text:
First carbon capture testbed opens in Yorkshire
In the spirit of balance I felt it important to acknowledge that:
'Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne has opened the UK's first real-world pilot project to test whether carbon emissions can be captured from coal-fired power stations and buried underground, to fight global warming.'
The article acknowledges that the project 'comes after considerable uncertainty over the viability of projects in the UK, since several other large players including SSE, BP and E.ON have recently cancelled projects due to cost factors.'
The article also makes clear that UK government policy in this area is in dissaray, and increasingly out to attack what George Osborne has termed 'green tape'! My own feeling is that 'green tape' is an emergent property of a policy position that lacks systemic clarity, urgency and strategic resolve.
Not seeing and talking about the bigger picture - and why it matters
Miles Mander and colleagues make an excellent point in their article that argues:
'As environmentalists, we are terrible salespeople. We are not enabling people in society to make informed decisions. So people are left to make their own meaning of the role that the natural environment plays in their lives and in the lives of others based on lists of ecological components, but without a sense of the bigger picture. People end up making trade-offs between ecological curiosities, on one hand, and the services supplied by new developments, on the other. The inevitable result is that they choose the known benefits offered by development.
We environmentalists are failing to explain how ecological processes improve people's lives and contribute to the success of businesses, governments, and communities. How can lists of ecological curiosities help the city treasurer, city engineer, or city manager make an informed decision when she must choose between providing potable water to city residents or protecting a forest?'
They go on to argue that:
'The evolving language around ecosystem services is now starting to build the bridge between scientists', engineers', and society's perceptions of the environment. Ecosystem services is becoming the common currency, or language, between society, engineers, and ecological sciences. The time for all sides to learn this common language has never been more urgent or, indeed, opportune'
Posted by Ray at 12:36 pm No comments:
Carbon capture and storage - a systemic non-starter?
Carbon sequesteration has never made systemic sense to me so I am not surprised to see reports emerging such as the following:
'The future of carbon capture and storage (CCS) was called into question last week with two high profile projects being cancelled. The UK government scrapped plans for the nation's first CCS project at the Longannet power station in Fife, as it became apparent the project would require more funding than the £1 billion the government is prepared to allocate.
Meanwhile Vattenfall's application to develop a CCS project at a Danish geological structure has been denied. The country's government is waiting to evaluate the success of CCS projects in other nations before moving forward with any of its own.'
Joe Romm argues here that:
'There are simply too many unanswered questions for anyone to say today that we could rely on large-scale deployment of CCS in the 2030s as a major climate solution.'
Gale and Gusto launched with fanfare
A few weeks ago we went to the launch of the two new wind turbines commissioned by Hepburn Wind which is Australia's first community wind farm. It was a delightful community-oriented ceremony in which 760 people gathered on Ron and Nathalie Liversedges property to witness local 10 year old Neve Bosher of St Augustine's School in Creswick cut a massive ribbon wrapping the girth of a 68m high wind tower. Neve was the winner of a competition run through local schools to name the turbines - hence Gale and Gusto! These turbines are symbolic of what could become widespread throughout Australia with far-sighted governance and community engagement.
Whilst the Australian PM has written in support of the development the policy setting is still very uncertain. Depite the policy uncertainties Hepburn Wind had made significant achievements by the time of their 4th birthday in July this year. Hepburn Wind started from humble beginnings with a simple, but powerful idea — that a community could own and operate its own wind farm for the benefit of the entire community.
The Hepburn Renewable Energy Association (now known as SHARE), with the help of many, established Hepburn Wind. In July 2007, 23 members came together and voted to form the co-operative and vote in the first board. In just four years Hepburn Wind grew to almost 1900 members and are proud of their role in establishing the community renewable energy movement in Australia. Their achievements include:
built a $13.5m wind farm, the first in the country to be initiated and owned by a community
almost completed commissioning and already begun generating clean, safe energy for our community
raised more than $9.6m from the community, been awarded $1.7m in state government grants and secured a $3.1 financing facility with Bendigo Bank
joined up almost 1900 members, mostly locals
entered into an innovative power off-take agreement with Red Energy that will enable supporters to purchase locally generated power, while at the same time delivering significant financial benefits to the community
applied the co-operative legal structure where members have equal voting rights (ensuring democratic control) but share returns in proportion to their investment
developed the most generous benefit sharing program of any wind farm in the country, which will give special benefits to those living closest to the project as well as returning well in excess of $1m to the Hepburn Wind Community Fund over the next 25 years.
set a new standard for community engagement and support for a wind farm — recognised with a recent honour, the Victorian Premier's Sustainability Award for 2011.
Earlier this month the Clean Energy Future package completed its passage through the Australian parliament. From the middle of next year there will be in place the beginnings of the policy framework that will usher in a lower pollution future.
As well as pricing carbon pollution, the full package mandates the establishment of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). The CEFC will direct $10 billion of the funds collected from the big polluters towards driving commercial investments in clean energy.
Hepburn Wind, Embark and their many supporters have worked hard to establish the community energy sector. With almost 60 groups nationwide starting their own journey of community power, it is important to ensure that the CEFC gets behind this sector.
The CEFC is currently seeking advice on the design of the $10 billion program — this is a great opportunity for systemic perspectives to be heard. Community groups, environment organisations, expert and passionate individuals need to advocate for the inclusion of community renewable energy into the mandate of the CEFC.
Hepburn Wind's key messages concern three basic requirements for supporting the community energy sector:
recognise the value of engaging the community in the clean energy transition by specifically including community energy projects
ensure that community projects are not ruled out due to their relatively small scale
make provision for early stage equity investment in community projects
The community energy sector warrants specific attention in the construction of the CEFC as it will underpin community understanding of and support for both clean energy policy and the roll out of clean energy infrastructure. This seems to me to be an essential climate chnage adaptation strategy for Australia and to make systemic sense - distributed, resilient, networked community enterprises make sense in a climate change world where surpise and breakdown in the face of extremes will be more common.
Submissions must be emailed to cefc@treasury.gov.au by 5.00pm Thursday 8 December. Anyone can make a submission.
Using systems thinking to good effect
I have made postings before about how the Munro Review of child protection and social work practice drew heavily on systems thinking and advocated more systemic practice. It is pleasing that good work is emerging in this field influenced by the report's findings and the enthusiasm of local staff in Hackney.
The 'howlers' are in the ascendency?
I began this post some months ago, but never quite finished it despite the plethora of examples that demonstrate my point. I wrote then: After nearly three months away from Australia I have returned to find that the 'howlers' have flourished in my absence. Barbara Kingsolver's potent metaphor from her book The Lacuna fits all too well, unfortunately. She says, referring literally, but not metaphorically, to a troup of Mexican monkeys:
'In the beginning were the howlers. [Their howling] would start with just one: his forced rythmic groaning like a saw blade. That aroused the others near him, nudging them to bawl a long with his monstrous tune. Soon the maroon-throated howls would echo back from other trees...As it was in the beginning, so it is every morning of the world' (p. 3)
I find myself very unsettled, and not unlike Kingsolver's young protagonist who, subjected to the daily tirade from the howlers, wakes terified 'at every day's dawn'.
Clearly, and thankfully, I am not the only one worried. But those who worry as I do are drowned out it would seem by the howlers. Sean Carney illustrates my point well in his article in the Saturday Age when he says of the howler-in-chief:
"Since he became leader in December 2009, he [Tony Abbot] has reduced himself almost to a political parody - a politician who can rail and complain and harness community anger and generate fear but himself appears to stand for hardly anything, including the words from his own mouth."
Barry Jones pursues a similar line of argument to mine when he claimed during the week: 'intelligent discussion all but extinct'. What is it about Australians? More and more they seem to portray all the worst features of those trapped in an island state, where news of difference and reasoned debate merely trigger even more outrageous howling. My cousin, a therapist, relates a story about a German client, a young woman here because of her relationship with an Australian lad, disturbed because she has yet to encounter anyone in her circle able to engage in civilised critical discussion. Having been in the reverse situation when young, with a German girlfriend, I can relate to her experience. I cannot imagine any Australians I know in Australia sitting in a mixed sauna discussing the latest news of the Baader-Meinhoff gang and the antics of Helmut Schmidt. But that was how it was in Munich in the 1970s.
In many ways the Murdoch press in Australia is the main megaphone for the howlers. But how it works is not straightforward. Some years ago when Vice Master of Wesley College at the University of Sydney I helped the students run a guest speaker program. One of the more interesting speakers was Wendy Bacon, then a well recognised and 'radical' journalist. She was asked whether she had ever had stories censored by her employers (Murdoch, Packer, Fairfax). Her answer was revealing. My memory of her answer was that to her knowledge she had never had a story censored or blocked by her employer. Instead, she said, the main form of censorship was self-censorship by journalists themselves. They knew that if they wanted to keep their job, or to get another job in Australia, they had to observe certain rules. Concentration of ownership in the press has increased since Wendy gave this talk so I imagine that self-censorship has become even more insidious. There is good evidence for this today in an article by Wendy Bacon in The Age where she reports a revealing exchange with News Corp (Australia) CEO John Hartigan:
"I emailed Hartigan some questions. They included: Do you consider that bias by newspapers in cities where only one company owns a newspaper could ever be an issue? How do you monitor whether fair means of reporting the news are being applied across the company? What auditing or monitoring mechanisms do you apply? Are there occasions when you do take up matters of bias with editors? Do you think that it would be a good idea if the Australian Press Council became an independent body with funding from both media and other sources, including government?
I received this reply:
''Your bias against our organisation over many years and the errors and omissions in your recent New Matilda piece renders your right to answers from me completely redundant. It is deeply troubling to me and to all of our editors that someone like you has any role in teaching young journalists in Australia.''
Hartigan did not elaborate on my errors or omissions. Nor, to my knowledge, has he pointed these out to online magazine New Matilda (which has a policy of publishing corrections)."
It is a pity freedom of information legislation cannot be used to find out what was discussed at the recent meeting of News International senior staff at Rupert Murdoch's Californian ranch. Given the power News International has, the intentions of FoI legislation would, in this instance be better directed at News International than governments.
I agree with Martin Flanagan, whose witty piece today sums up the week of Murdoch theatre in tremendous style, when he says:
"I hope the debate about journalism that the News of the World has triggered hits Australia like a tsunami"
Since I wrote this piece Murdoch junior has reappeared before the House of Commons Committee in the UK highlighting to us all the inadequacy of his answers. In Australia an inquiry has been mounted and is now underway. I fear its terms of reference are inadequate to the circumstances. Particularly telling is recent research released from Wendy Bacon's academic group which concludes:
" The first of a two-part analysis of Australian press coverage of climate change, A Sceptical Climate, has found that between February and July this year negative coverage of the carbon policy across 10 major newspapers outweighed positive coverage by 73 per cent to 27 per cent. Report author Professor Wendy Bacon said the overall result was driven by News Ltd group publications (82 per cent negative versus 18 per cent positive), compared to a more balanced result for the Fairfax press (57 per cent positive articles outweighing 43 per cent negative)."
News Corp is clearly the verdant forest for modern day howlers!
Posted by Ray at 11:39 am No comments:
Storms over Melbourne
Release of Insight Maker
Systems Thinking World has just advised of the first general release, on Friday, October 21, 2011, of Insight Maker - a FREE web based drawing and simulation package.
Insight Maker was designed as a modeling and simulation environment but it also does Rich Pictures, Mind Maps, Dialogue Maps and Causal Loop Diagrams with ease.
Please refer to the overview at this site for further insights as well as a list of the new features in the general release.
Feedback from users is welcome.
New Book from Bernard Scott
Second-order cybernetician, Bernard Scott has had a collection of his papers published recently. Bernard is well know as a scholar of 'conversation theory' as developed by Gordon Pask.
The geoplitics of water and dams
This article provides valuable insights into the current status of the geopolitics of water, particularly the China, Laos, Burma 'triangle':
"The Mekong and Irrawaddy rivers, though unconnected and hundreds of miles apart, are both integral to life in Southeast Asia, supporting millions of people and more than 1,200 species of animals, including freshwater dolphins and-in the Mekong-giant catfish.
Now, in an energy-hungry age on the continent, the rivers share another distinction, as wellsprings of financial temptation for the struggling countries that rely on their flow, Laos and Myanmar (Burma). Both countries are grappling with decisions on whether to build massive hydropower dams on the two significant rivers. The projects could put fragile ecology and associated livelihoods at risk, but the dams could help the two countries reap billions of dollars by exporting the megawatts to China and Thailand, two neighbors with rapidly growing energy demand......."
Thinking clearly about China?
The achievements of China within the paradigm they have pursued have been so impressive that it is sometimes easy to be seduced by the numbers. In his recent thought provoking talk at the LSE, Malcolm Turnbull made the following observations about China:
'Population – 22 to 20 per cent
Poverty (< $US1.25/day) – 38 to 15 per cent
Manufacturing value added – 5 to 11 per cent
Steel production – 12 to 39 per cent
Foreign reserves – 3 to 22 per cent
Resident-owned patent filings – 1 to 15 per cent
Telephone lines – 1 to 29 per cent
Internet users – 0 to 15 per cent
Carbon emissions – 11 to 20 per cen'
Acknowledging the great achievements of the last 30 years, Turnbull goes on to say:
'Finally, consider the environment. Over millennia floods and famines have seen off many an Emperor – tangible evidence that he had lost the mandate of heaven. China faces some of the most severe environmental challenges in the world. Some are direct consequence of global warming; as the Himalayan glaciers melt more water becomes available when it is not wanted, in winter, and less when it is, in summer.
At the same time, industrial pollution of the air and water is so severe that it's a political issue – what good is it to have a television or a car if you cannot breathe the air or drink the water?
And China's ability to feed itself is threatened by diminishing water availability. Agriculture on the northern plain is largely irrigated using groundwater which has been unsustainably extracted to a point where wells are running dry. Water can be desalinated or pumped from the south for cities, but that is too expensive for farming.'
Following an excellent analysis Turnbull asks: what is to be done? Amongst his many suggestions none question the current development trajectory, nor suggest how China, Australia (as a major suppier of environmentally damaging resources) and other resources intensive countries might address the fundamental environmental conundrum that the current trajectory delivers.
So it is hard to get one's thinking straight. Much, for example, has been said about the BRIC countries. Yet as Ha-Joon Chang argues in this article they are unlikey to rescue the world from meltdown:
'So with Japan still reeling from its two "lost decades" (drenched in QE), the only hope seems to be the emerging economies, such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa. Yet can they save us from worldwide economic stagnation? The answer is a definite no. Even with three decades of growth and 1.3 billion people, China's economy is still just over 8.5% of the world's (as of 2009), so whatever it does pales in significance compared to what goes on in the rich world. Moreover, it faces the challenges of deflating its huge property bubble without creating a financial crisis and managing its intensifying social conflicts – it experiences thousands of riots and strikes every year. And its dependence on exports makes it vulnerable to crises in the rich world.'
