text:
Home » News » Health » Three simple acts can stop Covid-19 outbreaks, study finds
Three simple acts can stop Covid-19 outbreaks, study finds
2:34 AM EDT, Thu July 23, 2020
By Jen Christensen, CNN
If people washed their hands regularly, wore masks, and kept their social distance from each other, these three simple behaviors could stop most all of the Covid-19 pandemic, even without a vaccine or additional treatments, according to a new study.
The study, published Tuesday in the journal PLoS Medicine, created a new model to look at the spread of the disease and prevention efforts that could help stop it.
The contact rates in the study were based on people's interaction in the Netherlands, but the model is appropriate for other Western countries, the researchers at the University Medical Center Utrecht said
"A large epidemic can be prevented if the efficacy of these measures exceeds 50%," they wrote.
If, however, the public is slow, but does eventually change behavior, it can reduce the number of cases, but not delay a peak in cases, according to the model.
If governments shut down early, but no one takes additional personal protective steps, this would delay but not reduce a peak in cases. A three month intervention would delay the peak by, at most, seven months, the study found.
If government-imposed physical distancing was combined with disease awareness and personal steps, the height of the peak could be reduced, even after government imposed social distancing orders were lifted.
"Moreover, the effect of combinations of self-imposed measures is additive," the researchers wrote. "In practical terms, it means that SARS-CoV-2 will not cause a large outbreak in a country where 90% of the population adopts handwashing and social distancing that are 25% efficacious."
Even with self-imposed social distancing, contacts with others might not be totally eliminated. For instance, people who live together will interact, increasing the likelihood that someone could get sick. So small outbreaks are still likely.
The authors argue that governments should educate the public about how the virus spreads and raise awareness about the crucial roles of self-distancing, handwashing and also mask use in controlling an ongoing epidemic. It does not differentiate between mandating some of these behaviors or encouraging them.
There are limits to the model. It doesn't take into effect demographics, nor does it account for the imperfect isolation of people who are sick with Covid-19, meaning they can infect others who care for them in a health care setting or at home. It also doesn't account for the possibility of reinfection.
American public health leaders have been echoing the sentiment of this study recently. The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Buck Institute for Research on Aging last Tuesday the country is "not defenseless."
"If we all wore face coverings for the next four, six, eight, twelve weeks, across the nation, this virus transmission would stop," Dr. Robert Redfield said.
Admiral Brett Giroir, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said at a briefing from the US Health and Human Services Department Thursday that masks and physical distancing could quickly stop the spread of the pandemic.
"If we have that degree of compliance with these simple measures, our models say that's really as good as shutting it down," Giroir said. "These simple facts can really shut down the outbreak without completely shutting down your local area."
Teachers association calls for delayed openings, distance learning in its reopening plan
High Point police identify man shot, killed at Buddhist temple, ask for community's help finding gunman


