple around Gandingan, blocking her from Prince Bantugan. In order to save her, he has to navigate the trees. This episode is still being retold today through the Singkil dance where the dancers nimbly avoid clik-clacking bamboo poles that represent the trees.
Thailand – Ramakien
The Ramakien is Thailand's national epic. Although the Ramayana is said to have arrived in Thailand as early as the 13th century, whatever was written about these older versions was lost during the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. The version currently being performed all over Thailand and read in elementary schools is the one compiled and written by King Rama I. In it, the Ramayana was placed onto the topography of Siam. In fact, the name of the old Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya is a transliteration of Rama's kingdom of Ayodhya. The Ramakien of Rama I is considered one of the masterpieces of Thai literature, and the Ramakien is the basis of all khon and nang dramas in Thailand today.
Because of the Ramayana's continued popularity and cultural legacy all over Southeast Asia and the world, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations has, in recent years, spearheaded the International Ramayana Festival, where the many versions of the Ramayana are performed and celebrated. A great video featuring these many performances can be found here.
You can also read more about the Rama epic here.
Storytelling traditions abound throughout South and Southeast Asia, and these traditions provide the raw material for many great works of literature — literature important to know more about. We also encourage you to look at parables, fables, myths, legends in books, picture books and graphic novels from the many countries of Southeast Asia to see what other commonalities can be observed.
Southeast Asia Center
Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
Seattle WA, 98195-3650
seac@uw.edu
Room 303 Thomson Hall
Southeast Asia Center Staff
Celia Lowe
Director, Southeast Asia Center
Christoph Giebel
Director of Graduate Studies
Michael Walstrom
Judith Henchy
Southeast Asian Studies Librarian
Pauli Sandjaja
Southeast Asian Language Coordinator
Christina Sunardi
Southeast Asian Arts Coordinator
Jamie Olss
Southeast Asia Center, The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Box 353650, Seattle, WA 98195-3650
Room 303 Thomson Hall | Phone: (206) 543-9606 | Fax: (206) 685-0668 | Email: seac@uw.edu
The Jackson School is a proud member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs.
© 2023 Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington | Seattle, WA


text:
Figure skating at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival was held from 25 to 27 January 2023 at the Ice Stadium "Claudio Vuerich" in Pontebba, Italy. Medals were awarded in boys' and girls' singles. To be eligible, skaters must have been born between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2008.

Russia and Belarus were suspended following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and did not participate.

Schedule

Medal summary

Medalists

Medals by country

Entries
Member nations and their respective Olympic committees began announcing entries in October 2022. The complete list of entries was published on 22 January 2023.

Results

Boys

Girls

References

External links
 EYOF 2023 at the International Skating Union

 Results

2023
European Youth Olympic Winter Festival
2023 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival events
International figure skating competitions hosted by Italy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
You are here: Home » About Tibet: interesting facts about Tibetan plateau » Tibet: location, history and modern day
High mountains and a beautiful valley with farmland in Tibet
Neighbouring with Xinguang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, and boardering in the south and the west with Barma, India, Bhutan, Sikkirn and Nepal, Tibet Autonomous Region is located at the Southwest part of China, with a land area of 1.22 million square Kilometres and a population of 2.3 million, in which, 95%are Tibetan nationality. There are also 30 other nationalities in Tibet, such as Han, Menba, Luoba, Hui, Mouggul, Naxi as well as Cheng and Sharba peoples.
Tibet is the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau proper, with an average landrise of 4,000 metres above the sea level. It is well -known as The Roof of the World and The Third Pole of the Globe. The world highest summit-Himalayan, which strides across the boarder between China and Nepal, claims a height of 8,848metres above the sea level.
The characteristics of the Plateau climate is the great difference of different heights and of days and nights. The Northern part is arid and cold. On the whole, Tibet claimes a low temperature, long-day sunshine, strong radiation, rare rainfall and thin air.
The pastoral area of Tibet is one of the five biggest in China, in which sheep, goat and yak are grazed. Farming crops are mainly highland barley, wheat, bean and rape seeds as well as some apples and walnuts. Tibet has a forest coverage of 60,000 square kilometers, which is the second la rgest timber deposit in China. Famous dear animal and herb medicines such as musk, pilose antler, bear's gallbladder, Tibetan caterpillar fungus, the tuber of elevated gastrodia, the bulb of fritillary and the snow lotus flower, are world famous. The denposits of hydroelectric and geothermal power are at the top of county's reserves; solar energy is the second.
Best Time to Travel to Tibet
5 Reasons to Travel to Tibet in Winter
Being the capital city, with 1,300yrs of history. Lhasa, which means holyland of God, and it is the political, religious, economical and cultural centre of Tibet.
Tibetan culture originated from Tibet. Human activities traced back to the late ages of the Paleolithic Period. The king of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo, unified Tibet in the 7th century A.D and established Tibet dynasty, which twice weaved matrinonial relations with Tang Dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. In the 15th century, Tibet became an administrative region of a Gaden podang government was established during the rule of the fifth Dalai Lama, and it was confirmed by the Qing Dynasty government a standing minister to Tibet was authorized. After the 1911 Revolution, administrative agencies were set up in Tibet by the Government of the People's Republic of China. (September 1965)
7 Reasons to Visit Tibet
Top Places to Visit in Lhasa
Top Places to Visit in Tibet
PREPARE FOR YOUR TOUR IN TIBET
MOST POPULAR TIBET TOURS
7 DAYS TIBET TO NEPAL OVERLAND
This tour starts in Lhasa. We will stay there for 2 days to explore the capital and acclimatize. After that, we will head to the center of attraction in Himalayas – Mount Everest. We will spend a night by the highest mountain on a planet and continue driving through majestic mountain ranges, alongside rivers and waterfalls to the border between Tibet and Nepal.
8 DAYS LHASA TO EVEREST TOUR
A beautiful and exciting journey, starting in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and going to the Everest Base Camp. The tour visits Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung and Tashilhunpo monasteries, Kumbum Stupa, Yamdrok Lake and Karola glaciers.
15 DAYS MOUNT KAILASH TOUR
One of our most popular group tours, starting in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and going to Mount Kailash for a three-day trekking around this sacred mountain. During this tour, we visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse monastery and Kumbum stupa, Mount Everest, Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash, and much more.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TIBET


