The following was published in the December 2016 version of the SRJC Oak Leaf.
"It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I've heard that saying many times in my life, and I've never really understood its meaning until now. Some people say that losing a pet isn't the same as losing a human life, and while I've never lost a human family member, I'm sure it's just as painful.
My best friend Scooby-Doo passed away on Nov. 28 at the ripe old age of 15. My family adopted Scooby from a woman's in-house animal shelter in Canada when I was six years old, just at the beginning of the first grade. He'd been going downhill for the last year or so, and finally it was clear that he wasn't happy anymore. But he lived a tremendous life full of wonderful moments, and I'm glad that I got to spend that life with him.
At first Scooby was very aloof with us, thanks in large part to being abused and thrown onto the street as a puppy. But eventually, after months of constant love and training, he became the cuddly, happy dog we dreamed of. He still had his quirks like anyone does, mostly with barking at every noise by the window.
As the years went on, Scooby became my closest friend and saw me through my brightest and darkest moments. No matter how great or poorly my day was going, I always knew I could look forward to a happy welcome at the door when Scooby would charge up the stairs to see me. Whenever I watched TV in the living room, he would join me and sit on the ottoman next to the couch. But his favourite thing in the world were the visits to my grandparents in Kamloops, BC, who had a backyard surrounded by massive grassy hills for him to run and climb up.
We even made our way to California together with my parents in 2009. But when I had to travel back to Canada that summer, Scooby would just mope around the house and wait outside my door for me to come back. So in August 2010, my parents went to a local shelter and brought home our second dog, Luna.
Luna was found living on the side of the road with her mom, and had developed an extreme dislike for humans and other dogs. She'd spent her months as a puppy bouncing from foster home to foster home, and was just a few weeks from being put down. But she and Scooby immediately took a liking to each other, and because my parents seem to enjoy a challenge they took her in.
Six years later Luna is still skittish with people, yet she's incredibly different from the puppy we adopted. She's especially taken a liking to my mom, who's spent years taking her on walks and to rally classes. Luna is also one of the most intelligent dogs you'd ever meet, with her greatest achievements including breaking out of cages, using her bark and gestures to tell us she needs something and, on one occasion, mysteriously figuring out how door handles works.
Both Scooby and Luna came from abused childhoods and grew up in animal shelters, unsure of humans and would've been considered by most to be lost causes. But through intense love and affection, they became the best dogs anyone could ask for. Shelter mutts like them are passed by every day, simply because they're not puppies, purebred, or easy to train. But the challenge of getting them to trust and love you is highly rewarding.
Not every dog is as lucky as ours were to find a happy home. Many never know a life outside a shelter cage or ever make a lasting connection with a human friend. As shelters get fuller, the dogs living there the longest are eventually put down to keep the cages open for new ones. Not every shelter euthanizes their oldest tenants, but many unadoptable dogs will find their way to one that does.
While not everyone has the ability to take care of a dog, what any person can do is to volunteer at a local shelter to help walk, feed or simply love the pets. If you don't have a lot of time to donate, most shelters will welcome donations of money or toys and food as well. You can even make small donations through purchases on Amazon using their program called Smile. If you believe you're ready to add a new family member, shelters should always be the first destination in your search. Spaying and neutering your current pets helps by simply keeping more animals from landing in the cages.
Scooby might be gone, but the sadness of losing him will never outweigh the happiness he brought me every day for the last 15 years. One day, when my girlfriend and I move in together, we plan to visit a shelter and add a furry family member of our own; one who I'll share the same bond with and love for the rest of his or her life.
Next Next post: LITC Update: Excitement!


text:
THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO SERGEANT GEORGE HOWELL, 1ST BN, AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY NOBLE NUMISTATICS OF SYDNEY.
( select to enlarge ) Medal entitlement of Staff Sergeant George Julian Howell,
1st Bn, Australian Imperial Force
King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone Medal ( USA )
Merchant Marine WWII Victory Medal ( USA )
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Staff Sergeant George Howell, 1st Bn, Australian Imperial Force, have been sold at auction by Noble Numismatics of Sydney on the 8th April 2011.
The Victoria Cross group realised a sale hammer price of AUS $600,000 ( £385,000 ).
The purchaser of the VC group was Kerry Stokes, the Australian media magnet, who has announced he will donate the VC group to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The handover took place on Friday, 15th April 2011.
[ London Gazette, 26 June 1917 ], Near Bullecourt, France, 6 May 1917, Corporal George Julian Howell MM, 1st Bn, Australian Imperial Force.
For most conspicuous bravery ( near Bullecourt, France ). Seeing a party of the enemy were likely to outflank his Battalion, Cpl. Howell, on his own initiative, single-handed and exposed to heavy bomb and rifle fire, climbed on to the parapet and proceeded to bomb the enemy, pressing them back along the trench. Having exhausted his stock of bombs, he continued to attack the enemy with his bayonet. He was then severely wounded.
The prompt action and gallant conduct of this N.C.O. in the face of superior numbers was witnessed by the whole Battalion and greatly inspired them in the subsequent successful counter attack.
George Howell was invested with his Victoria Cross and Military Medal by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 21st July 1917.
For the award of the Military Medal ( MM )
[ London Gazette, 26 May 1917 ], Corporal George Julian Howell, 1st Bn, Australian Imperial Force
No citation.
George Howell died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, Perth, aged 71, on the 23 December 1963. He was cremated at the Karrakatta Crematorium, Hollywood, and his ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance.
Iain Stewart, 15 April 2011

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
#pragma once

#include <optixPaging/optixPaging.h>

#include <cuda_runtime.h>

namespace demandLoading {

struct DemandTextureInfo;

/// Device-side demand texture context.
struct DemandTextureContext
{
    OptixPagingContext   m_pagingContext;
    DemandTextureInfo*   m_textureInfos;
    cudaTextureObject_t* m_textures;
};

