text:
Die Präsidentschaftswahl in Belarus 2010 fand am 19. Dezember 2010 in Belarus statt. Der seit 1994 regierende Staatspräsident Aljaksandr Lukaschenka kandidierte bei dieser Wahl für eine vierte Amtszeit.

Wahltermin
Das belarussische Parlament legte im September 2010 den 19. Dezember 2010 als Wahltermin fest. Der späteste mögliche Termin für die Durchführung der Wahl wäre der 7. Februar 2011 gewesen, da gemäß der belarussischen Verfassung die Wahl nicht später als zwei Monate vor Ende der laufenden Legislaturperiode stattfinden kann.

Kandidaten
Insgesamt zehn Kandidaten traten zur Präsidentschaftswahl an:
 Rygor Kastusjou (* 1957), Stellvertretender Vorsitzender der Partyja BNF
 Aljaksandr Lukaschenka (* 1954), der Amtsinhaber, befand sich zur Zeit der Wahl in seiner dritten Amtszeit
 Ales Michalewitsch (* 1975), ehemaliger Vizevorsitzender der Partyja BNF
 Uladsimir Njakljajeu (* 1946), Schriftsteller
 Jaraslau Ramantschuk (* 1966), Vizevorsitzender der liberal-konservativen Vereinigten Bürgerpartei
 Wital Rymascheuski (* 1975), Stellvertretender Vorsitzender der Belarussischen Christdemokraten
 Andrej Sannikau (* 1954), konservative Bürgerbewegung Europäisches Belarus
 Mikalaj Statkewitsch (* 1956), Vorsitzender der Sozialdemokratischen Partei (Hramada)
 Wiktar Zjareschtschanka (* 1950), Ökonom
 Dimitrij Uss (* 1971), Rechtsanwalt und Geschäftsmann

Ergebnis

Das Ergebnis wurde am 20. Dezember 2010 von der Vorsitzenden der Zentralen Wahlkommission Lidsija Jarmoschyna während einer Pressekonferenz kundgetan. Eine Exit-Poll-Befragung des Unabhängigen Instituts für sozioökonomische und politische Studien (NISEPI), das in Wilna registriert ist, ergab hingegen eine Unterstützung von 51,1 % der Wähler für Lukaschenka, von 8,3 % für Njakljajeu und von 6,1 % für Sannikau.

Die Rolle Russlands
Im Sommer 2010 kam es zu einer rapiden Verschlechterung der durch Streitigkeiten um die Lieferung von Gas und Öl geprägten Beziehungen zwischen Russland und Belarus. Die russische Regierung zeigte sich enttäuscht über die ausbleibende Anerkennung der von Georgien abtrünnigen und von Russland unterstützten Republiken Abchasien und Südossetien. Der belarussische Präsident Lukaschenka behauptete, er habe die Anerkennung niemals konkret in Aussicht gestellt, während sein russischer Amtskollege Dmitri Medwedew das Gegenteil behauptete und Lukaschenka Wortbruch vorwarf.

Im von der Regierung kontrollierten russischen Fernsehsender NTW wurde eine Dokumentarserie über Lukaschenka ausgestrahlt, in der dem belarussischen Präsidenten unter anderem Amtsmissbrauch, Kontakte zu kriminellen Strukturen und das Verschwindenlassen politischer Gegner vorgeworfen wurde. Aufgrund dieser Vorgänge wurde vermutet, Russland strebe eine Ablösung Lukaschenkas an und könnte bei der anstehenden Wahl einen der Oppositionskandidaten unterstützen. In Medienberichten wurde spekuliert, dass Andrej Sannikau von der Bewegung "Europäisches Belarus" möglicherweise von Moskau unterstützt werden könnte.

Erste Protestkundgebung in Minsk

Die Teilnehmer der Präsidentschaftswahl in Belarus durften gemäß neuen Vorschriften der Stadtverwaltung von Minsk vom 19. November 2010 keine Kundgebungen auf den zentralen Plätzen der Hauptstadt veranstalten. Vertreter der Zivilgesellschaft kritisieren, dass insbesondere das generelle Verbot von Demonstrationen im Umkreis mehrerer hundert Meter um U-Bahn-Stationen legale Demonstrationen im Zentrum von Minsk de facto unmöglich macht – eine Regelung, die nicht mit der belarussischen Verfassung vereinbar sei.

Trotz des offiziellen Demonstrationsverbots versammelten sich am 24. November 2010 zwischen 1000 und 5000 (je nach Quelle) Regierungsgegner in der Hauptstadt Minsk. Mikalaj Statkewitsch, Vorsitzender der Sozialdemokratischen Partei (Hramada), bezeichnete die Kundgebung als "die einzige Waffe im Kampf gegen die Diktatur". Die Demonstranten forderten den Rücktritt von Präsident Aljaksandr Lukaschenka. Die Demonstration sollte an das umstrittene Referendum vom November 1996 erinnern, mit dem Präsident Lukaschenka das Parlament aufgelöst und die Verfassung geändert hatte, um seine Macht zu sichern.

Nach dieser ersten größeren Demonstration in Minsk drohte den zwei Präsidentschaftskandidaten, welche an der Kundgebung teilgenommen haben, der Wahlausschluss: Wital Rymascheuski, Kovorsitzender der Belarussischen Christdemokraten, und Uladsimir Njakljajeu (Bewegung "Sag die Wahrheit") wurden von der Staatsanwaltschaft verwarnt.

Großdemonstration am Wahlabend

Mehrere Tausend Menschen – nach offiziellen Angaben handelte es sich um 3000, nach Angaben unabhängiger Medien um 15.000 bis 25.000 – versammelten sich am 19. Dezember im Zentrum von Minsk, um gegen Wahlfälschungen zu demonstrieren. Es handelte sich damit um die größte Demonstration in Belarus seit der Präsidentschaftswahl 2006. Der Präsidentschaftskandidat Uladsimir Njakljajeu wurde noch auf dem Weg zum Oktoberplatz verhaftet. Sicherheitskräfte attackierten seinen Zug mit Blendgranaten, rangen seine Anhänger nieder und verprügelten sie. Njakljajeu selbst wurde schwer verletzt und noch in der Nacht von Männern in Zivil aus dem Krankenhaus verschleppt.

Die Anführer der Kundgebung riefen dazu auf friedlich zu protestieren. Am Abend wurden jedoch die Fensterscheiben des Regierungssitzes am Unabhängigkeitsplatz demoliert. Ob es sich bei dabei um die Handlung von Demonstranten oder von "Provokateuren" gehandelt hat, bleibt unklar. Die im Gebäude zusammengezogenen Polizeikräfte gingen gegen die Menge vor, zogen sich bald aber wieder zurück. Erst als die Oppositionschefs auf den Eingang des Parlamentsgebäudes zugingen, griffen die Spezialeinheiten die Protestierenden an.

Die Demonstration wurde von Sicherheitskräften brutal niedergeschlagen, über 600 Personen wurden festgenommen. Reporter ohne Grenzen dokumentierte mehrere Fälle massiver Polizeigewalt gegen Journalisten, die über die Kundgebung berichteten. James Hill, Fotograf der "New York Times", wurde geschlagen, während er versuchte, seine Pressekarte vorzuzeigen. Seine Ausrüstung und sein Material wurde von der Polizei beschlagnahmt sowie Filmaufnahmen und Fotos gelöscht. Die belarussische Reporterin Iryna Chalip wurde während einer Live-Schalte für den russischen Radiosender Echo Moskwy von Polizisten geschlagen und festgenommen. Sie berichtete dabei von "Schlägen ins Gesicht". Auch ihr Ehemann, der Präsidentschaftskandidat Andrei Sannikau, wurde während der Demonstration zusammengeschlagen. 45 Personen, denen Schüren von Massenunruhen vorgeworfen wird, drohten Haftstrafen von bis zu 15 Jahren (Artikel 293.1 des belarussischen Strafrechts). Von diesen befanden sich im Januar 2011 noch 31 in Haft, darunter die Präsidentschaftskandidaten Uladsimir Njakljajeu und Andrej Sannikau.

Umgang mit den Inhaftierten
Die meisten der über 600 Inhaftierten wurden zu Haftstrafen von 10 bis 20 Tagen verurteilt. Die individuelle Schuld der Demonstranten wurde nach Aussagen von Menschenrechtlern durch das Gericht nicht überprüft, zudem sei es während der Haftzeit zu zahlreichen Verstößen gegen die Menschenwürde der Gefangenen gekommen.

Die im KGB-Gefängnis "Amerikanka" einsitzenden prominenten Gefangenen besaßen über zwei Wochen keinen Zugang zu ihren Anwälten, es drangen fast keine Informationen über ihren Zustand an die Öffentlichkeit. Der Minsker Staatsanwalt Siarhej Barysenka bezeichnete diese Tatsache öffentlich als normal: "Wir haben keine Beschwerden von den Teilnehmern des Strafverfahrens erhalten [...] Die Normen der Verfassung und des Strafprozessrechts werden in vollem Umfang erfüllt." Bis zum Januar 2011 erhielten die Gefangenen auch keinen Zugang zu Ärzten, obwohl einige von ihnen bei den Demonstrationen ernsthafte Verletzungen durch die staatlichen Einsatzkräfte erlitten haben.

Der Präsidentschaftskandidat Mikalaj Statkewitsch soll seit seiner Verhaftung einen Hungerstreik begonnen haben. Im Mai 2011 wurde er wegen der "Organisation von Massenunruhen" zu sechs Jahren Haft verurteilt. Statkewitsch wurde zunächst in einem Sägewerk der Strafkolonie Nr. 17 eingesetzt und dann im Januar 2012 wegen mutmaßlichen Regelverstoßes in das strenger geführte Gefängnis Nr. 4 verlegt. Seine Ehefrau durfte ihn pro Jahr nur für vier Stunden besuchen und einmal im Monat mit ihm telefonieren. Im Vorfeld der Präsidentschaftswahlen am 23. August 2015 wurde Statkewitsch freigelassen.

Amnesty International berichtete, dass der Präsidentschaftskandidat Andrej Sannikau im Gefängnis physisch und psychisch gefoltert wurde. Auch die medizinische Versorgung sei ihm trotz starker Schmerzen verweigert worden. Sein Anwalt berichtete demnach von diversen Verletzungsspuren, die sein Mandant aufwies: Er konnte nicht laufen, hatte ein verstauchtes oder gebrochenes Bein, Spuren von Schlägen auf dem Kopf und Blutergüsse an den Händen. Sannikau wurde zu fünf Jahren Haft verurteilt, die er in Babrujsk in Einzelhaft absitzen musste, wo er wiederholt mit dem Tode bedroht wurde. Am 14. April 2012 wurde er frühzeitig begnadigt und freigelassen.

Der Präsidentschaftskandidat Uladsimir Njakljajeu wurde noch während der Behandlung seiner erlittenen Kopfverletzung von den Behörden aus der Intensivstation entführt. Am 29. Januar 2011 wurde er aus dem Gefängnis in den Hausarrest überführt und am 20. Mai 2011 wurde er zu zwei Jahren Haft verurteilt.

Reaktionen auf die Wahl
Die Wahlbeobachtermission der OSZE stellte am 20. Dezember 2010 fest, dass die Wahl nicht demokratischen Kriterien entsprach. Unter anderem weist der Bericht darauf hin, dass es in einem Großteil der Wahllokale den Wahlbeobachtern verboten wurde, die Stimmauszählung zu beobachten. Ein ähnliches Fazit zog die einheimische Wahlbeobachtermission "Menschenrechtler für freie Wahlen". Die Kritiker des Wahlprozesses betonten, dass das belarussische Wahlgesetz eine transparente Auszählung vorschreibt (Dekret 25 der Zentralen Wahlkommission). Beschwerden der Wahlbeobachter gegen die massiven Verstöße wurden bis auf wenige Ausnahmen nicht zugelassen.

Die Menschenrechtsorganisation Wjasna meldete mehrere Unstimmigkeiten und Verstöße im Verlauf der Wahl. In einer Wahlurne in einem Wahllokal in Minsk fehlten 480 Stimmzettel. Obwohl die örtliche Wahlkommission sagte, es seien 1.719 Stimmzettel am Wahltag ausgegeben worden, wurden bei der Auszählung nur 1.239 Stimmzettel gefunden. Insgesamt wurden 125 Beschwerden gegen Wahlverstöße an lokale Wahlkommissionen weitergereicht. Die im Vorfeld der Wahl getätigte negative Darstellung oder mangelnde Präsenz von Oppositionskandidaten in staatlichen Medien wurde von Wjasna ebenfalls kritisiert.

Die Außenminister von Deutschland (Guido Westerwelle), Schweden (Carl Bildt), Tschechien (Karel Schwarzenberg) und Polen (Radosław Sikorski) verurteilten den Wahlbetrug und die Unterdrückung der Opposition.

Nach der Kritik der OSZE am Verlauf der Wahl kündigte Anfang 2011 die belarussische Führung die Schließung der OSZE-Mission in Minsk an, mit der Begründung, diese habe ihre Aufgabe bereits erfüllt. Der Geheimdienst führte Razzien bei mehreren nicht-staatlichen Medien und Menschenrechtsorganisationen durch. Die staatliche Zeitung Belarus Sewodnja veröffentlichte im Januar Geheimdienstmaterial, in welchem Regierungen und Geheimdiensten der EU, darunter vor allem Polen und Deutschland, die Finanzierung der Wahlkampagne Njakljajeus und der Demonstration am 19. Dezember vorgeworfen wird. Ziel sei gewesen, Lukaschenka durch eine "gefügige Marionette" zu ersetzen. Das Bundesaußenministerium wies die Vorwürfe als absurd zurück. Der sozialdemokratische Oppositionskandidat Mikalaj Statkewitsch trat im Gefängnis in einen Hungerstreik. Nicht inhaftierte Oppositionsangehörige gründeten einen landesweiten Koordinationsrat, um ihr Vorgehen gegen die Repressionen abzustimmen.
Polen schaffte als "Zeichen der Solidarität" die Visagebühren für belarussische Staatsbürger ab und verhängte ein Einreiseverbot gegen hohe belarussische Beamte. Der Deutsche Bundestag befürwortete am 20. Januar 2011 fraktionsübergreifend scharfe Sanktionen gegen die Machthaber in Belarus und forderte die sofortige Freilassung aller politischen Gefangenen. Gleichzeitig kündigten die Parlamentarier an, sich für Visa-Erleichterungen für belarussische Bürger und mehr Stipendienprogramme für Studenten einzusetzen. Die Europäische Union verhängte am 31. Januar 2011 Sanktionen gegen die Minsker Führung. Dem Staatspräsidenten Lukaschenka und 156 weiteren Staatsbeamten wurde ein Einreiseverbot erteilt sowie dessen Konten eingefroren. Sie lehnte jedoch die von Polen und Schweden geforderten Wirtschaftssanktionen gegen das Land ab, weil die anderen Mitgliedsstaaten nicht wollten, dass die Bevölkerung zu leiden habe. Die USA hingegen verhängten neben Reisebeschränkungen auch finanzielle Sanktionen, welche die Aufhebung der befristeten Genehmigung für Geschäftsabschlüsse mit dem staatlichen Erdöl- und Chemiekonglomerat Belneftekhim beinhaltete. Nachdem der Präsidentschaftskandidat Statkewitsch zusammen mit fünf weiteren politischen Gefangenen im August 2015 freigelassen wurde, wurden im Zuge der Präsidentschaftswahl in Belarus 2015 die Sanktionen zur Probe außer Kraft gesetzt. Im Februar 2016 wurden die Sanktionen gegen die belarussische Regierung, von denen einige bereits seit dem Jahr 2004 gelten, beinahe vollständig aufgehoben. Lediglich vier Beamte, die mit dem Verschwinden der Regimegegner Jury Sacharanka, Wiktar Hantschar, Anatoli Krassouski und Dsmitryj Sawadski in Verbindung gebracht werden, blieben auf der Sanktionsliste.

Russland und GUS
Die Entscheidung der belarussischen Justiz, elf bei den Protesten festgenommene russische Staatsbürger vorerst nicht freizulassen, sorgte für Kritik seitens der russischen Regierung. Das Außenministerium bestellte den belarussischen Botschafter ein, um ihm den Unmut über die fortgesetzte Inhaftierung der Russen auszudrücken. Die Wahlen selbst hat Präsident Dmitri Medwedew zunächst als "innere Angelegenheit" bezeichnet und erst sechs Tage nach dem Urnengang Lukaschenka in einer knappen Erklärung zur Wiederwahl gratuliert.

Der Sekretär der GUS Sergei Lebedew hingegen beschrieb die Wahl als frei und demokratisch. Beobachter der GUS hatten die Wahl am Wahlabend als legitim anerkannt.

Repressionen nach der Wahl
Obwohl der Präsidentschaftskandidat Ales Michalewitsch nicht an der Großkundgebung teilgenommen hatte, wurde auch er in der Wahlnacht festgenommen und für drei Monate lang in einem Keller des KGB-Gebäudes inhaftiert. Er berichtete ebenfalls von Folter. In den Wochen nach der Wahl kam es zu einer großen Welle von Verhaftungen, Hausdurchsuchungen und Beschlagnahmungen von Computerhardware. Der Geheimdienst KGB durchsuchte die Büros der Menschenrechtsorganisation Wjasna und des Belarussischen Helsinki-Komitee wie auch die Privatwohnungen von Aleh Hulak und Ales Bjaljazki. Auch die Büros von regierungskritischen Medien wie Belsat TV und Eurapejskaje Radyjo dlja Belarussi sowie der Menschenrechtsorganisation Charta 97 wurden vom KGB gestürmt. Die Mitarbeiter von Charta 97 wurden festgenommen. Diverse oppositionelle Internetseiten wurden blockiert. Auch der Zugang zu Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Talk war am Folgetag der Wahl nicht mehr möglich.

Weblinks
 Website der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung zu den Präsidentschaftswahlen 2010
 SZ, 13.1. - Weißrussland: Oppositionelle in Haft "Wie in der Stalin-Zeit"

Einzelnachweise

2010
Belarus Prasidentschaftswahlen


Rustie Cancels Tour Dates "Due To Addiction And Mental Health Problems."
Rustie Shares "First Mythz" Video.
The Warp producer's surprise album EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE is his most positive statement yet.
It's available now via Warp.
Rustie Unveils Two New Tracks and announces that a larger project titled #EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE arrives tomorrow.
Scottish dance producer Rustie shares a new track from his hospital bed.
The producer Rustie released a new song titled "Catzz."
Rustie remixed the Skrillex, Diplo, and Justin Bieber collaboration "Where Are U Now."
Featuring "loads" of new music.
Super-colorful remix from Glasgow's maximalist don.
Listen to the slightly unexpected collab.
Catch a hypnotic clip for the Scottish producer's 'Green Language' single.
The Scottish producer unveils a new remix courtesy of Swisha House founder Mike 5000 Watts.


Yes, you read that right! Makeup is for men too! Do you know all the movie stars, models, and news anchors wear it? It's not for vanity's sake – it improves the production value! Male or female matters not. When you want to be camera-ready, professional hair and makeup styling is an essential step to make you look rested and healthy.
When you come in for your photo shoot, hair & makeup artistry will be part of your experience. A lot of guys tell me this sounds strange and unnecessary, but I know from years in photography that when a person wears makeup in a portrait, they are happier with the result, and the cost is less because the level of necessary retouching work is significantly reduced.
Even if you've never worn makeup before, and you never plan to wear makeup again. You'll love how your "no makeup" makeup looks in your photos. Check this out.


The AWWA Sustainable Water Management Conference was held this week in Tucson, Arizona, where ASDWA sponsored and conducted a technical session on "Building Agriculture and Forestry Partnerships to Protect Drinking Water Sources: Keys to Success." Participants at the conference included water utilities, consultants, a few state drinking water programs, and more. The conference featured opening presentations by Tim Thomure with Tucson Water who talked about their diversified water management portfolio to recharge groundwater and ensure adequate water supplies, and Brad Udall with the Colorado State University on water and climate impacts, predictions, and policies. Parallel tracks at the conference featured sessions on source water supply and protection, water resource management and planning, resilience and sustainability, and water efficiency.
ASDWA's technical session included ASDWA staff and representatives from NRCS, AWWA, and EPA. The session presentations offered tips and resources for water utilities and others to partner and leverage funding for NRCS partnership program opportunities. During the session, the panelists shared information and encouraged collaboration in NRCS programs and projects, highlighted mutual goals, and provided examples of state efforts and local projects from across the nation that are implementing conservation and management practices to protect both surface and groundwater sources of drinking water.
Thanks to those states who provided information for us to share on their new NRCS National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Source Water Protection (SWP) Pilots. There were 16 NWQI SWP Pilot proposals submitted this year from nine states (AL, CT, HI, IA, NE, ND, OR, PA, WV) and all of them were accepted. This session was part of a broader effort by ASDWA and partners to promote collaboration on existing Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects, the new NWQI SWP Pilots, and future opportunities in the new Farm Bill provisions that will now require ten percent of NRCS conservation program funding to be aimed at protecting drinking water sources.
This group will continue our outreach efforts by conducting another session on "Food and Water: Stronger Together," at River Rally, River Network's annual conference that will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, from June 21–24, 2019. This conference includes keynote presentations, plenary panels, workshops, and field trips, including a track focused on safe and affordable drinking water.


Use this Printed Eiffel Tower Table Runner to decorate your table and help create the feeling of Paris. Each package contains one (1) table runner, measures 6 feet long and 11 inches wide with a 12 inch tassel attached to each end and printed on cardstock material. Add the Eiffel Tower Centerpiece and confetti to complete the French feeling.


text:
ICR Announces Date for Global GCP Certification Exam
Company News Release
19 February 2009-Following a successful pilot, the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) has announced the date of its first Global GCP (good clinical practice) Certification exam as Thursday 23rd April 2009.
The Global GCP Certification exam is designed for clinical research professionals who have more than two years experience in a clinical research role and wish to demonstrate their applied proficiency in their specific area of expertise.
The exam comprises three sections; the first is a core section focusing on ICH GCP, the second section covers global variations where candidates choose to answer questions on the EU Directive, Code of Federal Regulations or Schedule Y. The last section covers functional variations and allows candidates to answer questions relating to the specific job roles of site staff, CTAs (clinical trial administrator), CRAs (clinical research associate) or project managers.
Successful candidates will receive designations such as certified European CRA or certified Indian project manager, depending on the sections of the paper they choose to undertake.
"We have developed the Global GCP Certification exam to test candidates' broad knowledge of essential aspects of clinical research while also testing their ability to apply that knowledge in their own field," explained Sue Fitzpatrick, ICR's education manager.
"The candidates who took part in the pilot last year were very impressed with the standard of the questions and felt that the exam would be incredibly beneficial to them in furthering their professional development."
The ICR also operates Certificate and Diploma exams to assist its members in their continuing professional development. These exams provide a route to becoming a Registered Member (RICR) of the Institute. The Certificate exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and can be taken if candidates have acquired the theory and basic principles of clinical research.
The Diploma exam requires candidates to have a minimum of six to 12 months experience working within clinical research. This exam is scenario based with candidates answering three of the nine scenarios presented to them.
Those who wish to sit the Global GCP Certification exam on 23rd April should email the ICR exam co-ordinator at exams@icr-global.org.
Further details about the ICR exams can be found at www.icr-global.org/learning

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


FreshArrival » Blog Archive » HitchSafe.
The HitchSafe is an amazingly good solution to the problem that many of us have had at one time or another: losing our car keys. Normally you'd hide a spare key on the automobile somewhere with a magnetic key holder, but if you hit one good bump you've lost your key, and you probably won't notice until you really need it. You could give an extra key to your significant other, but what if they're 5 states away on the one weekend that you lock yourself out of your car (that actually happened to me, the one time I've ever locked myself out!) If you drive a pickup truck with a trailer hitch built-in, you're in luck. HitchSafe uses that already hardened, hardly used metal cylinder to your advantage and lets you lock your keys or other valuables in it, easily accessible with a 4 digit code. It even comes with a cover so you don't draw any undue attention to your hitch and so that the combination lock stays clean. The HitchSafe even has enough clearance for 2 credit cards.
HitchSafe was kind enough to send us one to check out, and so I went out and installed it on the truck today. It was amazingly simple to install. The complete installation instructions, including a 3D diagram all were able to fit on a space about the size of an index card. All I had to do was take the HitchSafe drawer out, pull out the 2 retaining pins , slide the HitchSafe into the hitch receiver, line up the 2 holes and then do the reverse. I installed it so fast that I was surprised when I was done. I mean, it took me 2 minutes, tops. It's even easier to set the combination.
The HitchSafe is normally $69.95, but if you'd like to get one, HitchSafe is graciously offering all FA readers 20% off anything purchased on the site (not just the HitchSafe). That would bring the price closer to $55. It's good for only one purchase, the offer expires 10-15-06, and the coupon code is: fresharrival, all in lower case in the checkout discount coupon field. Each shipment will also come with 10 brochures to give your friends and family who might benefit from something like the HitchSafe. Awesome!
P.S. Jeff Miller, you'll be receiving 2 packs of IZZE very soon, straight from IZZE themselves!
This entry was posted on Friday, September 22nd, 2006 at 12:16 am	and is filed under Auto, Gifts, Useful Things. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


text:
Title: University of Memphis
Subject: February 2007 in sports, Indianapolis Colts draft history, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Memphis Tigers football, Memphis Tigers women's basketball
Collection: 1912 Establishments in Tennessee, 1912 Establishments in the United States, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, Educational Institutions Established in 1912, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Universities and Colleges Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Universities and Colleges in Memphis, Tennessee, Universities and Colleges in Tennessee, University of Memphis, Urban 13 Universities
The University of Memphis
Memphis State University
Memphis State College
West Tennessee State Teachers College
West Tennessee State Normal School
Imaginari. Cogitare. Facere.
Dreamers. Thinkers. Doers.[1]
$218.3 million (2013)[2]
$478 million[3]
M. David Rudd
679 (Lambuth Campus)
361 (Law School)
1,160 acres (4.7 km²)
Blue & Gray[4]
NCAA Division I – The American
17 varsity sports teams
TOM III (live tiger) and Pouncer (costumed mascot)
.edu.memphiswww
The University of Memphis, also called the U of M, is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. With 25 Chairs of Excellence and five state-approved Centers of Excellence, the school is the flagship institution of the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
The University maintains the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI), the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, the former Lambuth University campus (now a branch campus of the university), the Loewenberg School of Nursing, the School of Public Health, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the FedEx Institute of Technology, the Advanced Distributed Learning Workforce Co-Lab, and the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology.
Layout 4.1
Main campus 4.1.1
Park Avenue Campus 4.2
Downtown Law School Campus 4.3
Lambuth Campus 4.4
Environmentalism 4.5
Clubs and organizations 6.1
The Daily Helmsman 6.1.1
Religious organizations 6.2
Honor societies 6.2.1
Greek life 6.3
Fraternities 6.3.1
Sororities 6.3.2
Traditions 7
Mighty Sound of the South 7.1
Mascot 7.2
Nickname 7.3
Song 7.4
Special programs 8
Tennessee Governor's School for International Studies 8.1
Chucalissa Indian Village 8.2
List of presidents 9.1
Notable alumni 9.2
University of Memphis welcome sign
ARWU[5]
Forbes[6]
U.S. News & World Report[7]
Not Ranked [8]
Washington Monthly[9]
Times[11]
A faculty of approximately 930 professors serves about 17,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students.
The Daily Helmsman, the independent daily newspaper on the campus, in operation since 1925, remains a prominent student organization. In addition, many other student organizations and academic departments, such as the University of Memphis Institute for Egyptian Art and Archaeology, the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Moot Court Board, the University of Memphis Advertising Federation and the University of Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, play an active and involved role in the community, both nationally and internationally.
The University of Memphis attracts most of its undergraduate students from Memphis and West Tennessee, though many current undergraduate and graduate students have come from public and private schools across the southeastern United States as well as from all the other states and about 100 other nations.
Over its history, the University of Memphis has graduated many famous alumni, including U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen, actor and former U.S. senator Fred D. Thompson, historian of the American South Joe Gray Taylor, Derrick Rose and Anfernee Hardaway, NBA and former University of Memphis basketball players, and DeAngelo Williams, former All-American college football running back.
Among its most famous faculty members are Dr. Lorelei Corcoran, Professor of Egyptology; Dr. Peter J. Brand, Professor of Egyptology; Béla Bollobás, Jabie Hardin Chair Professor of Mathematics; and Dr. Donald R. Franceschetti, Professor of Physics.
The Division of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Memphis provides non-credit instruction to people from all walks of life. Originally established in the 1970s, the non-credit programs include face-to-face short courses, customized training for businesses, and online courses.
Student Activities Plaza
The University of Memphis is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system, consisting of 18 Board Members. The Board sets Policies and Guidelines that govern all TBR institutions. The Standing Committees of the Board, and some Ad Hoc Committees, meet prior to each Board meeting and include faculty and student representatives. Within this framework, the President of the University of Memphis is the day-to-day administrator of the university.
The University of Memphis today comprises a number of different colleges and schools:
Fogelman College of Business and Economics
College of Communication and Fine Arts
Herff College of Engineering
Loewenberg School of Nursing
Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
The University of Memphis is host to several centers of advanced research:
FedEx Institute of Technology
Center for Earthquake Research and Information
Institute for Intelligent Systems
Advanced Distributed Learning Workforce Co-Lab
The University of Memphis Foundation, founded in 1964, manages the university endowment and accepts, manages and disburses private support to the University.[12]
Ned R. McWherter Library
In 1909, the Tennessee Legislature enacted the General Education Bill. This bill stated that three colleges be established, one within each grand division of the state and one additional school for African-American students. After much bidding and campaigning, the state had to choose between two sites to build the new college for West Tennessee: Jackson and Memphis. Memphis was chosen, one of the main reasons being the proximity of the rail line to the site proposed to build the new college for West Tennessee. This would allow professors and students to go home and visit their relatives. The other three schools established through the General Education Act are modern-day East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and Tennessee State University (TSU).
Prior to the establishment of the West Tennessee Normal School pursuant to the General Education Bill, a number of higher education departments existed in Memphis under the banner of the University of Memphis. This earlier University of Memphis was formed in 1909 by adding to an already existing medical school departments of pharmacy, dentistry, and law.[13]
On September 10, 1912, West Tennessee Normal School opened in Memphis; its first president was Seymour A. Mynders. By 1913 all departments of the earlier University of Memphis, except the law school, had been taken over by the State University.[13][14] After Mynders' death in 1913, John Willard Brister was chosen to take his place. After Brister's resignation in 1918, Andrew A. Kincannon became president. In 1924, Brister returned to his post as president of the school.
The name changed in 1925 to West Tennessee State Teachers College. In 1931, the campus' first newspaper, The Tiger Rag, was established. In 1939, Richard C. Jones became president of WTSTC. In 1941, the school was changed to Memphis State College, when the college expanded its liberal arts curriculum. In 1943, Dr. Jennings B. Sanders succeeded Jones as president. Three years later, the first alumnus to become president, J. Millard (Jack) Smith, was appointed. In 1951 MSC awarded its first B.A. degrees. In 1957 the school received full University status and changed its name accordingly to Memphis State University.
In 1959, five years after Brown v. Board of Education the University admitted its first black students. Because racial segregation was the norm throughout the South at the time the Memphis State Eight, as they were known, were admitted to Memphis State University, their presence on campus was the focus not only of intense media scrutiny, but severe criticism from much of the local public. Ostensibly for the black students' safety and to maintain an air of calm on the campus, University administrators placed certain restrictions on where and when the black students could be on campus. They were to go only to their classes, not to any of the public places on campus, such as the cafeteria; and they were to leave the campus immediately after they had finished their last class. These limitations were lifted after the novelty of their presence on campus had subsided and the public's focus on their presence there had lessened, and as more and more black students were admitted to the University. Today, black students make up more than one-third of the campus student body and they participate fully in all campus activities.
Cecil C. Humphreys became president of MSU, succeeding Smith, in 1960. In 1966, the school began awarding doctoral degrees. Humphreys resigned as MSU president to become the first chancellor of the newly formed State University and Community College System, later renamed the Tennessee Board of Regents. John Richardson was appointed interim president.
In 1973, Dr. Billy Mac Jones became president. Also that year, the Memphis State Tiger men's basketball team reached the finals of the NCAA tournament, only to fall at the hands of a UCLA team led by future NBA star Bill Walton in the championship game in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1980, Thomas Carpenter became president of MSU; he was succeeded by V. Lane Rawlins in 1991. On July 1, 1994, Memphis State University changed its name again, to the University of Memphis.
Rawlins served from 1991 to 2000; Dr. Ralph Faudree filled in as interim president for one year after Rawlins' departure. In 2001, U of M installed its first female president, Shirley C. Raines, 62, who retired in the summer of 2013. After a yearlong search Dr. M. David Rudd was confirmed as the 12th president of the University on May 1, 2014.[15]
The new Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, a former United States federal courthouse, opened in 2010.
The University of Memphis campus is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of downtown in the University District neighborhood of east Memphis. It has an area of 1,160 acres (4.7 km2), although this figure does not include the law school in the former United States federal customshouse in downtown Memphis, which opened in January 2010. The historical core of campus encompasses approximately 30 acres (120,000 m2).
Wilder Tower; the tallest building of the University's main campus
Campus planners have significantly increased the amount of green space and the number of walkways over the past several years, while maintaining a focus on the original historic architecture of the campus.
Surrounding the University's main campus are several historic neighborhoods to the north and east, as well as the University District neighborhood and the commercial Highland Strip to the west. Many University of Memphis college students also reside in housing south of the main campus.
The University of Memphis campus is set out in a rectilinear format, planned as a geometric design similar to the Jeffersonian style of the University of Virginia.
Despite gradual expansion of the campus to the west and south, the campus is fairly compact and retains a park-like, tree-lined setting. The farthest distance on campus takes about 25 minutes to walk. According to the most recent master plan, the University is projected to expand and redevelop additional areas one block west of the main campus' current western boundary of Patterson St., making Highland Avenue the "de facto" entrance to the University.
Students walking in front of Manning Hall
The FedEx Institute of Technology is a major research contributor in the areas of Supply Chain Management, robotics, and intelligent systems.
The center of the main campus comprises buildings that made up the original campus. The first college buildings, including Scates Hall, Manning Hall, and the Administration Building, were erected in the early 20th century. This section stretches from Deloach Avenue south to the end of the main campus at Walker Avenue, with most buildings surrounding the Alumni Mall and Student Plaza. The majority of the buildings of the arts and humanities departments, as well as those of the Physics and Astronomy departments of the College of Arts and Science, are located in the original areas of campus.
The Administration Building at the University of Memphis
Scates Hall, the 3rd oldest building on campus
Flanking the original area of campus to the east are the areas of major research for the life sciences and Engineering departments, including J.R. Smith Hall, the Life Sciences building and the Herff College of Engineering complex, as well as the Education department, residing in E.C. Ball Hall. The Ned R. McWherter Library, a state-of-the art library facility and one of the premier research libraries of the Mid-South United States, takes up the eastern part of the campus adjacent to Dunavant Plaza and Emeriti Grove.
The northwestern area of the main campus includes the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the Fogelman Executive Center (a major conference center for regional executives visiting the University), and the FedEx Institute of Technology, a major research contributor in the areas of Supply Chain Management, nanotechnology, robotics and intelligent systems. Originally, in the north end of the campus, Norriswood Avenue was the northern boundary and was an actual street that ran through the campus. The campus expanded into this area in the late 1960s & early 1970s.
The western edge and southwest corner include Johnson Hall (comprising the Geography and Geology departments), Patterson Hall (housing the English department), Wilder Tower, Greek Row, and the bulk of the University of Memphis residence halls. As the University presses ahead with its planned expansion, many more facilities, pedestrian access, and green space will also be created with the renovation and development of the currently residential block east of Patterson Street in the University District neighborhood.
On January 29, 2013, Governor Bill Haslam announced a $44.6 million state budget pledge for the Community Health Building, which will be the new home of the Loewenberg School of Nursing and the College of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The University of Memphis was required to raise $15 million from private funds to match the state funds.
Park Avenue Campus
Directly south of the main campus along the corner of Park Avenue and Getwell Road sits the Park Avenue Campus. The Park Avenue Campus is home not only to various intramural athletics programs and facilities, but also to various research facilities, classrooms and the Speech and Audiology Pathology Center. The Defense Contract Audit Agency also operates its main training facility on the Park Avenue Campus.
Future plans include a regulation indoor soccer stadium and track facility, capable of hosting large-scale NCAA Division I track-and-field meets.
The graduate and family housing units are located at Park Avenue, 1 mile (1.6 km) from the main university campus. The complex has 150 housing units.[16] Residents are zoned to Memphis City Schools.[17] The zoned schools are Sherwood Elementary School,[18] Colonial Middle School,[19] and White Station High School.[20]
Downtown Law School Campus
In 2010, the University of Memphis, School of Law law school was moved permanently from the main campus to a newly renovated downtown campus. The new law school campus sits adjacent to downtown courts, and the financial and administrative center of the city.
Lambuth Campus
In 2011, the University of Memphis began offering undergraduate and graduate programs on the former Lambuth University campus in Jackson, Tennessee, located approximately 80 miles (130 km) east of Memphis. Now known as the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus, the historic campus includes classroom buildings, dormitories, library, planetarium, and athletic facilities. The University plans to expand program offerings at the Lambuth Campus over the next several years and hopes to eventually have 1,000 students enrolled there.
The Edward J. Meeman Biological Station of the University of Memphis conducts research in ecology, environmental biology, and natural history. It is named for Edward J. Meeman, an editor of the former Memphis Press-Scimitar newspaper who later established a foundation to fund environmental studies.[21]
In 2007, President Shirley Raines signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which requires that the university become carbon neutral.[22]
The Green Campus Initiative works to develop and implement a strategic plan to achieve the goals of the APUPCC. Successful events and projects include the May 2009 2nd Annual E-Recycling Day, resulting in 155 tons of electronic items collected, and the Tiger Initiative for Gardening in Urban Settings (TIGUrS), a fruit and vegetable gardening initiative across campus.[23]
In April 2008, the student-run Environmental Action Club ran a Green Power Campaign to promote a student referendum to add a "Green Fee" to tuition payments to fund clean, renewable energy and other campus sustainability projects. The referendum passed with a 69% student approval rate. The university is now purchasing renewable energy through the TVA's Green Power Switch program and offsetting 10% of current energy use.[24] It is now the 2nd largest green power purchaser in the entire TVA distribution region.[25]
In February 2009, the TERRA (Technologically and Environmentally Responsive Residential Architecture) sustainable design demonstration house was completed. The TERRA house will serve as a studio for which architecture and design students to design "green" housing within urban areas, as well as serve as a demonstration house open for tours and serving as an educational tool for the community.[26]
Memphis received a grade of "C" on the 2009 Campus Sustainability Report Card published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.[27] Only 34 schools earned a higher grade.[28]
The Daily Helmsman
The Daily Helmsman is the student newspaper of the University of Memphis. The editorially independent student newspaper of the University publishes 55,000 copies a day, four days a week, and employs a paid staff of more than 30 which includes an editorial team of six, more than 20 staff writers, photographers, copy editors, and other staff members during the Fall and Spring semesters. The paper publishes at decreased intervals during the summer semester (May through August) and has significantly fewer staff writers during the summer.
The publication is part of a tradition which began in 1931 as The Tiger Rag, a protest newspaper. Since that time, the newspaper has been continuously published by University of Memphis students. Even during World War II when paper and other resources were scarce, the newspaper published as a newsletter posted on bulletin boards around campus.
The name of the newspaper was changed to The Helmsman in 1972, and became The Daily Helmsman in 1981, when the newspaper began publishing four days a week.
The Helmsman has won many honors over the years for reporting, photography and design, including awards given by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Columbia University and the Southeastern Journalism Conference. Helmsman alumni have gone on to jobs at many prestigious news organizations, such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, and Southern Living magazine, among others. In 2012, The Helmsman and then-Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Boozer were awarded the College Press Freedom Award for their efforts fighting "a retaliatory budget cut while enduring a campaign of harassment by campus police."[29] The award is given annually by the Student Press Law Center and the Associated Collegiate Press. Boozer also won a national Investigative Reporters and Editors award for coverage of how student activity fees are spent, including how the Student Government Association writes its senior officers free tuition, parking and stipends out of the money collected from the student body.
Numerous religious centers are located on the campus, including the Wesley Foundation (a United Methodist student center), the Baptist Student Center, the University Catholic Center and Catholic Student Center, Barth House Episcopal Student Center, Reformed University Fellowship, the Soma Christian Student Center (a Church of Christ-supported center), and Memphis Hillel. Numerous other religious clubs of various faiths also exist on campus, which meet in various locations.
Golden Key International Honour Society
Tau Beta Pi
The University of Memphis has accumulated numerous traditions over its long history as the flagship public research university within the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
Mighty Sound of the South
The Mighty Sound of the South Band is the University's band. The band performs at Memphis Tigers football games as a marching band and at Tigers basketball games as a pep band. As one of the oldest institutions at the University, the Band partakes in many of the game day traditions. The MSS performs more than any other student ensemble on campus, and for approximately 350,000 fans each fall. The MSS is featured at nearly every campus-wide event, ranging from Freshman Convocation to the Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally. The band has been featured on the nationally syndicated "Mike & Mandy" Radio Show, and is a star attraction at the Bandmaster's Championship, a high school marching band contest administered by The University of Memphis Band Alumni Chapter. Members of the MSS represent all academic disciplines across campus, and historically has been open to all students via audition.
For over 30 years, the sideline mascot for The University of Memphis has been a live Bengal tiger named TOM. During this time, the University has hosted three successive tigers, known respectively as TOM I, TOM II, and TOM III. The university also has a costumed tiger mascot known as Pouncer.
TOM III, the current Tiger mascot, attends all Tiger football home games and other University events. TOM III travels in a climate-controlled trailer with a police escort. TOM III is housed and cared for by the Highland Hundred Tiger Guard, an alumni LSU in Baton Rouge). After being diagnosed with mouth cancer, TOM II was euthanized on October 15, 2008, at the age of 17. The team of veterinarians who oversaw TOM II decided this was necessary to ensure he did not suffer due to his illness.
The Highland Hundred football booster group found a replacement for the mascot in the tiger cub TOM III.
The University currently has fifty tiger statues located on campus and another fifty located around the Memphis area. The Alumni Association placed the life-sized tigers around the city in honor of the University's Centennial in January 2012.[30]
When the University of Memphis first fielded a football team in the fall of 1912, no one had selected a nickname for the squad. Early references to the football team tabbed them only as the Blue and Gray Warriors.
After the final game of the 1914 season, there was a student parade. During this event, several University students shouted, "We fight like Tigers!" The nickname was born. As time passed, the nickname "Tigers" was increasingly used, particularly in campus publications, but did not catch on with the newspapers downtown. They continued to use "the Blue and Gray" when referring to the University.
Under Coach Lester Barnard in 1922, Memphis's football team gave a ring of truth to that old student yell about Tigers. The team adopted a motto – "Every Man a Tiger" – and went on to score 174 points while allowing its opponents just 29 points. The Tiger nickname continued on with students and alumni, eventually being adopted as the official nickname for the University of Memphis in 1939.
Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement and convocation, and athletic games is "Go! Tigers! Go!", the University of Memphis Tigers' fight song. The fight song was written by Tom Ferguson, former Director of Bands at Memphis State University during the 1960s.
Tennessee Governor's School for International Studies
The Governor's School for International Studies, abbreviated GSIS, is an academic summer program for gifted junior and senior high school students in Tennessee. It is a selective program located at the University of Memphis in which students study two Political Science, a foreign language, and an elective of their choice from the International Studies curriculum. The students, upon finishing the four week term, gain six hours of college credit which may be transferred to any Tennessee Board of Regents School.[31]
Chucalissa Indian Village
U of M also operates the Chucalissa Indian Village, an American Indian heritage site and museum. Officially known as the T. O. Fuller State Park, the location includes a museum and important archeological sites.
Seymour A. Mynders (1912–1913)
John Willard Brister (1913–1918)
Andrew A. Kincannon (1918–1924)
Richard C. Jones (1939–1943)
Jennings B. Sanders (1943–1946)
J. Millard (Jack) Smith (1946–1960)
Cecil C(larence) Humphreys (1960–1972)
John Richardson (1972–1973) interim
Billy Mac Jones (1973–1980)
Thomas G. Carpenter (1980–1991)
V. Lane Rawlins (1991–2000)
Ralph Faudree (2000–2001) interim
Shirley C. Raines (2001–2013)
R. Brad Martin (2013–2014) interim
M. David Rudd (2014–present)
Kathy Bates American actress and film director
Dixie Carter American actress
Steve Cohen U.S. Representative, 9th Congressional District, Tennessee
Stephen Gostkowski American football player New England Patriots, NFL
Spurgeon Neel, MD Maj General, U.S. Army, aeromedical evacuation pioneer
Edmund Warren Perry writer
Fred Thompson Former U.S. Senator
Dan Uggla MLB second baseman
Stan Franklin Noted cognitive scientist
DeAngelo Williams American football player Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL
Mulgrew Miller Noted jazz pianist
^ The English translation given is the official one. A more literal translation would be To imagine, to think, to do.
^ As of 2013.
^ http://www.memphis.edu/about/facts.php
^ http://www.memphis.edu/logo/web-guidelines/
^ "Graduate and Student Family Housing." University of Memphis. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
^ "Campus Map Park Avenue." University of Memphis. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
^ "2010-2011 Elementary School Attendance Boundaries." Memphis City Schools. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
^ "2010-2011 Middle School Attendance Boundaries." Memphis City Schools. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
^ "2010-2011 High School Attendance Boundaries." Memphis City Schools. Retrieved on October 9, 2011.
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February 2007 in sports
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text:
Last Update October 27, 2015
6 more weeks of the flu? Season still going strong, CDC says
Nine more children have died in the past week due to flu-associated illnesses, according to federal health officials – bringing the total number of pediatric deaths to 29 this season.
It has been a particularly bad flu season for children, and health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday the elderly are also affected.
Related: How health officials determine what viruses are used in vaccine
Hospitalization rates for people 65 and older rose sharply in the most recent reporting period, which ended January 11.
"The bottom line here is that this is a worse-than-average season and a bad year for the elderly in terms of flu," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC.
Frieden said this year's prominent strain H3N2 is especially tough on younger kids and older adults.
"We're seeing a very high hospitalization rate for the elderly this year for flu," Frieden added. "For laboratory-proven flu, it's 82 per 100,000 people 65 years of age and older. That's on par with what we saw in 2007-2008 and 2003-2004. And, those were the prior two H3 seasons."
Thirty states and New York City are reporting high levels of influenza-like activity, which is up from 24 states last week. Forty-eight states are reporting widespread flu activity, up from 47 last week.
Flu activity is still decreasing in the South, but increasing in the West, according to officials. These types of ebbs and flows are normal, the CDC said, and are likely due to the early start of flu season.
Federal health officials told Fox News this year's flu season is "probably" half finished, based on what they've seen in past years. However, officials emphasized the word "probably," because the flu is so hard to predict.
"An average flu season lasts about 12 weeks, and this is about week six," Frieden said. "So, we're about in the middle. But only time will tell exactly what happens this year."
Manufacturers originally projected they would produce 135 million doses of flu vaccine this season. They have since increased that estimate to 145 million. As of January 11, 129 million doses have been distributed.
Officials want to urge physicians to order more vaccine, as the flu season is still ongoing. Patients should know it's not too late to get the vaccine, as it is the best protection against the illness.


text:
About Grove Hill Memorial Hospital
GHMH serves patients in Clarke and surrounding counties.
South Alabama Infirmary, now Grove Hill Memorial Hospital, was founded in 1949, by Dr. Ralph Dewey Neal, Sr. The hospital name was changed in 1961. A new hospital was constructed in 1970 and is owned by the Town of Grove Hill.
We also own and operate two Rural Health Clinics in Grove Hill on our campus. We currently have a 9 bed geriatric psych unit and a 2 bed sleep lab.
We strive to become our community's first choice for health care by delivering exceptional, holistic, preventive, and acute care services while ensuring an unparalleled experience for every patient under our care.
Our hospitalist is Dr. Thomas Broughton. He has been with GHMH since 2016. He graduated from Alabama A&M University with his undergraduate degree and attended St. Matthews University for medical school.
Our Medical Records department is available Monday to Thursday from 7 am until 4 pm and on Friday from 7 am to 11 am. You can call them at (251) 275-4040, fax them at (251) 275-4289, or email them at knewton@gh-health.org or awoods@gh-health.org.
Licensed hospital beds: 50
295 South Jackson Street Grove Hill, AL 36451
info@gh-health.org


Small enamel industrial pendant light by Crysteel.
Unusual shape, large galleries with old paint.
Professionally rewired and PAT inspected. Supplied with suspension chain and ceiling hook.
Fully restored in our workshop, these represent some of the very best British industrial lighting of the mid 20th century, we have been finding restoring and selling industrial lighting for over 25 yrs.


I'm trying to learn Tensorflow on Single CPU mode. When I try to run some examples , such as [mnist_softmax.py] it seems that the whole code run correctly and output the expected answer, but shows [Segmentation fault (core dumped)] and generate a 1.7G or even bigger core file in the end.
When I run the same code in python interactive shell, it runs well and won't appear such Segmentation fault.
and rerun it on the command line.
Most used Python module for video processing?
Python exception backtrace tells me where line ends, where does it begin?
Search directory in SVN for files with specific file extension and copy to another folder?
Is it possible for a running python program to overwrite itself?
How to copy a file to a remote server in Python using SCP or SSH?
Why do you need explicitly have the "self" argument into a Python method?
In GTK, how do I make a window unable to be closed?
Python: how can I handle any unhandled exception in an alternative way?
How to roll my own pypi?


This is actually an older painting that I've been sitting on for the better part of a year.
It was mostly just experimental play, as much of my work in late 2016 was. However it did illustrate some nice ideas in esthetics that I enjoyed and since the process I used to create it was more active than would appear, I've hung on to it rather than painting over it. Today I pulled it out from storage to take a look at it again.
Imagine my surprise in finding that the surface was still wet! All of it - 100%. And while I've painted with oil pastels before, I've never kept anything up until this one. Oil pastels don't ever really seem to dry and despite my attempts at accelerating this process so that I might layer over it with more oil pastels, it's still quite pliable. The painting itself is not a piece I'm interested in ever showing beyond this blog it, as it was driven by learning and not esthetics. When I came across a bit of esthetics during my experimentation I'd keep it around to play with for the future. Otherwise I'd simply paint over the piece or rip it up and toss it. Mercilessly.
It seems that's not entirely an option here. So while I could simply remake it, and better, there's a bit of difficulty letting this one go. No real reason that I can feel or see, but still it remains. I'll pop it back into storage for now, perhaps in a year I'll bring it out again just to see how I feel then.


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The Town of Newell Commissioners met in a special session at 1800 at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Keolker followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Howie, Commissioner Youngberg, Commissioner Wolff and Finance Officer Parrow were all present.
Adopt the Agenda: Motion by Commissioner Adams, 2nd by Commissioner Howie; to adopt the 28 September, 2015 agenda. All in favor. Motion carried.
Approve Minutes of the September 14, 2015 Commissioners Meeting: Motion by Commissioner Adams, 2nd by Commissioner Youngberg; to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2015 Commissioners Meeting. All in favor. Motion carried.
Second Reading of Ordinance No 2015-04 2016 Appropriation Ordinance: Motion by Commissioner Wolff, 2nd by Commissioner Howie; to approve the second reading of Ordinance No 2015-04 2016 Appropriation Ordinance. Commissioner Adams aye, Commissioner Howie aye, Commissioner Youngberg aye, and Commissioner Wolff aye.
Authorization for Mayor Keolker to sign the State of South Dakota Joint Powers Financial and Maintenance Agreement between Department of Transportation and City of Newell: Motion by Commissioner Wolff, 2nd by Commissioner Adams; to approve Mayor Keolker to sign the State of South Dakota joint powers financial and maintenance agreement between Department of Transportation and City of Newell. All in favor. Motion carried.
Adjourn Meeting: Adjourn the 28 September, 2015 Special Commissioners Meeting at 1820.


Forrester analyst Josh Bernoff is blaming the media forthe way it reported his iTunes claims, while Piper Jaffray release figures which bluntly contradict his doom scenario.
Forrester Research has begun backpedalling on its recent claims that iTunes sales are slowing down.
Analyst Josh Bernoff has responded to media reports quoting him as saying that iTunes sales had fallen by as much as 58 per cent.
His comments follow strong criticism of the claims, which were widely reported by major media outlets.
They also follow research released by Piper Jaffray yesterday which bluntly contradicts Bernoff's claims. Sales are climbing, not falling, the second analysis states.
"From January to September in 2005 Apple sold 10.4 million songs per week and in 2006 that number was up 78 per cent to 18.5 million songs per week over the same nine-month period," said Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster.
"We continue to believe the shift to online distribution of media is in its infancy. We estimate 5 per cent of worldwide music sales were online in 2006."
Piper Jaffray notes that iTunes sales usually peak after the holiday season, presumably as owners of shiny new iPods download new tracks for their music players.
Writing on his blog, Bernoff attempted to blame the media for the way it reported his claims – based mainly on analysis of old US credit card data. Despite this, he continues to insist that iTunes sales are levelling off, which seems unlikely given continued growing iPod sales.
Bernoff also attempted to lay some blame with Apple, saying the company's extreme secrecy leaves it open to waves of speculation.
Apple yesterday broke its silence to deny Bernoff's damaging claims – which drove company stock down 3 per cent, despite most analysis predicting another outstanding quarter for the company's sales across all its product areas.
"The conclusion that iTunes sales are slowing is simply incorrect," Apple said.
"Apple is leading the digital music revolution with almost 70 million iPods sold and a stunning 1.5 billion songs purchased from the iTunes Store. iTunes sales represent nearly 6 per cent of all music sold in the US, making iTunes the fourth largest music retailer there," the company stressed.
"In the UK our market share is around 80 per cent of the legal download music market as per the Official Charts Company," Apple explained.


Raising children is not an easy task, because different things, small and large, can affect them and shape the people they will become. It is only natural that as parents, we sometimes make mistakes that eventually enable us to learn how to act in the future, but unfortunately, some of these mistakes can have far-reaching effects and make our children spoiled, both as toddlers and as adults. In order not to fall into the parental traps that make our children spoiled, it's important to identify problematic behavior in children and cut it out at the root.
These are the 8 things that make children spoiled that you have to stop doing now to prevent them from becoming spoiled adults!
When you give your children reasons and explanations for what you ask of them, they mimic this behavior and do exactly as you do. Sentences like "If you don't clean up your room you won't find anything in the mess," make children think they a reason is needed for everything and they'll come back at you in the same currency with questions like "Why do I have to clean my room, it's just going to get messy again anyway? This mechanism of question-answer-reason will cause each parent to become confused, flustered, eventually succumb to the child's will, which as a result will make them think they need a reason for everything they are asked to do. By winning the arguments and getting what they want, the child will become spoiled.
In order to solve the problem of argumentation, you must be assertive and make your child understand that there are certain things that need to be done even if we don't want to do them, like cleaning the room. Give them clear instructions, without negotiating such as, "You have to clean your room before you watch TV." To make it easier to stand up for yourself, adopt general phrases that you can use in a variety of areas, such as "In this family, everyone needs to clean their room" so that the child understands that there are clear rules and you don't have to give a reason for everything.
A clear sign for overly spoiled children is a demand for things they "can't live without." This happens when children "pester" us about something they want from a certain store, and we give in to them because it is simpler than starting an argument. If your child starts throwing a tantrum and you give in to it, they learn that all they have to do to get what they want is to make a little fuss. Another factor of raising spoiled kids is the fact that sometimes we buy things for our children to make them happy, and when it becomes a habit they don't appreciate it as much as they did in the past. It also robs them of the joy of waiting for something that will take them time to receive and the joy they feel when getting a unique gift.
If you are going to shop with your kids, prepare them in advance for the purpose of the trip, saying for example: "We're going to the toy store to buy a gift for your cousin." If your children make a fuss, ignore them and continue with your plan. It is important to make it clear to them that they will receive gifts on special occasions and not whenever they feel like a new toy. So if, for example, they ask you to buy them a specific toy, tell them, "We can add it to your birthday wish list." In addition, try to provide your children with positive experiences that are not related to physical objects, such as joint activities inside and outside the home, so that they don't depend on material things to make them happy.
Sometimes, in trying to make our children feel special, we make them feel like they're the only person in the room and all the attention should be directed at them. If your child tries to attract your attention in any situation and you give into them, such as during a conversation with another parent in the playground, for example, it may be problematic and make them spoiled. It is important to make children feel special and loved, but we can't always be so readily attentive towards them, doing so will eventually cause them to think that the focus should always be on them. "It's never too early to tell your child, 'You're very important, but we're all important,'" says Dr. Sal Severe, a school psychologist.
In addition to explaining the importance of other people, it is important that you don't give your children too much individual attention. Explain to them situations where they shouldn't disturb you such as, "When you see that I'm on the phone, do not interrupt me," and when they can say what they'd like, "I'll talk to you as soon as I finish the conversation." In the meantime, think about what you want to do after I finish." Look for opportunities to show them that other people are also important; "I'm sure what you have to say is very interesting but now we want to hear about Grandma's trip."
"Mom, I'm thirsty! Bring me water!" This is a sentence that many parents are familiar with, and although there are times when our children actually do need help, you don't have to rush to them every time they ask for something. The reason they do this is that they've gotten used to you helping them with every little thing, even at an age when they can already do things on their own. Many times this happens to parents unconsciously, so it's important to be alert to this behavior and learn to let your children do things themselves once they are able to, otherwise they can become lazy, unmotivated adults.
"The only way to deal with feelings of frustration is to experience them," says Prof. Dan Kindlon, a psychologist at Harvard University, "so stand by and let your child deal with the waiting." Tell them, "I'm busy now, but I'll help you after I finish cleaning the kitchen." When you do this, emphasize to your child that he or she can do what they want on their own with sentences like "I'm sure a big boy like you who goes down the slide alone can also butter his own toast." When you do this, your children will understand that there are things they can handle on their own and thus they can become independent adults with the ability to cope with challenges.
"They're just kids" is a sentence spoken by many parents, but these three words can have a negative and far-reaching effect that can make them spoiled and inconsiderate. There is indeed a stage in infancy that children are not yet aware of their environment, but when they learn to speak and communicate, it is important to make them understand that their words have an effect on others' feelings. Don't forgive them for phrases such as "But I wanted a Barbie!" When they get clothing as a birthday gift, for example.
"That's mine!" Is a sentence spoken by quite a few children, and there is a biological reason for this; If your children refuse to share toys or hits others who try to take them, it's because of uncontrollable impulses that make them express their feelings physically and not verbally. This becomes a problem when they continue this behavior over time and refuse to share their stuff on the playground, for example. If you forgive your children for such behavior and don't teach them to share, they'll just become more and more spoiled with time and refuse to share their things even when they are older.
First, it is important to understand that the reluctance to share is natural and will pass over time provided you teach your child how to do it. If your child has one favorite toy and is afraid to share it when a friend whose expected to come over, don't force them to share that toy- instead, help them put it away and take out other toys. When your child refuses to share toys that are not their own, on the playground, for example, intervene and tell them that others should also be allowed to enjoy the toys and make sure they actually share. The child may be slightly angry, but it will pass and they'll learn to share and not feel that everything belongs exclusively to them.
7. You entertain your children every time they demand it Children enjoy playing different games and taking part in activities that are appropriate for their age, and it is nice to do so with them, but if you overdo it, you'll become the main source of entertainment for them. It will make them spoiled and demand your time whenever they feel a bit bored.
Life is not a bed of roses as we are well aware of as adults, but most of us want our children to be happy all the time. It is an unpleasant fact of life, but it is important that you understand that your children can't be happy every second of the day, and if you try to protect them from this truth they will become spoiled and think they deserve to be happy at all times.
Making your children understand that life is difficult is one of the greatest challenges but at the same time one of the most important in their development. In order for our children to integrate into society and cope successfully with life as adults, it is important to let them experience the difficulties that life poses. If, for example, there is a child in the kindergarten who has hurt your child's feelings, let them process these feelings and be a sympathetic ear instead of separating them from the offending child. Explain to them in a way that they can understand that there are negative things that happen to us and must be dealt with. For example, tell them that just as a bruised knee from a fall eventually heals, so will their feelings. Emphasize that difficulties are something that needs to be dealt with and not avoided because doing so is impossible.
Parenting brings with it new challenges every day, but it is important to be consistent and not let important matters slide, for you and your children. Following these rules and tips will guarantee your children grow up to be well-rounded, and certainly not spoiled, adults!


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Property price U-turn in 5 capital cities
The housing market is continuing to show signs of stabilisation, with the latest CoreLogic statistics actually showing home values beginning to rise across five Australian capital cities.
CoreLogic's latest Hedonic Home Value Index has reported a 0.1 per cent increase in residential property prices in June across Australia's combined capital cities.
The rise was driven by increases across five capital cities, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and Hobart recording price growth.
Darwin recorded the sharpest monthly increase, with values rising 0.4 per cent, followed by Hobart, where values increases 0.3 per cent, while Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane each recorded monthly spikes of 0.2 per cent.
Sydney and Melbourne have recorded increases for the second consecutive month, with home values rising 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively, in June.
The increases were partly offset by dwelling value declines in Perth (0.5 per cent), Adelaide (0.3 per cent) and Canberra (0.3 per cent), with combined regional values also slipping, down 0.2 per cent in June.
As a result, national home values remained stable; however, according to CoreLogic's head of research, Tim Lawless, national home prices may have reached their bottom.
"Our national dwelling value index may have found a floor in July, with dwelling values holding firm over the month following a consistent trend towards smaller month-on-month declines through the first half of the year," he said.
National dwelling values are now down 8.3 per cent from their peak.
Mr Lawless said that the July results are further evidence that recent market developments, including both monetary and regulatory stimulus, are helping spur a recovery in the housing market.
"The July home value index results provide further confirmation that the housing market has reacted positively to the recent stimulus of lower mortgage rates and improved credit availability; however, the response to date has been relatively mild," he said.
However, Mr Lawless stressed that "there is no sign of a 'V-shaped' recovery", pointing to the continued crackdown on living expenses for home loan applications.
"Housing credit polices remain much tougher than they were prior to the [banking] royal commission as lenders continue to move away from the Household Expenditure Measure (HEM) and examine borrower spending behaviours and expenses more closely," he added.
"Also, lenders now have the benefit of comprehensive credit reporting whereby borrower debt profiles are more transparent, providing lenders with the ability to assess credit worthiness in more detail."
"The ongoing tightness in housing credit is expected to keep a rapid rebound in housing values at bay, despite the lowest mortgage rates since the 1950s."
Mr Lawless concluded by noting that policymakers would be watchful of a "more rapid acceleration in the recovery trend".
"If values were to start appreciating rapidly, there could be a renewed round of policy responses aimed at keeping a lid on housing prices whilst, at the same time, allowing low interest rates to stimulate the economy more broadly," Mr Lawless said.
However, other observers are yet to be convinced of a long-term recovery in the housing market, with Digital Finance Analytics principal Martin North telling My Business's sister title Mortgage Business he believes some 300,000 Australian households are potentially at risk of being mortgage prisoners, even in spite of recent cuts to interest rates.
'Bankruptcy was never an option'
Inflation edges higher, driven by soaring fuel prices


"I don't think my speech is going to be as good," he said with a laugh. "But it's definitely an honor to be with the people who are here. These are guys I looked up to. I remember (fellow inductee) Tony (Galbreath) playing football. I remember getting an autograph from him as a kid and thinking, 'Wow, this is unbelievable.'"I am 21 yo student in the last year of my Master's. Nike Zoom Pegasus 32 Blue Since my arrival to England 4 years ago I have suffered from repeated bouts of flu and cold and one bad otitis which required treatment with antibiotics. I catch about 1 cold Nike Zoom Pegasus 32 Blue a month, but recovery is always quite slow. I first attributed this to stress and being in contact with many students but at this point it is seriously interfering with my work and making me feel generally miserable. I plan on staying in the UK for many more years.


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But every once in a while, the company reminds us of how it started by launching a product that will look very similar to Apple's offering.
Xiaomi has thrown down the gauntlet to Apple by announcing AirDots, the Chinese company's new wireless earbuds. For example, Apple charges $159 for a set of AirPods including a charging carry case, but Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is launching a no-frills equivalent for just 199 Yuan, or roughly $30. First spotted by Engadget the AirDots are apparently exclusive to China at the moment. However, that's the beauty of business.
Trademark filings from Hong Kong and Europe indicate Apple is updating its AirPods classifications in time for a rumored new release.
What's more, Xiaomi's product is targeted towards Android, which means that it can potentially sell a lot more of its AirDots, as compared to the AirPods. The buds themselves should give you five hours of life, courtesy of Bluetooth 5.0, with a total of 12 including the charging case.
A bibliophile and a business enthusiast. The AirDots are digital assistant enabled when paired with a Xiaomi smartphone, such as the Mi 8. They also support Bluetooth 5.0. Xiaomi is also holding an event in New York City next month. While turning the AirDots headset back on again, the AirDots connect automatically with the previously connected device without any additional hassle. The AirDots earphones come with Bluetooth v5.0 support. Said pairing is automatic once you remove them from the charging/carry box, too, as long as you've gone through the initial pairing process. It is available for pre-order in China on Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi Youpin, Tmall, Jingdong, and Suning. The AirDots Youth Edition can provide a continuous music playback of up to four hours.