Apink unveils Chorong and Na Eun's 'Dear' teaser images!
June Kang, Dec. 6, 2016, 9:32 a.m.
Apink has begun teasing for their upcoming release 'Dear', and in anticipation of the release, the ladies have revealed their first set of teaser images, featuring members Na Eun and leader Chorong! The beautiful ladies give off a youthful, innocent charm in the slightly vintage shots.
Although these are just teaser images for the upcoming track, the girls make the pictorial look like a high-fashion spread from a fashion magazine! Check out the lovely images below, and gear up for Apink's comeback!


text:
CARLYLE GROUP: FBI TARGETS DETROIT, IGNORES BRIBE SOURCE
Carlyle-Synagro spreads money in pushing sludge deals with Black cities
By Diane Bukowski
The Michigan Citizen
DETROIT — Dozens of city workers and their supporters picketed outside Detroit's Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) July 8 to demand that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the city council rescind the city's $1.4 billion 30-year sludge processing contract with Synagro Technologies.
Synagro is wholly owned by the international Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms, with more than $82.7 billion under management in 21 countries, and close ties to the Bush administration and its wars.
"No to Synagro, no bribery, no cuts, Detroit won't go to the back of the bus," chanted the protesters. They were referring to the ongoing bribery scandal involving alleged pay-offs to city officials and community leaders by representatives of Synagro and a subcontractor.
Southwest Detroit resident Denise Monroe Hearns, CEO of 48217, Inc., said, "This is so disheartening. All our environmental groups except one fought Synagro, and we were proven to be right. We laid out to the City Council and everyone the Synagro-Carlyle connection, but they ignored us and voted for privatization."
Wastewater Treatment plant worker Cynthia McKissack added, "Our people have been working here, many for over 20 years, and are extremely competent and able to do the work Synagro wants to do. This bribery scandal gives us the opportunity to undo this contract."
Watson, union want contract voided
George Washington, attorney for the workers, said that they plan to file a lawsuit within the week to force the council to rescind the contract. It would take a three prong approach, citing the City Charter, which prevents the sale of Water Department assets without a vote of the people, the anti-privatization ordinance, and commission of alleged fraud in the contract procurement.
"If the city council has any self-respect left at all," said Michael Mulholland, "it will get rid of Synagro." Mulholland is secretary-treasurer of Local 207 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents WWTP workers.
Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said she asked July 8 that the Law Department and the Research and Analysis Division come back with ways to legally void and reconsider the contract. She said her colleagues did not object.
"We ought not to be rewarding people for inappropriate conduct," said Watson. "This is mind-boggling."
The daily media has reported that the FBI is investigating city council members who voted for the contract last November. It passed with a 5-4 vote. Those voting for the contract included Conyers, Sheila Cockrel, Barbara Rose-Collins, Martha Reeves, and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi. News reports have also implicated Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick because Synagro representative James Rosendall donated $10,000 to his campaign.
Allegedly under investigation and on video tape accepting money are an aide to Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. and President Pro-Tem Monica Conyers herself.
Cockrel, Jr. has said he is not a target of the investigation, since he voted against the contract. But his vote was not pivotal to the outcome. Conyers had done a complete flip-flop on her position, voting yes after campaigning strongly against Synagro, carrying Reeves with her.
Sources close to the investigation do say that Ken Cockrel, Jr. asked Rayford Jackson to provide celebrity entertainment for his birthday party, an event that never materialized.
Cockrel Jr. vigorously denied the claim.
"Your source is full of sh*t," Cockrel, Jr. said. "I never met Rayford Jackson, didn't even know what he looked like until I saw his picture in the paper...It is absolutely untrue."
FBI investigations broaden
Jackson lobbied the council for the contract promising that his company's involvement with Synagro meant 30% minority participation in the deal.
Jackson is under investigation and his live-in companion, TV 2 news reporter Fanchon Stinger, has been on leave from Fox News since the story broke. Also swept up in the probe are community leaders including the Rev. Wendell Anthony of the NAACP, Paul Taylor of the Inner City Sub-Center, and Sandra Young of Operation Get-Down, which was founded by Wayne County Commissioner Bernard Parker, among others.
Several community leaders supported the contract, arguing it would create jobs for Detroiters. However, union representatives said at least 140 Detroit city jobs would be eliminated. Synagro reportedly promised it would also donate $50,000 to the community.
The Carlyle group's ownership of Synagro sent up red flags, because of its ties to the federal government. The contract deal opens the door for FBI penetration into both Detroit's government and community organizations, after Synagro got the contract signed, sealed and delivered.
Contributed to Bush campaign
The FBI has reportedly tapped phone lines, including the cell phone of then Conyers' chief of Staff Sam Riddle, who told other media outlets that he refused to cooperate by wearing a wire. He is no longer employed by Conyers. The FBI is also reportedly looking into bank accounts and other financial matters involving numerous individuals.
