Blackmagic NYC Show - "this 'n that"
Blackmagic had their NYC show yesterday so I'd thought I post my observations. I don't want to get anyone in trouble so assume "plausible deniability" and my own interpretation.
Steve Bayes, Apple Product Manager gave the 30 minute FCPX presentation. It was just a minor demo and some mention of using Blackmagic for monitoring as well as Resolve compatibility.
Marco Solario did the BMCC presentation focusing on it's use for ENG and HD ENG lenses.
Trying to glean information about that from BMD reps and they were somewhat dismissive.
Bayes was at the Apple table demoing FCPX and chatting. I asked him about Grant Petty's comment on Cinema DNG .mov and he seemed to feel it made more sense to use ProRes444. In other words he didn't seem to show much interest. He seemed to feel it would be rare that anyone would see the difference between 4444 and CDNG. I mentioned the BMD cameras are CinemaDNG or ProRes422 HQ. If using CDNG I didn't want to have to transcode outside of FCPX. I'd much prefer FCPX wrap to .mov or otherwise do the transcode to PR4444 if he felt that was preferred.
So take this with plausible deniability in that I imagined or misinterpreted the above conversation as I don't want to get anyone in trouble even though you all know I'm such a trouble maker but... it doesn't sound like any direct CDNG or FCPX transcode on import is coming.
I also brought up Compressor and, from the discussion, I'd gather (although Bayes obviously wouldn't say) that Compressor is going to get an update as well. My hunch it'll be much better GPU assisted encoding to take advantage of the new MacPro. Basically I felt the conversation was greater than the some of the parts given comments made about my complaints around Compressor.
I also talked to Bayes about the lack of High Profile CABAC encoding in Compressor despite the fact that current iPhone, iPad and, I believe, AppleTV now support. He seemed both curious and questioned the necessity. I pointed out that to mach the quality of other encoders such as Squeeze or Episode (both of which not only have MainConcept but support x264 as well) or even Media Encoder (MainConcept), I had to up the bitrate in Compressor.
All the above through my rose colored interpretation and, as such, the conversation is deniable of course.
Re: Blackmagic NYC Show - "this 'n that"
[Craig Seeman] "I also talked to Bayes about the lack of High Profile CABAC encoding in Compressor despite the fact that current iPhone, iPad and, I believe, AppleTV now support. He seemed both curious and questioned the necessity. I pointed out that to mach the quality of other encoders such as Squeeze or Episode (both of which not only have MainConcept but support x264 as well) or even Media Encoder (MainConcept), I had to up the bitrate in Compressor."
I don't go real deep into the CODEC stuff, but I've been using x264 for years and I'm a big fan of it. I use it from within Compressor 3.5.3. I take it you mean that you're looking for the x264 codec capability built into Compressor 5? If so, that would be nice. Hasn't the development for the x264 plugin stopped at this point?
[Dave Gage] "I don't go real deep into the CODEC stuff, but I've been using x264 for years and I'm a big fan of it. I use it from within Compressor 3.5.3."
x264 for Quicktime shut down development January 2012 as you note.
Since Apple has moved away from Quicktime to AVFoundation CoreMedia, Quicktime components may well break soon. Perian also shut down probably for similar reasons.
x264 is now commercially available which is why Episode and Squeeze can use it. That requires a license fee that Apple is not likely to pay.
Either Apple improves their H.264 encoding or Compressor will remain a very poor H.264 encoder compared to the alternatives. Apple doesn't have to use x264. They can further develop their own but, to the best of my knowledge, they are the only one used in a major commercial product that do not use features that are important to getting the best quality.


text:
Первая лига 1981/1982 годов () — 56-й сезон чемпионата Чехословакии по футболу.

Клубы-участники

Турнирная таблица

Ссылки
 Чемпионат Чехословакии на rsssf.com

1981/1982
Чехословакия
Чехословакия
Спорт в Чехословакии в 1981 году
Спорт в Чехословакии в 1982 году

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Penanggungan from the Lapindo mud flow, with two of its four side peaks.
Gunung Penanggungan (1,653 m) is about 55 km south of Surabaya in East Java and north of the Arjuna-Welirang mountain complex. Its mythological origins and the many small Hindu temples on its slopes are fascinating. It is one of the most delightful small mountain climbs in Java.
Penanggungan is one of several sacred mountains in Java. Others – Semeru and Bromo, Argopura, Arjuna, Merapi, Dieng, Muria, Lawu?
Lapindo mud flow.
The mythological origins of Semeru and Penanggungan: Mount Meru, the abode of the gods, is a sacred mountain in Hindu cosmology considered to be the center of the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes. The 'gunung' in the wayang symbolizes this cosmos.
Meru is mentioned in an Old Javanese manuscript from the Majapahit period relating that Java was floating on the ocean and, to stop its movement, the gods nailed it to the Earth by moving a part of Meru to Java. The result was presumably Gunung Semeru in East Java. (Su-meru in Sanscript means 'excellent' Meru.)
Another myth relates that the gods cut the top off Meru and transplanted it to form Penanggungan. In Hindu mythology, Meru has four terraced ledges, the first being the 'heaven' of the Four Great Kings facing north, south, east and west. Interestingly, Penanggungan has four lower peaks around its base in an almost perfect square formation – Bekel (NE), Mungkur (SE), Kemuncup (SW) and Saraklapa (NW). Symbolic connection with the Four Great Kings?
Fast-forward to the Majapahit Empire, late 10th C – early 16th C:
'Lords of the Mountain', summit of Penanggungan, 2013 – Nick, Mike and Phil
Following the reign of Hayam Wuruk (died 1389), the Majapahit dynasty experienced slow political decline due to internal conflict exasperated by the maritime campaigns of the famous Chinese admiral Cheng Ho (early 1400's). During this period, traditional Hindu cults declined in favour of the more archaic worship of the Lord of the Mountains. While the cult of Shiva was associated with kinship, fertility and creativity, the cult of the Lord of the Mountains was associated with liberation of the soul. Superstition and familial salvation cults gained in popularity and the building of small familial shrines was encouraged. The slopes of Gunung Penanggungan were covered with numerous ritual sites. (Paul Michel Munoz, Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula, 2006, Singapore).
Dutch archaeologists identified 81 temples on Penanggungan in the 1930's; Indonesian archaeologists now report up to 126 temples.
Jolotundo baths. Note: ladies baths on the left; men on the right.
Java Lava has explored Penanggungan on several occasions – a traverse over the summit to Trawas (2013), and the Bekel trail (2015). Both times, we stayed at the PPLH Environmental Education Centre (375 m) and started the climb from the Jolotundo (560 m), the beautifully preserved Hindu holy baths. The walk from the Centre to Jolotundo takes about 30 minutes.
Nick at Candi Sinta, 2015
The summit climb is about 1,100 m vertically – the usual hard slog – assume four plus hours. From Jolotundo, the trail is along the usual tourist route and passes five small temples: Bayi (909 m), Putri (1,083 m), Pura (1,110 m), Gentong (1,153 m), and Sinta (1,157 m). Except for Gentong, these temples are rather unimpressive being in poor state of repair.
Candi Pendawa
The ancient crater is grassed-over and has good camp sites but no water. The rim offers great views of mountains to the south. A camp on the summit on a full moon would be a mystical experience. The descent, if traversing the mountain to Trawas to the SW, would be very slippery in wet weather and, in any case, is rather uninteresting. We suggest to descend by the same route to Jolotundo. Suitability: families and older children.
Candi Kendali Sada
The Bekel trail: at the Sinta temple, the trail divides: straight ahead to the summit, or left to Gunung Bekel.The temples (Candi) on Gunung Bekel trail are rarely visited: they include Yudha (1,086 m), Pendawa (1,078 m), Naga I (1,126 m), Puncak Bekel (1,245 m), Kendali Sada (1,127 m) and Kama II (993 m). The track is overgrown and involves two very steep ascends/descents. A guide is essential.
But the delights of visiting these temples, which are generally in good condition with little gardens in front and largely devoid of litter, vastly exceed the difficulty. Most temples are built into the hillside with tiers of stones. Candi Kendali Sada is the exception – built into a cleft in a rock face with engraved stones leading to an inner sanctuary
Stone engravings – Candi Kendali Sada
Puncak Bekel offers a clear view of the route to the summit. Some other temples on the mountain face can been seen from here – bring binoculars.
Suitability: because of the several very steep slopes, confident trekkers only – no children.
Trowulan, the ancient capital of the Majapahit empire, is about an hour away by car and very well worth a visit. There are several excavated/renovated temples, baths, etc. The museum contains many artifacts. Most displays have Indonesian and English explanations – but the English is absolutely woeful. See collection of photos below.
Gunung Bagging / Penanggungan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Custom numbers and characters keyboard for iPhone in Objective C The keyboard shown below is not part of the defaults supplied by Cocoa, so it has to be custom built. I need to create a keyboard that looks just like the one below.
I've seen a few apps out there that use it, I saw some tutorials that add a custom bar on top with some buttons, but I need it to look and function just like a normal keyboard but with an extra row of numbers.
How can this be done programmatically in Objective C? Can someone please point me in the right direction?

