A former trade unionist in Guatemala, Luis Puig represented his country at the ILO in Geneva. He met Frank Buchman in 1952, and has worked full time for Initiatives of Change since 1956. He was with Varig Airlines for 22 years. Married to Evelyn, from Austria, they have two grown-up sons.
THE familiarity with which tough, poor, hard-working port workers from Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Recife referred to Dr Buchman sounded pretentious when I first heard it. But as I got to know them and their friends, I realised that Buchman's ideas had become part of their lives. Some of them had met and talked to him at international MRA conferences in Mackinac or Caux.
Carlos Anselmo, leader of the coffee packers of the busy port of Santos near São Paulo, astounded his socialist comrades when he admitted having used union funds for himself. He apologised and submitted his resignation. He said: "As a socialist I want to help build a new society but I cannot do it if I am dishonest". At first there were angry cries demanding punishment and expulsion, but the mood calmed when a fiery older communist fighter intervened. "Be quiet! Who among you would have the courage to do what comrade Anselmo just did?" The resignation was accepted nevertheless. After that some wanted to know what had brought about the change in Carlos, and a new spirit began to develop in the port. Carlos and his wife were later invited to different parts of the world to talk about their new-found ideas. A São Paulo woman, wife of a top industrialist, travelled with them at her own expense to serve as translator.
Rio port workers were tough. When a group of Buchman's colleagues arrived in the city, the headline in the papers was "Reign of terror in the port". Shortly afterwards, a group of thirty workers was invited for an evening in a flat which had been rented for the work of Moral Re-Armament. Among the group were members of rival factions at war with each other.
In the course of the evening a young man from Europe asked, "God created the world, isn't that true?" The men nodded. "If so, he must have a plan for the world." They nodded again. "How do you find it, then?" "We don't know," they said. "Well," he continued, "we've discovered that if we take time in quiet, God very often puts a thought in our heart." Then it was suggested the men be quiet. After a while Damasio, the toughest of the trouble-makers, said, "God told me, 'Damasio, sell your two revolvers; one knife is enough'." Others in the room felt that was a strange thought to come from God. Nevertheless, next day Damasio sold them and 18 months later most of the guns had disappeared from the port. That night there had probably been more revolvers in the room than men!
Together with people from other walks of life, the Santos port workers invited a group of their colleagues from Rio to come and hear about what they had found. The Rio men were divided and would not at first sit or talk together, one lot representing the official legitimate union, the other representing an unofficial breakaway union. The latter included extreme radicals and trouble-makers. Yet later, the two groups returned home united, having ironed out their differences. Months later the two unions merged. The largest paper in Rio carried the headline: "For the first time ever, democratic elections in the port of Rio".
'Frank' instead of the more formal 'Dr Buchman' was the name used in other sectors of society, for instance by Luiz Dumont Villares and his wife Leonor Diederichsen Villares. Luiz was president of Aços Villares, then the biggest private steel mill in Latin America. The couple financed a planeload of port workers, trade unionists and industrialists to fly to a world assembly for Moral Re-Armament. Buchman helped them to become a purposeful fellowship of friends. "Brazil is not only meant to export the best coffee to the world but also the best idea," he said.
Senora Villares later donated a beautiful house that for many years served as a centre for MRA in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city.
Honesty with their wives, with their bosses and with each other, together with vision for their country, were the experiences brought together in what became the film Men of Brazil. In it, each man acted his own part in the true story. Highly motivated, these men and their wives, some illiterate, did something that surprised and interested other sectors of society. The film was made possible by the voluntary work of professionals and generous contributions from different parts of the world. Dubbed into 23 languages it has been shown on nearly every continent, especially in the ports. At present the Hindi version is part of a regular programme of industrial seminars for workers and personnel managers taking place in Panchgani in the west of India, at the centre for Initiatives of Change in that vast, populous country.
The legacy of Frank Buchman in Latin America crops up in unexpected places. His visits to Mexico, Chile and Peru, decades before, had given him a taste of life in the continent. I was in Mexico City some years ago. One afternoon we were visited by a taxi driver who had heard we were there. He had driven Dr Buchman around years before. He was an old, quiet man. He said, "My life has never been the same since I met him".
Buchman's influence passed through the port workers to leaders of the favelas, the shanty-towns which have proliferated (over 600) in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Brigadier Antonio Muniz and his wife, recently returned from an MRA conference where they re-found their Catholic faith, invited some of the port workers of Rio to their home to meet with favela leaders he knew. The port workers talked about what changes in their lives meant for them and for conditions in the port. They were quiet together and one favelado leader said, "We must tell the State Governor that the favelados are not one million problems but two million hands which can be put to work." With this conviction, and with stories to tell, they arranged to meet the State Governor. After listening to them, he said, "For the first time I'm confronted by a group of men who are united with a clear purpose. We can work together." The State provided money and tools, and the favelados the hard work. The favelados also asked to be in charge of the work, which was accepted. Two and a half years later nearly half a million people from the slums had been re-housed in decent homes.
At the same time an industrialist and a port worker decided to go together from one favela to another, most of them spread through the hills or morros of the city, to project the film Men of Brazil.
When Peter Howard, the British sportsman and journalist who had taken over the leadership of MRA after Frank Buchman died, visited Brazil in 1965, he brought the challenge of Buchman to a new level. He spelled out clearly what a dark future was reserved for the country if moral standards were not lived out by the men in power. But he also outlined the bright outcome for Brazil, in terms of social equality and improvement, if men and women put their lives under God's authority. Using experiences from his own life he talked directly to those who were most feared at the time, the military and other supporters of the dictatorship that ruled the country. He was listened to and utterly respected in all circles.
Howard took seriously Luiz Pereira, a very simple man, leader of Morro São João favela. Pereira took seriously what he learned about Frank Buchman. Pereira grasped that anyone anywhere can listen to the inner voice, change, and then help others to change and work together to transform social conditions.
One day while at work, Luiz had the thought that the Minister of State in charge of social conditions should hear about his project for re-housing the people of his own favela. Pereira picked up the phone and was put straight through to the minister, an army general (the military were in power at the time). He listened to what Pereira had to say. The general mobilised materials and a work force. The result can be seen today, thirty years later, in a group of modest apartment buildings owned and managed by the former favela people.
Over the years Pereira has passed on what he learned with conviction and passion to other leaders and inhabitants of the favela communities of the city. Every month or so, he takes groups to the 'Sitio São Luiz', 50 miles north of Rio, a place considered by many to be the centre for Initiatives of Change (formerly Moral Re-Armament) in Latin America. Taxi drivers have often joined them, as well as industrialists, trade unionists, military figures and all kinds of people who had captured Buchman's spirit.
Rio taxi drivers were notorious for taking tourists 'for a ride', as well as overcharging the locals. Their vehicles were often dirty and badly kept. They frequently quarrelled over the best parking spots to attract passengers. Some were exploited by greedy proprietors.
One man, Americo Martorelli took Buchman's ideas seriously. He quit drinking, and he and his wife had a frank, honest conversation. He said, "I don't want just to be a better man, I want to take these ideas to my colleagues". He and others had earlier tried to organise a taxi drivers' co-operative, but without success. They had wanted to do away with the unfair sums charged by the taxi owners and, eventually, to own their own cars. Now they were able to work things out.
Two taxi co-operatives were established when other drivers caught the same spirit and attitude that Martorelli had found. One of them even included the absolute moral standards of MRA in its bylaws. Each co-operative could have a maximum of 250 people, according to regulations. The news of success spread. Today there are countless taxi co-operatives with different groups copying each other, all based on the same principles as the first two, even if they never heard of Buchman or MRA. Each co-operative has an ethics committee that judges any misconduct by a member. In a city of eight million people, something definitely changed for the better.
The second generation of port workers now play their part. One of those who was in his teens when Men of Brazil had been filmed is now vice-president of the board of Initiatives of Change in Brazil. Another, the son of the first elected president of the United Port Workers' Union, is now the only black instructor at the top military officers' training establishment of the country, the Escolar Superior de Guerra. He lives by the principles he learned from his father. Another who grew up in the port says, "If it wasn't for the ideas (of Buchman) passed on to me by friends in IofC, I should be a man without a future and without principles". He has become a prosperous lawyer. He says, "People often expect me to handle their affairs in a devious way. I tell them about the right way, which I learned in MRA. They leave my office happier and I am able to take honest money and a free conscience back home".
The port workers took their experience to Argentina, invited by the Minister of Labour; to Italy, invited by the Bishop of Bari; and to India, Canada, the USA and other parts of the world. The legacy of that extraordinary man Frank Buchman lives on!


