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Home » Five Ways to Revive U.S. Manufacturing
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Five Ways to Revive U.S. Manufacturing
The Make report would require federal agencies to reduce the costs and burdens of current and proposed regulations. Photo courtesy Ricardo Inc.
One of the council's top priorities is to replace the current worldwide double taxation system with a territorial tax system to facilitate the repatriation of earnings. Photo courtesy Analogic Corp.
The Make report urges Congress to make the R&D tax credit permanent. Photo courtesy Analogic Corp.
The Make report calls on Congress, the administration, national laboratories and universities to advance the U.S. manufacturing sector's use of computational modeling and simulation. Photo courtesy Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
John Sprovieri
KEYWORDS infrastruture / Manufacturing / manufacturing jobs / reshoring
American manufacturing is on the rise. According to the latest figures from the Labor Department, the nation's factories added 50,000 jobs in January—their strongest showing in a year—on top of 32,000 jobs in December.
Overall, employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the most in nine months. Manufacturing was the second-biggest gainer, behind professional and business services.
Employment numbers aren't the only indication that manufacturing activity is picking up. According to the Institute for Supply Management, growth in new factory orders rose to a nine-month high in January. And, vehicle sales in January rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 14.2 million, the briskest pace in several years.
However, U.S. manufacturers are not out of the woods yet. Although the sector added 404,000 jobs from January 2010 to January 2012, it's still down 3 million jobs from January 2003. And, the 11.8 million manufacturing jobs tabulated in January 2012 is still a fraction of the peak level of 19.5 million in 1979.
Other data provide further cause for concern. From March 2006 to March 2010, business start-ups are down 24 percent. In 1960, the United States accounted for more than two-thirds of global R&D. Today, two-thirds of global R&D is performed somewhere other than the United States.
A recent study by Booz & Co. grouped U.S. manufacturing sectors into four categories based on levels of global competitiveness. The study found that nearly half of the current U.S. manufacturing base is at risk. Con-versely, the study suggests that American factories still competitively produce about 75 percent of the goods sold in the United States and roughly 20 percent of goods sold globally.
Keeping the U.S. manufacturing sector on the upswing will require the coordinated action of business, labor, academia and government. Just such a plan was published in December by the Council on Competitiveness. Based in Washington, DC, the council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to elevating U.S. productivity and leadership in world markets and raising the standard of living for all Americans.
Its report, Make: An American Manufacturing Movement, provides dozens of specific recommendations for addressing the five key challenges facing U.S. manufacturers:
Fueling the innovation and production economy.
* Expanding U.S. exports.
* Harnessing American talent.
* Achieving next-generation productivity.
* Creating next-generation supply networks.
"American manufacturing is either in steep decline, doing reasonably well, or poised to grow, depending on who you're listening to," says Jack McDougle, the council's senior vice president for manufacturing. "You hear a lot of things in the press, but what is really going on? Could we peel away some of the rhetoric and think about [the challenges facing U.S. manufacturers] as globalization expands, industries mature, and things change? Could we develop...an appropriate response to those issues?"
McDougle will share the council's recommendations for a robust manufacturing sector on May 2 during a keynote address to start Tech ManufactureXPO, a virtual trade show sponsored by ASSEMBLY, Quality, Appliance Design, Adhesives & Sealantsand World Trade 100. (See sidebar.)
Seeing the Big Picture
The Make report grew out of a series of meetings and interviews with the council's membership: manufacturing executives, labor leaders, university presidents and national laboratory directors. (Those interviews can be read in a series of Ignite reports published by the council last year.) By bringing together disparate views, the council hoped to address the broader manufacturing economy, as opposed to any one industry or trade group.
One of the hallmarks of the Make report is its nuanced assessment of U.S. manufacturing and its multilateral approach to the challenges the sector faces. Indeed, many of the report's findings are surprising.
For example, most people believe China and other low-cost labor centers are entirely responsible for the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs. While that's true to an extent, the reality is more complex. The loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs also stems from demand shifts, the value of the dollar, automation and productivity gains. The total cost of production includes labor, as well as other factors, such as taxes, trade rules, regulations, land, capital, energy and transportation systems.
"A lot of the political rhetoric, particularly here in Washington, is still about [manufacturers] chasing low-cost labor," says McDougle. "That really isn't the case. In fact, many foreign companies are investing in the United States because they are going after low-cost labor. European companies are investing heavily in the United States because it offers tremendous advantages. Look at Volkswagen, Daimler and Siemens. Companies want to locate here. The trick is how can we accelerate that?"
Similarly, many Americans would be surprised to learn that the largest share of U.S. foreign investment dollars is actually in high-cost European economies. For instance, total U.S. investment in Ireland over the past 10 years is more than three times greater than investment in China during the same period.
Given the global economy, one of the council's top priorities is to replace the current worldwide double taxation system with a territorial tax system to facilitate the repatriation of earnings. Reducing taxes on repatriated earnings to less than 5 percent, in line with European economies, would stimulate investment in new and existing U.S.-based manufacturing facilities.
"If U.S. companies have operations in foreign markets, the profits from those affiliates are not taxed in the United States unless they're brought back here. Then, they're taxed at the corporate rate, which is roughly 35 percent," explains McDougle. "The United States is the only developed economy [with] that type of system. So, for example, when Siemens makes a profit here, they pay U.S. taxes. But when they bring those profits back to Germany, they don't pay tax on it, or they pay a nominal 2 percent or 3 percent rate.
"In 2010, U.S. affiliate sales were three times greater than U.S. exports. A lot of our exports are actually going to U.S. firms operating in other countries, where they do final assembly. Our policies don't take advantage of that business model. By our estimates, U.S. affiliate sales generated $1.4 trillion in profits globally. Most of that is sitting on corporate balance sheets with nowhere to go. ...If only [half of that] came back, it would be a huge stimulus."
Recent Articles by John Sprovieri
Five Things: Automotive Assembly
New Developments in Self-Pierce Riveting
Engineers Rise to the Challenge of COVID
Lean Gives Crown Equipment a Lift
Five Things: Furniture Manufacturing
John has been with ASSEMBLY magazine since February 1997. John was formerly with a national medical news magazine, and has written for Pathology Today and the Green Bay Press-Gazette. John holds a B.A. in journalism from Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism.
Whitepapers Outline Ways to Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing
Five Things: Additive Manufacturing
Five Things: Truck Manufacturing
Five Things: Aerospace Manufacturing


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This story is about Cowboys
Published Dec. 2017
Coaching change 'not in the best interest of the Cowboys right now,' says Jerry Jones
Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and CEO Stephen Jones, owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett answer questions from reporters after rounds four through seven of the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at The Star in Frisco, Texas. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer Contact Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
Jerry Jones voiced his frustration Tuesday morning. The Cowboys owner and general manager envisioned the return of Ezekiel Elliott leading to a victory over the Seahawks, possibly followed by some momentum and good fortune that could turn into a playoff run.
The Cowboys lost to Seattle 21-12 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, ending their chances of making the postseason.
"It was there to take," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. "We should be disappointed. I'm sick. I'm really sick about it."
Jones praised the talent on the roster, making it seem that he was putting the blame on Jason Garrett and the coaching staff.
But he later clarified that it's "not in the best interest of the Cowboys right now to be considering a head coaching change."
"I know a lot about our coaching staff," Jones said. "I certainly know a lot about Jason Garrett. Because of that, I can very quickly and candidly say his job is not an issue here at all."
Jones added that they would "look" at the possibility of changes to the rest of the staff.
"We did some really good things in the first half this year in many areas," Jones said. "You've got to understand that when you make a change, you got to look up and see where else you go."
More In Cowboys News
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Tony Romo on the potential downside that could come with changing Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's footwork
If Ezekiel Elliott holds out and skips camp, should the Cowboys play the 'good guys' by extending him?
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


