text:
Rediff.com » Getahead » This farmer's son, a topper, has abandoned his IIT dream
This farmer's son, a topper, has abandoned his IIT dream
By Divya Nair
'After toiling in the field and selling vegetables in the local market, we don't make more than Rs 1,500 a week.'
'That is just enough for the five of us to survive.'
'My family cannot afford to pay for private coaching for IIT-JEE.'
IMAGE: Dhavendra Kumar is congratulated by his teacher after topping the Class 12 board examination in Chhattisgarh.
Photograph: Kind courtesy Dhavendra Kumar
Dhavendra Kumar Sahu, 17, a farmer's son, would have remained a vegetable vendor all his life. But he challenged his fate with determination and hard work.
His elder brothers quit their studies after Class 10 to help the family make ends meet
Dhavendra, who scored 90 per cent in the Class 10 exam, toiled extra hours and scored 98.6 per cent in the Class 12 Chhattisgarh Board Examination.
Dhavendra, who belongs to Londi village in Chhattisgarh's Balod district, topped the state this year.
He had earlier dreamed of studying at the IITs, but could not appear for the IIT-Joint Entrance Examination because he knew his parents would not be able to fund his coaching or pay his college fee.
"The government does not care what happens to poor students like us," he says. "Even after scoring good marks, I won't be able to study at IIT."
"After toiling in the field and selling vegetables in the local market, we don't make more than Rs 1,500 a week. That is just enough for the five of us to survive for a week."
"My family cannot afford to pay for private coaching (for IIT-JEE). But I want to pursue engineering and my parents want to support me."
Ashwan Sahu, Dhavendra's father, studied up to Class 12; his mother Lata Sahu dropped out of schhol after Class 8.
On a small plot of land, the family grows rice and vegetables like brinjal and ladies finger.
After his story was reported in the media, Dhavendra has received many calls offering financial help.
"Un sabka bahut dhanyavaad par main IIT nahi karna chahta (I thank them all, but I don't want to go to the IITs)," Dhavendra tells Rediff.com
Dhavendra has almost given up his IIT dream and plans to study civil engineering at BITS-Pilani.
"I want to appear for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam. Civil engineering students have a good chance of cracking the test," he says.
"I want to focus on clearing the exam and become an IAS officer so I can help deserving students like me get better education and scholarships," he adds.
So, how did he juggle his time to top the board examination?
"I used to wake up at 4 am, study for a few hours, then help my parents farm. I would go to school or the library to take notes," he says.
"In the evening I would help my mother transport the vegetables to the market. Once back home, I would study. I studied four to five hours a day."
Besides his teachers, Dhavendra is thankful to his chacha, Somendra, a jobless engineer who trained him for the exam.
"There are thousands of students like me who struggle to complete their studies and follow their dreams because of poverty," Dhavendra says.
"If I can reach so far, I shouldn't give up so easily. I should motivate other students to work harder and become successful."
Divya Nair / Rediff.com
Related News: Dhavendra Kumar Sahu, IIT, Union Public Service Commission, Chhattisgarh Board Examination, IIT-JEE
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text:
Blindirano vozilo je civilno vozilo z ojačano konstrukcijo in je zasnovano za zaščito potnikov pred napadi, naboji in eksplozijami. Taki oklepni avtomobili so običajno izdelani iz neprebojnega stekla in več plasti močnejših kovinskih plošč, pogosto tudi z različnimi drugimi obrambnimi mehanizmi in funkcijami, ki ščitijo potnike pred morebitnimi napadi. Za razliko od vojaških oklepnikov je civilni oklepnik zasnovan tako, da je na cesti neopazen in podoben svoji tovarniški različici. Tako imenovana blindirana vozila se uporabljajo v mednarodnem prostoru za zaščito visokih vplivnih posameznikov, kot so voditelji držav, politične osebnosti, gospodarstveniki in včasih tudi zvezdniki, uporabljajo pa jih lahko tudi drugi državni organi.

Oklepna vozila

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
15:59 | 13/1/20
A number of law amendments will be trialled at various tournaments throughout 2020, World Rugby has announced.
It's looking like two in and two out for the Irish provinces as we look ahead to the final round of pool games in the Champions Cup this weekend.
Ruddock takes up Ospreys role
16:08 | 8/1/20
Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock has taken up a newly-created role of performance director with struggling Welsh side Ospreys.
Doc of the Week: Where's Your Pride?
This is the story of Ireland's Triple Crown winning exploits of 1982 and 1985. eir sport 1, Thur, Jan 23rd 7.
Deegan eyes top seeding for Leinster
Leinster back row Max Deegan says the squad are determined to secure top seeding for the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup by beating Benetton in their fina...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Last spring Richard Pollak asked in these pages, "Is GE Mightier Than the Hudson?" (May 28, 2001). Given the Environmental Protection Agency's December 4 decision to dredge the PCB-contaminated river, it is tempting to ring in the new year with a resounding No. Despite the company's multimillion-dollar blitz of lawyering, lobbying and PR, the Bush Administration, in the person of its EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, has come down squarely on the side of those in New York's historic Hudson River Valley who have been agitating for years to make GE clean up the lethal mess it created by dumping more than a million pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls in the river from the 1940s into the 1970s. This pollution has turned 200 miles of the Hudson, from just above Albany south to New York Harbor, into the biggest Superfund site in the nation; EPA law requires that GE pay the cost of removing the toxic chemicals, which the agency estimates at $460 million. More than once, the company has told its stockholders it can well afford this sum, as a multinational with a market value of some $500 billion surely can.
Still, it may be premature to pop the champagne corks. This past fall, fearing that Whitman might follow the lead of her Clinton Administration predecessor, Carol Browner, and endorse the cleanup, GE filed a federal suit attacking as unconstitutional a Superfund provision that allows the EPA, if the company refuses to dredge, to do the job itself and bill GE for three times the final cost plus penalties of $27,500 a day. GE has plenty of time (and cash) to pursue this and other maneuvers against dredging, which is needed to remove some 150,000 pounds of PCBs still in the Hudson. The EPA estimates it will take at least three years to work out the project's engineering and other details–e.g., what kind of equipment is needed, how much stirred-up sediment is acceptable and what landfills can safely handle the contaminated mud. Many residents along the banks of the river are divided–sometimes angrily–on these and several other issues. During the EPA's 127-day comment period in 2001 it received about thirty-eight boxes of letters and 35,000 e-mails, many spurred by GE's scare campaign–on billboards, in newspaper ads and on TV infomercials–warning that dredging will destroy the river.
The EPA has pledged that the public will have even more of a voice in the project's design decisions over the coming months–a welcome process but one that GE is likely to exploit with more propaganda. At its enviro-friendly-sounding website (hudsonwatch.com), for example, the company continues to insist, on no hard evidence, that the citizens of the Hudson River Valley oppose dredging "overwhelmingly." Some residents do resist dredging and the inevitable inconvenience it will bring to their communities, and not all have arrived at their view because of GE's PR tactics. But after almost two decades of review by the EPA, the burden of scientific evidence shows that the remaining PCBs, which cause cancer in laboratory animals and probably in humans, continue to poison the river a quarter-century after their use was banned and GE stopped dumping them.
The EPA's December 4 order could be the precedent that requires the company to clean up forty other sites where it has dumped PCBs. This would cost several billion dollars, a hit not so easy to reassure shareholders about. Even with GE master-builder Jack Welch retired and busy flogging his bestselling How-I-Did-It book, don't look for the company to roll over anytime soon.


text:
// Template Source: BaseEntity.java.tt
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.  Licensed under the MIT License.  See License in the project root for license information.
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

package com.microsoft.graph.models;
import com.microsoft.graph.serializer.ISerializer;
import com.microsoft.graph.serializer.IJsonBackedObject;
import com.microsoft.graph.serializer.AdditionalDataManager;
import java.util.EnumSet;
import com.microsoft.graph.http.BaseCollectionPage;
import com.microsoft.graph.models.AccessReviewReviewerScope;
import com.microsoft.graph.models.Entity;
import com.microsoft.graph.requests.AccessReviewInstanceDecisionItemCollectionPage;

import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName;
import com.google.gson.annotations.Expose;
import javax.annotation.Nullable;
import javax.annotation.Nonnull;

// **NOTE** This file was generated by a tool and any changes will be overwritten.