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Q: Already updated compileSdkVersion to 28 after migrating to AndroidX, but still getting gradle error about fontVariationSettings and ttcIndex Migrating to AndroidX includes new attributes fontVariationSettings and ttcIndex. I've tried migrating a project (a Flutter plugin), but get the error below when doing the gradle build. Many users have had the same gradle error as me, but unlike them, I've already

*

*upgraded my compileSdkVersion to 28 in my build.gradle

*added android.useAndroidX=true and android.enableJetifier=true in gradle.properties

*reset the gradle cache through Android Studio (Invalidate Caches/Restart)

My console output:
FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.
* What went wrong:
Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugResources'.
> Android resource linking failed
  /Users/davidmccoy/.gradle/caches/transforms-1/files-1.1/core-1.0.0-beta01.aar/f004b9e22a129b2d333d02089203fb0d/res/values/values.xml:89:5-125:25: AAPT: error: resource android:attr/fontVariationSettings not found.
  /Users/davidmccoy/.gradle/caches/transforms-1/files-1.1/core-1.0.0-beta01.aar/f004b9e22a129b2d333d02089203fb0d/res/values/values.xml:89:5-125:25: AAPT: error: resource android:attr/ttcIndex not found.
  error: failed linking references.
* Try:
Run with --stacktrace option to get the stack trace. Run with --info or --debug option to get more log output. Run with --scan to get full insights.
* Get more help at https://help.gradle.org
BUILD FAILED in 1s
*******************************************************************************************
The Gradle failure may have been because of AndroidX incompatibilities in this Flutter app.
See https://flutter.dev/docs/development/packages-and-plugins/androidx-compatibility for more information on the problem and how to fix it.
*******************************************************************************************
Gradle task assembleDebug failed with exit code 1

A: Turns out I had another Android project that I had included in my Flutter application that had not yet been upgraded to AndroidX. So I upgraded that project, and the problem was solved.

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text:
Localizing The Story: Japanese ...
Localizing The Story: Japanese Video On Camera Versus U.S. Video On The Same Camera
I'm pleased that two of our account professionals in our Tokyo office, Sayaka Kitamura and Haruna Kawamoto, have contributed today's guest post on a topic dear to my heart, the importance of tailoring stories to a given market.
I give Sayaka and Haruna credit for making the intellectual argument for investing in local content.
Here's what they're too polite to say –
U.S. companies often parachute into Japan armed with content developed at the HQ and instructions to push out this information in the Japanese market. While the HQ content can and should be leveraged, effective storytelling calls for cultivating the Japanese dimension.
Their post on these Sony camera videos delivers a good example on localized storytelling.
By Sayaka Kitamura and Haruna Kawamoto,
The Hoffman Agency Japan
Thanks to the Internet, virtually every company has the potential to sell its products or services on a global basis.
Sitting in Tokyo, we've supported a number of U.S. companies in building their brands in Japan.
Often, these companies start with the premise that the same content used in the U.S. can be leveraged to tell their story in Japan.
It doesn't work that way.
The qualities that have the most relevance to Americans aren't necessarily the ones that will resonate with Japanese buyers.
And vice versa; what has meaning in Japan might not have meaning in the U.S.
We came across two videos for the same Sony NEX camera – one video designed for the U.S. market and the other earmarked for Japan – that illustrate the differences that come from localizing a product story.
Check out the videos.
U.S. Video:
It's revealing to break down these differences by area
U.S.: No narration
Japan: Rich narration over the length of the video, providing a full explanation of the camera's functions
U.S: Goes straight to the camera, allowing viewers to understand immediately what the video clip is all about, then moves into people shots
Japan: Starts with an imaginary object then shows technical pictures on how the camera actually works
U.S.: What we would call "bouncy" or "upbeat"
Japan: Soothing
U.S.: 2 minutes, 59 seconds
Japan: 6 minutes, 58 seconds
U.S.: Early 20s
Japan: Anyone
U.S.: You'll have fun with this camera while capturing your life's precious moments
Japan: The quality of the digital single-lens camera has relevance for everyone
Culture Differences
We would be remiss if we didn't touch on the underlying cultural differences that likely guided how these two videos were put together.
Historically, Japan is known as a country with one of the top ratios of saving against income. Consumers tend to be frugal anyway, and the economic recessions since 2000 have put more pressure on Japanese households to save.
Plus, Japanese people tend to be detail-oriented and typically want as much information as possible before they make a purchasing decision.
We don't pretend to be experts on U.S. culture, but it seems fair to say that emotions play an important role in how individuals purchase goods such as consumer electronics. At least that appears to be Sony's belief, since the video is designed to touch the heart more than the mind.
The only somewhat technical element in the U.S. video is the section that shows the camera features the capability to shoot seven frames per second (which, by the way, also appears in the Japanese version).
The respective education systems in the two markets also play a factor in the video.
Japanese consumers are used to listening to narration.
As students, the Japanese classroom puts an emphasis on listening to teachers. Thus, Japanese consumers are used to listening to explanations (narration in this case) and appreciate receiving information this way.
On the other hand, the American classroom emphasizes discussion. Individuals only view narration as one piece of information to help them imagine and understand what the product is about.
We're not saying that narration is never effective in the U.S.
But the typical American isn't going to watch a seven-minute video with narration about a camera.
Yet, the Japanese consumer will listen to the seven minutes of narration because he or she needs this depth of understanding about the product before a purchasing decision is made.
Back to the Big Picture
The point is, there's a limit to the content that can be leveraged from a company's home country in building its brand in new markets.
While the Sony example reflects the consumer space, the same can be said for B2B companies.
It really comes down to relevance.
You want your stories in a given market to be as relevant as possible to the target audience.
That's why it's worth the front-end effort to tailor the communications in such a fashion.
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Interesting perspective.
My first thought was that an approach in Japan should be more like the movie, "The Woman in the Dunes," (adapted from a book by Kobu Abe). The imagery does the work and creates the tension. And tension creates a good story.
Let's face it, Hansel & Gretel didn't just "Live Happily Ever After." They had a few challenges along the way – and by overcoming those challenges, they provided a storyline.
I think in both cases, simplicity is key: of both the message and the delivery of information. Six-minutes is an awfully long video; but perhaps it delivers what's more appealing to a specific demand/audience insight. Ultimately, if I was going to take something away from this it would be: a "storyteller" needs to adjust to his/her audience.
Jamie,
You always add an entertaining perspective.
I think our Japan office would argue that simplicity isn't the key in their home market. People want the technical specs before making a buying decision.
I had the same reaction that six minutes for a a product video is long but apparently it works in Japan.
Pete Ferry
Jamie and Lew,
Good points, but where in the decision cycle is the video inserted? If I haven't decided on a new or replacement camera instead of, say, a Kindle or IPad, the U.S. version is the appropriate tool to influence me to choose a camera. Once I've decided to purchase SOME camera, the Japan version is the better tool, with the objective to persuade me to purchase this PARTICULAR camera. I think that here in America the U.S. Version is better used as a media ad; the Japan version better used as an in-store, or point-of-purchase ad. Give us Americans our due, once I've decided to spend the amount required to purchase a camera at this price level, six minutes is barely enough to help me choose this product over its competitors.
Pete,
Americans aren't going to buy a new camera purely on emotion.
I think it's important to not lose sight that this particular video fits into an overall marketing campaign.
Rather than evaluate the entire campaign, Sayaka and Haruna simply took a look at how Sony's approach to localizing a story changes from Japan to the U.S.
We find many U.S. companies still believe the stories that resonate in the U.S. will also work overseas.
Chris Ferdinandi
So I'm a bit late to the party but…
As a US native, I actually thought the US video was pretty lame. The intro was far too long considering how short the video is. It didn't tell me anything other than "Oh, there's a camera."
I'd want to instantly know what the grab was – the differentiator, why I'd want to pay attention to this camera over others.
The Japanese video was a bit too long for my taste, but even though I cannot speak a word of Japanese, I immediately grasped that this camera was a big camera in a small body. I liked the images at the beginning, too.
If they could have created a video with the length of the US video and the story of the Japanese video, I'd have been one happy camper!
Great post – thanks!
Never too late to drop into the neighborhood–
I'm with you.
The U.S. version had a cliche quality.
Seems fair to say things out of the ordinary can jar our senses.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
sportsCowboys
5 thoughts from Cowboys' win at Eagles: Dallas' playoff hopes remain alive after its most impressive victory of the season
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) motions toward the end zone after moving the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Penn. on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News)(Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)
By Jon Machota
10:41 PM on Nov 11, 2018 CST
PHILADELPHIA -- That was the most entertaining Cowboys game of the season. There was a pregame scuffle, we saw Jason Garrett call a fake punt, Ezekiel Elliott hurdled a guy and Dallas stunned the defending Super Bowl champions at Lincoln Financial Field, 27-20.
Here are my five thoughts on the Cowboys getting their first road win of the season and improving to 4-5:
1. Playoff hopes are still alive. The Cowboys obviously wouldn't have been eliminated with a loss, but let's be honest, they would've been done. They would've fallen three games back of Washington in the division and two back of Philly. But they turned in their most impressive win of the year with their backs against the wall. Not many were picking the Cowboys. But they won, and they are still in the conversation as they enter the toughest stretch of the season. Now, if you're the type that wants Jason Garrett fired regardless of how this season plays out, Sunday night wasn't good for you. And you're definitely not going to want to read this postgame comment from Jerry Jones.
"This is particularly rewarding," Jones said of the win. "We were being laid to bare. This past week and really building up to this past week, we were being really operated on and looked to see what's there. These guys, these players, and frankly Jason [Garrett] and these coaches, when we really cut really deep in this surgery they came out of here and looked like it's not terminal. Seriously. I'll be real clear about that.
"The criticism and the things that have been pointed to this week, throughout, whether it be the coach, whether it be the quarterback, whether it be any other part of this team, is not terminal. I've looked in the wound, and I like what I see."
Let's party. #DALvsPHI #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/nbufGEzflb
— SportsDay Cowboys (@dmn_cowboys) November 12, 2018
2. Dak Prescott didn't get off to a great start. He struggled with his accuracy and decision-making. But he bounced back and improved as the game went on. He finished with 270 yards on 26-of-36 passing with one touchdown and no interceptions. Prescott also had a rushing TD. He takes the heat when they lose, and he deserves credit for how he played in this game. Prescott seems to be building a nice rapport with Amari Cooper. In two games together, Cooper has totaled 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. The only thing they've struggled with is hitting on the deep-ball. Prescott was also very good at getting others involved. Allen Hurns had 2 catches for 40 yards, Cole Beasley had 4 for 37 and Michael Gallup caught 2 for 34. The Cowboys won't go on a run without Prescott continuing to play like he did Sunday night.
"I didn't think it was going to be a hard transition of getting on the same page with him," Prescott said of Cooper. "Once we get that [deep-ball connection down], we'll be tough."
3. The defense started strong, and then it began to look like the group that allowed Marcus Mariota to pick them apart and pull away in the second half last Monday. Dallas' defense gave up a field goal and two touchdowns on the Eagles' first three possessions of the second half. But when Philly needed to answer with a touchdown in the final minutes, Leighton Vander Esch, Jeff Heath and Co. made key plays to get the ball turned over on downs. They then took care of business again during the final 40 seconds. Maybe Kris Richard needs to get in more pregame scuffles. Vander Esch was the defensive player of the game, finishing with a game-high 13 tackles and his first career interception.
"I have high expectations for myself," Vander Esch said. "I'm going to put myself in positions to be successful as soon as I need to be and this is just how it is happening. I have to be able to step up."
4. Ezekiel Elliott called Sunday night's game a must-win. It wasn't a startling statement. It was a must-win. But Elliott backed it up. He had his best game and best highlight of the season. He's had several successful leaping attempts, but Sunday night's was his best on a 32-yard run. He then continued to carry the ball at a 10-yard-per-touch pace well into the final quarter. And then there was the TD catch to put the Cowboys up 20-13 early in the fourth and the go-ahead score. He finished with 151 yards on 19 carries. Elliott said after the game that he felt like the Cowboys saved their season with the win.
"We needed it," Elliott said. "It was absolutely mandatory that we went and got this win if we wanted to keep our hopes up for winning this division and making the playoffs. We had to go out there and win today."
5. There's no way of proving it, but I have my doubts about the Cowboys winning Sunday without Zack Martin. Their best offensive lineman -- and maybe their best overall player -- went down midway through the first quarter. Already playing with a sprained left knee, Martin had the back of his left leg rolled up on at the end of a 2-yard Prescott run. Martin was down for a while before being helped to the sideline medical tent. He then went to the locker room to get his left knee re-taped and his knee brace adjusted. He missed only one series as Adam Redmond filled in. Martin played the rest of the way.
"He's a warrior, simple as that," Prescott said of Martin. "He's the best player on our team. When he goes out like that, it hurts. But then when he shows back up in the huddle, you're not surprised. I told him that right there, 'You're a warrior.' He went out and had a great game after coming back."
The #DallasCowboys score a GIANT divisional win in Philadelphia. They are now 4-5 on the season.
A look at the road ahead... #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/U6xrltrWVR
Jon Machota
jmachota@dallasnews.com @jonmachota
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Big 12 football schedule 2023: Winners, losers and what to expect


