text:
2012 Ed Tech Trends: Insights From Insiders
Frank Catalano
At the end of the year, pundits love to share their versions of summarized lists of what was hot in ed tech in 2012. In addition to the obvious -- Common Core curriculum and assessments, games in learning, consumer tech in education -- there are others that may be more subtle or even counter-intuitive.
Here are five, drawn from first-hand observation at major 2012 industry conferences ranging from the more traditional Association of Educational Publishers' and Association of American Publishers' Content in Context to the edgy SXSWedu event in Austin. These represent one perspective of what the education industry itself is seeing, cutting across individual conferences and events.
Flickr:remiforall
1. PAPER IS NOT DEAD
While digital is firing up imaginations and well-equipped classrooms, paper is still the pervasive medium of choice. Digital instruction is simply finally achieving equal billing for serious consideration and state and federal funding. Despite this year's declaration from the FCC and U.S. Department of Education that the industry should replace paper with digital textbooks by 2017, financial and technical hurdles remain.
For example, one high-profile Open Educational Resources pilot in Utah uses digital resources to create paper high school science textbooks -- at an attractive per-copy price of about five dollars, versus $80 for commercial texts. Why paper? David Wiley of Brigham Young University explained at SXSWedu that the digital device cost per student was high and much of the benefit could be derived in how the material was customized, taking advantage of paper's "unlimited battery life."
Technical concerns were front-and-center at a Consortium for School Networking/SIIA Feedback Forum held with district and state officials during the ISTE 2012 conference. While WiFi and devices may exist in a school district, distribution can be lumpy, creating hurdles to smooth implementation. "We have schools that are one hundred percent textbook, and schools that are fully digital -- a broad spectrum," said a Louisiana-based tech coordinator.
It is, one administrator from a California district noted, the last mile Internet connection into schools and even individual classrooms "where things get interesting." Which renders paper as a cheap, convenient delivery mechanism, a good option -- for now.
2. MOOCs AND BLENDED LEARNING FLOURISH
Perhaps the most-covered trend in 2012 is the MOOC movement -- Massively Open Online Courses in higher education -- so pervasive it is now also getting noticed at K-12-focused events. Investors and media are paying close attention to Coursera, edX, Udacity, and other major players. But the attention paid to the newest MOOCs seemed to overshadow awareness of the progress being made in another online instructional area: K-12 web-only and blended learning.
When it comes to blended learning, one of the biggest challenges this year echoed at ed-tech conferences was agreeing on a clear definition. The Innosight Institute in 2012 simplified its original 40 blended learning profiles to a more manageable number -- four models. Perhaps symptomatic of the need for clarity, at one event a representative of a well-known education company claimed it had "invented" blended learning because its reading intervention software existed on computers years ago.
3. MALLS, CHURCHES, BUSES: SCHOOL IS EVERYWHERE
Online learning aside, the physical definition of "school" and its borders are noticeably expanding, and not just to the home.
At the EdNET 2012 conference, online program manager Gloria L. Keaton of Annapolis Road Academy in Prince George's County Public Schools, MD, noted that online learning labs don't have to be in school buildings. "Let's have a lab in a shopping mall. Kids go there. Teachers go there."
An administrator from Arizona, speaking at the CoSN/SIIA Feedback Forum, said his district started putting WiFi on buses because kids have an hour-and-a-half ride each way. At that same session, a Chicago-area district official said his schools were working with malls and other public areas to install WiFi for students to use while studying. And a Louisiana tech coordinator said churches, as gathering places, are putting in WiFi to become community centers for studying.
Summed up the CoSN/SIIA facilitator: "The last mile (for school Internet access) is changing. But you're not responsible for that last mile."
4. MOBILE AND BYOD: THE CLASH OF REALITY AND POTENTIAL
Discussion of mobile devices -- school or student-owned -- was a huge topic of conversation in 2012. (Check out ZDNet's post tracking iPad adoption.)
But as with infrastructure, reality lagged behind enthusiasm. Flybridge Capital's Matt Witheiler opined at SIIA's Ed Tech Business Forum that mobile education was "under-invested." At the CoSN/SIIA Feedback Forum, one Oklahoma district tech said he passed out iPads to all teachers on the first day of school, but "a month later all the teachers were complaining they couldn't get online when they wanted."
As to students bringing their own devices? It's a misconception that BYOD is a common policy, said Peter DeWitt, principal of Poestenkill Elementary School in upstate New York and a popular ed-tech blogger, at EdNET 2012. With pressures of Common Core curriculum, teacher evaluations, new tests and other higher priorities sucking all the time out of the school day, "I don't think schools are prepared for BYOD. I want them to be," he said. Issues include teacher control, teaching kids to use their devices on school properly, infrastructure and number of tech support staff.
On the plus side, "The iPad has been one of the elements of seismic change, because of how it opened people's minds," said David Straus, vice president of product at Kno at the SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit.
5. FLOOD OF MONEY CHASING ED TECH
This year saw so much investor, startup and news media attention paid to ed tech, that by this fall whispers began about the potential of a bubble, one that might drag teachers and students who depend on the latest products down with the overheated companies should it pop.
At year's end the whispers had become chatter as investors met with the industry at the SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum in New York City. "There's more money than talent," said City Light Capital's
"The startup end of the space is extremely over-inflated."
Josh Cohen, bluntly stating a common attitude. He added that while his firm has invested in higher education, it has "been looking to do a K-12 deal since 2004 and still haven't found the right one." Overall, Chief Strategy Officer Diana Rhoten of Amplify observed, "The startup end of the space is extremely over-inflated."
As for the traditional educational publishers, only Pearson is an active strategic investor among the major players, according to Baran Rosen of Whitestone Communications. Others, such as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill, "have fallen behind" due to internal issues, flagging sales and other distractions. But Rosen noted investors view the appeal of education as huge, "second only to health care" in size.
Finally, there's the trend category of "lots of talk," nascent widespread adoption. Big or portable education data is not quite there yet, but there's been lots of promising activity with the Shared Learning Collaborative and the U.S. Department of Education's MyData initiative. The maker movement is cool, but hardly ubiquitous in most traditional K-12 schools. Digital badges for informal (and some formal) learning trumpeted by Mozilla Open Badges and the MacArthur Foundation are still in early development stages.
There's just one caveat about trying to divine trends from these half-dozen events. As Justin Serrano, President of Kaplan K12 Learning Services, quipped at the Software and Information Industry Association's Ed Tech Industry Summit last spring, "Sometimes these conferences are a little bit like a Dead show. You see the same people moving from one to another."
Frank Catalano is a consultant, author and veteran analyst of digital education and consumer technologies. He tweets @FrankCatalano, consults as Intrinsic Strategy, and writes a column for GeekWire. He attended every event listed here, and even spoke at a few of them.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Discrimination can be proven under the Equal Pay act if both men and women do the same type of work for the same employer but are nevertheless paid in different amounts. Also, discrimination can be proven if the employer in Boulder City is only hiring or issuing promotions based on one gender. A claim will also succeed if the employer retaliates against workers who seek relief for discrimination.
Sexual harassment encompasses any unwelcome or unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is directed at the victim, whether it is physical or verbal. Employers in Boulder City might be held liable for the sexual harassment, even when it was a co-worker who actually engaged in the conduct.


The new limited edition Speed! by ADVOLAT North America.
Show your love for speed with our brushed stainless steel case with a brushed stainless steel band with a matte finish. When you're driving Stuttgart's finest or riding one of Europe's best motorbikes, the clear and easy to read face let's you know the time at a glance. Every model has unique serial number engraved on backside.


text:
Map portal
Boite a outils IM
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations
26 Active situation views 3 Featured situation views 102 Countries covered
Urgences sélectionnées
Response for Venezuelans
Venezuelans continue to leave their country, with public estimates in receiving countries ranging between hundreds of thousands to over 1.6 million. Between 2014 and 2019, close to 800,000 asylum claims were lodged globally by Venezuelans, 75% of these claims were lodged in 2018 and 2019. Approximately 2.4 million residency permits and stay visas have been granted to Venezuelans in their host countries, allowing them to remain there regularly and to access basic rights and services.
Balkans de l'Ouest
Following the de facto closure of the so-called Western Balkans (WB) route in March 2016, severe border policies led to fragmentation of the mixed flows of migrants and refugees through the South East Europe (SEE), opening new smuggling pathways in parts of WB that had not been affected so far. In addition to the shift in movement patterns, the intensity of migration has also substantially augmented throughout the region. Still, the majority of new arrivals view the SEE as a transit region for their journey to final destinations in the northern and western EU.
Crise au Sahel
La région du Sahel central (Burkina Faso, Mali et Niger) fait face à une grave crise humanitaire et de protection, contraignant des millions de personnes à fuir leurs foyers. Les attaques indiscriminées de groupes armés contre les civils, les exécutions sommaires, le recours généralisé au viol contre les femmes, ainsi que les attaques contre les institutions étatiques, notamment les écoles et les établissements de santé, sont les derniers facteurs de déplacement affectant une région déjà confrontée au changement climatique, à l'extrême pauvreté, au manque d'opportunités économiques et à la rareté des services de base.
Toutes les Urgences
Horn of Africa Somalia Situation
Somalia is at the heart of one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. Twenty years of conflict and waves of drought have uprooted a quarter of the country's 7.5 million people. As the region faces its most severe drought in 60 years, the Somali exodus is growing fast. The refugees urgently need medical aid and high-protein, high-energy food. They also need clean water, shelter and basic services in the camps.
Situation Mali
Dû aux violences, hostilités, et violations des droits de l'homme ainsi qu'à une détérioration de la sécurité dans le nord du Mali depuis janvier 2012, un grand nombre de maliens ont cherché refuge au Burkina Faso, en Mauritanie et au Niger, tandis que d'autres ont été déplacés au sein de leur pays.
Situation Nigeria
Le conflit avec Boko Haram dans le nord-est du Nigéria s'est propagé dans la région du Bassin du Lac Tchad, où les réfugiés nigérians sont accueillis depuis 2014. Ce conflit a causé un déplacement forcé de masse et une urgence humanitaire sans précédent au Cameroun, au Chad et au Niger.
Syria Regional Refugee Response
Over 5.6 million refugees have fled Syria since 2011, seeking safety in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and beyond. After almost six years of war in Syria, refugee vulnerabilities and poverty are on the rise, the impact on host communities continues to grow, and funding for the humanitarian response is not keeping up with the needs
As the protracted emergency enters its sixth year, the South Sudan situation remains the largest refugee situation on the African continent. There are over 2.2 million refugees in Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a further 1.8 million people displaced internally in South Sudan. The situation continues to be characterized as a children's crisis with children constituting over 65 percent of the refugee population.
Réponse Régionale à la crise centrafricaine
The dire crisis in the Central African Republic continues to trigger massive forced displacement, increasing pressure on resources and living conditions in host communities and countries. Intense militia activity and inter-community violence hampers humanitarian access and exposes civilians to serious protection risks. According to OCHA, CAR remains the country with the highest humanitarian needs per capita, with 50 per cent of the population having to rely on humanitarian assistance to survive, while 25 per cent is displaced either internally or in a neighbouring country.
Côte d'Ivoire Portail de partage de l'Information
Today, there are 22,000 Ivorian refugees hosted in West Africa. Since 2011, UNHCR has facilitated the voluntary return in safety and dignity of over 70,000 Ivorian refugees and and continues to do so.
Mediterranean Situation
Persecution, conflict and poverty forced over 1 million people to flee to Europe in 2015. Many came seeking safety for themselves and their families, risking their lives and facing a treacherous journey
Over 300,000 refugees have fled Burundi to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda since April 2015. The situation in Burundi remains complex; while refugees continue to arrive throughout the region, others are deciding to return home. The Burundi refugee response remains one of the most underfunding refugee situations in the world.
Situation RDC
The on-going conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have caused and continue to cause internal and external displacement of populations. In 2017, some 100,000 Congolese fled to neighbouring countries as refugees, due to widespread militia activities, unrest and violence, joining the 585,000 already in exile. The security conditions in DRC, especially in the eastern and central parts have continued to worsen since the beginning of 2018. Because of this, the Congolese refugee population is now among the ten largest in the world. Nearly 55 per cent are children, many crossing borders unaccompanied or separated. Existing camps and sites in many asylum countries are saturated, and available basic services are stretched to the limit. The situation requires support, adequate resources and collaboration so that effective protection and assistance can be delivered efficiently to Congolese refugees.
Thailand-Myanmar Cross Border Portal
Iraq CCCM Overview
Le conflit arme en cours en Irak a entraine le deplacement de plus de 3 million de personnes qui ont fuit leur maison et on cherche refuge dans d'autres zones d'Irak. Les populations deplacees internes (PDIs) vivent actuellement dans plus de 2000 sites temporaires, mais egalement dans des logements autres que des camps (chez l'habitant, logement slocatifs) partout en Irak.
Apatridie en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre
Selon les estimations du HCR, l'apatridie touche des millions de personnes à travers le monde, dont plus de 700,000 en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre. Plusieurs facteurs contribuent au risque d'apatridie dans la région, ce qui suppose que la population à risque est très grande.
Forced displacement continues to grow in numbers, and in complexity. Gang violence, persecution and human rights violations have left no other choice for around 720,000 people from the North of Central America but to flee either internally or across borders. The social and political crisis in Nicaragua since April 2018 has forced over 100,000 nationals to neighboring countries. UNHCR has expanded its presence and operational capacity in recent years to strengthen protection alternatives and facilitate solutions for those affected.
Growing numbers of Venezuelans continue to leave their country, with more than 3 million having left by the end of 2018. By the end of 2018, over 460,000 asylum claims were lodged globally, the majority were in 2018 alone. Over 1 million Venezuelans have been granted other forms of legal status in their host countries, allowing them to remain there legally and to access basic rights and services.
CCCM Somalia Overview
Highlighting the internal displacement in Somalia
CCCM Northern Syria Overview
Highlighting the internal displacement in Northern Syria
Afghanistan situation
More than 40 years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, nearly 5 million Afghans remain displaced outside of the country. Of these, 90% are hosted by the Islamic Republics of Pakistan and Iran respectively. In addition, over 2 million Afghans are internally displaced today within their own country. Pending a lasting solution to the Afghan crisis, these two countries who have generously hosted the overwhelming majority for decades need continuing support. Equally, investment and development remain critically needed within Afghanistan to bolster infrastructure and support communities to make safe and voluntary repatriation sustainable and lasting.
Refugee Response in Bangladesh
This is the largest and swiftest refugee exodus witnessed in the region in decades with more than 744,000 refugees fleeing from Myanmar's Rakhine State to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017. Their displacement occurred against a background of decades of discrimination and statelessness. Although the influx has slowed since the onset of the crisis, new arrivals are still reported, joining an existing refugee population.
Syria Regional Refugee Response: Durable Solutions
Durable solutions for refugees from Syria are based on a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy which seeks to: i) support host country and community resilience; ii) enable refugee self-reliance, including access to services, legal work opportunities and livelihoods; iii) expand access to resettlement in third countries and other complementary pathways, and; iv) plan for the return of refugees to Syria, on a voluntary basis, when conditions for a safe, dignified and sustainable return are in place.
Stateless in the Great Lakes region
Highlighting statelessness in the 12 Member States of the ICGLR, and what is being done to eradicate it. Media coverage, testimonies of stateless persons, reports on the issue and all documents pertaining to the Brazzaville Declaration process can be consulted in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic.
Asile et Migration en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre
Les mouvements mixtes font référence aux flux complexes de population : des personnes aux besoins et profils variés utilisent les mêmes routes et modes de transport mais se déplacent pour des motifs différents. Au sein de ces flux, réfugiés circulent aux cotés de personnes fuyant des difficultés économiques. L' Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre connait des flux mixtes complexes, au sein même de la région et au-delà de la région, notamment vers l'Europe via la Route méditerranéenne centrale.
Boite a outils IM | Donnees historiques
Donnees historiques
A propos | Contactez-nous | Plan du site | Mentions légales
Un service fourni par
Operational Data Portal by UNHCR is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.


The DB3 interface module from Directed is the answer to adding keyless entry, remote starter and other features to newer model vehicles. It's ease of use, durability and wide-ranging application have made it a favorite among the professionals at Audio Express / Quality Auto Sound. A universal, flashable data-bus interface turns commands from external sources into messages that on-board computers and other control devices can understand. With the wide variety of chips embedded in newer vehicles, this could be a daunting job if it were not for the Directed DB3. Using Flash technology, the unit can easily be programmed to be compatible with more than 90 percent of all vehicles in the road today. Adding an aftermarket remote start using the OEM keyfob becomes possible, as does integrating long-range remote start options such as the Viper SmartStart system. At 4-inches by 6.5-inches by 1.88-inches, this module can be tucked away virtually anywhere in the vehicle. It's improved power supply circuitry means it adds very little to the vehicle's power load while supplying increased processing power. Check with the expert technicians at Audio Express / Quality Auto Sound to see what features you can add to your vehicle with the Directed DB3 universal, flashable interface module.


Have you been to The Punch Bowl, Stamford?
What has been created here is lovely. A village pub atmosphere in the town. Charming decor, staff and regulars. A warm welcome is always guaranteed. Possibly the best kept secret in Stamford.
Get quick answers from The Punch Bowl, Stamford staff and past visitors.


text:
Kathryn Le Veque
Home > Novels > Kathryn Le Veque
The Red Fury
Series: The d'Vant Bloodlines
Genre: Medieval Romance
If you loved The Wolfe, Rise of the Defender, and The Dark One: Dark Knight, welcome to the original Le Veque epic Medieval saga of THE RED FURY. England and Scotland collide in this blockbuster tale of revenge, betrayal, hope, and passion.1233 A.D. - A young woman forced to command her father's b...
Canyon of the Sphinx (Kathlyn Trent/Marcus Burton Romance Adventures Book 3)
Series: Trent/Burton Romance
A city that disappeared over-night. Sphinxes in the jungles of the Yucatan. An overgrown Mesoamerican temple with ancient Chinese script chiseled into the stone. All of these elements come together in the greatest adventure yet for Dr. Kathlyn Trent and her husband, world-class Egyptologist Dr. Marc...
Lord of the Shadows (The Great Marcher Lords of de Lara)
Series: Marcher Lords of de Lara
1215 A.D.: The reign of King John means dark days for all of England. Not one man, woman or child lived without fear. Magnifying this fear is the man they call The Lord of the Shadows - a terrifying figure who sits at the right hand of the King, manipulating the royal moves like a puppet master. The...
The Dark Lord (The Titans Book 1)
Series: Battle Lords of de Velt
The year is 1180 A.D. and times are very dark. England is lawless for the most part and the people live in fear. Rising to power during this time is the vicious and brutal knight Ajax de Velt. His mission is to conquer a large stretch of the Scots and Welsh border, commandeering wealth and property...
The Thunder Knight: Book Three in the Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood Trilogy
Series: Lords of Thunder
1258 A.D. - Book Three in the Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood Trilogy is the exciting conclusion to this bestselling collection by Medieval master author Kathryn Le Veque.In Book Three, the focus on Tiberius, the youngest de Shera brother, as he falls in love with the lovely Lady Douglass...
The Forbidden Highlands
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque, Terri Brisbin, Violetta Rand, Victoria Vane, Emma Prince, Collette Cameron, Eliza Knight, Amy Jarecki
Welcome to the realm of THE FORBIDDEN HIGHLANDS....Eight USA TODAY and BESTSELLING historical romance authors bring you great tales of forbidden love from the highlands of Scotland based upon the greatest Celtic legend of forbidden love - a Celtic princess being escorted to her wedding to marry a ki...
Guardian of Darkness
1200 A.D. - After decades of warring between the Lairds of Kerr and Prudhoe Castle in Northumbria, a tentative peace is reached. The Lady Carington Kerr is sent to Prudhoe as a hostage to ensure her father's good behavior, and a more reluctant hostage there never was. Small and dark, with emerald ey...
Rise of the Defender
AD 1192 - Sir Christopher de Lohr is Richard the Lion Heart's champion, a man the Muslims nicknamed "The Lion's Claw". Blond, battle scarred, and powerful, he is what all men fear. After the fall of Acre, Christopher makes a promise at the deathbed of a dying comrade to marry the man's incorrigible ...
The Falls of Erith
1305 A.D. Being descended from a great though disgraced family can be a greater curse than most. As a direct descendent of Simon de Montfort, Lady Gray de Montfort Serroux has lived her life with the axe of shame hanging over her head. Because of this, her marriage matches were limited and she wed a...
Unending Love
Series: De Lohr Dynasty
1234 A.D. - For as long as she can remember, the Lady Adalind de Aston has loved Sir Maddoc du Bois. Being sent away to foster did nothing to cure her of her unending love for Maddoc, a sentiment he did not return. Years later, Adalind returns from fostering as a cultured and beautiful woman. So bea...
Sea Wolfe
Series: Pirates of Brittania, Book 4
Tag: Recommended Books
Book Four in the exciting PIRATES OF BRITANNIA Medieval Pirate series! 1445 A.D. - Rhoan de Wolfe has lost himself in the mystique of the powerful pirate known as Lucifer, the mysterious first mate of the leader of the Pirates of Britannia. A man with no past, and no future, Lucifer deliberately kee...
Darkling, I Listen
Seeking a new life away from bad circumstances in her native America, Scarlett Ward moves her daughters to England. Their new home, a run-down old rectory, is vandalized the first night in their new country. When Scarlett calls the police to report the crime, a handsome deputy constable appears.Arch...
Lord of War: Black Angel (The de Russe Legacy)
Series: The de Russe Legacy
1356 A.D. – It is warring times for England as the Black Prince sweeps his way through France, waging nasty warfare on the population. Masterminding this brutal strategy is the knight they call the Black Angel. Brandt de Russe, Duke of Exeter, is the brains behind the prince's war machine, a m...
The Dark One: Dark Knight (De Russe Legacy Book 3)
1486 A.D. – Fresh from his treacherous turning of the tides against Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth, Sir Gaston de Russe's reputation is dark and dirty. Those loyal to Richard hate him and those loyal to Henry Tudor fear him. He is, after all, The Dark One. In order to gain a strong foot...
The Warrior Poet (The St. John and de Gare Clans)
Series: The St. John & de Gare Clans
1266 A.D. – A family feud has existed between the House of de Gare and the House of St. John for over seventy years. The feud has seen Eden Castle, home to the St. John's, grow stronger while Castle Winding Cross, lair of the de Gare clan, suffers. Furthermore, the House of St. John has bred t...
Vestiges of Valor (House of de Nerra Book 1)
Series: The House of de Nerra
1170 A.D. - His name is Valor.Sir Valor "Val" de Nerra is one of Henry II's most trusted knights. As the Itinerant Justice of East Hampshire, Val's word is law. A fair and just man, and a very handsome one, he enjoys a good deal of attention and respect. His life is a prestigious and wealthy one un...
Island of Glass: Dragonblade Trilogy, Book 2
Series: Dragonblade Series
1333 A.D. - The lovely and educated Lady Aubrielle Grace di Witney is what is kindly termed an unmanageable woman. Her uncle, the Earl of Wrexham, has been awarded custody of his niece because her mother can no longer handle the head-strong beauty. Like a coward, the earl abdicates his duties to his...
Scorpion: Saxon Lords of Hage – (de Wolfe Pack Book 9) Audiobook
Series: De Wolfe Pack, Book 9
AD 1289 - Sir Kevin Hage, stinging over the loss of the object of his affections to the Welsh warrior known as the Serpent, drowns himself in warfare in order to forget his heartache. He travels to The Levant to fight the Muslim infidels, transforming himself in the process. He becomes hardened, bru...
The Gorgon
An epic Medieval romance written in the same old-world vein as 'Ivanhoe', this is a tremendously powerful story of Sir Bose de Moray and the Lady Summer du Bonne. Bose was the Captain of the Guard for King Henry III until Bose's wife's untimely death in childbirth. Blaming himself and wanting to be ...
Upon a Midnight Dream
Series: The Lore Chronicles
They say miracles are myth, fairy tales created for the pious masses. But for a lonely knight returning from the Crusades and a grieving lady with no hope for her future, a miracle will change both their lives forever. Meet Sir Rennington of Ashbourne and Lady Holly St. Maur, and discover the beauty...
Godspeed (Earls of East Anglia Book 2)
Series: Earls of East Anglia, Book 2
Can a gruff, seasoned knight win over the love of his life in the midst of political chaos? 1215 A.D. - Dashiell "Dash" du Reims is the eldest son of the Earl of East Anglia and a cousin to the great House of de Lohr. Much like his warring and politically-involved cousins, Dashiell is also waist-de...
Deep Into Darkness (Highland Warriors of Munro Book 2)
Series: Highland Warriors of Munro
1298 A.D. - Findlater Castle in the Scottish Highlands becomes a place of mystery and doom for Jamison Munro and his wife,Havilland. Traveling across the highlands one dark and stormy night, they stumble upon a lonely Host in Findlater Castle, a pathetic soul waiting for his wife to return to him. I...
DarkWolfe: Sons of de Wolfe (de Wolfe Pack Book 5)
An English knight with inner demons meets the Scottish lass who will kill those demons....Following a terrible tragedy that robbed him of his wife, the dark and fiery second son of the Wolfe of the Border finds solace in battle....Quick to temper, and an aggressive fighter, Troy de Wolfe is at the h...
The Eden Factor (Kathlyn Trent/Marcus Burton Romance Adventures Book 2)
World-famous media archaeologist Dr. Kathlyn Trent and her husband, Dr. Marcus Burton, are off on another enigmatic quest.Reports of the discovery of angel bones have come from the ancient land of Iraq and Kathlyn and Marcus take their archaeological teams into this mysterious realm to investigate. ...
The Whispering Night (Ancient Kings of Anglecynn)
Series: Ancient Kings of Anglecynn
1197 A.D. – Sir Garren le Mon is an agent for Richard the Lion Heart in the political war against his brother, John. Under the command of William Marshall, Chancellor of England, Garren is the king's most trusted and loyal servant.When Garren is ordered to marry into a family deeply loyal to Pri...
← Back1234567More Books →


text:
Q: How to properly get_object in s3 and check_sum I'm trying to validate integrity of my data by downloading an object and hashing it and passing the md5 along with the upload to another bucket but I get this error
The Content-MD5 you specified did not match what we received

Here is my code
s3 = boto3.client('s3')

response = s3.get_object(Bucket='ed-test', Key='test')

md5_hash = hashlib.md5()
md5_hash.update(response['Body'].read())
contents_md5 = md5_hash.hexdigest()
contents_md5_ = base64.b64encode(bytes.fromhex(contents_md5)).decode('utf-8')

metadata = {
    "md5sum": contents_md5_
}

s3.put_object(Body=response['Body'].read(), Bucket='ed-test-2', Key='test1', Metadata=metadata, ContentMD5=contents_md5_)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Cast Exception When trying to cast a Coordinate Matrix Hi I am very new to Scala and Spark. I am writing a test to check the integrity of my data. For this I have a Coordinated Matrix and I map it with the ResultMap. Now in my Testing method I need to fetch it from result map and covert the type into Coordinate it raised an Exception in thread
"main" java.lang.ClassCastException: scala.Some cannot be cast to org.apache.spark.mllib.linalg.distributed.CoordinateMatrix
This is my code .
def SinghTest(map:Map[String,Any ]):Boolean={
      var res:Boolean=false // false

           val connection= DriverManager.getConnection("Connectionstring ")
       val statement = connection.createStatement();
       val rs = statement.executeQuery("select A,B from Demo P" +
           " join Demo_REL  R on p.id=R.ID " +
           "join Cpu CN on CN.id=R.CID" +
           " limit 10 ");
        /***
       * Maping with ResultMap
       ***/
       val matrix=map.get("MatrixEntries").asInstanceOf[CoordinateMatrix]

       matrix.entries.take(10).foreach(x=> {

         val ph=x.i
         val ch=x.j
         val pid=rs.getLong(1)
         val cid=rs.getLong(2)
         if((ph!=pid)&&ch!=cid)
           throw new Exception("Fail")
         })

A: The get method on maps does not return the element directly, but an Option of it. This means, for a Map[String, Any] the result type is Option[Any]. An option can either contain a value or be empty; if your maps contains the key, you will get a Some with the value, otherwise a None. You can then operate on the value using the methods on Option or get it via getOrElse, which takes a default value to use if it was a None.
val matrix = map.getOrElse("MatrixEntries", someDefaultMatrix).asInstanceOf[CoordinateMatrix]

If you are sure that the map contains the key, you can access the elements directly by using map(key), just leaving out the .get. This will give you the element directly, but throw an exception, if the key is not defined for your map.
val matrix = map("MatrixEntries").asInstanceOf[CoordinateMatrix]

PS: Note that using Any is usually considered bad style, as it throws away any type safety. If your map contains a mostly fixed set of keys and you have control over its creation (i.e. it's not from a library), look into replacing it with a case class:
case class TestData(matrixEntries: CoordinateMatrix /* further elements here */)
// ...
val matrix = testData.matrixEntries // no casting required, type errors checked at compile time

A: I did it this way, using the help of @crater2150
 val matrix=map("MatrixEntries").asInstanceOf[CoordinateMatrix] // But the conversion is required.


text:
rabble blogs are the personal pages of some of Canada's most insightful progressive activists and commentators. All opinions belong to the writer; however, writers are expected to adhere to our guidelines. We welcome new bloggers -- contact us for details.
Forget universities. What are newspaper editorials for?
Nora Loreto
What do you call 550 words, strung together through unconnected events from three different countries that span a half-decade, and that begin with the boring and derivative announcement "Here we go again"?
A teacher might call it a nice first draft of a Grade 11 English paper.
The National Post calls it an editorial.
In a screed that ranges from an anti-abortion presentation in England, arguments made in a random New York Times column and the ever-classic story of students rejecting Ann Coulter at the University of Ottawa, the National Post's editorial (collective? No, surely not. Too Bolshevik) board does its best to de-legitimize student action and protest on Canadian campuses.
Even the title: "What are universities for?" is hilarious. According to these guys, universities are for their beloved columnist Christie Blatchford to speak at, not for students to go on strike to protest government spending cuts. Students should be forced to face unpopular opinions; they have no right to take action against them. Blocking presentations, staring down riot police and holding events where students can relax, play with play-doh and look at puppies have no place on our campuses.
Even better, they call these actions cowardly. Ever stare down a riot cop who then knocks you to the ground with his baton, Chris Selly? Haha yeah right. I'm sure the National Post editorial club's members are too brave to do that.
This is overextension to the max. From referring to these responses as lunacy, to calling active students "Bolsheviks in short pants" (which doesn't actually mean anything but perhaps gave the typist a shot of endorphins into his anti-Marxist brain as he wrote), the editorial cannot be taken seriously.
Campuses are hotbeds of classes. They're hotbeds of young people and older people looking to learn about stuff. And, as access has rapidly widened, new kinds of people are going to university.
Like women who, after hearing chants year after year about all the ways you can rape a woman, are saying: enough with this bullshit.
Like, racialized students who hold a discussion group where they can finally be free of the annoying subconscious or outwardly racist things their white classmates say, then get attacked by white students.
It comes with the terrain: increase enrolment among women and racialized people, you're going to have people fight to undo the systemic elements of the system that has served to unfairly boost the odds of success for white men.
And I get it. That makes white dudes uncomfortable. May I suggest checking out "puppies" on YouTube?
Newspapers have been instrumental in suppressing the fact that power lies within social movements and they do this with overextended, contrived articles such as these. The National Post and its cranky older brother the Globe and Mail are more likely to report on the entitlement of the least entitled age segment of society than take protests seriously. Downplay numbers. Ignore. Highlight clashes with police. Highlight fringe opinions. Repeat.
This has a very important effect on popular discourse around social movements: protests are fringe events, meaningless and bothersome to a fantasy silent majority. It tells young people that their campaigns don't matter; they have no power.
It's a neoliberal bowl-a-thon. The newspapers set up the pins; neoliberal governments knock them down, over and over.
As Québec students set the stage for what is likely to be a year of impressive protests, readers need to be careful to not buy such propaganda. Within minutes of the first protest in Montreal, police declared it illegal, a cover that allows cops to infringe on protesters' rights, charge or detain protesters. Why wouldn't the National Post respond to such an outrageous attack on free speech?
Far from apathetic, students are setting the stage for what will become a show of social movement force that is much more broad than just students. People will be arrested and charged. Civil liberties will be attacked. Free speech will be undermined.
Mainstream national newspapers aren't likely to be defenders of anyone's free speech or free expression in this struggle.
And from time to time, editorials like these remind average people on whose side they write.
student protests


Fresh Images Of Multiplication Chart Up to 50 – Through the thousand Stocks online concerning multiplication chart up to 50, we all picks the very best option using highest quality only for our readers, and this photographs is among pictures selections under our admirable photos gallery with regards to Fresh Images Of Multiplication Chart Up to 50. Lets hope you'll as it.
written by means of Marilyn Roberts at 2019-04-14 04:37:18. To view almost all photos in Fresh Images Of Multiplication Chart Up to 50 stocks gallery please heed this particular web page URL.


It mау be that you аlrеаdу nоtісе the рrеѕеnсе of Sаnd Antѕ, соmmоnlу knоwn аѕ Pаvеmеnt Antѕ. It mау be ѕurрrіѕіng tо dіѕсоvеr an іnfеѕtаtіоn of аntѕ in wіntеr, but thіѕ іѕ a соmmоn рrоblеm fоr hоmеоwnеrѕ wіth аn аttасhеd garage. Unlіkе саrреntеr аntѕ, Pаvеmеnt аntѕ are ѕmаll and brоwn. They are аlѕо еаѕу tо identify by thеіr lаrgе numbеrѕ during their mоvеmеntѕ. Indееd thеу mоvе bу hundrеdѕ аnd follow each оthеr a fеw mіllіmеtеrѕ frоm each other. Thеу are vеrу аttrасtеd bу ѕugаr аnd fat ѕо thаt уоu will fіnd thеm often near fооd or bоttlе of ѕоft drіnkѕ lеft bеhіnd.
Pаvеmеnt аntѕ are a common household nuіѕаnсе. Although thеу оftеn take uр rеѕіdеnсе wіthіn раvеmеnt сrасkѕ, they wіll аlѕо ѕоmеtіmеѕ fіnd thеіr wау іnѕіdе hоmеѕ. Pаvеmеnt ants саn both ѕtіng аnd bite. Yоu dоn't wаnt thаt, but уоu dоn't want thе оthеr рrоblеmѕ thаt accompany аn іnfеѕtаtіоn аѕ wеll. Thеу саn nest inside, undеr thе flооrѕ, wіthіn thе wаllѕ, or even іnѕіdе your іnѕulаtіоn.
Cоnѕіdеrіng thаt ѕоmе species of аntѕ аrе dаngеrоuѕ, mаnу people wоndеr exactly thе dаngеr раvеmеnt аntѕ роѕе and if уоu need tо call уоur lосаl аntѕ control service. Understanding if pavement аntѕ аrе dаngеrоuѕ аnd whаt dаngеrѕ thеу might роѕе іѕ essential. With thе right knowledge, уоu саn protect уоurѕеlf and your hоmе. Make ѕurе уоu also knоw hоw to identify іf it is thе раvеmеnt аnt that you see сrаwlіng around іnѕіdе уоur home.
You саn еаѕіlу identify раvеmеnt аntѕ bу thеіr соlоrіng, body fеаturеѕ, and ѕіzе. If уоu see раvеmеnt ants сrаwlіng around, they are mоѕt lіkеlу wоrkеr аntѕ, whісh rеасh аррrоxіmаtеlу ⅛ of аn іnсh in lеngth. Typically, thеу аrе rеddіѕh-brоwn оr blасk with lіght colored аntеnnае аnd lеgѕ.
Thе раvеmеnt ants is not dangerous tо реорlе. Instead, іt іѕ more оf a nuіѕаnсе. They dо nоt bite, but thеу dо have the ability tо sting. However, thеу are nоt an аggrеѕѕіvе аnt аnd рrеfеr to avoid соnfrоntаtіоn. If уоu pick оnе uр, іt is lіkеlу thаt it wіll ріnсh you as a mаttеr оf nесеѕѕіtу аnd ѕеlf-dеfеnѕе, but thеу wіll оthеrwіѕе leave уоu alone.
Pаvеmеnt аntѕ аlѕо dо nоt саuѕе аnу ѕtruсturаl dаmаgеѕ. Of соurѕе, a large number оf аntѕ may dіѕрlасе еnоugh ѕоіl tо cause іѕѕuеѕ wіth ѕlаbѕ or аrоund wіndоw frаmеѕ. If you bеlіеvе you have a lаrgе pavement ant population lіvіng in уоur hоmе, іt is bеѕt to саll a professional for assistance tо аvоіd роtеntіаllу mіnоr damages.
Thе bіggеѕt іѕѕuе уоu mіght face with thе pavement аnt іѕ thе fасt that іt loves ѕwееt fооdѕ, whісh is whу іt іѕ ѕоmеtіmеѕ саllеd thе ѕugаr аnt. They mау find their wау into a ѕwееt fооd source, such аѕ a bаg оf sugar, оr аn unsealed bаg оr bоx оf ѕwееtеnеd сеrеаl. Thеу wіll аlѕо іnvаdе расkаgеѕ of candy аnd сооkіеѕ.
Thеrеfоrе, thе раvеmеnt аntѕ may dаmаgе your sweet fооdѕ, because nо оnе wаntѕ tо eat food соvеrеd in аntѕ. Inѕtеаd, уоu wіll end uр throwing уоur ѕwееtѕ іntо thе trаѕh. Mаkе ѕurе уоu рut аll of уоur sweet foods іn ѕеаlеd соntаіnеrѕ, ѕо раvеmеnt аntѕ dо not find thеmѕеlvеѕ аttrасtеd tо your home and property.


text:
Carey Newman
Mike Jackson | Evan Adams | Michelle Bryant | Candis Callison | Ian Campbell | Bernard Casavant | Stacey Edzerza | Lenny Fisher | Dave Griffin | Trevor A. Joe | Tewanee Joseph | Rose Lesner | Duncan McCue | Carey Newman | Cherie Joy Rochelle Peal | Jason Rock | Lisa Sam
Carey Newman, a Kwagiulth artist, member of the Fort Rupert Band, is co-owner of the Blue Raven Gallery (www.blueravengallery.com). Prominent among the younger generation of native artists and under the direction of his father and mother, Carey developed an artistic ability and cultural knowledge from an early age. Carey was home-schooled as a child and he grew up in a house that didn't have a television set. Today, Carey says that not having a television was a good thing because it eliminated a big distraction.
Through his travels of the world, Carey has visited Europe, the South Pacific, and he even rode his bicycle through New Zealand at the age of 16. When Carey reached the ages of 18 and 19 he went through a stage of being a "misdirected youth". He was rebellious, but with the help of his parents, friends, and family he journeyed through it. During this time Carey "gained a sense of cultural pride".
At one time in his life he tried to start a business, work on his art, attend university, and take piano and singing lessons. Carey realized that, "I had to set goals and not try to do everything at once.",
"I'm proud to be Native and also proud of my Scottish/English/Irish heritage". Carey's message to First Nations kids is to "Take pride in your heritage, and have confidence in your abilities for there is nothing that First Nations youth cannot achieve." Carey discovered himself with the help of role models and he, in turn became a role model. "As a person, continuing to grow, I realize that I have to focus on the wonderment of life and recapture the curiosity that all children have."
Copyright 2012 First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association


text:
Reports on missing Iranian nuclear device baseless: Informed source
IRNA – The alleged reports by Saudi media about missing of a nuclear device at the Iranian nuclear reactor in Bushehr is baseless and politically motivated, an informed source said.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source told IRNA that Iran has reported missing of an iridium-192 camera to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a while ago. The camera was used for radiography in the city of Ahvaz, capital of southwestern province of Khuzestan, the soure added.
The Saudi newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat, has recently released alleged reports on the potential negative effects of a missing nuclear device at the Iranian nuclear reactor in Bushehr.
Bushehr is the southren neighboring province of Khuzestan where the camera has gone missing.
Those fabricated and politically motivated reports are so unimportant from scientific and media viewpoints that they do not deserve an answer, the source said.
Iran attaches importance to environmental issues and tests the Persian Gulf water annually to protect the environment against the potential radioactive elements, he added.
The informed source reiterated that all international bodies, including the IAEA, have confirmed that Iran has always been bound to nuclear safety standards.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Bushehr nuclear power plant, nuclear devices, Saudi Arabia	November 29, 2016
Iran English language newspaper headlines on Tuesday, 29-11-2016
South Korea's third-quarter crude oil imports, domestic consumption up, exports down


text:
Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial Hospital
Travelers Property Cas. v. Yankee Gas
" (Citations omitted; emphasis in original; internal quotation marks omitted.) Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial…
Travelers Indem. Co. of Am. v. CLP
(Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial Hospital, 204 Conn.…
Full title:LENNY R. ZICHICHI v. MIDDLESEX MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Court:Supreme Court of Connecticut
Date published: Jul 14, 1987
204 Conn. 399 (Conn. 1987)
528 A.2d 805
Supreme Court of Connecticut
holding that "under § 19a-280 the plaintiff is precluded from asserting a product liability claim arising out of the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient" because "the plain and unambiguous wording of that statute provides that the provision of blood is to be considered a medical service not a sale," but noting that "Section 19a-280 does not protect defendants from liability for negligence . . . [i]f a plaintiff can show that the defect in the blood could reasonably have been detected or removed"
Summary of this case from Kenneson v. Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
By statute ( 19a-280), "[t]he implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale of human blood, blood plasma, or other human tissue or organs from a blood bank or reservoir of such other tissues or organs. Such blood, blood plasma, and the components, derivatives or fractions thereof, or tissue or organs shall not be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered as medical services." The plaintiff sought, by way of a product liability action, to recover for personal injuries he sustained when he received contaminated blood in a transfusion administered by the defendant hospital. The trial court, determining that under 19a-280 the transfer of blood could not be the basis for a product liability action, granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment and rendered judgment thereon. On the plaintiffs appeal, held that the trial court did not err it granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment; in light of the plain and unambiguous wording of 19a-280, the plaintiff could not prevail on his claim that that statute applies only to breach of warranty claims and not to claims based on strict liability in tort.
Argued May 14, 1987
Decision released July 14, 1987
Action, in strict liability, to recover for personal injuries sustained as a result of the defendant's use of contaminated blood in administering a blood transfusion to the plaintiff, brought to the Superior Court in the judicial district of New Haven, where the court, Schaller, J., granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment and rendered judgment thereon, from which the plaintiff appealed. No error.
Peter A. Kelly, for the appellant (plaintiff).
Michael P. Del Sole, for the appellee (defendant).
ARTHUR H. HEALEY, J.
This is an appeal from the judgment of the trial court granting the defendant Middlesex Memorial Hospital's motion for summary judgment. The issue presented is whether a hospital that furnishes defective blood for transfusion to a patient, who is injured as a result thereof, can be liable under the doctrine of strict liability. This is a question of first impression in this court.
The underlying facts are not in dispute. On November 25, 1981, the plaintiff, Lenny R. Zichichi, instituted a product liability action against the defendant pursuant to General Statutes 52-572m et seq. In his complaint, the plaintiff alleged that on August 23, 1980, he had been admitted to the defendant hospital for treatment of a ruptured spleen. The plaintiff also alleged that during the course of treatment for that injury, he received several units of whole blood by means of transfusions and that as a result of the transfusions, he contracted serum hepatitis. The plaintiff asserted that part of the normal business of the defendant is the sale and provision of whole blood for the purposes of transfusion to patients and that the blood he had received was defective and unreasonably dangerous. As a result, the plaintiff sought recovery for pain and suffering, loss of income and earning capacity and increased medical expenses.
General Statutes (Rev. to 1981) 52-572n provides: "PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS. (a) A product liability claim as provided in sections 31-309, 38-370n, 38-370o, 52-240a, 52-240b, 52-572m to 52-572r, inclusive, and 52-577a may be asserted and shall be in lieu of all other claims against product sellers, including actions of negligence, strict liability and warranty, for harm caused by a product.
"(b) A claim may be asserted successfully under said sections notwithstanding the claimant did not buy the product from or enter into any contractual relationship with the product seller."
On May 16, 1986, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. In support of its motion, the defendant argued that Connecticut's blood shield statute, General Statutes 19a-280, bars the plaintiff's product liability action because that statute provides, inter alia, that "blood . . . shall not be considered [a] commodit[y] subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered [a] medical [service]." The defendant argued that to maintain a cause of action under 52-572m et seq., the plaintiff must allege, inter alia, a "sale of a product." The defendant asserted that because the transfer of blood is a service rather than a sale, it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
General Statutes 19a-280 provides: "(Formerly Sec. 19-1391). SALE OF BLOOD, TISSUE AND ORGANS. The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale of human blood, blood plasma, or other human tissue or organs from a blood bank or reservoir of such other tissues or organs. Such blood, blood plasma, and the components, derivatives or fractions thereof, or tissue or organs shall not be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered as medical services."
In opposition to the defendant's motion, the plaintiff argued that 19a-280 does not apply to claims based on strict liability in tort. The plaintiff argued that 19a-280 applies only to breach of warranty claims and therefore does not bar his suit.
In a decision dated July 17, 1986, the trial court, holding that under 19a-280 the transfer of blood cannot be the basis of a product liability action as it is a "service" rather than "a sale of a product," granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment. On July 28, 1986, the plaintiff filed an appeal in the Appellate Court. On January 28, 1987, this court transferred the appeal to itself. Practice Book 4023.
On appeal, the plaintiff claims that the trial court erred in granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment. Specifically, the plaintiff challenges the trial court's determination that 19a-280 applies to bar a strict liability claim brought pursuant to 52-572m et seq.
Our standard of review of a trial court's decision to grant a motion for summary judgment is well established. Practice Book 384 provides that summary judgment "shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, affidavits and any other proof submitted show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." See also Multi-Service Contractors, Inc. v. Vernon, 193 Conn. 446, 451 n. 3, 477 A.2d 653 (1984); Barnes v. Schlein, 192 Conn. 732, 738, 473 A.2d 1221 (1984); Bartha v. Waterbury House Wrecking Co., 190 Conn. 8, 11-12, 459 A.2d 115 (1983). In this case, the defendant, for purposes of its motion for summary judgment, admitted the facts stated in the plaintiff's complaint. The only question before the trial court, therefore, was whether the defendant was "entitled to judgment as a matter of law."
Although the party seeking summary judgment has the burden of showing the nonexistence of any issue of material fact, the party opposing summary judgment must substantiate its adverse claim by showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact together with the evidence disclosing the existence of such an issue. Strada v. Connecticut Newspapers, Inc., 193 Conn. 313, 317, 477 A.2d 1005 (1984).
The plaintiff attempted to plead a cause of action based on strict liability in tort, alleging in his complaint that a sale of blood occurred, that part of the defendant's business is selling blood, that the blood reached him without substantial change, that the blood was defective and unreasonably dangerous, and that it caused him injury. See 2 Restatement (Second), Torts 402A. Because the facts which gave rise to the plaintiff's lawsuit occurred after October 1, 1979, the plaintiff's claim necessarily was brought as a product liability claim pursuant to 52-572m et seq. Daily v. New Britain Machine Co., 200 Conn. 562, 571, 512 A.2d 893 (1986); see Savona v. General Motors Corporation, 640 F. Sup. 6 (D.Conn. 1985); Collucci v. Sears, Roebuck Co., 585 F. Sup. 529 (D.Conn. 1984).
General Statutes 52-572m (b) defines a product liability claim as including "all claims or actions brought for personal injury . . . caused by the . . . marketing . . . of any product." Section 52-572n (a) allows such claims to be brought against "product sellers." Section 52-572m (a) defines "product seller," in pertinent part, as "any person or entity . . . who is engaged in the business of selling such products whether the sale is for resale or for use or consumption." To maintain a product liability action under 52-572m et seq., the plaintiff must establish and prove, inter alia, "that . . . the defendant was engaged in the business of selling the product . . . [and] the defect existed at the time of the sale . . . ." (Emphasis added.) Giglio v. Connecticut Light Power Co., 180 Conn. 230, 234, 429 A.2d 486 (1980); Coe-Park Donuts, Inc. v. Robertshaw Controls Co., 1 Conn. App. 84, 86, 468 A.2d 292 (1983); 2 Restatement (Second), Torts 402A. Once a particular transaction is labeled a "service," as opposed to a "sale" of a "product," it is outside the purview of our product liability statute. See General Statutes 52-572m et seq.; Coffee v. Cutter Biological, 809 F.2d 191, 193 (2d Cir. 1987) (transfer of blood not a "sale" but a service; therefore, not within purview of 52-572m et seq.); Saloon v. Jeppesen Co., 707 F.2d 671, 676-77 (2d Cir. 1983) (navigational charts are products); Carbone v. Connecticut Light Power Co., 40 Conn. Sup. 120, 121-22, 482 A.2d 722 (1984) (provision of electricity not a service but a "sale" of a "product" within the meaning of 52-572m et seq.); see also L. Cohen Co. v. Dun Broadstreet, Inc., 629 F. Sup. 1425, 1431 (1). Conn. 1986) (credit report not a "product" within the meaning of 52-572m et seq.).
General Statutes 52-572m et seq. does not define the term "product," nor has this court had the opportunity to determine whether the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient is a "sale" of a "product." In construing this statute, it is therefore necessary and proper for this court to look to other statutes to determine whether the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient is a "sale" of a "product." See Coffee v. Cutter Biological, supra, 195; Link v. Shelton, 186 Conn. 623, 627, 443 A.2d 902 (1982).
General Statutes 19a-280, which is entitled "Sale of blood, tissue and organs" and which is referred to as our "blood shield" statute, provides: "The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale of human blood, blood plasma, or other human tissue or organs from a blood bank or reservoir of such other tissues or organs. Such blood, blood plasma, and the components, derivatives or fractions thereof, or tissue or organs shall not be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered as medical " (Emphasis added.)
Section 19a-280 clearly states that the transfer of blood shall not be considered a commodity subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered a medical service. Although the parties agree that the wording of 19a-280 is clear, their respective interpretations of the application of that statute differ dramatically. The plaintiff argues for a narrow interpretation of 19a-280. The plaintiff maintains that the "`blood shield' statute was patently designed to apply only to breach of warranty actions" brought under the Uniform Commercial Code and that it is "clear" that it "does not address product liability claims." The defendant, on the other hand, advocates a much broader application of the statute and argues that the "legislature has declared that provision of blood is a service, not a sale" for all purposes. The defendant contends that "[s]ince no sale is possible, a transfer of blood [cannot] result in a product liability claim under 52-572m." The question before this court, therefore, is whether the transfer of blood can be considered a "sale" for purposes of a product liability claim under 52-572m et seq.
We agree with the trial court that under 19a-280 the plaintiff is precluded from asserting a product liability claim arising out of the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient. "Where the words of a statute fail to indicate clearly whether the provision applies in certain circumstances, it must be construed by this court . . . ." Board of Trustees v. Freedom of Information Commission, 181 Conn. 544, 550, 436 A.2d 266 (1980). Under our rules of statutory construction, this court is to be guided by the language, purpose and legislative history of the statute in question. Caulkins v. Petrillo, 200 Conn. 713, 716-17, 513 A.2d 43 (1986). Although 19a-280 does not use the term "product," the plain and unambiguous wording of that statute provides that the provision of blood is to be considered a medical service not a sale. "The title of legislation when it is acted upon by the legislature is significant and often a valuable aid to construction . . . .'(Citations omitted.) Miller v. Board of Education, 166 Conn. 189, 194, 348 A.2d 584 (1974). The title of this bill was "An Act Concerning Furnishing Blood and Tissue as a Medical Service." (Emphasis added.) Additionally, Senate Bill No. 885, which was passed as Public Acts 1971, No. 397, and ultimately codified as 19a-280, contains the following statement of purpose: "The furnishing of blood, blood plasma or tissue is a medical service and should not he construed in the same manner as the sale of ordinary merchandise." The statement of purpose of a bill may be considered in determining its intent. Seals v. Hickey 186 Conn. 337, 345, 441 A.2d 604 (1982); Miller v. Board of Education, supra. In light of this statement of purpose, it is indicated that the legislature intended to treat blood and blood derivatives differently from other "products." Without the factual predicate of a "sale" of a "product," the plaintiff has no basis for asserting a claim under 52-572m et seq.
In support of his claim that 19a-280 applies only to breach of warranty claims, the plaintiff relies heavily on DeBattista v. Argonaut-Southwest Ins. Co., 403 So.2d 26 (La. 1981), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 836, 103 S.Ct. 82, 74 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982). In that case, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that a strict liability claim could be asserted despite a provision in its commercial code which provided: "Notwithstanding the provisions of Section A 2 of this Article, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale of human blood, blood plasma, or other human tissue or organs . . . . Such blood, blood plasma or tissue or organs shall not for the purposes of this Article be considered commodities subject to sale or barter but shall be considered as medical services." (Emphasis added.) La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 1764(B)(1) (West 1972 Comp. Ed.). Although, at first blush, this statute appears to be identical to 19a-280, there are important differences between the two statutes.
The first difference between the two statutes is that the Louisiana statute is expressly self-limiting while 19a-280 is not. The Louisiana statute is contained in the sales article of the Louisiana civil code. Thus, by using the terms "for the purposes of this Article," the Louisiana legislature expressly limited the application of the statute to the area of sales contracts. By contrast, 19a-280 is not limited to any particular type of transaction. Additionally, 19a-280 is part of title 19a, entitled "Public Health and Well-Being" and contained in chapter 3681, entitled "Anatomical Donations." As the defendant correctly points out in its brief, there is no specific indication that the legislature intended to limit the statute to situations involving the Uniform Commercial Code, General Statutes 42a-1-101 et seq. Indeed, had the legislature intended to limit 19a-280 to Uniform Commercial Code transactions, it could easily have included that statute as a subsection of General Statutes 42a-2-316. Cf. La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 1764(B)(1) (West 1972 Comp. Ed.); Tenn. Code Ann. 47-2-316 (5). Furthermore, the plaintiff's interpretation of 19a-280 would render the second sentence of that statute a useless repetition of the first sentence. "There is a presumption of purpose behind every sentence, clause or phrase in a legislative enactment so that in construing it no part is treated as insignificant and unnecessary." Connecticut Light Power Co. v. Costle, 179 Conn. 415, 422, 426 A.2d 1324 (1980); Peck v. Jacquemin, 196 Conn. 53, 66, 491 A.2d 1043 (1985).
We note that after DeBattista v. Argonaut-Southwest Ins. Co., 403 So.2d 26 (La. 1981), the Louisiana legislature enacted La.Rev.Stat. Ann. 9:2797 which granted physicians, hospitals and blood banks immunity from strict tort liability for screening, processing, transfusion or medical use of blood and blood components of any kind which result in transmission of viral disease undetectable by appropriate medical and scientific laboratory tests. See Faucheaux v. Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Hospital Clinic, 470 So.2d 878 (La. 1985).
Tenn. Code Ann. 47-2-316 (5), which is included in that state's Uniform Commercial Code, provides: "The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness shall not be applicable to a contract for the sale, procurement, processing, distribution or use of human tissues (such as corneas, bones, or organs), whole blood, plasma, blood products, or blood derivatives. Such human tissues, whole blood, plasma, blood products, or blood derivatives shall not be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, and the transplanting, injection, transfusion or other transfer of such substances into the human body shall be considered a medical service."
Interestingly, two courts have decided that this section precludes an action sounding in strict liability in tort. Safer v. Methodist Hospital, 522 F.2d 1102, 1105 (6th Cir. 1975); St. Martin v. Doty, 493 S.W.2d 95, 97 (Tenn.App. 1972).
Although our conclusion that 19a-280 precludes the plaintiff from bringing a claim based on strict liability in tort arising out of the transfer of blood is necessarily based on the construction of our statutes, we note that this conclusion is consistent with the view adopted in other jurisdictions. Nearly every state has a statute which regulates the transfer of blood and its derivatives, and all of these statutes, in one way or another, attempt to limit liability. While the wording of the various "blood shield" statutes varies, courts construing these statutes uniformly hold that they constitute a complete bar to any action based on strict liability. See, e.g., Samuels v. Health Hospital Corporation, 591 F.2d 195, 197 (2d Cir. 1979) (construing New York law); Sawyer v. Methodist Hospital, 522 F.2d 1102, 1105 (6th Cir. 1975) (construing Tennessee law); Hyland Therapeutics v. Superior Court, 175 Cal.App.3d 509, 513-14, 220 Cal.Rptr. 590 (1985); Fogo v. Cutter Laboratories, Inc., 68 Cal.App.3d 744, 754, 137 Cal.Rptr. 417 (1977); Klaus v. Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Assn. Blood Bank, Inc., 62 Cal.App.3d 417, 418-20, 133 Cal.Rptr. 92 (1976); Shepard v. Alexian Brothers Hospital, 33 Cal.App.3d 606, 611, 109 Cal.Rptr. 132 (1973); Williamson v. Memorial Hospital of Bay County, 307 So.2d 199, 201 (Fla.App. 1975); McAllister v. American National Red Cross, 240 Ga. 246, 247-48, 240 S.E.2d 247 (1977); Hill v. Jackson Park Hospital, 39 Ill. App.3d 223, 225, 349 N.E.2d 541 (1976); Glass v. Ingalls Memorial Hospital, 32 Ill. App.3d 237, 238-39, 336 N.E.2d 495 (1975); McKinstrie v. Henry Ford Hospital, 55 Mich. App. 659, 661, 223 N.W.2d 114 (1974); Iannucci v. Yonkers General Hospital, 59 App. Div.2d 887, 399 N.Y.S.2d 39 (1977); Morse v. Riverside Hospital, 44 Ohio App.2d 422, 427, 339 N.E.2d 846 (1974); Gilmore v. St. Anthony Hospital, 516 P.2d 248, 251 (Okla. 1973); St. Martin v. Doty, 493 S.W.2d 95, 97 (Tenn.App. 1972); Garvey v. St. Elizabeth Hospital, 103 Wash.2d 756, 758, 697 P.2d 248 (1985); see also annot., 24 A. L. R. 4th 508, 519-22 (1983), and cases cited therein; but see DeBattista v. Argonaut-Southwest Ins. Co., supra. Additionally, courts in some jurisdictions, even without the benefit of a statute, have recognized the inherent policy concerns and have held that a blood transfusion is a "service" rather than a "sale" of a "product." See, e.g., St. Luke's Hospital v. Schmaltz, 188 Colo. 353, 534 P.2d 781 (1975); Fisher v. Sibley Memorial Hospital, 403 A.2d 1130 (D.C.App. 1979).
In 1971, the Colorado legislature enacted 13-22-104 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. This "statute attempts to preclude the use of any nonfault theory of recovery in any blood transfusion case against any defendant." Belle Bonfils Memorial Blood Bank v. Hansen, 195 Colo. 529, 530 n. 1, 579 P.2d 1158 (1978).
Our conclusion is also consistent with policy behind the enactment of the blood shield statute. Although the legislative history of 19a-280 is virtually nonexistent, one of the driving forces behind the promulgation of "blood shield" statutes, such as 19a-280, is to ensure that certain medical services, namely, the provision of blood and tissue, remain available to citizens in need of such services. See generally comment, "Blood Transfusions and the Transmission of Serum Hepatitis: The Need for Statutory Reform," 24 Am. U. L. Rev. 367 (1975). As one court aptly stated, "[t]he public policy represented by these statutes is not difficult to discern: blood transfusions are essential in the medical area and there are not now, and realistically there may never be, tests which can guarantee with absolute certainty that the donated blood is uncontaminated with certain viruses." Garvey v. St. Elizabeth Hospital, supra, 759. These statutes reflect a legislative judgment that to require providers to serve as insurers of the safety of these materials might impose such an overwhelming burden as to discourage the gathering and distribution of blood. To ensure that such services remain adequate and affordable, legislatures have chosen to limit liability to defects that are the result of negligence, thus bringing the provision of such services necessary for medical treatment into the same category as the provision of other medical services.
Despite the plaintiff's assertion to the contrary in his invocation of the constitution of Connecticut, article first, 10, our construction of 19a-280 does not leave a person injured as a result of defective blood completely without recourse to the courts. Section 19a-280 does not protect defendants from liability for negligence. The delivery of a service, such as providing a blood transfusion, requires the provider of that service to exercise reasonable care to avoid injury to the consumer of the service. If a plaintiff can show that the defect in the blood could reasonably have been detected or removed, the plaintiff may well be entitled to recover for the supplier's negligent failure to detect or remove the defect. See Steinik v. Doctors Hospital, 82 Misc.2d 97, 98, 368 N.Y.S.2d 767 (1975); Hines v. St. Joseph's Hospital, 86 N.M. 763, 765, 527 P.2d 1075 (1974); Morse v. Riverside Hospital, supra; St. Martin v. Doty, supra.
We conclude, therefore, that the trial court did not err in granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment.
holding "the provision of blood is to be considered a medical service not a sale" under the CPLA
Summary of this case from Ferrucci v. Atlantic City Showboat, Inc.
holding that the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient is a service and not a "sale" of a "product"
Summary of this case from BOTTIGLIERI v. SIT ON IT SEATING
holding that the transfer of blood by a hospital to a patient is a service and not the sale of a product since, by statute, blood is not considered a commodity but rather a medical service
Summary of this case from LANG v. BROM BUILDERS, INC.
holding that, because the provision of blood is a medical service rather than a "sale" of a product, the PLA does not apply
Summary of this case from FERGUSON v. EBI MEDICAL SYSTEMS
In Zichichi, the Connecticut Supreme Court held that the plaintiff's products liability claim against the defendant hospital, based on the purported sale of blood in the course of a blood transfusion, was precluded as a matter of law because such sales do not constitute the sale of a product.
Summary of this case from Mihok v. Medtronic, Inc.
interpreting Connecticut's former blood shield statute C.G.S.A. § 19a-280
Summary of this case from Wamsley v. Lifenet Transplant Servs. Inc.
In Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial Hospital, 204 Conn. 399, 528 A.2d 805 (1987), we stated that "[t]he delivery of a service, such as providing a blood transfusion, requires the provider of that service to exercise reasonable care to avoid injury to the consumer of the service.
Summary of this case from Sherwood v. Danbury Hospital
ensuring availability of blood and tissue to citizens in need
Summary of this case from Samson v. the Greenville Hospital System
In Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial Hospital, 204 Conn. 399, 528 A.2d 805 (1987), the Connecticut Supreme Court did hold that the plaintiff could not succeed on a claim for strict liability in tort against the defendant hospital, but only because the "product" at issue in that case, blood, is statutorily excluded from being covered by the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness under General Statutes § 19a-280.
Summary of this case from Basso v. Boston Scientific Corp.
Considering whether blood transfused to a patient by a hospital constituted a product sale under the CPLA
Summary of this case from Henderson v. CVS Pharmacy
In Zichichi v. Middlesex Memorial Hospital, 204 Conn. 399 (1987), our Supreme Court held that the statute barred all products liability actions against such providers rather than only breach of warranty actions. The language of the statute is quite broad: "[s]uch... tissue... shall not be considered commodities subject to sale or barter, but shall be considered as medical services."
Summary of this case from Miller v. Hartford Hospital
In Zichichi, the Court determined that blood made available for transfusions was a medical service, based upon its reading of § 19a-280 of the General Statutes, Connecticut's "blood shield" statute.
Summary of this case from Silva v. Walgreens Eastern


text:
521 Quartermaster Truck Battalion (Mobile) stayed at Maghull Lancashire on 04 november 1944
The 521 Quartermaster Truck Battalion (Mobile) is one of the units on the UK Station List made by Mr. Grinton. This and other records on Back to Normandy was compiled from Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, Kingdom Station List, and dated 7 September 1944.
(-) minus sign behind a unit name indicates that part of the unit was elsewhere.
Counties are mentioned as the so called pre-1974 British counties. The map co-ordinates are automatically made with Google Maps. If you have a more accurate location, photos, stories or links, please sent your information to Back to Normandy. The unit is also know as member of the US Army, Army Air Force. In this period, around this date of 04 november 1944 the 521 Quartermaster Truck Battalion (Mobile) were here in Maghull, Lancashire.
The original station list was obtained from the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) at College Park, Maryland. The NARA describe it as HQ/ETO Station List, 4/30/44 and reference Box 15, 270/48/32/2. In the European and Mediterranean theater the US Army had 3.5 million troops there. About 1.7 million were combat troops and around 700.000 were service troops along with 592.000 army air force troops and the rest were replacements, patients, overhead and staff. The correct count of support- and line troops in this context is difficult.
People in this conversation
Jack Wallin
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
How would I go about finding information on my father who served in the 521st quartermaster regiment during WW II.
The location is in this area
www.backtonormandy.org/forum/27-changelog-of-back-to-normand...(0 visits)
« Previous listing in 521 Quartermaster Battalion (USA) | Next listing in 521 Quartermaster Battalion (USA) »


Interview with Elliott Ford-Jones, Development Manager; UK & Nordics, LeaseWeb recorded live at Cloud Expo Europe 2018, ExCeL, London.
Elliot discusses the companies new point of presence in the UK and data storage.
Tagged as CEE, disruptive, LeaseWeb.