/**
 * The class for the Access Review Stage.
 */
public class AccessReviewStage extends Entity implements IJsonBackedObject {

    /**
     * The End Date Time.
     * The date and time in ISO 8601 format and UTC time when the review stage is scheduled to end. This property is the cumulative total of the durationInDays for all stages. Read-only.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "endDateTime", alternate = {"EndDateTime"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public java.time.OffsetDateTime endDateTime;

    /**
     * The Fallback Reviewers.
     * This collection of reviewer scopes is used to define the list of fallback reviewers. These fallback reviewers will be notified to take action if no users are found from the list of reviewers specified. This could occur when either the group owner is specified as the reviewer but the group owner does not exist, or manager is specified as reviewer but a user's manager does not exist.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "fallbackReviewers", alternate = {"FallbackReviewers"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public java.util.List<AccessReviewReviewerScope> fallbackReviewers;

    /**
     * The Reviewers.
     * This collection of access review scopes is used to define who the reviewers are. For examples of options for assigning reviewers, see Assign reviewers to your access review definition using the Microsoft Graph API.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "reviewers", alternate = {"Reviewers"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public java.util.List<AccessReviewReviewerScope> reviewers;

    /**
     * The Start Date Time.
     * The date and time in ISO 8601 format and UTC time when the review stage is scheduled to start. Read-only.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "startDateTime", alternate = {"StartDateTime"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public java.time.OffsetDateTime startDateTime;

    /**
     * The Status.
     * Specifies the status of an accessReviewStage. Possible values: Initializing, NotStarted, Starting, InProgress, Completing, Completed, AutoReviewing, and AutoReviewed. Supports $orderby, and $filter (eq only). Read-only.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "status", alternate = {"Status"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public String status;

    /**
     * The Decisions.
     * Each user reviewed in an accessReviewStage has a decision item representing if they were approved, denied, or not yet reviewed.
     */
    @SerializedName(value = "decisions", alternate = {"Decisions"})
    @Expose
	@Nullable
    public com.microsoft.graph.requests.AccessReviewInstanceDecisionItemCollectionPage decisions;

    /**
     * Sets the raw JSON object
     *
     * @param serializer the serializer
     * @param json the JSON object to set this object to
     */
    public void setRawObject(@Nonnull final ISerializer serializer, @Nonnull final JsonObject json) {

        if (json.has("decisions")) {
            decisions = serializer.deserializeObject(json.get("decisions"), com.microsoft.graph.requests.AccessReviewInstanceDecisionItemCollectionPage.class);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tristen J. Winger Flexes His Comedic Muscles on 'So Help Me Todd'
by Celestial Holmes
Celestial Holmes
Celestial Holmes is passionate about the power of prose, and…
If you were a fan of The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, then you know this rising star as Baby Voice Darius. He also played Thug Yoda on Insecure. However, Tristen J. Winger has come a long way since his whispering vibes on Issa Rae's original YouTube series. He's turned his playfulness with characters into a role on CBS's new hit drama, So Help Me Todd.
Though the show leans toward more serious storylines, Winger still flexes his comedic muscles as Lyle, the archenemy of Todd (Skylar Astin)—the main character of the show. Lyle takes issue with Todd's nepotism, as their boss is Todd's mother, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden). Their battles are epic and hilarious, but the audience can easily see that these two will be forced at some point to join forces.
BGN spoke with Winger via telephone about what drew him to acting, his role on the show, and how he stays grounded as his star rises.
What drew you to acting?
I can proudly say it was a couple of things. The first one is seeing myself in the character portrayed by Jaleel White on Family Matters. He was Steve Urkel, a Black nerd, and my six-year-old self was watching Family Matters as part of the TGIF line-up. I'm seeing this kid who wore suspenders, who loves science and math and loves doing experiments, who was funny, who had an interesting voice, and I'm just like, "Wow, that feels like me. This is the type of person I want to be when I grow up." That, accompanied with me always imitating my uncles or teachers, getting in trouble in class for talking, and being my young, nerdy self, unapologetically, is what led me into acting.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during this evolution from Baby Voice Darius on The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl to Lyle on So Help Me Todd?
To be true to myself. It would have been very easy for me to embrace the part of me that's a people pleaser and to do everything that people ask me just because they asked me to do it. Once I got the role on Insecure on HBO with a character whose name is Thug Yoda, it would have been very easy for me to just go for roles and take auditions that were just for this character that was a gang member, but he doesn't represent the media's idea of who a thug is. It would have been very easy for me to just roll into that. But, because of what I want it for myself and because of my team, from my manager to my agency, they steered me [down] the path of making sure that I was doing what I wanted to do with the roles that we got to audition for. I went to Amazing Grace Conservatory in South LA, co-founded by Wendy Raquel Robinson, and she would always say, "To thine own self be true," and I embraced that. I continue to live through that in everything that I do. "No" is such a powerful word, and it is a complete sentence.
Tell us about So Help Me Todd and your role on the show.
So Help Me Todd centers around Todd, a private investigator who lost his license to investigate. His mother is a partner at a law firm in Portland when her husband (Todd's stepfather) goes missing. Todd jumps in to help his mom, who is this strong character, this strong woman who is type-A personality, who always has everything together. Her world falls apart, and he hates to see his mom like this, even though they're a little bit estranged because he owes her $9,000. He jumps in anyway because love is love. Once that got solved in the pilot, Marguerite, his mother, brings Todd to work in the office. The only problem is Lyle, played by me.
Actor Tatyana Ali to Appear in Peacock's 'Bel-Air'
I play a type-A investigator who has all his ducks in a row. He's very serious, he's unapologetically judgmental, and he doesn't take any crap from anybody. He immediately recognizes the favoritism toward Todd because this man doesn't have a license. "Why is he practicing in my department?" That's where we butt heads, and we've been doing so all season.
Your character has a big episode airing on December 8. Tell us about that episode.
In a word, that episode is about family, and it's about the lengths that you will go to make sure that your family is okay, to make sure that your family is whole, to make sure that your family is supported. That is really one of the themes of the show in general that we saw from the pilot, that this is about family. This is about doing whatever it takes to make sure that your family is good. In this episode, we get to see what that looks like for Lyle.
As your star continues to rise in Hollywood, how do you keep yourself grounded?
Fortunately, I have a bunch of wonderful, beautiful people around me who keep me grounded. My best friends keep me grounded. My family keeps me grounded. My mom for sure keeps me grounded. One of my mom's many idioms is, "Don't look too good nor speak too wise. Be aware of yourself. Be aware of who you're talking to and what you're saying to whom because unfortunately" — and I haven't experienced this (knock on wood) — "not everybody is your friend." I believe that people have positive intentions. As long as I have positive intentions, then I believe that's what's going to come to me, so a little bit of faith is in there as well.
Well, [I'm] looking forward to more episodes of So Help Me Todd first and foremost. We want to put that into the universe so that comes back to me. That is my intention, to keep making more episodes of So Help Me Todd (wink, wink CBS). Besides that, during the downtime between seasons, definitely shooting movies because that's beautiful. I love movies as much as I love television. And also if we're talking about the business side of things, that's a way to market myself and bring myself to the whole world to make myself international to be like a Kevin Hart, to be like an Issa Rae, to have that recognition so that people will want to support everything that I do.
Watch new episodes of So Help Me Todd Thursdays on CBS at 9 PM EST or stream it on Paramount+.
Celestial Holmes is passionate about the power of prose, and she uses it to uplift her people for various Afrocentric outlets. She is also a published author, writing under the pseudonym Mbinguni.
Celestial Holmes December 7, 2022


