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NanoLock Launches Platform to Protect IoT Devices From Production Through End-of-Life
By Kevin Townsend on June 20, 2018
Cybersecurity start-up NanoLock Security today announced a new lightweight security platform designed to add security into the small connected devices better known as the internet of things, rather than to overlay security around those devices.
This is security designed to safeguard small devices from the production line through to the end of life and beyond; to allow secure updates but to prevent hacking and tampering; and to ensure the integrity of data from the device outwards.
"The challenge for connected devices," co-founder and CEO Eran Fine told SecurityWeek, "is that about 90% have very low computing power -- and they are becoming the most vulnerable part of the ecosystem. How do you protect those low power, and low compute power devices where an attacker may have network or physical access? The attacker may come from the device-side, or the cloud-side, on the production line, or even at the end of life of the device. How do you protect the very low computing power device within a cost and performance structure that satisfies the connected device marketplace?"
He needed a solution or architecture that is CPU agnostic. "CPUs are hackable -- as Intel, ARM and AMD have recently demonstrated," he continued. "So we work on the assumption that CPUs are untrustworthy. Instead of developing security that uses the device's own CPU, we've created something that sits between the bus of the device and the non-volatile memory. This acts as a governing entity, and very aggressively allows or disallows other entities to read from or write to the non-volatile memory that holds the firmware, the boot image, and the critical applications."
This approach works by preventing overwriting, modification, manipulation, erasure and ransomware attacks on firmware, boot images, system parameters and critical applications in connected and IoT devices. Without any possible access to the firmware, hackers cannot gain access to the firmware and cannot, for example, recruit the device into the next big Mirai-style IoT botnet.
Three technologies lie at the heart of the architecture. OREN device-side embedded protection safeguards against attacks from the network and cloud, and even an attacker that has physical access to the device. FOTALock technology ensures the safe and trusted delivery of firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates, applications and critical parameters. Management of Things (MoT) controls and manages devices and includes features for monitoring device security, version management, attacks and alerts. MoT is deployed as a stand-alone solution or integrated into a customer's own security management platform.
Since NanoLock sits on the only data route into the device, and is placed there during manufacture or assembly, connected devices cannot be hacked. "Even if you are the device owner, even if you have all the highest privileges, even if you are on the production line and have access to the device -- the security camera or the router, or the ECU in a car -- you cannot write any malicious code into the firmware, into the memory holding the firmware. The only entity that can do this is someone who has created a root of trust and a root of integrity between the protected memory and the entity," explains Fine.
"The protected memory will always continue to protect because it has autonomous decision-making power -- it has its own tiny CPU, its own non-volatile memory, its own cryptographic engine. Even if you are hacking the CPU or hacking the cloud, this device will continue to protect itself and the cloud-to-device integrity." Furthermore, he continued, "Every device, on inception, registers itself, provisions itself, and protects itself in front of the cloud -- and once it does this, it is unbreakable and unclonable."
The result is device security from the production line through distribution, installation and use, to beyond end of life. NanoLock provides physical protection from rogue or corrupt employees on the production line or in the business, and from hackers during use. "I like that NanoLock is combining a cyber and cyber-physical approach to protect and manage devices from the production line through end of life," comments Chris Wilder, senior analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.
Such an architecture cannot be sold to the end user for installation since it is an integral part of the connected device itself. "We don't sell to device users like Citibank or Bank of America," said Fine; "but we will sell to a car maker or a big manufacturer of security cameras, or very large cloud providers offering management of devices as a service. Our customers are the automotive OEMs, operators and device makers and to some extent the large systems integrators."
It's a top down, not a bottom up approach to distribution. "We have strategic relationships with the memory makers," he said. "We work with one in Taiwan, one in the US and one in Japan. This provides an early access to the device makers who spec us in to the manufacture."
"Connected cars, part of the IoT ecosystem, are an area where security vulnerabilities are life-critical," comments Takayuki Maruhashi, assistant director at Japan-based Techno Systems Research. "A solution like NanoLock's ensures the network of ECUs are fully protected and managed during operation and during the component update process. CPU protection is proven to be vulnerable and NanoLock's approach is the solution to this problem."
And it's not just business to business critical infrastructure scenarios, added Fine. "The unbreakable nature of the system also makes it attractive for military and intelligence purposes where the device needs to be protected even if it falls into the wrong hands."
Based in both Nitzanei Oz, Israel and New York, NanoLock Security was founded in 2016 by Eran Fine, Shlomo Oren and Erez Kreiner; and is another start-up ultimately born from the Israeli intelligence services conveyor belt. Kreiner was director of Israel's National Cyber Security Authority for more five years, and was responsible for preventing cyber-attacks on Israel's critical infrastructures and assets.
Related: From IDF to Inc: The Israeli Cybersecurity Startup Conveyor Belt
Related: ICS Vendors Assessing Impact of Meltdown, Spectre Flaws
Related: New Botnet Is Recruiting IoT Devices


A mother who was planning to send her 16-year-old twin sons to Syria to join a jihadist group has been sent to prison without bail, while the boys' father has walked free.
A judge at Spain's High Court, has sent the mother to prison without bail on charges of collaborating with a terrorist organization.
He believed it was she who was behind the plan to send her twin sons to Syria, having obtained the necessary paperwork for their journey.
The woman and her husband, both from Morocco, were arrested in Badalona on Tuesday March 31st along with their two sons, who, according to Spain's Interior Ministry, were just about to board a plane to Syria.
Their father, arrested on the same charges, has been released but must appear on a weekly basis before the judge. His passport has also been confiscated and he is not allowed to leave Spain.
The couple's twin sons will appear before a young offender's judge on Wednesday, who will decide whether to send them to a young offender's institution.


W Bali Seminyak Review- Why this W hotel stands out from the rest!
Hi, I'm Jo, a London native roaming South East Asia and beyond. I like the little things in life such as drinking Vietnamese iced coffee in Hanoi city and cycling along Taipei's riverside.
Sequins by day, not just for parties!
After a twenty-minute scooter ride, my tour guide Linh and I made it to Nhat Tan flower village, only 7km from Hanoi. I was looking forward to this, getting away from Capital's constant honking. It's a sweltering day in Hanoi, and I'm sitting under a bush of tall wispy plants hoping to relieve the sweating….


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Plan B Pill Restrictions Dangerous for Young Latinas
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
This week, politics interfered with healthcare when young women were again denied the ability to obtain over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) despite recommendations from the nation's leading health experts.
After extensive review of safety data, the FDA decided to lift restrictions on access to emergency contraception for teens. In a deeply disturbing political move, however, the nation's top health official, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, instructed the FDA not to follow their own recommendation and instead to continue requiring that young women obtain a prescription for emergency contraception.
As a result, Latina teens will still face insurmountable barriers to using this important birth control option. The Latino community has the highest uninsured rate of any group, and immigrant teens typically have very little access to traditional healthcare. Emergency contraception must be taken within five days, making obtaining and filling a prescription both costly and impractical for most Latina teens.
Young Latinas face the greatest obstacles to accessing birth control, and this political interference in healthcare has only reinforced a harmful climate that leaves Latina youth without options. Because of immigration status, lack of health insurance, residence in rural areas, and other structural barriers to accessing health care and services, young Latinas will be particularly affected by failures to increase access to EC, which represents only the latest instance of mixed messages sent to women about their rights and place in society.
Pregnancy rates among Latina teens is higher than other groups, and have fallen more slowly than in other teen subpopulations. Misconceptions about the underlying factors contributing to unintended pregnancy rates continue to perpetuate a stigma about Latinas rather than promote solutions. In fact, Latinas do not report having sex more than white women, but are at higher risk for pregnancy because they have significantly lower rates of contraceptive use. This disparity in contraceptive use is based not on simple preference, but is closely connected to social and economic inequity.
Barriers to accessing birth control should be torn down for young Latinas, not reinforced. Yet this year we've seen state after state slash access to the programs that help some Latinas overcome these barriers. Punitive immigration policies and cultural and linguistic differences often make Latinas the last to know what birth control options are available. The ability to directly access emergency contraception in a pharmacy could be a critical last-chance for Latina teens to control their fertility.
Lack of access to birth control in this country has always been the result of political agendas, not health concerns. In a legal case filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights (Tummino v. Hamburg), our organization urged the courts to intervene and grant young women access to over-the-counter emergency contraception. An earlier ruling from 2009, issued by federal Judge Edward Korman, found that with regard to older teens the FDA "acted in bad faith and in response to political pressure."
It is imperative that Secretary Sebelius recognize that failing to grant young women (ages 16 and younger) prescription-free access to EC is inconsistent with the view that preventing pregnancy is a healthcare issue and inconsistent with the goal that people of all ages, sexes and ethnicities be given the same opportunity to thrive.
It is imperative that Latinos/as speak out in support of FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg's decision to recommend over-the-counter access to emergency contraception for teens. Any political gains that have resulted from the denial of her recommendation are made most significantly on the backs of young Latinas.

