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Massive US storm brings tornadoes to Texas… along with a blizzard threat
A massive storm blowing across the country spawned tornadoes in parts of Oklahoma and Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as much of the central United States from the Rocky Mountains to the Midwest braced Tuesday for blizzard-like conditions.
An area stretching from Montana into western Nebraska and Colorado was under blizzard warnings, and the National Weather Service said that as much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was possible in some areas of western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. Ice and sleet were expected in the eastern Great Plains.
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Meanwhile, damage was reported in the Oklahoma town of Wayne after the weather service warned of a "confirmed tornado" shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. Video footage from Oklahoma TV station KOCO showed substantial damage to a home in Wayne, which is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City.
There were no deaths or injuries due to the tornado, McClain County Sheriff's Capt. Bryan Murrell said. But as authorities began assessing the damage to the town of Wayne on Tuesday morning, it was clear the damage was widespread.
"We've got multiple family structures with significant damage … barns, power lines down" in and around the town, Murrell said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Speheger said wind speeds reached 111-135 mph (179-211 kph) and the tornado was rated EF-2. It was likely on the ground for about two to four minutes, according to the weather service.
"That's the only (tornado) we've confirmed so far, although there are some other areas we're still assessing" south and east of Wayne, Speheger said.
In Texas, at least two tornadoes were spotted along the front edge of the storm as it headed toward the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area Tuesday morning, though the extent of any damage was not immediately known.
The National Weather Service warned that up to about half an inch (2.5 centimeters) of ice could form and winds could gust up to 45 mph (72 kph) in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Power outages, tree damage, falling branches and hazardous travel conditions all threatened the region.
All of western Nebraska was under a blizzard warning from Tuesday through Thursday, and the National Weather Services said up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of snow was expected in the northwest. Winds of more than 50 mph (80 kph) at times will make it impossible to see outdoors, officials said.
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The Nebraska Department of Transportation closed stretches of Interstate 80 and Interstate 76 in western as heavy snow and high winds made travel dangerous. The Nebraska State Patrol, which was called to deal with several crashes and jackknifed semitrailers overnight, urged people to stay off the roads.
"There's essentially no one traveling right now," said Justin McCallum, a manager at the Flying J truck stop at Ogallala, Nebraska. He said he got to work before the roads were closed, but likely won't be able to get back home Tuesday. "I can see to the first poles outside the doors, but I can't see the rest of the lot right outside. I'll probably just get a motel room here tonight."
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety tweeted Monday: "This is a 'we are not kidding' kind of storm." People were urged to stock up on essentials and stay home.
A 200-mile (322-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 90 across western South Dakota was closed Tuesday morning due to "freezing rain, heavy snow, and high winds," the state's Department of Transportation said. Interstate 29 was also expected to close and secondary highways will likely become "impassable," the department said.
Farther south, tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash flooding were expected Tuesday with eastern Texas, much of Louisiana and western Mississippi at greatest risk for severe storms. The severe weather threat continues into Wednesday for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
"It will be a busy week while this system moves across the country," said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's headquarters in Maryland.
The weather is part of the same system that dumped heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada over the weekend before moving east.
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In northern Utah, a tour bus crashed Monday morning as snow and frigid temperatures blanketed the region. The bus flipped onto its side in Tremonton after the driver lost control while switching lanes, the state's Highway Patrol said in a statement. The Highway Patrol said 23 passengers were injured, including some seriously.
The storm system was expected to move into the Northeast and central Appalachians with snow and freezing rain by late Wednesday, forecasters said. In the south, the storm was expected to move into southwest Mississippi, bringing risks of flooding.


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Jan Allan Axelsson, född 4 november 1968 i Bromma, Stockholm, är en svensk dokumentärfilmare och journalist.

Axelsson var tidigare verksam som redaktör vid TV4 i Umeå. Sedan 2014 verksam som producent i produktionsbolaget redcarpetmedia.se.

Filmografi
Under ljuset (2003)
Demonerna på Operan (2006)
 Drönarnas Krig (2013)

Källor

Födda 1968
Svenska journalister under 2000-talet
Svenska dokumentärfilmare
Män
Levande personer
Stockholmare
Journalister från Stockholm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Enjoy our comprehensive guide to the best way of spending your week in North Goa, promising the perfect holiday to Goa for all holidaymakers.
A holiday to Goa will open up a wide range of activities and destinations to all holidaymakers, whether you've come for a holiday of relaxation or a holiday of exploration. Staying in the north of the state will undoubtedly bring a packed itinerary to your Goa holiday. To help you decide how to spend your time in North Goa, we've put together our recommended weekly itinerary for an all-rounded experience.
Start your Goa holiday with some much deserved relaxation, best enjoyed on the beautiful sandy beaches of North Goa. Whether you choose to laze on the sands of Candolim, Calangute or Sinquerim, each beach is served by a range of fantastic and atmospheric beach shacks, serving up refreshments and wonderful Goan flavours.
On day two it's time to explore some of the culture and character of North Goa, and one of the best ways to do this is by paying a visit to Ponda. This is a culture hub in North Goa, famed for its temples and Hindu celebrations. The area is also known for its spice plantations, and visiting one of these farms is one of the top things to do in Goa during your holiday.
Presuming day three of your holiday is a Wednesday, make sure you spend the morning exploring the hustle bustle of the intoxicating Anjuna Flea Market. You can pick up all sorts of souvenirs here, from teas and spices to clothing and handicrafts. If perusing the market wore you out, head to the beaches of Morjim and Ashvem for some more Goa holiday rejuvenation in the afternoon.
Inland from the coast, Goa's magical verdant landscapes take centre stage. On the easternmost edge of Goa, you'll discover the stunning Dudhsagar Falls, tumbling from a height of 603m. India's second-highest waterfall is an incredible sight, while cooling off in the deep green waterfall pool is the perfect way to cap your visit to this natural wonder.
The colonial heritage of the state is a fascinating thing to discover during your holidays in Goa. You'll find no better place to do this than in Old Goa, once the most affluent city in the whole of Asia, known as the 'Rome of the East. Enjoy the stunning Renaissance architecture and UNESCO sites such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus, before heading to the charismatic and picturesque Old Latin quarter of Fontainas in Panjim for some more exploration.
If your sixth day is a Saturday, there's no better Goan experience than that of the Saturday Night Market. Located near Arpora, this bustling and lively market provides a vibrant window into Goan and Indian authenticity. Live music fills the air, as does the smell of tasty street food, resonating amid row after row of stalls.
Hopefully by day seven your Goa holiday will have absorbed and discovered all of the culture, character and colour of the state, so feel free to relax before your journey home. Take to those beautiful beaches again, or head to your hotel pool with a drink in your hand and reminisce about the highlights of your week in North Goa.
Interested in experiencing more of our tours and excursions during your North Goa holiday? Check out our Excursions and Tours page for some more inspiration.
How did you spend your time in North Goa? Let us know by commenting below.


