text:
LTI to acquire Powerupcloud Technologies
NEW DELHI: Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI), a global technology consulting and digital solutions company is acquiring Powerupcloud Technologies, a fast-growing cloud consulting company headquartered in Bengaluru, and helping clients across India, Singapore, UAE and USA.
With more than 180 employees, Powerup brings a strong team of cloud consulting, artificial intelligence and data analytics professionals to LTI.
Founded in 2015, Powerup is a born-in-the-cloud, Premier Consulting Partner of AWS. It is the only AWS certified partner in APAC to have both Data & Analytics Competency and Machine Learning Competency, and one of the few certified partners of AWS with competencies across Migration, DevOps, Financial Services, Well-Architected, and Security & Compliance. With expertise across cloud, big data, artificial intelligence, and product engineering, Powerup is also a Gold Partner of Microsoft Azure and a Cloud Consulting Partner of Google Cloud Platform.
Powerup has executed over 150 projects in cloud transformation. Powerup would add two AI-based platforms to LTI's powerful suite of offerings. CloudEnsure.io, an autonomous Cloud Governance Platform that continuously monitors an enterprise's cloud services, detects security and compliance violations in real-time and recommends or executes appropriate fixes. The other platform is Botzer.io, an Enterprise AI Platform that helps organizations adopt AI faster across Natural Language Processing, Image Recognition, Deep Learning use-cases and saves time spent in trial-and-error experimentation.
Sanjay Jalona, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, LTI, said: "We see a huge market opportunity for cloud consulting across all sectors and regions. Our clients are adopting cloud to digitize their core operations and becoming data-driven organizations. Powerup strengthens our ability to partner with them in their cloud transformation journey. I welcome the customers, employees and partners of Powerup to the fast-growing LTI family."
Siva S, Founder & CEO, Powerup, said: "With its global customer base and agility, LTI makes the perfect home for next phase of growth of Powerup. Our expertise across major public cloud platforms offers us an enormous opportunity to grow, learn, iterate and build well-engineered technology solutions for enterprises. We are excited about the potential of rapid growth and expansion with LTI."
Powerup is the sixth acquisition by LTI since the company got listed in 2016 and fourth in this calendar year. Earlier in 2019, LTI acquired Ruletronics, a boutique Pega Consulting company, N+P (NEILSEN+PARTNER), a Temenos Wealthsuite specialist, and Lymbyc, an advanced analytics company.
Related Topics:LTIPowerupcloud Technologies
ClearTax acquires Dose FM
Nokia 6.2 arrives in India
LTI inaugurates Satellite Center in Kolkata
LTI partners with IIT Madras to innovate in 5G space
LTI inaugurates new delivery center in Hyderabad
LTI, IBM inaugurate innovation and experience center in Bengaluru
L&T Technology Services partners with Microsoft
LTI to acquire Cuelogic
LTI appoints Anil Rander as its Chief Financial Officer
LTI selects Temenos to launch digital banking platform in Nordic market
NEW DELHI: Apple Inc has rolled out a beta programme to enable 5G on Apple devices as the upgrade lets users try out pre-release software.
This software upgrade enables 5G access on Apple devices, as and when service providers Jio, Airtel and Vodafone enable 5G network access, sources said.
Apple Users have to enrol for the Beta Programme on the website, install a profile and download the software.
Jio users using iPhone 12 and above, in cities where JioTrue5G has been rolled out, will be invited to the Jio Welcome Offer. Jio Welcome Offer provides unlimited 5G data at up to 1 Gbps speed to users at no additional cost. However, there is a condition that prepaid users must be on active Rs 239 and above plan. All Postpaid users are eligible for this trial.
Airtel is not providing any special 5G offer like Jio to their users. In the cities/areas in which the Airtel 5G network has been launched, users can trial 5G services as a part of their existing plan, once they have updated the latest Apple Beta software.
While an email sent to Apple did not solicit an immediate response, the firm had last month stated: "We are working with our carrier partners in India to bring the best 5G experience to iPhone users as soon as network validation and testing for quality and performance is completed. 5G will be enabled via a software update and will start rolling out to iPhone users in December".
Airtel and Jio customers on iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone SE (3rd generation) models can experience 5G as part of Apple's iOS 16 Beta Software Program. The Apple Beta Software Program is open to anyone with a valid Apple ID who accepts the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement during the sign-up process.
If a user has an iCloud account, that is an Apple ID, it is recommended they use that. If they do not have an iCloud account or any other Apple ID, they can create one.
Customers who want to try the beta software should back up their iPhones before installing the beta software. It is recommended to install the beta software only on non-production devices that are not business-critical. Users can also provide feedback to Apple on quality and usability, which helps Apple identify issues, fix them, and make Apple software even better.
The iOS beta comes with the built-in Feedback Assistant app, which can be opened from the Home screen on the iPhone or iPad or from the Dock on the Mac.
Source: Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI: Nokia has announced that it has been selected as a major supplier by Reliance Jio to supply 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment from its comprehensive AirScale portfolio countrywide in a multi-year deal. Reliance Jio is India's number one mobile operator and has one of the largest RAN footprints in the world.
Under the contract, Nokia will supply equipment from its AirScale portfolio, including base stations, high-capacity 5G Massive MIMO antennas, and Remote Radio Heads (RRH) to support different spectrum bands, and self-organizing network software. Reliance Jio plans to deploy a 5G standalone network which will interwork with its 4G network. The network will enable Reliance Jio to deliver advanced 5G services such as massive machine-to-machine communications, network slicing, and ultra-low-latency.
Akash Ambani, Chairman Reliance Jio, commented: "We are pleased to be working with Nokia for our 5G SA deployment in India. Jio is committed to continuously investing in the latest network technologies to enhance the experience of all of its customers. We are confident that our partnership with Nokia will deliver one of the most advanced 5G networks globally."
Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO at Nokia stated: "This is a significant win for Nokia in an important market and a new customer with one of the largest RAN footprints in the world. This ambitious project will introduce millions of people across India to premium 5G services, enabled by our industry-leading AirScale portfolio. We are proud that Reliance Jio has placed its trust in our technology and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with them."
Nokia has a long-standing presence in India. This new deal will mean that Nokia is now supplying India's three largest mobile operators.
NEW DELHI: Ericsson has announced that it has entered into a long-term strategic 5G contract with Indian communications service provider (CSP) Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. (Jio) to roll out 5G Standalone (SA) in the country.
The announcement follows the allocation of 5G spectrum in the recently concluded auctions in India. This is the first partnership between Jio and Ericsson for radio access network deployment in the country.
Announcing the partnership, Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio, says: "We are delighted to partner with Ericsson for Jio's 5G SA rollout. Jio transformed the digital landscape in India with the launch of LTE services in 2016. We are confident that Jio's 5G network will accelerate India's digitalization and will serve as the foundation for achieving our nation's 'Digital India' vision."
Jio's Standalone 5G network deployment represents a major technology leap since it modernizes the network infrastructure to deliver a truly transformative 5G experience to consumers and enterprises. The capabilities of 5G SA are expected to drive innovation and build a robust 5G ecosystem and deliver advanced services.
Ericsson's energy-efficient 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) products and solutions from Ericsson Radio System and E-band microwave mobile transport solution will be deployed in the 5G network for Jio. All products and solutions are deployed on new-build 5G SA networks, designed to maximize the benefits of 5G to CSPs and their customers – whether individual subscribers or enterprise and industry customers.
Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson, says: "India is building world-class digital infrastructure that will drive innovation, job creation and entrepreneurship across the country. We are happy to partner with Jio in those ambitions, through Ericsson 5G Standalone connectivity, which will be a major catalyst in meeting those digital transformation goals across society, enterprise and industry."


TOKYO (Reuters) - Defending champion Brooks Koepka will take a four-stroke lead into the final day of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament after firing a sizzling seven-under-par 64 in the third round on Saturday.
The U.S. Open champion mixed eight birdies with a single bogey at Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki to move to 16-under 197 for the tournament, four shots better than South Korean Lee Sang-hee, whose 66 was good enough for second place.
Koepka's compatriot Xander Schauffele hit five birdies and a single bogey in his 67 for third place on 11-under, with another South Korean, Ryu Hyun-woo, a shot further back in fourth after a 69.
Japan's world number four Hideki Matsuyama bogeyed his penultimate hole to drop to a level-par 71 and sixth place on eight-under, a stroke behind his fifth-placed compatriot Toshinori Muto (68).
Koepka, who has made retaining a title one of his goals for the year, picked up a shot at his final hole on Friday to take a one-shot overnight lead and continued in the same vein with birdies at his first two holes on Saturday.
A couple more at the fifth and seventh took him well clear of the field at the turn and, after his single blemish at the par-four 12th, he picked up four more strokes on the way home.