Rayford Jackson, head of the R.A.S. Development Group, and the son-in-law of well-known architect Harold Varner, convinced many of the community leaders to support the contract. Jackson donated $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, and $1,000 to Republican congressman Joseph Knollenberg. While he gave $1,000 to Democrat Debbie Stabenow, he did not contribute to the Kerry campaign.
Jackson's company carries out its business from Varner's office. Synagro will keep an additional 30% of the contract payments since Jackson has been allegedly cut out of the deal. His firm's elimination is a possible way for the city council to rescind the contract, since Jackson was the "minority" participant in the contract.
Synagro also fired Rosendall, but the two men's status with the Carlyle Group remains unclear. Rosendall received Synagro stock as partial payment when they bought his company in 1999.
The Carlyle Group, is reportedly not being investigated by the FBI.
Despite the daily leaks to the media, FBI representatives would not comment on any ongoing investigation.
Rosendall tied to FBI conspiracy
Rosendall has ties with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who appointed him to the Michigan Department of Transportation board, and Synagro's attorney Alvin Thomas sits on the Democratic National Committee.
Synagro also courted two minority firms in Philadelphia, whose current Black mayor is under federal investigation. Synagro contributed $100,000 to local politicians there, successfully winning the contract.
"Didn't they watch Fahrenheit 9/11?" asked Mulholland. That film by Michael Moore exposed current President George Bush's ties with Carlyle, the bin Laden family, and funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Previous U.S. officials, President G.H.W. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker, Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci, and Budget Director Dick Darman, among others, have worked directly for Carlyle Group after leaving public office.
Former British Prime Minister John Major, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, and Bakr Bin Laden, head of the Saudi Bin Laden Group, also are closely linked to Carlyle. The company is notorious for helping fund the Afghanistan and Iraq wars through its munitions subsidiaries.
Carlyle—which nationally targets government public service contracts — is also being sued in Michigan for illegal union busting efforts at several nursing homes.
"The no-bid contract with this murderous war profiteer should never have been considered," Mulholland said. "It will cost the city $47 million a year for 25 years, with a five-year instant extension. It will cost more for the city to add additional lime to the sludge for the Synagro process. The city will pay all utilities, and there is a built-in cost-of-living increase of 2.5 percent a year."
Mulholland said the Synagro process, which is unpatented, will likely reduce hazardous emissions in the burning of sludge, but said the city could carry out the process itself. The city claimed it was saving only $5 million a year through the contract by eliminating city positions.
Carlyle took Synagro private
Additionally, a report by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which demonstrated at Carlyle's Washington headquarters last December, says Carlyle's acquisition of Synagro sheltered it from many regulations.
"By taking Synagro private in an April 2007 leveraged buyout worth $772 million, Carlyle is able to avoid requirements that Synagro provide to the public, shareholders, and federal agencies (such as the SEC) certain information about its business practices," the union said in a release.
"As a result of the buy-out, Synagro may no longer be required to disclose publicly the existence of regulatory inquiries or legal complaints against the company resulting from health hazards caused by Synagro products and product distribution. Private equity buyout firms such as the Carlyle Group are not required to publicly disclose information about the business practices of the companies they own."
After the November City Council vote, Synagro "bought" the no-bid contract from Wisconsin-based Detroit Minergy, LLC. Minergy was financially unable to meet heightened environmental requirements after numerous protests by community and union members, and extensive reports in the Michigan Citizen beginning in 1999.
At the time the Minergy contract was passed, the Citizen exposed Minergy's close ties to officials in Mayor Dennis Archer's administration, and a Minergy contribution to Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, among other matters.
What's Mercado got to do with it?
Councilwoman Brenda Jones said in Feb. 2007, "We know [former DWSD] director Victor Mercado. His whole reputation is based on privatizing government entities nation-wide. The city has gone on record that we don't want to privatize our water department or our lightning system, and that is also against the law."
Mulholland asked, "Was this behind Mercado's abrupt departure from DWSD?" Mercado has disappeared, although he said he had taken a job with a municipality in Florida, which has no city council.
There is also an R.A.S. Development Group—the name of the Rayford Jackson listed in Coral Gables, Fla., among numerous other locations across the country.
Synagro has also been the subject of lawsuits across the country targeting its business of applying treated sewage sludge as fertilizer. Activists in the South Bronx, New York City, said the company caused odors, fires and explosions. When they bought stock and pursued shareholders' options, the company was bought up by $87 billion private equity firm, the Carlyle Group, freeing Synagro from any public scrutiny.
An email to the Caryle group press room for comment (no phone number is provided on their website) had not been answered by press time.
Teresa Kelly contributed to this story.
LAWSUIT LOOMING
A union lawsuit to void $1.4 billion Synagro pact will argue:
• Vote of people is necessary to sell assets
• Violates anti-privatization ordinance
• Possible commission of fraud in contract procurement
SYNAGRO DEAL DATES TO ARCHER
In 1999, in response to then Mayor Dennis Archer, the city council approved a no-bid sludge deal with Wisconsin-based Detroit Minergy, LLC.
At the time the Minergy contract was passed, the Citizen exclusively exposed Minergy's close ties to officials in Mayor Dennis Archer's administration, and a Minergy contribution to Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, among other matters.
However, Minergy was financially unable to meet Michigan's heightened environmental requirements and the sludge contract remained in limbo for eight years.
Carlyle Group's Synagro picked up that same no-bid contract and secured approval from the current city council based on the minority participation of Detroiter Rayford Jackson's firm, R.A.S. Development Group.
STINKY DEAL
The city deal with Synagro:
• Was a no-bid contract.
• Costs the city $47 million a year.
• Lasts 25 years.
• Eliminates 140 city jobs.
• Allows an instant five-year extension.
• Requires city to pay all utilities.
• Requires city to pay "2.5% annual cost-of-living increase."
• Is a pact with war profiteer.
http://www.michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=6254&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1070&hn=michigancitizen&he=.com
Fleming had a hand in shaping OSS and CIA
Lockerbie Evidence Called into Question
Californian Claims Stepfather Zodiac Killer
Germany: New Group Helps 'Persecuted' Far-Right Women
Announcing: Formation of a New Political Party and...
The CIA and the AQ Khan Nuclear Network
Video: Pakistani City of Peshawar could fall to Ta...
Deutsche Bank Loan to IG Farben Financed Auschwitz...
The Long Reach of General Pinochet (Book Review)
BERKELEY POLICE, FBI RAID ACTIVIST CENTER, SEIZE C...
Pappadum Pam: Her acts enthralled a nation
Audio: Iraq Veterans Against the War Make their Po...
The Growing Threat of Wildfire Government
VIDEOS: War in Georgia
Susanville, CA Man Faces Terrorist/Arson Threat Ch...
Ex-Marine's testimony links squad leader to Iraqi ...
Oily Ted Stevens Wins Republican Primary in Alaska
Obit.: Charles A. Nuzum, 85; Led FBI's Probe Of 19...
Son of Rap Producer Dr. Dre Found Dead; Andre Youn...
Boston Area Radio Personality & CIA Psyop Speciali...
Defense Intelligence Agency "Seeking" Mind Control...
Updated: White nationalist Web sites fired-up with...
Obama Assassination Plot
Re Project Anthrax & the Cover-Up - Stephen Hatfil...
Protesters: We're Being Treated like Prisoners
Re "Alex Constantine Returns"
Son of McCain Narrowly Skirts a Banking Scandal
CIA Assassin Roland Haas vs. CIA Vet John Sullivan...
REMEMBERING ROBERT AIME MAHEU - DEAD SPY WITH RED ...
Electronic binoculars from Northrop Grumman team t...
Why They Risk their Lives at the Border (Book Review)
CNN Uses Racial Extremist as Source for Its 'Black...
Making Adolf Hitler's Ramshackle Empire Tick (Book...
Accused Mormon Pedophile 'was Mentor for Church Ch...
Putin's Father Fought for Nazis AND KGB
CIA Agents in Mormon Disguise a Concern in Russia,...
New Book Exposes Eugenics Mandate in Reproductive ...
The Ratline: The US-Ustasha Connection
A Life Guided by the CIA's KAPLAN FUND
Santa Clara, CA: Rights Activists Step Up Oppositi...
Iraq may put Six Blackwater Guards on Trial
The Puppet Masters Behind Georgia President Saakas...
Judge Gives Government 10 Days to Avoid Contempt o...
Libby questioned on forged letter linking Saddam t...
Pentagon dismisses report saying U.S. air support ...
Who Really Snubbed Jesse Owens?
'Anthrax Killer' Remains a Mystery
Operation CONDOR: Uruguay to Re-Open Gelman Case
Michigan State YAF: Far-right 'hate group' members...
US Deceptive Q2 GDP Based on Fraudulent Price Defl...
Lewis Lapham: Tim Russert was a Disgrace
Ghosts in the Wind ("Suicide" Case File # 21): LaV...
DOCUMENTED: SIEGE OF ARSON FIRES IN CALIFORNIA
United Fruit: How Bananas Brought Regime Change
Ron Suskind Posts Transcript Of CIA Official Discu...
Roma star De Rossi's father-in-law shot in 'Mafia ...
Are state troopers spying on you?
Toto Constant - A Menace to Society
Where are the Jews on Nazis in the CIA?
"Freedom Cages" Coming to Denver/Secret Service, C...
New York: Protest Against RFID in Clothing and Shoes
Cannery: Black Panthers Strike Again
Book Review - Hell's Cartel: IG Farben and the Mak...
'DC Madam' Updates
Long secret CIA files identify nearly 24,000 spies...
UK: Deborah Orr: We must protect disabled people a...
The International Republican Institute: Promulgati...
Ex-Prosecutor Urges Fix for Terror List
Humane Society Donates Money to "Eco-Terrorism" Wi...
Researchers Find that Cannabinoids Suppress Colon ...
MK-ULTRA's Louis "Jolly" West & the First Elephant...
Christian Bikers Charged in Bar Brawl
Congress Looking at Police Spying
'Mossad Spies' Jailed over New Zealand Passport Fraud
The Invisible Man. A Scientific Breakthrough
Max Holland's Fake Book on JFK Murder Lauded by th...
Republican Values Create Child Molesters
International Pedophile Ring in the News
OBIT: ROBERT MAHEU, HOWARD HUGHES' ALTER-EGO
CARLYLE GROUP: FBI TARGETS DETROIT, IGNORES BRIBE ...
ID Scam Targeted Victims of Nazis
Man Charged in Miami With Threatening to Kill Obama
An Abramoff Connection Among McCain's 'Bundlers'
Clark Rockefeller is a Multiple Personality, has n...
Ghosts in the Wind (Case File #20): WHO KILLED DOR...
Did Dick Cheney Give Bush Plausible Deniability?
Hitler's Chemists Chased Auschwitz Profits, Financ...
"INDEPENDENT" LIBRARIANS WITH CIA FINANCING: Now R...
The New Spies
Heath Ledger Update: Mary-Kate Olsen won't be Forc...
Mae Brussell: How to Distinguish a CIA Plot from a...
Was Teen Plotting Bush Assassination?
MIND CONTROL: EM "Non-Lethal" Weapons Target/Progr...
Who Owns Dyncorp?
Mystery of Siddiqui Disappearance
Media War on "Conspiracy Theorists": Rolling Stone...
US Accused of Backing Terrorism in Pakistan
PayPal E-Book Order Form link Repaired