}  // namespace demandLoading

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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text:
Environment & Land Case 32 of 2021
Download: PDF Download Original Source Document Download Show Metadata
Kebaso v Omoso & another (Environment & Land Case 32 of 2021) [2022] KEELC 14814 (KLR) (16 November 2022) (Judgment)
Kebaso v Omoso & another
Environment and Land Court at Nyamira
Joseph Mugo Kamau
Ms. Nyandoro holding brief for Mr. Bosire for the Plaintiff, Mr. Wanyama for the Defendants
Neutral citation: [2022] KEELC 14814 (KLR)
In the Environment and Land Court at Nyamira
J M Kamau, J
Jeremy Nyakwara Kebaso
Simion Ongeri Omoso
1st Defendant
Fred Moruri Omoso
2nd Defendant
1.The Plaintiff vide a copy of Plaint filed on 10/10/2012 sued the Defendants in his capacity as the Donee of a Power of Attorney from Joel Moses Kebaso, the registered owner of Matutu Settlement Scheme/619. The Donor of the Power of Attorney is one of the beneficiaries of the Estate of the late Kebaso Onsongo after a successful succession cause in Kisii High Court Succession Cause No. 104 of 1999. The suit emanates from wrongful and unlawful occupation and possession by the Defendants and the 1st Defendant was arrested, arraigned in court and charged with the offences of Trespass contrary to Section 91 and 3 (1) of the Penal Code and forceful detainer contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Trespass Act in Keroka Resident Magistrate's Court Criminal Case Number 598 of 2002 where he was convicted of the said offence and sentenced to serve a 5 months' imprisonment. The 2nd Defendant is said to have ran away to escape arrest by the police. The 1st Defendant's Appeal against the said conviction and sentence was not successful because the Appeal, in Kisii High Court Appeal Number 211 of 2003 was dismissed for want of prosecution. The Plaintiff therefore claims Damages for loss, permanent injunction, eviction and costs of the suit as follows: -a.A declaration that the Plaintiff is entitled to exclusive and unimpeded right of possession and occupation and user of all that piece of land known as LR. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/619.b.A declaration that the Defendants whether by themselves or their servants, agents assigns or otherwise howsoever are unlawful and wrongfully in occupation, possession and user of the suit property and are accordingly trespassers on the same.c.A permanent injunction restraining forever the Defendants whether by themselves or their servants, agents assignees or otherwise howsoever from remaining or continuing in occupation, possession or user of the suit property.d.Eviction from and/or surrender of vacant possession of their suit property.e.Costs of this suit together with interest thereon at court rates.f.Any other or further relief (s) as this Honourable Court may deem appropriate to grant in the circumstances of this suit.
2.Accompanying the Plaint are the list of the Plaintiff's documents as well as his witnesses' statements.
3.The Defendant filed his Defence on 13/11/2012 and, while claiming that the Power of Attorney used is a forgery, also denied the Plaintiff's claim and further claimed that they have been in the suit land for over 40 years and have enjoyed uninterrupted quiet possession and occupation of the suit land for a period of over 12 years before the filing of the suit which they took over from their late father. They therefore seek that the suit be dismissed with costs. Issues for determination were filed by the Plaintiff on 21/03/2013 as follows: -1.Whether or not the Power of Attorney is a forged document or a valid document.2.Whether or not the suit property is registered in the name of Joel Moses Kebaso.3.Whether or not the suit property of the deceased was distributed as per the certificate of confirmation and Title Deeds issued.4.Whether or not the District Land Registrar and District Surveyor demarcated and fixed physically the boundaries on the suit land before issuance of Title Deeds.5.Whether or not the Defendants wrongfully and unlawfully moved to the suit land in November, 2002.6.Whether or not the Defendant(s) were/was arrested and charged in a Court of Law due to trespass.7.Whether or not the Defendant erected permanent structures on the suit land during the proceedings of the said Criminal Proceedings.8.Whether or not the Plaintiff has suffered the loss and damage outlined in his Defence.9.Whether or not the Defendants were served with demand notices.10.Whether or not this Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine this matter.11.Whether or not the Plaintiff is entitled to his prayers set out in his Plaint.
4.In the lifetime of the suit, the Donor of the Power of Attorney, Joel Moses Kebaso died on 07/03/2015 and the Donee applied for letters of Administration Ad Litem in order to proceed with the suit in his personal capacity and the same was granted after which the Plaint was accordingly amended on 05/12/2016.
5.On 22/10/2020 the Plaintiff died. On 28/10/2021 David Moses Kebaso, Charles Moses and Evans Maosa Mose applied to substitute the deceased and the same was granted on 10/01/2022 with a further amended plaint being filed on 10/02/2022. A further or alternative written statement was filed by the 1st Plaintiff on 11/10/2022. After very many instances of the Defendant not turning up for the hearing of the same, the Hearing commenced on 25/10/2022 with the first Plaintiff giving evidence on behalf of the other Plaintiffs who are his brothers. He testified that the parcel of land known as Matutu Settlement Scheme/154 belonged to his grandfather Kebaso Onsongo who died in 1996. After Succession and sub division, his late father Joel Moses Kebaso got a share of the land. He and his Co-Plaintiffs are from the lineage of the 1st wife of their grandfather which house got Matutu Settlement Scheme/619 measuring 2.87 Hectares which was registered in the name of his father. The second wife got Matutu Settlement Scheme/620 and the 3rd wife got Matutu Settlement Scheme/621. The 2nd Defendants are the sons of the Plaintiff's grandfather through the 3rd wife, Sabiri Nyabonyi. The two moved from their land Matutu Settlement Scheme/620 around 2009/2010 after Succession and came to live on MAtutu Settlement Scheme/619. The 1st Defendant was even arrested and convicted in Keroka Principal Magistrate's Criminal Case Number 596 of 2002. He was convicted of trespass and forceful detainer contrary to Section 91 and 3 (1) of the Penal Code and Trespass Act respectively and sentenced to 5 months' imprisonment and his Appeal against conviction and sentence dismissed for want of prosecution. He summed up his evidence by producing the following documents to beef up the Plaintiffs' case:1.Certified copy of the Register of Land Parcel No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/619.2.Certified copy of the Mutation Form in respect to Land Parcel No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/154.3.Certified Copy of the Registry Map Sheet No. 2 (131/121).4.Copy of the Proceedings in respect of Kisii HC SUCC. No. 104 of 1999.5.Copy of the Certificate of Confirmation of Grant.6.Copy of the Proceedings and Judgment in respect of Keroka RMCR. No. 598 of 2002.7.Copy of the Petition of Appeal in Kisii HCCRA No. 211 of 2003.
8.Copies of Demand Notices dated 12th July, 2012.
9.A copy of the Title Deed in respect of Land Parcel No. Matutu Settlment Scheme/619.10.Copy of the Power of Attorney.11.A copy of the Court Order dated 6th May, 2003.12.A copy of the Court Order dated 16th October, 2000.13.A copy of the RL 7.14.A copy of the Court Order dated 12th February, 2002.15.A copy of the Court Order dated 14th March, 2002.16.A letter of the District Surveyor dated 11th October, 2001.17.Copies of letter of consent to sub-divide and transfer Land Parcel No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/154.18.Certificate of death of the late Joel Moses Kebaso.19.Copy of Grant of Letters of Administration Intestate.
6.He explained that his grandfather worked for the Colonial Government in the White Highlands and after the latter left the country he was allocated Matutu Settlement Scheme.154 measuring 24 Acres having been a squatter on that land but for which he had to pay through the Settlement Fund Trustees. He said that the 3rd wife to his grandfather, Sabiri Nyabonyi Omoso claimed the entire land upon demise of his grandfather in 1996 but that in Succession Cause number 104 of 1999, the Court ordered that the land be sub-divided equally among the 3 co-wives with each getting a piece of land measuring 2.87 Hectares with an access road measuring 0.44 Hectares set aside. Since then the families have been warring over this Estate.
7.The 2nd witness Thomas Memba Omoso Kebaso testified and said that he is a brother to the late Joel Moses Kebaso and a son to the late Omaso Onsongo who died in 1986. He said that the Plaintiffs in this case are his nephews. He said that he came to court to testify that his father had 3 wives and had expressed his desire that his parcel of land L.R. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/154 be shared equally among his 3 wives and which was eventually done through the Succession Cause in Kisii.
8.Having had the case closed and the Plaintiffs having failed to file any written submissions I now proceed to deliver my Judgment which I am under duty to do.
9.The evidence given in this case has not been shaken and the same is in conformity with the averments in the Plaint as well as the statements recorded by the 2 witnesses who testified in the case. The Defendants were accorded an opportunity to controvert the evidence and give any alternate version of the case but they failed to do so. The Title Deed in respect to the suit property i.e. L.R. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/619 is registered in the name of Joel Moses Kebaso, a beneficiary of his father's Estate, the late Kebaso Onsongo by virtue of the confirmation of Grant arising from Kisii High Court Succession Cause No. 104 of 1999. The confirmation formula followed was that of the houses. Each of the 3 wives to the Deceased got a third of what used to be L.R. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/154 after which a Confirmation of Grant was issued. The Grant was confirmed by consent on 16/10/2000 after an objection to the mode of confirmation was abandoned in the High Court, Kisii Succession Cause No. 104 of 1999. Each of the 3 houses (wives) got 3 Hectares and Title Deeds were accordingly issued to Sabiri Nyabonyi Omoso's house, Priscah Moraa Kebaso's house and Joel Moses Kebaso on behalf of his kin. The latter got Matutu Settlement Scheme/619 measuring 2.87 Hectares. This Title Deed can only be challenged in the Succession Cause which confirmed the Grant. I have not been told that this has been successfully done. In the absence of such a recourse the holder of the Title Deed holds a sanctit Title Deed which must be respected at whatever cost. Any intruder must also be kept off and I have no hesitation to do so. In the premises, I hereby give Judgment to the Plaintiff against the Defendants as prayed for in the following words: -a.A declaration be and is hereby issued that the Plaintiffs are entitled to exclusive and unimpeded right of possession and occupation and use of all that piece of land known as LR. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/ 619.b.A declaration be and is hereby issued that the Defendants whether by themselves or their servant's agents' assignees or otherwise howsoever are unlawfully and wrongfully in occupation, possession and user of the suit property and are accordingly trespassers on the same.c.A permanent injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the Defendants whether by themselves or their servant's, agents', assignees or otherwise howsoever from remaining on or continuing in occupation, possession or user of the suit property.d.The Defendants are hereby ordered to give vacant possession of the suit property L.R. No. Matutu Settlement Scheme/619 to the Plaintiffs forthwith failure to which eviction to follow.e.The costs of this suit together with interest thereon at court rates are awarded to the Plaintiff against the Defendants jointly and severally.As to the prayer for Damages, I will spare the Defendants since the same were not proved though pleaded. No evidence was led in that direction.
JUDGMENT DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NYAMIRA THIS 16TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022.MUGO KAMAUJUDGEIn the Presence of: -Court Assistant: SibotaPlaintiff: Ms. Nyandoro holding brief for Mr. BosireDefendants: Mr. Wanyama
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Dave chooses the Crowfoot area as the site for the first Image Auto Body shop, recognizing that the place would soon become a major centre for the Northwest Calgary area.
Store opens in January. By the end of the year, it's so popular that Dave has to run a second shift to keep up with demand.
Opportunity arises to lease 2400 square feet of space next door and we jump at the chance to expand.
Looking to expand further, we see Cochrane becoming the fastest growing bedroom community in Canada so build a 12,000 square feet facility there.
The Cochrane branch opens in January.
The Crowfoot Car Wash goes up for sale next door to the existing Image Auto Body in Crowfoot and we jump at the opportunity to purchase this large building. It's gutted and expanded, providing a beautiful 8,000 square feet facility.
Our new Crowfoot facility opens in February.
Who knows where we'll expand next?


