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Building cross-cultural ties across the digital divide
Andy Coxall
It took less than a day on our Global Leader Experience (GLE) for the group of UK and Chinese students to call themselves a family; this group of future leaders were able to connect in such a meaningful way that cultural differences were swept aside.
Following President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK, and talk of a 'golden era' in China-UK relations, the importance of building ties between the two countries is a theme we have heard frequently - and passionately - during our time in Beijing and Shanghai. Senior figures from Ministries, Government Committees, business and universities are setting the challenge to our young leaders to connect, engage and take responsibility for the two countries, urging them to find ways of collaborating to tackle the major issues we face.
Running programmes like the GLE that bring together young leaders from two such culturally distinct countries we see huge appetite for this collaboration, but having just spent time at Tencent I'm reminded of the great digital divide between China and the rest of the world. Over 600 million people in China use Tencent's WeChat platform, nearly 900 million use QQ. Talking to the company's Senior Executives, they revealed that only a tiny percentage of WeChat's users are not Chinese. Global understanding of China's digital platforms is shockingly low given their scale, reach and ubiquity across the world's biggest population.
Now we all know of the 'Great Firewall', but leaving that to one side how can we find the common digital space to connect? If we want to build genuine communication and engagement in this ever smaller world, where can people convene? The execs at Tencent couldn't speculate on what this digital convening space could be, but if we are to build meaningful and effective relationships between future and current leaders across the world we need to find a common digital space, and find it fast.
The Global Leader Experience is delivered by Common Purpose Student Experiences in partnership with China Youth Daily, under the patronage of the All-China Youth Federation whose activities reach 300 million young people in China. The programme is sponsored by UnionPay International, the global arm of China UnionPay, who have operations across five continents.
Categories: Blog | Andy Coxall | China | UK | Students
Andy Coxall is Chief Executive of Common Purpose Student Experiences. Andy has an MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. He has travelled extensively to more than 45 countries, and delivered courses in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean and the US.
Are you a leader who keeps up momentum?


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Q: Distance of rainbow from observer I have been reading about rainbows and I know that there is a different rainbow for each observer. Also the rainbow is centred on a line joining the head of a person to his shadow. What does it mean? I suppose that this means that a rainbow has some "thickness"(am I right?). So my question is that although a rainbow cannot be given a distance from a given observer( as it is visible to a given person over a range of distances), what are the factors which determine that range over which a rainbow is most prominent from point of view of given observer.
Thanks

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Selected in 2018
Grades: pre k - 5
School Setting: rural
Student Demographics:
Black/African American: 0%
White/Caucasian: 72.5%
Hispanic: 0%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
Native American: 24%
Other: 3%
Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:17
% Reduced Lunch: 40%
% ELL Learners: 1%
Jennifer Rinaldi
31706 Parks Highway
Willow, AK 99688
Jennifer.Rinaldi@matsuk12.us
Willow Elementary School
Willow, AK
"We welcome community members in at all times, and are grateful for all the support we receive."
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
In conjuction with our PTA and local Lions Club, Willow Elementary hosts numerous activities throughout the year which bring a large number of families into our school. Events include community PTA Pancake Breakfasts, Iditarod breakfasts, monthly skate nights, and a number of Title I events that are supported by our school community including: Game Night & Chili Cook Off, Eggstravagana, Science Fair, and Books and Breakfast.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you've taken to improve it.
Our school culture is one of a strong community. All members are welcomed, and we frequently have many family and community members present in our building throughout a majority of the day. It has been a goal of the current administration to keep this tradition alive and well and continue to support community involvement as much as possible.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Data dialogues are held on a quarterly basis to ensure students are receiving appropriate interventions for their individual needs. Present at these data dialogues are the building administrator, the classroom teacher, and the Tier 3 Interventionist/Resource Teacher. The team collectively works to identify solutions to student academic and behavioral needs, and then discusses scheduling to help support these needs. ESEA funds provide the substitutes needed to allow time to support these conversations.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Willow Elementary School recently became a 1:1 School, meaning that each of our students in grades K-5 has access to their own individual laptop throughout the day. This initiative was originally funded with ESEA Funds, and has been instrumental in allowing students to access electronic resources that they otherwise would not be able to. Some of the programs purchased with ESEA funds and used with our computers are Lexia, V-Math, Aleks, Rocket Math , and Moby Max.
Explain how ESEA federal funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
In addition to the above resources, Willow Elementary uses ESEA funds to hire additional staff to support intervention initiatives. The staff hired include a STAR Tutor to assist with our Kindergarten classroom, and a Tutor Advisor who helps support students in Tier 2 that have additional academic needs. ESEA funds have also been used to promote reading by offering each child a brand new book on their birthday, as well as purchase incentives to encourage excellent school attendance.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
It is imperative for schools to have supportive communities in order to be successful, and support come in a variety of forms. Teachers need to continually provide support to their students, and have access to resources in order to do so. Administrators are critical in providing support for teachers in order to create the most successful environment for student learners. Finally, external support for a school and its community, coming from PTAs, community organizations, and families, is critical for a school to continually perform at its highest potential.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Teachers at Willow Elementary School have received professional development in the following areas: AIMSWeb, Technology Training, PBIS, Capturing Kids' Hearts, CHAMPS, Google Classroom, Journeys, Lexia, Trauma Sensitive and various RTI methods.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
PTA meetings are held monthly on Fridays, and on alternate Fridays the building administrator holds a "Principal Chat" to encourage conversation and involvement from families. Outside of these events, there are community events routinely hosted throughout the month that bring in families and community members so that they fell they are part of the community.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
The staff and students at Willow Elementary are proud to have incredible support from our community and families, which is critical in the success of our school. We welcome community members in at all times, and are grateful for all the support we receive.
What are your school's top two goals for the next year?
Our school continually focuses on improvement, and will be working on:
*Increased academic achievement scores in Math and Language Arts
*Improving overall attendance for all grade levels

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The Underground Workout Manual Is An Effective. At-home Workout Solution For People Of All Fitness Levels Who Want To Lose Fat And Improve Their Body. Video And Written Resources Create A Fun. Engaging Exercise Experience.


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Aggressive DUI Defense – Nevada / California
SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE • EXPERT ADVICE • VIGOROUS DUI DEFENSE
About DUI Defense Attorney E.A. 'BO' Pollard
The Law Offices of E.A. 'Bo' Pollard, Ltd. provides professional legal representation to residents of all states, as well as non-citizens, facing Nevada and California DUI and various criminal charges. With hundreds of DUI cases successfully concluded, Mr. Pollard is an experienced DUI defense attorney who is recognized throughout the legal community as one of the most effective in protecting the rights of defendants.
Bringing 25 years of experience to his cases, Mr. Pollard has served as legal counsel to clients in a variety of practice areas, including: DUI and Criminal Defense, Domestic Relations, Real Estate and Contract Law, Business Litigation, Contract and Statutory Analysis, Workers Compensation and Personal Injury. A skilled negotiator and litigator appearing in Superior, District, Justice, and Municipal Courts in Nevada and California, Mr. Pollard has built strong relationships with prosecutors, law enforcement and judges within the communities he serves which benefit his clients considerably.
Independent of his own firm, Mr. Pollard has previously served as Justice of the Peace, Pro Tempore for the Incline Village-Crystal Bay Justice Court; as Senior Counsel for the Law Offices of Joseph C. Carabino in Newhall, California and the Law Offices of M. Lucia Donahue in Pasadena, California; and prior to that, as Junior Associate to the Law Offices of Black & Reape in Encino, California and as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Arthur L. Alarcon, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Actively involved in the community for decades, Mr. Pollard has provided a substantial amount of pro bono work and legal advice to local organizations.
Northridge, California
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism Conferred 1981
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor Conferred May, 1988
STATE BAR – NEVADA & CALIFORNIA
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Washoe County Bar Association
Incline Village Bar Association, Past President 1999 - 2003
State Bar of Nevada, Family Law Section
Served on Executive Board, Family Law Section, 1998 – 2003
Chairman, Committee to Review Child Support Guidelines in Nevada, 2000
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, CENTRAL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, STATE OF NEVADA
Understanding the Ins and Outs of Blood Alcohol Testing
State Bar of Nevada, Board of Continuing Legal Education
Rotary International, Rotary Club of Incline Village, Past President 2003 – 2004
Optimists International, Optimist Club of Incline Village, Past President 2001
Reno Rodeo Association, since 1997
E Clampus Vitus, an Historical Organization / Chief Truckee Chapter #3691
Noble Grand Humbug 2000 & 2009
Sigma Nu Fraternity, Iota Upsilon Chapter
Past Member:
Lions Club, Incline Village, NV
ELKS #2379, Santa Clarita, CA
Crystal Bay Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Incline Village, NV
100 North Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501
775.884.9000 • bo@bopollard.com
Licensed in Nevada and California.
© The Law Office of E.A. 'Bo' Pollard. All Rights Reserved. This website is designed for general information only.
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How much do you love your trees? Most people appreciate that trees add to the curb appeal of a home and provide a nice view outside, but that's just the beginning of the many benefits trees provide. Read on to learn some facts that will make you love your trees more than ever before–and show them some love with a spring tree inspection and professional tree trimming from our Gainesville tree company.
Trees can help you save money on your energy bill. Not only do they cast shade, blocking sunlight from heating up your home during those hot Florida summers, but they also cool the air when water evaporates from the surfaces of their leaves. This chemical process removes heat energy from the air, acting as a natural air conditioner. In fact, the evaporation process from just 1 tree can cool the surrounding air as much as 10 single room air conditioners running for 20 hours per day.
Trees can serve as a privacy screen, shielding your yard and home from neighbors to create a sense of restful retreat from the outside world. They also reduce glare and filter noise. Depending on the placement, a tree can actually reduce noise pollution by up to 40%.
Trees minimize "heat load"–the amount of heat that builds up during the day in hard-scaped surfaces like driveways and patios. When trees shade these hard surfaces, they retain less heat and the overall local temperature is lower.
Trees serve as nature's air filters, trapping pollen, dust, and even smoke. The more trees around, the cleaner the air will be!
Trees help us relax. Studies have shown a wide range of psychological benefits to humans from hanging out with or even just looking at trees, from relaxing stressed out students, to lowering blood pressure, to helping patients recover more quickly from surgery.
Ready to give your trees some TLC? Contact Mr. Tree and Lawn Service today for a free estimate on tree services in Gainesville, Newberry, and Alachua, Florida.


