text:
Flore Levine-Cousyns was born in Antwerp in Belgium on December 6, 1898 and died in Antwerp on April 14, 1989. She was a concert pianist, Professor of Piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (1931-1964) and was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne and Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold.  She herself was a disciple of Émile Bosquet.

Biography

Flore Levine studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp with Flor Alpaerts, August de Boeck (Harmony), Lodewijk Mortelmans (Contrepoint) and in the piano class of Émile Bosquet, for whom she kept a deep attachment for the rest of her life. In 1919, she obtained her Diplôme Supérieur de Piano with honors, for which she also performed the Concerto no. 1 in E Flat Major of Franz Liszt.

Having also a great interest in contemporary music, Flore Levine performed numerous Premieres (among others: Darius Milhaud).  As a famous concert pianist, she also performed many recitals with another pianist, Mit Scapus - Van Dommelen (who was born in Antwerp in 1892 and died in Antwerp in 1989) in her later years. Flore Levine had also a personal and a professional relationship with the harpsichordist Wanda Landowska.

Flore Levine was appointed Professor of Piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Antwerp from 1931 to 1964. After this period, she continued to teach the piano for over 25 years in various Music Schools and with private lessons. As a well-known Professor, she taught several generations of pianists among which, Lucette Alleman (see Bibliography), who obtained Virtuosity Prize of the Belgium Government in 1958 and became Laureate of the Concours international d'exécution musicale de Genève that same year.

As a Professor and as a Pedagogue, Flore Levine was highly appreciated by her students, to whom she conveyed respect and deep love for music.  She investigated piano methods; she was in the lineage of  Karl Leimer, Walter Gieseking, Heinrich Neuhaus and Marie Jaëll.. The quality of the sound was essential and fundamental, based on a piano technique, using suppleness and a rebound technic from the keyboard, without ever 'forcing' the way of playing.

Professor Levine could listen better than anyone on earth. She possessed the art to express her observations and her critical comments about piano performance with a lot of precision, without ever hurting anyone and with a fine touch of humor. She taught the way of performing the music, by listening to the greatest pianists, adding her observations and her comments, while she was always looking for solutions to technical problems (she often tried out passages in different ways, searching and demonstrating them herself at the piano). All this was passed on with deep respect for the interpretation and for the opinion of each student. After each piano lesson, one would go home with a feeling of personal growth and enrichment, both on the musical and on the human side. Flore Levine's piano playing was shining through a deep generous, round and broad sound. A very erudite person, she devoted a passion for literature and for every other form of Art. She was also very interested in 'what would go on in the world'.  Despite her venerable age, she always remained very lively and young in spirit." (Testimony by Godelieve Berger, student of Flore Levine. Gazet van Antwerpen, 1989).

References
 Koninklijk Vlaams Conservatorium Antwerpen 1898 - School, Conservatorium, Hogeschool - 1998, Traditie en vernieuwing Hogeschool Antwerpen Departement Dramatische Kunst, Muziek en Dans, 1998. Desguinelei 25, B 2018 Antwerpen. . D 1998/3370/1. (Translation in English) Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp 1898 - Conservatory, Graduate School - 1998, Tradition and renewal. Graduate School of Antwerp, Department of Theater, Music and Dance, 1998. Desguinelei 25, B 2018 Antwerp. (Flore Levine-Cousyns, pp. 117–118, 120-121, 150, 159, 402, 453. Émile Bosquet pp. 91, 95, 115-120, 122, 148-149, 412. Mit Scapus pp. 59, 94, 117, 120-121, 141-142, 149, 152, 155, 197, 401-402, 412, 453. Lucette Alleman pp. 116, 120, 127, 184, 199. Karl Leimer p. 119.). Stéphane Friédérich, Pianiste, novembre-décembre 2012. n° 77.
 Begaafde pianiste en invloedrijke pianolerares, In Memoriam Flore Levine-Cousyns. (Translation in English) Talented pianist and influential Professor of Piano, In Memoriam Flore Levine-Cousyns.  Gazet van Antwerpen, May 11, 1989.

Notes

Belgian pianists
1898 births
Musicians from Antwerp
1989 deaths
20th-century pianists
Women classical pianists


China and Latin America: who gains and who loses?
Trade between China and Latin America has grown 23% year on year since 2000. By 2016, the Asian giant will become the second largest sub-continental trading partner to the region, surpassing the European Union.
China is already the biggest lender to Latin America, having committed US$ 102bn in loans between 2005 and 2013. In 2010 alone the figure was US$ 37bn, exceeding the total for the same year lent by the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of the United States combined.
This gives you some idea about how important China is for Latin America and how Latin America is fundamental to the development of Asia's largest country. During the global economic crisis, which called a dramatic halt to the progress of many developing countries, China offered Latin America a lifeline.
The demand for many resources found in Latin America has encouraged the Chinese to venture into new overseas territories. At the same time, the Chinese government has also encouraged the globalisation of its economy.
China knows that it doesn't have enough of the resources that will guarantee the subsistence of its 1.3bn people: oil and gas for energy; foodstuffs such as soya and metals and minerals for industry. In turn, Latin America's developing countries could benefit from greater access to finance and infrastrcture improvements. In China they've found their ideal partner. The result has been a wave of mergers between Chinese and Latin American companies, investment in infrastructure including railways, highways and even an interoceanic canal.
Surely this is good news for everyone? Perhaps, but what will be the environmental impact of the construction of the Nicaragua canal that links the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans? How much deforestation will there have to be to make way for the transcontinental highway connecting Brazil and Peru and opening up the Pacific coast? Does the extraction of key resources, such as copper in Chile, follow rules to prevent the pollution of soil, water and air? Is the soya that Argentina exports to China turning it into a monoculture farm? And why would Chinese people care about people and places on the other side of the world?
To facilitate dialogue on topics like these, our new website Diálogo Chino will publish accessible and reliable information in Spanish, Portuguese and English. As the relationship between China and Latin America takes huge strides forward, the social and environmental impacts are increasingly being felt.
In spite of insufficient attention from the media and decision-makers, there is a growing consciousness of the challenges facing the China-Latin America partnership among activists and concerned citizens. By launching dialogochino.net, chinadialogue offers a platform for sharing information so that all parties can better understand this latest chapter in China's "Go Global" policy.


Our branch in Westford, Massachusetts opened in May 2014. The branch fulfills all your banking needs, such as fee-free checking and a great host of savings products, as well as a variety of loans. Stop in to ask about auto loans, mortgages or our VISA® credit cards.


text:
require 'padrino-helpers'

module Middleman
  module MetaPages
    # View class for a sitemap resource
    class SitemapResource
      include Padrino::Helpers::OutputHelpers
      include Padrino::Helpers::TagHelpers

      def initialize(resource)
        @resource = resource
      end

      def render
        content_tag :div, :class => 'resource-details' do
          content_tag :table do
            content = ""
            resource_properties.each do |label, value|
              content << content_tag(:tr) do
                row_content = ""
                row_content << content_tag(:th, label)
                row_content << content_tag(:td, value)
                row_content
              end
            end
            content
          end
        end
      end

      # A hash of label to value for all the properties we want to display
      def resource_properties
        props = {
          'Path' => @resource.path,
          'Build Path' => @resource.destination_path,
          'URL' => content_tag(:a, @resource.url, :href => @resource.url),
          'Source File' => @resource.source_file,
        }

        data = @resource.data
        props['Data'] = data unless data.empty?

        options = @resource.metadata[:options]
        props['Options'] = options unless options.empty?

        props
      end

      def css_classes
        ['resource']
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: False Negatives (FN) on weka prediction output I am working on weka GUI for classification. The following is a small version of the prediction output of an SVM classifier. Could any one help me out why it is showing ONLY the False Positives (FP)? As you can see, all have a + sign in some of the instances. Is there any way to show the False Negatives (FP) as well so that we have some - signs?
inst#     actual  predicted error prediction
        1   1:normal   1:normal       1
        2   1:normal   1:normal       1
        3  2:anomaly   1:normal   +   1
        4  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
        5   1:normal   1:normal       1
        6  2:anomaly   1:normal   +   1
        7  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
        8   1:normal   1:normal       1
        9  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
       10  2:anomaly   1:normal   +   1
       11  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
       12  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
       13  2:anomaly   1:normal   +   1
       14  2:anomaly  2:anomaly       1
       15   1:normal  2:anomaly   +   1
       16   1:normal   1:normal       1
       17  2:anomaly   1:normal   +   1
       18   1:normal   1:normal       1

A summary
=== Detailed Accuracy By Class ===
             TP Rate  FP Rate  Precision  Recall   F-Measure  MCC      ROC Area  PRC Area  Class
             0.936    0.134    0.890      0.936    0.912      0.807    0.967     0.964     normal
             0.866    0.064    0.922      0.866    0.893      0.807    0.965     0.949     anomaly

Weighted Avg.    0.904    0.101    0.905      0.904    0.904      0.807    0.966     0.957
=== Confusion Matrix ===

     a     b   <-- classified as
 63060  4283 |     a = normal
  7832 50798 |     b = anomaly

A: The False Negatives are included in the output
        TP Rate  FP Rate  Precision  Recall   F-Measure  MCC      ROC Area  PRC Area  Class
         0.936    0.134    0.890      0.936    0.912      0.807    0.967     0.964     normal
         0.866    0.064    0.922      0.866    0.893      0.807    0.965     0.949     anomaly

The False Positives of class anomally are the False negatives of class normal.
This is as positive/negative is not defined. If you define anomaly as positive then
TP: 0.936 / FP 0.134 / FN 0.064 / TN 0.866

However, if you define normal as positive
TN: 0.936 / FN 0.134 / FP 0.064 / TP 0.866

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


CDuke - Write your data to CD and DVD easily.
CDuke is a powerful multifunction utility that helps you not only to write data or photos on CD and DVD but also creates audio discs.
CDuke is actually a set of utilities. First it is most handy CD and DVD burning application. Using it you can write your data on CD as easily as you do it on floppy disc. Just insert a blank CD, select files to write, burn it!
CDuke is a new easy-to-use CD burning application which is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
No additional stupid questions - insert a blank cd, select files to write, burn it!
Advanced mode - if you need tune your cd-writing process, you can easily do it. And it will be always safe!


Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said that there is no vacancy at the party's National Secretariat, Abuja.
Makari stated this in a statement by the committee's Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the attention of the caretaker committee had been drawn to some newspaper publication "Vacancies in the PDP National Secretariat''.
He said that the report was credited to Prof. Wale Oladipo, National Secretary to Ali Modu Sheriff, who advertised for various offices in the PDP secretariat, declaring them vacant.
"We wish to state unequivocally that there are no vacancies for employment at the National Secretariat of our great party, PDP.
"All the staffers of the party, in line with the Establishment Manual, are intact and standing strong with all the organs of the PDP in its bid to salvage the party from destroyers,'' Makarfi said.
He said that it was sad to note that Oladipo was ignorant on the workings of the PDP, the Establishment Manual.
Makarfi said that Oladipo was ignorant of the position of the recent Appeal Court judgment of Feb, 17, which ordered PDP to revert to the status quo before May 21, 2016.
He described the publication as a ploy by Sheriff and his "cohorts'' to disengage the establishment staff of the party for acting in line with their constitutional mandate and convictions.
"The vexatious publication is a cheap blackmail designed to intimidate our hardworking and highly principled staff. It belongs to the trash bin and should be ignored.
" Nigerians, our members and teeming supporters may wish to note that the self-appointed National Working Committee as currently constituted under Sheriff cannot form a quorum to take any valid decision.
judgment was before the Supreme Court.
He stated that the action of Sheriff and his NWC in recent times were completely against the spirit of the political solution they have professed to abide with.
He said that Sheriff could not be declaring support for political solution to end the party leadership crisis and at the same time igniting fire by taken decisions capable of causing more rancour in PDP.
" As law-abiding party members and citizens of this great country, we shall continue to work with all the organs of PDP to make sure that this crisis is fully resolved.'' Makarfi said.


Leading mall developer, Robinsons Malls, is building a premium shopping center at Davao Del Norte's capital city of Tagum, named by the Asian Institute of Management as one of the seven leading cities to do business in the Philippines. Already the developer's fourth mall in Mindanao, Robinsons Place Tagum is being constructed at the city's National Highway, in an area close to residential subdivisions, universities, hospitals, as well as corporate and government centers. The development will be a sprawling 57,000 square meter complex that will house four levels of shopping, dining and entertainment establishments.
Robinsons Malls has commissioned acclaimed architecture firm Jonathan O. Gan Associates to design Robinsons Place Tagum that is attuned to the city's verdant environs. It has thus integrated green spaces at the mall's interiors and exteriors, and incorporated environment-friendly features such as organic tiles on walkways, clerestory windows that invite natural sunlight, and an airy ambience that maximizes air-conditioning. It has also ensured mallers' convenience and pleasurable experience by including ample parking spaces, accessible public transport terminals and safe pedestrian walkways.
Robinsons Place Tagum will be anchored by retail giants, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances and Handyman, and will feature over 200 popular international and national brands, as well as the region's local retailers. It will have an al fresco dining area which will be home to numerous restaurants and bars in landscaped perimeters. Inside, a food court will house various fast-service outlets and novel dining concepts that will also be surrounded by pocket gardens.
To complete the modern malling experience, Robinsons Place Tagum will have an amusement center as well as state-of-the-art cinemas that include a 3D theater by Robinsons Movieworld.
With the completion of this development, Robinsons Malls is bringing an exciting, urban lifestyle closer to the people of Tagum City and neighboring municipalities.


text:
Q: Identifying data outliers I have a data set organized into a structure. I have a large number of sensors, and each has four readings a through d, so the structure D contains D.sensorID, D.a, D.b, D.c, and D.d. I'm looking for the outliers in the distribution of the readings. I've plotted the data and chosen the limits and written a script that identifies sensorID's with readings outside of these limits and saves them to an array:
    aMax = 5;
    aHighIndices = find(D.a>aMax);
    aMin = 0;
    aLowIndices = find(D.a<aMin);
    aHighLength = size(aHighIndices);
    for i = 1:aHighLength
    A_hi(i) = D.sensorID(aHighIndices(i));
    end

This is repeated: a_Hi, a_Low, b_Hi, etc... and then I patch the results together:
outliers = [A_hi; A_low; B_low; B_hi; C_low; C_hi; D_low; D_hi];
Is there a more concise way to do this?

A: 1.
You iterate through each array (i.e. vector) of readings two times with find:
once for finding the high outliers and once for finding low outliers. You can do it in one iteration simply by:
a_outlier_indices = find(D.a < aMin | D.a > aMax);

2.
Another thing: generally speaking for in MATLAB is rather expensive, try using the built-in abilities of the MATLAB syntax to produce the same results. More specifically, MATLAB allows you to extract a sub-vector out of another vector using a vector of indices:
a_outliers = D.sensorID(a_outlier_indices);

Simply feeding D.a with a vector of indices yields the desired vector of outliers.
3.
Also, an advice for good practice: consider storing arrays a through d in a cell array of vectors instead of separate arrays, something like: D.readings = {a, b, c, d}, and defining corresponding thresholds cell array (thr in my example), so you can save some code by using a loop:
thr = {[aMin, aMax]; [bMin, bMax]; [cMin, cMax]; [dMin, dMax]}
outliers = cell(4, 1);
for i = 1:4
   outlier_indices = find(D.readings{i} < thr{i}(1) | D.readings{i} > thr{i}(2));
   outliers{i} = D.sensorID(outlier_indices);
end

Now you'll have everything in the cell array outliers. To access the a outliers use outliers{1}, to access the b outliers use outliers{2}, and so on...
You can of course patch everything together (like in the question) into one vector by simple concatenation inside the for loop:
outliers = [outliers, D.sensorID(outlier_indices)];
instead of the outliers{i} = ... statement.
P.S
I'm assuming that using min/max thresholds is what you want to use when finding outliers.
There are other methods to find outliers, but those will yield different results.


text:
Why every company needs to 'reimagine' their workplace, according to PwC's U.S. CEO
Tim Ryan, who runs the U.S. arm of global consulting and accounting powerhouse PwC, has a full house: He's been quarantined at his home in Boston with his family, which includes six children and a dog, for nearly three months now. That's a huge turnaround from the typical corporate grind. "For the last 25 years I've spent every week traveling between three to six different cities around the world," he says.
He's also been swept up in the calls for change in corporate America in response to the outpouring of support at Black Lives Matter protests across the country. As he wrote to the PwC community, "I cofounded the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion in response to the killing of unarmed Black men in the summer of 2016. Two years later, in 2018, we lost a member of our PwC community, Botham Jean, to this same kind of violence, and I witnessed the pain his family had to—and still has to—endure over the loss of their son and brother." Ryan wrote that among other actions, PwC will be giving employees a paid week off to volunteer for nonprofits, releasing diversity stats, creating a staff-led group to advise management on advancing progress, and donating more than $1 million to charities including the NAACP, ACLU, and the Center for Policing Equity.
PwC CEO Tim Ryan
Courtesy of PwC
As he wrote in his letter to employees, "Over the past week, I have heard from thousands of people, from PwC and elsewhere, and have come to a greater understanding of the hurt, anger, and exhaustion that the constant threat of violence and oppression takes on the Black community. And while I acknowledge that it is not the job of our Black colleagues to teach the rest of us what to do, I am grateful for how many of them have stepped forward to not only share their pain, but also their ideas, with me."
Beyond its own walls, the fact that PwC works with more than 200 major companies around the globe has given Ryan a unique view of how the nature of work is evolving in a period of unprecedented change. Fortune spoke to Ryan about innovating during a crisis, how to make offices safe, and the cost of bringing people back to the office.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
When will PwC bring employees back to the office?
When will we reopen? We want to make sure our working parents are supported, so at the very earliest, some of our offices in areas that meet our criteria for safety may open after schools reopen. It's a whole ecosystem of making sure supports are in place so employees can come back. But not everyone will. We're working with many clients on reimagining their work, not just 'come back to work' plans, but also looking at what functions can be done remotely on a permanent basis.
Talk a little bit about the cost of bringing people back to the office.
The cost of bringing people back has gone up, and that's forcing people to reimagine work. We've heard estimates of $200 per head/per month to safely bring people back to the office. That's deep cleaning, sanitizing, temperature checks, masks. If you aren't reimagining your workplace, your margins just went to hell in a handbasket. If companies aren't doing things to offset those costs and lost productivity [due to factors like social distancing requirements] you're not competitive.
We are keenly aware of the challenges employees are having right now. The country is split. Some people think it's best to keep working from home; some people think, "I can't wait to get back." You can't just look at the aggregate. Everyone has different challenges, whether that's childcare, caring for parents, their own health, worries about economic uncertainty. We can't minimize those challenges.
PwC has developed its own contact tracing app. How does that work?
We went live this spring. The app is called Automatic Contact Tracing. Two years ago in Chicago there was a law passed around keeping hotel employees safe, and we developed a geo-tracker with a panic button. If someone needed help they'd hit a button on their phone, and right away security would know there was a problem in, say, room 202. So we have adapted that technology to help employers track who their employees may have come into contact with. Right now, if someone gets COVID, you have to shut the whole place down. Tracking allows you to notify who that person was near. I might have been in close contact with 10 people, so now instead of shutting the whole office down, just those 10 people need to quarantine. We're in no rush to come back to the office at PwC, but when we do, the app will be a prerequisite for employees.
Which companies are going to come out of this period stronger?
Larger companies that are well capitalized going in very much have the opportunity to come out on top. You'll see a clear segmentation when we come out of this. One CEO we work with told me recently that since March they have built out a digital strategy that before the crisis they thought would take two years. Areas where we see significant opportunity are IT, digital, security, and collaboration software. In health care, we think 50% of health will move toward telehealth. Across industries, companies are really investing in their digital salesforce, especially in places like pharma. And automation of the back office will continue—you clearly don't need as many people to get the work done.
How has college recruiting changed this year?
At the end of March, we came out and said we would honor all 3,600 of our internships. We learned a lot in the financial crisis. Economic uncertainty is such a big fear. We've said publicly that layoffs would be a last resort. We have slowed hiring down, but we still did our campus recruiting this year. It just transitioned to virtual interviews. It's going okay, but it's too soon to tell how it really has differed from traditional face-to-face interviewing. And last week we announced that we would be extending full-time associate offers to all of our eligible graduating summer interns for employment in 2021.
What are some of the big concerns you are hearing from leaders right now?
Culture is a huge one. One of our CEOs said the other day, "We're living off of our culture now. We're drawing down on it. But if we're in this period for a long time, we're going to lose it." If you don't spend the time talking about your values, they will go away. In the past, many corporate values were created with physical things. But now they are having to transition this to virtual. How do they share, how do they innovate, how do they show they care?
But additionally, we've never been in a period where there is such low confidence around demand. Nobody knows what revenue is going to be. It's anybody's guess. There is a sense that work will never be done the way it was 12 weeks ago, but there's also no way it will be like it is today. What's going to happen is that every company at some level will reimagine how they work, how they sell, and how they interact.
More must-read finance coverage from Fortune:
More aid "absolutely" needed for businesses, says Mnuchin. Here's what form that could take
How investors can support diversity with their dollars
Over 44.2 million Americans have filed for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic
How a second wave of the coronavirus could impact global GDP and jobs, according to the OECD
Could a Western Union–MoneyGram deal help two giants fend off fintech disrupters?
WATCH: Why the banks were ready for the financial impact of the coronavirus
Stacey Abrams' underdog push for VP
Sun Jun 14 , 2020
In this May 22, 2018 file photo Democratic candidate for Georgia Gov. Stacey Abrams waves in Atlanta. John Bazemore | AP In some ways, Stacey Abrams is an outlier among the names being floated as potential vice presidential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. For instance, she moonlights […]
Howard Hughes CEO Paul Layne on why suburban real estate will thrive in a post-COVID world
Stocks have gained 25% since their March lows—but the math doesn't add up
Hong Kong stocks today are trading like a frontier market
A new bankruptcy law could prove a big help for small businesses. Here's everything you need to know
'Criminally unjust:' 'Big Short' investor who called subprime mortgage collapse slams coronavirus lockdowns

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Iawn!! Happy New Year / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!! Hope your all set for 2018! This year is set to be big for Mr Phormula, from projects to competitions and events! Let's go!!!!
We're kicking this update off with "Flowcase", a well established Beatboxing, Battle and Showcase event created by the man himself "Beatbox Hann". The event was based in "Gwdihw" and featured some incredible beatbox talent from all over the Uk. Mr Phormula found himself competing in the looping category amongst some incredible artists. Solo battles were of a very high standard with "Beatfox" taking the solo title and, you guessed it, Mr Phormula taking the looping category. Next stop, Mr Phormula will be representing Wales alongside a number of Welsh Beatboxers at this year's "World Beatbox Championships" in Berlin, Germany in August.
Next up, on a sports front. Phormula was recently approached by well established BBC rugby coverage programme "Clwb Rygbi". With the six nations fast approaching, "Clwb Rygbi" wanted a resident welsh language artist to create a theme tune and music video for each transmission of the games on S4C. Mr Phormula was delighted about this and instantly jumped on board, the first Wales game will be aired on S4C on the 5th February, tune in to not only support Wales but to also check out the exclusive theme tune and music video which also features multi instrumentalist "Henry Horell" and pupils from "Ysgol Min Y Ddol". Pob Lwc Cymru!!!! Go Wales!!!!
Back onto the music side of things. Mr Phormula recently started an exciting project with fellow musician / good friend and poet laureate "Martin Daws". The result of jamming at "Focus Wales 2017", the project has developed and grown into an exciting venture featuring not only Martin on Kalimba and Phormula on beatbox, but also"Henry Horell" on a number of instruments and fellow percussionist "Colin Daimond". With the project set to take off in April with shows already confirmed in"Focus Wales 2018″ and local arts hub "Pontio", there are big plans underway for the newly named "BARDD" project. You will most definitely hear more from this collective!
Finishing off on the educational front. In recent years, Mr Phormula has been involved with an innovative educational scheme called "Leads Creative Schools", a collaborative scheme setup by the "Arts Council Of Wales" and the "Welsh Government", with the aim of teaching creatively in schools alongside traditional teaching methods. "Ysgol Acrefair" in Wrexham were involved in the scheme, Mr Phormula had the pleasure of working alongside the school, fellow creative artist "Ben Davis" and creative agent "Vickie Fleming". The project focused on the history of Clay in the area, pupils were given the opportunity to study this subject creatively. The project was very successful and as a result, everyone involved has been invited to exhibit the project at London's prestigious "Tate Modern Gallery".
2018 is looking to be a big year for Mr Phormula, not forgetting all the upcoming shows and live events! Checkout the "gigs" page for all the upcoming events!! Until next time! Hwyl fawr!


text:
'use strict';

var helpers = require('./');
var Client = require('../../lib/nano');
var test  = require('tape');
var _ = require('underscore');

helpers.unit = function(method, error) {
  var unitName = 'nano/tests/unit/' + method.join('/');
  var debug = require('debug')(unitName);

  function log(data) {
    debug({ got: data.body });
  }

  var cli = helpers.mockClientOk(log, error);

  //
  // allow database creation and other server stuff
  //
  if(method[1].match(/follow/)) {
    if(method[0] === 'database') {
      cli.server = helpers.mockClientFollow(log, error);
    } else {
      cli = helpers.mockClientFollow(log, error);
    }
  } else {
    cli.server = helpers.mockClientDb(log, error);
  }

  var testNr = 1;

  return function() {
    var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
    var stub = args.pop();

    test(unitName + ':' + testNr++,
    function(assert) {
      var f;
      assert.ok(typeof stub, 'object');

      //
      // document functions and database functions
      // are at the top level in nano
      //
      if(method[0] === 'database') {
        f = cli.server.db[method[1]];
      } else if(method[0] === 'view' && method[1] === 'compact') {
        f = cli.view.compact;
      } else if(!~['multipart', 'attachment'].indexOf(method[0])) {
        f = cli[method[1]];
      } else {
        f = cli[method[0]][method[1]];
      }
      assert.ok(typeof f, 'function');

      args.push(function(err, req, response) {
        if (error) {
          assert.ok(err);
          return assert.end();
        }

        assert.equal(response.statusCode, 200);
        if(stub.uri) {
          stub.uri = helpers.couch + stub.uri;
        } else {
          stub.db = helpers.couch + stub.db;
        }

        assert.deepEqual(req, stub);
        assert.end();
      });

      f.apply(null, args);
    });
  };
};

function mockClient(code, path, extra) {
  return function(debug, error) {
    extra = extra || {};
    var opts = _.extend(extra, {
      url: helpers.couch + path,
      log: debug,
      request: function(req, cb) {
        if(error) {
          return cb(error);
        }

        if(code === 500) {
          cb(new Error('omg connection failed'));
        } else {
          cb(null, {
            statusCode: code,
            headers: {}
          }, req); }
        }
    });

    return Client(opts);
  };
}

function mockClientUnparsedError() {
  return function(debug, body) {
    return Client({
      url: helpers.couch,
      log: debug,
      request: function(_, cb) {
        return cb(null, {statusCode: 500}, body || '<b> Error happened </b>');
      }
    });
  };
}

function mockClientFollow() {
  return function(debug, error) {
    return Client({
      url: helpers.couch,
      log: debug,
      follow: function(qs, cb) {
        if(error) {
          return cb(error);
        }

        return cb(null, qs,  {statusCode: 200});
      }
    });
  };
}

helpers.mockClientFollow = mockClientFollow();
helpers.mockClientUnparsedError = mockClientUnparsedError();
helpers.mockClientDb = mockClient(200, '');
helpers.mockClientOk = mockClient(200, '/mock');
helpers.mockClientFail = mockClient(500, '');
helpers.mockClientJar = mockClient(300, '', {jar: 'is set'});
module.exports = helpers;


To make informed decisions and achieve strategic goals, health care leaders must carefully analyze an organization's financial position. A ratio analysis, for example, may impact decisions for strategic initiatives such as expansions, consolidations, mergers, and acquisitions. For this Assignment, you calculate financial ratios and consider their implications for organizations.
Review the Week 7 Assignment document in this week's Learning Resources. Examine the financial data for the health care organizations in each scenario.
Note:Â Your Assignment should show effective application of triangulation of content and resources in your conclusion and recommendations.
Using the scenarios and financial data provided in the Financial Analysis document, calculate financial ratios and evaluate their implications on organizational decision making.
To make informed decisions and achieve strategic goals, health care leaders must carefully analyze an organization's financial position. A ratio analysis, for example, may impact decisions for strategic initiatives such as expansions, consolidations, mergers, or acquisitions. For this Assignment, you calculate ratios and consider their implications for organizations. Scenario 1: ABC Hospital ABC Hospital is a rural facility in Medford, Oregon that competes with two other hospitals in delivering quality patient care in the Rogue Valley. One of the competing hospitals provides cancer treatment services similar to ABC Hospital and has been gaining a larger market share in the last 12 months because of its television and billboard ads.
Recently, the local news station covered a story about a report published by an independent research company stating that in the last five years, the Rogue Valley has experienced a steady increase of residents with pancreatic and testicular cancer. In response to this report and because of the shrinking market share, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the hospital has tasked the chief strategy officer (CSO) and the chief financial officer (CFO) with exploring whether it should make additional investments in cancer treatment services that will allow the organization to increase its capacity to serve more patients and gain a larger sector of the market.
• Option 1: ABC Hospital invests $11,995,000 in the development of a new state- of-the-art cancer treatment center. Based on their estimates, the first year cash flow will be $2,000,000, the second year cash flow will be $4,000,000, the third year cash flow will be $5,000,000, and the fourth year cash flow will be $8,000,000. The expected return of 8.9% is used as the discount rate.
• Option 2: ABC Hospital invests $5,095,000 in a joint venture with a reputable oncology group and the hospital agrees to a 55% interest in the joint venture. Based on the estimates, the first year cash flow will be $1,500,000, the second year cash flow will be $3,000,000, the third year cash flow will be $4,500,000, and the fourth year cash flow will be $6,500,000. The expected return of 8.9% is used as the discount rate.
Explain which of the two options you would recommend to the CEO. You may only select one option. Support your position and show your calculations. It is essential that you use at least two different financial ratio calculations.
Scenario 2: Serenity Health Care Serenity Health Care is a large integrated health care system located in the Midwest. It has a 100-year tradition of providing quality patient care to its customers regardless of their ability to pay for services. Recently, the chair of the board of directors and the chief executive officer (CEO) of Hall Healthcare System, a competitive organization, approached Serenity's CEO about a partnership because of its inability to continue to compete with Serenity and its declining financial performance.
As a board member, calculate Hall Healthcare System's current ratio and acid ratio to determine whether you support your CEO's decision to acquire Hall. Support your position and show your calculations.
Montgomery Home and Community-Based Services is considering a major expansion that will enable it to attract a different clientele to its organization. Currently, they serve only 34% of the frail elderly seniors and persons with disabilities in a three county area, with the majority of the residents working for the federal and state government. Montgomery relies 100% on local government funding to provide in home support and homemaker service to their clients. Their new chief executive officer (CEO) would like the organization to expand its revenue stream by investing in a senior multipurpose center serving healthy seniors by offering them arts and crafts and health and wellness programs. The center will also contain an Internet café offering nutritious breakfast and lunch options.
The CEO has commissioned a needs assessment, and the study's results reveal that there are only 15 retired seniors who would be willing to pay the monthly fees to access the center. Further results reveal that there are approximately 120 seniors who will be retiring from the government in three years who would be willing to become members at the center.
Based on the information above, the initial investment to establish the center is $317,880. The organization anticipates that it will generate $25,700 of revenues in the first year, $40,000 in the second year, $78,000 in the third year, $225,000 in the fourth year, and $310,000 in the fifth year.
The CEO has presented her proposal and financial information to the board of directors, and they have advised her that they are in full support of her strategy if the program is a benefit to the community and if the organization can recoup its investment in three years. Based on the information presented in the scenario, calculate the two analyses below and explain their implications.
1. Perform the break-even analysis to determine how many seniors would need to have full monthly membership and pay for breakfast and lunch for Montgomery Home and Community-Based Services to cover its monthly expenses.
2. Calculate the payback period to determine how long it will take for the organization to recover its initial investment of establishing the senior multipurpose center.
Occupy Mall Street (OMS) is a leading real estate management firm what owns over 100 shopping malls across the United States. OMS went public in 2009 and with the continual growth of the business and increase in stock price through 2011, the company decided to grand stock options to its executives to encourage retention.
On January 1, 2012, OMS granted 1,000 employee shares options that cliff vest after 4-year service period. The exercised price was $30 per share. Using the Black-Scholes pricing model, the fair market value of the awards on the grant date was $15. On the grant date, OMS stock was trading at $30 per share.
On January 1, 2014, OMS wanted to provide additional retention incentive to its employees.
OMS modified the exercise price to $20 per share. Using the Black-Scholes pricing model, the fair value of the awards was $12 per share and $9 before the terms were modified. There were no other terms of the stock option award affected. There were no forfeitures.
How much compensation cost should OMS recognize in each year of the award's service period?
By applying ASC-718-10-30-2: A share-based payment transaction with employees shall be measured based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued.
Also, to apply ASC 718-20-55-10: states that the total compensation cost recognized over the requisite service period shall be calculated by using the grant-date fair value of all share options that actually vest.
Therefore, for 2012 and 2013, OMS should calculate the compensation cost for each year at $3,750.
Therefore, OMS, should calculate the compensation cost for each of years 2014 and 2015 at $5,250.
Issue 2: How would the accounting for these awards change if the modification to the terms (i.e., exercise price) of the award was made on January 1, 2017.
OMS should recognize $3,000 compensation expense on January 1, 2017.
According to 718-20-55-94 and 96, Case A: Modification of Vested Shares Options, states "The modified share options are immediately vested, and the additional compensation cost is recognized in the period the modification occurs".
This leads OMS to recognize $3,000 (1000 shares * $3) compensation expense on January 1, 2017.
The above facts are assumed to be the same, but now there is a performance condition, which the award will only vest if cumulative net income over the 4-year service period is greater than $10 million. (Performance condition). December 31, 2013, OMS had to revise the cumulative net income down to $9 million due to the loss of several tenants. Management determined that the performance condition had become improbable to achieve.
The Following year, December 31, 2014, management's concluded that the award's performance condition was improbable of achievement. In response to this, management reduced the performance condition down to $8 million of the cumulative net income over the four-year period.
The modification did not affect any other terms or conditions of the awards nor did it affect the options per share fair-value based measure.
How would the Year 2 accounting change if management determined that the performance condition was improbably of achieving on December 31, 2103?
FASB ASC 718-10-25-20, Accruals of compensation cost for an award with a performance condition shall be based on the probable outcome of that performance condition—compensation cost shall be accrued if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved and shall not be accrued if it is not probable that the performance condition will be achieved.
In regards to OSM, the award contains a performance condition, which is the cumulative net income over the 4-year period greater than $10 million. As management concluded that the performance condition was improbable to achieve on December 31, 2013, the compensation cost shall not be accrued in 2013, therefore, they need to reverse the previously recognized compensation cost, which was $3750 in 2013. Therefore, $0 should be recognized as the cumulative amount of cost at the end of 2013.
Alan is an employee at ABC Pty Ltd (ABC). He has negotiated the following remuneration package with ABC: • salary of $300,000; • payment of Alan's mobile phone bill ($220 per month, including GST). Alan is under a two-year contract whereby he is required to pay a fixed sum each month for unlimited usage of his phone. Alan uses the phone for work-related purposes only; • Payment of Alan's children's school fees ($20,000 per year). The school fees are GST free. ABC also provided Alan with the latest mobile phone handset, which cost $2,000 (including GST). At the end of the year ABC hosted a dinner at a local Thai restaurant for all 20 employees and their partners. The total cost of the dinner was $6,600 including GST.
(a) Advise ABC of its FBT consequences arising out of the above information, including calculation of any FBT liability, for the year ending 31 March 2015. Assume that ABC would be entitled to input tax credits in relation to any GST-inclusive acquisitions.
Students are expected to identify an organization and assess the basic information processing and documentation of business cycles of that organization. Once you list out the basic information processing develop a DFD for business activities of that selected organization. Also Prepare the Revenue or Expenditure cycle activities of the selected organization.
Explain the application of computer based accounting techniques in your selected organization. You can explain about the accounting software used in your organization for data entry, preparation of various reports and how the system is used for analyzing the reports for managerial decision making.
Explain how the AIS is used for auditing the business activities of the selected organization. You can explain how the system is used for auditing revenue/ expenditure/Assets of the selected organization .
Any three students can form a group and do the project.
All project work shall be handed over to the course instructor in his office and get the signature of the instructor.
All assignments/ project work/ case studies shall be valued based on the Rubric attached.
Any project which is not submitted as per the direction of the course teacher will not be valued and it will be rejected.
While making presentation of project work, participation of all group members are required and power point slides shall be prepared and it shall be attached with your project work.
The body or text of the project with adequate explanation. All important points shall be subdivided in to paragraphs with suitable side headings.
We (Name of the student/s…)…………………………………….. hereby declare that the project work entitled (title of the project) is a bona fide work done by us under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Philip Thomas. The work has not formed part of any earlier studies for the award of degree/ diploma/ fellowship.
Date: Signature of the Student/s.


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<web-app version="3.1" xmlns="http://xmlns.jcp.org/xml/ns/javaee" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://xmlns.jcp.org/xml/ns/javaee http://xmlns.jcp.org/xml/ns/javaee/web-app_3_1.xsd">
    <servlet>
        <servlet-name>Login</servlet-name>
        <servlet-class>br.com.com222.filter.Login</servlet-class>
    </servlet>
    <servlet>
        <servlet-name>ControllerFuncionario</servlet-name>
        <servlet-class>br.com.com222.controller.ControllerFuncionario</servlet-class>
    </servlet>
    <servlet>
        <servlet-name>ControllerAssociado</servlet-name>
        <servlet-class>br.com.com222.controller.ControllerAssociado</servlet-class>
    </servlet>
    <servlet-mapping>
        <servlet-name>Login</servlet-name>
        <url-pattern>/loginFuncionario</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/loginAssociado</url-pattern>
    </servlet-mapping>
    <servlet-mapping>
        <servlet-name>ControllerAssociado</servlet-name>
        <url-pattern>/index_associado</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/consulta_pub</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/associado_sair</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/rel_historico</url-pattern>
    </servlet-mapping>
    <servlet-mapping>
        <servlet-name>ControllerFuncionario</servlet-name>
        <url-pattern>/index_funcionario</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/funcionario_sair</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/cad_emprestimo</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/cad_associado</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/sair</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/cad_devolucao</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/ver_publicacao</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/cad_publicacao</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/cad_exemplar</url-pattern>
        <url-pattern>/rel_atraso</url-pattern>
    </servlet-mapping>
    <session-config>
        <session-timeout>
            30
        </session-timeout>
    </session-config>
</web-app>


Mr. Vel Lewis joined the Ministry of National Security on 4 April 2016 as Permanent Secretary and was assigned as Accounting Officer on 18 June 2018. He brings a vast amount of experience in public sector management and leadership to the Ministry of National Security.
Before coming to the Ministry, Mr. Lewis served as Permanent Secretary in Tobago at the former Ministry of Tobago Development. With the change in administration and re-organization of Government Ministries in 2015, he was assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister where he served as Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Tobago Affairs.
He was appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development in 2014 but served prior to this as Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Culture Ministry. He gave many years of service in that Ministry in the area of arts and cultural heritage management.
Mr. Lewis served as curator of the National Museum Service and led many state heritage bodies and developed policies and programmes for historic preservation, community heritage and the transmission of traditional knowledge. He also lectured part-time at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine and has authored/edited several publications on art and heritage management.
Mr. Lewis studied Visual Arts at the UWI and obtained a Master's Degree in Museum and Heritage Studies from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He also holds an MBA and has completed training in Project Management and Strategic Planning at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, UWI, and Leadership at Harvard University, USA.
Ms. Penelope Bradshaw-Niles joined the Ministry of National Security as Acting Permanent Secretary on 24 January, 2019.
Ag. PS Penelope Bradshaw-Niles brings to this Ministry more than twenty-five years' experience in the Public Service.
Her former portfolios include Permanent Secretary (Ag.) and Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries.
She also served there as Team Leader, Acreage Management in the Resource Management Division with responsibility for the oversight of the Trinidad and Tobago Natural Gas and Crude Oil Reserves Audit and the coordination of competitive bid rounds since 2012.
Prior to her assignment to the Ministry of National Security, Ag. PS Bradshaw-Niles led a team to develop the Ministry of Energy's Strategic Plan for 2017-2021 and was involved in the development of cross-border initiatives with Trinidad and Tobago's neighbouring territories, namely Venezuela, Grenada and Guyana.
Acting Permanent Secretary Bradshaw-Niles holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering and MSc in Engineering Management from the University of the West Indies and an MBA in Petroleum Management from the University of Kansas, USA.


text:
package me.tomassetti.turin.parser.ast.typeusage;

import me.tomassetti.jvm.JvmType;
import me.tomassetti.turin.symbols.Symbol;
import me.tomassetti.turin.typesystem.*;

import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Optional;

abstract class TypeUsageWrapperNode extends TypeUsageNode {

    protected TypeUsage typeUsage;

    @Override
    public Optional<Invokable> getMethod(String method, boolean staticContext) {
        return typeUsage().getMethod(method, staticContext);
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "TypeUsageWrapperNode{" +
                "typeUsage=" + typeUsage +
                '}';
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object o) {
        if (this == o) return true;
        if (!(o instanceof TypeUsageWrapperNode)) return false;

        TypeUsageWrapperNode that = (TypeUsageWrapperNode) o;

        if (typeUsage != null ? !typeUsage.equals(that.typeUsage) : that.typeUsage != null) return false;

        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        return typeUsage != null ? typeUsage.hashCode() : 0;
    }

    public TypeUsage typeUsage() {
        if (typeUsage == null) {
            throw new IllegalStateException();
        }
        return typeUsage;
    }

    public TypeUsageWrapperNode(TypeUsage typeUsage) {
        this.typeUsage = typeUsage;
    }

    public TypeUsageWrapperNode() {
        this.typeUsage = null;
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean isReferenceTypeUsage() {
        return typeUsage().isReferenceTypeUsage();
    }

    @Override
    public final ReferenceTypeUsage asReferenceTypeUsage() {
        return typeUsage().asReferenceTypeUsage();
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean isArray() {
        return typeUsage().isArray();
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean isPrimitive() {
        return typeUsage().isPrimitive();
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean isReference() {
        return typeUsage().isReference();
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean isVoid() {
        return typeUsage().isVoid();
    }

    @Override
    public final JvmType jvmType() {
        return typeUsage().jvmType();
    }

    @Override
    public final ArrayTypeUsage asArrayTypeUsage() {
        return this.typeUsage().asArrayTypeUsage();
    }

    @Override
    public final boolean canBeAssignedTo(TypeUsage type) {
        return typeUsage().canBeAssignedTo(type);
    }

    @Override
    public final Symbol getInstanceField(String fieldName, Symbol instance) {
        return typeUsage().getInstanceField(fieldName, instance);
    }

    @Override
    public final PrimitiveTypeUsage asPrimitiveTypeUsage() {
        return typeUsage().asPrimitiveTypeUsage();
    }

    @Override
    public final <T extends TypeUsage> TypeUsage replaceTypeVariables(Map<String, T> typeParams) {
        return typeUsage().replaceTypeVariables(typeParams);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean sameType(TypeUsage other) {
        return typeUsage().sameType(other);
    }

}


text:
music / Afrobeats
Asake shares debut album Mr. Money With The Vibe
The Nigerian singer's first North American tour begins in two week's at Chicago's Thalia Hall.
Walter Banks
Asake's debut album has arrived. Mr. Money With The Vibe, out today via YBNL Nation with with global support from EMPIRE, is a 12-track, 30-minute tour de force from the rising Afrobeats star. It includes a remix of the Nigerian singer-songwriter's previously released hit "Sungba" featuring scene leader Burna Boy, as well as June single "Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)" and last month's viral smash "Terminator," which has garnered over 41 million global streams in the three weeks since its release.
The new record arrives two weeks ahead of Asake's scheduled September 22 show at Chicago's Thalia Hall, which will mark the onset of his first ever North American tour. He's currently slated for seven total U.S. dates, with performances on the east coast and Gulf South to follow opening night and more appearances to be announced soon, according to a press release accompanying the arrival of the new record.
Read Next: Song You Need: Asake prays for serenity
Mr. Money With The Vibe follows his February four-track EP, Ololade Asake, which featured the original version of "Sungba" and "Omo Ope," the latter of which features Afrobeats legend (and YBNL Nation founder) Olamide. The only non-Burna Boy feature on the new record, surprisingly, is Secaucus, New Jersey's own singer-rapper Russ, who joins Asaske on the late-album cut "Reason."
Listen to Mr. Money With The Vibe and view Asake's currently announced 2022 North American touring schedule below.
Asake Mr. Money With The Vibe 2022 North American tour dates (more TBA)
September 22 – Chicago – The Promontory
September 30 – Washington, DC – Weg Studios
October 1 – Atlanta (venue TBA)
October 2 – Houston – Ayva Center
October 7 – NYC – Palladium Times Square
October 8 – Dallas – Southside Ballroom
October 9 – Baltimore – Patapsco Arena
Afrobeats, Asake


text:
Q: Accordion Menu - java script not allowing on click drop down i am using css menu maker to create a accordion menu for an internal site (using google sites so it will be created as an app and then embed in the page). i am testing the functionality out and the on click will not drop down in jsfiddle. code samples are below -

$(document).ready(function(){

$('#cssmenu > ul > li > a').click(function() {
  $('#cssmenu li').removeClass('active');
  $(this).closest('li').addClass('active');
  var checkElement = $(this).next();
  if((checkElement.is('ul')) && (checkElement.is(':visible'))) {
    $(this).closest('li').removeClass('active');
    checkElement.slideUp('normal');
  }
  if((checkElement.is('ul')) && (!checkElement.is(':visible'))) {
    $('#cssmenu ul ul:visible').slideUp('normal');
    checkElement.slideDown('normal');
  }
  if($(this).closest('li').find('ul').children().length == 0) {
    return true;
  } else {
    return false;
  }
})
});
@import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Ubuntu:300,400,500,700);

@import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,600,300);
@charset "UTF-8";
/* Base Styles */
#cssmenu,
#cssmenu ul,
#cssmenu li,
#cssmenu a {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  border: 0;
  list-style: none;
  font-weight: normal;
  text-decoration: none;
  line-height: 1;
  font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
  font-size: 14px;
  position: relative;
}
#cssmenu {
  width: 250px;
  border-bottom: 4px solid #656659;
  -webkit-border-radius: 3px;
  -moz-border-radius: 3px;
  border-radius: 3px;
}
#cssmenu a {
  line-height: 1.3;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:first-child {
  background: #66665e;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #66665e), color-stop(100%, #45463d));
  background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
  background: linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
  border: 1px solid #45463d;
  -webkit-border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
  -moz-border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
  border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:first-child > a {
  padding: 15px 10px;
  background: url(https://0271bc0bca811dbbbe95f5d8e946d85a0792229e.googledrive.com/host/0B5W8nbTl37-fflA5c21VZVU1clNvUTQ1a21TN055SUllTkhRTWpkLXAyU1VzVmFjbmtBOXc/pattern.png) top left repeat;
  border: none;
  border-top: 1px solid #818176;
  -webkit-border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
  -moz-border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
  border-radius: 3px 3px 0 0;
  font-family: 'Ubuntu', sans-serif;
  text-align: center;
  font-size: 18px;
  font-weight: 300;
  text-shadow: 0 -1px 1px #000000;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:first-child > a > span {
  padding: 0;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:first-child:hover {
  background: #66665e;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #66665e), color-stop(100%, #45463d));
  background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
  background: linear-gradient(#66665e 0%, #45463d 100%);
}
#cssmenu > ul > li {
  background: #6691c6;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(#6691c6 0%, #4477b5 100%);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #6691c6), color-stop(100%, #4477b5));
  background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#6691c6 0%, #4477b5 100%);
  background: linear-gradient(#6691c6 0%, #4477b5 100%);
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:hover {
  background: #5b89c2;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(#5b89c2 0%, #3f6faa 100%);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #5b89c2), color-stop(100%, #3f6faa));
  background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#5b89c2 0%, #3f6faa 100%);
  background: linear-gradient(#5b89c2 0%, #3f6faa 100%);
}
#cssmenu > ul > li > a {
  font-size: 14px;
  display: block;
  background: url(https://0271bc0bca811dbbbe95f5d8e946d85a0792229e.googledrive.com/host/0B5W8nbTl37-fflA5c21VZVU1clNvUTQ1a21TN055SUllTkhRTWpkLXAyU1VzVmFjbmtBOXc/pattern.png) top left repeat;
  color: #ffffff;
  border: 1px solid #3d6aa3;
  border-top: none;
  text-shadow: 0 -1px 1px #28466b;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li > a > span {
  display: block;
  padding: 12px 10px;
  -webkit-border-radius: 4px;
  -moz-border-radius: 4px;
  border-radius: 4px;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li > a:hover {
  text-decoration: none;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li.active {
  border-bottom: none;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li.has-sub > a span {
  background: url(https://0271bc0bca811dbbbe95f5d8e946d85a0792229e.googledrive.com/host/0B5W8nbTl37-fflA5c21VZVU1clNvUTQ1a21TN055SUllTkhRTWpkLXAyU1VzVmFjbmtBOXc/icon_plus.png) 96% center no-repeat;
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We'll get you in the driver's seat with quick approvals and easy applications. Pre-approval is available, allowing you to shop with confidence.
• Loan can include extra funds to cover licensing, etc.
When you fall in love at the lot and are so anxious to own it that you can't let go of the door handle, don't panic. Ask the dealership if you can get your financing from Altana. We work with select dealerships to offer our financing, without leaving the lot. If they say no, ease your fingers off the door handle and come see us. We'll get you back to the lot in record time.
We all run a little short sometimes. When you need extra cash, you can skip an Altana loan payment once a year, for a low processing fee. Skip a Pay is easily accessed through online banking – Click on "Services" then "Skip a Pay" when you are logged into online banking and it will walk you through the easy do-it-yourself steps!


My husband is a moderate drug user and plans to donate to his brother.
My husband is a crack cocaine user and he is attempting to donate a kidney to his brother. He has already passed the first set of tests and he has the next set scheduled in two days. I don't understand how he can be at this stage of the kidney donation process, being a user, and being allowed to continue. I don't feel it is in my husband's best health interest to donate a kidney for as often as he uses crack. Please tell me that the hospital will find out that he's a user. The last time my husband used was last Friday. He goes back to the hospital this Wed. (I'm tagging along this time) Will he be doing his brother a disservice by giving him one of his kidneys? He has used crack cocaine for over 8 years, with the last 2 years being the heaviest use. My husband also has high cholesterol, as well as asthma. He has horrible coughing fits that cause him to vomit. I assume that my husband has been lying if he was asked about drug use during the screening process so far. Will using crack be more dangerous to my husband when he has just one kidney? He does not admit to having a serious problem, nor is he ready to stop using. We've been married for over 23 years, and we have children, and of course, this drug use has caused all of us much pain and heartache, but on the surface, with the possibility that he will be given the "ok" to donate, these questions won't leave my mind. I am SO SO WORRIED. Please don't suggest that I bring this up to the hospital/nurses/surgeon. I cannot take that chance. My husband is in denial about his use, and so is his family. I cannot believe how selfish my husband's brother is being by accepting my husband's offer for his kidney, knowing that he uses, and that we have children. His brother is already in the transplant list. What about his mother or father? My husband is 43, and not in the best of health. What of my children need a kidney down the road and my husband just has one kidney? I'm so confused about how to feel about this situation. I AM proud of my husband for offering this gift to his brothe. I have so many concerns, though! Maybe some of you can straighten me out on these concerns., Maybe I'm the one being selfish. Please advise! Thank you so much!
PS. My husband referred to this potential surgery as "the same as having a tooth pulled." He is being unrealistically light-hearted about this. He has not discussed life insurance or a will with me. Of course he has not been himself for years. He is regularly looking for acceptance and the thrives off of the "wow" factor. I am so concerned. I feel so left out and lost. How in the World can ANY hospital take his kidney? He is so clearly not healthy!
Re: My husband is a moderate drug user and plans to donate to his brother.
On every level this needs to be disclosed to the transplant center. You certainly can send it anonymously and leave it up to the center to investigate. I can't imagine that given the history you describe that this won't be discovered. I'm not quite sure why you feel uncomfortable about giving this information. Are you afraid of retaliation? Has there been an issue with violence or legal problems? There is medical confidentiality so he most likely won't be prosecuted unless a court order is given for disclosure which I doubt, but I am not a lawyer so this is NOT legal advice. Perhaps, you can speak with a member of the clergy or social worker about this and maybe given the information they can then relay this to the medical team no questions asked.
The other issue is what happens if the transplant does take place and he is able to evade the system by not using before testing. His brother gets a kidney that has been exposed to drugs, the transplant fails and he is in worse shape. Then what happens if your husband suffers complications from this because of the drug abuse? You definitely need some outside help to sort this all out. The burden cannot only be on you. I really hope you get some help from the social worker or psychologist for some marriage counseling and therapy. Everything you say will be confidential. I am so sorry that you have had to deal with a loved one with a drug addiction. But sometimes we can't fix everything. This may be one situation where you are going to need some outside help. I hope you and your family get the help you need.
Best of luck and I hope you find peace.
My heart goes out to you, because this is an awful situation you're in. I agree with Sherri that you must tell someone at the transplant center. I'm sure they would protect your confidentiality by saying drugs showed up in the tests or something. But I think you know in your heart that you can't stand by and let your husband put his brother and himself at such risk.
I have one more recommendation for you: Al-Anon. http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/meetings/meeting.html This is not for him, it's FOR YOU. There's tremendous support and understanding for what you're living with, from people just like you who live with an addict. Check it out for yourself and for your family's sake.
Just to chime in, he will be hard pressed to find a life insurance policy if he uses crack cocaine. There is a waiting period of several years, if he is able to get clean.
I will be surprised if your husband is medically able to donate. I was screened for drug use by both centers we listed with.
Overdose is a common cause of death for cadaver donors.
Bridge Paired Exchange donor on behalf of my husband (re-transplant) at Johns Hopkins.
Donated to a former college professor, October 28, 2009. Would do it again in a nanosecond.
Although cocaine is metabolized through the liver, it is well documented to cause kidney damage including rhabdomyolysis (sudden, catastrophic kidney failure), renal infarction, and accelerated hypertension. Your husband may be tolerating his drug use now because he has two kidneys to absorb the load. It is incredibly generous of him to be willing to donate, but he absolutely cannot afford to give up one of his kidneys. In addition to that, he has increased risk of surgical complications. He should not be having any elective surgery and needs to be very cautious with necessary procedures.
Time to wake up.......sorry. Your worried about your husband donating? You should be worried about him using crack! One kidney or two does not matter to a drug addict. You need to be reporting this to more than the transplant center, you need to put your children first.
Sorry to be so harsh but you have to stop being an enabler.
I can understand when someone falls in situation like this. Hope all did well. Cases related to kidney donation or body's other part become a big concern to family members when donator is a drug addict. I think in this case person should consult Virginia opiate addiction treatment center before going through all procedure.
I'm sure you knew that the community would rally to support you in this situation and I agree that this is another attention grabber for your husband to look like the hero. We are here for you, and hopefully you will take our advice. There will come a time during the approval process when the social worker will interview you independently to get your buy-in for your husband to donate. This affects the whole family not just the donor. At that time, you should speak up. The center will cover you and state that there is some other reason for him to be denied. They do screen for all drugs, opiates, etc, because people lie. Ask Dr. House. Most likely they will catch it on their own.
Do not go along with this- compromised kidneys do not help the recipient, it could expose them to more health issues than they had originally.


text:
Past Programmes - Forward
12 years [2005-2016] funding from Sigrid Rausing Trust (SRT) supported FORWARD to implement many initiatives starting with the Moolaadé project. Taking Osmane Sembene at his word, that he wanted his film Moolaadé, to be accessible to all African women, FORWARD produced a facilitator's guide which was used in Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania as part of advocacy actions against FGM.
SRT funded the 'Advancing the Health and Rights of Girls and Young Women in East and West Africa' project which supported various initiatives starting with the production of the documentary 'Witches of Gambaga', which highlighted a very specific form of violence – allegations of being a witch. These allegations are made against mainly poor, elderly, rural women in northern Ghana.
Also undertaken with SRT support was a photo voice project in Tanzania and Ethiopia; an education communities on child marriage initiative in Tarime, Tanzania; a West African Partnership-South to South learning initiative which targeted several west African countries; the innovative East Africa Child Marriage Conference; several researches conducted with young women in Liberia and Sierra Leone focussing on Sexuality, Pregnancy and Services and finally contributing to a pivotal research, the 'National Survey on Drivers and Consequences of Child Marriage in Tanzania' (2016).
In addition to all the above and more, the SRT support has strengthened 10 local partner organisations with financial support building their infrastructure and bolstering their organisational capacity.
Kenya- Past
Tanzania- Past
Sierra Leone- Past
Ethiopia- Past
Ghana- Past
The Gambia- Past
Liberia- Past
Nigeria- Past
Sudan- Past


Tarka Energy LLC is a privately held independent oil and gas company focused on the acquisition, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas assets in Oklahoma. Led by a highly skilled management team with over 100 years combined experience in the oil and gas industry, the Company has significant acreage in the proven Red Fork and Mississippi formations in Oklahoma. The Company continues to lease acreage in Oklahoma and plans to increase oil production through its drilling activities. Development drilling is underway with additional wells being drilled with Tarka Energy as the Operator.
The Company's headquarters are located in Norman, Oklahoma.
Tarka Energy is committed to operating safely and efficiently. Our top priority is to protect the environment, our employees, and the communities in which we live and work.
Tarka Energy's operations are located in Pawnee County, Northern Oklahoma. The Company owns approximately 33,000 gross acres in an active and productive area. The primary focus is developing Woodford Shale, Mississippi Lime and Red Fork formations. The Company is expanding both its acreage position and drilling commitments through the execution of its vertical and horizontal well development strategy. This strategic acreage position combined with our experienced team makes us well-positioned to deliver value to our shareholders, employees and communities.
Tarka Energy owns approximately 33,000 gross acres in Pawnee County, Oklahoma.
Kelly has been involved in almost every aspect of the business and has a diversified functional experience in roles including management consulting, economist, petroleum engineering, and oil field property A&D. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Oklahoma and a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University.


text:
Holding may refer to:
 Holding an object with the hands, or grasping
 Holding (law), the central determination in a judicial opinion
 Holding (aeronautics), a manoeuvre in aviation
 Holding (surname)
 Holding company, a company that owns stock in other companies
 Holding (American football), a common penalty in American football
 The Miroslav Holding Co., 2001 Croatian film also released as Holding
 "Holding", an episode of the American animated television series Beavis and Butt-Head
 Holding (TV series), a 2022 TV series

See also

 Smallholding
 Hold (disambiguation)
 The Holding (disambiguation)
 "Holdin'," a song by Diamond Rio
 Hoarding
 Possession (law)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Associated Press Associated Press
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/gov-jay-inslee-advances-in-washington-gubernatorial-primary
Gov. Jay Inslee advances in Washington gubernatorial primary
Politics Aug 5, 2020 9:28 AM EST
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee advanced Tuesday in Washington's primary election as he seeks to become the first incumbent elected to a third term in the state in more than 40 years.
Inslee was leading decisively in early returns. He'll face a small-town police chief in the fall. Loren Culp, who finished a distant second in the state's "top two" primary, campaigned against Inslee's coronavirus restrictions like mandatory masks, saying they infringed on people's constitutional rights.
Inslee briefly ran for his party's Democratic presidential nomination last year and has been a frequent and high-profile critic of President Donald Trump.
"At such a pivotal moment, Washington state needs the opposite of Trump-style chaos," Inslee said in a statement.
More than 30 other people also ran in the gubernatorial primary, vying to face Inslee in November, when he'll be a heavy favorite.
Culp is police chief of the tiny town of Republic in the northeastern part of the state. He wrote the book "American Cop: Upholding the Constitution and Defending Your Right to Bear Arms." He got national attention after saying he wouldn't enforce gun regulations approved by voters in a 2018 initiative.
MORE: Why Jill Biden thinks the U.S. 'cannot wait' for her husband to be president
Initiative 1639 raised the age limit to buy some weapons from 18 to 21 and requires enhanced background checks for people who buy those weapons.
Culp told The Seattle Times Tuesday night that people were tired of COVID-19 mandates from Inslee.
"They are ready for individual freedom and liberty being returned to this state, where citizens have the choice on what they want to do in their personal lives and business, and not have it dictated to them," he said.
The 69-year-old Inslee is seeking a rare third term as governor. Governors in Washington state aren't subject to term limits, though most haven't served more than two terms. The last three-term governor in Washington was Republican Gov. Dan Evans, who served from 1965 until 1977.
Inslee is a former congressman and served as Democratic Governors Association chairman in 2018.
Left: Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee advanced Tuesday in Washington's primary election as he seeks to become the first incumbent elected to a third term in the state in more than 40 years. Photo by REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson.
Protest leader Cori Bush ousts 20-year U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay in Missouri
Lauren Boebert upsets 5-term congressman Scott Tipton in Colorado primary
Amy McGrath wins Kentucky Democratic primary
By Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press
gubernatorial race
jay inslee


text:
Blake Griffin Asked Tim Duncan How to Become a Leader and Winner
by Marcel Mutoni May 06, 2015
LA Clippers superstar forward Blake Griffin is tearing up the NBA postseason, registering three triple-doubles so far and putting up historic numbers.
Blake Griffin is averaging 24.4 PTS, 13.3 REB, and 8.1 AST in the playoffs. The only player ever to do at least this is Oscar in 1963
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 5, 2015
Griffin began his transformation into the unstoppable force he has become last summer, reaching out to Tim Duncan for some advice on winning and leadership, and used some of the most cutting-edge workout technology during the offseason.
The 26-year old All-Star trained harder and smarter than ever before, and the results are undeniable.
Per CBS Sports:
The story is much more technical and complicated, and the prologue was written during the months after the Clippers lost to the Thunder in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals last spring. It was a mixture of hours spent reinventing his shooting stroke with Clippers shooting coach Bob Thate … grueling conditioning workouts that pushed the envelope of science and technology … and a series of heart-to-hearts with the Spurs' Tim Duncan about how to be a better leader and winner. […] "He really respects Tim," said Griffin's Atlanta-based business manager, Lorne Clark. "His thing was, "How do I become more of a leader and how do I help this team win? What do I have to do?"
Produce, Duncan told him. Lead by example. Make people respect your actions. Have personal relationships with each of your teammates so you can have one-on-one conversations with them when they need you. […] Griffin listened, and took notes. Then, during the idyllic summer months in LA, it was time to execute the plan.
The gym became Griffin's lab. Most days, when Clark texted him at 7 a.m. to find out his schedule, Griffin was already there — either on the Clippers' practice court in Playa Vista with Thate, resetting his shooting mechanics, or at a private training facility in El Segundo with his trainer, Robbie Davis, who taught Griffin how much harder, and smarter, he could work. […] After the loss to the Thunder, Griffin reported for duty at Davis' Gameshape Inc. training facility — 17 miles from Staples Center, deep inside an angular, two-tone concrete warehouse surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential buildings. Griffin put on a breathing mask, strapped a heart-rate monitor around his chest and went to work.
Blake Griffin LA Clippers San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan
James Ennis III: Sixers 'Going to Walk to the Finals'
LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Signing a 'Historic Momemt for Our Organization'
Masai Ujiri: Raptors 'Going to Be Just Fine' Without Kawhi Leonard
Rich Paul: Anthony Davis Sacrificed $4 Million to Help the Lakers
Report: Kawhi Leonard Also Recruited Kyrie Irving


You can begin the search for a great veterinarian even before you have selected your puppy or even the breed of dog that you wish to adopt. A good vet will often be able to provide information on what breed would suit you and your family. They may even have clients that are owners of Japanese Spitz for example if you are looking to adopt a Japanese Spitz puppy and can provide you with more information on your chosen breed. It is important to have found a veterinarian before you pick up your puppy though as you will want your veterinarian to give them a full check over to ensure your new puppy is healthy.
There are many directories, both on the internet (such as local business searches) and in physical form (eg Yellow Pages etc) that list the contact details for many veterinarians. One of the best sources of great vets are your friends and family that already own pets and can recommend their veterinarian as they would most likely be happy with them for many years. Another source to find a veterinarian that is familiar with your puppy already would be the vet that has given your puppy its first vaccination and possibly their microchip also. Their contact details will be found on your puppy's vaccination card that you receive with your puppy when you pick him or her up.
What should I look for when choosing a veterinarian?
Walk past and drop in, and if possible speak to the staff to get an overall feel of the place and their practice. Some clinics will appoint a particular vet to your pets while other vet clinics will assign whichever vet is first available to treat your pets when you go in with them. Ask whether they are accredited by the governing body in your country (eg. the Australian Veterinary Association for vets in Australia). If your vet operates from a clinic, have a look around at the facilities and ensure you are happy with the cleanliness and maintenance of both the rooms and equipment. Make sure you ask plenty of questions about your dog's future care such as the level of care that they can provide such as the number of vets on staff, overnight observation, home visits, specialist surgery, puppy school, specialist programs such as weight management etc. Ask about the price of routine practices such as vaccinations and desexing to make sure they are within your price range and if the vet practice is accredited by your pet insurance company if you have a policy. Most vets appreciate clients asking plenty of questions about their dog's care but just don't turn it into an interrogation!! Make sure that you are comfortable with the veterinarian and their practice, as what suits one person may not suit another.
What happens if I decide to change vets?
The biggest fear that most owners have when they want to change vets for any reason whether that be due to moving or just not completely happy with their current veterinary practice is that they will lose all of their dogs medical history when they go to the new vet. This is not the case as most vets these days will have the records in a digital format that can be emailed to you or your new vet. Even vets that still use medical record cards can post out the records to your new vet or even hand them over to you.


text:
Law Office of
Michelle R. Burrows P.C.
Ms. Burrows has over 30 years of experience as a litigator in state and federal court. She specializes in representing individuals who were harmed by the unlawful actions of the government, with a particular focus on police agencies and prison facilities. Her experience includes:
Medical cases including a class action lawsuit representing 1) prisoners with Hepatitis C who were not given the standard-of-care treatment, which has a 95% cure rate, and were instead treated with an inferior protocol, and 2) the prisoners who contracted the disease due to exposure to infected prisoners who were not given proper medical treatment.
Violation of prisoner rights cases.
Unlawful police use of force cases.
Unlawful imprisonment cases.
Malicious prosecution cases.
Plaintiff's medical malpractice claims.
Consultation with lawyers nationwide on civil rights issues.
Ms. Burrows primarily practices in Oregon, but has also appeared in Washington, California, Michigan, Idaho and Arkansas. She only represents plaintiffs.


I hear that code exists in For Honor that kicks AFK players after 60 sec. I'm starting to think the programmer gave his boss an empty block of code. My friend without cheating was afk for 2 matches. He didn't try but he had to help his kid all of a sudden. If they can't detect that then, wow!
Had a couple matches where player was afk at the beginning of match. This is not acceptable at upper tier. If someone doesn't select a character by the end of the timer they should be booted with no penalty. Make way for a replacement player earlier.
Knew it. I am also and see it all the time. They supposedly fixed it, but apparently not on Xbox. In fact, I rarely see the fixes they post up on the patch notes. I never did see a decrease in connectivity issues that were "fixed" in the patch notes.
Thanks for the feedback on the AFK system. I'll certainly let the team know that there are concerns with the AFK system that should be looked into.


text:
NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan; Taliban kill 8 in convoy attack
A roadside bomb killed a NATO soldier and wounded four others in southern Afghanistan, while a Taliban ambush left eight Afghan security personnel dead, officials said. The NATO soldiers were patrolling in the country's volatile south Sunday when an explosion ripped through their vehicle, NATO said in a statement. In central Wardak province, meanwhile, Taliban militants fired rocket-propelled grenades from their vehicles at a convoy led by private security guards on Saturday, killing six guards and two police officers, said Wardak police chief Gen. Zafaruddin, who goes by one name.


text:
Crescent magazine
Issue 1 – Spring 2018
Issue 2 – Fall 2018
Local Politics and Southern Students
byMelanie Espinal
in Campus News
Justin Farmer's distinct silhouette, with his square-rimmed glasses and hair sticking out of a large pair of headphones, appeared on campaign signs in Hamden during the fall 2017 election season – political advertisements unlike the countless blue and red starred signs typical of other candidates.
This fresh image showcased one of the new perspectives brought to local politics by young people, among them Southern students Justin Farmer, Tyrell Brown and Tim Bristol.
Farmer, a 23-year old Democrat, is a self-proclaimed activist who ran unopposed for the town's Legislative Council in the 5th District.
Brown, 20, a Republican, ran in 2017 as an alternate for the Planning and Zoning Commission of Middletown, and is now running for the Connecticut General Assembly in the 100th House District.
Tim Bristol, 31, a political science major also involved in local politics, ran as a Democrat for the Shelton Board of Aldermen in 2017.
The three Southern students have made headlines as young faces in local politics.
Activism through politics
Farmer says being an unconventional candidate for local office allows him the ability to speak to people he can relate with, such as people of color and young people.
Hamden's 5th District covers Newhallville as well as Whitneyville, the area of Hamden that runs along New Haven's border. Farmer says that this area has grown a lot over the last 10 years, and with this growth, there has been some emerging issues, like gentrification.
Seeing how gentrification works while growing up on this border made him think about running. Farmer describes his childhood as maneuvering between his home life, in an area he says struggles with crime, drugs and systemic poverty, to going to Hamden for school, in a small town that did not face the same issues.
"I felt a lot of the times I had like this 'Pleasantville' type, small-town vibe," he says, "half of the time going to school [in Hamden] and doing certain things, the other half was where I lived, and that didn't sit right with me. So, that's why I ran."
Farmer says his goal as a councilman and as a member in local government, is to be both smart politically and to also act as a compassionate activist.
One of the most valuable lessons Farmer says he learned about local politics is that you do not have to have a ton of money or connections, and that those things should not limit people wanting to get involved.
Taking classes in the Political Science Department and focusing on local politics gave him the tools to analyze his environment, Farmer says. He plans to incorporate political science in his Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
The headphones on Farmer's campaign posters are more than a stylistic choice. They reduce noise and function as a deterrent to ambient noises that may distract Farmer and can irritate his Tourette's syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause involuntary tics or vocal tics. The signs were designed by Southern alum and friend, Alisha Martindale.
In truth, Farmer said it was not what he wanted. He had imagined some sort of tree with his slogan as "Farmer for Fifth: Planting the seeds of change so we can grow together." But, he says, people seemed to like his sign anyway.
Transitioning to state politics
Tyrell Brown (August Pelliccio/Crescent Magazine)
After a successful bid for the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission, senior, business major Tyrell Brown now has his sights set on the the 100th District seat in the Connecticut State House.
"I just heard to myself, 'run,' " says Brown, "and I didn't really have to think what was there to run for. Fortuitously, I knew that I was supposed to run for the 100."
The seat is held by State Rep. Matthew Lesser, a Democrat, who held the seat for the last five terms. Lesser's term expires in November 2018 and he is now running for State Senate. Running for the House was something Brown considered a few years ago, but instead ran in 2017 for alternate in the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Some people asked him while running for the local board if he thought he was too young.
But Brown says, "If that really played a role, we wouldn't be in this situation we're in, because we have all these old polished politicians who are really just throwing the state down the drain."
He anticipates his youth coming up again. But, Brown says if someone has the desire to help people they should just be able to get involved whenever they feel like it.
Aside from his age he thinks his financial planning and business background will provide a fresh take in Hartford, and help the state move in the right direction amid financial crises. After having experience running, he says he thinks he will have more fun this time around and will need to get a new pair of shoes for all the walking he will be doing to canvas for his new campaign.
A changing tide
Students are not the only ones from Southern finding their way on local ballots. Southern faculty also hold elected positions. Jay Moran, Southern's director of athletics, is the mayor of Manchester.
Moran says although he would hope more good people get involved, sometimes it is not always the case, and he advises students to get involved for the "right reasons."
"It's really rewarding, yet can be ugly," he says of politics.
Moran got involved as a tribute to his community, who supported his family during their darkest days, when his daughter was diagnosed with Hurler syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Before his daughter's death, he says the town was able to accommodate her at school, making a big positive impact on his family during the stressful time. Because of this, Moran says he became a huge community advocate in many ways.
"We can all give back," Moran said.
Some students at Southern choose to give back by getting involved with local campaigns. Southern's College Republicans push for students to get more involved at the local level, according to Sarah O'Connor, the chapter president. O'Connor, 19, a sophomore, political science major, says she joined during the "crazy" 2016 elections because she felt isolated as a conservative in a generally liberal campus.
During election seasons members work for campaigns, door knock and phone bank for various candidates statewide. Their goals include bridging the gap between national and local issues.
"We really want to get people active in the local politics because it's the most important politics, especially since we go to a public university," O'Connor says. "The whole budget crisis going up in Hartford right now will affect us, and tuition will go up if people aren't aware."
Young voters are typically a lot more active during presidential elections than in local elections, says O'Connor. She says even though national participation is great, local elections are what really matter.
O'Connor says students can get involved by watching the news, and even if students do not show up to town meetings, it is a good idea to sign up for email lists or become members in their local Republican and Democratic town committees.
Finding a place in local politics
Tim Bristol did just that. Bristol has a track record of going further than town meetings: He actually runs for different local office positions.
He says name recognition is one thing that affected his running for office in Shelton.
"Nobody knows who I am, that's the major hurdle, even after months and months of campaigning," he says during his 2017 campaign for Shelton alderman.
Bristol learned how important name recognition really was in 2015, when he ran for mayor in Shelton and did not win. After reflecting on his loss, Bristol made the bulk of his alderman campaign focused on canvassing door-to- door, to talk directly with residents.
Bristol ran as a Democrat the second time around, unlike his first campaign where he had run as an Independent. Party affiliations can help candidates gain recognition, he says, and can have major impact on the turnout of a campaign.
Like Brown, Bristol says another hurdle was his age. In Shelton, most of his opponents are a lot older than him. Bristol says that at times he and other people who are running in Shelton are seen as the new guys who need to earn their keep. This allows some advantage however, as Bristol has used tools he does not think his older opponents use too frequently, such social media and even a GoFundMe during his previous mayoral campaign.
Although he did not win this past November, Bristol says that it will not keep him from running for local elections again. He is going to keep trying to get voters to understand the power of younger people.
Bristol has recently moved to Stratford, Conn. and hopes to join the Democratic Town Committee there. Although Bristol has not made up his mind, he is also interested in possibly running for office in Stratford, or possibly running for the State Senate 21st District seat.
"If you want change, you have to vote for the candidates for change," Bristol says. "If you want new faces you have to vote for the candidates that are new."
By Melanie Espinal
Melanie Espinal (Vern Williams/Crescent Magazine)
Tags: campus newsMelanie EspinalpoliticsSpring 2018
Murray's Moment
A Student's Guide to New Haven
Melanie Espinal
A Student's Guide to New Haven
About Crescent
Crescent magazine highlights the issues that impact students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn.
Editors' note
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