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The future of work: Should Africa resist automation in the workplace?
By Devan Moonsamy – CEO The ICHAF Training Institute
There has been a lot of buzz about the 'future of work' recently. There is major concern over who will become redundant and how this will happen – and rightly so. Wits recently conducted a review of research on the topic and found that most authors studying the issues are in fact negative or at least quite concerned about the impact of technology on employment prospects and society in general.
People do benefit from various technologies. We have all experienced how they make our lives better in certain ways, for example, in healthcare. However, redundancy remains a major fear associated with the increased use of technology in the workplace.
In Australia and the UK, for example, checkout staff at grocers and other major retailers have almost disappeared. Instead, checkouts at stores like Target (which is much like our Edgars) and Woolworths in Australia (similar to our shop of the same name, but a different company) are self-service. Petrol pumps are also self-service. If South Africa follows suit, this spells doom for many, many workers in these industries, and the majority of them are black and those most in need of employment opportunities.
The Edcon group (which includes Edgars, CNA and Jet, among others) has about 39 000 employees, while the Shoprite group (Checkers, House and Home and others) has 147 000 employees, some of whom are in other African countries. We naturally feel afraid of the prospect of any of these people losing their jobs. We need many, many more jobs in South Africa. Fewer jobs is not a viable solution to our economic challenges, and so certain technologies can do more harm than good.
If major retailers and petrol companies decide to go the automated checkout route in South Africa, we will likely have massive protests and even boycotts. We could expect that workers themselves – as well as customers – will not take well to such a development. It is thus not surprising that retailers seem not to have made any moves towards checkout automation in South Africa.
However, we cannot help but feel that it is only a matter of time before automation takes over all kinds of jobs. Eventually, people will be laid off or, hopefully, moved into other jobs. But what jobs? And will there be enough of them? These issues need sustainable solutions.
It is easy for us to feel hopeless and apathetic in the face of such realities, but we must strive to stay focused on devising and implementing solutions which work in the South African and African context. Perhaps we might choose to resist automation in Africa in certain ways for the foreseeable future. This is not because we intend to stay behind the rest of the world. Rather we are striving to remain at the forefront in terms of social welfare and human rights. Africans have a unique situation and technology must, therefore, play a somewhat different role in our lives. We use it, but we must not let it replace us.
A key way to achieve this is for us to learn how to use new technology in our jobs. Some researchers hold that many workers need not actually be replaced by technology. Instead, they will be using it more, and so workers need to adapt. Africans must, of course, develop skills which allow them to take up new technologies in their jobs in a way that advantages them. This may start with computer literacy but goes far beyond that into using sophisticated modelling systems, coding, and physical human-machine combinations.
This may still make us feel a bit uneasy. What if this still means fewer jobs with those available reserved for the educated and skilled upper and middle classes? This is why training at all levels is critical so that workers have greater workplace readiness. To increase the number of jobs, we might want to consider a shorter working week, as has been done in the Netherlands. We could have more employees per job or company, but they each work fewer hours. With machines helping them to be more productive, this may be a viable option. Nevertheless, workers must still each be earning a living wage, even if they are working fewer hours.
The situation is highly complicated. We may contend that the creation of new and more jobs is one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced. Resisting automation in the short to medium term can be wise, but a poor decision in the long term. Continued skills training of workers remains the best way to prepare them for job and industry changes in future. It is the most effective way to safeguard against unemployment and redundancy. Training and development must thus be prioritised if companies and workers are to thrive in an increasingly automated and technology-reliant context.
Alternative study options for matriculants – not everyone is getting into a Varsity
Load shedding should not cripple your business – How to be successful despite load shedding
Training in SA Pays For Itself: The Tax Benefits of Accredited Staff Training
ICHAF Training honoured by Child and Family Welfare
Devan Moonsamy featured in the 2019 April edition of Premiere Magazine


The biggest mountain range in the world is the Himalayas. More than 30 peaks exceed 24,000 ft/7315 m high. It has the Earth's highest mountain, Mount Everest. It is 8,848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level.
The word Himalayas means 'Land of Snow'. This mountain range has a roughly crescent shape extending for 1,500 miles. It runs through Bhutan, Sikkim Nepal, Southern Tibet, northern India and northeastern Pakistan.
The Andes has several peaks standing over 20,000 feet. It is the second tallest mountain range after the Himalayas. It is also the longest mountain range in the world, extending 4,500 miles (7,200 km) north to south.
The Andes Mountains are found in South America. It is at the continent's western portion, running north to south. If length is the barometer, the biggest mountain range would be the Andes.
The Alps is another large mountain range. It spans an area over 192,000 km2. The range extends for 750 miles (1,200 km. It begins at Austria and goes through Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany and France.
Nearly 13 million people live near it in over six thousand communities. The tallest peak is Mont Blanc at 15,771 feet. It also has numerous glaciers.
One of the most famous ranges the world, the Rocky Mountains stretches from Canada to New Mexico. The length is 3,000 miles (4,800 km). Mount Elbert is the tallest peak at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) above the sea level. It is in Colorado.
This mountain range is at the Chinese border, northern India and northeast Pakistan. It is 300 miles long and has some of the longest glaciers on the planet.
The Arctic Cordillera is the most northernmost mountain on earth. It also holds the highest point to the east of North America. Other major ranges in the world include the Pyrenees, Balkan Mountains and Carpathians in Europe. In North America, among the most widely known are the Laurentides, Sierra Nevada and the Appalachians.
A mountain range refers to one big mass made of a series of mountains. The term can also be applied to mountain ridges that are spaced narrowly.
This list of the biggest mountain range does not include the peaks in the oceans. If they are, the longest would be the mid-ocean ridge. It spans 65,000 kilometers (40,389 miles) around the world.


Bristot Espresso Italiano philosophy has been at the root of everything we do ever since 1919, the year Domenico Bristot – the founder of the roasting plant – breathed life into his dream of creating a top-quality coffee blend that would create the perfect Italian espresso. Thanks to this philosophy, the values of quality and excellence have become synonymous with our brand. Now, with the strength of experience and a burning passion for our trade spurring us on, we offer our customers the chance to enjoy a daily moment of luxury: a stunning espresso.
Classico is the typical Italian breakfast coffee for those who need a burst of energy throughout the day; it's a full-bodied intense coffee, obtained by selecting the best Arabica and Robusta origins.
Decaffeinato is a skillful blend of decaffeinated Arabica and Robusta beans, for an espresso with a rich aroma and an intense flavor, ideal at any time of the day.
Speciale with its intense, creamy, full-bodied flavor, this blend is a pleasant balance of Brazilian Arabica Cerrado and finest Robusta varieties from the high plains of Central America and some washed and selected Indian Robusta grade 1; the result is an espresso with notes of citrus, a chocolatey aftertaste and a hint of toasted bread.
Tiziano is a luxury blend of fine quality Brazilian and central American Grand Cru Arabica coffee, enriched with a hint of the spiced and full bodied flavor of the Indian Robusta coffees. This medium roast gives the coffee a great character and a refined aromatic taste distinguished by a refined and intense aroma. It is full bodied with spicy and tropical fruit notes and a round mellow flavor that is a perfect balance between strength, aroma and acidity.


In an otherwise quiet week with little macroeconomic data and typically thin Thanksgiving markets, the Bank of England surprised markets by ending early its support for the housing market. This suggests that it is starting to worry about future unbalances brought about by years of extraordinary monetary stimulus. Such hawkishness caught investors off balance, and sterling surged against both the euro and the dollar. Equities hit new highs for the cycle worldwide and new all-time highs in the US, and credit spreads contracted slightly. Whatever the knee-jerk reaction to the BoE's announcement, it is clear that financial markets are not yet worried about the implications of tighter monetary policy worldwide.
The Bank of England took traders by surprise last week. It announced the shift of its Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) incentives from supporting mortgage lending to SME lending. While the immediate impact of the policy shift should be small, this suggests that the BoE is starting to worry about the future impact of extremely easy monetary policies, in particular as regards the recovery in housing prices and easy mortgage lending. This is a hawkish development we had not been expecting. Third quarter GDP expenditure details, with growth mostly driven by private consumer spending and lower household savings provided further support for the BoE's shift. While we think higher rates in the UK are justified, we think the currency might be starting to get a little ahead of itself. The BoE cannot be happy with recent sterling strength, which will only exacerbate the economy's dependence on household-dis-saving to sustain growth.
Last week brought some relief to the ECB in the form of a rebound in the eurozone inflation level to 0.9% YoY in October, up from 0.7% in September. Probably half this increase is related to one-off increases in Germany, where the harmonised European rate of inflation rose 0.4% while the CPI rose just 0.1%. Inflation continues to be uncomfortably low. However, the apparent stabilisation in the YoY leads to expect another cut and negative deposit rates in the January meeting, rather than next week's. Elsewhere, the news continues to be grim. To the second consecutive monthly drop in PMIs we now add yet another contraction in overall loans in October, as the volume of lending to households and corporate dropped another 15bln euro, down 1.7% YoY. We see no reason to change our bearish view on the euro.
Relatively little economic data out last week in the US during a holiday-shortened week. Of note, the durable goods orders report printed below expectations for the second consecutive month. However, this is a notoriously volatile number, and the drop may reflect nothing more than shifts in the spending schedule brought about by the October Government shutdown, so we are inclined to look through it. All eyes are now on next week's all important payroll report. If it maintains the strong tone of the last two releases, we would expect the consensus for the start of the taper to move closer to our view that it will start at the January meeting of the FOMC, buoying the dollar.


