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BLACK LAW STUDENTS'
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UCalgary BLSA Welcome BBQ
September 30, 2022 | 12:00 a.m.
Edworthy Park Picnic Site 9
May 21, 2022 | 8:00 p.m.
UCalgary Annual BLSA BBQ
Say hello to our new UCalgary Black law students. Last Thursday, we got the chance to meet the 1Ls. We were also joined by Professor Gideon Christian, chapter alumni, and friends who shared amazing insights and encouragement. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped out!
UCBLSA Official Statement for National Truth and Reconciliation Day
September 30,2022 Phyllis Webstad said that "The truth is not yet fully told." Today, we remember there is still so much work to be done.
UCBLSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2022-2023
Hello Everyone! We are excited to announce UCBLSA Mentorship Program 2022-2023. Our goal is to provide professional mentorship to our students from lawyers who understand and appreciate students unique journey into the legal profession. If you are black lawyer interested in mentoring a student, you can fill out the form https://forms.gle/tN6n7vFtdy8p4ADi8 by October 5th. If you are a UCBLSA student looking for a mentor fill out this form https://forms.gle/Zhp7C1TzgwT82gUaA by October 5th to let us know what you are looking for in a mentor!
2022-2023 TEAM | UCalgary BLSA
MEET THE TEAM CO-President Senait, 2L Senait (pronounced Sen-Night) is a born and raised Calgarian of Eritrean descent. She has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Royal University and her motivation to joining law school came from her sense of duty to advocate for vulnerable people, especially new Canadians. Senait has a general interest in employment and labour law, and immigration and refugee law, but is still keeping her options open. Prior to embarking on her post-secondary studies, Senait spent many years working in remote oil and gas camps in Northern Alberta. Vice President of Administration Shaye, 2L Shaye Erskine completed her undergrad at the University of Calgary and obtained a B.A. in Sociology. After school she started an anti-racism consultation company with her sister called Arie Consulting. She has always been passionate about advocating for others and is excited to continue on this journey throughout law school. Shaye enjoys doing Escape Rooms, baking, and watching true crime documentaries - any recommendations are welcome. Co-VP Mentorship Mirabelle, 3L After 1L, Mirabelle summered at the Canada Energy Regulator and, this summer, she worked for McCarthy Tétrault. She will be returning to McCarthy Tétrault for her articles. Mirabelle is also a serial volunteer and community leader. She is the current National President of the Black Law Students' Association of Canada. Locally, she's been on the executive team of UCalgary BLSA and the UCalgary Gender Equity in Law Association. Mirabelle's areas of legal interest include administrative, environmental, and corporate commercial law. She has received numerous academic, writing, and leadership awards, including the Dean of Law Award of Excellence, McCarthy Tétrault Leadership Award, and 2022 JSD Tory Writing Award for excellence in writing and legal research. She was also recently shortlisted for the 2022 CBC Short Story Prize. Mirabelle is passionate about law reform and hopes to be a litigator one day. Vice President of Marketing Miete, 2L Miete Penedo was born in Angola, moved to Canada at a young age, settled in Toronto for 6 years before moving to Edmonton. And that is where she completed her undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta. The reason Miete decided to do law school started with a small module course in law she was forced to take in high school. She quickly fell in love with law and decided fairly quickly that law was her passion and she spent the next few years chasing that dream. Everything in law school excites Miete. She finally achieved her dream and she's keeping an open mind towards any field of law that calls to her and will allow her to help people especially people of minority groups finding their footing within a unjust system. Vice President of Finance Malik, 2L Malik is a second year law student at the U of C. He also serves as the Vice President of Finance for our Black Law Students Chapter. Prior to law school, Malik played varsity basketball throughout his undergraduate degree and even had aspirations of playing professionally. However, upon realizing that he would not become the next LeBron James, Malik made the decision to go to law school. While Malik is happy with his decision to go to law school, he heeds the following warning to all prospective law students: "yeah, so far, this is nothing like 'Suits', Keep that in mind." Vice President of Events Chyna, 2L Chyna was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She did her undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary in Political Science and Business, with the dream of continuing on to law school. While completing her undergrad, she was a varsity athlete on the UofC track and field team. As a sprinter she competed in the 60m, 300m, 4x200m, and 4x400m, and was part of a team that won the CIS Championship in 2020. Currently she is a 2L with a strong interest in corporate tech law and international law. Outside of law school, Chyna has a passion for art, specifically painting and sketching. Over the 2021 summer her artwork was featured in a Calgary restaurant. 1st Year Representative Marissa, 1L Marissa was born and raised in BC before moving to Calgary in 2015. She received her undergraduate degree in Criminology. Prior to law school, Marissa worked as a corporate legal assistant in Vancouver. Once in Calgary, Marissa found her way into the energy industry which eventually led her to her current role as a project development analyst, developing utility-scale solar projects in Alberta. She is most excited to learn from some of the leading energy lawyers and professors in Canada and to continue contributing to Alberta's energy transition towards a net-zero future. Outside of school and work, Marissa's interests include gardening with her husband, reading, going to farmers markets, spending as much time as possible with her two sons Jackson (3) and Cooper (1) and eating good food. Co- President Hameedah, 2L Hameedah Baruwa completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta where she majored in Psychology and minored in Sociology. Growing up, she spent her early formative years in Nigeria before moving to Canada at the age of ten. Her interest in law began when she sat on a youth advisory board with her local MP in 2019, and grew to become fascinated by the law-making process, its effects on society, and particularly, the role of advocates in that process. She is not yet married to a specific practice area and instead, is excited to explore and figure out exactly what aligns with her interests and passions in law. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and watching cheesy rom-coms. Administrative Support Director Naoll, 2L Naoll grew up just outside of Vancouver but did his undergrad at McGill University in Montreal. He earned a BA in Political Science while playing on the varsity lacrosse team. He loves playing sports, reading, and is attempting to learn Spanish (shoutout to Duolingo). Naoll chose to pursue law after learning about the Innocence Project, an organization that works to overturn wrongful convictions. He hopes to use his law degree to advocate for marginalized groups and tangibly affect change in his community. Co-VP Mentorship Semhar, 2L Semhar Abraha is currently a 2L student and a Co-VP mentorship for the 2022/2023 academic year at BLSA Calgary and a member of the National Professional Development Committee. By serving in these roles, Abraha hopes to improve the quality of mentorship available to black students, research ways to help them secure summer jobs, and advance their academic and professional careers. Marketing Support Director Grace, 1L Grace was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and her background is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She will be the first lawyer in her family, as far as she knows. Prior to 1L, Grace was quite familiar with the University of Calgary as she had completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Law and Society (First Class) within the institution. Throughout her undergrad, Grace focused her energy on work within various student groups and organizations such as the Global Development Society, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and in collaborative initiatives, including the Violet King Engaged Scholarship, and the expansion of the African Studies Program as an African Studies Administrator at the Faculty of Arts. Her areas of legal interest include Health law, Family law, Business law, Criminal and Social Justice law. Her passion from the law was always evident in her work for marginalized and minoritized groups as she hopes to one day become a vanguard of change in the legal system for such groups. Support Director of Finance Mikail, 3L Mikail was born in Ottawa to Somali parents who left behind a civil war. He will be the first lawyer in his family and is in the final year of the JD program. He completed an undergraduate degree in biosciences before acquiring an interest in the law. Mikail spent his first- and second-year summers with Gowling WLG, in Calgary and Toronto. He will be returning to Gowling WLG for his articles in the Toronto office, where he focused his summer experience in the business law group and developed an interest in securities and m&a. Mikail serves as our Finance Support Director and is involved in our fundraising activities. When he is isn't studying (which is not un-often), Mikail is likely catching up on the latest Arsenal news or honing his craft in FIFA. Events Support Director Amira, 1L Amira is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She recently received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Manitoba. She is looking forward to learning about all areas of law, and is especially enjoying criminal law and torts so far!
UCalgary Black Law Students' Association
The Black Law Students' Association at the University of Calgary (UCalgary BLSA) is a student-run non-profit organization at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law. INSTAGRAM FEED If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. - African proverb BLSA UCalgary Chapter Nov 2 1 min UCalgary Annual BLSA BBQ Say hello to our new UCalgary Black law students. Last Thursday, we got the chance to meet the 1Ls. We were also joined by Professor... Post not marked as liked BLSA UCalgary Chapter Sep 30 1 min UCBLSA Official Statement for National Truth and Reconciliation Day September 30,2022 Phyllis Webstad said that "The truth is not yet fully told." Today, we remember there is still so much work to be done. Post not marked as liked
Events | UCalgary BLSA
EVENTS No upcoming events at the moment PAST EVENTS PANEL: Black Legal History in Alberta Thursday, Feb 10th 2022 @ 12PM RSVP by emailing calgaryblsa@gmail.com Presented by UCalgary BLSA and Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, this event will include a video on Black trailblazers in Alberta's legal history and a panel discussing Black legal history in our province. This is a virtual event on Black legal history in Alberta on February 10th from 12 - 1pm on zoom. This event will include a video on Black trailblazers in Alberta's legal history and a three-person panel with Patricia Sealy QC, who is the first Black woman QC in Alberta, Kene Ilochonwu, the first Black bencher to seat at the bencher's table in the Law Society of Alberta, and Professor Ubaka Ogbogu, one of the first Black full professors at the faculty of law in the University of Alberta.
BLACK LAW STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION
E: calgaryblsa@gmail.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Are you searching for a Home Inspector in Groton CT?
When you need a professional and experienced home inspector in Groton, Connecticut, Triumph Home Inspection is your answer. Triumph Home Inspection, LLC specializes in Groton CT Home Inspections and its owner, Guy Miner, is a Certified Home Inspector with InterNACHI. If you are purchasing a single family home, multi-family home or condominium in Groton, give Triumph Home Inspection a call to schedule a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection of the property. If you are a home owner planning to sell your single family home, multi-family home or condominium in Groton, give Guy a call to schedule a thorough pre-sale inspection of your home so that he may identify any deficiencies or problems before you list your house for sale.
Groton is located along the beautiful Thames River in New London County and has an estimated population of 39,179. The town was established in 1705 and consists of approximately 45.3 square miles. Groton is home to General Dynamics Electric Boat, the Naval Submarine Base New London, Pfizer, and a regional campus of the University of Connecticut. There is never a shortage of things to do in Groton, with activities on the Thames River, great restaurants, hiking trails, the Poquonnock River Walkway, and state parks such as the Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park and Bluff Point State Park.
Triumph Home Inspection specializes in Groton CT Home Inspections and is a family owned and operated full-time home inspection business located in East Hampton. Guy Miner, owner of Triumph Home Inspection, is a member in good standing of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc. (InterNACHI) and the Connecticut Association of Home Inspectors. Triumph Home Inspection understands the stress and time pressures associated with real estate closings. We offer flexible hours to accommodate your busy schedules so that we may complete a home inspection in a timely fashion at a time that works best for you. If you are buying or selling a residential home in Groton, contact Triumph Home Inspection to schedule a professional home inspection.


