text:
Gordhan will set to work on municipal failings
The much-awaited announcement of President Jacob Zuma's new Cabinet had only a few surprises. It was more of a reshuffle than a new team with the most notable exception — Pravin Gordhan's redeployment from finance minister to co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister — affecting local government.
While the move has been greeted by the media with surprise and interpreted as a demotion the well-respected minister's shift could also be read as Zuma homing in on the imperative of addressing local government's shortcomings not only in support of the National Development Plan but also in the run-up to the 2016 local government elections.
The surprise is that Gordhan was given a "lesser" portfolio notwithstanding that since 2009 he had managed to play a well-balanced role as finance minister winning the approval of the markets without affronting left-leaning partners of the African National Congress (ANC).
His deployment to co-operative governance can either be read as a falling out of favour or an active attempt to address shortcomings in the municipal sector by deploying a hard-hitting minister known for his ability to turn around complex areas such as revenue collection systems at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) where he served as an impressive commissioner before his appointment as finance minister in 2009.
For the local government sector it is likely that the tough-talking frugal Gordhan will be focusing on improved spending outcomes in municipalities as well as increasing accountability through better process management such as increasing the focus on procurement policy and supply chain management. He may well given the tenor of past budget speeches focus some energy on regulating and enforcing standards in the sector that root out waste and corruption.
His familiarity with local government finances will be valuable as the sector faces revisions to intergovernmental transfers. Gordhan's appointment addresses the widely held view that financial constraints and inequities hinder local government's ability to deliver services.
It will also be interesting to see what Gordhan's appointment will mean for the Department of Co-operative Governance. It is likely that a confident technocratically minded minister such as Gordhan may well choose to consolidate the department and bring some of the more unwieldy elements — such as the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency — under closer control of the centre.
This may mean yet another period of planning and realignment for a department that has seen four new ministers in five years but given Gordhan's personality it will in all likelihood be carried out with a sense of urgency and with strict cost containment.
Gordhan is also at an advantage of having some background in the sector having played a role in drafting the still-seminal White Paper for Local Government in the late 1990s as chairman of Parliament's constitutional committee at the time before his departure to SARS. He will also be ably assisted by a relatively new but by now well-acquainted deputy Andries Nel who brings a useful legal background to the team.
The frequent change in leadership and the ensuing instability it would inevitably have caused could not have been good for the Department of Co-operative Governance or indeed the sector generally. This at a time of growing instability and crisis in the sector as service delivery protests become increasingly more entrenched and accepted as the best way of getting one's message heard. But on the plus side local government has never seen the deployment of as senior or technically skilled a politician.
Local government needs to buckle up for the ride ahead to the next set of elections. There is little doubt that the ANC still recovering from an erosion of support in many metro areas in this month's national and provincial elections will want to bolster its performance in both fast-growing urban and struggling rural areas and it is hoped the party has chosen decisive leadership for the job.
It is incumbent on the new minister to step up and show leadership on a number of issues in the sector primarily on the issue of service delivery but also on a range of other issues relating to the performance of municipalities.


text:
Frame by Frame – Mar. 17th
The Bozeman Doc Series continues Thursday, March 17th, at 7pm at the Emerson Center, with the award-winning documentary Frame by Frame.
When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, taking a photo was a crime. After the regime fell from power in 2001, a fledgling free press emerged and a photography revolution was born. Now, as foreign troops and media withdraw, the country is left to stand on its own, and so are its journalists. Set in a modern Afghanistan bursting with color and character, Frame by Frame follows four Afghan photojournalists as they navigate an emerging and dangerous media landscape – reframing their country for the world, and for themselves.
Combining observational footage, intimate interviews, powerful photojournalism, and never-before-seen archival footage shot in secret during the Taliban regime, the film is a powerful chronicle of the fight for freedom in a war-torn country.
Frame by Frame world-premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and has screened at prestigious festivals around the world, winning several major awards.
