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let's get things done!
Investing in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area
An inventive economy, with a well-educated population and a sustainably connected region for everyone: that is what we are working on in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. During the fourth State of the Region we will discuss how we can invest in this dreamed future. "If we want to work together in this region, then the us is the MRA."
State of the Region is the annual event in which the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area looks back and looks ahead at how we can continue to work together on investing in societal challenges. The annual Economic Outlooks show that the economy of the MRA is vulnerable, but also resilient and flexible.
Henri de Groot, professor of Regional Economic Dynamics at the VU University, and Victor Everhardt, Amsterdam's alderman for economic affairs, sit at the table with presenter Marijke Roskam. The tight labor market is a concern for both. "We are getting older together and we live in a country where the average number of hours worked per person is very low," says De Groot. "We therefore need to look at the potential of immigration, among other things."
'Amsterdam economy hit harder by corona than the rest of the Netherlands'
– Het Parool on the Economic Outlook 10 December 2021 –
Everhardt also mentions the people who are not yet participating in the labor market. "We have to help them get over the threshold to participate," says Everhardt. "And luckily that already happens a lot: the education world, the business community and the tech sector are all working on it."
At the same time, perspective is also important for everyone who participates in the labor market. De Groot calls the report Borstlap: In wat voor land willen wij werken (What kind of country do we want to work in). "The flexible workforce is now absorbing the major blows of the crisis and that has to change. The summary of that report is crystal clear: flex should be less flexible and fixed should be less permanent. We must invest in flexibility with perspective. I am curious what the new cabinet will take from this."
For all information about the Economic Outlook MRA 2021, access to the database for a tailor-made search, the link to the booklet and for requesting a paper copy, click here.
'Amsterdam economy shrank more than rest of Netherlands and EU in 2020'
– NU.nl on the Economic Outlook 10 December 2021 –
Everhardt and De Groot are hopeful about the future of that economy. "We have to invest ourselves out of the crisis," says Everhardt. "We can help entrepreneurs with the ROM InWest that we have set up as a region. And those investments are again a flywheel to be able to lay claim to larger national and European funds. In this way we can expand sectors and use new techniques even more for important issues such as health."
The Inverted Mentor
When we talk about investing in the future, we are of course also talking about young people. The Amsterdam Jahkini Bisselink, former UN Youth Representative, takes us into the world of Generation Z. "If you are gone, we will keep everything going here," she begins. She refers to the entrepreneurship within her generation and to their activism.
"Being an activist no longer feels like a choice for many young people, but a necessity," says Jahkini. "No problem. We understand that you cannot change your entire production process within a day and we also understand that you are not carbon neutral within three working days." As long as you do something and as long as you are transparent about it — also about what is not going well yet.
Her message is that older generations can learn a lot from Generation Z. For example: talking about mental health. Laughing, she challenges her audience: "After the weekend, we'll all look for an inverted mentor. Grab a generation Z ' by the scruff of the neck and ask: how would you improve mental health within our organization and ultimately how do we ensure a liveable metropolitan region?"
Interest-free advances
Nikky Hofland, director of TechMeUp and Artie Ramsodit, program director of the House of Skills Board program show that many great things are already happening on the labor market in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. TechMeUp provides interest-free advances to people who want to retrain in the tech sector. "There are many retraining initiatives, but retraining takes time," says Hofland. "Sometimes you have to go to school full-time to retrain and not everyone can afford to be without income for six months. We want to take that money worry away."
Transferpunt Zorg & Welzijn (Healthcare and Welfare Transfer Point) is one of the newest programs of House of Skills, in which people can investigate whether the care sector is something for them. "We help them to orientate themselves properly," says Ramsodit. "They can experience, see and feel what that other work looks like. They can discover which part of the care appeals to them and which does not appeal to them. They can then obtain a basic care certificate within 20 weeks."
The two call on employers in the region to focus on sustainable retraining and to show a little more courage when hiring people with a distance to the labor market. "Engage those lateral entrants and invest in someone else," says Hofland. And Ramsodit: "Give them a contract that offers perspective."
If you want to know more about TechMeUp, please contact Nikky Hofland. If you would like to know more about the Healthcare and Welfare Transfer Point, please contact Artie Ramsodit.
A new kind of metropolis
Greg Clark offers us the outside perspective today. He is a senior advisor at bank HSBC, a professor at the University of London and has been researching cities for decades. On a global level, European cities are often pushed aside, he notes. "As if they have no future. But we should not prioritize quantity over quality. The secret weapon of European cities is their ability to reform. It is their social capital. To develop a new city together with their citizens."
As far as he is concerned, Amsterdam has the opportunity to be a leader, especially because of the region. To become a reality, the region must do five things. Contribute to the growth of affordable housing, stimulate the green economy, protect the quality of life, continue to provide equal opportunities for all and continue to provide a good home base for start-ups. "With this, Amsterdam can become a new kind of metropolis, with a focus on the clean economy."
Own strength
Thijs Kroese is an alderman in Purmerend and a member of the transition committee of the MRA. He emphasizes that for good cooperation, municipalities must continue to work on their own profile in the MRA. "In Purmerend we have the Creative Tech Campus for e-sports, in IJmond you have a lot of industry. Know about yourself what you are good at and also know what your population is good at. If everyone focuses on their own strength, our collaboration will only benefit."
This regional cooperation does not only exist at government level, but we are also seeing more and more at companies. Take Rabobank, which recently merged several regions into Rabobank Metropolitan Region Amsterdam. "We have been in existence for six months and we are really enjoying it," says CEO Erik Versnel. "Investments go beyond municipal boundaries. We are now able to link good initiatives together."
Versnel argues for a redefinition of the we. "We from the municipality, we from Rabo, we from education: I think we should let go of all that. If we want to work together in this region, then the we is the MRA. Let's keep each other focused on that."
Three MRA Beliefs
MRA chairman Femke Halsema concluded the afternoon as always with her State of the Region. In it she mentions the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer, a project that only came about centuries after Leeghwater's first idea, thanks to viscous management and endless discussions. "Today we presented the new cooperation agreements between municipalities and provinces in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area," she continues. "A venture more modest in size than one of the greatest reclamations in our history, yet a modest success, worth raising a glass together."
The MRA works together on the basis of three shared beliefs. "That through better cooperation we can have the most inventive region with the best-educated population in Europe, that we have to be a region for everyone. For example, we work together with MBOs, HBOs, universities and programs such as TechConnect, which trains hidden talent in different cities of our region in a way that suits a new generation of city dwellers. And that we distinguish ourselves internationally in feeding on a human scale." The third belief is that the region must be sustainably connected. "Our digitized economy is leading the way. By working on a data agreement, we will also show that this can go hand in hand, with the protection of digital rights, autonomy and privacy."
The reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer was finally completed just before the industrial era. "Once again we are at the beginning of a new era, once again we are confronted with threats and uncertainties", concludes Halsema. "Fortunately, there are now people with good ideas and vision and the most advanced technology is making possible what was thought impossible. Ultimately, we decide together what we are going to do with it. I am looking forward to that with great hope."
Have you missed the State of the Union 2021 broadcast or want to watch it again (in Dutch)? See below.
amsterdam economic board | arbeidsmarkt | circular | circular | data | digitalisation | digitalisation | energy | health | insights | insights | labour market | mobility |
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Lost On A Mountain In Maine: The Donn Fendler Story Envisioned On The Silver Screen
photographs and text by Ryan Cook
If you're a born and bred Mainer, chances are you've read the book Lost On A Mountain In Maine. The book has been a part of the Maine studies curriculum since 1972, so you may have read it as fourth grade student or were lucky enough to have Donn Fendler himself come to your class and recount his epic tale of survival. If you're not familiar with the book, it's an inspiring true story of a young boy's faith, determination and will to live as he became lost on Maine's highest peak. During the summer of 1939, 12-year-old Donn Fendler was hiking Mt. Katahdin when a fast approaching rain and sleet storm separated him from his family. Nine days later he had traveled over eighty miles through the woods without pants, shoes, or any idea of where he was heading before finally making it out alive. I could recount the epic journey he went through over the course of those nine days but I wouldn't want to spoil the experience of reading his tale first hand. It's a quick read so do yourself a favor and get the book!
My parents introduced me to Donn's book at age nine, just before my first Katahdin hike, and I instantly fell in love with the story. As I began my ascent toward Baxter Peak all I could think of was how a young boy, just like myself, could possibly survive being lost on this herculean piece of rock. Even on a bright and sunny day the mountain felt as though it could swallow me whole. I couldn't fathom it during a rain and sleet storm, as had been the case during Donn's climb. You can imagine my delight when my fourth grade teacher announced to the class that not only would we be reading Lost On A Mountain In Maine, but Donn would be making a personal appearance to recount his story firsthand. From this moment on Donn's story would be permanently fixed in the back of my mind. Kids my age looked up to sports figures and movie stars, but not me. Donn was my kind of hero.
Seventy years after Donn had emerged from the woods the phone in my small Boston apartment rang. On the other end of the line was Donn, returning a voicemail I had left inquiring about possibly adapting his story into a narrative feature film. Donn informed me that countless people before me had come to him with the same idea, but none were successful. The problem was that Donn had sold his own life rights over twenty years ago and was never able to get them back. The three gentlemen who purchased the rights were unable to get the film made, yet would not give up the rights. A CFO from Pepsi, a well-known Maine gubernatorial candidate, and countless others had tried to recover them, but still Donn's rights remained out of reach. It came as no surprise that even though Donn invited me to come to his home and speak with him, he had little interest in talking about plans for a movie. He was frustrated, aggravated and had put the thought behind him. Nevertheless, my production partner and I went and visited Donn. It was a meeting we would never forget.
Two years later I stood in front of Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville, waiting for Donn to arrive. It was the premiere of our documentary Finding Donn Fendler, at the Maine International Film Festival. The documentary not only tells of Donn's journey through the Maine wilderness, but also covers the long and arduous process we went through in getting Donn's rights back. It was almost twenty months from our first meeting at Donn's house, but we had done something that countless other had tried to do for over twenty years. It took numerous phone calls, much negotiation and even having to battle a big shot producer from Texas who offered ten times the amount of money we could afford; but Donn's rights were finally back in the proper hands. Donn seemed to have a new energy about him, and for the first time in a while he had new hope that his story would someday appear on the silver screen. We were proud, excited and on cloud nine. We knew it wouldn't last long though, and that this was just the beginning. If we were going to make a movie, the road ahead would certainly be a long one.
Today we continue to push forward with the same passion that inspired us the first time we read Donn's book so many years ago. We know this movie is going to be made the same way Donn survived his adventure through the woods — one step at a time. We plan to begin phase one of production this summer and are reaching out to let supporters know of our goal. Although the book should forever be the first way young kids are introduced to his story, the cinematic medium will allow fans to truly experience Donn's adventure in a new way and further preserve his story for generations to come. We believe that a feature film will not only give us the ability to introduce Donn's story to new fans, but will also allow us to promote the state of Maine on a national, even international stage. However, at the end of the day we want to make this film for the thousands of people who have a connection to Donn's story because, as Donn himself once said, "It's not my story anymore, it belongs to the people of Maine."
Editors note: I remember Donn Fendler's visit to my fourth grade class!
The Maine is pleased to support Ryan, Donn and their whole team.
Visit lostonamountaininmainefilm.com to learn more.
Click over to the kickstarter page and support.
Tags: documentary : donn fendler : kahtadin : life rights : survival
Good for you, Ryan! It takes a mover and shaker to make headway where others shrug their shoulders and give up. I can't wait to see the film. Is it on MPBN?
posted by Rob Merrill on 01.21.12 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for the kind words! It's been a long road, but we know an even longer one lies ahead. Our documentary "Finding Donn Fendler" will play on MPBN as part of their community film series this spring. If you'd like to see it sooner, as well as get access to all the special features, you can purchase it directly from our site or by making a $25 pledge to our Kickstarter campaign. Our plan is to begin production on the full narrative feature by the summer of 2013 with hopes of premiering it the following year. Make sure to check us out on Facebook to keep updated on the film as we move forward. Also please consider making a pledge to our Kickstarter campaign and forwarding the link to your family and friends. Our fundraising ends on January 31st so please help us spread the word to keep this project going!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/donnfendlerfilm/lost-on-a-mountain-in-maine
posted by Ryan Cook on 01.21.12 at 8:17 pm
Chistmas! Donn Fendler says! I am one of Donn Fendlers biggest fans, I think he is amazing! I hope there is a movie made out of it, if so, I will so get it! I can't wait to watch it if it comes out!
posted by The Biggest Donn Fendler Fan In The World on 06.03.12 at 4:47 pm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Create Custom Docker Alpine Image I am creating a customize Dockerfile by installing few drawing packages. I cannot install libgdiplus-dev package in Dockerfile. I have tried adding a mirror URL https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/testing/armhf/libgdiplus- (mirrors can be found in this URL) dev in the Dockerfile but it did not help.
FROM alpine:3.7
RUN apk add --no-cache libgdiplus-dev

Running above command ends me up saying
libgdiplus-dev (missing):
required by: world[libgdiplus-dev]

A: Found it. You can install any packages by giving repository as a parameter.
FROM alpine:3.7
RUN apk add libgdiplus-dev --update-cache --repository http://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/ --allow-untrusted

A: If you want use develop version of packages use alpine image version edge

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Sorry for not being around. I am up and down like a yo yo with my moods. I don't know how useful it is for my wellbeing to come on a forum when I often feel triggered by the content. I think there will be times when I use the site a lot and then also long times where it is better for me not to. So I hope no one is offended by this. I still think of you all often. But I am getting through however I have to and sometimes that meanas not being here and sometimes being here.
That sounds fair enough. We all need to look after our health as best we can.
Thanks guys. It was really nice to read these understanding responses.
I think we all go through phases of not being here for a while so I wouldn't worry about it. do you want need to do.


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MTU Kerry Campus Students
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MTU - Munster Technological University
MTU making its mark on the South-West Region with major new campus developments
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, has today announced the commencement of construction of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Building at MTU's Kerry North Campus and of the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Building at MTU's Bishopstown Campus.
MTU Chair of Cybersecurity organises US-Ireland-Northern Ireland Event to address Global Cybersecurity resilience challenges and opportunities.
Leading cybersecurity researchers from the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland are partnering to identify and solve urgent, global cybersecurity challenges.
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A flavour of what we have on offer at IT Tralee
Hotel, Culinary Arts & Tourism
Located within the premier hospitality and tourism hub of Ireland, our HCT department is
where Hotel, Culinary & Tourism learning comes to life. ITT staff come from varied hospitality and tourism backgrounds and you study in a realistic work environment with great career prospects. Facilities include a reception, a training restaurant, five kitchens and demo kitchen theatre.
Pharmaceutical analysis covers techniques used the research, development and manufacturing
sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. Developing your skill and competence to work as a laboratory scientist, stream options include forensics, environmental science, cosmetic science & biopharmaceutics.
Our graduates have an acknowledged reputation as good laboratory scientists who are equipped with the skills that industry require today.
Health & Leisure Studies
Health & Leisure Department has as its core belief that physical activity plays
a key role in wellbeing, adopting a holistic interdisciplinary perspective.Our courses are designed to equip the graduate to engage with the health and leisure sector as a well-qualified degree professional and researcher and includes Exercise Science, Health Studies, Activity Leadership, Physical Education, Professional Practice and more.
Nursing & Health Care Sciences
IT Tralee Nursing courses equip the nurse to provide nursing care in a wide variety of clinical
settings, hospitals and the community. Offering an informed first-class learning and teaching experience students in an environment that is both challenging and rewarding, utilizing the state-of-the-art purpose-built Sólás building. This facility has technology enhanced classrooms, lecture halls and practical skills laboratories and computer suites.
Agricultural Engineers are employed in the agricultural engineering industry in the areas
of manufacture, maintenance and modification of agricultural equipment. Work in state-of-the-art agricultural engineering workshops, a machinery hall, science laboratories, computer and electronics laboratories,
Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical and manufacturing engineers design, develop, manufacture, operate and
maintain a wide variety of machinery. Our courses aim to give you an understanding of the technology and management used in modern manufacturing industries, with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits to design, develop, test and manufacture electrical and computer- controlled mechanical systems.
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Civil & Environmental Engineering offers many exciting and varied opportunities for employment.
Civil Engineers work in planning, designing, constructing and maintaining essential infrastructure such as water supply, roads, bridges, energy and buildings. The course at IT Tralee combines environmental topics such as water resources, waste management, flood and coastal protection with more traditional modules in roads, materials, structures and foundation design.
Civil & Construction
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ITT creative media courses encompass Music, TV & Radio, creative writing and more
in our Digital Media Centre (DMC).Study though interactive on-line learning, group discussions, critiques and practicals. Our high-performance DMC encompasses: graphics studio, multimedia editing suites, TV & Radio broadcasting studios and music recording studios.
Creative Media & IT
Our computer courses teach Computer Management, mobile app development and Software engineering skills
and more. Specialise in areas such as multimedia or games programming. The IT Tralee computing department has strong links with ICT industries and our ICT work placement is a vital part of ITT computer courses.
Business Studies offers students the opportunity to develop real skills that are sought after in the marketplace.
Our programme has a common year one entry and from year two, students specialise in either Accounting, Marketing or Management. We also provide a semester of work placement which gives students real world experience. If you want a career that is interesting, diverse and dynamic then this is for you. Our graduates work in many different types of organisation and, because our degrees are accredited by relevant professional bodies, they are in a strong position to succeed in their chosen career path.
IT Tralee field science courses are offered in wildlife biology, agricultural science,
field biology and wildlife tourism. Agricultural science is the application of science and business to the production of quality food. IT Tralee is recognised as the place to study wildlife biology in Ireland. Field science courses include a mix of theory, laboratory practice and field activities.
IT Tralee social science courses include, early childhood care and education, social care, and youth
& community work.Social care is a profession where people work in partnership with those who experience marginalisation or disadvantage or who have special needs. Youth work creates environments that encourage positive relationships between young people, peers and adults.
Current international best practice in early childhood studies is promoted where the emphasis is on developing high standards with work-based learning in supervised practice placements.
infoKerry@mtu.ie


SUN exists to enhance the social, economic, and general well-being of our members.
SUN is the voice of health care and the leading advocate of safe patient care in Saskatchewan.
SUN will protect high quality, publicly funded and publicly delivered health services.


Learning is for Everyone (LI4E.org) hosted the area's first ever Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire in 2012. In 2013, our event nearly doubled in size, drawing more than 500 attendees. For 2014, LI4E is dialing up our annual DIY Celebration of the Inventive Spirit with a two day Gulf Coast MakerCon, at the Florida Fairgrounds Special Events Center April 5& 6, 2014.
With an emphasis on technical, creative and professional workshops and sessions covering everything from patent development and the inventive process, to 3D printing, programming, mechanical and electrical design, green tech and open source technologies, Gulf Coast MakerCon will provide added value for adult attendees, with a special Young Makers section for kids and families, as well. There will be a wide variety of creative nd interactive vendors, exhibitors, and entertainment that includes everything from robotics and metalsmithing, to recycled instruments, ham radio, RC modeling, automotive tech, gaming, inventions, innovations, future tech and much more.
So save the date and look for more details soon!
This entry was posted in DIY, Entrepreneurship, Fairs, Festivals, Gulf Coast Makers Festival, inventors, Makers Festival, Science, Young Makers and tagged education, educational fairs, Gulf Coast MakerCon, Gulf Coast Makers Festival, inventors, makers festival. Bookmark the permalink.


CK Group, which won the builders cleaning contract for the Bart's Hospital refurbishment programme on behalf of Skanska, is on course to complete the project this Autumn as expected. The programme is currently in the second stage of three, with the first phase having been completed by CK Group in 2009.
The full builders clean will be carried out until September 2014. This includes maintenance and clinical cleaning of all areas, internal and external glazing. The total area covered by the cleaning contract is approximately 35,000sq.ft.
In such environments, health & safety is always top priority. CK Group currently has 15 members of staff on site who have all been through a thorough two hour induction, passed a health & safety assessment and hold valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards.
To ensure ongoing site safety, monthly returns on various topics are sent to Skanska including toolbox talks, number of hours worked, accident reports, near misses, PAT testing of machinery and weekly checks carried out by the supervisor. On top of this, CK Group's contract manager John Lawford attends regular meetings with Bill James, the project manager from Skanska.
One of the biggest challenges the team has faced so far has been the internal window cleaning. The internal atrium glazing required the use of a spider lift to reach the highest points. The expertise of the cleaning team, led by supervisor Alan Rojas, was instrumental in the success of this operation. This team is now working on the external glazing for the trust using boom and cradle.
The contract is drawing closer to completion and CK Group has worked alongside Skanska to ensure all deadlines have been achieved on time. The CK Group staff have been working unsociable hours and weekends on Skanska's instruction to help achieve all goals.


text:
Q: AngularJS: error in console despite handling it I don't know if I am doing something incorrect here or what, but I have a question regarding error handling in angular.
I've gone through several similar questions on the website but they don't answer my question or solve my problem.
So this is basically what I'm trying to do:
var deferObject = $q.defer();
$http(some_url + user_entered_value).then(function(response){
    deferObject.resolve(response.data);
}, function(error){
    //error handling code here
    deferObject.reject(error.data);
});

The server returns an error object which looks like this: {"status":"500","error":"Internal Server Error"}
Whenever there is an error in the application, angular throws an error by logging it in the console: "failed to load resource: Internal server error".
So here are my questions:

*

*How do I prevent the angular error logging?

*How do I handle that error?
I tried doing this:
var deferObject = $q.defer();
$http(some_url + user_entered_value).then(function(response){
    deferObject.resolve(response.data);
}, function(error){
    //error handling code here
    deferObject.reject(error.data);
}).catch(function(e){
    throw e;//to handle the error
});

But I still get the error in the console.


text:
Folsom Featured Events
Let everyone know what's going on. Start using our networking tools to spread the word about upcoming events around town.
From alerting folks to a meeting about an important town issue, the next gathering of your book group, a real estate open house or upcoming tag sale, make this your first stop in getting the word out
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8601 Lindbergh Boulevard
Cradle of Birding Festival at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, participate in live animal shows, trolley tours, workshops, live music, fishing,...
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
History:The history of Tinicum Marsh, the largest remaining freshwater tidal wetland Pennsylvania goes back to the first settlements in the region ...
Linvilla Orchards
137 W Knowlton Rd
FISHINGOrchard Lake was constructed to provide irrigation water for some of the farm's many crops. However, creating a fishing destination wa...
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McCreesh Playground Skatepark
Philadelphia Trolley Works and 76 Carriage Company
1350 Schuylkill Avenue
76 Carriage Company was founded over 30 years ago with a vision of providing the Philadelphia Region with superior tours and transportation service...
Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation
3900 North Sandy Flash Drive
MISSION: The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation is an authentic living history site with the purpose of enhancing understanding of 1760-90 farm life...
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Mission: Please Touch Museum's Mission is to Enrich the Lives of Children by Creating Learning Opportunities Through Play. We strive to make the ...
American Swedish Historical Museum
1900 Pattison Avenue
About Us: The American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia is the oldest Swedish Museum in the United States. Founded in 1926, the Mus...
3400 West Girard Avenue
Mission Advance discovery, understanding and stewardship of the natural world through compelling exhibition and interpretation of living animals a...
Paine's Park
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Designed by Anthony Bracali and Brian Nugent, Paine's Park is not a replacement for LOVE Park. It is an evolution of the lessons about skateb...
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
History:The Museum began as a legacy of the great Centennial Exhibition of 1876, held in Fairmount Park. At the conclusion of the celebrations, Mem...
6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade
20th And JFK Boulevard
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute's MissionIn the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute is to i...
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount Avenue
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. works to preserve and restore the architecture of Eastern State Penitentiary; to make the Penitentia...
Philadelphia Magic Gardens
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (PMG) is a mosaicked visionary art environment, gallery, and community arts center that preserves, interprets, and pro...
150 South Independence Mall West Suite 550
Historic Philadelphia isn't just a place. It's an organization – dedicated to making our nation's history relevant and real...
Riverbend Environmental Education Center
1950 Spring Mill Road
History:Riverbend and its surroundings have a rich and varied history. In the 16th and 17th century, the local residents were a band of Lenape Nati...
African American Museum In Philadelphia
Mission : The African American Museum in Philadelphia collects and preserves art and artifacts and, through exhibitions and programs, interprets t...
Independence Visitor Center
The Independence Visitors Center Corporation (IVCC) is a Pennsylvania non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which operates in cooperation with the effor...
Independence Seaport Museum
211 South Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street
Founded in 1960 as the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, Independence Seaport Museum is the region's primary repository of art, artifacts and archival ...


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Home » New Museum expands to adjacent building on Bowery
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New Museum expands to adjacent building on Bowery
The New Museum (center) and its new acquisition (to the right), via Art Daily
After unveiling its $50 million, SANAA-designed new location last December, the New Museum recently announced its acquisition of 231 Bowery, a building to the immediate south of its current location, for $16.6 million. The building, which is currently home to a restaurant equipment distributor and several offices, has 47,000 square feet of space, which will be used as office and storage space until plans are finalized for new programs.
New Museum buys adjacent building on the Bowery [ArtForum]
New Museum acquires adjacent building on the Bowery [Art Daily]
The New Museum (center) and its new acquisition (to the right), via World Architecture News
"The availability of an adjacent property is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a dynamic and growing institution," commented Dennison in Art Daily. "For the New Museum, the acquisition of 231 Bowery is both a wise investment in our future and a guarantee that we will be able to play an active role in preserving the distinctive character of our neighborhood by controlling development in the immediate vicinity. We are extremely fortunate to be in a position to seize this opportunity as the New Museum enters its fourth decade and anticipates ever more ambitious, exciting, and visible programs."
Guernica (2007) by Michael Patterson-Carver, via the New Museum
Growth (Survival) (2006) by Allora and Calzadilla, via the New Museum
This entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 6:09 pm	and is filed under Art News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Why do billionaires buy media empires?
12 October 2018 - 9:55 AM
Although the financial situation for newspapers remains less than ideal, billionaires continue to invest in print media for their institutional worth, with aims to make publications self-sufficient.
If you had $190 million to spare, what would you spend it on?
If you're Marc and Lynne Benioff, you'd buy a media empire. The flamboyant CEO of Salesforce and his wife purchased the publication from Meredith Corporation a few weeks ago, quickly distancing themselves from the magazine's editorial direction.
It was a decision that was made, Marc admits, without much forethought, and its spontaneity is as much a product of his outsized personality as it is of his wealth. Indeed, the large cash infusion represents a boon for Time, but represents only around three per cent of the Benioff's net wealth. It's endemic of a larger trend in business of high-earning CEOs bankrolling print media to insulate cultural institutions from economic and technological changes.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce
While many are grateful for Benioff's financial infusion, others are suspicious of his motives and the pressures he might exert on the newspaper's editorial position. For his part, Benioff has moved to assuage those concerns, with Time's chief content officer Alan Murray saying the Benioffs were willing to "put journalistic integrity ahead of corporate gains".
Otherwise, Benioff's purchase of Time appears to be an effort to preserve the periodical, as opposed to turning it into a vehicle for his political views. That hasn't comforted some sceptics though, who have witnessed the financially precarious situation that arises when business leaders expect returns on their investments.
Why would anybody buy a newsroom?
It's easy to compare billionaires with an interest in media empires to Charles Foster Kane, Orson Welles' ruthless newspaper magnate. The truth is often more complex than that. Some CEOs, like Jeff Bezos, purchase flagging institutions not out of pity but out of a profit motive. Bezos, after all, was initially unmoved at the prospect of purchasing a business that haemorrhaged money and that he didn't know much about.
However, he saw the opportunity as having a greater sense of rightness to it. "If this were a financially upside-down, salty snack food company, the answer would be no," Bezos reasoned, "But as soon as I started thinking about it that way, I started to realize The Washington Post is an important institution."
"If this were a financially upside-down, salty snack food company, the answer would be no," Bezos reasoned, "But as soon as I started thinking about it that way, I started to realize The Washington Post is an important institution."
Nowadays, The Washington Post is profitable, thanks to Bezos' technological direction as much as his financial contributions. He has remained outside the newsroom, and has instead focused on the newspapers' economic situation, preferring not to think of his contribution as a "philanthropic endeavour".
A comparable situation arose for Laurene Powell Jobs, when her Emerson Collective purchased The Atlantic in July 2017, saying that "there's a door between Emerson and the Atlantic, but it only swings from the Atlantic into Emerson; it doesn't open in the other direction".
Like Bezos' approach, the emphasis wasn't on editorial direction as much as it was on improving the economic function of the publication itself, which Jobs managed to do. Although the financial situation for newspapers remains less than ideal, billionaires continue to invest in print media for their institutional worth – an often-achievable goal, as newspapers are relatively inexpensive investments – with aims to make the publications self-sufficient.
Do things always work out?
In contrast to those two particularly fortunate cases, other entrepreneurs aren't quite as committed to the outcomes of their chosen publication, quickly losing patience with their investment and becoming eager to rid themselves of it.
Perhaps the most notorious example of this is Joe Ricketts, whose purchase of Gothamist prefaced an attempt to merge the idiosyncratic vehicle for snark and culture with his own New York-centric outlet, DNAInfo. The arrangement lasted for only eight months, in which time both newsrooms complained about mismatched agendas. When the staff of both publications attempted to unionise, Ricketts simply shut both down and walked away from the situation.
Similarly, Peter Barbey purchased The Village Voice in 2015 promising that he was "flat-out serious about getting The Voice to be a major Manhattan publication". Three years later, he unceremoniously shut down printing, citing "business realities".
Such billionaire investments in newspapers are met with suspicion by the journalists who work for them not because they portend maleficent editorial direction, but because they often become more accountable to the economic concerns of one person. Much like any other business, if there isn't a model for self-sufficiency to work towards, that often means that the end is in sight.
Much like any other business, if there isn't a model for self-sufficiency to work towards, that often means that the end is in sight.
So, what happens next?
In conversation with CNBC, Joshua Benton, director of Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard, cited several reasons for why billionaires choose to become involved in media, including "a mixture of … sincere appreciation of the art form, … a desire to see it flourish … [and] a sense of civic responsibility".
Moreover, the chance for growth in an industry that has struggled to adapt to digital distribution is immense and has proven profitable under the right leadership. Ultimately, the emphasis isn't about establishing a vehicle for personal retribution. It's about product differentiation and, eventually, financial returns.
It's not difficult to appreciate how Benioff views the matter; he believes that there are two types of CEOs, those committed to improving the state of the world, and those who are not.
When he purchased Time, he was acting on that impulse, believing that print journalism deserved attention. It doesn't mean he's prepared to throw away a significant sum of money. It means that he's willing to help a beleaguered industry through challenging times, with the sort of leadership and business expertise only an eccentric, carefree CEO can bring.
By Jordan MurrayFull Bio
Having spent the past five years writing about music for small, independent publications, Jordan moved from Western Australia to New South Wales to write for The CEO Magazine.


I have got good teaching skills with interactive manner and I make the complicated and technical subjects easy.
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With deep clarity on subjects and language is no bar. I can teach in hingi/ English/ Punjabi whatever language the student is comfortable in. I was my university topper and I have an experience of 4 years of teaching. I can surely enhance your grades. All the best I can give a demo lecture too.


Riders Plus Insurance has been providing excellent motorcycle insurance rates to Ontario riders for over 20 years. Our job is to give you great rates and fast service.
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The Festival had a total of over 1000 people attending 12 films across 5 days at 3 venues + 2 fully booked film quizzes!
We would like to say a BIG thank you to everyone in the local community who attended the Festival, escaped with us into magic of films, gave us feedback, and encouraged us to do it again.
We are going to catch our breath, reflect over a fantastic 5 days and start thinking about doing it all over again next year! Watch this space!
Godalming's 2nd annual film festival could not have happened without the support of our members, our partners, our patrons, our volunteers – and the local community!
The GFF Committee who were the brains and brawn behind this endeavour: Michael O'Sullivan, Andrew Clench, Paul James, Liz Graham, Penny McLaren, Matthew Vose and Kristina Solem Wood.
The entire Godalming Film Society Committee: Michael O'Sullivan, Ian Coult, John MacDonald, Paul James, Steve Stanley, Maxine Long, Andrew Clench, Barbara Hydes, Penny McLaren, Michael van Koetsveld, Kristina Solem Wood.
Our volunteers who stepped up to help at the festival: Alison Briscoe, Eileen MacDonald, Rosemarie Juliano, Claire Townsend, Diane Crimp, Pete Graham, Lynn Sanders, Peter Osborn, Jill Howard, John Taylor, Pauline Scarsbrook!
And personal thanks to all of our better halves and families who have put up with all the long hours in planning and putting on this festival!
Paul James (the Dude) for updating the GFF logo and creating the GFF Crew t-shirts version 2!
Paul James and Matthew Vose (aka Barton Fink) for the new GFF website and bringing GFF up to date and into the social media stratosphere!
Liz Graham for expanding our local business community sponsorship!
Michael van Koetsveld for his highly challenging and 3 screen AV extravaganza of a film quiz at The Star!
Madeleine Clench for her artwork used in the GFF colouring sheets given out to children who attended the film matinees.
Finally, but not least, to our loyal GFS members for their support for our 2nd festival!
BBC Surrey – Mike Buxton for giving us a prime-time slot for an interview with our very own Michael O'Sullivan and a chance to compete in the Sell It In Sixty competition!
Phil Kemp, Shutterbox – for great photos across the event!


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Apparition of the Holy Cross
On Sunday, May 14, the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross. The Apparition of the Holy Cross is the third feast of the Holy Cross and is celebrated on the fifth Sunday after Easter.
It was called by the people "the day the sky caught fire." At about 9 in the morning on May 7, 351, the feast of the Pentecost, the people of Jerusalem gathered in the streets, pointing to the sky in frightened shock. Tongues of flame were roaring across the horizon forming a gigantic blazing Cross in the sky. The apparition, "brighter than the sun," extended from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives – about two miles – and was seen by everyone in Jerusalem. It remained extended over the city for several hours.
Many people fell to their knees, beseeching God to spare them from annihilation. Others went to the Churches to pray and ask forgiveness for their sins. But one man, the newly elected Patriarch of Jerusalem Cyril (315-386) bowed his head and gave thanks to God for this blazing sign from Heaven.
At that time, the Church and people of the Holy City were divided and fractured over the Arian heresy. The Patriarch Cyril repudiated its false teaching on the Three Persons, and that strong heretical faction was threatening him with exile. In this difficult situation, he was beseeching Heaven for help. The sudden appearance of the blazing Cross in the sky was for him an answer to that prayer.
Shortly after the miraculous event, St. Cyril wrote a letter known today as the Letter to the Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine the Great, describing the miracle in vivid detail and making it clear that the miracle was a sign from God. The letter reads:
"On the nones [or 7th] of May, about the Terce hour [or nine in the morning], a vast luminous body, in the form of a Cross, appeared in the sky just over the holy Golgotha, reaching as far as the holy Mount of Olives, seen not only by one or two persons, but clearly and evidently by the whole city. This was not, as may be thought, a momentary transient phenomenon: for it continued several hours visible to our eyes, and brighter than the sun, the light of which would have eclipsed it, had not this been stronger.
"The whole city, struck with a reverential fear tempered with joy, ran immediately to the church, young and old, Christians and heathens, citizens and strangers, all with one voice giving praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the worker of miracles; finding by experience the truth of the Christian doctrine, to which Heaven bears witness." (PG 33:116q)
He concludes his letter with wishes that the Emperor may always glorify the holy and consubstantial Trinity.
Many others also interpreted the sign that Almighty God favored St. Cyril in the struggle against the Arian heresy. Not only did many Arians abandon their heresy, but, as the historian Socrates the Scholar reports, "It was the means of the conversion of many pagans and Jews to Christianity."
A sign reported by historians of the time
Historians of the time, including Sozomen, Theophanes, Eutychius, John of Nice, Glycas, and others, quote St. Cyril concerning this marvel. Socrates Scholasticus, author of a seven-book Ecclesiastical History, writes:
"At the time that Cyril administered the Church of Jerusalem after Maximus, the sign of the Cross appeared in the sky. It shone brilliantly, not with divergent rays like a comet, but with the concentration of a great deal of light, apparently dense and yet transparent. Its length was about 15 stadia (two miles) from Calvary to the Mount of Olives, and its breadth was in proportion to its length."
"So extraordinary a phenomenon excited universal terror. Men, women, and children left their houses, the market place, or their respective employments, and ran to the church, where together they sang hymns to Christ, and voluntarily confessed their belief in God. Reports of it disturbed in no little measure our entire dominions, and this happened rapidly; for, as the custom was, there were travelers from every part of the world who were dwelling at Jerusalem for prayer, or to visit its places of interest. These were spectators of the sign, and divulged the facts to their friends at home."
"The Emperor was made acquainted with the occurrence, partly by numerous reports concerning it which were then current, and partly by a letter from Cyril the Bishop. It was said that this prodigy was a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy contained in the Holy Scriptures [Mt 24:30]. It was the means of the conversion of many pagans and Jews to Christianity." (Ecclesiastical History, book 4, chapter 5)
A sign of the victory over paganism
The historian Philostorgius attributed this sign as representing the victory of the Emperor Constantius II (337-361) and his army over the commander Magnentius, who favored the pagans, and affirmed it could be seen by the troops of both Constantius and Magnentius, encouraging the former and frightening the latter:
"It appeared at Jerusalem about the Terce hour of the day which is called the day of Pentecost. This sign, which was portrayed by no human hand, was seen to stretch from the Mount of Calvary to the Mount of Olives, and was accompanied by a large rainbow, like a crown, which surrounded it on all sides. The rainbow, indeed, signified the mercy of Jesus Christ crucified and taken up into Heaven, and the crown denoted the victory of the Emperor Constantius.
"Moreover, that splendid and venerable sign did not escape the notice even of the soldiers. But though it was clearly seen by both armies, it frightened above all measure Magnentius and his partisans, who were addicted to superstitious practices; while, on the other hand, it inspired Constantius and his army with invincible bravery. Magnentius, however, having suffered this defeat from Constantius, afterwards recovered his strength by degrees, and, engaging with him in a second battle, was entirely defeated [at the Battle of Mursa Major in 351] and fled away to Lyons with the loss of nearly all his army." (Ecclesiastical History, book 3, chapter 26)
Devotion to the Holy Cross
The Armenians have a great devotion to the Holy Cross, and in their liturgical calendar they celebrate four feasts in its honor. The most important is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the Sunday nearest September 14. It commemorates the rescue of the Holy Cross from the Persians in 629.
The Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, commemorating the third century placement of an authentic relic of the Cross in Armenian soil at Varagavank as protection against invaders, is on the Sunday nearest September 28. On the Sunday closest to October 26 is the feast of The Discovery of the Holy Cross, commemorating the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena in 327. The Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross over Jerusalem is celebrated on the fifth Sunday after Easter, and St. Cyril's Letter to Constantius is read after the Gospel.
Adapted from: Apparition of the Holy Cross over Jerusalem, Hugh O'Reilly.
St. Cyril


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If you're in the market for a new SUV, chances are a Mini might not be on your radar. To be fair, you may not have realised that Mini was even in the category. If that's the case, you may be surprised to discover that Mini entered the SUV arena in Australia way back in 2011 with the introduction of the Mini Countryman. A couple of models later and the Mini Countryman has literally grown to become a real contender in the prestige SUV category. Necessarily, yet contentiously, larger than a traditional Mini hatch, the Mini Countryman stacks up against other prestige SUVs such as the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 and X2.
Technically falling into the 'crossover SUV' niche, the Countryman brings together the best of both worlds. In the Countryman, you'll find many of the features of an SUV including a tall interior, more storage space and higher ground clearance, combined with the car-like handling and great fuel economy you'd expect from Mini.
Simply put by Peter Anderson of CarsGuide, "The one thing you could say about the Countryman is that it still felt like a Mini, Just Bigger."
But don't think that just because it's bigger, the Mini Countryman is all family car. In terms of performance, it still packs a punch, inspired by Mini's racing pedigree.
Introducing the John Cooper Works Countryman
Blink and you just might miss it. With a Mini TwinPower, turbocharged engine, 170 kilowatts of power and a top speed of 234km/h, Mini's John Cooper Works Countryman flies in at the top of the range.
Feann Torr of motoring.com.au says, "If you want to take part in the traffic light tango, this is a hilarious car to do it in, because it's goes off like a frog in a sock from a standing start."
"The engine belches and growls through upshifts and generates one of the most satisfying backfire blasts on the overrun I've experienced in a factory standard vehicle. Fair go, it's got more voice than Johnny Farnham; just leave it in gear and enjoy the engine-braking pandemonium."
Coming in at just over $65,000 drive away, the high-spec Mini is aimed squarely at the motoring enthusiast. With a full body aero kit and twin-pipe sports exhaust, the JCW Countryman delivers. Embodying the essence of motorsport the vehicle comes standard with an 8-Speed Sports Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shift and Launch Control. The Chilli Red option for the contrasting roof and mirrors also gives drivers the option to unashamedly stand out.
The JCW Mini Countryman is the latest luxury car prize up for grabs in Endeavour Foundation's upcoming Prize Home lottery. Fresh from Mini's Oxford production plant, the prize Countryman is finished in 'Lapis Luxury Blue' paintwork with custom white bonnet stripes and grey leather 'lounge' seats. It will cut a striking vision around town or simply parked in your driveway. To find out more, or to buy tickets, click here.
So, what's so big about the JCW Countryman?
While the Mini Countryman is literally bigger at over 4 metres in length, there are also some pretty big features on offer, particularly in the John Cooper Works model, that make it an appealing proposition.
Inside, the circular displays are quintessentially Mini and add a sense of fun. For Mini, it's about making driving an experience to be enjoyed, not just a means of getting from A to B.
The JCW Countryman offers a larger 8.8" Touch Screen display as standard with wireless Apple CarPlay. The circular central instrument display is easy to use and quick to navigate. Whether you're flicking through the functions, choosing your playlist or plotting your route, it's all literally at your fingertips.
The Mini Navigation System offers the driver Real Time Traffic Information with the aim of improving long commutes. Other neat additions to the Countryman include a handy Heads-Up display to ensure your eyes stay on the road and also wireless mobile phone charging.
Your ears will also appreciate JCW Countryman's powerful 12-Speaker Hi-Fi System by Harman/Kardon.
Take a look around the cabin and the extra size of this not-so-mini Mini has been put to good use. There's genuinely plenty of space inside for the Countryman to become the everyday family car. The kids, or even adults for that matter, can sit comfortably in the back. And lots of extra storage nooks and crannies provide neat and tidy homes for all the 'stuff' that ends up on the road with you. The boot space in the Countryman is also impressive, with 450 litres of useable space which expands to a massive 1309 litres when you fold down the rear seats.
And of course, being a Mini, there has to be a quirky, special feature or two, just to remind you that you're not driving your average, run-of-the-mill car. In the case of the Countryman, the first, really unique feature comes in the form of a built-in picnic bench, tucked away in the floor of the boot. Simply pop open the hatch and pull the bench from its undercover location to rest neatly on the rear edge above the bumper. Here you can sit comfortably while sheltered by the wide-opening door overhead. Just the ticket for pausing to clean the mud from your shoes after stomping the divots at the polo.
Even considering all the flashy features of the JCW model, there's one more standard feature in all Countryman models that is the real kicker. Literally. With a kick (or tap) of your foot under the rear bumper you can automatically open and close the tailgate of your Countryman, completely hands free.
It's all thanks to the rear sensor fitted below the bumper that picks up on your foot movement and instantly pops open the catch. If you've ever lugged six bags of groceries to the car or juggled two arm-fulls of baggage for a week away, you'll understand what a game-changing feature this is. In fact, it's such a good idea it's hard to believe that not more car manufacturers are doing it. It's probably just a matter of time, but in the meantime, well played, Mini, well played.
From England, with love.
You'll be pleased to know that the thoroughly British Mini is still… thoroughly British. Each and every Mini is meticulously made at the Mini Plant in Oxford, England.
Amazingly, the Oxford production plant spits out a Mini every 67 seconds. Each mini made to order from millions of possible variations, which means that each car on the production line is a one-off, not one of hundreds the same on the line.
And as you'd expect from Mini, your Countryman is the product of state-of-the-art automation and age-old craftsmanship.
Within the Mini plant, your soon-to-be pride and joy travels through three sub-factories. It's first signs of life appear in the 'Body in White' factory. This is where your Mini's outer shell begins to take shape. In this mind-boggling plant, 1,200 robots precisely construct the body of your Mini spot welding the parts together with absolute precision. Here your Mini is also fitted with its doors, boot and bonnet. Before moving on to the next stage, every inch of your mini shell is scrutinised by Mini's quality control experts to ensure your vehicle meets Mini's extraordinarily high standards.
When the scrutineers are satisfied, your Mini Countryman travels to sub-factory number two – the Paint Shop. It has to be said, however, that the Mini Paint Shop is far, far from Mini. In fact, it's about as maxi as it gets covering more than 60,000 cubic metres.
Incredibly, it was the UK's second biggest construction project after the Millennium Dome. It takes each Mini shell around ten hours (and a cut lunch) to move through the not-so-Mini paint Shop, right from the first corrosion protection layer to the glossy clear top coat. It's here in the Paint Shop that each Mini gains its true personality with its own unique combination of Mini's 16 body colours, five contrasting roof colours, bonnet stripes, mirror caps and side scuttles. Your Countryman receives a final oven bake to ensure that its very British paintwork will endure in Australia's tough conditions.
The third and final stage in the production journey is a trip through the Assembly factory to add all of the interior finishing touches to your Mini. Here your engine is assembled by hand and then fitted snugly under the bonnet by a team of three: one robot and two human workers.
Finally, your Mini Countryman is complete and ready to leave Oxford for the long journey to Australia.
Win this Mini Countryman JCW prize
The Mini Countryman JCW is ready and waiting for you.
Become a Star Supporter by May 29 2019 to be in the running to win this MINI Countryman valued at $60,426
Become a Star Supporter
When you purchase lottery tickets from Endeavour Foundation, you help to provide opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to learn life skills, live independently, have a job they love, and be actively involved in their local communities.
Find out more about how Endeavour Foundation is helping people with disability to imagine what's possible.


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Search Results for: Alex Salmond
French Election Will Decide Europe's Future
KnowledgeWharton • Apr 02, 2017
If a pro-European candidate doesn't win the French election, Europe's nationalist protectionist agendas may dominate the region. Is a "European Spring" in the making, just as the European Union (EU) celebrates its 60th anniversary? In this opinion piece, Peter Vanham, global leadership...
The World This Week: Donald Trump is Scary, Ted Cruz is Terrifying
Atul Singh • Feb 07, 2016
Donald Trump is a chest-thumping gorilla reminiscent of Mussolini, while Ted Cruz is a devious fanatic with similarities to Stalin, making him far more dangerous. After declaring that it has detonated a hydrogen bomb, North Korea has launched a long range rocket. This is making South Korea,...
Can Scotland Become the Saudi Arabia of Renewables?
Eunsun Cho • Feb 02, 2016
With strong government leadership and long-time public support, Scotland's plan for a green future is underway. Leading up to the Independence Referendum in 2014, one way Scotland sought to differentiate itself from the United Kingdom was through its environmental policy. The Scottish...
The Scottish Referendum: No Tactic Too Cynical
James Kelly • Sep 18, 2014
The London establishment ought to be careful what it wishes for in Scotland. "England would lose a surly lodger, and gain a good neighbour." That's the oft-repeated summary of Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, on how the relationship between the two countries would be transformed...
Independent Scotland: A Wish for the Chance to Make Our Own Mistakes
Tom Webster • Sep 15, 2014
Scottish independence is the first stage in a process to work toward a better society. The way the debate on the pros and cons of the potential independence of Scotland has developed has been fascinating in a number of ways. The first is the considerable gap between the selectivity and the...


The toll road provides more access from the Henares corridor to the center and south of Madrid, by creating a new alternative to the A-2.
The duration of the concession period may be extended by one year, depending on the accident rates.
It connects San Cugat del Vallès and Manresa, running through Rubí, Terrassa and Sant Vicenç de Castellet.
It links up with various large arterial roads, such as the AP-7 toll road, the Catalonia transversal arterial road C-25, the C-58 and the C-55. In the near future it will link up with the B-40, the fourth beltway in Barcelona.
It is also integrated into the Llobregat C-16 hub which connects Barcelona and France, as part of the E-9 European route.
The R-4 is an alternative to the A-4 between Getafe and Ocaña, passing through the towns of Pinto, Valdemoro, Seseña and Aranjuez.
The concession includes a toll section (R-4) that connects the M-50 and Ocaña, and another toll-free section including part of the M-50 (between the A-2 and the M-409) and the M-31 (which connects the M-40 and the M-50).
Connects with the Madrid- Levante toll road, thus completing a 180 km toll link between Madrid and the east coast of Spain.
Toll rates are inflation-indexed with an adjustment if traffic exceeds established thresholds.
Route between Madrid and the east coast that offers an alternative to the A-3 and N-301 in a corridor with high traffic levels and congestion problems. On its entry to Madrid, the toll road connects directly with the R-4 and links up with the provinces of Toledo, Cuenca and Albacete.
The concession period may be extended for a further four years if certain service quality conditions are met.
Toll rates are inflation-indexed, with an adjustment if traffic exceeds established thresholds.
The Malaga-Estepona toll road significantly improves the traffic flow along the Costa del Sol. It is part of the European route E15.
Rates vary according to the time of year, with high season being during the summer months and at Easter.
The Estepona-Guadiaro highway, situated in one of the corridors with the fastest population growth in Spain, provides an alternative route to a highly congested semiurban corridor. It is part of the European Route E15.
New 49-kilometer section of the A-66 between Benavente and Zamora which will complete the arterial road that connects Gijón and Seville, the Silver Route.
It is divided into three sections: the A-6 section, between Castrogonzalo and Santovenia; the second section, between Santovenia and Fontanillas de Castro; and the third section, between Fontanillas de Castro and Zamora. The section will run as closely as possible to the N-630 to minimize environmental impact.
It is based on an availability payment mechanism, i.e. users will not be required to pay tolls.
Public-private partnership to build, conserve, maintain and operate the section of the Almanzora Highway between Purchena and the A-7 or Mediterranean Highway, on its way through Huércal-Overa (Almeria).
A-334 intends to turn the Almanzora district into a strategic hub between the Levante area, the north of Granada and Almeria. It will connect this area with the corridor that joins the A-92 and western Andalusia.


The third edition of Gothenburgs first Ultratrail over 100 miles takes place the last weekend in April. Start at dawn.
The entiry course will be marked with red ribbons. When The course runs on marked trails, the ribbons will be further apart, and when the course runs on unmarked singletrail, or city streets, the ribbons will be closer. We recommend that the runner downloads the .gpx file.
ITRA and UTMB certification is in progress.
Pacers are allowed throughout the entire course. Pacers are there to help the runner keep the pace, and to navigate the course. Pacers can not carry any equipment, liquid or food for the runner.


UNICAL Direct Entry Form 2019/2020 – University of Calabar, UNICAL Direct Entry admission form, screening requirements, screening date and schedule for the 2019/2020 academic session is out. All candidates who have chosen UNICAL during the 2019 JAMB Direct Entry registration are hereby notified.
The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) hereby invites candidates who made the University of Calabar their first choice in the 2019/2020 Direct Entry Admission, to apply for Screening Exercise.
1 How to Apply for UNICAL Direct Entry Screening Form.
How to Apply for UNICAL Direct Entry Screening Form.
One (1) copy of the UNICAL 2019/2020 ONLINE registration form duly completed with the passport-size photograph printed in colour.


Welcome to the CFA Northwest Region's web site!
Our region is part of the Cat Fanciers Association and is known as Region 2 - the Northwest. It encompasses quite a large geographic area, including Alaska, California (North of the 36th parallel), Canada (West of the Western border of Manitoba), Idaho, Montana, Nevada (North of the 37th parallel), Oregon, Utah and Washington.
If you're interested in attending a CFA Cat Show in Region 2, please be sure to visit our Show Calendar for show locations and dates.
There is a regional e-mail list on YahooGroups to discuss issues concerning the Northwest Region. To subscribe, send an e-mail to cfa-northwest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
You can also find us on Facebook now!
Region 2 and its clubs extend a HUGE thank you to our sponsors who have generously donated money to our clubs during this year for advertising - it is greatly appreciated!!
CFA's Breeder Assistance Program (BAP) and Breed Rescue is designed to help CFA breeders and catteries in a time of need for a variety of reasons beyond their control.
Are you new to the world of CFA and cat shows? Have questions about how to enter, what to pack, and what to do at the shows?
Read about CFA's Mentor Program, where you can submit an application to be assigned a mentor to help you learn about breeding and showing.
Also, visit the NewBee site for lots of helpful articles!


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Q: Overfitting with curve.fit can anyone help me struggle with fitting issue from curve.fit. I would like to fit my data to a second order equation. But I obtained a result like a linear equation.
Here is my code:
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from scipy.optimize import curve_fit

def func(x, a, b, c):
    f = a*np.power(x, 2) + b*x + c
    return f

xdata_prime=[3.0328562996216282, 3.101784841139168, 3.1707134502066894, 3.2396419917242292, 3.308570533241769, 3.3774990747593088, 3.3774990747593088, 3.4337789932367149, 3.4900589392912855, 3.5463388577686916, 3.6026187762460977, 3.6588987223006684]
ydata_prime=[6.344300000000002, 6.723900000000002, 7.080399999999999, 7.399800000000001, 7.649099999999999, 7.753100000000002, 7.753100000000002, 7.658600000000002, 7.442100000000002, 7.180100000000001, 6.902700000000001, 6.6211]

plt.plot(xdata_prime, ydata_prime, 'b-', label='data')
popt, pcov = curve_fit(func, xdata_prime, ydata_prime)
popt
plt.plot(xdata_prime, func(xdata_prime, *popt), 'r-',label='fit')
plt.xlabel('x')
plt.ylabel('y')
plt.legend()
plt.show()

A: Your arrays need to be numpy arrays because your function is doing vectorized operations (namely a*np.power(x, 2)). So with this your code will work:
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from scipy.optimize import curve_fit

def func(x, a, b, c):
    f = a*np.power(x, 2) + b*x + c
    return f

xdata_prime=np.array([3.0328562996216282, 3.101784841139168, 3.1707134502066894, 3.2396419917242292, 3.308570533241769, 3.3774990747593088, 3.3774990747593088, 3.4337789932367149, 3.4900589392912855, 3.5463388577686916, 3.6026187762460977, 3.6588987223006684])
ydata_prime=np.array([6.344300000000002, 6.723900000000002, 7.080399999999999, 7.399800000000001, 7.649099999999999, 7.753100000000002, 7.753100000000002, 7.658600000000002, 7.442100000000002, 7.180100000000001, 6.902700000000001, 6.6211])

plt.plot(xdata_prime, ydata_prime, 'b-', label='data')
popt, pcov = curve_fit(func, xdata_prime, ydata_prime)
plt.plot(xdata_prime, func(xdata_prime, *popt), 'r-',label='fit')
plt.xlabel('x')
plt.ylabel('y')
plt.legend()
plt.show()


text:
Protection for Mobile Apps – There's a Patent App for That
Articles News
– Chris Agrawal
Many were taken aback when Yahoo! recently announced that it was purchasing the mobile app company, Summly, for a reported $30 million – from a 17-year-old, no less. Summly was a mobile app designed by its founder, Nick D'Aloisio, to aggregate and summarize Internet content using proprietary algorithms, and present the summarized content to users for easier consumption on their mobile devices. Yahoo! also announced that it would promptly close Summly, and launch the same technology within its own network of sites. This has led many people to wonder: if Yahoo! didn't purchase Summly for its mobile app, which it immediately pulled from the iTunes store, or its millions of existing customers, what exactly did Yahoo! purchase, other than a vaguely enforceable employment contract with the 17-year-old Mr. D'Aloisio?
The likely answer is that most of the $30 million is compensation for Summly's intellectual property, embodied in some combination of patent applications and trade secrets. While Summly's patent position is still not yet publicly available, D'Aloisio previously told TechCrunch that he had shoveled early seed money into filing patent applications, and that MIT researchers were impressed by Summly's "patent-pending" technology. While we cannot yet assess the strength of Summly's IP, it's hard to believe that Yahoo! would have purchased the company, instead of just forging off on its own, if Summly did not have significant patent applications pending.
The story of Summly's acquisition highlights the importance of properly handling the IP around a company's mobile applications. Many mobile developers – and software engineers in general – are wary of using the patent system to protect their new mobile applications. Some prefer to promote their inventions as open source platforms. Others are uncertain whether their mobile-related inventions should or even can be patented. The fact is, novel mobile applications can be patented, and even if patented, they can still be distributed for free or under open source licenses (with some caveats). Also, companies seeking to fortify their competitive position and value would be wise to pursue patent protection for their mobile innovations.
Doors to Patent Office Open to Mobile Apps
U.S. patent laws provide for patenting of systems, devices, and methods, including those relating to mobile applications. While software itself cannot be patented in its intangible form, it is patent-eligible when it is disclosed and claimed in the context of methods of interacting with a computer or mobile device. What poses more of a hurdle than mobile software's "patent eligibility," is the question of whether a mobile app satisfies the other main requirements that it be both new and nonobvious. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office scrutinizes patent applications carefully for whether the claimed invention has, in fact, not been previously used, published, or patented, and whether it involves more than an obvious combination of prior uses, publications, or patents. The importance of filing a patent application before others disclose or patent similar technology is more important than ever, since the U.S. recently switched from a "first-to-invent" to a "first-inventor-to-file" system. As a result, companies that believe they have developed an innovative mobile application should consider promptly filing one or more related patent applications. At a minimum, those companies should commission a patent search to gain insights on the likely novelty, and thus, patentability, of their mobile applications.
Open Source Your Patented Mobile App
The desire to promote mobile-related inventions as open source platforms also should not dictate against filing patent applications. Companies that develop novel mobile applications can patent them but still elect to distribute their apps under free, open-source licenses. However, deciding to distribute applications without patenting can severely inhibit the innovator's ability to later control the use or direction of that application. When Toyota's subsidiary, Denso Wave, invented the two-dimensional barcode – the now ubiquitous "QR-code" – its patent attorneys patented the technology even though the company promoted it as an open source standard for improved barcodes. Now, millions of people around the world are scanning QR codes using the various QR code-reading apps available in the iTunes and Android app stores. Denso Wave has profited from just its own use of the widely adopted technology. More recently, Twitter made big headlines last year when it announced its "Innovator's Patent Agreement," which promised that its patents would be used only for defensive purposes, except that they could be used in offensive litigation with the inventors' permission. Although Twitter's policy contains several caveats, it reflects a broad interest in patenting its innovations while respecting its inventors' desire to elect for open source. By contrast, companies like Lodsys and MacroSource, for better or worse depending on whom you ask, are vigorously enforcing their patents against mobile app distributors, both big and small.
Mobile Isn't Just Mobile Anymore
In the past few months, media outlets have widely reported on the astonishing ascent of mobile content and its predicted 2014 overtaking of standard web content as the most viewed media. Considering the dynamic and growing importance of mobile applications, even diversified companies no longer can afford to neglect the IP surrounding their mobile apps. In addition, in the fast developing world of mobile applications, being the first mover is not always the key to securing a large market share. Mobile applications can be copied easily, and companies with substantial marketing budgets can muscle their way in to capture the public's attention as the top app for a particular function. App Promo's "First Annual Developer Survey" found that the amount of money spent on marketing was one of the most determinative factors for the success of a mobile application. Mobile has become so valuable that if your company doesn't patent its mobile apps, someone else may try to, and they might even enforce those patents against you. But, if you at least try to patent your mobile apps, then an envious latecomer might be more likely to buy or license your technology, than to brazenly steal your market share.
Key Considerations for Patenting Mobile Apps
If your company decides to pursue patent protection for its mobile app, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. First of all, it is important to disclose and claim your mobile application in the context of both the method performed at the client level and the method performed at the server level. Many mobile applications do their heaviest data processing and analysis steps at the server level. For example, the popular music recognition app, Shazam, records a segment of music and sends the audio clip to a server for processing-intensive analysis and recognition. The server then sends back to the user the name and description of the identified music track, along with links to purchase or share the track. Similarly, many new medical imaging apps allow doctors to view the analysis of medical images, such as CT and MRI scans. However, processing-intensive analysis is usually performed at a server, and images or text of analytics are transmitted to a doctor's handheld device for viewing.
In many cases, a potential infringer would not be able to avoid infringement liability by moving some particular processing step from the server level to the client level, or vice versa. Nevertheless, it is important to describe and claim the processing as occurring entirely at the device, or at a server, or some combination of the two, to create a more robust and flexibly enforceable patent in the event of changes in the patent laws or technology.
In addition to describing and claiming both client- and server-level methods, it is also important to disclose and claim the actual mobile device storing the mobile application (i.e., "device" or "apparatus" claims), and the physical storage of the mobile application software – so called "computer-readable medium" claims.
Build Your Mobile App Patents to Last
Keep in mind that a patent will be enforceable for up to twenty years from the filing date. Ten years from now, processing power will be orders of magnitude higher than it is now, and hardware components may be orders of magnitude smaller. Processes you consider too burdensome for your customer's iPhone 5 might be a trivial matter for their iPhone 15. And, the successor standard to 4G LTE will enable even faster data transfer between mobile devices and servers. Also, consider whether consumers will be interacting with your mobile application through a touchscreen, as they likely are now, or possibly through voice recognition or some other input mechanism, and how that might impact the functionality of your application. Think about and describe the various ways to modify your user interface or improve your unique functionalities, without limiting your patent application to the release version you're ready to upload to the app store.
Lock-up Ownership Before it's Too Late
Last, but possibly most important, many companies outsource mobile development to contractors. In many cases, an outsourced mobile developer is just programming the inventive concepts that your company instructs it to program. If the developer is indeed just following your company's instructions, then its employees likely would not be considered inventors under the patent laws. However, inventorship often becomes murky, and a developer might later claim an ownership interest in your intellectual property. Because of that risk, it is critical and most prudent to have in place previously signed agreements by which the developer agrees that any inventions or improvements made under the development contract are the property of your company, and to explicitly assign in writing all IP rights to your company. Your developer agreement should also have assignment and work-for-hire clauses specifying that any code will be treated as a work-for-hire that your company paid for and now owns. It's especially important to have that written agreement locked up before your app starts climbing the ranking charts.
Mobile software is an exciting and dynamic technology, but it's important to pause to periodically consider your patent strategy as it relates to your company's long term goals. With the right strategy, you'll put your company in a position to continue leveraging your innovative apps well into the release of Google Glass 15. At a minimum, you'll increase the chances that a later, and possibly larger, entry to the market will stop to review and assess your patent filings, and perhaps bring you along for the ride.
Chris Agrawal advises technology companies on developing comprehensive patent strategies consistent with their business goals. He focuses on developing high-impact patent portfolios, managing freedom-to-operate for new technologies, and positioning clients to maximize their market, investment, and acquisition opportunities over their competitors.
This article is for informational purposes, is not intended to constitute legal advice, and may be considered advertising under applicable state laws. This article is only the opinion of the author and is not attributable to Bookoff McAndrews, PLLC, or the firm's clients.
All Content © 2003-2013, Portfolio Media, Inc.


Today I fulfilled a high school dream - I went to a F1 grand prix. I was volunteering for charity collecting donations and selling merchandise but it was fun and free. The Australian grand prix is held at Albert park - the perfect calm and peaceful setting for a noisy car race. There are lots of places to escape to and relax in when needed. I only stayed for the first five or so laps of the race but that was enough. I was obsessed by ayrton senna and f1 in general when in high school - I'm not sure why but I was. Fun times.
We were in melbourne just after it finished. I do want to see the race in long beach someday...funny how it just winds thru cities, huh? But cool.


Life isn't life without friends, especially those that stick closer than (or like) family.
Coming to the US was overwhelming but thankfully I was ignorant of what it entails and the many choices.
Regardless, I sauntered into the US, ready to "take over" and roll back into Naija in the near future accomplished and breaking all forms of boundaries. Yes I know I can be delusional but it's ok, haters can hate.
Thankfully, I met great friends - folks who could see my distress and simply wanted to help. These friends became a bedrock for all areas of my life, from the spiritual to the lady I was eyeing from afar to the silly jokes, to encouragement to grow not just in academic excellence but in knowing myself.
I cannot stress enough the importance of having great friends who truly are after your good. And we all know this as true…instinctively maybe…memories of great friendships foster through our minds and brings a tasty smile to your lips…you shake your head as you recall the jokes, where you were sitting and the craziness we went through. At other times you recall the tears & pain you walked through…and oh my, the triumphs…they make it all worth it.