Just one year after the final phase of an ambitious operation to rid Desecheo NWR of introduced, damaging (invasive) rats, conservation biologists have confirmed that these predators are absent from the island, and the operation was a success. This project, the largest conservation operation of its kind to date in the region, would enable the island to return to its former and rightful status: the most important seabird colony in the region. The refuge lost this status due to the presence of invasive mammals for almost a century.
Desecheo NWR was once the largest Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) and seabird breeding colony in all the Caribbean. Its storied history includes early Western observers (circa 1878) documenting strange black clouds above this towering island 13 miles west of Puerto Rico. As those explorers neared the islands, the "clouds" came into focus, turning out to be a cacophony of tens of thousands of seabirds.
Unfortunately, invasive mammals, including goats and rats, began to impact Desecheo NWR early in the 20th century. Around and during the time of World War II, the island was used as an artillery range by the US Air Force. That and the invasive species' damage to Desecheo's ecosystem have been severe, and by the turn of the millennium, virtually no seabirds were using the refuge.
In response, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Island Conservation, and other key partners, including the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Bell Laboratories and Tomcat, have made the island safe once again for seabirds, the island's endemic lizards (Ameiva desechensis, Anolis desechensis, and Sphaerodactylus levinsi), three endemic arachnids, and the federally Threatened Higo Chumbo cactus (Harrisia portoricensis)!
"It is with great excitement that we announce this historic conservation achievement; the operations to rid Desecheo NWR of damaging invasive rats is a success," said Susan Silander, Project Leader of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. "For many years, in collaboration with all our partners, we have fully invested our time and spirit to successfully achieve these results for the benefit of the refuge and its native animals. We hope such efforts will serve as an example to other conservation entities doing similar types of work.
Island Conservation's José Luis Herrera, Confirmation Monitoring Trip Leader reported that Desecheo had experienced a lot of rain this spring, which, combined with the absence of rats, allowed the team to observe an island that was thriving like they had never seen!
The team also observed increasing numbers of Threatened Higo Chumbo cactus—some flowering and fruiting. Desecheo's recovery is critically important for this rare cactus because it its range is extremely limited with only two natural populations outside of the refuge. The removal of invasive rats from Desecheo offers hope for the recovery of this vulnerable species.
Desecheo NWR has seen many stewards over the years, including Spain, Puerto Rico, the US Military (military training activities), the National Institute of Health (N.I.H.) for medical research, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
At one time, the largest Brown Booby nesting colony in the world. Today, little seabird nesting takes place on the island.
The native forest (which includes the Threatened Higo Chumbo cactus) has been severely degraded by introduced rats, and goats.
Much of the rocky terrain is covered by a native forest adapted to a dry climate. Large Gumbo Limbo trees are common in interior valleys while a variety of cactus species, including the Endangered threatened Higo Chumbo, form a part of the thorny scrub vegetation covering the steep coastal slopes.
Island Conservation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing extinctions by removing invasive species from islands, is a partner with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the plan to restore Desecheo Island by removing invasive rats.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Please visit the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/refuges.
Funding for this project has been provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Island Conservation through many private donors, including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, US Federal wildlife conservation grants, and through important donations made by Bell Laboratories and Tomcat.


Validation by others in the workplace is a great way to increase the value of standardized self-assessment instruments. We best benefit by feedback from others such as subordinates, peers and past / current bosses.
If you decide to obtain assessment of you by others we recommend that you contact the feedback providers and secure upfront their willingness to participate. You need to reassure them that the data, they will give, will be treated anonymously and, that you will not know who said what. Furthermore, and most importantly, you need to emphasize that you want their total candor and that their feedback is essential for your development, because you want to create a validated picture of how your self-assessment matches that of those around you. Also, it is important to tell them that in cases where that match does not occur, they have given you a window to uncover growth areas.
Administration of 360 assessments has been simplified due to the IT and web technologies. It is easy to send e-mails to the feedback providers, giving them instructions on how to reach a secure web site where the 360-feedback survey is located. It is also easy to collect data and compile feedback; in fact the computer does that for you. A competent coach will have resources and 360 website vendors to guide you through the 360 process.
In considering, how many feedback providers to select, please keep in mind that it is helpful to involve at least three to five from each category ("subordinates", "peers" & "bosses"), whenever possible.
With regards to "who" to ask for feedback, our recommendation is to select people who have had opportunities to observe you directly (no hear-say), who workedwith you (in the last 2-3 years), and who you respect for their ability to give you unbiased, solid feedback - both positive and negative (by all means do not try to improve your feedback data by selecting only from camps that are likely to give you "better" feedback.
When the feedback data has been compiled, it is imperative to have input from a qualified professional coach to help you interpret the data. Based on the interpretation you may further work with your coach to get more data and, ultimately, to set up goals and action plans that will help your career.
An interactive tool for administering the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) — the premier 360-degree leadership assessment instrument created by The Leadership Challenge authors, James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner.
The Leadership Practices Inventory has helped develop the leadership skills of nearly 1 million people worldwide. Now, LPI Online offers simplified, timesaving administration, immediate, streamlined results, and 24x7 web-based access for LPI administrators and participants alike.


Online payments innovator Klarna landed a strategic partnership along with a new round of funding this week. The Sweden-based company has partnered with fashion retailer H&M, which has invested $20 million in Klarna, bringing its total funding to almost $682 million.
Klarna, which is already partnering with retailers such as Ikea and ASOS, will work together with H&M to offer omni-channel payments, provide an in-app post-purchase service, and power payments for H&M's digital loyalty program, H&M Club. As a result, millions of H&M customers across 14 countries will benefit from a simplified and more personalized payment experience. The retailer will go live with the U.K. and Sweden markets in 2019.
According to TechCrunch, today's round values Klarna "north of $2.5 billion." The publication also seeded a rumor that Klarna has been considering going public to gain liquidity.
Founded in 2005, Klarna offers shoppers a range of options– pay at the point of sale, pay over time, or pay later. In addition to offering consumers more options, the payment variety helps businesses improve sales and Klarna's online merchant portal helps them manage all of their payment and marketing tools from a single platform.
At FinovateSpring 2012, the company demonstrated its online payment-processing service. Klarna has formed a variety of merchant partnerships this year, and the company began 2018 with a partnership with ACI, in which the electronic payment solutions provider will enable online businesses to integrate Klarna's payment products.


Emily sought out a new coach, and that's when things began to change. Her new coach put her on six small meals a day and changed up her workout plan as well. The six meals a day were challenging for her, because she was used to only eating three times a day, so her coach, who was an Isagenix Associate, suggested substituting two of the meals with IsaShakes.
A few months after changing her training and her diet, Emily began looking into the business side of Isagenix and recommending it to her clients. Soon after joining Isagenix, Emily enrolled in the IsaBody Challenge because she wanted to drop a few pounds she had gained in between competitions and get in shape before her wedding.


Twelve Oaks is named for the numerous Live Oaks sprinkled among a spectacular setting of native plants and Old Fort Bayou. Many of the oaks are believed to be 400 years old and they make a tremendous impression when one stands beneath their widespread canopy. The site includes a historic home, part of which is believed to be an original 1800s African American church. A planning meeting with community members and local officials produced ideas for long-term use of the site use including an African American museum, an arts center for the city of Ocean Springs, and a nature center highlighted on the Old Fort Bayou Blueway canoe and kayak trail. Three walking trails and an observation deck have been constructed on the site and offer visitors hiking and birding opportunities. The habitats available on the property for wildlife to utilize include a mixed pine and oak forest with a mature canopy, a seepage slope forest, headwater bay swamps and a large area of tidal marsh. The property's proximity to urban areas will draw many cosmopolitan mammals and birds seeking refuge in forested environs.