megan edelman photography: .three little hens.
I always love seeing you little hens, they are such beauties! Congrats on your new place, I hope it is feeling homey and you are feeling settled. Miss you Megan!


If you're emailing someone that doesn't already know you, getting your emails read can be an uphill battle. To make your message stand out, don't be afraid to try getting a little weird with the subject line.
Like the email subject line I shared in the opening, where it said, "Don't f*** with me." That's pretty weird and it gets your attention. It's out of the ordinary... And, of course, you can make up an unusual statement or a word.
Of course, being weird is a bit like asking someone out on a date: confidence and style matters. If you awkwardly throw profanity into a subject line, then spend your first paragraph awkwardly explaining why you tricked them, you'll lose interest fast. The point isn't to be weird or provocative for it's own sake. Rather, allow yourself the freedom to step outside of a carbon copy box. If your message is likely to get ignored anyway, you may as well let some of your natural creativity show through.


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You are here: Home / News / Exclusive: Apple's News, TV Subscriptions & Apple Credit Card detailed
Exclusive: Apple's News, TV Subscriptions & Apple Credit Card detailed
By Binyamin Goldman 0 comments Last updated March 15, 2019
Apple is preparing to launch its first two offerings in its bid to increase services revenue as the iPhone matures. The two new services, a news subscription service, and an original content service will both be unveiled at an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on March 25.
Apple's news service follows the companies acquisition of Texture, a magazine subscription service, late last year. Unlike Texture, which focused on print publications, Apple has been negotiating to include mainstream news organizations like the Wall Street Journal. These negotiations have been highly controversial, with Apple requesting 50% of revenue on the new service.
Apple's 2019 iPhone lineup: Here's what we know
Transition to ARM: An inside look at the history and future of the Mac
The Apple streaming service has similarly faced controversy. Apple has been producing content for the new streaming service for at least three years and originally planned to launch it on multiple earlier dates. Additional, many of the creatives working on content have felt Apple executives have been over-bearing in their creative input, with the most extreme incident being Tim Cook's decision to cancel an already complete bio-series about Dr. Dre, finding it too racy for Apple's brand.
Despite the upcoming announcement and preview of the streaming service at the March event, Apple is not planning on releasing the streaming service until this summer.
Apple News Subscription changes coming on March 25th
Apple News detailed
Apple's TV streaming service detailed
The Apple Pay Card
Subscription Bundles, iPads, and AirPods 2
Apple's News service will live within the current 'Apple News' app and will launch this April. In addition to many of the magazine's found in Texture, it will also include content from traditional print media, including Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.
Similar to the Apple Music app, users will be prompted to use the new subscription service upon launching the News app on any device in a supported area, with the option to immediately begin a free trial.
The service will cost $9.99 a month, and will eventually be bundled in an 'all-in' subscription package that Apple plans to offer by the end of the year at a discounted rate. There will presumably be a family option, similar to Apple Music.
While the Wall Street Journal did report Apple was still in negotiations with The Washington Post and New York Times over the companies 50% fee, this may have been a negotiation tactic, according to a source. While it is unclear if the services will be available at launch, Apple views both of them a necessity in the package.
Source: The Independent
Apple will finally announce its long-awaited streaming service on March 25. The service will not launch until later this year, but Apple plans to begin previewing content for free within the companies 'TV' app leading up to the launch.
The streaming service will cost $9.99 a month, according to a source, and will include both original content and content from third parties – though it is unclear which third parties are involved.
The service's original content is being made in conjunction with a number of third-party sources and creators, including 21st Century Fox, Sony, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven Spielberg.
While Apple has over 30 projects in development, only a handful of these are completed, but more of them should be ready by launch.
Apple's streaming service will live within a redesigned version of the TV app, which will likely arrive this summer. Similar to Amazon's Prime Video service, Apple is working on or has made deals with a number of streaming partners, including HBO and Starz, to integrate their content within the TV app. While users can currently search for this content within the app, they are pushed into the respective service's app to begin content playback.
Earlier in the year, Apple announced deals with a number of television manufacturers to include AirPlay compatibility in 2019 models, as well as a deal with Samsung in particular to offer iTunes. These deals were actually part of deals to include the new streaming service on third-party devices, according to a source. Apple is also expected to offer support on Roku and Amazon Fire devices, according to a source.
Source: The Mercury News
Apple is planning to unveil a new credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs that is deeply integrated with Apple Pay, according to multiple sources. The card will be branded under the 'Apple Pay' branding, according to a source. The card can be completely managed through the 'Wallet' app found on the iPhone and will offer rewards for both purchases from Apple and from third-parties. The card will also specifically incentivize using Apple Pay for payments, according to a source.
The partnership with Goldman Sachs goes beyond the Apple Pay card program. In the US, Apple is planning to revitalize the iPhone Upgrade Program(iUP) with new offers and a reworked and easier to manage the loan system.
Currently, the iUP program allows users to purchase an iPhone and Apple Care for the cumulative cost divided by 24 months (through an interest-free loan from Citizens bank), and after 12 months trade in their current phone for a new one. Apple intends to heavily promote the program and offer discounts for users, as well as special offers for the companies new services and Apple Music.
While the Pay Card is expected to be unveiled on March 25, it is unclear if the new loan program will begin now or later this year.
Apple is all set for the March 25th event.
Apple's March 25 event is expected to entirely focus on the new services and financial features, despite rampant rumors of updates to the iPad, iPad mini, and AirPods 2. Apple is expected to hold most or all of these devices until the summer, likely to be unveiled at the companies World Wide Developer Conference. Alternatively, updated iPads may be relegated to a press release at some point in the near future, however, Apple plans on holding a media event to introduce AirPods 2 once they are ready.
Apple's pivot to services has not been a secret, and CEO Tim Cook has bet heavily on its importance to the companies future. In addition to the services mentioned above, Apple is expected to offer a bundle of the TV, news, and Apple Music services at a discounted rate, as well as family plans. The company also hopes to bundle these services with the iPhone Upgrade Program at some point in the future.
In addition to these upcoming services, Apple is working on a gaming subscription service for iOS that will allow users access to a variety of high-quality games without any in-app purchases for some time in 2019 or 2020.
Binyamin Goldman
Binyamin has been writing about Apple and the tech sector as a whole for over five years.
His work has been featured on Forbes, MacWorld, Giga, MacLife, and more.
Additionally, Goldman is the Founder of BZG, a software development company focusing on Apple devices.
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Writing Lives
Collaborative Research Project on Working-Class Autobiography
Introducing Our Autobiographers
Biographical Entries
Purpose & Audience
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Habits, Culture & Belief
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Fun and Festivities
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Researching Writing Lives
Joe Ayre (b.1910) Biographical Entry
Luke Beighton February 15, 2018 Biographical Entries
2:29 AYRE, Joe, 'The Socialist', MS, pp.178 (c.43,250 words). BruneI University Library.
Born 9 March 1910 in Liverpool. Father a dock labourer. 4th son. 4 sisters. Mother died of consumption in 1918. Attended St. Emmanuel's Church School (from age 6) and Sunday School. Regularly played truant. Ran away from home with a brother in 1919, living on what could be begged or stolen. Sent to a Home for Fatherless and Destitute Children in 1920, where he remained for 3 years. Married, 1939, with 1 son and 1 daughter. Sent to Canada in 1923; returned to Liverpool in 1936 and later lived in Grimsby, London, Northolt, and Harrow. Living in Canada in 1985.
Helped to run a market stall with his brother on Saturdays (1919); hawked firewood from door to door; worked in Canada as a farm boy, in an assembly plant, for a coal and wood merchant, and as a merchant seaman; in England (from 1936) as a farm labourer and welder; called up to join the Merchant Navy Reserve Pool during World War II.
Member of the Band of Hope; active in the National Unemployed Workers' Movement; member of the National Union of Agricultural Workers.
The opening section sets the author's childhood experiences of hardship and struggle in the context of post-war disillusionment, unemployment and industrial confrontation. Highly interesting comments are provided on the impact of World War I; rationing; anti-Chinese feeling; the home; pawnbroking; schooling; dress; the Shop Stewards' movement, victimisation and the Tom Mann Fund; evictions; slum housing; the police strike of 1919; relationship with stepmother ('cold hostility'); charity. A particularly good account is given of his time in a Children's Home (discipline, diet, routine), where he was prepared for emigration to the Colonies to provide farmers with cheap labour. The next section deals with his life as an immigrant in Canada from 1923, with detail of his experiences as a farm labourer and hobo during the Depression, riding the freight trains. He returned to England in 1936, becoming actively involved in the NUWM and later working as a farm labourer and welder. The memoirs conclude with stories of sailing with Merchant Navy convoys during World War II.
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World View : The Outer Limits? : Six geographers brainstorm the borders of the 21st Century. The changes may be among the most radical ever.
By ROBIN WRIGHT
Imagine a world in which Scotland gains independence from Britain and Italy divides in half. Russia and China both fragment into a dizzying array of new states, while Canada disappears altogether. Along the way, a host of new states--including Samiland, Pushtunistan, and Zululand--are born.
And those are only a few of the possibilities that a panel of eminent political geographers predicted for the next decade as the world map is redrawn. The scope of coming changes in the world's frontiers will be among the most profound in history, they said. And the pace may set a record.
"What we're dealing with is the re-creation of countries," said William B. Wood, the State Department's chief geographer.
Over the next 25 to 30 years, the world roster may increase by 50% or more. "There'll be more than 300 countries," predicted Saul B. Cohen, past president of the Assn. of American Geographers.
Some of the changes these geographers foresee may seem logical probabilities while others appear outlandish conjectures. But they are made by men whose profession is studying the relationship of physical geography and national borders to political culture, sociology and history.