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New idea for East Calhoun Pkwy lakefront: Senior housing
Michelle Bruch / [email protected]
The owner of property at 3017, 3021 and 3025 E. Calhoun Pkwy is proposing three floors of senior housing in a new building.
Citing a "eureka moment," the owner of three homes on the eastern edge of Bde Maka Ska wants to develop senior housing in a proposal that aims to alleviate neighborhood concerns about height and parking.
Under the new concept, about 17 independent- and assisted-living units would stand in a building of three floors (35 feet) at 3017, 3021 and 3025 E. Calhoun Pkwy. The building would cater to seniors who don't want to drive, and provide about three to five parking spaces. Average unit sizes would be 600-700 square feet, most with lake views.
"I don't need five stories. I can do all of this on three levels," said Basir Tareen, referencing a shelved proposal for a five-story, 18-unit condo building.
He said the new idea checks lots of boxes to address local concerns: no renters, no parties and fewer car trips. Senior housing was a popular choice in a neighborhood survey, he said.
Such facilities typically prepare meals onsite and keep a nurse on staff, he said. He said the new building would not provide intensive memory care or nursing home care, however.
"The beauty of it is the lake and community is your amenity," he said.
Tareen said he commissioned a market analysis that found Minneapolis has a shortage of senior housing, with huge demand for it.
"It's an interesting idea," said resident Lee Todd, speaking with Tareen at a March 19 East Calhoun Community Organization meeting.
"There is nothing in Uptown," said another attendee, referring to senior housing. "…I think you're totally on to something."
Resident Lara Norkus-Crampton said she hopes the developer would partner to help improve pedestrian safety, ensuring that seniors could make it across the street safely.
Resident Gary Farland said he appreciates the reduced height.
The developer put a five-story concept on hold a year ago, following resistance from the city Planning Commission. The site is located inside the Shoreland Overlay District, which requires a conditional use permit to build above 2.5 stories near the water.
Tareen said he's no longer interested in building condominiums, saying they would need to be priced at about $2 million apiece to build.
He plans to retain ownership of the building, hiring Reuter Walton Construction and a senior housing management group. He expects to return to an ECCO meeting in the coming months with design drawings.
Browse East Calhoun
Developer solidifies East Calhoun Parkway plans
Neighborhoods react to Sons of Norway development proposal
Sons of Norway site slated for "premium" apartments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Erik Magnussen's classic vacuum jug is now available in an updated version with a new function. Designed for Stelton in 1977, the prize-winning jug now comes as a press coffee maker in four different finishes - steel, black, white or red plastic.
The press coffee maker brews up to 8 cups. Its double walls and simple open/close function keep coffee hot for a long time. To serve, grasp the knob and turn the lid open; close by turning the lid back. The jug comes complete with measuring spoon and instructions for a unique taste experience with every cup.
Wash the piston in the dishwasher and clean the jug by hand.
Questions? Call us at 877.389.0880.


Malaysia intercepted a boat carrying 56 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar off its northern island of Langkawi yesterday and will allow them to enter on humanitarian grounds.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should take action to address root causes in Myanmar and provide support to countries in the region providing shelter to refugees, Fortify Rights said.
Almost 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought shelter in southern Bangladesh since Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on insurgents in August that the United States and UN have called ethnic cleansing.
"Generally all 56 passengers, mostly children and women, are safe but exhausted and hungry", Malaysian navy chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin told Reuters.
David Morley, president of UNICEF Canada said hundreds of thousands of children are at risk and they must be educated because "educating children in times of crises is key to helping them contribute to peace".
In Bangkok on Monday, human rights advocacy group Fortify Rights urged Thailand and Malaysia to provide protection for Rohingya refugees in accordance with worldwide law and standards.
"It [the boat] was sent to Malaysia after it was repaired and its crew was supplied with food and fuel", a Thai official told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, on condition of anonymity.
A boat loaded with almost 400 Myanmar Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees was pushed away repeatedly from Thailand in May 2015 before being rescued by fisherman in Sumatra, Indonesia.
A Rohingya refugee boy carries water in the Kutupalong refugee camp, in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh March 22, 2018.
In May 2015, human traffickers abandoned boats carrying thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi survivors of trafficking after Thailand and Malaysia reinforced their borders and refused to allow the boats to make port, resulting in an untold number of deaths, according to Fortify Rights.
Aye is expected to meet Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, foreign ministry officials told BenarNews.
Thai authorities push Rohingya refugees back out to sea, putting lives at risk (BANGKOK, April 2, 2018) - The governments of Thailand and Malaysia should cooperate to provide protection to Rohingya refugees in accordance with worldwide law and standards, Fortify Rights said today. But most people in majority-Buddhist Myanmar consider them to be unwanted Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh.
Around 400 families have already been relocated from low-lying areas and the UNHCR has begun engineering work to protect refugee camps from the region's intense monsoon season and tropical cyclones.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Pol Gen Chakthip said he believed Thailand serves as a link to third countries for fleeing Rohingya.
The report also suggests the federal government could target more of Myanmar's military leaders under its new Magnitsky Act that seeks to isolate human rights abusers by freezing assets and blocking travel.


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Developing improved management strategies for coral reefs
Who Dr Emma Camp, University of Technology Sydney
What Dr Emma Camp's discovery of corals thriving in extreme conditions is informing new adaptive management solutions in both Australia and abroad. Together with government and nature conservation agencies, she is developing improved management strategies for coral reefs worldwide, while using her work as a platform to advocate for action on climate change.
Winner of the 2021 Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher
Dr Emma Camp is an award-winning and internationally renowned corals expert who is passionate both about the protection of coral reefs, and the involvement of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Her research focuses on the physiology, ecology and biogeochemistry of coral reefs including learning more about highly tolerant or "super corals" in the hope of helping coral reefs that are in danger.
Image: Franck Gazzola/Rolex
© Franck Gazzola/Rolex
A marine biologist, you've built a research career around the ocean and worked in some beautiful locations. What initially attracted you to marine science?
I have always been fascinated by the ocean. As an eight-year-old I was lucky to snorkel with my family in the Caribbean. This sparked my love for coral reefs. As a young person, I didn't realise that there was a job such as a marine biologist. It wasn't until I was at university and took an environmental science course that I learned how important coral reef ecosystems were from an environmental and socio-economic perspective. Furthermore, I learned of the threat marine systems, such as coral reefs, were facing from human impacts. It was this knowledge that drew me to the marine sciences. I wanted to understand how systems such as coral reefs function and what we could do to try and conserve them.
You recently discovered that certain species of coral have a natural capacity to survive stress. What are the implications of this finding?
This was such an important discovery to aid our predictions on how coral reefs will be impacted in the future. The mangrove corals have an enhanced natural capacity to survive stress and can be utilised in active management efforts, such as coral propagation or assisted migration. Furthermore, studying naturally tolerant corals provides a natural laboratory to better understand the mechanisms that support coral resilience and any fitness trade-offs that support coral survive in hostile conditions.
What would surprise people most about your work?
That many locations globally appear to have mangrove lagoons that house corals living in extremely hostile conditions (warmer, more acidic, lower oxygen than your typical reef). This makes them potentially important reservoirs of stress hardened corals. The more locations we explore, the more 'extreme' coral habitats we find.
Many people also think that I spend the majority of my time on the reef, but I actually spend quite a lot of time both in the University of Technology Sydney lab, and supervising students. I can't wait to get back to the reef once we can travel again.
The impact of climate change on coral reef health is supported by extensive scientific evidence. As the issue continues to intensify, what gives you hope?
At times it can be hard to remain hopeful for the future of coral reefs. I do, however, remain optimistic for a few reasons. Firstly, we know what is harming reefs and we do have the tools to fix it. While not simple, we know that addressing climate change will help safeguard a future for coral reefs. If we had no idea why we were seeing coral bleaching events and loss of corals, then it would be hard to remain hopeful.
... young people have immense knowledge and drive to protect the environment. Their passion and action give me hope.
Secondly, young people have immense knowledge and drive to protect the environment. Their passion and action give me hope. And finally, we still have amazing coral reefs around the world. We have not lost coral reefs and for these reasons I remain hopeful and driven to help secure their future.
You're also part of the Coral Nurture Program, a finalist in the 2021 Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research. Can you tell us a bit about this project?
The Coral Nurture Program is a world-first partnership between science and tourism to retain and rehabilitate high value Great Barrier Reef sites. The program incorporates site stewardship and novel research to optimise best-practice for growing and planting coral at scale. To date, the program has out-planted over 50,000 corals in efforts to increase local site resilience while also building socio-economic resilience through diversifying reef tourism stewardship.
Dr Emma Camp has discovered extreme corals thriving among inhospitable Australian mangrove ecosystems. Her research on these corals has changed our understanding of coral stress tolerance and improved climate change impact-modelling for coral reefs.
What are some of the larger impacts you hope to see from your work in the future?
Through disseminating my research findings to a diverse range of reef stakeholders, I hope I can contribute to positive action to address climate change. Furthermore, I hope that knowledge from my work can help inform ways to improve existing active management efforts for coral reefs, while also identifying new management strategies. I also hope that through my work and actions I can inspire more girls and women to consider Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM). The enormity of the environmental challenges we face requires diverse thinking, and as many minds at the table as possible to come up with the novel solutions we ultimately require.
Learn more about Emma's work
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Eureka Prizes Great Barrier Reef
Finding Napo: Conservation of napoleon wrasse and rare corals 2006
AM Publication
2018 Eureka Prizes Finalists
Forty-seven entries were shortlisted for 16 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes in 2018.
Population management strategies for reducing koala retrovirus (KoRV) impacts on captive populations
Today, and every day, we celebrate women in science
This International Women's Day, we reflect on some of the most recent Eureka Prize recipients, who include trailblazing leaders, an interdisciplinary team and two young filmmakers.
Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation
Proudly supporting science at the Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station and elsewhere on the Great Barrier Reef.
Help save the reef
Pesky neighbours: diet strategies of reef fish in coastal ecosystems
A new study that uses DNA metabarcoding on cryptic red snapper species (family Lutjanidae), has provided new insights into their diet strategies and adaptations required for their coexistence.
Rewarding excellence in Australian research & innovation, leadership, science engagement, and school science
Key 2023 Dates
Changes to coral reef communities: more than just fish and corals. Wildlife and climate change: towards robust conservation strategies for Australian fauna.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest system of coral reefs, mangrove and estuarine environments, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers an area of about 348,700㎢.
Coral Reef Biodiversity Community-based Assessment and Conservation Planning in the Marshall Islands: Baseline surveys, capacity building and natural protection and management of coral reefs of the atolls of Bikini and Rongelap
Australian Museum - Accessibility and Inclusion Action Plan 2018 - 2021
The Museum Accessibility and Inclusion Action Plan 2018 - 2021.
Accessibility Strategy
Management under uncertainty: guide-lines for incorporating connectivity into the protection of coral reefs


Huichol art broadly groups the most traditional and most recent innovations in the folk art and handcrafts produced by the Huichol people, who live in the states of Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas and Nayarit in Mexico. The unifying factor of the work is the colorful decoration using symbols and designs which date back centuries. The most common and commercially successful products are "yarn paintings" and objects decorated with small commercially produced beads. Yarn paintings consist of commercial yarn pressed into boards coated with wax and resin and are derived from a ceremonial tablet called a neirika. The Huichol have a long history of beading, making the beads from clay, shells, corals, seeds and more and using them to make jewelry and to decorate bowls and other items. The "modern" beadwork usually consists of masks and wood sculptures covered in small, brightly colored commercial beads fastened with wax and resin.
While the materials have changed and the purpose of many of the items have changed from religious to commercial purposes, the designs have changed little, and many retain their religious and symbolic significance. Most outsiders experience Huichol art as tourists in areas such as Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, without knowing anything about the people who make the items, and the meanings of the designs. There are some notable Huichol artists in the yarn painting and beadwork fields, and both types of work have been commissioned for public display.
Fractals are different from other geometric figures because of the way in which they scale. Doubling the edge lengths of a polygon multiplies its area by four, which is two (the ratio of the new to the old side length) raised to the power of two (the dimension of the space the polygon resides in). Likewise, if the radius of a sphere is doubled, its volume scales by eight, which is two (the ratio of the new to the old radius) to the power of three (the dimension that the sphere resides in). But if a fractal's one-dimensional lengths are all doubled, the spatial content of the fractal scales by a power that is not necessarily an integer. This power is called the fractal dimension of the fractal, and it usually exceeds the fractal's topological dimension.


There are four eggs in the nest box and should begin hatching the week of May 15.The first pip was noticed on May 18, and should result in four chicks by May 22.The pair will both continue to take part in nesting responsibilities, both hunting for birds to bring to the box and feed to the chicks.They grow very quickly and will be banded by the time they are about 21 days.Click on the "LIVE" button to return to the live feed.Make the video full screen by pressing the double arrow in the lower right.In the meantime, enjoy this video of the chick reaching its "branching" stage of development, when it first leaves the nest for a nearby branch as it learns to use its wings.
This year, we celebrate forty years of effective conservation. Get falcon updates Note: There is no audio available with this camera.The bands numbers on the adult birds legs have identified the female at this box as "Arcadia", she is a 2013 fledge from the St. The male is "Tom" – a 2015 fledge from MSP Airport.This falcon camera is brought to you by the MNDNR's Nongame Wildlife Program, which helps over 700 species of Minnesota wildlife thrive. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS.To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer).
'" Holmes never actually said that, which becomes clear about halfway through the story.
Therefore it is important to listen to each other and to communicate in a non-threatening, respectful and fair manner when negotiating for a solution that will work for both people.
Actress, fashion designer, model She portrayed the role of Babe in Fox's drama series The American Embassy in just one episode in 2002.


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Home Features Mental health nursing shortages a 'recipe' for more acute bed closures
Mental health nursing shortages a 'recipe' for more acute bed closures
Nursing shortages have again caused acute mental health bed closures around the country – this time in the North Shore's only acute mental health unit – but unions report nurses in other centres working double shifts as vacancies take their toll.
Five beds of the 35-bed He Puna Waiora inpatient unit were closed on Sunday by the Waitemata District Health Board for seven weeks while it recruits and orientates new staff.
In April this year Capital and Coast DHB temporarily closed three beds in its Te Whare o Matairangi acute mental health unit because of staff shortages. This week Radio New Zealand reported that CCDHB was looking to employ unregistered staff to bolster its workforce as the capital's mental health crisis team had one in four positions vacant. This winter there were also reports of staff working extra shifts at Christchurch's Hillmorton Hospital because of 45 nursing vacancies.
Erin Polaczuk, the PSA's national secretary, said the Waitemata bed closures were a last resort by the DHB after 12 unfilled staff positions (nurses and assistants) had lead to remaining staff working double shifts to try and manage a full ward of patients.
"It was just getting to the unsustainable point," said Polaczuk.
"This isn't unprecedented – there has been bed closures before [around the country] because the lack of staffing is creating an unsafe environment."
Grant Brookes, the president of the NZNO, described CCDHB trying to resolve the nursing shortage by filling vacancies in its crisis team with healthcare assistants as "not a robust approach" as to work in a Crisis Resolution Service a nurse needed at least four years' mental health nursing experience.
Brooke said he understood Wellington's mental health services were currently around 40 nurses short, with 13 vacancies in the crisis team resulting in nurses doing "thousands of overtime hours and working rostered double shifts". He said there had been insufficient investment in recruiting senior nurses and high turnover because of the conditions of work.
Polaczuk said concerns about the growing demand for mental health services outstripping the services ability to cope was behind the PSA's call this year for the incoming government to commit to a mental health inquiry looking at all aspects of mental health from helplines through to acute mental health units.
"There needs to be a structured plan to fix this [staffing crisis] and we need to respond. Particularly in New Zealand where we have such an embarrassingly high suicide rate – we really can't afford to have any gaps in our mental health service."
Meanwhile, Polaczuk said while demand kept outstripping mental health services ability to recruit experienced staff, she expected more bed closures could follow around the country. "It's a recipe for a situation like the one we have right now."
She said PSA was not pointing their finger at DHBs. "DHBs are trying their best to manage a tricky situation on tight budgets, but there is a risk for people who work in the field of mental health that they can become unwell themselves. So we want to avoid fatigue and overwork that can lead to people becoming ill."
Brookes said there must be more investment in mental health. "Nurses are doing huge amounts of overtime and are struggling to keep up."
Waitemata DHB in a statement said the temporary closure of the five inpatient beds was a precautionary measure in the interests of patient and staff safety while it filled vacant roles. It said it had four staff arriving over the next few weeks, with more to follow. The DHB was working with its community-based mental health services, which had a number of community beds available, as well as its other inpatient mental health facilities to ensure alternative care was available for patients.
Pam Lightbown, the DHB's general manager of specialist mental health and addiction services, said staff and patient safety was its highest priority and it was focused on recruiting suitably qualified health professionals to ensure it continued to deliver best care.
bed closures
Nursing shortages
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Safe staffing shortfall leads to $1M boost in nursing staff
Safe staffing software that confirmed nursing shortages in some wards at Hawke's Bay Hospital has led to a $1 million boost in nursing staff.


Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people, willing to go it alone in order to create the business of their dreams and be the one in charge of all the decision-making processes.
Many of those processes can be done in a non-traditional manner, meaning that entrepreneurs don't need an office or a corporation to get their businesses off the ground, they can do it in their garage with sometimes the bare minimum of 'business ingredients' necessary to achieve their goals.
Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage, for example, and millions of others have done the same, avoiding the traditional business model and instead forging their own paths. In many countries, including the UK, their respective governments are finally starting to take this into account and give entrepreneurs the extra help that they need to be successful.
The reasons are many, and most have to do with the fact that small, home-based businesses are much less taxing on the local infrastructure of a city or town. The more home-based start-ups there are, the fewer cars are on the road, the less emissions are being dumped into the air and the less taxing it is for the community at large.
In the UK as of late there has been an entire package of new laws passed to help entrepreneurs and home-based business owners to be able to start their businesses, and allow landlords to rent homes to them as well, so that their chance of success will be higher.
The British Property Federation, at the forefront of the changes, believes that the successful home-based businesses of today will become the commercial property seeking larger businesses of the future, and as such need to be nurtured and allowed the freedom to grow so that they can one day contribute more.
That can only mean good news for the county's economy and, for home-based business owners everywhere, a better opportunity to make their business goals a reality.
A vision is the first step towards a successful business. Our experts can help you develop a business plan that will lead your start-up down a path towards success; one of the primary services Dynamic Consultants provides is the assistance of business development. Get in touch today to speak to one of our specialists or call us on 0844 66 46 091.


The Globalization of World Politics 4th (fourth) edition This is the fourth edition of Baylis and Smith's (which now includes Owens) The Globalization of... To download click on link in the Links Table below Description: Click to see full description Encompasses the entire range of the photographic medium, from the camera lucida to up-to-date computer technology, and from Europe and the Americas to the Far East.
Download A World History Of Photography PDF.
"The (painted) picture fell apart together with the old world that it had created for itself. The new world will not need pictures. If it needs a mirror, it has the photograph and the cinema."1 At this point, Lissitzky's primary allegiance was to Suprematism, but his ideas concerning the suitability of photography for the proletarian state dovetailed with the opinions of Aleksei Gan, the world map pdf high resolution Find 9780789209375 A World History of Photography 4th Edition by Rosenblum at over 30 bookstores. Buy, rent or sell.
The First World War represents a watershed in the history of war photography. It was the first conflict to be photographed in detail by all the participants and the first in which photography was actively exploited and controlled in support of the war effort.
photography in the world of art is a constant underlying value in the text.'8 His emphasis on photographic means, procedures and techniques is characteristic of that concern.


> I like the idea. I had not thought of this as a preprocessing scenario, but the objective is similar in principle to face recognition, so it makes sense. And if it prevents the app from having to control the dependent camera functions it's definitely simpler for developers.
has to be specified in detail before publishing version 1.0 of this spec.
<bryan> Is your objection to this particular feature being addressed or to preprocessing (http://www.w3.org/TR/2012/WD-capture-scenarios-20120306/#pre-processing) in general being addressed?
>> I have some additional requirements from the Barcode Scanning use case that has been discussed recently on the DAP and Sysapps lists.
>> Users discover and access barcodes in many different contexts, e.g. product packages, print media, posters, and billboards. Because code interpretation in all these contexts depends upon capturing of a usable image, the camera access API needs to enable the Webapp or user to select options that will enhance the quality of the image.
> to provide an implementation".
> avoiding the requirement of a camera controller API.
> and turn on a light,  the author grants those permissions to the UA.
> time it has to complete enhanced recognition.
> to recognition servers. (see also 5.1.1; privacy).
> Point out a barcode.
> next to each product.
> points at the product.
> scripting processes the barcode closest to her finger.
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Move your Revols earphones and your Bluetooth device closer together as you may be experiencing interference. While Revols' Bluetooth range is 10 meters (33 feet), the optimal range for any Bluetooth stereo device is about 60 centimeters (2 feet) from the audio source, so let's try it at its ideal distance.
Your earphone's Bluetooth antenna is located in the inline control box -- try moving your audio source device closer to the side where the inline remote is located. For example, you can try moving your audio source device to your right pocket instead of your left.
If this doesn't help the audio loss or distortion, please reach out to support@revols.com. Try to provide an explanation of what you are hearing and we will help you troubleshoot.


text:
How Many Lies Are Too Many?
By Peter RothbergTwitter
Next Saturday, July 23, is the three-year anniversary of the meeting at #10 Downing Street in London that was recorded in the now infamous minutes known as the "Downing Street Memo." Suggesting that the Bush Administration was intent on going to war with Iraq with or without intelligence on Saddam's WMD, the memo has given new impetus (and vindication) to antiwar critics of the invasion.
To highlight these disclosures, AfterDowningStreet.org, a new and growing coalition of veterans' groups and activist organizations working with Rep. John Conyers, has organized hundreds of events, dramatic performances, house parties and study circles planned coast to coast next July 23. At least eight events will involve members of Congress. Click here to see what's happening in your area.
In New York City, The Nation and Democrats.Com are teaming up to present a public forum at the New York Society of Ethical Culture featuring Rep. Maurice Hinchey, the Hon. Liz Holtzman, Air America host Randi Rhodes and Bob Fertik, President of Democrats.com. The event starts at 2:00 and is free to the public. Click here for more info and click here to read Holtzman's recent Nation mag piece outlining the legal case that could and should be made against senior Bush officials for the torture at Abu Ghraib.
There's also still time to organize your own July 23rd event. Click here for info on how to host your own gathering.
Other good ways to help:
**Pass out info on why the Downing Street Memo is important.
**Write letters to editors and call your local talk-radio hosts.
**Talk to like-minded activists in a forum hosted by Democrats.com.
**Ask your elected reps to call for investigations into Bush's war lies.
Whatever you do, don't let next week's anniversary pass without notice!
(Something else to plan ahead for is the call from United for Peace and Justice and other activist groups to come to Washington, DC from September 24 to 26 to join what they expect will be a massive weekend of protests against the war in Iraq. Click here for info.)
Peter RothbergTwitterPeter Rothberg is the The Nation's Associate Publisher.


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Prunus mira, the smooth stone peach, smooth-pit peach or Tibetan peach, and locally called behmi, behimi or tirul, is a species of Prunus native to the foothills of the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau, at elevations typically between 2600 and 3000m, but ranging from 2000 to 4000m.

Description
Prunus mira grows to 8-12m tall and the trunks 16cm in diameter (DBH). The leaves are lanceolate, 5–10cm long and 1.2–4cm wide. The flowers are pinkish white. The 2-by-3cm ovoid fruit has white flesh. As the common name suggests, the stone is smooth.

Uses
The trees are cultivated in some parts of their native range, for their fruit (which is often pickled), their seeds (as a substitute for almonds), and for their seed oil, which is used for cooking and hair oil. The rootstocks are used for almonds and for dwarfing peach trees, and are resistant to powdery mildew.

References

External links

Peaches
Flora of China
Flora of East Himalaya
Flora of West Himalaya
Flora of Nepal
Flora of Pakistan
Trees of Tibet
Plants described in 1912
Prunus


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Nico Sijmens (* 1. April 1978 in Diest) ist ein ehemaliger belgischer Radrennfahrer.

Werdegang
Nico Sijmens begann seine Karriere 2001 bei dem belgischen Radsportteam Vlaanderen-T Interim. 2003 feierte er seine ersten Erfolge mit zwei Etappensiegen bei der Österreich-Rundfahrt. Sein größter Erfolg war der Gewinn des Eintagesrennens GP Pino Cerami 2003. In der Saison 2005 gewann er die Hel van het Mergellands und später die Rothaus Regio-Tour, wodurch er die UCI Europe Tour 2005 auf dem zehnten Rang beendete. In den nächsten Jahren gewann er u. a. nochmals die Hel van het Mergelland und das Etappenrennen Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour. Sijmens beendet zweimal den Giro d'Italia und viermal die Vuelta a España. Nach Ende der Saison 2014 beendete er seine Laufbahn.

Erfolge
2003
 zwei Etappen Österreich-Rundfahrt

2004
 GP Pino Cerami

2005
 Hel van het Mergellands
 Regio Tour

2006
 eine Etappe Tour de la Région Wallonne

2007
 Beverbeek Classic
 Hel van het Mergelland

2012
 eine Etappe Boucles de la Mayenne

2013
 Gesamtwertung und eine Etappe Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour

Grand-Tour-Platzierungen

Teams
 2001–2003
 2004–2006
 2007–2008
 2009–2012
 2013
 2014

Weblinks

Radsportler (Belgien)
Belgier
Geboren 1978
Mann


The youngsters started off with a bang at the 2018 Farmer's Day Fun Run. Hundreds of runners and walkers joined in the fun on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Results are in for the 2018 Farmer's Day Fun Run.
Those running the five mile were few, and led by Bryant Knigge with a time of 33:16. Many readers will remember Bryant from his days at Kimball Public Schools and later at Potter-Dix. He ran in the 20-29 age category. Great job Bryant!
Following Bryant was Colby Lukassen in the 30-39 age category. Colby, an avid runner, came in with a time of 43:15 and is a past winner of the Fun Run from Bushnell.
Third place went to Steve Knigge, Bryant's dad, in the 60 and over age category with a time of 43:45.


It is hard to believe my little sister has been gone for twenty years. The youngest of twelve children, she was born three days before my wedding. An eighteen year gap is a big one especially when you don't live in the same house.
When people ask me what her disability was like, I find that hard to answer. I never looked at her as disabled. She was just my little sister.
My mom watched my daughter during the day, so Tina was like her big sister for two years. Tina's speech was slightly different, but so was my daughter's because of ear problems.
When we moved two hours away, our time together was limited to family gatherings. I was inspired by her loving spirit whenever we visited.
Down syndrome sometimes is viewed negatively by people who don't know much about it. My characters were young when faced with the possibility which caused conflict from misunderstanding it.
My parents didn't know until she was born and they were older. But from the moment she came home from the hospital, she was loved by all of us. Just one of the family and most of the time there wasn't a problem.
Down syndrome sometimes is viewed negatively by people who don't know much about it.
I say most of the time because, like other families, there was conflict sometimes. Especially when brothers are involved. They loved to tease and Tina DID NOT always like that. She let them know, too.
I remember she loved to color and seemed to always hum which gave me the inspiration for the story.
Like my character, she was also able to take care of most of her needs. Occasionally that meant she wore things backwards which was cute.
Often, she was a ham on purpose. I have some pictures where she did some crazy poses just to make me laugh.
Tina always wanted to be included. That meant coming to stay with us during the summer. My sister came with her. We didn't have any issues except someone went in the fridge and ate the Cool Whip! I wonder who?
One thing she did was laugh. At times she was so silly she couldn't stop. I miss that!
Like the rest of the family, Tina went to school and religious instruction. I was her confirmation sponsor. I remember the day she was confirmed (affirmation of faith), she was so serious. She understood what she was doing.
My most treasured memory I have is a handwritten letter she sent me. As a single mom, money was tight in the summer (I was a teacher) and I couldn't afford the gas to travel to Rochester. Her letter begged me to come. She wanted to go to the movies, the amusement park, out to eat and wanted me to stay over. It ended with how much she missed me.
Family was important to her and she was a gift to us all.
Next PostNext Who is That Woman in the Chair?


December 7, 2009 | Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?
I don't understand how someone as sickly as bin laden could go back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan, dragging a dialysis machine with him, etc… He is the "boogey man" of the "War On Terror" or rather the "widely perceived direct external threat" used "to fashion a consensus on foreign policy issues" as Zbigniew Brzezinski says.
This goes so far off the non-credibility scale as to verge on comedic…only the US corporate media can be this stupid and naive.
If OBL was alive and in a specific part of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, there is no way in hell that (US) intelligence are going to broadcast that fact.
2. "Two kinds of people who say they believe the official story of 911.
1-those who haven't done even minimal research into the events.
3. Continuity Of Government (COG), anyone?
"What the media has done is shown us that they are not free to even investigate, let alone report on, matters of the deep (national security) State. My suspicion is that their inability to do so in regards to 9/11 is circumscribed by two factors: First, ownership by corporate interests with substantial ties to the military industrial complex and other monied interests and, Second, the full (unknown to us) meaning of COG protocols. My suspicion is that this latter strictly limits any broadcast or publication of 'news' discussion of 9/11, requiring it to adhere to and never contradict the established narrative for "national security" reasons. Of course on the individual level there is the psychological denial rooted in incredulity that we all have faced when attempting to inform our fellow citizens about 9/11. Only in this sense can we speak of the "failure" of the press to use its First Amendment right (and, indeed, obligation) to inform the public. But on the institutional level we can't give them the courtesy of "failure" as an excuse. They haven't merely failed us, they've betrayed us. Even if, as I suspect, they have done so "lawfully" as directed under COG protocols, their adhesion to these protocols in the face of mass murder, treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity, allows only one conclusion: They are enemies of both our national ideals and the larger enterprise of human freedom. Freedom by its very nature can not be built upon a foundation of deception.
For each individual media member that knows in their own personal mind that the government's version of 9/11 doesn't hold up to the facts that are verifiable listen to this. You are making a horrible mistake with your decision to remain silent and you are definitely betrayers to the goodness of humanity. If you made that decision to stay silent because of your job and economic security I feel sorry for you. You should have quit your job and found a new way of making a living.
They certainly haven't failed those countries and those corporations hellbent on dragging the entire world into a conflict and those who want to continue the destruction of the environment and the exploitation and disenfranchisement of indigenous peoples everywhere…..
4. "The first and most obvious is the Internet, which has not only bypassed the "mainstream" media and, indeed, driven it into near-bankruptcy, but which has also delivered a body blow to the cult of the "experts." After all, who is an "expert," and why are they so called? Well, because they generally have credentials and, therefore, are given a platform by the media to expound on matters they supposedly know everything about. Yet with the advent of the Internet, the significance of this "mainstream" platform is radically reduced. Add to this the wide availability of previously obscure knowledge – thanks be to the gods of Google! – and credentialism is thrown out the window. Today, an unknown writer can take to the Internet, set up a blog, and – perhaps – become the go-to source for this or that specialized branch of knowledge. An alternative crop of experts has arisen, which rivals the old crowd and indeed seems to be fast surpassing them, at least so far as influence over the public is concerned.
Yet the elite stranglehold on our foreign policy continues, in large part due to the iron grip of the interventionists on the two-party system. Our present conundrum – a president elected to office largely on the strength of his "antiwar" stance, who is now taking us into a wider and more difficult war than his warlike predecessor ever conceived – is an eloquent testament to this cruel fact.
If the leadership of both major parties sees Afghanistan as a "war of necessity," then the War Party can relax – because the restive public will have no one to turn to even as it rejects the policies put forward by the elites. This is why the policymakers can continue to ignore the rising rebellion against interventionism roiling the American street and continue talking only to themselves.
"There is a deep-rooted expectation – and not, alas, just among the elite — that the world should jump to America's tune, by force if necessary. And when, for whatever reason, some part of the world does not jump – or bump and grind – to the Potomac beat, then it becomes a "problem" that must be "solved," by one means or another, with, of course, "all options on the table," all the time. And whether these "problems" are approached with blunt, bullying talk or a degree of cajolery and pious rhetoric, the chosen stance is always backed up with the ever-present threat of military action, up to and including the last of those "options" that always decorate the table: utter annihilation.
This is not even questioned, must less debated or challenged. America's right to intervene in the affairs other nations by violent force (along with a constant series of illegal covert activities) – and to impose an empire of military plantations across the length and breadth of the entire planet – is the basic assumption, the underlying principle, the fervently held faith shared by both national parties, and the entire elite Establishment. And if you want to have the necessary instruments to maintain such a state of hegemony, then you must indeed structure your society and economy around war.
As historian Adam Tooze reminds us in The Wages of Destruction, the Nazis had drawn up detailed plans for the extermination – by active mass murder and deliberate starvation – of up to 40 million East Europeans.
Although it is easy to demonstrate that Bernanke and Geithner's actions have harmed the economy, it is not even necessary to show what a poor job they have done economically.
America knows that Bernanke and Geithner have acted in the interests of the largest banks, and have done too little to help Main street and the American people.
"March 11, 2004. The Madrid 3/11 Bombings: Was it Really an Attack by "Islamic Terrorists"?
Questions immediately arose about how it could be possible that three detainees kept in isolation and under constant and intense monitoring could have coordinated and then carried out group suicide without detection, particularly since the military claimed their bodies were not found for over two hours after their deaths. But from the beginning, there was a clear attempt on the part of Guantanamo officials to prevent any outside investigation of this incident.


