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Author: Austech	(page 1 of 17)
July 16, 2019 / Austech / 0 Comments
When you go into investing in real estate, the options can be limitless. There are dozens of types of real estate, many financing strategies, and hundreds of promising markets.
But if you're specifically hoping to build wealth, many people choose multifamily real estate for several very good reasons.
A Quick Word on Wealth
In the current culture, wealth often gets a bad rap. People talk about money in hushed tones and cast judgmental glances at people who have a lot of money.
There's a notion that wealth is bad and, as a result, people who have lots of it must be exceptionally evil. But this is a foolish idea … and one most people don't think through fully before they form their opinion.
The mass media gets traction from encouraging readers and viewers to believe that wealth is evil and the pursuit of it is a futile endeavor that leads to wickedness. But the reality is that wealth creators are value creators.
If there were no wealthy individuals in a capitalistic society, that would indicate that no value was being created there. Thus, there would be no worthwhile products or services for consumers to purchase and enjoy.
Can wealth be attained via unscrupulous means? It certainly can. Can it be generated honestly as well? You bet. The choice is up to the individual.
If you study some of the wealthiest individuals and families in the United States, you'll find they aren't dealing drugs, running illegal operations, ripping off consumers, or stealing from honest people. In most cases, they're running fair and plain-dealing businesses that serve their customers' needs.
Then they take the money they earn and expand it through high-return investments.
The Appeal of Multifamily Real Estate
Now that we've addressed the wealth factor and (we hope) given you permission to crave and pursue wealth, let's dig in and look at the investments that successful people use to multiply their money. In particular, we'll focus on real estate.
Most people know that real estate is one of the highest-returning investments out there, but are you aware of the fact that multifamily real estate is the preferred niche of the smart investing class? Here's why.
There's nothing wrong with owning a dozen different single-family real estate investments all over the country, though the separation can make it harder to manage these investments cost effectively. Dealing with maintenance, rent collection, accounting, taxes, and all of the other responsibilities for a wide range of properties is challenging (even if you retain a property management company).
It's far easier to handle the needs of a 12-unit apartment. When all your units are located in one complex, you have only one lawn to mow, one garbage bill to pay, and one (or at most a couple) large roof(s) to maintain.
Everything becomes considerably more manageable and, as a result, far more cost-effective.
Greater Organization
Financing is usually the toughest obstacle in real estate investment. Paying for a large project is understandably more challenging than for a single-family rental property, but it's easier to keep it organized than if you compile a dozen independent loans spread across as many properties.
As this comprehensive guide on loans for apartment buildings shows, financing can be tricky for those who don't know what they're doing. There are multifamily construction loans, Fannie Mae multifamily loans, Fannie Mae guaranteed loans, Freddie Mac multifamily loans, multifamily bridge loans, traditional bank loans, and an array of other products.
Once you figure out which will be the best for you, the paperwork side becomes a lot easier than trying to manage loans for a variety of properties. There's only one lender, one mortgage bill, one closing, etc.
To be honest, now is the best time to invest in multifamily real estate. That may sound like hyperbole … or something a late-night TV guru would tell an audience in order to sell a 12-disc real estate investment course.
But it's an accurate statement. A number of emerging trends make the present the single best time in all of human history to invest in multifamily properties. Here's why:
As many as 75 million baby boomers are currently on the brink of retirement. Many of these individuals will be looking to downsize out of their current single-family home and move into a multi-family property that's easier and more cost-effective to maintain.
It's possible that many of today's apartment complexes will be converted into retirement communities in the future.
Millennials aren't buying single-family homes at nearly the same rate or volume as previous generations did. Instead, they're opting to rent apartments and condos.
It's getting more and more expensive to build new apartment buildings, which will increase the value of existing multifamily units.
All these factors create what is essentially a "perfect storm" for multifamily properties. By getting in now, you have the opportunity to ride these trends (as opposed to catching them at or after their peak).
Diversifying Investments to Overcome Instability
By definition, investing is laced with risk. One of the key differences between wealthy individuals and the middle class is that the former take on healthy risks that offer the potential for high returns.
As you seek to expand your own funds and build wealth, look for investments that create solid opportunities for high returns. Make sure you're diversifying these investments to limit risk, however, and increase your chances of coming out way ahead.
July 3, 2019 / Austech / 0 Comments
Technological advancement and rapid digitalisation have been changing the world for years now. By this point, we are no strangers to their reaches. Office technology, however, is still just beginning to make waves (an incredible feat, when you consider the phenomenal impact that office technology has had on the world thus far). Nonetheless, technology has just begun to disrupt the modern workplace, and it is sure to be a wild ride continuing from here on out. But before we get to the future workplace, we must acknowledge the current technological revolutions that have transformed the way we work so far.
Whether it is the apps and websites driving office cleaning businesses, or the very products and systems that drive those businesses from the inside out (or any other manner of technological innovations in the modern workspace, for that matter), the goal is always the same: to make life in the workplace more convenient and efficient. So, what are these incredible revolutions, and what makes them so instrumental, so special?
Adjustable, personalised individual work spaces
This is a broad term, but basically it encompasses everything from sit/stand desks, to the rise of the remote workplace. Having adjustable and personalised work spaces for each employee means that they will essentially operate at their most comfortable. And we all know that we are at our most productive when we are most comfortable, right? So, office technologies like sit/stand desks, ergonomic office chairs, remote positions (i.e. the capacity to work from anywhere, so long as there is a reliable internet connection and a sturdy device to work from), and virtual assistants are changing the way we work individually, for the better.
Dependable Wifi connections
It might seem strange to list this, but it is shocking just how many workplaces are operating in subpar Wifi conditions. When the workplace is operating under an unimpressive internet connection, it limits the focus and productivity of the individuals working within the office. This is obviously a problem. It does not matter how brilliant people are at their jobs; if there is not an internet connection that allows them to work at their optimal speed, they will not turn out their best work in a timely fashion. It is just the way it is. So, make sure that the internet connection is efficient and reliable.
Reliable conference lines
Again, this might sound strange, but this really is so important. All offices rely on conference lines – especially those that embrace remote workplaces – so it is crucial that there are reliable office conference lines running, always. When an office cannot communicate effectively not only internally, but with clients and other employees the world over, collaboration, creativity, and productivity (the three pillars of a workplace functioning at its peak) go out the window. Conference lines are essentially part of the bread and butter that ensures that workplaces operate at their best, and without them the entire workplace can erupt into absolute and sheer chaos.
The workforce of the future is paved with technology and digitalisation to boot, and we are seeing the beginnings of that revolution break free now. The last few years especially have seen an abundance of steadfast and revolutionary technological advancements and rapid digitalisations that have sought (and succeeded) to revolutionise the way we work. Now, thanks to these innovations, the average workplace is far more convenient, efficient, productive, and all-around enjoyable than ever. It is the digital iteration that many did not realise the workforce needed, and it is just getting started.
We are sitting on the edge of a new era, in which digitalisation rules, and technology is a prominent feature all around us. In terms of the workforce, technological advancement is just getting started, but already we have seen a world of innovations and improvements that have sought to vastly reimagine the way we work. To understand where we go next, we must understand the reaches of where we have been, and how we got to the point we have achieved thus far.
The beginning of technological disruption in the office
This is just the beginning of what is likely to be an incredible surge for the modern (and future) workforce. Technology is changing it all, for the better. Aptly called office technology, this branch of tech refers, quite simply, to any technological innovation found in, or concerning, the modern workplace. Whether it is office cleaning apps and websites, or the products and systems that keep the workplace thriving from the inside out (or any other manner of innovations, for that matter), office technology is beginning to make its mark in a big way.
How the traditional workforce is no longer solely viable
There will likely always be a place in the global workforce for traditional methods and models, but what we are seeing more and more is that solely traditional workplaces are having to modernise to avoid going dark. This means embracing technological advancement in every corner and orifice, and doing so wholeheartedly and without reservations. It has taken some practice, but now the weight of the realisation has driven most (if not all) companies and career-driven individuals to embrace it – and there is still so much more to come in the near future, as we dive deeper into the digital era.
What the future workforce looks like thanks to office tech
The future workforce is going to be one that is entirely and without reservation hinged on technological advancement and ongoing digitalisation. If technology is a key contributing factor to the longevity and success of workplaces today, what will it look like in the future? The answer is, for now, uncertain, but if current projections and the history of technological disruption in the workforce are anything to go by, it is certain to be a future that is positively immersed in technological advancement, rapid digitalisation, and all that the two ideals have to offer the world of professionalism and consumerism.
Thanks to the rise of technological advancement and rapid digitalisation, we have seen a dramatic and undeniable surge in all tech avenues including, as it turns out, the workforce. It goes without saying that the modern workforce has evolved dramatically in recent years. Office technology is at the core of most (if not all) of these transformations, and it has changed the way we work in all the best ways. We have seen the beginning of an incredible digital iteration in all aspects of the way we work and live, and it is only set to become more intensified as time goes on.
Regardless of if it is the apps and websites offering professional office cleaning, or the technologies that keep the office running from the inside out, there is no getting around the fact that technology dominates the modern workforce. What is interesting to note is that while the innovations seem incredible (which they of course are), they are nothing compared to what we are likely to see in coming years. So, how exactly has office technology made an impact so far, and why is it so important that we continue to foster and encourage technological growth and further ongoing advancement in the professional landscape?
Office technology makes life at work more convenient
One of the primary goals of any technology is to make life easier, more convenient. This is no less true in office technology than it is anywhere else in life. Office technology is designed and catered specifically towards making the way we work easier, so that we can be more productive and more innovative with our time at work. From automating tedious and time-consuming processes and systems, to introducing virtual assistants to take care of tasks like meeting reminders and email responses, office technology has already proven its worth in terms of making the way we work more convenient and thus, more efficient.
Office technology helps to escalate office efficiency
From the very beginning, office technology has had an incredible impact on escalating efficiency in the workplace. The whole point of technology is to make things run more smoothly, more efficiently. Office technology allows for precisely that to happen, in the most effective ways possible. From virtual assistants to automation of set processes and tasks, and everything in between, technology in the office has always been an efficient movement.
Office technology increases productivity
This is true on both a collective workplace level, and an individual level as well. Office technology allows for increased productivity in ways that not only make the workplace a more convenient and efficient place to work, but also a more creative and productive environment for individuals to discuss ideas and bring forward creative directions. This is just the beginning, but it is an exciting and promising beginning nonetheless. What we have seen develop and further advance in office technology so far, is just a taste of what is yet to come. The future workforce is technologically-driven, and the ride from here to there starts now.
It was all the rage when bloggers discovered how Google's algorithm worked and SEO agencies sprouted like mushrooms to capitalize on the discovery. However, it has been more than two decades since Google burst onto the scene and the question is on everyone's lips.
How relevant is SEO today?
The short answer is that SEO will always be relevant, so long as search engines exist. The innovation of Google (and the reason why it is a household name) is that instead of ranking sites based solely on their content, they looked at "the quantity and quality of external links pointing to a website (as well as the anchor text used)", giving birth to an industry of link building.
The evolution of link building
There are numerous ways for businesses and professional bloggers and the like to obtain links on other sites. Facebook groups allow for link exchanges, and you can turn to an SEO agency for all the rest. Certain bloggers who are accomplished writers also oftentimes have access to publications and might be convinced to write about your company or product, with the right incentive. However, Google has slowly caught on to this link building tactic in order to rank higher on their results page. This has caused a shake up in their algorithms department.
In 2011 and 2012, many websites found that their traffic vanished overnight as Google's new Panda algorithm took hold. It redefined what was considered a quality site and helped keep the spam sites where they belonged: down in the dregs. After Panda was introduced came Penguin, an algorithm targeted at websites utilizing keyword stuffing or "websites with unusual linking patterns, including a high-amount of exact match anchor text that matched keywords you want to rank for" – basically, if it didn't look organic, it was flagged.
How to utilize SEO efficiently
First of all, too many businesses set up a website for the sake of looking professional – this is neither productive nor does it add any value. Secondly, value is king. If you are going to put something out there, it should be of high quality which is not a regurgitation of someone else's thoughts or words. Researching what keywords to use are always a smart move as it can be easily incorporated into your content and help you better reach your audience. Lastly, find a social media network that will work for your brand.