text:
New community center to offer free resources in hopes to combat crime
By Brennan Reh | July 11, 2019 at 4:47 PM EDT - Updated July 11 at 4:47 PM
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - One local non-profit organization is hoping to combat crime and the growing opioid crisis by opening a new community center in Columbus offering free resources. The Grace Outreach Community Center opens this Saturday, July 13 in the St. Mary's Shopping Center off Buena Vista Rd.
It will offer free resources including computer classes, HIV testing, and educational and financial workshops.
As a veteran, Grace Outreach Community Center Director Letisha Rice understands the needs of the veteran community. She also spent many years as a case manager.
"Going into patient's homes and seeing that there's a disconnect from the patients and the community, I wanted to be that bridge for the gap that was there," Rice explained.
Rice chose to have the community center in south Columbus because she says there is a high crime rate in that area.
"We should not run away from the crime, but we should run to the people and try to see what's going on. Why are they committing the crimes? Is it because of lack of education? Lack of finances? And we need to take care of our own community," Rice said.
The center will offer professional development resources like resume writing.
"If we can help people get jobs, help people grow in their education, then I believe that the crime will go down in the area," Rice explained.
The center's community coordinator, Chiquita Daniels, is working to get local businesses involved.
"My vision is to see us expand to the point to where we're able to reach more than just the south side. That we're over in the east and the west to bring everybody together," Daniels said.
The center will also offer resources for health concerns and group counseling sessions.
There is an open house this Saturday from 10:00am - 1:00pm with music, food, and free toys for the kids. The address is 3360 Buena Vista Rd., Suite 12.
Copyright 2019 WTVM. All rights reserved.
Brennan Reh
Weekend Anchor, Reporter
Brennan joined the WTVM news team as a reporter and weekend anchor in May 2019.
Georgia Power explains dam warning systems and how they can help you stay safe in the river
Georgia Power is responsible for controlling the flow at the dams and the warning system that helps alert people to changes in water levels.
Julie Anne Waldock
POLICE: Suspect in gruesome quadruple homicide had a history of violence
Moultrie kids give back after major sale in lemonade stand
Darran Todd
'That's what it's about for me': Camilla musician changing lives 1 note at a time
Bobby Poitevint
Published July 18, 2019 at 7:47 PM
State parks heavily rely on guest fees
Lydia Nusbaum


y i cant any call at skype to skype??
i hve htc mobile and i cannt any call fro skype to dskype i hve check all setting but weasted can u help me?
Have you emailed the app developer for advice?
i am not able to make a playstore account.


Okay, so I can't decide between Manchester and LSOP for pharmacy and the deadline's so close. What should I firm? Any opinions?
How's this for a fifth choice (medicine) ?
Can I change my course choice?
Which is the 2019 Community Shield line up?


text:
US tightens sanitary ring: arriving air travelers will need to present a negative coronavirus test
With Trump leaving, Brazil backtracks in its opposition to Huawei's 5G bid
Pfizer wants emergency distribution of its vaccine simultaneously in US, Europe and Latin America
Saturday, November 21st 2020 - 09:48 UTC
Alejandro Cané, the North America chief of scientific and medical affairs for Pfizer, said that Latin America and elsewhere in the world should have a "similar timeline" to the US
US drugmaker Pfizer Inc is hoping to rapidly roll out its experimental COVID-19 vaccine around Latin America soon after it gets emergency authorization in the United States, a senior executive said, which could be as early as next month.
Alejandro Cané, the North America chief of scientific and medical affairs for Pfizer's vaccines division, said in Buenos Aires that Latin America and elsewhere in the world should have a "similar timeline" to the United States.
"At the beginning the idea is to have the vaccine authorized in the United States," Cané said. "We are confident that in the next weeks or month we will have the vaccine not only in use in the U.S. and Europe, but also in Latin American countries."
Pfizer is applying to U.S. health regulators on Friday for emergency use authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine, the first such application, which marks a major step toward providing protection against the deadly virus.
"The idea is just to collect all the info from that trial and we are waiting now for feedback from the FDA to have a VRBPAC (Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee) meeting and after that a potential authorization for our emergency use authorization," he said.
"In that way, the vaccine could be used and distributed in the United States," he added, saying that authorization could come around 1-2 weeks after the VRBPAC meeting.
Cané said that Pfizer had supply agreements in Chile, Mexico and Peru and that there were several other conversations ongoing, including in Argentina, where the government has said it could receive 750,000 doses of the vaccine by December.
Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE have reported final trial results showing the vaccine was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19, with no major safety concerns.
Cané said Pfizer was ready to supply and distribute around 50 million doses of the vaccine, which requires ultra-low temperature storage, before the end of 2020, which would be split between the United States and the rest of the world.
Countries around Latin America also have deals in place for vaccine doses from British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc, China's Sinovac Biotech and Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.
Categories: Health & Science, Politics, International, Latin America, United States.
Tags: Alejandro Cané, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19, Pfizer.


Read an extract from the forth coming book, rubedo by Sheree Mack.
As soon as a certain poet pressed 'post' to release his evidence for his allegations of plagiarism against me onto Facebook, he sealed my fate. I'm not saying he ruined me, as I'm still here today, but he set out to ruin me, all for the greater good. It might have started out as an investigation into my writing but it didn't remain that way for long because of the nature of social media and of the society we live in today. I was soon on the receiving end of a constant onslaught from friends, family and strangers questioning my legitimacy as a human being never mind a writer. I'll call it a lynching, a witch hunt. Trial by Facebook. I was not innocent until proven guilty, I was guilty. I was a plagiarist.
Hold up. Let's get one thing straight from the beginning. I'm using this term 'plagiarist' here to illustrate the point that this is what they called me and probably still call me and will go on calling me. This does not mean I accept this term, or identify with it, or use it myself to define myself. I'll not be using it again from here on out. I'm using it here to set the scene.
In a blind panic, and under pressure to say something, I posted a blanket apology, as illustrated above. It was only later that advisers said I shouldn't have put out an apology. I should have remained silent. The apology was just used as a sign of my guilt. But honestly I was sorry.
Did I just see you judge me? No way. Did I just see a look cross your face? What you're thinking is, 'I'm 'sorry' for getting caught'? As Shonda Rhimes so incisively puts it, 'No way do you get the opportunity to do that. We're in this book together, and at no point do you have the chance to sit and judge me.'(1) Tell me that you haven't made a mistake and then maybe you might have the right to judge.
I was sorry. I was sorry if I deceived anyone. For I feel the first person I deceived was myself. I didn't realise I was doing anything wrong. I see that look again, I see that disbelief. How could an intelligent woman with a doctorate not know she was doing anything wrong?
I was a fool careless in my attempts to satisfy a longing to belong. I didn't know I was doing anything wrong when I sampled a word or phrase from this or that writing and used them to create a whole new piece of work, flowing from my own experiences. I didn't know I was doing anything wrong when I used examples of other people's poems as models to build my own poems from. I didn't know I was doing anything wrong when I practiced intertextuality, giving recognition to the great writers I admired and wished to emulate. I didn't know I was doing anything wrong when I fell in love with creating, creating so well, creating so easily, so effortlessly. I thought this was the way everyone created.
Shonda Rhimes, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person, ( Simon & Schuster London, 2015).


Books by Mark L Lockwood are sent straight to your inbox in whatever version you prefer. All books are a wonderful addition to The Course and all the knowledge, information and inspiration you need to transform your life.
WANT TO START YOUR ONLINE COURSE IN RECOVERY?
Book your complete 12 week course in recovery. You can choose any area of specialization you wish. Start your Course today with a completely secure online payment and receive your full color wall poster, delivered to your door, or your inbox free. Please gift a friend The Course as well and pay it forward.


text:
Designed Intelligence: Achieving the full potential of human and artificial intelligence
This article was originally published on Design Voices, our design blog. Find it here. By Connor Upton
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already firmly enmeshed in our lives and businesses the world over. It sits behind many of our apps and services, making our busy lives manageable through prediction, personalisation, and automation. We once asked how can we apply artificial intelligence, but the question now is how do we use AI to its full potential? It's a big question — not just for businesses aiming to improve services but for each of us as individuals.
As we grow ever more reliant upon it, there is a growing critique of its pervasiveness in our lives and its unintended consequences. At times, AI systems have failed to make good decisions because they can't quite fathom the complexity and context of the real-world.
We've seen evidence of algorithmic discrimination with gender bias in recruitment recommendations and credit scoring, and racial bias in healthcare and judicial sentencing decision support systems.
There are also issues around AI dependency when people become over-reliant on technology. The most dramatic examples of this are autonomous vehicle accidents, where drivers don't have full awareness when the system needs them to step in.
Failures like these deeply affect the lives of individuals, they can result in reputational damage for businesses, and at a societal level they reduce trust in technology and data. They stem from a mindset that perceives AI as automation technology and a business case that seeks to replace human activity to improve efficiency. In reality, most things that can be automated will be automated. After all, we don't want to be hand weaving our clothes or managing the spam in our inboxes. But as AI becomes broadly adopted and is applied to more complex problems we must be careful to understand the unique value that people bring. People tend to not just define useful processes but are also remarkably flexible, for example developing communications and hacks that keep organisations running. If we don't learn from these, we run the risk of making systems less resilient and increasingly risky. By the same token, paying close attention to the contribution of the human in AI systems allows us to better confront and account for our own harmful biases.
"When designing artificial intelligence it's critical that we also design for human intelligence and the interactions between these agents."
Beyond the risks, taking a more human- and systems-oriented approach to AI brings huge opportunities. What if we looked beyond cost reduction and adopted a growth mindset? Organisations are driven by people and their ingenuity. So, the fundamental question should be: how might we use AI to amplify people's abilities to create net new value? Achieving this requires a new systematic approach.
We call this approach Designed Intelligence. It encapsulates three aspects of how businesses can harness AI to generate value responsibly. First is the application of AI to envision new strategies, second is harnessing it to empower people in increasingly complex and dynamic systems, and third is using it to enhance the human experience.
The three E's of Designed Intelligence.
Envisioning new strategies
AI-inspired Tapas from the Dock.
Artificial Intelligence is not like human intelligence. It sees the world in a very different, data-oriented way. This alternative perspective can help people break out of their orthodoxies and envision new strategies, services, and products that they would never be able to imagine on their own. We use this approach in projects and design thinking sessions to help businesses blend human expertise with analytical insight, giving them what we call "informed intuition". We've applied this to help food manufacturers develop new flavour combinations, to help banks imagine new personal services for financial wellness, and to help hotels redesign how they measure quality.
Empowering people within systems
While digital services have made our lives more convenient, they can also make systems difficult to understand and less transparent. For customers, this includes understanding why you're getting that product recommendation, or not getting that loan approval. For workers, it might be figuring out why your caseload is changing or deciphering your performance report. As AI becomes more prevalent in digital services, their logic could become even less clear as algorithms are typically designed for outcomes, not explanations.
This poses a challenge for businesses that want to apply AI. While AI has the potential to bring great benefits, it will only succeed if people are willing to adopt it. In our research, we find that trust between people and AI tools requires transparency, control, and relevant interactions. To get the best out of an AI investment, we help businesses understand how their people are currently working, what pain points they encounter and how AI will change their practices.
For example, in our work on the Accenture Logistics Platform, we helped postal dispatchers harness AI to predict service demand and optimise delivery routes. We also designed a mobile app to guide delivery workers in the field. Workers can make adjustments to the AI's suggested routes directly in the application and even override them if needed. This means workers can build up trust in the service over time while remaining empowered. Crucially this ability to act independently is also a source of new training data that allows the AI models to get feedback, adapt to changes and improve.
Interface from the Accenture Logistics Platform. Click to watch video.
As the world evolves, businesses will continue to need people long into the future. People can deal with ill-defined problems, interpret the real world with all its messiness and bring context to complex issues like social biases and discrimination. At the same time, AI can radically scale our human expertise by speeding up mundane tasks, monitoring dynamic systems and discovering relationships in large complex data sets.
Enhancing the human experience
At the experience level, we're applying AI to extend human capabilities. Computer vision and voice technologies are forms of AI that provide more natural ways to interact with information. Applied correctly they can create automagical experiences that truly engage customers. Working with VELUX, for example, we built a mobile app that lets people visualise what new roof windows would look like in their home. This intuitive service gives homeowners the ability to envisage 3D space like an architect and provides them with the confidence to make dramatic changes to their homes.
The VELUX MyDaylight App.
Designed Intelligence is about helping businesses embrace the next stage of AI innovation where people and machines generate value together. This approach makes the invisible visible and enables people to experience what AI can do for them and with them. As Kevin Kelly say in his book, The Inevitable, "this is not a race against the machines, this is a race with the machines".
Designing for both human and artificial intelligence together will build trust, increase adoption and open up a myriad of ways to solve challenges on a scale and complexity like never before.
"It's not a race against the machines, this is a race with the machines." — Kevin Kelly, The Inevitable


text:
1Q84 : Books 1 and 2
4.09 (18,883 ratings by Goodreads)
By (author) Haruki Murakami
Paperback US$16.74
Haruki Murakami is an international phenomenon. When Books One and Two of his latest masterpiece, "1Q84", were published in Japan, a million copies were sold in one month, and the critical acclaim that ensued was reported all over the globe. Readers were transfixed by the mesmerising story of Aomame and Tengo and the strange parallel universe they inhabit. Then, one year later, to the surprise and delight of his readers, Murakami published an unexpected Book Three, bringing the story to a close. In order to reflect the experience of "1Q84's" first readers, Harvill Secker is publishing Books One and Two in one beautifully designed volume and Book Three in a separate edition. A long-awaited treat for his fans, "1Q84" is also a thrilling introduction to the unique world of Murakami's imagination. This hypnotically addictive novel is a work of startling originality and, as the title suggests, a mind-bending ode to George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four". (The number 9 in Japanese is pronounced like the letter 'Q'). The year is 1984. Aomame sits in a taxi on the expressway in Tokyo.
Her work is not the kind which can be discussed in public but she is in a hurry to carry out an assignment and, with the traffic at a stand-still, the driver proposes a solution. She agrees, but as a result of her actions starts to feel increasingly detached from the real world. She has been on a top-secret mission, and her next job will lead her to encounter the apparently superhuman founder of a religious cult. Meanwhile, Tengo is leading a nondescript life but wishes to become a writer. He inadvertently becomes involved in a strange affair surrounding a literary prize to which a mysterious seventeen-year-old girl has submitted her remarkable first novel. It seems to be based on her own experiences and moves readers in unusual ways. Can her story really be true? Both Aomame and Tengo notice that the world has grown strange; both realise that they are indispensable to each other. While their stories influence one another, at times by accident and at times intentionally, the two come closer and closer to intertwining.
Publication date 25 Oct 2011
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Imprint HARVILL SECKER
Publication City/Country London, United Kingdom
Bestsellers rank 13,133
Review quote
"His towering new novel, his magnum opus, a work on a par with Don DeLillo's Underworld or Roberto Bolano's 2666. " -- Stephen Amidon Sunday Times "It is a work of maddening brilliance and gripping originality, deceptively casual in style, but vibrating with wit, intellect and ambition." -- Richard Lloyd Parry The Times "Critics have variously likened him to Raymond Carver, Raymond Chandler, Arthur C. Clarke, Don DeLillo, Philip K. Dick, Bret Easton Ellis and Thomas Pynchon - a roster so ill assorted as to suggest Murakami is in fact an original" New York Times "[1Q84] may become a mandatory read for anyone trying to get to grips with contemporary Japanese culture... [It is Murakami's] magnum opus." Japan Times "Murakami has likened novel-writing to a waking dream and, in a sense, what his stories resemble is a man...trying to report his dark dreams back as unpretentiously as he can. The novels' most arresting quality is that combination of intelligent earnestness with a sensibility that touches on genuine unnerving subject matter... 1Q84 involves doppelgangers, parallel worlds, alluringly enigmatic women, the occasional graphic sex scene and a distinctive blend of noir atmospherics, occult imagery and whimsical humour. The analogy of literature with dreams and alternative worlds is also brought to the fore. What 1Q84 seems to share with Orwell's dystopia is a concern with how fiction can come to dominate realist and take its place" -- Ben Jeffery Times Literary Supplement
About Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto in 1949 and now lives near Tokyo. He is the author of many novels as well as short stories and non-fiction. His works include Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, After Dark and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. His work has been translated into more than forty languages, and the most recent of his many international honours is the Jerusalem Prize, whose previous recipients include J.M. Coetzee, Milan Kundera, and V.S. Naipaul.
5 39% (7,342)
2 5% (851)