A: You could use a UIToolbar and add the 0-9 buttons on there.  You can even color, or tint it to be grey like the iPhone keyboard, but there is no way that I know of to add onto the actual keyboard view.
//Feel free to change the formatting to suit your needs more
//And of course, properly memory manage this (or use ARC)

UIBarButtonItem *my0Button = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithTitle:@"0" style:UIBarButtonItemStyleBordered target:self action:@selector(addNumberToString:)];
UIBarButtonItem *my1Button = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithTitle:@"1" style:UIBarButtonItemStyleBordered target:self action:@selector(addNumberToString:)];

UIToolbar *extraRow = [[UIToolbar alloc] init];
extraRow.barStyle = UIBarStyleBlack;
extraRow.translucent = YES;
extraRow.tintColor = [UIColor grayColor];
[extraRow sizeToFit];
NSArray *buttons = [NSArray arrayWithObjects: my0Button, my1Button, etc, nil];
[extraRow setItems:buttons animated:YES];
textView.inputAccessoryView = extraRow;

-(void) addNumberToString: (id) sender
{
    //Where current string is the string that you're appending to in whatever place you need to be keeping track of the current view's string.
    currentString = [currentString stringByAppendingString: ((UIBarButtonItem *) sender).title;
}

A: The image in your question is from the 5RowQWERTY project: http://code.google.com/p/networkpx/wiki/Using_5RowQWERTY
This project only works on a jailbroken device (as far as I can tell) and certainly uses private APIs, making it unacceptable for the app store.  If those restrictions are ok with you, then just use that project.  It installs a new keyboard layout file (layout.plist).
If you want to run on non-jailbroken devices, or put your app in the app store, you won't be able to use that method.  I see three options:

*

*Dig around in the keyboard's view hierarchy after it appears (it has its own UIWindow so  start with the [[UIApplication sharedApplication] windows] array) and add your own number buttons.  This is a lot of work, very tricky to do well, and quite likely to be rejected by Apple anyway.

*Reimplement the keyboard from scratch.  This is a huge amount of work if you want to support multiple keyboard layouts and truly match the feel and behavior of the system keyboard.

*Give up and just set inputAccessoryView to a row of number buttons.  This is easy.
My advice is that anything but option 3 is a waste of time.  Just use an inputAccessoryView to display a number bar and move on to the parts of your app that add real value for your users.

A: That's an extremely open ended question. You're basically asking "How do I create a custom view in iOS?"
Here are a few points to start:

*

*You're creating a new view that has the appearance of the system's default keyboard. You'll need to gather resources (either create them or get free ones) for each of the keyboard's buttons.

*You can put all of this together in IB. Your view in nothing more than a collection of UIButtons.

*To use the keyboard, you'll assign your view as the inputView.
Here's a tutorial that builds a custom inputView: http://www.raywenderlich.com/1063/ipad-for-iphone-developers-101-custom-input-view-tutorial

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Kate Middleton sends rare personal message on her birthday
The Duchess of Cambridge is 40 on Sunday
January 09, 2022 - 14:25 GMT Diane Shipley The Duchess of Cambridge is celebrating her 40th birthday on Sunday
The Duchess of Cambridge shared a very heartfelt message to social media on Sunday, as she celebrated her 40th birthday.
A post on the Cambridges' official Instagram page featured one of her birthday photos by Paolo Roversi and was signed "C," indicating that it was a personal note from the Duchess herself.
SEE: Prince Charles and Camilla share gorgeous photo to mark Kate Middleton's 40th birthday
It read: "Thank you for all of your very kind birthday wishes, and to Paolo and the National Portrait Gallery for these three special portraits. C."
Fans were quick to react to the lovely message, with one writing: "You are simply stunning YRH," and another adding: "Happy Birthday, Duchess Catherine."
WATCH: Kate Middleton's best outfits over the past ten years
A third sweetly commented: "I absolutely love all of the portraits Catherine! Thank you for sharing them. You are so beautiful, inside and out and I hope you are enjoying your special day so far."
MORE: The Queen celebrates Kate Middleton's 40th birthday with beautiful family photos
SEE: 11 of the most lavish gifts Kate Middleton has received from the royal family
Kate released three stunning images in honour of her birthday, and they featured the Duchess as we've never seen her before.
The Duchess shared a sweet message for fans on social media
She was photographed by the acclaimed photographer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, back in November.
In the portraits, the Duchess wears three exquisite gowns by Alexander McQueen, the British label that created her historic wedding dress.
In one photo, she paid tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she wore her pearl drop earrings while in another, she teamed a striking red one-shouldered gown with diamond earrings on loan from the Queen.
Kate looked stunning in her 40th birthday portraits
Speaking about having the opportunity to take the photos, Paolo said: "Taking the portrait of Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, was a true honour for me, and a moment of pure joy.
"I was moved by her warmth and friendly welcome and enchanted by her shining eyes that reflected the loveliness of her soul and her smile showing the generosity of her heart.
"It was a profound and rich experience for me, an unforgettable moment. I have met a wonderful person, a person who, with her positive energy, can bring hope to the whole world."
Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity, royal and lifestyle news delivered directly to your inbox.
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text:
TuVez
Cuba Releases Alan Gross After Five Years In Prison
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The American government has managed the release USAID worker Alan Gross after spending five years in a Cuban prison. He left Cuba in a plane bound for the United States late last night. We told you last week that in an interview with Jorge Ramos President Obama said that they were in talks with Cuba to release Gross. In exchange for Gross the U.S. released the last three members of the so called "Cuban Five", a group of five Cuban operatives that were imprisoned by the U.S. for allegedly spying for Cuba. Two other members of the group were released a couple of years ago in an attempt to improve relations with the island nation.
Gross was arrested in 2009 when he was accused of supplying Cuban dissidents with telecommunications equipment to use in counterrevolutionary activities. Cuba allows USAID to do humanitarian work on the island but it has long been used as a tool by the U.S. government to spy on the Castro government. It will be interesting to see if this move will improve relations between the two countries or whether we'll continue our frosty relations in the last gasp of the Cold War.
Jack Tomas
"Jack Tomas is a writer and filmmaker working in New York City. He is is a staff writer at Tu Vez and is managing editor of Talent Recap. Follow Jack on Twitter @jacktomas and www.linkedin.com/in/jacktomas/ "
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Haval H6: China's best-selling SUV.
Beijing - Chinese drivers are rushing to buy SUVs in an "arms race" for safety on the country's hair-raising roads, analysts say, as SUV sales hit the gas pedal despite a slowing economy.
SUV purchases in the world's number one car market surged more than 50 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from a year earlier, while sedan sales fell 9.3 percent, according to industry data.
"The primary reason is a fairly primitive one," says Robin Zhu, auto analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in Hong Kong. "It's about survival.
Another 50 models new to the Chinese market will go into production in the country this year, according to consultancy IHS Automotive, many of them to be showcased at the Beijing Motor Show that opened on Monday.
China's roads have a reputation for danger, with footage of horrific traffic accidents from the country's ubiquitous surveillance cameras broadcast daily on television.
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than a quarter of a million people are killed on the country's roads every year - over four times official government statistics.
Death rates remain comparatively high because of inadequate rescue systems and poor treatment, according to a study by Chinese researchers published last year in medical journal The Lancet.
A businessman in an SUV in Beijing, who asked not to be named, told AFP he chose it "because it makes me feel safe when I drive".
Bill Russo, automotive chief of advisory Gao Feng in Shanghai, said the appeal of an SUV comes from a feeling of "command" and the perception "you can deal with anything the road throws at you".
Rising road rage on China's congested streets has also made SUVs more popular, said Zhu. Traffic police handled more than 17 million cases of driver aggression last year, according to public security ministry statistics.
"There's a bit of an arms race going on," he explained.
Analysts say that while consumers in the US and other countries may be drawn by the image of SUVs going off-road in rough conditions, in China most of them are based on ordinary cars.
"The so-called SUVs today are sedans on stilts," said Zhu.
More Chinese buyers have turned to SUVs as their fuel economy has improved and a drop in oil prices have made the vehicles more affordable to run.
The most popular models are "small, car-based crossover types", said Russo, noting that "the vast majority" have engines smaller than 2.0 litres.
"They're economical SUVs, they're not big, gas-consuming environmentally unfriendly vehicles," he said.
Chinese buyers are content with small engines in large bodies, said Michael Dunne, CEO and strategist at Dunne Automotive in Hong Kong.
Ten years ago educated urbanites preferred sedans because larger vehicles were associated with rural people and construction workers, he said. But in the last two years, SUVs have become "fashionable".
"They're not that interested in acceleration, passing, speed. They're more interested in the look," said Dunne.
But the boom may not last, executives warn. "Even if now the SUV is popular, in the future there will probably be a change," said Toyota China head Hiroji Onishi, suggesting that minivans could see their appeal widen.
At the same time, while higher margins in the SUV segment have made the vehicles a driver of profits for foreign carmakers, increasingly popular cheaper local models have made significant inroads in claiming market share.
Chinese companies such as Great Wall, Changan and Wuling have become national brands, Russo said, and in March six of the 10 top-selling SUVs were from Chinese firms.
According to association data, Chinese carmakers accounted for 60 percent of SUV sales in the first two months of the year, compared to only 20 percent of sedans.
The best-selling SUV in China, the Haval H6, costs from 88 000 yuan (R196 792) according to the company's website. The best-selling foreign-brand SUV, the Volkswagen Tiguan, go for 200 000 yuan and up on major car sales portal Autohome.