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text:
Tech in Eugene
Outgrowing "The Silicon Shire" to become a Gigabit City
By Vanessa Salvia
To most people, the tech industry in Eugene isn't very noticeable. The large companies, such as CBT Nuggets (online video training), IDX Broker (real estate technology), Concentric Sky (web and mobile apps), and Palo Alto Software (business planning software), among others, do have a known presence. But more often, tech in Eugene means unassuming, small offices of two to 10 people. Though easily overlooked, the tech industry has been here for quite some time, and it's finally growing to the point when it can't be ignored.
Software publishers provided 10,000 Oregon jobs and sales of $4.4 billion in 2015, according to a Technology Association of Oregon-commissioned report. In November 2014, the Lane County Sector Strategy Team convened for the first time to gather data about our highest growing job sectors—food and beverage, wood products, and technology. Until then, tech leaders had no seat at the county table. Now, there's an agenda to help that infrastructure grow.
Easy access to resources
Joe Maruschak, a computer game developer who moved here in 1993 from New Jersey, began leading the state-funded Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN) in 2014. Through RAIN, businesses can quickly and easily access the three vital components of growth: capital, infrastructure, and workforce. "We work to make sure that all these components are here in abundance, and, where they do exist, we created a pipeline," he explains. "We want to make it really easy to start and grow companies here."
Eugene's tech industry is fueled partly by the many people who succeeded in tech's early days and who then went on to form their own companies. Many of them chose to either relocate to Eugene or stay in Eugene because they didn't want to live anywhere else.
Tom Keating, CEO and co-founder of Cognitopia, maker of apps to help people with cognitive disabilities, moved to Eugene from New Jersey in the '70s and has been in the tech world since the mid-'90s. "I think one of the reason Eugene's been a nest of R&D is because people like the community and the culture and the proximity to the outdoors," he explains. "The quality of life is a big factor."
One of Eugene's gifts to the tech world is the ability to spend less time in your car getting from one place to another like you do in larger metropolises. "And the craft beer!" jokes Julie Henning, Cognitopia's marketing manager. Eugene has fiber internet, skilled workers, jobs for those workers, less traffic, cheaper rents, more farmers markets, and better beer—who wouldn't take that deal?
Steve and Michele Zimba, both from New York, launched Nulia in Eugene in August 2017. Nulia helps businesses close the gap between the adoption and use of Cloud software. The Zimbas' children, both now attending the University of Oregon, introduced them to the town. "As we saw the bubble-up of fiber and the Technology Association of Oregon being here and the impact of the city itself supporting the tech community, it seemed like a good fit," Michele says. "It's always easier to start where there's an educated workforce and a slightly lower cost."
Henning says she hears grumblings about how much the cost of living here has grown over the past five years. She's right: home rental costs have doubled and commercial rates have risen rapidly. Does Eugene's future look similar to what our tech workers are trying so hard to escape from? Maybe, but not if the tech industry can help it.
"Now it's about the community coming together to make the choices to be what we want to be, to not be Portland, to not be Seattle," says Maruschak. "There's a reason people live in Eugene, and the people that moved here don't want this to become one of the places they moved away from, so the tech community has to be a solution to those problems. That's our big challenge—to make sure we truly have the resources for people to succeed and not screw it up in the process."
Fiber internet and gigabit cities
Gigabit-speed fiber internet is up to 250 times the speed of average internet connections— that's a game-changer for tech and a building block for the future. The nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, which works for an accessible, open internet, named Eugene a Gigabit City in March 2017. The designation brought $83,000 worth of grants and, in coming months, other local organizations will split $75,000 more. The awardees have four months to use their grants.
"We are a community improvement program," says Craig Wiroll, a Mozilla manager and a resident of Eugene. "We want the grants to push the boundaries and make people curious about the limitations of high-speed internet and emerging technology."
Lauren Jerome, founder of Mindbox and Redefining Women in Tech, received a $12,000 grant. Her group is creating interactive video learning events. "We are piloting an event program that will help break down location barriers for people that want to collaborate on learning," she says. "It's like live-streaming 'plus.' Instead of one location broadcasting and the other location just watching, it's a more participatory format where we're asking the audience to participate through digital tools."
In November 2017, US Ignite, a National Science Foundation program, chose Eugene as a Smart Gigabit City. Wiroll says that designation was made partly because Eugene was already a Mozilla Gigabit City but also because Eugene had some fiber internet downtown with plans to install more. "Fiber's around, but it's being underutilized," says Wiroll.
Games and more
One of the most visible places to find tech industry people is at Tech Tuesday at The Barn Light cafe and bar in downtown Eugene. Look for the golden unicorn, the unofficial mascot of the tech groups that meet regularly. Mark Davis helps manage CodeChops, a co-working space catering to the tech industry. CodeChops opened up six years ago in the Broadway Commerce Building, above The Barn Light.
"The Barn Light has been ground zero," Davis says. Each week, Davis' team live-streams to Facebook, recapping the week in local tech. Davis is also the "developer evangelist" at CBT Nuggets, where he's on the app team. For the past 10 years, he's split his time between Eugene and Portland
"Before downtown got revitalized, there was no epicenter for tech folks," he says. "They might have meetups, but it was in so-and-so's basement. Now we have a centralized location downtown for tech folks to meet, and that's where you get your innovation because people are bumping into each other."
Michael Jones got into game music and sound design after a post–high school realization that creating audio for games was an actual career. He moved here from Washington in 2008 to work for Pipeworks, a studio making legit cash games for PlayStation, Nintendo, and other platforms. Wanting to see more job prospects in this area, he sought to build connections between Eugene's game and tech communities.
In 2015, Jones established a Eugene chapter of the International Game Developers Association. Through his group, BitForest, Jones promotes meetups and events, such as weekend game development jams. "We wanted to turn the groups that were already here into a community that thrived," Jones says. "We want to do outreach to schools so the younger generation knows if you want to get into games, you don't have to look to Los Angeles for it."
A successful industry means that people have another job to go to if they leave their old one, and many of the successful tech companies know that the skills brought by game developers aren't just for use on toys.
"Businesses will come up with things that people want but not have a way of making it appealing," Jones explains. "As game developers, we make things fun and good-looking. If you put games and tech together, then we can design cool things that people want to use."
The next five years
Eugene will host the Track and Field World Championships in 2021. Future projects Davis is working on will focus on ways to make Eugene more discoverable. "Wayfinding apps for visitors," he says, "ridesharing for people to get around, apps to help people find coffee shops, or homeless people find resources."
As Lane County's three focus industries grow, some other industries might shrink. Jerome would like tech to become an ally to other industries so that they can all grow. That's what will make the future strong.
"Eugene has such a strong sense of collaboration and community pride of working together," Jerome says. "Tech has an opportunity because there's so much crossover to help those other industries come along with this evolution. I'd like to see our community help us approach the industrial revolution in a way that's sustainable to Eugene."
Locally made:
Stocking your pantry with area food producers
Running Wild:
Running back Royce Freeman blazes across the field
City of Rose:
Artist Ila Rose makes her international mark with the 20X21 Eugene Mural Project


