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text:
Are parabolic mics real?
What does the parabolic microphone do in Phasmophobia?
Can parabolic microphone hear through walls?
Is it illegal to audio record someone?
Why do they use parabola in microphones?
What is a parabolic listening device?
How do you use the mic in Phasmophobia?
Do you need a microphone for Phasmophobia?
How do you tell if there is a listening device in your home?
Are Listening devices legal?
What do you need to know about a parabolic mic?
Is the Klover Mik 09 a parabolic mic?
Where can I buy a Telinga parabolic microphone?
How big is the wildtronics parabolic microphone dish?
Since "parabolic" defines the surrounding dish, any microphone properly placed in a parabolic dish is technically (though not optimally) a parabolic microphone. However, only parabolic mics can deliver directional sound pickup at great distances such as hundreds of feet.
The Parabolic Microphone is a piece of Equipment in Phasmophobia. It can detect sound through walls and at a great distance. It serves as a portable version of the Sound Sensor.
In general, a parabolic microphone can not hear through sound proof walls. A parabolic microphone greatly amplifies sound, so you will hear better than a regular microphone, but it may still not be enough to pick up any remaining low level sounds that make it through a window or wall.
In New South Wales, the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 prohibits the recording of audio conversations without the consent of all parties unless it is reasonably necessary for the purpose of protecting the lawful interests of the party who records the conversation.
A parabolic microphone uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves into a microphone, much in the same way a parabolic antenna (eg, satellite dish) focuses radio waves. Additionally, ornithologists use parabolic microphones to record bird calls.
A parabolic microphone is a microphone that uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a transducer, in much the same way that a parabolic antenna (e.g. satellite dish) does with radio waves.
You can do this by right clicking the speaker icon in the task bar to the bottom right, clicking Open Sound Settings, then scrolling to Input, "Choose your input device" and selecting the mic you want to use in Phasmophobia. Once that's set you can go ahead and start the game.
Phasmophobia players will need to use their mic in order to complete many objectives, but an error is preventing the mic from working. Phasmophobia has fans enraptured by its unique gameplay elements, but one of the most crucial aspects of it is giving some players issues.
You can tell that you're bugged with a listening device if you notice strange buzzing sounds, volume changes on your phone, high-pitched squeals, and beeps that can indicate there's something fishy going on.
While a law enforcement agency may install listening devices or surveillance equipment in your home after obtaining a valid court order, it is illegal for anyone else to do so without proper consent. Both the federal government and all states prohibit illegal eavesdropping.
The first thing to know about a parabolic mic is that it isn't actually a microphone. It's a dish – or a parabolic – shaped signal receiver – which focuses sound into a single point in the center.
Now, with the Sound Shark parabolic microphone, which is also sold in a slightly different configuration as the Klover MiK 09, parabolic audio capture is an option for many one-man band operators and small video production crews. It's as simple as attaching one to the top of a camera shoe.
This podcast from April this year featuring 26 (!) species recorded in USA with a Telinga stereo parabolic microphone is a warm reminder of what is to come, sooner or later! https://soundcloud.com/musicofnature/backyard-bird-walk-podcast & https://musicofnature.com/
The Wildtronics All Purpose Parabolic was shipped in a very large box. The hardware was stored tightly in a smaller box within the larger one, with the dish tucked inside. The All Purpose Parabolic dish features a polycarbonate 22-inch (55.88 cm) dish.
What is acetate buffer used for?
Hoe herken je arbeidsuitbuiting?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Garcia: San Antonio leaders made the only reasonable choice postponing Fiesta amid coronavirus pandemic
Gilbert Garcia
Gilbert Garcia March 14, 2020 Updated: March 14, 2020 7:03 p.m.
Shoppers look at colorful wreaths at Amol's Party Supply in San Antonio, Texas, on March 13, 2020. Earlier on Friday, it was announced that the annual Fiesta celebrations in San Antonio, normally held in April, will be postponed until November this year due to concerns of coronavirus.
Photo: Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer
Members of the media gathered Friday morning in the parking lot of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission's headquarters.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Jeanie Travis, the commission president, were set to announce the fate of Fiesta, the blowout that has dominated and defined nearly every spring in this city over the past 130 years.
Given the high cultural and economic stakes, however, there wasn't all that much suspense in the air. After all, the grim public-health circumstances already had decided the matter.
Two days earlier, the World Health Organization had declared the COVID-19 coronavirus a global pandemic. In the United States, documented cases of the virus had multiplied more than eight-fold in the span of a week. Medical experts offered worst-case scenarios that it ultimately could infect 160 million to 214 million people in the United States and take as many as 1.7 million lives.
On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a congressional committee that any events attracting large crowds should be shut down to slow the spread of the virus.
"We would recommend that there not be large crowds," Fauci said. "If that means not having any people in the audience where the NBA plays, so be it."
On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio gets first drive-thru testing site
A few hours later, in the face of news that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had contracted the virus, the NBA went beyond Fauci's suggestion and indefinitely suspended all play for the 2019-20 season. The NHL and other athletic organizations quickly followed suit.
Fiesta, which draws 2.5 million people over 11 days and generates about $340 million in sales each year, was too big to cancel outright, but also too big a safety risk to hold during its originally scheduled dates, April 16-26. So the Fiesta San Antonio Commission pushed it back to Nov. 5, with the hope that we'll be back to normal by then.
Truthfully, we don't know.
In the same way that we don't know how many people are walking around with the virus right now and haven't even been tested. In the same way that we don't know if our kids are going back to school at all this academic year.
That uncertainty, coupled with the most extreme disruption of daily life that we've seen in this country since 9/11, makes us feel powerless.
That's why it's important for each of us to remember how much power we have right now.
We have the collective power to slow the spread of the coronavirus, to flatten the curve, to prevent the damaging from becoming the devastating. We can do this by limiting our exposure to other people and following basic prevention guidelines: washing our hands for at least 20 seconds, covering our mouths when we cough with a tissue or the inside of our elbows, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces.
Self-quarantine will be maddening at times, but we need to think of it as a test, a short-term sacrifice that will save lives.
Maintaining our collective sanity over the coming weeks will require discipline, patience and deep reservoirs of empathy. It will mean taking the counter-intuitive step of looking out for each other by physically distancing ourselves from each other.
It will require an understanding that living with a sense of collective purpose also is in your own personal best interest.
To put it in the most basic terms, if you go to the store and buy a two-year supply of antibacterial soap, you're not only being selfish (and succumbing to panic), you're actually making yourself less safe, because you're preventing other people in your community from getting soap and making it more likely that they could contract the virus.
If you force your employees to come to work when they're feeling sick, you're not only being inconsiderate, you're putting yourself and the rest of your workers at risk.
There are many people around us who are hurting right now. Families coping with the loss of loved ones. Hospitalized patients gasping for their next breath through a ventilator. People put out of work by all the cancellations and closures. Parents struggling to figure out how to solve their child-care needs. Caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
It's the acts of empathy that will sustain us — whether it means New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson covering the salaries of Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days or San Antonio's public utilities maintaining service for customers who can't pay their bills.
There are many people around us who are angry right now, because they believe we're living through a mass overreaction, an irrational sense of hysteria whipped up by some combination of media hype and Democratic efforts to bring down President Donald Trump.
On ExpressNews.com: Fiesta will be postponed until November
To be sure, there's some irrational behavior happening when toilet-paper rolls have been snapped up from the shelves of practically every store in town. But history teaches us the high price that societies pay when they underestimate the impact of an epidemic.
The most dramatic example occurred on Sept. 28, 1918, when the city leaders of Philadelphia ignored concerns about a growing flu epidemic and held a massive parade to promote the issuance of war bonds. Nearly 12,000 residents died as a result of this collective nonchalance.
An overreaction can produce considerable inconvenience. An under-reaction can be deadly, on a mass scale.
San Antonio leaders couldn't play around when it came to Fiesta. They made the right choice — the only choice.
ggarcia@express-news.net
Follow Gilbert on:
https://www.facebook.com/gilbert.garcia.3363gilgamesh470
Gilbert Garcia is a native of Brownsville, Texas, with more than 20 years experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers. A graduate of Harvard University, he has won awards for his reporting on music, sports, religion, and politics. He is the author of the 2012 book, "Reagan's Comeback: Four Weeks in Texas That Changed American Politics Forever," published by Trinity University Press. One of his feature stories also appeared in the national anthology, "Da Capo Best Music Writing 2001."
Garcia: How Joe Biden proved me wrong
Garcia: Fix SAPD petition drive spurs questions on the best route to police reform


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Use this service to file your GST101 or GST103.
sales and income for the relevant GST period.
Note: If your're completing the GST103, you'll also need your asset adjustment amount for the relevant period.
If you're filing a monthly GST return and a compulsory provisional tax instalment is due, you'll need the asset adjustment amount for the previous month.