With more than 50 million active blogs on the Web covering everything from architecture to zombies, finding a way to stand out can be a bit challenging — not to mention intimidating, overwhelming and scary.
While the following Pennsylvania-based bloggers may have had different expectations and goals when they started out, they all have one thing in common: They took a risk and stuck with it.
Six years ago, Marian Parsons began blogging on a whim. She had just launched a small painting and antique business in Adams County and thought a blog could help her advertise the business and connect with other do-it-yourselfers and bloggers. Just like that, Miss Mustard Seed was born.
Determined to make the site a valuable resource, Parsons focused on providing a mix of tutorials, practical advice, encouragement and a dose of reality — covering everything from making slipcovers to starting a creative business to decorating tips and tricks.
Since her first post on Miss Mustard Seed, the blog has earned more than 23,000 subscribers and more than one million page views per month. Her business, Mustard Seed Interiors, LLC, has also grown. After just three months of blogging, sales had tripled and continue to grow. In 2012, she launched her own line of milk paint — an all-natural paint containing milk protein (casein), limestone, clay and natural pigments — now carried in more than 300 retail locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Dubai and Malaysia.
The success of her blog and business has led to writing opportunities with Country Living and HGTV, and in 2012 she published her first book, Inspired You. Looking ahead, Parsons would like to become more active with video tutorials and expand her presence on YouTube.
"One of the biggest things I've learned is that I can dream a lot bigger than I thought I could," she insists.
Born with a disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, 22-year-old Shane Burcaw of Lehigh County has spent nearly his entire life in a wheelchair. Three and a half years ago, he created a blog, Laughing at my Nightmare, to share his story.
As it turned out, the blog was far from a terrible idea. In fact, it became popular almost overnight, gaining hundreds then thousands of followers per day. After several months, Burcaw realized that there was something more to his message than just silly laughs — these stories were helping people. That inspired him to launch Laughing At My Nightmare, Inc., a nonprofit that raises awareness and money for families affected by muscular dystrophy.
"The blog has opened up innumerable opportunities for me, allowed me to meet so many incredible people, and really, is the biggest reason that my nonprofit is successful today," he argues.
At the end of 2014, Burcaw published a memoir based on the blog. Since then he has been busy attending book signings and giving interviews all over the world, including one with the biggest radio station in Columbia, South America.
When it comes to maintaining his blogging success, Burcaw tries to post consistently, and to market himself effectively. He's also never strays from his "voice," which he admits is often crude, sarcastic and critical.
York County's Shawn Fink can't remember the last time she went a day without writing something. She started blogging eight years ago, shortly after her twin girls were born and while she was working full-time in a government job.
Recognizing the potential to engage even more readers, Fink quit her full-time job and created Abundant Mama. The site featured her blog, as well as a free 30-day e-course on how to have a meaningful summer. To her surprise and excitement, 400 people signed up almost immediately. To compliment the course and generate some revenue, she wrote an e-book called The Playful Family for people to purchase on the site.
Always looking for ways to engage her readers, Fink regularly features free resources on her site, from the "10 Habits of Highly Effective Mamas" to the "Rise and Shine Challenge," which to date has drawn in 8,000 participants.
Nine years ago, when Jim Cheney and his wife took a trip through Europe, he discovered not only a passion for travel but for blogging about his adventures. Then, while traipsing across Asia, Europe and North America, he started his first travel blog Tripologist.com to share his knowledge of all the places he had visited.
Excited to get out and explore the Keystone State, Cheney began researching things to see and do. He realized that no one else was blogging professionally about Pennsylvania. So in 2013, he started his second travel blog, UncoveringPA.com, providing honest and in-depth information about places to visit in the Commonwealth.
Though it took about six months for the blog to build an audience, traffic has since boomed — visits are up more than 7,000 percent year over year.
Thanks to UncoveringPA, Cheney has earned freelance writing and photography jobs, and recently released Choose a Way: Philadelphia, the first in what he hopes will be a long line of travel e-books. He also provides social media consultations, helping Pennsylvania businesses understand the world of Facebook and blogging.
Before launching Stouts and Stilettos three years ago, Tierney Pomone had to give herself a little pep talk. The Harrisburg resident had recently discovered the world of craft beer and thought it would be fun to write about her experiences exploring new flavors, homebrewing, festivals, bars and brewpubs. More importantly she wanted to provide a friendly, approachable environment for women who wanted to discuss all things beer.
Since then she has brought on three additional bloggers to help generate quality content. Over the past year, more and more people have been recognizing her when she's out on the town, and more breweries have been getting in touch.
She also began hosting local beer events to engage readers. Inspired by similar celebrations across the country, Pomone recently collaborated with three other local women on Harrisburg Beer Week, happening April 24 through May 2.
KARREN JOHNSON is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom with more than 15 years experience covering topics ranging from business and healthcare to parenting and education.


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How To Take Your Business On A Diversity Journey
Dayo Akinrinade - Founder of joinWISDOMapp & Afroclick
Dayo is the founder of Wisdom, a new, VC-funded, social audio app on a mission to democratise access to mentorship and create an open and diverse community centred on conversational knowledge-sharing. In March 2022, Wisdom was named Apple's App Store App of the Day.
Dayo started as an IT Management Consultant at Accenture and Deloitte. Subsequently, driven by the lack of diversity in London's tech ecosystem, she joined the founding team of OneTech, London's most considerable diversity in startups programme, backed by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. In 2019 she was named in the Financial Times Top 100 Most Influential Ethnic Minority Leaders in Tech.
She has spoken on panels and lectured on diversity in technology at various organisations, including the UK Govt Department for International Development, Uber, Google and Oxford Said Business School. Her projects have been mentioned in publications including Forbes, CityAM and the Evening Standard.
What we mean by a diversity journey
How do we identify where we are and where we need to go with diversity
What a successful diversity journey looks like for a business
Dayo's top tips for making sure businesses keep their application and interview processes inclusive
Which businesses out there get it right with diversity
Contact Dayo here – Dayo Akinrinade | LinkedIn


Located in the newly renovated Daral Building at 4667-69 Paul Street, the Frankford Community Development Corporation provides affordable housing and business development resources to the Frankford section of Philadelphia.
Since its inception, the Frankford CDC has worked endlessly to provide increased job opportunities, affordable housing, and support of the development of increased financial resources through growing stable businesses. To meet the needs of businesses within Frankford's main commercial corridor, the Frankford CDC works closely with the Commerce Department and the Office of Business Services through their Targeted Corridor Revitalization Management Program which connects current and potential business owners with resources.
Frankford CDC also works closely with the Office of Housing and Community Development through the Neighborhood Advisory Committee to provide affordable housing resources to neighborhood residents. Additionally, Frankford CDC gives back to their community through assisting with several community beautification efforts through their Corridor Cleaning Program and partnerships with local Friends of the Parks Groups and other local grass-roots organizations.
A long term PIDC client since 2009, Frankford CDC received various loans and grants from PIDC to assist in their endeavors. Funds were used for storm water infrastructure maintenance and the acquisition and renovation of the Daral Building, a 4,088 square foot 2-story commercial office retail project.


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Q: Why Java ArrayList's remove() method implementation does not decrease the size of internal array data? For add() method, the implementation is such that the elementData\[\] array's size grows as needed. However, looking at the remove() method, it does not shrink the size as elements are removed.
I tested using a simple code and the elementData[] starts out with 10 and grows. However, when I delete all the elements using remove() method, the size of elementData[] stays at the point where I finished adding all elements.
int testSize = 10000000;

ArrayList<Integer> alist = new ArrayList<Integer>();
// size of elementData[] is 10
for(int i = 0; i < testSize; i++) {
    alist.add(i);
}
// size of elementData[] is 13845150
for(int i = alist.size()-1; i >= 0; i--) {
    alist.remove(i);
}
// size of elementData[] remains at 13845150

Isn't this wasting memory?

A: First you should note that the size of an array cannot be changed, once created. Changing the size of the underlying array of an ArrayList requires that the entire content of the array be copied to the new array.
When you are increasing the size, you must allocate a larger array, otherwise you could not fit in the new elements.
However, it's not worth the performance overhead to copy everything when you remove from the list. Memory is usually a lower concern than performance.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A lifelong resident, Selectman Eldon Moreira has served on the Board of Selectmen for 35 years! He began his public service career on the town's Finance Committee and was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1981. Over the years, Eldon has worked to manage traffic congestion, planned out industrial areas in town, and served as a liaison for the people, among many other duties and projects.
Anthony Kinahan, a lifelong resident of the Town, was elected in 2016 after serving on the Town's Finance Committee for three years. Anthony has served in the public sector in a variety of other roles as well, including as a summer police officer, a mediator in the Brockton Court system, a Finance Administrator, and Budget Analyst. Anthony received a Bachelor's of Science in Finance from Bryant University and is a current candidate for an MBA from Northeastern University. His priorities include sound fiscal management, accountability in government, and economic growth.
Denise Reyes has lived in West Bridgewater since 1995 and was elected in 2018. She had previously served on the Town's Finance Committee for several years. Denise has worked in the private sector since 1981 for Acushnet Company primarily in Credit Management and is a Senior Credit Manager. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from Stonehill College and certification as Certified Credit Executive from the National Association of Credit Management. Denise's focus is on fiscal responsibility, best practices to minimize residential taxes, promoting responsible commercial growth and government transparency.


"In addition to their amazing customer service, I find the Leadership Resources version of DISC to be the best. It is easy for participants to understand, full of great insights.
As a consultant, I have many choices and I am proud I choose Leadership Resources."


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Q: Non-standard evaluation of expressions in S4 context This is borrowed from shiny's function exprToFunction which is used in their reactive function.
Actual question
How can I delay the evaluation of an expression (e.g. specified via arg expr) in order to "capture" its content when calling a S4 method (as opposed to a standard R function)?
Example
Note that x_1 does not exist yet, that's why we want to delay the evaluation of expr and just "capture" its content.
Function captureExpression:
captureExpression <- function(
  expr,
  caller_offset = 1,
  brackets = TRUE
) {
  out <- eval(substitute(substitute(expr)), parent.frame(caller_offset))
  if (brackets && class(out) != "{") {
    out <- substitute({CODE}, list(CODE = out))
  }
  out
}

captureExpression(x_1 * 2)
# {
#     x_1 * 2
# }

Passing unevaluated expr through works when calling a standard R function:
foo <- function(expr) {
  captureExpression(expr = expr)
}

foo(x_1 * 2)
# {
#     x_1 * 2
# }

Passing unevaluated expr through does not work when calling an S4 method:
setGeneric(
  name = "bar",
  signature = c(
    "expr"
  ),
  def = function(
    expr,
    ...
  ) {
    standardGeneric("bar")
  }
)
setMethod(
  f = "bar",
  signature = signature(
    expr = "ANY"
  ),
  definition = function(
    expr,
    ...
  ) {
  captureExpression(expr = expr, ...)
})

Applying the S4 method:
bar(x_1 * 2)
# Error in bar(x_1 * 2) :
#   error in evaluating the argument 'expr' in selecting a method for function 'bar': Error:
# object 'x_1' not found

bar(x_1 * 2, caller_offset = 2)
# Error in bar(x_1 * 2, caller_offset = 2) :
#   error in evaluating the argument 'expr' in selecting a method for function 'bar': Error:
# object 'x_1' not found

bar(x_1 * 2, caller_offset = 3)
# Error in bar(x_1 * 2, caller_offset = 3) :
#   error in evaluating the argument 'expr' in selecting a method for function 'bar': Error:
# object 'x_1' not found

I guess this has to do with the way the method dispatch is actually carried out. However, maybe there's a way that this can be done anyways.


