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Research Methodologies to Support the Development of Blockchain Standards
Madeleine Maslin, MillicentWatt and Christopher Yong
Research Team for the Smart Contracts Working Group
(TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies), Australia
E-mail: cayong@protonmail.com
This paper dissects the research methodologies implemented by the Research Team for the Smart Contracts Working Group (TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies) in developing standards to inform best practice in the design and use of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. In doing so, it explores the origins of blockchain standardisation and outlines the high-level methodology for conducting and delivering research in this rapidly evolving space.
Using three case studies, this paper shows how different tasks give rise to, and benefit from, specialised methodologies. These case studies also highlight a number of challenges and opportunities, and demonstrate how a flexible research approach can increase efficiency and generate findings that are likely to influence blockchain standardisation at a global level.
Case Study 1 describes our research into the legal status of smart contracts and the challenge of delivering clear findings about unclear subject matter. Case Study 2, which involved examining the sufficiency of existing regulatory frameworks in the supply chain and trade facilitation context, illustrates how rigid formatting specifications can impact the content of findings. In contrast, Case Study 3 concerns a project to incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into new and existing Standards and shows how researchers' knowledge can be harnessed as a valuable source of information in its own right.
Finally, this paper extrapolates practical lessons for researchers who are interested in developing standards for emerging technologies, or simply undertaking much needed research into this area.
Keywords: Blockchain, distributed ledger technology, Smart Contracts Working Group (TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies), case study, research methodology, authority agnosticism, research partnership
1.1 Background: New Technology, New Solutions, New Challenges
Blockchain is an emerging digital technology that allows users to create tamper-proof records of data and transactions [1].1 By combining the interoperability of the Internet with the security of cryptography, distributed ledger technology (DLT) offers a faster, safer way to verify information, establish trust, and transfer value across geographical borders [2]. While the initial buzz surrounding blockchain revolved around cryptocurrencies and the financial services industry, blockchain applications continue to evolve and positively transform a range of sectors and functions, from money transfers to vote casting, managing medical records to recording changes of property ownership [3]. Even so, widespread uptake has been slow and much of the discussion of this new technology focuses not on analysis of its present applications, but on its potential and transformative capacity [4].
Against this backdrop, lawmakers are considering the extent to which existing regulatory frameworks provide suitable oversight of transactions using blockchain, or whether there is a need to develop "bespoke" regimes [5]. A critical aspect of this inquiry is research. For the Smart Contracts Working Group (TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies) (Working Group), this involves determining what these technologies are being used for, postulating how those uses will evolve in the future, understanding what regulations are applicable to their design and use globally, and identifying opportunities and roadblocks for further development [6].
1.2 Existing Blockchain Standards
In December 2016, Standards Australia was selected by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as the Secretariat for ISO Technical Committee 307 [7], which involves leading the development of international Standards on blockchain and DLT. These new international Standards will sit at the top of the Standards hierarchy, which is split into three categories as set out in Figure 1:
Figure 1: The Standards Hierarchy.
Although compliance is not compulsory, unless backed by government enforcement measures, Standards are crucial for the development and quality management of emerging technologies due to the following:
Standards enable businesses and consumers to trust new products and technologies;
Standards focus on outcomes rather than processes, to support innovation and widespread adoption of emerging technologies; and
Standards can inform laws, regulations and judicial considerations.
Importantly, Standards are required to respond effectively to global regulatory requirements, market needs and technical developments. While guidance has been provided, such as through the United Kingdom's Cryptoassets Taskforce Final Report and the Australian Taxation Office's GST Rulings, the scope of work being undertaken by the Working Group and its Research Team is novel as it is the first internationally coordinated standardisation of blockchain and DLT.
1.3 The Challenge of Researching Emerging Digital Technologies
Despite lingering uncertainty about the capacity for blockchain and DLT solutions to solve tomorrow's problems, the body of research into these technologies is growing. Nonetheless, this is a dynamic field and experts with specialised knowledge of the design, use and implications of DLT are as diverse as the platforms on which their contributions are distributed. A key challenge for researchers is, therefore, locating valuable, publicly available information. To illustrate, in November 2008, the white paper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System", created by Satoshi Nakamoto, provided the first description of how the double-spending problem could be prevented by a peer-to-peer network. Notably, this article was published not by an academic in a peer-reviewed journal, but by an anonymous author, via a cryptography mailing list.
While experts on established products and industries are easily identified, experts on emerging digital technologies are not. Consequently, we have been open-minded in determining which sources should be considered 'authoritative'. We describe this approach, which involves reviewing and relying upon a range of both traditional sources (such as journal articles and industry reports) and non-traditional sources (such as blogs by technology start-ups), as 'authority agnostic'. Authority agnosticism should be adopted when investigating new technologies, where the only material available is produced by the community of creators, users and observers. For example, at the time of writing this article, information about sk-SNARKS, a novel form of zero-knowledge cryptography, is limited to the blogosphere. Importantly, user-generated resources – such as podcasts and non-peer-reviewed articles – inform us about how uses of blockchain and DLT are evolving, and help to ensure that our research accounts for a wide range of perspectives.
1.4 Scope of Research Undertaken by the Research Team
The Research Team's contributions are driven by the Working Group's Technical Specification on Smart Contracts (Technical Specification), the purpose of which is to inform the public about important considerations when developing and using blockchain and DLT-enabled smart contracts. Broadly, our research for the Working Group has focused on three primary areas, each of which required its own unique adaptation of our core methodology:
Law: Commencing with an investigation of the legal status of smart contracts, as illustrated in Case Study 1, these findings provided context for the Technical Specification.
Standards: This included evaluating the compatibility of Standards in the supply chain and trade facilitation (SCTF) context with blockchain or DLT, as illustrated in Case Study 2.
United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs):This project aimed to condense the UN's 17 SDGs into a template to be reflected in all ISO Standards, so that sustainability underpins growth in every area regulated by Standards. As illustrated in Case Study 3.
2 Research Methodology
2.1 General Principles: Our Research Strategy
Since the formation of the Research Team, in early 2018, we have contributed more than 12 discrete research memoranda in response to requests from the Working Group. In the course of researching and delivering these contributions a generally applicable process has taken shape, as outlined in Figure 2:
Figure 2: Research Strategy.
A fundamental aspect of this process is communication: between the Research Team and the Working Group, but also with other teams researching and drafting Standards at the international level. The main channels that enable communication include:
Research Team meetings: To reduce information asymmetry and encourage collaboration. Extending meeting invitations to peers and associates, who work with emerging digital technologies, provides valuable insights into recent trends and sentiments among users.
Working Group meetings: To ensure we receive feedback and keep abreast of developments and projects coming through the pipeline. These meetings offer exposure to experts in the field and help to bridge knowledge gaps between technologists and legal practitioners.
ISO Meetings: At ISO Meetings in London (May 2018) and Dublin (May 2019), members of our team interacted with Standards delegations from across the globe. These meetings enable drafting 'sprints', where Working Groups assist their international counterparts to gather information and finish drafts.
In parts 2.2 to 2.4, below, we explore three case studies of tasks undertaken by our Research Team. For each task, we followed the steps outlined in Figure 2 above. What the case studies show are the phases of the research process, from receiving instructions through to delivering our findings, and how our methodologies adapted to account for the inherent challenge of researching a dynamic space.
2.2 Case Study 1: Smart Contracts and the Law
Task: To undertake research into the legal recognition of smart contracts in international jurisdictions.
Purpose: To gain an overview of the legal status of smart contracts, identify the aspects and uses of smart contracts that may require further regulation, assess the availability of information, and understand how and why the legal status of smart contracts differs between jurisdictions.
Phase 1: Making Sense of a Broad Topic
At the outset, noting the broad scope of the question, we established wide parameters for finding useful information. In addition to public search engines (e.g. Google), the Research Lead identified wide scoped databases (e.g. Lexology and Medium) to supplement the more 'traditional', subscription-based legal databases (e.g. CCH IntelliConnect and Westlaw). The goal was to be authority agnostic, locating material that was publicly available, and not just strictly academic. Our extensive preliminary literature review enabled us to focus on the most relevant and credible sources.
As the task description could be viewed through various lenses, team members took differing approaches to identifying source material. For example, one researcher accounted for multiple perspectives on the legality of smart contracts, looking beyond strict government recognition and considering: whether lawyers recognise transactions effected by smart contracts as enforceable, whether businesses recognise smart contracts as a valuable tool, and whether courts and legislatures have recognised smart contracts at all (see Figure 3 below).
Figure 3: Excerpt of Research Memorandum, Showing Referencing.
