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Berlin's Days of Jewish Culture
By berlinexperiences.com
Although the first jewish grave in this region dates from 1244 in nearby Spandau (embedded in the wall of the Citadel), the first mention of jews in Berlin's city documents is in an ordinance enacted on October 28th 1295 forbidding wool merchants from selling yarn to jews.
Considering the history of Berlin's jewish community in its totality, it would be no great feat to conclude that persecution and catastrophe have served as recurring themes.
Although the first jewish grave in this region dates from 1244 in nearby Spandau (embedded in the wall of the Citadel), the first mention of jews in Berlin's city documents is in an ordinance enacted on October 28th 1295 forbidding wool merchants from selling yarn to jews.
The 'court jew' Lippold is executed, 1571
This act of institutionalised discrimination was to set the tone for future treatment of the jewish community, routinely blamed for failed harvests, epidemics and accused of host desecration while numerous times over the next three centuries being expelled en masse.
Following the death of Elector Joachim II in 1571, the jews of the city were expelled "for all time", their property plundered and confiscated and the synagogue destroyed. Suspicion over Joachim's death had fallen on the 'court jew' Lippold who had served Joachim his last glass of wine. Lengthy imprisonment paired with torture was Lippold's punishment before being burned to death and quartered in a public ceremony.
Virtually no Jews inhabited Berlin for the next century. This was to remain the status quo up until 1663, when, finally, the elector of Brandenburg allowed Israel Aaron to enter Berlin as a court Jew.
Berlin's modern jewish community can trace its roots directly to the year 1671, when fifty prominent jewish families from Vienna settled in an area near present-day Hackescher Markt as so-called 'Schutzjuden'. One year previous, the jews of Vienna had been forcebly expelled by Emperor Leopold I, at the instigation of his Spanish wife Margarita Teresa who felt the jewish community responsible for her most recent miscarriage. These 'protected jews' were allowed to engage in certain commercial activities and worship privately following the purchase of expensive residence permits in Berlin.
Philosopher & scholar, Moses Mendelssohn
The relative stability that followed in the 1700s saw important developments made in Berlin's Jewish community, developments that would reverberate throughout the world. Under the guidance of Moses Mendelsohn, the 'German Socrates' and chief figure in the jewish enlightenment of the 18th century, several educational reforms were introduced, the 'Jewish Free School' was opened in conjunction with a printing press, and Berlin grew to become the centre for the production of 'Haskalah' (Enlightenment) books and articles. One of the publications from this era The Lesebuch für jüdische Kinder was so highly regarded as to serve as a model for teaching non-Jewish children in schools.
Mendelssohn urged jews to integrate into secular society, demanding that his co-religionists speak, read and study in German as to better understand the culture that surrrounded them. This involved, amonst other things, teaching Jewish children the German alphabet and pressing adults to consider themselves less members of a religious sect and more members of a overall society.
The arrival of Napoleon in 1806 brought the French insistence of liberty and equality, subsequently restrictions of residence and special generic metformin 500 mg taxes were removed for Berlin jews. In 1812, Prussian jews were eventually granted right of citizenship.
Inside Berlin's Neue Synagoge, 1866
One of the defining moments of Berlin's jewish community's progress and inclusion in the 1800s was certainly the construction of the Neue Synagoge on Oranienburger Strasse, at the time the largest synagogue in Europe. The opening ceremony attended by the minister president of Prussia and future German chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.
The unification of Germany in 1871, under Prussian leadership, ushered in a period of improved relations between German jews and their non-jewish co-patriots, and by the turn of the century there were more than 110,000 Jews in Berlin. The Weimar years (1919-1933) are often considered the 'Golden Era' of Berlin Jewry, with artists such as Max Liebermann, Otto Klemperer, Lesser Ury and Max Reinhardt all encapsulating the zeitgeist of the era.
The tragedy that followed with the Nazi seizure of power in 1933 has sadly served to eclipse the successes the jewish community had by that time managed to attain. That story remains the most shameful and unforgettable chapter of Berlin's jewish history.
Max Liebermann in his Berlin studio
Launched in 1987, to co-incide with the commemorate 750 years since Berlin's founding, the Days of Jewish Culture have since become a regular feature in the city calendar – helping to strengthen a different discourse about Jewish life in Berlin – that where there was persecution and death there also existed vibrancy and life.
More than simply serving as the 'other' in society, Jewish figures have played a prominent role in Berlin's history and culture and as there are now more Jews living in Germany than at any time since the end of World War II, Berlin is yet again the capital of Jewish life in the country.
Celebrating jewish culture through theatrical performances, readings, discussions, exhibitions, church services and concerts, the Days of Jewish Culture festival is a potent symbol of the resurgenence of Jewish life and culture in Berlin over a total of eight days.
A selection of upcoming events:
November 6th 2016 – the Fraenkelufer Synagogue is hosting an exhibition of the Hungarian born photographer Robert Capa's work entitled 'Robert Capa in Berlin – a new beginning'. As the first synagogue to re-open after World War II, the building became the site of the first Jewish New Year celebration after the Holocaust, attended and photographed by Capa.
https://fraenkelufer.wordpress.com/
November 8th 2016 – The Liebermann-Villa am Wannsee, the former home of the impressionist era painter of the same name, will serve as the venue for a podium discussion on what Judaism means in Berlin present day, with the city's former mayor Klaus Wowereit appearing as a guest speaker.
http://www.liebermann-villa.de/
November 12th 2016 – Echoing the raucous swing dancing heights of the 1920s Weimar-era the Capital Dance Orchestra will transform the Fasanenstrasse Jewish Community House for a night of unexpected twists that is also set to include a hip-hop routine using peculiar animal puppets.
http://www.jg-berlin.org/en.html
http://www.juedische-kulturtage.org/
Days of Jewish Culture, Jewish, Jewish Berlin, Jewish Heritage, Klaus Wowereit, Moses Mendelssohn, Neue Synagoge, Otto von Bismarck, Robert Capa, WWII
berlinexperiences.com
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The Weekend Australian revealed plans to target the conditions, mostly afflicting children, last May, after the National Disability Insurance Agency accidentally uploaded a new operational guideline to its website that would, if put into practice, remove one level of autism from automatic entry to the scheme.
New data released by the agency covering July to September last year shows the NDIA expected the average yearly cost of support for each person with autism to be about $37,000 but the actual result was closer to $33,000.
Although actual funding for children with developmental and global delay crept up slightly, the figures are lower by more than half and a third respectively than the package levels the agency had anticipated, based on funding assumptions in the bilateral agreements that govern the NDIS.
The decrease in funding for autistic children in this quarter came on top of a slight reduction at the end of the last financial year and a drop of about $7000 for each person, on average, between January and March.
The Australian previously revealed the agency had begun "back-testing" children with autism to make sure they met eligibility criteria and "reviewing them out" when they didn't.
NDIA staff and two social services ministers have denied any change within the agency that would result in a reduction in support for children with autism and related conditions.
An NDIA spokesman said yesterday that autism package funding had grown by 2.8 per cent quarter on quarter. However, the agency's own graph on the official quarterly report, which uses an annualised figure, shows a reduction compared with the previous quarter.
"The facts are, for the period Q4 17/18 to Q1 18/19, there has been an increase in average committed supports for participants aged 0-6 years, aged 7-14 years, with autism, developmental delay and global developmental delay," the spokesman said.
The agency did not respond to questions about the rate of growth falling below expectations. Spending on children aged up to six and between seven and 14 has dropped below forecasts.
Every other age group in the scheme came in with package costs that were higher than expected.
The proportion of children aged under 18 entering the scheme in the first quarter of this financial year was four percentage points lower than any quarter in the scheme's history.
In budget estimates in June last year, NDIA chief executive Rob De Luca confirmed the existence of a closed-door program called Project Green Light and said it was about "making sure that the right people get into the scheme".
The proportion of people with autism in the NDIS is still 29 per cent — or more than 54,000 participants — making it the largest single disability group. The next highest group, those with intellectual disabilities, represents 27 per cent of all participants.
The Productivity Commission design blueprint for the NDIS, released in 2011, assumed only 20 per cent of its participants would have autism.
In its most recent quarterly report, released this week, the agency concedes that "plan budgets continue to increase by more than expected, in particular for participants in supported independent living".
The new data shows spending for people with spinal cord injuries is more than twice as was assumed, funding for people with cerebral palsy is 80 per cent higher than expected and about the same for those with acquired brain injuries. Spending is also significantly higher for those with multiple sclerosis, stroke and some neurological conditions.