When Is A Bridge A Smart Solution For Me?
When you are missing teeth in your smile, you know that the smart thing to do in order to protect your oral health and get back to life with a smile that's complete is to actually seek out tooth replacement solutions to do so. However, as far as choosing the best prosthetic for your needs, you may feel like you run into a bit of trouble as you begin digging deeper into your many choices. How does one make a final decision, you wonder? Today, our Sheridan, WY team helps you better determine when a dental bridge may prove to be a very wise decision for a patient!
When you really want a fixed option, a dental bridge is certainly a solution to consider. Why is that? Well, a dental bridge is considered "fixed" because it isn't removable the way a denture is. The placement of a bridge includes relying on a special bonding adhesive to fix the device in place over the teeth that are currently sitting on each side of the open space in your grin. Once it's in place, it will stay put day in, day out, 24/7. For many patients, this is preferable for easy wear and care.
To determine whether a dental bridge is going to be a smart solution for you, you will first need to begin by counting the amount of teeth you have lost. Remember that a bridge is a solution that can only address partial tooth loss and a specific number at that: You may replace one tooth, two teeth, or three teeth. Any more than that and you will need to consider something else. Up to three teeth and this might be your prosthetic of choice!
No, we don't mean you're just missing one tooth. We mean that you have one continuous opening in your smile. This may be comprised of one missing tooth, two missing teeth, or three missing teeth. Remember that this is the type of tooth loss a dental bridge can address. When there are teeth missing that are spread apart from one another by remaining teeth, a bridge cannot treat this type of issue (because it must be able to simply close or "bridge" one gap). In such instances, a different solution will be required.
When you are missing one tooth or up to three that rest side by side, a dental bridge provided by our team may offer you the replacement solution you are looking for as a long-term, fixed device. For more information, schedule an appointment by calling Grinnell Street Dental at 307-672-7567. Our dentist's office is located in Sheridan, WY, and we proudly serve patients from all surrounding communities, including Gillette, Billings, Miles City, and more.


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The Prisoners (Attendance In Courts) Act, 1955
(Act No. 32 of 1955)
[20th September 1955]
An Act to provide for the attendance in Courts of persons confined in prisons for Obtaining their evidence or for answering criminal charge
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
2. Definition.
In this Act, –
(a) "Confinement in a prison" references to confinement in a prison, by whatever form of words, include references to confinement or detention in a prison under any law providing for preventive detention,
(i) Any place which has been declared by the State Government, by general or special order, to be a subsidiary jail; or
(ii) Any reformatory, Borstal institution or other institution of a like nature;
(c) "State Government" in relation to a Union Territory, means the Administrator thereof.
3. Power of Courts, to require appearance of prisoners to give evidence or answer a charge.
(1) Any civil or criminal court may, if it thinks that the evidence of any person confined in any prison is material in any matter pending before it make all order in the form set forth in the First Schedule, directed to the officer in-charge of the prison:
Provided that no civil court shall make an order under this sub-section, in respect of a person confined in a prison situated outside the State in which the court is held.
(2) Any criminal court may, if -a charge of an offence against a person confined in any prison is made or pending before it, make an order in the form set forth in the Second Schedule, directed to the officer in-charge of the prison.
(3) No order made under this section by a civil court which is subordinate to a District Judge shall have effect unless it is countersigned by the District Judge; and no order made under this section by a criminal court which is interior to the court of a Magistrate of the first shall have effect unless it is countersigned by the District Magistrate to whom that court is subordinate or within the local limits of whose jurisdiction that court is situate.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), a court of small cause outside a presidency town or city of Hyderabad shall be deemed to be subordinate to the District Judge within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such court is situate.
STATE AMENDEMNT
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
In Section 3, in sub-section (3) for the words "Magistrate of the first class" and "District Magistrate" substitute respectively "Judicial Magistrate of the first class" and "Chief Judicial Magistrate". [ Punjab Act 25 of 1964 and Act 31 of 1966]
4. Power of State Government to exempt certain persons from operation of Section 3.
(1) The State C3overiiineiit may, having regard to the matters specified in subsection (2), by general or special order, direct that any person or class of persons shall not be removed from the prison in which he or they may be confined, and thereupon so long as any such order remains in force, the provisions of Section 3 shall not apply to such person or class of persons.
(2) Before making an order under subsection (1), the State Government shall have regard to the following matters, namely:
(a) The nature of the offence for which or the grounds on which the confinement has been ordered in respect of the person or class of persons;
(b) The likelihood of the disturbance of public order if the person or class of persons if allowed to be removed from the prison;
(c) The public interest, generally.
5. Prisoners to be brought up.
Upon delivery of any order made under Section 3 to the officer in-charge of the prison in which the person named there in confined, that officer shall cause him to he taken to the court in which his attendance is required, so as to be present in the court at the time in such order mentioned, and shall cause him to be detained in custody in or near the court until he has been examined or until the judge or presidency officer of the court authorise him to be taken back to the prison in which he was confined.
6. Officer in-charge of prison when to abstain from carrying out order.
Where the person in respect of whom an order is made under Section 3-
(a) Is, in accordance with the rules made in this behalf, declared to be until to be removed from the prison where he is confined by reason of sickness or other infirmity; or
(b) Is under committal for trial; or
(c) Is under remand pending trial or pending a preliminary investigation; or
(d) Is in custody for a period which would expire before the expiration of the time required for removing him under this Act and for taking him back to the prison in which he is which he is confined, the officer in-charge of the prison shall abstain from carrying out the order and still send to the court from which the order had been issued a statement of' reasons for so abstaining:
Provided that such officer as aforesaid shall not so abstain where-
(i) The order has been made by a criminal court; and
(ii) The person named in the order is confined under committal for trial or under remand pending trial or pending a preliminary investigation and is not declared in accordance with the rules made in this behalf to be unfit to be removed from the prison where he is confined by reason of sickness or other infertility; and
(iii) The place, where the evidence of the person named in the order is required, is not more than five miles distant from the prison in which he is confined.
7. Commissions for examination of prisoners.
In any of the following cases that is to say, –
(a) Where it appears to say civil court that the evidence of a person confined in a prison is material in any matter pending before it and that the attendance of such person in court cannot be secured by reason of the provisions of Section 6 or of an order under Section 4 of the District Judge declining under sub-section (3) of Section 3 to countersign an order for removal-, or
(b) Where it appears to any civil court as aforesaid that the evidence of a person confined in a prison which is situated outside the State in which, or is more than fifty miles distant from the place at which, such court is held is material in any such matter, the court may, if it thinks fit, issue a commission under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for the examination of the person in the prison in which he is confined.
8. Certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure to apply.
Save as otherwise provided in this Act and any rules made thereunder, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the 1[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898] as the case may be, shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the examination on commission or otherwise of any person confined in a prison as they apply in relation to the examination on commission of any other person.
1. Now see Cr.P.C., 1973. (2 of 1974). 9. Power to make rules.
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may provide for-
(a) The procedure for obtaining the counter signature of an order made under Section 3;
(b) The authority by whom and the manner in which a declaration that a person confined in prison is unfit to be removed therefrom may be made;
(c) The conditions, including payment of costs and charges, subject to which an order made under Section 3 by a Civil Court may be executed;
(d) The manner in which a process directed against any person confined in a prison issued from any court may he served upon him,
(e) The escort of persons confined in a prison to and from courts in which their attendance is required and for their custody during the period of such attendance;
(f) The amount to be allowed for the costs and charges of such enforcement of this Act;
(g) The guidance of officers in all other matters connected with the enforcement of this Act
10. Repeal.
(1) Part IX of the Prisoners Act, 1990 and the First and Second Schedules to the said Act are hereby repealed.
(2) If immediately before the commencement of this Act, there is in force in any part B State to which this Act extends any law corresponding to the provisions of this Act, that law shall, in so far as it relates to matter dealt with in this Act, stand repealed on such commencement:
Provided that anything done or any action taken under any such law shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act and shall continue to have effect accordingly, unless and until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.
FIIRST SCHEDULE. See sub-section (1) of Section 3
THE FIIRST SCHEDULE
(See sub-section (1) of Section 3)
Court of…………………………………………..
To the officer in-charge of the…………………………(State name of prison).
You are hereby required to produce,………………….……, now confirmed in ……………under safe and sure conduct before the Court of……………….At……….., on the………….. day of……………… next by……………of the clock in the forenoon of the same day, there to give evidence in a matter now pending before the said Court, and after the said……………………………. has then and there given his evidence before the said Court or the said Court has dispensed with his further attendance, cause him to be conveyed under safe and sure conduct back to the prison.
The………………………………day of……………………………………
(Countersigned) C.D.
SECOND SCHEDULE. See sub-section (2) of Section 3
THE SECOND SCHEDULE
To the officer in-charge of the…………………………..(State name of prison).
You are hereby required to produce,……………………….., now confirmed in ……………… under safe and sure conduct before the Court of……………… at……………., on the………….day of……………….next by……………… of the clock in the forenoon of the same day, there to answer a charge now pending before the said court, and after such charge has been disposed of or the said Court has dispensed with his further attendance, cause him to be conveyed under safe and sure conduct back to the prison.
The…………………………..day of……………………………
← The Opium And Revenue Laws (Extension Of Application) Act, 1950
The Scheduled Areas, (Assimilation Of Laws) Act, 1953 →