Courtney and Will's Bethesda Country Club wedding was proof that rain on your wedding day can be both lucky and beautiful!
This darling duo wanted a band that would have their nearest and dearest flocking to the dance floor. We Got The Beat delivered, giving the couple and their guests a night a fabulously fun night to remember.
Susie and Becky Photography captured the essence of the evening perfectly. We are incredibly grateful to this talented team for sharing such captivating work.
This entry was posted in Weddings and tagged Bethesda Country Club, Bethesda Weddings, brad strouse, Maryland Wedding, We Got The Beat on 09/14/2016 by admin.


🔵 What will it take to fix flailing SDG funding?
On Friday 8 March, Ruth Manorama, a Dalit human rights defender, delivered a statement, co-sponsored by the International Movement Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination and by the Right Livelihood Award (in solidarity with IDSN), during the 40th regular session of the Human Rights Council. She also spoke on the panel at the Right Livelihood side-event on Women Human Rights Defenders.
The statement from CIVICUS highlights the 10-year deferral of IDSN's application for UN consultative status and calls for all members of the committee to immediately discontinue any arbitrary actions to block applications from non-governmental organisations and strongly encourages governments that are committed to promoting an enabling environment for civil society to nominate themselves for future seats on the Committee.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, raises concern over increasing marginalisation and discrimination in India, in her speech to the UN Human Rights Council in March. Speaking about the situation in India, the High Commissioner shows concern over the fact that, despite significant poverty reduction in general terms, there has been, "increasing harassment and targeting of minorities – in particular Muslims and people from historically disadvantaged and marginalised groups, such as Dalits and Adivasis". She points out to narrow political agendas in that country lead to further marginalisation of vulnerable people.
The new report Caste and Development: Tackling Discrimination Based on Work and Descent has just been released by the UK NGO development network BOND, highlighting the urgent need to address caste discrimination in order to progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. "Caste affects a fifth of the world's population but the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) don't mention it, despite caste-based discrimination being a significant barrier to leaving no one behind. Bond explores this crucial omission in this report and identifies a set of practical actions for policymakers and civil society organisations."
Last months countries met to discuss active engineering measures to cool the Earth. It was controversial.


text:
Top 10 disasters of Tollywood in 2022
Biggest Flops
Asha Kiran Kumar
Acharya (90 cr loss)
Directed by Koratala Siva, the Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan starrer was made with a budget of Rs 140 Crores and managed to make only Rs 50 crore.
Liger (62 cr loss)
Made with a budget of Rs 75 crore, the Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Pandey starrer was declared a flop.
The Warrior (18 cr loss)
The Ram Pothineni and Krithi Shetty was a snooze fest, and the only good thing about the movie were the songs. But unfortunately, it tanked at the box office and made barely Rs 35 crore.
The Ghost (17 cr loss)
Directed by Praveen Sattaru, the Akkineni Nagarjuna starrer went on to become a huge flop that barely made Rs 13 crore.
Radhe Shyam (120 cr loss)
Made with a whopping budget of Rs 350 Crores, the Prabhas and Pooja Hegde starrer managed to collect Rs 151 Crore.
GodFather (25 Cr loss)
Made with a whopping budget of Rs 100 crores, the Chiranjeevi starrer managed to collect Rs 75 crore.
Ghani (22 cr loss)
Directed by debutant Kiran Korrapati, the Varun Tej Konidela starrer managed to rake in Rs 8 crore.
Thank You (21 cr loss)
Made on a budget of Rs 40 crore, the Akkineni Naga Chaitanya starrer just managed to make a lifetime of Rs 19 crore at the box office.
Khiladi (17 Cr loss)
Made on a budget of Rs 65 crore, the Ravi Teja starrer made a gross collection of Rs 48 crore worldwide.
Son of India (11 cr loss)
The Mohan Babu starrer has turned out to be a massive box office disaster, collecting Rs 18 lakhs worldwide.
Next: Shivathmika Rajashekar is a total stunner; here's proof


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Q: How to make browsers re-adjust web pages because of the sidebar? It does get annoying sometimes. Chromium has to make a bottom scroll bar for pages because the web pages are configured for the whole screen, and all because of the side application launcher bar. Anyway to stop this?

A: Incorrect. More right is "Chromium has to make bottom scrollbar because web pages has tuned for bigger size than current size of monitor (or window)" ...
Solutions:
0 You can use System Settings > Apperance ( 12.04 ) to adjust Unity to hide sidebar. Read this question: How can I configure Unity's launcher auto-hide behavior?
1 Using wider monitor.
2 Disabling any sidebars.
3 Use special userstyles to override site styles (width:100% !important ) * Thanks for @Izzy
4 Change zoom level. Ctrl+MouseWheel to zoom/out. Ctrl+0 to reset.* Thanks for @erdemkeren

A: Depending on the browser used, suitable user-styles might provide a solution. For Firefox, there is the Stylish addon for this issue, which I am familar with (I do not use Chromium). On the other hand it looks like there's a Stylish for Chromium available as well.
so how does that help you here? You first need to identify the "over-sized" element on the page. In many cases, this is a div element with the id "content" (<DIV ID="content" ...>), with a corresponding style saying something like div#content { width:1234px ... }. Using Stylish, you can override this setting, in my example this could be done by a user-style containing div#content { width:100% !important; } (the "important" meaning: override existing rule). With this relative value, that element now should always exactly fit into the window -- however, there may be more elements you need to adjust.
Before starting to play around yourself -- especially if you are not that used to HTML/CSS -- you could check at UserStyles.ORG whether somebody else already did that job. You will find a lot of interesting snippets there.
Alternatively / Additionally, it's worth taking a look at UserScripts.ORG as well. Instead of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) they use JavaScript, which is "injected" into the pages at runtime. For Firefox this is done via Extensions like GreaseMonkey or Scriptish -- as far as I know this functionality is built-in with Opera and Chrome, not sure about Chromium. Due to JavaScript usage, this way it is possible to manipulate the entire DOM-tree: add/delete/move elements, and more.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


WSCUC has required prior approval of institutional substantive changes in degree programs, methods of delivery, and organizational changes since 1979.
The substantive change process is designed to ensure the consistency of quality across all institutional operations, on and off-campus and through distance education. The concern for quality has grown as off-campus programs have crossed regional and international boundaries, technology-mediated learning has flourished, and more institutions are beginning to offer both professional and research doctorates.
In 1994 and then again in 2008, the Higher Education Reauthorization Acts led to a significant number of regulations concerning substantive change, and the U.S. Department of Education began requiring federally mandated site visits to off-campus programs and authentication of students enrolled in distance education programs.
Under both Commission policy and federal law, certain substantive changes are required to have prior approval. The procedures defined in the Substantive Change Manual provide guidelines for institutions to demonstrate compliance with these regulations, as well as other WSCUC requirements.
The Substantive Change Committee meets in panels, on or after the third Thursday of each month, via conference to review the substantive change proposals of WSCUC institutions.
The Committee also meets annually to orient new members and discuss trends and policy matters relating to substantive change.
The Committee is comprised of individuals with particular expertise in assessment, finance, graduate, undergraduate and general education, international programs, distance education as well as a variety of discipline areas. Doctoral proposals are reviewed by members of the Committee with particular expertise in doctoral education and disciplines.


