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Trump's Betrayal of the Kurds is Nothing New
by Tom Pollitt | Nov 7, 2019
The White House's decision to withdraw from Syria and leave the Kurdish fighters open to Turkish attack is another example of Trump's uncanny ability to do the right thing at the wrong time. While condemnation of the Trump administration is warranted, the decision is part of a long history of betrayal of the Kurdish people by western powers.
Members of the Kurdish community and pro- Kurdish demonstrators protest against Turkish incursion in Syria. Rome, Italy. Nov. 1, 2019. (AP Photo Paolo Santalucia)
"We have no friends but the mountains" goes an old Kurdish saying, and so it has proved to be again in October. The Trump administration pulled most of the US troops out of Syria, drawing criticism from many who say the move leaves the Kurds vulnerable to attack by Turkish forces. This attack took place almost immediately upon US withdrawal. The decision has been called "a sickening betrayal," of the Kurdish fighters who have been instrumental in the struggle against ISIS forces for the past five years.
The Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East and, with a population of around 30 million people, the world's largest people without a state. A vibrant and ancient culture with its own language and customs, the Kurds are spread across areas of several UN recognized states, mainly Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Armenia, and Iran. Since at least the 19th Century, the Kurdish people have been fighting for their own state, Kurdistan. This effort has so far been unsuccessful, largely as a result of a lack of support by cynical western powers.
Whether "sickening" or not, this "betrayal" is only the latest episode in a long history of the Kurdish people being used by western powers.
Whether "sickening" or not, this "betrayal" is only the latest episode in a long history of the Kurdish people being used by western powers when it suits them and discarded when it does not. Azad Cudi, a British-Iranian Kurd spoke for his people as a whole when he told the BBC that the decision to withdraw US troops from the border area in anticipation of a Turkish offensive felt "like a stab in the back." Cudi continued: "The Kurds are the only people who have fought [ISIS]. The Iraqi government and the Syrian government couldn't stand their attacks. We were the only ones who could resist them. With us being threatened, their hope for a new caliphate may grow again."
Another major concern is the risk that many imprisoned ISIS militants could escape as a result of the Turkish attack, and indeed some have. Many of those prisoners have been held in prisons controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which the Kurdish forces are a crucial part.
The US presence in the region had been vital in maintaining relative peace between the Turkish army and Kurdish forces during the war in Syria. In August, the US military brokered a "security mechanism," whereby both sides agreed to dismantle the fighting positions they had built at the front line. Adherence with the mechanism meant that Kurdish forces would be much weakened in the face of any future Turkish attack.
The Turkish Offensive
Upon the withdrawal of US troops, the Turkish army and allied Syrian rebels immediately launched an assault on Kurdish controlled areas. The offensive, entitled Operation Peace Spring, began on October 6, following a phone conversation between President Trump and President Recep Erdogan of Turkey. People's Protection Units (aka YPG) positions in the Syrian border town of al-Malikiyah were also shelled on October 7. On October 9, Turkish forces attacked Tal Abyad, Ras al-Ain, Ain Issa, and Qamishlo.
"I am outside the town with my sick mother. My brother is inside. I have been informed that my cousin might have been martyred. There is no safe place for anybody," Sevinaz, a 27-year-old Kurdish filmmaker, told the BBC, after her hometown of Sere Kaniye (called Ras al-Ain by Arabs) was attacked. "I'm concerned about it being the last time that I see my city," she continued.
According to Erdogan, the aim of the offensive is to create a 20 mile-deep (32 km) "Safe Zone" along the Syrian side of the Turkey/Syria border, which could be used to house up to two million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey. Previously, Turkey and the US had discussed creating a buffer zone in order to keep Syrian home-grown Kurdish YPG forces (aka People's Protection Units) away from the Turkish border and, to many, the two zones appear suspiciously similar.
Most observers have dismissed Erdogan's claim—the proposed "Safe Zone" for Syrian refugees lies entirely in areas currently controlled by Kurdish forces and the new invading Turkish forces, rather than in areas controlled by the Syrian government. Sevinaz called Erdogan "a liar," telling the BBC that "he wants the Kurds to be finished." As reported previously by Inside Arabia, Turkey's attack and the White House's tacit support for it, has been met with condemnation by both houses of US Congress and many world leaders.
"Betrayal" of Kurdish Aspirations Nothing New
"Betrayal" is arguably the common denominator in the Kurdish people's battle for statehood, which has gone on since the 19th century.
Neither the perceived attempt to wipe out the Kurdish people, nor the western hypocrisy in the face of such attacks is a new story. In fact, "betrayal" is arguably the common denominator in the Kurdish people's battle for statehood, which has gone on since the 19th century.
Perhaps the best chance for the establishment of a Kurdish state came after the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War. Plans for a state of Kurdistan were considered following the 1918 armistice and were included in the 1920 Treaty of Sevres. However, these plans were later torn up by Britain and France at the request of Turkey. In 1924, the Kurds created an autonomous Kingdom in modern-day Iraq, yet it was crushed almost immediately, with significant assistance from Britain.
In more recent times, the Kurds have more often found themselves betrayed by the state that took over Britain's former superpower status, the United States. There, the "stabbing in the back" goes back to at least 1975, when the regime of Saddam Hussein attacked near defenseless Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. The attack was made possible by the abrupt withdrawal of American arms from the Kurdish peshmerga forces who had been fighting Saddam, after the dictator had made a peace deal with the Shah of Iran.
During the 1980's, the US, now under the direction of the Reagan administration, supported Saddam Hussein's brutal war against Iran (by then the "Islamic Republic"). This support was given despite the Ba'ath Party's campaign of violence against the Kurds, which even Iraqi courts now recognize as a genocide. The onslaught against the Kurdish people during the war included repeated bombing raids and gas attacks against non-combatant Kurds. Perhaps the worst incident came at Halabja, in northern Iraq—in March 1988 around 5,000 people were killed in the city, most of them civilians.
Kurds living in Greece burn a banner depicting Turkish President Erdogan at a rally against Turkey's action in Syria. Athens, Greece. Oct. 12, 2019 (AP Photo Yorgos Karahalis)
In Turkey the Kurdish struggle for statehood had something of a resurgence throughout the 1980s, following the creation of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Following its formation, the PKK began engaging in violent action which continues to this day. To date, the conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state has claimed some 40,000 lives and the group is classified as a terrorist organization by many governments, including the US and the UK.
After Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the US switched sides again and supported the Kurds and Shia rebels in fighting against the Iraqi government. Coalition forces, in this case led by the British, created a no-fly-zone in northern Iraq, which allowed for the creation of an autonomous Kurdish region that became a republic. If the US had supported this development, perhaps in gratitude for the Kurds once again acting as mercenaries for US interests, then it may have succeeded. As it was, the short-lived republic was crushed by a regrouped Iraqi army, as the US stood by.
Fast-forward to 2014, with the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS. In many areas, Kurdish forces, namely the YPG, stood alone as the only credible fighting force against the militant group. Once again, the US supported the Kurds, who, yet again, were acting pro bono as the first line of defense for US regional interests. Washington carried out airstrikes to assist Kurdish attacks and provided Kurdish forces with money and weapons.
The strong alliance between the Kurds and powerful western interests represented a nightmare scenario for President Erdogan, who has done all he can to ensure that the US reverts to type and betrays the Kurds again.
Last month, he got his wish.
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Tom Pollitt
Tom Pollitt has an Undergraduate MA in Philosophy from The University of St Andrews and Aarhus Universitet, a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP University, and an LLM in International Law from SOAS, University of London. A UK citizen, Tom covers politics and culture from across the MENA region.
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Unfortunately, stress seems like a normal part of everyday life these days, but it needn't be this way. You can learn to adopt techniques that put you in a better position to manage stress and get better at lessening its effect on you. Of course, stress is a natural part of life, and it's not new either. Stress is a mechanism designed to actually help you survive, pretty cool right? However, undoubtedly the stress you feel every day sure doesn't feel this cool, and can instead make you feel miserable, worried, unable to sleep and focus, and out of control. It's time to try and gain back some control by finding out more about natural remedies for beating stress.
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Do you have any tips on beating stress? We'd love to hear them. Comment below and let us know!