Moreover, in context, their forecasts for the turn of the century are hardly out of line. Even before the Barcelona Games were over and the 172 teams that competed there headed for home, for example, Olympic planners had started preparing for more than 200 participating states at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Only about 60 of the world's 190 current states were around at the turn of this century, and most have become independent just since 1944. The United Nations has admitted 22 new member countries in just the last 20 months.
The political geographers don't agree on all the details of the future world map--the charts on these pages are composites based on the predictions of half a dozen experts. (See note on Page 5.)
But they do agree that recharting the globe will be the byproduct of several concurrent trends, ranging from the powerful pull of ethnicity and the spread of democracy to changes in the very concept of a modern state.
First, some borders will be altered as nations break away from traditional states, as has happened painfully in Yugoslavia over the past year and peacefully in Czechoslovakia this year.
"Borders of present countries or so-called natural boundaries will increasingly lose their importance when they do not correspond to well-recognized linguistic and territorial identities," said Fabrizio Eva, an Italian geographer.
Second, other new countries will be added as the last colonies become independent countries--the dominant trend during the second half of the 20th Century and evident most recently when the Soviet empire's collapse spawned 15 new states.
"We are now in a major new phase of demands for 'self-determination'--demands which, if all are acceded to, will result in significant changes to the world's political map at both state and sub-state levels," said David B. Knight, chairman of a special Commission on the World Political Map of the International Geographical Union (IGU).
On a third and more sweeping level, the new lines on a map will be produced by fundamental changes in the role of states, largely in response to economic and social pressures and political alienation.
Commented George Demko, a geographer and director of the Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College, "The current changes in the political and economic geography of the world are as significant as what the world went through after the Treaty of Westphalia," the 1648 peace accord ending Europe's Thirty Years War and a turning point in the rise of modern states.
"As we're challenging the traditional ideas of state sovereignty, globalizing economies and communications, and breaking up the last empires, the geography of the world is unhooking old connections and hooking up new ones. Along with borders, the dynamics and functions of states will change too."
While much of the first two phases in the global reconfiguration may take place within the next decade, this part of the process is likely to last well into the 21st Century, the geographers said.
And the countries that emerge from the process may bear little resemblance to today's states. For example, "Many states won't have armies, only police. And some (new) states will allow dual citizenship with former host countries, as in the Baltics with the Russian population, or ethnic groups with their place of origin," Cohen said.
A stratified system of governance and power is likely to replace traditional states. "At the top will be a stronger United Nations or an equivalent body responsible for peace, environment and other global issues," explained Julian Minghi, U.S. representative to the IGU Commission on the World Political Map.
"The second tier will be regional groupings, like the European Community, but also including others dealing with issues like trade, migration and possibly even collective security arrangements at the regional level. That may include joint parliaments."
Already, at least 17 regional blocs--from Latin America's Southern Cone Common Market to Central Asia's Economic Cooperation Organization--are reshaping the globe. The latest is the new continental pact forming the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), completed earlier this month among the United States, Canada and Mexico and awaiting confirmation by those countries' legislatures.
The lowest level will be made up of the smaller states that emerge from this round of boundary realignments--the "Slovenias, Scotlands and Bretons, which will each have more autonomy or independence. And these governments will be closer to people where it counts on issues of culture, education, languages."
"It's a bit radical," Minghi conceded. "But it's what we're evolving toward."
All the major trends contributing to a new world map have one important common denominator: They reflect a new push toward devolution, or the transfer of political power from traditional states to smaller units--a shift encouraged by such factors as the spread of democracy, population pressures, communications and technology innovations, and political alienation.
"People want empowerment at the local level. When they feel their lives are being run by others far away who can't identify with them, they retreat into regionalism and local identities to counter the dehumanizing effect," Knight said.
To avoid being marginalized in traditional states, for example, communities are increasingly likely to seek smaller alternatives that are more familiar, convenient and accountable to them, a trend more important in larger or densely populated states. The possibilities range from Canada's Quebec to Iraq's Kurdistan.
Technology also facilitates fragmentation by opening more options for smaller nations.
"It's like a circuit board. You can now move from one point to another without having to go through all the middle points. The world's going to be like that, which means the old ideas of hierarchy and hegemony will become obsolete," Cohen said.
"Nations of all sizes, shapes and manners will be able to reach out to other nations of all sizes, shapes and manners without having to ask for permission from larger powers or without having to go through intermediaries."
Even the emergence of regional blocs encourages the creation of smaller states by offering similar economic, political or strategic protection as the original nation state. Scotland could afford to break from Britain, for example, because it is a member of the European Community.
The accumulative impact of these trends is expected to touch every corner of the globe. Among just a few of the geographers' predictions:
* Australia breaks up into four pieces, giving birth to new states like "Swanland," named after the river, in the west, and "Aboland," after the aborigines, in the north.
* In Europe, the long-rebellious Basque and Catalan regions formally leave Spain. Brittany splits from France. Belgium disintegrates into the new states of Wallonia and Flanders. And Samiland is carved from the northern Lapp-populated areas of Norway, Sweden and Finland, then joins the northern regions of Canada and Russia in the new Circumpolar Arctic Confederation.
* In Russia, new states emerge in the Far East, the Urals, and East and West Siberia; assorted small ethnic enclaves such as Tatarstan and Dagestan gain independence, and places like Kaliningrad, Tuva and Buryat become virtually independent autonomous zones.
* In Asia, India loses Punjab and part of Kashmir. Afghanistan breaks into at least three ethnic pieces. The Philippines loses Muslim-dominated Mindanao. And a large part of Kazakhstan secedes to join Russia.
* In China, despite the longstanding dominance of the Han Chinese, Tibet and Xinjiang move out on their own. Taiwan is absorbed, while Inner Mongolia merges with independent Mongolia. Three new areas, Inner, North and Southeast China, gain autonomy, while developed Guangdong and Shanghai become quasi-independent economic hubs more like present-day Hong Kong than Beijing.
* In Africa, Ethiopia loses northern Eritrea and Tigre to secession and southern Ogaden to Somalia, while Kasai and mineral-rich Katanga secede from Zaire. Sudan splits into two. And South Africa splits into three pieces, creating "Azania" and "Zululand" in the process.
* In the Americas, Brazil breaks up into three autonomous pieces; Canada, as it has been known, disappears altogether; Mexico separates into four or more distinct pieces, and over time, even the United States takes on different form.
The dimensions of change are almost certain to provoke an international debate over the next decade on a basic issue:
Should the world's current powers give priority to the right of self-determination, thereby potentially threatening the current configuration of states? Or should they be committed to preserving territorial integrity--potentially at the expense of individual rights?
The United States was founded on the principle of self-determination, but since the onset of global change in 1989 Washington has supported territorial integrity in both Yugoslavia and Iraq--largely due to fears of fragmentation and its rippling effect both in the Balkans and in the Persian Gulf.
"The tendency now and in the future will be to preserve the status quo," said the State Department's Wood. "The United Nations is the best example. Its member states are recognized governments with control over defined space."
But experts at this month's 27th International Geographical Congress in Washington suggested self-determination will often prevail.
More than ever before, "political movements are inclined toward a subdivision within states," said Eva, the Italian geographer.
Since up to a third of the world's current states face border challenges either from neighboring nations or from minorities at home, geographers are already urging steps to prevent repetitions of the bloody conflict in what used to be Yugoslavia.
"What we will need is a U.N. commission on border modification to adjudicate and initiate negotiations before fighting erupts," said H.J. de Blij of Georgetown University.
In the longer term, the political geographers think the importance of borders will actually wane, as economic and technological interdependence span not only states, but continents.
"The notion of boundaries as we've known them, in terms of absolute sovereignty and legalities, will in time dwindle," Minghi said.
In the meantime, however, the number of states will grow.
"For the next decade, we cannot stop this trend," said Eva. "Afterward, the wish for cooperation will prevail. I am a pessimist for the next decade, but I'm optimistic over the long term."
THE GEOGRAPHERS
The maps of the world in the year 2000 presented here and on the cover are compilations of separate maps drawn by six of North America's most noted political geographers. On many new borders they agree; on others they diverge. The participants:
* William B. Wood, chief geographer, U.S. State Department
* Lee Schwartz, geographer, U.S. State Department
* David B. Knight, chairman of International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on the World Political Map
* H. J. de Blij, professor, Foreign Service Institute, Georgetown University
* George Demko, director of Rockefeller Center, Dartmouth College
* Stanley D. Brunn, member of IGU Commission on the World Political Map, and professor, University of Kentucky
21st-Century Asia? China will develop several autonomous regions and absorb Taiwan, the two Koreas will reunite and ethnic groups will form alliances across national borders in this view of the future.
Regions splitting away from one country and becoming part of another:
A. Northern Kazakhstan becomes part of Russia
B. Northwestern tip of Tajikistan and part of northern Afghanistan become part of Uzbekistan
C. Northeastern part of Afghanistan joins Tajikistan
D. Pushtuns of southeastern Afghanistan join their ethnic brethrn in Pakistan, forming newcountry of Pushtunistan
E. Muslims in northern Kashmir gain self-rule and join their clansmen in Pakistan
H. The Chinese region of Inner Mongolia joins independent Mongolia
P. Sarawak becomes part of Indonesia
Cities or regions becoming autonomous:
G. China's Xinjiang province
I. Chinese region of Tibet
J. Northeastern China
L. Shanghai
N. Southeast China
X. Guangdong
New state:
F. India's Punjab state gains greater autonomy and moves toward unification with the Pakistani state of the same name in a "Greater Punjab"
Countries disappearing:
O. Papua New Guinea is absorbed into Indonesia
U. Bhutan becomes part of India
Countries dividing:
Q. Cambodia divides along Mekong River into East Cambodia and West Cambodia R, S & T. Myanmar divides into three separate entities - East Burma (R), Rangoon (S) and West Burma (T)
V. Northern Sri Lanka becomes separate Tamil homeland
W. Mindinao breaks off from Philippines