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November 20, 2013 John Quiggin25 Comments
I just read Peter Hartcher's series on the meltdown arising from the rivalry between Rudd and Gillard. A pretty good summary, I thought, though of course Hartcher was, like me, more in sympathy with Rudd.
The account clarified one point for me. A crucial element of the anti-Rudd story was the supposedly critical impact of leaks before the 2010 election, for which Rudd was widely blamed. I couldn't remember thinking of these as a big deal at the time, and Hartcher explained why. The most damaging leak (Gillard making some dismissive remarks in Cabinetabout age pensioners) occurred on the same day as Gillard announced the Citizens Consultative Assembly. As this post shows, this appalling idea permanently changed my view of Gillard, which, even after the coup against Rudd had remained broadly positive. "Cash for clunkers", which came shortly afterwards, cemented my view. By contrast, the leaks were the kind of insider gossip which excites the Press Gallery, but had absolutely no impact on my thinking.
As Hartcher points out, while he was sensible for most of his brief second term, Rudd spent the first two weeks of the 2013 campaign pursuing ideas that were just as silly.
This will, I think be my last word on the Gillard-Rudd rivalry. Feel free to comment, but please avoid attacks on other commentators. Obviously, political figures are fair game, within the usual limits.
The Rudd-Gillard government: An appreciation
Konfrontasi
25 thoughts on "For the record"
alfred venison says:
thank you for the soap box. the removal of rudd has always struck me as a capitulation, after a prolonged showdown, to corporate mining interests, by means of engineered internal regime change. the corporate campaign against him was extreme as their intention to subvert democracy in their pursuit of unconstrained profits was odious. i despise the people who engineered it and i despise the people who allowed themselves to be used to do it. my last word on the subject. -alfred venison
I think the impact of the leaks against both Rudd and Gillard have been overstated. It's convenient to believe all the troubles were down to the respective Rudd/Gillard camp's treachery. The biggest most lasting damage has been the lack of a strong and comprehensive argument for what the government was doing. Lately only Roberto Unger seems to have a clue as to how the left can find a cohesive ideology for what it's doing. If managerialism was sufficient then Gillard would be PM and if popularism was enough then Rudd would be PM. Then there is the clearly corrupted press, but that is a constant.
Hermit says:
Who was it that convened this largely inconsequential gabfest?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_2020_Summit
Gillard's most heinous crime was to rate poorly in Newspoll. Speaking of which when is the next one?
I used to be not trampis says:
Just remember the first leak was against Rudd to make Gillard look good.
I am astonished the NSW ALP right didn't think the Rudd camp would attempt to hit back
Ikonoclast says:
Alfred Venison is right. J.G. conspired with the mining bosses to sink the mining super tax and stab her leader and the workers of Australia in their collective backs. J.G. deserves no respect as she became the willing tool of mining capital and betrayed the working class. She stood for nothing; no principles except self-advancement and self-aggrandisement. Hers was totally vacuous and even destructive contribution. She destroyed a possible extended cycle of Labor governance. Thanks for nothing, J.G.
may says:
Hermit :Who was it that convened this largely inconsequential gabfest?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_2020_Summit
@Hermit
i don't know.but i seem to be asked by pollsters a bit more that i would expect.
i always tell them to go away.
i wonder how many others do the same and given that,how many "polls" are nothing more than a persuaders ploy to affect public opinion.
I liked the Hartcher series, although it perhaps focused more on Rudd v Gillard and less on the old structures/new structures issues than it should. You had two radically different ideas of how the ALP works and what it is for.
I agree the leaks are overstated. I also don't think that it's by any means an open and shut case that Rudd or his backers did the initial leaks. There were a whole lot of bureaucrats, for example, who could have wished failure on the ALP campaign without wanting to boost Rudd by leaking.
There are also a couple of places in the McKew book where she argues persuasively that Gillard was leaking and backgrounding against Rudd long before she called a challenge. The leak of the proposal to abandon the ETS is noted as one example.
The narrative that Gillard made her decision on the day is just unsustainable, and you have to question while it's still being claimed to this day. Rudd certainly had problems with his governing style, but a greater problem was his deputy.
Jim Rose says:
I forgot about the citizens assembly. I thought that was the purpose of elections and parliament.
David S says:
I think JG and WS were outplayed by the mining companies rather than conspired with them. They had incentive to close the issue (after KR and WS butchered it initially) and negotiated from a weaker position. Good governmental process involves consultation, there has been a distinct lack of it for awhile now.
Citizens assemblies are good for certain restricted topics, like where the interests of electors and politicians diverge. Citizens assemblies tasked withe electoral reform were successful in the Netherlands, Ontario and British Columbia. The Gillard citizens assembly was an exercise in buck passing.
Ken_L says:
Back in 2007, a few right wing bloggers living in Melbourne stated confidently that Rudd was a temporary leader who would be replaced by Gillard before the next election. I laughed at their capacity to invent leftist conspiracies. But it turned out they were right.
Neil Hanrhahan says:
Interesting that you JQ were pro-Rudd (or was it only relative?). I know how one's prejudice in favour of brains seduces and can lead one into such follies. Phillip Adams too I remember. But surely, as an academic you have enough cases in mind of high IQ, even v. high IQ, being compatible with great foolishness, not to mention bastardry and lack of self knowledge, to afford you protection against being seduced easily. I recall long ago learning that Mark Latham was far from alone in loathing Rudd from personal knowledge. To quote one Queensland Labor MP to someone impressed by Rudd in the late 90s "when you know him as we do you'll hate him as we do" (read "like" for "as" probably…..).
Flann O'Brien says:
There's a bizarre part of the Hartcher series where Hartcher, presumably a leak recipient, speculates in reasonable detail about a matter to which he presumably knows the answer – who leaked. Talk about treating the readers as mug punters. The sanctity of protecting sources is a fine principle for investigative journalists and working with whistleblowers. Its routine deployment in relaying intra-party tittle tattle allows journalists to be manipulated by political players, often willingly. The poor punters end up getting mugged.
Megan says:
Apparently I've been blocked from posting comments if I use the hyperlink on my name. What's with that?
Anyway:
I despised both of them on policy grounds. Not least of which was refugees. Rudd's move on 9 April 2009 to halt all processing of claims from Sri Lankans and 18 April 2009 announcement of re-opening our worst gulag at Curtin for their indefinite detention coincided with the post war crimes/atrocities elections to legitimise the Sri Lankan government.
On his ABC blog Antony Green's last two posts are worth pondering (on how well the ALP geniuses' plan is working out):
"Record Vote for Minor Parties at 2013 Federal Election"
"Labor Hits New Low of Post-War Seats"
ZM says:
"The most damaging leak (Gillard making some dismissive remarks in Cabinetabout age pensioners) occurred on the same day as Gillard announced the Citizens Consultative Assembly. As this post shows, this appalling idea permanently changed my view of Gillard, which, even after the coup against Rudd had remained broadly positive."
I think I had the opposite reactions. The behind-the-scenes and not sufficiently explained nature of the change from The Prime Minister being Kevin Rudd to Julia Gillard made me take a very dim view of both Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten. I wrote in complaint, and this started my interest in constitutional law.
With regards to the Citizen's Assembly, this was one of the ideas I thought more highly of, and I thought it was not very smart to change from this position to a position of implementing the carbon tax/trading scheme thing.
I had already read information on how emissions trading does not work in Europe because increased imported emissions overshadow decreased locally produced emissions, and as the Opposition pointed out even the government's own modeller's forecast an increase in emissions. I think taking real action is better than either the trade or direct models – neither of which look like much chop to me.
As the next international climate change conference is in 2015, I think it would be good for people to do as many activities as they can think of which are peaceful to exert pressure for the government to be a better contributing force to the discussions.
paul walter says:
Whatever, its history now, but it has damaged Labor, likely permanently.
Abbott, now joyfully ensconced within his own devil's playground, has set off on a suggstively evidential, ridiculously out of touch response to Indonesia and the best the ghost of Labor could offer in parliament was Bill Shorten's cringeworthy effort, the worst example of ALP supinity before authority since Beazley ok'd Howard on Tampa
TerjeP says:
Getting rid of Rudd was one of the most decent things the ALP has done in a long time. That it caused them serious political harm and was hugely unpopular heightens the respect I have for this decision. That they brought him back has the opposite effect. I really didn't like Gillard but Rudd was a total maniac. Thank goodness we are governed by a cabinet not a President. Although under Rudd the ALP have even tried to corrupt that safe guard. Of course the ALP probably removed Rudd for reasons beyond national interest.
Donald Oats says:
Sometimes in politics you have to risk, and risk big. Taking the ETS as a major policy platform in a double dissolution election could have worked—even if Rudd was replaced by the ALP just before the lead-up to the election. Hawke knocked off Bill Hayden and then announced the election which he won, so it isn't like there was no precedent for it, and a successful precedent at that. Hayden was more popular internally than Rudd was, from the looks of it, and yet the party ditched him for Hawke. I don't think the ALP would have been punished as harshly for a turnover just prior to a double dissolution election over a major policy which was being blocked by a hostile senate. The public would have had to choose the policy over the leader, and I reckon the support was still there for the ETS (in the public, that is). But we'll never know now.
It could be another generation before we have a party with the guts and the numbers to do something effective about AGW that doesn't cost the Earth, so to speak. The direct action plan just doesn't stack up against the alternatives, and the expertise to manage those alternatives is being "let go" from the public service, from the sounds of it.
Tim Macknay says:
Hawke knocked off Bill Hayden and then announced the election which he won, so it isn't like there was no precedent for it, and a successful precedent at that.
Not really. Hawke knocked off Hayden as Leader of the Opposition, not PM, and was also much more popular than both Hayden and the PM (Fraser). The ALP ditched Hayden because they weren't confident he could win the election, not because they disliked his leadership style – essentially the opposite of the reason they nobbled Rudd.
The election was announced by Fraser (not Hawke – Opposition Leaders don't get to announce elections) coincidentally on the same day that Hawke took over from Hayden. There's really no comparison with a sitting government knocking off a relatively popular PM for internal reasons (however justifiable the internal reasons may be).
Disenfranchised says:
" A crucial element of the anti Rudd story was the supposedly critical leaks before the 2010 election for which Rudd was widely blamed." He was blamed with good reason. Rudd had the inside knowledge, the motivation, but more importantly the personality to carry out such an act of treachery, not only against Gillard, but his own party. Despite what J.Quiggin and Hartcher think, I have no doubt when it comes to voter opinion "dismissive remarks against pensioners" will trump a Citizens Consultative Assembly any day.
For another Canberra insider view of the 2010 election there is this from Barry Cassidy on The Drum 28/6/13 "For Julia Gillard , the temptation must be to ponder what if ? The day Laurie Oaks rose at the National Press Club and threw a hand grenade changed Julia Gillard's fortunes forever. And whoever leaked this material would have known that. She had gone into the campaign ahead in the polls 55 per cent to 45 per cent two party preferred. But that significant lead evaporated overnight when her own people leaked against her. It rattled Gillard and put the campaign into reverse. Rudd was again the issue and the electorate hated it. Had that not happened Gillard would have led a majority government "
Gillard has gone. She didn't stick around to wreck things for Rudd. With her went a lot of talent from Labor's front bench. Rudd has gone. In the end he got just over 33% of the primary vote for Labor. Gillard could have done as well or better if she were ever given a clear run. Rudd leaves behind a poisoned well in Labor politics. He leaves the people in his a electorate facing a by election early next year after promising to serve a full term. And very likely Labor with one less seat, when they lose Griffith in the by election.
Yeah just ignore the sexism guys, it meant nothing. Why should you care? As you obviously don't. I'm disgusted.
Rudd's downfall was that he failed to deliver on a promise
"Kevin prioritised politics over events. It meant we didn't get the ETS over the line."
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/the-meltdown-prime-ministerial-paralysis-20131115-2xmxk.html#ixzz2lJXQjzvN
kevin1 says:
@Val
When your only tool is a hammer, every problem is a nail.
yeah, just ignore that the alp effected a leadership change under threat of a prolonged intensive pressure campaign from corporate & media interests selfishly opposed to a policy decision of a sovereign state, Val, it meant nothing. why should you care? as you obviously don't. i'm disgusted. -a.v.


Clothing/Jewelry Description A black shirt, tan slacks with a black patch on the back, a Rite Aid apron, new pink and white size 8 sneakers, tan stockings, earrings, two necklaces with three diamonds on each, a watch with a black strap, and a wedding band on her left hand. Carrying a black purse.
Medical Conditions Ackernecht was prescribed medication for depression, but she stopped taking it before she disappeared.
Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Ackernecht may wear eyeglasses with tan frames. She has red highlights in her hair, pierced ears and a patch on her right cheek. Some accounts spell her name "Kellysue." Her maiden name is Kilcullen.
Ackernecht was last seen leaving her job at the Rite Aid pharmacy in Amsterdam, New York at 9:30 p.m. on September 30, 2008. She worked as a shift supervisor. At 1:53 a.m. the next day, her dark green 1998 Saturn Aura sedan with New York license plates was found in Frog Hollow, just off west Montgomery Street in Johnstown, New York. This was just three blocks from her home, but it wasn't on a route she normally traveled. The car had been set on fire and was still burning when it was found, and it was completely destroyed. Neighbors had called the police about shots fired in the area at midnight. There was no sign of Ackernecht at the scene and she has never been heard from again.
Ackernecht lived with her daughter, her husband and his parents when she disappeared. Her marriage was troubled when she disappeared, but her loved ones stated she would never have left without making arrangements for the care of her daughter. Her parents are dead, but she had a close relationship with her siblings. Ackernecht's husband isn't considered a suspect in her case. Her disappearance remains unsolved.
Johnstown police are investigating Ackernecht's disappearance.
Updated 5 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated March 28, 2016; picture added.


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Just In Stablecoins
Libra Association adds 3 new members, including Singapore investing giant Temasek and crypto VC Paradigm
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by Frank Chaparro
May 14, 2020, 7:00PM EDT · 2 min read
The Libra Association has added 3 new members to its ranks: the $300 billion Singapore investment giant Temasek along with VC firms Slow Ventures and Paradigm
The addition of the new members follows the release of Libra's updated white paper and the announcement of a new CEO
The Libra Association continues to add to its ranks.
The Switzerland-based consortium, which oversees the Libra stablecoin project's development, announced Thursday the addition of three new members from the venture capital and investing worlds: Temasek, Slow Ventures, and crypto industry investor Paradigm.
"The addition of three new members to the Libra Association, shows our commitment to building a diverse group of organizations that will contribute to the governance, technological roadmap, and launch readiness for the Libra payment system," said Dante Disparte, vice chairman and head of policy and communications for the Libra Association.
Specifically, Temasek – which some have described as a sovereign wealth fund and boasts a portfolio valued at more than $300 billion – will play a unique role in the Association, according to a press statement shared with The Block. Based in Singapore, the company "brings a differentiated position as an Asia-focused investor."
Temasek, along with JPMorgan and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, made headlines in November for a blockchain-based payments platform. Temasek has investments in financial services companies, including Virtu, Standard Chartered, and MasterCard, as per its corporate website.
The Libra project, which was bootstrapped by Facebook and its blockchain unit Calibra, has continued to evolve since it first gate-crashed the digital asset world last summer. At the end of April, the firm unveiled a renewed white paper, outlining its plan to roll-out a suite of fiat currency-backed stablecoins, rather than starting out with its own multi-asset backed cryptocurrency as it originally intended.
As previously reported by The Block, the move – along with other changes noted by Facebook's David Marcus – constituted a nod to the regulatory pressure the project has faced since its official inception last summer. As such, it's no surprise that Libra tapped the chief legal officer of banking giant HSBC to serve as its first chief executive officer. Stuart Levy, a former Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is set to join the Association this summer.
Indeed, 2019 was a rocky year for the project, at least by some measures. Libra drew the ire of global regulators and lawmakers, and the Association experienced an exodus of major players in financial services and financial technology.
Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal are among the members who have left Libra. Last year, Libra anticipated it would grow the Association to include 100 members.
Still, the organization has brought in some notable members since the beginning of the year, including Shopify, Heifer International, Checkout.com and crypto broker Tagomi.
Sources say that hiring is ramping up at both Calibra and Libra, which up until recently, was operating on what was described as a "skeleton crew."
Recently, Calibra has posted job openings for marketing associates and communications managers, product designers, and risk and compliance officers. Calibra is set to build infrastructure that will help spur the adoption of the Libra token. The Association is also looking to fill some spots and is currently seeking a marketing lead as well as developer talent.
StablecoinsTechnology


As much as we'd like to, qualitative factors such as special talents, special circumstances, the strength of personal statements and recommendations are not considered. We only focus on factors that can be measured such as standardized test scores, GPA and rank. These factors typically act as the first filter in the admissions process, and can be used effectively for directional guidance.


The docking latch is designed to interface to a female docking receptacle mounted on subsea structures or tooling packages.
The docking latch is designed to interface to a female docking receptacle mounted on subsea structures or tooling packages, the most common use for the docking latch is tool deployment units (TDU's ).
The latch is operated by a hydraulic cylinder which when extended pushes two latch finger out to latch into the docking receptacle. Fitted to the unit is an internal spring that will allow self-release of the unit in the event of hydraulic power loss.


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The International Council on Mining and Metals 1 was established in 2001 to address the core sustainable development challenges faced by the mining and metals industry. As of April 2021, it brings together over 35 national, regional and global mining associations and 28 mining and metal companies including: Anglo-American, AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick, BHPbilliton, Glencore Minerals Mitsubishi Materials, Newmont and Rio Tinto. 2
What rights are protected?
Membership of ICMM requires a commitment to implement the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, which was developed following a two-year consultation process with various stakeholders. 3 It is mandatory for ICMM corporate members to:
Implement the 10 ICMM's Mining Principles 4 throughout the business, one of which is to "Respect human rights and the interests, cultures, customs and values of employees and communities affected by our activities". They must also integrate eight supporting position statements into corporate policy. 5
Report annually in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards (minimum Core option). 6
Provide independent third-party assurance that ICMM commitments are met, in line with the ICMM Assurance Procedure, which was agreed upon in May 2008. 7
ICMM conducts an annual assessment of the progress that each member company is making against these performance commitments. The resulting annual member performance assessment is published in ICMM's Annual Review.
ICMM has also published different guides for its members, including on responsible sourcing, indigenous peoples and mining.
Who can file a complaint?
Any person who believes that a company is in breach of their ICMM membership commitments at the operational level and wishes to make a complaint may do so. 8
Under what conditions?
ICMM has developed a complaint hearing procedure to hear "complaints that a company member is in breach of a membership standard or requirement or any other allegation that a member company has engaged in inappropriate behaviour." The membership standards or requirements are "ICMM's public reporting and assurance requirements, plus formally adopted position statements that bind company members to specified procedures or actions" (see links below). "'Inappropriate behaviour' is any activity by a member company that could, in the Council's considered opinion, adversely affect ICMM's standing and credibility, taking into account ICMM's mandate as a leadership organisation committed to fostering good practices in sustainable development." 9
If a company consistently fails to meet the requirements of membership, the ICMM Council of CeOs would review the membership status of the company concerned. The Council has the power to suspend or expel a member company as appropriate with the support of a 75% majority of Council members.
Process and Outcome 10
All complaints must be in writing. Upon receiving a complaint, ICMM acknowledges the complaint and forwards it to the company concerned. The company is responsible for resolving the complaint, but ICMM is kept informed throughout the process by copies of relevant correspondence. If the case is resolved through interaction between the company and the complainant, the company notifies ICMM of the resolution, and ICMM writes to the complainant for confirmation. If the case cannot be resolved through interaction between the company and the complainant, ICMM is responsible for dealing with the complaint only if the "Council decides that an investigation of the complaint is appropriate and in ICMM's interests. There is no automatic obligation to investigate all complaints received." Upon receiving the complaint, the President contacts the complainant and the company concerned to request additional details. ICMM only considers complaints when there is sufficient information "to establish, prima facie, that a breach of an ICMM standard could have occurred."
At this stage, the President 11 prepares a report which is transmitted to the affected company member for comment.
The President considers any response from the member and prepares a report for the Council's Administration Committee. A copy of this report is provided to the affected member.
The Administration Committee considers the report and determines the appropriate response. Where the Committee believes that the issue should be resolved by a full explanation of the circumstances to the complainant, the President discusses the issue with the complainant and then provides a written response to the complainant and the affected member.
Where the Administration Committee considers that a serious breach of standard may have occurred, a report is prepared by the President for the Council.
The Council then considers the report and any representations by the affected member, determines the appropriate response, and the President informs the complainant and member of this in writing. If it is determined that a breach has occurred, "the Council will decide what sanction or condition (if any) would be appropriate in the circumstances." In doing so, the "Council will take into account Section 12.1.2 of ICMM's Bylaws which allow members to request a meeting of the Council to consider any proposed suspension or termination of a member." In all cases, the Council is informed of the complaints and how they have been resolved.
There is no information online as to whether complaints have been filed by ICMM and about their outcome.
↥ICMM, http://www.icmm.com/.
↥See the full list of member companies at ICMM, Member Companies, http://www.icmm.com/.
↥Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development project, http://www.iied.org/.
↥ICMM, Mining Principles, http://www.icmm.com/en-gb/members/member-requirements/mining-principles/.
↥ICMM, Position Statement http://www.icmm.com/position-statements/.
↥ICMM, Assurance and Validation Procedure, http://www.icmm.com/en-gb/members/member-requirements/assurance-and-validation/procedure/.
↥ICMM, Assurance Procedure
↥ICMM, Sustainable Development Framework, op. cited
↥ICMM, ICCM complaint(s) hearing procedure, International Council on Mining and Metals, http://www.icmm.com/our-work/sustainable-development-framework/.
↥ICMM, ICMM complaint(s) hearing procedure, http://www.icmm.com/document/199/.
↥The Council may appoint at its discretion an appropriately qualified independent person to act as an ombudsman to hear the complaint and report to Council.