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← Social Confusion: Keeping Up With Social Media
Caught with your plans down? →
The last major independent provider of bill pay
Posted on February 8, 2011 by teamclarus
By Marc Rapport
Publication: Jack Henry Pockets iPay Tech
The last major independent provider of bill pay to credit unions has been purchased by its biggest customer, but its president said it's business as usual for his customers and end users.
iPay Technologies of Elizabethton, Ky., was sold last week by Spectrum Equity Investors and Bain Capital Ventures to Jack Henry & Associates of Monett, Mo., for $300 million in cash, with the deal expected to close in June.
The acquisition is the largest yet for Jack Henry, perhaps best known in the credit union industry as the owner of the Symitar core processing platform. It follows Fiserv's acquisition of CheckFree for $4.4 billion in 2007 and FIS's purchase of Metavante Technologies for $2.94 billion last year.
iPay employs about 250 people and provides bill pay and related services to more than 3,600 credit unions and other financial institutions, including more than half of the credit unions and nearly 40% of the community banks that use bill payment software, the company said.
Jack Henry has a client list of more than 11,800 that it serves through three primary brands, core processors Jack Henry Banking and Symitar and its ProfitStars division for specialized products and services. About 1,075 of those are users of the iPay bill pay engine through Jack Henry's online platforms.
A company spokeswoman said she could not comment on how iPay would be integrated into the company until after the purchase is final.
iPay's president, Bill Ready, said, "We see this very much as business as usual, and we'll continue to serve our customers in the same way that we always have, with the same people here for them to call and us calling on them."
iPay Technologies was created in 2001 with about 150 client contracts purchased from a predecessor that disbanded after the dot-com implosion of 2000. It then grew through partnerships with core processors, aggregators and other services providers, perhaps most notably its November 2007 deal to be the payment engine for Jack Henry's electronic bill pay solution, NetTeller PowerPay, which essentially doubled its potential client base.
"iPay operates as a seamless extension of its business partners with a sophisticated bill pay engine that easily integrates with any online banking solution," said Jack Henry CEO Jack Prim. "This is a key acquisition that supports our expansion in the electronic payments industry and further strengthens our payments offering."
Jack Henry's chief financial officer, Kevin Williams, added that "iPay Technologies, which is our largest acquisition to date, added proven solutions that complement our existing products and services, expands our presence and potential in the growing payments industry, broadens our reach outside our core client base with a highly competitive online bill pay solution, and increases our transaction-based and recurring revenues."
Ready, the iPay president, said, "There remains a lot to be seen but we don't see this as the end of an era. Our culture fit with Jack Henry has been very strong and we see this as a natural evolution of that process."
That reflected the view of industry observer Gwen Bezard, research director at Aite Group in Boston.
"iPay was one of the last of the independent big payment processors. and I would say it's a natural evolution for it to be acquired by a core banking processor," he said. "It's a logical pass. If I were a client of iPay, I wouldn't be concerned at all by this acquisition."


Buildings that are constructed and are made to be profit oriented are mostly called commercial buildings. This kind of buildings can be used in different ways or better has different functions. You can have an office, restaurant, shop, school, medical centers in that building. All these cannot be called a residential building rather commercial building because it is used for strictly business and it main aim is to generate income. Having this kind of business in a commercial building you need to obtain insurance for this commercial property.
It is good to start now to seek for ways to avoid any future loss. The means that you must insure your company in case of any unforeseen events like robbery, accident, and theft or fire incident.
Insurance brokers are in a better position to get you acquainted with the several types of commercial building insurance policies you need to know. If you are confused on the kind of insurance you need for your building the answer to your problem is commercial building insurance.
This kind of insurance is the most important because you need to secure your building in case of any loss due to fire outbreak or any case of robbery. However, you must know that you need specific insurance to cover any kind of business you run depending on the nature of your business.
Obtaining the right kind of insurance for your company is as important as getting enough insurance. When you own a small business you are at risk of losing your business or your personal assets in the event of an unforeseen and detrimental event. You are at risk for lawsuits, theft, theft of customers personal information, fire, auto accidents, and paperwork mistakes. There is insurance to cover most anything that might happen to you and your business, the task is to find out what kind you need.
1. E-commerce – Insures against any loss incurred due to internet intrusions such as hacking for customers personal information.
2. Auto – This is very important if your business owns or utilizes any type of vehicle. It is separate from the General Liability policy.
3. Workers Compensation – If your employee gets injured on the job you will be covered. Some businesses are required by law to have Workers Compensation coverage depending on the number of employees they have. This varies by state so make sure you check with your state government.
4. Errors and Omissions – Anyone who gives advice or performs a professional service needs this coverage.
5. Umbrella – Gives you excess coverage over and above your General Liability Policy. It does not provide excess coverage for Workers Compensation.
Evaluate your risks carefully. Always think of the worst case scenario and plan accordingly. Your business can survive an unfortunate event if you have properly insured it.
The Internet has spawned a proliferation of online business activities and is home to some of the largest retailers in the world, such as a popular book-selling site that since has expanded to include numerous other goods sold. It's possible to purchase anything from a book to a car to a home and the insurance to protect all of them. But any business engaged in online activities needs to have electronic commerce insurance in place to ensure it as well as any customers or clients are protected against the perils unique to Internet-based commercial activities.
Electronic commerce is defined as the use of technology in business practices to enable internal and external workflows as well as communication with consumers, customers and clients. And such technology is used to electronically communicate as well as engage in commercial activities while at the same time reducing costs and increasing efficiencies.
Some industries have embraced the Internet and other forms of electronic activities, such as sending and receiving facsimiles. Chief among them are the travel industry, online retailers, insurance firms and auction sites, like eBay. If you want to own or rent a home or apartment, many times, an online application or other form of communication is the first step taken. But if that information somehow is used to commit fraud or engage in theft of monies, an online business could find itself facing a hefty lawsuit and possibly large legal judgment.
Among risks that are particularly high for online businesses is the possible theft of data, making data security a high priority. If personal or financial information is stolen by a computer hacker, for example, the online business has a heightened liability due to the increased need for it to provide security against such illegal accesses. And if a client should suffer a loss as a result of a breach of site security or some other means of illegal activity, the business owner might find a costly lawsuit threatening the future of the enterprise.
Interruption of commercial activities also is a strong threat facing online enterprises, such as might occur if a third-party vendor is in charge of handing certain types of online transactions and the site suddenly is unavailable for any number of reasons, like when a server goes down and the website cannot be accessed. Even a short time down can result in a great deal of lost sales or other commercial activities.
An electronic commerce policy can help alleviate potential losses and ensure a smoothly operating business remains, but there can be difficulties when filing a claim if something bad should happen. Because the nature of online businesses can vary greatly, the more information that can be provided to fully inform insurance agents and adjusters on the kinds of activity and commerce done can help speed up the claims process if one is filed.
And the level of coverage needed varies as well. The amount of insurance needed is relative to the amount of risk carried, as would be expected. Insurance experts advise carrying at least $1 million to $2 million in liability coverage to protect the business and its customers if the commercial activity is relatively small and only a small amount of equity is available.


