by Jeff Kinney, 2010, Amulet Books, 217 pages.
Another book I'm only partially qualified to judge is this fifth book in the Wimpy Kid series, which, in the time since I read the first one and gave it a "B," has gone bestseller and Hollywood. Although I was and remain a wimpy kid, I am not, as previously mentioned, a 9- to 12-year-old boy; thus my view is different from the target audience's.
As a parent, I'd like to note that the repeated bad-role-modeling grammatical offense of "Me and Rowley [insert verb here]" (I know it's authentic kid-speak, but still) is canceled out by the thank-you-Mr.-Kinney of Greg's not having a cell phone even though all the other kids do.
This book finds the series in a comfortable groove. Greg Heffley is a little older now, but he's the same Greg. This time out, he's suffering domestic disorientation as his mom goes back to school and the family gets a maid. He goes to a new, non-pediatric dentist — he was sweet on his old one, but the new one, not so much. In health class, he and his classmates are given eggs to care for like babies. Greg also gets invited to an older kids' party, but only to be a servant, it turns out; briefly tries out for a TV commercial; and attends his uncle's fourth wedding, where for once he's not a ring-bearer.
A fair chunk of the book is occupied with a co-ed slumber party at school, where the heat goes out and the chaperones are mean and the girls are far far away.
Former best friend Rowley is mainly out of the picture after an unexplained falling-out, which frees Greg to carve a solo path through life's misunderstandings and the clashes between adults' and kids' views (which make for a couple insider-joke chuckles for parent readers). In the book's finale, he gets The Talk from his Gammie about the ugly truth of life — that growing up is not a walk in the park. She gives him some wise advice: "she said I shouldn't let anyone take my picture for the next few years, because I'd regret it if I did" — underscored by drawings of his dad's and uncles' adolescent photos.


Iceland 1-2 Sweden Sweden consolidated top spot in Group F as goals from Kim Källström and Christian Wilhelmsson secured a fourth straight victory.
Sweden consolidated their position at the top of UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group F as goals early in each half, from Kim Källström and Christian Wilhelmsson, secured a fourth successive win and overturned Iceland's initial advantage.
The visitors were in buoyant mood as Saturday's victory against Spain had given them a five-point lead in the standings, although Lars Lagerbäck was deprived of Fredrik Ljungberg, Anders Svensson, Tobias Linderoth and Olof Mellberg for the trip to Reykjavik. Swedish optimism was punctured in the sixth minute when Iceland, beaten 4-0 in Latvia at the weekend, went ahead through Arnar Vidarsson's long-range half-volley that found the top corner.
The advantage lasted only two minutes, however, with Sweden levelling through Källström whose stunning 40-metre free-kick curled beyond Árni Arason in the Iceland goal. Clear chances proved harder to come by as the half unfolded, although Hannes Sigurdsson might have restored Iceland's lead before the interval had he connected properly with Grétar Steinsson's cross. At the other end, another Källström set-piece was headed off the line by Hermann Hreidarsson and Sweden stepped up the pressure as the second half began, Johan Elmander's drive forcing Arason into action again.
The goalkeeper was beaten for the second time a minute before the hour, Erik Edman and Marcus Allbäck combining to create the opportunity for Wilhelmsson smash a shot past the Iceland No1 and into the net. The home team battled for a way back into the match, Sigurdsson pushing a shot just wide before Eidur Gudjohnsen was denied by the crossbar. Elmander and Källström both spurned chances to make the game safe, yet Sweden had done enough and will look to continue their perfect start away to Northern Ireland on 28 March. Iceland, meanwhile, have three points from four fixtures and visit Spain the same night.


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Famicom Scion xB: 8-bit Heir
awesome | cars | custom | famicom | geeky | modification | nintendo | toyota | January 7, 2011
By Lambert Varias
The boxy, toy-like car you see below is the work of Giant Robot magazine publisher Eric Nakamura and Len Higa of Onimotorworks. Nakamura was asked by Toyota to come up with a design for a custom Scion xB, and he decided to go with a video game theme. Nakamura says he was primarily inspired by Nintendo's Famicom console, and it definitely shows, but overall it's a tribute to the 8-bit era of gaming.
The car's retro video game design is apparent from it's looks. As I mentioned, it's boxy and toy-like, just as Nintendo's console was. Its rims and door handles are made to look like buttons. Scratch that, the door's handles are buttons – when they're pushed to open the doors, they also trigger sound bytes from Super Mario Bros.
That's just the beginning. The car has both front and rear projectors for playing video games – the front projector is used to play Return of the Quack using two controllers that also double as the seat belt clamps on the two front seats.
But by far the best feature of this car for me is that you turn it on by inserting a video game cartridge into a dock on the dash. Curiously though, turning the car on is different from actually starting the engine. The latter is done by – what else? –pressing a button.
The car was shown at last year at Pixel Pushers, an exhibit of 8-bit-inspired art that was curated by Giant Robot. I'm not at all fond of cars, but I hope when this car is auctioned off someday I'll be able to get it, or at least have a replica made. More than anything else in this car, it's the act of inserting the cartridge (and then the game won't load, and you'll have to struggle with the eject switch, then you'll blow into the cartridge and put it back again) that really takes me back to my younger days.
[via Jalopnik, Kotaku & Game Set Watch]
Memento Vivere Skull Stein
The One Titanium Slider Box
Nuro's Third-Generation Autonomous Delivery Vehicle Revealed

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Prince Charming is close to the castle! Hurry, get the princesses ready to meet him! The girls are in their rooms getting ready to meet the prince, but they have to look their best before they leave the castle! Help them look like beauty queens in this charming royal story of dress up, hair design and spa treatments!
The royal girls high in the castle need your help to look beautiful for Prince Charming. Start by giving them new makeup, including lipstick, eyeshadow and blush. Keep the spa story going by changing their hair style, picking the prettiest, cutest hairdo around! Find the perfect royal dress to finish up the beauty makeover. Prince Charming is almost here, so make sure you design the perfect story book look for these royal girls!
- Run a beauty spa for princesses in the royal castle.
- Help them play out their story and meet Prince Charming.
- Give them makeovers, including hairstyles, makeup and dresses.
- Design new outfits so they look like beauty queens.
- Make your spa the best in the kingdom!
- Choose a princess to design a makeover for.
- Pick out a new hairstyle, new dress and cute shoes.
- Add makeup to the girls so they look extra cute.
- Take them outside for a beautiful love story ending with Prince Charming!


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Farmers attack plan to revamp rural policy aid
EU RURAL development funds would be concentrated on the Union's poorestareas and farming subsidies diverted to make up the shortfall in otherregions, under new European Commission proposals to be unveiled next month.
By Myles Neligan
But while the proposed reform is in line with Commission plans to simplifyprocedures and target expenditure more effectively, Union farmers havealready protested that the new package is "incoherent" and will compromisetheir all-important market support payments.
The proposal, due to be adopted by the full Commission on 18 March,constitutes the most far-reaching overhaul of the Union's unwieldy ruraldevelopment policy in 30 years.
If national governments endorse the plan, 60 existing EU rural developmentinstruments will be incorporated into a single framework regulation.
At the same time, expenditure from the 'guidance' section of the EuropeanAgricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), which currently financesmost EU rural development programmes, will be targeted exclusively at theUnion's poorest 'Objective 1' areas.
Rural development projects outside these areas will be financed from theEAGGF guarantee section – traditionally reserved for more expensive andpolitically sensitive market support measures – imposing an extra financialburden of approximately 2 billion ecu or 5% of total annual expenditure onits budget.
The Commission argues that this strategy would maximise the impact of ruraldevelopment spending, contrasting it favourably with the current fragmentedapproach.
Officials also point out that a greater number of programmes would benefitfrom the guarantee section's more regular payment schedule. "This is a wellthought-out proposal, which should attract widespread support amongst themember states," claimed one.
However, EU farmers' association COPA is highly critical of the plan,rejecting the proposed reallocation of funds and protesting that most ruraldevelopment measures are not an appropriate use of market support money.
"It is incoherent to use a fund designed to disburse monthly market supportpayments to pay for long-term rural development projects. We also feel, asa matter of principle, that guarantee fund expenditure should be reservedfor measures that are of direct relevance to agricultural production. Thiswould not include, for example, the restructuring of rural villages," saida COPA representative.
COPA has long insisted that the structural adjustment of the EU's ruralareas can only be successfully completed if extra funds, over and above theexisting agricultural guideline, are made available.
Officials within the Commission acknowledge that the proposal's failure tosend out a signal of support to young farmers is also likely to attractstrong criticism. Despite repeated calls for an increase in the level ofassistance to first-time farmers faced with huge start-up costs, the draftframework regulation merely rolls over the existing aid arrangements.
More from ... Myles Neligan


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Juventus announce appeal set for FIGC points pe...
Southampton boss Pochettino calls on France to make Schneiderlin check
Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino says midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin deserves a France call-up.
Pochettino appears baffled by the decision and has tried to address the problem on behalf of his player ahead of this summer's World Cup.
He said: "Until the final list is given he has his chances.
"I would actually invite the France national manager to come and see him direct as I think he has the skill and the quality to play with the France side and hopefully that will happen. I would be very pleased for him if that did happen."


Chelsea footballer Petr Cech has uploaded another video of himself drumming along to a famous rock song.
Over the past few months, the Czech Republic goalkeeper has been adding clips to his YouTube channel, posting videos of himself covering the likes of the Foo Fighters and Coldplay. Now's he has taken on 'Anna Molly' by Incubus.
Having previously described Foo Fighters as his "favourite band", Cech said of this new cover: "People kept asking about the new drum cover , so i chose this Incubus song , because it is really fun to play and challenging for someone like me". Watch below.
It isn't the first time the goalkeeper has showcased his music skills, either. In 2013, Cech appeared on BBC's Football Focus jamming with Queen's Roger Taylor. He has also performed Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' live in concert.
Watch Cech covering Foo Fighters' 'Walk' and 'Clocks' by Coldplay here.
Meanwhile, Radiohead and Portishead members are set to play as Heads United in a charity football match.
Portishead musician Geoff Barrow has put a team together with Radiohead drummer Philip Selway called 'Heads United'. They've also set up a Just Giving page to raise money for the Mary Hare Foundation, a charity for deaf children.
The pair will represent their side at the Mary Hare Football & Food Festival in Newbury on April 25. Funds will go towards the Mary Hare School. Find out more information at the charity's official website.


Cupcakes has just released the 'Lovespell' skin a range of yummilicous and soft makeups and skin tones. The face on the 'Lovespell' is by far my favorite from this brand and in my opinion, the most beautiful.
hmmm No 3 is wow enough for me to comment…Wow !
Umm I loves yoous. I love your skin obsession and the sheer joy you get from shopping and sharing it with the world. However Ms. Gogo, why do your wonderful shapes not have demos at your store? Or am I just daft and can't find them?


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Sunlight in the night, and lives changed
Living off the power-grid has its debilitating side and Margaret Aoko and Dorothy Nabawesi know this only too well. They've lived it
23 Mar 2017 . 2,028 Views
After a day of sitting under the hot sun and haggling with customers over the prices of her goods, the math could not just add up for Margaret Aoko. For a start, she was certain that she had made more cash sales than the previous day, yet she had less money in her hands.
For the third time, she poured the crumpled notes and coins from her cash box onto the table to make sure her counting was right. And yet again, the money was less that what she expected.
Then it hit her. Could she have given out wrong amounts of change to some of her clients? Could she, in the pitch darkness of Kangemi, periodically lit up by matatu headlights, have handed over a Sh500 note instead of a Sh100 note? Could she have been given a one shilling coin instead of a Sh20 shilling coin?
That was the most plausible explanation and at that time she decided something had to give.
"A friend of mine had talked to me about M-KOPA Solar but I wasn't very interested. But after I started losing money in my business, I decided to call her up. Luckily, she found the time to tell me all about it and I can say, I have not regretted since." Margaret Aoko.
M-KOPA solar is a solar lighting and phone charging system consisting of a control box, solar panel, USB phone-charging cable, and three LED lights. The control box itself is a lightweight, hardcover book-sized gadget that has a strong rechargeable battery, a GPS cell modem, LCD status screen, and connection points for a 4-watt solar cell, LED lights, and a USB port. Each M-KOPA Solar device is set with a unique customer ID number that is used to add credit to the user's account.
The idea behind the innovation may be simple but it has helped Margaret solve different aspects of her life. For example, she can work for longer hours, independent from the sporadic and sometimes unreliable street lighting serving the market.
"Before I had M-KOPA solar, I would be in the middle of a transaction with a customer and then the lights would go off without warning. Now, I do not worry about any of that. I take my time with customers. I do not rush them around," she says.
Although it is the glue that holds her family together, her grocery store is not the only beneficiary to this. Her six children too have seen the benefit of having a well-lit home.
"Now they do not have to struggle through their homework and crowd around a kerosene lamp," she says. "Even the accidents that used to happen around the house have reduced."
Depending on kerosene for lighting had its own challenges. Every so often, one could knock over the lamp and kerosene would spill into some household essentials.
"You would come home and discover that the lamp fell over and landed in the maize flour. There would be no supper on that day," she says.
Plus, there is the little matter of the cost of paraffin.
"Today, I do not have to ask my children to walk around with cans or bottles to purchase kerosene. And after I complete my payments, this whole system will be mine and we will not have to spend any money on lighting. This is cheaper than paraffin or electricity." Margaret Aoko.
As darkness rests over Kangemi, Margaret can rest easy, knowing that she can at least play god once in while by lighting up and switching off the lights when she wants.
"Nowadays I can even sell up to 11pm," she says.
"All I can do is tell my fellow businesspeople to get with the program. The bulbs do not get spoilt, you save on paraffin costs, you have no electricity bill….after you finish with your payments it is yours. What more could they want," she says.
Late April, M-KOPA Solar, announced the 500,000th home connected to its pioneering solar home systems. Dorothy Nabawesi became M-KOPA's 500,000th customer when she purchased a M-KOPA 400 system at the M-KOPA Shop in Mukono, Uganda.
"I do't have the money to access electricity. For so long, the good things have been passing me by, like watching national and international news on TV. My grandchildren used to go to a neighbour's house to get information about the world. Now with M-KOPA, I have better lighting for them to read, plus extra power to charge my phone, listen to the radio and watch TV," Ms Nabawesi says.
The company's larger solar system that includes a digital TV has been available in Kenya since 2016 and is now also being rolled out in Uganda and Tanzania.
Customers can purchase a M-KOPA Solar TV either by acquiring a M-KOPA 400 system, or by extending their $0.50 a day M-KOPA solar home system payment plan and upgrading for more power and a solar TV.
Jesse Moore, CEO and Co-Founder, M-KOPA, says, "We've reached this point thanks to high quality products, a relentless commitment to customer service and a conscientious approach to pricing and credit."
By Safaricom Newsroom
The disease drowning in sweet myths
Community . 773 Views
What it takes to keep your phone ringing
100 per cent human at work is how to win tomorrow


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Q: No back button when pushed to UISplitViewController I'm having trouble understanding why there is no Back button being displayed in my iOS application.
I have a WorkOrder storyboard that I'm doing a "Show (eg. Push") segue to from another storyboard. The entirety of WorkOrder.storyboard is seen below:

I want to have a "Back" button be present in the master panel so I can unwind back to the previous storyboard. How do I go about this?
Thank you in advance!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Great leading lines and clarity. It makes me want to go there NOW! l/f.
What a lovely place to have and to behold! I love the angle, perspective and composition, Fabulous take, Jenny! And I like your name and bio!
Colette, thank you very much to feature this image in the group Colors Blue Turquoise Photography and Paints!
Wow, this is such a beautiful image! The time you spent in the Maldives must have been very inspirational.
Thank you very much, Debra and Dave!
Yes, it looks like heaven. Glad you got to be there!
Glad you like it, Kellice!
Annie, thanks a lot for the feature in the group Visual Voice!
Thank you very much. Colette!
Yes ! This must be Heaven ! Such beauty ! Stunning capture, Jenny ! f,v Wish you a wonderful week ahead.
One of the most luxury resorts in Maldives Coco Palm Bodu Hithi inviting you with the natural treasure of the crystal clear water.


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Richard C. Francis
Why Men Won't Ask for Directions: The Seductions of Sociobiology
Princeton University Press, November 2005. Trade Paperback. Much of the evolutionary biology that has grabbed headlines in recent years has sprung from the efforts of sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists to explain sexual features and behavior--even differences between how men and women think--as evolutionary adaptations. They have looked to the forces.....
Prisoner of Sex
Weidenfeld adn Nicolson, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. 240 pages. First British edition (first printing). Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
The Prisoner of Sex
Little, Brown and Company, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. 240 pages. Mailer's take on womanhood and the role of women in society. First edition (first printing). Near fine in a corner-clipped dust jacket, with printed price unclipped on the lower intact corner. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper.....
Primus / Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1985. First Edition Thus. Trade Paperback. 240 pages. First published in 1971; this edition with an introduction by Pete Hamill. First edition thus. A fine copy in wrappers (paperback). As new. Here, by America's foremost candidate for the Nobel Prize, is the book that.....
Susan Faludi
Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man
Harper Perennial, October 2000. Trade Paperback. This 20th-anniversary edition of the extraordinary New York Times bestseller features a new introduction from the author! Stiffed is a brilliant, important book.. Faludi's reportorial and literary skills unfold with breathtaking confidence and beauty... She goes a long way toward eliminating the black and.....
Iron John: A Book About Men
Vintage, February 1992. Trade Paperback.
The Descent of Man
Penguin Books, May 2017. Trade Paperback. What does it mean to be male in the 21st Century? Award-winning artist Grayson Perry explores what masculinity is: from sex to power, from fashion to career prospects, and what it could become--with illustrations throughout. In this witty and necessary new book, artist Grayson.....
Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness
Thomas Nelson, March 2015. Trade Paperback. In Seven Men, New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known--but not well understood--Christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel. Written in a......
Robert A. Johnson
He: Understanding Masculine Psychology (Perennial Library)
Harper Paperbacks, October 1989. Trade Paperback. "Entertaining, informative, thought-provoking, mysterious, poetic. Men who read it will surely learn much about themselves, and women--particularly those who are unfortunately misled into thinking of men as "the enemy"--will find it a real eye-opener."--Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse, M.D., Th.M., Harvard University Robert A. Johnson's classic.....
Townsend, Nicholas W.
Package Deal: Marriage, Work and Fatherhood in Men's Lives
Temple University Press, 2002. Trade Paperback. Very good in wrappers (paperback). Clean inside. No highlighting or underlining. This work explores what men say about being fathers, and about what fatherhood means to them. Drawing on the lives of a group of men in their late forties, Townsend depicts these men.....
Peter Matthiessen
Men's Lives
Vintage, January 1988. Trade Paperback.
Kenny, Klein
The Flowering Rod: Men, Sex and Spirituality
Delphi Press, March 1993. Trade Paperback.