Atelier Clerici is an independent event and exhibition project at the centre of the Fuorisalone 2015. Situated in one of Milan's most distinguished palazzi, Palazzo Clerici, it will bring together designers, companies and institutions experimenting with new forms of living and making. In 2015, the historic Palazzo Clerici will be transformed, for the second time, into a point of intense activity, speculation and discussion around future conditions of living. A diverse array of installations, micro-exhibitions and events organised by some of Europe's most renowned designers and institutions will animate the palazzo each day for the duration of the Salone.
PROOFFLab Magazine presents: essayists versus designers. PROOFFLab is the laboratory of PROOFF, which stands for PROgressive OFFice, is an innovation platform for the development of ideas and special products for a communal, flexible work landscape. Directors Jurgen Bey and Rianne Makkink regularly select study subjects related to work, that form the basis for product development by our Studio Makkink & Bey team of designers. As a team, we theorize, outline and model design specials that fit into the domain of work.
MANIERA presents Maniera Series and Maniera Interludes by Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen, Studio Anne Holtrop, Christoph Hefti, Richard Venlet and 6a architects. Maniera commissions architects and artists to develop both new and unique pieces of furniture. As architects often have a close relationship with the visual arts and artists are often inspired by the spatial environment, MANIERA wants to give them the challenge and opportunity of designing original furniture objects. The idea behind this is to see how they create something new in a limited edition in an original and creative way.
Unfold; Of Instruments and Archetypes. A range of wireless digital measuring instruments; a calliper, measuring tape and protractor. Measurements of physical objects are transferred in realtime to an on-screen digital 3d model on which it needs to fit. Through this project, measuring becomes something without numbers, but with accurate precision; measuring becomes making. These instruments can then be used in an application where archetypical, parametric objects can be customised with exact measurements and materialised by digital production techniques such as 3D printing.
Space Caviar. Atelier Clerici is jointly organised by Space Caviar and Z33. RAM House, a collaboration between Space Caviar and Prokoss, questions the default settings on our relationship with technology and allows the house to adopt different permeabilities to electromagnetic radiation, thus controlling the entry and exit of WiFi, cellular signals, and other radio waves.
This entry was posted in interior/intérieur and tagged atelierclerici, design, Fuorisalone, Fuorisalone 2015, jessehoward, MacGuffin, magazine, milan design week 2015, Minale-Maeda, opendesk, Palazzo Clerici, PalazzoClerici, proofflab, Salone del Mobile 2015, Vincent Tarisien by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam. Bookmark the permalink.


Stormwater in an Evans building can soak into the lower section of drywall causing non-salvageable degradation. SERVPRO technicians can minimize the required demolition with a "flood cut." This allows for a simplified, less expensive, and faster restoration. Count on us.
Your Augusta home is in good hands after a fire with help from our experts. Our crew is ready 24/7 to respond to your fire damage disaster. We have the certified personnel, advanced training, experience, and equipment to restore your home to pre-damage condition.
Not all water damaging events are significant in the Augusta area of GA. SERVPRO takes pride in salvaging a wet carpet as we work hard to restore and not replace interior materials. We can lift from the tack boards and "float the carpet" to quickly dry it before there is any delamination necessitating a discarding. This also preserves the baseboard and the subfloor.
Philip awarding Nicole with employee of the quarter!!