text:
Blog & Updates
But You're Jewish
Who says a Jewish girl can't enjoy Christmas? I LOVE Christmas ~ the smells, the songs, the decorations. My mother loved Christmas, too. When I was little we made Spritz butter cookies every year. We decorated half with blue and silver sprinkles and the other half with red and green. We listened to Christmas music. We toured Santa Claus Lanes all over the San Fernando Valley – houses dripping with colored lights, lawns covered with fake snow, and roofs sporting Santa and his reindeer. In the back seat of the car, I'd sip my hot chocolate, oohing and ah-ing at every display.
Years later, when I joined a sorority that was decidedly not Jewish, two of my closest friends were Christian. I introduced them to matzoh ball soup on Passover and potato latkes on Hanukkah (they had no interest in fasting on Yom Kippur… imagine that), and they invited me to their family Christmas celebrations. Turned out, I was a fabulous tree decorator. I could hang red and gold balls on the tips of branches, arrange nutcrackers and ballerinas and little rocking horses, and string lights through greenery with the best of 'em.
"But you're Jewish!" they exclaimed. To which I could only reply, "Yes, but I still love Christmas."
Shortly after I was married, my husband and I attended a big Christmas party at the home of somebody he worked with. Not only did they have a giant pig on the dining room table with an apple in its mouth (something I'd never seen before in real life), they also had a magnificent pianist playing Christmas carols. I sang along with every song, even the religious ones. While my husband lingered in the dining room waiting to find out if the pig was for eating or not, I sat beside the pianist drinking spiked hot toddies and gathering people into our sing-along. When my husband found me sitting on the piano (after a few too many hot toddies) belting out "Come all Ye Faithful," he questioned my behavior.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Singing Christmas Carols!" I joyfully responded.
"But you're Jewish," he said, puzzled.
"Yes," I said, "but I still love Christmas."
Fast forward many years, and I'm the author of a holiday novel. Crazy, right? I mean, how does a Jewish girl end up writing a Christmas book? I might be good at hanging ornaments, baking Christmas cookies, and singing Christmas carols, but that was the extent of it. When it came down to the details of Christmas and holiday traditions, I knew zip. So, like any conscientious writer would, I did my research…. oh, so much research.
How do you tell a Douglas Fir from a Scots Pine or a Blue Spruce? What exactly is eggnog? Why are stockings hung by the chimney with care? And what on earth is a roasted pig doing with an apple in its mouth? There was a lot to learn, and thanks to Google, I learned it. Not all of it ended up in my novel, but that's what happens when you're a writer. You spend a tremendous amount of time learning about things you might never use. It's part of the process.
The other day I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. She had heard about my new book and asked what it was about. When I told her it was a holiday novel that takes place in a small town at Christmas time, she furrowed her brow. "But you're Jewish," she said.
I smiled. "That I am. But I still love Christmas."
Five random holiday facts I learned that did not appear in LONG DANCE HOME:
1. An 8 ounce cup of egg nog has around 440 calories, can contain the equivalent of 15 packets of sugar, and, depending on the recipe, might have more saturated fat than a Big Mac (sorry)
2. "White Christmas," written by Jewish composer Irving Berlin, is named as one of the most popular holiday songs of all time.
3. The Nutcracker ballet is based on a gruesome fairy tale written in 1816 that includes an infestation of armed mice, an evil seven-headed mouse king, a terrible and brutal battle, and a horrible curse by a vengeful queen whose children were murdered. Let's read that one right before bed!
4. A pig is roasted with an apple in its mouth for aesthetic reasons: during the process of roasting the pig, its jaws sometimes tighten into a ghastly grimace. The apple prevents this.
5. Finally, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 7500 people end up in emergency rooms with decorating related injuries, including falls from stools, ladders, and rooftops; electric shocks while hanging lights; and foot lacerations from stepping on broken glass ornaments. That said, Hanukkah has its dangers too – open flames on menorahs, vats of oil hovering at 375 degrees for frying latkes, and little children gambling! What Jewish mother in her right mind allows any of this? Evidently, one who writes a Christmas book….
Jewish girls love Christmas parties, too!
Author: Julie Brown
Filed Under: For Writers and Readers, Fun Reads
Tags: authors, books, christmas, holiday, humor, readers
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5 thoughts on "But You're Jewish"
marcie Rees says:
love this story and I would sing Christmas songs with you anytime 🙂
JGuenther5 says:
The Christmas story starts with two Jewish people and is an account of the birth of their son, who was circumcised according to the Jewish Law. Who was he? The Anointed One? The first Reformed rabbi? A prophet? People disagree. But his message of love, hope, peace, and forgiveness is universal and was rooted in Judaism. So Jews were a vital part of Christmas from the start, though too many "Christians" forget that too often, for too long.
Some winters, Chanukka wrap goes on sale well before Christmas, and my presents are covered in little dreidels. My father gave us Chanukkah gelt at Christmas. Enjoy your Chanukkah bush or your Christmas tree!
Gigi Kramer says:
Loved this story and the facts at the end…
Amy Ball says:
Of course you love Christmas, it's so beautiful! Thank you for the incite (and the chuckle!) as to your writing process. It makes me love Long Dance Home even more! I do have one question; Where did all the tinsel go?
Full of warmth and humor. A good read. Thanks for sharing.
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text:
Mayor of Mechelen, Bart Somers: I find it very important to have structural contact with as most citizens as possible
Bart Somers , Source: Aikon producties
Monika Dimitrova
"People are proud to live in Mechelen"
Bart Somers is mayor of Mechelen, Belgium since 2001 and President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Committee of the Regions since October 2016.
How would you describe your city briefly? What do you want our audience to know about Mechelen?
Mechelen is a city of over 86.000 inhabitants and is growing every year. A lot of people in Mechelen have a migration background so this means Mechelen is a very super diverse city with over 130 different nationalities. Today even 1 out of 2 newborns have migration background. This results in a new and typical 21st century reality with a lot of opportunities and possibilities.
Mechelen is also a city that underwent a huge evolution these last 2 decades. In 2000 we were one of the most disadvantaged cities in Flanders. People were even feeling ashamed to be citizen of Mechelen. Today we are one of the reference cities when it comes to for instance safety, cleanliness of the public domain and proudness of the citizens. That's one of the most important things about Mechelen and its citizens: people are proud to live in this city.
You organize frequent meetings with the residents of your municipality. What do these meetings bring to you and how do you interact?
As a liberal politician and as a mayor I find it very important to have structural contact with as most citizens as possible. Therefore we have resident meetings where we discuss in every neighborhood the initiatives the city is going to take there. I never go to a resident meeting with the idea I have to "defend" a particular plan. I go there to listen open-minded to the remarks of people and sometimes a whole plan can be adjusted after that meeting because of these ideas and remarks of critical and positive citizens. For me that's the core of our liberal democracy: dialogue between policymakers and citizens. And on the local level you really have the means to push that dialogue to the next level.
2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage and Mechelen is a home of many landmarks, some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. How do you promote and preserve them?
The UNESCO material and immaterial heritage is very important for Mechelen from a historic, cultural and touristic point of view. Therefore "Visit Mechelen" has an important role in this and is setting up promotional activities in the city. "Visit Mechelen" has 4 important baselines and focus points: first of all the focus on the Burgundian heritage which is very prominent in Mechelen and very interesting for a lot of other European citizens and visitors. Secondly there is also a focus on "craftsmanship" with a particular stress on the brewing - and the carillon culture. Thirdly the importance of attracting families with children. It is crucial to explain the culture and the history of Mechelen to children as well. And last but not least: Mechelen has a very strong focus on its history of preserving and promoting the importance of human rights. Mechelen is historically a city of justice and human rights and this is a very important corner stone of our cultural heritage. This theme is also part of a big urban festival "Op.Recht.Mechelen" which tries to both commemorate and articulate the importance of human rights in Mechelen, Belgium, Europe and the rest of the world.
Share some good practices and sustainable projects from your municipality. How do you finance them?
In a city with 86 000 citizens it is very important to invest a lot in local projects and social cohesion. One of these initiatives is the renovation of the district house of Hombeek (one of the 12 neighborhoods and villages that are part of Mechelen). For this renovation, the biggest amount came from local resources, but a part of the investment was possible thanks to the European "Interreg" program, which supports joint actions and policy exchanges between national, regional and local actors.
When it comes to living together in diversity, we also focus on a project that needs to open our numerous youth movements to the superdiversity that is present in our city reality. For this investment in social cohesion, we received resources from the Flemish regional level.
Finally, Mechelen is also a city in which the river Dyle (Dijle) has a very prominent role. Therefore we invest a lot in the presence of high quality water in the public space, since this is very atmospheric and relaxing for both visitors and inhabitants. For some of these projects, like the opening of some tributaries of the Dyle throughout the entire city, we are partly supported by the European level.
You are member of the European Committee of the Regions, in which initiatives of the assembly you are mainly involved?
As ALDE- group leader in the European Committee of the Regions, I work a lot on themes like urban development, integration and positive identity, but also on themes like deradicalization and counterterrorism.
I think one of the huge advantages of the European Committee of the Regions is in the exchange of information and best practices between local authorities. This is a very important and productive workflow. As mayor of Mechelen, I learn a lot when seeing the good examples of mayors in other European cities.
What do you think about a unified platform for European municipalities and its main goal to make and keep European citizens better informed about what is taking place in the European Union?
Exchange of information and transparency are vital for a strong and efficient European Union. Cities and municipalities can play an important role here, because they can operate very close to their citizens, which is one of the key challenges for Europe and the European institutions. In this context, the European Committee of the Regions already play an important role, but we could intensify its function.
Find out more about Mechelen here