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Q: My error is string was not recognized as a valid DateTime I'm having this error if i leave the date blank when I click save button.
Front Code
Date
<asp:TextBox ID="txtDate" runat="server" CssClass="text_300" MaxLength="200"></asp:TextBox>
<asp:CalendarExtender ID="CalendarExtender1" runat="server" TargetControlID="txtDate" Format="dd/MM/yyyy"></asp:CalendarExtender>
<asp:MaskedEditExtender TargetControlID="txtDateFrom" Mask="99/99/9999"
    MessageValidatorTip="true" OnFocusCssClass="MaskEditFocus" OnInvalidCssClass="MaskEditError"
    MaskType="Date"
    ErrorTooltipEnabled="True" runat="server" ID="mskD" />
<asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator3" runat="server"
    ErrorMessage="*" ControlToValidate="txtDate" SetFocusOnError="True"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator>

Back Code
string result = _bllstaff.addInfo(Convert.ToDateTime(this.txtDateFrom.Text == ""
    ? 0.ToString() : this.txtDateFrom.Text), _pUser.IDUSER,
    DateTime.Now, dtCurrentTable);

This error occurs if I leave it blank after click save button. Maybe you guys have idea or suggestion for me. Thank you.

A: It's hard to understand exactly what issue you are having. Maybe revising your question, posting more code, and using a code block will help. EDIT: (I see the question has been updated)
I'll attempt a suggestion however; My advice would be to use the DateTime.Parse method, or even better DateTime.TryParse and make the code easier to follow:
//...
DateTime date = DateTime.MinValue;
DateTime.TryParse(this.txtDateFrom.Text, out date);
string result = _bllstaff.addInfo(date, _pUser.IDUSER, DateTime.Now, dtCurrentTable);
//...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Not yet available for this item - expected availability February, 2014.
Microsoft® PowerPoint 2013: Level 3 provides thorough advanced training of PowerPoint 2013. This text provides more complex skills than those presented in our Level 1 and Level 2 books, but with the same proven instructional design.
This textbook is available in print or as an enhanced ebook accessible through any web browser and any mobile device. Our ebooks offer the same content as our print edition, plus embedded video, direct links to interactive content, and ebook features such as searching, annotation, and highlighting.
When purchasing an ebook, you are purchasing a license key which will allow you to access the ebook through our partner, VitalSource for 6 months.


text:
Local authorities not up to speed with fast broadband delivery
Eleven areas fail to provide the government's minimum download proposal of 10Mbps, says Which?
Rupert Jones
Tue 27 Jun 2017 10.45 EDT First published on Tue 27 Jun 2017 02.05 EDT
Testing, testing … but the rollout of fast broadband across the UK seems uneven. Photograph: Alamy
It might be home to the Shard skyscraper, City Hall and Tate Modern, but the central London borough of Southwark has been named one of the 20 worst places in the UK for broadband speeds, in a list that stretches from Orkney to Bexhill-on-Sea.
An analysis of 719,000 speed tests by the consumer organisation Which? found that 11 local authority areas didn't meet the minimum download speed proposed under the government's so-called universal service obligation (USO), which anyone in the UK would be entitled to request.
No 'peace' for internet users accusing BT of empty promises over broadband speeds
These included Ryedale in North Yorkshire and Purbeck in Dorset, where the average recorded speed in both cases was 9Mbps, and Rother in East Sussex (which includes Bexhill-on-Sea) where it was 9.5Mbps. This compares with a minimum 10Mbps proposed under the USO.
Telecoms regulator Ofcom has said a speed of 10Mbps is needed to enable consumers to fully participate in a digital society.
Of the 389 local authority areas surveyed, the three with the slowest speeds – between 6.3Mbps and 8.8Mbps – were all in Scotland: Orkney, Shetland and Highland. However, Which? said that while most of the slow download speeds were recorded in rural or more remote locations, many local authority areas in big cities were achieving below the national average.
The appearance of Southwark in the bottom 20 might be a surprise. With an average download speed of 10.4Mbps, it only just managed to exceed the proposed minimum. The borough includes a well-known broadband "not-spot", Rotherhithe, where it was reported that as recently as last year thousands of residents were only receiving speeds of around 2Mbps.
By contrast, superfast broadband is defined as 24Mbps or more, while Which? has put the UK average speed at 17Mbps.
Other parts of London that were found to be lagging behind the UK average were Westminster (12.9Mbps), Lambeth (13.2Mbps), the City of London (13.4Mbps), Tower Hamlets (15Mbps) and Hackney (16Mbps).
The fastest local authority area for broadband speeds was Tamworth in the West Midlands, with an average speed of 30.4Mbps, followed by Reading in Berkshire; Adur, the West Sussex district that includes the town of Shoreham; and the London borough of Enfield.
In November 2015, the then prime minister David Cameron declared that "access to the internet shouldn't be a luxury, it should be a right … we're going to bring fast broadband to every home and business that wants it". The government has also previously claimed that 95% of the country should have access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017.
Broadband users in line for millions in Ofcom compensation plan
In urban areas it is often blocks of flats that suffer slow speeds. This is because many of them have a dedicated line from the ground floor to the nearest telephone exchange, usually made of copper and which can run long distances, slowing the speed at which information travels.
"A slow broadband connection can have a huge impact on people's ability to carry out basic online tasks such as banking and shopping online, as well streaming TV shows," said Which?.
Top 10 and bottom 10 local authorities for broadband speeds
Internet, phones & broadband


text:
A.I. Crypto Mail
About AI Crypto Mail
Welcome to AI Crypto Mail, the premier source for all things related to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Our team of experts, known as the AI Guerrilla, The Beautiful Savage, and Crypto Klutz, is dedicated to bringing you the latest news, insights, and analysis on the rapidly evolving world of digital assets.
At AI Crypto Mail, we believe that education is key to the success of the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. That's why we strive to provide our readers with clear, concise, and easy-to-understand content that covers the most important aspects of this exciting space. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, we've got something for you.
But we don't just provide you with news and analysis - we also send it directly to you via our newsletter, AI Crypto Mail. This means that you don't have to constantly check our website for updates - we'll bring the updates to you. All you have to do is sign up for our newsletter, and you'll receive the latest and greatest in cryptocurrency and blockchain news straight to your inbox.
The AI Guerrilla, The Beautiful Savage, and Crypto Klutz are the writing curators of AI Crypto Mail,
and they bring a unique perspective to the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. With a combined experience of over 20 years in the industry, these experts are well-equipped to provide you with the insights and analysis you need to stay ahead of the curve.
So join us as we explore the exciting world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology together! We can't wait to bring you the latest and greatest in this rapidly evolving space.


Cold Storage Kids Run 2018, one of the most highly anticipated and popular runs for the kids in Singapore saw more than 15,000 people participating in this year run held at Palawan Green Sentosa.
Cold Storage Kids Run is Singapore's first kids-focused running event and the longest running event for kids with a choice of 9 excitement-packed categories of runs to choose from which included competitive and non-competitive Fruity Family Fun and Stroller Family Fun which are suitable for parents and children to participate together.
There were lots of fun-filled activities for families to take part and enjoy with themed carnival and games, bouncing castles, mascots appearances and more!
We took part in the non competitive Fruity Family Fun. The weather was good and it was a breeze to complete the 2km run together.
It has been a fun and enjoyable run for us and what's more, we also met many of our friends at Cold Storage Kids Run.
Thank you Cold Storage Kids Run for the fabulous run and we look forward to participate in next year run!


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Sempra - Saudi Aramco Sale Deal Agreed for Port Arthur LNG
Port Arthur LNG
Sempra Energy and Saudi Aramco have announced their respective subsidiaries, Sempra LNG and Aramco Services Company, have signed a deal for a definitive 20-year LNG sale-and-purchase agreement for five million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG offtake from Phase 1 of the Port Arthur LNG export-project, currently under development. The deal also includes finalization of a 25 percent equity investment in Phase 1 of Port Arthur LNG.
The proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is expected to include two liquefaction trains, up to three LNG storage tanks and associated facilities that should enable the export of approximately 11Mtpa of LNG on a long-term basis. Port Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45Mtpa of capacity.
If the deal is completed, it is likely to mean that the Port Arthur facility could proceed to final investment decision by the end of 2019 or early 2020. Sempra, the project sponsor, has already signed a two mmtpa deal to supply PGNIG from Port Arthur. This deal will take total contract volumes from the 11 mmtpa facility to seven mmtpa, a level that should be sufficient to secure debt finance.
Commenting on the deal, Giles Farrer, Wood Mackenzie Research Director, said: "If converted to a sales and purchase agreement (SPA), this will be one of the largest LNG deals ever signed and the largest deal signed since 2013. "This is a signal of Aramco's intent to become a global gas player and develop a broad LNG portfolio. As the energy transition intensifies, we are seeing oil focused national oil companies following major international oil companies by diversifying their exposure away from oil and into gas and LNG. Further moves into other major LNG provinces by Aramco are likely, with the company rumored to be interested in LNG-focused acquisitions in Arctic Russia, Australia and other markets.
"It's unclear what the final destination of Saudi Aramco's LNG will be. There continues to be a long-term expectation that, in time, Saudi Arabia will import LNG to be used for power generation. However, we expect that Saudi Aramco will use this volume to establish a global portfolio as it seeks to become a global gas player.
"To establish its LNG marketing operation, we expect Saudi Aramco to build on its broad expertise in crude oil and products marketing, while also leveraging Saudi Arabia's diplomatic ties. To facilitate this, Saudi Aramco recently started trading LNG, selling its first LNG cargo into India in April."
Sempra received final Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for Port Arthur in April and is likely to receive a final notice to proceed from this year. Bechtel is lined up to provide the EPC contract for the project.
Global demand for LNG is expected to grow by around four percent per year, and likely to exceed 500 million metric tons a year by 2035.
MarEx Magazine
The Human Side
By Capt. Jonathan Kjaerulff
Greening the World's Blue Highways
By Mia Bennett
Full Steam Ahead!
By Wendy Laursen
Martin Kits van Heyningen, Chairman, President & CEO, KVH Industries
By Jack O'Connell
Celebrity Cruises: Different by Design
By Allan E. Jordan
Interview: Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises
By Tony Munoz


Whatever Happened to Steak and Champagne in Coach?
Before the Arline Deregulation Act of 1978, the government was in full control of what the airline industry charged for seats, and which routes they received.
The only way for airlines' to compete against each other, was to offer the best customer service and flying experience they could.
As a Delta Airlines flight attendant in the early 70's, I worked hard for the money.
Back in 1972 Delta offered a complimentary filet mignon steak dinner and all-you-can-drink champagne in coach. Business boomed as flyers flocked to Delta for patience, empathy, a man size slab of beef, and bottomless bubbly.
I'll share that nightmare job with you in some other blog post.
And trust me, I'm sure I did.
Delta hyped us as attractive, considerate, courteous, kind, orderly, personable, poised, polite, truly dedicated and goes far beyond the call of duty.
But nothing could beat the sexist "Fly Me" advertising campaign that National Airlines rolled out with just around the same time.
National offered up their modelesque flight attendants as part of the airline travel experience. The company painted the ladies' first names on every plane and mandated that the attendants wear "Fly Me" buttons during in-flight service.
We've certainly come a long way from the 70's.
Children with peanut allergies and their families are roughly removed from planes, a young mother who is trying to manage twin babies is hit in the head with a stroller, a 69-year-old man suffers serious injuries after being slammed and dragged off a plane to accommodate an airline employee.
And if you're lucky enough to survive an airline personnel bully, you still have to be jammed into a packed plane, with no leg room and no food. And how about the dreaded reclining seats?
I wish the airlines would wake up and make the seats immovable. Why they think there is any available space for reclining is beyond me. It just makes the ride that much more unpleasant.
And I hope that passengers continue to record the antics of airline personnel bullies and to stand up and say something if they see something.
I don't expect to dine on steak and champagne in coach, but I'm tired of being treated like a piece of meat.
Who knew Oak trees ladened with acorns could result in Lyme disease?
In 1969, the first case of Lyme disease in the U.S. was discovered in a grouse hunter from Wisconsin.
But the disease didn't get its name until 1975, when there was an outbreak in children from Lyme, Connecticut. And then in 1982, the bacteria responsible for causing the disease was finally identified.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission's website states that in 2009 95% of reported cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. occurred in the following 12 states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, and Virginia.
According to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, a bumper crop of acorns could be putting the U.S. on the brink of an unprecedented outbreak of Lyme disease. Rick Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute, estimates that 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, but that the illness is now on track to being the worst in 2017.
Because acorns are a critical food for white-footed mice, as acorn production surges, mouse population climbs, giving rise to more disease-carrying ticks. White-tailed deer also feed on acorns.
The mice and deer both carry ticks that drop off in the winter. The following year the female ticks lay their eggs and hatch larval ticks. Those larval ticks become infected when they feed on the mice and deer, so the whole process takes about two years.
Additionally, the Lyme bacteria has also been found in Eastern chipmunks, short-tailed shrews, coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, and feral cats. Domestic animals including cats, dogs, cattle, and horses can also become infected. The bacteria have also been found in many bird species including but not limited to the ring-necked pheasant, mallard, wild turkey, house wren, song thrush, American robin, gray catbird, song sparrow, and house sparrow.
With no Lyme disease vaccine available for humans there is not much that can be done to prevent the illness except for the standard anti-tick measures like head to toe clothing when in the woods and diligent tick-checks. There are Lyme disease vaccines available for pets.
Ticks can be as tiny as a pin prick, and easy to miss. Not everyone gets a rash, and flu-like symptoms are easily overlooked and/or misdiagnosed.
Bottom line? Stay far away from acorns.
The prince contemplated suicide, although in the end he was poisoned by Laertes, and not by his own hand.
I have always preferred my own interpretation of Hamlet's words though: That a sleep full of dreams might help to offset troubles and sufferings in life.
A pair of papers was recently published in the journal Science, offering evidence that we sleep to forget some of the things that happen to us each day.
Sleep to forget. Maybe that's all that the heartbroken Hamlet wanted to do, and then, perchance, to dream.
I am not a good sleeper. I lay awake each and every night with a million thoughts running in and out of my brain.
And when I am lucky enough to catch a break, and fall into a deep sleep, I have some sicko, frightful, extremely detailed dream that never seems to end.
Most times I forget them by morning, although when the dreams wake me up in the middle of the night, with my body drenched in sweat, and my heart pounding out of my chest, I recall them all too vividly. And as I lay there shaking in my bed, I analyze what in my life is causing such terrifying phantasms.
People have been pondering the meaning of dreams for centuries. Sigmund Freud's theory centered around the idea that dreaming allows for the sorting through of unresolved events, and/or repressed issues.
Sleep to forget. Dream to sort through issues.
I recently purchased a book about interpreting dreams. My interest was less about the interpretation and more about Freud's take on things: Produce a dream based upon a particular issue or event.
There was a section in the book that provided instruction on how to provoke a dreaming state of mind.
Remarkably, I was successfully able to sleep, and then elicit, not one but five dreams using the techniques from the book.
The book first emphasized that unemotional focus was key, and that it may take several nights in a row to produce the dreaming state, although it took me only one.
It was also recommended to view any problems or events from a distance.
Additionally, the book suggested that if you didn't have a specific problem or dilemma, but just wanted to look farther into the future, the same process would apply.
The most important part of the exercise was not to think too hard or worse, overly obsess about the issue at hand, because that would only thwart sleep, and result in wakefulness.
The advice was to analyze the event or problem from an objective point of view and purposefully remove yourself from the issue altogether.
The goal was not to try to solve anything, but instead to focus on the issue itself, in the hopes of working through it in your dream state.
The bottom line was to specifically focus on what it was you wanted to zero in on before you fell asleep.
And most importantly, make sure to keep a pen and paper next to your bed so you can write down all of the elements and particulars about your dream as soon as you awake.
Since dreams are mostly fleeting, they need to be written down in as much detail as possible.
So that first night, prior to falling asleep, I placed a pen and some paper on my nightstand. Then I tried to remove all thoughts from my mind and as the book instructed, forced myself to totally relax.
Next I thought about something that had been bothering me terribly, but I did it without emotion, and didn't try to solve anything.
And I didn't place any blame or ask myself why it was happening.
I merely pinpointed the issue, and then began to analyze some of the aspects of the situation.
I first asked myself what the dilemma was about. Then I asked myself how it made me feel, and who was involved.
As I organized my thoughts and feelings, I kept pushing and pressing my psyche to gain clarity through slumber.
And then I must have fallen asleep.
Because I need to protect my situations and events, as well as the people involved, I am going to be somewhat vague about the dreams I had.
But I will tell you that there was nothing remotely vague about my dreams that night. And my five dreams were broken up. I had one, and then wrote that one down. I was awake enough to write, and excited at the eliciting of the dream itself.
And then I had the second and third together. And once I wrote those down, I fell into a deep sleep, and then came the fourth and then the fifth dreams, which I wrote down, quickly falling asleep in between them.
When I awoke the next morning, I was well rested but at first extremely disoriented and groggy.
I had all but forgotten the dreams until I read what I had written down, and was stunned that the entire night of dreams shockingly tied in with many of the situations I so desperately needed to sort through.
Dream One: There were two calendar dates, one was in March, the other in July. In my dream I was very afraid I would forget them both. One seemed more important than the other, and in the dream I actually analyzed whether there was really only one date that I needed to focus on, but just in case, and to cover any possibility, I needed to remember both. I was obsessed with the dates.
Blinding, crazy rain. I needed to get to the beach, to be with a girl. I didn't know who the girl was, but she was important to me. I knew I shouldn't drive in such bad weather, but it was imperative that I be with this girl. I kept asking myself that once I got to the girl, how would we be able to sit outside in this violent tempest? I kept asking myself that question over and over again. The wind and rain would make it extremely dangerous to travel, but I felt I had to go, that I needed to go, no matter what.
Dream Three: I was standing on a balcony, high up in a building, staring at the churning ocean. There was a path in between the water and the building. A path of sand.
A mother and her child were walking toward the building. I didn't know them but I was nervous that they should get away from the water, get closer to the building. The water was rough, and I was afraid for them.
Dream four: I told a loved one (I will call the loved one "X") that I was going on vacation. X called me on the phone to say that while I was away X was going to have a few friends over. I told X that I didn't care about the friends coming over but that I needed to trust X and that X needed to be responsible. I told X that X never calls and the last time I saw X was over a year ago. I started to cry and told X I needed to get off the phone.
Dream five: A woman got a disease on a ship and a man was sitting next to her and consoling her. He put a blanket on her and set it up like a tent to keep her warm and then sat under it with her. He kept talking to her and reassuring her. Then some boat staff came by and said they had to remove all of the dead bodies. The woman thought she was alive, but they thought she was dead. They poured gasoline everywhere, on suitcases that were strewn all around, and on the deck, as well, and were getting ready to light everything up. As the woman watched, they pulled the man away.