Listen to Hello Beautiful's new EP, Leftover Dreams, here by clicking play.
Your music has quite the distinct sound. Could you tell us which musicians have inspired it?
I've always been listening to punk for most of my life, I eventually started listening to more electronic music. I am also a big fan of 80's music, I'm not too fussy when it comes to music and I tend to like most of the music out there.
If I had to narrow it down to one band it would be Soulwax, they're a rock band that plays electronic music live, and their live shows are always a bit different to the studio album. But the list goes on, there are just too many to mention.
Hello Beautiful has progress from a solo project to a live band show, similar to Kidofdoom, why did you decide to make this move?
I wasn't really feeling it being on a stage alone, I've always wanted to have a band but wasn't really making music suited for a live band either, so I asked Johan Auriacombe (drums/sample pad/Kaossilator) and Ben Rausch (live visuals) if they would be keen to do a 20 minute Hello Beautiful set with me at a Wereld Records showcase night, it pretty much hasn't ended since then, we're a band now, it was way too fun not to do, you know.
Tell us more about your upcoming EP, Leftover Dreams, what can we except from it? What was it like creating it?
It's synth driven, with reasonably straightforward beats and spacey soundscape melodies. It's always a lot of fun making music that sounds great to your ears and hoping some other people will like and appreciate it too. There are two collaborations on the EP, 'If You Love Me Back' feat. Alastair Thomas from Shortstraw and 'Structures ft. Jean-Louise Parker from Academie and I'm extremely stoked about them.
The EP goes live on iTUNES and all major online platforms today.
Creating the EP: As always, I get inspiration from sci-fi movies, anything sci-fi related really and remembering my childhood and feeling really nostalgic about certain sounds I heard in music from the 80's and 90's.
The title 'Leftover Dreams' represents musical ideas I created, but not being to sure where it's even going, so I come back to it at a later stage and find a new inspiration to turn it into a song. For example, the song 'Leftover Dreams', I wrote the first part of it, it builds up and builds up and then I had no idea where to go with it, a few months later down the line I composed the second part of the song, which almost seems like a whole different song, but it just works for me.
Where can we expect to see a performance from Hello Beautiful soon?
Launching the EP at The Good Luck Bar tonight as part of a Wereld Records show and playing A Place in the Sun festival in November.
Since I started this project a few years ago I wanted it to be a live band, super stoked to finally share the stage with two of the best. Also pretty stoked to have been a part of some other bands in my past and learning things from them money can't buy.


text:
SF Insider > Uncategorized > What Are Some Comedy Events in San Francisco?
What Are Some Comedy Events in San Francisco?
CC0/annca/Pixabay
A Star Is Born: The Improv and Open Mic Nights on the San Francisco Comedy Scene
5 San Francisco Comedy Clubs Ideal for Your Next Night Out
Historic Comedy Club - San Francisco Style
2>On the Prowl for the Best Comedy Bar in San Francisco
Whether people are looking for a fun evening listening to stand-up skits by local performers or hoping to catch sight of a national headliner, there are many exceptional comedy events in San Francisco. Venues throughout the city cater to comedians at all stages in their professional careers. Some of the city's most frequented establishments include The Punch Line San Francisco, Cobb's Comedy Club, The Setup Comedy and more. Depending on the location, people may be able to get food and drinks as they watch performances. Some shows sell out quickly, so those planning to see a favorite comedian should plan to purchase tickets in advance.
A highlight of San Francisco comedy is seeing big names come to town. One such performer is Bill Maher, who is a nationally recognized comedian. Maher was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. He comes from an Irish-Catholic family. Maher made his debut on the comedy scene in college, when he performed his first stand-up comedy routine in Paramus, NJ, at a Chinese restaurant. He then appeared regularly at Catch a Rising Star, a comedy venue in New York City. Maher has made several appearances in the Bay Area, including the Fox Theater in Oakland, where he entertains audiences with political comedy.
Comedian Demetri Martin is another big name comedian who performs in San Francisco. In addition to comedy, Martin is a writer and an actor. His screen appearances include "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in 1993, Demetri Martin. Person in 2007 and "Important Things with Demetri Martin" in 2009. Martin attended Yale University and the NYU School of Law on a full scholarship. His early career included stand-up performances at The Boston Comedy Club, which is a venue in New York City. Martin is known for his punchlines and playing the guitar while he tells jokes.
Another notable comedian to appear in San Francisco is Nick Offerman. Offerman was born in Illinois. In addition to being a comedian, he is also a producer and an actor. His notable appearances include "Fargo" in 2014, The Founder in 2016 and "Parks and Recreation" in 2009. Offerman's signature trait is his deadpan style of delivery. He is also known for his mustache and his dancing skills.
Comedian Bill Burr is another star who frequents San Francisco's comedy stages. Burr is a stand-up comedian, as well as a writer, author and critic on social media. He hosts his own podcast sessions Monday Morning Podcast and plays the role of Patrick Kuby in the hit series "Breaking Bad" that airs on AMC.


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A Global Network
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Exploring Emergent Futures
Storytelling & Interaction
Structures Of Society
Next Horizons
swissnex Salon
Nextrends
Instant Space
A platform for conversation, Instant Space is a response to the swissnex Salon created by Zurich-based architects Nele Dechmann and Ortreport.
Image by Atlas
swissnex San Francisco
Pier 17, Suite 800, San Francisco, California 94111 United States
October 05, 2018 8:00 am - December 09, 2018 5:00 pm America/Los Angeles (UTC-08:00)
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A platform for conversation, Instant Space is a series of curtains designed by Zurich-based architects Nele Dechmann and Ortreport to host discussions, workshops, and interrogations. The curtains embody a maxim of flexibility and fluidity.
The installation is an artistic response to the swissnex Salon, serving as a setting for different forms of interaction and exchange within the swissnex Gallery. The space creates a variety of atmospheric environments, from generous and open to intimate and immersive.
The images printed on the curtains present a juxtaposition of liminal environments: "in-between" spaces where political and social rules are typically suspended. The five prints have an unexpected element adding to the environment, which opens up a field of narratives and interpretations.
Instant Spaceexists alongside five keywords formed by Swiss designers Atlas through recombining fragments of foundational terms that raise questions and spark discussions.
On the Internet, you are alone with a million others. The world is online, invisible, anonymous. Everyone can interrogate and be interrogated. Will you be a troll? A journalist? Will you post? Will you watch? Will you be watched? Our relationship with technology is flat, we monitor and we are being monitored. What will you say, and who will hear you say it?
At the karaoke booth, punk meets disco, '60s folk singers are followed by hip-hop. Here, the hierarchies of taste and class are put aside, along with the rules of social behavior. Sing your feelings as loud as you can, with your boss watching. It's OK: it's karaoke.
Borders are constructed boundaries. What happens as we stand upon the edge, not quite in one place or the other? How is it the same? Who can cross? Who is forbidden? Carpets from continents and cultures invite us to wander, form new alliances, and exchange beyond the passport.
On the lunar surface, even gravity is transformed. No one owns the moon. It invites us to dream of a world without weight and without owners. What would we build there, and how might we build it?
The speakeasy is a paradox, a forbidden place where all ideas are free. A place to tell secrets, discuss controversies, drink illicit elixirs, or cuddle on the floor. Leave behind the anxiety of being caught: this is a hideout, where the natural and the constructed fuse into a spirit of comfort.
A New Vocabulary?
Five keywords formed by Swiss designers Atlas are displayed on the wall and in a special poster created for the swissnex Salon. These new words are generated from the Salon's five core values, taken from the Preamble of the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation. By recombining fragments of these foundational terms, provocative words are created, raising questions and sparking discussions.
Is big tech playing with basic values in the name of innovation? Are these rearranged values a symptom of Silicon Valley's "disruption" — a sign of diminished freedoms at the hand of technology giants? Or are these values somehow strengthened through combination, leading to new approaches to their own preservation? We encourage visitors to invent new meanings — perhaps frightening, perhaps empowering — and explore their possible consequences.
Atlas Studio
Atlas is a graphic design studio founded in 2011 by Martin Andereggen, Claudio Gasser and Jonas Wandeler. We believe in a collaborative approach to design and have been working for clients in both the commercial and cultural fields. Our studio develops concepts and designs for printed and digital matter of all kinds, including visual identities, publications, posters and websites. Alongside a regular studio practice, the members of Atlas Studio teach at the art universities of Zurich (ZHdK) and Lausanne (ECAL), give workshops as well as lectures and pursue self-initiated projects on a regular basis. The work of Atlas Studio was awarded the Swiss Design Award (2014), The Most Beautiful Swiss Books for Learning from Warsaw (2013), The Best Dutch Book Designs as well as The Most Beautiful Swiss Books for Part One (2010).
Nele Dechmann
Nele Dechmann lives and works in Zurich. As a practicing architect she makes tailor-made solutions, whilst combining different logical systems into a new entity. In Berlin she co-planned a contemporary City Library with archaic solid brick-walls. A school in rural Madagascar was made by communicating with the local workers through axonometric projections not unlike instructions for model airplanes. In Zurich she built a hotel in a heritage building, which had to remain untouched outside and completely changed inside. As a researcher, she looks at different architectural typologies and how they were formed. Her dissertation analyses an international network that founded the "Costa Smeralda" in an undeveloped region in Sardinia from scratch. Her architecture and her publications were being published and awarded internationally.
Ortreport
Ortreport is a collective founded by Katrin Murbach (1984, Zurich Switzerland) and Fabian Jaggi (1982, Gstaad Switzerland). They are specialised in site-specific research, interventions and happenings in different environments. Together with the local community and lateral thinkers they find and touch the nerve of spatial situations. They collaborate with theaters and public institutions constructing temporary spaces in public sites. They co-designed the nomadic "House of Switzerland" which travelled throughout Europe. One of the recent projects took them to Johannesburg, where they investigated the modernist skyscrapers of the African metropolis. They are teaching at F+F school for Art and Design and Zurich University of the Arts.
Oct 5 – Dec 8, 2018
Responsibility Towards Creation (Oct 5–Dec 8) – a new model of open dialogue on societal responsibility
swissnex Salon: Opening Night
Celebrate the opening of the swissnex Salon with a keynote on technology and democratic values, dance performances, ...
Connecting Switzerland and San Francisco through events and exhibitions.
Pier 17, Suite 800
T: (415) 912 5901
© 2020 swissnex San Francisco. All rights reserved.