Once you're hooked, you won't find anything better! RDX's new, hi-tech neoprene wrist strap with heavy duty red-oxide and non-slip coated hooks were designed for weak grips, taking the load off the hands and transferring it to the wrists, lower back, and shoulders to maximize your lifting experience with each rep. Made using durable neoprene and padded on the inside for shock-absorption; the nylon strap measures 24.5cm x 5cm and is easily adjustable with Quick-EZ hook & loop closure srap and heavy duty hook and loop buckle. Make the most out of each lift by targeting all the appropriate muscles.


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Radio Free Albemuth
Preview screening with writer/director John Alan Simon in person
Presented by Discovery Productions and the Philip K. Dick Film Festival
Dir. John Alan Simon, 2014, 111 mins. Digital projection. With Jonathan Scarfe, Shea Wigham, Katheryn Winnick, Alanis Morissette, Scott Wilson. In this acclaimed adaptation of a novel by Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly), it is 1985 in an alternate reality, and a Berkeley record-store clerk experiences strange visions transmitted from an extra-terrestrial source he calls VALIS. He uproots his family and moves to Los Angeles, where he becomes a successful music executive with a secret mission—enlisting the help of a sci-fi writer named Philip K. Dick—to overthrow the oppressive U.S. government. Variety called this "engrossing" film, "sci-fi with political and philosophical substance."
Tickets: $12 ($9 seniors/students, free for Museum members). Ticket includes access to the Museum's galleries and other screenings on the same day. Order online or call 718 777 6800 to reserve tickets. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.