text:
Visual Resources
Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
The Fortunoff Archive and its affiliates recorded the testimonies of willing individuals with first-hand experience of the Nazi persecutions, including those who were in hiding, survivors, bystanders, resistants, and liberators. Please note: To access users need to create an account and submit a request.
Click more for instructions to create account and submit request, as well as more details about the archive.
The Fortunoff Archive currently holds more than 4,400 testimonies, which are comprised of over 12,000 recorded hours of videotape. Testimonies were produced in cooperation with thirty-six affiliated projects across North America, South America, Europe, and Israel. Testimonies were recorded in whatever language the witness preferred, and range in length from 30 minutes to over 40 hours (recorded over several sessions).
Create Account & Request Testimony:
1. To create an account select Log In, and then Join Now. Users will then receive a confirmation email.
2. Login and then enter a search term. Click on a testimony in the search results and request access. Please note that records truncate last names of those who gave testimony to protect their privacy. If you are looking for a specific person's testimony, either shorten their last name to the first initial ("Eva B.") or contact the archive directly. You only need to request access to one testimony to obtain viewing access for the entire collection.
3. Once the approval email is received, users may view testimonies. A browser refresh may be necessary.
Modern Genocide: Understanding Causes and Consequences
Presents comprehensive information and documents on modern genocide, focusing on the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.
Includes more than 300 primary sources such as memoirs, narratives, and domestic and international legal documents that illustrate the progression and outcome of genocide, as well as first-hand accounts that depict its impact on entire societies as well as on the lives of individuals.
The USC Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive allows users to search through and view the 51,537 video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of genocide currently available in the Archive that were conducted in 61 countries and 39 languages. Initially a repository of Holocaust testimony, the Visual History Archive has expanded to include testimonies from the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in China and the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide.
America: History & Life
Bibliographic database focusing on the history and life of the United States and Canada, indexing more than 1,800 journals published, dissertations and reviews.
In addition to the principle English language sources in the field, it includes some (about 10%) in other languages, as well as some state and local history journals. All aspects of historical inquiry are represented: diplomatic, ecclesiastical, agricultural, cultural, economic, political, military and others. The index also provides citations to book and media reviews from about 100 journals and references to abstracts of dissertations in the field. All abstracts are in English.
Anthropology Plus
Index of journal articles in anthropology and related fields. The primary index for research in anthropology, it includes articles, reports, edited works, and obituaries in social, cultural, physical, biological, and linguistic anthropology, as well as in ethnology, archaeology, folklore, and material culture.
Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text
Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text contains nearly 500,000 records selected from important sources within the discipline. This resource includes full text for over 315 magazines and journals.
Digital National Security Archive
The Digital National Security Archives contains over 110,000 declassified documents, an archival record of reports, memoranda, correspondence and papers concerning important public policy decisions in the area of foreign affairs and national security.
Collections included:
Afghanistan: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1973–1990
Argentina, 1975-1980: The Making of U.S. Human Rights Policy
The Berlin Crisis, 1958–1962
Chile and the United States: U.S. Policy toward Democracy, Dictatorship, and Human Rights, 1970–1990
China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement, 1960–1998
CIA Covert Operations: From Carter to Obama, 1977-2010
CIA Covert Operations II: The Year of Intelligence, 1975
CIA Family Jewels Indexed
Colombia and the United States: Political Violence, Narcotics, and Human Rights, 1948-2010
Cuba and the U.S.: The Declassified History of Negotiations to Normalize Relations, 1959-2016
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
The Cuban Missile Crisis: 50th Anniversary Update
The Cuban Missile Crisis Revisited: An International Collection, From Bay of Pigs to Nuclear Brink
Death Squads, Guerrilla War, Covert Ops, and Genocide: Guatemala and the United States, 1954-1999
Electronic Surveillance and the National Security Agency: From Shamrock to Snowden
El Salvador: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1977–1984
El Salvador: War, Peace, and Human Rights, 1980–1994
Iran: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1977–1980
The Iran-Contra Affair: The Making of a Scandal, 1983–1988
Iraqgate: Saddam Hussein, U.S. Policy and the Prelude to the Persian Gulf War, 1980–1994
Japan and the United States: Diplomatic, Security, and Economic Relations, 1960–1976
Japan and the United States: Diplomatic, Security, and Economic Relations, Part III, 1961-2000
The Kissinger Conversations, Supplement: A Verbatim Record of U.S. Diplomacy, 1969–1977
The Kissinger Conversations, Supplement II: A Verbatim Record of U.S. Diplomacy, 1969-1977
The Kissinger Telephone Conversations: A Verbatim Record of U.S. Diplomacy, 1969-1977
The Kissinger Transcripts: A Verbatim Record of U.S. Diplomacy, 1969-1977
Mexico-United States Counternarcotics Policy, 1969-2013
The National Security Agency: Organization and Operations, 1945-2009
Nicaragua: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1978–1990
Nuclear Nonproliferation 2, Part 1: From Atoms for Peace to the NPT, 1954-1968
Peru: Human Rights, Drugs and Democracy, 1980-2000
The Philippines: U.S. Policy During the Marcos Years, 1965–1986
Presidential Directives on National Security, Part I: From Truman to Clinton
Presidential Directives on National Security, Part II: From Truman to George W. Bush
The President's Daily Brief: Kennedy, Johnson, and the CIA, 1961-1969
South Africa: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1962–1989
The Soviet Estimate: U.S. Analysis of the Soviet Union, 1947–1991
Soviet - U.S. Relations: The End of the Cold War, 1985-1991
Terrorism and U.S. Policy, 1968–2002
U.S. Espionage and Intelligence, 1947–1996
U.S. Intelligence and China: Collection, Analysis and Covert Action
The U.S. Intelligence Community: Organization, Operations and Management, 1947–1989
The U.S. Intelligence Community After 9/11
U.S. Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction: From World War II to Iraqi
U.S. Military Uses of Space, 1945–1991
U.S. Nuclear History, 1969-1976: Weapons, Arms Control, and War Plans in an Age of Strategic Parity
U.S. Nuclear History: Nuclear Arms and Politics in the Missile Age, 1955–1968
U.S. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy, 1945–1991
U.S. Policy in the Vietnam War, Part I: 1954-1968
U.S. Policy in the Vietnam War, Part II: 1969-1975
The United States and the Two Koreas, Part II, 1969-2010
The United States and the Two Koreas (1969-2000)
Targeting Iraq, Part 1: Planning, Invasion, and Occupation, 1997-2004
Ethnic NewsWatch
Articles from newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority, and native press in America; full text and searchable in English and Spanish
GenderWatch
Full text database with a focus on how gender impacts a variety of subject areas.
GenderWatch is a full text database of nearly 400 periodicals and other publications that focus on how gender impacts a variety of subject areas. Publications include academic and scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, regional publications, books, booklets and pamphlets, conference proceedings, and government, and special reports.
Index to journals, chapters and theses about world history, 1450 to present. Consult America: History and Life for coverage of U.S. and Canada.
Humanities International Complete
Humanities International Complete contains information from the Humanities International Index as well as full text for nearly 1240 journals.
PAIS Index
PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) indexes articles, books, studies, selected official documents and other resources on public policy issues, public administration, law, politics and government.
Includes journal articles, books, government documents, pamphlets and the reports of public and private bodies. Also indexes publications in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
Print source: PAIS bulletin (1915-1990), PAIS Foreign Language Index (1968-1990), PAIS International in Print (1991-)
ProQuest Political Science
Access to political science, public policy, and international relations journals. Also includes thousands of recent full-text doctoral dissertations on political science topics, together with working papers, conference proceedings, country reports, policy papers and other sources.
Sociological Abstracts
Abstracts to journal articles and citations to book reviews in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
Provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of the international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, and public administration/policy.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts builds on the merged backfile of Political Science Abstracts (1975-2000) and ABC POL SCI (1984-2000). This database provides abstracts and indexing of the international literature of political science and international relations, along with complementary fields, including international law and public administration/policy. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 750 core serials publications and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and working papers.
CQ Researcher
Full-text discussion of current, controversial public policy issues; coverage of newsworthy global affairs and issues from a variety of international viewpoints.
Full-text of historical runs of important scholarly journals in the humanities, arts, sciences, ecology, and business.
Provides full text access and indexing for e-journals and e-books from a variety of scholarly publishers. Covers the fields of literature and criticism, history, the visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, political science, gender studies, economics, and many others.
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, including millions of works from thousands of universities. Each dissertation published since July, 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts. Simple bibliographic citations are available for dissertations dating from 1637.
Includes the following:
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: UK & Ireland
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: A & I
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: CIC Institutions
Next: Reference Tools >>
URL: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/genocide


When I start my Toshiba laptop (Satellite A505), I have recently been getting a dialog box with the title �taskeng.exe.� It has a few words about MS Windows and then disappears.
Q: When I start my Toshiba laptop (Satellite A505), I have recently been getting a dialog box with the title �taskeng.exe.� It has a few words about MS Windows and then disappears. This dialog box has only appeared within the last two months. I Googled the title and got the following information: �This is the task scheduler service under Windows Vista and Windows 7. It is responsible for keeping track of tasks set to run at a time predetermined by the user, and to invoke them when necessary. In other cases, taskeng.exe is a virus, spyware, Trojan or worm! Check this with Security Task Manager.� I checked it with Security Task Manager, as well as Avast! Malwarebytes Antimalware, and SuperAntispyware. The results of all checks have been negative. Am I safe from malware, should I do more or should I take my laptop to a local computer analysis store?
A: Wow! You�re asking me, after reading a few lines describing some diagnostic steps you�ve taken, to broadly declare you �safe from malware�? That�s a pretty tall order, Jack. You seem like a pretty Geeky guy (compliment intended) so instead, let�s discuss it a bit, and I�ll let you draw your own conclusions.
First, I can confirm that taskeng.exe is indeed a legitimate part of Windows. As you said, this is a process that runs in the background, and is used to launch services and tasks at predetermined times (such as a disk defragmenter that runs in the middle of the night). There are indeed known viruses that hide within, or disguise themselves as taskeng.exe. Most of these should be detectable by the scanners that you mentioned. Of course, a scanning program generally has to know what it�s looking for to be able to find it, which usually puts viruses one step ahead of virus scanners.
In general, the time to become concerned is when you first notice behavior from your computer that you�ve never seen before. At that point, you can go back and check restore points, or look to see if any updates were recently installed that might explain a change in the system�s behavior, and perhaps even provide an opportunity to undo changes that are causing genuine system problems. You said in your message that this dialog has been appearing for about two months, which makes this sort of analysis about impossible.
So, is your system infected? Signs point to no, but of course, there�s no way for me to be certain. Are you �safe from malware�? Heck no! None of us are. All we can do is equip our computers with the best protection we can find (and you�ve done a pretty good job of that) and then watch what website we visit, and not click links in e-mails.
Obviously I didn�t send them. I assume this is from Russia. My son thinks I have been �zombified.� He is talking about a hacked router which I have and false �port forwarding� entries. How do I fix this? As a side symptom, computer is running very slow.
A: It�s been my experience, George, that actual �zombification� of computers is somewhat rare, but it does happen, even to people with security suites in place. I am withholding the name of the one you mentioned for publication so that I can freely say that I have very little regard for it, because of all the people I talk to who use it seem to feel it doesn�t do a very good job. That includes my own Daughterboard, whose system got a nasty infection while this suite was supposedly protecting her computer.
If your computer really has been zombified, it is running software that connects it to a central server running somewhere off on the Internet, which allows it to be remotely controlled. It is probably part of a vast network of such computers, called a botnet (the proper term for your computer is a �bot,� rather than �zombie�). Botnets are used for everything from denial-of-service attacks to sending SPAM e-mail (which would explain the bounced e-mails you�re getting).
You have described many of the symptoms of a computer that has been infected with bot software. These are usually high-grade applications which are difficult to detect and remove. I don�t recommend you try. Your best protection in this case is to format your hard drive and completely reload your operating system, then change the password on your e-mail account. It is the only way to guarantee your system is 100 percent clean. Regarding your router, you can either remove the port forwarding entries manually, or if it has a reset function, just restore it to the factory settings.


Fixed a bug in the encoding of numbers in QR codes.
Updated XYDoubleAxis, XYDecimalAxis, and XYDateTimeAxis to auto-calculate tick mark intervals when they aren't specifically set.
Due to the above change, ticks/labels may now show up in scenarios that they didn't before. You can change the axis AreLabelsVisible, AreMajorTicksVisible, and AreMinorTicksVisible properties to false as needed to hide them.
Added a new Axis Ticks QuickStart that shows off automatic tick mark interval calculation.
Improved the rendering speed of data point labels.
Improved the rendering logic of bar charts.
Updated data point labels to use a subtle border so that they don't blend in with surrounding chart objects of the same color.
Updated data point labels in pointer visibility mode to delay layouts until a pointer event occurs, thereby speeding up initial chart display.
Updated XYChart to automatically upconvert non-Double numeric type data to Double type so it can display.
Fixed a bug where setting a chart Background would overlay chart data.
Fixed a bug where resizing a chart might not properly repaint grid lines.
Updated hot tracking to prevent a possible exception when an unknown data point type is used.
Updated the block indent mode logic.
Added the DelimiterIndentProvider.CloseDelimiterIndentLevel property, which allows for smart-indenting close delimiters an additional level.
Updated the undo of a replace all operation to properly restore the previous selection.
OutliningManager updated to prevent scenario where async parse data updates might occur before their related text change updates in small documents.
Updated several outlining edit actions to ensure the caret remains visible when completed.
Updated the toggle outlining expansion action to work when the caret is immediately after an outlining node.
Made several adjustments to code outlining logic.
Updated the NavigableSymbolSelector control to use virtualization in its ComboBoxes.
Updated the default navigable symbol sorting logic to ignore case.
Added the INavigableSymbol.HierarchyLevel property, and updated NavigableSymbolSelector to support item indenting based on that.
BREAK: INavigableSymbolProvider.GetSymbols method updated to return a new INavigableSymbolSet type. For migration, use the new NavigableSymbolSet class to wrap prior symbol results.
BREAK: INavigableSymbolProvider.GetSymbols method updated to accept a contextual TextSnapshotOffset parameter instead of an ITextSnapshot. For migration, access the snapshot via the TextSnapshotOffset.Snapshot property.
BREAK: NavigableSymbolSelector updated to no longer auto-sort symbols. For migration, sort symbols in INavigableSymbolProvider.GetSymbols using the new NavigableSymbolContentProviderComparer class prior to returning the symbol set.
Fixed a bug where closed taggers might not properly remove an event handler from their attached document.
Added a Grammar.AddChildFrom overload that allows for specification of a desired child index.
Updated the VB completion provider to not show a separate item for escaped System namespace type names that collide with VB keywords.
Reimplemented the XML grammar using type-specific AST nodes, reducing overall AST memory usage by an average of 40%.
Added an XmlNavigableSymbolProvider service, which provides contextual element and attribute display in a NavigableSymbolSelector control.
Updated the XML and HTML editor demos to showcase the new navigable symbol provider features.
Added the HorizontalListBox control, which allows for selection of items that are arranged horizontally with a uniform width.
Added the UniformGrid control, a Panel that can arrange content in a grid where all the cells in the grid have the same size.
Added samples for the HorizontalListBox and UniformGrid controls.
Added ThicknessConverter.AllowNegative and Multiplier properties.
Improved the RadialSlider class logic for snapping values.


Men's graphic T-shirt from Smith & Jones. Cut from pure cotton, the 'Cavalieri' top features a crew neckline, short sleeves and a contrast graphic to the front. Complete with a straight hem and branding to the nape.


text:
Posts tagged 'women's rights'
No Means No – Not "I do."
This month, lawmakers in Mozambique will debate revisions to the Criminal Code that would allow a rapist to escape punishment – by marrying the woman he attacked.
No means no – not "I do." It forces survivors to endure the unthinkable.
If you were a woman or girl in Mozambique, not only could this law greatly increase social pressure to marry your rapist, it would actually prevent police from launching an investigation unless you (or a parent or guardian if you are a minor) made an official complaint.
It's a gross violation of women's rights.
Shine a light on this draconian bill and help Amnesty stop it before it becomes law.
Morocco had a law like this. It was repealed in January.
Why? How?
Because of outrage over the case of Amina Filali. She was forced to marry a man whom she said had raped her. In 2012, Amina lost all hope and swallowed rat poison and died shortly afterward.
She was just 16 years old.
When we raise our voices together, we can make a difference. Raise a furor over this bill – take action with Amnesty.
Thank you for standing with women and girls in Mozambique.
Cristina M. Finch
Managing Director, Women's Human Rights Program
rapist
Japanese Culture of Silence
End the Japanese "culture of Silence" toward crimes against women!
Stalker Zero
by Ikumi Yoshimatsu
As a victim of stalking and intimidation in Japan, I am asking Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take action to change the culture of silence toward crimes against women in my country. To help encourage the Japanese government to address this issue, I'm also asking US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy to speak out and join these efforts.
I am the first Japanese woman to be crowned Miss International in the 52-year long history of the pageant. Since winning my crown in October 2012, I have been the victim of stalking, intimidation, threats, extortion and blackmail by a powerful Japanese talent agency executive known to have ties to organized crime. This man tried to abduct me from a TV studio, made threatening calls to my family, and hired private investigators to stalk me, peep into my windows and photograph my home.
The Japanese organizers of the Miss International 2013 world grand prix even asked me to "play sick" and "keep quiet" in order to appease my stalker after he made threatening phone calls to their sponsors. Because of this, I became the first Miss International titleholder in the 52-year history of the pageant prevented from passing my crown to my successor. I fear for my life and require 24hr security.
I went to the police with more than 30 exhibits of evidence including recordings and photographs. As is typically the case in Japan, the police did nothing more than offer to increase patrols in my area. They did nothing to assure my safety or to punish my stalker.
In an unprecedented move, I became the first Japanese women ever to publicly name her tormentor and went public with my story. In sharp contrast to strong global coverage in the foreign media, not a single Japanese newspaper or TV station has covered the story out of fear of reprisal from my stalker who is linked to organized crime. My blog has been read by millions of people and thousands have written messages of support and shared their own stories of fear, intimidation and violence.
SIGN IKUMI's PETITION
Japan is plagued by a "culture of silence" toward crimes against women that has been the standard for centuries. Out of all the industrialized nations, Japan is one of the lowest ranking countries on Gender Equality — a disgraceful 105 out of 136 countries.
At the same time, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been a strong and vocal supporter of women's rights. He has called time and time again for a "society in which women shine." His strong leadership on this issue would be a game-changer. As the first female US Ambassador to Japan — and a long-time supporter of human rights and women — Ambassador Kennedy can help encourage my government to do more by speaking out in support of my campaign.
As a first step, I'm asking that the Japanese government establish a task force to investigate stalking and violence against women with the objective of laying out an immediate national strategy to address these issues and offer real protection for women.
We need strict anti-stalking laws and strong punishment for perpetrators of crimes against women. We need a police force that will protect women and immediately act to prevent stalking and intimidation. We need restraining orders granted by the courts for any woman who has been threatened, BEFORE she is actually harmed, murdered, or forced to commit suicide. We need media that report on these issues without fear. Without protecting the women of Japan, our country will never enjoy the economic and moral benefits of a truly equal society.
Ikumi Yoshimatsu
Sent from Change.org
gobvernment
Ikumi
pagaent
Rape In Delhi India
Concerning a petition about the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in Delhi.
This message is from Namita Bhandare who started the petition "President, CJI: Stop Rape Now!," which you signed on Change.org.
On Monday morning a small group of us took our petition with 109,000+ signatures to the Justice J.S. Verma Commission at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. We presented the three-volume petition, along with your signatures and suggestions. In case you'd like to write directly to Justice Verma directly his email is: justice.verma@nic.in. The commission will be receiving suggestions and recommendations until January 5.
Meanwhile, we will continue with this campaign and keep it updated. As next steps we are writing to various MPs asking them to put pressure on the Government to give priority to the pending bills relating to women safety.
I wish you all a very happy and safe new year.
Namita Bhandare
View the petition
J.S. Verma Commission
Keep The Light Burning
When Amnesty founder Peter Benenson published his "Appeal for Amnesty" in 1961, little did he know he lit the fuse of a human rights revolution.
It was as if people were waiting for this signal.
Fast-forward to today and it is hard to believe the scale of the transformations that followed. Women's rights, children's rights, indigenous rights, workers' rights, the rights of disabled persons – all of these have been strengthened by international standards and in the public consciousness.
Each of these human rights achievements sprang from the ideals and efforts of a movement powered by people like you.
When you support Amnesty International USA, you are a part of this heroic history. If you give right now, your gift will unlock matching funds – but only until Dec. 31.
When Peter lit the first Amnesty candle, he was reminded of the words of a 16th-century man who faced persecution with these words (paraphrasing), "We have today lit such a candle as shall never be put out."
We free the unjustly imprisoned.
1966, 1,000 prisoners of conscience released since founding
We are recognized for our groundbreaking work.
1977, Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for work to secure freedom and justice
We break the chains of oppression.
1986, Members write to 10,000 people of influence around the world urging them to pressure the South African government to end human rights abuses under apartheid
We elevate human rights.
1993, After intense lobbying, United Nations establishes UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
We turn torturers into outlaws.
2002, International Criminal Court treaty enters into force after years of lobbying
We defend the defenders.
2010, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is finally set free after spending some 15 years under house arrest
For 50 years, supporters like you never let Peter's light fade. Today we are three million members strong and growing with each human rights success.
I am so proud of what Amnesty has become, and so hopeful for what it can be.
To unleash the extraordinary achievements of tomorrow, we need your investment in this movement today. I urge you to take advantage of our matching gift challenge before it ends on Dec. 31.
LIGHT THE WAY: Donate to Amnesty today.
Together we can deliver hope for humanity.
CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER
Kites for Afghan Women
Last month, you and 18,000 other activists took action in support of Afghan women in advance of our "Shadow Summit" for Afghan Women's Rights. You submitted messages of solidarity and support, and your words of encouragement soared far into the sky on the first day of the NATO summit in Chicago to let the world's leaders know that we care about women's rights.
They listened.
The Shadow Summit for Afghan Women's Rights was a true testament to what AIUSA is capable of achieving when we all work together. At the very last minute, the government of Afghanistan invited three women to join the Afghan delegation at the NATO summit.
Amnesty International's Shadow Summit speakers included prominent Afghan women's rights leaders Afifa Azim, Manizha Naderi, Hasina Safi and Mahbouba Seraj, U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of the best-seller "The Dressmaker of Khair Khana", and Jerome McDonnell, host of Chicago Public Radio's program "Worldview", moderated the panel discussions. You can listen online to the first panel.
After the program, Shadow Summit participants headed out to Chicago's Navy Pier with your messages and flew the kites in solidarity with Afghan women. To see pictures from the event, check out our album.
After the kite action, Mahbouba, Afifa and Hasina expressed their gratitude for Amnesty's support in creating such a crucial opportunity to have their voices heard, and their hopes that we will all continue to work together to demand Afghan women's political participation and representation as the transition unfolds – and beyond.
Afifa Azim, director and co-founder, Afghan Women's Network, said:
"We want the world to know that the women of Afghanistan are not victims. They are active members of society and agents of change who worked very hard, even when it was underground, to make sure children were being educated and progress was being made. We cannot go back to the darkness and we expect to be heard as the new policies are being made. We are asking the U.S. and the international community to support us."
We won't give up on the fight for women's human rights around the world. With your continued support, we know it is possible to achieve.
Thank you for taking action. Together we're making a difference and we look forward to the next steps.
Policy and Advocacy Director, Women's Human Rights
Afghan women
Fly Kites for Afghan Women
Want to do something symbolic and meaningful for women's rights on Mother's Day?
Help us fly kites for women's rights.
This Mother's Day, Amnesty is inviting you to write a message of solidarity for Afghan women. We'll put it on a kite — kite flying is a popular pastime in Afghanistan — and fly it during the NATO Summit in Chicago, May 20-21, where President Obama and Afghan President Karzai will be discussing Afghanistan's transition.
Send your message of solidarity sky high. Write a note supporting Afghan women's rights by Mother's Day, May 13.
Why kites? Because while women and girls in Afghanistan make kites, they are not free to fly them because it's considered socially unacceptable. Kites can therefore be a powerful symbol of discrimination against women and their exclusion from politics in Afghanistan.
Although the NATO Summit will discuss Afghanistan's future, Afghan women won't even be at the table! Unacceptable! That's why Amnesty is holding a NATO Shadow Summit to bring this critical subject in front of NATO. After our event, we'll fly your kites in front of the NATO Summit to make sure that these world leaders see our message: Don't abandon Afghan women!
Despite modest gains over recent years, women and girls still face widespread human rights abuses including exclusion from political life, gender-based violence and discrimination. For example, President Karzai has publically endorsed a "code of conduct" allowing husbands to beat their wives.
Is this progress? We think not. There is real danger that women's rights will get thrown under the bus as the U.S. searches for a quick exit from Afghanistan.
Women and girls in Afghanistan cannot afford to wait. Masiha Faiz, a defense attorney for Medica Mondiale, a women's rights NGO, said that she's been attacked for defending women accused of "moral crimes," like fleeing abuse. The government does little to support human rights defenders like Masiha.
In 2010, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton told women Afghan officials, "We will not abandon you, we will stand with you always."
Yes, we will stand with Afghan women, always. This is a defining moment for the U.S. government to show that it will not abandon women. There is no peace without women's and girls' human rights.
Write your message of solidarity supporting Afghan women's rights today — for Mother's Day, for all days.
gender-based
Gender & Pay Equality
Gabriel,
Scott Walker is at it again.
First the radical right-wing Wisconsin governor launched a surprise attack on workers' rights, drawing a massive backlash from Wisconsin voters. Now he's trying to roll back the clock on women's rights in the workplace.
That's right – just this Thursday, Walker repealed an Equal Pay law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court.
Sign the DGA petition right now to tell Governor Walker that we will not let this latest assault on women's rights prevail without a fight.
You might think a million signatures on Walker's doorstep demanding a recall election would make the Koch brothers' favorite governor think twice before pushing a radical right-wing agenda – an agenda that makes it easier for employers to discriminate against female workers and other groups.
You might think that Walker would care that Wisconsin women make 75 cents for every dollar that their male counterparts make.
You might think that, but you'd be wrong.
Join the thousands of people who – like me – are outraged that Governor Walker repealed this important Equal Pay law.
If we don't stop Scott Walker right now, Republican governors across the country will follow his lead. Add your name and help us fight back.
First it was workers, now it's women. Governor Walker's rolling over our rights and on June 5, he'll have to face the music.
We cannot let up now.
Thanks for your support,
Democratic Governors Association
equal pay law
Government Mandated Medicine
Gabriel —
Last week, I told you Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was getting ready to sign the "ultrasound bill," an atrocious proposal that would force all women considering abortions to get ultrasounds and require their doctors to ask if they'd like a picture.
Well, he signed it.
We didn't stop the bill this time, but we did make sure the entire country knew exactly what was going down in Virginia.
There are still 450 other bills on birth control and abortion in state legislatures across the country. With a far-right faction of the GOP holding a majority in many of them, it's unclear how many we can stop. But let me just say this: We need to be prepared to win in November.
As long as women's rights are being attacked, we're going to keep fighting back — in Congress and in the states.
Say that you're ready to stand with Democrats as we stand up for women. Add your name today.
We're taking on this fight both nationally and in the states. In Virginia, that meant helping to fund the state party's rapid response communications team — they pushed back on the ultrasound legislation, supported the Democrats who opposed it, and publicized peaceful protests of it at the capitol. That work helped put this bill on the national radar.
Right now, New Hampshire, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, and many other states are considering similar legislation.
The Texas legislature is in the midst of a bitter fight to eliminate state support for a wide range of women's health services. They've already eliminated two-thirds of their funding for women's health, closing more than half of the state's Planned Parenthood and other clinics. And now they're voting to reject aid for the Medicaid Women's Health Program. They claim they're doing this to fight abortion, but what they're actually doing is denying hundreds of thousands of women access to basic health care.
Clearly, this fight is about more than abortion and birth control.
I won't stop speaking out across the country about a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, and Democrats in the states won't stop pushing back against these bills.
I hope you won't stop fighting either.
Support the fight state by state and nationwide. Stand with the Democrats today:
http://my.democrats.org/Stand-for-Women
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Bob McDonnell
force women
mandated
Youth Foundation in Rwanda
Fair Children Youth Foundation (FCYF)
Our foundation was created in 2003 to restore human rights and to rebuild lives and community in Rwanda. FCYF is a nationally registered non-profit organization based in Musanze, a beautiful area in north Rwanda that suffered excessively from consequences of civil war, genocide and disease, because of its exposed border location with DRC and Uganda. Since 2008, FCYF has created:
– a school for deaf children and youth
– a vocational training center and cooperative for teenage orphans, who have missed out on formal education through taking care of their younger siblings after parents died
– a kindergarten
– a primary school which has come top in examination results in its district since its first year of opening
FCYF also provides infrastructure advice and training for hundreds of widows in agricultural cooperatives and trade associations. The foundation leads community workshops in child and women's rights, nutrition and health, and HIV/AIDS prevention. It facilitates health insurance for the most marginalized households and it has created a highly successful volunteer mentoring program for orphaned households.
Through these community based and led programs and projects, FCYF has opened the door for many hundreds of children, women and marginalized people in Musanze to access formal education, vocational training and income-generating opportunities. The foundation also welcomes international volunteers each year from many countries, in a spirit of fraternity and mutual desire to learn and grow global community together.
Your generous donation will enable our foundation to widen its reach throughout and beyond Musanze district. Even a few dollars given to one of FCYF's programs can make a life changing difference to an orphan or widow struggling to raise a family alone. If you would like to support a particular program, please note this on your donation comment.
Fair Children Youth Foundation
FCYF
Nobel Prize Winner In Jail
From Amnesty International
If the Chinese government had it their way, Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo would never receive his rightful recognition.
Earlier this month, three women were named recipients of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting women's rights and women's participation in peace-building. Yet, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, Chinese human rights defender Liu Xiaobo, still languishes behind prison bars for seeking to promote peaceful political and social reforms in China.
In the days surrounding International Human Rights Day (December 10), you can shine a light for Liu Xiaobo and for others whose rights have been denied.
We're asking you to take one simple action: Write a letter.
This can be a letter of passion and outrage to a government guilty of repressing free expression and denying other human rights.
Or it can be a letter of solidarity and hope sent directly to someone who needs reassurance that they are not alone.
Liu Xiaobo is just one case featured in this year's annual Write for Rights – Global Write-a-thon – Amnesty's largest global human rights event. Sign up now and let your letters be counted!
Since Amnesty's founding 50 years ago, people throughout the world have joined together in classrooms, coffee houses and community centers to take action. They were united by a simple, yet powerful, tool for change – the letter.
Need proof that written words are powerful? Look no further than Liu Xiaobo – whose words of hope and freedom are seen as such a threat by authorities in China that they have imprisoned him because of them.
Now he and others need you to carry their torch by picking up a pen. You don't need to be a Nobel Prize winner to Write for Rights! Stand with human rights supporters around the world by joining the Global Write-a-thon.
With hope,
Michael O'Reilly
Senior Campaign Director
Individuals at Risk
Write for Rights