Provide technical support for client employees and problem solving for specific segments of client systems or software.
•	Provides first point of contact for inquires submitted via telephone, or click to chat.
•	Under direct supervision, simulates or recreates customer problems to resolve user operating difficulties.
•	Discusses problems or inquiries with other department personnel and offers technical assistance and insures proper handling and follow-up.
•	Communicates customer suggestions for enhancements and insures proper handling and follow-up.
•	Utilize Knowledge Base and Incident tracking system per established SOP.
•	Documents problems and corrective procedures.
•	Assist other technical support and development personnel to determine problem solutions.
•	Keep peers and management informed of trends, scheduled, unscheduled outages and delays in support.
•	Keep customers informed of scheduled and unscheduled down-time events through resolution.
•	Attends on-going training to achieve level of technical skill needed to solve more problems that are complex.
•	Promotes and advocates company security policy(s), procedure(s) and awareness programs.
Associate's degree in computer science or equivalent preferred.
•	One to three years IT Service Desk or similar experience and one to three years Customer Service or similar experience. Must be able to follow established guidelines to accomplish tasks and solve routine problems, referring non-routine matters to management.
•	Knowledge base focused on job duties and the skills required completing duties, with basic knowledge of the organization in order to answer questions and a basic level of technical skills. Knowledge of specialized or technical terminology related to assigned product lines.  Is proficient in troubleshooting computers and related office system tools.  Has strong organizational and interpersonal skills.  Has good written skills to provide details of issues in the incident form.
HOURS:   The client maintains a 24X7X365 support center environment.
Weekdays, weekends, mornings/evening/overnight, full time or part time.
3.    Corresponding Bachelor of Information Systems degree if no certifications have been acquired.


I've been friends with The Cheap Speakers since before The Cheap Speakers. Today, the band announced their end. Fortunately I'll continue to have these friends in my life, no matter what band they may or may not be playing in. This gave me an opportunity to look back at all the times I've taken my camera to a Cheap Speakers show. I've been to many shows, and on occasion I lugged my DSLR with me.
My lord, what a terrible band name. The first time I saw Natalia performing with Brennan in what would eventually become The Cheap Speakers they decided to dub themselves "Door Listen Talk" and we all mocked them for it.
Oh hello, Ruhee and Daniel!
At this point Natalia was on hiatus, but Jamie came in to fill her shoes. Also, I found my first photo of Eric as The Speakers' drummer.
I think this was their EP release party. There's a big gap here, but I assure you, I went to many of The Cheap Speakers' shows, I just didn't take my camera to their home at Rancho, due to the horrible lighting.


Inspired by the vibrancy and rich flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine, this real crowd pleaser of a mid-week meal is quick, healthy and super-tasty. What more could you want?
To Garnish – 125ml natural yogurt mixed with 2 tsp of Sumac Paste.
First off pre-heat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas Mark 4.
Place salmon, skin side down, onto baking paper on a tray, cover each fillet with ½ tsp of Sumac Paste and then bake for 15 minutes until salmon is piping hot.
While the salmon is cooking, place the cherry tomatoes on a separate baking tray and cook in oven for 10 minutes.
Next up pour the boiling water or stock over the couscous In a bowl, cover with cling film and stand for 5 minutes.
Add the finely chopped mint & parsley, ½ jar of the Sumac Paste and the olive oil to the couscous and mix thoroughly before gently adding the cherry tomatoes.
Finally place the salmon on top of the couscous, serve with a generous dollop of Sumac yogurt and wait for the smiles.


Recently, as I sat in a mediation room awaiting the arrival of lawyers and clients I did something I have often done for more than 20 years. I performed an ancient divination ritual. I cast the I Ching.
The I Ching is an ancient Chinese oracle dating back about 3,000 years. It has provided insight and inspiration to the worlds of religion, psychoanalysis, literature, and art. I have found it helpful in the world of conflict resolution as well.
At its core the I Ching is a set of 64 hexagrams – six stacked lines, broken or unbroken – said to represent every possible situation.
Traditionally the hexagram is constructed by the person consulting the oracle line by line by casting forty-nine stalks of the yarrow plant or three coins. Nowadays the internet provides more convenient options.
The hexagram, once complete, links to a message from the text. The best of the English translations of the I Ching, or Book of Changes is still that of Richard Wilhelm, translated from the German in 1950, with a foreword by C. G Jung. Jung was in his 80s when he wrote the foreword which links the I Ching to his theories of archetypes, synchronicity and the limitations of the Western scientific principle of causality. It's well worth the read and can be found here.
I consult the I Ching because I have found that it attunes me to influences (not the least those within me) that I need to be conscious of as I approach the mediation session. Let me share an example.
The recent case I referred to was a multiple party professional negligence claim, involving numerous issues of fact and law and which had given rise to some bad blood among a few of the lawyers involved. I thought some guidance was in order.
The first step in consulting the I Ching is to formulate a question. I find it works best to frame a vague, open question such as, "What influences should I be aware of in today's mediation?" The particular online tool I use can be found here. I type in the question and then I pause. I take deep breaths and concentrate on the question blocking out all distractions. In that state I hit the "cast" button. The hexagram appears immediately.
THE JUDGMENT: DURATION. Success. No blame.
THE IMAGE: Thunder and wind: the image of DURATION.
And does not change has direction.
THE JUDGMENT: THE CALDRON. Supreme good fortune. Success.
THE IMAGE: Fire over wood: The image of THE CALDRON.
By making his position correct.
By the way, the full text of the Wilhelm translation of the I Ching can be found here.
All of this caused me to mindfully reflect on the dynamics of the day: the case, the clients, the lawyers, myself.
No, the case did not settle at this mediation although everyone involved spent two hours in a joint session, without caucusing, during which important procedural agreements were reached which should hasten the ultimate resolution of the matter.
Did the I Ching play a role? Who can say? I consult it for the pragmatic reason that I have found it helps me.
I appreciate some readers of this blog will reject the notion of employing ancient Chinese divination in the context of modern commercial mediation out of hand. I would spend no time trying to persuade them otherwise. Jung acknowledged in his foreword that the I Ching is not for everyone. I can only say that for me it has proven efficacious and I will continue to consult the oracle.