Gentle Readers: Today I welcome Tony Grant as he writes about his visit this week to the "EMMA 200" exhibit at Chawton House Library, he being my feet on the ground so to speak as I am woefully not able to be there myself. Hope those of you who are able to go will do so – and send me pictures and your thoughts when you do!
On Wednesday 20th April I drove from Wimbledon to Chawton in Hampshire over the Hogs Back with views stretching across Surrey into the distance. It was a bright sunny day and seeing the Surrey countryside green and pleasant and shining in the bright sunshine under blue skies was appropriate for my adventure. I was driving to Chawton House Library to visit the "Emma 200 exhibition." Emma is Jane Austen's Surrey novel and this year is the 200th anniversary of its publication and it is entirely set within that county.
Emma was published by John Murray II of Albemarle Street on the 23rd December 1815, although its title page reads 1816. This exhibition has items from Chawton House's own collection and from the Knight family collection, as well as other items on loan. The exhibition covers the reception of Emma through the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first centuries; it also considers the country setting of the novel and the places that were possible influences. It covers the global appeal of Emma. It has a large section about John Murray II and nineteenth century publishing practices through letters and comments made by Jane herself and fellow authoresses also published by Murray. It highlights authors mentioned in the novel and nineteenth century ideas about female accomplishments such as music, embroidery and painting. It shows the connection with Shakespeare and has a section about the reception of the novel. In particular, there is a letter written by Charlotte Bronte to her own publisher, W.S. Williams, discussing her thoughts about Emma and Jane Austen as a writer.
I arrived at the electronically operated gates early. The house opens at 1.30pm Monday to Friday. I was there promptly at 1.10pm. I decided to have a look around and inside of St Nicholas Church nearby, which is Chawton's parish church and where Jane Austen and her family worshipped. The church we see today is not the church Jane knew. There was a fire sometime after Jane's death and it had to be rebuilt, though some of the structure from the church that Jane knew remains. I read the memorials to the Austens and Knights within and then went round to the back of the church through an arbor of dark and gloomy ancient yew trees to see the side-by-side graves of Austen's sister, Cassandra Elizabeth Austen, and mother, Cassandra Austen.
It was such a nice day and I still had about ten minutes left so I sat on a stone bollard near the entrance gate and watched a gentleman sitting on a motor mower mowing the grass verges along the drive. As I sat there I noticed a smartly dressed lady leaving the front entrance of the great house with a dog on a lead. She approached the gate and opened it, placing a notice board on a stand giving the times and prices of entry. I asked jokingly if this meant I can go in. I pointed out it was still ten minutes to half past. She laughed and said by the time I walked up the driveway I should arrive at the door on time. "Just knock and they will let you in," she told me. I knocked on the door with five minutes to and it was immediately opened by a smiling lady who ushered me in. The house is staffed by volunteers except in the kitchens where the official housekeeper keeps her domain but more about that nice lady later. I found everybody so enthusiastic and full of smiles and really, extremely welcoming. I paid my entrance fee and one lady took me into the great hall on the left of the entrance and showed me a map of the house with the route marked by numbered rooms. It is a self-guided tour so I was given the map to hold as I went round. There are volunteers in every room who you can talk to and ask information of.
The exhibition began in the great hall. A glass case displays some first editions dated 1816. There was an edition in French as well as one published by Mathew Carey a publisher in Philadelphia. Somehow Carey had read Sir Walter Scott's review of Emma and obviously liked it. He sold his version at a much cheaper price than John Murray's London version. He produced a card backed version printed on cheap paper for $2. Murray's London version, which was a much better quality, was twice the price. Very few American first editions have survived as a consequence of the poorer quality and the copy in this exhibition shows signs of much yellowing of the paper and black mold spots. It looks an inferior book to both the French and English versions. I felt honoured to able to lean over the glass case and read the opening few lines of the Murray edition.
There were no such things as copyright laws in those days and both the French and American versions, probably unknown to Jane Austen, brought her no income. Later in the nineteenth century Dickens went over to America and tried to do something about copyright laws in America but to no avail and to his great consternation. The fact that copies of Emma were being published abroad within the first year of its initial publication in England tells us something about publishing and the book trade at the time. Money could be made from books.
It sounds as though Murray has been given his marching orders and she isn't going to have any truck with being messed about. She is firm but polite with the "Rogue." She knows the power of a face to face encounter. Some of her contemporaries were perhaps not quite so strong with Murray but learned a lesson.
One of the exhibits on display, putting Jane Austen's publishing experiences with Murray in context, is a book called Domestic Cookery, published by Murray in 1806. It was very popular and made a lot of sales and presumably a lot of money for Murray. It was written by Maria Rundell. Rundell had been paid £150 by Murray. She regarded Murray as a friend but she was not aware at first that her book had become such a bestseller. When she found out she felt that Murray was not upholding the copyright agreement he had with her. Eventually Murray paid her £2100 but kept the right to continue publishing the book himself. Jane Austen's comments about him being "a rogue but a civil one" come to mind. Murray was obviously a very astute business man and could make money from trouble.
Another exhibit displays copies of books written by the French authoress, Germaine de Stael. She wrote books about Rousseau, Revolutionary Politics and Marie Antoinette's trial. She was virtually banned by Napoleon Bonaparte. He had her book, De L'Allemagne pulped. Murray saw a chance. He took her on. In 1813 he used three printers to publish the French original and English translations simultaneously. He relied on anti-French feelings to make Stael's books best sellers.
It appears that Murray regularly sent copies of newly published books to other writers he published for their comments. This can be seen as eliciting positive comments from people who wanted to keep in with Murray. Jane Austen mentions in her letters to Murray how thankful she is for the copy of Waterloo he sent her to read and actually asks him if he has any more she can have a look at. This suggests she knows how to play the publishing game. She is as astute as Murray himself it seems. In one way Scott's positive comments could be read as keeping in with Murray. If Murray and his publishing house does well and sells lots of books it can only benefit himself after all, but there is more to Scott's review. I think he has recognized what is original in her writing. She is a realist. Her style is about everyday common occurrences and everyday people and she makes them heroic. People reading Jane Austen can see themselves and people they know in her writing. It is said that reading a novel is good emotional and psychological therapy, and Austen hit a powerful vein.
The highlight of the whole exhibition for me, even more so than seeing and reading a first edition, is the actual letter Charlotte Bronte wrote to her publisher, W.S. Williams, on April 12, 1850, in which she writes a lengthy paragraph about her thoughts on Jane Austen and Emma. I found it easy to read Bronte's small, thin, precise handwriting that flows clearly across the page.
Charlotte Bronte is actually describing the differences between their two styles. I have read articles published on some blogs where the writer tries to pit Charlotte Bronte against Jane Austen. Who do you like the best? Who do you think is the better writer? And so on. These are a childish approach to comparing two great writers. Two geniuses. Their styles are different. Every one of us reads different types of books for different reasons at different times to fit, very often , our different moods. We can read a poem by Wordsworth one day and on other days a romantic comedy, a ghost story, a swashbuckling adventure, a horror story or maybe a present day thriller. We can enjoy each genre for what it is and what it brings to us. Austen and Bronte are not enemies, they are not one better than the other. They are different and we can enjoy both. I can imagine how Bronte could be critical. She had a harder life than Jane Austen. Her novels and those of her sisters, were full of passion and deep feelings and filled with great moral uncertainties testing the moral status quo to the limit. Their ideas made their lives worth living and helped them live their short lives with feeling. Jane Austen had a much easier existence. I can see how Charlotte Bronte might not understand Austen's standpoint. She probably could not bear to live the way Austen's characters are portrayed. However, we can love them both.
The exhibition demonstrates many of the influences Jane Austen might have used in her writing of Emma. There is the suggestion, for instance, that the fictional places Highbury and Hartfield in Emma are modelled on Chawton and the local town Alton. These are in Hampshire but the novel is set in Surrey. Others I know would not agree. Some say Leatherhead in Surrey, which is near Box Hill, a major location in the book. Others suggest Highbury is a generic English village, and I think this more likely.
There is a bound set of The Ladies Magazine (1770-1832) which provides sewing patterns for young ladies. It is the sort of magazine that Jane Austen had access too. In Emma, sewing and painting are pastimes for young ladies.
The exhibition is definitely worth seeing and just as much is the opportunity to walk around Chawton House where Jane Austen herself and her family lived and breathed. I also took the opportunity to take a walk in the gardens. I came across a snake lying across my path as I walked up to the walled gardens. I must tell you that in all my life I only recall seeing two other snakes in Britain in the wild. This was a grass snake and was totally harmless. The adder is the only poisonous snake in Britain and they are very shy creatures. I think I saw one once in the New Forest.
The people who volunteer at Chawton are wonderful. They want to talk to you and tell you things. I had a very amusing moment with an elderly gentleman volunteer at the top of the great staircase. He was sitting on the landing. When I approached he showed me an information leaflet and we discussed its contents. One thing it mentioned was the original William Morris wallpaper. I looked around and couldn't see any. "Well, then where's the wallpaper?" I joked. He laughed and said "come with me." We walked half way down the staircase and then turned and got on our hands and knees. There indeed, almost hidden behind the balustrade, was a patch of darkened William Morris print. He also kindly showed me the large 1714 map of London displayed on the folding panels of a screen.
This entry was posted in Austen Literary History & Criticism, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Circle, Jane Austen Popular Culture, Literature, Museum Exhibitions, Publishing History, Social Life & Customs, Women Writers and tagged Charlotte Bronte, Chawton House library, Emma, Emma at 200, Exhibitions, Jane Austen, John Murray, Libraries, Publishing History. Bookmark the permalink.
Thank you Gillian for stopping by – always happy to encourage people to visit and donate to Chawton House Library and to add to the press on this exhibit. So grateful Tony could be my proxy there – he has a good eye and sees much that others might miss – even snakes in the grass!
Wonderful – so pleased you enjoyed it. Our volunteers will be delighted – they work really hard on our behalf.
Tony and Deb, I enjoyed this very much! I would so love to have been there myself but, as always, Tony has made me feel as if I had been. I agree, there's no need to choose between Brontes and Austen; I love them all. Now I'm off to tweet a link to this post.
Jean, thank you for your comment. It was wonderful to see those first editions. I also got a real thrill out of being able to see and read the actual letter Charlotte Bronte wrote to her publisher mentioning Emma.
Enjoyed reading your review, Tony! Lovely photos and interesting to read more about Murray and the publishing practices at the time. I have to agree with you on the Austen/Bronte debate – no point in arguing who is better as they both had their own approaches and strengths based on their different experiences and influences. Did you see what was left of Edward Austen's Regency Garden? I missed seeing the gardens as it started hailing when I came out of the house!
Thanks for linking to my blog as well, Deb.
Hi Anna. Thanks for responding. I walked up to the walled garden( kitchen garden) at the back of the house. It is a typical set up for a grand houses kitchen garden. I am not sure I saw the remains of the Regency garden! I walked on past the walled gardens to the end of the path that provides views out over the extensive landscape. I think I read somewhere that the estate grounds have been returned to how they were in the 18th century before the field system took over in the agricultural revolution, but I might be wrong. Need to look into that a bit more.
Well the only thing for you now to do is go again on a sunny day, Anna. As you say, you can get a nice pint of beer at the Greyfriars. I had a meal there once with some friends . They have a very good menu and the food is of a high standard.
Wonderful post and photos! Thank you, Tony and Deb.
Thank you as well for the link to "Emma in the Snow"!
In the very last photo, are those beautiful heraldic stained glass windows in Chawton House where Jane lived? I'm not clear if its a window from the Chawton House Library as a separate building. The stairwell with the portrait of a lady says CHL and another gorgeous stained glass window. Stunning..as is the stairwell..
Yes, Lady L – those are the windows in Chawton House Library in the stairwell – same as in the picture with the portrait on the staircase. I'll have Tony tell you more about them – I do not know what they stand for – some detective work required!
Hi Lady L. They are heraldic emblems. I am not sure who they belong to or their meaning. I took the photograph of the stairwell with the portrait because I thought the lady in the picture looked rather nice. There is not much information on display explaining the portraits or the windows.
Both photographs are interior shots of Chawton House Library.
Lady L and Tony – I will be posting something this week about the windows, so stay tuned – all very interesting!


The individual student - Proverbs 20:11 "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." Each person builds his own reputation by his own actions and is totally responsible for what he chooses to do.
The student's family - Proverbs 23:24-25 "The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!" Proverbs 17:21 "To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool." A child's actions are a reflection upon the parents who raised him and can bring a parent joy or grief.
The school – 1 Timothy 4:12-13 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." Students of Mountain View Christian Academy become walking representatives of our program and their attitude and behavior in and out of school reflect upon all our students, faculty, and staff.
The Kingdom of God - Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." 1 John 2:6 "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." If one claims the name of Christ, he has an obligation to uphold the name of Christ. As a ministry of the Church of Christ at Mountain View, the behavior of the students at Mountain View Christian Academy reflects upon the church (the kingdom of God) and the name of Jesus Christ.