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The next time you need auto repairs, consider doing them yourself. This article can be a useful guideline if you need to get your car in good running condition. You will save cash and feel more confident.
This shows that a mechanic has passed a special test for competence and has at least two years of experience. This means you that the best mechanic performing maintenance on your car.
Make sure that you do not neglect the radiator. Let the car run a while, but only long enough to let the fluid circulate. You never want to open up the radiator of a car that is running. Check the radiator fluid by using a dipstick and remember to dilute coolant with water prior to adding it.
Be careful of auto technicians who will do unnecessary work on your vehicle. A good mechanic should let you know if they noticed parts that are starting to get worn down and will never perform work without your approval. Never bring your repeat business to a auto technician who doesn't do the right kinds of repairs.
Make sure that you are receiving OEM parts. These parts are the manufacturer. It may be cheaper to take generic parts, but you won't get the most out of these things after a while. What may seem like a cheap option now could be an expensive option later.
A spare tire and a jack are valuable items to have in your trunk. Many newer cars have them. You don't need to be stuck out in the road and be forced to spend money on a tow. It is much easier and cheaper to do it yourself.
Replacing a burnt-out headlight or taillight is much cheaper when you both time and money. It's simpler in some vehicles than others, and it's a lot cheaper than having someone else do it. Ask someone you trust if they can instruct you how to fix these problems.
Speak with friends and family about where they get their auto shop recommendations before you pick a shop. You may get a few recommendations from friends and family. You should still always do your research however. Check online to see if there is other information or reviews at the very least.
Avoid diagnosing your own car problems yourself.What may seem to be a simple task can be very complex, especially if the vehicle is newer. Let an auto repair shop diagnose the mechanic diagnose the problem. Give them every detail about what happened and if there were any sounds associated with the problem, but leave the final diagnosis to them.
You can easily do some preventative maintenance such as adding more oil or top up your windshield fluid on your own. It is not true that only professional auto mechanics can do routine jobs should be left to the professionals. Learn how to do the job before beginning, and then roll up your sleeves and get to work.
If you want to know how to diagnose problems with your vehicle, it helps to know a little bit about how a vehicle is made. You might even consider taking a class on auto repair if you are unfamiliar with automobile basics. This is why it's a good idea to look for problems and address them before they get serious so your car which will help it last longer.
Spend a little time educating yourself on how your car and what makes it "tick". You can only avoid the mechanic if you possess a bit of auto repair knowledge yourself. You will save plenty of money after all is said an done if you're not paying a lot to fix small things all the time.
Determine whether you plan to get repairs done at a dealership or an independent garage. Independent garages are cheaper, however it can be hard to find an honest one.
Always get your auto repairs done at a shop the manufacturer authorizes. Going to any other auto repair shop may void all or part of the warranty.
Seek second opinion prior to having any big repairs done on you car. The mechanic may be offended or offer a special price to do repairs right away, but be suspicious of this.
Don't hesitate to ask questions that you have when it comes to getting your vehicle repaired. Any decent company worth its salt will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Handling car repair problems may seem nearly impossible at first. You will be successful if you take the time to learn more about auto repairs and go to a mechanic's when you need to. Take the knowledge you learned here and some tips you pick up on your own to save money in the future.


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Welcome to the Mens Section where we offer plenty of opportunities to join in with our varied activities.
Play 4-ball match-play against other local Clubs on a Home and Away basis with a meal afterwards. Start times are 8:30 for home matches and usually the same for away matches although some clubs do vary.
Current fixtures are with Abbeydale; Chatsworth; Chesterfield; Hallamshire; Hillsborough and Lees Hall.
Operate on the same basis as the seniors and is aimed at people with a handicap of 18 and above although this can vary as some of the teams that they play are 'B' teams with players of varying abilities. Start times are mid-afternoon usually between 2 and 3:30pm depending upon time of year.
Current fixtures are with Abbeydale; Bakewell; Chatsworth; Hallowes; Lees Hall and Matlock.
Gents are encouraged to join in with the Ladies for the Mixed Foursomes events as well as matches against local teams.
A number of fiddles play at varying times on most days of the week – contact the Pro Shop for more information if you want to join in.
Regular Medals, Stablefords are held throughout the year as well as Club Competitions all of which are listed in the Club Diary.
As well as Members being able to invite friends to play we also accommodate Visiting Parties and Societies.
Is a good way for new members to meet other people. A Diary Day is scheduled for a Sunday towards the middle of December when people can pair up and arrange to play social golf against other members, on Sundays, throughout the year. Some of our Ladies have now joined in either as pairs or with a Gent.
The Club Porfessional, Steve Roberts can tell you more and help you to find a playing partner if you need one.
The Club Diary, Notice-Boards, Pro Shop plus existing Members are your main sources of information about our Club and its activities but don't forget the Rules of Golf including Etiquette and expected Dress Codes both on the course and in the clubhouse.
One important rule 'keep up with the game in front not in front of the game behind'.
Enjoy your golf at Dore & Totley – encourage others to join.


After getting married in Poland what place could be more romantic for a honeymoon than Paris? After visiting that magical city we truly understand why Paris is called "the city of love". Maybe it was honeymoon fever, or french wine and cheeses, but it was the most romantic and lovely trip we took. We walked around the city all day, admired the incredible architecture, ate the most delicious food, and simply enjoyed each others company. The french culture is visible on every street we strolled through, in every landmark we walked into, you could simply smell it in the air. Paris, we simply love you!


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Chip Howell
Chip Howell is native to Bell County, born and raised in Temple and a Temple High School graduate, now maintains a lovely home in beautiful Morgan's Point Resort, Texas where he and his amazing wife, Cassie Daniel Howell look to use for a retreat from the busyness of the Capitol City.
In 2019, Chip officially organized his political consulting firm, Elephant in the Room Strategies, which led to the exciting takeover of Pints & Politics of Bell County, TX which has now expanded to Brown, Lampasas & Travis Counties. In 2021 we rolled out our Voter Education & Engagement Program including our Veteran Voters Engagement Project. Besides the many campaigns Elephant in the Room Strategies is lining up for 2022, we are expanding Pints & Politics into more areas and adding a few more monthly events to their repertoire.
Chip owns and operates Red Fleet Transportation Service, a small transportation and logistics company that provides safe transportation forpeople and items using tech based platforms such as Uber, UberEats, Lyft, DoorDash, PostMates & Roadie and collects and returned Lime Scooters to the LimeBase to be serviced and charged. Red Fleet also specializes in logistical transportation for Conservative events, conferences, conventions and PACs.
As a lifelong learner and with an educator's heart, Chip has taught at Temple College and mentored the Theology Education by Extension program for the Seminary of the University of the South. Chip also is an independent distributor of Wellness BioScience CBD products through his www.A2iWellness.com website and maintains his retail outlet of Cool Conservative merchandise, The Pachyderm's Trunk, www.thepachydermstrunk.com.
Chip is a graduate of the University of Central Texas, (now Texas A&M University Central Texas), with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and a St. Edward's University alum. He also holds a Certificate of Completion for Theology Education by Extension from the Seminary of the University of the South, and completed certification as a Dale Carnegie Instructor.
Chip is an active member of Light of Christ Anglican Church in Georgetown, TX. Chip became an Altrusan in June 2104. He is currently taking a respite from leadership roles in his home club, Altrusa International of The Chisholm Trail.
Outside of his commitments to Altrusa, his favorite volunteer work is wishing soldiers well on their deployments as a USO – Fort Hood volunteer, as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year, and the last civilian they see before leaving U.S. soil, fundraising for the American Cancer Society as a model for the Central Texas Bra Brunch & the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign, a Squire of Hope for St. Baldrick's Foundation as well as making public appearances in the character of Benjamin Franklin. He enjoys spending as much time as he can with his nine year-old niece and Lady Liberty, his American Blue Heeler Mix rescued in 2016.
Donate to Chip Howell's Fundraiser!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We all know that we have to bring water when camping but how much is enough? When camping we need to think about more than just the water we'll be drinking. We need water for drinking, for cooking, for cleaning up, and for personal hygiene activities.
So how much water to bring when camping you ask? When car camping somewhere without water, you should plan to bring 2 gallons of water for each person per day. When wilderness camping you should plan on bringing a gallon of water per person per day.
These numbers include the water you'll need for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene. When car camping you'll have the added luxury of being able to devote more water to personal hygiene, cooking, and cleaning. While out on the trail, you may have to get a bit creative with your personal hygiene as you simply won't be able to carry as much water with you.
This assumes that you won't have access to any clean water supplies. If you're able to get water on location then you'll only need to bring enough water with you to get you by between supply runs.
Let's take a further look at how everything breaks down so that you can see why we're recommending you bring 2 gallons of water when car camping and 1 gallon of water when wilderness camping.
Most experts agree that a healthy adult should drink about 64 ounces of water each day. You may need more if you're sweating a lot and you may need less if you're planning on being mostly sedentary.
For example, the person spending the day hiking out in the desert all day is going to need less water than the person reading a book by the river all day. If you're on medicine or you're larger than most people, you may need even more water.
Whenever possible, it is better to overpack than to under-pack.
Car campers can pack their drinking water in bottles or in jugs with spigots in them. Just be careful not to put all of your water into one jug when remote car camping as one hole can quickly drain you of all of your water. This is especially true when car camping out in the desert as even car campers can easily become stranded.
Backcountry campers have more planning to do as all of the water will need to be carried. Some hikers will use water bladders built into backpacks and others will use bottles or canteens. In most cases, the lighter the container, the better.
Again, it is better to have your water split up among more than one container. Many backpackers will make use of a water bladder, (like a camelback backpack), and a canteen or two. I'm a fan of plastic Nalgene water bottles as they're sturdy and lightweight but many other companies make great water bottles for hiking and camping as well.
I love drinking coffee. I drink at least two 12-ounce cups of coffee each day. Because of this, I need to pack an additional 24 ounces of water just for coffee. I have friends that don't drink coffee but they love drink powders and thus need to pack water to mix with their powders. If you'll be subsiding on water alone, you may not need the extra 24 ounces of water I've devoted to this.
Another 64 ounces of water is devoted to cooking and cleaning. This includes the water needed for cooking up dry food like oatmeal and pasta as well as the water needed to clean my pots and pans afterward.
For example, 1/4 cup of oats requires a full cup of water. That is another 8 ounces just for oatmeal.
When wilderness camping, the amount of water I bring for camping drops dramatically as I simply don't have the ability to carry an extra 64 ounces of water with me when hiking. In this case, I'll try to pack food that doesn't require quite as much water to cook and I'll find alternative methods for cleaning up my dishes.
Dehydrated food is great for hiking since it is lightweight and packs down small. The only issue with it is that it does require additional water. If you're packing all of this water in with you then you have to decide whether the weight and space savings of dehydrated food is actually worth it.
Car campers have the luxury of being able to fully wash up at the end of the day. For some campers, this might just mean a trip to the bathhouse which will have hot showers and sinks to use. In this case, you probably don't have to worry much about water at all.
In other car camping locations, you'll have to bring the water you need to clean up with you. I recommend about 72 ounces for this.
8 ounces is devoted just to brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth out.
64 ounces is devoted to washing my face as well as the areas of my body that I feel need to be cleaned each day.
I don't bother shaving when I'm camping but some people may want to pack a little bit of extra water for shaving. When I was in the Army I found that shaving in the field actually doesn't require much water so you may be able to get by with the 72 ounces of water I recommended.
Some car campers will pack portable showers which generally require about 2 gallons of water to fill. If you plan on doing this, you'll probably need 3 to 4 gallons of water for each day of camping.
Wilderness campers will have to get by with baby wipes, facial wipes and a small amount of water to be used for rinsing their mouths out after brushing.
In some cases, you simply won't be able to pack enough water for your entire trip. For example, people doing thru-hikes on the Appalachian trail could never carry enough water to get them through the entire Summer.
Even car campers looking to head out for a couple of weeks may not be able to pack as much water as they'd like to use on their trip. This is especially true for people who want to take daily camp-showers. So what do these people do?
The easiest way to get water when car camping is to choose a campsite in close proximity to a potable water source. Many state and national parks will have water sources close by. You'll know because they'll have the locations for water listed on the park map. In some cases, you may even be able to rent a campsite that has a water pipe run directly to the site.
Other car camping spots may not be close to clean drinking water but that doesn't mean there isn't water close by. For example, you may be near a stream, river, or lake that you can use to get water from. In this case, you'll just need a high-quality water filter that is built for camping or other off-grid purposes. You can buy small water filters for as little as $30.00 or you can go with larger ones that cost several hundred dollars.
Some desert areas will not have any water sources in the area. If this is the case, you may need to plan on driving back to town from time-to-time. Whatever you do, don't wait until you've run out of water before going to get more. Refill your water supply while you still have a day or two of water and you'll be less likely to run out in an emergency.
Stationary backcountry campers can plan on using local water sources with water filters or can plan on hiking back from time to time to refill their water sources. When planning to use local water sources, always make sure that the water source is still there before planning to rely on it.
For example, some water sources along the Appalachian trail can run dry during the summer months. Imagine showing up thirsty to a dried out water source.
Backpacking campers may want to plan ahead so that they can drop off the trail from time-to-time to restock their water supplies. Many trails overlap civilization so refilling water bladders and canteens might be as simple as hiking off the trail to a local convenience store or gas station.
A full day of hiking can require as much as a half a gallon of water or more. This will vary depending on the difficulty of the hike as well as the weather you'll be hiking in. A good rule of thumb is to plan on drinking 8 ounces of water for each hour of hiking. Just be sure you're fully hydrated before venturing out so that you're not trying to play "catch-up" while out on your day hike.
From a health perspective, people tend to burn about 15 calories per pound of bodyweight. If you're hiking and doing physical exercise you can easily burn 20 calories a day per pound of bodyweight. Bring enough food to meet your nutritional requirements and plan on eating enough calories to replace what you've burned each day.


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Virginia Congress members push for inclusion of study to reduce sea-level rise in Hampton Roads
Report: Clinton investigator Ken Starr joining Trump impeachment team
'Dog the Bounty Hunter' shares tribute to his wife, Beth Chapman
'Dog the Bounty Hunter' spoke publicly for the first time since the death of his wife, Beth Chapman.
Author: Andrew Weil, Tegna
Published: 4:54 PM EDT June 27, 2019
Updated: 4:56 PM EDT June 27, 2019
"Dog the Bounty Hunter" star Duane Chapman paid tribute to his late wife, Beth Chapman, on Thursday by showing fans a side of her they may not have known.
Beth Chapman died early Wednesday morning in Hawaii after an almost two-year battle with cancer. She was 51.
On Friday, she was taken to the hospital after having difficulty breathing and doctors put her in a medically induced coma to spare her pain while treating her, a spokeswoman said.
Duane Chapman told reporters on Wednesday that his wife "fought hard" and for a few years now, they knew this day would come, but it "came really unexpected, really fast."
"All of her clothes are exactly where they were, her make-up, everything. We didn't prepare," an emotional Chapman described to Hawaii News Now, outside the family's home.
He also thanked friends and fans from around the world for supporting his family during "their most terrible time."
RELATED: Beth Chapman, wife of 'Dog the Bounty Hunter,' has died
"The cancer gig, of course, we gotta find a cure," "Dog" said. "Because all we have now is some get lucky, but most pass away."
On Thursday, he posted a Twitter video of Beth doing karaoke. "People have asked me.. What is something fans do not know about Beth... Here you go," Duane Chapman tweeted.
Duane Chapman also opened up about his wife's final days in the hospital.
"One of the last things she said, 'this is a test of my faith,'" Chapman recalled to reporters.
He said they plan to hold memorial services in both Hawaii and Colorado, where Beth was born. "You kind of try to remember that you're celebrating life, but right now we're mourning the death."
"I hope there is a God. And if there is, I'm going to see my honey again. And that's all we can do, is hope," Chapman described.
Recently the couple had been filming for a new series on WGN America titled "Dog's Most Wanted." Production sources told TMZ cameras weren't recording when Beth suffered her medical emergency last week.


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Setting up an authorised collective investment scheme in the UK Setting up an authorised collective investment scheme in the UK
Setting up an authorised collective investment scheme in the UK
Out-Law Guide | 23 Feb 2017 | 9:58 am | 8 min. read
There are many arrangements that may be used to set up a collective investment scheme, but only certain ones can be used if that scheme is to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
This guide was last updated in February 2017.
Authorised funds operate within a highly regulated environment, and not all investment strategies are suitable for this environment. The fund structures that may be used are:
open-ended investment company (OEIC), also known as an investment company with variable capital (ICVC);
authorised unit trust (AUT); or
authorised contractual scheme (ACS), which may be either a limited partnership or a co-ownership scheme.
Regardless of the vehicle used, each scheme must have an operator and a depositary in order to be authorised. The operator, also known as the authorised fund manager (AFM), is responsible for the overall management of the scheme while the depositary acts as custodian of the scheme's assets.
The operator and the depositary have specific responsibilities and duties which are set out in a range of legislation and rules. The AFM may delegate some of its duties to other parties such as investment managers, investment advisers or administrators, but it cannot delegate its responsibilities under the regulatory system. The depositary's duties also include oversight of some of the AFM's activities. The AFM and the depositary must be independent of each other.
FCA rules governing the operation of authorised funds are set out in the Collective Investment Scheme Sourcebook (COLL), which is part of the FCA's Handbook of Rules and Guidance.
Open-ended investment companies
An OEIC is a corporate vehicle established by a constitutional document known as the instrument of incorporation. Although they share many characteristics of companies and are subject to some parts of the 2006 Companies Act, OEICs are subject to a special set of statutory requirements set out in the 2001 Open-Ended Investment Company Regulations (OEIC Regulations).
An OEIC can appoint any number of directors but must appoint at least one that is an authorised corporate director (ACD), who is responsible for carrying out the management function of the OEIC and is authorised by the FCA to act as the operator of the fund. The ACD can act as the sole director of the OEIC, and it is in fact usual for OEICs to appoint only an ACD.
An OEIC must also appoint an independent depositary to act as custodian of the OEIC's assets, although it is common for custody to be delegated to one or more sub-custodians.
Authorised unit trusts
An AUT is a collective investment scheme under which the property is held on trust for the participants. It is established by trust deed entered into by the AFM and a trustee, which acts as the authorised depositary of the scheme.
In an AUT, investors have a beneficial interest in the assets of the fund, represented by units which are broadly treated in the same way as shares for the purposes of the FCA's rules. This means that a holder of units in an AUT will, for example, have the right to redeem their units, attend and vote at meetings of unit holders and receive income dividends from the units. Statutory requirements applying to AUTs are set out in part 17 of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA).
Authorised contractual schemes
The ACS is a relatively new, tax transparent, authorised scheme vehicle. It was introduced in June 2013 to enable the establishment of 'master-feeder' arrangements where, for example, a master fund could be established in one EEA state with feeder funds in others.
The structure of the ACS is similar to the common contractual fund available in Ireland, and the fond commun de placement (FCP) available in jurisdictions such as Luxembourg.
Although OEICs and AUTs can be marketed to the general public subject to certain conditions, only certain types of large or experienced investors are permitted to invest directly in an ACS.
ACSs are established under the 2013 Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations (ACS Regulations) and will be either:
a co-ownership scheme; or
a limited partnership scheme.
A co-ownership scheme is established by deed between the AFM and a depositary. Investors subscribe for units in the scheme rather than by entering into the deed, much like with an AUT. The scheme itself has no legal personality: the scheme's property is beneficially owned by its unitholders while the depositary holds legal title.
Authorised limited partnerships are formed by a limited partnership deed entered into a by a general partner, who will be the AFM, and a nominated partner, which will be the only limited partner of but not a participant in the scheme on its formation. The investors in the scheme will be limited partners and legal title will be held by the depositary, as in a co-ownership scheme.
The form of a limited partnership ACS follows closely that of a limited partnership made under the 1907 Limited Partnership Act, with some amendments in the ACS Regulations:
limited partners will be able to withdraw their contributions without this requiring the dissolution of the partnership as a whole, provided that at least one limited partner remains;
in the absence of wrongdoing on its part, the general partner will not be liable for the debts of the limited partnership;
partnership changes need not be published in the Official Gazette.
Each of the vehicles described above may be set up as single schemes or, except for ACSs that are limited partnerships, umbrella schemes with a number of sub-funds, of which there must be at least two.
The few ACSs that have been established to date are structured as co-ownership schemes.
Categories of authorised fund
Under the COLL rules there are three regulatory categories of authorised fund:
UCITS scheme;
non-UCITS retail scheme (NURS);
qualified investor scheme (QIS).
The category will determined the high level investment rules for the fund.
UCITS schemes
Undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) are regulated at EU level under the 2014 UCITS Directive, referred to as UCITS V. UCITS originally came into force in December 1985 to facilitate the cross-border marketing of retail funds that complied with its provisions. These provisions set the types and limits on investments that can be made by such funds, enforcing the spread of risk and enabling them to be marketed to the public with a consistent set of requirements.
The UCITS Directive has been through a number of updates and revisions since the original was implemented. These have extended the range of permitted investments and the activities that an AFM is permitted to carry on.
UCITS may invest in 'transferable securities', which are defined as:
shares in companies and other securities equivalent to shares in companies (shares);
bonds and other forms of securitised debt (debt securities); or
any other negotiable securities which carry the right to acquire any such transferable securities by subscription or exchange.
They may also invest in other liquid financial assets, which include:
money market instruments;
units of UCITS and other collective investment schemes;
deposits; and
financial derivatives, the underlying of which is another permitted investment type.
UCITS must be at least 90% invested in listed assets.
Article 1(5) of the UCITS Directive provides that member states shall prohibit a UCITS from transforming itself into a collective investment scheme which is not covered by the directive. In the UK, the practical effect of this is that although an authorised fund constituted as a NURS can convert to a UCITS, a UCITS cannot convert to a NURS. If a UCITS wishes to become a NURS, the fund will have to transfer its assets to a different entity established as a NURS. Such a transfer will require a special resolution of unitholders.
Non-UCITS retail schemes
NURSs, as their name suggests, are authorised schemes that can be marketed to the public but that do not comply with the UCITS Directive. NURSs are within the scope of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). The AIFMD governs funds that are not UCITS funds, and provides an EU-wide regulatory framework for the supervision of fund managers or operators that includes reporting requirements and notifications.
The range of permitted investments for a NURS is largely the same as that for a UCITS but the COLL rules permit investment in real estate and gold. The investment spread requirements are also less strict than those applied to UCITS.
Qualified investor schemes
A QIS may only be marketed to experienced investors who meet certain qualifying criteria. As such, they are permitted to invest in a broader range of assets and are subject to less prescriptive rules on borrowing and investment powers.
QISs are also within the scope of AIFMD.
There are a range of rules governing the provision and timing of information to investors and the FCA.
Documents that must be filed with the FCA, firstly upon application for authorisation and then whenever changes are made to either the scheme or the documents, include:
the instrument constituting the scheme - i.e. the instrument of incorporation, unit trust deed or limited partnership agreement;
full prospectus – an extensive document that sets out prescribed information concerning the fund, the parties within the fund structure, the investment objective and policy of the scheme, other operational information concerning investment powers and limits, the process for subscribing for and redeeming interests in the scheme, valuation and pricing and, in the case of an umbrella scheme, relevant information in respect of each of its sub-funds; and
the key investor information document (KIID) - a short form document that sets out specific prescribed details about the scheme.
An up to date copy of the full prospectus must be filed with the FCA. Any significant changes that result in a change to the prospectus will need FCA approval; for example a change to the investment policy or increase in fees payable to the AFM. Any change that results in a change to the instrument constituting the scheme will always require FCA approval in accordance with regulation 21 of the OEIC Regulations, section 251 FSMA for AUTs or section 261Q FSMA for ACSs. Some changes may also require unitholder approval.
The purpose of the KIID is to be a short, meaningful explanation of the risks, costs and expected outcomes associated with investments in a UCITS in a form understandable by retail investors. It replaced the simplified prospectus, which is still used by some NURS, although a NURS is permitted to opt to prepare a KIID.
The KIID is set to be replaced by a new investor disclosure document introduced by the EU regulation on key information documents (KIDs) for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs). The KID will be a new pan-European pre-contractual disclosure document that all retail investors should receive when they are considering purchasing certain types of investment products including investment funds, retail structured products and certain types of insurance contracts used for investment purposes. The PRIIPs Regulation is currently expected to apply from January 2018.
Authorised funds must be audited, and annual and half-yearly reports and accounts must be prepared and made available to investors.
Operational matters
Some schemes can and do hold AGMs, but are empowered to dispense with the holding of these meetings. Many schemes now only hold extraordinary general meetings of investors to approve fundamental changes to the scheme.
The COLL rules set out a hierarchy of changes that may need FCA, and sometimes investor, approval before they can be implemented.
A fundamental change requires both FCA and investor approval. Fundamental changes may give investors cause to rethink their investment in the fund, and therefore require their approval. Examples of fundamental changes include:
changes to the investment policy of a fund that may alter its risk profile;
the introduction of a new fee, such as a performance fee;
a scheme of arrangement.
It is worth noting that, for this reason, many authorised funds have very broad investment objectives.
Significant changes require FCA approval, but not investor approval. Significant changes may include:
increases in expenses charged to the scheme;
events that might affect an investor's ability to exercise rights attaching to the investment in the scheme – for example, if an AFM were to propose the removal of the right of investors to request a sale of assets on their behalf.
Notifiable
Notifiable changes are insignificant changes that do not require either FCA or investor approval, but must be notified to investors. These include minor changes that must be made as a result of changes in regulation. Depending on the nature of the change, the notification can be made pre- or post-event.
David Heffron
+44(0) 20 7490 6500 [email protected]
Elizabeth Budd
+44 (0)20 7054 2657 [email protected]
AI in Financial Services


text:
from tensorflow.python.ops import init_ops
from tensorflow.python.ops import math_ops
from tensorflow.python.ops import variable_scope
from tensorflow.python.framework import ops
from tensorflow.python.training.moving_averages import assign_moving_average

# Same as tensorflow.python.training.moving_averages.weighted_moving_average but allows access to the average without updating
class WeightedMovingAverage(object):
    def __init__(self, value,
                            decay,
                            weight,
                            truediv=True,
                            collections=None,
                            name=None):

        """Compute the weighted moving average of `value`.
        Conceptually, the weighted moving average is:
          `moving_average(value * weight) / moving_average(weight)`,
        where a moving average updates by the rule
          `new_value = decay * old_value + (1 - decay) * update`
        Internally, this Op keeps moving average variables of both `value * weight`
        and `weight`.
        Args:
          value: A numeric `Tensor`.
          decay: A float `Tensor` or float value.  The moving average decay.
          weight:  `Tensor` that keeps the current value of a weight.
            Shape should be able to multiply `value`.
          truediv:  Boolean, if `True`, dividing by `moving_average(weight)` is
            floating point division.  If `False`, use division implied by dtypes.
          collections:  List of graph collections keys to add the internal variables
            `value * weight` and `weight` to.  Defaults to `[GraphKeys.VARIABLES]`.
          name: Optional name of the returned operation.
            Defaults to "WeightedMovingAvg".
        Returns:
          An Operation that updates and returns the weighted moving average.
        """
        # Unlike assign_moving_average, the weighted moving average doesn't modify
        # user-visible variables. It is the ratio of two internal variables, which are
        # moving averages of the updates.  Thus, the signature of this function is
        # quite different than assign_moving_average.
        if collections is None:
            collections = [ops.GraphKeys.VARIABLES]
        with variable_scope.variable_op_scope(
                [value, weight, decay], name, "WeightedMovingAvg") as scope:
            value_x_weight_var = variable_scope.get_variable(
                "value_x_weight",
                initializer=init_ops.zeros_initializer(value.get_shape(),
                                                       dtype=value.dtype),
                trainable=False,
                collections=collections)
            weight_var = variable_scope.get_variable(
                "weight",
                initializer=init_ops.zeros_initializer(weight.get_shape(),
                                                       dtype=weight.dtype),
                trainable=False,
                collections=collections)
            numerator = assign_moving_average(value_x_weight_var, value * weight, decay)
            denominator = assign_moving_average(weight_var, weight, decay)

            if truediv:
                div = math_ops.truediv
            else:
                div = math_ops.div
            self.average_with_update = div(numerator, denominator+1e-8, name=scope.name)
            self.average = div(value_x_weight_var, weight_var)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
By Draggingtree,
October 5, 2016 in Funky
Draggingtree
Man Who Killed Neighbors Set for First Texas Execution in Months
by Jolie McCullough Oct. 5, 2016
Six months after the Texas death chamber held its latest execution, Barney Ronald Fuller Jr. is set to die Wednesday for the 2003 shooting deaths of his neighbors in rural East Texas.
If it occurs, Fuller's execution will break the longest gap between executions in Texas since 2008, when the U.S. Supreme Court was considering the constitutionality of lethal injection. It will also mark the first time Houston County has put someone to death since the penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976.
Fuller, 53, was sentenced to death for killing Annette and Nathan Copeland, his neighbors on the outskirts of Lovelady, a small town with around 600 residents at the time about 100 miles north of Houston. In the early morning of May 14, 2003, he fired into their home with an assault rifle before breaking in and killing them both with a pistol, according to court documents.
Execution of Man Who Killed Neighbors is State's First in Months
by Jolie McCullough / Oct. 5, 2016 / 1Comment
Barney Fuller's execution Wednesday for the 2003 shooting deaths in rural East Texas ended Texas' longest gap between executions since 2008.


The Pelican Micro Case series are a series of water-resistant, crushproof, and dust-proof cases made to carry small valuable items. They are made of copolymer, which makes them extremely strong and durable. They have a rubber liner for extra protection, which doubles as an o-ring seal. The case has an Automatic Pressure Equalization Valve that balances interior pressure and keeps water out. Includes carabiner to carry the case.


RL9 is a team of professionally trained all-stars in the fields of sports and marketing. Led by Rashard Lewis, each team member shares a commitment in training athletes to become winners on and off the court.
RL9 Elite exists to enhance the lives of athletes from the young & innocent kids who play in pursuit of dreams, love & passion for the game. To the professional athletes who play for all the same reasons.
RL9 consists of 10 teams who will all be competing at the National level and we are asking for your help and support to get our atheletes there. Each team has a different need so not one of our fundraising goals will be the same.
We would like to extend the biggest thank you to our dedicated coaches, parents and everyone else that come out, supported our boys, our organization and our mission.
Join My Team and Spread the Word!
Thank you for helping our athletes reach their goals. Please share this link with as many people as you can. It really does take a village to raise our kids. Thank you for being apart of that village!
Go team. We are proud of you!
Really proud of you Makale. Go team 9!
Makale you have made the Mingo Family Proud We love you keep God 1st.


text:
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using OpenADK.Library;
using OpenADK.Library.Global;
using OpenADK.Library.au.Common;

namespace OpenADK.Library.au.Sif3assessment{

/// <summary>An ActivityEvaluation</summary>
/// <remarks>
///
/// <para>Author: Generated by adkgen</para>
/// <para>Version: 2.6</para>
/// <para>Since: 2.6</para>
/// </remarks>
[Serializable]
public class ActivityEvaluation : SifKeyedElement
{
	/// <summary>
	/// Creates an instance of an ActivityEvaluation
	/// </summary>
	public ActivityEvaluation() : base ( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION ){}

	/// <summary>
	/// Constructor that accepts values for all mandatory fields
	/// </summary>
	///<param name="evaluationType">An EvaluationType</param>
	///
	public ActivityEvaluation( EvaluationType evaluationType ) : base( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION )
	{
		this.SetEvaluationType( evaluationType );
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Constructor used by the .Net Serialization formatter
	/// </summary>
	[SecurityPermission( SecurityAction.Demand, SerializationFormatter=true )]
	protected ActivityEvaluation( SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context ) : base( info, context ) {}
	/// <summary>
	/// Gets the metadata fields that make up the key of this object
	/// </summary>
	/// <value>
	/// an array of metadata fields that make up the object's key
	/// </value>
	public override IElementDef[] KeyFields {
		get { return new IElementDef[] { Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_EVALUATIONTYPE }; }
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Gets or sets the value of the <c>EvaluationType</c> attribute.
	/// </summary>
	/// <value> The <c>EvaluationType</c> attribute of this object.</value>
	/// <remarks>
	/// <para>Version: 2.6</para>
	/// <para>Since: 2.6</para>
	/// </remarks>
	public string EvaluationType
	{
		get
		{
			return GetFieldValue( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_EVALUATIONTYPE );
		}
		set
		{
			SetField( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_EVALUATIONTYPE, value );
		}
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Sets the value of the <c>EvaluationType</c> attribute.
	/// </summary>
	/// <param name="val">A EvaluationType object</param>
	/// <remarks>
	/// <para>Version: 2.6</para>
	/// <para>Since: 2.6</para>
	/// </remarks>
	public void SetEvaluationType( EvaluationType val )
	{
		SetField( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_EVALUATIONTYPE, val );
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Gets or sets the value of the <c><Description></c> element.
	/// </summary>
	/// <value> The <c>Description</c> element of this object.</value>
	/// <remarks>
	/// <para>Version: 2.6</para>
	/// <para>Since: 2.6</para>
	/// </remarks>
	public string Description
	{
		get
		{
			return (string) GetSifSimpleFieldValue( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_DESCRIPTION ) ;
		}
		set
		{
			SetFieldValue( Sif3assessmentDTD.ACTIVITYEVALUATION_DESCRIPTION, new SifString( value ), value );
		}
	}

}}


direct help in the short-term.
Perhaps others have some ideas.
>    i'm new to python. currently trying to set the position of the vic and rat at a specify location whenever it is started by AG.
>    Can someone tell me how to go about coding it? By the way, is it possible to set the position of the vic and rat ( lets say top right hand corner for RAT, and below it is VIC ) whenever it is started by AG.


Can you talk to us more about your latest single "Unsatisfied"?
This first single is our battle cry: "I don't know why I'm unsatisfied!". This is one of the messages in the air. We were recording at Germano's studios last January when we realized a song initially called Jekyll and Hyde could carry a more universal message: we all have a double temptation. One day we are heroes, the next night deserters. The answer is in our head: we have to choose. Life is filled by choice!
The lyrics are inspired by everyday life. If you watch people in the subway, on the street, at work, you can see that double possibility: the good and the bad. If you're pessimistic, you could say the bad guys win the match, if you're optimistic, you could celebrate the brave.
The video was shot on July 24th. The release date is set for the middle of August. The video will tell disturbing stories of people struggling between the good and the bad option. The answer is always in each of us: maybe you only have to change your point of view. And this is it! The message could be sent to everybody!
We are living in our world today. Rap and Urban music has taken the power. Rock, pop and even the Motown and Stax sounds have to update their codes. As the world is more blended everyday, we are thinking the music for tomorrow must evolve with a new DNA: a combination of rock, pop, electronic & soul is the answer we feel more comfortable with.
Song Titles? Maybe I'm a freak, Love//:Hate, Leave her in heaven + Unsatisfied.
What aspect of our society will you keep exploring?
The idea of a real change like in the sixties needs to evolve. After the second World War, the idea of togetherness resounded. Now times have changed. In our self-centered age, the trigger is inside each human being. But, because life is complex, more than ever we can be manipulated even with our consent! The aspect we are exploring is the mind. Revolution has to be done in the minds of people.
The first gigs will be in New York late September. Then, we'll hit the road for the album promotion next year.
What else is happening next in Here Are The Lions' world?
Writing and producing the album, something like 8 to 10 new songs. For the tour, we are imagining a performance all around the music: videos, dancers, actors etc. Art is always the answer! We are all multi-potentialities! We all just need to put this information.


After making his comeback in The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke is clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight.
And what better way to hit the headlines than by flirting up a storm with fellow Hollywood star Sharon Stone.
The legendary lothario was spotted attempting to woo the 50-year-old actress at a pre-Bafta Film Awards party at the Asprey store in London's Bond Street on Saturday night.
Rourke is up for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his critically-acclaimed performance in The Wrestler, while Stone is set to present a trophy at tonight's ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.
Looking years younger in a little black dress, Stone attracted the attentions of Rourke after arriving at the glitzy bash on Saturday night.
Rourke was also dressed to the nines in a grey trousers suit, but keeping his own unique fashion sense by wearing carpet slippers.
While Rourke is thought to be single, Stone has been dating toyboy Chase Dreyfous since last summer.
Last month, Rourke's The Wrestler co-star Evan Rachel Wood, 21, angrily denied reports she had become romantically involved with the 56-year-old actor.
Wood, who plays his character's daughter in the film, told Rolling Stone magazine: 'I'm upset because I feel disrespected by the press and by Mr Rourke.
Joining Rourke and Stone at the party were a host of British and Hollywood stars.
Harry Potter heroine Emma Watson arrived wearing a midnight blue satin dress while Amy Adams donned a slashed one-shoulder silver dress.
Catch Me If You Can star Adams is in the running for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Doubt.
Widely tipped to win tonight were the stars of Slumdog Millionaire.
Indian model/actress Freida Pinto, who plays orphaned Latika, looked stunning in a little black dress and peep-toe heels.
Pinto is up against Adams, Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Tilda Swinton (Burn After Reading) and Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) for Best Supporting Actress.
Enjoying a St Trinian's reunion of sorts were the 2007 film's stars Talulah Riley, 23, and Tamsin Egerton, 20.
Blonde actress Egerton looked stunning in a hot pink mini-dress, while Riley showed off her slender figure in a quilted black dress and bright orange accessories - perhaps a tribute to the Bafta's sponsors Orange.
Appearing in public for the first time since her estranged husband Jay Jopling was photographed kissing Lily Allen was artist Sam Taylor Wood, who looked trendy in a black satin pant suit.
Couples at the bash included Anna Friel and David Thewlis and Bob Geldof and Jeanne Marine.
At tonight's awards, Kate Winslet is tipped to win Best Actress for The Reader or Revolutionary Road and Dev Patel is up for Leading Actor for Slumdog Millionaire.


text:
Shannon Tighe guarded by Jess Lee (#20 Wayne Valley)
Due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases over the winter break, the Wayne Schools Athletic Department decided to permit fans from watching one of the most anticipated games of the season, for both the boys and girls basketball teams. On January 3, 2022, the day before the game, the Wayne Schools Community received a letter restricting all fans from the games (besides immediate family members) for all three levels (Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity).
In the letter, it was stated that "in consultation with the Wayne Department of Health and in an effort to minimize risk to spectators, our players, coaches, and staff, spectator admittance is limited to immediate family members of players actively competing at both Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley for tomorrow's boys and girls basketball games."
Junior center, Shannon Tighe, on the Wayne Hills Girls Basketball team said that when she received the letter, she was disappointed. "The Hills vs. Valley game is what our whole team looks forward to and has prepared for all season long. Having the fans cheering makes the atmosphere so much more exhilarating, so this was definitely a disappointment."
Photo from Wayne Hills TV channel
While there were not any fans allowed into the gymnasium, immediate family was allowed. "Surprisingly, the fans that were allowed to come were just as loud as the students would be, so props to all the fans who were cheering," Tighe states.
Photo taken by Lauren Faltas
Although spectators were not allowed in the gymnasiums, the games were streamed on both schools' streaming channels on YouTube. Both TV productions did a phenomenal job with producing the game live for the Wayne community that was not able to attend the game.
Both Varsity Valley teams beat Hills (Boys score: 32-30, Girls score: 39-33). Fortunately, this was the only game, as of now, that permitted spectators in the gymnasium. Hopefully, the next Hills vs. Valley game (on February 3) will allow all students and staff to view the game and cheer on their school.
Should we go back to remote learning as COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly?
Yes. There's too many cases.
No! I hate remote learning.
There's no perfect solution.
Varsity Boys Basketball Team Ready To Take on Their Season


Is addiction an illness or a choice? This question has been fiercely debated over the years. Proponents for the disease concept of addiction say there are clear physiological differences between addicts and non-addicts – including greater levels of impulsivity, over which addicts have little control. Others dismiss the idea that addiction is an illness – they claim that addicts always act of their own free will, including when they make impulsive decisions. New research published in March 2019 sheds some light on this question.
In terms of addiction, the putamen is significant because it sends dopamine signals to other parts of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has a number of functions including its role in pleasure and reward, as well as effects on mood, attention and cognitive ability. The putamen also plays a role in mediating impulsivity.
Do you have concerns about your level of impulsivity, particularly when you drink, take drugs or get caught up in an addictive process? Answer yes or no to each of these 25 questions in our impulsivity test. You can also take more time with each question if you want – identifying any relevant examples from your life.
1. When using or acting out in your addiction, do you often do things that are out of character or shock other people?
2. Do you often set out to use for a certain amount of time, only to prolong the session on a whim?
3. Do you make snap decisions in your addiction, with little or no thought of the consequences?
4. The morning after, do you wonder how certain things happened – for example losing a lot of money at the bookies or drinking until 4am?
5. Do you regret hasty decisions you have made, including whilst using or acting out addictively?
6. Do you often say things to other people, which later make you feel ashamed (whether or not you've been using)?
7. Are you known as a risk taker by your friends and family?
8. Do people worry about your safety?
9. Do unusual or bad things seem to happen to you, more than to other people you know?
10. Have you ever made fast decisions to escape a painful reality – such as quitting a job impulsively because of tensions with your boss?
11. Do you feel impulsivity is a force beyond your control – particularly when you're using substances or engaged in an addictive process?
12. Do your thoughts race, including just prior to using or acting out addictively?
13. Are you bored easily? Is boredom a trigger for your addictive habits?
14. Do your moods often flare – such as being quick to temper or upset very easily? Does this happen if something unexpected gets in the way of your addiction?
15. Do you often spend more money than you intended, to prolong or enhance an addictive hit?
16. Do you try to talk yourself out of doing things – only to find yourself doing the very thing you wanted to avoid?
17. Do you not think much, if at all, of the future – especially when using or acting out?
18. Do you find it hard to sit still or wait for long periods – such as during family meals, on long car journeys or queuing up?
19. Do conversations about future planning annoy you – for example, talking to your partner about household finances, pension planning or wills?
20. Have you ever moved area because you felt very unhappy or in need of a change, only to find yourself quickly feeling dissatisfied again?
21. Is it hard to concentrate when other people speak? Do your thoughts drift while they're talking?
22. Do you interrupt people a lot in conversation?
23. Do you impose periods of tight restriction on yourself, to try to control your impulsivity and addiction? Does that approach work?
24. Do you walk towards dangerous situations, rather than stepping back – for example, if you see people fighting in the street?
25. Do you take a particular sense of pride in being known as impulsive? Does your addiction fuel the unpredictability?
If you relate, please get in touch with UKAT for an addictions assessment and treatment options. It's confidential and non-judgmental. Family and friends are also welcome to get in touch about a loved one's addiction.


1. Very long hang-time for the grapes, thus a slow and long maturation resulting in well-developed and complex aroma's.
2. A summer that was overall cooler and sunnier than average. Interesting, because what I heard from producers is that despite the variable weather during the growing season, the average temperature was slightly higher. Something to check.
3. It was a dry summer.
Parker points out the good fruit, the purity and freshness and the quality and the ripeness of the tannins. He states that the quality of Bordeaux 2008 comes close to 2005 and 2000, and surpasses the other vintages from this decade. Pomerol is supposedly the star appellation in the year 2008.
And there are many many more wines scoring above 90, so I guess there will be enough Champagne uncorked in Bordeaux today.
The point chasers are piling in into the shops in this part of the world all want 1st tranche pricing!


Wiring. The British Standards institution (BSI) creates and maintains standards for British industries, one of which is colour coding automotive wire insulation based upon the use of the wire. This harness has 12 Fuses and 14 Circuits. Its perfect for your Hot Rod, Street Rod, Custom or Muscle Cars and Trucks that require fewer circuits.


One of the most unique designs in Chrysler's lineup, the PT Cruiser, offers many of the manufacturer's standard technologies. With your Cruiser, you can use a keyless entry remote to control your vehicle's locks, trunk and panic alarm from your keychain. You can program as many as four of these remotes to your car in just seconds from your driver's seat and have the remotes ready to use in no time.
Enter your car and turn the ignition to the "Run" position.
Press and hold the "Unlock" button on the keyless remote for four seconds, then press and hold the "Panic" button while still holding the "Unlock" button.
Hold both buttons simultaneously for one second then release them.
Wait for a chime to sound from your car then press any button on the remote within 30 seconds.
Wait for another chime and the programming will be complete. You can then turn the ignition key to the "Off" position.


USAID/PPL/LER and its support mechanism, LEARN, have developed a Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Framework and Maturity Tool to help USAID missions think more deliberately about how to plan for and implement CLA approaches that fit the mission's context and assist them in achieving their development objectives.
The resources on this page provide an overview of the CLA Framework and Maturity Tool (shown below) as well as example cards from the tool. Watch the short video at the bottom of the page to see the tool in use. Both the framework and the tool have been developed through an iterative, user-driven process and piloted in eight USAID missions and among numerous focus groups for implementing partners. This version, version 7, will continue to be reviewed and updated periodically based on feedback and user experiences.
Though the CLA Maturity Tool card deck is intended for use primarily by USAID missions, the same content is available in the CLA Maturity Spectrum handouts available for download on this page in English, French and Arabic (Spanish coming soon). These handouts combine the five maturity stage descriptions for each subcomponent on one page. For USAID staff interested in receiving a physical copy of the CLA Maturity Tool card deck, please contact learning@usaid.gov.
This looks useful. Is the CLA Maturity Matrix Framework and Tool available to see? Also, does it include indicators for tracking improved CLA outputs or outcomes?
Thanks, Lorene! You can read more about the CLA framework here. We have not yet published the CLA Maturity Matrix on Learning Lab, but will be doing so hopefully by September 2016 along with a facilitation guide. If you or a USAID mission you are working with would like to know more about the tool, please contact us at learning@usaid.gov.
Is the facilitation guide, as you mentioned in the comment below, available? Would love to have it.


text:
Q: Oracle: Unique Constraint violation on PK with verifiably unique data I have to collect and store stats about many things where I work, and I'm suddenly having a problem with the process on one table in particular. The relevant part of the process for getting these stats involves just dumping data into a temp table and inserting any new data from that table into the main table. So I have something like this:
CREATE TABLE "TEMP_SCHEMA"."STATS_ORDERS"
(
  "ORDER_NO"      NUMBER(10,0)        NOT NULL ENABLE,
  "ORDER_DATE"    DATE                NOT NULL ENABLE,
  "ORDER_TYPE"    VARCHAR2(1 BYTE)    NOT NULL ENABLE
); /
GRANT SELECT,INSERT,UPDATE,DELETE
ON "TEMP_SCHEMA"."STATS_ORDERS" TO "MY_SCHEMA"; /

CREATE TABLE "MY_SCHEMA"."STATS_ORDERS"
(
  "ORDER_NO"      NUMBER(10,0)        NOT NULL ENABLE,
  "ORDER_DATE"    DATE                NOT NULL ENABLE,
  "ORDER_TYPE"    VARCHAR2(1 BYTE)    NOT NULL ENABLE,
  CONSTRAINT "PK_STATS_ORDERS" PRIMARY KEY ("ORDER_NO", "ORDER_TYPE")
); /

After dumping the data into "TEMP_SCHEMA"."STATS_ORDERS" I'm trying something like this:
INSERT INTO MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS (ORDER_NO,ORDER_DATE,ORDER_TYPE)
SELECT
    DISTINCT TMP.ORDER_NO,TMP.ORDER_DATE,TMP.ORDER_TYPE
FROM
    (SELECT DISTINCT * FROM TEMP_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS) TMP
    LEFT JOIN MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS ORD
    ON TMP.ORDER_NO = ORD.ORDER_NO AND TMP.ORDER_TYPE = ORD.ORDER_TYPE
WHERE ORD.ORDER_NO IS NULL AND ORD.ORDER_TYPE IS NULL; /

When I run this, I get the following error:
SQL Error: ORA-00001: unique constraint (MY_SCHEMA.PK_STATS_ORDERS) violated
00001. 00000 -  "unique constraint (%s.%s) violated"
*Cause:    An UPDATE or INSERT statement attempted to insert a duplicate key.
          For Trusted Oracle configured in DBMS MAC mode, you may see
          this message if a duplicate entry exists at a different level.
*Action:   Either remove the unique restriction or do not insert the key.

I've run the following query to find which rows were causing the error:
SELECT ORDER_NO,ORDER_DATE,ORDER_TYPE
FROM
    MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS O
    INNER JOIN (
        SELECT DISTINCT TMP.ORDER_NO,TMP.ORDER_DATE,TMP.ORDER_TYPE
        FROM (SELECT DISTINCT * FROM TEMP_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS) TMP
          LEFT JOIN MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS ORD
          ON TMP.ORDER_NO = ORD.ORDER_NO AND TMP.ORDER_TYPE = ORD.ORDER_TYPE
        WHERE ORD.ORDER_NO IS NULL AND ORD.ORDER_TYPE IS NULL
    ) N
    ON O.ORDER_NO = N.ORDER_NO AND O.ORDER_TYPE = N.ORDER_TYPE; /

Presumably this should return whatever rows are causing the violation, but of course it returns nothing because I explicitly exclude anything that could be a duplicate.
What am I doing wrong?
Edit: I accidentally left the original name in for my example. Changed it to the name in my example.

A: The easiest option to identify the problematic rows is generally to use DML error logging.  If you create the error table
BEGIN
  dmbs_errlog.create_error_log( dml_table_name => 'STATS_ORDERS',
                                err_log_table_name => 'STATS_ORDERS_ERR',
                                err_log_table_owner => 'MY_SCHEMA' );
END;

then you can use the LOG ERRORS INTO clause in your DML
INSERT INTO MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS (ORDER_NO,ORDER_DATE,ORDER_TYPE)
  SELECT DISTINCT TMP.ORDER_NO,TMP.ORDER_DATE,TMP.ORDER_TYPE
    FROM (SELECT DISTINCT * FROM TEMP_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS) TMP
         LEFT JOIN MY_SCHEMA.STATS_ORDERS ORD
         ON TMP.ORDER_NO = ORD.ORDER_NO AND TMP.ORDER_TYPE = ORD.ORDER_TYPE
   WHERE ORD.ORDER_NO IS NULL AND ORD.ORDER_TYPE IS NULL
     LOG ERRORS INTO stats_orders_err
  REJECT LIMIT UNLIMITED;

That will write any rows that are rejected by the constraint to the stats_orders_err error table.

A: verify you are not hitting this scenario:
SQL> CREATE TABLE STATS_ORDERS_TMP
  2  (
  3    ORDER_NO      NUMBER(10,0)        NOT NULL ENABLE,
  4    ORDER_DATE    DATE                NOT NULL ENABLE,
  5    ORDER_TYPE    VARCHAR2(1 BYTE)    NOT NULL ENABLE
  6  );

Table created.

SQL>
SQL> CREATE TABLE STATS_ORDERS
  2  (
  3    ORDER_NO      NUMBER(10,0)        NOT NULL ENABLE,
  4    ORDER_DATE    DATE                NOT NULL ENABLE,
  5    ORDER_TYPE    VARCHAR2(1 BYTE)    NOT NULL ENABLE,
  6    CONSTRAINT PK_STATS_ORDERS PRIMARY KEY (ORDER_NO, ORDER_TYPE)
  7  );

Table created.

SQL> insert into STATS_ORDERS_TMP values (1, sysdate, 'A');

1 row created.

SQL> insert into STATS_ORDERS_TMP values (1, sysdate-1, 'A');

1 row created.

SQL> commit;

Commit complete.

SQL> insert into stats_orders (order_no,order_date,order_type)
  2  select
  3      distinct tmp.order_no,tmp.order_date,tmp.order_type
  4  from
  5      (select distinct * from stats_orders_tmp) tmp
  6      left join stats_orders ord
  7      on tmp.order_no = ord.order_no and tmp.order_type = ord.order_type
  8  where ord.order_no is null and ord.order_type is null;
insert into stats_orders (order_no,order_date,order_type)
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00001: unique constraint (DTD_TRADE.PK_STATS_ORDERS) violated

i.e. you have duplicate dates for a given order +type in the "temp" table.
your validation wouldnt see them (as they aren't in the main table):
SQL> SELECT o.ORDER_NO,o.ORDER_DATE,o.ORDER_TYPE
  2  FROM
  3      STATS_ORDERS O
  4      INNER JOIN (
  5          SELECT DISTINCT TMP.ORDER_NO,TMP.ORDER_DATE,TMP.ORDER_TYPE
  6          FROM (SELECT DISTINCT * FROM STATS_ORDERS_TMP) TMP
  7            LEFT JOIN STATS_ORDERS ORD
  8            ON TMP.ORDER_NO = ORD.ORDER_NO AND TMP.ORDER_TYPE = ORD.ORDER_TYPE
  9          WHERE ORD.ORDER_NO IS NULL AND ORD.ORDER_TYPE IS NULL
 10      ) N
 11      ON O.ORDER_NO = N.ORDER_NO AND O.ORDER_TYPE = N.ORDER_TYPE;

no rows selected

but they do exist:
SQL> select order_no, order_type, count(*) from stats_orders_tmp group by order_no, order_type having count(*) > 1;

  ORDER_NO O   COUNT(*)
---------- - ----------
         1 A          2

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Fourth Quarter Outlook and Forecast
Extreme uncertainty is driving investor sentiment as we approach the 2020 elections, and this uncertainty may be driven by more than the voting outcome. A view of the implicit volatility curve on the S&P 500 options demonstrates that Wall Street is pricing in this volatility after the elections and well into December. The reader may draw their own conclusions about what this means, while remembering that the stock market likes neither uncertainty nor constitutional crises.
Covid-19 has put an end to the economy's expansion at a time when the nation is deeply in debt. According to the Wall Street Journal, "borrowing spurred by years of low interest rates adds up to $64 trillion in consumer, business, and government debt…more than triple the country's gross domestic product." This diverts resources into debt repayment rather than spending, which is a drag on the economy. Federal debt alone is now projected to exceed total GDP for the first time in 70 years, compared with only 35% of GDP in 2007 before the Great Recession.
While the economy has improved since its April Covid-19 lows, stocks are still in historically overpriced territory. Unemployment is at 7.9%, and certainly has fallen significantly since its peak in April. But the last available figure for personal income indicates a sharp fall of 2.7%. A vaccine for Covid-19 is unlikely to arrive by the end of the year, while Wall Street braces for a second wave as autumn temperatures drop and seasonal flu reappears. Already in Europe, the number of new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks has doubled, and in France new daily cases are hitting new highs. New infections in the UK are doubling every seven days, and amid talk of further European lockdowns, new US cases are approaching 7.5 million, with 210,000 deaths, and new cases have increased by at least 10% in over 31 states. The U.S. President's Covid-19 treatment may suggest that his condition is severe, while further increasing uncertainty over the U.S. elections, now less than a month away.
A pullback in the stock market to more reasonable valuation levels looks increasingly likely, which is understandable given that the prospects for fiscal stimulus look increasingly unlikely ahead of the elections and into the end of the year.
Risk markets have undergone a speculative mania, while at the same time corporate stock buybacks have plummeted, corporate officers and directors are dumping their personal stock holdings, and there is a huge amount of IPO supply hitting the market. It is a dangerous time for risk assets like stocks. Investors bought stocks in Q3 not because of earnings growth, but because of speculative optimism. Relative to one year ago, the price earnings ratio of the S&P 500 has increased dramatically underlying this fact:
Source: Yardeni Research.
At the same time, corporate earnings have stabilized at levels some 25% -30% lower than in 2019, and far fewer companies are even offering quarterly earnings guidance. Many companies are beating estimates by cutting costs and reducing headcount, which is unsustainable. Consensus estimates are optimistic compared with corporate earnings guidance, and, although not impossible to reach, look challenging in the best of circumstances.
2020 U.S. GDP economic growth forecasts are being revised to anywhere between -2.7% and -4.2%, while many 2021 growth forecasts seem wildly optimistic in the +3% to +6.2% range.
The rolling 12 month differential between growth and value stocks is at its highest level ever, bypassing the highs of the 1999 tech bubble. This argues for a pullback in growth sectors like technology, consumer services, and communication services, and a rotation into value stocks. The larger question, however, is still the direction of the broader market into a period of extreme uncertainty. Bear in mind that the Fed has not only committed to keeping interest rates at zero until 2023, but has also committed to attempt to let inflation rise above its long-standing 2% target. Fundamentally, everything depends on federal stimulus. Globally, this year central banks have pumped $8.5 trillion dollars in monetary support by purchasing bonds, while global governments have provided another $11.4 trillion in fiscal stimulus. If the Fed and other central banks slow their bond purchases marginally, investors will slow their stock purchases.
Industry leaders do not seem confident about stock prices coming into the fourth quarter. Corporate executives and officers sold more than $1 billion of stock over the last week, and have been dumping their personal holdings of stocks:
Geopolitical risks are hardly being priced in to the stock market at all. Will China take advantage of American election chaos as a means to advance its designs on Taiwan?
Rating agency Fitch is expecting corporate loan defaults to approach all-time highs. These defaults are most acutely occurring in retail, energy, leisure and entertainment. Further, Fitch believes that Covid-19 is not the only challenge for corporate ratings, as 30% of all corporate downgrades were not predominantly driven by the pandemic. Negative rating outlooks are now at nearly double their mid-cycle levels, meaning that we should expect an elevated number of corporate defaults and downgrades, to say nothing of credit stress in the state, local, and municipal markets. New York State and New York City, for example, were both downgraded last week by Moody's.
To conclude, the stock market is pricing a return to normal (and beyond) of the world economy, at a time when economic, health, political, and geopolitical risks are elevated. This is not a positive short term outlook for stocks.


By D. Eze - September 2014.
Awa Kenzo was born the first son of Sato Denaemon and wife Shun on April 4, 1880 in the village Yokawa (now known as Kawakita-machi) in the northern part of the Miyagi Prefecture. This family was middle class by the standards of the day, as they own a factory that produced materials used in the production of sake and soy based foods. They also owned land and had tenants who rented the land from them. Though the first son, Awa Kenzo was not the first child as an older sister preceded him. The also had 4 younger siblings including 1 girl and 3 boys.
Although it is not known exactly why, Awa Kenzo forwent the usual obligations of a first son and moved to the port city of Ishinomaki in 1899 where he eventually met and married his seventeen-year-old wife Awa Fusa. There he began to practice Kyujutsu, the art of Japanese archery.
Unfortunately he and his family suffered a setback when much of the city burned down forcing Kenzo to start again in Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture. Here he continued his studies of the martial arts with Honda Toshizane and began to become renowned all over Japan for this martial arts skills. Soon he began to teach and by 1918 he opened a new dojo in Sendai. This is where his philosophical perspective on archery began to be manifested.
Although Kenzo spent many years perfecting the technical aspects of his archery, it was not until 1918 that he began to look at archery in a different more philosophical way. He noted in his journal that he had finally begun to understand what archery really meant and the real way to shoot. He took on monikers such as Musen ("No Arrow"), Mugen ("No-bowstring") and Mukyu ("No Bow") to reflect the deeper understanding he had attained.
Trust in the practice of the Way of the Bow.
Archery is not an art, it is a Way.
Forging your spirit is to become empty, and to focus on your centre.
To become empty is to become one with the divine – this is the Way.
To attain the Way is to manifest the Way.
The Way of the Bow is to manifest your self Buddha-nature and arrive at the ultimate (Stevens, 2007, p. 13).
Kenzo talks about archery as not just a fun activity nor is it a hobby that requires frequent practice. It is a way of life that must be lived in every moment whether one has a bow in one's hand or not. Also, archery was meant to be a spiritual event that allowed for a person to connect to their inner self. The archer is to focus on the act of shooting and leave all the trappings of everyday life behind.
Kenzo's teaching style often left his students unsettled. He is famous for startling students with his booming voice and for his stoic supervision. Unlike the other teachers of his time Kenzo was not interested in form per se. He was more interested in how his students were breathing when they were shooting or how the attitude his students had when shooting. For Kenzo, your psychological state (your spiritual/psychological connection to your body or your mindset when you shoot) is just as important your physical state (where you are aiming and if your are using a consistent anchor point).
Kenzo's teaching advocated for the archer to be centred in all ways and told his pupils to be moderate in every aspect of their lives. He said that archer should neither be elated when they hit the target nor upset then they miss. His teachings also include the notion of enlightenment, which in turn occurs in one of two ways.
Kenzo became gravely ill in 1929 when he developed kidney disease and chose to use deep-breathing exercises to cure himself. He did not die but never returned to his full vigor and health. Despite this he continued to teach and practice. In 1938, he fell gravely ill again, this time had to remain bedridden. After, 5 more years of illness Kenzo died in 1939 at the age of sixty.
Note - Awa Kenzo is considered to be one of the three greatest archers of the last century. The other two being Howard Hill and Byron Ferguson.
Stevens, John (2007). Zen Bow, Zen Arrow: The Life and Teachings of Awa Kenzo, The Archery Master from Zen in the Art of Archery. Boston: Shambhala Publications , Inc.


text:
"The Problem with Privileged Users: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You"
Do you know where data leaks really come from? Download this paper to find out.
A data breach is an organization's worst nightmare, especially in highly regulated industries like healthcare or education. What most organizations don't realize is that the most common sources for security incidents are right in front of them: privileged users. It's not always intentional; sometimes a user with too many privileges will accidentally open the door to a malicious threat. Then the attack looks like it's coming from within, even though it isn't.
Download our flash point paper, The Problem with Privileged Users: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You today to learn:
What approach works best to reduce risk
What you can do to best manage identities
What to look for in security solutions
Offered Free by: NetIQ Corporation
See All Resources from: NetIQ Corporation
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text:
Home Education India's Right to Education Act made education free and compulsory: Why are...
India's Right to Education Act made education free and compulsory: Why are children not going?
The Parliament of India did make significant strides to overcome obstacles that may have hindered girls from attending schools. 4According to the same ASER report, The proportion of restrooms (toilets) doubled since 2010, reaching 66.4% in 2018, while schools with boundary walls — which ensured a safer environment for girls — increased by 13.4 percent to 64.4% in 2018.
INDIA - MARCH 19: Young Indian girl squatting down to do her laundry in the waters of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, Western India (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Ekta Lal's parents enrolled her in school when she was six, but she dropped out when she was 10 years old. The big question is Why did she drop out of school prior to completing her elementary education?
Ekta's mum wakes her up at 5am each morning to make chapati, she stands alongside her mum each morning to make chapati aka, Indian bread a preferable accompaniment for curries, and most Indian dishes. Each morning after making the chapati she indulges herself in other household chores and cares for her aging grandparents.
View More:India has the highest number of stunted children in the world
In August 2009, the Indian parliament had passed the landmark Right to Education (RTE) Act that made education free and compulsory for children between the ages 6 and 14.
It will be a decade in August since the Indian Parliament passed the Act. In 2010, when the act was implemented, TIME asked:1 "School is a Right, But Will Indian Girls Be Able to Go?" .
1 School Is a Right, but Will Indian Girls Be Able to Go?
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1985026,00.html
Agreed the RTE Act has been successful in attracting girls to schools. However, the schools have struggled in sustaining steady enrollments. In 2006, 10.3 percent of girls between the ages of 11 to 14 were out of school. In 2018, the figure stood at 4.1 percent, a significant decline from previous years. The decline in percentages was worse for girls between ages 15-16.2According to the 2018 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) released in January this year,13.5 percent of girls between the ages 15-16 were out of school, as opposed to more than 20 percent in 2008,
According to a report by 3Centre for Social Research girls in India are seeking and fighting for autonomy and liberation in how they project themselves. And a large part of it has to do with being educated and finding work in cities.
The RTE Act of 2009 is applaudable for the difference it has tried to bring in the lives of the young girls, it is a universally accepted truth that the right to education, is not a privilege but a human right. For those wondering what does this exactly entail.
Education as a human right means:
the right to education is legally guaranteed for all without any discrimination
states have the obligation to protect, respect, and fulfil the right to education
there are ways to hold states accountable for violations or deprivations of the right to education
States in India do not have provisions to ban housework. According, to a recent report by the5 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights around 40 percent of 15 to 18- year-old-girls were out of school, and among them almost 65 percent were engaged in household work.
2The thirteenth Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2018) was released in New Delhi on 15 January 2019
https://img.asercentre.org/docs/ASER%202018/Release%20Material/aser2018pressreleaseenglish.pdf 3 Center for Social Research
www.csrindina.org 4 The thirteenth Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2018) was released in New Delhi on 15 January 2019
https://img.asercentre.org/docs/ASER%202018/Release%20Material/aser2018pressreleaseenglish.pdf
5 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
http://ncpcr.gov.in/showfile.php?lang=1&level=1&&sublinkid=1357&lid=1558
Arguably, I see no objection in adolescents doing household chores in and around the house. In fact, household chores benefit adolescence much as they learn to respect and appreciate their surroundings. Notably, it should benefit the children, and not burden them or get in the way of their educational attainment.
Here I offer two policy recommendations for the RTE Act to continue meeting its objective.
View More:How Development Impact Bond Enhances Girls' education
Firstly, the RTE Act should have a long-term approach. The policy should remain in place for a significant amount of time, giving the policy a chance to work. The focus should not be structural based, but evidence based. For instance, strategic assessments and monitoring will give the RTE Act ample time to reach its full potential. Policy makers should continue gauging on the opportunities and challenges associated with this policy.
Secondly, policy makers should institute town hall meetings to engage teachers, parents, and students in strengthening the RTE Act. Collective knowledge on this issue will allow policy makers to make a better-informed decision on how to best strengthen and sustain the RTE Act so that it achieves its full objective. Therefore, allowing the RTE ACT ample time to work for the children of India.
The Article Written by
Anjiline Sirsikar is the Founder and CEO of North Atlantic Policy Center.
Annual Status of Education Report
chapati aka
Children education
Ekta Lal
India's Right to Education Act
Right to Education Act
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Built of Granite: Nurulize's Rise VR demo uses Graphine's Granite texture-streaming technology to display large textures in real time on Unreal Engine 4. The developer has just released a new version of Granite for Unity 5.
Graphics middleware company Graphine has released a new version of Granite, its texture-streaming system, for Unity 5, and introduced new perpetual licence and rental prices for the plugin.
Like Amplify Creations' Amplify Texture, Granite enables games artists to use textures larger than will normally fit into memory by streaming only those parts visible to the camera from disk at runtime.
As well as being available as middleware, Graphine develops plugins based on its Granite SDK for commercial game engines. Users include The Mill, game developer The Farm 51 and tech firms Oculus and Allegorithmic.
According to Graphine, the system allows you "to use textures up to 256Kx256K, hundreds of 4K or 8K textures [or] VFX-graded UDIM textures, all in only a few hundred megabytes of memory and with no loading times".
Granite is available for both Unreal Engine 4 and Unity 5, deploying to PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One and Playstation 4. The Unreal Engine plugin costs $590; the Unity plugin costs $349.
The Unity version can also be rented for $199/year or $20/month.


This is the official Sirenland coffee mug; it's handmade in Positano, and every one of them is unique. (I know, because I compared them all.) The design is based on the original drawing by world famous and highly controversial illustrator (he of the famous New Yorker 'Obama fist-bump cover,' etal.) Barry Blitt. We asked Barry if he'd be willing to go to Italy and personally redraw the illustration on each of 200 coffee mugs, and he said, "sure, for like a thousand dollars apiece." So we said to hell with that and we rounded up some Italian children to copy the image at a fraction of the price and we passed out the cups as party favors to the 30 lucky writers who attended Sirenland this year.
1.) Reapply to Sirenland for next year.
3.) Come back to Italy and pick one up.
Can't wait? Here's the alternative. We do have mugs for sale with the ORIGINAL Barry Blitt (signed!) drawing on them. I'm told that each one was meticulously copied by a robot. Though I may have misunderstood that part.
Proceeds from the sale of these mugs will be used to make more mugs. It's a beautiful system. Until then, I'll be drinking my morning coffee from my Italian Sirenland mug.


The Leonardo da Vinci's exhibition presents an extraordinary insight into the life and workings of the incredibly talented Italian Renaissance master of arts and science, and allows you to discover the enormous scope of his interests.
Leonardo was born on Apr. 15, 1452, near the town of Vinci, not far from Florence. He was educated in the studio of the renowned Florentine painter, Verrocchio. Leonardo's natural curiosity and interests were so broad, that he explored non artistic matters during this period.
Leonardo attempted to understand the world around him and thus was accomplished in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, mathematics, philosophy, geology and botany. His approach to science was an observational one: he tried to understand a phenomenon by describing and depicting it in utmost detail.
Leonardo's impressive contribution to science has been preserved in a vast quantity of notes. As he was left-handed, he recorded his concise notes in "mirror writing" in his journals. His drawings, sketches and notebooks revealed how he thought and allowed the construction of the marvelously crafted models displayed.
The collection of works displayed is based on Leonardo's specifications, as laid out in his Codices. It features twenty five interactive models of some of his most complex and challenging designs in mechanics, automation, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and flight.
All exhibits were designed and produced in-house, and were constructed from wood and metals , and set on granite bases. These exhibits demonstrate solutions derived by Leonardo almost 500 years ago. Many of them can be touched, tried and tested by visitors of all ages and backgrounds.