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Doping in rugby: a Rugby World investigation
Alan Dymock
In the April 2014 edition of Rugby World, we ran the below investigation into the state of doping in rugby. England have filed their annual report since then, but the issues are still relevant.
Keep rugby clean: Players sport anti-doping t-shirts at the 2014 JWC
TAGS: drugsInvestigation
IN MAY 2013, during a Scottish training camp in the lead-up to the Junior World Cup, Melrose fly-half Sam Chalmers was pulled in for a random drugs test – his first drugs test. He gave his urine sample and tried to get on with training. Five weeks later, whilst in the gym, he got the bad news from the SRU: he had failed his test.
Chalmers's story is one that we rarely see in international rugby. A player from one of the IRB's (now World Rugby) top-ranked nations fails a drugs test and it is not for recreational drugs but for a performance-enhancing substance.
Following his positive test, which found the anabolic androgenic steroids stanozolol and methandienone in his system, Chalmers confessed, telling World Rugby's panel that he had purchased some pills online known as Pro SD in an effort to bulk up. "When the season finished a friend of mine who isn't involved with rugby told me about it and I stupidly took two weeks' supply," the 19-year-old told World Rugby.
Last December he told an assembled group of young international athletes from the Scottish Borders and a reporter from the Daily Mail about his idiocy and embarrassment. After years of being told he needed to get bigger and more physical, the slight, diabetic back turned to a quick fix; a magic pill taken only weeks before entering an international camp. He was banned for two years.
This cautionary tale made headlines because the young player is the son of ex-Scotland and Lions fly-half Craig Chalmers. It has sent ripples through the amateur game in Scotland. In late September (2013), BBC Scotland ran a story with a 19-year-old playing in the country's National League who claimed: "Lower leagues? I'd say roughly two people per team are on some sort of substances, a fat-stripping or a bulking supplement or something like that. From the Premiership to the Championship."
Talking shop: Felipe Contepomi talks anti-doping at 2014's ConfEx
THERE COULD be questions raised about why so few big names have been caught in the anti-doping net like Chalmers. Why have no superstars tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs? Certainly there has been some opportunity given the number of tests done by World Rugby and WADA.
Of course, World Rugby's remit does not extend to national club competitions. The loose-knit community of international unions are overseen by World Rugby and unions' own leagues are looked after by themselves, with testing in England, Scotland and Wales overseen by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the Irish Sports Council looking after testing in Ireland.
Andy Parkinson, the chief executive of UKAD, has praised World Rugby's proactive approach to education, which he sees as an important part of the fight against doping. "There is an element of naivety on this subject," Parkinson tells Rugby World. "You hear people say 'not in my sport; not in my country.' But we in the UK aren't any different. We also see rugby union as having a high risk of potential doping, but we see education as being excellent, with both the IRB (World Rugby) and the RFU. We work with them all around the country, even abroad, testing blood and urine."
Yet it is not all rosy in rugby's garden, and Parkinson does have stark words. "Doping won't go away just because you test a group of athletes," he says. "It is not a fight that we can ever say we've won and although we have some relative successes, by the very nature of sport you are going to have athletes who try to cross the line. Things are better than even ten years ago but if people want to cheat they will.
"Doping's a threat to all sports and with widely available pharmaceuticals or with more sophisticated products coming out, we have to keep pace and work on new measures. We also have to drive through the right moral compass."
This may paint a gloomy picture, but Professor David Cowan believes things are not so grim. He is director of the Drug Control Centre at King's College, London – the site that oversaw testing during the London Olympics in 2012 and where Sam Chalmers's sample was tested in May last year.
Cowan says: "We're busy. There are new research programmes being executed. I'm very optimistic. When WADA came onto the scene we were operating more on charity, but there is more money going into research. This is a tough job, but a good one."
And on the myth of cheats being one step ahead? "Well, it is better if (performance-enhancing substances) weren't taken, but our concern is making sure pharmaceuticals are not harmful. WADA-funded research is important to make sure we are at the forefront."
Both parties can agree that money plays an important role. However, one thing Parkinson and UKAD are keen to stress is the human element. "We don't like prosecuting athletes, but we have to," he says. "It's hard for national federations like the RFU, performing a dual role. We test, investigate, sometimes prosecute. But we cannot fight against doping without the help of athletes, coaches, governing bodies and parents as well.
"We've had instances where we've prosecuted and another athlete has said, 'I could have told you about that.' We have an anonymous hotline for tips and we would urge athletes to use it if they know anything. We won't disclose anyone's identity."
Whistleblower: Laurent Benezech playing for France in 1994
IN THE course of looking into doping in rugby a handful of elite players, some still competing and some recently retired, were approached to discuss the issue. While some mentioned rumour and persistent changing-room jokes, no source was willing to be quoted, even anonymously, for fear of being recognised.
While there is no accusation of any top players doping in this report, there is still an unspoken omertà, where competitors will not risk being the whistleblower or pointing out how authorities can better help athletes or monitor their health. And there are risks in stepping forward.
It didn't make headlines in the UK and Ireland, but in the second half of 2013, a former French international landed in hot water. Former France, Racing Métro and Harlequins prop Laurent Bénézech told the newspaper Le Monde that he believed the retirement of Bayonne back-row François Carillo last season due to a heart condition was linked to the use of Human Growth Hormone (HGH). Carillo strenuously denied the allegation and Provale, the players' union in France, labelled it insulting to all involved, filing a defamation case against Bénézech.
In the month before Provale filed their case, Bénézech also appeared before a senate of the Committee of Inquiry on anti-doping in France. There he alleged that he had been given cortisone against his knowledge during the 1995 World Cup. He presented no proof at this hearing, and has not shown any fresh findings to Provale to date.
Bénézech also cast doubts on 2006 Heineken Cup losing finalists Biarritz at the hearing, claiming there was a relationship between several players and one-time Pau and Argentina conditioning coach Alain Camborde, who was found guilty of trafficking doping products – including the WADA-banned substance clenbuterol and some anabolic steroids – and received a suspended three-month sentence. Camborde moved to bring another defamation suit against Bénézech in September, but later dropped the case.
Bénézech is not the only former France international to say doping had taken place. Last April (2013) Jean-Pierre Élissalde, a five-cap No 9, claimed to have taken amphetamines twice in his career and that "there were other forms of doping, notably to be able to work harder and put on muscle," during the 1970s and 1980s. This did not cause an international, or even national, scandal.
If there was indeed some grand conspiracy, Bénézech has not found any proof to support his theory. Even Éllisalde is at pains to point out that there was no cabal, no ring of coaches and administrators brandishing needles when he played. It was, he said, an individual choice and since he has become a coach he has seen no evidence of strategic team doping.
Warning for the kids: Johan Ackermann wants more testing for kids
THE WHISTLEBLOWING issue becomes hard if there is no organisation or programme to rail against, only individuals and rumours. It could be professionally dangerous or worthy of ridicule for a player to do so if there are only whispers or suspicions about a team-mate. Much is left to the testers.
At the top of the game in the higher-tier countries, testing is as up-to-the-minute as the sport can offer. Adding tests and breaking out from the specific testing 'menu' offered by WADA is expensive to administer.
"Adding tests into the matrix means that we may not be able to do more tests overall," says Stephen Watkins, the RFU's anti-doping and illicit drugs programme manager. He cites the example of Erythropoietin (EPO), the red blood cell boosting drug so associated with cheating in cycling, as one where cost must be weighted against probability of cheating.
"The example of EPO is a good one. We do test for that, but not always. It's actually a call by UKAD; we say we want to test for that but don't tell us. We see Human Growth Hormone as more of a risk than EPO, which is used to get up and do it all again. We ask players to play for 80 minutes, once a week. We don't ask them to get up and do it on a Sunday, too. So when you are working with a finite budget compromises have to be made.
"With EPO, it's more difficult to detect but our players only run for 25 to 35 minutes a game. I'm not saying it couldn't be used in union, but you could be a wing and not see a ball all day. Something like HGH increases muscle mass, decreases body fat, and while the affects could be to make your fitness go down, in rugby you are looking at an increase in strength, mass, power. If you're going to dope we see steroids and HGH as where you are going to do it. That's what you look for, plus some EPO tests."
Watkins feels that some of the guesswork is removed from testing at the top using data. With rugby so varied, flankers involved a lot while wings may only do a few sprints a game, GPS-tracking data taken from World Rugby and power data from players can help tailor testing as much as budgets will allow.
In the perfect world, Watkins would like to see an increased budget push testing down the levels to act as a deterrent. Some testing has been taken from the Aviva Premiership and Championship and into the National Leagues. And just this season around 100 tests have been dedicated to Elite Player Development Groups and academy players. Around a third of those who could be tested will be, though Watkins would like this number to increase.
Among all of this, Watkins feels education is increasingly important in an age of widely available supplements. He isn't the only one.
Andy Parkinson lays it out there: "With six packs and tight T-shirts being desirable, we are in the age of normalising supplements.
"You walk into a supermarket and there are tubs of creatine in the corner. These aren't issues for elite athletes, but everyone else. Now, there are a whole variety of reputable companies with clean production lines making supplements, but there is no one monitoring the internet. Someone could do wonderful things in sport, but they have a decision to make."
Former Wales and Lions wing Dafydd James backs this up.
"I remember finishing a weights session around five years ago," he says. "We came out into the car park and someone was selling 'stuff' out the boot of their car. I don't condone drug use and I don't know anyone stupid enough to try it, but maybe sometimes we take education for granted and temptation is always going to be there for shortcuts." For the amateur player this is an ill few have the means to fight and even fewer are aware of.
In 1997 Springbok lock Johan Ackermann received a two-year ban after nandrolone was found in his urine sample. Talking to Rugby World, the head coach of Super Rugby's Lions explained that he had taken the banned substance on advice to help him recover from a knee injury.
Ackermann now fears that a younger generation of South Africans are just as likely to take shortcuts. "The other challenge out there is for junior players. The pressure from coaches and parents to perform, to be the best or have the best school team is tremendous, then youngsters see their heroes on TV looking pumped up. They believe that they must use something to also play at that level and have the same look.
"Unfortunately talent and natural DNA will always win and the kids don't know that. They are not willing to work hard and follow a good diet, and would rather have something to gain weight fast.
"The focus area on educating the kids can increase at school level and all the medical risks of doping can be highlighted more. I'm not sure how it works in the UK but school kids can't be tested at random in South Africa and that must change, as the focus for doping must move to the ages 16 to 21. If those kids know they will be tested then maybe fewer will take the chance."
SARU are legally only able to test school players in designated periods, namely the famous national provincial youth weeks: the U16 Grant Khomo Week, SARU U18 Academy Week and U18 Craven Week.
SARU medical manager Clint Readhead reiterates the need for education, saying: "We pay a lot of attention to anti-doping strategies but it is an issue that is far from limited to rugby or even sport in general. A recent survey of schools in KwaZulu Natal suggested that 63% of schoolchildren who admitted that they had taken steroids or would consider taking a steroid did so or would do so, not to improve performance but simply to look good; nothing to do with sport.
"All of this has been fuelled by the availability of banned substances over the internet and current cultural influences."
Banned: Kiwi sevens star Lavinia Gould was banned in 2013 for a failed test
STEPHEN WATKINS tells a tale of the Hove RFC scrum-half who admitted his guilt to the authorities after telling his team-mates he had tried to bulk up with pharmaceutical help. His friends, disgusted with his actions, contacted the RFU and the player took his ban with good grace.
This is an example of rugby's culture triumphing over cheating. However, this is an isolated case of one amateur going to his team-mates to see if anyone else was taking banned substances. Testing does not go on at that level. It is easy for someone to stumble into an ill-educated choice, even higher up the levels.
Sam Chalmers was caught out taking his Pro SD pills. New Zealand's Lavinia Gould, who failed a drugs test after playing South Africa in the Women's World Sevens Series, claimed to have taken a supplement called Jack 3D. In 2006 Argentina's Martín Bustos Moyano failed a test at the U21 World Cup in France, stanozolol found in his system. He tried, and failed, to prove that a supplement called Glutamina was the reason for his failed test. He was banned for 18 months.
With Bustos Moyano, there is a sense of reinvention. Now at Bayonne, the back-three player was capped by the Pumas in 2008, two years after his ban. He last played for Argentina in June 2013.
In this respect players like Chalmers have hope. The Scot will be 21 when he is allowed to play rugby again. He can start over. However, due to a change in regulation by WADA, any athlete with a positive test as of 1 January 2015 will be banned for four years rather than the current two, effectively ending many rugby careers altogether.
The kid gloves are off.
This feature originally appeared in the April 2014 edition of Rugby World. To subscribe to the magazine, visit po.st/RWSub


As I am having a Bangle sale this week I thought I would write my first blog on the making of a bangle. Sometimes when you see a super shiny piece of jewellery and something as simple and classic as a silver bangle you may not know how they are made. When I made my latest batch of bangles I documented the process so I could share it with you.
To start with you buy your bullion (silver in this case) in which ever gauge and shape you would like. For my bangles I use 2mm,2.5mm and 3mm round wire and a rectangular wire. Once you have the wire you need it is then cut into the correct lengths ready for soldering.
The image above shows my wire cut into lengths ready to be soldered.
The next process is to file the ends of the wire to create a clean and good fit. It must be so tight that you cannot see air between the two ends of the wire once they are put together to make a loop. The image below shows some of the bangles bent ready for soldering.
Once the bangles have been soldered they are shaped, ready to clean up the solder joint. Below, the image shows me using a rawhide mallet to tap the bangle around a round bangle mandrel to roughly shape it ready for the cleaning up process.
The next step is to remove any additional solder (which there should only be minimal mounts of) and to do any more removal of scratches or imperfections. first i go over the solder seam with a file, then different grades of emery paper to remove the file scratches. I intentionally leave some small file marks on my work, I feel it adds personality to the piece and that there is more of a connection with the fact this has been hand made.
The next step is to texture the bangles. Some are left plain (no finish) and others are hammered for the dimpled finish. the plain ones go through a final shaping process where the bangle is hammered with a rawhide mallet to get the shaping right. The bangles need to be flattened , this is done by hammering the bangle flat on a steel stake with the rawhide mallet. The first image below is the bangles before they are hammered flat, you can see how wonkey they are and how much reshaping they need !
Below hammering the bangle flat on a large flat steel stake with a raw hide mallet.
The bangles to be textured are placed back on the bangle mandrel hit repetitively with my hammer. I use an old chasing hammer which has a nice weight to it and makes a great round indentation in the metal.
And then once they are finally finished and polished i put them on my wrist, jingle them about and smile again ! There is nothing like a wrist full of bangles. And now you guys know when you are wearing them and jangling about how they have been made and all the hard work that has gone into them.
Don't forget I can make bangles to size, each one is made by hand so why not personalise it ? I can add charms, messages and stones if you need them. Contact me for details ….. have a great day !!


