text:
Notice: Undefined variable: postTeam in /mnt/www/public-www/00-dev/devel.ergomania.eu/wp-content/themes/ergomania-template-v3/views/casestudy/single.php on line 24
Notice: Undefined variable: postServices in /mnt/www/public-www/00-dev/devel.ergomania.eu/wp-content/themes/ergomania-template-v3/views/casestudy/single.php on line 33
The TreasurUp by Rabobank Design System: A Dutch Fintech Case Study
To date TreasurUp have four multinational banks as clients, with the Scandinavian giant Nordea being the latest recruit, as of 2020.
But we had to get to the 'Single Source of Truth' which was missing - the design system. We needed to define a set of rules which could be applied and followed by everyone in the business – Designers, Developers, Engineers and Product Managers.
UX expert review
Maria Amidi Nouri – UX & Quality assurance
Kristóf Munkácsi – UX Designer
Dutch Fintech TreasurUp started life with a different name and a different mission, but is now firmly growing and consolidating its market. Eward Bartelma also began with a different career trajectory, having studied Political Science, but the UX head for TreasurUp is well-placed to tell the story, having been the first hire of the startup. "I began in an operations role, but it turned out that wasn't my cup of tea. However I had UX experience and expertise, so I filled in as a designer to create the first versions of the application," says Eward, speaking from his home office in Utrecht. Of late Eward has moved again, into Marketing and Data Analysis activities, but it's the crucial years of developing TreasurUp's UX that form the topic for today.
Eward Bartlema – Growth & UX
The company was started in 2016 as the winner of a global initiative from Rabobank's 'Moonshot' incubator program, by four internal bank employees who named their software platform 'Easytrade'. This was a hedging app which at the time was almost unique in a market still operating in traditional ways. Foreign currency deals were traditionally accomplished by telephoning a bank, with the process often being slow, and costly. Even with banks on the digitization pathway, the process often remained far from user friendly. Easytrade offered Corporates a much smoother method of dealing with foreign currency risk, and the platform gained rapid traction.
However around one and a half years ago, Easytrade morphed into TreasurUp, to offer not just Foreign Exchange Hedging, but wider Treasury solutions. "It wasn't just a change of name," Eward explains. "This was a whole change of business model. Instead of working with Corporates, we began to work directly with the banks, who use our 'White Label' solutions under license. They then deal directly with the Corporates instead." To date TreasurUp have four multinational banks as clients, with the Scandinavian giant Nordea being the latest recruit, as of 2020. Eward hints at big growth opportunities for 2021 and exciting times ahead, but we'll have to patiently wait and see what the next steps are for TreasurUp.
Misalignment and Mission Creep
So, fast growth and considerable success for Easytrade/TreasurUp, but in the process there was a lot of 'learning on the job', particularly in the area of UX design and implementation. And if you're creating something which has never existed before, there may be design compromises which sneak in along the way. The system works of course, but there are likely to be what Eward terms, 'Inconsistencies'. With the change of business model it became even more important that any such inconsistencies were ironed out. "We have some great Designers," Eward is keen to point out. "But UX Designers are creative people, and they're always thinking of new ways to do things, sometimes starting from scratch. It may make the design better and more contemporary, but there can be underlying problems."
Aware of these inconsistencies, TreasurUp CEO Niels van Daatselaar had his imagination caught by a June 2019 meetup presentation entitled 'The 7 Deadly Sins of Fintech', given by Ergomania founder Dr András Rung. Ergomania is a leading UX-UI agency, based in Budapest, but with a global client base. After the presentation the two CEOs got talking, with the result that Ergomania was invited to make an assessment of TreasurUp's UX. The review was, "Honest and straightforward" – qualities shared and appreciated by the TreasurUp team where, as Eward says, 'You don't hold a leaf in front of your mouth.' This delightful phrase might be rendered as 'Calling a spade a spade' or 'Not mincing words'. (Apparently the saying goes back to old theater traditions when actors were required to cover their mouth if they made fun of royalty. So now you know!)
Ergomania's review, starting July 2019, and minus leaves over the mouth, began by identifying a lot of truths which needed to be attended to, and which TreasurUp then recognized as being necessary. In fact, the '7 Deadly Sins of Fintechs' identified by András Rung seemed to have been exceeded, and there was clearly work to do. With the repositioning of the business model, it was time to step up to a new, more professional level for the company's whole UX approach.
Searching for the Single Source of Truth
Ergomania's UX Architect and Partner, Maria Amidi Nouri takes up the story, "We initially looked at one module of a current app, and TreasurUp appreciated our analysis. From there it became obvious that if we could identify problems, we would also have to come up with solutions." Maria points to the fact that all Developers have their favorite tools and methodologies, with experience of different libraries. The same processes are arrived at by different routes and so, as Eward identified, inconsistencies multiply. This leads to a more expensive product in terms of time, cost, and the energy devoted to keeping it running. Just as importantly, it can result in a diminished customer experience. Maria points to an analogy from the aviation industry, "If a part is missing from a plane, there's no option except to cancel the flight. Do that often enough and the company goes bankrupt." OK, but TreasurUp are in an expansive phase, and there's no danger of 'cancelling flights' is there? "No," says Maria, "But we had to get to the 'Single Source of Truth' which was missing. We needed to define a set of rules which could be applied and followed by everyone in the business – Designers, Developers, Engineers and Product Managers."
There already was a Style Guide in existence, established from day one to ensure that at least the 'look' of interfaces was consistent – for example in color use, font size and other surface criteria. However what Ergomania was now proposing was a root and branch overhaul of the way everyone in TreasurUp would use systems. Starting in August 2019, the agreement was made to address the inconsistencies which had accrued over time, such as scalability issues and usability problems. To achieve this, a Design System was required, and work on this began a month later.
From an aviation analogy to one from classical music. To play a Beethoven piece, an orchestra requires the correct sheet music. Give half the players the notation for Mozart, and the results may be rather avant-garde. Now imagine that the flutes get the double-bass parts, and the violins are given the percussion sheets. Even a very well-known symphony might not go exactly as envisaged by the composer! The idea of an overall Design System is to standardize all the parts, at the most granular detail, not to limit people's creativity, but to ensure that every key player gets what they need. A Business Analyst can track goals, and Product Managers, Designers and Engineers can all resort to the Design System as the Single Source of Truth. Achieve that and you gain consistency, reduce redundancy, and give everyone the power of knowing exactly what they have to do. That in turn eventually leads to higher quality in production, and potentially faster adoption of new technologies, in addition to greater prestige and marketing benefits for the company. In other words the flutes get the flute music, the violins get their parts to play. Result? Music, sweet music.
Understanding Hedging and Treasury services
From the initial analysis undertaken by Ergomania, many basic investigations began. There were daily standups between teams – almost always done remotely – and a steepish learning curve for the UX design agency. "We know the Fintech market very well," says Maria. "And we understand the basis of Hedging and Treasury services, but we also had to get up to speed with the business vocabulary used." In a highly regulated sector, product offerings must be precisely, legally defined, however this is not always the language of users, and sometimes business requirements and user needs can be at odds. As a result, the deeper Ergomania and TreasurUp dived, the more they had to check, adapt, and in some cases even start from scratch on modules. "We needed to touch the pain points," Maria recalls, "Including how customers of TreasurUp would perceive the offering. Not surprisingly, people are sensitive about financial apps."
In the first two months of the project, two areas impacted the most – information architecture, and layout, both part of the UX foundations. The approach utilized 'Atomic' design methodology composed of five distinct stages, working together to create interface design systems in a more deliberate and hierarchical manner. The five stages of atomic design are: Step 1: atoms; Step 2: molecules; Step 3: organisms; Step 4: templates; Step 5: pages. In the current iteration of the Design System there are now 120 pages, as well as visualizations for existing and new modules, templates and pages.
Getting the Design System for TreasurUp operational involved a great deal more than 'just' the atomic approach. Understanding user needs was of course vital, and Ergomania and TreasurUp worked closely together on this, constantly checking and testing. As the Design System started to take shape, training sessions were necessary, particularly for the Developers. The TreasurUp team is spread across the Netherlands, Eastern Europe and Asia, so there were cultural and language implications which also needed careful attention. "We did a lot of brainstorming," Maria says, but points out that this is a process which Ergomania are accomplished at leading, through a wide range of methodologies and tools. The result is that, "Now everyone knows exactly what they have to do." And if there is ever any doubt, the Design System is accessible to all as one Single Source of Truth. A project which started with a January 2020 analysis of a single app has resulted in a complete Design System, with follow ups and finalizations in March 2020 to ensure that final deliverables are in alignment. So mission accomplished? Eward Bartlema says the signoff on the Design System is done, but "Not finished." – Meaning that there is further work to extend the scope of the offerings, as well as turning attention to the development of a TreasurUp mobile app. New client banks for TreasurUp, including the OP Financial Group and KBC means that the scope of the company's offering is constantly being extended. "We are expecting more clients, and more partners," Eward says. "We're planning major new features, for example in the Treasury Management area, and that means new modules."
"The work we have done so far with TreasurUp has resulted in making existing modules more intuitive and user friendly," Maria summarizes. "But there's also a compelling case that a Design System actually saves money. We calculate that TreasurUp's ROI on the work came after two months." So smiles all round – and it seems that everyone in the orchestra is playing the same piece of music, with exactly the right parts. Next up, the Mobile App?
The lessons learned from the TreasurUp experience are not isolated to the Netherlands, or to Treasury applications. In fact any and every Fintech is most likely in a similar position, of having been a fast-moving startup, where getting an app up and running needed 'whatever it takes.' That's the way it is with new businesses. Only later do the inherent 'inconsistencies' noted by Eward Bartlema start coming to light. They can be ignored (not a great idea!), or patched up. But patching a problem often creates further problems downstream. The only real way to deal with such inconsistencies is the 'root and branch' in-depth analysis conducted by TreasurUp and Ergomania, providing a firm foundation for future growth, in the knowledge that everyone involved in the business can consult a Single Source of Truth. As such, the approach can benefit all Fintechs, and any company which currently does not have a Design System should be asking themselves, 'Why not?'
and banking
We have grown to become the most experienced UX team specialising in FinTech in Europe, with 30+ FinTech projects successfully completed. Our portfolio ranges from mobile and Internet banking to internal systems, from sales support to chatbot and voice interfaces.
SIMPLE BY OTP
Interviews, Process Design, Wireframes, Prototypes, Testing, UI design, Design system, Support for development
"Simple by OTP Bank" is Hungary's No.1 mobile payment app for cashless payments with 1M+ downloads and 1 million+ transactions. However, as a Fintech-focused product design agency, we are particularly proud of the user ratings: 4.8 (App Store) and 4.5 (Google Play). The app also won the Most User-Friendly Finance App award in 2017.
White Label Banking App
Best practice research, Persona creation, Wireframes, Prototypes, User testing, UI design
We provide full-blown next-generation mobile banking solutions for sales-oriented banks. We have created a seamless banking experience across dashboard overview, cross-sell-focused user-centric interfaces, banking services, and push notification services. The mobile banking app is adopted by several commercial banks.
Notice: Undefined variable: isVisitorInfo in /mnt/www/public-www/00-dev/devel.ergomania.eu/wp-content/themes/ergomania-template-v3/views/partials/_contact.php on line 108