text:
Sailors soar in rivalry match
The Steamboat Springs High School volleyball team celebrates a point Thursday in a big three-set sweep of Battle Mountain.
Steamboat Springs — The Battle Mountain High School girls volleyball team was competitive in the third set Thursday night, playing in Steamboat Springs in a key Western Slope League matchup.
The score was close early in that set, then a rally tightened things up midway through.
It was Steamboat's night, however, and with momentum-killing blocks and ear-splitting kills, all in front of a raucous home crowd, the Sailors simply overpowered the Huskies to complete a home sweep of its rival.
The Sailors played their most complete match of the season Thursday, bashing Battle Mountain, 25-23, 25-14, 25-17.
"It takes a special performance to beat Battle Mountain in three," Steamboat coach Wendy Hall said. "We got that tonight."
More than 80 points followed, but the match may have been decided in the first set, when Steamboat roared back from two big deficits to steal the win.
The Huskies were at their best early, and senior Jordan Brandt and junior Timaree Mckenny were hitting on all cylinders. "Cylinders," in this use, can translate to "Steamboat's side of the court."
The Huskies led 10-5 early, then 19-12 late after a string of aces from Lily DeMuth.
Once again, though, it was Steamboat's night, and the Sailors managed to right the ship after each surge, tie the game with a big block from sophomore Micah Feeley, then cement the lead with a monster kill from senior Hayley Johnson.
Feeley connected for the 25th point.
"We definitely slowed down in our execution in our game plan, and Steamboat picked up their pace, which had us out of system most of the night," Battle Mountain coach Jason Fitzgerald said. "It felt like we were chasing them around the floor."
That block from Feeley was no small thing for the Sailors, who stressed the skill after struggling mightily with it in previous league matches. Thursday, that focus paid off, and the team regularly managed to get arms in the way.
Combine that with a strong night setting for the Sailors and a resilient defense, and they frequently were able to dictate how points unfolded.
"Our defense was amazing," said Johnson, who led Steamboat with 15 kills. "We had really good digs and saves. We worked on blocks all week in practice, and we really brought that to the court."
The win is a big boost for the Sailors, 13-2 and 6-1 in the Western Slope League race, though it doesn't change their position. They were tied for first before and after the match with Eagle Valley, each with one loss. The Huskies, meanwhile, drop out of that tie with a 6-5 and 5-2 record.
The Sailors and their coaches exchanged hugs and high fives outside their locker room long after the match had ended. Plenty of volleyball remains this season, and the race to the Western Slope title is far from decided.
Thursday, though, was a good night for Steamboat, and the players wanted to enjoy it.
"This is why we compete, why we play competitive athletics," Hall said. "This was a big win for us."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


August was another blur. We say that every month, don't we? September will be exciting because Graham and I celebrate our second anniversary this month and we are one month closer to some major changes. Baseball season is also heating up, and the Chicago Cubs are a big deal for the Flora family, so we'll be closely watching and cheering for the team all month long. It's also my last month of marathon training before the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9, and I run the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept. 25! Last but not least, I will be heading to Phoenix for a short weekend to see family. I also have hopes for another weekend trip, but we shall see how things play out.
Before I share my September goals, I like to check in with how I did last month.
Check off five items from my bucket list: Go to Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Field Museum, yoga at Millennium Park, volunteer at a community garden and see a movie in the park. I went to a movie in the park, but things didn't quite go as planned. I had plans to cross off yoga at Millennium park and volunteering last weekend but both were canceled because of the rain. I also canceled plans to go to Lincoln Park and the Field Museum because of major events that made parking super expensive. I hope to get to most of these in September.
Dine out no more than once a week. Graham and I only got out to eat once a week. I did go out to eat with a couple of friends, but it wasn't anything too expensive.
Stay on track with marathon training. Success!
Film at least four videos of fun stuff I do this month. Done, but I didn't post all of them. I decided to re-film a couple of them in September.
Relax. Do whatever I can to calm down, especially when it comes to busy weeks at work. I'll share some of the ways I de-stress on the blog this month.
Beat my previous half-marathon time at the Chicago Fall Half Marathon and stay on track with marathon training.
Cross off as many remaining items from my summer bucket list as possible.
I also want to grow my blog community and post more on Instagram. What are your goals for the month? Share them below!


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She has fmea been a registered nurse for 24 years has a clinical background in critical care legal sheet nurse consulting. Medication reconciliation is a tool used to convey. fmea Analysis fmea and resolution. The FMEA also proved that pharmacy needed to sheet take a greater role in the process as the checkpoint for quality and to answer any medication questions. Medication Safety Support Service Workshop Failure Modes Effects Analysis Supported by the Ontario Ministry sheet of Health Long Term Care. Currently, Lisa is employed in the office of patient safety as the medication safety facilitator for CoxHealth.
the medication discharge order sheet can also save time and. to occur and length of time from admission to reconciliation. Failure mode and effect analysis ( FMEA) is a proactive tool. Safe Medication Administration for NICU Patients. Please silence your communication leashes. Fmea medication reconciliation sheet. 2 What is Failure Mode and Effect Analysis? Medication Reconciliation at a Psychiatric Hospital - Matching the patient' s fmea admission medications to their inpatient medication profile. As a result administration using failure mode , a decision was made to thoroughly examine all the processes involved in chemotherapy ordering effects analysis ( FMEA).
Objectives – FMEA Session • To introduce the OHA Patient Safety. Researchers cited recent data showing that 37% of adverse events reconciliation hypoglycemic episodes in skilled nursing facilities, bleeding, reconciliation such as falls, hallucinations , delirium were tied to medication use. Fmea medication reconciliation sheet. fmea FMEA identifies the various ways a process may. 6 Over- the- counter drugs and.
Overview: Failure Mode Effects Analysis ( FMEA) is a structured way to identify address potential. Medication reconciliation should be sheet an integral part of handoffs sheet and communication during transitions in care. This commentary discusses an alternate approach to medication safety, focusing on prevention of prescribing unnecessary medications fmea at the outset. Using FMEA to Drive BCMA Improvements. Study participants included 32 RNs and 70 LPNs from 12 nursing homes in fmea Missouri. administration of a particular type of high - risk medication or a project on medication administration for a category of residents vulnerable to safety problems. Project Objectives This project will address the following objectives: 1.
Failure Mode fmea Effects Analysis FMEA. Med reconciliation – Medication found at bedside. Observe document nurse medication administration interruptions fmea over random days times of day. BOOST: identification reconciliation fmea of the elderly high risk patient & medication reconciliation • Surgical Booking sheet discrepancy' s • ED to Medicine bed time / ED to CACU flow • Preventing Central Line and Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections • Reducing " Door to Balloon Time" • Improve the care of patients with Heart failure. Fact Sheet Archive;. Pilot Study Earlier we had researched what methods other hospitals used for reconciling sheet medications and identified the order sheet as best practice. Presented to [ Date] By fmea [ Insert Name] The Application of FMEA to a Medication Reconciliation Process.
The use of disparate databases for patient medication reconciliation records resulted in several variances sheet in fmea patient medication records. sheet Computerized provider order entry avoidance of drug– drug interactions, , medication reconciliation bar- coded medication administration are a few areas generating significant attention. Study: RNs key in medication reconciliation at nursing homes. Reconciliation must occur any time the organization requires that orders be sheet rewritten new medication orders are written; true , provider , any time the patient changes service, setting, level of care false? The patient plays a key role in medication reconciliation should be educated on the importance of managing medication information at the time of discharge fmea at the end of an outpatient encounter. MHA will disseminate a medication reconciliation road map to help hospitals standardize their work around the. Dec 18 · Administering medication to hospitalised infants children is a reconciliation complex process at high risk of sheet error.
The application- of- fmea- to- a- medication- reconciliation- sheet fmea sheet process. Her current practice interests include medication safety critical care, medico- legal nursing. Quality & Patient Safety. medication administration safety. Failure Mode Effect Analysis ( FMEA) is a systematic method of identifying , preventing product process problems before they. Observe and document the current system ( process) of medication administration on a medical surgical unit.
List of Medication Safety Documents for use in your institution. Documents were prepared by the UHA Adverse Drug Events work group. Adverse Drug Effects User Group Publications. Failure Mode Effects Analysis ( FMEA) is a proactive approach to assessing risk in organizations.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis ( FMEA) Tool: MMC Medication FMEA: Mercy Medical Center CANTON, Ohio, United States Hospital- Teaching Aim: Preventing Medication Errors. Staff are educated and held accountable to follow medication reconciliation policy. Medication Reconciliation.
A comprehensive list of medications should include all prescription medications, herbals, vitamins, nutritional supplements, over- the- counter drugs, vaccines, diagnostic and contrast agents, radioactive medications, parenteral nutrition, blood derivatives, and intravenous solutions ( hereafter referred to collectively as medications).