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Ben Chifley
Referendum ad 'This Freedom'
1983 Campaign Badge
First Meeting of the Australian Labour Federation Qld
Paul Keating on election night 1993
Bob Hawke on his way to the 1987 Election launch
The Baton is changed
The Australian Labor Party celebrated its centenary in June 1991 at a national conference in Hobart. It pledged itself to hold a referendum, before the centenary of Federation, to make Australia a republic, and to legislate indigenous land rights. Keating supporters had seen the conference as an ideal opportunity for Hawke to 'go gracefully' - announce his retirement amid the plaudits of a grateful party. Instead, Hawke delivered a fighting speech which made clear his…
Uluru is handed back
It's Time. The 1972 election
The campaign for the election eventually called for December 1972 was the most professional, long running, and media orientated that Australia had seen to that date. It reflected the reorganisation of the party's extra-parliamentary machinery, as it reflected the parliamentary leadership of Whitlam. A change in the popular attitude to Vietnam and conscription was manifest in the huge rallies of the Moratorium movement, led by Jim Cairns but supported by the whole party. Whitlam's visit…
The First Term
Bob Hawke was elected Federal Labor Leader and Opposition Leader, dramatically just as sitting Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser called a double-dissolution election campaign. Hawke campaigned with energy and confidence, expanding Bill Hayden's strategy for Recovery and Reconstruction with a third overriding goal, Reconciliation. Campaign advertising was likewise redesigned around the new leader's aspirations for Bringing Australia Together. On 5 March 1983, Labor won power. With a primary vote of 49.5%, Labor won 75 seats in…
1946 Chifley Berrima
Ben Chifley: The man, his history and his values

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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It is impossible for any late night Television viewer to miss the infomercials for the many DVDs and tv programs that aim to make their youngster a genius. THEY SENT THE LOANS BACK TO THE LENDER-THE Monetary COUNCILOR TOLD ME SHE DID, WHICH IS V E R Y ILLEGAL. I was also told I had to spend $1500 every single couple of months as the student loans would not pay them. I am a soon to be mother of two who is unemployed if I had 2500 dollars to pay them I would not have risked placing myself in debt to them by acquiring loans.I alsoe belive that the way they have their classes set up is idiotic. I feel the identical way…..they used aggressive enrollment techniques, and the level of education was poor.
They have maxed out my full amount of loans and say I am nevertheless short 6 credits for a Bachelors. Rehab Student my grants covered every thing,but yet they are holding me for income and not giving me my transcripts. I owe this enormous amount of cash for the student loan and I feel like I didn't understand anything. One particular factor in the larger drop-out rates, according to the Harvard study, is the increasing expense of a college education. I can not even get a job due to the fact no one particular recognizes this school as a credited university, so I've defaulted in my loans. Some students are dropping out by option, calculating that the degree they could have chosen will not assist them safe a job or that student loans, which typical much more than $23,000 per borrower, are also higher for the benefit"(Casil). I was told my Associate's in Elementary Education was going to be about 10,000.
Each year for most of the previous decade I've volunteered at the NYC Fringe Festival which requires location over 17 days in the heat of August – 200 shows (each and every performed 5 occasions) at 16 venues, all beneath 14th street at some quite funky theaters.
On the other hand, in cities that had large numbers of black teachers before ed deform – Washington, a huge number in Chicago, New Orleans and region of NYC like Brooklyn's Dist 16, 17, 13, 23 (Bed-Stuy, Ocean-Hill Brownsville, Crown Heights) and Harlem (Dist three, five) the outcomes have been not quite excellent – so if you loaded up a school that is not run very effectively or autocratically, with black teachers, don't count on miracles.although 16 percent of America's students are black, only 7 percent of teachers are.
I am also a former student of the University of Phoenix online and was blatantly lied to about my student loans and was told they would cover all of my charges and they let me start off the classes and then when they got their funds i was told that i nevertheless owed them money , I would have in no way started the program realizing I could not afford to pay for the classes.
I am presently a student and I just do not want to be ripped off and decieved by UOP any longer. I have my master promisary note here at home unsigned since it stated student loan and in no way did I want this if I necessary a loan I knew i couldnt deal with. The Loved ones and Community Involvement Award is sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, Florida PTA, Wells Fargo and State Farm Insurance. U.S. Secretary of Education John King recently waded into that conversation, saying that two years is not adequate. Amongst these motives, he shows that It has been argued that the 'disstance' in between lecturer and student at the university acts against the interests of 'education', in the widest sense in which that term is utilised. They stated, the University of Phoenix must of identified about vocational rehab center simply because they are a monetary division.


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Unlocking mechanisms of tanning to master protective effect
Bob Roehr
Bob Roehr is a medical writer based in Washinton, D.C.
National report - The prevailing theory of the process of tanning is that ultraviolet B light (UVB) directly stimulates melanocytes.
A deficiency in this process leaves fair-skinned and, most particularly, redheaded persons at a 500- to 1,000-fold increased risk of developing melanoma, compared with those with dark skin or who readily tan.
David Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., and his colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, sought a different explanation. Dr. Fisher hypothesized that at the molecular level, the tanning process begins when UVB stimulates keratinocytes, which secondarily stimulate melanocytes through the melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) and the Mc1r ligand.
"From a molecular perspective, the fact that UV has an indirect effect on melanocytes, which is required for tanning, is a fairly significant change from our prior thinking," Dr. Fisher says.
"Understanding this indirect pathway, and the importance of the MSH-Mc1r link, helps to explain why individuals with variant forms of that receptor - i.e. fair-skinned, redheaded people - cannot tan. It is because they have a block right smack in the middle of this pathway. The receptor cannot pass the signal into melanocytes and the pathway to tanning is blocked," Dr. Fisher tells Dermatology Times.
But perhaps the blocked signal could be rescued at a later point in the chemical cascade to activate melanocytes. He chose the cyclic AMP agonist forskolin and applied it topically to the Mc1r deficient mice.
"It worked very potently and essentially turned these mice very, very dark. The pigment was real melanin; it was chemically, histologically and functionally indistinguishable from normal tanning. It is not a permanent tan, but rather like what you would see with UV tanning, it fades over days, just as with sun exposure," Dr. Fisher explains.
He believes there is a good chance the results will translate from mouse to man because the molecular pathways are similar if not identical in both species, and the same gene is responsible for a redheaded person as for a red-haired mouse.
One significant difference is that mice have the protection of fur and their skin is relatively thin, so forskolin easily penetrates.
"The stratum corneum in human skin is a more formidable barrier than in mice. So it may take some time to find a drug and formulation that will optimally penetrate human skin and hit the target in the melanocyte," he says.
Dr. Fisher is optimistic that this hurdle can be overcome.
"The drug in the paper, forskolin, was literally the very first drug that we tried. There are multiple compounds capable of upregulating cyclic AMP," he adds.
His principle reason for pursuing this line of research, he says, is therapeutic, not cosmetic.
"If you give people a sun block and prevent them from tanning, what you have effectively done is prevented those who might have tanned from tanning, and prevented them from activating the pathway which is most strongly associated with protection against melanoma," Dr. Fisher explains.
He supports use of sun block, and says it clearly has demonstrated efficacy in reducing incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. But he thinks the mechanism by which melanoma develops may be different, and sun block may not afford as much protection. A product that stimulates melanin production might be used as a supplement to sun block, perhaps in the same topical product.
But he acknowledges that some people are likely to use a future product for purely cosmetic reasons, and that too may be a good thing.
"If this would dissuade sun-seeking behavior, from going to the beach or a tanning salon, then there is the possibility of a preventive benefit," he says.
Nix experimentation
One thing that does give him pause is the buzz that has hit the Internet.
People already are sharing tips on how to obtain forskolin and work it into an ointment for topical use.
"We have no safety information; it might be dangerous and we strongly discourage people from such experimentation," Dr. Fisher says.
Clinical trials in humans are necessary to demonstrate both efficacy and safety.
"We didn't see anything that we recognize to be a harmful effect in mice," so that is encouraging.
But mice are short lived compared to humans, and some forms of cancer can take years before they appear.
Dr. Fisher's lab, and a company that he co-founded, are pursing the identification of compounds that can better penetrate human skin and stimulate the production of melanin. They are laying the groundwork for clinical trials to ascertain if such a product will be beneficial.
"Topical drug rescue strategy and skin protection based on the role of Mc1r in UV-induced tanning" appeared in the September 21 edition of Nature.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Composed of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom has long been a favourite European tourist destination for many because of its beautiful countryside, historic sites, top notch museums, outstanding theatres and vibrant nightlife. From medieval castles to stately mansions and the awe inspiring scenery of the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands, the UK offers a diverse set of interesting attractions. Although the country is also known as Great Brittan this actually only refers to the separate island of England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland is not part of Britain. Home to an impressive 25 World Heritage sites the United Kingdom which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has hundreds of museums to explore, thousands of parks and gardens to stroll through and tens of thousands of communities to discover. From Land's End in the south to John O' Groats in the north, the country is packed with tourist attractions that can fill a range of itineraries. With nearly 30 million tourists visiting every year, the UK is ranked among the top ten holiday destinations in the world. Known for its royalty, this country also represents a diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures. The United Kingdom is also a place of culture as evidenced by its top notch theatre scene world renowned museums and numerous concert halls. Discover the life of the monarchs who were beheaded at the Tower of London. In Scotland, tourists can see the palace of Linlithgow, birthplace of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland. Wales on the other hand offers its share of medieval castles and Roman fortresses.