text:
The Vigilante RPG
The Beta rules for Vigilante are complete! With this milestone, I am now actively recruiting playtest GMs to read, run, and make every effort to break my rules. I'm planning on releasing in November, and I want to make every reasonable effort possible to make sure that the ruleset is prepared for the wilds before I release it.
One of my prospective playtesters asked me, "What kind of game is it?" Well, let me explain...
Vigilante is a simple but firm system designed to tell stories in a modern, realistic setting. It uses an innovative, 'blackjack-style' core mechanic that is designed to minimize calculations in your head, relying on number comparisons rather than arithmetic. The core rules are designed around building vanilla mortals and playing in a totally mundane world. That said, there are optional rules for various supernatural elements which may be included, and the fact that the players don't know what's actually going on allows for real tension in a way that other games don't support. You could find that it's a ghost, or you could find that it's just the guy who runs the water slide. Only the GM knows for sure.
One of the things I love about Vigilante is that it supports making realistic human characters from any walk of life. A PC could be a gun-toting assassin, or a coffee shop barista who paints in her spare time. It's about bringing the world to life, not trying to fit all characters into some sort of mold. Character creation uses Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences for the statline, and there's a fairly deep skill system that can represent just about any possible skill set. When people look at the character sheet, a common first response is, "Well, Music is clearly the dump stat." To which my response is, "Sure, if your character is not musical." The game isn't about making a badass. It's about making a person.
In Vigilante, normal humans are at the heart of the entire story. Maybe there's something else going on... or maybe not. Most games open with the players in the dark. As far as they know, their characters live in a world just like ours. Because mundane reality is so strongly established as the standard, if something supernatural does come up, it's that much more powerful. In my own Vigilante game, the first time a fae lord appeared and started growing long teeth and claws, the look on my players' faces was priceless. Jaws dropped. My own girlfriend whispered, "I didn't even know that was possible..." If I'd called them together for a game of Changeling, I never would have gotten that response.
Before I leave you, let me address the system briefly. First, it's a firm system. By this I mean that if a PC wants to leap across a crocodile-infested river, the result is determined by considering the width of the river and his skill at jumping, not by considering the arc of the story and whether it's his turn for a success. Beyond that, every effort has been made to keep the system simple, realistic, and easy to use. The core mechanic relies on the easiest of mental functions: number comparison. It's a blackjack system, so higher numbers on the dice are always better, but if the result exceeds your skill number, then it's a failure. In contested rolls, there's simply two comparisons: compare your result to your skill; if you succeed and your opponent does as well, then compare your respective results. Whoever has the higher number wins. Done. No shenanigans. As for difficulty, difficulty is increased by using larger dice, rather than modifying the target number. The target number is always equal to your character's skill. It's a little different, but it works smoothly. And there's almost no math involved.
In a few words, Vigilante is a system designed to get out of your way and let you tell a story. It solves the problem of trying to figure out what happens when A wants to shoot B and B doesn't want to get shot, but it doesn't take up too much of your time while doing so. Combat moves quickly, guns are lethal as all hell, but characters don't have to be combat oriented to have a place in the story. It's focused on the mundane, normal world, because that's where we all live. Somewhere in our secret hearts, we all want to believe there might be monsters lurking in the shadows. When you play Vigilante, there might be.
Posted by The Black Hatter at 12:02 PM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"...Thank you so much for everything! I am infinitely happier with my much cuter nose..."
When we look at someone we tend to notice their eyes and mouth first. After all, these are the most expressive parts of the face through which we display our thoughts and emotions. Centering these features is the nose, and its location in the middle of the face can profoundly affect the overall look of the face.
Rhinoplasty ("rhino-" = nose, "-plasty" = to shape), sometimes crudely called a "nose job", is plastic surgery to alter the shape of the nose. It is a particularly popular procedure here in the greater Jacksonville, Florida and Ponte Vedra Beach area where there is an emphasis on looking one's best.
Commonly, people seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty to alter their appearance feel that their noses are out of balance with their facial proportions or are detracting from their other more attractive facial features. For some it's a large hump, for others it's a bulbous nasal tip. Some are concerned that it's too droopy, or too wide, or too crooked, too long, or too pointy. Some patients may additionally have nasal obstruction.
Each individual is absolutely unique in regard to the specific characteristics of the nose that concern him or her. Creating that balance of size, shape, and proportion while maintaining a natural, unoperated look is the goal of modern cosmetic rhinoplasty. And like most plastic surgery, the best rhinoplasty is the one tailored to the individual patient.
A note about Revision Rhinoplasty: There are many reasons why a patient who's had a rhinoplasty may seek a revision. Most commonly, a patient is simply dissatisfied with the appearance, but nasal obstruction, wound complications, excessive scar contraction, and even "surgical misadventure" can be appropriate reasons for revision. Given the added complexity of revision surgery, we believe that being a specialist in plastic surgery of the face and nose can be especially helpful. Dr. Pearson enjoys seeing patients who are considering revision rhinoplasty and the additional challenges that it entails.
In part because rhinoplasty is a custom-made operation every time, it is arguably the most difficult of the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Not only does the nose serve an esthetic role, but its size and proportions are also intimately linked to its structural and functional roles, such as proper nasal breathing.
Despite these concerns, however, satisfaction rates among rhinoplasty patients tend to run very high. To help achieve this high satisfaction rate, it's important that patients thoroughly discuss with Dr. Pearson their specific concerns about their nose so that there exists a clear, mutual understanding of the intended result. Only then will Dr. Pearson be able to outline what can and what cannot be achieved through rhinoplasty.
A note about Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty: Sometimes reshaping the nose does not require a surgical rhinoplasty, but rather a much less invasive option: the so-called "non-surgical nose job." Non-surgical rhinoplasty typically involves the injection of various fillers such as Juvederm (and now Bellafill) to contour minor irregularities and disproportions. A small hump, for example, can sometimes be concealed simply by filling in the radix (the root of the nose). A minor curve, twist, or depression can be similarly camouflaged to create a straighter or smoother nose.
Patients particularly like that non-surgical rhinoplasty is less expensive than surgery, is done in the office under local anesthesia, and has essentially immediate results with little to no downtime. Of course, non-surgical rhinoplasty will never replace surgical rhinoplasty for more advanced correction, but it's often a nice option for patients who only need minor tweaks to the appearance of their nose.
What happens if I proceed with rhinoplasty ("nose job")?
If Dr. Pearson feels that you are a good candidate for rhinoplasty and you feel that results he expects to achieve coincide with your desires then several things will need to be arranged for your surgery. Pre-operative photographs, routine lab work, a physical exam, and various paperwork will need to be completed. Typically a second visit is then arranged shortly before your surgery date. This will allow you time to think over the many things discussed in your initial consultation, and it will allow you time to have additional questions or concerns answered.
Dr. Pearson performs most of his surgery at Orange Park Surgery Center or Fleming Island Surgery Center. Both are fully-accredited, state-licensed outpatient surgical facilities. Both locations are just blocks from his office practice (and a conveniently short drive from Jacksonville, Florida). Both facilities offer excellent safety while also providing the privacy and convenience patients desire.
What kind of anesthesia is required for a rhinoplasty? Do I need to stay in the hospital?
In most cases rhinoplasty is performed on an out-patient basis under general anesthesia, meaning that you will be completely asleep for the procedure (modern anesthesia techniques have tremendously improved the safety and comfort of general anesthesia and we have found that most patients prefer this route). Most patients go home a few hours after their procedure. You will not be allowed to drive for the first 24 hours, and we insist that you have a responsible adult with you for the first night.
Again, because of the custom nature of this sort of surgery, exact times cannot be given. On average, rhinoplasty may take two and a half to three hours. Depending on the specific steps your surgery will require, operating times can be as short as one and a half hours or as long as four or more hours for a revision rhinoplasty. Dr. Pearson will be able to give you a better estimate at the time of your consultation.
When are the follow-up visits after rhinoplasty?
In many cases you will be seen in the office the day after surgery and again at about a six days post-op. Dr. Pearson also likes to see patients two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and one year after surgery. These are at no charge to you and more visits may be necessary. Yearly follow-up after the first year is appreciated but not essential.
Is rhinoplasty covered by my insurance carrier?
When done solely to improve the appearance of the nose (i.e., a cosmetic rhinoplasty) the patient will be responsible for the entire cost of surgery. Exceptions may apply when the procedure is primarily reconstructive, or when a portion of the rhinoplasty is for the purposes of improving nasal breathing. Check with your insurance carrier for a specific answer. Call us for more details.
I've heard there are different approaches to rhinoplasty. Which does Dr. Pearson use?
Broadly speaking, rhinoplasty techniques fall into two main categories: closed rhinoplasty and open rhinoplasty. The closed approaches are the original classic techniques for rhinoplasty, while the open approaches are more modern techniques (approximately 30 years old, but popularized and refined in the mid-1980s). Dr. Pearson has been trained in both techniques but generally prefers the open approach, especially for the more difficult revision rhinoplasty. It is important to realize that there is no one approach to rhinoplasty that is "the best". Rather, surgeons choose that approach which in their hands gives consistent, predictable results.
What should I expect after rhinoplasty? How long will I be off from work? How long will it take to heal?
Everyone heals individually, and no two people will have exactly the same procedure. We caution patients that the timelines for recovery are rough guides only. Generally, you can go back to work as soon as you feel able, which is generally within a few days, but most patients will take one to two weeks off. Engaging in strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting should be avoided for two weeks after your rhinoplasty. Bruises, if present, will have faded by about 14 days. Bruises as well as any incisions can be concealed early with proper camouflage makeup, if desired (check with Dr. Pearson). However, other standard cosmetics should be avoided for the first week after surgery. Final contour of the nose takes longer, and you can expect to see continued improvement and refinement of the nose for up to a year or longer. In most cases, though, by two weeks rhinoplasty patients no longer "look surgical" and can engage in work and social activities without worry about their appearance.
Rhinoplasty, despite its complexity, can often make a substantial improvement to a person's appearance. For more information about rhinoplasty and cosmetic facial plastic surgery here in Fleming Island, Orange Park, and the greater Jacksonville, Florida area, please contact us or call (904) 215-7377 to schedule an appointment.


Terrakea borealis was named by Ganelin (1977). Its type specimen is PIN 2834/336 and is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Luk Creek, Sample 1527-5, Levyy Kedon River, Omolon Basin, which is in a Wordian marine siliciclastic in the Omolon Formation of the Russian Federation.


RepairPlus is a software for graphical display of PCB layout for repair and optical inspection. It may be used either standalone or combined with another member of the software suite: DebugPlus for schematic and FaultView for fault tickets. It is now replaced by QuadView, our next generation of board viewers. A migration kit allows to convert all jobs RepairPlus and DebugPlus in a compatible format with QuadView.
RepairPlus can be upgraded to a QuadView solution. MigrationKit utility collect all CAD data, Attributes and the functional test coverage from RepairPlus jobs and translate them in a new Quadview database. Please, contact ASTER Technologies at this email address for migration: sales@aster-technologies.com.


text:
Mark Milke
Mark Milke, Ph.D. is a political scientist, policy analyst, author and columnist with six books and dozens of studies. His newest book is The Victim Cult: How the culture of blame hurts everyone and wrecks civilizations. His work has been published by policy institutes in Canada, the United States and Europe. Mark's policy work has touched on everything from taxes, civil rights, and private property to airline competition, insurance, aboriginal policy, government monopolies and the folly of corporate welfare. In 2018 and 2019, he was the principal policy advisor to then Alberta opposition leader Jason Kenney, and lead "architect" of the 2019 platform for the United Conservative party.
Mark's columns appear in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Maclean's, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun and Winnipeg Free Press, among others. He has a Ph.D. in International Relations and Political Philosophy from University of Calgary. Mark is President of the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary, the past-president of Civitas—a Society for Ideas, a past chairman of the editorial board of Canada's Journal of Ideas C2C Journal, and a past lecturer in Political Science at the University of Calgary.
MEI – Interprovincial trade: Alberta in first place, Quebec in last – Mark Milke
November 14, 2019 | 18 min. 10 sec. | Danielle Smith Show (Global Radio) Interview with Mark Milke, independent policy analyst, about […]
Tear down these walls! Canada could finally become the free-trading dynamo envisioned in 1867
The best way for liberalization to happen is for a province or territory to act unilaterally to end its own barriers.
Internal Trade Provincial Leadership Index
While Canada continues to negotiate free trade agreements with numerous countries, the provinces maintain obstacles to trade within our own borders. The MEI and the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) have listed them from best to worst in a ranking of Canadian provinces and territories by their openness to internal trade.
The Carbon Market: Chasing Away Jobs and Capital without Reducing GHGs
A carbon market, like a carbon tax, aims to modify behaviours in order to reduce GHG emissions by setting a price for them. Although such mechanisms are regularly mentioned in the news, their economic consequences are less often discussed, to say nothing of their effectiveness. Does imposing a price on carbon always reduce emissions, or does it instead displace them, along with the accompanying economic activity? In the two scenarios examined here, the effect on GHG emissions would be negligible, but the economic impact would be significant.
Ontario is learning the wrong lessons from Quebec
Ontario is tending more and more toward the Quebec model.
Finances publiques : l'Ontario ressemble de plus en plus au Québec
Quebec's public finances versus Ontario's.
Ontario vs. Quebec: Whose Public Finances Are Worse?
For decades, Quebec has been known for its rotten public finances: recurrent deficits, lots of spending, and high taxes. But the provincial budgets tabled this spring by the governments of both Quebec and Ontario suggest that the latter province is now competing for the top prize in terms of financial recklessness.
Electric-vehicle subsidies
Programs aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by subsidizing electric cars.
Are Electric Vehicle Subsidies Efficient?
Ontario and Quebec have set ambitious targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), respectively 37% and 37.5% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The transportation sector is crucial for achieving these ambitious targets, since it represents over a third of the emissions of each province. These have therefore decided to implement, among other things, subsidies to electric vehicles. But is this injection of public funds the best use of our money?
Le gaspillage des subventions aux voitures électriques
Hidden costs of capping Albertans' power bills
The potential impact of various proposed energy policies on consumers and taxpayers in Alberta.
Viewpoint – Is Ontario the New Quebec?
For decades, Quebec's economy and the state of its public finances have been judged in comparison with Ontario. Catching up with its neighbour was a worthwhile goal, promoted by many. Over the past few years, the differences between the two most populous provinces have indeed been reduced. However, while the picture has improved somewhat in Quebec, including recent fiscal prudence on the part of the government, this narrowing of the gap does not so much reflect Quebec's good performance as it does Ontario's gradual decline.
L'Ontario adopte les mauvaises habitudes du Québec
Ontario is following the Quebec model with increasingly high levels of spending, taxation and indebtedness.
More debt and poorer for it: Ontario is the new Quebec
Albertans in for a shock over power plans
Green Energy Subsidies: Is Alberta Jumping on the Bandwagon?
In recent years, Canadian provinces have adopted various "green" energy policies that have had a discernable impact on their energy markets. Carbon levies and constraints on using certain energy sources to generate electricity are now commonplace, and their use seems to be spreading. Until recently, Alberta had avoided such policy tools. In addition, much electricity in Alberta is generated, transmitted, and sold by private market actors, and thus political interference in the market has mostly been avoided.
Get ready Albertans, you're about to pay a steep bill to kill coal


If the serial interface has been deactivated before, it will be available only after rebooting the camera.
The integrated web terminal is only activated after the camera has been rebooted.
Xon/Xoff is currently not supported.
In the Modem operating mode, the camera can communicate with analog modems or GSM devices in order to establish data connections.
As modems and GSM devices strongly vary in their use of AT commands, it is recommended that you have the manufacturer's documentation ready when setting the following parameters.
Only one channel is available so that dialing in and out does not work simultaneously.
It is recommended to use this setting only if the camera does not send images frequently.
Both parties need to use the same protocol.
Xon/Xoff (software flow control) is currently not supported.
Unlike the other variables, the weather variables cannot be used in other dialog boxes (E-Mail Profiles, FTP Profiles, etc.).


text:
Q: Core graphics stroke around existing, irregular image? Is it possible to take a pre-existing UIImage of an irregular shape, like the silhouette of an island or a user-drawn blob, and then use Core Graphics to draw an outline of a given width and color along its edges? I'm assuming an otherwise transparent UIImage, with a single solid shape. Interior or exterior strokes are acceptable, although exterior is preferred.
It seems like that ought to be possible, but I'm a CG newbie and all of my research is just turning up tutorials and answers about adding stroke to an image as it is being drawn, or else along a simple, pre-defined path that can be hard-coded.  I'm finding surprisingly little information about dealing with irregular images based on the method's input.
I know the SO community prefers code samples and such, but I honestly don't know where to start.  My only conceptual lead is, if it's possible to get a path based on the outline of an existing shape, I could stroke that path?  But I don't know how to get a path based on an irregular, unpredictable input image.
Can anyone help a newbie out?

A: One way you could do it is to apply a Sobel edge detector to the alpha channel of the image. Once you have the edges defined you could convert them to vectors and then stroke them. Or you could leave them as pixels and apply something like a dilation filter to them.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Bulk orders to stock up, or regular deliveries all winter, Moor Heat can deliver all.
Moor Heat provide homes & businesses with high quality, sustainably sourced firewood from local estates. From our yard in St Neot, we supply across mid & east Cornwall – delivered free to any customer within 20 miles.
We kiln-dry all our wood to ensure a maximum 25% moisture content. By burning just one of our logs, you'll get 3 TIMES the heat output value of one with 50%. It's more cost-effective, safer, and can drastically prolong the life of your stove & flue.
We serve campsites, hotels & estates. Bulk & special orders no problem.
Kiln-drying produces a top quality range of hard & softwoods for burning, limited to 25% maximum moisture content.
We sell strictly to regulation: volume, not weight. And we always make sure you get the full cubic metre. So you'll know exactly how much you're getting, every time.
As members of the approved Biomass Suppliers List (BSL) members, our woodfuel is eligible for customers claiming the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
We only buy harvested wood from reputable foresters, or local estates where trees have fallen or died of old age. We endeavour to keep road miles to a minimum.
All our staff are polite, reliable, & knowledgeable about what they do. Please let us know if there is any specific way we can assist with your delivery.


360factors CEO Carl L. McCauley was invited to the ABA podcast at the American Bankers Association Risk Management Conference 2018 (ABA RMC 2018), where he explained how 360factors' approach to GRC was different and more suited for small to mid-sized banks and financial institutions. Ryan Resske, Senior Vice President, Risk and Compliance at ABA hosted the podcast. Ryan also congratulated 360factors on being awarded the ABA endorsed solution provider for compliance management with their new Compliance Management Solution.
To listen to the full podcast session, please click here Your browser does not support the audio element.
Carl covered many different points in the podcast – from what the 360factors Compliance Management Solution does, to problems in the industry when it comes to compliance.
Here are some important excerpts from his interview.
Our product helps our customers and mid-sized banks improve their business performance by reducing risk and ensuring compliance. Our solution helps banks manage their regulations and obligations, their policy, procedures, the risk and controls, audit management and assessments, online training qualifications, and all the compliance related activities in a single integrated solution that makes it more effective, more efficient.
A lot of banks are still very manual, using spreadsheets and emails. Manually copying data from an action tracker to a calendar schedule to a management report. That's a lot of manual process. Due dates and follow-ups, emails back and forth, maybe holding a weekly meeting with your staff members. That's a lot of manual time being wasted on non-value activities.
What we want to do is make (compliance) more efficient, automate the entire process. Have a single system in which you can input the data, we can summarize the reports, we can do the notifications via email to the right people. If a due date is coming, we can track those kinds of activities and we're looking to make the summary reports become available and tie those things together.
Organizations realize the value of what GRC solutions can do, but most people think they're very expensive, and that's because a lot of legacy vendors out there have made it very expensive. They're often expensive with long-term, multi-year commitments. You do all that before you see the value of the system. Even when you've purchased it, it takes maybe months, if not over a year to implement those systems. That's a difficult proposition for a midsize bank to swallow. So, one thing we're trying to do is really reduce the complexity around our solutions and GRC solutions.
We have focused our needs on the needs of a mid-sized bank (and financial institutions). They don't have staff to spend the next six months working on a software solution when they need to be doing their job. Our solution is an out-of-the-box solution. We are really focusing on how the midsized banks can deploy the solution, do it within hours or days, not months, quarters, even a year. We are moving towards what I would call 'No Risk' types of terms. Pricing that can be expensed on a credit card so that you don't have to go to the board level for a multi-year contract in a six-figure type of contract.
Organizations can have the 360factors Compliance solution deployed on a few hundred dollars a month at a credit card. See the value, make sure it's working for you, and then if you want to make a long-term commitment, what do you get in return? Discounts.


My two friends and I heard what sounded like a rocket going into the air. We went to the higher deck in our apartment complex and looked up into the sky.
Right then we saw a really fast and quiet object flying through the sky. It had four beams coming off each light, two sets of three lights in a triangle formation.
We went to find where the sound was coming from to see if they were related and discovered it was blowoff from Simpson Craft Mill.
We all three are just flabbergasted about the incident and had to report it somewhere.


We are sorry if your experience of Book Aid International has been anything other than wholly positive. Your feedback will help us to do a better job. We aim to resolve complaints as quickly as possible, usually within 10 working days. Thank you for your patience and support.


How can I create a form report?
It's very easy to create a report for your jotforms.
Do you have any idea of a particular jotform you would like to create?
For the time being I would suggest taking a look at these guides here http://www.jotform.com/help/chapter-6-Reports.
If you need more help with this just let us know.


text:
Poem: The Birds and the Bees
Does anyone find it easy to talk about sex with their kids?
I know there's a range of comfort levels when it comes to this topic. When I was growing up, my family avoided the subject — so I've got plenty of anxiety when it comes to the dreaded "sex talks."
In today's poem, I explore the complicated emotions that go along with this challenge.
Now that I'm the mother of three elementary-aged kids, I've had to face up to this. It's clear that teaching in stages is key. You start with the names for private parts of the body, and later on, progress to the basics of how babies are made. You help your kids learn correct terminology, such as uterus instead of tummy. And you try to convey that the human body — and all it can do — is a wondrous thing, more than the sum of its clinical parts.
But these steps are intimidating to me. I'm lucky that my husband is totally relaxed and grounded about all of it. He's helped me to join him in reinforcing standard terms, in regularly discussing sex in age-appropriate ways with each kid, and in creating a safe space for them to ask questions.
As we've begun to teach them, I've realized all over again how bizarre the concept of sex can sound to young ears. As I describe in the following poem, it would be much easier to talk about it in vague or metaphorical terms.
But ultimately that would add to their confusion. I want them to have a healthy understanding of sex, and for them to feel comfortable approaching me with questions. My own worries need to not get in the way of their learning.
She'll learn about the birds and the bees
somehow, so it'd be best if it were from me.
That's what they say, anyway, and I suspect
they're right — although I often wonder
whether I'm qualified to impart to her
those rather unexpected facts of life.
I want to first consider: which words
would I use to dig down into the earth
to uncover the enigma of a bulb —
thick with layers, smeared with mud —
and how would I dissect its secret core
in a lesson for a lily on the stem?
Speaking in metaphor
is decidedly more comfortable
than explaining the mechanics of sex
in blunt detail; there's nothing absurd
about a robin laying eggs in her nest
or a bee pollinating a garden flower.
But two grown-ups shedding their clothes
to expose hidden parts of the body
heretofore associated with the potty,
agreeing to insert an appendage of one
into an orifice belonging to the other,
with the possible result of a baby?
It's no wonder we fall back on
analogies from the animal kingdom.
Nature, of course, has its own complications:
Why must the father robin decamp after a season?
Or the queen bee leave a trail of drone suicides
wherever she flies?
No, I know I need to spell out the origin of babies,
beyond sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
But how and when do I begin to address the fact
that the bodily act of sex delves to the level of soul?
And that therein lies its power — which can be
twisted into the worst of all weapons,
or cultivated into food that nurtures a lasting bond?
How do I point out that power, without joining
the loud and insidious voices declaring that her body
and her lifetime of sexual choices
determine her total worth as a woman?
But I've gotten ahead of myself —
right now, my goal is more basic:
that she could ask any question without distress,
and that I could respond with honesty and ease.
So how can I maintain an open conversation,
being mindful to not impart shame or fear,
if I'm embarrassed and afraid to even start?
You Belong Among The Wildflowers
5 Things Teaching is Teaching Me About Myself
How I Stopped Fighting Anxiety
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy	on May 9, 2013 at 7:17 am
Sarah, I enjoyed this AND it freaked me out a little, because my kids are getting older, and I'm pretty sure I uttered lines 1-3 pretty much verbatim to my friend just yesterday!
I'm glad I'm not the only freaked-out mama. This poem makes me feel like that's not so unusual, and that at least I'm asking the right questions.
Sarah	on May 9, 2013 at 9:16 am
Anne, I'm sorry I freaked you out! But I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering about these things. And I'm glad you liked the poem. 🙂
Christina Y.	on May 9, 2013 at 8:00 am
Wow, Sarah! What a great reminder to be relaxed and honest with our children. In my home growing up, sex was also a taboo subject. Never spoken about. So it does make it more difficult to be comfortable talking with your kids openly. Yet it's so important to lay the correct foundation and your poem speaks so truthfully! Thanks for this!
Thank you so much, Christina!
Ms. HalfEmpty	on May 9, 2013 at 8:32 am
It's great that you are taking such care and deep thought about how to approach the topic. Your girls are lucky to have such an open and reflective mom!
Thanks, Ms. HalfEmpty!!
Micha Boyett	on May 9, 2013 at 10:18 am
Sarah, I love this because you're right, it's all so weird! I remember hearing about sex from friends in elementary school and thinking there was no way it was true. There had to be some way people could have sex without taking their clothes off. That was the weirdest part to me. And I love the way you delve into those heavier questions of identity and value. Thanks, as always, for not shying away from the words we all need to hear.
Sarah	on May 9, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Thanks so much, Micha. I'm glad you can identify!
Missy June	on May 9, 2013 at 10:19 am
I'm laughing because sex was never taboo for me growing up, even though I was raised in a very conservative home. I think my mother was raised without knowledge and discussion so wanted more for us. I remember learning the basic facts (around age 6) and thinking it would be "rude" for a boy to want to do that to a girl.
As a single mother of three, I have been very matter of fact about naming the body parts and talking about what is private. They know that anything covered by a swimsuit is private.
I've hedged around the subject a bit, but my oldest when he was almost nine years old came straight out and asked me, "But where DOES a baby come from? How does it get IN the mommy?" So, I described the act of intercourse. He asked why grownups would want to do that, and I explained that sometimes it feels good to touch under the clothes and makes people feel very close. So that is why it is only shared when married…because God wants us to feel closest to our husband/wife.
Oh my. I asked if he had any questions a couple of days later and he said he hadn't really thought of it. I hope that I kept the lines of communication open and gave him the info in an age appropriate way. I told him that this was a something that parents tell their own children and he didn't need to discuss it with his younger siblings or friends.
We'll see!
It is always a "we'll see" situation, isn't it?! I think it sounds like you did an awesome job!
Faigie	on May 9, 2013 at 11:00 am
I think its very important not to give kids information before they are ready for it. Its like the story where this young kid runs home and says to his Mom "where do I come from?" so she takes a deep breath and launches into her whole birds and the bees talk. When she finishes the kids says "No…Billy comes from Pittsburgh…where do I come from"
We have to be sensitive to each of our kids and when to talk.
My older girls had been bugging me to tell their younger sister the facts of life and in the end it was too early for her and she tells me now that she was a bit traumatized.
Kayla	on May 9, 2013 at 11:38 am
This poem is fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah. I've been working with LifeCare, an Austin-based crisis pregnancy center, and thinking a great deal about how to talk to our kids (and even other adults) about sex. Somehow we must be totally honest about what goes on while at the same time giving the subject of sex the respectful delicacy it requires. And this approach is only found among people who genuinely believe sex is more than just a drive that we are compelled to satisfy anytime, anywhere.
I love the truth in your words, "that the bodily act of sex delves to the level of soul"
Although my son isn't quite there yet (he's only 15 months old!), I'm already thinking about this topic!!
Thank you, Kayla. I like your phrase, "respectful delicacy." It's so hard to strike that balance, when talking to kids, of portraying sex as something that's holy but also as something that's normal.
Claire @ Lemon Jelly Cake	on May 9, 2013 at 2:44 pm
My mother had "the talk" with me when I was about 10 years old. She took me to a crowded restaurant for lunch and I was MORTIFIED, terrified that everyone was listening. I so agree with you that teaching about sex needs to happen in natural stages, not all at once! From my own experience, I think that answering questions with "I'll tell you when you're older" and acting like sex is an uncomfortable subject fosters the idea that sex in itself is wrong… and nothing could be further from the truth.
P.S. I'm completely and totally impressed that you could turn this topic into a poem. 🙂
Sarah	on May 9, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Thanks, Claire!! And yes — that lunchtime sex talk sounds completely mortifying! :-/
Erin	on May 9, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Information drip is surely the way to go. My mom did a complete info dump on me one night when I was about 11 or so. Putting it mildly, I was freaked out. Parenting is tough, and this is definitely one area I don't want to mess up on! I try to answer my kids questions as they come, I guess I'm just hoping the questions come at the right times. I doubt there is any way I'm ever going to feel prepared and casual when the time comes tho! Eeek.
Sarah	on May 10, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Yes! Information dump vs drip — I like that. I'm aiming for the drip, even though it doesn't come naturally!
Shifrah Combiths	on May 10, 2013 at 3:10 pm
I got to scan this poem quickly yesterday (and read it again today), which happened to be the day my four-and-a-half year old asked me — again — how babies get in my tummy!! I have not told her the whole story, or really any of it. But I was honest with her when I said, finally, "Elora, I really don't know how to answer that question right now." Hahaha. This has gotten me thinking a bit more about how to approach the topic with her, but I really feel like she's still a bit too young. To jump ahead several years — do any of you remember the sex talk from Glee that Kurt's dad had with him? Context, show, etc. aside (I say that because, for instance, I won't be condoning premarital sex when I discuss the topic with my children), I really thought what he said to his son was a wonderful way to describe the emotional power (positively and negatively) of sex.
Sarah	on May 11, 2013 at 11:35 am
Hi Shifrah,
I haven't seen that scene in Glee — now I want to see if it's on YouTube! It is really hard to know what's age-appropriate when you're talking to really young kids. Mine are now 6, 6, and 9, and we've only gotten specific about actual mechanics with the 9 year-old. I think when we were talking to them at age 4 or 5, we might have said something along the lines of, "well, part of Daddy and part of Mommy mix together to make a new baby." The trickier thing is if they press to know just how *that* comes about! But I think often they're too focused on the novel idea that the kids have some of Mom and some of Dad in them. It's funny how they can ask these questions that completely throw you for a loop, and then in their next breath they're asking if they can have a jam sandwich. You know?!
claire sitting at the kitchen table in the UK	on May 15, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for this post, it's got me thinking about what to tell my dear daughter (8). When she was a toddler she would watch me in the bath and look at me point below my waist and say "BRA". At some point I'd better correct her!


text:
Iowa Court of Appeals Enforces Partition Fence Agreement
Last week, the Iowa Court of Appeals upheld a trial court's order specifically enforcing a partition fence agreement between neighbors. The opinion illustrates that such an agreement does not necessarily preclude costly litigation. It also demonstrates the importance of engaging legal counsel at the beginning of a dispute.
The plaintiff and defendant were adjoining landowners. Plaintiff had cattle, but it appears that defendant did not. Under Iowa law, adjoining landowners must share the cost of a partition fence if one of the landowners makes such a request. Both neighbors are equally responsible, even if only one of them has livestock.
The plaintiff and defendant had entered into a partition fence agreement in 2012. Iowa Code § 359A.12 allows such an agreement to memorialize which portion of the partition fence is to be maintained and/or built by which neighbor. Once written and recorded, the agreement is binding upon the neighbors and their successors. Iowa Code § 359A.13.
Review Those Custom Feeding Endorsements
A custom feeding endorsement may not cover growers for unexpected or negligent losses to livestock. A recent opinion from the Iowa Court of Appeals again raises this important warning.
In Schulz Farm Enterprises v. IMT Insurance, the court found that a custom feeding endorsement in a contract growers' insurance policy did not provide coverage for the loss of 837 hogs caused by an electrical breaker malfunction in the hog building. This ruling extended the application of Boelman v. Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co., 826 N.W.2d 494 (Iowa 2013). Specifically, the 2017 case found that the custom feeding endorsement protected the grower only from damages caused by the hogs, not damage to the hogs.
The facts in the case were typical. A New Hampton, Iowa, farming company contracted with a grower to custom feed its hogs. The grower contacted his insurance agent to secure additional coverage to protect this new operation. The insurance agent recommended that the grower purchase a farmer's personal liability coverage policy with a custom feeding endorsement for an additional $118 per year. The basic liability policy excluded coverage for property damage arising out of a "custom feeding" operation. It also excluded coverage for damage to any property that must be replaced because "your work" was incorrectly performed and for damage to property "in the care of" the insured, unless caused by fire, smoke, or explosion. The custom feeding endorsement stated that the liability policy was extended to apply to "custom feeding" operations performed by the insured. Specifically, the endorsement stated that it acted to delete "the exclusions [under the liability policy] pertaining to custom feeding."
Iowa Supreme Court Sides with Drainage Districts
On January 27, 2017, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling favoring the drainage districts in three northwest Iowa counties in the high profile Des Moines Water Works nitrate litigation. This ruling effectively means that the federal court will enter summary judgment in favor of the districts with respect to DMWW's claims for money damages and injunctive relief and will likely grant similar relief with respect to DMWW's claims alleging violations of DMWW's constitutional rights.
Today's Iowa Supreme Court ruling has no immediate impact on the core federal claim in the lawsuit, the allegations that the districts have violated the Clean Water Act (and the companion Iowa statute) by discharging nitrates via a point source into "Waters of the United States" without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Those claims will soon be addressed by the federal court when it evaluates the drainage districts' second motion for summary judgment.
As we've explained in past articles, this litigation arose March 16, 2015, when the Des Moines Board of Water Works Trustees (DMWW) filed a federal Clean Water Act (CWA) lawsuit against 10 drainage districts (and their trustees) in Buena Vista, Sac, and Calhoun Counties in Iowa. The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, asserts causes of action falling into two categories.
Washington is Abuzz with ACA Activity
Open enrollment for purchasing 2017 health plans on the Marketplace ends today. In the meantime, Congress and President Trump have been paving the way to unwind and recalibrate the Affordable Care Act, a massive chunk of (largely) tax legislation.
Trump concluded his first day on the job by signing an Executive Order stating that, pending repeal of the ACA:
It is imperative for the executive branch to ensure that the law is being efficiently implemented, take all actions consistent with law to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the Act, and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market
The Order goes on to urge the responsible agencies to: exercise all authority and discretion available to them to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the Act that would impose a fiscal burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications.
What is the impact of this Order? Does it mean that individuals who did not have insurance in 2016 or large employers who did not offer insurance in 2016 will not have to pay their respective "shared responsibility payments" (i.e. penalty taxes)?
Make Sure You Understand the Tax Implications of that Equipment Trade
In light of the tough farm economy, dealers are offering producers even more options when it comes to purchasing upgraded equipment. Because different tax implications flow from different contractual arrangements, it is crucial that a producer understand the true nature of a lease or purchase contract before he signs it. This will avoid big surprises come tax time.
It is important to understand that the IRS does not always consider a "lease" a "lease." What matters is not the name given to a transaction by the dealer, but the economic realities of that transaction. If a "lease" doesn't act like a "lease," the IRS won't treat it as one for tax purposes.
True equipment leases are often called "operating leases." An operating lease is one where the farmer pays for the use of the equipment for a term, nothing more, and nothing less. An operating lease is not a rent-to-own agreement. If the producer does wish to purchase the equipment at the end of the term of the operating lease, the purchase price will be roughly equivalent to the fair market value of the equipment at the time of the purchase. If equipment is leased pursuant to a true operating lease, the farmer can deduct the rental payments from income as ordinary and necessary business expenses.
Filing Season is Underway
We know how busy you are now that tax seaon is in full swing. We're working to keep you updated on important updates as they occur. Check our website or follow us on Twitter or Facebook for the latest. Also, if you would like to be on Kristy's email list, please contact her at ksmaitre@iastate.edu. She often sends daily updates. Below are some highlights.
No Iowa Coupling
Faced with a $118 million budget shortfall, Iowa legislators have decided to not conform Iowa tax law with federal tax law for 2016. That means, for some, Iowa taxable income will look very different from federal taxable income, and some Iowans will have much higher tax liability. It also means that tax preparers will have a large headache as they try to sort out the difference and balance two sets of books for different provisions.
"No coupling" means that Iowa references to the Internal Revenue Code are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect on January 1, 2015. Consequently, federal income tax changes made by Congress in 2015 and 2016 are not part of Iowa tax law for 2016 or beyond.
New Due Date Chart
We've prepared a chart to help you stay abreast of the new due dates for 2016 returns. It can be found here.
With Additional Premium Tax Credit, Iowa and Federal Treatment Differs
One of our tax preparers shared these helpful examples with us as to how the treatment of an additional premium tax credit can differ on the federal and Iowa return.
Is Number of W-2s Required for E-File?
We've received a number of questions from practitioners wondering about a new question that is being asked by some e-file software providers when business returns are filed: "Number of W-2s Filed." This question appears to be an e-file "safeguard" question some states have required in their effort to detect fraudulent returns. The idea is that if a company has filed 51 W-2s, but the filer answers "125" in response to the question, the return may be flagged as potentially fraudulent. It does not appear that either Iowa or IRS has required this question. For more information from the IRS on how these types of safeguards are being implemented, click here.


Peterborough's the Lonely Parade are a group that many peg to be wise beyond their years, making music with strong elements of urgency and excitement. Making waves in their hometown through getting their start at Rock Camp for Girls Peterborough, it's a wave they continued to ride through writing, recording, and performing in their city. The alt-rock three-piece were named the recipients of the Peterborough Folk Festival's Emerging Artist award, serving as a sign of things to come from their work.
Exclaim! and the Pinball Sessions crew recently met up with the young trio at the Peterborough Folk Festival for a performance of "Hey, Felix" off their debut full-length, Sheer Luxury.
Beginning with the tremolo picking of guitarist/vocalist Augusta Veno and a steady backbeat from drummer Winnie Climenhage, it isn't long before the band ends the opening lull with a quick time signature change. Veno and bassist Charlotte Dempsey exhibit some harmony work between six and four strings, leading into the twitchy rhythm of the verse section. It's full steam ahead for the chorus however, with a decidedly more frantic tempo seeing Dempsey handle lead vocals while Veno's backing vocals begin an incredibly calculated race alongside Climenhage's drumming.
Watch the performance in the player below and download the full three song Pinball Session here.


A few days ago I was the only one in the house at lunch time and I couldn't find the peanut butter to make a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.
No peanut butter? Why, it seemed downright un-American. And not only that, but it was nothing less than a betrayal of my upbringing.
PB&Js are so fundamental to our formative years that, according to the National Peanut Board, the average American will eat 1,500 before graduating from high school.
Peanut butter is part of what makes America America. Even those from outside our borders know it's so.
My father is a first-generation Mexican immigrant and my sister adopted from China, and our cupboard reliably contained a jar of peanut butter we dug into daily. Much like how my sister's English as a Second Language class teacher screened the classic Disney movies for her kindergarten students to catch them up on cultural references, developing a taste for peanut butter is a component of the acculturation process in the U.S. It is sustenance for understanding America.
Peanuts have their own story to tell about immigrating to America. According to the National Peanut Board, Europeans first came across peanuts while exploring Brazil. Later, Spanish explorers brought peanuts back home from their excursions into the "new world." From Spain, they were introduced to Asia and Africa. And finally, in the 1700s, Africans brought peanuts to what is now the US.
But it wasn't until 1884 that Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson received a US patent for creating a peanut paste, which he used for making a type of peanut candy. In 1895, John Harvey Kellog invented his own version of peanut butter, a year after he and his brother invented corn flakes. And peanut butter got it's public debut at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, when C. H. Sumner sold it at his concession stand.
Now, back to my can't-find-the-peanut-butter dilemma. I'd already spread my jelly, and I had to eat. So I did what I had to do . . . and used Nutella instead.
I don't know where it had come from.
Well actually I do. It had come from all over the world.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD), Nutella is such a good example of the "global value chain" that the group used the chocolate-flavored hazelnut spread as a case study for one of its policy papers.
Put it all together and you have a product that's sold in 75 countries. OECD even made a map to show Nutella's main suppliers, factories, and main sales offices.
Invented by Pietro Ferrero in the 1940s, Nutella has become the self-proclaimed "number one spread in Europe." And while it hasn't yet become a major competitor to peanut butter in the US, it does have it's devoted Stateside fans.
If that rate held up, noted the Spectator, it would cost the dining halls $250,000 a year.
But, alas, the numbers didn't quite hold up. Another article in the newspaper two days later reported that the first week's Nutella demand actually cost Dining Services $2,500, not $5,000, and the amount quickly faded to $450 a week after that. But even with the revised numbers, that's still a lot of hazelnut spread.
I guess I can see the appeal. Nutella isn't necessarily my thing, but I'm sure I would have liked it when I was in college. My mother never let me eat chocolate frosting by the spoonful when I was growing up, but at college, with no Mom looking over my shoulder, I could have eaten all the frosting . . . uh . . . Nutella I'd wanted.
Well, my college days are now long behind me, and I have new voices in my ear (many of which sound a lot like Mom's). I don't think I'll ever develop an extreme taste for Nutella. I do like a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich, though. You really are what you eat, or at least you are what you ate when you were a kid. And I sure did eat a lot of PB&J sandwiches.
PB&Js. What a strange thing, my friend from Asia once told me. She had never seen one, but she'd heard about them. Why, she asked, would Americans want a sandwich made from peanuts, butter, and jelly. Strange indeed.
Nutella IS delicious! But most people don't want to pay more..so they just buy peanut butter.
Hmmmm. Maybe some discounts would get things going. Can't remember the last time I saw a Nutella coupon in the local paper.
I really did NOT need to know how much sugar and oil is in Nutella…sigh. It is truly global, as you have so well pointed out. Yeah, we have introduced German and Dutch friends to the wonders of a PB&J, and their reaction.,, well, they just sort of humor us and go back to their Nutella and cheese sandwiches.
You are currently reading Peanut Butter and Nutella: A Tale of Two Spreads at Clearing Customs.


text:
Q: netStream with groupSpecifier not sending handler, FLEX I have a simple video/chat application built in FLEX. I've created a groupSpecifier, netGroup and a NetStream for the different functionalities.
NetGroup is mainly used for the messaging (Posting) and keeping track of the users who enter.
NetStream is (or would be used) to control some functions like "start video, stop video" for everyone under the same group.
The most important functions I will post on here. The first is setupGroup.
private function setupGroup():void{
    var groupspec:GroupSpecifier = new GroupSpecifier("vid"+GROUP_ID+"_sid_"+SESSION_ID);
    groupspec.serverChannelEnabled = true;
    groupspec.postingEnabled = true;
    groupspec.multicastEnabled = true;
    groupspec.ipMulticastMemberUpdatesEnabled = true;

    trace("Groupspec: "+groupspec.groupspecWithoutAuthorizations());

    netGroup = new NetGroup(nc,groupspec.groupspecWithoutAuthorizations());
    netGroup.addEventListener(NetStatusEvent.NET_STATUS,netStatus);

    netVideo = new NetStream(nc,groupspec.groupspecWithoutAuthorizations());
    netVideo.addEventListener(NetStatusEvent.NET_STATUS,netStatus);

    user = "user"+Math.round(Math.random()*10000);
}

The second is sendMessage
private function sendMessage():void{

    var message:Object = new Object();
    message.sender = netGroup.convertPeerIDToGroupAddress(nc.nearID);
    message.user = txtUser.text;
    message.text = txtMessage.text;

    netGroup.post(message);
    receiveMessage(message);

    txtMessage.text = "";
}

And then startVideo
private function startVideo():void{
    netVideo.send("publishVideo");
    ns.togglePause();
}

There is another function called "publishVideo" which I hope would be called for the rest of the members in the group, but this is not happening.  Most of this code is straight from the example Tom has provided from http://www.flashrealtime.com. Any help / suggestions would be appreciated!
p.s. I am not using group object replication because of the latency.

A: Answer is prosaically simple.
You need to start video with:
netVideo.publish("channel");

NetStream.send() is for invoking callback method on receiver NetStream.client object.
http://www.flashrealtime.com/multicast-explained-flash-101-p2p/


text:
World Media Directory · RSS · Email Newsletters
There were 12 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 171,179 in the last 365 days.
Tian Jin Appointed to Board of Directors of Opera Limited
/EIN News/ -- OSLO, Norway, Dec. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opera Limited (Nasdaq: OPRA) ("Opera"), one of the world's leading browser providers and an influential player in the field of content platforms, today announced that Tian Jin has joined Opera's Board of Directors.
Tian Jin is an executive of Kunlun Tech (300418:CH), a mobile gaming and Internet company that has a 44% interest in Opera. Tian Jin will serve as a replacement for another Kunlun executive, Han Fang, on the Opera board. Mr. Han Fang has resigned from the Opera board to focus on his other pursuits.
Tian Jin joined Kunlun in 2015 where he has served as a Vice General Manager, and Secretary of the Board, as well as a member of the Kunlun board since 2018.
"We are excited to welcome Tian Jin to our Board of Directors. His experience in both the internet and fintech spaces will be a significant benefit as we continue to leverage our brand and user base to expand beyond the browser. Specifically, Tian Jin's expertise will be helpful as we pursue additional fintech initiatives beyond microlending," said Opera's CEO Yahui Zhou.
"Opera is a strong brand with more than 350 million monthly active users and that is increasing both its user base and monetization. I look forward to helping Opera continue its growth trajectory as it builds on its current momentum and expands offerings", said Tian Jin.
Tian Jin has a bachelor's degree in Marketing Management from Upper Iowa University and has 19 years of business experience, including over 5 years in the commercial banking sector.
Chairman Yahui Zhou has also resigned from Opera's compensation committee to be replaced by Independent Director James Liu. Independent director Trond Knudsen has been appointed to chair the committee.
Founded in 1995 in Norway, Opera delivers browsers and AI-driven digital content platforms to more than 350 million people worldwide. The company remains one of the most innovative browser creators in the world. Opera is listed on Nasdaq under the OPRA ticker symbol.
Derrick Nueman
investor-relations@opera.com or (408) 596-3055
For media enquiries, please contact: press-team@opera.com
Share on Facebook · Twitter · LinkedIn
Distribution channels: Companies, IT Industry
EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.
More From This Source
HAGENS BERMAN, NATIONAL TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages Green Dot (GDOT) Investors Who Suffered Losses to Contact the Firm, ...
HEXO DEADLINE ALERT: HAGENS BERMAN, NATIONAL TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages HEXO Corp. (HEXO) Investors With Significant ...
View All Stories From This Source


Interested in our Christmas Light Installation services?
Take the work out of decorating for Christmas by letting Evergreen design a custom Christmas light display for your home. Our crews service Edmond, Oklahoma City and the entire metro area.
We do it all. We provide and hang the lights, and even remove and store the lights after the season has come and gone.
We use energy-efficient commercial grade LED lights, a much better brightness and quality for your money than you can get at a home improvement store. We measure and custom cut lights for your house, any pattern and color you can imagine.
Also, Evergreen Christmas light crews are insured. Not all companies that say they can hang Christmas lights are bonded and insured. If there is an accident on your property, you will be covered!
Let our experienced technicians create an outstanding display for you this holiday season.


Techniques are described herein for managing unknown-unknowns in cyber-security. Trust degradation is a precursor index to failure. The use cases of scoring the trust degradation in a system span to almost every aspect in networking, edge and cloud included. A well devised Trust Evaluation Function (TEF) will cover many use cases: for example (1) better and adaptive private key management (e.g., re-keying); (2) better and adaptive end user experience password management and its fine grain monitoring in a data center; (3) better and adaptive digital asset certifications; (4) troubleshooting; and (5) real-time scalability and risk assessment for extremely large network, for example in federated cloud environment. The features of a digital trust scoring will start to reflect the likelihood of erosion of trust created on day 0. Platform independency is achieved when the score is a degradation of the trust and not the trust value alone. A trust value may start erroneously, but the rate of change may lead to continuous evaluation. Therefore, the originating trust is set as a prior. Erosion will thus work with time against the assumed original trust. In the example of an expiration date or a combinatorial complexity erosion of a private key, the realization of a trust erosion is not a Boolean fail pass type, but a relative factor number. On a comprehensive integrated analytical dashboard, the trust factor produces the percent life left of given a digital secret.


text:
Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/APPhoto: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Bill That Would Ban End-to-End Encryption Savaged by Critics
"Burr-Feinstein may be the most insane thing I've ever seen seriously offered as a piece of legislation. It is 'do magic' in legalese," tweeted Julian Sanchez, a senior Cato Institute fellow studying privacy and technology.
April 8 2016, 5:58 p.m.
A LONG-ANTICIPATED DRAFT of anti-encryption legislation written by the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee circulated late Thursday night and left many critics apoplectic.
The bill, from Sens. Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, would force technology companies to either decrypt the contents of their customers' communications for law enforcement, or hack into their own products to do so — effectively rendering illegal the end-to-end encryption currently offered by some of the heaviest hitters in the business, like Apple, Facebook, Google, and now WhatsApp.
On Friday, Feinstein and Burr told reporters they were still working on the draft and couldn't comment on the language of an unfinished version.
Feinstein threw down the gauntlet in December, vowing to push for a bill that would mandate breakable encryption even if no one else would, including the White House. Privacy advocates who expected the worst weren't disappointed.
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told The Intercept in an emailed statement the draft was concerning. "This legislation says a company can design what they want their back door to look like, but it would definitely require them to build a back door. For the first time in America, companies who want to provide their customers with stronger security would not have that choice – they would be required to decide how to weaken their products to make you less safe."
"Burr-Feinstein may be the most insane thing I've ever seen seriously offered as a piece of legislation. It is 'do magic' in legalese," tweeted Julian Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute studying privacy and technology.
"Well, the Feinstein-Burr bill is pretty much as clueless and unworkable as I expected it would be," tweeted Matthew Green, a cryptography professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Expert technologists have concluded that you can't design strong encryption that can be readily dismantled or pierced for law enforcement while still keeping customers' communications private and secure from others — like criminals and hackers.
"No person or entity is above the law," reads the beginning of the bill draft. "All providers of communications services and products (including software) should protect the privacy of United States persons through implementation of appropriate data security and still respect the rule of law and comply with all legal requirements and court orders."
The bill would specifically require companies to decrypt communications "in a timely manner" or provide "technical assistance" in order to override any security measures preventing access to "intelligible" data — precisely what the FBI ordered Apple to do in order to access San Bernardino killer Syed Rizwan Farook's work phone before finding an alternate way in.
Apple fought the FBI, arguing that in order to override the phone's security features, the company would have to design a type of software "cancer" that would risk the security of all Apple users.
The FBI in that case cited the All Writs Act as giving it the authority to force Apple to provide "reasonable assistance" to carry out its warrant and unlock the phone. The new draft bill would take the law a step further. "Feinstein-Burr decryption doesn't require only reasonable assistance: It's 'assistance as is necessary' to decrypt," tweeted Orin Kerr, a law professor at George Washington University specializing in computer crime.
Providers of all communications "products," including pretty much any smartphone provider, would also be responsible for third-party applications that provide encryption services on their behalf.
"Not only does this bill undermine our security, it is also a massive internet censorship bill, demanding that online platforms like Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store police their platforms to stop the distribution of secure apps," wrote Kevin Bankston, director of the Open Technology Institute, in a message to The Intercept. Computer scientist Jonathan Mayer wrote about the dangers of requiring Google to comply, noting that it would be "deeply incompatible with modern software platforms." And for apps not relying on Google's native Android, "The jurisdictional obstacles to regulation are insurmountable," he continued.
The bill attempts to reassure companies that they will not have to redesign their products, "but to comply, Apple would need to do exactly that," wrote Jonathan Zdziarski, a security researcher and iOS expert, in a tweet.
Top photo: Left to right, Sens. Ron Wyden, Dianne Feinstein, and Richard Burr.