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Sonam Chuki (* 7. April 1963) ist eine ehemalige bhutanische Bogenschützin.

Karriere
Sonam Chuki gehörte der ersten Olympiamannschaft Bhutans bei den Olympischen Sommerspielen 1984 in Los Angeles an. Im Einzelwettkampf belegte sie den 43. Rang.

Weblinks

Teilnehmer der Olympischen Sommerspiele 1984
Bogenschütze (Bhutan)
Olympiateilnehmer (Bhutan)
Geboren 1963
Bhutaner
Frau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Avengers: Infinity War, or Are We Thanos?
Let's get the most obvious thing about Avengers: Infinity War out of the way: the latest and biggest Marvel Studios film is the culmination of Disney's plan to turn cinema into television. Unlike the recent Black Panther, which claims at least part of its global success on its being a standalone slice of superhero cinema, Infinity War brings together threads from nearly every Marvel film that came before it. It is assumed the viewer is already invested in most of the 74 (!) characters making its cast, all of whose appearances are preceded with nary a word of introduction. At times this approach manages to excite; other times the constant flitting between multiple conflicts merely exhausts. This is not so much an episode of television as an entire season, replete with cliff-hanger ending, compressed in 2 hours and 23 minutes.
However, the past couple of years have seen something of a change in the Marvel films. They have become, as the kids say, "woke." Or at least slightly so. Last year's Thor: Ragnarok revealed the titular Thor's homeland, the monarchist utopia of Asgard, was built on a foundation of imperialist violence lead by Hela, a living weapon of mass destruction. More recently Black Panther had the charismatic Killmonger rightly demand why Wakanda, another monarchist utopia, failed to even react to colonialist atrocities committed throughout history in the African continent. The way the heroes face these revelations varies. Thor assumes his responsibilities as monarch by destroying Asgard, before vowing to rebuild it in a perhaps gentler, nicer way. On the other hand, the Black Panther, after defeating (via murder) Killmonger, sets to help impoverished people across the world through the superhero equivalent of teaching children how to code. Either way the monarchist status quo remains, a reflection of how both right wingers and liberals are more than willing to flock after a strong man, so long they make the right noises and, perhaps most importantly, look the part.
But what about Thanos, the catalyst behind the events making Infinity War? The chief concern of Thanos is one shared by many a soft hearted liberal—overpopulation. A world of finite resources cannot sustain a perpetually growing population, the liberal insists. However their belief in a predatory capitalism based wholly on deriving infinite growth from finite resources is resolute; instead, the blame lies solely on the refusal of "developing" world to stop making babies. In private, the liberal will callously admit that abandoning the Global South to catastrophic ecological collapse would not be such a bad thing. If bad comes to worse, the technocratic supermen, not government, will save us. Thanos believes himself to be such a superman, and he will pre-empt any scenario of overpopulation by literally slashing the population of the entire universe in half.
Thanos does not see himself as a villain; he is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the name of what he believes is the greater good, and no "superhero" will stop him. As such, Thanos makes an almost tragic figure, especially when compared to the likes of Iron Man or Thor. Whereas the various superheroes quip and bicker, Thanos is resolute and implacable; the fact this ridiculous purple giant manages to wholly convince (the result of countless hours of work by an army of special effects technicians) is this film's one true achievement.
As for the film itself, well, it's another of these superhero movies, if one cranked up to 11. It's ultimately product; Disney and Marvel have boiled down the making of these films to a science, and by this point the formula ensures the fans will be coming back for more, time and time again. Come 2019 we will be watching the sequel, and a year later, another. That is where the true Infinity War lies, and in that regard we're just innocent consumer.
is a writer and bon vivant. His chief interests are popular culture, good food and the collapse of Empire.


adapted to every possible need, to enable students to develop the language skills that most suit their personal and professional goals. The ability to speak English is vital for the world of work, so we place special emphasis on developing the competencies necessary for presentations, telephone conversations, team work, meetings and so on.
We have a stable team of both expert and native teachers at the Castells Immerscom school and offer a broad range of courses at all levels, from Basic to Proficiency, as well as business English and conversation classes, each with their own specially prepared materials.
We have an extensive offering of face-to-face English courses for individuals or groups from October to June, as well as intensive programmes. The courses vary in intensity and frequency depending on students' needs. We offer specialisations in all cases: financial English, specialised English for a wide range of professionals, document writing, and so on. We adapt to the timetable requirements of each client and include the possibility of making up sessions that have had to be cancelled for some reason.At Castells Immerscom we help companies take advantage of Government schemes made available via the Tripartita Foundation, which provides financial support to the business sector for staff training. All non-self-employed workers can thus access training courses without almost any cost being incurred by the company.
We specialise at Castells Immerscom in immersion in English for professionals, businesspeople or anyone who wants to access an English language learning method which is fast, intensive, effective and fun. These courses combine classes with leisure activities, contact with nature and training in business matters.
The idea is that students learn to integrate English into their companies' daily routines and any other situation. The best way to achieve this is through language immersion: 24 hours a day (from two to five days) in an isolated environment, with native teachers who adapt the classes and activities to each student's needs and priorities. This complete immersion is made possible by conducting the courses outside the company, in a natural, rural setting. So they are usually held at Món Sant Benet (Bages), home of the Alícia Foundation project and only an hour away from Barcelona. Món Sant Benet is a place where it is easy to disconnect from the business routine, enter into contact with nature and traditional gastronomy, and enjoy some healthy outdoor activities, while still studying and practicing English.
The system enables students to acquire a good level of business English through intensive exposure to the language. Not just attending classes, but also breathing, sleeping, eating and having fun in English.
At Castells Immerscom we offer a broad range of courses which, following this philosophy, employ different techniques to adapt to each client's requirements, be it just one person or a company group. From standard courses for four people, to one-to-one programmes.
The syllabus for this type of courses features characteristics that help improve oral fluency and listening comprehension, preparing and making presentations, drafting letters and documents, conducting negotiations, meetings and telephone conversations, and so on. Our teaching staff integrate these options naturally into the classes, previously researching the vocabulary and material employed in the clients' professional sector in order to provide them with practical tools for the specific needs of their professional reality.
We provide intensive, one-month courses (July and September) suitable for anyone and adapted to all levels. We organise an intensive in July for students of FCE 2 and CAE 2 so they can sit the exam at the end of the month, while in September we offer courses for those who wish to take the exam at the beginning of October.
The official exams set by Trinity College London represent a chance to gain one of the most prestigious international qualifications accrediting a level of competence in spoken English. Trinity College certificates are recognised by universities, public and private bodies, and companies at both the national and international levels. At our school we offer specific preparation for these exams and can boast an extremely high pass rate.
The Cambridge exams are the quintessential qualification to demonstrate language skills in the world of work and university study at the global level. We offer the ideal preparation to attain the various Cambridge certificates. The First Certificate in English (B2), Advanced or CAE (C1) and Proficiency (C2). The skills which must be demonstrated and for which we provide specific training are Listening, Speaking, Writing, Reading and Use of English.
At Castells Immerscom we regularly organise monographic sessions around a concrete theme with the aim of helping students improve their language skills in a particular field. To that end, we provide specific tools (vocabulary, grammar, expressions, etc.) which we put into practice in sessions which are both intensely participatory and highly enjoyable. This type of session is of special interest for students who wish to improve the English they need to use in their business or professional lives.
In parallel to the face-to-face classes, we also offer follow-up through a virtual campus to reinforce those sessions and provide students with further opportunities to practice English in their free time. Through this system they can do on-line exercises, create forums, work with classmates or follow the course in the event of absence.