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Asia, Round The World With Children, Sri Lanka
Udawalawe National Park and Mirissa
Our taxi driver picked us up from the Ella Corner Inn at 10am and we set off down the windy hillside roads from Ella towards our next destination, Udawalawe, where we would be spending two nights. Our main aim while there was to organise a jeep safari to Udawalawe National Park to view Asian Elephants…
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Onward and Upward to Ella
Having heard that the seven-hour train ride from Kandy to Ella was one of the most spectacular in the world we didn't want to have the lottery of having to find a seat. We discussed what the best option would be and decided to pay extra and book seats in advance on the ExpoRail carriage….
Dambulla Cave Temple and the Journey Back to Kandy
Leaving Trincomalee behind we had a two-hour drive to Habarana, a small village at an important crossroads in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. We would base ourselves here for a couple of nights to visit nearby Sigiriya and the Dambulla Caves Temple. Our guesthouse, the A4 Villa, was slightly out of the village along a dusty…
Sigiriya – Lion Rock
We were in Habarana and still were not sure what to do. Sigiriya is THE iconic landmark of Sri Lanka. The giant rock was home to King Kasyapa who decided to build his palace on top of the rock and decorate the sides with frescoes. About halfway up he built a gateway in the form…
Dolphin Watching in Sri Lanka
While eating breakfast one morning in Trincomalee a Dutch couple returned to the hotel full of smiles. They had just taken an early morning boat trip and had seen lots of dolphins out at sea. "There are so many of them!". Up until now we had not thought of dolphin watching in Sri Lanka. Mum's…
Trincomalee – Our Slice of Paradise
After 5 days in Kandy it was time to move on to our next destination. We decided to detour from our planned route to include a visit to Trincomalee on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Tourism in Trincomalee is back on the rise following the tsunami of 2004 and the civil war. It took…
Our Time in Kandy
Our arrival to Kandy didn't go so smoothly, however it didn't take us too long to find our groove after a good night's rest in the Days Inn family apartment. On our first full day we took a Tuk Tuk into town and searched for a place to eat breakfast. We found Devon Bakery for…
World Play – Kandy
We entered Kandy City Shopping Centre mainly to escape the heat outside. We had only been in Sri Lanka for three days and had not acclimatised just yet. Shopping isn't really our thing, nor the kids so we just aimlessly wondered around really. Lucky for us (well for the kids!) that we did as we…
Kandy Royal Botanic Gardens
We decided to become one of the 1.2 million visitors and take the kids to the Kandy Royal Botanic Gardens in the Peradeniya area which is just outside of Kandy city centre. As with most attractions in Sri Lanka, the entry cost for foreign tourists is a lot steeper that it is for locals. The…
Getting to Kandy (Eventually)
We needed to get from Negombo to Colombo Fort this morning for a train to Kandy and had two options. A Taxi to station or a Tuk Tuk to the bus station to get the air-conditioned bus to a bus station a 10-minute walk from the station. Since we think we have too much baggage…
Mendoza, a Frustrating Time December 19, 2017
A Short Trip to Valparaiso October 10, 2017
Stressed Out in Santiago September 13, 2017
Normans Running Wild – A Family Travel Adventure September 8, 2017
Visiting the Moai Statues on Rapa Nui August 28, 2017
Copyrights © 2017 Our Family Travels. All Rights Reserved.


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MIPrepZone
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)
Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..
Mainly cloudy. Low near 25F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
Fred Alter, power boat driver and innovator, dies at 94
Fred Alter, one of the great names in Detroit hydroplane history and a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy Air as a pilot, died Saturday, Jan. 9. He was 94.
De La Salle can add to county records at football championship game
Fox Sports television schedule for state football finals
Clutch kick produces 'surreal moment' for De La Salle's Cody Cummins
Sydney Brandt and Elly Belmore lead county swimmers at state finals
OUR TOWN: Winter at last!
WINTER AT LAST! Worried that the lake wouldn't freeze or snow wouldn't fall was a part of nearly every conversation for weeks. The problem has been solved. Now we talk about how cold it is and driving conditions. But consider the beauty of it and be grateful. Living in the north is worthwhil…
Payne: McClain vote against certification unacceptable start to Congressional tenure
OUR TOWN: Off we go into 2021
Ken Morris: Looking back at 2020 can help you look forward to 2021
Coronavirus, crime, controversy dominate year's headlines
The 16 best Christmas movies, and six that aren't so good
In honor of the Christmas season …
Elf, Die Hard, Home Alone among top watched Christmas movies on Dec. 1
Movies available for online streaming in Michigan, new releases Dec. 4
Movies available for online streaming in Michigan
Movies available for online streaming while Michigan theaters are closed
New Baltimore Trivia game celebrates Super Bowl
Fans eager to test their expertise in all things Super Bowl can earn prizes through New Baltimore Parks and Recreation — even if they are more into halftime shows and ads than football.
Richmond's Beth Fruin turns bells over after 40 years of service
Richmond students kick off blanket drive for heart patients
YMCA of the Blue Water Area to host RESET challenge
Area libraries offer workshops, group meetings, more for all ages
Clarkston is one of 32 volleyball teams around the state that returned to practice on Monday, only to have their season put on pause again 24 hours later. (KEN SWART - MediaNews Group File Photo)
Drew Ellis: Get prep athletes off this emotional roller coaster
By Drew Ellis dellis@medianewsgroup.com; @ellisdrew on Twitter
I've felt a lot of things over the last 12 months.
I've felt fear, anxiousness, sadness, empathy and hope.
On Tuesday, I felt anger.
Throughout this whole COVID-19 pandemic, my feelings have always been on the side of health and safety.
This is a serious virus that can have serious consequences.
I have been dealing with them first-hand for most of the year.
However, on Tuesday, I felt angry because high school athletes across the state were unnecessarily hurt.
I was as shocked as anyone when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon announced fall sports postseason would resume under a new pilot testing program.
Despite my shock, I was happy for the athletes that would get a chance to finish out their postseason tournaments and get some closure to their season.
It had to be exciting for those teams to come together again on Monday after five weeks apart.
It also had to be excruciating on Tuesday to be told, once again, that their seasons were on pause.
Why this time?
Because of a lack of clarity between the MDHHS and the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
This could have been easily avoided, but someone dropped the ball.
It's possible that the MHSAA could have prematurely jumped the gun and scheduled out the fall tournaments without knowing the full details of the testing program.
However, Mark Uyl has been up front throughout this whole process and has followed the guidance of the MDHHS and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. I don't question his desire to get these sports concluded.
On Tuesday Uyl sent a letter to participating schools indicating the MDHHS hadn't fully provided details that were needed until that day.
I had coaches this past weekend reaching out to me personally for answers about the testing program, as if I somehow would know before they would.
Since Friday's announcement media sites across the state have been all talking about fall athletes returning to practice on Monday. It's hard to imagine the MDHHS wasn't aware of the MHSAA's schedule. If more time was needed, it could have been addressed prior to the kids getting sent back to practice.
Instead, the athletes got their hopes up once again, only to be hurt once again.
Families altered holiday plans to make sure their kids were available for practices.
The past few months have felt like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.
While I side with the health and safety of individuals during this pandemic, I also am concerned for the mental health of these teenagers. Tuesday was unacceptable.
Now, the MHSAA is back in rescheduling mode for fall tournaments.
I commend the MHSAA and Mark Uyl for their determination to get in three seasons with champions crowned in each sport.
However, perhaps this is a battle that is doing more harm than good. Maybe it is time to put the fall season in the rearview mirror.
I know not having a finish to football, volleyball and girls swimming & diving provides its own mental anguish, but not as much as being built up to be torn down again.
As the focus remains on finishing the fall, the winter season continues to sit idle.
Administrators I have spoken to are concerned that the testing program is too challenging for high school athletes to actually work. These aren't professionals or college athletes that have a wide safety net protecting them at all times.
Throughout the fall, I heard from coaches that were grateful to have had the length of a season they did.
Football teams were given the ability to play at least seven games if healthy. That is 77 percent of a normal football season.
As the fall pushes deeper into 2021, the MHSAA remains committed to wrap up winter sports by the end of March.
At best, winter sports outside of skiing won't be able to begin practice until mid-January. That ideally gives them about a month of competition before tournaments would begin.
While the MHSAA may relax rules to allow for more games to be played in a week, winter sports teams aren't likely to see 77 percent of a season under the current format.
With so much focus remaining on finishing three fall tournaments, perhaps that energy is best served to focus on the winter and spring and give those athletes as much of a season as possible.
If having postseason tournaments remain a must, then perhaps leave the option for teams that get eliminated to continue to play games against eliminated teams until the season runs out.
For a basketball team that would be eliminated in a district opener, they may not even get 50 percent of a normal season.
The same can be said for the spring. It's hard to imagine the current timeline not pushing into their season as well. For not having any season whatsoever in 2020, those spring athletes should be a top priority. Get them on the field.
The motto all year has been, "Let Them Play."
The priority should be about that, playing.
Not championships at all cost.
This mental roller coaster is costing the kids.
Drew Ellis is a multimedia journalist for The Oakland Press, covering sports in Michigan. Reach him at dellis@medianewsgroup.com.
St. Clair County sheriff warns residents to watch for new scam
Cities, townships enter into interlocal assessing agreement with St. Clair County
St. Mary Queen of Creation to host rummage sale
MacDonald Library in New Baltimore welcomes new director
St. Clair County officials: COVID-19 vaccine ramping up but patience is needed
Outdoor body-weight circuit training facility coming to Morton Park in Marysville
Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce creates challenge to boost restaurant sales
MDOT virtual meeting Jan. 21 to discuss M-29 improvements in Fair Haven
New Baltimore mayor addresses golf cart concerns
Study: Consolidation of Marine City water plant with townships feasible
POLL: Do you think the COVID-19 "pause" has helped reduce the spread of the virus in Michigan?
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Samsung is reportedly planning to invest $40 million into Pokemon Go and Ingress developer Niantic Inc. According to inside sources, Niantic will likely be tasked with developing high-profile mobile games that will be exclusive to Samsung Galaxy phones. This partnership could result in Niantic-developed games coming pre-loaded on Samsung, an anonymous inside source has told The Inquirer.
While details on the deal remain rather scarce at this point, according to the report, Niantic is trying to raise money for an IPO in 2019, while Samsung is more than happy to throw some money at the developer for some quality exclusive content.
Niantic made a name for itself with the AR location-based game Ingress, but really hit it big with Pokemon Go in 2016. However, this new deal with Samsung will reportedly initially revolve around a Harry Potter game, which is likely going to be a huge departure from the developer's previous AR titles. It's currently unclear whether this will be a reworked version of Niantic's upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, or if it's going to be something entirely different, but the report claims that it's likely going to be a Galaxy Note exclusive title that will make heavy use of Samsung's S-Pen.
"After a lot of haggling, and pushing, Niantic refused to make the features without a large investment from Samsung, and the number they arrived at was $40m", the inside source told The Inquirer. The partnership could officially be announced before the end of this year and we may see the result of it as early as February 2019, on the Samsung Galaxy S10.
The Galaxy S10 won't have a notch, but it may have a 'hole' in its display – where should it be?
I wish they would just take all these partnership apps and allow us to choose what we want to install on initial set-up, like an aroma-installer. It really would give the consumer more choice about what they want their devices resources allocated toward and make them look pro-consumer.
I don't want preloaded games. That is all. P.S. screw Microsoft & Facebook for forcing their apps upon us.


