The amount of shady behavior technology has opened up is rather staggering. A cybersecurity expert examines one such event.
CNN and the Washington Post have both reported over the past week that Israeli company the NSO Group and their Pegasus monitoring system may have been the driving force for the detainment and murder of American resident, reporter, and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. Citizen Lab has likewise reported that Omar Abdulaziz, a Canadian resident and Saudi activist, was likewise targeted by this specific spyware.
The NSO Group, for their part, denies involvement in either of these cases. Whether that's true or not, I really can't say. I do think it's pretty clear that their products were certainly used to surveil Omar Abdulaziz, at the very least. They also claim that they sell only to governments that are approved by the Israeli government. That, I fully believe is the case.
But these points really don't mean much. The larger question is, how are we going to handle regulating cyber weaponry in the future?
After all, everything that the Pegasus package does is illegal. In just about every country that has regulation handling cybersecurity. Yet the use of these tools is approved by governments that in many cases affect citizens that are residents in other countries. In this latest case, both of the affected activists lived in North America, but were targeted by Saudi Arabia by software that was approved for use by Israel, as well as the Saudis. They were both still Saudi citizens.
But is it legal for the government of the countries these two had citizenship with to commit crimes against them when they were resident in completely different sovereign nations? Say this was a different, more obvious crime, like assault. Would it be legal for either of these two to be assaulted by the Saudis in either Canada or the United States? I'm not sure, but when I've traveled it's been clear to me that I needed to follow the law of the country I visit, so I suspect it would not be legal. As I expect it would not be legal for any government (including that of the United States) to place spyware on my personal phone (though the US certainly has authority to do that after appropriate due process).
Also, there are a small number of other companies that do this kind of thing, including Hacking Team (though they may not be as active now as they have been) and Azimuth Security (they offer other services as well). This model reflects the migration of weapon systems to outside providers that we've seen in the past. But how does this work, really? I mean, if I start a small company that does this kind of thing and sells the use of my platform to anybody with the money to hire me, I'd expect to be spending a significant amount of time in a very small, dark room shortly after my first gig. The sale of these kinds of systems seems to reflect the processes used for other weapon systems, where national governments approve or disapprove of specfic sales. But will this model work for weaponized software?


text:
Q: Why i am forced to use NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription in iOS10? I have an application which does work mainly with map, it also uses Realm to work with data and few more of small libs. Until i was compiling for iOS9 everything was fine, then i upgraded xcode, now i am compiling for iOS10.
Since then, when i tried to upload beta build to testflight, this build didn't appear there and i received email from apple with text like:

We have discovered one or more issues with your recent delivery for
  "XY app". To process your delivery, the following issues must be
  corrected:
This app attempts to access privacy-sensitive data without a usage
  description. The app's Info.plist must contain an
  NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription key with a string value explaining to
  the user how the app uses this data.

Now, i am not aware that i do work with photo library.. So the question is, do you know why this thing happens? I am using SDWebImage to store some images in the cache, if this is causing the problem i don't know.
So now i am in funny situation to describe the reason why do i use the user photo library but i am not aware that my app does use it, so what should i write there.
How could i find which part of app is working with photo library?
I don't use camera, i don't browser user photos, i am using only MKMapView, location service using CLLocationManager, Realm to work with data and SDWebImage as i said.
Btw, now i realized that i have also zendesk widget for tech support and there is a function which allows to take photo or browse user photos, perhaps this could be the source of problems.
Thx

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: wpf calendar control not displaying properly My display of the calendar control has two problems as shown below.  The date is not placed in the header and is truncated.  The image was generated from a window that has NOTHING on it except the control itself.  If I put it on a canvas or grid or stackpanel, I get the same problems.

What can I do to fix the problem.  Net framework 4.6.1
Edit:  Here is the ALL of the XAML:
<Window
    x:Class="theClass"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    xmlns:scm="clr-namespace:System.ComponentModel;assembly=WindowsBase"
    xmlns:xctk="http://schemas.xceed.com/wpf/xaml/toolkit"
    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:PIM"
    mc:Ignorable="d"
    Name="theName"
    Title="theTitle"
    Height="600"
    Width="600"
    Background="#FFE8FFFD"
    ResizeMode="NoResize">
    <Calendar />
</Window>


text:
Q: Update Attributes for Subscriber on Multiple Lists Under Multiple Client IDs I'm getting the devil trying to update subscriber attributes in multiple lists where the list is part of a subaccount.  I don't know the proper terminology for this, but our account has several different list "groups," accessed in the SOAP API as "Clients."  In the admin we log in with a master account and then we "impersonate" sub-users.  I've seen it described as "business units?"  I have a script that works fine when updating attributes in a single list, or even in multiple lists within a single client/BU, but the Create request refuses to generate multiple Client tags.  If I set up the Client object as an array, the result is an empty Client tag.
Here's an example of the code I have:
$object = array();

try {

    $request = new ExactTarget_UpdateRequest();
    $opts = new ExactTarget_UpdateOptions();

    // define subscriber object
    $sub = new ExactTarget_Subscriber();
    $sub->EmailAddress = $email;
    $sub->SubscriberKey = $email;
    // establish a list of subscriber objects by Client->ID
    $sub->Lists = array();
    $sub->Client = array();

    // loop thru lists to which subscriber belongs
    for( $i = 0; $i < count( $listArray ); $i++ ){
        // create client ID object(s)
        $cl = new ExactTarget_ClientID();
        $cl->ID = $this->retrieveListInfo( $listArray[$i], 1 );  // retrieveListInfo() returns the clientID for the given list
        $cl->IDSpecified = true;
        $sub->Client[] = $cl;

        $list = new ExactTarget_SubscriberList();
        // set ListSubscriber Status -- active or unsubscribed, based on arg1
        $list->Status = "Active";
        $list->StatusSpecified = true;
        $list->ID = $listArray[$i];
        $list->IDSpecified = true;
        $sub->Lists[] = $list;

        // assign values from User Reg DB to Attribute Objects
        $sub->Attributes[$i]        = new ExactTarget_Attribute();  // set up attribute
        $sub->Attributes[$i]->Name  = $key; // string
        $sub->Attributes[$i]->Value = $value; // string
    }

    $so = new ExactTarget_SaveOption();
    $so->PropertyName = "*";
    $so->SaveAction = ExactTarget_SaveAction::UpdateAdd;
    $soe = new SoapVar( $so, SOAP_ENC_OBJECT, 'SaveOption', "http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI" );
    $opts->SaveOptions = array( $soe );

    $object[] = new SoapVar( $sub, SOAP_ENC_OBJECT, 'Subscriber', "http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI" );

    $request->Options = $opts;
    $request->Objects = $object;
    $results = $this->client->Create( $request );

} catch ( SoapFault $e ) {
    $this->logRequest( "err", $e );
}

The resulting object looks fine.  Client IDs are all created properly.
The XML, however, strips ALL client IDs and creates a blank tag:
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SOAP-ENV:Envelope xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:ns1="http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
   <SOAP-ENV:Body>
      <ns1:CreateRequest>
         <ns1:Options>
            <ns1:SaveOptions>
               <ns1:SaveOption>
                  <ns1:PropertyName>*</ns1:PropertyName>
                  <ns1:SaveAction>UpdateAdd</ns1:SaveAction>
               </ns1:SaveOption>
            </ns1:SaveOptions>
         </ns1:Options>
         <ns1:Objects xsi:type="ns1:Subscriber">
            <ns1:Client />
            <ns1:EmailAddress>email1@example.com</ns1:EmailAddress>
            <ns1:Attributes>
               <ns1:Name>Last Active</ns1:Name>
               <ns1:Value>05/11/2014</ns1:Value>
            </ns1:Attributes>
            <ns1:Attributes>
               <ns1:Name>Last Active</ns1:Name>
               <ns1:Value>05/11/2014</ns1:Value>
            </ns1:Attributes>
            <ns1:SubscriberKey>email1@example.com</ns1:SubscriberKey>
            <ns1:Lists>
               <ns1:ID>170080</ns1:ID>
               <ns1:Status>Active</ns1:Status>
            </ns1:Lists>
            <ns1:Lists>
               <ns1:ID>1274529</ns1:ID>
               <ns1:Status>Active</ns1:Status>
            </ns1:Lists>
         </ns1:Objects>
      </ns1:CreateRequest>
   </SOAP-ENV:Body>
</SOAP-ENV:Envelope>

Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

A: not sure if the cause of your problems is the fact that you are using UpdateRequest along with the UpdateOptions, while you call Create method. Can you try correcting these and confirm the results?

A: Eureka.  The solution is twofold:

*

*instantiate the subscriber INside the loop

*Use foreach($this as $that) instead of for($i=0;$i
This is something of a mystery but I'm done wondering at this point.

Code:
$returnVal = 0;
$subscriber = array();
$object = array();

try {

    foreach( $listArray as $thislist ) {

        $i = 0;

        // define subscriber object
        $sub = new ExactTarget_Subscriber();
        $sub->EmailAddress = $email;
        $sub->SubscriberKey = $email;
        // establish a list of subscriber objects by Client->ID
        $sub->Lists = array();

        // assign values from User Reg DB to Attribute Objects
        $sub->Attributes[$i]        = new ExactTarget_Attribute();  // set up attribute
        $sub->Attributes[$i]->Name  = $key; // string
        $sub->Attributes[$i]->Value = $value; // string

        // create client ID object(s)
        $cl = new ExactTarget_ClientID();
        $cl->ID = $this->retrieveListInfo( $thislist, 1 );
        $cl->IDSpecified = true;
        $sub->Client = $cl;

        $list = new ExactTarget_SubscriberList();
        // set ListSubscriber Status -- active or unsubscribed, based on arg1
        $list->Status = "Active";
        $list->StatusSpecified = true;
        $list->ID = $thislist;
        $list->IDSpecified = true;
        $sub->Lists[] = $list;

        $subscriber[] = $sub;

        $i++;
    }

    $so = new ExactTarget_SaveOption();
    $so->PropertyName = "*";
    $so->SaveAction = ExactTarget_SaveAction::UpdateAdd;
    $soe = new SoapVar( $so, SOAP_ENC_OBJECT, 'SaveOption', "http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI" );

    $opts = new ExactTarget_CreateOptions();
    $opts->RequestType = ExactTarget_RequestType::Asynchronous;
    $opts->QueuePriority = "High";
    $opts->ConversationID = $conversationID;
    $opts->CallsInConversation = $callsInConversation;
    $opts->SequenceCode = $sequenceCode;
    $opts->SendResponseTo = array();

    $ar = new ExactTarget_AsyncResponse();
    $ar->ConversationID = $conversationID;
    $ar->RespondWhen = ExactTarget_RespondWhen::Always;
    $ar->ResponseType = ExactTarget_AsyncResponseType::HTTPPost;
    $ar->ResponseAddress = "http://ourserver.com/etResponse.php";
    $ar->IncludeResults = true;
    $ar->IncludeObjects = true;

    $opts->SendResponseTo[] = $ar;

    $opts->SaveOptions = array( $soe );

    foreach( $subscriber as $currentsub ) {
        $object[] = new SoapVar( $currentsub, SOAP_ENC_OBJECT, 'Subscriber', "http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI" );
    }

    $request = new ExactTarget_CreateRequest();
    $request->Options = $opts;
    $request->Objects = $object;
    $results = $this->client->Create( $request );

} catch ( SoapFault $e ) {
    $this->logRequest( "err", $e );
}


text:
Enlargement back on EU's agenda at Western Balkans summit
FILE - From right, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski and Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala shake hands prior to a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, on July 19, 2022.
FILE - From right, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski and Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fi[...]
FILE - Demonstrators gather with Georgian national and EU flags during a pro-EU and anti-Government Rally rally against in front of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on July 3, 2022.
FILE - Demonstrators gather with Georgian national and EU flags during a pro-EU and anti-Government Rally rally against in front of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on July 3, 2022. The wa[...]
FILE - European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi speaks during an online news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, on April 20, 2021.
FILE - European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi speaks during an online news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, on April 20, 2021. The war i[...]
FILE - European flags fly outside the European Parliament, on Feb.
FILE - European flags fly outside the European Parliament, on Feb.15, 2022 in Strasbourg, eastern France. The war in Ukraine has put the European Union's expansion at the top of the agenda as official[...]
FILE - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, reaches out to shake hands with Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, on Aug.
FILE - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, reaches out to shake hands with Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, on Aug. 17, 2022. The wa[...]
FILE - From left, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba gives a joint statement next to his Moldova's counterpart Aureliu Ciocoi, Georgia's counterpart David Zalkaliani and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after their meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on June 24, 2021.
FILE - From left, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba gives a joint statement next to his Moldova's counterpart Aureliu Ciocoi, Georgia's counterpart David Zalkaliani and European Union foreign p[...]
FILE - The European Union flag is projected on the National Library building in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Oct.
FILE - The European Union flag is projected on the National Library building in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Oct. 12, 2022. The war in Ukraine has put the European Union's expansion at the top of the agenda a[...]
TIRANA, Albania (AP) - The war in Ukraine has put the European Union's expansion at the top of the agenda as officials from the Western Balkans and EU leaders gather Tuesday for a summit intended to reinvigorate the whole enlargement process.
The EU's executive commission has repeatedly promised Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia that they have futures within the bloc. But the progress of the six nations toward getting there stalled in recent years.
The EU last admitted a new member - Croatia, which is also part of the Balkans - in 2013. Before that, Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. With the withdrawal of the United Kingdom in 2021, the EU now has 27 member nations.
Although divisions among them on the pace of accession talks and some complicated bilateral issues remain, EU officials think it's more crucial than ever to make clear the six Western Balkans nations belong in the European family so they don't turn in frustration toward Russia or China instead.
"Enlargement policy is among the top three priorities of EU leaders," EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said during a visit to Belgrade, Serbia's capital, last week. "The only real long-term solution for peace, stability and prosperity is EU membership."
EU leaders agreed in June to make Moldova and Ukraine candidates for membership and said Georgia would be eligible for candidacy once the country met some goals defined by the European Commission.
A month later, the EU started membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia following years of delays. Bosnia moved a small step closer on its path to join the powerful economic bloc when the commission advised member countries in October to grant it candidate status despite continuing criticism of the way the nation is run.
Kosovo has only started the first step, with the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement. It said it would apply for candidate status later this month.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg insisted last week that supporting Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia was crucial in the context of the war. Stoltenberg noted that Bosnia, where Russian interference and ethnic tensions long have created political instability, is "important for stability in the whole of the Western Balkans."
But the problem for the countries-in-waiting is that the EU has not deemed their economies and political institutions ready for integration into the EU's single market of open trade and Western democratic ideals.
"None is close to joining the EU," said Luigi Scazzieri, a researcher at the Centre for European Reform, a think tank based in London. "They must all overcome substantial hurdles to meet the Copenhagen criteria, which define the EU's standards on strong democratic institutions, a functioning market economy and the ability to take on the obligations of membership."
Discussions at Tuesday's meeting in Albania's capital, Tirana, are also expected to focus on the negative effects for energy and food security from Russia's war in Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen already announced financial support to help countries in the Western Balkans cope with shortages and higher prices.
"We have created an energy support package that should all together mobilize at least 2.5 billion euros for the region," Várhelyi said.
A bitter dispute between Serbia and Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, remains a great concern for the Western powers ahead of the summit. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has threatened to boycott the gathering to protest a recent political appointment by Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosovo.
During his trip to Belgrade, Várhelyi made clear to Vucic that he would need to align Serbia's foreigh policies with those of EU if the country hopes to join the bloc at some point. Vucic claims he wants to take Serbia into the European Union but has cultivated ties with Russia.
Although Serbia's representatives voted in favor of different U.N. resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Vucic has refused to explicitly condemn Moscow. His country has not joined Western sanctions against Russia over the war.
"Further progress on the rule of law is essential, but it is not going to be enough," Várhelyi said. "Alignment with the EU foreign policy also plays a much stronger role than before. Because Europe is also under attack."
He said the leaders meeting in Tirana also plan to discuss a recent increase in migrants and asylum-seekers moving without entry permits through the Western Balkans, most hoping to reach the EU eventually.
After the EU admitted Croatia in 2013, the enlargement process slowed as eurskeptic voices grew in founding member nations such as Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. The eurozone debt crisis 10 years ago, mass migration into Europe in 2015, and the U.K.'s 2016 Brexit referendum also contributed to political unease with expanding the bloc further.
Petrequin reported from Brussels.
Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine: US sanctions Chinese firm helping Russia's Wagner Group
Spacety China allegedly supplied satellite imagery of Ukraine to support Wagner's combat operations.
Sanofi's and Regeneron's Dupixent wins new stage of EU regulatory approval
Healthcare companies Sanofi and Regeneron said on Friday the European Union's medicines regulator had given a new stage of approval for their Dupixent...
Ease capital rules on EU banks to boost lending, banking industry says
Banks in the European Union could increase lending by almost a third if regulators applied capital requirements in the same way as their U.S. counterparts, a...
Putin Plans New Ukraine Push Despite Losses as He Prepares for Years of War
(Bloomberg) -- Nearly a year into an invasion that was supposed to take weeks, Vladimir Putin is preparing a new offensive in Ukraine, at the same time...
Hunt to Rule Out Tax Cuts While Touting UK's Brexit Potential
(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is expected to disappoint investors and his critics in the UK ruling party Friday by rejecting calls...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
News Opinion Culture Sexuality Health Entertainment Parenting Videos
What�s going on...
(Anand Mahindra's Tweet used a Whatsapp forward image, he tweets calling it the Whatsapp Wonderbox)
My simple query is 'Why is there no inclusion of wives (as stakeholder) of a husband working with company,' in CSR definition. There is a reason behind this. I have suffered on many accounts.
I am a 1983 Chemical Engineering graduate, I was forced to leave my job about 35 years ago to fulfil the demands of a patriarchal family. I have been volunteering with various NGO in different roles, finishing my PG in Development Management in 2017 at the age of 55. I am a small town girl, who topped her science section in the district during the seventies. I would not have suffered had I not been forced to be a submissive woman. But eventually, I did not submit to the evils of society.
After finishing my PG, I joined organisations to sustain myself with dignity while fighting court cases to claim my rights. All through I wanted to know how a homemaker's contribution is quantified. Why law mostly addresses the issues of working women? Was domestic sexual abuse not a part of the harassment women faced all around? Was all that many women faced like me, not a punishable crime?
Why law mostly addresses the issues of working women? Was domestic sexual abuse not a part of the harassment women faced all around?
In the meantime, I became a certified counsellor, offering support to women who survived domestic abuse and are dealing with mental issues/taboos. Most of them are not even aware of the symptoms.
We only talk about the problem, but what about the solution? When will this mindset change? Will the stigma and taboo that loom large ever be destroyed? While doing my PGPDM, I often thought, can management principles be taught in some module for homemakers?
As much as we talk about women empowerment, barely even a part of it is workable in reality. A lot of it is a facade to show that our society is concerned about the rights of a woman when in actuality it is not.
Only a minor percentage of women know what to do when a crisis strikes them. Homemakers are the unsung leaders (they are unglorified managers, maids, cooks, financiers at home, with no say), who, most often are left to suffer on their own.
Vishakha guidelines are for females at the workplace who can use the rights given to them for addressing their grievances. Corporate organisations are only bothered about numbers and business profits. The definition of CSR in corporate organisations is flawed because homemakers are the major stakeholders.
Homemakers are the unsung leaders (they are unglorified managers, maids, cooks, financiers at home, with no say), who, most often are left to suffer on their own.
As per the ILO report, any homemaker who works for more than five hours is a professional. However, she has to fight for her identity and dignified maintenance with no financial support for years. Digging deep into the law and various acts, I found out that we are still governed by 100-year-old laws.
Power, position, money plays the game when it comes to women seeking justice for their rights. Law, unfortunately, is for people who are morally scrupulous and crooks with money and power get away. Media covers them on front pages, they wear the mask of good Samaritans, which pampers their inflated ego with high social positions.
As per the ILO report, any homemaker who works for more than five hours is a professional.
I think it is high time that women are taught law and finance subject which must be made mandatory along with other subjects. Having Gender Neutral Laws is the need of the hour where everybody is accountable.
Women get fleeced of their self, dignity, money, trust and from their own people and nothing changes. In some cases, even if she is strong enough to fight for her rights, she has severe challenges to face and her life is under threats.
Homemakers are misused and cheated and robbed of their sanity by husbands, lawyers, courts, police, etc. Can anyone be accountable for her rights, for the uncountable hours of pain she is suffering? Can anyone give a solution to her problems for which she has to fight for decades?
The wait has been long, but I have not given up. Asking for justice and the right to live with dignity from courts, I hope to get justice in this lifetime.
Trying to be the change…
Views expressed are the author's own.
#harassmentAnand Mahindra's tweethomemakersworking women
These Feminist Lines By 'Friends' Rachel, Phoebe And Monica Haven't Aged
#personalstories
6 Sexist Punjabi Wedding Rituals We Should Change NOW!
Give Children Their Space: Sudha Murty
STP Team


Should Insurance Firms Adopt Artificial Intelligence in Business?
Will Artificial Intelligence Transform the U.S. Insurance Industry?
This year will mark a new time for the U.S. insurance industry to adopt more modern technologies from HR administration software to artificial intelligence (AI).
AI technology, for instance, has become more intriguing for companies. Based on PwC's 2017 CEO Survey, 61% of respondents said that they have been looking into the advantages of combining efforts of humans and machines.
PwC's survey also showed that 49% of CEOs believe that AI will drive the need for skills development in the future. Meanwhile, 75% of industry executives expect AI to modernize the insurance sector, according to Accenture's 2017 Technology Vision for Insurance.
These expectations will take place as the industry moves to a customer-centric approach from a product-focused strategy. Companies should intend to maximize the integration of new technologies into their business, as industry revenues may likely reach $3.0 trillion in 2021, according to Freedonia Focus Reports. Direct healthcare, direct life and direct property and casualty (PC) will be one source of revenues in the future.
Some PC firms have already resorted to AI, as auto losses in 2016 rose by 13%, according to the U.S. Property & Casualty Insurance Market Report. In the first half of 2017, the segment suffered around $5 billion of net underwriting loss. The solution to this involved automated personalized policies for insured drivers.
Devices such as Telematics provide customers with details of their payable premiums based on the installed device's feedback to your driving habits. Other strategies include incentives to clients with good driving habits, while penalties await reckless drivers.
Automated technologies will be necessary not just to improve your operational workflow, but also to attract and retain customers. Times changes, so you should consider investing in new technology or risk being left behind in the industry.


text:
Exporting aquatic animals
Policy on the Approval of External Laboratories for the National Aquatic Animal Health Program
Abbreviations and definitions
This policy applies to all external (non-federal) laboratories performing testing on behalf of Canada's National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP).
This policy outlines the requirements that an external laboratory must meet in order to be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to perform testing of aquatic animal samples for export certification or any other activity in support of the NAAHP.
3. Authority
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act gives the CFIA the authority to enter into arrangements with other government departments in Canada and other organizations in order to carry out its responsibilities under the Acts and Regulations that it administers, including arrangements related to the provision of laboratory services and accreditation of laboratories.
The authority to approve laboratories for the purposes of the NAAHP resides in sections 29 and 30 of the Health of Animals Act:
29. The Minister may operate, provide or approve any diagnostic, research, laboratory or other services or facilities required for the purposes of this Act or any regulations.
30. The Minister may designate areas, offices, laboratories or other facilities inside or outside Canada for a specified purpose or generally for the administration of the Act or the regulations and may at any time amend, cancel or reinstate any such designation.
The Minister has delegated this authority to the Executive Director, Animal Health Science Directorate, Science Branch.
The authority to enter into agreements resides in section 34 of the Health of Animals Act:
34. For the purposes of this Act, the Minister may enter into an agreement with any qualified person to perform such duties or functions as the Minister may specify, on such terms and conditions as the Minister may specify.
4. Context
Under the NAAHP, samples and specimens are collected for testing to prevent the introduction or spread of significant aquatic animal diseases and to facilitate market access. Tests results are used by the CFIA to make decisions about the: issuance of health certificates for export; required disease response activities associated with a notification of suspicion or detection of disease in aquatic animal populations; removal of a post-embarkation import quarantine; mapping of disease risk zones in Canada; issuance of domestic movement permits; and approval of compartments for domestic and international trade.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the CFIA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), DFO provides diagnostic laboratory testing services for the CFIA. These testing services are delivered by the National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (NAAHLS).
In order to provide additional surge capacity for both routine testing for domestic and international trade and large-scale disease response testing activities, laboratories other than DFO laboratories may be approved by CFIA to perform testing in support of the NAAHP. These laboratories must meet the requirements outlined in this document in order for the CFIA to have confidence in both the test results and the ability of the laboratories to contain aquatic animal diseases.
These requirements are consistent with those outlined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Consistency with the OIE is necessary to facilitate market access for Canadian aquatic animals and products derived from aquatic animals.
5. Abbreviations and definitions
Animal Health Directorate
AHSD
Animal Health Science Directorate
DFO
NAAHP
National Aquatic Animal Health Program
NAAHLS
National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System
PPB
Programs and Policy Branch
World Organisation for Animal Health
procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition that a body or person is competent to carry out specific tasks (ISO/IEC Guide 58).
Accrediting body (AB)
an authoritative body that performs accreditation (ISO/IEC 17011:2004).
Aquatic animal
means any finfish, mollusc or crustacean, or any part of a finfish, mollusc or crustacean at any life stage, as well as any germplasm of those animals (Health of Animals Regulations).
Designated analyst
an individual designated by the CFIA under section 13(3) of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act to perform testing for federally reportable diseases in support of the NAAHP
CFIA approved laboratory
an external laboratory that meets the criteria outlined in section 6.0.
Reportable disease
disease prescribed as a reportable disease by the Minister, pursuant to subsection 2(2) of the Health of Animals Act, and listed in the Schedule of the Reportable Diseases Regulations.
External laboratory
for the purpose of this document, a laboratory that is not operated by the CFIA or the DFO.
parameters defined by the NAAHLS for the acceptance of test results based on the use of the test according to a defined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
any word or expression that is descriptive of a person, and includes a corporation. Corporation does not include a partnership that is considered to be a separate legal entity under provincial law (Interpretation Act).
Proficiency testing (PT)
evaluation of participant performance against pre-established criteria by means of inter-laboratory comparisons (ISO/IEC 17043: 2010). Results are used to certify analysts to carry out specific tests and monitor ongoing performance of laboratories and individual analysts for these tests.
Laboratories seeking approval to perform diagnostic testing on behalf of the NAAHP must meet the following requirements:
accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) by an internationally recognized accrediting body
the accrediting body must be a full signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
the accrediting body must allow for CFIA-specific requirements
use test methods developed and validated by the NAAHLS, or alternative test methods approved by the CFIA; these must be listed on the scope of accreditation
maintain specific performance standards established by the CFIA including successful participation in specified proficiency testing (PT) programs
certification to a biocontainment standard of at least AQC2 in vitro as defined by the Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety, CFIA
Approval of a laboratory is on a per-test basis, and laboratories may seek approval for multiple tests at the same time. A laboratory approved by the CFIA will enter into an agreement with the CFIA to provide service for the NAAHP.
The requirement for accreditation of external laboratories to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard for testing in support of the NAAHP is consistent with the approach outlined in the CFIA Framework for Quality Management Oversight of Laboratories Conducting Testing in Areas under the CFIA Mandate, and CFIA's Policy on the Use of External Laboratories for Export Testing.
7. Roles and responsibilities
7.1 Accrediting body
Accreditation of laboratories in accordance with published criteria and consistent with any agreements with CFIA
Maintenance of a public searchable database of accredited laboratories
7.2 External laboratory
Obtain and maintain accreditation of the laboratory to ISO/IEC 17025
Obtain and maintain certification with respect to national biocontainment standards for laboratories handling aquatic animal pathogens
Successfully participate in a PT program specified by the CFIA
Participate in training on the use of approved NAAHLS test methods, where applicable
Adhere to the operating policy and procedures specified by the CFIA for laboratories performing testing in support of the NAAHP
Enter into an agreement with the CFIA to provide testing services in support of the NAAHP
7.3 Fisheries and Oceans Canada – NAAHLS
Provide input into the development and revision of policies, procedures, guidelines and other supporting documents
Provide input into the development of technical criteria for external laboratory approval programs and the use of alternative test methods
Provide trained and qualified technical assessors to the AB as needed for the accreditation process
Provide approved NAAHLS test methods to external laboratories upon request
Provide training and technical support as needed to external laboratory staff in the use of approved NAAHLS test methods, where applicable
Develop and implement a PT program as needed for the external laboratory approval process and report the results to the CFIA. ISO/IEC 17043 should be used as a guide for the PT program.
Evaluate if deficiencies in PT as determined by the NAAHLS PT program have been corrected and provide a report of the evaluation to the CFIA
Recommend analysts for designation by CFIA based on successful participation to the NAAHLS PT program, where applicable
7.4 Canadian Food Inspection Agency
7.4.1 Animal Health Directorate (AHD)
Provide input into the review and revision of policies, procedures, guidelines and other support documents
Develop a list of specified tests that can be conducted by external laboratories in consultation with NAAHLS
Identify the reasons for test for which external laboratories can test on behalf of NAAHP
7.4.2 Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety
Certify the external laboratory to the appropriate physical and operational requirements described in the CFIA document Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens
7.4.3 Science Branch – National Headquarters
Development and revision of policies, procedures, guidelines and other supporting documents
Development and maintenance of CFIA-accrediting body arrangements
Coordination of technical assessors (CFIA, DFO, or external to the federal government) to participate in the assessment team of the accrediting body during on-site visits
Receipt and evaluation of assessment reports
Provide recommendations for approval, suspension of approval or revocation of approval of the laboratory to the ED, AHSD
Development and maintenance of operating policy and procedure agreements with external laboratories
7.4.4 Executive Director, Animal Health Science Directorate (ED, AHSD)
Approve the laboratory
Revoke or suspend approval of the laboratory
Designation of analysts
Revoke or suspend designation of analysts
8. References and resources
CFIA Framework for Quality Management Oversight of Laboratories Conducting Testing in Areas Under the CFIA Mandate (available on the CFIA external website)
Policy on the Use of External Laboratories for Export Testing (available on the CFIA external website)
Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens (available on the CFIA external website).
Delegation of Ministerial Authorities Within CFIA Program Legislation (RDIMS #3182849).
Health of Animals Act (available on the Department of Justice website).
OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (available on the OIE website).
OIE Quality Standard and Guidelines for Veterinary Laboratories: Infectious Diseases, 2nd Edition, 2008 (available from the OIE).


AlzheimersNet is your resource to memory care in Alsey, IL. Memory care facilities provide housing and care for people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Memory care empowers seniors with memory impairment to stay as active and engaged as possible, while living in a dignified, comfortable and secure environment. Our local Senior Living Advisors are widely knowledgeable about memory care in Alsey, IL and surrounding areas. After an initial consultation, your advisor will send you a list of memory care communities that fit your loved one's unique imperatives for care and living preferences, as well as your family's budget.
Alsey is a village in Scott County, Illinois, USA. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area.
They serve vegetarian food at Provision Living at Godfrey, regular occupational therapy by a visiting therapist helps you stay active and engaged, staff is trained to deal with any exit seeking behaviors that may need to be dealt with, the community is convenient to bus lines in the area, and residents can arrange for a room at this community that will allow them to live in this location whatever their healthcare needs are and become.
Physical therapy can be done without leaving the community by a visiting physical therapist, an occupational therapist visits and helps residents, trained staff monitors medication and reminds residents when it's time to take them, this community was built in 2006, and the community is licensed for 74 residents.


Good Gatsby! Leonardo DiCaprio lusting after a model? That just can't be true!
According to Life & Style, our beloved Leo was caught making a desperate pass at Brit model-of-the-moment, Cara Delevingne, during a Great Gatsby party at the Cannes Film Festival this past week.
But could that beeeee? Life & Style, are you seriously telling us that Leo's into models? Since when? Name one of his ex-girlfriends that was a model. Gisele Bundchen? Philanthropist. Erin Heatherton? Lingerie expert. Bar Refaeli? Hebrew translator. Helena Christensen? Photographer. Amber Valletta? Actress from Hitch. See? Leo's about as close to a modelizer as Titanic was to that iceberg.
Okay, so he's into models! So this news of him hitting on yet another model isn't, in fact, news. But what is news is that Cara reportedly turned him down. Leonardo DiCaprio got rejected! Holey moley!
Oh my gawd. She thought he was too old! Oh man, poor Leo! He's only 38, you guys! I mean, in my mind he's still 20-year-old Jack Dawson, so technically he and Cara Delevingne are the same age…kind of…sort of.
It wasn't a total shutdown, though. He was finally able to score Cara's phone number, which is something! I though Cara had a boyfriend anyway, no? Wasn't she dating indie singer/songwriter Jake Bugg? (Yeah, I have no idea who he is either.) Maybe that's why she wasn't into Leo! At least, that's what he should keep telling himself.
It's the end of an era, you guys. When Leonardo DiCaprio can no longer snag models, you know the world has gone all topsy turvy. I admit, I kind of feel bad for the guy! But it's time for you to settle down, Leo. And no, I don't mean settle down and get married. I mean you literally need to settle down. What kind of creeper "lunges" at women?!
What are your thoughts? Do you really believe Leonardo DiCaprio got rejected?
« Is Tom Cruise About To Launch David Beckham's Acting Career?!


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Home » ABC Politics » Who is Nixon White House counsel John Dean and why do Democrats want his testimony?
Who is Nixon White House counsel John Dean and why do Democrats want his testimony?
Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call
(WASHINGTON) — Former White House counsel John Dean, who played a key role leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, testified on Monday before the House Judiciary Committee about possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump. It's been 46 years since Dean sat before the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973 and captivated the country by revealing Nixon's involvement — as well as his own — in the scandal. Nixon would resign the following year and Dean, who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, would serve four months in a minimum security facility."In many ways, the Mueller report is to President Trump what the so-called Watergate road map, officially titled the grand jury report and recommendation concerning transmission of evidence to the House of Representatives, was to President Richard Nixon," Dean said at Monday's hearing. Democrats had called him to hear his take on special counsel Robert Mueller's report.On Sunday, President Trump tweeted his thoughts on Dean's upcoming testimony, calling him a "sleazebag."
….No Obstruction. The Dems were devastated – after all this time and money spent ($40,000,000), the Mueller Report was a disaster for them. But they want a Redo, or Do Over. They are even bringing in @CNN sleazebag attorney John Dean. Sorry, no Do Overs – Go back to work!
Dean, 80, who has repeatedly criticized Trump as a cable television pundit, also took to Twitter to attack Trump ahead of his testimony."Would someone get Trump a dog. He needs a friend so he won't endlessly vent on Twitter," Dean tweeted.
Would someone get Trump a dog. He needs a friend so he won't endlessly vent on Twitter. He's uninterested in government and policy. He doesn't read. He doesn't exercise. He has no real friends. A dog might save humankind. Admittedly, it a lot to ask of a dog. But help is needed.
— John Dean (@JohnWDean) June 9, 2019
46 years later, the testimony that precipitated a presidential resignationDean was only 32 years old when he was hired as Nixon's White House counsel. He joined the administration two years before five men, hired by Nixon's re-election campaign, broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex, though he testified he didn't know about it when it happened. Afterward, when he began to learn the details, he engaged in the cover-up.And he testified that Nixon did, too. He was one of the first officials in the administration to do so.Tapes of their conversations were eventually released, on which Dean is clearly heard telling the president, "We have a cancer within, close to, the presidency, that is growing."After Dean was sentenced, he started on a path to educate and share the story of his Nixon years. Now 79, he's written almost a dozen books on politics and history, including a day-by-day account of what Nixon knew in the Watergate scandal and when he knew it.On Trump's radar
Dean hasn't been a Republican since he testified in 1973, he said in his interview with Baldwin. He's a registered Independent, and he said he's voted for both Democrats and Republicans over the years. But he clearly disapproves of the Trump White House and often used the president's own most common medium to share why.
Nixon, generally very competent, bungled and botched his handling of Watergate. Trump, a total incompetent, is bungling and botching his handling of Russiagate. Fate is never kind to bunglers and/or botchers! Unlike Nixon, however, Trump won't leave willingly or graciously.
— John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 18, 2018
Dean has made it onto the president's radar in the past. Trump, reacting to a story that his own White House counsel Don McGahn had talked to special counsel Robert Mueller, said it wasn't true that McGahn was "a John Dean type 'RAT.""
The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type "RAT." But I allowed him and all others to testify – I didn't have to. I have nothing to hide……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018
In an interview last year, Dean was asked to compare his experience to McGahn's. Dean has long said that he decided to testify because he suspected the administration was going to use him as a scapegoat."Today, they are much more aware of these things because of what happened during Watergate, when we learned about these laws the hard way," Dean said.He also spoke of connections to Michael Cohen, the president's personal attorney who pleaded guilty to paying two women for their silence ahead of the 2016 election, among other charges.Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, is an "old friend" of his, Dean said."Lanny knows Watergate pretty well and saw certain parallels between his client's situation and mine. I was happy to share with Lanny information to refresh his recollection about those times," Dean said in late August, after he was featured in the president's tweet.Dean at the Kavanaugh hearing'sHe testified at Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing on a subject he's spent the past four decades unpacking: whether a president is above the law.The answer, according to famed Watergate whistleblower John Dean, is an emphatic no.Dean was called to testify by Democrats, who asked if he thinks a sitting president can be subpoenaed or indicted.Dean, an outspoken Trump critic, warned the committee of the risks of a "weak check" on presidential powers that a right-leaning court could bring, according to his testimony."There is much to fear from an unchecked president who is inclined to abuse his powers. That is a fact I can attest to from personal experience," Dean said. "If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, I submit we will have the most pro-presidential powers Supreme Court in the modern era."Dean brought up the different arguments and statements Kavanaugh has made over the years on presidential privilege, from the nominee's time working with Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr on the investigation of former President Bill Clinton to his time working as an associate White House counsel under President George W. Bush, which Dean called "inconsistent.""In short, under Judge Kavanaugh's view, even if a president shot someone in cold-blood on Fifth Avenue, that president could not be prosecuted while in office. And based on Judge Kavanaugh's thinking at the time, he would give a president plenty of time to destroy the evidence," Dean wrote.He also gave his opinion on the documents detailing Kavanaugh's time in the Bush White House that were withheld from the committee, a storyline that dominated the hearings since day one.Dean wrote of Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Clarence Thomas, "both of whom went to the Court with clouds questioning their honesty and integrity hanging over them.""If these hearings do nothing else they should establish beyond a reasonable doubt, if possible, that another cloud regarding truthfulness of another justice does not cast doubt on the Court. This is the reason Judge Kavanaugh should want every document he has ever touched reviewed by the committee, unless he has some he wants hidden," Dean ended his statement.Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Damaging winds expected in California, heavy snow for the Rockies and Eastern Great Lakes
'WandaVision' star Paul Bettany on his father's struggle to come out of the closet


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Promoting Cross-Cultural Exchange
Shigeaki Harayama
Professor, Chuo University Research and Development Initiative
Area of Specialization: Microbiology
Special feature for commemorating
the 20th anniversary of establishment of
Research and Development Initiative,
This year, Research and Development Initiative, Chuo University commemorates the 20th anniversary of establishment. Since it was established in July 1999, it has been tackling problems with the actual society, for the purpose of developing a sustainable society, as a research center with the mission to achieve collaboration among industry, government, and academia and deepen exchanges for research. Over the past two decades, more than 100 research units have been organized, and many research outcomes that are influential academically and socially have been produced thanks to the efforts of a lot of participating researchers.
This special feature is focused on researchers participating in ongoing research units, and describes their research activities, to introduce some of research outcomes at Research and Development Initiative.
After retiring from the Chuo University Faculty of Science and Engineering in March 2016, I have continued my research at the university's Research and Development Initiative. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Research and Development Initiative, a special collection of articles is being posted on Chuo Online. I was asked to write an article on my research for this special project. I have been studying the various functions of microorganisms for nearly half a century and have written a variety of academic papers (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2103-7796). However, I had a hard time choosing which research theme I wanted to introduce in my article. Ultimately, instead of discussing my own research, I decided to write an article giving advice to students who aim to become researchers.
My encounter with biology
When I was 10 years old, my father took me to an exhibition on the peaceful use of nuclear power. I already loved science back then and I can still remember some of the exhibits. Later on, I read Hatsumei Hakken Monogatari (Story of Invention and Discovery), a book written for children, and I was impressed by the story of how Ernest Rutherford created the atomic model. My interests continued to grow. By the time when I entered university, I was interested in polymer chemistry but not in biology as I did not take biology in high school. In junior high school biology classes, I spent all of my time memorizing the differences between animal cells and plant cells as shown in Figure A, which did not spark any of my interests. After entering university, I read several books on biology from the university library to prepare for the biology course. One of those books contained an electronmicrograph of cells printed on art paper as shown in Figure B. Upon seeing this electronmicrograph, I felt the dynamism in the activities of living organisms, something I never imagined upon viewing Figure A. From that point onward, I began to read books on biology proactively. At that time, molecular biology focusing on Escherichia coli and its viruses (bacteriophages) developed quickly in Europe and the United States. Even so, I had not heard much about DNA and RNA during my freshmen and sophomore classes in the College of Arts and Sciences. On the other hand, I heard from my younger brother that DNA and RNA were introduced in high school biology textbooks, and students were instructed to simply memorize the full names of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid. I purchased a new book on molecular biology written by an instructor at Kyushu University and studied by myself. During my junior year at university, I enrolled at the biology department; however, I found most of the lectures to be old-fashioned and boring. I took on the challenge of reading a paper by Francois Jacob, a pioneer in molecular biology, but it was totally over my head. I was able to understand a little of the paper thanks to an explanation from a graduate student who was an acquaintance of mine, but the experience taught me that I would never be able to comprehend academic papers unless I acquired a large amount of specialized knowledge.
Figure A: Cellular diagrams in junior high school textbooks. Figure B: Image of a green algal cell taken using an electron microscope. (courtesy of Professor Hideaki Miyashita of Kyoto University)
Going overseas
It seems that many students were dissatisfied with the antiquated form of education at universities. This dissatisfaction combined with protests against the Japan-US Security Treaty and the Vietnam War, resulted in the eruption of student movements symbolized by the incident at Yasuda Auditorium of the University of Tokyo. For a variety of reasons, I was not interested in joining such movements, and instead began to consider going overseas. In my senior year, my application for foreign study subsidized by the French government was accepted. Acting upon the recommendation of one of my biology professors, I took a leave of absence after entering graduate school and studied at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in the suburbs of Paris. I joined a laboratory where a 25-year-old Englishman worked; that man already had his PhD and had greater advantage over myself. I felt inferior and wanted to make up for lost time. However, I had never been trained to engage in such an intensive task. I found it difficult to wake up in the morning and get to the laboratory on time. After one year of my studying abroad, my supervisor died in an accident. I began to hear rumors that our laboratory would be dissolved, so I returned to the University of Tokyo. I then entered the PhD program and was employed as a research assistant (currently assistant professor) at the laboratory.
However, I was aware that my ability was far below the global level. Eventually, I left the University of Tokyo and spent 15 years living abroad in Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland. In Switzerland, I worked for ten years in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, which is located in a French-speaking region. Fortunately, I was able to speak French, so I was provided with my own laboratory and engaged in my duties including teaching undergraduate students and providing research guidance for graduate students. My laboratory always had a few postdoctoral fellows, and also had some prominent professors conducting research while on sabbatical (research leave). I returned to Japan about 30 years ago. Looking back, I am proud of how hard I worked—but I also realize that I was blessed with much good fortune.
Living overseas taught me many things
Living in the small European countries of Sweden and Switzerland opened my eyes to the backward aspects of Japan. In Sweden, I was initially surprised upon seeing so many disabled people around town. One day, while flying back to Japan from Sweden, I struck up a conversation on that subject with another Japanese passenger who had come to Sweden in order to survey Swedish welfare equipment. The passenger told me that it was because Japanese do not take disabled people outside. Upon learning this, I felt ashamed at my own ignorance. Forty years later, I feel that the situation in Japan has improved. Even so, few Japanese people are willing to give up their seats to the elderly on public transportation. I have also seen people who were using their smartphones while walking, causing them to bump into a blind person. Upon witnessing such behavior, I strongly feel that Japan is failing to teach basic morals. Virtue comes naturally in society that places a premium on taking care of disadvantaged people.
"Comparative research" is a research methodology that involves comparing different systems. Comparing two systems enables you to understand similarities and differences, to identify the factors driving the systems and their causal relationships, or to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Similarly, when you start living abroad, you will feel the happiness of being born as a Japanese citizen. However, as you adjust to living abroad, you will notice how the country where you now live has positive aspects not found in Japan. Even if you live in Japan, you can still collect information on the strengths of other countries (in other words, the weakness of Japan). Nevertheless, you can achieve such realizations with much less effort by living abroad. For this reason, I recommend young people study abroad. While abroad, you may find it useful to apply the "Rule of 3"—a personal discovery of mine, I believe. For example, spending three days in a row in certain town will enable you to start noticing things that cannot be known on the first day. One week of overseas training may not be very useful, but three weeks will give a much higher-quality experience. (However, it is important to spend your time in an environment where absolutely no Japanese is spoken. Overseas training is a waste of money if you spend your dinners talking with your Japanese acquaintances.) Likewise, spending three months or three years abroad will give you even greater opportunities to move forward. However unfortunately, in the case of individuals who started living abroad after reaching a certain age (maybe over 20 years old or so), the speed of adaptation to other cultures (including language) will decrease dramatically once you no longer experience inconvenience in your daily life. This usually occurs after about three years. My children wonder why I do not possess better language skills after living abroad for 15 years.
In closing, I would like to summarize my advice as follows.
There are many students who aspire to a career in research, but who cannot find a goal. My advice is to work harder to find your own goal; for example, read as many books as possible.
Speed is important for research. If you are planning to proceed to earn PhD, do not aim to complete the program and obtain your PhD in five years; instead, strive to get your PhD in three years (refer to Article 17, Item 1 of Standards for Establishment of Graduate Schools; even when aspiring to obtain a PhD in three years, it may take five years in many cases). With that goal in mind, working a part-time job to earn spending money is unthinkable.
Japan's "work style" reform bill is well and good; however, the ability to concentrate is essential for both learning and work. The idea that Japanese people work too hard is a lie. The truth is that Japanese people simply spend a long time physically present at their jobs. For the past 50 years, Japanese labor productivity has been left far behind that of Western countries. When I was in Switzerland 30 years ago, the average Swiss graduate students came to the lab before 8:00 AM and started conducting experiments immediately. Lunchtime and break time were treated with importance. Married people went home shortly after 6:00 PM. The work efficiency of foreign graduate students was much higher than that of Japanese students.
Once you get tenure, you should work even harder. In particular, biology is advancing every single day. Continued study is essential; failure to do so will result in ridicule from students. In Switzerland, I lacked the breadth of knowledge possessed by other faculty members. However, upon returning to Japan, I was one of the more knowledgeable instructors. This experience gave me keen insight on the difference of the education level between Japan and Switzerland.
Shigeaki Harayama was born in Tokyo in 1946.
In 1970, he graduated from the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo.
In 1970, he studied abroad at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) (Gif -sur -Yvette).
In 1976, he obtained his PhD in science (the University of Tokyo).
He held positions including research assistant in the Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo; visiting professor in the University of Illinois (USA); Maitre d'Enseignement et de Recherche in the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Geneva (Switzerland); director at the Marine Biotechnology Institute, Kamaishi Laboratories; and director of the Biological Resource Center, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. In 2007, he became Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, and in 2017, he became Professor in the Chuo University Research and Development Initiative. He has published more than 300 articles and reviews in international journals, and has submitted approximately 90 patents.


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Winthrop Harbor Queens Pageant is coming up this Saturday, May 19th, 2018. Doors will open at 2:00 P.M. at North Prairie Junior High School located at 500 North Ave. in Winthrop Harbor Illinois.
The theme this year is "May Christmas" attendees are encouraged to come wearing Christmas attire and say farewell to the 2017 Queens, Miss Rhiannon Graham , Jr. Miss Moira Cook, Little Miss Skylar Burdick, and Tiny Miss Roisin Cook.
Admission is $5 for the general public. Admission will be free for visiting Queens dressed in crown, and sash who present a new unwrapped toy. All toys collected supporting Rhiannon's platform "GIVE" will go to tots in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois.


Mission to break up Pacific island of rubbish twice the size of Texas - Times Online: "A high-seas mission departs from San Francisco next month to map and explore a sinister and shifting 21st-century continent: one twice the size of Texas and created from six million tonnes of discarded plastic.
The toxic soup of refuse was discovered in 1997 when Charles Moore, an oceanographer, decided to travel through the centre of the North Pacific gyre (a vortex or circular ocean current). Navigators usually avoid oceanic gyres because persistent high-pressure systems — also known as the doldrums — lack the winds and currents to benefit sailors."


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