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Sioux Falls, SD Rock Bands
Top Rock Bands near Sioux Falls, SD (66 results)
The Rip Shit
Punk Band from Sioux Falls, SD
Ska Band The Rip Shit is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has been a member with GigMasters since 2013. The Rip Shit services Minnehaha County and will travel up to 10 miles from Sioux Falls, SD. Hire The Rip Shit...
The Rude Band
Variety Band from Sioux Falls, SD
On any given night you can find them playing "Callin Baton Rouge" and moving right on to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and then the most recent Nickelback hit. Not too long after that it's a five song non-stop dance marathon t...
Variety Band from Sioux City, IA (73 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Seasoned musicians spanning 4 decades of playing! We can play pretty much anything but LOVE to play 80's-90's stuff! REO, Boston, Journey, Heart, Def Leppard, Loverboy, Night Ranger, Benatar etc etc etc! We will take re...
VERGE - Minnesota's HOTTEST Rock Show
Rock Band from Saint Paul, MN (199 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
VERGE ROCKS YOUR EVENT LIKE NOBODY ELSE CAN!!! So much more than great rock dance music! World-class show: multiple male and female vocalists, full harmonies, multi-guitar arrangements, multiple costumes, effects and sta...
Muddcat Melby
Classic Rock Band from Shakopee, MN (179 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Muddcat Melby performs Classic Rock Covers of the 60's, 70's and 80's. High energy vocals, guitar driven fun, we do songs by: The Breakup Song Greg Kihn Tush ZZ Topp I'm a Believer The Monkees Honky Tonk Wome...
Pink Kadillac
Variety Band from Bennington, NE (154 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE THE VERY BEST. PINK KADILLAC has been the premier true variety band in the Omaha area for over 38 years. Playing all your favorites from yesterday to today, they are a group of entertainers...
Mud Dogs Band - The Midwest's Top Rated Party Band
Cover Band from West Des Moines, IA (202 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
*Featuring the biggest song list in the Upper Midwest *Playing hits from multiple genres, including: Rock, Oldies, Pop, and Country *Customized set lists for your event *Guaranteed to keep people on the dance floor all n...
Mud Dogs Band - Minnesota's Top Rated Party Band
Cover Band from Minneapolis, MN (197 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
STIM PACK
Variety Band from Minneapolis, MN (196 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
No genre is off limits for STIM PACK, putting an invigorating spin on all the hits-from classic rock to rockin' country & everything in between and features multiple lead singers, great harmonies. Whether you love to hit...
Most Valued Players (MVP)
MVP is based in the Twin Cities, and is an electrifying party band performing regionally at Weddings, Special Events, Fair, Festivals, Street Dances, Fundraisers, Corporate & Private Events and venues throughout the Midw...
Shirts & Skins
Shirts & Skins is one of the most dynamic touring bands in the upper Midwest. Their musicianship, exceptional training and dynamic show will have you captivated from the very first note. With a diverse song list, Shirts...
Robby Vee And His Rock-N-Roll Caravan
Cover Band from Prior Lake, MN (181 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
"A rock-n-roll original..." Join us for an evening of electricity and music hosted by second generation rocker & Rockabilly Hall of Famer Robby Vee. Robby Vee "The Prince Of Twang" was born Robert Velline named after...
*The Covers*
Dance Band from Minneapolis, MN (196 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
The Covers are the premier dance band in the Twin Cities. Composed of professional musicians with diverse backgrounds and led by the incomparable Bruce Balgaard and Sara Renner. The Covers bring a vibrant energy to t...
Marsh Productions Entertainment Agency
Create a memorable social or corporate event with experienced professional entertainers who cater to every musical detail. Enjoy the remarkable voices of our Six Lead Singers and Ten piece band. This group consists...
Anthony Koester Band
Country Band from Des Moines, IA (210 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Anthony Koester is a singer/songwriter from the heartland of Iowa. Growing up in the northern rural parts of Iowa and now in the capital city of Des Moines. Anthony Koester & The Band are based in Des Moines Iowa. Antho...
Chad Lee
Country Band from Omaha, NE (159 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Beyond full band shows, Chad Lee is currently offering a one of a kind, intimate, amazing Acoustic Duo or Trio performance with a big sound. Perfect for private house concerts, parties, weddings, corporate events, smalle...
Cover Band from Des Moines, IA (206 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
The "Diamond Empire Band" is the function band that is not a "Function Band". With regular showcase performances and a free demo CD you can see and hear them live before booking them, and pick and choose the size and con...
Coyote Wild
Country Band from Minneapolis, MN (196 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Coyote Wild performs an eclectic mix of both classic and current rock and country. With their blend of talent and creativity, this band has a professional sound without losing the energy that audiences would expect from...
Drunk Uncle
Country Band from Saint Cloud, MN (183 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Drunk Uncle is comprised of some of the best musicians Central Minnesota has to offer. Playing classic country, classic rock, and Americana, Drunk Uncle offers a refreshing change of pace compared to most cover bands....
Mike Dixon And Trip Wire
Classic Rock Band from Loveland, CO (480 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Mike Dixon is a singer song writer musician that performs with his band, "Trip Wire". He is a versatile musician that plays Guitar, Banjo, Bass, Fiddle, Mandolin, Keyboards, Harmonica, Flute, Saxophone, Dobro, Lap Steel...
Hot Rocks Rolling Stones Tribute Show
Rock Band from Chicago, IL (470 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Paramount Pictures-The Rolling Stones-Martin Scorsese selected Hot Rocks to represent the Midwest and to perform at Chicago's premier of the movie Shine A Light. Bobby Keys, saxophone player for The Rolling Stones perfo...
80s Band from Chicago, IL (474 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
The Breakfast Club is a high energy rock / dance '80s tribute band, whose every song is a hit that brings the house down with spontaneous, exuberant 'I know this song!' singalongs. Moonwalk down memory lane with T...
The Matt McCallie Orchestra
Dance Band from Saint Louis, MO (480 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
We provide almost every type of live music services. The Matt McCallie Orchestra is the second largest professional orchestra in St Louis, MO. We offer many types of ensembles covering: Top 40 Rock Pop Oldies Country Mo...
Variety Band from Denver, CO (498 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
The Shagadelics
Disco Band from Chicago, IL (474 miles from Sioux Falls, SD)
Liven up your Party, Wedding, or Night Club with the only Disco band that rocks! The Shagadelics will thrill you with their far out dance moves and the funky tunes from the 70s that you will remember for years to come. S...
You're viewing Sioux Falls, SD Rock Bands
Please note these Rock Bands will also travel to Rowena, Crooks, Renner, Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea, Valley Springs, Hartford, Baltic, Humboldt, Garretson, Sherman, Larchwood, Worthing, Lennox, Hills, Beaver Creek, Chancellor, Canton, Dell Rapids, Colton, Lyons, Lester, Inwood, Davis, Trent, Parker, Fairview, Steen, Rock Rapids
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SME Development Fund | TMC | Toki Mabogunje & Co.
Preference will be given to women owned businesses in manufacturing (including fashion and food) and agriculture. Only 50 spaces available.
Email admin.nigeria@weconnectinternational.org for account details to RSVP.


Chapter 8 – Is it safe?
"Might as well. It won't hurt to see any joint activity. Can rule that out, see. Might be a pattern. Just a quick look now. Then we'll send them secure to Dacia, my assistant.
Gloves – 1 pair. Black.
Plastic bag. Extra strong. One.
but there could be something.
We went into a downstairs office off the main hall. Wood panels with a large solid wood desk at one end. This was Bixby's office. The EU flag and UK flag hung together limply from a small flagpole in the corner. A map of Europe covered half of one wall. The UK looked a little tiny on this map.
A smaller one of the UK alone, with the Scottish republic coloured blue, on the other.
A montage picture frame. Boxes in a triangle shape. Each box held a photo. Photo of Bixby with Tony Blair. Bixby standing for MP. Bixby becoming a Lord.
Bixby at some summit with someone who looked a bit like Nasser. Bixby in Brussels with the most forgotten man in history. Herman van Rompuy. None of Bixby and Vanessa. This was his own wall of fame. It would come in handy for his backstory if he ever wanted to go on 'X' Factor.
There was a framed wedding photo was on his desk. Marmon in formal, Vanessa in her wedding white. Them coming out of a country church. They looked very happy.
As everyone does on their wedding day.
I picked up a few of his papers from the in-tray. Invites to a few far off events.
Request to attend the engagement party of some friend's son.
Invoice for hand made brown leather brogue shoes. Size 6. – £400.
Blimey. His feet were almost as small as hers. They really could go to Clarkes Kids together. Save on the VAT.
"order in black" had been hand written on the invoice in fountain pen.
A request to appear on the BBC's ancestral search sequel show, where you laugh about all the political incorrectness in your recent ancestors. "What do they think they were playing at." With 'Say yes' written in Biro on it.
I handed it to Vanessa.
It was a big house. Big for just two.
"Just a cleaner in each morning? I'd have thought at least five. However do you cope?" She didn't rise to the gibe.
She pressed a button under the edge of the desk and the top of the table slid back to reveal a large flat screen. She started to put in a password onto the touch-screen, and looked at me. "Should you be seeing this?" She pouted a little.
Retina protection cracking was even easier than guessing a password.
Bixby's was even easier than that. Vanessa typed NO2BREXIT and the screen came on.
She did. "He uses NO2Brexit or Bollox2Brexit. Emails are bollox," she told me.
I scanned his mails. Since GGGDDDPPRR3 spam emails had almost ceased to exist.
It targeted hard marketing mails and sales offers. Requiring a two step verification to receive them Which few bothered with. So they were never received.
Inadvertently the EU had done us a digital favour. But they killed Groupon and LoveHoney doing it.
It was a lot easier to track emails now there were so few.
Bixby's were the same as his In-tray. Requests to attend this and that. Payment required for his tiny footed shoes from John Stimpson's of Bond Street. £400 – Size 6. I've bought entire suits with shoes and shirts and ties for less than that.
Cobblers to the rich, I thought.
A few tweets from people he followed. They were MEPs. So obviously I had never heard of them. It looked very boring stuff.
Not so easy to trace. At The Department I could have done it as easy as filling in the form. But I didn't have access to the masts data any more.
If necessary Dacia could fake up an official looking request. Have the telecoms grid guys send locations back to the fake Department PO box that was directed back to my office. But only in an emergency. Meddling with data was even more serious a crime than using patio heaters. With the whole 'Vote Leave' stole your data still causing politicians to weep openly.. Mad Carole Catwoman Cadwalladr still going on about The Russians, all these years later. Ready for her big scoop. Any day now. Just you wait. Any day.. coming right up…really big scoop!
Besides, the telecoms people were very slow. They were semi covered by EU laws, which differed from UK ones. So although they couldn't ignore a request, they didn't have to hurry with it either. Even The Department couldn't make them. So it might be four weeks or more. Which would probably be too late for our purposes.
Bixby and me had more in common than I suspected.
I looked at her. But she just leaned on the edge of the desk. Took another, bigger, sip of her wine, and said, "You're the big investigator.
I looked around the office again. Accepting the challenge.
I couldn't see anything obvious. No CCTV over on opposite walls. No rug to hide a pressure pad. All laminate floor in here.
He had had the button installed under the desk that activated his all-in-one laptop and screen. So he liked concealed devices. Under the desk because it was easy to activate when next to it. I walked over to the far wall without windows. Interior wall. The one with the Crusader like sword hanging upright, mounted on the wooden base. Maybe Bixby was a Mason? Probably. But would he have a sword? It was a bit out of place in this office. Unless he was a big Game of Thrones. Secret luster of Arya Stark?
There was a down light over the sword. To display it better. It had come on when we'd come in here and she had turned on the lights with the switch by the door.
So this other light switch, near the display sword, seemed to have no purpose. I ran my finger along the top of the wood panel by the sword. My fingertip was partially going through a cut out that was about a centimetre wide.
I pressed the light switch and the sword and mounting slid sideways along the wooden panelling to reveal behind them a small, digital, combination safe.
She took another gulp. The glass was nearing empty. "Fine. I'll deal with them at a later date." Little flash of anger. Something quite stimulating in it.
There was nothing of much use in the secure safe. Land deeds. Leases. Property details. Share certificates. Some French documents. One of which looked like a Paris wealth tax statement for the tax that was levied on Parisian properties over 3.3 million Euro. And some corporate attachments in French that looked like the property was for a charity, so no tax was due. Bix was using his Paris home as his charity office and avoiding the wealth tax.
Bixby was genuine 1%. That's the most they ever paid in tax. 1%. Everything else was exempt.
"Shall we look in the good one now? The real safe?" I asked Lady Bixby. I had warned her earlier I would need to see it.
She walked out of the office, in her fabulous dress and on her fabulous heels.
I followed along, gazing unashamedly at her firm behind.. As all women suspect all men do. And as all men really, actually do.
Instead of heading into the library, that was my guess for the second safe, she began ascending the spiral staircase.
"We going to the loft?" I asked her.
"No." She looked back over her shoulder at me, her long blonde hair covering half of her beautiful face.


What is the Chemical Data Management System (CDMS)?
Why is the CDMS important?
The CDMS software is closely related to the chemical management service provided by TÜV SÜD. The CDMS allows businesses to compile and analyse data to increase the efficacy of their testing programme. The software enables businesses to upload product safety and quality data, and provides an overview of the entire supply chain, from design to distribution.
An automatic BoM-comparison algorithm to return statistically significant advice by taking the supplier's chemical testing performance into consideration.
A mathematical model for uncorrelated data to compute the passing probabilities of materials and final products subject to predefined acceptance limits; a time-evolving probability calculation making use of a rolling timeframe concept to dynamically reflect the performance of suppliers.
The Risk Cube: The predictive capability to forecast the passing rates of raw materials or/and final products upon acceptance limit or evaluation criteria changes.
Quality system design and implementation via Plan-Do-Check-Act Testing at the upstream point of the supply chain, and chemical products / formulations screening (smart testing).
Consolidation of all the chemical testing results along the supply chain (BOM, BOS).
Assured traceability along the supply chain from raw materials to final products – a relational database.
Compiled up-to-date requirements of regulations on chemicals by materials, by usages, and by regions/ countries.
Storage of MSDS, RSL, TDS of chemicals with risk assessments, precautionary actions and phase-out plans for hazardous chemicals.
Formulated test plans to reduce redundant testing.
Compiled testing statistics to evaluate the performance of suppliers.