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Q: NIOServerCnxn@362 - Exception causing close of session 0x0 due to java.io.IOException: Unreasonable length = 1600745078 I am trying to update Apache Storm version to 2.3.0 but after updating dependencies I am getting below error in zookeeper for indefinite time.
2022-08-18 06:50:46,431 [myid:] - INFO  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxnFactory@192] - Accepted socket connection from /172.17.0.1:65078
2022-08-18 06:50:46,432 [myid:] - WARN  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxn@362] - **Exception causing close of session 0x0 due to java.io.IOException: Unreasonable length = 1600745078**
2022-08-18 06:50:46,433 [myid:] - INFO  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxn@1008] - Closed socket connection for client /172.17.0.1:65078 (no session established for client)
2022-08-18 06:50:46,540 [myid:] - INFO  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxnFactory@192] - Accepted socket connection from /172.17.0.1:65080
2022-08-18 06:50:46,541 [myid:] - WARN  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxn@362] - Exception causing close of session 0x0 due to java.io.IOException: Unreasonable length = 1600745078
2022-08-18 06:50:46,541 [myid:] - INFO  [NIOServerCxn.Factory:0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0:2181:NIOServerCnxn@1008] - Closed socket connection for client /172.17.0.1:65080 (no session established for client)

Apache Storm version update:
1.0.3 -> 2.3.0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Updated 10 December, 2021 - 13:58 Nathan Falde
2,600-Year-Old Leather Armor Found In China Was Made By Neo-Assyrians
An international team of archaeologists and historians has completed an extensive analysis of a rare leather armor waistcoat recovered from the grave of an ancient horse-riding soldier in Northwest China. Amazingly, the researchers have concluded that the leather armor wasn't manufactured locally but had actually been made by a craftsman from the Neo-Assyrian Empire in far-off Mesopotamia. Since the Neo-Assyrian Empire ruled the region of modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Egypt from 911 to 609 BC, this rare armor must be at least 2,600 years old.
The skeletal remains found in the ancient Chinese tomb belonged to a young man of about 30 years of age, who would have worn the leather armor buried with him in battle. His grave was one of many found in the first-millennium BC Yanghai cemetery, which is located near the modern city of Turfan. Turfan was a key stop on one of the major Silk Road trade routes.
Notably, the climate in that region of China is desert-like and bone-dry. This is significant, because the arid conditions and lack of moisture in the soil allowed the leather armor to survive intact despite being buried for nearly 3,000 years. It is highly unusual for military equipment constructed from organic materials to last for so long, which is why archaeologists generally have much better luck recovering ancient weapons made from metal.
The ancient Assyrian leather armor found in Yanghai, China was dated to the period between 786 and 543 BC. (D. L. Xu, P. Wertmann, M. Yibulayinmu / Quaternary International )
Deductive Reasoning Linked The Leather Armor to Mesopotamia
Through a clever bit of deductive reasoning, the researchers have linked the Chinese Yanghai leather armor to the Neo-Assyrian Empire of the first millennium BC.
Under the supervision of archaeologist Patrick Wertmann from the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies at the University of Zurich, the research team members used radiocarbon dating procedures to establish the age of the Chinese leather armor. These tests showed the armor had been created sometime between 786 and 543 BC. The Neo-Assyrian Empire existed for all but the last 66 years of that time period, confirming that the armor could have been made by craftsmen living in this ancient Mesopotamian state.
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This fact alone was not enough to prove the armor had been manufactured in Mesopotamia, however. To reach that eye-opening conclusion, the archaeologists and historians compared the characteristics of the newly excavated Chinese leather armor to those of a similar artifact currently on display at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET).
The origin of the MET's suit of leather armor had always been considered a mystery. But the researchers confirmed that both sets of leather armor had been created in the same distinctive style.
A historical illustration of ancient Assyrian warriors wearing long and short leather armor. ( Lunstream / Adobe Stock)
"In age, construction details and aesthetic appearance it resembles the MET armor," the researchers wrote in a recent Quaternary International journal article outlining the findings of their study. "The stylistic similarities but constructional differences suggest that the two armors were intended as outfits for distinct units of the same army, i.e., light cavalry [Yanghai] and heavy infantry [MET]."
Based on this important discovery, the archaeologists and historians concluded that the armor found in China must have been made in the same place and at approximately the same time as the armor on display in New York. And they have a pretty good idea about where both artifacts came from.
"As such a high level of standardization of military equipment during the 7th century BC is only known for the Neo-Assyrian military forces, we suggest that the place of manufacture of both armors was the Neo-Assyrian Empire," they concluded.
The Chinese IIM127 Yanghai tomb with the position of the leather armor remnant indicated by the red circle. (Turfan Administration of Cultural Relics / Quaternary International )
Secrets of the Neo-Assyrian Armor Makers Revealed
Scaled armor is designed to protect a warrior's body from injury without weighing them down or limiting their mobility.
This type of armor features multiple overlapping rows of small- or medium-sized plates, which are sewn into a cloth or leather backing. The plates could be made of bronze or iron (metals available during the Neo-Assyrian period), but they could also be made from leather, as was the case with the armor recovered in China.
Despite its obvious durability, the leather armor found at Turfan was a lightweight piece of equipment. It was covered by more than 5,000 small leather scales and 140 larger ones and was bound together tightly by leather laces sewn through leather lining. In total the armor weighed around ten pounds (five kilograms).
Closeup images of the Yanghai leather scale armor fragment: A: inside; B: outside. (P. Wertmann / Quaternary International )
Armor constructed to these specifications are made to protect the entire upper body down to the hips. This made it perfect for cavalrymen, who would have spent most of their time mounted on horses while engaged in battle.
"Our reconstruction demonstrates that it can be donned quickly and without the help of another person by wrapping the left part around the back, tying it to the right part under the right arm and fastening with thongs crosswise over the back to laces at the opposite hip parts," the archaeologists and historians wrote in their Quaternary International study. "Fitting different statures, it is a light and highly efficient defensive garment."
In the beginning, this type of armor was considered quite precious. Armor waistcoats were slow to manufacture by hand and used costly materials, and thus were originally reserved for elite fighters or military leaders.
However, as powerful states with large armies became more common in the first millennium BC, Eurasian empires began producing cheaper and more easily manufactured armor suitable for ordinary soldiers and cavalrymen. This armor could have been constructed from leather, bronze, or iron.
"The armor was professionally produced in large numbers," Patrick Wertmann confirmed in a University of Zurich press release .
As more cavalry units were deployed and the use of chariots increased in Eurasian warfare, the need for better protective clothing became acute. Ninth-century-BC craftsmen worked hard to develop suitable armor for warriors on horseback, and the largely impenetrable waistcoats they created ultimately became standard equipment for military riders in the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
Buddhist Uyghur king from Turpan attended by servants, revealing that Buddhism also reached the area where the Mesopotamian leather armor was found in China, likely on an established southern Silk Road. ( Public domain )
Detecting Faint Traces of Ancient Technology Transfer
It isn't known how the Turfan armor reached eastern Eurasia. The researchers who analyzed it speculate that it could have belonged to a mercenary soldier from China who fought for the Assyrians before eventually returning to his home region. They also suggest it could have been captured during some type of battle (this may be unlikely, since northwest China was far outside Neo-Assyrian territory).
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Regardless of its true origin story, the leather armor is a remarkable discovery, as Wertmann explained.
"Even though we can't trace the exact path of the scale armor from Assyria to Northwest China, the find is one of the rare actual proofs of West-East technology transfer across the Eurasian continent during the early first millennium BCE," he said.
It seems the world has always been interconnected, even when the fastest form of transportation available was riding on horseback.
Top image: This handmade historical illustration shows Neo-Assyrian riders wearing their distinctive leather armor in ancient Mesopotamia. Source: Lunstream / Adobe Stock
By Nathan Falde
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Nathan Falde graduated from American Public University in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in History, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient history, historical mysteries, mythology, astronomy and esoteric topics of all types. He is a full-time freelance writer from... Read More
The dating is probably way off, manipulated to fit the prevailing narratives. But these finds are similar to those of North Africa and the Levant, where the population centers were, with the subterranean dwellings, and megalith stonework, that would have taken thousands of years (of peace) to construct, before those areas were decimated by something and turned dry and barren (death zones). Suggests multiple regions were violently destroyed, along with Atlantis, creating a global nuclear winter/Ice Age, prior to the arrival of the Sumerians, the black-headed people, and the so-called 'dawn of civilization.'
30 October, 2021 - 01:47 Ed Whelan
How Will Scientists Save the Mary Rose?
The Mary Rose is one of the most famous shipwrecks in all of history, but a new study shows that the favorite warship of King Henry VIII is being destroyed by tiny specks of acidic iron and sulphur...
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28 October, 2021 - 14:59 ashley cowie
Secrets of a Medieval Masterpiece Emerge The Tomb of England's Black Prince
A new study of the effigy on the tomb of the Black Prince in Canterbury cathedral has revealed an extraordinary level of detail. Nobody expected to discover such a sophistication in construction,...
Read more about Secrets of a Medieval Masterpiece Emerge The Tomb of England's Black Prince
26 October, 2021 - 19:00 Nathan Falde
Huge Study Tracks The Global Evolution of Ancient Military Technology
An international team of researchers has published a paper that sheds new light on how ancient military technology and the weapons industry changed through time. Their ancient military technology...
Read more about Huge Study Tracks The Global Evolution of Ancient Military Technology
21 August, 2021 - 14:27 ashley cowie
Near Perfect 800-Year-Old Norman Chain Mail Discovered In Ireland
In 1169 AD, Norman invaders arrived in County Wexford, Ireland. Now, a rare and complete, 800-year-old Norman "hauberk" (chainmail vest) has been discovered in County Longford thought to date to when...
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11 May, 2021 - 22:56 ashley cowie
Volcano-blasted Herculaneum Roman Soldier Tells His Ancient Secrets
Archaeologists in Italy are studying the remains of a Roman soldier who was thrust face-first into the sand at Herculaneum when Mount Vesuvius erupted on October 24th 79 AD. The presence of this...
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12 April, 2021 - 14:46 Sarah Piraino
Achilles' Shield: What's the Meaning of the Iliad's Most Symbolic Object?
The Iliad is one of the most famous epic poems created by the Greek poet Homer and the piece recounts the last weeks of the Trojan War. In book 18 of the series, Homer writes about Achilles' shield...
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Arts Briefs 2 23 2020a
Bassist Tate plays Merrimans' Playhouse
SOUTH BEND — Bassist John Tate performs with saxophonist Tony Malaby and drummer Charles Rumback at 8 p.m. Thursday at Merrimans' Playhouse, 1211 E. Mishawaka Ave.
The program features new compositions by the New York City-based Tate, who studied with Ron Carter at The Juilliard School and has performed with Von Freeman, George Freeman, Victor Goines and Caroline Davis, among others.
Born and raised in Tucson, Ariz., and also based in New York, Malaby also leads the groups Tamarindo, TubaCello and Palomo Recio.
Originally from Kansas, the Chicago-based Rumback leads his own trio and frequently collaborates with artists such as John Hughes, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Bill MacKay, Nina Nastasia and Greg Ward.
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Lazer Lloyd plays Ignition
GOSHEN — Singer-songwriter Lazer Lloyd performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ignition Music Garage, 120 E. Washington St.
An emerging Americana and roots rock artist, with hints of country, folk, blues and psychedelic jam in his music, the guitarist writes about life's struggle for love, meaning and the strength to hang on while discovering joy along the way.
Tickets are $20-$14.
For more information, call 574-971-8282 or visit ignitionmusic.net.
Auditions held for C.S. Lewis play
SOUTH BEND — United Youth Theatre will hold auditions for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Century Center, 120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Auditions are open to all area kindergarten through seventh grade students.
Be prepared to stay for the entirety of the audition time. Callback dates and times will be announced at auditions.
This new dramatization of C.S. Lewis' classic novel chronicles the struggle of Aslan, the great lion, with the White Witch and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into Narnia.
The intense action features chases, duels and escapes as the witch attempts to keep Narnia in her possession and to end the reign of Aslan.
Performances are May 1-3.
For more information, visit uytinc.org.
SB Cubs hold anthem auditions
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Cubs are accepting audition videos through March 2 from singers and musicians who want to perform the national anthem at a 2020 home game.
Individuals and groups may audition.
All auditions must include the audition form and be submitted as a video in the form of a downloadable file, video link such as YouTube or Google Drive, or DVD. Videos may also be recorded on a mobile device.
Performances are not to exceed two minutes. All vocal auditions must be performed a cappella. Instrumental performances will be accepted. Those who audition in groups must include all members in the audition video.
Electronic submissions should be emailed to marketing@southbendcubs.com. Mailed auditions should be sent to South Bend Cubs, National Anthem Audition, 501 W. South St., South Bend, IN 46601. Audition drop-offs can be submitted at the same address.
For more information, visit milb.com/south-bend.


The potential for Middle Eastern stem cell research is great, but there are problems at the roots of a burgeoning field, according to Samia J. Khoury & Ali Bazarbachi.
There are few medical fields as fast-moving and expansive as cell therapy and regenerative medicine in the Middle East. If progress continues at its current pace, the Middle East and North Africa could become one of the world's centres for biomedical research.
Unfettered by religious stigma or protest – being pre-approved by almost all Islamic jurors – stem cell clinical trials are increasing, while funding initiatives and construction of new research facilities abound. However, despite promising signs, several barriers risk thwarting the field's potential.
Between a lack of coordinated state policies and false marketing by commercial interests, the adoption of cell therapy and research-based investment models might be hampered.
Stem cells are among the body's building blocks, and while the public does not always distinguish between them – tending to classify everything under the rubric of "stem cells" – there are multiple types being investigated in the search for potential therapies – mainly through the regeneration and repair of damaged or diseased cells.
Essentially, adult stem cells are tissue-specific cells whose function is to replace lost or damaged cells, but they have limited potential for self-renewal. Fetal stem cells and cord blood cells act in a similar manner.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are the original cells from which all the 220 different types of cells that comprise the human body develop. Induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells have the capacity to transform into any cell through engineering.
There are few stem cell therapies as widely accepted by the medical community as those that use tissue-specific stem cells, such as haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to treat patients with blood-related malignancies as well as non-malignant conditions such as aplastic anaemia, thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.
Over the past decade, the MENA region has seen a significant increase in HSCT clinical work and research, including programs in Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Syria. This activity has been complemented by the establishment, in 2008, of the Eastern Mediterranean blood and marrow transplantation (EMBMT) group, a cooperative platform for physicians, scientists and healthcare workers.
The use of stem cells to treat other conditions, such as autoimmune, degenerative or congenital diseases, is being evaluated experimentally and in clinical trials — the same type of stem cell clinical trials that have proliferated in the region with 32 registered "open" clinical trials taking place in September 2013. Some bone, skin and corneal diseases or injuries can be treated by the grafting of tissue that depends on stem cells from these organs. This is part of a trend where several countries in the Greater Middle East (GME) are now actively trying to establish a presence in this field through new funding and research facilities.
Despite the flurry of activity and interest, there are factors hindering the expansion and translation of lab bench knowledge into treatments.
While some high-income Arab countries specifically invest in research and development, the majority of researchers1 in the MENA region have to scramble for funds. According to estimates from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, science spending has been consistently low in the majority of Arab countries for more than four decades. R&D spending varies from 0.1 to 1.0% of GDP - compared with 2.5% in more developed countries.
There are some positive changes, especially in the Gulf region. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the United Arab Emirates minister for finance and industry, has set up a Dh20 million (US$5.4m) institution focusing on genetics and stem cell research. The Qatar Foundation will have a stem cell laboratory in the US$3 billion Sidra Medical Centre, set to open in 2014, and will include a genetics and stem cell unit. Saudi Arabia established the Stem Cell Therapy Program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh that collaborates with institutions such as Harvard Medical School. Nevertheless, most MENA countries have no established granting agencies whose mission is to support research.
National stem cell research policies heavily affect the productivity of stem cell researchers1. Countries have vastly disparate polices governing stem cell research, leading to inconsistent standards that may prevent international collaborations. To streamline research, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) developed guidelines to ensure rigorous ethical standards and to encourage global uniform research practices.
Almost all Islamic jurors permit human ESC research, but agree that creating embryos for the sole purpose of research should be prohibited2. With this common denominator, strong leadership is needed to standardize policies across the region.
Biomedical research in general, and stem cell research in particular, suffer from a lack of inter-institutional or regional collaboration. Most research activities are generated by scientists trained in the US or Europe continuing work they started abroad. Collaborative research is almost exclusively limited to the institution in which the scientist originally trained. However, recent regional funding initiatives such as the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) are facilitating regional collaboration through a mandatory partnership with a Qatari institution.
Most research activities are based on received wisdom and few regional universities generate new biomedical knowledge.
This has created apathy in the biomedical community in the region and does not promote public awareness about the added value of research.
For the general public, funding research is often viewed as a waste of money and research participants are often perceived as "guinea pigs". Frequently, patients and their families will refuse to participate in an Institutional Review Board-approved research study on the use of stem cells for regenerative medicine, while willing to pay to receive the same treatment in commercial centres that propose unsanctioned use of stem cell therapy.
Several institutions in the MENA region have a shortage of native research resources. Some countries have few nationals trained in research while others, like Lebanon and Egypt, suffer from brain drain – with the best qualified personnel heading to North America or Europe.
The leadership at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) is working towards repatriation of doctors and scientists and establishing a robust program of collaboration in education, research and clinical study with health institutions and medical schools across the region. A major investment in building, expanding, and upgrading of local infrastructures and creating regional collaborations is needed for research capacity building.
Over the past few years, there has been a steep rise in the MENA region of pseudo-scientific and illegitimate centres that claim to offer stem cell-based treatments for multiple diseases ranging from congenital deformities to Down Syndrome, or to offer cosmetic enhancements. Scientists are concerned that some clinics may be offering these treatments without regulation or other standard patient protections. These centres feed on the ignorance and desperation of patients.
Despite the obstacles, the growing regional collaborations between high-income countries in the Gulf region and other Arab states with well-trained researchers are a positive development. Public policies have a vital role to play, and should limit the development of commercial entities dealing with stem cells in favor of academic institutions with regulatory infrastructures.
Samia Khoury is the associate dean for clinical and translational research at the American University of Beirut. She is also the director of the Abu Haidar Neuroscience Institute, and director of the new AUBMC Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center at AUBMC in Beirut. She is a professor of neurology at the American University of Beirut and visiting professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Ali Bazarbachi is a professor of medicine (Hematology and Oncology), professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiological sciences, associate dean for basic research, and director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation programme at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.


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Tiaras Revealed at Kensington Palace
© Historic Royal Palaces
We learned late last year that two magnificent tiaras made in the reign of Queen Victoria would soon be going on display at Kensington Palace, and on Friday, the public will finally see them sparkling in action. And even better — there's a surprise third royal tiara involved! Here's the scoop on the jewels you'll see in the palace's revamped "Victoria Revealed" exhibition.
All of the jewels that have been newly placed in the exhibition belonged to members of the British royal family. The diamond and emerald tiara, as well as its accompanying parure, were all owned and worn by Queen Victoria. The two all-diamond tiaras on display belonged to her granddaughter, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
The amazing emerald and diamond tiara looks gorgeous under the museum lighting, doesn't it? The tiara was designed for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert and made by Joseph Kitching. The symmetry of the piece is typical of the jewels designed by Albert for Victoria.
In a press release for the new exhibition, Historic Royal Palaces describes the tiara as "set with cushion-shaped diamonds and step-cut emeralds, and surmounted by a graduated row of 19 inverted pear-shaped emeralds, the largest of which weighs an astonishing 15 carats."
Here, in the hands of one of the Historic Royal Palaces conservators, you get a good idea of the size of the diadem. Victoria was thrilled with her present, noting in her journal that her husband had "wonderful taste" and that she was delighted to wear the "lovely Diadem of diamonds and emeralds designed by my beloved Albert."
Grand Ladies Site
Exactly how long Queen Victoria kept the tiara — and what she did with it — aren't precisely clear. In the 1880s, a granddaughter, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (grandmother of the Duke of Edinburgh), was depicted wearing the tiara as part of a costume. And when an inventory of Victoria's jewels was made in 1896, the emerald tiara was not included.
Decades later, Caroline, wife of the 3rd Duke of Fife, was photographed wearing the tiara and its accompanying suite of emerald jewelry at the 1960 State Opening of Parliament. It's possible, then, that Victoria gave the tiara directly to the 3rd Duke's grandmother (and her granddaughter), Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
Here's a look at the rest of the jewels that make up the married parure. The other pieces — "a necklace formed of 9 oval emerald clusters, each set within a border of cushion-shaped diamonds, its accompanying pendant earrings and an impressive 20ct emerald and diamond brooch" — were made in 1843 and given to Victoria by Albert. The tiara was later made to "complement" the set.
Queen Victoria wearing her emeralds
Here's a portrait of Victoria wearing the tiara with the earrings and the necklace. All of the diamond and emerald pieces, including the tiara, are on on long-term loan to Historic Royal Palaces from the estate of the 3rd Duke of Fife, who died in 2015.
As a part of the settlement of the late 3rd Duke's estate, the grand Fife Tiara was accepted by Her Majesty's Government in lieu of inheritance tax. The tiara was permanently allocated to Historic Royal Palaces, and it too is a part of the newly revamped "Victoria Revealed" exhibition. (We covered the news about the tiara's new home in this post.)
Designed by Oscar Massin, the tiara was a wedding present given to Princess Louise of Wales, daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, by her new husband, the Duke of Fife, in 1889. A special issue of The Graphic, published in August 1889 to celebrate the Fife wedding, described the tiara as follows: "in a very uncommon and beautiful design, composed of hundreds of stones, ranging in weight from one carat to ten, the larger being what are technically known as briolettes — that is cut on both sides and turning on pivots so that they will flash with every movement of the head." Another contemporary news report describes the tiara given by the duke as "a mass of diamonds, and one of the most valuable pieces of work in England."
Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
Here, Louise wears the Fife Tiara in an early postcard portrait, pairing the tiara with pearls.
After Louise's death, the tiara was inherited by her elder daughter, Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife. She wore the tiara at a pair of coronations: the 1937 coronation of King George VI, and the 1953 coronation of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
Alexandra's only son, Alastair, died without issue, and the tiara was eventually inherited by her nephew, the 3rd Duke of Fife. It was worn by several family brides, including the current Duchess of Fife. Now the tiara belongs to the nation.
The press materials for the reopening of the "Victoria Revealed" exhibition also included a tiara surprise: the jewelry display also includes another tiara that belonged to Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife. This classic diamond fringe, which can be worn either as a tiara or a necklace, was given to Louise as a wedding present by her parents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The Illustrated London News described the fringe as composed "of fine brilliants, of elegant design of alternating and graduating rays, varying from nearly two inches long in the centre to half an inch at the extreme ends."
Queen Alexandra (then Princess of Wales) with her daughters, Maud, Victoria, and Louise at the Duke of York's wedding, July 1893
Louise was photographed wearing both the Fife Tiara and the diamond fringe necklace in July 1893 during the wedding celebrations for her brother, the Duke of York, and his bride, Mary of Teck. (They later became King George V and Queen Mary, grandparents of the present Queen.) Like the emeralds, the diamond fringe is also on long-term loan from the estate of Louise's grandson, the late 3rd Duke of Fife.
If you're in London, I highly recommend a visit to Kensington Palace to see the exhibit. I visited in 2013, long before the fabulous jewelry additions, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Other highlights include the room where Victoria held her very first privy council meeting (pictured above). When I was there, the exhibition also included Victoria's wedding dress, though I'm not sure whether it still does. Regardless, you're not going to want to miss a chance to see this one — especially with the new bejeweled additions! The exhibition reopens to the public tomorrow (Friday, March 30, 2018). Be sure to let us know if you stop by!
Categories // museum exhibit, united kingdom


Choosing a coworking space is not easy. There is a plethora of co-working spaces located all around the world, and new spaces opening up as you're reading this! So as you can imagine, analyzing every single one would take several lifetimes.
So this begs the question How can you find a workspace that unique and a good fit?
What kind of workspace are you looking for?
Are you looking for a hot desk, dedicated desk, or something much more private like a private office? These kinds of questions will be a major determining factor on pricing and the capacity of your business to expand or contract, should the workload change down the line.
Before signing that dotted line, make sure there is a trial period so you can see if this space is best for you and your business. This way you can give it a try and really see for yourself what a typical day would be like within the coworking space. Remember to ask for a trial period before any long-term commitments!
Will your membership open doors to other coworking locations?
Some coworking communities offer location passes to various spaces across the city or even countries, so ask around. Sometimes it's in the package you're paying for and coworkers seldom use these sorts of valuable perks.
Your coworking space location is a major factor in how much you value your work life. Location in a prestigious neighborhood can impress potential clients. Having conveniences within walking or driving distance is a big plus as well, you'll also want your space to be near your accommodation if at all possible. Not to mention, the availability and price of parking are also important things to take into consideration.
Check out the list of tenants that are occupying the space. If you are a freelancer and are looking for networking opportunities, choosing a coworking space that has professionals from various professional industries can open up many doors for meeting other like-minded people.
Your surroundings and the number of distractions they bring are a huge factor as to how quickly you'll make progress on your projects. Coworking spaces have the potential to be affordable distraction-free workspaces, but keep in mind they're not perfect either. Some spaces bring excessive chatter from members collaborating on joint projects. Other spaces are too hot or cold to work for extended periods of time comfortably.
When starting up a new business, there are a lot of investments involved. You want to keep your expenses to a bare minimum. So be sure to choose an appropriate coworking space that fits your budget. Seeing your monthly rent can become a liability for you and in turn can be not so good for business.
The coworking space should have all major amenities that you expect from your workplace. Keep in mind that a fully-equipped workspace will come with a price, so try to choose a space that doesn't disturb the balance of being both economical and convenient for you to get down to business.
Many coworking spaces organize weekly community events, including seminars from successful entrepreneurs. Many of the events also bring in some very influential people and investors, which allows you to be in a great position to the network.
While all coworking spaces offer full-time memberships, you'll find that some also offer part-time plans for entrepreneurs who don't need to go into the space every day. These forms of membership agreements are far more economical than full-time membership agreements and offer set business hours in the coworking space each month. This can come in handy if a workspace is needed only a couple of days a week.


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Rufaro Stadium refurb gathers momentum
The trip is funded by Sakunda Holdings, which had pledged to provide funds for the renovations of the stadium in Mbare to meet Fifa standards.
BY HENRY MHARA HARARE City Council officials flew into South Africa this week on a stadium benchmarking tour as preparations for the refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium into a world-class facility gather momentum.
Yesterday, the delegation led by acting town clerk Norman Karidza toured the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg where they met architects who designed the facility as well as the companies that installed bucket seats.
"We are here at the FNB Stadium with our friends from Sakunda Holdings. We have come to see this world-class stadium, looking at some things that we can adopt for Rufaro Stadium in partnership with Sakunda," said councillor Patson Chikwaka, who is part of the delegation.
"We are analysing how they carried out their operations and how they have managed to come up with such a beautiful stadium so that we can have Rufaro up to this standard or maybe somewhere closer to the standard we are seeing here."
The 12-man delegation which also included officials from Sakunda were expected to travel to Durban last night for a similar tour of the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"We are currently in South Africa on a fact-finding tour of stadiums as we promised our stakeholders earlier this year," Sakunda Holdings projects manager Nqobile Magwizi said. "The delegation is all-inclusive as it comprises Harare City Council officials as well as Sakunda Holdings representatives. We have come to see how our neighbours have done similar projects and it is our belief that at the end of the tour, we will emerge with new ideas and a feasibility report that might be helpful in our Rufaro Stadium project. The project is in its initial stage and we should ensure that there is input from everyone. Our major aim as Sakunda Holdings in this social corporate responsibility gesture is to make Rufaro Stadium meet modern international standards as it hosts matches."
Harare early this year agreed to lease the stadium to Sakunda Holdings which will see the energy giant, owned by businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, refurbish the facility into a world-class venue.
Rufaro Stadium last hosted football matches during the 2019 league season before it was red-flagged by Zifa in 2020.
The stadium has since become an eyesore after renovations by the city council were stopped midway.
Sakunda says it wants to drive community development in Mbare, including refurbishing the stadium for use by Dynamos and other local football clubs. The company is also looking to rehabilitate Belgravia Sports Club for use by Dynamos for training purposes as part of the deal.
The Harare giants currently use Prince Edward High School grounds for training sessions.
Sakunda sponsors giants Dynamos and Highlanders on the local football scene.
Follow Henry on Twitter @henrymhara


A Boeing 737-200 crashed shortly after takeoff in Cuba on Friday, officials at Jose Marti International Airport said, killing at least 100 people.
The plane with 104 people on board crashed near a high school close to the Havana airport, creating a plume of smoke, WPLG-TV in Miami reported. Radio Havana Cuba said the plane crashed onto a highway near Santiago de las Vegas, a rural village 12 miles south of Havana.
State-run media said officials transported three survivors to the hospital, but that more than 100 died. The three survivors -- all women -- were in critical condition at a Havana hospital.
The plane was leased by Cubana de Aviación from Mexican airline Global Aerolineas Damojh. Flight CU972 was en route from Havana to Holguin on the eastern portion of the island.
Newly installed Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was at the site to observe rescue efforts. He launched a commission to investigate the cause of the crash.
"The news is not very promising, it seems that there is a high number of victims," he said.
State media reported most of the passengers were Cuban, though the crew was Mexican.
The Independent reported the plane was 30 years old and had previously been used by seven other airlines, including Southwest Airlines and Air Kazakhstan.


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Conservation, Freshwater, Out West
A Gurgle Beneath the Roar: The Grand Canyon's Hidden Water
Posted by Laurel Hamers ×	November 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Hiking down the Grand Canyon. Photo by the author.
Three hours down the dusty South Kaibab Trail, I pause. I heave my pack off my shoulders, and take a long swig from my almost-empty Nalgene. From the red rock lookout where I stand, I see a swath of green below. Phantom Ranch, a lush oasis at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, will be my home for the next week. It contrasts with the surrounding cliffs because it is rich in one of the canyon's rarest resources: water.
Finding standing water in Arizona is about as common as finding a hundred dollar bill on a city sidewalk—if it does fortuitously appear, it disappears almost instantly. Driving north on I-17, from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, signposts mark where water should be. But the Agua Fria River is merely a dry rockbed, and the New River is apparently so new that it hasn't appeared yet. These are intermittent streams. They only flow when enough rain falls, and rain hasn't fallen recently. The already-arid Southwest has been in a state of drought for over ten years.
And yet, despite its scant rainfall, the Grand Canyon supports an astonishing array of plant and animal life, from large mammals, like elk and mule deer to thousands of species of insects. It manages this feat by hiding water in the most unlikely and fragile of places, creating small pockets of biodiversity in an otherwise harsh landscape.
The first time I visited the Grand Canyon and saw the Colorado River snaking through the rocks far below, I promised myself that someday I would reach the bottom. As a nine-year-old, the thought of dipping my toes in the water at the bottom of this massive chasm seemed as impressive as summiting Mount Everest.
Twelve years later, I stand on the canyon rim on a chilly March morning, mentally preparing to hike down. All I can think about is whether I'll make it out again. My pack, which felt comfortable earlier that morning, is now cutting into my shoulders. I'm regretting stuffing in a second paperback novel. In addition to a sleeping bag and a week's worth of clothes, I'm carrying three full liters of water because there's nowhere to restock along the South Kaibab Trail.
There's no water along the trail not by any fault of the Park Service, but because the Grand Canyon is a semi-arid desert. You wouldn't necessarily guess it from standing on the rim, where pinyon pines and junipers grow in crooked forests out of the rocks. However, the South Rim receives only sixteen inches of precipitation a year, mostly in the form of winter snowfall, and Phantom Ranch receives less than ten inches. When rain does fall, it often comes in torrents; unable to seep into the ground quickly enough, most is lost as runoff.
The bottom of the canyon is accessible only by foot and mule. Photo by the author.
Descending into the canyon, the absence of water becomes more apparent. Vegetation becomes smaller and scrubbier. Prickly pear cactuses appear, ready to sink their spines into my legs with any misstep.
Hours later, my legs are coated with dust and I'm sweating through my shirt. My feet are swollen and sore. My big toe is bruised from repeatedly hitting the toe box of my boot. And then something miraculous happens: I reach the Colorado River.
The landscape changes instantly. The prickly pears are now nestled next to more friendly horsetails and shaded by willow trees. To celebrate my successful descent, I pull off my sweaty hiking boots and cautiously wade into the rushing river. Within seconds, my feet are purple and cramping in pain. I run to dry my toes on the warm sand. I feel better when, moments later, a young woman wearing a full-body neoprene Spiderman suit plunges fearlessly into the river and pops up muttering expletives. Even superheroes find the Colorado too cold.
The Colorado River is so big that it's tempting to assume it's the most important water source in the park. Its integral role in carving the canyon aside, it is undeniably an important habitat. A 1976 survey of the riparian habitat along its banks identified 807 species of plants, 178 species of birds, and over 12,000 species of insects along the 277-mile stretch that runs through the Grand Canyon. However, the Colorado is just one water source that flows at the bottom of this mile-deep gorge. Though it is large, its waters are inaccessible or unsuitable for many species. And so canyon flora and fauna, as well as human visitors to the park, must rely on springs and seeps in the canyon's walls in order to survive.
Aquifers, underground water reservoirs, offer an important counterpoint to the boom and bust behavior of surface water in the canyon. They form when layers of less permeable rock abut a section of more porous rock whose open spaces catch and store water that seeps into and travels through the ground. The multilayered Grand Canyon sits on top of two: the Redwall-Muav aquifer, a layer of limestone 3,000 feet below the earth's surface, and the Coconino aquifer, a shallow sandstone formation. If the flow of water through the underground aquifer crosses a less-porous boundary, pressure pushes the water to the surface to form a spring. These springs dot the canyon walls and create tiny but critical habitats for plants and animals alike.
Seeps and springs are rare on the dry South Rim walls. Far from rendering them irrelevant, though, their scarcity makes them all the more critical. According to Larry Stevens, Curator of Ecology and Conservation at the Museum of Northern Arizona and an expert on Grand Canyon ecology, springs make up just a thousandth of a percent of the overall Grand Canyon landscape. However, nearly ten percent of the canyon's plants are found only in these riparian habitats. If the springs dried up, the species that rely on them would no longer have a home in the canyon.
Laura Crossey, a University of New Mexico geologist who studies the Grand Canyon's springs, concurs. "The springs are really important," she says. "They're islands of water in the desert, and an unbelievable number of species depend on these water supplies. And it's not just deer; it's hummingbirds and dragonflies, too." The tiny pool produced by one of these springs may be the only place for miles where water-breeding insects can mate or a squirrel can take a drink. These are hotspots of biological diversity. Springs often go unnoticed by most canyon visitors, eclipsed by the grandeur of the canyon and the roar of the Colorado River. But we would notice if the springs disappeared.
Paradise in Flux
The trail veers right at a junction in the river. I stop short. I've come to a sparkling creek lined with cottonwood trees and lush with vegetation. Dragonflies hum overhead and there are more butterflies than I've ever seen outside of a museum. I turn my head to the left to find myself a foot away from the large eyes of a mule deer. Another hiker whispers in awe, "I think this is my favorite place on earth."
We're on the banks of the Bright Angel Creek, a crystal-clear stream fed by Roaring Springs on the North Rim. A half-mile ahead is Phantom Ranch, a collection of rustic buildings that provide lodging and food for tourists. A seasoned river runner remind me that it's the only place along the Colorado River where you can take a shower or use a flush toilet.
Bright Angel Creek winds through the canyon and eventually feeds into the Colorado River. Photo by the author.
There is no Internet at Phantom Ranch, except for park employees. There's no cell service either. This isolation draws many visitors to Phantom. Its solitude is a sharp contrast to the city-like atmosphere of the South Rim, which bustles with tourists and souvenir shops. The South Rim is accessible—a way for everyone to see the canyon regardless of physical ability. It's also chaotic. You jostle for parking spaces and bump into people texting while walking. Visitation to the park has skyrocketed in the past twenty years. The Grand Canyon now hosts over four million visitors annually. Ninety percent of them visit the South Rim. In contrast, less than one percent of these visitors reach the bottom of the canyon.
As a New Englander unfamiliar with the water limitations of the Southwest, I never questioned the constant availability of water on the South Rim, despite the enormous demands tourism makes of it. I took activities like drinking, flushing toilets, cooking, and cleaning for granted just as I would at home. However, the South Rim's native water sources are limited to its tiny, intermittent springs. These are critical habitats for plants and animals, but not powerful enough to fuel tourism. Faced with this challenge, the Park Service has been forced to look further afield, to the other side of the canyon.
Three thousand feet below the North Rim, water gurgles out of a cave in the canyon wall. Roaring Springs, located at the junction of two geologic faults, provides water for the entire national park. A high-pressure pipeline completed in 1970 carries water from Roaring Springs down to Phantom Ranch and then up to the South Rim.
In the trail crew bunkhouse kitchen, I sit around a large wooden table with fellow students as we prepare for a week of trail work. We're lucky to be staying in this rambling house. It has flush toilets and a faucet that supplies hot water with a twist of a handle. Kenton, our trail crew leader, briefs us on the bunkhouse policies: clean up after yourself, don't clog the toilets, and take five-minute showers.
A seasoned worker in his late twenties, Kenton warns us not to take our water supply for granted. Sometimes in the spring, the North Rim snowmelt causes the pressure inside the trans-canyon pipeline to increase, making it more susceptible to bursting. If it breaks, he warns, we're without water until the pipe can be repaired. He gestures toward the porch where there's enough bottled water to survive the apocalypse. I cross my fingers and hope the pipeline holds.
After I returned to civilization, I called the painter Bruce Aiken at his art studio in Flagstaff, Arizona. He's something of a legend in the Grand Canyon. Aiken and his family lived at Roaring Springs for 33 years. He manned the pump house, monitored the spring's flow, and carried out repairs on the system. "It was the most dynamic, unbelievable, fantastic place I could find," Aiken says of Roaring Springs. The spring is fed by an aquifer on the North Rim, not the South. Increased snowfall on the higher-elevation North Rim means that its aquifers are more readily replenished than those on the drier South Rim. Still, like any canyon spring, its resources must be used with caution.
The Park Service uses some of the water from Roaring Springs to support park activities, but most flows into the Bright Angel Creek. However, increased tourism in the decades since the pipeline was built has strained its capacity. Park officials are reluctant to draw more water from Roaring Springs. Increased pumping would reduce the flow of Bright Angel Creek to the detriment of the inner canyon's ecology. Martha Hahn, Chief of Science and Resource Management for the park, addresses the use of the spring: "Right now we believe that our extraction of water for use within the park is at its maximum. There's a delicate balance in terms of how much water we use and how much goes into the stream for other resources." Aiken agrees: "There is a very vital riparian habitat along Bright Angel Creek."
Aiken, who retired in 2006, is still a vocal advocate for the Grand Canyon's water sources. While he acknowledges the burden that increased tourism places on the park's hydrological resources, he believes that the greatest threat comes from outside the park. "A line has to be drawn at some point by saying that we're not going to expand further development inside the park. But anything outside the park? That's a whole other ball of wax," he says. The goal of the Park Service is to share natural resources with the public while also preserving them for future generations. Development outside the park, on the other hand, doesn't always occur with the same concern for preservation. And a prime example is brewing right at the Grand Canyon's doorstep.
Ribbon Falls, a spectacular waterfall, eventually feeds into the Bright Angel Creek. Its flow fluctuates widely based on rainfall and snowmelt conditions. Photo by the author.
An Open System
If you're distracted when you glance at a map, you might miss Tusayan entirely. On a roundabout off a four-lane highway, there's an iMAX movie theater, an RV village, and not much else.
Tusayan is a gateway town to the park with just under 600 permanent residents. During the past few years, locals have been divided over a plan that would expand the small town into a resort community and could increase its population tenfold. Some elements of the plan are attractive. Many people work for the tourist industry. The majority of the housing currently available in the town is company-owned. If workers lose their jobs, they also lose their homes. The proposed plan would lead to the construction of over two thousand new housing units, as well as public services like medical clinics and improved Internet access. The proposal also includes plans for a dude ranch, a spa, and a pedestrian-friendly shopping mall built by an Italian development company, Stilo, who owns large parcels of land in Tusayan. But the proposal doesn't include a source of water for these developments. "What their hopes are for what they want to look like as a town in ten years don't match up to the scarcity of water," Hahn explains.
The Park Service is also concerned. The Grand Canyon is not a closed system and the aquifers that feed its seeps and springs also supply water to neighboring communities. Tusayan draws its water from a 4,000-foot deep well in the Redwall-Muav aquifer, the same water source that feeds the Grand Canyon's South Rim springs. The aquifer is recharged by rainfall, but extensive drilling coupled with very little precipitation is decreasing the aquifer's water levels.
The gradual depletion of water reduces the hydrostatic pressure inside the aquifer and diminishes the flow to the springs it feeds. Hahn says the effects can be felt quickly. "The water usage that's occurring right now with the wells in Tusayan is already decreasing the amount of water in seeps and springs by ten percent" compared to pre-drilling conditions. The expansion of the town would increase the impact.
According to Hahn, the Park Service used water consumption statistics from nearby eco-savvy Flagstaff to calculate the water resources required to sustain the Tusayan development. The results were sobering. "If we apply those numbers to the amount of development [Tusayan] is proposing, their current water use of 175 acre-feet per year will increase to 700 acre-feet per year in ten years," she says.
The complex geology of the Grand Canyon makes it difficult to predict exactly how much the increased use of the aquifer would affect the springs. But experts agree that it would have a detrimental effect. "If Tusayan drills more wells, these springs might dry up," says Aiken. Crossey agrees. "The springs are like the canary in the coal mine," she says. Small pressure changes in the aquifer can have a dramatic impact on their output. Because they support such diverse populations of flora and fauna, their disappearance could threaten the survival of numerous canyon species. The Tusayan development isn't the first time activity outside the park has threatened its resources and it certainly won't be the last. The canyon's springs — unnoticed by many visitors — are especially vulnerable.
Hahn describes it eloquently: "The thing that people maybe don't understand is the delicateness of the water resources in Grand Canyon. There may be a little dripping spring, but we have the most diversity of plant and animal life in any park unit living on that little drip of water. If that little drip of water goes away, so does that diversity, which is one of the big reasons why this is set aside for future generations," she says. "If that goes away because someone wants to have a spa in Tusayan, then we're not serving the public properly."
The Grand Canyon's rock formations are stunning, and the Colorado River is impressive. But much of the water critical to sustaining the park's ecosystems manifests in a more fragile way: instead of roaring, it drips. This is one leak we don't want to stop.
Laurel Hamers
Laurel Hamers is a 2014 graduate of Williams College. She is currently based in Washington, D.C., where she works as a science writer at the American Institute of Physics.
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Chris Sawicki says:
nice work, very interesting, thanks
Jayantha de Silva says:
I read your narration on grand canyon and was fascinated by your descriptive writing style. Taking the reader along the wild descent. Apart from that, the photos were colorful and clear.
I guess these factors combine to provide a enthralling adventure . Keep it up.
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Foals: What Really Went Down at the Crystal Ballroom
Oxford outfit Foals brought their wild and energetic set to the Crystal Ballroom, and their fans did not hold back.
by Bren Swogger
Crystal Ballroom
Foals at the Crystal Ballroom on September 24, 2016—click to see more photos by Sydnie KobzaTowards the end of September, the Crystal Ballroom's fall season kicked off with Foals, who recently wowed critics with their powerful new album, What Went Down. They brought in a sold-out crowd, but many fans weren't prepared for the live onslaught.
As the crowd of 1,500 swarmed into the ballroom, there were many whispers about how they might behave during the headlining set.
"It's an older crowd. They'll mostly stand still I think," said one attendee.
"I'm not too worried," said another. "It won't be that kind of crowd."
Bear Hands at the Crystal Ballroom—click to see more photos by Sydnie KobzaThrough openers Kiev and Bear Hands, these statements held true, even as Bear Hands' set approached the hour mark. Though both acts owned the stage during their sets, the crowd stayed engaged but relatively reserved throughout.
It wasn't until minutes before Foals took the stage that the true nature of the crowd became evident. Fans shoved closer and closer to the stage, decreasing the space between each other and increasing the sweat, heat and anxiety of anyone with claustrophobia.
As the band kicked off with "Prelude" and "Snake Oil," the entirety of the Crystal Ballroom floor opened into a massive mosh pit. People slammed into each other, grabbed at each other, jumped, screamed and even used other fans' backs as drums.
The crowd's energy and chaos never slowed as Foals played through songs from throughout their career. It seemed that everyone sang along to every track—even the fans who weren't prepared to be dragged into a pit. Despite the mass chaos on the floor, the entire ballroom fell into the mindset of the music.
Yannis Philippakis surfing the Crystal crowd—click to see more photos by Sydnie KobzaKicking off their encore, Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis took full advantage of the crowd's behavior, jumping onto the barricade as he growled out their latest album's title track—watch the music video below. As the band launched into the chorus, Philippakis lunged into the crowd to surf atop the fans. The ballroom moved like a mass of water, holding him up above the surface before bringing him safely back to land.
Despite bruises and sore limbs, the energy of the crowd factored into Foals' set being a memorable kickoff to what is sure to be an amazing autumn season at Portland's Crystal Ballroom.
Foals, Bear Hands and Kiev at the Crystal Ballroom on Sept. 24, 2016
Photos by Sydnie Kobza
Quenching A Collaborative Thirst
Katey Trnka - Aug 20, 2019
Portland beverage makers and bands join forces.
How to Get On The Road (Again)
Chris Young - Jan 29, 2019
It all starts at home... and you can learn how to book, promote and tour when our Get Paid! panel series continues at the Doug Fir on Sunday, February 10. Join Vortex, MusicPortland and J-Fell...
Dan Cable Presents: Fountaine Live at the White Eagle Saloon [Video Premiere]
Dan Cable - Apr 11, 2018
Watch Portland's Fountaine perform his song "Saint Michael" live at the White Eagle. Then subscribe to the podcast to hear new episodes every Friday, and catch Fountaine rocking the Crystal...
Foals, Kiev and Bear Hands at Roseland Theater on March 19, 2019
94.7 FM's 21st Birthday Bash featuring The Dandy Warhols, Young the Giant, Bear Hands, Miike Snow and Big Data at OMSI on August 13, 2016
Photos by Anthony Pidgeon
August 16, 2016 9:45am


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Union Cabinet approves several MoUs
June 28, 2018 Anand Gupta 0
June 28, 2018 Anand Gupta
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today approved an array of agreements with various countries in sectors such as aviation and urban development.
The Cabinet gave its nod to an MoU between India and Singapore on cooperation in the field of urban planning.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in May.
The agreement will facilitate government agencies at the Centre and in states to tap into the expertise of Singapore agencies in the areas of urban development and management.
The Cabinet also approved an agreement with Denmark on cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation.
The agreement was signed in May and it will help researchers from scientific organisations, academia, research and development laboratories and companies from India and Denmark.
"Renewable energy, water, material science, affordable healthcare, synthetic biology, functional food, and blue economy were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration," an official statement said.
Another MoU approved by the Cabinet relates to cooperation in the field of civil aviation with Germany.
It will lead to promotion of safe, effective and efficient development of air transport between India and Germany and also help in development of heliports and helicopter emergency medical services.
The Cabinet was also appraised of an implementing arrangement for pre-formulation studies of a Maritime Domain Awareness Mission signed between India and France in March.
The proposed joint mission will be devoted to maritime domain awareness, with the objective to provide relevant data and services to both nations.
The objective is to monitor the maritime traffic and to identify the non-compliant ships at the maximum possible revisit frequency.
The Cabinet was also apprised of an MoU signed between India and Denmark for cooperation in the fields of animal husbandry and dairying in April.
Danish partnership is expected to facilitate exchange of knowledge and expertise in the areas of animal breeding, animal health and dairying, and fodder management aiming at enhancing production and productivity of Indian livestock.
The Cabinet was apprised of another MoU, this one between India and Indonesia, on technical cooperation in the railway sector.
The agreement will provide a framework of cooperation for focused approach in the areas of capacity building, modernisation of rolling stock, signalling systems and creation of freight terminals.
Another agreement cleared by the Cabinet is with Bahrain in the field of healthcare.
A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the MoU, the statement said.
tags: Union Cabinet approves several MoUs
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ADAM RAGA FINISHES THIRD IN THE 2022 TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The TRRS rider has added two new podiums to his list of achievements and finishes third in the 2022 Trial World Championship, not being able to renew the runner-up position due to the disqualification of the German GP.
The Trial World Championship 2022 has concluded in Ponte di Legno with the celebration of the GP of Italy, where two days of competition have been disputed for TrialGP, Trial2 and both categories of women.
Adam Raga arrived with the aim of fighting for the victory and consolidate the third place in the championship. The good riding of the TRRS rider has led him to partially lead at certain moments of the GP, but he finally had to settle for two positive podiums.
This result confirmed the final third place in the championship for Adam Raga, who this season has had the burden of the disqualification of the GP of Germany, where the claim was not successful due to a failure of form, making it very difficult to maintain the runner-up position at the end of the season.
In Trial2 Women we celebrated Kaytlyn Adshead's victory on Sunday, a result that allowed her to climb to the third final position of the championship, overtaking also TRRS rider Sophia Ter Jung.
Next weekend the Trial of Nations will be held in Monza, where TRRS riders will also participate. This event will be the formal closing of the Trial World Championship 2022.
S3 Standings following Travers Trial


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Criminal & Civil Attorneys | Greenblatt, Pierce, Funt & Flores, LLC » Our Attorneys » James A. Funt
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James A. Funt is a founding partner at Greenblatt, Pierce, Funt and Flores, LLC specializing in blue collar and white collar criminal defense, civil rights, and plaintiff's side employment discrimination matters.
Mr. Funt is currently the 2015 Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Section(CJS) of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He also serves on the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors as well as the Association's Commission of Judicial Selection and Retention. He has successfully tried thousands of criminal cases before judges and juries in state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania ranging from complex homicides to kidnappings, aggravated assaults, robberies, sexual assaults, state and federal drug cases, and white collar crimes including sexual-cyber-crimes. His practice includes adult and Juvenile matters. He often handles high profile matters and understands how to delicately and deftly handle the press in the best interest of his clients. His clients have included police officers, fire fighters, attorneys, doctors, sports figures as well other professionals. Mr. Funt has also tried numerous civil rights cases alleging claims of excessive force and wrongful arrest, and has successfully represented clients in first amendment issues and employment discrimination cases such as age, race, gender, whistle blowing and sexual orientation claims.
Contacts in the Hispanic Community
Although an accomplished and fearless litigator in the courtroom for all of his clients, Mr. Funt takes particular pride in always fighting for the "little guy". He began advocating for workers' rights while living in Mexico in the early 1990's where he spearheaded a variety of humanitarian, environmental and development projects. That experience left an indelible mark on him. Fluent in Spanish, he has developed a large Hispanic clientele in the tri-state region representing people from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, and Panama and is sensitive to the challenges that the Latino population often face in the United States.
Criminal, Civil Rights, Employment Expertise & Union Representation
Mr. Funt has a distinguished and diversified background as a complex civil and criminal trial attorney. After returning from Mexico, he began his legal career in 1994 as a trial lawyer with the Defender Association of Philadelphia where he represented indigent defendants in hundreds of serious criminal cases. While there he was selected to investigate and track cases involving allegations of police abuse and corruption and was involved in exposing the civil liberty abuses by the 39th district police.
In 1997 Mr. Funt was recruited to join the law firm of Willig, Williams, and Davidson, the area's premier labor and employment firm where he represented unions and individual plaintiffs on complex labor and employment cases. There he represented individuals in grievances and arbitrations on job related issues, assisted the Erie and Philadelphia Fire Fighters with their Interest Arbitration and contract negotiations, and secured large monetary awards on behalf of individuals in State and Federal Court whose civil liberties had been violated. From 2000-2002 Mr. Funt served as in-house counsel for the firm's numerous Union clients advocating on behalf of individual Union members accused of criminal conduct.
In 2002 Mr. Funt partnered with Ronald Greenblatt, Esquire launching Greenblatt & Funt, (the precursor to GPFF); a dynamic criminal defense firm dedicated to the zealous representation of working class families. He continues to maintain strong ties with the union movement representing the Philadelphia Fire Fighters, Bakery Workers, Probation Officers, Steel & Rubber Workers, Teamsters, Postal Workers, Teachers, Septa workers, Food and Commercial Workers Painters, Glaziers and Roofers to name a few throughout the tri-state region. He won a four million dollar jury verdict with fellow partner Patricia Pierce, Esquire against the University of Pennsylvania representing a special needs dentist in a wrongful discharge contract claim.
High Publicity Cases and the Media
From 2002-the present, Mr. Funt has been involved in some of the area's most highly publicized cases and is keenly aware of the value and hazards of press cases. He understands that often it is just as important to defend a client's reputation in the court of public opinion as well as the courtroom, and will use every tool at his disposal to ensure that his clients receive fair treatment throughout their ordeal. As such, he is often sought out by the media to address current events and constitutional matters such as the recent 50th anniversary of Gideon vs. Wainwright the verdict in the Travon Martin case, the Superior Court reversal of the Monsignor Lynn Child abuse matter as well as recent Supreme court rulings and their applicability to citizens in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Difficult Cases
Mr. Funt does not shy away from the difficult or unpopular case. He understands acutely that there are always two sides to every story and that it is his duty and obligation to fully represent his client so the complete truth can be revealed. This is particularly true in sexual assault and homicide cases where the media often convicts an individual at the moment he or she is arrested. Because the consequences for sexual assault convictions are so severe and draconian with the advent of SORNA (the federal equivalent of Megan's Law) more often than not these matters must be fully litigated and brought before a jury. Juries are where Mr. Funt shines. No one investigates cases as thoroughly as he does and no has been more successful in arguing his clients' innocence.
2013 Pro Bono Publico Award, First Judicial District of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 2013 & 2014
2010 "Friend of Philadelphia Fire Fighter's Achievement Award."
Perfect 10.0 Rating from AVVO
2014 National Trial Lawyers top 100 Trial Lawyers
Professional Activities:
2015 Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Section(CJS) of the Philadelphia Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors – 2014
2013 Chair of the Criminal Justice Section(CJS) of the Philadelphia Bar Association
Executive Committee, Criminal Justice Section 2012-Present
Appointed by Chancellor Kathleen Wilkinson to the 2013 Philadelphia Bar Association Task Force Regarding City of Philadelphia Request For Proposals to Study feasibility of revamping the Court appointed system for indigent counsel.
Philadelphia Commission of Judicial Selection & Retention (2013-Present)
Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL)
Philadelphia Inn of Criminal Court, Master Level
Defender Association of Philadelphia Alumni Association
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey
The Camden County Bar Association
"Ex-Temple University player speaks on dropped rape charges" | Action News, 6 ABC By Dan Cuellar | October 8, 2013
"Charges dropped against Temple football player accused of rape" | Philadelphia Daily News By Mensah M. Dean | October 8, 2013
"Charges Dropped Against Former Temple Football Player Accused of Rape" | CBS Philly | October 7, 2013
http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-22/news/29802199_1_suzuki-motorcycle-shot-second-bullet
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Brutal-Beating-Description-Not-Accurate-Attorneys-91760339.html
http://www.lawofficer.com/article/news/philadelphia-das-office-screws
http://articles.philly.com/2004-08-13/news/25391916_1_ice-cream-jurors-kidnapping
"Gideon's Elusive Dream" The Philadelphia Lawyer Magazine, Winter 2014 Vol. 76, No.4 (Guest Columnist writing about the state of the right to counsel in the wake of the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainright, the landmark Supreme Court decision that guaranteed all criminal defendants the right to competent counsel.
"The North American Free Trade Agreement and the Integrated Environmental Border Plan: feasible Solutions to U.S. – Mexican Border Pollution." 12 Temple Envir.L. & Tech. J. 77 (Spring 1993).
Presented at the 34th Criminal Law symposium in Harrisburg on June 9, 2017 on "How to Try a Self Defense Case."
One of course planners for a PBI CLE on PA statewide Sentencing updates conducted in Philadelphia on March 9, 2017
Presented at PBI CLE in January 2016, "a morning with my cousin vinny": A discussion on case presentation
2014 Panelist and Course Planner for Pennsylvania Criminal Law Updates
2014 CLE Panelist on Presenting your Case and Developing Case Theory
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2013 Criminal Law Updates (Course Planner)
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2013 – Sentencing in Pennsylvania State Courts (Course Planner)
Temple University Guest Lecturer 2012 – 2016 for Professor Daniel Silverman – Sexual Assault Cases in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Bench Bar Conference (2011) Criminal Practice in Philadelphia Municipal Court (Moderator)
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2011 – Nuts & Bolts of Criminal Practice in Philadelphia Municipal Court (Moderator)
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2010 – Fundamentals of a Criminal Law Practice (Faculty & Presenter)
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2009 – Case & Trial Theory – "A few Good Men" a case study (Panel Presenter)
Pennsylvania Bart Institute 2008 – Cross Examination in the Movies (Panel Presenter)
2015 Course planner for the PBI CLE on State Wide Sentencing Practice
Representative Cases:
Commonwealth Michael McMahon (MM) 2015. The client in this case, a fire fighter/paramedic, was accused of assaulting a patient in the course of fulfilling his duties despite the fact that he was attacked by the patient and was compelled to defend himself. The Chester County jury found the client not guilty of all charges.
Commonwealth vs. Jared Cagle (JC) 2015 Client was found not guilty by a Philadelphia jury of Aggravated Assault and Assault by DUI following an accident that injured six passengers. This case hinged on the use of expert testimony by an accident reconstruction expert that the defendant, despite his high level intoxication, was not the cause of the accident.
Commonwealth vs. Plasard Alvarez (PA) 2015. A Philadelphia jury acquitted the defendant of all charges in a gun point robbery of two women in an Auto tag store . The defense in the case was mis-identification and alibi.
Commonwealth vs. Kareem Alleyne (KA) 2014 This was an acquittal in a homicide by vehicle matter in Philadelphia where the defendant, a man with no prior record, was accused of running over a Philadelphia Police Officer who had been stalking and harassing the defendant for nearly two years.
Commonwealth vs. Robrena Perry (RP) 2014. This was an acquittal in a bench trial of a woman with no prior record who had a child with special needs. The defendant was accused of dragging woman with her car over a mile.
Commonwealth vs. Joe Harvey (JH) 2014 This was an acquittal in a federal jury trial of a Philadelphia Police Officer who was accused of violating the civil rights of a Philadelphia native.
Commonwealth vs. Richard Ostriak (RO) 2014 This was an acquittal following a jury trial of an attorney wrongfully accused of intimidating a witness .
Commonwealth vs. Josiah Swing (JS) 2014 This was an acquittal following a jury trial in Chester County of a young man with no prior record accused of assaulting five police officers who utilized a stun gun on him for no apparent reason then fabricated the assault charges..
Liberty One vs. ISUPK (2014) First Amendment case. Client was a fringe group seeking to exercise its first amendment rights to protest and speak on public property. Liberty One, a multi-million dollar entity sought to silence the group due to the alleged annoyance. Clients prevailed before both the trial court and in the Superior Court which denied Liberty One its sought after injunction, holding that in America, free speech trumps institutional financial considerations.
Commonwealth vs. J.W 2014 (Gun Case – Motion to Suppress Granted) Successfully argued a motion to suppress involving a gun where the court found the police officers testimony incredible. and suppressed all evidence in the matter resulting in all charges being dismissed.
Commonwealth vs. PMO 2013 (Rape Case Exoneration) After a full investigation, successfully convinced the Philadelphia District Attorney's office to dismiss all sexual assault charges of a college football player falsely accused of raping a fellow university student. Client was subsequently exonerated in a school conduct board hearing, was re-instated at school and is back with the football team.
Commonwealth vs. GS 2013 (Homicide Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client was found Not guilty of 3rd degree homicide after a jury trial where the Commonwealth alleged a road rage beating death.
Commonwealth vs. ADP 2013 (Homicide case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client was fully exonerated of all charges following a jury trial in a self-defense stabbing case.
Commonwealth vs. RS 2013 (Police Assault case – Not Guilty Judge Verdict) Client found not guilty by a judge following police allegation that client assaulted them.
Commonwealth vs. RP 2013 (Drug Case, Motion to Suppress Granted)
Commonwealth vs. RG 2013 (Gun Case all charges dismissed)
Commonwealth vs. AD 2013 (Sexual Assault Case, Charges Dismissed) Following a comprehensive investigation, Bucks County District Attorney agreed to dismiss all sexual assault charges despite complainant's allegation that client sexually assaulted her while she slept.
Commonwealth vs. WA 2013 (Sexual Assault Case dismissed) All charges were dismissed by the Court after a full preliminary hearing revealed that client was not involved in the alleged assault despite allegations raised by the Commonwealth. Client re-instated at his job.
Commonwealth vs. HG 2012 (Aggravated Assault Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client was found not guilty in Delaware County after a jury trial in which the defense argued self defense.
Commonwealth vs. TC 2012 (Rape case – Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client was found not guilty of a rape charge following a jury trial where the defense argued consent.
Commonwealth vs. AT 2012 (Rape Case) Philadelphia District Attorney's Office dismissed all sexual assault charges following comprehensive defense investigation.
Commonwealth vs JJ 2011(Police Officer Assault Case ) Not Guilty Jury Verdict of Aggravated Assault charge following Jury trial where defense successfully argued the Officer was fabricating his story to cover up his own assaultive conduct.
Commonwealth vs. CJ 2011(Rape Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client, a registered nurse, was found not guilty following a jury trial where the defense alleged fabrication by the complainant.
Helpin vs. UPENN 2009 $4,000,000.00 jury trial verdict following three week trial. Client was a dentist serving the special needs of under privileged youth who was wrongfully terminated by the University of Pennsylvania following a contract dispute.
Commonwealth vs. MB 2008 (Homicide Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) Client was found not guilty before a jury despite the Commonwealth's contention that client gave a statement admitting his guilt.. Client alleged that the police lied about his statement and physically assaulted him during the interrogation. Police version was rejected by the jury and client was acquitted.
Commonwealth vs. MS 2006 (Child kidnapping Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict
United States v. CD 2006 (Federal Drug and Gun Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict)
Commonwealth vs. JD 2006 (Rape Case Not Guilty Jury Verdict) following an alleged assault of a under-graduate coed where the defense successfully argued fabrication.
PA Criminal Defense
NJ Criminal Defense
Colgate University, B.A., (1989)
Temple University School of Law, J.D., (1994)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey