text:
Photocatalyst shreds drinking water contaminant PFOA
Date: September 18, 2018Author: colealder 0 Comments
Read the full article by Deirdre Lockwood
"A new photocatalyst could help clean up the industrial pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which contaminates drinking water in many parts of the U.S. and recently triggered a state of emergency in Michigan (Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2018, DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00395). PFOA and another common perfluorinated contaminant, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), may threaten human health through chronic exposure at the parts per trillion level by increasing the risk of cancer and effects on reproduction, development, the liver, immune system, and more. The compounds, valued for their surfactant and water repellent properties, were once used to make products like Teflon, Scotchgard, and firefighting foams.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to remove these chemicals from water. With their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, they're 'among the most recalcitrant pollutants ever produced,' says Timothy Strathmann, an environmental engineer at Colorado School of Mines, who was not involved in developing the new catalyst. Granular activated carbon is most often used to pull perfluorinated molecules out of water, but it's fairly inefficient because naturally present organic matter also sticks irreversibly to the carbon, using up its capacity to grab the pollutants. So scientists have been testing alternatives to sorption, such as advanced oxidation and reduction methods that break down perfluorinated chemicals into less harmful products. For example, Ezra L. Cates of Clemson University is developing semiconductor particles that are excited by UV radiation and act as photocatalysts to degrade the compounds. But it has been a challenge to find catalysts with the right properties to break the tough carbon-fluorine bonds.
Cates and his colleagues made an accidental breakthrough while testing the photocatalyst bismuth phosphate. After finding that it could break down PFOA as effectively as a previously reported photocatalyst, gallium oxide, they tried to improve its performance by varying the pH of the reaction used to make the catalyst particles. The researchers had hoped this would change the particles' size and shape, but the process inadvertently produced bismuth oxyhydroxyphosphate (BOHP). This new catalyst has the highest photocatalytic activity for PFOA degradation ever reported…
Cates suggests that BOHP degrades PFOA so quickly because its beefed up hydroxide content gives it a highly positively charged surface at the low pH of the experiments compared with bismuth phosphate, attracting the negatively charged PFOA.
By monitoring some of the products of the reaction, the team found that 63-84% of the PFOA was converted into benign products such as fluoride ions and carbon dioxide. Cates says they will soon be analyzing the remaining products to determine whether shorter-chain perfluorinated compounds remain.
The team also found that BOHP does not degrade the more recalcitrant PFOS, so a complete purification system would require sequential treatment with different photocatalysts or other technologies, Cates says. He and his team are now working with the company Purifics to carry out pilot-scale tests of the catalyst on groundwater samples from military sites contaminated by firefighting foam."
breakdownchemicalcontaminationdrinking waterexperimentfirefighting foammilitaryperfluorinatedPFASPFOAphotocatalystremediationresearchstudy
Published by colealder
View all posts by colealder
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text:
Q: Line dash not working OL3 (Openlayers 3) I want to display  a dashed line in a vector layer, as the it's shown in the Documentation there is a propriety called lineDash , but it didn't work for me here my code  :
 var iconStyle_line = new ol.style.Style({//  My style definition
          fill: new ol.style.Fill({
          color: 'rgba(221, 99, 0, 0.5)'
          }),
          stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
          color: 'rgba(221, 99, 0, 0.5)',
          width: 3,
          lineDash: [4]
          })
     });

 var vectorSource_line = new ol.source.Vector();//  My vector source

 var vector_line = new ol.layer.Vector({

         source: vectorSource_line,
         style: iconStyle_line
     });

A: Try this:
var iconStyle_line = new ol.style.Style({//  My style definition
      fill: new ol.style.Fill({
      color: 'rgba(221, 99, 0, 0.5)'
      }),
      stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
      color: 'rgba(221, 99, 0, 0.5)',
      width: 3,
      lineDash: [4,4] // <-Here is the change. first line then space. try [40,40] if not shown as dash
      })
 });

Be careful about the 'LineDash' values if you program for mobile devices. Then [4,4] is not visible on a small screen with high resolution. Use e.g. [15,15] and store the resolution in a variable which changes with the device (PC or mobile).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Jump directly to:
Prussian Cultural Heritage Board of Trustees - Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
DE (diese Seite auf deutsch)
President and Vice President
SPK Institutions
Current Figures
Tasks of National Interest
Federal Exhibition Program
Overview of All Locations
Provenance Research and Issues of Ownership
Protection of Cultural Heritage
Acquisitions and Donations
Image Service
Dossiers and News
What would you like to know more about?
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Prussian Cultural Heritage Boa...
Prussian Cultural Heritage Board of Trustees
Strong partners support the Foundation's work. The diverse involvement of leading businesses, which have joined together to form the Prussian Cultural Heritage Board of Trustees, goes beyond mere sponsorship and takes place in a strategic partnership.
© SPK / Polyform
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Board of Trustees, which was established in 2014, is an association of leading German businesses. The board understands itself as being in a strategic partnership, supporting the Foundation in implementing selected projects. Along with activities connected to the Humboldt Forum, the focus is on communication, cultural education and transfer and digital transformation. Further, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Board of Trustees supports the Foundation's effort to extend its network and also makes its thematic expertise available.The following internationally active business organizations are currently members of the board: Bayer AG, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Daimler AG, Deutsche Bank AG, KPMG AG, Linde AG AG, SAP SE, Siemens AG, Würth-Gruppe and ZDF. The chairman of the board is Thorsten Strauß of Deutsche Bank AG; his deputy is Anne Reidt, head of the main editorial office for culture at ZDF (public television station).
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Board has replaced the Museum Island board of trustees, which supported the projects of Museum Island from 2001 to 2013.
Strategic Support of Sustainable Projects
As a universal cultural institution, the SPK is responsible for its excellent collections, including their maintenance and research activities. This is the Board's point of departure for its support.
The association of leading German business organizations is interested in more than just sponsorship. Thorsten Strauß, who is Global Head of Art, Culture & Sports at Deutsche Bank AG and has been the chairman of the board since 2014, puts it like this: "The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz is Germany's major cultural player with unimaginable potential. The projects we support are sustainable and are intended to make the SPK as a whole more modern, efficient and experiential. Both the president and we want to make the SPK as a whole, a group consisting of museums, libraries and archives, fit for the digital age.
Access and Participation for Everyone
Whether the subject is communication media or digital transformation, in projects involving education and knowledge transfer, in outstanding special exhibits or activities around the Humboldt Forum, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Board has always been a valuable, stimulating partner for the SPK. One key focus of the support is the area of public access and participation.
The strategic partnership of several years is especially important to Thorsten Strauß: "This format has advantages for both sides. First, due to the number of partners, the financial framework is more generous than it would be for individual sponsoring, and second, a broad spectrum of projects can be included within this model. As businesses, we can connect our activity with various funding priorities that are important to us. This very diversity is a special feature of the SPK that does not exist in most other cultural institutions. Cooperation among the Board members is very dynamic, and we have fun driving our focal points forward. We think it is important that our support contributes specifically to people knowing what cultural programs are available."
The Board as the SPK's supportive companion in change
The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz sees the Board above all as a partner who accompanies change. Projects such as improving the way the Gipsformerei (Replica Workshop) is marketed by creating an online shop, producing and selling the SPK magazine, or conducting provenance research via the "Tanzania–Germany. Shared Object Histories?" project have been implemented thanks to the Board's support.
Without the Board it would not have been possible to have the architect and Pritzker Award winner Wang Shu design the fourth floor of the Humboldt Forum on Chinese court art. Another topic that is important to the Board is knowledge transfer and the use of media.
For this reason, the Board sponsored the development of an app that is available to the public for the exhibition "Beyond Compare. Art from Africa in the Bode Museum" as a multimedia guide. The knowledge transfer project "Connections" was also financed by Board funds; it will encourage visitors to explore the diverse connections between the collections on Museum Island.
Projects made possible by the Board
"Restless Times. Archaeology in Germany" exhibition
SPK Magazine
Online Shop for the Gipsformerei
App for the "Africa in the Bode Museum" exhibition
"Connections" knowledge transfer project for Museum Island
Provenance research for the Humboldt Forum: Pilot project Tanzania-Germany
"Beyond Compare. Art from Africa in the Bode Museum" exhibition
Private Support
What Can You Support?
Sponsoring and Cooperation
Imprint / Rights
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Corporate » Candy Tothill – general manager, corporate affairs at Tsogo Sun; » Tryphosa Ramano – chief financial officer at PPC Cement; and » Funeka Montjane – chief executive at Standard Bank. Government » Ramasela Ganda – Group chief financial officer at Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality; » Puleng Kwele – Chief executive at Broadband Infraco; » Lakela Kaunda – Chief operations officer at the Presidency; and » Dr Rolene Wagner – Chief executive at Frere Hospital. Social Entrepreneurship » Mary Raletooane – Director at Itekeng Disable Centre; » Adri Marais – Chief executive at the Tertiary School in Business Administration; and » Patricia Dlamini – Chief executive at Uitenhage Despatch Development Initiative. Education » Sharmla Chetty – Regional managing director, Africa at Duke Corporate Education; » Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng – Vice-principal of research and innovations at the University of South Africa; (Now at UCT) » Motsehoa Franscina Montsho – Principal at Qwabi Primary School. Science » Renata Schoeman – Psychiatrist; » Dr Kea Tabane – Oncologist at Sandton Oncologist Centre; » Professor Glenda Grey – Chief executive at the Medical Research Council; and » Professor Leslie Patrik – Lecturer at the University of the Western Cape.
Are varsity race based (medicine) admission policies appropriate?


text:
About the AMP
Obituary Archive
Peter Mills
Posted: February 16th, 2013
Peter Mills, former art editor of the Sunday Mirror, died on January 27 (2013) aged 91.
Peter became ill with pneumonia and died in Kingston Hospital exactly a month after his wife, Muriel, died fairly suddenly of a heart condition. They had been married for 68 years.
Peter, pictured on his 90th birthday, studied signwriting at art college and became a lettering artist working in London parks, as well as signwriting honours boards and war memorials.
As part of his work in the parks he did the lettering on the plinths of statues in an open air sculpture exhibition which formed part of the Festival of Britain.
He joined the Sunday Pictorial, and later worked as deputy to Roy Foster on the Sunday Mirror art desk. Peter was made art editor of the Sunday Mirror in 1986/7.
Peter's daughter Jenny Saville remembers a special man: "On the Sunday Mirror he – like all the other journalists – worked especially long hours on a Saturday night. He often told friends he said good morning to his work colleagues twice in the same day.
"He used to carry copies of the next day's newspaper with him when he drove home in the early hours of Sunday morning, as he was sometimes stopped by the police. A free Sunday newspaper always smoothed his way home.
"One day he told me the art department secretary had looked at her horoscope which would be printed in that Sunday's paper. "Oh dear, the prediction for my star sign is rather worrying", she said. Whereupon my father swapped 'her' supposed future for that of another star sign with a better prediction.
In doing this he ruined her belief in horoscopes for ever, not quite what he had intended! He was, in fact, an extremely kind man.
"I should add that my Dad loved his work."
Back to Farewell - Obituaries
Maxwell podcast
THE arrest by the FBI last July of GHISLAINE MAXWELL in New Hampshire, USA, for allegedly procuring under-age girls for Jeffrey Epstein, …
Patrons line-up strengthened
Posted: November 29th, 2020
IAN AUSTIN, now Lord Austin of Dudley, who was previously a Patron in the House of Commons for the AMP when he …
Peter Thompson's latest book
PETER THOMPSON, former editor of the Sunday Mirror and deputy editor of the Daily Mirror, became a full-time author in 1991.
He has …
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The Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 6-A(b) provides for an exemption from property taxation for the primary dwelling of the Surviving Spouse of a United States Armed Forces member who was killed in action. The exemption is provided on an annual basis and must be requested by the Surviving Spouse.
Dwellings with an assessed value not in excess of the average assessed value of all dwellings in the county zoned single family residential will qualify for a full exemption.
Dwellings that exceed the average assessed value will be assessed tax on the excess value.
The average assessed value for all single family residential dwellings for 2019 is $495,736.
The average assessed value will change annually.
The qualifying dwelling is sold.
It ceases to be the principal residence.
The United States Department of Defense must have determined the United States Armed Forces Member was killed in action.
The United States Department of Defense Form DD 1300 must be provided with the first request for exemption.
To request a copy of the DD 1300, submit Standard Form 180 to the National Archives.
The property must be owned by the Surviving Spouse requesting the exemption.
Real property co-owned by the Surviving Spouse and other individuals, may receive a partial exemption based on the percentage of ownership by the Surviving Spouse.
Property deeded to a trust may receive an exemption. A copy of Trust documents and amendments must be provided to the Commissioner of the Revenue with the first request for exemption.
Property providing a life estate to a Surviving Spouse may qualify for the exemption. The documents supporting a life estate must be submitted with the first request for exemption.
Manufactured homes (mobile homes) may qualify. However, if the land on which the home is located is not owned by the Surviving Spouse, the land will not qualify for the exemption.
The property must be occupied as the principal residence of the Surviving Spouse requesting the exemption.
Additional structures that house or cover motor vehicles or household goods and personal effects may be exempt.
The Surviving Spouse is required to file a new form if the principal residence changes.
To receive an exemption, complete the 2019 Request for Real Property Tax Exemption for the Surviving Spouse of a United States Armed Forces Member Killed in Action.
For assistance, contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue. We will provide physical or sensory accommodations for individuals to utilize this program.


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Three Incredible Italian Cities for Food Fans
by Ali Slutsky | Dec 27, 2018 | Blog, Food, Travel, Uncategorized
Italy is a Southern European nation that's known the world over for its amazing and plentiful dining choices. It doesn't matter if an individual visits Australia, North America, East Asia or the Middle East, chances are he or she will come across a good number of dining establishments that serve Italian meals of all varieties. Italians have introduced all kinds of mouthwatering meals. People everywhere dine on pasta, pizza pies and more with great regularity. Travelers who are planning to head to the boot-shaped country should zero in on the most exciting spots for avid food fans.
Naples is a widely known Italian metropolis that also happens to be a hub for people who have sizable appetites. Pizza is one of the most beloved food items out there. People who have penchants for pizza can't resist flocking to Naples year in and year out. Naples is the city that happens to be pizza's place of birth. The city features an abundance of pizzerias that are optimal for people who have all kinds of specific preferences. People who cannot resist marinara and margherita offerings often cannot turn away from Naples excursions.
People all over the globe associate Venice with its gondolas. They frequently associate it with incredible dining options, too. Venice isn't far from the stunning Adriatic Sea. That's why it's also a superb spot for people who are all about fresh and delightful seafood plates. People who want to revel in codfish often become Venice enthusiasts. Codfish is only the start of the city's plentiful culinary specialties, however.
Rome is Italy's bustling capital. The glittering metropolis is chock-full of historic landmarks. It's also chock-full of dining establishments that can suit people with all kinds of appetites. Travelers who are genuine pasta aficionados often relish meals in Rome. One staple for diners in Rome is an enduring pasta dish that's known as bucatini alla carbonara. There are practically countless eateries scattered all throughout Rome that have this dish on the menu. People who want to fuel up on pasta that's filling, hearty and authentic to the max often have the times of their lives in Rome. It's no surprise that it's a powerhouse among devoted food fans.
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4 Tips for Outdoor Entertaining This Summer
© 2019 Ali Slutsky | Food & Travel