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Home Panda Bear - Buoys (LP)
Panda Bear Buoys (LP)
Street Date: Feb 8, 2019 From the opening minutes of Buoys, Noah Lennox's sixth solo album as Panda Bear resembles something both wholly new and intimately familiar to fans and followers of the musician and Animal Collective member's body of work. Lennox's bright, sincere voice is still front-and-center, along with his beatific approach to melodic structure and vocal phrasing – but there's miles of space surrounding it, a guitar and a few textured samples here and there fleshing out Buoys' dubby sparseness. The off-white loveliness of his 2011 LP Tomboy is recalled, as well as the sampledelia of 2007's landmark Person Pitch – but Buoys otherwise represents a surprising and intimately pleasurable new direction for an artist who's embraced not repeating oneself as its own creative ethos.


You don't have to spend a fortune to get a flattering, comfortable maternity swimsuit. In fact, we think you should do just the opposite. Because you're probably only going to where your maternity swimsuit a handful of times over the course of 3 or 4 months, we says get an inexpensive one you won't mind tossing when the summer is over.
Just because your maternity swimsuit is inexpensive doesn't mean it should look cheap, though. Check out these stylish maternity swimsuits that are all less than $25, but look like they could cost way more. Even better, moms-to-be love the fit. They've all received 4 and 5 star reviews so there's lots to love.
Shop pretty maternity dresses in our buying guides.


2019 Dodge RAM 3500 Concept - The presentation of the Dodge 3500 2019 is in the US and we will have a present sort of the typical model Memory 3500. The current model was truly totally sizeable offered and the gives have not been that appalling genuine truth being clarified, but rather to hold stuff particular, they are reintroducing the new 2019 adjustment which get a few improvements.
As the privilege regardless of its outside surfaces viewpoint, the cockpit or the inside form this all-new 2019 RAM 3500 is additionally prone to have around any part accomplish sensible reestablished by Dodge. It isn't only mold, the sizeable subtlety in your own particular situation is in addition built up to perform noteworthiness for you in this auto. In any occasion, the straightforward customization that could be dispersed by Dodge to the vehicle would all be able to over initiated its mastery exceedingly for deviation and moreover the prosperity piece.
1 of the clearest changes is esteemed could be situated by you in experience of the outside the house factor of this auto where by it radiates by auditing the new body materials of the pack. With regards to your body and that new 2019 RAM 3500 is ventured to create the work of lightweight aluminum item makes it move toward becoming have the lighter weight bodywork to deliver the a ton better pertinent dollars oil structure in addition to the standard setup of electronic engine. As much as bend, Littles examine uncovers that there is no viewpoint that is probably going to be recognizably reestablished by Dodge as its originator.
No more do you concentrate on how the truly progressed pertinent to Dodge RAM entire estimating get vehicle utilizes the EcoDiesel motor. The EcoDiesel motor starts its discharge into the earlier model, that might be 2019 Dodge RAM 3500. The new Dodge likewise utilizes the EcoDiesel motor which has been present. It truly is 3. 5 liter Turbodiesel EcoDiesel V6 motor. This motor utilized with 8-Speed modified items pack can positively make 240HP and 420lb-feet applicable to torque. The towing lessen likewise extends up to 9, 200 kilos a consequence of the new vast motor.
On the other hand of EcoDiesel motor, the new Dodge can secure yet another capable motor choice and is affirmed suitable for the creation of an engine of more strongly appeared differently in relation to the EcoDiesel motor. It is unquestionably Hemi 5. The 7-Liter V8 motor and Dodge skillful RAM 3500 will demonstrate side effects of cutting edge, enhancing speed when in any case running on an enhanced extensive motor. As of now, Dodge can get 60 just in 8.5 minutes. It is like this 2019 Dodge 3500 get previously. Dodging the assortment of the far reaching RAM audit is besides accessible in the two best tire create and raise tire structure. Each and every model presumably will charge you certainly satisfactory.
Due to the right now promptly accessible media, the charge of the 2015 3500 RAM will most likely be included $34,000 – $48,000. This will probably alter unforeseen with the type of motor you are hoping to make do with and the kind of parts you settle on a choice for your own new van. The gain specific date will start at the beginning of in about a year, as the particulars of auto rebates from here on out in Jan.


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Kim Kardashian, Kanye West are reportedly filing for divorce
Popular reality star Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly on the verge of ending their marriage. Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, 40, is preparing to file for divorce from her rapper husband, whom she wed in May 2014, reports Yahoo.
A source told the People magazine, "She has had enough, and she told him that she wants some space to figure out her future." "He's okay. He's sad, but okay. He knows the inevitable will happen, and he knows that it's coming soon," the source adds.
As to when Kardashian - who is working with top divorce lawyer Laura Wasser - will file, a second source says "it will happen eventually, but she's waffling."


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Sweet Shops Belfast - The Near.co.uk directory of Belfast sweet shops lists sweet shops in Belfast who offer sweets, confectionary and chocolates. Read reviews of your nearest local sweet shop in Belfast and write your own reviews too. List your sweets business on the Belfast Sweet Shops Directory today!


Researches, develops, designs, and tests a variety of equipment, facilities, components, products, and systems for commercial and industrial purposes. Supervisory and administrative responsibility over a group of engineers or functions as a technical specialist formulating and developing advanced concepts, techniques, and standards. Responsibilities include assuring effective utilization of engineering personnel, and technical quality.


British Army Beret, made from wool and adorned with a Corps hat badge. This type of head gear was worn by many troops from various branches of the service.
Pattern 37 Gaiters with leather straps and re-enforcing. These type of gaiters were widely used by the British Commonwealth Forces during the Second World War. There was a number of slight variations to this pattern of equipment, depending on the manufacturer. This particular pair was manufactured by Tennant Bond and are in 'unissued' condition. The were acquired from Malta in 2006. Once plentiful as a surplus item, all Pattern 37 items are becoming more scarce and from a collectors perspective, will soon be as hard to find as the Pattern 08 Web Equipment of the First World War.
The manufacture stamp of the above listed pair of Pattern 37 Gaiters; showing the Registered Trade Mark and company title of TENNANT BOND. The numeral '3' denotes the size.
A different version of the Pattern 37 Gaiters. Whilst the manufacturer is unknown, they are dated 1942 and the numeral '1' is an indicator of the size. I have seen photographs of British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops - wearing this type of gaiter. A pair of gaiters similar to this (but with brass tabs on the end of the straps) were issued to NX115723 Corporal Franklin George HOLLANDS who served with the Lae Fortress Workshops AIF. These are in the Kokoda Historical Collection with his uniform.


Can You Create a Classy Logo for a Construction Company?
danny24 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
Our General Contracting construction company is new but with years of experience in our industry, our team works like we've been in business for a long time. We do both new construction and rehab work. We work on Single-Family Residences, Apartments, Retail and Commercial jobs. With high quality standards and value, we are committed to long-term relationships with our customers.
Our target audience is primarily real estate developers and retail operators. These companies have either rehab projects for their existing holdings like an apartment renovation, rehab homes for re-sale, ground up retail/commercial buildings or tenant improvements.
The logo should be classy but not fancy or fussy. We'd also like it to be friendly - not avant garde or off-putting. Our existing clients and target markets should view us as stable, reliable, easy to work with, open to creative solutions and professional. Professional is key.
Please, no clip art or neon colors.


are we in college or what????? I cannot believe how low some of you have sinked!! Where are your prides??? Do you not have any? It is a great shame that we, as mature adults, are using this board as a way to attack someone annoymously! I can almost be sure this is the 1st freshmen class to do this! Aren't you ashamed of yourselves??? I mean c'mon! We gotta ahve some kind of pride coming in to the university, esspecially this one! We're not some lowlife organisms! I'm sure we can all be a little more mature and quit stabbing each other in the back! Keep the pride...if you ahve none, at least keep the school's pride and idgnity up, k????? If one single person, in this case the prof, can cause you to sink this low, than I have to say, you're not worth to be in college! College is a place where you fulfill your dreams and hopes, not a place where you stab your peers or professors in the back!! Moreover, I am positive there are more insane courses in the future............by the way, why are we taking this course?? I'm sure no one is doing it as a elective, it's either part of their major or required course, isn't it? so then, if you don't like chem, than your major is not suitable for you...CHANGE YOUR MAJOR!!!! Or you're gonna suffer the rest of your life! I've said all I ahve to say, there is no point in continuing...I just hope we can all be a little more mature than to use this board as a stab in the back for those trying in the class!!!!!!


New Hope is partnering with Next Level Church as they work to build the Fort Myers Dream Center to help to make Fort Myers a better place. This Christ-centered Community Center is just starting to be developed near the NE corner of Veronica Shoemaker and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. We are looking for people to work as volunteers on Saturday, August 19 from 11am-1pm.
Questions? Want to Help? Please call New Hope Member Jim Mayer at 239.322.8656.
For more info about the Dream Center, check out the video below.


The new AAF league debuted on Saturday and among the many unknown names participating, there were some former NFL players who are looking to revive careers that ended prematurely. Maybe even get another crack at the NFL.
There are also five former NFL head coaches on the same mission, trying to get back into the game. The Players in the AAF might not all be top-notch talent, but the coaches and coordinators are all legit.
Arizona Hotshots (Rick Neuheisel) Atlanta Legends (Kevin Coyle, with Michael Vick as offensive coordinator) Birmingham Iron (Tim Lewis), Memphis Express (Mike Singletary), Orlando Apollos (Steve Spurrier), Salt Lake Stallions (Dennis Erickson), San Antonio Commanders (Mike Riley), San Diego Fleet (Mike Martz).
Good to see former NFL DC Lewis finally get the head coaching job NFL owners never gave him. Singletary is one of the greatest linebackers in history and coached the San Francisco 49ers for a spell. Steve Spurrier and Dennis Erickson are legendary college coaches with National Championships. Mike Martz won a Super Bowl as OC of the greatest show on Turf in St. Louis with Kurt Warner in 1999.
As far as the players go, the league is filled with ex-NFL guys.
Here are some notable names.
Trent Richardson (Birmingham Iron) was a star running back University of Alabama, a member of two BCS National Championship teams, finished third in the 2012 Heisman voting and was considered the top running back prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft.
After a promising rookie year with the Cleveland Browns when he rushed for 950 yards and 11 TDs and caught 51 passes, personal problems and bad breaks forced Richardson out of the league by 2016 and he's now known as one of Cleveland's many draft busts over the years.
Before returning to the scene of his college success with the AAF's Birmingham Iron, Richardson played in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2017.
Then he scored again to help seal a 26-0 win over the Memphis Express.
WR Josh Huff (Arizona Hotshots) was a highly-touted third-round pick coming out of an explosive Oregon offense in 2014. He bounced around with the Eagles, Bucs and was on the Saints roster in 2018.
Quiet weekend for five former Bucs receivers now playing in AAF: Donteea Dye, Freddie Martino, Kaelin Clay, Kenny Bell, Josh Huff combined for two catches for 7 yards on 10 targets. Ervin Phillips, who was with Bucs this past preseason, had two for 14.
QB Christian Hackenberg was drafted by the Jets out of Penn State in the second round in 2016. The Jets never had any faith in his abilities and he bounced around to the Oakland Raiders, Philly Eagles and Bengals in 2018.
He didn't do much to help his NFL chances, going 10 for 23, 67 yards, INT in a blowout loss.
Denard Robinson was a big-time rushing QB in college at Michigan and then switched to running back when drafted by Jacksonville and showed some flashes from 2013-2016. Then he was out the league.
If there's one thing Robinson can do, it's run. As a sophomore QB at Michigan back in 2010, Robinson set the single-season Division I FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback and became the only player in (NCAA) history to both pass and rush for 1,500 yards. He didn't kill it in his first AAF game, but the former game-breaker definitely has name recognition.
First game thoughts for the Atlanta Legends #HailATL Pros – lots of reps went around in blow out – QB Matt Sims long term (+ability) – WR Bug Howard 🐜 – K Younghoe Koo? Cons – Were not as polished as Orl.
Who knows if the AAF will reach its goal of providing a viable alternative to the NFL experience during the offseason, but more football means more opportunity for coaches and players looking to breakthrough or return to the NFL.


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Reviews / 05.03.2017
REVIEW – 'Logan'
In today's franchise-obsessed film market, it's rare to see anyone walking away from a box-office cash cow, especially in the comicbook genre. But 17 years (and nine films) after he first extended the adamantium claws, and helped re-define the superhero genre, Hugh Jackman says farewell to Wolverine, aka the character who made him a household name. Thankfully, he saved the best for last, with the brilliant pseudo-western, Logan. Set in the dystopian future of 2029, mutant-kind is all but a distant memory, with no mutant births in 25 years. The...
Doug Jamieson is a freelance film critic and entertainment industry journalist.
REVIEW – 'Scream' is the best film in this franchise since the original
REVIEW – 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' is a triumph
REVIEW – 'The Worst Person in the World' is one of the best romantic dramedies of recent times
REVIEW – 'The Matrix Resurrections' stands as more of a tribute to the past than its own unique entity
REVIEW – 'West Side Story' is an exhilarating reimagining that's pure cinematic magic
Awards Season (248)
The House of Mouse Project (61)
© Copyright 2018 The Jam Report | Website Design by MyWork


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Somayya Anwar Jabarti (; born ) is the first woman editor-in-chief of a Saudi Arabian national newspaper, Saudi Gazette.

Somayya has reported on a spectrum of subjects from women's issues to the stepping down of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. She was the only Saudi reporter on the ground in the midst of the revolution in Tahrir Square.

Selected as one of the BBC 100 Women List in 2015, Jabarti was listed as one of Arabian Business Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Women in 2014 and 2015 and among Alarabiya's Top 10 Muslim women in 2014

References

Living people
Saudi Arabian newspaper editors
1970s births
BBC 100 Women
Saudi Arabian translators

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We are proud to share that Meredith Platt, Director of Marketing & Emerging Markets for the Electromechanical Business, presented at the recent MEDTEC China event in September.
As Instron has developed many insights working with our customers in the biomedical industry, Meredith discussed challenges that QC laboratories encounter when testing a variety of medical devices, ranging from stents to catheters to spinal implants. Supporting the full product life cycle, she shared engineering solutions to assist product development, prototype evaluation, manufacturing, and delivery.


This Sponge Cake is Light and Fluffy. You can use this Cake to convert it into a Pastry cake or individual pastries. This Cake does not contain butter/oil or baking soda/ baking powder, yet its fluffy and soft. You can convert this Sponge cake into Chocolate cake by adding cocoa powder to the batter,decreasing the All Purpose Flour. With chocolate cake you can make Chocolate Truffle Pastry, Chocolate Chip Pastry, Black forest etc and with Vanilla Sponge cake you can make Pineapple Pastry, Butterscotch Pastry etc or you can can eat it on its own.
Please click here for Eggless Cake.
Begin by separating egg yolks and egg whites.
the electric hand mixer until it forms stiff peaks.
(It took about 5 minutes on high speed).
well again for about 1 minute.
or spatula and incorporate the flour to the Egg foam.
(Simply, lift from the bottom and put the batter on the top.
This is called cut fold method).
around the edges of the cake and invert it on the plate.
*** All ovens are not same. Keep an eye on the cake . Old ovens take more time to bake. Newly manufactured ovens take less time to bake .
*** In the last pic of the cake, I did not use serrated (or) bread knife to cut the cake which looks like a mess. Use serrated knife to cut the cake for good look and easy cutting. If you don't have serrated knife then cut it with regular sharp knife carefully.


