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PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESENTS ANOTHER AWARD TO BUA CHAIRMAN, ABDUL SAMAD RABIU ON BEHALF OF NIGERIAN MILITARY
President Muhammadu Buhari was on hand to present yet another award to the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu today at the instance of the Nigeria military.
The event was the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference which took place in Sokoto.
The Army used the occasion to honour some Nigerians with Recognition Awards for their support. Chief among them was the BUA Group Chairman and founder of ASR Africa Initiative, Abdul Samad Rabiu.
It was the fourth recognition to be presented by the President personally to the BUA Group founder in less than a year.
Earlier in the year, , specifically in May, he was honoured with the Nigeria Productivity Awards, after which he was presented with a national honour as a Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR.
Then in October, he was again presented an award, this time Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service for philanthropy and interventions in education. Curiously at the last award, he was the only Nigerian drawn from the Public sector found worthy of such honour.
Speaking at the Chief of Army Staff Conference, the President, Muhammadu Buhari directed the military to remain apolitical and continue to operate within the framework of the constitution to ensure the successful conduct of 2023 elections.
He also urged the Army to continue to improve to their human rights obligations during operations in line with global best practices.
In his response, Abdul Samad Rabiu said, "Personally, I am very honoured to have received this recognition award today. I thank the Nigerian Army for this recognition; it is a call to do more. Our security agencies are doing so much and have sacrificed a lot to keep us safe. We must acknowledge visible progress and support where we can as individuals and private sector". He further enjoined others in the private sector to join hands in supporting visible government effort in the security and social development space.
Speaking at the event, the COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya reeled out the numerous achievements of the Nigerian Army and thanked eminent Nigerians, other security agencies and government for supporting the Nigerian Army in its quest to defending Nigeria's territorial integrity and sovereignty against external aggression whilst also giving aid to civil authorities in mitigating internal security challenges in the country.
According to the Nigerian Army, Abdul Samad Rabiu's contributions include a 2billion Naira donation to the Army, plans to refurbish and equip science laboratories as well as libraries in 6 command secondary schools across the various regions in Nigeria, infrastructure development and refurbishment of barracks, provision of kits, equipment amongst others.
In related news, Abdul Samad Rabiu was named the CEO of the Year (2022) whilst BUA Group/ASR Africa bagged three awards namely, 'Best Company in Social Impact and Human Capital Advancement in Africa', 'Impact Investor of the Year', and 'Best Company in Infrastructure Development' at the 16th Annual Africa CSR Awards (SERAS) for driving impactful change and sustainable development through various ASR Africa and BUA Foundation projects in the year under review.
Related Topics:Abdulsamad RabiuBUANigerian MilitaryPresident Buhari
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……Tricycle driver with one passenger died instantly.
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) today rescued another 4 fatal accident victims inside mini commercial buses (tricycles) around Ikotun area of Lagos.
The accident which occurred around 12:30 pm today involved a fully loaded container truck (JJJ 125) and 4 mini commercial buses (tricycles) with registration nos (LSD 83 QM), (AKD 690 QK) & (AKL 87 QF)
The driver of one of the mini commercial bus (tricycle) with one passenger died instantly.
Those four (4) rescued accident victims by Lastma personnel were 2 pregnant women and 2 children.
Lastma personnel immediately handed over those rescued victims to Police men from Ikotun Police Station who took them to General Hospital for treatment.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the fully loaded container truck (JJJ 125) had a brake failure and crushed 3 tricycles by a valley around synagogue when going towards Ikotun.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) immediately moved the tanker with those crushed tricycles to Ikotun Police Station
Other emergency responders including the Nigerian Police men from Ikotun Police Station were at the scene of the accident.
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bolaji Oreagba however warned tanker owners and drivers to always ensure that their trucks are properly checked and in good conditions before embarking on any journey.
Funke Felix Adejumo @ 60: Celebrating an Amazon and a fisher of Men
When Pastor Funke Felix Adejumo heed to the alter call by giving her life to her creator at age 14 little did she know that it was the path to her greatness in life as her steps and sojourn in ministry has been ordered to take a very wonderous path? Although it was a tough decision today that singular decision has made her a teacher, mother, mentor and role model to millions of people across the world.
One thing she is notable for is the fact that you can serve your creator without looking tattered and unkempt as she is known to have stated in preachings that it's essential for women to dress well and not follow the old order of Nigerian Christianity. Today, through her teachings lots of marriages have been salvaged, lots of homes have been restrengthening, lots of lives have been saved and lots of unbelievers have been converted to believers.
The graduate of English from the University of Nigeria Nsukka didn't just get to her current status by fluke; it took her years of sheer dint of hard work and resilience to attain the enviable height she is today. While growing up, she faced different challenges being a female child as her father didn't want to invest in her education but with divine intervention, her story changed for good as she is today a graduate and an honorary Doctorate Degree holder. Her life further had a new direction when she met her husband Felix Remi Adejumo in 1892 and got married in 1984 this further cemented her faith as a preacher. With a rough start in ministry in Akure Ondo State, she persevered, built and stood firmly by her husband helping him nurture the Agape Christian ministry that used to be moribund to having over 30 branches across Nigeria.
Tomorrow Saturday the 28th of January the well-respected woman of God will glide into the leagues of Sexagenarian as many across the world are getting set to celebrate her to the high heaven with already planned activities to mark her day; it is worthy to note that; her life and teaching over the years have been centred round not only prosperity but preaches patience, growth, development, hard work, and spirituality. Funke Adejumo remains one of the biggest vineyards of his creator sent to the world to redefine Christianity and win souls to the kingdom at 60, her life should be an emulation to all women.
A Minister Without Enemy Hasn't Touched Kingdom of Darkness –Apostle Suleman
God is not mocked. Insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God's servant is an expression of weakness and carnality. These were the words of servant of God and senior pastor at the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleman, in one of his recent past evangelistic sermons.
The enemy is seeking to destroy the Church and in his fantasy, he is attacking what he perceives to be the greatest opportunity for destruction: the pastor's personality. According to the 'Restoration Apostle' in the message extracted from four of his recorded old teachings, "while the enemy devises a scheme to destroy the Church, he would find ways to attack the prophet, and as he finds ways to attack the prophet, he would see his person as the area of greatest vulnerability."
However, Apostle Suleman affirms that while challenges with the Church have been around since the beginning, church leaders with strong faith and the committed flock would continue to remain essential to the Church. The famous Minister of God underscores some facts which he believes are characteristics of a prophet with leadership potentials: he loves God and shows love to people around him because, he says, love is the foundation for a healthy ministry; he has a clear vision and is strategic, he exhibits servant leadership and is dedicated to serving others.
The enemy has different tactics aimed to hinder the word of God. But God is not mocked, declares Apostle Suleman, adding that, "but we are prepared for the attacks and we are prepared for the defeat of the attacks." "We must put on the armour of God, which is primarily a righteous life. But along with that, we must be aware of the enemy's tactics because the enemy wants to immobilize us and keep us from progressing in our spiritual lives, and therefore, he will come with many different attacks. He wants to keep us from building and completing the work that God has called us to. Because our enemy is both wise and relentless, we must be aware of his tricks and schemes."
A prophet of God must stand strong in the face of criticism, Apostle Suleman counsels. "Of course, criticism usually stings and criticism on a public forum stings even more. It discourages the church and hurts the testimony of Christians and the church. But we must stick to preaching the truth at all times and pray to ensure whatever attention of true believers that the devil had taken or captured is recovered."
Apostle Suleman then warns that he is not a regular preacher because he is aware there are enemies and their antics, positing that any Minister of God who has no enemies has not really touched the kingdom of darkness.
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10 Years Ago, 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol' Gave Tom Cruise's Career New Life
Posted on Thursday, August 12th, 2021 by Josh Spiegel
(Welcome to Man on a Mission, a monthly series where we revisit the films of the Mission: Impossible franchise as we sprint toward the release of the seventh film.)
Modern action-movie franchises are typified by recurring tropes and action aesthetics. Watch an entry in the John Wick films, and you can rest assured you'll see bloody, intense, and impressively staged fight scenes. Check out the latest Fast and Furious film, and you know that you'll see increasingly outlandish and ridiculous chases and fights, from underground heists to scenes literally set in outer space. And if you watch a Mission: Impossible movie, you are all but guaranteed to see at least one stunt in which Tom Cruise appears to indulge in one of the most grandiose death wishes known to man.
Even now, a decade later, it's possible that the fourth entry in the series, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, has the most jaw-dropping stunt of all, simply because of how willing Cruise was to place himself in a deadly, risky situation just to entertain an audience he can't see.
An Animated Leap
Mission: Impossible III was well-liked by critics, and its reputation a few years later was far stronger than that of Mission: Impossible 2, in spite of the 2000 film vastly outgrossing it at the box office. But the intervening few years were spotty for star Tom Cruise. After the very public controversies he courted (and largely created for himself) related to his Scientology beliefs and his relationship with Katie Holmes, films like Valkyrie and Lions for Lambs fizzled at the box office, and more action-heavy fare like Knight and Day failed to make an impact. (Lions for Lambs is the last straight-up drama Cruise has appeared in. Just about everything since that time has been either a full-on action/genre film, or a film with elements of action, like Valkyrie. The jukebox musical Rock of Ages is the exception to this rule.) The only late-2000s film featuring Cruise that raised his profile in a good way was Tropic Thunder, the outrageous comedy in which he appeared in prosthetics as an obnoxious and aggressive Hollywood executive.
The one standard for Cruise was the Mission: Impossible franchise. Even with the third film being less successful at the box office, Paramount was willing to pursue a fourth entry. As with the previous three entries, Cruise would work with a different director, though J.J. Abrams would shift to a position he's become vastly more comfortable with throughout his career, as producer. (His Bad Robot Productions shingle has produced all remaining Mission: Impossible films, including the upcoming entries.) In some ways, the choice for the director of the fourth entry made vastly more sense than Abrams did. But just as Abrams made the jump from television to feature films with Mission: Impossible III, so too would the Ghost Protocol director jump: from animation to live-action.
By the late 2000s, Brad Bird had proven himself to be one of the great living animation filmmakers. He was invited to join the braintrust at Pixar Animation Studios earlier in the decade, serving as the first filmmaker to be both writer and director, helming the dazzling and propulsive superhero action-comedy The Incredibles. Upon the success of that 2004 film, he took over the struggling production of a story of a rat in France who wants to cook, and turned it into Ratatouille, the best film Pixar has ever made. And if those titles weren't enough, he'd previously written and directed The Iron Giant, a fine feature debut, and served as creative consultant on the first eight seasons (AKA the best seasons) of The Simpsons. But Bird hadn't directed live-action…until Cruise and Abrams took a chance on the animation filmmaker (roughly around the same time that Disney was taking a chance on fellow Pixar filmmaker Andrew Stanton with John Carter).
The Next Ethan Hunt
There's one other aspect of Ghost Protocol that serves as the production considering taking a chance on an untested quantity. Early in the film's production, there were whispers that perhaps it was time for Cruise to move on, or pass the torch symbolically. Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit confirmed as much a couple years ago: the film was originally meant to end with Ethan becoming the next Secretary of the IMF, with another agent taking over in the field.
Just as the public seemed to move past Tom Cruise in the late 2000s, the thinking went, maybe Ethan Hunt needed to take a rest, especially with the star approaching his 50th birthday. (He turned 50 just six months after Ghost Protocol was released in theaters.) Enter Jeremy Renner, the Academy Award-nominated breakout star of Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker. That film's success led to some big-deal roles for Renner: he was going to be the next Jason Bourne in The Bourne Legacy, he got a meaty supporting role in The Town that netted him his second consecutive Oscar nod; and he was going to be one of The Avengers as gifted archer Hawkeye. But he approached receiving another feather in his cap: being the next Ethan Hunt.
That, at least, is part of the story of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. The film spends its first half in Eastern Europe, as Ethan is broken out of a Moscow prison to help out on a mission with two newer IMF agents: Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and a now-in-the-field Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg, who joins Ving Rhames here as a rare returning cast member). Ethan presumes their breaking him out must mean things are worse on the outside. And as you'd expect, Ethan's right: they soon learn that a mysterious, fiercely intelligent, and obsessed nuclear strategist, Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), is trying to get his hands on nuclear weapons to invoke the apocalypse and restart with a new world order. When an attempt to stop Hendricks from getting valuable intel at the Kremlin goes south, the IMF is blamed for a massive explosion at the Russian landmark. As you may already know, the U.S. President has to invoke ghost protocol. (Or, if you were online enough a decade ago, "ghotocol". Do you remember "ghotocol"? Good times.)
Ghost protocol, as explained by the oft-mentioned but now finally seen IMF Secretary (an uncredited Tom Wilkinson), means that Ethan, Jane, and Benji, and a single caravan of equipment are all that remains of the IMF. Well…them and IMF analyst William Brandt (Renner), who soon begins carrying himself with a bit more physical aplomb than the traditional analyst would. But he's onboard for the ride after he and Ethan survive an attack that offs the Secretary. That attack occurs after what is truly the most hilariously demented moment in any Mission: Impossible film, when Ethan draws a detailed police-sketch-style drawing of Hendricks on the palm of his hand in the span of 15 seconds and demands that Brandt identify the person.
Hanging On for Dear Life
Plot is rarely important in the Mission: Impossible films, but it feels especially unimportant in Ghost Protocol. (The script is credited to Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, but a couple of years after they worked together for the first time on Valkyrie, Cruise enlisted Christopher McQuarrie to revise the script, in an uncredited capacity. It's a collaboration that has led to many fruitful results.) The premise of the film is, in its own way, very much the same as it is in every Mission: the IMF is whittled down to a bare few, and in hoping to win the day, they must prove their own viability as an organization. Perhaps the best running gag of Ghost Protocol is that the equipment the IMF has now, at least the bare-bones gadgets that our remaining quartet can access, are woefully unable to actually do the job. Remember the masks of previous entries? They're gone here because, in a key moment, the mask-making machine that Benji has brought with him conks out. The infamous "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds" device? It's on the fritz – Ethan has to bang on an old-school telephone booth to make the tape blow up, like he's jostling a stodgy desktop computer.
The most obvious example of technology making things harder for Ethan and his crew comes in the middle of a centerpiece sequence, primarily set at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. There are many contenders for this title, but the 30-minute section in this film's middle, from when Ethan and the agents arrive in Dubai to the conclusion of a race between Ethan and Hendricks through a sandstorm, is the single greatest section in any of these movies. There's much more to the sequence than the part you remember – the IMF team has to fool a wily assassin (Lea Seydoux) who previously killed Jane's boyfriend and fellow agent, while also fooling Hendricks' henchman and a hapless nuclear physicist, trying to swap out real nuclear codes for fake ones and retrieving the real ones before any baddies use them.
But before any of that goes down, they have to get access to the security center at the Burj Khalifa, which means that Ethan has to break into a server room from the outside…of the tallest building in the world. Ghost Protocol, above all else, is known for the image of Tom Cruise climbing up the side of the Burj Khalifa, with just his hands and feet holding him up. (Ethan is supposed to be aided by two powerful gloves that adhere to the windows of the Burj, but they stop working almost as soon as he starts climbing.)
Watching the scene now, it's a little difficult to communicate exactly how breathtaking it was to behold the vertiginous sight of Tom Cruise hanging by almost literally a thread in a proper IMAX theater. (Bird, to his credit, advocated for filming roughly 30 minutes of the film with IMAX cameras, as opposed to the film simply being placed in IMAX theaters without using the tech itself.) The shot of Ethan, wearing goggles to protect his eyes from the gusting wind, slowly approaching the side of the building was presented with the aspect ratio gradually shifting from 2.35:1 to 1.66:1, a shift that feels mammoth on an IMAX screen. Rarely has the IMAX tagline that you can "be part" of a movie felt more apt – watching Tom Cruise desperately ascend the Burj Khalifa is thrilling enough, but in IMAX, it felt like the audience was climbing up with him.
A Template for the Future
If there is anything to truly criticize with the Dubai section of Ghost Protocol, it's that the film cannot possibly approach the high quality of its middle portion elsewhere. Throughout, it's eminently clear that Brad Bird is as gifted a filmmaker when working in the medium of live-action as he is in animation. Even the spatial geography of Ethan and a fellow inmate he's breaking out in the opening sequence is communicated clearly, which should not feel revolutionary to the modern viewer, but is simply because of how few action films are staged and choreographed coherently. In the final chunk of the film, set in Mumbai, Ethan's battle with the maniacally determined Hendricks in a revolving and rotating circular parking garage is carefully staged to heighten the suspense. The sequence can't hold a candle to the mid-section, but it's here in Ghost Protocol that an important element of the first entry in the series is brought back to the fore: action that you can actually visually understand.
It's a stylistic choice that hasn't been consistent in each Mission: Impossible – whatever else is true of the third film, Abrams' directing style is intentionally jittery and harder to visually parse. But clean, crisply shot action is now a hallmark of the franchise, thanks in no small part to Bird's outstanding work in Ghost Protocol. Reviews on the film were positive, by far the highest to date in the series. And more importantly for Paramount, audiences flocked to the return of Ethan Hunt in droves: inflation aside, Ghost Protocol was the highest-grossing entry in the franchise worldwide to date, and nearly outgrossed the second film domestically.
Considering that the film doesn't end as was originally planned, it was a clear-cut case of audiences willing to embrace Cruise as a movie star once more, at least in this specific role. Renner's character William Brandt sticks around at the end, and the Mumbai finale even gives Brandt a brief visual callback to the fantastic CIA break-in sequence of the original Mission: Impossible. But it's clear that Hunt is still calling the shots, a creative decision Elswit (in the above link) acknowledges occurred thanks to the arrival of Christopher McQuarrie to the production. As noted above, McQuarrie's connection to Cruise led to some major creative success.
Next Time: McQuarrie moves beyond just being an uncredited writer, taking the reins with a Rogue Nation.
Bobby Cannavale on Playing the Reluctant Guest and Digging Into Trauma in 'Nine Perfect Strangers' [Interview]
'Night of the Animated Dead' Trailer: George A. Romero's Zombie Classic Gets Reanimated
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Worry, despair, insecurity, fear of death . . . these are our daily companions, and even though we attempt to ignore them or try to crowd them out, they are there, waiting for us in our quieter moments.
It is precisely where we hurt most that the experience of the Orthodox Church has much to offer. The remedy is not a pep talk, or any simple admonitions to fight the good fight, cheer up, or think positively. Rather, the Orthodox method is to change the way we look at the human person (starting with ourselves).
According to two thousand years of experience, Orthodoxy shows us how to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" — a process that is aided by participation in the traditional ascetic practices and Mysteries of the Church.
In this unique and accessible book, Archimandrite Meletios Webber first explores the role of mystery in the Christian life, then walks the reader through the seven major Mysteries of the Orthodox Church, showing the way to a richer, fuller life in Christ.


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Google has apparently struck a wild licensing deal with Nestlé to use the name 'KitKat' for its next version of Android. Though the announcement of the name by Google's Sundar Pichai this morning struck off an immediate wave of commentary, it seems to go deeper than just a name.
If you visit Google's 'about Android' page, you'll see a full-on Kit Kat bar (the company uses 'Kit Kat', not 'KitKat' to describe the candy) with an Android-themed wrapper. A link to 'see what you've won' leads you to the U.S. site for Kit Kat bars. This is an extremely odd pairing for a tech company and a candy firm.
We've reached out to Google for more information on exactly what the deal is here and it confirmed that no money changed hands between the two companies. This is apparently a like-for-like cross-promotion deal.
The contest will place Nexus 7 vouchers and Google Play credit in participating Kit Kat bars. There will also be a few actual Android-shaped bars in some markets.
Interestingly, the link on the Android site takes you to Hershey's site, even though Nestlé manufactures Kit Kat bars in most of the world. This stems from an old licensing deal between Hershey and Rowntree (which was acquired by Nestlé), in which Hershey maintained the ability to license the name Kit Kat in the U.S. This has led to a ton of confusion about whether Hershey or Nestlé is behind the deal.
A BBC report today quotes John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships as saying that "this is not a money-changing-hands kind of deal," and that it was about doing something fun and unexpected. Lagerling also says that the previously considered Key Lime Pie was nixed because they felt that many people might not know what Key Lime Pie tastes like.
Mr Lagerling said he had made a "cold call" to the switchboard of Nestle's UK advertising agency at the end of November to propose the tie-up.
The next day, the Swiss firm invited him to take part in a conference call. Nestle confirmed the deal just 24 hours later.
"Very frankly, we decided within an hour to say let's do it," Patrice Bula, Nestle's marketing chief told the BBC.
The obvious benefits for Google include massive exposure in convenience stores and supermarkets. While Android devices big to small will bear the Kit Kat moniker, resulting in a swath of brand recognition boosting for the candy maker.
That being said, Google is a company powered by advertisers and brands. Regardless of what intentions it has to make 'great' products (which it does and has), its motivations regarding the balance of user privacy and profitability will always be at the forefront of discussions about Android. I'm not so sure it's such a great idea for a company like that to be toying with this kind of cross-promotion oddity. But what do I know, I'm just a line of data in an advertiser's targeting matrix.
Nestlé will produce over 50 million of those aforementioned Kit Kat bars with the Android mascot on them. Most Google employees apparently only learned about the news once a statue was unveiled at Google HQ. The statue? A giant Android mascot made of a Kit Kat bar.
Update: If you're interested, the statue was done by Themendous sculpture shop. You can see an interview we did with them last year here. Here's a behind-the-scenes pic.


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Stardom beckons for young performers as Showquest continues
Home ILTS INZ News	Stardom beckons for young performers as Showquest continues
17 October 2018 Stardom beckons for young performers as Showquest continues
More young stars are set to be discovered as a series of popular performing arts shows for young people is rolled out for another year, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.
RockQuest Promotions was selected by the Ministry of Education to run Showquest earlier this year after the organisers of Stage Challenge indicated they could no longer put on the event due to falling sponsorship revenue. After a successful run of shows and positive feedback from participants this year, RockQuest Promotions Ltd has been asked to organise the event for 2019.
"Dance, drama and music are important parts of the curriculum. Showquest gives students opportunities to showcase their talents by drawing on personal experiences, imagination and skills," Chris Hipkins said.
"Students, supported by their schools, develop a performance – from original concept right through to the final show.
"This year some students wrote and produced their own soundtracks. Showquest also provided an LED screen/video wall so students could showcase their technology skills as they designed and produced backgrounds that would enhance their performances.
"RockQuest Promotions Ltd did a great job organising events in 2018 in a really tight timeframe. Nearly 60 schools signed up and more than 2000 students took part which, given the late start, was really impressive.
"Next year will be even bigger, as organisers will have more time to work with schools. I wish the organisers and every participant the best of luck," Chris Hipkins said.
RockQuest Promotions will contact schools at the beginning of term four to ensure those that want to take part have time to plan and to register their interest.
More information can be found here: http://Showquest.nz/about/
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) to take over Telford ( 4 Feb,2019 )
Government boosts on-the-job teacher training ( 17 Jul,2019 )
NCEA online programme gets $8 million ( 29 Jun,2018 )
New tool to help iwi support Māori educational pathways ( 2 Sep,2019 )


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Q: VS2010 C++ - Passing Vector of Structures by Reference Not Working as Expected So I have a perplexing problem that hopefully some of the experts may be able to answer.  I have a structure containing structures and vectors containing bitsets.  Not going to list all here, but structure definition looks like this:
typedef struct _signal_data_t
{
    signal_map_t        sigMap;
    vector<sigDataType> vSignalData;
    vector<sigDataType> vChangeColor;
} signal_data_t;

I declare a vector in my class.
vector<signal_data_t>           m_pSignalData;

I then use this vector when calling a function that is expected to fill this vector with all of its information (which it does properly).
CDlgStlFindProcedure mDlgStlFindProcedure(m_pSignalData, m_szVectorFilename);

The class CDlgStlFindProcedure uses pass by reference.
Header file:
CDlgStlFindProcedure(vector<signal_data_t> &pSignalData, CString szInfile, CWnd* pParent = NULL);   // standard constructor

Cpp file:
CDlgStlFindProcedure::CDlgStlFindProcedure(vector<signal_data_t> &pSignalData, CString szInfile,  CWnd* pParent /*=NULL*/)
    : CDialog(CDlgStlFindProcedure::IDD, pParent)
    , m_pSignalData(pSignalData)
{
    szFilename = szInfile;
}

I set a breakpoint as to when the CDlgStlFindProcedure class finishes, and m_pSignalData is correct.  I set a breakpoint as to when it returns, and m_pSignalData is empty.  I'm pretty sure I'm using pass by reference correctly as I've used it for a number of items other than vectors.  Researching here and other places shows that it should be possible to pass vectors by reference, but it is not working in my application.
I can modify to pass by pointer and then it works, but that seems a clumsier way then passing by reference.  Any suggestions?  Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks in advance.
edit
I'm getting down voted which I guess means that everyone is thinking this is a stupid question, but I am very confused as to why.  Referring to:
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/passing-vector-function-cpp/
// C++ program to demonstrate how vectors
// can be passed by reference.
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// The vect is passed by reference and changes
// made here reflect in main()
void func(vector<int> &vect)
{
vect.push_back(30);
}

int main()
{
    vector<int> vect;
    vect.push_back(10);
    vect.push_back(20);

    func(vect);

    for (int i=0; i<vect.size(); i++)
    cout << vect[i] << " ";

    return 0;
}

Output:
10 20 30
How is my usage different than code above?

A: In your constructor you make copy of vector, not reference.
CDlgStlFindProcedure::CDlgStlFindProcedure(vector<signal_data_t> &pSignalData, CString szInfile,  CWnd* pParent /*=NULL*/)
: CDialog(CDlgStlFindProcedure::IDD, pParent)
, m_pSignalData(pSignalData) // copying pSignalData into m_pSignalData

if you really need a reference, do it like this:
vector<signal_data_t> &m_pSignalData;

but remember, it's a very bad style

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Privacy, Privacy. This home sits on one of the most desirable lot's I've ever seen. The 2 deck's and stone patio take full advantage of the tree's and water views. A Open Layout With VAULTED Ceilings in the Kitchen, Dining and Living Room. Spacious Family room with Fireplace, Hardwood Floors, Stainless Appliances, Stone Accents Mixed with this one of kind Landscape give this home a one of a kind feel.


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September 11 attacks
Iconic 9/11 photos: Where are they now?
USA TODAY editors
Marcy Borders, the "dust lady" photographed in the aftermath of 9/11, died recently from stomach cancer.
USA TODAY Network looks at the current lives of other individuals captured in seminal photos from that time.
Andrew Card
THEN: White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispers in President George W. Bush's ear that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York City. Bush was visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla., the morning of the attacks.
NOW: Card held his chief of staff position for six years. In 2011, he was elected dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Today he serves as president of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H.
Bob Beckwith
THEN: Bob Beckwith, a retired New York City Fire Department firefighter, was helping out with rescue efforts when President George W. Bush visited Ground Zero in New York on September 14, 2001. Beckwith tested the remnants of a burned firetruck to make sure it was safe for the president to stand on. When the president climbed up to address the public, he asked Beckwith to stay and stand with him.
NOW: Beckwith lives on Long Island and actively volunteers with the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. The helmet he wore in the photograph is on display at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
Rudolph Giuliani
THEN: Then-mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani wore a face mask on September 12, 2001, while touring the wreckage.
NOW: While no longer in office, Giuliani is still in the public eye, commenting in the media about political issues. The former mayor is a partner at the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani and also serves as CEO of Giuliani Partners, a consulting firm.
Edward Fine
THEN: Businessman Edward Fine worked at Intercapital Planning Corp. when the attacks happened on September 11, 2001. A photo of him wearing a suit and walking through debris while covering his face became an iconic image of the aftermath. The photo appeared on the cover of Fortune magazine days later.
NOW: Fine continues to work in finance, according to interviews from 2011. On what appears to be Fine's Twitter account, he describes himself as a "Business Consultant, $UNIS supporter, family man. Fortune Mag cover, 9/11 survivor."
Daniel McWilliams, George Johnson and William "Billy" Eisengrein
THEN: Firefighters Daniel McWilliams, George Johnson and William "Billy" Eisengrein were unknowingly photographed raising an American flag at Ground Zero following the attacks. The image has been compared to a previous iconic photo of six U.S. Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.
NOW: Daniel McWilliams and George Johnson are still active firefighters. William "Billy" Eisengrein is now retired. The original flag in the photo went missing shortly after the image was taken and its whereabouts remain unknown. The mystery was explored in CNN's 2013 film The Flag.
Gallery: National Archives photos of White House on 9/11


This letter can be used to send to officials to support conversion of traditional roundups into educational no-kill events. The below is written regarding the Apache Rattlesnake Festival in Oklahoma, but a few simple edits replacing the state and name of roundup are all that is needed to use for other roundups. It is also best to personalize the letter to the person(s) it is being sent.
Just copy/paste the letter below. Also, it's helpful to edit and personalize a bit so the officials receive mixed letters with the same basic message. Thank you for helping rattlesnakes!
Please take action to stop the contribution to the extinction of our native snakes by asking the promoters of the Apache Rattlesnake Festival to evolve this roundup into an educational no-kill event. This annual roundup is a contest in which hunters bring in hundreds of snakes to be butchered and inhumanely displayed. This is depleting populations of native rattlesnakes in Oklahoma and surrounding states, while also placing them on the brink of extinction. Traditional roundups promote misinformation and irrational fears, while also encouraging people to unjustly treat snakes with hatred. Of critical importance, this is animal cruelty!
All of the above reasons are flawed and irrational. Here are just a few factual rebuttals.
It has been proven across the country that educational no-kill events produce more revenue and attract more attendees than traditional roundups. Traditional roundups that have converted have seen huge increases in profits, while new educational no-kill events are taking foothold to help conservation efforts, while also attracting tourism.
Populations of these snakes do not need to be controlled. Rattlesnake species across the country are already facing extinction from human encroachment, loss of habitat, pollution and road kills. The added pressure of collection for these roundups has already extirpated them from many localities. Like them or not, rattlesnakes and other snakes are important to our environment and help control rodent populations. Also, science does not support the claims that roundups are essential to prevent overpopulation.
Venom collected from these rattlesnakes at roundups cannot be used to produce antivenin. Only venom collected in a sterile environment may be used for this purpose and venom collected during these roundups is not purchased by medical laboratories. Yes, snakes are milked at roundups, but it is for entertainment only.
While these roundups preach education, they actually lead to bites from venomous snakes. The events condone the killing of rattlesnakes, and the vast majority of venomous snake bites occur when people interact with them, either attempting to kill them or pick them up. These roundups actually encourage rattlesnake interaction, which is dangerous if untrained. To the opposite, the educational events teach how to be responsible when encountering animals in the wild.
In addition to harming rattlesnakes, these roundups include collection practices that harm other wildlife, plants and the environment. For example, "gassing" is common to collect rattlesnakes. This involves using gasoline or other hazardous liquids to flush rattlesnakes from ground burrows. This practice harms tortoises, mammals, non-venomous snakes, ground birds, amphibians, and other animals, not to mention plants and the overall environment. Some of the other species harmed are already endangered or threatened. In addition, collection practices result in habitat destruction and can pollute water sources.
Think about the future! New traditions need to be implemented celebrating our natural world without needless slaughter. This has proven to be more successful than ever by illustrating an appreciation for wildlife and nature, not decimation. By supporting demonization of rattlesnakes, we are encouraging all snakes to be killed, as well as vilifying all animals that are not cute and fuzzy.
The rattlesnake roundup is an outdated, inhumane tradition. This is a massacre of nature solely for the purposes of profit and entertainment (to some miseducated individuals). Instead, events must spread awareness of the ecologically important role that rattlesnakes play, while educating attendees about all aspects of the rattlesnake world. We must teach appreciation of nature in a world already struggling due to our urbanization. Future generations will have no empathy for any wild animal or our environment if do not begin changing what lessons we teach. Thank you for your time and consideration on this important matter.


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text:
Herald.ie› Sport›
UEFA probe likely as Waterford slam decision
Aidan Fitzmaurice – 20 April 2019 02:30 AM
Blues owner Lee Power. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
UEFA a may be called in to examiner the FAI's club licencing system after the latest embarrassment for the association saw Waterford protest about their removal from the Europa League.
And FAI League Director Fran Gavin may be asked to explain his comments in pre-season where, when asked if the club's arrangements with creditors were enough to satisfy UEFA, he said "absolutely".
The FAI also have questions to answer from the club as Blues owner Lee Power claims the club were "totally misled by the FAI" and "given assurances".
The Blues had been planning for a return to Europe for the first time since 1986, having finished fourth in the Premier Division last season.
The Munster club had applied for an exemption from UEFA to allow them get around around a rule which states that clubs must b e in business for at least three years before they can compete in UEFA competition.
Waterford had held a series of meetings with UEFA to try and get clearance to play in the Europa, but on Thursday night the FAI confirmed that UEFA had denied them permission to compete, and their Europa slot will pass to St Patrick's Athletic.
But Blues owner Lee Power has already lodged an appeal with UEFA and promised to seek compensation, arguing that the club were given promises by the FAI about their European slot.
"Everyone at Waterford FC is deeply shocked and saddened at the news that we have been expelled from playing in the Europa League this season. We feel we have been totally misled by the FAI and were given assurances throughout this five-month process by them that the licence would be granted. We also had club visits by UEFA Delegates during this period of which no issues were raised," Power said.
"As a club, we entered into substantial commercial agreements and invested heavily into the team and also budgeted for the qualification money due in November. This will now have a serious financial impact on the club going forward.
"The circumstances to which this decision has been made and the events over the last week are unclear and dubious, bearing in mind representations made to us and assurances given.
"We will be asking for a full investigation into the FAI handling of this matter.
"I have instructed my UK Lawyers to lodge an immediate appeal with UEFA and will pursue any legal avenue we have with regards to compensation and/or any wrong doing," his statement added.
Concerns over Waterford's ability to play in Europe were flagged in pre-season, due to the fact that the club were renamed and rebranded at the start of the 2017, making it doubtful they would meet the three-year criteria. Derry City were denied a place in Europe in 2012 as their new operating company was only two years old.
"Waterford will go through the process that Derry went through with UEFA where they have to make a case for licensing because they are a new entity there but at the moment we don't see any significant issues around Waterford that would prohibit them from getting a licence," FAI official Gavin said in February, before the season began.
Asked about a case taken by former manager Roddy Collins against the Blues over his sacking in 2016, a case which went before the Labour Relations Commission due to unpaid wages, Gavin said that issue had been dealt with by virtue of the fact that the club gained a licence to compete domestically.
"They've got a licence so whatever arrangement has been made there has been acceptable to licensing," Gavin said. If UEFA do launch a probe of the affair, they will ask FAI interim CEO Rea Walshe to comment, as she was on the FAI's independent licencing committee.
Reports claim that Power, a former Ireland U21 player, could withdraw his financial support for the club on the back of the UEFA decision. Waterford lost €526,000 last season, according to their accounts.


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Coventry activist with Down's Syndrome says abortion law makes her feel 'better off dead'
18,000 people have signed a petition against the law
Laura Parnaby
Rachel Stretton
Heidi Crowter, a young woman with Down's syndrome from Coventry, who has presented a petition to Number 10 against an abortion law which makes her feel like she would be "better off dead" (Image: PA Video/PA Wire)
A campaigner has hit out at abortion regulations which she describes as "discrimination in the womb".
Heidi Crowter, who has Down's Syndrome, presented a petition to Number 10 against an abortion law which makes her feel like she would be "better off dead".
Ms Crowter, 24, and 18,000 signatories have demanded that MPs do not pass a Bill endorsing regulations that allow the abortion of babies with non-fatal disabilities until the point of birth in Northern Ireland.
A police officer delivers a petition from Disability rights activist, Heidi Crowter, calling for changes to the new abortion laws in Northern Ireland, to 10 Downing Street (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Under the regulations, which came into effect in March, abortions are permitted at any time up to birth when there has been a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality or where the child is likely to suffer severe mental or physical impairment, including Down's syndrome.
A majority of Stormont Assembly members voted to support a motion rejecting this "imposition" of abortion regulations by Westminster on June 2.
The outcome of the vote has no impact on the law, but the DUP insisted it sent a message to the Government highlighting the need for changes to the regulations.
Speaking at Downing Street on Tuesday, Ms Crowter said: "I'm asking them (MPs) to respect the vote of Northern Ireland and make sure that it stands, and to allow equality in the womb for every baby.
"I want this to happen because I'm someone who has Down's Syndrome and I feel that the law makes me upset, it makes me feel like I'm better off dead.
Heidi Crowter (Image: Heidi Crowter/PA Wire)
"I think it sends a really negative message. And in the words of a classic song, you are amazing just the way you are."
Ms Crowter, from Coventry, added: "I think the law which allows abortion up to birth for non-fatal disabilities such as mine is downright discrimination in the womb."
"It's just wrong"
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who headed up the petition with Baroness O'Loan, said the Bill is "wrong" both constitutionally and morally.
She said: "The words that ring out in my mind is that it makes Heidi feel like she shouldn't exist, and that's just wrong.
"The most basic human right is the right to life and everyone has that right to life.
Disability rights activist, Heidi Crowter (centre), with her mother, Liz Crowter (left) and DUP MP Carla Lockhart (right) outside Downing Street, London, whilst a police officer delivers her petition of 18,000 signatures calling for changes to the new abortion laws in Northern Ireland (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
"If you have a cleft palate, a club foot or Down's syndrome, you can be aborted. That's just wrong, so we want to stop that."
She added: "The people of Northern Ireland do not want these extreme abortion laws imposed upon them.
"They are the most liberal in all of Europe, and it's important that the Government get the message before the vote tomorrow that MPs recognise that the people of Northern Ireland do not want them.
"Constitutionally it's wrong from a devolution point of view, so we're asking them to stop with these laws and listen to the people of Northern Ireland."
Government U-turn on free school meals will benefit thousands of Coventry children
Family launch appeal against church's rejection of Irish-language words on grave
Decision "does not cast judgement"
Approximately 40,000 people in the UK have Down's syndrome, according to the Down's Syndrome Association, who have also voiced support for Heidi's petition.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has voiced support for the Bill, saying the "extremely difficult decisions are best left to a woman."
The head of external affairs at BPAS, Clare Murphy, said: "Women making these decisions are not casting judgment on Heidi and the value of her life - they are trying to do what is best in the most challenging circumstances many of us could imagine."
"Rather than being forced into a decision, the current legal framework gives women time to understand the severity of a condition and to come to the right decision for her and her family based on the individual circumstances of herself and her pregnancy," she added.


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Q: Google Apps Script: How to fix "failed while accessing document"? Fails on same line every time I am by no means an expert - I've been teaching myself Google Apps Script while building this script and I cannot figure out how to fix the issue.
This specific section of my code is filtering a spreadsheet with two separate criteria. The first is filtering by a specific string in column A, the other is filtering by the cell background color in column D. I was using this EXACT code without an issue a few days ago but, as my script grew, the background color filtering is no longer working and throws this error every time:

Exception: Service Spreadsheets failed while accessing document with id [Correct ID]

Here is the code:
function deletecolor() {
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var sheet1 = ss.getSheetByName("Master");
  var range = sheet1.getRange(['A:L']);
  var filter = range.createFilter();

  var Filter_Depreciated = SpreadsheetApp.newFilterCriteria().whenTextDoesNotContain(["DEPRECATED"]);
  var Filter_Background = SpreadsheetApp.newFilterCriteria().setVisibleBackgroundColor(SpreadsheetApp.newColor().setRgbColor("#ffffff").build());
  filter.setColumnFilterCriteria(1,Filter_Depreciated);
  filter.setColumnFilterCriteria(4,Filter_Background);
}

The exception is thrown on the filter.setColumnFilterCriteria(4,Filter_Background); line every single time. I have about 900 other lines of code in this script all calling on the exact same document and no other line of code fails.
Dear people who know so much more than I do, please help!

A: I had alternating row background colors set on this sheet from the Google Apps Script. When I removed the alternating colors, the script worked.
For anyone who may need the answer in the future, here is my code that is working:
function deletecolor() {
  var rangeBackground = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getDataRange();
  rangeBackground.getBandings().forEach(banding => banding.remove());

  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var sheet1 = ss.getSheetByName("Master");
  var range = sheet1.getRange(['A:L']);
  var filter = range.createFilter();

  var Filter_Depreciated = SpreadsheetApp.newFilterCriteria().whenTextDoesNotContain(["DEPRECATED"]);
  var Filter_Background = SpreadsheetApp.newFilterCriteria().setVisibleBackgroundColor(SpreadsheetApp.newColor().setRgbColor("#ffffff").build());
  filter.setColumnFilterCriteria(1,Filter_Depreciated);
  filter.setColumnFilterCriteria(4,Filter_Background);
}


The initial material that is gathered on the application form, along with a signed medical authorization from the claimant, is then transferred to the state agency responsible for making the actual disability determination for the Federal Government in each state. In Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, this is referred to as the Disability Determination Services (DDS). In Maine, the office is located in the capital of Augusta, in New Hampshire, the office is located in Concord and in Massachusetts, there are offices in Boston and Worcester. Once the case is transferred from one's local Social Security Administration office (referred to as the District Office) to DDS, a disability claims examiner (or adjudicator) is then assigned to work on the case. They are given the task of ensuring that all of the relevant treatment records are obtained that are both listed in your application or that are subsequently pointed out to DDS by the claimant or their representative. The DDS adjudicator is not, however, provided with the responsibility of obtaining helpful documentation from one's treatment providers that might support a finding that one either meets a medical listing of impairment or remains disabled from performing one's past relevant work or other work.
Simply because DDS is working in a neutral manner to gather evidence does not mean they are working against you. As a Social Security lawyer practicing throughout Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire for 27 years, we understand it's our job to work with you and with DDS to ensure all of the medical documentation is being obtained (including supportive reports from your doctors that not only address the medical listings of impairments but also the extent to which you remain functionally disabled from performing tasks that would be necessary in a work environment). Assuming one is denied at the initial level in Maine and Massachusetts, then a reconsideration takes place that once again involves DDS's involvement in obtaining the updated medical documentation from those providers listed in the Disability Report Appeal filed with SSA.
With the understanding that the process is non-adversarial, it's important to recognize that Social Security's rules expect all parties (both the claimant and their representative) to be both forthright in the claims made before the Agency. The individual claimant face very serious penalties associated with making false statements or representations on their application materials, and representatives are required to submit all evidence that relates to whether a claimant is disabled or not.
In the event one is denied on reconsideration in Maine or Massachusetts, or even on their initial application in New Hampshire, it then becomes necessary to appeal for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). As this may require a hearing before a judge, it's understandable that this could cause great concern. It is important to remember, however, that the process is taking place before a neutral judge, and there is no party that is on the other side arguing against you. One of the first things an ALJ will inform you is that he is a neutral fact finder who has been assigned by SSA to hear your case, he is not bound by prior decision, and he will make a new decision based on the evidence that has been submitted (both medical and supporting application materials included), the testimony that day and any arguments that may be made by your counsel (or yourself, if self-represented).
If you or someone you love feels as though they have been unfairly treated by SSA, or want to ensure that you receive a fair and detailed review of your claim, contact the Law Offices of Russell J. Goldsmith at 1-800-773-8622 for a no cost consultation.


There's an elephant in the room in a recent Washington Post Op-Ed "Can Lebanon survive Syria, Israel—and President Trump" that discusses challenges facing the Lebanese state. That elephant is the open support of the Lebanese government for Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Muslim, U.S.-designated terror group, which has fed off its Beirut host-turned-advocate for decades. The July 25, 2017 Post commentary by former Post correspondent Nora Boustany and writer Daniel Williams effectively whitewashes the country's current support for Hezbollah.
Trump, the writers argue, "Should not end U.S. support for Lebanon's armed forces." Yet—perhaps in order to advance their argument—The Post Op-Ed omits relevant facts, namely why and how Hezbollah's power is "growing" and what this portends for Lebanon, Israel and the region writ large.
Indeed, two key words are missing from Boustany and Williams' Op-Ed: Michael Aoun. This is curious given that Aoun is Lebanon's President. He's also a Hezbollah ally.
Aoun, The Post noted in that October dispatch, had angered "many Lebanese by dispatching fighters to aid President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria without receiving permission from Lebanon's government." That is, the eighty-one year-old Aoun, as commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), assisted a U.S.-designated terrorist group in its efforts to prop up a genocidal dictator.
Badran also pointed out that the LAF "chaperoned" Hezbollah on a media tour of the border with Israel—an area in which the terror group used environmental NGOs as cover to conduct surveillance on Israel, as the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) noted in an Aug. 2, 2017 Washington Examiner Op-Ed ("Hezbollah's Media Relations Department").
The Washington Post itself, in a July 31, 2017 report made after another "tour" with the terrorist group, pointed out that "nowhere was there any evidence of the Lebanese state" on the Israel-Lebanon border; Hezbollah, which de facto runs the country, controlled it all. Hezbollah even has elected members of parliament—not that they're necessary when a pro-Hezbollah commander-in-chief is able to send forces abroad sans parliamentary support.
Importantly, that July 31 Post dispatch, like Boustany and Williams' Op-Ed, omits that Hezbollah's very existence violates U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, which called for the group to disband.
Instead, Hezbollah has made war on the Jewish state and turned Lebanon into a Vichy-like state that, similar to France during World War II, is also led by an aging autocrat who has made his peace with and concessions to Jew-hatred and war.
Hezbollah's ally and enabler, the LAF, as journalist and analyst Lee Smith pointed out in The Weekly Standard, is the fifth largest recipient of U.S. military aid. In 2016, the LAF received $220 million ("The Lebanese Army is Misusing Aid," Nov. 14, 2016). Yet, Prime Minister Hairi—who Boustany and Williams paint as fighting Hezbollah—wants more. This, despite the fact that, according to Smith, "pictures of a Hezbollah parade in the Syrian city of Qusayr showed Hezbollah fighters using American-made personnel carriers (ACPS)"—illustrating the danger that U.S. military aid to the LAF can wind up in the hands of a terrorist group, which, prior to the Sept. 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attack, was responsible for more American deaths than any other Islamist group.
Unsurprisingly, these details were also omitted in the Post commentary. Perhaps it would have ruined the sales pitch.


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Rosalie Triolo will present the History Council of South Australia Annual Lectures on 7 & 8 August 2015. Her talk, 'Our Schools and the Great War' will throw new light on South Australians during the First World War. The annual lectures are sponsored by the Cultural Fund of the Copyright Agency. Further information.
Deborah Wilson's Different White People: Radical Activism For Aboriginal Rights 1946-1972 (UWA Publishing) presents a trilogy of stories about campaigns for Aboriginal rights in which an eclectic group of people working tirelessly to protect and support Aboriginal people and Aboriginal rights were not themselves Aboriginal.
Robin Derricourt's Antiquity Imagined: The Remarkable Legacy of Egypt and the Ancient Near East (I.B. Tauris) explores how Egypt's past has been creatively interpreted by later ages and shows in depth how ancient Egypt and the surrounding lands have so continuously and seductively tantalised the Western imagination.


text:
Home News GSK Invests $300M in 23andMe as Companies Collaborate on Drug Development
Autoimmune Disease Drugs
GSK Invests $300M in 23andMe as Companies Collaborate on Drug Development
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said today it has made a $300 million equity investment in 23andMe under a collaboration designed to accelerate development of new therapies for both companies by using genetic data to identify new drug targets.
The collaboration is intended to combine 23andMe's expertise in gathering and analyzing data from the five million customers in its research platform, which the company says includes the world's largest consented, re-contactable database, with GSK's know-how in R&D and commercialization.
GSK, which has overhauled its R&D effort over the past year, said today its partnership with 23andMe reflects a new strategy focusing on science related to the immune system, the use of genetic data, and investments in advanced technologies.
The pharma giant disclosed one potential new therapy it plans to study with 23andMe—a small molecule Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibitor that is in preclinical development as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease, having been implicated in the autosomal dominant form of the disorder.
The companies said they expect to make progress on the LRRK2 inhibitor by applying 23andMe's base of customers who know about their LRRK2 variant status after having their genetic data collected and analyzed by 23andMe.
The inhibitor of the LRRK2 mutated protein is among existing early-stage programs that both companies said they plan to study in order to begin work quickly. The mutation appears in only 1% to 2% of people with Parkinson's, the second-most common neurodegenerative disease with about 10 million people affected worldwide, about 1 million of them in the U.S. according to the Parkinson's Foundation—including 250 customers of 23andMe.
"The idea that there are 250 patients in the 23andMe database, most of whom have probably consented to research, and for whom there might be an available therapy, but would have taken maybe many, many years to conduct a trial, could be done significantly faster….We can really speed up the development time as well, making us very excited about the opportunity of pursuing this," Hal Barron, M.D., GSK's CSO and president, R&D, said this morning during a conference call with reporters.
Added Anne Wojcicki, CEO and co-founder of 23andMe, "With over 80% of customers consenting to participate in research, it's really clear that a lot of our customers want to play an active role in discovering and developing treatments and cures for diseases."
'Beginning to Discuss the Details'
Answering a GEN question during the conference call, Richard Scheller, Ph.D., 23andMe's CSO and head of therapeutics, said his company and GSK have yet to nail down the early-stage programs.
"We're just beginning to discuss the details around those potential collaborations," Dr. Scheller said. "We have a number of drug discovery projects that we've started in the areas of autoimmune, cancer immunotherapy, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, liver disease, and so on."
Dr. Scheller added that the company has not publicly disclosed its therapeutic targets for those programs. "Just today, we are disclosing them to GSK to begin the discussions of which might enter into a collaboration."
"I'm looking forward to seeing that data," Dr. Barron added.
The two were colleagues at Genentech, where Dr. Barron was once SVP of development and chief medical officer. He later served as president of R&D at Calico (California Life Sciences LLC), a Google-backed company launched in 2013, until joining GSK effective January 1. Dr. Scheller served as Genentech's EVP of research and early development until 23andMe appointed him in 2015 to lead its therapeutics group.
Since then, Dr. Scheller said, the group has launched several drug discovery programs and built out 23andMe's capabilities for finding drug targets.
"We have a lot of information about immune phenotypes and immune dysregulated diseases, including psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and way, way too many to even comment on. We also gain insights into the immune system from asking questions like, 'How do you respond to poison oak or a mosquito bite?' and so on," Dr. Scheller said.
"One of the most interesting sets of observations that we've made has to do with potential cancer immunotherapy targets, when we find a certain group of patients have an increase in autoimmunity and a decrease in certain types of cancer, suggesting that these variants are in genes that may be good targets for cancer immunotherapy," he added. "We have a vast amount of information on human variants and the response of the human immune system to these variants, and we look forward to working with GSK to exploit this data."
GSK has overhauled its R&D pipeline, last year terminating more than 30 clinical and preclinical programs deemed by the company as "unlikely to generate sufficient returns.
40 NMEs in Pipeline
GSK finished the second quarter with total operating profit of £779 million ($1.023 billion) on revenue of £7.31 billion ($9.6 billion).
In announcing Q2 results today, GSK said it currently has over 40 new molecular entities in its pharmaceutical pipeline, with several candidates expected to reach the market over the next two years, including two combination treatments for HIV—dolutegravir+lamivudine and cabotegravir+ripilvirine—as well as the oncology treatment GSK 2857916, a BCMA antibody-drug conjugate.
Dr. Barron noted that GSK has had four approvals of new treatments in the past 10 months, with a fifth anticipated soon. He said the company needs to focus its R&D on the immune system and other therapeutic areas where targets can be developed to treat multiple diseases.
GSK's revamped R&D strategy, he said, would emphasize "science related to immune system, as well as the use of human genetics and functional genomics to identify promising targets, while exploring other technologies that we think will be very, very helpful for that approach, which includes machine learning and other advanced analytics."
"We think the combination of science and technology will generate new insights and direct us to many exciting targets, as well as help us focus to ultimately have a more exciting pipeline and improve our probability of success for the medicines that enter clinical testing," Dr. Barron added.
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The weather is looking very nice tomorrow morning. Its supposed to be Sunny, near 70 degrees, and light winds! There could be rain in the afternoon, but we should be back before then.
On Friday, June 8th - Lake Potanipo, Brookline, NH.


Big Island police are asking for the public's help in locating a man who escaped from police custody.
Puna patrol officers arrested 19-year-old Rico Nasario of Pāhoa on an outstanding bench warrant on June 11. He was arrested without incident but fled the Kea'au police station during processing. He remains at large.
Police ask that anyone with information on Nasario's whereabouts call Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2378 or the Police Department's non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 392-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.