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Husky Energy trades on the OTCMKTS under the ticker symbol "HUSKF."
What price target have analysts set for HUSKF?
9 Wall Street analysts have issued 1 year price targets for Husky Energy's stock. Their predictions range from $19.00 to $23.00. On average, they anticipate Husky Energy's share price to reach $21.00 in the next year. This suggests a possible upside of 91.3% from the stock's current price. View Analyst Price Targets for Husky Energy.
9 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Husky Energy in the last year. There are currently 1 sell rating, 6 hold ratings and 2 buy ratings for the stock, resulting in a consensus recommendation of "Hold." View Analyst Ratings for Husky Energy.
News articles about HUSKF stock have trended somewhat negative on Wednesday, InfoTrie Sentiment Analysis reports. InfoTrie identifies positive and negative news coverage by monitoring more than six thousand news and blog sources in real time. The firm ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative five to positive five, with scores closest to five being the most favorable. Husky Energy earned a media sentiment score of -1.4 on InfoTrie's scale. They also assigned media headlines about the company a news buzz of 2.0 out of 10, meaning that recent news coverage is very unlikely to have an impact on the stock's share price in the next several days.
Some companies that are related to Husky Energy include Black Tusk Resources (TUSK), BP plc 9% Preferred Shares (BP.B), Cona Resources (CONA), ConocoPhillips (BP), NK Rosneft' PAO (RNFTF), OJSC OC ROSNEFT/S GDR REGS (OJSCY), Origin Energy (OGFGY), RDS-A (RDS-A), Royal Dutch Shell (RYDAF) and Total (FP).
Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Husky Energy investors own include Husky Energy (HSE), Bombardier, Inc. Class B (BBD.B), Oncolytics Biotech (ONC), B2Gold (BTO), Magna International (MGA), Oracle (ORCL), Long Run Exploration (LRE), Acasti Pharma (ACST), GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (G1A) and Talktalk Telecom Group (TALK).
Shares of HUSKF can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Scottrade, Fidelity and Charles Schwab.
One share of HUSKF stock can currently be purchased for approximately $10.98.
MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Husky Energy and other stocks. Vote "Outperform" if you believe HUSKF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote "Underperform" if you believe HUSKF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.


There was once a beautiful princess is kidnapped by evil dragon.They imprisoned princess in a cave......King reward the knight who can defeat the dragon and rescued the princess to the National.So player will play two knights embark on the journey of rescue princess!To complete mission of resuce,you need to destory enemies,collect item,reach the exit to into next level! Play Princess Rescue game online. Played 8 times.
Here are some more Princess Rescue related games in girl games category.


The Optic's banner headline on July 23, 1970, was "Highlands Board of Regents Vindicated," followed by an AP wire story reporting that Supreme Court Justice Paul Tackett had dismissed the civil action brought against the regents by District Attorney Tiny Martinez, for their hiring of Charles Graham as university president.
Early education is an investment in the future, an investment that has been shown to reap dividends by study after study.
Igor Gomzin's last wrestling match at the Wilson Complex ended with the Russian's arm raised in victory.
Gomzin was the lone grappler from host New Mexico Highlands to break through Wednesday night in a 32-3 dual-meet loss to Colorado State-Pueblo.
In the 184-pound weight class, with the meet's outcome not in doubt, Gomzin carved out a 6-2 decision against Augie DeSantis.
West Las Vegas got so far in front of Raton in such a short time on Wednesday night, it was like the Dons were speedskating on an ice track in Sochi rather than simply trotting up and down the hardwood of Gillie Lopez Gym.
The Dons (16-6 overall, 6-0 District 2-3A) scored the first 16 points of the evening and retained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way in an 86-31 romp.
The Mora Rangerettes are closing in on another 20-win season.
Their latest triumph came Tuesday, a 56-15 rout of district rival Monte del Sol that boosted Mora's overall record to 18-3 under head coach Mark Cassidy, who recently passed the 300-win mark for his career.
Brianna Pacheco and Destiny Pacheco scored 16 points apiece, and Gerty Herrera had 11 in the win.
Monte del Sol dropped to 9-10.
Last week, the Rangerettes blasted Pecos 68-29 to stay unbeaten in district play.
BOISE, Idaho — Derrick Marks hit two free throws with 13.4 seconds left to lift Boise State to a 71-70 victory over New Mexico Wednesday.
Anthony Drmic scored 18 points and Thomas Bropleh scored all of his 14 in the second half for the Broncos (16-9, 6-6 Mountain West). Ryan Watkins added 12 points and Marks had 11.
• LCC at Western Oklahoma (DH), noon, Altus, Okla.
• NMHU women and men at Colorado Mesa, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Grand Junction, Colo.
Charlie Vigil will soon enter retirement after working at the same place for 62 years. Vigil, 84, will shut down his family's Parisian Cleaners on Friday, marking an end to the more than a century-old Grand Avenue business. Vigil said his decision was a hard one, as the once-flourishing business is now losing money on a monthly basis and has been for the last six months.
When one of the microphones at the city of Las Vegas police dispatch center broke, the police department reached out to Motorola, the maker of the equipment, to get a replacement.
Deputy Chief Eugene Garcia said a company representative politely explained that the city's dispatch equipment was antiquated, and the company no longer carried replacement parts.
The company's suggestion: Try eBay.
"We are operating with an outdated radio system," Commander Ken Jenkins told the City Council Monday night.


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La Linea braced for tougher Covid measures as virus cases spike
By Maria Jesus Corrales and Brian Reyes
La Linea was facing the prospect of a full lockdown on Wednesday as the number of Covid-19 cases jumped.
Data for December 30 – the latest available – showed the rate of spread in the city had reached 1,023 cases per 100,000 citizens, suggested 1.26% of the population was infected with the virus.
Given the incubation period of the virus, the data does not yet cover the period of the Christmas and New Year holidays, with the number of active cases expected to rise even further in the coming days.
La Linea now accounts for about half of all Covid-19 active cases in the Campo de Gibraltar, or 47.8% of total cases in the region according to the latest data from Spanish health authorities.
Of the 1,667 cases in the Campo as of December 30, 798 were in La Linea.
And while the Campo infection rate per 100,000 citizens stood at 433, La Linea's was more than double that at 1,023 per 100,000, a figure that has doubled in just two days.
By way of comparison, the rate of infection in the province of Cadiz was 221.8 cases per 100,000 citizens.
La Linea had until now escaped the worst of the pandemic as it swept across the rest of the country. As of December 30 though, 38.96% of all cases detected in the city since the start of the pandemic were active, compared to 16.11% in the rest of the Campo.
Juan Franco, the mayor of La Linea, said the data was "quite worrying", adding that he expected the Junta de Andalucia to increase the public health alert ranking in the city to "extreme risk" on Friday, placing La Linea into 'level 4' measures.
The Junta is expected to hold a meeting on Friday to consider the situation in the region and "it's more than likely" that it will tighten Covid-19 restrictions for La Linea.
"This will mean tougher measures to stem the rate of infection," Mr Franco said.
"Let's hope we can flatten the curve of infection, which is very worrying."
In effect, increasing the city's threat level to 'level 4' would mean prohibiting all non-essential activities and could include a social lockdown.
The measure would have to be decided by the Junta, although the city council has already taken steps to cancel public events against the backdrop of mounting community concern and calls for a lockdown in order to halt the spread of the virus.
Mr Franco said the parties represented in the council had agreed to transmit the city's concern to the Junta.
Jesus Aguirre, responsible for health matters at the Junta, had last week expressed concern to the central Madrid government about hospital capacity in La Linea, in particular for acute patients in need of intensive care.
At the time, up to 25% of beds in the hospital's critical care unit were already occupied.
Accident and Emergency services were also under immense pressure.
On Monday alone, frontline health personnel attended over 200 people more than usual, many of them who were attending the hospital's A&E service with mild symptoms but requesting Covid tests.
Hospital helplines also registered huge numbers of calls and it was not clear how many people were in self isolation in the city.
Earlier this week, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told Canal Sur that Spain and Gibraltar were "collaborating and cooperating closely" to coordinate their response to Covid-19.
"We've done that with all our neighbours - Andorra, Portugal, France and also Gibraltar - from the outset, and we'll continue doing so," she said.
And she dismissed speculative media reports suggesting the surge in La Linea was the result of the more contagious so-called "UK strain", a single case of which had been detected in Gibraltar in November.
She said Gibraltar, in common with Spain, had taken steps "since December" to restrict who could travel from the UK, adding that controlling the spread of Covid-19 "is not a solo effort, it's a joint effort".
"There has been a lot of focus on this [strain] in particular, but this is just one of hundreds of strains that have appeared in Spain over recent months, and Spain is one of the countries that has registered the most variety of strains," Mrs Gonzalez Laya said.
And she added: "We speak daily to the authorities in Gibraltar to ensure we have all the necessary information and exercise all the necessary controls to control Covid."
"This is a very delicate moment in the evolution of Covid in our country, not just in the Campo de Gibraltar, and it's important to remember that each of us as citizens has to exercise extreme care so that we don't lose control of this."
"It's a very serious situation and we all have to be extremely responsible."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Our reporters are working round-the-clock to bring you the latest news on Gibraltar and the Covid-19 crisis. All our coverage on this critical issue is available free outside the paywall. If you find it useful, please help us reach more people by sharing our journalism. And if you want to support our work further, please consider subscribing to the digital version of our daily newspaper and all our premium online content. You can subscribe via our website or for iOS devices via the iTunes store. Thank you.