Remodeling your home is a great way to increase the value and curb appeal of your home, but it can also be the perfect opportunity to make a profit as well. Building an accessory apartment, installing solar panels, and replacing your roof are all great ways to make a bit of money off of your home.
One of the best ways to save yourself a bit of money is to cut down your monthly utility bills. An easy way to do this is to replace your roof with one that can actually make your home a bit cooler in the summer, which will cut down on the amount of time you spend with your air conditioner on.
A copper roof can accomplish this goal because its reflective surface will direct the sun's light away from your home, rather than absorbing it like other roofing materials do. This will prevent the absorbed light from heating up the interior of your home.
Another great way to earn money with your house is to install solar panels on your home. Solar panels can help you cut down on your utility bills by producing enough electricity to power at least a portion of your home. However, if you produce more electricity than you use, than you can often sell that electricity back to the power company in your area.
The amount that you get will vary depending on your area. Places that frequently experience power outages will often pay a premium for the power you provide in order to lower the strain on their systems. Other areas may only pay you a portion of the amount that they charge for power, or place a limit on the amount that you can sell them.
Finally, building an accessory apartment is one of the best ways to make your home earn you money. An accessory apartment is often built in the basement or garage of a home, and will contain its own utility hookups, kitchen, bathroom, and entrance. The benefit of this remodel is that you can then rent out the accessory apartment to make a bit of extra spending money, or even pay a portion of your mortgage.
Speak to a contractor like Sherman & Walton INC today in order to discuss the many remodeling projects that can save or earn you money. Accessory apartments, solar panels, and new roofing are all fantastic ways to make money from your house.


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Chipmunks (×)
Cows (×)
Elephants (×)
Geese (×)
Skunks (×)
Tigers (×)
The science behind farm animal welfare
Around the world, animals used for meat, eggs and dairy often suffer on factory farms where they are treated as units of production rather than sentient creatures. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International present comprehensive reports on animal agribusiness and its...
Veg-friendly restaurant guide
Did you know? If every American ate a plant-based diet just one day a week, it would be the equivalent to cutting 500,000 cars' worth of greenhouse gas emissions. By saving animals, you'll help save our planet! ( NOTE : Menu options are subject to change.) The following chain restaurants offer these...
Taking precautions for protecting livestock
The following is a list of suggestions we recommend to help keep your livestock safe during an emergency. Make a disaster plan to protect your property, your facilities and your animals. Create a list of emergency telephone numbers, including those of your employees, neighbors, veterinarian, state...
Lawsuit challenges federal government's secretive elephant trophy import
Four conservation and animal protection groups sued the Trump administration today over its secretive new policy of approving elephant and lion trophy imports behind closed doors. The lawsuit targets a U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision, outlined in a March 1 memo, to shut the public and scientists out...
The Center for Biological Diversity, Ian Michler and Born Free USA
Welcome to my humane backyard
The suspect creeping up near my front fence was a tough character—broad-leafed and thick-stemmed and threatening to invade my property and swallow it whole if I didn't act fast. There was no hesitation that summer morning as I headed to work: Off with his head! It was a decision made all too easy by...
Nancy Lawson
Exploited into extinction
Seven years ago, Minnesota attorney Jack Fay went to Kenya to meet the orphaned baby elephant he had been "fostering" through online donations. The HSUS state council member waited at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, on the edge of Nairobi, as Naipoki's keepers brought her back from a day in the forest...
by Karen E. Lange
Tigers are the largest cat species, with striped coat patterns as unique as fingerprints.
Together, we can reduce the suffering of animals raised for meat, eggs and milk.
Eating for tomorrow
We are alive at a pivotal moment: For ourselves, for the Earth and for every animal on the planet. If we all are to survive, we must change the way we eat. Which sounds dire. But it is within our grasp. Think of it as a chance for a better world. A great and shared adventure. A journey to a place...
To help suffering birds.
Rampant animal cruelty at California slaughter plant
Video evidence (below) compiled by the Humane Society of the United States shows inhumane handling methods that may have endangered the health of children. A shocking undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States reveals widespread mistreatment of "downed" dairy cows—those who...
Humane Society of the United States aerial survey of devastated southeast Texas reveals thousands of stranded cattle
An aerial survey conducted by personnel with The Humane Society of the United States across east Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey revealed hundreds of cattle stranded.
Sensitive, intelligent elephants are the world's largest land mammal (by weight) and a living link to long-extinct species like the woolly mammoth.
With their distinctive honks and propensity to graze on roadside grass, Canada geese are among the most ubiquitous of our wild neighbors.
Misunderstood skunks are gentle, near-sighted animals with one infamous—and pungent—defense mechanism.
Anti-whistleblower ag-gag bills hide factory farming abuses from the public
Time and again, undercover investigations and whistleblowers have documented rampant animal cruelty and other abuses in our nation's factory farms and slaughterhouses . But instead of working to solve those problems, Big Ag is trying to simply cover them up. Whistleblowing employees have long played...
The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International release findings of an undercover investigation into a lucrative ivory trade in the nation's capital
WASHINGTON—Today the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International released findings of an undercover undercover investigation revealing a lucrative ivory trade in the nation's capital, where ivory dealers take advantage of the lack of local laws banning the sale of ivory....
Abused calves at Vermont slaughter plant
The Humane Society of the United States today released the results of an undercover investigation documenting shocking animal abuse at a Vermont slaughter plant. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture took decisive action today based on the information provided by...


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Spontaneität ([], von  zu spätlat.  von  "eigener Wille, Antrieb"; auch Spontanität []) bezeichnet umgangssprachlich unwillkürliche mentale Vorgänge, eine Charaktereigenschaft, die jemanden häufig unerwartet agieren lässt oder die entsprechende Eigentümlichkeit einer einzelnen Handlung.

Davon zu unterscheiden ist der Gebrauch in der Philosophie, der sich auf das Auftreten eines Ereignisses ohne hinreichenden Grund bezieht.

Liste umgangssprachlicher Bedeutungsfacetten

Spontaneität mentaler Vorgänge
 das Entstehen von Emotionen (wenngleich durch Personen oder Situationen hervorgerufen)
 das Aufkommen vieler Gedanken und "Eingebungen"
 von Assoziationen
 und manchmal auch von Erinnerung
In diesem Sinne ist "spontan" auch gleichbedeutend mit "unwillkürlich".

Spontane Handlungen
Dabei folgt die Person eigenem Antrieb auf eine für die Umwelt oft überraschend schnelle Weise, basierend auf
 einem besonderen Maß an Intuition
 guter Erfahrung im Umgang mit den eigenen Emotionen
 ungewöhnlich rascher Überlegung oder Entschlusskraft
 einer Art Reflex (eher bei körperlichen Ereignissen)

Musikalische Spontaneität
 ist ein wichtiger Gestaltungsfaktor bei der Aufführung von musikalischen Werken
 basiert auf aktivem Hören und Erfahrung im Umgang mit Klang und Zeit
 ist die Grundlage der musikalischen Improvisation, solistisch und in der Gruppe

Spontaneität als Charaktereigenschaft
Spontaneität im positiven Sinn:
 nicht übermäßig viel zu planen, z. B. seinen Urlaub nicht weit über den Flug hinaus zu planen
 die eigenen Gefühle und die eines Partners in Entscheidungen einzubeziehen
 sich kurzfristig auf neue Situationen einzustellen

Als unüberlegt, vorschnell, unangemessen oder unkontrolliert eingestuftes spontanes Verhalten wird auch als impulsiv bezeichnet.

Spontaneität im negativen Sinn:
 sich bis zum letzten Moment nicht festlegen, um die eigenen Gefühle nicht vorwegzunehmen
 Termine und Abmachungen nicht einzuhalten oder andere warten zu lassen, weil man sich auf das Gefühl verlässt, statt auf die Uhr zu schauen
 nur die eigenen Gefühle ohne Rücksicht auf andere zu berücksichtigen

Fehlende Spontaneität macht berechenbar und sozial unflexibel, was zu einem übersteigerten Sicherheitsbedürfnis und zu einem abnormalen Sozialgefüge führen kann.

Philosophischer Gebrauch
In der Philosophie bedeutet Spontaneität seit Immanuel Kant die Fähigkeit von Verstand und Vernunft, von sich aus etwas zu tun, sei es, indem z. B. der Verstand spontan Anschauungen unter Regeln bringt und so Erscheinungen, die er wahrgenommen hat, begreift (siehe auch Begriff (Philosophie)), oder dass der Wille (als praktische Vernunft) eine Handlung nach freier Entscheidung vollzieht, ohne sich von außen oder von seinen Gefühlen und Neigungen bestimmen zu lassen.

Der Gegenbegriff ist die Rezeptivität. Hierzu steht der umgangssprachliche Wortgebrauch im Gegensatz, wenn ein schnelles und situationsbedingtes Reagieren als spontan bezeichnet wird. Die Bildung von Begriffen ist nicht im engeren Sinne willkürlich, wohl aber die Bestimmung der eigenen Absichten durch vernünftige Maximen. Da für Kant die freie Vernunftbestimmung des Willens dazu führt, dass eine Selbstverpflichtung auf das Sittengesetz erfolgt, sind auch Spontaneität und Berechenbarkeit keine Gegensätze.

Siehe auch
 Denken
 Lernen

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Motivation
Philosophische Anthropologie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Archaeologists Uncover Ancient City of Gath, Home to Goliath the Giant
Veronica Neffinger
Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…
Archaeologists in a Palestinian city in Israel have uncovered the ruins of a city that was once home to Goliath the giant.
The archaeologists have unearthed a huge gate and a fortified wall in the modern-day city of Tell es-Safi. They believe the gate and wall to be part of "the lower city of Gath," a Philistine metropolis of the ancient world, according to Christian Today.
The Philistine city is described in the Bible as being the home of Goliath, the giant who threatened the nation of Israel and was felled by a stone from future king of Israel, David's sling.
Professor Aren Maeir, an archaeologist from Bar-Ilan University in Israel who is the leader of the excavation, stated that "We still have to do a lot of cleaning, defining, digging and measuring to do, but it appears that there are really good chances we have truly landed on quite an astounding find."
The archaeologists uncovered the city of Gath's wall and massive gate while they were digging trenches to unearth the city's fortifications.
Pastors File Suit against Houston Mayor after Sermon Subpoenas
Pastors File Suit against Houston Mayor after Sermon Subpoenas Friday, August 7, 2015


September there took place the educational event "International Night of Bats". Since 2001 this event has been organized by specialists and volunteers from more than 60 countries. The main idea of this event is to turn the attention of the public to the problem of conservation of bats. Due to loss of habitat these species are endangered.


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Michael Flynn Sharpens Legal Weapons Against 1/6 Witch Hunters
When will they give this man a break?
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn filed a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the Jan. 6 committee and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday.
Flynn's filing with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida seeking declaratory and injunctive relief argues the committee has engaged in "outrageous intrusion" by issuing extensive subpoenas to Flynn and his family, as well as "secret seizure of his and his family's personal information from their telecommunications and/or electronic mail service providers."
The onetime national security adviser and often-maligned general denied involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot that precipitated the congressional committee
"General Flynn did not organize, speak at, or actively participate in any rallies or protests in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, and he of course did not participate in the attack on the Capitol that day," his lawyers argue.
Flynn accuses the committee of engaging in "partisan harassment," saying congressional committees do not have "boundless authority to engage in investigations" and expressing concern that cooperating with the subpoenas would violate his First and Fifth Amendment rights.
The Trump ally also suggests that the committee is illegitimate because it did not allow Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to appoint the ranking member of the committee, an argument first made by Alex Jones's lawyers. Although ranking member Liz Cheney is a Republican, she was not appointed by McCarthy.
The witch hunters on the House Select Committee have honed in one public comments Flynn made where he mused about how then-President Donald Trump could "rerun" elections in key states. His comments came a day before he attended a meeting on Dec. 18, 2020, to discuss the possibility of declaring a national emergency and seizing voter machines, the Jan. 6 commission alleges.
Here's Michael Flynn on Newsmax saying that Trump could order "military capabilities" to swing states and "rerun an election in each of those states."
"People out there talk about martial law like it's something that we've never done. Martial law has been instituted 64 times." pic.twitter.com/KNmiAGGiPF
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 18, 2020
What happened to free speech?
The committee subpoenaed Flynn in November for documents and a deposition, referencing his remarks on Newsmax as part of its justification for subpoenaing him, according to a Nov. 8 press release.
Flynn's lawsuit follows filings brought against the committee by Infowars founder Alex Jones and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon is gearing up for a different type of legal battle after Congress voted to hold him in contempt on the committee's recommendation for his refusal to cooperate.
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Green Technology Growing Strong in Washington Area
Monday, 23 November 2009 by Michael Hackmer
In a region more known for being the seat of the federal government and home to the Redskins, many companies are striving to be more innovative in developing technologies, solutions and best-practices that are environmentally sound, and conserve energy and resources.
The resulting emergence of companies increasingly focused on green IT and technology is starting to recast the region into a different mold – one of an incubator for businesses focused on renewable energy and more environmentally-sound technologies.
One company blazing the new trail is Power Loft. Nestled in Innovation Park in Prince William County, Virginia, Power Loft, a northern Virginia-based company that specializes in the development and ownership of high-density, high-security data centers, has built a facility that will not only allow for increased computing capacity, but uses 30% less electricity in the process.
In fact, Power Loft's data center is expected to generate an annual environmental savings equivalent to 270,000 barrels of oil or enough electricity to power over 12,000 homes for one year.
"We wanted to do something different," said James Coakley, Power Loft's president and chief executive officer. "In every facility we've seen, the more you increased demand at the rack the more your non-IT and IT equipment compete for space, power and cooling."
So, with that traditional data center challenge in mind, Coakley and his team set out to solve the scaling of IT systems and resources. Along the way they sought out best practices to reduce power demands from almost every industry imaginable, and worked to design a data center that is set to leave one of the best environmental footprints in the nation without sacrificing computing power.
In the end, Power Loft built a two-story complex that allows for high densities and incorporates numerous green technologies, from forced air cooling and water cooling, to state-of-the-art air ventilation systems and a green wall that scales the building to reduce the impact of outside temperatures. The design has garnered Power Loft numerous accolades, including the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Green Award.
Such an accomplishment sets a new standard in data center development certain to be studied and replicated throughout the country. But the fact that such an environmental trend-setter has come from the metro-DC area and not out in the west coast or in Europe has helped raised the profile of Washington, DC as an emerging leader in environmental technologies and practices.
"A lot of the early green movement is rooted in technology," notes Art Stewart, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Stewart Strategies Group, a strategic consulting firm that helps companies hone their corporate and social responsibility policies.
"Now corporations include green technology as part of their overall strategy around corporate responsibility. Corporate responsibility is now the broad, connecting platform that ties green and other company initiatives together."
Stewart sees the strong technology base in the metro-DC region as an excellent launching pad for more green technologies and environmental-friendly business practices.
"I do agree that in many instances technology is driving a new consciousness for green strategy, for sustainability strategy and for responsibility strategy," Stewart said, pointing out that a few area technology companies are now developing software to help businesses better measure their carbon footprint and implement more sustainable office policies.
One of the regional leaders in developing green business practices for their corporate operations has been CSC. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services, and was credited with implementing corporate-wide efforts to reduce energy use and recycle waste and technology during the NVTC TechCelebration banquet. CSC, like Power Loft, also won a Green Award and has been recognized in other journals for its efforts.
Turtle Wings is another company that is striving to shift the traditional paradigm of how companies do business. Based in Capitol Heights, MD, Turtle Wings is a woman-owned business that helps companies reuse and recycle their electronics hardware.
According to Elizabeth Wilmot, president of Turtle Wings, "Green technology encompasses a total life-cycle of all equipment." She notes that a lot of companies talk about recycling computer equipment and hardware, but said it is important for businesses to be diligent in their recycling efforts to ensure that the materials turned over are going to go back "into circulation or recycle it here in the United States."
In addition to the many companies that have focused on local markets, corporate-wide efforts or strategic planning, Catch the Wind, a high technology company headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, is carrying the Washington, DC mantle across the country and overseas.
A developer and manufacturer of laser based wind sensor systems that help guide wind turbines, Catch the Wind is focused on developing technology to serve the wind power generation industry – a market strategy that gives it quite a powerful reach throughout the world.
"There are more than 80,000 1 mega watt, or larger, turbines globally," David Samuels, chief financial officer for Catch the Wind noted. Samuels added, "We are looking at retrofit right now on older turbines as well as installing new systems."
Many other area companies also have received accolades for their development of green technologies, as noted by the wide range of finalists in NVTC's recent Green Awards.
As businesses recover from the current recession, all indicators are that technology, and more specifically – green technologies – are going to help lead the way. With a growing tech surge in the metropolitan Washington, DC region, this should mean more area businesses will end up growing green.
green ITPower Loft
Published in Green, Technology, Upcoming Events


This long bank holiday weekend has been one of those really special, beautifully lazy, family weekends. We have done lots of Easter baking. We've visited relatives and friends. And of course we have eaten far too much chocolate.
Northbound, Southbound, it doesn't matter. Everyone normally tries to escape Milton Keynes as soon as the sun appears. Sadly by doing so they spend their bank holidays sat in a hot car, with kids screaming, in 90 minute tailbacks wishing they were still in MK.
Even when the sun's behind a cloud, even sat in the shade, and even worse, indoors.
People flock to sit outside Moon Under Water to sit in that wicked wind that whips around Xscape. Or their local pub. People like to enjoy their beers alfresco. They taste better that way. Even if the wind chill is near 0.
It entertains them, they leave you alone and most importantly there's no hosepipe ban, yet!
I think we've all been guilty of becoming weather broadcasters on-line.
In Milton Keynes we are approximately 120 miles from the nearest beach but that doesn't stop the bikini wearing – just in case.
Costs a fortune to park, the swans attack you but still, it's a beloved destination when the sun comes out.
All so true, but you missed flock to Campbell park to sit around in the big empty circle doing nothing at all.


It does nоt mаttеr hоw соnѕсіеntіоuѕ уоu аrе аbоut уоur oral саrе routine, аt ѕоmе роіnt іn уоur lіfе уоu wіll probably experience the dіѕсоmfоrt of a tооthасhе. Thоugh a cavity іѕ thе most lіkеlу сulрrіt, іt іѕ only оnе оf several роѕѕіblе саuѕеѕ оf tооthасhеѕ. Rеаd оn tо fіnd out about thе tор 5 rеаѕоnѕ whу уоur teeth hurt.
Thе mоѕt соmmоn rеаѕоn fоr a раіnful tооthасhе іѕ рlаіn оld tооth dесау. Surе, іt mіght nоt be аll thаt exciting оr new, but іt'ѕ ѕоmеthіng that саn аffесt any оf uѕ.
For thе tooth аnd thе surrounding area to hurt, thе dесау in the tooth wоuld hаvе to bе ѕіgnіfісаnt еnоugh to reach thе іnnеr lауеr of thе tооth, a lауеr саllеd the dеntіn. Once thе dentin is dаmаgеd the tооth bесоmеѕ vеrу sensitive аnd a cavity, or саrу, hаѕ developed. If thе раіn becomes less of an асhе аnd mоrе оf a sharp раіn, thе tooth dесау may have reached the сеntrе оf thе tооth. This results in a vеrу іntеnѕе pain thаt makes іt dіffісult to carry оn wіth daily lіfе. These іѕѕuеѕ need tо be аddrеѕѕеd as ѕооn аѕ роѕѕіblе аѕ thеу are nоt оnlу раіnful but саn quickly lead tо bіggеr dеntаl issues.
If you аrе еxреrіеnсіng ѕhаrр раіnѕ whеn eating оr drіnkіng hоt оr соld fооdѕ, іt could mеаn уоu have a саvіtу. It mау аlѕо be a sign thаt you mау hаvе ѕеnѕіtіvе teeth, еіthеr frоm rесеdіng gumѕ оr from a thіnnіng оf уоur tооth еnаmеl. Whіlе you are wаіtіng fоr a dеntаl арроіntmеnt to confirm thе саuѕе оf уоur sensitive teeth, uѕіng a ѕоft-brіѕtlеd tооthbruѕh аnd a tооthраѕtе dеѕіgnеd fоr ѕеnѕіtіvе tееth may hеlр еаѕе thе ѕуmрtоmѕ.
Whеn tooth dесау аdvаnсеѕ to thе роіnt оf аffесtіng the rооt beneath thе visible tооth there іѕ a high сhаnсе thаt the rооt and thе ѕurrоundіng tіѕѕuе hаvе become infected. This will result іn a wіdеѕрrеаd pulsating раіn thаt may mаkе it hаrd tо dеtеrmіnе whісh еxасt tооth is the сulрrіt of the pain. Thіѕ is a vеrу serious issue and nееdѕ to be рrоfеѕѕіоnаllу dеаlt wіth as soon аѕ possible аѕ іt саn result іn bоnе and tіѕѕuе lоѕѕ. Which, оbvіоuѕlу, іѕ no fun аt all.
Gingivitis, while a соmmоn саuѕе fоr toothache, is аlѕо a ѕеrіоuѕ оnе. If lеft untreated, іt mау lead to more serious complications lіkе реrіоdоntаl dіѕеаѕе. Pеrіоdоntаl dіѕеаѕе hарреnѕ whеn gingivitis hаѕ рrоgrеѕѕеd dеер іntо the mоuth thаt bасtеrіа have аlrеаdу іnflаmеd аnd іnfесtеd thе bоnе ѕtruсturе аt the bаѕе of the teeth. Aside frоm tооthасhе, gіngіvіtіѕ саn also bе a ѕуmрtоm оf mоrе ѕеrіоuѕ disorders like cancer, diabetes mеllіtuѕ, аnd vitamin dеfісіеnсу.
Tееth саn bе сrасkеd оr сhірреd in mаnу dіffеrеnt wауѕ, whether іt'ѕ thrоugh a fаll, рlауіng sports, оr biting dоwn оn something hаrd оr ѕtісkу. If уоu are fееlіng раіn іn a frасturеd tооth, thаt means thаt the frасturе hаѕ mаdе its wау tо thе mіddlе оf the tооth whеrе thе nerve еndіngѕ аrе аnd can result іn еxсruсіаtіng pain.
Thіѕ may not happen аѕ soon as thе tooth is сhірреd оr damaged, but саn develop оvеr tіmе аѕ the tооth dаmаgе wоrѕеnѕ. Thіѕ is whу all frасturеѕ аnd chips should bе аttеndеd tо bу уоur dеntіѕt аѕ ѕооn аѕ роѕѕіblе аnd before thеу hаvе thе сhаnсе tо wоrѕеn.
Tооthасhеѕ аrе nоt аlwауѕ severe. Intermittent pain may ѕееm lіkе juѕt аn inconvenience and nоt wоrth аn immediate call tо thе dеntаl оffісе, but waiting untіl the раіn bесоmеѕ wоrѕе іѕ rarely thе bеѕt орtіоn. Whаtеvеr the tуре аnd severity of уоur tooth раіn, іt is best to саll уоur dеntіѕt and make аn appointment. Thе саuѕеѕ оf tооthасhеѕ аrе nоt always сlеаr, аnd a соnсluѕіvе dіаgnоѕіѕ аѕ to thе ѕоurсе of thе раіn аnd subsequent professional trеаtmеnt is always the best соurѕе оf асtіоn.


An update to the trial's time!
The trials for Shaun Hollands' Under 23s squad for next season take place on Tuesday 7th May 2019 at Homelands.
Due to high interest and registered numbers of trialists attending the upcoming trials, the time has been extended from one hour to two.
Trialists are expected to arrive at Homelands for around 7pm, to be ready for a 7.30pm start, which should end at around 9.30pm.
Players need to bring their own kits and moulded boots.
For anyone new, aged 18-23 who hasn't done so, to register your interest for the trials, please contact U23s manager Shaun Holland on 07738 017462.
Shaun Holland is looking for recruits!
Welcome to Kevin and Martin!
McIntyre and Mendy sign – latest squad update!
Welcome to Jake and Laurent!
How will our squad look going into the final month of the season?