"A bracing tribute to the power of photojournalism…Frame by Frame is a work of profound immediacy…exquisitely crafted and emotionally searing." The Hollywood Reporter
"A piercing, poignant and — as befits its subject — beautifully composed exploration of the challenges and responsibilities faced by photojournalists in Afghanistan's post-Taliban free press…a sharp, soulful doc…proves the alternately confrontational and cathartic power of the camera lens." Variety
Learn more at the film's official website.
The Bozeman Doc Series will continue with one screening every other Thursday through April. Tickets are available at the door or before the show at Cactus Records and Movie Lovers. Tickets are also available online at www.bozemandocseries.org, where you can also buy 7-film punch cards, learn more about the series, and view trailers for upcoming films.
Season Two Films

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Discuss the effects of pollutantss emmited on the atmosphere During the course of power generation with coal.
The spinning turbine then drives the generator to produce electricity.
The first step in reducing emissions occurs by utilizing a low nitrogen oxides (NOx) burner to burn the coal. The equipment regulates the rate of combustion of the coal by controlling the amount of air available at different elevations within the boiler to complete the combustion. This process adjustment results in lower NOx emissions.
The flue gas is passed through an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) after it exits the boiler. In the ESP, a series of positively charged collection plates remove negatively charged particulate matter from the flue gas. The ESP captures more than 99 percent of the particulate matter in the flue gas.
Next, a scrubber is used to control the sulfur dioxide compound in the flue gas. These are water soluble compounds in the emissions. As the flue gas passes through the scrubber, it is mixed with limestone slurry in water. The limestone reacts with the flue gas and absorbs the sulfur dioxide in the flue gas.
What are the environmental consequences of not using these emission control devices? There are two main aspects to this problem – one is the regulatory consequences of non-compliance and the second is the cost of compliance issues. Are there any other cost-effective, alternate power generation process changes or raw material processing operations that can either add on, or have the same effect, of reducing pollutant emissions from these types of plant?
Previous Previous post: discuss an environmental issue or policy controversy from an economic perspective.
Next Next post: What are Health & Safety managers (i.e., decision makers) to do when the employee risk perception are at odds with expert opinion regarding safety issues?


text:
LG teases the V40 ThinQ ahead of its launch, highlights five camera set up
An official render of the LG V40 ThinQ shows its new triple rear camera array. (Source: LG)
LG has started to take the wraps off its forthcoming V40 ThinQ. In a pre-launch video and media release, the Korean company has confirmed the rumors that it will indeed launch with five cameras in total.
by Sanjiv Sathiah, 2018/09/27
Android ARM Smartphone Touchscreen
As has become its custom, LG has started to spill official details of a forthcoming ahead of its official launch on October 3. On this occasion, LG can't wait to tell you about the photographic capabilities of the new LG V40 ThinQ, the new custom finish, its dimensions, display size and the colors in which it will be available. As widely expected, the V40 will be the first smartphone from the Korean giant to feature five cameras, which is the major focus of its new pre-launch video. This is comprised of three across the rear and two front-facing cameras, although the company declined to show official photos of the device from this angle.
In addition to its AI-driven photographic capabilities, LG says the new V40 will feature an all-new custom finish. According to the company, it has been specially etched at the nanometer level to create a more natural and comfortable feel in hand, rather than the somewhat slippery feeling that comes from a straight-up glass or metal finish. LG also adds that although featuring a new larger 6.4-inch display (it is yet to indicate whether it is OLED – like the V30/35 -- or LCD), the device is the same width as its predecessor. Also failing to get a mention is the controversial inclusion of a G7 ThinQ-like notch, which leaks have indicated is a certainty for the V40.