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You are here: The Job Explorer > By County > Missouri > Camden County
Camden County, Missouri
Overview for Camden County, MO
Camden County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 655.1 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 60.2 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 178.3%. On the 2000 census form, 99.0% of the population reported only one race, with 0.3% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 0.9% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.31 persons compared to an average family size of 2.68 persons.
In 2005 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $20,698. Per capita income grew by 19.8% between 1994 and 2004 (adjusted for inflation).
Growth (%) since 1990 43.4% Average wage per job $24,011
Households (2000) 15,779 Manufacturing - % all jobs in County 8.0%


Join Big Ring Cycles, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Shimano and Bike-a-Latte at New Terrain Brewery and test drive great new bikes out on the trails at North Table Mountain from 8am-noon on Sunday, June 24th! Check out new shoes by Pearl Izumi too.
You can reserve your ride here.
New Terrain's food truck, J-Street will be on hand at 11:00, Tony Guacamole arrives at 1:00 and there's always great beers on tap! If you tell us you are "going" via facebook by noon on Friday, June 22, we'll have a FREE ticket good for one of New Terrain's fab brews waiting for you after your ride!
New Terrain Brewery has asked that we respect customer parking so please park along the street or at Tony Grampsas if possible. Thanks!
Coffee. Bikes. Beers. One Good Day.


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Q: PhaseScriptExecution error but doesn't specify the problem I know this problem already exists everywhere, but I tried most of the solutions of this and still none of them work. The log doesn't seem to specify what's the problem, only shows the said PhaseScriptExecution error.
What else can I do to solve this?
Tried running, re-running, deleting pods files, cleaning, rebuilding, etc.
I'm trying to run a flutter app in a physical device.
Also tried running in a clean project, but the same error persists.
XCode 13.4.1
MBPM1
flutter doctor -v :
 Flutter (Channel master, 3.4.0-30.0.pre.19, on macOS 12.4 21F79 darwin-arm64, locale en-PT)
    • Flutter version 3.4.0-30.0.pre.19 on channel master at /Users/henriqueguima/work/flutter
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision f2c6033739 (4 months ago), 2022-09-26 03:50:27 -0400
    • Engine revision 53a7659ea1
    • Dart version 2.19.0 (build 2.19.0-240.0.dev)
    • DevTools version 2.17.0

[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 33.0.0)
    • Android SDK at /Users/henriqueguima/Library/Android/sdk
    • Platform android-33, build-tools 33.0.0
    • Java binary at: /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents/jre/Contents/Home/bin/java
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.12+0-b1504.28-7817840)
    • All Android licenses accepted.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 13.4.1)
    • Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
    • Build 13F100
    • CocoaPods version 1.11.3

[✓] Chrome - develop for the web
    • Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome

[✓] Android Studio (version 2021.2)
    • Android Studio at /Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents
    • Flutter plugin can be installed from:
       https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/9212-flutter
    • Dart plugin can be installed from:
       https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/6351-dart
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.12+0-b1504.28-7817840)

[✓] VS Code (version 1.74.3)
    • VS Code at /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app/Contents
    • Flutter extension version 3.58.0

[✓] Connected device (3 available)
    • iPhone (mobile) • 2c12eaae0fc97e504f295ea6cb964ab6904f42cd • ios            • iOS 15.7.2 19H218
    • macOS (desktop)          • macos                                    • darwin-arm64   • macOS 12.4 21F79 darwin-arm64
    • Chrome (web)             • chrome                                   • web-javascript • Google Chrome 109.0.5414.119
    ! Error: iPhone is busy: Making iPhone ready for development. Xcode will continue when iPhone is finished. (code -10)

[✓] HTTP Host Availability
    • All required HTTP hosts are available

XCode log -- https://pastebin.com/r0RLjiAP
EDIT: downgrade didn't work either

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Solitary, beautiful, and elusive, the jaguar is the biggest native feline to roam the Americas. Over the past 50 years, though, jaguars have become even more elusive as their population has dropped by more than half. With fewer than 16,000 left in Latin American countries, they're considered a critically endangered species in many places. That includes Mexico, where they've suffered habitat fragmentation, illegal poaching, loss of prey, and conflict with humans—especially ranchers trying to protect their livestock.
Jaguars are dependent on healthy freshwater ecosystems and need a large territory to survive. To find and photograph this spectacular cat, which patrols the mangrove forests of La Papalota in the southern part of Marismas Nacionales, I needed to figure out how to overcome the jaguar's shy nature. Setting up my remote camera trap was especially difficult. I had to bury the camera pointing upward, hiding its cables and flashes, and then set the infrared light so the jaguar would be in exactly the right position when it was triggered. I also had to make regular visits to the location to keep the glass lens clean. After almost a year, I was finally able to capture this image from an unusual perspective: a close-up view of the last sight the jaguar's prey is likely to see.