Sometimes, it can be useful to execute an Application / Package in the SCCM Software Center using Powershell.
For example, if an application is only available, not required, in the deployment and you want to install several package without logging to the computer.
Unfortunately, there is no built-in powershell cmdlet to do this. We must call method with a specific dll.
Sometime, you need to deploy a KB using Application (.msu file) to your clients. Because it is not available in the Microsoft Update Catalog, you can not use Software Update to install it.
For example, to install App-V 5 on your clients, the Windows Management Framework 3.0 is a prerequisite for Windows 7. Windows 8 and 8.1 already include it.
This KB is not available in the catalog, we will use a Application to deploy it.


text:
Q: Terraform lists in version 0.12+ I am upgrading from terraform 0.11.4 to 0.12.2. I have straightened out most of the stuff by following this guide but I can't seem to find a solution for the following list expression.
variable "subnetIds" {
  type = "list"
}

resource "aws_lb" "main" {
  name            = "myload-balancer"
  subnets         = ["${var.subnetIds}"] # <-- problem row
  security_groups = ["${var.securityGroupIds}"]
}

The error message is:
  on main.tf line 10, in resource "aws_lb" "main":
  10:   subnets         = ["${var.subnetIds}"]

Inappropriate value for attribute "subnets": element 0: string required.

If I remove the brackets [] I get the following error:
  on main.tf line 10, in resource "aws_lb" "main":
  10:   subnets         = "${var.subnetIds}"

Inappropriate value for attribute "subnets": incorrect set element type:
string required.

What is the correct way to express subnets for resource aws_lb using terraform 0.12+?

A: Although you do not show a typical value for var.securityGroupIds and var.subnetIds, I will assume they are both lists. In Terraform < 0.12, you were required sometimes to put redundant array notation for parameter arguments and did not have first class support for variables. In Terraform >= 0.12, you should no longer put redundant array notation and you do have first class support for variables. You can update your code to handle both via:
resource "aws_lb" "main" {
  name            = "myload-balancer"
  subnets         = var.subnetIds
  security_groups = var.securityGroupIds
}

Thus the redundant [] are removed and the unnecessary string interpolation is also removed.

A: Found the problem. The subnetIds were passed from the output of a previous layer (remote state).
subnetIds = ["${data.terraform_remote_state.eventsource.outputs.subnetIds}"]

Basically this means that the subnetIds variable became a list of lists.
After changing to this it all works:
subnetIds = data.terraform_remote_state.eventsource.outputs.subnetIds

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home News & Events Harelick Dave
Dave Harelick, MBA '02
Symposium Roles
Tech Team Member 2020
David B. Harelick, CFA is a Corporate Vice President and Head of USA for Gulf Investment House managing it's US real estate portfolio via Innovest Capital, Inc. David was a Partner at Corporate Realty Investment, LLC and a Senior Vice President of its predecessor, CRIC Capital, LLC, a joint venture with Prudential Financial investing in single tenant, net lease real estate. Prior to CRIC, David was an Associate in the Real Estate Capital Markets Group of Lend Lease and a Financial Analyst at Wasserstein Perella & Co.
David founded or co-founded: Lion & Lion USA, a global digital marketing agency with a focus on measurable ROI-based online marketing campaigns; USA Cupom, a website designed to connect Brazilian tourists with American retailers; Free Travel Genius, a blog devoted to teaching people how to travel for free or cheap; and The Acqumen Group, LLC, a consulting firm aiding small or socially responsible businesses. David has also consulted for various technology and real estate firms including Clark Realty Capital, LLC, Boston Capital, Automatos, Inc., Technisys, S.A., College Coach, LLC and pi Technologies.
David is a licensed real estate broker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. David serves on the board of directors of the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association, Inc. as its President Emeritus and the Gateway at Riverwalk Condominium Association, Inc. (a 73-unit mixed-used condominium complex in central Florida). He formerly served as a Trustee of the Barnes Mansion Condominium Trust (a 24-unit residential condominium complex in Boston, MA). David received a B.S. from Cornell University and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and is a CFA charterholder. David lives in Brookline with his wife, daughter and son. As a hobby, he writes a Travel Blog and is an avid skier and hiker.
Speaker recommendations
Sponsorship information request
CIO Award inquiries
Volunteer for the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium
Website questions/comments
© 2003-2020 MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association. All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
HomePlayStationSony announces the PlayStation 4
Sony announces the PlayStation 4
DJRipster February 20, 2013
Sony unveiled their PlayStation 3 to the world seven years ago, and today they are ready to give the world the first glimpse at the Sony PlayStation 4 at a special PlayStation 2013 event. The new PlayStation alongside a newly design DualShock 4 controller is getting set to take on the next era of gaming.
Sony plans to achieve this by giving the PlayStation 4 an all-new Supercharged PC architecture, for a more immersive experience. For this the device will be powered by an enhanced PC GPU, 8GB of unified memory and an X86 CPU.
If you are following the live video stream, you would have been able to enjoy some of the game demos which are absolutely breathtaking. Keep in mind that the demos were projected onto a screen and doesn't translate to the real world experience of playing games on our TV sets at home, but still doesn't fail to impress.
The PS4 wont offer PS3 disc backward compatibility, however users can get access to old titles through a service called PlayStation Cloud. This service will allow you to stream you favorite old title games without the need for discs, but the company didn't disclose much information on how this service will work.
The PS4 will also feature a new DualShock 4 controller, which shares the general design of its predecessor but includes a few new features. The DualShock 4 controller additionally features a touchpad in the middle, a share button, a headphone jack, and a light bar that'll track movement with a PlayStation Move-style controller. This means that the movement gestures doesn't require a separate wand and can be recognized by your hand movements.
Some additional features include the ability to boot games up instantly from sleep, a secondary processor which handles downloading games in the background allowing you to play games while they're being transferred from Sony's servers to your PS4.
The PS4 has a dedicated video processing chip which will allow you to stream video of your gaming session without having to leave the session. These streams can be shared from a social button on your controller and you friends will be able to remotely watch your game-play and offer tips from their homes. You can even ask your friend to take over using their own controller and help you beat and unbeatable level.
Remote Play is one of the more interesting features of the PS4, and will let you continue playing where you left off on a different screen. For example you can even stream your PS4 titles to the 5 inch display of your PlayStation Vita and continue enjoying it. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll have to be wired, but Sony says the "goal" will be every single PS4 title playable on Vita.
The PS4 will also continue to offer streaming video apps like your PS3 and will include apps like Hulu, Netflix, Vudu etc.
Social gaming will also be a big part of the PS4 and will let you link your Facebook account with your PlayStation Network.
Are you excited about the PlayStation 4 or do you prefer waiting for the next gen Xbox? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
PlayStation PlayStation 4 Sony