text:
package org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.renderkit.core.xhtml;

import java.io.IOException;

import javax.faces.application.FacesMessage;
import javax.faces.component.UIComponent;
import javax.faces.context.FacesContext;
import javax.faces.context.ResponseWriter;

import org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.bean.FacesBean;
import org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.bean.PropertyKey;
import org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.component.core.output.CoreMessage;

import org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.context.RenderingContext;
import org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.context.RequestContext;
import org.apache.myfaces.trinidadinternal.util.MessageUtils;

/**
 * Renderer for org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.Message, family org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.Message.
 *
 */
public class MessageRenderer extends ValueRenderer
{
  public MessageRenderer()
  {
    this(CoreMessage.TYPE);
  }

  protected MessageRenderer(FacesBean.Type type)
  {
    super(type);
  }

  @Override
  protected void findTypeConstants(FacesBean.Type type)
  {
    super.findTypeConstants(type);
    _forKey         = type.findKey("for");
    _messageTypeKey = type.findKey("messageType");
    _messageKey     = type.findKey("message");
  }

  @Override
  public boolean getRendersChildren()
  {
    return true;
  }

  @Override
  protected String getInlineStyle(FacesBean bean)
  {
    String beanInlineStyle = super.getInlineStyle(bean);
    String inlineStyle = null;

    if (getIndented(bean))
    {
      inlineStyle = (RenderingContext.getCurrentInstance().isRightToLeft()
          ? _sRTL_INDENTED_STYLE
              : _sLTR_INDENTED_STYLE);
    }

    // if neither of these are null, then combine them and render
   if (inlineStyle != null && beanInlineStyle != null)
    {
      StringBuffer buffer = new StringBuffer(inlineStyle.length() +
                                             beanInlineStyle.length() +
                                             1);
      buffer.append(inlineStyle);
      if (!inlineStyle.endsWith(";"))
        buffer.append(";");
      buffer.append(beanInlineStyle);
       return buffer.toString();
    }
    else if (inlineStyle != null)
      return inlineStyle;
    else
      return beanInlineStyle;
  }

  @Override
  protected void encodeAll(
    FacesContext        context,
    RenderingContext arc,
    UIComponent         component,
    FacesBean           bean) throws IOException
  {
    ResponseWriter writer = context.getResponseWriter();

    String message = getMessage(bean);
    String messageType = getMessageType(bean);

    String forId = getForId(context, component, bean);
    if ((message == null) || (messageType == null))
    {
      FacesMessage facesMessage = MessageUtils.getFacesMessage(context, forId);
      if (facesMessage != null)
      {
        if (message == null)
          message = facesMessage.getDetail();
        if (messageType == null)
          messageType = MessageUtils.getMessageTypeFromSeverity(
                        facesMessage.getSeverity());
      }
    }

    UIComponent help = getFacet(component, "help");

    boolean isError = true;
    if (messageType != null)
      isError = CoreMessage.MESSAGE_TYPE_ERROR.equals(messageType);

    boolean hasHelp = (help != null);
    boolean hasMessage = (message != null);

    RequestContext rc = RequestContext.getCurrentInstance();
    boolean isInline = (rc.getClientValidation() ==
                        RequestContext.ClientValidation.INLINE);

    // Handle rendering the help text
    if (hasHelp)
    {
      // Write the root level element for the help
      writer.startElement(XhtmlConstants.SPAN_ELEMENT, component);
      if (shouldRenderId(context, component))
        writer.writeAttribute(XhtmlConstants.ID_ATTRIBUTE,
            forId + "::help", null);

      renderAllAttributes(context, arc, bean, false);
      renderStyleAttributes(context, arc, bean, SkinSelectors.INLINE_INFO_TEXT_STYLE_CLASS);

      encodeChild(context, help);

      if (hasMessage || isInline)
      {
        // We'll need a break between the help and message
        // Do it here, so it gets inserted if hasHelp
        writer.startElement("br", null);
        writer.endElement("br");
      }

      writer.endElement(XhtmlConstants.SPAN_ELEMENT);

    }

    // Handle rendering the message text (or the empty placeholder)
    if (hasMessage || isInline)
    {

      // Write the root level element for the help
      writer.startElement(XhtmlConstants.SPAN_ELEMENT, component);

      if (shouldRenderId(context, component) || (isInline && forId != null))
        writer.writeAttribute(XhtmlConstants.ID_ATTRIBUTE,
            forId + "::msg", null);

      renderAllAttributes(context, arc, bean, false);
      renderStyleAttributes(context, arc, bean, isError ?
          SkinSelectors.INLINE_ERROR_TEXT_STYLE_CLASS :
            SkinSelectors.INLINE_INFO_TEXT_STYLE_CLASS);

      if (hasMessage)
      {
        // Output the server-side message
        renderPossiblyFormattedText(context, message);
      }
//      else
//      {
//        // Hide element ready for client-side validation
//        writer.writeAttribute(XhtmlConstants.STYLE_ATTRIBUTE,
//            "display:none;", null);
//      }

      writer.endElement(XhtmlConstants.SPAN_ELEMENT);
    }

  }

  //
  // NEW HOOKS
  //

  protected boolean getIndented(FacesBean bean)
  {
    return false;
  }

  protected String getFor(FacesBean bean)
  {
    return toString(bean.getProperty(_forKey));
  }

  protected String getMessageType(FacesBean bean)
  {
    // We're used in some composite circumstances where
    // the message type is always derived from the presence
    // of a message, and cannot be overridden
    if (_messageTypeKey == null)
      return null;

    return toString(bean.getProperty(_messageTypeKey));
  }

  protected String getMessage(FacesBean bean)
  {
    // Ditto.
    if (_messageKey == null)
      return null;

    return toString(bean.getProperty(_messageKey));
  }

  protected String getForId(
    FacesContext context,
    UIComponent  component,
    FacesBean    bean)
  {
    String forValue = getFor(bean);
    if (forValue == null)
      return null;

    return MessageUtils.getClientIdFor(context,
                                       component,
                                       forValue);
  }

  private PropertyKey _forKey;
  private PropertyKey _messageTypeKey;
  private PropertyKey _messageKey;

  static private final String _sLTR_INDENTED_STYLE = "margin-left:21px";
  static private final String _sRTL_INDENTED_STYLE = "margin-right:21px";
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package com.cezarykluczynski.stapi.sources.mediawiki.dto;

import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
import lombok.Data;
import lombok.ToString;

import java.util.List;

@Data
@ToString
public class Template {

	private String title;

	private String originalTitle;

	private List<Part> parts = Lists.newArrayList();

	@Data
	@ToString
	public static class Part {

		private String key;

		private String value;

		private String content;

		private List<Template> templates = Lists.newArrayList();

	}

}


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PP Ball Check Valve DIN PN10 is a general type ball Check Valve made by one piece body with solid ball, body and ball made by material PP, PPH and PPG, flange end connection as per standard DIN PN10. PP ball check valve suitable for vertical installation and good for corrosive medium use, PP ball check valve size from DN15 to DN300, it is easy to install and replace.
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Collaborative script writing can be an incredibly productive and successful way to write. Producers and studio executives often love working with writing teams, knowing that they are getting two creative minds to work on a project for the price of one.
However, there is no foolproof formula for a successful writing partnership, just as there isn't a surefire way to choose a romantic partner. But you should be just as selective in choosing a writing partner as you are in choosing a life partner. Indeed, there are a few things to consider before selecting someone with whom you'd like to collaborate.
First, and perhaps most importantly, know thyself. Can you take feedback and constructive criticism well? Are you better at dialogue, or is story structure more your strength? The more clear you are on your strengths and weaknesses, the better you'll be able to know if a perspective partner complements you. The best collaborations are when you and your partner shore each other's weaknesses up. You have to be self aware enough to know what you bring to the table, and what is more of a challenge for you.
When you're looking at potential partners, it's pretty obvious that you must like them. You're going to be spending long hours working together, and it sure does help if the process is fun! But you also must respect them. If you don't respect their writing, don't go any further.
A few more points to consider: Is this person collaborative in nature? What is his or her process? Do you agree on what makes a good story? Do you two have similar sensibilities? Having the same sense of humor, for example, is obviously helpful, particularly if you're writing anything comedic.
Ultimately, like many things in life, a successful collaboration with another writer may require a bit of experimentation. So choose the most promising partner, and see if you two click. You won't know until you try. And if you have to break up, at least it's not as bad as ending a romance.