For instance, a travel website might find more success on Instagram, and a beauty parlour or fashion boutique would have better luck on Pinterest. Corporates should stick to LinkedIn, and most can count on Facebook to help them in terms of marketing. It does help to research on your industry's niche and figure out where on the internet are you most likely to find a relevant community.
Conclusion: SEO will only work if you do
Being lazy and not putting in thought to your SEO content will hurt your brand in the long run as Google might mark your website as spam. It is much better not to have a website than to thoughtlessly try to cheat your way to the top.
Avengers Saga: It is not over yet
Marvel Studios were extremely dedicated to their Avengers franchise, building up a plot for years and taking the big screen where it has never gone before. Blockbuster after blockbuster, all coming together for what the world hails Endgame. Whether you caught the film at a local theatre or went for a luxury movie experience, it is safe to assume that Endgame was unforgettable for everyone; the lead-up to the main event has been a long and arduous journey, spanning over 23 films and 11 years.
Started from the bottom with a big vision
Its humble beginnings started from one man – Iron man – and he took both the world and Marvel Studios by surprise as his popularity soared out of control. Capping at a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – it is the third highest rated Marvel movie (with the number one spot claimed by Black Panther at a whopping 97%).
However, prior to the success of their first foray into the cinematic universe, Marvel has already hatched their game plan to bring the world the greatest series Hollywood will ever know.
The infinity saga and great Easter egg hunt
From the conception of Iron Man, Marvel has included hints and scenes foreshadowing what was to come and fans have taken to calling them Easter eggs. The first ever Easter egg is most likely the post-credit scene featuring Nick Fury talking to Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative, setting into motion the saga we know and many worship today.
Fans have spent hours online dissecting what each Easter egg meant, a practice that is still alive and well today. Despite knowing that there will be no more Avengers after Endgame, fans are still perhaps reading a bit too much into every scene, and sounding more and more like conspiracy theorists: from whether Loki will be the next Captain America, to wishful thinking regarding the mortality of Tony Stark.
Avengers is out to snag the number one spot from Avatar
In a bid to take the title of the highest grossing movie of all time, Marvel Studios is re-releasing Avengers Endgame with new footage along with a few surprises, including a video introduction by director Anthony Russo. While there is no word on how long the deleted footage will be, there will also be promotional material for the upcoming Spiderman movie.
While no means an honorable way to win the title of the highest box office hit, it has not stopped fans from eagerly flocking to purchase new tickets. Furthermore, Marvel has been known to air marathons prior to new releases and are notorious for squeezing the bang out of every buck and their fans are more than happy to oblige.
Endgame not the end?
According to Marvel Studios president Kevin Fiege, Endgame is in fact, not the finale of the epic series and that the upcoming Spiderman: Far From Home will be the final conclusion of Avengers. He goes on to explain that we needed "to see how does Spiderman step out of the shadow of his mentor Tony Stark", effectively bringing to an end what started with Iron Man back in 2008.
Being bilingual now a coveted skill in the digital era
When it comes to understanding the most valuable skills and talents in this modern age, it goes (almost) without saying that being bilingual is one of the most highly coveted skills that an individual can have. The world as we know and love it has changed drastically over the years, and especially in recent times. Part of that change has been the beginning of the digital era. The digital era exists purely thanks to our obsession with technological advancement and rapid and ongoing digitalisation.
Because of the digital era, we have found ourselves open to an entirely new way of communicating and interacting. That new approach is founded on the values of international connection. Every aspect of modern life, from education and health research, to the arts and even the economy, is going global, and so some skills are becoming more coveted all the time. Having fluent command of multiple languages happens to be one of those exceedingly coveted skillsets. But to understand exactly why that is, we must go back to well before the beginning of the digital era.
Understanding the history of language education
Language education has always been important. Offered as a slight compulsory, and then constant option, during schooling around the world, language education has always sought to offer students different ways of learning and thinking. Once a niche facet of teaching and learning, language education bloomed and flourished over the years to become one of the most prominently utilised offerings there are across the spectrum of education. And now, thanks to digitalisation and technological advancement, it is almost a necessity.
Taking note that the economy is now global
The global economy that exists now speaks volumes of our capabilities and prioritisation of the digital. There is something intriguing and profound about the global expanses that the economy has reached and continues to thrive in. With the global economy firmly in place in this digital era, there is a stronger need to be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with those who do not speak the same first language. Being bilingual gives individuals a direct advantage in not only their personal lives, but also their professional lives as well. Modern business is all about convenient and powerful communication, in every sense of the ideal, and being bilingual places one in the most beneficial of positions in this respect.
Taking the steps to become fluent in multiple languages
These days, there is obviously more power in being bilingual than in solely sticking to one's first language. So, more and more individuals are embracing language education, even taking it upon themselves to learn it on their own dime and time. The drive to become bilingual is not always the same, but the end goal is (for the most part). Regardless of if one is learning to have a full conversation English with friends, or to further their career prospects, taking the steps to become fluently bilingual is one of the strongest and most coveted skills today.
The art of mastering personal brand growth on Instagram
June 26, 2019 / Austech / 0 Comments
The digital era that we live in has essentially placed us in a position of being entirely immersed in and surrounded by marvellous feats of technological advancement and rapid digitalisation. Thanks to our drive and insistence to continue advancing the world we have created for ourselves, technology is everywhere. From the technology that now powers major global industries like education, healthcare, automotives, and security, to the devices in our pockets that connect us 24/7 to the entire world with the click of a button, we are immersed.
And we love it. Consider the impact that social media platforms like Instagram have on us, for example. Even businesses have noticed that their consumers spend more time online. So, social media is now the leading digital marketing strategy in the world. Today, up to 70% of Instagram users voluntarily connect with brands on the social media platform. There is something that feels more organic about social media than the real world (an interesting irony, given that Instagram effectively removes individuals from the real world as they browse and post).
But social media is also a personal branding mechanism. Individuals who lead relatively ordinary lives are building successful personal brands on Instagram, and growing them more and more all the time. So, how do you become one of them? What is the method to building a successful personal brand on Instagram?
Building a rapport with your followers
More than anything else, Instagram users today want to follow people who feel like real people, rather than those who feel like they are trying to sell something. Rather than just posting about your life without any conversational tones, switch up your approach and encourage your followers to engage with you. People love to feel like they are part of the story. This is especially true for traveller influencers…followers love to feel like their opinions and voice matter to you. So, make sure that it matters. You will notice that you begin to gain a stronger, larger following when you actively engage with your followers.
Most important after honest and ongoing engagement, comes consistency and strategy, hand in hand. You must have a strategy in mind, and that strategy must be based predominantly (if not wholly) on consistency. People love it when they can rely on someone or something to be a constant in their life, and they respond well to people and instances that embody this ideal.
Instagram is all about aesthetics
Instagram is, at heart, a social media platform built on aesthetics. To successfully build your IG aesthetic, you must establish an approach early on (if not from the very beginning), and make that approach your brand. There is something that feels comforting and exciting, to click on an influencer's account page and see that everything flows. There is something in is that is drawn to that flow. So, work out a strategic approach to aesthetic achievement that seems at once comforting and familiar, but also unique to you.
Posting meaningful content
Instagram is aesthetically based, sure, but the most successful Instagram influencers are the ones who make sure that what they post not only fits their aesthetic brand approach, but has genuine meaning to their followers. More and more, users want to follow and engage with personal brands on Instagram that are happy and genuine. So, make sure that your content is genuine, and has meaning, and you cannot go wrong. You will notice your following skyrocket, and continue to grow organically as time goes on.
Office technology revolutionises the way we work
The workplace has not been immune to technological advancement and rapid digitalisation. In fact, thanks to these modern marvels, the modern workplace is not a workplace at all, but the big, wide world. Technological disruption first found the office when websites began to come out of the woodwork. Businesses everywhere were strengthening their business model through online marketing, and websites were – and still are – the most successful way to achieve that.
It did not matter if the business behind the website specialised in office cleaning Brisbane, security, automotives, books, IT, or digital media (to name a few examples), a website was one of the strongest innovators in what would bloom to become a constant work in technological progress.
The ongoing advancement of office technology
Today, office technology is no longer exclusive to literal offices, but appreciated and utilised around the world. The average professional environment today has a more vivid appreciation of the technological than ever, and it is an appreciation that only continues to flourish and thrive. Thanks to the impressive and ongoing rise of technological absolution and widespread digitalisation, office tech can be, and often is, used in all sorts of environments. There is a new frontier in office technology, and it spans not just the standard office, but the entire world. The reason? The surge in the global remote workforce.
What is the remote workforce?
Still a relatively fresh innovation, the remote workforce refers to the growing global movement towards encouraging a professional environment that is not confined to an office space and a desk. This digitally-inclined iteration of life at work presents people with a new way to forge their careers. That way, whichever way they would like, wherever they want to do so. Initially a small-scale workforce faction, the remote workforce has since ballooned to become a considerable group than spans the globe. And it only continues to grow.
How remote work utilises office technology
It might be difficult to understand how remote work, a concept that literally takes place anywhere but an office (most of the time, of course), makes use of office technology. But office technology today refers to so much more than simply the technology used in the standard cookie-cutter office environment. Today, office technology is the laptops, wireless keyboards and mice, and charging cables and portable batteries that professionals – remote or otherwise – use to do their work. Office technology in this modern age is the professional social channels online (think Google Hangouts, LinkedIn, Slack, or even WhatsApp, for example) that keep company employees linked, no matter where in the world they are.
In essence, office technology today refers to any feat of technological prowess that allows any type of business to flourish and thrive, no matter how far away from the head office (if there even is one) an employee might be. Office technology is going remote, and in the process, it is proving time and again just how positive an evolution technological can instil.
The Four Most Game-Changing Legal Technologies to Look Out For
The legal industry is notoriously slow to adapt to changes in the economic or cultural landscape, for a variety of reasons. The law itself already changes at a fairly slow paved compared to the world around it, especially given the almost asymptotic rate of development of new technologies in the past several decades. Second, law firms are not generally prone to the kind of risk-taking venture-capitalist mindset that drives investment in startup tech companies. That being said, things certainly are changing: In 2018 there was a record 713% growth in investment in new legal technology companies, and the Bar Association has added language to its professional literature suggesting that lawyers have a personal responsibility to be technically savvy. Some disruptive technologies are already here, and others seem to be peaking over the horizon, but what do they mean for the industry?
Discovery is a lengthy and time-consuming process that does not necessarily require the best of a lawyer's or even paralegal's human cognitive abilities. The discovery of electronic data is usually referred to as e-discovery and can pose significant challenges in terms of infrastructure and compliance. New technologies will streamline this collection process and even provide artificial intelligence tools to sort and file the collected materials in a manner that makes them easier to sort through when the humans get around to looking at them.
Artificial Intelligence-Powered Analytics
Artificial intelligence is poised to make a big difference in a lot of different areas when it comes to the way things are done at law firms today. Whether in trial law or a proceeding overseen by a judge, there are a great many unknowns to content with. Sophisticated analytic software can judge when it's appropriate to take a gamble or whether it's a good idea to push for a trial in lieu of settlement. Personal injury firms like Diamond and Diamond can use this information to educate their clients on what to expect from their claims, and much more.
Cloud-Based Firms
Brick and mortar is nice, but so is money, and given the growing relevance of the intangible network of data-hosting services commonly referred to as "the cloud," it's not unreasonable to assume that in the near future there may be law firms that exist entirely as virtual entities, filing documents electronically and communicating with their clients remotely. There are occasions when a lawyer or legal representative needs to be present in a court of law, but there is also a massive bed of legal work that doesn't require any sort of physical presence. These companies will be in a great position to take advantage of that to cut costs and post more attractive prices.
The Sharing, or 'Gig' Economy
No one likes it, but it's here to stay. Some predict that the gig economy will soon expand to include legal services as well, with licensed and accredited practitioners hiring out their services through an Uber-style intermediary on a case-by-case basis. There are already some small companies that have been working at a model like this for some years but without straying too far from the more traditional 'law firm' organizational model. Only time will tell if someday we'll be able to order an attorney from an app on your phone instead of walking into an office.