When the V40 ThinQ goes on sale next month, it will come in three Platinum Gray, Moroccan Blue and Carmine Red.
https://social.lge.co.kr/newsroom/lg_v40_thinq_0927/ (Korean)
Purported LG G8 renders surface and are promptly debunked by LG 01/19/2019
The LG V40 ThinQ now up for pre-order in the US 10/15/2018
Three rear cameras are for casuals: There's a quad-rear camera phone coming 10/07/2018
LG Watch W7 may launch alongside the V40 this week 09/30/2018
The LG V40 launches on October 3, five cameras in tow 09/23/2018
Complete details of the LG V40 revealed 09/09/2018
LG V40 360-degree video surfaces online 08/27/2018
The LG V40 ThinQ is coming with a notch and tri-rear cameras 08/24/2018
LG V40 ThinQ expected in October, five cameras, bezel-less 07/20/2018
Facebook and RED team up on Manifol...
Leica revives legendary Soviet phot...
> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2018 09 > LG teases the V40 ThinQ ahead of its launch, highlights five camera set up
Sanjiv Sathiah, 2018-09-27 (Update: 2018-09-27)
Sanjiv Sathiah - News Editor
I have been tech-obsessed from the time my father introduced me to my first computer, an Apple ][. Since then, I have grown to enjoy exploring and experimenting with any computing platform that I can get my hands on – I am the definitive early adopter! I have always been interested in how we can use technology to shape and improve our lives, most recently using it to record, mix and master my debut record, Acuity – Nature | Nurture out now on Spotify.


Let's design your trip together!
Let's make sure that your experience will be amazing and unforgettable. The more we devote to exchange points of view will allow us to match your interests and suggest the perfect companion to join your journey. Let's begin setting up the best traveling team: you, our guide and our hosts.
Please remember that our visits have a component of cultural exchange with local actors: our duty is to accompany, guide and mediate between "our worlds". We will ask you to spare some time during your visit to tell our hosts about your country and customs, just as they (producers, entrepreneurs, allies, local inhabitants and specialists) will allow us to get closer to their unique and magic personal stories and way of life.
Our visits are always personalized, we take lots of care in your specific interests. Lets communicate and construct your experience together!
We start with a direct call (via Skype, Hangout, Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp…) to define your trip details and highlights. We will pay attention to your specific interests and solve any possible doubts. If you need them, we can provide suggestions for accommodation and/or other activities.
The call has a cost of USD 50.00 and will last 60 minutes. It will have to be paid in advance but we will deduct it from the final cost of your trip, if you decide to book us. If we need more time, there is an additional cost of USD 20.00 per each 30 min. Additional calls won't be deducted from final price.
We divide our offer in Complete Journeys and Short Excursions. In general, Complete Journeys have a core visit and can be completed with a short visit to another place located within the geographical area. Pick the one you like best, with the additional product (or not) of your selection. We list, under every proposal, which additional products can be offered with each Complete Journey.
Should you prefer a sum of Short Excursions, you can also add them up, at your own selection (just be careful for the timing). Generally, Short Excursions happen within Downtown and are made foot, although additional transport can be considered. It is possible also to choose only one Short Excursion.
Our minimum working time is 3 hours and the maximum is 8.
Perhaps the most entertaining option is when we figure out your interests and once we are clear about the things that "turn you on", you just let it go and leave it all to us to design a specific trip for you, according with your availability of time.
From then on, we will suggest a journey for you, according to your availability of time. We can visit a new project, meet artists, attend a special event or just construct an itinerary that we consider will fit your quest and plans to discover.
Leave it in our hands and allow us to surprise you!
As in every trip, there are important rules to be followed in order to have a safer and better trip. Here are some of the most important for us. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any inquiry!
A "normal" day starts at 9AM, commonly after breakfast. Every 4 hours we do contemplate at least 40 minutes for a "lunch stop" or a "lunch pause", either in a restaurant of a stopover in the road.
Some visits can be performed without car, as long as you are willing and ready to walk in downtown Oaxaca for at least 3 hours.
Taking photographs can be done only with the consent of the person that you want to picture. If your interest is photography, please let us know in advance.
At Andar&Ego we promote encounters between persons: do not be surprised if during your trip our host asks about your culture or the place where you live. We invite you to share your personal experience.