text:
package resque

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"github.com/kavu/go-resque/driver"
)

var drivers = make(map[string]driver.Enqueuer)

type jobArg interface{}

type job struct {
	Class string   `json:"class"`
	Args  []jobArg `json:"args"`
}

func Register(name string, driver driver.Enqueuer) {
	if _, d := drivers[name]; d {
		panic("Register called twice for driver " + name)
	}
	drivers[name] = driver
}

func NewRedisEnqueuer(drvName string, client interface{}) *RedisEnqueuer {
	drv, ok := drivers[drvName]
	if !ok {
		panic("No such driver: " + drvName)
	}

	drv.SetClient(client)
	return &RedisEnqueuer{drv: drv}
}

type RedisEnqueuer struct {
	drv driver.Enqueuer
}

func (enqueuer *RedisEnqueuer) Enqueue(queue, jobClass string, args ...jobArg) (int64, error) {
	// NOTE: Dirty hack to make a [{}] JSON struct
	if len(args) == 0 {
		args = append(make([]jobArg, 0), make(map[string]jobArg, 0))
	}

	jobJSON, err := json.Marshal(&job{jobClass, args})
	if err != nil {
		return -1, err
	}

	return enqueuer.drv.ListPush(queue, string(jobJSON))
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Homeownership Preservation Foundation Comments on New Clarity from CFPB on RESPA-Compliant Funding for Housing Counseling
WASHINGTON, DC, April 17, 2017 — Best Practices on RESPA and Housing Counseling Funding.
David Berenbaum, Chief Executive Officer, Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), says that by following CFPB's guidelines, housing counseling agencies and lenders can move forward with assurance, knowing that a lender's decision to fund essential, nonprofit housing counseling for consumers is very unlikely to be considered an inappropriate payment for referrals under RESPA Section 8(a).
To schedule an interview or for more information: Rick Goulart, Vice President, Marketing Public Relations, (202) 480-2779
About Homeownership Preservation Foundation
HPF's national Homeowner's HOPE Hotline – 888-995-HOPE (4673) – continues to be an unbiased, trusted resource for foreclosure-prevention services, having served more than nine million diverse homeowners. HPF's national network of HUD-certified housing counselors also has helped more than two million homeowners with a personalized action plan to avoid foreclosure.
Thousands of potential homebuyers – from millennials to boomerang borrowers to low-to-moderate-income workers to seniors – also have received HUD-approved counseling support from the national Homeowner's HOME Hotline – 844-995-HOME (4663). Financial coaches from HPF's national network encourage and motivate consumers to plan homeownership using state-of-the-art technology, including BluePrint by HPF, a digital money management app designed and powered by one of the fastest-growing fintech providers, MX.
Each business day, more than 1,200 people now approach HPF's Homeowner's Hotlines so that they may continue to enjoy the benefits of home.
Based in Minneapolis with offices in Washington, D.C., HPF is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to guiding consumers onto the path of sustainable homeownership and improving their overall financial health. Learn more at HPF.
April 17, 2017 Date the post was published
News Categories: Press Statement
info@995hope.org
media@995hope.org
For Foreclosure Prevention Assistance
For Assistance Purchasing a Home
844.995.HOME
© Homeownership Preservation Foundation | 2015
Online Privacy Policy | Terms of Use


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text:
A Case for Pseudonyms
Commentary by Jillian C. York
pseu·do·nym
[sood-n-im]
–noun a fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; pen name.
There are myriad reasons why individuals may wish to use a name other than the one they were born with. They may be concerned about threats to their lives or livelihoods, or they may risk political or economic retribution. They may wish to prevent discrimination or they may use a name that's easier to pronounce or spell in a given culture.
Online, the reasons multiply. Internet culture has long encouraged the use of "handles" or "user names," pseudonyms that may or may not be tied to a person's offline identity. Longtime online inhabitants may have handles that have spanned over twenty years.
Pseudonymous speech has played a critical role throughout history as well. From the literary efforts of George Eliot and Mark Twain to the explicitly political advocacy of Publius in the Federalist Papers or Junius' letters to the Public Advertiser in 18th century London, people have contributed strongly to public debate under pseudonyms and continue to do so to this day.
A new debate around pseudonymity on online platforms has arisen as a result of the identification policy of Google+, which requires users to identify by "the name your friends, family, or co-workers usually call you". This policy is similar to that of Facebook's which requires users to "provide their real names and information." Google's policy has in a few short weeks attracted significant attention both within the community and outside of it, sparking debate as to whether a social platform should place limits on identity. A considerable number of Google+ users have already experienced account deactivation as a result of the policy, which Kirrily "Skud" Robert, a former Google employee kicked off the service for identifying as "Skud," has closely documented.
Those in favor of the use of "real names" on social platforms have presented a number of arguments: that real names improve user behavior and create a more civil environment; that real names help prevent against stalking and harassment by making it easier to go after offenders; that a policy requiring real names prevents law enforcement agents from "sneaking in" to the service to spy on users; that real names make users accountable for their actions.
While these arguments are not entirely without merit, they misframe the problem. It is not incumbent upon strict real-name policy advocates to show that policies insisting on the use of real names have an upside. It is incumbent upon them to demonstrate that these benefits outweigh some very serious drawbacks.
Consider, for example, Wael Ghonim, the now-famous Egyptian whose Facebook page, We Are All Khaled Said, inspired thousands to join in the January uprising. Though the page was created in the summer of 2010, not long after the death of Khaled Said at the hands of policemen, it wasn't until later that year that it began to truly gain momentum. And yet, its presence in the protests almost didn't happen: In November 2010, the page went down after its administrator (now known to have been Ghonim) was reported for using a pseudonym. While Facebook was able to offer a solution, allowing an "identified" person to step in for Ghonim, this case was largely exceptional, owing to Ghonim's ability to connect to Facebook staff and solve the problem. Not everyone has these types of connections, and there's no way of knowing how many people have fallen through the cracks, so to speak, because they were unaware of how to appeal an account deactivation. In Ghonim's case, using his real name would have placed him under considerable risk. And while pseudonymity provides no guarantees, it makes it considerably more difficult for authorities to identify activists.
There are myriad reasons why an individual may feel safer identifying under a name other than their birth name. Teenagers who identify as members of the LGBT community, for example, are regularly harassed online and may prefer to identify online using a pseudonym. Individuals whose spouses or partners work for the government or are well known often wish to conceal aspects of their own lifestyle and may feel more comfortable operating under a different name online. Survivors of domestic abuse who need not to be found by their abusers may wish to alter their name in whole or in part. And anyone with unpopular or dissenting political opinions may choose not to risk their livelihood by identifying with a pseudonym.
As Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens put forth in deciding McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm'n 514 U.S. 334, 357 (1995),
"Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation—and their ideas from suppression—at the hand of an intolerant society. The right to remain anonymous may be abused when it shields fraudulent conduct. But political speech by its nature will sometimes have unpalatable consequences, and, in general, our society accords greater weight to the value of free speech than to the dangers of its misuse."
Just as using "real" names can have real consequences, mandating the use of "real" names can too, excluding from the conversation anyone who fears retribution for sharing their views. While one added value of requiring real names might be increased "civility" of the conversation, it is most certainly to the detriment of diversity.
The bloggers at Geek Feminism have compiled a wiki highlighting the people who are harmed by a real names policy, demonstrating the hundreds of potential reasons why an individual may use a name other than his or her own. Though many examples on the list demonstrate cases of at-risk individuals whose use of a pseudonym is for the purpose of safety, there are other important reasons that one may choose pseudonymity as well.
Take the example of Michael Anti, the Chinese journalist whose birth name is Jing Zhao. Anti was kicked off of Facebook in January of 2011, presumably after someone reported him for using a name other than the one with which he was born. Despite having used the pen name "Michael Anti" for almost a decade, in his writing for the New York Times and elsewhere, Facebook insisted on strict enforcement of its policy.
On Google+, similar examples have arisen, as have false positives, prompting Google+ to change some of its processes, including a shift from immediate account deactivation to offering users a warning and an opportunity to align their name with the policy.
Nevertheless, policies requiring "real" names are nearly impossible to enforce at scale, and as several examples have demonstrated, enforcement tends to be skewed against individuals who are well-known or have enemies, a result of community reporting mechanisms.
It is well within the rights of any company--Google, Facebook, or otherwise--to create policies as they see fit for their services. But it is shortsighted for these companies to suggest that "real name" policies create greater potential for civility, when they only do so at the expense of diversity and free expression. Indeed, a shift toward crafting policies requiring "real" names will have a chilling effect on online free expression.
Deeplinks Blog by Karen Gullo | January 9, 2023
EFF and Partners Call Out Threats to Free Expression in Draft Text as UN Cybersecurity Treaty Negotiations Resume
EFF is attending this week and next a new round of negotiations over the proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty to raise concerns that draft provisions now on the table include a long list of content-related crimes that pose serious threats to free expression, privacy, and the legitimate activities of journalists,...
Deeplinks Blog by Katitza Rodriguez, Karen Gullo | January 2, 2023
Global Cybercrime and Government Access to User Data Across Borders: 2022 in Review
Since the new UN cybercrime treaty began to take shape in 2022, EFF has been fighting on behalf of users to make sure content-based crimes are excluded from the Treaty, and robust human rights safeguards and rule of law standards are the basis of any final product.There's a lot...
Deeplinks Blog by Jennifer Pinsof | December 31, 2022
Reproductive Justice and Digital Rights: 2022 in Review
Reproductive justice and safe access to abortion, like so many other aspects of managing our healthcare, is fundamentally tied to our digital lives. And since it is part of our healthcare, we should have the ability to keep it private and access information about it, even when it's on a...
Deeplinks Blog by Jillian C. York | December 27, 2022
The State of Online Free Expression Worldwide: 2022 in Review
It's been a tumultuous year for free expression globally. From internet shutdowns, crackdowns on expression and closed-door partnerships to attempts to restrict anonymity and end to end encryption, in many places, digital rights are under threat. And while the European Union has made regulatory strides, elsewhere...
Deeplinks Blog by Cindy Cohn | December 22, 2022
It's impossible to cover everything we've done this year in a blog post that doesn't take the whole new year to read. But rest assured, we did a lot and none of it would be possible without our members, supporters, and all of you who stood up and took action...
Deeplinks Blog by Paige Collings | December 19, 2022
No Nudity Allowed: Censoring Naked Yoga
Most nude content is legal, and engaging with such material online provides individuals with a safe and open framework to explore their identities, build communities, and discover new interests. However, social networks and payment processors are intervening to become the arbiters of how people create and engage...
Deeplinks Blog by Jason Kelley, Aaron Mackey | December 15, 2022
Dangerous "Kids Online Safety Act" Does Not Belong in Must-Pass Legislation
Every year, Congress must follow through on an enormous and complicated task: agreeing on how to fund the government for the following year. The wrangling over spending often comes down to the wire, and this year, some Senators are considering shoehorning a controversial and unconstitutional bill, the Kids Online...
Deeplinks Blog by Aaron Mackey, Adam Schwartz | December 12, 2022
EFF to Court: No Qualified Immunity for Wrongful Arrest of Independent Journalists
Independent journalists increasingly gather newsworthy information and publish it on social media, often without the involvement of traditional news media. They make important contributions to public discourse and are often the first to report newsworthy events. Courts must scrupulously safeguard their First Amendment rights to gather and publish the...
Deeplinks Blog by Aaron Mackey | December 6, 2022
The Supreme Court Must Protect Internet Users' Rights to Access Controversial Information Online
Lawsuits claiming that online services aid terrorist organizations just by hosting their content or having users who espouse the organizations' views potentially could censor a vast amount of protected expression online, EFF and a coalition of other civil society groups argued in a brief filed this week. In Twitter...
Deeplinks Blog by Karen Gullo | December 2, 2022
India Requires Internet Services to Collect and Store Vast Amount of Customer Data, Building a Path to Mass Surveillance
Privacy and online free expression are once again under threat in India, thanks to vaguely worded cybersecurity directions—promulgated by India's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) earlier this year—that impose draconian mass surveillance obligations on internet services, threatening privacy and anonymity and weakening security online.Directions 20(3)/2022 -...