text:
Shibboleth, Authorization and Shibboleth
For IT Pros: While Shibboleth handles authentication (proving the user is who the user claims), each Shibboleth-protected service will need to make its own decisions about authorization (whether that user is one who is permitted to access this service).
The Shibboleth service performs authentication: verifying the user's identity. In very few cases is this enough to determine whether or not the user should have access to a service – a step called authorization. Authorizing all users based solely on the fact that they successfully authenticated would mean opening up a service to everyone including guest users, arbitrary non-person accounts, and, in some cases, even users from other universities (including guest users and arbitrary non-person accounts from those other universities).
The authorization step is the responsibility of any Shibboleth-protected service. Users are usually authorized based on information, or attributes, returned to a service from Shibboleth after a successful authentication. There are as many ways to authorize a user as there are services using Shibboleth. Only you know what's best for your service. Consider who needs access to the service and how to best identify them.
Here are some of the more common authorization options.
Services opened to any user account (including guests and non-person accounts)
If all UOFI Active Directory user accounts (including guests and arbitrary non-person accounts) are authorized to use this service, then very little needs to be checked after a user logs in.
eduPersonPrincipalName (eppn) attribute: Check to make sure it ends in @illinois.edu.
You can further protect your setup by adding a whitelist metadata filter to your Shibboleth configuration. This is explained in the Urbana campus-specific configuration scenario.
Services opened to university people (excluding guests and non-person accounts)
If unaffiliated guests and non-person accounts are not authorized to use the service, you'll want to use both of the following two eduPerson attributes to control authentication based on people's University affiliation.
eduPersonPrincipalName (eppn) attribute: To restrict access specifically to members of the University of Illinois, check that this value is present and ends in @illinois.edu. (If other universities' members should also be permitted, don't limit the results to @illinois.edu.)
In addition, you should also check:
eduPersonAffiliation attribute: If this attribute is present, the user is a member of a university and not a guest account holder of certain affiliated institutions.
You can check for specific eduPersonAffiliation values for more granularity:
Students, not including Uni High students: Values student, member.
Faculty and staff: Values staff, employee, member.
Retirees, Uni High students, and other special types: Value member.
IEI and affiliated agencies: Value affiliate.
Extra Help employees: Value extrahelp.
eduPersonPrincipalName preferred to uid: It's very important in this case to use eppn, not uid, to get the user's identity. Two users from different universities might have the same NetID. The uid attribute is unscoped: it doesn't end in @illinois.edu. So, two users from different campuses with the same NetID would be seen as the same user. This is a consideration even if you're using a whitelist metadata filter if there's a chance your service might be opened up to other universities in the future.
Alternatively, you may wish to use iTrustAffiliation instead of eduPersonAffiliation. This attribute has a more fine-grained list of affiliations that, for the Urbana campus, matches values seen in the Active Directory uiucEduType attribute. The downside is that only the three University of Illinois campuses are members of the I-Trust federation at this time, and so only the three Illinois campuses offer the iTrust* attributes. If you're federating with other universities, they won't have iTrustAffiliation.
Check attributes with the other university whose members you're authorizing: Other universities may choose to use the values of eduPersonAffiliation differently than the University of Illinois does. The values are a standard set, but each university may have a different way of defining the distinctions between, for example, "staff" and "employee" or "member" and "affiliate". To be certain, it's advisable to check with the other university's Shibboleth Identity Provider service management. Support contacts for InCommon Identity Providers can be found at https://www.incommon.org/community-organizations/.
Services available to members of an Active Directory group
If the users accessing your service are already defined in a group in Active Directory, that's a great way to handle authorization. Group memberships for an authenticated user are available from the isMemberOf attribute. You'll notice that the format of the values of this attribute don't look identical to what you'd see in Active Directory, but the same data is all there. You may also choose to query Active Directory directly from your application to check for group memberships. This is an extra step, but if your application is already doing it, it has the same end result.
isMemberOf attribute: Provides access to the group membership information in Active Directory. The values are not identically formatted, but the same data is provided.
Specifically, if a user is a member of:
CN=My Application,OU=My Department,OU=Urbana, DC=ad, DC=uillinois,DC=edu
The value corresponding to that membership returned for isMemberOf would be:
urn:mace:uiuc.edu:urbana:my department:my application
The DC= components are removed, and the remaining components are included, all in lower-case. Multiple values will be separated by a semicolon.
Only direct group memberships are returned: Nested group memberships are not returned as part of the attribute's values. So, if the example group, My Application, is in turn a member of a group called All Departmental Applications, Active Directory considers a user who's a member of My Application to be an indirect member of All Departmental Applications. Urbana's Shibboleth Identity Provider only returns direct group memberships.
Different universities use different values: Other universities may also provide an isMemberOf attribute for their users, but in that case the values will not begin with "urn:mace:uiuc.edu".
Check attributes with the other university whose members you're authorizing: Other universities may choose to use the values of isMemberOf differently than the University of Illinois does. The format and specific values returned are up to each university. It's advisable to check with the other university's Shibboleth Identity Provider service management. Support contacts for InCommon Identity Providers can be found at https://www.incommon.org/federation/info/all-entities.html#IdPs (external link)
Services that are manually provisioned
Some services are only opened to a small number of users that must be manually granted access by a service administrator. In this case, the local user store or database is your authorization check, and you can simply use eduPersonPrincipalName or uid as the attribute from Shibboleth. Be cautious, as mentioned above, when using uid, as two people from different universities may have the same uid.
Shibboleth, authentication, authorization, guests, non-person, accounts, UOFI, Active Directory, whitelist, metadata, iTrust, OU, attributes, administrator Suggest keywords
ID M.
12 1 Comment Suggest a new document Subscribe to changes


text:
Q: PyMongo MapReduce always using floats I'm trying to use mapreduce, but it converts integers into floats for some reason.
Map:
function() {
    emit(this._id.p, 1);
}

Reduce:
function(key, values) {
    var total = 0;
    for(var i = 0; i < values.length; i++) {
        total += values[i];
    }
    return total;
}

I get an output like this:
[
    {u'_id': 1.0, u'value': 6.0},
    {u'_id': 2.0, u'value': 6.0},
    {u'_id': 3.0, u'value': 5.0},
    {u'_id': 4.0, u'value': 6.0},
    {u'_id': 5.0, u'value': 3.0},
    {u'_id': 6.0, u'value': 6.0},
    **snip**
]

A: Javascript doesn't have a notion of "integer," all numbers are floats. So your emit(this._id.p, 1) statement is emitting the float 1.0. MongoDB provides a NumberInt and NumberLong class to the Javascript interpreter to work around this.
Try emit(this._id.p, NumberInt(1)) instead.