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World Cup Tennis Golf Motorsport Football US Sports Olympics Climbing Esports Hockey
Trae Young's second half blitz steers Hawks into NBA playoffs
By Jack Bantock, CNN
Published 7:05 AM EDT, Sat April 16, 2022
Trae Young reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rick Osentoski/Getty Images
An explosive second-half performance from Trae Young steered the Atlanta Hawks past the Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-101, and into the NBA playoffs on Friday.
Having blown away the Charlotte Hornets in their first play-in game on Wednesday, the Hawks' victory over the Cavaliers saw them clinch the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and punch their ticket to face the top-seeded Miami Heat on Sunday.
With six points in the first half, Young's slow start reflected that of his team, who trailed 61-51 at the halfway mark.
Jeered from the outset by a raucous Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd, Young had the last laugh and then some after exploding for 32 points in the second half, his game-high 38-point haul complemented by nine assists and three rebounds.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 points from the bench, while Lauri Markkanen led scoring for the Cavaliers with 26.
Young shoots during the game.
Jeff Haynes/NBAE/Getty Images
Only the second player in NBA history to lead the league in total regular season points and assists, as well as setting a new franchise record for 233 three-pointers, Young's play-in heroics continue a stellar year for the 23-year-old.
It is perhaps no wonder then that he has attained public enemy number one status on a number of road trips, but Young seems more than happy to play the villain.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 01: LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a break in the action in the first half of the basketball game at Crypto.com Arena on April 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers: Questionable trades, injuries and a falling star ... what went wrong with NBA team
At the end of the game, Young turned and waved to the Cleveland home crowd, before later tweeting a picture of the moment with the caption "Let. Em. Know."
Asked about the hostile reception he received, Young smiled. "That's OK, you see what jersey I got on," he told NBA TV Live, lifting up his number 11 jersey.
"They tried a lot of the F-U chants too … I think they yelled them a little bit too early," Young added.
Confidence is key
Though unhappy with how he started the game, Young admitted he relishes situations where his back is against the wall.
"It's the imagination as a kid that comes out of me," Young said. "It's those moments that you dream of when the clock's running down as a kid when you're in the gym.
"In pressure moments, in big time games like this, you're ready for them."
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) is restrained by P.J. Washington (25) and others as he argues with an official after being charged with a foul during the second half of the team's NBA play-in basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Atlanta. Bridges was ejected. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
John Bazemore/AP
Miles Bridges: NBA star apologizes for hitting young fan with mouthguard
Hawks coach Nate McMillan agreed, citing Young's confidence as the key to his second-half flourish.
"Trae has a great deal of confidence in his game, his ability and he continued to believe," McMillan told reporters.
"I didn't see any panic in his play. He came out in the second half, remained aggressive. Those shots started to fall, the same shots that he was taking the first half, they started to fall in the second half," he added.
In the other deciding play-in game, the New Orleans Pelicans triumphed 105-101 over the Los Angeles Clippers to clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Brandon Ingram dunks against the Clippers.
Harry How/Getty Images
Brandon Ingram scored a game-high 30 points to help book the Pelicans' spot, their victory rewarded with a daunting match-up against the league's best regular season team, the Phoenix Suns.


CADE signed a Cease and Desist Agreement with Ambev in a proceeding assessing an alleged infringement to competition stemming from sales exclusivity practices and from the company's refrigeration policies.
Fines imposed sum approximately BRL 65.7 million.
The fines amount totalize BRL 1.4 million.


Home|Air Conditioning|What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Variable-Speed Air Handler?
To really take advantage of rapidly advancing HVAC technology, make sure your next central cooling or heating upgrade includes a variable-speed air handler. Variable-speed and multi-stage technology allow for adaptable modes of operation in central forced-air heating and cooling systems.
What Is a Variable-Speed Air Handler?
The air handler, or blower, is the HVAC component that circulates conditioned air in the home, then draws it back into the equipment to be heated or cooled again. Standard air handler or blower motors operate in two modes: off and 100 percent. In cold weather climates, the furnace blower often doubles as the A/C air handler. These systems are often oversized, resulting in frequently running through on-and-off cycles.
A variable-speed air handler can adjust its running speed to match home temperature needs at any given time. It will ramp up to full operation long enough to cool or heat the house to the thermostat setting, then settle into a continuous, low-speed operation. This type of air handler doesn't short cycle, which has a number of benefits to both energy efficiency and home comfort.
Energy efficiency: Continuous, low-speed operation by a variable-speed air handler uses less energy than a standard air handler motor with its frequent on-and-off cycles. More energy is expended during start-up, which means a system with more stops and starts will use more power. In addition, variable-speed blower motors are engineered to use less energy during regular operation.
Improved comfort: The continuous, low-speed operation of a variable-speed system provides better air circulation in a home with fewer cold or hot spots.
Not as loud: Variable-speed operation, which hums at a low speed in the background, is much quieter than a standard air handler with its loud stops and starts. Reduced noise is something most homeowners appreciate.
Superior air filtration and dehumidification: A system that's circulating the air constantly, even at a lower speed, will have many more opportunities to filter and dehumidify the air.
To discuss upgrading to a new cooling or heating system with a variable-speed air handler, contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We provide quality services to communities in Northwest Arkansas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about variable-speed air handlers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.


The ozone layer is a layer of ozone high up in the Earth's atmosphere stratosphere. In the region between about 10 kilometres and about 50 kilometres above ground, the atmosphere contains more ozone (O3). The exact amount of ozone that can be found varies, the seasons influence it; it is also different in different places on the Earth.
This layer can absorb between 93 and 99 per cent of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun.  This radiation is dangerous to many living organisms on Earth.
Over the last hundred years the ozone layer has been damaged by man-made chemicals, especially ones called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). CFCs were used for various purposes. They have been replaced by other substances for most applications. These CFCs are broken down in the upper atmosphere where they react with the ozone. This causes ozone depletion.
The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson. Its properties were explored in detail by the British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson, who developed a simple spectrophotometer, the Dobsonmeter. This tool could be used to measure the ozone levels found in the stratosphere from the ground. Between 1928 and 1958 Dobson established a worldwide network of ozone monitoring stations. Most of these stations are still in use today. The "Dobson unit", a convenient measure of the total amount of ozone in a column overhead, is named in his honor.
This GALEX image of the Cygnus Loop Nebula could not have been taken from the surface of the Earth because the Ozone Layer blocks the ultra-violet radiation emitted by the nebula.
Ozone layer Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.


If you have recently begun the divorce process or if you are thinking about filing for divorce soon, you are probably worried about a few of the long-term effects the divorce will have on your life. One of these might be the thought of not seeing your children every day after your divorce.
Another might be having to move out of your current home and into a new house or apartment, adjusting to life as a single person after years of living with your partner. Another worry you might have, but also might not have yet considered, is how your credit will be affected by the divorce. A divorce can sometimes be expensive. It is not uncommon for individuals working through the divorce process to rack up substantial amounts of debt and find themselves considering bankruptcy after their divorces are finalized.
This does not have to happen to you. Actively plan to protect your credit before you file for divorce and speak with your lawyer about ways you can cut down the costs of divorce and stick to your budget strategy.
Before you file for divorce, you can open a new credit card account in your name only. This way, your partner cannot make purchases with your credit card and potentially leave you with the bill.
Work with your spouse to pay off all your current debts before you file for divorce. When your assets are divided, your debts will be divided too. It is often easier to wipe out or reduce these debts beforehand, rather than having to face them later when you are also facing lawyer fees and other expenses related to your divorce, like the increased cost of childcare and the cost of moving.
Before you file for divorce, create a budget that utilizes less money than you earn each month. Unexpected expenses can and likely will crop up during the divorce process, such as an hourly fee for a child custody evaluator, and expenses like this can take a toll on your budget. It is best to live below your means until your divorce is finalized so you can easily absorb these expenses.
Take inventory of all of your financial accounts. If you can, consolidate them to make it easier for you to keep track of them. If your spouse is an authorized user on any of your accounts, you can potentially remove him or her to avoid any surprise charges. Know how much money is in each account and how much is owed for each debt and keep this information in an easily-accessible file. You will need to access and share this information multiple times during the divorce process.
Taking the steps above should set you on a path to continue building positive credit after your divorce is finalized. Always make your future stability your top priority when making purchasing decisions while your divorce is pending and use credit cards as a tool to build credit, rather than a strategy to delay paying for your purchases.
Continue paying all of your bills during the divorce process and communicate with your partner about making the payments. If he or she is not cooperative about continuing to pay the bills, now is not the time to stoop to his or her level and refuse to make the payments. Becoming delinquent on your household bills, such as your mortgage payment and your utility bills, will only hurt your future credit score. Make all payments when they are due and document each payment you make in case you face any discrepancies with your spouse or with your creditor.
If you are considering filing for divorce, contact an experienced Rolling Meadows divorce lawyer who can help you make choices that will make it easy for you to transition to life after the divorce. During the divorce process, you may feel pressures outside of those directly associated with the divorce, such as the pressure to keep yourself on a budget and the pressure to continue to be a strong parental figure for your children. Speak with Donald J. Cosley of Cosley Law Office to learn more about all aspects of the divorce process. Contact our firm today to set up your initial consultation.


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HomeArticlesBosch G Series Access Control Panel
Bosch G Series Access Control Panel
Bosch will release its G Series intrusion and access control panel in Australia in the first half of next year. It's a big step for the company – this is the first access control solution with distributed architecture the company has released.
BOSCH has been circling access control for a number of years. But after releasing the excellent Solution 6000 at Security 2012 in Sydney there was a growing demand from its installer base that the company develop a fully distributed access control solution. Distributed architecture is the key with access control system because it puts control at the door so there's no downside to LAN failure.
Initially, it was planned that a control panel would be developed in Australia and would combine intrusion detection and access control capabilities in the way Aussie installers favour. But recently it was decided to bring in a product developed in the United States specifically to combine these and other functions – Bosch's G Series panel.
According to James Layton, Bosch Security Systems has wanted to push into integrated access control in Australia for a long time but the nature of local solutions didn't make that easy.
"This country is unique in having systems like Concept and Challenger that offer access control and intrusion detection in a single controller," says Layton. "In most countries, those things are separate. The Solution 6000 targets this area with 144 alarm inputs and 16 doors but it's a compact solution comparatively speaking.
"Systems like this have a different architecture from true integrated access control, which has controllers at the door, not been driven from a centrally located panel the way an alarm system typically is. With integrated access control, you need scalability as well as the robustness to handle LAN interruptions.
"What we are doing is leveraging products we already have overseas – we have just released what we call our G Series panels, which feature integrated intrusion, fire, access, IP video, home automation and mobile support. The flagship is the G9512, which scales to 600 inputs, 32 doors, 32 keypads and 2000 users. It's still compact but is considerably larger than the Solution 6000, so it gives us more penetration into that access market."
James Layton, Bosch Security Systems
The G9512's distributed B901 Access Control Module provides a direct interface to 26-bit Wiegand card readers, offering 14 programmable levels of access authority. Authority for access can be controlled by the user level, the group of the user, the time of day, the door state, and the area armed state. It's also possible to create up to 32 custom functions where a single action or presentation of access credentials can initiate multiple system functions. This means easy arming for overtime work, holidays, meetings after hours, and more.
Increasing flexibility considerably, installers can add the Z-Wave Home Control Gateway to connect the G Series Control Panel with a wide variety or Z-Wave wireless devices. These include lighting controls, door locks, temperature sensors, IP cameras and hundreds more – to provide automation and remote monitoring capabilities.
But the really big deal for Layton, and for Bosch, is the G Series panel's topology.
"The G9512 will be the first access control panel Bosch has released with field intelligence and that's a big step forward," says Layton. "We are very positive about their success – these G Series products are successful in other countries and we see this as another step in the process of becoming a serious player in the integrated access control market.
"Obviously, not every application needs thousands of alarm inputs and hundreds of doors but even smaller systems need field intelligence to ensure operation of doors in the event of LAN failure – that's what Bosch G Series is about. It gives us a solution that meets probably the most fundamental requirement of access control – distributed intelligence.
"It's new for us but it uses a lot of common components with the Solution 2000/3000 – things like expanders, comms modules – it's the same the architecture – which is actually the architecture of the American B Series panels. The new G Series simply takes that to a higher level. For instance, something else G Series has is high level video integration with Bosch cameras – including functions like IVA."
The functionality means G Series panels can utilize and directly control up to 16 Bosch cameras via the IP network, and support up to 8 video analytics alarm inputs per camera. This augments the panel's input capabilities with intelligent video analytics functions such as motion detection, line crossing, and idle object. In addition, panel output conditions and events can trigger camera actions such as moving camera pre-sets or recording settings, and initiate the transmission of video snapshots via email.
"The management system for the G Series is a piece of Bosch software called Remote Programming Software, which is very similar to SolutionLink. It has the same sort of functionality but it's the same software for both installer and end user," explains Layton.
"The G Series of panels is designed to be programmed with the software and there are features you can only program with the software. This won't be an issue for installers who are happy working on a computer but for those who prefer keypad programming it will be a handful. There are programming keys, so you can do setup at home and download it to the panel in the field."
Bosch's free Remote Security Control app allows users to operate the system from an iOS or Android device. They can arm or disarm individual areas, check system status and control monitored points or doors using the Internet or a local wireless network. They can also view live video from Bosch IP cameras integrated with the panel and get a notification email or text message whenever an event occurs.
The G Series can also be integrated with the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS), providing up to 20 panel connections per BVMS server. Panel status and events can be displayed on a graphical map. The panel can trigger BVMS events and be armed or disarmed through BVMS. G Series also interfaces with BIS, the latter of which could also be used to manage access control by end users of this panel as well.
"The first step is compliance, then we'll get our distributors in, train them up and make sure they are comfortable with where this solution fits in the market," explains Layton. "We'll have trials in Q1 – the product is already built and ready to go so there should not be any significant delay. And there's certainly been plenty of interest from our installer base.
"Moving forward the 2000/3000 will be our residential and light commercial, integrated access control will come from the Solution 6000 and then the high end G9512 will offer intrusion, access control, distributed intelligence and integration with video surveillance." ♦
By John Adams
BGWT Opens New Queensland Branch
BGW Technologies Appoints Mark Shannon as Senior Product Manager


The Notorious Conor McGregor has been in high spirits as of late, celebrating St. Patrick's day weekend and also taking some time to promote his Whiskey, Proper 12.
It was his 30 minute discussion in Chicago however, which has got fans yearning for the former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champions return.
The video which can be seen below, was taken by BJPenn.com's Mike Pendleton.
Wanting shares of the UFC company is something McGregor has been hinting to since his historic victory at UFC 205, but has been subsequently shot down numerous times by Dana White.
It is a breath of fresh air for fans of McGregor, as he seems to be continually showing a desire and determination to get back in the octagon and get fighting as soon as possible. It was rumoured that a fight between McGregor and Cowboy Cerrone was set to take place but again, talks seem to have gone stale for the two. We may be getting treated however to the trilogy we all want to see concluded.. McGregor vs Diaz.
Diaz recently took to Twitter stating he wasn't going to be cutting any more weight and would fight at 185lbs, which was oddly met by McGregor responding to Nate's tweet, seemingly verbally agreeing to a bout at 185lbs.


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Hockey is back: Here are 7 big questions facing the NJ Devils this season
Sean Farrell
Dust off the cobwebs around Prudential Center. Hockey is back in New Jersey, at last.
After 10 months on the sideline, the Devils finally return this week to start the Lindy Ruff Era. The team he inherits is young and unproven after a roster overhaul that sent veterans packing. The Devils are no longer the trendy sleeper pick but one at the start of a rebuild.
As the Devils prepare for puck drop on Thursday, let's explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the team this season.
1. Can the Devils stay competitive in the East Division?
Before last season, expectations soared when the Devils added Jack Hughes and P.K. Subban in the span of 24 hours.
Since then, the perception around the team has taken a 180. The honeymoon ended after the Devils lost their first six games and sealed their fate as a midseason seller.
Now the Devils begin another rebuild in possibly the league's toughest division.
The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn projects that there's a 60 percent chance that the Devils finish in the bottom two of the East Division. Success will be measured in more than just wins and losses.
"I want to create hope," Ruff said. "The hope is that we have some unknowns. I can understand where that would come from on the outside. We have some young players that nobody has seen. There's an opportunity for these young players to step in and be difference-makers."
NJ DEVILS:How does Corey Crawford retirement impact the Devils' goalie ranks?
GM Tom Fitzgerald started to reshape the lineup in his first offseason on the job, but the core of the team hasn't changed. Nine of the top 10 total minute leaders are back, with the exception of former captain Andy Greene.
The hope is that a new coach will help the franchise centers unleash their potential.
2. Will Lindy Ruff be the right man for the job?
One reason that Ruff was on the Devils radar was for his work developing prospects, especially on the wing. That will be one of the most critical areas this year after trading Taylor Hall, Blake Coleman and Wayne Simmonds toward the end of last season.
It appears likely that the Devils will only ice two players over 30 on a given night. The bottom-six will be full of players on their entry-level deals at the start of the season.
"Lindy's personality is bright," Fitzgerald said. "He's light but will be firm. I just think he's approachable. I don't think there's any player – in particular any young player – who feels like they can't approach Lindy."
Ruff describes his style as up-tempo with discipline. He wants his defensemen to jump into the rush and become the "fourth man" while playing smart situational hockey. Part of his job is to rekindle an offense that ranked 24th last season.
"I think we'll catch teams by surprise by how quick we are, and the system plays to that," Miles Wood said. "I don't think a single team in the National Hockey League has ever played the system that we play."
3. How will the Devils divide the starts in net?
It's clear that the Devils don't have the most talent on paper, so the idea was to make up for it with a solid tandem in goal.
That plan took a hit on Saturday when veteran Corey Crawford announced his retirement. Crawford was brought in this offseason to share the net with Mackenzie Blackwood and serve as an insurance policy for the 24-year-old franchise goalie.
For now, it appears that Scott Wedgewood will take over as the Devils backup, based on his past experience and impressive performance in camp. Signing a free agent is another possibility, but there isn't much left on the market. Some of the top options include Jimmy Howard, Mike Condon or Scott Darling, per Capfriendly.
"It could mean Blackwood's workload could go up," Ruff said. "It might not be a situation of 1A and 1B."
4. Can Nico Hischier take the next step?
The development of the former No. 1 overall pick will be one of the most important storylines of the season. For now, the big question is when the Swiss center will join his teammates on the ice.
Hischier missed the first week of training camp due to a minor injury suffered in early December. The Devils' center said it happened when he was practicing on the ice and someone fell on his foot.
"I can tell you he's progressing," Ruff said on Saturday. "We think he's moving right along. He's not skating yet but hopefully in the near future he will."
Losing Hischier for any amount of time would be hard to overcome in a condensed season.
Despite finishing with only 36 points last year, Hischier increased his points per 60 and held his own without Taylor Hall on the wing. At five-on-five, Hischier actually had more possession without Hall (49 percent of Corsi compared to 46 percent with Hall), as well as a higher rate of the expected goals.
Hischier will need to take his game to another level for the Devils to claim one of the four playoff spots in their division.
"I didn't need surgery so I'm trying to stay positive and do what I can to be ready for Game 1," Hischier said.
5. What's in store for Jack Hughes 2.0?
If Hischier isn't ready to go, Hughes is primed to take over as the No. 1 center.
The buzz around training camp has been on how much bigger and stronger Hughes looks after putting on "14 pounds of pure muscle" this offseason.
NJ DEVILS:Why Devils center Jack Hughes expects to have a breakout season in 2021
Hughes is bound to improve after scoring 21 points in 61 games as a rookie and shooting just 5.7 percent.
"My game has developed," Hughes said. "I was 18 last year. I was young. I'm still young. I'm 19. But I've played a year in the league already and I've seen some things and I knew what I needed to work on this summer. Heading into this year, I'm really confident and excited to get going."
6. When will Jesper Bratt return to the team?
The Devils ended a long contract stalemate on Sunday, signing Bratt to a two-year deal with an annual average value of $2.75 million.
That, however, is only the first step in getting Bratt on the ice.
Since Bratt is in Sweden, he'll need to acquire a work visa and quarantine for at least seven days once he gets to New Jersey. Bratt will also need four negative COVID-19 tests before reporting to the team.
7. Can P.K. Subban bounce back after a frustrating season?
Subban went back to the drawing board after scoring a career-low 18 points in his first season with the Devils. The former Norris Trophy winner has about 100 DVDs of his old games and flipped them on for some self-reflection.
"The one thing that I can tell you is that in a lot of those years when I was playing, you could see that I was just having fun," Subban said. "Everybody has their approach to the game. Mine has always been about passion and energy and fun. That's all I want to bring to the game."
Last season wasn't quite as much fun. The Devils finished last in their division and Subban found himself out of the playoffs for only the second time in eight years.
Subban gave an honest assessment of himself at Media Day, saying that in some ways he failed at making his teammates better.
"The one area where I know I never fail is being a good teammate and being one of the hardest working guys and setting an example from my approach to the game and my professionalism," Subban said.
Sean Farrell is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app
Email: farrells@northjersey.com
Twitter: @seanfarrell92


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FOUNDATION: 1911
In 1983 IBM (International Business Machines) approached Sierra with regard to their latest computer, the IBM PC Junior. They asked a cash-strapped Sierra to build a game that would display their latest computer's capabilities upon release in 1984. That game became King's Quest, Sierra's first 3D Animated adventure game, introducing Sierra's AGI engine. While the PC Junior itself was short-lived, King's Quest went on to save Sierra from imminent bankruptcy following the video game crash, thanks to the easy portability to other platforms and success of the game.
King's Quest was originally released in a grey plastic IBM case. However it was not the only Sierra game published by IBM. Sierra also ported Hi-Res Adventure #2: Wizard and the Princess, originally released in 1980 for the Apple II, as well as lesser-known arcade games, such as Crossfire and Creepy Corridors (which it renamed to Mineshaft).


Daniel Craig on Vanity Fair's November 2012 cover. (Click to enlarge)., Photo by Annie Leibovitz.
Get the November issue featuring Daniel Craig while it's still on newsstands.
Daniel Craig., Photo by Annie Leibovitz.
Behind-the-scenes at Craig's photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz.


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No Charges for Driver Who Killed Dorothy Heimann, 90, in Whitestone
The Whitestone intersection where a turning driver mortally injured 90-year-old Dorothy Heimann. Image: Google Maps
NYPD and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown filed no charges against a driver who hit a 90-year-old woman last month, causing fatal injuries.
The victim was struck in the 109th Precinct, which made news last year for initiating a crackdown on walking in response to a series of pedestrian deaths at the hands of motorists.
Dorothy Heimann was crossing Clintonville Street at around 9:50 a.m. on February 7 when the driver hit her with a Jeep SUV while turning left from 17th Avenue, according to NYPD and accounts published by Gothamist and Ridgewood Times.
Clintonville Street at 17th Avenue, in Whitestone, is a signalized intersection of two-way residential streets. There is no exclusive turn signal, according to Google Maps photos, so if the driver had a green light, it's likely Heimann would have been crossing with the right of way.
Heimann, who lived in Whitestone, suffered head trauma. She died on March 4.
The Right of Way Law gives police and prosecutors a tool to hold drivers accountable for harming pedestrians and cyclists who are following traffic rules, but NYPD and city DAs rarely use it. As is usually the case when law enforcers don't file charges for a serious crash, NYPD withheld the name of the motorist.
Gothamist reported that the driver fled the scene, but the NYPD spokesperson I talked with said she saw no indication that the crash was a hit and run.
DOT crash data show that in 2015 three motor vehicle occupants were hurt in crashes at Clintonville Street at 17th Avenue and at 17th Avenue at 154th Street, which intersect a few yards to the east. Injuries to people in cars are a good indicator of collisions at high speeds. Two schools, a church, and a playground flank 17th Avenue where the 2015 crashes and the one that killed Heimann occurred.
Local cops in the 109th Precinct ticketed 867 drivers for failing to yield and 738 drivers for speeding last year, according to NYPD summons data.
This fatal collision occurred in the City Council district represented by Paul Vallone. To encourage Vallone to take action to improve street safety in his district and citywide, contact him at his office or on Twitter.
Filed Under: Carnage, District Attorneys, NYPD, Queens, Richard Brown, Seniors, Traffic Justice
Critical critic
The legal murder continues.
Is this one of those cases where the pedestrian entered the crosswalk after the flashing hand began, thus absolving the driver of the murder? They really need to change that rule.
Whatever works.
Emmily_Litella
Certain motorists are accustomed to bullying peds to stop or walk faster. They fail to see that its an old person that may not see them, let alone be able to react in the desired way. Drivers through out the north east think its normal to bully pedestrians this way as they have gone their entire lives without a cop so much as telling them they can't do that. Real change is only possible when Vision Zero translates into real, not token boosts in enforcement.
Sounds like a case of "They both had the right-of-way." Amirite?
Andres Dee
I was going to toss in some sarcasm, but we have a tragic death. Condolences to the Heimann family.
ganghiscon
Of course, if a cyclist did this, we'd know his name and face, plus how much his bike cost. And the Post would follow him around for a day. Did they even mention this incident in the Post? I know, stupid question…
Justice system: "Meh. Dorothy had a nice, long life. She was almost certainly going to die in the next ten years anyway. This poor, reckless driver on the other hand…"
next question – Will DOT install a split phase to prevent the same in the future. split phases can reduce crashes at left turns on two way streets by 77%. It is time the DOT get on with installing them .
Jonathan R
This is a tragedy, and my condolences to Ms. Heimann's family.
I used to go through this intersection twice daily on my commute. It's not so obvious from the photos, but Clintonville crosses on the bias so left-hand turns off of 17th St are less than 90 degrees. Perhaps the killer driver was going too fast to make the tighter-than-normal turn and lost control of the vehicle.
Do alternate-geometry intersections like this one suffer crashes at a greater rate than expected?
neroden
Who's running for DA against "Accessory-After-The-Fact to Manslaughter" Richard Brown?
NYC Drivers Injured 1,191 Pedestrians and Cyclists, and Killed 13, in February
Eighteen people died in New York City traffic in February, and 3,770 were injured, according to Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero View crash data map. As of the end of February, the city reported 26 pedestrians and cyclists killed by city motorists this year, and 2,277 injured, compared to 21 deaths and 1,896 injuries for the same […]
Seniors Are Not to Blame for NYC's Failure to Make Streets Safer
By Brad Aaron	| Sep 21, 2015
In response to motorists fatally striking seniors in the Brooklyn South command, NYPD admonished seniors to be more careful when going outside. A recent fatality in the 70th Precinct is a prime example of how focusing on the behavior of victims is a wrongheaded and ineffective approach to street safety. One of the victims cited in last week's DNAinfo […]
Drivers Killed Two Seniors in Manhattan and NYPD Filed No Charges
Drivers fatally struck two seniors in separate crashes in Manhattan in the last few weeks. NYPD filed no charges in either case. On August 23 at around 3:50 p.m., 85-year-old George Mamalas was crossing W. 93rd Street at West End Avenue when someone hit him with a box truck. NYPD told the West Side Rag […]
NYPD: No Charges After Bus Driver Kills Woman Crossing Queens Street With the Right of Way
Police indicated the victim was crossing the street lawfully but filed no charges under the city's Right of Way Law.
NYPD: No Charges for Driver Who Killed Senior Walking With Right of Way in Woodside
By Brad Aaron	| Feb 21, 2018
The collision occurred at an intersection where DOT allows people to park their cars to the edge of crosswalks, which hinders visibility and safety.
No Right of Way Charge for Driver Who Killed Toddler in Bronx Crosswalk
By Brad Aaron	| May 17, 2016
Update: Darcel Clark's office sent us this statement: "Our office is investigating the incident with the NYPD Accident Investigation Squad, as we do with any fatality or serious injury when a pedestrian is struck." NYPD and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark have not charged the driver who struck and killed 3-year-old Mariam Dansoko in a […]


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Home Web Specials What will it take to address poverty in Malaysia?
What will it take to address poverty in Malaysia?
Photograph: Choo Choy May/Malay Mail
The truth about poverty in Malaysia is somewhat more complicated and has a lot to do with the way that the country is articulated into the global economy, says Jeyakumar Devaraj.
According to government statistics, poverty is virtually non-existent in Malaysia—the Barisan Nasional (BN) government pegged its incidence at 0.6% of the population in 2014.
But this was because the poverty line was fixed at ridiculously low levels then. It is still unrealistic now: RM920 per month for a family of two adults and three children works out to a per capita income of US$1.60 per day.
A more realistic poverty line would be a household income of RM3,000 per month, which would be about 50% of the current median household income. Around 25% of Malaysian households are below this income level.
There are many who are perplexed by the persistence of poverty in Malaysia. The Malaysian economy has been growing healthily over the past 50 years, from a GDP of RM10.3bn in 1970 to RM1.45tn in 2018.
The economy has diversified from agricultural-commodity production to manufacturing, which contributed 23% of GDP and employed 17.9% of the work force in 2015, compared to 8.8% and 11.7%, respectively, for the agricultural sector. Moreover, Malaysia is a significant petroleum and natural gas exporter, accounting for 13% of total exports in 2018.
Per capita income in real terms (after taking into account inflation) has increased ten-fold between 1970 and 2018.[1]
Moreover the BN government committed substantial resources for affirmative action to uplift the lot of the bumiputera population (Malays and the indigenous peoples of the peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak) since the institution of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in the 1970s.
Why, then, is there still poverty in Malaysia? And why does the bumiputera community still make up some 80% of the bottom 40% of the population (B40) when they only constitute about 65% of the population?
There are some who blame laziness—that the bumiputera population has been spoilt by too much pampering, such that they are unable to stand on their own feet and are always expecting handouts.
But the truth is somewhat more complicated and has a lot to do with the way that Malaysia is articulated into the global economy. Let's examine the main aspects.
Depressed prices for agricultural commodities
There are around 172,000 paddy farmers, 375,000 rubber smallholders, 275,000 oil-palm smallholders and much lower numbers of coconut, cocoa and pepper smallholders in Malaysia. Over 85% of them work on plots of less than five acres.
They are all affected by the prices of their commodity on the world market, which is characterised by a marked imbalance in "market power". A small number of buyers with deep pockets and accumulated stockpiles face off against millions of poor small farmers spread out over several countries.
This inequality in market power has led to depressed commodity prices ever since the nations in Asia and Africa gained independence. This problem isn't uniquely Malaysian—it affects millions of farmers in other third world countries, as well, who have been and are still being "short-changed" by the international system of trade!
This problem of over-supply of commodities has been recognised by third world countries, which have made efforts to correct it by limiting production. For example, in 2001, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand formed the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC),[2] through which they have attempted to stabilise the price of rubber on the world market.
But they have not been very successful, for unlike a commodity like petroleum, which requires high initial investments and therefore has a small number of big producers, agricultural commodities require much smaller investments, and there are millions of poor peasants throughout Asia and Africa who desperately need money.
Any success in restricting supply will tend to push up the price of that commodity and that encourages farmers in more countries to plant that crop. So efforts to restrict the supply of agricultural commodities in the world market have not succeeded.[3]
One strategy developing countries use is going "downstream", to process the commodity before exporting it. Malaysia has done some of that – we are now the largest producer of surgical gloves in the world. We also manufacture tyres and a host of palm oil products such as cooking oil, soap and margarine, and that adds to our GDP.
READ MORE: Politics shouldn't obstruct food aid and compassion
However this strategy of expanding into downstream manufacturing does not do much for the commodity price or for smallholders' income.
A low-wage economy
Factories employ 18% of the Malaysian workforce. However, the vast majority of factory workers take home less than RM1,500 per month.
This is because Malaysia's industrialisation strategy has been to offer low costs of production.
The Malaysian government set up free trade zones to attract multinationals looking for places to outsource some portions of their production chain.
In addition to tax-free status for these zones, Malaysia also provides electricity at cheap rates as well as low-waged labour.
The fact that the Malaysian government has taken a strong stand against trade union activism also enhanced Malaysia's standing in the eyes of foreign investors.
This strategy has succeeded: Malaysia is now the world's largest exporter of electronic components.
But the downside of this industrialisation strategy is that Malaysia is now locked into global chains of production that use the threat of transferring production to another third world country as a potent weapon to keep costs of production, and especially wages, low.
This was the argument presented at a Malaysian National Wage Council meeting in mid-2018 that was convened to discuss setting a new minimum wage level. The unions and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) [of which the author is a member—Ed.] argued for an increase from RM1,000 to RM1,500 per month.
The employers' federation argued that they needed to keep costs down or they would lose competitiveness. They asked that the increase be only to RM1,050.
In September 2018, the government announced a national minimum monthly wage of RM1,050 as of 2019, but after workers gathered outside Parliament to protest, the government raised it to RM1,100.
The fear of not being able to attract new foreign direct investment or of losing existing foreign investors to Thailand or to Vietnam, where wages are lower, has a significant impact on the minimum wage rate the government sets.
The Asean Trade in Goods Agreement also dampens efforts to raise the minimum wage. At present there are hardly any tariffs on the import of goods from other Asean countries.[4]
This means that Malaysian manufacturers of consumer items – clothes, shoes, toiletries and similar items – have to contend with imports of the same products from Vietnam and Thailand.
Too drastic a hike in the wage rate would make it difficult for our local factories to maintain market share. As the employers' federation warned, workers may get a higher minimum wage – but many would lose their jobs.
Fiscal constraints to expanding the safety net
An effective modality of sharing the wealth of the nation is by subsidising essential services and instituting cash transfers to sectors in need. Malaysia has already gone some way down that road, as the 2019 federal budget suggests:
Education is practically free from primary to secondary level. The fees charged are minimal—between RM100 and RM200 per year. Most primary school children are supplied with free textbooks. Parents only need to cover the cost of school clothes, transport and canteen meals. The Ministry of Education was allocated RM60.2bn in the 2019 budget, 19.1% of the total.
The Ministry of Health, which has a budget of RM29bn (9.2% of the total) maintains 2,860 health clinics, distributed throughout the nation, as well 141 hospitals. In 2017, there were a total of 2.37 million admissions to government hospitals, compared to 1.05 million admissions to private hospitals.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, with a budget of RM2.4bn, gives financial aid to some single mothers, old persons without family support and severely incapacitated individuals. The quantum is not much—usually less than RM400 per month—but still does provide significant relief for the families that receive this help.
The Ministry of Agriculture (2019 budget: RM4.4bn) has several programmes targeting paddy farmers. The paddy-production incentive scheme pays out an additional 75 cents per kilogram of paddy that the farmer sells to the mill, thereby doubling his earnings. (RM281m has been allocated for this scheme for 2019.) Fertilisers and pesticides are provided free to paddy farmers (with a budget allocation of RM232m). The previous government gave around 70,000 traditional fishermen a monthly stipend of RM300.
The Ministry of Rural Development (2019 budget: RM8.4bn) provides infrastructure for the rural population—bridges, roads, community centres—and helps in repairing or even building houses for the rural poor.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Pandemic opens window of opportunity for local housing industry
There are suggestions that this safety net could be widened. Specific suggestions include:
Old-age pensions At present only government servants (who constitute 15% of the working population) can look forward to old-age pensions. 6.5 million Malaysian workers are contributors to the Employment Provident Fund (EPF) – they contribute 11% of their wages monthly while their employer contributes 13%. However, since wages are low, a survey in 2016 found that only 22% of EPF contributors aged 54 and above had RM196,800 or more in their savings, which translates to about RM820 monthly during retirement. There are another 5 million working people who are on neither the pension scheme nor the EPF scheme.
The suggestion is that all Malaysians aged above 70 who are not on government or Socso pensions should be given RM300 monthly. This would require a budget of RM3bn per year currently and would increase as the population ages.
Increasing the health budget to 4% of GDP. That would require an extra RM29bn. The rationale for the increase is that government hospitals and clinics are severely overcrowded and wait times to see specialists are long. This has forced quite a number of people to turn to the private sector, which is expensive.
Subsidised tertiary education. At present college students can take loans from a government-run agency, the PTPTN. A three-year degree course in a private university will saddle the graduate with an RM70,000 loan. The proposal is to reduce fees drastically by giving grants amounting to 90% of academic fees. This would require approximately RM13bn per year.[5]
Subsidised bus-based public transport in all our towns and cities. This will reduce transport costs as well as Malaysia's carbon footprint and is a much cheaper alternative to building train-based transit systems.
Monthly cash transfers of RM300 to the poorest 20% of households – the cost would be RM4.5bn.[6]
There are also suggestions, among others, to increase the budget of the Department of Welfare, increase the stipend given to single mothers, provide subsidised housing to the population and take over the maintenance of low-cost residential flats (many of which are in a deplorable state).
The problem here is that all these good ideas, which will undoubtedly alleviate the financial pressures on the bottom half of our population, require additional funds.
Total federal revenue for 2019 is estimated at RM261.8bn. But the total budgetary allocation for 2019 is RM314.5bn. That means RM52.7bn has to be borrowed—a fiscal deficit of 3.4% of GDP for 2019. (The Malaysian GDP in 2019 is projected to be RM1.55tn.)
Given the fact that federal government debt is about RM750bn, the government needs to sell securities worth about RM75bn in the course of 2019 to roll over the bonds and securities that are maturing this year. This is in addition to the RM52.7bn that has to be raised to meet this year's budget shortfall.
I am quoting all these figures to drive home the point that there are real limitations to a strategy of building a more comprehensive safety-net on the back of a larger budgetary deficit. Doing so will impact negatively on our credit rating and drive up the costs of borrowing.
Malaysia allocated RM30.9bn, or 10.9% of the total federal budget, for debt servicing in 2018, to pay the interest on government bonds and securities. This works out to an average interest rate of 4.1%. The interest we will have to pay on future debt will increase if our budget deficit increases from its current 3.4%.
Fiscal prudence dictates that the government has to raise additional revenue if it decides to embark on augmented social spending.
READ MORE: How the civil service can help the poor
A consumption tax is politically out of the question at present. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government came in on the campaign promise that it would abolish the GST (goods and services tax) and it has done so. It cannot now reinstitute this tax. And in any case, such a tax is regressive, as poorer families spend a larger portion of their income than do better-off families, who save or invest a portion of their income.
The government also faces problems in raising corporate taxes, as that might lead to companies shifting their headquarters to other countries. A competent accountant can transfer company earnings out of Malaysia into the accounts of the headquarters in a tax haven using a variety of techniques—routing purchase of intermediate products with hiked-up prices through the headquarters, routing exports through the headquarters but at discounted prices, charging large royalties and fees for accounting and other consulting services—and all of these are quite legal, given the liberalised financial environment. All these tricks will ensure corporations declare minimal profits in Malaysia.
Malaysia had a corporate tax rate of 40% before, but starting in 1988, we began to reduce it. Other countries in the region were at lower rates and Malaysia was afraid that we would lose out on foreign direct investment.
As a result corporate tax in Malaysia is now at 24% and the finance minister has said he will reduce this even further soon! The reason is that Singapore only has an 18% corporate tax rate, and Thailand, 19%. It is a classic "race to the bottom" scenario that has unfolded over the past 30 years and shows no sign of abating.
So, this then is the situation that Malaysia finds itself in. A significant portion of the wealth created in Malaysia is transferred out by unfair pricing mechanisms (perhaps 40% or so), through low commodity prices and low wages, and we have to make do with the remainder left to us.
But our hands are tied because Malaysia is deeply integrated into the global economy. The value of our exports was 74% of our GDP in 2017. (This doesn't mean we exported 74% of what we produced, because we imported significant quantities of chips and other components for our manufacturing sector to process and re-export.)
We are definitely in no position to tell off the global chains and "de-link" from the global economy! Greece couldn't do so in 2015, despite Syriza's being in power, and Britain, a much larger and richer country, is facing enormous problems in trying to partially de-link from the EU.
The way forward, I believe, is to gradually and collectively renegotiate our terms of engagement with the global economy. For example, can tax havens be closed? Can we bring in legislation to restrict transfer pricing? Can we get the richest 0.01% to pay their fair share of taxes?
In this matter we would have the support of the majority of the population in other countries, including in the economically advanced countries, which are also struggling with huge sovereign debts and are being forced to reduce social spending.
Can we stop the ruinous race-to-the-bottom in corporate tax rates among Asean countries? This is doable and perhaps should be linked to the Asean Free Trade Agreement – for example if any Asean country reduced corporate taxes further, its exports to other Asean countries would be charged a tariff of 5% for every 1% decrease in the corporate tax rate.
In a similar manner, can we agree on jointly raising our minimum wage – by 10% next year from whatever the current base is – so that we can help the poorest in our population without suffering a comparative disadvantage in terms of foreign direct investment and market competitiveness?
Can these sorts of initiatives be canvassed in the Group of 77 and further initiatives be developed?
These are the kinds of issues we need to discuss if we want to end persistent poverty in this country. However the current Pakatan Harapan government doesn't seem to have explored this line of reasoning.
[1] Population increase = 3.1%; cumulative inflation 1970–2018 = 4.4. Growth rate of 1,450 divided by (10.3 x 3.1 x 4.4) = 10.36.
[2] On 12 December 2001, the three major natural-rubber producers – Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia – signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration (the Bali Declaration of 2001), pledging to work collectively to ensure fair and remunerative income for rubber smallholders in their countries. The ITRC was then established with the main objective of ensuring sustainable natural-rubber production.
[3] The Thai government tried to buy up and stockpile rubber in 2014 in an effort to prevent prices from sliding down further. At one point they had more than 300,000 tonnes of rubber in government stockpiles.
[4] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand have eliminated intra–Asean import duties on 99.65% of their tariff lines. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have reduced their import duties to 0-5% on 98.86% of their tariff lines.
[5] Estimate based on following assumptions: 672,000 students enrolled in public colleges and universities and 350,000 in private; average annual fee of RM10,000 for public institutions and RM20,000 for private.
[6] RM300 x 12 months x 1.25 million households = RM4,500m
Source: New Mandala
Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, a long-time Aliran member and contributor, served as Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput from 2008 to 2018. A respiratory physician who was awarded a gold medal for community service, he is also a secretariat member of the Coalition Against Health Care Privatisation and chairperson of the Socialist Party of Malaysia.
Malaysia in dire need of 'another system'
There is no 'new normal': We were not normal to begin with
New poverty line: Big step forward, but is it enough?
Kok Yoon Lee
18 Nov 2019 1.09pm
We could also [slowly] reduce the dependence on foreign labour. Malaysians will do the work if the pay is high enough, and employers will have no choice but to increase the wages for these jobs if they cannot get the cheap labour from overseas. However, with the increase in wages, so will prices as the employers will pass on their costs to the consumer. Those whose pay increased will be ok with this, but those whose income remain the same eg the civil service will not. Demand is also not elastic and can our exports compete on price? Can our politicians deal with the shocks to the economy and more importantly the voters who have a very short term view of what is in it for them. No short term solution for 60+ years of misrule. Sigh.


← Top Ten Reasons Why Kate Perrin Created a PR Temp Agency – first installment!
1) She was doing PR for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and flying to headquarters in Dallas each month was exhausting.
Happily, ACEP later became a client of PRofessional Solutions, allowing us to provide a senior team member to help promote the research and and advances in emergency medicine shared at their annual Scientific Assembly.
This entry was posted in PRofessional Solutions News and tagged Annual Meetings. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Q: Parse tree of "several more successful books" Let us consider the following sentence:

After that first attempt, she wrote several more successful books.

Does this mean she wrote several additional books that were also successful? Or that she wrote several books that were more successful than the first?

A: It can have either meaning, but only in print.
In actual English, i.e, speech, the sentences would be pronounced differently, to distinguish their meanings. But English orthography does not represent intonation or rhythm, and therefore the written sentence looks ambiguous.


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Episode 1: Newark | Chapter 3: 1960-1970
The Newark experience during the decade of 1960-1970 can be reduced to one word: Conflict. Despite the presence of the New Black Political Class (elected and appointed local governmental figures, ministers, Democratic Party officials at the county and city level, and other neighborhood leaders who were rewarded by Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio's administration for their loyalty), there was opposition to the political status quo that quite often spilled out into the street.
Why Newark? How did this opposition within the black community grow to be so sharply antagonistic to all levels of government and private seats of power in the lives of African Americans?
First, contrasts in equality of opportunity became increasingly stark during the 1960s. In 1950, Newark's black population was approximately 17%, but by 1970, it reached 52.4%. In six years, 1960-1967, the city switched from 65% white to 52% black and 10% Spanish-speaking. The Italians who had previous shared power off and on with the Irish under the commission form of government, were now fully in charge of the city with an elected Italian mayor and majority city council—a reflection of their growing majority status amongst whites in Newark. They felt threatened by the growing chorus of black demands for better opportunities. Additionally, the appetite for self determination amongst African Americans only grew with each repressive measure taken by the city through its police force, along with other agencies such as the Board of Education and the Department of Welfare; it intensified with rent gouging by unscrupulous landlords, or price and credit fraud by crooked retail merchants; or with land grabs by urban renewal authorities who constantly destroyed communities in the name of profit. There was open conflict between black and whites for the formal seats of power, but more often, between the people and the police—the representatives of white power in life in the streets.
Second, the jobs that were the attraction for the second black migration from the South during and after World War II were no longer as plentiful. There were decreasing employment opportunities as manufacturing and other industries left the city with the out-migrating white population. During the 1960s, a total of 1,300 manufacturers left Newark. The jobs left in Newark, at the port area and in the downtown central business districts were reserved predominantly for whites. Conflicts arose over these job opportunities in the business community, and at agencies of city government, such as City Hall and the Board of Education.
Third, as the more affluent population (mostly white) left Newark, they were quickly replaced by a very poor population (black and Puerto Rican) that had little opportunity for mobility and depended heavily on public services. In almost every category of welfare assistance, Essex County's expenditures were more than double of the nearest contender, Hudson County. Newark was becoming the major reservoir for the poor in Essex County, and public welfare expenditures showed it. Resistance to the increasing arbitrariness of government in the distribution of government programs resulted in more conflict between Essex County and the community of poor people and their allies.
How long was the combined white power structure willing to continue its virtual monopoly on power in Newark, with token representation in city government by a handful of the Black Political Class and their followers? How hard was the African American community willing to push for self-determination and economic parity through their organizations, many of them newly formed in this ten-year period (1960-70)? And what would happen when the desire for power and frustration from perpetual domination would go beyond the ability of the organized mechanisms of government and resistance organizations to contain the anger of the community any longer?
Clip from a 2007 panel discussion of Sandra King's documentary film "Newark: The Slow Road Back," in which Clement Price describes the historical significance of the 1967 Newark rebellion. Dr. Price argues that the rebellion was "the defining moment of Newark's 20th Century." — Credit: "Newark: The Slow Road Back," Sandra King


Coiled Dragon Necklace | BUDK.com - Knives & Swords At The Lowest Prices!
Bring on the bling with this snazzy cold cast steel dragon necklace. Not only does it look cool, but take a tug on his twisted tail and voila! You are now holding a piercing blade that fits in the palm of your hand.
There is nothing wrong with it as far as quality goes...my only issue with it is it was bigger then I expected.. Like I would not wear it around my neck..ever. But if you are ok with wearing a pendant the size of a floppy disk then this is for you. I'm not going to lie its cool. I just wouldn't wear it personally.
Blade fell out very first day i wore it and ended up losing it. Also the blade dident fit in very well so you could tell there was something different about the tail. Not impressed with it at all.
this is a nice necklace. looks good, feels good i haven't had any problems with the blade falling out, either however, the blade is REALLY hard to get out until you've gooten it out and oiled it a bit. or at least that's what i had to do.
You need points, man, to keep the wife off 'ya about all that money you spend at BUDK. Throw in something for her once in a while you'll love the peace. She liked this one and you know, so did I. Got one for myself even though I, generally don't wear necklaces. EXCEPTION= still wear my ARMY dog tags but then you guys do too, right? Buy it for her! IT'S WORTH THE MONEY!!
I like the dragon, but I did not get a chain with it so can't wear it yet.
The tail keeps falling off so I can't wear it. Thinking about gluing it on.
My wife loved it when I put it on. It is well crafted and the blade slides in effortlessly, fits very well. Fantastic addition to my collection.
The necklace is everyrhing that i was hoping for and more i will tell all my friends about how nice and good the necklace knife is an i will be looking at the other necklace knife to add to the ones i already got. Thank you clyde shupe. P.S. have a happy new year.
Sipping was great! However the blade of the dragon tail was not was i expected. First it was extremely hard to get the blade out and when pulling it out it dull the blade because it did not sit well. The blade itself does not sharpen easy and by it awkward shape its not the easiest thing to use.
But all in all the dragon and blade look pretty good. Your bound to impress someone with if they have never seen one .


text:
var path = require('path')
  , csvParser = require('csv-parser')
  , util = require('util')
  , stream = require('stream')
  , xlsx = require('xlsx')
  , once = require('once')
  , ObjectStreamTruncator = require('./lib/object-stream-truncator')
  , jsonLdContextInfer = require('jsonld-context-infer')
  , split2 = require('split2')
  , concat = require('concat-stream');

function csvTsvHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback){

  if (!callback) {
    callback = opts;
    opts = {};
  }

  callback = once(callback);

  var headers;

  var parser = csvParser({separator: (contentType === 'text/csv') ? ',' : '\t' });

  var sampler = new ObjectStreamTruncator(opts);

  var s =  readable
        .pipe(parser)
        .pipe(sampler)
        .on('error', callback)
        .on('headers', function(data) {
          console.log(data);
          headers = data;
        })
        .on('finish', function() {
          try {
            readable.end();
            readable.destroy();
          } catch(e){}
        });

  jsonLdContextInfer(s, {nSample: opts.nSample || Infinity}, function(err, schema, scores){
    if (err) {
      return callback(err);
    }

    callback(null, s.head, jsonLdContextInfer.columns(schema, headers));
  });

};

function xlsxHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback){

  if (!callback) {
    callback = opts;
    opts = {};
  }

  callback = once(callback);

  readable.pipe(concat(function(data){

    var workbook;

    try{
      workbook = xlsx.read(data.toString('binary'), {type: 'binary'});
    } catch(e){
      return callback(e);
    }

    if (!workbook) {
      return callback(new Error('could not parse spreadsheat'));
    }

    if (workbook.SheetNames.length>1) {
      console.error('multiple sheets in a workbook');
    }

    var sheet = workbook.Sheets[workbook.SheetNames[0]];

    try {
      var csv = xlsx.utils.sheet_to_csv(sheet);
    } catch(e){
      return callback(e);
    }

    var rs = new stream.Readable();
    rs.push(csv);
    rs.push(null);

    csvTsvHead(rs, 'text/csv', opts, callback);
  }));

};

function ndJsonHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback){

  if (!callback) {
    callback = opts;
    opts = {};
  }

  callback = once(callback);

  var parser = split2(JSON.parse);
  var sampler = new ObjectStreamTruncator(opts);

  var s = readable
        .pipe(parser)
        .pipe(sampler)
        .on('error', callback)
        .on('finish', function() {
          try {
            readable.end();
            readable.destroy();
          } catch(e){}
        });

  jsonLdContextInfer(s, {nSample: opts.nSample || Infinity}, function(err, schema, scores){
    if(err) return callback(err);
    callback(null, s.head, jsonLdContextInfer.columns(schema));
  });

};

function head(readable, contentType, opts, callback){
  opts = opts || {nHead: Infinity, nSample: Infinity};

  contentType = contentType.split(';')[0].trim();

  if (contentType === 'application/x-ndjson') {
    ndJsonHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback);
  } else if (contentType === 'application/vnd.ms-excel' || contentType === 'application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet') {
    xlsxHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback);
  } else if(contentType === 'text/csv' || contentType === 'text/tab-separated-values' ) {
    csvTsvHead(readable, contentType, opts, callback);
  } else {
    callback(new Error('no preview available for ' + contentType));
  }

};

exports.head = head;
exports.csvTsv = csvTsvHead;
exports.ndjson = ndJsonHead;
exports.xlsx = xlsxHead;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Discover how Crystal Ball's GPS Vehicle Tracking System FleetTracker can boost productivity, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.
Vehicle tracking works by transmitting GPS location and engine activity data stored in a GPS tracking unit installed in the vehicle. The data is sent via a SIM card housed securely in the unit using a mobile phone network to the tracking providers data servers. The data is then either provided as live tracking information on a map interface or downloaded in report format.
Can I track my vehicles in real-time?
Yes, unlike some vehicle tracking units that require you to download the data once the vehicle has returned back to your offices each day. Crystal Ball's GPS fleet tracking solution transfers the data to our web based portal in realtime, so you can view the information as it comes in.
How often do your vehicle trackers update?
Finally the unit transmits hourly updates when a vehicle is not in journey.


Shinu Bhaskar a publié une photo le 2 avr.
Do you have rooms with twin beds ?
Dear Guest, We do have rooms with twin bed.
is your room equip with full size sofa in all the room, where extra person can sleep ?
I felt that the hotel and neighborhood were safe for couples and families. So, should be safe for you as well. They have some very helpful ladies at the front desk, so it's definitely a safe atmosphere. I don't have an answer to whether you can get a room or not. They need your ID proof and address proof. Maybe as long as you have those, you should be able to get a room.


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College of the Environment and Life Sciences
CELS
Bradley Wetherbee
Email: wetherbee@uri.edu
Office Location: Woodward Hall 024
Website: web.uri.edu/wetherbee
My research is focused on habitat use, movement patterns and migration of sharks and other marine fishes with an emphasis on conservation and sustainable management of their populations. I study movement ecology using telemetry methods such as satellite and acoustic tracking to quantify and characterize movements of marine fishes. Understanding population-wide characteristics of movements of sharks and marine fishes illustrates their responses to environmental conditions, delineates boundaries of their population, reveals distribution of different demographics within populations, identifies interactions with fisheries and distinguishes jurisdictional management responsibilities of management agencies. This information ultimately contributes to better informed and more effective management of populations of marine fishes. Both coastal and oceanic species are being studied at locations including New England, Bermuda, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands and Mexico.
One of my major goals at URI is to involve undergraduate students in my research through independent study during the school year, fellowship and volunteer opportunities during the summer through the Coastal Fellows program, Science and Engineering Fellows program and the Shark Undergraduate Research and Education program at URI. There are also opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in my research through my Faculty Led Program on Field Methods in Shark research, which includes a week-long expedition to Mexico to study whale sharks.
B.S. 1982 (Biological Sciences, Environmental Science), Willamette University
M.S. 1988 (Biology and Living Resources), University of Miami
Ph.D. 1998 (Zoology), University of Hawaii
Queiroz N., N.E. Humphries, B.M. Wetherbee, D.W. Sims et al. 2019. Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1444-4
Byrne M., J. Vaudo, G. Harvey, M. Johnston, B. Wetherbee, M. Shivji. 2019. Behavioral response of a widely distributed apex marine predator to environmental variables differs across ecoregions. Ecography 42:1-10. doi: 10.1111/ecog.04463.
Barkley A.N., M. Gollock, M. Samoilys, F. Llewellyn, M. Shivji, B.M. Wetherbee, N.E. Hussey. 2019. Complex transboundary movements of marine megafauna in the Western Indian Ocean. Anim. Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12493
Francis M.P., M.S. Shivji, C.A.J. Duffy, P.J. Rogers, M.E. Byrne, B.M. Wetherbee, S.C. Tindale, W.S. Lyon, M.M. Meyers. 2019. Oceanic nomad or coastal resident? Behavioural switching in the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Mar. Biol. 166(5): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3453-5
Haulsee, D.E., M.W. Breece, D.A. Fox, L.M. Brown, B.M. Wetherbee, M.J. Oliver. 2018. Spatial ecology of Carcharias taurus in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 597:191-206.
Daly, R., M.J.Smale, S. Singh, D. Anders, M. Shivji, C.A.K. Daly, J.S.E. Lea, L.L. Sousa, B.M. Wetherbee, R. Fitzpatrick, C. Clarke, M. Sheaves, A. Barnett. 2018. Refuges and risks: evaluating the benefits of an expanded MPA network for mobile apex predators. Divers. Distrib. doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12758
Crow, G.L., B.M. Wetherbee, R. Humphreys, R. Young. 2018. Distribution, diet and reproduction of the velvet dogfish Zameus squamulosus (Squaliformes:Somniosidae) based on captures in Hawaiian fisheries. Fish. Bull. 116:207–214.
Sequeira A.M.M., J.P. Rodríguez, V. Eguíluz, R. Harcourt, M. Hindell, D.W. Sims, B.M. Wetherbee et al. 2018. Convergence of movement patterns of marine megafauna in coastal and open oceans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.171613711
Lea, J.S.E, B.M. Wetherbee, L.L. Sousa, C. Aming, N. Burnie, N.E. Humphries, N. Queiroz, G.M. Harvey, D.W. Sims, M. S. Shivji. 2018. Ontogenetic partial migration is associated with environmental drivers and influences fisheries interactions in a marine predator. ICES J Mar. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx238. Co-first author.
Vaudo, J.J., M.E. Byrne, B.M. Wetherbee, G.M. Harvey, A. Mendillo Jr, M.S. Shivji. 2018. Horizontal and vertical movements of white marlin, Kajikia albida, tagged off the Yucatán Peninsula. ICES J Mar. Sci. 75(2), 844–857. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsx176
BIO 360 Marine Biology
BIO 422 Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives
BIO 491 Faculty Led Program Field Methods in Shark Research


text:
Home»Tech World»The new streaming platform from the merger of HBO Max and Discovery aims to have a very minimalist name: "Max"
The new streaming platform from the merger of HBO Max and Discovery aims to have a very minimalist name: "Max"
By Adam Straker 06/12/2022 2 Mins Read
We are learning more details about the merger that will take place between Warner Bros. and Discovery and that it will also translate into HBO Max and Discovery+ becoming a single streaming platform: more content, the end of the premieres 45 days after the arrival in theaters, a price increase and now also what will be its future name .
According to CNBC, the new platform of streaming will be called simply "Max", which he points out is not yet the final decision but that it is the most likely option. Internally, they say they refer to it as "BEAM".
With "Max" – which is also a person's name –, the future conglomerate would bet on minimalism, but also would be freed from the prestige of having HBO on your branding.
The reason for going with "Max" according to the leak is simple: Warner Bros. Discovery wants HBO to fit into its massive catalog of content without overshadowing the programming from Discovery, DC Comics, Warner Bros., CNN, among others.
For your organization in the platform interfacethey will be inspired by Disney +, which uses different hubs to separate and facilitate navigation for those looking for content from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, etc.
It should be remembered that HBO Max is priced at 8.99 euros per month in Spain and that Discovery+ currently costs 3.99 euros per month, but that these price figures have the hours numberedmore taking into account that Gunnar Wiedenfels (CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery) recently declared that they are "fundamentally below the real value" and that considering the quality of the content (HBO Max alone swept the past Emmys with 38 statuettes) that they offer their services, there is still room to increase the price once the merger is done.
Technologies for LGBT Online Safety on a Dating Platform