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Transport minister calls for airline workers to give notice of strikes
Transport and Communications Minister Wu Hong-mo (吳宏謀)
Taipei, July 25 (CNA) Transport and Communications Minister Wu Hong-mo (吳宏謀) on Wednesday proposed that labor unions give "reasonable advance notice" of planned strikes, particularly in the case of commercial airline workers.
Wu told CNA that he planned to discuss the proposal with Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春), when Hsu returns from his current overseas visit.
"Workers have their right to strike, but those in the public transportation sector should also consider their social responsibility and national security," which should not be compromised in negotiations between labor and management, said Wu, who was appointed transportation minister just over a week ago in a Cabinet reshuffle.
His comment came against the backdrop of a recent decision by some 800 pilots of China Airlines (CAL) and 500 of EVA Airways to hold a vote in the period July 16 to Aug. 6 to decide whether to stage a walkout, after they failed to reach an agreement with their respective management teams over the matter of overtime and other issues.
Wu said "reasonable advance notice" of at least 14 days of any strike by pilots of Taiwan's two major airlines would help to minimize the impact on the traveling public in the summer high season.
According to the Civil Aviation Administration, it is customary in other countries for airline unions to give 7 to 10 days' notice of a strike so management can make contingency plans.
Under Taiwan's labor laws, union members have the legal right to go on strike if 50 percent of their eligible members vote on the proposal and the majority votes in favor of it.
CAL and EVA labor unions are members of the Pilots Union Taoyuan, which said late last month that the vote was scheduled after negotiations on working conditions within the two airline companies broke down.
Union officials said a vote on a strike was the only option left after several rounds of negotiations with the two airlines on issues such as overwork, as management refused to compromise.
The unions said they will give advance notice of any strikes but did not specify how long the labor action might last.
The CAL union represents 70 percent of CAL's pilots and the EVA union 50 percent of the company's pilots, according to the Pilots Union Taoyuan's executive director, Chen Hsiang-lin (陳祥麟), a CAL pilot.
Chen said the union appealed to the Taoyuan Department of Labor to mediate in the negotiations between the union and EVA Air, but no consensus was reached on any of the 16 appeals made union, after three rounds of negotiations.
(By Wang Shu-fen and S.C. Chang)


The Body of Christ is in need of such encouragement as the world and the enemy beats them down. One of the things that this deovtional does is build you up, encourages you and spurs you on in the Lord. It is a reminder that Jesus is on the Throne and that He is in charge no matter how it looks or feels. This is a book that you can just pray and open to any page and know that you will receive exactly what you need from the Lord at the time you need it. May you be Blessed as you read "Love Letters From the Throne."


Perhaps the greatest threat to long-term coast redwood ecosystem is forest fragmentation. Given the circuitous land ownership history of coast redwood forests, the boundaries of parks and reserves were extended gradually through private and public acquisitions. Today there is more logged-over coast redwood forest within parks and reserves than there is old growth, and many reserves harbor islands of old forest in a sea of regenerating clearcuts and private lands that are managed for forest products. In the aerial image of Redwood National Park below, the light colored patches at right are semi-natural upland prairies (balds), in the center of the image are checkerboarded clearcuts from the 1960s and 1970s and at left there are recent clearcuts outside the Park. Natural disturbance patches include the grassy balds and the gravel corridor along Redwood Creek (center).
As the human population expands within the coast redwood range, the margins of some privately held second growth experience economic pressure to be subdivided for homes. This brings the wildland-urban interface closer to park boundaries. With homes come invasive weeds that often mask as yard ornamentals, feral cats that affect the viability of wildlife, more corvids (i.e., crows, ravens, and jays) that threaten the viability of Marbled Murrelets, illegal and detrimental recreational activities, and changes in hydrological regimes.
In dryer redwood forests, human encroachment also brings a less visible management constraint that can bind the hands of managers for centuries. Wildland fire management is challenging even when reserves are large due to the ever-present risk of escape and smoke management issues. With less freedom to restore managed fire after subdivision occurs, the long-term viability of many dry coast redwood forests can be gradually lost.
To address this broad-scale management problem, conservation planners follow two core strategies: (1) they acquire large tracts of land that provide both buffers and core areas under common public ownership, or (2) they enhance the protection status of multi-ownership parcels within the buffer through conservation easements. In practice, a combination of these two strategies can also be effective.
Buffer areas that are privately held are only likely to be effective over the long-term with binding restrictions on development and subdivision. Conservation easements have become an effective tool elsewhere, but they have seen limited use across the coast redwood range. One reason for this is that most parks and reserves are surrounded by lands held by large timber companies rather than non-industrial land owners. A second factor is that since the devastating 1955 and 1964 floods, conservation efforts have focused on the outright purchase of watersheds as occurred within the Bull Creek Watershed of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Mill Creek in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and to a lesser extent, Redwood National Park, Headwaters Reserve and Montgomery Woods Reserve.
Watersheds make practical fire planning areas because prescribed fires and backfires can be started from ridgelines and burned downhill. Centuries ago, downhill burning was used by Native Americans of the region because fire intensities are reduced due to less preheating of fuels and a more narrow actively burning zone. Backing fires can be exceedingly slow in coast redwood and this can result in more patchy fires.
This traditional and effective fire management strategy is lost when ownership patterns do not conform to topography. A "fire management easement" is difficult to acquire or to implement when private lands have homes on them. The design of large reserves is therefore far superior for long-term fire management than within-watershed easement-based strategies. While traditional conservation easements can reduce or slow fragmentation of the forest matrix, they do little for preventing fragmentation of the processes needed to sustain ecosystems over the long term.
Large protected areas allow managers to establish pre-determined fire management boundaries and strategies for fire use that are more likely to effectively sustain the landscape's forests. When reserves are too small, the chronic need for keeping fires small too increases the probability that the trees within them will be designated as "problem trees" or hazard trees and felled during a fire event. Due to their complex combustible attributes and their shear size, coast redwood trees can stand, smolder and produce sparks for weeks or months. During busy fire years, the required monitoring of trees can be expensive and it utilizes resources that are needed elsewhere. As a result, these "problem trees" are often felled. Had they been part of a larger reserve that had burned, the risk of lost containment would have been diminished by their burned surroundings and slow-burning fires could have increased the complexity of their canopies.
Having larger reserves does not eliminate this special burnout problem posed by coast redwood trees, however. Even when fire lines are well established through pre-planning efforts and they are established to conform with topography, safety hazard trees are an inevitable problem. Cavity enlargement can be extreme during a fire and 1-3 percent of ancient trees fail in a typical wildfire. This puts fire manager's lives at risk. Trees with such deep cavities are common in old growth forests, yet most cavities have persisted through repeated fires for centuries (above).
The loss of such tall shading trees can alter future fire behavior and the ecological value of the site for centuries. Because these ancient trees are the very reason for establishing reserves in the first place, the decision to remove one must balance these long-term values with the short-term safety and containment risks that they pose. Such difficult tradeoffs are best addressed by understanding the mechanics of redwood failure and through comprehensive landscape pre-fire planning, rather than during an actual crises.


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Sofia Joerijivna Androechovytsj (Oekraïens: Софі́я Ю́ріївна Андрухо́вич, geboren 17 november 1982) is een Oekraïense schrijver en vertaler.

Leven en carrière
Sofia Androechovytsj werd geboren in Ivano-Frankivsk, als de dochter van Joeri Androechovytsj. Ze is getrouwd met de Oekraïense schrijver Andrij Bondar, met wie ze in 2008 een dochter kreeg.

Androechovytsj werd na haar opleiding mederedacteur van het tijdschrift Tsjetver (Donderdag). In 2004 ontving ze een verblijfsbeurs voor Polen via het cultureel instituut Villa Decius Association in Krakau, waar ze vroeger woonde. Ze woont sinds 2014 in Kiev. In december 2014 won haar roman Felix Austria de Book of the Year-prijs van de BBC in Oekraïne; in maart 2021 ontving ze de Oekraïense Women in Arts Award voor de literatuur.

Publicaties
Sinds 2002 heeft Androechovytsj verschillende prozawerken uitgebracht: in 2014 verscheen haar roman Felix Austria.

Felix Austria (2014)
Felix Austria speelt zich een eeuw geleden af, ten tijde van de k.u.k.-monarchie en gaat over het leven van twee vrouwen uit Stanyslaviv/Stanislav in Oost-Galicië.

Proza
 De zomer van Milena (Літо Мілени). Kiev 2002.
 Oude mensen (Старі люди). Ivano-Frankivsk 2003.
 Vrouwen van hun echtgenoten (Жінки їхніх чоловіків). Ivano-Frankivsk 2005.
 Lachs (Сьомга). Kyiv 2007.
 Felix Austria (Фелікс Австрія). Lviv 2014.

Vertalingen naar het Oekraïens
 Manuela Gretkowska . опейка (Europeaan). Vertaling uit het Pools, Kiev 2006.
 J.K. Rowling . Гаррі Поттер і келих вогню (Harry Potter en de Vuurbeker). Vertaling uit het Engels (samen met Victor Morozov), Kiev 2003.