What will emerge?
Insensitive heavy-handedness only increases alienation
I wonder to what extent the Mayor of Melbourne and the Premiers of Victoria and NSW did their homework to fully appreciate why there has been a wave of protest around the globe, before insensitively sending in the police to close protest camps down in Sydney and Melbourne? A useful place to start would have been with the US situation. Central to the US protests is the extreme inequality that has developed in the US economy over the past 30 years.
According to todays Age, Australia now has a three speed economy. Alienation, inequality and disillusionment with our governance institutions prevail in several of these 'economies'. Under such circumstances protest seems a legitimate form of social action.
Excellent systemic account of the Euro crisis
My thanks to Bruce Legay for drawing my attention to this New York Times piece entitled: It's All Connected: An Overview of the Euro Crisis. The question becomes how to act on such systemic understandings. My own experience suggests interventions that move damaging positive feedback processes in to virtuous negative feedback processes - but what these might be is beyond my experience. The latter could involve some institutional innovations within the Eurozone designed to provide more resilience in future - the current arrangements have clearly failed. Many commentators are comparing the Greek situation with that of Argentina. On the surface these arguments seem to make sense, although in this posting the author refutes this claim, going on to say:
"There is no clear answer to what will happen or what should happen. There is a big mess out there. Once is certain though. The similarities between Argentina and Greece point to another worrying development. The citizens won't be able to suffer the burdens of austerity any longer more (especially when they are made to pay for the bloated public servants). When that happens the situation will be beyond saving by the IMF, the EU and the ECB."
I wonder if allowing Greece to default within an institutionalised firewall is not a good strategy, whilst maintaining transfer payments from the rest of the EU, much as has happened over the last 30 years? One thing is clear that without transformation of Greek institutions the situation is likely to reoccur.
Postcard from China 4
From a water culture perspective one of the most interesting aspects of our trip was a visit to Dujiangyan, in Sichuan Province. Established in 256 BC during the Qin Dynasty this is now a World Heritage site. It is regarded as one of the three outstanding hydraulic engineering feats of the Qin dynasty (along with with the Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi Province and the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi Province). It is particularly interesting because 'unlike contemporary dams where the water is blocked with a huge wall, Dujiangyan still lets water go through naturally. Modern dams do not let fish go through very well, since each dam is a wall and the water levels are different' (see wikipedia).
I found what was said and observed by the majority of our group, as well as our local hosts and staff of CTGPC, to be fascinating. Almost all, including the content of the talk given by the guide in the associated museum, focused on the technology. For them it was the fact that the technology and its different elements had been conserved for over 2000 years that was the main achievement. Certainly the elegance of the technology is impressive. But in contrast what interested me was how, as a sociotechnical system, the governance arrangements had been conserved as operationally effective through wars, earthquakes, many dynasties etc. It took some perserverance to have satisfactory answers and I suspect there is more to be said on the matter. One reason it has been conserved , it would seem, is to do with the strategic importance of the irrigation system in that part of central China. The emperor (or would-be ruler) who commanded this irrigation system with security of food supply had one of the keys to ruling China. Food availability is central to political power in China. For this reason all rulers invested in the management and upkeep of the irrigation system. I imagine there have been other institutions invented over the 2260 years that have helped.
The rebuilding of nearby Dujiangjan City, following the effects of the 2008 earthquake were impressive. I hope also that new technologies have been incorporated into the rebuilding that make them more secure in future.
Visiting Dujiangan City invies a reflection on how sustainability can be understood as a structurally coupled social-biophysical system. Dujiangan survives and functions effectively because the coupling between the social and the biophysical has remained viable for over 2000 years. From a long-term perspective it is hard to imagine that major dams will achieve the same longevity. In my previous email I adressed the complexities of upstream management that have to be addressed in the Yangtze. And despite the short and medium term social benefits through flood mitigation we know that in the long-term the fertility of the whole lower Yangtze flood plain will be diminished by preventing regular flooding and associated silt deposition.
In some ways it could be claimed that Dujiangan survives because it is in systemic harmony with its context. China, along with the rest of the world faces a great challenge to innovate in ways that produce systemic harmony. According to the Global Times (October 13) China will invest 4 trillion Yuan (US$628 billion) in water conservation in the next decade. But as the article notes, how the money is spent will determine how effective it will be. I will go further and claim that how effective it will be will entirely depend on the type of thinking that informs the decision making. Unfortunately I doubt if systems thinking and practice (see the OU STiP program) will be the driving force. According to the article 20 percent of future expenditure will be on farmland irrigation projects, 38 percent on flood control and disaster prevention, 35 percent on water supply projects and the rest for water and soil conservation as well as 'ecological construction'.
The underpinning discourse in the Global Times article is one of business as usual, in an attempt to gain ever more control. It says 'China aims to harness more than 5000 rivers...reinforce 5,400 reservoirs...' On our visit we even heard of a proposal (perhaps entirely fanciful, perhaps not) to reduce the height of the Himalayas so that China could get more rain from the 'Indian' monsoon. In this commitment to technical and scientific modernism China, along with many other countries, demonstrates a commitment to a way of thinking and acting that whilst necessary, is certainly not sufficient for today's circumstances.
In the Global Times of October 14 news that 'China will make grass-roots work experience [of 2 years] a requirement for civil service hopefuls eyeing central and provincial-level posts..' seems to be the out-of-the-box thinking that is required. It is certainly something that could be emulated in Australia, and extended to Parliamentary advisors! Impetus for the change comes from the Chinese Academy of Governance.
Our Australian Water Culture Delegation was sponsored by the Australia-China Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, through the project Linking Australia and China - a "Bridge of Water Culture". The hosting organizations were the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR), the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGPC) and the Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an. We had a packed but informative schedule. Our hosts received us with great warmth and hospitality at each venue.
The Three Gorges Dam is a mammoth undertaking and a major feat of engineering. It is the largest dam of its type in the world. The Yangtze River, which once flowed at an average depth of 10m, now stands at 135 m at the dam wall. The water backs up 650km to the city of Chongqing, one of the four provincial level cities in China (with Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai). As is well known it is also highly controversial. We were shown good evidence of significant flood control, at least 10 times in the period 2004-10, with significant downstream flooding averted particularly in 2010.
The dam contains 33 turbines producing hydro-power. The data for CO2 emission reductions and tonnes of coal saved are impressive as are enhanced river transport efficiencies. In other words the dam is clearly delivering certain social and economic benefits. Having met Academican Lu Youmei, one of the driving forces behind the dam, and the first CEO of CTGPC, I can appreciate that the dam was the outcome of a long political process within the Party. When modernisation won out the dam was inevitable; it is symbolic of China's chosen pathway over the last 30 years. That said, Lu Youmei and current Vice Chairman Fan Qixiang, clearly appreciate the range of systemic difficulties that lay ahead. I will turn to some of these in a moment. What is not clear however, is whether having developed world's best expertise in what they do, CTGPC will follow the path of another engineering company that started by building dams, namely the Australian Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC). Experience suggests that such companies actively pursue opportunities to conserve and further develop their existing expertise. They move from the work of building a system in response to a problem to looking for a problem to retain the system they have built! CTGPC is currently constructing further dams on the Jinsha River, an upstream tributary of the Yangtze. They aim to have four new dams completed in 10 years. These will have double the current power generating capacity of the Three Gorges Dam. Around 300,000 people will be affected - many fewer than the 1.2-3 million affected by the Three Gorges Project. Over lunch I learned that CTGPC were in discussions in over 30 countries about possible hydro opportunities. I expect these include countries along the Mekong and in Burma.
On a cruise up the river from the dam some of the issues that confront CTGPC, as managers of the dam, became apparent. The rise in water levels has, in places, undermined the steep walls of the valley. We saw work actively trying to avoid landslips, and thus added siltation. After impoundment of water a number of seismic events were triggered. There is substantial investment in seismic monitoring. Water qualty is also clearly an issue. A colleague counted hundreds of floating shoes and thongs on our relatively short boat journey. But it is probably what cannot be seen that is more of a worry. It was reported that water quality was generally level 2 or 3, but I failed to find out what this really meant.
Water quality is a much wider problem than that in the Three Gorges Dam. In fact, along with water availability, it is probably the main environmental problem in China today. The China Daily of October 15-16 reports that:
"China has only a quarter of the world's average in terms of fresh water resources, ranking 110th in the world. Among 600 Chinese cities, more than 400 suffer from an insufficiency of water, 110 seriously, including some along the Yangtze River, the country's longest river. Worse the decades-long rapid economic growth means the country's limited water resources are increasingly threatened by pollution. Statistics show that more than 70 percent of China's rivers and 60 percent of its underground water resources are polluted to different degrees."
The complexities of the water issues facing China can be gleaned from the issues now facing CTGPC. These include the extensive diffuse pollution coming from agriculture (nitrogen and phosphorus mainly), sewage from the many upstream cities, towns and villages and of course, industrial pollution and acid rain. Given the size of the overall river system upstream from the dam this is a massive issue with many siloed ministries involved, meaning that concerted action amongst the many stakeholders is difficult to achieve. Algal blooms have increased in the dams. We heard little about other organisms and invertebrates in the river system other than some substantial breeding and preservation actions. There is a Yangtze River Commission which in theory has oversight but in our various conversations the governance of rivers consistently emerged as a major issue - not only within river basins but between river basins. Clearly more systemic and adapative water governance is needed as CTGPC are finding - they now have to deal with 5-6 other "owners" of upstream dams and power generators i.e., they are not the sole provider on the Yangtze.
Having seen on my last visit the massive south-north canal that transfers water from the wetter south to the drier north, including Beijing, I was surprised to discover that it is not linked to the Three Gorges Dam, but another relatively minor tributary of the Yangtze which enters downstream of the dam (if there is any water left, that is!). China's second most important river, the Yellow River, only has one twentieth of the the water resources of the Yangtze. Alarmingly much of the water in the Yellow and Hai River (further north) is used before they get to the sea i.e., current levels of demand are not sustainable. Part of China's predicament was explained by Lu Youmei. The high rainfall period in the Yangtze is in the summer, and this is also the time of maximum flood risk - currently 950 million cubic m of run-off enters the sea from the Yangtze. Unfortunatly, some view this as lost water! At the moment, and for the forseeable future, there is unlikely to be enough storage capacity to save more water in the period of excess whilst at the same time fulfill flood mitigation responsibilities. The corollary to this is that in winter, flows are low and power generation is generally well below peak capacity. It is also dangerous for the Yangtze river itself, and associated river traffic, to transfer too much water in winter. For example, the Yangtze currently has a very low flow so only 13 turbines were operating during our visit.
Another major problem in China is groundwater depletion as well as contamination. I was well aware of this from our prevous research visit spent on the North China Plain in Hebei Province around Lake Baiyangdian. In fact the long term scenario for water in this vital breadbasket of China is very worrying. A telling example of the issue became apparent in our visit to Xi'an. One of the cultural and thus tourist landmarks is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. During our visit the guide advised us against climbing it as it had begun to lean, much as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, because of the falling water table under the city of Xi'an. I hope the spectacular 'dancing water fountains', newly installed nearby, were not exacerbating the problem as they were clearly a great civic amenity.
In the 12th Five Year Plan period (2011-15) China has vowed to address the water issues. The report in the China Daily cited earlier describes this as a 'determination to bring the country's fast gowing economy onto a more sustainable and greener track'. The governament is demanding that 'water usage for every 10,000 yuan-worth [of] GDP be reduced 50 percent by 2020 from the 2008 level and an additional 40 percent after 2020.' In this same article Beijing is held up as an example that others might follow: 'Coupled with a considerable decline in energy intensity, the water consumption for every 10,000 yuan of GDP in the capital has declined considerably [how is not specified], decreasing to 24.9 cubic meters in 2010 from 49.5 cubic meters in 2005.' These are policy developments that should be welcomed, but are they enough? How will they be enforced? The same article ends by stating that: ' To ensure the 100 percent realization of the national energy and water saving targets mapped out, the country should hold accountable officials whose regions fail to attain these targets and lay down a set of strict punishment measures'! In future provinces that use more water than they are allocated will be penalised.
The policy response by China is ambitious, but is it too much a captive of concepts such as eco-efficieny? Improving the environmental performance of a single car ultimately achieves little if the rate in the overall growth of cars means that all gains per car are overwhelmed by gross outputs. The same arguments can be applied to the metric of water savings per unit of GDP. Already China appears to be approaching CO2 outputs per capita similar to the main developing countries. Now is not the time for reform - change that makes the wrong strategy more efficient - rather it is time for transformation - invention that creates the right thing to do in the circumstances.
One of the most inescapable features of this visit for me was the air pollution. Not only was it in Beijing with its 21 million people but also in Chengdu (14 million), and to a lesser extent Xi'an (7 million). However the most disturbing experience was at the Three Gorges Dam and in the Yangtze River Valley upstream. It also had its amusing side. We were taken to the main viewing platform for the dam wall, but like all tourists that day there was no wall to be seen. The smog was too thick. As ever technology saved us! We left with an excellent photo of ourselves with the dam wall clearly visible in the background all thanks to photoshop (or some such similar program)!
In the Global Times of the 3rd October a report entitled 'gloomy outlook for pollution targets' gives some background to what we were experiencing. According to the article the first six months of this year had seen a 6.17% rise in nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere compared with the previous year. The official target is for a 1.5 percent reduction in 2011! Of course this is an average - how was it calculated? The article does not make that clear, but the rise is likely to have been much, much higher in some places. As the article says "nitrogen emissions, which are a major cause of acid rain and smog, are harmful to the human respiratory system and can cause cardiovascular disease."
Before leaving for China I had been writing up some of the history of my own family in Hackney and Bethnal Green, now suburbs of London. London was the first mega city. It had major pollution problems which began in the 1830s and 1840s as industrialisation progressed. The effects of pollution was probably one of the reasons my ancestors emigrated to Australia. As we travelled through China I could not help but wonder when and how the Chinese will turn the corner on air pollution in the face of ever growing cities, increasing car numbers, industrial development and frequent inversion layers over cities.