The Peter Pan Syndrome refers to certain personality traits that are characterized by psychological immaturity and narcissism. These are people who are irresponsible in certain aspects of life, rebels who refuse to grow up, are dependent and who believe they are above social norms. If these features are part of your personality or that of a loved one, we will give you some tips to know how to deal with Peter Pan Syndrome.
Peter Pan Syndrome was coined in 1983 by Dr Dan Kiley to refer to those who, like the Disney character, refuse to grow up and take on the behaviour and responsibilities of their age. They are immature on a psychological and social level, with strong narcissistic traits and refusing to grow out of childish behaviour and assume adulthood.
Idealisation of youth and refusal to act like an adult.
Egocentrism and narcissism, only thinking about receiving and asking without giving or compromising.
Denial of any responsibility related to maturity.
Impulsive and immature behavior reminiscent of a child or adolescent.
They are often irresponsible and fear commitment.
Often they feel frustrated but do not take control of their lives or do anything to change what is bothering them.
They blame others without ever assuming their share of the responsibility for their actions.
As with any condition related to behavior, the first step to deal with Peter Pan Syndrome is to assume that there is indeed a problem with maturity that is necessary to address and resolve. Although family and close friends can help the person affected realize it's time to grow up, no one else can take control of their lives.
Peter Pan Syndrome has a root cause that is important to discover to solve the problem. It is not always easy to see why we refuse to grow up, so if we cannot take charge of the situation by ourselves, it is best to visit a psychologist or therapist to help us.
Consulting a specialist is the best way of identifying what causes the insecurity or fear of adulthood to overcome it. Also a specialist may provide you with the tools to communicate properly, to overcome frustration and to assume responsibility for your actions without blaming others.
Finally, a good way to deal with Peter Pan Syndrome is to identify the advantages of adulthood that arise when we assume our responsibilities properly. Show that we still have fun, that way the child within us does not have to be set aside but it also won't prevail.
Greater economic freedom, having our own space, having the maturity to make better decisions and being around people that truly matter to us because we have learned who stands by us and who does not want us in our lives are some of the advantages of living like a responsible adult, enjoying the stage in which we live without thinking so much about the past or that our youth is gone.
If you want to read similar articles to How To Deal With Peter Pan Syndrome, we recommend you visit our Mental health category.


Here you can find the device drivers and some utilities to use our TMW-1000 logger.
Downloading the GPS data from the logger is just the preliminary step in using Tracemyworld!
Once you have the gpx file you can upload it on the tracemyworld application and start playing and having fun.


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Police identify motorcyclist killed in Belton crash
Jacob Scott, 22, of Grandview, dies in wreck with car
Jeffrey Field
Managing Editor - KMBC.com
Authorities are investigating.
A 22-year-old Grandview man died when his motorcycle crashed into a car Monday morning, Belton police said.The crash was reported about 9:30 a.m. at North Scott Avenue and Markey Road.Police said the motorcyclist died at the scene. Police later identified him as Jacob Scott and said Trenton Matthews, 34, of Belton, was at the wheel of the other vehicle.Investigators said no additional information would be released at this time.
BELTON, Mo. —
A 22-year-old Grandview man died when his motorcycle crashed into a car Monday morning, Belton police said.
The crash was reported about 9:30 a.m. at North Scott Avenue and Markey Road.
Police said the motorcyclist died at the scene. Police later identified him as Jacob Scott and said Trenton Matthews, 34, of Belton, was at the wheel of the other vehicle.
Investigators said no additional information would be released at this time.


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Q: How to add css to a data-field attribute? I have the following code and i would like to add a css specific css code (width:200px;) to the data-field="data2" elements:

A:

[data-field="data2"] {
    width: 200px;
}

  yo
  yo
  yo
  yo

A: You can use the CSS attribute selector to select elements with specified attribute and value:
th[data-field="data2"] {
    width:200px;
}

A: See this for reference:
https://www.w3schools.com/cssref/sel_attribute_value.asp
th[data-field="data2"]  {
   width: 200px;
}

A: Attributes different from class and id can be accessed in css with square brackets syntax, in the [nameOfField="value"] form, so in your example:
[data-field="data2"] {
  width:200px;
}

You can find more information about css atribute selectors here:
https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/a/attribute/

A: You can try this also

table th[data-field="data2"] {
    width: 200px;
}

  1
  2
  3
  4


text:
Pre-Incan Metallurgy Discovered
February 3, 2011 Gary C. Daniels 0 Comments metalsmithing, Peru
Metals found in lake mud in the central Peruvian Andes have revealed the first evidence for pre-Colonial metalsmithing there.
These findings illustrate a way that archaeologists can recreate the past even when looters have destroyed the valuable artifacts that would ordinarily be relied upon to reveal historical secrets. For instance, the new research hints at a tax imposed on local villages by ancient Inca rulers to force a switch from production of copper to silver.
Pre-Colonial bronze artifacts have previously been found in the central Peruvian Andes dating back to about 1000 AD, after the fall of the Wari or Huari civilization , the largest empire in the Andes before the Incas . However, it has been unclear how metallurgy had developed there, or whether or not these artifacts even came from the Andes, instead perhaps coming from trading with coastal villages.
"There's a lot you can't tell about history from the metal artifacts here because there's been a lot of looting, during both modern times and when the Spanish first arrived to melt down what silver and other metals were there to send back to the Spanish crown," said researcher Colin Cooke, an environmental scientist at the University of Alberta in Canada.
Read the entire story here: http://www.livescience.com/history/070419_metal_andes.html
← Ancient "Lost City" Discovered in Peru, Official Claims
In Peru, scientists discover the oldest solar observatory in the Americas →
Earliest Known American Settlers Harvested Seaweed
February 3, 2011 Gary C. Daniels 0
Polynesians beat Columbus to the Americas
Ancient popcorn discovered in Peru
January 20, 2012 Gary C. Daniels 0


Symantec reports about a new phishing scam that sets up a phishing form that looks like a google sign-in in a google drive document.
"The fake page is actually hosted on Google's servers and is served over SSL, making the page even more convincing. The scammers have simply created a folder inside a Google Drive account, marked it as public, uploaded a file there, and then used Google Drive's preview feature to get a publicly-accessible URL to include in their messages."
* IF you are already logged in Google in your browser a Google doc should NOT redirect you to a login form.
* When UMN Google Apps DO direct you to a login page - they should always include UMN branding.


The ExpressTruckTax team wishes the Trucking Nation a Spooktacular Halloween!
The Support Heroes are ready to get their Trick-or-Treat on! Are you?!
Moises & Patti will be offering their world-renowned support today dressed as a sweeter version of Dr. Seuss's Thing 1 & 2!
They're the proud proprietors of our Office Candy "Store," Sweet n' Free! They keep us all going with their never-ending stash of sweet treats.
Bryan will be taking your calls today as the least temper-mental bull to ever walk this Earth! I mean really, have you ever seen a bull smile like that?
His matador will be swinging by the ExpressTruckTax offices later, just to make sure he isn't getting out of hand!
And last, but surely not least, our Director of Tax products, Charles.
You know and love him as Sir Charles the Great from our series of silly & informative ExpressTruckTax videos. Today, he's donning the garb of a suspender-snapping, cob-pipe smokin' Amish Gentleman.
Brother Charles will be busy leading our tax team through the IFTA deadline today, but if you need help raising your barn, gelding the horses, or just need an extra set of hands to shuck your corn, give Brother Charles a call!
Although, I'm not sure he'll be able to answer the phone... perhaps try mailing him a letter?
Now that you've had a good laugh, it's important to remember the darker side of Halloween! There's something extra chill-inducing about this day for truckers. It's the 3rd Quarter IFTA Deadline! That means interstate truckers with a vehicle weighing over 26,000 lbs (or with 3 or more axles) need to have their returns postmarked by today!
If you still haven't prepared your IFTA return, we brewed an extra potent solution for you. Boil a pinch of user-friendly design and stir in a dash of customer appreciation, and you've got ExpressIFTA.
We designed it to be the fastest, most fun way to prepare your International Fuel Tax Agreement return. That's right..I used "IFTA," "fast," and "fun" in the same sentence! No, I'm not crazy. And I'm not all hopped up on sugar either–at least not yet!
Gather up your trip sheets, truckers! And head over to ExpressIFTA.com.
Simply create an account, enter your business details & base jurisdiction, followed by your vehicle info, and lastly, your distance and fuel records. If you have a GPS, you can upload those records and save even more time! Finally, watch with child-like wonder as ExpressIFTA generates your state-specific report. Then print it, and mail it. Done.
Notice how "calculating tax" was left off that list. That's because ExpressIFTA performs the calculations for you! No, it's not dark sorcery, just a little programming magic to help out our users.
And if you find yourself bewitched, call the ExpressTruckTax Support Heroes for help at 704.234.6005. You can also fly them a message via owl mail at support@expresstrucktax.com.
Have a Hair-Raising Halloween. Stay safe out there!


Is the GMAT a make-or-break part of your application? Does it predict your future success? Your success in b-school? When should you retake the GMAT? When should you cancel a score? What should you do if you can't raise your score?
Join Linda Abraham on Wednesday, May 16th for The GMAT: Low Scores, Retaking & Strategies for Success, our free webinar that explores your questions about the GMAT.
There's still time to register – reserve your spot today.


I was recently home sick for a few days (also snowed in, but still home sick) and took a selfie while sitting around in my bathrobe.
I kind of like this one because it's going to be different from the norm and really does seem to capture my style in pastels. Should I go with this one or work up a few more?


Welcome to Crossfader! You're in the right place if you want to learn how to DJ or find out about the latest DJ equipment. Whether you're looking for beginner DJ lessons to advanced DJ tutorials or what DJ setup to buy, we're here to help.
Learn how to DJ with your equipment by following our software and hardware specific courses! From Rekordbox to Traktor, Serato DJ to specific controllers like the DDJ SB3. We have a wide range of courses available!


I'm sorry. I simply couldn't resist the urge to throw out the "your fired" line. If you've watched The Apprentice, you are familiar with the catchphrase. Even if your eyes haven't perused an episode, The Donald's now-infamous phrase is such a part of pop culture that you've no doubt heard someone mimic it or seen it spoofed on Saturday Night Live.
Written by New York Times journalist Timothy L. O'Brien, Trumpnation is everything that you'd expect a book about The Donald to be. It is filled with Trump's audacity, bravado, and overall chutzpah as O'Brien chronicles everything from his poor judgment with the USFL to his former wives (and impending marriage, at the time of the writing) to his casinos, buildings, and line of Trump suits – and, of course, the beloved reality show The Apprentice.
The book is not only O'Brien's prose but also quotes from The Donald and others on The Donald and his decisions. But what's great about it, whether true or not, is that you can imagine Donald Trump saying what is written on the page. His tone and delivery are captured perfectly.
"On still another occasion, when he called me at the New York Times from George Steinbrenner's box at Yankee Stadium during the World Series, I mentioned that the cell phone number he was using was different.
'That's because I'm borrowing someone else's phone,' he said.
'That way you don't have to pay for the call, right?' I replied.
'You know me too well,' he chuckled.
At just a little over two hundred and thirty pages, it's just the right amount of Donald back-story and current story to fill up a book without it reaching to the point of overkill. Overall, this is a fantastically fun read as we learn about The Donald and his surprising choices in favorite movies and his snacking on Oreos and hamburgers. It's one of those guilty pleasure books that you read in one or two gulps, and is very satisfying – like a box of Oreos.


As a counselor we're taught to put our own values and beliefs aside and provide services to our clients even if our values and beliefs do not coincide. When topics such as abortion and assisted suicide are brought up, I express my personal values about them. Abortion is a very sensitive topic for some individuals….


text:
Эше́ра () — железнодорожная станция Абхазской железной дороги в Гудаутском районе Абхазии. По состоянию на 2019 год ни пассажирские, ни грузовые поезда на платформе не останавливаются.

Примечания

Станции Абхазской железной дороги
Станции Закавказской железной дороги
Железнодорожные станции Гудаутского района

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
import Service from '@ember/service';
import { service } from '@ember/service';
import fetch from 'fetch';
//import { assert, optional, enums } from 'superstruct';

/**
 * Provides low level functions to send backend requests.
 *
 * @module service/oxi-backend
 */
export default class OxiBackendService extends Service {
    @service('intl') intl;

    request({ url, method = 'GET', headers = {}, data, contentType }) {
        // type validation
        //assert(method, enums(['GET', 'POST']));

        let params = {
            method,
            headers: {
                'X-Requested-With': 'XMLHttpRequest',
                'X-OPENXPKI-Client': '1',
                ...headers,
            },
        };

        if (method == 'POST') {
            // type validation
            //ow(contentType, optional(enums(['application/json'])));

            contentType ||= 'application/json';
            params.headers['Content-Type'] = contentType;

            if (contentType == 'application/json') {
                params.body = JSON.stringify(data);
            }

        }

        if (method == 'GET') {
            if (data) url += '?' + this._toUrlParams(data);
        }

        return fetch(url, params)
        // Network error, thrown by fetch() itself
        .catch(error => {
            this.error = this.intl.t('error_popup.message.network', { reason: error.message });
            console.error('The server connection seems to be lost', error);
            throw error;
        });
    }

    /*
     * Convert plain (not nested!) key => value hash into URL parameter string.
     * Source: https://github.com/zloirock/core-js/blob/master/packages/core-js/modules/web.url-search-params.js
     *
     * TODO: Replace with...
     *
     *     _toUrlParams(data) {
     *         let params = new URLSearchParams();
     *         Object.keys(data).forEach(k => params.set(k, data[k] ?? ''));
     *         return params.toString();
     *     }
     *
     * ...once https://github.com/babel/ember-cli-babel/issues/395 is fixed and we can
     * set up @babel/preset-env to use core-js version 3.x
     */
    _toUrlParams(entries) {
        let result = [];
        let URLPARAM_FIND = /[!'()~]|%20/g;
        let URLPARAM_REPLACE = { '!': '%21', "'": '%27', '(': '%28', ')': '%29', '~': '%7E', '%20': '+' };
        let serialize = v => encodeURIComponent(v ?? '').replace(URLPARAM_FIND, match => URLPARAM_REPLACE[match]);

        Object.keys(entries).forEach(k => result.push(serialize(k) + '=' + serialize(entries[k])));
        return result.join('&');
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
"Sixteen Candles" Filming Location "Party House"
By qstone @ 2012-09-22 08:39:03
Highland Park, Illinois (IL), US
Filming location for the 1984 romantic-comedy,"Sixteen Candles." The film, directed by the late John Hughes, starred, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Justin Henry.
In the film,Jake Ryan, played by actor Michael Schoeffling throws a big party at his home and gets kicked in the jewels by a very drunk,Long Duk Dong as he jumps out of a tree yelling Bonzai!
It is amazing,the house and the grounds looks the same as it did 28-years ago when the movie was released. If you haven't seen Sixteen Candles you are definitely missing out.
Please keep in mind that this is a private residence. Please do not trespass on the property, knock on the door or do anything to disturb the homeowners.
Links: www.imdb.com, www.youtube.com
Events > Movie Locations
Buildings > Entertainment - Misc
Similar Maps: Movie Locations


text:
Q: Cloud-init restricts Gunicorn traffic to only a few workers. Why? I am running a Python Flask app behind Gunicorn on an Ubuntu VM. The Ubuntu VM is hosted in Azure, and I am using a cloud-init script to install the app and launch Gunicorn upon VM instantiation.
Gunicorn launches with 8 workers (recommended for a VM with 4 vCPUs). However, immediately after VM initialization, my VM throughput is limited to about 100 requests per second.
If I kill the 8 Gunicorn workers that were launched by cloud-init and manually start Gunicorn myself as superuser (again 8 workers), then throughput jumps up to about 900 requests per second.
I am not able to tell any difference between Gunicorn processes launched by cloud-init and Gunicorn processes launched by superuser, except that they show different behavior under load.
Here is a screenshot of top when the VM is freshly initialized and under stress:

Here is a screenshot of top after I have killed the Gunicorn workers and restarted them as superuser:

You can see that for the cloud-init-spawned workers, only a few processes appear to be getting any load, while load is evenly distributed across the superuser workers.
Below I will compare the output of ps for the cloud-init and superuser workers.
cloud-init:

superuser:

The output from ps shows that the cloud-init workers are indeed distributed across all 4 vCPUs. I am wondering then why they behave as if only a few of them are getting traffic.
Here is the content of my cloud-init.txt:
#cloud-config
package_upgrade: true
package_update: true
packages:
  - python3-pip
runcmd:
  - sudo -H pip3 install -U pipenv
  - cd /home/azureuser
  - git clone https://github.com/[user]/[repo].git
  - cd /home/azureuser/serve-stateful
  - pipenv install
  - pipenv run gunicorn -w 8 --bind "$(hostname -I):8034" gunicorn_server:app

A: Fixed the problem by adding daemon, user, and group flags to my gunicorn launch command:
pipenv run gunicorn -w 8 --bind "$(hostname -I):8034" gunicorn_server:app --user root --group root --daemon
Not 100% sure on the details, but I think the issue is that gunicorn workers keep stdio inheritance when not started in daemon mode: http://docs.gunicorn.org/en/stable/settings.html#enable-stdio-inheritance All that writing to stdio could be throttling performance.
Interesting (and exciting!) to note that now requests per second has gone up further to 1368 per second, since even the superuser workers I was spawning in my question above were writing out to stdio.