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package org.wildfly.security.sasl.util;

import static org.wildfly.common.Assert.checkNotNullParam;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.Map;

import javax.security.sasl.SaslServerFactory;

/**
 * A delegating {@link SaslServerFactory} which will sort the mechanism names using a supplied {@link Comparator<String>}.
 *
 * @author Darran Lofthouse
 */
public class SortedMechanismSaslServerFactory extends AbstractDelegatingSaslServerFactory {

    private final Comparator<String> mechanismNameComparator;

    public SortedMechanismSaslServerFactory(final SaslServerFactory delegate, final Comparator<String> mechanismNameComparator) {
        super(delegate);
        this.mechanismNameComparator = checkNotNullParam("mechanismComparator", mechanismNameComparator);
    }

    @Override
    public String[] getMechanismNames(Map<String, ?> props) {
        String[] mechanismNames = super.getMechanismNames(props);
        Arrays.sort(mechanismNames, mechanismNameComparator);
        return mechanismNames;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Pakistan's External & Internal Water Security Challenges
Khansa Qureshi
Pakistan, which was once a water-abundant country, is now facing unprecedented water scarcity mainly due to poor water management practices, population growth, rapid urbanisation, and industrialisation, amongst others. Currently, the country is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. From 5200 cubic meters (m³) per capita in 1947, water availability has reduced to only 1000-1038 m³ per capita, declining at a rate of 400%.
The recently launched US Action Plan on Global Water Security also reveals that water stress in South and Central Asian regions remains high to extremely high. The report reiterates that Pakistan – along with Afghanistan and Central Asian states – will be the most stressed in the world by 2040.
While there are a number of issues pertaining to usage, administration, and management leading to water shortages, research shows that climate change is also one of the contributing factors behind depleting water resources. It can cause variations in the crucial monsoon system that brings critical rains in the summer, and rapid melting of glaciers that feed rivers and cause further uncertainty about availability of water in the country. Meanwhile, the unpredictable nature of rains can worsen floods and drought. Apart from these issues, the country's internal and external transboundary water disputes are further adding to the uncertainty of water availability.
The transboundary water dispute between India and Pakistan continues to brew as the former has threatened to divert water that flows from India's upstream barrages. Recently, Pakistan highlighted its reservations about various Indian hydropower projects, particularly the Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project during the 118th Meeting of the Pakistan-India Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). Previously too, Pakistan has been expressing its concerns to the World Bank about India's hydropower projects on Jhelum and Chenab Rivers, violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Projects like Baglihar, Kishanganga, and Ratle Dams are likely to have disastrous hydrological, environmental, and irrigation impacts for Pakistan. However, despite repeated concerns, India remains adamant that these projects do not violate the IWT.
Indian's non-reconciliatory approach is extremely disastrous for Pakistan's water needs as well as for its economy. If India continues with its policy of constructing such projects, it will definitely lead to a cut in water flows to Pakistan. Meanwhile, if India decides to cut Pakistan's waters, as has been advocated by the current BJP leadership, it can trigger serious conflict between the two.
On Pakistan's western border too, a plausible threat of transboundary water dispute is emerging with Afghanistan. Pakistan is concerned about 13 dams planned on Kabul River, especially the Shahtoot Dam. Kabul River, after entering Pakistan, caters to the needs of millions of Pakistanis. Given that Afghanistan itself is a water-scarce nation with climate change worsening, if Pakistan's water flows are squeezed, it can also incite tensions between the two countries which are already facing rifts over a number of issues related to terrorism, and border fencing.
Pakistan faces water distribution issues domestically as well. The two biggest provinces Punjab and Sindh are at loggerheads for decades over this issue, with Balochistan also registering its grievances against Sindh. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord meant to facilitate water sharing from the Indus River Basin remains unable to resolve differences between the provinces. Downstream provinces have been fighting over water extraction for dams and irrigation purposes by upstream provinces and have levelled allegations of water theft. This interprovincial divide and resentment over water distribution particularly and other resource distribution issues, in general, will only be compounded given the rising level of water scarcity and increase in variability in water availability due to above-mentioned issues.
So, while politics hijacks water policymaking processes, the only immediately executable solution is to adopt measures that can be helpful in stalling the devastating effects of any inadvertent situation. For this purpose, Pakistan needs to improve water management practices at the local and individual level. The public must be incentivised to minimise water wastage as the booming population continues to squander fresh, underground water for chores at household levels. To this end, water meters can be installed at household levels to monitor water consumption.
The country utilises only two-thirds of available water, while the rest is lost. Its water storage capacity is in doldrums as it can store only up to 10% of water from its river flows as compared to the world's average of 40%. Water storage, both overground and underground, should also be a top priority of the state as it will be the most sought-after asset in water scare periods. Moreover, efficient usage of water for agricultural practices must be given due consideration. While Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have passed Acts that seek to conserve and allocate water resources to ensure their proper usage as well as establish a licensing regime for landowners to extract underground water, it must be ensured that these legislations are implemented properly. In fact, such policies should be implemented across the entire country. To conclude, water security requires serious attention as receding water levels can threaten the very survival of the country.
Khansa Qureshi is a researcher at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad, Pakistan. She can be reached at cass.thinkers@gmail.com
Image Credit: Online Sources

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hyundai Motability and the Motability scheme enables people who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of Personal Independence Payment or War Pensioners Motability Supplement to acquire a Hyundai car at a preferential price. At Monaghan Brothers Hyundai we have over 50 years experience in the motor industry and we're always thinking of smart ideas that benefit all our customers.
See examples of our great Hyundai Motability offers below and contact us to find out more about our other models.


Get Debt Free. This workbook takes you through the 5 simple and quick steps needed to figure out what you can afford and what programs are available for your budget. You CAN get you out of credit card debt much faster and cheaper than what you are doing now. You are a minute away from getting out of debt faster. Two free worksheets and a free debt test that SHOWS you what to do and how. Version 08 now works on all platforms.


Would you recommend BookAuthority to a friend?
Hey Product Hunt! Over the past six months, we have collected thousands of book recommendations from renowned industry leaders. People like Bezos, Zuckerberg and Gates; Thiel, Andreessen and Altman; Seth Godin, Andrew Chen and Gary V; Marty Cagan, Laura Klein, Jakob Nielsen and 100+ others. Today we're excited to launch BookAuthority - a service that helps you discover the very best business books, based on those experts' recommendations. BookAuthority allows you to select from a dozen areas of interest such as startups, design, product, marketing, productivity or leadership. It then produces a personalized reading-list tailored just for you. You can recommend books yourself, mark books that you want to read, and track books you've already read. We hope you'll like it as much as we do! I would love to hear your feedback and answer your questions.
@liorgrossman How does it work? Why does it need my fb login? It is personalized because it extracts info from my fb or selecting an interest area, if the later can it really be called personalized?
@bluemonk482 Hi Bo. We use Facebook Connect as a means to sign up to the service, so users can quickly build a profile and save their preferences, get book recommendations, recommend books, and save books for later reading. Facebook Connect saves users a lot of hassle, since in 2 clicks (no typing whatsoever) you get a profile, with your name, title and photo, and you're able to log in later any time and from any device. That's an important part of user experience in my humble opinion. We also use Facebook to determine which books you've read in the past, and which books you have recommended, and our algorithm adapts the recommendations accordantly.
Congrats to @liorgrossman and team! Nicely done.
@nireyal Thank you Nir, and thanks for the great book recommendations you've given us!
There's a big need for your platform. Great job there! Are you planning to add an inner rating system?
@galdubinski Thank you Gal. There's already an inner rating system for BookAuthority, but it's very subtle at the moment. As a user, you can click "Recommend" next to any books (that's probably the equivalent of the like button), and it will impact the book's rating. Not as much as a recommendation by Bill Gates, but be sure that it does impact the rating. In addition, once you click recommend, a small panel shows up, than enabled you to rate the book (1-5 stars) and write down a one-line review of the book (we prefer to keep the reviews short and concise). Hope this answers your question.


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Orange County mayor says child migrant facility would need local approval
Updated: 2:49 PM EDT Aug 26, 2019
The mayor of a Central Florida county where federal officials are considering opening a shelter for unaccompanied minors who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border says the proposal would require the approval of local officials.Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says in a letter to state and federal lawmakers that the space under consideration isn't zoned for a residential care facility and would require a special use permit. That involves a public hearing before a zoning board and approval from county commissioners.According to documents forwarded to Demings by federal officials, the proposed facility would house 500 children.Several local and state officials have been vocal in their opposition to a shelter in central Florida.The nation's largest child migrant facility is in Homestead, Florida, where immigrant advocates have described "prisonlike" conditions.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
The mayor of a Central Florida county where federal officials are considering opening a shelter for unaccompanied minors who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border says the proposal would require the approval of local officials.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says in a letter to state and federal lawmakers that the space under consideration isn't zoned for a residential care facility and would require a special use permit. That involves a public hearing before a zoning board and approval from county commissioners.
According to documents forwarded to Demings by federal officials, the proposed facility would house 500 children.
Federal government eyeing Central Florida to house 500 undocumented immigrant children
Several local and state officials have been vocal in their opposition to a shelter in central Florida.
The nation's largest child migrant facility is in Homestead, Florida, where immigrant advocates have described "prisonlike" conditions.


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Home National News Desk Simplifile's Mark Ladd Named 2018 HousingWire Vanguard
Simplifile's Mark Ladd Named 2018 HousingWire Vanguard
Dec 4, 2018 9:51 AM PST
PROVO, Utah, Dec 04, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced today that Vice President of Regulatory and Industry Affairs Mark Ladd has been recognized by HousingWire magazine in its fourth annual HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program.
Ladd was honored for his advocacy and leadership efforts on behalf of the real estate industry through the American Land Title Association (ALTA), the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO, the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) and other industry-related organizations.
As HousingWire noted in its profile of Ladd from the December 2018/January 2019 issue, "When it comes to advocacy and leadership, the real estate community has no greater ally than Simplifile's VP of Regulatory and Industry Affairs Mark Ladd. Through his work with various industry organizations, Ladd has been able to keep his finger on the pulse of federal, state and local initiatives. Ladd played a key role in the GSEs' decision to accept electronically recorded security instruments, eliminating an additional barrier to digital mortgage adoption."
The HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program recognizes C-level industry professionals who have become leaders in their respective fields within housing and mortgage finance – those whose leadership is moving markets forward, each and every day. This year's 52 honorees were chosen by HousingWire's editorial board for their influences to both their companies and the industry as a whole.
"As the Vanguards award program continues to grow and to be more successful, the entry point gets tighter," said Jacob Gaffney, HousingWire Editor-in-Chief. "These winners are truly the best Vanguards in the mortgage finance industry, and they all deserve the highest honor in the space."
"In addition to representing a wide range of talent and expertise in the mortgage finance economy, this year's Vanguard honorees represent much of the change happening within the mortgage industry," Online Editor Caroline Basile said.
When asked by HousingWire to reflect on practices or advice that have led to his success, Ladd relayed advice that takes root not only in matters of success, but also change.
"It's easier to turn the wheels on a car that is moving than one that is standing still," said Ladd. "Move ahead, but be willing to change directions."
To see the full list of winners, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.
About HW Media:
HW Media is the leading digital community for real estate, financial services and fintech professionals to engage, connect and gain knowledge. Founded in 2016 through the acquisition of HousingWire, HW Media is based in Dallas, Texas with team members across the country. HW Media is owned by Riomar Capital.
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text:
Graham and Rubio watch Trump roll out his campaign…Huh?
June 19, 2019 By jamesb
…BY JACK HOLMES @ Esquire
Our president held another festival of resentment in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday night, in which he attempted to convince his attendant supporters that, "our radical Democrat opponents are driven by hatred, prejudice, and rage. They want to destroy you. And they want to destroy our country as we know it." Truly, a president for all Americans. Donald Trump also successfully convinced the attendant media—from cable news to The New York Times—that this was his 2020 campaign "launch," despite the fact that he actually launched his campaign on Inauguration Day in 2017 and has held these campaign rallies fairly constantly since. No matter: everybody just accepted his characterization. What a great sign for the future.
But an even better sign came from the other prominent Republicans in attendance. Our president brought along his veep, Mike Pence, whose participation in the 2020 election is not assured. (The Trump folks have made noises about defenestrating Pence in favor of someone like Nikki Haley.) Mr. Pence has always been a hardliner on social issues—he has consistently opposed equal rights for LGBT citizens and signed a number of anti-abortion bills into law as governor of Indiana—but he seems to have embraced a new level of vitriol in service to Trump. It's a familiar story: if you stick around the guy long enough, you're going to end up saying and defending some intergalactic shit…
…Graham used to say Trump was a "kook" who's "crazy" and "unfit for office." Rubio used to call Trump a "con artist"and slammed him for refusing to repudiate David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan.
But then Trump won, and now they can both be found at the rally in Orlando, offering their public support for the same guy. Maybe they think Trump has been reformed—although, when the C-SPAN camera panned to the senators unbeknownst to them, it seems they might be a bit concerned about which train they jumped on.
Filed Under: Entertainment, Government, Politics Tagged With: <arco Rubio, LINDSEY GRAHAM, Republican Politics, Trump campaign 2020
My Name Is Jack says
The Two Stooges
Despicable toads.


text:
Neuroscientists reverse memories' emotional associations
by Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Image depicts the injection sites and the expression of the viral constructs in the two areas of the brain studied (Dentate Gyrus of the hippocampus and Basolateral Amygdala) Credit: Redondo et al.
Most memories have some kind of emotion associated with them: Recalling the week you just spent at the beach probably makes you feel happy, while reflecting on being bullied provokes more negative feelings.
A new study from MIT neuroscientists reveals the brain circuit that controls how memories become linked with positive or negative emotions. Furthermore, the researchers found that they could reverse the emotional association of specific memories by manipulating brain cells with optogenetics—a technique that uses light to control neuron activity.
The findings, described in the August 28th issue of Nature, demonstrated that a neuronal circuit connecting the hippocampus and the amygdala plays a critical role in associating emotion with memory. This circuit could offer a target for new drugs to help treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers say.
"In the future, one may be able to develop methods that help people to remember positive memories more strongly than negative ones," says Susumu Tonegawa, the Picower Professor of Biology and Neuroscience, director of the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, and senior author of the paper.
The paper's lead authors are Roger Redondo, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute postdoc at MIT, and Joshua Kim, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Biology.
Shifting memories
Memories are made of many elements, which are stored in different parts of the brain. A memory's context, including information about the location where the event took place, is stored in cells of the hippocampus, while emotions linked to that memory are found in the amygdala.
The cartoon summarizes one of the main findings. In the fear to reward experiment, the first step involved the labelling of the neurons, in the Dentate Gyrus of the hippocampus, active during the formation of a fear memory. Step 2 reveals that driving such neurons produces an aversive response as the animal leaves the zone of the test arena where the laser becomes active. During the induction protocol, in step 3, the same neurons are reactivated while the test mouse spends time interacting with two female mice. In step 4, again the same neurons are activated but this time the test mouse increases the time that it spends in the zone of the test arena where the laser comes on. Credit: Collective Next and Roger Redondo
Previous research has shown that many aspects of memory, including emotional associations, are malleable. Psychotherapists have taken advantage of this to help patients suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but the neural circuitry underlying such malleability is not known.
In this study, the researchers set out to explore that malleability with an experimental technique they recently devised that allows them to tag neurons that encode a specific memory, or engram. To achieve this, they label hippocampal cells that are turned on during memory formation with a light-sensitive protein called channelrhodopsin. From that point on, any time those cells are activated with light, the mice recall the memory encoded by that group of cells.
Last year, Tonegawa's lab used this technique to implant, or "incept," false memories in mice by reactivating engrams while the mice were undergoing a different experience. In the new study, the researchers wanted to investigate how the context of a memory becomes linked to a particular emotion. First, they used their engram-labeling protocol to tag neurons associated with either a rewarding experience (for male mice, socializing with a female mouse) or an unpleasant experience (a mild electrical shock). In this first set of experiments, the researchers labeled memory cells in a part of the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus.
Two days later, the mice were placed into a large rectangular arena. For three minutes, the researchers recorded which half of the arena the mice naturally preferred. Then, for mice that had received the fear conditioning, the researchers stimulated the labeled cells in the dentate gyrus with light whenever the mice went into the preferred side. The mice soon began avoiding that area, showing that the reactivation of the fear memory had been successful.
The reward memory could also be reactivated: For mice that were reward-conditioned, the researchers stimulated them with light whenever they went into the less-preferred side, and they soon began to spend more time there, recalling the pleasant memory.
A couple of days later, the researchers tried to reverse the mice's emotional responses. For male mice that had originally received the fear conditioning, they activated the memory cells involved in the fear memory with light for 12 minutes while the mice spent time with female mice. For mice that had initially received the reward conditioning, memory cells were activated while they received mild electric shocks.
Next, the researchers again put the mice in the large two-zone arena. This time, the mice that had originally been conditioned with fear and had avoided the side of the chamber where their hippocampal cells were activated by the laser now began to spend more time in that side when their hippocampal cells were activated, showing that a pleasant association had replaced the fearful one. This reversal also took place in mice that went from reward to fear conditioning.
The diagram depicts the main finding of the paper that the contextual information encoded by the hippocampus can freely associate to appetitive or aversive behavioral responses driven by amygdala neurons. Credit: Joshua Kim & Roger Redondo
Altered connections
The researchers then performed the same set of experiments but labeled memory cells in the basolateral amygdala, a region involved in processing emotions. This time, they could not induce a switch by reactivating those cells—the mice continued to behave as they had been conditioned when the memory cells were first labeled.
This suggests that emotional associations, also called valences, are encoded somewhere in the neural circuitry that connects the dentate gyrus to the amygdala, the researchers say. A fearful experience strengthens the connections between the hippocampal engram and fear-encoding cells in the amygdala, but that connection can be weakened later on as new connections are formed between the hippocampus and amygdala cells that encode positive associations.
"That plasticity of the connection between the hippocampus and the amygdala plays a crucial role in the switching of the valence of the memory," Tonegawa says.
These results indicate that while dentate gyrus cells are neutral with respect to emotion, individual amygdala cells are precommitted to encode fear or reward memory. The researchers are now trying to discover molecular signatures of these two types of amygdala cells. They are also investigating whether reactivating pleasant memories has any effect on depression, in hopes of identifying new targets for drugs to treat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
More information: Bidirectional switch of the valence associated with a hippocampal contextual memory engram, Nature, dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13725
Journal information: Nature
Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Citation: Neuroscientists reverse memories' emotional associations (2014, August 27) retrieved 26 January 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-08-neuroscientists-reverse-memories-emotional-associations.html
Modifying activity of neuronal networks that encode spatial memories leads to formation of incorrect fear memory in mice
Neuroscientists show ability to plant false memories
Study reveals how the brain links memories of sequential events
The neurological basis for fear and memory
Fear boosts activation of young, immature brain cells
Novel combination of techniques reveals new details about the neuronal networks for memory
Personalized brain modeling technique may lead to breakthroughs in clinical epilepsy trial
Researchers unveil new collection of human brain atlases that chart postnatal development
Towards better management of disinhibition in frontotemporal dementia
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J G Fairley, dated 1894. Rectangular-plan gable-fronted early English Gothic church with twin spirelets and miniature flying buttresses. Squared stugged grey sandstone with ashlar dressings. Stepped string course above entrance level. Central pointed window with geometric tracery. 2-storey halls and offices to rear.
W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central timber-panelled door in wide pointed arch within triangular pediment reached by four stone steps; flanked by small lancet windows. Octagonal buttresses rising to gabletted spirelets with octagonal blind arcades. Hood-mould to main window flanked by applied columns and spires. Round-headed vent to gable and banded cross to apex. Minature flying buttress rising to square pinnacles linked to square buttresses rising to square pinnacles and blind arcades to outer bays.
S ELEVATION: gabled left hand bay with lancet window. Flanking broach spirelets on square dies containing double blind lancets. 3 pairs of lancets and single lancet to nave; circular windows to clerestory. 2 off-set buttresses to right. Flat-roofed single-storey link to halls with 2 rectangular windows. Gabled hall with 5 rectangular windows to ground floor; diamond traceried oculus and arrow-loop vent to gable.
E ELEVATION: gabled chancel end of church with large flat diamond traceried circular window and flanking splayed chimney stacks, set behind blank wallhead of single-storey pitched roof to halls.
N ELEVATION: as S elevation but with concrete extension to hall annexe and entrance to underfcroft to E. Round-arched windows to hall.
Graded grey slates with pierced clay ridge tiles. Skew stacks with clay cans. Halls and offices have predominantly replacement glazing, with leaded windows to N. Cast iron rainwater goods with decorative hoppers.
INTERIOR: timber U-plan gallery on cast iron columns with blind fretwork to parapet. Two stone stairs to galleries with wrought iron balusters. Body of church boarded to dado height. Boarded timber pews. King and queen-post false hammer-beam roof and boarded timber ceiling. Organ set in carved timber case with fretwork detailing. Trefoil and quatrefoil fretwork pulpit with diaper detail. Stained glass rose window with evangelists and central Lamb of God.
Timber-truss roof, boarded dado and timber-panelled doors to halls.
BOUNDARY WALLS: squared snecked rubble with chamfered copes and modern railings. Square-plan gatepiers with gabletted pyramidal copes and wrought-iron railings. Cast-iron lamp standards; octagonal lamps and iron fretwork.
Wells (1920). The outdoor lamps were fitted in 1904 and the organ inserted in 1922.
The church is still in use by the same denomination who built it, therefore still serving its original purpose. The building is also evidence of the relatively few churches built for this minor denomination. Despite reunifying with the URC the church still calls itself by its old title of Evangelical Union. The history of the congregation and the church is also intertwined with the shifting religious settlements of the 19th century. The congregation of this church originated in an Antiburgher congregation which moved from Craigmailen in 1807 and built a church in Marjoribanks Street (then College Street), Bathgate. James Morison and his father Rev Robert Morison of Bathgate were expelled from the United Secession church in 1841-2. They founded the Evangelical Union in Scotland in 1843 and were joined by the congregation. In 1896 the EU joined with the Congregational church. In 2000 the Congregational Union joined the United Reformed Church. As a result of the historical connection the Bathgate congregation retained the EU title.
The Edinburgh architect James Graham Fairley (1846-1934) designed a number of churches both in Edinburgh and in West Lothian from the 1880s, including Uphall Free Church (1896) and St Nicholas Free Church, Broxburn (1890). Later, Fairley was responsible for both the Town Hall (1899 - now demolished) and St David's (1904), both in Bathgate.


text:
Q: Matching multiple data in R taking into account the control variable here mydata
mydatatr=structure(list(channel_id = c(1755L, 1755L), multifr_type = c(0L,
0L), offer_category_id = c(718L, 718L), adapter_id = c(3L, 3L
), adapter_id2 = c(0L, 0L), airline1 = c(238L, 238L), airline2 = c(0L,
0L), meta_ui_type = c(0L, 0L), offer_flight_type_category_id = c(1L,
1L), discount_category_id = c(1L, 6L), flight_area = c(1L, 1L
), count_sessions = c(13297L, 12026L), count_orders = c(3264L,
2400L), conversion = c(0.245, 0.2)), class = "data.frame", row.names = c(NA,
-2L))

second dataset
mydatincom=structure(list(channel_id = c(1755L, 1755L, 1755L), multifr_type = c(0L,
0L, 0L), offer_category_id = c(718L, 718L, 14L), adapter_id = c(3L,
3L, 3L), adapter_id2 = c(0L, 0L, 0L), airline1 = c(238L, 238L,
13L), airline2 = c(0L, 0L, 0L), meta_ui_type = c(0L, 0L, 0L),
    offer_flight_type_category_id = c(1L, 1L, 1L), discount_category_id = c(1L,
    6L, 1L), flight_area = c(1L, 1L, 2L), count_sessions = c(13297L,
    12026L, 0L), count_orders = c(3264L, 2400L, 0L), conversion = c(0.245,
    0.2, 0)), class = "data.frame", row.names = c(NA, -3L))

here control dataset
    control_var=structure(list(offer_category_id = c(10L, 18L, 48L, 49L, 50L,
51L, 52L, 64L, 65L, 67L)), class = "data.frame", row.names = c(NA,
-10L))

and last dataset
aggr=structure(list(channel_id = 1755L, multifr_type = 0L, adapter_id = 3L,
    adapter_id2 = 0L, airline1 = 13L, airline2 = 0L, meta_ui_type = 0L,
    offer_flight_type_category_id = 1L, discount_category_id = 1L,
    flight_area = 2L, count_sessions = 562L, count_orders = 22L,
    conversion = structure(1L, .Label = "0.039", class = "factor")), class = "data.frame", row.names = c(NA,
-1L))

i need join mydatatr with mydaticnom by these variables channel_id+multifr_type+adapter_id+adapter_id2+airline1+airline2+meta_ui_type+offer_flight_type_category_id+discount_category_id+flight_area, but with condition:
If, when joining these datasets in mydatincom, there is value of offer_category_id, but this value is not in the control_var data,
then we are looking for the variables channel_id + multifr_type + adapter_id + adapter_id2 + airline1 + airline2 + meta_ui_type + offer_flight_type_category_id + discount_category_id + flight_area in the aggr dataset, and if this values  are matched in aggr we join aggr and mydatincom  and take the fields count_sessions + count_orders+conversion into new data from aggr.
To be more clear let's see particular example.
For example, in mydatincom there is offer_category_id which not in control_var(value=14),
but the variables for the join are channel_id + multifr_type + adapter_id + adapter_id2 + airline1 + airline2 + meta_ui_type + offer_flight_type_category_id + discount_category_id + flight
which have the same values like in mydatincom,  there are in the aggr. So take from aggr count_sessions + count_orders + conversion .
count_sessions count_orders conversion
562                22           0.039

and put it in the final dataset, and replce 14 value, by put other
so the result will look like this
desired_result=structure(list(channel_id = c(1755L, 1755L, 1755L), multifr_type = c(0L,
0L, 0L), offer_category_id = structure(c(1L, 1L, 2L), .Label = c("718",
"other"), class = "factor"), adapter_id = c(3L, 3L, 3L), adapter_id2 = c(0L,
0L, 0L), airline1 = c(238L, 238L, 13L), airline2 = c(0L, 0L,
0L), meta_ui_type = c(0L, 0L, 0L), offer_flight_type_category_id = c(1L,
1L, 1L), discount_category_id = c(1L, 6L, 1L), flight_area = c(1L,
1L, 2L), count_sessions = c(13297L, 12026L, 562L), count_orders = c(3264L,
2400L, 22L), conversion = structure(c(2L, 1L, 3L), .Label = c("0,2",
"0,245", "0.039"), class = "factor")), class = "data.frame", row.names = c(NA,
-3L))

  channel_id multifr_type offer_category_id adapter_id adapter_id2 airline1 airline2 meta_ui_type
1       1755            0               718          3           0      238        0            0
2       1755            0               718          3           0      238        0            0
3       1755            0             other          3           0       13        0            0
  offer_flight_type_category_id discount_category_id flight_area count_sessions count_orders
1                             1                    1           1          13297         3264
2                             1                    6           1          12026         2400
3                             1                    1           2            562           22
  conversion
1      0,245
2        0,2
3      0.039

How can i do it such matching?

A: This is basically what i commented, but ignoring the cases that are already in mydatatr. As we are ignoring rows from mydatatr, but we don't want to do the same for aggr - and the loop index i keeps counting up - i placed the index i-k, which will increase only when a row from aggr is used.
k=0
for(i in 1:nrow(mydatincom)){

  if(! mydatincom$offer_category_id[i] %in% mydatatr$offer_category_id){
  #If the value isn't already in mydatatr

    if(! mydatincom$offer_category_id[i] %in% control_var){
      #If the value isn't in the control var
      newrow = tibble::add_column(aggr[i-k,], "other", .after="multifr_type")
      colnames(newrow) = colnames(mydatatr)
      mydatatr = rbind(mydatatr, newrow)}

    else{
      mydatatr = rbind(mydatatr, mydatincom[i,])}}
  else{k=k+1}} #Count the numbers of ignored cases from the 1st "if"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Richard Sachs is a maker and a poet. His relentless dedication to his craft as a maker of bicycles is grounded in his disciplined and storied history as a racer. His clear and poignant insights as a poet (which is my term), are a gift from his childhood and, perhaps, his mother.
Richie's ability to worry and obsess drive his ever-present awareness of all this.
He is a true maker poet. He romances what he makes and he makes what he romances. Love is in the work of his hands, his heart, his mind, and his soul.


Honda Aircraft to add simulator to train pilots in Greensboro, N.C.
FlightSafety International will put a simulator inside Honda Aircraft Co.'s plant to train pilots to fly Honda's new business jet, according to the News & Record of Greensboro, N.C. The plant is currently under construction.
Training will begin in December 2011 as customers begin to take delivery of the new plane.


The second version of the IDPC Advocacy Guide provides an update on the emerging process for the review of global policies on controlled drugs being conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. It describes the latest situation on the planning for the review, and sets out the IDPC position on which issues need to be addressed in the review, and how these issues may be tackled in order to achieve a constructive outcome. The guide is currently available in English (through the link below), and a Spanish language version will be available in mid-December.


text:
Robert Schirokauer Hartman, né le  à Berlin et mort le  à Mexico, est un philosophe et logicien qui a étudié l'axiologie.

Il a été nominé pour le prix Nobel de la paix en 1973.

Biographie

Notes et références

Bibliographie

Liens externes

Naissance en janvier 1910
Naissance à Berlin
Décès en septembre 1973
Philosophe américain du XXe siècle
Décès à  Mexico
Décès à 63 ans
Logicien américain


text:
ACC to have off-site instant-replay officials
@stevejones_cj
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that next football season it will begin having "collaborative" instant-replay officials in a central office in Greensboro, N.C., participating in every review discussion during the home games of league teams.
The replay officials at the Greensboro command center will view a real-time television feed of all games (conference and nonconference) played at ACC venues as well as Notre Dame, and when a review arises, they'll communicate with the on-site referee and replay officials via their existing headset system. It'll be similar to the model used by the NFL.
"This is another step in enhancing the quality of instant replay within college football," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said as the conference wrapped up its annual spring meetings in Amelia Island, Fla.. "Officiating remains one of the highest priorities for our league, and our coaches and schools value the opportunity to be state of the art in this area."
The ACC is the first conference to move forward with a central replay office that will monitor all games and take part in the reviews.
"The expectation is that the implementation of collaborative instant replay will result in greater consistency in replay decisions," said Dennis Hennigan, the ACC's coordinator of football officiating.
All video feeds that are available during a review to the in-stadium replay official will be also available to the replay officials in Greensboro, the ACC said in a news release. Ted Jackson, who joined the ACC in January as assistant coordinator for instant replay, will be among those in the conference office each week.
Collaborative replay is an experimental rule for 2016, and the ACC will report its findings to the NCAA Football Rules Committee in February 2017 as it considers steps to make the concept a permanent part of the game.


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Our St. Benedict Prayer Card Set features a pewter St. Benedict Medal and includes a 24" Nickel Chain. The St. Benedict prayer card that comes with it is laminated.


text:
Carpenter implicated in firefighter's death in crash offered bail Loop Jamaica
The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
A carpenter who was charged following a deadly crash along the Ocho Rios main road last month, which claimed the life of 25-year-old firefighter Larenzo Douse, has been granted $700,000 bail.
The accused, Hortliff Thomas, who is charged with manslaughter relative to the incident, appeared in the St Ann Parish Court on Thursday.
Thomas himself sustained extensive injuries from the crash, and was granted bail based on humanitarian grounds and his need for proper medical care.
As part of his bail conditions, Senior Parish Judge Michele Salmon ordered Thomas to report to the police twice weekly and surrender his travel documents.
Meanwhile, several documents remain outstanding on the case file, including the post-mortem report, the preliminary accident report, and the accident reconstruction report.
The case is to be next mentioned in court on January 13, 2023.
The crash occurred along the Ocho Rios main road in the vicinity of Reynolds Pier at about 2:40 pm on Wednesday, November 30.
In responding to the development at the time, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, expressed sadness at the tragic death of Douse, while giving details of the incident.
"The crew had just finished a fire-fighting operation in the area. In fact, the firemen had just finished their shift and were replacing the equipment in the back of the truck.
Education Minister warns public to be aware of free laptops offer Loop Jamaica
"At that moment, Firefighter Douse was alone at the back, putting a pump into the fire truck, when the car slammed into the fire truck, crushing him. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead," outlined McKenzie.
Videos circulating of the incident showed the moment firemen tried frantically to remove their colleague from between the two vehicles.
Persons passing by screamed in horror as fire engulfed the front of the motorcar while the fireman was still pinned down on the back of the fire truck by the car.
The minister said then that, "Douse was a very young firefighter with his whole life ahead of him."


Publishers: Dart Press, Box 6486, Orange, CA 92613. (800) 637-5177.
follow manner. That certainly is the case with "The Coming Temple".
toward the rebuilding of the Temple.
"the center stage for the final countdown".
be: Should Christians be involved in the efforts to rebuild the Temple?
treat in a future book).
the location of the previous Temple.
Another fine chapter, "Center Stage for the Final Countdown"
Resources for Christians. Call our Computer Bulletin Board at: 619/487-7746.


text:
Magazine / News / Joint winners Adam Perry and Kim Collison share the Fellsman spoils
Joint winners Adam Perry and Kim Collison share the Fellsman spoils
Sunday 27 April 2014 03:19 PM GMT
Last updated at Monday 28 April 2014 06:40 PM GMT
Joint winners Adam Perry, left, and Kim Colllison arrive at the Fellsman finish at Threshfield
One of the country's toughest ultrarunning events finished in a tie for the first time in many years.
Adam Perry and Kim Collison crossed the line together, hands linked, after more than 60 miles battling for lead over the fells of the Yorkshire Dales yesterday.
Third place went to Jez Bragg, who arrived at the Threshfield race headquarters 37 minutes after the lead pair.
Strong winds, cool conditions and boggy underfoot terrain put a record time beyond the winners, who finished the 98km (61-mile) course in 10hrs 51mins.
Sedbergh-based Perry and Collison of Penrith decided to finish the Fellsman together after summiting the final peak, Great Whernside.
Collison, 33, who works for Outward Bound at Ullswater, and who finished third last year in his first attempt at the challenge, said: "We were working together, sharing the wind, waiting for each other at stops.
"After sharing such a journey together, we didn't really want to race down a road and up a road to the finish.
"It was more in the spirit of the event, I think. A journey through the Yorkshire Dales."
Amanda Heading makes the ascent of Gragareth during the Fellsman
Perry, 26, who works for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: "It seemed to me that we ran hard all the way. That was the hardest I've ever had to run it. It was all day into the wind and it was wet as well."
The day dawned wet with heavy rain and the fell-tops in cloud, with the prospect of thunder storms but, in the end, sunny spells helped dry out the runners and walkers.
There were 117 non-starters out of the 500 entrants to the race, which involves more than 3,350m (11,000ft) of ascent. 383 tackled the route over most of the fells of the southern Dales, 19 fewer than made the start in 2013.
Three-times winner Jez Bragg admitted his race sharpness was not back to its peak after his record-breaking completion of the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, running the full length of the country and paddling between the two islands.
But he was also hampered in this year's Fellsman by confusion over the location of one of the checkpoints on Middle Tongue above Yockenthwaite, a situation reported by other runners.
Jez Bragg heads out of Ingleton early in the race
He said: "I was probably about 15 minutes back from the two lead guys and I was on a bit of a charge. I had the bit between my teeth. Then there was this scenario on Middle Tongue where I couldn't find the checkpoint.
"I was scouting round, using the GPS, to zig-zag, just scanning the area to make sure I hadn't missed it.
"Then I just thought: maybe it hasn't been set up and I just carried on.
"I think it was maybe 20 or 25 minutes it put me back. I was a bit demoralised. I just thought: I'll settle for third."
But he was relaxed about the incident.
"It's always a great day out, just being on the hills," he said. "It doesn't really feel like a race.
"There's always an adventure; there's always a bit of drama; there's always a smiley face at all the checkpoints. It's almost like a grassroots event, which is very refreshing these days.
"A lot of the events are getting quite commercial. It [the Fellsman] just really appeals to me."
The North Face runner says he will come back and 'get a bit sharper'.
First woman to finish the course was 40-year-old nursing sister Carol Morgan.
The Fellsman, which is organised by Keighley Scout Service Team, was first run in 1962 and has taken place each year since, apart from 2001, when the foot and mouth disease epidemic led to its cancellation.
In 2012, the event was abandoned at 2am when many competitors began succumbing to hypothermia in biting winds and low temperatures.
Jez Bragg confirms defence of Fellsman title for 50th event
Bragg wins Fellsman to post three wins from three starts
Fellsman falls victim to Covid-19 and spectators told to stay away from climb festival
Gyrocopter crashes into Great Knoutberry Hill during The Fellsman challenge event
Jez Bragg leads strong field of contenders for this year's Dragon's Back race
Mick Watson
There was a joint win in 1988 - Paul Mitchell and A.N Other in 10.22 - which was a new record at the time.
The perils of making 'first ever' claims! We've amended the intro.
Who was the mystery AN Other who ran a record time but chose to remain anonymous?
Hi, Just found it. It was Gifford Kerr.
Thanks Mick. Be a shame not to give his credit.
Martyn Price
So who won the ladies race".
Looking at the engravings on the Axe, plenty of joint winners pre 1990, in 1987 it was a shared four ways.
Please can you correct the spelling of Kim's name, it is Collison not Collinson!
Our apologies for mis-spelling Kim's surname. It was how it appears on the official entry sheet. We've now corrected this error.
Martyn Price - the ladies' winner was Carol Morgan in 14hrs 24 mins. A quick check on Google shows she was second in this race last year. She was also first female in the Haworth Hobble earlier this year as well as finishing third lady in the Calderdale Hike two weeks ago in the run up to this race. She's a two time winner of the prestigious Connemara Ultra in her native Ireland.


Urban Angels Aerial Yoga is a playful and interesting way of improving every aspect of well-being. It is effective, fulfilling and calming. Aerial Yoga helps to develop strength, flexibility, postural alignment and relaxation.
Here is how it works. Throughout the yoga class, you do various traditional yoga poses or aerial adaptations of traditional poses using the hammock soft, fabric hammock made out of special, high density nylon material for support, that envelops your body like a protective cocoon.
Some of the most basic poses involve simple stretches while seated on the hammock, while other poses progress to hanging upside down and grabbing your thighs, knees, ankles or feet for support and balance.
Because gravity is working harder on your body than usual, your muscles work harder too. Aerial yoga is also a great core workout because you have to engage your core muscles to balance and stabilize yourself during your yoga session.
Since you have more freedom of movement, you can move your body into new positions. In some cases, this can result in a deeper and more fulfilling stretch than traditional yoga offers.
The suspension helps to identify misalignment and decompresses your spine which lengths your body.
By putting yourself in a more challenging situation than usual, aerial yoga forces you to be more alert and aware of your surroundings. You will likely also try to concentrate harder because you're not used to being suspended in the air during your yoga practice.
Much like traditional yoga, aerial yoga is great for stress relief. Not only do you use poses and stretches common to other forms of yoga to relieve stress, but you also experience the joy of knowing that you did something new and exciting, which makes you feel good.
Eleanor, Skyros Holistic Holidays, Greece 2016.
Aerial Yoga is taught in very small classes so each student gets plenty of support.


Firstly hello from us, Kirsty Philbrick and Mary Jones, the two new Youth Development workers in the West region!
We have just started in our roles and are excitedly getting to know people and places. We are looking forward to meeting with young people to co-create more opportunities for them in Bristol, North Somerset and West Wiltshire and East Somerset Area Meetings.
This is a continuation of the pilot project that started in Spring 2018. We are inspired by our sister project in Sheffield which has developed a thriving Social Action group.
A chance to meet, socialise, eat pizza and talk about social and environmental issues.
We hope this performance will be interesting and poignant – it promises 'a playful and passionate look at what we have inherited and what, for the sake of all our futures, are we willing to leave behind.' Tickets £8, with free refreshments after.


Born in Massachusetts and raised in Maine, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, a Master of Arts (with a concentration in sacred music) from Bangor Theological Seminary, and a Master of Divinity from Boston University.
I most recently served as Senior Pastor at First United Church of Christ in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Previously I joined the staff at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, Iowa in June 2007 as an associate minister in the 27-month Transition into Ministry program (funded by the Lilly Endowment). While studying for my Master's degrees, I was the Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Scarborough, ME, for 10 years. More recently, my ministry has led me to work with the Iona Community in Scotland, as well as Star Island, a United Church of Christ/Unitarian-Universalist retreat center off the coast of New Hampshire. I am proud to be a hymnologist and song leader, with an expertise that has helped churches expand their use of congregational singing in worship using both contemporary and historic sources.
Church work is something of a family affair for me; I am the fifth person in my generation of cousins to enter the ministry.


Lizzi & Fredl is one of the best books that I have read this year. Biographies tend to only be bestsellers if they concern some well known figure, yet those books hold little interest to me. I much prefer real stories about real people.
Bill Stanford has hit the nail on the head with his book, a biography of his parents experiences during WWII. Lizzi and Fredl were Austrians, they were not Jewish, they were Roman Catholics, Fredl was a well respected Master Jeweler, and Lizzi a dressmaker with a large following. Rather than support the Nazi movement they fled to France.
The treatment they received at the hands of the Vichy government was appalling.
I had the opportunity to talk with Bill Stanford, and as is not uncommon with my interviews, the allotted 30 minutes actually turned into almost an hour. A clear case of getting two people together who love to talk! Actually it was a wonderful interview, and I learned much that is not included in the book.
That comment gave Fredl some pause for thought, and finally he agreed that it was time to share the story.
Bill kept at the mission, and there is actually an amusing story concerning electronics, but I will not spoil that one, you will have to discover it for yourself.
Perseverance did pay off, and we now have what I class as a best seller.
One of the mysteries in the book is a photograph that Bill Stanford was given by someone he knew, It shows Hitler and some of his supporters gathered around a table.
Neither Bill nor I are experts on the subject, but I did a little digging, the internet is a wonderful place. I received some responses….
 What I see on your picture is Hitler before 1933, and most likely before 1930. I´m quite sure its in Bavaria, probably the Bürgerbäukeller in Munich (you´ll hardly find those giant beer cups outside Bavaria). It seems to be an official Nazi party event of some smaller kind as can be guessed by the Flag and SA guard. As the later dictator is wearing a suit I think its relatively safe to say these men with Hitler are (local) businessmen or other influential persons. And they are party members, they wear a button, and what else could that be here than the NSDAP party membership-button.
Sorry to disappoint you, but this is a very well known photo, published many times. It shows Hitler with early NS party members, Strasser, Fiehler, Weber, Hitler, Schwarz, Amann and Graf (back of head could be Schaub).
You can order your copy of this very fine book from Amazon, and every indication is that Lizzi & Fredl will be in your favorite book store very soon. Bill Sanford also has a web site, I'll share a secret with you, he loves to get feedback.
So much of our knowledge about the Second World War comes from the sanitized 'quick' reads that are presented in our school system that I have reservations that any of these 'canned' and convenient explanations mean anything.
I am a fan of original history, Dr. William Sanford has brought to life a very important story. One that has been lost in the need to precis history into a 45 minute lesson. Lizzi & Fredl is a great book, and author Bill Stanford is an engaging man. This is one book that should go far.
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There are a number of active ministries in our parish. Our ministries serve the parish and surrounding community. If you are interested in a particular ministry or searching for a way you can apply your talents to the work of the church, please contact us.
Sacred Heart Parish is privileged to have a fully organized program for all ages, from Childrens' Church through High School.
The ligurgy ministries serve various aspects of parish worship activities during the major seasons of the Church Calendar.
Strengthening the sacrament of holy matrimony.
Sacred Heart Parish recognizes the need to bring our parish family together for spiritual and social occasions. This invitation covers all the ministries in the Church where we reach out and welcome people into our community. Under this heading there are short-term ministries such as: Lenten Soup Suppers, Advent Giving Tree, the Parich Picnic and special events.
This ministry is committed to the belief that all human life, able or disabled, born or unborn, young or old, is sacred and worthy of protection.


text:
Maj Gilbert McMicking, MP was born March 24, 1862 at Liverpool, England and died November 15, 1942 at Glasgow, Scotland. He was the son of Gilbert McMicking of Miltonise (1823-1890) and Helen Mary Macfarlane (1824-1883). On November 1, 1893 at Kensington, UK he married first Gertrude Rosabel Katherine Gore (1871-1920). On July 22,1921 at London, England he married second Ethel Eliza Binny Douglas (1876-1935).
Major Gilbert McMicking (24 March 1862 – 15 November 1942) was a Scottish Liberal Party politician. He served with the Honourable Artillery Company and was appointed a CMG in 1901. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Kirkcudbrightshire from 1906 to January 1910, and from December 1910 until the constituency was abolished for the 1918 general election. He was then elected for the new Galloway constituency, and stood down at the 1922 general election.- Wikipedia
Children with Gertrude Rosabel Katherine Gore:
1 Gilbert Thomas Gore McMicking, b.1894-d.1918
2 Ralph Gore McMicking, b.May,1897,Dadford,England - d.1964,Surrey,England
3 Robert James Gore McMicking b.Oct 6,1905 - d.1983,Surrey
Records of Penny Turnbull (Emails to Reg McMicking)
Ref. Wikipedia Article
Ref: ThePeerage.Com
Document: Marriage Register - MCMICKING / BINNY DOUGLAS
Gilbert McMicking, MP
credit: D N Franklin


text:
Dealing With a Sovereign Shrimp
NINO LO BELLO
The sovereign shrimp . . . the little giant of Europe . . . the wee Titan . . . the postage-stamp state . . . the mouse that roars.
Call Liechtenstein whatever you will, but after all the witty quips and ding-dong designations, pick up your valise, put a red circle on your map where the little Big L is, and help yourself to a country the size of a jellybean.
Liechtenstein is a conversation piece. Where else in the world can you visit a nation that has been officially at war for more than a century with a country that no longer exists? More about that later.
A Colorful Setting
Wedged high in a niche between the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Liechtenstein would make an ideal stage-setting for an operetta. With its 60 square miles and 15,000 inhabitants, this micro-land has no crime, no jail, no radio or TV station, no army, no draft, no airport, no daily newspaper, no golf course, no customs officials, no divorce, no billboards, no communists and practically no taxes.
That last item may explain why 8,000 foreign corporations have set up headquarters in Vaduz (the only capital in Europe that doesn't have a railroad station).
Contrary to what many visitors believe, Liechtenstein does not live from its sale of postage stamps. Only 10% of the country's income derives from that source; the rest of its earnings come from a network of industry.
Nearly 4,000 people are employed in factories producing pocket-size calculating machines, optical instruments, central heating boilers, sausage skins, sewing needles, cotton textiles, furniture, toys, leather goods, paints, varnishes, screws and dental items. The false-tooth factory, second-largest in the world, grinds out 7 million teeth a month.
An independent state for more than 250 years, Liechtenstein is ruled by an octogenarian hereditary prince whose name runs too long. He is Prince Franz Josef II Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignatius Benediktus Gerhardus Majella von Liechtenstein. His wife, the Princess Georgina, calls herself Gina.
Priceless Art
Prince Franz Josef has a priceless art collection of 1,400 masterpieces worth in the vicinity of $150 million, many housed in his medieval castle (124 rooms), which sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the main street of the capital. But 75 of the prince's best paintings are on view in the white-walled public gallery near the post office and stamp museum. The exhibit includes 16 canvases by Rubens, 15 by Van Dyck, three Rembrandts and works by Brueghel, Raphael, Titian and Tiepolo.
Another Liechtenstein tourist attraction (mostly unexplored) is Naafkopf Peak. It is the only place in Europe where there is a piece of ground that you can sit on and be in three countries at the same time. Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland meet at this point, and a huge wooden cross has been erected on the spot.
To get to Naafkopf Peak, which is actually more of a plateau than a peak, all you need is a pair of sturdy shoes in the spring or summer.
Except for two short stretches on the cliff-hugging path where you have to watch your footing, the walk to Naafkopf is quite negotiable and not dangerous at all. Give yourself a full day to go and come back, if you are staying at a hotel in the capital. If you're there in the winter, when it snows, it's best to hire a professional guide.
For your Naafkopf adventure, leave Vaduz in the morning and make your way through the town of Steg, less than 10 minutes away by auto or bus. Quaint beyond description, and mostly unvisited by tourists, Steg is the starting point for various walking trails leading to the peaks of three mountains known as the Three Sisters.
A Welcome to Hikers
Welcoming hands seem to be extended to hikers exploring a kind of never-never land; during ski periods, however, the lodgings along the way are always booked solid.
From Steg you head uphill to the town of Malbun (the end of the 760F Bus Line, if you've taken public transportation from Vaduz). A ski lift then takes you to an altitude of 6,500 feet, stopping at a wonderful sun terrace where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry before departing on foot toward the Naafkopf.
It's a fairly easy uphill hike of about 90 minutes to your first stop on this mountain ridge path, the Bettlerjoch Pfalzer Hut at 7,900 feet. There you can pause for a rest and refreshment.
With another bit of hiking you will reach Naafkopf Peak at 8,400 feet. In winter this makes a good starting point for a ski run downhill all the way to Malbun.
Three at Once
Once you reach the Naafkopf and the three countries that converge on top, there is another bonus if the weather is clear. You can see the silvery waters of Lake Constance and Germany in the distance, which means that atop the Naafkopf a visitor can see four countries at one time--Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. No other parcel of land in the world offers such an opportunity.
Atop the Naafkopf you are privileged to put your signature into a special book. The sturdy volume has been there for at least 15 years, when the three-meter wooden cross first went up. Prince Franz Joseph II,his wife and their five children have also signed the book.
If you want to walk all the way down, instead of taking the ski lift from the terrace to Malbun, allow yourself about five hours from Naafkopf. Begin your descent well before dusk because in a few places you do have to pay careful attention to the rough footpath. Atop the Naafkopf and on your way down, you will enjoy still another rarity, the most invigorating fresh air anywhere.
Once you've left Vaduz you have already made a bold step to seeing the real Liechtenstein. The director of Liechtenstein's tourism industry, Berthold Konrad, is firm in his belief that visitors do not spend enough time away from Vaduz.
"Tourists who come here," he says, "stay but a few hours in Vaduz, do a little buying in the souvenir shops, manage to sit at an outdoor cafe or restaurant for a drink or a meal and get their passports stamped so that they can tell friends back home they've been to Liechtenstein."
Virtually Untouched
The rest of Liechtenstein is virtually unblemished by mass tourism. Although it takes about 20 minutes to drive from one end of the country (Switzerland) to the other (Austria), visitors can turn off the main highway at almost any time and go into one of the 11 parish districts, each of which has its own character and most of which provide picturesque hamlets.
Liechtenstein's boundaries have not changed much since the early 15th Century, when two large estates (Schellenberg, known as the Lowlands, and Vaduz, known as the Uplands) were combined. In 1719, the two areas became the Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein, a constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliament.
Each of Liechtenstein's 11 communities is a former earldom. The largest is Triesenberg (population: 2,000), which has a strong Alpine character and magnificent forests and meadows. Of special attraction is the so-called Prince's Climb, which begins in the town of Gaflei and winds its way up through mountain peaks. This climb is named after Prince John II, who had a path cleared and made safe in 1898. Triesenberg, a snow-sport center, has one of the best bobsled runs in Europe.
Schaan, Liechtenstein's second largest parish, contains much of the country's industry, such as false teeth, feather pillows and quilts, and pharmaceutical products. Its Theater am Kirch Platz brings in international artists and has become the cultural focus of the country. The smallest parish, Planken, is in a woodland utopia and commands a marvelous panorama of the Rhine Valley.
Regarded as the oldest compact community in Liechtenstein, Triesen was founded in Roman times and is the home of several noble families. The old quarter of the village has a nature reserve and a beautiful small lake. The southernmost parish of Balzers is worth a look because of its Gutenberg Castle. Since 1919, it has been presenting operetta performances regularly.
Excavation Site
Eschen, as the main locality of the Liechtenstein lowland, has excavations of the New Stone Age culture; its prehistoric settlement should be viewed. Another parish, embracing two localities, is Gamprin-Bendern, which has been continuously inhabited since 2500 B.C. The Virgin's Grotto is the only underground shrine in Central Europe, and on the Kirchhugel (church hill), the men of Liechtenstein swore loyalty to their new prince on March 16, 1699.
Schellenberg, distinguished by its two castles built during the Middle Ages, houses a community of 581; it has been inhabited for 5,000 years.
Calling itself "the village of seven hillocks," Mauren-Schaanwald has a bird sanctuary and a nature trail that attracts many Europeans. Dotted by water meadows, Ruggell has 225 acres designated as a protected area to prevent the extinction of its special flora and fauna that is not found in other parts of Europe.
As for that bit about Liechtenstein being at war with a country that no longer exists, it can be explained this way: Having fought on the side of Vienna in the war between Austria and Prussia in the middle of the 19th Century, Liechtenstein was inadvertently not included when the peace treaty was signed. Thus, despite the fact that Prussia long ago was erased from the map of Europe, Liechtenstein has officially been at war with it for more than 100 years.
For further information, contact the Swiss National Tourist Office, 250 Stockton St., San Francisco 94108; (415) 362-2260.