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Technology and the End of Reality: Is the infocalypse imminent?
It is now common to hear people fret about the power of technology to distort our perception of reality. With the advent of deepfakes, cheapfakes, fake news, and filter bubbles, it seems that technological forces are aligning to make it harder for us to sort fact from fiction. Some take this fear to an extreme. They worry that advances in technology will bring about the end of a shared sense of reality. No longer will people debate a common core of shared facts and assumptions about the world. Instead, everyone will live inside their own bubbles and dismiss the views of outsiders. We are living, according to these critics, in the shadow of the "infocalypse".
Will this happen? What are the mechanisms that might bring it about? And does it really matter if it does? In this article, I want to try to explore and tentatively answer some of these questions. Although the claim about the imminent end of reality is common, I'm not sure that it is always well defended. It is easy to point to an emerging technology such as deepfakes and say something provocative about its power to bring about the end of reality; it's harder to prove that this will actually happen.
I don't claim to provide definitive proof in what follows, but I do hope I to provide some clarity on how it might happen. In brief, I want to suggest that the mechanisms that could bring about an end to a shared sense of reality are more complex and pervasive than is commonly assumed. This should be a cause of concern though there are some obvious historical parallels to our current situation that should not be overlooked. Furthermore, bringing an end to a shared sense of reality has some attractions, although there is a paradox associated with this.
1. Why is a shared sense of reality important?
Let me start by considering the practical importance of this inquiry. It may seem obvious to you why having a shared sense of reality — by which I mean a belief that you and your peers live in the same world, share some common beliefs and assumptions about that world, and are trying to understand it in good faith — is important but it is always worth asking the obvious question. The answer might be surprising.
The classic philosophical view of humans is that we are reasoning creatures. We have been endowed with senses that allow us to perceive the world around us and an intelligence that allows us to bring some order to these perceptions. We use our intelligence — our 'reason' to use the more traditional term — in two distinct ways: to understand (theoretical reason) and to plan and act (practical reason). Furthermore, we don't just exercise our reason independently and individually. We are social creatures. We reason together, working towards a common understanding of the world and figuring out what we ought to do with the time we spend in it. Having a shared sense of reality is important for all of this.
It is important from the perspective of theoretical reason because it allows us to develop theories and gain insights into the world around us. In order to do this, both individually and collectively, we need that world to be reasonably stable, and capable of being probed and experimented upon from multiple perspectives. To put it another way, we need it to be not entirely contingent on our perception or thoughts. Some degree of dynamism and instability is, of course, inevitable, but as long as it is orderly and pattern-like we can still hope to bring it within the scope of theoretical reason. Some element of perceptual distortion is inevitable too. Our minds are not always good at gaining an accurate impression of the world around us, but through effort we can collectively limit the distortions and make reality sensible. None of this works if we all assume we are working with different realities, or if the world around us is, in fact, chaotic, disorderly or highly mind-dependent.
A shared sense of reality is also important from the perspective of practical reason. In order to make plans and implement them, we need a world that is reasonably predictable and stable. If the world is not stable and predictable, plans go out the window. What's more, this can also have an impact on the moral dimension of practical reason. We need a shared sense of reality in order to develop and follow moral rules. There are several reasons for this. First, most moral norms assume certain stable facts about the world we live in. Consequentialist and utilitarian moral norms, for example, assume that certain actions have predictable effects on human (or sentient) suffering and pleasure. Kantian moral norms assume that we live in a world inhabited by other agents that experience and act in the world in a similar manner to ourselves. Without assuming these external facts, most moral theories dissipate into nihilism. Similarly, when we wish to speak truth to power and address moral injustices or outrages, we rely on the ability to get others to 'see' some aspect of the moral reality that they were previously ignoring or overlooking. Ending slavery, for example, relied on getting others to see that we shared a common humanity and hence suffered and experienced the world in a similar way. Seeing this shared reality was key. Again, some dynamism and probabilistic uncertainty is inevitable, and does not completely scupper our moral projects. We just need a reasonable degree of stability and order.
More reasons could be adduced but for now this should suffice for now. It can be added, as well, that I don't think any of the claims just made rests on particularly controversial philosophical foundations. A lot of this is because I'm focused on our shared sense of reality and not on the more controversial claim that there is, in fact, a single shared reality that we are capable of knowing. Maybe there is; maybe there isn't. Perhaps we can only ever access imperfect representations — shadows on the cave wall — of reality. Perhaps the Buddhists are right and reality is ultimately formless and chaotic. I don't think this affects the claims I just made. It would still be the case that having a shared sense of reality would be valuable for theoretical and practical reasons.
2. Is Technology Undermining a Shared Sense of Reality?
Assume what I have just argued is correct. The next question is whether technology really is undermining the shared sense of reality. The answer to this, I think, is that it certainly has the power to do so, but it doesn't necessarily do so, and if it does it does so in tandem with other causal factors, in particular with human psychology and social institutions. In other words, it is the combination of these three forces — technology, psychology, and society — that poses the threat to the shared sense of reality not technology alone. Allow me to elaborate.
Consider the technological mechanisms that might undermine a shared sense of reality. Three seem particularly important:
The algorithmic curation of information: It's a banal observation but it bears repeating: we live in the information age. Never before in human history has so much information been collected, stored, organised and broadcast to human beings. So much so, in fact, that it is impossible for us to make sense of it without considerable technological assistance. We now rely, daily, on algorithmic platforms (Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, Twitter etc) to curate and make sense of this information. These platforms often personalise and adapt the information that they present to us and our peers, creating filter bubbles and echo chambers to cater to our informational preferences. The end result is that we increasingly live inside informational hubs that reflect our preferred perception of reality and not necessarily the general and shared perception of reality.
Deepfakes and other easy forms of media manipulation: Media has always been manipulated. From the first tablets and scrolls to the printing press and beyond, people have always sought to create fake or forged documents, photos and movies. What's happened more recently is that, with the rise of Deepfakes and other, easy-to-use forms of media manipulation, the power to create hyperrealistic fake media has become more widely distributed. This degrades our informational commons. As the philosopher Regina Rini has argued, the rise of deepfakes (and their cousins 'cheapfakes') removes an honesty check we have on the truth or falsity of testimony: we cannot use video to speak truth to power if video is easily faked. Similarly, and more generally, Don Fallis argues that the rise of deepfakes reduces the amount of information carried by audiovisual signals by increasing the likelihood of their being false positives. The end result is a world in which it is easy to both believe in the media you prefer to believe in and dismiss the media you don't wish to believe in, on the grounds that it is likely to be fake.
The emergence of immersive and realistic forms of virtual and augmented reality: This is, in a sense, the apotheosis of the filter bubble. Instead of just relying on highly curated, possibly faked stories and audiovisual records, we now also have the power to immerse ourselves in absorbing (if not yet hyperrealistic) virtual worlds and to overlay computer generated images and other content onto our perception of the real world. These technologies can often trick the senses into thinking (if only for a moment) that the virtually constructed reality is the same as the real thing, and they give people an escape valve from the drudgery of the real world. The end result is that people can escape into their own preferred worlds when they desire, and do not need experience the same reality as others even when they don't.
Many discussions of the 'infocalypse' or the end of a shared sense of reality tend to focus on one of these technological developments to the exclusion of the others but it is the combination of them that is the problem. Furthermore, these technological forces are complemented by the other mechanisms that I will now discuss.
Consider the psychological mechanisms at play. As Henrik Skaug Saetra points out in his article 'The Tyranny of Perceived Opinion', the algorithmic curation of information plays off certain psychological biases that most people share. In particular, it plays off the related phenomena of selective exposure and confirmation bias. These are well-evidenced psychological biases. The former describes people's tendency to only notice or seek out information that supports their pre-existing values and perceptions of the world; the latter describes the tendency to interpret any dissonant or incongruous information in a manner that confirms pre-existing biases. It is these psychological tendencies that push both users and platform creators into filter bubbles and echo chambers. This is connected to how people use emotions to evaluate and express their perception of the world. As Steffen Steinert argues in relation to the phenomenon of emotional contagion on online platforms, we all use emotions to attach values to our perceptions of the world. We also share these emotions with others and feed off other people's emotional responses. If you are afraid of something, and clearly express that fear, my own fear response is more likely to be triggered. Emotions are important. Without them we couldn't select and sort information in a useful way, but emotions can also distort our perception of reality. The problem with technology, particularly social media, is that it promotes 'hot' emotional responses to the world. Expressions of outrage and anger are more likely to be seen by more people. When people are angry and outraged they are more likely to adopt a conservative, closed-minded view: suspicious of others and protective of themselves. This further promotes filter bubbles and echo chambers.
Finally, consider the institutional mechanisms at play. By the use of the term 'institutional mechanisms' I mean to refer, primarily, to political and economic institutions. The economic actors that create many of the informational tools we currently rely upon — and that are undermining our sense of a shared reality — rely on a particular business model that encourages them to both appeal to and promote a polarised and fragmented view of the world. Multiple news organisations now exist to 'niche' themselves to particular segments of popular opinion. The same is, increasingly, true of political institutions too. Political parties niche themselves by appealing to particular fragments of popular opinion. Ezra Klein has discussed the net effects of both institutional forces in his book Why We're Polarized. Though this book is US-centric in terms of its focus some of the key insights apply more generally. At the heart of Klein's argument is the claim that increased political polarisation is being driven by a feedback cycle: the population is becoming more fragmented (for a variety of reasons, including those having to do with the fragmented and personalised media landscape), and political institutions are responding to this by appealing to the fragments. This has a snowball effect: when one party is in power, they appeal to their fragment of the population, and this amplifies the sense of 'identity threat' among rival fragments who respond in kind with increased attachment to their preferred values. The process cycles on, resulting in an increasingly polarised political climate. The polarised communities see outsiders as belonging to a different world and a major threat to their own existence. It is worth noting, as well, that different factions can nefariously manipulate the polarised informational environment to suit their own. Many governments, most notably Russia, do this to foreign countries in order to support their own power and influence.
These three mechanisms feed off one another and have two main effects:
E1: It is now much easier for individuals to slide into their own preferred construction or perception of reality (and not encounter or be disrupted by dissonant information).
E1: It is now much easier for people to dismiss or doubt the reality presented to them by others (on the grounds that it might be faked or distorted in some way)
Both of these effects undermine a shared sense of reality.
3. Is It Really So Bad?
The preceding paints a bleak picture. We might wonder whether things are really so bad. I close with three observations.
First, as noted above, media manipulation is nothing new. Humans have always manipulated media to various ends. Furthermore, the psychology of selective exposure and the problems of political polarisation are hardly unprecedented in human history. They have always been with us. What is usually earmarked as being different this time round is the volume of information with which we must contend, the relative ease with which it can be manipulated, and the realistic nature of the end product. But part of me wonders whether things really are so different from what they were once like. One of my hobbies is biblical history, particularly the history of early Christianity (I've written about aspects of this before on this blog). If you approach that era from a secular perspective, one thing that often strikes you about it is how epistemically chaotic it seems to have been. Different religious sects with different worldviews were commonplace. People within those sects listened to stories told to them by friends of friends of friends that might have witnessed the events that originated the sect. They often adopted life-changing worldviews on the basis of this imperfect testimony. What's more, when these stories were written down they were often presented in forged documents (in the sense that the author's pretended to be people they obviously were not) and occasionally mistranscribed or misedited, distorting some crucial element or lesson. Lots of rival, distorted and dubious stories fought with one another for attention. People believed on thin evidential foundations. I'm sure much of the ancient world was similarly epistemically chaotic. What might be happening now is that technology is just returning us to the epistemic chaos from which we briefly escaped. This doesn't make it a good thing: a step back is a step back. But it may not make it a radically new thing either.
Second, as Henrik Skaug Saetra pointed out to me, the argument I have presented doesn't necessarily undermine a shared sense of reality. It could well be the case that technology causes greater fragmentation of the human population into different bubbles. But unless those bubbles are completely individualised, it's likely that we will share a sense of reality with the other occupants of our respective bubbles. For example, people living in, say, the left-leaning liberal bubble on Twitter are likely to share a lot of common beliefs about the nature of the world they inhabit. Indeed, it may even be the case that they share more beliefs than would previously have been the case since they primarily associate with one another. The problem arises more at the inter-group level. The techno-social infrastructure is now such that there is greater disparity and dissonance across the bubbles than within them. All of this sounds right to me and may prevent the slide towards complete epistemic chaos, but I nevertheless think it still undermines a shared sense of reality since there may be many more fragmented bubbles than before. This is because, instead of having to figure out some common modus vivendi with our neighbours and fellow citizens, technology affords us the opportunity to retreat into a world of our own making.
Third, and finally, there is one potential argument for thinking that the end of shared sense of reality is not that bad One of the arguments I experimented with in my book Automation and Utopia was Robert Nozick's defence of the idea of a meta-utopia. In short, Nozick argued that people will never agree on what the best world or best life is. We should stop trying to get them to do so. Instead, we should create a meta-utopia which is a world in which people are allowed to create and join mini-worlds that suit their own values and preferences. In Automation and Utopia, I argued that one of the advantages of technology — including technologies like AR and VR — is that it may allow us to create a functional meta-utopia: people can use technological tools to build worlds that match their preferences. However, there is, as I pointed out, a bit of a paradox in this. The meta-utopia is only desirable if people respect the boundaries between all the mini-worlds — i.e. they don't seek to undermine or 'colonise' another person's preferred world. How can we guarantee this? The only conceivable way is if we agree on some general constitutional order that polices the boundaries between all the mini-worlds. So, ironically, we all have to share enough of the same sense of reality to create that constitutional order before we can happily escape into our own realities.
Doctress Neutopia November 11, 2020 at 6:17 PM
My problem with Nozick's concept of meta-utopias coexisting on Earth is that underneath the veils of illusion there is our common reality of a shared ecology. Moving into a planetary system with sharing resources seems like a sane way forward.
Automation, Work and the Achievement Gap
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Technology and the End of Reality: Is the infocaly...


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L'équipe d'Argentine a été éliminée en quart de finale de la Coupe du monde de rugby 1999 par l'équipe de France qui a été par la suite finaliste de cette épreuve.

Les joueurs suivants ont joué pendant cette coupe du monde 1999. Les noms en gras indiquent les joueurs qui ont été le plus souvent titulaires.

La composition de l'équipe

Première Ligne

 Agustín Canalda (1 match, 0 comme titulaire)
 Roberto Grau (2 matchs, 2 comme titulaire)
 Omar Hasan (4 matchs, 3 comme titulaire)
 Mario Ledesma (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Mauricio Reggiardo (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Martín Scelzo (4 matchs, 0 comme titulaire)

Deuxième Ligne

 Alejandro Allub (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Miguel Angel Ruiz (3 matchs, 0 comme titulaire)

Troisième Ligne

 Gonzalo Longo (4 matchs, 4 comme titulaire)
 Rolando Martin (5 matchs, 4 comme titulaire)
 Lucas Ostiglia (3 matchs, 1 comme titulaire)
 Santiago Phelan (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Pedro Sporleder (1 match, 1 comme titulaire)

Demi de mêlée

 Nicolas Fernández Miranda (1 match, 0 comme titulaire)
 Agustín Pichot (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire).

Demi d'ouverture

 Gonzalo Quesada (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Felipe Contepomi (3 matchs, 0 comme titulaire).

Trois-quarts centre

 Lisandro Arbizu (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire) (capitaine)
 Eduardo Simone (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)

Trois-quarts aile

 Diego Albanese (5 matchs, 5 comme titulaire)
 Octavio Bartolucci (2 matchs, 2 comme titulaire)
 Gonzalo Camardon (5 matchs, 3 comme titulaire).

Arrière

 Manuel Contepomi (3 matchs, 2 comme titulaire)
 Ignacio Corleto (3 matchs, 3 comme titulaire).

Meilleur marqueur d'essais

 Agustín Pichot, Diego Albanese 2 essais.

Meilleur réalisateur

 Gonzalo Quesada 102 points.

C'est le meilleur réalisateur de cette Coupe du monde.

Argentine
1999

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Mr Thomas Rossiter founded Woodhill School, later renamed Westfield School, in 1850. He was appointed as a teacher on Norfolk Island in the West Pacific Ocean after leaving Woodhill School. William Prosser became an assistant master at Woodhill School before training at Highbury College and then returning to Woodhill as headmaster in 1863. Daniel Tarran replaced William Prosser as headmaster of the school when he was twenty-one and stayed as headmaster for forty-four years.
A log book was kept from 1863-1868 by the school as a daily record of events. An interesting part of the log book is the comments, which are under the heading 'remarks'. These 'remarks' cover a wide range of comments. Some examples are: children not making it to school due to the weather, how well different classes were doing in certain subjects, inspector visits, absences, children copying other children's work, caning and many more comments.
Working on the log book has been very interesting and the decision was made to transcribe the 'remarks' section. This has been done from the first comment made in 1863 to the end of 1865. This can be accessed at the end of this article. The log book is kept at Hertfordshire Archives in Hertford.


We have exclusive owners-only facilities at 38 of our parks, as well as a packed programme of sports activities, parties and clubs.When you become a holiday home owner at a Haven park, you can enjoy a whole host of benefits including owners' lounges, spas and Experience Days, plus your very own Privilege Card.Why not arrange a visit to one of our parks and become an owner for the day to experience what life could be like as a holiday home owner?
We have static caravans for sale at 38 of our holiday parks, each in enviable locations. Our parks sit either on or near the coast. Many are a stroll away from a traditional seaside town. Others are surrounded by mountains. We've chosen some of the prettiest spots in the UK – and we've made sure our parks fit in with the surrounding landscape.
As an owner you'll be able to come and go as often as you choose. Or you may like the idea of letting out your holiday home to reduce running costs. If so, we can arrange it for you. This way, you won't need to worry about collecting money, coordinating changeovers and arranging cleaning.


1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #14, William Pelham Barr, to be Attorney General; confirmed: 54-45.
2. Motion to invoke cloture on the conference report to accompany H.J.Res.31 (consolidated appropriations); invoked: 84-15.
3. Adoption of the conference report to accompany H.J.Res.31 (consolidated appropriations); adopted: 83-16.


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Tips to Start Running and Stay Motivated in 2012
Realistic goals, focus and reaching out to fellow runners all help
FRIDAY, Dec. 30, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Taking up running is a good way to boost your fitness level in the year ahead, but one expert cautioned that anyone new to the sport -- or exercise in general -- should have realistic expectations about the commitment it takes to reach their goals.
"Running is very accepting of beginners. It's a great way to stay active at all ages, and it's a healthy choice for those who have set a New Year's resolution to get in shape. We used to believe it would ruin your joints. There have been several studies in recent years about running, aging and arthritis that have disproved this idea," Chris Sebelski, an assistant professor of physical therapy at Saint Louis University, said in a news release.
First, people need to prepare themselves and come up with a realistic plan to not only get started but also stick with their newfound running routine. Sebelski offered the following tips to help runners achieve their goals:
Get a checkup. Primary care physicians should be informed about new exercise plans so they can help prevent injuries or other health issues. "Remember, it's so much better to prevent injuries than to try to recover from them," she warned.
Set reasonable goals. It's easy to be enthusiastic at the start of a new exercise program, but anyone who has been inactive for a while may get tired easily. Starting slow allows the body to get used to a new activity. "Make your goals personal," she said. "On an everyday level, the key is to think about small steps and celebrate the little victories."
Expect setbacks. Common occurrences, such as colds, scheduling conflicts and family issues, could interfere with a running program. Sebelski advised runners to adjust their workouts and not throw in the towel if they have to take a day off. "On a day when you realize you're not going to be able to complete your normal routine, evaluate the situation and set a good goal for that day," Sebelski suggested. "Always do something. Eight minutes is better than nothing."
Eat smart. Once people start running regularly they may burn more calories and feel hungrier. It's important, she noted, that they still choose their foods wisely and focus on eating lean proteins and whole grains. It's also important to drink plenty of water.
Add variety. Cross-training, or including other forms of exercise into a training program, will help runners achieve their goals. "Running itself is an all-over body sport. People think it's concentrated in the legs, but that's not true. It affects your arms, back, trunk and almost every muscle in your body," Sebelski explained. "Cross-training is helpful because you'll strengthen these other muscles and avoid the injury risk posed by the repetitive motion of running every day."
Strengthen your core. Sebelski recommended yoga and Pilates to help strengthen the core muscles in your abdomen, back and pelvic area. "There's a big link between core strength and breathing. Core strength assists with posture, which in turn will make breathing easier," she said.
Stay focused. After the first month or two, new runners may lose some enthusiasm for the sport since it's hard work. Sebelski recommended joining a running group or reaching out to other runners or friends to inform them about running goals to help stay motivated.
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides a guide on how to get more physical activity.
SOURCE: Saint Louis University Medical Center, news release, Dec. 20, 2011
Consumer News Products Language News types Exercise: Jogging Or Running Exercise: Yoga Topics Fitness: Misc. English News Exercise: Pilates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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At the heart of 6K Energy is the unique, proprietary UniMelt process, the world's first high volume microwave plasma production system. This process is disruptive to traditional battery production, design cycles, and cost structures.
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Not only does producing batteries use a wide range of raw materials, including metals and non-metals, the battery industry can generate considerable amounts of environmental pollutants (e.g., hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic gases). The development of energy storage is increasingly being looked at as an indispensable component of sustainability. While it is clear that electric vehicles are far and away more sustainable than gas combustion vehicles, the manufacturing processes employed to produce the materials for the batteries used in EV's is not only dated, but environmentally unfriendly and counter to the mission of sustainability and rationale for EVs.
Lithium ion batteries contain materials spanning the full spectrum, including ceramics, metals, polymers, lithium salts, carbon and graphite, and increasingly, silicon-based materials. While electrification of vehicles and the grid is a key component of a sustainable energy strategy, the manufacturing processes for many key battery materials are not well aligned with the environmental end goals. Traditional material manufacturing processes like coprecipitation (used in production of NMC cathodes) generate large amounts of environmental pollutants, consume huge amounts of water, and use highly energy-intensive processes.
Battery Materials Recycling & Upcycling Using UniMelt Microwave Plasma
With EV production increasing thirtyfold by 2030, the demand for battery materials will increase dramatically.
Energy storage batteries present a huge future waste management challenge — as well as an opportunity. Viable recycling routes for batteries at end of life must be developed to minimize pollution and secure a strong supply of critical raw materials at low environmental cost. With new industrial transformation manufacturing processes like 6K's UniMelt platform, the idea of recycling and even upcycling battery materials can become a reality.
Today's recycling processes are environmentally unfriendly and have major drawbacks that make the process complicated and costly, requiring large capital investments. Direct recycling of end of life cathode would bypass the majority of the issues with today's approach by avoiding the need to go back to the elements, create sulfate salts, then repeat the full cathode coprecipitation process. Unfortunately, cathode at end of life suffers from multiple issues that need to be addressed in order to be reused at full performance: End of Life (EoL) cathode is:
Lithium loss to parasitic side reactions, leading to low capacity
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Obsolescence – last-gen chemistry no longer competitive
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EU: Vote On Nice Treaty Shines Spotlight On Democracy?
August 01, 2002 00:00 GMT
By Breffni O'Rourke
Ireland, which has a voting population of some 3 million, will hold a referendum soon on whether to adopt the European Union's Nice treaty. If the Irish people say "no," the massive effort to expand the EU to include as many as 12 Central and Eastern European states will likely grind to a halt. That's because each current EU member state is required to approve the treaty before expansion can go forward. Is it a good thing that a relative handful of voters can hold up a process involving tens of millions of people? Is it antidemocratic or reassuring evidence of the rights of small countries in the EU?
Prague, 1 August 2002 (RFE/RL) -- There is often talk about the need for more democracy and transparency in the European Union, to give the union greater legitimacy. So there is irony in the situation that democratic practice in one small EU member state is threatening to derail the hopes of as many as 12 other countries to become members.
The state in question is Ireland, which alone among the 15 EU members is constitutionally required to hold a referendum to approve the Nice treaty. That's the document that establishes arrangements for fitting the newcomers into the union. Irish voters already held a referendum last year, in which the treaty was only one of the questions put to voters. It failed.
A second rejection in another Irish referendum specifically on Nice planned for this autumn would appear certain to bring the whole EU expansion process to a halt.
This raises intriguing issues about democracy and minority rights. Is Ireland's apparent ability to block the business of the entire EU a positive democratic factor? Or is it a case of excessive power being wielded by a comparative handful of voters over the lives of millions of Central and Eastern Europeans?
Some in the candidate countries, which have only recently emerged from the shadow of Soviet power, see in the Irish case a heartening example of a small member being able to exercise its will within the European Union.
Zigimantas Pavilionis, counselor at the Lithuanian Mission to the EU in Brussels, is naturally concerned that the enlargement process could be delayed or stopped. "It's quite a democratic thing. That's why we are joining this union, [knowing] that even one member state can influence the whole process," Pavilionis said.
Professor James Waltson of the American University in Rome ponders the broader issues raised. He said the problem with any discussion of democracy is trying to understand exactly who the constituency is, in other words, who is being affected by the decisions.
In the case of Ireland and the enlargement issue, Waltson sees a major disproportion. "What the Irish voters will decide on will affect people outside the EU, as well as the other many millions inside the EU," Waltson said.
He said it is not particularly democratic when a small number of people in one country can affect the lives of much greater numbers of citizens both inside and outside the EU. But what of the rights of minorities? "One of the principles of democracy is that minorities have a voice, [but] whether they have a controlling voice, or should have a controlling voice, on major issues is a question for which there is no single, straightforward answer. You can end up with dogs being wagged by their tails," Waltson said.
Another analyst, Brussels-based Nicholas Whyte, does not relate the Ireland issue to democratic questions but rather to institutional issues. He said the EU is a "club," and just like any club, it has its own rules. Among other things, present club members are entitled to decide whether they want a new member to join. It is not particularly a question of democracy, Whyte said. It's just what happens in a rule-based organization.
However, Whyte, an honorary fellow of the Institute of Governance at Queen's University in Belfast, expressed understanding for the sensibilities of the smaller candidates. "Most of these [potentially] new member states are small countries, whose experience is being part of a larger system -- a larger, much more undemocratic system -- where they effectively had no serious voice of their own. And I guess it is encouraging for them to see that in the existing EU, small countries can make a difference, even if in this case the difference is not a particularly helpful one," Whyte said.
But that may be about to change.
The ongoing Convention on the Future of Europe, led by former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, is meant to produce a constitutional settlement that would be signed by all EU members. This would streamline, and to a certain extent harmonize, the approach of all members, old and new, on questions relating to European integration.
Whyte said this document, among other things, would likely dispense with the need for any further referenda in Ireland on integration issues.
In addition, there is the Nice treaty itself, which substantially reduces the possibilities for using national vetoes. This will therefore cut into the power of individual members, big or small, to press their cases to the limit.
The Nice treaty has already been approved by 14 of the 15 current EU members, and is only awaiting approval by Ireland to go into force. The treaty adds 34 new areas in which qualified-majority voting has to be used -- meaning that the veto right falls away in these areas.
At the same time, the treaty makes it easier for big countries to block qualified-majority decisions. For instance, Germany would need only support from Britain or France -- but not both any longer -- to block a decision.
There remains a total of 71 cases in which a veto can be employed -- still a lengthy list. These are considered areas of vital national interest, such as defense, common foreign and security policy, taxation, and certain aspects of immigration.
The question of democratization is only one of the issues in the present ferment about how the EU should be organized when it is expanded. The Convention on the Future of Europe will have to find its way through a maze of conflicting ideas to produce coherent recommendations on the way forward.


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National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
Store/Memberships
Custom Bobblehead Store
Hall History
RedLine Exhibition
Mascot Design Contest
HOF News
Bobble News
Giveaway Schedule
Bobble Lines
Bobblehead Database
Bobble Facts
History of Bobbles
Bobblehead Links
Bobblehead Shopping
Milwaukee Links
National Bobblehead Day
Bobblehead Ideas
Kickstarter for Villanova Piccolo Girl bobblehead a success
From Main Line Media News
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum (www.BobbleheadHall.com) launched a Kickstarter to produce bobbleheads earlier this year of Roxanne Chalifoux, the Villanova band piccolo player who became an online sensation after a TV camera captured her crying over the Wildcats' loss in the March NCAA Tournament.
That Kickstarter campaign has reached its goal, according to Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Fall of Fame and Museum.
The bobbleheads depict Roxanne as she appeared on TV, crying while playing the piccolo in her Villanova jersey.
"Like millions of Americans, I have always been captivated by the NCAA Tournament, and this was one of the most memorable moments this year. It highlights all of the emotions on and off the court and symbolizes that agony of defeat," said Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. "After the tournament ended, we realized that a bobblehead would be the perfect way to capture this unique moment forever."
(Photo from Kickstarter page.)
The Kickstarter seeks to raise $5,000, a portion of which will go to Roxanne and the Villanova University Band. Contributors to the campaign will receive the bobblehead and other unique rewards, but it is unlikely that the bobblehead will be produced in larger quantities if the Kickstarter goal isn't met.
"This will be a great memento for current students, alumni, faculty, administrators, basketball fans and collectors," said National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum Co-Founder and President, Brad Novak. "Bobbleheads are very popular and we encourage people to back the Kickstarter to ensure you don't miss out on this very unique bobblehead!"
Roxanne graduated from college on May 15 with a major in biology and a minor in psychology; in August, she will head to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry to pursue her dream of becoming an optometrist. Although she receives more credit for her piccolo playing, Roxanne is also an avid bassoonist, and she says that she "loved every second" of her four year tenure as a Villanova band member.
Of the moment that made her famous, Roxanne explains, "It was heartbreaking to see the team disappointed, and it was heartbreaking to realize my pep band days were officially over. I loved cheering for the Wildcats throughout my four years and really invested myself this season as a senior. I've made great memories at Villanova, and I consider myself very lucky to have had so many incredible experiences."
The first 250 Kickstarter Backers will receive the bobblehead at a discounted price of only $15 plus shipping, with the price increasing to $20 for subsequent Backers. The Kickstarter Campaign is the only way to guarantee a bobblehead.
Tweets by @BobbleheadHall


İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU) is a non-profit foundation university located in İstanbul, Turkey. Currently, there are over 10,000 students enrolled at IZU. Fifteen per cent of IZU student body are international students (over 1,500) that come from 81 countries from around the world, as well as a similar percentage of its academic staff. IZU has a long and rich tradition of providing higher educational opportunities to communities throughout the world as well as to needy and disadvantaged students.
The goal of the Stars of the Ummah Scholarship Program (SUSP) is to offer educational opportunities to young students who would be nurtured to lead intellectual pursuit and scholarly advancement for the benefit of their communities and the "Ummah". This program is specifically offered to students who are classified as refugees from Syria and Palestine. Istanbul Zaim University promotes its noble mission by offering bright young students the opportunity to become great seekers of knowledge and towards becoming young scholars, and therefore contributing to the advancement of the Ummah.
All recipients of this scholarship program shall follow an educational and scholarly research program supervised by the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) at IZU, in addition to their regular undergraduate courses at their respective academic units. IZU and CIGA shall monitor and foster the students' academic progress as well as their personal growth. Moreover, CIGA will help the scholarship recipients with their academic development through their rigorous programs by emphasizing the development of critical thinking skills, healthy academic environment, global citizen mind-set, as well as by assisting the young students in setting up meaningful life goals for themselves.
Note: SUSP is a very competitive program.
Since SUSP is offered only to Syrian and Palestinian refugees; applicants are required to submit an official letter from a credible and approved agency (belonging to UN or Government) certifying the refugee status of the applicant as well as or an official statement for proof of financial need. All completed applications accompanied by the required supporting materials will be reviewed by the Scholarship Application Evaluation Committee to ensure that every applicant shall receive full consideration.
To successfully graduate from IZU under SUSP, students are expected to be proficient in two of the following three languages: Arabic, English, and Turkish. Admitted students would be required to take the English or Turkish Language Proficiency exam, and may require the recipient to attend language preparatory classes before they enroll in regular courses.
IZU has student dormitories separately for males and females on its Halkalı Campus. IZU facilities shall also include full-course meals. Scholarship students shall stay at IZU Student Dormitories and receive a monthly stipend for their personal expenses.
Note: SUSP Program shall commence when the financial support from major donors is secured.
Commencement of the studies is Fall Semester (September) 2019.


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Gender Violence Remains a Challenge Despite Rights Gains
Women lawmakers
WASHINGTON — Despite many human rights gains seen over the years, gender violence remains a major challenge of the 21st century, according to the non-profit Sonke Gender Justice Network, an organization that promotes gender equality and seeks to prevent domestic violence across southern Africa.
In a statement released to mark World Peace Day at the weekend, Sonke says more still needs to be done to address issues of violence in societies as conflict continues to rage in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Syria.
The organization wants the African Union and other regional bodies to support peace education programs that promote gender equality and challenge what it calls harmful stereotypes about men and women to eradicate sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in conflict. "While most of the policy framework addressing SGBV prevention and response in conflict settings focus mainly on women and girls," reads the Sonke statement, "there also needs to be a recognition of male and boy victims and the need to address root causes and drivers of violence."
"With ongoing, large-scale atrocities being committed against civilians in conflicts such as the Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Syria, not to mention atrocities affecting civilians in conflicts occurring in Asia and South America, World Peace Day…should make us reflect on the fact that civilians are still the most vulnerable population during times of armed conflicts, and that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls, and increasingly against men and boys, is still widely documented during conflicts," according to the statement.
The organization says international efforts to tackle SGBV should be increased, criticizing several United Nations Security Council and regional bodies' resolutions on sexual violence in conflict "as nothing but high-flying promises without any real impact."
The organization says to prevent SGBV in conflict, and to promote more peaceful societies, the world needs to move away from the simplistic view that "women are natural peacemakers" and that "men are inherently war-makers", and start engaging men as agents of change and as women's allies in achieving lasting peace.
World Peace Day was this year dedicated to the theme "Education for Peace", calling it an excellent opportunity to recognize the education sector for its critical role in fostering more peaceful societies and addressing gender inequality, says Sonke.
"Sonke Gender Justice therefore calls upon the African Union, and regional bodies alike, to support peace education programs that promote gender equality and challenge harmful stereotypes about men and women, in order to eradicate SGBV in conflict once and for all, and to move closer towards world peace."
One of Sonke Gender Justice's project managers Wessel Van den Berg said his organization will continue to work in the region and elsewhere in the world as it tries to change norms that drive violence.
"We are committed to working on changing the norms that drive violence, for example the norms that equate masculinity with violence. We implement programs and policies that shift these norms," he said.
Interview With Wessel van den Berg


Polymeric materials are nowadays employed in a multitude of applications, due to their wide spectrum of chemical, physical and mechanical properties. For this reason, polymeric materials play an important role on the chemical industry and more in general on the global economy. This programme provides a bird's eye vision about the methods to produce different typologies of polymers and about the processing techniques used to obtain valuable finished products.
Trainee process engineers, specialists, polymer engineers, material engineers, chemical engineers, process engineers, chemists, operators, managers and other professionals working within the Polymer industry that need to build, broaden or update their knowledge about polymer science and technology. The level of the examples and exercises can be adjusted in order to meet the experience and requirements of the participants.


A very easy to construct item that makes an old 10/22 look sharp again. The instructions for assembly are easy to read and include a diagram for each step. I put it together in less than 15 minutes while watching Vikings. I would highly recommend this item to anyone looking to alter the appearance of their 10/22. Mine looks like a weapon that would be used by a Marine Force Recon operator.
Six Position Adjustable Side Folding Stock With Aluminum Upgrade Package, Scorpion Recoil System, Adjustable Cheek Rest And Forend Pistol Grip Features: - Color: Gray - Six Position Adjustable/Side Folding Stock - Can Be Fired From Folded Position - New And Improved Pivot Housing Assembly ....See Details For More Info.


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Top Stories / ख़ास खबर
Achievements of State Police are infinite
Bhopal. Annual income limit for Mukhyamantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana has been increased from Rs 6 to 8 lakh. This will facilitate higher education of meritorious students of police family as well. Whatever is needed for education of children, will be done. Works are being carried out continuously for betterment of education, health and housing facilities of police families. Efforts for basic amenities will be expanded. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing family members of state police officers and jawans.
CM said that the Police works under the adverse conditions and their families also leads life with difficulties, this is the reason why he has special love and attachment towards them. He is making constant efforts to ensure how better could be done for them. Modern with complete facilities houses are being constructed constantly by the Police Housing Corporation. He further mentioned that Martyr stature has also been given to the police jawan, who sacrificed his life while discharging duties for internal security and maintaining law and order. They will be given same honour by the government as given to martyrs of defence forces.
Moreover, he stated that achievements of police for maintaining law and order and controlling terrorist activities is a matter of pride. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told to publicise the information in the case of Katni, in which the punishment has been given to the criminal in just 5 days. Congratulating the Police, Chouhan mentioned that immediate action taken by the police in the case, investigation and producing of challan with promptness have made it possible.
The Chief Minister said that the efforts for modernization of police are in progress. Around 11 thousand CCTV cameras have been installed in the state which is maximum in the country to check the activities in the state. Safe City Monitoring and Response Centre has also been dedicated today. Dial-100 mobile app is being linked to Dial-100 service. Motorcycles will also be included in Dial-100 so that police services are available for the public in narrow lanes also.
Director General of Police Rishi Kumar Shukla gave the welcome speech at the outset and informed about the police modernization status and needs. Additional Director General Special Armed Forces Vijay Yadav proposed the vote of thanks.


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Winter gives up last flurry of news as spring nears
The days are getting are longer and warmer, and results from spring sports are sprinkling into my inbox with regularity now, even as the winter season still has some business to finish.
Here's a sampling of what area athletes are doing at various schools:
Mansfield freshman pitcher Caitlin Klobosits (Whitehall) has helped her team get off to a school-record tying 9-0 start by going 4-0 in the circle with a 0.61 ERA in 23 innings. The lefthander allowed just two earned runs in her 23 innings while scattering 14 hits. She threw a five-inning one-hitter with nine strikeouts in a win over Eastern Nazarene and fanned seven and allowed just one run in a win over Gettysburg. Klobosits also had seven strikeouts while allowing just four hits and an unearned run in a complete-game win over Randolph.
Keystone College freshman softball player Abby Cohen (Freedom) has been named the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) player of the week. Splitting time between shortstop and third base, Cohen led the team with a .526 batting average (10-for-19). She had five doubles, a triple and home run, while driving in eight runs and scoring four.
Connecticut senior ice hockey player Tiffany Good (Saucon Valley) ended her career after helping build the most successful graduating class in program history. The Huskies were 79-32-19 and Good recorded three goals and three assists as a four-year member of the varsity. UConn made the Hockey East Tournament finals this year and Good had an assist on the game-winning goal against Northeastern in the quarters.
Good, who played in 131 of a possible 142 games in her career, netted her first career goal in the third game of the 2009-10 season and was a consistent defensive forward through the season.
La Salle University sophomore Steph Bearish (Southern Lehigh) returned to the track this winter after missing all of the cross country season due to hip stress fracture in August. Bearish placed third in the 3K (9:57.69) and sixth in the mile at the Atlantic 10 championships last month.
LAX LEGEND
Marywood junior Nick Parks (Emmaus) tallied his 100th career point by scoring the game-winning goal in his team's 8-7 win over Wesley College on Sunday. He's the first Pacer ever to reach the 100-point plateau. The attackman leads Marywood in scoring with 13 points on seven goals and six assists and had four goals and one assist in Sunday's game.
ANOTHER WARD REWARD
Ursinus freshman basketball player Jon Ward (Parkland) was named the D3hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Region co-rookie of the year. Ward shared the honor with Cory Lemons of Cabrini.
Ward averaged 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while recording a team-high 23 blocks.
Also honored on the same D3hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Region team were DeSales' Darnell Braswell (Allen) as player of the year, Cabrini's Kevin Misevicius (Emmaus) as a first-team selection and Wilkes' Tom Kresge (Pleasant Valley) as a second-team choice.
THE SPIRIT OF BASKETBALL
When the annual Perryman/Keglovits All-Star Classic, featuring the best of Monroe County high school basketball, is held Monday night at East Stroudsburg University, the "Spirit of Basketball" award will be presented to Bob and Patty Kennedy.
The Kennedys are the founders of the famous Pocono Invitational Basketball Camps, an institution in the sport that has helped to develop thousands of players.
Through their camps, the Kennedys exposed the areas's rising high school basketball stars to pros like Julius Erving, Calvin Murphy, Kelly Tripuka, Moses Malone, and Adrian Dantley and many more.
They also were influential in the rise of women's basketball by bringing in Carol Blazejowski, Mimi Griffin, Ann Donovan, Theresa Grentz and many more women's hoops pioneers.
INJURY PREVENTION CLINIC
The Lehigh University track and field team and Running School is hosting a Performance and Injury Prevention Clinic for all area athletes, coaches and trainers from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Rauch Fieldhouse on the Goodman Campus.
The special guest is Jim Wharton, an internationally known trainer, therapist, and author who established his practice in 1989 and changed the face of human performance. He has worked with luminaries in the sports world from pro football players to Olympic gold medal winners.
Another highlight will be the use of DartFish video to set up for biomechanical analysis. This is the same product that the U.S. Olympic team and other pro teams use to determine biomechanical efficiency.
Having a high school athlete early in his or her career get into the correct "position" will lead to greater efficiency with less effort, resulting in better performance.
To register, e-mail Marc Solda at LehighValleyTC@gmail.com.


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TIL: Feature Detection in Windows using GetProcAddress
In JavaScript, if you want to use a function that was introduced only in certain versions of browsers, you use Feature Detection. For example, you can ask "Hey, browser, do you have a function called `includes` on Array?" If the browser has it, you use it; and if it doesn't, you either get along without it or load your own implementation.
It turns out that this same concept can be (and, in Firefox, is) done with Windows APIs.
Firefox for Windows is built against the Windows 10 SDK. This means the compiler knows the API calls and type definitions for all sorts of wondrous modern features like toast notifications and enumerating graphics adapters in a specific order.
However, as of writing, Firefox for Windows supports Windows 7 and up. What would happen if Firefox tried to use those fancy new Windows 10 features when running on Windows 7?
Well, at compile time (when Mozilla builds Firefox), it knows everything it needs to about the sizes and names of things used in the new features thanks to the SDK. At runtime (when a user runs Firefox), it needs to ask Windows at what address exactly all of those fancy new features live so that it can use them.
If Firefox can't find a feature it expects to be there, it won't start. We want Firefox to start, though, and we want to use the new features when available. So how do we both use the new feature (if it's there) and not (if it's not)?
Windows provides an API called GetProcAddress that allows the running program to perform some Feature Detection. It is asking Windows "Hey, so I'm looking for the address of this fancy new feature named FancyNewAPI. Do you know where that is?". Windows will either reply "No, sorry" at which point you work around it, or "Yes, it's over at address X" at which point to convert address X into a function pointer that takes the same number and types of arguments that the documentation said it takes and then instruct your program to jump into it and start executing.
We use this in Firefox to detect gamepad input modules, cancelable synchronous IO, display density measurements, and a whole bunch of graphics and media acceleration stuff.
And today (well, yesterday at this point) I learned about it. And now so have you.
–edited to remove incorrect note that GetProcAddress started in WinXP– :aklotz noted that GetProcAddress has been around since ancient times, MSDN just periodically updates its "Minimum Supported Release" fields to drop older versions.
at least it isnt COM c++ feature detection firefox mozilla til work
Perplexing Graphs: The Case of the 0KB Virtual Memory Allocations
So I've Finished The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild


If you have been injured or suffered an illness due to your work or work environment, it is likely that you have filed a workers' compensation claim. However, workers' compensation claims may be denied for a number of reasons and it is important that you know what to do thereafter. This article will discuss reasons why workers' compensation claims are denied and provide advice on what to do afterward.
One of the most common reasons a workers' compensation claim is denied is that the claim is not filed or reported on time. It is a legal requirement that a worker report the claim immediately or within a matter of days to the employer. Thereafter, the employer must inform their workers' compensation insurance carrier as quickly as the employer received the report of the injury.
Another common reason why workers' compensation claims may be denied is that the employer has disputed the claim. Your employer may dispute that the accident happened at work or that your current injury or illness is as a result of the accident, exposure or overuse. If this happens to your claim, you will need to gather additional evidence to support your workers' compensation claim. This can be done by having eyewitness accounts that the accident did indeed occur at work or by providing a statement from your doctor stating that your condition is in fact the result of your workplace environment.
It must be noted that the employer or its insurance company is likely to look for any possible reason to deny a workers' compensation claim. In fact, it has been reported that insurance companies routinely deny workers' compensation claims in hopes that the employee give up on their claim. With respect to the employer, the denial of a claim means lower insurance expense and liability.
In order to determine the reason why your claim was denied, you must look at your claim denial letter. The claim denial letter will outline the reasons for the denial as well as steps for appealing the denial and deadlines associated with appealing the denial. Accordingly, it is important that you read the letter carefully and take note of any appeal deadlines.
If the denial was simply a matter of mistaken paperwork or other such administrative errors, your first step is to contact your employer of employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier to see if the mistake can be cleared up and your claim allowed. However, if your employer still refuses to allow your claim, you may want to appeal the claim denial. It is important to note that the process of appealing a workers' compensation claim denial involves complex legal processes and requirements. Therefore, it is important that you speak to a workers' compensation lawyer as soon as possible. A workers' compensation lawyer can help you determine whether an appeal of your workers' compensation denial is worth the time and effort or not and assist you with legal representation.
For an attorney in Anchorage Alaska who can help with your workers' compensation claim, seek out a law firm with experience handling workers' compensation claims.


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at Handshake (View all jobs)
Handshake's mission is to democratize opportunity for students and early career talent everywhere. We believe that every student should have an equal opportunity to build a meaningful career regardless of where they go to school, what they major in, or who they know. The Handshake community includes 14 million students and young alumni at more than 800 universities. We connect talent from across all 50 states with over 400,000 employers recruiting on Handshake - from every Fortune 500 company to thousands of local small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and more.
We welcome all people. We celebrate diversity of all kinds and are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We seek to hire, develop and retain talented people from all backgrounds. Individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups strongly encouraged to apply.
If you are not sure that you're 100% qualified, but up for the challenge - we want you to apply.
We are looking for an empathetic, driven and mission-aligned technical recruiter to help us grow our team. We are seeking an individual who cares about people and enjoys identifying, connecting with and hiring candidates from diverse backgrounds.
You will own recruiting strategies, key stakeholder relationships, and strategic candidate outreach while working with a curious, kind and passionate team.
You thrive in a fast-paced environment and love sourcing, engaging and hiring the best talent for our team.
Identify, source and engage talent to grow our team through creative and diverse multi-channel methods
Own hiring manager relationships and creatively iterate to improve our processes across recruiting
Hire values-aligned individuals to contribute to Handshake's mission
Develop an extensive understanding of Handshake's business and culture
Design, implement and execute recruiting plans, partnering closely with hiring teams
Regularly manage pipeline activity and provide recommendations for improving talent strategies based on data
Work consultatively with senior stakeholders to shape and implement diversity recruitment strategy in a fast-paced, high-touch & high-tech environment.
Influence business leaders and educate hiring managers on process, interview best practices, and decision making.
Create new ways to surprise and delight candidates as they go through our interview process.
Speak passionately and authentically about Handshake, our mission, business, and culture.
3+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, at least 2+ recruiting for technical roles
Successful at engaging and closing candidates at a high volume, approximately 3 hires per month
Strong history of collaborating inclusively with hiring managers and interviewers to design processes that attract candidates from underrepresented backgrounds
You thrive in a data-driven recruiting process
Working knowledge of ATS systems and pipeline metrics (Greenhouse preferred)
Start up experience preferred
Bias towards humility, curiosity, and humor
Outstanding organizational and follow-up skills, strong time-management abilities
Great judgment and a history of working with highly confidential information
We are growing rapidly so you will enjoy working in a fast-paced, fun environment with a team dedicated to our mission of helping students. We love to collaborate, make an impact and act with empathy throughout the entire hiring process. You will spend time with a diverse group of individuals who are just as motivated, talented, and creative as you are.
We value diversity of all kinds, and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome people of all different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives.
Compensation & Equity: Competitive salary and ownership in a fast-growing company.
Family Focus: Parental leave and flexibility for families.
Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world.
Healthcare: World-class medical, dental, and vision policies.
Goodies: Whatever hardware and software you need to get the job done.
Team Fun: Regularly scheduled events, sports, game nights, book clubs.
Learning: Monthly learning & development opportunities and mentorship program.
Great team: Work with kind, hardworking, and fun people who are committed to making a difference!
Are you authorized to work lawfully in the United States for Handshake? *
Will you now, or in the future, require sponsorship for employment visa status? *
If you are not local, are you willing to relocate to the Bay Area for this position?
Individuals seeking employment at Handshake are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements.


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Warren — Musings —06.16.2017 08:00 AM
Accident victims 1, greedy trial lawyers 0
This is a huge decision, with historic implications. For usurious trial lawyers, it is an unmitigated disaster: they now face the realistic prospect of class action lawsuits by clients they have manipulated and ripped off.
Meanwhile, anyone seen Ontario's Attorney General? He's been as invisible on this file as he has on a neo-Nazi rag attacking minorities right here in the GTA and making death threats.
A possible 6,000 accident victims can now band together to try and get their money back from a law firm alleged to have double dipped from their settlements.
Ontario's top court ruled Thursday to uphold the class action certification for a case against personal injury law firm Neinstein & Associates LLP that is accused of taking more fees from its former clients than Ontario law allows.
The hotly anticipated ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal could have wide-ranging ramifications for personal injury lawyers in the province because it shines an increasingly glaring spotlight on Ontario's contingency fee system — "you don't pay unless we win."
In simple terms, lawyers working on contingency cannot take a sum of money called "costs" in addition to an agreed-upon percentage fee they take out of a final settlement. The court ruled that the case against Neinstein can move forward as a class action.
The court, drawing on information presented to it during the hearing earlier this year, stated there appears to be "widespread" non-compliance in Ontario with the Solicitor's Act when it comes to protection of contingency fee clients and the allocation of costs.
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Warren, the Government is far too busy paying off their union lackeys in time to insure some "quid pro quo" to pay attention to things like crime and hate.
This class action certification is huge and opens up many other Plaintiff side firms to be sued as well.
© 2023 Copyright Warren Kinsella


Some of you may know that we have spent this past year seeking the Lord's leading for our next season of life. We are deeply grateful to those of you who have prayed for wisdom and direction. It has been a difficult process, but earlier this week we made a decision. I have accepted TMC's invitation to become the Associate Dean of Men in the Student Life department. I will be responsible for giving oversight and vision to the Deans' Staff — the eight full-time Resident Directors, thirty Resident Assistants (student leaders), and the fifty-or-so students who sacrificially commit each year to serve as volunteers alongside the Resident Assistants.
This is a very recent and surprising development. We had been planning for some time now to transition from TMC and Southern California so that I could pursue a Ph.D. and finish my formal preparation for what we believe will be a lifetime of preaching, teaching, shepherding, and writing with an eye toward the mission field. I had never thought seriously about staying at TMC for any longer, never thought seriously about the Dean position, and had always explicitly thought that I would never want to be the Dean (and that no one else would want me to, either). Other pastures have always appeared much greener, and not necessarily for bad reasons.
But throughout this past year and especially during the spring, the Lord has used the plethora of research, applications, interviews, questionnaires, conversations, and counsel to guide us to the point where we were ready to consider this late-coming opportunity that we may not have considered before. Although virtually all of our thoughts and energies were focused on opportunities outside of our current circles, and although there were several individual pursuits that were very attractive (solid Ph.D. programs or fitting ministry positions), no full-orbed picture of our future had become clear even into late April. I wasn't excited about sacrificing significant priorities for only one piece of the puzzle, no matter how good that particular piece might look. We were asking God to provide a holistic situation where I could study part-time in a quality Ph.D. program, provide for the family (preferably through a full-time ministry position), use our gifts in church ministry, adopt more children, and prepare for the strong possibility of going to the mission field in five or six years (post-Ph.D.). By the time I was asked to consider the Dean position several weeks ago and then formally asked to commit recently, the Lord had formed a comprehensive picture in which all these priorities could potentially work in harmony.
We are excited to remain members at Placerita Baptist Church and to begin serving there in new ways. We've desired to serve more in the past and have been asked to help with particular ministries, but the combined pace of resident college ministry and TMS classes has meant saying no far more often than we would prefer. We respect the PBC leadership immensely and enjoy the spiritual family atmosphere. There's lots of potential for growth, but the foundation and stability is there. The elders' heart for missions and the way the church treats its missionaries is a significant reason why we're excited to stay and invest at PBC during this next season of life as we ourselves prepare for a potential ministry abroad.
Since a Ph.D. in biblical studies has been my top priority in this transition, I have applied to the unique Ph.D. program at Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennylsvania. In 2001 BBS launched their "external residency" program which allows the student to travel to Pennsylvania up to three times per year for intensive week-long classes. The six weeks before and after each class are filled with research assignments and in-depth online interaction with fellow students and professors. I am hoping to study under their highly-esteemed (and apparently very challenging) New Testament professor Rodney Decker. I had an intense, rapid-fire, one-hour phone interview on Friday, and should find out in about a week whether or not I'll be allowed to move forward into the written qualifying exams. Other Ph.D. programs are stronger in particular areas and are very difficult to walk away from, but I believe that BBS's program can be a good fit for our life, priorities, and some specific academic preferences. In the always-possible event that BBS rejects me, I may be making another surprising announcement here next week. :) You might pray that this type of decisional whiplash doesn't occur (i.e., that they accept me).
For those of you unfamiliar with Student Life at The Master's College, our goal is to cultivate authentic biblical community in the dorms at TMC so that the students grow not only in their biblical knowledge but their heart for people, relationships, discipleship, and service. Time and again I have seen TMC's comprehensive education (doctrine + life) bear fruit in the church, in the world, and among the nations. I can stay because I believe in the ministry that God has established here and because I know that it ultimately serves the church and impacts the world (which is what para-church organizations should do).
I know that some are surprised (or even disappointed) that we're staying. Some may think that we're only jumping at a promotion, as though the offer of a new or "higher" position is an inherently God-ordained reason to stay where you're at. But my years as a Resident Director have not been a stepping stone, and what appears to be a promotion in earthly terms is usually a call to carry heavier burdens and die in new ways. I could not commit to this ministry in good conscience if I did not believe God were calling us here. And in my mind a promotion is not the equivalent of a calling.
Some have asked if I'm "excited." I can say yes because because I know what they mean, but it's definitely not the word I would choose right now. Right now I am adjusting to the soon-coming reality of what this ministry will entail. The strength is not there right now, but I believe the Lord will give mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). The potential at TMC is staggering and I long that it be used for the things that matter most.
I am happy to hear this news. You are a great man and will have a great impact on the lives of TMC students.
Exciting news! Thanks for sharing it. Be sure to let us know about the PhD program, OK? God's timing is indeed perfect.
Wow, Gunner. Amazing timing, and in many ways, very fitting. Praise the Lord for your faithfulness. I can say that if I were an RA again, I would be blessed and privileged to be under your leadership as the Lord teaches you in this new chapter. We'll be praying for you as you embark on this new adventure. Keep running hard… I believe that you've got some good training for it, and a good coach to bring you to the finish line. Blessings.