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His shift ending, a Baltimore police supervisor led 2 officers into active shooting scene at methadone clinic
Baltimore County physician's assistant pleads guilty to opioid distribution conspiracy, admits sexual contact with clients
Leana Wen, former Baltimore health commissioner, removed as Planned Parenthood CEO
Artscape, sinkhole, Orioles home series promise 'traffic nightmare' in Baltimore this weekend
Kurt Schmoke wants to create a 'City University of Baltimore.' Can it be done?
Maryland prison population continues to shrink as officials consider releasing more elderly inmates
'What we have today ... is the entire weight of the federal government': Baltimore police begin partnership to fight crime
Baltimore lab tech killed in drug clinic shooting worried for his safety, family says
'I don't understand what made him snap': Victim, suspect identified in Baltimore methadone clinic shooting
Miss Shirley's is coming to BWI next July
Israeli woman oversaw $145 million investor fraud plot, prosecutor says in court in Maryland
Maryland Senate - Election Guide 2012
< back to election guide
Sen. Ben Cardin, the Democratic incumbent and the state's junior senator, is seeking a second term.
Dean Ahmad, Libertarian
Daniel John Bongino, Republican
Ben Cardin, Democrat
Rob Sobhani, Independent
Ben Cardin, Democrat (incumbent)
Party: Democrat
Age: 68 (Will be 69 on 10/5)
City of residence: Baltimore
Occupation: U.S. Senator for Maryland
Family: Married, two children (one deceased)
Campaign website: www.bencardin.com; facebook.com/bencardin; twitter.com/bencardinforMD
Public campaign contact: 410-719-0284, info@bencardin.com
Experience: U.S. Senator 2007-present; member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1986-2007; Maryland House of Delegates, 1967-1986; Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates, 1979-1986; chairman, Ways & Means Committee 1974 1979; James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trustee, 2010-present; U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, 2007-present; University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors, 1998-present; UMBC President's Advisory Board, 1993-present; lifetime member, NAACP, 1990-present.
Education: Baltimore City College High School, 1961; B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1964; J.D, University of Maryland School of Law, 1967.
Have you ever been convicted of a crime (not including minor traffic violations)? No
As you know, the Bush-era income tax cuts will expire at the end of this year. Do you support extending the cuts for all income levels, only on individual income under $200,000 (under $250,000 for families), or not at all? If you support an extension of some kind, should it be paid for?
I support extending the tax cuts for families making under $250,000. I am very concerned about the damage to the economy that could be caused by the multiple policy changes scheduled to occur in December - the end of the Bush-era income tax cuts, the end of the payroll tax holiday, and the consequences of the $1.2 trillion across-the-board sequestration. Therefore, I have continuously advocated for a comprehensive approach or so-called "grand bargain" that would include a plan to balance the budget and put our economy on the path to growth.
For a more long-term solution, I also am committed to using my position on the Senate Finance Committee to help enact comprehensive tax reform that removes tax loopholes and unfair benefits, and reduces tax rates. American families and businesses need the certainty and predictability of a more permanent tax code, rather than one that expires every year. As part of tax reform, I would like to put in place a permanent code that allows people and businesses to plan and make long-term decisions knowing the tax rules won't change on them at the end of the year.
Is there any circumstance in which you would support extending a pay freeze on federal employees and/or requiring current federal employees to contribute more to their retirement plans? Please explain.
Hard-working federal employees have already contributed to deficit reduction and stand ready to participate in a credible, balanced approach to deal with our budget deficit. They made a $60 billion contribution to deficit reduction through the current two-year pay freeze and they continue to be asked to do more for the American people with fewer resources. As a member of the conference committee that worked to extend the payroll tax holiday, I fought side-by-side with fellow Marylander Rep. Chris Van Hollen to remove provisions that were in the House bill that would have increased pension contributions for current federal workers, reduced a general reduction in pension benefits for federal workers, and added an additional year of a pay freeze. I voted against the final legislation because it chipped away at benefits for future federal workers, harming our ability to attract the best and brightest to public service and putting us on a slippery slope for future cuts to pay or benefits. There are some lawmakers who have decided to target federal workers as scapegoats for our fiscal mess and I will not support such actions.
The Congressional Budget Office projects spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other government health programs will more than double as a share of the nation's economy by 2037. What specific changes would you propose to reduce Medicare costs?
We need to reduce the projected cost of Medicare by reducing the growth rate of health care costs. We took an important step in this direction with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. The law invests in prevention, wellness, coordinated care, universal coverage and health technology - all of which will reduce the growth rate of health care costs - and it extends the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by 12 years.
Analyses of Medicare data have shown that the sickest 10 percent of beneficiaries account for 70 percent of program spending. To bring down these costs, we must address chronic diseases and reduce the fragmentation of our system through delivery system reforms. The ACA ensures free coverage of proven preventive services, such as colorectal cancer screening, for seniors and people in commercial health insurance plans so that patients can identify risk factors and prevent conditions from developing into more serious, more costly diseases. The law also increases the financial incentives that employers can use to encourage workers' participation in wellness programs. It also establishes the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to help the Administration test new approaches to cost savings, such as moving away from a reimbursement system that pays per procedure and toward one that pays for episodes of care and rewards quality.
In our own state, CareFirst Blue Cross BlueShield's Patient Centered Medical Home project has already lowered costs for chronic disease patients in this region's under-65 population by prioritizing primary care, and because of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare beneficiaries will benefit from this model. Additionally, the law gives financial help to providers to implement electronic health records - an initiative that will reduce duplication of tests overall and speed lifesaving care in hospital emergency rooms. In addition, we should allow Medicare to use the purchasing power of the federal government, as the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs already do, to negotiate lower prices of prescription drugs for Medicare Part D. Finally, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am working with my colleagues to implement accountable delivery system reforms so they will be recognized by our budget rules as saving costs.
Would you support increased federal spending on highways and other infrastructure as a way to boost the construction industry? If so, how would you pay for it?
I am a strong supporter of federal investments in infrastructure. The Conference of Mayors reports that $1 spent on public infrastructure results in $6.35 in economic growth for the nation. The National Association of Utility Contractors reports that every $1 billion in spending on water infrastructure results in at least 26,000 jobs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a major infusion of funding for aviation; road and rail transportation; water infrastructure; schools; and clean energy projects. I pressed for inclusion of more investments in infrastructure during consideration of the Recovery Act, and those efforts were rewarded when the water infrastructure component was added, pumping $6 billion into the economy at a critical moment. ARRA created millions of jobs, but the need is ongoing. I worked to improve and voted for the Transportation bill recently approved by Congress. The legislation will preserve 10,000 Maryland transportation jobs and create thousands more. Last Congress, I was the lead author of legislation to significantly expand water infrastructure grants to states - a multi-billion dollar jobs-generator.
I would support robust transportation funding by supplementing the current transportation taxes with a carbon tax that would not only help fund transportation infrastructure but would help us with energy security and reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
Would you support U.S. military involvement in Iran if there were evidence that it was close to developing a nuclear weapon?
An Iran with nuclear weapons would be a "game changer" in the Middle East and, indeed, throughout the world. An undeniable threat to Israel and the United States, an Iran with nuclear weapons cannot become a reality.
I would need to review the specific evidence available, the likelihood of effective results and the degree of international support, before making a judgment on U.S. military involvement, but all options should be open. We must do all in our power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
My primary goal has been to push for the continuation of strong sanctions and increased diplomatic isolation. I support President Obama's policy toward Iran, unifying the international community to isolate the regime so it cannot follow through on its dangerous threats and it gives up its ambition to be a nuclear weapon state, contrary to its international commitments.
Describe a specific policy you would pursue in Congress that would have support from members of the opposite party.
I stand up for my Democratic values, but I believe that we can come together to find common ground on many issues that impact our economy, our health, our environment and our national security. I have a record of success working across party lines and will continue to reach out to Republican lawmakers, including:
Senator John McCain, who I am working with on major legislation to bar human rights violators from the U.S.;
Senator Roger Wicker, who I work with on the U.S. Helsinki Commission and with whom I partnered on the Hotels for Heroes bill;
Senator Lamar Alexander, my partner in trying to end the destructive practice of mountaintop removal mining;
Senator Kelly Ayotte, with whom I introduced a bill to force Congress to pass an annual budget;
Senator Susan Collins, my partner on foreign policy issues including a Senate resolution on the Middle East;
Senators Pat Roberts and Olympia Snowe, who I work with on tax/retirement issues; and
Senator Lindsay Graham, my partner on creating a National Blue Alert System;
Congressman (now Senator) Rob Portman on savings and retirement issues.
I am working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to build support for a Simpson-Bowles type of bipartisan, balanced plan to bring our budget into better balance. A similar effort needs to be made to enact an energy policy for America that provides for energy security, a better economy, and a friendly impact on our environment.
Party: Republican
City of residence: Severna Park
Occupation: Candidate, U.S. Senate
Family: Married, two daughters
Campaign website: www.BONGINO.com
Public campaign contact: 301-BONGINO, campaign@bongino.com
Experience: Decorated Secret Service Agent for three presidential administrations; served as a lead government security official for the United States; as a member of the Baltimore Field Office, instrumental in breaking up one of the largest fraud rings in Maryland's history; small business entrepreneur.
Education: B.A.,Queens College, 1997; M.A.,City University of New York, 2001; M.B.A., Penn State University, 2010.
We need outsiders to the Washington political process who will commit to pro-growth, common sense tax reforms and stop playing political games with the money of hard working American families. Current income tax rates should be extended across the board and we should look for common sense spending cuts to balance our budget. We can no longer tolerate the negative impact on job growth being caused by the current economic uncertainty.
I am honored to have been a former federal employee with the United States Secret Service. Our federal work force is both dedicated and hard working. We should do everything possible to honor their current contracts and fulfill the promises that were made to them. Preserving jobs is preferred but efficiencies must be sought or our federal employees will be endangered by the coming fiscal crisis.
I do not support mandatory changes to Social Security or Medicare for persons 55 years or older. The full faith and credit of our government must mean something to our seniors. We must look at proven, bi-partisan solutions such as block granting Medicaid funding to the states and making available to our seniors, via premium support, the same insurance plans our members of Congress have access to. There is wide, bi-partisan agreement on common sense Social Security reforms to preserve the system such as means testing of benefits and longevity indexing.
We must re-prioritize the spending of scarce tax dollars and eliminate projects that are nothing more than just wasteful political earmarks. In doing so, we can then properly fund projects where federal funding is required.
Unfortunately, if Iran forgoes reason and demonstrates the clear intention and capability of developing nuclear weapons, I would, as a matter of national security, support military action to intervene. Iran directs its threats at the United States as often as it does towards Israel. The potential for terrorist acts directed against the citizens of the United States involving nuclear materials or explosives is a risk that I am not willing to accept.
I would not have been able to rise above the cycle of inner city poverty if it were not for the education that I received from outside the broken public school system that existed in my neighborhood. I would serve as an outspoken advocate for the re-allocation of Department of Education funding for the creation of means tested "Parental Choice" programs for failing inner city school districts. I know there are members of the opposing party that have examined the irrefutable data proving parent choice works. I can't see how anyone can condemn a child to a future of certain failure when options are available requiring nothing more than the political will to enact them.
Party: Libertarian
Office sought: U.S. Senate
City of residence: Bethesda
Occupation: Consultant
Family: Married, one grown son
Campaign website: http://www.ahmadfor
ussenate.info
Public campaign contact: 301-968-7169
Experience: President, East Bethesda Citizens Association; president, Montgomery County Civic Federation; chaplain, American University, Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, and Adventist Behavioral Center; senior lecturer, University of Maryland College Park; adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary; president, Minaret of Freedom Institute; president, Islamic-American Zakat Foundation; arbitrator, Coordinating Council D.C. area Muslim Organizations; astrophysicist on contract to Goddard Spaceflight Center.
Education: B.A., Harvard University, 1970; Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1975
Have you ever been convicted of a crime (not including minor traffic violations)? No.
All cuts should be extended, but spending must be cut by an even greater amount to "pay for" the cuts. Additional tax reform must include replacing harmful taxes that penalize productivity, hinder job creation and unfairly fall heaviest on the poor through the taxation of essential consumer goods.
I believe a pay freeze for federal employees and a restructuring of the retirement plans is necessary until we can get spending under control. Why should federal employees be exempt from the economic sacrifices the general public must bear?
Managing health care costs is the most difficult single problem confronting public policy, and Medicare is the single most difficult part of the problem. Unfortunately, the enormous pilfering of the wages of seniors now on Medicare or about to go on it over the years has created an unfunded debt that prevents us from turning to a market solution in any simple manner. Instead, we must implement a whole series of reforms that we can only pray will, together, make this problem somewhat less overwhelming.
Medicare is such a royal failure at controlling costs because it is a single payer system. We must devise reforms that will allow us to transition to a fee for service system in the long run, while emulating a fee for service system in the short run. Details must be worked out, but the following elements are essential: young people must be given the option of adopting an alternative health plan, perhaps modeled on the congressional system as proposed by Dr. Rand Paul. A sliding scale of means tested co-payments and caps must be implemented both to reduce current expenditures and to give consumers the incentive to comparison shop and suppliers the incentive to complete on price and quality of service. For example, millionaires could be required to pay full premiums and have high deductibles. The system must focus on value of the care provided rather than the volume of care provided. Restrictions that now drive physicians away from treating Medicare patients need to be reformed. Laws that prohibit physicians from giving free or discounted treatments to the poor and needy must be reformed.
No. Any spending on infrastructure must be based on the economic need for the infrastructure and not on the desire to subsidize the construction industry at the expense of other sectors of the economy.
Nearness to a nuclear weapon is not a just cause for military intervention. If it were we would be at war with Israel, Pakistan, India, Russia, China, and France, among others. The clearly stated position of Iran's supreme leader has made it clear that negotiations to get Iran to comply with IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] inspections would be successful if the United States dropped its unreasonable demands that Iran abandon its right to medical grade uranium. The phrase "close to developing a nuclear weapon" is a mischievous code meant to deprive Iran of its right to radioactive medicine as a pretext for a war that would be a disaster for the region and for the economy of the United States.
I have two parties in opposition. I would try to get the Democrats to support my agenda to end the wars and promote civil liberties while trying to get the Republicans to support needed spending cuts and fiscal responsibility. Being the swing vote and thus balance of power on these issues means I would have a great opportunity to get many things accomplished.
City of residence: Potomac
Occupation: Businessman
Family: Married, 4 children
Campaign website: www.sobhani2012.com
Public campaign contact: info@sobhani2012.com
Experience: Chairman, CEO of Caspian Group Holdings
Education: B.A., Georgetown University, 1989; PhD, 1989.
I oppose extending the tax cuts, not because I think it would make the system more fair — it won't — but because this issue is being used to delay the real reform our tax code so desperately needs. Our economy is very near a crisis. And our tax system is a big part of the problem. Rather than address that problem in a meaningful way, the parties fight and bicker, point fingers and find blame. They cater to special interests for campaign contributions. In turn, special interests get generous tax advantages over the rest of us. It's a failed system and only a fair, simple flat tax will finally drain the swamp. We can and should protect mortgage interest deductions and charitable contributions. But we must get rid of the loopholes, corporate welfare and special interest cronyism. A fair and simple tax code will incentivize growth, encourage small business, and strengthen the economic conditions of families. There are good people in both political parties, but they're trapped in a system that doesn't work. As an Independent, I'm convinced I'll be able to bridge the gap and bring fair-minded people together to clean up our tax system and restore economic growth to Maryland and America.
We should not balance the budget on the backs of federal employees — that is not leadership. Moreover, the savings the federal government would achieve by continuing its salary freeze or asking more of a contribution from employees would be small in comparison to the savings we can achieve by identifying wasteful and ineffective programs. Our goal needs to be reducing the current debt to GDP ratio, and this will require some tough decisions at a broader level.
Part of being honest with the American people is also related to government funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which today are woefully mismanaged at least partly as a result of a failed political system that can only find fault and cast blame. At the rate these programs are rising in cost, our country will face bankruptcy if we don't act. First and foremost, it's important we do nothing to reduce or hurt benefits for existing and near-term recipients. But real reform must come and must look beyond Medicare at the entire health care system. We can make health care more competitive, give patients more choices, and assure greater availability and higher quality. But we can't do it if we're not willing to consider new ideas. I support a serious, non-partisan discussion about health care. We've made a promise to this country's seniors, a promise that the money they've put in to these systems their whole lives will be there for them when they need it. Living up to that promise in a fashion that is also sustainable for our budget has to be our main priority not only as politicians but as Americans.
A solid infrastructure system in which both people and goods can move with ease across the country is a cornerstone of economic development. I believe that infrastructure should be prioritized, but I also feel that federal spending is not always the most efficient manner in doing so. One of my main campaign promises is a massive $3 billion expansion of the north-south corridor along Interstate 95 and the I-495 and I-695 beltways. I believe we can attract private investment both domestically and internationally to fund most or all of this expansion. Experts suggest this plan will create at least 15,000 jobs per $1 billion in funds, but highway construction jobs are only the beginning. Major public works like these both spur development in a lagging industry like construction, and allow for a reduction in federal infrastructure expenses.
I oppose U.S. military involvement in Iran. The best guarantee of our national security interests and of Israel's security is a free and democratic Iran — that should be the goal. A free and democratic Iran would also have no need of nuclear weapons.
There are good people in both parties. But they're trapped in a system that forces them to think inside a very narrow ideological box. As an Independent, I'm convinced I can bridge the gap and bring well-intentioned men and women from both parties together to solve problems. We have no choice. Time is running out for our economy if we don't act now. My number one priority is job creation; it strikes me as illogical that either party would stand in the way of that goal, but let's see if either tries. As one specific example, we can easily find ways to enhance something Maryland already does well — medical treatment and research. I will find $500 million in private funds from companies, charitable groups and philanthropists to make Maryland the world capital for cancer and Alzheimer's research and treatment. And if I don't, I've already signed a pledge I won't run for reelection. That's only one of many ideas my campaign is talking about. I'll also find more than $1 billion worth of exports for Maryland products, which will create at least 7,000 new jobs. And again, if I can't or don't do it, my pledge assures I won't run for re-election. New approaches, working with others, and holding them and myself accountable is how we'll move forward to solve our problems. By contrast, the political status quo assures more of what we already have — squabbling, infighting, and excuses for why our economy continues to sink.


The couple behind 2.elämä walks us through the four years of adventure since this eco-friendly design firm was established. Get ready to know all about their astonishing Body Harness Collection 2015.
It's been four years since the beginning of the 2.elämä project. How has the brand evolved through this time?
Jaime: Part of our evolution has been that we have been working little by little in different areas. 2.elämä's designs are now present, not only in jewellery, but also in fashion and home decoration. We have even carried out some interior design projects and we've collaborated with other companies.
Yuan: But maybe our biggest achievement in all this time is that we have fulfilled our original idea, which was to set up an eco-friendly design brand called Toinen Elämä (2.elämä). It is important to remember that the fact that a product has been manufactured under environmental concerns is not enough. Design, originality and functionality have to be present too. After these four years we have reached certain awareness within our field. In Finland people now recognise our brand and they talk about it.
The Finnish economy is now going through a period of recession. How has this situation affected you as entrepreneurs?
Hola a todos! Hallo an alle! Hi everyone! My name is Eva Blanco, I am 25 and I come from Spain. I studied journalism in Madrid, and I was lucky enough to spend the fourth year of the degree in Finland as an Erasmus exchange student. My experience in the northern country was so amazing that I decided to go back after having obtained my qualification. Thus, I lived in Helsinki for yet another year in which I had the opportunity to work for a Finnish weekly newspaper and monthly magazine published in English. Subsequently they are called Helsinki Times and SixDegrees.