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basic grant
basic grant millions
loan system
quality agreements
Photo by: Rueben Millenaar
Got a bad plan? The money will turn up anyway
24 / 02 / 2021 | Henk Strikkers
Administrators who think they have to jump through hoops, inspectors who fail to check the quality of education, and a fainthearted minister. These are the main players in the circus that is known as the quality agreements. 'With a lot of plans, you can never say for sure whether education will improve as a result.'
What you are about to read
In this fifth instalment of a series of investigative stories, we examine how the revenues from the loan system are being scrutinised to see if they are being spent properly.
Universities and higher education institutions are required to write a plan in which they explain how they will spend the money.
Gaining approval for these plans became a battlefield: almost 40 per cent were rejected in the first round.
Administrators whose plans were rejected spoke of 'jumping through hoops' and 'system dominance.'
Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven twice changed a negative recommendation into a positive decision after a discussion with the executive board of a university and a university of applied sciences.
'It undermines the trust of students,' says Professor Henriëtte Maassen van den Brink.
After the drama surrounding the pre-investments, everyone thought that spending the revenues of the loan system was bound to go well. The report by the Netherlands Court of Audit on pre-investments at universities and higher education institutions is damning. In hindsight, it could only be established that a third of the investments that were made were pre-investments. Members of parliament and student unions are incensed and will do whatever it takes to prevent this from happening again with the revenues from the loan system.
Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven (Education, Culture & Science; D66) concurs. Clear goals must be set, and the plans of universities and higher education institutions need to be tested for feasibility and to ascertain whether the money is being spent on worthwhile projects.
The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) will be responsible for checking up on this. 'The NVAO is highly independent and knows how to oversee quality in higher education,' said the minister in the parliamentary debate following the Netherlands Court of Audit's report. Nevertheless, the NVAO was not the first choice. The Inspectorate of Education, the Van Vught Commission (which assessed the performance agreements two years earlier) and an entirely new higher education authority had been considered first, but after protests from universities and higher education institutions, were not approached in the end. These institutions have been campaigning for years against what they see as excessively strict regulation, and are extremely concerned that their autonomy will be curtailed.
In 2012, then-Minister Bussemaker negotiated performance agreements with universities and other higher education institutions. This followed on from the policy of the Rutte I cabinet (VVD, CDA & PVV). Within four years, universities and higher education institutions had to meet targets on educational quality and, if they failed to do so, their funding was to be cut by up to 7 percent. Ultimately, it was mainly the universities of applied sciences that did not meet the performance agreements. A number of them (who did not achieve these by a long shot) were fined, albeit less than the previously agreed 7 percent.
The NVAO is normally concerned with assessing the quality of studies but has been passed the buck this time as a form of compromise. Not much later, the so-called Sector Agreement on quality agreements was ceremoniously signed by students, administrators, and Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven. 'The performance agreements triggered a lot of chagrin and mistrust,' the minister said during the ceremony in April 2018. 'It took a while to regain that trust, but it all worked out very well in the end.'
In the Sector Agreement, it states that every university and higher education institution must draw up a quality plan wherein it outlines what it intends to do with the revenues from the loan system. A panel of the NVAO, made up of former education administrators, students and staff from other universities and higher education institutions, examines this plan and decides which people from the relevant university or university of applied sciences they would like to speak to. They then send them an invitation.
'Then you end up spending a day sitting in a small room, and every few hours a few people walk in and talk to you,' says Bart Hekkema (pictured right). Hekkema is a history Master's student at the University of Groningen and a member of the NVAO panels that review the quality agreements. These panels assess the quality plans of universities or higher education institutions on the basis of three criteria: (1) Are the plans well-founded and do they contribute to improving education? (2) Were students involved in the development of the plan? and (3) Are the plans realistic and is it possible to monitor the effects?
'Personally, I tend to pay particular attention to the question of whether students are actively involved in the plans,' says Hekkema. He sees that the quality agreements have led to universities and higher education institutions doing more to promote student participation. 'They often do this in innovative ways, with students who are not members of elected representative bodies.'
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is one such higher education institution that has adopted an innovative procedure, says Ron Bormans, chair of the executive board there. 'The quality of the process is as important to us as the outcome for that process,' he states. 'We invested a lot of energy in this. During various stages, we have been in contact with students and faculty staff within the representative body, with our Supervisory Board, and with stakeholders such as the Rotterdam Port Authority and the Erasmus Medical Centre.' Moreover, Bormans proudly mentions initiatives started by students from the representative body themselves, including the campaign 'What should we do with €26 million?' This is the amount that Rotterdam University will receive annually from the quality funds in 2024 and the years thereafter.
Ron Bormans.
This yielded a plan in which academic success and intensive, small-scale education are extremely important. 'Our strategy is: The teacher is the one doing it, so we want more good teachers. We all share the realisation that academic success can best be achieved twit the help of high-quality teachers.'
(Below the infographic you can read more about how the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences was not the only university of applied sciences that had a problem with its quality plan).
One of the criteria that the panels assess, and on which the plan submitted by the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences was initially rejected, is whether the plan makes a substantiated contribution to improving education. According to Hekkema, the panels do not assess whether there will be any quantifiable quality improvements by 2024, but only whether the rationale behind the plan can be understood. 'The assessment of the plans therefore has no predictive value for the actual realisation of an improvement in the quality of education.'
'As a panel, it is really quite complicated to fully assess educational improvements. You cannot say that with any certainty about a lot of plans. Having more teachers does not necessarily mean better education,' he says. 'Some universities or higher education institutions are doing it right. They say, for instance, that they are hiring extra teachers so that fewer hours of study group sessions are held per teacher and there is more time for personal tuition, for example, when it comes to dissertations. At the end of the day, you don't know if that actually means better education, although it tends to be a strong indicator.'
Almost €600 million per year
In a few years' time, the quality agreements will amount to almost €600 million. In 2021, all of the universities of applied sciences will receive €239 million in total while universities will receive €146 million. On account of the coronavirus, the Minister has decided that universities of applied sciences that do not yet have an approved plan will also receive their money. The total amount is set to rise to €356 million for universities of applied sciences and €207 million for universities in 2024.
Yet things went sideways anyway. 'When the NVAO panel first came to us, I could already see in their eyes that it wasn't going to work out,' says Bormans. 'We were a bit too single-minded. It suited us, but the committee was clear: It had to be exactly within the lines of the national themes.' The panel rejected the plan from the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. The NVAO upheld that, and the Minister adopted the NVAO's advice.
Bormans cites an example of one such criticism: 'We had written down that we wanted to hire more teachers. That should have been: 'Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is investing in more intensive, small-scale education,' he says as if he is dictating it. 'In my view, something like that constitutes system dominance,' says Bormans. 'System reality triumphs over actual reality. I find that disappointing.'
That disapproval meant that the institution was subjected to a second round, just like sixteen other universities of applied sciences. 'We used the second round to hone the plan and flesh it out for the longer term, but it was mainly about changing the wording,' says Bormans. 'I also think that the plan would have been approved the first time around if we had written it differently. To some extent, it does feel like you have to jump through a few hoops, but we still jumped through that hoop in the second round in our own way.'
Difficult criterion
Henriëtte Maassen van den Brink (pictured right), professor of Business Administration at the University of Amsterdam and up until 2018, professor of Evidence-Based Education at Maastricht University, also finds 'quality' a tricky criterion to measure. Like Hekkema, she has on several occasions been a member of the panels that assess the quality agreements. 'It is complicated, but a critical and good panel can get a lot done.' This is also due to the way universities and higher education institutions draw up their plans, she says. 'Some send three or four A4s, so to speak, while others write a report that can go straight to the press.'
She also sees another problematic aspect, namely monitoring how the millions from the quality agreements are spent in practice. Although universities of applied sciences will have to account for how the money is spent in 2024, Maassen van de Brink says that this is simply 'impossible to do for plenty of institutions.' 'This is especially the case if they adopt a lot of different measures and keep on reserving small amounts for them.'
Juggling with figures
Eindhoven University of Technology is a good example of this. The annual report for 2019 shows that half of the available funds (€3.5 million) were not spent. Of this, €3 million of student loan funds came from the government and half a million came from the university's reserves. The remainder of the student loan budget (€1.2 million) was added to the earmarked reserve for student loans. This already included €1.4 million that was not spent in 2018. In fact, TU Eindhoven did not spend all the money that was available that year either; at the time, it received €2.9 million from the government and had also added funds of its own.
This makes it difficult to tell where that €2.6 million in the earmarked reserve actually comes from. Is that money from the revenues of the loan system? Is it money from their own reserves? Or is it a bit of both, and if so, in what proportion? Now, this is not necessarily a problem, but if universities have not spent all the money by 2024, then they will have to give it back. Maassen van den Brink foresees a major problem when she looks at the plans. 'To what extent will panels in 2024 be able to check how effectively the money has been spent?'
Bart Hekkema also has his reservations in some areas. 'I personally find it absurd that the abolished student grant money flows into education and that universities and higher education institutions subsequently have had to invest a lot of time and money in the huge circus that that all entails. You can ask yourself whether it would be better to pay for study grants from that amount, especially since it is not clear whether the money from the quality agreements will be made available on a structural basis.'
Nonetheless, he does see that the revenues from the loan system are at least being well spent. 'We have to be honest: Many universities and higher education institutions have really wonderful plans whereby they are genuinely trying to improve education.'
It is precisely external control that is essential for this, according to Maassen van den Brink. 'Scrutiny from outside forces universities to properly account for and provide insight into how public funds are spent,' she feels. Maassen van den Brink is well aware of this, as she was also a member of the committee that assessed whether universities of applied sciences were complying with the performance agreements.
'In my view, a straight line can be drawn from the performance agreements to the quality agreements,' she says. 'The process is broadly similar. After all, agreements were made between universities, universities of applied sciences and the ministry,' says Maassen van den Brink. 'The main difference is that the quality agreements also involved students and faculty staff, whereas performance agreements do not.'
Watered down
Maassen van den Brink also sees the same trend amongst the performance agreements. Where there used to be a heavy fine for not meeting the targets, this was watered down during the process. 'As a committee, you get fed up with it in no time. When we subsequently visited universities of applied sciences and universities, we noticed that some had a bit of a laissez-faire 'let it go, it'll all work out' attitude. They knew that they could simply smooth over the commission's more negative remarks with the minister later on. The same thing is now at risk of happening again with the quality agreements.'
She is referring to Minister Van Engelshoven's decision to ignore the negative advice from a panel in the cases of the Delft University of Technology and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and still award them money from the quality agreements. The minister did this after she had invited the administrators of these universities and universities of applied sciences to the ministry and they had been able to convince her of their plans in person, bypassing the independent NVAO.
According to Maassen van den Brink, this poses the risk that the process will once again become 'ineffective.' 'It seems that ultimately, no one stands to lose a single cent, while some plans raise questions about how you can gauge the effectiveness of their spending,' she emphasizes. 'Some administrators think: 'We'll see in good time, and if things don't work out, we can just go to the minister.' This undermines both the agreements that we made and the trust of students who had to forfeit their student grants.'
With the cooperation of Altan Erdogan, Yvonne van de Meent and Laura ter Steege.
This story is the seventh instalment in a series made possible by the Dutch Journalism Fund (SVDJ) and various editors at higher education institutions and universities in the Netherlands.
Read the final article in this series on our site next Wednesday, March 3.
This is how your basic grant died
These days it is nothing out of the ordinary for students to accumulate large debts. For almost 30 years preceding 2015, this was different. In 2015, the Dutch government put an end to the largely disliked basic grant. A story about hard cutbacks and wondrous promises. 'The situation completely exploded that evening.'
Zo sneuvelde jouw basisbeurs
Een forse schuld opbouwen is voor de huidige student doodnormaal. Dat was bijna 30 jaar anders, tot de politiek in 2015 een einde maakte aan een basisbeurs - waar eigenlijk niemand meer gelukkig mee was. Over spijkerharde bezuinigingen en mooie beloftes. 'Het ontplofte die avond volledig.'
'I never felt returning to research was a step back'
Professor Hans Hilgenkamp first arrived at the University of Twente in 1985 to study Applied Physics. Now, a few decades later, the alumnus is still here, after making it through all the 'levels' of an academic career. From a PhD researcher, all the way to full professor and dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and back to full-time scientist again. 'The university has given me a lot of possibilities to grow.'
'Mijn terugkeer naar de wetenschap was geen stap achteruit'
Hoogleraar Hans Hilgenkamp kwam in 1985 naar de UT om toegepaste natuurkunde te studeren. Nu, enkele decennia later en na het doorlopen van alle 'stadia' van een academische carrière, is de alumnus nog steeds op de UT te vinden. In zijn loopbaan ging hij van promoverend onderzoeker en hoogleraar tot decaan van de faculteit Technische Natuurwetenschappen en weer terug naar fulltime onderzoeker. 'De universiteit heeft me talloze groeimogelijkheden geboden.'
Decanen optimistisch over 2022: 'Uitkijken naar een jaar van doén'
Groeipijnen, samenwerking tussen faculteiten, nieuwbouw, verhuizingen en de voortdurende coronacrisis. Vijf UT-decanen blikken vooruit op wat 2022 gaat brengen. 'We hoeven niet ieder dubbeltje meer om te draaien als faculteit.'
Deans optimistic about 2022: 'Looking forward to a year of doing'
Growing pains, collaborations between faculties, new constructions, relocations, and the ongoing corona crisis. The five UT deans look ahead at what 2022 will bring. 'As a faculty, we no longer have to pinch every penny.'
'Eindelijk de wind in de zeilen' op Kennispark
Na ruim drie jaar 'trekken en sleuren', kan volgens Kennispark-gebiedsdirecteur Anne-Wil Lucas de blik vooruit. Met een langetermijninvesteerder aan boord, moet 2022 het jaar worden dat de schop eindelijk de grond in gaat. 'Het is een constante zoektocht om de neuzen dezelfde kant op te krijgen.'


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text:
Horsepower-factor at Pocono: Denny Hamlin or Kevin Harvick
Jun 7, 2011 3:04 AM
We've had 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup series races thus far and three of them have been won by drivers at 100-1 odds or higher.
Last week's fuel mileage win by Brad Keselowski at Kansas was another in the growing list of 2011's improbable winners as he joins Trevor Bayne's Daytona 500 win (100-1) and Regan Smith's Darlington surprise (500-1).
When mixing in the fact that we're seeing a whole new change on the landscape of NASCAR's hierarchy, it could be argued 2011 may be the most competitive season ever.
The reigning five-time champion Jimmie Johnson has only one win on the year and it came at a track (Talladega) almost anyone has a chance to win on. He's not dominating the intermediate tracks like he once did.
Current points leader Carl Edwards looked like he was going to recreate his nine-win 2008 season early on, but only has the lone win at Las Vegas to his credit.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is running well sitting in third, but can't find a win. Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are also winless thus far.
For the first time I can ever recall, there are at least 25 drivers having a legitimate shot at winning each week. We still have the heavy hitter teams doing well with Hendrick, Childress, Roush, Gibbs and now Penske, but the gap between them and the lesser teams is closing.
Stewart-Haas racing is an extension of Hendrick while Michael Waltrip and Red Bull racing are gaining steam. The Ganassi team of Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya are going to be better going forward. It's an amazing mix of parity never seen before.
This week at Pocono Raceway we have an opportunity to see another first time winner as Denny Hamlin's team comes in with things just starting to click. Last week's third-place finish at Kansas gave Hamlin only his second top-five finish of the season.
This juncture last season Hamlin already had three of his eventual eight wins.
At Pocono, no one has been better than Hamlin since he made his debut there in 2006. He made a splash there in a debut like no one had ever seen before – sweeping the two races. He also won the fall race of 2009 and this race last season giving him four wins in 10 starts with an average finish of 8.2.
The only case you could make for Hamlin not winning is just because of the climate of parity going on. Hamlin also has been in somewhat of a hangover since blowing the Championship in the final two races last season that no aspirin has been able to cure. However, momentum and being the best at the track should counter most negative assertions of Hamlin this week.
The main component to doing well at Pocono always rests with horsepower and who can get the most out of it on the long straight-aways.
Getting a car's balance set exactly to a drivers liking is never possible because each of the three turns are vastly different, which usually makes the driver choose what corner they want to be the best at. They can only be really good on one of them, but not all three.
The top horsepower teams right now appear to be the stable of drivers at Roush and Childress. Tony Stewart has also been able to get his cars set pretty well in his last two seasons that include a win in 2009, third in this race last season and runner-up in the fall.
Edwards is a two-time winner who won as a rookie like Hamlin did in 2005, the first year NASCAR changed the gear ratio for Pocono. He also won in his magical year of 2008 and was third in the fall race last season. He would seem like the most logical choice to stop Hamlin's look at win No. 5.
Greg Biffle won the fall race here last season and was part of the late season surge by all the Roush cars that has spilled over to this season. Matt Kenseth has had only two top-five finishes at Pocono over his career, but because of how solid the entire Roush team has been he could be in store for his best career finish.
Last season all three Childress cars looked good enough to win in both races. Between Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Bowyer they had five top-10 finishes in the six combined starts. Harvick ended up showing the best with fourth-place in both races.
With the way Harvick has been stealing wins this season, taking one here wouldn't be a surprise.
Micah Roberts is a former Las Vegas race and sports book director, longtime motorsports columnist and sports analyst at Gaming...	more
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Have a bit of fun in the kitchen by shredding your veggies to bits with this Salad Shooter Slicer.
Giving you a fast and entertaining alternative to slicing by hand, this gadget will have you devouring salads and tacos by the pounds.
Slicing or shredding veggies and cheese by hand is a menace. It results in too much clutter, dirty dishes, nicked fingers and nails.
This cool kitchen gadget, with interchangeable slicing and shredding cones, shoots the prepped food right onto the serving plate.
No extra dishes to clean, no knives, or graters. Simply load the food you want to be shredded into the motorized Salad Shooter, aim it onto the plate, and watch how evenly cut food lands right where you want it.
The motor base is easy to clean with a quick wipe while other parts are dishwasher safe. It slices and shreds vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese, bread, and crackers. Afterward, just hide in a drawer.
I wonder if it can shoot cheese right into your mouth? Sometimes you just need that kind of pick-me-up.


TV host and actress Nikki Gil finally has a new boyfriend, almost a year after her high-profile breakup with fellow entertainer Billy Crawford. In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine last December, Gil hinted that the former international celebrity cheated on her.
A reliable source confirmed to The Filipino Scribe (TFS) that the new man in the singer's life is indeed young entrepreneur BJ Albert. The source, who is identified with the Alberts, requested that her identity be withheld because she is not authorized to speak on the subject.
As indicated in his Facebook page, Albert is a psychology graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University (batch 2007). He finished high school from De La Salle Zobel in 2003.
The two had been the subject of speculations since Gil admitted last February that she is dating again. At that time, Gil merely described Albert as a "29-year-old guy with an adult job." She also pointed out that she and her suitor have a lot of mutual friends.
BJ Albert is the son of Cris and Butch Albert, the couple managing FILA Philippines. The tandem marked their 20th wedding anniversary early this year (read this article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer).
The younger Albert co-owns 2nd's (read as "seconds"), a high-end restaurant in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Visit the restaurant's website here.
This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2014 at 1:01 pm	and tagged with bj albert, BJ Albert ateneo, BJ Albert FILA, bj albert nikki gil, BJ Albert Nikki Gil boyfriend, nikki gil and bj albert, nikki gil boyfriend 2014, nikki gil new boyfriend and posted in hodgepodge, philippines.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.


text:
James D. Bissell to Marlon Brando
Gary Bond Biography (1940-1995)
Full name, Gary James Bond; born February 7, 1940, in Alton, Hampshire, England; died of cancer, October 12, 1995. Actor. Gary Bond was one of the best-known performers of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's work. He established the character of Joseph in the Lloyd Webber-Rice musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at its debut at the Edinburgh Festival in August, 1972. Bond attended the Central School of Speech and Drama on a scholarship during the1950s. He made his stage debut in Not in the Book in 1963. In 1964, he appeared in the Embassy film Zulu, and in the television programs A Dragon to Kill, Monica, Great Expectations, and Frontier during the 1960s. Bond portrayed two other Lloyd Webber roles during his career, one in 1978, when he took overthe part of Che Guevara in the London production of Evita, and in 1994, whenhe played George Dillingham in Aspects of Love. He also toured in a production composed of Lloyd Webber songs during the 1980s.
Alton, England
Further Reference
Who's Who in Hollywood, Facts on File, 1992.
Periodicals:
Times (London), October 14, 1995, p. 23.


text:
Articles > Front Page News
SUV Drivers
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2000 by Rich "Lowtax" Kyanka (@TwitterHasBannedAllMyAccountsEver)
A brief look at the world that makes up our... uh... world.
SUV Drivers Don't Really Care About Driving - The Progressive Auto Insurance company has recently released their survey of 30,000 drivers, asking about driving habits and other remarkably fascinating information. The results seem to confirm what most of us already knew: SUV drivers tend to be real big jerks.
More than a fourth of all motorists, or 27 percent, shout or swear to express anger when driving... Those shouters and swearers are most likely to be owners of S/UVs and sports cars, followed by owners of minivans (soccer moms?); and most of those shouters and swearers (57 percent) use a cell phone when driving.
Almost half, or 44 percent, of all drivers use a cell phone while driving, but more than half, or 60 percent, of S/UV drivers use a cell phone while motoring.
Slightly more than 2 out of 3 motorists, or 69 percent, munch when behind the wheel, and that rises to 74 percent for sport-utility vehicle and minivan drivers.
After doing some preliminary research (I sat in traffic on the 405 for about two hours), I discovered some shocking facts of my own (NOTE: the word "facts" used in this context does not have the traditional meaning of "information presented as objectively real." In this case it means "information presented as objectively real although it really isn't"):
Almost 86% of the S/UVs in California are driven by tiny Asian women who cannot see over the steering wheel. The other 14% are sorority girls who don't even bother looking over the steering wheel because they're too busy talking with their friends in the back seats.
17% of accidents with S/UVs result in 129% of all automobile-related deaths. This results in 35% of the total amount of automobile statistics, and 65% of all non-automobile related statistics.
To illustrate this article, I have gotten Jim Bagleaducia to doctor up a "normal" and "S/UV driver" photo. Notice his impressive use of Photoshop in the second picture.
A Normal, Average Driver
A S/UV Driver
You'll notice than in the "S/UV Driver" photo the driver is holding a cellphone, some fast food, and sitting next to a bunch of pizza boxes. You'll also that there's an Olympic Torch (or some kind of odd marital aid) on top of the pizza boxes. I tried to ask Jim why he added this, but he wasn't answering his phone. To draw attention away from the Olympic Torch, I took the liberty of drawing orange arrows that point in the opposite direction and attempt to draw attention away from the torch. Unfortunately, I now notice that they seem to be pointed to the guy's crotch. Just disregard the pictures entirely.
Boy Gives Up Wrestling After Falling Out a Window - I think "concerned parents" (ie, adults with too much time on their hands) have a new crusade to rally against - pro wrestling.
A 7-year-old boy modeling pro wrestling moves he had seen on TV bounced off his bed and tumbled out a second-story window. Casey Sabalsa sustained minor cuts and bruises after smashing through the bedroom window and tumbling two stories onto a cushion of grass.
Okay, so people are convinced that despite no proof whatsoever, video games cause kids to shoot each other, yet here's an article conclusively proving that pro wrestling makes children injure themselves! Despite all this evidence (I consider a six-paragraph article to be an awful lot of proof), I have yet to see as many angry parents waving torches and pitchforks at their local congressmen, demanding wrestling be banned or given an R-rating. In fact, whenever parents complain about video games causing violence, they always mention Doom, Quake, and RC Pro Am! Have you ever heard them ONCE say ANYTHING about WWF Attitude, Wrestlemania, or M.U.S.C.L.E. Wrestling causing children to think they can fly? Of course not, because while OUR children are doing backflips and flying out windows like rubber bands, parents across the globe are too busy screeching that playing House of the Dead 2: Electric Boogaloo turns their kids into killing machines. Wake up, parents, and face facts: John Carmack isn't to blame for the worldwide phenomenon of kids doing extremely stupid things. It's Fred Dibiasi or Jimmy the Superfly Snooka or whatever current fat tub of moist lard the wrestling industry managed to cram into a G-string and prance around on stage for 10 minutes. Let's accept some responsibility here, or at least make up some.
Shugashack Has a "Create Your Own Gaming God Trading Card" Contest - While creating Gaming God trading cards isn't news in itself, the "prize" sure is.
"we'll announce who will be writing a "werd" post of the day."
Yes, the winner of the contest will get to write on the Shack's page! They'll have the honor of doing Steve and Maarten's job for them! I think this opens up bold and exciting new areas of opportunity. In fact, these areas are so incredibly bold and incredibly exciting, I'm going to start a bold and exciting contest right now. It will be called "Guess What Number I'm Thinking Of (HINT: It's the Number '7')" and all you readers will be given a chance to guess. The winner gets to write articles for this site! Or you can update my news for me! Or even better yet, you can wash my car, because right now it's a filthy, rotting, mud-covered disease pit! I don't get nearly enough quality submissions to this site, so I can only assume this contest will be a raging success. Be sure to include your article along with your guess.
By the way, if you're reading this, Maarten or Steve, it's nothing personal, I'm just joking around. For example, if I was really trying to be mean spirited, I would've mentioned that Steve's rise to fame can be completely credited to the revolving-door prison system. And Maarten, if I was attempting to put you down, I would've said something about the time you passed gas at Quakecon and everybody distinctly heard the sound of a party favor going off in your pants.
Ah, to be graced by the presence of the wonderful Cliff Yablonski again. It truly is a wonderful experience indeed.
From: cliff yablonski
Subject: ENTER SUBJECT HERE
hey jerk, Ive got 4 new pages of people I hate in Appleton City. you know the drill - post it and I'll postpone kicking in your fat, bloated face for a few hours.
goodbye pansy
He really is a man among men, isn't he? I hear he's also a reeking alcoholic. But enough about him, check out the four new pages of people Cliff Yablonski just doesn't like!
Happy Halloween, jerks (even though it's not Halloween anymore). Jed's gift to you is a review of a wonderful new Half Life map entitled "Co-op", which doesn't have anything to do with playing co-op. It's supposed to be some kind of TF "2 Forts" monstrosity. The fact that so many people want to recreate "2 Forts" over and over and over is sick in itself, but the crowning achievement is that they're usually so poorly done. This map is no exception.
Your arsenal in "Co-op" is pretty much limited to the crossbow, which is definitely the weapon of choice for gunning down your opponents while they stand stationary in the middle of the map, mesmerized by the mysterious shrine of spike-induced blindness. In the unlikely event that you ever get tired of repeatedly using the same lame-ass weapon weapon you can always venture into the secret underwater room and pick up some laser tripmines. The downside is that the vile red lighting in said room will probably give you nightmares and more or less destroy your will to live but hey, that's why they're called "tradeoffs", right?
Take your tradeoffs and shove 'em, Joel!
Hosted site updates: Taco the Wonder Dog has many wonderful bits and pieces of stuff that makes my brain swell and hurt. He has completed the month-long saga of "Jane", his awe-inspiring musical play or screeching car wreck of lies, whichever you'd prefer to call it. He's also got a Flash movie entitled "Stunt Corpse" and some other stuff which I personally can't decipher or read.
Wow That's Amazing! also has something entitled "Bush, Gore, Lebenon, Whatever", which is about... uh... something. I'm personally leaning towards the "whatever" idea, because I can't make heads or tails of the article. Heck, the only way I can even tell it's an article is because the word "article" is up top and on the left. I think WTA provides a strong argument for mandatory lacing of our high school's milk with Ritalin.
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The Something Awful front page news tackles anything both off and on the Internet. Mostly "on" though, as we're all incredible nerds.
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