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Once a niche product, servers now handle every facet of corporate computing -- as long as they're up and running.
Tim Reason
If the thought of a little downtime sounds good to you, keep it to yourself. In today's wired world, "downtime" doesn't connote a day at the beach, but rather a technological headache that will most likely have your IT staff racing toward whichever server is on the blink.
Odds are good they'll have plenty of machines from which to choose. Servers became the workhorses of corporate computing in the wake of the client/server revolution of the mid-1990s, and now figure so prominently in E-business infrastructure that they have become part of the common vernacular. Server fiascoes made national headlines during each of the last two Christmas seasons, as the systems of online retailers wilted under enormous customer demand. Among the more Net literate, the Web's common "Server not responding" error message is used to describe someone who is a bit slow on the uptake.
A Click Away
When that message does flash across a computer screen, it may well mean that a server problem is about to prove costly. "When customers see your site is too busy, too slow, or unreliable, they may assume that your business is too busy, too slow, or unreliable," says technology analyst Peter Firstbrook of Meta Group Inc., in Stamford, Connecticut. "In E-commerce, the competition is a click away."
That means that choices about servers — which ones to buy, how to incorporate them into an IT infrastructure, how to acquire them most cost-effectively — are now a major part of a company's technology strategy. Reliability is crucial, but context is everything. Knowing just what a server is expected to do, now and in the future, often determines which choices are the most sensible.
Firstbrook is quick to point out that hardware does not act alone — applications and networks are equally important elements of a successful E-commerce platform. Even hardware vendors agree. "We've gotten away from quoting 9s," says Mike Maas, director of Web server products at IBM in White Plains, New York, referring to the common vendor practice of one-upping competitors by issuing server-reliability quotes such as 99.999 percent or 99.9999 percent. IBM opted out of these decimal duels, he says, because "reliability is so dependent on the application and the infrastructure."
If the relationship among software, hardware, and other elements of corporate operations is complex, the situation becomes even more difficult when companies move their businesses online. "Because of the nature of E-commerce, the scale is often unknown," notes Firstbrook. "The infrastructure has to be designed so it can scale incrementally," meaning it can add capacity as needs dictate. This is where the enormous variety of servers can be a blessing or a curse. A bad decision can mean that a powerful — and expensive — server will go underused, he says. Alternatively, companies that underestimate demand can find themselves desperately adding servers every month.
But capacity alone is not the issue. In techno-speak, the primary issue for servers in mission- critical roles is "high availability," or HA. Like the word "server," HA varies in meaning — and cost. "Availability needs to be measured in terms of the degree to which the server directly supports the business," says Peter Burris, another analyst at Meta Group. In other words, HA is one area of IT where the cost of each "nine" can — and must — be weighed against the costs, tangible and intangible, of downtime. For some companies, a 10-minute outage may be acceptable; for others, it can be disastrous.
And availability isn't just about the size of a server, but about its design and its reliance on supporting technologies. Last year, for example, the Bank of New York spent more than $10 million to beef up the reliability of its online Inform system, says Richard A. Pace, executive vice president and chief technologist. Inform offers clients access to most of the bank's products and services, and over the past five years "has become a primary way for us to deal with business customers," he says. Today, more than 2,000 of the bank's business clients use the system to get information, compile customized reports, and enact high-value transactions, including instructions to receive or deliver securities or cash, or to open or confirm trade credits. "These are high-value transactions in a deadline-sensitive environment," notes Pace.
Inform's customers, who include finance executives, treasury managers, investment managers, and compliance officers, use standard Web browsers to navigate the system, and more than half access the system through the Internet, says Pace. Large corporate clients (typically those with more than 100 users) tend to use private-line access for speed and reliability of connection.
Like most online transaction environments, Inform requires a wide range of servers on which to run. Most of the back-end transaction processing takes place on IBM mainframes. To make it easier to generate reports, mainframe data is replicated to a Sybase database on Sun servers. Inform's Web applications are also handled by Sun servers. Inform relies on a large bank of 59 Compaq NT servers, about half of which are used to compile specialized reports from the data held in the Sun server database.
Inform is a model of high-availability best practices: failure is not an option. To guard against it, there are primary and secondary servers in both of Bank of New York's data centers — one located in New York, the other in New Jersey. Over the past two years, says Pace, the Sun and Compaq servers have been "mirrored," using special software from Veritas. If something goes wrong with the primary server, the transactions it is handling automatically fall over to a secondary server. At the macro level, the data centers, like the servers, mirror each other's information.
The outlay for all this is "not an insignificant amount of money," says Pace. Last year's $10 million price tag, he says, was driven in large measure by an insistence on high availability "because this is so mission-critical for us and our customers." Indeed, he claims, many customers are abandoning some of their own internal systems and relying on Inform's online applications — a compliance system, for example, that allows managers to check whether their investment decisions comply with their own preset guidelines.
But the actual price tag of the servers that support Inform, says Pace, is small compared with the total cost of ownership. Indeed, he says, the enormous cost pressure on vendors has made hardware virtually a commodity. Vendors now compete by offering extended warranties, and by proving that their boxes are more reliable, scalable, serviceable, or manageable than those of their competitors. Ease of management has become the new battleground. As Meta Group's Burris says, "It doesn't make any sense to save half a percentage point on the out-of-pocket expense if you engender sizable support costs as a consequence of an unnecessarily unique implementation." For example, the biggest factor in Bank of New York's selection of NT servers from Compaq was not price, says Pace, but Compaq's remote management capabilities. "It is very expensive to roll a truck to a remote location," he notes.
Modest Expectations
For many companies testing the E-business waters, however, systems like those at Bank of New York would represent massive overkill. At the other end of the E-business scale, for example, is Boston-based Nstar, the parent company of Boston Edison and several other electric and gas utility companies in Massachusetts. Nstar's executives know all about the need for high availability, and maintain highly redundant IT systems designed to keep power flowing under all conditions.
Nstar's E-business efforts need to be as sophisticated as its mission-critical operational systems. Two years ago, the company rolled out an electronic bill-payment system as part of a push to improve customer service. To date, the system is used by fewer than 120,000 customers, according to chief information officer David Samuel. "We still have only early adopters involved. We don't have the mainstream of our customer base doing this yet." But he expects as many as 60 percent of the company's 1.3 million customers to ultimately pay their bills online.
That level of adoption is at least a few years off, he says, and hasn't been helped by such uncontrollable factors as the recent Love Bug virus; any reports of hacking or related computer problems tend to make the public skittish about transacting personal business on the 'Net. Nstar's application also is not as sexy as other Internet services, such as online stock trading or electronic toy stores, that have had to deal with sudden explosions of customer interest. "Remember, we're talking about paying utility bills," Samuel points out. "It is still not top-of-mind for most consumers."
That means that unlike Bank of New York, which handles huge transaction volumes and also must be prepared for sudden spikes, the challenge for Nstar is to build a system that is likely to grow slowly. Reliability is still important, though, not only because it helps hook customers who do try the system, but also because the same system is used by customer service representatives at three Nstar call centers, who answer the majority of customer inquiries.
The heavy lifting of Nstar's electronic billing system is performed by just two Compaq 6000 NT servers — machines that cost about $15,000 each, says Samuel. One server holds a database of billing information, while the other runs the applications used by both Web customers and the company's customer service reps. Two Compaq 1600 NT servers — small machines that cost only about $5,000 each — sit outside the firewall and provide the interface that customers see. A third server, a Compaq 3000, is used to test the data before it is released to the production system.
All told, says Samuel, the billing application represents a total investment in servers of about $50,000 to $60,000, a fraction of the company's $60 million annual IT budget. "This is the value of smaller servers," he notes: they allow companies to deploy certain systems quickly and inexpensively. While most E-business strategies revolve around high-end servers with plenty of excess capacity, "we believe ours is the more prudent approach," Samuel says. As demand grows, Nstar can respond first by clustering additional NT servers around the application, and defer moving to a big-ticket Unix server until absolutely necessary.
Finance Figures In
For companies insisting on high availability, how much to pay may not be an issue, but how to pay certainly is. The buy-versus-lease decision should not be made hastily. Bank of New York buys all of its NT servers, says Pace, because it believes that leasing at the Wintel platform level — the smaller servers that become obsolete fairly quickly — doesn't make sense. At the Unix platform level, he says, there is a viable aftermarket for used equipment, and vendors are more prepared to "take the speculative residual of the technology curve." Bank of New York purchased all of its Sun servers, but has leased some high-end Alpha servers from Compaq. "We run a lease/purchase analysis anytime we are making a purchase at that level," Pace says, "based on the cost of financing, the technology outlook, and where we are in the technology development cycle."
New Yorkbased brokerage firm Spear, Leeds & Kellog (SLK), by contrast, leases about 95 percent of the Unix servers that support its online systems, says CIO Larry Cohen. About 10,000 professional traders, hedge funds, institutions, and broker dealers use SLK's REDI system to access the NYSE, the AMSE, Nasdaq, and options exchanges. Some 17 percent of the NYSE volume passes through REDI each day, says Cohen. SLK also built a trading system to support about 400 traders in the firm's over-the-counter market-making division, which does more than 400,000 trades a day.
Backup hardware is essential, says Cohen. "Pretty much every time we need one server, we get two." All told, SLK replaces as many as 80 to 100 servers a year. With that kind of turnover, and with the price/performance ratio of computer hardware continually on the rise, Cohen says he prefers to lease almost all of his machines. "Over the course of three to four years, we find we can get new hardware that is much faster and cheaper," he says.
One of the key financial issues when evaluating servers, he notes, is "assessing how long you will use a machine and what the residual value will be at the end." Sometimes, he admits, leasing isn't the right move. "If you feel that the process that is running on that machine will never need anything more from a power point of view for the next five years, you're better off buying it." But while that may be the case for systems running relatively static applications like payroll, he says, it is rarely the case in E-business, where functionality requirements change regularly, and volume can spike dramatically.
In fact, adds Cohen, "we always expect to be able to double our business. We never like to run our machines at more than 50 percent of capacity." That's a conservative figure for most applications, he says, "but in the brokerage industry, volumes can explode very quickly." At 50 percent capacity, SLK's servers can also shoulder the load if the company should somehow lose an entire data center.
Meta Group's Firstbrook says it is not unusual for companies to run servers well below capacity. "We have clients that build out for 4 to 10 times their average daily peak load," he says. There's no question that both Bank of New York and SLK need such gold-plated systems. "Banks and financial institutions are extremely good at building high-availability systems," he says. "You really have to be prepared for the storm."
While competition has helped drive down costs, it's also vital to buy the right server for the job. "If a server is not well suited to an application," says Meta Group's Burris, "then the IT staff will have to modify it, or it will present integration and scalability problems, or require more support personnel. In the U.S. alone there are 850,000 IT positions that are unfilled. No CFO wants to have to overinvest in the most critical resource — people — when they could spend a few more dollars for the proper server product. The trend has been clear for a number of years: people cost more than hardware."
Vendor support is also critical, notes SLK's Cohen, whose servers are all from IBM. "You don't pick the vendor for financial reasons alone, but for service, reliability, and reputation." Perhaps for that reason, companies tend to use a single vendor, at least within a given product tier. Bank of New York, for example, uses Sun for its database servers and Compaq almost exclusively for smaller, Intel-chip-based servers, says Pace.
Nstar is even more consistent. While keeping an open mind about other platforms, the company currently uses Compaq exclusively at both the Wintel and Unix platform levels. Standardization, says Samuel, is an important element in life-cycle planning. So is knowing when to replace machines: Since repair costs can be high and downtime deadly, Nstar swaps out old servers in favor of new ones "whether there is more life in the box or not," he says. "Preventive maintenance is one-third the cost of corrective maintenance."
Despite the simplicity of his one-vendor approach, Samuel says that what matters most is partnering with a leading vendor, or a combination of vendors, that have the resources to constantly incorporate new technologies in their products. Increasingly, as servers go, so goes the business. "We try to create a standard, enterprisewide architecture that facilitates growth, reduces total cost of ownership, and provides stability and performance," says Samuel. "That's how IT contributes to earnings per share."
Tim Reason is a staff writer at CFO.
A Wide World of Servers
Considering the degree to which businesses now depend on servers, it's remarkable that senior executives know so little about them. Servers range from $5,000 to $500,000 and fall into three distinct tiers. Some look just like desktop PCs on steroids, others are slim boxes stacked in racks like an audiophile's stereo system. Re-label mainframes "enterprise servers," as IBM has done, and you've got massive machines the size of industrial refrigerators.
It's not really size that matters, of course, but functionality. There are Web servers, application servers, database servers, E-mail servers, firewall servers, and many others, each usually playing a highly specialized role.
At the bottom of the scale are the Intel-based servers that typically run Windows or Windows NT (hence the term "Wintel") and support the networked desktops used by employees. For E-business applications, NT servers, often clustered together, are increasingly used to serve up the presentation level of E-business applications; that is, they deliver the information the customer sees on the screen. Appliance servers, designed to be installed quickly and at low cost, and to provide power for specific applications, are a recent addition to this category.
Mid-tier servers — usually based on some flavor of the Unix operating system — are used for operational applications and are generally perceived as offering a higher level of reliability and processing power (although Microsoft hopes its newest server software will enable Wintel servers to compete at this level). E-business applications that allow customers to perform some sort of transaction over the 'Net typically rely on this type of server at the back-end. Unix servers can be clustered together to provide significant, "mission-critical" processing power.
At the top of the scale are mainframe computers, which offer unparalleled reliability and transaction-processing power, but may have limited flexibility. The term "mainframe" is so often associated with the legacy systems at the heart of Y2K anxieties that it is out of favor among many technology providers. In fact, the distinction between mainframes and high-end servers is increasingly difficult to make, as new forms of "middleware" allow mainframes to take a more active role in the business — supporting thousands of users in real time, for example, versus smaller numbers accessing it via batch transactions. —T.R.
The Cost of Cool
If Bill Gates made it socially acceptable to be a geek, Linus Torvalds made it cool. Torvalds is the inventor of Linux (pronounced "Lynn-ix"), the Unix-inspired operating system kernel that can be downloaded for free from the Internet. Because its source code has been debugged and refined by scores of programmers around the world, Linux is widely touted as a stable — and cheap — operating system option for the smaller server markets dominated by Microsoft Windows and Windows NT.
Linux has a passionate following among the tech-savvy, and mainstream support from such hardware and application vendors as IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, SAP, and others. But not everyone is a fan. Meta Group Inc. analyst Peter Firstbrook goes so far as to say that "Linux should be shunned. It should not be a part of the business process." Firstbrook objects to the very feature that most tout as Linux's number one asset — the fact that anyone can tweak the code — because it creates a situation in which an IT staffer may make changes that no one else knows about, and that probably go undocumented.
Firstbrook also takes issue with Linux's most famous feature — the fact that it is free. "Our analysis says that the cost of the operating system is only 3 percent of the total cost of ownership of the server," he says. Labor is a far more significant proportion of IT costs, and the very cost that is likely to be affected if employees spend time tinkering with Linux.
"Linux is out there and people are using it, but it is mostly because of the cool factor," he says. "Having somebody who can screw around with my operating system would make me very, very nervous," he says. —T.R.


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Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts
New Copyright Rules Protect Filmmakers, Artists and Students
July 26, 2010 August 3, 2010 / Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts
WASHINGTON — The Library of Congress today added five new exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to protect consumers who modify their cell phones, artists who remix videos, documentary filmmakers, and students. The exemptions lift the prohibition in 17 U.S.C. section 1201(a)(1) against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.
DMCA is a US copyright law that criminalizes attempts to bypass digital copyrights. The 1998 Act is revisited every three years, with new exceptions added based on changing technology. These landmark exceptions were carved out for consumers who modify their cell phones, artists who remix videos, documentary filmmakers, and students who, until now, could have been liable for non-infringing or fair use.
The immediate effect of these key new exemptions is to permit: (1) jailbreaking cell phones (2) college professors, students, and documentary filmmakers to circumvent DVD copyright protection for "criticism or comment" (3) breaking e-book protection to enable text to speech and (4) breaking video game protection for testing. The exemptions also define obsolete computer software more clearly.
The headline-grabbing change is the legalization of jailbreaking, or the process by which cell-phone users can modify their software to bypass copyright protection and customize their phones. Users can now legally break copyright protection to execute software applications if circumvention is solely for enabling interoperability. One significant effect is that cell-phone users will be able to unlock their phones to make them compatible with different wireless networks.
The new exemption will stifle Apple's efforts to shut down so-called "jailbreak" sites that offer alternative software and customization for the popular i-Phone. Apple had fought hard to argue jailbreaking violated copyright law. But the Copyright Office rejected Apple's claim that copyright law prevents installing unapproved programs on iPhones: "When one jailbreaks a smartphone in order to make the operating system on that phone interoperable with an independently created application that has not been approved by the maker of the smartphone or the maker of its operating system, the modifications that are made purely for the purpose of such interoperability are fair uses."
Apple could still potentially ban jailbreaking indirectly by add new conditions to its user agreement. But those agreements, governed by contract, would force Apple to sue its own customers to recover any actual damages. Meanwhile, unofficial "app" stores like Cydia and RockYourPhone are poised to grown in popularity as a result of the new exemptions.
Another important change is that college professors, students, documentary filmmakers, and those making noncommercial videos are now able to circumvent copyright protection on DVDs "in order to accomplish the incorporation of short portions of motion pictures into new works for the purpose of criticism or comment, and where the person engaging in circumvention believes and has reasonable grounds for believing that circumvention is necessary . . ." The exemption, which previously only applied to professors, has now been expanded to include students and filmmakers. The new rules will also likely protect video remix artists who rework commercial videos on websites like YouTube. These artists will no longer violate the DMCA when they use short clips from DVDs to create new, noncommercial works for purposes of criticism or comment. The exemption rejects Hollywood's longstanding argument that "ripping" DVDs always violates the DMCA.
The user may take only a "short portion" of the original work for purposes of criticism and commentary, and the user must reasonably believe it is necessary to break the digital rights management. The exemptions doe not apply to K-12 educators and students who aren't in film and media studies classes. The bottom line, however, is that it is clearly fair use to use short portions of a movie for purposes of criticism or comment in a noncommercial video.
Another new exception to the DMCA allows users to break copyright protection on e-books in order to enable text-to-speech functionality. Text-to-speech functionality of the Kindle was an issue with the Authors Guild who felt it took away from potential audio book sales. The exemption does not apply if a publisher offers an option for an audio version. Nevertheless the exception is a significant victim for individuals with visual impairment and other disabilities.
The last new exemptions allows breaking copyright protection on video games "when circumvention is accomplished solely for the purpose of good faith testing, for investigating or correcting security flaws or vulnerabilities." This addition was added specifically to advance research in the area of SecuROM and SafeDisc.
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Yesterday, Microsoft kicked off Gamescom 2017 with its own 90-minute live stream, detailing the company's plans for the latter half of the year and the first half of 2018. The most notable thing to emerge from this particular event, however, was the official unveiling of a couple of brand new Xbox One consoles headed your way in the coming months.
First off, there's the extra limited edition Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition, which is set for a release on November 7th, 2017. The 'Project Scorpio Edition' could be considered a bit of a throwback to the original Xbox One's 'Day One Edition' in that it'll only be available to customers who pre-order and after that, will be gone for good. The Project Scorpio Edition features an exclusive graphic texture covering the box itself, the 'Project Scorpio' logo emblazoned on both the console and controller, a vertical stand and a 1TB hard drive. You'll also get a 1 month free trial for Xbox's Game Pass program for good measure.
If that version of Microsoft's fancy new box seems like your kind of thing, you can get yourself a pre-order in one of these places, but keep in mind that stock is limited and once it's gone, it's gone.
The second in Microsoft's one-two punch of fancy new console releases was the Minecraft-themed Limited Edition Xbox One S console. This box features a 1TB hard drive, a vertical stand, a Creeper-themed controller, a copy of Minecraft itself, Redstone DLC and the console itself is completely designed to look like something straight out of Minecraft itself. The front features dirt and grass block textures while the back offers a translucent casing that allows owners to see the inner workings of the system itself, alongwith some light-up Redstone wiring to boot. This one will run you £350 / $400 while stock lasts.
As if that wasn't enough, you can even buy a separate limited edition Minecraft controller, this time designed after the in-game Pig model. This thing will cost you £65 / $75, though, so it's likely only for the die-hards.


Itad was contracted by the European Commission to undertake the monitoring and analysis of all projects funded in the Tacis and Balkans/CARDS region.
The assignment involved the monitoring of all the European Community's external assistance projects in the Tacis and Balkan/CARDS regions. The system was based on the regular visiting of projects, interviews with stakeholders and document review, using an approach underpinned by the Project Cycle Management / Log frame methodology. Analysed information and reports that were held in a central (MONIS) database. Itad had primary responsibility for running a series of training workshops for both monitors and EC Delegation staff on project monitoring, project design and use of performance indicators. Workshops were conducted in all TACIS and Balkans / CARDS regions.
Image © European Commission panel, Brussels, Nov-2012. Photo Credit: Mitch Altman.


A second federal probe is underway in Prince Edward Island alleging hundreds of people gained permanent residency in Canada by using local addresses where they didn't live, under a provincial business immigration system that's faced criticism for loose oversight.
A search warrant from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) alleges 462 applicants to the provincial nominee program used Charlottetown homes belonging to two Chinese immigrants over the past four years as "addresses of convenience."
Lead investigator Lana Hicks says in the document, filed June 13, that she suspects the immigrants didn't come to the Island and settle, contrary to the requirements of the provincial program.
Rather, she alleged their immigration documents are collected and sent on to them, "at their real address elsewhere in Canada or back in China," she writes.
The allegations, which have not been proven in court, come just two months after two Charlottetown hoteliers were charged with aiding in immigration fraud, with the CBSA alleging 566 immigrants used the addresses of the siblings' hotel and home.
The siblings' lawyer recently denied the allegations of misrepresentation in comments to reporters, and said they intend to plead not guilty.
However, the latest allegations, if they lead to charges, would bring the total number of "address of convenience" cases to about 1,000 in the provincial nominee program (PNP), with all but a few of these immigrants gaining permanent residency in Canada.
Permanent residents are immigrants who are not Canadian citizens, but they have been given permission to stay and work in Canada for five years before applying for renewal. They have most of the rights of citizens and can take advantage of social programs, but they can't vote, seek public office, obtain a Canadian passport or hold jobs that require a security clearance.
The province has already acknowledged that two-thirds of the PNP businesses in 2016-17, a total of 177 people, didn't get the refundable deposit back, with the majority simply never opening a business.
The June search warrant alleges that the 462 people giving the three Charlottetown addresses are "well beyond what would be expected for single dwelling homes," and says the use of the addresses is "concerning and unreasonable."
"The numbers are indicative of what is known within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Canada Border Services Agency as an 'address of convenience,' which is created to facilitate immigration fraud," writes Hicks.
Hicks based her view that people weren't living full-time at the homes partly on surveillance of the houses, and from "garbage grab" searches of documents thrown out from the homes.
She says the immigrants' statements that they intend to reside in Prince Edward Island are "the whole basis for their approval," and notes that the province's website and forms repeatedly state this requirement and expectation.
"It undermines the integrity and objective of the (provincial) programs. That's why Islanders and all Canadians should be concerned," said Betsy Kane, a veteran immigration lawyer in Ottawa.
Last year, Chinese immigrants in Vancouver were sentenced to jail and fined for immigration fraud involving 1,600 immigrants for fraudulently helping them obtain permanent residency by measures that "included creating the fictitious appearance of Canadian residency."
Lee Cohen, an immigration lawyer who is representing the Charlottetown siblings in the earlier prosecution involving the owners of the Sherwood Motel, said in an email that he's still reviewing his defence, and cautioned that there are problems with how the CBSA has proceeded.
He says he suspects CBSA went "much too far ... intimidating these accused with the huge posse of officers that raided their home on P.E.I. and mischaracterized their behaviour."
"It is too early for me to be more detailed."
A spokesman for Prince Edward Island's Office of Immigration said it has changed its program to focus on ensuring its entrepreneur class applicants are qualified, rather than based on a "first-in, first-out" system.
"It is a serious crime to lie on an application, lie in an interview with an immigration officer, or to submit false information or documents. It's fraud, it's a crime, and we understand there are significant reprisals," he wrote in an email.
"We do not want to see this type of alleged activity occur in our province and will take any measures possible to prevent it, including working closely with CBSA."
"This particular matter we're looking at the investigation closely and following it," he told reporters during a visit to the Island in July.
Kane said immigrants who wouldn't be able to gain access through other provincial or federal immigration programs with higher standards are finding their way in through P.E.I.
"What you're seeing is a gateway into the province (P.E.I.) to secure permanent residence," she said.
"The answer to P.E.I. is instead of trying to create these business programs is to have people go and work there, and then after a year you can be nominated (for permanent residency)," Lorne Waldman, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, said in an interview.
"They should show they have opened the business ... and have a going concern with one to two years of tax returns filed and then look at it (permanent residency)," she said, adding there are many international students and potential immigrants who would comply with such a system.
In her search warrant application, Hicks says if immigrants succeed in creating a false impression of residency, they could use the address to apply for Canadian citizenship, "or obtain a status they do not qualify for, and all the privileges that go along with that."
The husband was contacted by telephone but declined to comment, referring the matter to the couple's lawyer, whose name he did not provide prior to hanging up. He did not return a follow up call, email and text seeking the lawyer's name.
"I can't answer questions from you," the man said during the telephone interview.
He said that in comparison to the Sherwood Motel prosecution, the allegations against him are "totally different."


Home Automation Security System: Providing Maximum Comfort and Security Imagine that you are on your way to work in the middle of the freeway and on that same day, you will make an important presentation to a very large potential client. Suddenly, you remembered that you didn't turn on your home security system. Because of this, you will constantly think about what might happen in your home. You have to face the fact that you will never forget about this simple blunder and will eventually result in ruining your whole day by simply worrying about what might happen. Today, you can avoid this with home automation system. Most home automation system today is integrated with internet connection in order for you to access your home security system through the internet.
With the same situation mentioned, you can easily activate your home security system by logging on to your home automation system through the internet and by simply clicking on an icon, you will instantly activate your home security system. It may sound like coming out of a Hollywood fictional movie, but you have to consider that the home automation system have existed for quite a while now. In fact, millions of homes worldwide are now integrated with this system and people living in those homes live a more comfortable life. With a home automation system installed in your home, you can be sure that you will live an easier and more comfortable life. Another great thing about home automation systems available today is that most are integrated with home security features to provide additional protection for your home and also for you and your family.
If you and your family is going out of vacation, you can discourage burglars from entering your home with home automation systems. To do this, you will simply preprogram the lights and electronic devices in your home, such as your home entertainment system to turn on and off at random intervals throughout the duration of your vacation. Because of this security feature, you can make your home to look like it's occupied. Occupied homes full of activities can successfully thwart off any burglars who wants to enter your home. The home automation security features will enable you to make your home look like it's occupied. Aside from the alarm system that you can install in your home, home automation features such as preprogramming electronic devices to turn on and off at a specified intervals will add to security. In fact, burglars will think twice before even attempting to enter your home. Some home automation features are also installed with different kinds of alarms. Smoke and fire detectors, emergency lighting and other life safety features are few of the many security features that you can benefit from home automation systems. For example, if a fire starts in your home, it will automatically trigger the alarm, wake everybody up and will turn on all the emergency lights around your home in order to better guide your family out to safety.
Some are also designed to automatically call the authorities concerned. There are also other benefits that you can take advantage of with the home automation system aside from the security features. For instance, if you are already lying down in your bed and getting ready to sleep, you remembered that you forgot to turn off the lights inside your kitchen, through the wireless touch screen control panel that comes with modern home automation systems today, you can easily press an icon and turn off that light without even leaving your bed, and head for your kitchen just to switch off the lights. As you can see, home automation systems can definitely give you more comfort and convenience to live your daily life. It will ensure security for you, your family and your home and also provide maximum comfort for everyone living in your home. If you are interested getting a home automation system, you should consider getting one from a company that manufacturers that latest home automation technology. If you are unsure of what home automation system to get, you should ask people you know who already has the latest home automation system installed in your home. Home automation can definitely improve the way you live your daily life. It can provide additional security in your home and also provide additional comfort. .


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The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is a ministry in Zambia. It is headed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

In 2016 the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection was split into the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection.

List of ministers

Deputy ministers

References

External links
Official website

Lands

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The family car to police and emergency vehicles, street rods and classics, ATV, boats, motorcycles and even golf carts can be seen rolling out of Access Audio for over 15 years after being outfitted with a variety of audio solutions. Access Audio specialized services draw clients from across the state and Midwest to the Fort Dodge, Iowa location.
"In our 15 years, we have seen the industry grow from a stereo system and automatic starts to sophisticated and complex integrated systems that require ongoing training and knowledge," states Nate Gibson, Access Audio Owner.
"Who U Rollin' With?" Access Audio that is who!
What started out as audio solutions and remote entry starts for the family car has evolved over the last 15 years to include street rods and police and emergency vehicles with a wide variety of products and services.
Access Audio product lines are considered industry leaders of remote vehicle starts and security systems. Sensitive electronics of today's vehicles requires specifically designed car starters and car alarms along with expert installers. That is also why Access Audio is frequently asked to beta test products before they are released.
The audio systems used today at Access Audio are designed and built with innovative features, the highest quality control standards and are the most environmentally friendly remote starters on the planet.
Access Audio and installer Tony Blomberg are nationally recognized by Mobile Electronics Association as one of the top 100 retailers and installers in the mobile electronics industry. Award winners must consistently demonstrate professionalism and continued education as cornerstones in the industry in order to be a recipient of the award. Locally, Access Audio has been selected as the top auto audio business for the Reader's Choice for the last 12 years.
Police and emergency vehicles require expert installation for complex security systems and equipment. These vehicles are wheeled in as a car and go out as a police interceptor. Access Audio is the turn to provider with the extensive expertise in the specific needs of public safety vehicles.
Outfitting a wide range of vehicles for outdoor activities is also in high demand at Access Audio. Boats, ATVs, golf carts and classic cars can be seen going in and out of the installation bays with new audio equipment. Each are installed with specially designed systems based on the customer's requests.


Too much fast food and television and not enough outdoor play has resulted in a decline in our children's general health and wellbeing. This is according to a recent countrywide survey done by Discovery Vitality.
Too much fast food and television and not enough outdoor play has resulted in a decline in our children's general health and wellbeing. This is according to a recent countrywide survey, the 2014 Healthy Active Kids Report Card, done by wellness programme Discovery Vitality.
The study builds on the foundation of previous report cards from 2007 and 2010using peer-reviewed research findings from the past five years and compares the different areas to see whether South Africa has improved.
The scientific panel comprised academics and experts from six universities, the Medical Research Council of South Africa, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa and Discovery Vitality.
While there are promising improvements reflected in the 2014 report card: fewer children are going to bed hungry and more are physically active at school, overall not nearly enough is being done to help children eat better and exercise more.
Overall South Africa has slid from a C- in 2010 to a D grading in 2014.
At best only 50 per cent of learners are active enough.
More than half of children don't have access to play equipment or recreation facilities.
Children spend more time in front of screens, large and small. Kids watch almost three hours of television on weekdays and even more on weekends.
According to the research fewer than 60 per cent of South Africans have food security.
Poverty and escalating food prices remain a barrier to healthy eating.
Fast-food and soft-drink consumption increased at alarming rates: more than two thirds of adolescents eat fast food at least three times a week, and as a nation South Africans drink three times the global average of certain soft drinks.
Even in families where resources are limited children buy food at the school tuck shop or from informal vendors. Few school tuck shops offer healthy choices.
Obesity rates are up from 2010: 27 per cent of girls and nine per cent of boys aged 15 to 17 are overweight or obese.
For the first time, the report reveals how South Africa stacks up against 14 other countries when compared on nine health indicators. South Africa is in joint last place in sedentary behaviour, towards the bottom of the countries surveyed for school healthy lifestyle support and in the middle for organised sports participation, overall activity levels, active transport and community support. South Africa has been ranked near the top in terms of government strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in children; this suggests a policy-implementation gap.
"The information in the report card refers to children aged six to 18 years and provides an evidence-based benchmark and advocacy tool to help promote healthy habits. In order to enhance and protect our children's health we have to know where we are, and this data gives us that crucial starting point. It should also inform health policy and programmes going forward," says Vicki Lambert, a co-author of the report and professor of human biology and head of the division of exercise science and sports medicine in the faculty of health sciences at the University of Cape Town.
Noncommunicable diseases account for more than a third of all deaths in South Africa, with notable increases in the risk factors of inactivity and obesity. These trends aren't unique to adults. "Children are increasingly affected by chronic diseases of lifestyle, therefore there is an urgent need to prevent physical inactivity and obesity in young people too," said Dr Craig Nossel, head of Vitality Wellness at medical aid and insurance company Discovery, a sponsor of the advocacy document.
Patterns of rising obesity and inactivity in urban South African youth mirror global trends and have led to the shocking prediction that children born from the year 2000 onwards might, for the first time in many generations, have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. It's estimated there are almost 19 million children in South Africa.
"What's clear from the 2014 Healthy Active Kids South Africa Report Card is that it is time for parents to step up. Many parents in South Africa seem to be out of touch with their children's dietary practices, including how pocket money is spent. In addition there was remarkably low engagement with school sporting events as parents struggle with the competing priorities of a work-life balance," said Lambert.
While there are exciting and promising initiatives in South Africa, such as "open streets" (an initiative which temporarily closes streets so people can use them for socialising, dancing, walking and so forth), Parkrun (which organises free, weekly 5 km timed runs) and a number of school-based interventions, as well as major government investment in school-based sports activity, there's still a long way to go.
Teachers should be provided with training and support to promote physical activity and deliver physical education in the curriculum.
Intersectoral partnerships between government departments such as health, basic education and sports and recreation, as well as with nongovernmental organisations and the private sector will help to close the implementation gaps.
The Scientific Advisory Group of the Healthy Active Kids South Africa Report Card and its sponsors, Discovery Vitality and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, urge all South Africans to step up in every way they can to create a healthier future for our children and youth.


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Movie Reviews Movies PelleCreepy
Dawn of the Dead (1978) Review
Movie Reviews Movies
The Art of Self-Defense Review: A movie for a real man's man
'Crawl' review: Thrilling at times, but also feels very average
'They're Inside' review: Uncomfortable, even by home invasion movie standards
Another Take: 'Midsommar's' Ari Aster does it again
80's Flashback: Trapped Alive special edition blu-ray review
Is It Any Good? Rabbit Hole
Texas Death Trippin' Review: The perfect mix of comedy, horror, and drugs
Madonna - World of Madame X Review: An education
Silent Panic Review: Junk in the trunk
Mark Pellegrini
Dawn of the Dead is sort of the Empire Strikes Back of Romero's Dead series, regarded by many as the best of the franchise.
If I had to select a "worst aspect" of the film, I'd immediately say that it's the music. About a third of the film is scored by Goblin, the composers who did Suspiria, while the rest is made up entirely of public domain library tunes. The two competing tracks are positively incongruous and their clashing sensibilities serve only to distract the audience from the action. I much prefer Goblin's work, as they bring in that supernatural, eerie sound enhanced by some pulse-pounding electronic vibes. The library music is just god awful; goofy stuff that sounds like it was purloined from a late '60s cop drama. None of it fits the tone of the movie, changing the atmosphere entirely in some scenes, and just sounds absurd (especially that silly "heroic" tune they play for Ken Foree at the very end).
You may be interested in knowing that there are three unique cuts of this film, and if you own the 2004 Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition 4-disc DVD set (link below), then you already own them all. But basically, there's the 127 minute US theatrical cut, which is the one we're all used to and happens to be Romero's preferred version (it's also the version I've been reviewing).
Then you have the extended cut, which runs 139 minutes. It only adds 12 needless minutes of runtime during the mid section, as the characters adapt to confinement in their pleasure prison, and really, the US theatrical cut had more than enough of that. It also contains 100% library music which, if you couldn't tell from the previous paragraph, is not something I appreciate.
Finally, there's the European cut known as Zombi (not to be confused with its Euro-sequel, Zombie). Running 118 minutes and edited by Dario Argento, it's a much leaner film and probably better suited to the crowds who find the US theatrical cut "boring". It also contains more music from Goblin, making it easier on the ears. Unfortunately, you lose some really sweet moments in the trade-off, such as the zombie getting the top of his head sliced off by the helicopter blades.
Dawn of the Dead is often praised for its message satirizing American consumerism and materialism. The message is definitely there, yes, but I wouldn't really praise the execution. The characters, at least twice, all crowd together and explain the message to the audience via some pretty hammy dialogue. I much prefer the more overarching message of the Dead series, that humanity is its own worst enemy. Pretty bleak, yeah, but fitting under the circumstances.
Though not perhaps the flawless masterpiece some would have you believe, Dawn of the Dead is still a superb film and a vital installment in the zombie subgenre of horror. Though the music may leave you irritated and the blood may leave you laughing, the characters and the story remain strong over thirty years later. But Creepshow is still Romero's best flick.
In this article:horror, movies, review
The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! (2017) Review
'Logan' Review: The bitter end is so sweet


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Zbór Kościoła Zielonoświątkowego w Świebodzinie – zbór Kościoła Zielonoświątkowego w RP znajdujący się w Świebodzinie, przy ulicy Kolejowej 12B.

Nabożeństwa odbywają się w niedzielę o godzinie 10:00 i w czwartek o godzinie 18:00.

Bibliografia

 Strona Zboru Kościoła Zielonoświątkowego w Świebodzinie (kzswieb.eu)

Świebodzin
Zielonoświątkowy


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L'esquirol volador de Basilan (Petinomys crinitus) és una espècie de rosegador de la família dels esciúrids. És endèmic de la Regió Faunística de Mindanao (Filipines). El seu hàbitat natural són els boscos primaris, tant de plana com de montà, tot i que és més comú a les rouredes d'altituds superiors. Es creu que no hi ha cap amenaça significativa per a la supervivència d'aquesta espècie, tot i que podria estar afectada per l'expansió de l'agricultura a grans altituds.

Referències

Basilan


With the markets closed Friday in observance of Independence Day, Wall Street ended the shortened week with mixed economic indicators. The Labor Department reported unemployment rates unchanged for May at 5.5 percent, and the loss of 62,000 jobs in June was in line with analysts' forecasts. The Institute for Supply Management reported a drop in service sector activity for May. Oil and the credit crisis continue to hold the markets' attention. The Dow dropped 1.41 percent to finish the week at 11,288.54. The S&P fell 1.55 percent to end the week at 1,262.90, and the NASDAQ lost 3.27 percent to close the week at 2,245.38.
Source: Morningstar.com. *Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Three and five-year returns are annualized. The S&P, excluding "1 Week" returns, is a reflection of return to an investor, by reinvesting dividends after the deduction of withholding tax.
Better Mileage – In response to high gas prices, the IRS has increased the optional standard mileage rates for the second half of 2008. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate deductible costs of using an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. The business-use rate for the first half of 2008 is 50.5 cents per mile. The rate from July 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2008, is 58.5 cents. The new mileage rate for medical and moving purposes is 27 cents per mile for the second half of the year, an increase from 19 cents for the first half. The charitable use rate remains 14 cents for the entire year.
More Millions – The ranks of the world's millionaires passed 10 million for the first time last year. A study by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini Group found the world's millionaires had a combined wealth of nearly $41 trillion in 2007, up 9 percent from the year prior. That averages to $4 million per person, a record. About 25 percent of millionaires live in the U.S., but India, China and Brazil have the fastest growing millionaire ranks. The 10 million millionaires represent less than one-fifth of 1 percent of the 6.7 billion people on the planet.
Mostly Big Ups – The S&P 500 has experienced a total return gain or loss of at least 20 percent in 32 of the past 75 calendar years (i.e., over the period 1933-2007). Twenty-nine of the 32 calendar years that experienced a 20 percent movement in a single year were gains, and only three years suffered through 20 percent or greater losses. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market (Source: BTN Research).
Just Being Careful – Fifty-seven percent of American retirees are living on their defined benefit pension distributions and their monthly social security benefit checks and are not currently spending any income that is generated from their pre-tax retirement assets, e.g., income produced from assets in an IRA (Source: Nationwide Retirement Income Confidence Survey).
Last week we looked at Bill Gates' retirement from Microsoft on June 27 and its lesson on the importance of clear succession planning for business owners or leaders. This week, we look at the psychological impact of leaving behind a career that possibly defined you more than other aspects of your life.
Retirement may also mean leaving behind the social network and support system that the workplace can provide. We often do not realize how much we rely upon the camaraderie of our coworkers until it is no longer part of our daily lives. And attempts to maintain those relationships can become awkward and fade over time.
Today's retirement means more than a sizable nest egg and the absence of deadlines. Mental and emotional preparation can mean a smoother transition to retirement and more enjoyment of your retirement years. We have helped many of our clients with a holistic retirement approach that considers more than finances. Call our office for assistance in starting or continuing your preparations for a happy retirement.


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AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINA HASWOOD
Diné
AN INTERVIEW WITH SOON TO BE STATE LEGISLATOR, CHRISTINA HASWOOD
Christina Haswood is a member of the Navajo tribe, an AIS scholarship alumni, a public health specialist with an M.S. from the University of Kansas, and at the age of 26 she is running uncontested to represent the Kansas 10th district. Ms. Haswood is soon to be the youngest current member of the Kansas state legislature. We're so proud of her accomplishments and the way she is utilizing her education to give back to her community. We spoke to Christina about what it was like growing up as an urban Native, her education, and what inspired her to run for the Kansas Legislature. To support students like Ms. Haswood who aspire to careers in public service, please consider donating today.
– What was it like growing up away from the Navajo Nation? I'd imagine it presented some unique challenges.
"A lot of us urban Natives kind of have this identity issue where we don't look like the standard of beauty in Western society. And being a young female makes it especially hard. I didn't like the color of my skin and how long my hair is. And I was embarrassed of my culture to the point where I wouldn't even want to wear turquoise. But that was mostly in the beginning of my childhood."
– Were there some cultural differences that stood out to you? (Christina has a great sense of humor and she responded with a laugh),
"Kids here would sometimes say things like, 'Oh, my grandma made me cookies. I'm going to go to her house after school.' And I'd be thinking, 'My grandmother never made me cookies! She just tells me to go make bread and do the dishes.' Like, that's nice for them, but I have to go butcher a sheep."
– What helped you come to appreciate and be proud of your culture?
"My parents are both Navajo and English is their second language. They made it crucially important that my younger brother and I learn our Navajo culture and ways. We would go to the reservation at least once a year to stay with my grandparents for about a week or sometimes a whole month, and I got to see and experience the reservation way of life. If we went in the fall, I would help plant corn. And sometimes we would even run back for a three day weekend to help harvest the crops. It would be an entire family effort to help with the livestock and cattle. Our culture is just so rich in history and this special way of life. Growing up now and looking back, I think I found my footing in being a Navajo woman."
– Something that I've heard repeatedly from our students is that even though their families are considered low income, they didn't feel that burden growing up. It sounds like you felt the same.
"My parents did all the social service programs like WIC, tribal clothing, and we would be on section eight housing assistance. And I never, even in Lawrence, felt like I was poor. My parents just did the best they could, and our culture creates this sense of loving and care in the home that makes up for a lot. On my maternal side my grandparents don't have electricity and they just got plumbing less than 10 years ago. So when we visited we always prepared our mindset to not shower every day. Because the only way to shower is to go to the chapter house. And I wasn't embarrassed of it at all because I just knew that's how the way of life was. And my grandparents seemed happy. They never complained."
– I know that a lot of Native Americans don't consider college to be an option because they can't afford tuition. What helped you feel motivated to get your degree?
"It's kind of a family tradition to go to Haskell University. Like 10 of my aunts and uncles went there. My mom also went to Haskell when I was about four or five, and she didn't have enough to afford childcare. This was back in the day where you could still take your kid to class. So she would take me to school with her, and I would bring my coloring book and crayons and I would watch her take notes. She told me that I would copy her in my coloring book, just scribbling as I watched what she was doing. I think my mom is probably one of my biggest inspirations. I just automatically knew that I would go to college.
"I did well at Haskell, I was cum laude, and I felt like I was hot stuff. But I transitioned to Arizona State University and I just fell flat on my face. I ended up failing like three classes. That transition from an inter-tribal university to a public university for a lot of us is not a graceful one. You get to a big state school and you're just a number in a classroom. The culture is so different, and the speed is tremendously faster, and the structure is more strict. And they didn't help with the transition then, although things are changing. For example, I paid full price for books. I didn't know that you can find discounted books online. But now they're offering discounted books right there in the student store.
"And trying to figure out loans – I did everything wrong. We couldn't afford the tuition so I had to take federal loans out, and they always offer way more than what you need. I didn't know that you could cut it down to just what you need. There's just this federal mess that complicates things. But there's a lot of good, good hearts and good spirits. Everybody who works there loves the students.
"So I finally went to one of the counselors at the American Indian Student Support Services at ASU. And I just said, 'I need help financially. You know, I can't be taking out these student loans.' And I think it was a time where I was still really low on my GPA. She said, 'You know, there's this American Indian Services scholarship that you're qualified for.' I was like, 'Well, no.' And she said, 'You just have to come and ask me for help.' It's so hard to ask people for help sometimes.
"A lot of my scholarships came from Native focused organizations. That's pretty much how I survived in grad school and undergrad. That Native focus helps when you do essay writing. I felt like when I submitted my application, the people who were reading my essays were Native and understood where I was coming from. And maybe they sympathize with my struggles of coming from Haskell to ASU and almost pretty much failing out my first semester. A lot of these issues that I went through during my undergrad are not uncommon. But, we don't want to share that with just anyone. And maybe that's a cultural barrier from us where we're always taught to not overshare about our lives because you don't want someone to be jealous of your life, or have someone out there that can hold that information against you. We're taught to be strong indigenous peoples out in the real world."
– What made you want to pursue an education in public health?
"I did an internship on the Navajo nation, the summer research enhancement program. And I had my externship site at the epidemiology center. I woke up every day completely energized and felt like the work that I was putting in worked for a bigger purpose. Luckily, they didn't ask for my GPA because I was at my lowest point in my academic career. Because doing that internship for my tribe really lit a fire underneath me. I was like, "Oh, so this is what a passion feels like. Even if I get paid minimum wage, this is what I want to do.' I've done a lot of things in public health from teaching adults how to properly cut vegetables, all the way to giving presentations and speaking at conferences to other academic professionals, and I've loved it all."
– What inspired you to transition from public health to being a politician?
"I did an internship in DC last summer with the native American political leadership program. I've done like 10 internships to make up for my GPA. It really opened my eyes to the gap between national public policy and tribal sovereignty. Once we leave reservation borders, there are so few services for Native Americans. You know, everyone talks about how we need to be at the table. And I was finally at the table a couple of times, meeting with congressmen and women. It's quite intimidating and uncomfortable for a lot of people to do this interactive advocacy. I know a lot of Natives that go to D.C. and say, this is not for me. I completely understand because it's kind of a toxic environment. But I was fairly comfortable, I think because I grew up in a Caucasian town.
"I heard a quote once saying, if you want to create change, the federal level isn't always the way to go. Your local level politics make the decisions of your everyday life. So I started to attend the forums of the county commission for the city of Lawrence. They did a coffee talk on Saturdays that I would attend, and I would be the only person of color, and most of the time the youngest person in the room. So I would ask, 'What about us? What are you doing for the Native Indigenous communities?' Because we have tribal sovereignty and treaty rights that need to be upheld. And they wouldn't have an answer. So I got involved and started volunteering to help get people to vote. Finally the thought occurred to me, maybe I could do this one day.
"I didn't think it would be this early. I thought, maybe when I'm 30 or 40. But there was an open seat and I asked my community leaders in the district what they thought about me being the representative. And they thought I'd be great because I was born and raised here. A lot of people saw me grow up here, and I was a big basketball and volleyball girl, playing varsity sports and all that. So I was the third candidate to file for election, and I won the primary."
– How do you think your background in public health, and what we're seeing in Native communities as COVID hits them so hard, will affect your policy making?
"I've been trained to look at evidence based practices and to look upstream for problem solving. I think that will come in handy in the state legislature here in Kansas. This is one of the hot spots still for COVID-19 and my family has been personally impacted. We've lost a couple of loved ones to the virus. Some of my family still has anxiety going out in public, but they're handling it okay. Just going day by day. And there are nonprofits that are helping. My grandparents received food from one, and they helped pay for a hotel stay when we had to go down for a funeral. The Navajo people are incredibly resilient."
– Do you have any words of wisdom for young people like you who are trying to create change and do good in the world, to help them be brave and push past the difficulties?
"What I did was find a social media group that have the same ideologies as me, and kind of built that safe sense of community where you can truly be who you are.
"When I was running on my campaign things would sometimes be rocky. But my mom always told me to pray. So a lot of times in my primary we would get up before the sun, and then we would take our tádídíín and pray to the rising sun. And then I started getting back into running, just getting back to the basics of our cultural teachings really helped me with the discomfort I felt as a result of the culture of politics. And all my mentors would tell me to always take care of yourself. You can't take care of others until you take care of yourself.
"Being that voice of change in a room, sometimes I still get uncomfortable. Oh my heart will race. I remember last summer I had a question for Congressman Tom Cole and I was so nervous to ask him this question that my Apple watch told me that my heart rate was too high. It was like, you need to take a breath girl. So even if your voice is shaky, as long as you get that out, it gets more comfortable along the way.
"It's hard, but remember you're an indigenous person. Our ancestors survived genocide for us to be here today, and we all have a purpose here on mother earth. You have your rightful path and purpose. It might not look like mine. It might not look like the textbook definition, but you do have a purpose in this world to create positive change in your own way. And I encourage everyone to vote and get involved with your local issues. For a lot of us, we're kind of dual citizens of the United States and our tribal nations. Try to keep up with as much of that as possible because your voice matters. A lot of people will try to suppress your voice and suppress your vote. And that just shows how important your voice is.
Help Native American Students Today


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Olivia Paige "Livvy" Dunne (born October 1, 2002) is an American artistic gymnast and social media personality. A former USA national team member and a current member of the LSU Tigers women's gymnastics team, she is the highest-valued women's college athlete as of 2022. Dunne's social media following of over 10 million has resulted in endorsement deals for her name, image, and likeness totaling seven figures.

Early life
Dunne was born in Westwood, New Jersey in 2002 and raised in Hillsdale, New Jersey. She started her gymnastics training in 2005 at ENA Gymnastics in Paramus, New Jersey. By the time she was 14 years old, Dunne was homeschooled by her mother while she spent her days training with her coach Craig Zappa at ENA Gymnastics. Though she did not attend her public high school, she managed the high school gymnastics team at Pascack Valley High School with her older sister.

Gymnastics career

Junior

2014–15
Dunne made her elite debut at the 2014 American Classic where she finished 28th in the all-around.  She next competed at the U.S. Classic where she placed 33rd in the all-around.

In 2015 Dunne re-qualified for elite status at the WOGA Classic, where she earned a qualifying score of 52.750 and placed fifth.  She next competed at the American Classic where she placed eighth and qualified to compete at the 2015 National Championships.  Dunne competed at the U.S. Classic where she placed 24th in the all-around.  Dunne made her National Championships debut in 2015 where she placed 25th in the all-around.

2016
Dunne competed at the 2016 American Classic where she finished 27th in the all-around.  She next competed at the 2016 U.S. Classic where she finished 24th.  Dunne concluded the season competing at the 2016 National Championships where she finished 12th in the all-around.  She also placed eighth on balance beam and sixth on floor exercise.

2017

In March, Dunne was selected for the team to compete at the 2017 City of Jesolo Trophy; as a result she was added to the National Team for the first time.  She made her international debut there and placed sixth in the all-around.  Dunne competed at the 2017 U.S. Classic in July where she finished fifth in the all-around.  At the 2017 National Championships Dunne finished ninth in the all-around.

Senior

2018–20
Dunne turned senior in 2018.  Although the United States did not send a team, Dunne represented her club at the 2018 City of Jesolo Trophy.  She finished 15th in the all-around.  She competed at the 2018 U.S. Classic only on uneven bars due to an ankle injury. Dunne qualified to compete at the National Championships via petition.  She ended up placing 18th in the all-around.

Dunne did not compete during the 2019 season in order to rest her injuries.  In November Dunne officially signed her National Letter of Intent with Louisiana State University, starting in the 2020–21 season.

Dunne qualified to the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup after dropping down to Level 10.  She ended up placing 11th.

NCAA
Dunne joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020.

2020–21 season
Dunne competed on the uneven bars in every regular-season meet. She made her NCAA debut in a meet against Arkansas, scoring 9.875. She entered the postseason with an NQS of 9.9 on bars.

At the SEC Championships she contributed an uneven bars score of 9.9 to LSU's second-place team finish.  At the NCAA Championships semi-finals she again scored 9.9 on bars; LSU did not advance to the finals.

2021–22 season
Dunne again competed on the uneven bars in every regular-season meet and also competed five times on the floor exercise. She matched her career-high of 9.925 on the uneven bars during the opening meet against Centenary. She earned a score of 9.800 in her collegiate debut on floor on January 28.

At the SEC Championships she contributed an uneven bars score of 9.875, but LSU was forced to count a fall on that event and finished in fifth place overall.

At the NCAA regional semifinals she contributed scores of 9.85 on uneven bars and 9.9 on floor exercise. LSU suffered two uncharacteristic falls on balance beam and as a result was eliminated from the postseason during the first round of regionals, failing to qualify to the national championship as a team for the first time since 2011.

2022-2023 season
After missing much of the season due to various injuries including two torn labrums, a torn bicep, and a stress reaction in her leg, Dunne made her season debut on February 24 against Alabama, scoring a 9.825 on the uneven bars.

Social media fame
Dunne joined the social media platform TikTok in 2020. Initially she posted videos of her gymnastics but later started posting videos of other areas of her life as well. As of February 2023, Dunne is the most-followed NCAA athlete on social media with more than 7 million followers on TikTok and 3 million on Instagram.

On July 2, 2021, the NCAA changed its rule to allow its athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness.  Dunne was projected to earn more compensation than any other collegiate athlete due to her large social media platform, which was a combined five million followers across both Instagram and TikTok at the time the rule change took effect.  In August, Dunne announced that she signed with WME Sports, becoming their first NIL athlete.  A month later, she announced her first exclusive brand partnership with activewear brand Vuori.

Dunne is currently the highest-valued women's college athlete with an estimated NIL valuation of $3.3 million. In February 2023, she reported to Today that her endorsement deals total seven figures.

On January 6, 2023, a large group of fans showed up to LSU's opening meet of the season at Utah to support Dunne. Some of these fans were reportedly harassing members of both gymnastics teams as well as journalists both during and after the meet. As a result of this, LSU hired additional security staff for the team and implemented increased safety measures including disallowing LSU gymnasts to go into the stands after a meet. Following the incident, Dunne posted a statement to Twitter requesting that her fans be more respectful.

On February 27, 2023, Dunne posted a paid-sponsorship video to TikTok promoting Caktus AI with the caption "Needing to get my creativity flowing for my essay due at midnight". The video showed her generating an essay using the service, with the camera then panning to show a shocked expression on the star, concluding with the caption "Cactus.AI > ChatGPT". LSU issued a statement that "At LSU, our professors and students are empowered to use technology for learning and pursuing the highest standards of academic integrity. However, using AI to produce work that a student then represents as one's own could result in a charge of academic misconduct, as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct."