All trip reservations and payments have to be fully covered in advance, at least one week before your arrival to Oaxaca.
Prices are subject to last minute change until the moment you pay them. Proposals have a specific validity.
Our trip proposals are subject to variations of even cancellations, due to our allies unavailability. Normally, no booking will be cancelled once it has been paid, but if such situation ever occurs we will offer you the closest solution. If no agreement is reached, you will receive your full refund.
If you made a payment and wish to cancel your trip, a 20% charge will be applied over your refund.
For travel agencies or tourism operators: you can offer our products with a 7% commission (over our quoted price) for your company.
Complete Journeys: they last between 6 to 8 hours. Cost includes a direct payment for the allies in the places we visit, as well as a couple drinks, snacks and –if the trip is related to– a mezcal testing, a minor gift, and lunch. We also include museum and other fees that might be required. When using transport vehicles, we travel in comfortable trucks with air-conditioning and we include water bottles, fruit and snacks. If you have a rented car or car of you own, that is also possible. Transport is included in Complete Journeys.
Short Excursions: they last between 2 and 3 hours and they refer to trips that we designed together with our allies at UNIDAM, in their AMA Oaxaca project (Check Oaxaca's Soul). A local host from the project will guide us through specific sites and tell us his experience and vision. Brenda, Héctor or Samuel will also join and help with translations, specific comments and their own experience. These trips DO NOT include transportation (they are made foot), but we do make a stopover for a courtesy snack and fees and entrances to museums or sites are included.
<Contact us here> to book or ask for a quote.
E. Looking for more adventure?
Of course, your security comes first, but watch out, roads can be full of dirt, beds a bit uncomfy and food, bizarre. Just be prepared to be a bit adventurous.
…. And keep the secret: this is one of our favorite types of trip!


text:
Sam Aldrich
Hoops Head.
Stories By Sam Aldrich
Football5 years ago
Mike Gundy Rips Big 12 Leadership Regarding Expansion
Mike Gundy came out swinging this week on a variety of things including the fair-weathered nature of OU fans as well as Big 12 expansion. "I...
Hoops5 years ago
Dutch Center N'Guessan Is Headed to Stillwater
The OSU men's basketball team got some very good news on Wednesday. Incoming freshman Center Lucas N'Guessan, who played at Canarias Basketball Academy last year in...
Cowboy Basketball Positional Previews: Small Forwards
In the next installment of our Cowboy basketball positional previews, we'll take a look at the small forward position. On the official Cowboy basketball roster, there...
#okstate5 years ago
A Timeline of Recent Tragedies at Oklahoma State
A few weeks ago Oklahoma State suffered yet another heartbreaking tragedy as the newest member of the basketball program, Tyrek Coger, collapsed and died after a conditioning...
Mike Gundy: Young Corners Stepping Up In Fall Camp
The Oklahoma State defensive backfield struggled mightily towards the end of the 2015-2016 season, getting exposed in the three consecutive losses to Baylor, Oklahoma, and Ole...
Ranking the Big 12 Coaches (Part 3)
We looked at the unknowns when it comes to Big 12 coaches earlier this week as well as the coaches who still have something to prove....
Freshman Wideout Stoner Turning Heads Early In Camp
The Cowboy football team began their fall camp this week, and early returns have been largely positive. Coach Gundy likes what he sees from his veteran-laden team that returns...
We looked at the bottom tier of Big 12 coaches on Tuesday — the unknown group. Today we look at those who still have something to...
It's no secret that OSU fans love Mike Gundy. They love that he played quarterback in the late 80's with Barry Sanders, they loved his incredible...
Ranking The Oklahoma State Running Backs for 2016
Let's call a spade a spade. Oklahoma State struggled to run the football in 2015. The backfield combination of Chris Carson, Raymond Taylor, Rennie Childs, and...
How Would Trae Young Fit in at Oklahoma State?
2017 point guard recruit Trae Young narrowed his list of schools to six on Thursday, and Oklahoma State made the cut, along with Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Washington,...
Cowboy Basketball Positional Previews: Shooting Guards
Brad Underwood's ridiculous success at Steven F. Austin was built around several factors, but near the top of the list has to be his squad's tremendous...
Medical Examiner: Tyrek Coger died from Enlarged Heart
Friday afternoon, the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office determined that Tyrek Coger, who passed away just yesterday, suffered from a heart condition known as Cardiomegaly with...
Tyrek Coger Paid Tribute in Video
Thursday evening, incoming transfer forward Tyrek Coger collapsed and died while running at Boone Pickens Stadium with the rest of the team during conditioning drills. BallIsLife.com,...
Cowboy Basketball Positional Previews: Point Guards
It's not just the start of football season. It's also the start of a new era in Cowboy hoops. This will be the first installment of...
Oklahoma State draws UConn in 2016 Maui Invitational
On Tuesday, the Maui Invitational released their 2016 bracket, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys will face Kevin Ollie and the Connecticut Huskies in the first round...
Could Marcus Smart Return To Oklahoma To Play For The Thunder?
This week, several reports have surfaced regarding the Boston Celtics' desire to add a superstar. The Celts are apparently ready to make the jump into the...
On the Importance of Big 12 First Teamers
Today, the Big 12 released their first team selections for the 2016 college football season. OU lead with a whopping nine selections, followed by Kansas State...
Wrestling6 years ago
Daniel Cormier Dominates Anderson Silva At UFC 200, Gives Shout To Stillwater
Daniel Cormier soundly defeated UFC legend Anderson Silva at UFC 200 on Saturday night by unanimous decision. Cormier, the 37-year-old Oklahoma State wrestling alum and former...
Recruiting6 years ago
Meet Oklahoma State's Most Effective Recruiting Weapon
If you've been following along this offseason, Oklahoma State is climbing the ranks in the Big 12 and making national noise with its 2017 recruiting class....
Cowboys Wrestling star Alex Dieringer up for Best Male College Athlete ESPY
Former OSU wrestling star, 2016 Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, and three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer is up for the prestigious award of Best Male College Athlete...
Baseball6 years ago
Oklahoma State Ties School Record with 11 MLB Draft Picks
While the Cowboys were busy sweeping the South Carolina Gamecocks right out of Super Regionals in Columbia this weekend, they were also cleaning up off the...
Oklahoma State Basketball Agrees to Two-Year Series with Wichita State, Beginning in 2016
Brad Underwood isn't exactly looking for a cakewalk in his first season at the helm in Stillwater- On Friday, Mark Cooper of the Tulsa World broke...
Oklahoma State to face University of South Carolina in Super Regionals
The South Carolina Gamecocks finished off UNC-Wilmington 10-5 on Tuesday to secure a spot in Super Regionals against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma State, who just...
How Houston, Memphis and UCF Have Pitched Their Schools to OSU and the Big 12
Several schools have thrown their hats into the ring for Big 12 expansion recently, including Cincinnati, Colorado State, Memphis, Houston, and now Central Florida. While these...


* Q: What Do Cheaters And Monopolists Have In Common?
This is a larger issue than can be fully addressed herein, because it involves complex issues such as privilege, monopolies, and system dynamics (e.g. positive feedback loops). Consider this the start of a conversation, not the end of one, and see below for how to comment.
It more than irks me, it sickens me. How do rich people, who already have the scales of the system tipped far in their favor, justify the need to then put their thumbs on the scale to cheat that same system?
For governments and companies, there IS such a thing as too big. Not too big to fail, but too big for OUR own good. Small is not necessarily good, and big is not necessarily bad. But, unfortunately, the startup community has been tone deaf on this issue for far too long.
