Special counsel Robert Mueller's team on Friday slammed a suggestion by Michael Flynn's lawyers that President Donald Trump's former national security adviser lied to the FBI not even a month into his tenure because he was caught off guard when two agents approached him.
However, Mueller's office said it would not change its recommendation that Flynn receive no jail time, given he has accepted responsibility for his actions and cooperated with the special counsel.
Mueller on Friday also released memos written by the FBI agents, and emphasized that when Flynn lied to them on January 24, 2017, about the substance of his policy conversations with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, he had already lied to several members of Trump's team and was "committed to his false story" that he and Kislyak did not discuss sanctions.
The FBI memos make clear that top Justice Department and bureau officials knew that Flynn's public story about his calls with Kislyak differed than what he actually said to the ambassador on the phone during the presidential transition — and the agents who spoke with him at the White House about it were prepared to confront him.
Flynn's demeanor, however, was so assured in their interview that Flynn did not appear to them, in the moment, to be deceiving them, the memo states.
Flynn later said he had lied. He will be sentenced next week.
Flynn's lies, the special counsel writes, were well-practiced.


Build your dream home on this conveniently located corner lot in a quickly developing area of beautiful Palm Coast! You will be in great company with other newer homes on the street, as well as another vacant lot directly across the street. The Seller has proactively completed a recent soil boring test, which can be shared with serious Buyers for peace of mind. Bring your builder, home plans or imagination for future development! Seminole Woods is near to restaurants, shopping, Advent Health, Florida Hospital, Flagler Beach, access to I-95 and more. Just 30 min to Daytona, 45 min to St. Augustine, 1 hour to Jacksonville, and approx. 1 hour 15 min to Orlando. Enjoy the peace and quiet of Palm Coast, while still being near all the action. Palm Coast boasts 70 miles of saltwater and freshwater canals, access to the Intracoastal Waterway, dozens of serene parks, over 125 miles of trails and paths for bikers, nature lovers and birdwatchers, and more. A true Florida paradise awaits you!


RU11572 Frank Rooney C V 22 65 21 60 19 60 25 71 87 256.
L10618 Richard D Stapleton A SV 21 60 20 59 21 61 18 51 80 231.
L464 Maura Walsh B L 22 63 21 60 22 62 21 60 86 245.
L5251 Joe Coffey B V 17 49 17 49 17 49 12 36 63 183.
RU11152 Martin Mitchell C V 21 61 19 55 19 52 19 53 78 221.


I informed my neighbour that my wife and I will be moving out of our flat to a new address in a month and he was very upset. In fact I saw him go silent after a while as he drifted in thought.
I could not think of anything else to say and I saw him turn away because he was genuinely upset.
I have known my neighbour since we moved into our present flat more than 15 years ago. My neighbour who is supposed to be my 'enemy' had become my good friend. We've shared many good times together and we bonded to the degree where there is mutual trust and respect. If I have important documents, he receives them on my behalf and vice versa. Once when I was ill and he learnt about it from my wife, he ran to fetch me medication and called me to ask how I was and if I needed anything. We are there for one another as friends and family.
We never discussed politics, there was no point. We mutually and naturally saw no good purpose in discussing topics that serve little but to divide us further.
It is not my first encounter and friendship with a Turk and I have learnt in time to put my upbringing to one side and to trust my instinct about what is right and what is wrong. I grew up to the story of my grandfather who was orphaned during the Armenian genocide, yet I know from my grandfather that a Turkish elderly couple saved his life by hiding him in their home, risking their own lives in doing so. This was proof to me that in all people there exists the good and the bad and it is up to us to overcome our fears and prejudice to rise above all evil to remain united.
The golden principles that have liberated me and blessed me with the knowledge that we are all imperfect and incomplete unless we are united in love. These are the fundamental values of humanity and love.
I will miss my neighbour when I move but I know our friendship is built on true foundations and it will continue to blossom.
2 Comments on "Love Thy Enemies"


Found footage of Max Golden who is a wanna be model for movies. This is his audition scene. The interviewer placed an ad in a local alt-weekly and would screen different guys for his movies at his apartment. Max is one of the guys who showed up for the audition.


Another Back to School season is upon us and I can't believe how time is flying by. Jack will be a junior in high school and Ava is a freshman. And, my first baby, Fairy Tales Hair Care is 20 years old! I'm sure many of you don't know our business is that old. We started in 1999 when Rob and I were not even married yet. We lived and worked in a small one bedroom apartment in Hells Kitchen, NYC. I spent those early days walking up and down the streets of the city, offering Rosemary Repel to salons for free. I used to say, if it doesn't sell, call me and I'll pick it up. I'm happy to report, no one has yet to call and ask me to pick up the products. It took a long time for the concept of lice prevention hair care to catch on. We worked so hard to explain what is was, what it did and how. The Moms got it; they tried it, it worked and 20 years later here we are! Did you know we are 2nd behind Suave Kids at Target?
You know what's crazy?? I never doubted for one second that we would be successful. I knew we had a great product and that we would beat the odds. I knew that I would have to go against my instincts for instant gratification and plan for the long haul. Robert is more a slow and steady partner and without him, I'm not sure we would be here today. We are a great team at home and at work.
When I reflect over the last 20 years, I am incredibly proud of myself! I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn't have a clue and I tried so many different things. This is the lesson I like to tell my kids and anyone else who will listen (ha) to me. Unless you have a true calling for something, experience life and see where it takes you! Our kids today are so uptight about their futures! I tell my kids constantly to relax, do their best and they will be fine. This is a big year for Jack – ACTs, SATs, college visits and he has to do a junior thesis in school. He's already driving me crazy about all the school work that hasn't even started yet. He wants to know why I'm the only Mom telling her kid to chill out, have some fun and don't worry about getting into a good college. I told him that it'll happen – statistically he will get into a college. I also promised him that I would walk up and down the East Coast offering him up with the promise to pick him up if he fails. I told him I have a pretty good track record of success with that concept!
Happy Back to School everyone – Enjoy the time as it goes so fast and don't forget to use Rosemary Repel every day!


Another reason why Maple Canyon is a top-notch climbing destination is that it is challenging for a wide range of climbers - from bouldering to intense inclines, climbers won't be dissapointed. This canyon offers hundreds of established climbing routes that range from walls less then ten feet high to hundreds of feet.
If climbing isn't your thing, there are many other activies in and around maple canyon that make it worth the trip. There is plentiful camping alongside the cliffs which make for a striking background against the usually blue skies. Also hiking, biking and animal viewing are plentiful in the area.


This week I received two separate emails from readers who wanted to know where to invest their money. What made them stand out was that both of them had accumulated substantial money despite mediocre salaries. They had not built their wealth from winning the lotto, playing the market or receiving massive bonuses, they had simply saved rather than spent.
"I grew up in a very disadvantage area but managed to save a lot of money over the years to such an extent that I could almost purchase my first property cash," wrote Neville who is a teacher at a government school. Neville has now bought a second property that he will be able to pay off in five years. He has emergency savings and a retirement fund – all of this on a teacher's salary.
Adrienne is a 30 year-old single female. She has no debt and her car is paid off. "As a savings oriented person, I've always saved at least 10% of my income (since university) and have now an emergency savings account worth 6 months of living expenses and R100 000 saved in unit trusts," wrote Adrienne who is now looking to start a long-term savings plan.
These emails were a sharp juxtaposition to an email I received a few weeks ago from a reader who told me he "needed" a car for R250 000. Now to put this in context, he was already in financial difficulty and as a result had been turned down by several banks. He took this as a personal affront and even suggested an element of racism at play.
Why does one "need" a car for R250 000? You may need a car to get to work but all it requires is four tyres and reasonable reliably. You certainly don't "need" a luxury car costing you R4500 per month – that is a want. "Wants" are luxuries that should only be paid for with cash after you have saved sufficiently. The fact that this reader is already in financial difficulty suggests that he values image over wealth.
The trap so many people fall into is that with their first pay cheque they want to have everything they aspire towards, today. They want to show the world they have "arrived" and have all the trapping of success to go with it. But there is a reason it is called "trappings" – it traps you into debt!
I shared with this reader my personal experience of being turned down for finance. I had started my own business and I wanted to buy a car – it wasn't even a fancy one just a bottom of the range Hyundai. However that was a significant upgrade from my clapped out ten-year old City Golf whose passenger doors wouldn't open.
The bank turned me down due to affordability. At the time I was so angry and had a lot to say about the bank to whomever would listen, but in retrospect it was the best thing that ever happened to me. The business struggled and cash flow became an issue. If I had bought the car I would have become another statistic. It probably would have been re-possessed and put me into a debt cycle that I would have struggled to recover from. It was a lesson I learnt without the pain and today car debt is something I still avoid.
Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is to be turned down for a loan.
Thanks for you comment, revolving credit is a particularly dangerous debt as you just live in overdraft at a very high rate.


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President's Breakfast to be held during "Day of Study"
By Andrew Hreha
With Thanksgiving falling late this year, Waynesburg University students have less than one week of classes before finals week. This means final assignments, projects, papers, etc. will take up most of the week, and students will turn around and take on finals next week.
To provide a break from the work and studying, University President Douglas Lee will be holding the President's Breakfast Monday Dec. 9 at 9:30 pm in the Benedum Dining Hall. Students will be able to attend the free breakfast to eat and receive a gift from the president upon entrance.
"It's one of the really fun things that we do at the university," Lee said. "Recognizing how hard the students are studying and the opportunity to take a small break and relax for a few moments, enjoy some food and some fellowship with your friends. We really look forward to having that during finals week; which can obviously be a little bit stressful."
Ben Dodge, senior biology pre-medical major, has attended the event multiple years and believes the timing of the event is in line with its mission.
"It's really nice, that 9:30 p.m. time is just about perfect, because I'm in the middle of studying, and usually by that time I've finished one class and I'm onto another class," Dodge said. "It's just a nice break to be able to go out there and have something warm, sit around with friends and talk to them a little bit, then go back to studying."
An aspect of the breakfast that a lot of students look forward to is the gift the president passes out to each student at the door. While the gift for this year has yet to be announced, Dodge has enjoyed the different gifts he has received in the past.
"Another nice thing about it is that the gift is different every year," Dodge said. "It's not always the same thing. We had a power bank last year, we've gotten cups in the past and I believe gloves one time too."
The most rewarding part of the event for Lee is being able to interact with the students.
"I get to meet most of the students, like that, only a few times as president," Lee said. "It's really a wonderful moment for me to be able to look into the eyes of all the people attending Waynesburg to welcome them and say hello and have a kind word."
Dodge appreciates the president's presence at the event and believes it makes the event unique to Waynesburg.
"I think what's interesting about having the President's Breakfast here at Waynesburg is our president is there," Dodge said. "He's present with the students that show up for it and he gives out the gift."
Lee enjoys the time he gets to share with students and looks forward to the event each semester.
"It means a lot to me," Lee said. "I really think so highly of the students that are here, of their desire to live lives of purpose and it's a wonderful time to just be with them."
Jackets look to get back to .500 in PAC play against Chatham
Jackets look to even the score with Chatham
Motorcycles take over Super Bowl Sunday 2020
eHIVE hosting series on 'redemptive entrepreneurship'
Women's indoor track closes January with meet in Ohio
Jackets look to make it three against Grove City
Wrestling stuns rival W&J
Jackets look to bounce back from Bethany loss against Grove City
Community Spotlight: In Motion Dance + Fitness
Bonner Scholars reflect on service through upcoming retreat
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Ruwim.com is the largest trading platform where you can find beautiful jewelry and precious stones. Here you will find rings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, brooches and precious stones for sale. Look at designer brands, jewelry and precious stones presented by dealers and private sellers around the world.


Provence. A historical region in southeastern France that nourishes a gamut of life's simple likings across hill-top villages held together by amiable beauty. This idyll stretch of the Mediterranean offers a spectacle of mesmerising purity and has long fuelled me with inspiration. Smudges of lavender, vineyards and olive trees poised under the spotlight of the warm sun are all what allows this province to remain overwhelmingly Provençal; not to mention the memorable family-infused communities behind it.


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Peter H. Seeberger How Can Vaccine Design Be Modified by the Use of Synthetic Sugars?
Peter H. Seeberger is Director at the Max-Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam and Professor at the Freie Universität in Berlin. In 2013, he was elected to the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. His research on the chemistry and biology of carbohydrates, carbohydrate vaccine development and continuous flow synthesis of drug substances has been widely published and has been recognized with more than twenty-five international awards. Six successful companies have been spun out of the research conducted in the Seeberger laboratory. The Professor is editor-in-chief of the open-access Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. His work on neglected diseases has influenced his philanthropic commitment and he is a co-founder of the Tesfa-Ilg "Hope for Africa" Foundation.
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin)
Affiliate Professor
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla (USA)
- Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
- Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
- Honorary Lifetime Member, Israel Chemical Society
- Humanity in Science Award (2015)
- C. S. Hamilton Award for Organic Chemistry, University of Nebraska (2013)
- Whistler Award, International Carbohydrate Society (2012)
- Claude S. Hudson Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry, American Chemical Society (ACS) (2009)
- Körber European Science Prize (2007)
- Havinga Medal, Leiden University (2007)
- Yoshimasa Hirata Gold Medal, Nagoya University (2007)
- Arthur C. Cope Young Scholar Award (ACS) (2003)
- Horace B. Isbell Award (ACS Carbohydrate Division) (2003)
- ERC Advanced Grant (2008)
© Maximilian Dörrbecker
Max Planck Society
"The Max Planck Society is Germany's most successful research organization. Since its establishment in 1948, no fewer than 18 Nobel laureates have emerged from the ranks of its scientists, putting it on a par with the best and most prestigious research institutions worldwide. The more than 15,000 publications each year in internationally renowned scientific journals are proof of the outstanding research work conducted at Max Planck Institutes – and many of those articles are among the most-cited publications in the relevant field." (Source)
The Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces was founded in 1992. Research in Colloid and Interface Science is widely covered by the following Departments: Biomaterials, Biomolecular Systems, Colloid Chemistry and Theory & Bio-Systems, the Max Planck Research Group Mechano(bio)chemistry and the Emeritus Group (Interfaces). Current research topics are polymeric films, membranes, microcapsules, organic and inorganic nanostructures, biomineralization, nano- and microreactors, molecular motors and filaments as well as chemistry and biology of carbohydrates. Biomimetic research is at the core of the Institute's activity. Common goal is to learn from nature how to build hierarchical materials or active systems with new functionalities, with adaptive, self-healing or self-assembling properties. (Source)
Streptococcus pneumoniae kills millions of people worldwide. For the subgroup serotype 8, prevalent in the United States and Western Europe, there is no vaccine to date. In this video, PETER H. SEEBERGER explains the approach of his research group to create a synthetic sugar vaccine against this bacterial infection that works in mice. They relied on synthetic chemistry to assemble sugar chains from monomers; the researchers then connected them to a carrier protein and tested whether they were immunogenic – causing an immune response in living organisms – and whether they were protective. Thus they succeeded in creating the vaccine. Their results have inspired further work in the area in the hope of finding a vaccine for humans. On a fundamental level, the researchers also found that the way in which sugars are presented to the immune system matters with respect to immunogenicity and protection. This has strong implications for future vaccine design.
A Semisynthetic Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotype 8 Glycoconjugate Vaccine
Benjamin Schumann, Heung Sik Hahm, Sharavathi G. Parameswarappa, Katrin Reppe, Annette Wahlbrink, Subramanian Govindan, Paulina Kaplonek, Liise-anne Pirofski, Martin Witzenrath, Chakkumkal Anish and Peter H. Seeberger
Science Translational Medicine
Benjamin Schumann, Heung Sik Hahm, Sharavathi G. Parameswarappa, Katrin Reppe, Annette Wahlbrink, Subramanian Govindan, Paulina Kaplonek, Liise-anne Pirofski, Martin Witzenrath, Chakkumkal Anish and Peter H. Seeberger. "A Semisynthetic Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotype 8 Glycoconjugate Vaccine." Science Translational Medicine 9 (2017): No. 5347. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf5347.
Chemical Assembly Systems: Layered Control for Divergent, Continuous, Multistep Syntheses of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Diego Ghislieri, Kerry Gilmore and Peter H. Seeberger
Diego Ghislieri, Kerry Gilmore and Peter H. Seeberger. "Chemical Assembly Systems: Layered Control for Divergent, Continuous, Multistep Syntheses of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 54 (2015): 678-682.
The Logic of Automated Glycan Assembly
Peter H. Seeberger
Accounts of Chemical Research
Peter H. Seeberger. "The Logic of Automated Glycan Assembly." Accounts of Chemical Research 48 (2015): 1450-1463.
© Peter H. Seeberger & Latest Thinking
Tristan Vostry
Marina Bruckmann
Cancer Medicine
Angelika Riemer
Which Antigenic Determinants Can Be Used for Therapeutic Vaccinations Against HPV-Mediated Cancer?
Vaccine Medicine
Stefan H. E. Kaufmann
How Can We Improve the Existing Vaccine for Tuberculosis to Combat the Growing Number of Multi-Resistant Strains?
Immune System Medicine
Can Biosignatures Be Used to Develop a Reliable, Fast and Low-Cost Test for Tuberculosis?
Cells Medicine
Neysan Rafat
What Do We Know About the Potential of Endothelial Cells in Treating Acute Lung Injury?
Cells Life Sciences
Erika Pearce
How Does Metabolism Influence the Function of Different T Cell Types?


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2021 January 21 - 22 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas #3089
Great Britain: Henry III (1216-1272) gold Penny of 20 Pence ND (c. 1257) MS63 NGC
Starting price: $125.000
Mexico: Philip V gold "Royal" 8 Escudos 1714 Mo-J MS66 PCGS
Great Britain: George III gold Proof Pattern 2 Guineas 1768 PR63+ NGC
Starting price: $75.000
Scotland: James VI (I) gold 20 Pounds 1575 XF40 NGC
Austria: Salzburg. Hieronymous gold Medallic "1200th Anniversary of the Archbishopric" 6 Ducat 1782-M MS63★ Prooflike NGC
Spain: Ferdinand & Isabella (1474-1504) gold 4 Excelentes ND (from 1497) (Aqueduct)-A MS62 PCGS
Ancients: PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (277-270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm. NGC Choice MS 5/5 – 5/5
Ancients: BABYLONIA. Alexandrine Empire. Ca. 328-311 BC. AV double-daric. NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style
Ancients: Mezezius (AD 668-669). AV solidus. NGC Choice MS★ 5/5 - 5/5
Ancients: SICILY. Syracuse. Fifth Republic (Democracy) (214-212 BC). AR 16-litrai (26mm, 13.44 gm, 2h). NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style
No Evidence of Trade in Ancient Art Funding ISIS
November 27, 2014 – Exhaustive investigation has revealed that the most important sources of the allegation the trade in ancient objects would finance IS are not existing. IADAA is summarizing the latest state of knowledge.
In our press release of October 21, 2014, we pointed out that the validity of the facts and figures presented in the suggestive broadcast "Das geplünderte Erbe" (which have been adopted by many media) of the German trade in ancient art being involved in funding ISIS are extremely unlikely.
During the last week, two articles have been published by independent parties supporting our point of view, one from Suddeutsche Zeitung, the other the blog 'Chasing Aphrodite'.
The source of the rumour: The Guardian, June 15, 2014
On June 15, 2014, The Guardian reported on the death of a high ranking IS member; Abdulrahman al-Bilawi. Amongst his possession 160 usb sticks were found which were decrypted by officials, including CIA officers. Martin Chulov, The Guardian reporter, received information from an unknown source that these usb sticks contained proof of the trade in ancient art funding ISIS:
"They had taken $ 36 m from al-Nabuk alone. The antiquities there are up to 8,000 years old," claimed an intelligence official who remains anonymous.
This unverified allegation was taken up by numerous activists and journalists who concocted a purely fictional story about how these ancient objects were sold in the German art trade.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 15/16, 2014
It is somewhat ironic that Volkmar Kabisch, who was responsible for the ARD documentary "Das geplünderte Erbe", has now had to admit – after careful examination of the 160 usb sticks: "But where does the money come from? There has been much speculation about art trafficking, revenues from kidnapping or the sale of oil but no such information can be gained from the documents."
Nevertheless, his broadcast "Das geplünderte Erbe" is still aired by Phoenix.
The IADAA demands that this and similar broadcasts that are based on false and obsolete information are removed from the program at once.
The originator of the rumour currently circulating in the United States of America, that the trade in ancient art provided the second largest source of revenue for ISIS is identified in the blog "Chasing Aphrodite – The Hunt for Looted Antiquities in the World's Museums": there, Michael Danti, assistant professor at Boston University, is held liable.
In his function as co-director of a State Department funded campaign to track cultural heritage destruction in Syria, Danti had published an article in the magazine "Foreign Policy" on October 17, 2014, in which he called the illicit trade with ancient objects the second largest source of revenue of ISIS. When asked by the author of the blog, Danti had to admit that his "source" was a report dating to 2005-2006 which could not refer to ISIS for the simple fact that ISIS did not even exist in 2005.
The source would deal with al-Qa'ida and Danti wanted to reach a conclusion by analogy. In this study, though, the category "looting" would not refer to archaeological objects only, but to all stolen commercial goods so that the report sheds no light on the trade in ancient objects.
The report in "Chasing Aphrodite" concludes with the statement: "The truth is we have very little reliable data on the global revenue generated by the illicit antiquities trade, and even less on the role it plays in funding terror groups. It is, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, a known unknown: we know it happens, but not much more. Claiming otherwise may in the short term bring attention to the issue of looting, but ultimately saps it of credibility – and the urgency to answer those important questions with well-documented research. It can also taint important policy decisions, as Patty Gerstenblith, chair of the State Departments Cultural Property Advisory Committee, noted in response to Danti and similar claims: "Commentators and scholars should avoid sensationalism … Exaggerated baseless claims hinder rational policies to restrict trade in illegal antiquities." This is particularly true, and troubling, when such claims come from a highly respected academic group being paid – and held out as the gold standard – by the State Department. When John Kerry gives a speech about looting at the Met, he is using the issue to help justify the escalating U. S. military intervention in Syria. In that context, it is more important than ever to stick to the known knowns."
The International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art can only agree with this. The only way to effectively implement the Protection of Cultural Property is the protection of archeological sites in situ, as outlined in the UNESCO Convention 1970, (article 4) to ensure that the human heritage is preserved for future generations.
The International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art (IADAA) was formed in London in 1993. IADAA is the international association of leading dealers in works of ancient art with high ethical standards. Members adhere to a stringent code of conduct designed to serve not only the interests of their clients but also the integrity of the objects themselves. At present, 32 members from eight countries belong to IADAA.
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A key aim is developing varieties that are more resistant to high temperatures, as well as worsening droughts and floods.
The world's largest collection of rice varieties has secured indefinite funding in what officials say will be crucial for the development of seeds resilient to the effects of climate change.
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will sign an agreement with Bonn-based non-profit the Crop Trust on Tuesday in Singapore to secure $1.4 million per year to fund IRRI's rice gene bank in Los Baños, the Philippines.
"It is really important to the future of food security," said Matthew Morell, director general at IRRI.
"Within those rice varieties are genetics that will allow us to preserve the ability to produce rice in the face of climate change," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
About 3 billion people - mostly in Asia - depend on rice as a staple. But as the world's population increases, farmers are struggling to meet rising demand, while crops suffer from extreme weather conditions linked to climate change.
By 2050, annual global rice consumption is projected by IRRI to rise from 450 million tonnes to 525 million tonnes.
The Philippines-based IRRI was established in 1960 and one of its first activities was to collect rice varieties from around Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The IRRI conserves and shares 136,000 rice varieties with farmers, breeders and scientists, said Marie Haga, executive director of the Crop Trust.
Within those rice varieties are genetics that will allow us to preserve the ability to produce rice in the face of climate change.
The Crop Trust is building an endowment fund, currently at $300 million, and hopes to eventually secure $850 million to provide permanent funding for the IRRI's rice bank, one of the most important agricultural gene banks in the world, Haga said.
Most of the Crop Trust's funding comes from governments, and as the endowment fund grows, it will increase the number of crop collections it funds.
Scientists at IRRI have used rice stored in the bank to develop varieties that can withstand drought and flooding, which are already threatening production in countries like India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Morell said that a main focus is developing varieties that are more resistant to high temperatures, and more frequent droughts and floods from rain as well as the ocean.
"In Asia we have areas which grow rice along coastal zones, where typhoons bring sea water into the rice fields, so those genetics for salinity resistance is important," he said.


We are proud to have our very first event at Oaklyn Springs Brewery in Fuquay-Varina, located in the old Lincoln Brewery building.
From a hot mess to cool Halloween art! This Halloween Hot Mess Canvas project turns out beautiful and unique every time. Click HERE for more details about the Hot Mess Canvas.
By combining YOUR CHOICE of acrylic paint colors and YOUR CHOICE of vinyl cutout, you will be creating an amazing and cool canvas to add to your Halloween decorations. You will be able to choose from 1 of the 8 designs below!
Price of the class is $30 which includes a ready-to-hang 11×14 inch stretched canvas, acrylic paints, vinyl stencil cutout, and tools.
Beer/wine/soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase during the event. Please make sure to arrive at least 20-30 minutes prior to start of event. No outside drinks are allowed. You may bring or order food to have during the event.
Class size is limited to 15 seats, so early registration is highly recommended. Reservations will only be honored with paid invoice. Please email marge@margecreations.com with questions or concerns.
No cancellations will be accepted for any of the Hot Mess Canvas events. However, you will be able to switch to another future Hot Mess event in the area.


I followed the instructions posted on redmondpie.com here: http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-jailbreak-ios-4.0-with-pwnagetool/ which were pretty clear and precise, but due to a couple of mistakes in the instructions posted there, Cydia wasn't working, but otherwise everything else was good and my base-band was still intact. However, after some searching around I found the problems that caused the cydia failure and tried to correct them and succeeded. Here I am posting a concise how-to for anyone interested.
Warning: This stuff might turn your beloved iPhone into an expensive paper weight if things go wrong, and this method doesn't work on most iPhones, so please don't attempt this if you have never done this before and haven't heard most of the stuff stated here. In case you are going to follow these steps, please proceed only after you read thru the entire instructions.
These instructions work only on iPhone 3Gs with 5.11.07 or earlier base-band and has already been jail broken by anything other than spirit jail break!!! Also, this is only a jail break, not unlock, so don't attempt this if you rely on a incompatible carrier's SIM.
Now that you have been warned, I assume you are a brave soul or just curious.. either way, here's how it goes… First, here's the list of things you'll need to proceed.
1. Download Pwnage Tool 3.1.5 from here or here or just Google it.
Now here're the steps.. pay close attention to each.
Step 1: Mount the .dmg you got from step 1 and copy the "PwnageTool" to your folder of choice or desktop (I'll assume desktop from now on).
Step 2: Extract the file from item 2 and rename the file to "iPhone2,1_4.0_8A293.bundle" (renaming might not be necessary, but I did it anyway). Now right-click the PwnageTool file on desktop and choose "Show Package Contents", then browse to "Contents\Resources\FirmwareBundles\" and place the .bundle file there.
Step 3: From the same finder window, you can navigate to "Contents/Resources/CustomPackages/" then right-click CydiaInstaller.bundle and choose show package contents and browse to the "files" folder. Now copy the data.tar file (item 3) into the files folder.
Step 4: Open a terminal window and browse to the files folder in step 3. Yoy can type "cd " then drag the files folder into the terminal. From files folder issue the following command.. "tax xvPf data.tar". Pay attention to the upper case 'P'.
Step 5: You are almost there.. well, actually there :)… now just launch the update PwnageTool app and follow the instructions.. it's the usual process from here.. create the custom firmware like you always do..
Step 6: Launch itunes 9.2 and use chose restore while pressing left 'alt' key and choose the custom firmware to restore…. that's it. You should be good, hopefully!
The changes I made to the instructions on redmondpie.com is in step 2 and step 3. I now have iOS 4 with Cydia working, but my favorite MyWi doesn't work and it is even crashing the SpringBoard, so I had to uninstall it. SBSettings doesn't seem to work either. I am still playing around with it, but the os itself seems to be fast and stable.


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« The agony of the Bhopal toxic gas disaster 30 years on | Main | Scottish government accused of giving up on wave power »
Obama under pressure to admit US complicity on Bhopal gas disaster
from Sunday Herald, 07 December 2014, from Bhopal
The former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, put pressure on the Indian government to agree a legal settlement that let the US chemical company, Union Carbide, off the hook for the 25,000 people killed by the toxic gas disaster in Bhopal 30 years ago.
A letter released under freedom of information legislation reveals that the late Indian steel magnate, J R D Tata, wrote secretly to the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in May 1988 conveying Kissinger's concern about the delays in reaching agreement on the compensation to be paid to victims. At the time Kissinger was an adviser to Union Carbide and other major US corporations.
Kissinger thought the company was prepared to make a "fair and generous settlement" which "would effectively counter any attack or criticism" because it was more than interim amounts suggested by Indian courts, Tata wrote. In February 1989, the Indian government agreed a settlement for $470 million.
This has since been widely derided as completely inadequate given the horrendous scale and persisting legacy of the disaster. Crucially, as part of the deal, all charges against Union Carbide and its managers were dropped – though this was subsequently overturned by India's Supreme Court in 1991.
The letter, headed "strictly personal and confidential" and obtained by Bhopal activists, is important because it confirms what many have long suspected: that the US and Tata were complicit in allowing Union Carbide to evade responsibility for the world's worst industrial accident on 3 December 1984.
Activists have also released two diplomatic cables from the online campaign group, Wikileaks, showing that Kissinger helped build the pesticide plant that showered Bhopal with poisonous gas. When he was US Secretary of State in 1976 he facilitated a bank loan of $1.3 million to Union Carbide to cover 45 per cent of the cost of building the plant.
Five groups representing Bhopal survivors have now written to President Barack Obama criticising the "central role played by the US government in the creation of the disaster in Bhopal and in the denial of justice to the victims". They accuse the US administration of protecting corporate profits over the lives and health of ordinary people.
In 2001 Union Carbide was taken over by the US chemical giant, Dow, which is now worth $58 billion. Both companies have repeatedly refused to answer summons to appear in courts in India to answer charges against them, most recently on 12 November.
"Obama made British Petroleum pay $20 billion for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill," said Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha. "We would like to ask him how his conscience allows him to support two US corporations that paid a tiny fraction of that amount for two thousand times more fatalities."
The human rights organisation Amnesty International's secretary general, Salil Shetty, also called on Obama to act. The compensation granted in 1989 was just 14 per cent what was asked for and averaged less than a thousand dollars per person, he argued.
"This was a woefully inadequate amount which, I think, exposes a shocking level of indifference and contempt towards the victims in India," he said. Union Carbide and Dow had been given a haven from justice in the US and displayed an "arrogant contempt" for the Indian judicial system.
The two companies were the focus of a series of angry protests by thousands on the streets of Bhopal last week to mark the 30th anniversary. Huge models of their corporate logos were spat on, doused in petrol then burnt before cheering crowds outside the wall of the derelict and overgrown pesticide plant.
"We wanted to hit them where it hurt most," said leading Bhopal campaigner, Sathyu Sarangi. "They have done huge damage to human health and the planet and have been getting away with it."
He estimated that the $3.2 billion compensation settlement agreed by a Dow subsidiary in 1998 for health problems caused by silicone breast implants in the US was 100 times more than that given to Bhopal survivors. Dow had also accepted liability for Union Carbide asbestos claims in the US, he argued.
Sarangi lambasted Dow for "double-standards" and "environmental racism" because the value it put on lives in India was much lower than on lives in the US. He also accused the company of employing "dirty tricks" to defend its interests.
In another loud and furious protest in Bhopal last week, activist groups accompanied by drum rolls named and shamed Dow, Union Carbide, Tata and more than 70 leading industrialists, officials, judges and others for failing to deliver justice to Bhopal survivors.
The accident started when a lethal gas used for making insecticides, methyl isocyanate, leaked from a tank at the Union Carbide plant, which is surrounded by densely packed housing. The regional government put the immediate death toll at 3,787, but survivors say the real number was more like 8,000.
The gas seared the lungs, and burnt the eyes of anyone exposed. In the three decades since, campaigners say the death toll has reached 25,000 "and counting" because of an epidemic of diseases caused by lingering water and soil contamination around the plant.
As many as 150,000 are still battling chronic illnesses, with tuberculosis and cancers "rampant", they say. There are estimated to be 50,000 still living in the vicinity of the plant whose groundwater is contaminated by toxic chemicals and metals that have leached from hazardous waste dumps.
Young children born disabled or ill along with those made sick from the lingering contamination line the hallway of the Chingari clinic in Bhopal. It regularly sees 200 children, and has another 500 on its waiting list.
The clinic's manager, Tarun Thomas, says that new children are needing help every day. "Dow is washing its hands of the whole thing," he said. "Look at these children and how they are suffering because Dow refuses to take responsibility."
The campaign against Dow has been backed by a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament by the SNP MSP Bill Kidd. A delegation of six trade unions from Scotland was in Bhopal last week to show solidarity with the survivors, carrying messages of support from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Falkirk councils.
Dow described the 1984 gas release as a "terrible tragedy" which should never be forgotten. "Let's also not forget the facts or rewrite history," company spokesman Scot Wheeler told the Sunday Herald.
"The facts are that Dow was never in Bhopal nor is there any assumed liability as misrepresented by some groups. It is important to note that Dow never owned or operated the plant," he said.
"Dow acquired the shares of Union Carbide Corporation more than 16 years after the tragedy, and 10 years after the $470 million settlement agreement - paid by Union Carbide Corporation and Union Carbide India, Limited - was approved after review by the Indian Supreme Court in 1991."
He added: "As Dow never owned or operated the Bhopal facility, any efforts to directly involve Dow in legal proceedings in India concerning the 1984 Bhopal tragedy are inappropriate, misguided and without merit."
Bhopal: evading the law over the decades
3 December 1984: A tank full of 40,000 kilogrammes of highly toxic methyl isocyanate at Union Carbide pesticide plant explodes and showers the city of Bhopal, killing at least 3,800 people within hours.
7 December 1984: Union Carbide chairman, Warren Anderson, is arrested on arrival in Bhopal, bailed and then flown out of the country on the orders of the Indian government.
9 February 1989 – Bhopal's Chief Judicial Magistrate issues a warrant of arrest without bail against Warren Anderson for repeatedly ignoring summons.
14 February 1989: Indian Supreme Court approves $470 million settlement between Indian government and Union Carbide, causing civil and criminal legal actions to be dropped.
3 October 1991: The Indian Supreme Court agrees to reopen criminal cases against Union Carbide.
1 February 1992: Bhopal court says Warren Anderson has ignored four summonses and is "absconding from justice".
26 November 1996: Drinking from community wells is banned after they were found to be contaminated by Union Carbide chemicals.
6 February 2001: Union Carbide is taken over by the US chemical giant, Dow.
28 August 2002: Bhopal's Chief Judicial Magistrate demands the immediate extradition of Warren Anderson from the US to face charges of culpable homicide.
22 November 2002: Documents released in a New York court case reveal that Union Carbide found contamination in soil and water around its Bhopal plant, but covered up the findings.
3 December 2004: An activist group, the Yes Men, pretending to be Dow executives, announce a $12 billion compensation fund for the Bhopal disaster live on BBC television.
6 January 2005: Bhopal's Chief Judicial Magistrate summons Dow to appear in court to explain why its subsidiary, Union Carbide, had failed to face charges.
7 June 2010: Eight former Union Carbide managers in India are convicted for negligence leading to the Bhopal disaster.
29 September 2014: Warren Anderson dies in the US, still a fugitive from justice.
12 November 2014: Dow again fails to appear in court in response to another summons from Bhopal's Chief Judicial Magistrate.
3 December 2014: Thousands of protestors take to the streets of Bhopal for 30th anniversary rallies demanding justice from Dow.
Posted by Rob Edwards on 07 December 2014 at 09:20 AM in Pollution | Permalink


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Scale: < 5.000 m²
Renal Dialysis Center
The project concerns the construction of a new building, with an area of 1585 sq.m, for housing a 34-bed Chronic Dialysis Unit, in the area of Aktaio in Patra.
The plot on which the building will be erected is located on the Old National Road Patra-Corinth, in "Kastelokambos", within the settlement of Aktaio, Municipal unit of Rio, Municipality of Patra and has an area of 2964, 14 sq.m.
The proposed building is arranged along the plot and consists of 2 levels, the basic Level 0 with access from the Old National Road and the lower Level -1. Due to the slope of the plot, the building is one-storey on the side of the road and two-storey on the back, while there is the possibility of direct entry-exit on both levels.
At Level 0 (ground floor from the road and 1st floor from the back) are located the two hemodialysis rooms of 16 beds each, which face the view of the Rio-Antirrio bridge, with the auxiliary support areas, the entrance-waiting area and the offices of director and head nurse. Internal communication between the patient rooms and their auxiliary spaces is ensured without interference with the entrance-waiting area.
At the main entrance of the building, there is an extensive sheltered space for the patients' access.
At Level -1 (basement from the road and ground floor from the back) is located the administration with the possibility of an independent entrance from the low side, as well as the other auxiliary and mechanical areas, while an independent entrance-exit for supply and collection is provided.
The building consists of two volumes in displacement, of which the longest one leans along the road in order for the building to be exposed and better visible from the road, while in the retreating volume the appropriate recess is created for the main entrance. In addition, due to the slope of the plot, the building appears one-storey from the road and two-storey from the back with its side sides half-buried. This configuration led to the organization of the facades in two zones, one at the base of the building and one at the superstructure, using different materials and architectural elements.
Generally, the building is cladded on the base, with panels of a concrete texture that refers to a more "heavy material" and on the superstructure, with vertical strips of HPL panels, of variable dimensions and two colors. Due to the complexity in the layout of the stripes, two light shades of gray were chosen.
The sun protection of the spaces is achieved through perforated blinds in white shade, which while protecting from the sun do not obstruct the view. On the side sides for both sun protection and for the delimitation of the escape exits, pergolas in white shade are also provided.
Rehabilitation of Eleftheria Square
The magnificent Byzantine mosaics pulsing in time and space, and the consideration of the city's formation as a huge mosaic was the inspiration for the concept of our proposal. We borrowed the compositional structure of Byzantine mosaics to organize the space of Eleftheria Square. We created a spatial grid covering the whole study area, a deformed in three dimensions grid caused by "tensions" due to the "dynamic" elements of the region. The design shapes the square as part of the broader city mosaic.
A review of all targets set by the tender competition led to the hierarchy and evaluation of priorities in relation to the program data. They led us to a series of decisions that characterize our proposal, which are briefly:
The extension of the area of the square until the building facades of the surrounding streets, keeping a low traffic. In that way the square is integrated to the urban fabric serving mainly the pedestrians.
The creation of an urban park, a combination of a square and park without strict demarcations. All elements (movements and stands, planting, shelters and seating, lighting and other street furniture, water features and themed gardens) are carefully placed as larger or smaller units – inlays in the mosaic – in places defined by the axes, except the violent gap that reveals the findings of the old sea wall, connecting the city's past with the present. The formations extend, penetrate the surrounding streets and end up in the sea, as a complex platform immersed in the water. The diversity of forms, shapes and materials create a sense of "disorientation" and spiritual tranquility.
The use of a repetitive element that highlights our proposal. A simple triangular pattern, inspired by the recent victims of Nazi brutality appears in almost the entire area of the square. Clusters of such repetitive triangular patterns seem to emerge from the ground or penetrate it. They create gaps or lead the bright rays of the sun, they sparkle on the shelters or even surge into the sea.
The incorporation of several elements and systems aiming at improving the comfort conditions of the users as well as enhancing energy savings
The urban furniture acts supplementary and contributes to the aesthetic and functional integration of the architectural design of the square. All elements share a common morphological logic adapting suitably to each type. These include sitting benches, special lighting fixtures, bollards, bicycle parking, liter bins, electronic boards and bus stops.
Landscape design is an important part of the architectural design in regard to the reformation of Eleftheria Square. The proposed interventions involve four main actions with the aim not only to reshape but also to preserve the current state of landscape vegetation in the square. These include: management of existing trees, planting of new trees or other vegetation, either used for shading purposes or for covering the ground (such as broadleaved trees, herbs, small shrubs, aromatic plants and lawn-covered areas), installation of an irrigation system, depending on the irrigation needs of the plant species, as well as on the optimal water saving requirements, and conservation of the landscape.
The plant species will be chosen in terms of the phytosociological, morphological/aesthetical, climatic and other practical conditions. In particular, the plant species were chosen based on their characteristics, as being part of the Hellenic Flora (in majority), as well as being resistant to the particularities of the area (urban area with air pollution, in close vicinity to the sea).
Electromechanical installations concern mainly lighting, irrigation and concentration of rain water for watering of plants.
Lighting plays a significant role in the design of the square. The chosen luminaires further highlight the grid as they are placed at the intersections of the various elements of the "mosaic". A new and modern lighting is provided according to CEN 1320, supported by lighting control system for the maximum energy conservation. Furthermore a software is used for the best performance of lighting in the following three sectors: pedestrian areas lighting, green areas lighting and architectural lighting identifying important landmarks.
Anatolia Pinewood
Our proposal aims at satisfying all requirements and specifications set by the tender, and at the same time provide a contemporary and innovative building complex, which will meet all functional, technological and aesthetic needs of an educational building. The main issues set at the top of our architectural agenda, was how to smoothly incorporate the new building in the Historical complex of ANATOLIA COLLEGE and how to create a friendly shell for an International School like PINEWOOD.
Present architectural proposal aims to attribute the vision of α building complex to a distant horizon, whose roof outlines the SKY LINE, in a bid to create a new community of culture and education. Already used in the existing traditional buildings, the archetype of "house with a sloped roof" element and its multiple random combinations refers to the timeless image of multicultural community.
The new building, as a friendly shell, but also as an extroverted enclave of life, in constant interaction with its surroundings, is enriched in the ground floor level, with the element of an intermediate connecting space, a CULTURAL HUB, merging the new building with its attached open space and offering a transitional area that can host students everyday life, along with special cultural and leisure school activities, as an open and dynamic communication meeting point.
The building consists of ground floor level with two floors on top of it, plus a small basement area for auxiliary uses.
The allocation of the various uses in different levels is described below: Basement: Parking, MEP areas. Ground floor: 4 Classrooms, Gym-Multi Functional area, Theatre Lab, Art Lab, Admission's Office, Infirmary and WC. 1st floor: 6 Classrooms, Elective Courses Classrooms, Flexible Learning area, Teacher's Office and WC. 2nd floor: Biology & Chemistry Labs, Administration Offices, Student Support areas and WC.
The building is served by two staircases and one lift.
Basic material used for the building facades are stone, timber and aluminum panels, while both building and landscape areas are designed on a bioclimatic basis, in order to achieve the best possible sustainability performance and consume the less possible energy, while thermal and visual comfort is offered to its users.
The building is located where the old American consulate used to be, close to the White Tower, at the joint of Niki's Avenue and Chr. Snirnis. It is a luxurious flat building with shops on the ground floor and three-storey underground parking. The building is transparent. All the solid elements of its façades were removed and replaced with glassed surfaces allowing the view to the sea. To avoid the noise and luminance problems a secondary external glassed façade at balconies level was designed, having the shape of a sail.
Olympos – Naoussa Building
In one of the most recognizable spots of Thessaloniki, on its coastal front on Leoforos Nikis Avenue, the project highlights and utilizes the facade of a listed building, the historic restaurant Olympus – Naoussa, built in 1926 and designed by architect Jacques Mosse.
The project anticipates the preservation, restoration and integration of the listed facade of the historic building in a modern, multi-storey, luxurious "boutique" hotel.
The design carried out by METE SYSM appertained to the retaining structure of the listed facade during the construction of the new building, the 8-storey with two basements new building and the integration of the listed facade into it.
The retaining of the facade, respecting the architectural peculiarities of the existing construction, while satisfying the construction requirements of the work site, was carried out with six properly arranged steel frames with bi-directional diagonal bracings of adequate resistance and stiffness for resisting the horizontal wind and earthquake actions. On either side of the listed masonry, UPN cross-section beams are arranged, tightening it like a splint, which are connected to the steel frames through cantilever beams, transferring to them the horizontal wind and earthquake loads. Both the temporary retaining structure and the listed facade are supported by properly arranged micropiles.
The new permanent structure is entirely made of reinforced concrete. To maximize the safety of adjacent buildings against displacements during excavation and to save construction time, the method of simultaneous Up and Down Construction has been chosen. Special consideration was taken into the integration of the listed facade in the new construction, which is ensured by the proper arrangement of special anchors and nails. The foundation of the new construction consists of a reinforced concrete diaphragm at the perimeter and of diaphragmatic elements (barrettes) of rectangular cross section on the inside.
The design proposal and space organization of the building complex responds to the principles set by the promoter and satisfies all the objectives set out in the call for proposals, such as the highlighting of the importance of the building, its integration with the environment, its connection with the existing buildings, the adequacy of the internal arrangement and the modern aesthetic approach.
The concept design of the complex aims at the creation of an intrusive building that develops around a central patio, but at the same time is open to existing buildings to which it is connected through a sheltered outdoor path. This enables on one hand, the creation of an enclosed, protected outdoor space – a focal / meeting point for the outdoor functions and on the other, the arrangement of the various uses into three distinct morphological units – wings, depending on the program requirements.
The complex is covered by a grid of roofs, alternating in size, orientation and slopes, allowing the natural lighting of the upper rooms. The volume configuration combined with the facades' formation and the diversity of roofs emphasizes the complexity of the building making it the focal point / landmark of the area.
As already mentioned, the complex is developed around a central patio, and comprises of two floors, a loft and a basement. Generally, the educational areas are located in the east and north wing for better orientation, while the common areas, staff and administration areas are located in the west and south wing. At ground floor level there is a semi-covered space through which the entrance to the building and the communication of the surrounding space with the inner patio are implemented. In the basement of the building there are 20 parking spaces, MEP areas and storages.
The facades and the different morphological approach enhance the concept idea of the three volume-configuration units. The complex is "wrapped" around and on its roofs with a second skin / shell consisting of either concrete panels at ground level, or zinc linear elements at floor level and roofs. On the east and west sides of the west wing of the building, vertical sun protection louvres are provided.
The building complex is designed in accordance with the bioclimatic principles, to ensure the best possible sustainability and consume the least possible energy, while providing thermal and visual comfort to its users.
The landscape design generally follows the characteristics of the concept idea. The surrounding area enters the inner patio and extends to the existing buildings as well as to the east side of the plot.
The pattern of floors, green areas and surrounding elements follow the concept idea of split roofs but are differentiated as they rotate at an angle of 45 degrees, creating greater tension in the relation of open and closed spaces. The new building is connected to the existing one by a canopy integrated in the diagonal grid, with aesthetically similar covering to the new building.
Energiers Shop
The project is about a kids' wear shop of 220 s.q., which is locaded at the shopping center "Mediterranean Cosmos" in Thessaloniki.
The design of children's stores is unique due to the fact that they aim at the same time at children, teenagers and adults. They must, therefore, create a friendly and appealing environment for all ages.
The "key" to success of such a design lies in the harmonious coexistence of dynamic and symbolic elements that are addressed to adolescents, with mild and reassuring forms that create a safe environment for little children, inside a simple and functional entity that facilitates and attracts adults.
Having as a basic principle the above, we chose a combination of dynamic design with lighter forms.
As a dynamic element we have defined the shop's window, the "first image". Big, red volumes together with smaller, dark grey (horizontal) ones, frame the glass surfaces of the window attracting, in this manner, the visitor's attention with their colour and form. The fundamental parameter was the distinguishable placing of the store's logo on both sides of access of the store.
The movable partitions on the back side of the window essentially function as a border separating the "outside" from the "inside", as a type of visual transition to the main store space through their semitransparency. Moreover, they operate as a reference to the houses' "shutters", activating the desire and possibly the curiosity of the passersby to enter the area.
Through its organic morphology, the main internal store area is defined as a mild form. A second, internal shell, with curved edges, is proposed. It is a kind of "cocoon" that associatively refers to the warm pregnancy environment and causes a pleasant sense to the visitor and mainly to children.
This shell encompasses some organically outlined niches with children's and adolescents' images that both "enliven" the space and visually separate its individual sections.
The simplicity and functionality of the entity is ensured by two distinctive height zones: The first one, from the floor to the 2.25 m., a neutral zone in which the exhibit predominates, and the second one, from 2.25 m and higher, that is dedicated to the creation of an atmosphere through the projection of alternate images that depend on the type of exhibit – merchandise in the niches.
In its entire perimeter and up to the niches' height limit, the shell is distributed in a system of metal guides, which have hanging or display mechanisms placed by the user, depending on the needs of each separate store. The shell is made of single sided plaster-board. For the floor laminate-type, pale light coloured wood, that does not attract the visitor's attention but warms the space, is proposed.
Refurbishment of Commercial Streets
It is about the Refurbishment of Commercial Streets "FASHION STREET & HUB AREA", "Mediterranean Cosmos" mall. The refurbishment concerns the two levels, Level 0 and Level 1, which have commercial use. The interventions include the construction of a new floor, ceiling, a gate between the two commercial areas, new claddings, new sitting benches and finally removal of the fountain in "HUB" area and the construction of new water feature.
The purpose of the new proposal was the introduction of a unified design in both areas and the simplification of individual morphological elements.
The new floors were designed in three zones, starting from the entrance in "Fashion Street" and ending at "Hub". Ceramic tiles in three shades were selected, while in Level 1 and in the perimeter of the balconies and bridges kerlite tiles were placed.
The ceiling of "Fashion Street", in the central double height part, consists of three rows of metal blinds in five shades of gray. The middle row consists of blinds of various heights, among which illuminated polycarbonate sheets are placed.
This ceiling extends until the "Hub" area, where the geometry is changed and the circular roof is filled with square metal frames, intersecting at random layout, creating an effect of optical vortex.
The gate that was built between "Fashion Street" and "Hub", separated the area between the two commercial zones.
The perimeter parapets and bulkheads were cladded with lacquered wooden panels.
The existing fountain of the "Hub" was removed. Instead, 16 closed cylindrical plexiglass tubes were constructed, inside which equal number of water jets were placed.
Finally, sitting benches made of corian were constructed throughout the length of "Fashion Street", while in the "Hub" a large semicircular bench of the same material was placed.
Old City Foodcourt
The project concerns the construction of a dining area (foodcourt) in part of the existing building C of the Shopping Center OLD CITY, the renovation and extension of the sanitary facilities and the aesthetic upgrade of the study area. The Shopping Center is located at 25 Zahou Street in Volos.
The proposal objectives were the unification of the different elements in space, the mild intervention in part of the facade of building B, the maintenance of the main circulation axis and the marking of the entrances to the foodcourt.
The unification of the different elements in space is achieved through the use of a three-dimensional element (blind), which functions morphologically in three dimensions, either as roofing or as cladding. The blind in its repetition and with its different types gives the feeling that the dining area expands, through the integration of the corridor of the basic movement and the cladding on the wall of building B. This creates an episode, an experience to the user, an identity to space.
The axis of the basic movement of the foodcourt is maintained and strengthened by the construction of two gates at the entrance and the exit of the foodcourt, which on one hand gives a sign to the visitors for the existence of "something new" and on the other hand includes protective elements both in terms of safety and wind protection (safety roller, air curtain).
The foodcourt area consists of four shops with a single ancillary space (BOH).
The sitting area includes two types of seating. The first type includes fixed seating (linear and L-shaped) that are placed on either side of the existing walls creating small hotspots of privacy, while the second type includes light and flexible mobile equipment that can be easily transformed according to the needs of the foodcourt.
Finally, the use of a green element, both in horizontal and vertical surfaces aims at creating a friendly and pleasant environment while at the same time gives the feeling of continuity of outdoor space inside the foodcourt.
Anatolia IB College
The tender competition announcement concerns the extension and upgrading of the premises currently housing the Baccalaureate (I.B.) course. This includes buildings Compton and Ladas.
Compton is a mid 30s stone building.
Ladas is a mid 60s concrete building of T shape, consisting of two wings, initially built to house students dormitories.
The basic concept of our proposal aims at satisfying all conditions and requirements set by the tender, and at the same time provide a contemporary educational building , which will meet all functional, technological and aesthetic needs of today.
This is a difficult but interesting challenge, because it creates the idea of composing contrasts in many levels such as the old and the new – the past and the future, traditional methods and contemporary trends, conventional mentality and the need of innovation, educational systems and sociable culture.
Contradiction becomes – through the environment – the direction (path) to sustainability.
Our goal is to organize the various uses and functions taking into consideration the available space and the restrictions of the existing structure as well as functionality and monitoring, familiarity and effectiveness of the environment.
Compton is a massive, introvert, simple-form stone structure, which is restored to its initial form.
On the opposite side the new building follows a lightweight and elegant type.
A transparent, extrovert, geometrical glass structure that brings the outdoor environment inside, and – at the same time – exports its unique identity in the immediate vicinity.
A composite shell covers the outline of the building.


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Business News›NRI›Visa and Immigration›Donald Trump may shun illegal immigrants but prefer permanent residents
Donald Trump may shun illegal immigrants but prefer permanent residents
About 85% of those visas go to people seeking a green card in the US, while about 15% go to people seeking to immigrate from abroad.
Ishani Duttagupta
, ET Bureau|
Feb 19, 2017, 10.40 AM IST
Karan Kumar (name changed) is a software developer in a Silicon Valley startup. Kumar, 38, has been in California for the last 10 years, ever since he went there for his master's degree in computer science from the University of San Francisco after a BTech from a private college in Karnataka. Even before he formally finished his course, he had landed the good job and since then he has been living and working in the world's top IT hub. But Kumar, his wife and four-year-old son are far from settled into the proverbial American dream. In fact, a shadow of uncertainty hangs over the family with Kumar waiting for an employment-based green card, or lawful permanent resident status, since the last five years — ever since his employer filed the application for him. While the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved Kumar's application, making it possible for him and his family to live in the US, he is still at least three years away from receiving the green card, according to experts.
The USCIS on its website explains that the long wait for employment-based visas is because of a combination of reasons including the category (preference) under which the application has been filed, priority date and country of origin. The US department of state (DOS) gives out 1,40,000 employment-based visas each year. About 85% of those visas go to people seeking a green card in the US, while about 15% go to people seeking to immigrate from abroad. Currently, about 2,34,000 people have employment-based adjustment of status (green card) applications pending and are waiting to get a visa; of these around 47,000 were Indians at last count in October 2016.
Historically there is a higher demand for visas from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines and, because of country-based quotas, applicants from these countries obviously have much longer waits — immigration lawyers suggesting that those Indians who are on H-1B visas extensions have to wait in the country-specific green card queue for as long as 8-10 years pending inventory.
Typically, Indians with a US master's are waiting for 10-12 years to obtain because of the long delays in obtaining approval. "Everything gets delayed and all major life decisions get put on hold. To buy a car or not. To buy a house or not. To stay with this company or move to another. Which company should sponsor my green card? Is it worth the wait or after a while should I just go back to India? Should I marry or not? Maybe at least I should have at least one child born in the US — a US citizen — these are some of the questions," explains Navneet S Chugh, managing partner and attorney at Chugh Firm in Los Angeles.
"When Indian-born people wait in the queue, they do not just face anxiety relating to the waits, but also frustration that they cannot enhance their careers. If they get promoted and the job description changes radically, the employer will have to start the green card sponsorship again. They are also concerned that their children might age out (turn over 21) and thus would not automatically get the green card with the parent," says Cyrus Mehta, a New York based attorney. Keeping skilled immigrants frustrated to such an extent makes America less attractive and less competitive, in his view.
Supporters of the new American president reckon the Trump administration could actually make it easier for those in queue. "While big immigration policy changes are pending legislation and will happen piecemeal, the green card backlog will be tackled by the Trump administration through the elimination of country-based quotas," Shalabh Kumar, an Indian-American supporter of President Trump, told ET Magazine. With the elimination of quotas according to country of origin and granting of green cards simply based on merit and the number of people who are applying, the queue will get shorter for Indian applicants who form the largest number. Kumar added that any advantage that may be given to skilled immigrants will also help Indian applicants.
Limitations & Curbs
However, concerns remain with Trump's comments during his campaign and with leaked executive orders (which have not yet been signed) on how the new administration would like to curtail immigration and put an end to the abuses under the H-1B programme. "Since most of the IT professionals who are being processed for the green card tend to be on the H-1B or L-1 status, they are concerned about their ability to stay and work in the US both in the short and long term. If the number of immigrant visas are reduced or curbs introduced on employment authorisation while people are waiting for the green card, it would impact both the principal applicants and their spouses," explains Sheela Murthy, founder of US immigration law firm Murthy Law Firm. H-1B and L-1 are temporary work visas.
A recent Bill announced by two Republican senators Tom Cotton, Arkansas, and David Perdue, Georgia — the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Bill — seeks to reduce green cards by limiting the people who US citizens can sponsor. This will end the US diversity visa lottery for countries that have few American immigrants and cut the number of refugees allowed into the US. The Bill seeks to reduce the number of green cards issued annually from 1 million to 5,00,000.
"Unlike most other industrialised countries, the US favours family reunification over other categories like skills. In other words you have a better shot if you have family in the US than if you don't," explains Ron Hira, an immigration policy expert and associate professor of public policy at Howard University in Washington DC, about the current policy on green cards.
In the coming months, five or more immigration Bills are likely to come up in the US Congress. And that the President has asked the US department of labor to investigate visa abuse by US employers, and whether such abuse undercuts the American worker, is certainly making Indians waiting for green cards nervous. "There will likely be an increase in enforcement actions, and a desire to make sure employers comply with US laws. In addition, heavy users of the H-1B or L-1 programme may face increased fines or be limited in being able to sponsor foreign nationals for those visa categories, unless these employers can demonstrate a balanced US labour force," feels Matt Morse, partner, Fakhoury Law Group in Troy, Michigan.
US Citizenship & Immigration Services
'Economic independence of H-1B spouses will be dented if their right to work is revoked'
US House passes Bill removing country cap on Green Cards; Indians to benefit
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Indian students caught up in visa row take plea to Sajid Javid


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Anti-gender
Notes for Contributors
Where have all the cyberfeminists gone? Part 2
Nicole Shephard is a PhD researcher at the LSE Gender Institute, where she explores the becoming of transnational subjects. In this post, the second of a two-part series, she considers the history and future of cyberfeminism. Follow her on twitter: @kilolo_
In a prequel to this post I have briefly introduced the history of the cyberfeminist movement and some developments leading to the status quo. Here, I would like to think about its legacy and potential contemporary relevance.
In the introduction to Cyberfeminism 2.0, Gajjala and Ju Oh ask "where have all the cyberfeminists gone?" Were I prompted for a marginally informed guess, I would say that they haven't gone at all. In an environment where a comfortable online/offline dichotomy becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, feminisms are plenty and being a feminist online can take as many forms as offline. From this perspective, cyberfeminism has diversified beyond being traceable and cyberfeminists have gone everywhere and nowhere in particular. To further think about cyberfeminisms legacy, it might thus be useful to draw on attempts to break down this complexity, however fluid and permeable the resulting categories may be. In a seminal piece, Kira Hall had termed the transgressive, queer and utopian brand of cyberfeminism that I have briefly introduced "liberal cyberfeminsim" and identified a second, opposing notion of "radical cyberfeminism". The latter emerged as a reaction to the perceived reality of the Internet as a sexist and misogynist space dominated by boys with their toys and "resulted in the separatist development of numerous lists and bulletin board systems which self-identify as 'women only'". She saw these competing brands of cyberfeminism as incompatible and, in reference to Haraway's "I would rather be a cyborg than a goddess" pessimistically concluded that
Gender may well be an unfortunate dichotomy, as postmodern virtual theorists argue, but cyberspace is generating goddesses and ogres, not cyborgs -Kira Hall, 1996
More recently, 'online feminism' has been defined as feminism that uses the Internet, and social media in particular, as its medium. Building on the legacy of radical cyberfeminism, considerably expanded by web 2.0 affordances and growth in numbers, current era online feminism engages with myriad issues as diverse as bringing more women and girls into tech fields, maintaining feminist blogs, wikis and other community spaces and tackle misogyny, sexism and heteronormativity in social media, game culture or society at large, to name but a few. Online feminism on the one hand engages with concerns directly related to the Internet, and on the other caters to a much wider range of interests that use the Internet as a platform for organising, communicating and raising funds and awareness.
An area that has (unfortunately) received much less feminist attention is Internet policy and governance, which has emerged as a somewhat distinct field in the nineties, in parallel with the development of the WWW to a mass scale. Internet policy can be defined as:
those laws and regulations that are either specific to Internet infrastructure and its uses (…) or apply to long-standing legal issues that have so qualitatively changed in nature in the digital environment that significant changes are required of the legal system -Braman 2011, 140
I use the term Internet policy in a broad sense, not limiting it to politics, policy and polity, but including all social struggles around questions of how the Internet should/should not be shaped, used and regulated in future (Ganz 2013, 7). Braman (2011, 156ff) has identified four thematic clusters the field deals with: Access to the Internet (the digital divide within as well as across societies), access to content (censorship, net neutrality), property rights (copyright, patents, intellectual property in digital culture) and privacy (data protection, anonymity). All of these clusters are highly contested terrain, yet to large extents define social relations on and with the Internet. The actors negotiating them include national governments as well as international organisations, the private sector, the tech community and civil society.
These clusters are all in one way or the other closely related to feminist thinking around power relations, inequalities, and intersectional critiques, yet feminist engagement has been rather minimal. The potential consequences of the negotiations and contestations around Internet policy and governance are by no means limited to some abstract notion of the "online world" (imagined as separate from a "the real world"), but have repercussions for the political, social and legal context we all live in, and social struggles take place in. A recent study (Ganz 2013, accessible here in German) has identified potential starting points for feminist intervention in each of the clusters outlined above. Out of the four, questions around access to the Internet in terms of the digital divide have probably so far received the greatest extent of feminist attention. Where complexities around access to content, property rights and privacy are concerned, however, there remains much potential to enter the conversations.
Take for example net neutrality, the principle that all content on the Internet should be treated equally, not discriminating against particular users, platforms, and modes of access. Neither governments nor Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should, according to the principle of net neutrality, meddle with access to content based on either its ownership or its source. Yet, in a vast majority of countries, net neutrality is not currently a legal requirement (the few exceptions being Chile, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and potentially soon France). Conflicting interests, not only between governments and ISPs (think deep packet inspection, surveillance and state censorship), but also of corporate content providers lead to a precarious situation where ISPs essentially not only have the power, but the right (and sometimes even the legal obligation) to censor or promote content. Decisions on what content is considered appropriate or offensive are made by corporate entities and materialised in code, often to the detriment of feminist content, for example when Google excludes bitch media from its services, in Facebook's rather troubled relationship to breastfeeding mothers or feminist activism, or when Apple's iTunes store censors Vagina, incidentally the title of a Naomi Wolf book. Net neutrality not only needs to be a feminist issue to protect feminist content, but also to defend the Internet's potential to promote social justice and democracy that feminism as well as other social movements rely on to facilitate debate and networked counter-publics (Ganz 2013, 11-12).
Feminist legal studies have shown how copyright laws and related processes are inherently gendered, as "they are written and enforced to help certain groups of people, largely male, assert and retain control over the resources generated by creative productivity" and play "a role in sustain[ing] the material and economic inequality between man and woman" (Bartow 2006, 551; Ganz 2013). The feminist contention that the personal is political and decades of feminist engagement with the public/private binary similarly suggests that feminist positions have a great deal to contribute to negotiating shifting boundaries, practices and politics of privacy as one of the big Internet policy issues. On the one hand, the defense and protection of privacy in a networked environment should per se be of feminist concern. On the other, complicating ongoing debates by drawing attention to power relations, privilege and exclusions inherent in an uncritical notion of privacy is essential (Ganz 2013, 19).
Much as the Internet is a rather different space now than it was 20 odd years ago, the ways in which feminists organise and interact online has taken myriad shapes since, and that is without doubt a good thing. In addition to using the Internet as a means to many ends, and to tackling sexism where it arises online, however, feminist thinking needs to engage with the big issues shaping the future of the Internet by playing a critical part in Internet policy and governance. The Internet creates new social spaces, shapes social relations and reconfigures the public/private and local/global divides, as well as institutions like the state, market and community. Internet policy and governance, of course, are not negotiated in a vacuum free from power relations, but are firmly embedded in existing legal, political and social structures, and re-shape them in turn (for better or worse). If the "feminist revolution" is indeed to take place online, feminists might do well to not stop at online feminism but to actively engage with the constitutive forces behind the Internet.
Utopian thinking in/of cyberspace is not merely far-fetched and illusory, but holds real feminist promise in its way of imagining things differently. Such imaginative power should not be underestimated. -Bromseth and Sundén
While liberal cyberfeminism as initially imagined may have lost most of its immediate appeal, after all it is clearer today than ever that the Internet is no disembodied gender, race or class free space and should not be romanticised as such, it is well worth retaining some of the cyberfeminist idealism. Geared towards Internet policy and governance, the transformative potential cyberfeminists saw in the WWW might contribute to creative and equitable solutions. Extending intersectional critiques of neoliberal hegemonies and the underlying gendered norms and binaries to the ways in which not only online feminists, but global society get to use the Internet in future, and how decisions made in the name of Internet policy and governance seep into daily life, may prove crucial.
Bartow, Ann (2006). Fair Use and the Fairer Sex: Gender, Feminism, and Copyright Law. Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law 14(3), 551-584.
Braman, Sandra (2011). Internet Policy. In: The Handbook of Internt Studies, eds. Mia Consalvo and Charles Ess. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 137–167.
Bromseth, Janne and Jenny Sundén (2011). Queering Internet Studies: Intersections of Gender and Sexuality. In: The Handbook of Internet Studies, eds. Mia Consalvo and Charles Ess. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 270-299.
Gajjala, Radhika and Yeon Ju Oh, eds. (2012). Cyberfeminism 2.0. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
Ganz, Kathrin (2013). Feministische Netzpolitik: Perspektiven und Handlungsfelder . Berlin: Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Gunda Werner Institut.
Hall, Kira (1996). Cyberfeminism. In Computer-Mediated Communication: Linguistic, Social and Cross-Cultural Perspectives, ed. Susan C. Herring. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 147–73.
Martin, Courtney E. and Vanessa Valenti (2013). #FemFuture: Online Revolution. New York: Barnard Center for Research on Women.
Nicole's research engages with the notion of transnational social space, intersectional theory and the queering of methodologies. Her broader academic interests include gender, migration, social movements, the gender/technology nexus, internet policy and the intersections thereof. She holds an MSc in International Development from Bristol University and a BA in Social Work and Social Policy with a minor in Social Anthropology from University of Fribourg (Switzerland), and her pre-academic professional background is in IT and Human Resources.
June 10th, 2013|Science & Technology, Society|1 Comment
gamini February 27, 2015 at 00:46 - Reply
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/an-oral-history-of-the-first-cyberfeminists-vns-matrix
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