Competitive history

References

External links

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Wines are only made from grapes and yeast, right? Not always. After fermentation, wine typically contains microscopic particles called colloids that can make the wine appear cloudy. While these particles are harmless and don't affect the taste of your wine, many wine drinkers who are used to seeing bright, clear wines often misinterpret haziness as a flaw. Since, winemakers use fining to produce a wine that is clear and bright – and many use animal by-products in the clarification process.
According to many wineries, wine may consist of more than just grapes.
Enjoy any of these at your next holiday party or bring them to a party and give them to the hostess as a gift! Oh, and when you're done make sure to check out our other "everyday" Vegan Wine Guide here.
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2015. This bright white features lime, golden pear and white peach with a splash of sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and complex tones of sesame and cashew. It's delicate textures sweet and savory notes make this a vibrant white you won't want to put down. $39.99 – Order it here.
Schug Carneros Chardonnay 2016. This classic Chardonnay is both velvety rich and delightfully powerful. It's perfectly refreshing and elegant on the finish. It has a spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that of citrus, pear, and spiced apples. Its well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine to pair with holiday dishes. Try it with "creamy" soups, rich roasted vegetables and pasta dishes. $25.99 – Order it here.
Murphy-Goode California Chardonnay 2016. This wine is exceptional well-balanced with hints of caramel apple and ripe pears. This Chardonnay is quite versatile. It pairs nicely with spicier dishes such as pumpkin curry as well as lighter pasta dishes. $13.99 – Order it here.
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2017. This Sauvignon Blanc is bright and juicy with aromas of dried citrus and tropical fruit. It's flavored palate and long finish pair it nicely with any lemon-accented or herb-dusted roasted vegetable dish. $26.99 – Order it here.
Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2017. This luxurious white tastes immediately of pineapple, passionfruit and intense citrus blossom. It has a creamy mouthfeel and texture due to Loveblock's organic winegrowing practices. Pair it with lemongrass-based dishes, asparagus, salads and Asian-inspired cuisine. $20.99 – Order it here.
Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc 2016. This white exudes flavors of ripe lime and lemon, grapefruit, pear and white nectarine with a hint of fresh-cut grass. The aroma is fresh with hints of passion fruit making the mouth simply water. Balanced yet lively acidity lingers with a vibrant freshness. Pair it with lighter appetizers and salads. $27.99 – Order it here.
Grgich Hills Estate Fume Blanc 2015. The 2015 Grgich Hills Fumé Blanc has bright flavors of dried herbs, green olives, and guava. It's richness and perky aftertaste pair it well with seared winter vegetables in savory sauces as well as creamy pastas dishes and fresh salads. $28.99 – Order it here.
Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling Reserve 2012. The Reserve features a luxurious taste of tangerine followed with notes of citrus and a surprising touch of juniper berry. A lingering finish continues to makes the mouth water long after the wine is gone. Pair it with white wine drizzled sauces and creamy potatoes and pastas. $26.98 – Order it here.
Trimbach Riesling 2015. A clean-cut and minerally white with hints of fresh pear, beeswax, apricot and preserved lemon make this a memorable wine indeed. Riesling can be enjoyed throughout the meal, and also with pastas and winter vegetables in white wine sauces or spices and refined spicy or Asian dishes. $21.99 – Order it here.
Kuentz-Bas Riesling 2015. While it makes for a delicious aperitif, this wine truly shines at table—you'll find it pairs perfectly with anything from traditional holiday fare to more creative and exotic dishes, with wonderful results. $16.99 – Order it here.
Eroica Riesling 2014. Eroica Riesling tastes of sweet lime and fresh mandarin orange aromas with subtle mineral notes. The mouth-watering acidity is beautifully balanced with notable Riesling fruits. Eroica is a blended statement of the finest Riesling vineyards in Washington state. To achieve the Eroica style, the winery strives for bright fruit with crisp acidity and enhanced minerality. Less sweet than the Eroica Gold Riesling, the 2014 Eroica Riesling is classic with unforgettable aromas of citrus rind, lychee and sugared lime in its medium-bodied, juicy, vibrant and thirst-quenching style. It's incredibly versatile on the holiday dinner table and drinks nicely for upwards of a decade. $17.98 – Order it here.
Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling Dry 2016.
This crisp, refreshing Riesling is the dry counterpart to the fruity, off-dry Dr. L Riesling. Expect a beautiful balance between its ripeness and acidity. More mineral than fruit, this dry, crisp white is a fantastic value. Expect delicious notes of tangerine and green apple flavors bursting with hints of lime and refreshing mineral aromas. $14.99 – Order it here.
Remember, enjoy any of these at your next holiday party or bring them to a party and give them to the hostess as a gift! Next make sure to check out our other "everyday" Vegan Wine Guide here.
Love this! I have a few parties coming up and need to bring some good wine. I'll definitely be bringing this list shopping with me! Thank you!!
This is so helpful! Wow, I had no idea wine wasn't always vegan. Pinning!!


text:
New World Development Company Limited
New World Group awarded for its caring culture
Back to Press Release
Written by yukifong On the 11/14/2016 - 15:26
Photo(s): 1
New World Group (the "Group") has always regarded their staff members as the most valuable assets, and continues to create and implement a variety of innovative and diversified programmes to meet their personal needs. With the Group's commitment to fostering a family-friendly culture, the Group and its 11 subsidiaries have earned the Family-Friendly Employer titles in the 2015/16 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme. New World Development Company Limited and NWS Holdings Limited were named Distinguished Family-Friendly Employers 2015/16, exemplifying the Group's excellent performance in family-friendly initiatives. NWS Holdings Limited and New World Facilities Management Company Limited also won "Awards for Breastfeeding Support" this year, to commend employers that provide suitable facilities in the workplace to support employees who are breastfeeding.
The Group values the well-being of all staff and is committed to maintaining and promoting a family-friendly work environment that advocates work-life balance and harmony in the family. True to the spirit of Artisans, the Group has introduced a series of human resource measures and benefits, which not only cater to the needs of the staff, but also to their families. The Group is dedicated to continuing the caring culture with more innovative and family-friendly initiatives, so as to build the Artisanal Community!
The 2015/16 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme is organised by the Home Affairs Bureau and the Family Council, with Chief Secretary Carrie Lam as the officiating guest at the presentation ceremony. The Award Scheme recognises employers who attach importance to the family-friendly spirit, encourages them to continue to put in place measures to raise employers' awareness of the importance of family core values, and aims to foster a pro-family culture and environment. An assessment panel comprising experts and representatives from various sectors will assess the applications and select the awardees with reference to criteria, such as family-friendly employment policies and practices, the rationale behind, the benefits of implementation to both employers and employees, and management commitment.
About New World Development Company Limited
Founded in 1970, New World Development Company Limited ("The Group", Hong Kong stock code: 00017) was publicly listed in Hong Kong in 1972 and is a constituent stock of the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index. A premium brand infused with a unique personality defined by The Artisanal Movement, New World Group's core business areas include property development, infrastructure and services, department stores and hotels. As of 30 June 2016, the total asset value of the Group amounted to HK$392.1 billion. The Group has an effective interest of approximately 61% in NWS Holdings Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 00659), approximately 72% in New World Department Store China Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 00825). New World China Land Limited is wholly owned by the Group.
DBS Hong Kong and New World Development Sign 5-year HKD 1 Billion Real Estate Sustainability-linked Loan
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text:
Students Caught in Middle of PARCC Debate
Nick Blumberg | January 21, 2015 9:30 am
Teachers, parents, and administrators have been debating whether schools should start implementing the PARCC standardized test, designed to align with the new Common Core standards. This past weekend, Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced that only about 10 percent of schools will take the PARCC test this spring.
Despite the backlash against PARCC – and, more generally, the Common Core curriculum – some teachers have argued that it's important to pilot the new test and learn what we can from it.
Read an op-ed in Catalyst Chicago: Don't Park the PARCC Exam
Sherisse Lucas, a teacher at Ashburn Community Elementary School on the southwest side, says even though PARCC and Common Core may have their drawbacks, we shouldn't overreact.
"We don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water," Lucas said. "I can understand where the opposition is coming from; I'm a classroom teacher too. I understand the complications. But let's pilot it before we go to that point of throwing it out."
See if you've got what it takes -- check out practice PARCC tests
Lucas says information from a pilot of the PARCC test could help shape what she does in the classroom.
"By looking at the test, I can see what types of learning situations students are expected to be able to excel in," she said.
But Michelle Gunderson, a teacher at Nettelhorst Elementary in Lakeview, doesn't think the PARCC test provides teachers with useful information to help their students learn.
"If I don't have actionable data, it's a pretty lousy assessment by any measurement," Gunderson said.
Read an op-ed in Catalyst Chicago: Passing the PARCC Test is the Wrong Goal
Gunderson, who opposes not just PARCC but the Common Core curriculum itself, thinks too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing. But if the tests are to continue, she's hopeful for assessments that can guide her work in the classroom.
"For example, if a child was asked (on a standardized test) to borrow in subtraction, the results might tell me that 20 percent of kids couldn't borrow, and I could realign my instruction," she said. "That's a perfectly good use of an assessment. The PARCC does not allow for incremental analysis to help people to make decisions."
CPS has not announced which schools will administer the PARCC exam this spring. CEO Byrd-Bennett and the CPS School Board decided against a full rollout of the test, even though it could mean losing federal money.
Michelle Gunderson
Sherisse Lucas
Nick Blumberg
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