On 10th April 2017, the Center for Private International Law of the Hague Convention at the Law Faculty, University of Niš (Serbia) was honoured to host Mr. Hans van Loon, former Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (1996-2013), and organize a series of lectures for law students and legal practitioners.
In the welcome address, Assistant Professor Maja Nastić, Vice Dean of Studies and Scientific Research at the Law Faculty in Niš, underscored that the Law Faculty in Niš took pride in the fact that these lectures are the first lectures for law students that Mr. Hans van Loon has ever held in Serbia and former Yugoslavia countries. On behalf of the Law Faculty in Niš, the Vice-Dean credited Mr. Hans van Loon for his kind support to establishing the Center for Private International Law of the Hague Conventions on the premises of the Law Faculty in Niš, and thanked him for officially opening the Centre on 5th October 2012. On behalf of the Hague Conference, Mr. van Loon presented the Center with an extremely valuable collection of Actes et documents. The Vice-Dean also noted that the Faculty of Law in Niš is the only law school in Serbia that has introduced the course in Private International Law of the Hague Conventions as a compulsory subject in the Master degree law study curriculum, upon the initiative of the Center for Private International Law of the Hague Conventions.
After the Vice-Dean's welcome address, Mr. Hans van Loon and the attending students were greeted by Professor Mirko Živković, Head of the PIL Center in Niš. In his opening address, Professor Živković recalled Mr. Van Loon's first visit to the Law Faculty in Niš in 2012, when Mr. Hans Van Loon was the speaker at the 10th Jubilee Private International Law Conference organized on the premises of the Law Faculty, University of Niš. The annual PIL Conferences have been traditionally organized since 2003, at the initiative of Professor Živković, with an aim of bringing together PIL professors and assistants from the former SFRY countries.
The topic of the first lecture given by Mr. Hans van Loon was The Global Horizon of Private International Law, where the students of the Law Faculty in Niš had the opportunity to learn how the Hague Conference approaches the problem of global unification of Private International Law, creates a flexible system of cooperation among the Contracting States to the Hague Convention, addresses and overcomes the problems arising thereof. 10th Jubilee Private International Law Conference organized on the premises of the Law Faculty, University of Niš. The annual PIL Conferences have been traditionally organized since 2003, at the initiative of Professor Živković, with an aim of bringing together PIL professors and assistants from the former SFRY countries. compulsory subject in the Master degree law study curriculum, upon the initiative of the Center for Private International Law of the Hague Conventions.
The second lecture given by Mr. van Loon was on Coordination of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Protection of Children Convention. Apart from students, the participants of this session were the local court judges and legal practitioners from the City of Niš. During this session, which took two and a half hours, the audience took advantage of the given opportunity to participate in a vibrant discussion with Mr. van Loon and address certain issues concerning the successive implementation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1991 Child Protection Convention, which has only recently entered into force for the Republic of Serbia (on 1st November 2016). The matter of particular interest were issues raised on the retention of jurisdiction of the court of the state of habitual residence of the child to decide on parental responsibility in child abduction cases (Article 7 of the Child Protection Convention), as well as the (possible) court interpretations of the provisions on grave risk exception in the proceedings for the return of the child (Article 13 para. 1, item b) of the Child Abduction Convention) in domestic violence cases where the immediate victim is not the child but the abducting parent.
In the afternoon workshop, Mr. Hans van Lon was presented the basic ideas of the Hague Conference Judgment Project and elaborated on the development of this very important project which should result in adopting a global convention on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. During the dynamic discussion on this matter with the students of the Law Faculty in Niš, Mr. van Loon provided an extensive analysis of the provisions envisaged in the latest version of the 2017 Draft Convention on the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Considering the great interest raised by the discussion topic, the workshop took two and a half hours, in the course of which the students posed numerous questions, expressed opinions and provided some suggestions to some of the discussed issues.
The students were prepared for the in-depth discussion on the Judgement Project by Assistant Professor Sanja Marjanovic.


dc.description.citation Wilmot, Lacey and Wilmot, Carol J. (2010, March 26). Designing culturally & environmentally sustainable denim jeans. Poster presented at the Washington State University Academic Showcase, Pullman, WA.


Change is happening at RE/MAX, LLC. Much like the client experience their franchisees strive for, the brand is bringing its broker/owners personalized service and training—all baked into a fresh initiative that pares down its regions from 10 to four, and assigns brokerages to categories, in line with their needs, in order to provide them with structured support.
According to Amy Somerville, senior vice president of Professional Development & Engagement at RE/MAX, the initiative is a pivot to a proactive strategy—one that allows broker/owners to expand and grow with specialized support.
To deliver these distinct resources and tools, Somerville and Josh Bolgren, newly promoted to senior vice president of Business Growth, are heading up two reorganized teams: Development & Engagement, which was formerly Training/Education, and Business Growth, formerly known as Region Development, respectively.
On the Business Growth side, brokerages are gauged in various ways—data-driven and otherwise—to identify their needs, then classified into one of the four stages.
"[Our broker/owners] are not segmented based on success, but more so on their needs," says Somerville.
According to Bolgren, formerly region executive vice president, redrawing the map was an important part of the process.
"It's effectiveness and efficiency—from a leadership standpoint, to be able to focus on our broker/owners, go from vertical to lateral, and segment our customers across regions and boundaries so that we can implement best practices in multiple states," he says.
With the categories established and the regions restructured, the brand is building out the Development & Engagement team, which is focused on technology and training, including the Momentum program and RE/MAX University.
"We're shifting resources and adding resources to support development from a professional business focus and in technology engagement," Somerville says.
For now, the brand is busy determining where its franchisees are on their growth path, with the anticipation that, once established, broker/owners will be evaluated once per year.
There have been changes in leadership, as well, most recently the appointments of Bolgren to his new role; Brett Ritchie to senior vice president and chief accounting officer; and Roy Schwalm, III, to senior vice president, Finance and Strategy; as well as the hiring of Kerry McGovern as vice president, Communications and Jerry Modes as senior vice president, Information Technology.
All of the changes are a direct reflection of RE/MAX's shift: not just to deliver on expectations, but to exceed them. Now, with a more efficient model, the brand is cementing its connection to franchisees, and its broker/owners are gaining the leverage they need to succeed.
"What this is doing is giving us the opportunity to take an intentional and proactive look at the needs of our partners," Somerville says.
RE/MAX will host R4, its annual convention, at the end of this month.
For more information, please visit www.re max.com.


text:
Learn / Case Studies / Yatter
How Gavin increased conversions by 42% with Hotjar
Gavin runs Yatter —a lead generation agency—that's helped fashion brands, festivals, and football clubs improve their landing pages. Over the years, he's built a black book of reliable tactics to enhance any page.
How to improve conversion
How to spot bugs
Features used
Gavin started Yatter to help marketers improve their Facebook ads. He's an expert in conversion rate optimization and has helped dozens of companies in a variety of industries grow their business.
Most of Gavin's projects involve using Hotjar. He's been using our tools for years, to gain product experience insights that help him dramatically improve landing pages.
Here, Gavin shares four websites he's improved using Hotjar. He doesn't hold back, sharing the all-important details, so read on for tips that you can apply to your site.
4 significant improvements on 4 very different sites
1. Gavin's personal site: myfunnelacademy.com
The problem:
Gavin's site previously sold a membership subscription to his training course. "Previously, I hosted the site on Clickfunnels but eventually made the switch to WordPress for more flexibility," Gavin told me.
After making the switch, conversions nose-dived, and overnight membership subscriptions went down dramatically. "I had the data telling me something was wrong, but it didn't tell me why."
Here's where Hotjar comes in. "So I started watching Hotjar Recordings of people on the site. There didn't seem to be a problem on the desktop, but then I loaded up some recordings on a tablet device."
"Hotjar showed that on the tablet version, the menu bar was 10x larger! It was taking up most of the whole screen, and it had literally zero function!"
Fortunately, Gavin was able to implement a quick fix to solve the problem. The experience taught him a valuable lesson.
Every time I make a significant change on my site I jump into Hotjar Recordings. Data might reveal if something has gone wrong, but Hotjar will tell me why.
Founder, Yatter
2. Ecommerce store for car parts
Gavin helped set up Facebook ads for an ecommerce store that sells car parts. The ads were performing tremendously well, generating a 5x ROI, but Gavin wasn't sure if the landing page was fully optimized.
The client had no reason to analyze the landing page—after all, the ads were working—but Gavin suspected that something wasn't right.
He loaded Hotjar Recordings on the page and spotted a problem. "Time after time, visitors would land on the checkout page and click the menu icon. This took them straight out of the checkout flow resulting in fewer purchases."
This was an easy one. It's another easy fix, but it had a big impact:
Simply removing the menu icon on the page did the trick. It stopped users from dropping out of the conversion flow and increased sales by 20%.
3. Stem cell therapy website: brainandbodyhealthcenter.com
Occasionally, Gavin works on sites that have low volumes of traffic, but seriously high-value visitors.
One client sold stem cell therapy, where the prices start at $7,500 per treatment. Individual customers can end up purchasing plans that cost tens of thousands of dollars.
"On sites like this, I'll watch every recording of visitors navigating around the page. I'm on the lookout for signs that the page might be underperforming."
After watching recordings, Gavin noticed that several visitors would diligently read the text describing the therapy but then exit the page.
In Gavin's eyes, it appeared that the visitors didn't seem to trust the company enough to go further. So, Gavin got to work, tweaking the page to build trust with visitors.
"I had two ideas in mind. The first was case studies. We knew they built trust, so we found the best performing case studies—using Hotjar Heatmaps—and put them to the top of the page."
"My second thought was that text alone wouldn't build trust. I wondered if adding a video explaining the process might build trust as well."
Gavin built these changes into the page and then saw how user behavior changed using Hotjar.
An example of the changes Gavin made
The results speak for themselves. Following the addition of the case studies and videos on the confirmation page, the website's conversion rate went up by 10%.
4. Personal training and nutrition planning: faultlessfitness.com
Gavin is well aware that too many options can cause choice paralysis.
Iyengar's famous study conducted back in 2000 found that supermarket customers were less likely to buy jam when more options were available. It's a lesson that many marketers learn early on: often more is less, and reducing the number of choices a customer has to make can increase demand.
But choosing what options to highlight isn't easy.
"I had one client that offered several different options, things like nutritional coaching, personal training, well-being consultation, and a normal gym service. Typically, deciding what to put on top of the page would involve time-consuming customer interviews."
With Hotjar Heatmaps, Gavin could identify the options that visitors were most interested in buying.
"I used Hotjar's scroll data and click data to find what's most important."
"For this client, we found that the vast majority of users picked the structured exercise plan. So, we moved that top of the page, and conversions increased."
Previously the personal training element was at the top of the page, but switching it out for a structured exercise plan had a dramatic result. The conversion rate jumped from 9.1% to 14% following the change (a 42% increase).
A Hotjar heatmap on our home page shows which button attracts attention
Gavin's top 3 tips for improving any landing page
1. "Take a look at where people click"
"You'll always want to see where people are clicking. It's the easiest way to spot users getting stuck in their journey."
The first thing Gavin looks at on any landing page is click data. One thing he sees time and time again is visitors clicking on elements that aren't clickable. "I'll see users clicking on images that don't have a link."
"This disrupts the user journey and can cause bounces, so we'll add a link on that image to send them to the next step."
2. "Always check how far they scroll"
"I'm always asking myself, 'is there any important data that visitors aren't seeing?'"
Scroll depth from Hotjar is a crucial feature for Gavin's analysis: it lets him see how far visitors are scrolling down a page.
"Often, I'll notice that there's some important information about money-back guarantees or delivery times placed towards the bottom of the page—we'll move that up and increase conversions that way."
But it's not just ecommerce sites that can be improved this way. Gavin's seen it with events, too:
"Pre-covid, I worked with a company hosting seminars. They were struggling with sign-ups. Hotjar's scroll map showed the problem.
The actual date of the seminar was at the bottom of the page. Hotjar showed that very few visitors saw the date, so very few signed up."
Gavin made a similar improvement to his own website. Back in 2018, his social proof was hidden towards the bottom of the page. Hotjar Heatmaps showed that few visitors scrolled far enough to see this info, so he moved it above the fold.
Gavin moved social proof higher on his site over the years
3. "Don't touch the site until you've watched at least five recordings of users on the page"
Whenever Gavin logs in to Hotjar, he makes sure he watches at least five different recordings. Sometimes he'll pick recordings based on their relevance, length, or URL destination, but often he'll choose them at random.
"I did this a lot when I was selling membership access on my site. By watching random recordings each week, I'd spot little bugs to fix."
"For example, one week, I found that users were spending far too much time picking their username. I decided to auto-fill the user name box with the user's email. This way users didn't need to spend time thinking of a username. It probably only saved 5 or 10 seconds, but it was just another small way of improving the user journey."
Auto-filling usernames stopped users from dropping out during sign-up
Gavin spends a lot of time thinking of the small ways he can optimize each page, and Hotjar gives him the tools to do that.
"When you're creating a landing page the number one thing is to test and optimize.
Hotjar allows you to review and optimize the behavior of visitors on your site, down to the granularity of what buttons they click—this makes it so simple for you to make changes. You don't have to be a data nerd to use Hotjar."
With Hotjar's help, Gavin can easily identify what needs improving and what steps to take.
The problem is that Google Analytics on its own isn't enough. It tells me that 100 people have visited a page, whereas Hotjar shows how one specific person engages on a specific part of the page—that's invaluable!
With Hotjar, Gavin has:
Increased sales by 20% with one tiny tweak
Spotted a bug that flatlined conversions
Repositioned content to increase conversions by 42%
Spotted improvements after watching just five recordings
Hotjar lets you go granular and really understand the individuals using the page. In other words, it turns data into life."
Gavin increased sales by 20% with one 5-minute change.
It takes just 10 minutes to start collecting data on your site. Sign up today—for free, no credit card required—and see if you could improve your sales.


Given two objects of same class and the task is to merge both objects into single object.
Approach 1: Convert object into data array and merge them using array_merge() function and convert this merged array back into object of class stdClass.
Note: While merging the objects using array_merge(), elements of array in argument1 are overwritten by elements of array in argument2. This may nullify the resulting elements in final object if array in argument2 has null values.
Note: Functions are not copied using this approach. Only use this approach if class only contain variables.
Approach 2: Merge the object using array_merge() method and convert this merged array to object using convertObjectClass function. This function is used to convert object of the initial class into serialized data using serialize() method. Unserialize the serialized data into instance of the final class using unserialize() method. Using this approach obtain an object of user defined class Geeks rather the standard class stdClass.
Approach 3: Create a new object of the original class and assign all the properties of both objects to this new object by using foreach loop. This is a simple and clean approach of merging two objects.


Place the applicator tip through the animals hair to the skin level. On cats, apply to skin on neck at the base of the skull. Spot on applicators are portioned based on the pet's weight: For small cats & kittens up to 9lb use 1 tube from dark orange pack; For cats over 9lb use 1 tube from purple pack. Safe to use on kittens from 9 weeks of age. Available in 3 and 6 packs.
Do not get this product in the pet's eyes or mouth. Use with caution in sick, debilitated or underweight animals. This product causes eye irritation in humans and is harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with skin. Call poison control center if swallowed. If on skin, wash with plenty of soap and water. If in eyes, flush with plenty of water.


By now we're all pretty familiar with the fundamentals of making healthy decisions right? Of course! We follow the daily practice of Move Nourish Believe.
We're also interested and invested in educating ourselves on what those healthy decisions are. And we know that there is a lot of information out there (A LOT!), which can make it tricky to decipher what's a fad, preference or qualified piece of advice.
We spoke to Celebrity Chef and Nutritionist Zoe Bingley- Pullin to get some of her key tips that will supercharge your routine and are simple to apply, because we're all busy gals.
Many of us forget to add a source of protein to our breakfast and readily feel the effects!
Starting the day with protein has been shown to stabilise appetite, support energy levels and reduce cravings later into the day.
Some protein options to include at breakfast time are: eggs, yoghurt, ricotta or cottage cheese, milk, tofu, tempeh, salmon, nuts and seeds including hemp seeds or plant-based protein powder, such as hemp.
Many of us are reporting feeling stressed on a daily basis. Stress can place great strain on the body and negatively impact overall wellbeing.
Practicing mindfulness can help draw your attention away from what you have to do and let you be present in the moment and check in with yourself.
Whether it be setting aside 5-10mins to practice breathing deeply or just eating without distraction, every bit counts and in the long run will add time to your day!
Cook at home more often!
The number one way to control your diet and health is to cook your own meals regularly. Studies have shown that people who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consume less kilojoules than those who buy food out.
We are more likely to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and less poor quality fats and refined sugar when cooking at home. Another benefit of course being eating as a family and spending time with loved ones.
Whilst this is not possible for everyone at all meal times, prioritising even just one meal per day to be home cooked and wholesome can contribute towards greater health.
Aim to eat an additional serve of vegetables daily!
Eating more fruit and vegetables has been shown to increase happiness and life satisfaction. Increased vegetable intake is also linked to decreased chronic disease risk.
Which vegetables are best? Those richest in antioxidants have the greatest benefits so always pick the brightest kinds such as capsicum, tomato, red cabbage, carrots, sweet potato, beetroot, kale and spinach.
When you develop a healthy relationship with fats, your perspective on food and freedom with food can drastically change.
Fats are not to be feared and offer an array of benefits to health, not to mention allow you to feel satisfied by food!
Fats are critical for brain health which has a knock on effect on mood, fat help us to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin D, A, E and K, help with weight regulation and reduce risk of chronic disease.
Foods rich in healthy fats to add to your diet include avocado, extra virgin olive oil, hemp oil, raw nuts and seeds and fatty fish.
Similar to the importance of adding more vegetables to your day, alternating animal-based protein with plant-based offers many benefits to health including reduced chronic disease risk, healthy weight management, anti-ageing and reduced inflammation.
Some examples of plant-based protein sources include legumes (lentils, chickpeas, red kidney beans etc), raw nuts and seeds, tofu/tempeh, soybeans, hemp, brown rice and pea protein powder.
Learn more about what you need to know when transitioning to a plant based diet or reducing your meat/animal product consumption, here.
This tip may sound a bit boring but it is readily overlooked! Drinking enough water is one of the easiest ways to improve health.
When are dehydrated we lose concentration, have poor energy and find it hard to control hunger. That being said, drinking enough water can help improve energy levels, clear our mind and maintain concentration levels.
If you don't like the taste of plain water, try adding some natural flavouring such as mint, strawberries and cucumber or straight lemon/lime juice!
What's your key health 'tip' to keep your wellness on point?


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Dean of the Sharon Walker School of Education
Carlton Brown
Morningside College, one of the truly great success stories in private higher education, is seeking applications for the position of Dean of the Sharon Walker School of Education. The next dean of the School of Education must be a practical visionary with a commitment to life-long learning and the development of students at all levels of the enterprise. The dean must be a consensus builder and a supportive leader that can enable faculty and staff to stretch beyond past work and current capacity.
Successful candidates will demonstrate P-12 teaching or leadership experience as well as significant faculty experience and scholarship. Demonstrated higher education leadership and management at least at the department chair level is required. Accreditation and licensure program experience is required. Capacity to engage with external stakeholders, including Area Education Agencies, is essential. The terminal degree is required.
Morningside, located in Sioux City, IA, is recognized for providing undergraduate students with exceptional active learning experiences on a beautiful residential campus. The College is also well regarded for its online graduate coursework, flexible post-baccalaureate options, and an online bachelor's degree completion option.
Morningside offers more than 65 areas of study for undergraduates, as well as graduate programs in nursing or education, including a 100% online Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Total enrollment is approximately 2,700 students from nearly all 50 states and almost 20 countries. Morningside offers robust study abroad and May Term programs that give students the ability to personalize their education and access a global network of opportunities.
Under President John Reynders' spectacular leadership, the College has enjoyed two decades of significant change, growth, and success that include achieving record enrollment numbers, exceeding goals for three large multi-year fundraising campaigns, increasing varsity athletics teams to 28 that routinely compete for conference and national honors, and completing nearly $70 million in campus improvements.
Morningside employs more than 250 people, including almost 80 full-time faculty members for its graduate and undergraduate programs. Morningside faculty are committed to their work, with 72% holding the most advanced degree in their field. The College's faculty also includes nearly 160 well credentialed adjunct faculty, many of whom deliver The Sharon Walker School of Education's graduate programs. Morningside is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The Sharon Walker School of Education, long acclaimed for its high-quality innovative teacher education programs, offers the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Arts in Teaching. The School has 14 full-time faculty, 87 adjunct faculty and12 academic staff. It enrolls 150 undergraduates, 46 students in the two alternative teacher preparation programs discussed below, and 1,191 graduate students. The Walker School's programs are fully accredited by the Iowa Department of Education.
The Walker School of Education undergraduate teacher education programs offer majors to prepare candidates to teach in a broad array of disciplines. (https://www.morningside.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/education/m...).
The School also offers 12 endorsement programs at the graduate level (https://www.morningside.edu/graduate-online-programs/graduate-program-in...) The teacher education programs are among the largest and most successful at Morningside.
The Walker School is innovative, as reflected in two alternative teacher preparation programs: (1) An undergraduate teacher intern program for individuals who possess a baccalaureate degree in a content field and who want to become certified as a secondary teacher (one of two such programs in Iowa); and (2) a "fast track" program for special education licensure is being offered for the first time this fall (the only such program in the state). The School has also developed cooperative graduate programs with 8 of the 11 Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs) through which teachers in those regions may earn graduate endorsements and degrees while continuing to teach in their home school districts.
Morningside's culture is exceptionally distinctive and has driven its success. The College is relentlessly student focused and fosters innovation among its faculty and staff. Morningside has received third party accolades from national media outlets such as U.S. News and Forbes. The Sharon Walker School of Education has secured seven figure Title III grants and its faculty have regularly received awards for overall excellence and assessment.
The new Dean of the Sharon Walker School of Education will live in a bustling five-county metropolitan area of 170,000 people, the hub of which is Sioux City. As one of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs' inaugural "Great Places," Sioux City is located on the Missouri River among the picturesque Loess Hills. The city sits amidst the boundaries of three jurisdictions, two of which made MoneyRates.com's 2019 top ten best states to raise a child – Iowa and South Dakota.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The desired appointment date is February 2020 and the successful candidate will assume his/her new duties on or about June 1, 2020. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by January 21, 2020. Candidates are encouraged to review the Morningside College Search Profile which contains detailed information about the College and the position, as well as the application process. Please see above for the complete profile. The College welcomes the candidacies of women and people from underrepresented groups.
Applications must include a letter of interest, CV, and five professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers. References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant. Application materials should be sent electronically (MS Word or PDF) to: MorningsideDeanEd@agbsearch.com
Confidential inquiries, nominations, and referrals may be directed to:
Mr. Fred Moore, Executive Search Consultant
fred.moore@agbsearch.com / 712.299.2544
Dr. Carlton E. Brown, Executive Search Consultant
carlton.brown@agbsearch.com / 912.247.8661
Morningside College believes in and promotes non-discrimination. It is our policy and practice to promote equal opportunities without regard to age, sex, religion, creed, race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, or national origin.


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Authors » Joe Medicine Crow »
Joe Medicine Crow
Dr. Joe Medicine Crow is the Crow Tribal Historian and the oldest living man of the Crow tribe. In 1939, he was the first member of the Crow tribe to obtain a master's degree. His Master's thesis, "The Effects of European Culture Contact upon the Economic, Social, and Religious Life of the Crow Indians", remains the most widely read source on Crow culture. He has received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California and Rocky Mountain College.
Medicine Crow is the last traditional Plains war chief, having achieved the war deeds necessary to be declared a "chief" during World War II. He served in Europe, and earned the Bronze Star, a US Forces individual military decoration for acts of bravery or merit, or for meritorious service. Medicine Crow was also honored for his service to France during World War II when he received the National Order of the Legion of Honor from the French government on June 25, 2008. He was recognized for leading a war party that, under fire, retrieved dynamite to use to attack German guns. He also overcame a German soldier in hand-to-hand combat on a street in France (sparing his life), and captured fifty SS horses at a farm where German officers were staying. Joe Medicine Crow has also been nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal. Interviews with Dr. Medicince Crow were included in the 2007 Ken Burns PBS series "The War." In those interviews, he describes some of his World War II experiences.
For his war deeds and "contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans" and his "importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country," and other services to America, Joe Medicine Crow will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, on August 12, 2009.
Dr. Medicine Crow is a guest speaker at Little Bighorn College, the Custer Battlefield Museum, and several other colleges throughout the nation. Also an author, his books include, A Handbook of Crow Indian Laws and Treaties, and From the Heart of the Crow Country. He lives on the Crow Reservation in Lodge Grass, Montana.
Teen Books (1)
Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond
● Joe Medicine Crow (Indigenous American; Native American; Crow (Apsaalooke);)
Text Content Territories: Indigenous American; Native American; Crow (Apsaalooke);
Picture a Crow Indian elder, his wizened eyes catching yours in the ancient flicker of firelight. His mesmerizing stories span the ages, from Custer to World War II to the 21st Century. He is the last traditional chief of his people. He is over 90 years old. Now picture that same man lecturing at colleges nationwide, and addressing the United Nations on the subject of peace.
National Geographic presents the amazing life story of Joseph Medicine Crow, the man who begins life as Winter Man. Trained as a warrior by his grandfather, Yellowtail, he bathes in icy rivers and endures the ceremony of "counting coup"—facing fierce combat with an enemy Sioux boy.
An operation at the local hospital brings the young Crow face-to-face with his worst fears: a Sioux, a ghost, and a white man. He excels at the white man's school and is raised in the Baptist faith. He translates the stories of the elder chiefs, becoming the link to the ancient traditions of the pre-reservation generation. His own dramatic and funny stories span both ages, and the ancient Crow legends are passed on in the storytelling tradition.
Joseph Medicine Crow's doctorate degree was interrupted by the call to arms of World War II. On the battlefields of Germany he earned the ancient status of War Chief by completing the four war deeds required of the Crow warrior.
In 1948 the Crow Tribal Council appointed Joseph Medicine Crow (now called High Bird) their Tribal Historian and Anthropologist.
Counting Coup is a vibrant adventure narrative, bringing Native American history and culture alive for young readers. Joseph Medicine Crow's story illuminates the challenges faced by the Crow people as hurricanes of change raged through America. His epic story and its lessons are an essential legacy for us all.


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When is the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? on TV?
The 2020 series of Who Do You Think You Are? will start in October after delays due to coronavirus
The first episode of Who Do You Think You Are? series 17, starring Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker, will air at 9pm on BBC One on Monday 12 October.
It will be followed by three more episodes starring actor and author David Walliams on 19 October, Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones on 26 October, and Silent Witness actor Liz Carr on 2 November.
All four episodes of the popular family history show were filmed earlier in 2020 before the coronavirus lockdown began.
What can we expect from the series?
The episode themes will include Jodie Whittaker discovering the truth behind her great uncle's death in the First World War and tracing her family history in Yorkshire; David Walliams also travelling to the First World War battlefields and discovering an ancestor who was an entertainer; Liz Carr finding an ancestor who was involved in an attempted murder in County Armagh, Northern Ireland; and Ruth Jones discovering her family's link to the Medical Aid Societies of South Wales, which provided a model for the National Health Service.
Who Do You Think You Are? 2020 with Jodie Whittaker and David Walliams announced
Who will appear on Who Do You Think You Are? 2020
Five things you didn't know about Frances de la Tour
Kate Winslet and Daniel Radcliffe to star in Who Do You Think You Are? 2019
When is Paul Merton's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on TV?
EXCLUSIVE: Donny Osmond on RootsTech London and his love of family history


Badley Ashton and Associates Ltd.
Badley, Ashton and Associates Limited was established in 1982 as a high quality geoscience consultancy, providing specialist reservoir description and prediction advice to the oil industry. The company's emphasis on quality remains the same today, with their development always guided by an ethos of 'continuous technical and scientific improvement, allied to greater business efficiency'.
Badley Ashton's aim is to provide quality and value through integrated consultancy. Their specialist teams target and solve specific challenges in reservoir characterisation by finding better ways to use conventional techniques and by seeking out and developing new technologies.
Sound data collection and handling, that forms robust datasets, provides the cornerstone of the company's workflow, project to project. Through the intelligent use of data Badley Ashton build cross-discipline knowledge and understanding, addressing specific aims in close co-operation with client teams. All of their work is carried out within a comprehensive quality management system.


Chomolhari/Jomolhari is the second tallest mountain in Bhutan. This mountain is sacred to Buddhist's, thousands of trekkers are attracted every year by the beauty of this mountain and the things one could see during this trek. The scenic view of himalayas, agricultural valley, rhododendron forests and beautiful waterfalls are the rewarding one. Yaks and yak herder's winter home, different kinds of wild animals such as musk deer , blue sheep, langur monkeys seen on the way, wide yak pastures, different fortress are the other interesting factors of this trek. At some places we need to make our shelter inside stones which will be a new experience. We, Nepal Tibet Tours & Treks has beeen organizing Chomolhari treks since a long time, come and enjoy your holiday with us and make your holiday an extraordinary one.


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Q: Reshetikhin-Turaev as a 3-2-1-theory I keep reading that the Reshetikhin-Turaev construction actually yields a 3-2-1 tqft. I know the construction that associates to a suitably decorated surface a vector space built up from a hom-space in a modular tensor category and to a decorated 3-manifold a linear map between these vector spaces as described in the book by Bakalov and Kirillov or in Turaev's blue book.
But to obtain a 3-2-1 theory, I would need a 2-category first. I suppose in this case this would be the category of all small linear categories. What I don't see is, how the Reshetikhin-Turaev construction associates a functor to surfaces and a natural transformation to 3-cobordisms. Or is this the wrong way to think about this?
I have the feeling that this was probably already asked and answered here, but I could not find it. If so, sorry.

A: The traditional way to define Reshetikhin–Turaev's version of Chern–Simons TQFT as a 321 theory assigns to the circle the category of representations of the quantum group at fixed root of unity (depending on the level), which is equivalent to the category of positive-energy representations of the loop group (at the fixed level).  Let me call this category $C$.  From either picture, $C$ is a braided-monoidal category.  (From the loop-group side, I believe the monoidal structure is what is called "Connes' fusion".)  This monoidal structure $\otimes : C \boxtimes C \to C$ is what the functor that the TQFT assigns to a pair of pants.  If I am not mistaken, the braiding corresponds to the bordism which is the mapping cylinder for the map that crosses the pant legs.

A: I really like Hiro Lee Tanaka's answer.  This is just a long comment.
The Witten-Reshitkhin-Turaev TQFT needs more data than a three-manifold, or a surface.  You can decorate the three-manifolds with a framing, or a $p_1$ structure, and then decorate surfaces with a Lagrangian subspace of their first homology and an integer, and put colors on one manifolds, and the whole thing works... in theory.  Actual computations are a bear.
The most successful modes of computation descend from coloring surgery diagrams to define morphisms between reduced skein modules as can be found in the seminal paper of Habegger, Masbaum and Vogel on TQFT derived from the Kauffman bracket.
Blanchet, C.; Habegger, N.; Masbaum, G.; Vogel, P. Topological quantum field theories derived from the Kauffman bracket. Topology 34 (1995), no. 4, 883–927.
In practice all the extra data can be accounted for quite elegantly by accepting that the TQFT underlying WRT is four dimensional. I think this idea is due to Kevin Walker.
The four dimensional theory is so trivial, that you can account for it with homological data, and hence decategorify the theory to get a less elegant $3$-dimensional TQFT. The ambiguities you are eliminating are in fact just scalar multiplication by a power of the central charge, which is a root of unity.
Here is what I think the extension looks like from top down.
Choose a level $r$
The Crane-Yetter invariant is assigned to four manifolds.
The reduced Kauffman bracket skein module at level $r$ is assigned to three-manifolds.
The surface $F$ is assigned the category of left modules over the reduced Kauffman bracket skein algebra of the surface.  The morphisms in the category correspond to four dimensional cobordisms.
A one manifold is assigned a $2$-category. The objects are relative reduced skein modules of three manifolds, so that there is a disk in the boundary of the three-manifold for each circle in the one manifold, inside of which is an oriented arc that is the boundary of relative skeins.  The morphisms come from gluing three manifolds along the complement of the disk, and are induced by including relative skein modules.  The two morphisms are given by morphisms between the reduced skein modules induced by surgery diagrams corresponding to the four manifolds.
Pretty sketchy.
Practically speaking, current interest in quantum invariants is focused on their asymptotic behavior as the level goes to infinity. Generally people are focused on the magnitude of the invariants not the phase, so all the fancy book keeping to keep track of phase to get a three-dimensional theory is wasted effort.

A: Hi Ulrich,
I think that's a good way to think about it. There's also a good reason why we have the associations

1-manifold <--> Linear Category
2-manifolds F <--> Functors <--> Vector Spaces (when F is closed)
3-manifolds X <--> Natural Transformations <--> Numbers (when X
  is closed),

which I can try to answer now. In what follows, I'll let $Z$ be the topological field theory. It's a functor
$Z: Cob_1^3 \to LinearCat$
between 2-categories, in your language. What the Reshetikhin-Turaev TFT assigns to the circle should be the linear category of fixed-level, positive energy representations of a loop group, or the linear category of (certain) representations of a quantum group. But those details won't matter for these general comments:
(Surfaces) First you should pin down what you mean by a morphism in the category of linear categories. (i.e., What kinds of functors you want to allow.) If you impose, for instance, the condition that all morphisms must preserve finite colimits, then you see that a functor
$Z(F): Vect --> Vect$
is determined completely by what $Z(F)$ does to the one-dimensional vector space $k$. So $Z(F)(k) \cong V$ for some vector space $V$, and one can simply think of $Z(F)$ as $V$ itself. Vect is the unit in linear categories, so a closed surface (a cobordism from the empty manifold to the empty manifold) is hence assigned a vector space.
(3-manifolds) Now a natural transformation from $Z(F)$ to $Z(F')$ is given by a map of vector spaces. When the three manifold is closed, its boundaries F and F' are both empty manifolds. These are assigned the 1-dimensional vector space $k \cong Z(\emptyset)$, which is the unit in the category of functors from Vect to Vect. (Tensor product of vector spaces gives rise to a monoidal structure on the category of functors from Vect to itself.) Hence a natural transformation corresponds to a a linear transformation
$Z(X): k \to k$,
and this is just an element of $k$, since it's determined by what it does on the unit $1 \in k$. (This is the analogue of the statement I made above about how a functor $Vect \to Vect$ is given by what it does to the unit $k \in Vect$.)
(On 3-2-1-0 and 4-3-2-1 and 4-3-2-1-0) Chern-Simons is interesting because it might extend up and it might extend down. First, to extend to zero-manifolds, there are some notes by Dan Freed from a lecture he gave at UPenn Strings this year. He says that, since Chern-Simons has an anomaly, one can think of Chern-Simons as a 3-2-1-0 TFT with a twist, and he gives a concrete mathematical definition of this notion.
Another fun direction is seeing Chern-Simons as coming from a field theory in higher dimensions. The tip of this iceberg is visible through Khovanov homology--in Khovanov, we recover a link invariant whose Euler characteristic recovers the Jones poynomial. Why is this a suggestion of extending "up?" On the one hand, the Jones polynomial comes out of $SU(2)$ Chern-Simons theory, and on the other hand, Khovanov homology assigns morphisms to cobordisms between links, where a 2-manifold inside a 4-manifold is a cobordism between embedded links. I think Witten has written about how this comes from a 5- or 6-dimensional field theory in this pre-print, and also in a lecture at the Simons center: Video, Slides. Charlie above commented about the Crane-Yetter invariant, but I don't know enough to talk about connections to that.
PS I am using Chern-Simons and Resthetikhin-Turaev interchangeably because in my mind they are philosophically the same, but some schools may complain about this.