I just want to do a quick post today, I just happened to come across this unused tag while cleaning out my scrap paper box and thought I would finish it. Well lo and behold Emma was having a tag challenge, so perfect timing!! I don't know about you, but I always have a hard time decorating tags, it's something new to me, can I just say it's time to get pinning!!!
Well anyway this is what I came up with, I hope you enjoy it!
Gorgeous, Melissa! Love the colors you used.
This is so super cute! Great tag.
I'm not a 'tagger' either, and I'm impressed with what you achieved on this one. It's a beauty and how wonderful you found just the right challenge to enter with it. Love your Christmas stocking and the non-traditional colors you chose too. Great tag, and you look like a tag pro to me!!! Thanks for visiting my blog, and taking time to leave a sweet comment. Much appreciate. Hugs.
This is adorable! I love the color combo, so pretty and girly!
What a gorgeous tag Melissa! I am loving the color combination and the stocking is adorable!
Your tag sure is lovely! So glad you found a challenge for it too!


Opinion: October 23, 2017 at 12:00a.m.
The shots become a controversial topic every year leading ourselves to ask questions such as: How beneficial are these flu shots? Are we really helping ourselves or hurting our immune systems by not allowing our bodies to build a tolerance?
Various health-care fields and nursing schools require a seasonal influenza vaccine in order to prevent patients from becoming more ill and for a worker's own personal protection, but are we really protecting ourselves and others when medical personnel walk onto that hospital floor or in that doctor's office?
According to the CDC, there are three different types of influenzas labeled A, B, C. The seasonal flu vaccine protects mostly against strands A and B. Scientists every flu season try to predict which strands they feel will be most popular during the autumn and winter months and that is how a vaccine is created.
But who is to say that even if we get vaccinated we won't contract another strand of the flu that was not covered under the original vaccine as the months progress? The virus can take on different forms that scientists call an "antigenic drift." This happens when genes of the influenza change as the virus replicates overtime.
Instead of having our insurance companies billed for a shot that may or may not work due to an ever-changing virus, health- care workers and community members should be allowed to have the choice to choose whether or not it is right for them.
Marissa DeLuca is a student in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University.
Pricey Narcan treatments: A catch-22 for taxpayers?
As a student nurse working part-time as a pharmacy technician, I've gained a lot of insight into the lives of average, working people affected by rising health-care costs – specifically, co-pays for prescription medication. While working behind the pharmacy counter, I've seen many patients stunned when they are asked to pay double the price for a prescription they've been receiving for years.
One of the most recent infamous examples of this is EpiPen, with the sticker price soaring from $94 to more than $600 for two pens. The same is true for another life-saving drug with the brand name Evzio – also known as Narcan or naloxone.
Many families trying to help a loved one now come into the pharmacy to purchase vials of naloxone instead of paying the outrageous $4,500 cost for two doses of Evzio.
But now, police departments and first responders across the country are required to carry Narcan kits, which include the syringe, vial and nasal spray applicators. These methods are slower than the Evzio auto- injector but are more affordable.
Anyone in a human-service occupation would agree that the priority should be to save lives no matter what the cost, even if taxpayers are bearing the brunt of it. But with every use of Narcan, the likelihood of the victim finding treatment and getting clean for good is still unknown. And unfortunately, it's not uncommon for the victim to be upset about being brought back because of the sudden and severe withdrawal symptoms they experience, which usually drive them to spend money on another fix.
I'm torn with this situation and the injustices on both sides. In a perfect world, I would love to see every overdose victim get a second chance and use resources to seek immediate treatment after their first injection of Narcan, and I want to see pharmaceutical companies fight to keep prices down rather than exploiting people who are sick for monetary gain.
However, with the public covering the cost of Narcan injections, struggling families trying to keep their loved ones alive with overpriced medication, and the drug abusers walking away from thousands of dollars of combined medical resources with no strings attached, you have to wonder: Where will this stop?
Valerie Jeffery is a student in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University.
In today's unbelieve- able times, I'm trying to think about nice things our villages, towns and cities might offer their residents for enjoyment of the season.
On Oct. 31, the event is Halloween. Let's have some good, old-fashioned fun. It could be stretched out to a three- or four-day event.
Let's say Oct. 27 at a school auditorium, we have a storyteller telling ghost stories with maybe a scary movie or play. Refreshments could be provided for a fee to help sponsor the event for the community.
On Oct. 28, a Halloween dance indoors or outside, say a tennis court, with supervision, could take place. The people could come dressed in costumes with the DJ dressed as well and an unmasking at the end. For music, you could use songs like "The Monster Mash" with Boris Karloff and other songs of the season.
Oct. 31, Halloween night, at dusk, a Headless Horseman with an illuminated jack 'o lantern could ride on a horse through town or parade field, chasing Ichabod Crane. Maybe light a bonfire, with a judging contest for the best costume of the children; again, refreshments for a fee.
One of the nights, you could have door-to-door trick or treat. I think this would be fun for all and a time to remember as we look back in years to come. Happy Halloween to all!
I work at a physician's office. While I am not required to wear a uniform at work, I am expected to dress and act appropriately while I'm there. If I were to show up for work wearing a shirt that has controversial words/graphics that represent my personal thoughts and feelings, I would most certainly be asked not to wear that while I was on the clock. If I refused, I would probably be told to leave, possibly fired.
I state this because when Colin Kaepernick started sitting then taking a knee during the national anthem at his NFL team's games, he was on the clock. He should not have been allowed to continue that considering the NFL does have a specific policy that recommends players to stand during the national anthem.
If he wanted to call attention to police brutality against black males, he should have done some research and found out where in the U.S.A. there is a preponderance of this problem. Then, he should have gone on his own time and dime to these cities and used his celebrity to speak out about this during these cities' public meetings that allow for the public to make comments.
What he's done with his knee bending (which, ironically, is a sign of reverence for many religions) during the national anthem has just caused more division for an entirely different reason among a lot of people across the entire county. But he's done nothing to start the dialogue with local police departments regarding his original issue.
Since Mr. Kaepernick is unemployed as I write this letter, I encourage him to do something more productive about his cause, and do it in a respectful and intelligent manner.
Factual information, coupled with a passionate delivery, is a powerful force.
October 19, 2007 2 a.m.


ive posted this list on FF Forums as well. would be interested in some ideas for other squads that include a shuttle and at least 2 bombers in the same squad.
I guess the big question here is whether Heavy Laser Cannon is worth it on the shuttle. Its poor movement dial will make it somewhat vulnerable to enemy ships approaching from behind it. After the first few turns it will need to reposition for more attacks with the HLC.
I found HLC+Shuttle to be pretty decent. Because of your 0 maneuver, you've got a good chance of firing it twice in the initial pass - once when you get in range, and the turn after when you perform the 0.
This combo works even better with a weapons engineer to ensure you have target locks for both attacks.
I could see this working really well with a nice alpha strike. As soon as you get within range 3, take that zero maneuver and still be ready for another shot while they are busy trying to deal with all those missiles coming at them.
The only reason I would drop HLC is to get some armament on Jonus. Or maybe replace it with an ION so you can tag a guy and know where he's going. That would help out making the Anti-Persuit Lasers more effective or setting up for a key missile shot. But if you plan on having him out front for action denial and APL hits so your Bombers can release their payload, I would get rid of HLC as they wont be effective at that close range.
I haven't seen much success with multiple bombers in our group. My last attempt with a bomber was a Jendon piloted Shuttle with HLC, Rhymer piloting a bomber with clusters and regular proton, then Howlrunner with Swarm tactics to bring Jendon's initiative up. This worked really well.
Has anyone had success with running two (or more) of them?
He's done well with them.
I think the HLC option is probably better, BUT there's something to be said for the potential to use Vader twice a turn AND probably land a hit on the attack also. And using Vader shouldn't be too worrisome since the shuttle is unlikely to be the main target for your opponent. I like the idea of your shuttle getting an HLC reroll with Jonus, but I suspect that you'll end up finding it very difficult to keep the shuttle in range and still keep your bombers maneuverable.
Nick won again last night with a 100pt build with 4 bombers. Also, I won a 100 pt game last night with 2 bombers as well.
I highly recommend getting Anti-Pursuant Lasers on any shuttle. I played a Shuttle + 4 TIEs, and it came down to just the shuttle with full health (and no shields), and a 1 health-remaining A-Wing. The shuttles maneuver dial is so limited, I could never bring the shuttle around to get that A-Wing into my sights. I was able to occasionally have him bump me, and had I brought APLs (which I didn't), I may have won that battle. The A-Wing eventually chipped away at the shuttle and won.
hmm, im starting to think the shuttle with HLC is too fragile and not worth the points. i mean versus another bomber squad they will just target ur shuttle. more manouverable ships will fly circles around it.
Well of course 1 on 1 they have a great disadvantage. You have to have some good wingmen to keep them from sitting behind your shuttle.
I've been tossing around a Shuttle+HLC+Gunner+Vader build. Just need something good to go with it keep the heat off of him.
I did shuttle+HLC+Vader, bomber with clusters and assaults, howlrunner with swarm tactics and won. The shuttle used the hlc quite a few times.
Jonus is going to make those HLC hits hurt! And in the event they don't take this ship down. Sacrifice 2 hits for the kill...worth it...maybe? We'll see when I get a chance to play this. Against a low ship count squad I think it would be huge. Against a "swarm" style squad. Maybe less so.
I rarely try to match up my squad to a specific type of opponent squad. Rather, I try to get a nice, well rounded one that plays to my strengths (i.e. how I think and maneuver).
That's 35 pts for a damage soaker. Kagi's ability is quite nice to keep more fragile TIEs alive longer. And the Sensor Jammer is very handy since it's usable on every attack. I also would not worry a cannon unless you've got the extra points. The Shuttles maneuvers are so limited, it's hard to get them into position, so most offensive capabilities are lost. I'd rather put Darth Vader in the shuttle instead of HLC. And with APLs, it is easy for the shuttle to get in the way of enemy ships, and so it can score some damage.
I think that one of the tricks to a multiple bomber group is that they are loaded out more or less the same.
There is no clear "priority" target.


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« Mahoney & Peck Live (MP3)
CDM & The Verge on Disquiet.com Projects »
Disquiet Junto / Live in Chicago (MP3s)
Eleven musicians and countless glasses of water recorded live
[ April 25, 2012 / Department: downstream / Comments: 3 ]
On Thursday, April 19, 2012, seven members of the Disquiet Junto and three of their guest accompanists played a concert of music for expanded glass harp at Enemy in Chicago. The concert was also available for live streaming at numbers.fm. It was the first group concert to develop out of the Junto project series. And what follows is audio (MP3) of the full evening. As the founder of the Disquiet, I am heard framing the evening at the opening, intermission (between Soliday and Monteverde), and end. I was visiting Chicago from San Francisco, where I live.
[audio:http://archive.org/download/DisquietJuntoLiveInChicago/2012.04.19-DisquietJuntoLiveInChicago.mp3|titles="Disquiet Junto Live in Chicago"|artists=Members of the Disquiet Junto]
The performers were in order: Aroon Karuna, Erik Schoster (with Jason Nanna on glass harmonica and Wesley Charles Tank on vocals), Jason Shanley (aka Cinchel), Jason Soliday (with Michael Esposito on glass harmonica), Jon Monteverde (aka XYZR_KX), Joshua Davison (aka Stringbot), Jeff Kolar (with Kg Price on glass harmonica), and Ryan T Dunn.
Dunn's brief performance was an unplanned, and welcome, closing to the evening. Throughout the concert, he watched over the broadcast. The instructions to the other performers were to do two pieces: one of "expanded glass harmonica" and the other a work-in-progress they wanted to share with their fellow musicians and the audience. There are some extended silences and glitches/artifacts in the audio.
Dunn's playing wasn't the only surprise. Esposito had driven in from Indiana, and the crew that was the largest, Schoster's, drove the furthest: from Milwaukee. Thankfully expanding the range of the performances, Tank read a poem through Schoster's work. It closed with this memorable stanza:
it's cold everywhere here… i'm inventing a month called "˜revember' where there's reverb on every life sound and you get to relive warm wet memories
The evening was just tremendous. The Enemy venue, in a large third-floor space in Wicker Park, has great sound, and the audience was attentive — barely anyone spoke at all during the performances. Despite the fact that everyone performing was from Chicago (or driving distance), no one who performed knew everyone who was performing. For example Soliday, who manages the Enemy space, only knew one of the performers in advance of the evening. The glass harp was selected as the subject of the evening because, as I note in my spoken introduction, it was an important piece of the Disquiet Junto series. The glass harp project was the third Junto project, and its intent was to make clear to participants that the Junto wasn't just a sample-of-the-week endeavor; instead, it required that participants perform live. Thus, what better subject for the first large-scale Junto concert (I use the phrase "large scale" to distinguish the Chicago show from the times when members of the Junto have performed some of their project material live in other settings).
Someone seated on a couch at Enemy, Sei Jin Lee (twitter.com/sadlypanda), captured these five videos and posted them at youtube.com:
This is of my introductory comments:
These are of Karuna:
This is of Shanley/Cinchel:
This is of Esposito and Soliday:
The audio track is hosted at archive.org.
More on the core performers: Aroon Karuna / Vapor Lanes at soundcloud.com/vaporlanes, Erik Schoster at hecanjog.com, Jason Shanley / Cinchel at cinchel.com, Jason Soliday at jsoliday.com, Jeff Kolar at jeffkolar.us, Jon Monteverde / XYZR_KX at jonmonteverde.com, Joshua Davison / Stringbot at stringbot.com. More on Schoster's Milwaukee colleague Tank at wctank.com. More on Esposito at his wikipedia.org page. More on Kg Price at kgprice.com. And more on Ryan T Dunn at liscentric.com. More on the Disquiet Junto at soundcloud.com.
Any additional, post-concert material will be posted here:
Ӣ Shanley/Cinchel wrote about his concert experience at his cinchel.com site. He really gets into the spirit of the Junto, which involves talking about musical process as an interative process:
I also have really worked hard these past few months on live sets that a simple and focused. I've also now spent well over a year working in the same tuning (DGdgbe low-high) and the past month with the partial capo. its a tuning that seems to lend it self to drone really well. aslo i have spent a lot of time thinking about layers of frequency and focusing on that to really expand the guitar. pitch shifting with the whammy or in abelton to reach registers that the guitar normally doesnt hit. i see/hear a lot of guitar based drone/ambient and i really want to try and carve out a new sound or a fuller sound like mike shiflet or david daniell.
Ӣ Monteverde/XYZR_KX wrote at his jonmonteverde.com site, where, among other things, he contrasted his Enemy performance with his earlier glass-harp contribution to the Junto project:
I was emboldened to create sounds by tapping various parts of the glass and the contact mic itself. The latter method produced low thumps that sounded very much like a kick drum, and the piece overall became much more percussive.
The photo at the top of this post is from Shanley/Cinchel's set and was taken by by Cole Piece (instagr.am). That large box just behind the laptop is a tape delay. And the glass is, indeed, from Brooklyn Brewery. The image counts as a mid-concert update, in that Pierce tweeted it during Cinchel's set.
[ Tags: free, gadget, junto, live-performance / Comments: 3 ]
By Disquiet Junto at Enemy Sound, Chicago | on April 25, 2012 at 12:29 pm
[…] A detailed writeup of the evening courtesy of Disquiet's Marc Weidenbaum can be found here (disquiet.com). My performance begins around the 1h 29m mark. In addition to the remarks I made […]
By Disquiet Junto: Live in Chicago (April 19) on April 26, 2012 at 2:04 pm
[…] There's now a post-concert post with audio and video: "Disquiet Junto / Live in Chicago […]
By Denver Disquiet Junto Concert Planned for August 19 on July 24, 2012 at 8:59 pm
[…] Benjamin Franklin, from whose own Junto society ours borrows its name. This is the same format as the concert held in Chicago earlier this year, back in April, but with a whole new set of performers. Concerts are also in various stages of planning for San […]


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La Ruche à Vélos is developing secure bicycle parking throughout France
Innovative and appropriate parking solutions must be created for the long-term development of cycling. The La Ruche à Vélos start-up incubated at IMT Atlantique offers an automated, secure and easy-to-use parking facility. This modular concept is connected to a mobile application and is intended for all users via acquisition by local authorities. For this solution, La Ruche à Vélos won the 2020 Bercy-IMT Innovation Award on February 2nd.
In 2020, many French people got back on their bikes. In its annual report published last October, the Vélo & Territoires association reported an average increase in bicycle use of 9% between January and September 2020 (compared to 2019) [1]. In a year strongly marked by strikes and the health crisis, exceptional circumstances strongly supported this trend. The attraction for bicycles shows no signs of slowing down. While local authorities support these practices, they also raise new issues in terms of security and parking. How many cyclists have already found their bike without a saddle, without a wheel, or perhaps not found their bike at all? To meet these challenges, the start-up La Ruche à Vélos, incubated at IMT Atlantique, proposes an innovative secure bicycle storage solution.
Automatic and secure parking
The increase in the number of cyclists is due in part to the emergence of electric bicycles. These bikes are heavier, bulkier and require a significant financial investment by their users. They therefore pose new constraints and require more security when parking. La Ruche à Vélos has developed a product that meets these expectations. Their solution consists of a secure bicycle parking facility which is connected to a mobile application. Its three founders were particularly attached to its ease of use. "It takes between 20 and 30 seconds to drop off or pick up a bike," says Antoine Cochou, co-creator of the start-up. But how does it work?
The application allows the user to geolocate a parking facility with available spaces and to reserve one in advance. After identifying themselves on site, cyclists have access to a chamber, and deposit their bike on a platform before validating. There are also compartments available allowing users to recharge their batteries. Inside the parking facility, a machine stores the bike automatically. The facility covers several floors, thus saving ground space and facilitating integration of the system into the urban landscape. It can hold about 50 bikes over 24 square meters, dividing the bicycle parking space otherwise required on sidewalks by four! In addition, the size of the parking facility is flexible. The number of spaces therefore varies according to the order.
In June 2021, a first prototype of about ten spaces will be installed in the city of Angers. The young innovators hope to collect enough feedback from users to improve their next product. Two more facilities are planned for the year. They will have 62 to 64 spaces. "Depending on the location, a balance must be struck between user waiting time and the demand for services. These two parameters are related to the number of sites and the flow of users at peak times (train station, shops, etc.)," says Antoine Cochou.
Strategic locations with adapted subscriptions
La Ruche à Vélos is aimed directly at local authorities who can integrate this solution into their mobility program. It also targets businesses and real estate developers wishing to offer an additional service to their employees or future residents. Depending on the needs, the parking facilities could therefore be installed in different strategic locations. "Local authorities are currently focusing on railway stations and city centers, but office or residential areas are also being considered," says Antoine Cochou. Each zone has its own target and therefore its own form of subscription. In other words, one-off parking in the city, daytime offers for offices, and evening and weekend passes for residents.
Initially, subscriptions for the prototype installed in Angers will be managed by the start-up. However, future models are expected to couple parking passes with local public transit passes. Subscriptions will thus be taken care of by the cities. The start-up will focus on maintenance support. "In this sense, our next models will be equipped with cameras and it will be possible to control them remotely," says Maël Beyssat, co-creator of La Ruche à Vélos. Communities will have a web interface to monitor the condition and operating status of the parking facility (rate of use, breakdowns, availability, etc.)
For the future, the company is considering the installation of solar panels to offer a zero-electricity consumption solution. Finally, other locations could be considered outside of popular touring sites on cycle routes.
[1] Result obtained with the help of sensors measuring the number of bikes going past.
By Anaïs Culot
Mots-clésBercy-IMT Innovation awards IMT Atlantique incubateur IMT Atlantique Innovation La Ruche à Vélos local authorities Mobile application
Hospitals put to the test by shocks
Nuclear fission reveals new secrets


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SSANGYONG WELCOMES GRAYS OF HOLBEACH TO THE FAMILY
SsangYong Motors UK is delighted to announce a new addition to its dealer network, Grays of Holbeach, located in Lincolnshire. Grays, a family-owned dealership now in its third generation, has been serving the Lincolnshire community since 1953, and is one of Mitsubishi's longest standing dealers, representing the franchise since 1978.
Kevin Griffin, managing director at SsangYong Motors UK, said; "We are delighted to welcome Grays of Holbeach to the SsangYong brand. We are confident that with Grays' experience, prestigious background, customer focus and professional approach, we will build a strong partnership and achieve great things together."
Grays offers a host of highly knowledgeable experts, ensuring that customers benefit from a professional and welcoming service. With a state-of-the-art showroom, the team at Grays are always eager to assist in purchasing a new or used vehicle, whilst delivering outstanding customer support.
Jon Gray, dealer principal at Grays of Holbeach, commented; "We are thrilled to be expanding our business by partnering with SsangYong Motors UK. We're experts in the delivery of SUV's, large or small, and pick-up trucks, so we believe we're a perfect fit for this partnership with SsangYong." Gray continued; "In addition, we have over 65-years' experience in the motor trade – this, along with our friendly approach and reputation, ensures that our customers have lots to benefit from whenever they visit us. We are looking forward to providing excellent customer service, promoting sales, and supporting SsangYong - we are very excited for the future".
SSANGYONG MUSSO PICKS-UP 4X4 MAGAZINE'S "BEST VALUE" AND "BEST INDIVIDUAL MODEL" AWARDS FOR 2021
SsangYong Motors UK is delighted the Musso short-bed pick-up has won 4x4 Magazine's "Best Value" pick-up award for the third year in a row – and this year its long-bedded big brother scoops the added accolade of "Best Individual Model". On Musso's win of "Best Value" pick-up, Alan Kidd, editor at 4x4 Magazine, said; "The pick-up market is…
SsangYong Motors UK is delighted the Musso short-bed pick-up has won 4x4 Magazine's "Best Value"…
SSANGYONG APPOINTS NEW AFTERSALES REGIONAL MANAGER FOR SOUTH OF ENGLAND & WALES
SsangYong has appointed Phill Sargent as regional aftersales manager for the south of England and Wales, joining Peter Howe who is responsible for the north of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Phill said; ''I am delighted to be joining SsangYong Motors UK at such an exciting time. The SsangYong product keeps going from strength to strength, delivering exceptional value for money…
SsangYong has appointed Phill Sargent as regional aftersales manager for the south of England and Wales, joining Peter…


text:
Bărcănești ist der Name mehrerer Orte in Rumänien:

 Bărcănești (Ialomița), Gemeinde im Kreis Ialomița
 Bărcănești (Prahova), Gemeinde im Kreis Prahova

 Bărcănești (Neamț), Dorf im Kreis Neamț
 Bărcănești (Olt), Dorf im Kreis Olt
 Bărcănești (Vâlcea), Dorf im Kreis Vâlcea

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Aluminum-Sulfur Battery Could Drastically Change Mining for Renewable Materials
Scientists and industry professionals worldwide are looking for ways to make human civilization more sustainable. One of the most crucial aspects of sustainable living is the responsible mining of renewable resources. Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new aluminum-sulfur battery that could change mining practices forever.
How did the battery get developed? Will it be able to replace the lithium-ion battery that has dominated the mining industry for decades? Let's explore these questions and determine how impactful this new technology can be.
Lithium-ion batteries did their jobs well enough for many years, so why the sudden change? As with many other materials these days, lithium is scarce and expensive to mine. It broke the $40 per kilogram mark at the beginning of 2022 and continues to rise, largely because of the increased production of electric vehicles.
It's also evident lithium batteries are too unstable. They can explode or catch fire if mishandled, causing severe injuries and damage. These mishaps are especially dangerous when people fail to recycle their batteries properly. Recognizing the need for a cheaper, safer and more accessible alternative, Dr. Donald Sadoway and fellow MIT engineers got to work.
How the Battery Works
The battery's main ingredients — aluminum, sulfur and chloro-aluminate salt — are all cheaper and more common than lithium. They're also not flammable, so they're safe to handle in unstable environments. MIT's test results found this new type of battery cell could withstand hundreds of charges without a drop in performance.
In some cases, the batteries charged to 100% power in less than a minute. They heated up in the process, but the engineers found they actually worked better at higher temperatures. The test results above showed better performance and charging speeds at 230° Fahrenheit than at 77°.
The chloro-aluminate salt is crucial for the battery's success. It has a low melting point and prevents the formation of dendrites within the battery's electrodes, thus also preventing short circuits and keeping the cell in good working condition.
Based on these results, MIT estimated an aluminum-sulfur cell would cost just one-sixth of a similar lithium-ion cell. However, the technology isn't large or powerful enough to use on a grid scale. It would be more beneficial for individual homesteads, small businesses, EV charging stations and other applications of similar sizes.
Shaking up the Mining Industry
If the new battery lives up to the hype, manufacturers could cheaply mass-produce it and transport it to communities worldwide. It could also shake up the mining industry as few technologies have before, revitalizing prominent mineral mining regions and establishing new prosperous mining communities.
Aluminum is the most common mineral in the world after iron, so mining companies would have no trouble finding it. It's also easier to extract than lithium. Mining it is still a resource-intensive practice, of course, but it's a better alternative to lithium-ion because it's infinitely recyclable. Seventy-five percent of aluminum mined in the U.S. is still in use today.
Sulfur is more difficult to mine and more destructive, which could pose a future problem for the new battery. However, researchers at Stanford University are working on a new mining strategy that extracts sulfur from wastewater. This research could significantly impact the new battery's long-term viability.
The Start of Something Big
The mining industry has overhyped new strategies and technologies before, including lithium-ion batteries when they first introduced them. However, aluminum-sulfur batteries could be the start of something significant. These materials may take over the industry and become critical players in powering eco-friendly devices, helping to create a greener, better world.
PHOTO: The three primary constituents of the battery are aluminum (left), sulfur (center), and rock salt crystals (right). All are domestically available Earth-abundant materials not requiring a global supply chain.
Image: Rebecca Miller
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Alesha Anjanette Dixon (Welwyn Garden City, 7 oktober 1978) is een Britse zangeres, rapper, songwriter, fotomodel en televisiepersoonlijkheid.