text:
Warner Bros. Comic Con
WBSDCC 2019 Supernatural
07-21-19 |
ONE LUCKY SUPERNATURAL FAN GETS THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES,
WINNING ONE OF THE SHOW'S SIGNATURE IMPALAS
AT SUPERNATURAL'S FINAL COMIC-CON PANEL
Twitter Pitch: One lucky fan wins replica of the Winchester Impala and gets the ride of a lifetime at the epic @cw_spn #Comic-Con panel: https://bit.ly/2XMknrd #WBSDCC #SDCC2019 #Supernatural
SAN DIEGO and BURBANK, Calif. (July 21, 2019) — While Supernatural stars and producers recounted stories of "the road so far" in the long-running hit drama's final Comic-Con appearance in a packed Hall H on Sunday, one lucky fan will be looking at "the road ahead" after winning a fully restored 1967 Chevy Impala — Sam and Dean Winchester's signature car for the life of the show's 15 seasons. The surprise announcement was made toward the end of the show's panel session, following an epic tribute video to the beloved iconic car narrated by Supernatural's own Jim Beaver.
Series stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles announced the giveaway and selected the lucky winner, Laura Dittrich of Grants Pass, Oregon, during Supernatural's panel session in Hall H at Comic-Con today.
Photos of the winner and Supernatural cast at the show's final panel session will be available here later today: https://wbproductions.box.com/s/9tjtof1wczgn8z3meier5a659m9sdl4k
One of the few constants in the 15 years of Supernatural has been the Winchesters' signature black 1967 Chevrolet Impala. With a 327 Engine and Four Barrel Carburetor, the vehicle, affectionately known as "Baby" by Dean Winchester, has a number of Winchester enhancements, such as a weapons cache in the trunk, Devil's Trap warding and more. Originally purchased secondhand by a young John Winchester (Sam & Dean's father) in 1973, the car has been with the Winchesters ever since. The radio and cassette player only play classic rock.
SUPERNATURAL Impala Restoration: One lucky fan at SUPERNATURAL's Comic-Con panel on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Hall H won a fully restored 1967 Chevrolet Impala — Sam and Dean Winchester's signature car for the life of the show's 15 seasons. The Impala given away at Comic-Con was brought to life by restoration expert Rick Blevins alongside Don & Michael Welsh for "The Shop" in the heart of Kansas. Matching the specs of the original Hero #1 Impala, including everything from an Audiovox Cassette Player radio, the tuck and roll interior, a 454 Big Block engine with a 400 turbo transmission, this is the car of a lifetime — and every Supernatural fan's dream. There's even a hidden weapons box and a Devil's Trap on the trunk interior! Sadly, the Winchester weapons, including Ruby's demon knife and the Colt, are not included… (Photo Credit: © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
The Impala given away on Sunday was brought to life by restoration expert Rick Blevins alongside Don & Michael Welsh for "The Shop" in the heart of Kansas. Matching the specs of the original Hero #1 Impala, including everything from an Audiovox Cassette Player radio, the tuck and roll interior, a 454 Big Block engine with a 400 turbo transmission, this is the car of a lifetime — and every Supernatural fan's dream. There's even a hidden weapons box and a Devil's Trap on the trunk interior! Sadly, the Winchester weapons, including Ruby's demon knife and the Colt, are not included…
SUPERNATURAL Impala 1:64 Miniature Replica: Fans entering the SUPERNATURAL session on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Hall H at Comic-Con were each given a 1:64 scale replica of the Impala Sport Sedan as seen in the show to commemorate the long-running hit drama's final panel session at SDCC. The miniatures from Greenlight Collectibles (6,500 in all!) feature a metal chassis, rubber tires, chrome accents and true-to-scale detail. The scale replica is available via Warner Bros. Consumer Products at Hot Topic stores. (Photo Credit: © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Fans entering the session in Hall H were each given a 1:64 scale replica of the Impala Sport Sedan to commemorate the show's final panel session at Comic-Con San Diego. The miniatures from GreenLight Collectibles (6,500 in all!) feature a metal chassis, rubber tires, chrome accents and true-to-scale detail.
Supernatural's final panel session in Hall H was once again moderated by recurring fan-favorite Supernatural guest stars Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. The session included series stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins and Alexander Calvert, along with executive producers Robert Singer, Andrew Dabb, Eugenie Ross-Leming, Brad Buckner and Bob Berens.
Supernatural returns for its 15th and final season on Thursday, October 10, at 8/7c on The CW. Created by Eric Kripke, the series is executive produced by Andrew Dabb, Robert Singer, Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming, and Bob Berens. Supernatural is from Kripke Enterprises, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television. Own the Complete Fourteenth Season of Supernatural available now on iTunes. Blu-RayTM & DVD available on September 10. Pre-order now!
For additional info on the Studio's activities during Comic-Con, and for real-time updates during the convention, please follow @warnerbrostv on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook — official hashtag #WBSDCC — and visit http://comiccon.thewb.com.
About GreenLight Collectibles
GreenLight Collectibles is a premier manufacturer and marketer of authentic die-cast vehicle replicas, scale figures and other automotive-related products. GreenLight replicas are produced under various themes in 1:18, 1:24, 1:43 and 1:64 scales and are officially licensed by the world's premier automotive and entertainment companies, including General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Volkswagen AG, Nissan North America, Airstream, Fleetwood, Goodyear, Bridgestone Brands LLC, Michelin Tires, BF Goodrich Tires, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Winnebago Industries, NYC & Co., California Highway Patrol, ABC Television Network, Warner Bros., Carroll Shelby, Paramount Studios, Sony Pictures, Sony Television, Lionsgate, AMC, NBC/Universal, CBS, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, Terminator, Eleanor Licensing LLC, United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service, Elvis Presley Enterprises, The Steve McQueen Foundation, Gone in 60 Seconds, Eleanor Licensing LLC, Gulf Oil, Gulf Oil International, Ltd., Pennzoil, Bardahl, Turtle Wax, Marvel Mystery Oil, Chevron/Texaco, STP Oil, PURE Oil & Firebird Racing Gasoline, Gold Eagle Co., Graveyard Carz, BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc., Mecum Auctions, Barrett-Jackson, Brock Racing Enterprises, The Topps Company and the NTT IndyCar Series.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio's powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. The division's successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
Holly Ollis
(818) 954-7741, holly.ollis@warnerbros.com
Twitter: @hollidayo
Jeff Tobler
(818) 954-5062, jeff.tobler@warnerbros.com
Twitter: @JeffTobler
Robert Pietranton
(818) 954-4556, robert.pietranton@warnerbros.com
Twitter: @robertpie
TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Privacy Settings