Referenties

Oekraïens persoon

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Winson Green to Brookfields Through Time
Winston Churchill's Toyshop
The Inside Story of Military Intelligence (Research)
Colonel Stuart MacRae
The story of Churchill's personal weapons development department, staffed by ingenious boffins, who developed numerous innovative weapons that helped win the war.
New in paperback, the story of MI9, Churchill's secret weapons development unit Praise for 'Toyshop' includes: 'a hilarious book and certain to amuse even those whose interest in weapons of war is minimal' TLS and 'a small piece of secret history', The Yorkshire Post. The inside story of one of the most famous of all the 'back rooms' of the Second World War - and of the men and women who worked for it. Conceived by Winston Churchill to circumvent the delays, frustrations and inefficiencies of the service ministries, Department M.D.1. earned from its detractors the soubriquet 'Winston Churchill's Toyshop', yet from a tiny underground workshop housed in the cellars of the London offices of Radio Normandie in Portland Place, and subsequently from the 'stockbroker Tudor' of a millionaire's country mansion in Buckinghamshire, came an astonishing array of secret weapons ranging from the 'sticky bomb' and 'limpet mine' to giant bridge-carrying assault tanks, as well as the PIAT, a tank-destroying, hand-held mortar. Written by Colonel Stuart Macrae, who helped found M.D.1. and was its second-in-command throughout its life, the story is told of this relatively unknown establishment and the weapons it developed which helped destroy innumerable enemy tanks, aircraft and ships.
Class 58 Locomotives
PaperbackAndrew Cole
Seventies Spotting Days Around the London Midland Region
PaperbackKevin Derrick
Seventies Spotting Days Around the Eastern Region
Last of the Few
PaperbackDilip Sarkar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Pennsylvania has long been a jurisdiction which followed unique, sometimes archaic, rules regarding strict product liability. The state Supreme Court recently issued a significant ruling on product liability law in the Commonwealth, perhaps not surprisingly forging its own path going forward. See Tincher et al. v. Omega Flex Inc., No.17 MAP 2013 (Pa. 11/19/14). Disclosure: your humble blogger assisted in one of the amicus briefs.
2. unanimously (believe it or not) overruled the infamous Azzarello v. Black Brothers Company, 391 A.2d 1020 (Pa. 1978), case and its unfair and unworkable attempts to distinguish between strict liability and negligence.
In the underlying case, the defendant was hit with a $1 million jury verdict in connection with allegation about defective steel tubing. According to the plaintiffs, the product had been affected by a lightning strike, and caused their house to burn down.
The defendant's appeal argued in part for the adoption of the Third Restatement, under which a plaintiff alleging a design defect must show that the manufacturer could and should have adopted a reasonable alternative design. Of course, that makes compete sense. Other tests of defect (such as consumer expectations) are amorphous and often unworkable. And Pennsylvania's traditional standard is so pro-plaintiff as to make a manufacturer the virtual insurer of its products -- which the Second Restatement rejects. That is why two justices wrote in support of the adoption of the Third Restatement.
But all six justices ruling on the case agreed to reject the Azzarello decision, which in practice had juries ruling on the defectiveness of products without any consideration of their risks and utilities. So, in essence, Pennsylvania juries received no guidance on when the product is "safe for its intended use." New jury instructions will replace the Azzarello question which asked whether the product lacked any element necessary to make it safe. New jury instructions should be fashioned to be applicable to a particular case. A plaintiff pursuing a cause upon a theory of strict liability in tort must prove that the product is in a "defective condition." The plaintiff may prove defect by showing either that (1) the danger is unknowable and unacceptable to the average or ordinary consumer, or that (2) a reasonable person would conclude that the probability and seriousness of harm caused by the product outweigh the burden or costs of taking precautions.
The trial court may choose its own wording as long as the jury charge properly explains the meaning of defective condition. The court thus referenced a two prong standard that allows liability under either consumer expectation or risk-utility tests for defect. Neither is perfect, and neither will be universally applicable, so plaintiff's choice of a preferred test can be challenged by defense motion practice. The Court recognized, for example, that the consumer expectation test fails at both ends of the spectrum, on obvious dangers and on complex products with dangers that are vague or outside the ordinary consumer's contemplation. The Court left for another day the issues regarding manufacturing and warning claims and the interplay with affirmative defenses, and the intended use doctrine.
The overturned precedent also impacted the evidence that was admissible when,as often happened, plaintiffs dropped their negligence count before trial. Going forward, the admissibility of the evidence — even if it arguably implicates negligence concepts — will be decided by trial judges on an incremental basis. Rejection of Azzarello will also mean that judges will no longer do the preliminary risk-utility calculus for the challenged product. Removing risk-utility balancing from the jury turned out to be problematic, as separating risk-utility from the condition of the product is incompatible with basic principles of strict liability. Risk-utility thus is properly a jury question.


The Armstrong and Getty Show, one of the top morning radio shows in Northern California, interviewed Ying Ma today about her book, Chinese Girl in the Ghetto. Hosted by Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, the show airs live weekdays on KSTE 650 AM in Sacramento and KNEW 910 AM in the San Francisco Bay Area.
That was an interesting interview, would love to hear more from here. I took two college semesters of Mandarin, my interest in the culture has been peaked again. Her perspective is fascinating.
I listened to the interview as well, and immediately bought the book. I just finished it…loved it! Looking forward to hearing her when A&G have her on for a full hour.
I listen to your interview on A&G and plan on buying your book soon.
That sounded like pidgin English I really are an American.


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Tenancy Enquiry
November 27th, 2019 | By: Wendy
Lift off in Christchurch: city's plan to be New Zealand's aerospace testbed by 2025
Christchurch aims to be at the centre of New Zealand's burgeoning aerospace sector by 2025, according to the city's aerospace strategic plan.
Read the sector plan here.
Read the summary here.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to develop the plan which sets out goals and actions for how the city will become a world recognised aerospace hub.
MBIE's general manager of science innovation and international Dr Peter Crabtree says New Zealand is fast becoming a hub for aerospace innovation and the plan was commissioned to provide Christchurch's aerospace sector with a solid basis for industry development.
"Christchurch is making a significant contribution to the growth of New Zealand's aerospace sector.
"MBIE is proactively supporting this growth because of the high value jobs it creates, the international investment it attracts, and the many ways in which advancements in aerospace technology have the potential to improve peoples lives," he said.
The five-year plan sets out nine goals and associated actions for the city's aerospace sector, based around four themes:
Innovation and test-bed capabilities
Pathways to attract and expand businesses
Actions under each of these themes include working with the University of Canterbury to extend the use of existing testing facilities, identifying locations in Canterbury for further test facilities, creating a prospectus for aerospace start-ups to enable efficient uptake of the city's resources, regulatory pre-approval of flight zones, financial incentives for aerospace businesses and scholarship and education programmes.
"Aerospace is a future 'supernode' for Christchurch – one of our existing strategic growth areas where we are building more talent, attracting and importantly retaining, high-value industry."
Richard Sandford ChristchurchNZ General Manager Innovation & Business Growth
Richard Sandford, General Manager Innovation & Business Growth at ChristchurchNZ said growing Christchurch's aerospace sector is a natural fit and an important economic driver for the city.
"Our recently completed New Zealand Aerospace Challenge, powered by global giant Airbus, showcased the world-leading innovation that is being developed here and attracting attention across the globe," said Sandford.
The plan acknowledges the already strong and well-connected sector, brought together by the Christchurch Aerospace Centre. The Centre sees 200+ industry members meeting regularly to network and share the latest innovations in the sector.
"The city contains the essential elements for success in the aerospace industry, we have a well-connected sector that spans the breadth of the production process from development and design, testing, prototyping and assembly through to launch and data analytics."
Mark Rocket, Chair of the Christchurch Aerospace Centre
Mark Rocket, Chair of the Christchurch Aerospace Centre has been involved in the instigation of the plan and believes Christchurch is well-placed to deliver on the ambitious goals for 2025.
"The city contains the essential elements for success in the aerospace industry, we have a well-connected sector that spans the breadth of the production process from development and design, testing, prototyping and assembly through to launch and data analytics. Christchurch is currently a major international gateway to the Antarctic and there's an exciting future pathway ahead where Christchurch could also be a gateway to space," said Rocket.
Delivery of the plan will take an 'all of city' approach says Sandford.
"We are already connecting with our aerospace businesses, stakeholders and industry partners to work alongside us to make this plan a reality. Together we all have a vested interest in creating jobs, boosting productivity and fostering innovation to help raise economic well being of the city " Sandford said.
Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus 76/106 Manchester St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011.
Email: info@epicinnovation.co.nz
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Reprinted from Multicultural Voices in Contemporary Literature: A Resource for Teachers, Updated and Revised Edition by Frances Ann Day. Copyright 1999 by Frances Ann Day. Published by Heinemann, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc., Portsmouth, NH.