A Japanese SEO agency's website.
This site makes good use of section, article and hgroup to produce a well structured document, and also correctly uses small in the footer to wrap the copyright notice. The type attributes could have been left out of the script and stylesheet link elements though.


text:
Sine Institute Fellows Look Ahead at the 2022 Midterms with "Policy, Politics, and Predictions"
You are here: American University News Sine Institute Fellows Look Ahead at the 2022 Midterms with "Policy, Politics, and Predictions"
Communications, Journalism, & Media
Government, Politics, & Law
University Communications & Marketing
The conversation aired on C-SPAN and included a variety of perspectives and takeaways from recent state primaries and the importance of specific policies on voter turnouts
By Benjamin Bryant | August 24, 2022
The 2022 US midterm elections will be held on November 8.
American University's Sine Institute of Policy & Politics hosted an experienced and diverse group of Sine Institute Fellows for a virtual conversation August 18 looking ahead at the 2022 midterm elections.
Guests included former U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock, political analyst Bill Kristol, food policy expert and Table 81 founder Katherine Miller, and former Univision White House correspondent Janet Rodriguez, who all sat down with Sine executive director Amy Dacey for the discussion.
The conversation aired on C-SPAN and included a variety of perspectives and takeaways from recent state primaries, the importance of specific policies on voter turnouts, and the impact of recent events and legislation on the upcoming midterms and beyond.
Below are a few excerpts from the conversation. Watch the full event here.
"Trump has raised lots of money in the past week. That's money that's not going to Republican candidates. People protesting down at Mar-a-Lago aren't getting you a single vote in a swing district. Trump reappearing at this time is a contribution both financially and vote-wise to Democrats in the House as well as the Senate." – Barbara Comstock
"We're in uncharted waters. And I think when you're in unchartered waters, some of these trends don't always continue in the same direction. I also think students should learn the history and political science and remember that it's usually a pretty good guide until it's not a good guide. But if there's any time it's not going to be a good guide, it's this year." – Bill Kristol
"I think the next 82 days are going to be very interesting. We always say that, but there's a lot at play here. It's national momentum related to issues and challenges, localized efforts, and then we're really going to have to pay attention to voter suppression and voter protection efforts across the country. We should all be voting on the issues we care about. We see this with abortion taking the front row motivating a lot of voters. So issues are going to take a play in this election cycle, but wow, it's going to be a ride." – Katherine Miller
"In news, 82 days to go before the midterms is a lifetime! We don't have a crystal ball about what we're going to see in the news cycle a month before, a week before, or even a day before the elections. We know that people go to the polls right with what's happening in their communities, in their pockets, and in their minds right before the elections. That could swing with world events, scandals, and anything that comes out in the mdeia right before the elections." – Janet Rodriguez
The Sine Summer Series built on AU's Challenge Accepted campaign, which highlights the passionate and engaged AU community and the meaningful change it creates in local, national, and global pursuits.


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Home Expert viewpoint Thales EVP Yannick Assouad's comment piece on LinkedIn: 'The systems enabling tomorrow's increasingly connected passenger experience'
Thales EVP Yannick Assouad's comment piece on LinkedIn: 'The systems enabling tomorrow's increasingly connected passenger experience'
Aug 26. 2021 Yannick Assouad, EVP Avionics at Thales, has published an opinion piece on LinkedIn that focuses on cabin connectivity, and the levers enabling passengers to enjoy the kind of travel experience at 30,000 feet that is comparable to anything they are accustomed to enjoying at ground level!
Yannick Assouad, Avionics EVP at Thales, has published a new opinion piece on LinkedIn in which she talks about the progress being achieved in the field of cabin connectivity.
In it she identifies the technological levers and value-added services enabling airline passengers to use and enjoy their online apps, streaming services and social media in flight... in short, the kind of travel experience at 30,000 feet that is comparable to anything they are accustomed to at ground level!
Featuring interesting and easy-to-understand technical information about satellite communications and customizable in-flight entertainment systems, the article serves as a great introduction to the advances in cabin technologies that we are proud to be spearheading at Thales!
Read the full article on LinkedIn by clicking here.
Feel free to share with your own networks and to follow Yannick Assouad so as to automatically receive future updates!
#connected aircraft #Connectivity #In flight entertainment
Focus Dec 01. 2020
Introducing Ready to Fly, a portfolio of solutions for a safer and healthier travel journey
After introducing its strategy for a low carbon future enabling a 10% reduction of aircraft CO2 emissions by 2023, Thales is supporting its global airline...
Business Oct 27. 2020
In-flight broadband reaches new highs with 4G solution from Thales, Nokia and SkyFive
Following successful rollout across Europe, Thales in the UK, Nokia and SkyFive are launching a new 4G LTE Air to Ground (A2G) solution to a global market....
Expert viewpoint Jun 23. 2020
LinkedIn opinion piece: Pinpointing the levers that will enable a rebound in the aviation sector
Gil Michielin, Thales EVP for Avionics, has published another opinion piece on LinkedIn. In it, he talks about some of the key vectors that will get passengers back in the air.
© THALES 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Some people will want to vote Lib Dem as the most effective vote for those wishing to minimise the number of Conservative MPs. But others will not want to vote Lib Dem given their role in the coalition and refusal to rule out a further deal with the Tories. We do not take sides in that debate, and leave it up to people to make up their own mind.
For those who decide not to tactically vote Lib Dem, this is a suitable seat for Labour supporters to swap and for Greens to vote Green, as this is not a Labour target. Use the button below if you are a Labour supporter willing to swap your vote to Green.
This is an official Conservative Party target.


This morning was a typical Monday, which is set aside for administrative tasks. It's quite mundane and repetitive which can get boring but as I was paying the bills I was drawn to write about luck. Is paying bills a lucky notion?
As I sat there writing checks and making sure they were paid on time I thought, this is really such a chore and it's not something I really look forward to. But then my mind started racing at the thought of actually being able to pay the bills. How many others aren't lucky enough to pay bills? There are some that are financially secure with so much money available that maybe they don't watch over their finances to one day wake up having cars repossessed or having home repossessed. Then there are others that just can't seem to have enough funds to pay bills but it somehow always works out. Would you represent luck with either one of these individuals?
I consider myself lucky every day! We are not rich, we do not have an extravagant home or expensive vehicle's but what we do have is a roof over our head and vehicles to drive plus a vision to turn thoughts into actions. Sure our family has days when everything gets turned upside down and at the end of the day you ask yourself, how did it get this way? If you stop to think about what has happened and truly ask yourself what can I learn from today's events, you put yourself in a different mindset.
I am blessed and thankful to the higher divine for making it possible for me to pay these bills on time.
I am blessed and thankful to my spirit guides and angels for directing me in paths that bring forth financial stability.
You can retrain your thought patterns to bring more luck into your life. Take a moment to look around and take notice of what is already in your life. Be thankful and grateful each day for what you already have and you will start to notice the luck that is presented to you. Just as I had thought negatively about the mundane task of paying bills I turned it around to be a positive action. This gave me great satisfaction even if it was for a few minutes. These few minutes' turn into hours and days once you change your thought patterns.
So right now as you read this, think of how lucky you are to be able to have a computer in front of you, to be able to see with your eyes to read, to be able to use your hands, or even lucky that you made it out of bed today. This is how you can consider yourself lucky! Not because you have tons of money in the bank but because you are actually here living and learning with each action!
Did you know that your front entryway could actually bring luck knocking at your door? When facing your front door from outside, what do you see? Are there cobwebs, overgrown plants, dead plants, working light, or a doorbell? Is it inviting or can you even see your front door? What do you want to present to others or the universe? Making adjustments to your front door is the first step to inviting luck into your life. But you must also be in a mindset of welcoming this new energy into your home. Is your entry welcoming, inviting and present the type of message you would like to convey to the outside world? Question is, Are you inviting Luck into your home, office or life?