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Cougar Chronicle
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Cougar Roar
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Relay for Life- Team BCE
Almost all of us have been touched by cancer in some way, so we'vedecided to make a difference by raising money and walking in our local American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.
At the event, our team will take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society in the world's largest movement to end cancer.
Our team is taking action to help finish the fight. Please join our team or make a donation. Saving lives from cancer starts with one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time.
Below is the link to learn more about Relay for Life and join BCE's team.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY15SA?team_id=1773530&pg=team&fr_id=65107
Please enjoy this weeks Newsletter and News Video.
Cougar Chronicle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6JIvr5-czmiRXFQRGRuTU0yb0E/view?usp=sharing
Cougar Roar: https://www.wevideo.com/hub/#media/ci/324585101
Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!
Mrs. Butts WON!!
Five educators receive top awards. Five of those extraordinary educators will also receive the Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence. And their students have already benefitted from the award. Each class received digital arts training from Pearson Foundation to produce a video, set to premiere at the gala, to honor their award-winning teachers.
Who will receive the evening's top honor? The five educators above make up the finalists for the evening's top award: the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and $25,000, which will be revealed at the end of the night.
Mrs. Butts WON!!! We're so proud of Mrs. Butts!
Cougar Chronicle, Feb. 12


LANSING — A proposal to farm fish in Michigan's Great Lakes may violate the rights of some Native American tribes in the state, according to representatives from several of Michigan's five Native American tribes.
Opponents of commercial net pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes say the method threatens the lakes' water quality and fish by creating new opportunities for the spread of disease and invasive species.
"There is no question that net pen aquaculture will cause water quality degradation that could result in an adverse impact on the citizens relying on the fish that live in the water for jobs and food," said Kathryn Tierney, tribal attorney for the Bay Mills Indian Community.
Proponents say they believe the fish farming method will create jobs while posing minimal threat to the lakes' water quality and fish.
They include Jim Diana, a University of Michigan professor of fisheries and wildlife who served on a state advisory panel that explored the issue's potential upsides and hazards.
"We had a disease specialist on our panel, and he didn't think a well-managed aquaculture farm was a threat. There are some instances where disease has been an issue. It is possible. However our methods have improved substantially for preventing this," Diana said.
Diana pointed to net pens already operated by the state.
However some in the tribes argue these state operated net pens are different from the proposed commercial ones.
"They are basically in lieu of a chinook salmon hatchery. The fish are in the pen for a much shorter time frame and the state pens operate on a much smaller scale than the proposed commercial net pens. There is no comparison. It must just be a claim by the aquaculture industry. We are talking apples and bananas difference," said Tom Gorenflo, director of the Inter-tribal Fisheries and Assessment Program.
The tribes are in a greater position to affect the potential introduction of commercial net pen aquaculture in areas falling under their jurisdiction under the 1836 Treaty of Washington, according to some Native American officials. This treaty grants Michigan tribes occupancy and access rights to the Great Lakes and their neighboring lands.
The rights granted by the treaty were further specified in a 2000 consent agreement among the state, the federal government and Michigan's five Native American tribes.
"The privilege of occupancy means basically we live here, but what it does not mean is that we don't evolve. It's not that we have to live here as we lived 200 years ago. In order for us to continue to exist as we do the environment cannot be degraded. This would infringe on our rights," Martin Reinhardt, Northern Michigan University Native American studies associate professor, said.
However some tribal representatives urge caution when it comes to viewing net pen aquaculture as a threat to the rights outlined in the treaty and consent agreement.
Gorenflo agreed with Tierney's assessment.
"My feeling is that for the tribes right now, it's a time to sit back and see what happens. The whole process is in more of an exploratory stage right now and we are really reviewing the information presented to us as we receive it and decisions are made," Gorenflo said.
However Gorenflo expressed anxiety about the impact the potential expansion would have on the tribes.
The loss of fishing opportunities has a negative impact on overall tribal welfare, according to Gorenflo.
"We have five tribes, the state government and the federal government, and the pie has just gotten smaller. It puts greater stress on these previous agreements and promotes political instability within the tribes," Gorenflo said.


Urban Outfitters Renewable Energy Project | Ray Angelini Inc.
Pennsylvania's largest roof-mounted solar array and seventh largest array overall at installation was completed by Ray Angelini, Inc. (RAI) for the Urban Outfitters' e-commerce fulfillment center in Salisbury Township. The project's three megawatt capacity supplies up to half of the building's total energy use and reduces greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 700 cars' worth of emissions.
The facility ships merchandise—-fashion apparel, footwear and accessories—to the company's online customers for all the Urban brands.


Holiday cheer, and perhaps the first sign of an anticipated Santa Claus rally, came early to Wall Street on Wednesday when the Federal Open Market Committee delivered a long-awaited interest-rate increase.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 223 points or 1.28% to 17748. The S&P 500 gained 29 points, or 1.45% to 2072, while the Nasdaq Composite added 75 points, or 1.52% to 5071.
Energy was the only sector in negative territory, as utilities staged the biggest rally.
In an historic decision at the conclusion of a two-day policy meeting, the Federal Reserve said it will raise short-term interest rates by 0.25 percentage point from a near-zero range for the first time in nearly a decade. The decision was widely anticipated by Wall Street, and sent U.S. equity markets higher.
In its statement, the central bank said economic activity expanded at a "moderate" pace while household spending and business investment increased at "solid rates" over recent months.
"A range of recent labor market indicators, including ongoing job gains and declining unemployment, shows further improvement and confirms that underutilization of labor resources has diminished appreciably since early this year. Inflation has continued to run below the Committee's 2% longer-run objective, partly reflecting declines in energy prices and in prices of non-energy imports," the statement read.
To that point, Brad Friedlander of Angel Oak Capital Advisors, which has $6 billion in assets under management, said the Fed's decision was the right move.
He said the Fed had the ammunition to move rates higher at its September meeting, though it opted not to due to a slew of economic events that presented a downside risk to the economy including a slowdown in China, a stronger dollar, and weaker domestic data.
In its economic projections summary, the Fed outlined its median fed funds projection to be 1.4% by the end of next year, which equates to three to four hikes in the interim period.
But for the central bank, communication is essential as markets are quick to react to any slight change in the policy statement going forward, and likely to read between the statement's lines.
To that point, Scott Colyer, CEO of Advisors Asset Management, said the Fed's forward guidance will be in overdrive from this point on.
"Forward guidance is critically important to the marketplace. They don't want to provide any shocks…[Yellen] is talking about a gradual increase, the trajectory of the increase will be more important to the market on a going-forward basis," he said.
In recent action, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond rose 0.028 percentage point to 2.294%. Meanwhile, the two-year yield touched 1% for the first time since May 2010 as traders parsed the decision to raise the Fed Funds rate for the first time in nearly a decade.
In currencies, the U.S. dollar spiked following the decision.
From a consumer standpoint, Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, wrote in a note on Wednesday that a small change in interest rates affects not only the average American's 401(k) thanks to stock-market reaction, but also in other ways including large-scale investments.
Commodities have seen volatile gyrations over the last couple of weeks, especially in the oil market after OPEC decided last Friday to keep production at current levels, rather than cut back to try and alleviate pressure on the market. Prices plunged to fresh 2009-era lows as worries grew over how long the global supply glut will last.
Crude came under selling pressure again on Wednesday after data from the Energy Information Agency showed an unexpected build in U.S. crude oil stockpiles.
In recent action, West Texas Intermediate crude prices plunged 4.90% to $35.52 a barrel, while Brent, the international benchmark, eased 3.28% to $37.19 a barrel.
Colyer said the volatility in the energy market is likely to hang around as OPEC and non-OPEC producers find a way out of the global oversupply problem. He said actually, the U.S. moving on a pace of tightening monetary policy could help encourage other nations easing now, feel more confident to move in tandem with the U.S. as the global economy recovers. And that, he said, has a positive impact on oil prices in the long run.
Elsewhere, metals were higher as gold rose 1.42% to $1,078 a troy ounce. Silver gained 3.48% to $14.22, while copper added 0.49% to $2.06 a pound.