We used a varienty of 'islands' including pillows and soft play equipment and created a trail or train. Daisy, Rose and I had to travel along the islands and not fall into the waters below in case the sharks got us!
The play lasted much longer than 15 minutes.
Colouring in was our activity of choice.
Her Papa colours egg labels.
And Rose coloured a few lables and then moved on to free scribbling.
Our chickens have been laying now for about a month so we are finding we have more than a dozen eggs a day. Time for the chucks and ducks to earn their keep!
This dedicated colouring time was actually really relaxing and something we will now be doing every few weeks.
Day 7 Challenge: Mega Floor Doodles!
This is my idea of fun! We doodled and coloured and scribbled for quite a while.
There was a little peace making needed from me as Rose attempted to colour in Daisy's princesses.
Here is one we rescued.
We went more for ice play rather then water play. Frost was covering our garden with a beautiful magic and as Rose slept in the afternoon, Daisy and I went out to explore.
This was her first reaction to the ice on the chain link!!
We had a discussion about the dangers of licking cold objects … or rather licking anything!
The chucks seemed to enjoy the frost.
Finding icy cobwebs on the play structure.
Watching as ice melted into water.
We also had fun making patterns on the icy grass with our footprints.
This a favourite with both kids and Rose in particular loves sorting, pouring and dumping.
Our tub included cotton balls, paper leaves, pasta and ribbon.
I am afraid I misplaced (lost) the photos of this activity but I can verify it was a lot of fun. We used the straws to have blowing competitions with the cotton balls. Daisy is making up the rules and it is difficult to work her logic out but we negotiated the boundaries. The tweezers were a hit for both girls although Rose only used them for about a minute. Her hands were quicker for grabbing. They used a variety of containers too. Daisy likes to make soup and Rose preferred to transfer from one container to another.
We are keeping up with the challenges well but not posting blogs in a timely manner. The play is taking up our time and I am glad to make that a priority. Happy playing.


I'm backfrom Anaheim. Fortunately, the flight home wasn't as bad as the flight to Anaheim. Unfortunately, my flight got in rather late last night. Because I have a bunch of cases in the O.R. today, I doubt I'll get to post anything other than this today. However, the AACR Meeting did provide me a lot of great ideas for topics to write about with regard to medical research and medicine, as well as a couple of lighter ideas as well. (Even better, I actually remembered to jot them down as I thought of them.) And then there's the issue of the new Pope, and let's not forget that the 60th anniversaries of some very significant World War II events are fast approaching.


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text:
Мартюхи́ — деревня на юго-западе Торопецкого района Тверской области. Входит в состав Подгороднеснского сельского поселения.

География
Деревня расположена в 5 км к северу от районного центра Торопец. Расстояние по автодороге: до Торопца — 7 км, до Подгороднего — 4.5 км.

Этимология
Название деревни образовано от мужского личного крестильного имени Мартин, Мартюха, что значит «посвященный Марсу, воинственный Марсов».

История
На топографической карте Фёдора Шуберта, изданной в 1871 году обозначена деревня Мартюхова. Имела 12 дворов.

Население

Примечания

Населённые пункты Торопецкого района


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text:
Home > Blog > 2016 > August > Florida man pleads guilty to CDL fraud
Posted By Horwitz & Citro, P.A.
It may have seemed harmless enough on the outside - a truck driving school that was helping individuals, mainly Russian speakers, obtain a commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The reality, however, was a scheme that amounted to fraud.
Through the company Larex Inc. and website RussianTruckingSchool.com, Adrian Salari and three other individuals charged thousands of dollars to obtain CDLs for non-Florida residents. In addition to falsifying residency documents, they also supplied students with answers to the driving test using covert communication equipment and used a partner on the inside to pass students who failed the tests, for an extra fee.
In all, the nefarious company helped more than 600 students to fraudulently obtain licensure from June 2013 to May 2015. Once those students obtained their CDLs, they would then transfer it to their actual state of residence.
In July 2015, indictment charges were filed against the suspects for conspiracy to aid and abet in the unlawful production of Florida driver's licenses and CDLs. The maximum penalty for these types of charges is up to 30 years in federal prison.
After pleading guilty on July 21, Mr. Salari now awaits sentencing, scheduled for October 3. Cases against the three others allegedly involved in the scheme, Ellariy Medvednik, Natalia Dontsova, Clarence Davis, have all be closed. Mr. Medvednik, who owned the trucking company and website, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Ms. Dontsova was also sentenced to 10 months in prison and one year of supervised release. The case against Mr. Davis was dismissed.
The sentences imposed in Federal Court can be harsh as is seen in this case where the defendants could have gone to prison for 30 years. The sentences imposed in federal court depend on many factors including the role a person plays in the crime, the sentencing guidelines and the harm to the victims. Having an experienced lawyer in federal criminal defense is important when facing a prosecution by the United States Department of Justice.
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