text:
Forcibly Displaced Children: Children refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and/or forced migrants
The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, 01 Sep 2021
The purpose of this evidence synthesis is to analyze the primary and secondary impacts of the pandemic on children who are refugees, IDPs and/or migrants and highlights important protective factors and emerging response measures identified in a review of recent news media, project reporting, academic research and other relevant resources mapped over the previous five-month period.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families: Young People's Experiences in Estonia
Dagmar Kutsar, Leena Kurvet-Käosaar, 25 Aug 2021
This articles reflects the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the everyday lives of children and their families in Estonia during lockdown in spring 2020 and 2021. The data corpus is based on diaries compiled by children during the first lockdown in 2020 for a collection at the Estonian Literary Museum, and on a series of semi-structured interviews with children documenting their experiences during lockdown in spring 2021. The study draws on literature from the "new sociology of childhood" and applies Bronfenbrenner's social ecological model to an analysis of young people's experiences when their mobility outside the home was restricted, and they were forced to reorganise their time use.
Webinar Recording: Transforming Children's Care Webinar #5 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Privately Run Residential Care Institutions
Transforming Children's Care Global Collaborative Platform, 10 Aug 2021
This webinar, the fifth in the Transforming Children's Care Webinar Series focused on a new study ('Impact of COVID-19 on Privately Run Residential Care Institutions: Insights and Implications for Advocacy and Awareness Raising'). The study, comprising 21 semi-structured interviews across seven focus countries, explores the effect of COVID-19 on a small number of privately run and funded residential care institutions.
Prevention of Domestic Violence affecting Children during COVID-19
Family for Every Child, 04 Aug 2021
In this How We Care series, Family for Every Child has presented the programming of 3 of its CSO members who have been working on the ground on preventing domestic violence affecting children during COVID-19.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Among Children in Humanitarian Settings
Bethel Lulie - The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, 01 Aug 2021
The purpose of this evidence synthesis is to summarize what is already known about the impacts of the pandemic on children's mental health risks, specifically in humanitarian settings with the aim of providing an overview of evidence to date. This synthesis captures the toll that COVID-19 and public health measures to reduce its transmission have taken on children's mental health worldwide due to stressors from social isolation, family hardships, school closures, service interruptions, and economic crises. Evidence relevant to mental health and psychosocial support generally and in conflict-affected settings were included. Together, 52 academic articles and resources and 21 news articles from April 2020 to July 2021 were compiled for this report.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - experiences of vulnerable children, young people, and parents: research
Scottish Government, 27 Jul 2021
This report presents findings from qualitative research conducted with a range of children, young people and parents in vulnerable or seldom heard groups, carried out to explore their lived experiences during and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study
Susan D Hillis, H Juliette T Unwin, Yu Chen, Lucie Cluver, Lorraine Sherr, Philip S Goldman, et al - The Lancet, 20 Jul 2021
This study used mortality and fertility data to model minimum estimates and rates of COVID-19-associated deaths of primary or secondary caregivers for children younger than 18 years in 21 countries.
Children: The Hidden Pandemic 2021 – A joint report of COVID-19- associated orphanhood and a strategy for action
Global Reference Group on Children Affected by COVID-19: Joint Estimates and Action, 20 Jul 2021
This report presents statistical data from 192 countries on children experiencing COVID-19-associated orphanhood and death of grandparent caregivers, a description of the trends in these data, a real-time COVID-19 Calculator for Death of Parents and Caregivers, and strategies and principles for integrating care for children bereaved by the virus into every nation's COVID-19 response planning.
Lancet, 20 Jul 2021
Because most COVID-19 deaths occur among adults, not children, attention has been focused, understandably, on adults. However, a tragic consequence of high numbers of adult deaths is that high numbers of children might lose their parents and caregivers to COVID-19, as occurred during the HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and 1918 influenza epidemics. The goal of this report is to shine a bright light on this urgent and overlooked consequence that is harmful for children.
Presentations: Meeting on Care Measurement Initiatives in Eastern and Southern Africa and Thailand
Alternative Care Thailand, UNICEF, 09 Jul 2021
These presentations from UNICEF and Alternative Care Thailand were delivered during the July 9, 2021, workshop of the Care Measurement Task Force of the Transforming Children's Care Global Collaborative Platform. The focus of the workshop was on care measurement initiatives in Eastern and Southern Africa and Thailand.


text:
Oprah Announces 2018 Book Club Pick
Oprah Announces The Sun Does Shine As Her Latest Book Club Pick
"This story reads like an epic novel," Oprah says of Anthony Ray Hinton's memoir. "And it is all true."
By Caroline Hallemann Published: Jun 5, 2018
Don Arnold//Getty Images
Oprah has announced her latest book club pick, former death row inmate Anthony Ray Hinton's memoir, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.
"It's a new selection that I am so passionate about," Winfrey said in her official announcement video. "Now, over the years I've chosen many great novels, very few memoirs, for my book club. But this story reads like an epic novel. And it is all true."
Oprah then goes on to recount Hinton's story. "Mr Hinton was falsely convicted of murder and spent 30 years on death row when he was finally released. It's unimaginable."
Hinton was falsely convicted of murdering two fast food managers during robberies in 1985 and sentenced to death row in Alabama. He was set free in 2015 after ballistics tests proved he did not fire the gun.
"There was a time I thought I'd never see the sun again," Hinton said in a statement about Oprah's selection his book. "I really believe my mother prepared me, and she always told me to keep the faith. I worked really hard and tried to make a book that would inspire people to do better, learn how to forgive one another and move on. What happened to me, I don't ever want to happen to anyone else. I'm just trying to be a little tiny light in God's world."
If you'd like to be part of the book club reading process, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row is available below, and a guide is available right here.
Shop Now The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row, $24
Ray Hinton will also appear on Oprah's Book Club: Freedom After 30 years on Death Row, a special which will air on Sunday, June 10, at 11 a.m. ET on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Caroline Hallemann
Digital Director
As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects
The 50 Best Horror Books
12 Books Like Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Real Story of 'The Way We Were'
Books to Read After Watching Banshees of Inisherin
Bozoma Saint John's Urgent Life
The Best Time Travel Books
Jennifer Garner Returns to Apple TV
Harry's Ghostwriter Addresses Errors in Spare
The Royal Family's Favorite Kids' Books
Prince Harry's Memoir Broke Sales Records
The Acknowledgements in 'Spare'
Prince Harry's Memoir Hits Shelves


This tiny country suffers from high levels of poverty, many natural disasters and extremely high levels of violence. We have a small community in the capital San Salvador where we participate in social and health projects helping the very poor and marginalised in an area where street violence and murders are a daily occurrence.
In the north of the country we continue to run a Human Rights project which accompanies hundreds of victims of the massacre of El Mozote in their pursuit for justice. This case has brought about a change in El Salvador's Amnesty law and has opened the way for many other cases of crimes against humanity to be re-opened, including that of Blessed Oscar Romero.


text:
NYC Reads 365 - Eleventh & Twelfth Grades
Description: NYC Reads 365 is a literacy initiative of the New York City Department of Education to create a new generation of readers. This list of high-interest titles is curated by NYC school librarians for students in Grades 11-12 and is updated each school year.
Sort: By titleBy date added to Reading ListBy authorBy category
Category: All Categories FictionNonfictionSeries
The Boy Meets Girl Massacre (First Edition) Ainslie Hogarth 08/14/2018
The Star Side of Bird Hill Naomi Jackson 01/09/2018
Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys 01/09/2018
IQ Joe Ide 01/09/2018
Heartless Marissa Meyer 01/09/2018
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces Isabel Quintero 01/09/2018
Everything, Everything Nicola Yoon 01/09/2018
Carry On Rainbow Rowell 01/09/2018
This Book Is Gay David Levithan and James Dawson and Juno Dawson 01/09/2018
The Many Faces of Josephine Baker Peggy Caravantes 01/09/2018
The Girl Who Escaped ISIS Andrea C. Hoffmann and Farida Khalaf 01/09/2018
The Freedom Summer Murders Don Mitchell 01/09/2018
The Crash Detectives Christine Negroni 01/09/2018
So You've Been Publicly Shamed Jon Ronson 01/09/2018
Zeroes Scott Westerfeld and Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti 01/09/2018
Crooked Kingdom Leigh Bardugo 01/09/2018
Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo 01/09/2018
Replica Lauren Oliver 01/09/2018