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Category: Compliance
Compliance, Network News
Florida Agency Network Executives Receive Elite 'CAMS' Anti-Money Laundering Credentials
June 11, 2019 Frances
Amy Gregory (CAO), Andrea Somers (Compliance Officer), and Jay Roberts (CTO), of Florida Agency Network were awarded the widely recognized CAMS® credential by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists® (ACAMS®), the world's leading organization of professionals in the anti- money laundering (AML) field.
The CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) designation is awarded to professionals who successfully complete a rigorous examination demonstrating their aptitude and expertise in anti-money laundering detection and enforcement. The examination covers money laundering and terrorist financing methods, the best practices to stop these and other financial crimes, as well as key related legislation in place worldwide, global AML standards and developing defenses for financial institutions to stop terrorist financing and money laundering.
"Earning the CAMS credential places the successful candidate in an elite group of AML professionals and assures employers in the private and public sectors that they are working with someone with the essential knowledge and background in this crucial and challenging field," said Timothy D. McClinton, President & Managing Director of ACAMS.
"With more FinCEN geographic targeting orders coming on a regular basis now, we thought it was incredibly important to stay ahead of the curve and be one of the first Title Agencies in the country to achieve this. This credential, along with our SOC 1 and 2, also helps us meet our company goal of providing clients with security to close with any of our brands," stated Aaron Davis, CEO for Florida Agency Network.
"Achieving this credential is a major accomplishment for us. It further solidifies our company's commitment to not only providing a safer environment for our customers but also helping to provide a more stable financial landscape in the industry," said Andrea Somers, Compliance Officer for Florida Agency Network.
Founded in 2001, ACAMS is the largest international membership organization dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and expertise of AML/CTF and financial crime detection and prevention professionals. ACAMS' mission is to provide a global platform for career development for leading professionals in the AML field. ACAMS gives members the insight, information and inspiration they need to protect their institutions against the threat of money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crime, and the tools to advance their skills and keep the AML professional ahead of those that engage in these criminal activities. CAMS is the most widely recognized AML certification among compliance professionals worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.acams.org.
anti-money launderingACAMScertificationsecurity controlsSecurity
Compliance, Real Estate Headline News
Who's responsible for wire fraud?
September 26, 2018 Frances
We hear about it all the time, wire fraud, cyber security, secure networks and portals. We don't think it can happen to us, until it does.
The way wire fraud cases are handled is changing. No one is exempt from wire fraud, and going forward, everyone in a transaction could be held responsible for the wire fraud.
As Thomas W. Cronkright II, Esq. and Lawrence Duthler, Esq. of CertifID LLC show in their recent report, all participants in a transaction are responsible for wire fraud loss. A recent Kansas Federal District Court decision ruling found a bank, title company, real estate agent, and real estate broker liable in a transaction hit with wire fraud. The cybercriminal hacked into the seller's agent's email and was able to reroute the buyer's wire to a fraudulent bank account. The buyer lost $196,622.76 that day, none of which was recovered.
According to the report:
"The buyer argued that all defendants had a duty to protect them from the losses they incurred and that the failure of these defendants to live up to that duty led to the fraudulent loss of their funds. In response, the defendants responded by arguing that they owed no duty to the buyer because they did not serve in a formal representative or fiduciary capacity."
While the bank and title company settled in mediation, it was the seller's real estate agent and broker who were found liable for 85% of the losses during the transaction, since the fraudulent email came from the seller's agent.
We don't think it can happen to us, until it does. And if it does, all parties in the transaction may be held liable. Are you ready for it?
"All defendants had a duty to protect them from the losses." We all have the duty to protect our clients. That's why it's so important to do business with a title company who can secure you and your clients. Agencies in the Florida Agency Network are among the Nation's top 1% in security, compliance and innovative technology. We work hard behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly, and your clients are protected.
For more information on how we can secure your closing, contact us at info@flagency.net or visit any of our offices.
Cyber CrimesWire Fraud
Florida Agency Network in The Title Report
January 24, 2018 Frances
Did you hear the news?
Last week, Florida Agency Network (FAN) announced its launch of The Closing Manager.
Partnering with Premier Data Services, the secure collaboration portal combines wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience.
"The Closing Manager minimizes the cyber footprint of a transaction and extends industry best practices through to the consumers at a time when it is needed most," said Chief Technology Officer of Premier Data Services, Jay Roberts.
With features like secured chat, multi-factor authentication, and two-way document sharing, The Closing Manager reduces email exposure and the chances of clients becoming victims of cyber crimes.
To see the full feature on The Title Report's website, click HERE.
You can read the official announcement HERE.
For more information on how the Closing Manager can help your agency, contact Jay Roberts at jay.roberts@premierdataservices.com.
Closing ManagerPress ReleaseSecurityThe Title ReportTitle Report
Compliance, Network News, Press Releases
Florida Agency Network's Closing Manager Featured in TitleNews
Today, Florida Agency Network (FAN) announced its launch of The Closing Manager. Partnering with Premier Data Services, the secure collaboration portal combines wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience.
To see the full feature on ALTA's website, click HERE.
To see the original announcement, click HERE.
Closing ManagerSecurity
Independent Audit Confirms FAN's Internal Data Security Controls
August 7, 2017 Frances	1 Comment
Florida Agency Network completes SOC 1 Type 2 attestation
PLANT CITY, Fla. – Florida Agency Network, (FAN), the largest network of title agencies in Florida, has completed a meticulous third-party examination of its data security and privacy policies and procedures under the Service Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 standards.
The demanding third-party examinations were administered by the professional IT assurance and compliance staff at 360 Advanced, a respected national Qualified Security Assessor, HITRUST CSF Assessor and Certified Public Accountant firm based in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Companies that complete annual SOC 1 assessments can demonstrate a substantially higher level of security assurance and operational visibility as compared to those companies without an assessment. The assessment focuses on the internal controls impacting customers and the protection of their non-public personal information (NPPI).
"Proving up to date compliance with SOC 1 Type 2 is a rigorous process for all involved. I am proud that FAN completed our annual assessment successfully and believe that it affords us a competitive advantage," said Andrea Somers, Compliance Officer for FAN. She added that the staff at 360 Advanced is "knowledgeable, detailed, and a pleasure to work with."
datasecurity controlsAuditService Organization ControlsSSAE 16SecuritySOC 1 Compliance
FDFS Implements New Ruling on Unlawful Inducements
February 5, 2016 Frances	1 Comment
The Florida Department of Financial Services has adopted a new rule (Rule: 69B-186.010) regarding "unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the transaction of title insurance." The rule goes into effect on February 9, 2016 and will ensure the playing field within the title industry continues to have balance.
The ruling details practices and activities that are deemed unfair and unlawful. Some of the activities listed include:
Providing membership in any organization, society, association, guild, union, alliance or club at a discount, reduced rate, or at no cost to a referrer of settlement service business.
Sponsoring and hosting, or paying for the sponsoring and hosting, of open houses for real estate brokers or real estate sales associates to promote their listings.
Paying advertising costs to advertise and promote the listings of real estate brokers or real estate sales associates via publications, signs, emails, websites, web pages, banners, or other forms of media.
While some of the mentioned activities are vague, the FDFS makes the seriousness of each offense known.
To read the full list of illegal activities and the ruling, click HERE.
Florida Department of Financial ServicesRule: 69B-186.010Title IndustryUnlawful Inducements
Florida Agency Network Completes SSAE 16 SOC 2 Type 1 Examination
November 6, 2015 Frances
Tampa, Florida – November 6, 2015 – The Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida's largest network of independent title agencies, is proud to announce it has completed its SSAE 16 SOC 2 Type 1 examination. The examination was performed by 360 Advanced, P.A., a full-service audit and consulting firm that specializes in integrated compliance solutions, 360 Advanced also conducted SOC 1 examination for FAN and presented the certification October 1st.
The SOC 2 Type 1 report focuses on the non-financial controls of an organization as they relate to maintaining the integrity of Non Public Personal Information (NPPI). The SOC 2 report is modeled around four areas of review: policies, communications, procedures, and monitoring. Each of these pillars have specific parameters which must be met to demonstrate compliance in order for certification to be granted.
Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA"), Trusted Service Principles (TSP) Framework is based on a criteria geared towards technology and cloud-based computing systems. The TSP Framework is comprised of five standards whereby a practitioner is required to examine and report on. Companies who complete an annual SOC 2 examination are able to demonstrate a substantially higher level of assurance and operational visibility as compared to those companies who have not yet achieved certification.
In obtaining SOC 2 Type 1 examination, Florida Agency Network reinforces a commitment to security, confidentiality, availability, privacy and processing integrity by ensuring the highest quality and security of services provided to their clients. Since the implementation of the TILA/RESPA reform on October 3, 2015, many title companies have yet to complete either the SOC 1 or SOC 2 examination, leaving their stakeholders in a position of risk to the exposure or breach of Non Public Personal Information (NPPI).
"We are proud to announce the completion of our SOC 2 certification. We are one of a few in our industry with the acclaim of both SOC 1 Type 1 and SOC 2 Type 1 certification. I think this clearly portrays the standard to which we strive to protect data and NPPI (Non Public Personal Information). Having gone through this rigorous assessment, we can provide certification and proof that the Florida Agency Network and its affiliates have taken its systems, procedures, and control levels above and beyond what the industry has designated in its Best Practices. This certification puts us on a tier similar to that of our banking and lending partners when it comes to compliance and protection." says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands. FAN includes Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, Homeplus Title, Uptown Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, Stronghold Title and Progressive Title Solutions.
The FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK (FAN) is made up of a network of independent title agencies that have formed a strategic alliance to provide shared back office services, pooled resources, and greater geographic coverage throughout the State of Florida. Resources of FAN include multiple on staff attorneys, access to private title plant and ancillary services, IT company, centralized processes & post-closing, agency administration, compliance management and financial oversight. Powered by nine national underwriters, FAN offers residential, commercial, builder, lender and investor services, experienced escrow staff, personalized customer service, over 30 locations throughout the State of Florida and much more.
Title Report Recognizes Florida Agency Network's SOC 1 Type 1 Exam
October 7, 2015 Frances
Compliance is the new normal and the Florida Agency Network is leading the way.
With a SOC 1 Type 1 Examination under our belts, FAN is being recognized for its commitment to creating the highest quality security of services for our customers.
Check out our feature in The Title Report, by clicking here.
Florida Agency NetworkSOC 1 ComplianceTitle Report
Compliance, Press Releases
Florida Agency Network Completes SOC 1 (SSAE 16) TYPE 1 Examination
Tampa, Florida – October 1, 2015 – The Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida's largest network of independent title agencies, is proud to announce it has completed a SOC 1 (Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 ["SSAE 16"]) Type 1 examination. The examination was performed by 360 Advanced, P.A., a full-service audit and consulting firm that specializes in integrated compliance solutions, including conducting SOC 1 examinations.
SSAE 16, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA"), is the most widely recognized authoritative guidance that provides service organizations a uniform method for disclosing independently assessed information about the design and operation of internal controls related to their services. Companies who complete an annual SOC 1 examination are able to demonstrate a substantially higher level of assurance and operationally visibility than those companies who do not.
Securing SOC 1 Type 1 examination reinforces FAN's, and its embodying agencies, commitment to security, confidentiality, availability, privacy and processing integrity by ensuring the highest quality and security of services provided to their customers. As the implementation of the TILA/RESPA reform is set to happen on October 3, 2015, many title companies have yet to complete the SOC 1 examination, leaving their stakeholders in a position to risk the exposure of non-public personal information (NPPI).
"We are proud to announce the completion of this major accomplishment. Very few in our industry can boast having a SOC 1 (SSAE 16). I think this portrays our level of commitment to the protection of data and NPPI (Non Public Private Information) to our real estate partners, and more importantly, to the consumer. Having gone through this rigorous assessment, we can provide certification and proof to our lenders and banks that the Florida Agency Network and its affiliates have taken its systems, procedures and control levels above and beyond what the industry has supplied in its Best Practices. Best Practices is simply the start, to get the industry moving in the right direction. SSAE 16 compliance is the next step, putting us on the same level as our banking and lending partners when it comes to compliance and protection." says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands, which include Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, HomePlus Title, Uptown Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, StrongHold Title and Progressive Title Solutions.
The FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK (FAN) is the largest network of independent title agencies in the State of Florida. We have formed a strategic alliance to better serve our clients, allowing us to provide more services throughout the state. FAN offers convenient locations and many services that most title agencies do not provide, such as in-house legal counsel, in-house title plant, HOA estoppel ordering, dedicated REO department and much more.
Flagency.net
Florida Agency NetworkSOC 1 ComplianceTILA-RESPA
Florida Agency Network Tampa Bay Division Secures ALTA Best Practices Certification
It's not easy to secure certification in all seven pillars of ALTA's Best Practices. However, after a long process FAN's Tampa Bay Division was able to pull it off.
Read more by clicking HERE.
ALTABest PracticesFlorida Agency NetworkHillsborough TitlePress ReleaseTampa Bay Division