A timely paper in the journal Ecological Economics makes apparent the situation in London that my ancestors had encountered. This figure (courtesy of David Pannell and the author) shows that London did not start to turn the corner, to reduce pollution, till about 1900. There was an almost 80 year period before things started to get better. As the graph shows incidence of deaths due to bronchitis peaked at about the same time as pollution (total suspended particles). The challenge for China is to devise strategies to turn the corner. Nitrogen oxides come mainly from cars and coal-fired thermal power plants. Apparently nitrogen oxides now excede sulfur dioxide as the major pollutant of air, and thus of acid rain. This is a classic systemic problem as nitrogen oxide and ammonia (which comes mainly from animal waste and garbage) accumulate in the water which, according to the article 'is the most serious pollution problem in China'.
I cannot help but consider what might have happened for China, and the rest of the world, had Deng Xiaoping, the reformer who led China towards a market-based economy, and his contemporaries not bought in to the failing western economic model. The environmental externalities of car-based economic development - in terms of pollution, congestion and the transformation of identity (consumerism and mobility) - were already well known when reforms began. This is not to say that China should have remained static - but another pathway was already apparent, and if pursued may have left us all in a better position. That said it may be that China will pull something out of the hat and follow the trajectory achieved by London over a century ago. If so we will all benefit. At the moment I am not optimistic.
There have of course been both substantial critiques as well as champions of China's chosen pathway. Writing in 1997 Joshua Muldavin analyzed environmental degradation in rural China as structurally embedded in China's rapid economic growth in the post-Mao era. He wrote:
"A critical assessment of the Chinese hybrid economy challenges standard views of the reforms. The overall environmental problems of state socialist agriculture in China have been aggravated following the agrarian reforms of the current regime. Rather than mitigating negative trends, marketization and privatization have brought new, qualitatively different, environmental problems. Resource decline and its attendant social problems are not limited to aspects of transitional economy but are a fundamental part of the new hybrid system."
There are still about 860 million rural inhabitants of China. What their fate is to be is uncertain.
In a remarkably frank interview in the same issue of Global Times, Huang Nbo, a business tycoon (China's 161st richest man) who has just purchased 300 square km of Iceland (and former official in the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee), comments on business ethics and the current pathway. He said:
" I think moral ambiguity is overwhelming... ...I have a sense of guilt accumulated over the years over the inevitable immorality in business transactions, including the damage we cause to the environment and forcing people out of their homes to give way for real estate development. We achieved development, but it was done through brutal means."
I felt pensive as I returned to Australia - then saddened when flying into Tullamarine to be greeted by an inversion layer and a discernable smog haze over Melbourne. Members of the Committee for Melbourne who advocate for a city of 10 million people ought to travel to China and learn from the situation there, before it is too late.
As I write I am homeward bound having just finished a short study tour in China as part of an "Australian Water Culture Delegation" organised by the Australia China Centre on Water Resources Research (ACCWRR). In this series of Postcards I reflect on various experiences and thoughts during the 9-day trip.
(i) Back in Beijing for the second time. It was the end of the National Holiday week and Tiananmen Square was well decorated with many local tourists on hand. The amount of smog was my first impression – worse then in an earlier visit in May-June. The air quality, as I outline below, was a recurring theme. As a group of seven we became amiable fellow delegates.
(ii) Apparently Mao's portrait is renewed every holiday – if so we saw the fresh one!!
(iii) The imperial Palace was as impressive as my first visit. The crowds interfered with the stronger virtual images I continue to hold of previous emperors and their courts gained from various movies. I expect it to be my last visit to the palace.
(iv) As with last time a visit to the Lindang Hutung was a highlight. A short guided tour this time made it all the more interesting. It seems tragic to me that so much of the old has been lost from around central Beijing.
(v) An evening walk to the Birdsnest stadium and parts of the Olympic village reacquainted me with the creativity of the architecture. The striking lighting of the key buildings created an eerie effect in the smog. I sensed the complex was underused and undergoing further (re)development. Someone later told me it was. The main activity was a rock band launch of the new Audi car!! A celebration of consumerism!
(vi) Free hotel internet (all week) is a great boon. Although I was unable to load this Blog all week though – no problems with the BBC or ABC.
(vii) A smoggy drive to the Great Wall on Sunday morning. My first visit. Now I have seen it and walked on it. I pity the builders and soldiers who have manned it over the centuries. I did not walk far – on the steep climb part I opted for caution, not wanting to expose my lungs to dragging in lots of smoggy air! As with most of our visit there were large numbers of local tourists – more than outsiders.
Simon Caulkin - insightful as ever
After his departure from the Observer/Guardian it took a little while for Simon to get back into what he does best: insightful, systemic journalism which unpacks the failures and successes of management actions. He now has a new website - you can subscribe for the latest aricles (highly recommended) or wait a while until they move into the public domain. Below are links to some of his recent pieces. For anyone interested in John Seddon's work (see my last post) I recommend the article 'Police Intelligence'.
Saving capitalism from itself (This article is only available at present to paid-up members, as is)
It's management, stupid
Other recent articles include
Trust in organisations: who stole it, how can we get it back?
Recovery: you can't get there from here
The rules of power
Police intelligence
Suicide bomb at Wapping: family mansion in flames
John Seddon in Oz
I have made earlier postings about John Seddon's work He is scheduled to be in Sydney and then Melbourne at the end of the month. I recommend attendance if you can make it. This column by Simon Caulkin is worth looking at in its own right as well as for getting a feel for the sort of change that Seddon and his colleagues facilitate.
Lessons from the front line: What works and what doesn't in UK public sector reform | Professor John Seddon
Wednesday 31 August, 3pm to 5pm (followed by wine and canapés)
Dixon Room, State Library of NSW, Shakespeare Place Sydney (Mitchell Wing entrance)
Cost: $22 (NSW IPAA members) or $44 (non-members), includes canapés and drinks following the presentation.
RSVP here. Limited places so register now This event is being organised by CPD and IPPA, registrations are being coordinated by IPPA
Join the Centre for Policy Development & the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW) for a seminar with Professor John Seddon, providing insights into the UK government's radical reforms of the public sector – with some lessons for Australia. Read John's thoughts on Big Society here.
Through the Blair years John Seddon gained a reputation as a leading critic of public sector reform. His 2008 book, Systems Thinking in the Public Sector: the failure of the reform regime… and a manifesto for a better way, was read by Cameron's policy team while in opposition and was thought to be 'going too far'; but in some ways Cameron's new coalition government has gone further. The target-setting regime is over and the Audit Commission is to close. On other fronts, Seddon remains a strident and informed voice against UK government policy, arguing that ministers seek policy-based evidence rather than evidence-based policy.
Seddon is as vociferous about what works. Those who follow his ideas achieve performance improvements that represent economic benchmarks. In this unique seminar John Seddon will talk about what works, what doesn't work and he will offer up some clear advice for Australia:
Why change should start with studying (no plan required)
How studying can reveal counter-intuitive truths (e.g. managing costs drives costs up)
How managing value drives costs out of public services while improving service delivery
How conventional approaches to sharing services lead to massive and costly failure
Why economy of scale is a myth
Why targets and inspection/regulation make performance worse
Three steps to sharing services that are guaranteed to maximise efficiency and improve service
How to get knowledge; studying service organisations as systems, the prerequisite to effective and profound improvement
The role of central government; constructive things to do and things to avoid
An evidence-based view of current UK government initiatives, including the Big Society.
The seminar is being presented as part of CPD's Public Service Research Program. To download "The State of the Australian Public Service: An alternative report", visit the program webpage. Be sure to sign up to our email list here [link] to get the latest updates.
About Professor John Seddon
John has received numerous academic awards for his contribution to management thinking. Originally an occupational psychologist, John was persuaded by Deming's obvious truth, that we, mankind, invented management and we can change it. John has developed methods to help managers of service organisations change from a conventional command-and-control design to a systems design.
The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alternative Report
Today the Centre for Policy Development released The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alternative Report, as part of its Public Service program.
The report's key findings include:
a widening gap between the anti-public servant rhetoric of some politicians and commentators and the positive attitudes held by Australian citizens about public servants and the services they deliver and
a decline in the ratio of public servants per capita in contrast to claims of public service 'bloating'.
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has declared the Coalition's plans to slash public spending and axe at least 12,000 public servants' jobs if they gain government at the next election in a rush to bring the budget to surplus. In recent days it has been revealed the Coalition plans to cut public spending by $70 billion, shutting down entire government departments.
The Australian Public Service (APS) employs approximately 160,000 people across 133 agencies, making it one of our largest employers and most significant investments. The staffing of the APS generates heated debate in the media as well as in Parliament. Views are polarised. But what do we really know about the APS? And does much of the rhetoric match up to the reality?
The State of the Australian Public Service analyses 20 years of opinion research on the public service. The report finds evidence of a disconnect between frequent public service 'bashing' by politicians and commentators and generally positive views of the public sector in the general community.
Most Australians are willing to forego income to pay for public services. There's a strong preference for services to be provided by the public sector: twice as many people support public over private provision of health and education for example.
Our research into long term staffing trends also contradicts the portrayal by some politicians and media commentators of a public sector that is 'bloated'.
"To return the ratio of APS staff to Australian citizens to 1991 levels would require increasing APS staffing to approximately 214,000, an increase of approximately 50,000 staff."
Unless the community expects less of the public service or the APS is able to deliver its services with significantly fewer employees, the argument that we have a 'bloated' public service is baseless.
The report also finds that the APS is an increasingly top-heavy workforce that does not reflect the diversity of the Australian community, with Indigenous Australians and people with a disability under-represented, and women under-represented in the senior ranks.
Dr James Whelan, the report's author and Director of CPD's Public Service Program said, "British Prime Minister David Cameron's 'Big Society' vision entails cutting the public sector budget by ₤80 billion, freezing wages and calling for tenders for most services. At a time when the public service is under attack in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US, Australian politicians who are tempted to follow suit should be aware of Australian voters' strong support for the public sector."
CPD's The State of the Australian Public Service offers an accessible handbook of all you need to know about attitudes toward the public service and staffing trends.
Climate skeptics and white conservative men
I recommend the articles on this site as an antidote to the climate skepticism being fostered by News International (see today's Herald Sun) and Australia's howler-in chief.
In particular take a look at the article by David Roberts called:"Stuff white people like: denying climate change". Here is an extract:
"There's a study running soon in the journal Global Environmental Change called "Cool dudes: The denial of climate change among conservative white males in the United States." It analyzes poll and survey data from the last 10 years and finds that ... are you sitting down? ... conservative white men are far more likely to deny the threat of climate change than other people.
OK, that's no surprise to anyone who's been awake over the last decade. But the paper goes beyond that to put forward some theories about why conservative white men (CWM) are so loathe to accept climate change. The explanation is some mix of the following, all of which overlap in various ways:
First there's the "white male effect" -- generally speaking, white males are less concerned with a variety of risks. This probably has to do with the fact that they are less exposed to risk than other demographics, what with running things and all.
Then, as Chris Mooney notes, there's the "social dominance orientation" of conservatives, who see social life as following the law of the jungle. One's choice is to dominate or be dominated; that is the natural order of things. Such folk are leery of climate change solutions premised on fairness or egalitarianism.
Then there are the well-understood "system-justifying tendencies" of conservatives. The authors explain that conservatives ...
... strongly display tendencies to justify and defend the current social and economic system. Conservatives dislike change and uncertainty and attempt to simplify complexity. Further, conservative white males have disproportionately occupied positions of power within our economic system. Given the expansive challenge that climate change poses to the industrial capitalist economic system, it should not be surprising that conservative white males' strong system-justifying attitudes would be triggered to deny climate change."
I also recommend his follow up article: "How do you solve a problem like conservative white men?" There are some good arguments here which resonate with my own view that we have gotten ourselves into the wrong conversation. It is not that climate change is not important it is just that it is the wrong framing of the issue. We needs conversations of hope and transformation as well as ones that embrace the complexity of our situation - the intersections of loss of biodiversity, resource, particularly oil depletion, income inequality, urban congestion and city dysfunction and post carbon societies.
To Mr. and Mrs David Cameron from Nathaniel Tapley
Much has been written on the riots in Britain and no doubt there will be many theses produced in the coming few years. Having spent May to July in Europe, much of it in England, I must admit to not being surprised that the riots have occurred, deplorable though all such acts are. In the many pages of analysis look for those that address the systemic factors that have given rise to the riots but perhaps more importantly look to the future and ask: starting from here how is the situation to be dealt with systemically?
For me one key issue to look at is the English schooling system and the very low percentage of students who go on to A levels. In some ways aspects of the schooling system are designed to produce alienation - and this has nothing to do with teachers and the many well intentioned people who contribute to schooling. It is a long-standing structural problem in my view - yet to be fully overcome despite recent innovations.
But this is only one aspect of a complex situation. Natt Tapley points to another important facet - that is the role models that leaders provide, and in this respect his letter is a beauty. Nothing alienates more than those who cannot walk the talk - it is bad enough when those who do not know that that is what they do prognosticate but even worse when this behaviour is pursued knowingly.
REDD-plus at the crossroads in Papua New Guinea
Some of the politics and institutional complexity around REDD schemes are well analysed in this article by Colin Filer of ANU. The potential for systemic failure seems significant. As in so many other contexts Colin's conclusion that: "Programme and donors grow increasingly despondent about the prospects for effective institutional reform" highlights the domain in which so much systemic failure rests.
First carbon capture testbed opens in Yorkshire I...
Not seeing and talking about the bigger picture - ...
Carbon capture and storage - a systemic non-starte...
Gale and Gusto launched with fanfare A few weeks ...
Using systems thinking to good effect I have made ...
The 'howlers' are in the ascendency? I began this...
Release of Insight Maker Systems Thinking World ha...
New Book from Bernard Scott Second-order cybernet...
The geoplitics of water and dams This article pro...
Thinking clearly about China? The achievements of ...
Insensitive heavy-handedness only increases aliena...
Excellent systemic account of the Euro crisis My ...
Postcard from China 4 From a water culture perspe...
Postcard from China 3 Our Australian Water Cultur...
Postcard from China 2 One of the most inescapable ...
Postcard from China 1 As I write I am homeward bou...
Simon Caulkin - insightful as ever After his depa...
John Seddon in Oz I have made earlier postings ab...
The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alt...
Climate skeptics and white conservative men I rec...
To Mr. and Mrs David Cameron from Nathaniel Tapley...
REDD-plus at the crossroads in Papua New Guinea<!-...