Na bekendheid te hebben gekregen in het meidengroepje Mis-Teeq bracht Dixon in 2008 haar tweede soloalbum The Alesha show uit. Het eerste, Fired up uit 2007, werd alleen in Japan uitgebracht. In het Verenigd Koninkrijk ging The Alesha show meer dan 100.000 maal over de toonbank. De eerste single van het album, The boy does nothing, werd een top tien hit. Daarna werden het nummer en het album ook elders in Europa succesvol.

Biografie
Dixon werd geboren en groeide op in Welwyn Garden City, ten noorden van Londen, en is de dochter van een Britse moeder en een Jamaicaanse vader. Ze heeft vijf halfbroers en een halfzus. Als kind droomde ze ervan danseres en zangeres te worden, maar haar moeder, die haar kinderen grotendeels alleen moest opvoeden, had geen geld voor lessen.

Na de middelbare school wilde Dixon sportlerares worden, maar haar plannen veranderden toen ze in de trein werd aangesproken door een muziekproducer, die haar vroeg of ze kon zingen. Tijdens de terugreis vroeg iemand haar of ze in een band zat. Hierop zette Dixon haar studieplannen op een laag pitje en probeerde ze een carrière in de muziek van de grond te krijgen.

Muziekcarrière
In 1999 ontmoette Dixon Sabrina Washington, met wie ze besloot een duo te vormen. Het tweetal nam een demo op genaamd Inspiration. Bij een auditie maakten ze kennis met Su-Elise Nash, die zich bij hen voegde. Kort daarna kreeg het trio een contract bij Telstar Records en werd een vierde lid, Zena McNally, aan de tot Mis-Teeq gedoopte band toegevoegd.

Kort na het verschijnen van de debuutsingle Why? verliet McNally de band. Er werd geen vervangster voor haar gezocht en Mis-Teeq ging als trio verder. In 2001 kwam het eerste album, Lickin' on both sides uit. Het leverde de meiden een aantal hits op in de Britse charts, waaronder All I want en One night stand.

In 2003 kwam het tweede album uit, Eye Candy. Onder meer de singles Scandalous en Can't get it back deden het goed in de charts. In 2004 volgde een tournee door de Verenigde Staten, waar Scandalous een hit werd. Na terugkeer naar Groot-Brittannië om aan het derde album te gaan werken, bleek dat Telstar Records failliet was gegaan. Een album met muzikale hoogtepunten volgde, waarna de dames besloten uit elkaar te gaan en solocarrières te beginnen.

In 2005 tekende Dixon een contract bij Polydor Records, waar ze een jaar werkte aan haar eerste soloalbum. Een jaar en enkele matig scorende singles later gingen Polydor en Dixon uit elkaar. Het album Fired up werd alleen officieel in Japan uitgebracht.

In 2008 vond Dixon onderdak bij Asylum Records, waar ze een deal voor vier albums maakte. In november werd haar album The Alesha show uitgebracht. The boy does nothing van dat album leverde haar een grote - ook internationale - hit op.

Modellenwerk en televisie
Dixon heeft shoots gedaan voor magazines als Arena, FHM, Company en Bliss, alsmede fashion shoots en editorials voor andere tijdschriften. Ze werd gevraagd voor de videoclip van She wants to move van N*E*R*D nadat frontman Pharrell Williams haar zag op de cover van Arena. Dixon is het gezicht van Veet en het kledingmerk Ecko Red.

Haar carrière als televisiepersoonlijkheid nam een vlucht na het presenteren van prijzengala's als de MOBO's en Brit Awards. Haar deelname aan het vijfde seizoen van het door miljoenen bekeken BBC-programma Strictly Come Dancing (de Britse Dancing With The Stars) in 2007 zorgde voor haar definitieve doorbraak buiten de R&B-scene. Samen met haar danspartner Matthew Cutler was Dixon vanaf week 1 een van de favorieten voor de titel, die ze uiteindelijk wonnen door in de finale EastEnders-acteur Matt DiAngelo en partner te verslaan. Haar enthousiasme, karakteristieke lach en uitbundige persoonlijkheid maakten haar erg geliefd bij het publiek.

In 2008 maakte Dixon voor de BBC de documentaire Alesha Dixon - Look But Don't Touch, waarin ze toont hoe foto's van beroemdheden digitaal worden bewerkt om ze er perfect uit te laten zien, en welke invloed dit heeft op jonge meisjes, die zich spiegelen aan dit ideaalbeeld. Voor de documentaire deed Dixon een shoot en liet de foto's onbewerkt in een tijdschrift plaatsen.

In maart 2009 beklom Dixon samen met acht andere beroemdheden de berg Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, de hoogste berg van Afrika (5895 m), voor een gesponsord televisieprogramma voor de bestrijding van malaria in Afrika. De andere klimmers waren Take That-zanger Gary Barlow, Girls Aloud-zangeressen Kimberley Walsh en Cheryl Cole, Boyzone-zanger Ronan Keating, radio-dj Chris Moyles, musicalster Denise Van Outen en televisiepresentators Ben Shepard en Fearne Cotton. Op 7 maart behaalde Dixon als laatste van het negental de top, geplaagd door hoogteziekte, pijn en uitputting.

In de zomer van 2009 werd bekendgemaakt dat Dixon plaats zou nemen in de jury van de televisieshow Strictly Come Dancing, schijnbaar omdat de BBC een jonger kijkerspubliek wilde trekken. Dit nieuws zorgde voor heel wat controverse in de media en bij fans van het programma. Een gerespecteerd ouder vrouwelijk jurylid zou ontslagen zijn om Dixon een plaats in de show te kunnen geven. Ook zou Dixon niet gekwalificeerd genoeg zijn om de danswedstrijd te jureren.

Privéleven
In de zomer van 2005, na een relatie van vijf jaar, trouwde Dixon met Michael Harvey, beter bekend als MC Harvey, lid van de Britse groep So Solid Crew. Nog geen jaar later bleek Harvey een affaire te hebben met zangeres en vriendin van Dixon Javine Hylton, waarna een scheiding volgde. De affaire en nasleep werden breed uitgemeten in de Britse roddelpers.

Na de scheiding van Harvey werd Dixon door de media onder meer gekoppeld aan Pharrell Williams, model James Chandler en Strictly Come Dancing-collega Matt Di Angelo. Dixon heeft deze relaties ontkend. In 2008 had ze een korte romance met Aston Villa-voetballer John Carew.

Discografie

Albums

|- align=center
|align=left|The Alesha show||2009||14-03-2009||80||2||
|}

Singles

|- align=center
|align=left|The boy does nothing||2009||28-02-2009||12||13|| Nr. 5 in de Single Top 100
|- align=center
|align=left|Breathe slow||2009||30-05-2009||tip2||-||
|}

|- align=center
|align=left|The boy does nothing||2009||21-02-2009||16||14||
|- align=center
|align=left|Breathe slow||2009||16-05-2009||tip12||-||
|}

Brits zanger