text:
Chris Ann Ambery's "The Bluff" in "Solar Impressions."
Your guide to art and gallery happenings on the East End
November 12, 2019 By | Jessica Mackin-Cipro
The fall Eastern Campus Student Art Exhibit, a lively, salon-style show highlighting exceptional work created by students in the applied arts programs on Suffolk County Community College's Eastern Campus, will be on display at The Lyceum Gallery, located in the Montaukett Learning Resource Center, from November 13 to December 13.
The more than 70 works in a variety of media were created by photography, graphic design, digital media and animation, color theory, and interior design students. Prospective students are encouraged to attend the exhibit to see the high proficiency attained by students in the campus's art department.
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, November 20, from 4 to 6 PM.
Jamesport's William Ris Gallery's final show of the year opens on Saturday, November 16. "Angles," with works by photographers E. Cindy Stein and Mike McLaughlin, highlights NYC's architecture and interiors. Stein and McLaughlin's love for Manhattan stirs this collection as each put their own unique spin on interiors and exteriors of iconic landmarks. The exhibit opens with a reception on Saturday, November 16, from 4 to 7 PM and runs through December 29. An artists' talk is planned for Saturday, December 7, from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Solar Impressions
Southampton Arts Center will host the long-anticipated opening of two simultaneous exhibitions focusing on the world of printmaking: "Solar Impressions Juried Exhibition" and "International Masters/Collaborations in Printmaking." Presented by Southampton Arts Center and Inspiration Plus, the exhibitions will feature giants in modern and contemporary art, along with talented artists from all over the world showcasing printmaking methods that incorporate the Solarplate printing technique developed and practiced by Sag Harbor artist and master printmaker Dan Welden.
The two exhibitions, on view November 16 through December 29, bring the Solarplate printmaking technique, an eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable fine art making process, to the forefront of art.
The Amagansett Library presents "Under the Radar" with artist Sabina Streeter. The show is an exploration of wartime impact on the small fishing village of Montauk. "The sculptural bleakness of the Radar Tower intrigued me," said the artist. The exhibit also includes video installations by Jill Musnicki, photography by Stephanie Seidl, and paintings by Michael Holman. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, November 16, from 5 to 7 PM.
Sara Nightingale Gallery presents "As the Crow Flies," with Janet Goleas, Laurie Lambrecht, and Ross Watts, who have each selected one artist to join them in the exhibit: Priscilla Heine, Virva Hinnemo, and Jeremy Grosvenor, respectively. The exhibition will open on Thursday, November 14 from 5 to 7 PM and will run through December 16.
jessica@indyeastend.com
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Today's guest post is written by Samantha Allington.
On Thursday 8th September 2011 I was 19 weeks and 3 days pregnant when my waters broke at home. I knew in that instant that my baby wouldn't survive but I still wanted to hang on to the little bit of hope that some miracle would happen and my pregnancy would proceed safely against the odds.
I was rushed in to hospital by my birth Doula where I was checked over by the doctor who confirmed I had lost amniotic fluid. After a scan to measure the fluid levels I was told there was not enough water to support my baby's lung development and that due to diabetes I was at high risk of death too.
I had to face the hardest decision of my life and after spending from then till the Monday following refusing outright to terminate my pregnancy, I finally conceded to allow the medical team to induce labour at just 20 weeks gestation. There would be no intervention to save my baby as I was under 24 weeks pregnant and hospital policy didn't permit resuscitation at that age.
I was in an abusive relationship with a violent partner and I chose to go through labour and birth with only my Doula present. It was a harrowing experience to say the least but I was still determined to make my baby's birth as natural and beautiful as I could. I wanted it to be special and memorable, for my last moments with my baby to be precious.
We had a candle lit room (LED tea lights and colour changing lotus flowers), aromatherapy, crystals and the Obstetrician permitted me to have a natural birth without any electronic monitoring (no wires or drips) so that I could move around freely. The midwives allowed us the space we desired and only came in to check once in a while how contractions were developing.
Finally it was time to give birth and despite holding on for as long as I could refusing to push, my daughter finally entered the world at 5:28am on 14th September 2011 at just 20 weeks and 2 days gestation as the sun was rising.
She was about the size of a Barbie doll at just 20cm length and weighing a tiny 10.5 ounces. Despite her tiny size she was perfect in every way, with ten fingers, ten toes, perfectly formed ears and a little pink nose, I even noticed in the right light she had the fairest eyelashes I'd ever seen.
I spent 2 days alone with her in the hospital, holding her, kissing her and trying to take in every little feature so that it would be burnt to memory forever. I didn't want to let her go or say goodbye, I wanted those days to go on and never end, but of course they did end and I had to leave the hospital.
Arriving home it was time to start planning her funeral, she'd never get a birthday, Christmas, Easter or a wedding day, her funeral was the only special occasion she would ever have, and the only thing I could do for her to make it as important and special as I could. I contacted the charity Children Are Butterflies who work alongside B Hollowell and Sons funeral directors. They fund children's funerals and the lady that runs it was lovely.
Due to the abusive relationship I was in, I was again alone in planning my daughter's funeral but Ann made everything go easier and smoother. She was so kind and supportive towards me and I know I will be eternally grateful to her for all she did.
The funeral was beautiful. We had a Hearse that was made from an old London black cab to take Poppy-Rose to her last resting place and a beautiful white woollen coffin with an embroidered name plate. The funeral was white, pink and butterfly themed. Poppy's coffin looked so tiny at the front of the chapel resting on a Moses basket stand that was far too big. We read poems and I gave her Eulogy before moving to the graveside for her internment. Each guest was given an incense stick to light and place in the ground around her grave and a paper butterfly to write a message on for her. As we said goodbye a beautiful red butterfly flew across her grave, unusual for the time of year here in England.
I wanted to share my story because often talking about baby loss is considered taboo but especially in cases of termination for medical reasons. This leaves so many women (and families) feeling isolated and alone in their grief. I wanted a chance to give my side of the story, to show you how much we all need that little bit of help, compassion and love. We don't all have family to stand by us; some of us feel so alone in our grief. We go through all the usual feelings such as sadness, despair, anger but often we also feel guilt and self-blame and this can only be made worse when we are silenced by others negative judgements , we need to be allowed to speak out and to share our stories, our personal journeys with others.
Many of us have the gift of moving through the grief process as we find a way — often after years and years of remaking — to put grief to a restless slumber.
It only takes something small … maybe a smell, a scent that reminds us of our loved one; or a picture; an activity to cause an overflow of the deep well of tears to burst forth from the depths. Even after years, grief is always at the surface. Tears we had momentarily forgotten about, feelings we had buried with the everyday activities that we've used to help us move on, and then it happens. Our buried, bruised soul awakens.
Grief sleeps lightly; ready to be awoken by the slightest touch.
But there's a grief that doesn't sleep.
A grief that has no beginning and seemingly no end. A grief that may never heal.
She tells me to take a seat as she rummages through her files.
After a minute or so she arises from her paperwork, finds what she needs and makes eye contact with me, signaling me to come closer.
"Here's the release. I'll call the security guard", she says.
"Great!" I say cheerfully, thankful that process seems to be going more smoothly than expected.
"Here comes the obstacles" I think to myself.
Ten minutes later I was walking to the morgue carrying my little brown box by the handle, having resolved the situation.
As I entered the morgue, and gently placed the dead infant in my box, I couldn't help but think about how the mother of this child will process her grief. It will be an apparition. Here and there. Such a short beginning with no closure.
These thoughts have haunted me over the past couple weeks, so I want to do something right here and now, with you present. I want to remember this short life by offering the only act I know to do. I'd like to write an obituary.
Baby X, passed into and out of this world on Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at the Chester County Hospital. He is survived by his mother, who cared for him for nine months, had the chance to name him upon his birth and who has been thinking about him ever since.
Although your time was short on this earth, you have not gone unremembered. Today, I remember you. Today, we remember you. In our silence, we remember.
I originally wrote this post as a guest post for one of my favorite people, Joy Bennett. Joy's blog is "Joy in this Journey" and you can like her work on facebook.
When an individual dies, that death throws a web of relationships out of balance, causing the bereaved to *attempt* to find a new homeostasis. This disrupted "new normal" is best found together in community.
When grief isn't shared. When there is no community to share it. When it isn't recognized by society, then grief becomes complicated.
There is grief that is produced by "deaths" (both literal and real) in our society that aren't recognized. This kind of grief is a disenfranchised grief.
1. Grief from miscarriages. This is a silent grief. A grief that few people share; and when they do share, few people show compassion. And while the mother may have the greatest form of disenfranchised grief, the father can also be the silent sufferer as he is sometimes thrust in the supporting role, being unable to deal with his own emotions.
2. Death of a pet. Pets become part of the family; and when they die it's almost like losing a family member, except no one in the community recognizes your loss. "It's just a dog" is both true and false.
3. Grief from abortions. This topic has become so political that it has lost its human element. Abortions hurt. And the mothers who choose abortions will often grieve. Even if they don't grieve at the time of the abortion, they will often grieve later in life.
4. Grief of the supporter. When death occurs, roles quickly play out. There's the main mourner(s) and there's the supporting cast. That supporting cast — those who take care of the main mourner (the spouse of the deceased, the children of the deceased) — are often very close to the deceased themselves. But because they are the supporters, they simply aren't allowed the time to grieve. They are the strong ones.
5. Grief from suicide. Suicide is such a difficult, tragic and complicated death that those who are left behind are often not sure how to grieve … or if they should even grieve at all. To complicate the issue, outside society can often look at suicide as such a taboo that they don't recognize the grief of those surrounding the suicide.
6. Grief of the "Outsider". At funerals, we will sometimes have family members state, "So-and-so is not allowed at this funeral. If you see so-and-so trying to enter the funeral home, ask them to leave." We had a case not too long ago where two friends were out drinking. On their way home from the bar, the driver wrecked his car, killing the passenger while the driver walked away unharmed. The family of the passenger disallowed the driver from attending the funeral, even though the deceased was his best friend.
This outsider may be an ex-spouse, an unrecognized (often gay) love relationship, an "illegitimate" child or anyone that — for one reason or another — is not accepted or wanted by the insiders.
Have you ever experienced disenfranchised grief?
Have you even been the one who has disenfranchised someone else's grief?