I found this Coconut Oil Fudge recipe and made it for my butterfly tea party. A few people have since asked for the recipe so here it is. I used a jar of coconut oil (costs about £5 in our local deli) and a little honey but I think it would have been sweet enough without any honey or syrup – but you can taste to see as you make it.
Super metabolism boosting coconut oil fudge recipe made healthy with natural ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa powder, raw honey (stevia can be used if you prefer) and vanilla extract. That's it! No corn syrup, marshmallows, frosting or chocolate chips needed. Enjoy!
Coconut and chocolate is a match made in heaven! They pair well together in many of my popular recipes like my homemade chocolate bar recipe, chocolate coconut butter bars recipe, homemade "Mounds" candy recipe, homemade junior mints recipe and my magic hard shell recipe.
I've been working on this homemade fudge recipe for months. I wanted a simple recipe that could be tweaked easily for special dietary needs. I used raw honey to sweeten our fudge but other natural sweeteners can easily be substituted in its place. Raw cacao powder can be used in place of regular cocoa powder and expeller pressed coconut oil can be used in place of virgin coconut oil (some do better with expeller pressed because it's easier to digest). Add a few drops of Young Living peppermint essential oil or 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract for delicious mouth-watering peppermint fudge.
1. Measure 1/4 cup of coconut oil and scoop it out into a mixing bowl. Whip the coconut oil with a stand or hand mixer until it's light and fluffy (like this). Note: If your coconut oil is room temperature and already liquid you can skip this step.
2. Mix the whipped (or melted if you live in warmer climate) coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt together. Mix well and slowly add honey or sweetener of choice. Taste as you go to make sure you don't over sweeten your fudge. Mix in 2 drops of peppermint essential oil if using.
3. Pour fudge into a 9×5 inch pan (this is a bread size pan). Spread fudge evenly cover the pan with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate until fudge is set and hard, about 4 hours.
4. Cut fudge into small squares and serve.
via Coconut Oil Fudge – The Coconut Mama.
You're welcome, it was so easy too, my middle little (age 6) made it with me but tiny ones could easily help…and pretty healthy for them!
Wow, nice information and steps to create on Chocolate Fudge Recipes. Chocolate Fudge is good for health and tasty. I will try this. But previously, I got this kind of information from steviamystore.com. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Merilyn, it is a great recipe for the dairy free people in my life!


text:
AI Zone
DZone > AI Zone > Can AI Make Recruitment Fairer?
Can AI Make Recruitment Fairer?
Know about RAI, which processes millions of data points on job candidates and aims to allow recruiters to apply data-science to the art of recruitment.
Adi Gaskell
May. 29, 18 · AI Zone ·
Recently, I looked at a fascinating study that explored whether AI could do a better job of recruiting directors than the CEO themselves. The researchers identified a number of biases that prevent bosses from recruiting effectively, and the AI technology aimed to overcome them.
Suffice to say, the project isn't yet able to directly ensure that boards are more diverse than they currently are, but hopefully, it will at least shed some light on the lack of diversity in boards today, and therefore encourage companies to do a better job.
They do however point to a possible future whereby algorithms become more sophisticated and capable of doing a fairer and more effective job at recruiting than humans can. This could be especially so if given access to private data rather than relying purely on publicly available data to train on.
AI and Recruitment
One company that is aiming to bring such approaches to the market is recruitment startup, HiringSolved. Their RAI 2018 platform is a voice-recognition powered intelligent assistant for recruiters. It aims to provide a user-friendly talent-sourcing interface to hone in on the best candidates.
RAI is built upon the TalentFeed search engine that is at the core of HiringSolved's offering. It processes millions of data points on job candidates and aims to allow recruiters to apply data-science to the art of recruitment and therefore overcome some of the biases that hamper the profession.
"We're living in an era where anyone who uses a smartphone understands and interacts with voice recognition every day," the company says. "Yet, despite this universal use in the consumer technology sphere, enterprise technology is still highly complicated, to the point where it can take upwards of 40 hours just to train someone to be proficient in a solution, and then require 100-plus hours to master it. Contrary to the 'robots are taking over the world' movement, we're offering a user-friendly solution that increases human productivity, improves workflow, and most importantly, provides answers - not taking jobs away from them."
In the short/medium-term, this is probably going to be the application of AI in numerous fields. It's not revolutionizing recruitment in any way, shape, or form, but it is potentially taking some fairly routine tasks and making them more efficient.
If you're of the opinion that recruitment is a fundamentally broken process, then this limited impact will undoubtedly be something of a letdown, but hopefully, it's an acorn that can grow into something more meaningful in time.
The Complete Data Science LinkedIn Profile Guide
What Is a Transformer? — Inside Machine Learning
Introduction to TensorFlow
ai ,recruitment ,data science ,machine learning ,artificial intelligence
Published at DZone with permission of Adi Gaskell , DZone MVB. See the original article here.
AI Partner Resources

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"Speed, style and comfort! Onboard head. Nice stereo. Engine and hull in good shape. Stored high and dry under cover. Original owner maintained."
Nice bowrider with lots of seating and storage. Powerful and efficient 8.1L sterndrive motor with duo stainless steel props. This is the original owner. Upper and lower gear box replaced ~600 hour mark. All service and maintenance records. Motor and drive are professionally serviced every 100 hours.
Easy to operate, dock and anchoring is simple thanks to the power windlass.
The helm is sporty with clear gauges, all the accessory switches, another stereo remote and the remote for the anchor windlass. To port is a nicely sized onboard head with freshwater sink. The loud/crisp stereo system has speakers throughout and two more mounted on the Roswell sports arch.
Good condition and stored high and dry at a marina with full cockpit covers. Slight wear and tears on a few of the seat cushions (pictured) but nothing too bad. Gelcoat appears good overall with one small nick out of a rear corner above the waterline from a possible dock bump.
Unique find with full maintenance records from this original owner.
Professionally serviced every 100 hours. All receipts and paperwork since day 1 included.
In order to see all 225 photos, a video, and more, please quickly create an account. It just takes a second and you will have unlimited access to view information for this listing and ALL others on the website.
In order to see all 225 photos, a video, download a brochure, and more, please quickly create an account. It just takes a second and you will have unlimited access to view information for this listing and ALL others on the website.
In order to see all 225 photos, a video, download a brochure, and more, please quickly create an account. It just takes a second and you will have unlimited access to view information for this listing and ALL others on the website. If you don't use social media, click here to register with your email.


We walk you through the entire development process!
Crafterlife doesn't just take your instructions and start building, we work with you throughout the entire process, providing advice and feedback along the way.
Delivering you a high-quality product is as important to you as it is to us, so we're here for you the whole way.
Check out our sample training video from the founder!


Critical power switching device measurements, control loop modulation analysis, and line power harmonic testing are all simplified with a dedicated user interface and automatic measurements. Power Analyzer provides quick and easy setup of voltage and current inputs and makes measurements as simple as the push of a button. Tools are provided to help reduce sources of measurement errors, measurement parameters provide details of single cycle or average value over multiple cycles.
Areas of power device turn-on and turnoff transitions, and conduction are all identified with color-coded waveform overlays. Measurement parameter table automatically calculates each element of device losses and sums their total.
Modulation analysis capabilities provide insight to understand control loop response to critical events such as a power supply's soft start performance or step response to line and load changes.
Line power analysis tools provide insight to power consumption as well as enables quick precompliance testing to EN 61000-3-2. Decisions on power quality are aided with total harmonic distortion and analysis of contributions to distortion.
The Power Analyzer Package is available on a wide range of oscilloscope models from 200 MHz to 65 GHz.
Analyze power device performance while the device is operating in circuit. Easily make switching loss, dynamic-on resistance, dv/dt and di/dt measurements. Quickly view safe operating area and B-H hysteresis curves.
Turn-on, turn-off and conduction zones are identified with a colorcoded overlay, power losses in these zones are automatically measured and displayed. Losses associated with the switching, conduction, and off-state are measured independently and displayed along with the sum of selected loss types.
Gain insight to circuit performance by seeing SOA plots to look for violations in the first cycles after an event or over long time periods. Finding SOA violations that occur for only a few cycles after an event, such as short circuit or startup, can be problematic. These violations often go undetected, and degrade the device over time.
Using the long record length and fast processing of Power Analyzer, SOA display on very long records, confirm turn-off voltage and current limits are not exceeded.
View the behavior of a magnetic device while it operates in circuit. Dynamic circuit changes show resulting magnetic saturation and operating region.
View time domain display which graphically presents the modulated parameter in a time vs. parameter value graphical plot. A controller's output pulse widths, duty cycles or frequencies, are individually plotted and time correlated with the controller's output. Integrated with the oscilloscope's triggering capabilities, this analysis is a convenient tool for intuitively viewing the time domain, closed-loop response of the entire control loop, including any time constants added by the pulse width modulator.


text:
UNLOADED Vol. 2 is now available!
Anyone who regularly reads this blog, or follows me on social media, knows that I'm a passionate advocate for commonsense gun control—so I was delighted that Eric Beetner invited me to contribute to the second volume of his Anthony Award nominated UNLOADED series.
These anthologies are a who's who of the crime-fic world. UNLOADED Vol. 2: More Crime Writers Writing Without Guns features contributions from Sara Paretsky, James Ziskin, Laura McHugh, and the late Bill Crider, to name but a few. It also features a brand new short story called "Con Season" by yours truly. And, oh yeah, it's out today!
As with the first volume, every story in UNLOADED Vol. 2 is firearm-free—although guns feature prominently in E.A. Aymar's moving essay—and all proceeds go to States United to Prevent Gun Violence. To be clear, though, the UNLOADED series is neither partisan nor anti-gun. Contributing authors hail from both sides of the political aisle, and many of them own guns. What unites us is our desire to end put an end to senseless bloodshed. If you'd like to do your part, and get some kickass crime fiction in the process, pick up a copy of UNLOADED Vol. 2 today.
Authors Unload
7 Minutes With, Episode Three
"7 Minutes With, Episode Two" or "The Do Some Dama...
Four for Four(th)


