Join us for the Trustpower Christmas Parade, the parade that heralds the start of the Christmas season, featuring colourful community floats, lively bands, marching teams, acrobatic groups and colourful characters. Santa will join us and has invited many of his friends along too. He has chosen two of his most trusted reindeer to help him and he has asked that the elves fill his presents sack early for the occasion, so watch out for them at the end of the parade. We can't wait for you to meet Drogon this year, this 6 metre long, 3 metre high dragon is set to wow you all in the parade, but don't get too close, he'll growl!
Of course there will be a few surprises along the way with some giveaways and plenty of fun so join us at the Trustpower Christmas Parade and stay in Downtown Tauranga afterwards for the family entertainment.
Wondering what happens in the event of rain on Saturday?
We acknowledge that there is rain in the forecast for Saturday, however we are still going ahead with the parade! If in the unfortunate case of heavy rain or strong winds, we will let you all know by 9am on Saturday if there is a need to cancel.
See you in Downtown Tauranga on Saturday for another fantastic Trustpower Christmas Parade!
The Trustpower Christmas Parade is an iconic Tauranga community event and one that is growing in popularity year on year. In the three years that it has been held in Downtown Tauranga spectator ship has grown from 10,000 in the first year to 20,000 in 2016. Downtown Tauranga is packed with all ages, excited to see the floats and of course Santa himself.
We cannot stress enough the important role that Volunteers play in making the Trustpower Christmas Parade the success that it is. Each year we have been privileged to work with some amazing, generous people who have given us their time.


Elizabeth Tinkler was considering a radio career until her internship at a Boston radio station turned her away from it. She was brought on staff as a "promotions intern," where she thought she would help plan events, concerts, and contests. A semester's worth of Saturdays, thousands of stickers, and one state fair later, Tinkler realized that her true job description meant handing out bumper stickers at local events and gas stations. "Working on a Saturday, watching pigs race at a state fair and handing out bumper stickers was not my idea of career development," says Tinkler, 21.
But what should you expect from an internship? The definition of an internship varies so widely that it's hard to get a baseline for judgment. So we have developed a guide to show you what to expect at the least-and what to avoid-from your internship.
Like it or not, you will be the low person on the totem pole. While you shouldn't be handing out bumper stickers all summer, your boss is not going to give you the company's largest account to handle. An internship lies somewhere in between, says Tinkler. "You're going to be spending a lot of time in the mailroom no matter what kind of internship you do." While some interns might disagree with Tinkler, all internships usually involve some gerbil work-whether it's data entry, filing, or scheduling appointments for your boss, it's coming your way.
However, interns should be given real responsibility when the gerbil work is done, says Jay Allen, an intern at Ketchum Public Relations in New York. Allen, who is working for the agency's health care division, works hands-on with two accounts, including a campaign called "Have a Heart" in which celebrities raise awareness of high blood pressure. Allen says he has already gained experience juggling accounts and practicing time management skills, which, he says, has largely come from the hands-on responsibilities he's been given. In an average day, his duties range from pitching stories to journalists to helping with organizing Ketchum events. Nancy Waclawek, who coordinates the internship program for The St. Petersburg Times in Florida, agrees with Allen. "You should, at a bare minimum, be given real work to do," says Waclawek.
Tinkler, who now interns at Mullen Public Relations and Smash Advertising, both near Boston, says that she wasn't given real work right away-she had to ask for it. "I'm going up to anyone-whether it's the president of the company or someone else-and saying, 'Give me work to do!'" Her boldness paid off: she's now writing radio scripts and doing other copyrighting. And she says she's getting much more out of the experience. Be sure, however, to initially ask your direct supervisor for work. Don't go over too many heads to get an assignment.
There are plenty of internships out there. Don't settle for one that doesn't match your personality. "I have a few friends who are working for companies that are very stuffy, and they just don't fit in," says Allen. "Think about matching your personality with the environment to find the best fit." Waclawek calls this looking for a "friendly" company-one with a well-organized internship program, a staff ready to train you, and other perks such as assistance in finding a summer apartment.
The Boston Globe. Harris says some students who start out reporting for the paper discover they like editing better, and vice versa. Some design interns have switched to photography. And at least one has given up on the newspaper business entirely.
Your internship should compensate you somehow-whether by a paycheck, stipend, housing subsidies, class credit, or other perks, a company should give you more than just its name on your resume in exchange for your work. Brooks recommends finding a paid internship. "Don't take a job unless they're putting money behind it by paying or training you well," Brooks says. "I know I have to get a lot out of our interns because their salaries are coming out of my budget." Look for the green to find the companies that are serious about interns, she says.


Managing money is something only few people are good at. Not everyone earning money uses it wisely. If you are one of those many people and you are having problems to manage your finances, then no need to worry. Here are 10 tips that will help you to use your income sensibly.
A lot of people aren't aware about how much they are really spending on their clothing, food, housing or entertainment. It doesn't matter if you are paying for all of it through cash, credit card or debit card. What really matters isthe total expenditures. Why? So that at the end of the month, you get an idea of how you are putting your money to use.
Make use of the data that you just gathered by calculating your monthly expenses. Then develop a budget that is easy to live with. Keep track of how successfully you follow it every month, which means to keep on tracking your monthly expenses.
The money you save is like a Rainy Day Fund, which comes to use at times of emergencies or unforeseen expenses. Take out some part of your monthly income and put it into savings account. This should be at least 10% of every paycheck. If you happen to have made some extra money put that too in the savings account.
The information of your credit report puts a great impact on your financial future. Get this report at least once a year to clear any errors.
The three digit credit score informs businesses and lenders how you handle your credit and finances. Scores are between 500 and 850. The greater the number, the better the rating and the more chances you have to get credit at a better rate. You can buy your credit score from any of the credit reporting agencies.
Credit cards make it easy to be under debts. If the debts you have rise faster than you can pay it, it simply means you are living beyond your limits. Put a stop to use of credit cards and pay off the existing balances. Furthermore, the quicker you pay it off the less interest you have to pay. Remember that every debt is not bad, taking on loans to study or to buy yourself a home is an investment you make for your future.
If your employer is giving contribution match for health savings or retirement savings accounts, be sure that you are giving off much to get maximum match amount. Or else you are missing a great opportunity for free money. Increasing your contributions will lower your taxable earning.
Insurance is an important tool for saving yourself against financial crisis and the premium you pay for may be top of your household expenses. Have a word with your provider to be sure that you have got the right level of protection; this way you won't be paying too much for coverage.
Millions of people do not trust on traditional financial institutions or banks to handle their money. Banks in Singapore are guaranteed to be safe up to a max of $50,000 per account. So go ahead! Open as many bank accounts as you want as long as it is below $50,000 per account! Also, be sure to check if there are any fees for their services before selecting an institution.
Did you use to spend like crazy and did not pay your bills on time? If that affected your credit score causing you to be unable to get a loan now, not to worry.
We are the best licensed moneylender you can find in the whole of Singapore. We will be able to provide you with all the cash you need to tide over your crisis. Why are we one of the best moneylenders? This is because of our fast loan processing time, low interest rates and monthly repayment plans.
If you are interested in getting a loan, contact us here. Or fill in a no obligations application form. This form is to allow us to know more about you and speed up the processing time if you choose to take a loan with us in the end.


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Machimus blantoni är en tvåvingeart som först beskrevs av Stanley Willard Bromley 1940.  Machimus blantoni ingår i släktet Machimus och familjen rovflugor.

Artens utbredningsområde är Florida. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Rovflugor
blantoni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Karna has several projects that demonstrate our breadth of services:
Karna Health Communications Fights Global HIV and TB
Photo Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
HIV and TB are globally interconnected, as TB is the leading cause of death for those living with HIV.
CDC's Center for Global Health, Division of HIV & TB (DGHT) has set progressive goals for the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to HIV/AIDS and TB to achieve greatest worldwide impact, especially among the poorest and most marginalized groups that carry the greatest disease burden. Achieving these goals requires coordinated deployment of resources combined with comprehensive communication strategies targeting public health personnel, health care providers, and the general public. DGHT tasked Karna to provide high-quality communications support, including the strategic use of communications platforms and channels to optimize reach in promoting program contributions to the fight against global HIV/AIDS.
In response, Karna executed an integrated strategic communication plan providing project management support, key messaging development, graphic design, and formal evaluation to build awareness and understanding of DGHT's role, contributions, programs, and policies. The strategic communication plan clearly defined objectives, key audiences, messages, relevant activities and tailored materials for each audience, and a timeline for implementation. To inform the overarching communication strategy, Karna conducted environmental scans and monitoring to determine emerging issues and trends that were applicable to DGHT. Using this analysis, we developed data-driven strategies, messaging, and products that were relevant and responsive. Key messages were incorporated in products such as; factsheets, success stories, and social media cards and were distributed according to the most effective tactics. Karna monitored and evaluated all communication efforts for effectiveness and reach.
Karna has been instrumental in DGHT's fight against HIV and TB through communication and dissemination of findings and research. This is evidenced by increased activity on websites and social-media, downloads of newsletters, products, and materials and national and international media coverage on targeted messages and information that produced expected outcomes and addressed stakeholders' needs.
MMWR Engagement
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is CDC's premier publication for the reporting of scientific information for disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and health education activities. It is relied on by scientists, public health and healthcare professionals, and government officials for dependable, current and breaking public health information.
Several publications come out of the MMWR office: the Weekly, Reports and Recommendations, Surveillance Summaries, and Supplements. To meet the requirement of influential, accurate, objective, and well-written information in a timely (and sometimes expedited) manner, CDC requires technical and program support services. Specifically we provide skillsets ranging from technical writer/editors, desktop publishing, web development, maintenance and support, and health communication specialists.
Karna's team supports the review, and publication dissemination of weekly and serial reports as well as additional resources such as those addressing public health emergency responses, depending on the urgency of the event such as Ebola, Zika, or Opioids. First, writer-editors start once a report is reviewed. They help resolve reviewers' comments by liaising between reviewers and report authors (which include CDC subject matter experts, as well as external subject matter experts from health departments, academic institutions, and other affiliations). They must ensure the reports are written clearly (Federal Plain Language guidelines) and concisely while maintaining the accuracy of scientific content. Once report content is finalized, Karna's desktop publishers create and edit graphics and prepare the report layout for print and web publication. Our health communication specialists support the planning, implementation, and assessment of MMWR health communication and promotion activities. In addition, they help create, coordinate, and disseminate social media for MMWR publication promotion, support the MMWR podcast series and also develop content for the MMWR website. Karna's web team is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the programs website. Our web managers post the finalized reports to the web, design and maintain web layout and provide web analytics to the MMWR Office for evaluation purposes. In addition, Karna uses a web-based platform to disseminate CDC information to decision makers, public health practitioners, and the public while adhering to CDC web standards and Section 508 requirements.
CDC's MMWR Weekly ranked 2nd in 2018 among the 180 journals in the category of Public, Environmental and Occupational Health in the Science Citation Index Expanded edition of Journal Citations Reports. Through the contributions of CDC authors and the support work done by Karna LLC and Tanaq Corporation, "the voice of CDC" influences and enhances public health by providing timely, authoritative, and useful science and recommendations for public health action.
Managing Foreign Grant Audit Resolutions
The convergence of changes to workflow resulting from OMB's 2 CFR 200 ("The Uniform Guidance"), and HHS 45 CFR 75, and the increase in number of Foreign Audits required by Ebola and Zika events created a need for an automated solution to manage the tracking and resolution of these audit.
Meeting Business Needs
CDC needed a solution for tracking the receipt and review of required independent audits submitted by foreign-based grantees. Karna developed the Foreign Audit Tracking System (FATS) to support workflow management, communications, and periodic and ad hoc reporting of information about audit submissions, delinquent audits and letter status, resolution of findings status, country-specific data, suspense dates, Management Decision Letter (MDL) status and approvals, work backlogs, noncompliant audits and letter status, appeals, grantee risk status, repeat/systemic findings, and possible trends.
In addition to the FATS software, Karna developed an audit report forecasting methodology based on linking select data from multiple sources, including GrantSolutions, IMPAC II, and SAM.
FATS is a functional web-based information system including access to CDC's Foreign Audit artifacts. User groups from audit resolution, grants management, and programs can access their own role-specific dashboard displays and execute drill-downs from quick look views to details. As part of the effort, Karna developed a Training Plan, course materials, and release updates, and delivered classroom and webinar training for 162 potential users in Atlanta and at global locations. Karna established Help Line support and provided Tier 2 and 3 product support for users for one year after the initial Go-Live date.
Since FATS received its authorization to go operational, it has become a viable enterprise-wide system for integrating and managing the disparate pieces of the Foreign Audit resolution workflow into a smoothly-operating standard process.
The current FATS provides the capability to share a more common and accurate view of Foreign Audits in the resolution process and to reduce the time needed for resolution workflow activities from days and weeks to hours and minutes.
The National Center for Health Statistics conducts the National Health Care Surveys. Each survey targets a specific care setting. The data from these surveys must be weighted, sampled, and analyzed in order to provide information to support health care policy makers, public health professionals, and researchers.
Karna provides senior statistical programming support to NCHS including weighting survey data, sampling and producing national estimates and variances. This requires expert knowledge in the underlying coding standards, including HL7, SNOMED, LOINC, CPT, ICD-9, ICD-10, CDA, CDA IG, and RX NORM. Our team uses SAS, SQL, Java, XML, and Schematron tools to accomplish the work.
The result of this effort are data files and specification documents that allow the survey data to be available including the NCHS Data Online Query System (DOQS), Healthy People 2020 (HP2020), the Health Indicators Warehouse (HIW), the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), and the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER).
Evaluating an Evidence-Based Program
Photo Credit: Cade Martin
The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs are two evidence-based interventions for preventing and managing diabetes that are implemented in many locations in the United States. To support the programs' ability to do performance monitoring and evaluation reporting, CDC requested an evaluation capability assessment to be followed by the development and provision of training and technical assistance in those areas needing improvement.
Karna analyzed CDC DDT grantee information for all awardees under the State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health (SPHA1305) and 1422 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)s. The assessment included each State's evaluation plan, awardee work plans, logic models and Annual Performance Reports as well as in-person feedback gathering sessions. The result was a capacity-assessment rubric that was applied to all 51 grantees' reports to identify their evaluation capacity.
Karna delivered a number of performance monitoring, evaluation and capacity-building tool resources that will be usable for current and future activities including a:
Detailed logic models for both DPP and DSMES (in collaboration with CDC)
Access to sustainable diabetes-related data sources, including data sharing agreements with the national diabetes advocacy organizations
Ten evaluation capacity building webinars to improve awardees' performance monitoring, evaluation reporting, program implementation and planning activities
Immunization Information Systems
60+ jurisdictions – including states, large cities and U.S. territories- received funding from the CDC to develop and maintain an Immunization Information System (IIS) that consolidates immunization information into one reliable source for providers and families. The challenge facing CDC are that each jurisdiction has unique laws and workflows impacting the manner in which immunization data is reported and tracked. In addition the awardees vary in their ability to implement tracking systems, resulting from a number of factors.
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) requested an analysis of the effectiveness of the current approach to funding IIS activities and the possible ways to increase the sustainability of the national IIS system maintenance and enhancement.
Karna conducted surveys, facilitated discussions and interviewed stakeholders to evaluate awardees' maturity in accepting, transmitting, and analyzing immunization data. We developed profiles of the current state and created a consolidated view of the awardee cohort. Karna collaborated with the American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) and Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) as well as the awardees and government stakeholders.
In the second phase of the project, we worked with CDC to develop a future state funding model, future state tools and a roadmap for creating those tools. This included development of a Shared Services Catalog and approaches to actualizing Service Centers. We reviewed private and governmental sectors to discover and evaluate models for creating a sustainable environment which could manage, support, and deploy shared software services across the awardee community. Karna also performed an alternate IIS funding implementation assessment, to develop new approaches to funding the IIS's. The objective was to create sustainable funding and infrastructure to assure the future of state based immunization services.
The final work product was an implementation road-map, a step-by-step how-to for achieving a future state of higher performing, inter-active and sustainably funded IIS's.
CDC DGHP Global Health Security Communications Engagement
Photo Credit: Alaine Knipes
CDC's Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is designed to address the increasing risk of global health threats. The success of its implementation requires systematic and consistent communication between the CDC Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) and CGH country offices and communications that are economically effective.
Karna supported the development of a robust partner engagement process and a method for evaluating the effectiveness and value through economic analyses. We started by inventorying the events and observances related to global health security and the coordinated that with partner visits to CDC for which we developed talking points and policy briefs. We developed materials for the annual meeting, social media, campaign events, and DGHP publications. We developed a landscape analysis intended for publication for CGH of economic/cost studies and reports outlining the economic impacts of CGH's investments in various programs since inception.
The linkage of consistent communications to economic value allows DGHP to focus on those actions which increase GHSA. Our approach to cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility analysis was used to evaluate global health interventions from the impact of immunization funding on data collection/quality in sub-Saharan African countries to the economic cost of the Nigeria Malaria Frontline Project.
Back to Government

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Naini Lake, Nainital Tour Arrive Delhi Airport / Railway Station. Upon arrival, meet & greet and transfer to Vehicle .Proceed to Nainital (325 kms. /8 hrs. ).Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight Stay.
Enjoy Snow view point by cable car at the foothills of Himalayas. Visit Chidyaghar, and Hanumangarhi temple -religious center and a gorgeous spot well known for its Sunset. Overnight Stay.
.Morning Proceed for a half day excursion of the lake tour visiting Sattal, Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal. Later enjoy boating at Naini lake and visit Naina Devi temple. Overnight Stay.
Morning drive to Delhi. Arrive Delhi in the evening .Board Flight/Train for onward journey. Tour Concludes.


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MEMORIAL GROUND
What is Memorial Ground?
The Piece
Commissioners & Supporters
Producing Partners
Choir Info Pack
Practicing and Rehearsing
Customising Memorial Ground
Memorial Ground Events
Sharing your Memorial Ground
Between 1914-18 there were more than 38 million casualties during World War I.
We invite you to give voice to remember them through a unique piece of music.
Memorial Ground on Facebook
Memorial Ground on Twitter
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Image: The German attack advancing from their trench. Imperial War Museum, German First World War Exchange Collection.
Memorial Ground is a piece of choral music by Pulitzer Prize-winning and Oscar-nominated composer David Lang, composed in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme in a very special way. More than 1.1 million people from all over the world were killed or wounded during that Battle, and no single text or piece of music can respond to such a scale of loss. Instead, David Lang wanted to offer many different people a way to voice their own response. Choirs ranging from primary schools to professionals, choirs of all sizes and abilities customised his piece to make it their own by choosing texts and shaping the performance according to their own thoughts, resources, location, circumstances and scale. Some kept it simple and short; others added instruments, video projections, staging, poetry, prayers, whispered names of the fallen – every performance was unique. Read some of the different approaches people took here.
"Memorial Ground is still very much in my head. Beautiful pieces, beautifully sung." The Fourth Choir's audience member
Memorial Ground was originally meant to be available to choirs for the duration of The Battle of the Somme (20 weeks), but we are delighted to announce that David Lang has agreed for the piece, and all its online resources to continue to be available on this website for free until November 1918. We invite choirs everywhere to consider creating their own Memorial Ground to remember the more than 38 million casualties of World War I and reflect on their legacy to us today. Visit the resources page for print music, audio tracks, video tutorials, ideas and suggestions.
The title, 'Memorial Ground' has a double meaning. It refers to a battlefield, but also a 'ground' in music is a chord sequence that repeats over and over, on top of which you can add extra lines. Think of the ending of Hey Jude or Pachelbel's Canon – they are both grounds.
David Lang took that idea and expanded it to create what he calls his 'hymn tune.' There are short (2 minute) and long (5 minute) versions and they should be repeated as needed, the way that hymns repeat. They serve as a 'bed' for ad lib solos that are sung or spoken over it. David has provided melodies without words so that each choir can use them to set words that reflect their own thoughts on the battle centenary. This could be a poem, prayer, a roll call of the fallen from the local war memorial; other texts such as letters, diaries, or personal accounts. Choirs can also chose from the solos that David has provided with words already added, or mix and match freely. Read some of the different approaches people took here.
The music has been written to be as accessible as possible to a wide ability range of singers, and performable by many different types of groups. The answer to most questions about it is 'yes you can'; David is happy for choirs to add instruments, transpose the piece to suit different ranges – whatever it takes for you to create the performance that works best for you.
"…the new piece was so emotive, it had me in tears." St Andrew's Church Choir audience member
Image: Aerial photograph of Mouquet Farm AFTER heavy bombardment during the Battle of Pozieres Ridge.
Image: British troops, two corporals near Beaumont Hamel, November 1916.
What did people think?
"An outstanding performance that caught the sadness, the spirituality and courage of all those men who fell not just at the Somme, but at all the great battles."
"Three of us, sitting sided by side, were moved to tears"
"One of the most memorable concerts I think I have ever seen."
Audience members at the premiere of Memorial Ground, East Neuk Festival.
David Lang is one of the most highly-esteemed and performed composers writing today. His works are heard in great concert halls and theatres around the world and also on film: notably he has worked with Peter Greenaway and Paolo Sorrentino, including the sound track to Sorrentino's Oscar-winning La Grande Bellezza and his recent film YOUTH. Vocal music has long been key to David Lang's work. He won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in music for The Little Match Girl Passion, based on a fable by Hans Christian Andersen. He has created works for the world's leading ensembles including Theatre of Voices (whose recording of little match girl passion won a Grammy Award), Trio Medieval and Anonymous 4, and also numerous works for amateur performers including CROWD OUT for 1,000 people yelling.
David's website is very useful for sampling a range of his work for choirs – if you enjoy Memorial Ground take a look to see if any of his other pieces would suit your group.
Image: David Lang by Peter Serling ©
Memorial Ground is co-commissioned by East Neuk Festival and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England and by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, with the support of Creative Scotland.


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MGT601 - SME Management - Lecture Handout 44
Buffer It!
WTO is a reality, which has come to stay. We have to face the emerging challenges and grasp the opportunities. As the Governor, SBP stated that we need to develop strategy to get maximum benefit from globalization.
Foremost areas of concerns
The textile sector, which contributes 67% of our total exports, would in 2005 face severest competition from other major suppliers like china, Hong Kong, Thailand and Bangladesh. We have made some progress in facing post quota era under Textile Vision 2005 to take the production of textile good, upwards in the value chain. it is apprehended that the MFA phase out will start another era of non-tariff barriers. With the phasing out of quotas, textile manufacturers in industrialized and some quota free countries may decide to relocate. Government should provide incentive to ensure that they relocate in Pakistan.
The country urgently needs to build a strong network of anti-dumping and countervailing duties to protect the local industry against the onslaught of unfair foreign competition. It is heartening to note that Trade policy 2003-04 envisages enhancement of capabilities of NTC and it is recommended that NTC should be restructured and converted into an autonomous body employing private sector professionals.
The developing countries face problems in hiring law firms to advice on WTO related issues, which is a constraining factor in seeking relief from Dispute Settlement Body. There is a need to train local lawyers with WTO expertise.
Our survival lies in enhancing credibility through adoption of international quality standards, but Pakistan has a long way to go in obtaining certifications of ISO9000, ISO14000 and other standards. We need to set up PNAC accreditation testing laboratories for conformity assessment.
GoP must collect data in respect of standards of manufacturing, food and other agricultural produce in the countries where we are targeting out exports. GoP may amend the policies for manufacturing of engineering goods so that it offsets the effects on their performance due to termination of grace period of TRIMs by end 2003. We should take up our concern at wto for a regarding replacement of tariff barriers by some countries with SPS and TBT- which is evident from increased emphasis being placed on inspection of imported food and agricultural products. As a member of WTO, Pakistan is committed to fulfilling trip's obligations, for which five law amendments have been promulgated. There is urgency for enforcement of laws regarding infringement of IPRS, a sine qua non for attracting foreign investment, for which necessary rules should be framed and notified on a priority basis. The Government had announced, in Trade Policy 2002-03, establishment of umbrella organization PIPRO for improving the administration and enforcement scenario, but necessary legislation for PIPRO to start functioning is still pending.
Pakistan has done well by undertaking liberalization measures relating to communication and financial sectors well over and beyond its commitments under GATS. But the measures have not been translated into internationally binding commitments. We should undertake partial or full commitments, where feasible, which will provide an assured and relatively stable environment for investment for foreigners and overseas Pakistanis. Attempts may be made to obtain commercial quid pro quo from other countries. Pakistan in collaboration with other LDC's needs to stress for further progress on the issue of movement of natural persons, which is an unfinished agenda of GATS.
According to recent study, the major flaw in Pakistan's approach that while it paid a great deal of attention to inward flow of foreign investment and technology it did not view gats as a means of export of its services. This needs to be rectified but the Developing countries are still in a low level of economic equilibrium, which was the raison d'etre of grant of grace period. there was, however, one exception relating applicability of WTO norms on "prohibited subsidies", contingent upon export performance admissible to
20 countries including Pakistan until they attain per capita GNP of US $ 1000. We suggest that other concessions of grace period should like wise be linked with attainment of specific level of economic progress and institutional capabilities.
Besides, most of the provisions of WTO agreements regarding S&D treatment are declaratory. In the absence of implementation modalities, these provisions have not been of any particular use to developing countries. Pakistan should evolve joint strategy with other developing states and press hard at Cancun ministerial for finalization of necessary modalities, as envisaged in Doha development agenda.
In this era of globalization, regionalism has assumed great importance. It is high time that we make SAARC and ECO more proactive to spur up intra-regional trade to ward off the risk of being marginalized. The core WTO related issues are discussed and debated in the technical committees, where our participation is not effective, as it is not backed by background research for submission of technical papers.
This underscores the need for meaningful coordination of efforts at government level and industry level under the aegis of SAARC to ensure effective participation in the meetings. We still do not posses the institutional and technical capabilities to develop, advocate and formulate the standards and legislations to meet the WTO requirements, while WTO, in principle, offers technical assistance to developing countries to develop the capabilities to implement obligations and to benefit from its membership rights; Pakistan has not tapped into these opportunities well.
It is time that we take full advantage of technical assistance and capacity building programs of WTO and other multilateral agencies. There is urgent need for capacity building of private sector institutions for dissemination of information on WTO and provide research feedback to government for policy formulation and for their on going negotiations with WTO under Doha round.
Due to the enlargement of European Union from 15 to 20 countries.
Due to bilateral agreements in which countries of our interest are also GoP should take up studies to ascertain the impact on trade of Pakistan involved. accession of china to WTO.
Related Content: MGT601 - VU Lectures, Handouts, PPT Slides, Assignments, Quizzes, Papers & Books of SME Management


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Stirling Polynomials in Several Indeterminates
Alfred Schreiber
The classical exponential polynomials, today commonly named after E.,T. Bell, have a wide range of remarkable applications in Combinatorics, Algebra, Analysis, and Mathematical Physics. Within the algebraic framework presented in this book they appear as structural coefficients in finite expansions of certain higher-order derivative operators. In this way, a correspondence between polynomials and functions is established, which leads (via compositional inversion) to the specification and the effective computation of orthogonal companions of the Bell polynomials. Together with the latter, one obtains the larger class of multivariate `Stirling polynomials'.
Their fundamental recurrences and inverse relations are examined in detail and shown to be directly related to corresponding identities for the Stirling numbers. The following topics are also covered: polynomial families that can be represented by Bell polynomials; inversion formulas, in particular of Schlömilch-Schläfli type; applications to binomial sequences; new aspects of the Lagrange inversion, and, as a highlight, reciprocity laws, which unite a polynomial family and that of orthogonal companions. Besides a Mathematica(R) package and an extensive bibliography, additional material is compiled in a number of notes and supplements.
Alfred Schreiber was born in Düsseldorf (Germany) in 1946, studied mathematics and philosophy, and received his doctorate from the University of Cologne in 1974. He held post-doc positions at the Pädagogische Hochschule Rheinland and, after habilitation in 1981, as ``Privatdozent'' at the RWTH Aachen. After a two-year interlude as a software developer in the private sector, he received a full professorship at the University of Flensburg in 1986, where he taught and researched for more than two decades. His interests include epistemological topics in mathematics education, media informatics, enumerative combinatorics, and a wide range of interdisciplinary aspects of mathematics. He is also active as a literary author and translator. Two anthologies of mathematical poems edited by him have been published in 2010/12 by Springer Verlag.


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June 28, 2019	Lifestyle, Magazine, Recent News, Tech Leave a comment 388 Views
2009 feels like a long time ago now, but cast your mind back and you might remember that little phenomenon called Avatar, James Cameron's CG smash hit which still holds the record for highest box-office gross ever with a comfortable margin of $600 million over the director's other smash-hit, Titanic.
Since then, Cameron has teased us with a promised two sequels, later bumping that up to three, and then again to four, which are set to film back-to-back. It's a tale of delays and woe, but it still looks like Avatar 2 is coming, eventually…
Here's everything you need to know as you wait to return to the alien landscape of Pandora.
Avatar 2 release date: Someday, somehow
To cut a long story short, Avatar 2 is finally going to be released (apparently) on December 17, 2021, having been pushed back from December 2020. A new Avatarmovie will follow every other year all the way until Avatar 5 on December 17, 2027.
Filming was expected to finally begin in April of 2016 but that just didn't happen. Then it was announced in January 2017 that work on the motion capture would be starting in August 2017, and eventually began in September (eight years after the first movie's release).
The movie was originally scheduled for release in December 2014, with the third film arriving in December 2015, which of course also didn't happen. After the fourth film was added to the plans, they were pushed back to December 2016, 2017 and 2018 releases.
Then, in January 2015, it was announced that Avatar 2 would now be coming in December 2017, with Cameron saying that the "very involved" writing process was to blame for the wait.
WETA20TH CENTURY FOX
Next, in January 2017, Avatar 2 was delayed again, the assumption being that it ran scared after Star Wars Episode 8 slipped from May to December 2017.
Cameron has generally been distinctly non-committal about the delays.
"The important thing for me is not when the first one comes out but the cadence of the release pattern," He told Variety. "I want them to be released as close together as possible. If it's an annual appointment to show up at Christmas, I want to make sure that we're able to fulfil on that promise."
He's also completely chilled out about any delays. "It was a seven-year gap between The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, seven-year gap between Alien and Aliens," he told CNN.
Avatar sequel titles: Quite the mouthful?
While we've been calling them Avatar 2, Avatar 3 and so on, there hasn't been any official confirmation on what they will be called.
However, the BBC reported that the films could be called Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: The Seed Bearer, Avatar: The Tulkun Rider and Avatar: The Quest for Eywa – which Cameron later confirmed are potential titles, but could be subject to change
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Authorities charged a 49-year-old Mooresville man with boating while intoxicated following a Fourth of July accident on Lake Norman. The fatal accident happened as crowds were gathering before a fireworks show.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the accident occurred in the Mooresville area at approximately 9 p.m. A 17-year-old girl was knee boarding when a pontoon boat reportedly came up from behind and struck her. She did not survive the impact.
Following the incident, authorities arrested the man operating the pontoon boat. and BWI charges followed. The district attorney's office will look at the case, and it is possible that the D.A. will bring additional charges, according to wsoc news.
In the aftermath of the incident, a spokesperson for the wildlife resource commission spoke of the need for an awareness of one's surroundings, especially on busy lakes.
Although the investigation into this incident is in its earliest stages, boating while intoxicated may constitute evidence of negligence in certain cases. When a person dies due to the negligent conduct of another, North Carolina state law allows survivors to seek compensation in the state's civil courts. In many cases, a plaintiff files wrongful death litigation seeking monetary damages for pain-and-suffering, loss of companionship and burial expenses.
If you or a loved one is a victim of an accident, it is possible to review the matter with wrongful death attorneys. Our firm offers this type of consultation without charge or obligation. To learn more, please contact us.
Gail was always super helpful and let me know that what I was dealing with was typical. I would recommend them because they give you peace of mind.


Brown tweeted about the bash earlier, saying, "Celebrating my birthday in LA tonight!" and including a link to the Emerson website, which allows people to shell out $100 to get in the door or $120 for a VIP pass that allows guests to cut the lines.
If tonight is too short notice for you, Breezy's also celebrating in Las Vegas at the 1Oak club this weekend, per another tweet, because the party don't stop. No word on how much that'll cost you, though.
But if you want to see Chris Brown possibly slobber all over Rihanna -- who may or may not show up -- up close and in person, this could be your chance.


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Q: Deflection of a composite beam of two materials When I encounter a single cantilever beam with a uniform load, I know what to do. When I know the uniform load, I can calculate the deflection of the end of the cantilever beam.
Now, I have a composite beam, consisting of two materials (the two materials are on top of eachother and the load is applied from the top). The materials have a different thicknes $d$ and a different Young's modulus, $E$. I am trying to find the deflection for this composite beam under a uniform load.
I do not have a very solid background in statics, so I am struggling a bit to find the deflection for this configuration. I've found some sources that seem relevant here and here, but I do not really manage to properly add the pieces of information I have now. I could go down the route with a transformation of the material via an equal axial stiffness, but this does not seem very convincing yet.

A: There are some fairly useful lecture notes on the website of Missouri S&T. This shows how you could transform the problem you have into another simpler problem by changing the cross section of one of the materials. The key is that the analysis requires you to find the neutral axis, and that can be done easily and intuitively when the material is the same everywhere.
Assuming you start out with two rectangular sections A and B with Young's modulus $E_A$ and $E_B$, and with the same width $w$, you know that your equations (bending moment, strain) would be unchanged if you changed material A to material B while at the same time changing the width of A to $w' = \frac{E_B}{E_A}w$:

For a given strain, each slab of A' will produce the same stress as a slab of A did - so now the calculation has been simplified. We find the neutral axis by determining the center of the second moment of area, and after that the calculation can proceed as for any beam of non-uniform cross section.
I hope that is enough to get you going - the rest of the exercise should be straightforward, and will solidify your understanding. But ask for help if you still get stuck.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Easter weekend is on the way, and we have eggs, bunnies, buds and blooms all in stock and ready to create that perfect look and feel to any shop display, Easter family gathering or event.
We love Easter – four days of holiday respite to relax and enjoy the chance to spend some time on ourselves. The clocks have changed, the days become longer and the blossom is on the trees. Nature itself is such a celebration of life.
With our range of faux flowers and blossoms, everything you love about nature and the spring season of life and growth can literally last all year long. The beauty of permanent botanicals, buds and blooms is that they keep on giving regardless of the season.
Specially for Easter we have selected some our top favourites at Flourish Trading.
A gorgeous display of our Easter stock, we just love the Stone Hare peeping through the blooms. He's perfect for Easter but keeps on giving all year long, a lovely addition to the garden or a long-term feature for your store.
An Easter crocus in a concrete pot, an understated yet sophisticated nod to the season that is perfect for indoors or outdoors.
An iconic image of Easter all over the world – an Easter basket typically delivered by the Easter bunny can be filled with eggs, flowers, chocolates you name it. We have bowl baskets and country baskets in a range of colours and styles – visit the web shop for more!
What could be better than welcoming in the new season with a wreath or garland, decorated with eggs, ribbons and spring flowers – it's the perfect way to celebrate Easter and add a stunning decoration to your store, home or event. We have a lovely range of Easter decorations for florists or event organisers to create the perfect look and feel for any occasion.
Perfect for decorating an Easter tree – hang them off the branches or for an Easter party table centrepiece you can really get creative. Eggs are the must have for Easter, and we have a great selection in stock from these natural quails eggs to natural eggs in bags or assorted coloured spotted eggs. Spark your imagination by spraying yours to match other decorative items, table decorations or vases. Our favourite colour for this time of year is the duck egg blue spray by Oasis but for a full selection of colours visit Spray Paint in the Decorative section of the web shop.


RN一直没有稳定的版本, 在0.50.1版本遇到了好多问题, 只好期待能够在0.52.3上有所改进, 所以进行了一系列的升级. 结果升级之后, 遇到各种问题.
以上两个错误是react的依赖boost和folly没有安装上, 之前根据论坛里的这个帖子使用下载好的这几个库, 放到~/.rncache里还是不行, 删掉重来几次就好了, 这几个库即使让terminal代理http/https还是很困难才能下载下来.
4. Argument list too long: recursive header expansion failed at Project/nodemodules/react-native-fabric/ios/../../../ios/Pods/boost/boost/bimap/containeradaptor.
新建一个iOS项目, 都会给你创建一个.xcodeproj文件, 这个就是PROJECT, 它是文件/资源/编译结果/编译产出的容器, 它可以包含多个target, 并且组织这些target如何编译. 新建项目一般都会创建一个项目名的target和tvos的target, 可以设置一些默认的编译选项, 让所属的target继承这些编译属性, target也可以选择override这些属性.
首先需要执行安装 $ yarn add react-native-fs, 它会将npmjs上的package拉取到项目node_modules下.
由于RNFS使用到了原生代码, 所以可以用 $ react-native link react-native-fs 自动链接. 它会自动将node_modules/react-native-fs/下的RNFS.xcodeproj添加到Library下, 并且将 libRNFS.a添加到Linked Frameworks and Libraries下, 最后将Header Search Path添加一行 $(SRCROOT)/../node_modules/react-native-fs (recursive). 再次编译运行就可以使用RNFS了. 如果一个rn第三方库只需要js代码来调用, 原生从来不用, 那么就不需要添加Header Search Path.
这样再执行 $ pod install, Pod就会自动将所需要的文件根据node_modules/react-native-fs下的RNFS.podspec下载放好.
那肯定是有些Header Search Path 或 Framework Search Path配置有问题.
像这种项目中依赖很多其他第三方的.xocdeproj, 编译这些依赖, 产出它们的target编译结果.a, 这种方式简直弱爆了, 所以就有了CocoaPods.
执行 pod install 会根据Podfile下的依赖自动下载并放到指定位置, 项目由一个.xocdeproj升级为.xcworkspace.
Pod下分为Development Pods和Pods, 其中Pods是可以在ios/pods文件夹下找到所对应的依赖文件, 而Development Pods是引用了node_modules/下的具体依赖.
而 pod 'yoga', :path => '../node_modules/react-native/ReactCommon/yoga'则会根据node_modules/react-native/ReactCommon/yoga路径下的yoga.podspec来下载依赖. 放到Development Pods下.
而 pod 'GLog', :podspec => '../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/GLog.podspec'会根据这个路径下的GLog.podspec去下载相应的依赖放到Pods文件夹下.


To commemorate the life of a recently departed warrior, a group of close friends and family banded together, to celebrate the life of Victoria Cross recipient, Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG. It was our honour to support this event, with assistance from other local businesses (and an international artist) to assist CAMS CAUSE (via the Commando Welfare Trust) to raise funds and awareness on the night.
When stated by name and advertised via logo of the organisation (with permission), proceeds will be donated to that organisation. K9HC is always looking to support a worthy charity. Applications via website or email.
K9HC 550 P.E.D had the honour of supporting Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG, via CAMS CAUSE (a locally organised charity event, by close family and friends) and also assisted by the Commando Welfare Trust.
To honour Cameron, K9HC presented his image on an immaculately presented 550 P.E.D. Stein and mounted a replica Victoria Cross medal on the summit of the handle, as a token and reminder of his deed and many others in the sacred group of Valour recipients.
In the future K9HC 550 P.E.D Memorial Editions, will pay tribute to the deeds of nations highest award recipients, for their heroic deeds of selfless sacrafice.


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Q: Do I have to worry about garbage collection in this c# EF scenario? try
{
  using (MapDataContainer ent = new MapDataContainer()) //is an autogen'd EF object
  {
     //do some stuff, assume it throws an error
  }
}
catch(Exception ex) //catching outside using not sure if IDispose called
{
  //handle error
}

Normally I understand that the using called the IDispose on the EF object.  So supposing it threw an exception... Is this a possible memory leak scenario?

A: You're fine. "using" is actually a try..finally in disguise.

A: The using statement is actually
ResourceType resource = expression;
try {
   statement;
}
finally {
   if (resource != null) ((IDisposable)resource).Dispose();
}

So as you can see, the Dispose is always called. The only exception is if it is a CLR error, but in that case you're out of luck anyway.

A: As MSDN says, using statement is translated by C# compiler to try-finally block to ensure, that IDisposable.Dispose() is called:
{
  MapDataContainer ent = new MapDataContainer();
  try
  {
    ...
  }
  finally
  {
    if (ent != null)
      ((IDisposable)ent).Dispose();
  }
}

The only cases when IDisposable.Dispose() is not called is when Environment.FailFast is called inside using statement block or when exception is thrown inside or right after the constructor of MapDataContainer(), but this still doesn't prevent Garbage collector to collect this object. Additionally objects that implements IDisposable typically (but not necessarily) call IDisposable.Dispose() in destructor to ensure that any unmanaged resources will be correctly released even in programmer forgets to call it manually or wrap it in using statement.


The superior construction peppered with new-age innovation will guarantee effective responsiveness even in the most demanding situations. Handpicked to create the latest collection, you are certain to receive top of the class boards and safety gear which rate high on performance and individuality to help you light up the skate park with your awe-inspiring moves.
The idea of the Sector 9 skateboarding company was lived out of a backyard as the four founding members, all in their twenties, struggled to get their dream off the ground. From its humble beginnings, the company has come a long way in paving out a new era of skateboarding which is driven not only by performance but also as a way of asserting one's unique personality and freedom. The varied compositions and placements of bearings and bushings have been toyed around and perfected to create a board for every occasion and every skateboarder. The fast-moving Sector 9 longboards have long dominated the market and the powerhouse models do not seem to be going out of trend anytime soon.
The traditional Sector 9 skateboards have pre-assembled options and come in 7 ply thickness as they ensure maximum stability with the combination of enduring play. The Sector 9 longboards come in a variety of customizable choices and are constructed with 9 ply to keep you deftly making turns and twists without any detraction from your smooth ride. As the wise adage goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry, and choosing from their robust protective gear helps to steer you clear of injuries. Accredited by the Center for Public Safety excellence, the Sector 9 safety gear boasts impressive shock absorbent helmets and virtually pads for every exposed body part to keep you well protected and ready to take on the skateboarding world by storm.
Across Riyadh, Jeddah and allover KSA, the Sun & Sand Sports retailing experience is committed to delivering only the best for its valued customers by bringing options galore which are designed to be easy on your pockets. Browse the latest Sector 9 products online today at Sun & Sand Sports.


A bill to promote conservation, improve public land, and provide for sensible development in Douglas County, Nevada, and for other purposes.
05/21/2015 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-380.
02/12/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Directs the Forest Service to convey approximately 67 acres of certain Forest Service land (Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park) to the state of Nevada to be used for the conservation of wildlife or natural resources or for a public park.
Directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make publicly available a prospectus to solicit one or more concessionaires for the approximately 125 acres of land identified as the Round Hill Pines Resort and the approximately 448 acres of land identified as the Zephyr Shoals.
Directs the Forest Service for National Forest System land and the Department of Interior for land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to convey approximately 7,990 acres of specified federal land to Douglas County, Nevada, to be used for flood control or any other public purpose. Prohibits such land from being disposed of by the county.
Directs the Forest Service or Interior, as appropriate, to conduct one or more sales of specified public lands in the county to qualified bidders, with the option for the state or county to obtain the land for public purposes before the land is offered for sale. Amends the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 to specify the disposition of funds from a sale.
Transfers all interest of the United States in the approximately 1,016 acres of certain federal land which shall be held in trust for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, and which shall become part of the Tribe's reservation. Prohibits the conduct of certain gaming on such land.
Designates approximately 12,330 acres of specified federal land managed by the BLM, to be known as the Burbank Canyons Wilderness, as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Releases the approximately 1,065 acres of public land in the Burbank Canyons Wilderness study area not designated as wilderness by this Act from further study for designation as wilderness.
Authorizes USDA to transfer from the Forest Service to Douglas County, Nevada, certain lands or interests in Forest Service land which are unsuitable for Forest Service administration or necessary for a public purpose.


Welcome to 8tracks radio: free music streaming for any time, place, or mood. Click play to start listening to this from the dawn playlist tagged with Anna Nalick, Colin Hay, and KT Tunstall. You can also download one of our free apps to enjoy internet radio on your favorite device.


Umgee is one of the best quality young contemporary brands in the USA offering the most up-to date style trends. Just in time for fall is this lightweight plaid flannel tunic with frayed hemline. Plaid is still a hot style trend, and you will love this tunic paired with your favorite skinny jeans or leggings. The color combinations are fresh and fun. This is sure to be one of your wardrobe staples this season.
Pull on with traditional collar, two buttons down front, banded cuffs, double breast pockets with flap closure. Extra button included.


Cindy has a true passion for helping those in need. She has an extensive background in many different areas of work, but her heart has always been close to those who struggle with mental health issues. Cindy aims to help all of her clients in any way possible by providing services such as linking clients to any basic resources needed, providing family visitation if necessary, and being available as somebody her clients can talk to.
"I believe that having basic needs met is the foundation of recovery, which is why I am proud to provide services as a Case Manager at Improving Lives Counseling Services.
Joy strives to provide a judgement free environment where clients can feel safe to share their story, so that she can fully understand the scope of their needs and connect them to the best resources to aid them in recovery. Joy is passionate about helping those less fortunate and has been serving the homeless since 2014. She also loves children and held the role as a youth-leader in her church for several years. In 2017, Joy earned her Bachelors from Northeastern State University. Her education and knowledge of psychology, paired with her compassion for others makes her a good fit to help those who have fallen on hard times.
Julie is currently working on her Bachelors in Rehab Counseling at Langston University and will then pursue her Masters in Social Work. She has spent the last 6 years doing Case Management, helping the community with basic needs. She loves to encourage and empower woman to get educated and recognize their potential. She is willing to meet you where you are and assist however she can. Julie has extensive knowledge and relationships with agencies in the community that help with basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, help with bills, and furniture. She knows that a person can't focus on mental health needs when they are hungry or in need of basic things. She is hard working, compassionate, and kind and would love to work with you.
Linda is a Case Manager with over 35 years experience working with youth at risk and young children of all ages. Her passion is working with the youngest and most vulnerable members of society. She is currently a full time student at Northeastern State University and is studying to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a minor in Psychology and a concentration in Child Welfare. For decades Linda's home has been a revolving door to youth at risk, a safe haven for many to come and seek guidance and shelter. She noticed however, that as the years progressed youth were facing more and more difficult problems which led her to go back to school and pursue her degree in Social Work. Once a troubled teenager, alone and on the streets herself, she understands first hand, the experiences that they go through. Linda has a heart to reach them and is gaining the knowledge to help them, and uses a Christ-centered non-judgmental approach of love and acceptance.
Sharon is certified as a Case Manager II and is also a certified teacher with Tulsa Public Schools. She has experience working with children of all ages, but especially enjoys working with young children. She earned a Bachelors degree in General Studies, with emphasis on Social Science and Education. She is also an alumna of the University of Oklahoma, where she completed hours toward a Masters in Social Work.
Tiffany's passion is pouring out love and effort into improving the lives of people within her community. She does this by assisting clients in need and connecting them to resources that can help them meet basic physical needs. This includes referrals to Mental Health resources and support opportunities for those who face Mental Health challenges. Tiffany has spent over 17 years volunteering in the community. Her focus has been helping people who struggle with Chemical Dependency and Adolescent Behavioral health needs. She has also volunteered with Female Inmates who were incarcerated in a NE OK Department of Corrections facility by facilitating life skills and recovery groups. Tiffany spent several years working as an Inpatient Psychiatric Technician in various types of settings including Adult Mental Health Acute Crisis Units, Eating Disorder Treatment Programs, Geriatric Psychiatric Care and Adolescent Behavioral Health Units. In 2015, Tiffany worked with a partner on a non-profit endeavor that connected Domestic Violence victims (who struggled to receive help from public agencies) to private resources across the United States. Tiffany is still very passionate about this cause and has assisted in Domestic Violence Advocacy since 2014. Tiffany is very knowledgeable about private and public resources that can help support clients who face mental health challenges. She believes with the right support and therapeutic intervention, clients can experience a fulfilling life and enjoy inspiring other members within the community.


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La Fédération de water-polo et de natation du Monténégro (VPSCG) ( Monténégrin : Vaterpolo i plivački savez Crne Gore ) est l'organe directeur du water-polo et de la natation au Monténégro . La fédération a été formée le 22 avril 1949 à Herceg Novi . Son premier président a été Milan Vukasović . C'est une organisation sportive indépendante, membre de la LEN (Ligue Européenne de Natation), de la FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) depuis le 21 août 2006, du Comité Olympique Monténégrin . Il organise également la Coupe monténégrine de water-polo ainsi que l' équipe nationale monténégrine de water-polo .

Fédération sportive monténégrine
Water-polo au Monténégro


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National Environmental Public Health Tracking
Louisiana's Success
Deepwater Horizon (British Petroleum) Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010, a drill rig explosion caused about 4.9 million barrels of oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion killed 11 platform workers and injured 17. Marine and wildlife habitats were severely affected, and the fishing and tourism industries of U.S. coastal states were devastated.
What did Tracking do?
The Louisiana Tracking Program has been developing an oil spill response plan in collaboration with CDC/ATSDR*, CDC/NIOSH+, and agencies from other affected Gulf Coast states. Survey- and map-based tracking systems were developed to capture and track health complaints and environmental monitoring results. In addition, the Louisiana Tracking Program worked with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to make sure that outreach materials were available in several languages and available to those with limited Internet access.
Improved public health
The Louisiana Tracking Program worked with the state health department to notify OSHA about workplace exposures and health complaints from emergency response workers. Interventions were held to educate response workers, residents, and health care providers on topics such as personal protective equipment, seafood safety, chemicals of concern, potential routes of exposure, and associated health effects.
*Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
+National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Addressing concerns from imported drywall
After Hurricane Katrina, rebuilding throughout the Gulf states greatly increased the demand for drywall. In February 2009, the state health department began getting health complaints from residents who had rebuilt their homes using imported drywall. The health complaints included headaches, respiratory infections, eye irritations, dry coughs, and nosebleeds.
The Louisiana Tracking Program began logging cases from call-in surveys that captured information such as the physical characteristics of the home, exposure duration, and health effects experienced by members of the household. The cases were mapped to assess the magnitude of the health problem and to track locations. State health department staff worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify drywall exposure cases for indoor air testing.
Air monitoring results helped staff identify the chemicals of most concern and develop a public health plan of action. Public health messages provided residents information and ideas on how to reduce exposure and remove tainted drywall from their homes.
Carbon Monoxide Exposures
Louisiana tracking staff reviewed data from the Louisiana Poison Control Center (LPCC) to evaluate how often LPCC was receiving calls about carbon monoxide (CO). The review showed that exposure and deaths increased sharply during winter months and after hurricane-related power outages, mostly because generators were not being used safely.
The Louisiana Tracking staff requested changes to Louisiana's Reporting Rule Requirements for CO poisonings and deaths. The proposed rule change was passed, and as a result, cases of CO exposure or poisoning must be reported to the State Health Officer within five business days.
The health department now has the ability to
Identify the areas that are expected to have high CO exposure rates during hurricane events and power outages.
Quickly identify the areas where outreach and education will have the greatest effect.
This should lead to fewer CO-related exposures and deaths.
Educating private well water users about contamination
Louisiana has a large number of residential water wells located within one mile of either an operating or abandoned wood preservation or wood treatment facility. No Louisiana law requires private well water testing. This limits the ability to assess potential exposures to chemicals through well water.
In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the state's Safe Drinking Water Program, the Louisiana Tracking staff conducted a pilot project to link environmental, exposure, and health outcome data around wood preservation and treatment sites. The pilot project included
Compiling groundwater and drinking water data from areas near 22 inactive wood preservation and treatment facilities.
Compiling data on bladder, lung, and all-sites cancers in areas surrounding wood preservation facilities.
Establishing the Private Well Water Education Initiative to register private wells.
As a result of the pilot project, many residents who have private water wells contacted the health department to obtain a list of places where they can test their well water. This should help reduce potential exposures to contaminated well water.
Louisiana's Grantee Profile
Page last reviewed: March 9, 2018
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
home National Environmental Public Health Tracking
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Social_govd govD Get Email Updates


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Police Blotter: Oct. 15, 2008
Brodhead PoliceBRODHEAD - Faron D. Geller, 31, Maple Grove, Minn., was arrested for disorderly conduct and a warrant issued by Rock County at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in the 900 block of West Exchange Street. He was jailed.• Ryan R. Fitzgerald, 29, Janesville, was arrested for fourth-offense driving after revocation, speeding and a warrant issued by the Rock County Sheriff's Department at about 9:45 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of First Street. He was released pending court.• Jamie A. Baxter, Monroe, was arrested for obstructing an officer and for warrants issued by the Green County Sheriff's Department.


Praise the Lord! We all know how soothing music can be, but there is something about religious music that provides that "extra relief" one can be searching for. I'm very honored to be able to pass along some of this music to you.
The albums below are a minimum of $1, more if they are found in GoldMine's price guide. Prices in parenthesis preceding a record relate to either the price of the record OR are 1/10 of the Near Mint condition price shown in my price guide. So, for example, if a record lists at $20, I sell it for $2. I believe I have some of the lowest prices on the Internet. If a line is in bold print, that means I've listened to it and have assigned a price and audible grade at the start of the line. See home page for shipping and handling charges. Most of these albums appear to be in superior condition, but I will listen to any album before selling it to verify it is in the condition that you want under the following guidelines:(Click here).
10/07/2017 narelg ($3) Cheryl Cornelder� / VG+(shrink) / Sings ...� / Pilgrim�JLPS 191 stereo no other copies found for sale out on the Internet!
11/02/2011 r($2)Whitey Gleason / VG VG+ AUTOGRAPHED! / The versatile Whitey Gleason Plays / Temple LPT 302 (he plays 7 instruments on this LP!
09/06/2015 narelg ($2) The Good Twins / VG VG+ / Have Gospel must travel / Sacred stereo LPS 4003 red vinyl!
05/28/2012 r($4) Mahalia Jackson / VG VG+ / The world's greatest Gospel Singer / Columbia CL 644 first Columbia LP!
04/13/2016 r($3) John and Faith Stallings / VG VG+ / Rainbow of love / Marveline LH-2367 1st LP!
11/30/2018 narelg ($3) Vernon W. Van Hovel / VG+(shrink) / Mine, all mine / Diadem DLP 212 (Wheaton, Illinois) no other copies found out on Internet!


Celebrity Spots and famous felines are using their combined star power to shine a spotlight on the option of adoption.
Joining with popular purrers LIL BUB and Nala, prestigious pups Tuna and Ginny are helping Best Friends Animal Society's mission to Save Them All™ by posting Instagram videos that demonstrate the doggedly devoted bond between adopted pets and their human parents.
Abandoned on the side of the road at just four months old, Tuna's forever Mom found the charming Chiweenie though a rescue group at a Los Angeles farmer's market. Today the three-year-old philanthropic Fido with the adorable overbite has melted the hearts of his more than 590,700 Instagram followers not only through his playful poses, but also for donating a portion of the proceeds from his merchandise to a paws cause.
LOL what cute faces 🙂 Will share with my friends! Sounds like a wonderful cause!
What a great cause! Both pups are so adorable!


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The road towards central bank digital currencies
November 21, 2020 November 24, 2020 ~ oecdonthelevel
As central banks move towards integrating central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in national financial systems, Bitt.com's Simon Chantry focuses on the network effects that may encourage their adoption and use in part two of his two-part series.
Simon Chantry is co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer at Bitt.com. He is a member of the OECD's Blockchain Expert Policy Advisory Board (BEPAB) and the WEF's Digital Currency Governance Consortium.
In my last blog post titled 'Central bank digital currencies in the interconnected future', I described some of the considerations that central banks, regulators, policymakers, and other financial stakeholders are working through in the process of developing and deploying digital versions of their national currency, currently referred to as CBDCs. In this post, we will focus on the network effects that may encourage the adoption and use of CBDCs, as well as cross currency and cross border exchange scenarios – one of the more widely touted value propositions and opportunities for increased efficiency.
Many Central Banks have now formed their own internal CBDC focused working groups, and some have engaged in CBDC development and testing efforts with external stakeholders. In doing so, one of the practical issues being explored is the types of use cases best suited for CBDCs. While a number of use cases have been defined that apply across many countries, given the unique nature of each country's financial system and economy there may be additional use cases that apply more to one country than another, which may be obvious given the many economic and financial differences between developed and developing countries. In all cases, the success of CBDC networks will be directly tied to the activity on the network, and the value provided to all stakeholders utilising the network.
CBDCs were a key topic at the 2020 Global Blockchain Policy Forum, OECD's flagship event on the policy implications of blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies.
Watch the webcast
A common use case that emerges is public payments, of which there are various types including benefits, public servant salaries, and relief payments such as those being distributed during the COVID-19 crisis. A number of desirable outcomes could be realised in migrating public payments to a CBDC network including:
Timely delivery of payment in times of crises, especially in comparison to the cheque payments distributed to Americans as part of the CARES Act which in some cases took up to 20 weeks. If citizens and businesses were equipped with mobile wallets capable of CBDC transactions, relief payments could be distributed in short order, and used immediately for necessities. This could be why an early version of the CARES act included provisions for a digital USD.
Transparent, accurate, continual transaction information for financial reporting, and accountability for the central budget authority, the program authority, and the delivery entity.
The ability for the monetary authority to collect vast amounts of aggregated anonymised transaction data – including transaction activity by region and industry – for the purpose of economic analysis, monetary policy strategy definition, and monetary policy transmission. Fiscal policy could also be informed by the resulting analyses.
Finally, migrating public payments to a CBDC network would increase network usage as each 'stream' of payments produces further downstream payments which would in turn increase monetary velocity. The instant availability of funds received in CBDC transactions (because the transaction includes the settlement) provides a number of opportunities with respect to enterprise cash flow management, the likes of which may give way to new business and operating models across multiple industries. All in all, there are a number of compelling reasons to execute public payments on CBDC networks that are derived from two main motivations:
Increasing the allocative efficiency and effectiveness of capital deployed to a given public outcome, and
Increasing the utility of and activity on CBDC networks.
While utilising CBDC networks for public payments may contribute to increased activity and adoption, the onboarding of other key stakeholders to the CBDC network will be required in order to achieve the macro benefits that have been identified by many researchers over the past few years. Perhaps an obvious necessity of CBDC networks is interoperability with the existing financial system. CBDCs will not succeed as standalone systems – they will need to integrate with current platforms in order to facilitate ease of access, onboarding and offboarding, and seamless exchange with traditional financial instruments.
Technology service providers (such as Bitt) have been architecting CBDC networks to enable efficient and secure integrations with core banking platforms and existing payment systems to provide all financial stakeholders with secure and easy access to CBDCs. Direct convertibility of deposits and CBDCs will be required in order to onboard enterprises and firms through commercial banking channels. Payment service providers (PSPs) will have the option to migrate all of their user balances and ongoing transactions to the CBDC network entirely, and would benefit from the decreased operational burden of running their own transaction and settlement systems. New PSPs would likely emerge given the lowered barrier to entry, and each would compete to onboard clients to their payment applications. These firms would rely on the CBDC network, administered by the Central Bank themselves (in many cases via public/private partnership), to maintain the integrity and immutability of balances and transactions. In this sense, central banks become the operator of a CBDC network as a public good, as stated by the BIS in their April 2020 paper titled Central banks and payments in the digital era:
Payment systems are networks with participants that fall into two groups – PSPs and users. The PSPs compete with each other, but this competition takes place in the presence of complex interactions that bring subtle trade-offs. In this context, the public provision of the core infrastructure can be important in reconciling competing policy objectives. It can allow network effects to thrive while promoting a competitive level playing field. The central bank performs such a function by supplying the accounts on which payments settle. In this sense, the central bank is instrumental in the provision of a key public good
It is important to note that similar payment systems are currently in operation in some developed nations – such as Target2 in Europe – however such networks do not offer 24/7 operation and do not make use of advancements in blockchain and distributed ledger technology, among other differences. In addition, existing networks do not integrate seamlessly with foreign payment systems; cross currency payments require a correspondent bank to settle the payment in the target currency.
It is possible that cross border payments will be the killer feature for CBDCs as more and more CBDC networks integrate and enable users of all types to seamlessly exchange and transact in multiple currencies from a single application. Before we dig further into how this will be accomplished, it is important to mention a new category of platforms that are ripe for facilitating international payments: social networks. Social media platforms have grown in size to unfathomable levels, with Facebook having more than 2.7 billion users worldwide. CBDC integrations with social media platforms may enable success in terms of retail and enterprise adoption, especially given the amount of businesses that are utilizing such platforms for commerce, marketing, customer engagement, and more. In this sense, CBDCs could gain traction by leveraging the network effect that has been experienced by social media platforms such as Facebook to gain widespread use and adoption.
Network effects will undoubtedly play a large role in the success of CBDCs, which is arguably why Facebook's Libra initiative attracted so much attention from international Central Banks and financial regulators. The more people and businesses utilising a platform, the more value it provides in the form of access, utility, economies of scale, and other factors. With such a large international social media platform, Facebook realised that not only is it well suited to provide payment services for retail and enterprise users, but it could launch its own private digital currency in the process. A private currency with immediate accessibility for 2.7B people poses a range of threats to the international financial system, and has spurred further criticism of Facebook, mainly in the context of (lacking) data protection practices. International regulators have voiced their concern over Libra, even going as far as to threaten bans should Facebook attempt to integrate the currency and launch Libra payment services in their respective countries.[1]
However, following the hearings of both David Marcus, CEO of Libra, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, with the US Senate and House, the Libra whitepaper was reworked to address the many concerns put forward by regulators and policymakers. The second version of the Libra whitepaper takes an accommodating stance with respect to CBDCs in stating the intent to integrate into the platform:
Moreover, our hope is that as central banks develop central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), these CBDCs could be directly integrated with the Libra network, removing the need for Libra Networks to manage the associated Reserves, thus reducing credit and custody risk. As an example, if a central bank develops a digital representation of the US dollar, euro, or British pound, the Association could replace the applicable single-currency stablecoin with the CBDC.
The new whitepaper still proposes a native Libra currency (≋LBR) which could become the dominant currency transacted on the platform despite the plans to integrate CBDCs, and the fact that national currency stablecoins will be available to users at time of launch. Add this to the fact that Facebook has many world class engineers who can continuously design and improve powerful and persuasive user experiences, and its clear to see why financial authorities were concerned about Libra's potential to become systemically important.
A positive element of enabling users to transact on Facebook's platform is the fact that counterparties are directly connected to one another, and could transact with each other without the need for intermediaries even if they are separated by borders. In addition, the Calibra wallet would be integrated into their Facebook account for free, furthering the financial inclusion agenda. Perhaps one of the more concerning elements of the Libra project is the fact that it involves the creation of a new currency: ≋LBR, a so-called stablecoin backed by a basket of foreign currencies. Such a model has many pros and cons that we won't dig into in this post, however the concept seems to have merit based on a comment made by former Governor Mark Carney in his August 2019 speech titled The Growing Challenges for Monetary Policy in the current International Monetary and Financial System:
As a consequence, it is an open question whether such a new Synthetic Hegemonic Currency (SHC) would be best provided by the public sector, perhaps through a network of central bank digital currencies. Even if the initial variants of the idea prove wanting, the concept is intriguing. It is worth considering how an SHC in the IMFS (international monetary and financial system) could support better global outcomes, given the scale of the challenges of the current IMFS and the risks in transition to a new hegemonic reserve currency like the Renminbi. Even if the initial variants of the idea prove wanting, the concept is intriguing. It is worth considering how an SHC in the IMFS could support better global outcomes, given the scale of the challenges of the current IMFS and the risks in transition to a new hegemonic reserve currency like the Renminbi.
It is clear that Governor Carney recognises the opportunity for an interconnected network of CBDCs and/or a SHC to exist in the global financial system of the future. In order to get there, I make reference to an excerpt from my previous blog post:
CBDC networks may be built to common international standards in order to better achieve interoperability, cross currency exchange, and to leverage operating and design experience across multiple central banks. Such standards are being developed by top tier educational institutions in collaboration with bodies like the ITU and the ISO.
Those of us participating in the design, development, and deployment of CBDC networks have the opportunity to collaborate on common standards that will ensure technical functionality meets if not surpasses the expectations that have been discussed to date. A key outcome will be executing exchange and swap transactions and settlement between two or more CBDC networks, likely via atomic swaps. These transactions can be executed in real time by smart contracts (eg. hash-time-lock contracts) that reference an agreed upon value or data source for the exchange rate, have a defined expiry date, and many other customizable conditions for execution. This technological capability results in an opportunity for a variety of stakeholders to participate in exchange transactions at will based on a set of counterparty-defined criteria. Cross CBDC exchange functionality can serve Central Bankers in managing their foreign exchange reserves, financial institutions in managing their foreign currency holdings, and enterprises and individuals remitting funds internationally.
Should policy allow, PSPs could offer multi currency wallets by integrating their payments applications into multiple CBDC networks, enabling users to hold balances of more than one national digital currency. PSPs providing these sorts of multi currency services would be required to hold the requisite financial services licenses which could be administered by the local monetary authority, or in collaboration with the relevant foreign central banks. Extensive programmable tools exist for regulators in licensing, monitoring, and managing firms in accessing and providing services on their CBDC network. It is this enhanced functionality, as well as the friction and costs associated with international monetary exchange, that provide motivating factors for central banks, financial institutions, and technology firms to pursue the development of solutions that will further bring down cost and provide a better experience for all users.
As the cross CBDC exchange projects continue, it will be interesting to see how these advanced systems translate for each stakeholder. One of the benefits policymakers and central bankers can look forward to is access to meaningful data regarding economic activity across industries, inter-country regions, and international borders. As big tech has shown us over the past two decades, the use of data can enable enterprises to constantly iterate and improve their offering in order to achieve a variety of mandates. If public institutions can learn to leverage such data, while protecting the privacy and sovereignty of its citizens, it could spell a bright future for the international financial system, and the citizens and enterprises who rely on it for their livelihood every day.
[1] French Finance Minister Bruno le Maire stated that he and his German counterpart would ensure that Libra would not operate in Europe, at the 2019 OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum in September 2019.
Posted in Digitalisation, Finance blockchaincentral bnksDigital currencies
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Stitched up and head strapped into a plastic cone, Dog walks uncomfortably but with much determination. Even if the cone wouldn't get wedged in brambles, she is kept on a lead. I do permit drinking from a clear puddle. She likes rainwater. The sun shines. We find four almost ripe hedge strawberries. The hedge is a normal place to find them: fruiting in November, peculiar. The flavour is a foreground of water and earth, a background of summer berry.
Something almost always turns up, when you need it.
On the squashed up busy road to work there are too many cars but mostly lights are green on approach. Idle thoughts stir as we swing the roundabout: the ability to control the lights to make them green always has no real skill to it. The ability to admire is the one that flows your journey so that red lights coincide with wanting a rest, and green lights with the desire to move.
Perhaps a red light long enough to have a nap?


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Q: Dealing with outliers in simple linear regression I want to perform a simple linear regression in R. However, the plot of fitted and residual values has outliers. Transformations (ie log, square root) did not solve this problem. Removing these outliers created new outliers. So, what can I do? Is it wrong to adjust a Poisson distribution for this case of a simple linear regression and perform a generalized model? Are there other options?

A: Probably the key question is: what kind of outliers? Outliers in the dependent variable, Y? Or in the predictor(s), X? I'm going to assume that the outliers are in the DV. One inheritance of 20th c assumptions rooted in Gaussian statistics about regression is that the errors be normally distributed and a plethora of techniques have been developed to constrain those extreme values. The problem with this is that outliers, unless they are "bad," errorneous or fraudulent, contain potentially valuable information. This includes the possibility of classes of behaviors and distributions not widely studied (yet) such as power law or heavy-tail distributions and extreme value models. The idea behind power laws can be motivated when thinking of so-called "long-tail" behaviors like Internet sales on online sites like Amazon. Heavy-tails are related to this -- consider stock returns on days with huge losses such as started the Downturn in 2008. Extreme value models (aka generalized extreme value models or GEVs) are a class of models that could use greater exposure and adoption by statisticians as much real-life behavior is extreme valued. They are widely used in insurance and financial risk management but have ready applications, e.g., in creative industries such as film and music where "blockbuster" hits rule the box offices and topline revenues in these businesses. For instance, William Golding, a Hollywood scriptwriter, has been widely quoted as saying that, in Hollywood, "Nobody knows nothing." Golding is referring to the fact that the huge hits that generate huge returns are inherently unpredictable.
So, what does all of this have to do with your problem and question? It's a very long-winded answer to say that my recommendation is that, unless they can be proven to be somehow wrong, that you treat your outliers as real data and valuable information. One reliable workaround to textbook regression is that you find a robust, nonparametric R regression module known as quantile regression. Quantiles can be any percentile as specified by the analyst. The key thing about QR is that, unlike traditional, OLS regression which predicts mean or average behaviors, QR predicts a quantile, which is usually the median value by default, but can be any quantile of the analyst's choosing. QR is much more robust to outliers than traditional, OLS regression. One approach to answering which quantile is to use a grid-like search across a range of values above and below the median.
Let me know if you have any questions.