NuAire, Inc. - Best Products. Best Performance. Best Protection.
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NuAire's cabinets utilize State-of-the-Art Electronic Systems and are ergonomically design for user comfort and adjustability. A variety of options and accessories allow the cabinet to be tailored to each user's individual needs. With better construction, less maintenance, and lower operating costs, our cabinets are safer, and longer lasting.
NuAire's Dual Heat Decontamination (DHD) AutoFlow NU-5510 Incubator is the most advanced Incubator for today's laboratory professional. Offering features not found in other Incubators, satisfying even the most demanding environment.
The NU-5510 offers dual heat decontamination cycles, with both a 95˚C wet decontamination, and a 145˚C dry sterilization cycle. These cycles prove useful for research changes between cell lines and when working with hazardous agents.
NuAire's NU-5510 Incubator attains constant contamination control by featuring an advanced HEPA filtration system, minimizing contamination. It employs a low-velocity airflow assuring the delicate environment needed for culture growth is undisturbed.
Through superior design and technology, the NU-5510 precisely controls temperature, humidity, and CO2 level, offering the highest level of performance and dependability for optimum growth conditions. Designed with the most advanced features available for research and laboratory work using in vitro models of in vivo environments.
NuAire's Ultralow Freezers NuAire's freezers are environmentally safe using HFC CFC-Free Refrigerants, CFC-Free Polyurethane foamed in-place insulation with a low noise operation of 49 dB(A).
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Our freezers utilize a Microprocessor control system with both audible and visual alarms, continuous self diagnostics, digital temperature display, set point security system, complete with battery back-up, filter check and remote alarm contacts. The most dependable freezer on the market for your laboratory needs.


upbeat illustrations—and helps grown-ups interact with children. "Isn't that pig silly? What do you think will happen next?" Adults learn to relax and enjoy the "conversation"—"bah doo bah doink." Parents can invite story connections to personal life. "A piggy needs kindness. Wasn't Grandma kind to bring us flowers yesterday?" A well-chosen book and a suggested home activity help parents create a heart-to-heart intimacy with their child. Library play-and-learn centers magnetically draw children into the kind of play that engages and inspires them. Grown-ups and children—by talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing—can enter into this world of discovery.
One of the beauties of Google Books is the ability to search the entire text of millions of items, bypassing the necessity of hunting down known items or even familiarity with the published literature on the topic. All the patron needs is the name of an ancestor or a historical curiosity to begin the search. This article will focus on ways average readers, librarians, and genealogists can enrich their research in surprising ways by the variety of materials beyond mere monographs that are contained in Google Books.


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Russian navy test fires submarine-launched missile
A Delta IV-class Russian nuclear submarine.
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian military says it has successfully test-fired a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile.
The Defense Ministry said the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear-powered submarine launched the Bulava missile Monday from a submerged position in the Barents Sea.
The ministry said the missile's mock warheads reached their designated targets on the opposite side of Russia — the Kura shooting range on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Bulava, which has been commissioned by the Russian navy after a long cycle of development, carries six nuclear warheads and has a range of up to 9,300 kilometers (about 5,770 miles).
The Yuri Dolgoruky is the first in a series of Borei-class submarines carrying the Bulava. Russia now has three such submarines, and five more are under construction to gradually replace some of the older Soviet-built ones.
SEE ALSO: US Marines are extending their deployment to Norway, and it's already irked Russia
NOW WATCH: The USMC is interested in this hybrid of a speedboat and a submarine called the HyperSub
More: Associated Press Russia submarine Intercontinental


I like money. There, I just wanted to get that off my chest.
Well, there's actually a little more than that. My approach to handling money, or more specifically the money set aside for retirement has recently changed pretty radically. Formerly I treated my retirement plan like, say, cleavage. Yeah sure let's go with that. That is to say, it's okay to steal a glance every now and again but not something you should fixate on despite urges to the contrary.
That was basically my plan. Put some amount in a retirement account, let it do its thing and when you retire hopefully something good happened. Like a time capsule you open up years later and hope it's not filled with Pogs. I'd also heard that you should try to save 15% of your income which, had I actually taken to heart as I began my professional career, might have made a difference. Further I've never been what you'd call frugal, nor was I a spendthrift. I just didn't give a lot of thought to a financial plan apart from throw a little money over your shoulder into a retirement account and try to pay down debt whenever possible. I like simple and stress free, but now realize that perhaps I was just postponing the eventual complexity and stress when there's probably a happy medium assuming it's addressed with enough time.
So, we recently reached a significant financial milestone and it started me thinking, you know retirement is really not that far away. I'll be 62 in 14 years. My youngest child is 16. His birth really doesn't seem that long ago and in less time that that I'll be SIXTY-TWO! So this is a thing that's going to happen and I'm starting to wonder how my (finger quotes) "plan" (finger quotes) is going to work out. I'm sure you'll be surprised to know that, after careful deliberation, I realized that the original plan is a bit of a disaster.
I could go into detail, and in fact I may at some later date, on exactly how I plan to address this (basically this), but I wanted to just throw this out there: if you don't have a real retirement plan and some means of tracking your progress, you really owe it to yourself to sit down and take a long hard look and attempt to formulate one. There are a number of sites out there that can help you determine first what you'll likely need to cover annual expenses, next what you'll need to plan on saving to cover these expenses, and also how best to put all of this together in a way that gives you the best chance at success. I'm partial to Personal Capital myself, but Betterment also has some nice tools available. I'm sure there are many others. If you provide honest and conservative estimates with regard to your financial needs the results may surprise you. You may, as we did, need to take steps to radically change your lifestyle, saving, and spending habits to get back on track.
I keep thinking about this: before I started paying attention I would have thought $1,000,000 was a lot of money. I mean it is, but it's really not that much money when you consider that the sort of standard rule of thumb is that you should plan on drawing your retirement saving down by no more than 4% annually. That means if you want to be able to count on paying yourself $50,000 a year (which is less than the average household income) then you should plan on a nest egg totaling $1,250,000! This was a bit of a revelation to me. I'd simply not given it much thought. But now I realize that I would no longer categorize a millionaire as super wealthy. It's really what every single household needs to work towards if they want to go into retirement with any degree of comfort.


The Klingon language (tlhInghan Hol) is an artificial language created by Marc Okrand to use in Star Trek serial. The language is spoken mainly by Star Trek fans. Currently, the Klingon Language Institute (KLI) manage the language.
This page was last edited on 22 July 2018, at 22:52.


How to connect a PTZ to access the OSD and PTZ menus, and how to set presets all at the DVR!
At first thought, the very idea of drilling holes in the walls of your house to run video and power cables for a security camera system might seem a bit difficult and tedious, but with a little bit of information and planning it can turn into an enjoyable and ultimately rewarding project. At times, it is very easy to install a security camera system in your home.
First you will want to find where your roof meets the walls of your house. This will prove to be a great location for your security cameras because it will shield the cameras from the outside elements, such as rain, snow, wind and the sun. Another good reason to place cameras in a location such as near the roof is that not only will it provide you with a good area view of your new security camera system, but it will also reduce the risk of vandalism.
Another really good advantage of placing cameras near your roof is when you are running video and power cables it makes the job that much easier since there is usually a small gap or hole between the roof and the wall where cables can be run. This in turn will eliminate the need to drill even more holes in to your home.
Once you have your location picked out and your cameras in place you will want to double-check the coverage of each camera for an optimal view. They do have special CCTV design software which can help you choose optimal camera locations. There are demo versions of such software that will enable you to import your site plan, add cameras and different walls, choose the coverage you would like, get an angle view of each camera, find the required lens focal length, and even create 3D mock ups. Good planning of your new security camera system is very important and will ultimately save you a lot of time and headaches.
Cabling is another important factor to consider when choosing your properly placed security camera system. The best idea is to use the industry standard when it comes to cabling, RG59 Siamese cable. It is the type of cable that has been used to install many CCTV systems. The RG59 Siamese cable has one video cable and one 2-wire power cable (positive and negative), thus it's name, Siamese.
Soon you will need to find a point of entrance from the outside of your home to the inside for the cabling. Most homes have some sort of attic which is an ideal location to run your RG59 cables. From the attic you'll want to designate one area for the set up of your DVR (digital video recorder) and also for your monitor.
Once you have designated an area or a room for the location of your DVR and monitor you'll want to bring all of the cables to this room from the attic.
If your RG 59 cables came with BNC connectors already attached to the line then you are ready to connect the cabling to your digital video recorder. If the cables came without the BNC connectors already attached then you will need to crimp each end on to the cabling and then connect it to your DVR.
When it comes to the power options for your new security camera system you have two choices. You can run each power line separately into an outlet using pig tails and an AC adapter. Or you can get a power supply box and plug all of the power lines into the power supply box and at this point you would only have one power line that you would need to go to an outlet. Keep in mind though that your monitor will also need power. So at this point you would have all of your lines ran and the power supply figured out so all you need to do is power your digital video recorder (DVR) and your monitor.
A power supply box is very ideal for many reasons and one of them being that your power to the security camera system is centralized to one outlet, and if there was ever an issue it is more easily diagnosed and corrected versus having the cabling ran to different power outlets.
At this point if all of your cabling has been ran properly and you have connected it to your power supply box or to your power outlets, and you have also powered up your digital video recorder (DVR) and your monitor it's about time to start playing with your DVR and learning the functions of the unit. You can set it to record continuously or set it up where your cameras start recording when they detect motion, or you can even set them up to continuously record between certain times of the day or night. You can even take your new security camera system to another level and look into installing access controls which can help you take your home system to another level of protection.
Another option you have with your new security camera system is being able to view your cameras remotely either from a smart phone or from any computer or laptop with an internet connection. This function may take a little playing around with your new digital video recorder to get it all set up properly but this too is a task that is well worth the effort.
Think about it for a minute. You just got your brand new security camera system all set up and now you'd like to go away for the weekend and not have to worry about the home front. You have everything all set up and you bring your laptop along which you can get an Internet connection from just about anywhere with it. Now you will be able to log into your digital video recorder and view live footage of your newly secured home and you are even able to play back footage from any particular time that you choose. You are now also able to view footage from a particular camera on a wide screen single format or you can choose to switch views to see multiple cameras at the same time.
So this concludes my opinion on setting up a security camera system for your home.


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Ridout bungalow in family row almost sold
A PRIME good-class bungalow that has been caught up in a 10-year-long family dispute is finally close to being sold.
The new owner of the 73,277 sq ft site at 35 Ridout Road is expected to be revealed around May 22 after a tender process that attracted a top bid of about $85 million.
But it has been a fractious journey to get to this point.
The property was the family home of the late property investor Chow Cho Poon, who died in 1997, leaving his estate to his wife and three sons. His daughter was left just $1,000. However, she will get more from her mother's bequest.
Nine properties in the estate, including the office building Chow House, which is now being redeveloped into Crown at Robinson, were sold for about $175 million in 2010.
But his will sparked friction and held up its execution.
Then Mr Chow's wife executed a deed of trust and a deed of family agreement to redistribute her share of his estate as well as her own assets.
The sprawling home in Ridout Road that had been left to her was placed in a trust, which also contained shares, cash, jewellery and other objects. Her sons were to get a 30 per cent cut each and her daughter, 10 per cent.
The rest of her assets went into an estate, from which her sons would get one-third each and her daughter, $500,000.
But this just clouded the legal waters. After she died in 2002, the estates of both parents could not be settled due to outstanding debts and loans that were disputed.
Assets had mainly been tied up as shares in the companies, but this was resolved when the firms were liquidated following a court order in 2008. The death of both parents and the tangled wills ignited bitter disputes among the children that have involved many legal actions.
The daughter, Mrs Betty Sheares, sued her brothers in 2004, claiming they failed to give her any information on the administration of the trust.
In 2005, youngest brother Kwok Ching, an eye surgeon, sued the other two, claiming they acted oppressively against him as a minority shareholder in the family's companies.
The firms were later ordered to be wound up on the application of eldest son Kwok Chi, who is also an eye surgeon.
"Looking at the actions of the parties over the years, the outlook for an amicable resolution of their various difficulties with one another appears bleak," said Justice Judith Prakash at the time, adding that a clean break could benefit them all and "reduce the prospect of further litigation".
No one has lived in the house since Mrs Chow died. The three brothers live in Hong Kong and Mrs Sheares lives elsewhere in Singapore.
But that has not stopped disputes arising over it.
While some simply wanted it sold at the best market price, second son Kwok Chuen, an architect, said in an affidavit he strongly opposed the sale of the house, which was purchased by his late father in the 1950s.
"I have many fond memories of my family in the property (and) am sure my siblings share the same sentiments… It has always been my late mother's wish and intention for the property to remain within the family and preserve our family heritage," he said.
He could not buy out his siblings' shares, but asked the court to direct that the property be subdivided into four plots, with the family home retained.
The siblings also squabbled over items in the house. These included two portraits of the parents, said to have been done by the late Singapore pioneer artist Liu Kang, and 174 pieces of jewellery.
A resolution drew nearer in 2011 when Padang Trust Singapore, appointed that year by the sons as the new trustee of the trust set up by Mrs Chow, sought guidance from the High Court, including what to do with the house.
The court ordered that the property be put up for tender, with the trustee to then conduct an auction among the four siblings within a month after the tender closed to give them the right to top the highest bid.
But if any of them sought to buy the property, they were barred from using their entitlement as a beneficiary against the purchase price.
Now, more than 10 years after the death of both parents, Mrs Sheares, who is the daughter-in-law of the late president Benjamin Sheares, and her brothers stand to get millions.
The Ridout Road property was put up for tender by DTZ in March and the tender closed last month with nearly 10 bids, the highest at about $85 million. A re-tender late last month could have resulted in an even higher bid.
The site of the two-storey bungalow, with two single-storey outhouses, is large enough to be divided into four plots of good-class bungalow land, DTZ said.
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/business/property/story/ridout-bungalow-family-row-almost-sold-20150505#sthash.fy8Qcw3b.dpuf
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TechCrunch's Picks: The Top 5 Companies From StartX's Summer 2012 Demo Day
Billy Gallagher 10 years
18 companies presented at the StartX summer demo day today. The summer 2012 class is StartX's seventh and largest class; the accelerator, started in 2010, has graduated more than 90 companies in its history, about 85 percent of which have received funding.
If you're unfamiliar with StartX, it's a non-profit startup accelerator at Stanford. StartX companies own their intellectual property and StartX does not take equity in the companies. In order to apply to StartX, at least one co-founder, who owns significant equity, needs to have enrolled at Stanford within the last three academic quarters.
Here are our five favorite companies from today, in no particular order:
LawGives
LawGives wants to make online legal services a trusted service, instead of bringing shady lawyers like Lionel Hutz from the Simpsons to mind. Claiming that lawyers spend around $16 billion to find clients per year, the founders say the process is "still stuck in the 1940s." The founders are Oxford- and Stanford-educated lawyers and focused on trust as they key to their success in their presentation. They already have big-name partners, like Mozilla and Ashoka, and say legal firms are "on board" as it saves them money. (BG)
Veebot
No one likes venipuncture, that horrible medical procedure in which doctors or nurses try to insert IVs or draw blood by sticking a needle or tube or whatever else into your vein. Part of that is due to the rate of failure: According to Veebot co-founder Richard Harris, 30 percent of venipuncture procedures fail. Not only is that hugely painful for patients, but it results in all sorts of delays in medical procedures and recovery. Well, what if nurse practitioners could find a vein and insert an IV with a 98 percent success rate? Wouldn't that be better? That's what Veebot seeks to do. The startup has designed a device that automates venipuncture, which has a unique vein-viewing system that accurately finds and insert stuff into. It's all above my head and frankly creeps me out a little bit, but if it keeps me from fainting the next time my doctor needs to draw blood, I'm all for it. (RL)
Addy wants to update your physical address, noting how long ago they were created and how they are not standardized, to a more convenient, URL-based system. The URL brings up a map on web browser and smart phones, showing the address and relevant extra information, which you can self-enter (like where to park, which unit, etc.). The company says it is focusing on event-location sharing right now, with an API coming soon. (BG)
Xola
So about 80 percent of travellers scramble to the Internet when they're looking for cool experiences while staying in interesting new places, but only about 30 percent of local guides have a web presence. And even those who do might find it difficult to manage. Xola is a marketplace for experiences, allowing guides to list on the site and for travellers to find them, sort of like an Airbnb for cultural exchange. Granted, Xola isn't alone in this pursuit — there's YC-backed Vayable and others trying to do the same thing — but no one's cracked it quite yet, so I still consider this a wide-open field worth exploring. (RL)
Roominate
Maykah's founders, three female Stanford graduate students, want to improve girls' toy aisles from just "pink and princesses" by blurring the lines between toys and education. They want to make toys for the next generation of women, encouraging girls to explore, create and build. The company's first product, Roominate, is a fully wired dollhouse that teaches young girls about electronics. Roominate hit its Kickstarter goal in five days and has already sold over 1,500 units, with thousands on the waiting list. I'm excited to see how this company scales as it produces more toys; who knows, maybe the influence of the toys in girls' early-stage development could even lead to more female engineers in tech companies over the coming decades. (BG)


•Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute onion and pepper in oil until tender. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, corn, taco sauce, chili powder and cayenne; heat through. Stir in cooked rice.
•Spoon 3/4 cup mixture down the center of each tortilla. Add toppings if desired. Yield: 8 servings.