VIDEO: Flight Attendants from Israel Remake the Britney Spears' "Toxic"
In less than two weeks Britney Spears will be on a flight via El Al on her way to a concert in Israel! The flight attendants wanted to celebrate Britney's concert and made a special tribute for her to her hit song "Toxic." As most of you already know, the original Britney Spears Israel "Toxic" video was done on an airplane and Britney as a flight attendant. The video was directed by Dekel Lev who also works for Moovz!
Check out the video below and for more music updates, log into MOOVZ!


text:
December 15, 2017 by Under the Ropes
UK Muay Thai Instructors Convicted of Sexual Abuse
Several Muay Thai gym owners and instructors in the UK have been arrested for sexual assault, abuse, and rape. In many cases, against children they teach. This post lists details of each of those cases as reported by British news outlets, as well as similar arrests of other abusive martial arts instructors in England and Wales.
This post is periodically updated when new cases arise, not just to keep track of these instructors and document their crimes, but also to raise awareness of how this kind of abuse happens within our own communities and gyms.
Peter Feeley, Spartan Muay Thai
Peter Feeley, owner of Spartan Muay Thai in Manchester, was handed a six-year prison sentence in 2017 after being found guilty of child abduction, sexual activity with a child and indecent assault.
Feeley, 56, had been grooming and abusing a 14-year-old girl who had been training at his gym for over a year.
The abuse came to light after the girl was reported missing. When investigators traced the most recent contact from her phone to Feeley, they found him at the gym and arrested him on suspicion of kidnapping. There, they seized his laptop, which contained video evidence of his crimes.
During the trial, a letter written by the victim addressed to Feeley was read out in court. The following is an excerpt.
"I don't want you to apologise, I want the guilt to eat you alive. I want you to drown in your thoughts like I drowned in mine. The memories constantly come back to haunt me. You caused all this yet I'm the one who's left in agony.
'I've decided to forgive you. Not for you, but for me. I will no longer pollute my heart with the fear, distrust, pain or anger. I will no longer be shackled to the past, I forgive you because hate is just another way of holding on and you don't deserve to be held on to."
It later emerged that Feeley had groomed other young female students, inviting them to attend 'sleepovers' at the gym, where he plied them with alcohol. On one of these occasions, in 2012, he molested another girl in her sleeping bag.
Detective Constable Hannah Greetham spoke to BBC News about the investigation. "There is no excuse for the devastating abuse he has mercilessly inflicted on these young girls' lives, who have been so brave in reporting his cruelty", she said.
Feeley is now on the Sex Offender Register for life.
Keith 'Pele' Nathan, Pele's Gym
Keith 'Pele' Nathan, owner of Pele's gym in Manchester, was arrested in June and charged with 19 offenses of indecent assault and gross indecency.
It was reported that the incidents involved three girls, all of whom were aged under 16. These offenses are alleged to have taken place at gyms in Manchester and at sporting events between 1979 and 2003. The victims spoke of how Nathan abused his position of power, becoming a close family friend as well as a respected coach, before grooming and abusing them.
Keith Nathan was found guilty of 17 charges against two girls on June 28th, 2018. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
After the conviction, another victim later came forward. "Seeing those stories, it just made me realise that he's paedophile", she said. As a result, he was found guilty of further four counts of indecent assault on a female under 14 years old on August 24th, 2020. Another 3 years has been added to his prison sentence.
Matthew Kendall, Telford Thai Boxing
Matthew Kendall, owner of Telford Thai Boxing, committed suicide last year after being arrested for an offence against a young female student.
It's reported that Kendall, 39, was found in bed with a 14-year-old girl at a hotel, where he and some of his young fighters were staying for a Muay Thai show in Bolton in October 2016. A receptionist at the hotel alerted police after seeing Kendall take an underage girl to his room. When they arrived, he was arrested on suspicion of grooming and sexual activity with a minor.
Later, he was released on bail pending further inquiry. However, before meaningful progress could be made in the investigation, he shot himself in the head with a shotgun. Just three days after the arrest, his body was found in a Shropshire car park.
'Who Was the Real Matt Kendall?', a blog post written by Carolyn Clayton, describes Kendall as 'sick' and 'a narcissist'. Clayton claims that while her two sons trained at Telford Muay Thai, she was heavily involved in the gym. She wrote that during her time there, there was "lots of talk of his unhealthy relationship [sic] with his vulnerable girl students".
Telford Muay Thai has since been shut down. The victim was awarded damages by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a Ministry of Justice funded scheme to support those who have been victims of crimes for which there are no criminal convictions. As Kendall's death prevented the course of justice from being taken, the CICA compensated her for her traumatic experience.
The victim's mother described how Kendall had also groomed her in order to gain her trust and access to her daughter.
"It is only when you look back you realise that people like this don't just groom children, they groom the parents first. He groomed us. For the first few years she attended at the club I'd always sit and watch for two hours and he'd go above and beyond for the kids..
He then started to say that we didn't need to sit there all through the sessions, and that he'd drop our daughter off at home afterwards.
It was only after he was arrested and all this came out that I started to think back and how she'd be later and later being dropped off back home. I'd ask why they were so late and my daughter would just say they had to stay behind and pack things away, but it was later and later by the time she got home and I'd have to sit up waiting."
– The mother of Matthew Kendall's victim
Robert Sharpley, Leigh Thai Boxing
Robert Sharpley was jailed on December 21st, 2021 for grooming and sexually abusing one of his young students in the 1990s.
The victim, a 14-year-old girl, was one of his students at Leigh Thai Boxing Club (near Bolton), which he has been running since 1985. The court heard how he groomed her for six years by giving her drugs, showing her sexual images, taking her to nightclubs while underage, and making her lie to her parents about spending time with him. He first sexually assaulted her at his house during his 34th birthday party, when he persuaded her to perform a sex act on him. A lawyer representing the victim told Bolton Crown Court that she "wanted to please him" and "was flattered by the attention as it made her feel grown up – although clearly she was still a child". "They later had intercourse and it happened on various other occasions, this was a man who was her Thai boxing teacher sexually exploiting a young under-age girl", he said. The abuse continued until she turned 20.
The victim decided to make a report in 2019 after reading a news article about other Muay Thai instructors who'd abused their students.
Sharpley, now 62, was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to 2 counts of indecent assault.
"She was a young student aged 14 or 15 and she was kissed by you on the lips as part of a grooming process. She was encouraged to attend at your house and was supplied with cannabis before sexual conduct took place. She was effectively vulnerable by virtue of the fact that he was groomed by you in your capacity as a Thai boxing instructor. There was a degree of planning and a degree of grooming and it was a breach of trust at a time when you were her teacher and significantly older than her."
– Sentencing Judge Martin Walsh
Sharpley will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.
Thomas Eccles
Inverness former Thai Boxing instructor Thomas Eccles, 46, was jailed for raping a woman in 2012.
According to reports, Eccles "repeatedly punched his victim before forcing her to perform a series of degrading sex acts on him" before raping her. "The woman told the court that during her ordeal, she cried and asked him to stop. But Eccles ignored her pleas for mercy and continued to abuse her". During the trial, Eccles denied the assault, maintaining that he'd had consensual sex with his victim. However, forensic medical examiner Dr. Milosz Bieniecki described injuries in keeping with the victim's account, including 'bruising to her cheek, neck, arms, back and buttock'.
The website for London Muay Thai gym RukThai Camp lists Eccles as 'Scotland representative'. It was reported by the BBC that he'd also formerly run a Thai restaurant. He was handed a prison sentence of four years and three months, and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Thomas Eccles (right), listed as 'Scotland Representative' of London's RukThai Camp. Source: MuayThai4U.com
Predatory Instructors in Other Martial Arts
Multiple instructors teaching other martial arts in the UK have been arrested on similar offences.
David Prosser
In 2011, David Prosser was jailed for 21 years for the sexual abuse of 21 children. He was a kickboxing instructor at several West London clubs, and preyed on the students he was teaching. He was convicted of charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault against 20 boys and 1 girl. The assaults took place from 1980 to 2000. He had previously been charged with sexually assaulting 2 boys in 1997, but was found not guilty at trial. It wasn't until another victim came forward in 2007 that he was stopped.
Adam Beniston
Adam Beniston was jailed for child sexual offences in 2012. He was charged with 11 counts against two 14-year-old girls he was teaching in Lincolnshire. Just one year prior, he had been named 'Coach of the Year' at the 2011 Lincolnshire Sports Awards. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but served only half. He was jailed again in 2015 after breaching the conditions of his release by joining a kickboxing gym in Nottinghamshire, where he had offered to teach classes.
Curtis Page
Curtis Page, a kickboxing instructor in London, was recently jailed for historical charges of rape and sexual assault against three girls as young as 11 years old.
Page, now 60, was charged with 22 counts in total, including six rapes, 14 indecent assaults, and two counts of sex with a child under the age of 13. He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault in April 2017 and subsequently jailed for four years.
One victim came forward at the age of 42 after seeing a picture of herself aged 11, when Page had first groped her. "I looked at my picture and I was just a little girl. This was abuse. This was wrong", she told reporters. Page raped her for the first time when she was 12 years old, and continued what reporters have called "a sexual relationship" with her for years after that.
During the trial, jurors were told that Page repeatedly raped another girl after she had confided in him that she had previously been abused. Years later, he allegedly held a blade to her throat while raping her, threatening to throw her out of a window if she fought back.
During the trial, the prosecutor described how Page's position of power allowed him to continue the abuse for years. "All of these girls lacked father figures in their lives and looked up to Mr Page as a person of authority. He drove a wedge between them and their families", he said.
Students referred to him as 'Master Page', and at the time of his arrest, he was president of the Great British Martial Arts Association and vice chairman of the British Kickboxing Council. Below, he's pictured with his students at London Predators gym.
Paul Monty
Paul Monty, a kickboxing teacher from Stockton, was convicted of 13 charges of sexual abuse against two of his female students in 2014.
The assaults took place in the 1980s, when the girls were ages 13 and 15. Monty was in his 20s at the time. He was originally jailed for four and a half years, but his sentence was increased to 10 years after an appeal.
Danny Ryland
Danny Ryland, 40, was arrested in 2014 and charged with 19 counts of sexual assault against four of his female students, who were aged between 11 and 16.
The offences were alleged to have taken place from 2009 to 2012 during one-on-one kickboxing sessions at his gym, Harborough Kickboxing Club, which has since closed its doors.
In 2017, he was found not guilty of 11 of those charges, and a jury was unable to agree on the remaining 8. As a result, Ryland was acquitted at Leicester Crown Court.
Paul Drury
In 2015, kickboxing instructor Paul Drury was convicted of three counts of rape against a 12-year-old girl he had been teaching at his gym, Paul Drury's Black Belt Academy in Dawlish.
After his arrest, police found child abuse images on his computer, as well as online chats in which he had boasted about his offences. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Michael Lines
In 2016, Michael Lines was charged with several charges of sexual abuse against young girls, including six counts of sexual activity with a female aged under 16 and one count of causing or inciting a female under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
The offenses were committed against two young girls, aged between 14 and 18, from 2010 to 2015. Lines was 41 at the time of the trial.
Lines ran ECKA Drayton Parslow Karate and Kickboxing Club, where he taught kickboxing, karate and self-defense. He also helped to run MK Kickbox Fit, where he taught fitness bootcamps for women.
He was convicted in 2017 and found guilty in 2018. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Joseph Griffin
Karate instructor Joseph Griffin was handed a life sentence in 2001 after being found guilty of abusing young boys he had been teaching over a 30-year period. Some of his victims were as young as 8 years old.
Andrew Finn
Karate instructor Andrew Finn, 52, was jailed in 2007 for spying on one of his young female students while she changed and washed. The victim was under 13 years of age.
He ran two karate clubs in the North-East of England.
Prior to this sentence, he was due to stand trial for charges of sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity against the same victim. However, the trial was abandoned when he plead guilty to charges of voyeurism and common assault. This negotiation was accepted by his victim and prosecutors, and prevented the young girl from having to give evidence.
These were not his first offences. He also stood trial in 2004 on five charges of indecent assault against a student he was alleged to have taken back to his home. However, he was cleared by a jury.
Finn was handed a six-month jail sentence and a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This meant that he was banned from working with children, and from visiting gyms, community centres and leisure facilities.
Finn's son, 25-year-old Andrew Finn Jr, was also charged after the investigation found that he had downloaded child abuse on his computer. He also taught karate with his father.
He'd downloaded 32 clips and 12 images, half of which came under Category B, the second most serious category defined by law. He was given a six-month suspended sentence by Teeside Court, and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.
Finn Jr's then partner, Sasha Pearce, told reporters how the discovery had impacted her family's lives. Pearce, a black belt in Taekwondo who taught alongside her partner and his father, mentioned how martial arts instructors are in positions of power, which are often abused. "When you put your kids into any of these clubs, you trust the people who are teaching them and you trust the system", she said.
Jaspal Riat
Jaspal Riat, a Karate instructor at the KoshinRyu Academy of Martial Arts in Birmingham, was jailed for 8 years in 2011 after being convicted of 7 charges of sexual activity with a child.
He had preyed on a 13-year-old girl in his Karate classes, who was described as 'particularly vulnerable'. Riat groomed her and began a sexual relationship with her, sometimes tying her up before raping her. The young girl's teacher raised the alarm after she had confided in her, only to be told that the girl was an 'attention seeker', and that authorities were already aware of the situation. The girl later died by suicide at the age of 16.
Henry Cook (also known as Harry Cook)
Northumberland Karate teacher Henry Cook abused five young girls who attended his classes. One of the assaults is reported to have taken place during a lesson on self-defense against sex attackers. Upon his arrest, police discovered a disturbing catalogue of abuse on his computer, totalling 55,0000 images and 600 videos.
He was handed a ten-year prison sentence in June 2012.
Tony Castle
Tony Castle, also known as Tony Boltonwood, taught karate at Stoke Martial Arts Club, as well as several other gyms in England. He was jailed in 2011 for sexually abusing 2 boys he had been teaching. He was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act, one count of sexually assaulting a child, and three counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Colin Stratton
In February 2021, former Karate instructor Colin Stratton was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for 9 counts of indecent assault against young boys he had been teaching, dating back to 1984 and 1992.
Stratton had a long history of sexual abuse of young children. He had previously been sentenced to 6 years in prison in 1997, for raping a boy who was under 16 years old, attempted rape and indecent assault. After his release, we has convicted of possessing indecent images of children. In 2014, he was also jailed for 8 years for the sexual assault of a child between 1989 and 1995. The victim, another young boy who attended Stratton's Karate classes, was just 11 years old when the abuse began.
Stratton will now remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Martin Yankey
Martial arts instructor Martin Yankey was sentenced to prison in July 2021 for grooming, abducting and sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl in England. He was the chief instructor at Aspire Martial Arts in Blackburn.
Over a four-month period, Yankey, then 34, plied the victim with alcohol, as well as so much cocaine that her septum was left damaged and she once lost an entire day due to intoxication. The victim had run away from a children's home, where she was under government care. Yankey reportedly hid her in his loft when police repeatedly visited his house after being alerted by social workers. Eventually, she was found there in a kitchen cupboard.
In court, the victim explained that she didn't realise that the 'relationship' was wrong until she watched a TV show about grooming gangs. Until then, she'd believed that Yankey loved her. After realising the extent of abuse, manipulation and exploitation she'd been subjected to, she was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression. At one point, she attempted to take her own life.
"I feel you have won. You have taken my childhood memories away from me. I questioned why me, I was crying out for help and you abused that. I have little or no trust in society", she said, according to reports.
Yankey was found guilty of 1 count of child abduction, 2 counts of sexual activity with a child, 1 count of possessing an indecent image of a child, and 1 count of supplying class-A drugs. He has been jailed for 13 years, after which he will serve a further 2 years on license and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Jordan McCarthy-Simmonette
Newcastle Karate coach and trainee school teacher Jordan McCarthy-Simmonette was sentenced in April 2022 after being caught with over 100 indecent images of children on his devices.
In October 2019, police received information that the 24-year-old had been communicating online with someone he thought to be a 14-year-old boy. In fact, he'd been talking with another sex offender, who was the subject of a separate police investigation. Police then seized his mobile phone and tablet, on which they discovered a total of 109 Category C images.
He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on 20th April, 2022 and was charged with attempted sexual communication with a child and possession of indecent images of children. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to a 10-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 2 years. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for seven years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
According to reports, McCarthy-Simmonette was immediately removed from his role as a coach, although the name of the gym he was working at was not reported. It is also reported that he had set up his own karate club at the primary school he was working at prior to his arrest.
Mark Mayne
Wales Karate instructor Mark Mayne was put on trial in 2007 for sexually abusing six young girls aged between 10 and 15. He was 40 years old at the time.
He faced a total of 26 charges, 13 of which were for rape. The others included indecency with a child, indecent assault and engaging in sexual activity with children. Mayne had threatened to kill one of his victims if she told anyone about his attacks, and after one became pregnant, he stamped on her stomach and attempted to carry out an at-home abortion using a length of wire.
The abuse came to light when one of the victims eventually told her mother, and Mayne was arrested. Mayne denied all charges, claiming that one of his victims "got fresh with him" and that another had tried to blackmail him.
He was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court for 16 charges against 3 of his victims, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He is a registered sex offender, and is banned for life from working with children.
Gary Lee Goodrum
Gary Lee Goodrum, 38, was jailed in April 2018 for abusing four girls aged between 13 and 16, whom he'd been teaching at his Karate gym, Gary Lee Martial Arts Academy in Fife, Scotland.
The abuse took place between 1999 and 2007. He was arrested after one of his 14-year-old martial arts students spoke out against him, accusing him of sexually assaulting her by backing her up against a wall and grabbing her breasts. He faced 10 charges of indecent assault. Originally, he was also charged with rape, but was cleared after this charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
Goodrum was found guilty of 8 charges. He received a 9-year prison sentence, and will remain on the Sex Offenders register for life. Detective Inspector June Peebles praised his victims for coming forward.
"I want to commend the victims in this case for their bravery and continued cooperation throughout the investigation. Goodrum took advantage of a position of trust to abuse children and, thanks to the courage of the victims, he is unable to exploit this position again.
Detective Inspector June Peebles, Fife Division's Public Protection Unit
Nicholas Tuley
In 2010, Nicholas Tuley was convicted of 13 charges of sexual abuse against four boys he taught at his jiu-jitsu classes. One of the victims was just ten years old.
Judge Heather Lloyd, who presided over the case, stated that Tuley used his "physical strength and emotional hold" as well as a "veneer of respectability" to carry out the abuse, which took place from 1993 to 2007.
The prosecutor added that Tuley's position as a martial arts instructor gave him "an extensive opportunity to identify those likely to be most vulnerable and then ingratiate into their lives and sexually abuse them".
Tuley, 43, was given a prison sentence of ten and a half years. However, it was later reduced to nine years on appeal. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and given a lifetime ban from working with children.
Peter Milner
Jiu-Jitsu instructor Peter Milner was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 after being found guilty of the sexual abuse of 2 young girls. One of the victims was just 5 years old when the abuse began, and this continued until she reached puberty. The abuse took place in Swansea, after which he moved to Shropshire. There, it was found that he had continued teaching martial arts at The Shrewsbury Club up until just 2 days before he began his prison sentence.
After his offences came to light, a victim in Shropshire came forward, and he was charged with a further 7 counts of rape of a child and sexual activity with a child. These offences took place between the years of 2007 and 2014. As a result, Milner's jail sentence was extended to a total of 33 years.
Eric Stokes
In November 2014, he admitted eight counts of historic indecent assault against a girl aged under 16, which took place over a four-year period 20 years prior.
Eric Stokes taught adults' mixed martial arts classes at Holistic Fitness Studios in Wimbledon, in a space he'd rented from the gym since 2007. According to his LinkedIn profile, he claims to have a black belt in MMA.
He was sentenced to a two-year communitty order, which required him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years and be supervised for two years. An appeal for a harsher sentence was later blocked.
According to Holistic Fitness Studios chief instructor Stephen Dixon, Stokes' rental contract was immediately terminated and he was asked to stay away from the premises. Stokes is reported as expressing that he felt the decision was "really unfair". "I have been working and training in martial arts for 20 years", he said. "The job I had was teaching adults and had nothing to do with children".
Stokes' victim praised the police officers who helped bring him to justice after 20 years, and encouraged other survivors to speak out.
"There is a lot of support now for victims of abuse, be strong, don't be afraid to ask for help, it will be the best thing you have ever done. Believe in your truth and never doubt yourself. My healing has only just begun as I continue my rehabilitation into feeling normal again, and I hope I can give courage and strength to at least one person so that some good comes of the abuse I suffered."
Stokes' victim, unnamed
Miscellaneous Martial Arts
The following offenders were reported as 'martial arts' instructors, but the specific martial art they taught or gym where they'd worked was not reported.
Steven Oxborrow
Steven Oxborrow sexually abused three children while working as a martial arts instructor and children's entertainer in Wootton and New Milton.
On April 5th, 2022, 33-year-old Oxborrow was found guilty of five charges of sexual activity with a child under 13, three charges of sexual of a child under 13, two charges of making indecent photographs of a child, one charge of possession of an indecent image of a child and one charge of rape of a child under 13. One of his victims reported being sexually abused during his martial arts classes.
"Oxborrow demonstrated that he was a very dangerous human-being in grooming his victims – and their parents – into a false sense of security as a supposed 'respected' person within the community who would not cause anyone any harm."
Detective Constable Donna Kay from Hampshire Constabulary's Amberstone Unit
Oxborrow was sentenced to 13 and a half years imprisonment, after which he will serve an additional year on license. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Derek Hodder
Brixham martial arts instructor Derek Hodder, known as Ross Hodder, was found guilty of abusing 9 girls in a June 2022 trial. He'd been convicted of 33 charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and indecency with a child. At the time of the trial, he was 65 years old.
The abuse took place over a period of more than 30 years, from 1986. The investigation began in 2018 when a 17-year-old girl he'd been teaching reported that he'd raped her. Following this report, a further eight women came forward.
Many of these girls met Hodder at his martial arts club, where he abused them under the guise of Shiatsu or massage sessions. He was reported to have given them cannabis and gifts, telling them the abuse was 'their secret'. During the trial, he was described as controlling, having had 'a hold' over his victims.
"(Hodder's) work as a martial arts coach gave him access to young children and he exploited this over many years. He showed a clear pattern of abuse, grooming young girls and encouraging them to distance themselves from the adults in their lives."
Lisa Cassidy, district crown prosecutor
In November 2022, Hodder was sentenced to 28 years in prison by Exeter Crown Court.
During the sentencing, investigating officer Sharon Donald described Hodder as "a manipulative predatory paedophile who systematically groomed and abused young girls". "As a sports instructor, he abused his position to satisfy his own sickening sexual desires", she added. Some of the victims read out statements describing the impact of the abuse. "You were supposed to be a positive figure in my life but you took it on yourself to abuse that trust to fulfil your sick and twisted fantasies", one said.
Hodder will serve a minimum of 18 years and 8 months before being eligible for release on license.
For information about how to foster a safe and healthy training environment, how to prevent abusive instructors from entering your gym, and how to respond to reports of sexual assault of harassment, read How to Be an Ally to Women in Muay Thai.
https://undertheropes.com/2017/01/18/sexual-assault-in-gyms/
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text:
At least 12 dead in migrant boat sinking
The boat had around 50 people on board
ATHENS: At least 12 people died Saturday when a boat loaded with asylum seekers sank in the Ionian Sea, the Greek coastguard said.
"So far 12 bodies have been recovered. The search and rescue operation continues," the coastguard said, adding that over 20 people had been found alive.
The boat, with around 50 people on board, took on water near the island of Paxi during an apparent attempt to reach Italy.
There were no immediate details on the identity of those on board.
Six coastguard patrol boats and two navy helicopters were engaged in the continuing rescue effort, authorities said.
Four passing cargo ships were also assisting the operation, the coastguard said.
Thousands of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in small, overloaded boats.
Twenty-two people have died or are still missing in migrant boat sinkings in the Mediterranean just this month, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Another 73 persons were rescued in separate incidents in the Aegean between Friday and Saturday, the Greek coastguard added.
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