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Summer Schools - Außereuropäische Theologien
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Melanie Barbato is a postdoc scholar based at the Institute for Religious Studies and Inter-Faith Theology at the University of Münster/ Germany and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies/ UK. She is researching interreligious communication with a focus on Christianity and Indian religions. She is associate editor of the journal CrossCurrents. Her current research is on Interreligious Dialogue and Diplomacy as well as on Interreligious Art.
Sharon A. Bong is Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia. She is author of The Tension between Women's Rights and Religions: The Case of Malaysia (2006) and former Coordinator of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia, an academic forum of Catholic women theologizing in Asia. She is also a forum writer, Asian region with the Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church; research associate with the Forum for the Study of Sexuality, Gender, Race and Religion; and patron for the Catherine of Siena Virtual College.
Deepra Dandekar (Ph.D.) is a scholar of contemporary history, and works as a researcher at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient on an independent project funded by the DFG on vernacular history-writing and religious minorities in India. Having worked at multiple projects in the University of Heidelberg, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, Dandekar has published on oral history, migration, gender, and religious conversion, arguing for the role played by the articulation of faith in producing community, identity, and dignity in colonial, and postcolonial South Asia. Her recent-most monograph titled Baba Padmanji: Vernacular Christianity in Colonial India (2021) has been published by the Pathfinder Series of Routledge, and Dandekar is currently Editor-in-chief of the international peer reviewed academic journal Nidan: International Journal for Indian Studies published from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.
Elif Emirahmetoglu is a PhD student at the University of Münster, Germany. She received her Bachelor's degree (2009) in Islamic Theology, Master`s degree in Islamic Philosophy (2010) and History of Religions (2014), both in Turkey. She also studied Prostestant Theology at the University of Münster (2013) and Religious Studies at the University of Cardiff (2014). Currently, she works on a comparative PhD project on the concept of human beings in Islamic mysticism and Buddhism. In 2017-2018, she involved in the international project of "Shin Buddhism, Christianity, Islam: Conversations in Comparative Theology" which was a cooperation between the University of Münster, Ryukoku University and Georgetown University. Related to the doctorate project, she also made a research stay at the Institute of Buddhist Studies and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Kalifornien (2018). Since June 2020, she has been a research assistant at the Berlin Institute of Islamic Theology of Humboldt University.
Jude Lal Fernando (PhD) is a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, and lectures on "Religions and Ethics in a Pluralist World" and "Armed Conflict, Peace Building and Development in Guatemala, Niger Delta and Sri Lanka." He also teaches "Peace and Conflict in South Asia" in Dublin City University and "World Religions and Interfaith Dialogue" at Carlow College, Carlow. His first monograph, A Paradigm for a Peace Movement: Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr. (2007) explores the potential in Buddhism and Christianity for peace building. His two main areas of expertise are "Religion, Conflict and Peace" and "Armed Conflicts, Geopolitics and Human Rights." Fernando is a founding member of the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka (IFPSL).
Aruna Gnanadason, CSI, has an MA in English Literature, Bangalore University, and Doctorate of Ministries DMin, from the San Francisco Theological Seminary, USA. She served the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, directing its program on women in church and society, and the work on justice, peace, and creation. She is recipient of three honorary doctorates. She has authored several books, edited many and has published numerous articles in renowned national and international journals. She now lives in Chennai and offers her services as a freelance writer, speaker, and editor to the churches in India and globally.
Hans-Peter Grosshans (born 1958) is full Professor (chair) of Systematic Theology, Ecumenical Theology and Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Protestant (Evangelical) Theology at the University of Muenster in Germany. He is Dean of his faculty and as well Director of the Seminar of Systematic Theology and Director of the Institute for Ecumenical Theology of his faculty. At the University of Muenster Hans-Peter Grosshans is member of various interdisciplinary research networks, especially 1. of the Centre of Theory of Science and 2. of the - within Germany - unique Cluster of Excellence on "Religion and Politics". Hans-Peter Grosshans is active member in many national and international academic societies. Among others he is: Vice-president of the "European Society for Philosophy of Religion" (ESPR); Member of the "Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences" (AIPS); Board member of the "European Academy of Religion"; Executive Board member of the Inter University Center (IUC) in Dubrovnik (Croatia): Board member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Religionsphilosophie. Hans-Peter Grosshans has been guest professor at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and at the Sabah Theological Seminary in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. He is permanent Honorary Guest-Professor at Zhejiang-University in Hangzhou, China, and permanent Lecturer at the Inter University Center (IUC) in Dubrovnik (Croatia). He is editor of the book series "Dogmatik in der Moderne" (Dogmatics in Modern Times) and the chief-editor of the review journal "Theologische Rundschau" (Theological Review), both published by Mohr Siebeck in Tuebingen (Germany).
Esther-Maria Guggenmos, Privatdozentin in Religious Studies at the University Erlangen-Nürnberg, is directing the Asia department at the KAAD, Bonn. Until March 2019, she stayed at the KHC Erlangen (www.ikgf.fau.de) completing her habilitation on the topic of the relation between Buddhism and divination (habilitation award, FAU 2019). Trained in Religious Studies, Sinology, and Theology at the universities of Münster and Ghent and at Fujen University, Taiwan, Guggenmos has specialised in Chinese Buddhism, processes of cultural exchange, and religious aesthetics (ww.religionsaesthetik.de). She regularly engages in academic exchange across Asia and has conducted extensive historical as well as field research in East Asia.
Francesco Gusella is an historian of South Asian Art with a special focus on visual and material culture in the early modern age. He received his PhD at the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies (Rome) after extensive fieldworks in India and Portugal (ICS – Lisbon). He previously studied at the University of Naples "L'Orientale" and at the Jadavpur University of Kolkata. He currently holds a postdoc position at Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" - University of Münster, with a comparative project on floral iconographies between the Portuguese Empire and the Islamic courts of South Asia.
Adrian Hermann is Professor of Religion and Society and Director of the Department of Religion Studies at Forum Internationale Wissenschaft, University of Bonn. His work focuses on the global history of the concept of "religion," the use of non-fictional media in contemporary religious movements, and the religious history of the globalized world. He is the author of "Unterscheidungen der Religion" (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2015) and is currently working on a monograph on Philippine independent Catholicism around 1900.
Norbert Hintersteiner is Professor of World Christianity and the Study of Theologies Beyond Europe at the University of Muenster, Germany (since 2013). His research interests focus on Christianity in Asia, crosscultural and intercultural theologies, comparative theology, and interreligious translation in the Indo-Persian world.
Esther Hornung Doctorate in Theology (Social Teachings and Church History), Faculty of Catholic Theology at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU); M.A. in History, Free University Berlin. Academic posts till 2015: Research associate at Protestant Theological Faculties at Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB) and Free University of Berlin. Participation in research projects on migration and glocalization; and on perception of sex- and gender-differences in religious symbol systems. Areas of interest: Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism; global (church) history and glocalization, US-American and modern Korean (church) history, and gender studies.
Manfred Hutter full professor of Comparative Religions at the Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies, University of Bonn, Germany. 1984: Doctorate in Catholic Theology & Religionswissenschaft (Dr. Theol), University of Graz, Austria. 1990: Habilitation in Comparative Religions at the University of Graz. 1991: Doctorate in Comparative Indo-European Linguistics (Dr. Phil.), University of Graz. Since 2000: Full Professor of Comparative Religions at the University of Bonn, Germany. Research areas and topics: Religious history and religious interactions in mainland Southeast Asia between Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity; Non-Islamic Religions of Iran; Recent books: Iranische Religionen. Zoroastrismus, Yezidentum, Bahā'ītum, Berlin: de Gruyter 2019, vii + 233 pages.; Religionsfreiheit Thailand, Aachen: Missio 2020, 44 pages (=Länderberichte 48).
Claudia Jahnel is Professor for Intercultural Theology and the Body at the Ruhr-University Bochum. From 2008 to 2017 she worked as Head of the Dpt. For Mission Intercultural at "Mission EineWelt - Center for Mission, Partnership and Development" of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria.
Her field of research includes Postcolonial Theologies, Religion and Migration, African Culture, Religion & Body, Religion & Development, Liberation Theologies in Latin America, Intercultural (Migration) Churches in Germany, Intercultural Body-Theologies.
Assaad Elias Kattan studied theology at the University of Balamand (Lebanon), the Aristotle's University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and the University of Erlangen (Germany). He earned his doctoral title in theology from the University of Marburg (Germany). Since 2005, Kattan has been holding the chair of Orthodox theology at the Centre for Religious Studies of the University of Münster. Kattan has authored four theological books and two collections of short stories in Arabic, Qasim Schneider in Beirut (2013) and When the Dragon Got Bored (2015). He was chosen in 2012 by the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome to be the Sir Daniel and Countess Bernardine Murphy Donohue Chair in Eastern Catholic Theology. Kattan was the first Orthodox lay theologian to hold this title.
Madlen Krüger has studied Religious Studies and Indology at the University of Leipzig (Germany) and JNU New Delhi (India). She received her PhD at the Center for Religious Studies at the Ruhr-University Bochum with a focus on Theravāda Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia and the relation between religion and politics. She is currently working as a Post-Doc Researcher at the Institute for Religious Studies and Inter-Faith Theology at the University Muenster (Germany). She is working in the DFG- project on religious plurality in Myanmar. She has been pursuing research on Religious Plurality in Myanmar at the WWU in Münster (2015-2020) and is currently working as a Post-Doc Researcher on Religions, Diplomacy and Peace at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research / FEST in Bochum (Germany).
Albertus Bagus Laksana teaches at Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He received his PhD in comparative theology from Boston College (2011) with a focus on Muslim‒Christian encounters. Previously he was educated at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2011–12 he was a postdoctoral fellow at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. His research interests and publications include topics in Muslim‒Christian comparative theology (especially the role of pilgrimage, saints, and sacred space) and theology of religions, mission studies, theology and culture, and Asian theologies. He is also the managing editor of Basis, a journal of culture and religion, based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Gudrun Löwner, born in Bochum, Germany, in 1958, studied Protestant theology and comparative religion in Bochum, Wuppertal, Heidelberg, and Geneva. She got her PhD from Heidelberg University on "Religion and Development in Sri Lanka." She taught at Heidelberg and Wuppertal University. Her areas of research are Buddhism, India, and art. For her intensive academic work and social work in India, she was awarded in 2008 the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Presently she teaches in Bangalore.
Jamal Malik acquired the degree of Doctorate from Heidelberg (1989) and completed his post-doctoral work at Bamberg (1994). In 1998 he was appointed Head and Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Derby. Since February 1999 he is Chair of Religious Studies – Islamic Studies at University of Erfurt. Areas of interest are Social History of Muslim South Asia and Muslims in the West with a focus on education and mysticism. His books include The Colonization of Islam (1996) and Culture of Dawa (2021).
Haila Manteghi has studied Islamic Studies in Spain, University of Alicante, and at the University of Exeter, England. Since 2016, she works at the University of Muenster as a Postdoc researcher, focusing on the works of the Spanish Jesuit, Jerónimo Xavier (1549-1617) in Mughal India and their impacts among the Catholic missionaries and Muslim clerics in Safavid Persia.
Sébastien Peyrouse is Research Professor of International Affairs, at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, DC). His main areas of expertise are political systems in Central Asia, Islam and religious minorities, and Central Asia's geopolitical positioning toward China, India, and South Asia. He is the author of Turkmenistan: Strategies of Power, Dilemmas of Development (2011), and the co-author of The "Chinese Question" in Central Asia: Domestic Order, Social Changes, and the Chinese Factor (2012) and of Globalizing Central Asia: Geopolitics and the Challenges of Economic Development (2012). He has also co-edited China and India in Central Asia: A New "Great Game"? (2010) and Mapping Central Asia: Indian Perceptions and Strategies (2011).
Peter C. Phan is the inaugural holder of the Ignacio Ellacuría Chair of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University and is the founding Director of the Graduate Studies Program in Theology and Religious Studies. He has earned three doctorates: Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Universitas Pontificia Salesiana, Rome, and Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Divinity from the University of London. He has also received two honorary degrees: Doctor of Theology from Catholic Theological Union and Doctor of Humane Letters from Elms College. Professor Phan began his teaching career in philosophy at the age of 18 at Don Bosco College, Hong Kong. In the United States, he has taught at the University of Dallas, Texas; the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, where he held the Warren-Blanding Chair of Religion and Culture; Union Theological Seminary, New York; Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts; and St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin. He is the first nonwhite to be elected President of Catholic Theological Society of America. In 2010 he was awarded the John Courtney Murray Award, the highest honor given by the Catholic Theological Society of America for outstanding achievements in theology.
Daniel Franklin Pilario is a professor and present Dean of St. Vincent School of Theology, Adamson University in Quezon City, Philippines. He received his licentiate and doctorate in theology at the Katholieke Universiteit Louvain, Belgium, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. His work Back to the Rough Grounds of Praxis (2005) won the Jan en Marie Huyge Prijs of the Academische Stichting Louvain in Belgium. He also works in the Editorial Board of theological journals like Concilium, Hapag, Asian Christian Review, and Adamson University Journal. He is a member of the Congregation of the Mission, a founding member and former President of DAKATEO (Catholic Theological Society of the Philippines).
Jan Levin Propach has his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Augsburg. He is postdoc researcher at LMU (Munich) and visiting research fellow at Waseda University (Tokyo).
Herman G. B. Teule studied Semitic languages, theology, and religious studies at the Universities of Amsterdam and Louvain. He is currently Professor of Eastern Christianity at the Universities of Nijmegen and Louvain and head of the Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at Nijmegen.
Richard Fox Young holds the Timby Chair in History of Religions at Princeton Theological Seminary. An Indologist originally, Resistant Hinduism (1981), The Bible Trembled (1995), and Vain Debates (1996), all from the Indological Institute of the University of Vienna, are his most widely cited monographs on the encounter of Hindus and Buddhists with Christian missions in South Asia. Most recently, he has edited India and the Indianness of Christianity (2009) and contributed "Horton's 'Intellectualist Theory' of Conversion, Reflected on by a South Asianist" to Beyond Conversion and Syncretism, edited by David Lindenfeld and Miles Richardson (2011).
10-weeks Digital Programme
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Institut für Missionswissenschaft und außereuropäische Theologien
Tel: +49 251 83-32652
intstudy.imw@uni-muenster.de
living.knowledge


Biomass or bio energy is the energy produced by burning wood and agricultural left over respectively. Burning biomass products emits carbon dioxide and is classified under source renewable source of energy. Renewable sources of energy are those sources which will never get exhausted and the earth will never run out of it. Biomass basically uses the plant or plant base products as fuels. These plant-based products are not used for any other purpose but is used as fuel. Many power plants have altered their fuel from coal to biomass, to keep the coal undisturbed and use the waste products as fuel. These kinds of plant-based fuels are termed lignocellulosic fuel. It may include rice husks, straw, sugarcane bagasse and more. These lignocellulosic bio fuels also include wood. Wood is used as a bio fuel from the very ancient times till today. These wood products may be planks of wood, wood chip, wooden residue and so on.
There are several advantages and disadvantages of using biomass as fuel. Anything derived from nature is always healthy as it is organic and biological but at the same time it also shrinks the quality and quantity of nature.
One of the major advantages of using biomass is that it is often the leftover, residue or a byproduct which would be wasted otherwise.
These by products can be obtained as a result of processes like, forestry, animal husbandry, farming and agriculture.
Less advanced technology is required. A biomass product can directly be used to produce energy on a basic level but when a larger amount of energy production is required the biomass has to be converted into bio fuels and bio energy. These technologies are traditional technologies and do not require heavy machine work, like the conversion of coal and gasoline requires.
The major sources of biomass are garden waste, manure, agricultural residues and crop waste. These are the byproducts obtained from plants. Some other sources of biomass are animal waste and animal excretion. All of the mentioned products are organic and natural and are safe to use.
The major disadvantage of using biomass is that large numbers of trees have to be often cut down. The trees hold the soil together and provide nutrition and as a result the soil becomes loose and erodes away.
Cutting down of trees creates misbalance in the ecosystem.
Burning biomass emits carbon dioxide in the air which cannot be considered fully healthy.
The emission of carbon dioxide and cutting down of trees altogether causes unwanted climate change. And due to these reasons, many large companies are against the use of biomass for production of energy.
The above mentioned are some merits and demerits of using biomass for energy production. It is very helpful but at the same time requires judicious use.
These biomass products are stored in bulks, in a way that they are stored safely for a long time. These biomass products have to be kept away from water and moisture, especially during rainy seasons. Water tends to moist the products and makes it non-flammable and also rots them. They have to be checked regularly for insects and rats and regular pest control is done.
Thus, to store bulks of such products like wood chips and agricultural residues like rice husk silos are used. A silo is a large container or structure for storing bulky products. A rice husk storage silo or a saw dust silo cylindrical in shape and is made of steel. There are several other kinds of silos like tower silos and bunker silos.
Different countries specialize in making various kinds of silos according to their needs. For example, wood chips silo storage in India, is very popular as the production of energy using wood chips is high. In the same way, different countries have industries and suppliers for the kind of silo they require the most. In some countries energy production using saw dust is higher, so they make bunker silos, while some use tower silos to store coal and petroleum.
The suppliers also vary among the countries. Like the suppliers of rice husk storage silo, are popular in East Asian countries while the suppliers of wood chips storage silo are popular in South Asian countries.


Theaters live and die on the basis of how many seats they can consistently fill. The rise of Internet-enabled phones and streaming content, often at bargain price points, offers potential audience members easy alternatives to attending a play. This means theaters now depend on effective promotional materials more than ever. Fortunately, theater owners have a range of choices available in terms promoting a theater or show.
A classic promotional method, press releases function as an announcement provided to media outlets. Reduced staffing at many newspapers makes them more dependent on press releases, improving the chances that yours will get picked up for publication. A good press release provides stock information, such as time, place or casting announcement, but it also provides a hook. If you can tie your press release to something topical -- a local event or celebrity, for example -- it enhances the relevance and makes it more enticing to the press. Press releases also represent a small time investment and no financial investment, because most media outlets will accept emailed press releases.
Social networks provide a way for a theater to build an interactive relationship with existing and potential audience members. The theater can use social networking sites to offer specials, answer questions and gauge interest in particular topics. You can also take advantage of embedded media capacity of social networking sites to post images, such as costumes and sets, ahead of time to build up excitement.
A strategic partnership between your theater and another local business or organization provides you with access to their resources and vice versa. In addition to providing you with a new list of potential audience members, additional resources help to free up time to focus on getting the performance ready to go live. If your theater is putting on a show with a single musical number, local school choirs can fill that need and provide a built-in audience of students' family members.
Not every person wants to buy a season ticket, and many cannot afford to do so, which means theaters need to consider alternative ideas. A theater can offer ticket packages of reduced size, such as three to seven tickets, or offer discounts for online and advance purchases. You can also consider setting up a referral program that provides free or heavily discounted tickets to those who refer set numbers of people. For example, someone who refers five people that purchase at regular price gets a half-off ticket, while those who refer 10 people receive a free ticket.


OK, I'm just going to be completely honest. I have no idea what this website says as it's all in Swedish, but my oh my does it have some gorgeous images. I've just been blindly clicking around and it's worked for me so far. Give it a shot.
If there are any Swedish speakers in the house, a little rundown about Bolaget would be greatly appreciated! As far as I can tell, it's some sort of real estate / property listing site (but way better than any I've ever seen before)..?
Published on February 21, 2011 by Capree.
Tags: eye candy, Photography, Scandinavian.


The main award of Balconiers' and Glamorgan Player of the Year award was presented to all-rounder Graham Wagg. His contribution to the team through the 2015 season with both bat and ball could not be over-looked. Wagg received his award from Balconiers' President, Don Shepherd. Also nominated for this award were bowler Michael Hogan; for his contribution leading the Championship attack and his fearsome bowling in the one-day game with match-turning spells, and batsman Colin Ingram; his strong batting showed with over 800 first-class runs and he became the first Glamorgan batsman to hit successive one-day hundreds.
2015 saw Wagg enjoy a successful season in all formats of the game with both bat and ball scoring 1160 runs and taking 60 wickets . Of those runs, 842 were made during first-class cricket.
Wagg's form showed across all competitions as he was the club's leading all-rounder in the Natwest T20 Blast, making 209 runs and picking up 13 wickets. His summer highlights in the T20 were figures of 4 for 27 against Hampshire and what proved to be a match-winning innings of 53 not out against Kent. In the One-Day Cup he hit another unbeaten innings, this time of 62 and followed it up with 2 for 17 when Glamorgan played the Essex Eagles.
Wagg produced a number of match-winning performances this summer, one of which came in a County Championship match at Guildford where he scored a career-best 200 to help Glamorgan secure victory over Surrey . His four-day form saw him recognised for a second award of the evening as he was named Glamorgan's Championship Player of the Year. His double century was the first by a number eight batsman in Championship cricket since 2000 and the first for the Welsh county since 2011.
Wagg received this award ahead of fellow all-rounder Craig Meschede and once again bowler Michael Hogan. Meschede's arrival from Somerset didn't disappoint as he took over 40 first-class wickets and notched up 600 runs, including two centuries as he hit his maiden Championship ton. Hogan led the attack with over 45 wickets in impressive run-restricting spells. His reliable and tight performances proved an asset for the team.


Have you ever wondered how many children's lives are saved in car crashes by the use of a correctly fitted car seat in the UK?
In our line of work, we'd love to know the answer too – but would it surprise you to know that it isn't actually recorded?
Following a road traffic collision and depending on its severity, a record of what they find will be taken by the Police – this is often referred to as a Stats 19 form.
It may then ask the age of the casualties or even better the date of birth, it may even ask where they were sat in the vehicle.
And if so, was this independently confirmed ( in other words did the passenger claim they were wearing it, and someone else can confirm this!) or is it actually unknown if they were wearing a seatbelt at all?
Does make you wonder why not, doesn't it?
Sadly, we really don't have an answer to this, only speculation. But what we do know is that this doesn't help us convince the media, the powers that be and parents how important a child seat is in saving lives.
It also means that sometimes media hype, myths and assumptions can be created based on half a picture.
This sounds serious, but when you see the fuller picture, these headlines are based on the data taken from the UK's Department for Transports statistics, which are collated from the Stats 19 form, (which don't record enough info' in the first place).
However, this data also groups all child road users together …..
When you break this down, children injured or killed just in vehicles is on average about 39% of this total figure.
It also groups all children from birth to 15 years. So that can include young people aged 12 upwards, who by law, wouldn't need a child seat and doesn't exclude those involved in illegal activities.
Please don't get us wrong, any infant, child or young person killed, seriously injured or even just slightly injured on our roads is not good. But in order to compare the UK's attitude towards car seat responsibility and behaviour against other countries and potentially learn from what they do, needs us to compare the same data. If the 45 Police forces in the UK don't record all the same data, how can we compare our casualty statistics to other countries?
So when you read that other countries have better child safety ratings than us, ask yourself what's that claim based on? For example, a lot of countries don't have roundabouts, so they will have less side impact collisions than perhaps we do. They could have smaller populations, fewer vehicles, lower speed limits, different road traffic laws.
Based on what we do have and you start to measure like for like, we're actually doing good! Not Great – otherwise we'd have no injuries at all – but we' re definitely doing good!
Please be careful what you read, especially on parent to parent forums before you follow someone else's advice as it may not always be correct or based on legitimate facts.
At Child Seat Safety, we have been collating and studying our car seat checks for many years and we started more recently to specifically break down the findings to establish if it was just the child that was fitted correctly into their seat, but the seat was fitted in to the car wrong, or was it just the seat that was fitted correctly and the child wasn't? or was it both child and seat are fitted incorrectly.
We don't just stop there because we also record when there was no seat being used when they legally needed one and 30 + other faults that we commonly see. These results come from our Community check events as well as Police enforcement events, where its not an option to have the seat checked, it's by request of the Police officers stopping the vehicle and therefore this gives us a good cross section of the population and a realistic overview of car seat usage in the UK.
We are starting to see an improvement in the way car seats are being fitted, thanks to the intuitive designs, better instructions, good training and publicity. This is great news, but we still need to see a greater improvement in how many children are incorrectly fitted in their seats, so this is where we will be addressing our work in the future.
Everywhere you look on social media statistics are quoted and can scare us, twist the truth or provide out of date and incorrect comparisons, But then surely it can be used for some good stuff? Including those bits of information that are tips and life hacks that will help keep our children safe.


Emotions: Do Emotions Have A Purpose?
In recent years there has been increased awareness around emotions. Before all of this came about, IQ (Intelligence quotient) was seen as the most important factor in deciding how intelligent someone is and in how there life would play out.
This was until EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient) was introduced. Here, ones level of happiness and ability to function for example is largely associated with their level of emotional intelligence.
For so long emotions have been portrayed as the enemies to our wellbeing and as occurrences that need to be controlled, manipulated and removed. And because of this paradigm there has been the tendency for emotions to either be repressed, suppressed or for them to be acted on.
Here one can either feel numb and completely cut off from their emotions or one can feel completely overwhelmed and constantly at the whim of their emotions. Either one of these options makes it extremely difficult for one to have emotional intelligence.
Whether one chooses to suppress or act upon their emotions does not necessarily lead to dysfunctional consequences. Just like how eating something unhealthy once in a while is unlikely to lead to bad health.
What will lead to dysfunctional consequence is when emotions are repeatedly inhibited or are expressed and acted upon without awareness.
This can be seen externally in different kinds of addictions and compulsions. Or it can just as easily be directed inwards; with the same emotional patterns constantly appearing.
It is often said that when ones emotions are directed outward one becomes angry and when these emotions are kept inside one becomes depressed. Although that is just one example of emotional expression, what is shows is that is does not matter whether emotions are suppressed or acted out; there is still the potential for problems to occur.
Some of the common ways in which emotions are dealt with is through the consumption of alcohol, drugs and food. What these do is allow ones emotional state to be momentarily and artificial changed.
Here, the painful emotions will be suppressed and this will allow for emotions to appear that will be the complete opposite of what one was originally feeling.
What we can see in the above example is that these external sources are being used to regulate ones emotions. The problem with using these substances is that there effects don't last and that they will inevitably lead to long term health problems if they are consistently used.
And while these substances or any other thing that changes ones emotional state are being used, all that is happening to ones emotions is that they are being avoided.


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all John Travolta Cancer Celebrity Deaths Love
Lillie Parker
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express.co.uk John Travolta Cancer Celebrity Deaths Love John Travolta Cancer
John Travolta mourns 'special relationship' with Kirstie Alley as Cheers star dies aged 71
John Travolta Cancer Celebrity Deaths Love
express.co.uk:
cancer. John shared a beautiful photo of Kirstie dressed all in white and clutching a string of pearls, before posting another picture of the pair of them smiling at each other and embracing. "Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had," he wrote in view of his 4.6 million Instagram followers. "I love you Kirstie.
I know we will see each other again," he added.John and Kirstie have previously appeared opposite one another in the Look Who's Talking films, where they played characters James and Mollie.
The pair starred together in three films for the franchise: 1989's Look Who's Talking, 1990's Look Who's Talking Too and 1993's Look Who's Talking Now.Kirstie's family announced the news of her death in a heart-wrenching statement on the late star's social media accounts.
Her children True and Lillie Parker said she was surrounded by her closest family at her time of death.Their statement read: "To all our friends, far and wide around the world... "We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered."She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living whatever adventures lie ahead. "As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother," the statement continued.
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Janey Godley, 61, has said she is "looking forward" to her live tour, as she admitted it was probably "the last time" fans would see her on stage.The star took to social media to update her followers on her health. Despite getting the all clear earlier this year, Janey has revealed that her cancer has now returned. The comedian was told she was cancer free in June this year, but recent test results have shown remaining signs of the disease.In a video posted to Twitter, she shared: "My recent scan and my blood tests showed that my cancer marker went up."There's still a bit of disease in my abdomen," Jane continued bravely. "So I want you all to know that I'll be going through some more chemotherapy."I also want you to know that I'm going ahead with the tour in February and March. "I am determined to get back on stage," Jane reassured her fans.
Janey Godley Cancer Twitter Comedy
Inside Valerie Bertinelli Years-Long Feud With Kirstie Alley
Were Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli involved in a bitter feud with each other for years? It sounds like it, according to a new report!
Valerie Bertinelli USA death reports Inside
HER roles in the classic TV comedy Cheers and the Look Who's Talking movies made her a screen icon. But Kirstie Alley — who has died at the age of 71 shortly after revealing she had cancer — also courted controversy by supporting Scientology and Donald Trump. The former cocaine addict, whose weight was known to fluctuate wildly, also had to settle a lawsuit after making misleading claims about her diet range.
John Travolta Donald Trump Ted Danson Stephen Hawking stars actress Love
Kirstie Alley's Ex-Husband Parker Stevenson Mourns Loss With Heartfelt Tribute: 'You Will Be Missed'
Kirstie Alley's ex-husband Parker Stevenson is opening up about her sad death.
John Travolta Aaron Carter Patrick Swayze stars death Love
Kirstie Alley admitted being 'in love' with John Travolta but was confronted by his wife
Amanda Owen in tears over family memories after 'unreal' farewell"It wasn't a sexual relationship because I'm not going to cheat on my husband. But, you know, I think there are things that are way worse than sexual relationships, than cheating on someone that way."I consider what I did even worse because I actually let myself fall in love with him and stay in love with him for a long time."Kirstie seemingly didn't hide her love for John very well as she admitted his wife once confronted her about it.The Cheers actor continued: "Kelly came up to me, and they were married then, and she said, 'Erm, why are you flirting with my husband?'"And that was sort of when I had to make a decision and that was pretty much the end of that."The actress went on to say she had no regrets falling in love with John and believed they "would have devoured each other".Kirstie's death was announced by her children in a statement on social media yesterday.They told fans that she only discovered she had colon cancer recently and died surrounded by her loved ones.Piers Morgan blasts Harry and Meghan for using him in doc trailer [REACTION]Prue Leith breaks silence as Matt Lucas quits Great British Bake Off [REVEALED]Emmerdale's Lisa Riley addresses tough personal news away from soap [EXCLUSIVE]John gushed over the late Cheers actress in a tribute on Twitter following the news.Alongside pictures of her and the pair smiling together, he wrote: "Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had."I love you Kirstie.
express.co.uk 1:05
Piers Morgan Matt Lucas Lisa Riley Prue Leith Amanda Owen Cancer Britain county Owen Twitter Love
John Travolta reflects on his 'special' relationship with Kirstie Alley following her death at 71
Kirstie Alley's friend and confidante John Travolta took to Instagram Monday to pay memorial to the actress in the wake of her passing at 71.'Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had. I love you Kirstie,' said Travolta, 68.
John Travolta stars death Love
Kirstie Alley Had Colon Cancer Before Her Death -- Details
As the entertainment world mourns the death of legendary comedian Kirstie Alley, more details about her shocking death are coming to light.
John Travolta Josh Gad Ted Danson Kristin Chenoweth Valerie Bertinelli Kelsey Grammer Rhea Perlman Florida city Tampa, state Florida Entertainment death shock
Tom Parker's widow faces more heartache 9 months on from his death as family member dies
Amanda Owen in tears over family memories after 'unreal' farewell"He was so proud of his family. A dedicated family man who was always there when you needed him."My Grandad had the most infectious laugh and it makes me smile when I think of it now.
Megan Fox Eva Longoria Tom Parker Amanda Owen Kelsey Parker Cancer county Owen song Itv
Kirstie Alley's exact cause of death confirmed by rep after Cheers star dies aged 71
Kirstie Alley's family have shared the heartbreaking news that the beloved Cheers actress has died shortly after discovering she had cancer.The star's representative has since confirmed the type of cancer that Kirstie battled in her final days. A representative revealed to People that Kirstie had been suffering from colon cancer prior to her death.Kirstie's family previously announced the devastating news of her death in a heart-wrenching statement on the late star's social media accounts. Her children True and Lillie Parker said she was surrounded by her closest family at her time of death.Their statement read: "To all our friends, far and wide around the world... "We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered."She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living whatever adventures lie ahead. "As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother," the statement continued. Kirstie's children went on to speak about their family's gratitude for those who had cared for her in her final days."We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at the Moffitt Cancer Center for their care," they wrote."Our mother's zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did."They concluded by thanking Kirstie's fans and friends for "your love and prayers".Kirstie was best known for playing Rebecca Howe on popular NBC sitcom Cheers, where she starred opposite Ted Danson,
Ted Danson Cancer USA Celebrity Deaths
Kirstie Alley appears in heart-wrenching final clip before Cheers star's death aged 71
Kirstie Alley's family have shared the sad news that the beloved Cheers actress has died at 71, shortly after it was discovered she had cancer.Three months prior to her death, Kirstie made her final video appearance on Instagram and Twitter. The actress shared a clip of herself on social media announcing she had joined Cameo, which is a platform where stars can send fans personalised videos for a fee.Kirstie seemed to be cheery and in good spirits as she assured fans she was up for the challenge.She told her followers at the time: "A bunch of you have been asking to do these greetings, and I always do what you ask me to."If you want something funny or something sincere … 'Hi, I love you,' or 'Merry Christmas…'"Or 'I want a divorce…'" she joked.
Ted Danson Merry Christmas Cancer USA Twitter Instagram
Donald Trump pays tribute to 'great' late actress Kirstie Alley after her defence of him
Donald Trump spoke glowingly of the late actress Kirstie Alley, who has just died age 71 after a short battle with cancer.The award-winning actress had controversially declared years earlier that the shamed ex-president deserved his Twitter account back, leading to a gushing tribute by him.Yesterday, Trump acknowledged the star, who also received loving tributes from the likes of John Travolta, on the Truth Social network."Kirstie was a great person who truly loved the USA.She will be missed!!!" he wrote.The Cheers star previously said she'd landed herself in hot water due to her vocal support for the former president, quipping: "You can be cooking meth and sleeping with hookers, as long as apparently you didn't vote for Trump."I feel like I'm in The Twilight Zone a bit, with the whole concept of it."Kirstie had continued, during a 2021 US TV interview with Tucker Carlson of Fox Nation, that she had been warned by industry reps not to reveal her political leanings.She also said she'd been referred to as "brave" after admitting she intended to vote for Trump in the 2020 elections.However, she then wondered if she'd merely been "stupid" for taking the risk of being alienated over her choice."It's so strange to me because artists are free-thinkers, for the most part," she lamented.She also admitted that she had been unfollowed by huge swathes of the public after confessing her admiration for Trump."I'm the same person.
John Travolta Donald Trump Tucker Carlson Fox Nation USA Twitter actress
Fern Britton pays tribute to co-star Kirstie Alley as Cheers star dies at 71: 'Loved her!'
This Morning presenter Fern Britton, 65, shared an image of Kirstie Alley on Twitter today alongside a moving message in view of her 127,300 followers. Kirstie's family have shared that the beloved actress died shortly after it was discovered she had cancer. "Kirstie Alley has died," Fern penned with tearful and heartbroken emojis.
Fern Britton Cancer Twitter This Morning
Inside Kirstie Alley and John Travolta's Relationship: Everything the 'Look Who's Talking' Costars Have Said About Each Other
A friendship for the ages. Kirstie Alley and John Travolta may have met on the set of their romantic comedy Look Who's Talking — but the pair were so much more than costars.
John Travolta Kelly Preston New Jersey county Preston film stars Love
Kirstie Alley once pined for her costars John Travolta and Patrick Swayze
Kirstie Alley wasn't shy about the love she shared for some of her leading men, though she claimed that she stayed faithful to her marriage.The actress, whose death at 71 was announced on Monday, previously delved into her romantic history in 2018 during a stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK, in which she confessed that she 'almost ran off' with John Travolta, 68.The twice-divorced star also spoke elsewhere about the feelings she shared for another costar, the late Patrick Swayze, although both opted not to pursue an affair to focus on their marriages. Special relationship: Kirstie Alley considered John Travolta the 'greatest love' of her life, even though they never had a romantic relationship.
John Travolta Patrick Swayze Britain Indiana Love CoStar
DailyMail.com reveals where the cast of Cheers are following Kirstie Alley's death
Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a short battle with cancer, four months after the 40th anniversary of the TV show that propelled her Hollywood career - Cheers. Alley played Rebecca Howe on the iconic 1982 sitcom, which first aired nearly 40 years ago on September 30, 1982 and went on to broadcast 275 episodes across 11 seasons. Following the news of actress' passing on Monday, DailyMail.com can reveal where the rest of the beloved cast of Cheers are now. Gone too soon: Following the news of actress Kirstie Alley death at the age of 71 on Monday, after a short cancer battle, DailyMail.com can reveal where the rest of the beloved cast of Cheers are now; Pictured 2018The children of the actress, True, 30, and Lily, 28, issued a statement on social media Monday confirming the sad news of her passing, just four months after the 40th anniversary of the show. Alley's family said that she 'was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead.' Alley came onto the Cheers scene to replace Shelley Long in the start of season six, playing tough business woman Rebecca Howe.She earned an Emmy Award and Golden Globe for her role in 1991.Alley had a successful career before and after Cheers, making her film debut in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and starring alongside John Travolta and the voice of Bruce Willis in the Look Who's Talking series.She was in show business until the very end, and earlier this year she was revealed as Baby Mammoth on The Masked Singer.
John Travolta Bruce Willis county Long film show stars
Farewell, Kirstie Alley: John Travolta, Yvette Nicole Brown & Jamie Lee Curtis Lead Tributes For 'Cheers' Actress
Tributes have already begun to be posted on social media for Kirstie Alley, who died at the age of 71. The actress best known for her work in Cheers and Veronica's Closet was remembered for her personality, her parties and her politics.
John Travolta Kelsey Grammer Lee Curtis Instagram actress Love
John Travolta & More Celebs React To Kirstie Alley's Shocking Death
The entertainment world is in shock on Monday night after the death of Cheers and Drop Dead Gorgeous star Kirstie Alley. She was 71 years old.
John Travolta stars death shock
Kirstie Alley Dead at 71: Tim Allen, Kristin Chenoweth, John Travolta and More Stars React
A loss felt by many. Kirstie Alley's former costars, including Tim Allen, Kristin Chenoweth and John Travolta are morning her death after news broke on Monday, December 5, that she'd died at age 71.
John Travolta Kristin Chenoweth Tim Allen state Oklahoma county Rich state Kansas Instagram stars CoStar
John Travolta Reacts to Kirstie Alley's Death at Age 71: 'I Know We Will See Each Other Again'
A lifelong bond. John Travolta gave a touching tribute to his Look Who's Talking costar Kirstie Alley following her death on Monday, December 5.
John Travolta Amy Heckerling stars death Love

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In 2016, China's economy grew by 6.7% and is largely hailed as a success. This is despite BBC reports which suggest the slowest gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate since 1990. Nevertheless, this figure is in line with Beijing's target of achieving between 6.5% and 7% annual growth. And, as the world's second biggest importer of goods and consumer services, its performance has repercussions across the rest of the world.
For non-business markets, brand recognition of Chinese-produced consumer goods is expected to escalate. The country has long competed with other technology leaders such as the USA and Europe to market products to an external audience; heightened brand awareness shows an unprecedented growth in interest taken in Chinese brands by markets outside of Asia.
Public relations consultancy, WPP, in partnership with market research company, Kantar Millward Brown, has produced the first comprehensive list of 2016's Chinese brands with the most overseas impact. Working with Google, the 'BrandZ™ Top 30 Chinese Global Brand Builders' details consumer attitude and response to Chinese brands. It also examines how the country's major players might adapt and adopt to challenges the next financial year will bring, particularly given the current economically and politically turbulent atmosphere.
In September 2016, Google Surveys conducted research on Chinese brands outside of China, with the resulting data used by Kantar Millward Brown to calculate the 'brand power' of each company.
With 167 Chinese brands surveyed, a median 'brand power score' of 85 was calculated. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those among the highest rankings consist of brands in the technology and digital sector, as well as other electronically-oriented brands. This affirms China's commitment to providing consumer goods and highlights its continued, concerted shift from heavy industry and manufacturing.
According to the BrandZ™ index, mobile technology leader, Lenovo, has a 'brand power' score of 1682, with consumer electronics brand Huawei and ecommerce provider, Alibaba, in second and third with 1,256 and 1,047 respectively. In terms of the top five, Lenovo and Huawei both make an appearance at one and two. Another consumer-facing electronics brand, Xiaomi, enters the brand rankings at five.
With seismic changes set to impact the global stage in 2017, the momentum Chinese brands have seemingly achieved is not certain to continue. Changes such as internet-driven brands, in place of more traditional sectors, is also set to disrupt the Chinese export business model. But with careful consideration and the correct response to consumer demand, it is likely the western world will enjoy more of what Chinese production, particularly digital and electronic, can offer.


I don't tie my own flies. I have no intention to ever start. Why? Economics. Once I factored in the cost of fly tying equipment, plus the supplies, plus the cost of practicing, I could buy decades worth of flies for the same price. Also, I doubt the I would ever be able to make flies as nice as I can buy them. I do understand the allure of catching a fish with a lure you made. If I ever do try my hand at fly tying it will be for this reason, not an economic one.
Every time I shop for flies I get sticker shock. On one hand they are tiny works of art, its hard to believe they can sell them for so cheap. On the other hand: $4.00 for that little thing! The few places in my area that sell flies are ridiculously expensive. So, I shop online.
I know, I know, shopping in a locally owned fly shop is the trendy thing to do. I don't admit to others on the water that I shop online. Fly fishermen I meet are standoffish and snobbish enough. If I knew a local angler that tied flies and did not charge an arm and a leg I would go there. However, as it stands, I have found two excellent places to buy flies online.
GASP! It's not even US based! I know. I don't like that either, but their selection and price cannot be beat. The quality is not top noch, but as good or better than what you will find at Bass Pro or Cabales. It has the best descriptors of the individual flies I have ever seen, sometimes several pages long.
Free worldwide shipping and 75 cents to $1.50 a fly. It takes a couple weeks to get them.
It is a fun old school web site. As an American I find the section on how "dangerous fishing in America" is very funny. Apparently "Tourist Fishermen visiting North America are in danger of being killed or seriously injured!!!" I think they are being serious, but it is hard to tell. If it is serious, then they are pussies.
A small, US based fly fishing shop. They specialize in flies for Southern Appalachian streams and tailraces. The selection is moderate, but the prices are excellent and the quality is very high. Each fly is a work of art.
$2 shipping and $1 a fly, no minimums. They cost less if you buy a dozen. I got mine within three days.
It is a bare bones site, but it gets the job done. Where else can you get a size 6 crayfish for $1? My local bass pro shops charges $5 for a crayfish pattern less detailed!
I'm sure there are other great places to buy flies. These are the only two I have tried. I personally don't see the need to try any others.
No one paid me for this these reviews. I wish! I have purchased flies from these shops with my own money.


text:
Man City braves snowstorm in 2-1 win over West Ham
Manchester City's victory over West Ham United takes the side to the second place in the Premier League standings.
Manchester 28 November, 2021 22:38 IST
Manchester City's Fernandinho celebrates scoring his side's second goal against West Ham on Sunday. - REUTERS
Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan struck in the midst of a first-half snowstorm before a late goal from substitute Fernandinho proved enough to secure a 2-1 home victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.
The win lifts City back up to second place and level on 29 points with leader Chelsea, which hosts Manchester United in the late game. West Ham, which snatched an added-time consolation with a superb Manuel Lanzini strike, stays fourth on 23 points.
With thick snow falling for most of the opening half, City's Riyadh Mahrez had the ball in the net in the 16th minute after a superb finish but his effort was ruled out for offside.
City took the lead in the 33rd minute when Mahrez drove the ball across the goal and Gundogan was on hand to steer it home. That marked the beginning of a spell of heavy pressure from the host and it could have gone 2-0 up four minutes later but Gabriel Jesus' shot was cleared off the line by Ben Johnson.
Halftime saw the snowstorm abate and an army of groundstaff cleared the pitch. West Ham then had another let-off when Aaron Cresswell made a goal-line clearance as City dominated.
It took the home side until the 90th minute to score again, however, as Jesus teed up fellow Brazilian Fernandinho to net three minutes after he came off the bench.
Having seen little to warm them up during the game, the West Ham fans finally had something to celebrate when Lanzini won the ball on the edge of the area and sent an unstoppable shot into the top right corner with the final kick of the game.


Household saving rates have increased dramatically over the past two decades in China, in addition to the rise in average saving rate; the age-saving profile has also evolved into an unusual pattern. In this paper, Ge et al. propose and test a new hypothesis that demographic structural changes caused by a series of population control policies since the 1970s have contributed to changes in China's household saving patterns. Therefor they develop a simple overlapping generation (OLG) model to illustrate the effects of population control policies and demographic structural changes on saving decisions of individuals at different life stages.


text:
Q: ArrayList fail to convert to a String array using (String[])list.toArray(). Why? Why the below code fail to execute though it wont detect as an error from the IDE. And it will compile fine.
 ArrayList<String> a = new ArrayList<String>();
    a.add("one");
    a.add("two");
    a.add("three");
    String [] b = (String[])a.toArray();
    for(int i =0;i<b.length;++i){
        System.out.println(b[i]);
    }

But it will give the following error.

nested exception is java.lang.ClassCastException: [Ljava.lang.Object;
  cannot be cast to [Ljava.lang.String;

Can anyone give a clear explanation? The same problem has been asked before and some solutions has been provided. But a clear explanation of the problem will be much appreciated.

A: You should simply do:
String[] b = new String[a.size()];
a.toArray(b);

You're getting the error because toArray() returns Object[] and this cannot be cast down to String[].

A: You need to mention the type of array, else by default, toArray() would return an array of Object which can't be simply casted to String[]. If you specify the type, the overloaded toArray(T[]) would be called, returning the type of array mentioned as the parameter.
String [] b = a.toArray(new String[]{});

A: a.toArray() is creating an Object[] rather than a String[] and hence the typecast is failing.
 String[] b = a.toArray(new String[a.size()]);

Refer to the javadocs for the two overloads of List.toArray

A: Have a look at the JavaDoc, toArray() returns a Object[] array, which cannot be downcast to String[].
You'll need this method instead - the reason being that generics are erased at runtime, so the JVM won't know that your ArrayList used to be one that contained String's:
String [] b = a.toArray( new String[] {} );

Cheers,

A: (Something that might help in now/future.)
Since 1.5 you are are able to do this way:
for(String output : a) { // Loops through each a (which is a String)
 System.out.println(output); // As it is a String list we can just print it
}

This more more readable and may come in handy to know.
Output:
one
two
three

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Often asked: How Many Species Of Fish In The Sea Of Galilee?
1 How many species of fish were there in Jesus time?
2 What kind of fish were in the Sea of Galilee in Jesus time?
3 What kind of fish did Jesus catch?
4 What is Galilee called today?
5 Are there fish in Dead Sea?
6 How did they fish in Jesus time?
7 Why did Jesus call fishermen first?
8 How did Jesus Eat?
9 How did they preserve fish in Bible times?
10 Where is Nazareth now?
11 Who walked on water like Jesus?
12 What did Jesus say about fish?
13 Why did the Bible say 153 fish?
14 What does 153 mean?
How many species of fish were there in Jesus time?
The Gospel of John (chapter 21:1–14) includes the narrative of the miraculous catch of 153 fish as the third appearance of Jesus after his resurrection.
What kind of fish were in the Sea of Galilee in Jesus time?
Most likely, these were Kinneret sardines, the smallest commercially important fish in the Sea of Galilee. In ancient times, these salt-brine pickled sardines were an important element of diet throughout the country, especially for those who lived near the lake.
What kind of fish did Jesus catch?
Canid) and Tilapia Galilea. These are the kind of fish caught and eaten by the disciples of Jesus.
What is Galilee called today?
Galilee, Hebrew Ha-galil, northernmost region of ancient Palestine, corresponding to modern northern Israel. Its biblical boundaries are indistinct; conflicting readings leave clear only that it was part of the territory of the northern tribe of Naphtali.
You might be interested: Often asked: What Is The Deep Sea Wizard Fish?
Are there fish in Dead Sea?
This is the Dead Sea. As you can see, it appears quite dead. There are no plants, fish, or any other visible life in the sea. Its salt concentration is a staggering 33.7%, 8.6 times saltier than ocean water, which is only about 3.5% salt.
How did they fish in Jesus time?
Fishermen used nets, baskets, spears, hook and line, and in some situations, their bare hands to angle the musht, biny, sardine, and other species common to the lake of Galilee. " Fishing was hard work, especially for fisherman who stood on the bank and had to throw their nets out into the water," Simpson said.
Why did Jesus call fishermen first?
" Fishers of men" is a phrase used in the gospels to describe the mandate given by Jesus to his first disciples. As he commenced his preaching ministry, Jesus called them to follow him and told them that in doing so they were to become " fishers of men".
How did Jesus Eat?
Based on the Bible and historical records, Jesus most likely ate a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, which includes foods like kale, pine nuts, dates, olive oil, lentils and soups. They also baked fish.
How did they preserve fish in Bible times?
To preserve them for transport, the fish were first smoked or dried and salted. Merchants also imported fish, sometimes from as far as from Egypt, where pickled roe was an export article.
Where is Nazareth now?
Located in the beautiful Lower Galilee region of Israel, and famed for being the city where Jesus had lived and grown up, today Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel, and one of the largest cities in northern Israel. The majority of the people in Nazareth are Muslim or Christian.
You might be interested: FAQ: What Deep Sea Fish Has A See Through Head?
Who walked on water like Jesus?
Peter spoke from the boat. He asked Jesus to command Peter to come to Him. Jesus did, and Peter got out of the boat. He began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
What did Jesus say about fish?
and I will make you fishers of men. The World English Bible translates the passage as: He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."
Why did the Bible say 153 fish?
And that actually is a double-trick: 1000 is well known in the Old Testament to represent a symbolic large value that cannot be counted. So, not only does the 153 big fishes refer to the 153000 constructors of the first temple, it also means "a very large unknown number".
What does 153 mean?
153 means "I Adore You". 153 is a form of shorthand typically used in texts or instant messaging with the meaning "I Adore You". The numbers represent the number of letters in each word.


text:
Home » News » Ofcom investigation into Premier League football rights
Posted by The FSF 18th November 2014
Ofcom investigation into Premier League football rights
Ofcom has announced it is to open an investigation into how the Premier League sells broadcast rights for its matches. Ofcom has also promised to include the Football Supporters' Federation in this process, particularly with regards to the scheduling of live matches.
Malcolm Clarke, chair of the Football Supporters' Federation, said: "We welcome Ofcom's promise to consult the FSF. In turn we'll be talking to our individual and affiliated members to gather their views.
"Premier League football might be a global phenomenon, but without fans in the stands, it wouldn't have the same appeal. People want to see the world's best players, but they also want to see stands packed to the rafters with fans. That vibrancy is a key part of the TV 'product'.
"Ofcom also acknowledges the importance of Saturday 3pm kick-offs to fans. All-too-often TV's needs come before match-going supporters as games are shunted around the calendar.
"This is especially difficult for away fans, and not just those in the top-flight. It's a problem for supporters of clubs in the Football League, Conference, and beyond."
Ofcom statement on investigation into Premier League football rights;
Ofcom has today opened an investigation into how the Premier League sells live UK audio-visual media rights for Premier League football matches.
The investigation will be carried out under the Competition Act and follows a complaint from Virgin Media, which was submitted to Ofcom in September.
As set out in section 25 of the Competition Act, Ofcom may conduct an investigation where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is an agreement which has as its object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the UK and/or the EU.
Ofcom will consider whether there is a breach of the UK and/or EU competition law prohibition on agreements and decisions which restrict or distort competition.
In the initial phase of the investigation, Ofcom expects to gather further information using its powers under the Competition Act.
The initial analysis of this information will help inform Ofcom's view on whether and how to proceed further with the investigation.
This case is at an early stage and Ofcom has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections. Not all cases result in Ofcom issuing a statement of objections. As a result, there are not currently any further estimates of the timing of any later investigative steps.
Virgin Media's complaint alleges that the arrangements for the 'collective' selling of live UK television rights by the Premier League for matches played by its member clubs is in breach of competition law.
In particular, the complaint raises concerns about the number of Premier League matches for which live broadcasting rights are made available.
Virgin Media argues that the proportion of matches made available for live television broadcast under the current Premier League rights deals - at 41% - is lower than some other leading European leagues, where more matches are available for live television broadcast.
The complaint alleges that this contributes to higher prices for consumers of pay TV packages that include premium sport channels and for the pay TV retailers of premium sports channels.
The Premier League rights auction
Ofcom is mindful of the likely timing of the next auction of live UK audio-visual media rights, and is open to discussion with the Premier League about its plans.
Scheduling of live matches on TV
Ofcom understands that the scheduling of football games is important to many football fans, in particular attending 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays. The investigation will take this into account and Ofcom plans to approach the Football Supporters' Federation and certain other supporters' groups to understand their views.
Finance / Governance / Politics


The message you convey to your team when you micromanage is that you don't trust their work or judgment. It creates a devastating mudslide to employee disengagement, promoting a dysfunctional and inimical work environment. Disengaged employees put in their time each day, and —that's it, nothing more.


text:
Q: Gradle Android Studio Hi i have a problem i see this in my android studio:

Error:Unable to start the daemon process. This problem might be caused
  by incorrect configuration of the daemon. For example, an unrecognized
  jvm option is used. Please refer to the user guide chapter on the
  daemon at http://gradle.org/docs/2.2.1/userguide/gradle_daemon.html
  Please read the following process output to find out more:
  ----------------------- 23:57:48.187 [main] DEBUG o.g.l.daemon.bootstrap.DaemonMain - Assuming the daemon was started
  with following jvm opts: [-XX:MaxPermSize=256m,
  -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError, -Xmx1256m, -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8, -Duser.country=SV, -Duser.language=es, -Duser.variant]
FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

*

*What went wrong: Could not create service of type DaemonContext using DaemonServices.createDaemonContext().

*Try: Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace. Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output.

A: Navigate to Android Studio->Settings->Compiler->VM Options and set -Xmx512m
Reason for this issue could be: Grade's build daemon ( forked process ) is invoked with maximum Java heap size as platform default value in your case 1256MB
For more information check this thread


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Cedric the Couple of Mugs van was inspected on 27/06/2012 by Taunton Deane and awarded the highest rating – a high 5! Cedric now proudly displays his "score on the door" at all events (a legal requirement).
Not only will you be able to enjoy the same scrumptious snacks but have the peace of mind that food safety and hygiene is of the highest quality.
The results for all inspections are published online and can be seen here including Cedric's!


text:
Even amid pandemic, governments and advocates rally behind sexual and reproductive health and rights
In Egypt, family planning unit works to ensure continuity of services amid pandemic
Mahgul* vividly remembers the day she was engaged to be married. "I was 7," she said.
With limited funding coming in, UNFPA has been able to resume operations in some key health facilities across the country. But much more support is needed.
Situation Overview
As of September 30, 2020, the country reported 313 cases of COVID-19 with 305 patients treated and recovered, and with 8 patients receiving medical care at the National Center for Communicable Diseases. There were 4,231 people in quarantine by the end of...


Home ANNOUNCEMENT Announcement: SILK & SCANDAL, Book 1 of The Silk Series!
Announcement: SILK & SCANDAL, Book 1 of The Silk Series!
Peeps, exciting news! Are you ready? Are you braced? Okay, here we go!
Thomas Cartwright and Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons were friends. Over the wall separating their homes, Thomas and Nicola talked of all things – his studies to become a barrister, her frustrations with her life.
Then, Nicola was required to follow her diplomat father to Hong Kong where, bored and alone, she proceeded to mire herself in scandal. Aware of the need for circumspection, Thomas was forced to sever their ties and eventually he became a respected barrister and new Member of Parliament.
More info as it arrives, peeps!


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Door County Sailing
Great Lakes News
Nautical History
"Schooner Days in Door County" Author at Cana Island Lighthouse Booksigning, July 21
Nautical History By Staff Reporter
Mary Hirthe, co-author of "Schooner Days in Door County", will visit the historic Cana Island Lighthouse on Saturday, July 21 from 11 am to 3 pm to share tales of her adventures and challenges in crafting this classic work on Door County maritime history.
Schooner Days in Door County
Twenty five years after its original printing, this fascinating book returns to the Maritime Museum's store shelves. Authored by seasonal Door County residents, Walter and Mary Hirthe in 1986, this intriguing book offers an informative, engaging and entertaining account of the Door Peninsula's colorful history during the golden age of sail. Well-written and filled with scores of historic images, this volume is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Great Lakes maritime history.
"Door County's history is a wonderful tale intertwined with the development of our people, land and 250 miles of coastline," says Door County Historical society president George Evenson. "While buildings, landscapes and graveyards are visible reminders of our past, the sea claims its victims and they are gone forever. Only through the printed page can we get a real feeling of this romantic age."
This special 25th Anniversary Edition was reprinted by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society with the help of the Hirthe family. "We are thrilled that 'Schooner Days in Door County' is once again in print," said the museum's executive director Bob Desh. "Walter and Mary did a wonderful job of bringing the county's maritime history to life. This book is a must read for anyone interested in life on the Great Lakes during the days of sail."
Sloppy-Joe sandwiches and soft drinks will be offered for sale by the Maritime Museum during the book signing event. All funds raised will support the restoration of the Cana Island Lighthouse.
The historic Cana Island Light Station is located 4 miles northeast of Baileys Harbor at 8800 E. Cana Island Road. Visit the Maritime Museum's website at www.dcmm.org for detailed directions. Copies of "Schooner Days in Door County" will be available for purchase at the Cana Island Lighthouse museum store and at the Maritime Museum stores in Sturgeon Bay and Gills Rock.
A second opportunity to meet Mary and discuss the book is scheduled for 12:00 Noon to 4 pm on August 4 in conjunction with the 22nd Annual Classic & Wooden Boat Festival at the Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. Appropriately, Mary will be signing books on the pier alongside the 137-foot Great Lakes schooner Denis Sullivan at this event.
Expert Panel Named to Advise SS United States Redevelopment Project
Piracy on the Great Lakes? Learn About Roaring Dan Seavey at the Gills Rock Branch of the DCMM
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Door County Sailing Copyright © 2020.


text:
Sunny's Time Now
Luxembourg | 2008 | 108' | Documentary
Antoine Prum
Tony Bevan - Daniel Caux - Delfeil de Ton
Paul Thiltges - Stéphane Bubel
Antoine Prum's documentary feature SUNNY'S TIME NOW is a vibrant homage to an uncompromising artist, American avant-garde jazz drummer Sunny Murray, arguably one of the most influential figures of the historic free jazz scene...
Featuring a series of interviews with key time witnesses (Val Wilmer, Cecil Taylor, Tony Bevan, Bobby Few, Sonny Simmons, François Tusques a.o.) and extensive concert footage, the film adopts a European point of view to reassess the complex relationships between the libertarian music movement and the political climate of an era whose revolutionary echoes still resonate today. SUNNY'S TIME NOW also dwells on the near clandestine community of aficionados who continue to worship the gods of their musical coming of age, and whose resolute support has permitted free improvisational music - of which Murray is one of the last Mohicans - to live on.


Sunshine Corner is our Pupil Development Centre. Here we support pastoral learning as well encouraging children to do well academically. We recognise that there are times when children are experiencing difficulties for a variety of reasons and our Sunshine Corner has been developed to support children through challenging times. Sunshine Corner is supported by a team of Learning Mentors and they work directly with the children in a variety of ways which suits their needs; 1:1 sessions, in class support, intervention groups, nurture groups, circle of friends, lunchtime groups and playtime support. They also provide support to Parents and Carers and can if they are unable to help you directly, support you finding the correct service to help.
Theresa started working at Goodrich in the Summer Term, 2017, as a learning Mentor. Her previous experience includes being a HLTA for four years and a teaching assistant. She has experience working in KS1 and KS2. Theresa teaches one two one, small intervention groups as well as helping children to engage with their learning whilst in class. She also takes Nurturing group which are and have been very successful. Theresa is currently taking a level 4 Learning Mentor course.
Theo started working at Goodrich and joined Sunshine Corner as a Learning Mentor in September 2018. Theo teaches one-to-one, small groups, helps children to engage with their learning as part of their class and takes assemblies on mindfulness. As a dyslexic himself, he is able to offer support and guidance to children who have dyslexic tendencies or other learning needs.
Sarah started volunteering as a parent reader at Goodrich in 2014. She joined the school as a Teaching Assistant in late 2014, working in Year 2 and Nursery, before joining the Year 6 team the next year. She works as a T.A for 3 days a week, supporting maths interventions and providing whole class support in Year 6. In September 2018, she joined the Sunshine Corner as a Learning Mentor where she teaches one-to-one and small groups, as well as helping children to engage with their learning whilst in class. Sarah has recently attained her Level 2 qualification in Counselling Skills for Working with Children.
Dominique started working at Goodrich in January 2010 as a Teaching Assistant with a Reception class. In November 2011 she joined Sunshine Corner as a full-time Learning Mentor. Dominique teaches one-to-one and small groups, as well as helping children to engage with their learning as part of their class. Her qualification was gained while working in the Early Years, where she has over 15 years of experience. Since returning from maternity leave in 2014, she has been working at Goodrich part time.
Works: Monday to Wednesday & Thursday morning.


text:
import tensorflow as tf
import matplotlib
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

import numpy as np

DIMS = 10  # Dimensions of the parabola
LAYERS = 2
STATE_SIZE = 20
TRAINING_STEPS = 20  # This is 100 in the paper

'''
Learning to learn by gradient descent by gradient descent implementation from:
https://hackernoon.com/learning-to-learn-by-gradient-descent-by-gradient-descent-4da2273d64f2

'''
scale = tf.random_uniform([DIMS], 0.5, 1.5)
# This represents the network/function we are trying to optimize,
# the `optimizee' as it's called in the paper.
# Actually, it's more accurate to think of this as the error
# landscape.
def f(x):
    # x = scale*x
    # return tf.reduce_sum(x*x)
    return tf.square(x)

# def g_sgd(gradients, state, learning_rate=0.1):
#     return -learning_rate*gradients, state

# def g_rms(gradients, state, learning_rate=0.1, decay_rate=0.99):
#     if state is None:
#         state = tf.zeros(DIMS)
#     state = decay_rate*state + (1-decay_rate)*tf.pow(gradients, 2)
#     update = -learning_rate*gradients / (tf.sqrt(state)+1e-5)
#     return update, state

cell = tf.contrib.rnn.MultiRNNCell(
    [tf.contrib.rnn.LSTMCell(STATE_SIZE) for _ in range(LAYERS)])
cell = tf.contrib.rnn.InputProjectionWrapper(cell, STATE_SIZE)
cell = tf.contrib.rnn.OutputProjectionWrapper(cell, 1)
cell = tf.make_template('cell', cell)

def g_rnn(gradients, state):
    # Make a `batch' of single gradients to create a
    # "coordinate-wise" RNN as the paper describes.
    # print type(gradients)
    gradients = tf.expand_dims(gradients, axis=1)

    if state is None:
        state = [[tf.zeros([DIMS, STATE_SIZE])] * 2] * LAYERS
    # print "gradients"
    # print gradients
    # print "state"
    # print state
    update, state = cell(gradients, state)
    # Squeeze to make it a single batch again.
    return tf.squeeze(update, axis=[1]), state

def optimize(loss):
    optimizer = tf.train.AdamOptimizer(0.0001)
    print loss
    gradients, v = zip(*optimizer.compute_gradients(loss))
    print gradients
    gradients, _ = tf.clip_by_global_norm(gradients, 1.)
    return optimizer.apply_gradients(zip(gradients, v))

initial_pos = tf.random_uniform([DIMS], -1., 1.)
def learn(optimizer):
    losses = []
    x = initial_pos
    state = None
    for _ in range(TRAINING_STEPS):
        loss = f(x)
        losses.append(loss)
        print loss,

        grads, = tf.gradients(loss, x)
        # print grads
        update, state = optimizer(grads, state)
        x += update
    return losses

# sgd_losses = learn(g_sgd)
# rms_losses = learn(g_rms)

rnn_losses = learn(g_rnn)
print rnn_losses
sum_losses = tf.reduce_sum(rnn_losses)
apply_update = optimize(sum_losses)

sess = tf.InteractiveSession()
sess.run(tf.global_variables_initializer())

ave = 0
for i in range(4000):
    err, _ = sess.run([sum_losses, apply_update])
    ave += err
    if i % 1000 == 0:
        print(ave / 1000 if i!=0 else ave)
        ave = 0
print(ave / 1000)
x = np.arange(TRAINING_STEPS)

for _ in range(3):
    rnn_l = sess.run([rnn_losses])
    # p1, = plt.plot(x, sgd_l, label='SGD')
    p3, = plt.plot(x, rnn_l, label='RNN')
    # p2, = plt.plot(x, rms_l, label='RMS')
    # plt.legend(handles=[p1,p3, p2])
    plt.title('Losses')
    plt.show()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home / Industry News / What you need to know about Cannabis patents
What you need to know about Cannabis patents
investmentvaluefinders 18 November, 2019	Industry News Comments Off on What you need to know about Cannabis patents 451 Views
U.S., October 28, 2019 (CANNABISNOW)- Amid the quick expansion of the legal cannabis market, many cannabis growers and business owners are pushing to secure intellectual property rights for the strains and products they've created.
Cannabis patents currently exist in a still-clouded regulatory atmosphere thanks to federal prohibition, but it's still possible to receive one — and the cannabis industry is certainly rising to the challenge to secure their own rights to continue cultivating strains that have long been part of the genetic and intellectual commons.
In the midst of this push for protecting cannabis intellectual property, there has been a rash of court cases and developments that have changed the foundation of cannabis patents in America. So what does it mean for the average cannabis consumer, who perhaps has heard to be wary of the day a patent-wielding Monsanto enters the cannabis industry?
Here is a basic guide to what you need to know about cannabis patents.
What Is a Cannabis Patent?
In the United States, there are three kinds of patents: utility patents, for a process or application of particular products; design patents, generally for industrial products; and plant patents, for new varieties of plants.
Each of these types of patents could apply to cannabis products. For example, in 2017, a Nevada-based firm with the slightly presumptuous name Cannabis Sativa Inc did win a plant patent for a strain called Ecuadorian Sativa. The firm boasted of its high content of the terpene limonene, and its possible curative capacities for various ailments — not of THC. The company was later able to procure a utility patent for a cannabis lozenge.
This one of the few cannabis patents that have been granted in the U.S. According to Forbes, the U.S. Patent Office has been issuing cannabis patents since 1942, despite the fact that the plant is a Schedule I drug. Over the years, about 1,500 cannabis patents have been filed, and there were about 500 active cannabis patents, as of 2017.
One bizarre contradiction of federal policy is illustrated by the fact that in 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services itself secured a patent — number 6630507 — for the use of cannabinoids (not including THC) as antioxidants and neuroprotectants. Yet just three years later, an FDA memorandum reiterated the official position that cannabis has "no medical value."
Why Are People Particularly Scared of Utility Patents?
A utility patent protects the way that something is used and how it works. Consider the utility patent for a cannabis lozenge: it's a patent on the idea that cannabis can be consumed in lozenge form to address a specific problem.
That makes utility patents particularly broad, and therefore could be used to step on more cannabis companies' toes.
For example, "you can't say you've done all the work necessary to establish use of cannabis for headaches," Jerry Whiting of Seattle-based LeBlanc CNE, which develops and markets CBD products, told Cannabis Now. "That's not worthy of government protection. These patents are unenforceable in most cases, but nobody can afford the lawyers to go after them."
What About the Process for Getting a Cannabis Trademark?
It's confusing: Getting a cannabis patent with the federal government is possible, but a cannabis trademark is not. A trademark is a form of intellectual property protection over a name, word, logo, symbol or design associated with a product or company.
Currently, there is no process for trademarking a product that contains significant quantities of THC, and the federal government is only now moving to establish such a process for CBD products.
In a case that exemplifies the persisting dilemmas, a federal court in California ruled last month that cannabis edibles cannot be trademarked due to federal prohibition.
As Food & Beverage Litigation Update reports, the San Francisco-based court for California's Northern District rejected a trademark infringement claim in Kiva Health Brands LLC v. Kiva Brands Inc. In the litigation, Kiva Brands Inc (KBI) and Kiva Health Brands (KHB) disputed rights to the "Kiva" trademark. KBI asserted that they owned the name, given that they had been selling cannabis-infused edibles under the name in California since 2010. But the court said no dice.
In 2010, the federal government did entertain the idea of allowing trademarks for medical marijuana products. Hopes had been raised by the government's creation in April 2010 of a new trademark category: "Processed plant matter for medicinal purposes, namely medical marijuana."
Applications for trademarks were quickly filed.
"It looked like a positive step to me. We don't have many steps by the federal government legitimizing medical cannabis," Steve DeAngelo, executive director of Oakland's flagship dispensary, Harborside, told the Wall Street Journal. But that July, the USTPO did an about-face and nixed the plans.
What About Hemp Patents?
In September, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded "what appears to be the first patent for a hemp strain" to Denver-based Charlotte's Web Holdings. Charlotte's Web obtained U.S. Plant Patent No. PP30,639, listing CEO Joel Stanley as an inventor of the "new and distinct hemp cultivar designated as 'CW2A.'"
The federal bureaucracy is starting to catch up with the law following passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. The USPTO in May issued guidelines for trademarks on CBD products, while the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) is preparing to recognize intellectual property in hemp varieties.
At the international level, hemp strains are already being registered with the Geneva-based International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
Why Are Cannabis Patents So Controversial?
Starting with the failed California legalization bid Proposition 19 in 2010, we've seen the strange phenomenon of "Stoners Against Legalization" — cannabis users and growers who viewed the initiative (and the successful Proposition 64 six years later) would allow big corporations to corner the cannabis market and squeeze out independent growers via access to finances and patents.
These fears were fueled by rumors in 2010 that the Drug Enforcement Administration was granting big corporations licenses to grow cannabis for research. The concern was that these companies could develop novel applications for cannabis, receive a broad patent, and then go after smaller cannabis growers for infringing on their patent, wielding the patent like a legal bludgeon. This is a strategy made famous by Monsanto, which uses its corn and soy patents to push out small farmers growing those crops.
Why Is "Prior Art" So Important?
The federal government will only grant a patent to someone if it believes the product or idea in question is a "novel invention," and that means no one has come up with it before.
"Prior art" is anything that proves a patent was not a novel idea. For example, if Person A gets a plant patent for a cannabis strain they claimed was unique, but Person B can prove they grew that strain in 2014, the patent could be held invalid.
Breeders and growers are still wrestling with how to assert their traditional rights in the increasingly corporate-dominated cannabis environment, and especially because many illicit market growers were understandably avoiding keeping a paper trail. In the cannabis space, many people have advocated for using strain databases to build potential "prior art" defenses.
What Do "Open Source" Cannabis Projects Mean for Cannabis Intellectual Property?
For those people who don't want to claim ownership over cannabis — and want to keep cannabis open to the public, open source projects have been useful.
For example, the Oregon non-profit Open Cannabis Project sought for years to protect the cannabis genome from corporate privatization by gathering cannabis data to keep in the public domain. (However, Open Cannabis Project has been suspended due to funding challenges following a controversy concerning the supposed proprietary ambitions of its for-profit partner, Portland-based Phylos Bioscience. Phylos encouraged cannabis growers to use its strain genotyping services and database to establish prior art.)
"Nobody has the right to patent the Garden of Eden," says Whiting. "No one owns nature. The rest is just courtroom bullsh*t."
Whiting has drawn up what he calls an "open-source alternative licensing schema" under the title "Cannabis Breeders Rights." It lists different categories, such as "grow & harvest" only or "cloning allowed."
His proposed framework is also designed to protect the rights of small growers who do not have access to economies of scale.
Whiting's "end-user license agreement" would establish the prior art of a particular cannabis strain.
"My wishes going forward are that these strains are never to be owned by anyone," he says. "As long as it's being used by seed-savers in backyards, it's free."
This system is based on terms agreed to by vendor and purchaser, rather than patents.
Whiting's alternative licensing proposal is partly inspired by "Berkeley Standard Distribution," the norm adopted by computer engineers in the '90s that established UNIX-based operating systems as open-source. "A lot of the software that runs the world today is not under commercial license," he says.
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1990's Orange PPC412 Cabinet. A 90's reissue 4×12 cabinet with the correct cosmetic appointments of the original 70's cabs including gold pin-striping and rounded plastic corners. Loaded with the original Orange-labeled Celestion speakers and sounds fantastic. 300 watts, 16 ohms.