Phase 2: Identifying Credible Sources of Information
The absence of legislation and case law specifically addressing smart contracts reduced the question of their legal status to one of professional opinion, rather than legal fact. This led us to ask who is an expert? and what kinds of publications can speak authoritatively on this matter?
The challenge of obtaining sufficient information to draw conclusions was addressed in a number of ways, such as:
By broadening our approach, so that we analysed specific types and uses of smart contracts, as well as their legal elements (such as "offer" and "acceptance") in line with contract law.
By referring to sources that recognised and promoted the technology, as well as ones that questioned or discredited it.
By adopting an authority agnostic approach, meaning that traditional concepts of credibility were ignored and everything from open-access blogs to journal articles was considered (the footnotes in Figure 3 give an indication of the variety of sources).
We also developed clear specifications for how sources should be identified. In a table addendum to our memoranda, we recorded the databases and search parameters used (e.g. "smart contract" AND jurisdiction) (see Figure 4), enabling team members to review each other's methods and the Working Group to clearly see our process.
Phase 3: Delivering Clear Findings without Giving Clear Answers
Each team member had one week to prepare a 500-word memorandum containing any findings they found particularly helpful, with references for every assertion of fact. This was accompanied by the table addendum, identifying the sources used and how and where they were accessed. Excerpts from one of these memoranda are shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 4: Excerpt of Table Addendum, Showing Databases and Search Terms.
This mode of delivery enabled us to provide an overview of the various opinions held about the legal status of smart contracts and to identify the most authoritative sources on the matter. Rather than being a primary source of information, our summaries were instead an index of useful sources – making statements and identifying where that information came from. This ensured our findings were clear and relevant, without presenting opinions as facts, and was particularly important where key information came from non-traditional sources.
2.3 Case Study 2: Blockchain in Supply Chain and Trade Facilitation
Task: This task had two components. First, locate publicly available information on SCTF Standards and regulations from Europe, the United States, Australia and China (RT1). Second, identify and provide concise summaries of any reports, publications or studies that explore the use of blockchain in SCTF, including in containerised freight, digital supply chains, and agriculture and food provenance (RT2).
Purpose: To identify the Standards and government regulations that apply within these jurisdictions, and how DLT is being used to facilitate trade and improve supply chain efficiencies, in order to understand how an international Standards regime should be developed.
Phase 1: Identifying the Key Research Focus from Broad Instructions
The question was formulated by the Working Group, who communicated it to the Research Lead along with information about several international SCTF Standards, which offered context as to what did and did not need to be summarised for RT1. Each Research Team member was then allocated a jurisdiction. The Research Lead identified the 'pain point' we sought to resolve, which was that it was difficult for the Working Group to access, navigate, and easily understand relevant public information about the topic.
Phase 2: Locating Authoritative and Relevant Public Information
The implicit first step of RT1 was to analyse the legislative and regulatory processes within each jurisdiction, and identify the effect of any existing rules. For RT2, the Research Team had greater discretion to locate and identify novel or interesting use cases.
Similar to Case Study 1, we used an authority agnostic approach to identify credible sources. Nonetheless, we faced obstacles in accessing Standards subject to restrictions and pay walls, as well as those in other languages, particularly in the case of China. We noted these limitations in our findings, so that the Working Group could safely draw accurate conclusions about the nature and effect of SCTF regulations around the world.
Phase 3: Iterative Discussions as to the Format of Deliverables
For RT1, we were instructed to deliver research memoranda of 500–1,250 words. Since we had worked individually on our assigned jurisdictions, with minimal discussion about how to deliver our respective findings, our draft memoranda were all delivered in varying formats. For example, the China memorandum was presented as a tabulated outline of Standards and regulations, an excerpt of which is at Figure 5. In contrast, the Europe memorandum was a short-form summary of findings, similar to the style described in Case Study 1.
Figure 5: RT1 Annexure – Summary of SCTF Standards and Regulations in China.
Fortunately, this diversity in approaches produced valuably nuanced information. For ease of comparing and analysing the material for each jurisdiction, however, it was critical to address the differences in format. Accordingly, the Research Lead instructed that memoranda should contain both a short-form summary of findings and a table of relevant Standards and regulations.
We leveraged the lessons from RT1 in our approach to RT2. For RT2, we established a clear format, being 120–180 word summaries of sources, containing the following:
a hyperlink in the document title;
a description of the publication in one to two sentences; and
a statement as to the document's relevance to the Working Group.
An example is shown at Figure 6.
Figure 6: RT2 Summary of Findings on Publications in Australia.
These formatting decisions helped to solve the Working Group's pain point. By delivering concise and impactful summaries in a searchable excel spreadsheet, separated by jurisdiction, we enabled the Working Group to navigate easily through the expanse of information available. Our findings showed that, broadly speaking, current SCTF Standards are technology agnostic. This underpinned the Working Group's conclusion that the Technical Specification was an appropriate way to support a sustained uplift of blockchain technology in the SCTF context.
2.4 Case Study 3: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Task: To prepare a document that briefly summarises the 17 SDGs and describes how Standards may help to achieve or address the strategies identified to fulfil the SDGs.
Purpose: To determine the content of the SDGs and investigate how they could be incorporated into international Standards. This project also looked at how blockchain and Standards could work together to facilitate sustainable development.
Phase 1: Defining the Deliverables and Scope of Inquiry
At the outset of the UN SDGs project, the Working Group set up a working document containing information about the context of the project and the steps to be completed, and a timeline for completing each stage. It also contained clearly labelled tables, into which findings could be inserted, meaning that the work of the Research Team was directly incorporated into the Working Group's draft.
The first step involved reviewing the 17 SDGs, the supporting information and associated analysis, and distilling that content into the table provided. This required clearly setting out each of these goals (see Figure 7) and how Standards could be used to achieve them. The scope of inquiry was limited to information from the Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform,2 a publicly accessible website providing comprehensive information about the SDGs.
Figure 7: SDGs Data Entry.
Phase 2: Smart Data Entry – Review, Synthesise, Analyse
Once we had captured the basic information set out in Figure 7, the next step was to review the accompanying literature, describe a strategy identified by the UN for meeting each goal, and consider how Standards might help to deliver that strategy (see Figure 8 below).
Figure 8: Thinking Deeper, Strategies Identified and How to Achieve Them.
Although this task was more about data entry than research, the researchers still added significant value by exercising judgement, based on our understanding of the capabilities of blockchain technology, as to how blockchain could be applied to advance the agenda of the SDGs.
Phase 3: Outcomes
In response to the Working Group's proposal, the ISO has updated its New Work Item Proposals document, used for the development of international Standards, to include checkboxes identifying which of the SDGs (if any) the proposed Standard will support.
3 Lessons for Researchers
3.1 Reflection: Challenges
Our approach, over the course of more than 12 months, has changed considerably as we learned from our mistakes, became more familiar with the subject matter and, critically, began to identify broadly applicable challenges and opportunities in how we conducted our research. The following are some of the high-level challenges that we encountered:
Ensuring our research findings were globally relevant: The goal is and must always be to produce thorough, up to date information, which is globally applicable, and accounts for future developments in the technology. This is easier said than done in circumstances where uses of and attitudes towards the technology diverge and are continuing to develop.
Transparency throughout the research process: A lack of clarity around task expectations can lead to time inefficiencies and reduce uniformity in how findings are delivered. Despite this, as we found in Case Study 2, working in silos also allows researchers to apply their own mind to a research task, and can generate valuable ideas for optimising findings.
Large volumes of public information: This challenge is the tip of a large and problematic iceberg, which includes difficulties around identifying experts, dealing with a lack of information specific to certain industries and jurisdictions, locating sources which adequately canvass legal and technical aspects, and finding information that is relevant, recent and credible.
Obsolescence of information due to ongoing developments: The field of blockchain and DLT is constantly evolving, giving rise to resource obsolescence (that is, where information in 'traditional', 'authoritative' sources, including books and peer-reviewed journals, quickly becomes out of date, as technologists and regulators continue to break new ground).
Accessing information behind pay walls or in private partnerships: Key experts and information are not always to be found in the public domain, which means researchers must either limit themselves to what is publicly available, or leverage their academic and professional connections to obtain appropriate access to restricted databases.
3.2 Looking Ahead: Opportunities
Reflecting particularly on the case studies described above, we identified a number of opportunities for ensuring our methodologies continue to generate thorough, accurate findings, which add value. Some of the key matters with the potential to improve our approach include:
Identifying key stakeholders: If our research is to produce findings that are useful to the Working Group and to those affected by the Standards it creates, it is critical to speak with stakeholders who have an interest in the development and regulation of blockchain technology. In our case, these stakeholders include:
Experts, who understand both the legal and technical aspects of the technology;
Businesses, which are exploring new ways for the technology to create value for their clients; and
Individuals, who are using the technology in their lives and work.