text:
Robin Sims Trailblazer Award
Posted in Life's Little Moments, My Take on Autism, Uncategorized tagged Bobbie Gallagher, CARA, CDC, Center for Disease Control, Chris Smith, Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, DDD, Developmental Disabilities Act and Bill of Rights, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Gary Weiten, New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, NJCDD, POAC, POAC Autism Services, POAC Gala, Robin Sims, VOR at 11:06 am by autismmommytherapist
(Billy and Bobbie Gallagher)
Music from "The Godfather" serenaded us as me and my husband secured our seats, wending our way through brightly decorated tables which were filled by the attendees from this year's annual POAC Autism Services Gala. The theme this year was the roaring 20's, and amidst zoot suits and faux furs, feathers and fedoras, the guests not only showed their support for children and adults with autism by their attendance, but many enjoyed a much-needed night out as well. This is my second year participating in this event, and while Gary Weitzen's (Executive Director of POAC) welcoming speech is as usual filled with gratitude, there was a bit of a twist this year, an emphasis on an integral issue those of us with children on the autism spectrum must always remember.
All of us owe an enormous debt to those parents who came before us.
It's a sentiment I write and think about often, as I reside firmly in the younger generation of children with the disorder, being the mother of two boys whose ages remain in single digits. I've always said that although my family's journey has been arduous to say the least, the difference between our path and that of families with offspring at least ten years older than mine cannot compare. A decade or more before my eldest son was born, parents and others advocating for autism services both in government and in the schools had little or no support. In effect, they were starting from scratch so their children could receive even the bare minimum of assistance in terms of education, insurance coverage, and employment and residential opportunities when they reached adulthood.
Despite the difficulties of the challenges laid before them, many of the parents of children with autism who preceded me fought long and diligently to improve all areas of their children's lives, including changing society's perspectives on what individuals with autism can contribute to the world at large. They were trailblazers of the highest order, and every time I put my sons on their school busses, attend a recreational activity provided by POAC, or receive reimbursement for necessary therapies from our insurance provider, I try to remember to take a moment to mentally thank the individuals who eased my boys' way with their efforts.
And Saturday evening, Gary Weitzen and POAC took the time to thank two individuals who exemplify exceptional advocacy.
This year, several of POAC's board members created the Robin Sims Trailblazer Award to honor a relentless autism advocate, who was herself the mother of two children on the autism spectrum. Robin served for over a decade on the board of the VOR (the only national organization to advocate for a full range of quality residential options and services), and as their Board President until she passed. She also served as a member of the NJCDD, the New Jersey Council for Developmental Disabilities, which is the governing council for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Robin fought relentlessly to ensure that families, regardless of their respective ethnic and financial statuses, remained an integral part of the decision-making process regarding the fate of their adult children with disabilities.
She was a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to all who knew her, and a beloved sister, daughter, wife, and mother. Literally days before her death, members of Congress made time to meet with her regarding the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, listening to her impassioned pleas as she traversed the halls of the Capitol in her wheelchair. Tragically, she lost her fight to cancer seven months ago, leaving a void both within her family and within the autism community that will never be completely eradicated. She was utterly devoted to her two adult children with autism, and will be mourned by all who knew her.
Despite her myriad contributions, when it came time to select the first honoree for the Robin Sims Trailblazer Award, the choice was obvious. Bobbie Gallagher, an Ocean County resident and herself a mother of three, two of whom have autism, was the individual who most represented the same caliber of commitment and constancy in fighting for the rights of all individuals touched by autism spectrum disorders.
Our honoree, who by her own admission could not have accomplished all that she has without the help of her husband Billy Gallagher, has been working toward improving the lives of individuals with autism since her own daughter was diagnosed in the early nineties. She and her spouse were instrumental in soliciting the CDC to investigate a seeming cluster of children diagnosed with autism residing in Brick, NJ. While the study was inconclusive, it was the genesis for other vital studies that have assisted those with autism in the Garden State.
Bobbie's work and alliance with United States Congressman Chris Smith, himself a tireless autism advocate, helped bring about CARA (the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act), which was passed by Congress in 2006, and H.R. 2005, a bill created to reauthorize the initial CARA act. She is a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) who has offered many hours of her time to conduct trainings for parents and professionals through POAC Autism Services, as well as other autism organizations. For several decades, she has made an indelible contribution to our community.
In addition to all the "serious stuff", she's also a great mom, tough as nails, and a lot of fun.
I have it on good authority that Robin Sims, were she still with us, would have been thrilled by the selection of this particular individual. As I watched Bobbie receive her award at the Gala Saturday night, an honor capped off by the knowledge that the American flag had been flown over the Capitol in both of their names, I reflected on the torch that will soon be passed to my generation. We have to continue to make whatever contributions we can, both minute and monumental. It is imperative that we forge ahead on the path that has been set before us, one created by a labor of love.
And at the conclusion of Bobbie's moving speech, as an entire room stood to honor both women in gratitude, I reminded myself it was one of those moments to say "thank you", just this time out loud.


Shotgun myths, 3-Gun practice the right way, the evolution of 3-Gun and everything in between: Patrick Kelley was fired up for this interview and we covered a ton of ground. This is definitely one you are going to want to listen to twice.
If updating and upgrading your guns makes you go out and shoot them more, then go for it!
Win a Seekins Precision SBA15 Billet Receiver Set!
Win a Seekins Precision SBA15 Ambidextrous Billet Lower Receiver, Billet Upper Receiver and a 90 or 60 degree safety selector set.
Contest ends Monday September 28 at Midnight MDT.
A big thanks to Patrick for being on The 3-Gun Show!


text:
Alex Round
Following her previous post on using CLiC and BMI resources with A Level students, BMI trustee Alex Round steps into her role as a researcher of 19th century literature to discuss the themes of passion, convention and education in Dickens's Hard Times, and reflect on the educational role of the BMI. Her post is part of the BMI Lockdown Life series, guest-edited by Viola Wiegand and Michaela Mahlberg of the University of Birmingham's CLiC Blog. Join the conversation on Twitter with #BMILockdownLife.
In Victoria's England, the concept of childhood began to change following her succession to the throne. Initially, children of the working class were often forced by economic conditions to work, such as Charles Dickens, who lived in debtor's prison and worked in the Blacking Factory: "No words can express the secret agony of my soul" (Warren, 2011, p85). Following the 1830s, this newfound idea of childhood was motivated in part by a growing acceptance of the Romantic idea of the angelic child. This shift in attitude was partly due to the explosion of the population (from 9 million in 1801 to 36 million in 1911) in England – accompanied by urbanisation. By the end of the 19th century, most children lived and worked in an industrial environment rather than in cleaner, rural communities. This prompted social reformers to encourage better treatment of children; yet despite this, less than 20 percent of children had schooling, as education was only available to those who could afford it. Dickens advocated for education for all socioeconomic backgrounds, as he discusses the restrictions of passion and the effects of convention in his novels and how these affect characterial development.
As stated in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile, "The real world has its limits; the imaginary world is infinite" (Rousseau, 1979, p81). This balance of convention and passion was never fully achieved in Hard Times. The opening scene satirises two schoolings of the 19th century. The first is Utilitarianism, the philosophy of Jeremy Bentham which taught that human nature was motivated by self-interest, replacing ideas of morality with statistically-based explanations for what people should do for themselves. Political Economy, on the other hand, considered the idea of prosperity, and that an increasing accumulation of wealth, "is most likely to be achieved in a society which declines to restrict freedom more than necessary" (Wilmer, 1985, p28). For Dickens, however, their conceptions of man and society were equally destructive. He believed that the individual self cannot be explained by mathematics or logic. Dickens illustrates two contrasting reactions in light of these two different schoolings in the second chapter: Bitzer the model pupil of Gradgrind's schooling, and Sissy who is incapable of converting her knowledge into factual definition. Considering their respective backgrounds and how Gradgrind treated them differently, their outcomes only solidify Dickens's concerns. Bitzer's emotionless interactions with his peers reflect the damage caused by his schooling. Sissy however becomes an ideal member of society, despite society's rejection of her when young. Their teacher, Mr Gradgrind, idealises a mechanised world run by logic. A CLiC concordance search for the term Gradgrind finds the following example showing that he is described by Dickens as
"A man of realities. A man of facts and calculations. A man who proceeds upon the principle that two and two are four, and nothing over" (HT, Chapter II; p8)
He is introduced as a man who is blinded by his strict rulings, discarding any source of imagination as he deems it "in the name of wonder, idleness and folly" (HT, p17). Gradgrind (shown in Figure 1) represents the utilitarian attitudes of the 19th century, which prove unfit for child development. Conveniently, when doing a concordance search of Dickens's novels using CLiC for the word Utilitarian, the search results are all traced from Hard Times. This reinforces how the character of Gradgrind embodies the ideals of Utilitarianism and that his regime proves to be his hamartia. Dickens writes the family's unfortunate end as a consequence for Gradgrind's regime.
Figure 1. "Thomas Gradgrind Apprehends His Children Louisa and Tom at the Circus" (scanned by Philip V. Allingham for The Victorian Web)
This isolation brought into the human mind suggests that those under the control of regulations are dulled by the reality that they believe is the only option. A world of imagination is open to them, yet logic blocks them from experiencing it. Gradgrind educates the children of his family in the ways of fact, and treats his factory workers as emotionless objects that are exploited for his own selfishness. In Chapter V, the narrator parallels both the workers and the Gradgrind children, both leading monotonous existences, evolving into mechanical beings by thwarting the development of their imaginations:
"Surely, none of us in our sober senses acquainted with figures… in the existence of the Coketown working people had been for scores of years deliberately set at nought?" (HT, p28).
This extract suggests that the root of this problem is that they are acquainted with facts and figures, not having the liberty to develop. The workers are viewed as monotonous to imply the unnatural industrial order that Dickens abhorred. This view "implicitly contradicts Dickens' own characteristic way of seeing people" (Williams, 1973, p153). Dickens wrote in a journal in 1850: "the human breast; which, according to its nurture, burns with an inspiring flame…which can never be extinguished" (Dickens, 1850, p1). This entry confirms his view that humanity itself cannot be defined by logic alone and that education and childhood should not be confined. The industrialised setting proves an unhealthy environment for a child, and just as unhealthy as strict teachings. The key stages of child development cannot be confined to excel in one educational trait and lack in the other. Thus, the quote concludes that despite the contributions that industrial advancement and political philosophies had on the social sphere of 19th century children, it is the very notion of passion that prompts the likes of Dickens to oppose conventions that restrict the essential qualities a human must possess.
Dickens proves to be a seminal figure in the world of British culture, who not only created some of the best-known characters in the history of Literature, but actively sought to educate the working class in outright defiance to the utilitarian schoolings of the nineteenth century. Hard Times itself is a prime example of how these schoolings can hinder the development of a childhood which results with potentially disastrous consequences. The importance of the allegorical message suffused in Hard Times cannot be understated. This blog entry relates to Pete Orford's blog post "Bitesize Boz: Reading Dickens in instalments online" which discusses Gradgrind's desire for facts, and how giving the current circumstances with Covid-19 and society in general, proves an poignant message to his readers. This just reinforces the importance of Dickens and his stance on education. It is the mere fact that Hard Times and its message is still being widely received. Whether we are inclined to agree with his notions or not, Dickens's primary aspiration was to promote education for all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Serena Trowbridge, in her blog post "Hard Times at the BMI", also discusses the importance of Hard Times, and how Dickens explores the restrictions of passion and the effects of convention in education. As Serena points out, Dickens favoured an accessible education for all social classes, and supported the Birmingham & Midland Institute which sought to provide education for the whole of Birmingham.
The Birmingham & Midland Institute (BMI) played a substantial role in the innovation of scientific and technological advancement of education within the city, Dickens himself became president of the institute in 1869 since its opening in 1854. When I was an undergraduate, I was introduced to the building for the first time by Serena Trowbridge, learning the impact that the institute had on society and Dickens's contributions. I have since become a member of the society, and use it to aid my research for my MRes degree, as well as my teaching of nineteenth century literature to GCSE and A Level students.
The BMI remains a significant part of National heritage to this day. It continues to educate and enlighten people, as it is enriched with the cultural history of the Midlands, whilst retaining the true spirit of Dickens within its very walls. Fortunately, the #BMILockdownLife series has introduced the BMI to the digital stage and CLiC will remain a complimentary resource. So now the BMI has reopened in a socially distanced mode there are even more ways to engage with 19th century texts. The impact of this pandemic is frightening, and the BMI needs our help more than ever. You can donate here, to help charitable organisations such as the BMI to continue inspiring forthcoming generations.
• Dickens, C. (1850). A Preliminary Word. Household Words, A Weekly Journal.
• Dickens, C. (2008). Hard Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Orford, P. (2020, May). Bitesize Boz: Reading Dickens in instalments online [Blog post]. University of Birmingham: CLiC Fiction Blog.
• Rousseau, J-J. (1979). Emile: Or on Education. USA: Basic Books.
• Trowbridge, S. (2020, May). Hard Times at the BMI [Blog post]. University of Birmingham: CLiC Fiction Blog.
• Warren, A. (2011). Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London. London: Houghton Mifflin.
• Williams, R. (1973). The Country and the City. London: Chatto & Windus.
• Wilmer, C. (1985). John Ruskin: Unto this Last and other Writings. London: Penguin.
Alex Round read English Literature and Language at Birmingham City University. She is currently an ALevel Literature teacher at Sandwell Academy, an MRes humanities student at Newman University and an aspiring PhD candidate in Pre-Raphaelite Studies. Alex's research concerns Pre-Raphaelitism art and literature, as well as prose and poetry of the nineteenth century. She blogs at https://museandmatriachy.wordpress.com/.
Enjoyed this post? The Birmingham & Midland Institute has set up a fundraising campaign to "offset the income which would usually keep the BMI running as the social and cultural hub that it should be, and encourage you to donate to what is an important lifeline for many older people in our society." Check out the fundraiser here.
Using CLiC and the BMI resources: Restrictions of passion and effects of convention in Hard Times2020-07-222020-07-22https://bmi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bmi-logo2.jpgBirmingham And Midland Institutehttps://bmi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bmi-logo2.jpg200px200px
CLiC as a virtual teaching resource: Exploring the paradoxical role of women in the 19th centuryBlog
Poems to celebrate ChristmasBlog


text:
Q: How can I send data (string) from my html to my server (node or express) and execute certain function with it? I have a node.js server running and is executing what I want it to do, create an excel document with data fetched with Axios from an API, now, I want to allow a user to input a string on my HTML and then send that string to my web server, and perform an Axios request to the API that I am consuming. How can I do that? Should I use a POST request, a PUT request, or anything else?
Thanks!

A: POST request to your server, like uh https://myserver.com/api/${userString}
something like that

A: You should be able to send data from your client to the server via the request body regardless of the request method whether GET/POST/PUT.
fetch call would look like this
// just a simple  get request
 fetch('/example-endpoint', {
   method: 'POST',
   body: {
     data: 'String to be sent'
   }
 });

And on your node express server
 app.post('/example-endpoint', (req, res) => {
  const  data = req.body.data;

  // do stuff with your data here.
 })

GET request method is used for getting data, while POST and PUT are used for creating and updating data, so use them as you need them.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Il castello di Scipione, noto anche come Castello Pallavicino, è un maniero medievale che sorge nella piccola frazione di Scipione Castello, appartenente al comune di Salsomaggiore Terme, in provincia di Parma.

Storia
L'originario castello fu innalzato da Adalberto Pallavicino nel 1025, sui resti, secondo la tradizione, di una villa romana appartenuta al console Gneo Cornelio Scipione Calvo, zio di Publio Cornelio; in posizione sopraelevata, la fortezza garantiva un importante presidio lungo la via del sale, i cui pozzi di estrazione sorgevano in zona già da millenni.

Nel 1145 il Comune di Piacenza investì Oberto Pallavicino del castello di Scipione, che dal 1221 appartenne al ramo del marchese Manfredo; i Pallavicino si arricchirono notevolmente grazie al controllo dell'estrazione del sale, di cui divennero i maggiori produttori della regione, grazie anche all'apertura di nuovi pozzi nella vicina vallata di Salsomaggiore; l'importanza raggiunta dal maniero quale baricentro del commercio della preziosa risorsa, utilizzata all'epoca anche per la conservazione dei cibi, ne determinò all'epoca la denominazione di "Castello del Sale".

Nel 1267 la fortezza fu attaccata dai guelfi piacentini, senza successo; successivamente subì altri assalti nel 1403 da parte delle famiglie dei Rossi e dei Da Correggio; nel 1407 Ottobuono de' Terzi riuscì ad impossessarsi del castello, che restituì ai Pallavicino solo in seguito alla cessione di Borgo San Donnino per Cortemaggiore. Il maniero, profondamente danneggiato, pervenne nel 1447 ai fratelli Lodovico e Giovanni Pallavicino, che ne avviarono la ricostruzione e la fortificazione, per adeguarlo alle nuove esigenze di difesa; fu innalzata allora la torre circolare in corrispondenza dello spigolo meridionale, mentre furono abbassate e rinforzate le mura e fu scavato un fossato più profondo.

Intorno alla metà del XVII secolo il castello fu trasformato in elegante dimora nobiliare, con l'edificazione del loggiato panoramico, l'apertura del portale d'ingresso al cortile d'onore e la decorazione di numerose sale interne.

Nel 1776 si estinse il ramo dei Pallavicino di Scipione, con Dorotea, che sposò il duca Carlo Sforza Fogliani d'Aragona; i loro discendenti occuparono il castello fino agli inizi del XX secolo, quando la stirpe si dissolse con Clelia Sforza Fogliani d'Aragona, che si coniugò con il marchese Pallavicino di Parma ma non ebbe figli; poco prima della sua scomparsa, la nobildonna donò il castello all'Opera Nazionale Orfani di Guerra, che lo utilizzò quale colonia agricola per gli orfani della prima guerra mondiale.

Durante la seconda guerra mondiale la fortezza fu trasformata in campo di concentramento per stranieri nemici, in particolare sloveni e dalmati, oltre che per prigionieri politici, arrivando a contenere fino a 173 persone nel luglio del 1943; in seguito all'armistizio dell'8 settembre 1943, il castello fu utilizzato dalle armate tedesche come campo di smistamento prima della deportazione definitiva verso i lager nazisti in Germania.

Dopo alcuni anni di abbandono, nel 1969 il maniero fu acquistato dal conte Christian Frederik Pier von Holstein, che ne fece dono alla moglie Maria Luisa Pallavicino, discendente del ramo di Zibello dell'antica stirpe; negli anni successivi furono avviati i primi lavori di restauro, che interessarono i principali ambienti della grande struttura, che nel 2008 fu parzialmente aperta al pubblico. Nel 2011 iniziarono a cura dei proprietari altri interventi di ripristino e consolidamento, che coinvolsero l'ala nord-ovest, la torre quadrata, una porzione dell'edificio sul retro dell'antico ponte levatoio e le scuderie; l'opera consentì il recupero di varie sale decorate ed affrescate, che l'anno seguente si aggiunsero a quelle già visitabili in precedenza; la torre di guardia e la sala adiacente all'antico ingresso del castello furono inoltre adibite a piccolo residence di lusso, con due suite attrezzate.

Descrizione

Il castello in pietra, frutto di modifiche ed aggiunte nei secoli, si sviluppa su una pianta articolata in continuità con il piccolo borgo medievale, che si estende lungo il pendio della collina; il maniero è dotato di due cortili, tra cui quello principale, d'onore, prossimo all'ingresso seicentesco, oltre alla terrazza panoramica con il porticato angolare, in adiacenza allo spigolo meridionale del complesso.

Dal borgo si accede all'antico torrione in origine adibito ad ingresso del castello, su cui campeggia, fra le alte fessure che un tempo ospitavano i bolzoni del ponte levatoio, un affresco raffigurante un'aquila bicipite incoronata, stemma dei marchesi Pallavicino; la volta al suo interno è decorata con dipinti rappresentanti l'Apparizione della Madonna a San Carlo e Santa Maria Assunta, oltre all'emblema della nobile stirpe.

In corrispondenza dello spigolo settentrionale del castello, si innalza una torre a pianta quadrata, addossata all'ala nord del castello, recuperata durante i restauri più recenti.

Cortile d'Onore

All'esterno dell'originario torrione d'ingresso, nell'alto muro di destra si apre l'elegante portale d'accesso ad arco, realizzato in epoca seicentesca, che, sormontato dallo stemma in pietra della famiglia, conduce direttamente al Cortile d'Onore.

Al centro del lato sud di quest'ultimo, un portale ad arco collega direttamente il castello con la canonica e la chiesa di San Silvestro, mentre sullo spigolo è posizionato l'antico pozzo racchiuso da una struttura cilindrica in mattoni.

Sul cortile si affaccia la fronte sud-occidentale del maniero, caratterizzata dal marcato andamento a scarpa della muratura, elevata nel XV secolo per esigenze di difesa; risultano ancora visibili, seppur inglobati nella parete, il mastio e gli antichi merli ghibellini che originariamente coronavano le pareti perimetrali della fortezza.

In corrispondenza dello spigolo meridionale del castello, si innalza una torre di forma cilindrica, detta "Piacentina", anch'essa edificata intorno alla metà del XV secolo. Accanto ad essa, si apre un ampio portale d'epoca medievale, al cui interno è collocato l'androne del castello; da esso prende origine la scenografica Scalinata dei Cavalli, interamente in pietra, che unisce il Cortile d'Onore al giardino segreto posto alle spalle del castello. Sul lato destro, al di sotto di un affresco raffigurante, fra gli stemmi dei Pallavicino e dei Visconti, un ovale con Compianto sul Cristo morto, si accede alla torre circolare, al cui interno sono ancora presenti le antiche prigioni del castello, raggiungibili attraverso una scala a chiocciola. Di fronte si innalza uno scalone in pietra, che conduce agli ambienti interni del maniero.

Sale interne

Galleria degli Antenati
Il grande corridoio d'ingresso, aperto sulla vallata attraverso una serie di finestre, in origine costituiva uno dei camminamenti della fortezza medievale; nel corso del XVII secolo, in occasione dei lavori di trasformazione del castello in dimora nobiliare, l'ambiente fu trasformato in elegante galleria coperta da volte a crociera, culminante in una piccola cappella, oggi con altare settecentesco. La lunga parete nord è arricchita da numerosi ritratti di membri illustri della stirpe Pallavicino, appartenenti ai rami di Scipione, Zibello e Busseto.

Salotto Blu
L'ambiente, caratterizzato dalla colorazione nelle sfumature del blu che contraddistingue le stoffe e le pareti, è ricoperto da una volta a botte, al cui centro è collocato un piccolo affresco seicentesco, raffigurante Giove e Ganimede, incorniciato da elaborati stucchi azzurri barocchi, inquadrati a loro volta all'interno di una decorazione settecentesca.

La sala è inoltre arricchita da pregiati arredi antichi e da una collezione di porcellane settecentesche ed ottocentesche.

Sala delle Armi
Il severo ambiente, in origine dedicato a sala delle armi del maniero, è caratterizzato dalla scarsità di decorazioni ed arredi; vi si trova, oltre ad un piccolo cannone ed alcune baionette del XIX secolo, una pregevole panca intagliata di origine cinquecentesca.

Sala da Pranzo imbandita "alla russa"
L'ambiente, aperto attraverso alcune finestre sulla scala che conduce al primo piano, non costituiva in origine la sala da pranzo del castello, ma è oggi caratterizzato dalla presenza di una grande tavola apparecchiata con pregiati servizi secondo la moda che si diffuse nel corso del XIX secolo, detta "alla russa", che indica la successione delle portate ancora diffusa in epoca odierna.

Sala da Pranzo Rossa
Al primo piano, dopo aver attraversato un atrio ricoperto con un soffitto a travetti lignei dipinti a volute, risalente al XVII secolo, si accede alla Sala da Pranzo Rossa; l'ambiente, caratterizzato dalla vivissima colorazione rossa delle pareti, delle stoffe e del grande tappeto che ricopre il pavimento, costituisce la sala da pranzo del castello dal XVIII secolo, ma il camino in pietra scolpita e il soffitto in legno risalgono al XVI secolo.

Salone Giallo
L'ambiente, caratterizzato dalla colorazione gialla delle pareti, si distingue per il pregevole soffitto a cassettoni del XVII secolo, interamente dipinto con motivi a volute e floreali. La sala è inoltre arricchita dal camino seicentesco in marmo rosso di Verona, sul cui pannello sono raffigurati gli stemmi della marchesa Maria Luisa Pallavicino e del conte Christian Frederik Pier von Holstein.

Salottino del Diavolo
Il piccolo ambiente, collocato all'interno del mastio medievale, fu trasformato in elegante salottino o boudoir forse già nella seconda metà del XVI secolo, epoca alla quale risalgono gli affreschi che decorano le lunette sottese dalle volte ad ombrello di copertura; i dipinti, di autore ignoto, raffigurano una serie di scene, di significato ancora in parte incerto: una Figura femminile in trono con, sullo sfondo, una città (probabilmente Busseto); un uomo con due cani che si avvicina a tre ragazze, interpretato come il Mito di Diana e Atteone oppure il Giudizio di Paride; una Veduta del castello di Scipione; il Ratto di Europa; il Ratto di Elena.

Il resto dei muri ed il soffitto sono invece interamente decorati con affreschi risalenti al XVIII secolo; mentre sulla volta sono rappresentate volute dai tratti barocchi, le pareti raffigurano grandi trompe-l'œil di paesaggi intervallati da colonne corinzie in marmo rosso; uno dei pannelli ritrae due fauni che raccolgono delle pere su un albero, probabilmente interpretati erroneamente come diavoli in epoca successiva alla decorazione. I dipinti ricoprono anche una piccola porta in legno, che dà accesso ad una ripida scala a chiocciola medievale, utilizzata in origine come via di fuga verso l'esterno dal mastio.

Corridoio di Santa Barbara
L'ambiente, ricoperto da una volta a botte lunettata, si conclude ad una estremità con le scale più antiche del maniero; vi si conservano alcune tracce di antichi affreschi, tra cui un ovale con il volto di Santa Barbara al centro degli archi che suddividono le due rampe, una coppia seicentesca di Putti su un voltino e la Lastra tombale di Giovanni Pallavicino di Scipione, scomparso nel 1478; un'epigrafe tombale del 1510 è infine rappresentata sul lato di fronte.

Biblioteca
L'ambiente si distingue per il soffitto a travetti lignei del XVII secolo, interamente dipinto con motivi damascati.

Sale dell'ala nord
L'ala nord ospita due sale che presentano ancora tracce degli affreschi trecenteschi di decorazione dei soffitti, che raffigurano, all'interno di motivi geometrici, stemmi dei Pallavicino, animali ed intrecci vegetali.

Di particolare rilievo risulta inoltre il salone seicentesco, arricchito dai maestosi stucchi sopra il camino che incorniciano un dipinto con tre putti che giocano; in sommità, appena al di sotto del soffitto a cassettoni lignei, è inoltre presente un alto fregio ad affresco che corre lungo le pareti, raffigurante otto distinte scene di carattere sacro e profano.

Loggiato
Sul margine meridionale del castello si apre il notevole loggiato seicentesco, caratterizzato dal porticato intonacato ad archi a tutto sesto che si sviluppa ad angolo su due lati; l'ampia terrazza, sostenuta dalle alte mura a scarpa, consente di ammirare un pregevole panorama sulla vallata sottostante, mentre sul fianco orientale dà accesso alla Scalinata dei Cavalli, che conduce al giardino segreto, ricco di piante ad alto fusto oltre a roseti ed iris.

Il loggiato si conclude a sud con l'ultimo livello della torre cilindrica, al cui interno si apre un salottino a pianta circolare ricoperto da una volta ad ombrello.

Percorso di visita
Il castello è aperto al pubblico dal 2008 e fa parte del circuito dei castelli dell'Associazione dei Castelli del Ducato di Parma, Piacenza e Pontremoli.

Risultano visitabili, oltre all'antico ingresso e al Cortile d'Onore, la Galleria degli Antenati, il Salotto Blu, la Sala delle Armi, la Sala da Pranzo imbandita "alla russa", la Sala da Pranzo Rossa, il Salone Giallo, il Salottino del Diavolo, il Corridoio di Santa Barbara, la biblioteca, il loggiato panoramico e le sale dell'ala nord.

Note

Bibliografia

Voci correlate
 Scipione Castello
 Pallavicino
 Stato Pallavicino
 Associazione dei Castelli del Ducato di Parma, Piacenza e Pontremoli

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Scipione
Architetture di Salsomaggiore Terme
Residenze dei Pallavicino

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Locked up in Bristol in April: The violent robber, B&B fraudster, sex offender and more
Includes one man who coughed at two police officers after telling them he had coronavirus
Alexander Brock
Two of the criminals who have been jailed in April 2020. (Image: Avon and Somerset Constabulary)
Every week, Bristol Live reports from the city's courts.
This reporting forms an important part of the UK's open justice system, that justice can be seen to be done.
Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring public confidence and respect in democracy and the administration of justice, as well as deterring people from committing crimes and thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals who have been jailed in April 2020.
John Rodney, 60, who has been sentenced to eight years in prison
Jailed for eight years after infecting women with HIV
A man who 'recklessly' infected three women with HIV after playing 'Russian roulette' with their lives was jailed for eight years.
John Rodney, from Swindon, tested positive for the virus in August 2013 but continued to have unprotected sex with women for several years.
When sentencing Rodney at Bristol Crown Court, the judge said what he had done was 'unforgivable' as it was also revealed one of the women has now died.
The 60-year-old failed to tell people he was HIV positive before sexual contact and in one case denied it when asked, instead claiming to have a different condition.
He had also stopped taking medication that would have reduced his risk of infecting others.
Sam Van-Meir
Samuel Van-Meir, who has been jailed for eight years for a violent robbery and a machete attack in Withywood (Image: Avon and Somerset police handout)
Jailed for eight years for a violent robbery and a machete attack in Withywood
A man who got his big brother to help wield machetes and threaten a group of men outside a shop in Bristol has been jailed.
And Samuel Van-Meir was also jailed for a terrifying attack on his wheelchair-bound neighbour in his own home, which saw the amputee tied up, gagged and punched in a fruitless search for money.
Bristol Crown Court heard how the two brothers, Karl and Samuel Van Meir, were caught on CCTV swinging machetes and running at a group of three men in an incident outside a supermarket in Withywood.
The court heard CCTV showed the incident unfold at around 10.20pm on the night of Friday, November 30, 2018.
Damien Evans
Damien Evans, 38, from Glastonbury, who has been jailed for 20 months for a series of crimes (Image: Avon and Somerset police handout)
Jailed for 20 months for burglary and fraud
A man who toured small hotels and B&Bs in Bristol and Somerset on a theft and fraud spree has been jailed after admitting more than 30 offences in the space of just six weeks.
Damien Evans went around guesthouses, B&Bs and small hotels looking for things to steal, and then when he did, he'd make off without paying for the room in the first place.
The Somerset-based criminal's run came to an end when he was caught driving without due care and attention in Keynsham High Street on February 27.
Before that, he'd been going around Bristol, Bath and Somerset stealing and not paying his bills.
You can get the full story here.
Darrel Curtis
Darrel Curtis (Image: Avon and Somerset Constabulary)
Jailed for 37 weeks for offences including theft from cars, fraud and burglary
A man has been jailed for 37 weeks for a string of offences including thefts from cars, fraud and burglary.
Darrel Curtis, 36, of Brangwyn Grove in Lockleaze, appeared before Bristol Magistrates on Saturday, April 18 following his arrest the day before.
He admitted entering Stoke Park Primary School with intent to steal on April 10.
He also admitted fraudulent use of a stolen bank card to buy alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets from a petrol station in Horfield during the same month.
Finally he was sentenced for three counts of theft from cars.
Paul David Hunter
Paul Hunter was sentenced when he appeared via Skype at Bristol Magistrates' Court (Image: Avon and Somerset Constabulary)
Jailed for 18 weeks for burglary
A man has been jailed for 18 weeks after breaking into the offices of the SS Great Britain.
Paul David Hunter, 34, of no fixed address, was arrested at the popular attraction in the early hours of Sunday morning (April 12) after a member of the public reported hearing suspicious activity.
Officers arrived at the scene to find that a first-floor office window had been smashed.
They then found Mr Hunter inside with a key labelled 'Property of SS Great Britain' in one of his back pockets.
Help record a moment in history
BristolLive is running a unique nationwide survey aimed at capturing British life under lockdown. Help us record these historic times and tell us how the pandemic has affected your life - from food shopping to finances, home schooling to mental health. It only takes a few minutes and you'll be playing a part in how we look back on these times once the pandemic is over. Thank you.
Click here to take the Great Big Lockdown Survey
Robert Hanson jailed for four years for grooming and having sexual activity with a child
Jailed for four years for grooming and having sexual activity with a child
A Bristol primary school teacher who had sex with a girl aged 14 has been jailed.
Robert Hanson was a Year 4 teacher at West Town Lane Primary School in Brislington, a court was told.
After meeting the teenager at a gaming fair, they chatted online before he bought her a child's rail ticket for her to visit him overnight.
They then had sex several times, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Hanson, now 29, of Lindsay Close in Pencoed, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to grooming and having sexual activity with a child when he was aged 27.
The full story can be found here.
Darren Jordan
Jailed for 14 months for causing criminal damage, using violence to secure entry and possessing a blade
A man who produced a knife when approached by police has been jailed.
Darren Jordan was sought after he smashed his way into a friend's home.
Bristol Crown Court heard when police spotted him he pulled a blade from his waistband and was arrested.
The 41-year-old, whose address was given as Shaftesbury Avenue in Montpelier, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and using violence to secure entry on February 23.
He also admitted possessing a blade on February 28.
You can read the story here.
Michael Murray, who was convicted of a sex attack in Easton in January 2020 (Image: Avon and Somerset police handout)
Jailed for nine years plus six years on an extended licence
A man who followed a teenage girl off a bus and then attacked and raped her has been jailed after he admitted the charge.
Michael Murray was described as a 'dangerous man' who the public needed protecting from by the judge who sentenced him to nine years in prison in a total sentencing package of 15 years.
On Tuesday, April 7, Bristol Crown Court heard the 29-year-old, of no fixed address, followed his victim off the number 24 bus when it stopped in Stapleton Road in Easton in January. He then attacked her in nearby Belle Vue Road.
Tyrone Ford
Jailed for nine months for assaulting a police officer and causing damage
A "vulnerable" man who assaulted a police officer and caused damage has been jailed.
Tyrone Ford, who is autistic and has learning difficulties, headbutted the officer at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI).
He also caused trouble at at his former supported living accommodation and smashed windows, Bristol Crown Court heard. (April 8, 2020)
Ford, 21, formerly of Kingsholm Road in Southmead, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker on February 1 and causing criminal damage on February 13.
He admitted twice breaching a community order.
Richard Michael Lamb
Richard Michael Lamb (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Jailed for 52 weeks for coughing at two police officers
A man has been jailed for coughing at two police officers after telling them he had coronavirus.
Richard Michael Lamb, 48, was jailed for a total of 52 weeks at Bristol Magistrates' Court for three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and two counts of assaulting his partner.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said the man coughed on the officers while he was being booked into custody following his arrest for a domestic abuse offence.
He also assaulted a third officer.
Marcus Spiteri
Marcus Spiteri has been jailed
Jailed for eight weeks for racially aggravated public order incident
A man has been jailed for racially abusing a member of staff at council offices in Bristol - accusing them of bringing the covid-19 virus into the country.
Marcus Spiteri, 35, pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was jailed at Bristol Magistrates Court.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: "Police officers were called to the offices in Temple Street on Friday 20 March after Marcus Spiteri, of no fixed address, became abusive after being told the building was on lockdown due to the current health crisis.
"On his way out of the building, Spiteri spoke to a member of staff who he mistook to be Chinese and said told him to 'go home', saying he'd brought the COVID-19 virus into the country."
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
EducationDecision looms on closure of three Bristol schoolsParents were devastated when they learned of the proposals
Historic pub business 'ruined' after Covid rule breach exposed
Coronavirus'I thought I was following guidelines but they were not very clear'


text:
Government Regulation
PROFESSIONALS (BY LAST NAME)
Food, Beverage and Agribusiness
Technology and Manufacturing
Global Immigration and Foreign Investment
Regulatory, Compliance and Government
Alerts and Newsletters
Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty Begins April 21, 2017
The Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty Program begins on April 21, 2017, and continues through June 19, 2017. The amnesty period is open for 60 days.
During the amnesty period, any taxpayer with existing tax liabilities owing to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whether known or unknown, as of December 31, 2015, may settle its tax debt by paying the full amount of tax due, plus one half of the interest accrued to date. The remaining interest and any penalties will be waived by the Commonwealth.
Taxpayers who fail to come forward during the amnesty period will be subject to a 5 percent nonparticipation penalty on future assessments for taxes that were eligible for the amnesty program. The amnesty applies only to taxes due and owing to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; it does not apply to taxes owing to Philadelphia or other local governments.
For more details about the program, please see this previous alert issued by Saul Ewing.
This is a tremendous opportunity for taxpayers to come forward and clear existing tax liabilities. If you have questions about whether you qualify for the program, or would like guidance navigating the amnesty process, please contact one of the authors or the attorney at the firm with whom you are regularly in contact.
Publications Menu
Stanley J. Kull
David G. Shapiro
Copyright © 2020 Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, A Delaware Limited Liability Partnership. All Rights Reserved. | Under the rules of certain jurisdictions, this communication may constitute "Attorney Advertising."


text:
Overreaction Monday: Richt's ploy, Falcons' bye, Braves' salary dump
Jeff Schultz, Jeff Schultz blog
Georgia won, Georgia Tech lost, the Falcons were off – well-timed – and the Braves may be two moves away from being dropped to Double-A. Welcome back to Overreaction Monday.
Skinny: 7-3 overall, 5-3 in the SEC (second place in East Division). Last week: Defeated Auburn 20-13. This week: Home against Georgia Southern.
Overreaction narrative: "We won! We're fixed! And Mark Richt visited Jacob Eason! Take that, haters!"
Reality check: Slow your roll, fanboy. Auburn kinda stinks this season, but it was coming off a good win at Texas A&M and was playing at home, so in that sense what the Bulldogs did Saturday was impressive. But the big picture hasn't changed. Georgia is still destined for a second- or third-tier bowl. (In ESPN's bowl projections , former AJC comrade Mark Schlabach has the Dogs going to the Outback Bowl against Michigan, which would be good. Brett McMurphy has them going to the Liberty Bowl against Kansas State, which would be bad.) Either way (once more, with feeling): Georgia's season was define by its losses to Alabama, Tennessee and Florida and its failure to win the SEC East since 2012.
But there were two noteworthy things to come out of the weekend: 1) The continued improvement of the defense under Jeremy Pruitt, even against the backdrop of rumors that he is central to dysfunction and disharmony on the coaching staff; 2) Coach Mark Richt's late decision to hop a flight to Washington state to meet with the family of touted recruit Jacob Eason, have breakfast with the quarterback Sunday morning and then send out a picture of the two sitting together in a diner.
Now, it's possible Richt merely wanted to ease concerns with the family and the player amid speculation the coach might be fired. Or maybe he just wanted to attempt to change the narrative from, "What a disappointing season," to, "We're going to be awesome next season." But let me offer this third possibility: Richt is sending a message to athletic director Greg McGarity and president Jere Morehead that goes something like this: "See this recruit? He likes me. And if you want me gone, you're going to have to fire me, because I'm not resigning." You could say it's an attempted power play.
Will it work? My guess is: No. McGarity and Morehead will still make their decision regardless of this, which is not to say which way they're leaning because I honestly don't know. The decision could be based on Richt's recent resume and/or what big-money boosters think as much as the potential of the future, which offers no guarantee. And if Richt believes that a picture with next year's hot recruit is going to appease the masses, he's mistaken.
FALCONS:
Skinny: 6-3 (second in NFC South). Last week: Bye. Next week: Home against Indianapolis.
Overreaction narrative: "Why give a week off to a team that has lost three of its last four games?"
Reality check: I asked coach Dan Quinn that question Monday. With his players not finishing as he would like, wouldn't it make sense to keep them around for at least a few days to go over some things during the bye weeks. Quinn admitted he was "disappointed" by the Falcons' play and thought about changing his plan to give players the entire week off. "But as tempting as that was, I decided to stick with the process." He felt too many players were banged up and needed the rest, both physically and mentally.
I suppose a case could be made that coaches needed to work the bye week more than the players. They did for a few days early in the week. The two biggest things that need fixing: Get Roddy White more involved in the offense and improve red zone production – and a case could be made that fixing one may help the other. The Falcons had 10 touchdowns in 13 red zone possessions (76.9 percent) in the first four games and were 16 for 22 (72.7 percent) in the first six games. But in the last three games -- a 10-7 win over Tennessee and losses to Tampa Bay (23-20) and San Francisco (17-16) – the Falcons reached the end zone only four times in 11 possessions (36.4 percent). The breakdown: four field goals, three turnovers and four touchdowns. There could be a number of reasons why red zone production might decrease but one of the biggest is the defense knowing what's coming. So the focus is on offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to find some pages in the playbook that he's ignored. Hello, Roddy?
Skinny: Last season: 67-95, the third worst record in the majors. Next season: Same?
Overreaction narrative: "They traded Andrelton Simmons. It's clear they don't care about this team in 2016."
Reality check: This weekly blog has been reserved for football but I thought we'd branch out to baseball this week, given the Braves' seem intent and removing all remaining interest in next season's team. As I wrote the other day, the trading of Simmons for two pitching prospects and 31-year-old Erick Aybar made no sense on several levels. The Braves needed his defense because they're not that great at anything else. He's arguably the game's best defensive player and the Braves had him under contract for five more seasons. Again: Five. Don't pay attention to the spin. It's clear that not only do they not want to spend money, they're slashing payroll again, possibly because they anticipate a huge attendance drop next season and they're trying to keep the bottom line happy for Liberty Media. Now comes one from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that the team is "shopping everyone owed money." That includes first baseman Freddie Freeman (surprise), the team's best player, starting pitcher Julio Teheran (not a shock) and outfielders Nick Markakis (no surprise) and Cameron Maybin (expected). So are you ready to watch a minor-league team again next season? I don't doubt that general manager John Coppolella, under the watch of president John Hart, thinks he's making the right moves for the future of the franchise. But if there was some sense of logic to most of last season's exits -- Jason Heyward and Justin Upton were entering the final year of their respective contracts, Evan Gattis was not viewed as the team's everyday catcher and the Braves wanted to make room for Christian Bethancourt -- two major moves since have not made sense: The trades of Simmons and pitcher Alex Wood. Bottom line: This is not a team worth watching.
Skinny: 3-7 overall, 1-6 in the ACC (seventh place in Coastal Division). Last week: Lost to Virginia Tech 23-21. This week: at Miami.
Overreaction narrative: "We've given up."
Reality check: "Giving up" suggests Tech was that good to begin with. I've admitted I vastly overrated this team. What I didn't expect was: The number of dumb mistakes and turnovers this team would have, their weaknesses on both offensive and defensive lines and the regression of quarterback Justin Thomas. Tech led 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-14 in the third quarter after an interception return, but failed to score on its last eight offensive possessions: Three fumbles, four punts, downs. The days of Paul Johnson's offense putting up video-game like scores are few and far between now. The Jackets had a nice comeback season a year ago (11-3, 6-2) but Johnson, who acknowledges, "I've never had a team like this," needs to figure something out if Tech is going to finish the season on a high note. It has games remaining against Miami and Georgia.
• Jeremy Pruitt's defense is salvaging Georgia's season
• Short takes on Georgia's win over Auburn
• Simmons gone, and Braves' offseason already looking like last one
• Weekend Predictions: It's not a good time to invest in Georgia
• Former Georgia player Faloughi at center of Missouri protests
• Overreaction Monday: Kyle Shanahan, have you met Roddy White?
• Latest Falcons' embarrassment is on Dan Quinn
• Short takes: This Falcons' loss is on Dan Quinn
• Weekend Predictions: Dogs in middle of Dysfunction Junction
• Georgia's finish, Eason status shouldn't tilt Richt decision
• Richt should take over Georgia's struggling offense
• Overreaction Monday: Loss-loss-loss means chaos all around
• Mark Richt has failed too many big moments -- it's time for a change at Georgia
• Falcons may be 6-2 but they don't look the part
• Short takes: Sloppy Falcons gift-wrap game for mediocre Bucs
• Matt Ryan: 'It comes down to me being better'
• Weekend Predictions: Jacksonville on Halloween? Ooh, scary: Gators over Dogs
• Georgia's quarterback problems fall at Mark Richt's feet
• Budenholzer can coach but can he build a champion?
• Overreaction Monday: Ryan's off, Tech's alive and Georgia...
• Georgia Tech has unforgettable moment in otherwise forgettable season
• Short takes on Georgia Tech's miracle win over Florida State
• Weekend Predictions: Falcons win, Jackets lose, ACC miserable
• (Full column) Rick Pitino should lose job, culpable for Louisville mess
• Rick Pitino may not survive latest claims regarding strippers, recruits
• Overreaction Monday: Would Richt give Ramsey another look?
• Misery like this shouldn't happen at Georgia Tech
• Short takes: Tech's run of bowls, non-losing ACC seasons will end
• Falcons flash some of their ugly past in loss to Saints
• Short takes: Falcons still plagued by poor pass rush, turnovers
• Weekend Predictions: Spurrier, Cubs, Playboy...and Georgia can still win SEC East!
• Spurrier changed face of SEC, and then he walked out the back door
• Health would be Spurrier's only good excuse for retiring in middle of season
• Florida quarterback suspended for PEDs -- and claims of, 'I didn't know' ring hollow
• Overreaction Monday: Chubb's loss isn't Georgia's only problem
• There goes Chubb, there goes a loss, there goes Georgia's season
Jeff Schultz
Jeff Schultz is a general sports columnist and blogger who isn't afraid to share his opinion, which may not necessarily jibe with yours.


text:
Previous PostJESSICA DISPENSA SHOWCASES BKC WORKPLACE WELLNESS ON RADIO SHOWNext PostCASUALTY & THEFT LOSSES
Articles, Blog, Nonprofit Organizations
BUILDING A RESILIENT ORGANIZATION – A TOOLKIT FOR NONPROFIT BOARDS TO MANAGE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
July 8, 2017 Jessica Dispensa
By Laurie De Armond, CPA
Many, if not most, nonprofit organizations will encounter board or leadership turbulence at some point in their lifecycles. Organizational transition, the evolution of mission or executive departures are inevitable. There are times when the board must make challenging decisions and protect the organization from financial and organizational risk, as well as potential reputation damage.
While the "transformational event" is often unplanned, the consequences don't have to derail the organization's programming, future plans or ability to successfully carry out its mission. There are a number of different methods and tools to address management hiccups and leadership transitions, as well as concrete steps boards and executives can take to minimize risk in the event of a transformational event.
To illustrate this, let's examine a few scenarios:
Mission friction: A large national leadership and support organization for a variety of local chapters recently began pursuing a strategic partnership with another organization to expand its technical capabilities. Local chapters find the joint fundraising approach proposed by national leadership doesn't support their priorities and programming at the ground level. There are also concerns in the chapters around increases in executive compensation, coupled with decreases in spending on certain service offerings national leadership believes no longer align with the organization's broader mission. Some chapter advocates worry this tension could escalate if the strategic partnership moves forward.
Succession stress: A longtime CEO at a small research organization affiliated with a regional chain of hospitals has just been diagnosed with a severe medical condition requiring him to accelerate his retirement plans. The organization had begun preliminary preparations for its leader's eventual retirement to plan and protect the organization from risk, but lacks a thorough succession plan and immediate action steps in the event of a departure as potentially sudden as this one.
Fragmented leadership: A foundation associated with a prominent, wealthy philanthropist that has national operations recently grappled internally with discord around its grantmaking practices and priorities. While the organization has yet to institute significant changes, leadership is at a crossroads and it's likely the board will need to step in to determine future direction. The CEO is threatening to step down, which could likely spur media interest and generate significant negative publicity.
In order to build the right toolkit for forging a path through common transformative events like these, organizations need first to understand the various reasons the disruption occurs.
Mission friction
Because many nonprofits operate on leaner budgets and resources than for-profit companies, keeping up with a rapidly evolving business landscape and the rise of technology as both a tool and a potential threat can be extraordinarily taxing. Some organizations are better able to navigate this than others. In some cases, like the one mentioned above, a joint venture, merger or acquisition with an organization that has technology infrastructure, or staff with certain expertise, can be the best path forward. However, expanding the organization's capabilities can come at a high cost in the form of executive compensation and a new set of stakeholders to consider, which saddles the board with a challenging cost-benefit decision.
On the flip side, organizations reconsider the specifics of their mission or programming if they're facing financial difficulties or are running a deficit. In cases like this, nonprofits may not have adjusted spending in certain areas, like employee benefits, despite slowing cash flow. The organization may also have expanded its programming and services into areas that no longer make sense given the marketplace, staffing or the needs of the community.
Some organizations encounter tension between founders and the board when a reconsideration of mission takes place—coined "founder's syndrome." Passionate, dedicated founders can be reticent to embrace certain changes in favor of the way things have always been done. The introduction of new board members with different perspectives can also serve as a conduit to bring issues and conflicts bubbling up to the surface.
During times of friction around a nonprofit's mission, it's critical that the board is educated on the issues at hand, as well as the consequences of each potential outcome and of inaction. Leadership also needs to have a dynamic vision of the organization's future, and be willing to pivot if need be. From there, leadership may need to work with certain individuals at the board level to build consensus so that a risk mitigation plan, as well as a longer-term action plan, can be agreed upon and implemented.
Succession stress
Succession planning is a moving target for nonprofits of all sizes and sectors. This is due in large part to the approximately 4 million baby boomers reaching retirement age each year, according to Pew Research Center statistics. While many are staying in the workforce longer than previous generations, the mass exit of experienced professionals, many of whom hold positions at the executive level or on boards, exposes some nonprofits to added personnel-related risk.
As a result, conversations around succession planning should shift from focusing on if a departure will happen, to when. Executive retirement can be planned, or, as we discussed above, it can happen quite suddenly. Regardless of the scenario, few things rock the boat like an executive departure. When considering your organization's future growth and long-term plans, it's important to proactively factor in succession planning. Depending on the size and scope of the organization, this may include a variety of tactics.
The succession plan may need to consider a potential gap between the current CEO and the successor and how workflow might need to be managed among other members of the leadership team, board and staff, as well as other practical details around the outgoing CEO's exit and onboarding the new CEO. One stumbling block nonprofit organizations are particularly vulnerable to is a gap in relationship or partnership management with key stakeholders and donors.
The best way to mitigate the aftershock of a sudden departure is to ensure there is an up-to-date job description for the executive's position. To develop this, the board should consider what skill sets are required for the executive to be successful in that role. Larger organizations might establish a transition team tasked with creating a transition plan, managing priorities, decision-making and communicating across the organization and to stakeholders.
Establishing a relationship with a search firm before the need arises can ensure the organization doesn't have to vet search firms before beginning the candidate search, cutting down on overall hiring time. Executive hiring can take anywhere from six months to a year in some cases, so the board will need to develop an interim plan in case a successor isn't immediately found. To bridge the gap during this period, the board should also consider whether there are other executives or board members who could hold the position or absorb the key duties of the role until the organization finds the right permanent replacement.
Fragmented leadership
In the case of discord around financial priorities, the organization will need to ultimately choose where to allocate its resources—a tough decision that will likely land in the hands of the board. This is especially challenging if board members also have competing definitions of the organization's mission and the purpose and goals of its grantmaking. The organization will also need to consider the impact of each possible outcome on its reputation.
There are several proactive steps nonprofits can take to unify leadership around the strategy driven by the board. In the example outlined above, the organization's leadership could submit the pros and cons of each strategy to the board for consideration. The analysis should include the impact upon the organization's finances, the impact upon its mission and potential reputational risks.
While there are many avenues for tackling a disruption at the executive level, organizations might consider bringing in a "transformational leader." This individual would serve as a resource to educate key internal stakeholders, manage expectations and institute a plan of action for navigating and rebuilding consensus among leadership and the board. If an executive departs as a result of leadership fragmentation or evolution of mission and programming, this resource could also support the organization in development of a succession plan or communications plan.
The right brass-tacks qualifications each nonprofit organization will need in this leader are as wide and varied as the sector itself. In some cases, it might be beneficial for the individual to have a background in for-profit business. Alternatively, membership organizations, particularly in the medical or technology industries, might prioritize certain credentials that are required among members, to ensure the leader has credibility.
What tools do boards need to make the best decisions?
Above all, culture matters. A board that embraces change as an opportunity rather than an obstacle will enjoy smoother sailing during a rocky transformation of any kind. Arming the board to navigate uncertainty and inevitable change begins here. From there, in order to equip the board with the strongest toolkit possible for forging ahead through a transformational event, organizations should plan ahead by creating and maintaining certain key resources:
Board manual that members can reference during a transformational event. This should include standard documents, including the mission, strategic plan, bylaws and other important literature on the organization's capabilities and services. When faced with difficult decisions, it's important that board members have these resources close at hand to help them align their decision-making with the organization's priorities.
Training to engage new and established board members. This training should cover key items included in the board manual, and set a tone for the relationship between the board and executive leadership. Additionally, organizations may consider annual workshops to build board members' level of comfort with one another as well as their ability to collaborate to make decisions and reach consensus.
Information on relationships with key outside consultants and service providers, including staffing firms, financial managers and other resources. This will help ensure that all board members, not just the board chair, are equipped to deploy those resources should the need arise.
Board-approved succession plan, including caveats for various situations that could arise during an executive transition. This should include job descriptions for all leadership positions. During the development of this plan, the organization should identify and build a relationship with hiring and staffing resources, so that they can get familiar with the organization and its needs. This ensures they can be tapped quickly in the event of an unforeseen departure or transition. The succession plan might also include a list or information on the key relationships or partnerships managed by executives. To prevent gaps in relationship management during an executive transition, organizations can encourage shared ownership and an open flow of information so that key relationships don't become siloed with one individual.
Step-by-step communication road map for navigating transformation and reputation management, including tools for presenting and discussing the event with various internal and external stakeholders and, if applicable, the media and public. The plan should include a list of key stakeholders who should be kept apprised of any leadership issues, as well as basic drafted language that can be filled in and adapted for use in a variety of situations.
While transformational events can arise from a wide breadth of causes and events, they all pose unique challenges to nonprofit organizations and require careful consideration of the risks in play and the right path forward. Boards that have developed contingency plans, and are able to focus on efficiently reaching consensus and pivoting when necessary, will be well-prepared to navigate the shifting tides they will inevitably face.
For more information contact us at info@bkc-cpa.com.
Article was originally published in Philanthropy Journal. This article originally appeared in BDO USA, LLP's "Nonprofit Standard" newsletter (Spring 2017). Copyright © 2017 BDO USA, LLP.


text:
Rachel Holland
Dr Rachel Holland
School of Health Sciences, Division of Language and Communication Science
rachel.holland.1@city.ac.uk
Visit Rachel Holland
M101, Myddelton Street Building
Rachel is a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in acquired disorders of language who joined City University London in 2013. She previously worked at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, as a Career Development Fellow and the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London as a senior postdoctoral research fellow.
Rachel studied at the University of Manchester where her degree and PhD were in Psychology. During her doctoral research she specialised in neurocognitive models of language processing and acquired disorders of language following stroke. During her PhD she used a complementary range of neuroimaging and neuropsychological techniques to explore verb processing in healthy and impaired speakers. Rachel then moved to work at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge to work with Professor Karalyn Patterson to explore the neural timings of verb processing using magenetoecephalography (MEG). Rachel's last position was as a senior research fellow at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience where her work focused on investigating the neural basis of language recovery and treatment of anomia after stroke.
BSc, MRes, PhD.
The focus of Rachel's research is how language function is organised within the human brain and how it deteriorates following brain damage or disease. Her current research projects are focused on investigating the neural basis of language processes, language recovery and treatment of anomia after aphasic stroke using a combination of complementary neuroscience techniques including non-invasive brain stimulation, functional neuroimaging and neuropsychological investigation.
- Acquired disorders of language
- Neuroimaging
- Non-invasive brain stimulation
- Neurocognitive models of language
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London
Principal Collaborators
- Karalyn Patterson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge UK
- Anna Woollams, NARU, University of Manchester, Manchester UK
- Jenny Crinion, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London, UK
- Cathy Price, Wellcome Centre for Neuroimaging, London, UK
- Alex Leff, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London, UK
Cope, T.E., Shtyrov, Y., MacGregor, L.J., Holland, R., Pulvermüller, F., Rowe, J.B. … Patterson, K. (2020). Anterior temporal lobe is necessary for efficient lateralised processing of spoken word identity. Cortex, 126, pp. 107–118. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2019.12.025 .
Efstratiadou, E.A., Papathanasiou, I., Holland, R., Varlokosta, S. and Hilari, K. (2019). Efficacy of elaborated semantic features analysis in Aphasia: a quasi-randomised controlled trial. Aphasiology, 33(12), pp. 1482–1503. doi:10.1080/02687038.2019.1571558 .
Holland, R., Johns, S.L. and Woollams, A.M. (2018). The impact of phonological versus semantic repetition training on generalisation in chronic stroke aphasia reflects differences in dorsal pathway connectivity. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 28(4), pp. 548–567. doi:10.1080/09602011.2016.1190384 .
Efstratiadou, E.A., Papathanasiou, I., Holland, R., Archonti, A. and Hilari, K. (2018). A systematic review of semantic feature analysis therapy studies for aphasia. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 61(5), pp. 1261–1278. doi:10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-16-0330 .
Nardo, D., Holland, R., Leff, A.P., Price, C.J. and Crinion, J.T. (2017). Less is more: neural mechanisms underlying anomia treatment in chronic aphasic patients. Brain : a journal of neurology, 140(11), pp. 3039–3054. doi:10.1093/brain/awx234 .
Holland, R., Leff, A.P., Penny, W.D., Rothwell, J.C. and Crinion, J. (2016). Modulation of frontal effective connectivity during speech. NeuroImage, 140, pp. 126–133. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.01.037 .
Patterson, K. and Holland, R. (2014). Patients with impaired verb-tense processing: Do they know that yesterday is past? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1634). doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0402 .
Holland, R., Brindley, L., Shtyrov, Y., Pulvermüller, F. and Patterson, K. (2012). They played with the trade: MEG investigation of the processing of past tense verbs and their phonological twins. Neuropsychologia, 50(14), pp. 3713–3720. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.10.019 .
Holland, R. and Crinion, J. (2012). Can tDCS enhance treatment of aphasia after stroke? APHASIOLOGY, 26(9), pp. 1169–1191. doi:10.1080/02687038.2011.616925 .
Holland, R., Leff, A.P., Josephs, O., Galea, J.M., Desikan, M., Price, C.J. … Crinion, J. (2011). Speech facilitation by left inferior frontal cortex stimulation. Curr Biol, 21(16), pp. 1403–1407. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.07.021 .
Holland, R. and Lambon Ralph, M.A. (2010). The anterior temporal lobe semantic hub is a part of the language neural network: selective disruption of irregular past tense verbs by rTMS. Cereb Cortex, 20(12), pp. 2771–2775. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhq020 .
Modules taught as of September 2014:
•	SL2002 - Biomedical Sciences (ear, nose and throat anatomy & neurology, module leader)
•	SL3002 - Language Sciences (language processing models and brain and behaviour, module leader)
•	SLM002 - Biomedical Sciences (ear, nose and throat anatomy & neurology, module leader)
•	SLM008 - Language Sciences (language processing models and brain and behaviour, module leader)
Other teaching expertise
Neuroimaging techniques, research methods.
Events/conferences (5)
Improving naming ability in patients with anomia post-stroke: An error reducing computer-based approach. (2012).
Description: Platform talk at the British Aphasiology Society, (September 2012 meeting).
Object naming during overt picture naming in healthy and anomic stroke patients. Annapolis, MD (2011).
Description: Poster at the Neurobiology of Language meeting.
Auditory phonemic priming of naming preferentially engages left inferior frontal cortex. Washington (2011).
Description: Poster at Society for Neuroscience meeting.
Left frontal anodal tDCS during spoken picture naming elicits neural and behavioral priming in Broca's area. (2011).
Description: Platform talk at the British Neuropsychology Society, (March 2011 meeting).
Localising facilitation during naming: Auditory priming of naming preferentially engages left inferior frontal cortex. Bressanone (2011).
Description: Poster at the EWCN meeting.