text:
About BIRD
Abbas al-Samea, Sami Mushaima, Ali al-Singace
Mohammed Ramadan, Husain Moosa
Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly
Ebrahim Sharif
Fadhel Abbas
Nazeeha Saeed
Sheikh Ali Salman
Freedom from Torture
Isa Al-Aali
Ali Haroun
Nabeel Rajab
Nabeel Rajab: Timeline of arrest and detention
Maryam Al-khawaja
Zaynab Al-khawaja
Revocation of Citizenship
Sheikh Isa Qassim
BIRD in the Press
BAHRAIN: 125 Prisoners to Launch Hunger Strike Amid Scabies Outbreak 1 day ago
Bahrain Reimposes Death Sentence Against Torture Victims 2 weeks ago
Parliamentarians Urge Dominic Raab to Intervene on Behalf of Bahraini Death Row Inmates 2 weeks ago
Parliament Question Tracker
BAHRAIN: 125 Prisoners to Launch Hunger Strike Amid Scabies Outbreak
Bahrain Reimposes Death Sentence Against Torture Victims
Parliamentarians Urge Dominic Raab to Intervene on Behalf of Bahraini Death Row Inmates
Bahrain prisoner release for National Day excludes prominent political prisoners
Huddersfield University Urged to Sever Ties with Bahraini Regime Linked to Disgraced Duke of York
52 MEPs From all Parties Condemn Medical Negligence in Bahraini Prisons
Activist Files Criminal Complaint Against Bahrain Embassy Staff for 'Attempted Murder'
Hakeem AlAraibi Joins Jailed Bahraini Jiu Jitsu Champion in Criticising Regime-Affiliated MMA Event
Cross-Party Leaders Call for End to UK Training to Bahrain Amid Abuse of Female Activists
Ali AlHajee: 1000 Days in Prison Without Seeing His Family
Home Advocacy Hunger Striker Ends His Protest Outside the Bahraini Embassy in London After 63 Days, Following Parliamentary Support
Hunger Striker Ends His Protest Outside the Bahraini Embassy in London After 63 Days, Following Parliamentary Support
Posted date: October 03, 2018 in: Advocacy, Case Studies, Casework, Freedom from Torture, Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly, International Engagement, Press Releases, TimeLine, UKNo Comments
3 October – Yesterday afternoon at 16:00, Bahraini activist Ali Mushaima ended his protest outside the Bahrain embassy in Knightsbridge, London. For the first 44 days of his protest Ali was on a full hunger strike, then he resumed a full diet while continuing his sit-in outside the Bahraini embassy. He is protesting against the treatment of his father in Jau Prison, Bahrain.
Ali's decision was announced at 16:00 yesterday at a press conference outside the Bahrain embassy. It followed advice from campaigners and health professionals. During his hunger strike, Ali lost 16 kilos.
Ali's father, political opposition leader Hassan Mushaima (70), was arbitrarily arrested and tortured before being unlawfully convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Military court as part of the crackdown in Bahrain.
Hassan has been deprived of vital medical care, family visitation and access to books. His treatment has been condemned by Amnesty International. He suffers from erratic blood pressure, diabetes, gout, and a urinary tract infection, as well as being a former lymphoma cancer patient.
Ali has written and spoken about his father's mistreatment. He has also written to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Queen, asking Her to use Her strong friendship with the King of Bahrain to help him save his father. Despite the lengths he has gone to, the Middle East Minister, Alistair Burt, has refused to even meet Ali.
Despite the repression in Bahrain, the UK government has continued to arm and support the regime. Government data, compiled by Campaign Against Arms Trade, shows that since the 'Arab Spring' uprising began in February 2011, the UK has licensed over £80 million worth of arms to the regime.
Furthermore, Since 2012, the FCO has spent more than £5 million on its technical assistance programme to Bahrain to train Bahrain's police and prison guards on human rights and to establish new bodies to investigate torture allegations.
Ali's protest and his efforts to save his father have gained cross-party support. SNP Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, has called on the Secretary of State to demand Hassan Mushaima's release. Ali has also been supported by Labour MP, Andy Slaughter, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine MP, and former co-leaders of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas MP and Jonathan Bartley.
In his speech, Ali Mushaima said: "My personal experience with the Bahraini regime is not only through its criminal treatment of my father, the first time I was arrested and tortured I was only fifteen years old, it is something one never forgets.
I came out here because I fear for my father's life, and I will continue fighting to save his life. As a result of my protest and hunger strike, I have many people helping me. That is why I see my protest as a success, not because it exposed how horrible the Bahraini regime and its allies can be, but because it showed me the good in all those who support justice."
Andrew Smith, spokesperson for the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), said: "The UK government should not be arming and supporting the Bahraini dictatorship. Theresa May and her colleagues have been complicit in the appalling treatment of Hassan Mushaima and other political prisoners in Bahrain. We are always being told that the UK stands for human rights and democracy around the world, it is time for them to listen to prioritise human rights, and end the arms sales."
Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Director of advocacy ad the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), said: "During the past two months, Ali has demonstrated outstanding bravery as he was able to shed light on the horrific treatment his father and all political prisoners are subjected to in Bahrain. Now it is time for members of the British Parliament to halt the British complicity and hold Ministers to account for their toxic relation with Bahrain."
Follow @BirdBahrain_ Tweets by @BirdBahrain_
Bahrain: Prisoners Denied Medical Care
Report Exposes Widespread Abuse of female Political Prisoners in Bahrain
FCO 2018 Report Continues to Deceive the Public Over Bahrain's Rights Record
Foreign Affairs Committee Report: FCO Should Reconsider Situation in Bahrain and Stop Shielding Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from UN criticism
Exposed – UK taxpayers fund Bahrain torture and death penalty
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Copyright © 2015 BIRD | Not-For-Profit Organisation Registered in the United Kingdom


Please refer to the link File to see what it currently generates (Tab-Sheet1). I was wondering if there is a way to achieve the desired output (Tab-Desired Output).
In graph objects (what is created with the digraph command), every edge connects two nodes. To connect a third node to an edge, you would need to create a fourth node between the first and second, giving you two edges.
This is not, of course, how GUI programs like Visio work (although you do get a node-analog in the form of an invisible connection point).
@technocrat thanks for the response. I am new to R and I can't code what you suggested. Is it kindly possible for you to put that in a code please?
I don't have that package installed, but you would create the configuration by removing the two existing nodes (and the edge), creating four new nodes. Let D be the target on the edge, C the new node and A and B the existing nodes.


text:
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<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context="anaware.flatbufferssample.MainActivity">

    <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/progressBar"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:visibility="gone"/>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/form"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:gravity="center_horizontal|center_vertical">

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/jsonButton"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="Parse JSON"/>
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/jsonStatus"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_below="@+id/jsonButton"
            android:text="JSON parsing status"/>
        <Button
            android:id="@+id/flatbufferButton"
            android:layout_marginTop="50dp"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_below="@+id/jsonStatus"
            android:text="Parse FlatBuffer"/>
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/flatbufferStatus"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_below="@+id/flatbufferButton"
            android:text="FlatBuffer parsing status"/>

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I was working with a client doing Bank (BCM) integration on the SAP PI platform. Everything was going well. Then I got into a talk around if we could get rid of this Java thing.
Then I had a small issue… Since my focus was to make everything in the integration layer as simple as possible and be able to upgrade it. So it would be possible to go to the single stack.
The claim was fair enough that the bank department did not have enough skills on the Java to support a lot of java code. There was enough ABAP developers around, because they had worked with ABAP for 5+ years. They had the skills for coding and supporting ABAP, in that perspective it was much easier for him and the team to support it.
The same does I see when I do consulting with smaller clients, where they only have a basis or an ABAP developer to handle the PI as a side project. How many things can you handle and support before it is too much.
They seem to have gotten the idea that SAP was moving away form Java. So all business logic from SAP will be in ABAP. They thought of this because of the Oracle acquisition of Sun. My comments was that in my view SAP was still investing heavily in Java both for the PI/PO and for the cloud applications.
I recorded this video around the issue.
I think we got to an agreement on what should be different. The big issue was about maintain lookup values for the business. Most of the values should be maintain on the ERP system, which is not a complete goodbye to the Java stack.
And ABAP mappings was never in the scope.
I still think it is a valid point, what are you required to now inhouse before you can maintain a SAP PI system. Do you need to be PI certificed or can you just have some skills in debugging and monitor the PI system?
The post We dont need this java on PI appeared first on SAP PI course.


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Best Sellers Fiction
6th May '21
The New York Times Best Sellers Fiction – May 16, 2021
Fiction Best Sellers
The New York Times Best Sellers are compiled and archived by The Best-Seller Lists Desk of The New York Times News Department, and are separate from the Culture, Advertising and Business sides of The New York Times Company.
Authoritatively ranked lists of books sold in the United States, sorted by format and genre. In this case we assorted The New York Times Best Sellers Fiction – April 25, 2021.
Full Pack Download Available Members Only
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Song of Achilles: A Novel by Madeline Miller
The Sentinel by Lee Child, Andrew Child
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Star Wars: Greater Good by Timothy Zahn
Sooley by John Grisham
Ocean Prey by John Sandford
Meant to Be Immortal by Lynsay Sands
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
A Distant Shore by Karen Kingsbury
Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel
A Gambling Man by David Baldacci
B08FH9QHWZ
A marvelous new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Lowland and Interpreter of Maladies—her first in nearly a decade—about a woman questioning her place in the world, wavering between stasis and movement, between the need to belong and the refusal to form lasting ties. A Most Anticipated Novel of 2021 from • Buzzfeed • O, The Oprah Magazine • TIME • Vulture • Vogue • LitHub • Harper's Bazaar Exuberance and dread, attachment and estrangement: in this novel, Jhumpa Lahiri stretches her themes to the limit. In the arc of one year, an unnamed narrator in an unnamed city, in the middle of her life's journey, realizes that she's lost her way. The city she calls home acts as a companion and interlocutor:…
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How long can you protect your heart? For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved.
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March 6, 2012 Amazon Best Books of the Month, March 2012 The legend begins… Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. "The best of all the Greeks"—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice. Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller's page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic
The edge-of-your-seat, heart-in-mouth new Jack Reacher thriller for 2021 – his 25th adventure. No one's bigger than Jack Reacher. INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF BETTER OFF DEAD, THE NEXT JACK REACHER. Jack Reacher gets off the bus in a sleepy no-name town outside Nashville, Tennessee. He plans to grab a cup of coffee and move right along. Not going to happen.
B08543NK7K
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON A RICHARD & JUDY, BETWEEN THE COVERS AND GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR FICTION 'BEAUTIFUL' Jodi Picoult, 'UPLIFTING' i, 'BRILLIANT' Daily Mail, 'AMAZING' Joanna Cannon, 'ABSORBING' New York Times, 'THOUGHT-PROVOKING' Independent Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?
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One of "2021's Most Highly Anticipated New Books"—Newsweek One of "27 of 2021's Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Novels That Will Sweep You Away"—Oprah Magazine One of "The Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2021″—Parade One of the "Books Everyone Will Talk About in 2021″—PopSugar One of "The 57 Most Anticipated Books Of 2021″—Elle One of "32 Great Books To Start Off Your New Year"—Refinery29 One of "25 of the Best Books Arriving in 2021″—BookBub One of "The 21 Best Books of 2021 for Working Moms"—Working Mother One of "The Most Anticipated Winter Books That Will Keep You Cozy All Season Long"—Stylecaster One of the "Most Anticipated Books of 2021″—Frolic "The Four Winds seems eerily prescient…
Amanda Gorman's powerful and historic poem "The Hill We Climb," read at President Joe Biden's inauguration, is now available as a collectible gift edition. "Stunning." —CNN "Dynamic." —NPR "Deeply rousing and uplifting." —Vogue On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe. Her poem "The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country" can now be cherished in this special gift edition. Including an enduring foreword by Oprah Winfrey, this keepsake celebrates the promise of America and affirms the power of poetry.
Thrawn and his allies race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book in the epic Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. Despite leading the Chiss to victory and bringing glory to the House of Mitth, the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, or mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: Gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally. Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the enemy plot, they discover a chilling truth: rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage their resources, they strike at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between The Nine…
New York Times bestselling author John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court in his first basketball novel. Samuel "Sooley" Sooleymon is a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams … and even bigger challenges off the court.
Fan-favorite heroes Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces on a deadly maritime case in the remarkable new novel from #1 New York Times -bestselling author John Sandford. An off-duty Coast Guardsman is fishing with his family when he calls in some suspicious behavior from a nearby boat. It's a snazzy craft, slick and outfitted with extra horsepower, and is zipping along until it slows to pick up a surfaced diver . . .
In the newest Argeneau novel from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands, an immortal barely escapes a raging fire only to kindle a sizzling passion with his potential life mate. Mac Argeneau knows all too well: immortals can be killed. Not with holy water or silver crosses, but by decapitation or being set on fire. So when Mac's house bursts into flames—with him inside—he's sure it was no accident.
The New York Times bestselling security droid with a heart (though it wouldn't admit it!) is back! Having captured the hearts of readers across the globe (Annalee Newitz says it's "one of the most humane portraits of a nonhuman I've ever read") Murderbot has also established Martha Wells as one of the great SF writers of today.
"Inspirational fiction superstar" (Publishers Weekly) and #1 New York Times bestselling author of life-changing fiction returns with this high-stakes love story of danger, passion, and faith. She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both their lives forever.
In this blockbuster novel from Danielle Steel, two estranged sisters get the chance to connect again and right the wrongs of the past. Melissa Henderson is leading a quiet life. Once a bestselling author, she now pours all her energy into renovating a Victorian house nestled in the foothills of rural New England. Six years ago, she lost her young son to cancer, and her marriage dissolved. She stopped writing. It was only when she bought the old house that Melissa found a purpose, and came alive as she made it beautiful again.
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Aloysius Archer, the straight-talking World War II veteran fresh out of prison, returns in this riveting new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. The 1950s are on the horizon, and Archer is in dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins the long journey out west to California, where rumor has it there is money to be made if you're hard-working, lucky, criminal—or all three.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
under Declarations
Civil society groups reject the impact of an exponential growth of the Bioeconomy
Posted on November 30, 2018 by Almuth
Open Letter to the members of the BioFuture Platform, signed by 120 organisations from 40 countries.
Click here for a referenced version with the list of signatories.
In recent years, governments have given support to substitute fossil fuels with biomass for energy, in the name of climate change. Increasingly, they are also considering support for other products made out of bio-materials, which is fashionably named the 'bioeconomy.'
The Biofuture Platform, an initiative proposed by the Brazilian government and launched with support from 20 countries in 2016, is one example. However, a closer look at this Platform shows that the bioeconomy is simply a cover-up for a significant increase in bioenergy, together with other short lived 'bio-products' whose climate credentials are as bad for the climate as bioenergy. [1] The European Union and several countries (which have not so far signed up to the BioFuture Platform) are also developing 'bioeconomy strategies' with a similar purpose. [2]
The undersigned organisations are concerned that scaling-up the use of bioenergy and other short-lived bio-products (the so-called-bioeconomy) will have detrimental impacts on the climate, human rights, nature protection, and the transition to a low-carbon energy system. We reject the BioFuture Platform and other similar developments for the following reasons:
Bad for the climate:
To meet the Paris Agreement goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees, we must swiftly phase out emissions and simultaneously increase the amount of carbon that can be removed by forests, grasslands, and soils. In direct opposition to this, the BioFuture Platform advocates transitioning the energy, transport, and industrial sectors to bioenergy and biomaterials. This ignores the science – burning biomass for energy releases as many emissions as burning coal[3], while the production and consumption of biofuels, bioplastic or other biomaterials reduces land available for crops, leads to deforestation and other land conversions, and releases nitrous oxide.
To mitigate the worst effects of climate change, we need governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to work together to reduce overconsumption of energy and decarbonize the energy, transport, and industrial sectors – not merely allow the rich to continue over-consuming whilst transitioning to another carbon-intensive resource.
Bad for human rights:
An industrial bioeconomy would increase demand for land to grow biomass. This would drive deforestation and other land use change on a scale that would have devastating impacts on people. A conservative study about the global biomass potential [4] found that for bioenergy to provide five per cent of global energy use, it would require the conversion of an area of land larger than India (386 million hectares). The bioeconomy foreseen by the BioFuture Platform would need even more land to be converted for bioproducts. The underlying assumption is that most the land needed to convert the fossil fuel economy to the bioeconomy would be provided by the global South. But growing demand for biofuels and biomass for heat and electricity, has already led to large-scale land grabbing and the eviction of entire villages, and reduced access to farmland, forest and water resources. [5] Expanding demand will worsen those impacts, especially where forests are replaced by plantations, increasing pesticide poisoning and labour rights violations, and reducing clean water and food sovereignty. In addition, the processing and burning of biomass for energy releases a variety of toxic emissions, posing additional health risks.
Bad for nature and biodiversity:
We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, which will be worsened by the BioFuture Platform's proposals to increase demand for land, water, and forests. Demand for palm oil and soy is already accelerating forest destruction in many countries and intensification of agriculture (more chemicals, less fallow land) in Europe and North America is accelerating the decline in insects and birds. [6] Demand for bioenergy has already led to the clearcutting of highly biodiverse forests in the southern US, [7] the Baltic States [8] and elsewhere, and as monoculture plantations advance, agrobiodiversity reduces, and nature suffers. Plantations for bioplastics and other biomaterials will just make these problems worse. We need to be reducing demand for wood and crops, not increasing it. There is also an assumption that production of bioproducts will depend heavily on use of genetically engineered crops, trees, and microbes, all of which pose serious risks to the environment and human health.
Bad for a just transition from the fossil fuel economy:
The BioFuture Platform's vision distracts attention and resources away from real, proven solutions to climate change and entrenches energy, social and economic injustices around the world. It would encourage further bioenergy subsidies at the expense of genuinely low-carbon renewable energy such as wind and solar power which must be immediately scaled up in a manner which respects community rights. "Modern bioenergy" (biofuels and biomass for heat and electricity) promoted by the BioFuture Platform is primarily used in the global North and by the energy-hungry industries who should be reducing consumption. Bioenergy gives them a get out clause from dealing with their wasteful consumption.
The undersigned groups call on the 20 countries and the multilateral organisations that are signatories to the BioFuture Platform to end support for bioenergy and other short-lived bioproducts. We call on other governments to refrain from supporting the Platform and its demands. We call instead for governments to propose meaningful and equitable responses to the climate crisis which respect human rights, focus on proven low carbon technologies, reduce overconsumption and waste, and protect forests and other ecosystems.
Posted in Declarations	|


Duetto: Industry Transformation with Big Data, a case study in the famous Harvard Business Review by Federico Pigni, Associate Professor in Information Systems in the Management of Technology and Strategy department.
It was June 2010 when Marco Benvenuti and Patrick Bosworth decided to leave the Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas to create their own business, Duetto Consulting. The two founders had a dream of revolutionizing hospitality revenue management. With its product portfolio largely in place, Duetto was seeking a series C round of financing.
While working on four hours of sleep a night to run the business while preparing to raise a further round of financing, the Duetto founders were also evaluating their long term options. Should they stay true to the original vision of helping lodging and hospitality operators by offering a superior revenue strategy solution?
This would entail focusing on organic growth and independent operations, leading perhaps to an IPO sometime in the future. Or should they seek an early exit selling to an established revenue management vendor or a major OTA with deep pockets?


text:
International Symposium on Research in Acupuncture
A.M.A.B Association of Medical Acupuncturists of Bologna
ISS - Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Scientific Commitee
Location of the Symposium
Myeong Soo Lee, Ph.D.
Myeong Soo Lee is a principal researcher of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM, a WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine), Daejeon, South Korea. Dr. Lee received his BSc and MSc in Physics (Condensed Matter Physics) from Pusan National University, Korea in 1992. He studied at the Institute of Biotechnology, and Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Wonkwang University, Korea as a Researcher for 10 years. He received his PhD degree in 2004 from the Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Korea. He studies evidence based medicine for complementary medicine at Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School for 3 years as visiting researcher.
He is a founding member of International Society of Complementary Medicine Research and currently a board member. He is also working as editorial board member in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Chinese Medical Journal, Journal of Ginseng Research, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, Journal of Traditional Medicine, and Chinese Medicine. He is one of Regional Editor of European Journal of Integrative Medicine. He has published over 300 articles including original paper, reviews and book chapters related with above mentioned fields. He's also lead International Symposium of Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guideline in Traditional Medicine since 2011 and start International Pattern Identification Network Group for research in Traditional Medicine in 2013.
He is currently working on systematic reviews and designing clinical trials assessing the efficacy of several types of complementary therapies for various health conditions. His team in KIOM has focused on three research project including the standardization of syndrome identification for stroke in the point of view of Korean Medicine, developing diagnosis method for blood stasis in Korean Medicine, and developing clinical practice guideline in Korean Medicine.
International Symposium on Research in Acupuncture ©	2021 All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy


Following the debut of BAFTA-winning writer Kay Mellor's critically-acclaimed Acorn TV Original and BBC One drama Love, Lies & Records, Mellor's next addictive British drama, Girlfriends, makes its exclusive North American Premiere as an Acorn TV Original Series beginning weekly on Monday, January 29, 2018.
The six-part contemporary ITV drama follows three friends struggling with the responsibilities that come with being a modern woman of a certain age. Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, The Good Karma Hospital), two-time Oscar-nominee Miranda Richardson (Stronger, Mapp & Lucia, And Then There Were None, Churchill, The Hours) and Zoë Wanamaker (Mr. Selfridge, Agatha Christie's Poirot) headline a fantastic ensemble, including: Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter's Neville Longbottom, Happy Valley, Ripper Street), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Daisy Head (The Syndicate 3), Chris Fountain (Coronation Street), Adrian Rawlins (Prisoners' Wives, Harry Potter's James Potter), Emmett J Scanlon (The Fall), Rochenda Sandall (Love, Lies & Records), and Matthew Marsh (Love, Lies & Records, Dunkirk).
Called a "glorious streaming service… an essential must-have" (The Hollywood Reporter), Acorn TV is North America's most popular and largest streaming service focused on British and international television from RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE).
After the dramatic and sudden death of Linda's husband Micky, childhood friends Linda (Logan), Sue (Richardson) and Gail (Wanamaker) find themselves back together again. Each has their own problems to face; from a looming divorce from the husband she still loves and the loss of a high-powered job through age discrimination, to juggling the endless responsibilities of their grandchildren and ageing mothers.
As widowed Linda tries to come to terms with being on her own after over 30 years of marriage, she and her girlfriends are horrified to find that this could be the least of her worries. As questions over the circumstances of Micky's death start to be asked, accusations reveal secrets, deception and doubts that tear at our Girlfriends' friendship. Will it endure or will it be severely put to the test?
U.S. Premiere: Beginning Monday, January 29 – Monday, February 26, 2018.


text:
Bullion & Metals
World Coin News – Rare Orientation Error on £2 Coins
Gainesvillecoins.com
By Everett Millman – Gainesville Coins …….
The Royal Mint in the U.K. has over eight centuries of experience under its belt. Yet even the best coining operations occasionally make errors. When they do, you had better bet that collectors are searching for those rarities!
Currently, the hottest error-coin craze in Britain centers around £2 coins dated 2015. Thousands of these coins were issued with a rare mint error that has to do with the alignment or orientation of the dies used to strike the pieces.
Her Majesty, Upside Down
Approximately 3,500 (or roughly 1 in every 200) of the 2015 £2 coins are believed to be in circulation with this rotation error, demonstrated above. The Queen's effigy is rotated about 150 degrees on the obverse, almost completely upside down, relative to the image of Britannia on the coin's reverse.
This is only one of many rare errors or special commemorative coins that make their way into circulation (whether intended or not) in Great Britain. In fact, this sort of "hunting" through one's change is far more commonplace in the U.K. than in the States. The country even has its own "Change Checker" website to inform collectors and the public about what to look for!
Quid Gets a Makeover
The year after these error coins were issued (2015), the mint introduced a new design for the £1 coin, giving it a bimetallic composition and a novel 12-sided (dodecagonal) surface. You can see some other features of the new coin design below.
"Quid" is the traditional nickname for a one-pound note, and has been transferred to £1 coins. Interestingly, £2 coins are commonly nicknamed "beer tokens" because most pints of beer in Britain cost £2.
One of the purposes of the new £1 design is that it will deter counterfeiting by making the coin harder to replicate. It's estimated that millions of pounds worth of counterfeit coins of this denomination are floating around Great Britain, making it a real problem for the Royal Mint to tackle.
httpvh://youtu.be/i-4OcuFzZ8E
The opinions and forecasts herein are provided solely for informational purposes, and should not be used or construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any product.
United Kingdom £2 Coins Currently Available on eBay
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Looking for the perfect father / son relationship .
Looking for the perfect Dad and son relationship . By perfect I mean to give my Daddy an endless pleasure as we are in this roleplay relationship all the time.


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Happy Pride Month!
 Baird Campbell  June 18, 2019
In support and solidarity with LGBTQIA+/Queer people around the world, we're celebrating Pride Month with a collection of some of our most popular queer content from the blog. We take this moment to recognize the valuable contributions LGBTQIA+/Queer people make to our fields, our society, and our lives. Check out six of our favorites below! (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  Queering STS	 activism, anthropology, biotechnology, bisexual, digital media, ethnography, gay, gender, governance, law, lesbian, lgbt, media, pride, queer, science, social media, Surveillance, transgender, YouTube
[Author Interview] Tom Gieryn and "Truth Spots"
 Ilana Gershon  May 28, 2019
Ilana Gershon interviews Tom Gieryn about his new book, Truth Spots: How Places Make People Believe (University of Chicago, 2018). Gieryn is Rudy Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Indiana University. Truth Spots began with a hunch that places matter in under-appreciated ways, and, in particular, with the question: In what ways does place matter for doing science? To understand this, however, one needs to understand the ways places become authoritative sites because they enable interactive orders that are locatable. Laboratories are counterpoised with sites seen as sparking political movements, sites that become the evidence for scientific classifications, sites that connect one to larger religious movements, and sites in which the future is predicted. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  General	 Author interview, laboratories, science, truth
The Strange Journeys of Otherworldly Artifacts
 Rebecca Perry  March 21, 2018
The list of objects on offer is intriguing: flags that were carried, but never raised on a flagpole; stamps that traveled thousands of miles without being posted; a meal tightly sealed in a plastic pouch, returned uneaten from the journey. These artifacts, and many others like them, are listed for sale on Bonhams' auction site—under the "Space History" category. Popular items include commemorative medallions, pins, flags, mission patches, and postal issues, authorized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The auctioneers' specialized language includes terms of location, movement and possession: objects are listed as "carried," "flown," "signed," and "rare." Collectors prepare their bids based on the details of object histories—where they have traveled and with whom—as recounted in accompanying letters of authenticity or fixed in time and place by a photograph. Bonhams' vivid descriptions and NASA's authenticating control create a fascination and demand among collectors and the public for objects circulating on Earth that have been to space—and an invitation to support future journeys. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  Research	 anthropology of space, collections, ethnography, museum artifacts, NASA, outer space, science
Animal Sex Work
 Jeannette Vaught  June 15, 2016
Crouched beneath a stallion's hot undercarriage, bearing the weight of a two-foot long sterile tube on my shoulder as the horse thrusts into it, I vocally encouraged him to ejaculate along with a team of human handlers dedicated to the business of equine sperm. "Come on, boy," we all chirp, "don't stop now!" This particular kind of human-assisted animal sex is repeated all spring and summer long at equine breeding facilities across the globe. The proliferation of Artificial Insemination (AI) techniques and technologies over the past two decades has revolutionized the equine breeding shed, making it possible to produce offspring from two horses with no physical, or even geographical, proximity. As recently as fifteen years ago, performance horse breeders imported actual horses from Europe, Russia, or South America to improve the American strains of particular breeds. Now it is possible to breed American mares to international stallions without either party leaving home. New industries and technologies have been created to collect, package, freeze, and transport equine semen; state, federal, and international laws govern the movement of semen across political borders; and a whole branch of equine veterinary medicine concerned with reproduction—theriogenology—has swelled to accommodate the growing need for professionals to supervise encounters like the one I described above. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  One Response  Beyond the Academy, Research	 animal studies, animals, anthropocene, biotechnology, multispecies, science, sex work, STS
An Anthropologist Visits the Classroom: On teaching science (and religion)
 Matt Watson  May 10, 2016
Although I've never taught the book cover-to-cover, my copy of Latour and Woolgar's (1986[1979]) Laboratory Life has been unpacked four times since I finished my Ph.D., six years ago during a final sweltry Florida summer. Their re-inscription of the Salk Institute has moved with me through the planned communities of D.C.'s suburbs, the tech-ifying Research Triangle of central North Carolina, and the cotton-cultivating arid flatland of west Texas. Now, Lab Life and I cohabitate—more peacefully than we used to—at one of New England's dark-brick collegiate beauties. I've offered courses on the anthropology of science, in different iterations and incarnations, at George Mason University, North Carolina State University, Texas Tech University, and now Mount Holyoke College. As my nomadism gives way to more permanent settlement, I'm pausing to reflect on the modest successes (and felt frustrations) of sharing my passion for anthropology through attention to its liaison with science and technology studies. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  3 Responses  Adventures in Pedagogy	 discovery, pedagogy, religion, science, wonder
Sinkholes without Borders: Geology, Hydrology, and Conflict Around the Dead Sea
 Simone Popperl  February 24, 2016
In a heavily air-conditioned room in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, Israeli, I spent two days drinking instant coffee and taking notes at a "transboundary" water conference on the Jordan River Watershed. Israeli, American, and Western European scholars and development consultants had come together to seek solutions for a variety of environmental crises plaguing the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, sinkholes chief among them. A single Jordanian policymaker attended, opening the event with an introductory speech, but heading immediately for the door when he finished his presentation. In the hours that followed, workshop participants argued about the trustworthiness of Palestinian water consumers (none of whom were present), the merits of international river commissions, and game theory-based water conservation strategies. One common perspective prevailed: as an American hydrologist put it, "we water people think at the level of the watershed, not the nation." But what happens when contested national borders create barriers to the production of scientific knowledge about hydrologic and geologic phenomena? In the context of ongoing struggles for self-determination and national recognition, the Dead Sea sinkhole problem—and the different approaches to it—highlight fraught political complexities of the conflict over land in Palestine and Israel. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  Research	 borders, conflict, geology, Israel, Palestine, science, scientists, sinkholes
2015 Year in Review: Deflating Footballs, Twins in Space, Women (not) in Tech, and More
 Jordan Kraemer  February 5, 2016
Last year on the CASTAC Blog began with anthropological ruminations on what the "Deflategate" football scandal has to do with questions of expertise, and closed with discussions of citizen science, earthquake warning systems, the (anti-)politics of women in tech, and deeply personal engagement with experiencing crisis or catastrophe—in this case, terror attacks in Paris—over social media. One of the great perks of editing this blog lies in reading the array of topics, perspectives, and modes of analyses from our contributors. This year, I'm taken by the variety in tone, from the (somewhat) tongue-in-cheek (the aforementioned Deflategate post; the anthropology of rigged games), to the deeply affecting (again, Charlotte Cabasse-Mazel "Looking at the Pain of Others [on Social Media]"), from the boundary-pushing (Abou Farman's call to envision radical alternative futures) to the experimental (a Twitter fieldwork experiment from Rice's Ethnography Studio). Beyond timely, weekly engagement with climate change, artificial intelligence, changing media ecologies, infrastructure, design, energy, and more, the blog is becoming a repository cataloging—and pushing forward—the driving concerns of social scientific and humanistic inquiry in these areas. In this review post, I consider four central conceptual questions animating this year's coverage on how science, technology, computing and more are shaping (and shaped by) diverse lives, worlds, and experiences. These include: the mutual production or constitution of conceptual categories; questions of knowledge production and expertise; concerns with the future and futurity; and key political dimensions of science, technology, and computing. Although these themes unfold differently across intellectual projects and modes of inquiry, they elucidate the value of critical, reflexive, and empirical approaches to scientific and technological worlds. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  General	 artificial intelligence, computing, data, Design, earth, energy, environment, ethnography, expertise, future, gender, infrastructure, innovation, nature, natureculture, review, science, social media, space, technology, technoscience
Are You Singing of Science?
 Todd Hanson  March 3, 2015
In January, researchers from National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan and Alpen-Adria-Universität in Austria published a study in the journal Public Understanding of Science exploring the use of science words as lyrical elements in popular Taiwanese mainstream music. The intent of the study was to understand better how non-scientists were using science terminology in creating pop music songs, and perhaps learn something about bridging social contexts by exploring aspects of the most fundamental element of science communication: words. The study examined the content and quantity of scientific terms and expressions distributed throughout mainstream music lyrics as a potential reflection of the presence of science into Taiwanese popular culture and life. Starting with a list of 4526 songs created between 1990 and 2012 generated from the Golden Melody Awards, Asia's mainstream music awards, the authors then reduced the sample based on the "relation of lyrics to science/technology" criterion. A total of 377 songs were ultimately selected for analysis by a panel of three researchers from the fields of science communication, communication, and popular culture. They examined the lyrics looking for scientific and technological terms, scientific metaphors, and/or expressions of scientific implications, and then categorized them as scientific activity or products, scientific research subjects, or cultural idioms. In those 377 songs, the researchers found 858 science words or phrases. (read more...)
 Post Permalink  No Responses Yet  Beyond the Academy	 music, music of the spheres, pop culture, science, science communication
Silicon Valley is indefensible https://t.co/S6NZ9A9b58 about 57 minutes ago from Twitter for iPhone


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Penfield Elected Officials
Penfield Town Supervisor
Marie Cinti
Marie Cinti was elected Town Supervisor on Nov 2, 2021, and took office on Jan 1, 2022. She has most recently served as a Zoning Board of Appeals Member, President of the Penfield Business Chamber, and President of the Rotary Club of Penfield.
Marie works to develop partnerships and alliances with various organizations across town government, schools, businesses, and community organizations with the goal of building a strong community.
While President of the Penfield Business Chamber (PBC), she was responsible for the growth and visibility of the PBC, leading board members to increase the number of events, marketing opportunities, and membership benefits. She also advocated for small businesses at the state and federal levels and formed strategic partnerships with neighboring chambers. Marie also oversaw the creation of #onepenfield and #looklocalfirst initiatives to support the local business community.
As a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, she considered requests from residents and property owners for zoning variances and special permits as outlined in the Town ordinances. Her responsibilities included making site visits as appropriate, listening to concerns of those submitting requests as well as concerned citizens, and having a good understanding of the Town code and effects of granting a variance.
While a member of the Penfield Board of Education, Marie's work focused on policy, financial stewardship, and legislative concerns. She served as co-chair for the Monroe County School Boards Association Legislative Committee to develop and pursue legislative priorities and met frequently with state legislators and Regents both at home and in Albany.
Marie was a school counselor for seven years and later worked at the international non-profit Water for South Sudan. In her spare time, she enjoys beekeeping, organic gardening at the Penfield Community Garden, writing, geocaching, and travel. She has lived in Penfield with her husband and two children since 2000.
Major accomplishments include:
* 2021 Winner, Daniel Penfield Award
* Member Penfield Rotary Club (2010-Present), Past President (2018-2019)
* Member, Penfield Board of Education (2009-2012)
* Volunteer, Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf (2005-2014), Board Member (2012-2014)
* Volunteer, Shepherd Home (2008-2012), Co-Chair Fundraising Committee (2010-2012)
Penfield Town Board
Bob Ockenden
The Penfield Town Board appointed Robert "Bob" Ockenden to fill an open board position a its Organizational Meeting on January 2. With this appointment, he will complete the term of Paula Metzler, who was elected to the position of Penfield Town Justice in 2019.
Bob has served as the district administrator for the Pittsford Fire District for the past 19 years; prior to that, he served as station manager. Bob also worked for the City of Rochester as a 911 Center emergency dispatcher and for the Pittsford Fire Equipment Corporation as a sales representative and repair technician. Additionally, he has been active with the Penfield Fire District as a volunteer for more than 37 years.
He is a fourth generation Penfield family member, he knows our community well and brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. As a fire district administrator, he is experienced with municipal operations as well as managing and budgeting tax revenue.
Debbie Drawe
Elected in November 2019, Debbie is eager to return and continue to serve the residents of Penfield. Previously elected to the Penfield Town Board from 2006 – 2009 she chaired the Public Works Committee. She was the liaison to the Conservation Board, Fire Districts, Historic Preservation Board, Penfield School Districts and Huntington Meadows residents.
Debbie was appointed to the Monroe County Legislature in August of 2009 for the 9th Legislative District in Penfield. She served until term limited in 2019 and was elected by her peers as Vice-President of the Legislature. She was past Chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee and Human Services Committees. Vice- Chair of Human Services & Public Safety Committees along with past Park and Recreation committee member. See More...
Candace Lee is the first Asian American to be elected as Town Councilwoman for Penfield and will begin her four-year term in 2022. She is eager to encourage bipartisan participation on various issues for the benefit of all residents and increase government accessibility and inclusion.
Councilwoman Lee is Chair of the Public Works Committee, in which she works closely with Supervisor Cinti on budgetary matters. She also serves as liaison to the following boards and committees: Community TV, Justice Courts, and Penfield Little League.
Councilwoman Lee earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, and her B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She is admitted to practice law in New York and California. She is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association and continues to serve on its Ethics Committee.
Councilwoman Lee resides on Browncroft Blvd with her husband and five children.
Linda Kohl
First elected to the Town Board in 1991. She currently chairs the Community Services Committee and Open Space Update Committee. She is past chair and liaison to The Penfield Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, liaison to the Penfield Parks & Recreation...See More
Penfield Town Clerk
Amy Steklof, RMC/CMC
Has served as Penfield Town Clerk since her appointment in April 2009 and was elected to a four-year term on November 3, 2009 and to her second four-year term November 2013. Amy is a lifelong Penfield resident and graduate of Penfield High School ...See More
Penfield Town Judges
James P. Mulley Jr.
Has served as Penfield Town Justice since November 3, 2009. He is employed as Executive Assistant, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department assisting the presiding justice in the management of court activities in a twenty-two county... See More
Paula Metzler
Paula Metzler was elected Town Justice on November 5, 2019. Prior to taking the bench, Paula was a Penfield Town Councilwoman (2009-2019).
A third generation Penfield resident, Paula is a graduate of Penfield High School, the University of Rochester and Boston College Law School. Paula is also a Deputy Monroe County Attorney, where she practices in County, Supreme and Surrogate's Courts. She is counsel to the Department of Human Services, focusing on cases related to public assistance and Medicaid eligibility, fraud, guardianships, and financial recovery from lawsuits and estate matters. See More...
Monroe County Legislators
Paul Dondorfer
Paul was elected to the Monroe County Legislature in November 2019. He represents the 9th Legislative District, which includes most of the town of Penfield. Paul serves as a member of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Paul Dondorfer has served the Monroe County community for the majority of his life. Having been raised in Monroe County, Paul has always felt devotion to the community and serving the residents of our area. After studying fire protection technology at Monroe Community College, Paul briefly left the area to pursue his career as a police officer in New York City.
In 2004, Paul returned to Monroe County to join the Rochester Police Department as a police officer. During this time, he was responsible for handling emergency calls for service as well as serving arrest warrants, drug warrants, addressing street level drug sales and quality of life issues in his assigned area. His experience in the field led him to be promoted in 2018 to Police Investigator, where he has a multitude of responsibilities including the preparation of criminal cases to be presented to a grand jury and eventual trial.
Outside of his career in law enforcement, Paul has also served as Deputy Director for the Irondequoit Volunteer Ambulance and the former chapter manager for the Badge of Honor Association, which is an organization that helps support the families of fallen police officers. With over 19 years in law enforcement, Paul offers a range of leadership skills and community involvement that he can bring with him into proudly serving the residents of Penfield.
Paul and his wife, Bobbi Jo, reside in Penfield with their son Antonio.
George Hebert
Monroe County Legislator George Hebert represents the 15th Legislative District which consists of portions of Webster and Penfield. George was elected in November 2015 and commenced his service in January 2016. Legislator Hebert currently serves as Chair of the Human Services Committee, Vice Chairman of Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Transportation Committee within the County Legislature.
George is active in the local community and serves as a mentor for First Robotics Team 2340 and is an active member of the Webster Health Education Network. George served for 10 years on the board of RDYSL the last 5 of which as President; 5 years as the Chairman of the St. Joseph School Parent Advisory Committee and in several other roles locally.
George earned a BS in engineering (1978) and an MBA from the University of Rochester Simon Business School (1985). He also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Brockport (2014). Legislator Hebert is a retired US Naval Commander where he served in the submarine force as an enlisted sailor and in the surface fleet as a commissioned officer. George also retired from IBM after 27 years as a sales executive. He is married to the former Margaret Bretsch. They have two daughters, Hanna and Emily.


Looking down on the soft, wet snow on Swirral Edge. It would only take a slight drop in temp for this snow to freeze.
'Winter' skills clients Rosie and Nick enjoying their first ascent of Helvellyn today. Note the lack of snow or ice.
The top of the Red Tarn headwall, showing the tiny amount of snow currently present on Helvellyn.
Truly dreadful conditions on the fells. Storm-force winds and torrential rain. The assessor gave up soon after this!
A thick coating of water ice still covering the high fells today. A little fresh snow too. Proper winter conditions!
Glorious day! The summit shelter, Striding Edge to the left & St Sunday Crag behind. It'll look very different tomorrow!


Police are investigating a body found floating Saturday night in Echo Lake, near Hurleyville.
At this point, officials say, the death doesn't appear suspicious.
About 8:30 p.m. Saturday, a report came in to Fallsburg police about a body spotted in the lake. There are several private properties and at least one beach owned by a local homeowners' association on the lake.
Property owners said police had used crime-scene tape to rope off many of the beaches by Sunday morning.
The body was reportedly found about 30 feet offshore, roughly 150 feet south of a homeowners association beach.


NBC News has reported that Robert Mueller's investigation into President Donald Trump's election team and their ties with Russia has enough evidence to indict another person of interest. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn and his son are next to face indictments, according to several sources.
Flynn had a short lifespan on Trump's team – he resigned after only 24 days due to his close ties to Russia. He has been under close watch from Mueller's team ever since the special council was formed.
It appears Flynn and son are next on the chopping block, most likely due to Mueller's indictment of Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and from former Trump foreign policy George Papadopoulos pleading guilty for lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos reportedly gave Mueller's team four names as part of his plea agreement.
NBC's sources claim that the special council is looking into whether Flynn laundered money or lied to investigators regarding his overseas work as a lobbyist. They are also looking into Flynn's involvement in an attempt to transfer a rival of Turkish President Recep Erdogan from the United States to Turkey.
Flynn's son, according to those same sources, could be indicted separately or on the same charges as his father. The two worked together on cases the council is looking into.
If either Flynn cooperates with Mueller's investigation, it could limit the amount of legal punishment they face. Both were extraordinarily pro-Trump, anti-Clinton spokemen during the 2016 presidential campaign. Flynn Jr. regularly brought up conspiracy theories, such as PizzaGate, and his father loved egging on the crowds chanting "Lock her up!" at Trump rallies.
Flynn would be the first member of Trump's administration to be charged by Mueller's team. Manafort and Papadopoulos were a part of Trump's campaign, but neither were on his team once Trump was sworn into office.
Grab the popcorn. Here's a video of Flynn insisting that "Crooked Hillary" drop out of the Presidential race because of her criminal activity. Just… take it in.
Featured image via Flickr user Arlington National Cemetery / Public Domain.


WILKES-BARRE — A woman who socialized with the rich and famous of the music industry visited the First Baptist Church on Sunday night to bring a message of hope to those who suffer from domestic abuse.
Tashera Simmons, mother, author and ex-wife of rapper DMX, Earl Simmons, spoke about how she survived domestic abuse and turned her life around.
During her marriage to DMX, she enjoyed the wealth that came along with his success, she said. However, she said that for eight years she was dealing with abusive situation she had to eventually escape from.
She estimated about 80 percent of marriages involve some type of abusive situations. Many victims keep their abuse a secret because they are "embarrassed," she said.
"Abuse is not just physical. It can also be emotional, verbal or spiritual which can leave victims scarred," she said.
Simmons points out "knowing the signs" of an abuser can help potential victims save themselves.
When someone exhibits "an extremely controlling demeanor" for example, he could have abusive traits that can be "triggered" sometimes by the smallest things, she said. Once abuse is identified, it needs to be dealt with immediately, she added.
"I want victims to know it is not their fault they are being abused," she said. "I want to help empower them so they can protect themselves," she added.
Darlene Duggins-Magdalinski, event organizer and founder of the non-profit community group United We Stand/Divided We Fall, said domestic abuse is rampant in Wilkes-Barre and other parts of Luzerne County.
People who come from single-parent homes that lack a father figure and proper role models end up in abusive relationships because they never learned the "coping skills" necessary for healthy relationships, she said.
"There is no equilibrium where the youth can learn how to act as adults," she said.
In addition, local disadvantaged youth deal with a "very big gap" in productive activities. They need positive things to do instead of using drugs and running with gangs, where they learn abusive behavior, she said.
Lisa Gregory, author and recipient of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 2013 Literary Award, pointed to the pressures of joblessness as a significant driver for the local domestic abuse problem.
She stressed victims should take advantage of the various programs provided by local organizations to help them get out of abusive relationships.
Simmons said she is on a mission to send her message of hope to cities all over the United States in the coming months.


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Sharing the stories of the CIO50: #11 Jeff Murray, University of Tasmania
By Jennifer O'Brien
Associate Editor, CIO	 Feb 25, 2018 4:08 am PST
He calls it 'Facebook for Researchers', affectionately known as the eREc, and it involves the sharing of data via a comprehensive electronic solution that provides management of infinite research data. University of Tasmania CIO Jeff Murray says the goal of the university's eResearch Ecosystem is to keep researchers "connected and discovered".
Murray says eREc is a super computer of research brain power that builds knowledge through sharing, and links the brightest minds to find solutions to global challenges. It can store data of any scale: There are 7,100 processors serving 3.7 petabytes of storage and capacity can be increased at any time to meet needs.
And it's one of the initiatives Murray is getting recognition for, ranking high on this year's CIO50 list.
"Our researchers have worked long hours on solutions like reducing sudden infant death syndrome and in creating the world's most effective massive open online course: Understanding Dementia," he says.
"Our astronomers will also help guide SpaceX to Mars through measurements that increase the accuracy of the world's GPS by an extra 1.2 metres to 30 centimetres of accuracy. The International Marine Observatory System (or IMOS) can move 30 terabytes in one night. They transport the fifth highest volume of Australian cloud super computations. We wanted to re-use the information that is slavish to collect, categorise, analyse, store and transport."
So how does the university manage the data and the research data lifecycle? Simple, Murray says, explaining that the platform makes it easier for researchers to complete foundation tasks.
"She enables a focus on the pressing issues at hand, rather than the duties of an archivist. She ensures the automation of the workflow. As eREc grows, she will be programmed with artificial intelligence, selecting and choosing the most appropriate categories of metadata," Murray says.
"Right now, data tags are useable when applying for a grant or ethics request and the tags carry through the research lifecycle and help with publication. eREc opens our data to the world as she connects external researchers with ours through their international identification number known as an ORCID." He says the future will be a very different place with artificially intelligent machines learning and flourishing from big data.
"eREc will grow up and thrive in a digital era. She will not steal jobs – she will make them more interesting and create new ones. She is a gateway to the immanent and an answer to the headaches here and now. eREc offers hope for a cure for dementia, she will help cool the oceans, and propel us to Mars."
But it hasn't been easy building a social interface on a sophisticated UNIX research environment. Murray admitted it required "careful planning and an agile development cycle".
"It was no mean feat to put a Facebook-like front end on a sophisticated UNIX research environment. Our researchers wanted a welcoming and sociable place they could place the data and spend time browsing and finding all information relevant to their work.
"To build eREc we asked the hard questions of our researchers. We drilled down on statements like user-friendly, we used analogies to help understand the social needs, and user-personas helped us understand 'a collector', 'an analyst', 'an uploader', 'a browser' or 'an archivist'. We listened. We collaborated with the research community. By researching our researchers, we understood their needs."
Murray highlights some of the other notable milestones that have generated massive benefits at the university.
He says the team has continued its extensive re-generation of its enterprise systems, and completely transformed the staff and student experience with a total replacement and uplift of all systems.
"The final stages of our $100m investment in our information and process uplift were in place," he says, explaining IT Services has leveraged the benefits of systems uplifts and technology innovation to reduce operating costs by $3 million in 2017.
"As one of Australia's most geographically spread universities (with courses across 65 locations and three main campuses), efficiency of operations is key to our transformation. Additionally, we have maintained six per cent annual revenue growth for the last half decade."
Some of the other IT projects include a CRM implementation, which concluded in under 12 weeks and reduced student attrition by 17 per cent; and a new strategic HR system, which enabled strategic people management and finished in 22 weeks from beginning to end.
Additionally, Murray says electronic recruitment and performance management – a fully cloud supported system – has improved staff and prospective staff engagement. An extensive program of cyber security enhancements, including application white-listing, has strengthened authentication processes and reduced account breaches by 75 per cent.
And comprehensive business intelligence dashboards provide over one thousand pages of reports each week, enabling key strategic decisions based on accurate core information.
Meanwhile, the university has also developed a single shared services portal to draw together all internal administrative processes into one place. HR, commercial (building) services, IT and finance will all service their information and forms in a single place on the Intranet, Murray explains.
"This shared services approach is paving the way for robotic artificial intelligence (AI) to be-deployed in 2018 to automate inquiry processes. Our strategy for the adoption of AI involves drawing all internal and external customer information together into one place – so we can apply machine learning to leverage the benefits more effectively," he says.
Murray says one of his biggest lessons learned during his entire career as a CIO is that the profession is about "people, communications and influence".
"The key lesson as a CIO is to take the 'T' out of IT. We need to stop focusing on the technology and the technical. CIOs should focus instead on needs and outcomes. When we do this, diversity will come and there is strength in diversity.
"My journey began in my thirties jumping from a leader of nine people to more than 200. In leadership, we develop as we progress. Later, taking a role in Scotland, I led a smaller more agile team and learnt of efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Now in Tasmania, I am reminded that you cannot save your way to success. So investing in people is the key to delivering information benefits. Initially in my career as a CIO starting two decades ago, I discovered quickly to set a direction, ensure there are resources for innovation and spend as much time engaging widely in as many ways possible."
Murray also stresses the fact his role as CIO is greater than him and requires a team effort.
"My calling is to ensure my people flourish, achieve their desires, and dream futures. Developing my team of leaders and ensuring they are visible, known and recognised is my highest priority. For this to happen, they need to be part of a service that is strategic, responsive and engaged. When this happens, any member of the team can take the reins and move us forward."
Education Industry
Jennifer O'Brien is an experienced content creator, global journalist and event host and moderator with over 20 years under her belt. As an experienced technology and business editor, she's worked across a host of titles at IDG including ARN, CIO Australia, Computerworld Australia and CMO. She has worked in Northern Ireland, Canada and Australia.


text:
Audi Audi reviews Car Reviews Diesel SUVs Turbo Videos
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro review (video)
Audi is diving into the small premium SUV segment with the stylish new Q2, bringing sophistication, fashion, and technology to the increasingly popular class.
The Audi Q2 was launched in Australia in February, slotting in just beneath the Q3 as the new smallest SUV the company offers. It's available in petrol and diesel form, and in front-wheel drive and quattro all-wheel drive layout.
Here we're testing the flagship TDI diesel, which is the sole all-wheel drive model in Australia's two-variant lineup. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 110kW and 340Nm, making it a strong contender in this specific market space.
Prices are quite attractive, with the base model 1.4 TFSI kicking off from $41,100, and this TDI starting at $47,900 (before on-road costs).
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro – THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 110kW@4000rpm / 340Nm@1750-3000rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.0, 215/50
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1570kg
Power-to-weight: 14.27:1 (kg:kW)
Official fuel economy: 5.0L/100km
Economy during test: 6.5L/100km
Fuel capacity/Type: 55L/Diesel
Power efficiency: 22kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.24 seconds*
0-100km/h: 9.25 seconds*
60-110km/h: 6.58 seconds*
1/8 mile: 11.17 seconds at 108.5km/h*
100-0km/h braking: 2.88 seconds at 36.60 metres*
Decibel at idle: 45*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 77*
Priced from: $47,900
David Saved
David from Doncaster SA recently saved $6,931 off the retail price of a new BMW 1.
* Figures as tested by PerformanceDrive on the day. Factory claims may be different
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro – THE PACKAGE
Despite being the entry level SUV, Audi is showcasing its latest and suavest design and technology with the Q2. This TDI test vehicle comes packed to the brim. The highlight of the cabin has to be the optional Virtual Cockpit digital display, as Audi calls it. This is a fully digital TFT screen that replaces a conventional gauge cluster and speedo. Why is this good? Well, apart from looking really cool it also offers customisation.
So if you like a sporty drive you can have a large tacho and speedometer in the middle, ready for you to glance at. Alternatively, you can push the tacho and speedo outward, opening up digital real estate for various information, such as trip data, and even the map from the standard sat-nav system. We think it's great that you can change this around. For example, in the city, looking for that boutique cafe your friend told you about, you can have the map readily available right near your line of sight. And then out on the highway or in the mountains you can switch to the sporty displays for a more encouraging experience.
The Q2 is based on Volkswagen Group's now famous MQB platform, which is shared with more cars than we care to mention. The most important thing about this platform is that it's one of the automotive giant's biggest investments, setting the group back around US$60 billion in fact. This means a lot of development and engineering has gone into the foundation, and, thanks to its ability to be scaled and adapted for each of the VW brands and their cars, it also means production efficiency, so more vehicles can be built in a shorter timeframe. In theory this means quicker turnaround from the time you place your order to receiving the keys.
Underpinning the Q2, it is actually quite large and provides ample cabin space. The 2601mm wheelbase puts it on par with the Audi A3 hatch (the car that debuted MQB), and this results in an open and airy environment inside. Audi interiors are easily some of the cleanest and nicest designs in the business. So for the same attractive personality to be available in a small package is only a good thing.
Front seat room is plentiful. You get moderately perched up seats, both height adjustable, helping to give you that must-have raised riding position, while the footwells are deep and clear of intrusive panels and the transmission tunnel. To brighten up the front seat area the Q2 can be had with a unique snakeskin-like trim with LEDs that display a nightclub lighting experience, with 10 different colours available through the on-board MMI media interface. Speaking of which, the 7.0-inch screen presents clear and crisp graphics, along with a number of entertaining and interactive apps including Google Maps with Google Earth, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
For the driver, pedal placement is convenient but due to the high seat you do tend to stand on the pedals as opposed to resting up against them. All of the main controls are right at your fingertips though, so you can get on with driving without feeling like you need to go hunting for certain functions. We love the volume thumbwheel that's embedded into the steering wheel, in particular, with its high-quality metallic feel. The steering wheel is a sporty three-spoke item with a flat bottom. We're not completely convinced an SUV, especially a compact runaround like this, needs a flat-bottom steering wheel. But it adds a level of sportiness nonetheless.
In the back there's a surprising amount of room, for both width and legroom. There's no climate venting in the back of the centre console, but there is a large flip-down armrest with cupholders if there's nobody taking the middle seat. This test vehicle uses a sporty red stitching for the leather-clad seats, capable of matching the LED lighting in the front (if red is selected). Cargo space is also decent, with 405 litres expanding to 1050L with the rear seats folded down. The rear seats fold almost completely flat, helping the Q2 establish itself as a genuine practical product.
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro – THE DRIVE
Firing up the engine requires turning a key, which is unusual for a modern car, especially a premium car. However, it seems to mesh well with the Q2's practical-focused nature. This is one of the easiest vehicles to drive in this class. And we know that's a pretty silly and almost meaningless thing to say, but no car in this class offers this level of fusslessness. All of the controls work in exactly the way you're used to, with no weird gear selector or awkward indicators to worry about, and visibility is excellent thanks to the high seats, upright windows and minimal pillar obstruction.
The steering is light with good feel coming through for this segment, and the external dimensions are easily manageable in tight situations. Parking is also a breeze thanks to the standard rear-view camera. You also have Audi's pre-sense autonomous emergency braking technology (low speed) with pedestrian protection as standard. Out on the highway the Q2 is always solid and secure, even passing big trucks and during windy conditions. You can thank the Germans for this and their limitless speed autobahn highways – their vehicles need to be very composed and stable even at default level to cope with very high speeds.
Cruise control is standard, assisting with fatigue during those long journeys, but adaptive cruise control with distance settings is optional on both local variants. For the TDI it's only an extra $990, and it comes bundled with the Assistance Package which also includes nifty features such as high-speed autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot warning, and automatic high-beam functionality. Audi's dynamic LED turn signals and LED headlights are optional.
Around the bends the Q2 handles with respectable verve, partly thanks to the MQB platform which is also used on the exciting VW Golf GTI and Golf R. Turn-in is sharp and committed, and body control is okay for the segment. Push it hard, particularly between switchbacks from left and right, and some body wobble becomes evident. The standard Michelin Primacy 3 tyres, measuring 215/50, aren't primarily designed for sportiness, but rather a mix of highway touring economy with a minor concentration on off-road performance. There's plenty of give in the tallish sidewalls though, resulting in a comfortable and compliant ride.
As for the TDI engine, 110kW doesn't sound like much but its 340Nm of torque is highly appealing. It peaks at just 1750rpm and holds until 3000rpm, with peak power available at 4000rpm. As impressive as these figures look on paper, it's just as well received behind the wheel. There's little delay in momentum, with surging shove on hand as soon as you hit the throttle, with decent top-end power for overtaking. Flat out we timed the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.25 seconds, which is neither poor nor creditable for this class. The rewarding low- to mid-range pull results in a 60-110km/h time of 6.58 seconds.
What is definitely creditable though is the fuel consumption. The official average is just 5.0L/100km, and we experienced around 6.5L/100km during our test. However, over a longer period we predict a real-world figure of around 6.0L/100km to be quite realistic. Keeping in mind this is the all-wheel drive model, you should note the economy as one of the Q2's main attractions.
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro – THE VIDEO
2017 Audi Q2 TDI quattro – THE VERDICT
Quality and attention to detail are paramount in the Q2. Fit and finish and interior design really stand out in this class in our opinion. It's a refreshing approach to the convoluted segment, and the base starting price is able to lure in a broad range of buyers and their budgets. Of course, there are plenty of option boxes to tick before you get to experience the full luxury here.
Our only real criticism with the Q2 is that it sits in the same vehicle class as the slightly larger but older Q3 (according to VFACTS). But, if anything, this is to the Q2's favour as it's much more modern, based on a new platform, and shows off Audi's latest design and features a lot better. The fact that it's available with all-wheel drive does give it a competitive edge against some of the 2WD-only rivals too.
– Exceptional build quality and attention to detail
– Available technology
– AWD brings some degree of off-road ability
– Fuel efficient
– Funky design options for interior and exterior
– Daunting options list
– Sits too closely to Q3?
As always, if you're thinking about buying a new car don't forget to click here to speak with our car buying specialists.
Brett is the editor and founder of PerformanceDrive. He's obsessed with driving, having played with Matchbox cars until he was tall enough to drive a real one. After initially working as a mechanic, Brett earned a degree in journalism and entered media as an editorial assistant at Top Gear Australia magazine. He then worked at CarAdvice. His dream is to live next door to the Nurburgring in Germany.
InAudi Q2, Audi reviews
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Philip Salter founded The Entrepreneurs Network in 2014 with the aim of building an organisation with the aim of helping make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
Philip was previously Business Features Editor of City A.M. where he wrote a weekly column on entrepreneurship and interviewed many of Britain's leading entrepreneurs.
He is a frequent speaker at conferences, writes a column for Forbes on entrepreneurship and appears regularly elsewhere in the media.


Image Title: Area Rugs For Dark Wood Floors Lovely Alluring Rug In Kitchen With Pertaining To Hardwood Designs 17. Filename: area-rugs-for-dark-wood-floors-lovely-alluring-rug-in-kitchen-with-pertaining-to-hardwood-designs-17.jpg. Image Dimension: 972 x 729 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Mathias Mertz. Uploaded Date: Monday - May 21st. 2018 01:14:50 AM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: houseandgarden.co.uk.
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text:
/* global Tinytest Meteor Mongo InsecureLogin _ */

var Collection = typeof Mongo !== 'undefined' && typeof Mongo.Collection !== 'undefined' ? Mongo.Collection : Meteor.Collection

var collection1 = new Collection('test_update_collection1')

if (Meteor.isServer) {
  Tinytest.addAsync('update - collection1 document should have extra property added to it before it is updated', function (test, next) {
    var tmp = {}

    function start () {
      collection1.before.update(function (userId, doc, fieldNames, modifier) {
        // There should be no userId because the update was initiated
        // on the server -- there's no correlation to any specific user
        tmp.userId = userId  // HACK: can't test here directly otherwise refreshing test stops execution here
        modifier.$set.before_update_value = true
      })

      collection1.update({start_value: true}, {$set: {update_value: true}}, {multi: true}, function (err) {
        if (err) throw err
        test.equal(collection1.find({start_value: true, update_value: true, before_update_value: true}).count(), 2)
        test.equal(tmp.userId, undefined)
        next()
      })
    }

    collection1.remove({})

    // Add two documents
    collection1.insert({start_value: true}, function () {
      collection1.insert({start_value: true}, function () {
        start()
      })
    })
  })
}

var collection2 = new Collection('test_update_collection2')

if (Meteor.isServer) {
  // full client-side access
  collection2.allow({
    insert: function () { return true },
    update: function () { return true },
    remove: function () { return true }
  })

  Meteor.methods({
    test_update_reset_collection2: function () {
      collection2.remove({})
    }
  })

  Meteor.publish('test_update_publish_collection2', function () {
    return collection2.find()
  })

  collection2.before.update(function (userId, doc, fieldNames, modifier) {
    modifier.$set.server_value = true
  })
}

if (Meteor.isClient) {
  Meteor.subscribe('test_update_publish_collection2')

  Tinytest.addAsync('update - collection2 document should have client-added and server-added extra properties added to it before it is updated', function (test, next) {
    var c = 0
    var n = function () { if (++c === 2) { next() } }

    function start (err, id) {
      if (err) throw err

      collection2.before.update(function (userId, doc, fieldNames, modifier) {
        // Insert is initiated on the client, a userId must be present
        test.notEqual(userId, undefined)

        test.equal(fieldNames.length, 1)
        test.equal(fieldNames[0], 'update_value')

        modifier.$set.client_value = true
      })

      collection2.after.update(function (userId, doc, fieldNames, modifier) {
        test.equal(doc.update_value, true)
        test.equal(_.has(this.previous, 'update_value'), false)
        n()
      })

      collection2.update({_id: id}, {$set: {update_value: true}}, function (err) {
        if (err) throw err
        test.equal(collection2.find({start_value: true, client_value: true, server_value: true}).count(), 1)
        n()
      })
    }

    InsecureLogin.ready(function () {
      Meteor.call('test_update_reset_collection2', function (nil, result) {
        collection2.insert({start_value: true}, start)
      })
    })
  })
}


Prepare your buck and his best man for a unforgettable bucks party as they both take a jump from 14,000 feet. Yes that's right – your bucks party planner has set your two mates up with a tandem skydive above Perth! Once the boys have stopped shaking and their heart rates have returned to normal, we have your Bucks party package to keep the celebrations rolling. Get picked up in a club styled chrome limo with all the updates, including light and sound effects and an underbody smoke machine. After a tour around town you will be dropped off at your party venue for dinner and drinks, to celebrate your buck's final 'flight' for freedom – pun intended!
How does sending your buck on a 14,000 ft. fall sound? Well it would be no good to send him on his own… So give him the company of his best man as the two of them tandem skydive above Perth! This unforgettable experience will have their hearts pounding and their mouths dry – and in need of a celebratory drink!
Once the boys are back on solid ground, it's time to continue the party in style with this ultimate chrome hummer tour and all of its glory. You will enjoy a Hummer cruise around Perth with all the latest lighting and sound equipment, perfect to get you into the right party mood! Your hummer will then drop you off at your next party venue.
Arrive at this Perth hotspot and be shown to your reserved bucks party area where you will enjoy some of the best menu items Perth has to offer. Trust us when we say it's the most mouth-watering tucker you will ever eat! You will be able to wash it all down with your buck's exclusive bar tab set up by your personal party planner. Bon appetit!