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UNSC snub, FATF warning are positive signs but tackling Pakistan's nuclear blackmail will require kinetic action
Islamabad escaped being blacklisted for now, but it has bought time only until May to clean up its act or risk getting downgraded further.
Sreemoy Talukdar February 23, 2019 08:37:29 IST
India's plan of ostracising Pakistan is not without merit
China will be mindful of the increasing costs of backing Pakistan
FATF sanctions can bite Pakistan's economy
The subcontinent is the latest geopolitical hotbed. Ever since the Cabinet Committee on Security met and decided to isolate Pakistan over its role in Pulwama terror attacks, Indian diplomatic corps have been hard at work. Urgency in Indian effort is visible. Some recent results have come by way of a scathing UNSC statement and a decision by the FATF the global terror-financing watchdog – to keep Pakistan boxed in the "grey list". Islamabad has escaped being blacklisted for now but it has bought time only until May this year to clean up its act or risk getting downgraded further.
Statecraft is often invisible and largely unsexy. India fancies itself as an emerging power and looks to project at least a part of the power that it has accrued by way of being the world's fastest-growing large economy. It hopes to mould opinion at international institutions such as the United Nations, Financial Action Task Force or the International Court of Justice. India is increasingly confident that it has a say in global matters, and the world deserves to take it seriously. Its plan, therefore, of globally ostracising Pakistan is not without merit even if it clashes with geopolitical realities.
Representational image. Reuters
The larger point, however, remains unanswered. Is diplomatic pressure, snub at the United Nations or even choking of financing networks by global watchdogs enough to change the behaviour of a dysfunctional nation that uses nuclear blackmail to carry out jihad and asymmetric warfare? Can Pakistan, which has shown itself in the past to be quite shameless and unaffected by global opprobrium over its use of terror as a foreign policy tool, understand any other action except kinetic?
There should be no doubt that the UN statement, issued by the Security Council condemning unequivocally and unanimously the "heinous and cowardly" Pulwama attack, and naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad as the perpetrator is a diplomatic 'win' for India. The statement, in fact, is quite extraordinary in its lack of ambiguity on terror emanating from Pakistani soil and the need for financiers, perpetrators and sponsors of terror to be brought to book.
Though the UNSC statement was uploaded on the official UNSC website only on Friday night (IST), India's ministry of external affairs had posted it on Twitter a day earlier.
Pakistan comes under international pressure to act against terrorists & terror groups operating from areas under its control & to take action against those responsible for Pulwama attack. UNSC strongly condemns cowardly suicide bombing in #Pulwama by JeM. #TimeToAct pic.twitter.com/WRTkGuCt20
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 22, 2019
The relevant paragraph in the UNSC media statement goes further and points to the work that must have gone on behind the scenes that made it possible for UNSC to deviate from its anodyne statements and reflect India's position and language on Pulwama. Pakistan's name wasn't taken but the clear mention of JeM that operates out of Pakistani soil and targets Indian citizens – leaves hardly any space for doubt.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in over 40 Indian paramilitary forces dead and dozens wounded on February 14, 2019, for which Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility," the statement read.
It goes on to add: "The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of India and all other relevant authorities in this regard."
It is clear that the last few lines starting from "urged all States..." are a reference to China. Beijing is being asked rather plainly to "cooperate actively with India" and "all other relevant authorities" (read the United Nations Security Council) on holding the organizers and perpetrators accountable. In this specific context, it is an advice to China that it should revise its 'technical hold' strategy to help 'iron brother' Pakistan and let the UNSC designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist under the 1267 Committee. Whether or not that move may translate into any real difference on the ground is debatable. But the symbolic value of Azhar being labelled and sanctioned by the UN should not be underestimated.
It is understandable that China wasn't happy with the statement. This was hinted at by Syed Akbaruddin India's Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the UN – and carried in media reports.
A statement with many firsts takes more time than expected.
In complex diplomatic situations, however, it is better to be late than never. #zerotolerance4terror#JaiHind pic.twitter.com/2ZbIg1wYh0
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) February 22, 2019
A report in The Times Times of India notes that though Pulwama happened on 14 February, the UNSC statement condemning the attack took a week because China was against the language used in the document. Beijing kept delaying its issuance even though 14 of the 15 permanent and non-permanent UNSC members were ready to release it by 15 February.
Pakistan also left no stone unturned to block the release of the UNSC condemnation of the attack. Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's letter to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on 18 February seeking UN intervention in the issue – and Pakistan Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi's meeting with top UN delegates on Pulwama terror attack apparently went in vain.
It is no less important to note that despite its reluctance and delaying tactics, China eventually came on board to release the UNSC statement that stops just short of accusing Pakistan by name for its complicity in the terror attack. China may still be unwilling to back France's attempt when Paris moves a proposal to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar, but it will be mindful of the increasing costs of backing the pariah nation.
On the FATF front, India's attempt to get Pakistan blacklisted due to Pulwama terror strikes did not materialise but the tone and tenor of the statement released by the global terror financing watchdog indicates that Islamabad has little to celebrate. Pakistan was 'grey listed' in June last year and after two subsequent reviews, the FATF has decided that Islamabad has failed to satisfactorily implement the 27-point action plan. This means unless Pakistan ceases to serve as a conduit for global terror financing and money-laundering by May 2019, it will be demoted to the dreaded 'blacklist' that may make it difficult for Pakistan's struggling economy to get financial bailout packages.
Though India's immediate objective wasn't served, it may note with satisfaction that the Paris-based FATF has noted "with grave concern" and condemned "the violent terrorist attack last week that killed 40 Indian security forces in Pulwama." It stated that "such attacks cannot occur without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters..." and added that "Pakistan does not demonstrate a proper understanding of the terror financing risks posed by JuD, LeT, JeM, and persons affiliated with the Taliban... Pakistan should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies."
Prima facie and taken together, these developments hint at Pakistan moving slowly but inexorably towards the denouement. FATF sanctions can bite its economy and paralyse it even further, though some experts have noted that Pakistan has been blacklisted before (from 2012 to 2015) and it didn't harm its ability "to get an IMF programme of $5 billion." Its exports too remained "relatively stable".
That's where the rubber hits the road for India. It can get the world to condemn Pakistan and even choke its terror-sponsoring conduits but it is tough to change the behaviour of a country that negotiates with the world with a gun pointed at its own head.
Updated Date: February 23, 2019 10:23:01 IST
Government Of Pakistan
After Punjab, now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly dissolved in Imran Khan's bid for early general elections
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Pakistan: Efforts made to disqualify me from politics, says Imran Khan
Khan added, 'they are trying their best' to disqualify him ahead of the general elections in the country, adding that 'new cases are being registered' against him every other day
Bankrupt Pakistan going the Sri Lanka way as mass starvation looms
The economic crisis in Pakistan is similar to the levels faced by Sri Lanka, which had gone through a similar situation prior to its default. Pakistan is now at the same juncture
On Friday, a 21-year-old resident to a synagogue in East Jerusalem and opened fire during the Jewish Sabbath. Seven people were killed in the attack
IMF approves $105 mn in emergency aid to Haiti amid growing humanitarian crisis
The measure is used to provide rapid access to emergency funds to states facing food insecurity, particularly in the event of unexpected shocks in the import of grains or a sudden rise in prices
Jaishankar holds talks with Sri Lankan counterpart, calls on President Wickremesinghe
Sri Lanka, which is trying to secure a USD 2.9 billion bridge loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was negotiating to get financial assurances from its major creditors - China, Japan and India - which is the requisite for Colombo to get the bailout package
China offers Sri Lanka debt moratorium as IMF help remains doubtful
Earlier in January, India wrote to the IMF saying it would commit to supporting Sri Lanka with financing and debt relief, but the island nation also needs the backing of China in order to reach a final agreement with the global lender
Pakistan economic crisis: Military, political leadership cut sorry figures as Islamabad drowns in debt
Pakistan's tumultuous history has seen it hovering on the brink of crisis several times, but this is the first time it's slipping into possible default
Pakistan rupee plummets to record low. What happens next in the crisis-hit nation?
Pakistan's currency tumbled to a record low of Rs 255.43 against the dollar, as the country battles a shortage of foreign exchange reserves and a food crisis. The authorities hope that the decline in the rupee will win approval from the International Monetary Fund for much-needed financial aid