text:
← Kim Bum Confirmed for Goddess of Fire Jeongi with Moon Geun Young
Video Preview for King Flower Episode 18 →
Romantic New Stills from Episode 9 of Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love
Posted on May 6, 2013 by ockoala
I have to give some props to the PD of Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love. I watched both of his previous two dramas, A Star's Lover and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and while neither had the strongest script his directing was a very steady and consistent hand that never sought the limelight. The PD isn't into innovative camera shots or snazzy camera work, but he does weave in a very lively balance of action and stillness into each episode so that the narrative never feels bogged down. But similarly I'm not so taken with his display of skills so as to wrench attention from what is happening in the story. It's a hard thing to do to strike this delicate balance, and so far he's doing a swell job that he deserves a shout out. Episodes 9-10 this coming week look to advance the narrative further into revealing Ok Jung's presence in Lee Soon's life to the rest of his world. Will the Dowager Queen freak out (even more)? Will Minister Min strive to immediately remove her from Lee Soon's orbit? Will Prince Dongpyung give up before he's even gotten started? Will Chi Soo ride in on a white horse and whisk Ok Jung away? It's hard enough finding the right person to fall in love with, as Lee Soon has probably realized by now. It's not that he has to have Ok Jung or he'll die, but I get the sense that he's so lonely for so long that he realizes how special it was that he got to meet Ok Jung. It's not that she's beautiful, or that she's intriguing, it's that she captivates his heart and mind simultaneously and that is the dual basis for how people start falling in love. I don't think these two are at the "we'll die without each other phase", so it'll be interesting to see who has the willpower and strategic alliances to bridge the astronomical distance between Heaven where a King is at and the lowest echelon on earth where the daughter of a slave is at.
Posted in K-dramas	Tagged Jang Ok Jung	permalink
Romantic New Stills from Episode 9 of Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love — 18 Comments
Okitat on May 6, 2013 at 7:24 AM said:
Can't sit to see episode 9!!!!! Squeeeeeeeeeee
Can't wait to see episode 9!!!!! Squeeeeeeeeeee
xianzhongfan on May 6, 2013 at 8:11 AM said:
Ms K, you say it so well, as usual. "that he realizes how special it was that he got to meet Ok Jung. It's not that she's beautiful, or that she's intriguing, it's that she captivates his heart and mind simultaneously and that is the dual basis for how people start falling in love." I love this as it says the essence of their relationship. And yes I like the directing since the beginning, which I find complements the writing so well.
ohoheli on May 6, 2013 at 8:12 AM said:
thanks koala! can't wait for episode 10. will wait for your recap for episode 9. :))
myra do on May 6, 2013 at 8:13 AM said:
Thanks KOALA, it's 11:10 pm Philippine time, we're waiting for Episode 9 to be aired even if RAW. We're greatly happy for posting these update from you too hence we constantly retrieving KOALA PLAYGROUND every hour for some updates especially KOREAN drama & its ACTORS. Sincerely thanking you, keep it up!
nonski on May 6, 2013 at 10:20 AM said:
thanks koala sis!
yellow on May 6, 2013 at 10:21 AM said:
Hi miss k i just passed by your playground recently and guess what i decided to STAY! I especially loved your effort in this one i have this adrenaline rush over JOJ love it i like them both by the way but together they kinda formed a chemistry… love it and thank you,! Looking forward.
BuddhaCat on May 6, 2013 at 12:31 PM said:
Dumped Dong Pyung 🙁
Ellie on May 6, 2013 at 1:00 PM said:
The stills look beautiful but KTH/JOJ looks so distraught that her face becomes so much older >.< Lack of beauty sleep, perhaps? However, I can feel her sorrow and sadness~ I mean she's happy that King loves her but she feels it's impossible for them to be together 🙁
april on May 6, 2013 at 3:33 PM said:
ms koala ur words are the best ever..
prim on May 6, 2013 at 5:39 PM said:
I'm not only addicted to JOJ but also your posts Ms OcKoala^^ your new happy stalker 🙂
Thankssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
drey on May 6, 2013 at 7:01 PM said:
Somehow it just seems that every single time I chance upon an obscure or unpopular show that I really love, only Ms Koala has the same love for it (JOJ vs GFB: ain't gonna watch GFB no matter how many recappers recap). Here's a heartfelt thanks for all your exceptional effort to bring the things that matter most to you to the rest of the world just coz you can.
<3 loads!!! Xp
plumeria on May 6, 2013 at 7:09 PM said:
I always look forward to all your JOJ posts! So excited for tmr ep ahhhhh 😀
all4movies on May 6, 2013 at 7:56 PM said:
Kim Tae Hee is looking a bit old compared to her younger counterpart.
I cannot watch this drama because of her.
That's too bad. You missed out on an amazing drama for a pretty lame prejudice.
CrazyFanForDrama on May 6, 2013 at 8:46 PM said:
Hey koala when is ur recap coming up?? been refreshing ur site like a lunatic!Can't wait! Please hurry uppppppp :-p
love2013 on May 6, 2013 at 9:12 PM said:
Haiiii…koalas your Is the best thank you for info episode 9 of jang ok jung……gumawwo once again
Wuxia C-drama Xuan Yuan Sword with Hu Ge and Liu Shi Shi Premieres Friday
Lee Young Ae and Song Seung Heon Attend Press Conference for SBS 2016 Sageuk Saimdang: The Herstory
New Preview for Please Come Back Ahjusshi is Laughter and Tears with Much Rain and Oh Yeon Seo Eye Candy
Audience Petitions Blue House For Redo For Final Episode of Sky Castle
Li Yi Feng Spotted in Korea on the Same Day as Lee Da Hae's Birthday Sparking Reconciliation Talk
New Trailer and Stills for Bounty Hunter Up the Bromance Factor with Lee Min Ho and Wallace Chung
First Look at 2017 Yoon Eun Hye as Agency Posts New Cover Shots on Website
Yamapi, Kame, and Fumino Sparkle with Chemistry in More Previews for I Am Your Destiny