WE DID IT - 7 MORE LIVES SAVED! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHILLY PEPPER!
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Chilly Pepper.
We did it, we saved the 7 (2 minis and 5 ponies) from slaughter. This took awhile, but all came home safely. Great news is that two of them have already been adopted.
This group was by far our most expensive, but we had to save them. THANK YOU EVERYONE who stepped up to make it happen. The "tiny's" would have been slaughtered for dog food or their hides. So they say THANK YOU!
At this point we have 23 horses on the property. Four of the older ones have special feed requirements . One of the 20 year olds need his teeth floated as he looks like he is starving :( But he will get those fixed soon and he is on special feed and doing well so far. We need to get a couple stallions gelded so they can be adopted. There are 9 total up for adoption. Most of our permanent residents have either health issues or are special needs for a variety of other reasons.
In the last month or so,10 of these amazing horses have found their loving, forever homes. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye, but is wonderful for the horses. We recently went and visited "Sky", one of our orphans. He came up for a kiss but took off with his two new friends. When he came running back up to say hi again he ignored me and ran straight to his new mom. Hmmmmmm I know that is how it should be but it did make me sad for about a second LOL. Because that is the perfect home, where he loves his new mom best. It's so heartwarming to see them thriving.
Our number of permanent residents has grown, so we will need to get the rest of the acreage fenced quickly and add a few more shelters. Everyone here has shelter, but we need to be ready for the coming year.
2017 has been crazy and together we have saved so many horses from slaughter. We cannot thank you enough and are so appreciative of your ongoing support. We could never have done this without you.
We are looking at quite the feed bill. We had a wonderful grant for hay, but we need lots of groceries for the special needs and the elderly to get them through the winter.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey with us and for making the Chilly Pepper family so amazing.
LOOKING FOR THAT GIFT FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOP FOR PERSON? Make a donation in their name. You get a tax donation, we can send them a photo of a horse they helped save. (Just let us know their information), and they can help save a life without any effort - for the gift that KEEPS ON LIVING!
Mini's and Christmas ponies - 6 needing homes - CAN WE SAVE THEM?
Well I have wonderful news, and another question for y'all.
The QUESTION IS THIS? Can we step up one more time this year and save the little man shown above, as well as 5 other miniatures/ponies? I have yet to see photos of all of them, but received an EMERGENCY call a few minutes ago. I do not know for sure if we have more than 48 hours?, but I know we have to "git 'er done" asap.
The bail on these guys is $275 each, although the shipper will give us a slight discount if we save them all. The pony mare has a higher bail. So we are working on a package deal. It is simply not fair for a mare to be used as a baby factory and then thrown in the trash.
Obviously these guys are too tiny to survive a long trailer ride, so if they are not saved they very likely will be shot in the head and used for dog food and for their hides. Again we will have expenses for the Coggins, Health Certs and transportation, etc. but I know WE CAN DO THIS.
I need to put down a deposit ASAP!
Although we were, "full up", we have two of the bigger babies leaving this weekend, and at least one or two of the mares heading out as soon as we get the blood work etc. This just happens to open up the perfect little pen for these precious little ones.
I really thought that breaking my leg would slow things down. However, God had a good giggle again, as life is going on as far as rescuing the needy. It has definitely interfered with training, but this too shall pass and luckily we are still able to "git 'er done", thanks to y'all!
Again, we need to get this done asap. Their bail is more than we usually spend per orphan, but they deserve a chance at life. There is a reason that God put them in front of us, and I'm hoping we can save them.
Let's be THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.
So I am hoping that if anyone has that "impossible to buy for person who already has everything and needs nothing", the one they have no idea what to get for Christmas; how aboutsaving a life in their name? We can send them a wonderful thank you and it is a meaningful gift without any strings attached.
We are bringing back our "SUNSHINE & SMILES" program, where we have horses we can share with the community. In CA we worked with the Battered Women and Children's shelter and you would not believe how awesome it was to see those kids' faces light up. The horses are so healing and we are looking forward to focusing more on this program in NV.
The awesome news is that y'all have saved 30 lives since that fateful day I broke my femur. 27 of them were orphans whose moms & families had already shipped, 2 were 20 year old geldings and 1 was a 17 year old mare. All three were ready to be loaded on the slaughter truck, so we picked them up.
We want to say thank you to all the folks that helped by taking on some of these orphans. We only have 6 at this time and we are working hard to place them in great homes.
So please, if you can find it in your heart for one more miracle this year, let's save these mini's and ponies. We can't do it without you.


text:
El río Madalena es un río del noroeste de la península ibérica, que discurre por la provincia de Lugo, Galicia, España. Recorre el noroeste de la Comarca de Tierra Llana y tiene su nacimiento en la sierra de Carba, en el municipio de Villalba.

Es afluente del río Ladra, con el que entronca al pasar a las orillas de Villalba.

Véase también
 Anexo:Ríos de la cuenca del Miño

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Afluentes del Miño de Galicia
Ríos de la provincia de Lugo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Hull v. Lewis
A-5403-07T3 (N.J. Super. App. Div. 2009) (Unpublished)
Opinion Date: June 11, 2009
LOANS; ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY — A borrower who relies on an environmental report that its lender obtains from the lender's environmental consulting firm may have no claim against the consulting firm or the lender if, in fact, the report is incorrect because, under most circumstances, a property owner's reliance on a report obtained from its lender would be unreasonable reliance.
An individual purchased property. He sought financing from a financial institution. One of the conditions of the loan commitment he received was that he obtain a satisfactory appraisal and Phase I environmental audit. The lender hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct the environmental assessment. Based on a "paper review," the consultant issued a report indicating no obvious areas of environmental concern that would call for a more detailed site investigation. Based in part on this report, the lender issued the loan and the buyer purchased the property. Thereafter, the buyer tried to sell the property. The new contract of sale permitted a Phase II site investigation. The results of this audit revealed that there was significant groundwater contamination. The then-current owner sued both his lender and his environmental consultant claiming that they had a duty to notify him of the results of the Phase I audit that was performed when he purchased the property.
The Chancery Division released the lender and environmental consultant on summary judgment. It noted that there was no evidence indicating that the buyer relied on the bank's satisfaction with the results of the audit to close the transaction, and even if he had, such reliance would have been unreasonable. The property owner appealed, claiming summary judgment should not have been granted because discovery had not been completed and genuine issues of fact existed.
The Appellate Division affirmed, holding that while summary judgment is generally inappropriate where discovery has not been completed, it was appropriate here because the property owner had not pointed to any discovery that might reveal an issue of material fact. It also ruled that the bank's intention in approving the loan was irrelevant to the instant dispute because it had no bearing on whether the property owner reasonably relied on the environmental report or the bank's approval of the mortgage as an assurance that the property was not environmentally contaminated. The Court agreed with the lower court that the property owner's reliance upon the bank's acceptance of the audit results was unreasonable.


During our 12 week prep course program, a qualified teacher prepares you to pass your DELF B2 test through a guaranteed and motivating method. Join us in one of the preparation programs that begin throughout the year.
Classes are given by a certified and specialized diploma teacher.
Learning material is entirely provided by the school.
Weekly 2 hour courses in a small classes (4 to 10 students).
Complete program with production and comprehension both written and oral.
For a limited amount of time, benefit from a 200 CHF discount voucher. You just have to print it and show it to one of our consultants the next time you visit one of our centers.
If you don't have the flexibility to attend the group courses or if you wish to personalize your learning program, our 1 to 1 classes offer the most efficient solution, at any moment of the year.
1 to 1 classes with a certified and specialized diploma teacher.
Free mock test to determine your strengths and weaknesses to fix how many hours of study would be needed.
Classes are made "à la carte" : no matter how close the exam date is, the proposed study program will have the right amount of classes to ensure your success.
60 min classes, scheduled according to your availability.
Immerse yourself in the French language by attending our Social activities and workshops with no additional cost!
Contact us for more information about the group prep courses.


We've all got our enemies; people who take pleasure in causing us pain and misery. Sometimes, the development of an enemy is due to certain differences in your characters and events have led to that. Other times, some people end up hating you for apparently no reason at all.
Regardless of how you got this enemy, as opposed to the paradigm of fighting fire with fire, consider the following reasons and see why you should actually appreciate your enemies. This article will show you not only how to not be bothered by your enemies, but how to actually foster love for them.
Read on to learn the secret.
To be honest, your enemies are the best people to help you understand your sense of anger management. When it might be true that your enemies have a way of bringing out the worst in you as regards anger, it is also true that they can help you in your quest to have that anger managed. You can't get truly angry at someone you love and it is only in that time when you get truly annoyed that you learn how to manage it.
Your enemies are like the therapists who you need, but actually don't want. Inasmuch as you might want to hate them, they provide you an opportunity to control the anger impulse that you have.
You might not know it, but your enemies make for great rivals as they help harness the competitor in you (sometimes, you might not even know or bee conversant with this competitive side until you come across an adversary). You get the right motivation to compete and this can go a long way to spur you to victory.
However, while doing so, it is also essential that you remember not to become a worse version of yourself while competing. Working against an adversary is tricky, and you need to ensure that you don't cause harm to yourself or your morals in the process. Healthy competition is all you need to get out of this.
It is true that your enemies never really have much good to say about you. However, in as much as they might be talking out of a place of hate, there might be some truth to what they're saying.
To wit, whenever you hear something mean or nasty from an enemy, you might want to take a step back and evaluate yourself. There is a chance that what this enemy is saying is true and coming to face that fact is a major step in helping you to become a better person overall. This is another testament to the fact that enemies can be therapists in their own way.
Loving your enemies can also mean making an effort to interact and make peace with them. In the end, if you are able to establish some common ground and patch things up, you'll have succeeded in making another friend. And who doesn't need friends?
This can also help you in working with people in the long run. You get to hone your inter-personal skills, and that can be a big plus to your ledger.
In a multitude of negativity, a speck of positivity always seems to find its way through.
Sometimes, a knowledge of the fact that you have enemies will also help you to focus on the many positives and good things that are in your life. A lot of times, we neglect what really matters in life. This can be due to being overly concerned with the enemies we have.
However, it is also possible for this acknowledgement to spur you to take a step back and appreciate the goo things (and people who surround you).
Sometimes, the reason why you have an enemy might be something very innocuous. You might not have known the cause of this fractured relationship and your enemy will help complete the picture.
Simply approaching them will help you to understand the reason for the fracture. This, in turn, can help you to work towards healing your relationship moving forward. Misunderstandings happen, and you need to be able to work around them.
A constant reminder of the fact that there are enemies will also help you not to take those who love you for granted. Love and hate are two opposing emotions and it is possible for one to momentarily overshadow the other.
However, while you'll always have enemies, there will also always be people who love you. These people need to be appreciated for what they do for you. Never let the hate projected to you from your enemies take the place of that.
8. Do you really need the hate?
The truth is that enemies bring only toxic emotions and generate bad reactions from you. If you're truly to live a prosperous life, you can't really be carrying all this baggage around.
Hate is bad and you should try all you can to get rid of it. It is a well-known fact that nobody can get really far in life while carrying a lot of emotional baggage. Well, hate is the biggest form of emotional baggage there is.


text:
OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 17 Oct 2017[PDF]
Department of Defense Press Briefing by Colonel Dillon via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq DoD 17 Oct 2017 -- Presenter: Colonel Ryan Dillon, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman; Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway, Pentagon Spokesman October 17, 2017
OIR Spokesman: ISIS Faces Devastating Defeat on 3rd Anniversary of Operations AFPS 17 Oct 2017 -- The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is now on the verge of a devastating defeat in Raqqa, Syria, the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said today.
Strikes Continue in Effort to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 17 Oct 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting three strikes consisting of three engagements in recent days, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Taliban attacks leave 70 dead, 170 injured in two Afghan provinces Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- The Taliban militants have launched coordinated attacks on police forces in two neighboring provinces in southern Afghanistan, leaving at least 70 people dead and nearly 170 others injured.
Four Nations Meet In Oman To Try To Restart Afghan Peace Talks RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Negotiators from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States met in Oman on October 16 to try to find ways of reviving peace talks with the Afghan Taliban.
HRW Gives Kabul, Donors Failing Grade On Afghan Girls' Education RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Efforts by Kabul and international donors to educate girls in Afghanistan have "significantly faltered in recent years," according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Dozens Killed In Afghan Suicide, Gun Attacks RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Afghan officials say two separate suicide and gun attacks on government forces have left at least 35 people dead.
Taliban Target Police in Southern Afghanistan VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- At least 52 people are dead and 200 more wounded in a terrorist attack on a police training center in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday.
Suspected U.S. Drone Strikes Kill 20 Militants Near Pakistani-Afghan Border RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Missile strikes by a suspected U.S. drone hit a militant compound in the Kurram tribal region close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late on October 16, killing 20 extremists, intelligence officials said.
Nordic Air Chiefs sign letter, develop Arctic Challenge AFNS 17 Oct 2017 -- Defense officials from four Nordic countries signed a letter of intent alongside Gen. Tod D. Wolters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa commander, Oct. 16, 2017, in a formal acknowledgment that opens doors to the development of a European flag-level exercise.
COMPACAF showcases alliance, advances in interoperability at Seoul ADEX AFNS 17 Oct 2017 -- Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander, spoke of the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance amid regional tensions at the 20th International Aerospace Symposium Oct. 16, 2017.
Operation Cold Steel: more vehicles, weapons, firepower Army News 17 Oct 2017 -- For the U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers participating in Operation Cold Steel II, which kicked off Oct. 12, 2017 at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, the exercise served as more than just a routine crew-served weapons qualification and validation exercise. For these troops, the exercise reaffirmed their ability to train and deploy on short notice and bring combat-ready and lethal firepower in support of the Army and its allies anywhere in the world.
Army aims to keep supply chain churning, says Gen. Perna Army News 17 Oct 2017 -- The Army relies on industry, as well as its own organic base, to repair and maintain weapons and equipment through the supply chain, said Gen. Gustave F. Perna.
Doubts Growing US Will Always Defend Asian Allies VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- In South Korea and Japan there is increasing support for the deployment of nuclear weapons to defend against the growing North Korean threat, and due to public concern that the U.S. may no longer be counted on to aid allies with extended nuclear deterrence.
Government of Greece - Upgrade of F-16 Aircraft to F-16 Block V Configuration DSCA 17 Oct 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece for an upgrade of F-16 aircraft to an F-16 Block V configuration. The estimated cost is $2.404 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 16, 2017.
Largest Ever Indian Army Contingent Reaches Russia for 1st Tri-Service Exercise Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- The exercise will be conducted at the 249th Combined Army Range, Sergeevisky and in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok from October 19-29, 2017.
Netanyahu at Talks With Shoigu: Israel Will Never Allow Iran's Bases in Syria Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- The Israeli Prime minister met with the Russian defense minister to discuss the situation in Syria, as well as the Iran nuclear deal in light of the US decision not to certify the agreement.
Taiwan resolved to build indigenous defense industry: official CNA 17 Oct 2017 -- Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Chang Guan-chung (張冠群) said Monday that Taiwan is still striving to develop its national defense industry even if doing so is like cracking a hard nut.
F-35 jet cleared for Carrier take-off, Defence Minister tells Select Committee UK MOD 17 Oct 2017 -- The UK's cutting-edge F-35 fighter jet is now cleared for take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth following successful trials using the ski-ramp design featured on the UK flagship.
Department Press Briefing - October 17, 2017 US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2017
17 October 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Oct 2017
Emirati Apache helicopter crashes in northern Yemen, two pilots killed Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- A Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) has crashed in Yemen's northern province of al-Jawf, killing the two pilots on board, as the Saudi-led coalition presses ahead with its atrocious aerial bombardment campaign against the impoverished Arab country.
3,250, including 1,130 civilians, killed in SDF offensive to seize Raqqah: SOHR Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- A so-called monitoring group says at least 3,250 people dead, more than a third of them civilians, have lost their lives ever since militants from US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched an operation to retake the northern Syrian city of Raqqah, which served as Daesh Takfiri terrorist group's de facto capital in the war-ravaged Arab country.
US-backed militants say have taken 'full control' of Raqqah Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a ragtag grouping of militants backed by the United States, says it has fully taken control of Syria's northern city of Raqqah from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
U.S.-Backed Forces Take 'Full Control' Of Raqqa From Islamic State RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- U.S.-backed forces say they took "full control" of the city of Raqqa, long the extremist group Islamic State's main stronghold in Syria, following heavy fighting against a few dozen militants remaining in the city.
Russian Military May Temporarily Stay in Syrian De-Escalation Zones - Lawmaker Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- As the Russian military operation in Syria is "about to conclude," a senior lawmaker has suggested Moscow's presence in the country after active hostilities end.
US-backed Forces Say IS Ousted From Syria's Raqqa VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Tuesday they seized the last remaining areas of Raqqa, Syria, from Islamic State militants and the American-led coalition fighting IS said the city was "on the verge of liberation."
Iraq Recaptures More Kirkuk Oil Fields VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- Iraqi forces advanced rapidly through the northern reaches of the country Tuesday, recapturing territory and the two largest oil fields from Kurds, virtually ending their hopes for an independent state.
Kurdish Officials Blame Iran as Disputed Territories Fall to Iraqi Forces VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government are accusing Iran of playing a key role in the fall of disputed territories in northern Iraq including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, a claim rejected by Iranian officials.
Iraqi Forces Seize Kirkuk Oil Fields, Recapture Kurdish Territory VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- Iraqi forces advanced rapidly through the northern reaches of the country Tuesday, recapturing territory and the two largest oil fields from Kurds, virtually ending their hopes for an independent state.
Iraqi army retakes control of Sinjar IRNA 17 Oct 2017 -- Iraqi army managed to take control of the town of Sinjar in eastern Mosul from the Kurdish forces of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party without any clash with the Kurdish forces early Tuesday.
IRGC has no role in operations in Kirkuk: Velayati ISNA 17 Oct 2017 -- Iranian Supreme Leader's top adviser emphasized that Iran has no role in the operations in Kirkuk and most of the Kurdish people of Iraq are against the ambitious attempt of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani.
US 'not taking sides' in Iraqi-Kurdish dispute: Trump Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- The United States is not taking sides in an Iraqi-Kurdish dispute, claims President Donald Trump, as Iraqi forces have taken control of the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk.
Iraqi forces reestablish security in Kirkuk after pushing out Kurds Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Thousands of civilians have returned to the Iraqi city of Kirkuk after fleeing as government forces pushed Kurdish militants out of the oil-rich city and established security.
U.S. 'Very Concerned' By Reported Violence Around Kirkuk RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi says the independence referendum held last month in Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region is "a thing of the past" after government forces seized territory from Kurds across the north of the country.
Iraqi Forces Take Over Town of Sinjar as Peshmerga Leaves Positions - Reports Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- The Iraqi army is still advancing forward in the Kurdish areas, striving for independence.
Myanmar: Plight of refugees focus of top UN political official's meetings UN News 17 Oct 2017 -- Concluding a visit to Myanmar, the top United Nations political official has underscored the importance of accountability and non-discriminatory rule of law and public safety as part of the comprehensive approach needed to address the fears and distrust among communities in Rakhine.
Nearly 300 Rohingya villages destroyed in Myanmar's Rakhine, says HRW Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says nearly 300 villages of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority have been burned in Myanmar since the outbreak of the latest military offensive in restive Rakhine state.
WFP shelved Rohingya report under Myanmar pressure: The Guardian Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- A report has revealed that the UN World Food Program (WFP) withdrew a critical report on spiraling food crisis in Myanmar's Muslim-populated areas under pressure from its government.
Thousands of Rohingya refugees stranded near Bangladesh-Myanmar border - UN UN News 17 Oct 2017 -- The United Nations refugee agency is concerned about the humanitarian condition of up to 15,000 Rohingya refugees who are stranded in paddy fields near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Saakashvili leads mass anti-government rally in Ukrainian capital Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Former Georgian president and Ukrainian governor Mikhail Saakashvili has led a mass anti-government rally in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
Minor Clashes Reported At Kyiv Anticorruption Demonstration RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Protesters calling for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to enact anticorruption reforms or step down scuffled with police in front of Ukraine's parliament at a rally organized by firebrand politician Mikheil Saakashvili and other opposition leaders.
Indian Gov't Ready to Engage in Conflict Resolution Dialogue With Leftist Rebels Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- India's Home Minister has said the Union Government is ready to stop the ongoing operation against leftist rebels and integrate them into the mainstream, provided they agree to shun violence.
Israel approves plans for nearly 1,292 settler units in WB Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Israeli authorities have approved plans for construction of 1,292 settler homes in the occupied West Bank, a settlement watchdog NGO reports.
Duterte declares Marawi free as sporadic clashes continue Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the southern city of Marawi liberated from Daesh-linked militants, while the military says it is still fighting a swindling band of militants there.
Philippine Marawi Liberated From Daesh-Linked Terrorists Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- The October 16 military operation in Marawi by government forces successfully terminates a five-month battle for control over the Islamist-held city.
Philippines' Duterte Declares Marawi Freed From 'Terrorist Influence' VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the southern city of Marawi "liberated from the terrorist influence" after a five-month battle to retake the southern city from Islamic militants.
South Sudan's leaders must pull country back from 'impending abyss,' UN peacekeeping chief UN News 17 Oct 2017 -- Amid worsening security and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in South Sudan, the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations on Tuesday called on the international community to demand that the country's leadership act in a manner that is expected of them.
Intel Official Says Turkish Military Base Was 'Target' of Somalia Truck Bomb VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- The newly Turkish-built military base in Mogadishu was the original target of Saturday's deadly truck bomb, a senior Somali intelligence official told VOA Somali.
Mogadishu Ends Search & Rescue, Boosts Relief Efforts VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- The Somali government said search and rescue operations have ended, three days after a massive explosion killed hundreds of people at a busy intersection in Mogadishu.
UN: Conditions in Central African Republic Continue to Deteriorate VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- The United Nations reports conditions in Central African Republic have continued to deteriorate since a serious outbreak of inter-communal violence in mid-May between the Muslim Seleka and largely Christian anti-Balaka armed groups.
Spain's Constitutional Court Rules Catalonia Independence Referendum Law Illegal Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- Madrid is waiting for Catalonia's official explanation of its status following the independence referendum, which the Spanish government considers "illegal," until October 19.
Madrid jails two Catalan leaders over charges of inciting sedition Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Two prominent Catalan independence leaders have been sent to jail by the order of Spain's National Court over suspicion of crimes of sedition.
Catalan leaders, thousands of people hold rally to protest detention of two leaders Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Catalan leaders and thousands of people have held protesting rallies across Catalonia to express their strong dissent against the arrest of two of the autonomous region's prominent leaders by security forces, more than two weeks after the rich region held a controversial referendum on independence in open defiance of the Spanish central government in Madrid.
Is the Dream Of Kurdish Independence Now Over? VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- The independence dream of Iraq's Kurds may be over. It was felled by a lightening advance by Iraqi counter-terror units, trained and equipped by the United States, and Shi'ite militias, trained and equipped by Iran, who seized the disputed city Kirkuk and its surrounding oilfields after isolated skirmishes and a withdrawal order by Peshmerga commanders.
Iran top nuclear official stresses 'faithful implementation' of JCPOA IRNA 17 Oct 2017 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) called here on Tuesday for 'faithful implementation' of the July 2015 deal.
Iran blasts US mindset on Iran Deal IRNA 17 Oct 2017 -- The spokesman of the Iranian government slammed on Tuesday Washington's mindset on Iran nuclear deal, describing it as going to nowhere.
Warmongers worried by Iran's abidance by JCPOA: Zarif Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says warmongering powers are concerned about the Islamic Republic's abidance by the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.
Renegotiating JCPOA impossible: Iran VP Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Iran's vice president for economic affairs has ruled out any possibility of reopening negotiations on a 2015 international nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and six other countries.
Russian, Iranian Diplomats To Discuss Iran Nuclear Deal This Week RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- A senior Russian diplomat says he expects to hold talks with an Iranian counterpart this week to discuss the situation surrounding the Iran nuclear deal following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to abandon the multinational accord if it is not amended.
Europe Mulls Policy Response as Trump Repeats Threat to End Iran Deal VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- The European Union's foreign policy chief describes U.S. President Donald Trump's decision not to re-certify Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal as an "internal U.S. process."
DPRK slams U.S. for sending warships, nuclear-capable bombers to Korean Peninsula People's Daily 17 Oct 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday slammed the United States for sending aircraft carriers and strategic bombers to the Korean Peninsula as the "last-ditch efforts of the U.S. driven to the tight corner" by Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.
US, Japan agree to pile toughest diplomatic pressure on North Korea Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- The United States and Japan have agreed to pile the toughest possible diplomatic pressure on North Korea amid tensions about Pyongyang's intensified nuclear and weapons program.
Russia, EU impose fresh sanctions on North Korea Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Russia and the European Union (EU) have slapped tougher restrictions on North Korea as part of the international efforts to stop Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
Joint Russia-N Korea Projects Won't Be Frozen, Yet No New Projects - Minister Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- A senior Russian official has commented on the prospects of cooperation between Russia and North Korea after sanctions being imposed on Pyongyang by Moscow.
North Korea Supports Ban on Nuclear Weapons, But to Abandon Them Only After US Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- North Korea's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Kim In Ryong says that Pyongyang supports the idea of a complete ban on nuclear weapons in the world, but intends to keep its nuclear arsenal while the United States is in possession of one.
First press conference of 19th CPC National Congress held in Beijing People's Daily 17 Oct 2017 -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will map out overall reform measures concerning the country's political system and other areas, Tuo Zhen, the spokesperson for the 19th CPC National Congress said Tuesday, while introducing the agenda of the upcoming Party Congress, as well as the preparatory work conducted beforehand.
China Tightens Control as Top Leader Consolidates Power at Party Congress VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- China's Communist Party is set to host a high-level meeting in Beijing that will usher in a much-anticipated reshuffle of the ruling party's top leadership.
Kaspersky CEO Calls Allegations of Spying on US Citizens 'Groundless Paranoia' Sputnik 17 Oct 2017 -- CEO Eugene Kaspersky dismissed accusations that his company spied on its US customers as lies, and challenged his accusers to reveal how his software was engaging in the alleged activity.
Russian Elections Chief Says Navalny Cannot Run Until 2028 RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Russia's top election official says that opposition politician Aleksei Navalny will not be eligible to run for office until about 2028.
U.S. urged not to sacrifice Taiwan to improve ties with China CNA 17 Oct 2017 -- A Taiwanese official expressed the hope on Tuesday that the United States will not use Taiwan as a bargaining chip or sacrifice ties with Taipei to strengthen relations with Beijing when U.S. President Donald Trump visits China in November.
EU must give clear answer to Turkey regarding accession bid: Turkish president Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the European Union (EU) must give a clear answer to Ankara regarding Turkey's bid to join the continental bloc, complaining that the EU has so far failed to fully fulfill its financial commitment to the Anatolian country according to the 2015 Turkey-EU refugee deal.
Nearly dozen rights activists to go on trial in Turkey next week Press TV 17 Oct 2017 -- Turkey will put eleven human rights activists, including two local heads of Amnesty International, on trial next week on charges of affiliation to a movement led by US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Ankara government accuses of having masterminded the failed July 2016 coup attempt, and aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants.
Kenyatta-Odinga Rivalry Spans Two Generations of Kenyan Politics VOA 17 Oct 2017 -- Kenya's opposition has suspended protests following deadly unrest Monday as the country struggles to finalize a seemingly never-ending presidential election. As tensions rise, some see traces of the decades-long rivalry between two of Kenya's top political families coming to the fore.
Macedonia's Social Democrats Look To Deliver On European Promise RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Macedonia's Social Democrats won an unexpectedly large share of the vote in municipal elections that essentially became a referendum on the country's future. That future, at least based on expectations recorded at the local level on October 15, is a European one.
Kazakh Inspections Take Toll On Both Sides Of Kyrgyz-Kazakh Border RFE/RL 17 Oct 2017 -- Kyyalbek Anarbaev sits in his truck here on the road between Bishkek and Almaty, as a heated political dispute plays out between senior officials in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.


text:
Explore with Sugaman Tours
From our Speedboat Tours from Split
People History and Culture of Dalmatia
Split Travel Insights
Travel and Inovation
Where to stay in Split
Top 20 Things To Do in Mostar
Preventing Motion Sickness to Enjoy Split Day Tours
Top 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Croatia
Top 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Split
Pakleni Islands – Inside the Archipelago
Speedboat tours
Custom Packages
Island Sightseeing
Your opinion metters!
Mostar is a mecca of culture in the Balkans, the hub of Herzegovina, where the east meets the west, and tradition meets tourism.
Mostar is a city of color; where different religions intersect to create an ethnically diverse and authentic experience for curious travelers. It oozes with charm, antiquity, and wears the scars of its conflict. It embodies reconciliation, international unity, and is the core of the coexistence of cultural, ethnic and religious communities. Mostar is a UNESCO gem and the soul of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Mostar, the hub of Herzegovina
Mostar is located in the valley of the Neretva River, between Hum Hill and the foot of the Velež Mountain. Located in the southeast of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mostar was historically situated on the trade route between the Adriatic Sea and central Bosnia, which abounds in minerals. Over time, the settlement advanced to the right bank of the Neretva River, and today, it is the cultural capital of the Herzegovina region.
Getting from Split to Mostar
Believe it or not, Mostar has an international airport with connections to Croatia and Italy, though you'll find it quite easy getting there by car or bus.
If you're already on holiday in Croatia, Mostar can be reached from Split in just two hours via the E65, while it takes just 20 minutes longer traveling from Dubrovnik via the M6.
There are two main bus stations in Mostar, too: one is located on the Croat side of town, while the other is next to the train station in the Muslim part of the city. Buses run daily to Mostar from Croatian cities like Zagreb, Split, Makarska, Ploče, and Dubrovnik in the summer months, and you'll find getting there in the offseason is not any more difficult.
If all else fails, booking a private transfer to Mostar has never been easier.
Day Tour to Mostar
You can get on a day trip from Split to Mostar each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday during period between 1st of April till 31st of October. On this guided tour you will experience historical and must see sights of Mostar before you continue to natural oasis, waterfalls Kravice.
Split to Mostar by Car
If you are looking to get from Split to Mostar by car you have couple of options to choose from. You can hire transportation service that will take you to Mostar and back to Split in a day, or you can choose to rent a car and go on adventure yourself.
Split to Mostar by Bus
There are public buses departing from Split to Mostar aproximately twice a day and you can reserve your spot at the main bus terminal in Split by the ferry port. If you are looking for a bus transportation for a large group, you can hire our professional transportation service.
Border crossing on route from Split to Mostar
Regardless if you are visiting Mostar from Split by car, bus or with an organized group tour you will have to cross Croatian and Bosnia & Herzegovina border at the …. crossing. It is very important that you bring the passport with you as it will be impossible to cross the border otherwise.
Once you're in Mostar, what should you do? Here's a look at 20 things you absolutely won't want to miss.
Old Bridge Museum
Jumping off the Old Bridge
Kriva Cuprija
Muslibegovic House
War Photo Exhibition
Mostar Peace Bell Tower
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Karagöz Bey Mosque
Partisan Memorial Cemetery
Biscevic House
Shopping at čaršija
"Millennium Cross" on Hum Hill
The Hamam Museum
Grafitti along the Former Front-line
Sniper Tower
Drink Bosnian coffee
Try Mostarski Kadaif
Čevapi
Sogan Dolma
This 16th-century Ottoman bridge connects the two parts of Mostar over the Neretva River. Now that we've told you all about the history above, there is absolutely no way you could pass on visiting it – plus, you won't be able to escape its sight walking around the historic Old Town center. And really, who wouldn't want to tour a monument that has stood for 427 years?
Located within the Tara Tower, the Old Bridge Museum opened in 2006 to celebrate the second anniversary of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge. The museum runs across five floors and contains archaeological remains discovered during the 2002 reconstruction, exhibits and displays on its construction accompanied by charts outlining its history, and the 'Labyrinth', or a photo gallery. At the top, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, while you can learn about the bridge's reconstruction through a video, however, in the Bosnian language.
No, no, we don't expect you to jump off the bridge yourself – but we do encourage you to watch bridge-jumping-professionals take on the challenge. Watching local, usually speedo-clad divers gracefully dive into the fast-flowing river 24 meters below is quite the thrill – and if you're feeling like an adrenaline rush, you can join the 1,000 other foreigners who have made the jump thanks to the guidance of a Mostari Diving club member.
Kriva Cuprija is the smallest and oldest single-arch stone bridge in Mostar, built in 1558 during the Ottoman rule by Ottoman architect Ceivan Ketode. Located about 30 meters west of the Old Bridge, it is a miniature version of it and connects the shores of Radobolje. The arch of the bridge is semicircular, 8.56 meters in diameter, while the bridge itself is 4.15 meters high and is reached by stone steps.
The Muslibegovic House is the residential complex of the Muslibegović family, dating back to the second half of the 18th century. Considered one of the best examples of Ottoman-era residential architecture in Herzegovina, this national monument also boasts valuable exhibits like the manuscript of the Qur'an made by Sami and a sabre from 1866. A hotel today as well, the Muslibegovic House was voted one of the best in the world in 2010!
Located at the beginning of the Old Bridge, this remarkable exhibition displays how Mostar locals lived their everyday lives through the conflict of the 1990s in the Bosnian War. Visitors can witness 50 heart-tugging photographs of life during war, captured by New Zealand photojournalist Wade Goddard.
Located in the Croatian part of Mostar, the Mostar Peace Bell Tower is located a short walk from the Old Bridge, and was built adjacent to the Franciscan monastery as a symbol of peace. Visitors can climb to the lookout point, which is 75 meters up, or around 150 steps. The bird eye's view from the top is unrivaled.
About 100 meters north of the Old Bridge, on the left bank of the Neretva River, you'll find the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, which is like an imperial place of worship. Built in 1617, it is the only mosque in Mostar where the original paint and decoration of the walls have been preserved. Visitors can climb the minaret for stunning panoramic views of the city.
Built it in 1557-1558 and designed by famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, the Karađoz Bey Mosque is a national monument and the largest mosque in Herzegovina. Known for its dome and high minaret, the mosque was nearly destroyed in the early 1990s, though it underwent extensive repairs between 2002 and 2004 and reopened to the public in July 2004.
Built in 1965 to honor the Yugoslav Partisans killed during World War II in Yugoslavia, the Partisan Memorial Cemetery was designed by architect Bogdan Bogdanović. Located in Bijeli Brijeg, the cemetery contains the remains of 560 members of Yugoslavia's National Liberation Army killed during World War II. The cemetery was damaged during conflict in the early 1990s, though repaired in 2005. Today, even covered in litter, it is one of Mostar's most famous landmarks.
One of the best-preserved houses of the Ottoman era, the Biscevic House holds mostly authentic objects and furniture from that time. Originally built in 1635, the current residence replicates the original, and is just a few minutes from the Old Bridge. It is a perfect peek into how people lived in Mostar hundreds of years ago.
A bustling market, or bazaar, you can find the čaršija on both sides of the river – one run by the Bosniaks, the other by Croat ethnic groups. This Ottoman-inspired market will make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. You'll be able to find both locals and tourists surveying the stalls, which boast everything from trinkets to colorful rugs and copper coffee sets.
While the Old Bridge is the Muslim symbol of city, the Millennium Cross is certainly the Christian symbol. The highest point of Hum Hill, with spectacular views onto Mostar, the Millenium Cross sits 33 meters high and symbolizes 2,000 years of Christianity. Shortly after UNESCO announced it would rebuild Mostar, the Millenium Cross was constructed in 2002 as a way for Croatians to leave their mark on the city.
The Hamam Museum is the only preserved hamam in Mostar today. Built in the late 16th and early 17th century in classical Ottoman style, the Museum is a demonstration of Turkish Hamam, exhibiting a variety of items used inside the public bath. Visitors can learn about the customs and rites related to the cleanliness, massage and relaxation of the body and the mind.
Once a brutal battlefield, the former front-line in Mostar wears colorful murals today. Lovers of graffiti art will find that this area of Mostar is less concentrated with tourists, though the bullet-holed buildings point to a much darker time when trenches and barricades occupied the area.
While entry is not encouraged by the city, the battered building of the Sniper Tower is yet another powerful reminder of the conflict during the Bosnian War. One of the tallest buildings in the area, which is now decorated in colorful graffiti, the Sniper Tower was especially crucial during the Seige of Mostar, fought first in 1992 and then again from 1993 to 1994.
While you're probably aware that Turkish coffee dominates the Balkan region, you might not have known that Bosnian coffee is a cut above the rest. Part of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian identity, Bosnian coffee differs from Turkish coffee by how you drink it, and you can find the warm treat at many cafes in the heart of town today.
Yet another influence of the Ottoman Empire, Mostarski Kadaif is a buttery pastry-like dessert filled with nuts, raisins, sugary syrup and citrus zest. If you know, then you know.
Cevapi
A Bosnian specialty, you'd be silly to miss a helping of the Balkan's favorite finger sausages. These mixed meat treats are best served in a flatbread with onions and 'kajmak' – like clotted cream, but better.
Sogan-dolma, meaning stuffed onions in Turkish, is a specialty of Mostar. Really just cooked onions stuffed with minced meat, and typically served with sour cream and potatoes, you can find Sogan Dolma served traditionally on copper plates at many of the locally-revered restaurants in town.
Mostar and a problematic past
With a vibrant history that dates back to the 1400s, Mostar received its name from the 'mostari', or bridge keepers, who guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge), which is the city's most famous and daunting landmark.
However, the city's history of bridges existed well before that. It all began with a Roman wooden bridge on the left bank of the Neretva river, which was used by traders, soldiers, and travelers. Once the region came under the Ottoman rule in 1468, this settlement developed and saw urbanization. In 1566, Suleiman the Magnificent replaced the wooden bridge with stone, which measured 28 meters long and 20 meters high, designed by Mimar Hayruddin. Known as Stari Most, or Old Bridge, this 16th-century Ottoman gem quickly became the centerpiece of the city.
When Mostar was included in the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs and then Yugoslavia, it was recognized as the unofficial capital of Herzegovina. After World War II, the city was a major industrial and tourist center and flourished economically.
However, conflicts in the 1990s following the breakup of Yugoslavia devastated Mostar, and the spiritual icon, along with many other buildings and structures in the city, was reduced to rubble.
Fortunately, the Old Bridge was rebuilt, along with much of the Old Town, thanks to an international scientific committee established by UNESCO. Over 15 million dollars has been spent on its restoration. The Old Bridge and Ottoman quarter was repaired from 1999 and nearly completed by the spring of 2004. The Old Bridge today is 22 meters high and is replicated as close to the original as possible by using the same materials and Ottoman construction techniques.
UNESCO writes that the Old Bridge area fuses pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European architectural features and today is an excellent example of a universal urban settlement.
Posted on September 23, 2020 by Sugaman Tours in Explore with Sugaman Tours


text:
Tag: private sales loophole
Semi-closing the private sale loophole in the Brady Law
Update I'll discuss this with John Hockenberry on The Takeaway (PRI/WNYC) Tuesday morning at 9:15 EST.
BBC5 called me today – instead of calling someone who really understands either law or gun issues – to comment on the President's about-to-be-issued proposal to make it harder to get a gun without going through a background check. (Clip here, starting about 1:18:30.) After I finished scrambling to figure things out, the story actually looked interesting, so here it is.
1. You can buy a gun in the U.S. unless you're disqualified: by age, by a felony conviction or a domestic violence restraining order, or by a court commitment for mental incapacity or mental illness.
2. If you're "engaged in the business" of selling firearms (that's the statutory language), you need a license fom the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (still referred to as "ATF." That makes you a "federal firearms licensee," or FFL.
3. If you're an FFL, anyone who wants to buy a gun from you must fill out a form and show identification, and you have to run that information through an FBI website called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. If the background check shows that the would-be purchaser is ineligible, you can't sell him a gun.
4. However, anyone is allowed to sell guns from his or her "private collection" without registering as an FFL. Such "private-party sales" do not require background checks. Many such transactions take place at gun shows; the exemption of private sales from background checks is often, though inaccurately, called the "gun show loophole."
5. As far as I can tell, there is no published estimate of what fraction of guns used to commit crimes were privately purchased by ineligible buyers (as opposed to being legally purchased, stolen, or bought by an eligible purchaser and then illegally resold to an ineligible one). Data from the crime-gun tracing system would support such an estimate, but Congress has forbidden the Centers for Disease Control from doing such studies. (Phil Cook and colleagues surveyed prisoners in the Cook County jail; gun shows didn't appear to be a significant source of guns for them.)
6. The statute doesn't further define what it means to be "engaged in the business." That definition exrists in ATF regulations, and is far from clear. If you have a storefront or buy at wholesale from manufacturers, you're clearly "engaged in the business." Otherwise, there's no limit on how many guns you can sell or how much money you can earn as an unlicensed private gun seller.
7. The President proposed some time ago to eliminate the private-sale exemption and require that all gun transfers go through background checks (which FFL's could provide on a fee-for-service basis). That policy, which used to be the official position of the NRA, has massive (approximately 90%) public support. But it now has the fervent opposition of the gun lobby, and is going nowhere in Congress.
8. Now the President plans (as Hillary Clinton had previously proposed) to tighten the definition of what it means to be "engaged in the business" of firearm sales, in order to require those who habitually buy and sell guns to get federal firearms licenses even if they don't have storefronts. As FFLs, they would have the same obligation to do background checks that gun store owners now have. It's not clear yet whether the new definition will be based on number of transaction, number of weapons, amount of revenue, duration in business, promotional activity (such as renting space at a gun show or swap meet or putting up an internet posting (e.g., eBay or Craigslist) or some formula involving several of those and perhaps other factors.
9. Since the current definition is a regulation, it can be changed without legislative action, but it still has to go through the process laid out in the Administrative Procedures Act: publication in the Federal Register of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a sixty-day period for public comment, review of those comments by ATF, publication of a Final Rule, and (inevitably) a series of court challenges.
10. The general rule (laid down in Chevron v. NRDC) is that the courts will defer to administrative discretion as long as the rule embodies "a permissible construction of the statute." That principle – plus the fact that the DC Circuit is no longer stacked with Republicans – ought to give the rule a good chance of being upheld. Whether the courts will put a hold on implementation of the new definition while the process drags on, or instead allow it to take effect at once, is harder to predict.
11. Congress can try to stymie the change in various ways, including putting a "no-funds" rider on an appropriations bill forbidding ATF to spend money on this specific rulemaking. So expect some political drama.
Substantively, making it a little bit harder for people with felony record to illegally arm themselves seems like a good idea, though it's impossible to say how many shootings it would prevent. It wouldn't do much about accidents, but you'd expect it to prevent some homicides and suicides. Politically, it seems extremely astute of the President to force the issue on the single gun-related question where the gun-control position enjoys the highest level of public support.
Update Garen Wintemute of UC Davis provides some data and analysis.
Author Mark KleimanPosted on January 2, 2016 January 4, 2016 Categories 2016, Crime & Incarceration, Domestic PoliticsTags background checks, Barack Obama, Brady Law, gun control, gun show loophole, guns, Hillary Clinton, homicide, NRA, private sales loophole3 Comments on Semi-closing the private sale loophole in the Brady Law


Every tour is personally led by one of our knowledgeable tour guides and includes a tour notebook, your own all-day Metro pass, and the first round of beer, wine, or spirits at each bar.
Every tour will run for approximately 4-5 hours. They will typically include an hour's stay at three to four locations, with an hour of total travel time by foot and train. Please note that every tour is unique and will include via public transportation though different parts of the city, therefore times are subject to change.
Can I walk on to a tour?
You can! But please note you will be subject to an additional charge of $5. We highly recommend reserving your spot on a tour at least 24 hours prior to the tour date in question so the appropriate arrangements and reservations can be made for each group.
What should I do to prepare for my upcoming tour?
The climate of Los Angeles consists typically consists of warm sunny days and cool evenings, so comfortable shoes, layered clothing, hats, and sunscreen are recommended. Water bottles are also highly recommended since there will be will be alcohol and a fair amount of walking on each tour.
Unfortunately, we do not serve or cater food on our tours. However, there is at least one restaurant or gastropub stop built in to every tour and very light snacks related to each lesson plan will be provided.
Do you hold private tours and events?
Yes! We can make arrangements for large parties on each of our tours. We also offer special rail tours to the Orange County, Ventura, and Santa Barbara areas, and we cater private tasting courses for beer, wine, and spirits. If you would like to inquire further, shoot us an email at info@barlinetours.