Identifying key sources: Going forward, a fundamental preliminary step for each task will be identifying source materials that are authoritative and publicly available. As discussed in Case Studies 1 and 2, it is important to approach this step with an open mind, looking at traditional as well as non-traditional sources, which can be equally valuable.
Developing and refining research questions: The goal of breaking down broad research questions into manageable component topics requires effective communication between the Working Group, Research Lead, and Research Team. A modern research team benefits from the coordinated use of modern communication and collaboration methods. Online support tools, such as Google Drive and Slack, enable teams to communicate, share content, work simultaneously on documents, and stay up to date throughout the project life cycle.
Adopting agile processes: There are many ways to manage and offset the challenges of researching fast-moving technologies. This includes undertaking regular fact-checking, discussing broad trends, and being prepared to adapt the approach to making and delivering findings where necessary. Again, support tools like Slack allow teams to share articles, updates, questions and concerns, and to remain agile in how they think about and deliver the fruits of their research. Equally, mixing up the approach, and alternating between working individually and collaboratively, helps to ensure comprehensiveness.
Effective, long-sighted planning: A key aspect of planning is to ask: What information does the Working Group actually need, and how do they want it to be delivered? To be effective, team members need to have context for tasks, be aware of deadlines, and deliver findings in a format that can be understood and used by the Working Group. Arranging a whole-team discussion at the outset of any new task enables researchers to troubleshoot, clarify, and reach mutual understandings about the task instructions, expectations and purpose.
Regular meetings:Even where workflow enters a lull or the team is waiting for further instruction from higher up the pipeline, regular team meetings help everyone to keep abreast of developments, identify challenges and opportunities, and maintain momentum.
3.3 Engaging with Blockchain Users and Researchers
Perhaps paradoxically, there was overlap between many of these challenges and opportunities. This was because each challenge we faced or subsequently identified in turn presented an opportunity to develop and improve our processes. The most significant of these matters was seeking and incorporating input from stakeholders. While Working Groups themselves are comprised of academics and professionals with expertise in the subject area, it is nonetheless important for us to obtain input from a wide range of external stakeholders. For our purposes, these 'external stakeholders' fall into two main groups: users and researchers.
The advantages of identifying and collaborating with users, such as technologists, lawyers, engineers and technology entrepreneurs, are patent. When researching a subject as dynamic as blockchain, interacting with those who are using that technology, often in ways that have the potential to revolutionise industries, is critical to ensuring our findings are truly comprehensive. Equally, as researchers, we have no agenda beyond seeking and acquiring the best information, which generally means that people are happy to speak to us, sharing their views with candour and generosity.
Perhaps the greatest opportunity we have identified for improving our efficacy and experience as researchers lies in engaging with the latter group: other researchers. By working together, researchers affiliated with different organisations, from the public, private, not-for-profit and education sectors are able to:
share information, resources and space;
increase efficiencies by avoiding duplication in research efforts;
concentrate efforts on bigger questions by building larger, more diverse teams; and
work collaboratively to generate greater value more quickly.
There are many examples of blockchain research partnerships. At Stanford University, members of the engineering, law, and economics faculties created the Stanford Center for Blockchain Research, which is sponsored by six leading organisations in the blockchain space. The Center was born out of the need for a focused research effort on crypto-currencies and blockchain technologies. In Australia, similar interdisciplinary research consortia include the RMIT University Blockchain Innovation Hub, as well as periodic meet-ups, such as the Sydney Node of the Computational Law and Blockchain Festival. Our Research Team has benefitted from chances to meet and work with experts and researchers by attending Working Group and ISO Meetings. Such meetings have allowed us to share insights and resources, and to improve efficiencies across multiple projects. Going forward, we will continue to grow our network of research partners, starting with our professional and academic circles and building from there.
3.4 Some Wisdom for Blockchain Researchers
If we, as researchers, are to continue to provide meaningful support to the development of Standards in the field of emerging technologies, our methodologies must include, as a guiding principle, the ability and inclination to evolve. We have distilled all we have learned into three areas for development, which we recommend to other researchers in this field:
Adopt an authority agnostic approach to the literature: Remain flexible in approaching tasks, developing methodologies, and selecting 'authoritative' source materials. A document's value lies as much in what it tells us about perceptions of the technology, as in the legal or technological facts it establishes.
Work with stakeholders: This includes both users and research partners. The former helps to inform and guide research; the latter expands resources and increases exposure to different and more effective research practices. Look beyond the diverse mix of the Working Group to users and researchers from a range of sectors. In each case, these people and groups can bring new, diverse and valuable perspectives to your research.
Communicate: With the Working Group, with stakeholders, and, most importantly, with your fellow research team members. It might seem obvious, but communication is the simplest way to ensure your team is being as efficient as possible and that precious volunteer time is well spent. Equally, understanding the needs, aims and constraints of the people delegating the tasks is critical to delivering findings that will inform and enhance the documents for which they were intended.
Researchers play a pivotal role in supporting the development of Standards for DLT-enabled technologies. We have found that valuable findings come to light as a result of implementing responsive and adaptable methodologies, which leave room for researchers to be guided by their own knowledge and interpretation of a given question or area. This attitude must be balanced against the need for continuous engagement with the Working Group and external stakeholders, and the duty to provide findings that are both informed and informative. Looking beyond the ever-expanding universe of blockchain and DLT, it remains paramount for those researching and drafting Standards to remember that international Standards should encourage global participation, so research should be undertaken and findings prepared with a global audience in mind.
Comparing the broad research process outlined in Figure 2 to the nuanced approaches taken in each of the case studies, it becomes clear that there is no precise playbook for conducting research in the context of Standards. The steps we outline are instead more of a checklist, to remind our Research Team and other researchers of the importance of approaching tasks with rigour and an open mind. Our specific methodologies are examples that can be used to guide future research projects. Broadly speaking, however, the cornerstones of our methodology are straight forward: clear communication, timetabled sprints, iterative information gathering processes, delivering concise findings, and qualifying outcomes to account for the impossibility of ever totally 'covering the field'.
The authors would like to thank Dr Pip Ryan, guest editor of this special issue of the Journal of ICT Standardization and chair of the Smart Contracts Working Group (TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies). Dr Ryan's support for young lawyers, who have an interest in Legal Tech and a curiosity about how to unite the aims of law, sustainability and commercial efficiency, is a continuing source of inspiration and encouragement.
[1] X. Xu, I. Weber, M. Staples, "Architecture for Blockchain Applications", Springer International Publishing, 2019.
[2] Blockchain: The New Technology of Trust, Goldman Sachs, Insights, 17 July 2017 https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/blockchain/.
[3] Blockchain is coming everywhere, ready or not, Bloomberg, Research and Analysis, 1 October 2018 https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/blockchain-coming-everywhere-ready-not/.
[4] C. Henly, S. Hartnett, B. Endemann, B. Tejblum, D.S. Cohen, "Energizing the Future with Blockchain", Energy Law Journal, 39, 197–232, 2018.
[5] C. Leonard, "Blocking the Blockchain", International Financial Law Review, April 2016, 35, 58–59, 2016.
[6] E. Koehn, "Regulators have 'missed the boat' on ICO rules, experts warn", Sydney Morning Herald, 1 February 2019.
[7] SA, "Australia to Lead International Blockchain Standards Committee", Sydney, Australia: Standards Australia, 15 September 2016 https://www.standards.org.au/news/australia-to-lead-international-blockchain-standards-committee.
Madeleine Maslin is a commercial litigation lawyer at Australian law firm, Lander and Rogers. Prior to this role, she was Tipstaff to the Honourable Justice Robertson Wright in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Madeleine holds a Bachelor of Arts (French; Media Communications) and Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. While at Melbourne Law School, she designed and built a legal app for national charity, Justice Connect. The app, which provides not-for-profit organisations with information about tax concessions, was launched on Justice Connect's website in 2017. Madeleine is a member of the Neota Logic Alumni Association and has been volunteering as a researcher for the Smart Contracts Working Group since early 2018.
Millicent Watt is a Construction (Major Projects) paralegal at Australia's first global law firm, Baker McKenzie. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and Laws (Hons) from Macquarie University. In 2016, Millicent contributed to the Blockchain Creative Clusters, a workshop program held over several months, held at the University of Technology Sydney. Since 2017, she has been freelancing as a researcher in emerging tech and regulation, and began volunteering as a researcher in the Smart Contracts Working Group in early 2018.
Christopher Yong is a corporate and commercial lawyer at the Australian law firm, Holding Redlich, and holds a B BUS LLB (Hons 1) from the University of Technology Sydney. His research thesis considered the likely impacts smart contracts would have on civil litigation in Australia. Christopher co-founded the University of Technology's Blockchain Creative Cluster, a workshop program held over several months, in 2015 and has been the Research Team Lead of the Smart Contacts Working Group since 2017. He leads four Australian-trained lawyers to provide research, analytical and administrative support for the development of globally recognised standards for Smart Contracts. Christopher is also the co-author of a symposium report published in Stanford's Journal of Blockchain Law and Policy.


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NextDegrassi Recap: Get It Together (1417)
Degrassi Power Rankings: 1417
Kary on July 24, 2015
1) Frankie Hollingsworth (PREVIOUS RANK: #1)
2) Zig Novak (—)
3) Clare Edwards (#5)
Clare's final storyline begins. How will she handle the loss of her child?
4) Becky Baker (#7)
Becky's storyline was entertaining as we see her start to break out of her naive shell and develop a mind of her own.
5) Maya Matlin (#3)
6) Imogen Moreno (—)
7) Eli Goldsworthy (#8)
8) Zoë Rivas (#4)
9) Lola Pacini (—)
10) Tiny King (—)
11) Miles Hollingsworth (—)
12) Grace Cardinal (—)
13) Jack (—)
14) Hunter Hollingsworth (—)
15) Jonah Haak (#19)
Kudos to Jonah for sticking to his guns. The fact he also seems to be hiding his past finally makes him intriguing.
16) Alli Bhandari (#15)
17) Mike Dallas (#18)
18) Tristan Milligan (#21)
19) Drew Torres (#16)
Oh Drew, how the mighty have fallen.
20) Winston Chu (#17)
21) Shay Powers (#20)
22) Connor DeLaurier (#24)
"I just calculate the risk and act accordingly." AND THE PLOT THICKENS AS CONNOR MOVES UP THE LADDER…
23) Jenna Middleton (#22)
24) Arlene Takahashi (#23)
baloneyman July 25, 2015 at 9:29 am
It's like Connor, Alli, and Jenna don't really have anything to do in 14B.
pocksuppet July 25, 2015 at 3:21 pm
I'm glad that Alli hasn't been given much to do. She had a lot of screentime in Season 13. That's the way it should be with all of the characters: if they get a lot of screentime in one season, then they should get less the following season. There's absolutely no excuse for the lack of Connor and Jenna, though. The big problem is that all of the subplots keep going to characters who already have a lot of A-plots this season.
Degrassi Recap: Get It Together (1417)
Degrassi Promo 1419: I Wanna Be Adored

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Many thanks to Invisible Movement for sharing this.
by Chris Moriates
Fresh off another successful session, L.A.'s original funk-punk act reaches higher ground with a clear conscience.
Driving down Santa Monica Blvd, in his silver 2001 Porsche Carrera, listening to classical music on Loyola Marymount College station KXLU, Anthony Kiedis feels alive. He feels good about his day.
It's a beautiful spring-like afternoon and he's just left Village Recorders, the recording studio in Santa Monica where some of the work for the new Red Hot Chili Peppers' album titled By The Way and slated for a July 9 release — – is being done. He has plans to go to the Troubadour in Hollywood later tonight to see The Mars Volta, one of his favorite new live bands. This is the type of stuff that Kiedis, a former heroin addict, gets high on nowadays. But it hasn't really been such smooth sailing lately for this Venice-local-turned-rock-superstar, who is going through a slow and painful separation with his long-time girlfriend. It is an experience that is teaching a now 39-year-old Kiedis life lessons that he has not had to face before, and according to him the evidence is in the lyrics.
"When I started writing songs in the '80s, I certainly was not interested in writing about relationships. I wanted to write songs that were attention getting," Kiedis explains. "But lately I've just been writing whatever comes in my head. I've never felt comfortable writing love songs, but it's sneaking in there. When I read my lyrics I can see where she is the initial point."
Kiedis recorded most of his vocals for the new album, which is the follow-up to 1999's landmark Californication, in a hotel room at the historical Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd. This way he can get more of a home feel without bringing all of the equipment and engineers to his actual house.
The tail end of the recording process this time around was difficult for Kiedis because he felt bogged down by the quantity of musical material that guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith had recorded.
"We wrote too many songs and I just can't even tell if it's good anymore." Kiedis says with a hint of frustration. "I am feeling pretty over-the-moon about this new album, but I'm a little more freaked out because I have lost all perspective at this point. There are days when I think that it is the greatest thing we've ever done and then there are days when I feel like this is just going to die in the water."
It's obvious that the pressures of following-up the multi-platinum Californication has began to take its toll on the Chili Peppers.
During the last few months of recording, Kiedis had been writing lyrics constantly; some ended up on matchbooks or napkins and some neatly organized in a notebook. He says that he was in such a songwriting mode that everything he wrote down was in song form.
However, through the overwhelmed confusion, Kiedis shows signs of excitement over the new material, notably the song "Don't Forget Me," which he calls a cornerstone of the new record. The song has been performed live once at the Silverlake Silverlining Benefit that the Chili Peppers headlined, but Malls predicts that it will be performed as a show opener for at least the next three years.
"This song is just so huge and powerful." Kiedis says, trying to put words to something that he feels passionately about. "It's my idea of what God is and what life is and what this whole picture is all about. It's just everything everywhere and the good and the bad and the in-between."
The song opens with bass-strummed-chords, which sets a powerful mood for the rest of the tune. The sound is distinctly the Chili Peppers, yet it offers something original and different through the arrangement. A new addition to the trademark Chili Pepper sound has been the gradual integration of keyboards. Frusciante has been including keyboards and electronic effects in the mix, possibly inspired by his solo work experimentation as seen on his album To Record Only Water For Ten Days.
The guitarist, who has never driven a car or had a credit card in his life, can almost be classified as a savant. According to Kiedis, Frusciante needs music like most people need air or water.
"He needs music to constantly surround him," Kiedis explained, referring to Frusciante as one of the best modern-day guitarists in the world. "While we all take a vacation in the Caribbean he stays in his room and records a solo album, because that's what he has to do; that's just what makes him happy. That's his vacation."
The Chill Peppers have also begun exploring the possibilities of different vocal harmonies for their new songs. The group began to add harmonics on Californication, but that was only the beginning. "It's like the Bee Gees meet the Beach Boys on this record," Kiedis quips, letting that sly, almost-sinister-looking smile creep across his lips under the unshaven veil of black whiskers.
It is their constant evolution and reinvention that has kept the Chili Peppers one of the most relevant bands in rock for the past decade. While maintaining a distinct sound, the group has altered its music as often as Kiedis' chameleon-like hairstyles, which have ranged from the long straight hair of the "Under the Bridge" days to mohawks on their last world tour to the current in-between jagged cut.
However, another important aspect of the Chili Peppers is their ability to never bend or dilute their art at the pressures of the industry or the music of the moment. "We had certain assholes at record companies tell us that you should shorten this song or double that chorus early on," Kiedis recalls with a sneer. "On our fourth record we had this squirrelly little A&R guy that actually got in there and changed the arrangement of a song, which drove me crazy. He was saying that this song will get on the radio if you do it like this and we were like, 'We wrote it like this, it has to stay like this.' In the end we did two versions and neither of them got on the radio. We did bow and break to his pressure on that one point and I always hated him for it and now I still have a job and he doesn't." That same sly smile reappears.
The strength of the Chili Peppers comes in the chemistry between each member. Friends from high school, Flea and Kiedis are inseparable. The group feels that they are all on a common path now, trying to be in love with music and life and their experiences being in the band. They feel blessed to have Frusciante back in the group after his disappearance into the depths of heroin a few years ago.
"We've never discussed anything or had any pre-writing plans," Kiedis said. "We just go for it and because our chemistry is so good, we've never had to stop and say, 'Hey. wait a second, this isn't happening, let's rethink this.'"
Kiedis claims that he has recently found a spiritual side. He grew up thinking that he was an atheist but has realized that it didn't really work for him. 'After a lifetime of taking drugs and being self-centered and selfish and taking as much as possible while giving as little as I could get away with, I was left feeling empty and I was forced to discover a spiritual lifestyle, if you can call it that," he said. "It was basically getting rid of all of my old ideas and starting to look at ideas of packing something into the stream of life, what can I give rather than what can I take." He also feels ready for children of his own, thinking that he would make a good father, despite the fact that his childhood was a bit twisted. He grew up in Los Angeles in the '70s under the loose supervision of a dad who turned him on to drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll at the ripe age of 12. His father was an actor, so Kiedis, who looked up to his father with all the admiration and awe in the world, quickly followed suit, landing a few early acting jobs. He mimicked his dad in everything from acting to drugs. The realization came later that his dad was actually introducing him to things that could kill him. It was an epiphany that his father was not the superhuman, infallible man that he once thought, but instead was a human struggling through his own life and doing the best he could with his son. But Kiedis feels that he can learn from his experience to be a better influence on his own future children.
"It is my experience that every generation gets a little better with the rearing of the family and kids." Kiedis said. "I know that my grandfather was a real bastard. A lot of physical and emotional abuse. He loved my father but he used to really torment him and scare the shit out of him. So my dad moved out to California to get away from that world and he did the best he could with me. He didn't want to subject me to any of the abuse or coldness or disconnection that he had with his father, but he went pretty extreme and we were best friends. Maybe I can learn from that and refine it and be a better father. But that's just a theory. Give me a kid and who knows what will happen."
Sometimes, however the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as Kiedis found through his many earlier bouts with drug addiction. Despite the loss of his best friend Hillel Slovak to drugs and the realizations he had with his father, the mindset of a drug addict took over as Kiedis searched for that Godly feeling that he could only find at the time through drug use.
"Being a drug addict only served my creativity for a very short time and then it worked against it, because I just wanted to be productive and drugs consumed my time and energy," Kiedis explained. "So, I can honestly say that being clean has been the biggest boost to my creativity. There is a high in being clean."
Kiedis is re-energized these days. He is a new man rather than the kid that unwittingly fell into the music industry 20 years ago. He now drinks herbal teas and, according to him, gets high on the idea of friendships and simple things like breathing or being able to enter that small booth set-up at the Chateau Marmont and sing on music that he believes in. And he is ready to show the world.
"I don't watch MTV anymore; I stopped watching it a long time ago and I don't know what it is but I'm not drawn to it," he said. "But I'm still going to make a video and hope that they play it, believe in what we do and I am all for shoving it down the throats of the young kids out there. If these kids are used to getting a soul less pop dribble on their plate everyday, I'm not afraid to give them something that I can offer them."


Taking a trip to West Palm Beach? You'll be amazed at the sunny skies, history, and beautiful scenery of this city.
West Palm Beach has so much to offer and has neighboring cities, Jupiter and Juno Beach that offer even more.
Whether you're spending a week or just a quick weekend here, you'll love the vibes it gives.
The fanciest street in West Palm Beach! Think Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. If this street is good for anything, it's people watching…and spending all your money.
The up and coming neighborhood filled with neat restaurants (Grilled Cheese Factory) and shops. Go for lunch or dinner and take a quick stroll afterwards to explore.
Go, learn, and even participate in sea life conservation. During the months of June & July they offer guided turtle walks to see nesting turtle close up!
Provides amazing views once you climb the 130+ steps up this 1860 lighthouse! Explore the land and hear about the great history at this Florida gem.
The Palm Beaches is the spring training location for the Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals during the months of February and March.
Their menu revolves around avocado and seafood!
Fun outdoor seating at the end of the West Palm Beach strip where you can experience the street life, listen to good music, and have some cold drinks. Their menu offers a little of everything for everyone.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with all the candy and ice cream you could dream of! The shop is decorated entirely in sweets and pink!
A place you want to be for a French inspired breakfast. Think crepes and croissants with a cup of your morning coffee.
Such a fun small food joint offering AMAZING grilled Mac-n-cheese sandwiches and Instagram-worthy desserts.
Not your traditional burger joint. Worth the trip!
Fresh salads and sandwiches and a cute but small breakfast menu. Reminds me of a mom-and-pop panera bread! Same with the fresh baked good, but different with it's own unique vibe.
I love a good coffee shop, and this is one!
We couldn't have been happier with our stay at this Marriott on Singer Island. The beach was beautiful and the 1-bedroom condo we rented was where family vacations should always be! (Why can't all hotel rooms come with kitchens, washers, and dryers?!) There were daily and hourly activities by the kid's pool, including a slide we couldn't keep the kids off of, hair braiding, candy creations, and much more. They have a Kid's Club to visit for arts and crafts to get out of the sun for a bit. If you don't have the entire family with you, there is an adult pool, fire pits to sit around at night with your honey and a glass of wine, and a luxury spa.
The resort you think about when you hear West Palm Beach! This historical resort offers so much for couples and families; pools, restaurants, and activities for kids of all ages.
Known for their luxurious spa, but also offers play for the kids with their Aquanots Kid's program and Rockstar Teen Program.


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What Are The Major Sports Offices?
October 4, 2021 adminfra
Athletics has many different definitions but can be loosely grouped into four main divisions. Aesthetics and sportsmanship are the major components of athletic endeavors. Aesthetics refer to a person's ability to participate in the sport as well as the skill, technique, and physical characteristics that make a certain activity challenging and enjoyable. Sportsmanship involves fair play, honest competition, and mutual respect between competitors. There are several types of athletics, but they are divided into four main divisions.
A large portion of this list includes track and field events which have been around since the ancient Olympics. Jumping started athletics become popular in the 1820's and was first recognized by the United States Track and Field Association. A very similar sport to track and field is basketball wherein players jump off of a platform or up against a wall to make baskets. Basketball is now the most popular sport in the world and several international competitions have been held each year.
Swimming and diving began as early as the 7th century B.C. and are both part of aquatic sports. Diving is focused on being able to utilize air power, while swimming is all about using body resistance and buoyancy to propel oneself from one place to another. Swimming and diving are the only two competitive Olympic sports. These are both separated into three divisions: men's swimming and men's water polo.
Track athletics refer to the different athletic disciplines which include sprinting, hurdles, jumping, pole vault, and tennis. The two most famous athletes who have become household names in this field are Usain Bolt andabo Braun. Track and field has been one of the most competitive sports in the world with millions of dollars wagered on individual events. Other common athletic events in track and field are swimming, cycling, wrestling, baseball, soccer, bowling, wrestling, and fencing.
In the world of track athletics, there are many sports with the same venue such as the javelin and the pole vault. Pole vault and shot put are two of the most well known athletic events. Archery and badminton are other notable events. Badminton is the most popular game among male swimmers and badminton players are ranked separately from other swimmers. The hammer throw and discus throw are the two longest throws in history, while the longest shot put throw and the highest archery records have recently been challenged by swimmers.
Weightlifting and gymnastics are two other important sports which are growing in popularity. Weightlifting includes bodybuilding and weightlifting is also included in the list of Olympics sports. The women have also taken part in weightlifting and the men have joined the ranks of athletes participating in gymnastics.
A Review of Info Sport
The Sports Report From ATH


If you're big day is coming and you know that all the eyes will be on you. This is the day when every bride wants to look the perfect without any flaw. The thing which first marks your impression is your skin. In this article, we will tell you the 5 amazing ways that make your skin glow before wedding. If you skin will not be good then no makeup and no concealer will work on your skin, so must work on these tips before your wedding.
The first step which can make your skin glow is to drink a lot of water as much as you can. This is the first and the most perfect step to get a shine on your skin because it wouldn't keep you dehydrated which works best for skin. If you are getting married in summer season then must go for watermelons as much as you can. Watermelons work best for breakfast and after that, you can have its juice in evening.
When you decide to get married, try to work on your skin from that day. The best time to start on the skin in before 3 months of your marriage because skin tissues work as the slowest tissues. Skin always takes times so you need to take care of your skin almost before 3 months. The 3 months therapy is needed because brides are loaded with handling pressures of family, friends, clothes etc. They forget to take care of the skin and in the end, results are disappointing.
A month before your wedding day, try to get good facials on weekly basis. They wouldn't let down your skin and your skin will glow at the wedding day if you will go for some good face facials. These facials help you in growing your hormones and blood circulation, and these both steps are much required for the flawless skin.
If your age is above 25 then you need to do exfoliate your skin daily. Exfoliate is the method in which you massage your skin on daily basis. For this thing, we just need a good face wash or some good face oil. You just need to massage it into daily 3 times or 2 times. Try to get some massage of your body daily, it will also work for your skin.
Good sleep is the biggest essential of human health and I guess good sleep works for every department of human bodies either it is skin, muscles or any other part. Same is the case with skin and if you want glowing skin then you need of 7-8 hours daily sleep otherwise you cannot achieve good skin goal. Sleep relaxes your body and no beauty treatment can work like the way sleep works for a human. If you aren't getting good sleep then forget to have good skin.
Thinking of Starting a Wedding Planning Business? 6 Things to Keep in Mind!


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Alberto Boquin
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Alberto Boquin is a senior research analyst with Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, working with the company's global fixed-income team. Prior to joining Brandywine Global in June 2016, he was a global currency strategist with J.P. Morgan Asset Management (2011-2016). Previously, Boquin worked as a Latin America fixed-income strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (2006-2011). He earned his B.A. in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale University and is a CFA charterholder.
Commodities key to finding fixed-income deals in emerging markets
Alberto Boquin of Brandywine Global Investment Management says there's been a lot of talk about a coming commodity super cycle; the only thing missing is investment


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Best books for Christmas
Clapham author Julie Anderson reveals the top novels to buy this Christmas
If you're looking for a thought provoking and ultimately heart warming story, try The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Canongate, £8.99). An attempted suicide brings the depressed and lonely Nora Seed to a limitless library in which each book is another version of her life. She can be Nora, Olympic medallist or Arctic explorer, Nora the successful wife and mother or Nora the rock star, depending on the different choices she has made during her life. If Nora wishes she can step into and stay within any of them, but which to choose and why? Speculative fiction that celebrates the ordinary, something it shares with Capra's quintessential Christmas movie It's a Wonderful Life.
For something darker and wittier, there's The Manningtree Witches, debut novel of poet AK Blakemore (Granta, £8.99) and short listed for the Costa First Novel Award 2021. This fictional account of the Essex witch trials of 1643 during the English Civil War is written from the point of view of the persecuted women and adroitly skewers the persecutors with earthy and exquisite language. Rebecca is the daughter of the poor and belligerent Beldam West and she has taught herself to observe her fellow villagers so as to anticipate trouble approaching. Newcomer Matthew Hopkins, about to launch his infamous witch-finding career, attracts her attention immediately. Blakemore takes names from the documents and creates living, breathing characters, ordinary folk caught up in extraordinary events as the trials begin. Enjoy them.
Further back in time and into the realms of mythology is Madeleine Millar's Circe (Bloomsbury, £8.99). First published in 2019 when it was shortlisted for many prizes, if you haven't caught up with it yet try its shape-shifting, spell-binding magic this Christmas. Circe 'the witch' is no longer a footnote to the Odyssey, here she is centre stage as she comes to terms with her own power of enchantment and begins to love humans rather than the gods from whom she is sprung. Voyaging across ancient seas, just as the book navigates through the stories we read as children, of gods and monsters, heroes and petty deities, whirlpools and war, our protagonist is one who has endured the suffering of those unwanted and feared and has learned wisdom. We learn it with her. This is a poignant and sad, but ultimately triumphant book.
Another enchantress, but in contemporary California, Tilo is the title character in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's debut novel The Mistress of Spices (Doubleday £8.99). Administering spices, magical healing and wisdom to the Indian diaspora, both wealthy and poor, we learn of her background, like something out of legend, sea serpents, pirates and the island. Her story is interwoven with those of the people she helps, until a lonely American comes into her store and she cannot read his desire. Will the spices permit her a transgression? A love story, this is also a book about immigration and assimilation into a new and different culture, as well as the call of the past. Read it eating mince pies or after Christmas pudding.
A mill village in Derbyshire is the setting for Hilary Mantel's masterpiece Fludd (Harper Collins, £8.99) its northern grimness alleviated by the sharp black wit with which it is drawn. Written long before the Wolf Hall trilogy this novel inhabits a world shrouded in moorland fog and dour, antique morality. We meet the dusty and faith-less parish priest Father Angwen, anxious only to avoid the Bishop's eye and the young Irish nun Philomena, desperate for freedom and a decent meal who attracts the enmity of the demonic Mother Perpetua. Late on a dark night full of rattling rain, a visitor arrives at the priest's house. Father Fludd, a curate, brings cheroots, coffee and a sensation indescribable to many of the villagers, but which some will eventually recognise. Is he only a curate or is he really the Bishop's spy? Absurd, true and joyous, this is a remarkable and magical book at any time of year.
Folk tales have their own magic but they also promulgate the received truths of their time, something which Clapham resident Angela Carter slyly turned upside down in her The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (Vintage, £8.99). Delicious and dark, sensual and baroque, her 1979 retelling of classic folk tales like Bluebeard, Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast has never been out of print. The progenitor of films such as Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves, these inventive, original and luscious stories still surprise and delight the reader. Their language is precise, evocative and intoxicating. The Imagination takes flight, but also swoops low and rootles around in the dark places, where secrets and the things unspoken of lurk. A book for reading by the hearth, with the wind whistling outside.
Julie Anderson's latest novel is Oracle (Claret Press, £9.99). She lives in Clapham and helps organise the Clapham Book Festival.
Fantastic Christmas light displays
Best crime fiction books
Clapham Book Festival: Elizabeth Buchan
Jocelyn Merivale: A Brush with Distinction


We begin this week with a conversation about statistics with Russ Rader, VP of Communications at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. What we learn is that there is a lot of research going on to help stakeholders such as insurance companies, automobile manufacturers, and government learn about what things do and don't work to make drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists safer. And, there is a LOT of useful information available on the site!
Russ and I talk about the increase in cyclists' fatalities, what might have happened with the autonomous vehicle that struck and killed the pedestrian walking her bike across the street, and what recommendations are being made to change the behavior of distracted drivers.
Then, it's off to Texas to talk with Officer (Lt.) Wren Nealy. Wren is the president of IPMBA – The International Police Mountain Bike Association. He's also an EMT with the Cypress Creek EMS, and a retired Police Lieutenant. Once again, the conversation goes to safety, how bicycle patrols work, and what cyclists should remember while on the road. And, we talk about the bike medic response team!
Lastly, Dr. Albert Rizzo, Senior Medical Advisor, American Lung Association and Section Chief, Pulmonary Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark DE, explains what IPF – Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is and how it is often misdiagnosed. It's another disease that affects mostly men – and in the prime of their lives.


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Arabic Evangelism
Bible Teachings
The Effect of Covid on Israeli Families
It's an intense time we're living in. It's not the first time things have been so critical, and it certainly won't be the last,...
Moving Kings and Kingdoms
The God who moves kings and kingdoms has not stopped doing so. We are seeing nations shift, peace treaties established, and alliances develop at an...
What will Peace with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bring?
In a surprising development, Israel and the UAE have made a peace deal, resulting in much joy but also controversy. What will it mean...
Love Your Neighbor, Love Your Enemy: Israel Sends Aid
"This is the time to transcend conflict", wrote Israel's army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, in Arabic. In a tragedy of huge proportions, Beirut has just...
Amazing Evidence of the Kingdom of Judah Found in Jerusalem!
We've read about Hezekiah, Menashe and the Kingdom of Judah in the Bible, but now archaeologists are digging up ancient treasures from the time they...
Does God See Race?
The furore about race that has taken the world by storm may have started in a despicable way, but it has opened up conversations...
Government Minister Tries to Ban Messianic TV!
As those behind the new Shelanu Messianic TV channel can tell you, Israel can run roughshod over the rights of those who love Jesus...
Like the First Passover
The people of Israel are confined to their homes, waiting for the plague to pass... reminiscent of the very first Passover three and a...
The Spiritual Workout of Coronavirus
We are all getting a glimpse of what we're really made of. When the Coronavirus crisis hit, how did you respond? Have you been the...
The Torah Singles Out Resurrection Sunday!
Free Passover Downloadables!


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Gongol.com > Radio > Show Notes > 2018 > February 3, 2018
"With freedom is born responsibility. If we are not free -- if what we do is the result of natural laws, inexorable forces beyond our control -- then we are not responsible." - Jonathan Sacks
Brian Gongol Show on WHO Radio - February 3, 2018
Segment 1:
BUT FIRST: The stock market isn't the economy
Stock market falls by 2%
It's a pretty dramatic decline, and a reminder that the stock market isn't the economy and the economy isn't the stock market. A one-day decline of 2% isn't sustainable and rarely reflects more than the animal spirits taking over the market. But in fairness, the stock market has been overpriced for a while, according to any conventional and rational sense of valuation.
4th quarter economic productivity slipped by 0.1%
It's on an annualized rate, so the figure itself isn't big. But the stock market isn't the economy, and the economy isn't the stock market. Stagnant or declining productivity is not a good bellwether for economic strength, no matter what the S&P 500 is doing. The economy and the stock market have been on totally different paths since 2008 -- the economy fell by something around 5%, and has subsequently grown by a total of maybe 20%. The stock market, by contrast, plunged by 50%, and has since doubled.
"Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful"
Warren Buffett's axiom applies today, when the World Economic Forum review of global risks rates virtually no concerns over economic conditions.
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta forecasts wildly optimistic economic growth rate
5.4% GDP growth would be fantastic, but there's no way to call it realistic. The fundamental underpinnings to support sustained growth at that rate aren't there.
Segment 2: (8 min)
The changing American household
A Pew research piece says that 31.9% of American adults live in households containing an adult who isn't the head of household, a spouse or partner, or an adult child of roughly ordinary college age. Of note: "Today, 14% of adults living in someone else's household are a parent of the household head, up from 7% in 1995."
Living snow fence is a great way to control snow. Plant trees one year, or put up snow fence every year. These arborvitae and shrubs were planted in 2012 and were stopping snow even before this year. Great wildlife habitat as well, especially if combined with some native grasses pic.twitter.com/VC45bqWXG6
— Doug Adams (@farmerdoug93) January 29, 2018
An early-1900s farming textbook I have talks about the importance of planting evergreens on the north and west sides of a farmstead to provide protection from prevailing winter winds. This is a great modern extension of good old advice.
Anytime you're given the option to make a decision with lasting, durable benefits instead of taking the temporary way out, it's worth running the life-cycle cost analysis. Or, in other words, what's worth doing is worth doing well.
Segment 3: (14 min)
The week in technology
Fallout from fake followers
Movie columnist Richard Roeper, exposed in a recent news report as one of the celebrities who purchased fake Twitter followers, has reached an agreement with the Chicago Sun-Times (his employer) to delete his old Twitter account and start over. Roeper's statement includes the line "On a number of occasions, in an effort to build my brand, I bought Twitter followers." The rules of the game are pretty fuzzy right now: Media outlets want "brand-name" presenters, hosts, columnists, and even journalists -- but the whole idea of "building a personal brand" is largely in conflict with the idea of institutional standards in journalism. Buying fake Twitter followers is a pretty sketchy thing to do, but when the reward structure inside conventional media puts a premium on digital reach, individual journalists are probably going to try it. There aren't a whole lot of clean hands in the commodity-clicks universe.
China's "Belt and Road" includes a media component
The head of China's Xinhua news agency is shown meeting with the prime minister of Laos to discuss "media cooperation". As Ely Ratner of the Council on Foreign Relations notes, "China exporting illiberalism and censorship in Asia. Expect much more 'media cooperation' under Belt and Road." If we're not a part of what's happening in the Asia-Pacific region, we shouldn't expect liberty and freedom to fill the void -- not with China's present leadership and the incentive structures they face. As Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore used to say, "To achieve the modernization of China, her Communist leaders are prepared to try all and every method, except for democracy with one person and one vote in a multi-party system."
Is "Redfish" a Russian-funded propaganda operation?
The Daily Beast says the "grassroots" media organization is an offshoot of RT. Programming ought to be accompanied by an NPR-style sponsorship liner: "Support for this program is provided by...parties who would rather remain nameless, but whose interests coincide with sowing the maximum possible division within Western societies."
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
If they're really greasing light poles in Philadelphia in anticipation of the Super Bowl, I hope they're using biodegradable materials -- might we suggest something corn- or soy-based?
Stop the deliberate ignorance
Social media ought to mark the end of the vox pop
The "vox pop" (from "vox populi" -- basically, the "man on the corner" interview) has always been a weak spot in journalism. Tying it to easily-manipulated social media buzz only makes that worse. But that's what's happening -- news sources make stories out of the quantity of public reaction to items in social media. But in a time when it's become clear just how enormous and widespread the problem of bot contamination is, news organizations ought to put a stake in the heart of the vox pop altogether.
Contrary to popular opinion
A $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan
Briefly hinted at the State of the Union, a giant proposal that ought to have some attention. $1.5 trillion is around $4,600 per American. We probably need to spend that much (or more) on a wide range of infrastructure projects, but the needs range widely and call for a lot of technocratic judgment. Saying you'll spend $1.5 trillion on infrastructure is like saying you're going to lose 100 lbs. The admission means you probably need to do it, but it matters a great deal whether you're really changing your lifestyle or just banking it all on a two-week juice cleanse. Low interest rates today are a stupendous incentive to borrow for the long term on work that would have lasting value, but whenever "infrastructure" projects are done as a means of putting people to work, the work that is done may not be an efficient use of the capital.
Levees
Hazmat facilities
Water mains
Stormwater basins
Floodwalls
Why do "roads and bridges" get all the attention? #infrastructure
— Brian Gongol (@briangongol) February 3, 2018
Meredith completes acquisition of Time
In an interesting historical footnote, Des Moines was once the home to Look Magazine, which was intended to be a rival to Life Magazine. Life is long-gone, but its name lingers as part of the "Time Life" direct-mail media company.
"Groundhog Day" was released 25 years ago -- February 12, 1993. It is a great film -- not "Casablanca" great, but great in the sense that it's fun to re-watch anytime, has great memorable lines ("Ned Ryerson!" and "Don't drive angry!" among them), and tells a classic morality tale of redemption.
Reading a set of terms and conditions. Thought the text looked ridiculously small on screen. Copied the PDF into a Word document. Word count: 4,027. Page count: 1.
Clean up after yourself
Facebook resists judging news sources
Mark Zuckerberg, on a quarterly call with stock analysts: "We don't want to assess by ourselves which sources are trustworthy. I think that's not a situation that or a position that we're comfortable with ourselves." It's rather like Zuckerberg has never met anyone outside his immediate psychographic profile. This "wisdom of crowds"/techno-utopian mindset has to go.
Have a little empathy
Omaha-area grocery store won't sell Tide Pods to under-21s
Isn't there some non-toxic, non-staining, extremely bitter flavor additive that could be added to the external gel of these laundry packs? Wouldn't that be the logical step for Tide and others to take? There were more than 10,000 incidents reported to poison-control centers last year involving children ages 5 and under. As a convenience, laundry packs have tremendous merit. But if there's a reasonable way the manufacturers could offset the hazard of ingestion (whether intentional or accidental), then it's worth asking what stands in the way. All of the buzz is about teenagers consuming them intentionally, but that's happened around 100 times this year -- whereas accidental ingestion by little people happens orders of magnitude more often.
I'm not from the camp that says business has to obsess over "corporate social responsibility", but I also bristle a little at the idea that there's a difference between business ethics and ethics generally. So while in theory I'm on board with Milton Friedman's axiom that a business has one responsibility, which is to make profits, I also think that we have individual responsibilities to do the right and ethical thing that are borne out when we act -- even in business.
Cleveland to retire Chief Wahoo from uniforms after this season
File under: It's about time. Everyone knows that tastes and mores change over time, and sometimes that requires adjusting our present-day reality to match the changes. Does it mean some cultural icons might get sacrificed along the way? Sure. But anyone who is more attached to the rendering of a mascot of a baseball team than to scrubbing pretty blatant racism from the present really ought to adjust their understanding of what's important. We should be happy to take a path toward getting better about how we treat one another.
21st Century conservatism
We should play no part in our own division
Sen. John McCain's statement is perfect: "The latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests -- no party's, no president's, only Putin's. The American people deserve to know all of the facts surrounding Russia's ongoing efforts to subvert our democracy, which is why Special Counsel Mueller's investigation must proceed unimpeded. Our nation's elected officials, including the president, must stop looking at this investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows. If we continue to undermine our own rule of law, we are doing Putin's job for him." Just because people don't understand the actions being taken against us doesn't mean they're not real. Just because we don't want to believe that we're susceptible to attack via means ranging from influence campaigns to cyberwarfare doesn't mean we're invincible. And just because it's easy to fall into a divisive and tribalistic culture of internal division doesn't mean we can sustain a republic that way. We need vigorous and intelligent debate, far-sighted approaches to big problems, and a sense that we can be of different opinions without being enemies of our fellow Americans. It's an offense against the republic that the President terrorizes law enforcement from his bully pulpit because of his own selfishness. And with members of Congress acting as accomplices through the release of a memo that the FBI asked them not to, we have a lot of people showing the moral backbone of jellyfish.
From the creators of the hit series "Hey, I'm Just Asking Questions" comes the new reality show "It Might Be True, But That Depends on Whether It Hurts Me or Not". From 23 Dimensional Chess Productions.
Hyperbole is going to kill us all
Love. It's the secret ingredient inside Grandma's chocolate-chip cookies. It is, according to the Beatles, all you need. It is, we are told, what makes a Subaru a Subaru.
But there is one thing which love is not, and never will be: Something you exchange with your government.
You can have a love of your country. You can have love of liberty. You can even love certain things about your government (like, say, the Thunderbirds of the US Air Force).
But you cannot love your government, and it cannot love you.
I didn't think this was a matter of debate or even the most remote consideration before I heard the 2018 State of the Union address. But there it was, when President Trump declared: "Americans love their country. And they deserve a Government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return."
Now, you might think I'm being picky when I object to this line. But I believe in a couple of principles on which I think one must consistently hold the line: One of those is the very well-established conservative belief that words and ideas matter. Another, as Calvin Coolidge wrote, is that the words of the President carry an enormous weight.
So the reason I object to the turn of phrase that suggests that the government can "love" us -- or that it is the same thing for Americans to love their country as it is to love their government.
Just because something looks like a thing or reminds us of a thing doesn't make it that thing. For instance, Facebook may be where many of us go to "see" our friends -- but Facebook isn't our friend. It isn't anyone's friend. It is a very large company with a perfectly legal agenda, but that doesn't mean we should give it any greater leeway than we might give to any other company -- from Amazon.com to Boeing to Caterpillar.
But Facebook often manages to work its way into a special place in our heads because we so often see it when we're seeing pictures of people we like (and even love). That doesn't mean we should like Facebook, especially. In fact, it means we ought to be more cautious with Facebook than we might normally be -- because it has the advantage of taking that shortcut in our brains to the happy place where thoughts of our friends reside.
The fact that the relationship we have with Facebook inherently tends to makes us gullible is exactly why we should be deliberately more cautious with it, rather than less.
What goes for Facebook goes double for the government. The government gets to use the trappings of the country -- the flag, the anthem, and all of the pomp and circumstance that go with it. But just because we love those symbols of the things we should really love -- like our rights and our liberties -- does not mean the government itself deserves a free pass to put a claim on our love, too.
In fact, the government is the entity that has the most capacity to do great damage to those things we, as Americans, love most. That's why, if you immerse yourself in the words of the Founders -- especially James Madison -- you'll find that the operative feeling that overshadows the relationship between people and government is one of jealousy, not love.
Checks and balances operating between the three branches of government -- and between the Federal government and the governments of the states, counties, and cities -- are built not on affection but on jealousy. And, just like a net under a high-wire acrobat, the system only works under tension. If each part isn't pulling in its own direction, then the whole thing could fail.
Jealousy may not be a virtue, but it's a reliable instinct of human nature -- that's why the Founders were smart to rely on it rather than on love to keep the idea of a democratic republic alive in our form of government. So when the President says, "Americans love their country. And they deserve a Government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return," he mixes up the emotions as well as the objects of affection.
Americans love our country, but we should be eternally suspicious of our government, jealous of our rights and liberties, and quick to turn on anyone who would use the symbols that represent values we love to try to roll back those values themselves. The government shouldn't love us; it can't, and it shouldn't. It should only seek to serve us -- and our values. That's all it's capable of doing, anyway.
Sen. Jeff Flake has twice been a first-responder in the span of one year
At the Congressional baseball game, and again at the train crash en route to the Republican retreat. It is tragic that one person should have encountered circumstances like that twice in such a short time, but good for him for being prepared to do good things.
Iowa drops from 2nd to 3rd in nation's wind-energy capacity
Iowa added lots in 2017, but Oklahoma added more. Now it's Texas in first, Oklahoma in second, and Iowa in third. Texas is way out in front.
Russia names fighter plane regiment "Tallinn"
That's some very serious trolling, naming a military group after a national capital of a former satellite state
Was the CIA director's meeting with Russian intelligence bosses "routine"?
That's what Mike Pompeo says. Any contact of that type taking place right now has to be executed with the highest sensitivity to even the appearance of impropriety.
Republicans on FCC slam trial balloon over nationalized 5G service
Axios reports that there have been internal debates within the Trump administration about the idea of nationalizing the 5G wireless infrastructure. It appears to be part of an internal discussion among national-security team members, who frame the need to get away from dependence on increasingly dominant Chinese suppliers of 5G technology as a matter of national security.
Federal Reserve hits Wells Fargo hard
Bank must replace four directors and hold its assets at the same level as punishment for the unauthorized-accounts scandal
Single-family home in northeastern Iowa contained more than 725 animals
There's no way to make that make sense
I'm sure I've seen stranger things than a Mitsubishi Eclipse with Gothic decal letters on the driver's side door reading "I'm a Country Boy", but nothing's coming to mind this morning. I was so perplexed that I failed to take a picture.
Someone claims to be offering "Human Uber"
A tool to provide virtual presence. The low-wage, low-skill, technology-enabled job of the future is...Larry Middleman from "Arrested Development"?
United Airlines prohibits "emotional support peacock" from flight
Buried lead in this story: Someone has tried to bring an emotional-support spider on board an airplane somewhere.
Programming notes
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Calendar events to highlight
4pm-5pm: Iowa MBB pregame
5pm-7:30pm: Iowa @ Penn State
Hawkeye men are 12-12 overall, 3-8 in conference. Penn State is 15-9 overall, 5-6 in conference.
1:45pm: Iowa WBB pregame
2pm-4:30pm: Iowa WBB vs. Minnesota
Iowa women are 17-6 overall, 5-5 in conference.
Podcast of this episode (forthcoming)
Gongol.com -- posted 2018-0203


text:
Factoring and Multiples
What is the greatest common factor of 78 42 90 and 66?
The GCF is 6.
GCF(78, 42, 90, 66) = 6.
Q: What is the greatest common factor of 78 42 90 and 66?
What is the greatest common factor of 66 and 42?
The greatest common factor of 42 and 66 is 6.
The greatest common factor of 42 and 66 is 6.6
What is the greatest common fraction of 42 and 66?
What is the greatest common factor of 24 42 and 66?
The GCF of 24, 42, and 66 is 6.
What is the greatest common factor of 30 42 66?
What is the greatest common factor for 24 and 42 and 66?
Greatest common factor of 66 and 66 is 66.
What is the GCD of 42 and 66?
If you mean the greatest common divisor (or factor), the answer is 6
What is the greatest common factor of 66 and132?
The greatest common factor of 66 , 132 = 66
What is the greatest common factor of 42 66 60 48?
The greatest common factor of 56 , 66 = 2
The greatest common factor of 36 and 66 is 6
What is the greatest common factor of 66 and 210?
The greatest common factor of 66 and 210 is 6.
The greatest common factor is of 66 and 47 is 1
Created By Leland Grant
Created By Carlee Ferry
Created By Willy Quitzon


"One evening, my Father asked me whether I would like to become a ghost bride. Asked is probably not the right word." Thus begins this fairy tale venture into Chinese afterlife with paper money, jealous vengeful ghosts, and entire spirit cities.
In 1967 a group of women bond at the playground in Palo Alto, California. They are different in background and personality, yet united in their love for family and in a dream, to be authors. They agree to meet once a week to critique each other's work, while their children play. In time, this critique extends to the definition of who they are as women, in an era when the gold standard of feminine excellence is at it's essence to be a successful homemaker or Miss America.
Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your favorite lap blanket and travel to Helen Simonsons idealic village of Edgecombe St. Mary!
The retired Major Pettigrew has led a quiet life adhering to tradition and all things proper for an English gentleman. Honor and duty are sacred to him, while to the younger generation he is just plain stuffy. But even an elderly English gentleman wants more than a hearty fire, good book and a strong cup of tea.
Two passions are inflamed in the stodgy heart of this bachelor. First, his brother dies and the widow refuses to give him the hunting gun that he is certain should be his, then he begins an unlikely relationship with Jasmina Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper in Edgecombe. Major Pettigrew and Jasmina find they are kindred spirits as they share a love of literature, loss of a dearly loved spouse, and both must contend with a young male relation who is impatient to inherit their carefully tended 'treasures.' Will their relationship survive differences in culture and good old fashioned tradition? Will Major Pettigrew be the hero that Mrs. Ali needs?
This book is a satisfying read on so many levels. Quickly immersing, funny, and a full rasher of nostalgia – I hope Edgecomb exists and I can travel there someday.
Author Melanie Benjamin is a New York Times bestselling author. I will be suggesting three of her books for our Fall Breeze book club, as they are all sure to generate discussion, be finished by even your busiest member, and will be controversial but not over the taboos…religion or politics…whew and thank goodness! That is, unless you have one member who always takes you there (which thankfully I don't in my clubs).
Truman Capote is really the star of the book. Fun, outrageous, discerning and backbiting Truman. The Swans are the society ladies of the fifties and early to mid sixties who amazingly expand their circle to include him. Rural raised, male, non-traditional Truman is a master storyteller, not just on the page, oh no, he uses his abilities to his maximum advantage by assuaging their vanity, ferreting out secrets and truly ingratiating himself into their lives.
A fun read that will have your book club talking about the meaning and definition of friendship, betrayal, forgiveness and the contrast between high society and new media darlings who are making their own rules in the sixties!


When one family member serves, the entire family serves. The stresses of war and everyday service tasks are not limited to the servicemembers. Cases of stress, depression, grief, and PTSD in family members of the service member are well-documented.
That is why MilitaryHire.com recognizes companies that not only serve our heroes but are also giving back to the community that supports veterans.
The Community Impact category highlights the community service programs for veterans that our Top 110 Veteran Employers are conducting to give back to veteran communities through their involvement and support of programs that assist, rehabilitate, and aid veteran families.


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