Hana's Ola Eleogram finished fourth in the finals of the Volcom Pipe Pro at Banzai Pipeline on Saturday. Photo by Bernie Baker.
For the third consecutive year Hawaii's John John Florence emerged grand champion of the Volcom Pipe Pro at Banzai Pipeline Saturday, eliminating Hana's Olamana Eleogram, Chris Ward of San Clemente, Calif., and Australian Josh Kerr in the final.
The 20-year-old produced another world-class performance at the famed Pipeline, which happens to be the backyard of Florence's beachfront home on the north shore. Given the unpredictability of the ocean and competitive heats, Florence comfortably attacked the overhead conditions with epic barrels that earned him the $20,000 first-place check.
Eleogram finished fourth and took home $5,500.
The win gives Florence a huge boost going into the upcoming ASP World Championship Tour as he pursues the 2013 ASP World Title. The Volcom Pipe Pro is a 5-star rated ASP event, but does not count towards the world title rankings.
With conditions favoring the rights at Backdoor on Saturday, Florence positioned himself perfectly for a pair of two great tube rides in the first three minutes of the 30-minute final, leaving his three opponents scrambling to keep pace. The early lead proved to be insurmountable as Florence slipped away from the pack, unnoticed, for his third scoring wave at Backdoor that would ultimately shut the door on the competition.
Earlier in the day, Florence survived a super tight quarter final clash with three other surfers who have tasted victory at Pipeline: Jamie O'Brien, Reef McIntosh, and Bruce Irons.
Hawaii's John John Florence (red) celebrates winning his third consecutive Volcom Pipe Pro Saturday at Banzai Pipeline. Hana's Ola Eleogram (black) prepares the champagne for Florence. The Maui surfer finished fourth in the finals worth $5,500. Photo by Tom Carey / VolcomPipePro.com.
There were moments of hope for Ward and Kerr, both of whom had been in brilliant form over the past two days of incredible surf. This was Ward's second Volcom final in as many years. Prior to the final, Eleogram had been having the break-out performance of his life. But from the beach it was clear that Florence had tapped into a sixth sense in the final that can only come with a lifetime of watching and riding the most coveted surf spot on Earth. With that, he is sure to rule here for a very long time.
Among the other winners Saturday, guaranteeing themselves a berth in the most prestigious professional surfing event on the planet: the year-ending Pipe Masters in December. The eight highest placed Hawaii surfers in this event, who are not already on the ASP World Championship Tour, win the wildcards: O'Brien, McIntosh, Irons, Eleogram, Kahea Hart, Kaimana Jaquias, Marcus Hickman, and Joel Centeio.


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Previous / NASCAR confirms practice and qualifying return for 2022 national series Next / Chase Purdy joins Hattori for 2022 NASCAR Truck season
NASCAR Truck News
Spire Motorsports to field NASCAR Truck team in 2022
Jim Utter
Spire Motorsports will field a team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series next season but still hasn't settled on a driver.
The organization, which fields a fulltime entry in the Cup Series with driver Corey LaJoie, already has a solid foundation of its new Truck program in place.
The Truck team will be led by veterans Mike Greci and Kevin "Bono" Manion. Spire has yet to announce whether the team will run full or part-time and has not yet decided on a driver.
Greci comes to Spire from Hattori Racing Enterprises, where he served as general manager for the last six seasons. Manion has spent the last two years at GMS Racing and will handle the team's crew chief responsibilities.
"Mike's resume speaks for itself. He's a proven winner and excels at developing young talent. We're fortunate to add someone as accomplished as Mike to our roster," said Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr.
"Being able to complement him with an experienced, championship-winning crew chief in Bono Manion creates a foundation that we expect to be successful right out of the gate. "There's a tremendous amount of interest, enthusiasm and opportunity in the Camping World Truck Series. We're excited to expand our team, create new jobs and make our mark in the Truck Series garage the Spire Motorsports' way."
Corey Lajoie, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: NASCAR Media
Greci, a Granby, Conn., native with over five decades of experience, launched his NASCAR career in 1990 and has been a winning crew chief and competition director in ARCA and NASCAR competition.
"I've known both T.J. Puchyr and Jeff Dickerson (Spire Motorsports co-owners) for many years and I'm really impressed with how they go about their business. We'll have an opportunity to develop some exciting young talent," Greci said.
"Being able to pair a young driver with a crew chief as experienced as Bono Manion positions us to be competitive as soon as we hit the track." Manion has been a staple atop the pit box since 2002 and boasts wins in all three of NASCAR's national series – Cup, Xfinity and Trucks. He has earned seven Truck wins with four different drivers – Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith. "This is an exciting opportunity to help build a new team and establish Spire Motorsports as a top-flight organization in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," Manion said. "Building something from the ground up is the type of challenge that gets me out of bed in the morning.
"Collectively, we all envision this as a great opportunity to be competitive and give back to the sport that has given so much to all of us."
NASCAR confirms practice and qualifying return for 2022 national series
Chase Purdy joins Hattori for 2022 NASCAR Truck season
How some "old school NASCAR" got Next Gen back on track
Ryan Preece adds 'multiple' NASCAR Cup races with RWR
Charlotte October testing Prime
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
NASCAR Truck NASCAR Truck
Matt DiBenedetto finds fulltime ride in the NASCAR Truck Series
NASCAR Cup NASCAR Cup
Bob Keselowski dies, aged 70 after cancer battle
Corey Heim to run 15 Truck races with Kyle Busch Motorsports


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Krakatauia (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Sci
The genus Krakatauia Enderlein is revised for the southwest Pacific. Based on existing collections and newly collected material from Fiji, 29 species are treated and keyed, including 25 newly described species. The alanae group includes three species from Fiji, K. luctuosa (Parent), K. lamiensis n. sp., and K. moanakaka n. sp. The alanae group is defined by strong synapomorphies in the male hypopygial structure and also includes two species from eastern Australia. The nupta group comprises three species at the easternmost limit of Krakatauia: K. nupta (Bezzi) from Fiji, and two new species, K. cicia n. sp. from the Lau Group, and K. planticorum n. sp. from Tonga & Niue. The evulgata group is diverse in the western Pacific, and notes and new records are provided for
the widespread species K. evulgata (Becker) and K. micronesiana Bickel. Three species are newly described: K. hutuna n. sp., from the Solomon Islands, and K. ounua n. sp. and K. tanna n. sp., both from Vanuatu. The malakula group is a poorly defined assemblage that includes five newly described species: K. cheesmanae n. sp., K. epiensis n. sp., and K. malakula n. sp., all from Vanuatu, K. graciosa n. sp., from the Solomon Islands, and K. sigatoka n. sp., from Fiji. The Krakatauia abaca group comprises a large radiation within the Fijian Archipelago, especially in upland forests on the main islands, with 13 newly described species: K. abaca n. sp., K. auribarba n. sp., K. bisignata n. sp., K. bouma n. sp., K. evodevo n. sp., K. hurleyi n. sp., K. korobaba n. sp., K. namatalaui n. sp., K. natewa n. sp., K. navai n. sp., K. solodamu n. sp., K. tomaniivi n. sp., and K. vuda n. sp. Most of these species are from single sites or adjacent sites, suggesting a high level of local endemicity. Of particular interest is the diversity of antennal flags, almost all of them diagnostic at the species level, and probably used in species recognition during courtship. Some of these flags have distinctly different obverse sides, and one species K. bisignata, has a three dimensional structure, with a white vane perpendicular to the underlying black flag.
Evenhuis, N.L. and Bickel D.J.
Fiji Arthropods X
Bishop Museum Occasional Papers
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/fiji/fiji-arthropods/pdf/FA-X-03r.pdf


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How 'Captain Marvel' changed its Stan Lee cameo after his death (spoilers)
Yahoo Movies UK 12 March 2019
Warning: Captain Marvel spoilers ahead
The love for Stan Lee is on display before the first frame of Captain Marvel, with the traditional Marvel Studios opening montage memorialising the late comic book legend with imagery from his many appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the years, culminating in the message "Thank you, Stan."
According to co-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Marvel approached them with the idea of paying tribute to the iconic creator, who died in November at age 95, and they happily agreed.
Read more: Captain Marvel post-credit scenes explained
But that's not all. True to form, Lee makes a vintage cameo in the film as well. As Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) searches for a shape-shifting Skrull on a subway car, she spots Lee, who looks up from reading the script for Mallrats and rehearsing the line, "Trust me, true believer."
Considering Captain Marvel is set in 1995, it's perfectly played: Lee made that cameo in the Kevin Smith-directed Mallrats, which Lee called one his favourites, that same year.
Larson lingers for a moment, warmly smiling at Lee, which gives the moment an especially profound weight. And if you listen to Boden and Fleck, it sure seems like the moment was framed differently in the wake of Lee's death.
"We certainly had fresh eyes on that scene for sure after he passed away," Boden said. "It imbues everything with a different kind of feeling."
The directors called having Lee on the set an "awesome" experience.
"Whether you grew up a Marvel fan or not, when he comes around, you're just aware of his iconic status and everything that he's done for the comic world," Fleck said. "So many storytellers he's inspired, not just actors but writers and artists. So yeah when he comes around, it's a big deal, and it was a special moment for everyone."
Read more: Captain Marvel's MCU connections
The cameo marks Lee's penultimate appearance in a Marvel movie. Though he didn't name the film, MCU chief Kevin Feige did recently reveal that Lee will be seen in one more Marvel movie.
Our money is on April's Avengers: Endgame, considering Lee often filmed his cameos in batches — and Endgame was shot back-to-back with 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. Considering Endgame rounds out the MCU's Phase 3 in true spectacle fashion, it feels like like the perfect film to go out on.
Reporting by Kevin Polowy, Yahoo Entertainment
Captain Marvel is out now.
Why you'll never see James Dean or any other dead actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe


John has spent the majority of his adult life working in the plumbing industry. In 2009, the company he had been with for years down-sized. Unfortunately, John was one of many let go. Luckily, John had been in the industry for quite some time and met little resistance when it came to being hired on with another plumbing company.
John spent about a year at his new employer before they, like the previous employer, cut their staff. This time, it was much tougher for John to find a plumbing job. Most businesses weren't hiring or looking to grow. So, John hit the road as a truck driver.
John drove for two years and saw nearly every part of the country. "Driving was peaceful, but it is not for me. I've been working hands on my entire life and I'm not the type who can sit behind a wheel and be comfortable. I want to see the work I'm doing, and plumbing was that," stated John.
John recently decided to quit his driving job in hopes of finding another plumbing job. He has yet to find one and is now forced to be very cautious where to spend the little money he has left.
"It's not that I want to be here, I have to be. I wouldn't have much to eat otherwise. I know many people are in much worse situations than me, so I feel bad that I'm potentially taking food from somebody that may need it more than I," he said.
Contrary to his belief, John's story is similar to many others standing in line for food. Many are actively looking for work, some are working multiple jobs to make ends meet and too often, it's simply not enough.


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Having graduated from the University of Southampton in Social Policy and Sociology, and then completing his PGCE at the University College of Wales, Michael undertook his first teaching position in his home town of Blackpool before venturing overseas. He has now worked at BISS Puxi for the past five years, after having previously worked in Uruguay, Brunei, Egypt, Ethiopia, Colombia and Kuwait.
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Louise was born in Sheffield, UK, and after finishing secondary school, she attended Goldmsiths College, University of London, where she was awarded a BA Hons in Education. Louise then attended the University of Brighton to complete her PGCE and qualified as a teacher with a specialism of teaching students aged 3-7 years. At this point, Louise started her teaching career with students in Reception classes and Year 2. From there, she moved to the Netherlands to begin the international aspect of her teaching career, teaching Year 1 students. Louise thoroughly enjoyed living and working internationally and knew that it was the path she wanted to take. However, she returned to the UK in order to study a distance Master's Degree programme in Early Childhood Education at the University of Sheffield whilst continuing to teach. Towards the end of this study, Louise moved to Jakarta to work at our Nord Anglia school. She taught there for two years, until her move to BISS Puxi.
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Helisna completed her Bachelor's of Education at the University of the Free State in South Africa; her majors were English Literature and Linguistics and Afrikaans, and she also completed a minor in Calculus. Helisna is a passionate educator who started her teaching career in South Africa as a grade 4 and 5 Social Sciences and Life Skills teacher in 2017. She moved to Shanghai in 2018 as an English teacher and her dedication to the academic success and wellbeing of her students, as well as her own personal growth, resulted in her being promoted to the Curriculum Coordinator and Head of International Division at a small school in Shanghai. In 2021, Helisna decided to make the move to The British International School, Shanghai Puxi, to start the next learning opportunity of her career.
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Sophie graduated from Edge Hill University with a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education leading to Qualified Teacher Status. Before joining BISS Puxi, Sophie spent three years in Singapore where she taught children across all the primary ages, specialising in language development. Sophie values interaction in the classroom as she believes that when students are engaged in the lesson, optimal learning can occur. She takes great pleasure in seeing her students develop confidence and watching them thrive under her care and positivity.
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Matthew completed a degree in Anthropology at University College London, and then trained as a primary teacher through the Graduate Teacher Programme. He taught in the UK for a total of five years, which included leading Mathematics and ICT. Internationally, he has worked in Moscow and has six years experience teaching in China, in Beijing and Ningbo.
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Originally from South Africa, Shona finished her Bachelor of Arts in English and History at the University of Natal in 1993. She spent a number of years travelling, and then, settled in London for a number of years. Looking for a change in direction, Shona taught English in South Korea for two years and at this point, realised that she wanted to teach, so returned to South Africa to complete her PGCE. In her first teaching role, Shona worked in London in order to familiarise herself with the British Curriculum. At West Acton Primary School she taught Year 2 students and was the EAL and Science Coordinator. After three years, she gained her QTS and taught in Seoul for a further two years. During this time, Shona taught Year 3 and was the Science Coordinator. After a number of years at other international schools in South East Asia, Shona arrived in Shanghai where she has worked for five years at another international school until coming to BISS.
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Neil has been a primary teacher for twelve years. He began his career in London and then moved to an international school in Bangkok. Attending the University of Plymouth, UK, he achieved a Bachelor of Education Degree with First Class Honours. Afterwards, he completed a Master's of Education Degree with distinction.
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Dawn has been teaching since 1995 and started her career as an EFL teacher in Alexandria, Egypt. Since qualifying with a PGCE, she has worked in Beijing and Singapore, and is delighted to join the BISS team in Shanghai. Dawn has taught adults, secondary school children and across all primary ages from Reception to Year 6, although most of her experience has been in the Early Years. Dawn has held a number of middle leadership positions during her teaching career and was Senior Coordinator of Early Childhood in her previous post before moving to Shanghai.
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You'll love my hand stamped, 1/4 inch, circle Initial Charm necklace in Sterling Silver or 14k Gold Fill. As added value, I hand texture your charm with a ball peen hammer, that compliments your boho jewelry. Select the initial of your choice in 3mm Comic Sans to turn it into a monogram necklace! You can select it as a Charm Only which means that you're ordering the charm without a chain, or select On Chain for the charm to be on a chain from 14 to 20 inches at the same price. SS = Sterling Silver and GF = Gold Fill.
Loved the necklace. Thank you for shortening the chain so it would fit a child!


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Archive for MacGuffin
The Future Circular Collider: what's the MacGuffin?
Posted in Science Politics, The Universe and Stuff with tags Cosmology, Dark Energy, Euclid, Future Circular Collider, Large Hadron Collider, MacGuffin, Particle Physics, The Maltese Falcon on February 7, 2019 by telescoper
I've been reading a few items here and there about proposals for a Future Circular Collider, even larger than the Large Hadron Collider (and consequently even more expensive). No doubt particle physicists interested in accelerator experiments will be convinced this is the right move, but of course there are other projects competing for funds and it's by no means certain that the FCC will actually happen.
One of the important things about `Big Science' when it gets this big is that it has to capture the imagination of people with political influence if it is to be granted funding. Based on past experience that means that there has to be a Big Discovery to be made or a Big Idea to be tested. This Big Thing has to be simple enough for politicians to understand and exciting enough to capture their imagination (and that of the public). In the case of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), for example, this was the Higgs Boson. In the case of the Euclid space mission, the motivation is Dark Energy.
The Big Thing that sells a project to politicians is not necessarily the thing that most scientists are interested in. The LHC has done a lot of things other than discover the Higgs, and Euclid will do many things other than probe Dark Energy, but there has to be one thing to set it all in motion. It seems to me that the Big Question about the FCC is whether there is something specific that can motivate this project in the way the Higgs did for the LHC? If so, what is it?
Answers on a postcard or, better, through the comments box below.
Humphrey Bogart with the eponymous Maltese Falcon
Anyway, these thoughts reminded me of the concept of a MacGuffin. Unpick the plot of any thriller or suspense movie and the chances are that somewhere within it you will find lurking at least one MacGuffin. This might be a tangible thing, such the eponymous sculpture of a Falcon in the archetypal noir classic The Maltese Falcon or it may be rather nebulous, like the "top secret plans" in Hitchcock's The Thirty Nine Steps. Its true character may be never fully revealed, such as in the case of the glowing contents of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction , which is a classic example of the "undisclosed object" type of MacGuffin, or it may be scarily obvious, like a doomsday machine or some other "Big Dumb Object" you might find in a science fiction thriller.
Or the MacGuffin may not be a real thing at all. It could be an event or an idea or even something that doesn't actually exist in any sense, such the fictitious decoy character George Kaplan in North by Northwest. In fact North by North West is an example of a movie with more than one MacGuffin. Its convoluted plot involves espionage and the smuggling of what is only cursorily described as "government secrets". These are the main MacGuffin; George Kaplan is a sort of sub-MacGuffin. But although this is behind the whole story, it is the emerging romance, accidental betrayal and frantic rescue involving the lead characters played by Cary Grant and Eve Marie Saint that really engages the characters and the audience as the film gathers pace. The MacGuffin is a trigger, but it soon fades into the background as other factors take over.
Whatever it is or is not, the MacGuffin is responsible for kick-starting the plot. It makes the characters embark upon the course of action they take as the tale begins to unfold. This plot device was particularly beloved by Alfred Hitchcock (who was responsible for introducing the word to the film industry). Hitchcock was however always at pains to ensure that the MacGuffin never played as an important a role in the mind of the audience as it did for the protagonists. As the plot twists and turns – as it usually does in such films – and its own momentum carries the story forward, the importance of the MacGuffin tends to fade, and by the end we have usually often forgotten all about it. Hitchcock's movies rarely bother to explain their MacGuffin(s) in much detail and they often confuse the issue even further by mixing genuine MacGuffins with mere red herrings.
Here is the man himself explaining the concept at the beginning of this clip. (The rest of the interview is also enjoyable, convering such diverse topics as laxatives, ravens and nudity..)
There's nothing particular new about the idea of a MacGuffin. I suppose the ultimate example is the Holy Grail in the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in which the Grail itself is basically a peg on which to hang a series of otherwise disconnected stories. It is barely mentioned once each individual story has started and, of course, is never found. That's often how it goes with MacGuffins -even the Maltese Falcon turned out in the end to be a fake – they're only really needed to start things off.
So let me rephrase the question I posed earlier on. In the case of the Future Circular Collider, what's the MacGuffin?
The Dark Energy MacGuffin
Posted in Science Politics, The Universe and Stuff with tags Alfred Hitchcock, Cosmology, Dark Energy, Large Hadron Collider, MacGuffin, Movies, Particle Physics, Science, Supersymmetry on December 19, 2015 by telescoper
Back from a two-day meeting in Edinburgh about the Euclid Mission, I have to spend a couple of days this weekend in the office before leaving for the holidays. I was a bit surprised at the end of the meeting to be asked if I would be on the panel for the closing discussion, discussing questions raised by the audience. The first of these questions was – and I have to paraphrase becase I don't remember exactly – whether it would be disappointing if the Euclid mission merely confirmed that observations were consistent with a "simple" cosmological constant rather than any of the more exotic (and perhaps more exciting) alternatives that have been proposed by theorists. I think that's the likely outcome of Euclid, actually, and I don't think it would be disappointing if it turned out to be the case. Moreover, testing theories of dark energy is just one of the tasks this mission will undertake and it may well be the case that in years to come Euclid is remembered for something other than dark energy. Anyway, this all triggered a memory of an old post of mine about Alfred Hitchcock so with apologies for repeating something I blogged about 4 years ago, here is a slight reworking of an old piece.
Unpick the plot of any thriller or suspense movie and the chances are that somewhere within it you will find lurking at least one MacGuffin. This might be a tangible thing, such the eponymous sculpture of a Falcon in the archetypal noir classic The Maltese Falcon or it may be rather nebulous, like the "top secret plans" in Hitchcock's The Thirty Nine Steps. Its true character may be never fully revealed, such as in the case of the glowing contents of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction , which is a classic example of the "undisclosed object" type of MacGuffin, or it may be scarily obvious, like a doomsday machine or some other "Big Dumb Object" you might find in a science fiction thriller. It may even not be a real thing at all. It could be an event or an idea or even something that doesn't exist in any real sense at all, such the fictitious decoy character George Kaplan in North by Northwest. In fact North by North West is an example of a movie with more than one MacGuffin. Its convoluted plot involves espionage and the smuggling of what is only cursorily described as "government secrets". These are the main MacGuffin; George Kaplan is a sort of sub-MacGuffin. But although this is behind the whole story, it is the emerging romance, accidental betrayal and frantic rescue involving the lead characters played by Cary Grant and Eve Marie Saint that really engages the characters and the audience as the film gathers pace. The MacGuffin is a trigger, but it soon fades into the background as other factors take over.
There's nothing particular new about the idea of a MacGuffin. I suppose the ultimate example is the Holy Grail in the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and, much more recently, the Da Vinci Code. The original Grail itself is basically a peg on which to hang a series of otherwise disconnected stories. It is barely mentioned once each individual story has started and, of course, is never found.
Physicists are fond of describing things as "The Holy Grail" of their subject, such as the Higgs Boson or gravitational waves. This always seemed to me to be an unfortunate description, as the Grail quest consumed a huge amount of resources in a predictably fruitless hunt for something whose significance could be seen to be dubious at the outset.The MacGuffin Effect nevertheless continues to reveal itself in science, although in different forms to those found in Hollywood.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), switched on to the accompaniment of great fanfares a few years ago, provides a nice example of how the MacGuffin actually works pretty much backwards in the world of Big Science. To the public, the LHC was built to detect the Higgs Boson, a hypothetical beastie introduced to account for the masses of other particles. If it exists the high-energy collisions engineered by LHC should reveal its presence. The Higgs Boson is thus the LHC's own MacGuffin. Or at least it would be if it were really the reason why LHC has been built. In fact there are dozens of experiments at CERN and many of them have very different motivations from the quest for the Higgs, such as evidence for supersymmetry.
Particle physicists are not daft, however, and they have realised that the public and, perhaps more importantly, government funding agencies need to have a really big hook to hang such a big bag of money on. Hence the emergence of the Higgs as a sort of master MacGuffin, concocted specifically for public consumption, which is much more effective politically than the plethora of mini-MacGuffins which, to be honest, would be a fairer description of the real state of affairs.
Even this MacGuffin has its problems, though. The Higgs mechanism is notoriously difficult to explain to the public, so some have resorted to a less specific but more misleading version: "The Big Bang". As I've already griped, the LHC will never generate energies anything like the Big Bang did, so I don't have any time for the language of the "Big Bang Machine", even as a MacGuffin.
While particle physicists might pretend to be doing cosmology, we astrophysicists have to contend with MacGuffins of our own. One of the most important discoveries we have made about the Universe in the last decade is that its expansion seems to be accelerating. Since gravity usually tugs on things and makes them slow down, the only explanation that we've thought of for this perverse situation is that there is something out there in empty space that pushes rather than pulls. This has various possible names, but Dark Energy is probably the most popular, adding an appropriately noirish edge to this particular MacGuffin. It has even taken over in prominence from its much older relative, Dark Matter, although that one is still very much around.
We have very little idea what Dark Energy is, where it comes from, or how it relates to other forms of energy we are more familiar with, so observational astronomers have jumped in with various grandiose strategies to find out more about it. This has spawned a booming industry in surveys of the distant Universe (such as the Dark Energy Survey or the Euclid mission I mentioned in the preamble) all aimed ostensibly at unravelling the mystery of the Dark Energy. It seems that to get any funding at all for cosmology these days you have to sprinkle the phrase "Dark Energy" liberally throughout your grant applications.
The old-fashioned "observational" way of doing astronomy – by looking at things hard enough until something exciting appears (which it does with surprising regularity) – has been replaced by a more "experimental" approach, more like that of the LHC. We can no longer do deep surveys of galaxies to find out what's out there. We have to do it "to constrain models of Dark Energy". This is just one example of the not necessarily positive influence that particle physics has had on astronomy in recent times and it has been criticised very forcefully by Simon White.
Whatever the motivation for doing these projects now, they will undoubtedly lead to new discoveries. But my own view is that there will never be a solution of the Dark Energy problem until it is understood much better at a conceptual level, and that will probably mean major revisions of our theories of both gravity and matter. I venture to speculate that in twenty years or so people will look back on the obsession with Dark Energy with some amusement, as our theoretical language will have moved on sufficiently to make it seem irrelevant.
But that's how it goes with MacGuffins. Even the Maltese Falcon turned out in the end to be a fake.
More on MacGuffins
Posted in Science Politics, The Universe and Stuff with tags Alfred Hitchcock, Cosmology, Dark Energy, Large Hadron Collider, MacGuffin, Movies, Particle Physics, Science, Supersymmetry on August 17, 2011 by telescoper
I'm very pressed for time this week so I thought I'd cheat by resurrecting and updating an old post from way back when I had just started blogging, about three years ago. I thought of doing this because I just came across a Youtube clip of the late great Alfred Hitchcock, which you'll now find in the post. I've also made a couple of minor editorial changes, but basically it's a recycled piece and you should therefore read it for environmental reasons.
Unpick the plot of any thriller or suspense movie and the chances are that somewhere within it you will find lurking at least one MacGuffin. This might be a tangible thing, such the eponymous sculpture of a Falcon in the archetypal noir classic The Maltese Falcon or it may be rather nebulous, like the "top secret plans" in Hitchcock's The Thirty Nine Steps. Its true character may be never fully revealed, such as in the case of the glowing contents of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction , which is a classic example of the "undisclosed object" type of MacGuffin. Or it may be scarily obvious, like a doomsday machine or some other "Big Dumb Object" you might find in a science fiction thriller. It may even not be a real thing at all. It could be an event or an idea or even something that doesn't exist in any real sense at all, such the fictitious decoy character George Kaplan in North by Northwest.
Whatever it is or is not, the MacGuffin is responsible for kick-starting the plot. It makes the characters embark upon the course of action they take as the tale begins to unfold. This plot device was particularly beloved by Alfred Hitchcock (who was responsible for introducing the word to the film industry). Hitchcock was however always at pains to ensure that the MacGuffin never played as an important a role in the mind of the audience as it did for the protagonists. As the plot twists and turns – as it usually does in such films – and its own momentum carries the story forward, the importance of the MacGuffin tends to fade, and by the end we have often forgotten all about it. Hitchcock's movies rarely bother to explain their MacGuffin(s) in much detail and they often confuse the issue even further by mixing genuine MacGuffins with mere red herrings.
North by North West is a fine example of a multi-MacGuffin movie. The centre of its convoluted plot involves espionage and the smuggling of what is only cursorily described as "government secrets". But although this is behind the whole story, it is the emerging romance, accidental betrayal and frantic rescue involving the lead characters played by Cary Grant and Eve Marie Saint that really engages the characters and the audience as the film gathers pace. The MacGuffin is a trigger, but it soon fades into the background as other factors take over.
We have very little idea what Dark Energy is, where it comes from, or how it relates to other forms of energy we are more familiar with, so observational astronomers have jumped in with various grandiose strategies to find out more about it. This has spawned a booming industry in surveys of the distant Universe (such as the Dark Energy Survey) all aimed ostensibly at unravelling the mystery of the Dark Energy. It seems that to get any funding at all for cosmology these days you have to sprinkle the phrase "Dark Energy" liberally throughout your grant applications.
But that's how it goes with MacGuffins. Even the Maltese Falcon turned out to be a fake in the end.
Excited that the new €20 note is to feature #AlanTuring. 6 hours ago


Many of the water distribution networks in the Czech Republic have suffered from high leakage levels. To enable sustainable management of the overall water distribution network, the network operator – Severočeské Water and Sewerage Company (SCVK a.s.) approached us for a solution. We were invited to help in the company's Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction strategy, the most important part of which was the implementation of our Leakage Monitor. The monitor has effectively helped to manage leakages in the water distribution networks and maintain them at stable and economically optimal levels.


The world has long been obsessed with the idea that there's something a little… well, a little off between Melania and President Donald Trump. There was the time that Melania snubbed her husband's directions at a pre-inauguration event, the video that sparked a thousand #FreeMelania memes, and that social media slip-up when the FLOTUS liked a tweet which implied that she absolutely hated her husband.
Then, of course, there was that infamous moment when the President refused to hold hands with his wife. A moment we imagine he has come to regret as, since then, Melania has made a point of shaking off his own lurid orange fingers whenever they make a grab for her own.
And, yes, the rejections have been caught on camera.
The first one occurred when the Trumps arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday 22 May.
As they walked the red carpet, which had been laid across the airport tarmac in honour of their arrival, Trump appeared to reach out and grab at Melania's hand.
With a deft flick of the wrist, the former beauty queen slaps his hand away.
For those thinking that maybe it was just an accident, think again: the exact same thing happened on Tuesday 23 May, when the Trumps landed in Rome.
As the President waved to the crowd, he again reached out for his wife's left hand.
Unsurprisingly, the incidents have sparked a huge response on social media.
Of course, there is one woman whom Trump has successfully managed to hold hands with, and that's our own Prime Minister, Theresa May.
The pair were famously filmed walking hand-in-hand down a ramp at the White House in January, lending a whole new meaning to that "special relationship" between the UK and USA.
When asked to explain the incident, May laughingly insisted that there was an incredibly innocent explanation for the whole thing.
"I think he was actually being a gentleman," she said, causing a spate of eye rolls across the world.
Well, he certainly wasn't wrong about that, was he?


Student Activities seeks to create meaningful connections to the campus community and link student passions with involvement opportunities on campus. Learn more about Student Activities & Involvement.
Student Involvement & Activities is hosting their annual Spring Weeks of Welcome, which is filled with a series of engaging events. Come join us Sunday, January 20th - Thursday, January 31st!
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Learn how you can come work for the front facing hub of the Portland Campus at the Student Activities and Information Desk!
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In 2016 Mark "Oz" Geist was working on veteran's issues in Colorado for Donald Trump and realized that more needed to be done to give veterans a voice, including getting them registered to vote.
While Mark is an active Republican, Our Values is non-partisan. Registering veterans and giving them a voice should not be a partisan issue; it's an issue everyone should support.
Mark only cares that veterans register, not whether they register as a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green Party, or any with another party.
Mark "Oz" Geist is a member of the Annex Security Team that fought the Battle of Benghazi, Libya, from September 11 to September 12, 2012. A Colorado native, Mr. Geist joined the United States Marine Corps in 1984. During his time in the service, he served in Barracks Duty in the Philippines, then with the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines Golf Company, as well as the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon. He then was chosen to serve in the newly formed Marine Cadre program as an Anti-/Counter- Terrorism Instructor. Upon the completion of a very successful tour and re-enlistment, Mr. Geist changed his military occupational specialty to the Intelligence field, specializing in Interrogation Translation. He attended language school where he studied Persian Farsi.
After serving 12 years in the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Geist became a Deputy Sheriff in Teller County, Colorado. In that role, he was assigned as liaison with the Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Unit in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as an Investigator for Crimes against Children. Certified as a Forensic Interviewer of children, he investigated numerous case of abuse in which he helped to secure convictions of the perpetrators. He then took a job as Chief of Police in Fowler, Colorado. After leaving the Fowler Police Department, Mr. Geist began his own business in private investigations as well as bounty hunting and bail bonds.
In 2004, Mr. Geist began doing contract security work in Iraq. He worked for Triple Canopy, providing Personal Security Details for Department of State personnel in Baquba, Iraq. Upon the completion of that contract he worked for USIS, the United States Investigative Services, training Iraqi SWAT teams and Personal Security Details. He also served as a mentor/advisor to the Personal Security Detail of Dr. Ayad Allawi, the former Prime Minister of Iraq.
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R. B. Brown executed a will in 1957 (the 1957 will). After his death in 2007, Brown's wife, Emily (plaintiff), petitioned to have the 1957 will admitted to probate. A. J. Brown (defendant), one of four children born to Emily and R. B., contested the 1957 will on the ground that R. B., in 2006, had executed a "Revocation of Last Will and Testament" (revocation document) in which R. B. "revoke[d] all last wills and testaments heretofore made . . . it being my intention and desire to die without a will." Arguing that the revocation document effectively revoked the 1957 will, A. J. petitioned to have the revocation document admitted to probate. Emily moved for summary judgment, which the circuit court granted. A. J. appealed.


Jesús Gómez (1952–2006), professor of Research Methods and Techniques at the University of Barcelona developed his theories about love at the same time that he involved himself actively in the fight against gender violence in higher education centres and universities http://buyessayfast.com/. In 2007, in the homage to Jesús Gómez, the members of CREA decided to create a research line "Theories about love Jesús Gómez", drawing on the social and scientific impact contributed by the researcher and the profound friendship and love that united him to many people in the research centre.
Theories about love: Analysis of the different theoretical statements about love, its relation with the processes of socialization given through history and lived as "natural" and the link of these statements and gender violence.
Overcoming of the hegemonic model of masculinity: questioning of the hegemonic model of masculinity and proposal of new models.
III Conference of Homes en Dialogue (Men in Dialogue): Friendship, Attractiveness and overcoming of gender violence.
This conference was held on the 6th of June 2015 and is the third organised by this social group. This year it was focused on the importance of male friendship to prevent gender violence and to promote attractive new alternative masculinities from the language of desire.
II Conference of Homes en Diàleg (Men in Dialogue): New Alternative Masculinities: breaking down myths.
The conference was held on the 14h June of 2014 and revolved around romantic love under the motto romantic love does not kill.
I Conference Homes en Diàleg: Masculinity and attractiveness.
On the 2nd of March 2013, the first conference, was held, which became the driver for a regular yearly meeting due to its success, organised by this same group.
Second Catalan convention about masculinities, diversity and difference.
Held on the 2,3 and 4th of June 2005 at the Institute of Catalan Studies. Participation as members of the advisory council and in charge of a round table about "New Masculinities: voices and facts from the social groups" .
First Catalan Convention on Masculinities, Diversity and Difference.
It was held on the 13, 14, 15 and 16 March 2003 in the Centre for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona. Participation as members of the advisory council and in charge of the recognition axis.
Gómez, A. (2014). How friendship generates key research questions that help to overcome gender-based violence: a personal narrative. Qualitative Inquiry, 7(20), 934-940. doi: 10.1177/1077800414537220.


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Introducing the Christiaan van der Klaauw Stella Nebula, with Fossilised Shell Dial
Iridescent ammolite and the most accurate moon phase display on a wristwatch.
Baselworld 2017,
Christiaan van der Klaauw,
Independent watchmaking,
Formed from fossilised ammonite shell, ancient spiral-shell molluscs that went extinct over 66 million years ago, the gemstone ammolite is iridescent and multi-hued, a combination of opal and mother of pearl. Ammonite shell, in fact, is essentially made of the same material that forms other of pearl, with the heat and pressure of the Earth turning it into a mineral over millions of years.
The material forms the centre inlay of the dial on the Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon Stella Nebula, named after Stella Polare, the Japanese retailer of independent watchmaking that spearheaded the project. The Stella Nebula is based on Christiaan van der Klaauw's signature moon phase wristwatch, which has a three-dimensional, spherical moon phase at six o'clock.
Slices of ammolite that form the dial of the Stella Nebula
Made of a golden orb set with white and black diamonds, the moon display is the most accurate in watchmaking. According to Christiaan van der Klaauw, it will deviate by a full day only after 11,000 years. In contrast, conventional moon phase displays are typically accurate to a day in 122 years.
The CVDK7382 movement inside is self-winding with twin barrels and a 96-hour power reserve, while the case is 40mm in diameter and available in rose or white gold.
The rotor is cast in relief with the names of the entities involved in the creation of the Stella Nebula, including Korite, a Canadian miner that's the world's biggest producer of the gemstone.
The Real Moon Stella Nebula is a limited edition of two pieces each in rose and white gold, and a single piece in white gold with a diamond bezel. It starts at SFr85,000 in rose gold, rising to SFr110,000 for the diamond-set piece. It is available only at Tokyo-based retailer Stella Polare.
Introducing the Glashütte Original Senator Moon Phase Skeletonized Edition
Open-worked and hand-engraved, now with a white gold case.
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Introducing the Breguet Classique Moon Phase for Ladies - with a Grand Feu Enamel Dial
Hands-On with Patek Philippe Highlights from Phillips' Geneva Watch Auction
Stellar timepieces from Geneva's finest, including a million-dollar, double-signed 2499.
Auction,
Patek Philippe,
Taking place mid May in Geneva at the posh and secluded La Reserve hotel, The Geneva Watch Auction: Five is Phillips' biggest to date, with 237 lots going under the hammer over two days. A quarter of the catalogue are Patek Philippe timepieces, including pocket watches, a dome clock, as well as a diverse line-up of wristwatches with a notable number of examples in pink gold.
The headline piece is undoubtedly lot 38, a second series ref. 2499 signed "Tiffany & Co." on the dial and accompanied by its original gold bracelet. It is a lot of watch, looking and feeling substantial, despite being only 37.5mm in diameter. One of just two known examples of the second series with the American jeweller's signature on the dial, this watch is in fine condition, with a well preserved case that retains the fluted edges along its lugs.
With the Tiffany signature at six flanked by two gold spheres as hour markers, the dial might be a special order.
But what really sets it apart is the American-made basketweave bracelet – signed "Tiffany & Co." and "Z&F" for manufacturer Zelman & Friedman – that gives the watch tremendous presence. Already the ref. 2499 is the largest vintage chronograph with perpetual calendar produced by Patek Philippe, making it well suited to modern tastes, but the bracelet gives it that much more mass. Like most other bracelets of the period, it is of a fixed length making it slightly impractical.
Produced in 1960 and sold in 1968, the ref. 2499 is estimated at SFr1m to SFr2m.
Also distinguished by its original bracelet and not quite as rare as the ref. 2497, but arguably more alluring is lot 116: a ref. 1579 chronograph "spider lugs" in pink gold retailed by Serpico y Laino and fitted to a Gay Frères bracelet. This is the only known pink gold ref. 1579 retailed by Serpico y Laino, having come from the collection of an exceptionally prominent collector, along with several other watches in the sale.
Back in the mid 20th century when Venezuela was a wealthy oil exporter, Caracas-based Serpico y Laino was a crucial retailer of fine timepieces. This ref. 1579 was sold by Serpico y Laino in 1950, with the hallmarks "S&L" on the case back and "S.yL." on the bracelet. Interestingly, the production numbers on the bracelet date it to 1954, implying that the original owner acquired it subsequently as an addition to the watch.
But perhaps more impressive than the history is its condition. The ref. 1579 is nicknamed anse a ragno, or "spider lugs", after its facetted and angled lugs. Because of their shape the lugs tend to lose definition over time, from wear or polishing. Most specimens of the ref. 1579 look slightly tired.
This ref. 1579, on the other hand, is in sterling condition – the lugs are strikingly well-defined. The label "unpolished" is used too often and loosely, but in this case (no pun intended) it appears appropriate.
Similarly, the two-tone dial is clean and crisp. There's notably minimal wear around the centre holes of each of the hands, something that's often encountered on vintage watches when hands are repeated removed for servicing.
The ref. 1579 is estimated at SFr100,000 to SFr200,000. It last sold for SFr219,000 at Christie's in 2012.
Another well known Patek Philippe chronograph with a nickname – oh, where would vintage watch collecting be without Italian nicknames? – is the ref. 1463 "Tasti Tondi". Translating as "round buttons", a reference to the onion-top chronograph pushers, the ref. 1463 was Patek Philippe's sports chronograph of the mid 20th century.
Consequently, it is relatively large for the period at 35mm in diameter, in contrast to the usual 33mm of the standard chronograph models. More significantly, the ref. 1463 was the only Patek Philippe chronograph with a screw-down back, making it water-resistant. And there happen to be two in this sale.
The first is lot 31, a ref. 1463 with a two-tone, pulsations dial. Dating to 1953, this second series ref. 1463 is especially rare because it has both a pulsometer scale as well as a two-tone dial.
Only a handful of ref. 1463s are known with such dials, explaining its estimate of SFr150,ooo to SFr250,000.
The second example is lot 162, a ref. 1463 "Tasti Tondi"* from 1958. It's a quintessential ref. 1463, in yellow gold with a silvered dial. Specifically, this is a second series ref. 1463, with the wider lugs, flat, unsigned crown, and narrow bezel that mark it apart from the first. Additionally, it has a railway minute track around the dial, a feature absent in later specimens, rendering earlier examples more desirable.
Despite being 60 years old, this ref. 1463 is in handsome condition. The champlevé enamel lettering and markings on the dial are notably well preserved, standing thick and raised from the dial surface. Similarly, the hallmark on the case band is intact and deep.
The ref. 1463 "Tasti Tondi" is estimated at SFr80,000 to SFr120,000.
Perhaps the most substantial Patek Philippe chronograph in the sale is lot 37: the ref. 530 in yellow gold with Breguet numerals. At 36.5mm in diameter, the ref. 530 is generously proportioned for its time, when the average Patek Philippe chronograph was a dinky 33mm. In fact, the ref. 530 is large even by modern standards, even when set against the Rolex Submariner.
Produced in 1949 and sold a year later, this ref. 530 has wide lugs, a concave bezel and large dial, giving it the feel of a modern day watch. While the silvered dial has aged, it is original, and the case is well maintained, retaining the original brushed finish and hallmarks.
Even though yellow gold is the most common metal for the ref. 530, this particular watch is deeply unusual, being the only known specimen in yellow gold with Breguet numerals. Having sold in 2011 at Christie's for SFr603,000, it carries an estimate of SFr300,000 to SFr600,000.
Catchily nicknamed the "The Sydney Rose", lot 171 is a ref. 2497 in pink gold, an extremely rare variant of Patek Philippe's first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch.
With the Arabic numerals and dot hour markers that characterise early production pieces, this ref. 2497 has two notable features. One is the luminous dauphine hands (that replaced the original leaf-shaped hands), and the other a pink gold mesh bracelet made by Gay Frères. According to Phillips, both were likely installed after the watch was produced in 1954, in an effort to find a buyer; it finally sold in 1960.
The nickname comes from the fact that the buyer of the watch was Australian, and the father of the consignor. After the watch was acquired in 1960, the then owner had it serviced just once in 1969 and wore it sparingly, explaining its outstanding condition.
The ref. 2497 in pink gold is estimated at SFr400,000 to SFr800,000.
Another heavy hitter chronograph is lot 75, a ref. 1436 split-seconds "pink on pink". This is a rare version of an uncommon watch – only nine specimens of the ref. 1436 in pink gold are known, with a minority having a matching pink gold-tone dial.
At 33mm in diameter with widely spaced lugs, the ref. 1436 has proportions typical of its time. The strikingly pink dial, however, gives it more presence than the usual silvered dial chronograph.
Having come off the production line in 1941 and sold in 1946, this ref. 1436 is an early example of the model, distinguished by the split-seconds button that also doubles as the winding crown. Later examples have an additional button co-axial with the crown, just as on modern split-seconds watches.
The watch has survived the decades well, with minor signs of age on the dial but crisp lines on the case and a hallmark on the band. More intriguingly it's accompanied by the original certificate and purchase receipt for the sum of 1900 francs, having been sold to a Spanish businessman on May 18, 1946.
This is estimated at SFr350,000 to SFr550,000, having last been sold in 2009 at Christie's for SFr507,000.
For the same pink on pink look at a more accessible price, there's lot 213, a ref. 570 in pink gold with a "telephone underline" dial. This is the second (and more affordable) ref. 570 in the sale, estimated at SFr30,000 to SFr50,000.
Dated to 1942, this ref. 570 is a prime example of the largest Calatrava watch Patek Philippe produced at the time, with a case diameter of 35mm. The case, numerals and hands are pink gold, as is the dial.
It gets it nickname from the large Arabic numerals that are reminiscent of a rotary dial telephone, as well as the small dash underneath "Geneve" on the dial, a little understood feature found on several Patek Philippe watches of the period.
The other pink gold ref. 570 is lot 72, and it's slightly better preserved, with a two-tone, pink dial.
The last of the highlights is the only other Patek Philippe retailed by Serpico y Laino in this sale. Lot 73 is a ref. 565 in steel with the retailer's signature on the dial, making doubly rare.
The ref. 565 is an unusual model for the case lacks a bezel, with the crystal sitting flush against the case. Usually found in yellow gold, steel is the least common metal for the ref. 565.
This particular ref. 565 was made in 1948, and has an unusual two-tone dial that features the Serpico y Laino signature at six o'clock.
Being steel, which is significantly harder than gold, the 34.5mm case is in good shape, retaining its original contours. And the dial is similarly well preserved, perhaps a consequence of the water-resistant, screw-down back that keeps moisture out. This is estimated at SFr50,000 to SFr100,000.
Preview and auction information
Highlights from the sale will be in New York from April 21 to 24 at 450 Park Avenue, with the pre-sale exhibition taking place in Geneva from May 11 to 14 at La Reserve hotel.
The Geneva Watch Auction: Five takes place on May 13 and 14, 2017 at La Reserve.
The full catalogue and more information is available from Phillips.
*The author has an interest in lot 162.
Hands-On With The Rare Patek Philippe 3970 Second Series
Arguably the quintessential Patek Philippe complication, the chronograph with perpetual calendar is often synonymous with the reference 3970, due to its longevity and relative affordability.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Ref. 5990/1A
See Highlights from Phillips' Hong Kong Watch Auction in Singapore May 7-8
The Singapore preview exhibition of Phillips "The Hong Kong Watch Auction: Two" takes place in Singapore this weekend, May 7 and 8.


Little Novelist is playing host again today with a Guest Post for a Neverland Blog Tour! Make sure you stay tuned to the end for a fantastic giveaway!!
Chantelle Rose is back. She has lived a fairytale. But will she ever get her Happy Ever After?
To find true happiness, she must discover who Robbie and Lionel really are. Their past holds the key to her future.
Her quest follows a trail that takes her to the depths of the Pampas lands of Argentina.
There, the beautiful Valentina awaits – and holds the key.
But who is Valentina? What is the mystery surrounding her?
And why is she so important to both Robbie and Lionel?
Will Chantelle discover the truth? And, more importantly, will she discover her destiny and the fidelity in her own heart?
What not to do...almost everything I did!
Let me just say here that I find it totally ironic that I can write a 90 thousand word novel, but I'm not able to string a sentence together properly in front of a camera. And the thing is, I'm totally aware of this and it's beyond me why I agreed to do the interview in the first place.
So there I was, the week before the interview and I'd gone into panic overdrive. For starters, what should I wear? I decided on a chic, red dress. Of course as soon as I got home with my brand new purchase, one of my best friends advised me to wear something to bring out the colour of my eyes. So, as I laid the dress out on my bed I realised that not only am I dead pale (not the best skin colour for red) but also I didn't think that the red clothing would quite bring out the green in my eyes at all, rather my flushed face. So now I had an additional panic that instead of looking chic, as intended, I had a good chance that I would look like a glowing light bulb.
Somehow I made it to the studio on my own two feet, not bad considering I was wobbling all over the place in my three inch stiletto heels and must have looked like I'd just down a Bloody Mary or two on the way (Thinking about it, it would have probably done me some good in calming my shattered nerves).
Then came the moment I was dreading. Microphone attached, the hostess and myself settled on the sofa. Four cameras focused on us. A huge screen in front of us reflecting our image and it was then that I realised on seeing my image reflected back at me in magnified size that the red dress was way too short than I had appreciated and there was a risk of a basic instinct repeat. (With knickers on though, I do have some sense).
Now, I live in Spain and obviously the interview was in Spanish. I've always prided myself in that I'm totally fluent in Spanish and that my Spanish accent is flawless. But there I was talking back to the hostess and all I could hear was my voice coming out in a really odd Russian / German accent. It would have been comprehensible, at least for the viewers, if I had sounded British, but no, I had to go and confuse the viewers, and myself may I add, that bit more by talking with a semi-Slavic accent.
They say that women don't sweat, we just glow. Well, sweat and buckets of it were forming after the first five minutes and it certainly didn't help that I had to bear the heat of the harsh studio lights that were all around me. Lights which alone would have been enough to light up Oxford Street at Christmas.
Then the whole time I sat there and answered the questions, trying to look cool and composed, despite my wavering voice as if I was about to break out in an awkward sing-song at any moment, I kept thinking "Who on earth, except my mum and dad of course, is going to find this interesting?"
Finally, ironically, as soon as I'd actually started to relax and enjoy myself, the hostess mouthed "Great job, that's a wrap." Then, for some unknown reason (a mystery even to me) I jumped up and pulled a silly face to express how totally relieved I was that the interview was over, an image that was caught on camera just as the credits were going up and will shortly be flashed around for all to see.
The interview was largely to talk about my baby book "A little of Chantelle Rose" so despite my sweat and nerves, it was certainly worth it.
Cristina Hodgson, mother of two, born in Wimbledon, London, currently lives in southern Spain. Cristina had a long career in sport, reaching national and international level and still actively participates in Triathlon races and enjoys outdoor activities. In her spare time she also enjoys reading and writing. She won a sports scholarship to Boston College. After a period in Boston, she returned to the UK and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in PE and Sports Science.


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Android File System Explained
The Android OS is a popular and universally used operating system for smartphones. While on the user's end it might appear simple and easy to use, the Android File Systems tend to be rather complicated and have a number of users scratching their head in amusement. Let us now take a detailed look at the file systems and what they have to offer to the users
This informative piece is for people who are thinking to develop ROMs, Apps and a lot of other things on the android operating system. Without wasting a minute more let us begin with a detailed look at the android file system. We won't just be naming the file systems, we would also give you a brief explanation about a particular file system.
Android File System
Flash Memory Android File System
1. exFAT
2.F2FS
3. JFFS2
4. YAFFS2
Media-based Android File System
1. EXT2/EXT3/EXT4
2. MSDOS
3. VFAT
Pseudo File Systems
1. CGroup
2. Rootfs
3. Procfs
4. Sysfs
5. Tmpfs
Originally created by Microsoft for flash memory, the exFAT file system is not a part of the standard Linux kernel. However, it still provides support for Android devices in some cases. It stands for Extended File Allocation Table.
Users of Samsung smartphones are bound to have come across this type of file system if they have been using the smartphone for a while. F2FS stands for Flash-Friendly File System, which is an Open Source Linux file system. This was introduced by Samsung 4 years ago, in 2012.
It stands for the Journal Flash File System version 2. This is the default flash file system for the Android Open Source Project kernels. This version of Android File System has been around since the Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS was released. JFFS2 has since replaced the JFFS.
It stands for Yet Another Flash File System version 2. Funny as the name might sound like, it is actually a serious business! It has not been a part of the AOSP for a while now and is rarely found in Android smartphones. However, it does tend to make a few appearances every now and then.
Ext, which stands for the EXTended file systems, are the standards for the Linux file system. The latest out of these is the EXT4, which has now been replacing the YAFFS2 and the JFFS2 file systems on Android smartphones.
Microsoft Disk Operating System is known to be one of the oldest names in the world of Operating Systems, and it helps FAT 12, FAT 16 and FAT 32 file systems to run.
An extension to the aforementioned FAT 12, FAT 16 and FAT 32 file systems, the VFAT is a kernel module seen alongside the MSDOS module. External SD cards that help expand the storage space are formatted using VFAT.
Cgroup stands for Control Group. It is a pseudo file system which allows access and meaning to various kernel parameters. Cgroups are very important for the Android File System as the Android OS makes use of these control groups for user accounting and CPU Control.
Rootfs acts as the mount point, and it is a minimal file system. It is located at the mount point "/".
Usually found mounted at the /proc directory. The procfs file system has files which showcase the live kernel data. Sometimes this file system also reflects a number of kernel data structures. These number directories are reflective of the process IDs for all the currently running tasks.
Usually mounted on the /sys directory. The sysfs file system helps the kernel identify the devices. Upon identifying a new device, the kernel builds an object in sys/module/ directory. There are various other elements stored inside the /sys/ folder which helps the kernel communicate with various Android File Systems.
A temporary file system, tmpfs is usually mounted on /dev directory. Data on this is lost when the device is rebooted.
Appstore folder always appears in my android marshmallow directory everytime has an internet connection, even deleting it over and over. And there's unknown apk file downloading itself and stores in sub folder cache of Appstore folder. How to delete it pernanently? (sorry for bad english) 😀
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