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
na-fizkultu.ru birmingham speed dating indian
dating assessor ru authupdating pearson 30 sailboatdating homestead womenmamba rualsuvaliahdatingSex in chat pakalchemy datingFree cyber sex chat is sa
Buddemeyer online dating
by | 07-Dec-2015 03:46
Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
Though tax Killa may be among the most pronounced examples of this cheat-the-system sentiment -- at least in its heavily-charged rhetoric -- it's not alone.
There is a widespread belief that the empowered rich lobby for unfair tax breaks and bend the rules, gaming the tax system to their benefit at the expense of the rest of us -- and that the rest of us should push back.
What tax Killa recommends is not technically cheating -- instead, it suggests ways for average Americans to use some of the same loopholes the rich and powerful do to level the playing field, cut corners, increase their deductions, and avoid or beat an audit. According to , two ex-Wall Streeters formed the site in January 2012, in part to strengthen their ties to the Occupy movement.
Co-founder Jen Powers, a Columbia grad who worked in finance in the 1980s before decamping to social work, has said tax Killa operates under the motto "Occupy The IRS." Powers says her co-founder is Fred Buddemeyer, but failed to elaborate on his bio, saying only that a Linked In page that lists him as a graduate of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business was "created as an SEO test." (That page, and another for him, have since been removed from Linked In.) Buddemeyer was not made available for comment.
as he uncovers the latest intriguing developments in the story, and takes an in-depth look at the new evidence through the eyes of key players surrounding the case.
In his first-ever one-on-one interview, Syed's current defense attorney, , a medical examiner with nearly 30 years of experience who reviewed the autopsy report, and provides insight into critical information about that report that could also play a key role in a new trial.
"As Investigation Discovery did earlier this year with a special on the controversial , Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.
"The serialized podcast in 2014 has more than 130 million downloads to date, proving unequivocally that this is one of the great true crime stories of our time.
With a judge expecting to make a decision at any time, we want to give our viewers not only the crucial information surrounding Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television.
late spring 1949 online dating
online dating deception statistics definitions
free dating sites australia only
is there a dating site for doctors
black gay vedios of ugandan down load
la piscine 1969 online dating
war and peace movie 1956 online dating
live sexual chat
shqiperi zvicer online dating
date of asia online dating
lbpl online dating
© 2016 na-fizkultu.ru sitemap, birmingham speed dating indian. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Q: Replacing a substring using regular expressions I want to add a call to a onclick event in any href that includes a mailto: tag.
For instance, I want to take any instance of:

And change it into:

The problem that I'm having is that the value of the mailto string is not consistent.
I need to say something like replace all instances of the '>' character with 'onclick="return function();">' in strings that match '' .
I am doing this in ColdFusion using the REreplacenocase() function but general RegEx suggestions are welcome.

A: The following will add your onclick to all mailto links contained withing a string str:
REReplaceNoCase(
    str,
    "(]*href=""mailto:[^""]*""[^>]*)>",
    "\1 onclick=""return function();"">",
    "all"
)

What this regular expression will do is find any  tag that looks like it's an email link (ie. has an href attribute using the mailto protocol), and add the onclick attribute to it. Everything up to the end of the tag will be stored into the first backreferrence (referred to by \1 in the replacement string) so that any other attributes in the  will be preserved.

A: If the only purpose of this is to add a JavaScript event handler, I don't think Regex is the best choice. If you use JavaScript to wire up your JavaScript events, you'll get more graceful degradation if JS is not available (e.g. nothing will happen, instead of having onclick cruft scattered throughout your markup).
Plus, using the DOM eliminates the possibility of missing matches or false positives that can occur from a Regex that doesn't perfectly anticipate every possible markup formation:
function myClickHandler() {
    //do stuff
    return false;
}

var links = document.getElementsByTagName('a');
for(var link in links) {
    if(link.href.indexOf('mailto:') == 0) {
        link.onclick = myClickHandler;
    }
}

A: Why wouldn't you do this on the frontend with a library like jQuery?
$(function(){
 $("a[href^=mailto]").click(function(){
  // place the code you want to execute here
 })
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home /Fantasy Football Rankings Week 12, 2020: Model that beat experts says start D.J. Moore, sit Michael Thomas – CBS Sports
Real News 2November 26, 2020
Fantasy Football Rankings Week 12, 2020: Model that beat experts says start D.J. Moore, sit Michael Thomas – CBS Sports
Players like Patrick Mahomes, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Dalvin Cook will be high up in many Fantasy football rankings regardless of their matchup. However, deciding on players like Corey Davis, Emmanuel Sanders and Baker Mayfield can be tougher calls that could come down to their Fantasy football matchups. That's where a reliable set of Week 12 Fantasy football picks can help you make tough start-sit decisions.
Is Davis, who hauled in five passes for 113 yards last week against the Ravens, a strong pick this week as the Titans take on an Indianapolis defense that's giving up just 298.1 yards per game this season? How should every player factor into your Week 12 Fantasy football strategy? Before locking in your Fantasy football lineups, be sure to check out the latest Week 12 Fantasy football rankings from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
When it comes to ranking players, their model beat human experts in Fantasy football last season when there were big differences in ranking. Over the course of a season, that could literally be the difference between winning your league or going home empty-handed.
Last week, the model was extremely high on Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, saying he'd finish as a top-10 player at his position. The result: Cousins completed 22-of-30 pass attempts for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Anybody who had him in their lineup was well on their way to a huge week.
Now, the model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, has revealed its Fantasy football rankings for Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Fantasy football picks for Week 12
One player the model is extremely high on this week: Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore. He caught seven of 11 targets for 127 yards in Carolina's 20-0 victory over the Lions last Sunday. Moore paced the Panthers in receiving yards and targets and displayed a strong connection with quarterback P.J. Walker, who started in place of the injured Teddy Bridgewater (knee).
It was just the second time this season that Moore has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark, but SportsLine's model likes his chances of doing so again this week when the Panthers square off against the Vikings.
Minnesota's defense enters Sunday's clash allowing 260.7 passing yards per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL. That bodes well for Moore, who has caught at least one touchdown pass in two of his last three games on the road. The model projects Moore to finish as a top-15 option, making him a solid WR2 in your Week 12 Fantasy football wide receiver rankings.
And a massive shocker: Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who hauled in nine passes for 104 yards last week against the Falcons, stumbles big-time and doesn't even crack the top 30 at his position. After setting an NFL record with 149 receptions in 2019, Thomas missed six games between Weeks 2 and 8 of this season due to ankle and hamstring injuries. Despite missing time, he seemed to quickly build a solid rapport with new quarterback Taysom Hill last Sunday. However, Thomas and the Saints now face a stiff test on the road against the Denver Broncos.
Denver features a top-10 passing defense, giving up just 224.8 passing yards per game. In addition, the Broncos have allowed just one receiver to eclipse 60 receiving yards over the last two games, and they've given up only one touchdown reception during that span. With such a tough matchup on Sunday, Thomas is a player to consider putting on the bench in Week 12.
How to set your Week 12 Fantasy football rankings
The model is also calling for a surprising quarterback you aren't even thinking about to finish in the top 10 of its Fantasy football rankings. This pick could be the difference between winning big and going home with nothing. You can see who it is here.
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 12 Fantasy football rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big-time last season.
Sudans last democratically elected prime…
Fantasy Football Week 12: PPR…
NFL doctor on Steelers-Ravens postponement:…
Zombie minks in Denmark that…
Black Friday at Walmart, Best…
Thanksgiving Day fire rips through…
Covid-19 Live Updates: Thanksgiving at…
AstraZeneca hopes the world can…
Drake Says Weeknd Snub Proves…
Meghan Markle signals heart of…


Aap Beeti is a 1948 Indian Bollywood social film released on 1948. The film is directed by Kumar, produced by Kumar St. Check out this page for more updates on Aap Beeti.
This page provides latest and updated information about Aap Beeti (1948) movie which released on 1948. Aap Beeti (1948) is directed by , produced by , starring .We have also provided 0 trailers and videos, 0 photos, 0 user reviews, and 0 critic reviews.You can review, like, dislike this movie and also can add to favorites. You can also find information on showtimes, CDs, DVDs, online rental, online free watching.