Ambrose Dlamini, the newly unconstitutionally-appointed Prime Minister of Swaziland/Eswatini, said he will have zero tolerance on corruption in the kingdom ruled by absolute monarch King Mswati III.
He said this during the swearing-in of his Cabinet ministers on Tuesday (6 November 2018), according to a report in the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King.
Dlamini did not point out that the biggest drain on the public purse in Swaziland is King Mswati himself.
The King rules as sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch. He appointed Dlamini, who has never been elected by the people, PM last week in contravention of the Swazi Constitution. The King also appointed six members of his Royal Family to the House of Assembly and eight to the Swaziland Senate.
The King is not shy in displaying his wealth. In April 2018 at his 50th birthday celebration he wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds. He did this while children in his kingdom continue to be on the verge of starvation and are only kept alive by food donated from abroad.
In 2017, the global charity Oxfam named Swaziland as the most unequal country in the world in a report called Starting With People, a human economy approach to inclusive growth in Africa detailing the differences in countries between the top most earners and those at the bottom. The Oxfam report stated the government, which is handpicked by King Mswati, 'failed to put measures in place to tackle inequality, with poor scores for social spending and progressive taxation, and a poor record on labour rights'.
In the March 2018, the budget for the Royal Family spending (the civil list) was increased by E1 million to E394 million. At the same time value added tax (VAT) was increased by 1 percent. Local media did not comment on the King's increase but did report the budget as an attack on the poor.
King Mswati's personal spending also diverts money away from much-needed development.
Between 2011 and 2015 Swaziland took US$507 million (E6.24 billion) in external assistance from other countries. Of this, US$140 million came from the United States (28 percent of the total) and US$123 million from the European Union (24 percent of the total). Other main donors were Taiwan (US$74 million) and the United Nations (US$59 million).
Combined, the total external assistance accounted for 17.6 percent of Swaziland's domestic revenue. The EU's assistance covers a range of areas, including education, health, water and sanitation among others. The US only assists in areas of health. The health sector receives the largest amount of aid, followed by agriculture and infrastructure.
A report written by Klaus Stig Kristensen and published by Afrika Kontakt (Africa Contact) in 2017 stated, 'The EU and US finance these sectors, freeing up funds for the government of Swaziland to spend on an unnecessary defence/security sector that consumes an increasing amount of the national budget.
'They thereby alleviate funds for the government of Swaziland to be spent on vanity capital projects [such as the King Mswati III International Airport] and unnecessary defence that consumes an increasing amount of the national budget.
The report stated that in Swaziland almost 6 percent of the national budget is spent on the Royal Family and 12.4 percent on the security sector, while only 3.3 percent is spent on agriculture, 'the engine that is supposed to pull the rural population out of poverty'. It added, 'This is a strange budget prioritization considering that the majority of Swazis live below the poverty line.
It reported that MTN, which had a monopoly of the cell phone business in Swaziland at the time, paid dividends directly to the King. He holds 10 percent of the shares in MTN in Swaziland and is referred to by the company as an 'esteemed shareholder'. It said MTN had paid E114 million (US$11.4 million at the then exchange rate) to the King over the previous five years.
The newspaper also reported that the King was receiving income from Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, a conglomerate he controls 'in trust for the Swazi nation', which paid dividends in 2013 of E218.1 million. The newspaper reported 'several sources' who said it was 'an open secret' that although money generated by Tibiyo was meant to be used for the benefit of the nation, Tibiyo in fact channelled money directly to the Royal Family.
In 2016, Tibiyo paid dividends of E188.5 million and had assets valued at E1.8 billion. Tibiyo TakaNgwane investments include Dalcrue Agricultural Holdings, Inyoni Yami Swaziland Insurance, Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation, Ubombo Sugar Limited, Bhunu Mall, Nedbank Swaziland, Simunye Plaza, The Swazi Observer, Tibiyo Properties, Maloma Colliery, Parmalat Swaziland, Swaziland Beverages and Swazi Spa Holdings.
Earlier in May 2018, Lucky Ndlovu, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office Director of Children Services, revealed that Neighbourhood Care Points (NCP) that feed the hungry across Swaziland were short of food because donations were drying up.
He added, donors believed Swaziland had enough money but it was not being directed towards the poor.
'Government must come up with programmes that are pro-poor because the international community is now not willing to support us,' he said.


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Companies must get to grips with Artificial Intelligence or face becoming obsolete, says new RICS research report – EuropaProperty
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RICS has launched an insight paper which explores the impact of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the built environment, and the urgent need for industry professionals to understand how it will influence their role, as the future will rely less on human labour and more on technology.
One sector that the Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment Insight Paper highlights as facing a significant impact of AI is Facilities Management (FM), due to the labour intensive and repetitive nature of many FM jobs, making it an ideal place for automation of previously human dominated tasks. However, the report weighs up the positives and negatives of such changes and how companies should deal with them.
Paul Bagust, RICS Global Property Standards Director, said, "FM will always have a vital role to play within the built environment, and even though many operational roles will become more technology-led, the sector could benefit hugely from AI at a strategic level. For example, machinery utilising AI will revolutionise the FM industry, making many jobs faster, safer, and less costly, and this will ultimately improve a company's service offering and increase their bottom line."
He added: "Technology and the availability of data is also changing the way investors look for opportunities and invest. This will present a huge threat to the industry if ignored, but again, it presents so many opportunities for those who work in the built environment. So, all businesses, however large or small, must act now and analyse and prepare for how this disruptive technology could transform their role, sector and the wider built environment. Otherwise they face becoming obsolete."
The Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment Insight Paper – in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence in Facilities Management (AI in FM) – discusses how AI will transform the property industry by driving smart, efficient buildings from design through to construction. It also highlights how those in the industry can exploit the latest AI applications and developments, including drones and BIM (Building Information Modelling), to plan and work more effectively, whilst improving and better maintaining the quality of buildings and the wider built environment.
Chris Hoar, co-founder of AI in FM commented, "The overarching message of this report is that organisations should seek out and maximise the opportunities that artificial intelligence presents, while minimising any potential threats. This way, they will have a much better chance of controlling their business strategy, direction and financial health."
In 2016, RICS and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) launched a landmark collaboration to advance the global FM community by offering the most comprehensive catalogue of professional development and credentials. The collaboration leverages the combined authority of two of the world's premier built environment professional organisations to support FM education and career advancement.
Artificial Intelligence will be one of the driving forces as the globe becomes more urban and digital. How this technology can develop our industries and drive productivity will be explored further at the RICS World Built Environment forum on 23 April 2018 in London.
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Hurricane season forecast "very" active, with high landfall probability
4th June 2020 - Author: Steve Evans
The latest forecast updates for the 2020 Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane season continue to point to elevated chances of a particularly active year, with Colorado State University saying we should expect it to be "very" active, with above average landfall probabilities as well.
The latest forecasts from two of the best connected teams, Colorado State University and Tropical Storm Risk, have both seen increased numbers published, suggesting a season for the insurance, reinsurance and insurance-linked securities (ILS) market to watch closely.
First, the Colorado State University team led by Phil Klotzbach, who have given a total seasonal forecast, so including the already three tropical storms that have formed.
Incorporation these storms, the Colorado State forecasting team calls for 19 named tropical storms (up 3 to account for the storms already formed) during the 2020 season, with 9 becoming hurricanes (up one) and 4 major hurricanes.
The Colorado State team have also upped their forecast for accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) for the season from 150 to 160.
The probabilities of landfalling storms occurring that this forecast team also provide have also been increased and now sit well above average, a potential concern for reinsurance interests.
The data now suggests a 70% chance of a landfalling major hurricane on the U.S. coastline, well above the average of 52%.
For the east coast and Florida they give a 46% chance of a major hurricane making landfall in the 2020 season, well up on the 31% long-term average again.
For the Gulf Coast the probability of major hurricane landfall is 45% in 2020, again above the average of 30%.
There's also a 59% probability given for a major hurricane to track into the Caribbean, up on the average of 42%.
The forecasters explain that they, "Now call for a very active Atlantic hurricane season in 2020, citing the likely absence of El Niño as a primary factor. Sea surface temperatures averaged across portions of the tropical Atlantic are somewhat above normal, while the subtropical Atlantic is much warmer than average. This type of sea surface temperature configuration is also considered favorable for an active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season."
In addition, they cite the chances of "weak La Niña conditions by the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season" which could make conditions even more conducive to storm formation and hurricane intensification.
The Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) forecasters have increased their prediction for the 2020 hurricane season as well, raising their forecast to now 17 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes to form during the 2020 Atlantic tropical storm season, with accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) forecast at 135.
The number of storms forecast has only risen by one, but the TSR team also predict that there could be around 5 tropical storm landfalls in the U.S. during the season, and 2 hurricane landfalls.
The forecasters say they give a 30% chance that north Atlantic hurricane activity is above the long-term norm in the 2020 season.
"TSR slightly raises its April forecast due to updated climate signals pointing towards environmental fields in August-September 2020 that are slightly more favourable for Atlantic hurricane activity than thought previously. These anticipated fields are warmer than normal tropical North Atlantic water temperatures and weak La Niña ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) conditions," they explained.
Every forecasting team is predicting above average levels of tropical storm and hurricane activity during the 2020 season, some significantly above.
Of course, the number of storms is not necessarily an indicator of a threat to the reinsurance, catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) markets.
A single landfalling storm can cause significant damage and insurance or reinsurance market losses, while even a weaker storm can cause deadly impacts to lives and livelihoods.
Equally, we could have the most active season on record, but if no single storm made landfall in a populated and built up area then insured losses for the industry could still be low, with no impact to catastrophe bonds or ILS assets.
So it's all about landfalls and their location, as well as the intensity of any storms or hurricanes that approach land over the coming months.
But the forecast do give cause for concern and the industry may find it is watching the tropics more closely than years where the forecast is for lower activity levels.
As ever, uncertainty remains and will continue to do so. But with the forecasts suggesting activity could be particularly high this year, with a heightened chance of landfalls being seen, reinsurance and ILS interests will be firmly on-watch for the coming months.
With these latest forecasts, our Artemis average still calls for 17 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, which remains well-above the averages.
Track the 2020 Atlantic tropical storm and hurricane season on our dedicated page and we'll update you as new information emerges.
Tagged as: 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, 2020 hurricane season, Cat bond, Catastrophe bond, ILS funds, insurance, reinsurance
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