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Cheyenne machinery appraisals are provided for the following purposes: asset based lending or refinance; allocation of purchase price (Fair Value); bankruptcy; condemnation or eminent domain; corporate conversions and dissolution; divorce; insurance loss settlement; lease end negotiations; management considerations; mergers, purchases, and sales; and taxation (ad valorem, estate and gift).
Cheyenne is noted for the production of, petroleum & petrochemicals, fertilizer, flight instruments, and electronic testing equipment.
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United Ships is a ship repairing and marine works service. We at Technowebsy have carried out the web development for a service that offers such a crucial and vital engineering service. Their website is mostly informative and introductory for their engineering and repair services. Our web development team built the website in a very short period of time and yet has managed to create a completely professional website, replete with all the resources and information expected from the service.
The business gets a chunk of its clients through their website, thanks to our highly experienced web development team who ensured that the website functions efficiently.


Canines really look forward to spending quality time with their family and few things can make them happier than loving attention from their parents. Engage your best friend in these fabulous playful activities and watch your relationship bloom.
Fun and games are as crucial to a pooch's well being as is nutritious and healthy food. Like us, our canine friends do not have any alternative source of entertainment and recreation like television, music and books. For them, playtime is the only time when they can let their hair down and bark away their boredom. It may not seem so, but most pooches lead a rather mundane existence while their parents are away at work or are juggling with the demands of routine life.
Playing interactive games gives owners an opportunity to bond with their pets and know them better. It also helps in releasing pent-up energy in hyperactive dogs and makes for a great fitness workout. Moreover, it has been observed that pooches who get adequate playtime are far less likely to develop emotional disorders and behavioural problems. Since dogs are at their attentive best during play activities, owners can easily train their dogs in tricks and obedience during this time without it seeming like a chore for both parties. That certainly gives us enough reason to roll in the grass with our best buds, doesn't it?
Fetching can be a good pastime as well as a great way to bond with your pet. You can train your pet to fetch his toys and then fetch other things for you. Get your pet's attention by teasing him with the toy you want him to fetch. When he is attracted towards it, throw it at a distance. When he picks it up, encourage him to come back to you. Praise him and gradually teach him to give it back to you or drop it near you. You can teach him to drop by giving him another toy or treat. When he gives the toy back to you, reward him with a praise or treat.
We all have played hide and seek as kids. How about getting your pooch to join in? Hide and Seek is fun to play with puppies, it teaches them to respond to your call and also boosts their tracking skills. Begin by calling out your dog's name from a distance and encourage her when she comes to you. Show a lot of excitement and reward her with heavy petting and lot of affection. Gradually increase the difficulty level by hiding behind doors or even outdoors and call out your pooch's name. Most dogs will use their keen sense of smell to sniff you out. Dogs of all breeds and ages can play this game.
We all must have played tug of war at some time or the other. How about playing it with your canine? Take a rope toy without any frayed ends. Your dog can hold one side with his teeth while you can hold the other end with your hands. Start the game of tug of war. Stop the game if your dog's teeth touches your hand or you see any aggressive behaviour. Distract him with another toy. It helps the dog release all the pent up energies and gives parents ample opportunity to teach the dog to obey certain commands like 'tug', 'stop' and 'leave'. Always make sure to play the tugging game with a neutral object like a toy or an old scarf rather than any personal belongings that the dog might be tempted to mess with later. The game is fun only so long as it is played in a controlled and disciplined manner. Basic obedience training is recommended before getting on with tugging games to discourage agitation and aggressive behaviour.
Dogs love to play, especially if there is a yummy treat waiting at the other end! Treasure Hunts encourage the dogs to put their sense of smell to good use and practice their tracking and searching abilities. Begin by placing a small treat at a small distance (a piece of dog-biscuit or a sausage will do) and encourage your pooch to go get it. Next show her and hide the treat. Encourage her to find the treat and lavish her with praise and excitement when she does so. You can then take her out of the room and put the treat in the same place and ask her to find it. Follow the process above to hide the treat at new locations. Then without showing her you can switch locations and let her nose do the work. Eventually hide the treats at hard-to-reach spots like under the couch, behind doors and on windowsills where the dog cannot see them. Your dog will be compelled to sniff them out!
Dogs love outdoors and will love to play Frisbee. This game is a variation of 'Fetch' except that it requires more agility and stamina. Get the dog interested in the Frisbee and encourage him to 'fetch it' when you roll it on the floor. Keep increasing the distance as well as the difficulty levels. Gradually, your dog will be able to leap and catch the Frisbee in mid-air with a bit of practice. Always be patient and show a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.


text:
Radical Islamism and Jihad ( 11 Sept 2014, NewAgeIslam.Com)
The Impossible War: ISIS Cannot Be Beaten As Long As There Is Civil War in Syria
By Patrick Cockburn<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
A letter printed at the bottom of this article was emailed by a friend soon after her neighbourhood in Mosul was hit by Iraqi air force bombers. This was some hours before President Barack Obama explained his plan to weaken and ultimately destroy Isis, which calls itself Islamic State, by a series of measures including air attacks. The letter illustrates graphically one of the most important reasons why American air power may be less effective than many imagine.
The reasons for this are political as well as military. The five or six million Sunni Arabs who live in areas controlled by Isis in Iraq and Syria may not be happy with the brutality, bigotry and violence of their new rulers. But they are even more frightened of the prospect of the soldiers and militiamen of the Baghdad or Damascus governments recapturing and wreaking vengeance in Sunni cities, town and villages. The Sunni communities in both countries have little choice but to stick with Isis as their defenders.
For all its bellicose rhetoric, Mr Obama's plan is more of a strategy to contain Isis rather than eradicate it – and he may find that even this is difficult to do. His problem is that the US does not have reliable local partners in either Iraq or Syria.
The new Iraqi government under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi remains sectarian, with even more members of the ruling Shia Dawa party than before. The Kurds were press-ganged by the US into joining it though none of their outstanding demands has been satisfied.
In Syria, the US is to bolster the "moderate" Syrian rebels who are to be trained in Saudi Arabia. The Syrian military opposition on the ground is dominated by Jihadis, of which Isis, with control of 35 per cent of the country, is the most powerful.
The US air power should be enough to prevent Isis capturing the Kurdish capital Irbil or launching a successful assault on Baghdad. It might also be employed to save Aleppo or Hama from Isis. But without American forward air observers embedded in Iraqi units, as happened in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraqi Kurdistan in 2003, the Iraqi army is unlikely to make real progress on the ground. Given that the Sunni community is likely to fight the Shia-dominated army to the last man or flee in front of it, this may be no bad thing.
For all Mr Obama's caution, the US is being dragged into new conflicts in Iraq and Syria. By beheading two American journalists in retaliation for US air strikes Isis has shown that it will retaliate against any US or British attack. Concern is expressed about the possibility of Isis bombers blowing themselves up "in the streets of London" but they could more easily target the 2.5 million British tourists who visit Turkey every year.
The Obama plan is inadequate to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the militants, though it may well be the best that can be done in the circumstances. Events on the ground are likely to drive the extent of US involvement. What would happen, for instance, if Isis made a lunge for Aleppo, something that would be easy to do since Isis forces are only 30 miles away from the city. Would those in Washington who say there must be no co-operation with Mr Assad not use American air power in support of his forces?
There is a bizarre section in Mr Obama's speech in which he says "we must strengthen the [Syrian] opposition as the best counterweight to extremists like Isil [Isis]". The only way that this could be done would be to raise a mercenary army and pretend it is the Free Syrian Army reborn or, something that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have done in the past, pretend that Jihadi groups whose ideology is the same as that of Isis nevertheless belong to the moderate camp.
The missing element in the Obama plan is the creation of the framework for new peace negotiations between Mr Assad's government and the moderate opposition such as it is. The Geneva 11 talks got nowhere because Washington insisted that the only topic of negotiations should be the departure of Mr Assad. Since he controlled most of Syria this was not going to happen, so in practice U.S and British policy was a recipe for an endless war.
So long as the civil war in Syria goes on Isis cannot be beaten: Syrian Sunni in areas under its rule will prefer it to the alternative which is the return of a vengeful government. In Iraq the political and military reach of Isis is limited by the fact that the Sunni Arabs are only a fifth of the population, but in Syria they are three-fifths. Their natural constituency is much greater than in Iraq.
It is likely that in Syria the US will covertly collaborate with the Assad government using intelligence services and third parties. Likewise in Iraq, the US and Iran are evidently pursuing common aims in propping up the Baghdad government. As the letter writer from Mosul points out the Shia militiamen who broke the siege of the Shia Turkoman town Amerli (and ransacked Sunni villages nearby) were aided in their advance by US air strikes. For all his caution, Mr Obama is being sucked into a sectarian civil war of terrible savagery.
The bombardment was carried out by the government. The air strikes focused on wholly civilian neighbourhoods. Maybe they wanted to target two Isis bases. But neither round of bombardment found its target. One target is a house connected to a church where Isis men live. It is next to the neighbourhood generator and about 200-300 meters from our home.
The bombing hurt civilians only and demolished the generator. Now we don't have any electricity since yesterday night. Now I am writing from a device in my sister's house, which is empty.
The government bombardment did not hit any of the Isis men. Now I have just heard from a relative who visited us to check on us after that terrible night. He says that because of this bombardment, youngsters are joining Isis in tens if not in hundreds because this increases hatred towards the government, which doesn't care about us as Sunnis being killed and targeted.
Government forces went to Amerli, a Shia village surrounded by tens of Sunni villages, though Amerli was never taken by Isis. The government militias attacked the surrounding Sunni villages, killing hundreds, with help from the American air strikes.
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-impossible-war-isis-cannot-be-beaten-as-long-as-there-is-civil-war-in-syria-9727847.html
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-and-jihad/patrick-cockburn/the-impossible-war--isis-cannot-be-beaten-as-long-as-there-is-civil-war-in-syria/d/99033


The County Appraiser is only responsible for the appraisal of a property. The Appraiser's Office does not set your tax rate or collect taxes.
As a public service, Coffey County provides a tax search tool where property and tax information can be obtained.
The key characteristic of personal property is the ability to move it without damage to itself or to the real estate to which it may be attached. Personal Property may be leased, loaned, rented, consigned or owned. There are two type of Personal Property - individual or business.
Please contact the Coffey County Appraiser's Office for a complete listing of personal property.
KSA - 79-201w, Article 2: "Property Exempt from Taxation; machinery, equipment, materials, and supplies with a retail cost when new of $1500 or less per item for tax year 2007, and all tax years thereafter."
KSA - 79-223: "Machinery and equipment acquired by qualified purchase or lease made or entered into after June 30, 2006, as the result of a bona-fide transaction not consummated for the purpose of avoiding taxation is exempt from the property taxation in Kansas. Machinery and equipment transported into the state after June 30, 2006, for the expansion of an existing business or the creation of a new business is also exempt from property taxation in Kansas."
For purposes of taxation, oil and gas leases, oil and gas wells, all casing, tubing and other equipment and materials used in operating oil and gas leases are considered personal property.
Operators of oil and gas leases are required to file renditions stating the amount of production, number of wells and the equipment located on each lease by April 1 of each year.
** Please visit our Resources page to download required documents.


This is the public profile of Hiroki Hill Kobayashi, Additional information and high-resolution images are available for accredited press members, to access additional information about Hiroki Hill Kobayashi please login as a press member.
Our relationship with nature is constantly evolving to maintain human civilization. And yet, nature is being destroyed in the process of urbanization. The environmental movement, which promotes conservation areas for preservation purposes, has ironically increased the demand for tourism in these areas and thus accelerated the speed of environmental destruction. Nevertheless, a sense of connection with nature is indispensable for emotional balance. Japanese Zen Buddhism, for example, encourages deep meditation in order to achieve a sense of being at one with nature. Distancing ourselves from the technologies of modern life and evoking the beauty of nature can help us slow down the pace of daily life. The sounds of singing birds, buzzing insects, swaying leaves, and trickling water in a beautiful forest implicitly imprint the beauty of Nature in our minds. When we are emotionally stressed, recalling the beauty of nature can the help us recover a sense of well-being. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a concept, a method, and an interface, Sustainable Interaction with Ecosystems, by which we can achieve a feeling of belonging to nature without causing environmental destruction and in which human and nature can coexist.
This study is not intended to propose a solution to any one single problem. Rather, it proposes a new view of Human Computer Biosphere Interaction (HCBI) based design and interfaces to support our future society in a multidisciplinary approach.
Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2010.
M.S. in Geosystem Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2007.
B.S. in Computer Science, California State University, USA, 2005.
Associate Professor, CSIS, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2017-.
Assistant Professor (Lecturer), CSIS, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2016-2017.
Assistant Professor, CSIS, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2013-2015.
Lecturer, Statistical Research and Training Institute, MIC, Japan, 2013.
Project Assistant Professor, CSIS, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2012-2013.
Researcher, Cyber Interface Lab, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2011.
Project Researcher, JAIST, Japan, 2011.
Part-time Lecturer, Kanto Gakuin University, Japan, 2010-2011.
Research Fellow (PD), JSPS, Japan, 2010.
Research Fellow (DC2), JSPS, Japan, 2009-2010.
Research Assistant, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 2008.
Project Technical Director, MIC (NTT-AD), Japan, 2001.
Volunteer Medical Staff, ADRA JAPAN, Nepal, 1992.
Accepted for ACM TEI art exhibition, Stanford, USA, 2015.
Accepted for ACM MULTIMEDIA art exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, 2013.
Jury Award First Place, IEEE ISWC, Pittsburgh, USA, 2008.
Accepted for ACM MULTIMEDIA interactive art, Vancouver, Canada, 2008.
Accepted for ACM SIGGRAPH slow art, Los Angeles, USA, 2008.
Award for Full-exemption from repayment upon graduation for graduate school students with outstanding results, JASSO, Japan, 2007.
Jury Recommend Award, Soundbum Project, Interactive Art Division, Japan Media Art Festival, Japan, 2002.
Winner, Excellent Communications Design, German Design Award 2018.
Overall Winner, 11th Arte Laguna Prize exhibition, Venice, Italia, 2017.
Semi Grand Prix, Third IoT Lab Selection, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the IoT Acceleration Lab, Japan, 2017.
Accepted for 10th Arte Laguna Prize exhibition, Venice, Italia, 2016.
Research Award, CSISDAYS2015, Japan, 2015.
Encouragement Prize, Telecommunications Advancement Foundation-TELECOM System Technology Award, Tokyo, Japan, 2015.
Press Members: Request an exclusive interview with Hiroki Hill Kobayashi.


TBH Creative was hired by Milestone Advisors to launch their new and improved web site. They had their old web site for quite a while and it was set up via a template-based site builder called Homestead. The template site had limitations, and they wanted to take it up a notch.
TBH worked directly with the team, went through many options for a new design, added some interest that was not over-the-top, and improved their messaging.
Milestone Advisors provide executive-level services for business owners and entrepreneurs to help them solve complex financial and strategic issues that face their business.
A challenge during the project was a new company logo and change in colors 1 week before scheduled launch. Milestone wanted to add some warmth to the palette, so modified their original logo and developed a completely fresh color palette. TBH Creative quickly adjusted the necessary elements in the web design, updates graphics, and made sure the new logo worked well with the new web site.


Exceptional food photography has been at the heart of what we do since we started producing apps way back in 2010. It has always been (and still is) our ambition to be the most beautiful food website on the internet and we send our photographers to the far reaches of the British Isles to take our amazing pictures. All the dishes are cooked and plated by the chefs who created them and are shot in their restaurants – sometimes in the middle of service! – so we can guarantee the food looks exactly the way the chefs intended.
Coming from a fine art background, Andrew has been shooting stills for the last eighteen years. From portraits for editorial magazines such as Vogue and various other weekend supplements he now specialises in food, providing photography for cookbooks from the likes of The Hairy Bikers, Tommy Banks and Rosemary Shrager. Andrew's amiable personality and fantastic skills behind the lens make him a dream to work with.
Timothy Atkins is a London-based photographer and frequent collaborator with Great British Chefs. Timothy has captured beautiful images for some of our most enjoyable projects, including a whistle-stop photographic tour of Soho with Jeremy Lee and creating amazing imagery for our Great British Chefs Academy.
Newcastle-based photographer James Byrne has travelled far and wide with Great British Chefs to work with some of the country's best chefs. From photographing Andrew Wong's modern Chinese dishes to capturing the story of Restaurant Sat Bains, James brings a level artistry and depth to his work that is truly captivating.
Glaswegian photographer Alan Donaldson has shot almost all of the recipes from Scottish chefs on the website. These include Martin Wishart (Restaurant Martin Wishart), Geoffrey Smeddle (The Peat Inn), Marcello Tully (Kinloch Lodge) and Phil Carnegie (Inverlochy Castle). Alan often prefers to keep things simple and let the wonderful dishes speak for themselves.
After working in London for a number of years, Joseph Fox recently embarked on a move to Madrid, where he continues his stunning documentary photography. As well as dish shots, Joseph has contributed two stunning photo stories to Great British Chefs – a look behind the scenes at a tofu factory in Yorkshire, and a glimpse into the world of Spanish sea urchin fishermen.
David loves food almost as much as he loves photography, and it shows. From the beginning of Great British Chefs, he has been working alongside chefs to create beautiful, mouth-watering shots of both recipes and ingredients. He has been known to pass on his tips by leading food photography workshops.
Jodi Hinds is a London-based food photographer working in editorial, restaurant and cookbook photography. She has worked with Great British Chefs capturing gorgeous dishes by iconic British chefs Steve Doherty and Mark Hix, in each case creating inviting images of their classical food.
Craig has twenty years commercial photographic experience, and has spent the last six years specialising in food. What Craig doesn't know or understand about lighting is not worth knowing, creating amazing lighting effects for restaurants across Europe. Craig has a passion to photograph (and usually taste) the trends and methods used by chefs in their kitchens today.
Originally coming from a documentary and editorial background, London-born photographer Stefan Johnson recently started focusing his camera lens on his other fascination: food. Stefan has since had the honour of photographing dishes for London's top chefs, including Fergus Henderson, Tim Allen and Adam Byatt, gathering cooking tips along the way.
Duncan has been a photographer all his working life, and with a passion for cooking and sampling good food, photographing it seemed the perfect combination. Working with many household names in the commercial world already, through work with us here at Great British Chefs, Duncan is now also adding great chefs and restaurants to his list.
Allen's professionalism and energy have afforded him a successful forty-year career, fifteen of which have seen him specialising in food photography. Creative, bold and considered, Allen's images truly whet the appetite. Allen's incredible eye for detail, teamed with a personal passion for food has seen him working alongside Michelin-starred chef Nigel Howarth, creatively capturing the work of over seventy international Michelin star chefs at Northcote's Obsession Food Festival.
Edinburgh-based photographer Marc Millar creates atmospheric, romantic images of his native Scotland and the food landscape within it. His visit to The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye resulted in a stunning photo story documenting this restaurant's unique relationship with local producers on this beautiful island.
Noel has over ten years of experience in the world of food photography – developing a great working relationship with Marcus Wareing along the way – and has shot many of the recipes that appear on the site. He is a keen bread-maker and always happy to pick up tips from our Great British Chefs.
Matt Porteous is a local Jersey legend, with his incredible skills being put to good use on the island to show off its dazzling food and produce. Outside of the culinary realm, Matt is a sought-after travel and portrait photographer – he was even selected to photography Prince George for his third birthday celebrations!