Intel, what's wrong with you?
At the beginning of the year, there was a lot of noise around the vulnerabilities Specter and Meltdown, found in Intel processors. Immediately after their discovery, two groups of researchers began a more thorough study of the "blue" chips. It turned out that these gaps use speculative code execution in the processors. They not only allow you to access the processor's cache but also read and modify the contents of the protected areas of Intel Software Guard Extensions. Given that speculative code execution is used in all modern processors, many computers and servers are at risk. But, as it turned out, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The researchers found a new vulnerability called Foreshadow (in Intel it is called L1 Terminal Fault). It provides access to the first level cache, the protected SGX area of the last three generations of processors, and can extract any information. In the worst case, it gives access to all the virtual machines associated with the processor, which means a danger to the entire cloud infrastructure. That's how it looks on the video.


A lot of the basics of the hospitality business don't change. You want to deliver excellent service, provide great entertainment options, and pay close attention to details that will make customers return again and again. You want guests to feel like your hotel is their home away from home. The challenge? The definitions of what this means are changing quickly in the eyes of consumers, and the hotel industry.
The one known variable about the future of hospitality and tech is this; that for the foreseeable future, consumers needs are only going to increase as technology continues to evolve. As options multiply, customers' expectations of what they should be able to do in their room, away from home, will continually multiply also.
A short time ago, hotel management primarily had to worry about a guest's physical comfort, but times have changed. Now they need to also focus on how to keep their network secure, boost bandwidth as connectivity needs increase, determine how many "screens' are optimal for the number of guests in a room, manage the data they generate to deliver an optimized guest experience, and much, much more.
Balancing everything can be a challenge, so it's become increasingly important to know what options are available. With that in mind, here are four tech trends in the hotel industry you'll want to keep an eye on in the coming year.
The one thing we know about the future when it comes to Internet usage is that the need for increased bandwidth will continue to rise. The Internet connection your hotel provides to current guests is most likely perfectly acceptable today, however; there's a good chance it could be woefully inadequate tomorrow. If you host events or conferences, this isn't just an aphorism—you could run into a major connectivity problem literally tomorrow, depending on the event.
An average non-millennial traveler carries 2.5 devices with them. This makes sense when you think about it: a phone, a laptop, and maybe something else like a tablet or a connected watch. In comparison, the average millennial expects connectivity on an average of five devices.
Your property needs a network that can handle all of these connections, and the bandwidth increase that can comes with it. At the same time, you don't want to be paying for a theoretical cap that you'll only hit a few times a year when large conferences are in town.
The way to do this is to work closely with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to take advantage of on-demand options for bandwidth. Most of the time you won't need to dial it up all the way, but you want to be able to have the option when you need it.
At home, entertainment has increasingly moved into on-demand subscription services that offer a wide variety of options. More and more people opt to settle in for the night with a laptop or tablet in bed, or on the nightstand, and it's no different when they're on the road.
So, how do you impress a customer that already has all the entertainment they want? By making it seamless for them to use their device to do things they wish they could do at home. Casting technology, for example, is one way to do this by making it easy for guests connect their devices to the display and sound options in their room. It's a simple perk that will keep guests coming back, as well as talking about the amenities of your hotel to friends, family, and co-workers.
Device integration doesn't stop with entertainment, however. With a proprietary app, you can offer your guests the ability to control their lighting, heating, and cooling, and even unlock their door from their smartphone. Mobile-friendly room service, check-in, and checkout make things easier for both your guests and your employees, cutting down on overhead and delivering an outstanding customer experience.
In the past, there's been a hesitancy to encourage guests to take steps that can conserve energy. People understandably feel that, since they're paying for their stay, they should be able to do whatever they want with the lights, heating, water and anything else in their room.
The number of hotels that have switched to LED lighting, and added sensor systems to control temperatures, has increased dramatically in the past decade. There are good reasons for this: Being conscious of energy efficiency isn't just good for the environment, it's great for your bottom line. For one thing, you're spending less on energy, but even more importantly, you're positively impacting your brand: Almost 75% of millennials surveyed by Nielsen in 2015 said that they were willing to pay extra for sustainability.
Options like LED lighting, OLED TVs, keycard-controlled lights, and energy efficient laundry machines save you money, and telling your guests about them can build trust. Saving on energy is good business sense, but bragging about it is even better marketing.
As the hotel industry continues to expand the options it offers to people, the amount of data it stands to collect is growing exponentially. Most hotels are sitting on a mound of information that could be leveraged to increase efficiency, improve customer retention, and change the way they do business; the question is how.
Moving forward into the future, data collection and the analytics tools necessary to make sense of it are shifting into the foreground. Even something as simple as what time a customer checked in and out can tell you a lot about their habits, and the brands that figure out how to make that data actionable are the ones that stand to reap the rewards.
While keeping people comfortable and simultaneously providing top-notch service is the key to the hotel business, keeping your eye on tech trends that can help you do this is vital. It's essential for hotels to exceed their guests' expectations for connectivity, device portability, and seamless integration in today's competitive market. Meanwhile, leveraging energy efficiency and big data can help you build your brand and keep people coming back for more. The one thing we know for sure is that tech will continue to evolve, and brands and properties that innovate and adapt quickly, providing the best experience for their guests, will not go unnoticed by consumers.
Have a plan for when you need to give your bandwidth a boost.
Provide entertainment and equipment options that work with and improve upon the devices guests are already bringing from home.
Jump on the energy efficiency bandwagon to save money, stay on-trend, and build goodwill.
Take advantage of the data you collect.


If a general question is raised to the top management and the board of directors about the role to be played by internal audit in the business entity. Surely, most of the responses will focus on being the defense line that protects the entity's assets and detect weaknesses in internal control. However, such prevailing view of the internal audit is untrue, and requires further clarification by the professionals concerned with the profession of internal audit, thus reflecting the true role of internal audit, which became a major partner in moving forward with the top management towards upgrading the entity and assisting it to achieve its objectives. Moreover, the recent changes to the international professional framework for practicing the profession of internal audit confirm correctness of such trend, especially the principles adopted, making the internal audit prudential, initiative-oriented, and of future outlook, while supporting the development and improvement of the entity. Nevertheless, there are some contradicting matters that require us, as practitioners of internal audit, to be aware of.
Added Value or Corporate Protection?
Internal Audit is defined as "An independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes." The definition clearly specifies two objectives of the internal audit: adding value to the organization, and improving its operations. The question is: Is adding value to the organization limited to identifying the control gaps and drawing recommendations to improve this situation, or does it extend to identifying the development areas of the organization, which require the auditor to be characterized by strategic thinking, prudence and foresight regarding the expected events that may affect future decision making, which may upgrade the organization's performance? From another perspective, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) developed a mission for internal audit: "Support and protect the organization by providing assurance, advice, and risk-based objective prudence to the stakeholders." The mission may clearly conflict – to some extent – with the objective of internal audit, and the principles adopted, which necessitate that internal auditing should be prudential, initiative-oriented and of future outlook, as well as supporting and improving the organization.
Having a close look at the internal auditing definition, we also note that it has set a clear mission for internal auditing, relating to the improvement of the organization's operations. The question is raised: is such definition limited to improving the operations by identifying the weaknesses in control, risk management and governance only, or improving all operations that exceed such scope? The objective of corporate governance is eventually to improve the performance. Further, one of the objectives of risk management is to manage and utilize corporate resources. Here, the question is raised: Do control assessment, risk management and corporate governance meet the principles adopted in relation to prudence, future outlook and corporate development and improvement?
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) defines the risk as the "Possible occurrence of an event that may have impact on achieving the organization's objectives." We are aware that risk management addresses the uncertain events, and that risk is often something causing damage. Uncertain events could be positive, providing the organization with opportunities. Hence, such events should be dealt with either as a risk or opportunity. Many internal audit departments build an audit plan based on risk assessment. However, such method ignores the opportunities, which constitute the core that can add value to the organization. On the other hand, if the audit programs prepared by auditors are assessed, we will notice that they are often free of a procedure relating to identifying the opportunities for improvement, whether administrative or financial. They also do not link between the audit objectives and the objectives of the organization, which indicates that the internal audit mission may not be consistent with the organization's ambitions.
The Three Defense Lines Model: Why Defend while the Organization Needs to Move Forward?
Such contradictions may be aggravated when the three defense lines model stresses that internal audit is a third defense line, while ignoring the internal audit's objective and the role indicated under the definition of internal auditing. Despite my personal reservation to the name of such model, as it is not a defense model, by a model to provide assurance that the work of the entities referred to in the second line is not limited to defending the organization, but extends to developing it. For example, under the second level reference was made to the functions relating to quality, of which the main task is to develop the organization, rather than defending and protecting it. So, is it reasonable to state that all parties to the model seek to defend the organization, without considering its future and development?
At the outset of my career, I recall the first audit task I performed. Many auditors may share with me the same experience. I was asked to audit a work center. During the audit task it was my objective to write the largest number of observations relating to the weak controls and non-compliance with the work procedures. As my professional thinking developed, I became aware that compliance with the procedures is not an objective in itself. The procedures set out may not help achieve the objectives of the organization. During the audit tasks, I began to consider the necessity of compliance, and what procedures to follow for the development of this area. Years later, as another phase of thinking developed, it was essential to look at a higher level of procedures. Looking at the organization's strategy and how far it has achieved its main objectives has been of greater impact for the top management, and involving in providing consulting with strategic dimension has been of much greater impact. Certainly, the forthcoming period exceeds this, as IIA, among the principles it adopted, has focused on the necessity that internal auditing be prudential, initiative-oriented, of future outlook, and that it should support the organization development.
The auditing culture formed by the top management depends on the content of reporting. If reports address adding value and developing the organization, internal auditing would become a strategic partner to the top management in leading the organization, rather than being an obstacle – that is the prevailing view of auditing – that hinders the management from moving forward. Moreover, internal auditors play a significant role in guiding the auditors and providing awareness to the top management of the role expected from internal auditing, in order to convert from defense to offense.
Principles adopted by IIA include that internal auditing should be prudential, of future outlook, and support the organization. All of these require personal judgment and opinion. Meanwhile, standards on internal auditing, in their current form, do not help achieve the principles adopted. Furthermore, the standards require from the auditor to rely on sufficient, proper, relevant and useful information. This may hinder giving opinion. Here, I do not mean involvement in decision-making instead of the management, but to share their interests and expectations relating to the development of the organization and improving its performance by providing initiatives of strategic dimensions, rather than being limited to criticizing reports. The exciting point about this matter is that the draft amended version of the standards did not consider covering this part? Why?
At the end of this article, conservatives whose view is that internal auditing profession must remain unchanged may have an opinion contrary to mine. Expectations of the top management may play a major role in keeping such role unchanged. Meanwhile, those whose view is that the internal auditing profession is on the verge of a major change that may increase its importance to developing the organizations, may agree with me. Finally, these are ideas that raise several questions in a manner that requires us not to take any development to the professional framework for practicing the internal auditing as is, but consider its contents more deeply.


Thanks to all who participated in Bright Lights this summer!
Thank you, students and families for making this summer another great Bright Lights Learning Adventure! We look forward to seeing each of you again next year!
Thanks also to LPS and Randolph Elementary. And thanks to Randolph Principal, Dr. Wendy Bonaiuto. She and her staff were a tremendous help as we held our Bright Lights classes in their school this summer.


Need a garage in Burgess Hill to fix the Air Conditioning Re-gas on your MINI?
Save money: Instantly compare MINI Air Conditioning Re-gas prices in Burgess Hill to find the best deal.
Quick and easy: Simply enter the vehicle registration number of your MINI and your post code, compare prices, choose a garage in Burgess Hill and book your Air Conditioning Re-gas.
Speak to an expert mechanic: If you need to speak to a mechanic about your MINI, call one of our experts today on 03304 004439.
This might sound like a question with an obvious answer: you need a garage that can service or repair your car quickly and at a good price. But think again and you may realise there are other factors that affect your choice of garage in Burgess Hill. If you need to bring your son or daughter with you when you take your car in, are there toys in the waiting room? If you're dropping the car off between school and work, can you pick up a cup of coffee while you're there? Might the garage even collect your car and drop it back at your house after the work is done? You can find answers to all these questions on BookMyGarage.


See also Fantastic Sample Resume Company Secretary Ornament Corporate Secretary Resume from Resume Topic.
Here we have another image Over 10000 Cv And Resume Samples With Free Download Corporate Secretary Resume featured under Corporate Secretary Resume Company Secretary Resume Format. We hope you enjoyed it and if you want to download the pictures in high quality, simply right click the image and choose "Save As". Thanks for reading Corporate Secretary Resume Company Secretary Resume Format.


text:
Twilight Fashion? Not so fast B.B. Dakota
Posted by Sheba Sheikh | Nov 30, 2011 | Copyright, Fashion, Film, Trademark |
Summit Entertainment, creators of the Twilight movie series, has prevailed on its motion for summary judgment in a lawsuit filed in 2010 for copyright and trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution and unfair competition. The action involved B.B. Dakota, a retailer that sought to promote sales of a blue cotton canvas jacket by stating in its advertising copy: "Bella Swann wears this jacket in Twilight and scores the hottest vampire in high school, and so can you!" (see full decision here) The jacket's moment in the spotlight wasn't exactly premeditated. As the story goes, the stylist on the movie originally planned for Bella to wear a brown hoodie in the scene. The director was unhappy with the way the color appeared on camera, prompting the stylist to go on a last-minute shopping run to a local Nordstrom Rack where she purchased the jacket. Two years later, after the movie's release, B.B. Dakota reintroduced the coat in response to the high demand and marketed it as the "Twilight jacket" The gear received a lot of media attention. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Esq., Entertainment Weekly ran a story detailing how the jacket got in the movie; WWD featured it in an article on BB Dakota's attempt to capitalize on the attention by building a line around Twilight. And MTV announced to Twilight fans where they could get "The...
Seasonal counsel: Lighten up, lawyers
Posted by Craig Matsuda | Nov 29, 2011 | Music |
Phew. Let's hear it for holiday cheer, especially as it just might put down a gnarly period in legal doings, at least as it's visible online and in some key media outlets: It wouldn't be cherry-picking too much in the pile of recent legal-related press clippings to think that lawyers can be a pretty unhappy lot. They're grumbling about what law schools do or don't teach, and, thus, what Big Law firms must school associates in — to the consternation of cash-strapped clients struggling through the continuing and ugly recession. Some in legal academe are gnawing their nails down about the accuracy of students' job placements and post-school salaries, while others are fretting about hypothetical scenarios and whether they show that prized J.D. degree adds up in economic terms. Then there are those who are looking at the mounting debt-load of law school grads and seeing what institutions public and private seem to be racking up the most sizable bills due for their prospective alums (click on that link and see why you may be glad not to be a Cal, Bruin or Loyola law student these days, shouldering lots of IOUs). It would be almost criminal, of course, to not want to stare at the published proposals of two law profs that law schools test an unusual means to cull their classes of those less likely to succeed but...
Expert, inconoclast tackles music industry's fate
Posted by Sheba Sheikh | Nov 15, 2011 | Music |
Southwestern's Music Law Society and Entertainment and Sports Law Society brought to campus expert Bob Lefsetz (shown at left), who offered some blunt, candid thoughts on the future of the music industry. Lefsetz is an industry figure and author of the email newsletter and blog, The Lefsetz Letter. A graduate of Southwestern, he worked as an entertainment business attorney, majordomo of Sanctuary Music's American division and a consultant to major record labels. He started "The Lefsetz Letter" after "getting fired" and he now writes on issues at the core of the music business: downloading, copyright protection, pricing, and the music itself. He says the industry must alter its business model to embrace rather than combat online music services. With Napster as the trailblazer, sites such as iTunes, Spotify and Kickstarter are giving major record labels a run for their money and Lefsetz stands on the side of technology. Lefsetz offered these insights and anecdotes: Labels and publishers as dinosaurs: He says they have done too little to change. Despite the deal with i-Tunes and Rhino Records collaborating with Spotify by putting out play lists, the resistance remains. The majors cling to an outdated model in which they control releases. Why labels haven't acted: Leftsetz notes that profits still are key and argues that Rhino "has gotten it right" in dealing with Spotify.com. Labels must realize that consumers will tap technology — streaming and mobile applications...
Power on! A costumer copyright challenge
Posted by Sheba Sheikh | Nov 2, 2011 | Comics, Copyright, Trademark |
In the spirit of Halloween, SCG Power Rangers LLC treated itself to the nifty trick of bringing costumes to the forefront of copyright and trademark law. THR, Esq. reports that SCG filed a complaint in the Central District of California against Undergo Endeavors, operators of MyPartyShirt.com for copyright and trademark infringement over the website's sale of Power Ranger costumes. SCG owns all the intellectual property rights relating to the popular "Power Rangers" television series and controls the licensing and merchandising deals of the Power Rangers brand. After the defendant ignored several cease and desist letters, the plaintiff sued, seeking an injunction and statutory damages. Perhaps the lawsuit already had an impact on the defendant, as searches on their website have failed to produce any Power Rangers costume results. However, does the plaintiff's copyright and trademark claims have any legal traction? Under the Copyright Act, apparel cannot receive copyright protection because it is considered a "useful article." Pictorial, graphic and sculptural aspects of a useful article may be copyrighted, if they may be separated from the article, either physically or conceptually. Clothing rarely has met this test. Some costume-designers have tried to sneak around this limit by registering the costume as a "soft sculpture," as in another Halloween case, Whimsicality, Inc. v. Rubie's Costume Co. Inc. The Whimsicality court found that the plaintiff had misrepresented itself to the Copyright Office, and, therefore, did...


Home » » Great Service, great convenience for working folk!
was driving by on Saturday morning, found them open and they quickly repaired glasses i had stepped on ( bent terribly ). I was also able to consult and get larger lens glasses on order for me to use at work, I had recently added numerous monitors on my desktop.Great Service, great convenience for working folk!


This page brings together all the recordings made as part of the Stòras Uibhist Bonnie Prince Charlie project. You can find out more about it on the Visit the Outer Hebrides site. In the links column you can click on the "Ipadio" link to go directly to the recording, or on the "Wordpress" link to read the Island Voices blogpost about it.