text:
Hydrogeologic framework of Antelope Valley and Bedell Flat, Washoe County, west-central Nevada
View Plate
Description of the hydrogeologic framework of Antelope Valley and Bedell Flat in west-central Nevada adds to the general knowledge of regional ground-water flow north of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. The hydrogeologic framework is defined by the rocks and deposits that transmit ground water or impede its movement and by the combined thickness of Cenozoic deposits. When data are lacking about the subsurface geology of an area, geophysical methods can be used to provide additional information. In this study, gravimetric and seismic-refraction methods were used to infer the form of structural features and to estimate the thickness of Cenozoic deposits in each of the two valleys. In Antelope Valley, the thickness of these deposits probably does not exceed about 300 feet, suggesting that ground-water storage in the basin-fill aquifer is limited. Beneath Bedell Flat is an elongated, northeast-trending structural depression in the pre-Cenozoic basement; the maximum thickness of Cenozoic deposits is about 2,500 feet beneath the south-central part of the valley. Shallow ground water in the northwest corner of Bedell Flat may be a result of decreasing depth to the pre-Cenozoic basement.
10.3133/wri014220
D.L. Berger, D. A. Ponce, W.C. Ross
USGS Numbered Series
Water-Resources Investigations Report
wri014220
David Ponce
Research Geophysicist
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
ponce@usgs.gov


If your house becomes damaged by flood, fire or something else, understanding the full loss can be confusing.
Your insurance company is likely to appoint a Loss Adjuster on their behalf, but where does that leave you?
At amb, we can provide you with access to your own Chartered Loss Adjuster to help you through the process.
If you'd like to know more about this service, contact the team at amb to find out more. Call us on 01782 740044 or email info@ambinsurance.co.uk.
We offer Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum packages, with a complimentary Bronze service to all of our clients excluding motor claims.
With access to your own Loss Adjuster, you can expect a rapid settlement and a fair outcome.
Please do not submit any sensitive data.
We endeavour to respond to all enquiries within 2 working days.
Registered Office: amb Insurance Services Ltd, Hillcrest House, 2 Woodland Avenue, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 8AZ. Registered in England & Wales No. 04923995 | amb Insurance Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Website designed and developed by Broker Network © Copyright 2018.


Located at 902 SW 152nd St in the heart of Historic Olde Burien, Miss Kitty's formerly known as Stardust Memories, offers Christmas ornaments and decorations, collectible bears and gift items.
Miss Kitty, a rather contemplative little black cat with big pale yellow eyes, is the inspiration for this all year Christmas shop.
Prices vary from as low as $3 up to $350 for special collectibles.
Those of you who miss The Gazebo, which was formerly located on the northwest corner of SW 152nd Street and Ambaum, will be happy to know that Jean Kim, The Gazebo's former owner/operator, is now the hospitable proprietor of Miss Kitty's.
Visit this cozy and inviting shop and you will find affordable treasures and gifts.
In addition, Jean is accepting special items for consignment. She will also list things on eBay for folks who would like this support.
Sunday and Monday – evenings by chance or by appointment.
There are no comments for "Miss Kitty's Kristmas, Kollectibles & Konsignment" yet.


The application-wide registry with handy helpers to ease dispatching.
A simple plug to echo message back, useful with healthcheck endpoint where you just need to response 200 ok.
A plain WebSocket server framework.
An Elixir reverse proxy Plug with HTTP/2, chunked transfer and path proxying support.