text:
Joshua Dominic Jaramillo
Resident in Surgery - General Surgery
The Hispanic Clinic for Pediatric Surgery: A model to improve parent-provider communication for Hispanic pediatric surgery patients JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY Jaramillo, J., Snyder, E., Dunlap, J. L., Wright, R., Mendoza, F., Bruzoni, M. 2016; 51 (4): 670-674
26 million Americans have limited English proficiency (LEP). It is well established that language barriers adversely affect health and health care. Despite growing awareness of language barriers, there is essentially a void in the medical literature regarding the influence of language disparity on pediatric surgery patients. This study was designed to assess the impact of patient-provider language concordance on question-asking behavior and patient satisfaction for pediatric surgery patients.Participants included families of patients in a General Pediatric Surgery Clinic categorized into 3 groups by patient-provider language concordance: concordant English-speaking, LEP concordant Spanish-speaking, and LEP discordant Spanish-speaking using an interpreter. Clinical visits were audio recorded and the number of patient-initiated questions and the length of clinical encounter were measured. Families were administered a surgery-specific, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire modeled after validated surveys concerning communication, trust, perceived discrimination and patient-provider language concordance. Regression models were performed to analyze associations between language concordance and patient's question-asking behavior and between language concordance and survey results.A total of 156 participants were enrolled including 57 concordant-English, 52 LEP concordant-Spanish and 47 LEP-discordant-Spanish. There was significant variation in the mean number of patient-initiated questions among the groups (p=0.002). Both the English and Spanish concordant groups asked a similar number of questions (p=0.9), and they both asked more questions compared to the Spanish-discordant participants (p=0.002 and p=0.001). Language discordance was associated with fewer questions asked after adjustment for socioeconomic status. Language concordant participants rated higher scores of communication. Both Spanish-concordant and Spanish-discordant patients reported significantly increased preference for, and value of language concordant care. Language discordant participants reported that they desired to ask more questions but were limited by a language barrier (p=0.001).In a pediatric surgery clinic, language concordant care increases the number of patient-asked questions during a clinical visit and improves communication suggesting that discordant care is a potential source of disparities in access to information. Future efforts should focus on expanding access to language concordant providers in other surgery subspecialties as a step towards limiting disparities in surgical care for all patients.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2015.08.065
Variability in mortality following caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin hernia repair in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and analysis of published data LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH Uribe-Leitz, T., Jaramillo, J., Maurer, L., Fu, R., Esquivel, M. M., Gawande, A. A., Haynes, A. B., Weiser, T. G. 2016; 4 (3): E165-E174
Surgical interventions occur at lower rates in resource-poor settings, and complication and death rates following surgery are probably substantial but have not been well quantified. A deeper understanding of outcomes is a crucial step to ensure that high quality accompanies increased global access to surgical care. We aimed to assess surgical mortality following three common surgical procedures-caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin (inguinal and femoral) hernia repair-to quantify the potential risks of expanding access without simultaneously addressing issues of quality and safety.We collected demographic, health, and economic data for 113 countries classified as low income or lower-middle income by the World Bank in 2005. We did a systematic review of Ovid, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 15, 2015, to identify studies in these countries reporting all-cause mortality following the three commonly undertaken operations. Reports from governmental and other agencies were also identified and included. We modelled surgical mortality rates for countries without reported data using a two-step multiple imputation method. We first used a fully conditional specification (FCS) multiple imputation method to establish complete datasets for all missing variables that we considered potentially predictive of surgical mortality. We then used regression-based predictive mean matching imputation methods, specified within the multiple imputation FCS method, for selected predictors for each operation using the completed dataset to predict mortality rates along with confidence intervals for countries without reported mortality data. To account for variability in data availability, we aggregated results by subregion and estimated surgical mortality rates.From an initial 1302 articles and reports identified, 247 full-text articles met our inclusion criteria, and 124 provided data for surgical mortality for at least one of the three selected operations. We identified 42 countries with mortality data for at least one of the three procedures. Median reported mortality was 7·9 per 1000 operations for caesarean delivery (IQR 2·8-19·9), 2·2 per 1000 operations for appendectomy (0·0-17·2), and 4·9 per 1000 operations for groin hernia (0·0-11·7). Perioperative mortality estimates by subregion ranged from 2·8 (South Asia) to 50·2 (East Asia) per 1000 caesarean deliveries, 2·4 (South Asia) to 54·0 (Central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 appendectomies, and 0·3 (Andean Latin America) to 25·5 (Southern sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 hernia repairs.All-cause postoperative mortality rates are exceedingly variable within resource-constrained environments. Efforts to expand surgical access and provision of services must include a strong commitment to improve the safety and quality of care.None.
Long-term follow-up of laparoscopic transcutaneous inguinal herniorraphy with high transfixation suture ligature of the hernia sac. Journal of pediatric surgery Bruzoni, M., Jaramillo, J. D., Kastenberg, Z. J., Wall, J. K., Wright, R., Dutta, S. 2015; 50 (10): 1767-1771
Laparoscopic transcutaneous inguinal hernia repair in children may reduce postoperative pain, improve cosmesis, allow for less manipulation of the cord structures, and offer easy access to the contralateral groin. However, there is concern for unacceptably high recurrence rates when the procedure is generalized. To address this increase in recurrence, in 2011 we described in this journal a modification of the laparoscopic transcutaneous technique that replicates high transfixation ligature of the hernia sac with the aim of inducing more secure healing, preventing suture slippage, and distributing tension across two suture passes. We now describe our long-term follow-up of this novel repair.After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective chart review and phone follow-up were performed on all patients who underwent laparoscopic transfixation ligature hernia repair between October 2009 and August 2014 (including further follow-up of the 21 patients reviewed in the 2011 report of this technique). Data collection included demographics, laterality of hernia, evidence of recurrence, complications, and time to follow-up.Median follow-up was 24months (range 2-52months). Three pediatric surgeons performed 216 laparoscopic transfixation ligature repairs on 166 patients. Demographics: mean age 29.5months (range 1-192months); male 67.2% and female 32.8%; 4.2% of patients were premature at operation. Repairs were bilateral in 42% of patients, right sided in 34%, and left sided in 24%. Three patients together experienced 4 recurrences, for an overall recurrence rate of 1.8%. Two of the recurrences occurred in a 2-month old syndromic patient with severe congenital heart disease who recurred twice after laparoscopic transfixation ligature repair then subsequently failed an attempt at open repair. Excluding this one outlier patient, the recurrence rate was 0.9%. The complication rate was 1.7% (3 hydroceles and 1 inguinal hematoma; all resolved spontaneously).Laparoscopic high transfixation ligature hernia repair can be adopted by surgeons with basic laparoscopic skills, and result in excellent outcomes with acceptable recurrence rates.
Atraumatic acute forearm compartment syndrome due to systemic heparin. Trauma surgery & acute care open Chavez, G., Choi, J., Fogel, N., Jaramillo, J. D., Murphy, M., Spain, D. 2019; 4 (1): e000399
View details for DOI 10.1136/tsaco-2019-000399
Opportunities for Palliative Care in Patients with Burn Injury - A Systematic Review. Journal of pain and symptom management Cook, A. C., Langston, J. A., Jaramillo, J. D., Edwards, K., Wong, H. N., Aslakson, R. A. 2019
Patients with significant burn injuries likely have palliative care needs.We performed a systematic review of existing evidence concerning the palliative care needs of burn patients.Through November 26, 2018, we systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, using terms representing burn injuries and the eight domains of quality palliative care as outlined by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. Eligible articles involved burn injured patients treated with an intervention targeting at least one of the eight domains.Our searches yielded 7,532 unique records which led to 238 manuscripts for full review and 88 studies which met inclusion criteria. Seventy-five studies addressed the domain "Physical Aspects of Care" and merit a separate systematic review; 13 studies were included in our final review. Four of the 7 domains - processes of care, psychologic symptoms, social aspects, and end-of-life - were addressed by studies but three domains - spiritual, cultural, or ethics - were unaddressed. Included studies highlight potential benefits from peri-discharge self-care education programs, peer support and group therapy in improving quality-of-life. In patients with severe injuries, end-of-life decision making protocols were associated with increased utilization of comfort-focused treatments.Most existing palliative care-related research in burn patients addresses interventions for physical symptoms with minimal literature concerning other domains. Opportunities exist for further research of palliative care in burn populations with emphasis on: addressing interventions for all domains and better standardizing the language and outcomes for the palliative care interventions.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.11.014