Finished in Guards Red with a Black Leather interior this left hand drive 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo Flatnose was first registered in the UK in April 1989 and originally supplied through Porsche in the Netherlands it was well optioned from new, the most obvious of course being its distinctive body shape. This vehicle started life as a genuine factory Slantnose, Flatnose or 'Flachbau'.
As if a 911 Turbo Flatnose didn't stand out from the crowd enough, early in the car's life it was sent to world-renowned Porsche tuners RUF Automobile GmbH, who are the only recognised partner of Porsche and, in fact, are recognised by the German government as a manufacturer in their own right. The customer opted for a BTR conversion (B = Group B, T = Turbo, R = RUF).
The basics of the RUF BTR start with the engine, which had the original partially-finned cylinder barrels replaced by those with air-cooling fins around their complete diameter. The bore was increased giving a new displacement of 3.4 litres from the original 3.3 litres. RUF added unique Mahle Pistons plus connecting rods and 935 type camshafts. The intake manifold was replaced, as was the exhaust, A larger KKK K27 unit replaced the turbo, and a larger free-flowing intercooler was added along with the installation of a larger oil cooler behind the RUF front spoiler.
Finished in Guards Red, this genuine left-hand drive Porsche 911 964 RS is in immaculate condition with matching VIN no.s and only 59,600 kms. Number 1778 off the production line, this particular model was produced for the Japanese market, imported into Tokyo, Japan.
With vehicles subject to strict road worthiness tests every two years, the condition of road going vehicles in Japan is of the highest quality. This particular RS was last subject to the 60pt check at a Porsche specialist in Tokyo (59,273kms) in July of 2008, at a cost of several thousands of pounds to the owner.
With the exception of the Recaro bucket seats, after market front brake rotors and the installation of an electric window for the passenger seat (complete with switch located in the centre console) this particular model maintains its originality throughout, including the 17" Magnesium Cup wheels.
The cost of this rare RS2 is £69995 (ex Tokyo, Japan) and interested parties are invited to contact us on 01474 854490 for further information.
Do 911's get much better than this? We have just been asked by the owner to find a buyer for his totally stunning – yes totally stunning 997 Carrera 4S. Finished in Guards Red – how rare is that! – with gorgeous magnolia hide with red stitching. The detailing on this car is impressive when your eye follows the red stitching over the seats, dashboard and door panels. Nicely placed bits of aluminium pepper the cockpit and there isn't a mark to be seen for a car that has done only 17,500 miles. The list of extras is none too shabby either with its PSM, PCM and BOSE. The Porsche-crested 19″ Carrera alloys look fabulous and with the factory-fitted Aero bodykit the car is a real show-stopper. We are told that the original purchase price of this car was over £95k – ouch! So what a bargain it looks today. Take a closer look by clicking here or give us a call on 0845 643 2047. Is there a better-looking 911? We doubt it.


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Las protestas por la muerte de Javier Ordóñez fueron una serie de manifestaciones y disturbios que se presentaron en Colombia desde el 9 de septiembre hasta el 21 de septiembre de 2020, particularmente en Bogotá, las cuales se extendieron también a otras ciudades del país.

El detonante de estas manifestaciones fue el homicidio de Javier Ordóñez, acaecido el 8 de septiembre de 2020 en Bogotá, a manos de agentes de la Policía Nacional, lo cual fue registrado en videos caseros en los cuales se aprecia a dos patrulleros deteniendo violentamente a un ciudadano, ya reducido y sobre el suelo de la calle. Los agentes policiales días después fueron destituidos, alegándose que podrían alterar las pruebas de los hechos, ante un eventual proceso criminal. La circulación de tales videos, primero en redes sociales y luego en los principales medios de prensa del país, produjo reacciones de estupefacción o indignación en la ciudadanía, con el agravante de que en los meses previos, ya se habían presentando presuntos actos de brutalidad policial, los cuales habían alertado a la opinión pública nacional. Las manifestaciones, inicialmente se presentaron pacíficas, pero luego algunas derivaron en protestas violentas o vandálicas, más o menos organizadas, con disturbios, saqueos de comercios, robos a conductores y otros actos, como la destrucción de mobiliario urbano o propiedad pública, incendio de autobuses de transporte público, en especial del sistema masivo de transporte de Bogotá (Transmilenio)  e incluso, destrucción de decenas de estaciones de policía ubicadas en los barrios o Comandos de Atención Inmediata (CAI)

Medios nacionales e internacionales señalaron que estas protestas se dieron en un contexto que va más allá de este accionar policial. En este sentido, se señala la presencia de indicadores de malestar social e insatisfacción de la ciudadanía con el desempeño del gobierno de Iván Duque, así como demandas sociales que no han sido atendidas, como las que desataron las protestas de 2019 y comienzos de 2020, e incluso, se señala como motivo de inconformidad, el manejo que el gobierno había realizado de la pandemia por nuevo coronavirus y sus consecuencias. En este mismo orden de ideas, se destaca que la larga cuarentena obligatoria, que alcanzó una duración de 5 meses y 7 días, ha sido otro elemento de tensión social, con enormes costos económicos y sociales. La contención de las protestas de 2019-2020, por simple efecto del Covid-19, se reflejó en una desmovilización general, que tras el suceso policial se destrabó, motivándose nuevamente los ciudadanos a participar activamente en protestas y marchas, en algunos casos llegándose a la violencia callejera.

Como las manifestaciones tuvieron como objetivo los Comandos de Atención Inmediata (CAI), y algunas estaciones de policía algunas de las repuestas de la policía colombiana incluyeron la represión con armas de fuego, aumentando el saldo de civiles muertos, lo que una vez más fue registrado en video, suscitando dudas sobre los criterios y protocolos de los uniformados para manejar manifestaciones. La Alcaldía de Bogotá hizo público que se habían registrado ante dicha autoridad más de 167 denuncias.

Varios medios internacionales compararon estas protestas en Colombia, y las circunstancias que rodearon la muerte de Javier Ordóñez, con los hechos que originaron las protestas que se desataron tras la muerte de George Floyd en Minesota, EE. UU.

Antecedentes

Muerte de Javier Ordóñez
El 8 de septiembre de 2020, agentes de la Policía Nacional, en medio de un procedimiento policial, asesinaron brutalmente al abogado e ingeniero Javier Ordóñez en el Comando de Atención Inmediata (CAI) del barrio Villa Luz (Engativá), al occidente de Bogotá, causando indignación en sectores de la población civil, sectores políticos y organizaciones sociales, los cuales convocan manifestaciones pacíficas en respuesta a diversos casos de brutalidad policial que se han presentado en Colombia (desde la creación de los CAIs en 1987,) especialmente los ocurridos en el marco de la crisis social y económica producida por la Pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus de 2020 en Colombia y el Paro nacional en Colombia de 2019.

Protestas y disturbios
El 9 de septiembre de 2020, diversos sectores civiles y políticos, en Bogotá, convocaron manifestaciones pacíficas en respuesta al asesinato de Javier Ordóñez y a los múltiples casos de abuso policial que le precedieron. En relación con estos hechos, también se convocaron manifestaciones en ciudades capitales como Medellín, Barranquilla, Cali, Cúcuta entre otras. Estas manifestaciones pacíficas fueron acompañadas de hechos vandálicos que provocaron la respuesta de la Policía Nacional, cuestionada por, presuntamente, haber causado, en todo el país, lesiones y la muerte tanto de manifestantes como de transeúntes. Ha sido notable la presencia del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios(ESMAD), unidad especial de la Dirección de Seguridad Ciudadana (DISEC) de la Policía Nacional de Colombia, por su participación en estos hechos violentos.

Con el avance de las horas la Policía Nacional abre fuego, causando la muerte a más de 13 personas en diferentes puntos de la ciudad y dejando más de 54 heridos con arma de fuego, además de 200 heridos debido a golpes con elementos contundentes, patadas y puños.

Al final de las jornadas se presentaron:

9 de septiembre
 10 civiles muertos.
 52 CAI's vandalizados (22 incinerados): 49 en Bogotá, 3 en Soacha (Cundinamarca), 1 en Cali (Valle del Cauca), bloqueo de vías en Barranquilla (Atlántico), apedreo en el Comando de la Policía Metropolitana de Medellín.
 77 vehículos afectados.
 134 vehículos de TransMilenio vandalizados, de estos 14 fueron incendiados.
 8 motos afectadas y 9 vehículos institucionales averiados.

10 de septiembre
 Detención de personas defensoras de derechos humanos.
 Por lo menos 11 civiles muertos desde el inicio de las protestas.
 Protestas en Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Manizales, Villavicencio, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Santa Marta y Cartagena.
 Muerte de una mujer arrollada por un bus robado del SITP.

11 de septiembre
 Algunos CAI's destrozados convertidos en Bibliotecas populares en Bogotá. Hinchas de Millonarios ayudaron a la Policía Nacional a proteger el CAI del 20 de Julio en Bogotá.
 El ministro de defensa anunció aumento de pie de fuerza 750 uniformados, más 850 que llegan de otras regiones del país, reforzados con 300 soldados de la Brigada 13.
 Toque de queda y ley seca en Cundinamarca.
 Protestas en Medellín y en Pereira.

12 de septiembre
 Atribución de responsabilidad a policías en el caso de Javier Ordóñez por abuso de autoridad y homicidio.
 La Policía Nacional borro el mural en Memoria de Julieth Ramírez en el CAI de La Gaitana en Suba, (Bogotá), quien murió en las protestas del 9 de septiembre.
 Rubén Blades y Residente expresaron solidaridad con las protestas en Colombia.
 Protestas en CAI de San Diego (Bogotá) por presunta violación de 3 mujeres el 10 de septiembre.
 Grupos de personas a favor de la Policía Nacional han pintado algunos CAI's.

13 de septiembre
 Jornada de reconciliación convocada por Claudia López (acto ecuménico), y jornada cultural, que se realiza sin la presencia de Iván Duque, terminando en disturbios.
 Quinto día de protestas y marchas por la vida en ciudades colombianas y del exterior.

14 de septiembre
Se presentaron algunas protestas en Medellín que culminaron en disturbios, a la vez que hubo una manifestación de apoyo a la Policía Nacional. Se anunciaron investigaciones por presuntas infiltraciones en las manifestaciones de miembros de la guerrilla del ELN.

15 de septiembre
 Convocatoria de Paro Nacional para el 21 de septiembre, se preparan movilizaciones en las principales ciudades del país.

16 de septiembre
 Velatón y cacerolazo nacional en las plazas, parques y espacios públicos del país como evento previo al paro nacional.
 Iván Duque visitó CAI's de Bogotá vestido como policía como señal de respaldo a la institución.

17 de septiembre
 La Fiscalía General de la Nación acusa de tortura y homicidio a la Policía Nacional por la muerte de Javier Ordóñez.

18 de septiembre
 Detenidos supuestos financiadores de vandalismo en Bogotá entre ellos un funcionario público.
 Investigaciones por vídeos de policías disparando armas en las protestas y disturbios.

19 de septiembre
 Capturados los policías Harby Damián Rodríguez y Juan Camilo Lloreda por la muerte de Javier Ordóñez.

21 de septiembre

 Jornada de protestas y movilizaciones en el marco del Paro Nacional, convocado por centrales obreras y organizaciones sociales en todo el país.

22 de septiembre

 Fallo de la Corte Suprema sobre las protestas en Colombia de 2019-2020, que prohíbe el uso de la escopeta calibre 12 por el ESMAD, y obliga al Ministerio de defensa pedir disculpas públicas por los abusos de la Fuerza pública en las manifestaciones, además de garantías para la protesta social en el país.

24 de septiembre

 Enviados a prisión 4 señalados de participar en las protestas y disturbios.
 Asesinato de una mujer por un soldado del Ejército Nacional en una carretera del Cauca, se registran protestas en Cali, Medellín, Manizales, Popayán, entre otras.

Minga Indígena y popular

 El 10 de octubre partieron desde Santander de Quilichao más de 7 mil indígenas, campesinos y afrocolombianos con el objetivo de llegar a Bogotá, expresando en cada ciudad de la ruta su solidaridad con las protestas de Bogotá contra la violencia policial; en apoyo al pliego del paro nacional y para denunciar el frecuente asesinato de líderes sociales.
 El 12 de octubre la Minga llegó a Cali, allí se les unieron indígenas del Valle del Cauca y Caldas y esperaron a que el presidente Iván Duque se presentara a un debate político. El mandatario nunca apareció.
 El  domingo 18 de octubre en la tarde los mingueros arribaron a Bogotá, recibidos por vivas de miles de personas apostadas a lado y lado de las vías del sur de la ciudad y después de haber realizado manifestaciones en Armenia, Ibagué y Fusagasugá. El lunes 19 la movilización no se detuvo. En caravanas, con banderas verdes y rojas y wiphalas, resguardados por la Guardia Indígena más grande del país, con sus bastones de mando, llegaron al centro de la capital. La silla para el presidente Duque permaneció vacía en el centro de la plaza.
 El 21 de octubre las centrales de trabajadores convocaron a un Paro Nacional, en solidaridad con la Minga y con la huelga de los mineros de carbón de El Cerrejón. En Bogotá se cumplió el paro y se realizó una gran manifestación con la participación de la Minga y de los indígenas Misak que habían llegado a la capital el día anterior. La Minga regresó posteriormente al Cauca.
 El 22 de octubre, para sorpresa del gobierno, los indígenas Misak tomaron por 7 horas el Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado coreando la consigna "somos la fuerza de la gente, somos la Minga, somos el paro nacional".

Responsabilidades
A la fecha no se ha dado con los responsables de los múltiples homicidios ocurridos en la noche del 9 de septiembre de 2020. El presidente Iván Duque y su gobierno no asumieron, por el momento, ninguna responsabilidad frente a los hechos.

Responsabilidad por los disturbios
Representantes del gobierno nacional, como Miguel Ceballos, alto comisionado para la Paz, y Carlos Holmes Trujillo, ministro de Defensa, atribuyen la responsabilidad por los disturbios a grupos armados como las disidencias de las FARC-EP y el ELN. El general Gustavo Moreno, director encargado de la Policía Nacional, atribuyó los disturbios a "colectivos populares" cuya estructura y funcionamiento, según él, guardan similitudes con los de los colectivos chavistas. Por su parte, Hugo Acero, secretario de Seguridad de Bogotá, manifestó que hubo "organización y sistematicidad" en los ataques a los CAI. En su cuenta de Twitter, declaró que el ELN "(...) pretende capitalizar las protestas legítimas de la ciudadanía". También se habló de incitación desde las redes sociales.

Sectores de oposición al Gobierno Nacional encabezados por Gustavo Petro responsabilizan al gobierno de Iván Duque por las protestas y exigen la renuncia del ministro de Defensa. Por su parte, políticos del Centro Democrático partido de gobierno, y de Alianza Verde, partido de la alcaldesa de Bogotá, Claudia López, acusan a Gustavo Petro y a sus seguidores de utilizar las redes sociales para promover manifestaciones y acciones violentas. No obstante, en su defensa, Gustavo Petro ha declarado que las protestas son espontáneas y que su objetivo es dar a conocer los hechos ocurridos durante las manifestaciones, además de invitar a darle apoyo a la alcaldesa ya que fue la mandataria elegida y a quien debería escuchar la Fuerza Pública y el gobierno de Duque.

Habitantes de Bogotá denuncian que miembros de la Policía promueven la violencia en las manifestaciones. Registros en video señalan a civiles y policías haciendo uso de las mismas armas de fuego. También existen grabaciones en video que muestran a presuntos miembros de la Policía entregando armas a personas vestidas como civiles. El distrito, a través de Hugo Acero, se desmarca de estas acusaciones señalando que "han sido hechos que se han presentado de manera particular y como tal deben ser investigados y sancionados".

El 15 de septiembre Pablo Beltrán comandante del ELN niega vinculación del ELN a las protestas. Mientras el 24 de septiembre,en un audio de alias Uriel, comandante del Frente Occidental del Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), reconoce la participación de las milicias del ELN en las protestas del 9 y 10 de septiembre en los ataques a los CAI junto a sectores populares. El 25 de septiembre en una entrevista alias Uriel menciona que el ELN no se atribuye los hechos, pero apoya la protesta social. En un comunicado varias organizaciones sociales rechazó cualquier atribución del ELN de las protestas en inconformidad social y el rechazo a la brutalidad policial.

Responsabilidad por la brutalidad policial
Por su parte el Gobierno de Claudia López en calidad de máxima autoridad de Policía de la ciudad de Bogotá, le exigió a la Fuerza Pública que no hiciese uso de armas letales y manifestó que hubo uso indiscriminado de armas de fuego por parte de la Policía Nacional.  El general Gustavo Moreno, director encargado de la Policía Nacional, pidió perdón por la muerte de Javier Ordóñez. La alcaldesa Claudia López pidió perdón a las víctimas de la violencia policial en Bogotá. Los sectores de oposición al gobierno piden la renuncia de Carlos Holmes Trujillo, ministro de Defensa, al no acatar un fallo emitido por la Corte Suprema y la situación de orden público en el país.

Consecuencias
En medio de una ola de críticas y controversias, se ha solicitado la renuncia del ministro de defensa de Colombia, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, a través de la plataforma Change.org.

Propuesta de reforma policial
Se propone una reforma desde el Congreso de la República al régimen disciplinario de la Policía Nacional de Colombia, (que para varios analistas en Colombia tiene un carácter más militar que civil), con propuestas como una veeduría ciudadana para los casos de abuso de autoridad, proceso de selección y capacitación en el uso de la fuerza. Igualmente se propone que tenga participación ciudadana ya que aparte de las reformas a la institución a principios de los 90s y en 2003, se han realizado comisiones presidenciales sobre el tema con pocos resultados. Iván Duque rechazó una propuesta de reforma realizada por Claudia López, alcaldesa de Bogotá. La propuesta de Claudia López contempla un cambio en el ordenamiento legal de la policía y acompañamiento de la Procuraduría, Defensoría y Personería en el proyecto de reforma que se presente en el congreso de la República. Existe también la propuesta de trasladar a la policía del ministerio de defensa al ministerio del interior para que tenga mayor control civil, lo cual genera críticas de algunos sectores y apoyo de otros.

Pronunciamientos
Organizaciones internacionales, como la CIDH, Amnistía Internacional y la Unión Europea, han condenado los actos de tortura y el uso excesivo de la fuerza por parte de la fuerza pública a la población civil. Varios medios y políticos se refieren a estos acontecimientos como 'la masacre de Bogotá'.

Véase también
 Muerte de Javier Ordóñez
 Protestas en Colombia 2019-2020
 Anexo:Escándalos de la Policía Nacional de Colombia

Referencias

Protestas en Colombia en 2020 por la violencia policial
Manifestaciones y protestas contra la brutalidad policial
Manifestaciones y protestas en Colombia
Movimientos sociales de Colombia
Ordóñez, Javier

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Investing in the health of Africa's mothers.
Kimani M
Africa Renewal. 2008 Jan; 21(4):8-11.
Pumwani Maternity Hospital, in Nairobi, Kenya, is the largest maternal health centre in East and Central Africa. Located close to Mathare and Korogocho, two of Nairobi's biggest slums, the hospital helps some 27,000 women give birth each year. Most are poor and young, between the ages of 14 and 18. The government-run hospital struggles to provide even the most basic services, since it lacks sufficient resources, equipment and staff. "We told patients to buy their own things because of the shortage of supplies," explains Evelyn Mutio, the former head of the hospital's nursing staff. "We told patients to come with gloves, to buy their own syringes, needles, cotton wool and maternity pads." The Pumwani Maternity Hospital exemplifies the state of the health infrastructure in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high service costs, lack of trained staff and supplies, poor transport and patients' insufficient knowledge mean that 60 per cent of mothers in sub-Saharan Africa do not have a health worker present during childbirth. That heightens the risks of complications, contributing to greater maternal and child death and disability. (excerpt)
- Remove Pregnancy Outcomes filter Pregnancy Outcomes
1 Goals Apply Goals filter
1 Home Visits Apply Home Visits filter
1 Macroeconomic Factors Apply Macroeconomic Factors filter
1 Pregnant Women Apply Pregnant Women filter
1 Women in Development Apply Women in Development filter
1 Africa Apply Africa filter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Two Exhibitions Offer Unique Chances To See How The Railways Run
Published 15th April 2013
How does the UK depend on the rail freight industry?
It is probably safe to assume that if you are reading this, you have an interest in railways! Most people only ever see the 'front of house' part of the railways, either as a passenger or via the media. Recently there was the excellent BBC TV series about our railways which gave a clue about what happens behind the scenes. Should you wish to take a look for yourself at how the railways work, there are two major railway exhibitions looming.
Each year these exhibitions allow the public to have a look behind the scenes and to ask senior industry players questions, both events also offer informative seminars open to all to attend.
'Multimodal' is the rail exhibition and showcases the freight side of the railways.
The first exhibition takes place at the NEC, Birmingham between April 23 and 25 inclusive and is free to enter if you pre-register. Multimodal is the UK and Ireland's leading freight transport and logistics exhibition with all the major freight hauliers present with some operational wagons and locomotives usually exhibited. If you want to understand how the railways are a vital piece of the UK supply chain, this is the event to visit.
There are many seminars and presentations on offer this year featuring actual case studies and offering critical industry updates on the transportation business. Multimodal has joined forces with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) to offer a series of events which are free to attend.
DIRFT Visit
Multimodal, Malcolm Logistics and Prologis are again offering visitors a free visit to the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT). This provides a great insight as to how slick rail and road operations combine to provide an efficient freight haulage service. Places are strictly limited so if interested, you must pre-register for this three hour afternoon tour by coach from the exhibition halls.
Day One - Tuesday 23 April
The CILT seminar day is on April 23 and includes sessions at 10.30 to 11.00 about a day in the life of a container port when a BBC documentary 'Sea City' looks behind the scenes at the Port of Southampton. There is also The Multichannel Logistics Challenge between 12.15 and 13.15 where the growth in multichannel outlets means retailers are having to re-assess every aspect of their supply chain while the logistics industry needs to innovate in order to meet changing demands. The panel is drawn from across the supply chain industry and the debate will be interesting.
The following day's offerings include between 10.30 and 11.30 a discussion on how do portcentric solutions fit into the changing needs of the supply chain industry, which is reappraising its approach in the light of consumer trends such as multichannel retail? The panel is again high powered including Tim Robinson, Freight Director, Network Rail who will be leaving his job in early May.
This is followed by various other discussions which will probably only appeal to hardened freight operators such as the, Declaration of container weights, Leveraging contracts with Ocean Carriers, fuel budgeting and Modal shift and carbon reduction. There are more events on offer the following day as well.
Beer game
A 'Beer Game' is on offer at Multimodal with Trade Extensions who have arranged visitors to participate in what they describe as a classic supply chain challenge – The Beer Game. This simulates a simplified supply chain manufacturing and distributing beer and demonstrates some the fundamental challenges of supply chain management.
Four key roles, manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler and retailer are involved and the objective is for each role to minimise their costs while fulfilling the orders they receive. Visit stand 290 to participate.
Railtex
The second of the exhibitions is Railtex 2013, which runs from April 30 to May 2 at London's Earls Court. The exhibition is a huge affair and if visiting, you should allow at least half a day to see the exhibits. These range from the usual type of stands to outdoor displays covering all aspects of railway activity and innovation.
State opening
The opening ceremony takes place at 10.30am on April 30 with a speech from the Minister of State for Transport Rt Hon Simon Burns MP called; Investing in the railway
May 1 brings the Chairman of Network Rail, Richard Parry-Jones to the podium previewing the next five year funding period which starts in April 2014. Other presentations give updates on Network Rail's major projects such as the massive electrification programme, the Birmingham Gateway Project and the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme.
Rail Safety is what?
If you've ever wondered what the Rail Safety Standards Board does, then this is your chance when they will be showcasing their activities from 10.20am. Siemens Rail Systems UK is also holding a Seminar programme about Innovation and Collaboration, and Signalling Upgrades on the London Underground.
On May 2, the main event is a presentation by Andrew Wolstenholme, CEO of Crossrail, Europe's largest railway project. There also further project updates from High Speed 2 and Hitachi on their Intercity Express train Programme.
Railtex describes itself as the all-encompassing UK Rail Industry Exhibition with hundreds of new products and services covering the whole rail supply market on display. This combined with the free to attend seminars, as well as live equipment demonstrations which does make it a great event to visit.
Tata trackworks and platforms
Tata Steel is exhibiting their range of track in their track display offering an authentic setting for track-related products and equipment. The exhibits will show their new patented rail steel with improved wear and rolling contact fatigue resistance. Tata's SilentTrack is their noise damping system which reduces peak track noise levels by 3-7dB and Railcote is their rail coating which offers superior protection against corrosion. They are also bringing a Modular platform to the event. Tata will be speaking at the seminar programme at 11.50am on May 2 May, when they present 'More life: less maintenance - Innovative rail products reducing life cycle costs'.
Where, when and how much?
It is at the Earls Court No. 2 Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road London SW5 9TA, and is open between 10am and 5pm each day except the final day when it closes at 4pm.
The event organisers say that over 400 companies will be at the show with their latest products and services. Even if you are thinking about working in the rail industry, there will be job opportunities at the event with a recruitment wall where visitors can browse through exhibitor vacancies. You must pre-register for free entry otherwise its £20 admission!
French lesson?
The French equivalent railway trade fair recently took place in Lille and although interesting in parts, a two hour visit was all that was required. The most significant machinery on display was a giant cleaning device which has been designed to suck rubbish from the track alongside platforms.
There were also some seriously heavy engineering displays to be seen with huge castings for wheels, brakes and axles amongst many other items not normally seen as they are built into trains as control and reporting systems.
Other items were innovative train toilets and train drivers' seats and a remotely controlled robot for rail exploration.
Multimodal Website
Railtex Website


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Rev. William Fleming
Boulogne-Sur-Mer: St. Patrick's Native Town
Having given the different theories concerning the native country of St. Patrick, and having faithfully quoted all that the Seven old Latin "Lives" of the Saint have narrated on this subject, and given our reasons for accepting the Armoric theory as the most reasonable solution of the problem, it will be advisable to give a brief summary of the arguments brought forward to prove that St. Patrick was an Armorican Britain, born at Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Boulogne-sur-Mer, or ancient Bononia, was called by the same name, "Bonaven," as the town in which St. Patrick implies that he was born. Boulogne possessed a Roman encampment, and it was, therefore, Bonaven Taberniæ, mentioned in the "Confession."
Caligula's tower, on the north-eastern cliffs, in the town and within the suburbs, was called "Turris Ordinis" by the Romans, but "Nemtor" by the Gaulish Celts, as Hersart de la Villemarque states in his "Celtic Legend."
It is certain that Niall of the Nine Hostages made use of the Port of Boulogne when he invaded Armorica in the twenty-seventh year of his reign, and that he died at that port after his assassination.
It is probable that Niall sailed to Boulogne when invading Armorica on the first occasion, for he was carrying his arms into the same country, of which Boulogne was the principal port, and the only one used by the Romans when invading England.
The return of Niall from his first expedition into Armorica with captives, including St. Patrick, on board in the year 388, corresponds precisely with the fifteenth year of St. Patrick, who was born in the year 373. This fact is not only testified by Keating, but by Hersart de la Villemarque in his "Celtic Legend," who narrates that Calphurnius, St. Patrick's father, was a Roman officer in charge of Nemtor, near which his family resided in a Roman villa, and that Calphurnius was slain, and St. Patrick made captive by a hostile fleet that came from Ireland.
As Nemtor was not only the name of the tower, but the district of the tower, and situated within the suburbs of Bonaven, St. Fiacc's account of his patron's birthplace, which simply gives the name of the district, and St. Patrick's statement that his home was in the suburban district of Bonaven, harmonise together.
The Scholiast and the author of the Trepartite "Life," by admitting that the Saint was captured in Armorica, annul their assertion that he was born in Scotland, because St. Patrick distinctly states that his family hailed from Bonaven Taberniæ, or Boulogne, and that he was captured while residing at his father's villula. The Scholiast and Tripartite "Life" consequently admit that Bonaven Taberniæ was situated in Armorica.
The impression that Bononia, or Boulogne, was St. Patrick's native town is confirmed by Probus; he narrates all the misfortune that overtook Calphurnius and his family whilst they were quietly living in their own native country (in patria), and in their own seaside city in Armorica.
Armorica was then included in the Province of Neustria, one of the sub-divided kingdoms of the Franks, and it was on that account that Probus states that St. Patrick was born in Neustria.
Ware, Usher, and Cardinal Moran, who cling to the Scotch theory of St. Patrick's birth, all contradict the Scholiast, who asserts that St. Patrick was born in Dumbarton; whilst those who hold fast to the Dumbarton theory make frantic efforts to convert the Crag into a heavenly tower.
St. Patrick, after the vision, in which he was told that be should return to his own native country, sailed to Gaul and not to the Island of Britain.
It had been proved on the authority of Sulpicius Severus, who was born in the year 360, that Armorica was called Britannia, and the Armoricans were called Britons when the Council of Ariminium was held in the year 359—fourteen years before the birth of St. Patrick.
The Saint, when writing his "Confession" in 493, when the province had even a stronger claim to the name, could emphatically say, if he was born in Armorica, that he was a Briton and had relatives amongst the Britons.
The site of the villula where St. Patrick was born »
« St. Patrick calls Coroticus, a British prince, 'Fellow Citizen'
Boulogne-sur-Mer: St. Patrick's Native Town - Paperback Edition
Boulogne-sur-Mer: St. Patrick's Native Town - Kindle Edition
St. Patrick's Birthplace: A Summary of Proofs that the Apostle of Ireland was a Native of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France - Paperback Edition
St. Patrick's Birthplace: A Summary of Proofs that the Apostle of Ireland was a Native of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France - Kindle Edition
The Epistles and Hymn of Saint Patrick, with the Poem of Secundinus, translated into English - Paperback Edition
The Epistles and Hymn of Saint Patrick, with the Poem of Secundinus, translated into English - Kindle Edition


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In 'On The Trapline,' A Little Boy Visits His Grandfather's Childhood Home A little boy and his Moshom — which means grandfather in Swampy Cree — travel north to visit the trapline where, many years ago, the grandfather grew up living off the land.
A Boy And His Grandfather Visit Home 'On The Trapline'
Samantha Balaban
Illustrations by Julie Flett / Tundra
A little boy and his Moshom — his grandfather — are traveling north. They're going to the grandfather's community, and his trapline — a place where Indigenous people live off the land, hunting, fishing, and trapping.
On The Trapline is written by David A. Robertson, who is a member of Norway House Cree Nation, and inspired by a trip the author took with his late father.
"Up until he was nine years old, he lived mostly on the land," Robertson says. "And about three years ago, he asked me to take him up to his trapline one last time. And so we went together the following year and spent the day on the land together. And it was this homecoming. It was this feeling that we both belonged there together."
At the trapline, Moshom shows the little boy where he used to live — the place where the family pitched their tent, where he chopped wood, the bush where he picked saskatoon berries, and the shore where he set traps for muskrats.
"I think it's important that people recognize that it's still a way of life to a lot of indigenous people," Roberston says. "And it's an important and vibrant way of life."
Robertson says he wrote On The Trapline to be a gentle book, one that helps to dispel stereotypes and myths about life in an Indigenous community, and to educate readers.
To that end, Robertson includes Swampy Cree words throughout the story — like Moshom for grandfather.
And on the page where Moshom tells the little boy about his chores, the reader learns that the word for "go outside" is wanawī.
On The Trapline is illustrated by Julie Flett, who is Swampy Cree and Red River Métis. Robertson and Flett have worked together before, on their 2016 picture book When We Were Alone.
And Flett was the only illustrator Robertson considered for this story.
"When I was writing it, I was picturing Julia's work and it helped inform, I think, the beauty of the story," Robertson says. "I didn't have a backup plan."
For both Robertson and Flett, On The Trapline became all the more meaningful because it was the last project that their fathers would ever see.
"Whenever I'm making a book, I always talk to my dad whenever I have a question about the land or anything that I might have not experienced directly," Flett says. "He's been a guide and a compass ... And while I was working on this project, my dad's health was declining, but he was still able to talk about some of his experience. And, yeah, he passed just before it was finished. "
Robertson was able to read the story to his father shortly before he died.
"He loved it," Robertson says.
Robertson and Flett say they hope this story honors their families, and their dads.
"I think there could have been a tendency for grief to creep into the story. And it didn't," Robertson says. "It is a book that isn't about that loss, but it's about that gift that our fathers gave us. It's a celebration of life that honors two really incredible people."
Samantha Balaban and Melissa Gray produced and edited this interview for broadcast.


This is going to be a very quick post but I just wanted to pop on here and talk about my latest obsession when it comes to my haircare. Lately my hair has been feeling super dry in texture and so it's been prone to getting tangled whilst I sleep, as a result I've been really wanting to try out a good leave-in detangling spray and I believe the Phyto Plage Recovery Spray is my saviour.
This is meant to be used after the hair has been exposed to the sun as it repairs it and detangles it but I personally am only interested in it's second purpose. The smell of this is incredible and not only that but three spritzes of this, evenly over the head causes my brush to glide so seamlessly through my hair. I've been using it in conjunction with my Phil Smith Be Gorgeous De-tangling Brush and the two of them have been a match made in heaven.


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Charles Thorpe (1849-1852)
Charles Thorpe was a victim of the Holmfirth Flood of 1852, together with his mother and sister.
He was born on 27 April 1849, the illegitimate son of Amelia Thorpe, and was baptised on 25 November 1849 at Holy Trinity, Holmfirth.[1]
By the start of 1851, Amelia and Charles were living on Hollowgate, Holmfirth, with her uncle, grocer and corn dealer John Kaye.
A month after the census was taken, Amelia married clothier and hand loom weaver Matthew Fearns of Under Bank at All Hallows, Kirkburton. At the time of the marriage, she was already several months pregnant and Lydia Ann was born in July 1851.
On the night of the flood, John Kaye's house reportedly collapsed in the torrent and all of the occupants were washed out into the river. According to The Flood Came and Took Them All Away (1852):
[John Kaye] was driven by the force of the current into Victoria Square, on the opposite side, and a little lower down the street. He was espied floating on the water by the landlord of the Rose and Crown Inn, who at once stretched out a pole to the drowning man, and rescued him from almost certain death.
Charles' body was found in the Honley area and was taken to the Jacob's Well Inn.
He was buried on 8 February at St. John's, Upperthong, together with his mother and sister.
↑ The baptismal register entry reads "Charles illegitimate son of Amelia Thorp" and no father is named.
Drowned | Holmfirth Flood Project | People | Victims of the Holmfirth Flood of 1852
This page was last modified on 3 July 2021, at 16:43.


text:
Isophya tosevski är en insektsart som beskrevs av Pavicevic 1983. Isophya tosevski ingår i släktet Isophya och familjen vårtbitare. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Vårtbitare
tosevski


text:
(© Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com)
Diet News, Health & Medical News, Men
High-protein diets may decrease testosterone levels in men, leading to ED, fertility struggles
by Study Finds
WORCESTER, England — Gym buffs who knock back protein shakes and devour lean meats are lowering their chances of having kids, warns a new study. Following a high-protein diet may reduce men's testosterone levels, which can lead to erectile dysfunction and low sperm counts, say scientists.
Men who are looking to build muscle or lose weight are often encouraged to consume large amounts of lean meats, fish and protein shakes. But now scientists at the University of Worcester say pilling on the protein could cost them dearly, decreasing their testosterone levels by more than a third.
Cutting out carbs, which has become increasingly popular with celebs like Kim Kardashian, also comes at a price, the researchers report.
"Most people eat about 17 percent protein, and the high protein diets which caused low testosterone were all above 35 percent, which is very high," says lead researcher Joseph Whittaker, a doctoral student at the university, in a statement per South West News Service. "So for the average person, there is nothing to worry about, however for people on high protein diets, they should limit protein to no more than 25 percent."
Not having enough testosterone has also been linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's. In contrast, healthy testosterone levels are very important for strength, muscle building, and athletic performance.
Results from 27 studies involving a total of 309 men were compiled by the researchers. Those who followed a high protein, low carb diet had much lower levels of testosterone compared to others. Having more than 35 percent protein reduced testosterone levels by 37 percent, which is medically referred to as hypogonadism, the researchers found.
Too much protein and not enough carbs also increased cortisol, commonly known as the body's stress hormone, which is released during the "so-called fight or flight" response. High levels of cortisol have been found to suppress the immune system, leaving people vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections like colds, flus and COVID-19.
Packing on the protein can also cause "rabbit starvation," where the body turns too much protein into ammonia which is toxic at high levels. This condition, sometimes called "protein poisoning," was first discovered by Roman soldiers who were forced to survive on rabbits during the siege of Villanueva del Campo. Many of them developed severe diarrhea and died.
"The finding that low carbohydrates diets increase cortisol is very interesting, as these diets have become incredibly popular over recent years, with many celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, and Meagan Fox, promoting them," Whittaker says. "However further work needs to be done in this area, to know if this is necessarily bad."
The findings are published in the journal Nutrition and Health.
Report by South West News Service writer Tom Campbell
Tags: high-protein diet, male infertility, men, protein, sperm, testosterone
Study Finds sets out to find new research that speaks to mass audiences — without all the scientific jargon. Study Finds has been writing and publishing articles since 2016.
View Study's article archive
Junk food's evil ways: High-fat diet hijacks the brain's ability to regulate appetiteJanuary 25, 2023
Healthy lifestyle and a nutritious diet can slow memory decline during old ageJanuary 25, 2023
Carsten Nielsen says:
Whats your take on this one, telling the cause for (relative) low T following high protein:
https://www.untappedsupplement.com/blogs/news/studies-protein-shakes-lower-testosterone
Best Of The Best TV Soundbars: Top 5 Speakers Most Recommended By ExpertsJanuary 27, 2023


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First of all congratulations, you are into an awesome career-Engineering. Serving the nation to develop and helping its citizens to improve quality of life is what those creative people do. To be a professional in the field, you need to work hard for the four years, really hard. But don't worry, we'll help you with your studies.
Our's is a professionally managed institution that provides regular guidance to students doing B.Tech/BE. You'll be trained by a group of competent professionals who have been involved in B.Tech/BE coaching for more than a decade. Our dedicated experts work regularly to provide you with the best training methodology and latest information regarding your university exam for you to have excellent results.
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Well over 100 people gathered at a vigil Monday evening in Claremont to mourn the loss of bicyclist Leslie Pray, who police said died after a motorist appeared to drive her car across lanes of Mills Avenue on Saturday and intentionally hit her.
The vigil for Pray, 54, of Claremont, started at 7 p.m. at the site of the crash that took her life.
Betsy Hipple said she was Pray's partner for nine years and she had never known a more kind or gentle soul in her life.
"She was a vegan birdwatcher, enough said," Hipple said, eliciting a few laughs and a brief moment of levity.
Family and friends of Pray gathered and mourned just a few dozen feet away from the doorstep Susan Morrissette, who said she didn't know Pray, but allowed a memorial site to be set up on her front lawn.
Morrissette said she had been in contact with Hipple for the past 48 hours and that they'd be connected forever.
Betty Crocker, a Claremont resident who lives a few blocks away from where the crash happened, said she called Claremont City Manager Tara Schultz and Claremont Police Chief Shelly Vander Veen about getting the area prepared for the vigil.
Police did close a lane on Mills Avenue for the vigil.
The gathering included the cyclists community and lasted about an hour. Candles, flowers, pictures and a ghost bike were left on the lawn.
"I went over to the grocery store and bought every candle I could find, and we put them over where her body was laid to rest," Crocker said.
Ghost bikes are painted white and serve as both a memorial for a cyclist who died in traffic and a statement about safely sharing the road. The group KGNH: Keeping the GOOD in OUR NeighborHood had invited people to the vigil.
Pray died while biking north along the avenue, inside the bike lane, Claremont police said.
Police said the driver of the car, Sandra Wicksted, 61, of Claremont was arrested on suspicion of murder after the 11:30 a.m. incident.
Wicksted, who was driving a green 1996 Mercury Tracer station wagon, was injured in the crash and hospitalized, Claremont Lt. Eric Huizar said in a statement on Saturday.
"The driver's driving prior to the incident suggested that she had intent to strike the bicyclist," Huizar said then.
No possible motive has been publicly released by police.


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Eoophyla platyxantha is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by David John Lawrence Agassiz in 2012. It is found in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The wingspan is 14–17 mm. The forewings are white with a pale yellow antemedian fascia and a fuscous spot on the costa. The base of the hindwings is white with a yellow antemedian fascia and a white median area, as well as an orange-yellow postmedian fascia.

Etymology
The species name refers to the hindwing markings and is derived from Greek platus (meaning broad) and xanthos (meaning yellow).

References

Eoophyla
Moths described in 2012


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02 September 2015 | Books
Recent Reads: July and August
The Ice Twins (S.K. Tremayne): I loved this psychological thriller, with its intriguing premise, complicated characters, and twisting, turning plot line that continually kept me guessing. Set on a desolate, remote island in Scotland, the book centers on a married couple who have recently lost one of their identical twin daughters in a tragic accident (not a spoiler, you find out right away). That eerie feeling starts to creep in when the living twin (Kirsti) claims to actually be Lydia (her dead twin) – and her parents aren't sure if she's lying, acting out, or if they've made a horrible mistake. I loved the writing and the atmospheric setting, so I definitely recommend this one.
Dead Wake (Erik Larson): Loved this book as well- no one writes non-fiction like Erik Larson! His books always manage to turn what could definitely be boring and dry into an adventure that reads like a fast-paced, character-drivin novel. This one focuses on World War I and the Lusitania, and I feel like I learned so many interesting facts from it, about the war and America's involvement in it, about submarines…things I did not think I would be super interested in learning about! The book focuses on real people who were aboard the Lusitania on its fateful voyage from New York, and by honing in on these characters, Larson really brings the past to life. Instead of feeling like some far off event in history you could never relate to, his writing makes the reader feel engaged and connected to the story, while highlighting the fact that simple choices made by individuals are really what drive these huge events in history.
Crazy Rich Asians (Kevin Kwan): I liked this book while I was reading it, but upon further reflection I decided that it was lacking a bit. It was entertaining and I liked the premise, but ultimately the plot and character development felt really thin. This book centers on a Chinese-American girl who is going to Singapore with her boyfriend of two years to meet his family – unbeknownst to her, one of the richest families in all of Asia. First of all, it really stretches plausibility to lay the whole premise on the audience believing that you could date someone for two years and know NOTHING of their upbringing, family, childhood, etc. I think not. More than that, though, the characters just weren't developed, and the relationship between the main characters just felt like a big nothing. The main guy was such a nothing I can't even remember his name – the author just didn't bring him to life, endear him to the audience, anything. Overall it wasn't bad but definitely a beach read, I'd say.
The Royal We (Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan): I read this book because the premise was sort of similar to Crazy Rich Asians (regular girl falls for extraordinary guy), but I was hoping it would have what that book was lacking – and it did! The characters were well-developed, the relationship felt real, and you kind of felt like you went on a journey with these characters. For anyone who doesn't know, the book is about an American college student (Bex), who goes to Oxford to study abroad and finds herself thrust into the world of the British royalty when she falls in love with Prince Nicholas, future King of England. Sound familiar? Yeah, it's basically Kate Middleton/Prince William fan fiction, except if Kate Middleton were American – but at the same time, the authors made the characters their own, not caricatures. I really enjoyed it, and if you're interested definitely listen to this Jess Lively podcast where she interviews the authors – it's really interesting to hear about their process in writing a book together.
Modern Romance (Aziz Ansari): Loved. This. Book. It was so good and really surpassed my expectations. Comedian Aziz Ansari partnered up with sociologist Eric Klinenberg to research dating and marriage both in older generations and young people today. Along the way they conducted hundreds of interviews, traveled far and wide to get the scoop from daters in other countries, and analyzed statistics from websites like OkCupid and Match.com in order to gain a well-rounded perspective on romance and dating in our modern, swipe-app driven world. What emerges is an entertaining, but also in-depth and enlightening read that compares and contrasts dating in the past and present and opens your eyes to the actual humans behind the screens on these (sometimes) ridiculous apps and dating sites. I think anyone from teenagers to older folks will enjoy and be able to relate to this book in some way. Modern Romance wasn't just a comedian book at all – Aziz actually had a lot of really interesting and thought-provoking ideas and insights to share. And if you don't think he's funny or aren't familiar with his comedy, just watch this and this (not at work!).
My Paris Dream (Kate Betts): A must read for anyone who dreams of moving to Paris. In this memoir, former editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar, Kate Betts, recounts her adventures doing exactly that. I liked that she didn't romanticize her time in Paris, but shared the struggles and uncertainties as well as the magical moments that make living in Paris the dream of so many. It kind of reminded me of New York – movies and books idealize the hell out of it, but actually it's a place, and it has its good and bad parts. But no matter how bad the bad, there's still that magic and beauty to it that keeps some people wanting to be there, and nowhere else (even if not forever). Anyway, if you're a fashion lover (or even just marginally interested in that world) and want to read about someone who worked her way into top spots at Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, and Time Magazine with grace, talent, and integrity, I think you'll enjoy this!
Everybody Rise (Stephanie Clifford): See my review of this book here!
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Marie Kondo): I finally got around to reading this – it's a quick one which you can skim through in a day. Of course, being the decluttering, organizing, throwing-away-unused-items fan that I am, I liked the ideas behind this book. However, she kind of lost me when she was talking about storage ideas – like when she suggested keeping your books in your closet. Um, no. Just no. By the time she got around to suggesting that you dry off your shampoo and conditioner bottles and remove them from the shower after each use, thus leaving nothing behind in that damp, mildew-breeding environment, I felt like she had kind of lost the plot. I mean, come on. That's just not realistic. So yes, I liked a lot of the ideas and I think it's great when it comes to decluttering motivation, but I'm really not into living in a minimalist space where you don't even have a bookshelf! Overall though, good motivation for getting rid of stuff you don't love or need.
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Allison wrote:
Such great choices Jackie! I have Everybody Rise & The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on my list to read but I will definitely have to add The Royal We, My Paris Dream and Modern Romance. Thanks for the recommendations!
Published 9.2.15 · Reply
Riley wrote:
So many of these are on my list to read! Especially Modern Love and Everybody Rise. I think The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is hilarious, clever, and totally unattainable at some points (you're right about that). Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca {at} Preppy Panache wrote:
Always love your recommendations!
And in other news:
Sixteen (More) New Books To Read in 2019
Winter Reading List: Best Recent Reads
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See what I'm currently reading
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