text:
Qatar becomes 1st Arab country to fly over Libya
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - Fellow Arab and African nations raised the international pressure Friday on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, with tiny Qatar flying the Arab world's first combat missions over his country and the African Union imploring him to move toward democratic elections.
The military operation against Gadhafi, which on Friday included airstrikes by British and French jets, remains a U.S.-led operation, though NATO was preparing to assume at least some command and control responsibility within days.
A Libyan government delegation meeting in Ethiopia with African leaders - but not the rebels seeking Gadhafi's ouster - said he is ready to talk with his opponents and accept political reform, possibly including elections. But the delegation also said Libya is committed to a cease-fire that Gadhafi's forces have flouted since the government announced it, and blamed the current violence on "extremists" and foreign intervention.
NATO named Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard to lead its Libyan operation, finalizing what it hopes will be a unified command to oversee military action against the North African nation.
Envoys from NATO's 28 member countries agreed late Thursday to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya. By Monday, the alliance expects to start doing so, as well as coordinating naval patrols in the Mediterranean to enforce the U.N. arms embargo against Gadhafi's forces. With further approval expected Sunday, NATO will take over the responsibility for bombing Gadhafi's military to protect civilians from attack.
A NATO official said Friday that NATO now hopes to launch both operations simultaneously within a couple of days, avoiding the need for dual commands - NATO for the no-fly zone and the U.S. for the airstrikes. The official requested anonymity because of regulations about speaking to the media.
A Qatari fighter jet flew the country's first sortie alongside a French jet on Friday to enforce the no-fly zone, the first non-Western military flight in support of the operation.
"Having our first Arab nation join and start flying with us emphasizes that the world wants the innocent Libyan people protected from the atrocities perpetrated by pro-regime forces," U.S. Air Forces Africa Commander Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward said.
Aside from the United Arab Emirates, which has pledged 12 warplanes, the international effort to protect Gadhafi's opponents has no other countries from the Arab League, a 22-member group that was among the driving forces behind the U.N. Security Council decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. The United States has provided millions of dollars in equipment to many of the league's countries, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Qatar has close ties to the U.S. military, a reputation for international mediation, and hosts the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera network.
"Qatar has been a great ally from Day One," said Mustafa Gheriani, spokesman for opposition Benghazi city council. "It's an Arab country to be proud of."
A Health Ministry official, Khaled Omar, said a total of 114 Libyans have died in the international airstrikes, but he did not provide a breakdown of how many were soldiers or civilians.
"We think it is immoral and illegal to kill even our soldiers because we are taking defensive positions only," said government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim.
Army Gen. Carter Ham said late Thursday that although he was not sure whether civilians died in airstrikes, "we have been very, very precise and discriminate in our targeting." British Foreign Secretary William Hague went further, saying there have been "no confirmed civilian casualties" from airstrikes.
The U.N. Security Council authorized the operation to protect Libyan civilians after Gadhafi launched attacks against anti-government protesters who demanded that he step down after 42 years in power. The airstrikes have sapped the strength of Gadhafi's forces, but rebel advances have also foundered, and the two sides have been at stalemate in key cities.
The rebels claimed late Friday that they had taken the eastern gates of Ajdabiya, although that could not be independently confirmed, and such claims have been made before and proven wrong.
Earlier Friday, British and French warplanes hit near Ajdabiya, destroying an artillery battery and armored vehicles. Ajdabiya, the gateway to the opposition's eastern stronghold, and the western city of Misrata have especially suffered because the rebels lack the heavy weapons to lift Gadhafi's siege.
Rida al-Montasser, an activist from Misrata, said Gadhafi forces fired mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades from rooftops along a main street, hitting a market and a residential building. He said rebels were trying to chase the snipers from rooftops, and had rounded up about 30 of them so far.
A Libyan delegation met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with five African heads of state to discuss a solution to the crisis. Rebels, who were not at the Ethiopia meeting, demand Gadhafi's ouster and say they will not negotiate with him.
African Union commission chairman Jean Ping said the AU favors a transition period in Libya that would lead to democratic elections. The statement is the strongest to come out of the AU since the Libya crisis began, and could be seen as a strong rebuke to Gadhafi, who has long been well regarded by the continental body.
Libyan negotiator Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi blamed the violence in Libya on "extremists" and foreign intervention but said the government was willing to consider talks.
"We are ready to discuss what the Libyan people want," he said. "What kind of reform do they want? If it is elections we are willing to discuss about the details. We are willing to negotiate with anyone. These are our people. There is no division between the Libyan people; there is a division between extremists and the Libyan people."
Britain's senior military spokesman said the international mission was succeeding.
"We have not been able to stop all Col. Gadhafi's attacks, and we would never pretend that we could," Maj. Gen. John Lorimer told reporters in London Friday. But, he said, "They are losing aircraft, tanks, guns that they cannot replace. His ability to use these weapons against his own people is diminished daily."
NATO also heads the ship blockade, but British officials on Friday have refused to say whether NATO ships would patrol the rebel-held coastal areas in the east. A slide shown to journalists Friday seemed to underline the ambiguity of the naval arms embargo.
"The entire coast will need to be monitored," said Capt. Karl Evans, who briefed reporters at the Ministry of Defense in London. Behind him, a map of Libya visualizing the NATO blockade showed only the 600 miles (965 kilometers) of Gadhafi-controlled coastline highlighted in red, with the rebel-held east seemingly left out.
When pressed, senior military spokesman Lorimer intervened, saying that "we don't have those kinds of details here."
In Washington, the White House announced that President Barack Obama will give a speech to the nation Monday explaining his decision-making on the Libyan war.
The timing comes as some lawmakers of both major parties have complained that Obama has not sought their input about the U.S. role in the war or explained with enough clarity about the U.S. goals and exit strategy.
Associated Press writers Ryan Lucas in Benghazi, Libya; Pauline Jelinek in Washington; and Raphael Satter in London contributed to this report.


text:
Police identify two men killed by driver along Pennsylvania Avenue NW
The victims were sitting in a park when the crash happened in July
By Andrew Giambrone Updated Aug 5, 2019, 12:21pm EDT
2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW
District Department of Transportation
Update, August 5:
U.S. Park Police have identified the two men fatally struck by a driver July 10 on federal park land in downtown D.C. Thomas Dwight Spriggs, 42, and Jesus Antonio Llanes-Datil, 63, died when hit by the yet-unidentified driver while they were resting in Pennsylvania Avenue NW's James Monroe Park, per the Washington Post. Officials could not find permanent addresses for the men. Community activists held a memorial vigil for them several days after the crash.
Activists plan memorial for two people killed by driver in Pennsylvania Avenue NW park
Original post, July 11:
Two people have died after a car crash that occurred downtown late Wednesday, according to D.C.'s Fire and Emergency Medical Services agency. NBC4 reports that the two people were sitting on a bench in the triangular James Monroe Park near Pennsylvania Avenue and 21st Street NW when a driver came off the avenue and collided into them. They died on the scene.
U.S. Park Police were investigating the crash, D.C. police said Thursday. (The park is under federal control.) A park police officer told WTOP that speeding appeared to contribute to the outcome and the driver was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The names of the victims have not been released yet. The vehicle involved was reportedly an SUV.
NBC4's Megan McGrath on Twitter published videos depicting the aftermath of the collision.
SUV that went off Pennsylvania Ave and into Monroe Park is towed from the scene. 2 people on a bench in the Park were killed. I'm live at 6:45 with the latest. pic.twitter.com/u5SrDmB4pc
— Megan McGrath (@MeganMcGrath4) July 11, 2019
Crews clean up the debris from last night's accident on Penn. Ave NW. 2 people on benches in Monroe Park were killed when the SUV left the road and slammed into them. pic.twitter.com/LiXQY47OOJ
West end of Pennsylvania Avenue NW could be redesigned to include protected bike lanes
The fatalities appear to be the District's 13th and 14th traffic deaths so far in 2019, per data from the Metropolitan Police Department. City transportation officials are currently working on a redesign of the western end of Pennsylvania Avenue NW where the crash took place. It would narrow the roadway to four car lanes from six, add protected bike lanes, and expand sidewalks as part of the District's Vision Zero initiative to eradicate traffic fatalities by 2024.
D.C. Vision Zero: Traffic and street safety news
Pedestrian dies after hit-and-run on H Street NE
For its first open streets event, D.C. will close about three miles of Georgia Avenue to cars
17 military monuments, museums, and memorials in the D.C. area Where to honor U.S. veterans and military members in and around the nation's capital.


| security guard services | Why Security Guards from A Security Agency are the Best?
When it comes to hire a security guard to keep your premises safe, what will you do? There are primarily two ways to hire a security officer. You can give an ad to the newspaper or consult a security agency. Ideally, hiring an independent security guard is not safe. Consulting a security agency is an ideal way. In this write-up, you will come to know about why hire security guards from a professional private security agency.
These agencies are committed to make their services better and for this, getting reliance of customers is their prime priority. When a person is selected for a guarding service, he has to go through several selection parameters. His work history is checked. His criminal history is also checked if any. The person is interviewed to know their skills and cognition. The Adhar Card and Voting Card details are checked. Cross verification takes place. Once, the agency is all sure about the person's behaviour and history, he becomes a part of the agency. Can you do the verification on your own? It is will be time consuming for you but the agency is expert in it. When you hire a security officer from an agency, you have a kind of faith in the security officer.
Mental and physical abilities play an important role for any guard. He should be active and physically fit. At the same time, he should be mentally strong to tackle an adverse situation cleverly and boldly. These qualities are earned during a training program conducted by the security agency. A Reliable security guards service in Gurgaon, Haryana is dominated to provide full-time training to the selected candidates. A rigorous training teaches them to give value to time and how to tackle any adverse situation smartly. When you hire an independent guard, you are not sure that whether he has received any training. But an agency will give you an assurance of hiring a well-trained security officer.
When you are associated with a security agency, you will get on time services. This is one of the major advantages. In case, you need a security guard for a short time, it will be provided by the agency. So, you have flexibility along with the opportunity to get an instant service.


Babak Hosseiny è un art director, recentemente ha pubblicato su Behance un progetto che è stato subito molto apprezzato dalla comunità del famoso social network.
The original idea for this project was conceived around a decade ago after reading this philosophical statement by Wittgenstein.
From this point onwards Babak Hosseiny imagined a series of drawings of situations where hands are no longer only hands, but become the physical embodiments of the obstacles, wishes or fears of the individual.
A few years later Babak met Jeffrey with whom he shared his ambition to bring this project to life using photography to reinforce the impact of the images created.
a series of around ten images.
"Ô les Mains" is the first exhibition produced together by Babak Hosseiny and Jeffrey Vanhoutte.
Il progetto è quindi frutto della collaborazione di Babak Hosseiny e Jeffrey Vanhoutte un fotografo belga che anche lui merita di essere conosciuto.
Articolo successivoSuccessivo It's not happening here. But it is happening now.