text:
4.5 Anthropology
Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social science differs from apparently related fields. It describes the goals, basic paradigms, and methodologies of the major social science disciplines. It offers an overview of the major questions that are the focus of much contemporary social science research, overall and for China. Special emphasis is given to explaining the challenges that social scientists face in drawing conclusions about cause and effect from their studies, and offers an overview of the approaches that are used to overcome these challenges. Explanation is non-technical and does not involve mathematics. Statistics and quantitative methods are not covered. Explore the big questions in social science and learn how you can be a critical, informed consumer of social science research. Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/QuMOAlwhpvU After you complete Part 1, enroll in Part 2 to learn how to be a PRODUCER of Social science research. Part 2: https://www.coursera.org/learn/social-science-research-chinese-society
The Social Science Disciplines
In Week 4, we will focus on The Social Science Disciplines. By the end of this week, you should have a better understanding of the emphases of each of the major social science disciplines, and the differences between the disciplines.
4.1 Overview1:35
4.2 Sociology15:12
4.3 Political Science14:51
4.4 Economics13:27
4.5 Anthropology6:33
4.6 Other disciplines5:26
4.7 Summary1:53
Cameron Campbell
Professor of Social Science
Hi, in this module, I'm going to introduce you to the discipline of anthropology.
Anthropology began in the 19th century as an effort to
systematically understand the origins of humans and
the origins of social and cultural organization among humans.
Essentially, in the 19th century, people were aware that society was changing very
rapidly, is the to the result economic growth, industrialization, and
there was an effort to understand where modern society had come from, and
what the origins of social organization work many centuries previously.
So researchers in particular sought to understand life in the pre-modern age.
That is, before recorded history began.
Initial focus in anthropology was on non-western or
pre-modern societies.
The idea was that these societies represented what perhaps
society in the west might have looked like hundreds or thousands of years ago.
And so, there were probably speaking too major approaches, one was ethnography
where researchers immerse themselves in distant places for
extended periods of times to try to understand the local cultures.
So this is the origin of the idea that anthropologists might spend months, maybe
in years living in a village in a distant country, perhaps in the South Pacific or
somewhere in Africa in order to understand the ways that those societies worked.
Another important tool was archaeology.
Essentially, you're covering the relics of early cultures and
then examining these relics.
Could be buildings, could be pottery for clues about the way that
society was organized, the way that culture worked, millennia ago.
So there was certainly some very important early figures in anthropology.
I'll just mention a few of them and give you some examples of what they did.
One who was particularly influential in the United States was Franz Boas
who introduced the notion of cultural relativism, the idea that
different cultures might have different ways of thinking about what was good or
what was bad.
And that there's hard to come up with a single measure
according to which you could rank cultures.
He was one of the first anthropologist to begin studying Contemporary Western
populations as opposed to the more exotic
locations that had been studied by many other anthropologists.
Another major figure was Alfred Radcliffe-Brown who emphasized comparison.
That is the systematic investigation of multiple different cultures,
multiple different peoples in order to learn what they have in common and
what is distinctive to each of them.
He emphasized learning about the structure and functions through this investigations.
Understanding the structure and the function of various cultural and
social practices in the way that they essentially bound people together and
help the society function.
Another important figure, Bronislaw Malinowski.
He was famous for ethnography and
carried out early studies of reciprocity and exchange.
Actually much of his research was in the South Pacific on islands there.
He studied peoples that were engaged in very elaborate rituals of gift giving and
reciprocity.
From this he tried to understand
gift giving more generally in its role in human societies.
Anthropology is divided into four major subfields and
I'd like to introduce them to you now.
One of the oldest and perhaps most recognizable, you'll certainly be aware
of it, reading the news or by watching movies in television is archaeology.
This is the effort to learn about past civilizations,
past cultures through the examination of relics that they left behind,
buildings, shards of pottery, any number of things that
people left behind and perhaps have been buried for centuries.
Another important area is sociocultural anthropology.
Roughly speaking, this is the effort to understand how people attach
symbolism in meaning to their daily activities,
to their rituals that they carry out and engage in on a daily basis.
Another important area is linguistic anthropology, so
the study of culture through the analyses of language, differences
in language across different settings and changes in language across time.
Finally, there is biological and physical anthropology,
which tends to be heavily quantitative.
But often this makes use of evidence on say the remains of humans collected at
archaeological sites, or insight into their well-being,
their health and so forth in past times.
There's also a strong link in biological and
physical anthropology to evolutionary theory.
People draw upon evolutionary theory to try to think about or understand
how especially early human society may have evolved and
what legacy duch evolution has for contemporary society.
So these are the four major subfields of anthropology.
If you are going for postgraduate in anthropology,
you will almost certainly focus on one of these.
But hopefully, you'll have an opportunity to study in some of other areas as well.


text:
Home News Governance Infantino's plan: An XL World Cup with 48 teams. FIFA's revenues up...
Infantino's plan: An XL World Cup with 48 teams. FIFA's revenues up to 600 mln
FIFA- President Infantino Photo: Steffen Schmidt/freshfocus/Insidefoto
By expanding the number of participants in the World Cup to 48 teams the result would be a significant increase in revenue for FIFA. According to a document released by AFP, Infantino's plan would lead FIFA to increase its revenue up to € 600 million. Gianni Infantino would like to realize an Extra Large version of the World Cup with 48 teams divided into 16 groups made of 3 national teams each.
According to a recent study, this project would allow revenues to increase to $ 4.18 billion (€ 3.95 billion) against $ 3.54 bln (€3.35 bln) estimated for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The costs related to the increase in the number of teams and the number of games (80 against 64 in the format with 32 teams) would rise by about $ 325 million (€307 million). The revenues from television rights would grow to $ 505 mln, while those from marketing would rise up to $ 370 mln. This format with 16 groups of 3 teams would generate higher revenues of $ 640 mln (€605 mln) compared to those forecasted for the 2018 World Cup approved in last FIFA Congress.
De Rossi – Italy (Insidefoto.com)
This is not going to be the only format that Gianni Infantino will propose on Tuesday at the FIFA Congress. There is also talk of a World Cup with 40 teams, a version made of 8 groups of 5 teams, and another one with 10 groups of 4 teams.
Another crucial point of the story is the number of additional seats to be allocated to each confederation, an element that should be discussed in Zurich on Tuesday. In a World Cup made of 40 teams, Europe could obtain one of them (from 13 to 14), Africa two (from 5 to 7), and Asia one-and-a-half (from 4.5 as the fifth goes to the playoffs to 6).
TV rights
Previous articleThe mysterious English football VAT case: intermediaries, clubs, and players involved
Next articleOfficial: World Cup 2026 with 48 teams. The show can be better

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We have created a network that connects the right people to the right opportunities. We deliver a service that is agile, responsive and uses the latest technology and media to link to our markets. We are bring insights to both sides of the recruitment equation, drawing on our backgrounds in industry and decades of collective recruitment experience.
We are trusted by industry leaders and business owners to reliably source the highest quality resources, resulting in the right outcomes and a smooth transition for our candidates and clients.
With 25% year on year growth across Australia, Fuse SA is looking for a Team Leader join our Blue collar and trades focused team, based in Gawler. You could be looking for your next career opportunity to lead an established team, or be an experienced blue collar high volume leader.
Blue collar and trades Recruitment background, specialising in onhire and/ permanent recruitment within blue collar and trades.
The opportunity to join a highly successful specialist recruitment business. You will be well supported by management and be joining a business with a strong team-based culture. The sky truly is the limit.
The right person will deliver results for our business and be well rewarded with an excellent salary, regular commissions, days off for birthdays, uncapped conferences and networking events.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to join a specialist recruitment business that is on a very exciting growth curve! For a confidential discussion or to apply please contact Steve Oliver at Fuse Recruitment on 08 81040747 or simply hit the apply button below.


text:
When is a partner an employee? Partnership lawyer Doug Preece reviews the latest Court of Appeal decision
This article was written for and first featured in Accountancy Age
The latest challenge to the status of a fixed share partner has been quashed by the Courts. The primary danger in fixed share partners, whether they are partners in a partnership or members in an LLP, being found to be employees is that they can claim employment protection rights, including the right not to be unfairly dismissed. A change in status could also complicate the tax position for both the firm and the individual concerned. The Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in the Tiffin case ([2012] EWCA Civ 35) on 1 February 2012.
Mr Tiffin was a fixed share partner in Lester Aldridge LLP, a firm of solicitors. He was given notice to leave and subsequently claimed unfair dismissal compensation on the basis that in reality he was an employee and not a true partner. The court of appeal was the third hearing of this case. Both lower courts had ruled in favour of Lester Aldridge and decided that Mr Tiffin was not an employee. The Court of Appeal did likewise.
Does this decision mean that firms can be confident that their fixed share partners are definitely true partners and not employees? It can mean that, if a firm's fixed share partners have the same characteristics as Mr Tiffin. The terms of Mr Tiffin's membership of the LLP gave him the right to a fixed share of profits; the right to a small variable share of profits based on a points allocation; the obligation to make a capital contribution; signatory rights on the firm's client and office accounts; a right to share in the surplus assets on a winding up, by reference to capital contributed; and the right to vote on certain matters. Many firms have fixed share partners who do not have all these attributes.
Lester Aldridge had salaried partners in addition to fixed share partners. While the court pointed out that the title given to any one class of partners had no bearing on the true status of a partner, it was not helpful to Mr Tiffin's case that the salaried partners were described in the members agreement as employees who were to be paid a fixed salary; with no share of profits and no obligation to contribute capital. This naturally put the fixed share partner category into much greater contrast than might have been the position had the firm not had salaried partners.
The other confirmation which the case gives to firms is that if they have a category of partner who is paid a fixed salary with no profit share or obligation to contribute capital; no right to share in the assets on a winding up and no vote on management issues, that partner is likely to be an employee, even if not described as such in the firm's members agreement.
What the case does not deal with is the middle ground between these two positions. There are a number of decisions which make it clear that no one characteristic is essential in order to qualify as a true partner. For example, partners who have been described as salaried partner and who have received a fixed salary without any profit share or capital contribution, have been held to be true partners. We have seen many LLP arrangements where there are fixed share partners who are paid a profit share but do not have all of the other characteristics equivalent to those enjoyed by Mr Tiffin. It is fairly common for fixed share partners to be required to contribute capital but it is not so common that along with the capital contribution comes a right to share in the surplus assets on a winding up.
It did not come as a surprise that the decision went against Mr Tiffin. If it had been decided in his favour firms of all shapes and sizes would have been considering whether a fundamental restructuring of their classes of partner was necessary. It is unfortunate that a partner with many fewer entitlements was not the subject of the scrutiny of the Court of Appeal. A case where the claimant is a fixed share partner who was formerly an employee and who had become a member of an LLP on the same arrangements, in practice, as applied to him as an employee, except that his salary is now a fixed share of profits and he has a nominal capital contribution, would give more conclusive guidance. Until that happens, there will remain an element of uncertainty as to the true status of many fixed share partners in partnerships and LLPs.
Douglas Preece


Button up and get ready to have your shirt style taken to the next level! This Arya White Embroidered Shirt is fresh to the bone, with the coloured floral design and long sleeve style this shirt is going to take you places. The ultimate wardrobe pleaser to keep you in check.
Overall, the blouse is good. I didn't guess the size a bit, the size 48 should be taken smaller. There is no odor, embroidery is flat.
Product is OK. I order size L, I am 173 cm, in generally in my country USA my size is M, sleeves are too short, I must wear it like3/4…and shirt is short, I must wear it with jeans.
love the fabric. soft and the white color is perfect. love the embroidery.
Value for money is excellent! Ordering a second shirt from the seller, Respect!
The perfect thing in all respects. Neat and high-quality embroidery. The fabric is moderately thin, it does not glow. All seams are smooth. There was no smell when unpacking. I ordered the size M. Delivery 2 weeks Packed in a zip package.
The fabric is very good, I would love the quality, it is really a good shirt. I usually use an S in Spain, I asked for the M to be sure and I was right, because if I came to ask for the S it would have been too short for me. Very happy!!!! I measure 1,63.
Very nice blouse. The fabric is pleasant to the body. High-quality embroidery. The courier brought the order home. The blouse is exactly the size. Thank you very much for the gift.
Everything was great. OG 102. The seller advised everything correctly. The shirt fits perfectly, nice to the body.
I order not the first time from this seller! all OK! Shipment is fast, delivered in 3 weeks. The shirt is excellent, the embroidery is neat, the size went perfectly, ordered a size larger, so as not to be tight-fitting. I am pleased with the order. I recommend the seller.
Pretty blouse. Good quality. At 48 size 2XL free. Delivery to NY 2 weeks. I'm happy. Thank you seller!
beautiful blouse embroidered patterns have good shades. neat tailoring. quick delivery. I recommend the seller. high quality and fast. thanks. + small gift.
Very beautiful blouse !!! The drawing is bright. The material stretches. The shirt is nice and comfortable to wear. Size 52-54. There is no smell. Thanks for the gift!!!
Very nice shirt. The material is synthetic, thin. Well drawn. Beautiful embroidery, neat. At its 46 size, exhaust gas 90 ordered size L. The sleeve is not long for my height 157 cm. Excellent. Delivery takes about three weeks to mail. Thank you seller for a great product.
Beautiful blouse with high-quality embroidery. Delivery is very fast: ordered on January 12 – received on January 28. For parameters 118/106/128, rather narrow shoulders and height 168 ordered 5хl. Size fit only. The seller is responsible, quality goods, delivery is super fast. I want to order one more with another embroidery. I recommend both the product and this seller.
Blouse sat on me perfectly! Shirt free cut, not straight on the figure (oversize). If you fill, it will be just lovely! The material is cotton, but it seems to me that there is some synthetics in it.
But the body is very pleasant. Not prickly, does not electrify. Embroidery is made quite carefully! There are no complaints about sewing, the edges are even, there are no jambs. There was no smell. The shirt is thick but breathable, suitable for warm spring / cool summer. On the height of 165 cm sleeves, and the length as a whole fit perfect. Both sides are embroidered symmetrically, which is very pleased!
Very beautiful white shirt, the main decoration of which is bright and colorful embroidery. Delivery took 14 days. Track number tracked. On the parameters of height 162 and OG 92 I chose size L, the village was perfect. In the chest is not narrow, freely in moderation. The sleeve is a good length. Sits comfortably. I think up to 170 with a sleeve will be without any questions at all. On my blouse embroidery on the chest and shoulders, not tightly and everything in moderation. The bottom is made in a semicircle, but not so much so that the sides peeked out. The seller specified cotton fabric, but it is not. The fabric is very similar to silk. Apparently a mixture of polyester and cotton, but the fabric is good to the touch. The material is pleasant to the body, it does not prick or electrify. All seams are made exactly and neatly. Mostly there are strings, but not critical. The shirt is perfect up to a temperature of + 20-25. Fabric moderately dense. Just a little shine through.
White Casual white shirt of excellent quality and very beautiful embroidery on the chest. Everything is sewn neatly.
The material is nice, embroidery needs to be steamed.


text:
Legends of Team Canada: Wally Schreiber
Few Canadian hockey players devoted themselves to Team Canada as completely as Wally Schreiber.
The three time Olympian may not rank high in the hierarchy of Canadian international hockey history. Paul Henderson, Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby probably have never even heard of him.
But in the 1990s Schreiber was a mainstay and in many ways the heart of the Canadian men's national team.
But it was never easy for the small speedster from Edmonton.
The late bloomer only played one season of major junior hockey, scoring 56 goals and 124 points with the Regina Pats in 1981-82. That got him drafted by the Washington Capitals in the very late stages of the 1982 Entry Draft. 152nd overall, in the eighth round, to be exact.
Schreiber attended a couple of training camps but never signed with the NHL team. Instead he toiled in anonymity for four seasons as a leading scorer for the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League.
In 1986 Schreiber redirected his goals and committed to Dave King's Canadian National Team. With 40 goals in that 1986-87 season in international competition, Schreiber provided badly needed offense. He could skate with the best on the bigger ice surface, and his defensive game began rounding out under King.
Schreiber returned to the Nats the next season, with high hopes of Olympic glory on home ice. The 1988 Winter Olympics were held in Calgary, Alberta that year.
There was only one problem - the International Olympic Committee changed their rules to allow professionals to represent all nations.
Hockey fans would have to wait another decade before the National Hockey League allowed its best players all to represent their homelands. But Team Canada, looking to medal on home ice, forged alliances with NHL teams in hopes of landing some borrowed help. And they did, landing the likes of Jim Peplinski, Tim Watters and Steve Tambellini. The team also had Randy Gregg (wishing to return to the Olympics) and Andy Moog (NHL contract dispute) for the balance of the whole season.
But that was tough on the National Team players who committed to the Olympic goal all season but always fearing they would get bumped by a big league loaner.
"That's in the back of everybody's mind," Schreiber said. "I've been with the team for nearly two years and it certainly would hurt to be dropped.
"The coach has explained the situation to us, that it could happen if somebody better comes along. He laid it down and we have to accept it. It's logical.
"Nobody on this team would be ready for it, but it would have to be accepted as part of the game. I'm sure if it does happen there will be a few people really pissed off."
For Schreiber it ended up not being a concern. Though his offense shrank in that second season, he remained a vital part of Canada's offense, along with the likes of Brian Bradley, Marc Habscheid and Serge Boisvert.
In the end, Schreiber scored just once, and Canada, despite promise, finished out of the medals in fourth place.
Immediately after the Olympics Schreiber jumped to Minnesota North Stars and showed good promise with six goals and eleven points in sixteen games to end the NHL season. But he would have trouble sticking with the North Stars the next season, scoring just twice in 25 games. In the final year of his contract he badly injured his shoulder and only played in five games in the minor leagues.
With no NHL contract offers coming his way, Schreiber headed to Germany where he starred until the turn of the century. It was a good living, making significantly more money than he would in the minor leagues, tax free at that. The teams would often provide a house and car on top of it too. Eventually Schreiber became a German citizen and raised his kids there.
Throughout his European adventures, Schreiber always remained loyal to Team Canada. He played in the occasional games with the National Team when his schedule allowed, though surprisingly never got the chance to represent his country at a World Championship tournament.
But Schreiber did get the chance to return to two more Olympics, helping Canada win hard-fought silver medals in 1992 and 1994.
Labels: Canadian National Team, Olympic Hockey Legends, Wally Schreiber


Welcome to Jacob Park in Cerritos, California. This is a small neighborhood park with a lighted sand volleyball court and two lighted half-basketball courts so that people can play at night. It also boasts a playground.


text:
Protest in the Brazilian Congress, June 2013
Essay Politics Society
Dossier: Democracy, Urban Issues and Corruption in Contemporary Brazil
Brazil's Forgotten Political Reforms
After the June 2013 Protests
by Gianpaolo Baiocchi & Ana Claudia Teixeira , 19 June 2014
In June 2013, Brazil faced an unprecedented wave of protests. First denouncing the rising fare of public transportation, the June protests gained momentum, showing that Brazilians craved for no less than a complete political reform. Assessing the legacy of this social movement, this essay points to the limits of citizen participation as it was implemented in Brazil in the preceding decades.
No one could have predicted the wave of protests that shook Brazil in June 2013. Even the Free Fare Movement (Movimento do Passe Livre, or MPL), [1] the leading organization of the first demonstrations against rising bus fares in São Paulo, seemed caught off-guard as protests escalated. It is estimated that in São Paulo alone, the 17th of June march gathered 250,000 people. Some 140 other cities joined in the protests. Such numbers are a milestone in the history of the country, dwarfing both the protests of the 1980s (during the country's transition to democracy) and those of the 1990s (those that led to the impeachment of President Collor). The 2013 protests were also marked by a dizzying diversity of causes for dissatisfaction: not only bus fares and the right to mobility, but World Cup mega-projects, political corruption, poor public education, the lack of access to quality public health, and a host of other issues. Even socially conservative Brazilians made their presence felt, protesting against abortion, or in favor of the reduction of criminal age.
To many observers, it was as if a pressure cooker had exploded. Paradoxically, this took place during a period of unprecedented growth and economic prosperity, after over a decade of center-left governments, social policies such as the conditional cash transfer program Bolsa Familia, as well as commitments to dialogue and citizen participation.
The Limits of Brazil's Participatory Democracy
The balance-sheet for the last dozen years under the Workers' Party (PT) national administration is, by most accounts, largely positive: a sharp reduction in poverty, sustained economic growth, a near-doubling of the number of students in university, and real gains in important social issues, like affirmative action. And while on certain scores, like land-redistribution and the reform of the political system, the administration has fallen short of expectations, most progressive commentators agree that national rule under the PT has represented a significant break from previous periods, appearing to chart a route of social and economic development different than free-market orthodoxies. [2] In terms of participation, specifically, since the beginning of the Lula administration in 2003, the opportunities for citizen engagement have increased. Participation in Brazil had followed a steady increase since the return to democracy in 1985, but the first Lula administration opened up significant new spaces. Despite ignoring many of the claims formulated by social movements and organized civil society, including the creation of a national participatory budget, the Lula administration created 25 new national councils for citizen dialogue and revived several of the existing ones. It promoted countless public hearings, workshops and forums, and national conferences, making it difficult to overestimate the sheer institutional investment in this participation.
Over the first eight years, the national administration held conferences on forty different themes, twenty-eight of which were new, including for instance conferences on the rights of the elderly, on cities, on the youth, on culture, on the environment, on LGBTT. The best estimates assess that conferences mobilized at least 5 million participants, leading to more than 14,000 proposals and 1,100 motions. And these figures do not include myriad local efforts. Throughout the 2000s, municipalities created thousands of municipal councils to discuss various topics, and it became commonplace for cities to develop participatory master plans, participatory municipal constitutions, as well as involve citizens in all aspects of governance. Scholars have come to the conclusion that participation became central to the legal language of the Brazilian State (Gurza Lavalle, 2011). However, many analysts are still trying to understand how these participatory channels failed to give voice to the demands voiced at the protests. It is clear that demonstrations in some way reflect the limits of representation and participation in the Brazilian democracy, as diverse and robust those mechanisms might be today.
Many analysts attribute the protests to the depletion of Brazil's model of urbanization – the lack of quality of public services and urban rights, the lack of public spaces, the limits of consumer-based citizenship – always reminding us that the spark for these protests was police repression and lack of responsiveness from all levels of government. Others point to the depletion of traditional forms of social organization. A notable absence from the protests were unions, established social movements that may have been present at first, and leftist parties. A third group of analysts reflect on the results. As Ortellado (2013) notes, the greatest legacy of the demonstrations was the successful combination of clear demands and effective strategies. In fact, one of the most important legacies of the June protests was that protests in the street were actually successful in reducing bus fares almost immediately in all large Brazilian cities while bringing the idea of the "free-pass" to the center of political debates. And this was achieved, ultimately by collective actors who remained entirely autonomous from the government. This had already existed since the country's transition to democracy, but the new element was the combination of horizontal and countercultural politics of movements with a mature sense of strategy.
The legacy of the June protests is however greater. The manifestations for the free bus pass inspired other protests differing from traditional social movements. It is as if there were two simultaneous protests in Brazil: one started by the MPL (Movimento do Passe Livre), with its clarity and strategy, to which other demands were added; and another protest, more explosive and inchoate.
From Fares to Political Reform
Shortly after the biggest protests of June 17th, when several cities besides São Paulo were already mobilized, it was clear that what was at stake was no longer just fares. President Dilma Rousseff took to the airwaves, proposing five "pacts", including a call for a referendum on political reform, an issue that had been stalled in Congress for many years. The point of view of the federal government seemed to be that the demonstrations signaled a huge democratic deficit, in which politicians lacked legitimacy and the population did not feel heard or respected. Rousseff's move for a referendum did not succeed and Congress reacted badly. By law, it is the prerogative of Congress to call referendums, and members of Congress felt cornered and fearful that a reform process could happen out of their control.
Disappointment mounted among activists and alarm among analysts. Gabriel Cohn (2013) warned, in an interview, that Brazilians were creating a system of "perverse selection": "the more you say that politicians are worthless… the more you scare those who have democratic attitudes and democratic beliefs. This discourages them to enter the political game. You destroy the basic institutions from the inside." Marcos Nobre (2013) assumed there were two possible consequences of the demonstrations. One would be a radical reform of the political system to accommodate demands, and the other would be an ever more closed political system based on "low intensity democracy."
Luiza Erundina, a former Mayor of São Paulo and congresswoman for the Socialist Party who had been working on the reforms for many years stated in October that Congress's refusal to organize a referendum proved the democratic deficit in the country. She declared that "political reform [would] never come from Congress" and that she had deluded herself and the population in thinking otherwise. She cast her lot with the growing movement for political reform.
The Struggle for Political Reform
The public debate on political reform predates the 2013 protests. In July 2004, in São Paulo, a group of organizations set up a seminar on "the meanings of democracy and participation" to evaluate, 16 years after the 1988 Constitution, the state of the country's democracy. Participants were anxious to make sense of what the Lula government was proposing in terms of participation and democracy. After extensive discussions, a consensus emerged around the idea of political reform, understood in a broad sense, as well as around a set of specific demands about institutional reforms. The demands included not only the reform of the electoral system, but also a series of tweaks to representative democracy, trying to address decision-making in society as a whole.
This whole process generated a unifying platform relying on several pillars: the strengthening of mechanisms of direct democracy (such as plebiscites), the strengthening of participatory/deliberative democracy, the improvement of representative democracy, the democratization of information and communication, and the democratization of a more transparent judiciary. Within this broad platform there were specific proposals like the importance of protecting public campaign financing, and closed-list elections with gender quotas. Since the beginning, activists had pursued two strategies: to mobilize society in discussion around these themes and to provoke debate in Congress. The campaign produced materials: radio and video programs, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and public debates organized all over Brazil. Friendly politicians sparked the creation of the Parliamentary Front for Political Reform.
The Changing meanings of Participation in the PT
When Lula came to power there had been much anticipation about the prospects of participatory democracy in his government owing to three related facts. First, of course, his personal history: his trajectory as a union activist and his close ties with the labor movement. Second, the history of the Workers' Party, founded as it was by social movements, its internal commitment to participatory democracy, and its many active elected officials. When the PT arrived in Brasilia, it did so with two decades of experience with progressive and participatory municipal administrations, the "participatory budget" being only the best known of these practices.
The expectation was that the administration would break with the old ways of doing politics, as well as with favor trading, a practice characterizing many government affairs in Brazil. It was hoped that the old ways of governing would be replaced by new forms of citizen participation. Participation was instituted - in droves, actually - but its meaning changed.
If what called attention to the PT in the 1980s was its origin as a "party of social movements," what drew attention to it in the 1990s was the model of local participation it had developed. By the early 2000s, the PT had ruled over two hundred municipalities of all sizes. Often, these attempts to govern with the real participation of people were successful, transforming the creativity of popular voices into the exercise of legitimate power. Apart from experiences of Participatory Budgets, PT administrations experimented with countless institutional forms of participation: policy councils focusing on women, the elderly, Afro-Brazilians, youth, the environment and many other topics. By the late 1990s, the phrase "PT way of governing" had become synonymous with participation, transparency, and good governance. A central component of this participation was its connection with real decision-making and a broader strategy of social transformation. Local administrations, through these participatory mechanisms, were able to develop and legitimize redistributive policies.
However, things began to change in the Lula government from the very start. Participatory Budgeting, for example, was reduced to one sentence in the 90-page government plan, and was understood as "forums for discussion on the budget." Similarly, the goals of other participatory mechanisms were lowered, a move justified by the argument that the PT, facing a split Congress, had won the elections, but not power. Most analysts have described the PT government as one of contradictions, reproducing the old system but also achieving significant goals (Singer, 2012). The sharpest criticisms have raised the specter of cooptation (Ricci, 2010), or hegemony in reverse (Oliveira, Braga and Rizek, 2010). These authors have consistently concluded that there was a substantial continuity with previous periods in Brazilian history, when financial elites continued to exert influence and derive benefit from a corrupted state.
However, these analyses tend to underplay the role of politics and political struggle within the government itself. The PT is a left movement deeply linked with the social movements that emerged in Brasilia with many ill-resolved questions. An important factor that made the Lula government different was the sheer number of social movement activists in the government, many of whom created new ministries and departments. In a survey that analyzed the origin of political appointments in the federal administration, some 45% belonged to labor movements and 46% to social movements, well above the national average (D´Araújo, 2007:44). Despite the fact that these activists brought significant experience in participatory institutions, under the federal administration this participation was largely divorced from decision-making. The government's ability to "listen" to social movements - a much less demanding form of participation compared with earlier periods - was the way the government handled the tension between its historical links with social movements and the political compromises, that characterized the national PT administration. So, as the PT abandoned its earlier understandings of what participation meant – its strategic gamble on "people in the street" or on "popular pressure," and its respect for "popular knowledge" – it gave way to a new model of governance based on congressional compromise and consultative practices of "listening" and "dialogue."
In addition, there was a gap between organized sectors involved with the channels of the federal government dialogue and a largely uninvolved population. In a recent interview, Pochmann (2014) indicates figures proving this last point. In the last decade, the number of university students doubled, but most have not joined the student movement; 1.2 million low-income families now have homes but have not joined neighborhood associations; 22 million people have joined the labor market, but the numbers of members in unions have not increased. A second limit relates to the policy issues at hand. Within the government there is very little participation in the economic decisions of the country or on issues of infrastructure. Participatory channels largely focus on social policies and their implementation. Transportation, for example, (precisely the target of demonstrations) is not discussed in any institutional body. The municipal government of São Paulo recently announced a council on transportation, with elections in March 2014.
As we speak, it has been nearly a year since the first protests began. As the country gears up to host the World Cup, one wonders about the legacies of such mobilizations. On the one hand, the protests decisively showed that contestatory street politics can have results in ways that participatory forums and traditional democratic mechanisms cannot. Since the protests, the country has seen many mobilizations, this time from organized sectors: the landless movement, the homeless movement, the civil servant unions, which have all found renewed energy for protests and strikes. On the other hand, the protests showed the limits of the Workers' Party, which for many years has been seen as the only legitimate interlocutor and representative of social movements. Not only did the protests expose the limits of participatory mechanisms, but they have brought to the fore a generation of people little connected to traditional social movements, unions, or the party itself.
A final legacy has been to renew the interest in political reform, and it is against this background that the movement for political reform continues to build momentum. In the civil society, there are two ongoing, complementary initiatives. On the one hand, a popular initiative has been collecting signatures since September 2013. And another plenary of social movements is organizing a plebiscite for an exclusive and sovereign constituent assembly to reform the political system. The reactions of the most conservative sectors in Congress and the mainstream media have been negative, questioning the legitimacy of organized sectors to propose changes in the electoral system. We cannot predict the future, whether or not there will be broad support for political reform, much less which elements will be implemented. It is possible that conservative sectors decide to hijack the platform so that implemented reforms do not really change anything in the existing status quo. It would not be the first time that such a thing happens in Brazil.
But we may wonder whether political reforms go far enough. The proposed changes are certainly important. It is undeniably critical to curb the influence of economic power over the electoral process, as well as to introduce mechanisms to improve access to the electoral system. But the demonstrations also lead us to reflect on other absences. Is what is missing in Brazil more participation, more debate, more voices in decision-making? Or is it also missing a political project going beyond class compromise in trying to recover the utopian legacy of participation?
Dossier(s) :
Democracy, Urban Issues and Corruption in Contemporary Brazil
by Gianpaolo Baiocchi & Ana Claudia Teixeira, 19 June 2014
Maria Celina d'Araujo (dir.), Governo Lula: contornos sociais e políticos da elite no poder. Rio de Janeiro, CPDOC, 2007.
Beasley-Murray, Jon, Maxwell A. Cameron, and Eric Hershberg. "Latin America's left turns: An introduction." Third World Quarterly 30.2 (2009): 319-330.
Cervo, Amado Luiz. "Brazil's rise on the international scene: Brazil and the World." Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional 53.SPE (2010): 7-32.
Costa, Nilson do Rosário. "Social protection in Brazil: universalism and targeting in the FHC and Lula administrations." Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 14.3 (2009): 693-706.
Anderson, Perry. "Lula's Brazil." London Review of Books 33.7 (2011): 3-12.
French, John D. "Understanding the Politics of Latin America's Plural Lefts (Chavez/Lula): social democracy, populism and convergence on the path to a post-neoliberal world." Third World Quarterly 30.2 (2009): 349-370.
Gabriel Cohn, entretien em journal Valor Econômico, 21/06/2013
Weyland, Kurt, Raúl L. Madrid, and Wendy Hunter, eds. Leftist Governments in Latin America. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Hunter, Wendy. The transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil, 1989-2009. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Adrian Gurza Lavalle, « Após a participação : nota introdutória », Lua Nova (Impresso), vol. 84, 2011, p. 13-24.
Lievesley, Geraldine A., and Steve Ludlam. Reclaiming Latin America: experiments in radical social democracy. 2009.
Marcos Nobre. « Protesto é resposta à tecnocracia", entretien en journal Valor Econômico, 18/06/2013.
Francisco Oliveira, Ruy Braga, Cibele Rizek (dir.), Hegemonia às avessas : economia, política e cultura na era da servidão financeira, São Paulo, Boitempo, 2010.
Pablo Ortellado, « Os protestos de junho entre o processo e o resultado », in Pablo Ortellado, Helena Judensnaider, Luciana Lima, Marcelo Pomar (dir.), Vinte centavos : a luta contra o aumento, São Paulo, Veneta, 2013,
Márcio Pochmann, entretien « Pochmann : 2014 pode ter a última eleição com candidaturas populares », (http://www.viomundo.com.br/politica/marcio-pochmann-eleicao-de-2014-pode-ser-a-ultima-com-candidaturas-populares-ao-parlamento.html) [access on 25/02/2014].
POLIS, INESC. 2011. Arquitetura da Participação no Brasil. Relatório de Pesquisa, São Paulo, Polis, 2011, (www.polis.org.br/uploads/1262/1262.pdf).
Ruda Ricci, Lulismo : da era dos movimentos sociais à ascensão da nova classe média brasileira, Brasília, Fundação Astrojildo Pereira, 2010.
Samuels, David. "Sources of mass partisanship in Brazil." Latin American Politics and Society 48.2 (2006): 1-27.
Lincoln Secco, « As jornadas de junho », in Alicia Toffan et al. (dir), Cidades Rebeldes : Passe livre e as manifestações que tomaram as ruas do Brasil, São Paulo, Boitempo, Carta Maior, 2013, p. 71-78.
Morais, Lecio, and Alfredo Saad-Filho. "Da economia política à política econômica: o novo-desenvolvimentismo eo governo Lula." Revista de economia política 31.4 (2011): 507-527.
Andre Singer, Os sentidos do lulismo: reforma gradual e pacto conservador, São Paulo, Companhia das Letras, 2012.
Gianpaolo Baiocchi & Ana Claudia Teixeira, « Brazil's Forgotten Political Reforms. After the June 2013 Protests », Books and Ideas , 19 June 2014. ISSN : 2105-3030. URL : http://www.booksandideas.net/Brazil-s-Forgotten-Political.html
by Alfredo Ramos, 19 June 2014
The June protests which shook Brazil in 2013 stunned the world. This...
Web Activism in São Paulo: New Political Practices
by Rita de Cássia Alves Oliveira & Rosemary Segurado, 14 July 2014
In September 2011, Ocupa Sampa, a Brasilian activist movement started to...
From Mass Media to the Digital Revolution
by Olivier Alexandre, 16 December 2014
An Interview with Fred Turner
Referendum Uncertainty
by Dominique Rousseau, 9 April 2015
Although a useful instrument of representative government, a referendum is...
[1] The Free Fare Movement advocates the adoption off free fares in mass transit. The movement was founded in a session during the Worlwide Social Forum in 2005, in Porto Alegre, and gained prominence for its participation in the planning of the 2013 Brazilian protests.
[2] There has been lively debate about how to make sense of Brazil's center-left project under the PT. Some of the debate is captured in Morais, Lecio, and Alfredo Saad-Filho 2007; Singer 2012; Anderson 2011. There are a number of additional useful, specific analyses of different aspects of national PT rule, including foreign policy (Cervo 2010); the party itself (Samuels 2006; Hunter 2010); social protection (Costa 2010). For more general discussions on the so-called "pink tide" of Latin America, of which Brazil's Lula is only one example, see Weyland, Kurt, Raúl L. Madrid, and Wendy Hunter 2010; Beasly et al 2009; Lievesley, and Ludlam 2010; French 2009.


text:
Segner, Helmut (2016) Why babies do not feel pain, or: How structure-derived functional interpretations can go wrong. Animal Sentience 3(26)
http://www.xerr.uzh.ch/people/segenr.html
Commentary Type
Invited Commentary
Brian Key, Why fish do not feel pain
The response to pain involves a non-conscious, reflexive action and a conscious perception. According to Key (2016), consciousness — and thus pain perception — depends on a neuronal correlate that has a "unique neural architecture" as realized in the human cortex. On the basis of the "bioengineering principle that structure determines function," Key (2016) concludes that animal species such as fish, which lack the requisite cortex-like neuroanatomical structure, are unable to feel pain. This commentary argues that the relationship between brain structure and brain function is less straightforward than suggested in Key's target article.
Helmut Segner helmut.segner@vetsuisse.unibe.ch is Professor and Head of the Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Switzerland. His research topics include fish toxicology and fish pathology. http://www.itpa.vetsuisse.unibe.ch/fiwi


Your expenses are going to skyrocket, with the cost of power, water and commute all set to rise in Mumbai.
Four days after winning the civic polls, the Shiv Sena-controlled civic body has asked the administration to go ahead with the proposals to hike water tax and power tariff. It had put these plans on hold ahead of the polls.
While the civic body wants to up water taxes by 30% to 40% and introduce a fire protection fee, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking has asked the state regulator for permission to hike tariff by up to 44%, which will affect more than six lakh island city residents.
Following the rise in the price of compressed natural gas by Rs 1.63 a unit, taxi and auto unions want a fare revision. Cabbies want the minimum fare to be raised to Rs 20.


Consumer patients will not stand for stonewalling. In fact the opposite is already true. They want their data for the world to see so that the data might help the greater good. The more data available the more likely conditions will actually find cures. Thus, the rise of monitoring and health tracking devices will only grow in scope, moving beyond simple wearables and toward (unfortunately) implantables.
Additionally, as we are already and finally seeing, the telehealth movement shows no signs of slowing down. The point of this story is "instant access" to healthcare. We've seen a lot of resistance to this until now, but like it or not, patients are ready for video and text chat. They want immediate access to care wherever they are, without the pointless need to take time from their lives to spend half the day at their doctor's office for a minor condition. Payers, and regulators, have long drug their feet on this issue and it's helped keep adoption from taking off. No more. Telehealth is on the verge of innovative breakthroughs, which seemed to come to full fruition this year. Five years from now, the telehealth landscape will not only be far superior to the one we have today (which is in its infancy) but the care types provided with expand and there will be much more comprehensive services provided. Those who do not provide these services, and promote the fact that they provide them, will die. Much like the modern day death of employees working in a cube-filled office, we are now more mobile and need our services wherever we are. The telehealth market we see now is only just the beginning.
Nimbleness will be rewarded. Even while the feds will continue to try to exercise their regulation muscle, consumers' needs will outpace government and vendor-mandated technology. Consumers will bring health IT to the "free market," explosively.
Finally, ancillary technology will become healthcare IT's next big thing or the enterprise level professionals working in the space. EHRs have not lived up to the hype, though they are foundational. Next up are bolt on technologies. Software that helps make the EHRs better. Communications collectors; patient interaction solutions; data analytics, collection and information sifting and sifting; information extraction; real-time sharing; patient collections and remuneration; real information exchange and the like. Bolt-on technologies will likely reign over current systems such as EHRs, which are falling short. For example, communication platforms and services to fill gaps in EHR's capabilities.
True interoperability is now. Stand-alone solutions like EHRs will be marginalized as foundational technology until better solutions replace them; perhaps new administrative technologies that completely surpass what it offered today. Within the next half decade we should see some real changes (not marketed changes) on this front. Some action and some payoff. Those in healthcare are done talking and trying; they are ready for action now. Like their patient counterparts, they will not stand still, but will find ways to reach their goals in this regard, even if that means building their own systems or tearing their current ones apart.
Change is constant. Nowhere is that more true than in healthcare. The next five years will be more than interesting, the industry will change, possibly in epic ways.
I can't wait to see where technology takes healthcare in the next 5, 10, or 20 years. It's exciting to think about! The advances and changes we're seeing now are just the tip of the iceberg.


text:
"Sister Sorry" at BSC Is an Intense Whodunwhat
By Patrick White	 On Aug 23, 2021
After the last six years in this country, are you interested enough to spend an evening's entertainment watching how and why a person lies? If a confession is untethered from attribution or consequences, does it have any value at all to anyone? "Sister Sorry," a World Premiere two-hander thriller, of sorts, by first-time playwright Alec Wilkinson loosely based on his New Yorker article and true events is being presented by Barrington Stage Company on their Boyd/Quinson mainstage through 8/29. It left me with far more questions than interest in the plight of its two characters, justice served or story resolved.
Photo by David Dashiell
In 1993, "around the time of Clinton's inauguration" the title character says, Sister Sorry (Jennifer Van Dyck) posts dozens of flyers crisscrossing downtown Manhattan with an invitation to call her Sorry line and confess whatever the caller would like to get off their chest. Totally anonymous, not connected to the police or any repercussions, just an open line where you are invited to fess up to your misdeeds and hear others do the same. She is soon receiving many calls, enough to have an exhibition at a gallery downtown which the gallery owner doesn't want to publicize for fear of attracting criminals. Sister Sorry says "I wear a wig to the opening, which maybe I'm embarrassed about now."
"A soldier calls saying he gave his wedding ring to a prostitute in Vietnam and for years he told his wife he lost it." She then says "We're in polite society here, so I'm not going to talk about the father-daughter, mother-son, and brother-sister sex stuff…and the what-I-did-to-the-dog-when-I-was-twelve, all of it dark and darker and much darker, so that even for me, who has a wide tolerance, it's disturbing, although, let's be clear, also thrilling."
Then one night she receives a call from someone calling himself Jack Flash who stops her in her tracks as he describes killing his mother. A 28-year-old man who lives at home with his mother because he is too financially unstable to rent his own place has gotten sick of his mother nagging him every day "That he was a waste of life" for the past four years. Sister Sorry believes him "The way the words sort of rush out of him, that's something I hadn't heard before, that distress. You almost could feel his sweating over the phone." I didn't think the story passed the sniff test, but alright.
It's interesting that Sister Sorry thinks that incest is much too dark for polite company but killing your mother is fine? Even Dame Agatha knew that a body in the closet could make for a cozy evening of puzzles which is what this becomes with Sister Sorry calling Jack Flash and the two of them building a relationship with plans to meet or exchange evidence made and scrapped. They go back and forth with Jack challenging Sister and she comes back with "Proof is not an issue here." Why wouldn't that be? Jack grows more agitated with Sister and another caller Vernon while Sister is desperate to keep in contact with him. Jack accuses the artist Sister Sorry of being the monster for having the prurient interest in the deed. I could see his point, I didn't feel there was much concern for human life in peril. For me, it was a repetitive tease that led nowhere and illuminated nothing.
Jennifer Van Dyck gives a spiky, energetic portrayal as Sister Sorry frequently looking at her phone from different angles, hooked into the prospect of learning more about this dangerous presence that has erupted into her life. Christopher Sears is terrific as Jack Flash with a volcanic energy that starts high and can only spike after that. This goes to 11 as Spinal Tap says. There are quiet moments exchanged between them and the director BSC Artistic Associate Joe Calarco has choreographed them to bring them almost together which recalls his superb work with the chorus of witnesses in "Breaking the Code." The two could easily flesh out even more of their characters if the script had provided more for them to do.
The minimal set by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams with lighting design by David Lander and sound by David Budries works very well for the story. It's a simple raised square which has two desks on it (one for the phone and one for the answering machine) positioned like a diamond to the back wall with three steel pillars on the upstage corners that rise to the flies. The exposed stage wall has a section of flyers that can be individually lit which Jack uses a rolling ladder to access. At times Jack prowls the outside of the square like the animal caging the prey. When they are brought close, there was a fantastic lighting effect that caught his face when he crouched and spread to illuminate it again when he was standing straight up. The costumes by Debra Kim Sivigny are neat and have character defining aspects. I liked how Jack used his shirt sleeves, constantly pushing them up and Sister Sorry had a graceful way with her sheer blue sweater. The callers include among others BSC Artistic Associates Mark H. Dold, Peggy Pharr Wilson and the phenomenal woman playing Nina Simone in Stockbridge, Felicia Curry.
Plays about justice and accountability would seem to be a good choice these days when feelings of rage are boiling up… but that's not this play. It is instructive on how not to make an apology. I am sure it is better to take full responsibility for all you have harmed in whatever way without making any excuses and accepting whatever consequences are deemed appropriate, vowing to never repeat your transgressions again. That's exactly what doesn't happen in this play. Dealing with the play as written, it is an unsatisfying series of confrontations with pretentious claims to artistic freedom. It's possible this play could contribute to your anger.
Through 8/29
Tickets: www.barringtonstageco.org
Barrington Stage Company
Patrick White153 posts
Patrick White is a Capital Region actor, director and teacher who attends hundreds of plays and musicals a year throughout New York and New England. He is profoundly grateful to live in Albany which has such a thriving theater scene and lies in close proximity to some of the finest world class theater. He teaches a private acting class Sunday mornings at Albany Barn and his next directing project is the inaugural production of Harbinger Theatre, "The Christians" by Lucas Hnath at Albany Barn, 12/2-12/11.
AUGUST 23: On This Date in Nippertown Concert History
Auditions are back! Get your drama onstage
The Shuster Series Returns to Home Made Theater with "Our Country's…
The Spot 518
Friedrich Gorenstein's "Berdichev / The Family That Never Was" Comes to Schenectady
Fireflies Lights Up the Stage at Curtain Call Theatre
Best of 2021: Greater Nippertown Area Theater
The Shuster Series Returns to Home Made Theater with…
Friedrich Gorenstein's "Berdichev / The Family That Never…


THE FIRST valid verdict has been issued in the Bonanno case from autumn 2010.
The appellate court confirmed the partial ruling of the first-instance court that the publisher of the Nový Čas daily, company Ringier Axel Springer, has to publish an apology to Supreme Court Judge Daniel Hudák on the front and following page.
The lawsuit is part of a series of charges against Ringier Axel Springer for the publishing of stories and photos from a private meeting of prominent lawyers and judges, dubbed the Judiciary Oscars Association, in the Bonanno bar in Rajecké Teplice in autumn 2010. A total of €1.8 million in damages is being sought in the lawsuits.
The fact is however, that two courts have recently issued two different rulings over one dispute, the Sme daily reported. While in one case they decided in favour of the plaintiff, in the other they favoured the daily.
In Hudák's case the senate of the Bratislava Regional Court claimed that no proof confirmed he was present in the situation captured in the pictures from the party. Hudák was demanding an apology and compensation of €100,000 for a series of stories published by Nový Čas in June and July 2011. The Bratislava II District Court met his request only partially as the judge did not deal with the compensation, Sme wrote.
Also other two alleged participants in the party have sued the daily, but their complaint has not been accepted. While in January the district court turned down the complaint submitted by Supreme Court Judge Štefan Michálik, in early June Judge Eva Bieliková rejected the complaint of Supreme Court Judge Juraj Seman. She explained that according to the law the judges should not do anything that would harm his or her reputation. The public representatives should also withstand more criticism, as reported by Sme.


text:
Q: parse and get specific field from HTTP response in java I try to parse a HTTP response to a JSONObject and retrieve some fields, coould be a String or int.
My response is a json array like this:
[{nid: "24161",changed: 1445936169,created: "1444728767",language: "en",status: 1,title: "bicycle",type: "product",uid: "2172",vid: "24161"}]

And I tried using:
JSONObject myObject = new JSONObject(response);

And gson , still after parsing the response turns to {}.
Thanks for any help.

A: You must use JSONArray instead of JSONObject
JSONArray array = new JSONArray(response);

You can then iterate throw the array and get the fields you want
for(int i=0; i<array.length(); i++) {
    JSONObject object = array.getJSONObject(i);
    String nid = object.getString("nid");
    int changed = object.getInt("changed");
    //...
}

A: You are parsing json array into object. Use JSONArray instead of JSONObject
JSONArray myArray = new JSONArray(response);

you can get your object by index from your array.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Posted: 11:29am Friday 17 Aug, 2018
Bringing war history to life
Dave Cross's collection of grenades will be at the Arms and Militaria Show. Photo: Bruce Barnard.
They were all designed to kill, maim or injure.
Now they're mounted like Christmas baubles in a red velvet-lined presentation case. But the case is labelled 'grenades', or hand-bombs, and is a grim reminder of man's ill-will to man.
All the weapons are now defused and owned by collector Dave Cross, and will be on show at the 20th and latest annual Arms and Militaria Show at Greerton Hall tomorrow and Sunday.
The show is obviously for militaria collectors and sporting firearms shooters, and has become a 'must be there' event on the national military collecting calendar.
The show presents attractive and educational displays of military weaponry that would otherwise be kept locked away. Many rare items will be on show and represent a tangible connection to military history.
Exhibition tables will feature everything from uniforms to collector grade firearms, and exhibitors will come from all over the North Island to buy, sell or trade items with fellow enthusiasts. The show is open to the wider public and more than a 1000 people are expected to attend.
The show is on tomorrow, between 9am-4pm at Greerton Hall, and again on Sunday between 9am-3pm. Adult entry is $5 and children under-13 attend free.


text:
Home Commentary Open forum Open forum: VIBE Commemorates Birthdate of Arthur A. Richards
Open forum: VIBE Commemorates Birthdate of Arthur A. Richards
Virgin Islands Board of Education
Arthur A. Richards
Dear Source:
The 18th Virgin Islands Board of Education (VIBE) commemorates the birthdate of Arthur A. Richards, one of the icons of education in the Virgin Islands. The board believes it is important to recognize and commemorate those persons who have shaped the educational process in the territory. Often, generations of children pass through V.I. public schools and have no idea who the buildings were named after or why. The board is attempting to provide a sense of history and assure the children that affording them a quality education was a conscious decision that was made many years before they were born.
Arthur A. Richards was born on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on Sept. 8, 1924. He was a product of the local elementary and secondary schools on the islands. Richards attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., earning his bachelor's degree in 1949. After completing his studies, he returned to the Virgin Islands, where he accepted a teaching position at the then Frederiksted Junior High School. A year later, he moved to the Christiansted Junior High School where he taught for one year. In 1951 he was appointed as principal of the Frederiksted Elementary School, and he served in that capacity for seven years.
Richards continued his education and earned a master's degree in 1961. He continued to move through the ranks of education, going from deputy commissioner and later commissioner of education for the V.I. Department of Education.
The members of the 18th Virgin Islands Board of Education stand on Richards' shoulders and feel that he is due recognition and to be commemorated in the month of his birth. The board asks that the public join it in remembering his contributions and honor his memory.
Previous articleUSVIHTA Awards Lorette Resch Scholarships to Two Students
Next articleFeds Award Disaster Recovery Grants to V.I. Health Centers
Open forum: Peer Support Offers Hope to Those With Mental Illnesses
Open forum: A Business Decides How It Wants to Be Paid, Not the Government
Open forum: Where Is the Division of Festivals?


This is NOT a picture of the glassy winged sharpshooter. Glassy winged sharpshooters are NOT cute. There is a link to a picture of a real glassy winged sharpshooter at the end of this post.
Every good wine student knows this: The glassy winged sharpshooter is a vector responsible for spreading Pierce's Disease, and as such, is a known threat to commercial viticulture.
I'm right, aren't I? You knew that? You have probably answered that question correctly on an exam, or even discussed the little guy fairly intelligently amongst your wine-loving friends.
But do you even understand what a vector is? (Hint: a vector is an insect that spreads disease.) And how well do you really know our friend with the glassy wings? Read on for a little insect insight!
The glassy winged sharpshooter is a common type of insect known as a leafhopper. There are over 20,000 different species of leafhopper, and they reach all over the world. Leafhoppers are closely related to, and share their insect family name – Cicadellidae – with cicadas and treehoppers, but are only distantly related to grasshoppers.
All members of the leafhopper family – who go by the nickname of "hoppers" – are plant feeders that feast on the sap of grass, shrubs, or trees. Their hind legs are built for jumping and they do just that – hopping from leaf to leaf, blade to blade, or tree to tree, inserting their needle-like mouths into the plants to lap up the juice. Hoppers are considered pests in many places as they can dehydrate the plants they feed on, causing havoc not just to grapes but to over 100 different plants all over the world, including oak trees, citrus trees, apple trees, and even coffee plants.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter is about ½ inch (12mm) long and has large, translucent ("glassy") smoky-brown wings with red veins. They are native to the South America, and migrated to California from the southeastern United States. They were not always considered a serious pest in the past; but once introduced to Southern California it became a serious threat to viticulture due to the ease and rapidity with which it can spread the bacteria that causes Pierce's disease. Once the sharpshooter has acquired the bacteria, it will remain infectious for the rest of its life.
There are NO glassy winged sharpshooters in this picture. These bugs are cute. Glassy winged sharpshooters are NOT CUTE.
The glassy winged sharpshooter remains a serious threat to viticulture in California and beyond. Due to its coloration, it is difficult to see in nature, despite its size. "Bug spotting" programs are underway in parts of California to help identify and prevent further infestations. Plant nurseries must confirm that their plants are "sharpshooter-free" and everyone is on the lookout. School children are taught to spot "sharpshooter rain" and many Californians are encouraged to have yellow sticky traps in their yards. Anyone who thinks they spot a sharpshooter is encouraged to call a hotline.
In the case of minor infestations, biological controls are used, including the introduction of various bugs – such as small wasps, spiders, and the praying mantis – that feed on the eggs. Chemicals (pesticides) are used in more extreme cases, but some of the more effective chemicals are also damaging to the wasps that help control the sharpshooters.
In other parts of the world, the glassy winged sharpshooter causes havoc by spreading phoney peach disease, oleander leaf scorch, and citrus X disease. The danged little glassy winged sharpshooter, it seems, remains a serious pest.
To learn more, and to see a picture of the glassy winged sharpshooter, visit the website of the Applied Biological Control Research Department at UC Riverside.


text:
Weekly Update - August 1, 2019
In Connecticut: Community Conversation on Harm Reduction in New Haven
#RockReform10: Legal Action Center on the 10-Year Anniversary of the Rockefeller Drug Laws Reform
Remembering Eileen Corcoran
The Katal team including Kenyatta Thompson, Erin Corbett, Dajuan Wiggins, and Keith Brown, facilitating our first Connecticut Community Conversation on Harm Reduction in New Haven.
On Wednesday, July 31, following the Connecticut Funder Briefing co-hosted by Katal, The Perrin Family Foundation, and the Tow Foundation, Healthy & Just CT—the coalition convened by Katal—held Community Conversation: Harm Reduction in New Haven.
With a heavy thunderstorm raging outside, community members from across the city coalesced to create solutions and action items on the long list of pressing issues impacting New Haven. Through the lens of harm reduction, the conversation spanned criminal justice, housing, employment, education, power and more. Participants discussed harm reduction as a practice, and explored action steps for addressing community problems.
Additional Community Conversations will be scheduled in the months ahead. Stay tuned with our work to learn upcoming details about how to join us for the next one.
Check out our Twitter thread from the Community Conversation here.
Check out our Twitter thread including photos and videos from our Connecticut Funder Briefing here.
New Haven Community members engaging in small group discussions during Community Conversation.
Join us at our next Healthy & Just CT meeting, Thursday, September 12 by registering here! For details about our next Monthly Member Meeting, contact Kenyatta Thompson at kthompson@katalcenter.org or 860.937.6094.
Our new contribution for the #RockReform10 project comes from the Legal Action Center's (LAC) Tracie Gardner, Vice President of Policy; Anita Marton, Senior Vice President; and Arianne Keegan, Communications Associate.
In their opinion editorial for Filter Magazine, they discuss Carmona V. Ward and the failure of the Supreme Court to act; the advocacy and coalition building history that led to the passage of reform; and 4 sets of proposed reforms to shift our country from a focus on punishment, to treatment and recovery as we currently face the latest overdose crisis and rank as the world's leading incarcerator.
Check out their #RockReform10 piece here.
You can follow this project by tracking the #RockReform10 hashtag on social media. If you'd like to contribute your own reflections for the project, have questions or just want to connect about it, please contact us at RockReform10@katalcenter.org. We may not be able to publish every contribution, but we will do our best.
By marking and reflecting on a movement victory like this, we hope to uncover and share stories, insights, and tools that will strengthen our collective organizing, so that we can more swiftly and effectively bring an end to mass incarceration and the war on drugs. We hope you'll join us!
Remembering the Life of Eileen Corcoran
Reflection from Katal's Keith Brown:
Earlier this month the harm reduction world suddenly lost Eileen Corcoran, an incredibly fierce advocate and ally. I first met Eileen during a delegation visit by Albany, NY to Seattle's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program and was immediately struck by her spirit and dedication to helping people by any means necessary. She understood better than most about what works and doesn't work in reaching and engaging people. We connected quickly and talked about how she wanted to move east to be close to her family, especially her grandchildren.
I was grateful to be able to hire her to work in my own program, where she unsurprisingly created deep lasting relationships with all who worked with her. As a panelist at Katal's Toward Justice event in 2017, Eileen spoke pointedly about how people should be treated to best meet their needs. After she moved to New Jersey we stayed in touch regularly and I can't overstate how much Eileen's knowledge and friendship meant to me both personally and professionally. Eileen, more than anyone else, was who I turned to for advice and direction or to just vent about my own frustration when it comes to the role of the police in our work. I can hear her saying, "You know Keith…" when she thought I was being too stubborn. The best Eileen advice always started this way.
Above all though, Eileen had a warm strength that was a force of gravity to anyone who met her. I'll also remember her as one of the great huggers. We at Katal send love and extend our heartfelt condolences to Eileen's family, friends, and loved ones during this time. We are forever grateful for Eileen's leadership and friendship.
For printing and distribution, Katal Weekly Update PDF version.
Kate Gruhle commented 2019-08-02 12:19:51 -0400
Beautiful tribute to Eileen Keith! She was dedicated to harm reduction and had a great heart filled with compassion for those who surrounded her. Your initial introduction in Seattle was the beginning of her journey to be closer to her family which was so important to her.


text:
Home > News > A New Afghan Spring?
A New Afghan Spring?
Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, writes of the Presidential inauguration on local television, from Kabul, stating that "it is difficult to say whether we are seeing a new Afghan spring or the onset of a disaster." Read more of this article on the PRIO blog.
"After weeks and weeks of quarrelling, the two main presidential contenders settled on a power-sharing formula: Ashraf Ghani is the new president, while Abdullah Abdullah takes up a newly established Prime Minister post. The latter also demanded a more prominent role during the inauguration, however, which led to a hot debate over the inaugural liturgy during the last few days. In fear of Abdullah abstaining, many sighed with relief when he finally appeared on stage. But in the end, the inauguration was Ghani's ceremony. As the newly sworn in president, he delivered a lengthy and ambitious address that poked a finger at many of those present."
Kristian Berg Harpviken
Related Research Groups:
Regions and Powers
Related locations:


The City of Ketchum is committed to preserving our environmental assets through a variety of activities. These include sustainable development initiatives to adopt codes that go beyond the minimum requirements for conserving energy, water, resources and for providing a healthy indoor environment. They also include educational outreach to the community, providing classes and presentations on topics concerning environmental issues.
The City also has participated in Idaho Power's Custom Efficiency Program, installing high efficiency light bulbs throughout most City departments, resulting in an annual electricity savings of 152,293 kWh. The City provides the community with information on how citizens can also benefit from available programs and agencies that can help them also conserve resources and make more sustainable choices.
Please take a look at the subsections of this web page for more information and contact the Planning and Zoning Division with comments, questions or suggestions on this important topic.


Archives|ART PEOPLE; Roman haven for U.S. arts.
ART PEOPLE; Roman haven for U.S. arts.
About 15 years ago, however, the academy started to experience difficulties. It is the only one of the more than 20 foreign academies in Rome that is privately funded, and the endowment provided by J.P. Morgan and others was no longer sufficient to keep up with rising costs. Furthermore, the strengths of the academy continued to be its exceptional classical library and its dedication to architects and archeologists; although residents have included such people as the composer Elliott Carter and the writers Joseph Brodsky and Mary McCarthy, the academy did not really seem to belong to the present.
When Sophie Consagra became the academy's director three years ago, the situation was ''pretty grim,'' she said. Mrs. Consagra has just been appointed president of the academy, replacing Calvin Rand. When she leaves Rome for the new post in New York at the end of the year, the academy's economic difficulties will not be gone, but the situation will be improved. The number of financial contributors has increased, and the academy has become more active in the world around it.
Without changing the essential structure of the academy, Mrs. Consagra initiated important changes. She made ''dramatic cuts'' in the size of the staff. She helped bring in as residents such influential painters as Mr. Held, Philip Pearlstein and Frank Stella, one of this year's residents. Mr. Held, Mr. Pearlstein and the sculptor Sylvia Stone exhibited work at the academy gallery last spring.
''I think Sophie made the place, particularly for artists and composers,'' Mr. Held said. Every year the academy chooses 30 fellows and up to 10 residents - they may be artists, composers, architects, poets, writers or scholars. Applications for the 1983-84 year numbered more than 1,000. The fellows receive room, board and a stipend for a year. The residents may be housed in the academy for as long as four months, during which they are expected to make themselves available, in some way, to the fellows.
Mrs. Consagra has strengthened the academy's ties with the Roman community and the Italian Government. The academy has always organized symposiums and lectures, and for more than 10 years, composers who are fellows have been able to count on having their music performed by the Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
One of the centerpieces of the new $30 million Dallas Museum of Fine arts, designed by the architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and expected to open next winter, will be a nine-ton stainless steel sculpture by Ellsworth Kelly.
The as-yet-untitled work, the first sculptural commission that Mr. Kelly has done for a museum, will be placed in its 100-foot by 120-foot sculpture garden. It will be on the main north-south gallery axis and will be visible from inside the main building, from as far away as 300 feet.
The sculpture, a model of which appeared in the Kelly sculpture retrospective that closed at the Whitney Museum of American Art last week, evolves from the artist's 1960's ''rocker'' series and paintings he recently exhibited at the Blum Helman Gallery on 57th Street.
The museum has also commissioned sculptures from Scott Burton, a granite settee for the sculpture garden, and Richard Fleischner, a work designed for the courtyard. ''The whole idea was for the Kelly to control the whole ambience of the 10,000-square-foot space,'' said Susan Graze, the museum's curator of contemporary art.
A year ago this month, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was given the Linsky Collection of European art -estimated to be worth $60 million -assembled by Belle Linsky and her late husband, Jack. Among the 500 works chosen by Met curators from the collection were paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, and a collection of European porcelains that the Met considers one of the finest groups of its kind ever assembled.
In conjunction with the California visit by Queen Elizabeth II, Ian McKibbin White, director of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, has announced that an exhibition of some 50 Leonardo da Vinci horse drawings from the Royal Library of Windsor Castle will tour the United States beginning in the winter of 1985. After opening at the National Gallery in Washington, the show will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.


text:
The Daily Mirror is waxing indignant over the alleged use by David Cameron of the Remembrance Day ceremony for a photo-opportunity.
This follows in the wake of the controversy of the Jacqui Janes affair, which this paper also thinks was exploited by the Conservatives, through its new ally, The Sun.
This development is noted by Conservative Home, while the role of the Murdoch news empire has been questioned in The Independent.
That The Sun is quite deliberately fomenting political discord against Labour and is supporting the Conservatives, is a matter of record, and the Jacqui Janes affair illustrates that the paper is prepared to go to considerable lengths in pursuit of its agenda. What is probably not known, but undoubtedly suspected, is quite how far the paper is willing to bend the truth to make its stories fit the agenda.
Not only have we seen the paper print stories that are not true – which is not unusual – but also where the journalists writing the stories knew them to be untrue at the time of writing. The key facts would have robbed the story of its political edge, and were thus quite deliberately discarded.
This, it seems to me, marks a new development in the degradation of journalism and of party politics. One is used to the idea of "spin" and all that implies but the process of inventing stories, for political advantage, is something much more sinister.
Not too dissimilar, it also seems to me, is Mr Cameron's use of the war dead as a photo-opportunity. Everything now has become a "media opportunity", a vehicle to convey a message. Nothing is so sacred that it cannot be exploited for political advantage.
That is not to say that, in their own ways, New Labour – which started the rot – is not just as bad, or that this new low has not left the Lib-Dems untouched. But it also spells the death of serious politics. As we lamented yesterday, instead of a strategic debate about Afghanistan, we get unseemly point-scoring over marginal issues, which serve no purpose other than to unbalance political rivals.
Whatever else, our troops in Afghanistan deserve better than this – but so do we all. Politics should be about issues, and while there is always an element of personal confrontation, we have reached a stage where the confrontation is everything and the issues are taking a back seat.
It is a moot point as to whether this process is now reversible – at least, in the short term – but as long as it lasts, we need to be aware that normal standards of truth and fairness (which were always low) have been abandoned altogether. Media has become propaganda. Events are now merely "photo opportunities" and truth has gone on an extended holiday.


text:
Feeding the Fire of Genius: Intellectual Property and America's High-Tech Future
Arthur Herman
In ownership there is power, and nowhere is ownership more powerful today than in the world of high-tech intellectual property.
How fundamental are intellectual property rights, i.e. the rights accruing to an inventor or author or company of exclusive ownership of their own work or invention as enshrined in patent and copyright laws?
For one thing, they are the only "right" specifically mentioned in the body of the U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8 states: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive right in their respective Writings and Discoveries."
For another, no less an authority than Abraham Lincoln counted patent rights among the six great breakthroughs of civilization, along with the advent of language and the inventions of writing and printing, and the art of empirical discovery itself.
Why? Because according to Lincoln it "secured to the inventor, for a limited time, the exclusive use of his invention; and thereby added the fuel of invention to the fire of genius, in the discovery of new and useful things"—from the telegraph and light bulb to microchips and the software underlying today's AI revolution, and the hardware that will facilitate the quantum computing revolution of tomorrow.
Since the first patent was granted in 1790, there have been more than six million patents issued in America, and we've been the worldwide leaders in patent rights until today. They've been the foundation of US economic growth and, together with copyright law, of American intellectual freedom. One could argue that intellectual property rights are the true foundation of American exceptionalism.
Today, of course, the landscape of intellectual property rights have changed dramatically. Patent law is now a globalized landscape, and organizations like the WTO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) now oversee what has become a race to dominate the high-tech future—-not from laboratories or computer screens but from law offices.
The Hudson Institute's Quantum Alliance Initiative, jointly with the Federalist Society, sponsored a recent conference on IPR and quantum technology. The expert panelists included Chris Duan of R Street Institute; Stephen Ezell of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Martin LaForest of ISARA Corporation and senior advisor to the Institute of Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, Ontario; and Chris Monroe of the University of Maryland and Chief Scientist at IonQ, where the "fire of genius" is being focused on building an ion-trap quantum computer.
The panelists examined how IPR fosters innovation in high-tech including for the coming quantum computer revolution, and the implications if strong IPR protections lose out to a "might makes right" mentality regarding scientific and technological invention—the mentality that has emerged from America's leading antagonist in the race for high-tech dominance, namely China.
Strong IPR protections, for example, not only incentivize inventors and IP stakeholders, they facilitate technology transfer through licensing and Joint Development Agreements that allow for the diffusion of knowledge on an orderly basis, a diffusion process which is literally worldwide. A recent (2015) WIPO study has documented how IPR have enabled not one but two major technological revolutions, in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Those protections also generate a revenue stream of royalties through which companies can fund the next generation of innovation. Even further, patents play a crucial role in establishing standards everyone in a given industry can work with, for example in microchips, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals, that can spawn new innovations and products the original patent-holders never imagined.
But patents and IPR can also play another, less constructive role. They can be a way for a firm or country to block innovation by others by bottling up knowledge in order to intimidate other players through the threat of future litigation or worse.
This is, for example, what China is doing now in the international IP arena. For years China has been a regular plunderer of American inventions and discoveries through cyber theft and other illicit means; after a seven-month investigation into China's intellectual property theft, the United States Trade Representative concluded that "Chinese theft of American IP currently costs between $225 billion and $600 billion annually." A 2017 report by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property listed China as "the world's principal IP infringer." Meanwhile, if an American company wants to partner in certain areas with a Chinese firm, new Chinese laws force it to share its IP such as trade secrets or industrial designs. The WTO has explicitly disavowed this kind of quid pro quo, but analysts say such negotiations are usually conducted in secret.
A paper by the St. Louis Federal Reserve in 2015 estimated that fully one-half of the technology possessed by Chinese companies came from foreign firms, either through outright theft or through extortionate IP-sharing agreements.
Fortunately, Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 gives the Trade Representative broad authority to take measures against a foreign country's unfair trade practices, including China's. Right now the Trump administration is challenging China for alleged violations of IP rights and practices of forced technology-transfers; those 301 investigations have the potential of curtailing China's predatory IP regime.
What America needs to do now, is to take back leadership in the IP arena and restore the high standard that historically benefited everyone, including China, and that will truly fuel what Lincoln called "the fire of genius" for the foreseeable future.
To Compete With China in 5G, America Must Solve Its Spectrum Problem
The next generation of wireless network, 5G, has arrived and is being rolled out around the world, including in communities across the United States. ...
Risking Apocalypse? Quantum Computers and the US Power Grid
Arthur Herman & Alexander Butler
Millions without power; stores and banks shut down; vital services running on emergency generators, if at all; lines of hapless people awaiting food a...
Hudson Institute Celebrates 60th Anniversary
Hudson Institute celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, marking more than half a century of policy research dedicated to keeping America and its a...


text:
{% extends "pressgang/revert/base.html" %}

{% load i18n %}
{% load pressgang_core %}

{% block title %}
	{% blocktrans with blog.title as blog %}
		Revert {{ blog }}
	{% endblocktrans %}
{% endblock %}

{% block page_title %}
	{% blocktrans with blog.title as blog %}
		Revert {{ blog }}
	{% endblocktrans %}
{% endblock %}

{% block javascript %}
	{{ block.super }}

{% endblock %}

{% block body_classes %}revert-options{% endblock %}

{% block body %}

	<form action="{% url pressgang:reversion-options blog_id=blog.pk %}" method="post" id="reversion-form">

		{{ revert_form.snapshot.errors }}

		<fieldset id="version-fields">

						{% trans "Date Created" %}
						{% trans "Time Created" %}
						{% trans "WordPress Version" %}
						{% trans "Reason" %}

					{% for snapshot in revert_form.fields.snapshot.queryset %}

								<input type="radio" name="snapshot" value="{{ snapshot.pk }}" id="id_snapshot_{{ snapshot.pk }}" />

									{{ snapshot.created|date }}

									{{ snapshot.created|time }}

									{{ snapshot.wp_version }}

								{% if snapshot.reason %}

										{{ snapshot.reason }}

								{% endif %}

					{% endfor %}

		</fieldset>

		<fieldset class="buttons">
			{% csrf_token %}
			<input type="submit" value="{% trans "Revert Blog" %}" />
		</fieldset>

	</form>

{% endblock %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Ohno Discusses Silver Medal Finish and Place in History
Feb. 14, 2010, 3:22 p.m. (ET)
This afternoon Apolo Anton Ohno (Federal Way, Wash.) Held a conference call with members of the media to discuss Saturday night's 1,500-meter short track speedskating final. The following are highlights from the session.
"It was a fantastic start to my third Olympic Games. I was skating against four generations of Koreans, four generations of Chinese, three generations of Canadians and I've still been able to be here every single year."
On atmosphere: "Having so much support in the arena was incredible. It felt like home ice. The Canadian fans were awesome. It felt surreal. It felt really, really good."
On the Koreans' late fall: "When I saw those two guys lining up to make that pass going into the final corner, I knew something was going to happen. It was a mistake on their part."
On the Korean skater physically "impeding" him in final laps: "I definitely don't think it's typical. Not in my sport. I've actually never had somebody hold on to my leg or my arm that long during a race. But everybody wants to win out there. Everybody's caught up in the emotion."
On his place in Olympic history: "In my sport, it is very, very difficult to come to back to back Olympic Games and medal. The field is so deep. The talent is so strong. I have stood the test of time. I've been one of the top athletes in the world, over and over again. Hopefully when I do leave this sport, I can leave some sort of a small mark."
Vanessa Virbitsky
vanessa.virbitsky@usoc.org


text:
Q: What is the correct way to reference time zones in relation to an event? When referring to the time of a particular event, should I refer to the local time or the time zone most relevant to the audience or always include reference to the time zone? It can be further complicated when having to specify Standard or Daylight Saving times.  It seems that you would have to reference all times as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to avoid having to list multiple times.

A: I took a quick look at two well known newspapers in the US, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times. When reporting events, neither included specifications for time zone--local time was assumed or explicitly stated ("at 3 p.m. local time, German chancellor..."). The exception was for sporting events, where the phrase "all times listed are EST [or CST]" appeared.
With fiction, I just use local time and extrapolate as needed.
Using Greenwich Mean Time seems like a good idea in a situation where characters are frequently switching time zones, such as in an aviation story or drama, but I would guess that fewer than 10% of Americans would understand the expression.


Wow, this seems to be an interstring and a great Data war between the top telecoms, i.e., Airtel and Reliance Jio, With the new move Airtel launched a new Airtel Rs 399 Plan 1GB 4G Data which provides all Airtel users 1GB 4G Free internet data with Unlimited voice calls with a validity of 84 Days.
Please Note: This offer is available for the 4g handset users having airtel 4g Sim card. Also, the offer is available for all the Airtel 4G prepaid users new as well as existing.
It seems to be a neck to neck competition among these operators. Well as per our opinion this is a right time for an established operator such as Airtel to counter Reliance Jio before it gets too late and this seems to be good plan to execute this.
Just use any of Online recharge portal sites such as Paytm, Freecharge, Phonepe, Mobikwik or easily visit nearest Airtel retailer.
Enter recharge amount as Rs. 399.
Make payment with any of your preferred payment options.
Let us know if you have any queries related to this Airtel newly launched Plans and offers via comments below.
How to RS 399 plan activate and cut RS 399 in main balance ?
You can make use via MyJio app.
How can I check the balance of 399/-aitel. Plan… And expiry date as well.
How to check airtel 399 plan validity??


Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Schwäbisch Gmünd. February – July 2011. Lead of the project.
This project was done during my employment at the HfG. The school was in the need of an efficient schedule- and room-planning system. An academic assistant had been doing all the scheduling and planning in Adobe inDesign without any software helping with logic, issues etc! It was a very nerve-wrecking job to do over the summer. I felt I had to put my information science skills to use and help out.
I did a thorough research of different software options and settled for a collaboration with a company that had a product for high schools. It fit best with all the needs and wants we had at the HfG in terms of scheduling lecturers and Professors that are only available at certain times, because they are working in industry half of their time. My information science skills were extremely useful for this project. I lead this collaboration.
The implementation and all the work towards it took about 5 months and turned out to be a great success. The system is still in use.