Everyone loves an underdog, like in the first Rocky movie. For example, back in 2002, the underdog New England Patriots defeated the favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36, and everybody cheered for the underdog. But fast-forward 17 years, and the Patriots have now won six Super Bowls, but are largely despised outside of New England.
But startups can become monopolies.
In the 1990s, Microsoft had a monopoly on computer operating system, with the Windows operating system dominating the personal computer market. (Apple, eventually a worthy competitor, was a bit player and an underdog at that time.) What did Microsoft do with its monopoly? It started injecting other products – many of them inferior to competing products – into its exclusive distribution channel: the Internet Explorer (browser), MS Word (word processing), MS PowerPoint (presentations), MS Excel (spreadsheets), MS Access (databases), MS Outlook (email). Soon Microsoft dominated other markets, such as the browser market, with inferior products.
Recently, due to vocal protests from New York City denizens, Amazon canceled its plans to locate a large office (I refuse to say "headquarters" because there can be only one of those) in the city. Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren made headlines for proposing that tech giants Apple, Google, and Facebook should be broken up.
Why are some in the startup community tone deaf on this issue? How do you know that it's a real issue? People protesting in the streets. That's how you know it's a real issue.
Let's start with privilege. Privilege blinds those with privilege. Privilege makes people born on third base think that they've hit a triple.
Some took 16 steps forward, some took zero, I took four (but not for the stuff in parentheses).
Did you serve in the military? Why or why not? Did your parents? Grandparents? I admit to not liking it when people say "thank you for your service" to me. It's a cop-out. It allows the thankers to feel good about themselves while not confronting the reality that it is their own privilege that allowed them NOT to have to serve in the first place. You want to thank me for my service? Serve yourself – or at the very least give back.
Sour grapes, no. Perspective, yes. I'm still very much aware that I took four steps forward overall.
Taxes are a check. Zoning laws are a check. Separation of powers is a check. Antitrust laws are a check. Checks exist and are proven to work, but only if we, as a society, have the courage to implement them. Again, this has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with system dynamics.
Here's one example that impacted me financially. The 1982 breakup of the AT&T telephone monopoly resulted in competition in the long-distance phone market and new features: calling cards, call waiting, call forwarding, last-call return (*69), and others. This breakup laid the groundwork for the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed for new competition in the local phone market in the Internet age, and allowed companies like Verio to compete against incumbents. I owned a slice of Verio, which was sold to NTT for $6 billion in 2000. Without the 1982 AT&T breakup and the 1996 reform, there would be no Verio.
Why do people hate monopolies?
Why did NYC denizens protest against Amazon?
Why does Sen. Warren want to breakup Apple, Google, and Facebook?
In the startup world, everybody wants to get acquired by Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, or Microsoft.
In the startup world, everybody is worried about getting big-footed by Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, or Microsoft.
Which is why a 2017 article in The New York Times use the phrase "the Frightful Five" to refer to Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.
U.S. antitrust laws are good in theory, but in practice, markets and monopolies of those markets don't fit well with current antitrust laws. Which is why we need a new solution. Sen. Warren comes close, but the problem is not large TECH companies, the problem is LARGE companies period.
Here's my proposal. Every 10 years, the government conducts a census, which is a check on government power, since the census determines the makeup of the House of Representatives, among other things. So why not conduct a census of businesses as well? Every 10 years, the top 1% of the companies would get broken up into smaller companies.
And I'm also keenly aware that I am as guilty and privileged as many others writing about this topic. I hate a bad monopoly, yet I love the goodness of next-day delivery of just about anything from Amazon. But I'm not tone deaf about the shrinking middle class and the logical and predictable protests about a company like Amazon moving to NYC, which does little more than make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Don't be tone deaf about cheating.
Don't be tone deaf about monopolies.
And don't be tone deaf about what they have in common: positive feedback loops born from privilege.
And do vote, it's the ultimate check.
Erik J. Heels has never belonged to any political party, made his millions in the Internet 1.0 boom, lost said millions to divorce and recessions, says what he's going to do and does what he says, and gives back.