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"Compared to What? The Multiple Meanings of Comparative Policy Analysis," Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, 2018; BERYL A. RADIN, & DAVID L. WEIMER, Accepted 04 Dec 2017, Published online: 09 Mar 2018.
What is comparative public policy? How can it contribute to better public policy? These questions seem fundamental to the mission of the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis. Some scholars have addressed the first question, which usually places comparative policy analysis in an institutional context, emphasizing comparisons across countries. However, fewer scholars have addressed the second, which lies at the heart of the comparative enterprise. As a result, the boundaries of this analytic effort are unclear and attempts to evaluate work that is defined as "comparative" are sometimes controversial. In this essay, we first sketch the history of the development of policy analysis in the United States. This historical review provides a sense of how comparative analysis fits into the development of the field, how the field has ignored some opportunities to think about comparative analysis, and offers some insight into how comparative policy analysis can contribute to better public policy. It then turns to possible avenues for comparison to identify the opportunities and limitations of the comparative approach.
Compared to What? The Multiple Meanings of Comparative Policy Analysis
"Policy Analysis and Advising Decisionmakers: Don't Forget the Decisionmaker/Client," Beryl A. Radin (2016), Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 18:3, 290-301, DOI: 10.1080/13876988.2016.1175191
ABSTRACT: The field of policy analysis rarely emphasizes the role and importance of the relationship between the policy analyst and those whom they are advising. It is a topic that almost never shows up in the policy journals or in panels at policy conferences. The focus of the field has been on the assumptions, tools, roles and reality of the analyst and little acknowledgement that the analyst is an advisor to the decisionmaker – not actually making the decisions. The current experience involving policy advising has moved the field from one that had been found largely in the US to include experience within other countries focusing on the advising function. As such it illustrates similarities and differences that emerge from diverse political, cultural and organizational settings. This range of policy settings indicates both positive and negative experiences with the advising function. The paper uses the comparative approach to contrast the changes over time and to begin to compare the experiences of parliamentary systems with the US shared powers system.
policy_analysis_and_advising_decisionmakers_don_t_forget_the_decisionmaker_client.pdf
"Neutral Information, Evidence, Politics, and Public Administration," Beryl A. Radin (2015), Public Administration Review, Volume 76, Issue 1, January/February 2016, pages 188-192
For more than a century the field of public administration has been searching for ways to disentangle the relationship between politics and administration. Woodrow Wilson's original proposal to view the two worlds as inherently different has been simultaneously utilized and rejected over the years as both scholars and practitioners have searched for ways to define political neutrality.
neutral_information_evidence_politics_and_public_admin.pdf
"Micro and macro approaches to social innovation: mapping the approaches of significant funders and advocates," Beryl A. Radin and Wai Fung Lam, Paper prepared for the Social Innovation Research Conference, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, May 21–22, 2015. Accepted to appear in September 2015 issue, ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
Despite the global interest in social innovation, there has been limited attention to the diverse ways in which this effort has been approached. Much of the literature highlights the bottom-up approach and does not deal with the complexity of the broader institutional setting that plays a role in the process. While there has been rhetorical attention to issues related to "getting to scale", this goal is often confronted by diverse structural and political institutions and actors. This diversity limits the ability of advocates to devise approaches that straddle sectoral and national divides.
Micro and macro approaches to social innovation
"Science and Policy Analysis in the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs," ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, 2015.
This article focuses on one expression of the relationship between science and policy analysis: the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)
in the Office of Management and Budget. It has used a classic policy analysis technique—cost–benefit analysis—as the way that the White House will
review regulations. This discussion highlights the utilization of the cost–benefit method in the OIRA decision-making process, the roles of various
actors in the system, and the response to that use by various policy actors. It illustrates the difficulty of utilizing rational analytical methods in an environment of political conflict. MORE>>
"Deil Wright's Overlapping Model of Intergovernmental Relations: The Basis for Contemporary Intergovernmental Relationships," PUBLIUS: THE JOURNAL OF FEDERALISM, 2015.
Deil Wright provided three models of intergovernmental relations in Understanding Intergovernmental Relations. The third model—the overlapping authority model—was essentially a new way of depicting those relationships. It provided the conceptual basis for moving beyond static views of the field. This article reviews the influence of the overlapping model on policy development, program relationships, and administrative practice. It reaches beyond the three institutional levels to include the proliferation of public and private players. It discusses the ways that decision-making processes and theories have absorbed that model. It concludes with a discussion of the current and future state of intergovernmental management. MORE >>
"Policy Analysis Reaches Mid Life," CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC POLICY,Vol. 7, No. 1, June 2013, pp. 8-27
The field of policy analysis that exists in the 21st century is quite different from that found earlier phases. The world of the 1960s that gave rise to this field in the US often seems unrelated to the world we experience today. These shifts have occurred as a result of a range of developments – technological changes, changes in the structure and processes of government both internally and globally, new expectations about accountability and transparency, economic and fiscal problems, and increased political and ideological conflict.It is clear globalization has had a significant impact on the field. Shifts in the type of decisionmaking also have created challenges for policy analysts since analysts are now clearly in every nook and cranny in the decisionmaking world. Thus it is relevant to look at the work that they do, the skills that they require, and the background experience that is relevant to them. MORE >>
"Reclaiming Our Past: Linking Theory and Practice," The 2012 John Gaus Lecture, PS, JANUARY 2013, PP. 1-7
As others have done before me, I am honored to receive the APSA John Gaus Award. As I prepared this lecture, I realized that the Gaus award has been given by APSA 26 times; mine is the 27th. The first was awarded to Herbert Kaufman whose work set a very high standard for this honor. Reviewing the list of the other Gaus award recipients provides a picture of the development of our field. It includes a variety of individuals who represent different approaches to the intersection of public administration and political science. Among the recipients are seven individuals who had a major and personal influence on my work: Aaron Wildavsky, Frank Rourke, George Frederickson, Martha Derthick, Lou Gawthrop, Larry Lynn, and David Rosenbloom. Others are people who have been important to my own intellectual development. MORE >>
"Federalist 71: Can the Federal Government be Held Accountable for Performance?", in special issue of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, December 2011, Supplement to Volume 71
Federalist No. 71 and Federalist No. 76 focus on the level of authority in the executive. This essay reviews the recent history of efforts to measure government performance as a way to control executive performance and then proceeds to a discussion of the weakness inherent in past approaches. The author uses the Government Performance and Results Act and the George W. Bush administration's Program Assessment Rating Tool as examples in making the case. MORE >>
"Just a Reminder: Don't Ignore Congress," THE PUBLIC MANAGER, June 2011
In March 2011 the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) held a discussion of federal government reorganization before a large audience. But when I asked the audience who in the meeting room was from Congress (and not the Government Accountability Office), only one person was currently working on Capitol Hill. MORE >>
"When is a Health Department Not a Health Department: The Case of the US Department of Health and Human Services," SOCIAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Vol. 44, No. 2, April 2010, pp. 142-154
Given the current policy debate over health reform in the United States, it is not possible to describe the organizational structure that might emerge from this process. This article explores five of the attributes that underpin the context for a discussion of the structure and operation of a health bureaucracy in the USA. First, ambivalence in the US society about a public commitment to health and a general scepticism about a significant public sector in this area. Second, separation within the system between types of activities (e.g. health research activities, provision of services, and financing of health efforts). Third, the health system operates in the context of a government with shared powers as well as federalism and an assumption that some issues belong to states, and sometimes localities, and not to the federal government. Fourth, difficulty in the US system when it attempts to focus on prevention activities. And fifth, the structure of HHS creates tensions between management initiatives and professional expertise and standards. The article concludes with a discussion of possible organizational alternatives. MORE >>
"Reflections on Comparing Federalisms: Canada and the United States," with Richard Simeon, PUBLIUS, Vol. 40, No. 3, Summer 2010, pp. 357-365
This article illustrates the challenges involved in preparing a systematic comparison of two federal countries. It examines questions as to what explains similarities and differences in federal systems. It rejects any single-variable approach to explaining federalism but gives primacy to ideas and to institutions. While there are fundamental differences in founding ideas and historical legacies, there are major similarities between these two federations. We conclude this analysis by underlining the value of comparison. Comparison helps clarify explanations for both variation and similarity, corrects misconceived perceptions of differences, and suggests areas of learning from one another. MORE >>
"Brenda Bryant: There is Nothing More Practical Than a Good Theory," PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, Vol. 70, No. 2, March/April 2010, pp. 289-294
Public administration values the relationship between theory and practice. Regrettably, theory and practice are regarded more often than not as separate purviews of two different groups—academics and practitioners—resulting in a perceived gap between the two. The doctorate of public administration program at the University of Southern California's Washington Public Affairs Center sought to span both worlds. This article by Beryl A. Radin of American University profiles one of its graduates, Brenda L. Bryant. The author traces her career development, experience in the doctoral program, as well as subsequent professional activities, ultimately highlighting why "there is nothing more practical than a good theory." MORE >>
"Overhead Agencies and Permanent Government: The Office of Management and Budget in the Obama Administration," THE FORUM, Vol. 7, Issue 4, 2009
Whenever a change of administration occurs in Washington, classic public administration issues are brought out of the academic closet. The dichotomy between politics and administration moves from discussion in classrooms and textbooks to the pages of the Washington press. The role of the career bureaucracy is acknowledged as a way a new administration will translate its policy and political agenda to the machinery of government. MORE >>
"The Relationship between OMB and the Agencies in the Obama Administration", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 32, PP. 781-784, 2009
Management activities in the US federal government are often defined in terms of the relationship between the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the agencies within the federal structure. The administrations of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush employed strategies related to information policy, regulatory reform, and performance measurement that minimized the ability of agencies to respond to congressional requirements. At this writing it is not clear how President Obama will use the management control processes and structures that were central to the operation of his predecessors but the balance between OMB and the agencies is likely to be quite different than in the past. There will be instances in which OMB will play the ascendant role but it is also probable that there will be more attention to the importance of agency level decisionmaking. It remains to be seen whether OMB is able to move away from a command and control approach and operate as a facilitator or coordinator. MORE >>
"The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the 21st Century: Living in an Intergovernmental Environment", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 30: 1525-1548, 2007
This article examines the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) – one of the very few administrative systems that was established as an instrument of federalism, serving as an intermediary between states and the national government. It analyzes its early development and the changes that have taken place in the Indian society that have had an impact on the IAS and its role in the Indian federal system. Further, it discusses the contemporary global developments in intergovernmental relations and how the IAS might respond to them. There are many different interpretations of the current developments within India and whether the IAS has the ability to adapt to these changes. The article reviews these interpretations and the limitations of data that would allow an assessment of the alternative formulations. MORE >>
"Qualified to Learn the Job: Donna Shalala," PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, Vol. 67, Issue 3, pp 504-510
Reprinted in Norma M. Riccucci, editor, SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST; PROFILES OF SUCCESSFUL AND INNOVATIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS, M.E. Sharpe, 2012
This profile of Donna Shalala illustrates how it is possible to craft a career that moves along quite untraditional paths. Shalala was a political appointee who adopted characteristics that are usually associated with career public servants. Shalala's approach to career development can be useful to others who are thinking about a career development strategy. She did not ask whether she was qualified for a job but whether she was qualified to learn the job. At the same time, it is clear that she was able to apply experiences and lessons from diverse settings to new positions. Her career has been characterized not only by an in-and-out pattern but also by diversity within each of those settings. Her career pattern shows how Shalala was able to reinforce her personal strengths of being a problem solver and respond to unpredictable opportunities. MORE >>
"Performance Measurement and Global Governance: The Experience of the World Bank," GLOBAL GOVERNANCE, 13, 2007, pp. 25-33
"The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the Tradition of Federal Management Reform: Square Pegs in Round Holes?", JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY, January 2000, 10, pp. 111-135
The argument of this article is that GPRA—like a number of earlier federal management reform efforts—does not fit easily into the institutional structures, functions, and political realities of the American system. Despite the array of management reform efforts over the years, couched in different guises and forms, few attempts to deal with management have resulted in significant change. This is not to say that there have been no achievements from the range of reform efforts. But GPRA repeats the tendency of the architects of management reform to focus on what have turned out to be fairly ineffective approaches. The time and energy that have been expended in this process have resulted in significant opportunity costs in the federal government. MORE >>
"The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Hydra-Headed Monster or Flexible Management Tool?" PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, VOL. 58, NO. 4 (July-August 1998, pp. 307-316)
The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) responded to many of the recommendations for change in public management that have emerged over the years but has evoked incredibly divergent views as it has begun to be implemented. While some aspects of the perceived problems are attributable to the background of the legislation (e. g., its purposes and requirements), the initial instructions for implementation also contributed to the confusion. One cannot understand the reaction to GPRA, however, without an understanding of the larger context. This environment includes the reality of the budget and budget decision making, the context of fragmentation, decentralization, and devolution, the pressures from living in an era of ideology and divided government, skepticism about federal collection of information, problems dealing with the concepts of customers and stakeholders, and what I call crowded management space (competing management requirements.) The early stages of implementation suggest that there are problems in the process of developing strategies, defining goals and performance measures, dealing with data, determining the level of analysis, and assigning responsibility for the implementation. While it is very early to give a definitive assessment of the GPRA process, the optimism that surrounded the legislation is not as strong as it was several years ago when the legislation was enacted. Some agencies within the federal establishment may be using the requirements to achieve internal management agendas, but the complexity of the institutions of American governance works against the accomplishment of the rational goals of the legislation. MORE >>
"Accountability Expectations in an Intergovernmental Arena: The National Rural Development Partnership", with Barbara S. Romzek. PUBLIUS, Vol. 26, No,2, 1996, pp. 59-81
This article explores the expectations and accountability relationships present in an intergovernmental experiment known as the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP). As such, this study extends earlier analyses of accountability dynamics beyond the bounds of a single agency into the organizationally less tidy realm of intergovernmental relations. This research focuses on the unique expectations and accountability dynamics facing participants in the NRDP and identifies gaps between expectations at the corporate (agency) and individual levels and between arenas in the intergovernmental system. These gaps complicate the accountability dynamics for NRDP participants and contribute to the challenges of operating within the rural development policy arena. The NRDP is designed to emphasize the relationship between processes and substantive outcomes. It has developed a tendency to rely on professional and political accountability relationships that have little to do with formal responsibilities. MORE >>
"The Comparative Case Study Approach in Public Administration" with Robert Agranoff, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Vol. 1, pp. 203-231, 1991.
This paper discusses the use of the comparative case research methodology in public administration. In this approach, caes are systematically developed through use of multiple sources of evidence, investigating phenomena within their context, and then are analyzed by comparison. The use of comparative case research can be as rigorous and systematic as virtually any other method. Moreover, there are many subject in public administration where research within a phenomena's context provides better evidence and opportunity for explanation. The nature and use of comparative case analysis in inquiry is initially explained. Then case development and comparison analysis as well as key concerns of research design is explained. Next, the utility of this method is analyzed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the problems and opportunities with use of this method when studying public administration. MORE>>
"Managing Intergovernmental Conflict: The Case of Human Services," with C. Gregory Buntz, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, VOL. 43 Public Administration Review, No. 5, Sep. - Oct., 1983.
Tension between the federal government's responsibility to hold grant recipients accountable to national goals and priorities, and state and local government's drive to meet self-determined needs and priorities is a basic characteristic of U.S. intergovernmental relations. This tension exists even when the federal role is perceived to be diminished as in an era of expanded block grants. Such tension, a factor of the mutual dependence in the system, produces an unavoidable conflict in the process and structure of a variety of federally mandated, and state- or locally-administered activities. A key premise of this paper is that such conflict is inevitable; it neither can nor should be avoided; it, therefore, must be actively managed. MORE>>


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Roman Kanciruk (ur. 1945) – polski dziennikarz, autor i realizator telewizyjny.

Ukończył studia na Wydziale Geografii UW oraz Podyplomowe Studium Dziennikarskie. Pracę w Telewizji Polskiej rozpoczął w 1970. Po dwóch latach przeszedł do Telewizji Młodych. Później pracował w Naczelnej Redakcji Programów Oświatowo-Wychowawczych. Od 1980 kierował Telewizją Dziewcząt i Chłopców (w 1987 obchodzącej 20-lecie istnienia). Przed 1987 odszedł z tego stanowiska (z powodu choroby serca), aczkolwiek nadal działa w TDC.

Prowadził i był autorem programów popularnonaukowych m.in. Kwant, Mała, wielka, niebieska kula, Gwiezdne podróże.... Jego ostatni autorski program Gwiazdy świecą nocą był emitowany 25 czerwca 2001.

Przypisy

Osobowości telewizyjne związane z TVP
Polscy dziennikarze naukowi
Polscy dziennikarze telewizyjni
Urodzeni w 1945


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Tetrate Delivers Industry-First Application Connectivity Platform That Combines API Gateway, WAF and Service Mesh Capabilities, With API Governance Out-of-the-Box
BusinessWire India Friday, February 18, 2022 0 Comments
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Tetrate, founded by creators and maintainers of Istio and Envoy, today announced the general availability of Tetrate Service Bridge (TSB), Golden Gate release. This latest release combines API Gateway, a web application firewall (WAF), and service mesh capabilities into a single management plane, delivering the industry's first cloud-agnostic unified application connectivity platform. By unifying these capabilities, TSB brings centralized governance and decentralized enforcement to application networking—essential for implementing zero-trust security across legacy and modern workloads.
TSB's Envoy-based application networking layer dissolves the distinction between north-south and east-west traffic: it's all just application traffic. Developers can now apply capabilities traditionally available only in an API gateway to any part of their application topology from edge to workload. The TSB Golden Gate release includes API Gateway and a comprehensive set of API governance capabilities out-of-the-box.
"As enterprises scale their cloud-native application environments, robust application connectivity and networking become both critically valuable and increasingly complex," said Brad Casemore, vice president for Research, Datacenter, and Multicloud Networking at IDC. "Somewhat paradoxically, application networking is most valuable when it is unseen—simple to provision and operate, and unobtrusive, yet elastically scalable and secure across highly distributed environments, not getting in the way of developers and their applications. With the latest release of Tetrate Service Bridge, Tetrate is responding to this need, bringing increased simplicity to centralized control over edge-to-workload connectivity spanning multiple clusters, clouds, and compute resources."
Gaining access and knowing how to configure application-specific network and security policies can be challenging for developers and ultimately impacts productivity. At the same time, networking and security teams lack the means to enforce policy mandates and ensure their implementation. This disconnect between access and knowledge leads to non-compliant networking and inconsistent policy enforcement, which then leads to security breaches. With the Golden Gate release, TSB enables developers to configure policies for their applications without needing to learn the complexities of new technologies like Envoy and Istio, while still being able to harness their power.
"As a leading education technology provider, our flagship product, ABCmouse Early Learning Academy, is the leading digital education program for young children in the U.S." said Jeremy Farber, senior vice president of infrastructure at Age of Learning. "We appreciate the way in which the Golden Gate release of Tetrate Service Bridge helps us to achieve security at the application level, not just at the network level."
TSB is also now available as a fully-managed, Tetrate-hosted service, in addition to self-managed deployment. The TSB managed service greatly reduces the initial investment required to begin using zero trust architectures, encourages experimentation, and further reduces complexity for customers. The managed service can be used for pilot projects, smaller projects, or for all projects, depending on the needs of each customer.
"Application architectures are increasingly becoming distributed in nature," said Varun Talwar, CEO and co-founder of Tetrate. "When combined with the need for multicloud infrastructures, application networking, and security policies, management becomes a complex problem. TSB elegantly simplifies this challenge with its management plane, a layer that binds the runtime system to the users and teams. Enterprises can implement controls for regulatory requirements with confidence and maintain many unrelated teams on the same infrastructure without shared-fate outages."
The Golden Gate release comes on the heels of a highly successful year where more than 20 Fortune 500 organizations in financial services, healthcare, and retail adopted the original version of TSB, increasing the number of clusters under management by 10X year-over-year. Customers provided invaluable feedback toward key features of the new release, including:
A unified application connectivity platform to deploy and manage WAF, API GW, service mesh, and egress controls
A clean, declarative application developer experience to configure application traffic and security controls, where they can be defined once and applied anywhere
A single management pane to manage application traffic across heterogeneous environments including Kubernetes, virtual machines, bare-metal servers, on-premises, and in the cloud
Multitenancy: creating tenants for teams within a business to define fine-grained access control and editing rights and to maintain zero trust as a standard; auditing changes to services and shared resources from start to finish
Next-generation, out-of-the-box API governance with just enough baked-in API gateway capabilities for ease of use
Deployment of WAF with blessed configuration wherever it's needed, edge to workload, not just at a single firewall
Deployment and lifecycle management of service mesh (Istio and Envoy) across multiple Kubernetes clusters
Application-level segmentation: secure applications, not (just) networks
For more information, read the release blog.
About Tetrate
Started by Istio founders to reimagine application networking, Tetrate is an enterprise service mesh company managing the complexity of modern, hybrid cloud application infrastructure. Its flagship product, Tetrate Service Bridge, provides an edge-to-workload application connectivity platform to deliver business continuity, agility, and security for enterprises on the journey from traditional monoliths to the cloud. Customers get consistent, baked-in observability, runtime security and traffic management in any environment. Tetrate remains a top contributor to the open-source projects Istio and Envoy Proxy. Find out more at www.tetrate.io.


This programme qualifies divers, with standard SCUBA equipment to dive to 40 metres and complete dives with mandatory decompression stop requirements for up to a maximum of 10 minutes, whilst breathing Air or Nitrox. This is a viable alternative to the more traditional Technical route and is ideal for those divers that want to extend their dive time and explore the possibilities of limited decompression diving without investing in Technical equipment and courses.
Certified RAID Open Circuit Level 2 diver or equivalent certifications such as PADI Advanced Open Water Diver with training in Navigation and Night/Restricted Visibility diving such as is found in UK waters. The instructor is to evaluate these skills.
Documented proof of these prerequisite requirements need to be presented to the Dive Centre for approval prior to any in water training.
Full Regulator Set to include First Stage, Second Stage, Octopus, SPG, LPI Hose and Dry Suit hose (interchangeable with the BCD) if being used.
Backup dive timer or enriched air (Nitrox gases) computer.
You must complete, before the in-water training, the on-line academic presentations, quizzes, exam. This material can be printed out and used in a traditional way if preferred. The cost for this element is approximately £38 and covers the cost of certification. We will also spend any time necessary going over the theory here at the Dive Centre if there are any areas that you want to review.
There will then be a pool-based Review of your Diving skills to brush-up on anything that is a little rusty. This will include a Stamina and Watermanship skills review and Dive Planning Assignments.
Finally you will complete the course based Practical skills (such as cylinder analysis), pool and open water sessions, totalling a minimum of 4 hours underwater. This will normally take the form of 1 pool session and at least 2 open water sessions.
To Book, come into the shop and we will get the course scheduled for you.


text:
from django.conf.urls import url
from teams import views

urlpatterns = [
     url(r'^for-teams/$', views.for_teams),
     url(r'^for-teams/complete/$', views.for_teams_complete),
     url(r'^(?P<username>[^/]+)/members/remove/(?P<member>[^/]+)/$',
         views.remove_team_member,
         name='remove-team-member'),
     url(r'^(?P<username>[^/]+)/members/add/(?P<member>[^/]+)/$',
         views.add_team_member,
         name='add-team-member'),
     url(r'^(?P<username>[^/]+)/members/$',
         views.team_members,
         name='team-members')
 ]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Login Career Page
Associate/Assistant Professor in History of Macau
History of Macau
(Reference No.: FAH/DHIST/AAP/09/2022)
The Department of History of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities invites applications for the position of Associate/Assistant Professor in History of Macau.
The Department of History includes highly-renowned and innovative senior and junior scholars from Asia, Europe and the United States. The department offers programs leading to BA, MA, and PhD degrees, and provides fellowships for postdoctoral research. The department's current research emphases include Chinese History and the History of Macau, as well as Maritime History, the History of East-West interactions, and the History of Science and Arts.
Appointment will be at the rank of Associate or Assistant Professor, depending on qualifications. The applicant should specialize in the History of Macau. Applicants should have a PhD in hand (by the time of appointment), teaching experience, and a consistent record of research, preferably all in the History of Macau or related fields. The medium of instruction at the University of Macau is English. Linguistic proficiency in Chinese, Portuguese, and other languages relevant to the History of Macau, will be favorably considered.
The selected candidate is expected to assume duty in August 2023.
A taxable annual remuneration starting from MOP828,100.00 (approximately USD102,230.00) will be commensurate with the successful applicants' academic qualification and relevant professional experience. The current local maximum income tax rate is 12% but is effectively around 5% – 7% after various discretionary exemptions. Apart from competitive remuneration, UM offers a wide range of benefits, such as medical insurance, provident fund, on-campus accommodation/housing allowance and other subsidies. Further details on our package are available at: https://career.admo.um.edu.mo/learn-more/.
Applicants should visit https://career.admo.um.edu.mo/ for more details, and apply ONLINE. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants may consider their applications not successful if they are not invited for an interview within 3 months of application.
Human Resources Section, Office of Administration
University of Macau, Av. da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
Website: https://career.admo.um.edu.mo/; Email: vacancy@um.edu.mo
Tel: +853 8822 8578; Fax: +853 8822 2412
The effective position and salary index are subject to the Personnel Statute of the University of Macau in force. The University of Macau reserves the right not to appoint a candidate.
***Personal data provided by applicants will be kept confidential and used for recruitment purpose only***
** Under the equal condition of qualifications and experience, priority will be given to Macao permanent residents**
Word document (zip)
PDF (view with Acrobat Reader)
Download the application form only when applying through this online system is not likely. When not applying through this website, besides completing the application form, please submit your CV, copy of academic certificates (diplomas), ID or passport copy and declaration of employment (for civil servant only) to the above postal address, e-mail address or fax no.
Click here to download the Acrobat Reader
dorachau Chau I Cheng2023-02-01T23:42:02+08:00
This site is best viewed in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge.
Copyright © Office of Administration (ADMO). All rights reserved. | UM Home | UM News | UM Event Calendar


text:
package com.google.api.client.extensions.android.json;

import android.annotation.TargetApi;
import android.util.JsonReader;
import android.util.JsonWriter;
import com.google.api.client.extensions.android.AndroidUtils;
import com.google.api.client.json.JsonFactory;
import com.google.api.client.json.JsonGenerator;
import com.google.api.client.json.JsonParser;
import com.google.api.client.util.Beta;
import com.google.api.client.util.Charsets;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.Reader;
import java.io.StringReader;
import java.io.Writer;
import java.nio.charset.Charset;

/**
 * {@link Beta}

 * Low-level JSON library implementation based on GSON.
 *
 *
Implementation is thread-safe, and sub-classes must be thread-safe. For maximum efficiency,
 * applications should use a single globally-shared instance of the JSON factory.
 *
 *
Required minimum Android SDK 3.0 (level 11).
 *
 * @since 1.11
 * @author Yaniv Inbar
 */
@TargetApi(11)
@Beta
public class AndroidJsonFactory extends JsonFactory {

  /**
   * Returns a global thread-safe instance.
   *
   * @since 1.17
   */
  public static AndroidJsonFactory getDefaultInstance() {
    return InstanceHolder.INSTANCE;
  }

  /** Holder for the result of {@link #getDefaultInstance()}. */
  @Beta
  static class InstanceHolder {
    static final AndroidJsonFactory INSTANCE = new AndroidJsonFactory();
  }

  // TODO(yanivi): figure out how to run unit tests based on Android platform

  public AndroidJsonFactory() {
    AndroidUtils.checkMinimumSdkLevel(11);
  }

  @Override
  public JsonParser createJsonParser(InputStream in) {
    // TODO(mlinder): Charset should be detected automatically by the parser. Related to:
    // http://github.com/googleapis/google-http-java-client/issues/6
    return createJsonParser(new InputStreamReader(in, Charsets.UTF_8));
  }

  @Override
  public JsonParser createJsonParser(InputStream in, Charset charset) {
    if (charset == null) {
      return createJsonParser(in);
    }
    return createJsonParser(new InputStreamReader(in, charset));
  }

  @Override
  public JsonParser createJsonParser(String value) {
    return createJsonParser(new StringReader(value));
  }

  @Override
  public JsonParser createJsonParser(Reader reader) {
    return new AndroidJsonParser(this, new JsonReader(reader));
  }

  @Override
  public JsonGenerator createJsonGenerator(OutputStream out, Charset enc) {
    return createJsonGenerator(new OutputStreamWriter(out, enc));
  }

  @Override
  public JsonGenerator createJsonGenerator(Writer writer) {
    return new AndroidJsonGenerator(this, new JsonWriter(writer));
  }
}


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The sacred sword "Excalibur". A sword that was created to judge a person's ability to be the king of England. Those whom the sword accepts will be called "Arthur" and will obtain great power. However, there was not a single Arthur but many. Due to this massive creation of legendary humans, the world and its history began to be distorted. Now, with the aim of restoring the history of the world to its original course, six Arthur, a master of the sword, a fighter, a sniper, a puncher, an alchemist and a shooter, set out for England. There mission is to defeat all those who have managed to obtain a power from the sacred sword Excalibur and are using that power to distorting the world, which is around a million people.


text:
Favorable treatment at issue in race for City Council speaker
Will Bredderman
Flickr/New York City Council
Councilman Corey Johnson
Real estate machers, industry trade groups, city contractors and unions could win a receptive ear in the City Council—thanks to the high-powered consultants retained by the politicians looking to lead the body.
The three councilmen recognized as front-runners to become council speaker—Greenwich Village's Corey Johnson, Upper Manhattan's Mark Levine and central Brooklyn's Robert Cornegy—have hired lobbyists and consultants with deep Rolodexes to assist their bids. A similar scenario in 2013 raised suspicions that business clients of the firms representing winning candidates would then have an edge in City Hall.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, for example, allowed his campaign strategist Jonathan Rosen to sit in on administration meetings about housing policy and even declared him an "agent of the city" in a bid to keep their email exchanges private. Not surprisingly, Rosen's public-affairs firm, BerlinRosen, signed a flood of new clients after the election. Meanwhile, James Capalino's firm topped all city lobbyists in revenue and Capalino seemed to enjoy exceptional access to the mayor and his agencies after helping the mayor win.
And after becoming City Council speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito oversaw the allocation of city funds to private clients of the MirRam Group and Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno, lobbying and consulting firms that helped her capture the chamber's highest perch four years ago.
"There are too many politicians who pay back their consultants by giving them favorable status, either with funding or legislation," declared Queens state Sen. Tony Avella, a former councilman. "I think it's always been a problem, and I certainly saw it under the previous council. But under the de Blasio administration it's gotten much worse."
Here is a look at the business clients of the firms representing the contenders to succeed Mark-Viverito as speaker in January.
Three firms have been retained by Levine to guide him to the council's helm. Handling "strategic communications" is Kirtzman Strategies, led by former journalist Andrew Kirtzman. Unlike most of the companies involved in the speaker's race, Kirtzman Strategies is not a lobbying firm, and so does not have to disclose its clients to the city or to the state's Joint Committee on Public Ethics. Kirtzman declined to furnish Crain's with a complete list of of individuals and entities that have paid for his services in the past year, though he did provide a partial list that largely mirrored those clients listed on his website. It includes several organizations linked to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the education reform movement, reflecting Kirtzman's background as an adviser on school matters to the Bloomberg and Obama administrations.
Levine has also hired another consultant not registered as a lobbyist and not required to divulge clients: Rachel Mann of RKM Strategic Consulting. Mann is a veteran of the controversial consulting firm Advance Group, and her site identifies several of her former clients. Among them are Communication Workers of America 1180 (which represents supervisors in city agencies), 1199SEIU (representing health care workers) and several building-trades unions. CWA Local 1180 will doubtless seek further city resources for its members in the next four years, while 1199SEIU will likely not only attempt to win funds for the city's massive hospital networks but to also advance a number of pro-worker causes. Construction unions, meanwhile, have aggressively pushed the council to instate new safety regulations that critics claim handicap nonunion contractors.
But perhaps Levine's most notable hire is the law firm Pitta LLP, which he paid $6,000 in October, according to New York City Campaign Finance Board records. Pitta LLP is an appendage of the lobbying giant Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno, which has had more business before the council than any other firm involved in the speaker's race—in part because it helped lift Mark-Viverito into the council leadership almost four years ago.
Despite news reports earlier this year announcing that the firm would run Levine's bid, it told Crain's it was only doing legal-compliance work, and not using its numerous connections in government, unions and the private sector to wrangle support for him.
Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno bills itself as an advocate for labor, and city records show it has lobbied the council on behalf of an array of unions including public employee powerhouses the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, Teamsters Local 237 (representing employees of the New York City Housing Authority), the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association, the Detectives Endowment Association, the Correction Captains' Association and several affiliates of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (representing clerical workers). All of these unions will seek to negotiate new contracts with de Blasio in his second term as well as seek additional resources for their agencies, including head count increases.
Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno also has lobbied the council on behalf of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents subway workers and has sided with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his push to get de Blasio to contribute more city funds to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno has also represented several significant private-sector unions in matters before the council. Among these are the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and the United Association of Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 1, two building-trades groups that have favored tougher safety regulations and initiatives to retrofit buildings for greater energy efficiency. The firm has also served the International Union of Operating Engineers which, among other things, has sought to limit the introduction of new crane technologies.
Additionally, Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno has lobbied the council for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, which is on strike in a bitter labor dispute with Charter Communications, owner of Spectrum. The next council will have to approve a new franchise agreement with the cable and internet giant. Pitta Bishop has also worked for the Hotel Trades Council, though that union has backed Johnson's candidacy.
But for all Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno's labor credentials, the city's lobbying database—and the firm's 2016 filings with the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics—show it also works for those on the opposite side of the bargaining table.
As recently as last year it represented Charter Communications. It also has lobbied the council in the past year on behalf of such industry groups as the Associated Brick Mason Contractors of Greater New York, the Building Industry Association and the Metropolitan Truckers Association, as well as several individual heavy construction and contracting firms, which have often opposed the same regulations the unions support.
The City Council exercises tremendous sway over city zoning matters, and in 2017 Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno lobbied it on behalf of several real estate powerhouses. These include Glenwood Management, Tishman Speyer, the Witkoff Group and RY Management. JCOPE records show it also recently worked for the Red Apple Group and Time Equities.
State records show it also works for New York Wheel LLC, the company behind the troubled, subsidized plan to construct a Ferris wheel and retail project on Staten Island's North Shore, as well as for the Tribeca Film Festival and New York Fashion Week operator Spring Studios.
In keeping with his support from the Hotel and Motel Trades Council, Johnson—who has been viewed as Levine's main rival for the speakership—has hired the lobbying and consulting firm Metropolitan Public Strategies, founded by the union's former political director, Neal Kwatra.
Kwatra's firm also represents the Hotel Association of New York City, a trade group of the proprietors that employ the Hotel Trade Council's members. Business and labor in the industry have worked together in pushing the city to crack down on Airbnb, the transient rental of apartments and the construction of nonunion hotels. HTC has also successfully pushed to limit the construction of hotels in industrial zones and the conversion of hotels into condominiums.
JCOPE records show the company worked to promote the statewide expansion of e-hail app Uber and handled the United for Affordable NYC initiative, which supported the mayor's housing plan. It also ran the Mario Cuomo Campaign for Economic Justice, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's public relations effort to establish a $15-an-hour minimum wage.
Brooklyn's Cornegy has retained Mercury Public Affairs, which has the largest footprint of any firm representing a speaker candidate. The lobbying and consulting giant has offices in several American urban centers, as well as in Mexico City and London. Veteran advisers to former Republican Sen. Al D'Amato and ex-Gov. George Pataki founded the company, though it has recently acquired talent from the Obama administration and has worked for the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Mercury's hiring is not surprising, as Cornegy is the most conservative candidate for the speakership. He is also the leading African-American contender.
Mercury recently was featured in news reports regarding the indictment of Paul Manafort, as one of two lobbying firms the former Trump campaign chairman solicited to represent the Ukrainian government. City lobbying records show that in 2017 it has pushed the interests of just two companies in the council: Charter Communications and INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry. Charter is seeking to protect its franchise agreements with the city amid the IBEW strike, while INDA has fought to block Intro-666, which would ban sales in the five boroughs of several types of wipes made from nonwoven materials and marketed as "flushable." A slew of its other clients have lobbied the agencies of the executive branch on procurement matters.
JCOPE records show Mercury has, as recently as 2016, represented clients that could have business come before the city. Among them are Cablevision Systems Corp., which now operates under the brand name Optimum and has two municipal franchises for cable and internet. It also recently represented Vievu LLC, the company with the contract to manufacture body cameras for the NYPD, and the Dart Container Corp., which has battled the city's efforts to ban plastic-foam food containers. It has also counted among its clients New Yorkers for Clean Livable and Safe Streets, which lobbied aggressively to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, and StudentsFirstNY, which advocates for charter schools.
Because the next speaker will have to allocate funding to combat the opioid epidemic, it is noteworthy that JCOPE filings show that in 2016 Mercury represented both Purdue Pharma—makers of the controversial painkiller Oxycontin—and the Addiction Treatment Providers Association.
The lobbying and consulting firms did not respond to inquiries, declined to comment or insisted that their candidate for speaker would not be more inclined to favor their clients in matters before the council.
But Avella argued that these commitments are insufficient. He has pushed legislation that would ban consulting firms from lobbying the officials they elect, and obligate all firms working for politicians to divulge a complete list of their clients.
"You have your consultant or lobbyist get you that position, then they come to you for funding or for legislation," the senator said. "That's a clear conflict of interest. That shouldn't be the case. They should have the same influence as any other New Yorker."
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Who won the race for City Council speaker? None of your businesses


I'm happy to announce the birth of our second child, Elaine Harper Cho! She came into the world January 20, 2015 at 12:34 AM. Mommy and baby are at home and doing well. Nina is excited to be a big sister, though I think she expected the baby to do more once we got her home. She had toys ready for her to play with, but unfortunately newborns are pretty much cute potatoes that eat, sleep and poop on a two hour cycle.
As a writer, people are always curious what I'm reading. Here are a few reading recommendations from books I've finished recently.
To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris. I've always been a fan of his books because this guy can make anything sound interesting. He could write a book about grass growing, and it would be a gripping and insightful read.
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. This is a Japanese writer I've been reading quite a bit of lately. Many of his books have a very surreal quality about them, think Being John Malkovich or Spirited Away, but his latest novel is much more grounded in reality and a fun read.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. This book is about a family that adopts a monkey for a short time as a psychology experiment and how it affects the family dynamic, most notably the children who think of her as the sister they lost.
As 2015 gets started, take a moment to look at the conventions we'll be attending this year listed on the left hand side of the web site. Hope to see you there.
With your help we're looking to fund a colorist for Little Guardians. Lee's doing a great job adding extra content for patrons, sneak previews of pages in progress, and hosting live streams while he draws.