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Isaías Afewerki (Asmara, Imperio etíope; 2 de febrero de 1946) es un dictador eritreo, presidente de facto de su país desde 1991, elegido después el 24 de mayo de 1993 tras un referéndum en el que se aprobó por un 95% del electorado la nueva constitución.

Biografía
En 1966 se incorporó al Frente para la Liberación de Eritrea (FLE) y viajó a la República Popular China donde ingresó en el Ejército para su formación. Más tarde cofundó el Frente Popular para la Liberación de Eritrea y fue nombrado secretario general en 1987. Tras la independencia de su país, se convirtió en el primer presidente y dirigió los enfrentamientos armados que se sucedieron después con Etiopía. Convirtió el FPLE en el Frente Popular por la Democracia y la Justicia (PFDJ) que funciona como partido único. No ha convocado elecciones libres desde su acceso a la presidencia.

Como presidente de Eritrea
Aunque la separación de Etiopía fue amistosa, en 1994 rompió relaciones diplomáticas con los etíopes. La situación coincidió con el inicio de la financiación de la guerrilla sudanesa y la disputa por las islas Hanish, que le llevó a un enfrentamiento con Yemen. Mantuvo buenas relaciones con Estados Unidos al defender la segregación de Eritrea, pero la situación empeoró sucesivamente debido, por una parte, a que el país no había conseguido superar la economía de subsistencia, por otra a los enfrentamientos con los países vecinos y, por último lugar, a la guerra declarada con Etiopía durante dos años por territorios fronterizos estériles que finalizaron con una severa derrota militar de los eritreos a manos del ejército etíope en 2000, al ocupar estos el puerto de Asab, justo en el extremo más al sur del país.

Tras firmar la paz con los etíopes y llegar a un acuerdo con Sudán, el gobierno de Afewerki se ha mantenido bajo las críticas por la grave situación económica y social del país, descritas por el embajador estadounidense en 2010, Ronald McMullen, al señalar al Departamento de Estado que «los jóvenes eritreos huyen de su país en masa, la economía parece estar en una espiral de muerte, las cárceles de Eritrea están desbordadas ...»; las sucesivas hambrunas en el país (la última en 2011), la falta de libertades democráticas y la represión de las libertades públicas que, según Amnistía Internacional, han llevado a prisión a 10000 eritreos. Según un informe de Reporteros sin Fronteras, habría pronunciado la frase:

Firma de paz con Etiopía
El 9 de julio de 2018, el presidente de Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, y el primer ministro etíope, Abiy Ahmed, declararon el fin del estado de guerra entre sus dos países y la normalización de sus relaciones. El acercamiento diplomático mejoró progresivamente, el 16 de julio viaja a la capital etíope de Addis Abeba para una visita diplomática y anuncia la reapertura de la embajada de Etiopía en Eritrea. El 19 de julio, Ahmed nombra al primer embajador etíope en Eritrea en veinte años, Redwan Hussein.

El 11 de septiembre de 2018, con motivo del Año Nuevo etíope, el primer ministro de Etiopía, Abiy Ahmed, y el presidente de Eritrea, Isaías Afewerki, reabrieron la frontera entre Eritrea y Etiopía, que se había cerrado desde 1998. Los dos cruces fronterizos correspondaín a: las ciudades de Bure, Etiopía y Debay Sima, Eritrea, y al noroeste entre Zalambessa (Etiopía) y Serha (Eritrea).

Esto fue ampliamente reconocido por numerosos líderes mundiales y el gobierno de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos otorgó a Isaias Afwerki la Orden de Zayed (Primera Clase) en reconocimiento a sus esfuerzos para poner fin al conflicto. Como parte de los lazos más estrechos entre los dos países, las agencias de inteligencia de Etiopía y Eritrea comenzaron una estrecha cooperación después de julio de 2018, lo que preocupó a los refugiados eritreos en Addis Abeba, algunos de los cuales fueron detenidos temporalmente durante tres semanas durante la guerra de Tigray, absueltos por los tribunales etíopes. y solo liberados dos semanas después de su absolución.

Guerra de Tigray

Durante la Guerra de Tigray, que comenzó el 4 de noviembre de 2020 con un ataque preventivo contra el centro del Comando Norte de la Fuerza de Defensa Nacional de Etiopía (ENDF) por parte de las fuerzas afiliadas al TPLF, hubo una estrecha cooperación ampliamente reconocida entre la ENDF y las Fuerzas de Defensa de Eritrea (EDF). La guerra comenzó después de que el TPLF, el partido gobernante de Tigray, atacara los campamentos de la ENDF en Tigray y los empujara a Eritrea. Las fuerzas de Eritrea se unieron a la ENDF y, supuestamente, con la ayuda de drones armados de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, contraatacaron a las fuerzas del TPLF. Hubo presuntos saqueos en la región de Tigray, incluidos saqueos sistemáticos a gran escala en Aksum tras la masacre realizada en dicha ciudad a fines de noviembre de 2020.

Después de varias semanas de que el gobierno etíope negara la presencia de tropas eritreas en Etiopía, el primer ministro etíope admitió la presencia de tropas eritreas en Etiopía y acordó retirarlas. Bajo presión internacional, el 26 de marzo de 2021, tras una reunión entre el primer ministro etíope Abiy Ahmed e Isaias, se anunció que las tropas eritreas se retirarían de la región de Tigray. Al 30 de junio de 2021, las fuerzas de Eritrea aún no se habían retirado de Tigray.

Críticas
En junio de 2015, un panel de las Naciones Unidas acusó a Isaias de liderar un gobierno totalitario responsable de violaciones sistemáticas de los derechos humanos en Eritrea que pueden constituir crímenes de lesa humanidad. Amnistía Internacional cree que el gobierno del presidente Isaias Afwerki ha encarcelado al menos a 10.000 presos políticos. Amnistía también afirma que la tortura —para castigar, interrogar y coaccionar— está muy extendida.

El gobierno de Eritrea niega las acusaciones y, a su vez, acusa a Amnistía Internacional de apoyar una agenda política de "cambio de régimen".

Aunque Isaias criticó a otros líderes durante la cumbre de la Unión Africana en El Cairo en 1993 por permanecer en el poder demasiado tiempo rechazando además el culto a la personalidad, su ex camarada Andebrhan Welde Giorgis refirió en relación con Isaías: "habiendo personalizado el poder, ha abusado de él al máximo"

Referencias

Políticos de Eritrea
Dictadores
Alumnado de la Universidad de Adís Abeba
Nacidos en Asmara
Gobernantes no monárquicos con mandatos más largos
Eritreos del siglo XX
Eritreos del siglo XXI


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Thirty-five years ago, when my father died of a massive heart attack at the age of 61 after lingering for three days in a hospital, the family suffered no guilt – was he diagnosed early enough? Was good treatment provided? The answers were in the affirmative, given the quality of healthcare provided to a middle-class citizen in India at that time. Our (read middle-class) attitude to death, when we face it, is now complicated. As in the West, we prolong life even when its quality has decreased dramatically, we medicalise situations like pregnancy, scoffing at centuries of women's wisdom, and we refuse to allow dignity in death. We now watch our dear ones as they linger for days in the intensive care unit (ICU); sometimes, the hospital does not declare death for a couple of days, but claims payment, unwilling to keep an unoccupied bed. We watch 90-year-olds living their last days in the terrible confines of the ICU instead of within the warm walls of their own homes, surrounded by their loved ones. We watch lives being prolonged by the intubator and other invasive devices even when there is no hope of recovery and when the patient is clearly suffering.
This is a grotesque charade like much else in India where lakhs of rupees are spent on maintaining breath in a dying body. I suggest that we look at death and dying in different ways today. Helping us do this are four major literary interventions in health – all made by Indians in the West. In 1994, Abraham Verghese wrote, My own country: a doctor's story of a town and its people in the age of AIDS – a compassionate doctor's account of the early days of AIDS. Not much later in 2010, came Siddharth Mukherjee's The emperor of all maladies, a magnificent laying out of the history, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and more importantly, presenting the physician's dilemma in treating cancers. In 2014, Atul Gawande wrote Being mortal and what matters in the end, questioning allopathy's vision of healthcare of the elderly and the issue of quality of life. Now in 2016 comes When breath becomes air, by Paul Kalanithi, which asks what a dying man can do in the face of near-certain death. There have been other Indian doctorwriters in the West too – Sandeep Jauhar for instance (Intern: a doctor's initiation, 2009), making us wonder at the proliferation, in the last two decades, of the Indian doctor-writers who are laying bare issues of the healthcare system in the West. Is it that raised in one culture, transported to another head-on, has given them the capacity to see life and death with fresh eyes?
As I write this, Paul Kalanithi's book continues in the New York Times bestseller lists, despite being a dark memoir. A literature student-turned-neurosurgeon, Kalanithi grew up in an Arizona desert town. His father a Christian, his mother a Hindu, condemned on both sides for their love, the couple fled to the USA. While his father was a cardiologist, his mother a physiologist, and both his brothers doctors, Kalanithi chose literature, but turned to medicine when literature did not satisfy his urge to explore the relationship between meaning, life and death. Kalanithi sees medicine as "the heroic spirit of responsibility amid blood and failure".
Confronting death in the form of lung cancer, Paul Kalanithi wrote the book in the last year of his life. He and his wife Lucy – also a doctor, chose to have a child at this time. The baby and Kalanithi's parents and brothers lightened his last days. Kalanithi remained fully alive. Despite physical collapse, he remained full of hope, not for an unlikely cure, but for days that were full of purpose and meaning. Probably much of this was due to his Indian family that surrounded him closely. His parents came down to stay in his town, taking a house on rent close by, so that they were not a burden on their son's nuclear family, but were available for all help. Despite the great love surrounding him, Kalanithi's account shows how difficult it is to look death in the eye and to face death with integrity, and also how possible it is. What makes life meaningful, and how one determines what is most important when little time is left – Kalanithi forces the reader to face these issues.
The epilogue by his wife Lucy is riveting. Plainly written, yet poignant and thoughtful, she details the course of the illness, explains Kalanithi, his suffering – their suffering, and yet conveys what lifts all this above the mundane. She tells us that Kalanithi's book is not just about dying alone; it is about life and how to live it, the closeness of death lending it urgency.


WoW ... Federal St doesn't look like that no more ... all freeway overpass's ... No trolley cars, nor any steam ... Thank You for bringing back the hay day of the steam era ... BRAVO ... I am in total awe of your work !
I am in total awe of your work !
hi, nice vídeo. "CSX" and "Sub" stand for?


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alarm the West and the International Monetary Fund. Defense Minister Igor SERGEYEV, Interior Minister Sergei STEPASHIN and Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei SHOIGU have already been confirmed to their posts by a presidential decree. Andrei BUGROV, Russia's executive director in the World Bank, will most probably be responsible in the new Russian cabinet for cooperation with international financial organizations. The proposal had already been made to BUGROV and, by all indications, he will accept it. PRIMAKOV held his first cabinet meeting today at which he declared there be tighter discipline and stringent observance of law. Everybody should work under the Constitution, in accordance with laws no matter how high a post a person may hold, the premier said. He said, "there will be no lobbying, no advantages in business for organizations, parties or structures," to which they may have been close in the past. He is seeking professionals from all parties. PRIMAKOV said the priorities of his government will be to pay off wage and pension arrears, increase tax collection, and attract foreign investors to the "real economy" of Russia.
· Russian President Boris YELTSIN on Saturday sacked Sergei YASTRZHEMBSKY, the deputy head of the presidential administration and his chief spokesman. A Kremlin report said YASTRZHEMBSKY's dismissal was due to a "transfer to another job," dealing with economic issues. YASTRZHEMBSKY was appointed secretary of the presidential press service in August, 1996, and deputy head of the presidential administration in 1997. Intercon sources report that the firing of YASTRZHEMBSKY and Security Council Secretary Andrei KOKOSHIN was due to the fact that they recommended Moscow Mayor Yuri LUZHKOV over Yevgeny PRIMAKOV as the president's nominee for Prime Minister. YELTSIN appointed Yuri ZUBAKOV as head of the government administration.
Interior Minister Sergei STEPASHIN expressed condolences to families of the killed policemen and ordered, "exhaustive measures for searching the criminals." In response Ossetians set fire to 58 trailer homes in the Ingush capital of Nazran. On Sunday, Russian Deputy Interior Minister Colonel-General Petr LATYSHEV met with Ingush President Ruslan AUSHEV and the Russian presidential representative to Ingushetia and North Ossetia Vladimir KALAMANOV. LATYSHEV later met with North Ossetian Prime Minister Teimuraz MAMSUROV to try to determine measures to stabilize the region.
Meanwhile, former Chechen field commander Salman RADUYEV has abandoned his threats to the Daghestani leadership, made in connection with the arrest of Daghestani deputy Magomed KHACHILAYEV. In the words of RADUYEV, he enables the Daghestani leadership to free KHACHILAYEV, "without pressure, voluntary." KHACHILAYEV is charged with organizing large-scale disturbances in Makhachkala on May 21st, which resulted in seizing of the Daghestani Government House.
· Russia's new Prime Minister Yevgeny PRIMAKOV, after being confirmed by the Russian State Duma Friday said that economic reforms will continue. He said, "There will be no retreat from the economic reforms, I say that with absolute determination, and this stance, by the way, is shared by the Duma...But we must speak of mistakes, made in the course of the economic reforms. And we will do everything to correct them." He noted that priority will be given to the national industry. He promised to comment on all moves of the government to the press. Today, PRIMAKOV said that Russia's new economic program will be delivered to the President by week's end. PRIMAKOV hinted that there will be an emphasis on social welfare and industrial growth not market driven capitalism.
the Duma. He said the Central Bank tasks include, "the restoration of the liquidity of the banking system, the salvation of banks, which are capable of working in the current complicated conditions and satisfying the needs of clients and depositors, the solution of a problem of the debt payment to foreign investors, who had actively purchased Treasury bills, the provision of deposits' safety and the real exchange rate of the ruble." The collapse of the T-bill pyramid caused a crisis of banks' liquidity. The statement of the government and the Central Bank of August 17th averted investors from Russia. He said that the problem will not be solved without a series of difficult negotiations with foreign investors. GERASHCHENKO has urged the Duma to lift a ban on the Central Bank credits to finance the budget, a move which risks spurring high inflation. He has pledged to be cautious on printing money. GERASHCHENKO favors a close contact between the Central Bank and the government and the Duma control over the activity of the Central Bank. "The situation in the banking system is, really, very complicated, but it reflects the poorly-considered economic policy which did not aim at the development of the national production and, thus, a larger taxable basis for the sake of budget revenues," GERASHCHENKO said. The Duma on Friday voted 265 to two to dismiss the entire board of directors of the Central Bank. The Duma Budget and Finance Committee today agreed to six candidacies for members of the central bank board of directors. The candidacies had been submitted by GERASHCHENKO, and the committee recommended that the Duma adopt them.
moves of the G-7 countries on a basis of the report of the European Union Three, which visited Moscow on September 10. It is expected that G-7 nations will announce that it is too early to render additional financial assistance to Russia. G-7 nations plan to issue a special statement insisting that implementing economic reforms under the guidance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a condition for further economic aid. The approval of Yevgeny PRIMAKOV as Prime Minister, with little economic experience, and Viktor GERASHCHENKO as Central Bank chairman, responsible for Black Tuesday, has not inspired confidence in nervous financial markets. PRIMAKOV has promised to pay off wage and pension arrears. GERASHCHENKO believes that printing money is unavoidable. If Russia prints new rubles, the IMF has the right to cancel its pledged $22.6 billion loan. The IMF has delayed a $4.3 billion payment, set for disbursement Tuesday, until Russia forms a new government and institutes economic reforms. The one-day meeting is being attended also by representatives from the IMF, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Union.
try." According to the statement, the executives said, "by acting in concert we will be able to make a significant contribution to lower inflation and stabilization of the economic and financial situation in Russia." Prices rose in by 35.7 percent in the first week of September, following an increase of 15 percent in August.
· Hans OKESSON, representative of Finnish consultative firm Neste, which is exploring the possibility of its construction at the request of the Russian North Transgaz Company, said on Swedish radio that, "A gas pipeline will be built from Russia to Sweden." According to developing plans, the gas pipeline will be built under the Baltic Sea to the Swedish town of Gavle. Then it will pass by Jonkoping towards Istad, a town on the southern tip of Sweden. From there the Russian gas will be pumped further to Western Europe. The gas pipeline is expected to be about 600 kilometers long. The necessary studies are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and if the implementation of these plans runs smoothly, the first deliveries of gas through the new pipeline will begin in 2005. Several other northern power companies are exploring the possibility of creating a single gas system with the participation of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries.
· Last week, the bank for foreign trade of Vietnam suspended the settlement of import-export payments to Russian banks at the request of Russian companies. Due to current difficulties in Russian financial institutions, several Russian firms have asked to freeze trade payments to Russian banks, according to a Vietnamese bank official. Meanwhile, no import-export payments for Russian businesses have fallen due, said the official, adding that the annual trade payments are just a few million dollars. Last year, the foreign trade between Russia and Vietnam totaled at about $300 million.
mass protest actions." OKULOV believes this may lead to strikes from both air traffic controllers and pilots, particularly those who suffer from wage delays or where collective agreements are violated. He also said that following the crisis workers of the aviation industry will have to be stripped of some social privileges. Basic social guaranties-free medical service for the company's employees and members of their families, discounts on payments for kindergartens, will be preserved.
ment ban, and about 500 police were deployed to stop it. Authorities had permitted the opposition rally, but in a different area of Baku, at a car race track in a northern neighborhood. The protesters were demanding the postponement of the presidential election scheduled for October 11th. Opposition leaders are boycotting the election, saying the government has too much control over the Central Election Commission. Interior Minister Ramil USUBOV told the nation on television that police will work to maintain order in the capital using all means available to them. However, Baku Mayor Rafael ALAKHVERDIYEV said authorities were not going to use the anti-riot hardware against the rallies.
· Uzbekistan President Islam KARIMOV is expected to arrive in Israel today on an official visit. A package of trade and economic documents are on the agenda to be signed during the three-day visit. "Uzbekistan and Israel have developed good partnership relations. After Israel recognized Uzbekistan's independence, "the two countries established beneficial cooperation in the economy, agriculture, health care, cultural and social life," Chairman of the Uzbek Parliament Committee on International Relations Erkin VAKHIDOV said. He noted that several Israeli projects have been implemented in Uzbekistan, specifically "new techniques to grow vegetables, the use of micro-irrigation technology, and the establishment of private-owned dairy farms." Both sides have signed an agreement on a air service between Tel Aviv and Tashkent,.
· The Russian Science Ministry's press service announced on Friday that Russian and Kyrgyz scientists are planning joint studies in the sphere of geo-dynamics, geo-physics and earthquake forecasts. The studies will be done at an international scientific- technical center in Bishkek. The center will help to pool the national scientific-technical potentials and efficiently use the intellectual, material and financial resources in the interests of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
· The leftist dominated Ukrainian parliament on Thursday rejected President Leonid KUCHMA's candidate to head the State Property Fund as privatization chief, Alexander BONDAR. He was short 16 votes needed for a simply majority approval; BONDAR received only 210 votes. Ukrainian Television quoted one Communist deputy as saying, "We think that privatization and demonopolization are two levers that pushed Ukraine into abysmal ruin. Another deputy threatened that privatization will only continue if a communist is nominated to head the State Privatization Fund. The Ukrainian Supreme Council on Friday banned the privatization of distilleries by vetoing a decree signed by KUCHMA. Privatization is a key aspect of reforms required by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for financial aid packages.


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Them people
While I was reviewing old columns for inclusion in a book collection a few of them from years ago jumped out at me as especially relevant right now, and worth pondering even more now than then. This one (edited a little for length from a longer web-only original) dates from almost exactly nine years ago (about a year before the headlines that eventually ended Larry Craig's Senate career), but it has resonance considering the issues in front of the presidential campaign now underway . . .
Senator Larry Craig and his staff – and they wouldn't be alone – must still be wondering about just what the hell happened at their town hall meeting Tuesday night in Coeur d'Alene. They'd have good reason to, because a significant issue rides on it: To what extent did it reflect a substantial strain, or just fluke fissure, in the community?
Craig has taken heat for a few years now from parts of the conservative community – which for most of his years in Congress has given him unqualified support – for his stand on immigration and illegal aliens, a stance bearing some resemblance to that of President George W. Bush. Yes, there are a lot of people in this country who aren't supposed to be here, and that fact – and border security – needs to be dealt with more effectively, Craig has suggested. But he also suggests that there's no reason for a panic reaction, either.
As he was quoted by the Coeur d'Alene Press: "You can't go door to door and force between 8 million and 10 million people to leave at gunpoint. For 20 years, immigration laws have failed. We know there's a problem and we're working on it. The first step is securing the border and we're doing that."
That seems hard to argue, reflecting a general reality we've managed to live with for a long time, and yet the reaction has suggested it's an edgy statement. The reaction at – and yes, this is where it was – the Human Rights Education Institute at Coeur d'Alene, was something else again.
The Press said that "of nearly 60 people in attendance, many wanted action, including immediate deportation. They said it was a crisis that was going to bankrupt the country and cited numerous examples of problems in Southern California, including drugs, rape, and gangs. Some went so far as to say he wasn't doing his job to uphold and protect the Constitution and has failed the citizens of Idaho." Robert Vasquez, a Canyon County commissioner and recent congressional candidate, has for some years been saying the same thing; this year his message has expanded across more territory.
The spearhead of the protest or at least the loudest protester apparently was Stan Hess, a candidate for office, opposing Denny Hague for a seat on the North Idaho College Board of Trustees. The Press said he "erupted with anger over the immigration issue. He screamed at Craig and the citizens, who tried to boo him down. Then Hess confronted a woman and yelled at her only a few inches away from her face. Several people stood up to diffuse the confrontation. Craig's handlers said they were moments away from calling the police. Hess, who also blasted NIC professor and longtime Human Rights advocate Tony Stewart, stormed out of the meeting."
It may be, as Spokesman Review writer David Oliveria suggests, that Hess' performance at the Craig town hall provided ample information about who not to vote for in the NIC trustee election. Additionally, though, it – and the not-so-divergent views of others in the audience – shows that razing an Aryan Nations encampment has not yet erased some ugly strains in northern Idaho.

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James Harrington, Chief Executive Officer for the Harrington Management Systems TITLE: Total Innovation Management Excellence – TIME
Title: Total Innovation Management Excellence – TIME
The TIME Pyramid is used a symbol that contains the 17 building blocks required to transform an organization's culture into one that places great value on increased creativity and innovation. It is a holistic model that covers the process that projects need to complete in order to produce high quality innovative output. Each of the 17 building blocks will be presented along with a short description of its purpose.
Dr. H. James Harrington now serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Harrington Management Systems with branches in many countries around the world. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board for a number of businesses.
In February 2002 Dr. Harrington retired as the COO of Systemcorp A.L.G., the leading supplier of knowledge management and project management software solutions. Prior to this, he served as a Principal and one of the leaders in the Process Innovation Group at Ernst & Young. Dr. Harrington was with IBM for over 40 years as a Senior Engineer and Project Manager.
Dr. Harrington is past Chairman and past President of the prestigious International Academy for Quality and of the American Society for Quality He is also an active member of the Global Knowledge Economics Council and past President of the Altshuller Institute.
While H. James Harrington was Chairman of ASQ, he was one of the leaders in getting the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award through Congress and approved by the President of the U.S. He also served as the first Treasurer of the Malcolm Baldrige Consortium that set up and developed the award.
H. James Harrington was elected to the honorary level of the International Academy for Quality, which is the highest level of recognition in the quality profession. H. James Harrington is a government-registered Quality Engineer, a Certified Quality and Reliability Engineer by the American Society for Quality Control, and a Permanent Certified Professional Manager by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers. He is also a certified Master Six Sigma Black Belt and earned the title of "Six Sigma Grand Master". H. James Harrington has an MBA and Ph.D. in Engineering Management and a BS in Electrical Engineering. He received an honorary PhD from the University of Sudan and recognition of his contributions to the quality movement in the Middle East.
Dr. Harrington has been elected a Fellow of the British Quality Control Organization and the American Society for Quality Control. In 2008 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Iran Quality Association and of the Azerbaijan Quality Association. He was also elected an honorary member of the quality societies in Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Singapore. He is also listed in the "Who's – Who Worldwide" and "Men of Distinction Worldwide." He has presented hundreds of papers on performance improvement and organizational management structure at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Recognition:
The Harrington/Ishikawa Medal, presented yearly by the Asian Pacific Quality Organization, was named after H. James Harrington to recognize his many contributions to the region.
The Harrington/Neron Medal was named after H. James Harrington in 1997 for his many contributions to the quality movement in Canada.
Harrington Best TQM Thesis Award was established in 2004 and named after H. James Harrington by the European Universities Network and e-TQM College.
Harrington Chair in Performance Excellence was established in 2005 at the Sudan University.
Harrington Excellence Medal was established in 2007 to recognize an individual who uses the quality tools in a superior manner.
Dr. Harrington's contributions to performance improvement around the world have brought him many honors and awards, including the Edwards Medal, the Lancaster Medal, ASQ's Distinguished Service Medal, China's Magnolia Award and many others.


text:
Integrating a Segregated State of Being
Friends who have housewarming parties plus Teresa,
We've all heard that famous Outkast lyric, "birds of the same feather flock together…. Hooty hoo." As a child of immigrants, I grew up in an area where 99% of the people did not talk, walk, or mic drop like me. Scared of the unknown, my parents told me that surrounding yourself with people of similar minds and lifestyles lead to a secure, comfortable, but fruitful life. I'm not sho* sure anymore. (*Not a typo)
We live in a socially vexing period. Now more than any time in our history, human beings have the opportunity to fly to, read about, and digitally interact with a region or lifestyle they aren't familiar with. Socrates, Einstein, Gandhi, and other men (and women) with a great thirst of tolerance, awareness, and knowledge would be jealous of the opportunities we all have to learn about topics we are unfamiliar with.
But we choose not to. A Economist survey taken in January 2012, found Americans are more likely today, in the TV and Print era, to watch shows similar to there way of life and log on to news sites that slant the news to their political liking. More than any time in the past fifty years, Americans are more likely to live in neighborhoods, work, and socialize with people with similar socio economic status. Both NYTimes Op-Ed columnist Nikolas Kristof and Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams highlighted the fact that a majority of millenials (supposedly Uncle Sam's most educated generation) would not consider dating or marrying someone with different political beliefs. Take one look at the numbers of how often people under 35 end up with spouses from different religions and/or race and you'll think it's data from the early 60's.
This information begs us to ask four questions: How did we get so tribalistic, what's the problem with a rapidly segregated society, how do we fix it, and why do white people ruin everything (Kidding, but I would like an answer to this question…. Chris).
Racial divisions aside (and yes I know this is a big point to omit, but we'll get back to this issue), we weren't always solely hanging around creatures with similar features. In fact people flocked to metropolitan areas to explore, meet new people, and attempt to integrate other viewpoints into their lifestyle.
Up until 1975, Presidential candidates from opposing parties would fly together and would hold joint town hall meetings. The only country to continue this tradition these days is Bhutan!
Today, if you stroll through all of San Francisco and surrounding Brooklyn you find predominantly homogeneous neighborhoods where the only eccentric aspect of the place is that vegan burrito joint that got funded on Kickstarter. If you could jump into a time machine and visit these places in the 80's you would've entered a new universe. San Francisco was once home to the Fillmore district, a historic Jazz borough composed of musicians from all backgrounds and the Haight, was an area mixed with African American, hippies, and Indian doctors at UCSF who hated hippies. Two decades ago, Brooklyn was the Mecca of the most diverse art scene in the world. Graffiti artists from all walks of life would gather at midnight and literally paint the town red. Now, three of the newest restaurants in the area are artisan mayonnaise and olive oil shops (what the fuck).
So how did this all change? Economist Thomas Schelling explains the increase in segregated attitudes and environments can largely be attributed to changes that occur during economic downturns. The former Columbia Professor argues that during recessions people move in with their families and friends back home. This ultimately leads to a "nesting" period where people surround themselves with people like them, become comfortable, and have less of a yearning to leave their comfort zone and put in the effort to get acclimated to a new surrounding. It makes sense that current trends indicate millenials are less likely to leave their hometown than in the past forty years (unless it's for Coachella).
However, that doesn't entirely explain the attitude shift. Yes, it's true we are less likely to live in diverse areas (or away from poppa and momma), but we are even less likely to surround ourselves with people who have a different opinion. At the end of 2014, the unabashedly liberal UC Berkeley protested progressive comedian Bill Maher's invitation to speak at graduation. All across America, campuses are trying to shoo off potential campus visitors who hold a slightly different take on their brand of politics. Conservatives tried to develop a Facebook type platform just for conservatives…but didn't know how to connect the cord for dial up Internet.
I blame this completely on technology. The app generation has allowed us to customize a lifestyle where whatever we eat, see, shop, sleep, and interact is tailored to our exact desires.
This is a problem. While this new surge in technology is making our life easier, it's making us utterly stupid. In an October 2013 WIRED magazine poll, an alarming 32% of millenials believed that they had a harder life than those who had to live through the Great Depression. We've all seen countless hours of footage where people don't know the leader of the free world (Hint: It's not Beyonce….Chris). Compounding the matter, the plethora of news outlets tailored towards certain belief systems blinds us from getting a different perspective.
So what you say? Even if your colored shorts, boat shoes, and Warby Parker sunglasses allow you to only look at this issue at a financial angle you should be worried about your trust fund. Harvard business professor Clayton Christenson has studied innovation and financial ecosystems for thirty years. The money nerd argues that one of the keys to a successful innovative society is a place where different background and perspectives are shared, honest and brutal discussion take place, and there is an uncomfortable period motivating people to come up with better solutions. Historically, the bedrock of economic creative disruption has occurred in largely diverse and grungy metropolitan areas such as New York, London, Tel Aviv, and Mumbai.
A lack of diversity also tends to create barriers from accepting much needed ideas. You may believe you are seeing a new movement of female empowerment. Granted, we are seeing more females in leadership positions such as Marissa Meyers, the CEO of Yahoo and Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook. However, the NYTimes Dealbook columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin points out that there are a smaller percentage of females in leadership roles in this surging tech market than there were than the tech boom in the 90's.
The most alarming trend of this new flock together mentality is in the way we refuse to accept the truth. Kevin Hogan (no relationship to Hulk), author of "How to Persuade Others: The Psychology of Persuasion", claims that in the past thirty years people are less likely to be moved by the facts. His team has found that if one presents mountains of evidence to someone who is wrong about an issue, they will become MORE inclined to cling to their irrational belief. Even more worrisome, a March 2014 Gallop Poll survey found that 39% of Americans are more likely to lie or cover up for someone who has a similar background to help them get out of trouble.
There is no doubt that we as humans have always been tribal spirits. But we have also been able to educate ourselves, adjust, and fix problems in our society. It's certainly not easy to break habits, but there are things that can be done to become more aware of other lifestyles. For starters, call out those in your own "tribe". Far too often do we dismiss the uncouth actions of those in our corner, while aggressively chastising our opponents when they commit the same egregious act. This is hypocritical and in the end does nothing to advance your cause. Being balanced whistle blowers gives us all a chance to be candid about our shortcomings and learn from them.
Secondly, invite people with different background to events where they may be the minority or aren't familiar with. This may be incredibly uncomfortable at first, but doing this pays huge dividends in the future.
Maybe it was a cruel joke, but when I was a freshman in college I was assigned to live in the athlete's dorm. For those of you living in a cave or were raised Mormon, you may not have guessed that 99% of my suite mates were black and church attendees. During the first semester, I rejected the offer to attend gospel church numerous times. A year later, I finally attended service and loved it.
The most ironic thing you find when you step out of your comfort zone is how most people want the same thing. The sermons at gospel church on education, strong families, building communities, and love, were all lessons you would probably hear at a Jewish synagogue, Hindu temple, or Baptist church in Alabama.
When I was faced with health issues and financial hardship, the conservative veterans I worked with in Nevada showed me the same compassion as my liberal comrades in Berkeley. Too often we forget, there is no liberal career quarter century crises, or Republican disease (aside from Sarah Palin), but a common desire to help others and leave the world a little better than we found it.
So speak up and speak out often. Changing a comfortable habit takes time, but the pragmatic optimist in me believes that if you voice your opinion, more people will be willing to listen than you think.
But alas, I am no exception, and I should hold myself to the same standard. So I will throw the first stone. For as long as I remember, I have been unabashedly liberal. So much so, the only cheese I eat is blue. But I've become incredibly concerned about how progressives discuss diversity. This blog is already too long and Chris just called me to criticize me about my Kama-sutra, 50 Shades certified, sex tactics. So stay tuned for my next post. Or come join me at the next Gospel Choir Veteran Berkeley cheese tasting event.


text:
By C. Harris-Nystrom
Denzel Washington is Matt Lee Whitlock, the chief of police for a sleepy town in the Florida Keys. So sleepy, in fact, those employed by the police department find the means to drink beer on the job. The first time Whitlock puts down his beer, it is only to embrace Anne Merai (Sanaa Lathan), a married woman with whom he is having an affair. Anne Merai suffers in an abusive marriage to failed professional football player Chris Harrison, played by Dean Cain (setting the bar incredibly high for the consummate jock-asshole stereotype).
Whitlock eventually learns of Anne's diagnosis with terminal cancer. With no means of financing treatment, Washington's character borrows money from a recent drug bust to fund a possible cure. When an explosion devastates the Harrison house, Chief Whitlock is stunned to find its occupants sizzling in the ash and debris, the money missing, all clues pointing to him as the perpetrator, and his ex-wife (Eva Mendes) leading the homicide investigation. What follows is highly reminiscent of Hitchcock's "innocent man in extraordinary circumstances" plot mechanics.
Director Carl Franklin (One False Move) delivers a decent yet unmemorable film to commit to the ever-expanding sub-genre of "Florida noir" (Wild Things, Miami Blues, to name a couple). All of the cinematic regulations are checked: humidity, rain, Latin-jazz-inflected soundtrack, perspiration, ambiguous personalities and of course the ominous rumble of thunder symbolically hinting at inescapable doom and defeat for all involved.
What Franklin has to lift this film above the mundane is Washington's gift in portraying the "everyman" who is essential to this particular brand of cinematic storytelling.
Meet me in Toyko
Sofia Coppola's sophomore effort is a subtle portrait of two hearts in crisis.
Superficial adaptation of best-seller dries up in the Italian sunlight.
The Rundown delivers the new action movie hero.
Hotel work
Low-key thrills and dark humor infuse Frears' unconventional film with depth and honest vigor.
Underworld is underwhelming.


Thank you to Bob Branstetter, Warren County PVA, Kentucky PVA Association and all the individuals involved who donated much needed supplies and money to help us help kids! Thank you for selecting us as the organization you helped during your conference this year!
http://bracac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BRACAC-LOGO-rev_2745-1030x887.jpg 0 0 BRACAC http://bracac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BRACAC-LOGO-rev_2745-1030x887.jpg BRACAC2017-11-22 15:36:272017-11-22 15:36:27Thank you for the PVA Support!


In this section you will find step by step tutorials on the most popular forum software platforms. Following the instructions you will be able to setup and configure your own community forum website. If you are not sure which platform will be most suitable for your needs feel free to contact our hosting experts 24/7 via our live chat.


text:
Debren (Bulgaars: Дебрен) is een dorp in het zuidwesten van Bulgarije. Het dorp is gelegen in de gemeente Garmen, oblast Blagoëvgrad. Het dorp ligt hemelsbreed 77 kilometer ten zuidoosten van Blagoëvgrad en 130 kilometer ten zuiden van Sofia.

Bevolking
Op 31 december 2020 telde het dorp Debren 2.229 inwoners, een lichte daling ten opzichte van het maximale aantal van 2.251 personen in 2011.

In het dorp wonen nagenoeg uitsluitend etnische Bulgaren, die voornamelijk de islam belijden. Deze 'Moslim-Bulgaren' worden in de volksmond ook wel 'Pomaken' genoemd. In de officiële volkstellingen identificeren deze Pomaken zich echter vaak als etnische Turken of laten het censusformulier blanco, waardoor de volkstellingen een vertekend beeld opleveren.

Plaats in Blagoëvgrad

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


StreetGames uses sport to change lives across the UK, helping people and communities to become healthier, safer and more successful. StreetGames uses sport to empower young people to kick-start a cycle of positive change in their own lives that resonates across their communities.
The charity's priorities include tackling holiday-time hunger, by providing holiday activity sessions, along with a nutritious meal, in the neighbourhoods that need it most. StreetGames also supports teenage girls to build confidence in being active and taking on leadership roles.
StreetGames believes that when a neighbourhood has access to sport delivered at the right time, in the right place, in the right style and by the right people, it means that everybody gets to join in – whatever their background and whether they see themselves as 'sporty' or not.
Find out more about StreetGames and how to contribute HERE.


I am the iconic French lover of Maison Jérôme Dreyfuss. My gracious capacity and generous volume make me indispensable to the women who have chosen me as their companion.
I can be carried by hand with my 2 top handles or worn over the shoulder with my shoulder strap. I also transport A4 documents and laptops with ease.Your everyday companion, I'll follow you from the city to the country.


Stained solid oak with inlaid barn board for side table, sofa table or bedside mounted scenarios. Sold as a pair.
Naturally occurring variations, such as knots and sap woods, are inherent to the beauty of wood and are not considered defects. Available in various materials, finishes and formations. Please contact us for more information on design, fabrication or sample inqueries.
Made to order, please allow 6-8 week lead time.
Creative studio making unique furniture and home decor products inspired from natural materials and modern principles.


text:
Q: Python datetime switching between US and UK date formats I'm using matplotlib to plot some data imported from CSV files. These files have the following format:
Date,Time,A,B
25/07/2016,13:04:31,5,25550
25/07/2016,13:05:01,0,25568
....
01/08/2016,19:06:43,0,68425

The dates are formatted as they would be in the UK, i.e. %d/%m/%Y. The end result is to have two plots: one of how A changes with time, and one of how B changes with time. I'm importing the data from the CSV like so:
import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('Agg')
from matplotlib.mlab import csv2rec
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from datetime import datetime
import sys
...

def analyze_log(file, y):
    data = csv2rec(open(file, 'rb'))

    fig = plt.figure()

    date_vec = [datetime.strptime(str(x), '%Y-%m-%d').date() for x in data['date']]
    print date_vec[0]
    print date_vec[len(date_vec)-1]

    time_vec = [datetime.strptime(str(x), '%Y-%m-%d %X').time() for x in data['time']]
    print time_vec[0]
    print time_vec[len(time_vec)-1]

    datetime_vec = [datetime.combine(d, t) for d, t in zip(date_vec, time_vec)]
    print datetime_vec[0]
    print datetime_vec[len(datetime_vec)-1]

    y_vec = data[y]
    plt.plot(datetime_vec, y_vec)

    ...
    # formatters, axis headers, etc.
    ...
    return plt

And all was working fine before 01 August. However, since then, matplotlib is trying to plot my 01/08/2016 data points as 2016-01-08 (08 Jan)!
I get a plotting error because it tries to plot from January to July:
RuntimeError: RRuleLocator estimated to generate 4879 ticks from 2016-01-08 09:11:00+00:00 to 2016-07-29 16:22:34+00:00:

exceeds Locator.MAXTICKS * 2 (2000)
What am I doing wrong here? The results of the print statements in the code above are:
2016-07-25
2016-01-08 #!!!!
13:04:31
19:06:43
2016-07-25 13:04:31
2016-01-08 19:06:43 #!!!!

A: Matplotlib's csv2rec function parses your dates already and tries to be intelligent when it comes to parsing dates. The function has two options to influence the parsing, dayfirst should help here:

dayfirst: default is False so that MM-DD-YY has precedence over DD-MM-YY.
yearfirst: default is False so that MM-DD-YY has precedence over YY-MM-DD.
See http://labix.org/python-dateutil#head-b95ce2094d189a89f80f5ae52a05b4ab7b41af47 for further information.

A: You're using strings in %d/%m/%Y format but you've given the format specifier as %Y-%m-%d.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I have a prof version but i have still one month timeframe. How i can change that that i can get more time on the chart?
After that, import this data to the program via File -> Import history data menu.
Then generate ticks for your test via File -> Generate tick data menu.
And then switch to the Testing Mode and start a new test via "Connect" button.


text:
Rick Gardner
Graphic Arts; Visual Arts: Crafts, Illustration, Mixed Media, Painting, Printmaking, Works on paper; Woodworking
Rick Gardner and Mark Bell met in 2013 through a career transition networking group. They discovered they were both passionate about their hobbies, Rick about dogs and Mark about woodworking. Together they collaborate to create original cartoon dog art to support homeless pets through rescue groups, shelters and other non-profits. For Rick, dogs bring joy, happiness, unconditional love, and a passion to capture these feelings and share them with others. Mark looks to bring out the beauty in the wood, celebrate its texture and grains, and enhance the dog art creations of Rick. Rick's influences include James Thurber, Charles Shultz and numerous modern day graphic artists. Mark's influences include his background growing up in the suburbs of Detroit and Boston as well his professional experiences in Germany and Switzerland. Together, their collaboration is called Binky & Bell. The Binky and Bell name came from Rick's first dog, "Binky" and Mark's last name, "Bell".
Maria Geary
Teaching Artist; Visual Arts: Mixed Media, Visual Arts Instructor, Works on paper
With the knowledge that we are all connected to the creator, the door of creativity and possibility are wide open With that said, it is with purposeful intent that I create, so I can keep a deep sense of being connected. With each brush stroke, mark, or line of stitching, I am allowing myself to be free of worry, fear, and doubt. I admit that this is at times is most trying, as my inner voice is always at war with what I have been called to do. The war rages on as I complete the work knowing I must allow myself to be both vulnerable and courageous. As an early riser, I use the stillness of the dawn to prepare me for the day. Just as we allow our cars to warm up when first starting them, my morning routine gently eases the transition from rest to toil. It is a part of my creative practice that greatly affects my mood and even decision making. As I begin, I sometimes think of the transition period (regardless of medium) and use it to inform the colors and shapes for inspiration. As the work develops, the dance of color, thought and daily scripture reading play back and forth in my mind pushing forward until a finished piece is in view.
Heather Gordon
Visual Arts: Mixed Media, Murals, New Media/Technology, Painting, Performance Art, Works on paper; Site specific installation
Born in 1967, Heather is the daughter of an accountant and engineer. She received her B.F.A. from the University of Florida in 1990 and her M.F.A from New Mexico State University in 1995. She lives and works in Durham, NC. Heather's work has been shown at the North Carolina Museum of Art, 21C Durham, the Ackland Art Museum, CAM Raleigh, Waterworks, the NC School of Science and Math, and other locations.
Robert Grinshpon
Multi Arts; Visual Arts: Crafts, Graphic Arts, Jewelry, Photography
Dr. Robert D Grinshpon received his PhD from NCSU in 2018 from the department of molecular and structural biochemistry. His research focused on understanding how cancer related protein families evolved discrete regulatory mechanisms. Ancestral protein sequences were computationally predicted, resurrected in the lab, and crystallized for X-ray crystallography. Dr Bob documented the obscure process of macromolecule crystal screening, and curated a limited edition collection of photographs that represents a pinnacle of human science. In addition to photography, Dr Bob explores other creative mediums, like crafting jewelry from bismuth crystals, ai and digital art. Crafts are now available for purchase at The Artisan Market at 305 in downtown Durham
Katherine Grossfeld
Visual Arts: Painting
Katherine Grossfeld Artist Statement During the last few years of self-imposed isolation due to the pandemic, I have found tremendous solace and joy in my studio practice. Rewriting my Artist Statement during the pandemic, I changed the first few lines to reflect my unashamed search for beauty: The transcendence art allows us is rare and precious. Experiencing art in our daily lives gives us peace, joy and escape from chaos. There is power in beauty. While ordinary life experiences and observations about our culture are often the content in my still life paintings, I am equally interested in the formal matters of creating art. I might be drawn to the striking complimentary colors of an orange/brown cognac bottle with a bright green rubber snake curled around it, or the delightful way edges disappear when adjacent objects are very close in value, or the way local color and temperature change as light passes over things. Choosing how to best convey the focus of my painting to the viewer is unique to each painting. The process is a constant journey of discovery. Dedicated to contemporary realism, I have always loved the challenges involved in drawing and painting from life. In recent years contemporary realism has enjoyed increased acceptance in the art world, and organizations dedicated to it are going strong, including Oil Painters of America, International Guild of Realism, Art Renewal Center and others which I have joined and been active in in recent years. Artists who are leading this renewed interest are a huge source of inspiration to me, and I learn from them at every opportunity, whether through reading their newsletters, following them on social media, taking their online or in-person workshops, or attending conferences and lectures. Fortunately, my learning is ongoing with no end in sight. My happiest place to be is in my studio, and that's where I am nearly every day; over the last two years I've painted over 150 paintings. When I'm not painting, I'm often sending in submissions to exhibitions, applying to galleries, and generally trying to 'get the work out there.' I am finding success with exhibiting, as well as some denials, of course. There has been no luck with galleries so far, though I get some great feedback. Hopefully that will change in time. I was recently invited by Salmagundi Club to apply for membership, which is encouraging, in terms of trying to increase my name recognition. Setting aside the business side of art, it is always getting back to the studio which is what it is all about for me. When a painting is finished, I take pleasure in knowing that the narrative will be recreated and personalized by each viewer, as each of us sees the world through the lens of our own life experience and private associations. Hopefully, each viewer will find in my work a sense of peace, joy and escape from chaos: a moment of transcendence and beauty.
Kate Gupton
Performing Arts: Dance; Teaching Artist
Kate Gupton is a graduate of The University Of North Carolina At Greensboro. She holds a BFA in Choreography and a K-12 public school teaching license in dance. Kate is currently the dance teacher at North Graham Elementary school, a public title 1 school in Graham North Carolina. Additionally, Kate is a Choreographer for the Rainbow Dance Company, a multi-generational modern dance company, in Raleigh NC. You can catch Kate performing around Durham with Shaleigh Dance works and Tony Johnson. Kate also enjoys teaching dance to all ages at private studios throughout the state. Kate has had the pleasure of training at American Dance Festival in Durham NC, Unitec in Auckland New Zealand, and Arts Together in Raleigh NC.
Michael Keenan Gutierrez
Michael Keenan Gutierrez is the author of The Trench Angel and earned degrees from UCLA, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of New Hampshire. His work has been published in The Delmarva Review, The Collagist, Scarab, The Pisgah Review, Untoward, The Boiler, Crossborder, and Pacifica. His screenplay, The Granite State, was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival and he has received fellowships from The University of Houston and the New York Public Library. He lives with his wife and son in Chapel Hill where he teaches writing at the University of North Carolina.


This API returns a full list of rendered images/devices matching your test ID. Data is returned in the following formats: XML, JSON, CSV and Serialized.
Test ID must be specified. 404 The unique identifier of the test is missing or invalid.
Invalid Test ID. 404 The test ID must be numeric.


text:
Connecting East to West - The Transcontinental Telegraph
Hi, Winnie Griggs here. Today I want to share a little bit of history I uncovered in one of the many rabbit trails I find myself following when doing research. I had, of course, heard of the Transcontinental Railroad and the ceremonial driving of the golden spike. But I hadn't given much thought to when and where our communication lines, namely the telegraph, were first linked coast to coast.
On October 24th, 1861, Western Union Telegraph Co. linked the eastern and western networks of telegraph systems at Salt Lake City, Utah. For the first time in our nation's history, nearly instantaneous communication between Washington D.C and San Francisco, CA was possible. The first transcontinental telegraph was actually sent by the chief justice of California, Stephen Field, and was sent to President Abraham Lincoln. In the historic missive, Field predicted that the newly established communication venue would help ensure that the western states would remain loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
A little of the story behind this historic event: An efficient telegraph system was first developed in the 1830s and in the ensuing years spread with phenomenal speed. By 1850 lines covered most of the eastern part of the country as well as the fast growing territory of California. When California achieved statehood in 1850 it became the first state not contiguous with the rest of the country. Almost immediately there was a major push to connect this new state with the rest of the country via communication and travel services. In 1860, Congress passed the Pacific Telegraph Act and awarded a contract to Hiram Sibley, president of the Western Union Company. Mr. Sibley took the contract and formed a consortium between his company and telegraph companies in California to undertake the commission.
The task involved building lines to connect the system at the western-most edge of Missouri and the one at Carson City, Nevada. Sibley formed the Pacific Telegraph Co. to construct the eastern leg and the California telegraph companies consolidated into the Overland Telegraph Company to build the western leg. The two lines would eventually meet at Salt Lake City, Utah.
Most of 1860 was spent collecting materials for the project, and construction began in earnest in 1861. Right from the start there were significant problems along the way with provisioning the construction teams. Glass insulators and wire had to be shipped to San Francisco by sea and then transported to the construction sites in the west by wagon - this included a trek over the Sierra Nevada. Finding sources for telegraph poles was also a challenge in the mostly treeless plains areas as well as the deserts of the Great Basin.
The Route Of The First Transcontinental Telegraph
The line from Omaha in the east made it to Salt Lake city first, arriving on October 18, 1861. The Transcontinental connection was completed six days later when the line from Carson city joined it on October 24, 1861.
An almost immediate result of this momentous accomplishment was that it made the Pony Express obsolete. On October 26th, a scant two days after the lines were joined, this adventurous, dedicated relay mail service, which had previously provided the fastest means of communication between the western and eastern United States, officially closed.
So what do you think - what did you find most surprising about this story?
And don't forget about the drawing we are having to celebrate the unveiling of our new look and new name. Entering is simple. Just comment on this post and you will be entered to win one of MANY books and prizes--including a $50 Amazon gift card. Prizes will be awarded at the end of September, and you can enter every day. Have fun!
Posted by Winnie Griggs at 12:30 AM
Labels: 19th Century, Hiram Sibley, Pacific Telegraph Act, telegraph history, transcontinental telegraph, Western Union, Winnie Griggs
Caryl Kane September 26, 2014 at 8:24 AM
Interesting article about the telegraph system. I was surprised to learn how long it took to gather supplies for the project.
Deanna Stevens September 26, 2014 at 9:30 AM
I was surprised at how quickly it made the Pony Express obsolete..
dkstevensne (at) outlook .com
Linda September 26, 2014 at 9:56 AM
I was also surprised by how fast the Pony Express shut down, and also that they had to ship some of the supplies by sea. It seems (to me) like the project was completed in good time, considering how long road construction projects take where I live.
lindajhutchins@gmail.com
Heidi Reads... September 26, 2014 at 2:47 PM
It's amazing to think that they strung wire across the entire country! I wonder what was involved with the maintenance of the lines...
Britney Adams September 26, 2014 at 7:07 PM
Thank you for sharing this interesting bit of history, Winnie. I can't imagine all of the materials and man-power needed!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Melanie Backus September 26, 2014 at 11:22 PM
Great post, Winnie! Thank you for sharing!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
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All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.
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text:
Ludvík Cupal (23. srpna 1915, Břeclav – 15. ledna 1943, Velehrad) byl československý voják a příslušník výsadkové operace Tin.

Dětství a mládí
Narodil se v 23. srpna 1915 Břeclavi. Otec Josef byl strojním topičem u ČSD, matka Františka, rozená Homolová byla v domácnosti. Měl pět sourozenců.

Obecnou a měšťanskou školu absolvoval v Břeclavi. Vyučil se strojním zámečníkem a poté pracoval jako kotlář. V roce 1934 nastoupil základní vojenskou službu u 30. pěšího pluku ve Vysokém Mýtě a absolvoval poddůstojnickou školu. Službu ukončil v roce 1936 v hodnosti desátníka. V roce 1938 byl v rámci mobilizace znovu povolán do armády, nasazen byl v pevnostním pásmu na hranici s Kladskem. Po demobilizaci zůstal ve Veselí nad Moravou.

V emigraci

Francie
Protektorát opustil 18. června 1939. Přes Polsko se dostal do francouzského Lille, kde vstoupil do Cizinecké legie. Po zahájení války byl v Agde prezentován do československého zahraničního vojska. V řadách 2. pěšího pluku se účastnil bojů o Francii. Po jejím pádu byl 27. června 1940 evakuován do Velké Británie. V čs. vojsku byl v hodnosti četaře zařazen k pěšímu praporu.

Velká Británie
Ve Velké Británii byl jako dobrovolník zařazen do výcviku pro plnění zvláštních úkolů. Od ledna 1941 do února 1942 absolvoval kurz útočného boje pořádaného ve Skotsku, sabotážní kurz a parakurz. Tyto kurzy ukončil v říjnu 1941 v hodnosti rotného. Dále pokračovel ve výcviku ve střelbě, jízdě na motorových vozidlech a vrhání bomb. V lednu 1942 byl společně s četařem J. Švarcem přemístěn do výcvikového střediska v Bellasis u Dorkingu, kde byl podroben dalšímu speciálnímu výcviku a zároveň výcviku udržovacímu v již dosažených schopnostech a znalostech.

V únoru 1942 převzal velení nad dvoučlennou skupinou Tin.

Nasazení

Vysazen byl v noci z 29. na 30. dubna 1942 nedaleko vsi Padrť u Rožmitálu. Skupina se však při seskoku rozdělila a nenalezla výstroj. Při doskoku si zranil nohu a navíc si způsobil vážné vnitřní zranění, ze kterého už se nikdy plně nevyléčil. Poté, co byl nalezen Vojtěchem Lukaštíkem z Intransitive, přesunul se s ním na Moravu. Ukrýval se na Slovácku. Spolu s Lukaštíkem se rozhodli realizovat sabotážní akce. Dne 18. září se pokusili o sabotáž železniční tratě mezi obcemi Polešovice a Nedakonice. Na základě výpovědi svého vlastního otce byl Cupal 15. ledna 1943 obklíčen gestapem ve svém úkrytu v cihelně u Velehradu, kde se zastřelil.

Po válce
Dne 1. prosince byl in memoriam povýšen do hodnosti poručíka pěchoty.

Vyznamenání
 1940 –  Československý válečný kříž 1939
 1942 –  druhý Československý válečný kříž 1939
 1943 –  Pamětní medaile československé armády v zahraničí se štítky Francie a Velká Británie

Odkazy

Literatura

Externí odkazy
 Kmenový list

Příslušníci francouzské cizinecké legie
Příslušníci výsadků do Protektorátu Čechy a Morava
Oběti nacistického Německa
Sebevraždy v Česku
Nositelé Československého válečného kříže 1939
Nositelé Pamětní medaile československé armády v zahraničí
Narození v roce 1915
Narození 23. srpna
Narození v Břeclavi
Úmrtí v roce 1943
Úmrtí 15. ledna
Úmrtí ve Velehradu
Muži


text:
US headed toward strategic deadlock in Syria
Kasım İleri
As the conditional and temporary U.S. support for the YPG/PKK terror group in Syria has turned out to be permanent against Iran and Russia, Washington is moving into a strategic dead end in Syria.
The U.S. tactic to work with the YPG/PKK against Daesh, which started during former President Barack Obama administration and continued in Donald Trump administration is putting Washington on a path of no return.
Starting from 2014, the U.S. initially provided air support and then arms to the terror group, with the pretext of fighting Daesh.
American officials claimed the support for the group was limited and conditional with the fight against Daesh and then Washington dispatched more than 2,000 troops to the region and established airports as well as military bases in the areas controlled by the YPG/PKK.
U.S. military bases in Syria
According to local sources, the U.S. has established 13 operational military bases in the YPG/PKK controlled territories including Hasakah, Raqqah, Manbij, Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) and Tal-Abyad in Syria.
The U.S. has established a military base near the largest oil field in al-Omar and Daesh's last fortress Hajjin town in eastern Deir ez-Zour province.
Additionally, the construction of two more military bases in Qamishli started a few months ago. When completed, the U.S. will have maintained military presence in 18 locations in the country.
In addition, the U.S. is said to have so far supplied YPG/PKK with more than 4,000 truckloads of arms and military materials. Besides, U.S. Special Operation Forces are providing the group with basic combat and internal and border security training.
The US-led coalition has also established radar and missile defense systems in areas controlled by the YPG/PKK.
From anti-Daesh fight to strategic confrontation with Russia, Iran
These build-ups of the U.S. indicate that it will not pull out of Syria so soon.
U.S. officials including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis have been saying that American troops would stay in Syria until the conditions are set to prevent Daesh to regroup and UN-led Geneva process comes up with a political solution for the country.
What is more, just recently White House National Security Advisor John Bolton, in parallel with the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric, said the U.S. would not withdraw from the region "as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders."
It has been suggested by many for a long time that the U.S.'s arms and military build-ups in Syria and its aid to the YPG/PKK shifted from the fight against Daesh into a strategic confrontation against Iran and Russia.
In recent weeks, Syria has become a battlefield between Iran and Israel. Israel repeatedly bombed the regime's bases which, it claims, are controlled by Iran.
After the failure of the S-125 and S-200 air defense systems used by Bashar al-Assad regime against Israel and the downing of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea, Russia deployed S-300 missile systems in support of the regime.
The U.S. central command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel described Russia's move as a "needless escalation" of the conflict.
In addition, Iran launched missiles on several targets in Syria last week, claiming to have links with the Ahwaz attack.
The Pentagon has called the attacks "reckless, unsafe and escalatory" as they were not coordinated with the U.S. beforehand.
Based on all these developments military experts point out that the U.S. has been dragged into a strategic dead end in Syria, where it intervened conditionally to fight against Daesh.
Occupation strategy loses in long-term
Tying its Syria strategy to a terror group like YPG/PKK in Syria might have some advantages for Washington in the short run, but it is argued that this approach will leave it alone in Syria in the long-term.
Former ambassador James Jeffrey, the recently-appointed U.S. special representative for Syria, was among those who emphasized the handicaps in cooperating with YPG/PKK in the long-term.
However, Washington insists on ignoring the warnings made in this regard, especially by Turkey.
YPG/PKK's actions such as displacing Arabs in the areas it has occupied and using violence against people who oppose to the terror group undermine the U.S. strategy.
The intimidation by the YPG/PKK led to protests in predominantly Arab areas such as Raqqah, Manbij and Tal Abyad.
The YPG/PKK's treatment of residents, who do not support the organization, was covered in reports of non-governmental and international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and it was highlighted that some of the YPG/PKK actions might even amount to war crimes.
The U.S. officials constantly overlooked the questions about these reports, and disregard the discomfort the YPG/PKK imposes on residents of the areas it controls.
US losing Turkey
The U.S. for its support to YPG/PKK has lost Turkey's support in Syria to a significant extent.
Even though some diplomatic steps Turkey has taken together with Russia and Iran are implemented to some extent, the U.S. has yet to implement Manbij deal with its NATO ally, which has led comments as Ankara's goodwill towards Washington is running out.
As the card the U.S. has against Russia and Iran is its own military force, losing Turkey due to its support with the YPG/PKK shows that the U.S.'s Syria policy would fizzle out.
Just yesterday former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview: "It's complete folly to think you're going to threaten the Syrians or the Russians or the Iranians into anything because they hold more cards than we do."
Washington's conditional and limited partnership with the YPG/PKK, which is maturing increasingly permanent, is leading Washington to a long-term strategic impasse that is hard to return.
Source AA
TagsPKK Syria Turkey US usa YPG
Beef up unity to protect Islamic identity, says security expert
Khashoggi mystery: From Turkey with Love


http.server on Python 3 and CGIHTTPServer on Python 2 both contain the same code with the same bug.  In run_cgi, rest.rfind('?') is used to separate the path from the query string.  However, it should be rest.find('?') as the query string starts with '?' but may also contain '?'.  It is required that '?' not be used in URL path part without escaping.
into path part /testing  and query string part  foo=bar?&baz=3 but http.server does not.


However not yet confirmed, it seems like I will be going to Minsk, Belarus in early September to perform at a festival. I have very little information about the event but this is, have I been reassured, normal considering the circumstances there. I will be going together with Swedish artist Stefan Lundgren.


The UD Coil Mate V2 is a convenient, compact, and comprehensive kit that presents an array of essential tools and accessories in a durable zippered carrying case equipped with cutting and precision equipment, and an efficient coil jig multi tool.
The UD Coil Mate is presented in a durable zippered case that features a liquid resistant exterior alongside a convenient carrying loop that makes attachment simple and secure.
The case itself features a dual side, fold out design with snug fittings that hold all tools well. Stainless Steel shears and a dual function flush cutter provides the cutting elements necessary to handle both wick and wire, while ceramic tipped and stainless steel bent nosed tweezers work in tandem to ensure effective coil setting and adjustments.
For heavier duty precision, stainless steel bent needle nose pliers are included as well. UD has revised its coil jig system with a magnetized system that combines the tool head and diameter in conjunction. With a comprehensive tool kit and a convenient and durable carrying kit, the UD Coil Mate V2 is a great addition to any collection.
Coil Jig and Multi Tool.
Builder's Choice Cotton and Wire Set.
10 Feet 26AWG Kanthal A1.
30ml PE Plastic e-liquid bottle.
1x UD - Coil Mate V2 .


There are so many CBD brands out there that choosing which one to go for, and then which products to buy, can be really time-consuming. That being said, when it comes to hemp-sourced CBD products, there's no regulatory authority that will investigate and approve brands and products for you. This means that any hemp-sourced CBD brand can claim to be selling the best product on the market and, unless you do your own research, there's no way of knowing if there's any truth to what they claim.
With these concerns in mind, and considering just how popular CBD products are becoming across the U.S., we decided to create a Top 10 List of the very best CBD brands operating today. While there isn't a regulatory authority to assess brand and product quality, many CBD brands publish their results from third-party lab tests. Therefore, even though some of the brands on our list don't give the names of the labs they use, all the brands we've chosen are third-party lab-tested.
We've also considered cost, CBD extraction techniques, whether brands are transparent about where their hemp is sourced from, and as a final touch, we've included brands with knockout IG accounts, because connecting with the consumer is just as important as anything else. So, these are our Top 10 CBD brands. We hope you have fun exploring!
Organic clove honey, infused with a sustainably grown, full-spectrum CBD oil extract. This is one of two CBD edibles offered by IrieCBD, and one of the main reasons why we think it deserves a spot on our Top 10 List. Honey is one of the most powerful healing foods on the planet, so combining it with the healing benefits of CBD is winning. What's more, the IrieCBD website offers one of the simplest, most consumer-friendly explications of what CBD is and how it works that we've seen. We love how the brand has made itself so accessible to both experienced and novice CBD consumers at the same time.
Check out IrieCBD's edibles here.
PureKana's oil capsules are made from an ultra-concentrated hemp, organically grown and harvested in Kentucky, and each capsule contains 25mg of CBD. Advocates of transparency, PureKana regularly updates its link to results from third-party lab tests, and the brand uses a solvent-free CO2 extraction process to separate the CBD from the hemp plant. With traces of around 0.2% THC, PureKana's CBD products are legal in all 50 states and can be shipped to any destination in the U.S. for free. With accessible prices thrown in on top, PureKana is the kind of brand that makes the consumer's life just that little bit easier.
Highland Pharms sends all of its products (including its gummies) off for testing to the ProVerde third-party testing lab. This means that the levels of CBD and other cannabinoids are accurately measured, and the gummies are tested for contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and microbes. One thing to bear in mind, however, is that these gummies do contain food dyes and artificial flavorings, just in case you like your treats to be as "good and healthy" as possible.
We also like the brand's farming transparency. Industrial hemp, which is organically grown on a boutique farm in Colorado, is used to make the gummies, and if you know even a little bit about industrial hemp, you'll know that it delivers a much higher CBD content than hemp sourced from cannabis, as well as really low levels of THC. This means that Highland Pharms' gummies are super medicinal. The brand's 30-day money-back guarantee is another consumer-friendly feature worth noting.
Koi CBD is the brand we've selected to top all others when it comes to CBD vape oil. Not only does the brand state that its oil has 0% THC, making it legal in all 50 U.S. states, but it also claims to produce oils that are hexane, pesticides, and GMO free. It's a fun brand to connect with too. Its vape oils come in a range of cool sounding flavors: Blue Raspberry Dragonfruit, Vanilla Caramel Custard, Watermelon Green Apple Sour, Pink Lemonade, The Classic Strawberry Milkshake, and the somewhat intriguing Flavorless option.
The user experience on the Koi CBD website is yet another reason why we've added it to our list. It's super simple to navigate. The latest lab results are especially easy to find. We also like the fact that consumers are invited to get involved and become part of the "Koi Family" by forming wholesale partnerships and joining affiliate programs. The community character of this brand is a real plus in our opinion.
Elixinol gets extra points for donating 5% of every sale to a charity of your choice, but it makes the cut as best brand for CBD Topicals owing to the quality of its all-natural, plant-based products (a body balm and lip balm), which promote cellular-level skin repair. Both are free from what's described as harmful or mysterious chemicals, leaving consumers worry-free. Despite being based in Colorado, Elixinol sources its hemp from Europe and the U.S., with co-founder, Paul Benhaim, traveling on a regular basis in search of the best hemp available. With such dedication to sourcing the best hemp on offer, the brand's commitment to quality is undeniable.
CbdMD, based just outside of Kentucky, is another brand that uses third party lab, ProVerde, to test all of its products for purity and quality. One of the great things about its oil tinctures is the variety. You can buy bottles of 30mL or 60mL, across a range CBD strengths, from 300mg all the way up to 5,000mg. Anyone clued up on CBD and how it works will know that it's not a one-dose-fits-all kind of product. Some people will need more mg per dose to feel the benefits of CBD and others will need less, simply because each individual is different and responds differently as a result. It's a trial and error process with CBD when using it for the first time, which is why the variety of CbdMD's product line is so consumer-friendly.
Another thing we like about this brand is that it uses organically-grown industrial hemp from Kentucky fields, nourished by both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, to create full-spectrum oil tinctures. Full-spectrum CBD is a blend of CBD with other cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and beneficial compounds found in the hemp plant. While some people prefer a pure CBD isolate, there's a lot to be said for the benefits of full-spectrum CBD products, as studies have shown that CBD is actually more effective when working alongside other cannabinoids.
CBDistillery's on the list for best waxes and terp concentrates, made from non-GMO, pesticide-free, industrial hemp, grown outdoors using natural light and organic farming practices. According to CEO Chase Terwilliger, CBDistillery's vision is to become a leader of the #CBDMOVEMENT, a campaign that's powered by CBD education, research, and testimonials. The ultimate objective is to be able to deliver CBD to the masses.
While it hasn't yet cornered a massive sales market or generated a real industry buzz, this brand is quietly creating some really interesting products that are particularly appealing to true dab nerds and which are all 99% CBD isolates. Founded by a group of three Colorado natives, CBDistillery is a socially-conscious brand that believes everyone has the right to high-quality, fair-priced hemp derived CBD.
Canna-Pet has made its way onto our list for its caring attitude and community-care focus. Not only are all of its products 100% organic and made from whole-plant hemp oil, but the brand also offers discounts to shelters, fosters, and other animal rescue charities. Owners who might worry about possible pet allergies to the tinctures should also know that Canna-Pet's products are non-GMO, vegan friendly, and free from animal products, preservatives, SLS, gelatin, wheat, sugar, and dairy.
In fact, when you visit the website, you'll see that Canna-Pet has lots of specific products, developed for different animal species, categorizing its tinctures for cats, dogs, and even horses. Canna-Pet does warn, however, that cats tend to dislike the taste of the tinctures. If your cat is a particularly picky eater, you might want to seek out an alternative brand or product.
The brand name, Cannuka, is a direct reference to the unique blend of CBD and Manuka honey used to create Cannuka's line of CBD-infused skincare products. But this clever little token feature is one of the lesser reasons for adding this brand to our list. Cannuka is a family brand. Husband and wife, Michael and Kelly Bumgarner, share the same mission: to legitimize the benefits of cannabis.
Michael's a rural Ohio farm boy, experienced in the legalization of industrial hemp cultivation, and Kelly's a dermatologist PA-C. Together, they're an unstoppable team with a breakthrough natural product line that pushes the boundaries of both the skincare industry and the medicinal cannabis as it stands. The unique way in which they have positioned their brand is worth exploring. Natural, honest, intimate, and inspiring, Cannuka presents CBD in a very different light to any other example of branding out there.
Even though we've listed this brand once already, there's no doubt that as an all-rounder, CbdMD deserves a special mention. Firstly, the brand offers a full range of products: tinctures, capsules, gummies, vape oils, topicals, and CBD oils for pets. It's an incredibly transparent brand, with all the results from its third-party lab tests, managed by ProVerde, made available to the public via its website. The hemp used is industrial, organic, and grown in Kentucky, which means that it's easy for the brand to regulate all farming practices and all stages of the cultivation process.
While the website design is nothing the shout home about, it's very easy to navigate and super simple to shop. With free delivery across the U.S. and a 30-day money-back guarantee policy, it's hard to see where the consumer can go wrong. It even comes out looking pretty good in terms of cost. On the website home page, you can see a price comparison chart that compares costs with some of the other brands in the CBD industry, proving CbdMD to be pretty cost-effective too.
By way of pulling everything together, we think Charlotte's Web deserves a special mention for the sheer photographic impact and content creativity of its IG account. It takes about two seconds to know that the brand you're looking at is organic, trustworthy, and socially/environmentally conscious. The photography is exceptional, with superb details of natural light, and professional applications of shutter speed and lens focus. Mood, emotion, lifestyle choices, and brand purpose are captured all at once.
The written content is of a high standard too. It's both interactive and educational, offering a variety of ways in which followers can communicate and connect with the brand. Charlotte's Web is definitely a brand that thinks and cares about nurturing the brand-consumer relationship.


text:
Q: Make the first option in a select element a selectable placeholder I have a select element in HTML and I would like to give it a placeholder. I want this placeholder to be selectable (so no options are selected).
Because it is a placeholder I want the option text to be grey, and when the option is selected I want the select element's text to also be grey.
There are many questions that solve part of this problem, but none that offer a functional solution (that I can find).
Below is an example of the desired outcome (see the Campus dropdown).

I am using React for the project, and have looked at the React-select package but cannot find a way to implement it like this.

A: You can do this with CSS by making the option color grey with a selector, making the select grey when the default is selected, , and making other options a specific color (so they remain that color when the select is grey rather than inheriting grey from it). Here's an example:

const {useState} = React;

function Example() {
    const [value, setValue] = useState("");
    const onChange = ({currentTarget: {value}}) => {
        setValue(value);
    };
    return <select size="1" className={value ? "" : "greyed"} value={value} onChange={onChange}>
        <option value="">Default</option>
        <option value="A">Option A</option>
        <option value="B">Option B</option>
    </select>;
}

ReactDOM.render(<Example/>, document.getElementById("root"));
/*
We have this so that when the select is greyed, its options aren't
*/
select option[value] {
    color: black;
}

/*
Grey-out an element with the class, and option elements with blank values
*/
.greyed, select option[value=""] {
    color: grey;
}