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The Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Celebrates Another Remarkable Annual Meeting
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society's 17th Annual Meeting was held virtually the second year in a row and was once again phenomenally successful. Over 1,000 attendees around the world engaged in lively discussions and learned about groundbreaking developments in a broad range of oligonucleotide-based disciplines. The Rare Diseases Session featured progress […]
'The Client is King': Rothzerg Launches New Digital Transformation Agency
Internationally sought-after developer, Emre Rothzerg, shares his approach to centring business around people – not profits. MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emre Rothzerg officially announces the launch of his people-oriented digital agency, offering clients a range of services to help them stand out in the crowded online space. "Whether your digital dream is […]
Soaring Fuel, Food Prices Hitting the Vulnerable in Myanmar
An unprecedented plunge in the value of Myanmar's currency, the kyat, has driven up the prices of key imported commodities, placing basic commodities ranging from auto fuel to cooking oil beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens.The dollar exchange r…
Taiwan President to Pledge Defense of Sovereignty, Democracy
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will pledge to defend the island's sovereignty and democracy in a major speech Sunday, saying it faces challenges more complex and severe than ever, at a time when tensions with China have risen.Democratic Taiwan, claimed …
Hong Kong's Boy Band Mirror Reflects Expats' Yearning for Home
Jenny Chan strode through central London on a late summer Saturday afternoon, heading for the South Bank Lion statue opposite Big Ben.There, by the River Thames, the 57-year-old mother and her two children joined a group of fellow Hong Kong expats who …
Philippine Nobel Winner Ressa Calls Facebook 'Biased Against Facts'
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa used her new prominence to criticize Facebook as a threat to democracy, saying the social media giant fails to protect against the spread of hate and disinformation and is "biased against facts."The veteran journali…
China Restricts Abortions to Counter Shrinking Population
After three decades of abortions during the one-child era, the procedure advertised in China as "safe, quick and painless" at bus stops, in magazines and on flyers is now facing restrictions.In the newly issued Guidance on Women's Development 2021-2030…
Draft Law on Public-Private Partnerships Endorsed by Cabinet Ministers
Cabinet meeting held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen approved the draft law on public-private partnerships to promote the partnerships between the two parties.The draft law, composed of…
China Presses US to Cancel Tariffs
China said on Saturday that it had pressed the United States to eliminate tariffs in talks between the countries' top trade officials that Washington saw as a test of bilateral engagement between the world's biggest economies.The virtual talks between …
COVID-19: 220 New Cases, but 537 New Recoveries
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This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the services offered by our healthcare facility.
Does Villa Serena provide any services under contractual agreements with the Italian National Health Service?
Yes, most specialist check-ups and diagnostic examinations provided by our facility are covered by contractual agreements with the Italian National Health Service.
How can I schedule an appointment or an examination?
Specialist outpatient services can be scheduled in person at the Central Appointments Office of our healthcare facility head office or by telephone, by calling the call centre on 085 95.901 and choosing option 1.
When scheduling an appointment, it is important to have your doctor's referral note readily available.
•	Saturday: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
For blood tests no booking is necessary. You can go directly to the reception desk from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 9:30 am. Information about costs, timings and payment methods as well as, if necessary, how to prepare for examinations is provided upon request. If you can't reach the call centre, you can leave a voice message on the answering machine specifying your name, request and telephone number, and Villa Serena personnel will call you back.
To cancel an appointment, you can call the call centre on 085 95.901 and push the "Cancellation" option button. If you can't reach the call centre, you can leave a voice message on the answering machine specifying your name, request and telephone number, and Villa Serena personnel will call you back to schedule another appointment.
How can I collect a medical report?
For specialist visits and some diagnostic tests (ultrasound, doppler echocardiography, gastrointestinal endoscopy, electromyography, audiometry, visual field test, electrocardiography, cardiac stress test, uroflowmetry), you will receive the report at the end of the visit or test.
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
In case of collection by a person other than yourself, you must sign an authorisation letter. In addition to the authorisation letter, the person collecting the report will need to produce a copy or the original id document of either the authorising or the authorised person. Alternatively, you can ask the reception desk to send the report via registered letter or courier.
Blood Test results are available for collection the same day, whenever possible, or in the shortest possible time.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Computed Tomography and traditional radiology reports (except for panoramic radiography) are issued free of charge, in digital format on CD, or upon payment for traditional film versions.
In the pre-admission process, patients undergo all the examinations and visits necessary to determine their suitability for the surgery planned in just one day.
On the day indicated by the admission office, the patient must arrive at the reception desk located on the ground floor of the healthcare facility at 7 am on an empty stomach.
After reception, the following services are carried out.
The visit end time may vary depending on the time when results are ready (examinations carried out on the same day) and the number of people waiting. So, we kindly ask for your understanding in the case of longer waiting times. Please note that our healthcare facility features a café and a restaurant on the ground floor. If you leave the premises even for a short time, it is always advisable to inform the healthcare personnel.
In exceptional cases, services may go on until late afternoon.
Once the above examinations are complete, the patient can leave the healthcare facility.
How can I request the copy of the medical record?
The copy of the medical record can be requested when leaving the hospital or at a later date. In the former case, you must go to the reception desk with a valid identity document and the discharge letter issued by the discharging department.
-at the reception desks by the person concerned showing a valid identity document, or by an authorised person showing a written authorisation letter and a valid identity document of the authorising or the authorised person.
In case of a deceased patient, the copy can be requested by any relative by showing their request, the identity document, a copy of the death certificate (in case of death outside the healthcare facility) and a self-declaration stating their relationship to the deceased.
The ordinary request of a copy of the medical record is generally processed within 30 days from receiving the request.
As an alternative to calling, you can cancel an admission request by leaving a voice message on the answering machine and specifying your name, phone number and the service booked.
How can I apply for admission to the Hospital Intensive Rehabilitation Department?
4.	directly from the individual's home upon authorisation by the Medical Assessment Unit.
Cases 2 and 3 require a discharge letter containing the request to proceed with the "code 56" rehabilitation admission treatments and the Italian National Health Service's referral signed by the Hospital doctor or by the GP.
Case 4 requires a prior assessment by the Medical Assessment Unit (UVM) of the local health authority (ASL) you belong to.
How can I request the admission certificate?
The health certificate for work purposes is requested directly by the Department, filled in online by the doctor and entered into the INPS (Italian National Institute of Social Security) portal.
•	send the request by fax to 085 95.90.323 attaching the copy of a valid identity document and specifying their address, in case of physical dispatch, or the fax number.
In case of authorisation, you must show your authorisation letter and identity document of the authorising or authorised person.
•	written information about medicines they take regularly.
Clothes for admission must be as basic as possible: we recommend a nightgown or pyjamas, socks, slippers and dressing gowns. Patients requiring rehabilitation must bring a tracksuit and non-slip closed shoes. Patients should not forget to bring at least two changes of clothes, all necessary personal hygiene products and paper napkins and tissues, if possible.
How can I request the true copy of an invoice?
In order to receive the true copy of an invoice, the patient must turn up at the reception desk with a valid identity document. Alternatively, another person can collect the copy by submitting a written authorisation and an identity document of the authorising or authorised person.
If required, the patient must pay a revenue stamp of 2 Euros to certify the conformity to the original and collect it after a few days.
Does Villa Serena provide accommodation packages upon payment?
Patients can enjoy higher levels of comfort during their hospital stay by purchasing an optional accommodation package which includes the following services: single room, television, telephone and a wider menu instead of the basic one (unless otherwise specified by the doctor).
Another chargeable service is the opportunity for the patient to have a person staying with them. For information on rates, contact the reception office.
What agreements are in place with other organizations?
The agreement can be direct (service booking, authorisation by the company the agreement is with, payment of reduced exemption) or indirect (booking, examinations, payment at reduced rates and subsequent reimbursement by the company the agreement is with).
How can I access the café and restaurant services?
Located on the ground floor of the central building, the bar "Grigiorosso" is open every day from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and the restaurant is open from Monday to Friday and on Sunday from 12:30 to 14:30 pm. You can book a table at the restaurant by either calling 085 9590311 (direct number) or contacting the bar on 085 9590200.
Does the healthcare facility have agreements in place with hotels?
To reduce the accommodation costs for people coming from other provinces and/or patients' relatives/accompanying people, Villa Serena healthcare facility has stipulated some agreements with different accommodation facilities nearby.
To take advantage of the reduced rates, you must submit the dedicated form to the accommodation facility, which must be requested by the patient at the Admission booking office. This form certifies that the patient has undergone a diagnostic and treatment process at our healthcare facility.
Villa Serena healthcare facility only works as a link and regularly updates this list. No economic or other kind of relationship is established with the beneficiary or with the accommodation facility.


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Heads, You Win
The League Cup semi-final against Danny Lennon's spirited St. Mirren side ended with another Hampden let-down from a Celtic team which is getting to the stage where it can be relied upon to under-perform in do-or-die matches where victory is expected.
Last season's League Cup Final was a fairly evenly contested game for the most part but Kilmarnock got the breakthrough and deserved to edge it in the end. But there's no doubting that Celtic didn't do themselves justice. The Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts was another occasion in which the Hoops looked as if they had forgotten how to do their jobs.
Ross County's stunning upset at the same stage of the same tournament was well deserved on their part but it was a mystery that Celtic played so badly when they were in the middle of a superb winning streak in the league and should have had great confidence in their ability to overcome their First Division opponents.
This season, although Celtic eventually knocked Arbroath out of the Scottish Cup at the second time of asking, the performances in both matches belied the colossal gap in the status and resources of the two clubs.
Many supporters would add to this list a severe disappointment in the Highlands a couple of years ago when Celtic seemed to be strong favourites to win the SPL until they lost an away match in Inverness. We should bear in mind, in fairness to the Highlanders, that they have consistently presented a difficult challenge to every club that visits them and it was Celtic's turn to be ambushed that night but the result was still a shock. Personally though, I strongly maintain that the fix was in that season to ensure that Murray's fraudulent enterprise got first dibs at the Champions League booty. The refereeing in that particular match was McCurryesque. That was a big factor in the ultimate result, not only in that match but also in the final league standings.
But there is no denying that Celtic have regularly failed to show the hunger and will to win which the supporters are entitled to expect of the team. There can no longer be any doubt that this is true. I think it is highly significant that after the match Neil Lennon stated in an interview that some of the players were like spoilt children in the first half. That is a very strong – and not entirely inaccurate – criticism of the side's thoroughly abject display but it is also very unusual for a manager to say such a thing in public. It makes me suspect that he has tired of regularly feeling duty bound to shield players from well deserved criticism in the wake of performances which are far short of what is rightly expected from them. However, I don't think it addresses the core problem. More on that later.
As far as the league is concerned, there has been criticism of the fact that Celtic haven't won as many points this season as they had at the same stage of the last title campaign. I couldn't care less how many points Celtic accrue so long as we end up with more than anyone else. Celtic fans are well aware of the nine-in-a-row which Jock Stein's sides achieved. I doubt if there's one fan in a hundred who could say how many points Celtic won in each of those years.
When Wim Jansen's team won the league title in 1998 with 74 points and stopped the nine-in-a-row achievement from being surpassed, I don't remember a single Celtic supporter who grieved over the fact that Tommy Burns side had won more points in each of the previous two seasons while finishing second. (75 and 83, to save everybody looking it up.)
What matters is winning the title.
So I'm prepared to cut the team some slack in the league because, highly paid or otherwise, there is a limit to the amount of physical wear and tear which professional footballers can withstand over the course of a season. A successful quadruple campaign would require at least sixty-five games. The possibility of cup-tie replays and representative call-ups could easily take that total above seventy. It's too much to expect any player to perform in every one of those games at the required standard so I'm glad that we have the opportunity to use squad rotation to rest players who need a break. The fact that several points may be dropped without fatally damaging the title quest is nothing but good news in my book.
But in one-off, knock-out cup-ties, there's a different set of criteria altogether and I don't think the players have developed the correct mentality for these competitions. This is underlined to a certain degree by the fact that Celtic very rarely win a match in which they've lost the first goal. Games can be lost on the way to winning league championships but not in the course of a triumphant cup campaign.
Recent Celtic teams have not shown that they have the ability to deal consistently with the pressure of playing in a match which they can't afford to lose, most especially against opponents who set out to exploit that factor. There have been a few notable exceptions but Celtic's best performances have generally come in games where they have felt that they have nothing to lose and lots to gain.
The current Celtic side has a number of good qualities but it only overcomes its numerous deficiencies when every player's work rate, self-belief and resolve are at a very high level. It's the players' responsibility to ensure that they rise to that standard every time they are called upon to discharge their professional responsibilities. If they're not self-motivated, they're wasting everybody's time.
The first-team coach can only encourage them and give them an opportunity to show that they are up to that challenge. If they don't have the correct approach to their work, they need to look at themselves instead of hiding behind the management team. I expect that there are at least a dozen current Celtic players who are being honest with themselves tonight about why they froze this afternoon but they might not necessarily know how to find a solution.
It appears to me that the fear of losing to underdogs strongly inhibits the present side. Too many players tighten up and, as their performance consequently suffers, so the prospect of defeat further erodes their self-confidence and they enter into a negative feedback loop. Losing the first goal highly exacerbates the problem. The downward spiral continues as players begin to panic or show petulant signs of frustration. These responses in their turn further reinforce the sense of impending doom and self-doubt. Opponents sense this and are inspired to raise their own game still further, buoyed by the growing belief that they have the psychological upper hand. Meanwhile, baffled coaches watch from the technical area, trying to understand why under-performing players are behaving like "spoilt children" or why they don't seem to have the same hunger as their opponents.
This is where I would have hoped and expected Jim McGuinness to earn his corn as part of Celtic's coaching staff but I fear that his role is currently limited to working with youth players. I feel that Celtic would lose nothing by looking in the direction of professional advice from a successful sports psychologist to address some of the recurring issues that are afflicting the team. These regular pratfalls can no longer be dismissed as blips or off-days. They're a direct result of well researched and fairly well understood mental processes and states of mind which need to be, and can be, adjusted with suitable programmes, specifically designed for each individual player.
Football is still years behind other sports in this field but Celtic could do a lot worse than to make room for a Head Teacher in the first-team coaching staff.
Tags: Celtic, Hampden Park, Heart of Midlothian FC, Hearts, Henry Clarson, Inverness, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, Jim McGuinness, Jock Stein, Kilmarnock FC, League champions, psychology, Ross County, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, SPL, Sports Psychology, St. Mirren, Tommy Burns, Wim Jansen
Exposing The EBT Effect
After coming a poor second to a newly resurgent Celtic side the season before, Rangers entered the following season (2001-2002) determined to make up the lost ground by fair means or foul. They illegally used EBTs to pay the wages of players whom they could not otherwise have afforded. The spent lavishly to acquire the services of players such as Shota Arveladze, Christian Nelinger, Claudio Cannigia and Michael Ball. I know. Stop tittering there at the back, please.
Neil Doncaster continues to pretend that this is not a matter of the greatest importance as he delays the release of the findings of the SPL investigation into the use of improperly registered players by Rangers. Here is a glimpse of what he is hiding.
The Rangers team which took part in the 2001-2002 season fielded ineligible players in all competitions. By the rules of the game, each of the results involving these players should be amended to a 0-3 Rangers defeat.
Yet Rangers official results in domestic competitions still stand in contravention of the rules of the game.
In the SPL, the other teams recorded these results in their games against Rangers.
Rangers' score is given second in each case.
For comparison, results in parentheses have been adjusted to take integrity into account.
Aberdeen took zero points from 12 with a goal difference of -8:
GD . . . -8 (+12) Turnaround in the real world = 20 goals.
Pts . . . 0 (12) AFC should have had 12 more points according to the rules.
Celtic took 8/12:
GD . . . +3 (+12) Turnaround = 9 goals.
Pts . . . 8 (12) Should have had 4 more points.
Dunfermline:
GD . . . -9 (+12) Turnaround = 21 goals.
Pts . . . 1 (12) Should have had 11 more points.
Hearts:
Livingston:
Kilmarnock:
GD . . . -7 (+9) Turnaround = 16 goals.
Pts . . . 1 (9) Should have had 8 more points.
Kilmarnock would have made the top six if Rangers' improper registrations had come to light before the split.
Oh. And if any of the SPL office bearers had had the balls to apply the rules.
Dundee United:
Dundee:
Hibernian:
Motherwell:
St. Johnstone:
The final league table, adjusted for integrity, sees Rangers finishing in the relegation spot on zero points with a goal difference of -114.
Aberdeen would finish second instead of fourth. Every other club finishes one place higher except Livingstone who remain third. St. Johnstone would survive in the top flight for at least another season. Kilmarnock, as previously mentioned, would finish in the top half of the table.
Neil Doncaster ignores all of this and still peddles the preposterous notion that there is a place in the SPL for these cheats.
Let's look at the cups. Rangers, through the efforts of their otherwise unaffordable players (who were not properly registered and therefore not eligible to play), 'won' both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Because of their rules breaches, they should have been disqualified after their first tie in each competition with their opponents being awarded a 3-0 win. So that's a 3-0 win for Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Cup and 3-0 for the late Airdrieonians in the League Cup. As well as being eliminated from the cup competitions, Rangers would have missed out on their half of the gate receipts from the subsequent illegitimate ties. That's just short of 100,000 paying customers for the League Cup and more than 130,000 for the Scottish Cup. Those tickets were sold on a fraudulent basis.
Rangers interest in the Champions League should have ended at the beginning of August with Maribor progressing at their expense. Chalk off one 50,000 home gate for Rangers bore draw a week later against Fenerbahce.
Another 144,000 people would not have been pouring money into David Murray's crooked club if Rangers had been correctly disqualified from the UEFA Cup after fielding ineligible players against Anzhi Makhachkala in the first round. Nor would there have been any income from television coverage of matches which would not and should not have taken place.
Neil Doncaster is aware of all of this information but continues to be the poltroon for the cheats who put him in place to try to shield themselves from the consequences of their massive con trick.
Tags: Aberdeen FC, Celtic, Celtic FC, Champions League, Christian Nerlinger, Claudio Cannigia, Dundee FC, Dundee United FC, Dunfermline Athletic FC, EBTs, Heart of Midlothian FC, Hearts, Henry Clarson, Hibernian FC, Hibs, Kilmarnock FC, League Cup, Livingstone FC, Motherwell FC, Neil Doncaster, Rangers, RFC, scandal, Scottish Cup, Scottish footaball, St. Johnstone FC, UEFA, UEFA Cup
Scottish Cup Final Special
Today at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the oldest national football trophy in the world will be presented to the victorious captain at the end of the final of the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup. Eighty teams will have been eliminated over the course of eight rounds of the tournament by the time the winning team receives the prize and parades it to their rapturous supporters.
For reasons which have never been made clear to me, there is a mysterious requirement nowadays to distract attention from the presentation by means of a mass orgy of litter-dropping so millions of tiny pieces of foil are scattered over the playing field while the players are dwarfed by irrelevant, forty-feet-high inflatable figures, pumped full of hot gases.
Simultaneously, the stadium public address system attempts to overwhelm the spontaneous celebrations of the crowd by playing tedious recordings of generic team anthems. These are invariably far better and much more in keeping with the spirit of the occasion when they are sung unaccompanied by the crowd at the tempo and pitch of their own choosing. There is something distinctly sinister afoot when these control freaks can get away with drowning out the sound of a joyous football crowd at the climax of a major tournament.
I'm old school, I am.
It's always a downer when your team gets knocked out of the Cup. The disappointment of losing a cup tie is compounded by the realisation that when the teams run out onto the park on the day of the final, with tens of thousands of supporters cheering in anticipation, your own team's season will have already finished. For Kilmarnock there is some consolation today in that they can still savour the taste of their recent League Cup victory, which is the next best thing, so today's Hampden occasion will be more likely to remind them of their finest achievement in many years. For Celtic, the league champions, the Scottish Cup would have been an extra treat but the return of the SPL trophy to Celtic Park was always a higher priority than a successful defence of the trophy. Everyone else will watch the game, wondering what might have been and hoping that next year it will be their team in the spotlight for the show-piece finale to the season. (Note to Rangers supporters: Not you lot. This time next year you'll no longer have a team. Bad luck.)
Here it must be said that from the point of view of the neutral supporter, the 2012 Scottish Cup final is a rather appealing dish. Jam Tarts against Cabbage and Ribs. The Edinburgh Derby. Hearts versus Hibs. As the green and maroon hordes head west along the M8 today this is a prospect which many of us thought we would never live to see; for once, it might be possible to find a parking place in Edinburgh on a Saturday. For me, however, that's still not a good enough reason to go to Auld Reekie.
For Hibs supporters, today's final is probably a once in a lifetime occasion because the Hibees only win one Scottish Cup in each century. Those supporters who are under the age of one hundred and ten – which may well be the majority of them – missed the opportunity to be amongst the 16,000 crowd which saw Andy McGeachan score the only goal of the 1902 final. (A suspicion of offside, I thought, from where I was standing but it was a hard one to call.) Could this be the moment when the men from Leith finally equal Vale of Leven's proud record of three (3) Scottish Cup successes? Or will they collect their tenth set of runners-up medals and keep the Scottish Cup interest alive for the rest of the century?
Hearts will obviously be hot favourites, having won all of their previous Scottish Cup finals against Hibs as well as every Edinburgh derby in the league since colour television was introduced. Even though Lee Wallace is still mysteriously unavailable, all they really have to do is turn up on the day, play their normal game and the Cup will be theirs for the taking. Therefore they will probably choke, throw away a couple of goals in the last few minutes and burst into tears when the final whistle blows.
I'm actually looking forward to watching this game. A Scottish Cup final between Hibs and Hearts in front of a capacity crowd is undoubtedly an attractive fixture and will make for very good television. Those who are unfortunate enough to have tickets for the game itself can tune in to the radio coverage to find out what is happening on the pitch or follow twitter for regular updates. One or two of the lucky ones might even have seats from which it is possible to see the game, especially if they can catch sight of one of the television monitors. Come what may, both teams will be relieved that they haven't also made it to the final of the Champions League, with all the travel issues and logistical problems which that could have caused, especially if this afternoon's game goes to extra time and penalties.
A very wise man recently pointed out how much money Scottish clubs have lost out on over the last decade and a half through the skulduggery with dual contracts over at Ibrox stadium. In Hibernian's case, the figure is anywhere between a minimum of £3.6 million up to a potential sum of £34.8 million. Hearts have been even harder done by. They have lost out on a minimum of £6.2 million and a top figure of an eye-watering £72.3 million. If the two Edinburgh clubs had actually received the prize money which their own, honest efforts had entitled them to, the line-ups at Hampden Park today would probably look very different. Who can say that players such as Scott Brown, Craig Gordon, Gary Caldwell, Ricardo Fuller or Steven Whittaker would not be turning out today if £100 million had found its rightful home over the last few years? What other players might either side have signed with that kind of money? Is it out of the question that one of today's finalists might have been taking to the field today with a chance of doing the Double? Answers on the back of a dual contract please.
I recently tried, unsuccessfully, to register on a Hibernian forum to invite their supporters to name a possible starting XI which Hibs might have fielded today if they'd had the benefit of a few tens of millions of pounds to strengthen their playing squad. If any of them read this blog, I'd ask them to speculate in the comments section below and I'm putting the same question to the Jambos with regard to their team. Mind you, I suspect I haven't timed this request very well since they may have better things to attend to today.
Let's hope for a splendid final which shows the Scottish game in a good light. Let's all enjoy the occasion and hope for a memorable climax to a season in which the three major domestic trophies will find homes in the trophy rooms of three different clubs. Let us also take note of the fact that there will be a capacity crowd for a final which has caught the imagination of most of the Scottish football-following public. This will give us our first glimpse of the promising future of our domestic game, freed from the malign and corrupt influence of the tax-dodging, account-fiddling, dual-contract-peddling vampire club from Ibrox.
Today is a memorable day for the capital city's clubs. I hope their supporters make the most of it and I hope all of us are treated to an excellent and exciting cup final.
Tags: cabbage, Celtic, CQN, Edinburgh, football, Hampden, Hampden Park, Heart of Midlothian, Hearts, Henry Clarson, Hibees, Hibernian, Hibs, jam tarts, Jambos, Kilmarnock, Rangers, Scotland, Scottish Cup, Scottish football, SPL


Last October's government shutdown didn't stop one of our editors from summiting Mount Whitney on her birthday, but it definitely cost America's national parks and their surrounding communities some dough: $414 million in lost visitor spending, the Associated Press reports.
About 8 million fewer people—a 33.3 percent decline—visited national parks last October, due to the 16-day shutdown. A report released Monday by the National Park Service notes that five states, including California and Arizona, lost more than $20 million during that time. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which stretches across Tennessee and North Carolina, received 329,104 fewer visitors than average.
Six states—Arizona, Colorado, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah—received permission to reopen parks during the shutdown and were able to generate approximately $10 for every dollar visitors spent. Congress will review a bill to reimburse those states.
"It is not known how people intending to visit NPS or other federal lands near gateway communities may have modified their travel plans during and after the shutdown," the report states. "Therefore, estimating the overall total change in visitation and spending impacts to NPS gateway communities associated with the government shutdown is beyond the scope of this analysis. This summary focuses on the more immediate changes in visitor spending associated with October NPS visitation in the gateway regions and does not estimate job, labor income, or output impacts, which are typically considered longer-term effects."


text:
Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2020
The relative conservation impact of strategies that prioritize biodiversity representation, threats, and protection costs
Sacre, Edmond; Weeks, Rebecca; Bode, Michael; Pressey, Robert L.
Read fulltext (pdf) Read online at publisher's website (may require login)
Despite exponential increases in the coverage of protected areas (PAs) over recent decades, global biodiversity continues to decline. One explanation for this lack of success is that the efficacy of conservation prioritization strategies is rarely measured in terms of conservation "impact," which requires comparing proposed PA networks to a counterfactual scenario in which no intervention is applied. This approach contrasts with measuring efficacy using surrogates for conservation impact, such as the extent, total biodiversity value, or representativeness of a proposed PA network. However, implementing an experimental counterfactual scenario is difficult because of time, funding, and ethical constraints. Here, we use an alternative and complementary approach: anex-postanalysis with counterfactual outcomes measured using historical empirical data on changes in biodiversity in unprotected landscapes. This approach allows for the comparison of different retrospectively implemented prioritization strategies to a real counterfactual outcome. In our analysis, we predict the impact of several alternative PA prioritization strategies in Queensland, Australia, using high-resolution datasets of vegetation clearing, habitat type, and land acquisition cost. Our results show that achieving conventional conservation targets does not equate to achieving impact, and that alternative, and relatively simple, prioritization strategies can achieve far greater impacts.
conservation costs; conservation impact; counterfactual; protected areas; Queensland; representation; spatial prioritization; systematic conservation planning; threats; vegetation clearing
Conservation science and practice
2020, volume: 2, number: 8, article number: e221
Sacre, Edmond
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
Weeks, Rebecca
Bode, Michael
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Pressey, Robert L.
SDG15 Life on land
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.221
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105862


text:
Managing mangroves with benthic biodiversity in mind: Moving beyond roving banditry
A. M. Ellison
This review addresses mangrove management activities in the broader context of the diversity of the mangrove benthos. Goals for mangrove ecosystem management include silviculture, aquaculture, or 'ecosystem services' such as coastal protection. Silvicultural management of mangroves generally neglects the benthos, although benthic invertebrates may affect tree establishment and growth, and community composition of benthic invertebrates may be a reliable indicator of the state of managed mangrove forests. Similarly, mangrove aquaculture focuses on particular species with little attention paid either to impacts on other trophic levels or to feedbacks with the trees. Exploitation of mangrove-associated prawns, crabs, and molluscs has a total economic value >US $4 billion per year. These aquaculture operations still rely on wild-collected stock; world-wide patterns of exploitation fit the well-known process of 'roving banditry', where mobile agents move from location to location, rapidly exploiting and depleting local resources before moving on to other, as-yet unprotected grounds. Collection of brood stock and fishing for other external inputs required by aquaculture (e.g., 'trash fish') removes intermediate trophic levels from marine food webs, may destabilize them, and lead to secondary extinctions of higher-order predators. Increased attention being paid to the role of mangroves in coastal protection following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami provides an opportunity to reassess the relative merits of management focused on short-term economic gains. Managing for ecosystem services may ultimately preserve benthic biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems.
A benthic community is a group of organisms that live on, in or near a seabed.
Mangroves play a crucial role in ecosystems: "The mangrove macrobenthos - those species that live in mangrove muds or depend on mangroves for all or part of their life-cycle - encompasses a number of phyla, including Porifera (sponges), Mollusca (molluscs), Arthropoda (crabs, lobsters, prawns, etc.), Annelida (segmented worms), Nematoda (roundworms), Sipunculoidea (peanutworms), Platyhelminthes (flatworms), and ascidians within the Chordata"(3-4).
The following reasons have been presented against prawn, mollusk and crab aquaculture:
"First, prawn aquaculture generally requires destruction of mangroves for construction of rearing ponds (Sathirathai and Barbier, 2001; Barbier and Cox, 2004; Islam and Wahab, 2005)…Second, water pollution from intensive prawn farms negatively impacts adjacent mangrove ecosystems…Third, the area of mangrove required to support a 'fishery' of gravid P. monodon spawners for generating prawn 'seed' for stocking ponds in which intensive prawn aquaculture is practiced is ∼ 11 times the pond area (Rönnbäck et al., 2003)….Fourth, white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is now established in shrimp ponds throughout the world"(7).
"Although the Matang mangrove forest is managed at a constant 40 000 ha, cockle production in 2004 was only 50% of its historic high of 121 000 tonnes in 1980 and accounted for only 14%of Southeast Asian production (total production value: US $435 Million [FAO, 2006]) in that same year (Fig. 5 top)" (7).
"Of the seven countries with significant production data in the FAO (2006) database (excluding Brunei Darussalam, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka, each of which did not produce more than 2 t/y between 1950 and 2004), five have passed their peaks of production (Fig. 6): Taiwan in 1983, Thailand in 1986, Singapore in 1993, Malaysia in 1995, and Australia in 1998"(8).
It is difficult to stop certain forms of aquaculture because there are no economic incentives to aquaculture companies to conserve mangroves: "What is clear is that patterns of P. monodon production are similar to 'slash-and-burn' agriculture in rain forests…Such 'roving bandits' can persist because they have no connection to local communities and no incentive to manage sustainably a local resource. They cut mangroves, establish prawn ponds, exhaust them before regulators can catch up and respond appropriately, and then move on to another country and repeat the process"(7).
The following recommendations for mangrove deforestation mitigation are given at the end of the article: "Key changes required include: the termination of economic subsidies for aquaculture; enforced, legal requirements that effluent from aquaculture ponds be treated prior to release into surrounding ecosystems; and restrictions on the ability of ' roving bandits' to convert untitled mangrove forests to private aquaculture operations serving the global marketplace"(11).
Barbier, E.B., Cox, M., 2004. An economic analysis of shrimp farm expansion and mangrove conversion in Thailand. Land Econ. 80, 389–407.
FAO, 2006. FISHSTAT Plus: Universal software for fishery statistical time series, version 2.3.1. FAO Fisheries Department, Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Unit.
Islam, M.S., Wahab, M.A., 2005. A review on the present status and management of mangrove wetland habitat resources in Bangladesh with emphasis on mangrove fisheries and aquaculture. Hydrobiologia 542, 165–190.
Rönnbäck, P., Troell, M., Zetterström, T., Babu, D.E., 2003. Mangrove dependence and socio-economic concerns in shrimp hatcheries of Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ. Conserv. 30, 344–352.
Sathirathai, S., Barbier, E.B., 2001. Valuing mangrove conservation in southern Thailand. Contemp. Econ. Policy 19, 109–122.


text:
Herkimer Village Board authorizes survey
David Robinson
The Herkimer Village Board on Monday authorized a survey to determine once and for all if the municipality owns a portion of property adjacent to the Willow Avenue extension off of East German Street.
The survey, which is not to exceed a cost of $1,000, is necessary because of inconsistencies between a deed for the roughly 300 to 400 feet and the tax map, according to Village Attorney Nicholas Macri.
However, the outcome of the survey could have much costlier implications related to the village's $650,000 proposal to fill in the Hydraulic Canal — which runs through the parcel in question.
If the village does own the property and decides to add it to any canal improvements it could cost as much as $160,000, according to Trustee Katie Nichols. But the additional cost would partially be offset through the elimination from the application of a previously completed Steuben Hill Bridge project (which was finished due to state mandate), she added.
Canal sections from German to Suiter streets and Folts to Green streets are part of the current proposal in the engineering design phase with consultant Ward Associates, of Little Falls.
The village's project involves installing culvert piping to improve drainage and filling it in with dirt, according to Michael Rizzo, project manager with Ward Associates. Benefits include eliminating standing water and dumping, which can cause health hazards with mosquitos and rodents; along with decreased flood risk and a potential parking lot addition at the southern end, Rizzo added.
Duane Miller, county tax map technician, has said a deed from 2002-03 confirms village ownership of the canal roughly 400 feet beyond East German Street.
Macri recommended the survey after informing the board of his discovery of confusion related to the deed and tax map.


text:
Q: MySQL database structure and security I'm new to MySQL, I've created my first data driven website but have some questions about how to best structure it for multiple users.
To explain:
The website allows companies to keep track of promotions they are offering. Many companies will use the website and from each company there will be many promotions and many users. The database will contain several table describing the products being offered, sales data etc.
Assuming they successfully login,I assume it's best for each company's info to be stored in separate databases, I see three options for how to structure the data:

*

*Should I also have a distinct database for each promotion?(This will lead to a very large number of databases).

*Would it be better to only have a single database with data from all promotions appended within the same tables and distinguished the records with a column describing the promotion id? (This strikes me as the simplest conceptually, however, with this approach the tables would become large, and when the user sorts the tables they will have to sort data from all promotions even though they are only interested in a single promotion)

*Or should I have a single database and create separate tables for each promotion, perhaps by adding the promotion name as a suffix.(This will lead to a very large number of tables within the database over time as each company may have 100 promotions a year).

Sorry for the long question, any help appreciated.
Thanks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Problem With Self-Driving Cars That No One Is Talking About
L C David
L.C. David is a freelance writer from Florida whose hobbies include watching others enjoy boat rides, theme park rides, and car rides.
It's a common condition that may keep many from enjoying self driving cars.
Pixabay Public Domain
According to Business Insider, there may be 10 million self-driving cars on the road by 2020. Predictions of fewer traffic accidents and less stress for drivers along with the rapid pace of development shows that the self-driving car is imminent.
But there is one group of people who looks at the self-driving car with less enthusiasm and more skepticism.
This group of people suffer from a condition that is so common you may not even think about it unless you suffer from it.
A Miserable Condition
The room starts spinning. Your heart beats faster. Your stomach tightens, and your head begins to ache. The clamminess begins to take over your body. You feel sweaty but cold and you realize that contents of your stomach may be returning very soon. You just want it to stop, and eventually it does.
"All riders please exit to your left."
You've just experienced motion sickness.
Why Do People Get Motion Sickness?
The science of motion sickness, according to a February 2015 article from The Atlantic, is up for debate. No one truly understands why some people get sick from the extra movement caused by boats, cars, or theme park rides.
Even Charles Darwin himself suffered from motion sickness and by details from letters to his father described it as a miserable experience. (The Atlantic, Feb. 2015)
From what doctors and researchers can understand, motion sickness occurs when the body gets mixed signals. For example, if your eyes are experiencing one type of movement (such as the movement in a motion simulator) and your body, particularly your inner ears, is not experiencing that same type of movement, it can create a disconnect, causing that awful, nauseous, clammy feeling associated with motion sickness. The inner ear is responsible for our balance, and mixed signals can throw off that balance in vulnerable people.
Why do some people get sick and others have very little issues? No one really knows, but genetics seems to play a key role.
For those who suffer from motion sickness, the world is often spinning.
Is There a Way to Relieve the Symptoms?
As a sufferer of severe motion sickness, I am one of the many who dread the rise of the self-driving car. I am the primary driver in my family. At theme parks, I hold their coats and browse the shops while they enjoy the rides. At the beach, I often get sick just floating and swimming in the waves.
The last time I went to the Keys, a snorkeling excursion out in those beautiful waters resulted in me laying on a bench on the boat, wishing for my life to be over as I felt my stomach roll with every wave.
Even as a child, my brother, sister, and I all suffered from motion sickness just riding in the car. My mother, the only one in the family who didn't have motion sickness, would try to drive very carefully, avoiding sudden stops and turns when she could. But she would invariably end up still cleaning up our regurgitated breakfast from the back seats.
As an adult, my motion sickness has only gotten worse. If I do ride with someone or venture on a theme park ride, I'm likely to pay for it for hours if not days with dizziness and nausea. Even traditional medicines such as Meclizine have only a token effect. They don't tend to prevent the sickness but rather help me to get over it more quickly.
We've been trying to combat the mysteries of motion sickness for a long time.
CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Why Would Self-Driving Cars Be a Problem?
People with motion sickness can often compensate for their issues by being in control of the motions. So riding in a car with someone may make them feel sick, partly because they can't fully control and anticipate the movements of steering and turning.
But if they drive the car, their brain knows ahead of time that they will be stopping. Their foot is braking and their body has learned that this means "stop." So the motion sickness can be reduced or eliminated as long as the sufferer is in control of the movements. It's when he or she lacks control and can't prepare for the changes in motion that the sickness emerges.
The self-driving car, while safer, cannot adapt to a motion sick passenger. Reports from those who have ridden in the self-driving cars say that the ride can be jerky at times. Brian Fung noted in an article from The Washington Post that "your head gets thrown back a bit as it accelerates like a teenager with a new license." He also notes that the braking can be a bit jerky.
While manufacturers say they are working on making the experience smoother, those details alone make my palms feel a bit sweaty.
The jerky ride of the car might be an annoyance for most riders, but for those of us with motion sickness, it means that this self-driving car better have a self-cleaning feature as well. It's going to need one if I have to ride in it.
You Can't Stop Progress
Ultimately, I know that I can't stop progress. Reducing traffic, accidents, and fatalities means that with self-driving cars, our roads will be safer and, for most people, lives will be easier.
But for those of us who suffer from the extreme effects of motion sickness, we are watching this progress with just a tiny bit of trepidation.
Maybe once the self driving car is mastered, those researchers can help find the cure for all the motion sickness they will ultimately be inducing.
Riding in a Self-Driving Car
Beck, Julie. (2015). "The Mysterious Science of Motion Sickness." The Atlantic.
Fung, Brian. (2016). "I rode in Google's self-driving car. This is what impressed me the most." Washington Post.
Greenough, John. (2015). "10 Million Self-Driving Cars Will Be On The Road By 2020." Business Insider.
© 2016 L C David
Jack Lee from Yorktown NY on January 13, 2018:
I would like them to test these vehicles on the street of Beijing. Like the song say...if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere...
Tamara Wilhite from Fort Worth, Texas on January 08, 2018:
Wait until hackers infect cars with malware - pay the ransom or you cannot go to work. Don't give them again, and they'll make the car extra jittery or lock you inside as the car goes to the police station.
Jack Lee from Yorktown NY on August 26, 2016:
That's an interesting take on the self driving issue. I am also a skeptic but more from a technology point of view. I just think they are underestimating the difficulty of putting these cars on the road and sharing it with traditional human drivers. I wrote a hub on this topic.
The holy grail of self driving vehicles.
L C David (author) from Florida on May 16, 2016:
Some of these cars that I read about while doing my research don't even have steering wheels.
You know how sometimes you are working on your computer and suddenly an update happens right then and shuts it down? I certainly hope that never happens with a self-driving car!
It's exciting, scary, and concerning!
Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on May 16, 2016:
I don't get motion sickness, but I'm not sure I like the idea of a self-driving car. Like you, I need to be in control. Not only that, software malfunctions all the time. What would happen if the software quit working while on the highway? Can the driver take over or will the car just stop moving? Then there's the cost of repairs. Holy Moly, can you imagine?


Reaman, Brandon hit by pitch.
BREDESON, Nick singled to pitcher.
IBARRA, Spencer homered to right center, 2 RBI; BREDESON, Nick scored.
GIANNINI, Tony singled to left field.
CALLERY, Connor singled to right center; GIANNINI, Tony advanced to second.
CALLERY, Connor stole second; GIANNINI, Tony stole third.
VAKUDA, Mateus doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI; CALLERY, Connor scored; GIANNINI, Tony scored.
BREDESON, Nick singled up the middle, RBI; VAKUDA, Mateus scored.
KAMRADA, Nick to p for BLESSING, Cory.
BOGGS, JT singled down the lf line; Reaman, Brandon advanced to third.
THURBER, Chase lined out to lf, sacrifice fly, RBI; Reaman, Brandon scored.
ROSE, Nick hit by pitch; BOGGS, JT advanced to second.
AGIUS, Kyle to p for EPLIN, Josh.
KLEIN, Michael singled through the left side.
ROTT, Rudy hit by pitch; KLEIN, Michael advanced to second.
GIANNINI, Tony walked; ROTT, Rudy advanced to second; KLEIN, Michael advanced to third.
CALLERY, Connor flied out to rf, sacrifice fly, RBI; ROTT, Rudy advanced to third; KLEIN, Michael scored.
ARTHUR, Tyler to p for AGIUS, Kyle.
WRIGHT, Kasey to dh for BOGGS, JT.
MARTINEZ, Santiago to 3b for GERHOLD, Sam.
CLAFLIN, Casey to c for DITO, Andrew.
DVORSCAK, Matt to 2b for HELTON, Christian.
NUNEZ, Chris to cf for MARSHALL, Blake.
JAMES, Jesse to p for ARTHUR, Tyler.
GIANNINI, Tony advanced to second on a wild pitch.
CALLERY, Connor singled to pitcher, RBI; GIANNINI, Tony scored.
VAKUDA, Mateus doubled to left field, RBI; CALLERY, Connor scored.
FINKLER, Tyler singled to left center, RBI; VAKUDA, Mateus scored.
FINKLER, Tyler advanced to second on a wild pitch.
PIECHNICK, Tanner to c for BREDESON, Nick.
ROSE, Nick doubled to right center.
MARTINEZ, Santiago reached first on a fielding error by 2b.
KNITTEL, Brady to p for JAMES, Jesse.
GARCIA, Devon pinch hit for IBARRA, Spencer.
SARGENT, Ryan to rf for ROTT, Rudy.
MCMANN, Connor to lf for BOURN, Evan.
CUNNINGHAM, Gus to 3b for CALLERY, Connor.
REAMAN, Cameron to rf for Reaman, Brandon.
SPANO, Joe to p for KNITTEL, Brady.
MCMANN, Connor advanced to second on a balk.
SMITH, Tyler to 2b for VAKUDA, Mateus.
WELLS, Austin pinch hit for ROSE, Nick.
THURBER, Chase advanced to second.
WEISENBERGER, Mike to p for SPANO, Joe.
FINKLER, Tyler singled to center field.
FINKLER, Tyler advanced to second.
MROSLA, Anthony pinch hit for KLEIN, Michael.
ROEHN, Jake to p for JACIK, Logan.
DVORSCAK, Matt singled to left field.