Sutureless vs Sutured Gastroschisis Closure: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American College of Surgeons Bruzoni, M., Jaramillo, J. D., Dunlap, J. L., Abrajano, C., Stack, S. W., Hintz, S. R., Hernandez-Boussard, T., Dutta, S. 2017; 224 (6): 1091-1096 e1
Sutureless gastroschisis repair involves covering the abdominal wall defect with the umbilical cord or a synthetic dressing to allow closure by secondary intention. No randomized studies have described the outcomes of this technique. Our objective was to prospectively compare short-term outcomes of sutureless vs sutured closure in a randomized fashion.We recruited patients who presented with gastroschisis between 2009 and 2014 and were randomized into either sutureless or sutured treatment groups. Patients with complicated gastroschisis (stricture, perforation, and ischemia) were excluded. Predefined ventilation, feeding, and dressing change protocols were instituted. Primary outcomes were time to extubation and time to full feeds. Secondary outcomes included time to discharge and rate of complications. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact or t-tests using a p value ≤ 0.05. Factors associated with increased time to discharge were estimated using multivariate analyses.Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, 19 to sutureless and 20 to sutured repair. There was no statistical difference in time to extubation (sutureless 1.89 vs sutured 3.15 days; p = 0.061). The sutureless group had a significant increase in mean time to full feeds (45.1 vs 27.8 days; p = 0.031) and mean time to discharge (49.3 vs 31.4 days; p = 0.016). Complication rates were similar in both groups. Multivariate regression modeling showed that an increase in time to discharge was independently associated with sutureless repair, feeding complications, and sepsis.Sutureless repair of uncomplicated gastroschisis can be performed safely, however, it is associated with a significant increase in time to full feeds and time to discharge.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.02.014
A multidisciplinary approach to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among multiethnic adolescents in the United States. Journal of pediatric surgery Jaramillo, J. D., Snyder, E., Farrales, S., Stevens, M., Wall, J. K., Chao, S., Morton, J., Pratt, J. S., Hammer, L., Shepard, W. E., Bruzoni, M. 2017
Childhood obesity has become a serious public health problem in our country with a prevalence that is disproportionately higher among minority groups. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is gaining attention as a safe bariatric alternative for severely obese adolescents.A retrospective study on morbidly obese adolescents that underwent LSG at our institution from 2009 to 2017. Primary outcomes were weight loss as measured by change in BMI and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1 year after surgery, resolution of comorbidities and occurrence of complications.Thirty-eight patients, of whom 71% were female and 74% were ethnic minorities, underwent LSG between 2009 and 2016. Mean age was 16.8years, mean weight was 132.0kg and mean BMI was 46.7. There were no surgical complications. Mean %EWL was 19.4%, 27.9%, 37.4%, 44.9%, and 47.7% at 1.5, 3, 6, 9, and 12month follow up visits, respectively. Comorbidity resolution rates were 100% for hypertension and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 91% for diabetes, 44% for prediabetes, 82% for dyslipidemia and 89% for OSA.LSG is an effective and safe method of treatment of morbid obesity in adolescents as it can significantly decrease excess body weight and resolve comorbid conditions. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of LSG in adolescents.Descriptive case series with prospective database.IV.
Variability in mortality after caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin hernia repair in low-income and middle-income countries: implications for expanding surgical services. Lancet Weiser, T. G., Uribe-Leitz, T., Fu, R., Jaramillo, J., Maurer, L., Esquivel, M. M., Gawande, A. A., Haynes, A. B. 2015; 385: S34-?
While surgical interventions occur at lower rates in resource-poor settings, rates of complication and death after surgery are substantial but have not been well quantified. A deeper understanding of outcomes is a crucial step to ensure that quality accompanies increased global access to surgical care. We aimed to assess mortality following surgery to assess the risks of such interventions in these environments.We collected the most recent demographic, health, and economic data from WHO for 114 countries classified as low-income or lower-middle-income according to the World Bank in 2005. We searched OVID, MedLine, PubMed, and SCOPUS to identify studies in these countries reporting all-cause mortality after three commonly performed operations: caesarean delivery, appendectomy, and groin hernia repair. Reports from governmental and other agencies were also identified. We modelled surgical mortality rates for countries without reported data with the lasso technique that performs continuous variable subset selection to avoid model overfitting. We validated our model against known case fatality rates for caesarean delivery. We aggregated mortality results by subregion to account for variability in data availability. We then created collective surgical case fatality rates by WHO region.We identified 42 countries with mortality data for at least one of the three procedures. Median reported mortality rates were 7·7 per 1000 operations for caesarean delivery (IQR 3-14), 4·0 per 1000 operations for appendectomy (IQR 0-17), and 4·7 per 1000 operations for hernia groin (IQR 0-13); all recorded deaths occurred during the same admission to hospital as the operation. Based on our model, case fatality rate estimates by subregion ranged from 0·7 (central Europe) to 13·9 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 caesarean deliveries, 5·6 (central Asia) to 6·4 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 appendectomies, and 3·5 (tropical Latin America) to 33·9 (central sub-Saharan Africa) per 1000 hernia repairs.All-cause postoperative mortality rates are exceedingly variable within resource-constrained environments, and substantially higher than those in middle-income and high-income settings. Efforts to expand surgical access and provision of services must include a strong commitment to improve the safety and quality of care.None.
View details for DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60829-7
Reduced Bone Density and Vertebral Fractures in Smokers: Men and COPD Patients at Increased Risk. Annals of the American Thoracic Society Jaramillo, J. D., Wilson, C., Stinson, D. J., Lynch, D. A., Bowler, R. P., Lutz, S., Bon, J. M., Arnold, B., McDonald, M. N., Washko, G. R., Wan, E. S., DeMeo, D. L., Foreman, M. G., Soler, X., Lindsay, S. E., Lane, N. E., Genant, H. K., Silverman, E. K., Hokanson, J. E., Make, B. J., Crapo, J. D., Regan, E. A. 2015
Rationale: Former smoking history and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are potential risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures. Under existing guidelines for osteoporosis screening, women are included but men are not, and only current smoking is considered. Objectives: To demonstrate the impact of COPD and smoking history on the risk of osteoporosis and vertebral fracture in men and women. Measurements: Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) by calibrated quantitative CT (QCT), visually scored vertebral fractures and severity of lung disease were determined from chest CT scans of 3321 current and ex-smokers in COPDGene study. Low volumetric bone mineral density as a surrogate for osteoporosis was calculated from young adult normal values. Methods: Characteristics of participants with low volumetric bone mineral density were identified and associated to COPD and other risk factors. We tested associations of gender and COPD to both volumetric bone mineral density and fractures adjusting for age, race, BMI, smoking and glucocorticoid use. Main Results: Male smokers had a small but significantly greater risk of low volumetric bone mineral density (- 2.5 SD below young adult mean by calibrated quantitative CT) and more fractures than female smokers. Low volumetric bone mineral density was present in 58% of all subjects, was more frequent with worse COPD and rose to 84% of very severe COPD subjects. Vertebral fractures were present in 37% of all subjects and were associated with lower volumetric bone mineral density at each GOLD stage. Vertebral fractures were most common in the mid-thoracic region. COPD and specifically emphysema were associated with both low volumetric bone mineral density and vertebral fractures after adjustment for steroid use, age, pack years, current smoking and exacerbations. Airway disease was associated with higher bone density after adjustment for other variables. Calibrated quantitative CT identified more abnormal subjects than the standard DXA in a subset of subjects and correlated well with prevalent fractures. Conclusion: Male smokers with and without COPD, have a significant risk of low bone mineral density and vertebral fractures. COPD was associated with low volumetric bone mineral density after adjusting for race, gender, BMI, smoking, steroid use, exacerbations and increasing age. Screening for low bone mineral density in men and women smokers using quantitative CT scanning will increase opportunities to identify and treat osteoporosis in this at-risk population.
View details for DOI 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201412-591OC
The effects of language concordant care on patient satisfaction and clinical understanding for Hispanic pediatric surgery patients Journal of Pediatric Surgery Dunlap, J. L., Jaramillo, J. D., Koppolu, R., Wright, R., Mendoza, F., Bruzoni, M. 2015; 50 (9): 1586-1589
The Hispanic Clinic for Pediatric Surgery: A model to improve parent-provider communication for Hispanic pediatric surgery patients Journal of Pediatric Surgery Jaramillo, J., Snyder, E., Dunlap, J., Wright, R., Mendoza, F., Bruzoni, M. 2015
It's the Fracture that Matters - Bone Disease in COPD Patients COPD-JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE Regan, E., Jaramillo, J. 2012; 9 (4): 319-321
View details for DOI 10.3109/15412555.2012.708544


After a few years off to start a family, I have finally decided to get back into my photography. I am so excited to be on this journey again. I have missed this part of my life so much and I am so happy that you will all be with me along the way.
I am also so lucky to now have not only my wonderful husband by my side, but also my two gorgeous boys. It just makes this photography adventure all the more exciting. I am over the moon with my new website, I hope you have taken some time to check it out…If not, what are you waiting for???
Please, meet my family, my world. Without them and their support and encouragement, my love and obsession of photography and the glorious love between the adorable couples and families that I have the pleasure of meeting, this would not be happening.
Amazing… Love these. I want to see more..


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When you start to search for a new car insurance policy, you will soon realize that there are a multitude of companies in Gaylord, MI to choose from. Many people believe that they can only get good rates from well-known national companies, but there are actually many other businesses that do not do have a national advertising that can actually offer exceptional rates. Of course, you do need to verify the authenticity of each company that you find as they may not have the best overall rating. However, if you are able to use websites that can connect you with different companies that have already been verified, you simply need to choose one of them that will offer you the lowest price. Here are a few of the cheap car insurance online tips that you can use when searching for your coverage in Michigan, regardless of the type of vehicle that you drive or how much coverage you actually need.
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Upload completed portfolio to the Coach Education Database* – must include a copy of your PCOC, Weekend #1 Assignment, Emergency Action Plan, and two lesson plans.
ROWONTARIO has received a grant from RCA to support the cost of coach evaluations this year. For this reason, the RCA Coach Evaluation has been discounted from $200 (+ HST) to $50 (+ original HST). This evaluation price is only available until the grant money has run out and applies to non-challenge evaluations ONLY. It is available on a first come, first serve basis. Please make sure you select the correct ticket when requesting your evaluation.
The cost of each evaluation attempt is $200 +HST for RCA Coach.


Welcome to Sue Zajac Originals.
SZO is a company that designs and produces original art cards using Sue's original marbled papers. Please select titles at the top for products and information.
You may email directly to suezajac@msn.com or select the "Contact Sue" button for inquiries and placing card orders. I receive payment by check only. Thank you.


The SMART Spelling manual is a 263 page coil-bound resource for teachers. $11 flat postage and handling per order.
A tax invoice will be emailed automatically emailed and a printed tax invoice will be included in the parcel too.


S4A Internship Programme is about to take-off! We are looking not only for those who are experienced, but also for those who want to start their adventure in IT industry and in the near future will help further establish the Smart4Aviation brand. Our international successes make Smart4Aviation a place that attracts more and more young and talented people. Over 80% of students stay with us after the end of internships.
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text:
New Strain Of Bird Flu Could Pose A Risk To Humans
Nick Collins,
An electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colorized_transmission_electron_micrograph_of_Avian_influenza_A_H5N1_viruses.jpg
A new strain of bird flu found in a group of seals which died off the east coast of America last year could pose a threat to humans, experts have warned.
The virus, which is very similar to a form of bird flu identified among North American birds since 2002, has developed mutations which allowed it to pass to mammals.
Independent experts said it was too early to guess whether the virus could be infectious to humans, and how severe its effects might be, but added that it warranted close monitoring to identify and quickly combat any potential risk.
Humans have in some circumstances contracted and died from existing forms of bird flu, but only through close contact with infected birds, meaning such cases are extremely rare.
But the new virus has evolved in a way which is known to make it more easily transmissible, in particular developing a mutation which may allow it to target a protein found in human lungs.
Writing in the mBio online journal, the research team said: "This outbreak is particularly significant, not only because of the disease it caused in seals but also because the virus has naturally acquired mutations that are known to increase transmissibility and virulence in mammals."
Seals can be infected with several types of flu, raising the possibility of the virus evolving still further, they added, meaning it "must be considered a significant threat to both wildlife and public health".
Prof Mark Fielder of Kingston University, who was not involved in the study, said further research was needed to understand the nature of the mutations and the risks they could potentially pose.
He said: "It is clear from this study that these initial findings are of great interest but the real impact of the data will be revealed once further studies on the importance of the mutations have been carried out."
Read the original article on The Daily Telegraph. Copyright 2019.
More: Flu Birds Virus


text:
Stephen Mee becomes new RLB Global Chairman
June 20, 2018.
Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Director and Global Board member Stephen Mee has been appointed as the firm's Global Chairman, effective June 2018.
Stephen supports the global values of RLB through continued business transformation, including moving the firm towards futuristic delivery tools to embrace a changing world and lead with technology, and investing in our people.
As a highly respected quantity surveyor, Stephen provides financial strategy to major clients, offering pragmatic solutions to bring development visions into reality.
RLB's incoming Global Chairman has had a successful 35-year career at RLB as an 'in demand' consultant for his clients, providing cost management across the industry, consistently delivering cost savings on major projects of significant value.
Stephen is an associate member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, and has been a committee member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors NSW Chapter.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Quantity Surveying (Honours) from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Master of Project Management from the University of New South Wales.
Stephen said he was honoured and delighted to be appointed to lead RLB.
'I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure we deliver outstanding services and grow meaningful relationships with clients as we work to bring imagination to life; together delivering the best possible outcomes for the built environment,' said Stephen.
Global Board Members congratulated Stephen on his appointment.
'RLB enjoys a global standing, with a network of more than 120 offices, a long history of success, and 3,600 people working together to provide flawless execution as we deliver on our united purpose of bringing imagination to life. Stephen will continue to take RLB into the future with clarity and confidence,' said Ann Bentley.
RLB's incoming Global Chairman will maintain the firm's focus on initiatives such as the changing face of measurement embracing BIM techniques across the practice, global markets, services and geography, global people development and global business management systems.
Stephen commented;
'I believe RLB's success has been achieved as a result of extraordinarily loyal staff, with many having served a considerable number of years. I am very proud of the longevity of staff across the business. These employees are a remarkable repository of experience and memory of the evolution and leadership of RLB.
I would like to thank all staff and clients for their support over many decades. I am always impressed by the commitment of our staff to ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget while placing the interests of the client at the forefront.
As we move towards 2019 and beyond, I am confident that we will continue to achieve our vision to be the global leader in the market, through flawless execution, a fresh perspective and independent advice.'
University of Warwick, National Automotive Innovation Centre, Warwick, United Kingdom June 20, 2018
RLB is the lead consultant engaged by the University of Warwick (UoW) to provide full design team services for the delivery of the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC). Spe...
Brisbane's largest integrated CBD development
Stage 1 of Brisbane Quarter at 300 George Street, which includes the W Hotel, is vying for the Award for Best Tourism & Leisure Development in the 2020 Property Council of Aust...
Defining Sustainability—Now And For The Future
'Defining Sustainability—Now And For The Future' can be found on page 34 of the 2018 edition of Perspective, a compilation of insights from members of the RLB team arou...
About RLB
With a network that covers the globe and a heritage spanning over two centuries, Rider Levett Bucknall is a leading independent organisation in cost management and quantity surveying, project management and advisory services.
Our achievements are renowned: from the early days of pioneering quantity surveying, to landmark projects such as the Sydney Opera House, HSBC Headquarters Building in Hong Kong, the 2012 London Olympic Games and CityCenter in Las Vegas.
We continue this successful legacy with our dedication to the value, quality and sustainability of the built environment. Our innovative thinking, global reach, and flawless execution push the boundaries. Taking ambitious projects from an idea to reality.
Stephen Mee
E stephen.mee@au.rlb.com


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text:
Manis joins WHR staff
When Amanda Manis got the first taste of horseback riding, she knew she was immediately hooked. Her first experience at nine years old was trail riding in the mountains of North Carolina during a family camping trip. When she returned home, she knew that on a horse's back is where she wanted to be.
Many years later, Manis can look back on a lifelong love and commitment to the walking horse breed and it is with great pleasure the Walking Horse Report is welcoming Manis to its staff as a advertising and sales representative.
"My parents, Allen and Trudy Dickerson were my biggest supporters in my new journey and throughout life," Manis said. "I began taking riding lessons at Ballentine Farms in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina under the instruction of Nancy Ballentine Elliott immediately following our return home from the trip. The rest is history. Our family showed and owned several horses in my juvenile career including, Mark of Crimson, Fireworks at Dusk, WC The Cash Collector and WC Stopwatch."
Manis graduated from North Carolina State University of Raleigh, North Carolina in Agribusiness Management and also has a paralegal degree from Johnston Community College of Smithfield, North Carolina.
After taking a job with the Whitley Law Firm in Raleigh as a paralegal, she also gave riding lessons and trained her own horses.
"Training my own horses has been a big part of my life. My first World Championship came at the age of 23 on WC The Cash Collector in the Amateur Owned and Trained Lite Shod class at The Celebration," she said. "I have since won Amateur Owned and Trained World Championship titles with WC Acapulco and WGC and WC Kick Start Jazz in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018."
Manis made the move to Shelbyville, Tennessee in 2013 and married the love of her life, Justin in 2014. Their lives were complete two years ago when they welcomed their son, Walker into the world.
"Currently you can find me in the show ring on WGC Kick Start Jazz, WC Sweet As Strawberry Wine, RWC Blue Mamba, Lujoso and Spotted WGC Pepe's Papa Pump," she said. "I am very excited to begin this new career with the Walking Horse Report and look forward to seeing you in the winner's circle!"


My name is Louis-Philippe Véronneau and I am an economics graduate student. I also work as a part time system administrator for SOGÉÉCOM and AGEBdeB.
All the projects I work on and find important are on my project page.
You can find all the projects I contribute to on Gitlab and on Github. I try to host most of my code on Gitlab, but sadly Github seems to be a must for some bigger projects.
This website runs on Pelican, a free software static blog generator in Python. You can find the code behind this website here.


text:
talkcelnews.com
Home » TV & Movies » The Clueless Cast: Where Are They Now?
The Clueless Cast: Where Are They Now?
07/19/2020 TV & Movies Comments Off on The Clueless Cast: Where Are They Now?
25 YEARS OUT
After her wedding to Mr. Hall, Caplan reprised her role as Miss Geist in the Clueless television series, and also served as the show's executive producer. She also scored parts in Look Who's Talking, A Night at the Roxbury and Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, and in 2010, she had a memorable guest-starring role in Community as a dance teacher.
Alicia SilverstoneBrittany Mu
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'The Brady Bunch': How Did Mike Brady Actor Robert Reed Die?


text:
package mil.nga.geopackage.extension.nga.style;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import mil.nga.geopackage.db.GeoPackageDataType;
import mil.nga.geopackage.extension.related.UserMappingTable;
import mil.nga.geopackage.user.custom.UserCustomColumn;
import mil.nga.geopackage.user.custom.UserCustomTable;

/**
 * Feature Style mapping table
 *
 * @author osbornb
 * @since 3.2.0
 */
public class StyleMappingTable extends UserMappingTable {

	/**
	 * Geometry Type Name column name
	 */
	public static final String COLUMN_GEOMETRY_TYPE_NAME = "geometry_type_name";

	/**
	 * Constructor
	 *
	 * @param tableName
	 *            table name
	 */
	public StyleMappingTable(String tableName) {
		super(tableName, createColumns());
	}

	/**
	 * Constructor
	 *
	 * @param table
	 *            user custom table
	 */
	protected StyleMappingTable(UserCustomTable table) {
		super(table);
	}

	/**
	 * Create the style mapping columns
	 *
	 * @return columns
	 */
	private static List<UserCustomColumn> createColumns() {

		List<UserCustomColumn> columns = new ArrayList<>();
		columns.addAll(createRequiredColumns());

		columns.add(UserCustomColumn.createColumn(COLUMN_GEOMETRY_TYPE_NAME,
				GeoPackageDataType.TEXT));

		return columns;
	}

	/**
	 * Get the geometry type name column index
	 *
	 * @return geometry type name column index
	 */
	public int getGeometryTypeNameColumnIndex() {
		return getColumnIndex(COLUMN_GEOMETRY_TYPE_NAME);
	}

	/**
	 * Get the geometry type name column
	 *
	 * @return geometry type name column
	 */
	public UserCustomColumn getGeometryTypeNameColumn() {
		return getColumn(COLUMN_GEOMETRY_TYPE_NAME);
	}

}


Growing pains are part of business. If you're an executive at a software company that's transitioning away from selling to SMBs and instead trying to attract enterprise accounts, you know there are new set of strategies that must be implemented to meet the needs of a changing customer base.
I recently sat down with Peter Billante, Chief Product Officer at Repsly, who gave insight into how growing companies can gracefully handle the inevitable changes that come with taking your software product upmarket. Prior to his role at the high-growth SaaS company, Billante has held leadership roles in both product and marketing at Autodesk, has led product management at three venture-backed startups that led to strategic acquisitions, and was VP of Product Management at Vela Systems.
There are a host of considerations to think about as your company begins to chase larger clients. Here we'll explore what the top four issues are, the parties involved in addressing them, and common obstacles to expect.
A product roadmap is a way companies set expectations, both internally with your development teams and externally customers, when it's clearly defined and shared at the right time. The themes you choose for your product will probably be different for larger customers, and the order you execute them will be important as well.
Because your roadmap communicates your company's vision to potential and current clients, and addresses what problems your product will solve, it helps to setup the conversation for when customers ask for enhancements. Billante explains, "A roadmap can be the lens by which you evaluate customer requests." That said, not all companies share their roadmaps with customers, but it will still be a useful way to evaluate the input you're getting from the market.
Part of taking your company upmarket means working with vendors that can make your base product more sophisticated. With any new initiative, there is a trade off when deciding whether to build your own solution in-house or buying one off the shelf.
However, in cases when the technology is highly specialized or if you need it to scale, choosing to work with a third-party can be your best bet. Today's SaaS companies in particular can take advantage of hundreds of platforms and tools designed specifically to be embedded into other software products.
Demo. See for yourself how the partner's system or platform works and how it can integrate with yours. Your points of contact at this stage are likely to be a salesperson from the partner company, and possibly a technical specialist as well, but often times you can find demos either as videos on the partner site or sometimes even on YouTube.
Pilot. This is an integral step in determining if the partner's product is working the way you need it to and if the partner itself is the right fit for your company. If their solution is a component that is going to be hard to replace, then spending extra time on a pilot is going to reduce risk in the long term.
A huge part of your company's evolution to serving an enterprise clientele is staffing accordingly. On the product team front, there are many variables to look at around getting the right fit and they'll vary from one role to another. Two considerations that come up frequently are a candidate's industry knowledge and their technical knowledge.
In Billante's experience, if bringing industry experience in-house is your top priority, hiring from within your customer base can be a great place to start as these folks are both familiar with your product and have the industry chops. Conversely, you might choose to hire someone with a strong technology background on platforms like yours who has a knack for quickly adapting to new industries.
One trend that's been emerging over the past 10+ years is the rise of the product management function and organization. "Years ago 'product management' was often loosely defined, but more recently we see companies of all sizes building out product organizations and hiring multiple product managers. Universities and business schools are developing more structured programs for product management too, to ready people for the role," Billante says.
If a big part of the value in your solution is decision making or insights into data, the role of a Data Scientist will become important. Expertise in working with the tools and techniques related to Big Data and machine learning are a must there.
Taking this a step further, Billante tells me machine learning and AI specialists are "one of the hottest roles in the industry today, because there is so much value in it," especially when you're working with enterprise customers who can have vast amounts of unstructured data to analyze.
"Many product managers like to focus on new features and leave the existing product in place, but this isn't a sustainable way to operate," says Billante. "It can work for short periods of time, but eventually your technical debt will catch you." Making the tradeoff between adding new capabilities while improving the performance and supportability of your current product is something you need to do when you start to go upmarket, and plan for some balancing over time.
It's a good practice to continuously assess where the greatest need for refactoring of technical debt is based on data that is readily available. Trend analysis in the number of reported bugs and time to fix them are good starting points, or instrumenting the system with a performance monitoring tool can help provide quantitative insights.
Often, system architects or engineering leaders will already have a pretty good hit list too. Addressing the top concerns can often deliver immediate value to customers and could even be a win-win by leapfrogging you ahead to a modern tech stack. It's possible that an outdated "legacy" part of your system can transform into your newest and best feature with the right approach and investment.
If you're able to do a testing and experimenting approach, you may Introduce the updated version of your product in parallel with the old one and let people switch back and forth. Google does this with many products, for example. If your customer's data is not upgradable to the "Next-gen", you may need to introduce your new product as a separate version that's available as an add-on, or potentially licensing both the classic and next-gen for the same price.
Billante advises that if you know your customer base well, it will help you choose which approach to take. In the case of enterprise clients, companies need to consider the investment level that's already been made by those who are trained in your product's current version. Often times those responsible for implementing your solution have documentation and workflows built around it, so it's critical to keep these key contacts in the loop as your product evolves and give them as much advance notice and runway so they aren't surprised by a big change coming up too soon for them to prepare.
Taking your software business upmarket is an initiative that requires new skillsets, processes, and partners. Staying focused in your planning and keeping lines of communication with team members and external parties open are both paramount for designing and delivering a product that is valuable to enterprise customers.
Victoria is a Marketing Associate at Repsly, where she works on creating out-of-the-box content for the blog and social media. You also can catch her organizing awesome brand-forward events. A New England native, Victoria has spent time living in Italy and traveling throughout Europe before settling back in Boston. When she's not planning her next trip, V is probably tasting wine or writing for her blog, VixVibes.


Chatterbox-virtual sobesednik.Programma not a true artificial intelligence and has only rudiments of reason.
He knows how to adjust the answers under the questions and can also educate themselves to new words and expressions.
Simply unzip the file, and then it's simple.


text:
Copyright © 1985 by Berenstains, Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

_Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data:_
Berenstain, Stan. The Berenstain bears forget their manners. Summary: Mama Bear comes up with a plan to correct the Bear family's rude behavior. 1. Children's stories, American. [1. Behavior—Fiction. 2. Bears—Fiction.] I. Berenstain, Jan. II. Title.
PZ7.B4483Bend 1985 [E] 84-43156 eISBN: 978-0-375-98939-1

v3.0

# Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

First Page

There was trouble in the big tree house down a sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country—trouble with manners. The Bear family's trouble with manners was that they _forgot_ them!

At first it was just an occasional "please" or "thank you" that was forgotten.

Then there was a rude push without an "excuse me."

Then a reach across the table instead of a "please pass the broccoli."

Mama Bear wasn't quite sure how or why it happened. But she was sure of one thing—whatever the reason, the Bear family had become...

a pushing,

shoving,

name calling,

ill mannered mess!

At the table it was even worse.

They were a grabbing, mouth stuffing,

food fighting,

kicking-under-the-table super mess!

Of course, Mama Bear tried to correct Brother and Sister Bear's behavior.

She tried coaxing.

She tried complaining.

She tried shouting!

She tried going to Papa for help (though it sometimes seemed to Mama that he was part of the problem).

Papa banged on the table and shouted as only he could shout. But nothing really seemed to do any good.

Mama didn't like what was happening to her family. Not one bit. Something had to be done. But what? The best way to fight _bad_ habits, she thought, was with _good_ habits.

Then she thought of a plan. She got a big piece of cardboard and a marker.

At the top she wrote: THE BEAR FAMILY POLITENESS PLAN

When the plan was finished, she called a family meeting and showed it to Papa and the cubs.

It certainly got the Bear family's attention!

Mama's plan had a list of all the rude things she wanted to stop. Beside each one was a penalty—a job or chore that went with it.

If you forgot a "please" or a "thank you," you had to sweep the front steps. If you pushed or shoved, you had to beat two rugs. If you got caught name calling, you had to clean the whole cellar!

"But, Mama!" sputtered the cubs. "You're not being fair!"

"It seems to me," she said, "that _you're_ the ones who aren't being fair—to yourselves or anyone else. That's what manners are all about—being fair and considerate. Manners are very important. They help us get along with each other. Why, without manners—"

"Your mama's absolutely right!" interrupted Papa.

"Thank you, Papa, for your comment. But interrupting is number three on the Rude List, and the penalty is dusting the downstairs," Mama said, and handed him the feather duster.

"Hmm," said Brother. "This looks serious. I think we'd better come up with a plan of our own or we're going to be doing a lot of extra chores."

"What sort of plan?" asked Sister.

"Well," he said, "instead of just being polite, we'll be _super_ polite. We'll 'please' and 'thank you' so much that Mama will get fed up and call the whole thing off!"

"Yes," said Sister. "We'll be so polite, she won't be able to stand it!"

They put their plan into action. They were super polite...

—on the stairs:

"After you, Sister dear!"

"Thank you, dear Brother!"

—in the hall:

"Excuse me, Brother dear!"

"Why, certainly, my dear Sister!"

—waiting for the bathroom:

"Terribly sorry to have kept you waiting!"

"Think nothing of it, my dear!"

But it didn't work the way they expected. Mama didn't get fed up at all. And after a while Brother and Sister forgot about being super polite and were just polite...

—at the table:

"Pass the honey, please."

"Certainly."

—in their room:

"Would you like me to help you pick up your toys?"

"Thank you very much."

—in the yard:

"Oops! Sorry—I didn't mean to bump you."

"That's all right. No harm done."

And it turned out that Mama had been right: things _did_ go more smoothly. Once they got into the good manners habit, they didn't even have to think about it.

But it wasn't so easy for Papa. He was the one who got fed up. It's a little harder to change habits when you're older, and he had to do quite a few extra chores for forgetting his manners.

"I'm glad to get out of the house, away from that Politeness Plan!" he said as he drove the family along the highway on a trip to the supermarket.

"Manners and courtesy are just as important away from home—especially on the road," said Mama as they stopped at a stop sign to let pedestrians and other cars pass. "They help us drive safely."

"Well," grumbled Papa as they all went into the busy supermarket, "I think you can have too much of a good thing—you've got to have common sense along with manners!

Why, if you let everyone go ahead of you at the checkout, you'd be there forever!

"And sometimes you _have_ to interrupt—Excuse me, madam," he interrupted a shopper, "but I believe you have a leaking bottle in your cart!"

The shopper thanked him for his help.

"You see?" he said, driving home. "There's more to life than remembering your manners. Besides, manners are all right for cubs and mama bears...

"... but we papa bears have other things to think about—" At that moment the car in front stopped suddenly and Papa bumped into it. He was furious. "Why, that pinheaded fiddlebrain!" he snarled.

"Name calling!" reminded Sister.

The penalty for name calling was cleaning the whole cellar, so Papa gritted his teeth and remembered his manners. And a good thing, too. Because climbing out of the other car was the biggest, angriest bear he had ever seen!

But when the angry bear saw how polite Papa was, he remembered his manners too.

He explained that he had stopped short because a mama duck and her ducklings had crossed in front of him.

Then he and Papa Bear looked at their bumpers and saw that no harm had been done.

"As I was saying," said Papa as they continued on their way, "it's very important for us to remember our manners at all times—and I want to thank you, Sister, for reminding me to remember mine."

"You're very welcome, I'm sure," said Sister Bear politely.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaBook